Hong Kong: Erick Tsang to visit Beijing

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang will depart this afternoon on a visit to Beijing, where he will meet relevant central ministries and authorities.

Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Maisie Chan will also join the visit. They will return to Hong Kong on July 19.

During Mr Tsang's absence, Under Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs.

This story has been published on: 2023-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China's NEV sector sustains high-quality development

Xinhua) 08:17, July 17, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
He didnt need to go to jail: Dementia experts fear more run-ins with police as condition becomes more prevalent

BALTIMORE -- Samantha Hart hardly recognized her father when she picked him up at the Baltimore County jail.

Henry Hart, who days earlier had been joking and dancing at a family gathering, was slumped over in a wheelchair. The 76-year-old had lost weight, his knees and elbows were bruised, and his right hand was purple and swollen. But what concerned Samantha most was that three days after her 911 call led to her fathers arrest, he didnt recognize her or his wife of 57 years, Rosalind.

Like thousands of seniors in Maryland, Hart is experiencing cognitive decline  a condition that often causes people to behave in unusual and sometimes aggressive ways. As Marylands population ages, experts fear that police will encounter people with dementia more often and without recognizing the condition or knowing how to respond to it. Arrest or jail time can be especially harmful to people with dementia, given their mental and physical vulnerability, experts say.

After Harts stint in the detention center, his family said his cognitive ability degraded sharply. Before his arrest, hed forget where dishes and utensils were kept and had once gotten lost on a drive, but afterward, he struggled to walk. He seemed confused most of the time, and did and said things that didnt make sense.

Then, two months after his incarceration, his family took him to a hospital emergency department after he could no longer move his left leg. Doctors determined July 3 that he had a brain bleed likely caused by a head injury, and that signs of the bleed could be seen on a CT scan Hart received right after his jail stay, his family said.

Police arrested Hart after Samantha called 911 on May 1 after he became agitated and hit her. She said she told the operator he was experiencing a mental breakdown and asked paramedics to take him to a hospital. Baltimore County Fire dispatched an emergency medical services unit at 8:22 p.m., but the call was canceled en route, spokesperson Elise Armacost said. She didnt know why the EMS response was canceled, saying it was not part of the record.

Only Baltimore County Police came to the door. In charging documents, they said Hart appeared to be intoxicated and was very excited. Although Samantha said she and her mother told officers that her father had dementia  they also acknowledged he had been drinking  the charging documents dont mention Harts cognitive impairment. When the officers began to leave, the documents said, Samantha asked them to stay, worried the situation would escalate again.

As the officers and Samantha stood on her front porch, they watched Hart grab Rosalind and try to push her out the door. Even though Rosalind and Samantha said they asked the officers not to, they handcuffed Hart and arrested him for second-degree assault.

Rosalind, come get these things off of me, Samantha and Rosalind recalled Hart said as the officers arrested him. Why are they touching me? I didnt do nothing.

A looming crisis

With the number of elderly Americans ballooning, doctors and researchers are anticipating a public health tsunami that they say the country is ill-prepared for: a growing population of people with dementia  a loss of ability to make decisions, remember and think that interferes with everyday life.

About 1 in 9 people in the U.S. who are 65 and older have Alzheimers disease, the most common cause of dementia, according to the latest figures from the Alzheimers Association. By 2025, the number of people with Alzheimers in Maryland is expected to rise to more than 130,000, an increase of nearly 20% since 2020. Older African Americans like Hart are twice as likely to have dementia as white people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventio n. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely.

Experts say the graying population means police officers may increasingly come in contact with people behaving in aggressive or unusual ways because of neurocognitive impairments.

While theres no national count of how many people with dementia are arrested each year, according to The Marshall Project, a national news organization focused on criminal justice, arrests for people 65 and older increased nationwide before the pandemic. In Maryland, arrests for older people grew 47% between 2015 and 2019, while overall arrests rose 9.5%, according to FBI data. In Baltimore County, people 65 and older made up about 1% of people arrested in 2022.

In recent years, police elsewhere have injured or killed seniors with dementia.

In May, a former Colorado police officer was sentenced to five years in prison after he roughly arrested a 73-year-old woman with dementia in 2020, dislocating her shoulder and fracturing her arm. The woman allegedly had walked out of Walmart without paying for about $14 in merchandise. In New Mexico last year, an officer fatally shot a 75-year-old woman who had dementia as she stood holding two large kitchen knives in the doorway of her home.

There is a critical need to train more people  including caregivers and hospital workers, as well as police officers and those who work in jails and prisons  about how dementia affects a persons behavior, experts say.

He didnt need to go to jail

Although Baltimore County Police does not have a specific policy related to dementia, spokeswoman Joy Stewart wrote in an email, new officers get training on mental illness and cognitive decline in the police academy. Groups like the Alzheimers Association provide additional training to officers certified in crisis intervention. The department also offers in-service training scenarios involving drivers with dementia, Stewart said.

While patrol officers are not required to call the countys mobile crisis team, which pairs a trained officer with a mental health clinician, the departments field manual tells officers to request the teams response if the subject is believed to be experiencing mental health related issues.

Baltimore County Police denied a Maryland Public Information Act request for officers body-worn camera footage of the May arrest, citing an open administration investigation. The Baltimore County 911 Center also cited an open investigation when it denied a request for a recording of the 911 call; it did not immediately respond to questions about the canceled EMS unit.

Stewart declined to discuss the familys information that they told responding police officers about Harts dementia, citing privacy laws and the open investigation. She wouldnt say whether the responding officers were certified in crisis intervention, writing that officer certifications are personnel records protected from disclosure under Maryland law.

When asked about whether Hart sustained a head injury during his arrest, police spokesperson Trae Corbin referred reporters to a police report in which police indicated they did not use force in the arrest. The report categorized the situation as domestic violence and did not mention dementia or other health conditions.

When Samantha picked her father up from the county jail in May, she immediately drove him to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, where he was treated for four days.

There, according to his medical records, doctors diagnosed him with a boxers fracture, a broken bone that usually results from direct impact to a fist, on his hand and an altered mental status, a condition that can be a sign of dementia, psychosis or delirium. He was dehydrated and in withdrawal from alcohol. He also was missing his top dentures.

Erica Palmisano, a Baltimore County spokeswoman, declined to say what medical treatment Henry Hart received at the jail, citing privacy laws. But she said he was housed under close observation in a single-cell medical housing unit. Palmisano said the jail had no record of staff using force or a responding to an emergency involving him during Harts detention. She said any records from his incarceration will be reviewed as part of the police departments open administrative investigation.

He didnt need to go to jail, Samantha said.

The family filed a complaint with the police department because the officers arrested Hart after his relatives told them they didnt want that to happen.

After a county district judge in June found Hart to incompetent to assist in his own defense and a danger to himself and others because of his alcoholism, based on a court psychiatrists report, he was sent back to jail to wait for a bed in a state psychiatric hospital. That day, when his family spoke to him on the phone, he seemed confused about where he was.

Please come get me, Samantha said he kept saying. Im ready to go now.

Changing considerations

Many people with dementia become easily agitated and paranoid because theyre experiencing a slow degeneration of their brains, said Dr. Peter Crino, chair of the University of Maryland School of Medicines department of neurology and the chief of neurology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

When theyre upset, they can respond in primal, visceral ways  potentially lashing out at caregivers.

Its also common for people with dementia to wander by foot or car. Police may encounter people experiencing cognitive decline after pulling them over for erratic driving or responding to shoplifting or indecent exposure, said Megeen White, a registered nurse who serves as program manager for the Alzheimers Association Greater Maryland Chapter.

The local branch of the national organization has helped train first responders in the area since at least 2009, White said. Along with assisting in crisis intervention training in Baltimore and Harford counties, the group also helps train Harford County firefighters and Howard County emergency medical technicians, among other emergency responders.

During the training  which White said the group offers about three times per year in Baltimore County  first responders learn how to identify someone who might have dementia and how to interact with them. Facilitators use the acronym TALK: Take it slow, Ask simple questions, Limit reality checks and Keep eye contact.

While officers may encounter a variety of scenarios  including elderly people brandishing weapons  and have to adjust their responses accordingly, Crino said its important that police be aware of how dementia could be affecting seniors actions.

Officers could ask a caregiver about the seniors medical issues and potentially call in medical professionals, who could sedate or comfortably restrain them.

In recent years, more attention has been paid to how law enforcement should respond to people with mental illnesses and developmental or intellectual disabilities because of high-profile cases, said Luciene Parsley, an attorney for Disability Rights Maryland.

Some Baltimore-area agencies partner with mental health providers, who take emergency calls or respond alongside officers or deputies. In Baltimore County, clinicians field some 911 calls and accompany the police departments crisis team.

Long road to recovery

Although there isnt much research on how incarceration or police interactions affect people with dementia, a drastic change of environment can have a lasting impact on a patients cognitive function, said Dr. Mark Gloth, the chief medical officer at Gilchrist. Even a 24-hour hospital stay can prompt cognitive decline, studies show.

While its not unreasonable to assume the same would hold true of jail, Gloth said, more research is needed to say that with certainty.

After Hart returned from court to jail in June, Baltimore County Assistant States Attorney Michelle Fuller filed a motion to drop the charges against the senior and release him immediately. Prosecutors wrote in the motion that Samantha and Rosalind didnt want to pursue charges against Hart and werent injured when he allegedly pushed them.

The motion also quoted the court psychiatrists report, which found Harts risk would be reduced if he remains abstinent from alcohol. Samantha told prosecutors he had not had a drink since his arrest.

Fuller first spoke to Samantha and Rosalind after the competency hearing, which Fuller attended remotely, she said in a June 23 interview with The Sun.

Once they called me afterward and I talked to them, I felt comfortable not proceeding with the case based on what they told me, Fuller said. I felt like the best thing for him was to not be in the detention center.

As a result of Harts case, Fuller said District Court Administrative Judge Dorothy Wilson has asked county prosecutors to appear in person for mental health hearings, which are held twice a month in the Towson court, and Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger said Wednesday that his staff now does this.

Meanwhile, Hart is recovering from brain surgery he underwent earlier this month to address the bleed. Samantha said the system failed her father, who will now require 24/7 care once he is able to go home.

I would rather call my brother and tell him to come from New York, quick as he could, she said, before I would call 911 paramedics again.
These are the dirtiest waterways in South Florida. Are they in your neighborhood?

As a yacht full of 20-somethings zips through Miamis concrete jungle past Jose Marti Park, blaring Lattos Put It On The Floor, Aliza Karim dipped an extendable metal stick with a bottle tied at the end into the Miami River.

After flushing out the bottle three times and scooping up 100 milliliters, she lifts it up and takes a peek. The water looks pretty clear, though its a good bet that its teeming with bacteria that is a telltale sign of human waste.

Within days, Miamians will be able to see the results via Swim Guide, a free app that indicates whether waterways are safe for recreational use. A lot of them arent.

There are many reasons for that. For instance, it happens to be a typical South Florida rainy day during this sampling visit. That can be bad news for water quality in the Miami River and waterways across the region. Stormwater collected through grates in the street pour out into the canals outfalls, carrying with them a whole host of nasty stuff.

Its not just bad for these locations. Miami River and many of those canals ultimately feed into bigger bodies of water like Biscayne Bay  a lagoon that scientists have long said is on life support from pollution and other problems. This could be particularly bad for the bay, as this years record sea surface temperatures mixed with runoff could prompt fish kills.

Read More: Waters off Florida hit record high temps. Brace for fish kills, algae blooms, coral damage

With rainfall comes stormwater runoff, Karim said. That means all of the fertilizer, the dog poo, the septic tank leaking, which is usually raw sewage, is also running in through the stormwater system into the water.

Aliza Karim, Miami Waterkeepers water quality research manager, dips a 100 milliliter bottle into the canal at Jose Marti Park Thursday, June 29, in Miami, Fla.

This sampling effort is a weekly habit for Karim, Miami Waterkeepers water quality research manager, whose team samples 27 sites across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

And looking at the groups 2022 report, water quality problems are widespread.

A side-by-side taken from Miami Waterkeepers 2022 annual report shows how well South Florida canals and beaches fared that year with bacteria tests based on a recreational standard.

What Karim and her team are monitoring for in routine checks  along with factors like turbidity, salinity and temperature  is enterococci bacteria, a pollutant living in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. Water scientists generally use it as an indicator of poop matter and a warning sign for public health.

This spot, Jose Marti Park, didnt meet recreational standards 59.7% of the time in 2022, according to the report.

Though enterococci bacteria in small doses isnt necessarily dangerous, Karim said levels can often signal there are more harmful viral pathogens afoot. By itself, enterococci bacteria is not harmful, she said. But if its high or in high amounts, youre much more likely to be exposed to something harmful.

The group uses recreational standards to measure bacteria in the water  enterococci levels above 70 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water indicate a high level. Moderate levels are 36-70 enterococci per 100 mL, and a good level is 35 or less.

Sampling sites were chosen to reflect areas where there may be recreational use of the water, Karim said.

Eleven of the 27 sites failed more than half of its tests in 2022 across Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The Miami Herald reached out to officials in each area with a bacteria hotspot to further investigate what cities are doing to mitigate bacteria issues. Here are the sites with the biggest issues last year:

North Miami: West Arch Creek

Miami Waterkeeper only began sampling West Arch Creek in June 2022. But in only a short while, its numbers have been staggering  out of all 27 sites, it failed the most bacteria tests, with a 98.1% fail rate last year.

The creek passes through both Arch Creek Park and Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park, eventually flowing into Biscayne Bay.

Arch Creek Park is county-run  with a bacteria problem leaders are aware of through routine testing at the Department of Environmental Resources Management, said director Lisa Spadafina.

It ebbs and flows, she said. The conditions of the day can really dictate whats happening out there.

The county is constantly monitoring sewage systems, she said, and also implemented a program in 2022 called Connect 2 Protect, which aims to replace and update the countys nearly 9,000 septic tank systems that could fail under current conditions.

The [county] mayor is taking this very seriously, Spadafina said. We have many initiatives, multi-millions of dollars being spent on capital improvement infrastructure and projects, in addition to all of our monitoring so that we can have a better handle on the sources of our pollution.

North Miami Beach: East Greynolds Park

In North Miami Beach, East Greynolds Park is home to a kayak launch and a fishing dock. Its also a popular hotspot for residents to walk their dogs  something that could be a contributing factor to the canals pollution levels.

The park makes the list with a 51.2% fail rate.

A city spokesperson didnt respond to questions about North Miami Beachs efforts to improve quality in time for publication, but its also part of the canal system the county has a handle on.

Though progress is gradual, Spadafina said shes optimistic residents will see water quality improvements in canals in the next couple of years.

We cant necessarily do it overnight, Spadafina said. But we are extremely committed to seeing all of these things through so that eventually over time, we can start moving the needle in the opposite direction.

Miami: Little River, Jose Marti Park and Biscayne Canal





There are two testing sites along Miamis Little River, both of which fell at or above a 84% fail rate for bacteria sampling. Jose Marti Park and Biscayne Canal had 59.7% and 53.5% fail rates, respectively.

Jose Marti Park is a favorite for ships to pass through to larger waterways. Miami Country Day School offers students canoeing and kayaking opportunities along Biscayne Canal, so both are frequently used for recreation.

When asked about whats being done at these sites, city of Miami spokesperson Kenia Fallat said stormwater systems feeding into Little River are inspected twice a year and upkeep happens every two years, compared to three to five year maintence for other sites. The city tests water quality twice a year.

Other actions to keep canals clean include litter control, education about fertilizer ordinances and new sewer grates to prevent debris and waste from spilling into the river through the stormwater system, Fallat said.

Christi LeMahieu, lab director of Surfrider Miamis Blue Water Task Force that tests a separate set of waters  mostly beaches  said she has noticed a noticeable drop in water quality since the group began testing in 2018.

Surfriders testing, which complements that of Miami Waterkeeper, is continuing to ramp up as it nears 25 sites. Its results are also available via Swim Guide.

The beaches seem to be OK, LeMahieu said. But the the inner canals and Biscayne Bay are our problem child.

Fort Lauderdale: Sweeting Park, Annie Beck Park, Himmarshee Canal and Tarpon River

In Broward County, canals in Fort Lauderdale fared poorly last year.

Sweeting Park came in dead last in all of South Florida, failing bacteria tests 93.9% of the time. Himmarshee Canal, the Tarpon River and Annie Beck Park were problematic, too, failing 76.9%, 64.6% and 53.8% of the time, respectively.

Most of the canals at these sites are far inland and dont get flushed out often by tidal action. That can be an issue as pollution tends to snowball in standing water, said Rachel Silverstein, Miami Waterkeepers executive director.

Waters that are further from the ocean typically have higher bacteria levels, Silverstein said. Theyre not getting very well flushed by the ocean. Areas that are closer to the coast are having more tidal interchange between either the bay or the ocean, so theyre a little bit cleaner.

The city is well aware of the issue.

Nancy Gassman, Fort Lauderdales assistant public works director, said recreational limits are the most conservative standard the city could be holding itself to.

Theres a bacterial concern in almost all urban waterways, Gassman said. This is not unique. Its just that we happen to be monitoring and using a recreational standard that is available to the public in near real time so that they can determine whether they want to recreate those waters.

The Tarpon River in Fort Lauderdale is among the South Florida waterways with a persistent bacteria problem.

These three sites arent officially cleared for water sport activities, she said. But city officials worked with Miami Waterkeeper because they are spots where residents could enter the water with a kayak or canoe.

Signs at each location warn residents of potential water quality issues, each with QR codes that take them directly to the Swim Guide app, Gassman said, in an effort to allow people to educate themselves with their smartphones.

Fort Lauderdale is constantly looking for potential sources of pollution like pet waste or sewage leaks, she said. But thats not always a simple task.

Theres always action being taken, Gassman said. Its not always easy to find the source of a particular bacterial concern.
Disney heiress cut from pipe and arrested in climate protest over private jets in the Hamptons

Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy O Disney, was arrested on Friday for blocking the entrance to a private plane airport during a climate protest in East Hampton, New York.

Ms Disney, 63, joined climate activists from New York Communities for Change the Sunrise Movement and Reclaim Our Tomorrow to protest wealthy individuals use of private planes.

Using what appears to be PVC piping, activists, including Ms Disney, stuck their arms in the piping and tapped them together to form a human chain, preventing people from entering or leaving the private airport.

Police warned protesters to disperse twice before breaking out a power saw to separate each protester and arrest them.

Videos and photos posted to social media showed Ms Disney lying on the ground as officers from the East Hampton Police Department cut her from the PVC pipe to arrest her.

She was placed in handcuffs and taken into a white van where she says she was fingerprinted and issued a mug shot.

At 63 I still had not popped my fingerprint/mug shot cherry so I did this, Ms Disney tweeted. Because the last thing this planet needs is billionaires spewing greenhouse gases to get to their palatial beach homes. Just so wrong.

A perspective you dont often get:



Climate activists and Abigail Disney took over the East Hampton airport today in a protest over private jets and taxing the rich.



This is what it took for the Hamptons police to break through the pipes that activists locked themselves to. pic.twitter.com/TG0FEsUsjY  New York Communities for Change (@nychange) July 14, 2023

Over the last few years, affluent peoples use of private jets has come under scrutiny for contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Several high-net-worth celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner, have been criticised for using private planes.

Planet Over Profit organiser Teddy Ogborn said in a statement, As long as the 1 per cent continues to needlessly poison our air and heat our Earth, we will continue to escalate our actions against them.

BREAKING: Abigail Disney and 12 climate activists arrested for shutting down private East Hampton airport where celebrities and the ultra rich take their private jets to the beach.



Its time to ban private jets and tax the rich so we can all live!#StormtheHamptons pic.twitter.com/ZubHWEJczW  New York Communities for Change (@nychange) July 14, 2023

East Hampton is a wealthy suburb located on Long Island that is a well-known summer vacation spot for affluent people.

As a person who has been privileged enough to use private jets, I know its hard to give up a luxury that is special," Ms Disney said in a statement obtained by Fox News. "But I also know that the time has passed for spewing greenhouse gasses like this merely for our personal comfort."

Ms Disney cited several recent weather-related events like the floods in Vermont and New York, fatal heat in the South and ocean temperatures around Florida as evidence of the climate crisis.

"The wealthiest 1 per cent uses as much greenhouse gas as the entire bottom 50 per cent. It is time for real change and this is the most obvious place to start, Ms Disney added.

According to the East Hampton Star fourteen people including Ms Disney were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Angry Seas

Forget sharks; this summer has seen reports of orcas harassing and attacking boats. But another sea mammal, the lovable dolphin, has reportedly gone a step further and attacked a man in his 60s swimming off a beach in Japan, biting his hands and breaking his ribs in a shocking case of dolphin-on-human aggression, according to the BBC.

On that same Japanese beach, dolphins also attacked three other people, including a man in his 40s who suffered bites to his arm, the BBC reports. All told, the broadcaster reports that there have been six attacks this year at Suishohama beach, located on the Eastern coast of Japan  grisly incidents that have prompted local officials to tell swimmers not to approach these thugged-out bullies of the ocean.

If dolphin attacks surprise you  especially since they hold an enviable position in the human imagination  then you haven't been paying attention. Dolphin attacks on humans are rare but they do happen; the BBC listed a short inventory of aggro dolphin mauling, including one creature breaking the ribs of a woman and attacking another in Ireland in 2013.

U Mad Bro?

Whale experts said the orca attacks on boats appear to be done by juveniles who are waiting for their parents to come back with food and are biding their time by playing with boat rudders, The Washington Post reports, but this weird dolphin behavior seems less playful. Are they pissed at our long list of very bad behavior towards their own kind, which includes riding them for amusement, awful man-made noises from oil drilling and military operations, bizarre cross-species sexual encounters, and occasionally even slaughtering them en masse?

According to NOAA Fisheries, wild dolphins attack and bite humans when they are "angry, frustrated, or afraid." When people swim near them, it can stress them out. And it's best not to feed them, because this alters behavior and can make dolphins "pushy, aggressive, and threatening when they don't get the handout they expect."

"Dolphins have a reputation for being friendly, but they are actually wild animals who should be treated with caution and respect," the agency warned.

More on dolphins: Dolphins are screaming because of underwater drilling noise, scientists say
Domestic violence advocates said the restraining order not being delivered to the man who fatally shot a 21-year-old woman last week at a Marianos grocery store in Evergreen Park was a tragic failure but said it shouldnt discourage others from filing for such orders.

She did all the right things, and our judicial system failed her, said Pam Kostecki, the executive director of Crisis Center for South Suburbia. This is just a tragic failure of the system. It is designed to do the right things, but this is a failure.

Those with the center, which is a nonprofit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other series for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence, have seen how orders of protection can help a victim of domestic violence.

Dont let it discourage you from getting the help you need because the majority of the time the system works the way that its supposed to, Kostecki said.

Carol Gall, executive director of Sarahs Inn, a group started by women in River Forest and Oak Park to support victims of domestic violence and their families, agreed. Orders of protection allow victims to connect with a domestic violence advocate and other programs and supports they may need, Gall said.

The system is not a perfect system, unfortunately, Gall said. It points to the criticalness of programming and services for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Armoni Henry, of Chicago, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Thursdays shooting death of Jailene Flores, 21, also of Chicago. He was ordered held without bail Friday.

In a restraining order, which was granted April 19, Flores stated she and Henry had a dating relationship and referenced threats Henry made against her and her family. After two attempts to serve the order of protection were unsuccessful, possibly because of a wrong address, the petition was dropped May 31 when Flores didnt attend a court hearing.

An abuser will engage in an array of behaviors, Kostecki said, like telling a victim she or he doesnt do anything right, showing extreme jealousy, preventing or discouraging their partner from spending time with others, pressuring their partner to have sex or use drugs or alcohol or intimidating their partner.

A domestic violence victim will exhibit a sense of hopelessness, numbness, low self-esteem, lack of sense of self and depression, Kostecki said. They may deny the seriousness of abuse, live in fear and have physical injuries and illness, she said.

People respond to abuse differently, Kostecki said, and it depends on the frequency of abuse, degree of severity and the persons response to stress and coping with stressful situations.

In children who have experienced domestic violence, Kostecki said, they will exhibit sleep difficulties, increased separation anxiety and increased aggression, and repetitively talk or play about the events.

When a victim of domestic violence tries to leave an abuser, thats when the risk for violence, and even death, are highest, Gall said.

This woman did the things she was supposed to do, Gall said.

Whats important, Kostecki said, is for a victim of domestic violence to talk with someone they trust and develop a safety plan, broken down by day and month, that considers things like packing and finding a safe time to leave.

Every individual victim knows the answers to those questions better than any of the rest of us, Kostecki said. You need a safe space and a safe person to talk to even discuss and dive into that stuff.

When helping someone going through domestic violence, Kostecki said it is important to listen and be supportive.

Really the best thing that anyone can do, if theyre a friend or a co-worker, with someone who is in a domestic violence situation is believe them, support them, truly meet them where theyre at in the process and dont force your own thoughts and opinions onto the victim, Kostecki said.
Can Donald Trump delay trials until after 2024 election? Why he's trying to 'slow things down'

WASHINGTON  So what comes first: a Donald Trump criminal trial or Election Day?

Right now, many legal analysts believe Trump will face at least one jury of his peers before the general election of Nov. 5, 2024 - but maybe not before Republican primary voters decide who will get their party's presidential nomination, a prize that could be claimed as early as March.

No matter how it works out, Trump and his attorneys have begun the delay strategy by asking a federal judge to push back  indefinitely - a trial on federal obstruction of justice charges involving classified documents.

One reason, Trump's legal team said: The presidential election.

In this courtroom sketch, attorney Todd Blanche stands as he enters a plea of not guilty on behalf of former President Donald Trump, second from right, in federal court in June in Miami.

"This undertaking requires a tremendous amount of time and energy, and that effort will continue until the election on November 5, 2024," Trump's attorneys said in a motion.

Expect similar arguments in the future from Trump, who also faces a trial in New York state next year regarding hush money payments.

The former president could also be looking at two other trials related to efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. He may also seek to delay a January civil trial from writer E. Jean Carroll, who has alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

'Gamesmanship'

Trump and his legal team can file a flurry of pretrial motions and appeals of pretrial rulings, attorneys said, all designed to delay the dates of actual trials that would feature Trump sitting in court rather than speaking on the campaign trail.

"There's going to be a lot of gamesmanship," said Ty Cobb, a defense attorney and former White House Special Counsel for Trump. "There is a lot of room for mischief."

Whether Trump can delay things until after the general election remains to be seen.

Cobb said pretrial maneuvering "will definitely slow things down," but "doesn't necessarily have to slow things down in perpetuity."

Election interference?

Attorneys and aides to other candidates have long assumed Trump would try to use his campaign as a shield for his legal troubles, and hope that his election  or the election of another Republican  would lead to dismissals of the cases against him.

Trump and his lawyers have not discussed their strategy publicly; they have called the investigations politically motivated and said they all should be shut down.

"This is planned Election Interference of the highest magnitude," Trump shared on Truth Social Wednesday.

First test: The documents case

Trump's delay strategy gets its first test in Florida, the site of the classified documents trial.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who initially scheduled the documents trial for mid-August, is considering Trump's request to delay it indefinitely.

The Justice Department has proposed a trial in December, saying they need the time to determine what kinds of classified information can and should be disclosed in open court.

In their filing, Trump's lawyers said December does not give them "adequate time" to prepare. They added that "President Trump is running for President of the United States and is currently the likely Republican Party nominee."

Indeed, according to polls, the indictments have fueled a rise in support for Trump among Republican voters, though independent voters are more skeptical of his candidacy.

A New York trial in March?

The New York state trial involving hush money is scheduled for late March. Trump has noted that the scheduled start date is "right in the middle of primary season," although the question of who will be the nominee could well be decided by then.

The GOP nomination process begins Jan. 15 with the Iowa caucuses. The month and a half after that features primaries in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

A "Super Tuesday" set of primaries in more than a dozen states is set for March 5. That could leave a Republican nominee with an insurmountable lead in convention delegates.

It also sets up the prospect of a presumptive nominee sitting in a criminal courtroom and subject to conviction and a prison sentence.

Trump is likely to seek a delay of the New York trial when the time comes. He has constantly disputed the authority of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan and claimed they have no right to conduct the case against him.

In late March of this year, a New York grand jury indicted Trump on charges of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The indictment said Trump bought her silence about their relationship right before the 2016 election, so those payments amounted to illegal campaign spending.

Trump has pleaded innocent and denounced the New York prosecution as politically motivated.

Trump-Carroll: A civil action

Trump also faces a possible civil trial in January, though he would not be required to attend in person.

Carroll, who won a $5 million judgment against Trump after a jury in May found him liable for sex abuse and defamation, has a second defamation trial over verbal attacks he made during his years as president.

The trial is scheduled for Jan. 15  the same day as the Iowa caucuses.

Trump may also seek to delay that proceeding, in part, because of questions about his legal representation. The Justice Department has reversed its previous position and said it would not defend Trump in this case because the comments in question did not involve his duties as president.

Trump did not attend the first civil trial with Carroll, and presumably would not have to attend a second one.

Two more trials

Beyond hush money and classified materials, Trump faces the possibility of indictments in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

Both cases involve efforts to overturn Trump's loss of the 2020 election to Biden. The Atlanta investigation covers actions in Georgia, while a separate federal probe focuses on Trump-inspired activity in several states.

Both could be complicated cases, with pretrial disputes that could push back trials for months.

Some legal analysts said Trump has limited ability to delay trials for long periods of time. They also said voters are entitled to know Trump's legal standing before deciding whether to support him.

"At a minimum, the cases need to be adjudicated before the Republican convention," said Norman Eisen, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution who has done legal analyses of the Trump investigations.

The GOP convention in Milwaukee is scheduled for July 15-18, 2024.

Bradley P. Moss, an attorney who specializes in national security matters, said he expects Trump to "make every effort he can to avoid facing trial before the election," especially in cases that could involve prison time.

Total success, he said, is unlikely.

"Mr. Trump will absolutely be on trial in some form or another during the campaign," Moss said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Trump wants Aileen Cannon to delay trial until after 2024 election
Donald Trump Jr says he wouldnt have got away with having cocaine at White House: Luckily its not my thing

Donald Trump Jr was speaking at the Turning Point Action Conference (REUTERS)

Former White House resident Donald Trump Jr has weighed in after the Secret Service closed its investigation into the discovery of cocaine in the building - suggesting he would not have gotten away with that.

The eldest son of former president Donald Trump made the comments at the Turning Point Action Conference on Sunday, when he assured the crowd that snorting cocaine was not his thing.

My guys who I stayed in touch with  many of them just dear friends  theyre like, Hey dude, theres no way you wouldve gotten away with that, he animatedly told the crowd. I go, I know! Luckily, I dont snort, er, cocaine! Its just not my thing.

Jr: I dont snort cocaine, its not my thing pic.twitter.com/zXPHMufQpE  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

Mr Trump has previously denied being a drug user. On his Triggered podcast earlier this year, he described to former Trump White House official Kash Patel the price of his getting involved in politics, in the process making a series of unsubstantiated claims about President Bidens son Hunter.

I look at what they called me: a traitor, Mr Trump said. Adam Schiff wanted to try me for treason, a crime punishable by death, but Hunter Biden can take a billion from China, work for Ukraine oligarchs, work for Russian oligarchs, money launder, be paid in diamonds off the books, not declare anything in taxes, drop guns in dumpsters across from high schools, and its like, Hes an upstanding human being. And then I give an impassioned speech, and its Don Jr is on coke.

A small amount of cocaine (around .007oz  enough for a misdemeanour charge)  was discovered in the White House, but the Secret Service said their investigation would have involved 500 people, not a short enough list of suspects to draw any concrete conclusions.

However the lack of investigation has lef to criticisms levelled at President Joe Biden for not doing enough to find the culprit, as well as at White House staff in general. Conservative pundits have speculated  without evidence  that the drug may have belonged to the presidents son, Hunter Biden, who is a recovering drug addict.

Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: 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!

He subsequently took to calling President Biden a crackhead.
Dover man shot by city police fired into car, dragged woman and baby toward house: Police

A Dover man who was shot by officers last month after police say he shot into a car and then tried to drag a woman into a home has been arrested.

Tyrone Kersey, 37, is being held in prison on nearly $100,000 cash bond following the June 11 incident, which began as a trespassing call.

According to the Dover Police Department, officers responded to the 400 block of Sussex Ave. shortly before 8:45 p.m. after receiving a 911 call. After the initial trespassing call, police said Kersey "engaged in a verbal argument with a 32-year-old female," also from Dover.

The argument turned physical when Kersey pushed the woman to the ground, police said.

As officers arrived at the home, Kersey pulled out a gun and began shouting at police, a news release said. He also "refused to follow police commands to put the firearm down and get on the ground."

INITIAL STORY: Man shot by Dover police after firing gun 'in the presence of police,' department says

Instead, police said, he fired one shot into a nearby parked car, which the woman and her 1-year-old baby had gotten into. Kersey then pulled the woman from the car while she was holding the baby in her arms, police said.

"Kersey continued to refuse commands from officers and began pulling the victims toward a residence," the news release said. "During this movement, and due to the escalating threat to everyone present, Kersey was shot by police."

Kersey was taken to Bayhealth Kent Campus and later transferred to ChristianaCare.

After recovering in the hospital, Kersey was arraigned on more than a half-dozen charges and held in prison.

The officer who shot the man has been with Dover police for 2  years and is a member of the patrol division, the department said. As with all police shootings, he's been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Dover police are investigating internally while the Delaware Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust is also investigating.

Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover man shot by city police during domestic incident arrested
Legendary producer Andre Dr. Dre Young said he felt more comfortable working with new musical acts than with artists he considered his heroes.

Andre Dr. Dre Young made hits for many musical artists but recently confessed to turning down chances to work with some serious legends. The longtime producer said he passed on collaborations with Michael Jackson, Prince and Stevie Wonder.

During an appearance on Kevin Harts Peacock talk show Hart to Heart, the comedian asked Young whether there were artists he regretted not getting a chance to work with, according to People. The Aftermath Entertainment founder revealed that Jackson and Prince reached out to work with him, but he said no.

He said that he felt there was nothing he would be able to contribute to artists he considered his heroes.

Music producer Andre Dr. Dre Young attends The 2023 Met Gala May 1 in New York City. He talked recently about why he turned down the chance to work with some legends. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

They just asked me to work with them, and I was just like, What the fk am I going to do with them,' he said. He also stated that he most recently turned down working with Wonder, who contacted him over the phone.

The seven-time Grammy Award winner said he felt most comfortable working with up-and-coming artists rather than established or legendary artists.

My entire life and career has been dealing with and working with new artists. Thats what I like, he explained. Its a ball of clay when they walk in the room. You can just form it and do what you want. Thats what I want.

He has a point. Throughout his entire career, most of his success as a producer has come through artists at their brand-new point: from JJ Fad to Michele, Snoop Dogg to Eminem, 50 Cent to Anderson .Paak. He has made hits with well-known artists, on occasion, like 2Pacs California Love, Mary J. Bliges Family Affair and Busta Rhymes Break Ya Neck.

One such occasion when he clashed with a well-known artist was when he worked with Rakim. The legendary Long Island MC signed with Aftermath in 2000, looking to record an album with Dr. Dre, according to Billboard. However, in 2003, before releasing an album, the Microphone Fiend rapper and Aftermath mutually parted ways due to creative differences.

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The post Dr. Dre turned down chances to collaborate with Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder appeared first on TheGrio.
Kerch bridge USV attack

The Ukrainian federal security service, known by the acronym SBU, carried out Sunday's attack on the Kerch Bridge in cooperation with the country's navy using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), according to state media and many other reports. The attack badly damaged the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean peninsula it has occupied since 2014.

We must highlight that these are initial reports and there is a massive information war also being fought by both sides. The War Zone could not independently verify these claims at this time, but they have been reconfirmed by various outlets. Still, Ukraine has a history of not giving information out on high-profile long-range attack. The possibility that this is a misdirect to obscure another form of attack is very real and must be kept in mind.

Close-up view of damaged Kerch Bridge span. (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies.)

View of the damaged Kerch Bridge span. (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies.)

Russian officials say it forced a halt to vehicle traffic and killed two motorists and injured their young daughter. Railroad traffic, across the bridge, however, continued, they say. You can read more about the strike and its potential impact in our initial coverage here.

This would mark the latest escalation in Ukraine's use of USVs, which you can read more about later in this story.

https://twitter.com/oalexanderdk/status/1680888907959787520?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A https://twitter.com/JanR210/status/1680822162414788610

A nighttime attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge was a special operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy, the official Ukrainian Ukrinform news agency reported Monday. According to Ukrinform's sources in the SBU, the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy are behind a nighttime explosion at the bridge. Unmanned surface vessels were used to attack the bridge.

"It was hard to get to the bridge, but this was eventually done," the SBU said, according to Ukrinform, adding that SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk stated that the bridge is a legitimate target for Ukraine.

The bridge was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones, an anonymous Ukrainian official told The Washington Post Monday.

CNN had a similar report, saying "a source in Ukraines Security Service (SBU) told CNN this attack was a joint operation of the SBU and Ukraines naval forces. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not received authorization to speak on the record."

The SBUs quick acknowledgment of its role in the attack is in stark contrast to how Ukraine reacted after the previous Kerch Bridge strike on October 8, 2022. Ukrainian officials like Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate, played coy about their role in that attack. It was only until recently, when, as we reported, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar listed that operation among Ukraines accomplishments during the 500 days of all-out war.

Of course, by Monday morning, Russian officials were blaming Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a terrorist attack on the bridge.

A criminal case was opened after the terrorist attack, and the necessary investigative actions are being taken, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. We are confident that those guilty will be found and will not escape justice. If the investigation finds that the surface drones that attacked the bridge are of Western origin, and that Western countries played a role in planning, sponsoring and conducting this operation, it will confirm their complicity in the Kyiv regimes terrorist activity.

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, which is a purely civilian facility. We hope that the international community and relevant multilateral agencies will put their foot down and give a proper assessment of yet another crime committed by the Ukrainian authorities. The damage to the Crimean Bridge caused by the terrorist attack will be repaired shortly. All attempts to disrupt the transport link to the peninsula and tear Crimea from the rest of Russia are invariably futile.

https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1680951468067631105

The Kyiv regime committed another barbaric crime, Kherson Oblast occupation governor Volodymyr Saldo said Monday on his Telegram channel. Damage to the structures of the Crimean Bridge is secondary. Primarily, Ukrainian propaganda mocks the death of civilians on the bridge. This shows the true face of those who are now sitting on Bankova Street in Kyiv or hiding somewhere in bunkers.

USVs Weapon Of Choice

If the SBU claim is true this marks not just the second Ukrainian attack on the bridge, but a big increase in the capabilities of its USV fleet.

Starting last October, Ukraine began using USVs to attack Sevastopol in Crimea, home to Russias Black Sea Fleet. You can read more about that attack in our story here.

There have been numerous Ukrainian USV attacks since then, both in Crimea and reportedly in the open waters of the Black Sea, according to Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it foiled yet another aerial drone and USV attack on Sevastopol on July 16.

https://twitter.com/gloooud/status/1680832616864399367

It is roughly 320 nautical miles (368 miles) from the closest Ukrainian-controlled shore to the Kerch Bridge, taking the most direct route around Crimea to the bridge. That is a very long-range strike that is unprecedented for Ukrainian USVs used against littoral targets. If the attacks on Russian vessels deep to the south in the Black Sea are indeed as Russia has purported them to be, such a long-range capability has been demonstrated. There is also the possibility that they were clandestinely launched much closer via a mothership vessel, but there is no evidence of that at this time.

Russia keeps a very close watch on the bridge and its approaches for just this kind of an attack. The span is heavily defended, but clearly not enough if indeed USVs got through and did this kind of damage. The low-slung area of the bridge that was hit would have maximized the impact from the blast from a explosive laden USV below.

Key Span

The Kerch Bridge is a key span for Russian logistics as it fights Ukraine's counteroffensive pushing slowly south toward Crimea. As we mentioned earlier this morning, vehicle traffic that normally would flow across the bridge is being rerouted via routes through territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts that Russia occupies.

Taking out the bridge makes for a much longer trip to southern Ukraine, though if the rail lines are still operating as Russian officials claim, that would certainly reduce the impact of this attack. But beyond the inconvenience factor, it also means that Russian resupply efforts by road have to travel far closer to the front lines and well within the operational distance of Ukraine's extended-range strike weapons. These weapons pose more of a threat to static vehicles and bridges (as we have seen targeted in the recent past) and key roadways areas though, not hitting moving vehicles.

https://twitter.com/GlasnostGone/status/1680942863721406464 https://twitter.com/georgewbarros/status/1680770032119283712

Saldo said that he and Sergie Askenov, the occupation governor of Crimea, have been working on plans to make those routes easier to travel with the increased traffic.

Those regions will be fully involved in the organization of traffic for people to Crimea along the land route along the Azov coast, an alternative to the Crimean bridge, said Saldo. Kherson region is preparing to increase the transport and passenger flow. At the moment, most of the road from Melitopol to the Dzhankoy checkpoint within the region has been overhauled, the entrances to the checkpoint have been expanded. Measures will be taken to expedite the screening of people and vehicles.

Specialists are working on the possibility of directing part of the tourist flow through the Armyansk checkpoint, he added.

It could be used by tourists heading to the eastern coast of Crimea,

Meanwhile, the ferry crossing from the Krasnodar Territory has resumed its work - the first batch of passengers from the port of Kavkaz has already arrived at the port of Kerch, the Russian Defense Ministrys Zvezda News reported on its Telegram channel Monday. However, for now, only passengers of regular buses can use the sea route.

https://twitter.com/NatalkaKyiv/status/1680959700135755778 https://twitter.com/aborealis940/status/1680895219410116610

Deputy Prime Minister Khusnullin said officials should know in a few hours the extent of the damage.

I personally went downstairs and looked, he told Zvezda News. Now designers and builders are working out technological schemes for repairs, discussing whether it is possible to start the machines. A couple more hours - and there will be a decision. The divers are finishing their inspection of the supports.

https://twitter.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1680868585290309632

"Previously, the railway bridge supports were not damaged, now they are studying automobile supports. In two hours there will be information, we will confer for now, outline a plan of action," the deputy prime minister told Zvezda.

While the ability of train traffic across the bridge will certainly help Russian logistics, it remains to be seen just how much and just how long it will take to repair the bridge after this attack.

In the wake of this attack, Russia announced it was canceling the Black Sea Grain Initiative, hammered out over the summer to allow grain and other food and fertilizer to be shipped out via Ukraine's Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1680958032291692547

There is also the possibility that Russia will carry out retaliatory strikes across Ukraine.

We are certainly be watching for future developments and will update this story when there is more information to report.

Update 4:41 p.m. Eastern:

During a televised speech Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed a response to the attack.

"The terrorist act seriously damaged the road along several spans of the Crimean Bridge, and as a result auto and railway traffic was halted.

However, railway traffic has already been restored, he said.

Considering that this is the second terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, I am waiting for specific proposals on how to improve the security of this strategically important transport facility. We discussed this in detail this morning.

Putin added that the attack was senseless because the bridge hadnt been used for military logistics for a while.

Of course there will be a response from the Russian side, he said. The Defense Ministry is preparing adequate proposals.

https://twitter.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1681029040528846853?s=20

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

.
How Dutchess looks to the future to address its tech workforce

The 18 students, John Jay High School juniors and seniors, sat in a conference room in OnSemi's East Fishkill campus. The company manufactures chips for devices found in everything from electric cars to the power grid. The students, who had just finished a tour and discussion on engineering, went around the table sharing the fields and professions they were heading into after graduating.

Biochemistry. Medicine. Political science and business. Environmental engineering. Law school. Orthodontics.

Very few were interested in becoming engineers and none wanted jobs in manufacturing. Most didn't even think they would be coming back to Dutchess County to work.

Onsemi technical staff, John Andrews explains to a group of John Jay High School students how microchips are made at the fab in East Fishkill on May 25, 2023.

"Everything you will do in life, you will have to have some problem solving ability, and engineering is just problem solving with math and science," Leah Miller, who teaches Advanced Placement Chemistry, told her students as they were ending their visit to OnSemi.

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The federal government plans to pour billions into the chip manufacturing industry, in order to cut off supply chain dependence on foreign countries, but the Hudson Valley region has faced a shortage of individuals trained to fill the positions needed, and as young workers leave the state and an aging population retires, the problem has been exacerbated.

Wappingers Central School District has organized field trips to visit companies such as OnSemi, GlobalFoundries, and Central Hudson and has also brought them into their schools to encourage students  some of them as young as third grade  to consider a career in the engineering and manufacturing spheres, all part of an effort to meet the growing demand for a workforce capable of turning New York into a tech powerhouse.

OnSemi is working with high schools and and community colleges on including the skill sets needs for their jobs into the curricula. The company anticipates that with the increase in private investments boosted by the funding that will be coming through the CHIPS and Science Act, "the demand for that type of talent is rising in parallel."

Dutchess County Education and Workforce committee helped allocate over $1.2 million for lab equipment and fitting for Dutchess Community College because of the over hundred manufacturers in the region who are "desperate for workers," according to Assistant Dutchess County Executive Ronald Hicks.

On Wednesday, the state announced $31.5 million in funding to a program that would create pathways for high school students into these fields and careers. The schools awarded the New York Pathways In Technology Early College High School Program, or P-TECH, include Dutchess BOCES, Yonkers Central School District, Peekskill Central School District and Brewster Central School District.

From left, Wappingers Central School District superintendent Dwight Bonk talks with Onsemi East Fishkill Fab engineering director, Steffen Kaldor while students form John Jay High School tour the Onsemi microchip fab in East Fishkill on May 25, 2023.

"The more we can expose kids to a variety of careers that are literally two blocks away from them and actually show them how to get there in a fun and engaging way, I think we will get the buy in from students," said Jason Schetelick, superintendent of Dutchess BOCES.

Building the labor pipeline

Dutchess Community College will be enrolling its first cohort of 30 students into its mechatronics program this fall. Mechatronics, described as "intersection of mechanical systems, electrical systems, control systems and computers," will train technicians and help fill the labor shortages companies like OnSemi may be experiencing.

Lab stations in the mechatronics lab at Dutchess Community College's Fishkill campus on July 12, 2023.

The 6,000-square-foot mechatronics lab at the DCC campus in Fishkill, occupying space that was once part of the Dutchess Mall, will provide workforce training and certification in the areas of mechanical, electrical, automation and HVAC.

The college is also working with Dutchess BOCES on bringing New York State's P-TECH program to the county. P-TECH is a collaboration between a school district, a college and an industry partner. Students are introduced to technical career pathways in middle school and they can take college level courses in those fields starting in 9th grade. Students would then graduate high school with a diploma and an associates degree.

Wednesday, Dutchess BOCES was awarded $2.95 million in partnership with the community college and The Council of Industries. Some of the funding will also be going to the college's Mechatronics lab.

The hope is that programs such as P-TECH and Mechatronics will be part of a labor pipeline that starts at eighth grade and goes through BOCES Career & Technical Institute, post-secondary credentials, degrees and certificates that will address the technical and skills gap, according to Peter Grant Jordan, DCC president.

Dutchess BOCES has also been talking with New York State to allow for industry professionals to be certified in order to come into the classrooms to teach, said Schetelick.

Getting hired

But even with the looming labor shortage, what this public-private partnership cannot do is guarantee job placement.

OnSemi took part in a project, Authentic STEM, earlier this year where a group of six BOCES students were asked to build a small robotic puzzle to be used in a hiring exercise. The experience was meant to allow the students, who were recommended by their teachers, to work with professionals and make connections with local industry.

Dutchess BOCES students, from left, Daniel Nieves Gamboa, Connor Young, Tyler Bloomer and Matthew Burris with their robot which they created for a project from Onsemi in Poughkeepsie on May 18, 2023.

The students also worked with the University of Siegen in Germany and middle school students from upstate New York.

"Communicating better, troubleshooting, figuring out the problems and how to fix them," said Daniel Nieves Gamboa as to what he learned from taking part in the program. Having exposure to the industry allows students to gain technical skills and also pick up an understanding of how to work in a professional setting.

About 40% of BOCES students will go directly into a career, according to BOCES' superintendent. Enrollment in the school's Career & Technical Institute has also increased over the past five years. This past school year was the first time BOCES did a "career signing day" where they highlighted a handful of students who signed on with companies.

Allowing industries into the classroom is meant to create a connection for students that will help them get jobs and allow potential employees the ability to follow a student's progress. But, in the end, it's up to the industries to hire students who take part in these programs.

"I was trying to get (a student) an interview with (OnSemi) because of the STEM program, that's the reason why I chose him to be part of the group because of the STEM program," said James McQuade, an HVAC instructor. He had trouble setting up an interview with OnSemi for one of his students. OnSemi later told the Journal the student's job application was in process and he had spoken with a recruiter.

"We are working with BOCES to identify opportunities to improve engagement and communications to ensure much needed top technical talent understand their path to pursue careers at onsemi," said Stefanie Cuene, a spokesperson for OnSemi.

What a people shortage means for jobs

While OnSemi has said it is able to hire to meet its need, there is "an there is an increasing need for maintenance technicians with relevant two-year degrees locally and nationally across the semiconductor industry," according to Cuene.

Steffen Kaldor, an engineering director at OnSemi, who helped guide the students through the tour said there is a shortage in two-year degree maintenance technicians, individuals who can operate equipment and have basic electromechanical skills.

Entry-level technicians bring in upwards of $40,000, and engineers starting out can make over $80,000, according to job postings and labor statistics.

Labor shortages in all industries may be exacerbated over the years with decreasing birth rate and school enrollments and an aging workforce with a growing gap in the skills needed for these type of advanced technology jobs. Also,over the past two decades, jobs in manufacturing were discouraged or not discussed in education settings.

A shortage in labor in this growing industry may not translate into reduced manufacturing, it just means that companies may have to focus more on automation.

"We don't think it's replacing jobs, but it's helping companies address to address jobs that are currently unfilled," said Johnnienne Hansen, vice president for the Council of Industry.

The Council of Industries has been working with industry leaders, educators and government to close the hiring gap within manufacturing. The solution isn't just found in local high schools, but also in training and providing incentives to those already in the workforce. The recent issue of the council's magazine stated that by closing the gender gap, only 29% of manufacturing workforce is female, and diversifying the workforce could fill in most of its empty positions.

"The electromechanical program that they have at Dutchess has been a success story, we get a lot of technicians out of that program, but not at the volume that can really keep up," Hansen said.

Saba Ali: SAli1@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-451-4518.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: How Dutchess is closing the labor shortage gap in tech manufacturing
In a new Siena College poll, a full 61% of New Yorkers said that they were worried about personally being a crime victim and half worry about safety in public spaces. The fact that theyre doing so in the safest big city in the nation by almost every conceivable metric is a failure on a lot of fronts.

We cant minimize the impact of crime on those who are harmed by it, and in a city the size of ours, every day will feature horrors that can be splashed across the headlines and seized on by opportunistic political figures, even if the likelihood that of them afflicting any one New Yorker remains vanishingly low. Spikes in certain categories of violent crime over the past few years were concerning, and responses to deal with it had merit. Safety is, as is often said, a prerequisite to other aspects of civic life.

Yet now violent crimes are largely down, and they were still near historic lows to begin with. There are costs to the overrepresentation of looming crime in the public imagination, too; not just the emotional toll of a persistent fear but the political and policy toll of a constant focus on solutions to a problem that isnt as acute as many imagine.

The lurid obsession with the threat of being mugged or shot by random strangers obscures, for example, the far more common occurrence of intimate partner assaults or cycles of retaliatory violence among people who know each other. More broadly, it emphasizes the conspicuous end points of some of our social and civic failures and puts our attention on fixing those, rather than anything upstream.

Case in point, with the ever-growing realization that Rikers Island cannot be effectively managed by the city to be made a safe place, let alone a rehabilitative one. If a public obsession with the specter of crime makes us more likely to send people to this ungovernable gulag, then are we really working in service to safety, or adding to the problem?

___
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks inside a warehouse at San Quentin State Prison on March 17. He wants to call a convention to pass a proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution dealing with gun safety. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposed constitutional amendment on gun safety has two great things going for it. The first is that it aims to protect four popular and modest commonsense restrictions: a ban on assault weapons, mandated background checks on gun buyers, a waiting period before buyers can take possession, and a minimum purchasing age of 21.

All four requirements are already law in California, where they contribute to a gun death rate thats about 37% lower than the national average.

All four are currently in peril as the U.S. Supreme Court continues to strike down reasonable gun laws. Under Newsoms proposal, all four would become law nationwide.

And the second great thing about the would-be 28th Amendment? It has no chance of being adopted.

Thank goodness. Although the four California gun requirements at issue are exactly the right policy, and although polling shows that all four are embraced by a majority of Americans, Newsoms route for getting them into the Constitution is scary. He wants to call a constitutional convention.

Read more: Editorial: Newsoms Texas-style gun ploy is an emotionally satisfying, and very bad, idea

The problem is that once a convention is in session, it can propose anything  not just new gun provisions, but any number of new governmental powers or restrictions that could upend the way the nation operates. It might come up with an entirely new Constitution. That may sound great to people who believe the nation is in desperate need of a reset, until they realize that theres no guarantee of a better outcome.

A convention could produce wiser gun laws, but it could just as easily abolish restrictions on any weapons. It could eliminate civil rights protections or enhance the powers of the armed forces, or pretty much anything. If it proposes a Constitution that is adopted by the states, it couldnt be struck down as unconstitutional because, well, it would be the Constitution.

But of course none of that is going to happen. To call a convention under Article V of the existing Constitution, the legislatures of two-thirds of the states would have to be on board, and then the legislatures (or state conventions) of three-fourths of the states would have to ratify whatever the convention approves. If there were sufficient consensus to call a convention, or to amend the Constitution through the more traditional route (with supermajorities in the House and Senate approving the proposal, and ratification by three-fourths of the states), there would probably already be consensus to pass sensible gun laws through most state legislatures.

So should Californians blast Newsoms proposal as a headline-grabbing political stunt to score political points around the nation? Is it just another flavor of his wrongheaded proposal to encourage Californians to sue one another over guns, the same way a Texas law offers bounties to punish abortions? (Newsom signed legislation to enact his plan, but it was partially struck down in court.)

Read more: Editorial: Court's domestic violence gun ruling shoots first, asks questions ... never

Or should we praise Newsom for finally offering something more muscular than the typical thoughts-and-prayers response to mass shootings while the Supreme Court and the gun industry (and its GOP lackeys) undermine sensible restrictions?

A little of both, perhaps. The constitutional convention idea may be just a ploy, but its a nice, if merely symbolic, alternative to hand-wringing and congressional impotence.

For the present, more effective action seems out of reach. Newsom previously pushed through serious gun reforms such as Proposition 63, a successful 2016 California ballot measure requiring criminal background checks for purchasing ammunition and a ban on magazines that hold more than 10 bullets, among other things.

But key parts of that measure, and indeed any modest restriction on the proliferation of deadly weapons, are imperiled by the Supreme Courts aggressive interpretation of 2nd Amendment rights.

Progress on gun reform will require creative thinking and political will, and Newsom put both on display when he unveiled his proposed amendment last month. It will also require a measure of pragmatism. It would be nice to see some of that from the governor as well.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When the Tampa school board voted in May to close Just Elementary School, it wasnt a surprise. Just is the only school in Florida to receive an F from the state Department of Education, and fewer than 11% of its students can read at grade level. Its already half-empty.

In theory, the closure should have been good news for families whose children attend Just. Theres a great public school, Gorrie Elementary, about 2 miles away. At Gorrie, 80% of the kids read at grade level. For many Just families, Gorrie is much closer to home, so a reassignment there would mean a shorter commute, too.

But thats not what happened. Like many elite urban elementary schools, Gorrie is full up with families who have crammed into the attendance zone. So the Just students got assigned to Tampa Bay Boulevard and Washington elementary schools, which have reading proficiency levels of 51% and 27%, respectively. For most of these families, their new school is further away than Gorrie.

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The outcome was predictable. It is a pattern that plays out in almost all urban American districts.

In 2020, I published a book about educational redlining and the coveted public elementary schools that are protected by attendance zones  places like Lincoln Elementary in Chicago, PS 8 Robert Fulton in Brooklyn, Lakewood Elementary in Dallas and Mount Washington Elementary in Los Angeles.

Gorrie shares all the telltale characteristics of these schools: full enrollment, demographics that skew wealthier and whiter than nearby schools, much higher rates of proficiency on state tests than the district average and homes that cost up to $300,000 more than those just outside the zone because they come with privileged access to a free high-quality public education.

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Bradford: A Free Education System Bought and Sold on the Housing Market, as It Was Intended to Be

My book features maps showing that the attendance zones of many of these schools mirror the racist redlining diagrams drawn during the New Deal era to determine who would (and wouldnt) qualify for federal housing assistance. If you line up the Gorrie attendance zone with the redlining map of the same neighborhood from 1940, youll see that the school zone covers all the areas deemed to be best and desirable over 80 years ago.

It also boxes out almost all the areas of town that were shaded red and labeled hazardous because they had a high concentration of low-income people of color. Those areas are still low-income neighborhoods, and once again those families find themselves on the losing end of discriminatory government maps.

Those maps are not so easy to change.

Earlier this year, before the vote that closed Just Elementary, Superintendent Addison Davis of the Hillsborough County Public Schools released a rezoning plan developed by a high-end New York urban planning firm. His goal was to reduce costs by closing underutilized schools and assigning children to buildings closer to their homes. According to Davis, 44% of Hillsborough schools are underenrolled, while 24% are overenrolled  an imbalance that had contributed to the districts ongoing financial crisis. The rezoning/closure plan projected capital savings of up to $160 million and annual savings of up to $30 million.

The plan, however, caused a huge public controversy. Many students at Plant High School  an overcrowded, high-performing school that serves many high-income families who live quite far away  would have been assigned to other, closer schools. But their wealthy parents objected, and Davis had to scrap his plans to redo the zone for Plant. The closure of Just Elementary, however, did pass, as there were so few parents left who would object to shutting a failing, half-empty school. Davis has since announced his resignation, perhaps a casualty of the bitter politics of his rezoning effort.

Similar tensions play out in my old neighborhood of Los Angeles. In northeast L.A., seven elementary schools surround coveted Mount Washington. Those seven schools saw average enrollment losses of 66% in the last 15 to 20 years. Meanwhile, Mount Washington saw enrollment increase by almost 40% in a little over a decade. Families have crowded into the Mount Washington zone, pushing housing prices even higher and making access impossible for students of modest means.

Such imbalances cannot go on forever, though. Since coveted schools can accommodate only so many students, and operating half-empty buildings around their perimeter is extremely expensive, districts are eventually forced to do something. Typically, they announce plans to redraw zoning lines. But, as happened with Plant, powerful parents and homeowners object, and school board members make extraordinary concessions to appease them. A number of districts have spent as much as $20 million to renovate a school to add more seats, even though there was a public school just down the road with plenty of room. At Lincoln, Lakewood and Mary Lin Elementary in Atlanta, officials approved millions in wasteful spending just to avoid upsetting parents who had already paid for access to a specific public school.

Before he resigned, Davis admitted that he believed part of his job was to ensure that home values continue to go up. Of course, artificially inflated home prices are concentrated in the zones of the most coveted public schools  those protected by educational redlining. Its astounding that school officials are proud that they contribute to the ongoing housing affordability crisis, which is exacerbated by the persistent use of exclusionary school zones.

Eventually, districts may move away from this archaic model of school assignment, since it violates fundamental American ideals of fairness and undermines the public schools noble purpose of providing every child with a fair shot at the American dream. When they do, they should look to the history of the community college system in California. For decades, the system relied on geographic assignment, and enrollment eroded, much as it has in urban K-12 districts.

Then, in 1987, a state commission recommended ending the geography-based system. The legislature agreed and opened up the colleges to all state students. Enrollment rebounded, and now the community college system is one of the most trusted institutions in the state.

School access neednt be a zero-sum game governed by bitter political fights over maps.
An Eastern Lebanon County School District board of directors committee held a meeting presenting a draft of a policy regarding student physical privacy in school facilities. A special board meeting was held after the meeting where the policy was brought up for first reading.

The policy comes after the district closed its locker rooms in April after residents raised concerns over a transgender student using the boys locker room.

The Eastern Lebanon County School District board of directors met on Thursday for a special meeting immediately after a policy committee hearing was held.

Committee chair Rachel Moyer said the policy was crafted based of similar policies written by school districts across the state, as well as input from residents and taxpayers who spoke during the meetings.

The policy would grant the district superintendent or designee the responsibility to establish that a portion of facilities are designated for biological sex at birth and a portion of facilities are designated for gender identity in any given school across the district.

The superintendent or designee would also establish the procedures to ensure compliance with the policy.

It also puts into writing that to the extent feasible the district would continue to incorporate single-use facilities into the the design of new school buildings or renovations to existing facilities.

Use of cell phones or any other electronic devices with photographic, video or audio recording capabilities would be prohibited in any changing rooms or shower facilities. Use of these devices would result in immediate discipline.

The policy would also give district personnel the right to access all lockable facilities, including single user lockable facilities under use, if building administrators have a reasonable basis to believe that the use of the facility poses an imminent threat to the health, safety, security or welfare of the student or others in the school.

Board member, Ray Ondrusek, spoke during the public comment portion of the policy committee with two larger concerns, the first being that while consistent assertion is defined in the policy, it is not used anywhere else in the policy and should be used in the definition of gender identity.

"We want to be sure that a gender identity, because we want to be sure that a gender identity is consistently asserting," Ondrusek said, "it's something that's known over a period of time so that we don't have the odd case of somebody that, you know a boy that suddenly decides that, 'Oh, I'm going to be a girl today,' and there you go. That would be permitted under the existing language, and I would recommended an edit to correct that."

The policy defines consistently asserted as "steady constant assertion over time of gender identity based upon a student's deeply and sincerely held internalized sense or psychological knowledge of the student's own gender. It is possible that a student's gender identity may change or evolve, and if so, the district will respond accordingly depending upon the circumstances of each specific situation, and available information indicating that such assertion is sincerely held."

The definition goes on to say that the district will not question a student's assertion of their gender identity unless school personnel have a credible claim to believe that a student is making the assertion for some improper purpose.

Bathrooms policy: Northern Lebanon school board committee discusses bathroom policy affecting trans students

Information that could be requested to verify sincerely helds their identity assertion include written letters from family members or healthcare providers, though a particular kind of diagnosis, proof of medical treatment or age requirement is necessary.

His second concern was that in the section of the policy regarding facility use under gender identity, no place is it stated that such facility must still be segregated by biological sex, which he believes is required by state code and that allowing someone who identified as something other than their biological sex to use the same facilities as someone of the opposite biological sex would be prohibited by state law.

"I understand your position, but we've also had conversations about the supremacy clause," said the board solicitor William Zee.

Ondrusek warned that the district attorney would have something to say about the matter.

The district's next committee-of-the-whole meeting is Aug. 7, and its next regular board meeting will be on Aug. 21, both in the middle school cafeteria.

Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on Twitter @djlarlham

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: ELCO Pa. school board hears first reading of bathroom policy
A 73-year-old man was arrested Monday for the July 7 armed robbery at Security Federal Bank in Graniteville.

Lucky Wallis Turner, of Graniteville, was arrested by Aiken County investigators around 11:40 a.m. Monday, according to a news release. He was taken into custody without incident.

Turner is charged with four counts of kidnapping, robbery of a financial institution and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

On July 7, Turner entered the bank, pulled out a gun and demanded money from employees, according to the release. Witnesses saw Turner drive away in a gold Ford Explorer.

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Suspect arrested in Graniteville bank robbery
A second drug that modestly slows the progression of Alzheimers disease could be approved by the end of this year, manufacturer Eli Lilly said Monday.

In a statement, Lilly said it applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for traditional approval last quarter and expects the agency to act by the end of the year.

According to Lilly, its monoclonal antibody called donanemab slowed Alzheimers disease progression by 35 percent relative to placebo in an 18-month clinical trial that enrolled 1,700 patients with early-stage disease. In practical terms, that translated to delaying progression by about four months.

Study participants at the earliest stage of disease had an even greater benefit, with 60 percent slowing of decline compared to placebo, the company said.

The company shared the results at the 2023 Alzheimers Association International Conference and simultaneously published them in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Donanemab would be the second successful Alzheimers drug on the market after the FDA earlier this month approved Biogen and Eisais Leqembi. The new data from Lilly is similar to the data cited by the FDA when it approved Leqembi.

Neither drug is a cure, but they could expand the treatment options for people with early-stage Alzheimers.

More than 6 million people in the United States are diagnosed with Alzheimers, and that number is expected to rise as the population ages. There are about 1 million people with early-stage disease who could benefit most from the drug.

Both treatments are monoclonal antibodies that target a brain plaque called amyloid. The drugs are administered by intravenous infusion  Leqembi every two weeks and donanemab every four.

Both significantly reduce the levels of plaque, but there remain questions about the clinical significance and degree of benefit.

In one editorial in JAMA accompanying the trial results, the authors raised concerns about racial inequities in treatment, especially because minority groups are typically diagnosed at later disease stages.

Similar to the trial for Leqembi, the trial for donanemab did not include many people who identified as minorities; of the U.S.-based participants, 96 percent were white and 94 percent were non-Hispanic. Lilly said fewer people who were Black or Hispanic had positive scans confirming they had both amyloid and tau proteins required to join the study.

That means its difficult to assess the safety or efficacy among American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, or Hispanic populations.

And there are serious risks associated with the treatment.

Three deaths were determined to be drug-related among participants who developed serious brain bleeding or swelling, called amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Donanemab had an ARIA rate of 37 percent, compared with 15 percent for patients on a placebo.

Given the wide availability of these drugs following US Food and Drug Administration approval and the disproportionate burden of cognitive impairment and dementia due to Alzheimer disease in many of these groups, it is critical that clinicians, patients, and families understand the limits of what is known, Jennifer Manly, of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Kacie Deters, of the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote in the editorial.

Clinicians and the public will need to weigh the potential benefit of treatment (delay of progression of about 4 months on average) with the financial and quality-of-life costs of infusions, MRI monitoring, and risk of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities and brain volume loss, they added.

Lilly did not disclose how it would price donanemab following a potential approval. Leqembi will cost $26,500 per year.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has said Medicare will cover Alzheimers drugs  as long as they receive full FDA approval and companies gather data on how the drugs work in the real world.

Medicare patients could also face thousands of dollars a year in co-insurance. Without supplemental coverage, enrollees are responsible for 20 percent of the cost after meeting a deductible.

Patients may also be responsible for potentially tens of thousands of dollars of additional costs beyond the drug itself. Its unclear if Medicare will pay for the cost of the medical visit or the regular brain scans needed to monitor a patients progress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Elon Musk Says Universe May Be Twice as Old as We Think, Dark Matter Seems "Sketch"

Elon Musk, the omnipotent ruler of the Twitterverse, has chimed in and has decreed that the actual physical universe is "possibly" twice as old as we think it is.

Make of that what you will.

Musk was responding to noted misinformation peddler and comedian Joe Rogan, who linked to a press release about a controversial new paper that indeed suggests the universe could be 26.7 billion years old, almost twice as the general consensus among scientists.

The irreverent tech CEO also chimed in on another topic that's arguably far outside of his wheelhouse, concluding that "dark matter is what seems most sketch to me."

The research Rogan was alluding to suggests that an almost 100-year-old theory by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky about light losing energy over billions of light-years may have been partially correct.

In a recent paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, University of Ottawa astronomer Rajendra Gupta took Zwicky's theory and coupled them with existing theories surrounding the expansion of the universe. He also introduced new cosmological constants that could explain the laws that govern particle interactions.

As a result, according to Gupta's calculations, the universe could be much older than generally thought.

Zwicky, as it so happens, was also one of the earliest astrophysicists to suggest the existence of unseen mass he called "dark matter" after coming up with his tired light theory, a hypothetical form of unseen matter that is thought to make up much of the total universe. Dark matter is still generally accepted by the broader scientific community.

While Musk was more open-minded about Gupta's theory, invisible matter that makes up most of the universe was clearly a step too far. Fortunately, the CEO had some well-meaning experts help him clear up his confusion surrounding "sketch" dark matter.

"Hi, I'm a dark matter physicist!" cosmologist Sophia Gad-Nasr chimed in. "We have lots of evidence for dark matter. A big one is the Cosmic Microwave Background, which has dark matter encoded into it."

"It is also necessary to explain the large scale structure we see in the Universe because there needs to be a type of matter that could clump together and form seeds early enough for the galaxies we see today, which regular matter couldn't do because of radiation pressure," she added.

Gad-Nasr called Gupta's eyebrow-raising theory that the universe is actually twice as old "far less plausible" since it "challenges very well-established theories" and would "require a lot of evidence to back it."

In short, we're glad we've got experts like Gad-Nasr are still sticking around on Twitter. Otherwise, we'd risk people actually taking Musk and Rogan by their word  and that's rarely ever a good idea.

But, to be fair, there's still a chance that Musk may end up to be rightfully skeptical. After all, "our current picture of physics is certainly incomplete," as the cosmologist admitted in a follow-up. "That's what makes the field so exciting."

More on the research: Scientist Claims Universe Is Twice as Old as We Thought
Engaged volunteer firefighters thrown from fire truck during rollover crash, GA cops say

Two volunteer firefighters engaged to be married were critically injured when their fire engine overturned, Georgia officials said.

It happened at about 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in Upson County, according to Georgia State Patrol.

Crews were responding to a crash when the driver lost control on a curve, causing the fire truck to flip, troopers said. Two volunteers, identified by Monroe County Emergency Services as couple Logan Gordy and Trista Cheeks, were ejected, according to troopers.

Both were flown to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta with life-threatening injuries, according to a Facebook post from emergency service officials.

Gordy and Cheeks are members of the Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department and are set to wed in October, WSB-TV reported, citing officials.

Gordy is also a jail officer with the Upson County Sheriffs Office.

He has a service heart, he wants to serve his community, Sheriff Dan Kilgore said of Gordy, the son of a firefighter who took an interest in public safety at an early age.

As soon as he was old enough ... he became a volunteer firefighter, Kilgore told McClatchy News. I think that says a lot about his character.

In a July 16 update, Monroe County Emergency Services said Cheeks is recovering after surgery but still has a long road ahead.

Her fiance had much more severe injuries, however, and was placed in a medically induced coma, officials said.

He needs a miracle, officials said of Gordy. Surgeons have advised there is nothing they can do for him currently. Please continue to cover this young couple ... with your prayers.

Upson County is about 75 miles south of Atlanta.

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22-year-old first responder dies weeks after his wedding. Cannot imagine the pain
A deputy with the King County Sheriffs Office had some llama drama on Saturday when one of the stubborn animals blocked traffic east of Duvall on Saturday.

It began when the KCSO Communications Center received a call from a driver who said he couldnt deliver a package because a llama was standing in the middle of the road.

Deputy Paczosa went to the area and discovered the report had not been a crank call  there was in fact a llama in the road that refused to move.

Using his de-escalation skills and standing just a tad over spitting distance, Deputy Paczosa was able to sweet talk him into putting on a leash to get him off the road, KCSO said in a Facebook post.

A short time later, emergency dispatchers got another call, this time from someone reporting their llama had taken off.

We were happy to reunite the owner back to their furry friend, and the driver was able to deliver the package, most likely ordered through Llama-zon, KCSO quipped in its post.
(Bloomberg) -- Leaders of the European Union are seeking to reboot relations with Latin America in a competition for influence against Russia and China, but wrangling over Moscows invasion of Ukraine is hampering their efforts.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The EU will help invest over 45 billion ($50.6 billion) in Latin America and the Caribbean until 2027, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, told a business conference Monday ahead of a two-day summit in Brussels with leaders from the regions.

The funding  which would come from a combination of EU funds, member states contributions, development banks and the private sector  will be focused on areas including clean energy, critical raw materials, health and education.

A key goal for Europe in the summit is seeking stronger support for Ukraine in its efforts to counter the Russian invasion, reduce Chinas sway, and ensure access to critical raw materials for its digital and green transition.

But diplomats are clashing on a possible statement to mark the end of the summit. The EU wants a section condemning the ongoing war against Ukraine, deploring in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation and demanding its complete and unconditional withdrawal, according to a draft seen by Bloomberg.

Latin American and Caribbean countries, however, currently prefer to express concern about the war, and support efforts for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the draft shows.

Cuba and Nicaragua are among the main countries blocking a harder stance in the statement against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, according to two people who asked not to be identified on confidential talks.

The war at the heart of Europe throws a blanket of uncertainty on the world and channels for war purposes resources that were until then essential for the economy and social programs, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said at the business roundtable. The arms race makes it even more difficult to face climate change.

Trade Accord

The EU and the Mercosur countries  Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay  have been in talks to try to clinch a trade accord for more than 20 years. But the Latin American countries have balked at the EUs Green Deal, and rules to reduce CO2 emissions that include strict conditions to gain access to the European market.

We want to discuss today how to further connect our people, how to further connect our businesses, how to de-risk, how to strengthen and diversify our supply chains and how to modernize our economies in ways that reduce inequalities and benefit all, von der Leyen told reporters earlier as she welcomed Lula.

By announcing the 45 billion investment goal in the region, the EU is trying to compete with Chinese influence in region. Spain is planning to help provide some 9.4 billion worth of public funding, using a mix of development funds, export credits and other tools.

Von der Leyen said all the objectives she set out are within reach if we get the Mercosur-EU agreement across the finishing line. She added that the EU will invest strongly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Lula told reporters his country wants to share its intense economic activity with EU and Mercosur partners. And more importantly, we want to deepen with the European Union the discussion  not only about industrial development and economic growth  but we want to deeply discuss the climate question, he added.

--With assistance from Lyubov Pronina, Joao Lima and Sofia Gerace.

(Updates with Cuba, Nicaragua stance in seventh paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
EU aims to be 'partner of choice' for Latam, Caribbean in pivot from China, Russia

EU aims to be 'partner of choice' for Latam, Caribbean in pivot from China, Russia EU-CELAC summit in Brussels

(This July 16 story has been corrected to state that China is CELAC's second-largest trading partner, not its largest, in paragraph 5)

By Philip Blenkinsop and Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union pledged more investment for Latin America and the Caribbean at a summit on Monday as part of a revamp of its international relationships prompted by Russia's war on Ukraine and growing wariness of China.

As more than 50 leaders from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a business forum that the three regions needed each other more than ever.

She cited the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and "China's growing assertiveness abroad" as challenges that the trio should face together.

"Europe aspires to be the partner of choice for Latin America and the Caribbean," she said.

The EU is the biggest foreign investor in Latin America and the Caribbean but China has become its second biggest trading partner, behind only the United States.

Von der Leyen said the EU was planning 45 billion euros of investment in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its Global Gateway scheme, widely seen as a rival to China's Belt and Road programme of infrastructure investments.

The summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is the first in eight years. EU officials have billed it as a chance to revitalise a relationship that many say the bloc had neglected.

"We have been arrogant as Europeans," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He said Europe had been quick to press for help in isolating Russia but had not been responsive enough to others' concerns in recent years.

COMMUNIQUE CLASH

Despite much talk of common values at the summit, discussions over the communique highlighted differences over how to address the war in Ukraine and Europe's historical role in the slave trade.

EU officials say they want clear condemnation of Russia. But while most CELAC countries backed a UN resolution in February demanding an immediate Russian troop withdrawal, Nicaragua voted against and Bolivia, Cuba and El Salvador abstained.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva did not repeat his criticism of the West for giving arms to Ukraine but said the war diverted resources from key priorities elsewhere.

"The war in the heart of Europe throws a blanket of uncertainty over the world and channels resources that were essential for the economy and social programs to war purposes," he said.

"The race for weapons makes tackling climate change even more difficult."

Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the current holder of the CELAC presidency, said he hoped the communique would include language on "the historical legacies of native genocide and enslavement of African bodies and something towards reparatory justice".

"This is a subject on which we need to have a mature conversation," he said.

But some European governments were wary of proposed language on reparations, diplomats said.

On the economic front, the EU is looking to forge new energy partnerships after severing ties with Russia.

It also wants to reduce reliance on China and secure minerals for electric vehicles and the broader transition to a low carbon economy, a supply chain China dominates.

Although keen for EU investment, CELAC partners generally want the economic benefits of processing and producing lithium batteries or electric vehicles, rather than the smaller returns of shipping minerals to be processed elsewhere.

The EU is pressing ahead with a trade agreement with Chile, the world's largest copper producer and second largest lithium producer. Officials have said it could enter force next year.

The EU is also seeking to unlock trade deals struck with Mexico in 2018 and with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 2019, though officials have played down expectations of any breakthroughs during the summit.

($1 = 0.8907 euros)

(Additional reporting by Catarina Demony, Belen Carreno, Marine Strauss, Tassilo Hummel and Benoit Van Overstraeten; writing by Phiilp Blenkinsop and Andrew Gray; editing by Barbara Lewis, Christina Fincher and Alex Richardson)
Google is today marking the birth anniversary of American scientist Eunice Newton Foote, who laid the foundation of climate change awareness as early as the mid-19th century, as well as being an advocate for womens rights at a time when they were widely shunned from the scientific community.

On what would have been her 204th birthday, the search engine celebrated Foote as the first person to recognise the significance of greenhouse gases in climate change, saying she planted the seed of climate science more than one hundred years before it would start to emerge as a major discipline.

Born in 1819 in Connecticut, Foote attended the Troy Female Seminary in New York, a school that encouraged girl students to attend science lectures and participate in chemistry labs. By the time she was a teenager she had developed what would be a lifelong passion for science.

Her journey towards making her own groundbreaking contributions began in the early 1850s, when she became curious about the effect of sunlight on different gasses.

Experimenting with glass bell jars filled with different fumes, she discovered that the cylinder containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun.

Predicting that an increase in carbon dioxide levels could lead to global warming, she found that certain gases such as CO2 had the ability to trap heat from the sun and increase the temperature of the Earths atmosphere.

She became the first scientist to make the connection between rising CO2 levels and the warming of the atmosphere.

An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature; and if, as some suppose, at one period of its history, the air had mixed with it a larger proportion than at present, an increased temperature from its own action, as well as from increased weight, must have necessarily resulted, her paper noted.

After publishing her findings, she produced her second study on atmospheric static electricity, which she called "electrical excitation". She published it in the journal Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

These were the first two studies in physics ever published by a woman in the US.

Her paper, titled "Circumstances Affecting the Heat of the Suns Rays," was presented by a male colleague due to the prevailing gender biases of the time in 1856. He introduced her paper by stating that: "Science was of no country and of no sex. The sphere of woman embraces not only the beautiful and the useful, but the true."

Her findings ended up causing a stir among the scientific community and paved the way for wider discussions and experiments that uncovered what became known as the greenhouse gas effect.

In addition to her groundbreaking contributions to climate science, Foote was also a passionate advocate for womens rights.

Joining forces with prominent activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony, they campaigned for womens suffrage and equal rights.

She was the fifth signatory of the Declaration of Sentiments  a document that was signed by 68 women and 32 men to demand equality for women in social and legal status.

However, her scientific contributions were largely forgotten for many years and belatedly received the recognition she deserved in life after her death, when here observations were rediscovered in 2010.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has condemned the termination of the grain agreement.

Source: Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter, cited by European Pravda

Quote: "I strongly condemn Russia's cynical move to end the Black Sea grain initiative, despite the efforts of the UN and Turkiye."

I strongly condemn Russias cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Turkiyes efforts.



EU is working to ensure food security for the worlds vulnerable. #EUSolidarityLanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine & to global  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 17, 2023

Von der Leyen said the European Union is working to ensure food security for the world's vulnerable people.

"EU Solidarity Lanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine and to global markets," she stressed.

Background:

It was reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the grain agreement on 17 July.

However, the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that he believes the Russian president actually wants the so-called grain deal to be extended and will talk to him about it.

According to media reports, the EU had considered making concessions to a Russian bank for the sake of the grain deal, specifically by setting up a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Rosselkhozbank (Agricultural Bank) to restore its connection with SWIFT.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Every day for the last week and a half, Colleen Radloff has sat down in her home office to try to file for unemployment  so far, without luck.

For two hours, Radloff attempts to get into the system to check her status and fill in additional information. Most of the time, she barely gets past the home screen.

She said shes spent 14 hours total doing this, one day after the next.

She demonstrated an attempt Monday, typing in her login information and verification code. The portal barely loaded.

READ: Moes employees say they havent been paid

This last time was horrendous, she remarked, before giving up.

Problems with Floridas reemployment assistance portal, known as Reconnect, are nothing new.

Chronic issues began during the first term of Rick Scotts administration when the state spent $77 million overhauling the system only to have applicants locked out or waiting a month for assistance. It led to awkward admissions for elected and appointed administrators.

READ: Orange County Convention Center expansion tops list of projects contending for $330M in funds

For those who are still having trouble we are acutely aware of their situation we are frustrated like they are and we are trying to get the answers, then-Department of Economic Opportunity chief Jesse Panuccio said in 2013.

The issues only continued into the DeSantis administration and were made worse by the pandemic. The system didnt have the technological or human infrastructure in place to handle the number of calls.

In South Florida, state officials took to handing out paper applications to help people who lost their jobs.

READ: Florida unemployment rate holds steady

However, the fact that Radloff is encountering the same issues the state dealt with 10 years ago  at a time of near-record employment levels when the system shouldnt be getting that many requests  signifies something else to her.

I think what they do they want it to fail, Radloff said. So people get so frustrated, they dont file.

Radloff is just temporarily laid off from her work at the Convention Center, which doesnt hold as many events during the summer season. She will resume her job in September, and while unemployment benefits arent a fortune, they help pay the rent.

READ: US applications for jobless benefits fall again as labor market continues to defy the Fed actions

Shes not just a one-off case, though, Aides for multiple state lawmakers said theyve noticed an uptick in complaints made to their offices about the unemployment portal. One aide said they get several calls per day, up from one call every few days.

WFTV reached out to the Department of Commerce to find out why this sudden increase in issues has happened. A spokeswoman said she was looking into it.

Radloff sought assistance from Sen. Linda Stewarts office, which connected her to an actual human being. Her case has been put under review.

Im still not certified, she said. I still have to wait 72 hours, and then go back in. I hope I complete it by this Friday, because [if its not finalized] I have to start all over again.

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.
Ex-boyfriend kidnaps woman from work, kills her after police chase, Georgia cops say

A 19-year-old was killed after her ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and shot her during a standoff with officers outside an Atlanta-area high school, police said.

Cameron JaMichael Hopkins, 20, now faces multiple charges, including murder and aggravated assault, according to online records.

Officers were called at about 11 p.m. Sunday, July 16, about a kidnapping at a Wingstop restaurant in Fayetteville, according to the citys police department.

Multiple 911 callers told officers a man came in and took the woman, who was an employee, at gunpoint, police said.

The pair left in a red Chevrolet Camaro, which responding officers spotted on their way to the restaurant, authorities said in a news release.

The driver sped away and led police on a chase into nearby Clayton County. Officers used a PIT maneuver to stop the car, ending the pursuit outside Lovejoy High School, police said.

Thats when the driver, identified as Hopkins, opened fire inside the Camaro and on officers, according to authorities.

Officers were able to exit their vehicle and take cover while the suspect and victim remained inside the vehicle, the release said. Officers began giving commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle which were ignored.

Officers launched a chemical irritant at the Camaro from a safe distance, causing Hopkins to get out. He was arrested at the scene.

The 19-year-old woman, identified as Khaliyah Jones, was found shot multiple times in the car and pronounced dead, police said.

Authorities confirmed Jones is the same woman Hopkins is accused of trying to kidnap in a nearly identical incident one year ago.

The then-19-year-old was accused of dragging a female out of the vehicle at gunpoint outside a Walmart and forcing her to leave with him, WXIA reported, citing police.

While speaking with a family member on the phone, he expressed his rage over the relationship ending and threatened to kill the woman, police told the station.

Hopkins remained in custody at the Clayton County Jail without bond as of July 17, online records show.

Fayetteville is about 20 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Man slits throat of assisted living worker, then tries to kidnap her grandkid, cops say

16-year-old tracks girlfriends phone, then shoots her ex-boyfriend dead, WA cops say

10-year-old girl playing outside killed by convicted sex offender, Illinois cops say
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) Monday joined other family members in publicly condemning Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s recent remarks on COVID-19, which became public over the weekend and were widely criticized as antisemitic and anti-Asian.

My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong, the 42-year-old former congressman wrote in a tweet Monday. I unequivocally condemn what he said.

Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s sister, also publicly condemned the remarks.

I strongly condemn my brothers deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting, Kennedy said in a statement Monday through her familys nonprofit organization, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination.

RFK Jr. is facing mounting criticism from Democratic leaders after the New York Post reported on Kennedys comments.

In an audio recording obtained by the Post, Kennedy said the virus was a genetically engineered bioweapon that could have been ethnically targeted to prevent the deaths of Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

These are deeply troubling comments and I want to make clear that they do not represent the views of the Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Jaime Harrison tweeted in response.

Kennedy, who announced his 2024 presidential campaign in April, has long been a prominent vaccine skeptic. He has also repeatedly been criticized for promulgating conspiracy theories.

YouTube removed an interview between Kennedy and Jordan Peterson last month for violating its guidelines against vaccine misinformation.

Kennedys personal Instagram account was reinstated last month after he was permanently removed from the platform in 2021 for repeatedly posting misinformation about COVID-19.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Daphne Psaledakis and Anna Voitenko

WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. aid chief Samantha Power on Monday announced more than $500 million in humanitarian assistance during a visit to Ukraine, where the United Nations says some 17 million people need help following Russia's invasion.

She made the aid announcement, first reported by Reuters, at the State Emergency Services headquarters in the capital, Kyiv, to respond to the needs of Ukrainians affected by the war.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed and millions have fled their homes since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, leading to Europe's biggest land war since World War Two.

The aid, which will be provided through the United Nations and other non-governmental organization partners, will increase support for those who have been displaced or otherwise affected by the war with emergency food assistance, health care and safe drinking water, among other assistance, according to a statement from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID Administrator Power was shown equipment provided to Ukraine's State Emergency Services by Washington and met Ukraine's famous mine sniffing dog Patron.

Power also said she handed over on Monday an additional $2.3 million worth of equipment to help the agency repair the damage inflicted by Russia's forces on Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

"We see what is happening in Ukraine. Russia continues to burn and Ukraine continues to build. It is our privilege ... to support our Ukrainian partners as they do that building," Power said.

Power also expressed "grave dismay" with Russia's decision to suspend its participation in a pact that has allowed the Black Sea export of grain from Ukraine for the past year in a deal that aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.

"This is a reckless decision that will have profound human consequences, and it's just another example of Russian callousness and disregard for human lives and livelihoods, not only here in Ukraine but all around the world," Power said.

Over 9,000 civilians have been killed and 16,000 injured since Russia invaded Ukraine, and there are nearly 6 million Ukrainian refugees across Europe, according to the United Nations.

With Monday's announcement, the United States has provided over $2.6 billion in humanitarian assistance since the war began, including more than $1.9 billion through USAID.

During her visit to Ukraine, Power will meet with government officials as well as farmers, energy workers and emergency response teams, among others, and will also visit USAID partners who deliver assistance, the agency said.

The USAID statement said the announcement follows the collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam on June 6, flooding hundreds of houses in both Ukrainian and Russian-controlled territory in one of the greatest disasters of the conflict thus far.

International legal experts assisting Ukraine concluded last month that it is "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for planting explosives at the dam. Moscow has said Ukraine blew it up on the suggestion of Western leaders.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington and Anna Voitenko and Felix Hoske in Kyiv; Editing by Grant McCool)
Russia has claimed Ukraine is responsible for the explosions reported early on July 17 at the Crimean Bridge, which connects Ukraines Crimean Peninsula with Russias Krasnodar Oblast.

Two blasts were reported by Russian media at around 3 a.m. local time.

According to Russian-installed officials in Crimea, traffic was stopped due to an emergency incident at the bridges 145th pillar. They cautioned those living in Crimea to refrain from using the bridge.

The governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that the explosions killed a man and a woman, and injured a child.

The Russian Transport Ministry said that the bridges roadway sustained damage, although it did not specify the extent. However, Russian-installed officials in occupied Crimea claimed the bridges railroad track was not damaged in the explosions.

The Russian news agency TASS later reported, however, that eight trains going to and from Crimea are delayed due to the explosions.

Law enforcement agencies and relevant services are at work, Sergey Aksenov, the Russian-appointed head of occupied Crimea said, adding that measures are being taken to ameliorate the situation.

Moscow has blamed Ukraines special services for the attack, alleging that two Ukrainian seaborne drones hit the Crimean Bridge, and said it has opened an official investigation. The Kremlin did not provide evidence to corroborate its claim.

Todays attack on the Crimean Bridge was carried out by the Kyiv Regime, Russian foreign affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed.

While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the alleged attack, it has not denied it, either.

Nightingale, my dear brother, the bridge has gone to sleep again. And once Twice! Ukraines Security Service said via Telegram, linking to a post from October 2022 referring to a previous attack on the Crimean Bridge.

According to the spokesperson for Ukraines defense intelligence, Andrii Yusov, the damage sustained to the Crimean Bridge could create logistical difficulties for Russian forces, noting that Russia uses the bridge as a major logistics hub for moving forces and resources deep into the territory of Ukraine.

The whole world is now witnessing kilometer-long traffic jams and damaged bridge structures, he said.

However, Yusov said Kyiv will not comment on the cause of the damage, noting he could only quote the chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who said the Crimean Bridge is an unstable structure.

Russia opposes grain deal extension Russia opposes the prolongation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on July 17, citing the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Meanwhile, CNN reported that an anonymous source from Ukraines Security Service (SBU) said on July 17 that the attack on the Crimean Bridge was a joint operation of the SBU and Ukraines naval forces.

LIGA.net also reported, citing its sources in the SBU, that the SBU and Ukraines naval forces are responsible for the attack. The Ukrainian outlet also noted that the strike was likely conducted with surface drones.

The SBU did not comment on the allegations, saying that information surrounding the incident will only be revealed once the war is over.

Southern Operational Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk suggested that the attack may have been a deliberate provocation by Russia amid the talks on the prolongation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, has been essential in mitigating a global surge in food prices by allowing Ukraine to export its agricultural products via the Black Sea.

The agreement has been prolonged several times with the last extension set to expire today on July 17.

The Kremlin announced on July 17 that it had suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but claimed that the decision was not related to the bridge attack.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify this information.

This has not been the first such incident as the Crimean Bridge was seriously damaged already on Oct. 8, 2022. Russian officials claimed that a truck packed with explosives detonated on the bridge near a tanker train, triggering a chain reaction.

While the Kremlin accused Ukraine of attack, Kyiv retorted that the incident was a result of the internal struggle within Russia.
The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets has not yet begun, and the first group of pilots is expected to leave, having prepared for the exercise, including by learning English.

Source: European Pravda, citing Yurii Ihnat, Spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Ihnat: "The first group of pilots will be the first wave to undergo retraining, then the second wave and so on. These are the pilots who will be directly trained by instructors in different countries that have provided us with sites."

Details: Ihnat said that the pilots had prepared for the exercise by learning English. "The aircraft terminology there is somewhat specific, so it took some time," Ihnat emphasised.

He said that technical staff will also be trained, but they will have a different programme than the pilots.

More details: The Air Force subsequently pointed to the incorrect presentation of information by some Ukrainian media that the training of Ukrainian pilots had allegedly begun. "Those who have already 'sent pilots' to the F-16s, please provide the primary source where the spokesperson for the Air Force said this," the Air Force wrote on Telegram.

Background:

During the NATO summit in Lithuania, Reznikov signed a memorandum with 11 coalition member states that set out the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

The member states of the fighter coalition also agreed that training for Ukrainian pilots to fly Western F-16s will begin in Denmark in August.

Media reports indicate that Romania will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 combat aircraft, likely next month.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Fact check: Can minors be left without supervision at the California State Fair?

The California State Fair is fun for people of all ages  as long as you follow the rules.

The fair has several regulations on personal bags, food, pets and children. In a recent post on online Sacramento community threads, a person asked about unaccompanied kids at the fair.

Heres a refresher on the rules:

Can children go to the state fair alone?

No.Kids under 18 years old must come to the fair with an adult or guardian thats at least 21 years old. Organizers cite safety as their priority, according to the fair website.

An adult can only watch over five children at a time and they must stay at the fair while the kids are there. If you have a big group of kids, there will need to be a chaperone for every five kids.

Everyone entering the fair will have to show a drivers license, identification card or another form of government-issued ID.

Do parents need to be with their kids the whole time?

Parents and children can separate while at the fair, Cal Expo Chief of Police Craig Walton told The Bee.

The parents just have to be on the grounds, Walton said. The idea here is that if the parents are here, then we can contact them if something happens. We want to be able to get a hold of them.

Bad behavior

Kids need to be able to provide their parent or guardians phone number if a fair representative asks for it.

If there are misbehaving children, they will be held and released to their chaperone.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Email servicejournalists@sacbee.com with your top-of-mind questions.
Is your family applying for the new school voucher program in Florida? Tell us about it

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1 in March, making it possible for all school-aged children in Florida to receive voucher funds that families can use toward private school tuition, homeschooling and other educational needs.

The new law, which took effect July 1, essentially allows the family of any K-12 student  regardless of family income  to apply for a taxpayer-funded education voucher of up to $8,000 annually.

The bill allows families to use the state money allotted for their child and re-direct it to another form of education outside of public schools, including private or religious schools. The bill also expands the existing Florida Tax Credit scholarship to include coverage of things like instructional materials, eligible home school programs and post-secondary programs, fees for standardized tests including Advanced Placement exams and tutoring programs.

To apply, families must go through an organization called Step Up for Students, which handles the applications and scholarship funds. This is also where families can renew their existing scholarships and apply for public school transportation scholarships.

READ MORE: DeSantis signs school voucher expansion into law  what it will mean to families, schools

If your family is applying for a scholarship to help your child attend a private school in Broward or Miami-Dade County, please fill out the survey below. Help our reporters learn how this new school-choice initiative will impact Florida students education.

Cant see the survey? Follow this link to fill it out.
Aron Christensen, 49, was found dead with his four-month-old puppy Buzzo on a hiking trail in Washingtons Cascade Mountains last August (Corey Christensen)

The family of a hiker who was discovered dead next to his dog on a remote trail in Washington state have launched a $20m lawsuit alleging sheriffs sabotaged a criminal investigation into his death.

Portland musician Aron Christensen, 49, was camping with friends at Walupt Lake in Lewis County when he went on a solo hike with his four month-old Australian Cattle Dog Buzzo on 19 August last year.

Christensens body was discovered lying next to the dead puppy on a trail in the Cascade Mountains the next day by a pair of hikers.

His brother Corey Christensen told The Chronicle that sheriffs initially claimed he had died of a heart attack from laced marijuana and fallen onto a stick.

However, autopsies appeared to show both Christensen and Buzzo had died from gunshot wounds.

A bullet recovered from Christensens chest showed traces of canine DNA, suggesting they may have died from a single shot.

A 19-year-old, named by The Chronicle as Ethan Asbach, later told investigators he had been hiking in the area with a 17-year-old companion when he fired a single shot from his fathers 9mm pistol.

Mr Asbach told authorities he came across Christensen and Buzzos bodies. He claimed he continued walking and became lost, before leaving the forest the next day.

In a transcript of his phone call with law enforcement obtained by the Wall Street Journal, he admitted he hadnt called 911 when he got back to cellphone range because he was worried about getting into trouble.

He said he had fired at a wild animal which was threatening him, only to later realise it was Buzzo.

The Lewis County Sheriffs Office referred manslaughter and animal cruelty charges to prosecutors, who announced in April they were declining to charge Mr Asbach, according to The Chronicle.

Since then, veterinarians who examined Buzzo have offered conflicting reports about his cause of death.

An initial autopsy conducted by local veterinarian Brandy Fay claimed the dogs injuries were more consistent with a stabbing than gunshot wounds.

According to The Chronicle, a second necropsy commissioned by the Lewis County Sheriffs Office found an exit wound from a gunshot.

Buzzo, a four-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, was found dead beside Aron Christensens body in Washingtons Cascade Mountains (Corey Christensen)

When the Christensen family requested Dr Fay examine Buzzo a second time, she reportedly found a broken rib that was not present during her earlier necroposy, suggesting the dogs body had been tampered with.

The first deputy to reach the bodies had determined there was no sign of suspicious activity, according to his incident report.

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, deputy Andrew Scrivner wrote, in a report viewed by the Wall Street Journal.

He said he spent 25 minutes searching shell casings, before diverting detectives who were on their way to the crime scene.

Deputy Scrivner carried Christensens body down the mountain with help from other campers, meaning there was no scene investigation.

The next day, Ethan Asbachs father contacted authorities to say his son had accidentally shot Christensen after being approached by what he thought was a wild animal.

Sheriff Rob Snaza told The Chronicle that the deputy who responded to the shooting had made a mistake in not identifying the cause of death as a gunshot.

Corey Christensen, who recently filed a $20m lawsuit against the sheriffs department, told the Wall Street Journal his attempts to find answers about his brothers death had been infuriating.

I thought I was going crazy for a while, he told the paper. But theres a difference between you being crazy and it driving you crazy.

The family has set up a GoFundme page to cover legal fees as they continue to search for answers about Christensens death.

Mr Christensens attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Independent.
Far From the Front, They Stand in Honor of Ukraine

Mariia Vilhovetska visits the grave of her husband, who was killed while fighting near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, in Chernivtsi, in western Ukraine, on July 9, 2023. Many Ukrainians say that even the safest parts of their country are not untouched. (Finbarr OReilly/The New York Times)

Every morning at the stroke of 9, in the western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi, the entire town square comes to a standstill for a moment of silence to mourn the war dead.

Police officers block the streets. People hold their hands over their hearts. Languid, operatic music flows from a speaker positioned on a wrought iron balcony overlooking the cobblestone square. For a few minutes, as the sun beams down and flags snap in the wind, everyone and everything stops.

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Its a singular ritual, and the elaborateness is necessary, city leaders say, because standing here, in the middle of this beautiful town, where theres not a sandbag, cracked window or soldier in sight, you can almost forget this country is at war.

Chernivtsi, tucked into the southwest corner of Ukraine, hundreds of miles from the front, has never been hit by a missile  and its not small, 300,000 people. There are few checkpoints or military vehicles or clumps of young men in camouflage crowding the coffee machine at the supermarket  like there always are in Ukraines cities in the east, center and south.

The peace here is remarkable, said Vasyl Zazuliak, a deputy mayor, and we need to remember who we owe it to.

But the city isnt resting. It is trying to do its part to contribute. Behind the 19th century facades and gorgeous avenues, where young people lost in their own thoughts stroll and savor the long summer nights, wartime activities are quietly unfolding.

People here and in villages nearby are building dune buggies for the front lines, providing homes to thousands of displaced Ukrainian civilians, shipping supplies to the east and using their proximity to Poland and Romania to bring in more.

Chernivtsi and much of western Ukraine have, in effect, become the back office of the war.

We dont have troops marching in our streets. We dont have missiles flying over our heads, said Lily Bortych, a farmer, the chair of a large charity organization and a member of the Chernivtsi regional council. But we understand the responsibility of helping out.

She listed the things her charitable organization does: imports medicines; distributes millions of pounds of humanitarian aid; trains hundreds of emergency counselors; and provides vegetable seeds to women in recently liberated areas so they can begin once again to grow some of their own food.

War is won not only by people on the front lines, she said, but also by people in the rear.

Theres an unmarked line a couple hundred miles west of Kyiv where things begin to look different and feel different. This area has its own history. It was ruled by the Austro-Hungarian empire until World War I. Its buildings and urban layout are less Soviet era and more continental Europe  colorful, ornate and delicate.

Since this war began, western Ukraine has differed in another respect as well: It has become a refuge for millions of Ukrainians fleeing the bloodshed from other areas, a place where people can feel safe and still be in Ukraine.

I dont feel the war at all, said Volodymyr Totskyy, an electrical mechanic, who fled an occupied area in Zaporizhzhia with his wife and child.

Not all of western Ukraine has been spared. Lviv, the biggest city and home to important factories and military institutions, has been hit several times, including a strike in July that killed 10.

Chernivtsi ranks at the bottom of the list for air raid alarms. It feels relaxed. Each night, the towns prettiest strolling spot, Olhy Kobylyanskoi Street, named after a feminist writer, fills with families, couples and groups of teenagers roaming around, just as in cities all over the world.

Were lucky to live here, said Yurii Ivanchuk, a prosecutor. While other Ukrainian cities have army surplus stores along the main thoroughfare, in Chernivtsi its chocolatiers and candy shops, one of which Ivanchuk was visiting with his wife and son.

Our small region isnt producing anything for the military, he said, as his son dug into a bag of candy. Apparently, the Russians arent interested in us.

Fewer than 30 miles from Romania, Chernivtsi has been a trading hub for centuries, attracting a multilingual population and a large Jewish community. Most of the Jews were wiped out in World War II, but their ancestors remain here, entombed in a seemingly endless, weed-choked graveyard. It is filled with crooked headstones carved in three languages  Russian, German and Hebrew  looking as if they are about to topple over.

Most of the city, though, feels lively and well kept. Splendid buildings in all hues, designed with arched windows and mysterious cupolas, line the avenues. UNESCO recognizes Chernivtsis golden-brick university as a World Heritage Site, calling it an outstanding example of 19th century historicist architecture. Locals call it Ukrainian Hogwarts.

The university attracts students from thousands of miles away, and the other night, Labil Shaikh, a medical student from India, took a leisurely walk through the center of the city.

My parents call me all the time and ask: Are you OK? Are you in danger? he said. So I come out to this promenade and take some video and send it home and they chill out.

Annoying, he added.

Looking up at the intricately made wrought iron balconies, or down at the glossy cobblestone streets, you might for a moment think you were in Vienna or Paris.

But many Ukrainians say that even the safest parts of their country are not untouched and that the war is like a spiders web, connecting every Ukrainian. In a recent survey of several thousand Ukrainians, 78% said that they had close relatives or friends killed or wounded in the war.

Chernivtsi has lost a lot of people, too. Sometimes it buries two young soldiers a day.

The moment of silence each morning is meant to mark the sacrifice of all of Ukraines troops. It was another savvy move by the countrys president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former actor who seems to have a knack for public gestures.

Zelenskyy signed a decree last year ordering public institutions to observe a minute of silence every day at 9 a.m. to honor the war dead. Chernivtsi took it a little further.

First, city officials began playing a 19th-century anthem, A Prayer for Ukraine, in the town square. Then, when some people kept going about their business, spoiling the mood, said Zazuliak, the deputy mayor, the city enlisted the help of police to cordon off the streets for the three minutes or so that the ceremony lasts.

Yeah, Im in a bit of a rush, said Serhii Kovalchuk, a taxi driver whose arm was hanging out the window as the ceremony began, leaving him stuck behind a police barricade and staring at a green light. He cut off his engine.

I just got another job, he said, glancing at his phone. But they can wait.

As the music played, one couple in their 30s stood especially rigid. A tear slid down the womans cheek.

Afterward, when asked what she was thinking about, Iryna Kachynska, who comes from a town 300 miles away, said: My brother.

She paused and then said: He was killed in the east.

She and her family were taking a road trip across western Ukraine. She had read about Chernivtsis ritual on Facebook and felt it was important to see it.

Its a beautiful city, she said. A mini Paris.

Before leaving, she took one last look around the square.

Im glad we came, she said.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
A father and his three sons  accused of peddling poisonous industrial bleaching agent as a miracle medical cure out of a self-styled Florida church  all sat silently in a row at the defense table in Miami federal court as prosecutors laid out the case against them.

Mark Grenon, 65, and sons Jonathan, 37, Joseph, 35, and Jordan, 29  all with matching beige inmate uniforms, pony tails and flowing beards  had nothing to say during opening statements in their fraud trial, an unusual legal tactic considering they have chosen to represent themselves on charges that potentially could send them to prison for years.

Prosecutors depicted the four defendants from Bradenton as con men and snake-oil salesmen who used a phony religious front on a website, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, to sell $1 million worth of their Miracle Mineral Solution in video pitches as a cure for 95% of the worlds known diseases, from AIDS to the coronavirus.

Prosecutors Michael Homer and John Shipley said the Grenons called themselves bishops and peddled MMS as sacraments to consumers across the United States in exchange for a donation to the Genesis church, before the Food and Drug Administration cracked down on the family for distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug in 2020.

The Grenons were charged that April with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when they defied FDA and court orders to stop distributing the toxic MMS substance. Their criminal case was the first pandemic-related enforcement action in Florida. In public warnings, FDA said it received several reports of hospitalizations and life-threatening conditions as people drank the dangerous substance.

MMS is a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite and water that, when mixed with a citric acid activator, turns into chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp and paper.

Before the trial began on Monday, U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga gave an instruction to jurors that the Grenons could not use the First Amendment, specifically religious freedom, as a defense because their so-called church was not a religious entity.

Homer, the prosecutor, zeroed in on that critical point when he asked FDA special agent Jose Rivera, who led an undercover investigation into the Grenons business, why they sold the miracle chemical solution through a religious website.

To get around government regulation and not go to jail, Rivera testified.

During his testimony, Rivera focused on three Grenon-produced videos that pitched the solution as a cure for cancer, lung cancer and COVID-19.

We are trying to create a world without disease, Grenon said in one video, pitching the MMS substance. Its been proven to be tremendously effective in curing cancer.

Another video, dated March 8, 2020, was titled: The coronavirus is curable. Do you believe it? You better!

Homer asked the FBI agent if theres a cure for the coronavirus, which can cause severe respiratory disease and death.

No, there isnt, Rivera said.

To bolster his investigation, Rivera, under a different name, said he bought multiple bottles of the Grenons MMS product through their website at $15, $20 and $30 each. They were shipped to addresses in Florida and Georgia. In one instance, Rivera complained that his fictional wife, who was portrayed as battling cancer, did not improve after taking the substance for three weeks. The agent testified that he received an email from one of Grenons sons saying that she would have to use it for a longer period of time to be effective.

Prosecutors said the Grenon familys religious front, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, sold tens of thousands of MMS orders in violation of federal law since 2010.

It was in that year that Mark Grenon claims to have founded the organization with a man named Jim Humble in a plan to avoid governmental regulation and arrest as they promoted MMS as a miracle cure. Humble, a man who has dabbled in Scientology and professed to be a billion-year-old god, began promoting the substance as early as 2006 in self-published works after he claimed to have discovered its medical properties while on a gold-mining expedition in South America.

After Humble supposedly stepped away from the organization in 2017, Grenon continued to manufacture, promote and sell MMS with his three sons.

The Grenons utilized a complex network of websites to reach potential users, according to federal prosecutors, as well as countless newsletters, posts, and articles.

The Grenons caught the eye of federal agents during the COVID-19 pandemic when they began promoting MMS as a cure for the virus. At the time, many unproven and dangerous cures for the virus were circulating on social media.

In April 2020, federal authorities sent the Grenons a warning letter ordering them to stop sales.

We can say cure, heal and treat as a Free Church, Genesis allegedly said in a response letter. There will be NO corrective actions on our part. ... You have no authority over us! ... Never going to happen.

The Grenons open defiance of a court order ultimately led to criminal charges and a federal raid on the familys Bradenton home, where federal investigators say they found loaded guns, nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder and thousands of bottles of MMS.

Jonathan and Jordan Grenon, the eldest and youngest sons, were arrested in Bradenton. Mark Grenon and the middle son, Joseph, fled to Colombia, where they were later arrested by Colombian authorities and held for extradition last year.

Information from the Bradenton Herald was used for this story.
A father and his son, both pastors at a Melbourne church, and an Indian Harbour Beach repairman were found guilty by a federal jury in connection with their roles in the failed Jan. 6 insurrection.

The convictions of James Varnell Cusick Jr. and his son Casey Cusick  leaders of the Melbourne-based Global Outreach Ministries Church  and David John Lesperance came Friday at the end of a five-day jury trial before District of Columbia Circuit Judge John D. Bates.

Suspect James Varnell Cusick Jr., a Brevard County pastor, appears in this photo, taken from charging documents against him for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The jury found the three men guilty of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or on grounds without lawful authority; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, court records show.

All three plan to appeal the case. A sentencing date was set for Oct. 12. The three remain out on bond on the misdemeanor convictions, according to court records. Lawyers for the three men could not be reached late Monday.

Neither of the Cusicks could be reached. Lesperance did not wish to comment about the case when reached by FLORIDA TODAY.

More locals in January 6 attack: Titusville man and Oath Keepers' founder face new charges of sedition for Capitol riot role

The case was one of a series of court filings against more than 700 people suspected of participating in the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, as part of protests fueled by false assertions that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

Now, nearly two and a half years later, many of those arrested  including supporters of former President Donald J. Trump, who led a rally that drew thousands to the U.S. Capitol that day  are facing trial.

Seven men from Brevard County were arrested on various charges for their participation  some of it captured on camera  in one of the most violent episodes to take place directly against the 1.5-million-square-foot federal structure.

In the aftermath of the attempted insurrection, an unnamed tipster contacted the FBI on Jan. 22, 2021, that the Cusicks participated in the riot, according to charging documents filed in federal court. A second anonymous tipster wrote to the FBI on March 26 that Lesperance  an air conditioning repairman  had traveled to Washington, D.C. with the pair, according to charging documents.

The FBI met with Lesperance at his home in Indian Harbour Beach, where he "admitted that his pastor was also present at President Trump's speech and then at the U.S. Capitol afterwards." The church, which posted online videos of its services, presented a blend of Christian theology and patriotism to its audience. It was not immediately known if the congregation was still active.

Early in the case, attorneys for the three men at one point argued that federal charges were not appropriate for the case, saying there is no law that makes the Capitol a restricted area. The attorneys also argued that free speech could not be "overcome by mere decree of the Capitol police."

A screen capture included in court filings against Casey Cusick showing him and his father Jim with members of their ministry.

So it is that defendants assessments that hundreds of people around them who evidently believed they were rightfully in the area is a defense, the attorneys wrote in a legal brief filed in the first year of the case.

Federal prosecutors used photos recovered from Lesperance's iCloud account to show the Cusicks inside the Capitol during the breach. The men were wearing clothing that agents matched to images from surveillance video recorded inside the building, records show.

Lesperance told federal investigators the three had cellphones with them and took pictures. Lesperance deleted photos and videos from his phone "out of fear of negative repercussions," court records showed. Photos included in the charging documents showed the three posing with others during their stay in the nation's capital. Federal agents had used cellphone images, surveillance camera footage and other high-tech means of tracking participants in what become a riot on Capitol Hill.

Rioters  including many from Florida  tore down equipment, attacked Capitol police, urinated in the hallways and stole items from the building, in addition to sending representatives and senators fleeing from the area out of fear of more violence.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jdgallop@floridatodan.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 2 Florida pastors, church member guilty in January 6th Capitol riot
FBI charges now-husband of 'Pink Beret' Jan. 6 rioter who was turned in by her ex

WASHINGTON  The now-husband of a Jan. 6 defendant who was identified by her ex after the FBI posted viral images of her wearing a pink beret during the Capitol attack has also been charged with federal crimes.

Spencer Geller, the husband of "Pink Beret," now identified by the FBI as Jennifer Inzunza Vargas Geller, faces a felony count of obstructing, impeding or interfering with officers during civil disorder, along with misdemeanor charges. The couple were in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and split up once they got to the Capitol. Vargas Geller ended up inside, while Geller, her husband, remained outside and was at the location of some of the most violent scenes of the day.

Jennifer Vargas Geller, aka

As NBC News first reported, "Pink Beret" has long been a subject of interest to online "Sedition Hunters" who have aided in hundreds of Jan. 6 cases and who have identified hundreds of additional Capitol rioters who have not been arrested. But it was not until the FBI tweeted images of "Pink Beret" in April that her photos went viral and were seen by an ex, who was standing in line at a Joann Fabric and Crafts store when his buddy showed him the FBI tweet on his phone.

I stopped dead in my tracks, the ex said. Im like, Thats Jenny.

The ex reported Vargas Geller to the FBI, and she was charged with several misdemeanors on May 8. But she was not arrested because she was out of the country. The FBI affidavit in her husband's case indicates that a tipster believed the couple were traveling in Japan, and online sleuths have surfaced numerous photos and videos of the couple, who appear to be living in Asia with a baby.

The FBI said Spencer Geller, right, took part in the initial breach of the barricades on the western side of the U.S. Capitol and was in the front of the mob as it made its way toward the building. (via FBI)

On Jan. 6, Geller was one of the first individuals to arrive at the West Plaza," the FBI affidavit says, and he can be seen on video "pushing bike racks" during the initial breach of the barricade around the Capitol.

He eventually made his way up to the entrance to the lower west tunnel, where some of the most violent scenes took place, according to the FBI affidavit.

The FBI first posted images of "Pink Beret" after a defense lawyer for another Jan. 6 defendant suggested that the woman was a "femme fatale" government operative who lured defendants into the Capitol.

No lawyer was listed for Geller who could be asked to comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Federal grants to fund more than $1.3 million in main runway upgrades at Gadsden's airport

The main runway at the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport in Gadsden is about to get a facelift, courtesy of more than $1 million in federal grant money.

Mayor Craig Ford on Friday announced that the airport will receive $861,278 through the Federal Aviation Authoritys Airport Improvement Program and another $376,744 as an Airport Infrastructure Grant.

The AIP provides grants to public agencies, or private owners and entities, to plan and develop public-use airports that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The AIG is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal passed in 2021, and provides $15 billion in funding for runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, and terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.

Northeast Alabama Regional Airport

The larger grant will be used for a sealcoat, crack seal and re-marking project on the runway, according to a news release from the city, which is expected to extend the life of the more than 1 million square foot runway. The other funding will cover the reconstruction of 6,000 square feet of the runway that has buckled.

Those grants, which must be approved by the City Council and the Gadsden Airport Authority (the city and the authority share sponsorship of the airport), will cover 90% of the projects cost.

However, the Alabama Department of Transportation has authorized $68,779 in matching grants for them, which means the city will be able to fund $1,375,597 in repairs on the runway, according to the release, with only a $68,779 expenditure of local funds.

I cannot overstate the importance of our airport to the future of Gadsden and Etowah County, Ford said. Thats why I and my team have been aggressively working with our contacts at the FAA, ALDOT and in D.C. to identify the funding sources that will improve our airport.

With continued support from Senator (Katie) Britt, Senator (Tommy) Tuberville, and Congressman (Robert) Aderholt, we will continue to see growth like this at our airport," he said. With a new airport manager, a renewed airport board and new engineering consultants, we are about to see the airport really take off.

Hi-Lite Airfield Services LLC has been awarded the project bid by the Gadsden Airport Authority, and a construction date will soon be scheduled, according to the release.

The airport has a second 4,804-foot-long runway, which will permit most flights to continue as normal while the main runway is being renovated.

Its the first major project at the airport for Goodwyn Mills Cawoods aviation division, which became the facilitys engineering firm after Ford took office.

The airports new director, Anthony Tarver, formerly with the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, begins that role on Aug. 4.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Runway improvement slated at Gadsden's airport
Due to the span destruction on the Crimean Bridge, the operation of the ferry crossing between the occupied peninsula and the Russian Krasnodar Krai has been stopped, and the movement of trains on the bridge has also been temporarily suspended.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, citing the authorities of the Temryuksky district in Krasnodar Krai

Quote: "The operation of the ferry crossing between Crimea and Kuban has been stopped."

Details: In addition, according to TASS, railway transport movement across the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily stopped.

Added at 07:55. Later, Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed Head of occupied Crimea, said that the movement of railway transport across the Kerch Strait would be resumed by 09:00, and that information on the ferry crossing service operation would also be established by 09:00.

Background:

On the night of 16-17 July, Sergey Aksyonov reported that an "emergency situation" had happened on the Crimean Bridge and that traffic was suspended.

Russian Telegram channels reported that a span of the bridge had "collapsed".

According to the Astra Telegram channel, at least two explosions were heard before the "collapse" of the Crimean bridge span.

Veniamin Kondratiev, Governor of the Russian Krasnodar Krai, called on residents of the region to refrain from travelling across the Crimean Bridge.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Officials in Houston, Texas, recently confirmed the city's first heat-related death of the year as sweltering extreme heat continues to plague a large part of the South.

Victor Ramos, 67, of southwest Houston, was rushed to the hospital after he was found unresponsive in his home, which was not air-conditioned, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. He was pronounced dead on June 24. The manner and cause of death was ruled as accidental hyperthermia.

"He had told me during the day that he wasn't feeling too good, he was a little bit tired," Ramos' sister Karla Ramos told KHOU-TV. "I went to check on him by 9 the next morning and I found him unresponsive." She then called 911.

She said her brother was trying to make ends meet after losing his job recently and couldn't afford to fix his air-conditioning unit.

Andres Matamoros wipes the sweat from his face while selling fresh fruit and cold coconuts from his roadside stand Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The scorching heat has been blamed for at least 13 deaths in Texas so far this year, according to The Associated Press.

"While Houston has only hit 100 degrees twice so far this summer, temperatures have been running 2 to 4 degrees above average since June 1," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. The historical average high for the most populous city in Texas is the low 90s.

The high on June 23 in Houston was 97 and on June 24 it was 95, according to AccuWeather data. Houston's William P. Hobby Airport recorded a high of 96 on June 24.

"The combination of heat, sunshine and high humidity found along the Gulf Coast can lead to an excessive amount of heat buildup in urban areas and air-conditioning may be a lifeline to help avoid heat-related illness," Sosnowski said.

Usually in the summer, there's a break in the intense heat, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s in Houston, "but highs have been at or above 90 since June 7 to present," he noted. "No relief really."

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More than 83 million people across 13 states from California to Florida remain under heat alerts.

As more and more people become exposed to heat at high intensity, there are signs to look for of heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 Heavy sweating

 Cold, pale and clammy skin

 Fast, weak pulse

 Nausea or vomiting

 Muscle cramps

 Tiredness or weakness

 Dizziness

 Headache

 Fainting (passing out)

 High body temperature (103F or higher)

 Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

 Fast, strong pulse

 Headache

 Dizziness

 Nausea

 Confusion

 Losing consciousness (passing out)

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.
At least six people have died and two children remain missing after slow-moving thunderstorms took aim at the East Coast and unleashed an epic deluge of water across several communities over the weekend. Deadly flash floods swept away dozens of vehicles and hundreds of flights were canceled.

Saturday night's deadly flash flooding brought torrential rains to parts of Bucks County outside Philadelphia. (Upper Makefield Police Department)

Some of the worst flooding occurred on a localized basis in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, specifically in Upper Makefield Township, located north of Philadelphia and near the New Jersey border. Officials there said torrential floodwaters Saturday evening in the Washington Crossing area swept away several vehicles. At least five people died and two children were still missing as of Monday afternoon.

On Monday afternoon, the names of the two missing children were shared by the Upper Makefield Township Police Department with permission from the family members of the victims. The search continues for 2-year-old Matilda (Mattie) Sheils and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils. The body of their mother, who was identified as Katie Seley, 32, was recovered on Sunday.

"Their loving father, Jim Sheils, and their entire family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support. They would also like to thank all of the personnel involved in this massive search effort to find Mattie and Conrad," the police department said.

The Upper Makefield Township Police Department shared this photo of the Sheils family.

In a news conference Sunday afternoon, Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said the family was visiting the area from Charleston, South Carolina, and was heading to a barbecue when their vehicle became trapped in a flash flood on Route 532.

Jim Sheils and the children's grandmother, who was not identified, were able to escape with Sheils' four-year-old son, while Seley took the two younger children. However, according to officials, Seley, who was Sheils' fiance, Mattie and Conrad were swept away by floodwaters.

Brewer said about 6 to 7 inches of rain fell within a two-hour period across parts of the area Saturday evening.

"Between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell in about an hour near Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. This amount of rain in such a short time period is between a 1-in-500 and 1-in-1000-year event, meaning the probability of such an event happening in a given year is between 0.1 and 0.2%," AccuWeather Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said.

The tragic and deadly flash flooding event in Bucks County was the result of a narrow band of intense rain, DePodwin explained.

"In my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it," Brewer said at a press conference. "When the water came up, it came up very swiftly."

Officials on Wednesday said weather and river conditions were not favorable for planned search operations. "The area and conditions will be continuously monitored throughout the day and if we are able to deploy our assets we will do so," the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said. "This setback has us all frustrated as we are desperate to bring Mattie and Conrad home."

On Monday evening, the police department released the identities of the four other people who lost their lives: Enzo Depiero, a 78-year-old male from Newtown Township; Linda Depiero, a 74-year-old female from Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart, a 53-year-old female from Titusville, New Jersey; and Yuko Love, a 64-year-old female from Newtown Township.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the scene of the flooding on Sunday.

"Thank you to the first responders who worked through the night to rescue those caught in flood waters and keep people safe. We have your backs - and we'll be here as long as it takes to rebuild," Shapiro said in a Twitter post. "Our prayers are with those waiting for word about their loved ones, and those who lost friends, family, and neighbors. May their memories be a blessing."

Emergency crews were dispatched to a water rescue north of Charlotte, in Alexander County, North Carolina, just before 11:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, WSOC reported. Once on scene, crews located one person clinging to a tree. A raft was deployed and the victim was saved and eventually treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The victim told officials that another person had jumped out of the vehicle they were both in and entered the water. After an extensive search, the body of 49-year-old Lisa Michelle Riahi was found about 2 miles away from the scene.

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According to Alexander County Emergency Management, 7.3 inches of rainfall was reported in the area of the incident.

Torrential downpours took aim at the storm-weary Northeast and inundated communities from New Jersey to Maine. Hundreds of flights and a handful of events were canceled due to the flooding rainfall.

Tweed-New Haven, a small airport located in New Haven, Connecticut, closed Sunday afternoon after rounds of showers and high tide flooded the only runway at the airport.

"[Tweed-New Haven Airport] acts as a collection bowl for neighborhood flood waters," officials from the airport wrote on Twitter. "High tide needs to recede to open tide gates to drain water through waterways."

As of Monday morning, the airport announced that floodwaters had receded and it was "fully operational" again.

Slow-moving thunderstorms moving across New England on Sunday, July 16. (AccuWeather)

In addition to the cancellations at Tweed airport, nearly 800 other flights were canceled Sunday across the Northeast. Newark Libert Airport, located in Newark, New Jersey, led the entire world in flight cancellations with 180 as of Sunday evening, according to FlightAware.

In New York City, John F. Kennedy Airport had 159 flight cancellations, making up 21% of origin flights at the airport. LaGuardia Airport, also in New York City, and Boston Logan International Airport exceeded 100 flight cancellations as well Sunday evening.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged people to stay off the roads Sunday until the storms had passed. According to Hochul, 5 inches of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County, located on Long Island, Sunday morning.

This image shows rain that fell from Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, July 16 over the northeastern United States.

"Here comes the rain. It just seems unrelenting this year," Hochul said in a press briefing. "A flash flood doesn't give you warning...you have to avoid unnecessary travel."

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for the entire state Sunday due to the severe weather. Murphy said in a tweet that the state was hit by hazardous weather conditions including intense rainfall, flash flooding and dangerous winds.

There was a report of vehicles stuck near New Brunswick, New Jersey, due to flooding Sunday afternoon. In Edison, New Jersey, the right lane of Interstate 287 southbound north of Exit 1 was closed due to flooding.

A NASCAR Cup Series race in Loudon, New Hampshire, was postponed due to the storms inundating the Northeast, according to NASCAR. The Crayon 301 race was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon and will now be held at noon Monday.

The area was under a flash flood warning, areal flood watch and a tornado watch Sunday afternoon, with the tornado watch expiring at 3 p.m. EDT, a half hour after the race was originally supposed to begin.

John Basher, of Buffalo, N.Y., carries an umbrella while walking on the rain-soaked race track, Sunday, July 16, 2023, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, N.H. Sunday's Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series race has been postponed until Monday, July 17, 2023, due to inclement weather, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

About an hour and a half north of Loudon, in Madison, New Hampshire, extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer said torrential rain caused flash floods that broke apart highways and covered roads in rocks and debris.

In a video shared by Timmer, half of Highway 113 was turned into a raging river while rocks covered the entire roadway. According to Timmer, the water was rushing off Highway 113 and onto a property just below the road.

"All this flow is going down into a home," said Timmer. "There are vehicles buried in feet of dirt and rock."

As recovery efforts continued in Vermont from recent floods, more rain moved into the hard-hit state. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Burlington, Vermont, warned of the possibility of additional landslides amid the recent rounds of heavy rainfall in the area.

The warning came a few days after a landslide destroyed one home in Ripton and impacted over a dozen others Friday, prompting the evacuation of homeowners, according to NBC5.

A thunderstorm unleashed a deluge of rainfall Friday, with radar estimates between 3-3.5 inches falling over the Ripton area. Intense and prolonged rainfall can often trigger landslides and debris flows.

As storms rolled into Massachusetts early Sunday morning, the NWS issued a tornado watch for a large swath of New England. Severe thunderstorms moved across central Massachusetts, which prompted a few tornado warnings Sunday morning.

At least one tornado touched down just before 11 a.m. EDT in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, which is located between Springfield and Boston.

According to the NWS office in Boston, the EF0 twister damaged trees in the area, but no injuries were reported.

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.
A flight attendant saved a couple's honeymoon after picking up the bride's passport that she forgot at home

Flight attendant Dusty Dills is pictured with Lawryn Fellwock's sister-in-law Jackie during the passport exchange. Delta Air Lines

Newlywed Lawryn Fellwock forgot her passport before flying to Puerto Rico for her honeymoon cruise.

Delta said flight attendant Dusty Dills stepped in to get the passport, which she needed to board.

The passport got to San Juan in time for Fellwock to make the cruise, according to the airline.

A couple's honeymoon was almost ruined because of the bride's missing passport  until a helpful flight attendant saved the day.

Delta flight attendant Dusty Dills went above and beyond to help newlyweds Lawryn and Joe Fellwock make their cruise as they flew from Detroit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to a press release the airline sent to Insider.

Just after takeoff, Fellwock realized she had left her passport  which she'd need to board the cruise  at home, the airline said.

A Delta spokesperson said Fellwock was "inconsolable" on the flight. That's when Dills and Delta staff members Katy Yates and Karla Maisonet helped come up with a plan to get her passport to San Juan as fast as possible, according to the airline.

Dills had Fellwock's sister-in-law Jackie bring her passport to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, where he picked it up, according to the press release.

Multiple Delta team members in three different cities helped deliver Fellwock's passport just in time, according to the airline. Nicolas Economou/Getty Images

Dills took the passport on his flight to Atlanta before handing it off to fellow flight attendant Jeff Mendez, who delivered it to customer service agent Juan Arroyo at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the press release said.

Lawryn was able to pick up her passport at the ticket counter in San Juan in time for her honeymoon cruise, according to the press release.

"The whole experience was surreal," Lawryn said in a statement sent to Insider. "Joe and I were desperate to find a way to save our honeymoon and, right when we thought we were out of options, Dusty offers his personal time to help us out."

"We were so touched and grateful," she added. "A renewed faith in humanity was the best gift. We owe our post-wedding bliss to Dusty and the Delta family!"

Dills said he didn't think twice about doing everything he could to help the couple out.

"It's so easy to go throughout the day and do what's expected of you at work," he said in a statement sent to Insider. "But I always try to ask myself, 'What can I do to make that difference in someone's life?'"

According to the press release, Dills is still in contact with the Fellwocks, who he said have invited him to their wedding reception in August. He said he'll be attending with Yates, who played a big role in helping get the passport back to Lawryn.

Read the original article on Insider
Florida Gov. DeSantis makes case to Tega Cay voters on why he should be next president

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke Monday to a crowd at the Phillip T. Glennon Community Center in Tega Cay to make his case on why he should be the next president of the U.S.

Are you ready to help me send Joe Biden back to his basement in Delaware? DeSantis asked his followers Monday.

Hes hoping to gain support to become the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

LINK: The Political Beat with Reporter Joe Bruno

The latest poll from National Public Affairs shows DeSantis is in second place in South Carolina, trailing former President Donald Trump by 23 points.

When asked what separates him from Trump, DeSantis said he can get more accomplished by serving two consecutive terms. DeSantis also criticized the 45th president for not firing Dr. Anthony Fauci.

I think everybody has to agree, he did not drain the swamp, DeSantis said.

A Trump-supporting attendee said DeSantis is making her second guess her support.

I have to think more with my heart and whats best for my country, the attendee said.

DeSantis will be in Columbia rolling out a military policy to Get the woke out.

The Florida governor visited Iowa over the weekend and criticized the woke military.

The military has been indulging in things like social experimentation, political ideology, a woke agenda, which is taking your eye off the mission and focusing on things that are simply not the core function of the military, DeSantis said.

South Carolina Democratic Chair John Kraljevich doesnt believe his message will resonate in the state.

I think that most people are over his kind of politics, Kraljevich said. Theyre over the culture wars instead of an actual agenda that affects working people.

DeSantis will next be in Columbia rolling out a military policy to Get the woke out.

The South Carolina primary is on Feb. 24. There are two major political figures from this state who are running for president. They are Sen. Tim Scott and former Gov. Nikki Haley

Return to this story and watch Eyewitness News for updates from Political Beat Reporter Joe Bruno.

VIDEO: DeSantis to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week








STAUNTON  A Florida man is behind bars after he allegedly tampered with gaming equipment at a Staunton arcade venue, reportedly giving him the ability to play for free.

On Sunday, shortly before 6:30 p.m., the Augusta County Sheriff's Office received a phone call from the owner of the The Hilltop Skilled Game Arcade on Rowe Road just outside of Staunton. Authorities were told there were three individuals in the establishment and that one of them was suspected of tampering with a gaming machine, according to Major Brian Jenkins of the sheriff's office.

Jenkins said it appeared that a suspect, using tools, jimmied a machine's cash box.

"Whatever money he put in, the machine counted it as a credit for whatever bet he was making, but he was able to get his money right back out," Jenkins explained, meaning he was allegedly playing for free while reportedly collecting any winnings that came his way.

After getting a vehicle description, deputies responded to the area and spotted the vehicle at the Royal Station convenience store, also on Rowe Road. While there, deputies interviewed the three men who were from New York, Florida and Georgia, Jenkins said.

One of the men, 32-year-old Javaun R. Ivey, of Micanopy, Florida, was arrested on felony charges of possessing burglary tools and tampering with casino gaming equipment. Jenkins said Ivey was reportedly caught with a punch tool and pliers, and also had $520 in cash, the same amount that was allegedly illegally won from the arcade business.

Ivey was arrested and taken to Middle River Regional Jail in Verona, where as of Monday he was being held without bond, jail records show.

Citizen invests in Staunton's first air quality station monitor to benefit community

Staunton man injured in fire dies during emergency surgery

Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Man facing charges after gaming machine tampered with in Staunton
Titusville police say a missing 11-year-old boy has been found safe.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert for Robert John Kinne III before 11 a.m.

Police said when Robert was reported missing, he was last seen around 5 a.m. walking away from his home in the 5100 block of Sandra Drive wearing blue, long-sleeve Minecraft pajamas.

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A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for 11-year-old Robert Kinne III, last seen in Titusville, Florida. If you have any information, please contact the Titusville Police Department at 321-264-7800 or 911. pic.twitter.com/cvpttc5dDK  FDLE (@fdlepio) July 17, 2023

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Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny

In this photo taken from video released by Belarusian Defense Ministry via VoenTV on Friday, July 14, 2023, Belarusian soldiers attend a training by mercenary fighters from Wagner private military company near Tsel village, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, Belarus. Mercenary fighters from the Wagner private military company are training Belarusian soldiers in Belarus, the country's Defense Ministry said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he offered the Wagner private military company the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander. (Belarusian Defense Ministry via VoenTV via AP)

More mercenaries from Russia's Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus on Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month's short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of more than 100 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country, heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company. The convoy included heavy trucks and trailers with construction equipment, among other vehicles.

The group said it was the third Wagner convoy to enter the country since last week.

A messaging app channel linked to the contractor ran a video on Monday showing Russian and Wagner flags lowered at the mercenaries' main home base in Molkino in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. The channel said that the base would fully close on July 30, and one of the mercenaries in the video declared that Wagner was moving to unspecified new locations. Wagner also has used camps in the Russia-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last month's rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his country's military could benefit from the mercenaries' combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagne r is located.

Belaruski Hajun alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of the capital, Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhins mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow. Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner mercenaries sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhin's fate remain murky.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry didnt say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus. Lukashenko said previously it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service. Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

Putins comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, whose revolt posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defense Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries.

The Belarusian leader has rejected the allegations that Wagner's presence in Belarus could destabilize the country, but some observers noted that he would likely order the country's security agencies to maintain a close watch over the group's activities.

Lukashenko is a very cautious politician and he would be worried about possible surprises from the Russian mercenaries, whom he would seek to control day and night, Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said. The Belarusian security agencies will now focus their entire potential on not allowing Wagner to have any autonomy in Belarus.

During a meeting Monday with the country's chief prosecutor, Lukashenko spoke about the need to tighten control over the military to ensure their full compliance with the law.
Foreign Ministry on 9th anniversary of Russian downing of MH17: Ukraine to help establish justice for victims

The downing of the MH17 flight on July 17, 2014, is "one of the most terrible pages of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry said on the ninth anniversary of the crime.

"Ukraine will continue to make all possible efforts to establish justice for the victims of the tragedy, hold Russia and all guilty accountable and have guarantees of non-repetition of such a tragic incident."

All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed when Russian proxies used a BUK missile system to shoot down the Malaysia Airlines flight above Donetsk Oblast. The plane was on route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Russia invaded the east of Ukraine, including Donetsk Oblast, following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

In November 2022, the Hague District Court found Russians Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinsky, as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, guilty of murder.

The trial started in March 2020, and the suspects were tried in absentia. The three men were sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay a compensation of 16 million euros to the relatives of the victims.

In February, the Joint Investigation Team, established to conduct the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17, said in a report that there are "strong indications" that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin supplied the missile that shot down the plane.

In May, a Ukrainian woman was sentenced by a Ukrainian court to 12 years in prison for leaking information on the situation on the front line in Donetsk Oblast to Russia. The woman was a "personal informant" of the Russian military intelligence officer Dubinsky, according to the Security Service of Ukraine.

The national memorial to the victims of the downing of Flight MH17 in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands

Among the victims, 196 people were Dutch nationals.

The acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, said that July 17 was a day of remembrance for the victims. "The loss is great and lasting," he wrote on Twitter.

A remembrance service took place at the national memorial near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

The Dutch Foreign Minister, Wopke Hoekstra, echoed Ukraine's call for justice for the victims: "The Netherlands remains steadfast in its pursuit for truth, justice and accountability."
Former Alabama Rep. Will Dismukes gets no prison time for theft

Former state Rep. William Will N. Dismukes III was sentenced Monday to five years of community corrections service, and will not go to prison for his theft of property conviction.

Dismukes, 32, was found guilty in April of stealing money from his former employer, Weiss Commercial Flooring of Montgomery. The thefts happened before Dismukes was elected. He faced a sentence of up to 20 years. Circuit Judge Brooke Reid gave Dismukes the maximum sentence of 20 years, then split it to 5 years community corrections and then two years probation.

Dismukes, dressed in a grey doubled-breasted suit, stood before the bench as Reid handed down her sentence. He offered no comment on the advice of Richard White, his attorney, since he is appealing the conviction.

Reid left little doubt of the punishment facing Dismukes if he doesn't live up to community corrections conditions.

"Make one mistake, and I'm handing down the 20 year sentence," she said.

During the sentencing hearing, which lasted about an hour, White often became emotional. He sought probation because this was Dismukes' first offense.

Rep. Will Dismukes during the special session on redistricting at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday November 1, 2021.

"I believe in fairness, and I believe people should be treated the same," he said. "Since the beginning he has been treated different than other folks charged with theft of property. Politics has no place in the criminal justice system.

"I'm just asking the court to treat him like everyone else."

The state told Reid that Dismukes was treated like any other defendant and politics did not enter into the prosecution.

"My theory is he was treated fairly at trial," Reid said.

"I agree, Judge, I never said this court treated him differently. I said the system treated him differently," White said, apparently seeking to not aggravate the judge.

Reid also ordered Dismukes to pay $43,691.75 in restitution.

Reid said this case was different because Dismukes took the stand and testified that everyone involved in the investigation lied, but he was the only one to tell the truth.

"My issue is a total refusal to accept any responsibility whatsoever," she said.

"Judge, that's his right to go to trial and say he's innocent and you know what, God bless him," White answered.

Dismukes said he stands on his innocence and is confident the conviction will be reversed on appeal. He said he expected to be sentenced to prison as part of the sentencing.

Community corrections is best described as a level above probation. Dismukes will live at home for the five years and be able the work and go to church, White said.

He will be monitored much more closely than if he were on probation, the attorney said.

The jury found that Dismukes stole money, materials and services by billing the company for work not done. Before he entered the Legislative race he left Weiss flooring and set up a flooring business of his own. The investigation into the theft was not reported by the company until he was serving in the Statehouse.

A jury returned the verdict in April after a week-long trial. Dismukes, a Republican, represented Prattville and portions of Autauga and Elmore counties in the Statehouse for one term but lost his bid for re-election last year.

The jury also found Dismukes guilty of two aggravating factors which allowed Reid to sentence him to prison. A release from the district attorneys office did not give an amount that was stolen.

Dismukes has a recent history of controversy. In July 2020, Dismukes gained national attention after posting a photo on Facebook of him attending a birthday celebration for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early leader in the KKK.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Former Alabama Rep. Will Dismukes gets no prison time for theft
A high-powered lobbying firm hired Former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. Ballard Partners made the announcement Monday, which is the same company that previously hired Currys former chief of staff.

According to the firms press release, Curry will be a partner in its Washington, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville offices.

This is your typical revolving door where people go from elected office into the lobbying world, Dr. Michael Binder, a political science professor at UNF, said.

Read: Infrastructure is the foundation for everything: Jacksonville mayor Deegan presents $1.7B budget

In Florida, theres a law banning former lawmakers from lobbying state agencies for two years after leaving office. But that doesnt apply to local leaders on the city level.

There is the so-called Mousa Rule which was passed by city council in late 2019. It prohibits future employment for two years if the person had a substantial and decision-making role in securing or negotiating the contract.

Read: Investigates: Creating chaos How vulnerable are local electrical substations to attack?

Action News Jax discovered Currys staff signed off on more than $2 million in city contracts with Ballard. Binder said its not illegal but raises ethical questions.

The optics never look great when officials go and become lobbyists. It doesnt matter who theyre going to lobby for.

Brian Ballard is the firms president and co-chaired the Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee with Curry, which ultimately failed to stage the 2020 Republican Convention in Jacksonville.

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Curry also chaired the Republican Party of Florida.

Ballard said, Given his extraordinary relationships and experiences, Lenny will be an invaluable advocate for the firms clients...

We have reached out to Ballard Partners to learn what exactly Currys role will be, but we have not yet heard back.

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Two former top officials on former President Trumps 2020 White House campaign said on a new podcast that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has a candidate problem he needs to address in the 2024 primary.

Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien and deputy campaign chief and attorney Justin Clark launched a new podcast through their consulting firm, National Public Affairs, on which they opined about DeSantiss struggles trying to cut into Trumps polling lead.

Campaigns take a lot of blame, you know, during times like this. But I got to say  candidates matter, Stepien said.

And I think, at this point, at this stage in the primary, the candidate matters more now than at any point over the next year and a half. Because right now it is hand-to-hand combat on the ground, he continued. It is shaking hands at county fairs in Iowa, it is sitting in living rooms in New Hampshire. The candidate matters. And I think theres a candidate problem for Ron DeSantis.

Theres a major candidate problem, Clark said. Hes got to fix that. Hes got to do something to engage with people. And Im talking about policies.

Clark and Stepien suggested DeSantis needs to lean into policy more to engage with voters on issues they care about. They also pointed to the first GOP primary debate in August as a pivotal moment for DeSantis to connect with the electorate.

Clark and Stepien worked on Trumps White House campaigns in 2016 and 2020, but neither is working on a presidential campaign during the 2024 cycle.

DeSantis coasted to reelection last November and launched his presidential campaign in May at a time when he was widely viewed as the most viable challenger to Trump in a primary.

But he has struggled to narrow Trumps lead in the polls, and his campaign last week let go of a handful of employees as part of a staffing shake-up.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

DeSantis raised $20 million in the second quarter after only being in the race for six weeks, according to his Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing, the second-biggest haul among Republican candidates, behind only Trump.

But NBC News reported the governor spent $7.9 million in the first six weeks of his campaign.

DeSantis has recently turned his sights on early primary and caucus states, spending the last two days campaigning in Iowa. His team believes he is gaining momentum in the Hawkeye State, particularly after Trump attacked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and skipped a major evangelical gathering this week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Four shot, including two teens, in separate shootings during 12-hour period in Columbus

Columbus police use yellow tape to cordon off a crime scene.

Four people were shot in a 12-hour window Sunday and Monday in separate shootings throughout Columbus, capping off a weekend of violence throughout the city.

The victims are expected to survive their injuries.

Violence around the city began at 3 p.m. Sunday, when a 16-year-old boy came to a fire station a6 the 2200 block of W. Broad in the Hilltop neighborhood with a gunshot wound to the hand and leg, according to Columbus police. He was transported to a local hospital and told first responders he was in the area of Sullivant Avenue and S. Highland Ave, located on the other side of central Hilltop.

Just moments later, around 3:06 p.m., Columbus police responded to a report of a shooting at the 4600 block of Grovedale Ct. on the Northeast Side, according to a release. When they arrived, they found another 16-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck.

He told police that someone ran into his house and shot him. He said the suspect was wearing a camouflage hat but was unable to provide any other description.

More: What is a Glock switch? Here's what you need to know now about the devices

He was transported to an area hospital in stable condition and is expected to survive his injuries.

At 7:07 p.m. on Sunday, a 25-year-old male gunshot wound victim self-transported themselves to Mount Carmel St. Ann's Hospital from 5500 Forest Hills Blvd. in the Northland area. Officers met the victim at the hospital where they found he was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper back. He was transported to Mt. Carmel East in stable condition and is expected to survive his injuries.

Around 1:43 a.m. Monday morning, Columbus police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Moler Road on the South Side for the report of a shooting. When they arrived they found a 23-year-old male victim who was struck in the foot and was transported to Grant in stable condition.

Gunfire also struck a resident's home during the shooting.

As of Monday, Columbus has had 813 felony assaults, 614 nonfatal shootings, according to Columbus police.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Four shot in separate shootings during 12-hour period in Columbus
As labor unrest rolls across the country, union members hope the SAG-AFTRA president is exactly what the doctor prescribed.

In a 1994 episode of The Nanny, the titular caretaker played by Fran Drescher is pressured by her wealthy Broadway producer boss to cross a picket line where hes hosting a premiere party. She refuses, saying that her mother taught her to never, ever cross a picket line.

Nearly three decades later, Drescher  who created and starred in the series  is at the center of the biggest Hollywood strike in over half a century

SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union that Drescher leads, announced its strike on Thursday. It is joined by the Writers Guild of America, which has been picketing since May. Together, the two unions have brought Hollywood to a halt.

Why is Hollywood on strike?

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's national executive director and chief negotiator, after negotiations ended with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on July 13. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

The demands of both unions are centered around residual payments from streaming services, data transparency and  crucially  concerns over the studios using artificial intelligence to replace human writers and actors.

While many of the faces of the strike are wealthy A-list actors, the union has more than 160,000 members, including those who struggle to clear the $26,000 per year in earnings needed to qualify for health insurance, a key issue Matt Damon raised recently on the Oppenheimer red carpet. When the strike was called, Damon and his castmates walked out of the films London premiere before the movie was screened.

'She has brought us all together'

Drescher and Charles Shaughnessy in the sitcom "The Nanny" in 1997. (CBS via Getty Images)

Drescher ended up in this position after narrowly defeating actor Matthew Modine to win the presidency in 2021 despite a lack of labor experience. What I dont know, I promise you I will learn very quickly, and what I do know cannot be taught, she said at the time.

Drescher was criticized last week for appearing in a selfie with Kim Kardashian during a fashion event in Italy, but she defended the move, saying she was there for work and was in contact with SAG-AFTRA staff throughout the trip. She earned rave reviews for her speech Thursday announcing the strike, clips of which immediately went viral.

Eventually, the people break down the gates of Versailles, Drescher said. And then its over. Were at that moment right now.

Drescher has, in recent years, described herself as anti-capitalist and criticized the big-business sociopaths, who pray to the money gods. And in the run-up to the strike, she was vital in galvanizing the union, which voted nearly unanimously to authorize the strike.

Its pretty amazing what Fran has done, actor Shaan Sharma, a member of the negotiating committee, told Variety. She has brought us all together.

A summer of labor action

Meredith Stiehm, left, president of Writers Guild of America West, with Drescher at a rally outside the Paramount Pictures studio in Los Angeles on May 8. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Writers and actors are generating most of the headlines, but its a hot labor summer in a number of industries.

Thousands of hotel workers have been striking in California. And there is the looming potential of a Teamsters strike if the union cannot agree to a new deal with UPS by a July 31 deadline. Even a relatively brief strike by UPS workers could snarl supply chains, delay deliveries and have a major economic impact.

Labor unions have become much more popular over the last decade, according to polls, and now enjoy broad public support. Drescher has consistently tied the negotiations in Hollywood to the wider worker movement.

"The eyes of labor are upon us," she said after the press conference.

"It's very important that everybody appreciate that we're not just sticking up for ourselves, but we're sticking up for everybody else, because it is a slippery slope into a very dangerous time, and a real dystopia if big business, corporations, think that they can put human beings out of work and replace them with artificial intelligence. It's dangerous, and it's without thinking or conscience or caring."

When will the strike end?

Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland with SAG-AFTRA members during a press conference on July 13 announcing the strike. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

There is no timetable for when the shutdown in Hollywood might end. Just before the actors went on strike, Deadline spoke to an anonymous studio executive who said the studios and streamers planned to hold out until the writers caved.

The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses, the executive said.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, meanwhile, called the union demands "disturbing" and said actors and writers weren't being "realistic."

While the resolution of the strike will determine Dreschers future as a labor leader, there is one interesting historical note: The last time both the actors and writers struck at the same time was 1960, when the Screen Actors Guild president was Ronald Reagan.
Precautionary evacuations are underway after a freight train derailed in southeast Pennsylvania on Monday morning.

Just before 5am EDT, a 40-car CSX train derailed while operating on tracks owned by Norfolk Southern in Whitemarsh Township, located approximately seven miles outside of Philadelphia.

About 16 of the cars appeared to be off the track, according to a press release from CSX.

Police in Whitemarsh Township conducted evacuations of about a dozen residents and businesses closest to the scene out of an abundance of caution, seemingly due to one car that was transporting hazardous material.

However, CSX said that is no indication of any leaks or spills of hazardous materials.

Police echoed that there were no known hazards posing a risk to the public nor were there any injuries at the time of the derailment.

As of now, the only thing that is leaking from any of the rail cars involved is silicone pellets, which pose no risk to the community, Whitemarsh Township Police Department wrote on Facebook.

It is unclear what caused the derailment at this time but in their press release CSX said the cause of the derailment appears to be weather related.

Representatives from Norfolk Southern, CSX and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety Emergency Response Team were on site as of Monday morning.

Norfolk Southern said in a statement to The Independent that they were assisting CSX and authorities with cleanup.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro tweeted that he was monitoring the train derailment in Whitemarsh Twp and assisting local first responders.

Thank you to the residents taking precautions at the direction of local authorities. I urge you to continue following their instruction, Mr Shapiro added.

The derailment comes just months after a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio resulting in a two-day-long controlled burn of potentially dangerous chemicals.

Shortly after the incident, two other freight trains derailed, leading to public concerns over the railway industrys safety and engineering precautions
TK Petersen and Ryan Wilson | Paras Griffin/Getty Images

An apparent ongoing feud between the founders of a professional networking club in Atlanta and the financial company that bought the club has resulted in a lawsuit. When Greenwood, a Black-owned digital banking platform, first acquired The Gathering Spot in 2022, the two parties appeared to have a promising relationship. Ryan Wilson, one of the former owners of The Gathering Spot, initially raved about the partnership.

The Gathering Spot prides itself on building an intentional community, one where we can celebrate each member and connect them to the resources and networks they need to build on their successes, Wilson said in a statement at that time, as AfroTech previously reported. Joining with Greenwood is a commitment to our community, and we share Greenwoods vision in empowering people and helping them to build opportunity and generational wealth.

However, the former owners of The Gathering Spot are now suing Greenwood CEO Ryan Glover and board member Paul Judge.

According to a reliable source, Wilson filed the lawsuit in the Superior Court of Fulton County of Georgia, saying the fintech company has not paid the money it still owes.

Defendants, in addition to their fiduciary duties to the Former TGS Unitholders, also knew that Greenwood had a contractual obligation to pay the Former TGS Unitholders substantial amounts under the Purchase Agreement, the complaint states. Instead of honoring Greenwoods obligation to pay the Shareholders, and in violation of their fiduciary duties to those Former TGS Unitholders, Defendants instead paid to themselves a bonus.

The Gathering Spot also recently announced TKeel TK Peterson is no longer its CEO, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. While Peterson, who founded The Gathering Spot with Wilson, departed from his role, Greenwood hired Mike McCloskey as the companys chief financial officer.

Former TMZ personality Van Lathan, who said hes a founding member of The Gathering Spots Los Angeles location, expressed disappointment about the recent developments at Greenwood.

Firing a founder and adding a white dude to the C-suite is at cross purposes with everything I joined for, Lathan wrote on Instagram, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Peterson and Wilson opened TGSs first location in Atlanta in 2016. The company set out to provide a positive work environment for Black professionals, complete with a full-service restaurant and bar.

Greenwood acquired TGS for $50 million, according to court documents. The fintech company, founded in 2020, offers debit cards, saving accounts and other financial services. Greenwood describes itself as a digital platform for Black and Latino business owners.

Wilsons lawsuit claims Greenwood has had multiple layoffs within the last year.

It is evident that Greenwood has become or will soon become insolvent and unable to pay its debts, including to the Former TGS Unitholders, the complaint states.

Wilson is seeking millions of dollars in damages and the return of the business to its original owners.
Gene tech spares male chicks from cull by preventing them from hatching

FILE PHOTO: Dr Yuval Cinnamon, Principal Investigator at the Volcani Institute and CSO of Poultry by Huminn examines a male embryo with a microscope at his laboratory at the faculty of agriculture at the animal science institute of the Volcani Institute in Rehovot

Gene tech spares male chicks from cull by preventing them from hatching FILE PHOTO: Dr Yuval Cinnamon, Principal Investigator at the Volcani Institute and CSO of Poultry by Huminn examines a male embryo with a microscope at his laboratory at the faculty of agriculture at the animal science institute of the Volcani Institute in Rehovot

By Hannah Confino

REHOVOT, Israel - Every year, egg farmers kill 7 billion day-old male chicks because they cannot grow up to lay eggs and are the wrong breed for meat. A laboratory in Israel has a solution: what if the male eggs don't hatch?

All the chicks are female at Yuval Cinnamons laboratory in central Israel, where new technology offers an answer to what he calls the most devastating animal welfare issue worldwide - the culling and sorting of day-old male chicks.

Day-old male chicks are normally "either macerated or suffocated or electrified. In some countries they do not even bother to cull their males properly, explained Cinnamon, principal investigator at Israels Volcani Institute, which works to attain food security and food safety.

Cinnamon said that his team has generated a sex-linked genetic trait that stops the development of male embryos shortly after eggs are laid.

We take these eggs and activate the genetic trait using blue-light illumination which immediately causes the males to stop developing. The females dont carry the trait and are entirely non-genetically modified, as are the table eggs they lay, explained Cinnamon.

The unhatched male eggs can be used for other purposes such as animal feed.

Yaarit Wainberg, CEO of Poultry by Huminn, which is licensed to commercialize the research, wants to bring the technology to hatcheries worldwide.

We are in advanced talks with layer genetics companies and can see our solution on the market within two years. It will solve a major problem for the industry.

(Reporting and writing by Hannah Confino; Editing by Ari Rabinovitch)
George Monastiriakos: The only way to save Russia is to dismantle it

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia, the worlds last remaining empire, a great power, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine, its smaller neighbor and former colony, to overthrow its democratically elected government, annex its sovereign territory, and plunder its resources.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has redefined the legal concept of state sovereignty to include the self-confidence and collective will to achieve every goal. Whether they acknowledge it or not, the Wests century-long Russia dilemma has now become the international communitys problem.

To be clear: The Russian Federation is the third iteration of the Russian Empire. Spanning 11 time zones and comprising hundreds of ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and culturally distinct societies ruled by, from, and for the benefit of a small circle of kleptocrats primarily based in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, the Russian state has been unviable for centuries. Like empires of old, the only way to save Russia from itself is to dismantle it.

David Kirichenko: Russias historical atrocities echo in its ongoing war Russias full-scale war exposes the terrifying horrors that come as no surprise, given the long history of Russian atrocities committed against Ukraine. The deliberate infliction of severe physical and psychological pain and suffering by the Russian army upon Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war The Kyiv IndependentDavid Kirichenko

Time has not tempered Russias imperial ambitions and orientation. The Russian Federation, like Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union, pursues partnerships of convenience under the guise of diplomacy and periods of detente with its adversaries prior to waging war against them.

For example: Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Soviet Union signed non-aggression pacts with Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. It would later invade and attempt to annex every one of these states. Today, Garry Kasparov refers to this doctrine as regrouping and reloading.

Despite being nine decades apart, the parallels between the partition of Poland and the modern dismantlement of Ukraine are striking.

After the Holodomor in 1932-1933, during which the Soviet Union starved upward of 3 million Ukrainians through the failed communist policy of collectivization, Poland signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. The following year, Warsaw did the same with Berlin.

In August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany concluded the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Days later, Hitlers and Stalins armies invaded the same Poland the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany had signed non-aggression pacts with a few years earlier. Within two years of dividing Poland between themselves, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union would wage an existential war of historically unparalleled proportions against each other too.

Likewise, Russia has systematically dismantled the Ukrainian state since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Russia committed to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine in exchange for the nuclear weapons arsenal Ukraine inherited from the Soviet Union.

Ukraines nuclear disarmament When the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty in July 1990 to gain greater rights and freedoms within the Soviet Union, ridding the country of nuclear weapons was one of its top priorities. Ukraine had just suffered enormously from the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear po The Kyiv IndependentLili Bivings

In the 1995 Sochi Accord, Russia confirmed the status of Crimea as part of Ukraine. In the 1997 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership, Russia recognized Ukraine as an equal and sovereign state, committed to respect its territorial integrity and the inviolability of existing borders, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to the non-use of force or threat of force, including economic and other means of pressure.

The Russian Federation violated all these agreements.

Over the years, weak Ukrainian leaders granted sovereignty-compromising concessions to Moscow. This included extending basing arrangements for Russias Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol and mortgaging Ukraines independence through Russian energy blackmail. When Ukraines independent and democratic orientation shifted beyond the point of no return in 2014, however, Russia invaded Donbas and annexed Ukrainian Crimea.

Failing to freeze the conflict as it had previously done in Moldova, Georgia, and Nagorno Karabakh, Russia regrouped and reloaded after the Minsk Agreements. With Russias justification for the war refuted by none other than Wagner Group front man Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlins Machiavellian lies arent worth the paper theyre written on. No wonder Russia launched its full-scale genocidal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Wests Russia dilemma  to save it or to watch it destroy itself  dates back more than a century. The Wests first opportunity to save Russia from itself came in 1917 when the Russian Empire collapsed during World War I. Seeking a short-term solution, American forces entered Russia to support the Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia and guard weapon supplies destined for the White Army.

Confronted with punishing Germany, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, redrawing the borders of Europe and the Middle East, the defeat of the White Army, and isolationism in America, however, the Allies lacked the political will and the resources to deal with an undertaking of this magnitude.

Instead, the Soviet Union expanded its empire to include parts of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Then, like now, the only long-term solution to the Wests Russia dilemma was the dissolution of its empire.

The West also failed to save Russia from itself following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Like its first manifestation, the second iteration of the Russian Empire also spiraled into chaos. Fifteen new states emerged, including the Russian Federation. While wars erupted in Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, Chechnya, Tajikistan, and Moldova, crime consumed Russia.

Ukraines struggle for independence On a cold day in 1918, a young student battalion began digging trenches to fortify their positions near Kyiv. They were filled with dreams of independent Ukraine and stood up to another of Russias attempts to subjugate their land. As about 5,000 Bolshevik troops came to seize Kyiv, The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Nevertheless, constructivists celebrated the end of history. Realists were preoccupied with rogue states or terrorist groups obtaining nuclear weapons from Soviet stockpiles. Liberals promoted normalization with Moscow. Prosperity and development would democratize Russia. Economic interdependence with Europe would pave the path for Russia to join NATO and the European Union. International relations would evolve from competition between great powers to security challenges posed by non-state actors.

Managed by a circle of incompetent apparatchiks in Soviet times, law and order were eventually consolidated in the chaotic Russia of the 1990s by Putin. The gas flowed and business flourished as Imperial Russia transformed into the Russian Federation.

Despite bombing Chechnya and Syria back to the stone age, occupying Moldova and Georgia, and systematically dismantling Ukraine, the West continued to treat Russia as a normal state. Instead of promoting its democratic values and building resilient institutions, the West pursued a policy of appeasement toward Russia.

Now, Putins circle controls a gas station and the worlds largest nuclear weapons arsenal  using both to blackmail the same freedom-loving people of Europe who once sought to incorporate Russia into their free and prosperous community.

Watch the trailer for the Kyiv Independents upcoming documentary Uprooted The Kyiv Independent presents Uprooted  an investigative documentary into the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied Mariupol. The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

For too long, the West whitewashed Russian aggression at the expense of its core values and was humbled by history because of it. Having failed to meet the moment in 1917 and 1991, the West may have a third opportunity to save Russia from itself when it fails in Ukraine.

Unless Russias defeat is decisive, however, Putin, his successor, and the Russian people are likely to seek revenge against Ukraine. With hundreds of thousands of young men returning home in body bags or wounded, its land army decimated, its economy crippled by sanctions and export controls, and its former prestige evaporated, history suggests Russia will go through another period of regrouping and reloading.

Whether a defeated and isolated Russia follows the path of North Korea or Nazi Germany remains to be seen. While turning inward is feasible, it is more likely that Russia directs its aggression outward toward the scapegoats it blames for the failure of its so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine to begin with: the U.S., the U.K., Poland, and NATO.

While the era of empires expired generations ago, the stewards of the Russian state still havent moved on. The Wests century-long Russia dilemma may end with the war in Ukraine. Ideally, with a free and independent Ukraine liberating its temporarily occupied territories and joining NATO and the European Union, Russia paying for Ukraines reconstruction, and Putins circle being prosecuted for war crimes at The Hague.

The Wests Russia dilemma might also end another way: with Moscow using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and NATO and China dividing Russia into their respective spheres of influence. One way or another, dismantling the worlds last empire is the only way to save Russia from itself.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

After The Daily Beast reported that a bumper crop of new maximum donors to Rep. George Santos (R-NY) appeared to have links to indicted Chinese right-wing financier Guo Wengui, new evidence suggests those ties are even stronger than anyone could have guessed.

On Monday, the Hark Herald Press, an independent investigative outlet that scrutinizes Chinese political operations, reported that, according to its research, almost all of these new donors are connected to a group that Guo created with right-wing agitator and ally Steve Bannon, called the New Federal State of China (NFSC).

The Hark Herald singled out a number of these donors, almost all of whom contributed the maximum amount to Santos$3,300 per electiondespite never previously giving money to any federal candidate. The Daily Beast has now independently confirmed many of those ties.

George Santos Mysteriously Got Big Bucks From a Bunch of Newbie Donors

Last November, for instance, a Santos donor by the name of Ning Ding was named to the board of directors at the Rule of Law Society, an NFSC affiliate. A donor named Dan Wang has been cited praising Guo by the verified NFSC TV account on GETTR, Guos social media venture. And another Santos donor, Yue Zhou, appears directly linked to the billionaire himself, according to a May 15 filing in Guos federal bankruptcy case in Connecticut. The filing includes a subpoena for Zhou, and lists Zhou as one of three proposed guarantors to vouch for the bond for one of Guos indicted co-conspiratorsa move that appears to have made the government uneasy because she was also close to [Guo], the document reads.

In all, these donors accounted for about $130,000 of Santos $162,000 haul, with most of the donations coming just days apart. In the end, $85,000 went right back into Santos own pockets, in the form of a loan repayment.

The campaign also appears to have at first misreported the donations, updating the numbers with even more donations after news reports had already dissected the filing. In a note attached to the amended filing, Santos new treasurer, Jason Boles, appeared to lay the blame on Santos. While Boles, who joined the campaign on May 20, said he did the best he could with the historical data provided, he apparently didnt have all of the campaigns fundraising information, specifically from the weeks before he was hired.

Boles later updated that data, which revealed more maxed-out mystery donors, including one who identified himself as a student at Baruch CollegeSantos fake alma mater, where he once claimed, falsely, that he had attended on a full volleyball scholarship.

The Daily Beast attempted to contact nearly 30 of these contributors on Friday. Almost all phone numbers had an automated voice message, and only one donor agreed to speak. That person confirmed they had given specifically because of Santos support for Guo.

Then, on Saturday, Mother Jones reported more connections between this group of donors and Guo, revealing additionally that Guo fans had at one point distributed a list to help collect donations for the embattled Republican freshman. The document said, in Chinese, This form is for comrades who have donated to Santos to register their donation information.

When The Daily Beast asked Santos about the contributions, he explained, when you see a cluster of donation [sic] of a similar amount its safe to assume its a fundraiser that took place. But Santos did not elaborate on where the fundraiser took place, or how that would explain the tens of thousands of dollars rolling into his campaign at the same time from these donors scattered across the country.

The Daily Beast was not able to immediately verify the authenticity of some of the addresses. A few maximum contributors listed their occupations as student, and open source information cited by the Hark Herald suggests at least one contributor may be in the country on a visa, which would make that person ineligible to donate money for federal elections.

Feds Say They Have 80,000 Pages of Evidence Against George Santos

As the legal woes continue to mount for Santos, hes found himself increasingly beleaguered among his GOP colleagues and former donors. In recent months, Santos has gone all-in for Guoa.k.a. Miles Guowith no predicate or preamble for this new obsession.

After the self-professed Chinese Communist Party dissident was indicted in March on charges stemming from an alleged $1 billion fraud conspiracy, Santoswho was indicted on fraud charges two months laterhas sponsored a total of 11 bills targeting the CCP. Hes also stunted for Guo on the House floor. Additionally, as Mother Jones and the Hark Herald noted, Santos has attended Guo-supporting events that could possibly explain the checks that later flowed to his campaign en masse.

Santos even blamed his own indictment on his support for Guo. After his arrest in May, Santos tweeted a fundraising pitch. I asked questions about #MilesGuo & the DOJ indicts me 5 days later! he wrote.

He added that he needed financial support to keep me fighting for freedom, and asked donors to Chip in today!

I support him because he is not a talker, the Santos donor previously told The Daily Beast in a text message. He did what he promised. He said he will propose a #FreeMilesGuo bill, he actually did it. The donor added that he had supported other candidates in the past, but they left him disappointed every time.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A man accused of killing four people and injuring two officers near Atlanta over the weekend was shot and killed during a manhunt for the 40-year-old.

The intense manhunt for Andre Longmore began after the Saturday morning shootings of three men and one woman in a subdivision of Hampton before driving away from the Dogwood Lakes subdivision.

Authorities identified the suspect as Andre Longmore, 40, and said they are

Henry County Sheriff's spokesperson Syntonnia Moore said law enforcement forces killed Longmore in a nearby area of Clayton County, adding a Henry County sheriff's deputy and a Clayton County police officer were injured in the attempt to arrest Longmore.

One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center. Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said the officer "is conscious, breathing, and talking at this time."

3 SUSPECTS WANTED IN PHILADELPHIA AFTER FATALLY SHOOTING MAN WHO TRIED TO STOP CARJACKING, POLICE SAY

Deputy U.S. Marshal Van Grady confirmed gunfire was exchanged, adding of Longmore: "He fired on law enforcement and they returned fire." Earlier, before the shooting of the suspect, he had signaled the manhunt had come to an end.

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"The monster is dead," said Scandrett. "It's an absolute honor to have this day that we can breathe a little bit easier, sleep a little bit better tonight. This monster is off our streets."

On Sunday, the subdivision was crawling with law enforcement officers and Hampton Police Capt. Chaundra Brownlee said in a statement that investigators were actively seeking the public's help and "looking into each tip provided" as they searched for Longmore.

Georgia officials said the suspect was reportedly last seen in a black 2017 GMC Acadia SUV.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett had said earlier that his office was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest and prosecution.

Hampton Police Chief James Turner told reporters Saturday that detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes in Dogwood Lakes, where at least three police cars remained present Sunday, limiting access.

Police said the four killed Saturday were all residents of the same Dogwood Lakes neighborhood: 67-year-old Scott Leavitt, his wife 66-year-old Shirley Leavitt, 65-year-old Steve Blizzard, and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers.

The shooting motive remains unclear at this time.

Public records show Longmore lived in the neighborhood, about 25 miles south of downtown Atlanta, where about 40 houses on two streets flank a lake.

Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia's racetrack for NASCAR events. The town of 8,500 people also has benefited from Georgia's movie production boom.

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 AP and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilya Darchiashvili, spoke with acting Polish ambassador to the country after the incident at the clinic where Saakashvili is being held

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has summoned the acting Polish ambassador to Georgia, Mariusz Piotr Zak, following an incident involving Polish doctors who visited former Georgian President and Ukrainian citizen, Mikheil Saakashvili, according to a message released by the ministrys press service on July 17.

The meeting took place because of an incident when Polish doctors allegedly tried to illegally take Saakashvili's test samples out of the hospital.

Read also: Georgian authorities waiting for Saakashvili to become disabled, says political scientist

"At the meeting, the Georgian side expressed concern over the incident with the Polish doctor," the statement said.

The Polish diplomat was once again informed that the state is interested in the public having full information about Mikheil Saakashvili's health.

Read also: Ukraines foreign ministry summons Georgian ambassador over Saakashvilis health

The Georgian Foreign Minister called the removal of biological samples from the clinic a violation of procedure.

Tbilisi also said that the behavior of the Polish doctor "causes misunderstanding, concern, and also [results in] losing confidence in the entire process."

The Polish diplomat was asked to state his position on the incident. In response, the acting Polish ambassador to Georgia said that he did not know what caused this behavior of the Polish doctor.

In September 2021, Saakashvili returned to Georgia, where he was arrested by the Georgian authorities. Several cases have been opened against the politician, in which he was sentenced to six years in prison. In protest, the politician went on hunger strike several times, insisting that he was arrested on political charges.

According to Saakashvili's lawyers, family, and supporters, the politician's health condition is extremely serious as a result of the hunger strike and ill-treatment, and he needs treatment abroad.

In November 2022, the politician's lawyer, Shalva Khachapuridze, said that Saakashvili was diagnosed with dementia and tuberculosis. According to the politician himself, he could have been poisoned by Russian agents.

In February 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Georgian government was killing Saakashvili and called for him to be released for treatment in Ukraine or another country.

On July 3, Mikheil Saakashvili appeared at a court hearing online for the first time in a long while. Opposition media in Georgia published a photo of him with significant weight loss.

Read also: Zelenskyy expels Georgian ambassador

On the same day, Zelenskyy announced that he had ordered the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to summon the Georgian ambassador, protest to him, and recommend that he leave Ukraine to consult with his own government.

Later, Georgian officials called Zelensky's actions "offensive," and the Georgian Foreign Ministry referred to Kyiv's actions as an "extreme form of aggravation" of relations between the two countries.

On July 12, after a six-month delay, doctors from Poland were allowed to visit Saakashvili. Later, Georgian authorities said that a doctor sent by the European Union had tried to illegally take a sample of tests and carry it out in his shoe. They released a video showing the doctor taking a small object out of his shoe.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Georgia Supreme Court has denied former President Donald Trumps latest petition to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the 2020 election probe case and to have the special grand jury report thrown out.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating since early 2021 whether Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden. She has suggested that she is likely to seek charges in the case from a grand jury next month.

Trumps Georgia legal team on Friday filed similar petitions in the Georgia Supreme Court and Fulton County Superior Court naming Willis and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury, as respondents.

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The petitions sought to bar Willis and her office from continuing to prosecute the case. It also asks that the report produced by the special grand jury that had been seated in the case be tossed out and that prosecutors be prevented from presenting any evidence from the panels investigation to a regular grand jury.

The filings also asked that the courts stop all proceedings related to and flowing from the special purpose grand jurys investigation until this matter can be resolved.

In their ruling, the Georgia Supreme Court justices said this about banning Willis from the case: We note only that Petitioner has not presented in his original petition either the facts or the law necessary to mandate Williss disqualification by this Court at this time on this record.

The court said that Trump and his team, has not shown that this case presents one of those extremely rare circumstances in which this Courts original jurisdiction should be invoked, and therefore, the petition is dismissed.

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The Georgia Supreme Court Monday declined to take up an effort from former President Donald Trump to quash an investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

The unanimous decision from the courts nine justices was swiftly delivered just days after Trumps legal team asked the court Friday to block an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D).

Trump in March filed a motion to block Williss investigation, a matter that has not yet been decided by a lower court.

The court called out Trumps efforts as procedurally dubious, dismissing his teams legal argument at every turn.

The Court has made clear that a petitioner cannot invoke this Courts original jurisdiction as a way to circumvent the ordinary channels for obtaining the relief, the justices wrote in the five-page opinion.

Petitioner has not shown that this case presents one of those extremely rare circumstances in which this Courts original jurisdiction should be invoked, and therefore, the petition is dismissed.

Trump filed the suit last week along with a separate suit before the Fulton County Superior Court, noting that simultaneously seeking help from the states Supreme Court is disfavored.

The court noted the additional filing, arguing that doing so forecloses the possibility that he has allowed that process sufficient time to play out in the superior court.

He is asking this Court to step in and itself decide the motions currently pending in the superior court. This is not the sort of relief that this court affords, at least absent extraordinary circumstances that petitioner has not shown are present here.

Trumps suits listed Willis as well as Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney as parties, complaining that the lower court judge had failed to issue a decision on the March suit.

Petitioners every attempt to seek redress in the normal course have been ignored, and the District Attorney has given every indication that the injury is imminent, Trumps legal team wrote in the brief to the Georgia Supreme Court.

The court also backed Williss management of the grand jury investigation she is leading.

Petitioner has not presented in his original petition either the facts or the law necessary to mandate Williss disqualification by this court at this time on this record, they wrote.

Following his loss in the 2020 presidential election, Trump asked Georgias secretary of state to find another 11,780 votes to launch him to victory.

His campaign also organized a slate of false electors to certify he had won the election in the state.

Willis has yet to bring charges against Trump but suggested a high-profile case could be filed in August.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Georgia Supreme Court has dismissed a petition by former President Donald Trump that asked the court to scrap an investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Trumps Georgia legal team filed the petitions on Friday and named Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury, as respondents, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Trumps lawyers not only wanted the state Supreme Court to put a halt to the grand jury proceedings but also sought to prevent Willis from using any evidence obtained by the special grand jury, which heard testimony from almost 75 witnesses.

But the court dismissed the petition and ruled that Trumps team had failed to present extraordinary circumstances that warranted its intervention. The judges also said Trump has not presented in his original petition either the facts or the law necessary to warrant Willis disqualification.

The petition was filed in reaction to rumors that Willis plans to ask one of two recently seated grand juries to hand up an indictment over attempts to change the presidential vote total in the state.

Although Willis has not said who could be formally charged, Trump is reportedly expected to be one of the defendants.

In its ruling, Georgia Supreme Court justices said the normal course of action is for Trumps legal team to file a petition first before a Fulton Superior Court judge, whose decision could then be appealed.

The order ruled that Trump cannot turn to the states highest court to try to circumvent the ordinary channels for obtaining the relief he seeks without making some showing that he is being prevented fair access to those ordinary channels.

You can read the ruling in the tweet below.

In a unanimous decision, the Georgia Supreme Court has DISMISSED Donald Trumps petition that asked the high court to scrap Fani Williss investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. https://t.co/R5CXXSvJqHpic.twitter.com/wzIowEZowo  Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) July 17, 2023

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FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking Georgia's highest court to prevent the district attorney whos been investigating his actions in the wake of the 2020 election from prosecuting him. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Georgias highest court Monday rejected a request by former President Donald Trump to block a district attorney from prosecuting him for his actions in wake of the 2020 election.

The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously shot down a petition that Trumps attorneys filed last week asking the court to intervene. Trump's legal team argued that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office should be barred from seeking charges and that a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry should be thrown out.

Willis has been investigating since early 2021 whether Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden. She has suggested she is likely to seek charges in the case from a grand jury next month.

The state Supreme Court noted in its five-page ruling Monday that Trump has a similar petition pending in Fulton County Superior Court. The justices unanimously declined to overstep the lower court, writing that Trump makes no showing that he has been prevented fair access to the ordinary channels.

Regarding Trump's attempt to block the prosecutors, the justices said his legal filing lacked the facts or the law necessary to mandate Williss disqualification by this Court at this time on this record.

A spokesperson for Willis declined to comment. Trump attorney Drew Findling did not immediately respond to phone and text messages seeking comment.

Trumps legal team previously acknowledged that the dual filings were unusual, but said they were necessary given the tight time frame. Two new regular grand juries were seated last week, and one is likely to hear the case.

Trump's attorneys made similar requests in a previous filing in March in Fulton County Superior Court. They asked Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury, to step aside and let another judge hear the Trump team's claims. McBurney kept the case and has yet to rule.

In their legal petition to the state Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers argued they were stranded between the Supervising Judges protracted passivity and the District Attorneys looming indictment with no choice other than to ask the high court to intervene.

Willis opened her investigation shortly after Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021 and suggested the states top elections official could help him find the votes needed to overturn his election loss in the state.

The special grand jury, which did not have the power to issue indictments, was seated last May and dissolved in January after hearing from 75 witnesses and submitting a report with recommendations for Willis. Though most of that report remains under wraps for now, the panels foreperson has said without naming names that the special grand jury recommended charging multiple people.
Picture Tampa decades from now, in 2050. How would you like city streets to look?

In the first-of-its kind, citywide master mobility plan set to be released to the public Tuesday, Mayor Jane Castor outlines her vision: Record low daily miles driven. Zero roadway deaths and life-altering injuries. Commute times that are 15 minutes or less. And half of all commuters walking, biking or taking transit.

The plan, known as Tampa MOVES, estimates a $2 billion price tag to make that vision a reality.

More than two years in the making, the plan offers a detailed look at the state of the citys transportation infrastructure and prioritizes needs over the next 30 years, using an equitable, data-driven process informed by community input, Mobility Department Director Vik Bhide said in a recent interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

With Tampa MOVES, we will make significant progress in communities that lack comfortable and reliable ways to get around by foot and bike, Castor said in a written statement. We will also invest in our existing assets by resurfacing roadways in Tampas neighborhoods.

Currently, theres plenty of room for improvement. In Floridas third-largest city, limited transportation investment has not kept up with basic maintenance, let alone delivered infrastructure such as rapid bus lines and light rail found in other similarly-sized metro areas.

Tampa residents spend a higher proportion of their income on housing and transportation than people who live in peer cities Pittsburgh, Richmond, Austin, Charlotte and Orlando, according to the MOVES plan. Tampa also witnesses more fatal crashes per 100,000 people than those five cities. A higher proportion of Tampa residents drive to work alone compared to those other cities, except for Orlando.

About 10% of major streets in Tampa have bicycle facilities that are comfortable and suitable for all riders, according to city data.

The MOVES plan details five guiding principles the city will now use to prioritize the maintenance, repair and expansion of its transportation offerings: mobility, opportunity, vision, equity and safety.

Our focus is: How can we use data to pick out where we should put our limited dollars and our future dollars? said Tampas interim chief planner Alex Henry. Where are they going to make the most impact toward our transportation vision?

Henry is the citys Vision Zero Team Leader, responsible for spearheading the citys strategy to eliminate roadway fatalities and severe injuries. To date there have been 17 roadway fatalities in the city this year, five fewer than during the same period in 2022, he said. Of those 17, eight were pedestrians.

From 2010 to 2021, Tampas population increased by more than 50,000 residents, according to city data. The region continues to see a net influx of people exceeding the national average. To support growth, the MOVES plan outlines a shift to a context-based approach design framework.

This means the right design for the right place, Bhide said. And also harmonizing the planning process.

Conventional street design tailors decisions to either urban or rural streets. The MOVES plan emphasizes a more thorough classification system based on factors including development patterns and roadway connectivity, travel time, crash statistics and traffic volume. The city will be updating its design guide accordingly.

In conceiving the plan, city staff conducted online surveys, virtual meetings and in-person town calls. In 2021, city staff began asking community members about their mobility challenges and desires. More than 400 comments came in through online surveys and more that 150 people participated in virtual meetings. The year after, the city hosted walking audits, focus groups and a workshop in West Tampa.

The most reoccurring needs were hardly surprising: improving sidewalks, expanding protected bicycle lanes, adding traffic calming, boosting transit offerings and increasing crosswalks.

Funding is, and has always been, the biggest obstacle, Bhide said.

Weve got anywhere from eight to 10 times the funding needs compared to the funding available today. Thats a huge lift, he said. Were a public agency that delivers on community resources. We can only do what we can with the resources that we have.

The city has scooped up more than $125 million in competitive federal grants over the past four years to address transportation insufficiencies, and staff hope the MOVES plan will help attract more.

In February, U.S. Rep Kathy Castor and Mayor Castor (who are not related) announced a $20 million federal grant for street safety changes near parks, schools and transit hubs. This grant will help fund some of the citys initial priority projects for the first several years of the MOVES plan including a new crosswalk and traffic calming along W Main Street in West Tampa to support a growing commercial district. Other MOVES priorities include re-allocating road space to install a new protected cycle track on downtowns Morgan Street and implementing a safe bicycle route from Westshore to downtown along Gray Street.

The plan arrives amid high-profile departures of four senior female staff from the department, all of whom have expressed concern about its direction, according to public records and interviews with the Times. All four were involved in the development of the plan.

When asked if their departure will hurt the implementation of the plan, Bhide said the department has a bench of talent and that vacancies will soon be filled.

We feel very good about our team, he said. Weve always been able to perform well with limited resources and that is because of our staff.
Victims Megan Waterman (L), Amber Costello (centre) and Melissa Barthelemy (R)

Detectives investigating a series of cold-case murders in Long Island are searching a storage unit following the arrest of a suspect last week.

Rex Heuermann, 59, pleaded not guilty after being charged with the killings of Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Melissa Barthelemy.

The prosecutor in the case says he expects to charge the suspect, an architect, with a fourth murder.

The bodies were found close together by detectives in Gilgo Beach in 2010.

In total, the remains of 10 adults and a toddler were discovered on a stretch of sand on South Shore in Long Island, close to New York City, within weeks of one another.

Local police told the New York Post officers executed a search warrant at a single storage lock-up located at Omega Self Storage in Amityville "in relation to the Gilgo suspect case".

Meanwhile, District Attorney Ray Tierney said he was "confident" about a charge in a fourth murder, of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, saying Mr Heuermann's alleged acts "were the worst I've ever seen".

Mr Heuermann, an architect and married father from Long Island, is facing three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the three women's deaths. He is also suspected in the death of Ms Brainard-Barnes.

The women, dubbed the Gilgo Four, were among the 11 sets of human remains found in total along the sandy stretch after police went searching for another missing woman, Shannan Gilbert in 2010.

Ms Gilbert's remains were eventually found and an official post-mortem examination was inconclusive. The investigation into the other potential victims is ongoing.

The judge in Mr Heuerman's case ordered that he remain in custody for the "extreme depravity" of the case.

At a news conference on Friday, Mr Tierney said "each of the four victims were found similarly positioned, bound in a similar fashion by either belts or tape, with three of the victims found wrapped in a burlap-type material".

Prior to last week's stunning arrest, the investigation into what happened to the Gilgo Four had been cold for over a decade.

The initial investigation has faced serious criticism, including claims that authorities did not take the murders as seriously because the women were sex workers at the time they disappeared.

Last week, Mr Tierney said the case against Mr Heuermann was ultimately built out of mobile phone records linking him to the victims as well as DNA evidence, after investigators took a sample from a pizza box he discarded in a rubbish bin in Manhattan in 2023.

Mr Heuermann was continuing to seek out sex workers up until his arrest last week, Mr Tierney said, even as officers placed him under observation.

"This individual was a person that continued to patronize sex workers at all hours of the night," Mr Tierney said. "He continued to use fictitious email addresses, fictitious identities, burner phones."

The arrest of Mr Heuermann, the owner of a Manhattan architecture firm that describes itself as "New York's premier architectural firm", shocked his neighbours and the architecture profession in New York.

On Sunday, a woman who met the suspect through a networking group for architects and designers shared a voicemail from Mr Heueurmann with ABC-7 Eyewitness News.

Dominique Vidal, who said Mr Heuermann left her the message in late February after she left the group, assumed it was a friendly attempt to connect professionally.

But Ms Vidal also recalled past conversations with Mr Heuermann, in which he asked her if she knew about the Gilgo Beach murders.

"And back then I will say 'Oh you know, he's just from the area, maybe you know, he's just a local talking about and would think that I'd find it interesting,'" she said. But now, she added, "I see it as a serial killer".
EXCLUSIVE: CHESTER, South Carolina  Rex Heuermann, a New York architect recently identified as a suspect in a series of murders on Long Island, planned to retire on his secluded property in rural South Carolina near his brother, Craig Heuermann, according to neighbors.

Rex Heuermann faces charges of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the slayings of four women  Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes  whose remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2010.

"[Craig Heuermann] keeps saying his brother is going into retirement," one neighbor who lives down the street from the rural properties in Chester told Fox News Digital. "He told me when I first moved down here that his brother owns that lot across the road, and that his brother's going to retire down here, and when he does, everybody's leaving."

Rex Heuermann, a married father of two, apparently planned to "buy everybody out," according to the neighbor who spoke with Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity.

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Craig Heuermann's front gate has two signs: one that reads, "Keep out/No trespassing," and another that reads, "No Warrant/No Entry."

The properties owned by Heuermann and his brother in Chester are barely visible from the unpaved road on which they sit and are surrounded by no-trespassing signs. Craig Heuermann's front gate has two signs: one that reads, "Keep out/No trespassing," and another that reads, "No Warrant/No Entry."

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GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLINGS: FBI TRACKING LEAD TO ALABAMA OVER PEACHES TATTOO

The backs of their lots meet a series of connecting ponds, where some locals keep boats.

The neighbor said he went to cut grass one Sunday at a property he used to own across from Craig. When the neighbor approached the area, Craig apparently came up behind him and hit him with a "steel pole."

INFAMOUS LONG ISLAND SERIAL KILLER SUSPECT BEHIND GILGO BEACH MURDERS IN CUSTODY: OFFICIALS

"Out of nowhere," the neighbor recalled. "I called the police because I was going to shoot him, but my wife talked me out of it. We called the police, and when we talked to [Craig], he said, Well, I told him not to cut grass on Sunday."

Craig also apparently left business cards in mailboxes on his street that read, "I'm an a--hole."

WHO IS REX HEUERMANN?

Craig Heuermann could not be reached for comment for this story.

Two neighbors described Craig as hot-headed and said he has a reputation in the neighborhood  not unlike what Rex's neighbors on Long Island had to say about the suspected serial killer. Craig shares his brother's interest in woodworking, neighbors said.

"I keep my distance.  I think he's as crazy as a bed bug," said a second neighbor, who spoke to Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity.

Rex Heuermann appears in what investigators describe as "selfie" photos taken from the fictitious "Springfieldman9" AOL account as part of a bail application by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office on July 14, 2023.

That neighbor described seeing police driving out of the neighborhood on Friday and said he wondered what was happening. He said he also saw Craig's truck being towed from his private property and that Craig began driving a car instead of his truck over the weekend.

The Chester County Sheriffs Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that it "assisted the investigation by the Gilgo Beach Task Force by obtaining a court order to seize a vehicle in South Carolina."

SUSPECTED GILGO BEACH KILLER PUT LOVE NOTES IN MY LOCKER: HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE

Investigators in New York on Friday began searching Rex's home in Massapequa Park on Long Island, about a 25-minute drive from where authorities discovered 11 sets of human remains strewn along a suburban beach highway in 2010 and 2011.

Rex Heuermann is led into the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex in Riverhead, New York, on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Rex Heuermann's Manhattan office is also being searched.

GILGO BEACH MURDERS: SUSPECTED KILLER REX HEUERMANN TAUNTED VICTIM'S FAMILY AFTER HER DEATH, COURT DOCS SAY

The slayings have remained unsolved for more than a decade after the search for missing escort Shannan Gilbert, 24, first led police to the bodies of young sex workers and other victims along the Long Island shore.

Authorities said the three victims Rex allegedly targeted were sex workers and advertised online the same way.

The suspect was tied to the crimes through DNA evidence and cellphone data. Heuermann allegedly called at least one victim's family after her death and taunted them, according to court documents.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz and Greg Norman contributed to this report.
A New York interior designer shared a voicemail she says Long Island serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann left on her phone.

Dominique Vidal, an interior designer, told her TikTok followers on Sunday that she and Heuermann, a 59-year-old Manhattan architect, were once in the same networking group, and he continued to contact her even when she left the group due to a busy schedule.

"Hey, this is Rex from the BNI Group," Heuermann can be heard saying in the voicemail to Vidal that she posted to her TikTok after followers asked her to share it. "I actually heard you are no longer part of the group. I still wanted to talk to you."

Heuermann shared his contact information with Vidal before ending his call with, "Hope you're doing good. Hope to talk to you soon."

READ: CASE AGAINST REX HEUERMANN

Vidal said she found it "odd" that the 59-year-old architect was calling her at the time because they had "no work" for each other.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER SUSPECT HAD ARSENAL OF WEAPONS, TOP COP SAYS

Heuermann is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the killings of three women whose remains were found near a wooded area near the highway off Gilgo Beach in 2010.

Dominique Vidal, an interior designer, told her TikTok followers that she and Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect, were once in the same networking group together.

In her Sunday video, Vidal said Heuermann was an "odd" and perpetually "sweaty" man. She also described him as a "monster hiding in plain sight."

ACCUSED GILGO BEACH KILLER NICKNAMED PETER FROM FAMILY GUY BY CO-WORKERS: SOURCE

"And it all makes sense. He was so full of himself," she said, recalling a dinner with their mutual networking group in which Heuermann apparently spent the majority of time talking about himself.

In her Sunday video, Vidal said Heuermann was an "odd" and perpetually "sweaty" man. She also described him as a "monster hiding in plain sight."

Eventually, Vidal said, she turned the conversation toward podcasts and asked Heuermann if he listens to any. He said no and then asked if she enjoys any specific podcasts. Vidal mentioned that she enjoys several genres of podcasts, including true crime.

"He asked me: do I know about the Gilgo Beach murders?" Vidal recalled in her TikTok video, to which she responded yes.

Rex Heuermann is led into Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Complex in Riverhead, New York, on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Heuermann apparently explained to Vidal that authorities still had not named a suspect in some 10 murders dating back to 2010 in his hometown.

GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLINGS: FBI TRACKING LEAD TO ALABAMA OVER PEACHES TATTOO

"I'm disturbed. I'm upset. I'm disappointed," Vidal said. "He left a huge impression on me of being a very odd, unwelcoming person in a networking group full of very kind and fun and funny people."

Rex Heuermann, 59, is suspected of at least three murders after New York authorities discovered 11 sets of human remains strewn along a suburban Long Island beach highway between 2010 and 2011.

Heuermann is a married father of two living in Massapequa Park, New York. Authorities arrested him Friday in connection with the 2010 murders of the "Gilgo Four," including Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He is also considered a suspect in the death of the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

WATCH 'GRIM TIDE' ON FOX NATION

Gilgo Beach murders victims, clockwise from top left, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman and Melissa Barthelemy.

The victims were all sex workers and advertised the same way online, according to prosecutors.
Extreme heat radiates around the globe, as U.S., China enter climate talks

By Liliana Salgado

PHOENIX (Reuters) -Asia, Europe and the United States baked under extreme heat on Monday as global temperatures soared toward alarming highs and U.S. leaders sought to reignite climate diplomacy with China.

The United States was scorched by record-setting heat in the West and South, lashed with flood-triggering rain in the Northeast, and choked by wildfire smoke in the Midwest.

A heat dome parked over the western United States pushed the temperature in California's Death Valley desert to 128 Fahrenheit (53 Celsius) on Sunday, among the highest temperatures recorded on Earth in the past 90 years.

Phoenix hit 114F (45.5C) on Monday, matching a historic record of 18 straight days over 110F with the forecast showing the record likely to extend for at least another week.

The U.S. heatwave coincided with extreme temperatures elsewhere throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

A remote town in China's arid northwest, Sanbao, registered a national record of 52.2C (126F). Wildfires in Europe raged ahead of a second heat wave in two weeks that was set to send temperatures as high as 48C (118F), while authorities in Italy and France issued heat-related health warnings.

Even in Phoenix, accustomed to hot weather, the prolonged bout of extreme heat is testing people and worrying officials. The international charitable organization Salvation Army has opened 11 cooling centers and sent out a mobile unit to deliver relief to homeless people who have difficulty reaching the sites.

"Extreme heat is Arizona's natural disaster. So for the Salvation Army, this is a disaster response," said Scott Johnson, a spokesperson for the organization in the U.S. Southwest.

The heat killed 425 people in the Phoenix-area's Maricopa County last year, so the Salvation Army mobile unit distributes urgently needed cold water, hats, sunscreen and hygiene kits to those in need.

"It feels like you're inside of a dryer, the dryer at the laundromat. And it's suffocating," said Cristina Hill, an unhoused woman who benefited from the outreach on Monday and said she suffered a heat stroke last year. "I cry all the time. I yell at the heat."

Another unhoused woman, Maritza Villegas, said she has gotten shaky and jittery from the heat, which provoked dry heaves.

"This means a whole lot - the world - because without water I'd be in the hospital right now," Villegas said of the assistance.

Scientists have long warned that climate change, caused by CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels, will make heatwaves more frequent, severe and deadly. They say governments need to take drastic actions to reduce omissions to prevent climate catastrophe.

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service says 2022 and 2021 were the continent's hottest summers on record.

U.S., CHINA IN CLIMATE TALKS

The extreme global temperatures underscored the urgency in talks that resumed between China and the United States on climate change, especially as scientists say the target of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels is moving beyond reach.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry met Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, urging joint action to cut methane emissions and coal-fired power.

"In the next three days, we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves," Kerry said.

"It is toxic for both Chinese and for Americans and for people in every country on the planet."

Prolonged high temperatures in China are threatening power grids and crops and raising concerns about a repeat of last year's drought, the most severe in 60 years.

Typhoon Talim was gaining strength and due to make land at night along China's southern coast, forcing the cancellation of flights and trains in the regions of Guangdong and Hainan.

In South Korea, torrential rains left 40 people dead as river levees collapsed causing flash floods. They followed the heaviest recorded rain in the capital Seoul last year.

EUROPEAN HEATWAVE UNRELENTING

An unrelenting heatwave continued in Europe as well.

Italy's health ministry on Monday issued red weather alerts - signaling a possible health threat for anyone exposed to the heat - for 20 of the country's 27 main cities on Tuesday, with the number expected to rise to 23 on Wednesday.

France's public health agency said the current stretch of hot weather would probably hospitalize or kill "many" people, as heat waves have done almost every summer since 2015. The World Meteorological Organization said the extreme heat and rainfall was expected to extend into August.

"In many parts of the world, today is predicted to be the hottest day on record," tweeted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation.

"The #ClimateCrisis is not a warning. It's happening. I urge world leaders to ACT now."

As many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe during heatwaves last summer, with a repetition feared this season.

"My worry is really health - the health of vulnerable people who live just below the rooftops of houses which are not prepared for such high temperatures," said Robert Vautard, a climate scientist and director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute. "That could create a lot of deaths."

(Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels, Valerie Volcovici in Beijing, Charlie Devereaux and Emma Pinedo in Madrid, Giselda Vagnoni and Crispian Balmer in Rome, Emma Farge in Geneva, Michele Kambas in Nicosia, Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Julia Harte in New York and Liliana Salgado in Phoenix; Writing by Charlie Devereux and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Nick Zieminski and Aurora Ellis)
New York State police officers move a metal cabinet as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (AP)

Kerri Rawson had allowed herself a rare sleep in on Friday morning when news broke that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the long-unsolved Long Island serial killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. She woke up at her home in Florida to a barrage of excited messages and began delving into details about the arrest  but her mind almost immediately turned to one looming question: Does he have a family?

Because Ms Rawson, 45, had been alerted on a different Friday  almost 18 and a half years earlier  to the arrest of another serial killer: her father, Dennis Rader, now infamous as the man behind the BTK murders of at least 10 in Kansas. His adult daughter, now a mother of two herself, was flooded by a range of emotions as she learned about Rex Heuermann, 59, the New York architect charged on Friday with the murders of three women found dumped on the south shore of Long Island.

Theyve been working on it forever, right, but for the public, we dont see any of that, Ms Rawson tells The Independent of the Gilgo Beach case. So youre like, Holy crap. Youre elated to think they got another big one like my dad  and there hasnt been one this big since [the Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo] or my dad, really.

And so your next thought, for me, is: Does he have a family? Thats a question, and so youre looking through media, and all of a sudden, youre reading, okay, he has a wife, he has kids. And then, for me  its like I almost get ripped again, like emotionally torn  because youre so glad that theyve caught somebody and got him before he could hurt anybody else, but youre heartbroken for this family.

The reality is, somebody like my father should have been arrested in 1974, right after he committed the Otero murders. The reality is, if that had been the case, I wouldnt be alive. My kids wouldnt be alive. So its those sort of processing thoughts, those take a very long time.

Kerri Rawson, a true crime author, whose father is the BTK killer Dennis Rader (Harper Collins)

Ms Rawsons father was convicted of killing four members of the Otero family in 1974 and the murders of six other women between 1977 and 1991  all while maintaining an outwardly normal job and family life, even securing leadership positions with in church and scouting. His daughter has firsthand experience of learning that a man with whom she shared a home had terrorised and murdered others  and her heart goes out to the immediate and extended Heuermann family as they struggle to digest the news.

Right as the agent said, Hey, your dad is BTK, I went into shock, Ms Rawson says of her own experience. And then I was trying to ask him dates, because seven of the murders were before I was born, and then three were after and so I was asking for dates to try to alibi my dad, and then I quickly realised during that first conversation that my neighbour lady down the street had been murdered in 85, and so I knew that one was unsolved. So Im literally going from alibiing my dad  trying to  to realising he very well could have committed this murder of my neighbour lady down the street.

And so Im having to give information and details about that in the immediate aftermath of hearing of her fathers arrest, she says. (Rader was, indeed, later convicted of killing Marine Hedge, 53, who lived six doors down; he strangled her in her home, then posed and photographed her body at his church before dumping her remains in a remote field.)

And so with Rexs family, you know, were hearing very quickly that his wife and kids were vacationing or out of out of the area on certain dates of the Gilgo murders ... or when those women went missing, she says. So when you start, youre literally like in shock being notified about your loved one, and then youre being asked, very quickly, information about dates and all of that. Its a pretty intense process while theyre trying to screen you and get as much information as they can out of you, really, in that first interview before you talk to anybody else or media gets involved.

Because I think they also know they only have a have a window, because youre going to go into trauma and shock mode, and youre not going to be nearly as helpful for a while.

The Heuermann family are presumably dealing with a similar timeline that followed her own familys notification. News broke on Friday of the Long Island suspects arrest the night before, with police gathering evidence at the Heuermanns Massapequa Park home as neighbors and onlookers gathered.

Rex Heuermann is the 66 architect charged with murdering at least three women on Long Island (via REUTERS)

Three days out for me would have been, okay, well, it would have been the same, she says. So say on the Monday, I was still in shock. I was still shaking, literally physically shaking, for like five days.

Ms Rawson, then 26  the same age as Heuermanns adult daughter now  was living in Michigan with her then-husband when officers notified her of the arrest in her home state.

Knowing that the media would be waiting to swarm her in Wichita, she flew into Kansas City before hunkering down with her mother.

It was like coming home to a funeral, Ms Rawson says, continuing: it was several generations of my moms family got together  like my grandparents, aunts, and uncles  and then it literally was like my cousins were coming over, people were bringing food in the community. It was like a whole funeral was happening, like we had gathered all over a sudden death, and we were all sitting around sort of in shock.

Family members stepped in to cook or offer distractions with books or crossword puzzles, only talking about Raders arrest at times, she says.

We were taking my moms lead on that ... so if my mom wanted to talk about it, we would; otherwise, we were all just sort of trying to cope, she says.

Ms Rawsons mother, Paula, had been married to the killer for more than three decades at the time of his arrest. She was granted an emergency divorce almost immediately upon her application in the months following his unmasking and has maintained her privacy ever since.

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)

My mom was at home when she was notified, Ms Rawson says of her mothers experience in February 2005. She basically said, I need my medicine. And so law enforcement went back in to get that, but she didn't even have clothes. My family had to go get her some stuff with permission ... from law enforcement, who have taken over your house with those big, huge investigative trucks.

Trucks and other police vehicles were seen hauling evidence on Friday from the Heuermanns in Massapequa Park, where neighbors described a very quiet family whod left little mark on the community other than with their relatively dilapidated, outdated house. Still, no one ever expects that a neighbour  let alone someone living under the same roof  could be capable of such viciously murderous crime. Ms Rawson knows firsthand just how difficult it is to wrestle with those revelations.

You start questioning everything, like, who was this neighbour? Who was the person I lived next to? Could they have harmed my own kids? Was I in risk, was my family in risk? What did I miss? And then youre questioning basically everything, because you feel like your neighbours are part of your life, stability and people that you grow to trust. And so then you start questioning everything: your coworkers or your colleagues, other people, you start looking at everybody differently and wondering like, do I actually know anybody?

The first night after agents informed Ms Rawson of her fathers arrest, she says she wanted to die ... not kill myself; I just wanted to die, she says.

I just didnt know how I was going to survive it, she adds. And my Christian faith is one of the things that got me through and ... you just have to make a decision, minute by minute. I mean, I even still have to do this 18 years later of like, Okay, this really sucks, whatever this is going on, and now what do I do next?  And I always need a lot of time to process things still, emotionally and mentally. And so, for me, sometimes it's just a matter of going, Okay, what needs doing next? You know, even if it's the dishes, like, what's one thing I can do? And so you're just applying that as you're going forward: Okay, what's next? What can I do next?

And then, in time, certain aspects of it settle down, and you come to terms with the what, she says. Getting your head around the what can take a very long time, especially when it's developing right now [in the Heuermann case.] We really have no idea the extent of how many he possibly murdered or, like, how, where, when, who ... it's very much developing right now. So it takes a long time to process the what, even if you know the what, and then you just make decisions for yourself, like putting one foot in front of the other, honestly  and it's going to look different for everybody. There's no one way to do it. You just do it.

Speaking out as an advocate for victims  which include families such as her own  has helped her navigate her own journey; Ms Rawson in 2019 published A Serial Killers Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love and Overcoming, and last year published Breaking Free: Overcoming the Trauma of My Serial Killer Father.

Dennis Rader, nicknamed BTK, was convicted of killing 10 people in Kansas over more than three decades; he is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole (Getty Images)

When my family went through this, we didn't have anybody speaking up for us, she says. Maybe we did, we just didn't know, but we didn't see it  and so it is my hope that I'm helping a little bit, getting visibility on families like mine, because I'll have people say, Hey, hearing your story and seeing you speak makes me think about them, and I think about it differently. And so if I'm even making a difference with one person and changing their perspective, then it's worth it.

She says that, for somebody somebody like Rex's family, absolutely. I'm totally here for them.

Her own perspective, she acknowledges  as the victim child of a serial killer with firsthand knowledge of such an offenders history  its so rare  and then for somebody like me to be willing to talk is very rare.

And so Im trying to defend them, and speak up for them and make sure people understand that they're victims, and that they're going through utter hell, and they need to be respected and treated as victims and not just cameras shoved in their face, their privacy needs protecting, they need victim services.

But then on the other hand, like, I'm also contacted now as basically an expert on my father's cases or like somebody that has firsthand knowledge of serial killers, she says. And so I feel personally like I almost get torn here between what my responsibility is of making sure I am coming from a place of victim advocacy, but also a place from helping to like progress knowledge. I'm trying not to speak up unless I have something worthwhile to say; I'm trying to make sure I'm sticking to facts and being helpful. That's sort of my guidelines here.

But yeah, they're going through through it really bad, she says of her thoughts on Long Island suspects family. I can just imagine, based on what my own family went through. And honestly, the thing is, certain aspects of it get better in time, but when stuff like this happens, it brings it all back up for the families ... what happens is that PTSD, and that trauma, it comes in and the anxiety, all of that gets triggered, like on Friday. It's hard for me, on something like this close to home, to step away from it.

She is, however, watching closely, particularly honing in on all the years the suspect could have been active; its been more than four decades since he turned 18. She is equally focused on getting justice for victims  however many there may be  and the families who have languished, devastated, for years without answers.

You really have to go back into like the 80s, she says. And so theres a lot of people talking about [how] he had homes in other places ... my gut on this is that theres going to be a lot more. We just have to wait on evidence and DNA.
GOP lawmaker says Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert are on the verge of a fistfight at 'any moment'

Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images.

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett predicted that Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene are nearing blows.

"A fistfight could break out at any moment," Burchett told The Daily Beast of his colleagues.

Greene is reportedly angry over her ouster from the House Freedom Caucus, which Boebert supported.

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett said things are so bad between Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene that the once conservative allies are on the verge of a fight.

"A fistfight could break out at any moment," Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, told The Daily Beast.

Burchett, a self-described big fan of professional wrestling, said it's "entertaining" to watch the relationship between two of the most outspoken conservative lawmakers continue to deteriorate.

"I am friends with both of them," Burchett told the publication. "It's entertaining to think that a fistfight could break out at any movement. I kind of dig that."

Greene was kicked out of the House Freedom Caucus, an exclusive group for House conservatives, on the heels of calling Boebert a "little bitch" on the House floor. The Georgia Republican was angry with Boebert for introducing articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden. Greene argued that Boebert essentially stole the language for her articles from her. The latest episode was the most recent in a series of reported public and private tiffs between the pair.

The Daily Beast described Greene as so upset over her ouster from the Freedom Caucus that she insisted on being delivered the news in person. The caucus does not publicly discuss its membership, but Greene's ouster is the first time in its history that it kicked out a lawmaker. Boebert, The Beast reports, voted to boot Greene.

Representatives for Greene and Boebert did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Greene snapped at a Daily Beast reporter for asking her about their reporting.

"Dude, do you do anything besides report on complete drama and bullshit?" she asked The Daily Beast. "No, I'm serious."

Read the original article on Business Insider
After an ongoing feud between Republican Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, a Republican lawmaker said the standoff between the two Congress members could result in a fistfight.

A fistfight could break out at any moment, Republican Tennessee Rep Tim Burchett told The Daily Beast.

Mr Burchett told the publication that he was serious, and added he was enjoying the Republicans rivalry as a professional wrestling fan. He told the outlet, I am friends with both of them. Its entertaining to think that a fistfight could break out at any movement. I kind of dig that.

The Tennessee Republican isnt alone in his stance. Another GOP lawmaker close to both Reps Greene and Boebert, who spoke anonymously, told the outlet: You cant have too many of these rifts for too long.

Arizona Republican Congressman Paul Gosar called the battle a two-way sword to The Daily Beast. He continued, I just think that whatever is there, could be utilized both ways, he said, adding that people make decisions that they have to work and live by, and you kind of hate being in their shoes.

The conflict between the congresswomen came to a head recently when Ms Greene was kicked out of the Freedom Caucus after she called Ms Boebert a little b****.

The Georgia Republican claimed last week that she didnt know why she was booted from the Freedom Caucus. She dismissed the move, saying that she didnt have time for the drama club.
Republican senators say theyre worried that conservative populism, though always a part of the GOP, is beginning to take over the party, becoming more radical and threatening to cause them significant political problems heading into the 2024 election.

GOP senators are saying theyre being increasingly confronted by constituents who buy into discredited conspiracy theories such as the claim that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election or that federal agents incited the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Growing distrust with government institutions, from the FBI, CIA and Department of Justice to the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health, make it more difficult for Republican lawmakers to govern.

Republican senators believe their party has a good chance to take back control of the White House and Senate, given President Bidens low approval ratings and the favorable map of Senate seats up for reelection, but they regularly face political headaches caused by populist members of their party who say the rest of the GOP is out of step with mainstream America.

We should be concerned about this as Republicans. Im having more rational Republicans coming up to me and saying, I just dont know how long I can stay in this party, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Now our party is becoming known as a group of kind of extremist, populist over-the-top [people] where no one is taking us seriously anymore.

You have people who felt some allegiance to the party that are now really questioning, Why am I [in the party?] she added. I think its going to get even more interesting as we move closer to the elections and we start going through some of these primary debates.

Is it going to be a situation of who can be more outlandish than the other? she asked.

Some Senate Republicans worry the populist winds are downgrading their chances of picking up seats in 2024.

There are an astonishing number of people in my state who believe the election was stolen, said one Republican senator who requested anonymity to talk about the growing popularity of conservative conspiracy theories at home.

As an example, some Republicans point to Arizona, where Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), an independent who left the Democratic Party last year, is up for reelection.

Sinema is likely to face a challenge from the left in the likely Democratic nominee Rep. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) as well as a GOP nominee. If that nominee is former TV anchor Kari Lake, who has embraced conspiracy theories about elections and lost a gubernatorial race last year, many in the GOP think theyre in trouble.

One senior Senate Republican strategist, assessing the race, lamented that the Republican Party in Arizona is a mess.

Republican senators say they are alarmed at how many Republicans, including those with higher levels of education and income, buy the unsubstantiated claims that the last presidential election was stolen.

A second Republican senator who spoke with The Hill said the growing strength of radical populism makes it a lot more difficult to govern, it makes it difficult to talk to constituents.

There are people who surprise me  Im surprised they have those views. Its amazing to me the number of people, the kind of people who think the election was stolen, the lawmaker said. I dont want to use this word but its not just a red-neck thing. Its people in business, the president of a bank, a doctor.

The lawmaker, who requested anonymity to discuss the political challenge posted by surging conservative populism, accused some fellow Republicans of trying to exploit voter discontent to gain local or national prominence.

In my state there are a lot of folks who see Washington as disconnected, they see their way of life threatened. Theres something that generates discontent that elected officials take advantage of, the senator said.

Tubervilles controversies

Some of the biggest populist-linked headaches recently have come from Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R), a staunch ally of former President Trump who is now holding up more than 260 nonpolitical military promotions to protest the Defense Departments abortion policy.

Tuberville caused an uproar early last week by defending the idea of letting white nationalists serve in the military and disputing the idea that white nationalism is an inherently racist ideology.

Tuberville later reversed himself after Senate Republican colleagues ranging from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) forcefully denounced white supremacy and white nationalism.

GOP senators also have to regularly distance themselves from the radical proposals of populist conservatives in the House, such as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who earlier this year proposed cutting Department of Justice and FBI funding in response to federal investigations of Trump.

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Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) pushed back on calls to defund the Justice Department, telling reporters: Are we going to get rid of the Justice Department? No. I think defunding is a really bad idea.

Thune later explained to The Hill: There are seasons, swings back and forth in politics and were in one now where the dominant political thinking is more populist with respect to national security, foreign policy, some domestic issues.

But he said that stuff comes and goes and its built around personalities, alluding to the broadly held view that Trumps election to the presidency in 2016 and his lasting influence over the party has put his brand of populism at the forefront.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an advisor to the Senate Republican leadership, said bread-and-butter conservative economic ideas still resonated with voters, but he acknowledged the cable news shows continue to keep attention on themes that Trump likes to emphasize, such as election fraud and the deep-state control of the federal government.

So there are some people paying attention to that but most people are trying to just get on with their lives, he said. Theres a lot of distrust of Washington, and who can blame people.

It concerns me that people lose faith in their institutions, but this has been a long story throughout our history. Its nothing new although its troubling, he said.

Waving off impeachment

Senate Republicans tried to wave off their House colleagues from advancing articles of impeachment authored by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) against President Biden and rolled their eyes at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) attempt to expunge Trumps impeachment record.

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) warned, I fear that snap impeachments will become the norm, and they mustnt.

Asked about efforts to erase Trumps impeachment record, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) quoted the popular show Succession: Logan Roy made a good point. These are not serious people.

Romney, who was the GOP nominee for president in 2012 before Trump took over the party four years later, last year called Greene and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) morons for speaking at a white nationalist event in Florida.

Asked this week about Tubervilles defense of white nationalism and how it reflected on the GOP, Romney said: Our party has lots of problems, add that to the list.

The party of Reagan has transformed into the party of Trump, and to the dismay of some veteran Republican lawmakers, it doesnt look like its going back to what it was anytime soon.

One ascendent young conservative leader, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who supported objecting to certifying Bidens victory on Jan. 6, 2021, thinks the Republican Partys embrace of populism is more than a passing fad.

He says the new era of politics is more than a battle between Trump allies and Trump haters, or even between Republicans and Democrats.

Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference two years ago, he declared: We have been governed by a political consensus forged by a political class that has lost touch with what binds us together as Americans. And it has lost sight of the basic requirements of liberty.

The great divide of our time is not between Trump supporters and Trump opponents, or between suburban voters and rural ones, or between Red America and Blue America, he said. No, the great divide of our time is between the political agenda of the leadership elite and the great and broad middle of our society. And to answer the discontent of our time, we must end that divide.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The newest episode of The Greg Cote Show podcast is out now, and since this is launch week for the Lionel Messi era in Miami, we celebrate by hardly mentioning his name at all.

Instead three elements of the new show jostle for the top of the marquee:

 Greg discusses what a wonderful time he had on the Le Batard Show last week Pablo Tore and David Samson were steering, but does that turn into a knock on Dan himself? Chris gets combative and the whole thing turns, well, awkward.

 Listen to the exclusive world premiere of Mornin Man, a brand new full-length original song by Yeti, featuring Greg. (An ya know it, baby an ya know it...).

 Greg did not like how some of this episode went, and privately accused Chris of seeming distracted during the recording. Hear Greg confront his son at the end of this episode, and hear Chris acknowledge he was distracted and own up to the reason why. Its absolutely outrageous!

This is our 30th episode of 2023 and 176th overall (including an occasional emergency bonus episode) and we welcome you back as always.

Also on the new shows bulging menu:

 We congratulate friend of the show Mina Kimes of ESPN on her newly announced pregnancy, and somehow that devolves into lobbying for what the baby boy should be named.

 Burger Kings in Thailand have introduced a new sandwich. No meat, just 20 slices of cheese. Glorious or guy-bomb? We discuss.

 New editions of Dad Jokes and Three Facts, Jack! (With a victory lap on the poll results for both.)

 Greg reveals that as a young teen he published The Cote News.

 Chris deep-seated but readily conveyed resentment that the Le Batard Show sent Jeremy Tache to Lake Tahoe instead of him.

 Also: Aural vs. oral; Narcissistic funerals; Gregs disco call and cred as a hype man; and Yeti admits he can ever tell when anyone else is drunk or high. And Messi! But barely.

Hear all of this and more in the newest GCS. Aside from the occasional bonus episode, a new show drops every Monday morning at 7 ET on Apple Podcasts, Spotify -- wherever you pod, including of course at miamiherald.com. Find our entire show catalog with all 176 episodes HERE. (The show also simulcasts on Sirius XM radio Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m.).

Our podcast debuted in March 2020 just as the pandemic hit. (Coincidence; dont blame us). We thank you all, pod family, for your great and growing support. Please continue to listen, rate, review, follow and tell your friends, too! We now also have a teaser video out each week on the Miami Herald YouTube channel to preview the latest episode. Check it out.

Also visit thegregcoteshow.com website and click Shop for our merch store. Check out recent designs including our Nice Hat series that has set sales records thanks to you all! We also have Jumpin Charlie/Baaaaay items as well as signature items featuring Gregs Lobos, the GCS logo, Nellies Diner, the Greg Floating Head and more! (ShoppinIt.) Also check out our podcasts YouTube channel.
Half of MU students graduate with no debt, but average for those with debt is $20,000

With the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in late June against President Joe Biden's plan to cancel student loan debt, one ray of hope for University of Missouri students disappeared.

Nearly half of all MU students graduate with no federal student loan debt, said MU spokesman Uriah Orland in an email. Of those with debt, the average amount is $20,000.

Nationwide, 45 million Americans owe $1.75 trillion on student loans.

Scholarships are one way MU keeps student debt at bay, Orland wrote.

"We offer thousands of scholarships between endowments, donor gifts, and institutional funding," Orland wrote. "Our automatic and competitive scholarships that are outlined on our admissions page are the most recognizable scholarships our students receive. Every year we analyze all of our scholarship and grant programs to help meet the needs of our students and make Mizzou affordable based upon that students circumstances. Scholarships and grants can have many different criteria such as merit, financial need or other distinguishing criteria."

There's an online portal students can use to apply for scholarships, he wrote.

"ScholarshipUniverse is a platform we use to process our departmental, endowed, and gift scholarship and grant opportunities for students for them to easily apply and be matched with potential scholarship opportunities on campus," he wrote.

The portal was helpful in finding scholarships, said Danya Kassem, of Columbia, a former wrestler at Hickman High School.

It's not eliminating student loans, she said, speaking in Memorial Union.

"Last year I had about $6,000" in student loans, Kassem said. "I'm planning on going to med school, so I'm planning on that increasing dramatically. It will probably be another $6,000 this year."

Kassem's main concern is not paying off the loans, she said.

"I'm concerned about how long it will pay off," she said.

Her mother, in her 40s, just paid off her student loan she got in her 20s, she said.

Loan forgiveness wouldn't have solved the problem of student debt, she said.

She came to that conclusion listening to National Public Radio with her grandmother, she said.

"The root of the problem is not loan forgiveness, it's the cost of education," Kassem said. "The root issue is the cost of education."

MU for the coming year adopted a new tuition model, based on the student's area of study and eliminating many of the added fees.

The scholarship portal matched her with scholarships for which she qualifies.

"I would say they're helpful," Kassem said of university staff.

She received a diversity scholarship, but it won't be available to future students because of another U.S. Supreme Court decision, requiring universities to end the practice of considering race when admitting students.

All MU students who have been awarded the scholarships get to keep them, officials have said.

Ellery Johnson, of Hayworth, Ill., doesn't have any concern about paying off her $13,000 in student debt as she prepares to enter her senior year.

She will have an engineering degree when she graduates.

"The starting salaries are fairly high and the job I have lined up pays well," Johnson said, also speaking in Memorial Union.

It was her plan to get an engineering degree, she said,.

"It was kind of strategic," she said.

Adam Cox-Irwin, of Columbia, graduated in 2021.

"I think I have about $22,000 in loans," Cox-Irwin said.

He works in the registrar's office at MU and said repayment should be doable.

"I can pay it off in the standard 10-year time period," Cox-Irwin said. "I feel better about it than when I graduated."

The job in the registrar's office pays well, he said. He talked before eating his lunch the the MU Student Center.

His degree is in history.

"I liked it," Cox-Irwin said of the major. "It helped me in my current job."

The president's debt cancellation plan would have been ideal for him, he said.

"It personally would have been nice," Cox-Irwin said.

President Biden said he has a new path to forgive student loans through the Higher Education Act of 1965. It authorizes the education secretary to modify or waive federal student loans. Biden called it "legally sound" but noted it would take longer.

MU has many avenues to help students with student debt, Orland wrote.

"The university has dedicated significant resources to help students and families plan for and manage their debt successfully," Orland wrote. "We work with students and their families from the time they apply until they graduate to ensure they understand the costs to attend the institution and any financial aid that they are eligible for while they attend."

MU's Office for Financial Success offers students and their families one-on-one financial counseling in areas including budgeting, financial goal setting, saving and student loan exit counseling, he wrote.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Supreme Court ended President Biden's plan to cancel student debt
Anjem Choudary was arrested at his east London home on Monday morning - JEFF GILBERT

Anjem Choudary, the notorious hate preacher, has been arrested as part of a police investigation into suspected terrorism offences.

Choudary, 56, who lives in east London, was arrested by police at his home in a dawn raid on Monday.

A little less than seven hours after Choudary was detained, counter terrorism detectives arrested a second man at Heathrow airport who had just landed in the UK on a flight from Canada. Both men were held on suspicion of being members of a banned organisation in contravention of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Police conducted searches of three addresses in east London. The two men remained in custody on Monday evening.

Choudary was for many years the UKs most prominent Islamic extremist, who had headed up a number of militant groups including al-Muhajiroun, which were banned under terror laws introduced in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and the Jul 7 2005 bombings in London.

In the wake of 9/11, al-Muhajiroun described the terrorists as magnificent martyrs. As recently as January, Choudary in a blog post condemned the Duke of Sussex for his admission he had killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving in Afghanistan.

Choudary, a lawyer by training, was convicted in 2016 of one terror charge of inviting support for a proscribed organisation  in that case the Islamic State  and given a five and a half year jail term. He had denied any wrongdoing.

He was released in 2018 on strict licensing terms that prevented him speaking in public on sensitive matters or even talking to journalists. Those restrictions were lifted in 2021 when his full sentence would have come to an end, giving authorities a potential headache.

His arrest on Monday highlights the ongoing difficulties for police and the security services.

UK terrorists

A number of convicted terrorists in the UK  including the killers of the off-duty soldier Lee Rigby  had links to al-Muhajiroun or its offshoots. So too did the 7/7 London bombers.

In his blog post in January 2023, Choudary said: The latest revelations from [Prince] Harry that he murdered 25 Muslims in Afghanistan followed by his comment that he has no remorse and that he just saw these human beings as chess pieces tells us everything we need to know about the Royal family and their thinking about Islam and Muslims, Choudary posted online.

Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP, said at the time that Choudary was using Prince Harrys admissions made in his memoir to ratchet up hate.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: Counter terrorism detectives have today arrested two men as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism offences.

The officers arrested a 56-year-old man from east London in the area at approximately 05.40hrs this morning, Monday, 17 July.

The statement went on: They arrested a 28-year-old Canadian national at Heathrow airport at approximately 12.35hrs, after he arrived on a flight from Canada.

Both were arrested on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000 [and] are currently being held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, at a west London police station.

Police searches of three addresses in east London are ongoing.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The Heart of Stark: Call for Artists to Create Community Mural

In partnership with The Repository, every Monday, Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community. Heres to Good News Mondays!

Stark Community Foundation and ArtsinStark are partnering in search of a local artist to design and create a community-engaging mural that will be featured in a new gathering space in downtown Canton.

The organizations are requesting qualifications from artists or artist teams to create a site-specific mural that sparks community pride in celebration of the Foundations 60th anniversary. Submissions are due July 27 at 5 p.m.

As ArtsinStark develops its campus, the nearly 1,450 square-foot mural at 901 Market Ave N. in Canton will face the largest green space in downtown Canton.

The mural will be painted on a building slated to become a flexible-use art and community space to serve the programming needs of organizations and individuals whose work aligns with ArtsinStarks mission.

This project is open to established professional visual artists, collaboratives or artist and design teams that live or work in Stark County, Northeast Ohio or elsewhere in Ohio.

To further involve the community, the project will include a scheduled event that allows community members to participate in its creation with the guidance of the projects installation team.

The vision for this large-scale mural, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Stark Community Foundation, is to create a welcoming and engaging mural that captures our communitys collaborative spirit.

By involving local residents in its creation during a public event, the partnership aims to foster a strong sense of ownership and belonging  ensuring the mural becomes a lasting representation of our communitys ability to grow and evolve by working together. This collective art project will celebrate the diverse people, places, experiences and shared values that make Stark County unique.

Visit www.artsinstark.com/mural-rfq to learn more and submit a proposal by July 27 at 5 p.m. Contact Kimberly Phillips at kphillips@artsinstark.com with any questions.

As the communitys trusted partner in giving, Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. Ranked in the top 10 percent of community foundations in the country, the Foundation and its family of donors have granted $230 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn how you can simplify your giving and amplify your impact at www.starkcf.org.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark agencies seeking artist for new mural in downtown Canton
Extreme temperatures continue to top average the average summer swelter during a heat wave in Europe, prompting heat warnings and the closure of top tourist destinations.

According to the European Union's Copernicus climate observers, the exceptional heat is being fueled by an African anticyclone over Mediterranean latitudes causing temperatures to soar in Italy and Greece. This ridge of high pressure is taking warm air from North Africa and creating a convection oven over parts of southern Europe.

Tuesday high temperatures across Europe.

Red alert warnings, similar to Excessive Heat Warnings by the National Weather Service in the U.S., have been issued this week for southern Italy, parts of Spain, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The UK Met Office is forecasting temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) through the week across Italy, Greece and North Africa.

A woman cools down by a fan during an ongoing heat wave with temperatures reaching 44 degrees, at Colosseo area (Colosseum), on July 17, 2023 in Rome, Italy. The government has issued red alerts for 16 cities due to the current heatwave, which the Italian Meteorological Society named Cerberus, the mythical creature who guarded the gates of the underworld. Many places in Italy have seen successive days over 40C. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Post-pandemic travelers are being greeted by intense heat at popular tourism destinations across Italy and Greece.

High temperatures this week in Rome are forecast to be above 100, potentially hitting 109 on Tuesday.

In Athens, high temperatures are forecast to be near or above 100 through Friday. Over the weekend, Greek authorities shuttered the Acropolis when the high was forecast to hit 104 degrees (40 Celsius). Euronews reports the Red Cross responded after tourists began fainting from the heat.

The heat wave is so infamous it's been nicknamed Cerberus  the creature from Dante's Inferno in Greek mythology  by the Italian Meteorological Society.

Due to the heat wave, the Italian government issued red alerts for 16 cities.

In June, the European Union's Copernicus said Europe experienced its second-warmest June on record.

Extreme heat has been prevalent early this summer, shattering records in the U.S. and China.

A dome of high pressure over the Southwest U.S. has sent temperatures soaring as a weeks-long heat wave is expected to drag on for weeks. So far this summer, excessive heat has turned deadly for nearly half a dozen people in the West.

The U.S. starts the workweek with Heat Advisories in effect for nearly 49 million people, with more than 34 million under Excessive Heat Warnings, including in Central Texas , southern Arizona , Nevada and throughout California .

Heat Advisories are in place for South and Southwest Florida through Tuesday. In the afternoon, heat indices could approach 110 degrees in southern Florida.

In addition to the heat wave in the air, there is also an ongoing marine heat wave fueled by El Nino.

In Florida, the sea surface temperatures are sometimes at or near air temperatures in recent weeks, even nearing 100 degrees. The UK Met Office reports sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea have been as much as 5 degrees Celsius above average.

The World Meteorological Organization said it's monitoring the heat wave happening across the world for new potential records.
Heatwaves are new normal as 50C hits US and China - UN

The extreme temperatures sweeping the globe this week are the new normal in a world warmed by climate change, the UN weather agency says.

Temperatures went over 50C (122F) in parts of the US and China on Sunday.

The World Meteorological Organization warned the heatwave in Europe could continue into August.

Millions around the world are under heat advisories as officials warn of danger to life from the hot temperatures.

Night-time in Europe and the US is not expected to bring widespread relief as temperatures stay above 30C in places including Arizona or southern Spain.

Large areas of the world saw up close again on Monday what life is like under extreme temperatures:

Death Valley in California hit 53.9C (128F ) on Sunday. The hottest-ever temperature reliably recorded on Earth was 56.7C (134F)

China provisionally broke its record for all-time highest temperature on Sunday when it recorded 52.2C (126F) in its western Xinjiang region, according to the UK Met Office

Temperatures in southern Spain on Monday peaked at 46C (115F). The heat is expected to intensify in Italy where 46C (115F) is forecast in Sardinia. Eastern Europe is also predicted to get hotter.

Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves longer, more intense and more frequent.

"The extreme weather - an increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate - is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies," said World Meterological Organization MO Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas.

"We have to step up efforts to help society adapt to what is unfortunately becoming the new normal," he added.

It underscores the urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible, he suggested.

'We are not in a stable climate'

Leading UK scientist Dr Frederieke Otto, from Imperial College London, told the BBC that "what we are seeing at the moment is exactly what we expect in a world where we are still burning fossil fuels".

Humans are "100% behind" the upward trend in global temperatures, she explains.

The world has already warmed by 1.1C since the Industrial Revolution when humans started burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Dr Otto says we have no idea what the new normal will look like because "we are not in a stable climate".

We will only find out what the new climate looks like once the world stops burning fossil fuels and switches to green energy, she suggests.

The International Energy Agency has said that there can be no new oil, gas or coal projects if governments are serious about tackling climate change.

Scientists say that Europe in particular is warming faster than many climate models predicted. Using very powerful computers, models can compare a world affected by climate change to one without the impacts of global warming.

"There is a feeling that it's going out of control. We have a lot of work to do to pin down exactly what's happening," Prof Cloke explains.

Countries remain unprepared for the reality of excessive heat, explains Julie Arrighi, interim director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

"If we are not ready for the heat of today, we are definitely not ready for the heat of tomorrow. The risk is only increasing," she says.

In Greece, 1,200 children were evacuated from holiday camps as wildfires broke out. Flames destroyed homes on the Spanish island La Palma over the weekend.

In Phoenix, Arizona temperatures above 43C (110F) have persisted for 18 days. The city has been giving out water and cooling towels, as well as opening respite centres to help residents cope.

"These heatwaves are frightening.... We know this will be really deadly," Prof Hannah Cloke at the University of Reading, UK, told the BBC.

She said more than 61,000 people were estimated to have died from heat in Europe last year, and this year would be similar.
Hertel & Brown and 4-Nation cases are being tried at same time. Which will finish first?

Two of the largest criminal cases ever prosecuted in U.S District Court in Erie are filling up the docket at the same time.

With 21 defendants, the Hertel & Brown billing fraud and conspiracy case is the court's largest-ever white-collar criminal prosecution. The indictment was issued in November 2021.

With 58 defendants, the racketeering and drug conspiracy case against the Erie gang 4-Nation is the court's largest-ever criminal prosecution overall. The indictment was issued in May and unsealed in June.

Which case will be over first?

The 4-Nation case, though larger and more recent, is on course to be finished more quickly than the case against Hertel & Brown Physical & Aquatic Therapy, according to schedules discussed at the latest court sessions in the 4-Nation case.

The Hertel & Brown fraud case and the 4-Nation racketeering case are being tried at the federal courthouse in Erie.

U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter, who is assigned both cases, told lawyers in the 4-Nation case late last week that she wants the case to go to trial within a year.

The Hertel & Brown case is nearly two years old, and Baxter has yet to be able to set a firm trial date as she deals with a myriad of pretrial issues.

The different pace of the cases is due largely to the type of criminal charges and the evidence involved, based on Baxter's comments at a series of daylong status conferences she held with the lawyers in the 4-Nation case on Thursday. She referred to the Hertel & Brown case as she discussed how it differs from the 4-Nation case.

As a fraud case, Hertel & Brown is document-driven. Baxter said the evidence includes billing records and other documents that can number more than 500,000 pages  an enormous amount of information for defense attorneys to sift through as they develop their strategies.

As Baxter said, the 4-Nation case is less complicated. It is, at its core, a drug case. The main evidence comes from phone wiretaps and search warrants of residences, according to court records.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has already turned over the bulk of that evidence to the defense in the 4-Nation case. The defense lawyers on Thursday told Baxter that they expected little or no issues to come up during the discovery process, in which the prosecution and defense exchange evidence.

That is a different scenario than in the Hertel & Brown case, in which many of the defendants' disputes over discovery have slowed the pace of the prosecution.

"I want to keep this case more corralled," Baxter said on Thursday, referring to the 4-Nation case, "and move this along quickly."

As in Hertel & Brown case, lawyers hint at guilty pleas in 4-Nation case

Baxter's timeline for a trial within a year in the 4-Nation case anticipates that a trial will occur.

Several of the defendants in the 4-Nation case have already indicated they want to engage in plea discussions with the the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Sellers, and end their prosecutions soon, those defendants' lawyers told Baxter on Thursday.

Guilty pleas are also possible in the Hertel & Brown case, though any deals appear to be developing more slowly.

The prosecutor in the Hertel & Brown case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold, said at a hearing in March 2022 four months after the indictment  that a number of defendants were cooperating and were ready to testify at trial. The statement signaled that plea deals were in the works.

Law enforcement vehicles park outside what was then the main office of Hertel & Brown Physical & Aquatic Therapy in the West Erie Plaza in Millcreek Township on Feb. 23, 2021. The searches of the Hertel & Brown offices preceded the federal indictment of Hertel & Brown as a business and 20 employees in November 2021.

Unlike in the 4-Nation case, however, none of the defense lawyers in the Hertel & Brown case have signaled in open court that they are ready for plea negotiations. Those talks, if they occur, are not expected to intensify until after Baxter rules on whether to suppress evidence in the Hertel & Brown case. Many of the defense lawyers in the Hertel & Brown case are still determining whether they will file suppression motions, according to court records.

If trials occur in the 4-Nation and Hertel & Brown cases, they will be long, though the number of defendants who choose to go to trial will influence the ultimate length.

A trial in the Hertel & Brown case could last as long as six weeks, based on a prospective timeline the lawyers discussed at the defendants' arraignments in late 2021.

A trial in the 4-Nation case could be "a three-month ordeal," Sellers, the prosecutor, said at the status conferences on Thursday. He said the U.S. Attorney's Office would need a month to present its case, with the defendants' cases to follow.

Scores of defendants caught up in two big Erie cases

In the Hertel & Brown case, the 21 defendants are accused of conspiring in an overbilling scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers of $22 million over 14 years, starting shortly after Hertel & Brown launched in January 2007 and ending in October 2021. The indictment charges all the defendants with one count each of the felonies of health care fraud and criminal conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.

The physical therapy practice's founders, Aaron Hertel, 44, and Michael R. Brown, 46, are the lead individual defendants. Hertel & Brown is named as a corporate defendant.

U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter is presiding over both the Hertel & Brown and 4-Nation cases, the largest-ever criminal cases in federal court in Erie.

All the defendants in the Hertel & Brown case have pleaded not guilty and are free on unsecured bonds. Of the 20 individual defendants, 19 are either licensed physical therapists or licensed physical therapy assistants, according to the indictment. A billing specialist at Hertel & Brown was also indicted.

Hertel & Brown remains in business, but is down to one office from five.

In the 4-Nation case, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleges 22 of the 58 defendants were members of the Erie gang, based at East 24th and Wallace streets.

The 22 were indicted on a count of conspiring to operate a criminal enterprise since around 2012 by dealing drugs and participating in acts of violence and other illegal activity in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO  the federal law used to dismantle organized crime, including the mob.

The 22 4-Nation defendants are also all accused of conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cocaine or other drugs in Erie from August 2021 until the date of the indictment.

That same count also applies to the other 36 defendants, but those 36 are not charged with the RICO count. Several defendants were indicted on other charges, including weapons offenses.

All but four of all the defendants in the 4-Nation case have been taken into custody, though several have been released on bonds following their arraignments, Sellers said. All the defendants who have been arraigned have pleaded not guilty.

The lead defendant is Davante Q. Jones, 30, also known as Smoov, who was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on June 8 the date the indictment was unsealed. He had been living in Tampa, and was returned to Erie to face the federal charges. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Erie. Jones is being detained in prison.

Lawyers at a premium as Hertel & Brown, 4-Nation cases proceed

The prosecution of the 4-Nation and Hertel & Brown cases at the same time has created an unprecedented demand for lawyers to represent a total of 79 clients in federal court in Erie. The two cases differ in how those lawyers have been hired  another factor that Baxter said will influence the pace of the 4-Nation case.

In the Hertel & Brown case, all the lawyers were privately retained. Two of those lawyers were later moved to the status of court-appointed counsel due to their clients' financial issues, according to court records, but those lawyers' new status as government-paid is a rarity in the Hertel & Brown case.

Court-appointed counsel is the norm in the 4-Nation case.

Of the 58 defendants, all but nine have court-appointed lawyers, according to court records as of last week. The need for so many court-appointed lawyers was so great that the courts and the Federal Public Defenders Office had to find lawyers from elsewhere in Pennsylvania and in New York and Ohio to represent the 49 defendants who could not afford to hire lawyers.

The out-of-town appointed lawyers had already signed up to represent indigent defendants in federal criminal cases in their own regions. They are known as CJA panel attorneys, after the federal Criminal Justice Act of 1964, which established a system for the representation of indigent defendants in federal court.

The maximum hourly rate is $164 for lawyers appointed to represent indigent defendants in the Pittsburgh-based U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which includes U.S. District Court in Erie, according to court policy. Court-appointed lawyers also receive reimbursements for mileage and other out-of-pocket expenses.

At Thursday's status conferences, Baxter said she wants to keep the 4-Nation case moving ahead partly to avoid having court-appointed lawyers drop out if the case takes a long time to resolve.

Baxter said the courts "were desperate" for court-appointed lawyers in the case, and she said if any court-appointed lawyers left, "I don't know if we have enough attorneys to fill in."

"I think this case can move along at a clip, and I think that is important given the size of this case," she also said.

The size of the 4-Nation case did contribute to some lighthearted moments on Thursday.

Baxter at one point joked about having to hold the trial at Erie Insurance Arena.

And more than one of the lawyers commented on the size of the case. One of them is Douglas Sullivan, of Erie, who was privately retained to represent a defendant two days earlier.

Baxter welcomed him to the case.

"I figured, why not join in?" Sullivan said. "I felt a little left out."

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Hertel & Brown and 4-Nation cases make history in Erie federal court
FIRST ON FOX: A former Disney CEO and his wife recently donated more than $1.7 million to a joint fundraising committee authorized by President Biden's campaign, despite their deep ties to China.

Bidens campaign announced on April 25 that former Disney and DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg would serve as one of its national co-chairs.

Two days later, on April 27, the Biden Victory Fund, the campaigns joint fundraising vehicle, received a donation totaling $889,600 from Katzenbergs wife, Marilyn, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg attend the 9th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony on April 15, 2023, in Los Angeles.

A day later, on April 28, the Biden Victory Fund received a $889,600 donation from Katzenberg himself. Katzenberg and his wife are also maxed-out donors to Biden's presidential campaign, donating $6,600 each in late April.

Katzenberg has deep and longstanding ties to China's communist government, Fox News Digital previously reported, potentially presenting a problem for the president over the countrys human rights abuses and as analysts continue to warn of the threat that China poses to U.S. national security.

BILLIONAIRE WHO VISITED EPSTEIN ISLAND DROPS MASSIVE SIX-FIGURE DONATION BACKING BIDEN'S REELECTION BID

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According to Katzenberg, he visited China every month for years while running DreamWorks Animation.

"I've been to China every single month for the last two and a half years because it's a place of incredible opportunity right now," he said in 2014. "We have enough characters and stories to create a unique, new kind of theme park experience. We're building an animation studio in the middle of Shanghai called 'Dream Center.'"

When Katzenberg was at DreamWorks in 2012, the company announced a multibillion-dollar deal with the Chinese government to build a production studio in Shanghai.

The deal, which effectively increased the number of U.S. films that could be released in the Chinese market each year, came just days after then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with then-President Barack Obama in Washington. Xi, now the head of China's ruling Communist Party, traveled to Los Angeles after the Obama meeting and met with Katzenberg, and both men were featured at a ceremony inking the deal.

Biden also played a central role in pushing Hollywood's entry into Chinese markets during the Obama administration, meeting with Xi multiple times during the Chinese leader's trip to the U.S. in 2012  with Katzenberg often showing up.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chairman and founder of Quibi SA, walks to the morning session during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 14, 2023.

Katzenberg's presence at events with Xi reflected "the access Katzenberg had to the Obama administration," Aynne Kokas, author of the book "Hollywood Made in China" and a film industry scholar, told the Los Angeles Times, noting that the Hollywood producer raised millions of dollars for the Obama-Biden ticket.

However, the deal triggered an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into DreamWorks Animation and other studios for possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by allegedly bribing Chinese officials to gain access to the Chinese market. Little information has been publicized about the probe.

The Hollywood mogul and top Democrat fundraiser continued his connections to China after stepping down from the top job at DreamWorks in 2016. China's e-commerce giant Alibaba was among those that contributed to an initial $1 billion for Katzenberg's WndrCo to launch a mobile-first short-form content venture called NewTV.

The Biden campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
When the heat gets unbearable, Ishmael Burch Jr., will sometimes leave the park next to Government Center in downtown Miami to read science books at the library across the street.

The self-described bookworm said he goes to the nearby Main Library to read, cool off and refill his water bottles. Burch, like about 1,000 other Miamians, is unsheltered. For him, public libraries are a lifeline, especially during periods of extreme heat.

The National Weather Service issued its first-ever excessive heat warning in Miami over the weekend, as heat indices climbed above 110 degrees Sunday. On Monday, the NWS extended its heat advisories for Miami-Dade and Broward counties until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

High temperatures and humidity can be uncomfortable for everyone, but they are dangerous  and potentially deadly  for unsheltered Miamians.

People can and will die if were not helping ... by making sure theyre not only getting proper hydration, but that there are safe places where they can go during the day and cool off, said Ron Book, the chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.

READ MORE: Heat advisories extended in Miami-Dade, Broward  again. Heres what you need to know

The average homeless persons lifespan is 13 to 17 years shorter than that of a person with housing, Book said.

Book called this heat uncharted territory. He said in his nearly 30 years chairing the trust, he has not seen summer heat quite like this.

The main health risks associated with extreme heat are heatstroke and dehydration, Book said, which often go hand-in-hand. If youre not hydrating, youre going to have a heat stroke, he said.

These risks are especially pronounced for homeless individuals over 55. This is the fastest-growing homeless demographic in Miami and nationwide, Book said.

Ishmael Burch Jr., relaxes in the shade during the heat of the day on Monday, July 17, 2023, at the park across from Government Center in downtown Miami. Burch said he finds it hard to stay hydrated but that he can fill up his water bottle at the library nearby.

City of Miamis outreach

The city of Miami partners with the Homeless Trust to send teams into the community to connect with unsheltered individuals, provide them with water and Gatorade and inform them about resources like cooling centers. There are nearly of these 25 homeless assistance teams, also known as green shirts, Book said.

To help the green shirts efforts, Book asked that people donate bottles of water and Gatorade for the outreach teams to distribute.

The Homeless Trust also operates around 9,000 beds and units of housing, including temporary housing, like beds in shelters, as well as units of transitional housing.

Burch, 66, moved to Miami three years ago from Niagara Falls, New York. He said he thinks hes acclimated to the heat of a South Florida summer. He added, laughing, that his skin has gotten a few shades darker from spending so much time in the sun over the past few years. When he first moved to Miami, Burch said he would often get sunburns in the summer.

Staying hydrated and finding shade are important when its hot out, Burch said as he sat on a bench under a tree near the fountain in the park.

People charge their phones in the air conditioning on Monday, July 17, 2023, at a Miami-Dade Public Library branch in Downtown Miami.

Library is a place to cool off

Omar Silas, who said he has been homeless for around eight months, also spends time at the park by Government Center. He said he and other homeless people suffer from the extreme heat. Church groups will sometimes bring food, water and clothing to the park near Government Center for homeless people, he said.

On Monday, Silas took off his shirt to cool down. He said he usually wears white T-shirts to keep cool, but that afternoon, even that was too hot. Monday saw temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index over 100 degrees.

Silas, who came to the U.S. as an asylum-seeker from Nicaragua, said he often goes to the library to get out of the heat and sleep. He said finding a safe place to sleep is one of the most difficult parts of being homeless.

All 50 branches of the Miami-Dade Public Library System serve as places for housed and unhoused individuals alike to cool off, rest, charge devices and use computers. Most branches are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Beaches also serve as places for homeless Miamians to bathe and cool down. Silas said he likes to go to the beach when its hot out to sit under the shade of the palm trees and bathe in the ocean.

Burch said his favorite beach is Haulover Beach. He said its a good place not only to bathe and keep cool, but also to unwind and spend time alone with his thoughts.

It does your mind and your heart good to just get away from people for a day, Burch said.
Photo 75964884  Ritmoboxer | Dreamstime.com

A homeless military veteran whose service dog was tased by North Carolina police officers and later died has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Reason reported in 2021 on the case of Joshua Rohrer, who was arrested by two police officers in Gastonia, North Carolina, for panhandling after a 911 caller complained that he was "using this dog to make people feel sorry for [him]." When Rohrer argued that he wasn't doing anything illegal, the officers tackled him and tased his service dog, Sunshine. Sunshine ran away and was later hit by a car.

"They laughed at me," Rohrer told Army Times, recounting the officers' reaction to his distress.

Prosecutors later dropped charges against Rohrer for panhandling and resisting arrest. Now Rohrer, who has service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, is suing, arguing that the violent arrest violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition, the suit alleges that the Gastonia Police Department and city officials made hundreds of false and defamatory comments on Facebook about Rohrer in retaliation for speaking out following his arrest. For example, the police department repeatedly posted that Rohrer had agreed to take a plea deal before the charges were dropped. The suit argues that by posting about Rohrer's plea deal, which ultimately never happened, the department not only smeared Rohrer as guilty but also accessed and published details from his sealed case file.

"The daily barrage and high volume of these posts, the specific targeting of Mr. Rohrer, and the fact that they reveal confidential information demonstrate a pattern of harassment that would chill a reasonable person from exercising their First Amendment rights," the suit reads.

The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages, as well as an injunction against the city's panhandling ordinance, which it argues is facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Towns frequently use overly broad panhandling ordinances to crack down on begging and roust homeless people, despite numerous court decisions upholding a general First Amendment right to ask others for money in a public space. For example, earlier this year the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment nonprofit, filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was harassed by police for holding a sign that read, "God Bless Homeless Vets."

In one of the many Facebook posts about Rohrer's case, the Gastonia Police Department wondered: "If this is such a clear violation against the Constitution and civil rights, there should have been several attorneys willing to take this case pro-bono right? But yet, that hasn't happened. Perhaps you should ask Mr. Rohrer why [he] hasn't pursued anything further."

The department now has its answer. Rohrer is represented by the Guidry law firm and by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) at Georgetown University.

"Mr. Rohrer has beenand continues to betargeted by the Gastonia police for his constitutionally protected speech, from standing on a median accepting donations from passersby to protesting government misconduct and calling for accountability in the wake of his arrest," ICAP senior counsel Joseph Mead said in a press release. "This case is about ensuring that even members of the most vulnerable populations in our societyincluding people with disabilities or without housingwill be protected from government overreach and retaliation."

A spokesperson for the City of Gastonia declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

The post Homeless Veteran Sues Police After Service Dog Tased During Panhandling Arrest appeared first on Reason.com.
Homes were evacuated for precautionary reasons in Whitemarsh Township north of Philadelphia early Monday morning after a 40-car CSX freight train derailed near Stenton Avenue and Joshua Road, police said.



Police said the train derailment happened just before 5 a.m. in Montgomery County. Officials said 15 cars came off the Northern Southern tracks.

One of the cars was transporting hazardous material, but there are no indications of any leaks or spills, CSX said.



Hazmat crews were called in, but police said there is no known hazard to the public.



"At this time, there is not a concern for any environmental releases," Ben Russell, with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, said. "We are working with both the railroad and the quarry below just in the chance that something could occur during the cleanup chance. But at this point in time, everything is contained that is a hazardous material."

Police said they don't believe any more evacuations will be required.



A mother and daughter who were among the evacuees spoke with CBS News Philadelphia about what it was like being told to leave their home at the crack of dawn.



"Alarming. It all happened really fast. We all don't have shoes on," Mallory Michener said. "Didn't really know how long we would be or how serious it was until we pulled out into the neighborhood and saw all the lights, helicopters, fire trucks, etc."



"Right as you hear the door at 5:30 in the morning, it's a little shocking," Michener's daughter said. "And yeah, it was just scary. First thought for me always goes to my family and friends."

Officials say they found some silicone pellets leaking from the cars, but they don't pose any danger to the public.

The evacuation order has been lifted, police said. No injuries have been reported.

CSX said preliminary investigation indicates the derailment was weather related. The investigation was ongoing Monday.

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Workers arrange fish at a wholesaler that has stopped selling fish from Japan, following news from Japan on its plan to discharge treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, at the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, in Hong Kong, Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

HONG KONG (AP)  As Tokyo plans to discharge treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, Japanese restaurant operator Sam Lam is busy finding substitutes for Japanese seafood that could soon be banned from entering Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong government said last Wednesday that the city would immediately bar the import of aquatic products from 10 Japanese prefectures if wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant is released into the Pacific Ocean.

Lam said his team could get seafood from other sources and change menus to adjust to the ban, but he predicted that revenues could nevertheless drop from 10% to 20% if the Japanese and Hong Kong governments press ahead with their plans.

My customers told me that once the water is discharged, they will eat fewer (aquatic products) or stop eating them, he said in an interview Friday.

Lam is not alone among Japanese restaurants and seafood suppliers in Hong Kong who are bracing for a slump in business under the potential ban, and who fear that the discharge could lead to a general decline of confidence in the safety of seafood.

The financial hub was Japan's second biggest market for fishery exports after mainland China and purchased 75.5 billion yen ($546 million) worth of aquatic products from the country last year, the Japanese government's data showed.

The 10 affected prefectures  Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama  provide about 15% of the total amount of imported aquatic products from Japan, according to estimates by Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trade.

Wong said the city's Japanese restaurants could find substitute seafood products from other regions, but they may not share the same level of prestige, and that could mar a restaurant's image or make customers feel that the food is less authentic.

After moving past the pandemic, businesses were hoping that crisis is a thing of the past already. They don't know if this incident will bring another crisis," he said.

He said the industry took about a year to restore the public's confidence in Japanese food after the Fukushima nuclear crisis in March 2011. He said if the current safety concerns aren't immediately resolved, the industry might need more than nine months to restore some level of confidence.

A massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks where water used to cool the reactor cores is stored will reach their capacity in early 2024.

In 2021, Japans government announced plans to gradually release the treated  but still slightly radioactive  water after being diluted to what it says are safe levels. The U.N. nuclear agency endorsed the plans, saying they meet international standards. But the idea is opposed by groups in South Korea, China and some Pacific Island nations because of safety concerns and political reasons. Local fishing organizations fear that their reputation will be damaged even if their catch isnt contaminated.

Christine Huang, who imports Japanese food from outside the 10 prefectures targeted in the potential ban, remembered the pain in 2011.

Consumer worries triggered by the Fukushima accident led to her company's revenues being halved for a period of two to three months, said Huang, the director at Best Quality Food. Workers at her company were forced to take unpaid leave, she added.

She worried that the release at Fukushima could again shake Hong Kongers confidence in the safety of Japanese food in the short term. If business at Japanese restaurants turn bad, we will be quite miserable, she said.

Murakami Satoshi, a wholesaler who imported seafood such as saury from the affected prefecture of Miyagi, also predicted a potential drop in sales due to the ban. To allay concerns of his restaurant clients, he said he would boost efforts to get seafood from unaffected regions, such as the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Hokkaido.

Those who sell seafood products from outside Japan also voiced concerns. Local seafood wholesale company worker Fung See foresaw his company's revenues could drop at least 20% to 30% due to consumers worries even though they mainly trade fish from Hong Kong and mainland China.

Oyster shop owner Wilson Lau, who sells shellfish from Miyagi, said he was not bothered. Fresh oysters also exist in many countries," said Lau, who is director of the HK Oyster Concern Group. Even if consumers do not eat Japanese oysters, they can eat other types of oysters.

At about Friday's noon at Sam Lam's Japanese restaurant, fewer customers were ordering sashimi than usual. Of about 10 meal sets Lam checked, only one was sashimi, he said.

Customer Yo Kong said she's been dining more at Japanese restaurants lately to get her fill ahead of the expected discharge at Fukushima. Once that happens, the 50-year-old insurance manager said she might stop eating sashimi for a few months.

I will just have more when it's still OK to eat, she said.

___

Associated Press news assistant Annie Cheung contributed to this report.
Doctors and surgeons in Israel have given a 12-year-old Palestinian boy a second chance at life after a bicycle accident left him internally decapitated, the hospital announced.

Suleiman Hassan was riding his bike near his home in the West Bank when he was hit by a car in what doctors described as a horrific accident, Hadassah Hospital said in a July 7 release.

Hassan was airlifted after the June accident to Hadassahs trauma unit in Ein Kerem, Israel, where doctors discovered he had an incredibly rare injury.

The ligaments that attach the bottom of his skull to the top of his spine had become severed, meaning there was nothing holding his head on to the rest of his body, the doctors said.

The condition is called bilateral atlanto occipital joint dislocation, more commonly known as internal or orthopedic decapitation.

The injury is extremely rare, but we do know that because children between ages 4 and 10 have heads that are large in relation to their bodies, they are more susceptible than adults, lead surgeon Ohad Einav told The Times of Israel.

Einav completed a surgical fellowship in Toronto and had recently returned to Israel, the hospital said, and during the fellowship he had performed surgery on adults with the same injury.

After arriving at the hospital, Hassan went into surgery almost immediately, as the doctors battled against time to save his life.

In a 2021 survey, 55% of children did not survive the injury, transport to hospital, surgery and recovery, The Times of Israel reported.

The procedure itself is very complicated and took several hours. While in the operating room, we used new plates and fixations in the damaged area, Einav told the news outlet. Our ability to save the child was thanks to our knowledge and the most innovative technology in the operating room.

During the surgery, the ligaments were reattached, and Hassan was carefully monitored.

A cervical splint, a kind of brace that keeps the neck and head perfectly still, was placed on Hassan, and shortly after he was discharged to be monitored from home, the hospital said.

The fact that such a child has no neurological deficits or sensory or motor dysfunction, and that he is functioning normally and walking without an aid after such a long process, is no small thing, Einav told The Times of Israel.

Hadassahs trauma unit is located in Ein Kerem, a neighborhood of Jerusalem.

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The House could vote on censuring George Santos in the next two weeks  and it may actually pass, despite GOP control

Rep. George Santos of New York outside the House on May 17, 2023. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

House Democrats are likely to force a vote on censuring Rep. George Santos in the next 2 weeks.

With Santos refusing to resign, it's the latest effort to tie his cloud of scandal to the rest of the GOP.

The resolution even notes that Santos lied about getting a "volleyball scholarship" to his college.

Rep. George Santos has continued to remain in Congress despite a 13-count federal indictment, condemnations from many of his Republican colleagues, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's expressed wishes that he not seek re-election, and the revelations of lies about his background and ethical conduct that triggered it all.

So Democrats, eager to tie the rest of the Republican Party to Santos' cloud of scandal, are taking advantage.

House Democrats are set to introduce a resolution on Monday to censure the New York Republican, and intend to force a vote on the matter in the next two weeks. The news was first reported by the New York Times.

Below is a copy of the resolution, obtained by Insider, which is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York.

By introducing the resolution, Democrats are essentially forcing Republicans to go on record about Santos' conduct  primarily the myriad lies he told to get elected, as well as his failure to file an accurate financial disclosure.

Perhaps in a nod to the ridiculous nature of Santos' fabrications, the resolution even notes that the congressman "falsely claimed he obtained a volleyball scholarship to his college."

In a tweet, Santos characterized the effort as "political ping-pong," arguing his office is "hard at work" while offering little comment on the substance of the resolution.

Rep. George Santos (@RepSantosNY03) July 17, 2023

While a previous effort to expel the congressman was quashed by Republican leadership, this effort stands a greater chance of passing. Many Republicans, particularly a group of freshman from New York, have strongly condemned Santos and have called on him to design.

While many of them justified voting against the expulsion resolution by arguing that the House Ethics Committee's investigation must reach a conclusion first, the censure measure has little bearing on the ethics process, and some New York Republicans may even see it as politically advantageous to join with Democrats in censuring Santos.

The likely censure vote  which would be forced via a "privileged motion" that hard-right House Republicans have increasingly used in recent weeks  comes just weeks after Democrats Rep. Adam Schiff of California was censured by Republicans for his handling of the Trump-Russia investigation.

In that case, Democrats uniformly rejected the validity of the resolution, and even rallied around Schiff as he presented himself in the well of the House. And it likely contributed to a blockbuster fundraising quarter for the congressman, who's now running for US Senate.

But given Santos' poor reputation among his Republican colleagues, it's unlikely the congressman would receive the same groundswell of support.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep. George Santos, (R-N.Y.) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, May 30, 2023. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times).

House Democrats plan to unveil a resolution Monday to formally censure Rep. George Santos of New York for blatantly lying to voters about his life story, teeing up a fresh attempt to reprimand the first-term Republican.

The new measure faces long odds of passing the Republican-led House. But Democrats believe forcing a vote will help maintain political pressure on Republican leaders who have stood by Santos in the face of a 13-count federal indictment and their vulnerable members impatient to jettison him.

If you are a member of Congress who has informally condemned Santos, then you should have no trouble formally censuring him, said Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., who wrote the three-page censure resolution. He has disgraced the institution, and the institution should speak with one voice against his misconduct.

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Censure is one of Congress stiffest punishments, and has been leveled against only two dozen or so lawmakers in the history of the House. Though it does not force a lawmaker from office, the rebuke is permanently recorded on the Congress members record.

The most recent censure case occurred just last month, when Republicans muscled through party lines to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., over his role investigating former President Donald Trump. The vote infuriated Democrats, who complained that Republicans were settling political scores when they should be punishing Santos, a lawmaker who lied about much of his life, including his education and his religious ancestry.

Santos has few outright defenders, and he has admitted to some of his lies, while defending his innocence against federal money laundering and wire fraud charges. Republican Party leaders and members of Congress from New York have called for him to resign and vowed to defeat him in a primary next year.

But in Washington, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, D-Calif., who controls only a narrow majority, has defended Santos right to remain in office for now and fight the charges against him.

McCarthy succeeded in killing an earlier attempt by Democrats to expel Santos from Congress. He did so in part by promising Santos Republican colleagues from New York that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee would quickly complete an investigation into the congressmans conduct that could create another justification for his removal.

McCarthy is likely to dismiss the new censure push as partisan theater as well, and could seek to table it. But there would be differences from the last Democratic effort to remove Santos.

Unlike expulsion, which requires the support of two-thirds of the House, a censure vote requires only a simple majority. That means Democrats would need just a few Republicans to cross party lines to succeed.

And while Ethics Committee leaders released an unusual statement in late June indicating that they were actively working to resolve this matter in an expeditious time frame, there have been few outward signs that they plan to release their findings anytime soon.

Torres was acting in coordination with House Democratic leaders, and declined to say in an interview precisely when he would invoke special rules to force a vote. A Democratic leadership aide said Sunday that the party intended to do so before lawmakers left town for their August recess  if the House Ethics Committee did not act first.

Santos, 34, did not comment on accusations outlined in the censure resolution, instead issuing a statement that asserted that he had been productive while in office. It is time to stop the political pingpong and get real work done, he said.

Speaking to reporters in the Capitol on Monday, McCarthy declined to comment on the status of the Ethics Committee investigation. He did not indicate how he would handle the censure resolution, suggesting it was a distraction from Democrats.

This is their entire agenda, he said. I think the American public wants to focus on a little more.

Santos is actively running for reelection next year and reported Friday that he had raised $179,000 between April and the end of June.

A copy of the censure resolution reviewed by The New York Times cites more than a half-dozen of Santos most egregious lies, including fake degrees, a concocted job history, a nonexistent collegiate volleyball career and false claims that he helped produce a Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.

Notably, it does not incorporate allegations from the indictment accusing Santos of schemes to pocket campaign contributions, steal public funds and lie on House disclosure forms.

Torres said he believed that Mr. Santos conduct is egregious enough to warrant expulsion.

But at a minimum, he added, we should hold him accountable to public censure.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
The House of Representatives is poised this week to resume  and potentially escalate  a blistering debate over the use of taxpayer money for federal government programs and initiatives that seek to promote diversity and equity.

On Monday, the House Rules Committee considered Republican amendments to remove funding for diversity and inclusion programs at the Federal Aviation Administration. The amendments were offered on a bill under House debate this week to authorize FAA programs, standards and initiatives.

Just last week, in a near party-line vote, the House approved legislation to strip funding for inclusion and diversity programs at the Pentagon. The debate over the amendments, both on and off the House floor, grew contentious, with the House Democratic leader accusing Republicans of being "sympathetic to white supremacy" as Republicans accused Democrats of building a "woke" and "weak" military.

The debate hit a boiling point during a floor speech Thursday, when Rep. Eli Crane used the term "colored people" while discussing one such amendment. Crane later issued a statement that he "misspoke" and said "every one of us is made in the image of God and created equal."

The response from some Democrats was sharp and emphatic. Rep. Joyce Beatty, Democrat of Ohio, asked that Crane's words be "taken down" from the record. Rep. Jamal Bowman, Democrat of New York, in an interview with CBS News, said of the statement and the debate, "They want to take us back to Jim Crow."

The amendments to the FAA bill, authored by Rep. Mary Miller, Republican of Illinois, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Republican of Georgia, would limit or ban the use of taxpayer funding for diversity programs in the FAA. The amendment from Greene calls on Congress to "Prohibit funds from being used on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the FAA."

Speaking with CBS News, Greene declared, "We're all equal. It's time for us to start acting like it." She said the FAA's mandated mission is to ensure safe airspace. "It doesn't talk about skin color," she added.

Miller criticized diversity programs in the FAA, telling CBS News, "Implementing these policies has led to chaos within the FAA."

Rep. August Pfluger, Republican of Texas, told CBS News, "The Federal Aviation Administration should be laser focused on strengthening a safe, reliable, and robust airline industrynot advancing a woke, divisive agenda."

When asked Monday about the latest series of amendments targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, said he was unfamiliar with the specific proposals, but added, "Amendments offered on floor so people can debate them. I look forward to seeing them."

Greene, Miller and House Freedom Caucus members have taken aim at a range of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Washington. Greene said, "They're in every branch of our government." And she indicated she would pursue efforts to defund the initiatives at other federal agencies, too.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut, criticized Republicans last week for also including language in a separate appropriations bill funding the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department that would "prohibit funding for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the federal workforce." DeLauro decried the "absurd recissions" of funds.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California, told CBS News, "Common-sense bills that have decades of bipartisan support should not become the next frontier of the GOP's imaginary culture wars."

The fate of the amendments and House-passed legislation to defund military diversity programs is unclear. The Senate takes up its own version of a military authorization bill Tuesday. Such amendments are highly unlikely to be approved in a chamber controlled by a Democratic majority.

At a news conference Friday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, issued a scorching criticism of the House Republicans effort, accusing them of being "sympathetic to white supremacy."

After hearing of Jeffries criticism, Rep. Chip Roy told CBS News, "What we're trying to do is stop the extent to which the Department of Defense and its democratic administration have been injecting that kind of divisive social engineering into the Department of Defense."

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Hull man wanted in slaying of woman kills himself during police pursuit

A Hull man shot his own father in the leg, shot and killed his girlfriend, then hours later he shot and killed himself following a police pursuit that ended in Banks County, authorities said Monday.

The shooting death of the woman, 38-year-old Shara Mattox, and the wounding of the father, Lawrence Epps, occurred about 8 a.m. Friday on the1300 block of Garnett Ward Road in Hull, according to the Madison County Sheriffs Office.

The suspect, William Blaine Epps, 40, died of a self- inflicted gunshot wound about nine hours later, according to sheriffs Capt. Jimmy Patton.

Sheriffs investigators are trying to pin down a motive for the violence, but the shooting appears to have been provoked that morning when Lawrence Epps informed his son that his mother had died.

Shortly afterward, Patton said the son grabbed a firearm that belonged to his father and started shooting.

The only thing we have at this time is he received the news about his mother being deceased and it set him off, Patton said. The Epps couple was divorced and she died at another location, according to Patton.

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The son and Mattox, described by Patton as the suspects friend, arrived at the fathers house that Friday morning.

A neighbor of Lawrence Epps called 911 to report the shootings.

The elder Epps had gone to his neighbors home where a deputy found him lying in a pool of blood in the sunroom of the house, according to the report.

The deputy said he asked the wounded man what happened and he replied that there was a girl dead in the car behind his home.

Deputies knew of William Epps, because the deputy reported that authorities had been to the home multiple times for domestic problems. Patton said some of those disputes were related to the son having drug issues.

The deputies located Mattox in a blue Acura and discovered she was dead from a gunshot wound to the neck, according to the report.

Deputies issued a lookout for William Epps and the black Volvo station wagon he drove away. During the next eight hours of the manhunt, deputies received only one confirmed sighting of the fugitive in the Blacks Creek Road area northwest of Ila.

He stopped at at least one residence and they called after he left, Patton said.

Then about 5 p.m. a Georgia State Patrol trooper traveling along Young Harris Road in an upper region of the county near Banks County spotted the Volvo, Patton said.

Patton said Epps fled from the trooper traveling several back roads until he reached Georgia Highway 59 and traveled inside Banks County.

He crashed into a building, an industrial type building, Patton said. The trooper got out and Banks County got there and as they approached the car, the guy shot himself.

After the shooting, Epps had remained hidden from law enforcement in Madison County.

Where he was holed up we dont have any information right now, but it appears he was in that area all day long, Patton said.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Deputy says suspect in slaying of Hull woman kills himself
Hundreds of criminal cases in Las Cruces could be dismissed this summer. Here's why.

LAS CRUCES  Dozens of cases will likely be dismissed in the Third Judicial District Court over the coming weeks amid the implementation of new rules crafted by the state Supreme Court.

The rules come amid several factors, but stem primarily from a New Mexico State Supreme Court order on June 14. The high court's directive created a Case Management Order commonly called a CMO. The CMO is meant to decrease the load of criminal cases and stimulate quicker resolutions, according to the Supreme Court order.

The Third District was also chosen as a pilot district to study the effects of the CMO for potential implementation in other districts. While it is a pilot program, officials do not expect it to end.

"This is a sea change," Third Judicial District Attorney Gerald Byers said. "I've been doing this for over 25 years, and it's different. But different isn't necessarily bad. It just means it's different."

The CMO will likely lead to dismissals, Byers and other judicial officials interviewed by the Sun-News acknowledged, as the court continues efforts to reduce a backlog that's led to cases taking years to resolve.

Murder charge dismissal is an early indicator of what's to come

In the early weeks of implementation, the CMO has already resulted in prominent dismissals.

Voluntary manslaughter charges against David Aguilar, accused of killing a woman during a domestic violence incident, were dismissed on June 23. The judge cited the CMO as the reason for the dismissal and said prosecutors did not meet the deadlines imposed by the rule change. In a statement, Byers said he intended to bring the case back to the judge in the coming weeks.

Byers also shared a letter with the Sun-News suggesting as many as 500 cases could be dismissed (with an opportunity to be refiled) as the order is implemented.

"The Third Judicial District Attorney's Office is committed to formally re-charging in this matter," the letter reads.

The letter is marked as a notice to inform someone involved with a case that the case was dismissed. It also provides an argument as to why the case was dismissed.

Letter Regarding CMR Dismissals by Justin Garcia on Scribd

Why is the CMO implemented?

The Third Judicial District is the third district to be placed under a CMO. The first was the Second Judicial District in Albuquerque in 2015. The process in that district was contentious, news reports show, as then-district attorney Raul Torrez called the order "arbitrary, unpredictable and unjust."

But the order remained in place. Defense attorney's practicing in Albuquerque who spoke to the Sun-News credited the order with reducing the caseload until the pandemic in 2020.

But 2020 was a difficult year for processing criminal cases in New Mexico.

Public health orders allowed for more delays in cases and fewer trials, contributing to a backlog across the state. For some defendants, that meant dismissals or years-long delays. For others confined to jail by court order, it meant indefinite detention without a conviction.

Data provided by the Third Judicial District Court to the Sun-News shows that over a dozen people charged in Dona Ana County spent over a year in jail while awaiting resolution after 2020. Four people (all accused of murder) each spent over 1,000 days in jail waiting for trial. Three of those cases remained unresolved as of the publication of this article.

Conrad Perea, the Chief Judge of the Third Judicial District Court, said the Third Judicial District Court's list of confined people waiting for resolution is concerning. He added that the list was one of the reasons the Supreme Court picked the Third Judicial District Court for the pilot program in August 2022. Since then, Perea said the three judges overseeing criminal cases worked to reduce the caseload independently.

"Now we're in a prime position to be able to inherit this case management rule, to be able to say, let us now futuristically control our dockets and control the time it takes to bring cases to trial," Perea said.

Third Judicial District Judge Conrad Perea, a former police officer, speaks during a public safety meeting in Las Cruces on Aug. 10, 2021.

What does the CMO do?

In the simplest terms, the CMO is a set of rules regarding time limits in the district court. The rule applies to all criminal cases in the district court. It does not affect civil cases or Dona Ana Magistrate court cases. The CMO also does not apply to probation violations.

The CMO forces prosecutors and defense attorneys to meet sooner and begin plea bargain negotiations faster. The meeting is called a mandatory status hearing. The process also places new deadlines on prosecutors before the mandatory status hearing, including:

Providing discovery (legal information regarding the facts of the case) to the defense at least five days before the hearing.

Presenting the defense any plea offers to consider.

Meeting in person for the hearing.

According to the CMO, missing these obligations could result in the dismissal of the case.

A change for those jailed ahead of trial

Another of the CMO's biggest changes affects pretrial detention.

After New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved bail reform in 2016 via constitutional amendment, the legislature created a system referred to in the courts as pretrial detention.

Before the amendment, a judge could order that a defendant pay cash to leave jail. This process was called a bond. Typically, the judge would place a higher cash total on more severe charges or allegations. That means a person charged with murder would have to pay more money to leave jail than a person charged with burglary.

After the amendment, this practice was ended. Now, all defendants can leave jail ahead of trial, and instead of a bond, the defendants are ordered to participate in a program called pretrial services. That program sometimes comes with ankle monitors and requires defendants to check in with court staff regularly.

But for the most serious charges, prosecutors can request a judge order a defendant to remain in jail until trial. But it's never that easy. The judge must find that prosecutors proved two prongs before jailing the defendant. They must show that:

1. The defendant is dangerous to the public or people involved in the case. Once that's established, they must show,

2. No conditions of release (like an ankle monitor or a threat of owing the court money if they miss a hearing) can reasonably protect the public.

Judges in Dona Ana County typically hold people accused of murder in jail via this process. Otherwise, most defendants await resolution outside of jail. But for those in jail, the wait for trial is sometimes years. For example, police charged Antonio Perez, 39, with murder on Aug. 23, 2020. His trial did not occur until June 25, 2023.

The CMO seeks to make cases like Perez' a top priority in Las Cruces. The CMO dictates that these cases will have a six-month deadline under a special docket unless the defendant's competency is an issue or for "exceptional circumstances." The CMO did not define exceptional circumstances, meaning a judge has discretion as to decide what qualifies.

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: Hundreds of Las Cruces criminal cases could be dismissed
Hunters find body wrapped in plastic on remote trail, Hawaii cops say. Two arrested

Two have been arrested after a body was found wrapped in plastic on a remote Hawaii trail, police said.

Hunters found a mans body, which was later identified as Jonathan Awai, 36, of Makawao, on a Kula trail on July 5, the Maui Police Department said in a July 16 news release.

The investigation into Awais death was first called an unattended death but later reclassified as a murder, police said.

More than a week after Awais body was found, John Joseph Smith, 58, and Stacy Marie Smith, 48, were arrested and later charged with second-degree murder in relation to Awais death, according to police.

Both remain in custody, police said.

A family member took to Facebook to share their sadness over Awais death, calling it a tragedy.

You will always remain in our hearts and will be missed dearly, the family member wrote on Facebook.

Makawao is in northern Maui.

74-year-olds body found along road 2 years ago. Niece now charged, Georgia cops say

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Body found in 1986 identified as man who left home to travel 4 years earlier, cops say
Mykhailo Podolyak

The Ukrainian Presidents Office has responded to the explosions which rocked the Crimean Bridge on the night of July 17.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Head of the Presidential Office, posted a brief statement on Twitter this morning stating Any illegal constructions used to deliver Russian instruments of mass murder are short-lived, regardless of the reasons for their destruction.

Earlier, in response to the incident, Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian intelligence, quoted Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), who called the Crimean Bridge an unnecessary structure.

According to an NV source in law enforcement agencies, the Ukrainian SBU Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the nighttime explosion of the Crimean Bridge. The publications source stated that surface drones were used in the attack.

The SBU responded by neither confirming nor denying its involvement.

Latest updates on the Crimean Bridge blast

On the morning of July 17, Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Russia-occupied Crimea, declared an extraordinary event near the 145th pylon of the Crimean Bridge.

Read also: Krasnodar Krai authorities call on Russians to avoid Crimean Bridge

Russian media outlets have reported explosions and potential damage to the bridges supports and one of its spans. The Russian Ministry of Transport later claimed that the roadway had been affected.

Road traffic was halted, but rail transport has since been restored. Massive traffic jams formed before the bridge, and the occupants urged Russians to travel through temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The governor of Belgorod Oblast reported two deaths and one injured child.

Russian resources suggest that the Crimean Bridge may have been attacked by upgraded water drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not rule out the possibility that the explosions could be a Russian provocation.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The claim: Image shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis yearbook picture and quote

A July 10 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows an image of what is purportedly Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss high school yearbook, with a quote underneath his picture.

My Mount Rushmore is Jesus, Sir-Mixes-a-Lot, and Nintendo 64, the text under his photo reads.

The post was liked more than 1,000 times in five days.

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Our rating: Altered

The image is fabricated, using an authentic image of DeSantis from his high school yearbook but adding a made-up quote. The actual yearbook has no quotes under student pictures.

Fabricated quote added under DeSantiss picture

The image appears to be built on an authentic picture from a yearbook for Dunedin High School, said Sean Clark, director of strategic communications for Pinellas County Schools in Florida.

This is a photo from the Dunedin High School yearbook; however, there is no quote within the yearbook photo beneath Governor DeSantis photo nor any other student within the yearbook, Clark wrote in an email to USA TODAY.

Ron DeSantis 11th grade yearbook photo from Dunedin High School

DeSantis, a Republican running for president, graduated from Dunedin High in 1997. The purported quote includes pop culture references from the late 1990s including what appears to be a misspelled reference to rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Fact check: Video edited to show woman telling Ron DeSantis he'll never be president

A yearbook photo was also used in a less-viral post, with DeSantiss picture captioned Voted most likely to get his feelings hurt by a cartoon mouse." That caption referenced the ongoing dispute between the DeSantis administration and Disney over conservative social policies and laws supported by the governor.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the claim for comment but did not immediately get a response.

AFP, the Associated Press, PolitiFact, Lead Stories and FactCheck.org also debunked the image.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeSantis high school yearbook has no student quotes | Fact check
(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia named Budi Arie Setiadi as the new minister of communications and information technology, replacing Johnny Gerard Plate who was detained as part of an ongoing corruption case.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Setiadi was deputy minister for villages, disadvantaged regions and transmigration and head of Projo, a supporter group of President Joko Widodo. Setiadi is to serve the new post until the current administration ends in October 2024.

Plate has been named a suspect by the Attorney Generals Office in the corruption probe involving a 4G wireless base transceiver station (BTS) project led by an agency under his ministry. Authorities have estimated up to 8 trillion rupiah ($534.8 million) in state losses from the case.

We have very little time left, less than one and a half year, Jokowi, as the president is known, said after an inauguration ceremony in Jakarta on Monday. I want BTS completion prioritized. BTS must continue because it relates to services to the community, especially in disadvantaged areas.

Other appointments:

Nezar Patria, a former journalist, was named as deputy minister to help oversee tech-related matters such as data sovereignty, artificial intelligence and spectrum frequencies.

Indonesian ambassor for the US Rosan Perkasa Roeslani was appointed a deputy at the state-owned enterprises ministry, replacing Pahala Mansury, who became deputy minister of foreign affairs.

(Updates with deputy minister appointments, comments from Jokowi.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Chugging down the Danube in a fishermans boat, past the unrecognised exclave known as Liberland, its hard to reconcile fantasy with reality. This patch of land  lushly forested, mosquito-ridden and boggy  remains unclaimed by neighbouring Croatia and Serbia, allowing a coterie of libertarian crypto enthusiasts to claim it as a nominally-sovereign micronation. But this sleepy cartographical quirk is a far cry from the visionary design generated by Zaha Hadid Architects to represent Liberland in the Metaverse, where silhouetted avatars stroll down deforested avenues lined with grand, neo-futurist architecture.

The idea of setting up an independent nation has always been attractive to libertarians, even though a half-century of attempts to establish tax-free idylls have produced no tangible results beyond angering locals and wasting the pocket change of billionaires like Peter Thiel. Partly in response to this, the more artistic tradition of micronations has been overtaken by a particular trend of Bitcoin-fuelled ultra-libertarianism, which implies less a release from state repression than a form of anarcho-capitalism. This vision has more in common with Dubais brand of free-market authoritarianism  a vision of ultra-rich luxury and labour exploitation  than any true utopian ideal.

Vit Jedlicka, a ruddy-cheeked, stout-chested libertarian ideologue and self-styled President of Liberland, is as emphatic as he is energetic. We are not a micronation, but a nation of 700,000 people, with embassies in 80 nations, and relations with countries like Haiti, Somaliland, and Malawi. Were serious about getting Liberland set up as a country. Never one to undersell his project, Jedlicka clearly has tremendous fun barrelling around the world promoting Liberland. Nominally based out of this scrap of marshland the size of Gibraltar, but largely operating online, its a Web-3 nation: businesses unfettered from regulation, a skeleton state providing only basic protections, and citizens issued with voting credits based on the amount of voluntary tax paid.

Never mind that none of those would-be citizens actually live in Liberland  instead there is a handful of activists moored downstream on a houseboat, under the close supervision of the Croatian police. Never mind that its diplomacy is rather more limited than Jedlicka suggests, with the citizens of Malawi recently ridiculing their government for getting involved with a nation that is never likely to exist. The President is always ready with a litany of soon-to-be realised projects and promises, hinting at deals and meetings with billionaires and politicians. The crash in the crypto market is a blip; a Liberland houseboat has been torched, but there will be an insurance payout. Every potential threat is recast as proof his project will succeed.

We first meet in a half-finished holiday camp Jedlicka has purchased on the Serbian side of the river. And there is a clear tension between this eco-village (a diaspora site where Liberlands first settlers will train in survival and negotiation skills) and his Serbian supporters frustration at the lack of a clear business plan. But, even if its ambassadors are paid lobbyists or random Bitcoin enthusiasts, Liberland does have more political reach than other libertarian micronations. This is partly a product of Jedlickas gregarious personality, which has kept the project alive since it began in 2015. Due to an arcane, post-Yugoslavian boundary dispute, neither Serbia nor Croatia prefer to lay claim to the 7km2 of territory, leaving it  Jedlicka says  terra nullia for the taking. (The Croatian authorities disagree, tolerating the Liberlanders presence on their territory, but denying them access to the contested patch of land.)

But this reach is also thanks to the political moment into which Jedlicka announced his project. The conservative Czech politician found a natural home in the heady world of Web-3 technologies, securing capital backing (through cryptocurrency investments) and the means to place Liberlands constitution on the blockchain in perpetuity. He generated a growing, global interest in his ultra-libertarian vision  resulting in collaborations with big-name architects, the Polkadot cryptocurrency development fund, and a host of global Bitcoin fans, including the Liberian (not Liberlandian) Consul General to Dubai, currently living on a barge just outside the UAE in imitation of Liberlands ideals.

For Jedlicka, these international supporters understand the economic potential of a truly free zone in the European Union they like the vision, and want to watch. He presents it as combining aspects of the most successful states to date, bringing together Singapore-style meritocracy, the town-hall democracy of early America, and the low-tax environment of European microstates such as Monaco or Liechtenstein.

In practice, such a system would face immediate issues. As we ride rickety bikes along the course of the Danube, Jedlicka says he prefers the right to set up a lemonade stand in the street over the right to cycle down it naked, suggesting that the freedom to practice business should trump personal liberties. Yet this approach opens the door to all manner of abuses, since those individuals or businesses able to spend the most money will also be able to determine law and policy, by securing the most voting credits. Already, in Serbias Liberland-linked tourist village, a promised wage of 600 a month has proved insufficient to retain the skilled workers needed to complete the camp, leaving it half-finished. The non-aggression principle proposed to prevent direct physical harm between Liberland citizens offers no protection of basic rights. There is no health or social care, workplace protections or minimum wage. To the Liberland activists, welfare state is a dirty word.

Other liberties would also come under threat. The project has been troubled from the outset by the question of whether free movement of peoples would be allowed, with Liberlanders congregated in the Serbian eco-village mocking the emailed residency applications of confused Middle Easterners who mistake the country for a real polity. While Jedlicka generally presents an optimistic, modernising political model, Serbian supporters who drove up from Belgrade to visit their President describe themselves as proud conspiracy theorists. And this isnt libertarian trolling: they cite the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Ku Klux Klan associate Albert Pike in arguing that the world faces an imminent race war orchestrated by the same Jewish New World Order they allege was behind the Holocaust. Given no-one actually lives in Liberland, Jedlicka is free to place his trust in a notional citizens veto to prevent abuses of rights. But it remains unclear how a clash between libertarian ideals of free movement and the survivalist, white-nationalist inclinations of many its followers would be avoided.

Jedlicka is able to evade these issues through a mixture of blind confidence and the fact that his project exists only on paper  or on blockchain. A fully-fledged Liberland would resemble real-world microstates, in that it would rely on either the continued mining of cryptocurrencies or on accommodating international capital as a tax haven. Quoting a sympathetic, Belgrade-based think tank, Jedlicka suggests a tax haven on the Danube would bring a GDP boost to neighbouring states.

But other libertarian projects have failed following local opposition: the 1972 Republic of Minerva, an attempt to establish a microstate on reclaimed land in the ocean near Tonga, came a cropper when locals decided not to allow rich Westerners to enjoy a tax-free oasis at the expense of their fishing rights. More recently, a seasteading project which aimed to establish a floating utopia near Tahiti, initially backed by libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel, met a similar fate, collapsing following angry protests from locals opposing a megalomaniacal project with no clear benefit to the local economy.

Recent attempts to establish crypto-friendly communities of expats in Puerto Rico and Central America have also foundered. Notoriously, El Salvador has witnessed a protracted effort by its president, Nayib Bukele, to force locals into using Bitcoin, while attracting the Western crypto elites to free-market resorts intended to serve as Bitcoin playgrounds. The attempted pivot to virtual currency has been met with indifference and protest. Following the recent crypto crash, the nation came close to defaulting on its sovereign debt. Bukeles Bitcoin roll-out has also gone hand in hand with the introduction of a police state characterised by widespread arrests, detentions and torture, including the arbitrary arrest of those opposed to the governments bitcoin policy. Liberlands nominal finance minister Navid Saberin, a Luxembourger businessman, admits he personally visited El Salvador and found no-one had anything good to say about the Bitcoin pivot. Yet he also remains wholly optimistic that Bitcoin will bounce back, restoring his fortunes and justifying Bukeles efforts.

Jedlicka worries that finance journalists dismiss Liberlands political programme as too utopian. In reality, the opposite is true. If realised, his vision would result in a dystopian combination: reliance on foreign capital which creates little benefit for local communities, undergirded by authoritarian excesses in defence of those elite financial interests. The Liberland proposal is not a challenge to the current economic order. It is its fullest expression, stripped of all protections, checks and balances.

But this vision has its appeal. In the surrounding states, crony capitalism beholden to EU investment has brought few benefits to ordinary people. Liberlands President is a genuine and infectious believer in personal sovereignty, and its little wonder frustrated young people are attracted by his dynamic, untrammelled version of capitalism, as they are by the get-rich-quick crypto promise. And though Jedlicka is keen to distance himself from more playful, performance-based micronations, the political model has also been used to register protest against authoritarianism and homogenisation. Protest projects such as Germanys Free Republic of Wendland or New Zealands Independent State of Aramoana stood up against the profit-driven destruction of local communities and environments, with the latter successfully resisting the state-backed imposition of an aluminium smelter. In nearby Slovenia, the Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK) used provocative appropriations of state insignia to critique state authoritarianism.

Though dismissed by Jedlicka, this spirit of protest is inherent to both the micronation concept and the libertarian movement. There is room for a more productive critique of an admittedly exploitative global financial system rigged to benefit certain states, which also recognises the limitations of crypto and the role that tax havens and free-market ideology play within that system. For now, though, we have only Jedlickas vision of Dubai-on-the-Danube, and its handful of loyal followers.
Iowas new abortion ban was temporarily blocked from taking effect on Monday, restoring access to abortion in the state while the lawsuit moves forward.

Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin ruled that a lawsuit by abortion providers is likely to succeed, and the temporary injunction will remain in place for the duration of the lawsuit.

The court will grant the temporary injunction requested here, Seidlin wrote. In doing so, it recognizes that there are good, honorable and intelligent people  morally, politically and legally  on both sides of this upsetting societal and constitutional dilemma.

The court believes it must follow current Iowa Supreme Court precedent and preserve the status quo ante while this litigation  moves forward, Seidlin wrote.

The lawsuit was filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the ACLU of Iowa. They argued that the abortion ban was not constitutional under Iowa law.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed the sweeping legislation into law Friday at the Family Leadership Summit, an evangelical conference attended by several Republican presidential candidates.

The law would ban almost all abortions after the detection of fetal cardiac activity, which is usually six weeks into a pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant. There are some exceptions for rape, incest and fetal abnormalities.

Prior to the law, abortion was legal in the state up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.

The state passed a nearly identical version of the law in 2018, but it was halted by a court because Roe v. Wade was still in effect. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe last summer, Reynolds asked a district court to allow that law to take effect.

When the court declined, she appealed to the state Supreme Court, which deadlocked 3-3, leaving the 22-week limit in place.

Reynolds then called the GOP-led state legislature into a special session last week for the sole purpose of passing the ban.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds reacts after signing a new law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy before speaking at the Family Leadership Summit, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds seized the spotlight from a half dozen Republican presidential contenders on Friday by signing a restrictive abortion measure into law at an event meant to showcase the candidates, she embraced her front-and-center role in the 2024 presidential election.

The standing ovation she received from some 2,000 conservative Christians gathered in Des Moines only reinforced the influence she wields, not just in Iowa but increasingly on a national stage.

I could not imagine a more appropriate place to sign this bill, Reynolds said. Today, the most glaring injustice of all is about to be put right.

Reynolds had always been scheduled to give remarks at The Family Leadership Summit, one of many places this summer where Republican presidential candidates are expected to address Iowa's voters, who will cast the first ballots in just six months. But the appearance morphed into a triumphant demonstration of the governor's rising national profile after she spent the week shepherding abortion restrictions into Iowa's books, after a similar 2018 law she had championed was sidelined.

Reynolds pressed forward to sign the bill into law even as she shrugged off pointed criticism from former President Donald Trump.

Trump, in posts on his Truth Social social media platform, had accused Reynolds of shirking her commitment to neutrality in the campaign, claiming credit for her rise to the governor's office. Other presidential candidates, well aware of her popularity with Iowa voters, rose to her defense.

Those included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been the beneficiary of kind words from Reynolds, though she's stopped short of violating her pledge to stay neutral in the presidential contest with an endorsement. DeSantis, whose campaign has struggled since its launch to establish him as the only plausible rival to the former president, doubled down on Saturday by saying he would consider Reynolds as a potential running mate.

At least publicly, Reynolds isnt likely to wade into the drama. Republican strategists in Iowa say the bill signing showcased her devotion to the issues she cares about.

Shes out there doing the right thing and were coming along beside her, said Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, who introduced her. She is arguably the best governor in the country.

Reynolds decided to sign the bill at Fridays event to celebrate the victory with those who have spent years fighting for new restrictions on abortion. The audience of a couple thousand people  including conservative leaders, presidential hopefuls and national news outlets  was a bonus.

Signing the bill there on Friday, with all of the attention directed toward Iowa, was a deliberate effort to drive a national conversation.

I love it when were leading and showing other governors in other states that we can get it done, Reynolds said in February to the Des Moines Register.

Reynolds has said she is not entertaining rumors about her prospects as a 2024 Republican running mate. Still, the governor has not shied away from plunging into the middle of the campaign or comparing her record favorably to those who are running for president.

Im proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them united in our respect for life, she said Friday of the presidential candidates who addressed the forum.

The feeling appeared to be mutual at Friday's event. Former Vice President Mike Pence called it a historic day, telling reporters he couldnt be more proud of Gov. Reynolds stand on abortion. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson congratulated her, too, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she always knocks it out of the park.

Reynolds, meanwhile, tends to go her own way. She's just as apt to press ahead on policies cutting taxes and shrinking government as the social issues that have dominated the GOP presidential campaign so far.

She is willing to put conservative issues front and center when the moment calls for it, as she did in 2018 when the original abortion ban passed. But she's also willing to take on Republicans who challenge her, as she did in 2022 when she campaigned against incumbent lawmakers in her own party who had stood in the way of school choice legislation. Reynolds had made it one of her top priorities, though critics raised concerns that it would drain money from public schools.

Four races in which she intervened went in her candidate's favor, and the legislation she pushed forward was tied up in a bow by the end of the first month of this year's legislative session.

Reynolds also hasn't been afraid to buck party orthodoxy, signing an executive order on the restoration of voting rights for former felons and proposing things like over-the-counter birth control.

Let Iowans know what youre going to do? Tell them your plan and then execute? Follow through on your promises that youve made? Wow, Reynolds said with a laugh in a radio interview Thursday. Shocking.

Her success in Iowa garnered attention even before 2024 candidates officially entered the race. She was chosen to give the GOP response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address last year, and she was named to lead the Republican Governors Association after a robust win in her reelection campaign.

But with the caucus campaign well underway, Reynolds is poised to stay in the middle of things. She announced Monday that she's invited each of the GOP candidates for a public one-on-one with her at the state fair in August, a must-attend for presidential hopefuls.

In the meantime, her administration will be defending the states abortion law in court.

The work that we've done together from the statehouse to the public square is making a difference, Reynolds said Friday. But as you all know, our work is not done.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds spoke to the crowd at Family Leadership Summit before signing the abortion ban into law last week

An Iowa judge has moved to temporarily block a new state law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a six-week abortion ban, which included some exceptions, into law on Friday.

The judge granted a temporary injunction, allowing abortion up to 20 weeks, after providers argued the new law was unconstitutional.

Ms Reynolds said she will appeal the ruling, saying providers were trying to "thwart the will of Iowans".

She pledged to "fight this all the way to the Iowa Supreme Court where we expect a decision that will finally provide justice for the unborn".

The bill the Republican governor signed last week blocked most abortions after early signs of cardiac activity is detected in a foetus or embryo - often about six weeks into a pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant.

It included some exceptions for cases of rape, incest and foetal abnormalities, as well as when the mother's life is in danger.

Iowa is one of many states that have enacted abortion restrictions since the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 case of Roe v Wade, which guaranteed the right to an abortion across America, last year.

A lawsuit from Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the ACLU of Iowa argued the law goes against Iowans' constitutional rights.

Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin said by granting the temporary injunction, "it recognises that there are good, honourable and intelligent people - morally, politically and legally - on both sides of this upsetting societal and constitutional dilemma".

Some abortion clinics said they scrambled to fit in appointments, staying open late to accommodate people, before Ms Reynolds signed the six week ban last week.

The legislation is nearly identical to a six-week abortion ban that the Iowa legislature passed in 2018, before Roe v Wade was overturned.

Back then, the Iowa Supreme Court was split over a lower court's ruling against that law, causing the lower court's decision to stay in place.
Irans morality police have resumed patrolling the streets to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf after pulling back in response to nationwide protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman in their custody.

Authorities had struggled to contain the mass protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September. The protests largely died down earlier this year following a brutal crackdown in which over 500 protesters were killed and nearly 20,000 detained.

Though morality police were rarely seen patrolling the streets, 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 more than four decades ago.

US SENDS F-16 FIGHTERS TO PERSIAN GULF TO FEND OFF IRANIAN SHIP SEIZURES

A police spokesman said Sunday the morality police would resume notifying and then detaining women not wearing a hijab in public. In Tehran, the men and women of the morality police could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.

A fire burns on the streets of Iran as protesters continue to chant

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.

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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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to deliver remarks before a joint meeting of Congress this week, a speech that is putting Democratic divisions over Israel on center stage.

The speech Wednesday is meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Israels statehood, and to reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli relationship. A number of progressive Democrats, however, announced last week that they would boycott Herzogs speech in part as a protest against Israels policies towards Palestinians.

Adding to the dynamics, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) over the weekend said Israel was a racist state  a comment she walked back, but one that nonetheless drew strong pushback from inside the party.

Also this week, the Senate is slated to kick off the process to consider the annual defense bill, after the House approved its own version last week that included a number of controversial amendments pertaining to hot-button culture war issues. The House will take up legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.

Additionally, the House is holding a number of high-profile hearings this week: The Oversight Committee will hear from Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Judiciary Select Subcommittee on Weaponization will question IRS whistleblowers who say prosecutors slow-walked the Hunter Biden case.

Israeli president to visit Capitol Hill, some Democrats plan to boycott

Herzogs speech  scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday  is putting a focus on the divide over Israel within the Democratic Party, as some lawmakers plan to boycott the remarks.

The list of lawmakers boycotting includes Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). In a lengthy Twitter thread last week, Omar pointed to policies toward Palestinians and noted that she and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) were denied entry to Israel in 2019 after they expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, which is pro-Palestinian.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) last week said he would probably not attend the speech.

The divide over Israel came more into focus over the weekend, when Jayapal, the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called Israel a a racist state during remarks at a conference. She later walked back her comments, writing in a statement, I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist while condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus extreme right-wing government.

Her comment, nonetheless, sparked strong pushback. House Democratic leadership issued a statement Sunday night that began with Israel is not a racist state, and highlighted the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.

Additionally, a Democratic aide confirmed to The Hill on Sunday that a group of House Democrats are circulating a statement that says they are deeply concerned about Jayapals unacceptable comments about our historic, democratic ally Israel.

Senate kicks off process for annual defense bill

The Senate is set to begin the process for considering the annual defense bill this week, just days after the House approved its version of the legislation that was loaded up with culture war amendments.

Senators on Tuesday will vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  the first procedural vote for the measure.

The Senate, however, is taking up its own version of the NDAA and not the one the House approved last week. The House bill, passed mainly by Republicans, included GOP-sponsored amendments on hot-button issues including abortion, transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives  measures that drove the vast majority of Democrats to oppose the typically bipartisan legislation.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the upper chambers version of the bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan 25-1 vote in June.

If the Senate approves its own bill, the two chambers may conference their measures to iron out the differences and craft a compromise bill. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last week suggested that would be the course of action: He already asked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who was initially planning to oppose the bill but ultimately got on board, to sit on the conference committee.

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 Jayapal apologizes for calling Israel a racist state

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Or, if time is running short, the House may be forced to vote on the Senate version; lawmakers are staring down a Sept. 30 deadline.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) last week said top lawmakers and their teams will be working over the weekend to determine which measures can be included in the package of amendments.

No senator wants a dilatory process, Schumer said on the floor Thursday. I know [Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)], who have done such a fine job putting together a bipartisan bill, will work with [Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)], and we will develop a list of amendment votes and hopefully can proceed from there.

IRS whistleblowers on Hunter Biden case to testify

The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday featuring two IRS whistleblowers who alleged that prosecutors slow-walked the investigation into Hunter Biden.

The hearing comes after the whistleblowers  IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley and an unnamed IRS criminal investigator, referred to only as Whistleblower X  spoke to the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel shared testimony from the two individuals the day after U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss announced the plea deal involving Hunter Biden.

Shapley claimed that Biden received preferential treatment and said prosecutors were hesitant to pursue search warrants. He also alleged that Weiss was not able to bring charges in Washington, D.C.  where Shapley believe that prosecutors could have brought the strongest case against Biden.

That claim, however, has received pushback: In a letter last week, the Justice Department said Weiss has ultimate authority over the matter, including the authority to bring a case in any jurisdiction, consistent with federal law, the principles of federal prosecution, and department regulations.

A spokesperson for the Oversight Committee told Semafor last week that the identity of the anonymous IRS whistleblower will be revealed at the hearing.

RFK Jr. to testify on Capitol Hill amid presidential campaign

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  who is currently running for the Democratic presidential nomination  is slated to appear before a House panel Thursday for a hearing focused on the federal governments role in censorship.

The hearing  put on by the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government  is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. In a release last week, the panel said, The hearing will examine the federal governments role in censoring Americans, the Missouri v. Biden case, and Big Techs collusion with out-of-control government agencies to silence speech.

Breitbart News journalist Emma-Jo Morris and D. John Sauer, special assistant attorney general at the Louisiana Department of Justice, are also slated to testify.

The Missouri v. Biden case dates back to last May, when the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri filed a lawsuit against President Biden and other administration officials for allegedly working with social media companies  such as Meta, Twitter and YouTube  to censor and suppress free speech on topics such as COVID-19 and election integrity.

The hearing comes as Kennedy challenges Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. He has, however, remained far behind Biden in polls.

Thursdays hearing could touch on previous instances where Kennedy received pushback online. In June, YouTube removed an interview he did with commentator Jordan Peterson because it violated its guidelines against vaccine misinformation.

Back in 2021, Kennedy was banned from Instagram for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines, Facebook said at the time. In June, however, his account was reinstated.

House to take up FAA reauthorization

The House this week is set to take up a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation and safety infrastructure programs (FAA) for the next five years.

The measure  titled the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act  advanced out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in a 63-0 vote last month. Congress has until Sept. 30 to reauthorize.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 expires on September 30, 2023, and it is important to reauthorize these vital programs as well as continue to improve our aviation system to ensure America remains the gold standard, the office of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wrote in its floor lookout Sunday night.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
College admission notice promotes Yi embroidery

People's Daily Online) 09:10, July 17, 2023

A college admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, has become an object of admiration of Chinese netizens, as it contains a handmade card holder using elements of Yi embroidery.

The three card holders with different patterns embroidered on them were made by female embroiderers of the Yi ethnic group in Nanhua county, Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The handiworks were randomly placed in the admission notices.

Photo shows an admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo courtesy of Southeast University)

The university has been providing pairing assistance for Nanhua county since 2013. Over the past 10 years, it has helped the county get out of poverty by developing its embroidery industry. Many local villagers have found jobs in the trade.

With the university's help, Nanhua county was given approval to build an embroidery workshop for women with disabilities in 2023.

Zheng Xianmei, a woman born with a hearing impairment, had previously encountered difficulties finding a job. After receiving embroidery skills training, Zheng became able to support herself. In 2022, Zheng won first prize in an embroidery contest during a vocational skills competition for people with disabilities in Yunnan.

Photo shows an admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo courtesy of Southeast University)

Over the past 10 years, Southeast University has helped train over 3,000 embroiderers, including hundreds of people with physical disabilities. Qu Xu, an associate professor of Southeast University who is currently deputy county mayor of Nanhua, said top embroiderers can earn between 6,000 and 7,000 yuan (about $977.61) a month.

A woman embroiders in a workshop in Nanhua county, Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Hao)

In 2022, which marked the 120th anniversary of Southeast University, the university held an exhibition on Yi embroidery, promoting the craft among the university's alumni. The university also helped build partnerships between Nanhua county and enterprises founded by the university's alumni.

In recent years, the Yi embroidery industry in Nanhua county has developed rapidly. In 2022, the sales volume of Yi embroidery works in the county hit 34.89 million yuan.

A woman promotes a Yi embroidery product during livestream in Nanhua county, Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Hao)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Israel's workhorse Merkava tank could soon be refilling foreign arsenals depleted by the war in Ukraine

Israel's workhorse Merkava tank could soon be refilling foreign arsenals depleted by the war in Ukraine

An Israeli Merkava tank trains in the Golan Heights in March 2008. Israel Defense Forces/Neil Cohen

Israel may be about to export its workhorse Merkava tank for the first time.

Reports say Israel is in talks to sell the tank to a European and a Middle Eastern country.

If exported widely, the tank could refill arsenals in countries that sent their armor to Ukraine.

Israel may be about to export its Merkava tank for the first time. One customer may be an Arab country. Another could be a European nation at odds with Turkey.

For now, the details are cryptic. "There are two potential countries with which we are holding advanced negotiations," Yair Koles, a retired brigadier general who heads the defense export division of Israel's Ministry of Defense, told business publication Calcalist. "I am not allowed to give the names, but one of them is on the European continent."

The European nation in question is actually Cyprus, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which in June cited an unnamed Cypriot official who said negotiations are underway. The Arab nation is Morocco, Spanish outlet El Espanol reported this month.

Israel isn't selling the newest version of the 45-year-old Merkava tank family, the Merkava 5, or even the Merkava 4, which is used in front-line Israeli armored units. Instead, buyers would get surplus Merkava 2s manufactured in the 1980s and Merkava 3s from the 1990s.

An Israeli Merkava tank in the Negev desert in November 1997. Antoine GYORI/Sygma via Getty Images

First deployed in 1979, the Merkava is an unusual tank configured to meet Israel's specific needs. After Israeli tanks suffered heavy losses in the 1973 October War, the casualty-sensitive Israel Defense Forces designed the Merkava ("chariot" in Hebrew) to protect the crew.

The 65-ton vehicle has the engine in the front of the hull to maximize protection and is equipped with the Trophy active protection system to shoot down incoming anti-tank projectiles. There is also an armored compartment in the rear to carry six infantrymen or evacuate casualties.

The Merkava 3, 4, and 5 are armed with a powerful 120 mm cannon, though the Merkava 1 and 2 have smaller 105 mm guns. The tanks also have a 60 mm remotely operated mortar to engage infantry or fire smoke rounds.

The Merkava successfully engaged Syria's Soviet-made T-72 tanks in the 1982 Lebanon War. However, dozens of earlier Merkava models were damaged by Hezbollah anti-tank missiles in the 2006 Lebanon War, though the problem may have been with poorly trained Israeli crews as well as poor tactics.

An Israeli Merkava Mark IV tank equipped with the Trophy active protection system in February 2007. Israel Defense Forces/Michael Shvadron

Though Israel is small, home to less than 10 million people, it's one of the world's top 10 arms exporters. Remarkably, of Israel's nearly $13 billion in arms exports in 2022, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco  the Arab nations that signed the 2020 Abraham Accords normalizing relations with Israel  accounted for 24%, according to Israeli government figures.

Most of what Israel sells is smaller items, predominantly drones, missiles, and air-defense systems. Morocco, for example, has bought Israeli Heron surveillance UAVs and Harop kamikaze drones. The US Army uses the Trophy system to protect M1 Abrams tanks from anti-tank rockets. But a main battle tank like the Merkava? That's something else entirely.

"The Merkava is significant because it's a high-profile system," Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told Insider. "It's not something you just put on an airplane or an armored vehicle. You can't hide it."

Exporting the Merkava raises sensitive political issues. For Morocco, acquiring an Israeli tank would be a highly visible symbol of its relatively cordial relationship with Israel. Morocco is also fighting Polisario insurgents, who are backed by neighboring Algeria, in the Western Sahara. This raises the possibility of one Arab state employing Israeli arms against another.

Israeli soldiers by a Merkava tank during an exercise in July 2018. MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

With Cyprus, Israel would be selling tanks to a nation that has tense relations with Turkey, which invaded the northern half of Cyprus in 1974. Relations between Israel and the government of Turkish President Recep Erdogan are often contentious. (The US ending its longstanding arms embargo on Cyprus in 2022 also triggered speculation that Cyprus' Russian-made arms could go to Ukraine.)

Nonetheless, the timing is propitious for Israel. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spurred Europe to rearm its depleted militaries. Eastern European nations are sending many of their aging Soviet- and Russian-designed tanks to the Ukrainians, which means the donors will be shopping for affordable replacements  likely older tanks with a non-Russian design.

The question is whether Israel will sell Merkavas to Ukraine. For now, the answer is no. Israel is wary of antagonizing Russia, for fear that Russian forces in Syria will interfere with Israel's airstrikes against Iranian and Hezbollah targets there. Russia can also send advanced weapons, particularly S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, to Israel's arch-enemy, Iran.

However, weapons also have a habit of circulating. Ukraine has received weapons and other military equipment from nearly 50 countries that originally acquired that hardware for their own armies. Russia is also getting kamikaze drones and artillery shells from Iran and North Korea. If Merkava tanks are sold overseas, they may yet end up on surprising battlefields.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is seeking to strike down Missouris criminal penalties for abortion, adding to an already intense legal confrontation playing out in St. Louis that could result in a judge overturning the states near-total ban.

The Democratic prosecutor, whose jurisdiction includes much of Kansas City, last month filed a petition in St. Louis Circuit Court arguing the criminal penalties violate the Missouri Constitutions guarantees of equal protection. Bakers filing came in an ongoing lawsuit brought by progressive faith leaders challenging the abortion ban on religious freedom grounds.

The lawsuit, filed in January, is turning into a bitter fight over the role religion played in the crafting of Missouris ban and the meaning of the laws sole exception  for medical emergencies  that critics say is far too vague and leaves doctors second-guessing when they can legally perform an abortion. It comes amid a nationwide wave of similar lawsuits deploying religious freedom arguments to challenge state-level bans.

As part of the legal fight, lawyers for Republican Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and other officials have suggested in court that a woman unable to obtain an abortion through the medical emergency exception could seek a court order to get one. And in court documents, attorneys for the faith leaders and Baileys office have even fought over the effectiveness of condoms.

Bakers filing, which has drawn little public attention, is the newest front in the battle by Democrats, abortion rights advocates and others to reverse the ban. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to the procedure last summer, Missouri became the first state to impose a ban, implementing it within minutes of the decision.

Separately from the lawsuit, supporters of abortion access are expected to try to use an initiative petition to place a state constitutional amendment on the ballot next year, but the effort is currently held up by Bailey, a staunch abortion opponent who is refusing to sign off on cost estimates for the petitions. The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments this week in a case seeking to force Bailey to complete the paperwork.

But for opponents of the ban, the best hope of restoring abortion access in Missouri in the short term remains a court order blocking officials from enforcing it.

Pursuing criminal prosecutions against doctors who provide ethical, sound care in the best interests of their patients as recommended and approved by state and national standards does not fit within the concept of justice, Amanda Langenheim, an attorney in the Office of the Jackson County Counselor representing Baker, wrote in the June 13 filing.

To do so would not only deprive the would-be physician defendant of their fundamental right to enjoy the gains of their own industry, but it would also operate to the disadvantage of a suspect class  patients receiving reproductive healthcare (women), Langenheim wrote.

Missouri law makes knowingly performing or inducing an illegal abortion a class B felony, which can carry prison sentences of between five and 15 years. Doctors who perform illegal abortions can also lose their professional licenses.

Even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Baker all but guaranteed her office wont bring abortion-related charges, saying she would use her prosecutorial discretion to limit the erosion of reproductive rights.

When the religious leaders  14 clergy from seven faith traditions  sued to block the ban, they named Baker and other county prosecutors as defendants, in addition to Parson, Bailey and state officials. While most of the prosecutors successfully sought to have themselves dismissed from the case, Baker hasnt tried to have herself removed, allowing her to continue participating in the lawsuit.

Baker contends in the filing that because of the way Missouris abortion law was written, several separate, contradictory abortion restrictions are in effect simultaneously. When Parson in 2019 signed an anti-abortion bill that included the trigger that would eventually ban the procedure after the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision, other provisions allowed the state to restrict abortion after various stages of pregnancy depending on what the court ruled.

St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser hasnt taken up Bakers petition, and neither Bailey nor any of the other defendants filed court documents responding to it.

A spokesman for Baker didnt respond to a request for comment last week. A spokeswoman for Bailey also didnt respond to a request for comment.

Samuel Lee, a lobbyist for the anti-abortion group Campaign Life Missouri, questioned whether its appropriate for Baker to challenge the law.

Can or should a prosecutor even challenge a lawfully enacted state statute? Lee said.

Several lawsuits challenge abortion bans

On June 30, Sengheiser dismissed several claims made by the faith leaders seeking to toss out abortion restrictions in Missouri law, such as the states 72-hour waiting period. But the judge allowed the core challenge against the ban to move forward.

The decision doesnt necessarily indicate whether the lawsuit will succeed, but lawyers for the faith leaders portrayed it as a victory.

We applaud the courts decision allowing our challenges to Missouris harmful and unconstitutional total abortion ban and restrictions on medication abortion to proceed, Michelle Banker, director of reproductive rights and health litigation at the National Womens Law Center, said in a statement.

But we are disappointed that the court stopped short of hearing our challenge to the many other medically unnecessary restrictions which made abortion inaccessible to so many long before Roe was overturned, Banker said. So while this decision is certainly a victory that we celebrate, it is a reminder that it will take all of us, and every tool we have, to meaningfully restore abortion access in Missouri.

The lawsuit is one of about a dozen nationally challenging abortion bans or restrictions on religious freedom grounds. The emerging strategy is in some ways an inversion of conventional wisdom that religious energy in the abortion debate has often been on the side of abortion opponents.

While the Catholic Church and many evangelical Christian churches are vocally anti-abortion, some mainline Protestant denominations either support abortion rights or dont take firm stands against it. Clergy from Baptist, Episcopalian, Orthodox Judaism, United Church of Christ, Reform Judaism, Unitarian Universalism and United Methodist houses of worship are among those bringing the Missouri lawsuit.

Stephanie Toti, senior counsel and project director at The Lawyering Project, which works to support abortion access and reproductive health care, said some of the lawsuits have come in states where lawmakers over the years have sought to strengthen religious freedom, including by passing what have been called religious freedom restoration acts.

While Missouri has such a law, the clergy lawsuit is centered on alleged violations of the state constitutions prohibitions on the establishment of religious preferences. They allege Missouri law, by stating that life begins at conception, imposes an inherently religious view of when life begins.

I think a lot of these current lawsuits are an effort to reclaim religious liberty for abortion supporters and to highlight the point that the right to abortion is inextricably intertwined with the right to religious freedom, Toti said. This is essentially when life begins, when personhood begins  is really a matter of religious belief and therefore should be protected.

Bailey has rejected those arguments. In a court filing, Missouri Deputy Solicitor General Maria Lanahan wrote that the clergy raise off-the-wall theories to strike down the abortion ban.

Lanahan argued laws banning and regulating abortion dont violate the state constitutions prohibition on establishing religion. Lawmakers are free to make religious arguments, she contends.

The idea that legislation is invalid simply because it is motivated by religious views proves far too much, Lanahan wrote.

Missouri state senators debate a bill in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo.

Dispute over condoms

The Missouri faith leaders lawsuit includes one plaintiff, the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbia, who because of a high likelihood of severe complications would seek an abortion if she ever became unintentionally pregnant, according to court documents.

The abortion bans medical emergency exception is defined as a condition, based on reasonable medical judgment, that so complicates a pregnancy that it requires an immediate abortion to avert the death of the pregnant woman. It also includes a condition for which a delay in obtaining an abortion would create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

Housh Gordon fears that if she became pregnant, she would be unable to obtain the health care in Missouri necessary to preserve her own life, health and well-being, the clergys legal complaint says. This would run counter to her religious beliefs about the sacredness of her bodily autonomy and agency.

Lawyers representing the state of Missouri have pushed back aggressively on Housh Gordons arguments, to the point that they raised the possibility the reverend could ask a judge for permission to have an abortion if she became pregnant.

While State Respondents suggested during oral argument that Housh Gordons proper remedy if she becomes pregnant and decides to seek an abortion and is unable to obtain one is to file an emergency temporary restraining order to have a court rule that she is entitled to an abortion under her circumstances, Sengheiser wrote in his June 30 decision. However, the Court finds that is not a realistic remedy in the face of a medical emergency.

A spokeswoman for Bailey didnt respond to questions about who made the remark or whether Sengheisers description accurately reflected the comment.

The Rev. Molly Housh Gordon of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia.

Housh Gordons situation has also led to a dispute over condom effectiveness that has played out in court filings. Because of medical conditions and side effects, Housh Gordon is unable to use IUDs or hormonal birth control and relies on condoms.

The faith leaders legal complaint says that for every 100 women who rely on condoms for a year, 18 will become pregnant. It cites a webpage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that no longer appeared online when The Star attempted to access it Friday.

Still, the statistic appears roughly correct. According to the Cleveland Clinic, while condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used perfectly, in typical use they are actually about 87% effective.

Gordon claims that she uses condoms and that condoms are 18% ineffective in preventing pregnancy in the general population (which uses them both correctly and incorrectly), Lanahan wrote.

But she does not allege that she uses them incorrectly, nor is any incorrect use traceable to the State Defendants. The relevant ineffectiveness rate when used correctly is 2%. Regardless, neither a 2% chance of future pregnancy nor an 18% chance of future pregnancy is sufficient to establish a current controversy.

Sengheisers decision on whether to dismiss the case didnt directly address the dispute, but he allowed Housh Gordons claims to proceed. Its unclear what will happen next in court; no hearings are currently scheduled.

My impression is that the judge threaded the needle, Lee said. Again, its a motion to dismiss and thats not going to be granted unless theres basically nothing to support it.

The Stars Kacen Bayless contributed reporting
A pregnant Jacksonville woman and her unborn child are heading to Philidelphia next week to undergo fetal surgery after her daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida, a rare spinal condition that affects newborns.

Timothy Newman and his wife Christine Newman say that the discovery was shocking.

It was devasting, said Timothy Newman.

The Newmans are traveling to Philadelphia next week to have fetal surgery performed on their unborn daughter after getting their diagnosis.

We were at a routine 20-week appointment, and we got a very big shock the room went kind of quiet, said Timothy Newman.

This diagnosis doctors told the couple if not treated properly, the baby could quickly develop long-lasting health issues.

Story: Just falling apart: Regency Square Mall continues to see problems in its deteriorating condition

Initially, they told us that she would not be able to walk, she might have cognitive issues like she wont be able to talk, said Christine Newman.

A couple of days after their diagnosis, the Newman family turned to Baylee Joseph, whose daughter had the same diagnosis before she was born and had fetal surgery, at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

Josephs charity Masons Voice was able to present a $12,000 check to the Newman family to help ease the financial burden associated with relocating to Philadelphia.

Joseph said her daughter is doing really well but still has daily complications. Now, the Newmans are hoping for an improved outcome for their child.

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At the time, we moved there and had fetal surgery at 25 weeks gestation, and she was delivered at 37 weeks, Joseph said.

We reached out to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia to see how this fetal surgery works.

Julie Moldenhauer, who is a medical director with the special delivery unit says they do this surgery on both the pregnant mother and the baby in the uterus.

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We have to make sure both the mom and the baby are completely stable throughout the procedure, said Moldenhauer.

After the surgery, Newman must stay in Philadelphia and cant be any more than 20 minutes away from the hospital until she gives birth.

Afterward, we worry about maternal recuperation and how she is doing afterward from a pain standpoint and healing standpoint.

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(Bloomberg) -- Support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas cabinet fell, amid concerns over problems with a national ID card and the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear site.

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A survey carried out by Kyodo News found support had slumped by 6.5 percentage points on the previous poll to 34.4%, nearing the lowest level since Kishida took office in 2021. A separate poll by the Asahi newspaper found the approval rate had fallen 5 percentage points to 37%, also near a low of 34%. Another survey by the Sankei newspaper said the rate fell for a third straight month to 41.3%.

Polls cited reasons including continued troubles over the overhaul of a national ID card, and insufficient explanation over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear site.

Last month Kishida promised the public he would fix problems with the introduction of a national ID card that is set to be made essentially compulsory from next autumn, and has raised concerns about data breaches.

Unease over cases where people have found their ID cards linked to personal information about unrelated individuals has added to pressure on Kishida.

Meanwhile the plan for Tokyo Electric Power Co. to release the wastewater  equivalent in volume to about 500 Olympic-size swimming pools  has drawn fierce criticism from China and stirred wider regional concerns.

Around 80% of respondents to the Kyodo poll said the governments explanation over the Fukushima wastewater was insufficient, while 74.7% said the current review of problems plaguing the national ID card will not resolve the issue.

Respondents also remained skeptical of the governments measures to tackle the countrys falling birthrate. About 65% of those surveyed by the Asahi expressed disapproval, while a similar number said they didnt expect the measures to improve the birthrate according to the Sankei survey.

All nationwide polls were conducted over the weekend via phone.

(Adds details from Sankei newspaper poll in second, eighth paragraph.)

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, apologized Sunday for calling Israel a racist state.

Jayapal made the controversial remark at a progressive conference Saturday, as she attempted to calm a group of pro-Palestine protesters.

Hey guys, can I say something? Can I say something as somebody thats been in the streets and has participated in a lot of demonstrations? Jayapal said. 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.

While you may have arguments with whether or not some of us on stage are fighting hard enough, I do want you to know that there is an organized opposition on the other side, and it isnt the people that are on this stage, she added.

The Washington Democrat sought to clarify her comments in a statement posted to Twitter on Sunday, noting that she was attempting to defuse a tense situation and offered my apologies to those who I have hurt with my words.

Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement, Jayapal said. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.

I do, however, believe that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahus extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government, she continued.

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House Democratic leadership sought to separate themselves from Jayapal in a statement on Sunday, declaring that Israel is not a racist state.

As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israels right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) and Vice Chairman Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday during a visit to Washington, D.C., to mark the 75th anniversary of Israels founding.

Several members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, including Jayapal, have suggested that they may not attend Herzogs address, according to CNN.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki slammed Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Sunday, accusing the two lawmakers of prioritizing their beef with the Barbie movie over Tubervilles military holds.

During her MSNBC show Inside With Jen Psaki, Psaki lashed into Tuberville and Cruz for their continued criticism of the upcoming movie while Tuberville has put the militarys key promotions on hold in protest of the Pentagons abortion policy. Tuberville and Cruz have specifically taken issue with a fake map featured in the movie, which they argue shows the controversial nine-dash line indicating the territorial claims of the Peoples Republic of China in the South China Sea.

Heres a really important question that many of them seem to be making time to explore: Is Barbie communist? Psaki said of Republican lawmakers.

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In the meantime, Tubervilles ongoing protests have blocked more than 250 military promotions and nominations in the Senate and have left the U.S. Marines without a confirmed leader.

No military leader out there is going to tell you theyre more worried about a cartoon map in a movie about a doll than about having qualified members of the military in a position to lead their troops, Psaki said.

Apparently, according to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, Barbies alleged communism [] is more offensive than the actions of his colleague, Tommy Tuberville, she added.

In a statement to Variety, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Film Group dismissed claims about the movies map.

The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing, the spokesperson said, adding, The doodles depict Barbies make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the real world. It was not intended to make any type of statement.

Vietnam has banned the film over the map, while the Philippines has permitted it to be screened.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jill Biden heading to Paris next week as US rejoins UNESCO

First lady Jill Biden will travel to France next week to speak at an event to mark the United States rejoining a United Nations-led education group, the White House said Monday.

The first lady will head to Paris from July 23-26, where she will deliver remarks at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) flag-raising ceremony.

While there, Biden will highlight the United States commitment to education leadership on the global stage, the White House said.

The event in France comes after the U.S. in 2019 officially withdrew from UNESCO, two years after the Trump administration cited anti-Israel bias for the decision to leave the group. The withdrawal was largely procedural, and came as the Trump administration more broadly raised concerns about the United Nations agenda and attitudes toward Israel.

UNESCO was co-founded by the United States after World War II.

The organization contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information, according to the United Nations website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
June 26 at 3:30 p.m. I remember saying to myself, My life is never going to be the same. It was the day I was told I had breast cancer.

I had always feared this day would come, but I never really thought it would. Just three weeks before, in between work calls, I had taken an at-home saliva test by a genetic testing company and mailed it in. Honestly, I had forgotten I even did it.

My grandmother passed away from breast cancer. And my beautiful mother  who is healthy now  had a double mastectomy in her late 40s after being diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, often referred to as stage 0 breast cancer. If left untreated, DCIS can turn into invasive cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

After her surgery, she tested negative for mutations in her BRCA genes, and she is still negative. So I assumed I didnt need to test for that, but was vigilant on keeping up with my screenings. And I had wrongly thought, like so many other friends I have since spoken to about this, that breast cancer was mostly something only women needed to monitor.

I was wrong. Very. If you are not familiar with this test, the BRCA1 and 2 genes, which I now know are inherited from your mother and father, are tumor suppressing genes that are important for fighting cancer. Mutations to these genes can greatly increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, especially breast, ovarian and prostate cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jill martin selfie with her parents (Courtesy Jill Martin)

But because of my family history, my doctors at Schaffer, Schonholz & Drossman in New York, and my general practitioner, Dr. Allison Spatz, told me: You should just get genetic testing anyway to make sure. That suggestion saved my life. On June 20, I got a call from Dr. Susan Drossman telling me that I was BRCA2 positive. And as it turns out, my father is BRCA2 positive, too. And because of those positive tests, which I will be forever grateful we took, my father will get screened and stay vigilant about breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer, which he now knows hes at a higher risk for.

And because of that test, I had a sonogram and an MRI and it turns out...I have breast cancer.

I am telling this story now because I couldnt go through months of operations, and start to recover both physically and mentally, without shouting from the rooftops telling everyone to check with their doctors to see if genetic testing is appropriate. By the time I recover from my first surgery, I hope that many of you will know your results and can make proactive decisions with your doctors, families and loved ones. That is the silver lining to this mess for me. It is what is keeping me going and giving me strength.

It all happened so fast. It is hard to believe just one month ago I was in Paris celebrating my mothers 75th birthday. But I have had some time to process, so now Im in get-it-done robotic mode. Different people cope in different ways; for me, I am not hiding under the covers crying. Instead, I want to do everything I can to beat this and protect my family.

Let me be clear: I am heartbroken for so many reasons, but mostly watching my parents watch me go through this. But I trust my father with every morsel of my being, and he told me, We got this, and we will fight this together. I am devastated and empowered, all at the same time.

Photo of Jill Martin and her dad (Courtesy Jill Martin)

My first surgery is this week. I will be having a double mastectomy with Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System, and Ill begin reconstruction with Dr. Mark Sultan, a specialist with Mount Sinai. My treatment plan will also be informed by the results from my surgery. My OB-GYN, Dr. Karen Brodman, has advised that, in a few months, I will also need my ovaries and fallopian tubes taken out as part of the preventative surgery process, as my chances of getting ovarian cancer are now 20% higher, according to my doctors. That is not a percentage I am willing to live with.

I am talking about this not to scare you, but to raise awareness so that maybe you can be tested and identify a BRCA or other genetic mutation earlier. If I had known I was BRCA positive, I would have gotten screened more regularly, with an MRI alternating with my mammograms. What I didnt know before this experience was that an MRI can pick up cancers that mammograms miss. So while my mammograms missed the presence of breast cancer, an MRI might have helped me catch it earlier. Earlier testing also might have led me to the opportunity to have preventative surgery  which is something I had planned to do only days before I found out that I actually had cancer.

If you are a woman whos tested positive for a mutation to the BRCA1 or 2 genes, you have a greater than 50% chance of getting breast cancer by the time you turn 70, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are a man whos tested positive for the BRCA2 mutation, as my father is, you have a 7 to 8% chance of developing breast cancer, according to a 2007 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. These are not numbers to ignore. Plus, having a BRCA mutation can increase your risk of numerous other cancers, such as ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Of the friends and family Ive shared the news with so far, many have asked: What can I do for you?

I am strong, and I will fight this. But there is one thing you can do for me:

I hope that by starting this conversation, we can make a difference together. According to a 2016 study that Dr. Port told me about, theres now a term known as the Angelina Jolie Effect. When Jolie announced she was getting preventative surgery in 2013 after losing her mother to breast and ovarian cancer and testing positive for the BRCA gene, the number of people who went and got tested in the next six months increased by 105%, according to the study. In addition, the number of people discovered to actually have the gene mutation among those who got tested also doubled. Do you know how many lives she likely helped save? My guess is a lot.

Jill Martin with her husband (Nathan Congleton / TODAY)

Honestly, I am doing OK. I have a loving husband, amazing family and friends and an incredible support system. I have my head on straight and know exactly what needs to be done. Am I scared? Of course. Who wouldnt be? But I know cancer has nothing on me. We lost my incredible grandmother to this disease because the science wasnt there. But it is now, and I will know she is with me all the way.

Ill leave you with a laugh, as that is how my family copes. This is what the great Al Roker said to me when I told him what was happening: Nothing steals your joy, and you will deal with it as only you can. We love you.

I have been at the show for 15 years and have shared the happy, the exciting, the sad and now, the scary. Cancer messed with the wrong family  both my immediate family and, you, my TODAY family. We will crush this together.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is considering holding Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in contempt of Congress, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hill Monday.

Fox Business was the first to report on Jordans potential move, with sources telling the news outlet Meta has not provided any internal communications on its censorship processes.

Zuckerberg was among five tech company heads who received subpoenas in February from the House Judiciary panel to turn over documents and communications relating to the federal governments reported collusion with Big Tech to suppress free speech, along with any documents related to their content moderation measures, the committee said at the time.

Jordan previously called the subpoenas one step to accountability, as House GOP members ramped up efforts earlier this year to investigate Big Tech.

Zuckerberg testified in Congress in 2018 over GOP concerns that Facebook censored conservative accounts and content.

In a statement to The Hill on Monday, a spokesperson for Meta said it has handed over 50,000 pages of documents in response to the committees request, and have made nearly a dozen current and former employees available to discuss external and internal issues.

The spokesperson added Meta does look forward to continuing to work with the committee moving forward.

At the time the subpoenas were issued, a spokesperson for Meta said the company had started producing documents.

Updated Tuesday at 11:01 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden is growing his unusually small reelection campaign team, announcing Monday plans to add three new people to the payroll.

Former Rep. Cedric Richmond is joining as campaign co-chair. Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford will serve as finance chair of Biden-Harris 2024 and DNC National Finance Chair Chris Korge will join as finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund, the larger of the presidents joint fundraising committees.

The Biden campaign has a run a bare-bones operations since the president announced his reelection bid in April, spending less than some Senate candidates and employing just four people: Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks, spokesperson Kevin Munoz and general counsel Maury Riggan.



The announcement comes days after the campaign revealed its $72 million fundraising haul with the DNC in the second quarter. Though its less than the past two presidents raised during the same time in their reelection bids, Biden does have more cash on hand than former President Barack Obama did at this point in the cycle  in part because of the lean operation hes running.

Our campaign is off to a strong start, securing early endorsements and unified support from across the Biden-Harris coalition, and a historic quarter for our fundraising operation, Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. Already, this team has shown its ability to think outside the box to raise money, and bring in supporters across the country for the President and Vice President. With this talented team at the helm, Im confident our campaign will have the resources it needs to win again in 2024.
The brother of slain child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey has said he believes her killer could have a similar profile to the man accused of perpetrating a string of murders that terrorised Long Island more than a decade ago.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found within one-quarter mile of each other in the shoreline community of Gilgo Beach. The grim discovery was made amid a separate missing persons investigation in December 2010 but the case went cold for years before Mr Heuermanns bombshell arrest.

Some neighbours have said that Mr Heuermann seemingly led a normal life in Massapequa Park  where he lived with his wife and near the site where the three victims were last seen  while others claimed they warned their children never to approach his house. The father-of-two also had a booming architecture consulting firm located in Midtown Manhattan.

Reacting to the breakthrough developments in the Gilgo Beach murders investigation, John Andrew Ramsey said that he believes his sister JonBenets killer has also likely led an outwardly low-profile life but wouldnt be able to entirely blend into society without raising suspicion.

No criminal record but you cant hide this level of darkness, Mr Ramsey tweeted in reference to Mr Heuermanns arrest on Saturday. It will manifest itself in other areas of your life. Try as you might you cant blend. JonBenets killer will likely have a similar bio.

JonBenet s 1996 killing made national headlines and remains unsolved to this day.

The six-year-old was found strangled in the basement of her home in Boulder, Colorado. Her parents had called police around 6am that day after finding a ransom note asking for $118,000, but the body was not discovered until seven hours later when officers asked her father to check if anything was missing.

Boulder police then accused JonBenets parents, John Ramsey and Patsy Ramsey, of staging the crime scene, although the district attorneys office at the time was convinced that evidence pointed somewhere else. Law enforcement faced backlash for several missteps in the investigation into the murder.

No criminal record but you cant hide this level of darkness. It will manifest itself in other areas of your life. Try as you might you cant blend. JonBenets killer will likely have a similar bio. #psychopath https://t.co/CPxZblZpRg  John Andrew Ramsey (@JRamsey_Truth) July 15, 2023

Investigators announced a reinvigorated probe in JonBenets case last fall. The break in the Gilgo Beach murders case came as part of a similar revamped investigation in 2022.

Mr Ramsey said he hopes his sisters cold case will experience a breakthrough of its own.

LE has come a long way since 1996. Turf wars are becoming a thing of the past with partnerships becoming standard operating procedure. This new approach just might net JonBenets killer.

JonBenet Ramsey (Sipa/Shutterstock)

Determining who killed the Gilgo Beach victims, and why, has vexed a slew of homicide detectives through the last decade. Last year, an interagency task force was formed with investigators from the FBI, as well as state and local police departments, aimed at solving the case.

Shannan Gilberts disappearance in 2010 triggered the hunt that exposed the larger mystery. A 24-year-old sex worker, she vanished after leaving a clients house on foot in the seafront community of Oak Beach, disappearing into the marsh.

Months later, a police officer and his cadaver dog were looking for her body in the thicket along nearby Ocean Parkway when they happened upon the remains of a different woman. Within days, three other bodies were found, all within a short walk of one another.

By spring 2011, that number had climbed to 10 sets of human remains, those of eight women, one man and one toddler. Some were later linked to dismembered body parts found elsewhere on Long Island, making for a puzzling crime scene that stretched from a park near the New York City limits to a resort community on Fire Island and out to far eastern Long Island.

This booking image provided by Suffolk County Sheriffs 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)

A bail application released by the Suffolk County District Attorney revealed that Mr Heuermann was linked to the serial killings through cellphone evidence and surveillance.

Mr Heuermann was first linked to the cold case in March 2022 after investigators discovered that a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to him was possibly the one spotted by a witness in Costellos disappearance.

As law enforcement closed in on him, they served more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants that uncovered cellphone records for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Four victims before they went missing.

Further analysis also allegedly linked Mr Heuermann to taunting calls made to family members of the victims, according to investigators. The calls were made from the Midtown Manhattan area, where the offices of Mr Heuermans architecture business are located.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Melissa Barthelemy (upper left), Amber Costello (upper rigth), Megan Waterman (bottom left). He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right)

Among the evidence linking Mr Heuermann to the murders was a hair found on burlap material used to wrap Watermans corpse, according to court documents. DNA analysis had not been possible in the early stages of the investigation, but new technology allowed testing in July 2020.

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches reportedly included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content. Mr Heuermann is also accused of searching why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught and new phone technology may be key to break in case.

Mr Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said on Monday that officials are confident that Mr Heuermann will soon be charged with the murder of Brainard-Barnes.

On Sunday night, Suffolk Police Officers executed a search warrant at a single unit at Omega Self Storage in Amityville late, according to News 12 Long Island. Police confirmed to the local outlet that the search was part of the investigation into the Manhattan architects alleged murders.

The storage unit is just two miles from Mr Heuermanns home in Massapequa Park, where investigators have been combing for evidence  and possible trophies  linking him to the slayings.
Alicia Franklin, a woman who said she was raped by Cleotha Abston-Henderson a year before he was charged with Eliza Fletcher's murder and kidnapping, will not have her civil case against the City of Memphis re-opened, according to a court order filed by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner on Friday.

Franklin's case  which alleges the Memphis Police Department did not investigate her rape despite providing the name, contact information and social media account of the man who did it  was dismissed in March this year.

In a hearing to have the case re-opened in late June, Franklin's attorney, Larry Smith, introduced new testimony from Gwendolyn Brown, Abston-Henderson's girlfriend at the time of Franklin's rape.

Smith said Brown told a detective about Abston-Henderson, identifying him and confirming that Memphis Police Department already had his phone number. The detective, according to Brown, told her that her boyfriend was a "key suspect."

Along with Brown's testimony, Smith submitted warrants for Abston-Henderson's arrest as evidence. These warrants, Smith said, were active before Franklin's rape.

More: Cleotha Henderson was on MPD's radar leading up to Eliza Fletcher's abduction, death

According to Smith, this was indicative of MPD protecting Abston-Henderson, although he could not say why the department would do that. He said the reasoning could be learned through discovery if the civil suit was re-opened.

"It appears that the police department, for whatever reason, was protecting [Abston-]Henderson, rather than trying to arrest him and get him off the streets," Smith told reporters after the March hearing. "Our argument that there will be another day to find out why they were apparently protecting him is answered by the discovery process. Was he an informant?... Was he a friend of someone in the police department?... We don't know."

The City of Memphis filed its motion to dismiss the case in December 2022, citing four arguments. One of those arguments said the city "did not owe a duty to Ms. Franklin to investigate her rape," according to court documents.

Cleotha Abston-Henderson, the man charged with the abduction and killing of Eliza Fletcher, listens to Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee V. Coffee during a court appearance in which Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced that his office would seek the death penalty in the case against Abston-Henderson at the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

The court disagreed with this argument, as well as the city's argument that Franklin could not establish causation for her physical and emotional suffering and an argument that police work is discretionary.

The argument that the court agreed with, however, came from the city citing Tennessee's Public Duty Doctrine of the Governmental Tort Liability Action, which was recently enhanced by the Tennessee Supreme Court by the Lawson v. Hawkins County ruling. The doctrine offers protections for government employees being sued for their actions or inactions.

In Wagner's ruling to deny the re-opening of the case, she said Smith did not request more time or argue that the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling negatively affected the case during arguments. The ruling came before those arguments were heard, and Wagner said they could have been used.

"At no time did the plaintiff seek additional time to address the Lawson decision or to amend any of her pleadings based upon the Lawson decision," Wagner wrote in the ruling. "In fact, plaintiff relied upon the Lawson decision in her response to the motion to dismiss, demonstrating her awareness of the decision."

Wagner went on to say Lawson did not change the law, but was "merely a clarification of claims allowed by the plain language of the GTLA."

When considering the submission of Brown's affidavit, Wagner wrote that Smith did not explain why that was not submitted prior to the case being dismissed, saying that her interaction with MPD was known and would not have changed her ruling had it been submitted earlier.

"...Ms. Brown and her interaction with the police was known to the plaintiff at the time she filed the complaint, even if plaintiff did not know all of the details of the interaction," she wrote. "Moreover, plaintiff fails to show the impact of the affidavit on the court's decision. While it may impact a claim for negligence or even possibly recklessness, it would not establish a special duty under the public duty doctrine."

Wagner also did not agree with Smith's argument that a special relationship between Franklin and investigators was formed due to a rape kit being taken.

Cleotha Abston-Henderson, the man charged with the abduction and killing of Eliza Fletcher, sits during a court appearance in which Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced that his office would seek the death penalty in the case against Abston-Henderson at the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

Why is Franklin suing the City of Memphis?

Franklin first filed a lawsuit against the City of Memphis in September, about two weeks after Fletcher's body was found.

Fletcher was reported missing on Sept. 2, 2022, which triggered a manhunt for the missing jogger that saw local, state and federal law enforcement join the search. Abston-Henderson was connected to the abduction site, near the University of Memphis campus, after police sent a pair of slides to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for DNA testing, which returned a match.

Days after his arrest, he was indicted for Franklin's 2021 abduction and rape.

In her suit, Franklin said she gave police Abston-Henderson's contact information, social media and name, but he was never arrested for her rape. A rape kit was taken and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for testing but did not return until after Abston-Henderson was arrested in connection to the Fletcher case.

Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy sit during a court appearance in which Mulroy announced that his office would seek the death penalty in the case against Cleotha Abston-Henderson, the man accused of abducting and killing Eliza Fletcher, at the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

Franklin's rape kit was not sent with a rush designation, nor was it sent with Abston-Henderson's name as a suspect. It was placed in a queue of unknown suspect rape kits at TBI's crime lab in Jackson.

When her kit was tested, and the DNA put into CODIS  a national database that catalogs DNA from people in the criminal justice system  it returned a match with Abston-Henderson.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced his office's intent to seek the death penalty for Abston-Henderson, who currently has multiple pending criminal cases, during a July 6 court appearance.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Judge will not re-open Alicia Franklin rape lawsuit vs. Memphis police
Daytona Beach Shores police Sgt. Jessica Long and Lt. Michael Schoenbrod wait for their attorney, Michael Lambert, right, to collect his notes following a 45-minute hearing in Volusia Circuit Court on Monday, July 17, 2023. They were petitioning a judge to seal all records in an investigation into their jailing of their 3-year-old son for potty training lessons on two occasions last October.

DAYTONA BEACH  A Volusia Circuit Court judge has denied an effort by two Daytona Beach Shores police officers to seal all records related to their jailing of their 3-year-old son for potty-training lessons last October.

Judge Mary Jolley said Monday information relating to the matter that is, by law, non-public, such as names of children and home addresses of police officers, should remain confidential. But she said documents that are public records, including a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, should be made public with redactions.

"Ultimately I've got to balance where we are, where we've come from and where we've been," Jolley said. "So to the extent that on my ruling on both motions for confidentiality, I grant them only as to what is statutorily exempt under Chapter 119 and Chapter 39 and deny as to the remainder of the motions."

Chapter 119 covers Florida's public-records laws, while Chapter 39 deals with proceedings involving children, including Department of Children and Families investigations.

Michael Barfield, director of public access at the Florida Center for Government Accountability, said the judge's ruling provided "everything we asked for." Other than their home addresses, law enforcement officers are not entitled to any greater protections under the public records act than the general public, he said.

"We welcome Judge Jolley's ruling and it seems that there's, to me, been a U-turn down a dangerous road of darkness and secrecy that was sought by the officers in this case," Barfield said.

Most public records blocked by judge's order

Last Oct. 5 and 6, Schoenbrod and Long confined their son in the jail, once for 3 to 5 minutes and the second time for "13 minutes or something like that," Schoenbrod told a Florida Department of Children and Families case worker in a bodycam video provided by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. On the second occasion, Schoenbrod said he handcuffed the boy, who cried and promised to use the potty.

The two were never arrested or charged criminally, although the FDLE recommended a charge that the 7th Circuit State Attorney's Office declined to pursue.

Daytona Beach Shores police conducted its own professional-standards investigation, the results of which have not been released.

In March and May, Daytona Beach attorney Michael Lambert, representing Schoenbrod and Long, filed petitions to keep the FDLE, State Attorney's Office and Daytona Beach Shores records from seeing light. According to Jolley, Judge Rob Sanders issued a temporary restraining blocking the release of documents.

Lambert made a case for keeping those barriers up, saying that some of the investigative materials include the name of the child, the identity of their home address and details that put the officers' family in potential harm's way.

Linda Norbut, an attorney with the Thomas & LoCicero firm in Tampa, appeared representing the Florida Center for Government Accountability and the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

She challenged what the petitioners seemed to be doing: "Trying to say that any kind of criminal investigation that ends up without charges brought, the entire investigative file could be made confidential."

She argued that the records in the Schoenbrod-Long matter should not be treated any differently than investigations into any other citizens or city employees. And the temporary restraining officer caused confusion.

"The problem is the vast majority of the court records in this case are under seal," Norbut said. "We know virtually nothing about the controversy in the case."

Daytona Beach Shores police Sgt. Jessica Long and Lt. Michael Schoenbrod listen to the proceedings in the Volusia County Annex on Monday morning.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shores officers who jailed son lose bid to seal investigation records
In this image from video provided by the U.S. Senate, Aileen M. Cannon speaks remotely during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight nomination hearing to be U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 29, 2020, in Washington. The judge presiding over the federal prosecution of former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, takes the bench in the case for the first time this week as she and lawyers for both sides discuss the procedures for handling classified information in the case. (U.S. Senate via AP)

MIAMI (AP)  A month after former President Donald Trump was charged with mishandling classified documents, the judge presiding over the case is set to take on a more visible role as she weighs competing requests on a trial date and hears arguments this week on a procedural, but potentially crucial, area of the law.

A pretrial conference Tuesday to discuss procedures for handling classified information will represent the first courtroom arguments in the case before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon since Trump was indicted five weeks ago. The arguments could provide insight into how Cannon intends to preside over the case while she also confronts the unresolved question of how to schedule Trump's trial as he campaigns for president.

Those issues would be closely watched in any trial involving a former president. But Cannon could face additional scrutiny in light of a much-dissected ruling she issued last year that granted the Trump teams request for a special master to conduct an independent review of the reams of classified records removed by the FBI from his Mar-a-Lago estate. A three-judge federal appeals panel reversed her order, rebuking Cannon for a ruling it said she lacked the legal authority to make in the first place.

Cannon's ruling, in a lawsuit Trump brought against the Justice Department, elicited criticism from legal experts who saw her as overly preferential to the former president. It also focused public attention on her limited experience as a judge, particularly in hugely sensitive national security matters, given that she was appointed to the bench just three years ago by Trump.

Still, some Florida lawyers say there's no doubt, as the judge now assigned to Trump's criminal case, that she's mindful of the stakes of the most politically explosive federal prosecution in recent memory.

She is not going to want to do anything but go by the book. The challenge is there has never been a book like this," said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who served on the advisory committee that reviewed Cannons judicial application. He said he was impressed with her credentials and felt confident she would be able to oversee the case fairly.

I think she is going to want to be very well-regarded for her judicial leadership of this case, Coffey said.

Jeffrey Garland, a criminal defense lawyer in Fort Pierce, Florida  where Cannon's courtroom is based  praised Cannon for her handling of a trial he had before her last year in which he represented a quite difficult defendant who'd been charged with throwing a chair at a federal prosecutor.

She was able to maintain the dignity of the court and courtroom composure, and she was able to express control in ways that were not threatening, Garland said, adding that he assumed Cannon would be able to do the same in the Trump case. I think she understands that's what a federal judge has to do in a case like this. It's true in any case, but especially in this case.

Cannon  a Duke University graduate and Colombian-born daughter of a Cuban immigrant  clerked for a U.S. Circuit Court judge and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida, prosecuting several dozen cases as part of her office's Major Crimes Division and later handling appeals of convictions and sentences, before being nominated by Trump in 2020. She's also been a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization.

Her ruling in the Trump lawsuit last September catapulted her into the spotlight since it effectively halted core aspects of the Justice Department's investigation into the hoarding of classified documents. In overturning the order, the appeals court said that letting it stand would have allowed a radical reordering of our caselaw limiting the federal courts involvement in criminal investigations.

As the judge assigned to Trumps criminal prosecution, shell be empowered to issue rulings that could shape the trajectory of the case, including about what evidence can and cant be admitted and whether to proceed swiftly toward trial or grant the Trump team's request for a delay.

There have been few matters of substance for Cannon to decide in the month since Trump's indictment, though she did set a tentative August trial date  a formality under the Speedy Trial Act  in Fort Pierce and rebuffed a Justice Department request to file under seal a list of witness who prosecutors want Trump to be prohibited from discussing the case with.

But major issues lie ahead.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are at odds over the trial date, a question with significant legal and political implications. The Justice Department has proposed a Dec. 11 trial, while defense lawyers have suggested that it should be put off until after the 2024 presidential election, citing the challenges of scheduling a date while Trump pursues the Republican nomination and legal issues that they say are extraordinary and complex.

It is not clear when that issue will be resolved.

Tuesday's status conference centers on the Classified Information Procedures Act, a 1980 law that governs how classified information is handled in a criminal prosecution and that will likely provide an essential roadmap in this case. The law is meant to balance a defendant's right to access evidence prosecutors intend to use at trial with the government's desire to safeguard sensitive, classified information.

Richard Serafini, a Florida criminal defense lawyer and former senior Justice Department official, said he did not necessarily believe Cannon's lack of experience in that area would be detrimental given the case law and past precedent she and the attorneys can turn to for consultation.

These things arent novel. Theyre not everyday occurrences, but its not like, 'Oh, my goodness, theres no precedent on any of these things, he said.

Whatever happens, said Coffey, "the eyes of the world are on her. She is in the middle of writing a chapter in history.

___

Tucker reported from Washington.
Just the right darn thing to do for people who raise their hand: Kirby defends Pentagon abortion policy

White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday passionately defended the Pentagons policy of paid leave and travel reimbursement for abortions, calling it the right thing to do for Americans who volunteer to serve in the U.S. military.

You go where youre told, thats the way orders work, Kirby told reporters. What happens if you get assigned to a state like Alabama, which has a pretty restrictive abortion law in place? And youre concerned about your reproductive care? What do you do? Do you say no and you get out? Well, some people may decide to do that, and what does that mean? That means we lose talent, important talent.

It can have an extremely, extremely significant impact on our recruiting and our retention, he added. Its just the right darn thing to do for people who raise their hand and agree to serve in the military.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has blocked the Senate from approving more than 250 military promotions in protest of the Defense Departments policy.

Kirby was asked why the abortion policy is critical to military readiness and responded, Im really glad you asked that question. I mean, I really am.

The spokesman said that he met a couple weeks ago with female military members and female military spouses at the White House.

He said they told him that restrictive abortion laws across the country, which have been passed since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, are absolutely having an effect on their willingness to continue serving in uniform or to continue to encourage or discourage their spouses from continuing service.

If you dont think theres going to be a retention and a morale issue, think again because its already having that effect, he added.

He noted that one in five members of the U.S. military are women and stressed that it is an all-volunteer force. He also acknowledged that he has a son and son-in-law serving in the Navy, stationed in Norfolk, Va.

When you sign up and you make that contract, you have every right to expect that the organization  in this case, the military  is going to take care of you and theyre going to take care of your family. And make sure that you can serve with dignity and respect no matter who you are or who you love or how you worship or dont, he said.

Our policies, whether theyre diversity, inclusion, and equity or whether theyre about transgender individuals who qualify physically and mentally to serve to be able to do it with dignity, he added. Or whether its about female servicemembers, one in five, or female family members being able to count on the kinds of health care and reproductive care specifically that they need to serve.

He said making sure female servicemembers and military families have reproductive care is a foundational sacred obligation of military leaders.

Tuberville has claimed the Pentagons abortion policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits using federal funds for abortions. Biden last week lambasted Tubervilles hold, calling it a bizarre position that is jeopardizing U.S. security.

When asked on Monday if Biden would sit down with Tuberville, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that is a question for the senator.

Were not the problem here, were not causing this. This is the senator thats causing this, she said.

The House last week voted to adopt an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would reverse the Pentagons abortion policy. Only two Republicans  Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and John Duarte (R-Calif.)  opposed that amendment, and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) voted yes.

Such measures are significantly less likely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The scarcity of bed space among juvenile detention centers has reached a crisis level in York County and across the state.

The crisis prompted officials to work on creating space for juveniles in York County.

On July 12, The York County Prison Board approved a contract with Lobar Associates to perform architectural and engineering work on a plan to convert a housing unit in the York County Prison into a juvenile detention center.

York County Prison

Frustration among community

According to an April 2023 report by The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission, only thirteen facilities are providing secure detention services in Pennsylvania.

The state has found itself with a severe shortage of detention beds and detention center staff members, which has raised concerns about the states ability to effectively rehabilitate young offenders.

Its to the point where juvenile centers in Pennsylvania are borrowing detention bed space from Ohio, said Lavinia Ghergulescu, York County Juvenile Unit senior deputy prosecutor.

York County District Attorney Dave Sunday said as a result of the bed shortage, juveniles whose offenses called for detention in some cases are being released, with the possibility of committing additional crimes.

Ghergulescu said the county has explored other options for supervising youth that are released early from detention.

According to an April 2023 report by The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission, only thirteen facilities are providing secure detention services in Pennsylvania.

"One of the alternatives that a lot of times we have to use if there's no space is we end up putting a youth on GPS house arrest. This option usually works, until they cut off the GPS bracelet. Many will do that," Ghergulescu said.

According to Ghergulescu, this is one of the few options available for the youth when a detention center is not able to supervise the youth. In one case, she said, a youth associated with gun violence and a history of vehicle theft was placed on house arrest before stealing another vehicle the following month.

"This becomes very frustrating to the community," she said.

Sunday added, "Our number one priority right now is advocating for additional secured bed space to not only keep these kids from preventing additional crimes, but to protect them as well."

What is a juvenile detention facility?

Juvenile detention or youth detention centers are secure short-term facilities designed to rehabilitate people under the age of 18 after committing offenses or being convicted.

Detention centers serve as a space of temporary confinement either while an individual's case is being handled in court, or if they are ordered by a judge to be confined rather than supervised in the community after committing a particular offense.

"We recognize that secured detention is not the appropriate thing for a lot of kids  we put a lot of thought and care into determining which juveniles we advocate to the courts that they should be detained," said Sunday.

Detention facility model

Upon admission, a typical length of stay for youth in a detention facility can vary and has increased from 2018, which was 11 to 17 days, to 14 to 27 days in 2022, according to The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission.

As of April 2023, according to a report, staffing shortages have led to only 404 of the state's 517 secure detention beds as operational.

Pennsylvania's licensed detention facilities also have the ability to decide which youths they accept, and often detention beds may be available, but admissions are denied.

A 2021 survey completed by Chief Juvenile Probation Officers indicated the most common reasons for these denials include:

Facility will not accept out-of-county youth

Behavioral concerns (complex cases)

Staffing issues (facility not properly staffed)

Owner county needs the bedspace

Medical concerns

COVID

Five of the 13 facilities in the state only accept youth from within their own counties, and 57 of the 67 counties vie for beds at just six Pennsylvania facilities.

"All over the commonwealth, we have the counties competing with each other for the few bed spaces that are available," Sunday said.

More: Do I suck her leg? I totally will! York couples harrowing tale of dog bit by rattlesnake

As of April 2023, a report said staffing shortages have led to only 404 of the state's 517 secure detention beds as operational.

"This is a need not in just our community but in communities across the commonwealth given a lack of detention beds available," said President Commissioner Julie Wheeler.

The facility at the York County Prison would include eight to potentially 12 beds.

"There are 12 rooms potentially available  only eight are currently in accordance with state regulations because they have windows, and offer direct outside light," said York County engineer John Klinedinst.

More: More work coming at East Market Street bridge Monday: Expect delays

This will be the first time York County could provide juvenile detention services since 2010.

"This is an excellent reuse of an already existing county facility," Klinedinst said.

The project will cost a total of $999,231 and is projected to be in operation by spring 2024.

Having a detention center here in York, to serve this county and others  it helps keeps a kid close to their family," said Clair Doll, executive director of York County Human Services. "The more we can do that, the better off we are, and they are."

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Pa. juvenile detention bed crisis prompts York County to create center
Kenyan pastor Gilbert Deya was accused of stealing five children between 1999 and 2004 (SIMON MAINA)

A Kenyan court on Monday acquitted a controversial self-styled preacher who claimed he could help infertile couples conceive "miracle babies" through prayer, citing insufficient evidence from prosecutors.

Gilbert Deya, a former stonemason who moved to London from Kenya in the mid-90s, was accused of stealing five children between 1999 and 2004 to buttress his claims.

Senior Principal Magistrate Robison Ondieki found the 86-year-old not guilty, ruling that the prosecution had not produced enough evidence to link Deya to the charges.

The preacher, whose Gilbert Deya Ministries had churches in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester, was extradited from Britain to Kenya in 2017 following a decade-long legal battle to remain in the UK.

Deya and his wife Mary claimed their prayers could see infertile and post-menopausal women become pregnant in four months, and without intercourse.

However prosecutors said the "miracle babies" were stolen, mainly from Nairobi's poor neighbourhoods.

"I have been acquitted of this burden, a yoke on my shoulder," Deya told reporters outside the court, adding that it was "sad that I have been labelled as a child stealer."

"It damaged my reputation."

Deya's lawyer, John Swaka, told AFP, "the charges were trumped up and could not stand in a court of law."

"He is delighted and very happy. He has no squabbles with anyone and will go back to serving the Lord."

- Calls for regulation -

Deya's claims first came to light in a 2004 case, when a British coroner found that a baby called Sarah, who had died aged three weeks, was not related to either of her supposed parents.

The mother had been told she was infertile, and travelled to Nairobi where she claimed to have given birth, but DNA tests proved otherwise.

The case was the first time in eight centuries that an English coroner had to come to an official view on whether a miracle had taken place.

In 2015, Deya's now ex-wife, Mary, abandoned her appeal against a four-year jail sentence and elected to serve the entire prison term.

Deya claims he was ordained as an archbishop by the United Evangelical Churches of America in 1992. He was a popular televangelist in Kenya before moving to Britain.

A predominantly Christian country, Kenya is home to around 4,000 churches, including some run by self-styled pastors with no theological education.

The discovery in April of bodies linked to a Kenyan cult that practised starvation to "meet Jesus Christ" has prompted questions about the need for more regulation of religious outfits in the East African nation.

Nearly 400 bodies have been found so far in the Shakahola forest in coastal Kenya, with cult leader and self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie in police custody since mid-April.

ho/amu/ri
WASHINGTON  Kerry Kennedy, a sister of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lambasted her brother in a brief statement Monday after a report quoted him as saying that Covid-19 was "targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people" and that Jewish people are most immune.

"I strongly condemn my brothers deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting," Kerry Kennedy said in a statement released by the nonprofit group Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, where she is president.

"His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination," she added.

On Saturday, the New York Post published an article that included a video that appeared to show Robert Kennedy speaking at a dinner in Manhattan about bioweapons and "ethnically targeted microbes" in which he claimed that "Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately."

"Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese," he said, according to the video published by the Post. "We dont know whether it was deliberately targeted that or not." An overwhelming proportion of American Jews are Ashkenazi Jews, who are descended from Jews who lived in Central and Eastern Europe.

NBC News has not verified the video. In a statement on Twitter later in the day, Kennedy defended his remarks, saying they were not antisemitic.

My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said.  Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) July 17, 2023

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., also weighed in Monday, tweeting that he condemns his uncle's remarks.

Robert Kennedy has been repeatedly criticized for pushing conspiracy theories, some about vaccines.

Kerry Kennedy, 63, his sister, also blasted her brother, 69, when he launched his presidential bid in April.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Fox News Channel Studios on July 14, 2023 in New York. (John Lamparski / Getty Images)

"I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information," she said at the time. "It is also important to note that Bobbys views are not reflected in or influence the mission or work of our organization."

Other members of their family have also rebuked him over the conspiracy theories about vaccines and misinformation he has spread for years.

At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denounced the remarks Monday.

"The claims made on that tape is false. It is vile," she said at the daily briefing. "They put our fellow Americans in danger if you think about the racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories that come out of saying those types of things. It's an attack on our fellow citizens, our fellow Americans. So it's important that we speak out."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Key Republicans ask for details on Threads content moderation

House Republicans asked Meta on Monday about content moderation on its new platform Threads, citing concerns about free speech violations.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to send documents about Threadss content moderation practices to the committee by the end of July. Jordan cited a subpoena sent to Meta in February, which he said now covers material related to Threads.

Threads launched earlier this month as an alternative to Twitter, the text-based platform now under control of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Jordan wrote that the committee is concerned about potential First Amendment violations that have occurred or will occur on the Threads platform.

Meanwhile, Democrats have blasted Republicans over their probes of tech platforms content moderation practices and have noted that First Amendment protections allow private companies to take action on content as they choose.

The GOPs latest request to Meta is an extension of the panels investigation into tech platforms content moderation policies and how the companies interact with the government, specifically the Biden administration.

And in addition to the House GOPs probe, tech companies are facing courtroom hurdles limiting how they communicate with the government.

Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked certain Biden administration agencies communication with social media companies, ruling in favor of two Republican state attorneys general who argued the communications violated protected speech.

On Friday, a three-judge appeals court panel issued a brief pause on the lower court ruling.

The Hill reached out to a Meta spokesperson for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
State prosecutors showed body-camera video Monday during a hearing to revoke probation for a Grand Prairie man accused of fatally injuring his 6-year-old stepson.

In February 2020, Joseph King, also known as Jojo, was rushed to a Dallas hospital after his stepdad, Brandon Hale, told police he found the boy not breathing inside his toy chest. Jojo King died after spending four days in the hospital ICU.

In June 2021, Hale was indicted on charge of a serious injury to a child. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hale was previously convicted of abusing Jojo a year earlier. In Tarrant Countys 432nd District Court, .Judge Ruben Gonzalez is overseeing the hearing to revoke Hales probation in that case.

On Monday, several first responders testified about their response to the 911 call that Hale made on Feb. 23, 2020. Hale called Grand Prairie police at about 5 p.m. and, while screaming and crying, said his son was not breathing. He told the 911 dispatcher that he had been taking a nap and when he woke up, he found his son unconscious and not breathing in his toy chest.

Two police officers took the stand as prosecutors played their body-camera footage for the court. Officer Patrick Akins with the Grand Prairie Police Department was the first person to arrive at Hales home after he called police. In the bodycam video, Akins runs into the house and finds Hale screaming and crying in Jojos bedroom next to the child, who is lying on the floor and does not appear to be breathing.

Akins starts to give Jojo CPR and tries to ask Hale what happened, the video shows. Akins testified that Jojos body was still warm, and the boy was wet from his face down to about his crotch. He also noted there was a gurgling sound in Jojos throat as he started CPR. There was nothing in Jojos mouth or airway, and Akins said he did not see any external injuries.

Shortly after Akins arrived at the house, Grand Prairie Corp. Henderson joined him and took over CPR. After a few minutes, paramedics rush into the room and start to take care of the 6-year-old, who is still unresponsive. The body-camera footage shows six paramedics doing CPR, and examining Jojos body and the bedroom. In the background, cartoons play on the TV.

Akins testified that after looking around the house and discovering that Hale had previously pleaded guilty to abusing Jojo in March 2019, he told Henderson they should treat the home as a crime scene.

I knew something wasnt right, Akins said in court Monday.

Akins said Jojos bed was damp, like Jojos clothes were, and the boy smelled slightly of urine. He found it strange that the toy box where Jojo was supposedly found was not wet and did not have urine in it, and that the box was filled about halfway with toys. He also noticed the bathroom had wet towels and wet toys strewn across it. Hale told Akins that Jojo had a white froth coming from his mouth when he found him; Akins noted in his testimony that that could have been a sign of drowning.

Henderson testified next about her experience at Hales home. She also noticed Jojos gurgling and that his clothes were damp. Her bodycam footage shows her try to talk to Hale about what happened, but Hale continues to scream and cry on the floor.

While parents being upset in this situation is expected, Henderson testified, she thought after awhile that Hales reaction started to appear exaggerated.

She did note that it is standard procedure to treat a childs death like a crime scene until it can be investigated thoroughly.

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What to know: Three continents are battling extreme heat right now

The News

Three continents are in the grip of deadly extreme heat, and Sardinia, a southern region of Italy, is projected to hit 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) Tuesday.

Weve collected insightful reporting and analysis on how huge swaths of the world are battling heatwaves at the same time.

Insights

Global alarm bells ought to be ringing with surging ocean temperatures, heatwaves, and wildfires across the world . Without interventions, the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change expects the globe to warm 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels  but we dont know what the new normal is," Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, said. The new normal will be what it is once we do stop burning fossil fuels  and were nowhere near doing that.

Climate change often feels very far away, and then sometimes disaster hits, quite literally, close to home. David Gelles, author of the Climate Forward newsletter, described devastating flooding which impacted his familys cabin in New Yorks Hudson Valley. The United States is nowhere close to ready for the threat of catastrophic flooding, especially in areas far from rivers and coastlines, he wrote.

Italys iLMeteo weather website has nicknamed Europes heatwave Cerberus, a reference to the three-headed guard dog of the underworld in Ancient Greek mythology. While the name has caught on in headlines across Europe, some critics fear that the moniker takes away from the serious threat the heatwave poses. ILMeteo, however, is known for its catchy nicknames of extreme weather events, titling a 2017 heatwave Lucifer.

Know More

Italy is at the center of what has been dubbed a heat storm, and tour guides in Rome have described instances of visitors fainting on tours. In Spain, thousands were evacuated on La Palma island after a wildfire broke out.

Temperatures reached 52.2 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit) in China Sunday. It shattered records in Sanbao, a township in Xinjiang. Just six months ago, the region had recorded a low of -50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit). Sundays heat broke the last record set in 2015, of 50.3 degrees Celsius (122.54 Fahrenheit).

The heatwave which has gripped Texas for weeks has led to dozens of deaths, including one 67-year-old Houston man living in a home with no air conditioning, local news reported.
South Korean rescue workers are seen along a road leading to a flooded underpass where about 15 vehicles were trapped after heavy rains (JUNG YEON-JE)

South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather from climate change, after at least 39 people were killed by recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains.

Rescue workers waded through thick mud as they drained a flooded underpass in central Cheongju, searching for more victims after vehicles were trapped in the tunnel by flash floods, the interior ministry said, with nine people still missing nationwide.

South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season and days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides, with rivers bursting their banks and reservoirs and dams overflowing -- and there is more rain forecast this week.

"This kind of extreme weather event will become commonplace -- we must accept climate change is happening, and deal with it," President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday, ahead of a visit to flood-hit North Gyeongsang province.

The idea that extreme weather linked to climate change "is an anomaly and can't be helped needs to be completely overhauled", he said, calling for "extraordinary determination" to improve the country's preparedness and response.

South Korea will "mobilise all available resources" including the military and police to help with rescue efforts, he said.

"The rainy season is not over yet, and the forecast is now that there will be torrential rain again tomorrow," he added.

The majority of the casualties -- including 19 of the dead and eight of the missing -- were from North Gyeongsang province, and were largely due to massive landslides in the mountainous area that engulfed houses with people inside.

Some of the people who have been reported missing were swept away when a river overflowed in the province, the interior ministry said.

- Stay inside -

South Korean police said they would launch an investigation into the fatal flooding of the underpass in Cheongju, some 112 kilometres (70 miles) south of Seoul, Yonhap reported.

The underpass flooded early Saturday when a nearby river overflowed and an embankment collapsed, leaving 16 vehicles, including a bus, trapped inside, with at least 12 people killed and rescue workers warning the toll could rise as they searched the area.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more heavy rain through Wednesday and urged the public to "refrain from going outside".

South Korea is regularly hit by flooding during the summer monsoon period, but the country is typically well-prepared and the death toll is usually relatively low.

Scientists say climate change has made weather events around the world more extreme and more frequent.

South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding last year, which left more than 11 people dead.

They included three people who died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment of the kind that became internationally known because of the Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite".

The government said at the time that the 2022 flooding was the heaviest rainfall since Seoul weather records began 115 years ago, blaming climate change for the extreme weather.

sh/ceb/sco
Occupiers declared an

Local authorities in the Krasnodar Krai region of Russia issued a warning on July 17, urging Russians to avoid crossing the Crimean Bridge following an extraordinary incident.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of Krasnodar Krai took to Telegram to address the developing situation, requesting both residents and visitors of the region to reconsider their travel plans if they involve the Crimean Bridge.

Read also: Zaluzhnyi wont be deterred from liberating Crimea  interview

Kondratyev stated that if travel is necessary, Russians should choose an alternative route through the occupied territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts in Ukraine.

Moreover, the ferry service connecting the occupied peninsula with Krasnodar Krai, Russia, has been temporarily suspended.

Read also: SBU, Ukrainian Navy involved in nighttime explosion of Crimean Bridge, source tells NV

Railway transport across the Crimean Bridge has also been halted until further notice.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of the occupied Crimea, said in a Telegram message that railway operations would resume by 9 a.m., with adjustments made to the train schedule as necessary.

During the early hours of July 17, several explosions rocked the Crimean Bridge, leading to a complete halt in traffic. Russian authorities are now referring to this as an extraordinary incident, which claimed the lives of two Russians.

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On 17 July, the Russian presidents press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Source: Peskov, quoted by RBC, reported by European Pravda

Quote: "In fact, the agreements were terminated today."

Details: Peskov said the reason for the termination of the agreement was that "the part of the agreement concerning Russia has not been fulfilled".

He said that as soon as the Russian part of the agreement is fulfilled, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the agreement.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned news outlet, that on Monday, Russia had officially informed Turkiye and Ukraine, as well as the UN secretariat, of its objections to the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Recently, Russia has regularly threatened not to extend the grain corridor despite calls from the UN and Turkiye, which brokered the agreement.

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he and Russian President Putin share the same opinion on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The Kremlin later denied the Turkish president's statements.

According to media reports, the EU had been considering concessions to a Russian bank for the sake of the grain deal. In particular, they were talking about setting up a subsidiary of the sanctioned Rosselkhozbank to restore its connection to SWIFT.

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Dmitry Peskov announced the actual termination of the grain agreement

The Kremlin has declared the effective termination of the grain agreement according to Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, as reported by RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency.

We have effectively terminated the grain agreement; it has been suspended, Peskov stated.

Peskov did not comment as to whether the decision to cancel the agreement was related to the explosions on the Crimean Bridge in the early hours of July 17.

He added that Russia is open to reconsidering its decision if agreements are fulfilled.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Moscow has officially informed Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations Secretariat of its objections to extending the grain agreement.

Zakharova said that a detailed statement providing detailed explanations of the Russian position will be released soon.

Read also: Russia once again halts Ukrainian grain exports

Since June 27, Russia has not registered any new vessels under the grain agreement, effectively suspending operations in the grain corridor.

Russia has previously issued threats to withdraw from the agreement, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July of the previous year. The agreement has already been extended three times  in November 2022, and in March and May 2023.

On July 14, a UN representative stated that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is awaiting a response from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin regarding the proposal to extend the agreement.

However, on the same day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that Putin had agreed to the necessity of extending the grain agreement, a claim later denied by the Kremlin.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey in July of the previous year, allowed for the utilization of three Ukrainian ports for food exports. Operations in the grain corridor began on Aug. 1, 2022.

Latest updates on the Crimean Bridge blast

On the morning of July 17, Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Russia-occupied Crimea, declared an extraordinary event near the 145th pylon of the Crimean Bridge.

Russian media outlets have reported explosions and potential damage to the bridges supports and one of its spans. The Russian Ministry of Transport later claimed that the roadway had been affected.

Road traffic was halted, but rail transport has since been restored. Massive traffic jams formed before the bridge, and the occupants urged Russians to travel through temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force comments on Crimean Bridge explosions

The governor of Belgorod Oblast reported two deaths and one injured child.

Russian resources suggest that the Crimean Bridge may have been attacked by upgraded water drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not rule out the possibility that the explosions could be a Russian provocation.

In response to the incident, Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian intelligence, quoted the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, saying, The Crimean Bridge is a superfluous construction.

NV sources indicate that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Naval Forces are implicated in the attack on the Crimean Bridge. The object was allegedly targeted by naval drones.

The SBU responded initially without directly confirming involvement. Later, the agency made an official statement.

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Kuleba holds urgent consultations at UN, trying to preserve the grain deal

Dmytro Kuleba

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is engaged in urgent meetings at the UN headquarters in New York, following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraines Foreign Ministry reported via Telegram on July 17.

Read also: Zelenskyy stands firm as Russia withdraws from grain agreement

At the direction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dmytro Kuleba is in urgent consultations at the UN HQ with partners regarding the next steps after Russia's withdrawal from the 'grain agreement, the statement said.

"Russia is threatening global food security," Kuleba wrote in a Twitter post earlier today.

He also noted that Ukraine is doing everything possible to preserve the Black Sea grain corridor.

On July 17, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement after an attack at the Crimean Bridge.

Read also: President Zelenskyy honors MH17 victims on ninth anniversary of war crime

Since June 27, Russia has not registered any new ships under the grain agreement, effectively sabotaging the operation of the grain corridor.

Read also: UN Secretary-General urges Putin to salvage Black Sea grain deal

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, mediated by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, allowed for three Ukrainian ports to resume exporting agricultural produce.

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Heat killed a Broward farm worker on Day 1. How much does OSHA want to fine his employer?

A farm worker came to Broward County from Mexico with his work visa on New Years Eve. The 28-year-old was dead in a ditch by sundown on New Years Day, killed on the job by Floridas oppressive heat.

The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to fine his employer, Sebring farm labor contractor Rafael Barajas, $15,625, for not providing proper protection.

READ MORE: In Florida, heat can kill. But where are the laws protecting outdoor workers?

Online OSHA records dont indicate whether Barajas will contest the citation, request an informal meeting with the area director or just pay the fine. A man answering a number listed for Barajas claimed the Herald reporter had the wrong number. Phone calls to other numbers associated with Barajas were not answered.

The first day of 2023 was this young workers last because his employer failed to take simple steps to protect him from heat exposure, a known and dangerous hazard, said OSHA Area Office Director Condell Eastmond in a statement included with the proposed fine announcement. Had Rafael Barajas made sure workers were given time to get used to working in high temperatures and provided them with water, shade and rest the worker might not have lost his life.

The citation says Barajas had supplied workers for tasks at 12210 Loxahatchee Road in unincorporated Broward County, the address for C.W. Hendrix Farms. On Jan. 1, temperatures ranged from 78 to 88 degrees with the heat index peaking at 89 degrees.

After five hours of pulling weeds and putting wooden stakes in the ground to support bell peppers, OSHA said, the employee was observed exhibiting symptoms of heat exhaustion such as fatigue, weakness, and disorientation. OSHA did not identify the employee.

OSHA said he was struggling to keep pace with more experienced farmworkers. The employee complained of fatigue and leg pain as the areas heat index neared 90 degrees. Sometime later, coworkers found the employee unresponsive in a shallow drainage ditch.

Barajas was cited for providing a dangerous workplace because, employees were exposed to excessive heat, elevated temperature working conditions, direct sun radiation and thermal stress.

The history of Rafael Barajas, farm labor contractor

State records say Barajas has run Central Florida Harvesting, Central State Staffing and Premier Labor & Business Solutions out of Sebring. OSHAs Citation and Notification of Penalty says Barajas current business is self-titled and run out of 6033 Strafford Oaks Dr., a three-bedroom, 2003-built Country Club of Sebring house that Highland Countys online property records say he bought for $390,000 in 2021.

Online OSHA records say an employee of Barajas suffered nine fractured ribs, hemmorhaging in both eyes and a leg muscle contusion. While the worker was repairing a transmission, The jack car lift slipped, and the vehicle fell and crushed the worker.

Barajas was cited for the jacks rated load not being legibly and permanently marked in a prominent location...by casting, stamping or other suitable means. An informal settlement reduced a $9,324 fine to the $5,594 Barajas paid.

From September 2016 through 2017, Barajas was barred from the H-2A Temporary Labor Certification program for not paying his certification fee.
While property owners across Jackson County sound off on social media, stand in hours-long lines and flood local community centers to commiserate over sharp increases to their property tax assessments, landlords warn that homeowners wont be the only residents who have to deal with the effects of potentially higher taxes.

They say Kansas Citys tenants could lose out too.

Several local property owners and real estate experts told The Star that increased assessment values and the higher property taxes that many expect to follow could likely push landlords to raise rents, put off needed building maintenance or sell their properties to offset the additional expenses  all moves that would fall on renters.

Andrew Syrios, a landlord who owns hundreds of properties in the region, said the assessed values of his nearly 200 Jackson County rental units  including single family homes, duplexes and fourplexes  increased by an average of 61%. A property in Waldo went from $140,000 to $649,000, Syrios said, and a South Kansas City property went from $51,000 to $192,000.

Jackson County assessors anticipated property owners would see an average increase of 30%, but many owners have reported significantly higher margins. Since 2019, the county has been working to bring its assessments up to market value after admittedly undervaluing them for years.

Syrios said he has filed appeals on many of his properties, but if the assessed values dont come down, he plans to sell some of his buildings and raise the rent for tenants in his remaining buildings.

Oren Gamble, a local landlord who owns three single family rental homes in Jackson County, said one of his homes values went up by $60,000 this year.

He said he has never received an assessment so high or felt forced to raise the rent on his tenants, adding that he prides himself on offering an affordable rent for quality housing.

I actually provide what I feel is home above what most people do provide as a landlord, he said. I want the house to be something that I would also be comfortable living in.

Tenants could face the brunt of tax increases

Many landlords set their rent prices to cover the costs of their mortgage, taxes, insurance and maintenance costs so they can then make a profit off of their properties, says Stacy Johnson-Cosby, a Jackson County landlord and a real estate agent who has been educating owners about the assessment appeals process.

So in many cases, she said higher taxes for landlords can mean higher rents for tenants.

If the taxes go up, that means that the amount of income that property needs to bring in in order to cover all that goes up, Syrios said, adding that some landlords may try to avoid raising rent by skimping on maintenance and renovation costs.

Based on his assessments and his estimated tax bills, Syrios said he may have to increase rents by $50 to $100 to break even.

Gamble said he may have to raise his rent by $70 to pay for his upcoming tax bill.

But in addition to the taxes, he said he expects his insurance for the three rental properties to go up if he doesnt successfully appeal his latest assessments, which he said would also factor into how much he has to increase rent payments.

In recent years, rents have been climbing around Kansas City. Between July 2021 and July 2022, the median cost of rent in the area went up by 13%. In certain ZIP codes, the median rent price increased by 42%. And the city does not have enough housing options for its residents living on low incomes. Its more than 64,000 units of affordable housing short, according to the Mid-America Regional Council.

This issue with the county exacerbates our housing crisis, and its making it worse, Johnson-Cosby said.

Gina Chiala, the executive director of the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom said that this is a big picture issue that will require people to organize and campaign for change at the state level.

The fact is, rents are getting cranked up on everybody and a lot of people are struggling because of it, Chiala said. We dont have the legal rights to protect people from that.

Pressure to sell

If his tax bill ends up being too high to break even, Syrios said hes considering selling some of his properties. Any money he makes off of any sales will likely only cover this years property taxes, he said.

But this option could have unintended consequences for tenants and neighborhoods, he said, opening up the possibility for out-of-state investors to buy up more housing across the county.

Citywide tenant union KC Tenants raised similar concerns in 2019 when tax values spiked.

If the assessments push more local owners out of the market, their properties will almost undoubtedly be purchased by out-of-state real estate speculators with no real stake in our community, KC Tenants said in a statement at the time. Those corporate owners can be some of the worst, most exploitative landlords and are often unaccountable to tenants, neighbors and the city.

Data obtained and published by The Star in a 2021 investigation revealed that Kansas Citys East Side has become a hot zone for investors and speculators from across the Kansas City region, all 50 states and at least a dozen countries as far off as Australia and Ukraine.

Many Black residents on the East Side told The Star at the time that they see the land grabs as exploitation fueled by rising home prices and rents, plus evictions.

When rents could go up

Tenants likely wont see jacked up rents for a while. Thats because even though the county sent out tax assessments, its still too early for landlords to know what they will actually owe in property taxes this year.

Taxing jurisdictions (think: school districts, fire stations, libraries, city and county governments) will set the property tax rates or levies in the fall that owners will need to pay by the end of the year. And its not so straightforward that higher assessments always mean higher taxes.

Most of these jurisdictions are required by state law to lower tax rates if property values go up, and they have limits on how much they can increase taxes by. Kansas City Public Schools District is an exception and does not need to lower its rate when property values go up, because of a Supreme Court ruling.

The timeline for when tenants could feel the effects of a property tax increase also depends on the timing of lease cycles. Tenants in the middle of a lease term wont see a change to their rent until its time to renew.

Do tenants have any protections from rent hikes?

In Missouri, not really. State law does require landlords to give tenants at least one months notice before raising the rent or evicting them, according to Missouris attorney general.

Gamble said he has already sent a notice to his tenants to let them know that their rent might go up when their current leases expire.

Legally, once a tenants lease contract is up, their landlord is free to increase the rent as much as they see fit.

We do not have any rent control laws, because the state government has prohibited cities from controlling rents, Chiala said about Missouri laws that preempt local governments from limiting rent increases.

The best thing people can do really is to organize and participate in campaigns to defeat the states preemption law, which is something a lot of organizations are talking about right now, she said.

If tenants have concerns, they can also review Missouri landlord-tenant laws here or contact organizations like the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom.

In general, individual tenants dont have that many protections outside of their lease agreement, according to Chiala. She said tenants should consider organizing with fellow tenants to demand certain protections from their landlords. To learn more about organizing, tenants can reach out to KC Tenants.

Property owners who are unhappy with their assessments can appeal with the county Board of Equalization by July 31, but many tenants facing potential rent increases arent able to participate in the appeals process.

Johnson-Cosby is hosting a town hall meeting about potential reforms to Jackson Countys assessment process. The event will be on Saturday, July 15 at Colonial Presbyterian Church at 9500 Wornall Road at 2 p.m.

Jackson County legislators Sean Smith and Manny Abarca and Missouri Rep. Jeff Coleman are scheduled to speak about possible changes that could happen at the state and county levels, including possibly capping assessment increases or offering tax credits to specific groups of people.
Lattos past racist tweets resurface as collab with BTS Jungkook goes viral

[Source]

American rapper Latto, who recently collaborated with BTS Jungkook on his viral track Seven, is facing online backlash for resurfaced controversial tweets.

What happened: Several social media users called out Latto, 24, after HYBE published a teaser for Jungkooks solo debut single, Seven, on Wednesday. While the Grammy-nominated rapper did not appear in the teaser, her name was revealed at the end of the 24-second clip.

On Twitter, Latto, whose real name is Alyssa Michelle Stephens, also teased her upcoming collaboration with the 25-year-old BTS member, whose full name is Jeon Jung-kook, on the same day.

The unearthed tweets: Some of the tweets the fans allegedly uncovered were from 2015 when Latto was 16 years old and seemingly targets Asians.

More from NextShark: Henry Lau releases Moonlight, first single in two years

You be cooking cats and dogs? Tai Kwonsuki Shu Pu Yujiko? she allegedly wrote in one tweet.

In another 2015 tweet, she purportedly said: Just cause I dont eat cats and dogs like you doesnt make me fat."

Latto hates Asian people and has never hidden it, she hates Asian people and I'm sad that she is to be featured by a very respected Asian artist.

Army, choose your fighter wisely. pic.twitter.com/iNKMSixtin More from NextShark: Pikachu-chu: Pikachu-themed train in Japan goes viral  11/17/2023 (@KNOWTHEDATEHO) July 12, 2023

Meanwhile, a screenshot of a past TikTok video she purportedly posted shows her calling an alleged Asian woman "Ling Ling."

More from NextShark: Meet Ytiet, the Vietnamese cowherd whos been popping up in your favorite artists' songs

In addition to the controversial tweets, some social media users also accused Latto of being a rape apologist for purportedly tweeting: @autocorrect: Rape is such a strong word. I prefer snuggle struggle. THIS.

LATTO is a r@pe apologist and racist towards Asian people pic.twitter.com/t89xi32rHn  Pop Base (@PopBaoe) July 12, 2023

Lattos alleged past tweets reportedly no longer appear on her Twitter profile.

Netizens' reaction: One Twitter user was seemingly perplexed by HYBEs decision to have Jungkook collaborate with Latto, while another user tweeted that they would still be supporting the song amid the controversy solely for Jungkook.
A skeleton crew has worked for years to stop the FSO Safer leaking oil or exploding (MOHAMMED HUWAIS)

When an alarm sounded on the decaying oil tanker off Yemen's coast, signalling a leak in its engine room, Hussein Nasser quickly sprang into action.

Working around the clock for days, he and the half-dozen other people on board the FSO Safer fashioned makeshift iron strips to patch a burst pipe, before divers arrived to install a permanent steel plate to keep seawater from sinking the ship.

The incident in 2020 was just one example of how a motley crew of sailors and engineers - numbering no more than seven or eight at any given time - have laboured for years to keep afloat the FSO Safer tanker abandoned off Yemen, and stave off an environmental calamity.

The sinking of the vessel, or an on-board explosion, would have unleashed a thin slick of oil across the Red Sea, imperilling wildlife, coastal fishing villages, lifeline ports and maritime traffic.

The United Nations hopes anxiety about the 47-year-old Safer - which has been woefully neglected during Yemen's ongoing war -- is about to ease. That depends on the successful transfer of its oil to a replacement ship, the Nautica, that arrived off the country's coast on Sunday.

It represents a rare bright spot after more than eight years of fighting between the Huthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and waters where the Safer is moored, and the internationally recognised government based in the southern city of Aden.

For members of the Safer's skeleton crew, the milestone is a time to reflect on their long stints at sea with little food, no air conditioning and near-constant stress.

"Anxiety accompanies us all the time as a result of the worn-down condition of the ship," Nasser, an engineer with short greying hair and a dark moustache, told AFP.

Like other crew members interviewed, he works for the Huthis' maritime affairs authority.

"The Safer is like a front line and we have had to fight on it - no different from a military front line," Nasser said.

- 'Unsung heroes' -

The Iran-backed Huthis praise men like Nasser as the "unsung heroes" of the Safer saga.

The villains, in their telling, are members and backers of the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in support of the Aden-based government, which they blame for a blockade of the Hodeida port that starved the Safer of needed equipment.

Yet the Huthis themselves were long accused of courting disaster by using the Safer as a bargaining chip, blocking UN inspection requests and demanding that oil revenue be used to pay the salaries of their employees.

After more than eight years without maintenance, there is no disputing the ship is in awful condition, with rust and fast-spreading fungus streaking its red-and-grey hull, whose thickness has worn away by four millimetres in places.

"Any oil ship needs regular maintenance... to keep the ship safe," said Ebrahim al-Moshki, head of Hodeida's maritime affairs authority.

"But the staff here are sometimes just three or five, while they used to be 72" before the war.

The situation would be far worse if not for the skeleton crew, said Edrees al-Shami, the Huthi-appointed executive general manager of SEPOC, the Yemeni oil and gas company.

"They worked in very risky and dangerous conditions and they were successful in patching it up. And they were not recognised. It was not publicised," Shami said.

- 'Swimming in the oil' -

Fixing leaks below deck was especially fraught given the intense heat and vapours coming off the crude, which can raise the possibility of igniting a blast from something as small as the flick of a cigarette.

"Our major problem is the possibility of ignition," Shami said.

"They worked through all these flammable gases, worked inside the oil, almost swimming in the oil, so it was very tough."

On Sunday, around the time the Nautica was arriving off the port city of Hodeida, Nasser, the engineer, visited the city's main fish market which would almost certainly have been shut down in the event of an oil spill.

The UN has said half a million people work in the area's fishing industry, and that 200,000 livelihoods "would be instantly wiped out".

"All of them would be have been affected badly," said Nasser, gesturing to the fishermen trying to unload wheelbarrows full of barracuda, parrotfish and even sharks at auction.

Asked what his plans were after the Safer is fully decommissioned, Nasser, in his late fifties, said he would accept whatever new mission maritime authorities decide to give him.

But after years of living on a vessel in danger of sinking or going up in flames, he said he wanted to take time to "catch some minutes of sleep and have a rest".

rcb/th/it
Legal expert: Trump may be overplaying his hand  and it may get Judge Cannon "taken off the case"

Donald Trump Mario Tama/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump's attorneys are set to appear in court before Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon in the Mar-a-Lago documents case on Tuesday, putting her in the spotlight after a series of pro-Trump rulings that were wiped out by an appeals court earlier in the investigation.

Cannon, who blocked the Justice Department from reviewing classified documents seized in last year's FBI search of Mar-a-Lago before her ruling was overturned, will preside over a pretrial conference to discuss the procedures for handling classified information in the case. The arguments come as Trump pushes to delay the trial indefinitely, citing his presidential campaign, which the special counsel Jack Smith's strongly pushed back on last week.

Cannon is expected to face additional scrutiny after her earlier rulings drew criticism from legal experts that she was overly favoring the former president.

"She is not going to want to do anything but go by the book. The challenge is there has never been a book like this," former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey, who served on the advisory committee that reviewed Cannon's judicial application, told the Associated Press. Whatever happens, he added, "the eyes of the world are on her. She is in the middle of writing a chapter in history."

Her ruling last September blocking parts of the documents probe and appointing a short-lived special master to review the materials was thrown out by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which called her order a "radical reordering of our caselaw limiting the federal courts' involvement in criminal investigations."

Tuesday's conference is focused on the Classified Information Procedures Act, a law that governs how classified information is handled in criminal prosecution. It is intended to give a defendant access to key evidence while preventing potential leaks of classified information.

Trump's lawyers and prosecutors are also locked in a battle over the schedule of the trial. The DOJ requested a December trial start date before Trump asked to push it back indefinitely.

Dave Aronberg, the Florida state attorney for Palm Beach County, told CNN that Trump's attempt to delay the trial may have backfired.

"Jack Smith is now a pit bull, so he should have been careful what he asked for," he said. "But now he's saying the quiet part out loud. He's saying, 'don't even try me until after the election,' when he thinks he'll be president and then can order his Department of Justice to get rid of the whole thing."

Despite the pushback, Aronberg acknowledged that it would be "hard to try this case before the 2024 election" given the complicated matters surrounding the classified information.

The difference, he said, "is that Donald Trump is just saying, 'give me the whole enchilada, just postpone it indefinitely.' Whereas I think Judge Cannon is more likely to give him bits and pieces, delay here, delay there, and then you turn around, and it's already past the election. Essentially, it's death by a thousand paper cuts. But Trump may be overplaying his hand by asking Judge Cannon to go ahead and delay this thing indefinitely. I don't think he'll get that. If Judge Cannon grants that, I think she'll be reversed by the 11th Circuit and possibly even taken off the case."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Some legal experts have downplayed the idea that Cannon could be taken off the case but former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, who served on special counsel Bob Mueller's team, predicted that Smith may wait for her first "erroneous ruling" given "that she's had two decisions reversed in scathing opinions by a conservative 11th Circuit Court, including, by the way, judges appointed by Donald Trump."

"They could wait for her to make another misstep, appeal that and in that appeal ask it be reassigned to a different judge," he told MSNBC last month. "That's a route that, while it's not common, does occur. That would be the third time that she was reversed, not just in any case, but in this very investigation."

While Trump has repeatedly lashed out at judges overseeing his other legal matters, he heaped praise on Cannon on Sunday.

"I know it's a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge," Trump told Fox News, adding that he was "very proud to have appointed her."

"But she's very smart and very strong, and loves our country," he added. "We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing."

Read more

about the Mar-a-Lago trial
Letters to the Editor: I'm gay and don't want to patronize bigots. Thanks, Supreme Court

Demonstrators gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: I wonder if the LGBTQ+ community realizes that the Supreme Court ruling in favor of a website designer who didn't want to create wedding sites for gay couples can work in our favor as well. ("How the ripple effect of the Supreme Courts 303 Creative decision could swamp civil rights," Opinion, July 12)

As a gay man, I am always concerned if the businesses where I spend my money are supportive of my community. Now that the bigots and religious extremists can reject my business due to who I am, I can know who they are and avoid them as well.

Unfortunately, this ruling also adds to the ongoing division of American people, which I am concerned will lead to the end of this country as we know it.

R. Anthony Foster, Oceanside

..

To the editor: Why isn't it my right as a business owner to choose not to sell to someone? As a private business owner, I should be allowed to deal  or not  with whom I please.

If I run a publicly owned company, then perhaps I ought to be working under more regulations. Perhaps there are industries that should have special rules  such as real estate and financial services  to try to level playing field.

But seriously, who wants to buy a wedding cake or bouquet or rent a tuxedo from a person who doesn't want to do business with them?

And by the way, what kind of "discrimination" is there other than that based on personal beliefs? If a private business owner chooses not to serve a potential customer, that choice will always hinge on some personal belief. Maybe I don't like a customer wearing white after Memorial Day.

Mark Driskill, Long Beach

..

To the editor: How to explain the, well, biblical deluge of recent Supreme Court decisions breaching our democracy's venerable church-state wall?

Consider how Christian conservatives lament their steadily fading influence. Over the last 50 years, according to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of Americans who identify as Christian has dropped from 90% to 64%.

With the high court's conservative Christians forming a super-majority since 2020, they have eagerly taken on a wide variety of dubious "religious freedom" cases. They reliably have ruled in favor of the pious plaintiffs, often with contorted legal reasoning.

Thus the high court's sanctimonious justices impose theological conceits on nonbelievers, unconcerned that such an ungodly stratagem constitutes a grave constitutional sin. Let's pray this tack fails to slow the steady increase in free-thinking Americans.

Gary Dolgin, Santa Monica

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California State University students attend a meeting of the CSU Board of Trustees in Long Beach on July 11. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: When I attended Cal State Northridge before graduating in 1980, I paid $12 per unit in tuition. No loans were needed to come up with that amount. ("Cal State students: Brace yourselves for the possibility of a 6% tuition hike every year," July 11)

My California State University undergraduate education served me well, allowing me to secure excellent jobs, contribute to society and support my family.

I stand with students who say they cannot afford endless tuition hikes. Lets find other ways to "close the gap" on funding. Looking at administrative salaries and other overhead is a place to start rather than further burdening students or, worse, discouraging them from attending at all.

Gloria Sefton, Trabuco Canyon

..

To the editor: I cannot conceive of any reason why Cal State students would complain of a mere 6% tuition hike every year.

After all, the new system's chancellor, Mildred Garcia, is paid only $795,000 per year, plus $80,000 in deferred compensation, along with housing and auto allowances. Her salary and emoluments are only twice that of the president of the United States.

Does it seem as off-kilter to you as it does to me?

Kevin H. Park, Oklahoma City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
 Read the full article on Motorious

It takes a lot, but it's worth it!

Bob Pollmann, an 82-year-old resident of Lilydale, has breathed new life into a cherished family heirlooma classic car that has been meticulously restored to its former glory. The vintage vehicle, a Chrysler New Yorker, holds a special place in Pollmann's heart, evoking memories from his youth when he used to drive it with pride.

See the discovery of a Chrysler Turbine Car here.

Pollmann's father purchased the Chrysler New Yorker back in 1948, and it became a significant part of the family's history. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Pollmann drove the car throughout high school and college, creating lasting memories that he holds dear. Afterward, the vehicle remained in a storage shed on the family farm in Nebraska for over 50 years.

In 2016, Pollmann and his son made the decision to transport the car to Minnesota, embarking on a journey to restore it to its former glory. Their goal was to honor Pollmann's late father's wish to keep the car in the family. With his son and grandson showing a keen interest in the vehicle, Pollmann knew it would be a cherished possession for generations to come.

The restoration process was a labor of love that spanned three years. A trusted auto repair shop in Dayton meticulously stripped the Chrysler down to its chassis and painstakingly rebuilt it piece by piece. The result is a stunning classic car that seamlessly blends old-school elements, such as white wall tires and a period-appropriate interior, with modern upgrades like fuel injection, LED headlights, and a Bluetooth-enabled stereo system.

Recently, an appraiser who assessed the restored vehicle was amazed by its uniqueness and suggested that it should find a place in the prestigious Chrysler Museum in Detroit. This recognition is a testament to the impeccable restoration work and attention to detail that Pollmann and his team dedicated to the project.

Despite lacking power steering, air conditioning, and power brakesfeatures common in modern carsthe Chrysler New Yorker drives smoothly and handles with grace. Pollmann takes his passion project for a spin every couple of weeks, relishing in the nostalgia it brings and proudly showcasing it at various car shows.

Looking towards the future, Pollmann hopes that his descendants will continue to cherish and preserve this family heirloom, just as he has done. His pride in seeing the car restored to its former glory is immeasurable, and he envisions it remaining a treasured symbol of the family's history for years to come.

The story of Bob Pollmann and his meticulously restored classic car serves as a testament to the power of preserving family traditions and the emotional connection that can be forged through cherished possessions. As Lilydale celebrates the triumphant revival of this family heirloom, it also honors the lasting memories and the love that spans generations.

Source: Wiki Images/Fox9

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Exhibits include recreations of migrant-owned shops that are now a well-known sight on high streets (OLI SCARFF)

From the co-founder of retail giant Marks & Spencer to the owners of a family-run Chinese takeaway, a new exhibition is showcasing migrant entrepreneurs and the role they played in moulding Britain.

They have "shaped all aspects of our lives, from the clothes we wear, to the food we eat, to the apps on our phone, the furniture in our homes," Matthew Plowright, the Migration Museum's director of communications and engagement, told AFP.

At the museum based inside a south London shopping centre, visitors can wander through areas dedicated to various types of migrant-owned businesses found on a typical British high street, from restaurants to corner shops.

The "Taking Care of Business" exhibition runs until late September and explores the origins of many British companies that were founded by immigrants and have since become household names.

One example is the retailer Marks & Spencer, which was co-founded by Michael Marks who was born into a Polish Jewish family that immigrated to Britain in 1882.

Another comes from Britain's first coffeehouse chain Costa Coffee, which was founded by brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, who arrived from Italy in the 1950s.

- Immigration debate -

But the exhibition also retraces the journeys of dozens of migrants who may not be known by name but are among those who came to the UK to seek refuge from oppressive regimes, escape poverty or simply to study and launch a business.

Among them are Gary and Jin Hui, who emigrated from Hong Kong in the mid-1980s and set up a Chinese takeaway restaurant in South Wales.

Their daughter Angela, 31, recreated their family-run restaurant for the exhibition, bringing back memories of the many hours she and her brothers spent helping their parents, who didn't speak English, at work.

"British history is so complex, through colonialism, and I think a lot of people don't understand it" when it comes to immigration, she said.

Migrants from the Caribbean, Jews fleeing persecution in Europe, students from India and from former colonies in Africa: understanding their stories can "help us to contextualise and think about contemporary debates around migration in a slightly different way", Plowright said.

Business owner Nomshado Michelle Baca arrived in Britain as a young girl, travelling from Zimbabwe with her mother in 1996.

After attending business school and working in fashion for several years, Baca launched her own business called "A Complexion Company", creating wellness and beauty products tailored for black women.

Baca said that many of the points made in the debate surrounding immigration -- a live political issue in the UK -- are "very short-sighted".

"The UK has always been one of the greater trading places in the world and now, to forget about it is not just harmful to individuals who are immigrants, but it is also harmful to Britain," Baca told AFP.

Immigration has long been the subject of heated debate in the UK and the ruling Conservative party has pledged to curb migration, which hit record numbers last year, after Britain voted in 2016 to leave the European Union.

- 'Not a coincidence' -

"Often when people talk and think about immigration in the news and in politics, it is in these very impersonal debates about numbers or facts and figures," Plowright said.

The exhibition aims to "bring to life the personal stories, the stories behind the headlines", he added.

One in seven British businesses have been either founded or co-founded by an immigrant, according to a study by the UK's Centre for Entrepreneurs.

Three of the country's six wealthiest people were not born in Britain, according to this year's Sunday Times Rich List, which was topped by Indian-born billionaire Gopi Hinduja and family.

Plowright said "it's probably no coincidence that migrants are disproportionately more likely to found their own business".

"When you arrive, often you don't have access to the networks, the connections... and so often you have to do it alone," he said.

But the exhibition is not just about celebrating success stories.

It is also about "embracing the complexity and highlighting the discrimination and the challenges and the difficulties many of these business owners and people continue to face today," Plowright added.

mhc-acl/phz/rl
Authorities on Monday executed a search warrant at a second storage unit in Amityville, Long Island, New York, related to the Gilgo Beach murders as the suspect was placed on suicide watch.

The Suffolk County Police Department said an initial search warrant had been issued Sunday for a separate storage unit in Amityville.

It's unclear who rented the two units, and the owner of both sites, Omega Self Storage, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Suffolk County district attorney, Tania Lopez, declined to comment about what investigators are looking for.

The storage facilities were searched as investigators say they are still receiving information from the public after the arrest of Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect living in Massapequa Park, Long Island, in connection with a sprawling case that had long gone cold before his arrest.

Lopez said the DAs office cannot disclose any new evidence received from search warrants or from the public after Heuermanns arrest.

Heuermann, 59, was charged Friday with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of three women who had gone missing from 2009 to 2010. He is also suspected in the disappearance and death of a fourth woman, but that investigation remains ongoing, prosecutors say.

On Monday afternoon, the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office said Heuermann is currently on suicide watch which is determined by the Countys mental health staff.

Crime lab officers removes boxes from the home of Rex Heuermann on July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (Jeenah Moon / AP)

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Monday that the mountain of evidence, which includes DNA, cellphone records and a witness tip, gives his office confidence it can prove its case.

"We're also confident that we're going to be able to eventually charge that fourth murder," Tierney said on CNN.

While 11 sets of human remains have been found since 2010 around the area of Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach, a remote stretch along Long Island's South Shore, Heuermann is not suspected in all of the slayings. The deaths, many tied to missing sex workers from the New York and New Jersey area, had set off fears that a serial killer was on the loose.

In the wake of Heuermann's arrest on Thursday evening, authorities began searching his home in Massapequa Park, a village across the bay from Gilgo Beach, and his office in midtown Manhattan.

He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Michael J. Brown, said Heuermann has been a "loving" husband and father to his daughter and stepson, and "has insisted he did not commit these crimes."

"There is nothing about Mr. Heuermann that would suggest that he is involved in these incidents," Brown said in a statement. "And while the government has decided to focus on him despite more significant and stronger leads, we are looking forward to defending him in a court of law before a fair and impartial jury of his peers."

Heuermann is charged with the slayings of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello 27. The investigation into the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, is ongoing with no immediate timeline for when it could be resolved, Lopez said.

The women were all believed to be sex workers who advertised on online sites, according to police. They were all found in similar positions and bound with either belts or tape, court documents say. The bodies of three of those women were also wrapped in burlap-type material.

After years of an investigation with no prime suspect, a joint law enforcement review jumpstarted in early 2022 brought attention to a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Heuermann. Such a vehicle had been on investigators' radar during Costello's disappearance from a witness' tip.

In addition, authorities said, burner cellphones and credit card activity helped them to link Heuermann with the crimes. Investigators also said they tested hair found on one of the victims that matched Heuermann's wife, who was out of town during the various killings.

"As such, it is likely that the burlap, tape, vehicle(s) or other instrumentalities utilized in furtherance of these murders came from Defendant Heuermann's residence, where his wife also resides, or was transferred from his clothing," prosecutors said.

A male hair was also found on the burlap used to wrap one of the victims, according to investigators. Police collected a discarded pizza thrown away by Heuermann and swabbed a pizza crust for DNA.

Based on lab results in June, investigators said his DNA "cannot be excluded" from matching the male hair.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
An alleged serial killer is in custody in New York, and one of the victims hes accused of killing was from the Charlotte area.

Rex Heuermann was arrested last week and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He could also face a fourth charge in connection with another victim.

The victims were known as The Gilgo Four, and they were all found in 2010 along Gilgo Beach, which is part of Long Island, New York.

RELATED: Long Island architect charged in 3 of the Gilgo Beach serial killings

One of the victims was Amber Lynn Costello. According to the Associated Press, Costello was living in Wilmington and had been married to a man from Kannapolis. Costello moved to New York after a falling out with her family, the AP reported.

A news outlet in New York, Newsday, reported that Costello was born in Charlotte and raised in Wilmington. Newsday reported that Costello left her home on Sept. 2, 2010, but wasnt seen after that. She was never reported missing.

Costellos body was found on Dec. 13, 2010.

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According to the Associated Press, Heuermann was first identified as a suspect in March 2022. Detectives linked him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared.

The AP reported that in March, detectives got Heuermanns DNA from pizza crust in a box that he threw away and matched it to a hair found on a restraint used in the killings, authorities said.

(WATCH: CMPD addresses rumor of serial killer in Charlotte)
Look closely: Tesla workers appear to flash a hand signal for the Cybertruck

Tesla workers appear to have a hand signal for the Cybertruck. Twitter

Workers flashed a hand signal in a photo with Tesla's first Cybertruck built at its Austin factory.

The photo shows several workers using their thumb and index finger to make an angular shape.

Tesla's first Cybertruck rolled off the production line in Austin after two years of delays.

Tesla workers appear to have created a hand signal in honor of the EV company's Cybertruck.

In a photo from Tesla's gigafactory in Austin, Texas, several workers can be seen making the hand signal by using their index finger and thumb to create the point of a triangle shape  similar to the angular roof of the Cybertruck.

Pictures of the workers' hand signals quickly took off on Reddit and in a Tesla Motors Club thread.

Dozens of Tesla workers made the hand signal in a photo that was posted on the company's Twitter account. Twitter

Tesla announced Saturday on Twitter that the company had made its first Cybertruck at the Texas factory and Elon Musk congratulated the team on social media.

Musk first unveiled the concept for the electric pickup truck about four years ago and the project has faced a series of delays over the past two years.

Last month, Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen gave enthusiasts a sneak peek at a prototype of the vehicle, including its vault, sleek door handles, and rear wheel steering.

Insider's Nora Naughton previously reported that the Cybertruck could be "the Hummer of the 2020s" and redefine what a pickup truck can look like. Last year, the EV blog Electrek reported Tesla had over 1.5 million pre-orders for the Cybertruck. The pre-orders require a $100 deposit.

Do you work for Tesla or have insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email at gkay@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Saying that people on both sides have taken "egregious" actions to influence public opinion, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has issued a gag order in suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial.

Patrick, who will preside over the September trial in a judicial role, said the out-of-court comments pose a "serious and imminent threat" to Paxton's right to a fair trial and that if those talks continue, the violator could be hit with a fine and jail time.

"The court finds that individuals involved in the trial of impeachment will likely continue to make public prejudicial and inflammatory statements unless this order is issued," Patrick said in the Monday order.

Dan Patrick

'Outside' report? Law firm that wrote it to defend Ken Paxton was paid $500K by Texas AG

The sweeping gag order clamps down on any party to or witness in the trial, or any member of the Texas House, from making a statement that could likely prejudice the trial.

Paxton, who has been suspended from office without pay, will be tried on 16 impeachment articles, many of them involving allegations of bribery or abusing his office to help a campaign donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. The impeachment trial is set to begin Sept. 5, and a conviction on any count could remove Paxton from office permanently. Paxton, a three-term Republican, has denied wrongdoing and says he's being targeted politically.

Silencing the lawyers had been expected after the Senate last month approved its rules for the trial, including one that directed Patrick to issue a gag order as soon as practical that complied with state and federal laws. The rules also instructed senators, who will serve as "jurors," not to publicly discuss the merits of the case.

More: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issues discovery order in Paxton impeachment trial

Monday's order came shortly after one of Paxton's lawyers, Tony Buzbee, announced a news conference for Tuesday to discuss what he says is a refusal by the attorneys prosecuting the case to turn over certain information to Buzbee without making it confidential. Buzbee then canceled the news conference, citing Patrick's gag order.

Ken Paxton defense attorney Tony Buzbee canceled a Tuesday news conference.

Patrick's order cites a June press conference in which Buzbee used "inflammatory and prejudicial language" to discuss the impeachment proceedings.

Specifically, the order says a Paxton lawyer described the impeachment as a sham engineered by someone with a personal vendetta. The attorney also referred to House actions as an evil, illegal, and unprecedented weaponization of state power and called the articles of impeachment bologna.

More: Ken Paxton used to be his landlord. Now, Sen. Bryan Hughes will vote on AG's impeachment.

Senators were instructed to avoid looking over the page in the gag order that spelled out the many statements that prompted Patrick's announcement.

The order also took issue with "inflammatory" comments from prosecuting lawyers Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin. At a June 1 press conference, the order states, the lawyers used language including crook and the allegations will blow your mind.

The order also addressed an editorial by Rep. Andrew Murr, who headed a House investigating committee that brought forward the impeachment articles against Paxton.

Appearing in multiple major publications, Murr's editorial used language such as harrowing findings of corruption, shocking pattern of abuse and criminality, and one overwhelming conclusion, the order said.

The order also references a story in the American-Statesman that quoted former Paxton aide Blake Brickman, in which he called the attorney general a "coward." Brickman, one of four former employees who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the attorney general's office, could be called as a witness to testify at the impeachment trial.

The order went into effect immediately Monday and will continue through the trial. Anyone who violates it is subject to being held in contempt of court, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issues gag order in Texas AG's impeachment trial
Luxury cars were left at valet stands in Tampa, surveillance shows. Then they were gone

New fear unlocked.

Luxury car owners who leave their precious possessions with valets at high-end spots in the Tampa area have more to worry about than dings on doors and dented fenders.

According to a Friday Facebook post from the Tampa Police Department, theres been an uptick in reports of pricey cars being snatched from unattended valet stations in the area.

The post includes surveillance footage of two recent incidents.

In the first video, taken at International Plaza, a mall with a number of designer stores and upscale restaurants, a man wearing a black cap and black shirt is seen hanging around an unmanned valet.

After a few seconds, he snatches some keys from the stand as another man, his alleged accomplice, in a white shirt and similar black cap approaches him and they begin to chat.

The scene moves to the malls parking garage as the first man dashes to a white Mercedes compact SUV and slides behind the wheel.

The second surveillance video in the post was taken at the parking lot outside Ciros, a fancy cocktail bar in the Tampa Bay area. A man in a black cap is seen taking keys from an unmanned stand while another man looks on, and then getting into a dark-colored Mercedes SUV.

Its unclear if the men are the same individuals seen in the first video.

The agencys FB post advises businesses to make sure that their stands are never left unattended and telling customers to always ask if their keys are securely stored.

Commenters left a number of surprised face emojis, with one woman writing, This is my biggest fear of using valet parking.

None of the vehicles, which also include a Lamborghini and a Land Rover, have been recovered, says the TPD.
While a wrongful death lawsuit in the boating death of Mallory Beach has been settled, another lawsuit alleging conspiracy to harm her family is ongoing against Greg Parker and his convenience-gas station business.

Parkers store in Okatie sold alcohol to underage Paul Murdaugh before he crashed his fathers boat into a Lowcountry bridge piling, killing Beach in March 2019.

The wrongful death lawsuit brought by the Beach family in 2019 was settled Sunday for $15 million.

The conspiracy lawsuit was filed in December 2021 and alleged Parker conspired with New York journalist Vicky Ward, Parkers attorneys and employees of Private Investigations Services Group to cause emotional distress on the Beach family through a social media campaign.

The lawsuit alleges that Parker conspired with Private Investigation Services Group to create fake social media accounts to harass the Beach family in hopes of discouraging them from continuing the wrongful death suit.

The lawsuit calls the investigation firm social media knife fighters.

Ward was dismissed from the lawsuit last year after she told the court she received the confidential materials from an investigative journalist once hired by Parker.

Parker has said he had nothing to do with releasing the confidential materials.

The lawsuit alleged Ward was given a video that Beach attorney Mark Tinsley had given to the defense during mediation that was to remain confidential.

She also obtained photographs of Mallory Beachs dead body in a mudflat, where her body was found in a Beaufort County river, as well as images of other Beach family members.

Portions of the video were included in what the lawsuit called a trailer promoting Wards documentary to be called The Murdaugh Murders.

She said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed that the video in question was not a promotional video but intended for internal use only and was inadvertently uploaded to a public website. She also said she did not conspire with Parker and in fact had never met him.

In July, Parker and the investigations firm employees agreed to mediation, according to court records.

Paul Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to three felony boating under the influence charges. He was awaiting trial when he and his mother, Maggie, were shot to death at their Colleton County hunting estate in June 2021.

His father, Alex Murdaugh, was convicted earlier this year of killing Paul and Maggie and is in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections serving two life sentences.
A multi-million dollar settlement has been reached in a fatal boat crash involving the family of disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh.

Relatives of Mallory Beach, 19, who died when the vessel hit a bridge support, will receive $15m (11.4m) under the agreement.

The boat belonged to convicted murderer and ex-attorney Murdaugh.

Officials believe it was being driven by his drunk son, Paul, at the time of the February 2019 crash.

The convenience store that sold Paul the alcohol and Alex Murdaugh were defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit.

All legal action connected to the crash was settled on Sunday, lawyers said.

A further $3m will be split between four other teenage passengers who were on the boat - Anthony Cook, Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman and Connor Cook - reports CBS 17.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted Alex Murdaugh of murdering his wife, Margaret, and 22-year-old Paul in June 2021. The trial involving the well-known legal dynasty in South Carolina gripped the US.

Prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed them to divert attention from his financial crimes and gain sympathy. He was sentenced to life in prison.

At the time of his death, Paul Murdaugh was facing three criminal charges over the boat crash, including boating under the influence resulting in death. He pleaded not guilty, but his father killed him before he could face trial.

All of the survivors except Paul testified that it had been him behind the wheel at the time of impact. A blood test later found his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

A police report said the passengers were "grossly intoxicated" and alcohol was found on the boat.

Paul allegedly used his older brother's ID to buy alcohol from a shop owned by Parker's Corporation earlier that day.

"The Beach family believes this settlement will serve as a warning to all the Parker's of the world, who might make an illegal sale of alcohol to a minor," a family lawyer said.

Parker's said in a statement: "This marks the conclusion of all the boat crash cases. We sincerely hope that all involved parties will find some measure of closure."

The victims of the crash will also receive a share of the court-controlled assets of Alex Murdaugh, though that sum has not yet been determined, said the Beach family attorney.
A man in Union County was bitten by a cat that tested positive for rabies, according to Union County government officials on Monday.

The victim was bitten on White Store Pageland Road, which is just north of the North Carolina state line. Officials didnt say when the man was bitten by the cat.

According to a post shared on Facebook by Union County officials, the stray cat tested positive for rabies on Monday. The cat was killed after biting the man.

SEE MORE: 70-year-old woman saved herself from fox attack in Union County

Officials didnt identify the victim or give his current condition.

Rabies, if treated quickly after a bite and before symptoms begin, can be cured. However, once symptoms start, the disease is nearly 100% fatal.

Union County Animal Services urged residents to not leave food outside for animals, along with making sure your pets are up to date on vaccinations.

(WATCH: What You Need to Know About Rabies)
Man exits home wearing ballistic vest, opens fire on deputies with rifle, GBI says

A man was hospitalized after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation say he started a gun battle with deputies in Jasper.

Officers responded to a home on Ginger Drive at 9 a.m. Monday for a welfare check on a man.

When deputies arrived, a man exited the home wearing a ballistic vest and carrying a rifle.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Pickens County Sheriffs Office says the man began shooting at deputies and they returned fire.

The man was taken to the hospital. The sheriffs office did not detail the mans injuries. No deputies were injured.

The investigation was turned over to the GBI.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Man freed on bond for kidnapping ex-girlfriend is accused of killing her in second abduction a year later

Cameron Hopkins (Clayton County Sheriffs Office)

A 20-year-old man in Georgia is facing charges after being accused of kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend  exactly one year after he faced charges for a nearly identical abduction.

Cameron JaMichael Hopkins of Albany Georgia was arrested and charged on Monday by the Fayetteville Police Department for kidnapping and aggravated assault after taking his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend at gunpoint from her job.

The young woman, identified as Khaliyah Jones, was working at Wingstop on North Glynn Street on Sunday evening when Mr Hopkins entered and kidnapped her at gunpoint, according to police.

Mr Hopkins forced the young woman into his red Chevrolet Camaro and drove off. Police pursued the vehicle from Fayette County into Clayton County until it stopped in Lovejoy High Schools driveway.

Police then reported hearing multiple gunshots coming from the suspects vehicle, including several that struck a police vehicle, Fayetteville police said in a press release.

After Mr Hopkins emerged from the vehicle, police found the female victim had succumbed to several gunshot wounds.

Mr Hopkins is also facing charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during a crime by the Clayton County Police Department.

Exactly one year ago, Mr Hopkins was arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated, assault among other charges, for trying to kidnap his ex-girlfriend from a Walmart parking lot, according to the Lovejoy Police Department.

At the time, Mr Hopkins family members reportedly told police that he was upset with Ms Jones for breaking up with him. He also threatened to shoot and kill her if police tried pulling him over.

Ms Jones escaped Mr Hopkins last year by jumping out of the car when it came to a stop. She reportedly ran to a nearby business and asked for help.

After his arrest in July, Mr Hopkins was released on bond in September.

As of Monday afternoon, Mr Hopkins bail has not been set. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday at 10am local time.

Police in Fayetteville said they are still investigating the situation.
Man killed in weekend shooting in Fresno identified. Police seek help finding gunman

Fresno police identified the victim and the alleged gunman in a fatal shooting that followed an altercation, police said Monday.

Silvano Villa Fierro, 46, and Kelon White, 28, were involved in some kind of fight inside an apartment on Clinton near Weber avenues, police said in an update on Monday.

At some point, White pulled a gun and shot Villa Fierro before fleeing the scene, police said.

Officers said they arrived and found Villa Fierro with a single gunshot wound to the upper body. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he later died.

Police said they have obtained a warrant for Whites arrest on suspicion of murder.

Silvano Villa-Fierro, 46, was the victim of a deadly shooting on Sunday, July 17, 2023.

Anyone with information on this case (Case# 2307160725) is asked by police to call Fresno Police Department homicide Detective Ryan Rockwell at 559-621-2448.

Anyone calling with information can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

Kelon White, 28, was wanted for allegedly fatally shooting of Silvano Villa-Fierro on Sunday, July 17, 2023, in Fresno, police said.

Police are investigating a homicide where a man was shot and killed at a Fresno, California apartment on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Police are investigating a homicide where a man was shot and killed at a Fresno, California apartment on Sunday, July 16, 2023.
The man Putin wants to take over Wagner was once admitted to the hospital blind drunk with $60,000 cash, military maps of Syria, and receipts for weapons: report

Andrei Troshev, a senior Wagner commander, attends a Heroes of Fatherland Day reception at the Kremlin, in Moscow. KREMLIN.RU via Reuters

Vladimir Putin wants to replace Yevgeny Prigozhin as head of Wagner, per The Telegraph.

His proposed successor is Andrei Troshev  a former artillery colonel who helped set up the group.

Troshev was once taken to the hospital blind drunk carrying cash, military maps, and receipts for weapons, it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has seemingly chosen a successor with a troubled past to replace Yevgeny Prigozhin as the head of the Wagner group, according to The Telegraph.

Putin said he wanted to appoint Andrei Troshev, a former Russian army artillery colonel who helped set up Wagner, as the replacement commander of the paramilitary group, following Prigozhin's shortlived mutiny last month.

Troshev's military prowess in Syria earned him the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, The Telegraph reported, with Troshev having led a Wagner attack against the Islamic State that resulted in the ancient town of Palmyra being freed.

But his service there was also marked by him swearing at Russian army commanders and demanding that his soldiers be given more artillery shells, the newspaper reported, citing Wagner-affiliated Telegram channels.

And a visit to a St Petersburg hospital in 2017 paints a picture of a potentially troubled character.

Troshev was admitted to the hospital blind drunk with some unusual items on him, per The Telegraph.

Doctors were surprised to find the comatose Troshev carrying five million rubles ($55,319), $5,000 in cash, military maps of Syria, plane tickets, and receipts for new weapons in his possession, the newspaper reported.

According to Russian media, which cited police reports, Troshev was so drunk that he was unable to introduce himself.

He was later reported to the police.

Though Troshev had a placid call sign  "Grey Hair"  The Telegraph reported that he played a part in particularly brutal military operations.

He was a veteran of the Soviet-Afghan war and Russia's wars in Chechnya, in which thousands of people were killed, according to the newspaper.

Troshev then worked for Omon, Russian riot police, which had the job of violently breaking up anti-government protests, The Telegraph reported.

He also helped direct Wagner's efforts in Bakhmut, Ukraine, in 2022, but played a more behind-the-scenes role, it said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Man stunned by police in Beaver County dies after being taken into custody

A man is dead after suffering a medical emergency in an ambulance after he was taken into custody in Beaver County.

According to the Beaver County District Attorney, Monaca police were informed about a man who was damaging homes and cars early Saturday morning.

The man, identified as Keenan Anderson, appeared to be suffering from a mental health or drug event, police say.

Monaca police officers used a drive-stun gun to take Anderson into custody. Anderson was put in handcuffs, placed on a gurney and taken into an ambulance so that medics could evaluate him.

Authorities say Anderson began suffering a medical emergency after officers left the vehicle.

Medics performed CPR on Anderson but he was pronounced dead at Heritage Valley Hospital.

The DA said Andersons autopsy showed no signs of trauma. The results of forensic tests will not be complete for around six to eight weeks.

Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation into the incident.

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West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin will be back driving Democrats to distraction Monday by appearing in New Hampshire with a group whose exploration of a third-party presidential ticket is stoking fears they could hand the White House to Donald Trump.

The moderate Democratic senator will take part in a town hall hosted by the group No Labels to help launch a new common sense platform on immigration, health care, gun control, the economy and other issues that it believes are being ignored by what it views as two ideological and increasingly extreme main parties.

Manchin  whos facing reelection to the Senate next year but has not yet said whether hell run  will be in his familiar political sweet spot, staking out ground to the right of his party and attracting a political spotlight he uses to maximize his influence. Last year, for instance, Manchins initial refusal to back a massive climate, tax and social safety net planned forced President Joe Biden to scale back and renegotiate a huge piece of his domestic agenda.

The West Virginia Democrats model has served him well with repeated statewide wins in one of the most conservative pro-Trump states in the nation. But he has Democrats doubly nervous  about how any presidential bid could roil Bidens reelection and how a decision not to seek reelection himself would hand Republicans a Senate seat in 2024.

Manchin told CNNs Manu Raju last week that his appearance in the Granite State has nothing to do with any third-party presidential run but is merely about advancing a dialogue for common sense. But the senator  who has built a power base by keeping people guessing  added, Ive never ruled out anything or ruled in anything, and he dodged a question about whether an independent ticket could hurt Biden in November 2024.

No Labels says it is considering a third-party unity ticket with one Republican and one Democrat in November 2024 and will make a final decision next year based on whether its insurance plan has a viable chance of victory.

For now, Manchins noncommittal answers are worrying some of his Democratic colleagues. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who represents a swing state Biden won by a sliver of just over 10,000 votes in 2020, said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that he has raised the issue of potential third-party candidacies with Manchin.

I dont think No Labels is a political party, Kelly said. I mean, this is a few individuals putting dark money behind an organization. And thats not what our democracy should be about. It should not be about a few rich people, Kelly said. Im obviously concerned about whats going on here in Arizona and across the country.

CNN has reached out to No Labels, a registered non-profit that does not disclose its donors. The group has blasted previous efforts to dispute its right to participate in the political process as undemocratic.

Dissatisfaction with current candidates fuels third-party speculation

Democrats are also concerned about a planned third-party run by former Harvard professor and public intellectual Cornel West, who supported independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during his 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns. Even if West were to take just a few thousand votes from Biden  for instance, in the key swing state of Georgia  he could still compromise the presidents hopes of victory.

But West, who is running for the Green Partys nomination, told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Thursday that it was simply not true that he could tip the election to Trump, should the ex-president become the GOP nominee. And he accused Democrats of failing to speak up for poor and working people and warned Biden was leading us toward a Third World War, in an apparent reference to US support for Ukraines attempt to repel Russias invasion.

Doubts about the current 80-year-old president are also fodder for Robert Kennedy Jr.s bid for the Democratic nomination. He has a history of repeating unfounded conspiracy theories about child vaccines or that man-made chemicals could be making children gay or transgender. Kennedy this weekend became embroiled in new controversy after falsely stating that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people are most immune to Covid-19.

Growing speculation about a potential third-party challenge in 2024  despite the futile history of most previous such efforts  is being fueled by public dissatisfaction with the options. Polls show that both Biden and Trump, the front-runner for the GOP nomination, are unpopular. In fact, a rematch between the two is the one race many voters dont want to see. Anger at the political establishments in both parties  a defining factor of the politics of the first 20 years of the 21st century  is one reason why some political experts believe that there may be substantial running room for a third-party ticket this cycle, even if the obstacles for success are immense.

The fresh intrigue over the 2024 election also comes as the pace of the campaign heats up. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has failed to meet expectations so far as the main GOP challenger to Trump, polling in second in most national polls but still well behind the former president. DeSantis is showing the classic signs of a pivot. His campaign has shed staffers (a spokesman told CNN the number was fewer than 10), and hes venturing out of his safe zone of only engaging conservative media. On Tuesday, he will join CNNs Jake Tapper for an exclusive interview after a campaign event in South Carolina.

But Trump is upping his efforts to knock his former protege out of the race, even as he deals with the overhang of two criminal indictments. The ex-president claimed on Saturday he was totally dominating DeSantis in Florida polls and it was time for his rival to get home. Trumps fundraising lead is cementing his front-runner status following new campaign finance data. An impressive $72 million haul by Biden and the Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, is not yet assuaging all of the Democratic concerns about the presidents reelection prospects.

Why No Labels believes a third-party candidate is viable

No Labels is laying out its platform in a new Common Sense booklet that Manchin and Utahs former Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman will promote in a town hall at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The platform contains multiple ideas splitting the difference between the Democratic and Republican position on key issues with bipartisan stances anchored to the political center ground.

On immigration, for instance, the group calls for tighter border controls, a reform of asylum procedures and a path to citizenship for Dreamers, or undocumented migrants brought to the United States as children. On guns, the group wants to uphold the right to bear arms but calls for dangerous weapons to be kept out of the hands of dangerous people, including with universal background checks and by closing loopholes that make it easier to buy weapons at gun shows. No Labels also wants better community policing and crackdowns on crime.

Given the gridlock, anger and dysfunction in Washington, its hard to argue that the current political system is working. But many of these solutions are familiar, having been tried by presidents in either party or groups of cross-party senators. Their failure to make it into law both encapsulates the rationale behind a third-party bid to smash Washingtons political deadlock, but also explains the institutional and political barriers to an independent president ever being elected or effective.

We think there is an opening today, and if it looks like this a year from now, there could be an opening, said Ryan Clancy, the chief strategist for No Labels, in an interview with CNNs Michael Smerconish in May. To nominate a ticket, weve got to clear two pretty high bars, which is the major party nominees need to continue to be really unpopular, but a unity ticket needs to have an outright path to victory.

No Labels says it would draw supporters equally from Republicans and Democrats and argues that previous third-party candidacies  for instance, by Green Party nominee Jill Stein, consumer advocate Ralph Nader and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson  were unsuccessful because voters didnt believe they could win. (Some Democrats accused Nader in 2000 and Stein in 2016 of siphoning away votes from Democratic nominees Al Gore and Hillary Clinton and opening the way for the GOP to claim the White House).

Democrats fear No Labels could hurt Biden the most

The center-left think tank Third Way is warning that a No Labels candidate could be especially dangerous for Biden in the key states that will decide the election. It is highlighting research showing that in 2020, Biden won six of seven states where the margin of victory was three points or less. It argues, therefore, that 79 electoral votes are potentially at risk for Biden from the involvement of a third-party challenger.

Such a challenger would also need to win states where Biden won big, and at least some conservative bastions. And given that Trumps deeply loyal voters are unlikely to desert him, a third-party candidate seems more likely to pull from the same pool of anti-Trump Republicans and moderate and independent voters Biden is targeting with a campaign rooted in his warnings against the threat to democracy from Trumps Make America Great Again populism.

An analysis by CNNs Harry Enten shows that voters who dont have a favorable view of either Biden or Trump are more likely to side with the current president in the end. 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. A third name on the ballot could complicate this equation.

There is also the question of whether No Labels  with its condemnation of two major political parties dominated by angry and extremist voices driven by ideology and identity politics  is drawing a false equivalency between Republicans and Democrats. Trump, for example, sought to overturn a democratic election in 2020 to stay in power, while Biden has enacted rare bipartisan legislation including over gun safety and infrastructure.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is hoping to thwart Trumps bid for a third consecutive GOP nomination, warned Sunday that a third-party candidacy could play directly into the former presidents hands. There are only two people who will get elected president of the United States in November of 24  the Republican nominee for president and the Democratic nominee for president, Christie said on ABC News This Week.

They think they know who they (are) going to hurt. They want to hurt Donald Trump if hes the nominee. But.  you never quite know who youre going to hurt in that process.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Soldiers patrol the violence-hit Dolaithabi village in Manipur

Ethnic violence has plunged Manipur, India's scenic state bordering Myanmar, into turmoil. Persistent clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis for over two months have left both feeling besieged. The neighbouring villages of these communities appear to be particularly susceptible to attacks. In the second of a two-part series on Manipur, the BBC's Soutik Biswas visited a scenic valley where Meitei villages have come under attack.

Under the cover of darkness in early May, the men emerged from the hills above.

They were shouting slogans that pierced the stillness of the night and firing gunshots that punctuated the balmy air. Some of them wielded swords, while others brandished bottles of petrol and diesel.

"Kill them, burn them!" echoed a war cry that reverberated in the air, and remained etched in Khunaijam Shanti's memory.

She and fellow villagers had been dreading an attack as news - and rumours - of ethnic violence spread like wildfire through whispers and mobile phones. Around midnight they abandoned their homes, evading the fury of the mob.

On 3 May, ethnic violence sparked by a thorny affirmative action row erupted in India's north-eastern state of Manipur. More than 130 people have died since, during clashes between the majority Meitei and the tribal Kuki minority groups. Some 60,000 have become refugees in their own land.

Soldiers patrol Leitangpokpi, a Meitei village located barely 1,500 metres from the nearest Kuki villages

The Meitei - mostly practising Hindus - like Ms Shanti live in community villages in the sprawling valley, including the capital, Imphal. The Kukis, mostly Christians, reside in their chief-run villages in the rolling hills.

The ongoing violence has tragically led to a near-complete segregation of the two groups. Dolaithabi, where Ms Shanti lived, was among the four villages - Ekoi, Yangkhaman and Leitanpokpi were the three others - in the Imphal East district that was attacked by Kukis in a fierce night of burning and looting.

These Meitei-dominated villages - where nearly 3,000 people lived - were particularly vulnerable, nestled against the foothills in close proximity to Kuki settlements. Villages of the two groups are barely separated, with only 1,500 (1.5km) metres between them. Here - and in many other similar areas - security forces have set up buffer zones to restore peace. On both sides, civilians - calling themselves "village defence forces" - have also built bunkers, often manned by armed volunteers.

It is difficult to imagine a place so scenic and tranquil to be at the crosshairs of a violent conflict. A dammed river called Iril flows past sleepy villages of sloped corrugated tin homes. Hand-tended rice farms cover the floodplains, fringed by slopes that rise to the cloud-clapped emerald green hills of oak and pine.

"This is a valley surrounded by hills. It is a vulnerable area. They [the Kukis] have the vantage point. They can take pot shots from the hills. Anything can happen anytime," said Lenin Lamabam, a senior officer of Manipur's military police. He, along with 80 of his men and hundreds of border forces, is patrolling the area.

A small vehicle workshop was burnt down during the violence in Leitangpokpi

After the violence in May - and a few isolated attacks later - more than half of the people living here fled and took shelter with their relatives or in relief camps. Their homes and granaries had been gutted, and all their belongings - including TVs and washing machines - had been looted. A magical landscape is now marked by the remains of burnt-out homes and vehicles.

A few men have returned to resume tending to their farms and livestock during daylight hours. Livelihoods have suddenly become perilous: farmers of both communities have been shot at while toiling in the fields. "I still don't understand how things turned so grave, and so quickly," said Chanam Tapha, a 60-year-old widow, who is now living in a relief camp. (Half of the tens of thousands displaced in the violence are Meiteis who are living in relief camps in the valley, an official said.)

In Leitangpokpi - now a half-deserted village of some 100 homes, two pharmacies, a bazaar and a primary school - an unlikely exhortation surfaced in the ruins of the damaged homes. A paper pasted on a corrugated tin wall declared local support for a "war on drugs". A local "committee for the war on drugs" urged people to stop poppy plantation and "save our generation".

The underlying tensions in Manipur stem from a complex interplay of various factors, one of which is a crackdown on drugs in recent years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, under Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is a Meitei, launched a controversial campaign targeting poppy farming. Since 2017, his government claims to have destroyed more than 18,600 acres of poppy farms, the majority of them in Kuki-inhabited areas. (Manipur has long battled a drug-addiction crisis and is among four north-eastern Indian states bordering Myanmar, the world's second-largest opium producer.)

A "war on drugs" poster on one of the abandoned homes in Leitangpokpi

But Mr Singh's campaign also became a flashpoint between the two groups. He cautioned that villages growing poppy - mostly Kuki homelands - would be stripped of their welfare benefits, and accused Kukis of doing "drugs business". Kukis accused Mr Singh of "selective targeting and vilification" of the community - an allegation he denies.

In Leitangpokpi, villagers talk about farms in the hills above being cleared to grow poppy. Most Meitei men here were farmers or firewood traders. They would take Kuki-owned land in the hills on three-year leases, chop down trees and sell firewood in the market, said Tarun Ngangom, a local former teacher. "But this has slowed down in recent years, because we hear many of the villages have begun growing poppy," he said, a claim that could not be independently verified.

The scale of poppy farming in these parts is unclear. According to official figures, more than 730 acres of poppy farms in Imphal East district - home to 16% of Manipur's estimated 3.3 million people, and including Naga, Meitei and Nepali inhabited villages - have been destroyed since 2017.

Then there's the brewing fault line over undocumented illegal immigrants from Myanmar, a country with which Manipur shares a near-400km (248-mile) border. Stickers bearing the message "go back, Burmese refugees" have begun appearing on storefronts and residences across Meitei villages.

Mr Singh has repeatedly spoken of concerns about the civil war in Mynamar prompting an influx of refugees, who are ethnically close to the Kukis. (The majority of these refugees - more than 40,000 - have entered and taken refuge in neighbouring Mizoram.) A state government panel identified 2,187 immigrants from Myanmar in four districts of Manipur until end-April. An official note spoke of a "large number of illegal migrants" and said the "recent violence was fuelled by influential illegal poppy cultivators and drug lords from Myanmar settling in Manipur".

'How did our friends and neighbours become enemies overnight?,' says Khunaijam Shanti

But life among the ordinary people appeared to have been largely without friction before the recent violence. In villages nestled against the foothills, Meiteis have travelled uphill to gather firewood and employ excavators for road construction. And Kukis have come down to do business.

"We have been living peacefully with our Kuki neighbours for years," said Ms Shanti. "We would go to their villages, they would come to ours and do their shopping. Some of us have even jointly invested in [local] small savings funds.

"How did our friends and neighbours become enemies overnight? Were they instigated by outsiders?" she asks.

This is the second of a two-part series of ground reports from violence-hit Kuki and Meitei areas. You can read the first one here.

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.
Hanfu enthusiasts hold a Hanfu promotion event at the Panjiayuan antique market in Beijing, capital of China, July 14, 2023.(Xinhua/Shen Anni)

At the Panjiayuan antique market in Beijing this weekend, several young ladies in flowing robes embellished with intricate embroidery became the center of attention. They invited passersby to recite ancient Chinese poems, and those who succeeded in the challenge received a lotus flower.



The ladies are Hanfu enthusiasts from a club dedicated to promoting the culture of Hanfu, a style of clothing traditionally worn by the Han people.

"We hope that more people will come to understand the beauty of Hanfu and the culture behind it", said Fu Jiamei, one of the activity's organizers, adding that they took their cues from similar events held recently in cities including Hangzhou, Changsha and Kunming, the latest sign of a growing craze for Hanfu among young Chinese people.

Drawn by the gorgeous attire, some passersby took on the challenge this weekend. Among them was a 10-year-old girl named Wang Ziyi, who owned three suits of costume in the style of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

"I like Hanfu because they look fairy-like, and have a distinctive Chinese style," she said.

The passion for traditional clothing has swept across the country in recent years, with bevies of youngsters dressed in Hanfu becoming a common sight on the streets in many cities, especially ancient Chinese capitals like Xi'an and Luoyang.

"The growing popularity of Hanfu among the young generation arises from their increasing appreciation for traditional Chinese culture and their yearning to wear something uniquely Chinese to assert their cultural identity," said Gao Wenjing, an expert in traditional Chinese garments at the Tsinghua University Art Museum.

Gao said that social media platforms have also served as a driving force to transform the niche hobby into a vast market that reaches the masses.

On the microblogging platform Weibo, the hashtag "Hanfu" had over 7.88 billion views as of Sunday, while on the video-sharing app Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, videos relating to Hanfu had been viewed more than 93.4 billion times.

The Hanfu market in China was estimated at 12.54 billion yuan (about 1.81 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022 and will likely rise to 19.11 billion yuan in 2025, according to research firm iMedia Research.

For many young Chinese people, putting on Hanfu serves as a reminder of their cultural heritage and history, and inspires them to delve deeper.

Yan Zimo, a devotee of traditional culture, has visited more than 40 museums in 20 cities, dressed in a different Hanfu suit on each visit.

"Wearing Hanfu carefully selected according to the themes of the exhibitions, I feel closely connected with the relics and history. It's fantastic," Yan said.

The other reason Yan enjoys wearing Hanfu is because the outfits are usually loose and comfortable, allowing her freedom from certain constraints and burdens.

"Hanfu perfectly matches the free and inclusive mindset of today's youth," she added.

Gao believes that many young people come to love Hanfu as a result of heightened cultural awareness, while the love for Hanfu, in turn, spurs them to learn more about Chinese culture and history. "This is a virtuous cycle," she said.
 Read the full article on Motorious

Get ready to go fast!

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This vehicle and many more are for during the Maple Brothers Collector Car Auction. Join us in the Oklahoma City Bennett Event Center July 28-29. Bidding is available in-person or online. For more information and to register to bid or consign your vehicle visit www.maplebrothersauction.com.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene believes rap videos 'glorify drugs and violence' but attempts to participate in hip-hop culture in a MAGA-themed music video

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a rally in Pickens, South Carolina, on July 1, 2023. Chris Carlson/AP

Marjorie Taylor Greene stars in a new rap music video in which she is declared "MAGA's MVP."

It's the latest addition to the MAGA music genre that has emerged since the Trump admin.

January 6 rioters and Kid Rock have also tried their hand at overtly pro-Trump music.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest cultural venture includes a starring role in a rap music video in which she's declared "MAGA's MVP."

Florida-based rapper Kurt Jantz, who goes by Forgiato Blow, released a new music video on Sunday dedicated to the Georgia representative.

"Marjorie, I really love what you do/Keep calling RINOs out/No one does it better than you, huh?" Jantz raps. Throughout the video, Greene silently nods her head next to Jantz or remains in the background, sitting on a throne or atop a red convertible.

It's unclear when the Georgia representative had time to participate in the music video's filming. Jantz told Insider in an email that he made the song to "honor" Greene's "hustle & hard work."

Greene's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment sent over the weekend.

The representative said on Twitter that the song was a way to "promote the Protect Children's Innocence Act," which proposes a federal ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The song features a snippet of Greene's transphobic statements, accusing Democrats of "grooming children" and that President Joe Biden supports "sexualizing children" and having "transgender surgeries."





Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) July 16, 2023

This is not the first time Greene has tried to insert herself into hip-hop culture. Back in January, she posted a promotional video of herself featuring an instrumental of Dr. Dre's hit single, "Still D.R.E." Dre disapproved of Greene's use of his music.

"I don't license my music to politicians, especially someone as divisive and hateful as this one," he told TMZ.

In a statement to Newsweek, Greene said, "most rap videos exploit women, glorify drugs and violence, but Forgiato Blow's new video is about calling out the left's grooming agenda and protecting our children from genital mutilation."

Children do not receive gender-affirming surgery. Gender-affrming surgery, which can include facial reconstructive surgery, removal of breast tissue, or genitial surgery, is sometimes performed on teens, but cases are rare. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health also recommends that gender-affirmative care emphasize psychological needs before "any physical interventions are considered for adolescents."

Politics in music is evergreen. But Jantz's song reflects a relatively new brand of heavy-handed, MAGA-centric musical numbers that have cropped up in the wake of the Trump administration.

In March, a group of men convicted for participating in the January 6 Capitol riot released a single called "Justice for All," which briefly sat on iTunes' Top Songs chart.

There's also a trio of women, calling themselves The Deplorable Choir, who released a song called "Real Women Vote Trump."

"We don't care if you're white/Don't care if you're black/We don't care if you're gay/We're all under attack," they sing.

Perhaps one of the more prominent musicians to contribute to the genre of pro-Trump music is Kid Rock, who released the song "We The People" in January 2022.

"But COVID's near, it's coming to town/We gotta act quick, shut our borders down/Joe Biden does, the media embraces/Big Don does it and they call him a racist," Rock sings.

Part of this recent effort from the right to infiltrate pop culture with overtly political music can be traced to the success of rapper YG's "FDT" or "Fuck Donald Trump," released before Trump secured the presidency in 2016.

The song was certified Gold in January 2022, has over 33 million views on YouTube, and topped the iTunes chart in 2020 after Trump lost the election.

Conservative hip-hop artists have since attempted to recreate the success of YG's song with a pro-Trump twist. One rapper has a song called "F Biden," mimicking the chorus of YG's song by repeating, "Fuck Joe Biden."

Some conservatives have tried to co-opt hip-hop even as members of their party demonize the genre.

Former Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera said, "hip-hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years"  a soundbite that was eventually sampled in Kendrick Lamar's song, "DNA."

Jantz told Insider that he has made songs with other prominent rappers, but pivoted to use hip-hop as a vehicle to support Trump.

"I started making pro-MAGA rap in 2016 & never looked back," Jantz told Insider. "I have hit songs with Rick Ross, Kodak Black, Lil Durk, too many rappers to name, but I felt I could use my talents God gave me to send a better message to the kids & the community. I have been working hard to get Trump back in office & to change the culture."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Marjorie Taylor Greene / Lauren Boebert Illustrated / Getty Images

When Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) burst into the national consciousness during the run-up to the 2020 elections, the pair were frequently lumped together as dual avatars of the most extreme elements of former President Donald Trump's MAGA movement; both have documented histories of overt antisemitism, hyper-militarization, casual Islamophobia, and Qanon-tinged conspiracy-mongering. It's understandable, then, that some would cast the pair as a unified front at the vanguard of the incoming Republican congressional class.

Three years later, that front has not only cracked, but shattered completely. Longstanding tensions between Boebert and Greene burst into full public view last month in a vulgar shouting match between the two on the House floor ("She has genuinely been a nasty little bitch to me," Greene later explained to Semafor) from which neither woman has backed down. But no matter the personal animosity that exists between these lawmakers, now both in their second terms, is there more to their volatile schism than their particular dislike of one another  particularly as fellow Republicans this week told The Daily Beast that the rift is "even worse than most people think"?

What are the commentators saying?

Earlier this month, Greene was ignominiously booted from the far-right House Freedom Caucus, NBC News reported, citing the Boebert confrontation on the House floor as a major factor in the decision to oust the caucus' highest profile member. Greene "has consistently attacked other members of the Freedom Caucus in an irresponsible way, and as a result of that she was kicked out," Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) told the network. While Slate called the Boebert/Greene floor fight the "final straw," Buck nevertheless cautioned that "it's not one simple attack. It's not what happened on the floor a few weeks ago with Lauren Boebert. It is a series of really poorly thought-out attacks on other members."

Still, though Greene's clashes with Boebert were what reportedly ossified the caucus' resolve to remove her, they've also "taken issue with Greene's fierce loyalty to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which they feel runs counter to the founding mission of the Freedom Caucus  a crew that built its reputation as a thorn in the side of leadership," CNN explained. "The reality is they're mad at her for playing ball with McCarthy and, and still being one of Trump," one conservative lawmaker told the network.

Moreover, Greene's support for McCarthy's initial speaker's bid has itself been a major factor in her personal falling out with Boebert, with Boebert saying "I've been aligned with Marjorie and accused of believing a lot of the things that she believes in. I don't believe in this just like I don't believe in Russian space lasers, Jewish space lasers" during a 2022 speech. Greene's antics during McCarthy's historically drawn-out speaker's bid alienated Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Wy.), as well, The Daily Beast said, citing Greene's unsuccessful effort to foist a phone call with Trump onto the lawmaker in the hopes that the former president could convince him to back McCarthy. "Getting busted for waving away Trump's call was a bad look for the right-wing congressman" who is reportedly considering a future run for the Senate, "and he didn't forgive Greene for putting him in that situation."

Greene has attempted to cast herself as a major, and mainstream, Republican heavyweight, with concrete influence within the party. "I enjoy being a free agent a lot better," she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after being booted from the Freedom Caucus. "I'm interested in getting accomplishments done, not doing things just to disrupt and fight leadership. And that's a major difference."

What comes next?

"The spat with Greene may convince some moderates that Boebert is becoming more serious," the Daily Beast said, cautioning that it may also "turn off some of her fiercest conservative supporters across the country." This is the same dynamic that's played  and continues to play  out across the GOP, as presidential candidates attempt to balance their attacks on party frontrunner Donald Trump with an eye toward the general election, while not alienating his ultra-conservative base during primaries.

Although Greene and Boebert show little sign of reconciling anytime soon, there are indications that the overarching reality of the House Republicans' tenuous majority may supersede any personal animosity between the pair  and the party factions they've come to represent. "Protect The House 2024, a joint fundraising committee launched by McCarthy earlier this year, donated over $31,000 to Rep. Lauren Boebert ... in late June despite her alliance with conservative members who have attempted to undercut McCarthy," Fox News reported, adding that "McCarthy's own campaign committee also donated $2,000 to Boebert in June." Given Boebert's barely-there victory in 2022, McCarthy and his allies  as well as Boebert herself  seem to understand that maintaining their majority supplants all other internecine considerations.

To that end, Greene's carefully calculated positioning of herself as a "free agent" who can straddle the party's furthest right flank and its leadership tier appears to be paying dividends to the Georgia congresswoman  particularly as she enjoys the sort of decisive advantage for reelection in her home district that Boebert seems to lack. Like McCarthy, she is one of the party's top fundraisers, affording her the ability to extend, or deny, her largess to other Republicans as she sees fit. "The Freedom Caucus has relied on Greene as a fundraiser for the group," the Daily Beast pointed out, noting that her departure means the group "also now has a powerful conservative voice against them."

Greene and Boebert's feud, beyond merely the personal, seems to offer a case study in the state of the GOP as a whole. On one hand, there are a considerable number of Republicans like Boebert, who are hoping to claim the mantle of "most conservative" while increasingly pulling the party to the furthest extremes. On the other, there's Greene, who has managed to bolster her hard right bona fides, without losing  and indeed, actually growing  her influence among many of her peers. To the extent that Greene has been able to maintain her relationship with Trump and his base while increasingly flexing her party influence suggests that she, rather than Boebert, is the template more and more of her colleagues will likely seek to emulate moving forward.

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Monday called on Democrats to do something about antisemitic remarks being made by members of their caucus, after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) stirred up a firestorm for calling Israel a racist state, a comment she later walked back.

Asked about Jayapals comments  which were made during a progressive conference Saturday  McCarthy noted Democrats who have come under fire in the past for making antisemitic remarks, telling reporters this isnt the first person in the Democratic conference that has continued to make antisemitic comments.

Weve watched what they have continually to do, he continued. There are a number of them over there. I think if the Democrats want to believe that they do not have a conference that continues to make antisemitic remarks, they need to do something about it.

He specifically called on House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to prove that Democrats are not antisemitic.

I think this is a role for the leader, Hakeem, to prove that no, theyre not antisemitic, McCarthy said. And they cannot allow their members to continue to see what they have said in the past.

Jayapal, after a panel discussion was interrupted by a group of Palestinian protesters, told a crowd at a progressive conference Saturday, 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.

She walked those comments back one day later, writing in a statement, I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist, while criticizing the Israeli government led by conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jayapals comments sparked criticism from both sides of the aisle, which included a rare joint statement from House Democratic leadership that said Israel is not a racist state and underscored the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem, all without naming Jayapal.

The controversy comes as lawmakers prepare to welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Capitol Wednesday for a speech to a joint meeting of Congress. A number of progressive lawmakers have said they plan to boycott the address.

Reading from a piece of paper Monday, McCarthy cited previous remarks made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was criticized in 2021 after equating the U.S. and Israel to the Taliban and Hamas terrorist groups while discussing war crimes. The comments prompted a rare joint statement of condemnation from House Democratic leadership. Omar, however, said she was not making a moral comparison.

McCarthy also quoted Omars tweet from 2019, in which she suggested money was motivating American lawmakers to defend Israel. The tweet read, Its all about the Benjamins baby, which Omar later apologized for. And McCarthy noted another comment from Omar that year, when she said pro-Israel advocates were pushing allegiance to a foreign country.

House Republicans voted to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee in February, shortly after they took the majority, as a rebuke for her previous comments that were accused of being antisemitic.

McCarthy also read off a 2019 comment from Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), when she said in an interview that she gets a calming feeling when she thinks of the tragedy of the Holocaust and the fact that it was my ancestors, Palestinians, who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence in many ways, have been wiped out, and some peoples passports.

And he cited a resolution introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) in 2021 to condemn Israels decision to designate Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as terrorist organizations.

These are just multiple Democrats on multiple times consistently saying antisemitic remarks and it has got to stop, McCarthy said. These are all individuals in the Democratic conference. Do they think Israel is an evil state? Well if they believe differently they should take action against their own for the comments coming from their leadership within their own Democratic Party, and thats wrong.

Jayapal is the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The situation surrounding Jayapals comments came after a House Republican saw his fair share of criticism following remarks he later had to walk back.

Last week, during debate on the annual defense bill, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) referred to African Americans as colored people on the House floor, which prompted criticism from both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, asked that his comment be stricken from the official congressional record, which was granted.

Crane in a statement said he misspoke on the House floor. McCarthy told reporters the comment was not acceptable, but said he would take him at his word.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

Irans morality police will resume patrolling the streets again with a new campaign to enforce hijab rules, 10 months after they had largely pulled back over mass protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the polices custody.

Many women had stopped wearing the hijab in defiance, but on Sunday, the regimes officials announced that anyone who insisted on breaking social norms and wear[ing] clothes that are out of the norm will be confronted legally.

After months of rarely being seen, morality police forces were once again spotted patrolling the streets in Tehran in marked vans.

Weve curated insightful analysis and reporting on the return of the police force and the Iranian regimes attempt to reestablish authority.

Insights
Medvedev calls for attacks on Ukraine housing as revenge for Crimean Bridge

Dmitry Medvedev

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has once again taken to social media to rant about Ukraine, this time in relation to the explosions on the Crimean Bridge on July 17, calling Ukrainians "terrorists".

"They understand only the language of force. Only personal and completely inhumane methods," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

He then called on the Russian military to blow up housing in Ukraine as revenge for the bridge incident.

"Search for and eliminate their accomplices, abandoning the insipid idea of a trial against them," wrote Medvedev, who is known for rants that are tinged with accusations of alcoholism.

Read also: Zaluzhnyi wont be deterred from liberating Crimea  interview

But the main thing is to destroy the top leadership of terrorist groups, no matter what cracks these insects hide in.

Crimean Bridge: The latest on the explosion

In the early hours of July 17, explosions occurred on the Crimean Bridge, after which all traffic on the bridge was stopped. Crimean puppet governor Sergey Aksyonov declared an "emergency" and Russian social media groups reported serious damage to at least one span.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force comments on Crimean Bridge explosions

Later, the occupation administration announced the resumption of railroad traffic, but road traffic remains paralyzed.

Read also: SBU, Ukrainian Navy involved in nighttime explosion of Crimean Bridge, source tells NV

An NV law enforcement source said that the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the overnight blasts on the Crimean Bridge. According to the source, the bridge was attacked using surface drones.

This is the second case of explosions on the Crimean Bridge, which Russia uses to deploy armored vehicles and manpower to the front in southern Ukraine. On Oct. 8, 2022, several spans of the bridge collapsed as a result of a powerful blast.

The Kremlin regime accused the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, of organizing the sabotage. For its part, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence denied these statements, calling them "nonsense."

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
How did the chorus of On Broadway go again? Oh, yes. I wont quit till Im a star on Broadway.

That was the do-or-die quest expressed by The Drifters when the song was a hit in 1964. But Melissa Etheridge has followed her own variation of that sentiment. She has long been a star with a 35-year career that can boast two Grammys and an Oscar as credentials.

But the veteran singer-songwriter will also realize a life-long dream when My Window, her one-woman stage production, will head to Broadway in September for a two-month run at Circle in the Square Theatre.

But quitting? Forget that. My Window is being sandwiched between a summer concert tour, the launch of her second memoir and a performance documentary set to surface in 2024.

Ive been busy, she said with a sigh and a laugh in a recent phone interview.

Melissa Etheridge has been busy putting together concert tours, a Broadway show, writing a new book and much more.

I can really only look now about a year ahead. Back in my 20s and 30s and even my 40s, I was always like, In 10 years, Ive got to experience this and achieve that. I wasnt really stopping and saying, Wow. Look what Im doing. Look what Ive done. Now I enjoy just really sitting in the moment.

Every show, I look out and go, This is great. People, after 35 years of this, are still coming out. They are staying on their feet and singing Im the Only One (a massive 1993 hit for Etheridge) at the stop of their lungs. Its so great and Im so grateful. Im enjoying every moment of it. So, thinking ahead? Yeah. Ill always be writing and recording new music. But Im just rolling along and enjoying every moment in the moment.

Concert at Lexington Opera House

First things first. The artist and activist known for such anthemic, affirming, soul-informed rock radio hits as Bring Me Some Water and Come to My Window will be back at the Lexington Opera House on July 18 doing what she loves most  performing. While she has no new album to promote (some pre-pandemic recording sessions in Lexington were the beginning of what I was trying to do, but then I sort of went in another direction), Etheridge said she is energized by her current band and her own vigor as a guitarist.

Ive curated an interesting show that has all the hits that people love and maybe some tracks they havent heard in a while along with a couple of new things. Its just a really fun show.

A little over 10 years ago, I started really getting serious about my guitar playing. It was like, Hey, I want to play the leads. I want to step out. I want people to know I am a first-rate guitar player. Thats been my goal. Putting that goal in front of me really sort of drove me, so it brings a lot of joy now when Im playing.

Melissa Etheridge will perform at Lexington Opera House on July 18.

Broadway show My Window

That performance focus will shift this fall when Etheridge hits Broadway. She stresses My Window is not a concert, but a theatre piece with music designed to illustrate her life story.

Over the years of playing concerts, Ive always found that some nights, I just want to talk to my audience, Etheridge said. I realize that I like to talk a lot and I usually have to edit myself in concert. But this is the other way around. I actually get to tell the stories now and sort of guide the show along, putting the stories in the music and letting them both take front and center. Its different than a concert, but its a gorgeous challenge that I really enjoy at this stage in my life.

When I grew up in Kansas in the 70s, Broadway was just a huge kind of dream. What came first, of course, was my rock n roll dream, but I always found such a connection between great dramatic rock n roll and the stage. So now I have the opportunity to put together a show thats not really a concert. This is my life. Im telling my life story, my own personal emotional journey  just my ups and downs, things like that  onstage with my music. Its just me. There are no other musicians. Were putting this together with great video effects and lighting. My wife, who is an Emmy-nominated writer and director, is helping me. Were really getting some great people together for something no one has ever seen before.

Melissa Etheridge is bringing her show My Window to Broadway later this year.

To be sure, Etheridge has a story to tell. While life has provided a career bolstered by lasting popularity and a loyal fanbase, she has faced monumental real-life upheavals offstage. One was a devastating tragedy  the 2020 death of her son Beckett following his battles with opioid addiction. Another turned into triumph  beating breast cancer in a journey that included a powerful and redemptive performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards while she was undergoing chemotherapy.

New memoir coming

The latter two events will be among the topics explored in Talking to My Angels, Etheridges second memoir. It is due for publication in October. Her first, The Truth Is ... : My Life and Love in Music, came out in 2001.

At that point, I had barely lived my life. Its funny writing your biography at that age. Its like, Wow, Im just getting started. I hadnt gone through cancer. I hadnt lost my son. These experiences Ive had that have shaped me, these are things that I want to share with people who might be going through stuff like that. Now is really the perfect time.

If thats not enough activity, a documentary built around a recent concert Etheridge gave at the Kansas State Womens Penitentiary is being prepared for a premiere next year. But as a robust career rolls on, so does Etheridges work as an activist on behalf of environmental and LGBTQ issues. In discussing the latter, Etheridge said her faith is unrattled despite recent court rulings and laws that have been seen as setbacks.

Melissa Etheridge has a new memoir and documentary coming out.

Theres always, always, always hope. That never goes away, because we live in a reality that is a balance of dark and light. Were always going to have that thought, that fear out there, especially when great change is happening.

In my lifetime, I have seen great change. I have seen us advance in our understanding of what it is to be human, to grapple with our diversities here in this great country which is built on diversity. What were seeing is fear that is being weaponized for power. Ive lived long enough to see the old Lets go pick on the queer community. Lets go pick on people who are different and lets say things about them that are completely untrue to rile up fear, especially about children.

But with as much of the bad news as we see, I, myself, believe there is as much, and even more, good in people in all places that understand love is not something to be afraid of. And if they take care of their own peace in their own state of mind, then you can see more peace in the world.

Melissa Etheridge

When: 8 p.m. July 18

Where: Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short

Tickets: $59.50-$99.50 at ticketmaster.com
Democrats arent just growing concerned about some potential third-party presidential candidates. Theyre also becoming increasingly suspicious about those peoples motivations.

Supporters of President Biden see several threats on the horizon, beyond the Republican Party itself.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gained more traction than many Democrats expected in his primary challenge to Biden. A potential presidential candidacy facilitated by the No Labels group is causing consternation. And the decision by left-wing academic and author Cornel West to seek the Green Partys presidential nomination further jangles nerves.

The slenderness of Bidens 2020 victory in the electoral college undergirds many of these concerns.

Even though Biden garnered roughly 7 million more votes nationwide than then-President Trump, the electoral college would have been tied had three states  Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin  gone the other way. Bidens margin of victory in each of those states was less than 1 percentage point.

That means Democrats are keenly aware of the potential for a third-party candidate to shift the result of the 2024 election  and equally aware of the willingness of Republicans and conservatives to nudge such candidacies along.

Kennedys presidential bid is eyed with more suspicion than any other by mainstream Democrats, in part because of some peculiar political bedfellows.

Steve Bannon, Trumps onetime chief strategist, has been broadly sympathetic to Kennedy, and the candidate has appeared on Bannons podcast. Longtime Trump ally and mischief-maker Roger Stone has even advanced the idea of a Trump-Kennedy unity ticket.

Last month, during a NewsNation town hall event, Kennedy declined to commit to supporting Biden if the president officially becomes the Democratic nominee. Next week, Kennedy will appear as a witness before the Republican-led House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

And Friday, Kennedy called Trump probably the most successful debater in this country since Lincoln-Douglas during a Fox News interview.

Put it all together, and its more than enough to raise eyebrows among other Democrats.

I dont know whats going on there. At one time I saw Kennedy as a true environmental champion, said Democratic strategist Mark Longabaugh. But now his candidacy is being propped up by a bunch of right-wing types who seem to use Kennedy as a vehicle to undermine Biden. I am incredibly disappointed by his candidacy and the mess he is creating.

Kennedys campaign hit back at those kinds of criticisms in an email to The Hill.

Challengers to a weak or unpopular candidate are not the cause of the weakness, a Kennedy campaign spokesperson said. If President Biden is concerned about his chances of reelection, he should uphold the traditional Democratic values on which he is vulnerable: peace, civil liberties, and clean government. Then there would be no serious challengers to his nomination.

Skepticism of a different kind surrounds No Labels.

More from The Hill

 Manchin stokes speculation with No Labels event

 Mark Kelly concerned about third-party movement No Labels

 Trump calls RFK Jr. a very smart person

The purportedly centrist organization has been trying to ensure ballot access in as many states as possible, even as it says it will not make a decision until next year as to whether to actually run a candidate.

So far, No Labels appears to have secured a place on the ballot in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.

On Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) will speak at a No Labels town hall in New Hampshire.

Speculation about a No Labels presidential candidate has centered more on Manchin than anyone else. If he does not run for president, the senator faces a challenging Senate reelection campaign in 2024 in his heavily Republican state. He has a long record of being willing to buck party orthodoxy, even at the cost of aggravating his party colleagues.

Manchin, however, has said nothing definitive about either seeking the presidency or reelection to the Senate.

More broadly, the No Labels effort has drawn strong criticism even from centrist Democratic members of Congress.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), for example, told Politico back in May that No Labels was wasting time, energy, and money on a bizarre effort that confuses and divides voters, and has one obvious outcome  reelecting Donald Trump as president.

Others further to the left are just as scathing.

Joel Payne, the chief communications officer for progressive group MoveOn, which has opposed No Labelss ballot push, told this column that No Labels claims to want to stamp out extremism in politics. But jumping in as a spoiler candidate would only enable probably the most extreme president weve ever had, Donald Trump, to win in 2024.

Not so, countered No Labelss chief strategist Ryan Clancy, who said that the group itself had not put any name, including Manchins, forward as a potential candidate.

Clancy argued that the idea of a No Labels candidate as a spoiler was inaccurate, because there is no way of knowing whether an unnamed candidate would take votes disproportionately from one party rather than the other.

More broadly, Clancy said, What we are doing is something so fundamental, which is working to give the American people choices, and we may never offer our ballot lines anyway. We have said that from the very beginning.

Just the fact of No Labels giving people a choice has elicited such an overreaction, Clancy added.

The attempt by West to secure the nomination of the Green Party is seen very differently.

Broadly speaking, Democrats dont see Wests candidacy as being in bad faith. Rather, they worry that he and the Green Party are being too cavalier about the possibility that they could tip the election to a Republican, including Trump.

David Axelrod, the Democratic strategist best known for his key role in getting former President Obama elected, recently tweeted that in 2016 the Green Party had played an outsized role in tipping the election to Donald Trump. Now, with Cornel West as their likely nominee, they could easily do it again. Risky business.

West, reached by phone Friday, hit back against that kind of warning.

Any critique of an existing president is construed as helping Republicans, so what does one do? West asked rhetorically. Does one remain silent about the suffering of the Palestinians, the proxy war in Russia, the needs of poor and working people?

No. We have to raise our voices in some way  and as soon as we do we are accused of being Trump supporters. Thats absurd.

With so much at stake over the next 16 months before Election Day, the war of words is only getting started.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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The attorneys for convicted killers Lyle and Erik Menendez have asked the Los Angeles superior court to review and possibly vacate the brothers murder convictions in light of new evidence that they say validates claims that their father sexually abused them for years.

Lyle, 55, and Erik, 52, were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 for the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Kitty Menendez. The brothers shot them to death at their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989, allegedly so they could inherit their parents $14 million estate.

However, the brothers claimed the killings were an imperfect self-defense after a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse from their parents. After their first trial resulted in a hung jury, allegations of abuse were restricted in the second trial, and prosecutors insisted the abuse claims were a lie. The brothers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Now, attorneys for the brothers point to two new pieces of evidence that they say confirm the abuse allegations. One is a newly discovered letter Erik wrote, just eight months before the murders. Additionally, the lawyers refer to claims in the recently aired docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed in which a former member of the boy band Menudo alleges Jose Menendez, who was an executive at RCA Records, also targeted him.

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In short, the new evidence not only shows that Jose Menendez was very much a violent and brutal man who would sexually abuse children, but it strongly suggests thatin facthe was still abusing Erik Menendez as late as December 1988. Just as the defense had argued all along, reads a court petition filed by the Menendez brothers attorneys on May 3.

Eriks Letter: Ive Been Trying to Avoid Dad

Last month, a judge asked the Los Angeles County district attorneys office to file an informal response to the defense attorneys petition, according to The Los Angeles Times. The office is preparing a response, after which the judge is expected to rule on the petition.

The Menendez brothers attorneys ask that the judge vacate the convictions and sentences, or allow a new evidentiary hearing regarding the abuse claims.

The newly discovered letter written by Erik Menendez was discovered by Jose Menendezs sister, Marta Cano. It had been sent to her son, Andy Cano, who had been close with his cousins and testified at their trials. In the letter, Erik describes continued sexual abuse at the hands of his father and the emotional toll caused by it.

Ive been trying to avoid dad. Its still happening Andy, but its worse for me now, the letter reads. I cant explain it. He [sic] so overweight that I cant stand to see him. I never know. When its going to happen and its driving me crazy. Every night, I stay up thinking he might come in. I need to put it out of my mind.

Andy died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills in January 2003, when he was 29. His mother, Marta, said Andy was traumatized by the killings and subsequent trials and couldnt cope with the incarceration of his cousins. I have no doubt in my mind that Andy is dead because of them, she said.

Roy Rossello: I Know What He Did to Me



Getty Images

Roy Rossello, 52, a former member of the boy band Menudo, said in the Peacock docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed that Jose Menendez molested him in the mid-1980s, when he was 14. He claimed the bands manager organized a visit to Menendezs house, during which Menendez drugged and raped him.

I know what he did to me in his house, Rossello said in a clip from the docuseries. In another scene, he pointed to Menendez in a photograph and says, Thats the man, here, that raped me. This guy. Thats the pedophile.

Prosecutors for Lyle and Eriks second trial said the abuse never happened and that Jose was not the kind of man that would be abusing his sons, according to the petition filed by the brothers attorneys. They claim the newly found letter and Rossellos new claims say otherwise.

To resolve this case, jurors had to decide a single, critical question: Was Jose Menendez molesting his sons? the attorney wrote. Jurors making this determination did not know of Eriks letter to his cousin Andy, and they did not know that Jose Menendez had previously raped a 14 year-old boy.

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New Mexico could get another $25 million in federal funds to clean up abandoned oil wells

Clean up of abandoned oil wells in New Mexico was funded by $25 million more in federal money Monday as the U.S. Department of the Interior provided a total of $660 million in grants for the work in several states.

There was an estimated 1,700 abandoned oil and gas wells, known as orphaned wells by industry terms in New Mexico, throughout its fossil fuel operations in southeast Permian Basin and northwest San Juan Basin.

The wells are typically orphaned when an oil and gas operator determines it financially unviable, and although companies typically pay into bonding agreements thats often insufficient to full remediate the site, meaning state government agencies must pick up the tab.

More: $300 million Permian Basin oil and gas sale closes as company exits Eagle Ford

The latest public funding for that work came via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, which included the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).

The $25 million for New Mexico was part of the first phase of grant funding under the infrastructure bill dedicated to addressing legacy pollution around the U.S., with the state eligible for up to about $72.2 million overall.

This came after an initial $25 million grant was provided to New Mexico, and states have until the end of 2023 to apply for the formula grant funds.

More: About half of New Mexico's budget is reliant on the oil and gas industry, report says

Lujan also recently reintroduced the Abandoned Well Remediation and Research Development Act (AWRRDA) to fund expanded research on abandoned wells in the U.S. on federal, state and tribal lands.

He said plugging and cleaning up abandoned well sites would help the U.S. curb pollution and address human impacts on climate change.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)

This effort to plug abandoned wells and slash methane emissions is an issue Ive championed  because the health of our communities and environment are at risk, Lujan said. This welcome investment from the Biden administration will support our bipartisan movement in Congress to safeguard our communities and create more jobs while boosting economic growth in New Mexico.

More: Oil and gas industry opposes federal conservation proposal, New Mexico voices support

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement announcing the nationwide funding that abandoned oil wells constituted environmental injustice and the problem must be solved to protect communities from the impacts of energy development while creating jobs.

Bidenomics and President Bidens Investing in America agenda are enabling us to confront long-standing environmental injustices by making a historic investment to plug orphaned wells throughout the country, Haaland said.

These investments are good for our climate, for the health of our communities, and for American workers. With this additional funding, states will put more people to work to clean up these toxic sites, reduce methane emissions and safeguard our environment.

More: $168 million deal sees Northern Oil and Gas increase Permian Basin footprint

Through the infrastructure bill, the DOI committed $4.7 billion in total to the problem.

The $660 million announced June 10 was the first phase of the formula grant funding.

The DOI said millions of Americans live within a mile of an abandoned oil well, and that plugging the wells would support the Biden administrations agenda of reducing methane emissions and creating jobs amid a transition toward less-pollutive forms of energy.

More: Dunes sagebrush lizard proposed as endangered species amid threats from oil and gas

That concern was echoed in a study published June 20 by McGill University and the Environmental Defense Fund in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The study showed about 4.6 million people live within half a mile of an orphaned oil and gas well.

This joined a report from the EDF that showed 14 million people lived within a mile of such a well, and estimated the nationwide remediation cost could exceed the $4.7 billion federal appropriation by 30 to 80 percent.

More: New Mexico fines Permian Basin oil driller Ameredev $42M for air pollution

And it will certainly not cover the large number of orphaned wells which are undocumented  whose very existence we know of but whose exact locations and depth remain unknown, said Mary Kang, assistant professor at McGill Universitys Department of Civil Engineering.

She said the U.S. must development policy to better monitor oil and gas wells, making it better able to identify when wells go abandoned.

We need to rapidly develop a framework and environmental monitoring datasets to prioritize wells for plugging, since tens of thousands of wells will be plugged in a matter of years, she said.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico to get $25M more from feds to clean up abandoned oil wells
Dancers of China's TAO Dance Theater perform during the 29th Kalamata International Dance Festival in Kalamata, Greece, on July 14, 2023. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Xinhua)



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.
WARREN, Pa.  The arrest of prison escapee Michael C. Burham on Saturday was fairly straightforward, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

All the details of how he escaped from the Warren County Prison nine days earlier remain unclear.

Burham's arrest came about after a barking dog alerted a resident in Conewango Township, outside of the city of Warren, that someone was on his property on Jackson Run Road shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday, state police said.

The resident had a brief conversation with the person, in which the person said "something about camping." The property owner recognized the person as Burham and contacted authorities as Burham fled into the woods.

Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison on July 6. He is pictured here in police custody in Warren County on Saturday.

Police agencies surrounded the area and arrested Burham without incident Saturday at about 5:50 p.m. in the area of Logan Road in Conewango Township, about 6 miles northwest of the city of Warren. He was wearing his prison uniform inside out and was not armed.

Burham, on the run in the woods of Warren County since July 6, looked "tired and worn out," Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state police's deputy commissioner of operations, said at a news conference following the arrest.

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."

Burham is being held at the Erie County Prison as he awaits arraignment on the escape charge in Warren County. He is being held on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, state police said.

Probe into Burham's prison escape continues after his arrest

The state police are not investigating how Burham got out of the Warren County Prison, located next to the county courthouse in downtown Warren, a city of about 9,200 people on the edge of the 514,209-acre Allegheny National Forest and about 66 miles southeast of Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania.

The city of Warren police is handling the probe on the breakout. The investigation is ongoing.

The Warren police filed a felony escape charge against Burham on July 7, and the arrest records provide some details about how Burham is believed to have left the 139-bed prison at about 11:20 p.m. on July 6.

According to the criminal complaint against Burham in the escape case, he was in the exercise yard with several other inmates when he climbed on to a pullup machine and got on the prison's roof. He then used bedsheets tied together to rappel down another side of the prison, get on a portico and then jump to the street.

From there, Burham was gone. He was last seen wearing a prison-issued denim jacket, an orange-striped jumpsuit and orange Croc-style shoes.

Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison in Warren Pa., on July 6. He was captured nine days later.

The police records show that the prison reported the escape minutes after it happened, at about 11:26 p.m.

How Burham was even able to get to the point where he could break out of the prison remains something of a mystery. Several questions remain unanswered.

Did Burham have help in the escape?

How long did he plan it?

Where did he get all those bedsheets?

Burham escaped through a hole in a ceiling made of fencing

The location of the exercise yard was a factor in the escape, the Warren County commissioners said in public statements in the days after Burham was reported missing.

The commissioner described the yard as a 40-foot-by-40-foot room "with a cage" on the top floor of the jail facility. Commissioner Jeff Eggleston later explained to the Erie Times-News that the exercise yard has regular walls like in the rest of the prison, but that its ceiling is a cage made up of steel girders and a chain link fence. The caged ceiling is open to the elements.

Burham stood on the exercise machine to access a hole in the chain link fence on the top of the cage, Eggleston said. Burham was then able to walk on the roof of the prison and get to the building's west side, where he used the rope made of bedsheets to get down the side of the building.

Pictured is the west side of the Warren County Courthouse in Warren County, Pennsylvania, where authorities say Michael C. Burham rappelled down from the roof using bedsheets tied together on July 6. He went down the area to the right, with the large windows, authorities said.

The commissioners explained that Burham was supposed to be in the exercise yard at such a late hour on July 6.

He had been at the prison since June 19, after he was ordered held on $1 million bond on kidnapping charges. That case was related to Burham fleeing the area of Jamestown, New York, north of Warren, after Jamestown police said he was wanted for questioning in the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old woman, Kala Hodgkin, on May 11. At the time of her death, Burham was wanted on a charge that he raped her in a prior incident.

During his flight, police said, Burham kidnapped an elderly couple, in Sheffield, also near Warren, and forced them to drive him in their SUV to South Carolina. Police arrested Burham near North Charleston on May 24, and arranged to return him to Warren on the kidnapping charges. The elderly couple was found unharmed at a cemetery in South Carolina.

While at the Warren County Prison, Burham was entitled to exercise along with the other inmates. The county commissioners, who are also on the Warren County Prison Board, said the prison was following the law in its treatment of Burham.

"It's important to understand that the law has changed in the past five years, and prisoners must have access to yard time and outside exercise," the three commissioners said in a statement on July 11. "With a facility as small as ours that is close to full, inmates must be taken to the yard in shifts.

"That happens all day and evening to ensure all inmates have appropriate yard time. Therefore, inmates are legally required to access the yard, and it is crucial for the Prison Board to ensure the facility is secure."

Burham's escape shows that the exercise yard was not secure. The commissioners on July 11 said they had ordered repairs to the yard and upgrades to other areas of the prison to improve safety. They also said they had ordered "the exercise equipment be removed and replaced with equipment that does not provide access to higher positions in the facility."

Warren County commissioners vow fixes over 'terrible situation'

While those changes are occurring, the commissioners said, the county would review the operations of the prison staff, but said any discipline would be confidential. The commissioners on July 12 unanimously voted to contract with the state Department of Corrections to review the prison's operations and policies and procedures.

The commissioners have declined to comment on where Burham got the bedsheets and whether he had help. They said those areas of inquiry would be part of the police investigation.

Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison, in Warren, Pa., on July 6. He was captured nine days later.

No matter what that investigation reveals, Burham's escape was clearly an embarrassment for Warren County.

"To the people of this community, let me express my personal regret that this happened," the vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Ben Kafferlin, said at a news conference on July 12. "Let me say that I am so sorry for the sleepless nights that we've all experienced and the cloud of uncertainty that is yet to give way to answers. I'm personally very sorry that this man escaped from our custody.

"Every county employee is in this with you. None of us have been unaffected. But our professional staff has risen to the challenge. We are resolved that we will, after this event, be stronger, better and a more effective team."

Said the chairwoman of the Board of Commissioners, Tricia Durbin: "Needless to say, this is a very sad and unfortunate situation. I take my role as commissioner very seriously and this is not reflective of my personal passion to act in all ways in a manner of what's best for the residents in this community.

"And in that regard, I apologize for this terrible situation. This is not something I ever imagined occurring as part of my role as commissioner."

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: After arrest, questions remain about how inmate Michael Burham escaped
Michael Cohen heads to trial against Trump Organization demanding $1.3M in legal fees: What to know

In the five years since Michael Cohen made the transition from Donald Trumps true-blue bulldog fixer to his greatest foe, hes been raided by the FBI, served three years in custody, testified before millions in congressional probes, and cooperated extensively in wide-ranging criminal investigations into the former presidents business dealings.

At his trial kicking off against the Trump Organization in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, Cohen plans to convince a panel of New Yorkers that his former boss company should foot the costs for all lawyers involved in the yearslong saga.

After being selected, jurors are expected to hear evidence for four days starting July 24, including testimony from Trump Organization CEO Donald Trump Jr., whom Cohens lawyers got the green light to call as a witness last week. Don Jr.s lawyers said in a filing Friday that he would comply with their subpoena.

Cohen says the ex-presidents eldest son called the shots as to which Trump Organization employees had their legal fees paid and had his own covered in several of the same matters he was involved in.

The former president is not expected to attend or testify.

Cohen, the Trump Organizations executive vice president before becoming Trumps personal lawyer  and ultimately losing his law license  says the company violated a 2017 deal to cover his attorneys bills upon realizing he would cooperate, leaving him with at least $1.3 million in unpaid bills. The company says Cohens crimes voided the indemnification agreement.

Months after the feds raided his Manhattan office and residences in April 2018 following a referral to the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office by special counsel Robert Mueller, Cohen pleaded guilty to a host of charges.

He admitted to violating federal campaign finance laws when he paid Stormy Daniels into silence at Trumps behest for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome of the 2016 election. The payoff came as the porn star considered going public with allegations that she slept with Trump in 2006, less than two years after he married Melania. Cohen also admitted to helping to coordinate a similar payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Cohen, whos still on probation, also copped to charges that he lied to Congress, failed to report more than $4 million in income  including $1.3 million from his taxi medallion holdings  and hid more than $14 million in debt from a bank when he signed up for a home equity line of credit. He maintains he was unfairly targeted.

About halfway through his prison sentence, Cohen was released from the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, to home confinement in May 2020 amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. He wound up back in prison that July after refusing to agree not to publish a tell-all book about Trump until hed done his time.

Cohen sued, and Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein quickly released him back to house arrest at his Trump Park Ave. family residence, questioning whether the unusual gag order by the Bureau of Prisons was an act of retaliation.

Early into his prison sentence, Cohen began voluntarily cooperating with Manhattan DA investigators and the New York attorney general in their probes into Trump, meeting at least 20 times with investigators over the coming years.

In March, he testified before the grand jury that indicted Trump on 34 felony counts  each representing a check to Cohen as reimbursement for the hush money. Hes expected to be the star witness in the case headed to trial in March. Trump maintains his innocence.

New York Attorney General Letitia James civil case against the Trump Organization, headed to trial in October, was also born out of information gleaned from Cohen in his testimony before Congress, James has said. Trump and his top executives are accused of committing rampant business fraud in New Yorks real estate market by habitually overvaluing and undervaluing assets by hundreds of millions of dollars. James says Trump bloated his net worth by more than a billion dollars.

Cohen is demanding the Trump Organization pay outstanding fees for three legal firms that represented him in the various cases and probes: the Petrillo firm, the Davis Galper firm, and the Monico Spevack firm. He and his lawyer declined to comment.

Lawyers representing the Trump Organization ignored multiple requests for comment.

Trump also faces federal charges in Florida for mishandling national defense secrets in classified documents he unlawfully took from the White House. Hes pleaded not guilty. He also faces outstanding litigation from E. Jean Carroll. Trump was found liable, at trial in May, of sexually abusing Carroll in a Midtown changing room in the 1990s.
Michigan Transgender Man Attacked in Hate-Fueled Pellet Gun Attack

A transgender man who uses a motorized wheelchair said a laughing assailant in a car shot him multiple times with a pellet gun and also yelled an anti-LGBTQ+ slur before driving away.

Jonathan Blake-Newton revealed the details of the incident, including shocking photos of his injuries and the treatment he received at a local hospital in multiple posts on Facebook.

Blake-Newton said he was heading to the store in his motorized wheelchair on Saturday, July 15, after his food stamps account reloaded. Less than two blocks from his home, an unknown assailant in a small beige four-door car opened fire on Blake-Newton, hitting his legs, arms, and side.

He said the assailant laughed and shouted tr*nny f*gg*t as they drove off leaving him injured and bleeding from multiple wounds.

Blake-Newton, who uses a motorized wheelchair when not in bed and has a history of infections  especially in his legs  contacted his husband back home who immediately called an ambulance.

According to Blake-Newton, though, his troubles were only beginning.

Despite advising staff that he is Super prone to infections, he said they did not clean his wounds but only dabbed saline on them and dressed them with a small piece of folded gauze and tape which he said fell off within minutes, exposing the open wounds.

Blake-Newton also said the hospital refused to admit him for observation for possible infection despite having been admitted to the same hospital twice in the past for infections in his legs.

Im bedridden, prone to infections, have multiple sclerosis, and am allergic to MOST antibiotics, Blake-Newton wrote in a separate post. I asked them to PLEASE admit me for 24-48 hours to observe me and make sure I didnt show signs of infection. Also, my right leg is super messed up, I was swollen before I got shot, and I have been leaking fluid out of this leg for the entire 6 hours that I have been here, and it feels like someone is stabbing my bone with a serrated knife, and yet they said that they got all of the pellets out of me. Im honestly terrified right now.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard confirmed to The Advocate the case is under active investigation and offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those involved in the shooting.

It is reprehensible that someone would do such a cowardly and despicable thing to an individual in a wheelchair, and they need to be held accountable, Bouchard said in a statement provided to The Advocate.

Despite the attack and his experiences at the hospital, Blake-Newton is doing his best to remain positive and see the larger picture.

My hope is that my story will spread, Blake-Newton wrote in his post, And that one trans voice, one trans experience, will encourage other trans voices to join until we finally become loud enough to be heard and that real change will be made.

Editor's note: The below images of injuries might be disturbing to some readers.

www.facebook.com

No trans person should have to fear leaving their home. No trans 

No trans person should have to fear leaving their home. No trans person should have to fear being SHOT, even if its only with a pellet gun when they...
Microsoft and the UK's antitrust regulator have conditionally been granted a two-month pause on their legal battle as the company looks to resolve the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) concerns over its proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Judge Marcus Smith of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), which hears appeals on the CMA's decisions, wants proof from the watchdog that this is the right course of action, but still paused the legal battle for now.

Smith wants the CMA to justify its adjournment application by providing evidence that shows a material change in circumstances or "special reasons" for delaying the litigation. He also wants the regulator to detail any new consultation process it plans to undertake "so that everybody is clear as to how it will work," according to Reuters. The judge asked the CMA to submit evidence on Thursday.

Microsoft appealed the CMA's decision in April to block the merger over cloud gaming concerns. The CAT was due to hear that case starting on July 28th. However, shortly after the Federal Trade Commission lost an attempt to stall the acquisition in the US last week, the CMA said it would consider a modified merger agreement from Microsoft. The CMA, Microsoft and Activision all asked the CAT for more time and the tribunal has granted the request.

CMA lawyer David Bailey told the CAT that the FTC's court loss "formed no part of the CMA's thinking" in terms of its willingness to review a new proposal from Microsoft. "Based upon the discussion to date, both sides  Microsoft and the CMA  have confidence that Microsoft notifying a restructured transaction is capable of addressing the concerns that the CMA has identified," he said.

It emerged during Monday's hearing that Microsoft has yet to submit an amended proposal to the CMA, even though the deadline for the merger is tomorrow, July 18th. It seems unlikely that everything will be resolved by then. If not, Microsoft and Activision will either have to agree to an extension of their current agreement (the most likely outcome given how eager they are to get the deal over the line) or renegotiate terms. Otherwise, Activision can walk away from the deal with a fat $3 billion breakup check from Microsoft in its pocket.

Were grateful the UKs Competition Appeal Tribunal has conditionally agreed to pause the formal appeal process subject to additional information," a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget. "As weve said before, we are considering how the transaction might be modified to address the CMAs concerns. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have agreed with the CMA that this is in the best interest of finding a prompt path forward.

Reports have suggested Microsoft may sell some cloud gaming rights in the UK to satisfy the CMA's concerns. Microsoft has signed deals with third-party cloud gaming companies to offer its games on their platforms, which was enough for the European Union to approve the merger.

Meanwhile, the FTC is still slated to hold its own evidentiary hearing over the acquisition starting on August 2nd. The agency sued to block the merger and it sought a preliminary injunction to prevent Microsoft and Activision Blizzard from closing the deal until it could bring the case to trial, but it was unsuccessful.

As such, Microsoft and Activision will surely be eager to seal things up by the beginning of August. There were suggestions that they'd try to close the merger by the initial deadline despite the CMA dispute and find a workaround to keep doing business in the UK, but with all parties willing to find an amicable resolution, that seems unlikely at this point. The CMA has given itself an extra six weeks, until August 29th, to make a final decision on the case.

Update 7/18 9:18AM ET: Added Microsoft's statement.
By Anirban Sen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Microsoft Corp is in talks about an extension of its acquisition contract with video game maker Activision Blizzard, which is set to expire on Tuesday, so the parties can overcome the remaining regulatory hurdles to their $69 billion deal, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The expiration of the contract would not automatically lead to the collapse of the deal, as it simply affords either company the right to walk away from the transaction.

Nonetheless, Microsoft, which makes the Xbox gaming console, has been seeking the contract extension to ensure that Activision is not wooed by another potential acquirer or has a change of heart, the source said.

The terms of the extension under negotiation and whether it would come with more financially advantageous terms for Activision could not immediately be learned.

The companies will continue to negotiate the extension if they do not have an agreement by the end of Tuesday, according to the source, who requested anonymity because the matter is confidential.

Microsoft and Activision did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An extension would give the companies more time to find a regulatory solution in Britain, the only major jurisdiction that stands in the way of them completing what would be the largest acquisition in the gaming sector.

Microsoft and Activision are negotiating potential remedies with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which they hope will appease its antitrust concerns.

The country's antitrust regulator has argued that Microsoft's commitment to offer access to Activision's multi-billion dollar "Call of Duty" franchise to rival cloud gaming platforms would not effectively protect competition in the market. The CMA has agreed to extend its probe to Aug. 29 to allow for more negotiations with the companies.

Last week, Microsoft signed a pact to keep "Call of Duty" on Sony Group Corp's PlayStation console. Sony had been one of the deal's toughest critics, arguing that it could stifle consumer choice.

On Friday, a U.S. appeals court rejected the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's request to pause Microsoft's acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision. The decision removed one of the last obstacles to the acquisition closing.

Activision's shares closed at $93.2 on Monday, a small discount to the $95-per-share deal price, indicating that most investors now viewed the completion of the deal as likely.

(Reporting by Anirban Sen in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Stephen Coates)
Mid-State Fair brings music, rides and more back to Paso Robles. Heres your guide

Are you ready to shake, rattle and roll at the California Mid-State Fair?

Thats the vintage Las Vegas theme of this years 77th edition, which returns to Paso Robles for 12 days starting Wednesday, packed with family fun including concerts, activities and attractions.

This years fair runs from July 19 to July 30, and in a kick-off bonus, carnival rides will be free for all on opening day.

The fairgrounds will be open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 12 midnight Friday through Sunday.

Heres everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Enjoy a variety of live music

As always, live music remains a centerpiece of the fair, which will host a variety of musical acts, both paid and free. Tickets for the main-stage events are not included with the cost of general admission to the fair, while the free stages are.

This years grandstand stage headliners include artists such as Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, Nelly, Sammy Hagar, Styx and the B-52s. Tickets for the main stage acts range from $30 to $175 and can be purchased online ahead of the show.

Tickets to see Luke Bryan are already sold out.

The Mid-State Fair is opening Wed., July 19 until July 31, 2023. The Chumash Arena will have major acts such as Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, Nelly, Sammy Hagar, Styx and the B-52s.

We pretty much knew when we booked him that the concert would sell out, Colleen Bojorquez, CEO of the Mid-State Fair, said of the venue that seats nearly 14,000 people.

For an additional cost, concertgoers can purchase tickets to the hospitality tent, which comes with amenities such as access to private restrooms, air conditioning, WiFi, complimentary food and a private bar. Ticket costs range from $50 to $75 for main-stage acts.

The 805 Frontier Stage will feature several free concerts including artists such as Ned LeDoux, Scott McCreery, A Flock of Seagulls, Ben Haggard, and Tyler Rich. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additionally, the Mission Square Stage will host a variety of concerts including groups such as ShopRock, The Molly Ringwald Project, The Incrementals and Way Out West.

Every night from 8:30 to midnight, Fiesta de Baile will feature a live DJ playing hits in Spanish and English.

The Fiesta de Baile was new to the fair last year and was a big success, Bojorquez said.

The Mid-State Fair is opening Wed., July 19 until July 31, 2023. The 805 Pioneer Stage will host the free concerts and shows every night.

Carnival rides, games and shops

Beyond the concerts, his years Mid-State Fair will offer no shortage of fun-filled activities for kids and adults.

The carnival will include over 20 rides, a variety of games and a special kids section for young fair-goers.

Bojorquez said that multiple crowd-favorite rides that have not been at the fair for over eight years will be returning this year, such as the Spinning Coaster and the Medusa ride.

Tickets for the carnival rides are not included with the cost of admission. All-inclusive ride wristbands are sold exclusively online, however, tickets for individual rides will be available for purchase at the fair. Tickets for games will be sold separately at the fair.

All inclusive wristbands are currently available for pre-sale and cost $35.

Other activities ranging from pedal tractor races to free train rides will be spread across the fairgrounds at various points throughout the day.

Barnyard racers are returning this year and will include pig, goat and turkey races, Bojorquez said. The Barnyard Racers will be located at the south end of the fairgrounds.

Additionally, local 4-H and FFA kids will be out in force throughout the fair to show and sell their animals and livestock.

Our exhibitors have been working hard all year to make sure you have market-ready animals, Bojorquez said

Fair-goers can also watch a variety of demonstrations including craft-making and apple-pie making.

For those looking to do some shopping, the Mission Market Place will be home to a number of local artisans, growers and producers showcasing their work at the Mid-State Fair this year.

Hambly Farms, a local lavender farm, as well as Kern River Leather, a custom leather goods store, will be among the vendors this year.

Other local artisans will include Windows to Waves, Bens Automotive Decor and Olea Farm.

Vendors that are new to the fair this year include Groves on 41, Cayucos Collective, Junk Girls and Yes Cocktail Co.

The Mid-State Fair is opening Wed., July 19 until July 31, 2023. The carnival is bringing back a roller coaster ride, The Spinning Coaster.

What to eat and drink at the fair

Along with a variety of vendors, this years Mid-State Fair will include a number of specialty food and drink events, including wine tasting and a mixology class.

The fair will feature classic food options such as cheese curds, as well as doughnut burgers, which are new to the fair this year, Bojorquez said.

On July 23 local mixologists, restaurants and bars will compete in a cocktail-making competition. The live event will be followed by a two-hour tasting.

Tickets for that event are currently available for $30 online and include unlimited cocktail tasting.

Adults can also taste a variety of award-winning, local wines at the Mission Square Stage on July 21. The event is free to attend, but tickets for the walk-around tasting are available for sale online for $30.

The 28th annual free pancake breakfast will take place from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Paso Robles Downtown City Park on July 27.

While the pancake breakfast is free, visitors must pickup tickets from downtown merchants the day of the breakfast.

The Mid-State Fair is opening Wed., July 19 until July 31, 2023. The carnival will have favorite rides such as the Giant Wheel and Haunted Mansion.

How to save on tickets

Discounted admission tickets are currently on pre-sale and can be purchased online or for an even further reduced price at local Farm Supply stores in Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Discounted ticket prices are available through Tuesday.

Season passes and daily admission tickets are available.

Online, pre-sale daily admission tickets cost $13 for adults aged 13 to 61, $11 for seniors aged 62 or above and $9 for children aged 6 to 12. Admission is free for children under the age of 5. Pre-sale adult tickets sold at Farm Supply are only $11.50.

Tickets can also be purchased at the gate at an increased price, starting at $15 for adults.

This year, the Mid-State Fair will offer special ticket promotions for seniors, kids and veterans.

On July 21 seniors over the age of 62 can purchase tickets for half off the daily admission price.





On July 28 kids under the age of 12 get in free.





On July 29 veterans, active or retired, receive free admission with a valid military ID.

Parking will be limited

Parking will be extremely limited at the fair, which recommends that visitors consider using public transit as an alternative.

For those who drive themselves, paid parking will be available for $20 per vehicle located across from the Fairgrounds Main Entrance on Riverside Avenue.

Free street parking will be available surrounding the fairgrounds and on Spring Street, which is only two blocks from the fairgrounds, Bojorquez said.

Additionally, a free shuttle service is returning to the fair this year.

The shuttle will run throughout Paso Robles and will stop at multiple pick-up locations including Lowes, City Hall and the Albertsons bus stop, Bojorquez said.

The Paso Robles shuttle service will start at 4 p.m. daily and will continue until the fair closes.

Preparing for the heat

As temperatures are on the rise in SLO County, fair-goers should plan to check the weather ahead of their visit.

The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 90s on opening day.

Fair time is always hot. Once it starts getting hot, people start thinking about the fair, Bojorquez said.

Visitors are allowed to bring two water bottles in to the fair, but two hydration stations will also be available for use, Bojorquez said.
Migrant workers and advocates filed a federal lawsuit Monday to challenge a new Florida law that criminalizes the transportation of individuals who enter the country illegally into the state. They argued that the law is too vague and will result in unlawful arrests, prosecutions, and targeted harassment.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is among a series of measures adopted by state Republican leaders in recent years targeting immigrants entering the country from Mexico.

The measure passed during this springs legislative session included changes to a human-smuggling law to make it a felony to transport into the state an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know has entered the country illegally.

The law imposes penalties on people who transport an immigrant who entered the United States in violation of law and has not been inspected by the federal government since his or her unlawful entry. People can be charged with a second-degree felony for each violation of the law.

But the lawsuit filed Monday in Miami argued that what is known as Section 10 of the law does not include a definition of inspected and thus is hopelessly vague and incoherent.

Section 10 is phrased in a way that could sweep in all manner of immigrants, including people who are lawfully present in the United States or are in the process of seeking lawful immigration status. The statute does not define the term inspected and does not explain what it means to be inspected since entry, lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote in the 33-page complaint.

Plaintiffs include the Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc. and migrant workers and advocates, who are identified by their initials. As an example, one of the plaintiffs, who works for a non-profit, helps bring immigrants from Georgia to Jacksonville for appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials.

Another plaintiff, identified as CA, is a U.S. citizen who lives in Miami and is the legal guardian of her grandson, who was brought to the U.S. by his mother who was fleeing from the country in fear for their lives, according to the lawsuit. CAs grandson is in the process of applying for what is known as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and he and his mother did not have contact with federal immigration authorities when they entered the U.S., the lawsuit said.

Several of the plaintiffs, including CA, frequently traveled to other states to visit family members or for seasonal jobs as migrant workers before the law went into effect on July 1.

The law inflicts enormous harm on peoples ability to go about their daily lives, the plaintiffs attorneys argued.

The law could prevent friends and family from visiting each other, hamper parents from seeking health care for their children and keep church members from bringing fellow congregants to worship, the lawsuit said.

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The law put thousands of Floridians and residents of other states  both citizens and noncitizens alike  at risk of being arrested, charged, and prosecuted with a felony for transporting a vaguely-defined category of immigrants into Florida, the plaintiffs lawyers wrote.

The legal challenge also argued that the state law usurps powers constitutionally vested in the federal government exclusively.

This federal framework is comprehensive and does not permit parallel or supplemental state immigration laws, including laws regarding the smuggling and unlawful transport of noncitizens, the lawsuit said.

The Florida law impedes the federal immigration scheme by preventing immigrants from entering Florida. And it puts state officials in the unlawful position of making complex determinations about peoples immigration status and history, the plaintiffs lawyers added.

DeSantis, a contender in the 2024 Republican race for president, has focused on immigration challenges at the southern border with Mexico as one of his top issues since he was first elected governor in 2018. The state has filed lawsuits during the past few years challenging the Biden administration over its handling of immigration.

The governor also has drawn national headlines for Florida-sponsored charter flights that brought migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts last September and Sacramento, Calif., in June. Alianza Americas and other plaintiffs filed a potential class-action lawsuit challenging the Massachusetts flights.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Monday are represented by lawyers from several immigration- and civil-rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and the American Immigration Council.

The new law (SB 1718) also includes changes such as requiring businesses with more than 25 employees to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of workers.

READ: Floridas new DeSantis-backed laws address immigration, guns and more

At a ceremonial bill-signing event in May, DeSantis blasted federal immigration policies.

This is just chaos, DeSantis told supporters in Jacksonville. We are supposed to be the worlds leading superpower, and yet we cant even maintain control of our own southern border. The Mexican drug cartels have more to say about what goes on at the southern border than our own U.S. government does.

The lawsuit pointed to comments DeSantis and his allies made about the proposed immigration changes.

Senate bill sponsor Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, framed the need for the legislation as the external force that would compel the federal government to fix the problem, the lawsuit said.

This is the point we are at right now. We have to fix this  system. And they continue to refuse to do it. They will only act when they have to and when an external force pushes back. Florida is that external force right now, Ingoglia told a Senate committee in March.

But Mondays lawsuit, which asks a judge to find that the disputed section of the law is unconstitutional and block its enforcement, alleged that the changes will put Farmworker Association of Florida workers  who transport migrants between states  at risk of unlawful arrest, prosecution and harassment.

The law also will impede the federal immigration system by preventing people who live in neighboring states with a variety of immigration statuses from being able to travel to immigration courts and other appointments with federal agencies in Florida, the lawsuit said.

The law is unconstitutionally vague because it fails to provide a person of ordinary intelligence fair notice of what is prohibited, and because it authorizes and encourages arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement, the plaintiffs lawyers argued.

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Militant from Russian armed formation known as "Crimean Self-defence" is detained in Odesa

A traitor who had long been hiding from justice for crimes against Ukraine has been arrested in Odesa.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU); National Police of Ukraine; Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Details: Investigators established that the man had actively participated in the seizure of administrative buildings in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014. As a member of the illegal armed formations Narodnoe Opolcheniye ("People's Militia"), Sudakskaya Rota ("Sudak Company") and "Crimean Self-Defence", he was stationed at checkpoints and illegally searched civilians and their cars.

This would result in people being detained and taken to an unknown destination.

In 2014, the perpetrator received a medal "for the defence of Crimea" for helping the Russian invaders.

Photo: Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Even before the start of the full-scale invasion, the militant - disguised as an internally displaced person from Ukraine's south - moved to Vinnytsia, where his relatives lived.

According to the information available, the reason for his "relocation" was a conflict with the group's leaders, the SSU notes.

The man later moved to Odesa, where he "lay low" and thus tried to evade justice for his crimes. In the course of counter-subversive measures, SSU officers located him and detained him at his place of temporary residence.

Photo: National Police of Ukraine

A search revealed physical evidence of his criminal activity.

Based on the evidence collected, the detainee was charged with treason, encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, and participation in an illegal armed formation.

Photo: Security Service of Ukraine

He faces up to 15 years in prison.

The court granted the request of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and the suspect was arrested without bail.

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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) compared Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to a house slave character in the film Django Unchained in an interview last week.

Speaking with the Michigan Chronicle, Ellison, who previously served in Congress, argued that there should be term limits for Supreme Court justices and urged Congress to impose ethical rules on the court.

He noted the recent controversies surrounding Thomas and his conservative colleagues, who have accepted lavish gifts and travel from wealthy GOP donors.

And, you know, maybe we can pass an ethical standard for them so that they cant be so obviously bought off by outside interests, Ellison said in the interview.

Asked about Thomas, Ellison told Michigan Chronicle journalist Andre Ash the justice should be removed from his position entirely.

Anyone who has watched the movie Django, just watch Stephen and you see Clarence Thomas. Ellison told Ash, comparing Thomas to the house slave portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film.

Clarence Thomas has decided that his best personal interest is siding with the powerful and the special interests regardless of who theyre going hurt, Ellison added.

So hes abdicating his responsibility. He has abdicated it a long time ago. When he got in office, he was this way, hes this way now, maybe hes worse now. So Clarence Thomas needs to be impeached, Ellison said in the interview, which was highlighted by Mediaite Monday.

Ellisons remarks come as Thomas faces intense scrutiny over reports that he accepted undisclosed luxury vacations from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Crow also reportedly paid tuition for the private school Thomass great-nephew attended and purchased several properties owned by Thomas and his family.

Clarence Thomas is illegitimate and has no basis in the job that hes in. And its a lesson to us as African Americans, Ellison said.

What is the lesson? Well, we all thought Well, hes a Black man raised in the deep south. He knows what racism, segregation is. He knows what affirmative action is, he added. Hes gonna come around one day. Understand that its not a matter of pigment. Its not whats on your skin, its whats in your mind.

Ellisons comment drew blowback from some on the right, who said he crossed a line with the comparison.

The lefts vile, vicious attempts to smear Justice Thomas are utterly transparent, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a tweet. They just cant stand that he doesnt share their radical orthodoxy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Amina Alhaj-Omar was found dead weeks after vanishing in Ohio (Family handout )

The family of an Ohio State University graduate student who was found dead in a quarry weeks after she vanished have paid tribute to her as a bubbly, shy, caring, funny, and loving human being.

Amina Alhaj-Omar, 26, vanished from Columbus on 10 June. She was last seen at a BP gas station, where she was reportedly spotted carrying two knives.

Her body was discovered in a quarry behind the petrol garage on 12 July.

On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from the Franklin County detectives when they later came to our home and informed the family that they had found Aminas body in the quarry behind the BP gas station on S High Street where she was last seen, a statement from Alhaj-Omars family read.

We are unaware of the details at this time as we have not yet received the autopsy report. We would like to ask the public for their prayers for Amina.

In an obituary for the student, her family said she was a bubbly, shy, caring, funny, and loving human being.

Most people who truly knew Amina immediately remember her laugh  it was contagious and brought happiness to everyone in the room, the family said in 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.

The grim discovery followed a weeks-long search that began after police received a call from Olen Corporations Columbus plant about a tresspasser, who authorities believe may have been Alhaj-Omar - however when police arrived she had vanished.

Alhaj-Omars shoes, cellphone and jacket were found by the gas staton, and her family said following her disappearance they feared she may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
A worker drinks water at the construction site which is 1,840 meters below ground under the Qinling Mountains in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 18, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has dug through a mountain range to supply water from a tributary of the country's longest river Yangtze to quench the droughty north.



Tunnels beneath the Qinling Mountains on Sunday started sending water from the Hanjiang River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze, to the Weihe River, a tributary of the Yellow River, said the water resources department of Shaanxi Province.

Officials hailed the project for allowing water from tributaries of the country's two largest rivers to meet in Shaanxi, one of the most drought-ridden provinces in northwest China.

Involving total investments of 51.6 billion yuan (7.2 billion U.S. dollars), the project started construction in 2011 to bring water from Hanjiang in water-rich southern Shaanxi northward to Weihe, which traverses the more thirsty central parts of the province.

It is one of the most challenging engineering projects in China as it requires constructing 98.3-km tunnels underneath the Qinling Mountains, a natural boundary between China's north and south.

So far, the project has completed the first phase to link the two rivers through tunnels, while the second and third phases of sending water to other places in central Shaanxi are still under construction.

After the entire project is completed, it will relieve water supply strains in Shaanxi cities such as Xi'an and Xianyang, benefiting 14.11 million people. It will also spare more water resources for northern Shaanxi to develop its energy industry, said Zheng Weiguo, director of the provincial water resources department.

"This project has far-reaching significance. It will quench northern Shaanxi, nourish central Shaanxi, and boost green development of southern Shaanxi," Zheng said, adding the project will also allow southern Shaanxi to harness local water resources for green development.
Missing toddler last seen in Virginia Beach considered to be in extreme danger, state police say

Police are searching for a 3-year-old North Carolina girl said to be in extreme danger after she was believed to have been last seen Friday morning at her grandmothers house in Virginia Beach.

According to a news release from the Virginia Beach Police Department, Samalea Monet Daniels was taken from her fathers house in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, by her mother, who also lives in Virginia Beach.

Samalea is said to be with Tianna Mila Daniels, 29, in a grey 2011 Ford Escape. The vehicles tag number is N4M45T3. Samalea is said to be 2 feet, 10 inches tall with brown eyes, but is is unknown what she may have been wearing. She is estimated to weigh about 25 pounds.

Tianna Daniels is 5-foot-6 and 130 pounds. She has hazel eyes, and it is unknown what she may be wearing.

On Saturday, the Virginia State Police issued a missing/endangered alert for Samalea and asked anyone with information to call 911 or Virginia Beach police at 757-385-5000.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
The Mississippi State Department of Health on Monday began offering a religious exemption option in addition to the existing medical exemption process to people who have religious beliefs that prevent them from vaccinating themselves or their children who otherwise are required to receive vaccinations to attend schools.

The exemption offering, available in a form downloadable on the MSDH website, comes in compliance with a federal court order entered April 17 in response to a lawsuit filed last year by parents who said their religious beliefs have led them to keep their children unvaccinated.

In announcing that the religious exemption offering is now available, MSDH officials said they stand by the long-standing policy of having children vaccinated and cited the success of vaccines in preventing and curbing the spread of diseases.

Interim State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Taylor said in a press statement that MSDH urges parents to consider getting their children vaccinated.

"Because of our long-existing and strong immunizations program, Mississippi has not recorded a measles case since 1992 even as other states have seen cases and outbreaks in recent years," Taylor said. "MSDH urges parents to carefully consider the importance of vaccinating our children and continues to encourage all individuals to remain current on all vaccinations unless medically contraindicated."

State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said in the statement that the MSDH supports school vaccines.

"MSDH stands with the Board of Health in support of the current School Vaccination Law, which has protected our children for over 40 years," Edney said.

Dr. Daniel P. Edney

In the April 17 court decision, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden set a July 15 deadline for the Mississippi State Department of Health to allow the religious exemptions.

The state already allows people to apply for medical exemptions for a series of five vaccinations that are required for children to enroll in public or private school, the Associated Press reported. The immunizations are against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; polio; hepatitis; measles, mumps and rubella; and chickenpox.

Ozerden ordered Mississippi to join most other states in allowing religious exemptions from childhood vaccinations

"The lawsuit, funded by the Texas-based Informed Consent Action Network, argued that Mississippis lack of a religious exemption for childhood vaccinations violates the U.S. Constitution," according to the AP reports.

MSDH issues medical exemptions when a Mississippi-licensed pediatrician, family physician or internist completes the exemption form (Form 139-M) and submits it to the State Epidemiologist for review, according to MSDH officials.

MSDH said that for a religious exemption, a parent or guardian must schedule an appointment at a county health department and submit Form 139-R. During the appointment, the parent or guardian will be required to watch a vaccine education video and have an opportunity to ask questions. Staff will complete Form 139-R and submit the completed form to the State Epidemiologist for review.

All children entering a Mississippi school (any grade) for the first time must have the immunizations below. This includes Pre-K, 4-year-olds and 12th grade, according to MSDH.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (5c doses)  A severe infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxins. It can lead to difficulty breathing, heart rhythm problems, and even death.

Polio (4d doses)  A disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person's spinal cord, causing paralysis.

Hepatitis (3 doses)  inflammation of the liver.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2e)  The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing severe disease, complications and even death.

Varicella (chickenpox) (2f)  An illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It brings on an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters.

In each exemption process, a parent or guardian will be informed of any vaccine-preventable diseases for which the child has not been adequately immunized and current outbreaks that may prevent the child from attending daycare or school.

"The State Epidemiologist will approve and issue exemptions when parents or guardians (religious) or physicians (medical) complete the required process and request form," according to the press release. "The Form 122 providing documentation of the exemption will be provided to the parent or guardian, the physician (if applicable), and the school if that information is provided on the form."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi now offers religious vaccine exemptions through MSDH
Raymond Ralph Camery of Modesto was presumed dead aboard a ship attacked at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Eight decades later, DNA samples have confirmed it.

The U.S. Navy will bury Camery with full honors on Thursday, July 20, in Honolulu. It is part of the militarys effort to put a name to every service member killed in action, no matter how long it takes.

Camerys survivors declined media interviews about his identification, said an email from the Navy Office of Community Outreach in Millington, Tenn.

The staff did provide a Q&A about the general process from Timothy Hunter, acting director of the Navy Casualty Office.

Being able to recover and identify the remains of sailors aids in closure for the families, he said, and it is especially important to the Navy to honor these sailors who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for our country.

Navy personnel try to rescue sailors on the USS Oklahoma, including Raymond Camery of Modesto, on Dec. 7, 1941. U.S. Navy

Camery was born in Newman in 1915 and was living in Modesto when he joined the Navy. He was a fireman first-class aboard the battleship Oklahoma when it was hit on Dec. 7, 1941. The email provided more details on that harrowing Sunday morning:

The Oklahomas port side was ripped open by nine torpedoes dropped from Japanese planes. Aerial machine gunners strafed the sailors who responded. The battleship rolled onto its side and began to sink.

Men trapped inside started banging on the bulkhead trying to get the attention of passing small boats, the account said. On Dec. 8 and 9, after cutting holes in the exposed bottom of the ship, 32 men were pulled out alive. Banging continued through Dec. 10, but nothing could be done. The sound was coming from below the water line, and the helpless sailors standing watch over the Oklahoma could only wait and listen until the banging stopped.

The Oklahoma eventually sank to the harbor bottom, with an estimated 429 sailors inside. They were counted among a total of 2,403 service members and civilians who died at Pearl Harbor.

Brief mention five months later

The Modesto Bee did not report on Camery until May 5, 1942, when the Navy released its first list of fallen World War II sailors. The article said only that he was the son of Elizabeth Gertrude Radcliffe, 314 Yosemite Blvd.

As a fireman first-class, Camery had worked in the engine room, the Navy office said. He did minor repairs and was on track to train in propulsion, welding, fabrication and plumbing.

The Navy recovered the remains of all of the Oklahoma sailors when it righted the ship in 1944 in an attempt to salvage it. Only 41 of them could be identified with the technology of the time, which did not include DNA analysis. In 1950, the others were buried without confirmed names at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

There they rested until 2015, when the Pentagon redoubled its effort to identify lost service members from all wars. The Oklahoma remains were exhumed from the Hawaii cemetery for DNA testing. These samples were compared with others from living descendants. Its a complex process, but it has succeeded with all but 32 of the men on the Oklahoma.

The Navy assigns a caseworker for each family seeking to have remains identified. It pays for reburial at the cemetery of their choice and for travel and lodging for up to three blood relatives.

Fireman First-Class Camerys service will be at the same Honolulu cemetery where his remains sat for decades. The Navy will provide a rifle salute and play Taps.

Families have mix of emotions

Hunter expanded on the Navy Casualty Offices work with loved ones.

Most often the notification and identification briefing is emotional, overwhelming and relieving all at the same time for the families, he said. Most families cannot believe their loved ones were recovered after so many years. They prayed or hoped to have closure someday.

DNA is the complex chains of molecules that determine the traits of living things. Its function was discovered in 1953.

At least one other local serviceman was identified this way. The Modesto Bee reported in 2000 on Marine Pfc. Ashley Hicks of Hughson, who died in a 1942 raid on Makin Atoll in the South Pacific. The remains of Hicks and 30 fellow commandos were finally found in 1999. He came home to a burial with honors at Lakewood Memorial Park.
This U.S. Geological Survey photograph shows the extent of the flooding through which Annette Mills and her family traveled in 1998.

The water was rising quickly in southeast Ohio 25 years ago.

Late in June 1998, a Canton family got caught in the worst of it. Driving home from a pleasant vacation in North Carolina, the Mills family drove into a storm that included tornadoes and flooding. Suddenly their trip turned harrowing.

Annette Mills was driving her 1996 Pontiac Bonneville north when they entered Ohio and encountered the storm. In the car were her mother Shairron Reed, her 16-year-old son Andrew Melott, her 15-year-old daughter Mindy Foy, her 4-year-old son Christopher Mills, and her toddler granddaughter Abbey Foy.

They left Marietta behind and headed north on Interstate Route 77 through Washington County into Noble County. A sign said that I-77 was closed ahead.

"There were no cars on the southbound lane," said Mills. "I had no idea how high the water was (on I-77)."

Soon, they were directed off the highway, recalled Andrew Melott. They got gas at a service station, one of the last cars to be able to fill up, as it turned out. Her mother went inside and bought water.

There was a Best Western motel near the gas station, but there were no vacancies. They and others gathering to wait out the storm were offered space in the lobby, but the large room was walled in by glass windows, not the place to be huddled during a threatened tornado.

Sheriff's deputies advised the family to head east on Route 147.

Water rises, mud flows

"We tried to navigate the back roads," Melott remembered.

Those roads were narrow and winding and hilly. Visibility at times was a few yards.

"We continued on," said Mills. "Basically, I just kept driving and the weather was getting worse. The water was coming up on the sides of the car. It was getting deeper."

At one point, when the car was crossing a causeway, with a lake on either side, water rose so high that the family opened the electric windows, so they wouldn't be trapped if the vehicle was swept into deeper water. They made plans for older children to hold younger ones if they had to hastily leave the car.

Mills recalls at one point seeing mud slide on a hill beside the road, something she later admitted frightened her worse than the rising water.

Melott doesn't recall being scared at any time during the ordeal.

"I've always had a sense of adventure," he explained. "And, I think we were a bit naive. We didn't realize how bad it was getting around us.

"Plus, I think we felt there was safety in numbers. There were other cars doing the same thing."

Indeed, a caravan of several cars had developed, all following Mills. It was the middle of the afternoon, but much of the sky looked like night.

Finding higher ground

"I saw a knoll on the right and it said 'Bait Shop,' said Mills. We drove to the highest point on that hill. Cars followed me. To be totally honest, I had no idea where I was going. I just looked for higher ground."

When they finally found that high ground, they met a woman living in a mobile home next to the water.

"She came out and told us that the road we came in on was totally under water," recalled Mills. "So, we were stuck."

Mills said they spent the night in their car, as did other travelers. It was "incredibly hot and humid," she recalled. Mosquitos swarmed. Mills said she never slept.

"We did run the car periodically to cool it off," said Mills.

Early the next morning, Mills managed to reach out to her husband, who had stayed at home.

"To my knowledge, I was the only one who had a cell phone," Mills explained. "It was a bag phone and it only would work down by the water. It sometimes did and sometimes not."

Her husband, David, first contacted the Noble County sheriff and then reached out to his brother, Mike, who lived in Zanesville and who rode horses on those back roads. His knowledge of the area would assist in an attempt to reach the family.

Man steps up to the rescue

But, before that reunion could occur, an unlikely rescuer showed up.

"In the daylight, we could see how many people were up there with us," said Mills.

They also could see the devastation flood water had caused. Farms were flooded. Boats and docks were submerged. And radio reports suggested that higher water was on its way.

"Then a gentleman came to the car," Mills remembered.

He identified himself by his disconcerting nickname.

"Hi, my name is Rotten Randy and I'm a biker and I've done a lot of bad things in the past, but today's your lucky day."

The bearded and burly man, a little scruffy and appearing rough around the edges, moved Mills' family and another family, along with a woman with a bad heart, across the water on his pontoon boat.

Rotten Randy initially took his passengers to a biker lodge, Mills said.

"They were very nice," said Mills. "Then they took us in vans to a gymnasium in a local school, where we could use phones and take showers and they had beds set up."

The emergency shelter was an elementary school, said her son. And it's where David and Mike Mills caught up with them.

"They came to get us in a pickup with an extended cab and they took everybody back to Mike's place in Zanesville," said Mills

About a month later, she was able to pick up her Bonneville. Mills said crews fixed the roads during the intervening time.

"My car started right up. I couldn't believe it," she said. "I drove it back home."

Mills said the story of the weather-plagued trip has become a bit of a "standard story when we're all together as a family." It's been told often. And what is her favorite part of the tale?

Rotten Randy, of course.

She called him "a gift from God."

"He was a blessing," Mills said. "Never judge someone by the way they look."

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The Monday After: Canton family escapes rising water after vacation
Crews on the scene of a fire in Rosemead on Sunday. (Los Angeles County Fire Department)

A large fire broke out Sunday afternoon in Rosemead, drawing a response of more than 100 firefighters, authorities said.

Two single-story commercial buildings caught fire in the 9000 block of Garvey Avenue, according to a Twitter post from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and crews battled the blaze for several hours before it was knocked down.

It was unclear what sparked the fire, and the Fire Department did not immediately return messages seeking comment Sunday.

Read more: As heat wave scorches California, firefighters make headway against wildfires

More than 100 firefighters had responded to the fire by 4 p.m., trying to keep the flames from spreading to other buildings. No firefighters or civilians were injured, according to the Fire Department's Twitter posts.

About 5:30 p.m., the Fire Department tweeted that crews were still at the scene and would be "in defense mode for some time" at the three-alarm blaze. About 7:20, an official post saying the fire had been knocked down was accompanied by an image of heavy construction equipment among piles of rubble.

The stretch of Garvey Avenue where the fire broke out is a commercial corridor, lined with strip malls, restaurants and shops, near the Rosemead-El Monte border.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A pod of more than 50 pilot whales has died after a mass stranding on a northwestern Scottish island, according to a marine charity on the ground.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which responded to the report of the stranding on Sunday, said most of the 55-strong pod died shortly after washing up by the village of North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis, with only 15 still alive when they were found Sunday morning.

Many of the animals were already found dead, so it seems that they had been stranded during the night, Dan Jarvis, BDMLRs Director of Welfare, said.

Speaking to CNN on Monday, he explained that whales can only survive for around six hours on land before they start to deteriorate.

Pilot whales are sociable animals, so if one becomes stranded, experts believe others from the pod will follow and also become stranded. - Mairi Robertson-Carrey/BDMLR

They have lost the ability to support their own weight when theyre out of water because they live in the marine environment where theyre essentially weightless  their skeletal structure doesnt have to support their own weight any more, Jarvis told CNN.

When the marine animals begin stretching, they gradually start to crush themselves under their own weight, which can cut off circulation and lead to a buildup of toxins that can be fatal, he explained.

After attempts to refloat two of the more active whales, one was successfully released, while the other was re-stranded and later died.

Officials made the decision to euthanize the remaining whales, which had been out of the water for hours, on welfare grounds around 3:30 p.m. (10.30 a.m. ET), after concluding that the shallow beach and rough wave conditions made it too unsafe to refloat the remaining animals, the statement from BDMLR said.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) said it could be the largest fatal mass stranding event weve had in Scotland for decades.

Why do strandings happen?

Known to be gregarious, pilot whales have extremely strong social and emotional bonds with one another, Jarvis told CNN. If one animal is in difficulty and becomes stranded, the rest of the group  or at least some of them  will follow that animal in trouble and get stranded as well.

One of the dead whales appeared to have a vaginal prolapse, which experts believe could have been the reason the entire pod was stranded.

The SMASS said on social media that it will be conducting sampling and necropsies of the whales to better understand their health and why they may have stranded.

Whale strandings are on the rise in the UK, although experts are still looking for a reason behind the increase.

Were not entirely certain why that might be, whether thats a shift in the range and distribution of the population. Maybe its climate change related and theyre being pushed further to the food, or away from other areas that they used to inhabit and theyre exploring new areas, Jarvis said.

Peter Evans, a veteran marine mammal scientist and director of Sea Watch Foundation, a UK marine environmental research organization, told CNN in an email Monday that while overall whale strandings arent rising, they may be in the case of certain species.

Trends can reflect increased population sizes, some specific human pressure causing mortality (e.g. underwater noise, entanglement in fishing gear), or simply improved reporting, he said.

One cause of underwater noise is the use of sonar  using sound waves to see in water  by the military. According to a study published in the journal PNAS last year, multiple whale species slowed or halted foraging behaviors when they heard naval sonar or predator sounds.

But there is no single cause for a stranding, Evans emphasized, adding that they could be the result of injury, poor health or navigational error.

Pilot whale strandings are common across the world. In the UK, the largest stranding of pilot whales was in Scotland in 2011, when 77 were found stuck on the countrys northerly shores, according to Jarvis.

Last September, around 200 were beached along the coast of Tasmania, Australia. Of that number, only 35 survived and were refloated. Tasmanias largest stranding was in 2020, when more than 450 pilot whales were found.

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A pod of more than 50 pilot whales died Sunday after a mass stranding on the beach of a Scottish isle.

Just one whale survived, according to marine charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

The organization was alerted to the beached whales by North Tosta on the Isle of Lewis around 7 a.m. local time. Only 15 of the approximately 55 beached whales were still alive when rescue teams arrived.

Rescue workers tried to refloat the surviving whales, according to the marine charity, but three more died as rescue teams worked, leaving 12 still alive  8 adults and 4 calves.

By around 3:30 p.m., veterinarians concluded the rough waves and shallow beach made it too unsafe to refloat the whales, and they were euthanized.

The organization said it was an "incredibly complex rescue." The area was remote, so medics needed to drive up to five miles to get service in order to communicate with rescue coordinators. Flotation pontoons also needed to be flown in. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue said the organization was "desperately short of response equipment" after Sunday's rescue efforts.

While officials have not come to a final conclusion about why the mass stranding happened, the marine charity believes one of the whales beached while giving birth. "Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow," the organization said.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme will conduct necropsies to determine the cause. People were advised to avoid the area to make sure the necropsies could be done without interference. The organization said Sunday's beaching is believed to be the largest fatal mass stranding event in Scotland for decades.

Nearly 500 pilot whales died in two stranding events in New Zealand last year. In Australia, a mass stranding in 2020 left at least 380 whales dead.

Sunday's mass stranding happened just days after 78 pilot whales were killed as part of a traditional hunt in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing, semi-autonomous region of Denmark.

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Authorities in Moscow blamed Ukraine for an apparent attack Monday on a key bridge that connects the occupied Crimean Peninsula with southern Russia and has become a symbol of President Vladimir Putin's rule.

It is the second time in less than a year that the 12-mile bridge across the Kerch Strait has been attacked. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced what he called "another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime, lamented the death of a couple and injuries to their teenage daughter and vowed to retaliate.

Russia's Investigative Committee described Monday's strike as a "terrorist attack" and claimed it was carried out by Ukrainian special forces using naval drones.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence, declined comment but said "the peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers. And Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko hinted at involvement when he said the agency would share details of how the bang was organized after Ukraine wins the war.

Satellite images taken Monday morning by Maxar Technologies showed serious damage to both eastbound and westbound lanes of the bridge on the part nearest to the Russian mainland; at least one section has collapsed.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, urged the Kremlin to retaliate with "targeted and quite inhumane steps" against those involved in the bridge attack. "Their own homes and the houses of their relatives should be blown up," Medvedev said, adding that Russian authorities must "search for and wipe out their accomplices."

Developments:

 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said two-way traffic on one side of the bridge won't be restored until September, and that full restoration of traffic heading toward Crimea will have to wait until November. He also said a destroyed portion of the bridge can't be restored. Khusnullin later said vehicle traffic had resumed in one lane.

 Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said her country reclaimed nearly 7 square miles in the last week and has liberated 81 square miles since the counteroffensive began in early June.

 President Joe Biden will meet Tuesday with Pope Francis peace envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, as part of the Holy Sees peace and humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine, the White House and Vatican said Monday.

Damage is shown on parts of the bridge connecting the Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait on July 17, 2023.

Russia pulling out of Black Sea grain deal

An agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grains and other foodstuffs via its Black Sea ports expired Monday after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was canceling the deal because his country was not being allowed to export its food and fertilizer. The West denies claims the Russian shipments were being held up, saying the commodities have been exempted from sanctions.

"As soon as the Russian part is fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately return to the implementation of this deal," Peskov said. He said the attack on the Crimean bridge would have no effect on the deal, which was brokered in July 2022 by the U.N. and Turkey. The agreement has allowed for safe passage of more than 32 million metric tons of food products from Ukrainian ports and helped to reduce food prices more than 20% since March 2022, the U.N. says.

"Today's decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere,'' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia's withdrawal from the deal "blackmail'' and said his country will try to continue shipping grain despite the threat posed by the Russian navy in the Black Sea. "We are not afraid," Zelenskyy said.

Crimean bridge attack not same as striking inside Russia, White House says

The White House is not in position to attribute the source of the Crimean bridge attack but considers it different than a strike inside Russian territory, which the U.S. does not support, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing Monday.

While not pinning the early-morning explosion that damaged the bridge on the Ukrainians, Kirby said they have a right to defend their land. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and continues to occupy it.

"They're fighting for their own country. Crimea is Ukraine,'' Kirby said. "We don't tell them what is or what isn't legally a legitimate target. They determine their targets for themselves.'' Kirby also said he has seen no evidence the attack prompted Russia to let the Black Sea grain deal expire, a decision he said caused the price of corn, soybeans and wheat to "shot up today.''

"We're seeing the impact right now," he said.

Contributing: Francesca Chambers

Russians amass 100,000 troops, make headway in Kharkiv province

The northeastern Kharkiv province, much of which was reclaimed by Ukraine last year, appears to be emerging as another front in a war where most of the fighting has been focused in the east and south.

Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said Monday that Russia has compiled more than 100,000 troops, 900-plus tanks and nearly 400 multiple-rocket launchers in the area. Officials say fighting has intensified near the cities of Kupiansk and nearby Lyman. Maliar said Russian forces began to make headway late last week.

"The enemy has been actively advancing in the Kupiansk direction in the Kharkiv region for two days in a row,'' she said on Telegram. "We are on the defensive. There are fierce battles. The positions of the parties change dynamically several times a day.''

Trump doubles down on claim he could end war in 24 hours

Former President Donald Trump is defending a controversial claim that he could forge a Ukraine peace within 24 hours of returning to the White House, saying he would tell Zelenskyy to make a deal.

Trump, speaking on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," said he has a good relationship with Zelenskyy and Putin.

"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," said Trump, who has a sizable lead in early polling for the Republican presidential nomination.

Zelenskyy has dismissed Trump's assertion that the deal could be made so quickly, saying Trump probably would pressure Ukraine into ceding territory to Russia, a concession Zelenskyy has rejected.

Russia firing commanders amid insubordination claims

The Russian Defense Ministry has begun removing commanders from some of the militarys most effective units, probably because of insubordination, a Washington-based think tank reports. The Institute for the Study of War says some of those being fired had attempted to bypass Army Gen. Valery Gerasimov and bring complaints directly to Putin.

Insubordination among commanders appears to be spreading to some of their soldiers, the institute adds in its latest update. It says Russian military bloggers shared an audio excerpt in which some soldiers threatened to withdraw from their positions in the occupied Kherson region if popular Col. Gen. Mikhail Teplinsky was arrested. The soldiers are "blackmailing" the ministry on behalf of Teplinsky despite his previous affiliation with Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a brief, ill-fated armed rebellion on June 24 apparently aimed at overthrowing Gerasimov among others.

Ukraine counteroffensive expected to make more gains

A senior Estonian defense intelligence official said a combination of factors indicated Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia "could soon expect greater success." Col. Margo Grosberg, commander of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, told his country's media that Russia was running out of reserve soldiers, its generals were reporting resupply problems, and Ukrainian forces were destroying Russian command posts and logistics centers in areas bordering the eastern city of Bakhmut as they pushed east.

Bomb threat forces evacuation of Kyiv hospital

Hundreds of patients and staff were evacuated from a Kyiv hospital Monday after reports that bombs had been planted at the facility. Police were combing the building in search of explosives. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said almost 250 patients and more than 200 medical staff were evacuated.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Russian officials seeks 'inhumane' retaliation
A 35-year-old Minneapolis man has been charged with driving drunk and hitting two people on a Columbia Heights sidewalk last week, killing one and critically injuring the other.

Cody John Jazdzewski was driving a 1998 BMW convertible south on Central Avenue when he left the road near 39th Avenue about 10:30 p.m. and struck Carrie Lynn Rivero and James Junior Beller, according to an Anoka County criminal complaint and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Rivero, 58, of Minneapolis, died at the scene. Beller, 63, of Minneapolis, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

A State Patrol trooper dispatched to the scene found Jazdzewskis badly damaged car up against a tree. Jazdzewski, who had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred his speech, admitted to drinking alcohol before driving, the complaint said.

A preliminary breath test showed he had a bloodalcohol concentration of 0.131, the complaint said. The Minnesota legal limit to drive is 0.08. He consented to a blood draw, which has been forwarded to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for laboratory analysis.

Jazdzewski was treated for minor injuries at HCMC, then booked into the Anoka County jail.

Reminders of the crash remained Monday afternoon. A downed metal fence and light pole were in a yard. Tires marks ran over the curb and across the sidewalk, while brick on the side of an insurance office showed where Jazdzewskis BMW swiped the building.

Jazdzewski was charged with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation, causing great bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol. Hes due back in court Aug. 16.

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A mountain biker died after helping rescue four hikers overcome by heat and dehydration in arid mountains near San Diego, California firefighters told news outlets.

Firefighters rescued the hikers from the Carrizo Gorge area, described as very rugged and remote, in the Jacumba Mountains on Saturday, July 15, Cal Fire/ San Diego County Fire reported on Facebook.

The hikers, who did not have food or water, were found by four bicyclists, firefighters told KGTV. Two rode out to meet rescuers and guide them to the hikers, while two remained.

Rescuers airlifted the hikers, who all required medical care, to safety and the two bicyclists who remained began to ride out together, fire officials told KGTV.

The two cyclists became separated, and rescuers later found one overcome by heat about a quarter-mile up the trail, KSWB reported.

The bicyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition, firefighters reported.

He could not be revived and later died, KNSD reported. Two other bicyclists also required medical care.

Temperatures in the Jacumba Mountains reached 106 degrees Saturday, KSWB reported.

Please remember to bring an adequate amount of water and food if you are enjoying our backcountry and try to plan activities earlier in the day when the temperatures are cooler, firefighters advised on Facebook. Also, hike in a group and let friends and family know where youll be and what time you expect to finish.

The Jacumba Mountains are about 100 miles east of San Diego.

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Moving migrants from police stations is top priority, Mayor Johnson says on tour of new welcome center at Clemente high school

Mayor Brandon Johnson toured a new welcoming center for migrants at a Chicago Public Schools campus on Monday, as hundreds of asylum-seekers continue to wait for shelter inside police stations with no immediate end in sight.

Johnson was joined by CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and other city officials inside Roberto Clemente Community Academy, where a new center dedicated to assisting young migrants in the West Town community area will debut this week, funded through CPS regular operating budget. The new resource hub  designed to help youth enroll in school, as well as connect with medical care, temporary housing and other social services  was pitched as a pilot program that the mayors administration hopes to replicate citywide.

Let me be very clear: Regardless of the language that a family speaks, their country of origin or the circumstances that have brought them to our city, this local center is equipped to serve them, Johnson said at a news conference following his tour. This welcome center reflects what we believe is the core of our city  that every person who steps foot in Chicago deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and its the diversity of our city that makes us the unique city that we are.

The citys celebratory rollout comes as nearly 900 asylum-seekers continue to huddle inside Chicago police station lobbies, despite concerns surrounding their living conditions, as well as an ongoing investigation into whether officers engaged in sexual misconduct involving migrants in the departments 10th District in Little Village.

At the Monday news conference, Johnson said the probe remains ongoing and that the police watchdog agency, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, will have an update on Tuesday.

I understand that there will be new information. It is still being investigated, Johnson said. When asked if the officers allegedly involved in sexual misconduct should still be on the job, he replied, I believe that under the policies that we have now, that as an investigation is underway, that these accusations are just that.

More than 11,000 migrants have come to Chicago since last August, when Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent the first busload of asylum-seekers to northern sanctuary cities, arguing they should happily fulfill their promise to welcome migrants instead of placing the obligation on southern border states. Since then, officials including Johnson, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and former Mayor Lori Lightfoot have described Abbotts actions as a cruel political stunt, but the waves of new arrivals have not stopped.

Chicago leaders have maintained they will not turn their backs on these migrants, who largely hail from Venezuela and other countries in Central and South America, as they wait for their asylum status applications in the U.S. to be processed. But the federal government has lagged with issuing permits needed for them to start work while also offering less-than-desired emergency funding for local governments.

In the nations third-largest city, the challenges have ballooned in recent months, with reports of migrant families eating cold or moldy food inside makeshift shelters, sleeping inside bus stations or tents on the street and crowding inside Chicago police stations.

As of Monday, 878 newly arrived migrants were staying inside police stations and 69 at OHare International Airport, according to the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communication. According to a Friday briefing to aldermen, more than 100 migrants in those settings were children.

The 10th District police station in Little Village and Lawndale has been cleared of all migrant families waiting inside for placement following the citys acknowledgment this month that officers were being investigated over whether they engaged in sexual acts with migrants housed there, possibly including a minor.

Pressed Monday to name a timeline for moving the remaining hundreds of migrants out of Chicago Police Department stations, Johnson merely said it would happen as soon as possible. That is our top priority.

Yes, there is urgency, he said. We have a number of facilities that we are in the process of standing up.  But as has been articulated, as we decompress, more arrive.

Mondays tour included four classrooms set up with free school supplies, tablets displaying the CPS website and flashy backdrops with Welcome printed in various languages.

Federal and local policies allow children to enroll in public school regardless of immigration status, and 20% of CPS students are English learners, officials said. The district added $15 million for English language learning services to this school years budget, $8 million of which goes toward enrollment adjustments for the schools that will receive most of the new arrivals.

The Clemente pilot will be appointment-only and is geared toward prospective students in the West Town neighborhood. Young migrants outside that area will be referred back to CPS, officials said. Teens will be enrolled at the high school, which is known for its large Latino population and location next to the heart of the citys Puerto Rican population in Humboldt Park, while younger children will be enrolled at the local elementary schools that also have dual language programs.

I will tell you, for me, this is a very small investment, Martinez said. I think each center, we estimate that it might cost us somewhere around maybe three-quarters of a million dollars. I see it as a great pilot.

Besides the welcoming center, the city has stood up about a dozen shelters for migrants in wards spanning from Rogers Park to downtown to Ford City. About 3,200 new arrivals have exited the citys shelter system so far, aldermen were told Friday, while about 5,300 remain at one of those centers, which have proved divisive among some neighbors upset with their presence.

Johnson defended his administrations mobilization on the issue thus far, noting that his deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas and others have done outstanding in building an entire operation that did not exist. But the new mayor, who has been in office for two months, also hinted Monday at the challenges at hand, joking about the often-futile preparation educators make to ensure the school year starts off smoothly.

I know this is going to be just like that, Johnson, a former teacher, teased, to which Clemente Principal Devon Morales responded: There are no lesson plans involved.
How much opioid settlement money coming this way? Collier at $13M and Lee at $26M

Southwest Florida is preparing for millions in opioid settlement money to roll in from the state.

A countywide community drug response team in Collier County is finalizing a plan to tackle the addiction epidemic that led to more than 1,100 overdoses in the county last year. There were 131 overdose deaths in 2021, according to the state Department of Health.

In Lee County, the long-standing Public Safety Coordinating Council is designated as the local task force that is developing a strategy. The task force has approved two grants so far that will use local settlement funds.

EMS in Lee responded to 4,453 overdoses last year, according to state data. There were 337 fatal drug overdoses in 2021.

Florida is getting $3.1 billion over 18 years for its role in the more than $50 billion in national opioid settlements with major distributors and pharmaceutical companies for fueling the opioid epidemic.

More: Naples opioid summit: fentanyl destroys lives, can destroy community

More: Public health agencies distributing Narcan in SWFL to help stop opioid overdoses

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation June 19 creating the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund in the state Department of Children and Families. Settlement dollars to local governments are in a regional fund with the state calculating annual distribution. A separate amount is paid directly to counties.

Colliers combined estimated share is $13 million over the 18-year payout; Lee's share is $26 million, according to a settlement portal by the State Attorney Generals Office. Cities also receive smaller payouts.

Floridas opioid addiction crisis has steadily worsened since 2000. And now communities are grappling with a much more lethal fentanyl onslaught. It is a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin.

Over a five-year period from 1999 to 2014, Floridas age-adjusted mortality rate for opioid deaths was 6.8 per 100,000 population, exceeding the national rate of 5.8 per 100,000 population. That's according to 2016 drug policy advisory report under then-Gov. Rick Scott.

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. Floridas opioid epidemic was either the direct cause of or a factor in more than 5,700 deaths in 2016, data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows.

It is much worse today; the age-adjusted mortality rate jumped to 37 per 100,000 population in 2021, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That ranked Florida as 15th among the states for opioid deaths.

The death tally statewide was 8,093 in 2021, according to state Department of Health data. More than 105,000 overdoses occurred.

What is CORE?

The state last fall announced a statewide framework for fighting opioid addiction, called Coordinated Opioid Recovery, CORE, that will roll out statewide.

The initiative aims to eliminate the stigma of addiction and treats substance abuse as a disease. It uses a continuum of care model and peer navigators in locally based networks to disrupt the revolving door of addiction.

The program is billed by the state Department of Health as the first of its kind in the U.S. and places Florida as a leader in sustainable addiction recovery even though CORE was just unveiled last September. It is launching in 12 counties and statewide rollout will follow.

The 12 counties are Duval, Manatee, Pinellas, Gulf, Brevard, Volusia, Citrus, Flagler, Clay, Pasco, Marion and Escambia counties.

The connected care model involves specialized hospitals and whats called community paramedicine to connect with high-risk individuals, according to the plan. Peer navigators will provide short and long-term support.

Another element is sustainable recovery through medication assisted treatment, known as MAT, mental health support, primary care and social services, according to the plan.

More: As Florida fentanyl deaths surge, state leaders and advocates disagree how to fight overdoses

Related: Report: Fentanyl outpaces other opioids in overdose deaths throughout Southwest Florida

How far along are the local plans?

Even though Collier is not one of the 12 launch counties, the local drug response team looked at what Collier needs to do for the CORE approach to work, said Nancy Dauphinais, chief operating officer at David Lawrence Center. The nonprofit operates the bulk of substance abuse beds in Collier.

Nancy Dauphinais, chief operating officer at David Lawrence Centers.

Following an assessment of whats missing locally, a detailed plan is nearly finished, she said.

Its a pretty robust plan, she said. We are aligning with the states model. A lot of individuals are working very hard to move this forward.

Once finalized, the plan will be presented to the Collier County commission, although the elected board does not have to sign off on it, said Capt. Anthony Maro, of the countys Emergency Medical Services. Maro heads up the community drug response team.

Our strategies and objectives, our action plan, is very extensive, he said.

The draft plan is in the countys hands and is not in a form that can be released at this time, according to county spokeswoman Debbie Curry. There is no scheduled date for it to be presented to the commission.

How much of Collier's opioid settlement money will be available for different action steps has not been decided, Curry said.

Narcan and medication assisted treatment are critical

Some key elements in the Collier plan involve making Narcan more readily available than it is now, Dauphinais said.

Narcan is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and restores breathing and consciousness within minutes.

It can be administered by someone who is not a healthcare professional, including family or friends of addicts.

Last year the state rolled out free distribution of Narcan at county-level health departments to anyone with no questions asked.

David Lawrence in Collier and SalusCare, a nonprofit mental health and addiction treatment organization in Lee, have been giving out Narcan for years.

Other key elements will involve expanding medication assisted treatment so there is no lag time between doses, Dauphinais said.

Medication assisted treatment, such as with buprenorphine, relieves withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids.

Collier now is able to cover medication assisted treatment five days a week and the aim is coverage for seven days, she said. It has been available in local jails for a year or so through a grant, she said.

The emergency rooms run by the NCH Healthcare System are not set up yet to do medication assisted treatment, said Caitlin George, administrative director of Emergency Services and Marco Island Urgent Care. Training is needed first.

I would hope to get it rolled out in the next six to nine months, George said.

The emergency rooms at the publicly-operated Lee Health hospitals in Lee can provide Narcan kits when appropriate, said spokeswoman Jaclyn Bevis.

The ER physicians can write prescriptions for buprenorphine but these are not long-term prescriptions for medication assisted treatment, she said. The emergency rooms are not addiction treatment centers beyond the emergency situation.

Maro, of Collier EMS, said the agency is looking at training paramedics to provide medication assisted treatment for opioid abusers who dont want to go to the hospital.

For addicts willing to go to the hospital, EMS will go to the emergency room and stay until the individual is connected to a peer navigator, Maro said

Whats in the Lee plan?

In Lee, the task force has focused on the continuum of care model involving outreach, prevention and diversion, treatment, discharge planning and long-term recovery to prevent relapse.

One measure will involve expanding school-based programs to provide students with skills to control mood and impulses that can lead to drug use.

Similarly the plan will expand community-based services for adults and youth with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.

Making Narcan more widely available to reverse overdoses is another strategy.

The task force put out a notice of funding for projects that are aligned with the plan and two grants have been awarded so far, according to Lee County spokeswoman Betsy Clayton.

The two are Centerstone, which operates addiction treatment centers in Lee, and Kimmies Recovery Zone, a local nonprofit organization.

Officials at Centerstone declined to comment until after the grant award is approved by the Lee County Commission Aug. 1.

What about fentanyl in Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida is not spared from fentanyl's sweep into communities.

In March, Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann organized an opioid summit that was attended by roughly 75 community leaders. The event was organized with nonprofit Project Opioid based in Orlando.

Collier County leaders gather for Opioid Summit organized by Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann on March 8, 2023. Event was held at Telford Education Center.

Andrae Bailey, founder and chief executive officer of Project Opioid, said fentanyl is commonplace in nearly all drugs on the streets today.

Illegally-made fentanyl is mixed with other drugs and sold through illegal drug markets. Overdose deaths have spiked 18 times from 2013 to 2020, according to the CDC.

Seven out of every 10 deaths from fentanyl involve young men, Bailey said.

Andrae Bailey, founder and chief executive officer of Orlando-based Project Opioid

According to Collier EMS, there were 665 overdoses in 2022, of which fentanyl accounted for 242 overdoses, data shows.

In 2020, EMS responded to 550 overdose calls and fentanyl was responsible for 62 of the calls.

At the opioid summit, Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said he believes fentanyl abuse will be the single most important fight over the next decade locally and nationwide.

The sheriff's office recently launched on its Instagram site an F-bomb message. The message says: Ever feel like dropping the f bomb on your kids? Well, go ahead.

It goes on to say that the sheriff is encouraging you to drop the f bomb.f as in fentanyl, that is.

He wants parents to have a serious conversation with their kids about fentanyl as criminal networks are flooding the market with pills laced with fentanyl to increase their profits.

Opioid and fentanyl awareness are critically important topics to the sheriff, spokeswoman Karie Partington said.

As a team we have been working on messaging to get the attention of the community and F-bomb was one of the ideas that we thought was compelling, she said.

Heitmann, who serves on the Collier drug response team, said another opioid summit is in the works.

We are in the early stages of planning a parent summit with (Collier County School District) to connect to the youth, she said.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier, Lee developing plans to use millions in opioid settlement money
Muncie man convicted of attempted murder sentenced to 35 years in prison

MUNCIE, Ind.  A Muncie man convicted of attempted murder has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

A Delaware Circuit Court 5 jury in June found 39-year-old Terence Darnele Walker guilty of a Level 1 felony carrying a maximum 40-year prison term.

Muncie police investigate a shooting at Princeton and Hartford avenues in the Morningside neighborhood on Aug. 23, 2019.

Walker was sentenced Friday by Judge Thomas Cannon Jr.

During last month's trial, Deputy Prosecutor Doug Mawhorr said Walker in August 2019 shot another Muncie man in the back near Hartford and Princeton avenues.

The victim, now 46, was taken by ambulance to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and was later flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Indianapolis.

The man had been riding a bicycle at the time he was shot.

Walker, defended by Winchester attorney James Fry, did not take the witness stand during his trial.

A witness at the shooting scene said Walker indicated he believed the victim had earlier stolen his vehicle.

The Muncie man is scheduled to stand trial in October on four other charges filed in Circuit Court 5 in October 2020  dealing in a narcotic drug, dealing in marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

The dealing-in-a-narcotic-drug charge is a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison.

Walker's record includes earlier convictions for possession of meth and possession of a narcotic drug.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie man draws 35-year sentence for attempted murder
The family of Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old woman who was killed when teenager Paul Murdaugh crashed the boat they were riding in into a bridge in 2019, was awarded $15 million in the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit on Sunday.

Insurance carriers for Greg Parker, the owner of local convenience store Parkers Kitchen, agreed to settle the lawsuit with the Beach family. Murdaugh, 19 at the time of the crash, allegedly bought alcohol at Parkers store using his older brothers ID before he drove drunk at high speed into the Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina, on Feb. 24, 2019.

Beach was a passenger in the boat Murdaugh crashed. Her body was found a week later in the river, about five miles from the crash site.

In a statement to HuffPost, Mark Tinsley, the attorney representing the Beach family, said that blaming those onboard the boat that night wouldnt solve the issue of underage drinking, but said the settlement demonstrates the consequences of selling alcohol to minors.

The Beach family believes this settlement will serve as a warning to all the [Parkers] of the world, who might make an illegal sale of alcohol to a minor, that they will be held to account for their wrongful conduct if they do, the statement read.

Mallory Beach poses in a photo with Alex, Paul, and Maggie Murdaugh. Alex Murdaugh, left, is the only one who is still living.

Mallory Beach poses in a photo with Alex, Paul, and Maggie Murdaugh. Alex Murdaugh, left, is the only one who is still living.

After Paul Murdaugh and his mother, Maggie Murdaugh, were found fatally shot in June 2021, questions also arose about the boat crash and how the influential and wealthy Murdaugh family may have tried to protect themselves from legal consequences.

Prosecutors ultimately revealed that Paul Murdaughs father, Alex Murdaugh, feared the Beach familys wrongful death suit would open his finances up to scrutiny and reveal his extensive financial crimes. It was part of the perfect storm of problems that prosecutors say motivated Alex Murdaugh to murder his wife and son.

The Beach familys lawsuit against Parker and Alex Murdaugh had been set to go to trial next month, but the settlement has ended the case  meaning Alex Murdaugh will not be deposed as previously scheduled.

In a statement to HuffPost, Parkers attorney PK Shere said his clients store had made a valid sale, as determined by state officials, but that Parker would not been given a fair trial due to the case being tied to Alex Murdaugh.

Shere said that the convenience stores insurance carrier decided to settle the lawsuit because the business could have been required to pay the full amount of damages, even if a jury found that Paul Murdaugh had been largely to blame for the boat crash.

This case was never about that legal and valid sale nor was it about the repeated bad decisions that these young adults made that night, Shere wrote.

Shere added that for Tinsley, the Beach familys lawyer, it was all about using the Murdaughs bad actions and the unfair law of joint and several liability in South Carolina to make Parkers pay for a verdict intended to punish the Murdaughs.

Related...
The family of a 19-year-old woman who was killed in a boat crash in 2019 will receive $15 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the gas station and convenience store chain accused of selling alcohol to an underage boater.

Mallory Beach died after the collision involving a boat owned by former South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was sentenced to life in prison this year after being convicted of murdering his wife and son Paul Murdaugh.

Paul Murdaugh was allegedly driving the boat while intoxicated when it crashed in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in February 2019.

The lawsuit, which names Alex Murdaugh, Gregory M. Parker and his Parker's Corporation, said Parker's convenience store is liable for making an illegal sale of alcohol to the then-underage Paul Murdaugh and for failing to verify his ID or check that it matched the name on the credit card he used to pay for the alcohol.

Mark Tinsley, an attorney for Beach's family, confirmed the settlement to the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and said his clients want the settlement to send a message.

"It wasn't about the money, but that's a number that represents a level of accountability that they hope would make people who sell alcohol take their responsibility seriously and keep it out of the hands of minors," Tinsley said. "The Beach family didn't want this settlement confidential because they want other Greg Parkers to know that if you sell alcohol illegally, you will be held accountable."

Mallory Beach was killed in a boat crash in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in February 2019.

What does the lawsuit claim?

Beach's mother, Renee Beach, filed the first version of the wrongful death lawsuit in March 2019. Several parties were named in the original suit, but most of them settled earlier.

According to court documents, Paul Murdaugh purchased beer from a Parker's store using a driver's license belonging to his brother. Murdaugh is accused of condoning Paul's drinking and reckless boating.

"Tears were shared in our room with the Beaches this afternoon. They feel like they have honored Mallory by not walking away when it would have been easier to give up," Tinsley said. "They've been attacked, accused and blamed. From an emotional standpoint, there's a lot of vindication in this settlement."

Settlement halts trial, but case is ongoing

Paul Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to criminal charges connected to the crash, but he was killed before he could stand trial. The charges against Paul Murdaugh were dropped after his death as a formality. But Robert Kittle, spokesperson for the South Carolina Attorney General's Office, said at the time the case remained open.

The settlement reached Sunday halts the trial, which had been scheduled for Aug. 14. Tinsley said the settlement does not stop the civil conspiracy and harassment case he has filed against Parker for the Beach family.

"We have not settled the conspiracy case against Greg Parker and the other people involved with their vile attacks against the Beach family and their quest to get justice. We intend to hold Greg Parker personally responsible in that lawsuit," Tinsley said.

Alex Murdaugh's lawyers have indicated he plans to settle his part of the Beach familys wrongful death lawsuit. State agents have been investigating whether Murdaugh obstructed the criminal investigation into the boat crash.

Parker's attorneys say 'unfairness' led to settlement

The settlement doesnt require the convenience store chain to admit responsibility in the case. On Friday, a judge refused to separate the chain from Alex Murdaugh and declined to move the case out of Hampton County.

A lawyer for the stores said Parker felt as if he had no choice but to settle because Alex Murdaugh and the chain would be tried together in the wrongful death suit.

The unfairness of that caused Parkers insurance carriers to resolve these suits to avoid paying the likely award intended to punish Alex Murdaugh, attorney P.K. Shere said in a statement, adding he was disappointed Tinsley revealed details of the settlement before it could be approved by a judge.

Contributing: Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Murdaugh boat crash settlement: Mallory Beach family gets $15 million
In-N-Out is barring staff from wearing masks unless they have a medical note. The burger icon wants customers to see employees' smiles.

In-N-Out is requiring workers to have a medical note to wear a mask in five of the seven states where the chain operates. Eric Glenn/Shutterstock; Kit Leong/Shutterstock

In-N-Out Burger is an iconic fast-food chain based in Southern California.

The chain said workers must have a medical note to wear a mask in five states where it operates.

The chain said the new mask rule emphasizes the importance of showing customers associate smiles.

In-N-Out, owned by billionaire Lynsi Snyder, is barring workers from wearing masks without a medical note in five states where it operates restaurants, according to an internal memo leaked on Twitter.

The new mask rule, confirmed by Insider in calls with the chain's customer service department, goes into effect in mid August  about four months after Biden officially ended the Covid national emergency.

"We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our associates' smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals," said the memo, which was addressed to employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

"No masks shall be worn in the store or support facility unless an associate has a valid medical note exempting him or her from this requirement," the memo said.

Employees must provide a valid medical note to a store manager, divisional manager, manager, or human resources, the memo said.

"Without disclosing the medical diagnosis or confidential medical information, the medical note should clearly state the reason for the exemption and include the estimated duration, if applicable," the memo said.

Employees who require a mask for medical reasons must wear a company-provided N-95 mask, according to the memo.

Failure to comply could lead to "disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment," the memo said.

Public health and science commentator Lucky Tran posted the memo on Twitter on July 14. The post generated more than 2.3 million views and nearly 3,000 retweets. A link to the memo was also posted on a Mailchimp archive associated with In-N-Out, which lists the company's email communications with employees.

Many people questioned the In-N-Out policy, with one person comparing it to prohibiting construction workers from wearing hard hats.

"How can an employer legally ban their employees from wearing an N-95 mask at work for their personal safety?" one person wrote. "That's like a construction company banning hard hats, high vis, or welding shield on building sites."

Mask advocacy group Mask Together America called In-N-Out's new policy "mask bullying." A Change.org petition, with nearly 1,000 signatures, was started to ask the chain to reverse its new mask policy. People also shared contact information for the company, and asked others to call and complain.

In-N-Out did not respond to requests for comment.

The chain, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary later this year, is known for its sparkling-clean restaurants and cheerful workers dressed in white aprons and paper hats. It was founded in 1948 by Snyder's grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder. The Snyders believed in selling fresh, not frozen burgers, in a clean and friendly environment.

In-N-Out, which announced plans to expand to Tennessee earlier this year, also operates in California and Oregon. In those states, employers cannot ban employees from voluntarily wearing masks. In a separate memo posted to the Mailchimp archive, In-N-Out said associates in Oregon and California who "choose to wear a mask" must wear a company-provided N-95 mask.

Are you an In-N-Out insider with insight to share? Got a tip? Contact this reporter at 714-269-8873 or via email at nluna@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
At conference of intelligence community professionals, I briefly stood up to describe a study my team was embarking on  the first ever conducted in the United States about neurodiversity and national security. Anyone who wanted to discuss it, I said, could find me later by the coffee table.

Two women introduced themselves as autistic senior intelligence officers. One was a leader at her agency; the other a highly seasoned intelligence officer. Both said their wish is for their autistic colleagues to be able to serve out of the closet, like the LGBTQ community can.

My team set out to examine whether neurodiversity  the diversity of all cognitive functions  would offer benefits to U.S. national security, as it has for Israel, the UK, and Australia. But we found that archaic U.S. military and federal policies, combined with decades-old understandings about autism spectrum disorder, create an environment where people hide their autism and other cognitive diagnoses.

Still, when word spread that we were contacting agency human resources departments asking about neurodiversity, my phone started ringing. Individual employees and military service members wanted to be interviewed.

They introduced themselves as intelligence officers, a company commander, a former polygraph examiner, and coming from jobs where they handle the most sensitive national secrets. Some were active duty, or civilians, or veterans retired from military service who now work in civilian positions.

Most were hiding their diagnoses  or intentionally avoiding getting officially diagnosed. For some, it was because they had experienced bullying by coworkers or classmates in the past. Others feared losing the careers they love, possibly by being discharged from the military.

The official Department of Defense policy is to exclude all autistic candidates from military service  with no exceptions. The reality is much more complicated.

The people we spoke to were often diagnosed after they joined the military. They described going outside of the military health system to pursue a diagnosis in secret during adulthood. A widely held perception among the service members we spoke to is that their 10 or 20 years of successful military promotions could be erased if an autism diagnosis becomes known  even though that condition would have existed since early childhood.

Government civilian employees  across the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, and the intelligence community  face a different type of dilemma. Government employers cannot discriminate against job candidates because of a medical diagnosis, so the governments response is the Schedule A letter  a streamlined hiring process for those with disabilities.

Neurodivergent applicants have a choice: Declare themselves severely disabled to get accommodations during the hiring process and as an employee or keep their diagnosis secret to try to prevent anticipated bias or discrimination.

For employees who do not consider themselves disabled, requiring a declaration of severe disability  simply to use noise canceling headphones in their classified office, to block time on their calendars for no meetings, or to request that meeting agendas be sent out in advance  was insulting. Although our study only examined the national security community, such challenges likely apply widely across the federal workforce.

Applying for jobs that require the highest level of security clearances produces a new wave of challenges. Security clearance holders described asking themselves whether they should disclose their diagnosis during the clearance process  so their investigator does not misinterpret their stimming (body movements that may appear similar to intense fidgeting), lack of eye contact, or inability to form direct answers to questions as a counterintelligence threat. Or should they keep their diagnosis private for all the reasons described above?

We found no evidence that security clearance investigators or polygraph examiners have access to any research or training describing how a neurodivergent candidate would behave differently before, during or after an interview, or during a polygraph exam. Is the physiology  heart rate, breathing speed, or blood pressure  of a polygraph subject under stress the same for an autistic candidate as a non-autistic? We do not know.

Military and civilian personnel alike described striving to hide the effects of their condition and working without the assistance of prescription medications, such as those to help manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which is another neurodivergent diagnosis.

I wear prescription eyeglasses daily, and I imagined how I would hide my nearsightedness at my job if I was either not allowed to have imperfect vision or if prescription eyewear was forbidden. I could navigate into my office building and sit upright in meetings without glasses, but the result would be headaches and psychological stress, possibly similar what our neurodivergent interviewees described experiencing at the end of a workday spent hiding their symptoms. The cumulative effects over a career sounded exhausting.

It does not have to be this way. Multibillion dollar companies, such as Ernst & Young and Google, have learned that valuing neurodiversity in their workforces increases their companys access to highly skilled and highly educated talent, including in scientific and technical disciplines.

The CEO of one defense contracting firm described how his autistic workforce tags geospatial imagery with high precision rates and low error rates. He bragged that his autistic employees could look at a blurry satellite image obscured with foliage and tell the difference between a Russian MiG aircraft, a Ukrainian MiG, and a Russian MiG painted like a Ukrainian MiG.

An autism diagnosis used to carry a stigma. When I was growing up in the 1980s, the school kids with autism went to a separate classroom, and it was assumed that their career potential was well, not good.

Today, by contrast, autism is understood as a spectrum diagnosis. Certainly, many people diagnosed with autism today would have been considered normal by the medical community during my childhood. Societys understanding of cognitive development has evolved since then. But that means that people who might have been recruited into military service decades ago  because no tools existed to diagnose them  are disqualified today.

Our national security challenges are too difficult and too important to leave to the portion of the population that uses its brains in only typical ways. The military could develop tools to assess whether an individuals diagnosis will restrict success in certain jobs, just as it does for a vision diagnosis. The government could update its policies and re-examine current service regulations. Both the Pentagon and the civil service could engage in an open dialogue with advocates for the neurodivergent community.

The result might open new pathways for recruitment or improve retention  particularly in critical career fields  and provide current members of the national security workforce with tools and policies to achieve greater success at their jobs.

Cortney Weinbaum is a senior national security researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan, Rand Corp. She is the author of the study Neurodiversity and National Security: How to Tackle National Security Challenges with a Wider Range of Cognitive Talents. She is a former intelligence officer.

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President Biden has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the United States, the Israeli leaders office said in a statement on Monday following a phone call between the two.

The invitation comes more than seven months after Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister.

The delay in offering Netanyahu an invitation from the White House was viewed as a major snub from Biden, who has criticized far-right members of the prime ministers governing coalition as extreme.

Netanyahu spoke with Biden by phone as Israeli President Isaac Herzog is traveling to Washington for meetings with the White House and to address a joint session of Congress.

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said the wheres and the whens of the visit are still being worked out in response to a question over whether Netanyahu will visit Washington.

They have agreed that they will meet, probably before the end of this year, and all the details of the wheres and the whens are still being worked out, Kirby said.

The focus of the phone call between the two leaders included curbing threats from Iran and brokering new ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors as part of the Abraham Accords.

Netanyahu also told Biden about his intention to try to forge a broad public consensus on elements of a judicial reform package that have faced wide-spread and near-daily opposition on the Israeli street and drawn criticism from the president and his top officials.

Netanyahu and Biden also talked about the continuation of efforts for calm and stability in the West Bank, which has seen an escalating cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Netanyahu is Israels longest-serving prime minister but his latest tenure, which began in December 2022, has led to an intense period of strained relations with Washington.

Netanyahu solidified his governing coalition through and agreement with controversial, far-right Israeli lawmakers that are calling for Israel to abandon efforts for a two-state solution with the Palestinians and push through an overhaul of the countrys courts that critics say erase their independence and oversight.

Biden, in an interview with CNN last week, referred to these Israeli lawmakers as extreme and said that he hopes Netanyahu will move toward moderation in changing the court.

Updated: 3:29 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to crack down on Monday against threatened no-shows for military reserve duty by opponents of his judicial overhaul plan, saying such actions were anti-democratic and risked emboldening the country's foes.

With the religious-nationalist coalition set to ratify a key reform before parliament goes on summer recess on July 30, the opposition has stepped up a half-year-long protest campaign and there have been threats by some reservists to refuse call-ups.

That has jarred a country for which the conscript military, which draws on reserves in wartime and requires they undergo regular training, was long an apolitical issue to rally around.

"The government won't accept insubordination. The government will act against it and will take all necessary steps to ensure our security and our future," Netanyahu told his cabinet, without elaborating on possible measures.

With Israeli-Palestinian violence surging and a spate of recent confrontations on the Lebanese frontier, Netanyahu cast the reservist action as "eroding our ability to deter our enemies who can easily be tempted to attack us".

"We cannot have a group within the military threatening the elected government: 'If you do not do as we say, we will shut down security,'" he said. "No democratic country can accept this dictate."

Critics of the judicial overhaul plan say it is Netanyahu who is threatening democracy by removing checks and balances.

The reform bill reining in some Supreme Court powers, due for ratification next week, "will open a direct path to dictatorship", said an letter signed by 1,700 former air force officers, including 27 retired generals, which was published in the biggest-selling Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday.

Petitions have circulated purportedly signed by thousands of reservists who plan to refuse orders. In some, the names have been redacted. Verifying the identities of the petitioners, and that they are genuinely subject to mobilisation, is difficult.

Asked for figures, an Israeli military spokesperson said only that as part of the protests "incidents of absences among reservists when called for duty are very limited (and) sufficiently handled by the commanders".

A former air force officer heading a group of reservist pilots and navigators opposed to the judicial overhaul told Reuters none had yet refused call-ups. Some of them previously threatened to stay away from training flights, which reserve air crews are expected to take part in weekly on a volunteer basis.

"(They) would be willing to stop their service if conditions demand it - though of course they do not want that to happen," said the organiser, who requested anonymity. Should it happen, he said, "there would be a severe problem for the country" given about 50% of crews on air force combat missions are reservists.

Netanyahu, on trial for corruption charges he denies, backs the changes as restoring balance between branches of government.

(Reporting and writing by Dan Williams; Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by William Maclean)
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

MENTAL HEALTH PLAN LACKS RATIONALE, ANALYSTS SAY

Via Maggie Angst...

The California Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) is raising concerns about the $4.7 billion mental health plan that Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to place before voters next March as a bond issue.

The office, which advises the Legislature on policy and fiscal matters, said in a series of reports last week that the proposal could actually jeopardize some ongoing mental health services.

The bills need support from two-thirds of lawmakers.

Newsoms plan would add up to 10,000 behavioral health beds and overhaul the states Mental Health Services Act. Passed by California voters in 2004 as Proposition 63, MHSA levies a 1% tax on personal incomes above $1 million to fund programs and services for Californians with serious mental health issues.

The vast majority of MHSA funding goes directly to counties to use as they see fit. Newsoms proposal would require counties to move funds from prevention efforts into housing and to reduce the amount of cash jurisdictions are allowed to keep in reserve.

The office said that the proposed changes to MHSA would reduce funding for certain programs and could discourage ongoing spending commitments that may help counties provide more consistent and successful mental health services.

We find that the administrations justification of its proposed changes is incomplete, a report from the LAO reads, adding that the Newsom Administration has not assessed how such changes may negatively impact current services.

For example, while the administration cites the shortfall in psychiatric treatment beds as a primary justification for the focus on housing interventions, the administration has not provided the rationale for using MHSA  given the trade-offs  to address this and other issues, the report continues.

The LAO is recommending the state legislature demand answers and hold the Newsom Administration accountable before approving the pair of bills that would form the March 2024 ballot measure.

PORTER TOPS POLL FOR CALIFORNIA SENATE RACE

Rep. Katie Porter, D-Orange County, narrowly leads the wide open race for Californias Senate seat, a new poll reported Friday.

Of the 1,092 likely voters surveyed by the Public Policy Institute of California,

19% ranked Porter as their top choice

16% ranked Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Los Angeles

13% ranked Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Oakland

7% ranked Republican Eric Early

The results align with a May Berkeley poll that also found Porter eeking out a slight lead.

There are still eight months until the March 2024 Democratic primary for the Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has held the seat for three decades.

The race is gearing up to be tight and cash-flush. Last quarter, Schiffs campaign raised $8.1 million, Porters $3.2 million and Lees $1 million.

In a PPIC poll on the race for the White House, 50% of likely Republican voters said they support former President Donald Trump.

David Lightman reports on the details of the poll results.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

After a full day of arguing against DEI training in the military, a Republican just referred to African American servicemembers as colored on the House floor.

Imagine what gets said behind closed doors, wrote Rep. Barbara Lee in a tweet on Friday.

Best of The Bee:
A night at the club where queer Asian Americans no longer feel like 'black sheep'

Henry Khong dances at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's in West Hollywood in June. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

Andrew Ahn's father once told him that there were "no gay people in Korea."

Ahn was so afraid of his parents' reaction if he came out to them that he had a backpack and a friend on standby in case he needed to leave.

In a culturally conservative community, where going to church and building a family were heavily emphasized, Ahn felt his gay identity kept him "from being able to participate in Korean culture."

Then, he started frequenting GAMeBoi, a weekly Asian American gay party at West Hollywoods Rage Nightclub.

There, he didnt have to worry about being judged by straight Asian Americans or fetishized by rice queens"  older white men attracted to much younger Asian men. He learned to embrace being both Korean and gay, so much so that he directed Fire Island, a groundbreaking queer Asian American rom-com released last year.

Read more: How queer Asian American rom-com 'Fire Island' became summer's sexiest breakout hit

Drag artist Cash Monet, second from right, performs with dancers at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

A crowded house during QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

After about two decades, GAMeBoi shut down at the height of the pandemic in 2020. To replace it, club parties and other gatherings have emerged, allowing LGBTQ+ Asian Americans to connect with one another free of judgment at a time of anti-Asian hate crimes and legislation targeting non-straight people.

Being Asian American and LGBTQ+ can feel lonely, with institutions such as ethnic churches often disavowing non-heterosexual relationships while traditional LGBTQ+ spaces such as gay bars can be unwelcoming to people of color.

But the community is becoming visible  California now has an out Asian American congressman and state legislators  and partying in person remains an important way to connect, even in an online age.

Finding places like GAMeBoi, where being queer and Asian does co-exist  Its not like a 1,000-year-old Korean cultural ritual, but I could create a new ritual," said Ahn, 37.

Read more: How one woman fought bigotry and helped change the way Asian Americans see themselves

On a recent Friday, hundreds packed QT Nightlifes monthly K-Pop Night at Mickys, a West Hollywood gay club a block or so east from the old GAMeBoi site.

Some posed for selfies in a pink Barbie box with disco balls hanging overhead. Many danced and sang along to K-Pop hits spun by a DJ.

Ryan Huynh gives a tip to go-go dancer Jeff Caesar Lausple at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

Jeff Caesar Lausple, a 32-year-old in the shipping industry who was working the room as a go-go dancer, thrust his hips and went down on his knees to BTS Dope as people slipped dollar bills into his light pink briefs.

Danny Pham, a 37-year-old founder of QT Nightlife, said he wanted to create a space where Asian American LGBTQ+ people could belong.

The company also hosts Switch, a monthly event with themes such as Songkran Splash to celebrate the Thai New Year and Will Ube Mine in honor of Filipino American History Month.

Being able to represent [Asian Americans] is so important, because then people will see us in a different light, said Liam Shi, QT Nightlifes Southern California regional manager. If we get our face out there, then people will start taking us a little more seriously.

Donny Vu, center-left, and Jon dance at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

Even in historically gay neighborhoods like West Hollywood or San Franciscos Castro district, Asian Americans have long been ignored or fetishized, seen as feminine and weak.

In 2019, then-West Hollywood Mayor John Duran argued that he did not inappropriately touch a member of the Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles because hes a skinny Korean kid with pimples on his cheek.

Asian American advocacy groups criticized Durans remark , with API Equality-LA pointing to the long history of discrimination against Asian men in gay communities such as West Hollywood, whose clubs used to require three forms of photo identification from anyone they perceived as Asian.

Duran eventually resigned from his position as mayor, citing health reasons, after several other allegations of sexual harassment.

Miss Shu Mai, a Taiwanese American drag queen who hosted the K-Pop Night, recalled seeing white actors in yellowface  makeup that made them look East Asian in L.A.s drag scene. She said she rarely goes to West Hollywood, except for QT Nightlife and other queer Asian events. While working at a mobile HIV testing van in the city, she was sexually and verbally harassed, she said.

Events like the K-Pop Night are liberating, said Shu Mai, who also hosts Send Noodz, an Asian American/Pacific Islander drag party, with fellow queen Bibi Discoteca.

Read more: L.A.'s drag scene is bigger than ever. But itll take a rebellion' to keep it safe

Emcee Miss Shu Mai, center, dances with attendees at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

In one of her earlier appearances at GAMeBoi, Shu Mai fed people egg rolls and handed out red envelopes, a Lunar New Year tradition, with condoms in them.

You feel seen in those spaces regardless of who you are, she said. It was so unapologetically Asian for me, and it was one of the first times my art encapsulated all of who I was.

As Jonathan Jae-an Crisman sees it, these parties are making a statement. In early 2020, he and four others launched QNA, which regularly hosts events and parties geared toward the community.

The shoes of emcee Miss Shu Mai. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

In a time when there is anti-Asian hate and it feels like the whole world is crumbling  whats more revolutionary politically than dancing, having a good time and loving one another? said Crisman, a 36-year-old gay Korean American researcher and artist. Its a heavy world out there. People need space just to be free and be themselves.

AP Qazi was beaming with excitement as he prepared for L.A.s first South Asian Pride Night in late June. Hundreds planned to dance to Bollywood songs, cheer South Asian drag kings and munch on biryani rice and samosas.

Qazi, a 35-year-old transgender man, first attended the South Asian LGBTQ+ nonprofit Satrangs family day picnic at Griffith Park a year and a half ago after seeing an Instagram post.

There, he met an older South Asian queer person for the first time  a reminder that he did not have to feel like the black sheep of his community. He had planned to just stop by but ended up staying for about five hours.

I felt shame to my community for being queer, he said. But seeing other South Asian queer people living and thriving and embracing their joy gave me the permission to do the same, he said.

Read more: India's first LGBTQ radio show aims to broaden the country's concept of love

QNA, Send Noodz and Queer Asian Social Club together hosted a party for Ahns Fire Island.

Im really happy for these new spaces and that young people have them, said Ahn, who is looking to develop a film about GAMeBoi. And that they can serve a similar function that GAMeBoi did for me.

After Ahn came out, his parents ultimately became supportive, even attending a "Fire Island" screening for the cast and crew. Spaces like GAMeBoi helped Ahn strengthen his relationship with them by giving him the confidence to be himself around them, he said.

Back at Mickys, the party continued.

Cody Pham dances at QT Nightlife's K-Pop Night at Micky's West Hollywood. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

In a blue Hawaiian shirt gripping a cocktail, Cody Pham, a 24-year-old Vietnamese American accountant from Fullerton, grinned from ear to ear as he danced in front of Lausple.

He goes clubbing with straight friends in Orange County but finds the experience hard to relate to. Hip-hop music, for one, is not his taste. On this night, he had brought some female high school friends who wanted to experience the gay clubbing scene.

I am in an environment where I feel safe expressing myself, he said.

Then, he cut the interview short.

Attention by NewJeans was playing, and he couldnt resist spinning around, laughing and dancing on the floor.

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.
"No such law exists": Legal experts call out Trump for new made-up Mar-a-Lago defense

Donald Trump Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump was chided by legal experts over the weekend for seemingly making up legislation that he stated had authorized him to take national security documents home to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

During a speech at the Turning Point Action conference in West Palm Beach on Saturday, Trump complained about his classified documents indictment and claimed, "whatever documents a president decides to take with him, he has the absolute and unquestioned right to do so."

"This was a law that was passed and signed," he added. "And it couldn't be more clear."

Legal experts quickly rejected Trump's claim.

"Nope. No such law exists. Period." wrote longtime Harvard legal scholar Laurence Tribe.

Nope. No such law exists. Period. https://t.co/uBpSMoGl44  Laurence Tribe   (@tribelaw) July 16, 2023

National security lawyer Bradley Moss tweeted that Trump's claim was "not a legitimate legal argument," but rather a "political talking point."

"It'll fail in court," he predicted.

This isnt a legitimate legal argument. Itll fail in court. Its a political talking point. Thats all. https://t.co/Lk4FT52GiN  Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) July 16, 2023

"Say you've never read the Presidential Records Act without saying you've never read the Presidential Records Act," wrote former CIA analyst Gail Helt.

Say youve never read the Presidential Records Act without saying youve never read the Presidential Records Act: https://t.co/PYHSYC6LGm  Gail Helt (@ghelt) July 16, 2023

"No such law exists. Generally, laws granting rulers 'absolute' power aren't a thing in U.S," journalist Jeff Sharlet tweeted,

No such law exists. Generally, laws granting rulers absolute power arent a thing in U.S. https://t.co/iHDXyHFb0a  THE UNDERTOW, by Jeff Sharlet (@JeffSharlet) July 17, 2023

HuffPost reported that Trump's latest assertion is only the latest in a number of erroneous statements made in the past about what a sitting president is allowed to do. Last month, for example, in referring to the National Archives and Records Administration, he argued that he maintained the "absolute right to keep [documents] or he can give them back to NARA if he wants."

Trump: Whatever documents a President decides to take with him, he has the absolute right to take them. He has the absolute right to keep them or he can give them back.. thats the law pic.twitter.com/WaezsyQMUu  Acyn (@Acyn) June 25, 2023

Legal experts were quick to quash the ex-president's claim, refuting his defense as "ludicrous."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Trump has tried to argue that the Presidential Records Act, which governs the handling of presidential records, is a defense against charges that he violated the Espionage Act by mishandling national security information.

"Trump isn't charged with any violations of the Presidential Records Act," former Assistant U.S. Attorney William "Widge" Devaney told Salon last month. "Trump is charged with having secret and top secret information, refusing to turn it over, obstructing the government's attempts to turn it over and causing people to lie about those records. I mean, it's really apples and oranges."

Read more

about the Mar-a-Lago case
Norfolk bio-products firm set to be hit by single-use plastics ban

Co-founder Simon Girdlestone says single-use products made by Solinatra will fall foul of the October ban - despite being plant-based

A company that makes biodegradable products says it may have to leave the UK because of an upcoming government ban on single-use plastics.

Solinatra, based near Norwich, makes compostable single-use alternatives - but they are included in the ban.

The firm received a 500,000 government grant last year.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said "all bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics" would be banned.

The ban comes into force in October, spearheaded by Environment Secretary and Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey, and includes all sustainable single-use alternatives to plastic.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is now calling for a review.

The firm in Norwich makes biodegradable, compostable products as an alternative to single-use plastics

Simon Girdlestone, a co-founder of Solinatra, said the upcoming legislation "doesn't make sense".

"We were expecting a ban on single-use plastics - it's the whole reason we were developing Solinatra," he told the BBC.

"What we didn't expect is that we would be caught up and be banned along with fossil-based plastics.

"We've developed a solution that is clean, that is naturally biodegradable, and yet Defra has decided to group us along with the polluting plastics."

The single-use items, including cutlery, are entirely plant-based and compostable

He said the company, which is based at Horsham St Faith and makes items including cutlery, "had to go through a very long process" to win the 500,000 government funding - through Innovate UK - to develop the very materials that will be banned.

"The future for the company will probably be outside the UK," Mr Girdlestone added.

"It is a missed opportunity for Norfolk and for the UK, to create jobs and create an export market."

Candy Richards, of the FSB, told the BBC the "clock was ticking" on getting the government to reconsider the detail of the ban

Candy Richards, development manager at the FSB, said the federation would call on the government to review the inclusion of biomaterials in the October law.

"Now the clock is ticking with this ban," she said.

"We are urging the government to engage with organisations like Solinatra so they understand that they are part of the solution, not part of the problem.

"The government needs to show its commitment to being at the forefront of sustainable and green technology."

The products - although entirely compostable - are single-use, which are included in the upcoming ban

She said another FSB member - a company in Wales that produces similar products based on algae - was "offered large financial incentives" to relocate to Canada.

A spokesman for Defra said: "Urgent action is required to stop plastic waste finding its way into the natural environment.

"We have already banned many commonly littered single-use plastic items and are introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, as well as extended producer responsibility for packaging."

The department said a consultation on the ban agreed it should cover "all bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics".

Solinatra has won awards - and a hard-fought government grant of 500,000 to develop its range

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook and Instagram. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830
The North Port City Commission will host a budget workshop at 9 a.m. Wednesday and host a special meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday to discuss and certify the city's taxable value and not-to-exceed millage rate, as well as set the dates in September for public hearings to adopt the 2023-24 fiscal year budget.

NORTH PORT  The North Port City Commission will discuss its proposed $250.3 million budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at a workshop set for 9 a.m. Wednesday in chambers at City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd.

They will discuss both the citys certified taxable value and property tax rate at a special meeting set for 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Heres what you need to know about the upcoming meetings.

Property tax rate remains unchanged

For the fourth year in a row, North Port is building its budget around a proposed property tax rate of 3.7667 mills  or about $3.77 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

Because of a projected 17.7% increase in property values, the rate will bring in $4.5 million more than it did this year. According to figures supplied by North Port and attributed to the Sarasota County Property Appraisers Office, the citys taxable value is increasing from $7.2 billion to $8.8 billion.

That includes $400.7 million in net new taxable value.

The rolled-back rate  which would produce the same amount of revenue as this years budget  is 3.3595 mills, according to city figures.

North Port hasn't received estimates from the Florida Department of Economic and Demographic Research on what it can expect from the communications service tax, surtax, fuel taxes and municipal revenue sharing.

The city is also instituting a new 5% tax on water sales and increasing the electric utility tax from 6% to 10%.

The 2024 budget will be the first one in at least a decade that does not tap into the general fund reserve balance  which as of September 2022 was $24.6 million. Funds used to balance this years budget came from the federal American Rescue Plan.

Staffing increase for police and emergency services

The proposed budget calls for the full-time equivalent of about 56 new employees. The breakdown includes 16 new positions for police  12 officers, one sergeant, a network technician, public safety telecommunicator and a records technician; and seven firefighter paramedics.

It also includes about 12 full time equivalent positions to staff Warm Mineral Springs. Only one of those jobs  a parks maintenance groundskeeper  would come from the general fund. The others would come from proceeds generated by receipts at Warm Mineral Springs and be subject to change.

If all positions are filled it would bring the total number of city employees to 894.

Health insurance costs are projected to increase by 11%.The salary cost for the existing level of service is 3.5%  plus another 2.5%% cost of living adjustment.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port to host workshop on proposed $250 million budget
Children lost in flooding as US endures extreme weather, from smoke up north to heat in the West

A car is buried in flood debris from recent storms and flooding on Monday, July 17, 2023, in Belvidere, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose family's car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threateningly high temperatures and severe air pollution from Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Monday's search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

The children's father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while the children's mother, Katie Seley, and a grandmother grabbed the other children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. Sheils and his son made it to safety, but Seley and the grandmother were swept away.

The grandmother survived, but Seley, 32, was among five killed by the floods.

A wall of water came to them; they did not go into the water, Brewer said of the Sheils family.

Scott Ellis, an uncle to the missing children, described the family as utterly devastated.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday.

No matter how long Ive been doing this  over and over and over, many, many years  you find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

Pennsylvania's flash floods also drowned Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said.

The county commissioners signed an emergency declaration in response to the flooding.

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott toured some of the destruction from recent torrential rains on Monday, including a damaged inn that was cut in half by flood waters.

Buttigieg said Vermont has endured two storms that would be called once-in-a-century events in the span of just 12 years.

We cant go into the future requiring communities to put everything back exactly the way it was if a 100-year flood is about to become an annual event, he said.

More rain was forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the U.S., thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the West, a mountain biker died Saturday in blistering desert heat east of San Diego after he and three fellow bikers helped rescue four hikers who were without water.

Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua said the bikers called 911, and two rode back to a trailhead to give directions to rescuers. A helicopter hoisted the hikers, and the two bikers who had stayed with them headed to the trailhead. One did not arrive and was found unresponsive about a quarter-mile away. He later died, though there was no information on the cause of death.

Temperatures also soared in Phoenix, which hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) on Monday shortly after 12:30 p.m., marking 18 consecutive days the city has hit that temperature and tying an earlier record for consecutive days at or above 110 degrees. Phoenix is expected to surpass the record on Tuesday.

Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, according to the National Weather Service.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius) for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, according to the National Weather Service.

___

Associated Press writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; and Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia contributed to this report.
Former President Barack Obama Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Obama slammed efforts to ban books in a message to the nation's librarians.

The former president is also taking his advocacy to TikTok where he'll appear in a series of videos.

Obama said banning books is antithetical "to what has made this country great."

Former President Barack Obama on Monday issued a call to action for Americans to be mindful of efforts to ban books as new studies show that a rise in challenges is sparked primarily by a wave against LGBTQ+ books.

"It's also important to understand that the world is watching," Obama wrote in a public letter to the nation's librarians. "If America  a nation built on freedom of expression  allows certain voices and ideas to be silenced, why should other countries go out of their way to protect them?"

Obama did not explicitly single out any one state or leader for the increase in bans, a nod to his general belief that former presidents should mostly stay out of the day-to-day political debate.

"I believe such an approach is profoundly misguided, and contrary to what has made this country great," he wrote.

The former president did point out that research has shown many of these challenges are focused on books about LGBTQ+, people of color, or other historically underrepresented communities.

"It's no coincidence that these 'banned books' are often written by or feature people of color, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community  though there have also been unfortunate instances in which books by conservative authors or books containing 'triggering' words or scenes have been targets for removal," he wrote.

A Washington Post analysis of book challenges submitted to 153 school districts from 2021-2022 found that nearly half of the targeted titles (43%) were related to LBGTQ+ themes. Another 36% of challenges were related to "characters of color or dealing with issues of race and racism." Both The Post and PEN America, a free expression group, found that picture books are a major focus of proposed bans.

According to The Post, Obama also filmed a series of TikToks with local libraries across the country to push his message. The former president said the librarians are on the "front lines" of what happens next.

"In a very real sense, you're on the front lines  fighting every day to make the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas available to everyone," he wrote. "Your dedication and professional expertise allow us to freely read and consider information and ideas, and decide for ourselves which ones we agree with."

While Obama didn't make explicit political hay out of book bans, Democrats see major opportunities in highlighting that such efforts are deeply unpopular. A May IPSOS/NPR poll found that 65% of Americans oppose individual school boards banning certain books and removing them from classroom libraries. Another 69% opposed state lawmakers writing laws that called for banning certain books.

President Joe Biden's reelection campaign is paying close attention to the issue, Politico previously reported. In announcing his reelection, Biden directly called attention to such bans. The president argued that such efforts were part of a larger Republican-led push to restrict basic freedoms.

"MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms," Biden said, ticking off efforts to cut Social Security, restrict abortion rights, and efforts to ban books.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Oconee County Sheriffs Office reported the following incidents:

MIRANDA RIGHTS: On June 28, Deputy Brian Meadows was dispatched to Walmart, where a loss prevention officer had detained two men, ages 19 and 20, from Hendersonville, Tenn. The men were caught on camera concealing $60 worth of merchandise and trying to leave. The deputy read them their Miranda rights. One suspect refused to talk, while the other confessed.

SHOPLIFTER LEAVES: On July 1, Lt. Chris Higginbotham was dispatched to Publix on Experiment Station Road, where a man made two shoplifting trips into the store where he took meat and beer valued at more than $500. The man, who had long gray hair and drove a new Ford Bronco, has been identified as a 56-year-old Athens man. Warrants will be taken out.

FELONY SHOPLIFTING: On July 3, Cpl. Quinton NeSmith was dispatched to Lowes where a 38-year-old Winder man was caught for felony shoplifting after he tried to leave with $518 in merchandise. A ranking officer with the sheriffs office happened to be at the store and he heard an employee remark that the man had just shoplifted. The officer went into the parking lot and confronted the man, who remained until a deputy arrived to take him to jail.

TEMPERS FLARE: On July 4, Sgt. Sonyia Burchett and three other deputies went about 9:30 p.m. to a home in Bishop, where tempers flared during an Independence Day fireworks celebration. A 52-year-old man and his wife were outside shooting fireworks, which disturbed his neighbor, also 52, because he said the fireworks were landing on his property. The neighbor went over to speak with the man, but the situation escalated quickly. The man shooting the fireworks told officers that after shooting fireworks he was waiting for the smoke to clear when his neighbor came over in a confrontational manner. The two men began fighting. The wife of the fireworks shooter said her husband was shooting in a legal and safe manner. The fight had ended when deputies arrived. Another neighbor told the deputy he heard yelling, cussing, and saw the two men wrestling. However, he never saw who threw the first punch.

MAKEUP NEEDED: On July 4, Deputies Brian Meadows and Jonny Richards were dispatched to Walmart, where an 18-year-old Colbert woman was detained for shoplifting $30 worth of makeup. The woman explained she needed the makeup because she had hickeys on her neck that needed to be covered before she went to work.

One year after bombing: Georgia Guidestones never again to rise on the Elbert County ridge

Rescue: Ben, the missing Atlanta police dog, has been found in Oconee County

RECKLESS DRIVING: On July 2, deputies were notified of a reckless driver in a black SUV traveling toward Watkinsville on Georgia Highway 15. A motorist reported the vehicle was all over the road. Deputy Annessa Glenn spotted the vehicle and when she pulled behind it, the driver slammed on brakes. Soon afterward she conducted a traffic stop. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Dahlonega, had a blank look on his face and his eyes showed small pupils. He stumbled upon exiting the vehicle and explained he had rods in his knees. The man failed sobriety tests and was taken to a hospital to have blood withdrawn.

EVIL THEFT: On July 3, Sgt. Sonyia Burchett was dispatched to Bath & Body Works at the Oconee Connector, where two women entered and began putting candles in their baskets. An employee recognized them because they had shoplifted before. One of the thieves threw a glass candle container toward the back of the store near a family with small children. During this diversion, the two women left the store. Another customer overheard one thief tell the other that if anyone attempts to stop them, she would beat them up. The candles are valued at more than $600.

SHOPLIFTER CAUGHT: On July 4, Deputy Brian Meadows was dispatched to Walmart, where a 27-year-old Athens man was caught skip scanning merchandise identified as vitamins and tampons.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconee Blotter: Shoplifter steals makeup to hide her hickey
Officials file more charges, but not hate crimes, against man accused of attacking Muslim lawmaker

FILE - Connecticut state Rep. Maryam Khan, second from right, with her right arm in a sling and surrounded by friends, family and fellow lawmakers, in Hartford, Conn., Thursday July 6, 2023, gives a harrowing account of her attack last month as she left a Muslim prayer service. Prosecutors added felony charges including sexual assault Monday, July 17, against Andrey Desmond, who is accused of attacking Connecticut's first Muslim state representative after a prayer service, but did not file hate crime allegations demanded by the lawmaker's supporters. (AP Photo/Susan Haigh, File)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A prosecutor added felony charges, including attempted sexual assault, Monday against a man accused of attacking Connecticut's first Muslim state representative after a prayer service, but did not file hate crime allegations demanded by the lawmaker's supporters.

The case of Andrey Desmond, 30, went before a judge in Hartford Superior Court, where supporters of state Rep. Maryam Khan, including local imams, also gathered.

It continues to be a mystery to me why the state isnt bringing bias crimes in this type of incident, said Farhan Memon, chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Having this charged as a bias crime sends a message out to the rest of the population that this is going to be something thats dealt with seriously.

Hartford State's Attorney Sharmese Walcott did not return messages seeking comment about the case and the demand to file hate crime allegations.

During the hearing, Walcott said the additional charges were the result of a review of all evidence gathered by Hartford police, including video footage and a clear statement by the defendant ... that he intended to force sexual contact, according to audio of the hearing provided by the court system.

The statement of sexual intent that Andrey Desmond made was in the presence of three children, all under the age of 16," Wolcott said, adding the children suffered mental trauma.

Desmond was initially charged with misdemeanors, including third-degree assault and unlawful restraint, after the June 28 attack on Khan outside a Hartford arena where the Muslim prayer service was held. Walcott on Monday added felony charges of attempted third-degree sexual assault, second-degree assault, strangulation and risk of injury to children.

Desmond remains detained on $250,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court Aug. 22. His public defender, Michael Wagner, did not return messages. Wagner did not respond to the allegations during the court hearing, according to the audio. He requested copies of supplemental police reports.

Desmond, who has not entered pleas, was brought to the courthouse lockup, but did not appear in the courtroom for the hearing.

Khan, a Democrat who lives in the Hartford suburb of Windsor, has said she and her family were taking photos outside the arena when a man approached and said he intended to have sexual relations with one of them, including Khans 15-year-old daughter. Her family was marking Eid al-Adha, the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca.

Desmond then followed them inside and Khan said he started to pursue her in particular, grabbing at her face and shirt and demanding a kiss. He followed her back outside and tried to grab her face again, she said, but became angry when she dodged him and slapped her across the face. She said he later held her in a chokehold and held up his hand and mimicked having a gun before slamming her into the ground.

I knew in that moment my body went numb, and I thought I was going to die, she said at a news conference earlier this month.

Khan said she was diagnosed with a concussion and injured her right arm and shoulder.

The Associated Press doesnt generally identify people who report attempted sexual assaults unless they publicly identify themselves, as Khan has done.

Desmond was chased down and held by two bystanders until police arrived and arrested him.

Khan did not return an email message seeking comment. Memon said she attended Monday's court hearing.

She has accused Hartford police of downplaying the assault and called for a federal investigation of the departments handling of violent crimes, especially against women.

A police spokesman did not return a message Monday.

Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody has expressed his sympathy for Khan and said the department will review its response to the attack.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Desmond was charged with attempted third-degree sexual assault, not third-degree sexual assault.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose formally announced his candidacy for US Senate on Monday, joining a crowded Republican field hoping to challenge Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Its official: Im running, LaRose said on Twitter. Im on a mission to give back to the state that has given me so much. To continue to serve the country I love and fight to protect the values we share. Thats why Im running to serve as your next United States senator.

The Buckeye State, which backed former President Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections, has become increasingly conservative over the past decade. Brown, a progressive with a populist streak, is vying for a fourth term but is considered one of the cycles most vulnerable incumbents.

Ohio Republicans are now preparing for an expensive and potentially nasty primary, much like the contest in 2022 that ultimately sent J.D. Vance to the Senate, ahead of an even more costly general election campaign. Two unsuccessful candidates from that 2022 primary  state Sen. Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians, and Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno  announced challenges to Brown earlier this year. Both are sitting on vast sums of personal wealth, while LaRose is expected to be a prolific fundraiser.

LaRose, who is currently serving a second term as Ohios top elections officer, is a decorated Iraq War veteran and previously spent eight years in the state Senate. After narrowly winning the secretary of state office in 2018, he was reelected last year by 20 points.

LaRose is a leading proponent of a ballot measure that Ohioans will consider in August, which would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution.

The proposal, which LaRose had initially described as being in the interests of good government, would raise the threshold needed to change the constitution in a statewide referendum from a simple majority to 60%. It also would require backers of ballot initiatives to get signatures from voters in all of Ohios 88 counties  rather than the current 44  to place something on the ballot.

But LaRose later said publicly what many had assumed  that the measure was designed to push back against another potential ballot measure, which would enshrine abortion rights in the states constitution.

Abortion rights groups submitted 710,000 signatures to LaRoses office on July 5  roughly 300,000 more than state law requires  in a bid to get the measure on the November ballot.

Some people say, This is all about abortion. Well, you know what, Im pro-life; I think many of you are as well, right? LaRose said in May of the effort to raise the threshold. This is 100% about keeping a radical, pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution. The left wants to jam it in there this coming November.

The effort to raise the threshold for an amendment and the likely ensuing fight over abortion rights will be expensive and fiercely contested. Democrats are hoping those fights mobilize their base ahead of the 2024 election, especially as all three leading GOP Senate primary candidates celebrated the US Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022.

LaRose and Dolan, though, could face some headwinds among Republicans over their hesitance to embrace Trump. Dolan did not seek the former presidents endorsement during his 2022 Senate campaign. LaRose said at a closed-door event reported on by Politico in May that the influence of Trumps support had diminished. He estimated that as much as 60% of the party doesnt care who he endorses. Still, LaRose  who before the 2020 election called it irresponsible for Republicans to claim without evidence that an election was stolen  touted Trumps endorsement of his own reelection campaign ahead of last years midterms. He also tweeted, about two months before the endorsement landed, that President Trump is right to say voter fraud is a serious problem.

In March, LaRose announced that Ohio had left a voting integrity group targeted by Trump and conservative groups, joining several other Republican-led states. LaRose criticized the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC  a multistate consortium that aims to help maintain accurate voter rolls  for refusing to embrace reforms that would bolster confidence in its performance. Less than two weeks earlier, Trump had baselessly said that ERIC pumps the (voter) rolls for Democrats.

Despite LaRoses more recent actions, Moreno is more closely allied with the former president, who touted the Colombian immigrants entry into the race this spring.

Word is that Bernie Moreno, the highly respected businessman from the GREAT STATE of OHIO, and the father-in-law of fantastic young Congressman, Max Miller, is thinking of running for the Senate, Trump wrote in a post to his Truth Social site. He would not be easy to beat, especially against Brown, one of the worst in the Senate!

LaRose has not endorsed in the 2024 presidential primary but has committed to supporting the eventual GOP nominee.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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Oil worker says he saved baby moose from a bear in Canada  and it got him fired

An oil worker says hes out of a job after trying to save a baby moose from a bear while he was working in Canada.

The worker, Mark Skage, said in a detailed post on Facebook that he was heading back into town when he encountered the calf along the highway  and then noticed a black bear about 50 yards away just waitin.

Skage said the calf kept trying to climb into the truck.

I couldnt just leave her there, he said in the July 4 post. So I stuck her in the passenger side and drove to town to get her some help.

Skage, who CBC reports is from Fort Nelson in British Columbia, said he gave his supervisor a heads up and talked with wildlife conservation services before he found her a place to stay until he could figure out a more permanent spot for the calf. Meanwhile, he started calling her Misty.

A few days later Misty (thats what I called her) got a ride to a rehab centre a little farther south where they will let her grow up a bit before releasin her back into the wild, Skage said on Facebook.

But his rescue efforts cost him his job at AFD Petroleum, he said.

AFD Petroleum President Dale Reimer told McClatchy News in an emailed statement on July 17 that Skage was ultimately terminated due to a series of workplace incidents culminating with this incident.

AFD Petroleum has thorough human resources policies and procedures in place, in addition to protocols surrounding interactions with wildlife. Employees are required to undergo training on these policies regardless of previous experience, Reimer said in the statement.

Reimer said Skage would have known about the policies.

After carefully reviewing the two-way video footage captured by the employees work vehicle, it is clear that the employee was in direct violation of those wildlife policies, Reimer said.

In a similar statement on Facebook, company officials said they were aware of a video circulating online depicting the conduct of a former employee toward a wild moose calf. Company officials said they were deeply disappointed that the matter had gotten so much attention from the public.

We take our obligation to wildlife and to our natural environment extremely seriously, the post says. Not only did this former employee put himself and other road users at risk by capturing and transporting an uninjured wild animal in his company vehicle for many hours but he also caused distress and potential harm to the moose, having failed to contact conservation authorities immediately as required.

Skage had posted several photos of the calf inside his company vehicle and a video of the calf approaching the truck.

Hey buddy. Wheres mom? Whered momma go? he asks as the calf walks up to the truck. What am I gonna do for you? Wheres mom? You cant just be out here all by yourself.

The company found during its investigation that the two-way video from Skages company vehicle shows no evidence of a bear nearby and seems to show that Skage did not seem to search for the calfs mother  his decision to capture the moose calf was made in two minutes or less, the statement says.

There is also no other vehicle traffic which could have posed a threat to the animal, which he placed in the front seat of his company vehicle for five hours and drove several hundred kilometers to a friends property, the statement says. The employees conduct demonstrates he understood he was acting inappropriately.

Ultimately, Skage said he did what he felt was the right thing.

Did I do all the right things. Did I say all the right stuff likely not, he said But I do know that whatever anyone else thinks the calfs mom was not there. The bear was.

Several people in the comments praised Skages compassion and said they would have done the same thing.

But wildlife officials warn that even though its hard, interfering can do more harm than good. It can habituate wild animals to humans and put them in harms way.

At the end of May, a man tried to help a baby bison that was separated from its herd while crossing a river in Yellowstone National Park, McClatchy News previously reported.





Even though he was trying to help, the calf could not be reunited with the herd, and wildlife officials had to euthanize it because it was creating a hazard by wandering along the road, walking up to cars and following people.

Then over Memorial Day weekend, tourists grabbed a baby elk in Yellowstone National Park, put it inside their car and drove to a police station, McClatchy News reported.





And while they may have thought they were helping an abandoned calf, its mother might not have been far.

Elk mothers will often leave their calves bedded and hidden in grass while they forage or graze. So its likely the tourist separated the calf from its mother permanently, eliminating any chance of them being reunited.

Tourists grab baby elk, put it in car and go to police station, Yellowstone rangers say

Bison calf killed after man tried to help it, Yellowstone rangers say. Hell pay up

Protective moose stomps on Colorado man walking his dogs. Doing her job as a mom
3 injured in drive-by shooting attack in southern West Bank

Xinhua) 09:18, July 17, 2023

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. (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.

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. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A driver in Tulsa, Oklahoma, put on the brakes last week to tackle a suspect he saw running from police officers.

According to the Tulsa Police Department, the incident began when officers stopped a man and a woman in the city's downtown area on Thursday to question them.

Police ordered the man, who lied and said his name was David, to have a seat on the curb. He started to walk toward the curb as if he was going to sit down but took off running instead, making his way across multiple lanes of traffic.

Bodycam footage of the foot pursuit was released by the police department on Friday.

FORMER OKLAHOMA UNDERSHERIFF SENTENCED TO NEARLY 2 YEARS FOR REPEATEDLY STRIKING HANDCUFFED INMATE

Officers stopped a man and a woman in the city's downtown area on Thursday and began questioning them before the male suspect took off running.

Two officers chased after the suspect, with one of them calling in his description and their location. He was later identified as Miguel Fernandez, according to Tulsa police on Facebook.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

During the foot pursuit, a man driving southbound on Denver Avenue stopped his truck, jumped out and tackled Fernandez on the sidewalk. He attempted to evade the man, but was still taken to the ground.

BODYCAM CAPTURES FINAL GUNSHOT FROM APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE OF NASCAR DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON'S IN-LAWS, NEPHEW

A man driving his pickup truck in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stopped his vehicle and jumped out to tackle a suspect he saw running from police officers.

"Why you do me like that, homie?" the suspect asked the man before yelling expletives.

An officer, who was not far behind, then arrested the suspect and the man walked back to his truck.

"Can you get his name?" the arresting officer could be heard asking the other officer while handcuffing Fernandez.

Fernandez attempted to evade the man but was still taken to the ground.

Fernandez was arrested for resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said he also had felony warrants for burglary, conspiracy, larceny and illegal firearm possession.

"We love our citizens and greatly appreciate all the support that we get from you, this was definitely a case of 110% support," police wrote on Facebook. "Please put your own safety first before engaging with any nefarious characters."
Wendy Hansen and her fiance were riding their motorcycles one evening this month when she received a text from her security company: Her house was on fire.

Hansen sped back to her home in Mitchellville, Iowa, sure that her life was about to be disrupted. She had no idea what else awaited her that day.

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About 15 minutes into her ride home on July 2, Hansen turned onto a highway ramp and saw smoke rising from her house a few miles away. Distracted, she lost control of her motorcycle and skidded into a grassy patch off the road.

Her fiance took her home, where firefighters extinguished flames from their burned-down house. Afterward, she rode in an ambulance to a hospital to be treated for injuries from the motorcycle wreck. There, doctors told her she had broken her collarbone and her left shoulder blade.

Then, the 47-year-old said a doctor delivered more crushing news: A CT scan had revealed a cancerous mass on her left kidney.

Hansen, who lost nearly all of her possessions, is still trying to piece her life back together as she speaks with her insurance company about house and motorcycle repairs and embarks on treatment for her injuries and Stage 1 kidney cancer.

"If you would have asked me before this, had I ever had a stressful day, I would've been like, 'Every day is stressful,'" Hansen said. "Now I'm like, 'You don't know the meaning of the word.'"

Hansen moved from Des Moines to Mitchellville with her fiance, Russell Farnsworth, in December 2020. They shared the four-bedroom house with three dogs, as well as roughly two dozen sugar gliders and other exotic pets.

On July 2, Hansen said, she woke up around 8:30 a.m., took her dogs outside and fed them, ate a cheese omelet, and went grocery shopping at Hy-Vee and Walmart. She and Farnsworth began their motorcycle ride past cornfields and lakes around 4 p.m. They enjoyed the breeze on a warm afternoon.

As they approached Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, around 5 p.m., Hansen said, she received the text from Vivint, her home security company. She and Farnsworth pulled into the nearest parking lot, where they called Vivint and Hansen's 20-year-old son, Jacob, who lives a mile from his mother's house. Jacob ran down the street and said he saw the fire, prompting Hansen to speed away.

About 15 minutes later, Hansen's Victory Magnum bike hit the grass, and she watched pieces of her motorcycle scatter as she was thrown to the ground. When Hansen stood up, she said, her left shoulder hurt, but her adrenaline masked the pain. She ran to her motorcycle to grab her key and her purse. A few strangers offered to help, but Farnsworth approached minutes later.

"Are you okay?" Hansen recalled him asking.

Hansen hopped on his bike. "Just go," she told him.

When they approached their house around 5:20 p.m., Hansen said, she heard glass shattering and saw her roof collapsing. Her son told her that firefighters weren't able to rescue all of her pets. They sat on a curb and cried.

Hansen later learned the fire had started below the house's deck after an extension cord shorted out.

Hansen's left shoulder was bruised, and her left knee had a bloody cut. Paramedics strapped her to a stretcher and drove her to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. In the emergency room, doctors took X-rays and a CT scan. When they undressed her, Hansen said, she told them that after the fire, the clothes she had been wearing - along with her black-and-white Puma sneakers - were all she had left.

Doctors closed the gash in her left knee with six stitches. After reading down a list of her other injuries that night, doctors noted one last diagnosis: she had renal cell carcinoma, which develops in the kidney. Hansen was grateful her motorcycle wreck led to doctors catching her cancer early, but the diagnosis frightened her. Her mother, Peggy, had died of that cancer at age 52 in 2004.

Wearing a sling, Hansen was discharged around 1:30 a.m. on July 3, and her son drove her to his house. She said she took pain medicine and pulled a blanket over herself in a recliner, but she couldn't sleep.

Dozens of questions consumed her: Where do we live? Who do we call? What will we eat? What will I wear? Where do we start? She said she called her insurance company the next day. She also learned that of her pets, 16 sugar gliders had survived.

All Hansen had left were hand-me-down clothes from the hospital, the two cars in her driveway and her purse, which contained her keys, driver's license, insurance and credit cards, ChapStick and gum.

Hansen and Farnsworth moved into a hotel in Altoona, Iowa, on July 9, but Hansen said she still sleeps in a recliner because of her injuries. She cries without her pets there to cuddle. Needing a distraction, Hansen resumed her work as an accountant for a Des Moines mortgage company Thursday.

Last week, Hansen said, she also saw an oncologist, who said she will probably need to undergo surgery to remove a part of her kidney. Hansen plans to rebuild her house, but renovations could take about a year, she said. In the meantime, she and Farnsworth rented a Mitchellville home that they'll start living in July 23, and she's replacing her motorcycle's damaged parts.

Hansen said she's thankful for the food, clothes and money her neighbors have donated, but she remains overwhelmed.

"I just have to chip away at this mountainous task of getting my life back," Hansen said, before correcting herself: "It will never be back, but as close as I can."

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One of the last to serve aboard diesel subs retires after 40 years

Capt. Thomas Gorey III knew he wanted a career in the Navy. He did not, however, realize it would last as long as it did.

More than 40 years after raising his right hand in 1982, the 58-year-old sailor, most recently the chief nuclear weapons inspector for the United States Pacific Fleet, has finally departed the sea service.

Gorey, believed to be one of the last active duty service members to have served aboard a diesel-electric attack submarine, retired July 14 aboard the Iowa-class battleship Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Goreys status as the last active duty sailor to have served aboard one of the conventionally-powered boats  the captain served on the submarine Barbel from 1987 until its decommissioning in 1989  has not officially been confirmed by the Navy, but U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Christina Sears told Military Times he is certainly among the last.

The sailors retirement offers a reminder of a period when diesel-electric powered vessels dominated 20th century submarine warfare and the strategic and technological changes which subsequently ushered in nuclear-powered subs.

Aside from the Dolphin, a diesel-electric research submarine which decommissioned in 2007, the military began exclusively using nuclear-powered submarines after the Barbel-class sub Blueback decommissioned in 1990.

Theres a huge difference between diesel- and nuclear-powered vessels, Gorey told Military Times. One, a diesel boat stinks really bad because its burning diesel all the time.

Limited water on the diesel boats also meant fewer showers for sailors, he said, adding to the symphony of pungent smells permeating throughout the tight-quartered vessels.

Launch of Barbel (SS-580). (Naval History and Heritage Command, Donor: Mrs. Bernard L. Austin)

In their heyday, submerged diesel submarines could remain relatively quiet when running on batteries, but that limited endurance and power, Lt. Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, told Military Times. Umayam added that nuclear power allows a submerged submarine to move at high speeds without concern for fuel consumption.

Before joining the Barbel, Gorey reported in 1983 to his first submarine, the Sturgeon-class nuclear-powered submarine Gurnard, where he said he did every dirty job imaginable as a torpedomans mate.

Aboard the Barbel, Gorey worked as the leading petty officer for the torpedo division and served as the ships leading diver during the subs deployment to the Pacific. But in the spring of 1989, a massive wave swamped the vessel, sending crew members overboard and threatening a flood of the battery compartment, according to Naval History and Heritage Command. After a series of repairs and inspections to determine its seaworthiness, the Navy concluded the sub was not worth a full refit.

Beyond submarine assignments, between 2007-08, Gorey volunteered for individual augmentation in support of an Army mission in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

I learned to adapt and overcome obstacles with limited resources, he said, using lessons from working aboard submarines to help train an Afghan garrison.

Just prior to his retirement, Gorey worked with a team to inspect and certify submarines at Washingtons Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. But those days are now in the rear view.

As for whats on the longtime sailors horizon, Gorey and his wife plan to move to North Carolina to be closer to family, he said. There, they intend to build a ranch with animals to support veterans, as well as a kennel for Special Forces troops to leave dogs while deployed.

Capt. Tom Gorey is an exceptional leader and a dedicated and selfless person who committed 41 years to the Navy and our [n]ation, Rear Adm. Blake Converse, the deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, told Military Times.

Throughout his career, Tom has made a difference in every command he served at and among the sailors he served with, whether in the wardroom, chiefs mess or on the deck plates. I know his legacy of service will continue long after he departs U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Goreys personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards) and various service and campaign awards.
One-stop pet shop The Origami Dog now open in Sundance Square, downtown Fort Worth

The Origami Dog in Sundance Square

The Origami Dog in Sundance Square

If youre looking for a way to pamper your pooch during the dog days of summer, a new pet grooming shop in Sundance Square called The Origami Dog has you covered.

The Origami Dog, located at 309 Houston St. in downtown Fort Worth, is a one-stop shop for pet supplies along with grooming services and spa treatments. The business, co-owned by Londyn and Roy Meharg, opened last month.

Products sold in the shop include toys and food primarily for dogs, but cat supplies are also sold.

Breed-specific grooming is done by appointment by business co-owner Londyn Meharg who graduated from the Better Business Bureau Texas AllBreed Grooming School in Arlington.

Our goal is to give Fort Worth pet owners who live, work, visit, shop, or eat downtown an opportunity to bring their furry loved ones to a truly peaceful and loving grooming experience, Meharg said in a news release.

The Origami Dog also has add-on services like pawdicures and dog mud baths.

The Origami Dog offers parking validation for two hours at Sundance Square garages 3 & 4.

Want to know if a groomer is the right fit for you and your dog?

Here are 11 things to ask potential groomers according to the American Kennel Club.
The U.S. Military Academy and other military schools were exempted from the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling in a footnote to the decision. (Bryan Woolston / Associated Press)

With a conservative majority on the bench, the recent Supreme Court ruling to strike down affirmative action was widely expected. One unexpected twist, however, was an inconspicuous footnote exempting military academies from the drastic change.

In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. briefly singled out military academies as the sole class of institutions allowed to maintain race-conscious admissions practices. This unexplained double standard illuminates the flaws in the courts decision in Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard. It may also doom more minority students to the discrimination that exists within the ranks of our nations military.

The military academies are among the elite schools that drive much of the affirmative action debate. The Army and naval academies, West Point and Annapolis, often rank in the top liberal arts colleges nationwide. All five federal service academies  also including the Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Merchant Marine Academy  have acceptance rates under 17%, with some beating out institutions such as Cornell and Georgetown in selectivity.

Read more: Opinion: With an end to affirmative action in higher ed, here's one way colleges can retain diverse students

Buried in a footnote, Roberts declared that the decision does not address the admissions practices of military academies. He did not clarify the reasons for the exemption, nor whether the footnote applies solely to federal service academies, excluding ROTC programs. Instead, he offered only that military academies were not parties to the lawsuit and that they have potentially distinct interests from other institutions.

Though the footnote fails to acknowledge it, military academies have been prominent in affirmative action jurisprudence, most notably in the Supreme Courts 2003 ruling in Grutter vs. Bollinger. That decision upheld affirmative action at the University of Michigan Law School and largely created the modern framework for race-conscious admissions practices.

When the Supreme Court heard the Grutter case, a group of retired military officials wrote an amicus brief urging the court to rule in favor of affirmative action. The majority opinion in Grutter quoted directly from the generals brief, stating that a highly qualified, racially diverse officer corps  is essential to the military's ability to fulfill its principle mission to provide national security. Former military leaders filed a similar amicus brief in Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard, defending the continued use of race-conscious policies at both military academies and civilian universities. The retired military officials who advocated for affirmative action understood that it provides an effective route to diversity, and that diversity allows institutions and individuals to thrive.

Roberts footnote fails to offer evidence that diversity in higher education, and opportunities for underrepresented minorities, matter only at military academies. In reality, diversity is valuable to the academies because it is valuable to every institution. Furthermore, as Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted in her dissent, national security interests cannot explain the exemption, because those "interests are also implicated at civilian universities.

Read more: 1 in 5 female students at U.S. military academies report unwanted sexual contact, officials say

Sotomayor is correct. Military academies and the armed forces make up only a fraction of our national security infrastructure. Many of our top engineers, diplomats and Pentagon officials attended private and public civilian universities, where affirmative action created opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Perhaps even more perversely, in permitting race-based admissions policies at military academies alone, the court seems to invite minority candidates to pursue an education and career in the military, where discriminatory policies and attitudes can stifle success.

As a West Point graduate, I love my alma mater and care deeply about the Army, but our military must do more to ensure that every service member is treated with dignity and respect. Currently, Black service members face an up to 71% greater likelihood of punishment across the military, and nearly 53% of minority service members have personally witnessed white nationalism or racist ideologies in their units. Additionally, when members of the armed forces experience discrimination, they cannot always seek legal remedies in ways that civilians can, and they may encounter challenges to reporting internally. Around one in three Black service members hesitate to report discrimination internally for fear of retribution.

When I was a senior at West Point, I led the academys cadet diversity, equity and inclusion program. Even under a Democratic administration, making way for DEI at a military academy was a challenge. Incremental progress has fortunately been made in the years since I graduated, and the military has implemented some of the changes that it resisted when I was a cadet. The Department of Defense issued guidance in 2020 rejecting divisive symbols and providing a list of flags authorized at military installations that excluded the Confederate flag. This year, West Point is set to rename cadet barracks and other areas that bear the name of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. These moves are good for the institution, and the military should continue to push forward.

The Supreme Courts decision limits options for promising students. In this new era, Congress and Biden administration officials must continue to improve the militarys practices to enable members from all backgrounds to succeed within our ranks, and policymakers must seek to open new pathways to higher education.

Zoe Kreitenberg, a 2016 West Point graduate and former Army captain, is a student at Yale Law School.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Barrington Plaza, where owners have served the residents of 577 occupied rent-controlled units with eviction notices. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Hell, no, we wont go! The spirited chant sounded familiar, although it had been 51 years since I last shouted it alongside other demonstrators.

This time, instead of protesting the Vietnam War at UC Berkeleys Sproul Plaza, I stood with 25 other impassioned tenants on a corner of Wilshire Boulevard in West Los Angeles, in front of Barrington Plaza  the apartment complex from which we are being unlawfully evicted.

My motivations for participating in both were altruistic and self-serving. I opposed the war in Vietnam on moral grounds, appalled by the unnecessary devastation, but I also did not want to join the thousands of Americans who had already perished in it.

Read more: They face L.A.s largest eviction in years. But these Westside renters wont go quietly

I'm helping to organize the tenants' resistance to the eviction to preserve my own home, but I'm equally motivated to protect our community, especially my fellow boomers, some of whom suffer from dementia, diabetes or cancer.

The multibillion-dollar corporate landlord and developer, Douglas Emmett, decided to evict all the largely working-class tenants from their 577 occupied units in one of the biggest rent-stabilized buildings on Los Angeles pricey Westside. The company says it intends to retrofit the fire sprinkler system, following dangerous fires in 2013 and 2020, and make other needed repairs. Yet if it requires units to be vacant to do the work, the city requires the filing of a Tenant Habitability Plan, under which tenants should be temporarily relocated, not evicted.

Emmett is also claiming the Ellis Act as justification for the mass eviction. Passed in 1985, this California law was created to allow landlords to evict tenants from rent-controlled units that they plan to take off the rental market. But the company wont commit to removing Barrington Plaza from the rental market when the renovations are complete, and they may gentrify and then re-rent the units at inflated market prices.

Another inescapable irony: Barringtons eviction announcement came on May 8, the same date in 1959 that Los Angeles officials used eminent domain and other political machinations to bulldoze Chavez Ravine and destroy the homes of that vibrant, historic Mexican American community to make way for Dodger Stadium. If the Barrington evictions go through, theyll join Chavez Ravine as among the largest evictions in the citys history.

While I watched L.A.s rush-hour traffic crawl by our tenant protest, many of the vehicles honking in support of our ragtag crew carrying signs and joined by our dogs, I reflected that this time the power we were fighting was not the military-industrial complex, but Big Development and corporate greed. Emmett donated $400,000 to the campaign of the current City Council member for Barrington Plazas district.

Read more: Opinion: The mass evictions at Barrington Plaza will happen again if L.A. doesn't act to protect renters

The wonderfully inclusive, intergenerational, international community at Barrington represents the best of L.A., with a wide range of jobs and backgrounds. Tenants Ive spoken with since we received notice include an Uber Eats driver, a waitress at El Pollo Loco, a professional dog walker, a Beverly Hills hairstylist and others who service our more affluent Westside neighbors.

Many of us, myself included because of the current writers strike, are on some form of government assistance. Others, even more vulnerable, are still financially recovering from the COVID pandemic and struggling with child-care costs; or are elderly and disabled, depending on nearby loved ones for trips to go shopping or attend medical appointments.

One tenant I spoke with has suffered with PTSD from rape and attempted murder. She previously lived in her car. For her, the very real possibility of losing her apartment triggers sleepless nights along with anxiety, depression and panic. Another tenant has worked for the county assisting homeless people in South Central for 20 years. Now she could be relocated to the same neighborhood where she spends her days helping those who live in makeshift tents on the street.

We are facing either imminent relocation to a distant part of the city, a premature placement in an extended care facility  or homelessness.

This tragedy is not just about us. At stake is the fate of an entire city where more than 75,000 people are homeless on any given night. If Emmetts mass eviction is allowed to stand, it will displace hundreds of us, set a devastating precedent for rent-stabilized housing in Los Ange les and unleash a catastrophic burden on our already strained social services.

Our Barrington Plaza Tenant Assn. is working with the Coalition for Economic Survival to fight our eviction, and weve created a GoFundMe page to collect donations. It will take all of us to stop Douglas Emmett's unlawful use of the Ellis Act.

A lot has changed since I was a 20-year-old, long-haired activist who chanted, Hell, no, we wont go! at a Vietnam War rally. But the stakes for this community are just as high now.

Robert Lawrence is a producer whose films include Clueless, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Rapid Fire and Rock Star.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radios daily program The Dean Obeidallah Show. Follow him on Threads at www.threads.net/@deanobeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is once again engulfed in a firestorm, this time over recent comments in which he irresponsibly and baselessly suggested that Covid might have been engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

Dean Obeidallah - Dean Obeidallah

Speaking at an event in New York City last week, Kennedy said: Covid-19  there is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, he said. His remarks were captured on video and first reported 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, Kennedy said, adding we dont know whether its deliberately targeted that or not.

Amid the outcry that has erupted since those comments, the Democratic presidential contender, son of famed Democrat Robert F. Kennedy, has attempted to walk them back.

On Twitter Saturday, he denied being bigoted, adding that the remarks had been made at an off-the-record gathering.

I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews. I accurately pointed out  during an off-the-record conversation  that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews. In that sense, it serves as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons. I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered, Kennedy wrote.

And in a barrage of followup tweets on Sunday, Kennedy condemned what he called the MSM attack dogs  the acronym frequently wielded by right-wing critics to lambaste the mainstream media, for reporting the story.

Its just the latest example of Kennedy expressing absurd  but also dangerous  views on matters of public health. Last week, for example, he suggested that chemicals in drinking water could cause gender confusion among American children. And he has long been a prominent anti-vaccine activist, spouting disinformation about a link between childhood inoculations and autism.

But Kennedys remarks on Covid for many people may represent a new low and were summarily debunked by scientists and rejected by civil rights and affinity groups. Swift condemnation came from Jewish groups and Asian American organizations among other groups. 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.

The organization added, Every aspect of his comments reflects some of the most abhorrent antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history and contributes to todays dangerous rise of antisemitism.

Jane Shim, the director of the Stop Asian Hate Project, slammed Kennedys words to The Washington Post as irresponsible and hateful, likening his comments to the dangerous rhetoric of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the China virus.

Condemnation also has come  very importantly  from many leading Democrats. The chair of the Democratic National Committee Jaime Harrison slammed Kennedys remarks, tweeting, These are deeply troubling comments and I want to make clear that they do not represent the views of the Democratic Party.

US House member Rep. Ted Lieu of California tweeted in response, Millions and millions of people died from COVID-19 worldwide, including Americans who were Jewish or of Chinese descent.

Hard to imagine a son who has done more to dishonor his fathers name than RFK Jr., New York US representative Ritchie Torres wrote on Twitter.

Other Democrats joined in publicly denouncing Kennedy, including fellow presidential candidate Marianne Williamson who called the remarks sinister, anti-Semitic and anti-Chinese.

I expect Democratic officials to fully denounce Kennedys remarks  or they can expect to hear other members of the party slamming them for failing to. Anyone can seek a political partys nomination. But a party is defined by how leaders respond to those in their party spewing bigotry. In the Democratic Party there must be zero tolerance for any self-described Democratic candidate who does that.

What a contrast with the Republican Party during the presidency of Donald Trump, who openly spewed bigotry and hate with little to no push-back from most GOP officials. While its true some Republicans did condemn some of his most egregious remarks, generally we heard silence from Republicans, or a favorite go-to: I didnt see the tweet.

For example, Trump had dinner last year at his Mar-a-Lago residence with Holocaust-denying, White nationalist Nick Fuenteswho in the past had threatened violence against Jews and Blacksalong with Ye (the musical artist formerly Kanye West) who had spewed anti-Semitic remarks.

PBS polled 57 Republican lawmakers for a response. Mitt Romney offered the most full-throated condemnation of Trump, stating, I think its been clear that theres no bottom to the degree to which President Trump will degrade himself and the nation, the Republican senator from Utah said. Then-GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy denounced Fuentes, although not Trump for dining with him.

For the most part however, Republicans choose not to respond. The deafening silence from most Republican officials to Trumps dining with bigots  and to his past racist comments  sends a message that hate is at least tolerated, if not welcomed, in the GOP. Todays Democratic party must never allow that to happen.

Overall, RFK Jr.s views align far better with todays GOP than the Democratic party, as I wrote last month. He has peddled dangerous conspiracy theories on everything from gun violence to vaccines, and he is being publicly praised by Trump allies Steve Bannon and Roger Stone. Kennedy has made other horribly offensive remarks such as that Covid vaccine mandates were somehow worse than The Holocaust, because as Kennedy stated, Even in Hitler Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic like Anne Frank did.

Against the backdrop of bigotry and dangerous health disinformation, it should be clear why some of Kennedys own family members have failed to support him. Kennedys baseless conspiracy theories do not belong in the Democratic party. And considering his out-of-bounds views, neither does he.

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Editors Note: Harry H. Schneider, Jr., a Seattle attorney, was a member of the team that represented Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama bin Ladens driver, in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and United States v. Hamdan. The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. View more opinion at CNN.

In seeking a postponement in former President Donald Trumps federal classified documents trial, his attorneys  in a court filing last week  cited a myriad of reasons, from the upcoming 2024 elections to the use of secret information, creating complications for the court.

Harry H. Schneider, Jr. - Courtesy Harry H. Schneider, Jr.

Given my own experience handling classified material in evidence  I was one of the lawyers who represented Salim Hamdan, the first Guantanamo detainee tried by the United States in the War on Terror  I know how wrong their legal reasoning is. To cite a familiar saying, That dog wont hunt, or their reasons for delay are incredibly weak and should fail.

To begin, Trumps lawyers argue that the intersection between the Presidential Records Act and the various criminal statutes creates challenges that will require additional time because of the novel, complex and unique legal issues. That is not so.

First, a document classified as secret or top secret is confidential and protected from public access regardless of whether it is a presidential record. The fact that some of the classified documents are presidential records is not relevant to a determination of whether they were unlawfully removed, improperly withheld from the National Archives or illegally disseminated. As special prosecutor Jack Smith stated in his response filing, any argument that the Presidential Records Act somehow forms a defense to the charges in the indictment borders on frivolous.

Second, Trumps lawyers have made no effort meet their burden of demonstrating how the issues, even if considered novel, are so unique or unprecedented that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the time limits established by this section, under 18 US Code 316.

The Trump attorneys also raise an issue with the purportedly classified materials and call into question whether they have any impact on national security. But there is nothing purported about whether the documents at issue were classified. They were.

Once classified, they are protected until it is shown that they were declassified. They were not. An audio recording obtained by CNN and referenced in the federal indictment shows Trump knew that he had retained secret military information that he had not declassified. According to the transcript of the recording, Trump said, [A]s president, I could have declassified it.  Now I cant[.]

Next, the Trump lawyers urge that the sheer volume of documents produced in discovery is overwhelming and will be difficult to review and analyze in time to be adequately prepared for a potential December 2023 trial, because many are sensitive and cannot be reviewed by document reviewers other than themselves. Thats not the case.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart has already signed off on a protective order that permits access to document reviewers who Trumps attorneys hire. Smith noted as much in his filing, writing that [t]he order specifically authorizes disclosure to persons employed to assist in the defense.

Trumps counsel also contends that the trial should be postponed indefinitely because the court is unlikely to be able to seat an impartial jury during the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, when Trump is a highly visible candidate. Yet our system of justice allows the court to employ various tried-and-true methods to ensure that the jurors who hear the case will be fair and objective, and bound to render a verdict that is based on the evidence presented and the instructions given by the trial judge, rather than by public opinion or media coverage.

Perhaps a larger number of potential jurors will have to be summoned because a greater percentage will be excused based on their preexisting views, their exposure to media coverage of the case or their subjective opinions of the presidential candidates or election to come. The court also may use a more detailed juror questionnaire than those commonly used in less newsworthy trials, in order to accelerate the receipt of information that might disqualify some potential jurors.

But Trumps lawyers rely most heavily on the sensitive content of the classified documents in arguing for a delay. They suggest that procedures utilized to share secret information and classified testimony with the jury will be overly complex and will require a lot of time to manage. While this issue may be unfamiliar to the general public, it is not unusual in our federal courts and it presents no impediment to an orderly and speedy trial.

My familiarity with handling classified material at trial is that it is neither difficult nor time-consuming. When I represented Hamdan, who was apprehended in Afghanistan after 9/11, I saw how capable our courts were of managing classified documents and secret information in evidence, as provided in the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA).

Classified documents and secret testimony were utilized in Hamdans trial at Guantanamo and in our federal courts prior to trial. And the process for our legal team to obtain the necessary security clearances to view them was not arduous, as the Trump attorneys would have the judge believe. In our case, I obtained top-secret clearance in short order after filling out an application and sitting for an interview with two Department of Defense representatives.

Sure, the Trump attorneys will have to review classified information at a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF). But we did that without inconvenience or disruption, both in Washington, DC, and at Guantanamo. And the government has volunteered to make classified information available to the Trump attorneys at a SCIF in Florida.

Submitting classified information to the court will require that the Trump attorneys redact sensitive text from public filings and submit it in non-redacted form to the assigned judge in a confidential transmission, as provided in the CIPA. We did that, too, both in federal court and at trial.

Trumps counsel need not worry that they will be precluded from using classified information and testimony at trial if otherwise relevant and admissible in evidence. The judge presiding over the trial is able to clear the courtroom of anyone without proper security clearances so the jury can hear secret testimony in a closed session, if necessary. We also did that.

Three critical witnesses at Guantanamo gave testimony which would have jeopardized national security if made public. Our trial judge, Navy Captain Keith Allred, closed the courtroom and excused all media and press when those witnesses testified. He then promptly allowed public access once their testimony was completed. Any notes made by the jurors during the closed session were maintained by the court as confidential and classified information, and the jurors were not permitted to take those notes with them when court recessed or adjourned.

The trial court in Trumps case can appoint a classified information security officer to manage movement and storage of classified information at trial. At Guantanamo, a security officer was present throughout the proceedings, and was able to interrupt testimony mid-sentence if he or she believed the witness was about to jeopardize national security. The procedure was infrequently used and caused only minimal delay.

Finally, Trumps counsel need not worry that they will be prevented from referring to classified or secret information that they believe exculpates their client from criminal liability when arguing to the jury. Even top-secret classified documents and testimony presented earlier in the trial can be referenced in public courtroom proceedings, if one is careful.

In our case, in our closing argument to the jury in Hamdans trial, my co-counsel said to the jury, I want to discuss, as I just said, what is contained in the Defense Exhibits I through Y, 17 documents that you have. Look at the information Mr. Hamdan provided to the United States when it mattered most Im not going to have the government close this courtroom; you know what Mr. Hamdan agreed to do.

Thats all we needed to say. The jury knew exactly what we were talking about, and no one else needed to know. Hamdan, who had been charged with two criminal counts  conspiracy to commit terror and material support of terrorism  was ultimately acquitted of the former by a military jury, and his conviction on the latter charge was vacated by the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals.

In Trumps case, rather than complaining about how difficult it is to prepare for a three-week trial, his attorneys should proceed to obtain their necessary security clearances, and let the trial judge manage the handling of classified information, as our trial judge did in our case, and as federal judges do every day around the country in other cases without incident or inconvenience.

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Orange Is the New Black star claims cast members held second jobs due to poor salaries

Orange Is the New Black star Kimiko Glenn has opened up about how little the cast was paid amid the Hollywood actors strike over poor working conditions.

The 34-year-old joined Netflixs groundbreaking drama in its second season as inmate Brook Soso, who is thrown into prison for illegal activism.

After appearing in 44 episodes of its nine-season run, Glenn claimed she only made $27.30 (20) in 2020 from streaming residuals, which the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, defines as additional compensation paid to performers when a production is shown beyond the original use covered by the initial compensation.

Glenn originally shared the astounding truth of her earnings in a 2020 TikTok video, in which she showed a pink SAG-AFTRA Foreign Royalties Statement that listed all of the titles of the episodes she appeared in, with the grand total of $27.30 (20.90) at the bottom.

She later reposted the video on Saturday (15 July), following SAGs Thursday (13 July) approval for its membership of more than 150,000 TV and film actors to join their fellow Writers Guild of America (WGA) screenwriters to begin striking against streamers and studios.

The video has since gone viral, with many commenters in shock by how little she was paid. Bro, thats barely enough to pay for a Netflix subscription, one responded.

Now, in a new TikTok video, Glenn recounted the initial reaction to the video, saying: I remember a lot of comments back when I posted that were like, Guys guys guys, they got paid upfront.

First of all, she argued, whether or not we got paid upfront, my tits live on in perpetuity. I deserve to get paid for as many f***ing streams as that s*** gets.

Glenn continued: Second of all, we did not get paid very well, ever. And when I say didnt get paid very well, you would die!

She went on to reveal that people were still bartenders, people had their second jobs still.

They were f***ing famous as s***, like internationally famous  couldnt go outside  but had to keep their second jobs because they couldnt afford to not. We couldnt afford cabs to set... you guys! Glenn added.

The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment.

Her remarks come days after she spoke to The New Yorker for a piece titled, Orange Is the New Black Signalled the Rot Inside the Streaming Economy, which Glenn said described many of our casts experience.

The details will astound you, Glenn wrote in her TikTok videos caption.

The Can You Keep a Secret? actor is among several actors, including Matilda child star Mara Wilson and romcom staple John Cusack, who are sharing horror stories from the industry.

Both SAG-AFTRA and WGA are in dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the production companies.

SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has argued that the AMPTP remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues essential to protecting the livelihoods of working actors and performers.

Among SAG-AFTRAs chief demands  which are similar to those of the WGA  include increased wages, higher streaming residuals and assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

When employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors who make the machine run, we have a problem, SAG president Fran Drescher said in an emotional tirade against studios. We are being victimised by a very greedy enterprise.
Whats Pa.s past budget impasses can tell us about the current standoff

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After five years of relatively smooth budget dealmaking, Pennsylvanias state spending plan is more than two weeks late, and lawmakers have not publicly said how they might move forward.

The exact effect of a fiscal delay differs from year to year. A budget late by a week barely causes a wrinkle in state operations and has more of a political impact than a practical one.

But the impact of an impasse is immediate and lasting. Communication stalls. Coalitions collapse. Bills get stranded in inboxes and committees.

This years delay is unusual. It arose after Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would reject a section of the main budget bill that would create a state-funded private school voucher program.

Both bodies of the legislature have passed the bill, but Republican leaders in the state Senate  smarting from Shapiros abandonment of vouchers after publicly supporting them  have refused to reconvene the chamber. Until they do, the states lieutenant governor cannot sign the bill and send it over to Shapiro.

Lawmakers are still talking through the budgets next steps, but arent scheduled to take any votes until September. As the breakdown threatens to last weeks, if not months, revisiting Pennsylvanias past impasses can show how residents and government operations could be affected in the coming weeks

Budget impasses used to be a feature of Pennsylvanias regularly divided government, which is legally obligated to pass a balanced budget by June 30 each year. In the past 20 years, the state has passed 13 late budgets, including four impasses that went over 100 days.

Drawing a throughline between all of them is difficult. Spotlight PA talked to seven Capitol insiders whove participated in high-level budget talks, some of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly, to learn how the current stalemate fits into this tradition.

A couple of constants stand out.

For one, length matters. Since 2009, lawmakers and state employees have been able to get paid during impasses, but they still have run into problems when stalemates have lasted so long that constituents were directly and negatively affected.

And second, theres no hard and fast rule for what causes a tough budget year  sometimes its divided government, sometimes its a deficit, and sometimes its a plain old personality conflict.

The financial impact

When the commonwealths spending authority lapses for months, finances of local governments and nonprofits that rely on state resources to provide public services start to bleed dry.

The poorest public schools tend to bear the brunt of an impasse.

During the commonwealths record-setting nine-month impasse in 2015 and 2016, schools had to cancel tutoring, elective classes and some extracurricular activities. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association told Spotlight PA earlier this month that as state subsidies are not flowing in, school districts still need to find money to pay salaries, utilities and other mandated costs.

State-subsidized pre-K programs were forced to temporarily shut down until a budget was passed in 2015-2016, which left some parents without child care. State-funded domestic violence centers dealt with short-term closures as well.

Also affected are students at the commonwealths four state-related universities: Lincoln, Penn State, Pitt and Temple. During the 2015-16 budget impasse, students waited months to receive their in-state discount, which forced them to take out higher loans until funding cleared.

Until 2009, there was another impetus for lawmakers to pass a timely budget: State employees, including lawmakers themselves, wouldnt be paid during an impasse.

A state Supreme Court ruling that year added state employee paychecks to the list of legally protected spending. State employees now must be paid, budget or not, which also means state prisons, drivers license centers and state parks operate as usual.

Insiders were split on how the ruling has since impacted negotiations. Capitol veterans familiar with budget negotiations under former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who was in power from 2003 to 2011, noted that the governor seemed keenly aware of the tension that weeks or even months of unpaid state workers and unmet public services could create. This unease took several forms, including constituent phone calls, emails and picket lines.

Those are a lot of pressure points that dont exist now, Jake Corman, a former Republican state Senate leader who served from 1999 to 2022, told Spotlight PA. The ruling that requires state workers to be paid during an impasse allows budget battles to last a lot longer, he said.

Others argued that the burdens of an impasse have simply shifted from the state to the local level  specifically counties, school districts and nonprofits.

Rendell told Spotlight PA that after the court case the loudest call was for his administration to fund public schools.

Our message was, Of course you have education money,  Rendell said, referring to a school districts local taxpayer funding versus state-provided dollars. Our share of school funding was 38% to 40% at most. They had to have 60% not reliant on us and if thats the case, the only time you should worry is in the seventh month without a budget.

Still, Rendell maintains that the media cared more than the constituents about budget impasses.

When I ran for reelection, I had four straight budgets that were overdue and I got reelected by 20 percentage points, Rendell said. Obviously the people  were more interested in what the budget did.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf

The politics

In 2023, with billions of surplus dollars in the states coffers and a school funding system that a court deemed unconstitutional hanging over budget talks, Shapiro is working with a one-vote Democratic majority in the state House and an entrenched Republican majority in the state Senate.

While divided governments tend to produce more budget deadlocks, even one-party control has led to a late budget amid differing priorities.

Budget deals are typically negotiated behind closed doors by the governor and each chambers majority leader and majority appropriations chair, or any of their respective top staffers. (Sometimes the minority party is brought in if the majority is split over the details and can make a few requests as well.)

The leaders negotiating a deal have had to contend with near supermajorities of the opposite party, or sat across from a friendly leader who controlled their chamber by a single vote.

Rendell, who dealt with a fully GOP-controlled legislature for all but two budget cycles, signed only one on-time budget. That was during his last year in office,, when Democrats controlled the state House. His longest impasse was in his first year, and lasted 176 days after the statutory June 30 deadline for the state to approve a new spending plan.

Former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf presided over a record nine-month impasse in his first year, but then delivered on-time budgets throughout his second term amid higher-than-expected state revenues and an influx of federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars.

A late budget also doesnt always indicate an impasse.

In between Rendell and Wolf, former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett worked with a Republican-controlled legislature every year, but still signed one budget 10 days late and line-item vetoed $72 million from the General Assemblys own budget because legislators didnt pass his desired changes to the pension system.

Last years budget was eight days late, but Wolf and top Republicans communicated throughout as they hammered out how to use billions in federal stimulus dollars.

Regardless of which party is in charge or who is in leadership, multiple Capitol sources acknowledged that each chamber has a unique dynamic amid budget talks.

The state Senate has been under near-continuous Republican control since the 1980s. In exchange for Republican priorities, chamber leaders have historically been willing to cut deals with Democratic governors on issues ranging from a minimum wage increase to creating a natural gas severance tax.

Observers and former insiders chalk that up to the state Senates smaller size (50 members versus 203) and longer terms (four years instead of two), which they argue make the chambers lawmakers easier to keep in line and insulated from electoral pressure.

The state House, meanwhile, is bigger and harder to corral, and its many competing factions and ideologies within and between the parties make it harder to find consensus.

The dynamics of 2023

This years budget negotiations have ostensibly broken down over one issue: school vouchers.

During his campaign for governor, Shapiro said he supported using taxpayer money to create scholarships that would allow public school students to attend private institutions.

His administration doubled down on that support in the lead-up to the budget deadline, and state Senate Republicans included such a proposal  with a $100 million price tag  in the main budget bill the chamber passed.

But Democrats who control the state House balked, and the caucus as a whole declared it would not pass a budget that included private school vouchers. Shapiro then announced he would line-item veto the voucher proposal if the bill reached his desk  excising the measure while keeping the rest of the budget intact.

Both in public and private, state House Democrats have insisted that Shapiro backed them up during this years closed-door negotiations.

It was made very clear by both myself, as well as the governor, that there was no deal until the House Democrats had agreed, state House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, told reporters last week.

But the persistent Capitol chatter leading up to the deadline, particularly within the Harrisburg lobbying community, was that Shapiro and state Senate Republicans planned to cut a deal without the state House, then dump it in House lawmakers laps.

Shapiro would then be charged with wrangling votes within the state House to pass the budget. Three Capitol sources noted that such a plan was traditionally how things have worked.

If anyone tells you they had the Senate getting Rozzid on their bingo card, they are a damn liar, quipped one veteran Capitol observer to Spotlight PA, comparing Shapiros veto promise to Democratic state Rep. Mark Rozzis two-month speakership in which he accepted, then reneged, on a GOP deal.

Through a line-item veto, governors can remove funding from specific parts of the budget but cannot add anything. While these vetoes have grown in popularity among governors in the past 20 years, legislators arent as keen on the idea.

The past three governors used a line-item veto to end an impasse. Governors accepted the deal that legislators sent them under the condition that they would nix pet projects. For Rendell, the key to that approach was ensuring Republicans knew about an impending line-item veto beforehand, he told Spotlight PA.

Harrisburg is almost always going to be a divided government, Rendell said. So youve got to be straight up and not play games with the opposing party.

I dont think Josh [Shapiro] was playing games, he continued. He just didnt realize that the Democrats would be so adamant against increasing money for vouchers.

Sources said that one budgets unfinished business lays the groundwork for the next budgets compromise.

Under Wolf, for instance, stalled conversations on changing pension policy or privatizing liquor sales in the 2015-16 budget bore fruit later in his term in the form of an omnibus bill giving state employees 401(k)-style retirement plans and allowing wine and beer sales in grocery stores and gas stations.

For now, the soil is still being tilled. Negotiations are ongoing among the Shapiro administration, state House Democrats and state Senate Republicans to bring the chambers back, sign the budget and pass critical companion legislation known as code bills.

As of July 17, there hasnt been a breakthrough.

Quipped one former legislative aide: This budget process is gonna leave a mark.

But sometimes, sources argued, a standoff signals a reset that helps move all the parties closer to a deal.

In my experience, there would be days of very productive conversations, Mary Isenhour, Wolfs former chief of staff, told Spotlight PA, and then there would be days where everybody would go back to their corners and not talk.

And with at least three, and potentially seven more budgets to come, Corman said that Shapiro, state House Democrats and state Senate Republicans should prioritize rebuilding trust.

Tom Wolf said no to me a lot. I didnt like it all the time, but we dealt with it, Corman said. It needs to get repaired because you have future issues to work on together.

DaniRae Renno is an intern with the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents Association. Learn more about the program. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
I paid $400 to stay at a bubble hotel in Iceland. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

I paid $400 to stay at a bubble hotel in Iceland. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

Inside my bubble at Buubble by Airmango in Hrosshagi, Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

I spent a night at Buubble by Airmango, a bubble hotel in Iceland.

I was surprised by how comfortable the accomodations were and how many amenities were offered.

I didn't expect the bubble to feel more like a tent with its thin walls and zipper opening.

On a recent trip to Iceland, I spent a night at Buubble by Airmango, where guests can sleep in transparent bubbles with unobstructed views of the sky.

Also known as The 5 Million Star Hotel, Buubble by Airmango has two locations: one on Iceland's south coast, and the one I visited in Hrosshagi along Iceland's Golden Circle. The clear bubbles offer views of the northern lights in the wintertime and Iceland's midnight sun during the summer months of 24-hour daylight.

I paid 54,900 ISK, or $403.85, for a one-night stay in June. Here are seven things that surprised me during my trip.

I was surprised to find that my plastic bubble had an air lock of sorts in order to stay inflated.

Zipping up a bubble at Buubble by Airmango in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The bubble structure featured an entryway that led into the bubble itself. Like a spaceship, one door had to be closed before I opened another, otherwise the whole thing would deflate.

My bubble appeared to sag whenever I opened the entryway zipper, though it reinflated right away.

"Our bubbles stay upright because there is air being blown into them constantly, which is why they slightly deflate when the doors are open," a representative for Buubble by Airmango previously told Insider. "It doesn't take the bubble longer than a minute to inflate again once the doors are closed."

The walls of the bubble were thinner than I expected.

The plastic wall of the bubble hotel at Buubble by Airmango. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The bubble had some wooden pieces holding the structure in place, but the clear plastic itself was pliable and flexible to the touch.

The bubble also didn't lock.

My luggage at the bubble hotel in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Iceland has consistently been ranked the safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index since it began ranking countries in 2008, but I still locked my valuables in my car for some peace of mind.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable.

Buubble by Airmango in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

While the zippers and thin walls of the bubble made the experience feel somewhat like camping in a tent, the soft hotel-quality mattress and plush bedding made me feel like I was glamping. It definitely beat sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag.

The bubbles were totally see-through, with no option to cover the walls for a bit of privacy.

Resting at Buubble by Airmango in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

Buubble by Airmango is designed to give guests an immersive experience in the Icelandic wilderness. The woods offered some cover, but I could still see the parking lot and other bubbles from my bed.

While I appreciated the uninterrupted views of the forest and sky, I wished that I at least had the option to cover the clear walls while I changed into my pajamas. I walked to the bathrooms to change there, instead.

"This year, summer has been taking its time to arrive, and therefore the trees also needed a longer time to grow leaves," a representative for Buubble by Airmango previously told Insider. "This resulted in the bubbles being a bit more visible than normal, and we're already working on a way to make sure that for next summer we have a solution for this."

A cabin in the middle of the bubbles featured more amenities than I expected.

The bathroom at the bubble hotel in Iceland. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The cabin functioned as a lobby of sorts, offering Wi-Fi, a small kitchenette, bathrooms, and a seating area.

The bathrooms were clean and well-stocked with towels, toiletries, and a small shower. They even included a hair dryer.

I visited during Iceland's "midnight sun" season, and I couldn't believe how light the sky was in the middle of the night.

Iceland's midnight sun at the bubble hotel. Talia Lakritz/Insider

The sun doesn't fully set in Iceland between May and August, with June being peak midnight sun season, according to Guide to Iceland.

The midnight sun in Iceland, and other countries north of the Arctic Circle such as Sweden, Finland, and Norway, is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. Because the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun during the summer months, these places are continuously exposed to the light of the sun.

A clear plastic bubble in the middle of the woods was the perfect setting for me to witness this unique feature of Iceland. The hotel provided sleeping masks, but I enjoyed lying in bed with a front-row seat to the light night sky.

Read the original article on Insider
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced Monday that Pamela Smith will be the next head of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Chief Smith has a distinguished 25-year career in law enforcement, Bowser said at a Monday morning press conference. She knows Washington, D.C., she knows MPD, she knows policing and she understands very well the network of law enforcement and public safety teams that work to keep Washington, D.C., state safe. And as we know, she is resilient and ready for this role.

Smith formerly served as the chief of the U.S. Park Police in Washington, the first Black woman to serve at the agencys head in its 230-year history. She retired from that role to join the MPD in May of last year as its chief equity officer and was promoted to assistant chief of police in April.

Bowser said that Smith is a well-respected leader who has a strong commitment to making D.C. safer.

Smith said at the press conference that reducing crime in the city will be her first priority in her new role, as the city has faced spiking crime rates this year.

Washington, D.C., is an amazing city, filled with amazing residents, visitors, businesses and opportunities, and I am proud to live as a resident in Ward 8, Smith said. As a law enforcement officer and a member of this community. I am also troubled by the crime that is plaguing our community, which is why it is important for me to be engaged and wanting to make the District of Columbia safer.

But let me be clear. As a community, we must tackle the violent crime issues that we are experiencing in the District, she added. The community wants the police to be the police and do so in a constitutional, safe and respectful manner. Make no mistake about it  I will be laser focused to ensure that we do everything we can in this space.

This new appointment comes months after former D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee retired in April to take a job with the FBI. He had taken the helm just days before the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol and was officially confirmed three months later.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Panama City Beach officials on Thursday approved the first reading of an ordinance to give City Manager Drew Whitman more authority to make unilateral decisions during emergencies.

PANAMA CITY BEACH  The majority of city council members appear ready to give City Manager Drew Whitman more emergency decision making power.

With a 4-1 vote, the Panama City Beach Council on Thursday approved the first reading of an ordinance to give the city manager the authority to swiftly make decisions during natural, technological and human-made emergencies without the approval of the council. Such situations might include hurricanes or terrorist attacks.

This would add to an existing ordinance put in place in April 2022 that gave the position the same authority during civil emergencies. It was sparked by "Panamaniac," an unsanctioned event that created a dramatic spike in crime throughout the area.

"I don't think there's anybody I trust more than our city manager," Mayor Mark Sheldon said. "As a former police chief, I don't think anybody else knows the things that he's been through and seen. ... He's got this city's back, and I have absolutely no qualms about giving him (this) authority."

Sheldon also said the additions would give Whitman the power to "do what he needs to do" to protect Panama City Beach during such emergencies without wasting potentially valuable time. This might include creating curfews, blocking roads, halting alcohol sales or closing businesses.

Whitman was selected by the City Council as city manager in March 2021. He transitioned into the position from his previous role as chief of the Panama City Beach Police Department. He joined the Beach Police as a patrolman in 1991 and became chief in 2012.

Like Sheldon, Councilman Paul Casto said he does not think Whitman would abuse the new power given by the updated emergency ordinance.

"During several hurricanes that I went through ... we lost communication. We couldn't communicate and didn't have cell phones," Casto said. "There's a lot of different things that the city manager could do that needs to be done in an emergency. ... It's just a tool that he can use when he needs to, and if he abuses it, we'll take it away."

According to the meeting's agenda, without the updated ordinance, it would take an emergency City Council meeting to enact an official state of emergency in the aftermath of a hurricane or terrorist attack in Panama City Beach. Such meetings can only be called by either the mayor or three members of the council.

Whitman said a state of emergency must be in place before city employees are eligible for disaster pay. The city can then be reimbursed for this pay by the federal government. If a devastating hurricane were to hit Panama City Beach, it might take a day or so before an emergency meeting could be organized by the City Council.

Meanwhile, there still might be emergency decisions that need to be made  decisions that without the updated ordinance could not happen until an emergency meeting occurs.

"Anyone who knows me knows I hate the use of power," Whitman said. "I'm very informed before I make any decision, so this isn't something I would do (with) a knee-jerk reaction. ... It's a lot of power for one person, (but) if I make the wrong decision, I expect to be held accountable."

Original ordinance: In the wake of chaos: PCB considers giving city manager more power to handle emergencies

Along with giving the city manager more authority during emergencies, the updated ordinance also sets at 42-day limit for how long the city council could extend any emergency measure enacted by the city manager. Officials said this timeline was added to be uniform with the sate legislature.

Any executive emergency decisions made by the city manager can only last up to 72 hours without a vote by the council.

Council Member Mary Coburn cast the lone vote against the updated ordinance. Though she agrees it is important to act quick during an emergency, Coburn said the particular ruling poses constitutional violations.

"I understand (that) when there's civil unrest we need to act swiftly and decisions need to be made on the spot, and I'm comfortable with setting up guidelines for those instances, but I feel like this ordinance is more that that," she said. "It is overreaching. ... The ordinance bypasses due process under the laws of our country, and it chips away at our personal freedom."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach manager may get more emergency decision-making power
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis' envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi attends a mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow

By Philip Pullella and Costas Pitas

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, assigned by Pope Francis to help bring peace to Ukraine, will discuss repatriating children who Kyiv and others say have been deported by Russia with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington as part of a three-day visit.

Zuppi will meet Biden on Tuesday at the White House where they will discuss the suffering caused by the war, humanitarian aid and "the Papal Sees focus on repatriating Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian officials," the White House said.

The Kyiv government estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since February 2022, in what it condemns as illegal deportations.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.

In June, Ukraine brought its first charges over allegations of the deportation of Kherson orphans against a Russian politician and two suspected Ukrainian collaborators, following a wider investigation carried out in cooperation with the ICC.

Russia, whose forces control parts of Ukraine's east and south following its February 2022 invasion, has denied abducting children and has previously said they have been transported away for their own safety.

Grigory Karasin, head of the international committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said earlier this month that Russia had brought some 700,000 children from the conflict zones in Ukraine into Russian territory.

Zuppi has previously spoken about working on a "mechanism" that could ensure the return of children and that he had personally discussed the issue with Francis.

Last month, Zuppi visited Moscow, where he met with the head of Russia's influential Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, and with Russia's Children's Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

Earlier in June, he visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy, who met the pope in May, has asked the Vatican to back his unconditional peace plan, which he has said is not open to negotiation. The plan calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella and Costas Pitas; Additional reporting by Federica Urso; Editing by Grant McCool)
A passenger on a private flight from New York to Massachusetts maneuvered her way out of a terrifying situation after the planes pilot suffered a medical emergency mid-air, authorities say.

The woman, 68, sprang into action by taking the controls of the six-seater plane around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday after the pilot experienced a medical condition upon [the planes] approach to Marthas Vineyard, according to the West Tisbury Police Department.

The passenger crash-landed the plane into a grassy area on its belly without landing gear near a runway at Marthas Vineyard Airport, the Massachusetts State Police said in a press release.

The planes hard landing outside the runway caused the left wing to break in half, MSP said.

The pilot had to be extricated from the plane after the accident and was in a serious life-threatening condition, state police said. He was med-flighted to a medical facility in Boston for treatment.

It is unclear whether the pilots condition was a result of his unspecified medical emergency or also from injuries sustained in the crash.

The passenger was uninjured; she was evaluated at the Marthas Vineyard Hospital and released, MSP added.

Marthas Vineyard Airport did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Police said the airport has reopened its short runway and is slowly continuing operations.

The crash is under investigation by the State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks, the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to MSP.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration told CNN in a statement.

Related...
A passenger crash-landed a small plane herself after the pilot suffered a medical emergency

A file photo of a Piper light aircraft similar to the one in this story. Steve Lynes, Wikimedia Commons

A pilot on a six-seater aircraft experienced a medical emergency on Saturday afternoon.

This led to a brave passenger taking the controls and attempting to land it herself.

She crash-landed the aircraft near a runway in Martha's Vineyard, with the left wing splitting in half.

A passenger on a six-seater airplane took matters into her own hands on Saturday, managing to land the aircraft herself after the pilot experienced a medical emergency, according to authorities.

The 68-year-old woman took the controls of the 2006 single-engine Piper Meridian Turbo Prop and, bringing it down in West Tisbury, Massachusetts, on Saturday at around 3:15 p.m., the local police department said in a Facebook post.

She did so after a 79-year-old male pilot experienced an unspecified medical emergency during the plane's final approach, Massachusetts State Police said in a press release.

The woman had only minor injuries after the emergency landing. The pilot was taken by helicopter to receive medical treatment in Boston.

It wasn't clear whether this was for the original medical emergency, or if he was further hurt in the landing. Police statements about the landing suggest they were the only two people flying.

The plane took off earlier from Westchester, New York, per NBC Boston.

The passenger's attempt to land the plane resulted in her crash-landing the aircraft on a grassy area near a runway at Martha's Vineyard Airport, according to state police.

The plane landed "on its belly with no landing gear," local police said, causing the plane's left wing to break in half.

The pilot had to be extricated from inside the plane before being flown to a hospital in Boston, state police said.

He was in a "serious life-threatening condition" as of Sunday, according to police.

Neither the passenger nor the pilot has been named by police.

The scene of the crash was later cleared and the aircraft was taken to a secure location at the airport, state police said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the Massachusetts State Police and the Federal Aviation Authority assisting, according to NBC Boston.

Martha's Vineyard Airport did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
At 78 years old, Diana Daniels looks back on a life spent studying the past. Long threads unwound over decades reveal to her a rich family history, one that speaks to the pursuit of freedom and happiness as a Black American in the 1800s.

For Daniels and other descendants of Indiana's early Black settlers, the Lick Creek African American Settlement in the Hoosier National Forest, which dates back to 1811, contains important history. To forest advocates, the Buffalo Springs Restoration Project seems to threaten that land in Orange County.

Daniels' knowledge of her own history began with storytelling.

Diana Daniels has spent her life teaching, studying and advocating for U.S. history. She is a descendent of Lick Creek settlers.

As a little girl, Daniels learned who she was as so many others do: through bedtime stories and family lore; from the twinkle in her grandfathers eye and the whisper of magic in his words.

She heard tales of Little Africa, a place where her ancestors cultivated the land and built churches, where they grew their families. It was a far-off place in her mind, one separated from her by land and sea and centuries gone by.

Only as an adult did she realize Little Africa was 20 minutes down the road.

Nestled in Orange County, not half an hour from Daniels hometown of Mitchell, Indiana, are the echoes of a settlement where, at one time, nearly 300 free Black Americans lived.

This photo from 1918 shows Martin and Almira Scott, who owned land in the Lick Creek Settlement for over 20 years.

Lick Creek settlement and the Buffalo Trace

In 1811, slavery was legal. Crossing the country entailed weeks of paranoia, starvation and danger. For African Americans, coming to Indiana presented untold peril.

They came anyway.

Alongside sympathetic Quakers, Black Americans who had escaped slavery voyaged to an area of Indiana now known as Orange County. They and their descendants resided for nearly 100 years at the Lick Creek African American Settlement.

Happening Tuesday: History of Lick Creek settlement for African Americans to be presented by Forest Service

It lies along the Buffalo Trace, a centuries-old route created by bison and used by pioneers to navigate uncharted territories.

The Hoosier National Forest and Indiana State Museum have conducted field studies at the settlement throughout the past 20 years. Researchers unearthed artifacts from the 1800s, including tobacco pipe fragments and cup plates, from farmsteads and home sites. Some items are on temporary display at the Orange County Historical Society Museum in Paoli.

Annual gatherings at Lick Creek settlement

The area, at first glance, looks like much of Indiana's forested land: sycamores with mottled bark, sunlight filtering through clustered leaves, tree limbs winding through the open sky.

A trail stretches through the woods. At first, there isnt much to see.

But follow the trail to its end, and youll find relics  rectangles of moss-draped limestone engraved with names and dates  in the cemetery. It contains 14 marked graves, but many others lie beneath the grass and dirt. It is officially known as Roberts and Thomas Family Cemetery.

The cemetery is named for two of the settlements founding families. Daniels said she discovered her connection to them through her maiden name, Bonds. Her ancestors married into the Roberts family.

A headstone partly covered by moss is one of about 14 in the Lick Creek cemetery. At one time, almost 300 people lived at this settlement.

Together, the families of Lick Creek descendants walk the trail once a year. In 2023, more than 30 of them stood among the gravestones.

This is where we come from. This is who came before us.

They decorated the graves with polyester flowers. They prayed. They honored the ancestors they never met, but who risked their lives for the freedom this place promised.

And they wondered what its future might hold.

It isn't in the books. It's in our families.

At this years reunion, Daniels felt weariness trickle into her muscles as she trekked to the cemetery. Her joints ached. She wondered again whether future generations would make the trip.

Nearing 80 years old, Daniels watched as her fellow descendants shared her struggles. Theyd like to have a wooden staircase, at least, she said, to make these trips easier.

For younger generations, the biggest hurdle is sparking interest, said Daniels, who serves as the executive director of the Indiana Council on Educating Students of Color. Shes got a few ideas to make Lick Creek more welcoming. Adding placards with information about the area along the trail, building a model of the settlements church and restoring the graveyard are some of them.

A sign along the trail at the Lick Creek Settlement directs visitors toward the cemetery. It's one of only a few signs in the area.

Thats too much history to just let go, Daniels said. Ive got to fight for that.

Last year, she reached out to the Black Heritage Preservation Program, which provides grants to Indiana sites of African American history. The program is part of Indiana Landmarks, the countrys largest statewide preservation organization.

Celebrated musician: Pianist and IU Jacobs School of Music professor Andre Watts dies at 77

The Black Heritage Preservation Program's grants are funded by the Lilly Endowment. The program has about $200,000 each year to spread statewide for various preservation and restoration projects, Director Eunice Trotter said. If Lick Creek descendants apply for funding, they might be able to make the historic site more accessible and informative.

Not enough people know the story, Daniels said.

I taught U.S. history, she said. I never knew any of this. It isnt in the books. Its in our families.

Even if the Buffalo Springs Restoration Project is approved, the Little Africa Cemetery will be protected.

Buffalo Springs: Where past and future clash

Debate has raged since 2021, when the public was first informed of the U.S. Forest Services proposed Buffalo Springs Restoration Project. The project addresses over 5,000 acres of the Hoosier National Forest, primarily within Orange County.

Through prescribed burns and vegetation treatments, the Forest Service plans to keep the forest diverse and healthy, said heritage program manager Tesa Villalobos. The oak-hickory community in the Hoosier National Forest has been crowded out by non-native pines. Long-term, this means the forest could fail to support wildlife and lose tree species crucial to the ecosystem, she said.

Machai St. Rain leads a group of hikers along the Lick Creek trail in Orange County, Ind. on June 28, 2023. The guided hike was hosted by Indiana Forest Alliance.

The Lick Creek Settlement, sprawling over 1,500 acres, falls within the projects boundaries. Some community members are concerned that forest management will destroy the Buffalo Trace's history with fire, pesticide treatments and logging, said Steven Stewart of the Indiana Forest Alliance.

But prescribed burns are the only treatment proposed for the Lick Creek area, and many segments of the forest won't be affected at all. The Forest Service has not yet confirmed which segments will be treated.

The Buffalo Springs project is now in the final environmental assessment stage. There will be a public comment period this fall once the assessment is completed, said Marion Mason, Hoosier National Forest spokesperson.

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And, if approved, prescribed burns will gnaw away at unnecessary low vegetation, promoting new growth, Villalobos said.

The burns, low-intensity and controlled, will not disturb the cemetery or underground excavated sites, like those where the church, the union meeting house or the 13 farmsteads once were. By surveying the land, the Forest Service can determine areas with historical and cultural significance.

In 2000, an archaeological excavation conducted by Hoosier National Forest, Indiana State Museum, and students from Tennessee State University uncovered the Elias and Nancy Roberts farmstead within the Lick Creek African American Settlement.

Hoosier National Forest follows the National Historic Preservation Act. So though the forest around and within Lick Creek Settlement may face burns, the underground artifacts and cemetery will be preserved.

Being added to the National Register of Historic Places would provide the sites with another layer of protection, Villalobos said, and it might aid in restoration efforts.

The Indiana Forest Alliance and Indiana Landmarks collaboratively advocate for the Buffalo Trace. According to Stewart, some of their goals include:

Buffalo Trace cultural center and museum

Genealogy archive and library

Interactive ArcGIS map and website

Nature preserve and recreation area

The Forest Service, Indiana Landmarks, Lick Creek descendants, and Indiana Forest Alliance are just some of the parties with an interest in giving the settlement an official designation as a historic site. Whether by burning away non-native species or building staircases and adding signage, they have a common interest: preserving the history of the Lick Creek African American Settlement.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Future of Little Africa settlement in Hoosier National Forest
New pastor-led health initiative established on Peninsula to help narrow the gaps that exist

NEWPORT NEWS  Janis Roddy Wortham thanks God every day.

With her 71st birthday coming up Wednesday, she is recovering from an almost fatal lung affliction. But now, still occasionally on oxygen, she already wants to help others suffering from health issues while also spending her time as a companion for a woman with dementia.

God is good through it all, she said. So Im just interested in helping my community.

The retired telecommunications worker was at her church of 42 years, Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News, on Monday with more than 300 others for the formal launch of an initiative to create a healthier Peninsula.

Greater Peninsula CARES Foundation Inc. was set up by pastors and other community leaders to reduce racial health disparities, widen the safety net and break cycles of poverty, according to various speakers at the event. The groups name stands for Congregational and Residential Empowerment Services, and the pastors combined congregations amount to roughly 8,000 people.

Conversations around the founding of the organization started back about two years ago when the leaders and Sentara connected. Now, a $255,000 grant is coming from the Norfolk-based health system.

The funding is part of Sentaras commitment to reducing racial health inequities, according to Dr. Jordan Asher, executive vice president and chief physician executive of Sentara Healthcare.

As we know, improving your health is more than just taking care of you when you are sick, it must be a much more holistic approach, he said.

Bishop Dwight Riddick, pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church, said the organizations approach will be tailored to meeting community needs around improving health accessibility and quality, offering wellness initiatives to prevent health problems, and economic empowerment through educational courses for vocational and entrepreneurial training. He said Great Peninsula CARES will slot into the array of other programs and health systems to meet grassroots needs.

Our goal is not to duplicate or replace the work theyre doing, but rather come along side of it, to seek to narrow the gaps that exist, Riddick said. It takes all of us working together hand in hand and the Greater Peninsula CARES Foundation Inc. is committed to bridging gaps, serving as safety for those who have been left behind.

Federal legislators, like the pastors, spoke about the importance of the relationship between religious leaders and communities that may have skepticism about or difficulty obtaining health care.

There is no better partnership we can have than the trusted messengers we have in our clergy, said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News. At a time of all this misinformation, we need trusted messengers, along with our health care systems.

The organization already has two programs in the beginning stages  a review of nursing needs in four churches, which is to expand beyond churches, and hosting grant writing sessions for organizations to receive funds for tailored local health initiatives. At the event, they also put out a call to individuals, community groups and health providers to reach out for future partnerships as Greater Peninsula CARES seeks to grow.

Count Wortham in. She said she believes the organization and its impact will be a game-changer, and the founding is a watershed moment for religious organizations to come together to transform the area.

This I think is absolutely awesome, she said. I do have (health) issues and I have very good insurance, but it touches me to know theres so many people who dont, so I think this is a wonderful organization.

Ian Munro, 757-447-4097, ian.munro@virginiamedia.com
A Pennsylvania woman thwarted a home invasion on Sunday by shooting burglary suspects who entered her Philadelphia apartment.

The Philadelphia Police Department says officers responded to a 1:34 a.m. report of a shooting in Germantown on Sunday morning. When authorities arrived, they found the woman standing on Germantown Avenue near one of the suspects, who was injured and lying on the ground.

The woman told police that four unknown men entered her apartment before she opened fire.

"The complainant had arrived to her apartment and found four unknown males inside her apartment without her permission," the Philadelphia Police Department explained in a statement to Fox News Digital.

TWO IN CUSTODY AFTER BALLISTIC VEST-WEARING SUSPECT KILLS 5, INJURES 4 IN PHILADELPHIA MASS SHOOTING

Police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

"A confrontation ensued and the complainant shot the offenders, who then fled from that location," police added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The first suspect was shot in his right leg and right arm. He was identified as 48-year-old Jermaine Parker and treated by medics before being taken to Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, police said.

PHILADELPHIA VETERAN POLICE OFFICER DIES AFTER BEING FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN CRUISER

The woman reported that four unknown men were in her apartment without permission before she shot two of them.

Officers soon found the second suspect, Randy Miller, on a different street, according to police. The 45-year-old man was shot in the back and also taken to Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia in critical but stable condition.

Both men were charged with burglary. Philadelphia police noted that the woman's motive was to defend herself while a criminal trespass and burglary were being committed.

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Two suspects were charged with burglary, according to Philadelphia Police Department.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the case or the other two suspects. The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the incident.
By Adnan Abidi and Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - People living near a river running through India's capital began returning to their homes on Monday as floodwaters receded five days after the Yamuna overflowed into the city.

The Yamuna River rose to its highest in 45 years last week following unusually heavy rainfall in the city, with runoff from hilly states to the north also causing its waters to swell. Thousands of people were evacuated to relief camps, the New Delhi government said, to escape the flooding.

Vinay Kumar Bhandari, 47, who had fled to a nearby school, returned to Yamuna Bazaar on Monday to find his belongings ruined and his house covered in mud.

"There was at least 12 feet of water in our house, an entire floor has been finished," he said, standing in ankle-deep, brown water outside his home, with broken furniture and bricks floating around him.

Sunil Sharma, a priest living in the area, said all his electronic items had been damaged, while his bags and clothes were swept away altogether.

The Delhi government on Sunday announced compensation of 10,000 rupees ($120) for all affected families and said schools would provide books and uniforms to children who had lost these in the floods.

Even as residents began cleaning up their homes, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi Marlena warned that water levels of the Yamuna had risen once again due to heavy rains in neighbouring Haryana state.

"Return to your homes only after the water level falls below the danger level," she said in a Tweet on Monday afternoon.

Apart from areas near the river, several other parts of the city were inundated last week after five barrage gates meant to release floodwaters failed to open.

Increased water pressure damaged the regulator of a drain carrying floodwater to the Yamuna, causing water to return to the city and flood key areas, including around the iconic Red Fort and near the ITO area, where several government and private offices are located.

While most schools re-opened on Monday as water levels receded, 13 schools being used as relief camps and four near the banks of the Yamuna will remain closed until Wednesday.

The Delhi government has stepped up efforts to prevent diseases carried by mosquitoes and other insects due to the stagnant water standing across the city.

($1 = 82.0775 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Adnan Abidi and Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson; Additional reporting by Tanvi Mehta and Shivam Patel; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Protesters gather outside of the Governors Mansion to protest Gov. Gary Herberts mask mandate and new COVID-19 restrictions in Salt Lake City on Nov. 9, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

If youre tempted to believe the country has put COVID conflict behind us, you should just spend a few minutes on Twitter. However distorted a barometer social media can be, it still tells us something.

When the Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was on the Joe Rogan podcast earlier this summer, vaccine researcher Dr. Peter Hotez pushed back forcefully, saying that Spotify had stopped even sort of trying to stem the flow of misinformation.

When Rogan encouraged Hotez to debate Kennedy, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban and others weighed in.

Whats most illuminating is to read the public comments on the various Twitter posts, which include vicious name calling (liar ... coward ... corrupt tool of Pharma) and strident accusations from both sides about the other causing more death.

The anger and animosity is still palpable even as most people speak of the pandemic in past tense.

There are good reasons for this. For most Americans, COVID-19 was traumatic in multiple ways  lost lives, lost businesses, strained relationships, closed schools and interrupted child development. Theres a reason life and death matters are so difficult to discuss. And the long-lasting effects of the pandemic arent limited to long COVID.

One of my dear friends who teaches at a major university describes being ostracized by friends as soon as they learned he held a differing view of the pandemic. The experience was so hurtful its still hard for him to talk about it today.

Ive also been interviewing people about how the pandemic impacted their faith. While some grew deeper spiritual ties and attachments to their faith community, others have experienced estrangement with their former family of faith over some of the various heated policy disagreements.

This might be why every time I sat down to write something during the pandemic, I felt drawn toward the urgent need for more peacemaking and dialogue. As I see it, there are steps that we can take that could make an especially significant difference in how we go forward from here.

1. Trust peoples sincerity. Deep disagreements are hard enough to navigate in the best of conditions. But when we assume those on the other side of an issue are motivated by malevolent and corrupt interests, conversation quickly becomes impossible.

As best you can, consider that people you know reached different conclusions on the pandemic  masks, lockdowns, vaccines  from a place of sincere conviction. Instead of hiding secret agendas, they probably believe what they say and honestly think their choices represent the best option.

Thats important to grasp because the alternatives so quickly push us to dark places. Saying You just want people to get sick and die creates a very different emotional atmosphere than You have a different view of what it is that helps people stay healthy.

My feet hurt, says Denise Begaye, an X-ray technician with the Monument Valley Health Center, as she sits on a curb and takes a break from COVID-19 testing outside of the center in Oljato-Monument Valley, San Juan County, on April 16, 2020. The mobile testing team tested 581 people that day. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

2. Appreciate the long history of health disagreements. Human beings have disagreed about health and healing as long as theyve been on the planet.

For example, weve had long-standing differences in perspective about how extensive the interventions need to be for a diseased body to heal, along with the degree to which human beings have an innate capacity to heal.

Thats easy to forget with all the rhetoric about there being only one right way to approach infectious disease, mental health or any of the various ailments afflicting humanity. Advocates across various schools of thoughts in medicine and public health can speak with equal forcefulness and passion  and rightfully so. They all care a great deal about helping as many people as they can.

Lets work to hear out different perspectives, while presuming that everyone is wanting to make a difference for good. And with the possibility of future pandemics ahead, lets not forget that it really is possible to disagree about vaccines, masks and novel viruses without condemning each other.

3. Trust peoples thoughtfulness. All this being said, when life and death (and health) are on the line, its remarkably easy for any of us to reach harsh conclusions about people who see things differently. (They might be sincere, but theyre clearly idiots!)

Again, work to push back against this tendency. Try assuming the best about people, rather than being quick to presume ignorance, dishonesty or selfishness.

Dont allow such suspicion to so quickly poison the well of civic conversation. And see what it feels like to instead work from the presumption that others in the conversation have reached conclusions in good faith.

4. Approach the scientific debate with more humility. Its common to see folks on both sides of scientific questions act like all the evidence is on their side. In all likelihood, its not.

On almost every question that matters, there are robust debates going on between researchers that advance different arguments and interpretations about the data.

Thats just how science works. Admittedly, this conflicts with the public fantasy of science as some kind of oracle revealing truth with a capital T. But ask any researcher, and theyll confirm this lines up with the messy nature of scholarly inquiry.

Related

Try to hold questions humbly when you dont understand why another person or leader or institution takes a certain position. As Ive witnessed with my own neighbors, that makes all the difference in the world for being able to live together well and find peaceful solutions to disagreement.

5. Acknowledge peoples fears, even if you dont share them. One of the turning points in my dialogue with climate activist friends was being able to acknowledge their apocalyptic fears about climate change, even if I didnt share them. I care about these people, after all, so why wouldnt I care about what is weighing them down?

In a similar way, we dont need to agree with everything someone believes in order to empathize with them and show compassion.

In a day when more and more people are gleefully dancing on the graves of their socio-political opposites, we should push back forcefully and insist on a better way. Sickness and death, as difficult as they are, are universal experiences, and grief and sorrow can unite us, as can our worries. Listen to peoples fears. You can do that, even if you dont agree on all the reasoning behind them.

No doubt, much of this can feel challenging. But its worth the work to see relationships healed, and if humility and respect can do so much for estranged individuals, imagine what this approach can do for our country.

Jacob Hess is the former editor of Public Square Magazine and writes at Publish Peace on Substack. He has worked to promote liberal-conservative understanding since the publication of Youre Not as Crazy as I Thought (But Youre Still Wrong) with Phil Neisser. With Carrie Skarda, Kyle Anderson and Ty Mansfield, he also authored The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints.
A Piece of Fruit Cost a Man His Life. Now, His Family Wants Answers

Screenshot: FOX5 New York

Outrage has spread across New Rochelle, NY, after the fatal shooting of a man accused of eating grapes and a banana he hadnt paid for. According to REVOLT, the family demanded the unedited body cam footage to see the whole account of the incident.

Jarrell Garris, 37, was in a local grocery store on July 3 when an employee called the police, accusing him of eating a banana and a few grapes and then leaving the store without paying. The body camera footage shows two officers approaching Garris and asking him if hed eaten items from the store. He doesnt respond and walks away but runs into another officer who tells him the grocery store is pressing charges. While trying to place him under arrest, Garris appears to resist, leading to a struggle. Authorities claim that Garris reached for one of the officers guns, which led Detective Steven Conn to fire his weapon seconds later.

Read more

Garris suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, causing damage to his cervical spine and spinal cord. He died Monday, July 10, after being removed from life support. The Westchester County medical examiner ruled his death as a homicide, per FOX5 New York.



Only a portion of the body camera footage has been released. Now, the community is questioning why the department is holding the rest.

Read more from The New York Times:

The city of New Rochelle claimed they released those videos to be transparent, but why wouldnt you release the full video? said William Wagstaff, a lawyer representing Mr. Garris family. Noam Bramson, the mayor of New Rochelle, welcomed the state investigation in a statement on Wednesday and said the city had no objection to the release of full body camera footage if the attorney general, Letitia James, judged that to be appropriate.

According to the report, Garris, who had just moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, returned to New Rochelle to pick up his 11-year-old son for the summer. His father said he was known in the community for over 30 years. Several members of the police department knew Garris because theyd done wellness checks on him in the past regarding his schizophrenia, per the Times.

I dont want to remember him by how they try to paint a picture of him. He had a heart of gold. He was a respectful person who just had a mental illness, said Tiona Garris, Jarrells mother.

The two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave upon the investigation, the report says.

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Pizza crust, burner phones and his wifes hair: How Long Island police tied Rex Heuermann to the Gilgo Beach murders

Rex Heuermann (inset) and police on the scene of his home (AP)

Did he know that his time was up?

His alleged internet searches would certainly seem to suggest so.

Over the last year between March 2022 and June 2023, the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann repeatedly looked online for updates in the investigation police say.

He searched for details about the victims and their families.

He googled the use of new phone technology in the case and looked for podcasts and documentaries about the murders.

And he even took a keen interest in the newly-launched task force  headed up by newly-appointed Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison  that was actively hunting for him.

For up to 16 years, police say he had gotten away with brutally murdering young women and dumping their bodies along the shores of Gilgo Beach in Long Island.

As body after body lay undiscovered, he added more victims to his graveyard, prosecutors allege.

Then, in late 2010, a search for another missing woman led authorities to the grim discovery.

But the suspects time still wasnt up.

For more than a decade, the accused killer continued to go about his day to day life  going to work at his architecture firm in Manhattan and coming home to his wife and two children.

He seemed just as baffled by his lack of arrest as the local residents and victims families who questioned why police had not been able to catch the killer.

Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman (from clockwise top left) (AP)

He even searched Google for the answers to questions including why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer and why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught, court documents state.

Was he looking over his shoulder? Did he have an inkling that he was under surveillance?

Or after all this time had passed, did he think that he might never get caught?

Then, last Thursday, as he left his office in Midtown after a days work and walked along a busy Manhattan road, a group of suit-clad men approached and surrounded him.

The gig was finally up.

Rex Heuermann  a 59-year-old married father-of-two, professional architecture, Manhattan business owner and Long Island native  was arrested and charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello.

He was also named as the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

Its taken 13 years but Suffolk County Police finally say theyve caught the serial killer who lured in sex workers, brutally murdered them and then dumped their bound and wrapped bodies along the shores of Gilgo Beach.

What led them to the suspected killer was laid out in court documents as prosecutors asked a judge to deny him bail.

It consisted of a pimps tip about his pickup truck, a stash of burner phones, sadistic online searches, phone calls taunting victims families, his wifes hair  and a pizza crust.

Sighting of pickup truck

The first piece of the puzzle came when a witness in the Costello case revealed details about a vehicle that a client was driving when she was last seen alive.

Costello, who worked as a sex worker, was seen alive on the evening of 2 September 2010 when she left her home in West Babylon.

One night earlier, witnesses said that a prostitution client had come to her home but the client was subjected to a ruse where a man posing as Costellos outraged boyfriend showed up and made him leave  in a move to swindle the client out of cash. A witness  Costellos unidentified pimp  said that the client was driving a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche.

The next day the same client contacted Costello to meet her but said that he wouldnt come to her home because of her boyfriend, the court documents state.

Police remove evidence from home of Long Island serial killer suspect (Patrick Reichart)

Costello left her home and was never seen alive again.

The details of the vehicle came to light last year after a new taskforce was assembled in January 2022 to solve the serial killings once and for all. The taskforce reviewed the evidence gathered in the case and investigators interviewed Costellos pimp in the spring of 2022.

He told officials about the suspect in the green Chevrolet Avalanche, telling them he didnt know the mans name but that you might want to look at him.

In March 2022, a registration search showed that local man Mr Heuermann owned a first-generation model of the truck at the time of Costellos disappearance. He also matched the witness description of the man believed to be the killer: a large, white ogre-like male in his mid-40s, around 64 to 66 tall, with dark bushy hair, and big oval style 1970s type eyeglasses.

As described below, this was significant, because a witness to the disappearance of Amber Costello identified a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche as the vehicle believed to have been driven by her killer, the court documents state.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told New York Daily News this was the turning point in the investigation  and the moment that authorities zeroed in on Mr Heuermann.

The turning point was the car, he said. Once we got that car, who it connected to, thats when the investigation got legs.

The discovery of the car led investigators to hone in on Mr Heuermann including executing 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain evidence to determine his potential involvement in the killings.

Trove of burner phones

Mr Heuermanns alleged use of burner phones then led police to make an arrest.

At the time when the three women went missing, they had been in contact with a person who was using a burner phone to arrange to meet them.

People often use burner phones for illicit or illegal activities as they are more difficult to trace.

But, according to the court documents, Mr Heuermann still managed to make a series of critical errors while using them.

The burner phones used to contact the victims always pinged off the same cell towers as Mr Heuermanns legitimate cellphone, the documents show  indicating that while using the burner phones, he was also in possession of his cellphone at the same time.

The burner phones also pinged off cell towers in two key locations  close to Mr Heuermanns office in Midtown Manhattan and close to Mr Heuermanns family home in Massapequa Park.

Rex Heuermann leaves court on Friday (Fox 5/YouTube)

Records show that Mr Heuermanns personal cellphone and the burner phones were in the same locations at the same time  and in the locations that corresponded with the disappearances and murders of each of the three women around Massapequa, Long Island and Midtown Manhattan.

Investigators could find no instance where Heuermann was in a separate location from these other cellphones when such a communication event occurred, the court documents state.

In the days leading up to Barthelemys disappearance, she had been contacted by the same burner phone multiple times.

The last contact from the phone came on 10 July 2009 when she was last seen alive in New York City.

Cell site records show the burner phone traveled from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan that day.

Then, chillingly, Barthelemys own cellphone traveled from Midtown Manhattan to Massapequa Park.

Victims cellphones and taunting calls to grieving families

The killer took at least two of his victims cellphones after their murders as a trophy  and, in a sick move, called one of the victims families from her phone to taunt them about what he had done.

Prosecutors say the evidence shows this person was Mr Heuermann.

Following Brainard-Barnes and Barthelemys murders, the killer took and used their cellphones.

Barthelemys last cell site location was in the early hours of 11 July 2009 in Massapequa.

Surveillance footage captures Rex Heuermann adding credit to one of the burner phones (via REUTERS)

Throughout the next two months, the killer then used her cellphone to make taunting phone calls to Barthelemys family members.

In at least one of those calls, answered by a devastated family member, the male caller gloated about killing and sexually assaulting Barthelemy.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Heuermann made those cruel calls from or in the vicinity of his Midtown office where his own daughter is now an employee. Records show that each of the taunting calls pinged off cell towers in Midtown Manhattan.

Mr Heuermann also allegedly used Brainard-Barnes cellphone to check her voicemail, the court documents show.

Online searches for explicit images  and the LISK investigation

In the years after the murders, Mr Heuermann allegedly continued to slip up in his use of technology  as he allegedly continued to use burner phones to illicit sex from sex workers right up until his arrest.

While it showed a pattern of behaviour, prosecutors also point to other disturbing activity traced to the cellphone numbers.

Court documents show that Mr Heuermann had Tinder profiles and several email accounts under a series of fake names.

He used these accounts  linked to his burner phones  to search for graphic images of young girls and children and sadistic, torture-related pornography.

Selfie taken on one of his fake accounts (via REUTERS)

Searches included girl hog tied torture porn and 10 year old school girl.

As well as the disturbing sexual searches, prosecutors say he also looked up images of the murder victims and their relatives, and researched podcasts, documentaries and news stories on the case.

These included why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, and why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught, Long Island killer and Long Island serial killer phone call.

He also looked for information about the new task force on the case.

Knowing he was keeping a close eye on the investigation, police kept the developments close to the vest.

Surveillance footage captured Mr Heuermann adding credit to one of the burner phones  and he had it on him when he was arrested.

Wifes hair

In a bombshell twist, hair belonging to Mr Heuermanns wife was allegedly found on the bodies of three of the four victims.

Prosecutors say that two female hairs had been found on Waterman, one of them on the tape which the killer wrapped around her head. One female hair was found on tape used to wrap burlap around Costello and one hair was found in a belt buckle used to bind Brainard-Barnes  who Mr Heuermann is yet to be charged over.

To identify the female who the belonged to, investigators trawled through the trash at the Heuermann home in Long Island.

New York State police officers carry out a large item from the home of Rex Heuermann (AP)

In July 2022, they recovered 11 bottles from the trash and they were swabbed for DNA.

Forensic testing found that the DNA on the bottles matched the female hair found at the crime scene, concluding that the hair belonged to Mr Heuermanns wife.

The accuracy is such that more than 99 percent of the North American female population can be ruled out, according to the court documents.

Prosecutors found that the suspects wife was out of town at the time of the three murders for which he has been charged but that her hair could have transferred to the crime scene through her husbands clothing or through him using items such as tape taken from the family home.

Pizza crust

As well as his wifes DNA, Mr Heuermanns DNA was also found on one of the victims.

Prosecutors said that a male hair had been found on the burlap used to wrap Watermans body before the killer dumped her along Gilgo Beach.

When the hair was first retrieved in 2010, it was unsuitable for DNA analysis, according to the court documents.

But that hair was kept safely locked away and was submitted for analysis in 2020. A DNA profile came back.

A pizza box discarded by Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann was used to link him to the killings through DNA (Suffolk County DA)

Now, to check if it matched Mr Heuermann, investigators needed his DNA to compare the samples.

This January, a surveillance team watching the suspect saw him chuck a pizza box into the trash close to his office in Manhattan.

They nabbed the box and found a leftover pizza crust inside.

Last month, court records state the forensics came back: it was Mr Heuermanns hair found on Watermans body.
Police attempt to ID pedestrian killed on Atlanta Highway in Athens

Investigators were continuing Monday to verify the identity of a woman killed Friday as she tried to cross Atlanta Highway in west Athens.

The fatal collision occurred about 9:35 p.m. at the Custom Place intersection, a short road near Old Monroe Road, according to Athens-Clarke police.

The woman was not crossing at a crosswalk or at an intersection, police said.

The 36-year-old Covington man driving a 2020 Jeep Gladiator was not injured and is not expected to face charges, according to police.

Police have a possible name of the deceased woman, but they are working to verify that she is the 36-year-old woman tentatively identified, police Lt. Jody Thompson said Monday.

Killer kills himself: Hull man wanted in slaying of woman kills himself during police pursuit

Drug sentences: Three sentenced to prison in U.S. District Court in Athens for dealing meth, heroin

The death is the 10th attributed to a motor vehicle crash this year.

Police are also investigating a hit and run collision with another pedestrian that occurred about 2:30 p.m. on Old Winterville Road and Branch Street.

The victim, a 27-year-old resident of Creek Stone Drive, had a leg injury, according to police.

Police said the man was unable to provide specific information about the vehicle or the circumstances of how he was hit.

Anyone with information about the fatal crash on Atlanta Highway is asked to contact Senior Police Officer James Trotter at 762-400-7326.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Pedestrian killed in Athens on Atlanta Hwy; police attempt to ID woman
A flood of evidence has come in since suspects arrest in Gilgo Beach serial killings cold case, DA says

Editors Note: Find Tuesdays story on the Gilgo Beach serial killings here.

Investigators have received a flood of evidence and information related to the suspect charged in some of the Gilgo Beach killings since his arrest Thursday, the Suffolk County District Attorney told CNN on Monday.

We feel we can prove these three murders, Ray Tierney said on CNN This Morning.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested and charged with murder in the killings of three of the Gilgo Four, a group of women whose remains were unearthed near Long Islands Gilgo Beach in 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

He is also the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance and killing of the fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, according to a bail application from prosecutors, though he has yet to be charged in the case. Were also confident that were going to be able to eventually charge that fourth murder, Tierney said.

Heuermann, an architect, had only one question during intake at the jail after being arrested last week, a source familiar with the case told CNN: Is it in the news?

Since arriving at the jail, hes been placed on suicide watch, Vicki DiStefano, a spokesperson with the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office, told CNN. DiStefano said the determination was made by the Suffolk County jail medical staff, not the sheriffs department, and noted this is not uncommon in cases like Heuermanns.

Officials found between 200 and 300 firearms in a walled-off vault behind a locked metal door in Heuermanns basement, according to a source with knowledge of the case.

The stash included pistols, revolvers and semi-automatic rifles. Heuermann was an avid hunter, but the trove was more guns than authorities were expecting  they only knew of 92 that he had registered in the state.

The search of Heuermanns house in Massapequa Park, Long Island, has largely been focused on forensics, but authorities are also looking for items that could be souvenirs from the killings  things that appear to be hidden or kept in such a way other family members would not have come across them, according to the source.

One out of place item that investigators have found is a doll that was found in the house  but not in the childrens rooms.

Investigators also searched a storage unit Heuermann kept in Amityville, Long Island.

The attention garnered by the arrest and the execution of a number of search warrants has prompted a deluge of new details, Tierney said. Right now, we have a flood of information and a flood of evidence coming in, and its going to take us a while to sort of go through all of that.

We have a description of the last individual who saw the final victim, Amber Costello, alive that matches that of this defendant, who has a rather unique physical appearance, he added. We have phone evidence, and we also have that DNA evidence.

Heuermanns DNA was found on one body, and his wifes DNA was found on two bodies, Tierney said.

With regard to that DNA and those hairs, its either transfer  in other words, one person comes into contact with a second person who then comes into contact with a third person  or, they were at a location where, you know, the family member occupied, whether its a car or a house, Tierney said.

The Gilgo Four are among 11 sets of human remains that were found strewn across Long Islands South Shore between 2010 and 2011, launching what police have called one of the most consequential homicide investigations in the islands history.

When asked whether investigators expect to connect Heuermann to more victims, Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter said, As we continue to gather evidence, anything is possible.

A multijurisdictional task force will continue to investigate Heuermann and the remaining unsolved cases by piecing together years of the suspects activities, combing through tip lines and interviewing witnesses, Carter said.

Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman - Suffolk County Police Department

Theres still an active investigation as to his whereabouts and his conduct from the time that the bodies were discovered right up until Thursday, the investigator said.

Authorities had Heuermann on their radar for more than a year as investigators gathered enough evidence to make an arrest. But they ultimately decided to arrest him Thursday out of concern that he may have set his sights on another victim, Carter said.

It was an adrenaline rush, he said of hearing the arrest was finally happening.

I knew that this person was a demon, Carter said. The fact that we are able to bring some closure and some peace to the families as well as take a violent person off of the streets is rewarding, I think, for everyone.

A woman who said she was in a networking group with Heuermann told CNN affiliate WABC about a now-haunting conversation, when he asked her if she was familiar with the Gilgo Beach killings.

And back then I will say Oh you know, hes just from the area, maybe you know, hes just a local talking  and would think that Id find it interesting, Dominique Vidal said.

But now I see it as a serial killer, kind of just putting it in somebodys face, she added.

Heuermann also called her and left a voice mail in late February after she left the networking group for architects and designers they were both apart of, she said.

Authorities lay out key evidence

The case began in 2010 when the search for a missing woman led to the unexpected discovery of the Gilgo Four  who were found bound in camouflaged burlap along the same quarter-mile stretch of roadway.

By the time authorities found the remains of the missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, a year later, they had uncovered a total of 11 sets of remains along Long Islands South Shore  all within miles of Gilgo Beach.

After the cases went unsolved for more than a decade, a multiagency investigative task force was formed in early 2022 to revisit them.

Within weeks, the task force identified Heuermann as a possible suspect, according to Tierney. Investigators then began to surveil him and his family, surreptitiously collected DNA samples and analyzed his phone records for any connection to the killings.

Authorities narrowed thousands of cell tower records down to a handful of people and then began focusing on residents who also matched a physical description provided by a witness who had seen the suspected killer.

Heuermann fitted the witnesss description, lived close to the Long Island cell site and worked near the New York City cell sites where other calls were captured, authorities said.

A key break in the case came when investigators matched DNA from a piece of male hair found on the burlap used to wrap Watermans body to a DNA sample taken from a pizza crust Heuermann had discarded in a Manhattan trash can in January.

Heuermanns internet history included at least 200 internet searches for information about the status of the Gilgo investigation, as well as compulsive searches for photos of the victims and their families, Tierney said.

The records also included searches for violent pornography and depictions of women being abused, raped and killed, the prosecutor said.

Heuermanns wife and two children were out of state during the times the three women are believed to have been killed, authorities said.

The suspects wife and children are cooperating with the investigation, according to Carter.

Investigator describes suspects alleged acts as worst case Ive ever seen

Rex Heuermann in booking image from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. - Suffolk County Sheriff's Office/AP

Heuermanns alleged actions are among the most disturbing cases he has seen in his career, Carter told CNN.

I cant begin to imagine the pain that these families have had to endure over the last decade and to know that this demon was capable of doing such an evil act to these families, it is just, you know, beyond comprehension, Carter said.

The deputy commissioner repeatedly described Heuermann as a demon.

Its really hard to get into the mind of somebody thats capable of committing the crimes that he committed, Carter said. He intended to commit these crimes. He intended to cover up these crimes, and the acts that he committed were the worst Ive ever seen, he said.

Heuermann lived in the village of Massapequa Park with his family  just across the bay from where the victims remains were found.

The suspect, who is a registered architect, has owned the New York City-based architecture and consulting firm, RH Consultants & Associates, since 1994, according to his companys website.

The investigation is far from over

Crime scene investigators use metal detectors to search a marsh for the remains of Shannan Gilbert on December 12, 2011, in Oak Beach, New York. - James Carbone/Pool/Newsday/AP/File

Despite Heuermanns arrest in connection to three of the Gilgo Beach homicides, the cases involving several other sets of human remains uncovered in the area around the same time are still under investigation.

Were going to continue to work this case and work the entire Gilgo investigation, Carter said. The detectives in this case  one thing I really want to say about them  they never quit, Carter said. Theyve been working this case for over a decade and they never quit.

CNNs Kristina Sgueglia, Emma Tucker, Ray Sanchez, Nicole Grether, Beth English, Brynn Gingras and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

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Atlanta police confirmed that a man was shot at a southwest Atlanta residence Sunday evening.

The shooting happened at 1282 Oakland Drive SW.

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Police said a man was shot and taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

At this time, details are limited.

Police have not released the identity of the victim, and there is no word on a suspect at this time.

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Police have not released details surrounding the shooting.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Police looking for suspect in armed robbery of gas station on Olympias east side

Olympia police are asking for the publics help in identifying the man who robbed a gas station clerk at gunpoint on Sunday, July 16.

Police Lt. Paul Lower said the mans hoodie should be recognizable.

Lower said police responded at around 11 p.m. Sunday to reports of an armed robbery at the Shell gas station in the 3500 block of Pacific Avenue Southeast. An employee reported that a man entered the store, selected a food item and began to pay with change. When the employee opened the till, the man pulled out a handgun and directed the clerk to duck behind the counter.

The suspect took cash from the till, but Lower said police are unsure how much. He then took off from the gas station on foot.

The employee was not harmed in the incident.

Lower said the man was described as being 6-foot-2 and wearing a dark hoodie with a paper mask across his face. The hoodie had yin and yang symbols on it, as well as the word ENLIGHTEN written on the back.

Anyone who recognizes the man or has information that could aid police in finding the suspect is asked to call OPDs detective division at 360-753-8300.
When investigators tried to enter a high-rise downtown Orlando apartment after reports of a fire, they said they found a mattress blocking the door.

Once they got inside, they said the oven was filled with trash and the dials were turned to the highest level.

The unit had smoke detectors and a sprinkler system, but investigators said the smoke detectors were either tampered with or removed and the sprinklers were covered with baseball caps.

Upon further inspection, investigators said there were also clothes stuffed in the air vents and tissue and incense in the electrical outlets.

Read: Moratorium on downtown Orlando nightclubs could extend into 2024

The man who lived in the 17th-floor unit, Scott Weber, 48, is now facing multiple charges, including arson.

According to an arrest warrant, the fire is estimated to have caused $15,000 in damage to the apartment.

People who live at the Paramount on Lake Eola said they had no idea the back story after they received a five-sentence email regarding the fire.

Read: FDA approves new drug to protect infants, toddlers from RSV

Making it sounds like maybe a candle fell over and caused some minor damage, cause thats exactly how they phrased it, its minor damage, resident Shari Johnson said.

Upon hearing what actually happened, Its shocking, she said. Its scary.

Residents said theyre angry with management for not giving them the details. But under the landlord-tenant state statute, landlords legally dont have to provide information on other tenant situations.

The man who lived in the 17th-floor unit, Scott Weber, 48, is now facing multiple charges, including arson.

Read: Orlando police identify woman shot, killed by officers after charging at them with knives

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.
Policing is less deadly than it used to be, but Columbus shooting a reminder of job's dangers

Brian Steel, a Columbus police officer and executive vice president for the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9., speaks July 7 outside of OhioHealth Grant Medical Center the day after a Columbus police officer was critically injured and one of three suspects in an armed robbery spree was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire on Interstate 70 east near West Mound Street.

It's not one of the nation's most dangerous jobs, and statistics suggest it's a career that may actually be getting safer rather than deadlier.

Policing is widely considered a perilous occupation. But loggers, fishers, roofers, and truck drivers are all more likely to die on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There's something the statistics don't capture though, researchers and current and former law enforcement officials emphasized to The Dispatch. It's the threat of violence police face in their jobs that other risky occupations simply don't deal with on a day-to-day basis, said Michael Sierra-Arevalo, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin.

Unlike other occupations where deaths are most often accidental, when police are killed it's usually because they were targeted, said Sierra-Arevalo, who has authored studies on violence and shootings against law enforcement.

Read More: How often are police shot? Here's what we know in wake of Columbus shooting

"The probability of dying on the job is higher if you're a truck driver ... because you can have high-speed accidents. It's just the number of miles driven," Sierra-Arevalo said. "But the specific threat of somebody violently killing you is higher in policing than in almost any other occupation. I think there's a perception that it's a dangerous job because it is."

The shooting of a Columbus police officer during a shootout on Interstate 70 east following an armed robbery spree and chase July 6 involving three suspects highlighted the specter of violence against police for the first time in three years. The last time a Columbus cop was shot on duty was July 10, 2020, and the last time one was killed on the job was about seven years ago in 2016.

Those types of incidents simply aren't the same as examples of a roofer falling off of a house or a fisherman running into troubling waters while at sea, said Brian Steel, a Columbus police officer and executive vice president for the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9.

While Steel acknowledges that other occupations may be more deadly, he said the lack of violence a roofer or fisherman may face make them too different to compare to police work in the first place.

"Usually it's an accident," he said of deaths on the job in other fields. "The difference for the fisherman is that shark is not looking at 20 years in prison."

Some 'cautiously optimistic' about a decline in violence against police

It's no secret that policing has come under intense scrutiny in recent years, especially following incidents in which unarmed Black men  such as George Floyd Jr. in Minneapolis in 2020  were killed at the hands of officers.

Coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, rising tensions across the country led to what appears to have been a two-year bump in law enforcement deaths, according to data tracked by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Between 2019 and 2021, deaths of law enforcement rose from 163 to 623  a 282% incerease, according to the fund. Those numbers fell in 2022 to 224 deaths, the fund said.

As of the end of June, 52 law enforcement fatalities were reported in 2023. That marks a 66% decline from the same time period in 2022, according to the fund.

There is no good news in reporting the death of even a single police officer, said the fund's interim CEO Bill Alexander.Yet based on this preliminary data, we are cautiously optimistic that conditions may be improving for our law enforcement professionals who willingly put themselves at risk to serve and protect.

Officer deaths due to shootings are also down 24% so far in 2023, with 25 reported in the first six months of the year compared to 33 in the same period in 2022, according to the fund.

Read More: Why haven't the Columbus police officers involved in last weeks shootout been named?

The decline represents a promising "positive trend," said Alexander, who previously worked as a member of the police force in Prince George's County, an area of Maryland that borders Washington, D.C. Although the numbers appear to be dropping, Alexander said it's still concerning that so many people "take it upon themselves to either purposely harm or evade law enforcement."

While Steel said he's glad fewer officers are losing their lives, he fears the declining number of fatalities doesn't mean there is an overall decrease in violence against police. Instead, Steel said law enforcement has just gotten better at figuring out how to handle situations, including when fellow officers are injured.

Police used to often wait for paramedics to arrive at a scene. Now, they'll often drive a fellow injured officer to the hospital themselves if it means shaving minutes off of travel time, he said.

For example, Steel said, the Columbus police officer shot July 6, was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in downtown Columbus by his partner in a cruiser.

"Our officer the other day would have been dead if his partner didn't transport him," Steel said. "We're all getting trained differently these days instead of standing around and waiting for an ambulance."

Latest shooting a reminder of the dangers of policing

Despite the recent shooting against a Columbus officer, there's no compelling evidence that shootings of police have dramatically increased in recent years, a study that concluded in 2019 found.

The study, which was co-authored by Sierra-Arevalo, was published in the journal Criminology & Public Policy and found 1,467 shootings of police occurred from 2014 through 2019. That amounted to an average of about 245 shootings of police a year, according to the study, which analyzed both fatal and nonfatal shootings of law enforcement with data from the Gun Violence Archive.

The study also found that most assaults of police officers involving a gun are not fatal.

Separate data has also shown that police are actually more like to shoot and kill a civilian than they are to be shot themselves. While 224 officers were killed on the job in 2022, at least 1,200 Americans were killed by police that same year, according to the nonprofit Police Violence Report, which tracks deadly use of force by law enforcement and outcomes.

Despite the data, a narrative that there is a "war on cops" has taken hold and persisted. But using such heated rhetoric to drum up support for police is likely to actually damage the profession in the long-term as departments struggle to recruit new officers, Sierra-Arevalo said.

"We still conclude that look, there was a clear spike here (after the death of George Floyd)," Sierra-Arevalo said. "But to call this a war is at best an exaggeration and at worst, cynical political gamesmanship."

Both Alexander and Steel agreed that phrases such as "war on cops," are overblown.

Even after protests against police in 2020, Steel said he thinks most Columbus residents are supportive of law enforcement. They want police in their neighborhoods, patrolling and keeping them safe, he said.

Most interactions Steel said he's had as an officer with central Ohioans have been positive. Still, that doesn't make shootings of officers like the one July 6 any easier to stomach, he said.

While three years have passed by in between shootings of Columbus police officers, they serve as a reminder of how quickly things on the job can go south, Steel said. Those shootings stick with police, he said, even if they're uncommon.

"It kind of resonates with guys and its a reminder," Steel said. "We're trained for this job, but it's in the back of your mind all day."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Even after Columbus officer shooting, policing becoming less dangerous
In a political era of parental rights, Texans raising trans kids say new law strips them of choice

Kari stands with her son, a transgender 17-year-old, at a park in Georgetown last month. Starting Sept. 1, a new law will require her son to be weaned off hormone treatments after lawmakers banned gender-affirming care for kids. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

For mental health support for LGBTQ youth, call the Trevor Projects 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. For trans peer support, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers have used variations of the phrase parental rights this year to push a litany of legislation, with varying degrees of success.

Theyve vowed to empower Texas parents in their fights for everything from sweeping changes to the states foster care system and what can be taught in schools to using tax dollars to subsidize kids private school tuition.

But Kari, a Georgetown mother of a transgender 17-year-old, says she feels like she has no choices at all as she and her family stare down a ban on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors that goes into effect Sept. 1.

My rights as a parent have not only been infringed upon, but theyve been stripped. Ive been removed from making a decision about my childs health care with my child and for my child, said Kari, who agreed to talk to The Texas Tribune if her full name wasnt used because she fears her family could be targeted by hate groups.

Kari said she did a lot of research and consulted with her childs therapist and doctor before allowing him to receive testosterone treatments. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

Senate Bill 14s passage leaves families with trans kids in a myriad of challenging situations. Some are weighing the stress of uprooting their lives against the psychological damage their children could experience once access to gender-affirming care is cut off. Others are unable to leave the state and are preparing to watch their children go through what they call government-forced detransitioning. And one low-income family with a trans kid wants to move but is struggling to raise money to do so.

The law will allow trans minors already receiving transition-related care to be weaned off puberty blockers and hormone treatments in a medically appropriate manner. But parents and medical experts say the law doesnt provide clarity on how that should happen  and that can be unsafe to wean people off of such treatment at all.

Texans whose kids are transgender say the law is an affront to the notion that Abbott and the Legislature are champions of parental rights since each of the choices it leaves them could have dire outcomes. And a new lawsuit that aims to block the ban on gender-affirming care argues that the law violates parental rights already enshrined in the state constitution.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Lambda Legal are representing several doctors and parents of trans kids, who argue in the lawsuit that SB 14 violates those constitutional rights by stopping parents from providing medical care for their children. It also says the law discriminates against transgender kids because the ban applies only to them and allows cisgender children to access the same treatments for care that isnt aimed at transitioning.

[Unbearable: Doctors treating trans kids are leaving Texas, exacerbating adolescent care crisis]

The state constitution says Texans cant be deprived of life, liberty, property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised. The suits argues that means Texas parents with transgender children should not be blocked from accessing the recommended treatment that doctors and medical groups say lessens trans kids higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide.

The Texas Constitution provides stronger rights for parents, stronger rights in the guarantees of equality ... and much stronger rights with respect to the individual rights of autonomy, Lambda Legal senior counsel Paul Castillo said. Those decisions that rest with parents are at their apex when they are made in consultation with physicians who recommend this medically necessary care.

Lawmakers who championed the bill claimed that health care providers recommending transition-related care, like puberty blockers and hormone treatments, latched on to a social contagion to influence parents and kids to elect life-altering treatments that kids may regret when theyre older. They also disputed the science and research behind transition-related care.

Parents were given a false dichotomy choice between its either this or suicide, state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, said during a committee hearing for his companion bill to SB 14. The science doesnt support that. It is unconscionable to me that a licensed health care provider would put a parent in that position.

But Kari  and many other parents and trans kids who testified against the legislation throughout this years regular legislative session  say the journey to beginning gender-affirming care was filled with methodical, thoughtful decisions made over long periods of time.

Abbott did not respond to requests for comment about parents of trans kids saying the law undermines their rights. But Oliverson and state Sen. Donna Campbell, a Republican from New Braunfels who authored SB 14, released a statement responding to the lawsuit targeting SB 14 one week after it was filed in state courts.

We believe that extraordinary interventions require extraordinary justification, and that justification doesnt exist in this case. The State of Texas maintains its stance that there is insufficient evidence supporting continued medical experimentation on children, their joint statement said.

Kari said she put in hours of research and had several discussions with her childs therapist and doctor before deciding that testosterone treatments were the best way to avoid the personal anguish her son would feel as his body developed the physical characteristics of a gender with which he didnt identify.

Lawmakers supporting the bill said children are too young to decide whether to undergo gender-affirming care, even though the treatments they will soon be banned from accessing are available to cisgender kids of the same age for other medical purposes.

A lot of politicians throw around the term informed decision, but thats exactly what weve done, Kari said.

Emily Witt, a spokesperson for the Texas Freedom Network, a left-leaning state watchdog organization that supports public education and religious freedom, said state leaders, in order to limit the rights of trans people, are using the term parental rights to tap into a groundswell of fears from Texans who think the government is going too far in determining what their kids learn.

Its been co-opted to tap into this cultural fear of not having control over your kids lives, Witt said, when really their agenda is erasing trans people.

A sense of betrayal

A ninth generation Texan, Kari feels a deep sense of betrayal about her elected leaders crafting a law that takes aim at what she  and doctors  think is best for her child.

Part of her wants to move her family to a state where her child could legally stay on his current level of hormones. But they dont have the stockpile of savings needed to do that.

And the discussions with her children about leaving the only state theyve ever known have devastated her.

Her son will be 18 within a year, so the ban wont apply to him after his next birthday. So for her, its almost a waiting game to see if his psychological reaction to being weaned off hormone treatments is so grim that it outweighs the other considerations.

Trans youth are more likely to be at risk of depression and suicide than their cisgender peers. And some doctors say that trans kids mental health improves if they are allowed to take hormones.

Its almost like, you know, watching a wildfire. You want to stay to protect your house. You dont want to leave, Kari said.  So youre waiting until that moment where you can feel the heat or the flames and you have to flee.

Karis son will be 18 within a year, so hell be legally allowed to resume gender-affirming care after his next birthday. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

For now, the familys plan is to follow the law, which means Karis child will need to be weaned off his hormones in a medically appropriate manner. Still, thats something many medical groups, including the Texas Medical Association, warned could have devastating physical and mental effects on minors.

So for Laura, whose trans son, Gabe, is 16, it feels like the flames are already licking at their heels.

She wants to move to a state where transition-related health care is still available to kids. But her family faces several financial roadblocks to leaving. After years of putting money into their house in Houston, they have spent months looking for rental properties out of state. Laura's full name is also not being used because she fears harassment. The family planned on using money theyve collected from a GoFundMe campaign, but then their 2002 GMC Safari was stolen from a grocery store parking lot. Now theyve had to use some of those funds to buy a replacement vehicle before the move.

Lauras husband works in retail and his employer will transfer his job to another state, but her position in the public sector is based in Houston, so she will need to find a new job in a state shed never been to until this month, when the family went to check out potential homes.

I wont have my little village, you know? But at the same time, I need to be that village for my children, Laura said. I need to be the safety net that my children need.

As Mexican-Americans, Laura and her family have deep roots in what is now Texas.

My family never crossed any borders; the borders crossed us. My family has been here for generations, Laura said. What do I know about anywhere else? What do I have anywhere else?

Mama bear

For years, trans Texans have lived in fear as theyve watched state leaders push a litany of legislation and policies that would limit their lives. In 2017, lawmakers tried to restrict which bathrooms trans people could use in public with legislation that ultimately failed.

In 2021, lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would classify gender-affirming care as child abuse. But Abbott still ordered the states Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who provided their kids access to such care, a directive thats being fought in the courts.

Laura said she knew it was time to move to another state when she asked her son if he wanted to leave Texas and he said, Id rather not be arrested as a sex offender for being trans.

At school, Gabes friends tried to find loopholes in the new law that they hoped would allow him to stay. When they couldnt, they offered to help him pack up his home. Some of them even prayed for him.

Lots of my friends are Christian, but theyre still supportive of the LGBTQ community, he said.

Laura, left, and her family at Discovery Green in downtown Houston last month. The family is leaving Texas so their son can continue receiving gender-affirming care. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune

Lauras son holds his Pride flag at Discovery Green in downtown Houston on June 25. Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune

Earlier this month, Laura and her husband found a three-bedroom apartment for her family of five to share in another state. She says the process was a struggle, but she thinks its the best move in the long run, even if they had to ask people they dont know for help.

I cant believe it sometimes that its because [of] all of these strangers that this is even possible, she said.

Sherry Brodell, whose family lives in a rural area outside Austin, constantly experiences the impacts of raising a 13-year-old trans son in a state where his gender identity has become a focus of Texas politics.

Part of that included conversations about what to do if Child Protective Services showed up at their home to investigate her on child abuse charges.

My youngest said, If they come and talk to me, I am going to  look them in the eye and tell them, I know why youre here, and let me just tell you, it was no abuse in my home, unless the abuse is having a family who loves you, Brodell said.

Brodell worries that her son cant wait things out since he is only 13 and will have to go years without gender-affirming care. Her son is reckoning with the fact that he must go through the puberty of a gender he does not want to be.

But hes also trying to steel himself for whats to come.

The reality is that a lot of trans people throughout history have been through a whole lot worse than that, she says he told her. If I have to wait until Im 18, I wont be the first trans person who has to do it.

Some lawmakers this year also took aim at gender-affirming care for adults, though attempts at blocking access for people over 18 failed. Still, it stirred fear in many trans Texans.

Brodell decided the only choice she had was to stay in Texas and fight. She was in the Capitol several times this year to oppose the bills targeting trans people. She held a sign that said, You Woke the Mama Bear.

She and Kari have both joined their local chapters of PFLAG. Its a source of support as they wait to see how the ban will impact their children while politicians portray themselves as champions for parental rights and the recent lawsuit begins to work its way through court.

Instead of just being alone against the whole world, we were at least dealing with it as a community, Brodell said.

Kari and her son stand together in a Georgetown park last month. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

Disclosure: The ACLU of Texas, Texas Freedom Network and Texas Medical Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.
Biden to meet with pope's Ukraine peace envoy, with the plight of children top of cardinal's agenda

FILE - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops), welcomes parishioners after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Pope Francis peace envoy was travelling to Washington on Monday, July 17 in hopes of promoting peace initiatives for Ukraine and supporting humanitarian operations, especially concerning children, the Vatican said. Cardinal Matteo Zuppis visit, which lasts through Wednesday, follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ROME (AP)  U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with Pope Francis' peace envoy Tuesday as part of the Holy See's peace and humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine, with the plight of Ukrainian children taken to Russia topping the agenda, the White House and Vatican said Monday.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is visiting Washington through Wednesday, a trip that follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden would meet with Zuppi on Tuesday to discuss the widespread suffering caused by Russias brutal war in Ukraine."

In a statement, Jean-Pierre said they would also "discuss efforts by the United States and Holy See to provide humanitarian aid to those affected, and the Papal Sees focus on repatriating Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian officials.

Zuppi is a veteran of the Catholic Church's peace initiatives and was tasked by Francis to try to find paths of peace between Russia and Ukraine.

In Moscow, Zuppi met with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russias commissioner for childrens rights, as well as Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has strongly supported the Kremlin's war.

Francis has taken up Ukraines request to intervene where possible to return Ukrainian children transported to Russia following Moscows invasion.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in late March for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Russian officials have denied any forced adoptions, saying some Ukrainian children are in foster care.

Francis has said he hopes the Holy See can facilitate family reunifications, in the same way the Vatican stepped in to facilitate prisoner swaps.

In a statement Monday, the Vatican's spokesman said Zuppi would travel to Washington with an official from the Vatican secretariat of state.

The visit takes place in the context of the mission intended to promote peace in Ukraine and aims to exchange ideas and opinions on the tragic current situation and to support initiatives in the humanitarian sphere to alleviate the suffering of the most affected and fragile people, especially children, the statement said.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the cardinal is coming at the specific request of Pope Francis. Kirby referred to thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children that have been shipped off to basically concentration camps in Russia or Russian occupied territory.

We look forward to having those discussions, he told reporters in Washington.

Francis has repeatedly called for an end to the war but has refrained from outwardly criticizing Moscow, part of the Vaticans tradition of maintaining diplomatic neutrality in conflicts in hopes that it can play a behind-the-scenes role in forging peace.

He has irked the U.S. and its allies by repeating Moscows argument that NATO was barking at its gates, and seemingly making a moral equivalence between Ukrainian and Russian losses.

He has asserted Ukraines right to self-defense but has sharply criticized the weapons industry, saying the provision of arms to Ukraine by the West could be immoral if its done with the intention of provoking more war or selling weapons or getting rid of old ones.

Francis met with Biden, a Catholic, at the Vatican in 2021 and before that, during the pontiff's 2015 visit to the U.S.

___

Miller reported from Washington.
Portland Authorities Say Deaths Of 4 Women Are Linked After Speculation About Serial Killer

Authorities said they have identified a link between four women who were found dead in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding area over the last three months.

According to a statement by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, investigators have determined a person of interest was connected to Kristin Smith, 22, Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leann Ramsay Webster, 31, and Ashley Real, 22. Each of the women died under suspicious circumstances, and their bodies were found in secluded areas.

The deaths of four women in the Portland area -- Kristin Smith (clockwise from top left), Bridget Leann Ramsay Webster, Charity Lynn Perry and Ashley Real -- are believed to be linked.

The deaths of four women in the Portland area -- Kristin Smith (clockwise from top left), Bridget Leann Ramsay Webster, Charity Lynn Perry and Ashley Real -- are believed to be linked.

Officials have yet to identify the person of interest, adding that no one has been criminally charged in connection with the deaths. Officials have also not said how they died.

The Oregonian and Willammette Week have identified the person of interest as Jesse Lee Calhoun, a 38-year-old who was released from prison last year after burglary and stolen vehicle convictions. Online records show Calhoun has been in custody since earlier this month.

Smith was found dead in Multnomah County on Feb. 19 in a wooded area, months after she was reported missing on Nov. 19, 2022.

On April 24, Perrys remains were found in Ainsworth State Park in a river.

Ramseys body was found in Polk County six days after the discovery of Perrys body.

In Clackamas County, Real was found dead on May 7, after she was last alive in March walking out of a fast-food restaurant, Portland police said.

The string of deaths had prompted locals online to speculate that there was a connection. Two other women were also found dead in April; however, authorities have not said they share any links with the other four.

Initially, in response to rumors of a serial killer, the Portland Police Bureau said in June that it had no reason to think any of the cases were related.

These discussions have led to some anxiety and fear in our community, and we want to provide reassurance that the speculation is not supported by the facts available at this point, the statement said.

Authorities are now asking for the publics help in their investigation.

Related...
Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted based on information from an accounting system which saw them wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting - Yui Mok/PA

Hundreds of victims of the Post Office IT scandal face delays to compensation payouts, the chair of the public inquiry into the scandal has warned.

Sir Wyn Williams, a retired judge, said there were holes in compensation schemes for postmasters which could lead to next years deadline for payouts being missed.

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was established in 2020 to uncover the failings that led to one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted based on information from the accounting system, which saw workers wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting.

An accounting error caused by shortfalls in Horizon software developed by the Japanese company Fujitsu made it appear as though money was missing from their branches.

At least four postmasters took their own lives and many more were sacked and bankrupted.

In December 2019 a High Court judge ruled that the system contained a number of bugs, errors and defects and there was a material risk that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were in fact caused by it.

The Post Office, owned by the Government, admitted fault and apologised following the ruling and since then many subpostmasters have had criminal convictions overturned.

Just short of 100 million has been paid out so far by the Post Office and the Government to subpostmasters affected by the scandal.

Holes in patchwork quilt of compensation schemes

However, Sir Wyn said that many had still not received payouts which were full and fair as promised by the Government.

Compensation is being awarded under three different schemes dependent on the circumstances of each postmaster, but Sir Wyn said it was too late to abandon them for a simpler, comprehensive scheme.

What has emerged is a patchwork quilt of compensation schemes, he said. And, unfortunately, it is a patchwork quilt with some holes in it.

Hearings for the inquiry began in early 2022 and Sir Wyn said that while it was more than a year since evidence for that stage of the inquiry closed, the effect of the evidence upon me hasnt changed.

He said in an interim report his strongly held view is that the administrators of one scheme will be unable to deliver compensation payments to all applicants by the deadline previously set of August 7 2024.

Sir Wyn made a series of recommendations in an attempt to ensure compensation is paid to those affected.

In his report, he said that on any reasonable view, there is a clear and real risk that final compensation payments under one scheme would not be delivered by the deadline.

He added that there was still a lack of clarity over how income tax would apply to compensation under the various schemes.

As of April 6 2023, the Post Office had paid out more than 80 million across the Historical Shortfall Scheme and the Overturned Historic Convictions Scheme.

The Government paid out an additional 19 million in interim compensation under the Group Litigation Scheme by the same date.

Totally and utterly failed to meet disclosure deadline

Among those yet to receive a compensation pay out is Alan Bates, of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance and who was the lead claimant in the High Court action.

He told The Telegraph campaigners had been warning that deadlines would be missed and blamed the Post Office for delays.

The fault all lies at the feet of the Post Office, he said. They have totally and utterly failed to meet their disclosure deadline which the lawyers need to make their claims. Its the same old story, post office incompetence as usual. They should stop handing out bonuses and stop handing out P45s.

The Post Office said it welcomed the report and agreed victims must be provided with full compensation, fairly and consistently and this remains our priority.

It said that it had made offers of more than 120 million to around 2,500 postmasters, with the majority of these agreed and paid.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Post Office minister, said the Government would review the report and respond in due course.

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A misleading claim that any activity on plots of land in Western Australia over 1,100 square metres first needs approval from a local Aboriginal council has been shared hundreds of times in Australian social media posts. Although some farmers were concerned the law protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage would affect their livelihood, the updated legislation does not prohibit all activity on private land in the state. A state government spokesperson told AFP that work on land without cultural heritage is exempted, as is activity that happened on the land before the law was reformed.

"Thinking about how to Vote for the Voice?" reads part of a tweet posted here on June 11, 2023.

The tweet, which was shared more than 320 times, is referring to a referendum to be held later in 2023 asking Australians whether the indigenous population should be recognised in the constitution and get a dedicated "voice" in national policymaking.

The tweet continues: "From next month in WA , the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act begins. Any home on land over 1100sqm will need approval from the Local Aboriginal Council to do anything on their land."

Western Australia's state government said a "modernised and improved" Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, which protects and manages Aboriginal cultural heritage in the state, would come into force on July 1 to prevent "another incident like what occurred in Juukan Gorge" (archived links here and here).

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto sparked outrage in May 2020 when it blew up a 46,000-year-old heritage site at Juukan Gorge to expand an iron ore mine. The rock shelters at the gorge were destroyed against the wishes of the Indigenous Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people of Western Australia.

Screenshot of the misleading tweet, captured on July 14, 2023

Similar claims were also shared on Facebook here and here.

Comments on the posts suggest some users believed the law would curtail all kinds of activity on private land in Western Australia.

"Completely ridiculous, how did that pass?" asked one user.

Another said: "It's frightening for our farmers. Suddenly overnight they can't farm their own properties without permission. These people feed us. What do the indigenous tribes of WA do for us?"

But the claims are missing context.

Exemptions

A spokeswoman for Western Australia's Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage told AFP it was incorrect to say all activities on land over 1,100 square metres required approval as there were exemptions (archived link).

Activities that are exempt from requiring approval are listed on the Western Australia government's website here (archived link).

It says, for example, that landowners and farmers do not need approval for installing a swimming pool, clearing a tree or building a boundary wall or fence on any lot with a home.

The state government also says no approval is required if there is no impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage, or for "jobs like farmers planting a crop, running livestock, or replacing existing infrastructure, if the work is the same as what has been done before (like-for-like activities)" (archived link).

Activities such as new mining sites, deep excavations, land clearing, subdivisions or major construction projects involving "moderate to high-level ground disturbance" and posed risks to Aboriginal cultural heritage would require negotiations with relevant Aboriginal parties to come up with a management plan, the spokeswoman added on July 5.

Joe Dortch, an Aboriginal heritage assessment expert, also told AFP concerns about the law had been exaggerated in the claims shared online, but noted that "concerns are understandable" (archived link).

He acknowledged that landowners would face challenges understanding whether their property contained Aboriginal cultural heritage, as a lot of land needed to be surveyed.

But he said the government could already dictate what property owners did on their land under other existing laws.

"This concern about private property could also apply to laws allowing town planning to dictate what landowners can build, access for mineral exploration on pastoral leases, compulsory acquisition to allow major developments, etc. These laws exist already and don't seem likely to change," he said on July 6.
Power has been restored to thousands of people Monday morning in Fort Smith and the Arkansas River Valley following a violent thunderstorm early Friday that brought high wind, lightning, flooding and left people affected in the region in a heat emergency.

At one point Friday, there were up to 10,000 people in Fort Smith without power. The storm hit Fort Smith at 2:30 a.m. Friday. Straight-line wind hit the Dollar General store in Roland, Oklahoma, and a tree toppled onto a man's house in Barling. No injuries were reported there.

Power lines were blown down during overnight thunderstorms in Fort Smith at S 21 Street and Dodson Avenue Friday, July 14, 2023.

The City of Fort Smith will offer tree debris pickup until July 28.

A small tornado hit a house in Mansfield in southern Sebastian County and damaged other homes. The National Weather Service reported it was an EF1 tornado. No injuries were reported.

In Greenwood, problems with water pumps were reported due to flooding, and city officials asked residents to conserve water. Outdoor watering was restricted to hand-held hoses.

A heat advisory was issued for noon to 9 p.m. Monday for western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.

A statement from Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. reported that all power was expected to be back on for Arkansas customers by 5 p.m. Sunday. Monday morning, the OG&E website showed zero outages for Arkansas and for eastern Oklahoma.

"Power will be restored to customers in Arkansas no later than 5 p.m., Sunday, July 16. OG&E restoration personnel are still evaluating damage from the storm in more rural and remote areas that are difficult to reach by vehicle," the statement read.

More than 20,000 people lost power in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas on July 14. Most of those were in Fort Smith and Muskogee, Okla. There were 1,300 workers who responded to outages. Equipment and power poles were damaged by trees that blew down.

Restorations are complete in time for more hot weather. The temperature Tuesday in Fort Smith will be 99 degrees and it will be 100 degrees Wednesday with higher heat indices. The actual high temperature Thursday will be 98 degrees, the National Weather Service reports.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Power is totally restored after weekend thunderstorm
The Powerball jackpot has skyrocketed to an estimated $900 million after another drawing ended with no winner Saturday night.

Nobody matched all five of the white balls drawn  2, 9, 43, 55, 57  and the red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.

The top prize is the third-biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh-largest in U.S. lottery history. Players for Mondays drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly installments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.

You can watch the drawing Live at 11 p.m. only on Channel 11.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

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A powerful solar flare on 17 July, 2023, could cause communication disruptions on Earth (iStock/ Getty Images)

Russian scientists have warned that powerful solar flare activity on Monday may cause significant disruption for satellite and radio communications.

Three solar flares observed on Sunday by the Fedorov Institute of Applied Geophysics in Moscow lasted up to 14 minutes, signalling abnormally large geomagnetic disturbances on Earth.

The institute forecasted the arrival of class X flares for Monday, which are the most energetic type of solar radiation, capable of damaging electronics.

Earlier this month, a giant sunspot named AR3354 grew to a size roughly 10 times larger than Earth, unleashing an X-class flare aimed directly at Earth that triggered radio blackouts in some parts of the US.

The latest solar activity is expected to interfere with short-wave radio communications, used by military, maritime and emergency operators.

Increased solar storm activity in recent years has led to fears of an impending solar superstorm, which some astronomers warn could lead to an internet apocalypse.

Such powerful storms occur approximately once every 100 years, with the last major one taking place in 1921.

Nasa predicts that the next peak in the Suns 11-year activity cycle will arrive at some point in 2025, though it is not clear yet whether this will be the once-in-a-century event that some astronomers fear.

The worst on record, referred to as the Carrington Event, took place in 1859 and resulted in fires at telegraph stations.

If the Carrington Event happened today, it would have even more severe impacts, such as widespread electrical disruptions, persistent blackouts, and interruptions to global communications, the US space agency warned in a recent blog post.

Such technological chaos could cripple economies and endanger the safety and livelihoods of people worldwide.

Nasas Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare  as seen in the bright flash on the top right  on 2 October, 2022 (Nasa/SDO)

Research published in 2021 assessed the robustness of internet and communications infrastructure against severe space weather events

The study found that coronal mass ejection events could risk disconnecting Europe from the US, with the authors urging more to be done to improve the resilience of global telecommunication networks.

In March this year, Nasa announced a new artificial intelligence model capable of predicting where on Earth a solar storm may strike, giving scientists up to 30 minutes of advanced warning.

Vishal Upendran, from the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India, who was involved in the AIs development, said: With this AI, it is now possible to make rapid and accurate global predictions and inform decisions in the event of a solar storm, thereby minimising  or even preventing  devastation to modern society.
Did you pay $189 for Clear? You may have to show your ID at TSA anyway, threatening one of the program's biggest selling points

Passengers using CLEAR kiosk that allows quick and secure Identity confirmation, West Palm Beach Airport, Florida. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

All Clear members will have their identity verified by the TSA in the future, the agency says.

The company's screening process was called into question following a security breach last summer.

For $189 a year, Clear members can cut airport security lines with "touchless" ID verification.

Clear, a privately-owned security program available in most major airports, allows members to cut security lines with its "touchless" ID verification system.

In other words, you pay $189 a year to scan your eyeballs or fingerprints instead of pulling out your driver's license. Then, you get escorted to the front of the airport security line (while receiving a fair amount of jealous glares).

But this summer, more Clear members will be required to show their ID, according to a recent report from the Washington Post  creating a pain in the neck for travelers paying top dollar for the expedited airport service amid peak travel season.

While it may seem like a minor change, increasing ID checks for Clear members could upend the company's already fragile competitive edge. TSA PreCheck, which costs $78 for five years, is more affordable and also gives travelers expedited screening options, like the ability to keep your shoes on.

The random ID checks are part of a growing push to enhance Clear's screening protocols. The company's verification process was called into question by lawmakers in December following a security breach involving the program that took place last summer.

TSA declined to elaborate further on the incident due to its classification as Sensitive Security Information (SSI), defined as "information that, if publicly released would be detrimental to transportation security."

A spokesperson for Clear said the company has an "extraordinary security track record."

"In the summer of 2022 there was a single case of human error, which was addressed immediately," she added. "In the rare event of a human error we take immediate personnel, policy and retraining action similar to TSA."

TSA to verify the identities of all Clear members going forward

In the future, all Clear members will have their identity verified by the TSA, either physically or digitally, a spokesperson for the agency told Insider. The agency has not yet determined when the new ID requirement will be implemented, the TSA said.

In order to comply with the TSA's verification standards and keep its "touchless" screening process, Clear is working with the DHS and TSA to develop new digital identity technology, a company spokesperson told Insider.

"The implementation of these new standards will digitally transmit a passenger's identifying information from CLEAR to next-generation TSA hardware at airport checkpoints and avoid any need for passengers to show their IDs," she told Insider. "We look forward to rolling this out in the future to create an even more seamless, secure traveler experience while avoiding disruption for passengers as travel continues to surge."

But until that technology is available, TSA will continue to randomly check members' IDs. Clear did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about when the new digital identity standards will roll out in airports.

A TSA spokesperson said the agency is working with Clear to ensure compliance with TSA security requirements for Registered Traveler programs, including the future use of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units for passenger identity and flight screening status verification.

"TSA is responsible for ensuring that all systems and programs, including those provided by private companies, meet requisite standards and will take necessary steps to ensure security needs are met," the spokesperson said. "Accurate and reliable verification of passenger identity is foundational to aviation security and effective screening by TSA."

Do you work for an airline or cruise line? Got a tip or story to share? Email this reporter at htowey@insider.com from a non-work email address.

Read the original article on Business Insider
There were 298 people on board the plane, all of them died

On July 17, Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash, which was shot down by Kremlin-controlled Donetsk militants nine years ago, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Twitter.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the tragedy caused by the actions of Russia will never be forgotten.

Read also: Hague Courts decision on MH17 case is first step on path of truth and accountability, says Borrell

"Our thoughts and hearts are with the families and loved ones of each and every one of the 298 victims," Zelenskyy said.

This tragedy caused by the aggressor will never be forgotten. The invading state, the terrorist state will be held fully accountable for all crimes committed in Ukraine.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, also spoke about the tragedy, noting that Russia has been lying about the crash for years because it wants to avoid responsibility for its crime.

Read also: Hague Courts decision on MH17 case is first stage of big trial of Putin regime, says NSDC secretary

"Russia shot down MH17 9 years ago, killing all 298 people aboard," he said on Twitter.

It lied about the tragedy for years trying to dodge accountability, until the Dutch trial stated the truth. We mourn the MH17 victims and reiterate: accountability for Russian crimes is inevitable.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the world to bring all those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. As the subsequent investigation proved, the plane was hit by a missile from the Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile system over the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast.

All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed. This is the largest number of casualties in the history of aviation from all cases of downing civilian airliners.

On Nov. 17, 2022, the Dutch District Court of The Hague sentenced Igor Strelkov Girkin, Leonid Kharchenko, and Sergey Dubinsky to life imprisonment.

They were found guilty of 298 counts of murder  for each passenger and crew member of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.

Read also: MH17 case could see further investigation conclusions in 2023

Another defendant in the case, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted by the court. Those found guilty must pay 16 million euros ($17.2 million) in compensation to the relatives of the victims.

In August 2014, the Joint Investigation Team was established, which included representatives of Russia. In July 2015, Russia blocked a proposal at the UN Security Council to establish an international tribunal to investigate the MH17 crash.

In 2016, the Joint Investigation Team officially released the results of its investigation into the downing of MH17, determining that the plane was shot down by a Buk missile system that had been delivered to occupied Donbas from Russia.

A report by the Joint Investigation Team published in February 2023 showed that there were "strong grounds" to believe that the decision to supply the Buk anti-aircraft missile system to the DPR militants was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
This year, Illinois officials announced what seemed like a solution to the outcry over abuse and cover-ups at a state-run developmental center: Downsize the facility and move about half the residents elsewhere. Some of the roughly 120 relocated residents of the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center would receive care in community settings. Others are expected to end up in one of the six developmental centers located in other parts of the state.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou said the plan would reshape the way the state approaches care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Source Images: Reporters notes and the Illinois state government.

But a new investigation by Lee Enterprises Midwest, Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica has found that the problems at Choate extend to the other centers as well. People with developmental disabilities living in Illinois publicly run institutions have been punched, slapped, hosed down, thrown about and dragged across rooms; in other cases, staff failures contributed to patient harm and death, state police and internal investigative records show.

The Illinois State Police division that looks into alleged criminal wrongdoing by state employees investigates more allegations against workers at these seven residential centers than it does at any other departments workplaces, including state prisons, which house far more people, according to an analysis of state police data.

It has opened 200 investigations into employee misconduct at these developmental centers since 2012  most of them outside of Choate.

Related: Springfield will be primary home for state's new behavioral health education center

The states seven developmental centers, home to about 1,600 people, are situated from the bottom of the state at the edge of the Shawnee National Forest all the way north to the Wisconsin border. The oldest operating facility opened in 1873 and the newest one in 1987. They house dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of people with developmental disabilities in a hospital-like setting. These residents have a range of conditions: genetic, acquired from a problematic birth, or resulting from exposure to dangerous chemicals or from injury in childhood or adolescence.

As in other states, many of these facilities were built in small towns and rural areas. Today, they are short-staffed and at times chaotic and dangerous, according to a slew of reports and interviews with workers and advocates. This May, the safety concerns inside the developmental centers prompted a court-appointed monitor to urge IDHS to stop placing anyone covered by an expansive consent decree into any of the agency's developmental centers.

Too many residents suffer physical injury, sexual assault and death to regard placement in such facilities as safe, wrote Ronnie Cohn, the monitor and a New-York based expert on disability services, in a report that was prepared at the behest of a federal judge in ongoing proceedings.

Illinois is a stubborn outlier among states, continuing to funnel huge sums of money into institutional care. Many others have entirely shuttered or significantly downsized their state-run institutions. Illinois has about the same number of people living in them as do California, Florida, New York and Ohio combined. In Illinois, the lawsuit that led to the 2011 consent decree argued that the state had violated the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities by failing to offer enough options for community-based care. The next year, the state closed one of its centers and tried to shut another; that effort, to shutter the Murray Developmental Center in southern Illinois, failed in the face of union and community pushback. Now, the state is making space for 60 more residents at Murray, some of which will likely transfer from Choate.

This is one of the most backwards states in the nation on everything we know how to measure when it comes to the care of people with developmental disabilities, said Allan Bergman, a consultant from suburban Chicago who advises clients and governments across the U.S. on disability policies and programs.

We asked IDHS about the new reporting on issues within the states developmental centers. Agency spokesperson Marisa Kollias pointed out that the state had announced a broader review of every facility that IDHS operates as part of its response to the reporting on Choate. She said in a statement that the state has worked to identify the root causes of misconduct and correct them. Among recent improvements, IDHS has appointed a new chief safety officer, held numerous trainings on how to report abuse and neglect and ordered more than 400 security cameras for installation across all of its facilities by the end of the year, she said.

Additionally, IDHS acknowledged shortcomings in the community care settings that operate under the agencys oversight. Kollias said that the community system had been financially neglected by the prior administration and noted that Pritzkers administration has successfully advocated for millions of dollars in new spending for these programs. Funding for home- and community-based care has roughly doubled what it was when Pritzker took office to more than $1.7 billion, though advocates contend its still not enough after years of steep cuts.

State Police Investigations Rise

State police investigations of claims against staff at Illinois developmental centers are on the rise: Nearly 70% of them over the past decade were initiated since 2019, the year Pritzker took office.

Of the 200 state police investigations into employee misconduct over the past decade, 161 pertained to allegations of physical abuse and criminal battery; 25 to allegations of sexual assault and custodial sexual misconduct; and 10 to alleged criminal neglect of residents. Four were death investigations.

Of those cases, 22 led to convictions, almost all of them for abuse.

A spokesperson for the state police said the agency could not speak to the reasons for the increase or for the disparity in the volume of cases from IDHS facilities that it handled in recent years as compared with Illinois Department of Corrections prisons or other agency workplaces.

But Kollias, the IDHS spokesperson, said the department views the increase in state police investigations as an improvement in accountability at the facilities. She also noted that most cases did not lead to convictions.

Both the numbers and interviews show how difficult it is to pursue charges, even when investigations get underway. In the facilities outside of Choate, between 50% and 99% of residents have disabilities that are diagnosed as severe and profound; some of those individuals are nonverbal and unable to communicate in traditional ways. Investigative records show instances of employees failing to report abuse or working together to hide it, or a general reluctance on the part of state employees to share information with investigators. Even when theres a conviction, state police investigators are not always able to fully determine what happened.

Past: Sherman woman charged in Choate Mental Health Center investigation

For instance, among the more recent physical abuse cases where a conviction was secured is one from Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee, a small industrial city on the outskirts of suburban Chicago. In 2020, a patient was found with U-shaped markings and dark bruising on his chest, back, arms, legs and genitals.

A nurse examined his injuries but dismissed them as a rash from medication. A physician who examined him the next day had a different take: She believed the markings were consistent with someone striking the patient with an object, such as a belt or cord. The U-shaped markings looked like they could have been from a belt buckle, she told investigators.

Police interviewed multiple employees who worked the night shift, but they offered little information. The patient was unable to provide police specific details of the incident. He was only able to tell them a female worker beat the hell out of him on the night shift by striking his genitals with an unknown object.

The patients treatment plan notes that he needs help managing behaviors that include irritability, agitation and outbursts. One employee admitted to police that she had slapped the patient across the face that evening after she had directed the patient to stop a problematic behavior and he told her to shut up, bitch. But the worker denied she was responsible for any of his more serious injuries. No one else came forward with any information.

The worker pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor battery and received 12 months of court supervision. She was fired from Shapiro, but neither state police nor IDHS inspector general were able to determine the cause of the patients more extensive injuries.

Peter Neumer, the IDHS inspector general, said his department regularly encounters cover-ups at facilities across the state, which prompted him to push for a new legal measure enhancing the penalty options against those who attempt to stonewall or obfuscate investigators. Pritzker recently signed it into law.

The state police reports are not the only cause for concern. The inspector general receives and investigates all allegations of resident abuse and neglect. Some of those result in recommendations for civil penalties against employees, up to termination, and suggestions to address systemic failures. The most serious cases, where criminal misconduct is alleged, are also passed on to the state police.

Between 2013 and 2022, the inspector general investigated nearly 4,000 allegations from the developmental centers  with the most recent five years seeing a 45% increase in allegations compared with the earlier part of the decade.

There are also safety concerns documented in records from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which responds to complaints because it is responsible for ensuring compliance with Medicaid and Medicare regulations.

These records show that in addition to the abuse cases, residents have suffered from life-threatening mistakes and oversights by employees.

At Mabley Developmental Center, in the small north-central Illinois town of Dixon, a patient drank from a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner. The inspector general found that a worker had neglected the patient, who died of cardiac arrest three days later.

At Ludeman Developmental Center in Park Forest, in south suburban Cook County, a resident who was supposed to be closely supervised left the facility without permission and was later found walking barefoot across a busy six-lane street. In a different elopement case, a Ludeman resident suffered hypothermia after he went outside, unbeknownst to staff, one early fall morning when the temperature was in the 30s, wearing only a diaper and sat in the wet grass.

At Kiley Developmental Center in Waukegan, on the Wisconsin border, staff locked a disruptive patient in his room using a bedsheet tied across his door, an unauthorized form of restraint, according to health department inspection records. That same facility accidentally allowed an employee who the inspector general had previously found had abused a patient to return to work for two months before anyone noticed, according to staff interviews with health department surveyors. The worker has since been fired, according to a statement from IDHS.

Critical Staffing Shortages

This rise in allegations of violence and neglect comes amid significant staffing shortages, leading employees to work unsustainable and potentially dangerous overtime hours, according to an analysis of overtime records and interviews with more than a dozen employees at four facilities.

As of February, about 200 employees at developmental centers statewide  about 5% of the workforce  were unable to perform the job they were hired for pending the outcomes of abuse and neglect allegations with the state police or inspector generals office. Most of them were on paid leave, including some who had been on paid leave in excess of two years. Others had been reassigned from their regular duties, and a small number had been suspended without pay pending the outcome of criminal court cases against them.

Neumer, the inspector general, said his office has prioritized working through cases more quickly to reduce the amount of time employees are out on leave. But in cases involving law enforcement, the inspector general cannot proceed with its internal investigation until a criminal case concludes, he said. Some cases linger for years with state police or prosecutors offices.

The staffing issues go well beyond those who are being disciplined. Across the state, about 570 jobs at developmental centers  more than 14% of positions  are unfilled.

AFSCME Council 31, the union that represents most workers at these 24/7 facilities, issued a report in December criticizing the states use of forced overtime to address chronic understaffing and raising alarms about its impacts on workers and residents.

In at least one case at Kiley, staffing shortages may have contributed to a patients death.

In February 2022, an individual with a known swallowing disorder was supposed to be closely monitored while eating. But on this day, a worker went home sick, leaving her unit short-staffed. While no one was watching, the resident choked and died, according to a report by the Illinois Department of Public Health. A worker told public health investigators that records were fabricated at a supervisors request to make it look as though the facility had provided proper supervision.

The inspector generals investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the employees who were involved remain on leave. IDHS said in a statement that in response to the health departments findings, Kiley staff received training on providing sufficient direct care staff.

That was the second time in two years that a patient at Kiley with a known swallowing disorder choked to death while eating unsupervised. In a 2020 case, according to a report by the inspector general, the man may have been dead for several hours before anyone noticed and called for help.

Kollias, the IDHS spokesperson, said that staffing shortages in health care are a nationwide problem and that the state has taken steps to more quickly fill positions. Contract staff are filling in at every center to ensure required staffing levels for each shift are met, she said.

Conditions Are Beyond Dire

In some of those facilities, employees have raised alarms to their higher-ups, as a security chief at Choate had done before the state took action to address problems there, email records obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request to IDHS show.

This January, Matt Comerford, a Mabley employee, sent an email to Hou, the IDHS secretary, seeking her immediate attention to conditions he described as beyond dire. In his letter, he said that patient injuries  including black eyes and, in one case, an open head wound that required 13 staples  could not be accounted for, and he accused staff, including administrators, of stonewalling investigators.

It has become normal for staff to never seem to know anything about these injuries, wrote Comerford, the facilitys business administrator. He concluded his letter by saying that he believed speaking out put his livelihood at risk. But the risks of not speaking out are far too great for me to remain silent.

Mableys clinical services director, Patricia Fazekas, a longtime employee who resigned in May, wrote about similar concerns in an exit survey obtained by the news organizations.

The system is broken and they know if they complain they will be retaliated against, she said of staff. If one were to visit Mabley, they would witness abused and neglected individuals being cared for by verbally abused and neglected staff.

In March, James Zarate, an assistant director at Kiley, emailed a different senior IDHS official, telling her that residents well-being was in jeopardy in that facility, as well. Kiley staff, he wrote, are receiving little guidance or training and the facility is operating with a shortage of staff which is being exacerbated by a toxic work culture. Six other Kiley employees, who spoke with a reporter on the condition that their names be withheld because they still work there, similarly expressed that staffing issues and mismanagement had created a problematic work environment that put residents and employees at risk of harm.

The department said that the concerns the employees raised in their emails were passed on to the appropriate oversight bodies, and that IDHS is independently investigating the claims and will address issues fully and appropriately.

Both Comerford and Zarate, who do not know each other, faced disciplinary action shortly after sending their emails and additional complaints to various oversight bodies.

The department said the disciplinary decisions it made against the employees were unrelated to their emails and complaints. Zarate, a new hire, was terminated as a probationary discharge after six months on the job. His final performance review said he had failed to perform his job duties satisfactorily, such as by not ensuring that staff completed tasks in a timely manner or seeking input from his superiors. He was specifically admonished because subordinates had reported to health department surveyors that a staffing crisis resulted in residents not receiving active treatment.

Mr. Zarate has made this an acceptable response when not meeting expectations, resulting in a possible IDPH citation, the performance review stated.

The department didnt dispute that staffing challenges exist, but in a statement to the news organizations, it said such a response was problematic because essential services are expected to be provided to residents despite staffing challenges.

Zarate declined to speak for this article.

Comerford was placed on paid administrative leave for 10 weeks, then suspended for 20 days without pay. Paid leave, the department said, is not punitive. As for the suspension, a disciplinary letter from the department said Comerford had, among other alleged infractions, raised his voice and cursed during a meeting and took a call on his private cellphone. The department said he had, on multiple occasions, displayed conduct unbecoming of a state employee and failed to perform job duties in an accurate and timely manner.

In a statement, Comerford said that a well-worn page of the DHS Mabley playbook is to discredit and defame those who address systemic injustices against the most vulnerable population. He said that the department had lied about, exaggerated or taken out of context many of the circumstances that led to the claims against him. The department said Comerford had the ability to challenge the discipline and did not do so. He served his disciplinary time and has returned to work, IDHS said in a statement.

This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with Lee Enterprises and Capitol News Illinois.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Problems with abuse, neglect, cover-ups at Choate extend to other developmental centers
 Flash

Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2022 shows the Chinese-built Peljesac Bridge under construction in Komarna, Croatia. [Milan Sabic/PIXSELL via Xinhua]

Eight Chinese police officers will join their Croatian counterparts to patrol in four major Croatian tourist cities for one month in order to better serve tourists, especially Chinese tourists, in the country.

This year's joint police patrol project was launched on Sunday at the Chinese embassy in Croatia's capital Zagreb and has been the fourth of such kind since 2018.

This tourism season's China-Croatia joint police patrol will be conducted in Zagreb, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik, all of which are main tourist destinations in Croatia.

Qi Qianjin, Chinese ambassador to Croatia, Irena Vuksanovic, state secretary of the Croatian Interior Ministry, Zorica Lausic, chief of the International Police Cooperation Division at the Croatian Interior Ministry and the eight Chinese police officers attended today's ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Qi said the joint project has effectively improved the experience of Chinese tourists in Croatia and made contributions to China-Croatia tourism cooperation.

The mutual trust and cooperation demonstrated by the joint police patrol project are invaluable, Qi said, noting that China attaches importance to developing mutually beneficial and win-win relations with European countries, including Croatia, and the joint police patrol is the epitome of China-Croatia friendship.

"We are ready to work with Croatia to consolidate our traditional friendship, explore further cooperation potentials and push forward a steady and long-term growth of China-Croatia comprehensive partnership of cooperation," he said.

Lausic hailed the good cooperation between the two sides as the joint police patrol has contributed to making Croatia a "safe tourist destination."

With this year's eight Chinese police officers, so far a total of 30 Chinese police officers have joined the project, she said, adding that this confirmed the success of the project.

Xu Jianjun, one of the eight Chinese police to work in the country, said that they will work together with Croatian colleagues to help enhance the security of Chinese tourists and overseas Chinese in Croatia.
A professional artist keeps blowing up on TikTok, but viewers can't decide if he's truly talented or simply scribbling

An artist's work has caused a stir on TikTok as viewers debate the merit of his sketches. TikTok: @lewisrossignol, Lewis Rossignol

Artist Lewis Rossignol has over 197,000 followers on TikTok where his drawings often go viral.

But viewers aren't sure if he's an art star or an unskilled scribbler.

On his website, Rossignol described his style as "surrealist and experimental."

An experimental artist keeps going viral on TikTok, but viewers can't decide if his surrealist style is packed with talent, or just a load of primitive scrawls.

On March 15, Lewis Rossignol, a working artist based in Portland, Maine, posted a TikTok which showed him creating a close-up sketch of a car, complete with wonky lines, and sporadic crayon color.

The video included a popular comment left beneath an earlier upload shared by the artist, where a viewer wrote Rossignol's work was the "definition of 'trust the process'" as they resembled "scrawlings at first" but ended up "poetic somehow."

The March upload received 5.5 million views and over 1,600 comments from followers who were torn on the merits of the final piece. While many wrote they loved the style and could recognize his ability, others felt it looked like it had been drawn with the artist's weaker hand, and suggested they were unimpressed with the end result. One commenter said the artwork was so bad it made them want to throw up, while another compared his ability to that of a child.

Rossignol, seemingly undeterred by the criticism, has used the negative comments as introductions to some of his more recent videos. Along the way, he's found his defenders.

"I have never seen anything so bad yet so good that I like it, it's like being a professional child," one viewer wrote in a comment, which Rossingol later included in a follow-up video.

On July 11, Rossignol appeared to directly acknowledge the feedback when he shared a video with an on-screen caption that said trolls kept telling him he drew like a three-year-old, "as if I'm supposed to take it as an insult," alongside a crayon and pencil sketch of a farm.

In a statement on his website, where he sells original pieces and prints and offers lessons, Rossignol described his art as "surrealist and experimental contemporary drawing and painting" and wrote he's inspired by interesting people, architecture, and music. In 2019, he worked with musician Tyler, the Creator, to produce artwork for the vinyl release of the album "Igor," Billboard reported. According to his website, he's also sold work to actor Frankie Muniz and Drew Taggart of The Chainsmokers.

Despite engendering heated debate over his talent, Rossignol continues to collect followers and has more than 197,000 on TikTok. He did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

This isn't the first time an experimental artwork has sparked a debate on TikTok. In May, 21-year-old tattoo artist Mykhailo received over 3.2 million views and caused a stir on the app when he asked viewers if an abstract tattoo he'd permanently etched onto someone's back was worth the $961 price tag.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.

Read the original article on Insider
Professor drew racist caricature of Black student, Utah suit says. Now school must pay

A Utah university must pay $45,000 after a Black student filed a lawsuit accusing a professor of racism.

A student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Utah State University sued the university in March after he said a professor drew a racist caricature and projected it on the board during class.

The lawsuit also says the university conducted an investigation that ended with the professor, who is also the director of the program, getting slapped on the wrist.

A spokeswoman for the university said in a statement that when the institution receives allegations of discrimination, it strives to address and prevent the behavior and provide a fair and equitable process to resolve grievances.

The professor was given a written reprimand, which was later overturned after a review by a faculty committee, the statement says. The university updated its procedures in February so appeals to the sanctioning process must now go through the schools Office of Equity.

(Utah State University) continuously improves its policies, procedures and practices to provide a fair and equitable process for all parties involved in a discrimination complaint, the statement says.

But the lawsuit says the university perpetuated a hostile environment of racial discrimination and harassment.

In October 2018, the student became frustrated when he lost schoolwork due to a computer error, and he used profanities and pushed a rolling chair, the lawsuit says.

The director asked if the students outburst was him going full Haitian, the lawsuit says. The director asked the student to attend a meeting with himself and a professor. Both said the student posed a violent threat to his wife and others, according to the lawsuit.

The director also told him he needed to go to therapy to get his anger under control if he wanted to continue in the program, the lawsuit says.

On Jan. 20, 2020, the director drew a racist caricature on his computer and projected it on the board during class, the lawsuit says.

The student filed a report against the director with the universitys Office of Equity on March 20, 2020, the lawsuit says.

The director was issued a written reprimand on Jan. 14, 2022, but it was withdrawn from the directors personnel file on May 5, 2022, the lawsuit says.

The university entered into a $45,000 settlement agreement with the student on June 30, according to documents provided by the university. The agreement requires the student to release the university from all liability and prevents him from making future claims against the university in relation to the incident.

Utah State University is in Logan, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City.

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A Pueblo man who pleaded guilty to murder charges is scheduled to be sentenced in August, according to court documents.

Juan Claro-Mendoza, 39, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 24 in connection to the shooting death of Antonio Murillo Alvarado, 42, in March 2021. In exchange for his guilty plea, the original charge of first-degree murder was dropped by 10th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Chostner.

Claro-Mendoza will serve a sentence of between 30 and 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, according to the plea agreement, and will be required to serve five years of parole upon release.

He will also be required to pay a yet-to-be-determined amount of restitution to the family of the victim, according to the plea agreement.

Pueblo police were called to a report of a shooting in the 2700 block of East 11th Street on March 28, 2021. They arrived at the scene to find a man with a gunshot wound. The man, later identified as Alvarado, died at the scene.

The Pueblo Police Department said in a news release officers attempted to contact Claro-Mendoza after identifying him as a suspect, but he fled from a residence in the 1100 block of East 10th Street before he was eventually captured near the intersection of North Lacrosse Avenue and East Ninth Street.

In an arrest affidavit, Pueblo police said a verbal fight between Claro-Mendoza and the mother of his child on March 28 sparked a physical confrontation between Claro-Mendoza and Alvarado, the boyfriend of Claro-Mendozas childs mother.

Pueblo police said video footage of the incident captured by a surveillance camera showed the two begin fighting, throwing some kicks and punches that did not appear to land.

It was then, the childs mother later told police, that Claro-Mendoza pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot twice at Alvarado, striking him at least once. The mother then separated the two men and called 911.

Claro-Mendoza will be sentenced by District Court Judge Allison P. Ernst on Aug. 11 at 1 p.m.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

More Pueblo crime news: Pueblo man sentenced in vehicular homicide of Canon City teen

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man to be sentenced in 2021 murder
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting regarding the Crimean Bridge situation on Monday evening.

Source: Interfax news agency, quoting Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov

Details: Putin has instructed Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin to organise repair works on the Crimean Bridge immediately.

Peskov said that earlier, Putin listened to reports from Khusnullin, FSB chief Aleksandr Bortnikov, Transport Minister Vitalii Saveliev and Russian-installed Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov about the aftermath of the attack on the bridge.

Background:

Sergey Aksyonov, so-called head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea, said an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge and the bridge has therefore been closed for traffic. Russian Telegram channels have reported that a span on the bridge collapsed.

Russian media have previously asserted that the Crimean Bridge was guarded from the sky by fighter jets and underwater by divers and "combat dolphins".

Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that the overnight attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy.

A traffic jam has built up on the way from the peninsula to Russia due to the damage to the Crimean Bridge, and many cars were queuing for the ferry on the morning of 17 July.

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The Kremlin has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been hearing reports about the situation concerning damage to the Crimean Bridge as a result of an explosion, and the head of the aggressor country has ordered repair work to be organised.

Source: Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, quoted by the pro-Kremlin news agency TASS

Details: It is reported that Putin heard reports from Deputy Prime Minister [Marat] Khusnullin, [Alexander] Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, [Vitaly] Savelyev, the Transport Minister of the Russian Federation, and [Sergey] Aksyonov, the so-called "head" of occupied Crimea, on the consequences of the attack on the Crimean Bridge.

The Russian president ordered that work on traffic arrangements in the direction of Crimea and repair work should be organised.

It is reported that by 19:00 (Moscow time), Putin will receive reports on the situation on the Crimean Bridge and hold an online meeting, according to the Kremlin.

Peskov did not indicate what the Russian Federations response to the explosion at the Crimean Bridge will be, but said that "ultimately, the response will be to achieve all the goals of the special operation [as the Russians call the war against Ukraine  ed.]," TASS reported.

Background:

Sergey Aksyonov, so-called head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea, said an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge and the bridge has therefore been closed to traffic. Russian Telegram channels have reported that a span on the bridge has collapsed.

Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that the overnight attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy. It was noted that the bridge was attacked using surface drones .

Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, previously stated that the bridge is a completely legitimate target for Ukraine and promised to provide details of the unique special operations after victory.

Russian media have previously asserted that the Crimean Bridge is guarded from the sky by fighter jets and underwater by divers and "combat dolphins".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Putin outraged by "second terrorist attack" on Crimean Bridge, demands "concrete proposals" on security

During a meeting around the explosion of the Crimean Bridge, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded "concrete proposals" to improve its security.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Details: During the meeting, Putin addressed his subordinates: "Given that this is the second terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge, I am waiting for concrete proposals to improve the security of this strategically important transport facility."

At the same time, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Husnullin told Putin that the support structures of the Crimean bridge were not affected by the explosion. At the same time, one span of the road part of the bridge cannot be restored, Husnullin noted.

Background:

Sergei Aksyonov, the so-called head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea, said that an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge, causing it to be closed to traffic. Russian Telegram channels are reporting that a span on the bridge has collapsed.

Earlier, the Russian media reported that the Crimean bridge is guarded by fighter jet, underwater divers and combat dolphins.

Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that the night attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Vladimir Putin

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree on July 16 on the transfer of significant food industry assets  Baltika Brewing Company LLC and Danone Russia JSC  to "temporary management", according to the published decree.

All, ie, 100% of Baltika, was transferred to the Federal Agency for State Property Management (Rosimushchestvo), including 98.56% owned by the Swedish legal entity Carlsberg, 0.09% by the German legal entity Carlsberg and 1.35% by Hoppy Union LLC.

Read also: Austrias Raiffeisen Bank delays departure from Russia

In addition, 100% of Danone's Russian business (83.29 billion shares of Produits Laitiers Frais Est Europe and 85,000 shares of Danone Trade) came under the temporary control of the Russian Federation.

Carlsberg Group announced plans to leave the Russian market in March 2022. In June 2023, media reports emerged that Carlsberg had agreed to sell its Russian business without disclosing the details of the deal.

Read also: Carlsberg to sell its Russia business by summer

Baltika is the second-largest brewing company in Russia and operates eight breweries in the country.

On March 6, 2022, French food giant Danone announced the termination of its investment projects in Russia. In February 2023, Danone declared that it was ready to sell its assets in Russia, but with a buyout option and seats on the board of directors.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The whales stranded on Lewis will be moved to a landfill in Stornoway for post-mortem examinations

Scientists are carrying out a "monumental" post-mortem investigation on a pod of 55 whales that became stranded in the Western Isles.

Only 15 were alive after they washed on to Traigh Mhor beach at North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis on Sunday morning.

One is believed to have been successfully refloated, but the rest were euthanised on welfare grounds.

It is the highest number of deaths following a mass stranding of animals in the UK for at least 70 years.

Leading veterinary pathologist Dr Andrew Brownlow said the investigation would be a "monumental task".

He is director of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), whose team will carry out the post-mortem examinations.

They will gather data from a select number of the whales as they would be unable to examine all 55.

Weather could also impede the process though Dr Brownlow said conditions had improved since Sunday.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's going to be a monumental task.

"There are more animals sadly which are awaiting necropsy now than all of the mass strandings put together for the last decade.

"What we will try and do is triage these animals - we will select those animals that we think best represent the rest of the pod and make sure that we take samples and as much data that we can.

"Then it's simply a race against time, energy and weather. We will do the most that we possibly can to find out what's been going on here."

Pilot whales are known for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow.

Between 60-70 of the animals came into shallow waters in Sutherland in 2011 while 21 died during a stranding at Pittenweem in 2012.

According to the Natural History Museum, the largest UK stranding took place in 1927 when 126 out of more than 130 false killer whales died in the Dornoch Firth in the Highlands.

There are also accounts of a mass stranding of pilot whales at Dunbar, East Lothian, in May 1950 with some reports saying 147 were found on the beach.

Marine charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said the pod on Lewis could have followed a female on to the beach when she became unwell while giving birth - as happened at Staffin on Skye in 2015.

However Dr Brownlow said there are a number of reasons behind strandings and his team will be looking to rule out human impact.

He said: "Pilot whale strandings have happened for centuries - it's not necessarily the case that it's because of human impact.

"But that's one of the things we want to try and investigate and rule out - to see whether or not some of the things that can affect these animals such as underwater noise, interaction with fishing gear, accumulation of toxins or disease may have played a part."

On Sunday attempts were made to give the surviving whales first aid.

BDMLR attempted to refloat two of the more active whales - one successfully got away but another was later found further down the beach.

The whales are now being moved to a landfill in Stornoway where they will be buried after investigations take place.

Dr Brownlow said whales can be left to decompose on beaches as they form part of the natural nutrient cycle - but it the decision to move them was "understandable" as Traigh Mhor is one of the more popular beaches on the island.

Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has asked people to avoid the area as the operation to remove the whales takes place.

'Global interest'

Last year more than 200 of the same species of whales were found stranded on a remote beach on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Dr Brownlow said although 55 whales was a large stranding for Scotland, it was "not unprecedented" - but had nevertheless attracted interest from scientists around the world.

"Although this is pretty grim and a relatively challenging thing to do, you can actually learn a lot from these animals," he said.

"There is interest from all over the world - we've been contacted from the guys in Tasmania who have offered us support and best wishes but are also very interested to know what we find out.

"From the process of examining these animals we can learn a lot about the threats and pressures that affect not just the animals in our waters but globally. So I think there is some value in doing this."
After the rain, smoke is back: Air quality alert issued for Worcester County

WORCESTER - The Canadian wilfire haze/smoke is back as evident in this view From Oread Street on Monday.

Worcester County is under an air quality alert from noon until midnight today, as smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to impact Central and Western Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection says air quality is expected to be unhealthy for people in sensitive groups, such as those with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.

The DEP advises people in these groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans and keep relief medicine handy.

The smoke that is expected to move into Massachusetts today originates from wildfires in western Canada. They have already triggered air quality alerts in the Midwest, the Great Lakes region and all of New York state.

Canadian wildfire smoke is once again streaming across the Lower Great Lakes. In fact, the heart of this smoke plume will drift directly over us through early tonight. Improvement is expected by mid-week. pic.twitter.com/oi3cFESz6N  NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) July 17, 2023

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Canadian wildfires bring air quality alert to Central Mass.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon on the Hollywood Broadwalk in Hollywood, Florida, Rasheeda ONeal sat on the ledge by the beach with an umbrella over her head, waiting for her flight home.

Its burning up, she said.

ONeal had come to South Florida from Michigan for a cruise, arriving last Saturday when it was a balmy 93 degrees.

I was expecting it to be hot, she said, but its a different type.

A record-breaking heat wave continues to envelop South Florida this week, with the heat index, or feels-like temperatures, between 105 and 110 degrees. The heat has been slowing business more than usual, scaring away tourists while locals grit their teeth and continue with their daily routines. Many say theyve never experienced heat like this before, especially so early in the summer. And theres little end in sight: meteorologists say the temperatures should remain throughout the next week.

From the Hollywood Broadwalk to Deerfield Beach, South Florida businesses have struggled, in more ways than one, under the heat. Restaurants are seeing fewer customers, while boutiques have experienced an uptick in visitors trying to cool off, but not actually buy anything because its too hot to try on clothes. Meanwhile, the employees themselves are suffering.

At Yogurt Your Way on the Hollywood Broadwalk, the high temperatures have caused the frozen yogurt machine to shut down for hours every day, according to Isabella Donnino, one of the employees. The machine relies on air-conditioning to stay cool.

Were losing hours a day of serving food, she said, adding that it deters customers when the machine breaks down because the shop cant offer certain flavors.

Meanwhile, at the nearby open-air bar and restaurant Ocean Alley, general manager Claudio Fernandez, 53, said the only room with air-conditioning is his office.

The servers work six-hour shifts, but Fernandez said that this year, by the time theyre done, with the heat exhaustion, its like 12 hours.

Never before in his 13 years has he had to change clothes multiple times in a work day because of sweat. This year, hes started handing out cold bottles of water to the staff.

The tourists arriving in South Florida this summer have no clue what theyre walking into, Fernandez said. Hes noticed fewer tourists from elsewhere in the state and the northeast, but more from states like Ohio and Iowa.

This is clearly the hottest summer Ive ever had here and its not even close, added Joseph Ross, one of the restaurants servers and a longtime Hollywood Beach resident.

Were kind of hoping this will end soon, Fernandez said. Its really taxing. It really is.

The heat hasnt only taken a toll on the Broadwalk. At The Deerfield Beach Cafe, where customers typically sit outside to gaze at the ocean in the cooler months, nearly all the outdoor tables were empty.

In season, people fight to get these tables, Bill DeCarlo, the restaurants manager, said.

He has noticed a bit of a direct effect when it comes to business. In his 40 years as a South Florida resident, he added, this feels like the hottest summer Ive experienced, especially this early in the year.

Other locals shared the sentiment.

This is what were not supposed to be expecting until August, Ross said, describing the ocean as a sauna.

For some, the recent heat wave has served as a reminder of climate change. Scientists say local humid heat is one of the biggest hazards of global warming. Meanwhile, hotter ocean temperatures give rise to more storms and hurricanes.

Eileen Bello stepped onto the Broadwalk with her two grandkids Saturday, a bucket and tongs in her hand. The longtime Hollywood resident said she walks along the beach three miles every day to pick up trash. Recently, shes had to wake up earlier and leave sooner to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Bello would normally take a dip to cool off, but lately, even the ocean has provided little relief.

I dont like to bathe anymore because of the heat, she said.

She recalled how the beach has receded since last summers storms, when she watched the streets near the Broadwalk fill up with water.

The climate is changing, she said, and its changing really fast.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Marine Corps wants manufacturers to go full speed in developing a new reconnaissance vehicle, despite having no concrete quantity in mind and potentially needing fewer than anticipated.

But industry appears undeterred.

The service announced in its spring update to the Force Design 2030 modernization plan that it discovered a requirement for littoral, multi-domain reconnaissance capabilities that our light armored reconnaissance (LAR) battalions do not currently provide.

Future mobile reconnaissance battalions are expected to conduct littoral, multidomain missions with the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, a program in development to replace the legacy Light Armored Vehicle. General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron designed prototypes from scratch, and BAE Systems modified its Amphibious Combat Vehicle to meet mission needs. All three prototypes are in testing at Camp Pendleton, California.

But the battalions may also need light and ultralight tactical vehicles, small boats, and more to conduct multidomain operations, several force development leaders said while rolling out the Force Design update.

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said a mobile reconnaissance battalion might look different based on the geography to which it deploys. While something like an Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, or ARV, could fit operational needs in the Middle East, Africa or Europe, he told Defense News, it may not do well in the Pacific region. This calls into question how many ARVs the Marines will ultimately buy, if only a subset of the Corps mobile recon teams will use the in-development vehicle.

Gen. David Berger, who spoke at the Modern Day Marine conference shortly before stepping down as commandant and retiring, told Defense News we dont know yet what the change to the Mobile Reconnaissance Battalion concept will mean for the ARV program, nor how many the Marines might buy.

What we do know is that the traditional ground reconnaissance, which I grew up in, and airborne reconnaissance and reconnaissance over the water or under the water cant be three separate units, he said. So right now all three [Marine expeditionary forces] are working on multidomain reconnaissance to determine what combination of land vehicles, boats and aircraft theyll need.

An Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype built by General Dynamics Land Systems undergoes Marine Corps testing in early 2023. (General Dynamics Land Systems via U.S. Defense Department)

Berger said he didnt know what the right balance would be, but that the Corps would spend the next couple years working that out.

But its not just one of them; its clear to us that capability has to be all three: aviation, ground, and some kind of [operationally manned] vessel, he said. Too early to tell what it means for the total number of ARVs that we might buy  way too early to tell. Right now, go full speed, but allow the [Marine expeditionary forces] to try to sort through how much of each are they going to need in the future organically.

In a separate panel at the conference, Steve Bowdren, the Corps program executive officer for land systems, acknowledged that were some time away from the requirements refinement for ARV, given the newly released ideas about the mobile reconnaissance battalion.

ARV competitors

Despite uncertainty, industry heard Bergers go full speed comment and intends to do just that.

Since BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Systems handed over their respective prototypes in December, the Marine Corps has put the platforms through land mobility testing at the Nevada Automotive Test Center; survivability testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; open ocean and surf zone swim tests at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Camp Pendleton, California; and now electronics testing at the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity at Camp Pendleton.

During these months of testing, some of the tiered requirements for the ARV prototype took on greater or lesser importance, David Phillips, the senior vice president for sea and land at Textron Systems, told Defense News.

Weight and size are not negotiable, with the Corps requiring four ARVs fit on a Ship to Shore Connector, he said. However, that led to a discussion about survivability and other requirements that ultimately affect the vehicles weight.

Well come out of this knowing theres things were going to have to go do as we look towards [the engineering and manufacturing development phase] based on lessons that come out of the testing and changes to requirements.

An Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype built by Textron Systems undergoes Marine Corps testing in early 2023.(Textron via U.S. Defense Department)

Asked how the company views the uncertainty about the ARV program in light of the new Mobile Reconnaissance Battalion concept, Phillips said the Marine Corps continues to show commitment to the program.

Were confident we can deliver a vehicle thats going to meet their top-tier requirements. Were confident that things that exist right now cannot, he said. Thats how were emboldened and confident that ultimately this thing goes to that next phase.

Phillips added that its common not to know exactly how many vehicles the military might buy upfront. Despite that uncertainty, we said years ago this is a very, very critical thing for us to go chase and to go win, so were committed to that.

Phil Skuta, the director of strategy and business development for U.S. Marine Corps and Navy programs at General Dynamics Land Systems, said budget documents show a competition for the engineering and manufacturing development phase slated for fiscal 2025  or two years from now. But what he wants sooner is a clear decision to move forward with the program despite Force Designs changes to the reconnaissance community.

He noted congressional testimony and other statements this spring from Heckl and Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith that showed support for ARV.

We read that, we listen to that very closely, and it gives us optimism that we can anticipate continuing forward, at least in this competition, and working with the Marine Corps to meet the requirements on this capability, Skuta said.

An Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype built by BAE Systems undergoes Marine Corps testing in early 2023. (BAE Systems via U.S. Defense Department)

The Marine Corps envisions ARV as a family of vehicles, with a common chassis but different mission systems on as many as six variants:

Command, control, communications, computers and unmanned aerial systems, or C4/UAS, represented by the three prototypes in testing.

Logistics

30mm cannon.

Recovery.

Counter-drone.

Organic precision fires.

Mark Brinkman, BAE Systems program director for the ARV effort, said his company is investing its own dollars to try to stay half a step ahead of the Marine Corps and help the service refine its requirements for these variants.

BAE Systems took its ACV baseline vehicle design and outfitted it with C4/UAS mission gear for its prototype. But the ACV program itself is a family of vehicles, and the company is already in the process of designing and testing a 30mm cannon variant and a recovery variant as part of the ACV contract.

Through its own investment, the company has drawn a concept of an organic precision fires variant and will mature an idea for the logistics version, leaving just one remaining.

Theres a lot of goodness in commonality between the ACV and ARV programs, he said, not least of which includes the ability to design and field the mission variants on a faster timeline.

A smaller vehicle option

The Marines are clear theyre committed to the ARV for some geographies. But Heckl said perhaps a large vehicle, and the maintenance and spare parts associated with it, may not do well for Marines flying from island to island in the Pacific.

One company that could benefit from this discussion is Polaris, whose MRZR Alpha light tactical all-terrain vehicle won a contract with U.S. Special Operations Command in 2020. That seven-year deal has helped the Marine Corps replace its old utility vehicles, with Polaris delivering its first vehicles to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton in June.

An ultralight tactical vehicle is seen parked at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. (Ashley Calingo/U.S. Marine Corps)

Nick Francis, the vice president of government and defense at Polaris, told Defense News the companys Minnesota production line could build as many as 1,500 vehicles a year, which leaves plenty of room for additional orders as the Corps reconsiders how to move around light reconnaissance forces.

Polaris is building a high-power variant of its MRZR Alpha to expand how operators could use the vehicle. This variant will have batteries that can run counter-drone systems, command-and-control technology, and other offensive and defensive systems that need a lot of power and may need to run even while the vehicle is off.

The high-power variant has been through several design reviews, Francis said, and must go through testing across the entire operating profile of ultralight tactical vehicles  including challenging terrains  to prove its reliability.

That validation testing will begin later this year and stretch into 2024, he said. Pending successful test results, Polaris will begin offering the high-power variant to the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command next year.

The company is also in the early phases of designing a hybrid and an all-electric variant of the MRZR Alpha, Francis added.

Mark Schmidt, Polaris defense programs manager, said the company hadnt had any deliberate conversations with the Marine Corps about applying the MRZR Alpha to the mobile reconnaissance battalion mission, but he said the vehicle has a low signature and is mobile enough to be a great fit for that.
Religion shapes vaccine views  but how exactly? Our analysis looks at ideas about God and beliefs about the Bible

Widespread skepticism toward COVID-19 vaccines took some scientists by surprise. Eric Lee/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Many scientists and public health officials were surprised that large swaths of the public were hesitant or outright hostile toward COVID-19 vaccines. I never saw that coming, Francis Collins, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, commented in 2022. Even today, three years after the start of the pandemic, about 1 in 5 Americans have not received a single dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

What could be the reason for such widespread vaccine hesitancy? When it comes to skepticism toward vaccines, religion is often cited as an important factor. As sociologists researching the role of religion in vaccine attitudes and behaviors, we have found that the religion-vaccine connection is significant, but much more nuanced than simple stereotypes assume.

Both religious life and vaccine views are complex. A persons religion cannot be boiled down to just one thing. It includes an identity, a place of worship and a variety of beliefs and practices. Each of these components can have its own distinct effect on vaccine attitudes and behaviors.

Attitudes toward vaccines are complicated, as well. Someones feelings about vaccines in general might differ from their feelings about one specific type of vaccine, for instance.

To help make sense of this complexity, we surveyed a representative sample of 2,000 U.S. adults in May 2021 about their religious identities, beliefs, behaviors and their attitudes toward a number of scientific issues, including vaccines. This sample included individuals across many religious traditions, as well as people who do not affiliate with any religion. However, Christians represented the bulk of the sample, given their larger share of the American population, and so our research focuses heavily on on their views.

Bible beliefs

One part of religious life that social scientists are often interested in is peoples views of the Bible. For example, does someone think of the Bible as the literal word of God; inspired by God, but not literally true; or as an ancient book of legends, history and moral codes that has no divine source?

We found that respondents who see the Bible as either the inspired or the actual word of God were less likely to see vaccines in general  not the COVID-19 vaccine in particular  as safe and effective, compared with those who see the Bible as just a book of history and morality created by humans. All else being equal, those who said that the Bible is the literal word of God, for instance, scored 18% higher on our measure of general vaccine skepticism than those who see the Bible as having no divine source or inspiration.

Although such literalist views might be found at higher rates in particular religious traditions, such as evangelical Protestantism, we found that an individuals religious tradition itself did not make much of a difference. An evangelical Protestant and a Catholic, for instance, would be predicted to have similar attitudes toward vaccines if they share the same view of the Bible.

Religion has been a key theme in many peoples opposition to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo by David McNew/AFP via Getty Images

In contrast, when we asked similar questions specifically about COVID-19 vaccines, we found that an individuals religious tradition is what matters the most. Protestants  both those who identify as evangelical and those who do not  express more skepticism toward the COVID-19 vaccines than respondents from other religious traditions and nonreligious respondents.

God and country

In additional studies, we have attempted to identify the reasons for these patterns. That is, why does ones view of the Bible or ones religious tradition matter when it comes to vaccine attitudes and behaviors?

One factor could be Christian nationalism, which has been increasingly visible in the public sphere since Donald Trumps rise to the presidency. Christian nationalism is described by sociologists of religion Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry as an ideology that advocates for the fusion of Christianity with American politics and public life.

For example, Americans who hold a Christian nationalist ideology tend to agree when surveys ask them whether the federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation. In our own survey, we found that individuals responses to that statement are strongly correlated with their willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

We asked for respondents level of agreement or disagreement with that statement on a 5-point scale. A 1-point increase in agreement meant someone was 17% less likely to have received or plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Although not exclusive to Protestants, adherence to Christian nationalist ideology is more prominent among this group  especially among its more conservative or evangelical traditions.

Another of our studies focused on how people view God. Our data showed that simply believing there is a God, or a higher power that supervises the world, does not make an individual less likely to have received the COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, believing that God can and will actively intervene in the world does make a difference. According to our analysis, with all else being equal, we would expect those with the lowest belief in an intervening higher power to be vaccinated, or intend to get vaccinated, 88% of the time. In contrast, we would expect those with the highest belief in an intervening higher power to be vaccinated, or intend to be, 73% of the time.

In addition, our data shows that belief in parareligious phenomena  including New Ageism, occultism, psychism and spiritualism  is also significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We used a 5-point parareligoius belief scale, with a 1-point increase in an individuals belief in parareligious phenomena being associated with a 40% decrease in the likelihood of having received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Once we accounted for higher rates of conspiratorial belief and distrust in science among respondents who believe in parareligious phenomena, however, this vaccine gap was reduced. This suggests that those underlying factors help explain why more people who believe in parareligious phenomena are skeptical toward vaccines.

All of these studies demonstrate that he link between religion and vaccine attitudes is neither simple nor uniform. Public health campaigns that target faith communities would do well to keep this in mind.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Christopher P. Scheitle, West Virginia University; Bernard DiGregorio, West Virginia University, and Katie Corcoran, West Virginia University.

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Christopher P. Scheitle has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. The research discussed in this article was funded by a grant from the Science and Religion: Identity and Belief Formation grant initiative spearheaded by the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University and the University of California-San Diego and provided by the Templeton Religion Trust via The Issachar Fund.

The research discussed in this article was funded by a grant from the Science and Religion: Identity and Belief Formation grant initiative spearheaded by the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University and the University of California-San Diego and provided by the Templeton Religion Trust via The Issachar Fund.

Katie E. Corcoran has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, the International Research Network for the Study of Belief and Science, the West Virginia University Humanities Center, the Lake Institute, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The research discussed in this article was funded by a grant from the Science and Religion: Identity and Belief Formation grant initiative spearheaded by the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University and the University of California-San Diego and provided by the Templeton Religion Trust via The Issachar Fund.
Report: these are the top 10 colleges and universities in Oklahoma

As Oklahoma becomes an increasingly popular destination for higher education, do any colleges stand above the rest?

To help guide their decision-making process, U.S. News & World Report has compiled a 2022-2023 ranking of universities in Oklahoma.

These rankings are based on factors such as affordability, campus size, and academic calendar. However, it's crucial for prospective students to consider their individual interests and goals when choosing a university in Oklahoma. Immersion in the unique culture and academic environment of each institution is key to finding the perfect fit.

Top 10 universities in Oklahoma

1. University of Oklahoma (OU)

Established in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a prestigious public research institution located in Norman.

It boasts a sprawling campus of 3,326 acres and a diverse undergraduate enrollment of 21,152 students (fall 2021).

OU offers a broad range of academic and athletic programs and is nationally recognized for its contribution to research.

In the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges, it achieved a ranking of #127 among National Universities.

Tuition and fees at OU stand at $9,312 for in-state students and $25,880 for out-of-state students.

2. University of Tulsa (TU)

Founded in 1894, the University of Tulsa is a private institution situated in an urban setting.

With a campus covering 209 acres, TU provides a more intimate educational experience.

The university offers robust programs in petroleum engineering and promotes undergraduate research opportunities.

TU emphasizes co-curricular involvement, offering over 200 student clubs and organizations to foster well-rounded education.

The tuition and fees for attending TU amount to $46,676.

3. Oklahoma State University (OSU)

Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive end Collin Oliver (30) puts pressure on Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Texas Longhorns at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Oklahoma State won 41-34.

Established in 1890, Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Stillwater.

With a campus spread over 1,489 acres, OSU provides students with a vibrant college experience.

The university offers a wide array of undergraduate programs, including a prominent business school and engineering department.

OSU holds a ranking of #182 among National Universities in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges.

In-state tuition and fees at OSU are $9,244, while out-of-state students pay $24,764.

4. Oklahoma City University (OCU)

Founded in 1904, Oklahoma City University is a private institution situated in an urban environment.

OCU is known for its dynamic arts programs, including dance, music, and theater.

With a campus size of 104 acres, the university offers a close-knit community atmosphere.

Tuition and fees at OCU amount to $32,744.

5. Rogers State University (RSU)

Founded in 1909, Rogers State University (RSU) is a public institution located in a suburban setting.

With a campus size of 160 acres, RSU offers a spacious environment for learning.

The university follows a semester-based academic calendar, allowing for structured education.

RSU's in-state tuition and fees are $7,620, making it an affordable choice for Oklahoma residents. Out-of-state students can expect to pay $15,960.

6. Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU)

Established in 1909, Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) is a public institution situated in a rural setting.

OPSU's campus spans 120 acres, providing students with a serene learning environment.

Similar to RSU, OPSU adheres to a semester-based academic calendar.

OPSU stands out for its affordable tuition rates, with both in-state and out-of-state students paying $7,961 for tuition and fees.

7. Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU)

Raley Chapel is pictured at Oklahoma Baptist University on Thursday, April 20, 2023, after a storm hit Shawnee Okla., on Wednesday.

Founded in 1910, Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is a private institution nestled in a city setting.

With a sprawling campus spread across 300 acres, OBU offers a vibrant atmosphere for academics and campus life.

OBU operates on a 4-1-4-based academic calendar, providing students with unique learning opportunities.

While OBU's tuition and fees stand at $32,880, it is important to note the extensive financial aid and scholarship opportunities available.

8. Southwestern Christian University (SCU)

Founded in 1946, Southwestern Christian University (SCU) is a private institution located in a suburban setting.

Despite its smaller campus size of 10 acres, SCU boasts a close-knit learning community.

SCU follows a semester-based academic calendar, providing students with a structured educational experience.

Tuition and fees at SCU amount to $21,416.

9. Langston University

Founded in 1897, Langston University is a public institution situated in a rural environment.

The campus occupies 40 acres and follows a semester-based academic calendar.

Langston University offers affordable in-state tuition and fees, totaling $6,509, making it an accessible option for all Oklahoma residents.

10. Southern Nazarene University

Established in 1899, Southern Nazarene University is a private institution located in a suburban setting.

The campus spans an impressive 200 acres, providing students with ample space for academic and extracurricular activities.

The university follows a semester-based academic calendar and boasts a strong academic reputation. However, it is important to note that tuition and fees at Southern Nazarene University amount to $27,000.

While this list was assembled with the rankings in mind, it is not made as a strict reconstruction of the U.S. News and World Report as it considers factors including but not limited to gender composition, student experience, racial diversity, student debt, potential earnings within the first decade after graduation and student debt repayment structure. Honorable mentions include the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University which the U.S. News and World Report have ranked at numbers 9 and 10 respectively.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The top 10 Oklahoma colleges and universities, according to US News
Reports of respiratory illness being monitored at Everett hotel serving as emergency shelter

State public health officials are monitoring reports of a respiratory illness at an Everett hotel serving as an emergency assistance shelter site for homeless families.

No active cases of tuberculosis have been identified at the enVision Hotel Boston-Everett at 1834 Revere Beach Parkway, and the local Board of Health is involved in monitoring the situation at the hotel, public health officials tell Boston 25.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of those in our Emergency Assistance (EA) system. DPH, along with our partners providing EA support and clinical care, has led a robust response to reports of a respiratory illness at one of our EA shelter sites that includes treatment of anyone symptomatic and infection control measures, a Massachusetts Department of Public Health spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

The DPH is working with clinical partners to test and treat symptomatic individuals, and the state is providing infection control and treatment resources including masks, COVID tests, thermometers, medication, hand hygiene supplies, and disinfectant wipes, public health officials tell Boston 25.

Infection control measures are in place on-site, including encouraging isolation of symptomatic individuals and masking in public areas, public health officials said.

Anyone with medical needs is being assessed upon entry into the emergency assistance system, health officials said.

The emergency assistance shelter at the enVision Hotel Boston-Everett is being run by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities with a contract with La Collaborativa in Chelsea as the service agency, officials said.

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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GOP Candidate Asa Hutchinsons Call For Respect At Pro-Trump Event Is Drowned In Boos

Republican presidential long-shot candidate Asa Hutchinson  who has in the past been critical of former President Donald Trump  was relentlessly booed during a speech at an event organized by a pro-Trump group on Sunday.

The audience at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, began jeering the former Arkansas governor soon after he walked on stage.

TRUMP chants break out during 2024 candidate and former Gov. Asa Hutchinsons speech at Turning Point Action Conference pic.twitter.com/9EbUYxKQ4J  RSBN  (@RSBNetwork) July 16, 2023

They also chanted the name of Trump and heckled when Hutchinson called for respect for those that might have differing opinion.

On CNN, former Republican National Committee Communications Director Doug Heye suggested it was because Trumps base only wants to hear the former presidents talking points on loop.

Watch Heyes comments here:

Related...
Donald Trump Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

I wish I understood what all these longshot Republicans running for president hope to get out of it. It can't be that they actually believe they are going to win. We know that Donald Trump will never accept that he lost so he will proclaim that the winner stole it from him and many of his followers will believe him so they'll stay home, handing the election to Joe Biden. Remember, Trump initially claimed that Ted Cruz stole the Iowa caucuses in 2016. After first conceding the race he turned around and tweeted:

"Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he illegally stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong any why he got more votes than anticipated. Bad!"

He eventually removed the word "illegally" but then followed it up with:

Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016

He let that beef go when he started winning primaries but once he got the nomination, Trump famously declared that he would only accept the results of the general election if he won.

He did win but he still wasn't satisfied because he lost the popular vote so within a couple of weeks he was declaring that it was the result of voter fraud.

In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016

He even went so far as to create the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity and packed it with vote suppression activists to prove fraud. They were unable to do that of course because there were no facts to support it.

Fast forward to 2020 and we all know what happened. The results of Trump's Big Lie are that even today, nearly three years later, 63% of Republicans still believe the election was illegitimate. Yes, it has shrunk from the 71% who believed it was stolen right after January 6 and the number of Republicans who now believe Biden won the election fair and square has risen from 22% to 36%. Big deal. The vast majority of Republicans are still convinced that Donald Trump is the legitimate president and most of them are going to vote for him.

And why wouldn't they? If you really believe that the election was stolen from him you must also think that he's got a right and a responsibility to take the White House back from the usurper.

Even if any of the challengers to his claim to the throne wanted to explode the Big Lie (which thus far only seems to be former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie) it would be hard to know where to start. Trump had dozens of different reasons why the election was stolen from him and there are new ones every day. Whether it's the mail-in ballot scheme or the election machine rigging or censorship of the Hunter Biden story or foreign interference, Trump has claimed at one time or another that each was responsible for his loss.

He understands instinctively that when you are advancing a totally preposterous lie, the best thing you can do is offer as many rationales for it as possible. Some people will pick a particular reason and that's good enough for them. Others just see it as "there's an awful lot of smoke, there must be a fire." Most Republican officials, including his rivals, have therefore decided to either back Trump's lie outright or simply say that the election was full of "problems" that need to be fixed, which tacitly amounts to the same thing. They will twist themselves into pretzels making that case.

Here is GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel:

On Friday, Chris Wallace interviewed RNC chair Ronna McDaniel but first, CNN previewed it on Wednesday. It sounds like she's an conspiracy theorist, "I am saying there were lots of problems with the 2020 election and we need to fix it going forward" But there's a problem... (1/4) pic.twitter.com/rH4ySl6Kfo  Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 15, 2023

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

You don't get any more "establishment" than the chair of the Republican Party and she says she does not believe the election was fairly decided. So, of course, the rank and file are going to believe that as well.

So let's say that one of the other candidates starts to make a move and turns this into a real race. And let's say that they end up eking out a win. As we know, Trump will not graciously concede and endorse his rival. And I do believe that many of his followers will stay home. But I also think there's every chance that he will tell them to write him in and many of them will. He's just not the quitting type.

Maybe these candidates thought (hoped?) he would be taken down by one of the criminal investigations that are dogging him in various places around the country. I'm not sure why they would have thought that changed anything, however. He claims that too is a rigged deal on behalf of the "deep state" and his followers are in lockstep with him on that as well. Most of these candidates are barely willing to even timidly suggest that taking classified documents might not be exactly legal so there isn't going to be much pushback there either.

So why are all these people running? They have to know that Trump will never admit that he lost. He even protested when he won insisting that he actually won bigger but they cheated him out of it! And by now they must realize that his base is going to stick with him no matter what.

I would guess that many of them just want to remain relevant in politics. Maybe they think that if Trump beats Biden they can get a job in the Cabinet. Some might even think they have a shot at vice president, although I can't imagine Trump rewarding anyone who had the temerity to run against him in this race. He believes he is the president in exile and shouldn't have to run for the nomination at all. I'd be shocked if he chooses someone from the pack.

Florida Gov. Ron Desantis may have been the one who believed his own hype and thought that because he won re-election handily he really was in a position to knock out Trump. He's clearly starting to see the error in that calculation. Florida isn't America and even there, he's losing to Donald Trump by 20 points. He'll be lucky to get out of this with a political career at all. But the rest of them aren't dumb and they had to know that Trump would not stand for anyone else snatching away the nomination from him  that he would sabotage the ticket if he isn't on it simply because he is congenitally incapable of admitting that he lost.

I think the thing is that they all just want to be in a position in case he moves beyond the Big Lie and takes the Big Sleep. For all the yammering about Biden's age, after all, Trump's not a young man either. This primary is basically a kind of death watch, hoping that if it should happen, one of them will be the next in line and he or she will have preserved themselves as MAGA's heir apparent by never being disrespectful to the late leader. The problem is that people like Trump tend to live long lives. And even if he doesn't, he will rise up from the grave to claim the deep state had him deep-sixed to prevent him from becoming president again and then demand a recount. In this election, for the GOP it's Trump or no one. Either they let him have it or he'll burn the party down.

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about Trump's domination over the GOP
House Republicans are rejecting calls from Democrats to disinvite Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a witness for a Thursday hearing after he claimed the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jewish and Chinese people.

I disagree with everything he said, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Monday.

But he declined to disinvite Kennedy, who is running for president as a Democrat, from the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Thursday examining censorship.

The hearing that we have this week is about censorship, McCarthy continued. I dont think censoring somebody is actually the answer here.

Kennedy is set to testify as a Republican-picked witness.

But after the New York Post reported his comments over the weekend, Democrats are pushing back on his inclusion.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) wrote a letter to McCarthy and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Monday urging them to rescind their invitation to Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy has repeatedly and recently spread vile and dangerous antisemitic and anti-Asian conspiracy theories that tarnish his credibility as a witness and must not be legitimized with his appearance before the U.S. Congress nor given the platform of an official committee hearing to spread his baseless and discriminatory views, the Democratic members said in the letter, shared with The Hill.

The conspiracies promoted by Mr. Kennedy were made without any basis in scientific evidence, which is not a surprise, since no such evidence exists. In fact, the British Office of National Statistics recently revealed data showing that British Jews had a higher mortality rate from COVID-19 in the UK than other ethnic groups, they continued.

Asked about the calls to disinvite Kennedy, the House Judiciary Committee pointed to Jordans comments to Politico that echoed McCarthy.

I totally disagree with what he said, but hes a Democrat. I disagree with other things he said too. But were having him because of censorship, Jordan said.

In a statement on Twitter, Kennedy criticized the New York Post for allegedly breaking an off-the-record agreement and argued his statements about the ethnic effects of COVID-19 and claims about governments developing ethnically-targeted bioweapons were misrepresented.

I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered, Kennedy said.

Mychael Schnell contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
"There will be a response": Putin threatens to retaliate for Crimean Bridge attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will retaliate for the Crimean Bridge attack.

Source: Vladimir Putin during a meeting on 17 July

Quote: "Of course Russia will retaliate. The Ministry of Defence is preparing suitable measures."

Details: Putin also said that the attack on the bridge was "insignificant" because it has not been used to transport weapons and ammunition for a long time.

He also stressed that he believes the attack on the bridge to be a terrorist attack.

Background:

The Crimean Bridge was attacked at three in the morning on Monday, 17 July. The bridge connects Russian-occupied Crimea and mainland Russia.

Sources in Ukraines Security Service told Ukrainska Pravda that the attack was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy using surface drones.

Russian media reported that two drones were deployed in the attack, which caused one of the bridge spans to tilt. The operation of the ferry crossing between the occupied peninsula and the Russian Krasnodar Krai has been stopped, and car traffic on the bridge has also been temporarily suspended. Traffic was detoured via the occupied territories of mainland Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Iranian women walk past a sign reading, "Please observe Islamic hijab when entering the complex," in front of the main entrance of a shopping center in downtown Tehran on April 17. Credit - Morteza NikoubazlNurPhoto/Getty Images

Irans so-called morality police is resuming patrols to enforce the countrys strict hijab rules, after largely pausing its activities for 10 months following mass protests over the killing of 21-year-old Mahsa Amini last September while she was in police custody. Amini had been detained for allegedly wearing improper hijab prior to her arrest.

On Sunday, Saeid Montazeralmahdi, a spokesperson for Faraja, Irans law enforcement body, confirmed that the morality police had resumed its street patrols, the state-run Mizan news agency reported. Officers will first issue a warning to any woman breaking the countrys hijab rules, he said, followed by legal action including arrests and being taken to re-education facilities for those who continue to disregard the consequences of deviating from dress norms.

Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, a scholar of Iranian and Middle Eastern history at the University of Pennsylvania, says that it is unsurprising that the morality police are returning to the streets.

The hijab laws have become synonymous with the politics of the Islamic Republic, she tells TIME, adding that it is not easy for the Islamic Republic to back away from one of its major policies that serves as a symbol of its power.

More from TIME

Irans morality police has existed in various forms since the 1979 Islamic revolution, but the current version, formally known as Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol), has been in place since 2006.

Following Aminis death last year, many Iranian women began defying the morality police by refusing to wear the compulsory hijab altogether, while some even burned their headscarves as they chanted woman, life, liberty at demonstrations. The morality police remained largely absent during this time, despite Islamic hardliners increasingly demanding that the patrols be resumed.

The protests have posed one of the biggest challenges to Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis rule and has been met with a fierce crackdown by police and security services. At least 500 protestors have died since the unrest began, according to a January report from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Activists say the governments latest announcement appears timed ahead of the one-year anniversary of Aminis death and the women-led protests. The Islamic Republic is scared and knows that if women remove the hijab, they will feel empowered to lead another uprising in the wake of the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini, says Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist and journalist.

Read More: Iranian Dissident Masih Alinejad Wont Be Silenced

In April, the Iranian government deployed surveillance cameras to identify and penalize women violating the countrys hijab laws. According to Reuters, women who were identified would receive a warning about the consequences. The police announcement about the measure also urged businesses to seriously monitor the observance of societal norms with their diligent inspections.

Since the demonstrations began, many women, including high-profile actresses and athletes, have been summoned or received sentences by authorities for removing their headscarves. One court sentenced a woman to the ritual washing of corpses, while another handed down a punishment of 270 hours of cleaning government buildings. In May, Iranian actress Azadeh Samadi was sentenced to a six-month social media ban and mandated therapy to cure her of an anti-social personality sickness after appearing at a funeral without a headscarf.

Alinejad says the governments use of different tactics to resume and impose hijab laws had so far been ineffective. If you walk these days on the street of any town in Iran, you will be surprised by how many women walking unveiled and protesting mandatory hijab, she says.

But the latest crackdown attempt will nevertheless have larger consequences for womens rights in Iran, says Kashani-Sabet. The intimidation and uncertainty will serve as deterrents to those who may want to remove the veil but are afraid to do soas intendedbut it will also have the effect of enforcing a culture that normalizes aggression against women, she says.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) dodged a question Monday about potentially being GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantiss running mate if he won the Republican primary.

Well, thank you for the question, Reynolds said when Foxs Ainsley Earhardt asked her about DeSantis possibly considering her as a running mate. I appreciate the comments. But look, Im so focused. We are implementing the boldest universal school choice plan in the country. I just called a special session last week. This last week we passed the fetal heartbeat bill, and I actually cut state government and I cut 21 agencies from my Cabinet and were implementing our alignment bill.

So Im busy working on being governor of the great state of Iowa, and Im already working on cutting taxes again next year. So thats my focus right now, she added.

DeSantis said Saturday that he would consider Reynolds as his running mate after former President Trump criticized her for staying neutral during the 2024 GOP primary.

Of course, DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider Reynolds. I mean, shes one of the top public servants in America.

DeSantis said during the event in Ankeny, Iowa, that Trumps attacks on Reynolds were totally out of hand and totally unnecessary.

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 last week. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!

Reynolds had already dismissed the possibility of joining a presidential ticket earlier this year, telling the Des Moines Register that she was not interested in it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hasnt exactly been towing the Democratic Party line since announcing his presidential run in April. The scion has been vowing to seal off the U.S.-Mexico border, siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine, and pushing a host of outlandish conspiracy theories  most notably about Covid-19, including a claim this weekend that it was ethnically targeted while noting infections were lowest among Jewish and Chinese people.

It should come as no surprise, then, that RKF is raking in cash from GOP donors. Popular Information published a fundraising breakdown on Monday, noting that of the 96 individuals who donated the maximum $6,600 to RFKs campaign last quarter, 37 had only previously donated to Republicans running for federal office. Only 19 had consistently donated to Democratic candidates.

Kennedy also received the maximum from Purple Good Government PAC, which is controlled by tech investor David Sacks. Sacks has been a vocal supporter of Ron DeSantis bid to win the Republican nomination. Hes also pals with Elon Musk, participating in both a glitch-ridden Twitter Spaces conversation between DeSantis and Musk, and another between Musk and RFK during which RFK praised Musk breathlessly before blaming school shootings on anti-depressants.

Popular Information also notes that in 2021 RFKs anti-vax non-profit, Childrens Health Defense, tried to donate $50,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association, which ultimately returned the money. Media Matters reported in June that Childrens Health Defense had sliding into the replies of white supremacists on the far-right social network Gab, which the Anti-Defamation League has described as a haven for extremists, conspiracy theorists and misinformation.

Kennedy certainly holds some traditionally Democratic positions  including an opposition to the Supreme Courts decision to strike down race-based affirmative action in college admission  but hes essentially been functioning as a right-wing operative in the Democratic primary. He even accepted an invitation from far-right Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to testify later this week in front of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Committee, which has served as a vessel for Republicans to legitimate conspiracy theories about President Biden and the deep state.

RFKs campaign has been catnip to the conspiracy wing of the GOP, but hes also staked out some thoroughly MAGA policy positions. He visited the U.S.-Mexico border in June, railing against the state of the border and saying hes [with Trump more than Biden] on this particular issue. Trump beefed up an inhumane family separation policy, tried and failed to build a wall across the border, and has continued to demonize migrants seeking asylum in the United States. RFK has echoed the rhetoric of Trump and his allies when speaking on the issue. I will make the border impervious, he promised in May.

Republicans like what theyre hearing.

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Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., criticized his baseless remarks at a press dinner last week, where he claimed COVID-19 ethnically targeted certain groups.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known conspiracy theorist who has been vocal about his anti-vaccine stance, claimed in a now-viral video obtained by the New York Post that the virus has a genetic structure that is used to attack Caucasians and Black people.

On Monday, his sister, the president of nonprofit organization Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, released a statement in response to her brothers controversial comments at the press dinner, which was already publicly marred by drinking and flatulence.

I strongly condemn my brothers deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting, the statement read. His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination.

His nephew, former congressman Joe Kennedy III, also criticized the presidential candidates dinnertime rant on Monday.

My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said, his Twitter post read.

At the dinner, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had also baselessly claimed that the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Later in his ramble, he added that he was not sure if Black and white people were deliberately targeted or not.

Absolutely disgusting and insane. The @nypost obtained video from a recent RFK Jr. event where he suggested COVID is a Chinese bioweapon ethnically targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people and to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. He then falsely claimed the pic.twitter.com/reTqaEc1aL  MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 15, 2023

The Democratic presidential candidate also claimed that the United States was funding efforts, including labs in Ukraine that sought to store Russian DNA, so we can target people by race. The BBC reported in 2022 that there was no evidence to support the claim that the U.S. and Ukraine were working on creating biological weapons.

Similarly, experts have bashed the idea that COVID-19 targeted certain ethnic groups.

Jewish or Chinese protease consensus sequences are not a thing in biochemistry, but they are in racism and antisemitism, Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, posted on Twitter on Saturday.

The same day, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee and former U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch tweeted in response to the presidential candidates remarks, referring to them as both 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, Deutch wrote.

RFK Jr. has received attention for his outlandish claims in the past.

At an anti-vaccine rally in 2022, he said that Hitlers Germany had looser restrictions than the ones imposed in the U.S. during the height of the pandemic  a remark that even drew criticism from his wife.

Related...
Robert F Kennedy Jr has defended his remarks suggesting Covid-19 was 'ethnically targeted'

Robert F Kennedy Jr is running for US president as a Democrat, but the unusual backing he is receiving from right-wingers and his history of amplifying conspiracy theories has raised suspicions about his motivations.

Over the weekend, Mr Kennedy doubled down on remarks suggesting Covid-19 may have been "ethnically targeted" to "attack" Caucasians and black people but spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

Arguing he had "never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered", the candidate alleged he was being smeared and cited a study published by the National Institutes of Health looking at how human genetic factors contribute to Covid transmission.

But an author of the study told the BBC's US partner, CBS News, that its findings had "never supported" Mr Kennedy's claims.

"This type of misinterpretation will hurt academic research to help us end the pandemic," the author said in an emailed statement.

It is the latest debunked claim from a lawyer once celebrated as a champion of the environment, who has dedicated his energy in the past two decades to anti-vaccine activism and who last year referred to pandemic health measures as "fascism" not seen "even in Hitler's Germany".

Yet Mr Kennedy, 69, has seen support as high as 21% in national opinion polls since his April launch and is polling even now in the mid-to-high teens despite holding few campaign events.

That suggests some degree of disaffection among Democratic voters with President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election at 80 years old and with an approval rating of 41%.

It may also have something to do with the challenger's famous last name. He is the nephew of former President John F Kennedy and the third child of former Attorney General Robert F Kennedy.

Democratic strategist Kevin Walling told the BBC that Mr Kennedy's poll numbers are "a combination of nostalgia for the Kennedy family and brand, as well as a lack of awareness about [his] views".

He argued the support is peeling away "as more and more Democrats learn about his views on a whole host of issues".

The Biden camp has largely ignored their long-shot rival, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday said Mr Kennedy's comments on ethnic targeting were "vile and they put our fellow Americans in danger".

Other members of the Democratic Party also distanced themselves from the remarks, describing them as antisemitic and anti-Asian.

Members of the Kennedy family have for years rebuked Mr Kennedy's public statements.

"I strongly condemn my brother's deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting," his sister Kerry wrote on Monday.

Further compounding misgivings about the rebel Kennedy is that he is unusually close with the Trump wing of the Republican Party.

In recent years, he has appeared at events pushing false claims about the 2020 election and downplaying the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

Mr Kennedy is lavished with coverage in right-wing media

CBS reported in April that former Trump advisor Steve Bannon had encouraged Mr Kennedy to run "for months, believing he could be both a useful chaos agent in the 2024 race and a big name who could help stoke anti-vaccine sentiment around the country".

Donald Trump himself praised Mr Kennedy last month, as "a very smart guy and a good guy", while Roger Stone, a prominent Trump ally, has repeatedly promoted the idea that they run on the same ticket.

The Kennedy campaign has also received extensive friendly coverage on Fox News and other right-wing media outlets.

According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Saturday, donors who typically give to Republicans count among its top contributors so far.

"Only 20% of his donors identify as Democratic donors, while nearly 40% have a track record of giving more to [Republican] candidates and causes," said Mr Walling, citing analysis of the FEC filing by the left-leaning Popular Information newsletter.

"It's clear Republicans are supporting Kennedy in order to try and hurt President Biden in advance of the general election."

Mr Kennedy's fundraising numbers over the past three months - $6.3m (4.8m) - outpace several of the president's would-be Republican challengers, but is dwarfed by Mr Biden's $72m haul over the same period.

"At the end of the day, he's not going to deny Biden the [Democratic] nomination nor is he going to be a significant threat," said Mark Longabaugh, another Democratic strategist.

"It's just a gadfly candidacy making a lot of noise and I guess he settled on a strategy of figuring out the most outrageous things he can say to continue to get attention."

He said the most chaos Mr Kennedy's candidacy may cause will likely be in New Hampshire.

The northeastern state has long played host to the first primary contest of the presidential election season - until Democrats rearranged the calendar earlier this year at Mr Biden's direction.

But New Hampshire Democrats have threatened to hold their first-in-the-nation primary anyway, even if Mr Biden sits it out, which could provide an opening for Mr Kennedy to get on the board.

Some older voters in the New England region once dominated by the Kennedys may still be enamoured with the dynasty, Mr Longabaugh said, but voters will ultimately be turned off by Mr Kennedy's views and the support he receives from Republicans.

"It's unfortunate," he said. "There was a time, 20 to 25 years ago, when Kennedy was a very admirable person."
Thats an erroneous conclusion, Daniel Dawes, executive director at Meharry Medical Colleges Global Health Equity Institute, told theGrio.

Condemnation of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his false assertion that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to spare specific Jewish and Chinese people intensified Monday with criticism from the White House press room and calls to rescind his invitation to a Congressional hearing.

Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and son of former U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, made the controversial comments during a recent campaign event in New York City.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially announces his candidacy for President on April 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

In an almost two-minute video published by the New York Post on Saturday morning, Kennedy tells a table of people, We need to talk about bioweapons. He proceeds to suggest that COVID-19, which killed more than 1.1 million Americans, attacks certain races disproportionately due to the virus genetic structure.

COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, said Kennedy, who also previously pushed conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines. He continued: The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Researchers, doctors and his sister quickly slammed the presidential candidate.

Beyond the absurdity, biological know-how simply isnt there to make a virus that targets only certain ethnicities, tweeted epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina.

And Monday, President Bidens press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, harshly condemned Kennedy.

The claims made on that tape [are] false. It is vile, and they put  our fellow Americans in danger, said Jean-Pierre. The Biden spokesperson condemned the comments as racist and anti-semitic conspiracy theories.

Its an attack on our fellow citizens, she added, and  it is important that we essentially speak out when we hear those claims.

Kennedy, during his remarks, conceded that we dont know whether it was deliberately targeted but claimed that there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact.

COVID-19 disproportionately affected Black, Hispanic and other ethnic groups in the United States, but health experts have explained that social determinants, such as health care access and some pre-existing illnesses led to different recovery outcomes, not a specific or deliberate genetic virus composition.

Many of us whove gone through COVID-19 work in the trenches of fighting inequities throughout the continuum realize that COVID did not discriminate, said Daniel Dawes, a health policy expert who currently serves as executive director at Meharry Medical Colleges Global Health Equity Institute.

Licensed practical nurse Noah Johnson administers a COVID-19 vaccination dose to a resident in Bordelons Pharmacy as part of a vaccination campaign organized by nurse Carla Brown on August 17, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Dawes told theGrio that there is no evidence to sustain Kennedys assertion that COVID-19 targeted certain racial and ethnic groups. Thats an erroneous conclusion, he added.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison also slammed Kennedy, who has a longshot chance of defeating Biden for the Democratic Partys nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

These are deeply troubling comments, and I want to make clear that they do not represent the views of the Democratic Party, tweeted Harrison. The DNC declined to comment further when theGrio requested additional reaction.

Additional political fallout appears imminent as the Congressional Integrity Project, a Democratic watchdog group, called for the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government to disinvite Kennedy from an upcoming hearing. House Democrats followed suit in a letter sent to Republican House leadership.

Dawes, who co-authored a report on the health effects of COVID-19 on Black communities, told theGrio that there is great harm caused when political figures such as Kennedy spread misinformation about a public health crisis that wreaked havoc on Black Americans. He said misinformation about the virus was among the top three issues  if not the No. 1 concern  for public health professionals during the pandemic.

Whenever you have someone who is pushing statements or pushing out comments that are not based on scientific evidence, it makes me extremely nervous, said Dawes.

The rapid speed of coronavirus vaccines development is adding to the equally fast spread of misinformation about them on social media. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

He added, It does make me nervous that if weve never been able to tackle misinformation and tackle it well in this country  especially when it comes to vulnerable and minoritized, marginalized communities  then for the next pandemic, it could get even worse.

Additionally, the public health expert said its critically important for the United States to get a handle on the political determinants of health, which he said are instigated by law and policy.

If we dont tackle these inequities from an economic and a national and even a moral argument, quite frankly, were going to be in a lot of trouble in the future, cautioned Dawes.

After the public backlash, Kennedy attempted to walk back part of his remarks as it relates to Jews after the Anti-Defamation League called them deeply inaccurate, deeply offensive and deeply troubling.

I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews, he tweeted.

Gerren Keith Gaynor

Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s claim that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted condemned and debunked appeared first on TheGrio.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s own sister is slamming the candidate over his baseless suggestion that COVID-19 was 'ethnically targeted' to spare Jews and Chinese people

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s own sister is slamming the candidate over his baseless suggestion that COVID-19 was 'ethnically targeted' to spare Jews and Chinese people

Kerry Kennedy. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Kerry Kennedy on Monday criticized her brother's recent remarks regarding COVID-19.

At a Manhattan event, RFK Jr. baselessly suggested that the coronavirus could've been "ethnically targeted."

He is currently challenging President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.

Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., denounced the Democratic presidential candidate's recent comments where he baselessly suggested that COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted" to certain races while sparing Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

In a video published by The New York Post of a press event in Manhattan last week, Kennedy said that there was an "argument" that the coronavirus targeted particular groups, a conspiracy theory that drew a slew of outrage in recent days.

"COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese," Kennedy Jr. said at the event. "We don't know whether it was deliberately targeted or not but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact."

"We do know that the Chinese are spending hundreds of millions of dollars developing ethnic bioweapons and we are developing ethnic bioweapons," he continued. "They're collecting Russian DNA. They're collecting Chinese DNA so we can target people by race."

On Monday, Kerry Kennedy chimed in, joining the chorus of opposition to her brother's remarks.

"I strongly condemn my brother's deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting," she said in a statement. "His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+ year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination."

Kerry Kennedy, the seventh child of the late Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, is currently the president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit human rights advocacy organization.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts on Monday also spoke out against Kennedy Jr.'s remarks.

"My uncle's comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said," the ex-congressman tweeted.

For Kennedy Jr.  a longtime environmental attorney who is challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination  the comments only served to further frustrate party leaders who'd like to focus their energies on the president's potential rematch with former President Donald Trump.

But Kennedy Jr. in recent weeks has been ramping up his campaign, with his most recent comments further attracting attention.

In a video released on Sunday, he sought to clarify his remarks, despite them being recorded on video.

"Nobody has suggested that these were deliberately engineered changes and I certainly don't believe that they were deliberately engineered," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rocket Lab to attempt booster retrieval after NASA launch in New Zealand

Rocket Lab to attempt booster retrieval after NASA launch in New Zealand

MAHIA PENINSULA, New Zealand  Private launch company Rocket Lab says it's going to try again to recover the Electron rocket booster after a launch with NASA payloads onboard.

Electron is scheduled to launch the mission it's calling "Baby Come Back" on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. NZST (7:30 p.m. ET on Monday). The ride-sharing mission includes four CubeSats for NASA in a technology demonstration and two commercial payloads.

Rocket Lab has been attempting to recover its Electron first stage boosters post-launch. This will be the second recovery mission of the year.

NASA CELEBRATES JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE'S 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH COLORFUL STELLAR NURSERY IMAGE

The company is now recovering the boosters after a soft landing in the Pacific Ocean instead of using an aerial recovery method.

Previously, Rocket Lab attempted to pluck the rocket booster from the sky with a helicopter during a November 2022 attempt called "Catch Me if You Can" and in May 2022 during a test called "There and Back Again."

"Rocket Labs transition to marine recovery away from mid-air capture has been informed by previous recovery missions that showed Electron components and engines passed requalification testing following ocean splashdowns, so this next mission represents near final maturation of the marine recovery system in preparation for reflight of a booster," the company said in a statement.

On this mission, Electron will launch seven small satellites: NASA's Starling CubeSats, a Telesat demonstration satellite for Space Flight Laboratory and three tiny satellites for Spire Global.

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY SHOWS OFF FLASHY LIGHTNING IMAGER CAPABILITIES

After launch, the first stage will return to Earth with the help of a parachute before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

A recovery vessel will be waiting to scoop up the booster and take it back to New Zealand. Rocket Lab said it's trying new upgrades on this recovery attempt, including waterproofing systems to protect engines and avionics. The plan is to re-fly these recovered boosters, driving down launch costs.

ROCKET LAB LAUNCHES NOAA PAYLOAD TO CONTINUE GLOBAL WILDLIFE, CLIMATE-TRACKING MISSION

The launch will mark the company's 7th liftoff this year and 39th overall.

Rocket Lab's headquarters are in Long Beach, California, and the company has two launch complexes, one in New Zealand and another in the U.S.

In January, Rocket Lab completed its first launch from a new launchpad in NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Rod Stewart poses with 7 of his 8 children in rare family photo

Rod Stewart, who is in the middle of a world tour, enjoyed some down time with his biggest fans.

In a recent picture, which Stewarts wife Penny Lancaster shared on Instagram, the singer, 78, is seen posing with seven of his eight children, and three of his grandkids.

Celebrating being together, Lancaster, 52, captioned her post.

Rod Stewart posed for a family photo while touring in Europe. (@penny.lancaster via Instagram)

Stewart and Lancaster, a model, are parents of sons Alastair, 17, and Aiden, 12. He shares Kimberly, 43, and Sean, 42, with ex-wife Alana Stewart, 78, while Renee, 31, and Liam, 28, are from his marriage to Rachel Hunter, 53. The Grammy winner is also dad of Ruby, 36, with former partner Kelly Emberg, 64.

Stewarts daughter Sarah Streeter, 59, was not in the photo. Streeter, who was born when Stewart was 17, was raised by adoptive parents and later reconnected with her famous father.

I have to be several different fathers because of the different age groups of my kids, Stewart told People in 2021. You really have to treat all of them as individuals with individual problems.

The British rock legend added that several of his children went through their bad period of drinking too much and dabbling in drugs. Sean appeared on VH1s Celebrity Rehab in 2008, while Sarah has opened up publicly about her past struggle with substance abuse.

But they all came out on the other side, Stewart said. As a dad, Ive learned to listen and not my blow my top.

Stewart and Lancaster celebrated their 16-year wedding anniversary in June. He has credited Lancaster, who he calls his "diamond," for organizing family vacations and making sure everyone stays in the touch despite their busy schedules.

"She is just the best ... I can't say enough about her," Stewart gushed during an appearance on U.K. talk show "Lorraine.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Get ready for the next iteration of the abortion fight: state constitutions. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, states have control over how much  or little  they want to regulate the procedure.

And those battles have played out in legislatures around the country, with red states putting strict limits in place and blue states maintaining wide access to abortion. Thats what was supposed to happen after abortion no longer was protected as a federal constitutional right.

While Democrats in Congress are turning to desperate, long-shot measures like reviving the Equal Rights Amendment to preserve abortion access, abortion rights activists are gearing up for a new line of attack  one that could sidestep Republican legislatures and governors.

They plan to take the issue directly to voters.

That fight began last year, with three states  Michigan, California and Vermont  becoming the first in the country to pass constitutional amendments protecting the right to abortion.

Voters supported abortion rights. Here's what anti-abortion leaders should learn from it.

And in November, Ohio is expected to have a similar amendment on its ballot. Supporters of the amendment turned in this month what they say are more than enough valid signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Expect both abortion foes and champions to keep a close eye on the proposals success or failure, as it could be a blueprint for a much bigger round of amendments in 2024 and beyond.

Activists mark the first anniversary of the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, by displaying neon signage in support of abortion access in front of the Supreme Court on June 23, 2023.

Lessons from Michigan

Groups that favor abortion access such as Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, which backed the successful constitutional amendment in Michigan, are hopeful they can achieve the same outcome in Ohio. There was never really a question that liberal states like Vermont and California would pass their measures; it was less certain in Michigan.

Some unique elements were at play in the Great Lakes State. For one, after Roe was overturned, the then Republican-led legislature opted to let a decades-old abortion law that banned nearly all abortions take effect. And they made no effort to offer alternatives.

That made voters much more receptive to the amendment, which had fairly innocuous-sounding language that advocates claimed would restore provisions of Roe to Michigan. The reality, however, is that the amendment went much further than that, opening the door to strip existing provisions such as requiring parental consent for minors.

Biden's silence: Biden campaigns on 'decency.' Refusing to acknowledge his granddaughter is anything but.

The amendment also drove Democratic turnout last November, and Michigan voters solidly passed the measure, along with a full Democratic takeover of state government  for the first time in 40 years.

Whats happening in Ohio is a little different. The state has an abortion law on the books that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks. That law hasnt taken effect yet because it's still tied up in the courts.

Ohio is much more of a red state than Michigan, too, with a Republican governor and legislature. Thats why if the amendment passes, Ohio could be a model for efforts in other red states. A similar measure is already planned in Florida for 2024.

Ohio amendment is vague, on purpose

The proposed measure would add language to the Ohio Constitution explicitly guaranteeing the right of every individual to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions. Although it allows for prohibitions on abortion after viability, there are broad exceptions to protect the patients life or health.

Opponents of the proposal say it's the vagueness of the language that is most concerning to them, and they believe it could strip parents rights for consent of a minors abortion or even gender reassignment surgery. Those were many of the concerns anti-abortion advocates had about Michigans proposal.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

The amendment was intentionally written using this extremely broad language, says Amy Natoce, press secretary for Protect Women Ohio, the group seeking to block the amendments passage. It says it would protect an individual's reproductive decisions. So nowhere in the amendment do we see the word 'adult.' The word 'woman' doesn't appear anywhere; there's no mention of age restrictions.

Given the ACLUs history of fighting parental consent, Natoce is worried about how this language could be interpreted, if passed.

The Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature is pushing back against the amendment with a special election in August that seeks to raise the threshold for passing constitutional amendments.

That could make it more challenging to pass the amendment come November. Yet it ultimately will be up to Ohioans to decide how far they want to go to allow for abortions and reproductive care in their state.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion activists target Ohio constitution in likely preview of 2024
Ron DeSantis said he'd consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a running mate but when asked about it, she said she's 'busy'

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds waves to supporters before speaking at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Sioux City, Iowa, on November 3, 2022. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he'd consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate.

She's not too keen on the idea.

In an interview Monday, she said she's "focused" and "busy" as the governor of Iowa.

GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Saturday that he'd consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate if he wins the Republican nomination. She appears to have other plans.

DeSantis, who currently sits second behind former President Donald Trump in the vast majority of GOP presidential primary polls, said "of course" when asked if she was in the running to be his second-in-command.

"She's one of the top public servants in America," he said.

But Reynolds demurred when asked in an interview Monday morning on Fox News if she'd accept the offer.

"I am so focused," she told Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt. "I'm busy working on being the governor of the great state of Iowa."

In addition to suggesting her as a potential running mate, DeSantis criticized Trump for his recent attacks on Reynolds.

"She's one of the top public servants in America," DeSantis said. "I thought the attacks on her were totally, totally out of hand and totally unnecessary."

About a week prior, following a New York Times report detailing a friendship and camaraderie between DeSantis and Reynolds, Trump took to Truth Social to voice his displeasure with the Iowan, who reportedly doesn't plan to publicly endorse a candidate in the primary race.

"I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won," Trump wrote. "Now, she wants to remain 'NEUTRAL.' I don't invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!"

Reynolds' comments on Monday were not the first time she's said she doesn't want to be someone's vice president.

"I love what we're doing here in Iowa, and hopefully, I continue to make it pretty clear we're not done," she told the Des Moines Register in February when asked about being anyone's running mate.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has announced the withdrawal of shipping safety guarantees within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which ceased to operate as of Monday, 17 July.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Details: The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the Russian Federation is closing the maritime humanitarian corridor in the northwestern waters of the Black Sea and, accordingly, restoring the regime of a temporarily dangerous area there.

The Russian side explained its decision by the fact that "contrary to the declared humanitarian goals, the export of Ukrainian food was almost immediately transferred to a purely commercial basis."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is demanding the lifting of Western sanctions on Russian fertilisers and food in exchange for the continuation of the "grain agreement".

Quote: "Only upon receiving concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider renewing the agreement."

Background:

On 17 July, the Russian presidents press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

At the same time, the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that he believed the Russian president actually wanted the so-called grain deal to be extended, and he would talk to him about it.

Media report that the EU had considered making concessions to a Russian bank for the sake of the grain deal, specifically by setting up a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Rosselkhozbank (Agricultural Bank) to restore its connection with SWIFT.

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Ukrainian military personnel

The frontline situation in eastern Ukraine continues to remain fraught as Russian forces launch an offensive near Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Military Media Center reported on July 17, citing the Commander of Ukraines Ground Forces, Lt. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Syrskyi underscored the complexity of the operational landscape in eastern Ukraine.

He indicated that Russian troops are actively mobilizing additional forces and resources, primarily comprising airborne troops, towards Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, in an attempt to halt the Ukrainian advance there.

Read also: Russian missile attack on Kupyansk and shelling of Kherson Oblast cause damage and injuries

Syrskyi highlighted that the occupiers have begun an attack in the Kupyansk sector with the intention of overpowering the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed in the area and pushing further into Kyivs defensive lines.

"In the face of such challenging circumstances, I visited our combat brigades and conferred with unit commanders to refine our plans and address emergent issues directly," he said.

Read also: Russians attack Nikopol and Kupyansk, Shahed UAV downed over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Syrskyi indicated that, in concert with the commanders, he developed and implemented necessary measures to stabilize the situation near Lyman, Donetsk Oblast.

He also noted that the commanders are aware of the significance of their assigned tasks, which encompass the elimination of the enemy, and maintaining the operational momentum by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian military partially succeeds in Bakhmuts south, says General Syrskyi

Syrskyi also awarded officers of the frontline brigades for outstanding service.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia expects to allow two-way traffic on Kerch bridge by end of autumn

The Russians are going to launch two-way traffic on one side of the Kerch bridge on 15 September, and on the other side in November, one span of the bridge cannot be restored.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti with reference to the statement of Marat Khusnullin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister at a meeting with Vladimir Putin and during a conversation with journalists

Details: According to him, one part of the span towards Kerch on the bridge is completely destroyed, it cannot be restored and will be dismantled.

He said that the movement on the Kerch bridge is initially planned to be launched in reverse mode on one lane. At midnight on 17 July, the first truck test cars will be launched, and if everything goes well, from one in the morning they will allow cars to pass.

At the same time, Khusnullin said that two-way traffic on one side of the bridge is planned to be launched on 15 September, and the second in November.

Khusnullin said that approaching the damaged support structures by floating cranes is impossible and a temporary bridge will have to be built for reconstruction works.

Background:

At three o'clock in the morning on 16-17 July, an attack was made on the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russian-occupied Crimea to the territory of the Russian Federation.

Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that the night attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy.

Russian media wrote that there were two drones. As a result of their attack, one of the spans of the bridge tilted. Automobile traffic on the bridge is closed. It also stopped the functioning of the ferries between Kerch and Russia. The flow of cars was sent around the occupied mainland Ukraine.

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Russia paused its participation Monday in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered last year that allows wheat and other food products to be exported from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, amid the ongoing war between the two nations.

The deal is seen as essential in preventing a global food crisis and in staving off the threat of hunger in certain areas of the world, by keeping food prices from skyrocketing. Ukraine, a major supplier of grain and other food products, relies on the Black Sea to export its goods around the world.

The deal, brokered last year by the United Nations and Turkey, allowed ships to enter and leave Ukrainian ports without being attacked, and another agreement facilitated the shipment of food and fertilizer from Russia. The deal was set to expire Monday.

Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia would suspend its part in the deal until its demands are met to get its own food and fertilizer out to the world.

When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal, Peskov said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reportedly sent a letter to Putin containing proposals trying to meet his demands for extending the deal. Over the weekend, U.N. and Turkish negotiators reportedly awaited Russias response ahead of Monday deadline for the deal to expire.

Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he intended to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and said he was hopeful they could come to an agreement to extend the deal.

Despite the statement today, I believe the president of the Russian Federation, my friend Putin, wants the continuation of this humanitarian bridge, Erdogan said.

Russia has long complained that the deal was one-sided in favor of Ukraine. However, Russia has shipped record amounts of wheat  despite complaining that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural export  the Associated Press reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskys adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Russias suspension of the deal was expected, saying, The statement itself immediately includes an escape clause  Therefore, we are dealing with classic public techniques of the Russian Federation that no longer require significant reciprocal reactions.

Russias announcement that it would suspend the deal is not the first setback the agreement has faced. In November, Russia briefly pulled out of the deal before rejoining and extending the deal. In March and May, Russia extended the deal only for 60 days, rather than the usual 120. The amount of grain Ukraine has been able to export from the Black Sea recently has dwindled as Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing new ships from joining the work since the end of June.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russia opposes the prolongation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on July 17, citing the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Moscow has notified Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations of its objection to the extension of the grain deal, the news agency wrote with reference to Zakharova.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the agreement is no longer valid as Russia's demands have not been met, RIA Novosti reported.

"As the president of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin) said earlier, the deadline is July 17. Unfortunately, in the parts that concern Russia, these Black Sea agreements have not been implemented so far. Therefore, its effect is terminated," the agency said.

As soon as Russia's demands are met, it will return to the implementation of the deal, Peskov added.

Agriculture Minister: Russias grain corridor sabotage could lead to higher food prices Editors Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Russias blockage of Ukrainian seaports triggered a global food crisis. The global food crisis was partially resolved in July when an UN-backed grain deal was reached, forcing Russia to unblock three ports in Odesa Oblast for The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiya Gordiychuk

On July 13, Putin claimed that none of Moscow's conditions for extending the grain deal had been met, according to the Russian state-controlled news agency Interfax. The Kremlin's demands focus on logistics, insurance, and money movement when paying for Russian products.

The UN has however agreed to assist Russia with the export of its food and fertilizer products and offered to broker an exemption of the Russian Agricultural Bank's subsidiary from the SWIFT payment system ban.

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he reached an agreement with Putin on the grain deal extension, the Kremlin denied his statement.

The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, has been essential in mitigating a global surge in food prices by allowing Ukraine to export its agricultural products via the Black Sea.

The agreement has been prolonged several times, with the latest extension set to expire on July 17. The Kremlin has repeatedly threatened to pull back from the deal.
Russia said Monday it was suspending its participation in a crucial deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain, once again raising fears over global food supplies and scuppering a rare diplomatic breakthrough to emerge from Moscows war in Ukraine.

The agreement, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022, was officially set to expire at 5 p.m. ET on Monday (midnight local time in Istanbul, Kyiv, and Moscow).

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia would not renew the pact right now, saying it has been terminated.

Russia has for some time complained that it is being prevented from adequately exporting its own foodstuffs, and Peskov cited that objection as the reason for pulling out of the deal. As soon as the Russian part is completed, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately, he told reporters.

Over the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the main objective of the deal  supplying grain to countries in need  has not been realized, again complaining that Russia faced obstacles exporting its own food.

Peskov left the door open to reviving the deal in the future, saying that Russia will comply as soon as the Russian part (of the deal) is completed.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week accused Russia of using the grain deal as a weapon. And Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CBS on Monday that Russia has been slowly killing the grain initiative, from one extension to another.

Prices for grain all across the world will go up, and people in the most vulnerable regions of Asia, Africa, will feel it, he said.

A vital deal for global food security

The deal allowed Ukraine to export grain by sea, with ships bypassing a Russian blockade of the countrys Black Sea ports and navigating safe passage through the waterway to Turkeys Bosphorus Strait in order to reach global markets.

Vessels were inspected before they arrived in Ukraine by Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish officials, to ensure weapons were not being smuggled into Ukraine.

It proved vital for stabilizing global food prices and bringing relief to the developing countries which rely on Ukrainian exports. The impact of the war on global food markets was immediate and extremely painful, especially because Ukraine is a major supplier of grain to the World Food Programme (WFP).

According to the European Commission, Ukraine accounts for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, and 13% of the barley market. It is also a key global player in the market of sunflower oil. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an UN body, warned at the time that as many as 47 million people could be pushed into acute food insecurity because of the war.

Since its implementation, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed for the export of nearly 33 million metric tons of foodstuffs from Ukraine. The World Food Programme has shipped more than 725,000 tons to support humanitarian operations  helping to relieve hunger in some of the hardest hit corners of the world, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The rate of exports made under the deal had started to tail off in recent months; UN figures show that May and June were the two months with the fewest metric tons exported since August 2022.

In withdrawing from the pact, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday that its government was removing guarantees for safe navigation in the Black Sea.

There are alternative routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by rail through eastern Europe, but they cant readily cope with the volume that Ukraine wants to export.

A UN official confirmed to CNN that the UN office in Istanbul, Turkey, received written notice from Russia that they were ending participation on Monday.

The UN official said that their main concern the inevitable human suffering that will result from the deals termination: There is simply too much at stake in a hungry and hurting world.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday spoke with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Russia pulled out of the grain deal. This is another attempt by Russia to weaponize hunger and destabilize the global food market, Zelensky said in a post on his Telegram page.

He said Russia, by taking such a critical decision, has endangered the lives of 400 million people in many countries that depend on Ukrainian food exports. The most critical situation is in such countries of Africa and Asia.

Russias objections to the deal centered around claims that obstacles to their ability to export foods and fertilizers had still not been eased.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last Thursday, during an on-camera interview, that not a single point related to the fact that there are interests of the Russian Federation have not been fulfilled. Despite this, we voluntarily extended this deal many times. Well, listen, thats enough in the end.

When asked, Peskov denied that Russias decision to allow the deal to lapse was related to Ukraines claimed strike on the bridge connecting mainland Russia to occupied Crimea on Monday. These are absolutely unrelated events, he said.

Moscow had threatened to pull out of the deal on previous occasions. The pact was on the brink of breaking down in late October and early November 2022 when Russia suspended its participation over drone attacks on the city of Sevastopol. However, Moscow decided to reverse course following mediation in those instances.

The head of the Ukrainian Grain Association refuted claims from Putin that Ukraine has not fulfilled a vital part of the grain deal in ensuring grain is exported to poorer countries, calling it manipulation.

Although 60% of grain exported from Ukraine moves through European ports, it doesnt mean that Europe absorbs this grain as a final consumer, Nikolay Gorbachov told CNNs Isa Soares.

He said the international community needed to find the leverage to move grain from Ukraine to the global market, adding that he was sure that Ukraine can export grain without Russia if it is provided international support.

The international community, developed countries have to find the leverage how to move grain from Ukraine to the world market, the president said.

According to Gorbachov, this support could come from the Turkish fleet or insurance guarantees from companies such as Lloyds.

Western condemnation

Western officials were quick to condemn Russias decision to lapse the deal.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday condemned Russias decision despite the efforts by Turkey and the United Nations.

Russias illegal war against #Ukraine continues to harm millions of vulnerable people around the world, he added in a tweet.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also condemned the Kremlins move. Putin is using food as a weapon, Cleverly tweeted, stressing that this decision hurts the worlds poorest.

Polands Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in a tweet described it as nothing less than an act of economic aggression against the states of the Global South, which are most dependent on the Ukranian grain.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that Russias decision is further proof on who is a friend and who is the enemy of the poorest countries.

Using the raw material that feeds the world as a weapon is another offense against humanity, Meloni said in a statement.

The deal marked a rare diplomatic breakthrough to emerge from Russia's war in Ukraine. - Chris McGrath/Getty Images

It is utterly immoral that Russia continues to weaponise food, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Twitter. It is disappointing that #Russia obstructs the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Extending the deal is important to prevent food prices from rising and to avoid market destabilisation.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union Commission, said that she strongly condemned Russias withdrawal, calling it a cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Turkiyes efforts.

And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a pivotal player in broking the deal, said on Monday that he may have a phone call with Putin about the decision, without waiting for their planned visit in August, according to Turkish state media Anadolu and Reuters.

The deal had caused some tensions in Europe, after the European Union moved to lift all duties on grain from Ukraine via land, to facilitate exports.

To quell the unrest, the EU subsequently adopted a temporary measure that bans wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed originating in Ukraine from being exported to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia  a move that was opposed by Zelensky.

CNNs Maria Kostenko, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Sophie Tanno, Cat Nicholls and Olga Voitovych contributed reporting

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Grain exports from Ukraine (Sophie STUBER)

Russia on Tuesday issued a veiled warning over the future of grain exports via the Black Sea, after Moscow refused to extend a key agreement to allow safe passage for cargo ships from Ukrainian ports.

The caution came hours after Ukraine said a Russian strike overnight had damaged facilities at the Odesa port in southern Ukraine, a transit hub key to grain pact signed with the UN and Turkey.

"Without appropriate security guarantees, certain risks arise here," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Were a new arrangement to allow for exports "formalised without Russia, then these risks should be taken into account", Peskov said.

But Peskov put Moscow's position in starker terms when he said the Ukraine was using the Black Sea export corridor "for combat purposes."

Russia later told Turkey that the coordination centre overseeing the deal would be disbanded in the wake of Moscow's exit, and that Moscow was lifting security guarantees in the Black Sea.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan that Russia's decision to quit the deal meant "the withdrawal" of navigation safety guarantees in the Black Sea and "the dissolution of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul," according to a statement.

- Retaliation strike -

Moscow said its strike on Odesa was in retaliation for a Ukrainian attack one day earlier on the Crimea bridge, a key transit artery linking Russia's mainland to the peninsula annexed by Russian in 2014.

Russian forces struck "facilities where terrorist acts against Russia had been prepared using unmanned boats" similar to the ones said to have been used in the bridge strike, the army said in a statement.

Kyiv's military earlier said it had "destroyed" six Kalibr missiles and 21 Iran-built attack drones targeted at the Odesa region, but that port facilities were damaged in an assault overnight.

"Unfortunately, the debris of the downed missiles and the blast wave from the downing damaged the port infrastructure facilities and several private homes," Ukraine's military southern command said in a statement.

Across the country, Ukraine's air force said 31 of the 36 drones launched by Russia overnight were destroyed before they reached their targets.

The Odesa region is home to the maritime terminals central to the export deal between Moscow and Kyiv that has enabled the shipment of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the past year.

Moscow's invasion last year saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships until the agreement -- brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July 2022 -- allowed critical grain shipments to restart.

The Kremlin said it was exiting the deal on Monday, after months of complaining that elements of the agreement allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.

Russia's decision to quit the grain accord provoked an outraged response from the international community, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warning millions of the world's poorest would "pay the price".

The deal has helped the UN World Food Programme bring relief to countries facing critical food shortages such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said Ukraine was nonetheless prepared to keep exporting grain via the Black Sea despite Russia's exit.

Kyiv's navy and SBU security service were behind the bridge attack, using seaborne drones to strike the key link between Russia and annexed Crimea, a security service source told AFP.

- 'Like one long day' -

While Kyiv has launched a counteroffensive to punch through the Russian lines, Moscow's forces have also sought to make their own gains, pounding Ukrainian positions close in the eastern town of Lyman.

"The last month has been like one long day for us," 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier "Admin" told AFP at a site close to the point of Russia's main advance in the past few weeks.

"In terms of morale, we are hanging tough. We just want victory to come as soon as possible."

With its assault near Lyman, Russia hopes to force the Ukrainians to redeploy their forces and abandon their drive to retake captured cities such as Bakhmut.

Further to the north, the Russian military said Tuesday it had advanced 1.5 kilometres along a limited section of front near the city of Kupyansk.

Ukraine had stockpiled Western weapons ahead of the highly anticipated fightback against the Russian troops.

But it has acknowledged slow progress and called on the United States and other allies to provide more long-range weapons and artillery.

Kyiv's counteroffensive has brightened the mood villagers who support Ukrainian soldiers in the areas bearing the brunt of the new Russian charge.

"They have no idea why they are fighting," 53-year-old factory worker Valentyna Omelchenko from Zakitne told AFP.

"You look at the ones we have captured, and they are just little frightened kids."

bur-sea/jbr/giv
A large number of major Western companies have pulled out of Russia in an exodus since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive (Yuri KADOBNOV)

Russia took control of shares belonging to French agribusiness Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg, according to a decree published on Sunday.

The decree signed by President Vladimir Putin says the Russian state would "temporarily" manage shares belonging to Danone Russia and to Baltika, which is owned by Carlsberg.

Danone said it was investigating the situation and "preparing to take all necessary measures to protect its rights as shareholder of Danone Russia, and the continuity of the operations of the business in the interest of all stakeholders, in particular its employees".

Baltika is a leading brewing company in Russia, with approximately 30 percent of the market share.

Carlsberg announced in March that it would sell the entirety of its activities in Russia, where it employed 8,400 people.

Last month the multinational brewer said it had found an unnamed buyer for the business, more than a year after announcing its exit from the market due to the conflict in Ukraine.

"Following the presidential decree, the prospects for this sales process are now highly uncertain," Carlsberg said in a statement.

"The Carlsberg Group has not received any official information from the Russian Authorities regarding the presidential decree or the consequences for Baltika Breweries."

One of few multinationals to have remained in Russia since the Ukraine offensive began, Danone said in October that it planned to withdraw from most of its business.

Danone then said it would give up the dairy and plant-based business in Russia, retaining only its infant nutrition branch.

The move could result in a write-off of up to one billion euros ($1.1 billion), it said.

A large number of major Western companies have pulled out of Russia since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive on February 24, 2022.

bur-imm/fb/jj
The News

Russia has withdrawn from the Black Sea grain deal, a crucial agreement brokered by the U.N. and Turkey that allowed the safe export of grain from Ukraine following the Kremlins full-scale invasion of the country last year.

Weve collected some insights you should read on what the withdrawal means for the war and global food prices.

Insights

Food prices are expected to spike following Russias decision , and it may imperil countries facing famines and food insecurity. The United Nations World Food Programme bought 80% of its grain from Ukraine in the first half of this year, and has been using it for donations to Afghanistan, Yemen, and East Africa. High food prices are driving worrying levels of hunger around the world, the U.N. has said.

This is the second time Russia has pulled out from the deal. In November, it withdrew for one day before rejoining, following pressure from Turkey. David Harland, director of the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, told the Financial Times that Russia just felt that it wasnt getting much in return, and might as well continue to squeeze Ukraine, adding that while Turkey might still be able to persuade Russia to return to the deal, it would have to lean hard.

Know More

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-run media outlet Tass that the Black Sea agreement ceased to be valid today, adding that unfortunately, the part relating to Russia in this Black Sea agreement has not been implemented so far. Therefore, its effect is terminated.

Earlier Monday, two explosions occurred at the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula. Moscow has blamed Kyiv for the alleged attack, which killed two people.

Russia had previously threatened to quit the Black Sea agreement, saying that its demands for its own exports were not met.

The deal has moved 33 million metric tons of corn, wheat, and other grains out of the region. Ukraine and Russia are two of the largest exporters of grains in the world.

The View From Nigeria

Authorities declared a national emergency over food security in Nigeria last week, following a critical rise in inflation which has priced many out of basic necessities.

The controversial removal of a fuel subsidy was the source of a temporary jump in prices. Nigeria has consistently wrestled with food insecurity concerns and a UN report from earlier this year estimated that 25 million Nigerians would be unable to afford nutritious food every day. The food problem in Africas most populous country could worsen due to Russias refusal to renew the grain deal.

Dele Alake, President Bola Tinubus adviser, assured citizens that the government would create a national commodity exchange board to review and assess food prices and also vowed to maintain a strategic food reserve which will be used as a price stabilization mechanism for critical grains and other food items.
Russia is blaming Ukraine for the fatal attack on a key bridge in Crimea that left two dead and one injured Monday.

One of the sections of the 12-mile Kerch Bridge in Crimea was blown up Monday, killing a married couple and injuring their daughter. Russias National Anti-Terrorist Committee said that this explosion was caused by two Ukrainian sea drones.

Moscow is labeling the explosion as a terrorist attack as the bridge serves as a key symbol of Russias claim to Crimea as it connects the two countries. Russia captured Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has been utilizing the bridge to aid its military operations in southern Ukraine since the war started.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council, said Monday that Ukraine was a terrorist organization, vowing in a Telegram post to blow up their houses and houses of their relatives, search and eliminate their accomplices.

This is the second time parts of the Kerch Bridge have exploded since the war started. In October 2022, a truck blast downed two sections of the bridge and resulted in damage that took months to repair. Mondays blast appears less serious than the October one, as Russian authorities said it did not affect the piers but damaged the decking in a section of one of the two road links.

Just hours after the bridge explosion, Reuters reported that Moscow halted a U.N.-backed grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain over the Black Sea. Moscow maintains that there was no connection to Russia ending its participation in the deal with the explosion on the bridge, Reuters reported.

While Kyiv has remained hesitant to speak on who is responsible for the bridge explosion, Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said in a statement that they would reveal how the bang was orchestrated after Ukraine won the war.

The Security Service of Ukraine also tweeted a revised version of a popular lullaby, saying that the bridge went to sleep again.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An international court warrant for Putin's arrest has already been issued

The bulk of the Russian army is not loyal to its leadership, convicted war criminal and former official of the Russian puppet authorities in Donetsk, Igor Girkin (Strelkov), said in a video posted on Twitter on July 16.

Im afraid of the possibility that the enemy will still be able to break through our front by late August without exhausting his forces, in a situation where we have a president who is not informed, or we have a president who is incapable of making decisions, Girkin said.

Then we will get a disaster on a national scale, much greater than the immediate consequences of some military defeat, even a serious one.

In addition to the Wagner Group armed mutiny, Girkin cited as an example the purging of top military officers in Russia, in particular, the recent dismissal of the commander of the 58th Army, Major General Ivan Popov.

Popov subsequently took to Telegram to voice his grievances about his dismissal.

(Wagner leader Yevgeny) Prigozhins coup obviously achieved at least part of its goals, Girkin said.

Read also: War criminal Girkin warns of new army mutiny in Russia after General Popovs dismissal

Popovs speech shows that the army is not internally loyal to its own top command. The gap between the command, the leadership of the defense ministry and the army is huge. In this situation, the risk of military defeat becomes a risk for our statehood, Girkin said.

In this regard, Girkin predicts that all those responsible for the war against Ukraine will eventually face an international tribunal.

If someone from the top security forces entertained the thought that he would be personally forgiven and not sent to The Hague, you are mistaken, Girkin said.

The Rotenbergs, Kovalchuks, Timchenkos and Abramovichs (Russian oligarchs) will send everyone to The Hague. All those who will prevent them from continuing to pump resources from here and support the occupation regime they will establish here.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The press service of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation has reported that Oleg Khorzhan, the leader of the Transnistrian Communist Party, has been murdered.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet; Communist Party of the Russian Federation on Telegram

Quote from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation: "We have received reports of the murder of Oleg Khorzhan, leader of the Transnistrian Communist Party and a former member of the Supreme Council of Transnistria. The details are being investigated."

Details: Gennadiy Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, said Khorzhan was killed on the night of 16-17 July in his home.

The Moldovan Communist Party writes that Khorzhan was stabbed. His wife found his body next to an open safe. The safe was empty and there were "multiple knife wounds" on Khorzhan's body.

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Russian forces are running out of the critical radars they need to defeat Ukraine's artillery, UK intel says

Ukrainian soldiers fire toward Russian position on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 24, 2023. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File

Both Ukraine and Russia rely on counter-battery radars to strike each other's artillery.

But Moscow's troops face a shortage of critical radars that has only worsened during the war.

Britain's defense ministry said Russian forces likely only have a few key systems remaining.

Relentless and brutal artillery battles between Russian and Ukrainian forces are a key feature of ongoing fighting, leaving both sides dependent on counter-battery detection to find and attack enemy fire.

But Moscow's troops lack enough critical radars to defeat Kyiv's artillery, with only a few hard-to-replace systems likely remaining, according to a new Western intelligence assessment.

Ukrainian forces executing counteroffensive operations in the occupied eastern and southern regions are facing stiff and vicious Russian defensive lines, including elaborate fortifications like hardened trenches, sprawling minefields, and concrete anti-armor structures.

For ground troops to surmount these obstacles means navigating through a slow and deadly process, and Ukrainian forces lack air superiority. So Kyiv is leaning heavily on weapons like howitzers or the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to hit Russia's heavy guns, command and control locations, logistics and communications sites, and troop positions.

"Russian ground forces survivability relies on effectively detecting Ukrainian artillery and striking against it, often with its force's own artillery," Britain's defense ministry said in a Monday intelligence update. "A key component of this approach is counter-battery radars, which allow commanders to rapidly locate enemy gun lines."

A BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher fires towards Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 23, 2023, amid the Russian invasion on Ukraine. SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images)

But the defense ministry noted that Russia is "suffering from a worsening shortage of counter-battery radars, especially its modern Zoopark-1M. Only a handful of the originally deployed Zoopark fleet are likely to remain operational in Ukraine."

According to an analysis by the open-source intelligence site Oryx, at least 38 Russian radars have been destroyed, damaged, or captured in Ukraine. This includes as few as eight Zoopark-1Ms, high-value systems that allow Russia to track and detect Ukrainian munitions, though they are vulnerable to detection because of their active electromagnetic signature.

A counter-battery radar is designed to detect incoming fire and almost immediately estimate the position from which it was fired, allowing artillery to rapidly return fire before the enemy crews move their guns.

Britain's defense ministry said Ukrainian forces earlier this month had destroyed a Zoopark near the location of Russia's 58th Combined Arms Army (58 CAA), which is fending off Ukrainian advances along the southern Zaporizhzhia region's front lines.

The unit was previously under the command of Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, who was recently removed from his post after he called attention to Russia's lack of counter-battery and artillery reconnaissance capabilities, which he said has led to Moscow's troops suffering widespread casualties on the battlefield. Ultimately, the Kremlin's military leadership decided it was better to fire Popov instead of actually deal with his concerns.

"The priority Popov apparently gave to this problem highlights the continued centrality of artillery in the war," Britain's defense ministry said.

Ukrainian service members of the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade fire a Caesar self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

Despite being heavily armed by the West, Ukraine has still found itself outgunned at times during the artillery duels with Russia and has lost a combined 69 radars and communications systems, including several variants of the US-provided AN/TPQ radars, according to data compiled by Oryx.

To fight these never-ending artillery battles, Ukraine is rapidly burning through its stockpiles of artillery ammunition while also facing strained domestic production from its NATO backers. To help alleviate the dwindling supply, the Biden administration announced earlier this month that it will send Kyiv's military deadly  albeit controversial  cluster munitions.

"We base our security assistance decision on Ukraine's needs on the ground, and Ukraine needs artillery to sustain its offensive and defensive operations," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in announcing the munitions as part of a new security assistance package.

"Artillery is at the core of this conflict," he added. "Ukraine is firing thousands of rounds a day to defend against Russian efforts to advance and also to support its own efforts to retake its sovereign territory."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian Krasnodar Krai authorities urge people not to use Crimean Bridge

Veniamin Kondratiev, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar Krai, has urged residents of the region to refrain from travelling across the Crimean Bridge.

Source: Kondratiev on Telegram

Quote: "Due to the current situation, I ask residents and guests of Krasnodar Krai not to plan to travel across the Crimean Bridge."

Details: To travel to the peninsula, the Russian governor has suggested choosing an "alternative route" through the occupied Ukrainian territories.

Earlier, the so-called head of occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, made a similar appeal to Crimeans.

Background:

On the night of 16-17 July, Sergey Aksyonov reported that an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge and that traffic on the bridge was suspended.

Russian Telegram channels reported that a span of the bridge had "collapsed".

According to the Astra Telegram channel, at least two explosions were heard before the "collapse" of the Crimean Bridge span.

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A Russian Su-25 attack aircraft has crashed in Krasnodar Krai in the Russian Federation. The pilot had ejected, but later died on the way to hospital.

Source: RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet; Radio Liberty; Meduza, Latvia-based Russian outlet; various Telegram channels, Baza Telegram channel

Quote: "A plane has crashed into the sea near Yeysk, Krasnodar Krai. The pilot ejected."

Details: The pilot was reportedly rescued from the water and is being given medical assistance.

The military later reported that the attack aircraft crashed during a training flight.

The cause of the accident is thought to have been engine failure.

The operational headquarters of the Krasnodar Krai administration reported that there were no casualties.

The Telegram channel Baza later reported that the pilot died on the way to hospital. He could not be resuscitated.

Note: The Su-25 Grach armoured attack aircraft (NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is designed to support ground forces above the battlefield with direct sight of the target and to destroy movable and immovable objects with specified coordinates and low-speed air targets.

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Sukhoi Su-25 in flight

Details remain limited at this time, but a Russian Su-25 Frogfoot close air support jet crashed into the Sea of Azov near Yeysk earlier today. The Russian city of Yeysk is a coastal town in the Krasnodar region, situated directly across the Sea of Azov from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Although the pilot was able to eject, they subsequently died after the incident, as per a local official.

Citing a statement issued on the Telegram channel of the Krasnodar regions operational headquarters, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that the Su-25 in question crashed near the shoreline during a training flight. Onlookers captured video of the aircraft flying low over the sea before diving into the water, which can be seen below.

https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1680921182097252355?s=20

https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1680925223267233792?s=20

Following a search and rescue operation for the pilot, the individual was retrieved from the sea and quickly transported to hospital, the TASS news agency subsequently reported.

https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1680917018302717953?s=20 https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1680922300298788865?s=20

It's been suggested the Su-25 pilot was found in a critical condition, having broken their legs on impact with the sea and having almost drowned because of becoming tangled in their parachute lines.

https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1680924972892528641

Roman Bublik, the head of the Yeysk district, later confirmed via Telegram that the pilot died as a result of the incident, although when precisely this occurred remains unclear. "On behalf of the residents of the Yeisk District, I express my condolences to the relatives of the Su-25 attack aircraft [pilot] that died," he wrote.

TASS further reports that the preliminary cause of the crash was due to engine failure. It is unclear at present what exactly caused the turbojets on the twin-engine aircraft to both fail.

Which unit the Su-25 belonged also remains unclear at present, although its possible that it was flying from the naval aviation base at Yeysk. The base has played an important role hosting deployed aircraft during the war in Ukraine, and has even been expanded for this purpose. It has also been associated with aircraft involved in major mishaps since the all-out invasion begun, including a horrific crash of an Su-34 into an apartment building in the city.

https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1673768159768379393?s=46\u0026t=cbCZ6V64euYCCy5V9r9oiQ https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1560321880585797633?s=46\u0026t=cbCZ6V64euYCCy5V9r9oiQ

First introduced in the early 1980s, Sukhoi Su-25s have played a prominent role in the fighting during the war on both sides. As weve highlighted previously, many Su-25s have been lost during the conflict, due in no small part to the high-risk envelope they fly in. The quality of Russian aviators put into Su-25 cockpits has also been questioned. According to the Oryx open source intelligence group, a total of 30 Russian Su-25s have been visually confirmed as lost  including the Su-25 that crashed today  since the countrys all-out invasion of Ukraine began last February.

Russian Su-25s have had their share of prominent incidents in the recent past. Back in September 2022, an Su-25 ended up crashing moments after taking off from Millerovo air base in Rostov Oblast. As we highlighted at the time, engine failure may well have played a part in that incident. Russian air power remains very much under pressure due to the ongoing war, which may well be contributing to non-combatant losses such as these.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com
The moment of the alleged fall of the Russian attack aircraft into the sea was caught on video

A Russian Su-25 fighter jet crashed in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, according to reports in Russian media on July 17.

Video footage of the incident has surfaced on Russian Telegram channels, showing the aircraft plunging into the sea. It is believed that one of the pilots managed to eject from the plane.

Read also: Ukrainian counterintelligence soldiers destroy camouflaged Russian T-90M tank  video

There are however unconfirmed reports that the pilot subsequently died of his injuries.

The crash occurred in the Yeysk Lagoon, a bay in the Sea of Azov, just a few kilometers away from a beach where vacationers were present.

Aviation units are currently surveying the area where the fighter jet went down.

Read also: Why is the Defense Ministry sabotaging the purchase of much-needed drones?

The Baza Telegram channel reports that the aircraft was engaged in a training flight and crashed near the airfield.

The cause of the Su-25 crash has not yet been disclosed.

On May 13, two Russian Mi-8 military helicopters, along with the fighter jets Su-34 and Su-35, crashed nearly simultaneously in Russias Bryansk Oblast. All crew members died in the incident.

Read also: 14 Russian generals support Wagner chief Prigozhin in defiance of Putin, Ukraines top security official says

Subsequently, it was revealed that the Ukrainian Air Force shot down the aircraft using the Patriot air defense system.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian authorities offer citizens to get home through the combat zone

After an apparent Ukrainian attack took out the Crimean Bridge out of commission on July 17, Russian civilians are stunned by the government advice they are getting on how to best leave the occupied peninsula for Russia proper.

Read also: Medvedev calls for attacks on Ukraine housing as revenge for Crimean Bridge

The panic is evident in their travel chat posts, as shared by Anton Herashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

In response to the attack on the bridge, Russian authorities have suggested a highly controversial alternative route: directing their citizens to journey home via the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraines Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Donetsk oblasts. These areas are already strained with logistic issues, having been the transit points for the Russian Armed Forces' supply routes.

However, the Kremlin regime cannot assure safety for its citizens, since these regions are regularly hit by Ukrainian long-range artillery attacks and cruise missile strikes.

These travel risks have caused genuine alarm among Russians who, despite the Ukrainian army's counteroffensive, had chosen to vacation in Crimea. Their fear has morphed into irate posts directed at the Russian authorities.

Read also: Something happened to Crimean Bridge, visit from South Korean prez, new Christmas

"After the first incident, authorities insisted that ordinary people had nothing to fear: (they claimed) that military dolphins, jellyfish, shrimp, and plankton are guarding the bridge around the clock," one Russian citizen lampooned Moscows pledges to secure the bridge in a social media post.

Meanwhile, there are voices assigning blame to the tourists themselves for their current predicament.

Read also: Were underwater drones involved in Crimean Bridge explosion?

Just yesterday, I was contemplating how foolish one must be to vacation in Crimea right now, another suer said.

Well, the trip will certainly be memorable when they return home via the frontlines, while disrupting of our military's logistics, absolute fools.

Read also: Ukraines deputy PM promises more drone attacks after Crimean Bridge attack

Others simply concede that for Russian citizens, the return journey from Crimea is likely to become a "hellish road trip."

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
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.

Update at 00:57: Suspilne news outlet has stated that Dmytro Chubenko, the spokesperson for Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, said that at 22:10 on 16 July, Russia attacked the territory of an industrial facility in the Osnoviansky district, and no casualties were 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.

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The authenticity of the video published by the Russians is questionable

Amid the reports of a strike by Ukraine on the Crimean Bridge on July 17, Russian state media has claimed that seagoing kamikaze drones were used in the attack, reportedly disguised as jet skis.

Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces destroy two Russian tanks using FPV drones  video

To confirm this, Russian Telegram users posted a rather dubious video edited from two different episodes.

The first episode shows a jet ski calmly drifting in the sea, while the second shows an explosion of an object that is said to be one of the Ukrainian kamikaze drones.

Thus, according to Russian propagandists, the organizers of the attack hoped that a jet ski speeding without a driver towards the Russian Black Sea Fleets base would not cause any suspicion amongst military personnel.

Ukrainian state and security agencies have thus far refused to elaborate on exactly how the bridge was attacked this morning.

Read also: Ukrainian military destroys Russian self-propelled mortar near Bakhmut  video

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
There have been 29 combat encounters between the Russian army and the Defence Forces of Ukraine on five fronts during the day.

Source: General Staff of Ukraine

Quote: "The Russians are concentrating their main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, heavy fighting is ongoing; 29 combat clashes have occurred during the day."

Details: Reportedly, the Ukrainian forces are holding the defence on the Kupiansk front, and on the Lyman front the Russians have been conducting "offensive actions to the west of the settlement of Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast" during the day.

On the Bakhmut front, the Defence Forces have successfully repelled attacks by the Russians near the settlements of Bohdanivka and Vesele in Donetsk Oblast. On the Marinka front, the Defence Forces continue to hold back the offensive of the Russian troops near the town of Marinka and the settlement of Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson front, the Russians are holding the defence. "The Russians are concentrating their main efforts on preventing the Ukrainian troops from advancing further. They have launched an airstrike near the settlement of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast," it is stated in the report.

The Ukrainian Defence Forces "continue to conduct the offensive operation on the Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, gain foothold on achieved positions, launch artillery attacks on detected targets of the Russians, conduct counterbattery measures".

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Russians shell fire station in Sumy Oblast  there were casualties, a shelter was hit

A fire station in Sumy Oblast has come under Russian fire on 17 July; six firefighters have been injured. Overall, there are 2 killed and 10 injured.

Source: Serhii Kruk, head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Quote from Kruk: "[There has been a] cynical shelling of a fire station in Sumy Oblast. Once again, Russia is shelling those who save people and fall under the protection of the Geneva Conventions.

So far, we know about six injured employees of the State Emergency Service. All of them were hospitalised."

PHOTO: SESU

Details: The head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted a photo of what remained of the shelter that saved the lives of firefighters, and pictures of the injured.

Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported that 2 people died and 10 people were injured as a result of the shelling of the centre of Bilopillia.

Quote from Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration: "At noon, just when the residents of Bilopillia were resting in a park in the city centre, having lunch, and chatting, the enemy attacked them with artillery. The administrative premises were destroyed by shelling, people died  two local residents, Prykhodko Liudmyla Ivanivna and Dedushko Nina Andriivna. Ten people are injured, seriously wounded, doctors are fighting for their lives."

PHOTO: OMA

Background: Russian invaders shelled the city of Bilopillia in Sumy Oblast on the afternoon of 17 July, causing deaths and injuries.

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Russians went on the offensive on the Kupiansk front

Russian occupying troops have gone on the offensive on the Kupiansk front.

Source: Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, quoted by the Military Media Center

Details: The operational situation on the Eastern front remains difficult, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

In order to stop the offensive actions of the Ukrainian troops on the Bakhmut front, Russia is actively transferring additional forces and means, the basis of which are parts of the airborne troops, to this front.

The Russians went on the offensive on the Kupiansk front, setting the goal of defeating the Defence Forces near Kupiansk and continuing the offensive into the depths of the Ukrainian battle formations.

Quote: "In such difficult conditions, I visited the combat brigades of our group and met with unit commanders to adjust our plans and solve problematic issues on the spot...

Separately, I worked with the commanders and made all the necessary decisions to stabilise the situation on the Lyman front.

All commanders understand the importance of the assigned tasks regarding the destruction of the enemy, the continuation of offensive actions and the retention of the operational initiative on our side. We continue to move forward, liberating our land step by step."

Previously: The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, noted that Russians are building up their capacity and "trying to move on from just deploying reconnaissance and sabotage groups, to attempting large-scale assaults".

The Ukrainian forces respond appropriately and repel them, so the Russian army cannot advance, Syniehubov said.

However, due to the danger, authorities will be evacuating children from nine settlements in the Vovchansk territorial hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] in Kharkiv Oblast on a compulsory basis.

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Kerch Bridge Russia

The Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia and the Crimean Peninsula has been closed after an incident in which portions of the bridge were damaged, according to Russian officials. Those officials are not saying what caused the damage, but Russian Telegram channels say the bridge was attacked by Ukraine.

Editor's note: We have published a new piece on this attack with all the latest details you can find here.

If true, that would mark the second time since October that Vladimir Putins prized $4 billion span has been attacked. The bridge was previously struck in October.

Warning to readers, some of the video is very graphic:

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1680764975168602113?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A https://twitter.com/revishvilig/status/1680757118696058881?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A https://twitter.com/yoshkinkrot/status/1680755782386679812

Traffic was stopped on the Crimean Bridge, occupation governor Sergei Aksenov said on his Telegram channel. An emergency occurred in the area of the 145th support from the Krasnodar Territory. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working.

Measures are being taken to restore the situation, Aksenov said.

Given the current situation, I ask residents and guests of the peninsula to refrain from traveling through the Crimean bridge and, for security reasons, choose an alternative land route through new regions, said Aksenov.

https://twitter.com/X_Informer_X/status/1680763013849300992

The Ministry of Transport denied information about damage to the supports of the Crimean bridge, the official Russian TASS news agency reported on its Telegram channel. There is damage to the roadbed on the spans from the Crimea, the ministry said.

That ministry also reported that due to the closure of traffic on the Kerch Bridge, drivers can travel along the land road route in the new regions of Russia, the Russian Defense Ministrys TV Zvezda reported, a reference to the seized territories annexed by Moscow that create a land bridge between Russia and Crimea. Ukraine is working to sever it as part of its ongoing counteroffensive.

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1680776584251187200?s=20

In addition, Zvezda reported that one of its correspondents saw a train from Crimea to Moscow stopped in front of the bridge. Meanwhile, railway transport employees told our correspondent that traffic is still limited only on the automobile part of the bridge, there were no such instructions for the railway.

Popular Russian military-related Telegram channels are taking a much more blunt tone, although their claims cannot be confirmed at this time.

The bridge was struck twice by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, once at 3:04 a.m. and again at 3:20 a.m. according to the Grey Zone Telegram channel.

One span collapsed and another came off its support, Grey Zone reported, adding that two people were killed and a child was injured.

Grey Zone posted videos it said showed at least one collapsed bridge span and an injured civilian vehicle with people inside.

https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1680761182310006784?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Traffic is blocked at the moment, Grey Zone reported. The crossing also does not work. People are turned back. An air raid alert sounds. The head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, announced an emergency.

The Two Majors Telegram channel claimed that the attack was carried out by small, unmanned surface vessels.

Preliminarily, the nature of the incident indicates the use by the enemy of small unmanned swimming facilities to undermine the pillars of the Crimean Bridge, Two Majors reported.

Once again, none of these claims can be confirmed at this time, or if the bridge was even attacked or suffered some sort of catastrophic structural failure. It also isn't clear if the damage occurred at the same area that was recently repaired following the October attack.

At this point, the information is all preliminary. But one thing is certain, something occurred on the bridge that has drastically limited its use at this time.

We will update this story when more information is provided.

Update 1:13 a.m. EST:

The Russian Baza news agency published photos of the aftermath of the incident on its Telegram channel that seem to back up claims that a span of the bridge was destroyed.

Photo[s] from the site of the explosion on the Crimean bridge, Baza said. As Baza previously reported, one span was destroyed, one more was damaged.

https://twitter.com/revishvilig/status/1680806685848268800?s=20

The man and woman killed were the parents of the girl who was injured in the emergency that happened on the Crimean Bridge, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on his Telegram channel.

More images purporting to be from the scene were posted by the Grey Zone Telegram channel, but we could not independently confirm that.

A gaping hole in the Kerch Bridge roadway. (via Grey Zone Telegram channel)

That hole from another angle.

A damaged car on the roadway. (via Grey Zone)

In addition to traffic across the bridge being halted, ferry service between Crimea and Kuban [in Russias neighboring Krasnador Krai] has also been suspended, according to TV Zvezda.

The occupation Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, urged residents not to panic.

I ask the people of Sevastopol to remain calm, he said on his Telegram channel. Given the current situation, I ask you to refrain from traveling through the Crimean Bridge and choose an alternative land route through new regions.

The stock of gasoline in Sevastopol is sufficient, there will be no shortage, so there is no need to stock up on fuel, he added. The situation is the same with products. As soon as it becomes clear how and when the message will be restored, you will receive all the information.

Update: 2:14 a.m. EST

Another view of some of the damage:

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1680822004478246913?s=20 https://twitter.com/COUPSURE/status/1680814629205815302?s=20

This is totally unconfirmed video, but it is making the rounds. It is said to show an aerial strike on the bridge, with anti-aircraft artillery trying to engage something before the blast. The sound of jet engine is also heard. Once again, we cannot confirm this was from the incident in question:

https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1680820085399724032?s=20 https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1680819135545237507?s=20

Final update:

See our new post on the attack here.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Russia's losses on Bakhmut front are now nearing earlier Wagner Group losses there

The Russian losses in the vicinity of Bakhmut are now approaching those of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) during the peak of the battles with the mercenaries.

Source: Colonel Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the air of national 24/7 newscast

Quote: "[The Russians  ed.] suffer regular losses [in the vicinity of Bakhmut]. These losses are approaching those that were at the peak of the battles with the Wagner [mercenaries].

For example, today 81 occupiers were killed and 156 injured. [Russian forces] are fiercely fighting back: they deployed artillery against us 556 times and conducted 4 airstrikes. A total of 8 combat clashes took place."

Details: Cherevatyi stressed that Ukraine acts "as carefully as possible" to protect the lives of its people.

Background:

On 11 July, the White House reported that Russia had lost more than 100,000 soldiers in the Bakhmut front over the past 5 months, including more than 20,000 killed in battle, almost half of whom are Wagner Group soldiers.

In May, Prigozhin said that the Wagner Group was forced to surrender the Bakhmut flanks to soldiers of the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Russian airborne troops and motorised rifle units entered Bakhmut to replace the mercenaries of the Wagner PMC.

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Russia continues to suffer losses in the war against Ukraine; over the past 24 hours alone, Ukrainian defenders killed about 620 invaders and destroyed eight tanks, eight armoured combat vehicles, 23 artillery systems and eight drones.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 17 July 2023 are estimated to be as follows:

approximately 238,300 (+620) military personnel;

4,115 (+8) tanks;

8,034 (+8) armoured combat vehicles;

4,504 (+23) artillery systems;

685 (+4) multiple-launch rocket systems;

428 (+3) air defence systems;

315 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

310 (+0) helicopters;

3,828 (+8) operational-tactical UAVs;

1,273 (+0) cruise missiles;

18 (+0) ships / boats;

7,059 (+15) vehicles and tankers;

677 (+11) special vehicles.

The information is being confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Welcome to The Press Room, a semi-regular weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings in Delaware politics.

Were in the off season as the Legislature is in the first month of its six-month break. But that doesnt mean news isnt happening. Well be experimenting with The Press Room (and its format) in the coming weeks.

This weeks edition focuses on Sarah McBrides big fundraising haul, Christina school board cutting some financial ties with the University of Delaware and the Department of Justice investigating a Christiana Mall gun dealer.

As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com.

Still unopposed (for now), McBride reveals big fundraising money

State Sen. Sarah McBride, who is running for Delawares congressional seat, announced in early July that she raised $414,000 in the first five days of her campaign. This is a real sign of strength from McBride, who many perceive to be the frontrunner.

As of now, no other candidates have officially announced they are running, though the race is expected to be competitive.

State Sen. Sarah McBride, right, speaks at a press conference on Monday, May 8, 2023, at the Nemours Children's Hospital where legislation was announced that hopes to address lead remediation in homes and schools.

To put this number in perspective, McBride in five days raised more than a third of what U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester raised during her first House race. At the time, Blunt Rochester pulled in $1.1 million from October 2015 to December 2016. The congresswoman is now running for U.S. Senate.

Thanks to your support, we're already building a grassroots campaign that's breaking records.



In just the first five days of this campaign, we raised more than $414,000, including the generous support of almost 550 Delaware donors from every corner of this state. pic.twitter.com/x2771KkxFz  Sen. Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) July 6, 2023

Blunt Rochesters Senate campaign has not released any fundraising data, and information from the Federal Election Commission is not yet available.

Following her announcement, McBride has unsurprisingly received a wave of national press. Her candidacy is a historic one because shes aiming to be the first transgender member of Congress.

Christina school board cuts graduation ties with University of Delaware

Christina School District, one of the largest in the state, will no longer hold its graduation ceremonies at the University of Delaware, following the arrest of one of its students.

Last month, Mohammed Sanogo, a 4.0 GPA student headed to the University of Maryland, was arrested by UD police on Newark High School's graduation day. The school board voted last week to no longer have commencement at UD, a $98,000 loss in money for the states largest university.

The school board is also now reviewing all of its connections to UD, which consists of about $250,000 in contracts.

READ MORE: Delaware school district cuts tie with University of Delaware after student's arrest

DOJ investigating Christiana Mall gun dealer

The Delaware Department of Justice is investigating Cabelas after one woman admitted to stealing half a million rounds of ammunition from the store in the span of one year and then selling it to criminals in Philadelphia and Dover.

The DOJ, as a result, is looking into what they describe to be the Christiana Mall gun dealers lax shoplifting policies.

DOJ officials announced last month that the department is investigating if Cabelas violated state laws, particularly Delawares firearms industry public nuisance law.

READ MORE: How a pattern of shoplifting ammunition led Delaware to demand Cabela's records

Investigators are now demanding to see Cabelas records, as well as those of its sister stores in the area. Cabelas, which has not responded to requests for comment, said in court filings through its parent company Great American Outdoors Group that it objected to the subpoena, calling it "overbroad."

This all started after Danielle M. Brookens told investigators about her shoplifting. She pleaded guilty in April to possession of ammunition by a person prohibited and was sentenced to a drug diversion program.

Delaware correctional and probation officers to see raises

The states Department of Correction has signed a new labor agreement with the unions representing its correctional and probation.

The agreement comes at a time when the department is suffering from vacancy rates, like most state agencies. The new contract will include starting salaries at $52,000 and a 23% raise over the next three years, according to Delaware Public Media.

Lawmakers also have the departments administrative staff raises when it passed the fiscal year 2024 budget in June.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Sarah McBride's US House race fundraising haul reflects frontrunner
The Saudis are enemy No. 1 in Arizona's water wars. That's dumb

Arizona has a problem.

We are an arid state with most of our population concentrated in what attorney Grady Gammage calls oasis cities  the two metropolises of Phoenix and Tucson.

Yet, Arizona is divided into 15 counties that send lawmakers to the state Legislature. Most of those counties are rural, and thus the less populated areas of the state enjoy outsized influence on state government.

In terms of water conservation, it means the metro areas, which understood long ago that we need to manage precious groundwater resources, have been willing to impose restrictions on their groundwater use.

Most of rural Arizona has not.

You need to understand that to understand why the Saudis have become public enemy number one in the water wars in Arizona.

Democrats have demonized Saudi alfalfa

Last year, Arizona elected a Democratic governor and attorney general who have put a harsh spotlight on Saudi alfalfa production in La Paz county, a farming region in west-central Arizona that borders California.

The Saudi alfalfa production near Vicksburg is not part of a groundwater management area, meaning there are virtually no rules for pumping groundwater.

The two Democrats have argued it is outrageous for a Saudi Arabia corporation to use Arizonas precious water to grow alfalfa to feed the cows that produce the milk for The Kingdom.

One could forgive the Saudis a moment of amusement as Americans recoil at their foreign consumption of our U.S. natural resources, given that Americans have spent several generations with our snouts buried deep in the finite oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East.

Democrats will say, well, those oil resources are plentiful. Oh yeah, it wasnt the Republicans who popularized the expression peak oil.

But such is politics.

But the Saudis aren't a water outlier

Swathers cut alfalfa on April 7, 2022, at Fondomonte's Butler Valley Ranch.

Now Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes are determined to cut off Saudi alfalfa farmers from Arizona groundwater.

Fine.

But this is ultimately going to lead to larger questions about Arizonas participation in the global economy, because there are a lot of business enterprises using Arizonas precious water resources, including groundwater, to produce products for people living far beyond our state and national borders.

Given the scarcity of water in the desert Southwest, maybe it no longer makes sense to ship our water out of state in the form of alfalfa, lettuce, pecans, cotton, beef, milk, microchips ... you get the idea.

Yuma is the Winter Salad Bowl capitol of the United States, according to the 2018 state Department of Agricultures Guide to Arizona Agriculture. It provides 90% of all leafy greens to the nation.

Does that make sense when Arizona is in the middle of a megadrought? When climate change looms larger by the day?

It's tough to cut off Arizona from the world

Well, yes. Unless we want to live in quaint isolation from the rest of the world.

And maybe we do.

Perhaps Hobbs and Mayes would like to take their message to Mexico  which also struggles today with drought, climate change and managing its precious water resources  and tell it to stop growing produce with Mexican water to export to Arizona.

Because, as then-state Agriculture Department Director Mark Killian noted on Horizon in 2016, Mexico ships into Arizona 5.4 billion pounds of fruits and vegetables.

The other day I went into Safeway to buy some fruits and vegetables and I noticed these beautiful gold peppers, said Killian at the time. And when I looked at the label, it said Holland on it.

For the last decade, many Arizona water leaders have called for a comprehensive reordering of groundwater regulation in Arizona. This newspaper has been on the forefront with its reporting and commentary.

Rural Arizona needs groundwater management

Hobbs and Mayes are right to focus on this issue.

Theyre wrong, however, to single out the Saudis as the megavillain in this drama.

I wont be the first to note that the Saudis, when it comes to our Arizona dilemma, are a drop in the bucket. This is an issue far broader and deeper than the alfalfa fields in La Paz.

Another view: The Saudis are draining Arizona? Not exactly

If the tables were reversed, and the Republicans were attacking the Saudi farmers, the Democrats would have played the race card faster than a royal flush.

They'd be screaming, Xenophobia!

More importantly, were demonizing Saudi farmers for doing something that is not at all remarkable in Arizona agriculture.

Nixing the Saudis won't solve this problem

Is this the beginning of demonizing all producers who turn Arizona water into global products?

Or are we finally going to get serious and expand groundwater management across the entire state?

That wont be an easy task because the politics are thorny and the competing interests interminable.

It wont be solved piecemeal, and it wont be solved by turning our klieg lights on unsympathetic foreign actors.

This is ultimately about Arizonas participation in the global economy.

Will we compete or will we retreat?

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saudis have become Arizona's water enemy. They shouldn't be
Russian media outlets have reported damage to one of the spans of the Crimean Bridge was damaged

The Ukrainian SBU Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy reportedly played a role in the nighttime explosion of the Crimean Bridge, according to an anonymous law enforcement source.

The source revealed that the attack on the bridge utilized surface drones.

Despite the difficulties in reaching the bridge, we eventually managed to do it, the source stated.

Latest updates on the Crimean Bridge blast

On the morning of July 17, Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Russia-occupied Crimea, declared an extraordinary event near the 145th pylon of the Crimean Bridge.

Russian media outlets have reported explosions and potential damage to the bridges supports and one of its spans. The Russian Ministry of Transport later claimed that the roadway had been affected.

Read also: Crimean bridge must be destroyed, says Zelenskyy advisor

Automobile and railway traffic has been suspended, resulting in significant congestion. Occupying forces are encouraging Russians to travel through temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

According to reports from local and state media and public outlets, at least two Russians lost their lives in the incident, with one individual reportedly being from Belgorod Oblast, Russia.

In response to the incident, Ukrainian intelligence representative Andriy Yusov quoted the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who stated, the Crimean Bridge is an unnecessary structure.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
I was scared of flying and took a course to help me. Here are 6 things every nervous passenger should know.

Senior News Reporter Sophia Ankel attended British Airways' Flying with Confidence course on July 9, 2023. Sophia Ankel

I took British Airways' Flying with Confidence course to help me overcome my fear of flying.

The course, run by a team of pilots, cabin crew, and psychiatrists, taught me some valuable lessons.

Here are 6 things every nervous passenger should know before getting on a plane.

For as long as I can remember, I have hated flying. Everything from take-off to turbulence, and landing can evoke feelings of sheer panic in me.

I have worried about flights days in advance, have had panic attacks mid-air, and have held many strangers' hands during turbulence. And I know I'm not alone: up to 40% of Americans have a form of aerophobia, otherwise known as the fear of flying.

So, in an effort to face my fears head-on, I recently attended British Airways' Flying with Confidence course.

The one-day course, located in the Sofitel Hotel by Heathrow Airport in London, is designed to give people the knowledge and techniques they need to overcome their fear of flying. It costs around 385 ($502).

It begins with a technical session led by a team of pilots and cabin crew members, who talk me and around 100 other nervous flyers through everything from how an airplane is designed to what turbulence actually is.

After lunch, a psychiatrist provides us with breathing exercises and other tools to help us manage our phobia. Then, we all boarded a British Airways flight and flew around Heathrow Airport for around 45 minutes.

The experience was incredibly emotional as the camaraderie and support I received from absolute strangers that day was heart-warming. But most importantly, it also taught me many new things, ultimately helping me rationalize my fears.

Here are some of the things I learned that might help other nervous flyers:

1. A loud engine is a healthy engine

I have often over-analyzed every sound a plane makes, especially during take-off and landing.

But British Airways pilot Steve Allright, who runs the Flying with Confidence course, told us that a "loud engine is a healthy engine" because it means that it's doing its job.

During our test flight, Allright talked us through every individual sound coming from the plane. This included a loud squeaking noise that you hear after the aircraft has backed out of the gate and is preparing for take-off, which Allright described as the "barking dog" noise.

This is simply the sound of the aircraft's hydraulic power system working, he said.

"We encourage people to assume that everything is normal unless they are told otherwise," Allright told us.

2. Turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous

Like many people, my least favorite sensation in the sky is turbulence. But while it may feel uncomfortable at the moment, the pilots assured us that it is not dangerous.

By definition, turbulent air happens everywhere, from ground level to far above cruising altitude. It has two common causes: jet streams and weather.

But all of the pilots on the course said that turbulence is one of the most normal sensations of flying and that they will always try to find the most comfortable path to their destination without compromising safety.

We were also shown maps given to pilots before a flight that outline exactly where the jet streams are located, and where bad weather is  should there be any.

Allright likened turbulence to a ship that rests on a body of water and moves up and down as the water changes. Just like a ship, a plane is also resting on a body of air and moves the way the air moves, he said.

Turbulence is also rarely the cause of any major airplane accident. Between 2009 and 2021, there were only between five and 18 serious turbulence-related injuries per year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

My British Airways ticket to a "fictitious point," which was actually just flying around Heathrow Airport for 45 minutes. Sophia Ankel

3. The plane's wing physically cannot snap off

As crazy as this may sound, I used to have an irrational fear that a plane's wing could snap off during turbulence.

But in the same way that pilots always prepare for the worst kind of turbulence, aircraft designers do too.

I learned that every modern aircraft has been designed to withstand far in excess of the worst conditions that could ever be experienced.

This includes the wings of a Boeing 787. During testing they are strained to way beyond what they would ever experience even in the most severe turbulence.

Also, did you know an aircraft only actually has one wing that is connected by the fuselage and therefore makes a plane more sturdy?

4. A plane can glide for up to 100 miles without any engines

Engine failure is another fear among nervous flyers, but it is also one of the most rehearsed and prepared-for events in the flight deck, according to Allright.

Before any pilot operates an aircraft on any given day, they run through what to do in case of an engine failure, Allright told us. This means that if an engine failure were to ever happen, they are already prepared.

Also, all commercial aircraft are able to fly with just one engine, in case the other fails. When an aircraft is taxiing to its take-off position, for example, it almost always uses only one engine to save fuel.

In fact, an airplane can still glide up to 100 miles even if both engines are off, Allright told us.

This was the case with US Airways Flight 1549, which safely landed in the Hudson River in 2009 after a flock of birds flew into both of its engines.

Even though both engines were damaged, the wings of the aircraft were still capable of producing lift and were therefore able to glide, and land on the water with no loss of life.

British Airways organises a Flying with Confidence course five times a year. Sophia Ankel

5. Pilots are highly-trained and qualified professionals

This tip might sound simple, but learning about how well pilots are actually trained really helped me combat my fear of flying.

I learned that commercial pilots are among the most regulated professions in the world. Not only is the training to become a commercial airline pilot very intensive, but they also have to undergo regular checks and tests as they continue to fly.

At British Airways, for example, every pilot has to do a medical and technical exam every year. They also have to regularly do training in a flight simulator.

All of the pilots I spoke to during the course reassured me over and over again that safety is in everyone's interest!

6. Breathing is key

One of the main takeaways from the course was how to control my fear of flying through breath control.

By forcing our body to slow down its breathing, it will start to relax. In particular, we were taught a breathing technique that Allright called the "Breathe and Squeeze."

This involves first breathing air out of your mouth before sucking it back in through your nose. While you inhale, you also squeeze the glutes and pelvic area. The exercise will not only slow your heart rate but will also reduce muscle tension.

Diaphragmic breathing, otherwise known as belly breathing, is another way to force your body to relax. This involves breathing into the lower part of the lungs, which will fill up the diaphragm.

Placing your hands around the tummy or ribcage and feeling the expansion and compression of the breath is also useful.

A life-changing experience

These tips are only a fraction of all of the things I learned in the course, which ultimately left me feeling empowered and ready for my next flight.

Just having the opportunity to ask pilots as many questions as I wanted, no matter how stupid they were, was extremely helpful for my anxious brain.

I already have a few holidays booked, so am already looking forward to the day I can sit through turbulence with no problems at all.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. would sanction China over fentanyl imports, under a new proposal Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to include in annual defense spending legislation.

The measure would deem fentanyl trafficking an international emergency and empower President Biden to impose economic penalties on China, Mexico and other countries where the synthetic opioid originates, Schumer said Sunday.

For years, Chinese laboratories have been cooking up formulas of death and freely trafficking lethal fentanyl across New York and to many other places across America, where it is killing tens of thousands of people  and it has to stop, he said in a statement.

When it comes to taking genuine action to address this crisis, China continues to kick the can down the road while American lives are kicked to the curb, enveloped by addiction or cut all too short by tragedy, the New York Democrat added.

He singled out China as the worlds largest producer of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and their immediate precursors, which have ravaged New York City.

Fentanyl overdose deaths have been spiking citywide  from just under 1,500 such fatalities in 2019 to roughly 2,670 in 2021, according to a recent city report.

That year, 107,000 Americans died of overdoses, 65% of them caused by fentanyl, noted Schumer.

Last month, Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York prosecutors announced charges against four Chinese companies and eight employees accused of selling chemicals that go into fentanyl.

Schumer is proposing the FEND Off Fentanyl Act as part of annual defense spending that the Republican-controlled House passed last week. In their version of the legislation, GOP lawmakers attempted to gut military diversity programs, among other controversial steps, though they are not expected to pass in the Senate.

Schumer sought to present fentanyl trafficking as a bipartisan issue.

We have a window of opportunity with the upcoming defense bill  that we cannot let close without having taken strong action, he stated. This bipartisan issue must be a major priority because too many lives have been lost and too many others are at stake, especially here in New York.

With News Wire Services
Mainland university exchange group visits Taiwan for first time in over 3 years

Xinhua) 09:31, July 17, 2023

Teachers and students from five mainland universities arrive at the Taoyuan International Airport, southeast China's Taiwan, July 15, 2023. 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. (Xinhua/Chen Jun)

TAIPEI, July 15 (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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(Bloomberg) -- Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met top Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and pushed them to do a better job of talking about about climate-change policy amid a summer of record-breaking heat waves and wildfires, according to people familiar with the matter.

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The meeting, which took place Friday in McCarthys Washington office with more than a dozen Republican lawmakers, included discussion of messaging on the issue in a way that comports with conservative values, the people said.

Schwarzenegger also visited the White House to talk about climate policy, according to other people familiar with the session. He met with John Podesta, a Biden adviser on clean energy, and other senior staff in the West Wing.

Representatives of Schwarzenegger and McCarthy, a fellow California Republican, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House also didnt comment.

Among those in attendance in McCarthys office was Representative John Curtis, a Utah Republican who chairs the Conservative Climate Solutions Caucus, which advocates for fossil fuels playing a role in fighting climate change.

Recently, Schwarzenegger has been making the case that it would be more effective for policymakers to rebrand climate change as pollution.

As long as they keep talking about global climate change, they are not going to go anywhere, he told CBS News in May. So my thing is, lets go and rephrase this and communicate differently about it and really tell people were talking about pollution. Pollution creates climate change, and pollution kills.

Schwarzenegger is an action-movie actor and former competitive body builder who won a recall election for governor of California in 2003. He signed legislation during his tenure that requires the state to reduce its emission levels to 1990 levels by 2030 amid other landmark bills. He runs the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative.

Read: This Year Is Already on Track to Be the Hottest Ever Recorded

The meeting came as unrelenting heat waves and wildfires draw renewed attention to the issue  and put new pressure on the Republican party to come up with solutions of their own. After the warmest June since records began in 1850, a new analysis concludes theres now an 81% chance this year will be the warmest on record since record-keeping began in the 1800s.

In recent years, GOP lawmakers have largely pivoted away from denying the scientific consensus that human activity is warming the Earth. But past forays to address the issue have drawn opposition from some right-wing groups, who argued the attempts would turn off conservative voters and harm the economy.

(Updates with Schwarzenegger comments in sixth and seventh paragraphs.)

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Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) says he thinks it would be a mistake for former President Trump not to attend the upcoming Republican presidential primary debates as the former president threatens to skip it.

[The race] is certainly his to lose right now. Hes an unconventional candidate. When some people talked about him not going to the upcoming debate in August in Milwaukee  I think that would be a mistake, Walker told CNNs Dana Bash on Inside Politics on Monday.

Trump has not committed to the first GOP presidential primary debate, set to take place next month in Milwaukee.

Jason Miller, a longtime adviser to Trump, said last week on The Hill, on NewsNation that the former president was unlikely to participate in at least the first two debates, citing polling that shows Trump as the far-and-away front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination.

A recent Morning Consult poll found 56 percent of potential GOP primary voters back the former president.

Even with the lead, I think right now, the more hes out there, directly engaged with the other candidates, the better off for him, Walker said.

Walker ran against Trump in the Republican presidential campaign in 2016, before he dropped out of the race. The former Wisconsin governor said, as he saw in the first or second debate in 2016, this guy dominates the stage.

Even if you got a great record, that only gets you on the stage, he said. You got to be equally as bold when you go out and make the case to American voters. And Donald Trump did that eight years ago.

And hes a prize fighter: Prize fighters belong in the ring defending their title, and thats where you should be today, Walker said.

The Republican National Committee says candidates must vow to back the eventual GOP presidential nominee to debate, which Trump has refused to do so far, stating it would depend on who the nominee was.

Republican lawmakers have expressed mixed opinions on Trump potentially skipping the debate, with some fearing it could be a bad look for the party if the front-runner fails to attend.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday the states Stand Your Ground law could not be retroactively applied to a 2019 Sioux Falls murder case.

Ramon Smith was found guilty of second-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault after a June 2019 altercation led to smith shooting, Larry Carr, who later died of his injuries, and Jevon Allen and Josh Allen, both of whom survived.

Smith was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Throughout the court process, Smith claimed he had acted in self-defense, according to court documents.

More: Supreme Court hears arguments in test of South Dakota's 'Stand Your Ground' law

Prior to Smiths 2021 trial, the state passed a statutory immunity law, according to the Supreme Court decision. Smiths attorneys then moved to dismiss his charges because of the new law. A Minnehaha County circuit court judge denied the motion, explaining that the new law didnt apply retroactively and that the Legislature did not explicitly provide that it was to be applied retroactively.

Smiths attorney had argued the immunity law was a procedural law, meaning that it regulates the steps of the criminal court process, and that retroactivity applied. He added if the immunity law was procedural, then a step in the process had been missed.

In the unanimous decision written by Chief Justice Steven Jensen, the justices disagreed with Smiths attorney and found the law was substantive, meaning the law describes the criminal act and the punishment, and because of that, is not retroactive by its own terms.

More: Man threatens to shoot group with hand disguised as gun, according to Sioux Falls police

The justices also found that Smiths use of Kentucky case law in his argument was misplaced because it didnt match up with South Dakotas case law recognizing that immunity is substantive.

The justices sided with the circuit court over three additional appeals in Smiths case including that the court was right to allow the prosecution to introduce evidence Smith couldnt legally possess a firearm, denying motions for acquittal and denying a motion for a mistrial.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: SD's Stand Your Ground law can't be applied retroactively: Supreme Court
Search continues for man visiting from the Philippines, last seen at Lowes in Bellingham

The search for a Filipino man who was last seen outside the Lowes in Bellingham on July 4 continues.

Edgar B. Aberilla, 72, traveled from the Philippines with his wife to visit their daughter, Abby Tullius, who lives in Burlington. Aberilla has dementia and often is disoriented.

Aberilla left Tullius home at about 4 p.m. July 4 without telling anyone. He reportedly got a ride from a neighbor who took him to Bellingham and dropped him off outside the Lowes on the 1000 block of E. Sunset Drive.

Burlington Detective Sgt. Jeremy Kramer said they have video footage of Aberilla being dropped off and are tracking his movements from there through surveillance cameras. There is no indication that foul play is involved.

Kramer said there are no updates on Aberillas whereabouts and detectives continue to visit Bellingham to hand out flyers, check for video and speak to people in the area. Bellingham Police Department are also following up with possible sightings of Aberilla and assisting Burlington PD when they need help.

The neighbor who dropped off Aberilla said in an email to the Bellingham Herald that on July 4, he was heading out to go to a local church and saw Aberilla waving him down across the street from his home. Aberilla told him he wanted to go to the bus terminal because his brother lives near there.

Edgar B. Aberilla went missing on July 4 and his whereabouts remain unknown. Aberilla has dementia and was last seen wearing a blue shirt to celebrate the holiday with his family.

Tullius said that before he went missing, Aberilla would try to go to the bus station because he thought the Philippines was just a drive away.

The neighbor did not know that Aberilla had dementia and had trouble communicating due to the language barrier. Aberillas native language is Tagalog and he speaks little English.

The neighbor said when they got to the bus station, Aberilla kept saying the Bow and it was assumed that he meant the Bow Hill Gas Station and Food Mart north of Burlington.

Kramer said they have a photo of Aberilla outside the gas station.

Aberilla got out of the car at the gas station and tried to speak to a few customers who had trouble understanding him. The neighbor told customers that Aberilla was trying to go to the bus station and said it was the next exit.

The neighbor said that in the car, Aberilla wanted to go further north to get to the bus terminal and when they reached the Lowes, he got out of the car.

He was very appreciative of the ride and he got out to walk. I gave him $19 and he started to cry. I gave him a hug and wished him well. I then went back to Burlington. It was 6:20 p.m. when a Silver Alert came over my phone. I read it and I knew right away this was the person I drove to Bellingham. I called right away to let them [police] know what had happened, the neighbor said in an email.

A public Facebook group called Help us find Edgar B. Aberilla was created by Tullius. A search party has not been organized since Aberilla went missing but Tullius and her mother have been going to Bellingham to search for him.

On Saturday, I went to the spot where my dad was possibly seen that was in Maritime Heritage Park. I went there with my mom and we walked the trails, surrounding areas and kept posting more fliers. Unfortunately that search was in vain, she said.

Tullius said she has not been updated by the police recently about her fathers case and feels that the search for him has slowed down.

Aberilla is 5-foot-1, 140 pounds with short black hair. He wears glasses and was last seen with a blue T-shirt, khaki shorts, brown shoes and was carrying a brown bag.

If anyone sees Aberilla, they are asked to stay with him and call 911 immediately.
Five victims identified in Upper Makefield. Search for Mattie and Conrad continues

UPPER MAKEFIELD - Three Newtown Township residents and one Titusville New Jersey woman are among the five people who died Saturday in Upper Makefield flash floodwaters as the search for two missing children will continue into Tuesday.

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck released the identities of the remaining victims who were swept away Saturday when the vehicles they were driving were overtaken by rapidly rising waters in Houghs Creek, a tributary of the nearby Delaware River, officials said.

They are identified as:

Enzo Depiero, 78, and his wife Linda, 74, of Newtown Township

Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey

Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown Township

Linda and Enzo De Piero seen here in a recent photo. The Newtown Township couple perished Saturday in flash floods.

Yuko Love, right, stands with friends, Paul Stabile, left, and Maria Egan, center, after a Zumba class taught by Egan at the Newtown Athletic Club.

Earlier Monday officials released the name of the fifth and youngest confirmed victim, Kathryn "Katie" Seley, 32, of Charleston, South Carolina. Her children, Conrad Sheils, 9 months, and Matilda Sheils, 2, are the only unaccounted for victims of Saturday's torrential rainstorm.

Autopsies performed Monday determined all five victims died of accidental drowning, and Love also had multiple injuries that contributed to her death, Buck said.

At the Monday afternoon update, Upper Makefield fire Chief Tim Brewer emphasized the drivers who were caught in the flash flood could not have avoided the sudden raging water.

"These people did not drive into high water," Brewer said. "Every one of these people were caught. The wall of water came to them. They did not drive into the water and we are confident when we say that."

Rescue crews bolstered by additional resources including sonar, marine divers, boat crews, cadaver and rescue search dogs as well as air assets and drones were brought in Monday to continue the search for the Sheils children.

More than 100 crews concentrated on an 40-acre area south of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) where the flooding was the worst, Brewer said.

Scott Ellis, center, a relative of two missing children swept away by floodwaters last Saturday, attends a during a press conference held at the Washington Crossing United Methodist Church in Washington Crossing, PA, on Monday, July 17, 2023.

More resources will be added to the search efforts on Tuesday.

Also speaking Monday afternoon was Scott Ellis, who identified himself as a brother-in-law of Jim Sheils, fiance of Seley and father of their three children.

As you can imagine, we are utterly devastated by the incredible loss our family has suffered, he said.

More: Steep cliffs and debris await searchers looking for children swept away in fatal floods

On behalf of his family, Ellis expressed deep gratitude to the "enormous efforts" of so many emergency responders who have been working "tirelessly in dangerous and difficult conditions to rescue the victims of this horrific tragedy."

"Their compassion, kindness and bravery have given us strength in this unspeakably difficult time. And their commitment to bringing Conrad and Mattie home is unwavering," Ellis said. "We are thankful that they were able to save so many affected by these unprecedented floods, and we are grateful that they were able to recover many who have been lost."

The Sheils and Seley families. James Sheils holds son Conrad, Katie Seley holds daughter Mattie and in front is son Jack.

Ellis also thanked the community for its "incredible outpouring of support, love, prayers and kindness."

"It has bolstered us all," he said.

The Seley-Sheils family, who was visiting the area, was driving on Washington Crossing Road on their way to a family cookout Saturday evening when their car was overcome by raging waters that had spilled over Houghs Creek.

James Sheils grabbed their 4-year-old son, Jack, and managed to safely escape water. Seley, who was holding onto her infant son and her mother, Dahlia Galindez, who was holding Mattie, were swept away.

Galindez survived, but she lost her grip on her granddaughter, officials said.

Dahlia Galindez (left) and her daughter Kathryn "Kaite" Seley. The women were swept up in floodwaters Saturday July 15, 2023. Galindez survived, but Seley didn't. Seley's two children are missing.

Photos: Who are the Sheils-Seley family South Carolina family torn apart by Upper Makefield fatal floods identified

The clear and dry weather Monday allowed a "massive deployment" of search resources along treacherous Houghs Creek, while boat teams searched the nearby Delaware River for the missing children.

"We are better than we were yesterday. We have basically tripled the number of assets in the area," Brewer said earlier Monday. "We ask everyone to keep the families in their thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time."

Roads that experienced the worst flooding Washington Crossing Road between Meadowview Drive and Wrightstown Road will remain closed indefinitely as a result of damage. Taylorsville Road will also remain closed between Route 532 and Mt. Eyre Road.

Officials added that other intermittent road closures may occur as a result of ongoing search efforts.

Bucks County Commission Vice Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia confirmed Monday morning that commissioners had signed a disaster declaration in response to the flooding. The declaration will be ratified at Wednesday's commissioners meeting.

"This has been a catastrophic personal event for the families involved and for our first responders," Marseglia said. "I would ask that you keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a native of neighboring Montgomery County, on Sunday pledged his administration's full assistance with the flood recovery efforts.

"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," the governor said.

More: Fatal floods: Who does water rescues in Bucks County?

Family fractured by flood: South Carolina mother of 2 missing children among now five flood victims

Floods claim five lives: Five now dead, two children missing, in Delaware River flooding in Bucks County

Sunday evening, Brewer confirmed rescuers had recovered the bodies of Love and Linda Depiero, who were about 100 yards apart and found one mile south of Taylorsville Road in Houghs Creek runs along the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road between Stonebridge Crossing and Wrightstown roads.

Depiero's husband was recovered on Saturday night along with Seley and Barnhart whose vehicles were all found in Houghs Creek, officials said.

At least two of the confirmed dead were swept away after they got out of their vehicles, Brewer said. Another victim was found in the vehicle.

Clean up and damage assessment efforts are continuing with many roads surrounding the flooded areas remained closed Sunday with Bucks County Park Rangers and sheriff deputies standing guard.

A prolonged rain event over two hours Saturday evening dropped up to 6 inches of rain along the corridor between Newtown and New Hope and as far west as Jamison and continued into Mercer County, New Jersey.

A look at flooding in Lower Makefield In Lower Makefield, homes and properties damaged by flash flood

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Delaware River flash floods claimed several lives, ripped families apart
Olivier Amar, a former executive at the college aid startup Frank, was indicted last week and accused of helping defraud JPMorgan Chase into buying the company for $175 million, according to court documents.

The four federal counts filed against Amar, the start-ups chief growth officer  wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy  were added to a case against its founder, Charlie Javice.

Amar, 49  the second Frank employee to be charged  pleaded not guilty Thursday and was released on a $1 million bond.

Javice, 31, was arrested this year and charged with the same four counts of fraud. She also pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.

Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission added Amar as a defendant in its civil suit against Javice, which also alleges fraud.

Attorneys for Javice and Amar did not respond to requests for comment.

Javice and Amar hired a data scientist to fabricate a list of users that appeared to show the company had 4.25 million student customers when JPMorgan requested evidence to support Franks data, according to the complaint from the SEC. The company had fewer than 300,000 users, the complaint said.

FILE - Charlie Javice, of Miami Beach, Fla., leaves Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York, after signing a $2-million bond to remain free on charges that she duped J.P. Morgan Chase with fake records to acquire Frank, her student loan assistance startup company, for $175-million. The fraud case against Javice has taken a step toward trial with an arraignment on an indictment returned in a New York court. Javice pleaded not guilty on Monday, May 22, 2023, to an indictment returned late last week in Manhattan federal court. (Lawrence Neumeister / AP file)

According to the filing, Javice sent a WhatsApp message to Amar about the data scientist in 2021, saying: I found my genius. He says it will take him an hour[.] Amar responded, great.

Javice later paid the data scientist $18,000 for his services, the complaint said.

The defendants also created a list of real names that could be falsely passed off as those of Frank customers, and Amar arranged for the company to pay $105,000 to a third-party data compiler for its college student data in case the scientist did not provide the fabricated list of users, the complaint said.

JPMorgan learned of the alleged scheme when it sent an email marketing campaign to the list of supposed Frank customers and it generated very few responses, according to the SEC complaint.

Javice, 31, founded the company in 2017, and JPMorgan Chase acquired it in 2021. As part of the acquisition, the bank also hired Javice and Amar.

JPMorgan shut Frank down in January.

Javice received more than $21 million for selling her equity stake in Frank to the bank and an additional $20 million as a retention bonus, prosecutors said.

Amar received $5 million from the merger, as well as an employment agreement that included a $3 million retention bonus, the SEC complaint said.

Last year, JPMorgan sued Javice and Amar in federal court in Delaware alleging fraud and accusing them of lying about Franks size.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Severe weather swamps parts of Mass. and NH with floods

Heavy rains pounded New England Sunday, leaving drivers and residents to navigate flooded and damaged roadways.

Brockton suffered severe flooding, forcing drivers to push aside gallons of water to get down Westgate Drive near the Westgate Mall.

Albion Street in Wakefield was also partially underwater, forcing residents to take to the high seas to make it past their front yard.

Sturbridge Police told drivers to avoid Cooper Road, sharing that a large portion of the road had been lost to the flood waters.

Many areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire were put under a flood warning as the storms moved northeast through the region.

Attleboro and Auburn, NH saw the most rain in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, totaling over 4 inches of the wet stuff as of 10 p.m.

Randolph, Fitchburg and Sutton each reported over three inches as well.

Logan Airport, where flyers saw headache-inducing delays, reported 1.50 inches of rainfall.

Severe weather postponed the NASCAR Crayon 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The race will now be on Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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PETERSBURG  Two shootings in two days in two different parts of town have put two people in area hospitals with life-threatening injuries and have raised the number of shootings in the city this year to 32.

The latest occurred late Saturday night in Petersburg's Delectable Heights area and early Monday morning across town at a motel near Fort Gregg-Adams that was the scene of a homicide seven weeks ago. In both instances, the victims are men  a 57-year-old man on Stately Court, and a 43-year-old man at the Budget Motor Inn on North Jamestown Drive. Police said the victim at the motel had to be airlifted to a Richmond hospital.

No motive or suspect information in either case has been released.

The Budget Inn is the same place where 54-year-old Brian Chambers was found shot to death May 24. A suspect in that case was arrested a week later.

Police are asking anyone who may have information in either shooting to call Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212 or use the P3Tips app on a mobile phone.

According to a review of weekly crime reports on the Petersburg Police website, there have been at least 32 shootings in Petersburg since the beginning of 2023. Of the city's 11 homicides this year, 10 of them were shootings. In the non-shooting homicide, an 80-year-old man was beaten to death with a baseball bat June 26 outside a house he owned on Berkeley Avenue.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Shooting at Petersburg motel is second there in two months
Shrewsbury police seek help identifying man in ID theft, larceny cases at banks

Shrewsbury police are attempting to identify this suspect in thefts from local banks

SHREWSBURY  Police in Shrewsbury are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in multiple identity theft and larceny cases that occurred at the Shrewsbury locations of UniBank and Rockland Trust.

According to a notice released Monday, Shrewsbury police have received reports an unidentified man believed to be the culprit has reached other cities and towns including Worcester, Milford, Grafton, Quincy and Braintree.

Shrewsbury police did not provide the date range or a description of the alleged crimes.

According to police, the suspect was seen wearing a baby blue long-sleeved shirt and an aqua blue flat cap with sunglasses on top of the cap during each incident.

The suspect allegedly used a Connecticut driver's license that was later proven to be fraudulent.

The suspect allegedly provided this Connecticut driver's license, which police say is fraudlent.

Members of the public with information can email Shrewsbury Det. Christopher Abbascia at cabbascia@pd.shrewsburyma.gov or call (508) 841-8485.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Shrewsbury police seek help identifying suspect in crimes at banks
(Bloomberg) -- Singapores ruling Peoples Action Party was dealt a fresh blow on Monday when the parliament speaker resigned in an inappropriate relationship with a member of parliament.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The scandal may further sway voter support from the long-ruling party after last weeks arrest of Transport Minister S. Iswaran and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng in a graft probe. PAP has governed Singapore since independence in 1965.

High standards of propriety and personal conduct, together with staying clean and incorrupt, are the fundamental reasons Singaporeans trust and respect the PAP, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement. Without party discipline, without integrity, we are nothing.

Heres a look at past scandals that have engulfed politicians from the ruling party:

2023

July

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and lawmaker Cheng Li Hui resigned on July 17. Both had continued the affair despite being counseled by the premier in February. Tan was also involved in a fracas where he had to apologize to an opposition lawmaker for using unparliamentary language.

In a separate matter, Iswaran and businessman Ong were arrested on July 11 and subsequently released on bail. Its the first time since 1986 that a Singapore graft probe has involved a senior minister.

June

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam were cleared of wrongdoing by the anti-corruption bureau for their rental of colonial houses in an upscale neighborhood. Lee ordered the review after the opposition asked if the ministers had paid below-market rates.

February

Tin Pei Ling, a PAP lawmaker, was moved to a different role within Grab Holdings Ltd. following public backlash over potential conflicts of interest after she was first hired to be director of public affairs and policy. That role would have required her to engage with the Singapore government.

2022

Lawyer Christopher de Souza was found guilty of professional misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal, according to the Straits Times. He denied the charge. He remains Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

2021

Balakrishnan apologized to an opposition member for his private comments in parliament. I disagree with him on the issue, but I should not have said what I said, the foreign minister wrote in a Facebook post.

2020

PAP election candidate Ivan Lim withdrew from the 2020 race ahead of Nomination Day following online allegations about his past conduct at work and military service. Lim said the claims were baseless, The Straits Times reported.

2016

Member of Parliament David Ong resigned due to a personal indiscretion, according to The Straits Times. Residents in Ongs single-seat ward voted to stay with the PAP in the by-election.

2012

Michael Palmer stepped down as Speaker of Parliament after admitting to an extramarital affair. His exit triggered a by-election in the single-seat district. The opposition Workers Party won in the four-cornered fight the year after.

1996

Lee Kuan Yew, the islands first prime minister, and his son Lee Hsien Loong, then-deputy prime minister, faced allegations of impropriety related to discounts on four luxury apartments developed by Ongs Hotel Properties. Then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong said the investigation was needed to protect the governments reputation. They were cleared in an inquiry.

1986

Then-Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan was investigated by the CPIB for accepting bribes. Teh denied receiving the money and died before he could be formally charged.

1975

Then-Minister of State for Environment Wee Toon Boon was sentenced to 18 months in jail for accepting a two-story house and land.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
CHICAGO  Halfway through coffee with Emily Long, the new executive director of the Gene Siskel Film Center, we had a little linguistic misunderstanding. She mentioned an upcoming September Film Center retrospective of banned films, curated by the centers programming director Rebecca Fons; I heard the word band, not banned, which led to a minute or two of crossed wires and suspicions (mine) of a slight stroke (false alarm) before we sorted it out.

Raised mostly in the Chicago suburbs, Long succeeded longtime Film Center executive director Jean de St. Aubin in May. Ive always wanted to run a theater, she told me.

The Film Center, working under the auspices of the School of the Art Institute, has long been part of SAIC, although its two-venue facility on State Street has a way of feeling a fair distance from the rest of the SAIC buildings. Long and I talked about that relationship between the Film Center and its educational umbrella  and why, among other things, shes heartened by the surprise success of the Film Centers early 2023 Settle In series, spanning the hypnotic 7.5-hour Bela Tarr ruminator Satantango to Krzysztof Kieslowskis 10-hour Dekalog.

The turnout was so nice, theyre doing it twice: A new set of titles comprises Settle In, the sequel, coming in early 2024. Thats not necessarily my movie taste, Long says, with a laugh. But I love the people who love it!

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You grew up in Hinsdale?

A: My family bounced around, and landed in Hinsdale, where I went to middle school, high school. Went to U of I in Champaign-Urbana and got my undergraduate degree in theater. Moved right away out to New York and got my masters degree in dramaturgy and script development at Columbia University. Then I stayed and spent six years working on Wall Street 

Q: When people say working on Wall Street, what does that mean, exactly?

A: Right. Well, I finished my graduate thesis and I needed health insurance. At Columbia or anywhere, really, you basically walk across the stage (to get your diploma) and they hand you your first bill. I was an executive assistant for the managing director of global wealth, first at Bank of America, and then at Morgan Stanley. I managed a lot of calendars, travel, presentations, disaster recovery work. This was 2006 to 2012. An eventful six years. I met a lot of people you typically dont meet when you have two theater degrees.

I was on Wall Street during the day and spent nights and weekends doing theater stuff, and then some media literacy work in the nonprofit development world. Then I lucked into the assistant director of development role at Film at Lincoln Center. And then came back to Chicago for a whole mess of personal reasons. My dad had just died; my mom still lives out here. My husband at the time (now deceased) was really struggling with alcohol, and we thought it was time to leave New York. Back in Chicago, I got the development role at Kartemquin. And then the job popped up here at the Siskel.

Q: Youre six weeks into that new job. How does it feel right now?

A: Were on a really good swing. Were still building back from the pandemic. Its hard to understate how damaging that was for theaters, particularly for art house theaters.

Q: The older art house audience was the most resistant to coming back, right? Very few people called that one.

A: Right. On the plus side, were getting some new audiences in. But we want to see more of our old friends come back. The value proposition of going out for a night at the movies has to be different now. It cant just be what youre putting on the screen. It has to be the entire experience, from when you walk in the door to when you leave the theater. Thats what the Film Center and every other art house theater person I know is working on: How do we overcome the convenience that exists on the couch?

Q: So what do you point to on the Film Center calendar from the last year or so when youre looking for reasons to be optimistic?

A: For one thing, Drive My Car. A lot of people turned out for that. I wasnt at the Siskel yet, but that was something people just wanted to see, this three-hour Japanese drama. It wasnt any secret it was going to be on HBO Max (now just Max) but we were running it exclusively in Chicago. It got great press. We ran it for something like three months. It was the right problem to have, balancing that long run with our other commitments.

The other good sign was Rebeccas Settle In series, which was also a big hit. Were doing it again in early 2024. Thats a unique theatrical experience.

Q: How does development at a nonprofit arts institution vary from place to place?

A: The Siskel is part of the School of the Art Institute, and we work closely with the schools Office of Advancement, which is effectively our development department. The work draws a lot on my background in theater and audience work. Persuasive writing; creating arguments; thats basically what youre doing when you write a grant proposal. You need to be persuasive about why youre deserving of support. And what the detailed plan is, once you get that support.

At an organization like Lincoln Center, membership is a huge piece of it. They have a very complex membership structure, which starts at $85 (per year) and goes up to $25,000 and beyond. Figuring out a system to manage that is  complex. But I enjoy it. Finding a way to manage something is enjoyable to me. Kartemquin was about production, not exhibition. Its not selling tickets or selling parties. When I was at Lincoln Center, for example, I could say, Well, for X-amount of dollars I can get you in a room with Kate Winslet.

Maybe the Film Center is somewhere in between Lincoln Center and Kartemquin. Ultimately its all about building back from the pandemic, building on your programming. Building out sponsorships and partnerships. Were lucky to have the support of the school; most art house theaters dont have that. One of my missions is to better integrate the Film Center with the school, and better integrate the faculty and students with this place. But the schools been nothing but respectful of what we do.

Q: Later this year, what can we expect?

A: In September its a series devoted to banned films. Were living in a time of censorship and of banning materials  books, mostly, but not only books. This hasnt been an easy seven, eight years for the country. For so many reasons. But when we all quarantined, I think a lot of us realized the value of shared cultural experience.

Some people came to realize that they prefer to stay in isolation and watch movies that way. But a lot of people realized how much they missed going out and being around other people, sharing a laugh or a gasp at a movie.
Six-year-old boy and his sister, 12, drown in Texas river after father lost sight of them

Harris County Sheriffs Office recovers bodies of children aged 6 and 12 in Texas river (Harris County Sheriffs Office)

Two bodies found in a river in Texas have been identified as siblings aged six and 12, according to police.

Harris County police were informed that the children went under water and have not resurfaced at around 9pm on Saturday, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The kids struggled to swim in the San Jacinto River on Saturday near the Xtreme Off-Road Park & Beach, the police reported.

A father was playing with three children near the water when he reportedly lost sight of the two swimming, police told ABC13.

The police sent a marine unit and other departments in search of the children, but were not able to rescue them. Sheriff Gonzalez later reported our team was able to recover both bodies after midnight. Its a tragic story, he added.

The family is here and very distraught. We do have a chaplain here that is with the family to help them through this most difficult time. Our condolences go out to the family, Harris County Sheriffs Office Major Jesse Razo told ABC13.

The outlet added it is still unclear whether the children were wearing life jackets. Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach staff told the publication that the drownings occurred across the street at a marina, not on their property.

Authorities also said they recovered the body of a missing swimmer at the San Jacinto River Sunday evening, prompting them to issue a warning on Twitter: San Jacinto River in east Harris County is the site of many drownings. about water safety in the Texas river. They urged the public to follow water safety practices.
ALAMOGORDO  Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne said 26-year-old Dominic De La O, who is accused of shooting and killing Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson on Saturday, should have been incarcerated for other suspected violent crimes.

It is my opinion that this person should have never been released from custody," Payne said during a July 17 press conference in Alamogordo.

"This entire incident occurred because a dangerous man who had been previously accused of breaking the law decided that preserving his freedom was worth more than a life of a person who we tasked of protecting the lives of our law-abiding citizens.

De La O, according to law enforcement, shot Ferguson in the face with a shotgun on Saturday following a traffic stop, vehicle crash and foot pursuit. Ferguson was treated in an El Paso hospital for his wounds but died Sunday.

At the press conference Alamogordo residents Jessica Smith and Rudy Contreras accused De La O in the death of Donovan Contreras in 2019. De La O was never charged in relation to that case, but Contreras' family agreed De La O should have been incarcerated.

Memorial for Officer Anthony Ferguson held on patrol unit outside of the Alamogordo Police Department on Monday, July 17, 2023

My son was killed by the same man who killed Officer Ferguson, and he should have never had the chance to do it again to begin with, Smith said.

My son was murdered on July 12, 2019 by Dominic De La O as well and nothing was done. He was arrested and let go and my sons death was swept under the rug as a suicide. The Alamogordo Daily News was unable to confirm the manner of Contreras' death but has requested documents related to the incident.

A search of New Mexico's case database revealed De La O had never been charged with any violent crime, though he was shot by Alamogordo Police Officers in January 2023 who were responding of reports of a man walking with a firearm.

Details in Ferguson death released by Alamogordo Police Department

Ferguson was allegedly wounded with a sawed-off shotgun in De La O's possession on Saturday during a foot pursuit in Alamogordo. Officials said the officers chased De La O on foot from the site of a vehicle crash.

Ferguson was transported to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center where he was then flown to UMC- El Paso, in El Paso, Texas.

Our hearts and prayers are with the families and brothers and sisters in blue of the @AlamogordoPD during this difficult time   Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) July 17, 2023

Officer Ferguson arrived to UMC with major trauma to his head and face, said Chief of Alamogordo Police David Kunihiro at the press conference.

Kunihiro said the department would not be answering additional questions from the media as the investigation by New Mexico State Police was ongoing. Kunihiro said the department would conduct its own investigation into how the officers handled the situation.

In the July 17 press conference, Alamogordo Police Department (APD) said Ferguson was employed by the department for 11 years.

Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson

De La O charged in Ferguson's death

De La O was charged with several crimes following his arrest and booking at the Otero County Detention Center.

De La O was charged with attempt to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery on a police officer with a deadly weapon.

The Alamogordo Daily News was unable to confirm whether the charges were amended following the death of Ferguson.

He was also charged with tampering with evidence, one count of aggravated fleeing of an office and resisting and evading a police officer.

He will also face criminal trespass and various traffic violations.

More: NMSP: Alamogordo man shot after pursuit by police

Thank you note for Officer Ferguson at a memorial for him at the press conference on Monday, July 17, 2023

Others are reading;

Fundraiser for Ferguson

The New Mexico Law Enforcement Officer Fund (NMLEOF) announced Monday, July 17 that it would fundraise for Ferguson's family and funeral expenses.

Donations can be made at the MLEOF website.

Procession ceremony for Ferguson

The Alamogordo Police Department said in a news release that it will host a procession ceremony for Ferguson at 6:45 p.m. Monday, July 17.

The procession begins in Tularosa, New Mexico as the vehicle holding Ferguson makes its way into Alamogordo, it will travel through 10th Street and a brief stop will be made at the Alamogordo Police Station at 700 Virginia Avenue.

The procession will continue through First Street where Ferguson will be brought to Scenic Chapel at 1334 Scenic Drive. APD aid only law enforcement vehicles will be permitted in the Chapel parking lot.

Route for Procession Ceremony for Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson being held on Monday, July 17 at 6:45 pm.

Statements from local officials

Many New Mexico officials have sent their support and condolences to Ferguson's family and the Alamogordo Police Department.

"Today is a bleak day in Alamogordo for every citizen to know that one of the best of us was needlessly killed at the hands of evil. My thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Ferguson's family, but my condolences do not stop there," said Alamogordo Republican Representative John Block in a news release.

Block said he believed offenders are "being sprung from pre-trial" and planned to address the issue.

"We must close loopholes that allow violent lawbreakers, who do not follow laws, to be held behind bars pretrial and are not allowed to be put back into our communities to again cause tragedy and death," Block said.

But Block was not the only Republican representative in the state who had a comment on the matter. Sandia Park's Stefani Lord had similar views but targeted Democrats.

"In 2022, we presented House Bill (HB) 27 to keep our communities safe by keeping the worst of the worst behind bars while waiting for trial," Lord said. "It's incredibly sad knowing that the recent shooting of a Law Enforcement Officer may very well have been prevented had the Democrats passed this bill."

HB 27 titled "Pretrial Release of Certain Persons" was supposed to do just that, the bill highlighted the protection and safety of any person or the community under the presumption that defendant is dangerous and there are no reasonable release conditions. This included people charged with a capital offense or "serious violent offense," said the bill.

At the press conference Payne also had words in regard to the capture and release of criminals in Alamogordo.

Today I am calling on our citizens to channel those emotions into something positive that will honor the name of Officer Anthony Ferguson. In the time it takes you to type a social media post, you can draft an email or make a phone call to all our legislatures and our governor, and you can let them know that you believe they should revisit the bail reform laws, what we call catch and release that are devastating our communities, Payne said. Together we have the power to make real change in our state by taking these simple steps. This is not about politics or what is on your voter registration card.

We will not forget the sacrifice Alamogordo Police Office Anthony Ferguson made to protect his community and our state. pic.twitter.com/VKoQHxXJhP  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) July 17, 2023

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Slain Alamogordo Police officer Anthony Ferguson killed with shotgun
Smoke from Canadian wildfires returns to NYC as air quality index deteriorates across the city

NEW YORK  The downpour and heavy humidity may be gone, but smoke from Canadian wildfires is again on the way to NYC and is pushing the air quality index into unhealthy territory.

On Monday morning, the index started to rise again slowly, ticking into the moderate levels. Winds from the south and west are pushing a smoke plume from wildfires in Western Canada towards New York. By Monday afternoon, the index in Central Park had reached 144, close to the upper limit of the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level.

An air quality alert was issued for the entire state on Monday.

New Yorkers should once again prepare for smoke from the wildfires in Western Canada to impact our states air quality this week, Governor Kathy Hochul said, urging residents to keep tabs on the smoke situation.

James McDonald, New York State Department of Health Commissioner, warned children under 18, older adults, pregnant people and those with pre-existing conditions like heart disease or asthma to take precautions like wearing masks and staying indoors if the conditions get worse.

The air quality index, or AQI, runs from 0 to 500. Higher numbers indicate higher levels of air pollution.

There are currently over 800 wildfires burning across Canada. More than 4,000 fires in the country have raged this year to date, now causing three dangerous or potentially dangerous smoke events in New York.

Mondays smoke event is not expected to mimic the dramatic smoke situation seen in the city in June, when the sky turned orange, the city reached a record-shattering 400 AQI and emergency room visits for asthma doubled.

The Adams administration was grilled for their response in a hearing last week. Elected leaders attacked Mayor Eric Adams and top city officials, claiming that the mayor and his team werent prepared and poorly communicated the smokes risks to New Yorkers.

This is the new normal for New Yorkers, Hochul said in a briefing last month, warning people that the impacts of climate change make another smoke event very possible.

N95-style masks will be available free at various locations around the city, including Grand Central Station, Penn Station, Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
Smoke lingering in PA keeping you indoors? Take these steps to reduce possible pollution

This summer has been an especially smoky season for large swaths of eastern Canada and the U.S., and this week is expected to continue that trend.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued Monday a statewide Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for July 17 as Canadian wildfire smoke again drifts southward into the U.S. The agencys issuance comes amid a forecast of Air Quality Index readings in the orange range, signaling air pollution may be particularly troublesome for vulnerable populations, including young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

By 2 p.m. Monday, airnow.gov reported State Colleges AQI score at 152 in the lower level of the red range, though conditions are expected to improve into Tuesday. A red air pollution rating indicates conditions are unhealthy for all.

If youre sheltering from poor air quality this summer, here are a few steps you can take to reduce smoke pollution in your home.

Reducing smoke pollution indoors

Even with your doors closed, wildfire smoke can infiltrate your home through loose seals and cracks. University of California San Francisco researchers estimate shutting your windows can cut indoor pollution by up to 30%.

You can also help prevent smoke entry by using wet towels to seal the space beneath doors leading outside, according to the California Association of Life Safety and Fire Equipment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meanwhile, encourages homeowners to avoid any activities that can stir up pollutants indoors, including cooking, vacuuming, smoking or lighting candles.

The EPA also offers the following suggestions to help reduce exposure to hazardous air pollution when levels are extremely high:

Stay indoors with filtered air . You can browse an online guide to find air cleaners that work best for your home, including those that are more affordable or offer stronger protection against particular pollutants.

Keep activity levels low . Avoid exercise or other activities that may make you breathe faster or more deeply.

Create a clean room for sleeping if your air purifier or ventilation cant cover your entire home. Choose a room with few windows and doors and use your smaller air purifier there.

Consider crafting your own portable air cleaner. Instructions from the EPA are available online at epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-09/diy-air-purifier-infographic_final.pdf.

If youre heading outside for unavoidable activity or feel the need for additional protection, consider wearing a suitable N95 or high-quality face mask that can reduce air pollution.

The EPA offers the following tips when choosing a mask or respirator:

Choose a particulate respirator thats approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. These are marked with NIOSH, N95 or P100.

Opt for a mask with two straps that go over your head and stay away from those with a single strap or ear loops.

Make sure your mask fits snugly on your nose with a tight seal around your face and chin.

A Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert is in Effect for ALL of Pennsylvania Today. @PennsylvaniaDEP pic.twitter.com/1gvYwJGMy4  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) July 17, 2023

What does poor air quality in Pennsylvania mean for me?

Environmental officials expect conditions to ease Tuesday when the air quality in much of Pennsylvania falls into the yellow, or moderate, range. Regardless, residents are encouraged to limit their time outside.

On a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities, the DEP wrote.

Air quality readings categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups can still affect the average persons health. An eight-hour workday spent outdoors during an orange-rated AQI score of 152, for example, is roughly equivalent to smoking a cigarette, one air quality calculator reports. That metric jumps to more than three cigarettes after a full 24 hours outdoors.

The State College area is expected to improve to moderate air quality Tuesday, according to airnow.gov.

How to check air quality in your area

Visit airnow.gov to look up air quality readings for your ZIP code, city or state. The tool, provided by the EPA, also offers suggestions to avoid exposure, plus live map readings, forecasts and graphics to break down critical air quality information.

The EPA also offers an AirNow mobile app for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

This story may be updated.
Smokers in Hong Kong are facing a new risk in addition to health problems  public shaming

Teodora Cirstea/Getty Images

Residents of Hong Kong have been told by Professor Lo Chung-mau to stare at public smokers.

Lo hopes the measure will create a cultural perception of smoking as unacceptable.

Smoking rates in Hong Kong were at 9.5% in 2021, but the government wants the rate to drop to 7.8%.

Smokers in Hong Kong may soon be seriously uncomfortable lighting up in public, thanks to a call for residents to stare at smokers using tobacco products in designated smoke-free areas.

The idea was put forth by Hong Kong Secretary for Health and Hong Kong University Professor Lo Chung-mau. In a Friday Legislative Council meeting on health services, Lo said cigarettes harm everyone, not just the smoker, according to the South China Morning Post.

"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," Lo said at the meeting. "When someone takes out a cigarette at a restaurant, everyone on the premises can stare at that person. I do not believe that person would dare to hit back at everyone in the restaurant, as they are simply staring."

Lo also said at the meeting he hoped uncomfortable staring would make smoking culturally unacceptable, in addition to penalties levied by law enforcement on people smoking in prohibited areas.

Various efforts to curb the smoking habits of Hongkongers have led to a sharp decline in smoking in the region. Since 2007, the government has prohibited smoking in all public indoor places and gradually banned smoking in public transport terminals, according to a paper summarizing the recent Legislative Council meeting.

Just 9.5% of people in Hong Kong still smoked in 2021, according to a 2022 government health and community press release. Though a marked improvement from the nearly 25% of the public who smoked in the 1980s, the release adds, the number falls short of the government's target of only 7.8% smokers by 2025.

To reach this goal, several other policies were proposed in the Friday meeting, including designating specific smoking areas and strengthening public education about the dangers of smoking.

Representatives for Lo did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
It was a reunion two years in the making.

Smyrna police said a child has been reunited with her father after she was taken by her non-custodial mother two years ago and taken to Mexico.

Smyrna Police identified the child as 6-year-old Majesty Williams.

With the help of new investigative technologies and SPD detectives that NEVER gave up, a young child was reunited today with the custodial parent, the Smyrna Police Department said in a Facebook post Sunday night. Tonight, a baby girl was reunited with her daddy.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police said Majesty was kidnapped by her non-custodial biological mother, Andrea McCord, in April 2021.

Police said Williams was working outside in the yard while McCord and Majesty were in the house during a supervised visit when at some point, he realized they were gone. Williams said McCord later texted him to tell him that his car was at a nearby grocery store and that the keys were under the seat.

Police said McCords boyfriend, Custodio Guerra, helped with the abduction.

The U.S. Marshals took on the case and were able to locate the victim and the kidnappers in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi.

On July 15, Mexican law enforcement officers arrested McCord and Guerra in the city of Rioverde.

Majesty was reunited with her father at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on July 16.

This young victim is now back where she belongs, in the arms of her father. The fugitives are where they belong, behind bars, awaiting their day in court, U.S. Marshals said.

McCord and Guerra were both arrested on charges of interstate interference with child custody. They have already been extradited back to the United States.

Williams issued a statement through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, saying I am incredibly grateful and overjoyed to be reunited with my daughter. I want to thank the Smyrna Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the U.S. Marshals for everything they did to find Majesty. Words cannot express how happy I am to have my daughter back home. Majesty is doing well, and I kindly ask the media for privacy at this time.

IN OTHER NEWS:




DOVER  Brian D. Roberge, the man accused in the murder of a 79-year-old man at a Somersworth Walmart parking lot late Friday night, was denied bail during an arraignment Monday at Strafford County Superior Court.

Roberge pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinkley did not specify a potential motive for Roberge, who allegedly killed Jan VanTassell of Center Ossipee.

"We are still continuing to investigate the case, including whether or not there is any relationship between the two," Hinkley said. "At this point, we cannot comment further on the case."

Roberge, 52, has a home address of 79 Periwinkle Drive in East Rochester, rather than Somersworth, where authorities previously said he resided. Roberge is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jan VanTassell late Friday night. Compressional asphyxia was the cause of death, according to an autopsy report released on Sunday.

New Hampshire Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg's finding on the cause of death is "consistent with eyewitness accounts that Mr. Roberge was straddling Mr. VanTassels chest for several minutes while hitting him in the head and face," according to authorities. The cause of death is listed as homicide.

The second-degree murder charge carries a potential life sentence if Roberge is found guilty. Hinckley made a motion to seal all documents in the case, which was granted by Judge Mark Howard. Roberge could in the future request a bail hearing.

Brian D. Roberge is charged with 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," according to a news release attributed to Attorney General John Formella, New Hampshire State Police Executive Maj. Matthew Shapiro and Somersworth Police Chief Timothy McLin.

Authorities said police responded to Walmart about 11:19 p.m. Friday in response to a report of one man assaulting another man. Officers found VanTassel unresponsive with visible head and facial injuries. First responders determined he was deceased.

Authorities did not immediately say if Roberge and VanTassel had a relationship prior to the fatal incident.

The Walmart in Somersworth at 59 Waltons Way is seen Saturday, July 15, 2023, hours after a late-night murder on Friday, according to authorities.

The attorney general's staff is prosecuting the case.

Somersworth police Captain Matt Duval said Roberge formerly lived at 46 Main St. and had recently been in the Strafford County jail. He said city police arrested Roberge Dec. 6, 2022 on charges of resisting arrest, loitering and prowling. On May 9, he said, Somersworth police found Roberge at the local American Legion after he walked away from a county jail community program. Roberge was returned to jail at that time.

Asked why VanTassel was at Walmart the night he was killed, Duval said he could not say because it is part of the investigation. However, Duval said, people in campers often use the Walmart parking lot for overnight stays.

A dispositional hearing in the case by phone is scheduled Oct. 31.

Authorities ask anyone with information to call New Hampshire State Police at (603) 223-4381 and speak to Detective Sgt. Justin Rowe.

Roberge is being represented by the public defender's office. No attorney in the office could be reached for comment Monday.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth NH Walmart murder suspect denied bail
This south Charlotte PTA was just recognized as the best in the country for 2023

This was hardly your typical school bake sale.

But this isnt your average PTA, either.

When the parent-run organization for Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School decided to hold a Donuts with Dear Ones event in January  a catchall version of what many schools do as Muffins with Mom or Donuts with Dad  it became a mission to find enough glazed doughnuts to feed the crowd.

The morning event drew more than 700 students and their loved ones; the school enrolls about 850 children. PTA members bought out doughnuts from every local Food Lion and Walmart. Late-night runs were made to find more.

They ended up needing 65 dozen doughnuts. (Thats 780 doughnuts, if you dont want to do the math.)

Some of the 780 doughnuts needed to feed all the people who came to Doughnuts with Dear Ones at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School. Courtesy Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School PTA

We know many of our students have families that include multiple moms or dads, no moms or dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and we didnt want to be prescriptive in what a special day with a loved one might look like, PTA president Lorin Bent said. It was a really sweet morning where families ate at communal tables together before students headed to class.

Bent says the Huntingtowne Farms PTA embraces diversity and incorporates inclusiveness in all of its events. Its mission to reflect families voices and meet their needs has earned it national recognition.

PTO Today, a resource for school parent groups, this month named the Huntingtowne Farms Elementary PTA the 2023 National School Parent Group of the Year.

Our goal each year is to provide support and scaffolding for our staff, students, and families so that they can thrive, Bent said.

Embracing diversity

Huntingtowne Farms Elementary has students from 18 different countries who speak 12 different languages. About 65% of its students speak Spanish as the first language, and two of six classes in each grade are dual language.

Bent, who served her first year as president during 2022-23, shifted the PTA to reflect that diversity: officers appointed someone to take the lead in reaching out to Spanish-speaking families, partnered with Latina family advocates and ensured they had an interpreter and headsets for every PTA meeting.

The PTA moved away from email for communications and instead relies on ParentSquare, the schools tool that automatically translates everything into a users preferred language. They handed out fliers in Spanish when parents waited in pick-up lines and provided child care and refreshments to increase attendance at PTA meetings.

PTA monthly meeting attendees are majority Spanish-speaking, and overall attendance has increased from an average of 10 members to 30 in the past year.

During the 2022-23 school year, the Huntingtowne Farms PTA hosted its first Latin Family Night, where hundreds of families enjoyed music, dancing and donated food from local Latin restaurants.

The PTA also hosted the second annual Fox Fun Run, the groups major fundraiser. The fun run raised $40,000, and that money goes directly to supporting students and families inside and outside the classroom. The first fun run raised $32,000.

Children at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary in south Charlotte participate in the PTAs second annual Fox Fun Run last year. Courtesy of Huntingtowne Farms Elementary PTA

It is incredible, especially considering our school is comprised of 86% families who fall into the low (socioeconomic status) category, Bent said.

More to come

Fabiola Escarcega was the PTAs Spanish-speaking families lead last year. She and her family moved to Charlotte in August 2021.

Her parents, especially her dad, always joined the PTA when she and her siblings were children, so joining the Huntingtowne Farms PTA was a natural step to take, particularly in order to understand the public school system in North Carolina, she said.

Escarcega said she noticed a very low number of Spanish-speaking families attending events and PTA meetings, despite the schools diversity.

I learned that many families at Huntingtowne Farms were not involved in school life, in general, and PTA activities particularly because they didnt know about any of them and/or they dont speak English, Escarcega said. Having faced the challenge to research, understand and navigate through the system myself, I felt the need to help those who dont have the skills and knowledge Im fortunate to own, by providing them with information and making them see that they already are part of a community willing to know and embrace them.

The results, she said, have been amazing: parents are attending monthly meetings and answering the call for volunteers in different activities for the first time in their childrens school life.

This is just the beginning, Escarcega said. We have many ideas for the years to come, and with such outcomes we are fully committed to accomplishing more every time.

As the National School Parent Group of the Year winner for 2022-23, the Huntingtowne Farms Elementary PTA will receive a $500 Visa gift card and a commemorative plaque from PTO Today.

We have a lot more work to do to increase engagement and ensure the PTA reflects the voices of all families, Bent said, but were really proud of the community weve built.
Photo: Yonhap News/YNA/Newscom

On May 18, 1980, paratroopers under the control of General Chun Doo-hwan tortured, beat, and killed hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Gwangju, South Korea. The activists were protesting Chun's coup and declaration of martial law, as well as nearly two decades of authoritarian rule by his predecessor. On May 18, 2023, 27-year-old Chun Woo-won, pictured bowing, met with survivors to apologize for his grandfather's initiation of the Gwangju Massacre.

The post A South Korean Apology appeared first on Reason.com.
A 34-year-old Carlinville woman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for her toddler stepsons death.

A Macoupin County Sheriffs Department investigation determined Ashley Bottoms threw 3-year-old Hunter Drew into a half-wall on Oct. 20 when she was trying to break up a fight between two children. Authorities believe Hunters head hit the ledge of the wall, which caused a brain bleed from the blunt force trauma, according to charging documents in Macoupin County.

Hunter was found dead in the car later that day after Bottoms had been running errands for over three hours, Macoupin County States Attorney Jordan Garrison said.

Bottoms pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter of a family member at an April hearing. Macoupin County Judge Joshua Meyer handed down the sentence Monday morning at the county courthouse in Carlinville.

Involuntary manslaughter is an accusation that a person unintentionally killed someone. It is classified as a Class 2 felony when it involves family or household members.

The charge carried a possible sentence of three to 14 years in prison.

Bottoms had also been charged with endangering the life of a child causing death for not taking Hunter to the hospital for his head injury. The endangerment charge was dismissed in April because of a state rule known as the one-act, one-crime doctrine, which states that a person can only be convicted of one crime for the same physical act, according to Garrison.

What investigators learned about incident

Lt. Ryan Dixon, of the Macoupin County Sheriffs Office, testified about the criminal investigation during Mondays sentencing hearing.

He said an autopsy indicated that Hunter likely died within minutes of the injury, which occurred sometime before lunch. Afterward, Bottoms took Hunter and her other children to a local hospital for an appointment she had. The children waited in the car, according to Dixon. He said Bottoms told investigators they were asleep.

They also drove to Walmart and Caseys General Store before going to Litchfield to drop the children off with Hunters dad so Bottoms could go to work.

Bottoms mother Vicky Nichols and aunt Patty Moore also testified Monday as character witnesses. They said Bottoms took good care of the children and described problems with the siblings arguing and fighting as well as lax discipline in the home, which made them difficult to handle.

Bottoms didnt get much help in the household, they said.

Ashley Bottoms, seated next to her attorney, public defender Anne Clough, listens as her mother Vicky Nichols testifies as a character witness at her sentencing hearing Monday.

Hunters maternal uncle Kiel Quigley and paternal aunt Melissa Miller read victim impact statements on behalf of their families. They questioned why Bottoms didnt get help for Hunter after he hit his head. The defense didnt offer an explanation.

Every night when you go to bed, Ashley, and every morning when you wake up, I want you to see him and think about how you could have changed his fate that day, Miller said during the hearing, addressing Bottoms directly in the courtroom.

Child protective services involvement

Child protective services had been involved with the family prior to Hunters death. The state agency placed Hunter in his dads and stepmoms care in August.

When Hunter died on Oct. 20, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was investigating Bottoms for a report it received six days earlier, on Oct. 14, alleging Hunter had physical injuries, according to a timeline the agency provided of its involvement.

Bottoms told child protective services that Hunter hurt himself while roughhousing and playing, according to Jassen Strokosch, the chief of staff for the agency. Strokosch said a doctor examined Hunter and told the agency the injuries were potentially consistent with roughhousing.

The agency made an official determination known as an indicated report that it believed Bottoms neglected Hunter because she could have prevented those injuries, according to Strokosch. He added that the investigation was ongoing when Hunter died.

Strokosch said the child protective services investigator in the case decided that removing Hunter from the home was not appropriate based on the evidence of injuries and the doctors evaluation of them.

To take a child into protective custody, the Department of Children and Family Services has to prove to a judge that there is an urgent and immediate risk of harm.

We simply did not have that standard in this case, Strokosch said.

Foster parents want justice for child who died after IL DCFS removed him from their care

The agencys policy is to keep children at home whenever possible, with support to address any safety threats or risk factors, because removing children from their home can be a traumatic experience.

Before Hunter was placed in his dads and stepmoms care, child protective services completed a service plan and home safety checklist, according to an agency spokesperson. Then, Montgomery County Judge Marc Kelly issued an order granting custody to the father, which closed the case.

A service plan includes an assessment of possible risks and any services the family might need. Possible risks could include previous child protective services investigations finding evidence a child was abused or neglected in their care or a criminal history.

A home safety checklist evaluates the house for things like a working smoke detector and makes sure parents can recognize the signs of illness and know the ways children could hurt themselves in a home, like choking on buttons or coins and falling off changing tables if left alone.

After the judge granted custody, the Department of Children and Family Services remained involved with the family. A change in the law two years ago now requires the agency to keep in touch with families for six months after a child is placed in their care or returned to their care to make sure theyre getting any services they might need to keep the child safe.

The agency later made a determination that Bottoms abused Hunter in an investigation related to his death.

Strokosch said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has evaluated its involvement with the family and found no missteps.

Investigators have incredibly difficult jobs, he said. They have to make decisions about the evidence in front of them. This case is a good example of where they made good decisions based on the evidence they had, then an adult made a very poor decision and it resulted in the death of a child. There isnt evidence that we should have made a different decision in this case.

Sentencing arguments from prosecution, defense

The prosecution didnt mention the child protective services investigation during Bottoms sentencing hearing.

Garrison instead asked the judge to consider a misdemeanor child endangerment charge against Bottoms from 2011 in Macon County that was dismissed after she successfully completed court supervision. Garrison also wanted the judge to deliver a sentence necessary to deter others from committing the same crime.

He emphasized that Bottoms didnt try to get help for Hunter. Mrs. Bottoms didnt call for help, he said. Theres no 911 call. Theres no run to the neighbor. Nothing.

The prosecution asked for a sentence between 10 and 14 years. The defense sought a sentence between three and five years.

Public defender Anne Clough, who represented Bottoms, wanted the judge to understand the chaos in the home at the time of Hunters death. Clough said Bottoms cared for five young and rambunctious children on her own during the day and worked night shifts at Walmart. Moore testified that Bottoms would call her crying and that she noticed her niece was losing weight, which worried her.

She was under stress. She didnt want this to happen, Clough said during the hearing. She emphasized that investigators found no evidence that it was intentional.

Bottoms will receive credit for nearly a year, 270 days, she has served in jail since her arrest. She has a right to appeal the conviction or challenge the sentence within 30 days.
Sergei Aksyonov, so-called Head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea, has said that an "emergency situation" had happened on the Crimean Bridge, so traffic on the bridge was stopped. Russian Telegram channels have reported that a span collapsed on the bridge.

Source: Aksyonov on Telegram; Russian Telegram channel Baza; Russian Telegram channel Astra

Quote: "Traffic has been stopped on the Crimean Bridge: an emergency situation has happened in the area of the 145th pier from Krasnodar Krai. Law enforcement agencies and all relevant services are working.

I spoke with Vitaly Gennadyevich Savelyev, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, and he said measures are being taken to restore the situation. We keep in touch with our counterparts from Krasnodar Krai."

Details: At the same time, Russian Telegram channel Baza wrote that a span collapsed on the Crimean Bridge, killing at least two people and wounding one more.

Russian Telegram channel Astra, referring to local residents, also confirms the collapse of the span on the Crimean Bridge.

"At least two explosions were heard before that," the channel reported.

Aksyonov urged Crimean residents to refrain from travelling across the bridge and "for safety reasons, choose an alternative land route".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- Conservative opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo enters the final week of campaigning on course to become Spains next prime minister but he also faces difficult negotiations with the far-right group Vox.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Feijoos Peoples Party is set to win 151 seats in the July 23 election, according to a poll by GAD3 for ABC newspaper, the largest tracking poll carried by Spanish media. That will leave him 25 seats short of an outright majority, meaning hell most likely need support from Vox, which is projected to win 29 seats.

Polling numbers have been stable since start of July, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs Socialists set for about 115 deputies, according to GAD3. Monday is the final day that Spanish media can publish polling data ahead of the vote.

Feijoo is set to return the PP to power five years after Sanchez seized control in the aftermath of the Catalan secession crisis with a patchwork alliance of leftists and separatists from Catalonia and the Basque country. The emergence of Vox during the Socialist administration means that a Spanish nationalist party looks likely to shape the governments direction for the first time since the end of the Franco dictatorship.

During the final days of the campaign, Feijoo is focused on trying to reach 160 seats, a number that he thinks would give his party enough clout to negotiate support from Vox without folding the party into a formal coalition, according to party advisers.

To achieve this, the PP is striving to boost its vote in 18 of Spains smaller provinces, where it can be easier to deny seats to Vox. There are 50 provinces in Spain spread across 17 regions. The small provinces send between three and five deputies to parliament.

Govern Solo

Feijoo has repeatedly said that he wants to govern by himself, without a coalition partner, as his party has managed to do in Spains largest province, Andalusia, since last year. Meanwhile, the PP and Vox have formed coalitions in several other regions since local elections were held on May 28.

Polling shows a clear advantage for the right-wing bloc, with the combined votes for PP and Vox yielding a result in excess of the parliamentary majority of 176 in the vast majority of polls. Meanwhile, the surveys show the left grouping of Sanchezs Socialists and far-left partner Sumar on course to win around 135 seats.

To be sure, polls in other media show it may prove trickier for the PP and Vox to form government. A poll by 40dB for El Pais newspaper has the PP at 135 and Vox at 38, three short of the required majority, while the Socialists stand at 110.

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Speaker Kevin McCarthy must lead Congress to recognize the atrocity of the Sikh Genocide | Opinion

In 1984 the prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, allowed government officers to storm one of Sikhisms holiest temples in a search for separatists who were agitating for a new country.

In response, her bodyguards assassinated her. That led to a multiple-day attack across India by the authorities and citizens against Sikhs. When it was over, the government said 3,300 Sikhs had died. Estimates by independent observers put the toll between 8,000 and 17,000. Other estimates put the number at about 30,000 people who lost their lives in the ethnic killing.

No matter the number, Sikhs worldwide have considered the 1984 rampage as a genocide. And now the California Legislature agrees.

Last week, the Assembly voted 70-0 to approve a joint resolution declaring the 1984 slayings to be a genocide, and called on Congress to recognize it as such as well. The Assemblys action followed the state Senate, which on July 6 approved the resolution with all 40 members voting yes.

Assembly Joint Resolution 2 was introduced by Dr. Jasmeet Bains of Delano, the first Indian-orgin Sikh elected to the Assembly.

The Central Valley has become a refuge over the last century of people groups fleeing genocide and persecution in their home countries.

Following the 1915 genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks, Armenians came to America, and many got a foothold in the Valley because they could start farming, which was what they had done in their homeland. Today Armenian Americans are well established in Fresno and can be found in every level of professional life.

To escape persecution and conflict during the Vietnam War era, Hmong refugees fled southeast Asia and came to the Valley. Fresno has one of the nations largest Hmong communities and is home to the annual Hmong New Years celebration, which draws thousands from around the country. Hmong people also settled in other Valley cities, such as Merced.

Sikhs in Fresno

The most recent U.S. census put the Sikh population in Fresno County at 70,000, said Deep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, an advocacy group. Our community is one of the fastest growing because immigration is still occurring, he said.

People (Sikhs) are also getting priced out of the Bay Area and New York, and so they come to Fresno, he said.

Singh said he was getting text messages and phone calls from Sikhs across the globe excited to learn about the Assemblys approval of the resolution.

Sikhs are appreciative toward the California Legislature, Singh said.

He noted that the Fresno City Council passed a resolution in 2016 that recognized the genocide, one of the first cities in the nation to do so.

Congress must act

The resolution notes that state Senate in New Jersey and the General Assembly in Pennsylvania already recognized the Sikh genocide. Californias Legislature is the first to do so formally.

Now attention turns to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno and David Valadao of Hanford. Congress and President Biden recognized the Armenian Genocide. It is time to do the same for Sikhs, themselves a significant community in the Central Valley.

Correction: An earlier version of this editorial misspelled Jakara Movement.
MANCHESTER, N.H. - The founding co-chair of No Labels says its not a done deal that the centrist group will sport a bipartisan, third-party presidential ticket, if President Biden and former President Donald Trump are the major party nominees in the 2024 election.

"We havent decided to run a ticket. Its not even clear that if it ends up being Trump and Biden, as it looks like it will now, that well do that," former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said in an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of No Labels town hall Monday in New Hampshire where the group will formally unveil its policy platform.

But speculation is mounting about a third-party ticket following last weeks announcement by No Labels that moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia would serve as an honorary co-host of the groups "Common Sense" town hall, which will take place at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.

Manchin, who often clashes with his partys progressive wing, Senate leadership and the White House, has yet to announce whether he will seek another six-year term in the Senate in 2024 in a state thats turned dark red in recent years. Hes also refused to shut down speculation about a possible presidential run.

WHAT NO LABELS IS SAYING ABOUT A POSSIBLE JOE MANCHIN RUN ON THE CENTRIST GROUP'S POTENTIAL 2024 THIRD-PARTY TICKET

The senator is serving as an honorary co-chair of the No Labels event, along with former moderate Republican Gov. of Utah Jon Huntsman, who later served as ambassador to China in President Obamas administration before running unsuccessfully for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think No Labels invited Joe Manchin and Jon Huntsman because theyre former chairs of our organization and they represent centrist Democrats, centrist Republicans, which is what were about," Lieberman told Fox News. "I guess its natural for people to speculate, particularly in Manchins case whether it means he will run on a possible No Labels ticket year. Its way too early to say that. I think Joe hasnt decided that at all, as hes said, and No Labels hasnt decided it."

No Labels for months has been discussing the possibility of bipartisan, third party "unity ticket" the organization could field in next years presidential election if it appears the nation is headed for a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, which poll after poll has indicated many Americans would like to avoid.

NO LABELS TAKES NEXT STEPS IN FORMING POTENTIAL 2024 THIRD PARTY TICKET

Lieberman, a former longtime senator from Connecticut who served as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2000 election and ran unsuccessfully in 2004 for his partys presidential nomination before winning a final election to the Senate in 2006 as an independent, reiterated that No Labels is aiming to get on the ballot in all 50 states in order to be in the position to possibly field a third party ticket next year.

File photo of then-Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, on August 8, 2006, in New Haven, Connecticut.

"We call it the insurance policy project. Were trying to qualify for a third ticket, bipartisan ticket in all 50 states. Were working hard at that now," Lieberman explained.

But he emphasized that "we want to make sure is that were not going to be spoilers. Were not going to elect one or another of the candidates. We want to run because we think we have a chance to win. And if we dont have a chance to win, at least we will bring a different voice to the national debate in the election next year, which is toward the center and putting the country first and not the interest of the political parties first."

DEMOCRATS GROW WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL MANCHIN THIRD PARTY 2024 PRESIDENTIAL BID

Lieberman has praised Manchin, telling Fox Digital in May that Manchin, along with two other moderates - Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland  "are very active members of No Labels" and "would be naturals to consider" for any potential third-party ticket.

But No Labels CEO and co-founder Nancy Jacobson told Fox News last month that "this is too premature. We have not made any decisions," regarding a 2024 presidential ticket.

And Lieberman, ahead of Mondays No Labels event, reiterated that "we havent really started to think about candidates, although naturally the media and others are."

But he added that "we are going to start a process by the fall in which we can both talk to people who may be interested in being on a bipartisan party ticket, or frankly reach out and ask some people to think about it. And I think we want this search to be as wide as possible. Not just current elected officials or former elected officials but a lot of the other areas of leadership in our country."

No Labels has already raised over $30 million as part of its effort to get on the ballot in all 50 states. And if it does move forward towards launching a third-party White House run, the potential ticket would likely be unveiled at the groups national convention, which will convene next April in Dallas, Texas.

Democrats have been raising alarms for months about a third-party "spoiler" effort that could upend the 2024 elections and allow Trump to win back the White House. And former longtime House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt is planning to launch a new bipartisan group this week to oppose the potential No Labels third-party presidential effort.

"I have the greatest respect and affection for Dick Gephardt, so I guess Im disappointed that hes taken this leadership role," Lieberman said.

And he argued "I think the Democrats have really, totally overreacted to what were doing. Look, theyve got a problem now. Trump is either close or ahead of Biden in all the polling weve seen lately. I think to focus on No Labels and the possibility we would run a third ticket  even though we said over and over again were not going to do it if we think it will elect Trump  is just frankly wasted time."

"I dont know what the Dick Gephardt group is going to do but somebody out there is convincing state election officials to try and block us from gaining access to the state ballots even when weve submitted enough signatures and satisfied enough legal requirements," Lieberman claimed. "Frankly that goes beyond freedom of expression. Theyre violating a constitutional right that the Supreme Court has upheld which is that people have a right of political association, to form a new party and try to gain access to the ballot. I certainly hope and trust that Dick Gephardt wont be part of doing anything like that."

But Lieberman stressed that Mondays gathering in New Hampshire, the state that for a centurys held first presidential primary in the race for the White House and which is a key general election battleground, is not about presidential politics.

The centrist organization No Labels will hold a major meeting on Monday, July 17, 2023 at Saint Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute of Politics, in Manchester, N.H.

"I know Monday in New Hampshire were going to try really hard to bring this back to our Common Sense policy agenda, which is in very specific terms our way of saying in the 2024 cycle at the presidential level and Congressional level, No Labels offers this program which is aimed at getting American politics back from the extremes, back to the bipartisan center where great things have always been accomplished in American history. We can do it again."

Lieberman, pointing to No Labels polling and conversations with the public, highlighted that Americans "are actually in a lot more agreement than the leading spokesmen in the Republican and Democratic parties would have you believe. I think the Democrats and the Republicans have unfortunately divided America much more than it really is and I think most of the American people want to come back to the center, back to unity, and back to solving our problems, and thats what No Labels is about."

DEMOCRATS GROW WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL MANCHIN THIRD PARTY 2024 PRESIDENTIAL BID

And Lieberman, spotlighting his groups platform, argued that "neither of the two major political parties would put out a policy agenda like this."

"Theres a way to come back from extremes from both sides. Theres a way to come back from just fighting each other across party lines and to adopt something that will really make a majority of the American people satisfied or happy because a lot of what were recommending in this Common Sense policy agenda really follows an opinion of the majority of the American people," he emphasized.
SPOTLIGHT EVENT: The Exiled Royal  register to attend our virtual panel here

Join us for Insider's next Spotlight event. Insider Events

Most of us can't fathom what it's like to be a royal living in exile.

At Insider's live event, join Ethiopian royal Yeshi Kassa as she shares her experiences.

Kassa will be joined by Constance Marks, director of "Grandpa Was an Emperor."

Life as a royal is something most of us can only daydream about.

There are the cameras, the jewels, the ribbon-cutting ceremonies  it's a role that exudes both luxury and responsibility.

Most people, however, don't consider the unique experience of being a royal in exile.

Yeshi Kassa knows it well.

Kassa is the great-granddaughter of Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, who was deposed by a revolution in 1974 and killed in 1975. Kassa was living at her boarding school in the UK at the time and became exiled from her home country. Meanwhile, many of her family members were killed or imprisoned in Ethiopia.

On Wednesday, July 26, at 12 p.m. ET, join Kassa and "Grandpa Was an Emperor" director Constance Marks in a live panel discussion with Insider's senior lifestyle reporter, Mikhaila Friel, in part two of Insider's royal representation conversations.

They will discuss the new documentary about Salassie's legacy, as well as Kassa's experience living as a royal in exile. It's a conversation that will educate and inspire royal watchers and history buffs alike.

We hope to see you there. Save the date and add this live Spotlight event to your calendar:

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Speakers include

Yeshi Kassa, member of the Ethiopian royal family

Constance Marks, director of "Grandpa Was an Emperor"

Moderator: Mikhaila Friel, senior lifestyle reporter at Insider

Read more about Yeshi Kassa and Constance Marks here:

Read the original article on Insider
State police release new details after bicyclist hit, killed by car in North Union Township

A woman is dead after she was hit by a car while riding her bike in North Union Township.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the crash happened on July 12 at 3:14 p.m. at the intersection of Pittsburgh and Hickory roads.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Family looking for answers after fatal pedestrian crash in North Union Township

Prevail Hall, 36, was riding her bike on Hickory Road when she tried to cross Pittsburgh Road without yielding to oncoming traffic, state police said.

A 2014 Buick Verano hit Hall. Channel 11 talked with her family and learned the driver stopped.

Hall was taken to Uniontown Hospital by EMS where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Halls family has a GoFundMe page to help pay funeral expenses.

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Train carrying hazardous materials derails in Pennsylvania Woman shot, killed in Braddock identified; police say incident started as neighborhood dispute Woman found dead at Mon Wharf VIDEO: Local advocate working to find kidney for her son, raise awareness for others in similar situations DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
After a week of delays, prosecutors on Monday rested their case in the double murder trial of rapper YNW Melly  granting the defense an opportunity to present its own witnesses.

The state wrapped up with Miramar Police Detective Mark Morettis testimony, during which he presented an alleged confession Melly sent via Instagram on the day of the murders. Defense attorneys expect to start calling witnesses Tuesday morning. The process could take about a week.

Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is accused of shooting his childhood friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in an alleged drive-by cover-up after spending the night of Oct. 26, 2018, at a Fort Lauderdale recording studio. Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers with the YNW collective, were known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy, respectively.

The 24-year-olds case is among the first being considered after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law to lower the threshold for a death sentence to an 8-4 vote.

READ MORE: Calculated cover-up or a botched investigation? Jury will decide in YNW Melly murder trial

Phones still at center of the case

Moretti, whose testimony was postponed last week after an attorney got sick, returned to the stand Monday. His focus remained on linking a phone to Melly. Throughout the trial, the defense has argued the phone didnt belong to Melly, noting it was a communal phone used by all in the home that he and his friends shared.

READ MORE: Did phone belong to YNW Melly? What the lead detective in his double murder case said

The phone number, Moretti testified Monday, was tied to Mellys Facebook account. Search warrants, he said, didnt show any indication that codefendant Henry had used Mellys Facebook, Instagram or phone number.

After weeks laying groundwork to establish the link to the phone, prosecutor Kristine Bradley read through more Instagram exchanges, in which some between Melly and a man known as Peezy Gambino stood out. On Oct. 25, 2018, the pair discussed merch and needing an old iPhone.

But the following day, Moretti says, Peezy Gambino asked if Melly was OK.

I did that, Melly responded on Instagram. Shhhh

Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein tried to cast doubt on the alleged confession, introducing 19 pages of text messages where Melly spelled that as dat.

These phone messages that the state introduced...pages that we painfully went through, he spells it d-a-t not t-h-a-t, Adelstein said. What a strange thing.

Bradley challenged Adelsteins claim by mentioning one of the rappers songs called Melly Fix That and showing several messages in which he spells the word the conventional way.

Last week, the state presented hundreds of messages meant to associate the rapper with the phone. With the help of Moretti, prosecutor Camille Smith read through the conversations, which were supposedly between Melly and his mother Jamie King.

Most of the messages spanned from August to December 2018  and offered a glimpse into their relationship. They ranged from King scolding Melly for missing a show to reassuring him that she loves him and would always be there. In some, Melly sent his mother expletive-ridden messages that the defense sought to throw out, fearing that they would prejudice mothers on the jury.

Moretti on Wednesday also identified an Android phone that was found with a broken screen in the right rear passenger side of the Jeep Compass. Investigators, Moretti said, were unable to complete a forensic examination of the phone. He said he even tried to extract data from the SIM card, but it didnt read, meaning the device was inoperable. The defense requested to review the Android phone.

At Adelsteins instruction, Moretti put on gloves and removed the phone from the yellow evidence envelope. The detective read the serial number off the SIM card before showing it to the jury  and telling Adelstein that he didnt try to track down the phones owner, despite having the SIM card number and phone carrier.

.Adelstein also questioned Moretti about the technology in the investigation, pointing to how FBI Special Agent Brendan Collins testified in late June that cellphone data couldnt definitively point to a phones location and that some of the science isnt reliable.

Moretti, however, said he was able to corroborate the phones movements through video surveillance, including when Melly was captured at the recording studio and the Jeep was spotted near several businesses. The detective confirmed that cellphone location science isnt always correct  and could even prove to be inaccurate, depending on cell tower locations.

Missed leads?

While questioning Moretti, Adelstein combed through a list of 14 potential suspects. During opening statements, defense attorney David Howard claimed that Moretti saw Melly on tape, learned he was a rising star and got tunnel vision. Howard also alleged that other leads werent properly vetted or investigated.

These are all unanswered questions, Howard said on the first day of trial. No investigation. Case closed. Lets move on.

Adelstein mentioned a man who on social media claimed that he was behind the murders. Moretti said he interviewed the man two years after the shooting  when the case was already closed. The man told detectives he was at work, though Moretti said he never interviewed any of his coworkers to verify his whereabouts.

The defense asked Moretti if he questioned rapper Quando Rondo, one of the potential suspects who had previously threatened Melly. Moretti also said he didnt question Mellys manager Track, whose real name is Jameson Francois, about the guns, magazines and casings found in his home after a search.

Bradley, too, went through the list of suspects, questioning Moretti about how each proposed suspects were ruled out.

Our decision to make an arrest is based upon the totality of the circumstances, Moretti said before the state rested its case. Not just one persons name, one text message. Its everything.

The defense later shifted focus to how Moretti didnt ask for a search warrant for the home Melly and friends shared. The detective said there was no nexus between the crime and the home  and thats something for which judges ask. Adelstein blasted Moretti:

Did you even try, sir, to get a search warrant and go in front of a judge and say: I got eight people who left the studio. They all live in the same house. The driver of the vehicle...lied and the inside of the Jeep is covered in blood. Were looking for the gun... and the bloody clothes involved in this?

Thats not how that works, Moretti responded.

Moretti sat on the stand with a blank expression on his face as Adelstein accused of him of threatening several witnesses in the case. One was Francois, whom Moretti told would be deported and sent to a crowded Haitian jail.

Do you think threatening a witness who tells you something you dont like really gets to the truth?

The defense will begin presenting its witnesses Tuesday at 9 a.m.
See where Ohio plans to spend additional $90 million to improve roads around Intel

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation on Monday announced $90 million to expand and improve roads around and leading to the Intel semiconductor factories under construction in Licking County. This includes several additional improvements to Mink Street, which is already being widened.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation officials announced Monday that the state would spend an additional $90 million to improve roads around the Intel semiconductor factories under construction in Licking County.

About $46 million is earmarked for nine local road projects in Licking, Delaware and Franklin counties while $24 million will be spent on five state road improvements in the area. An additional $20 million is set aside for undetermined Licking County roadwork.

DeWine said the funding further illustrates the state's commitment to developing the region, which state economic development officials have dubbed "Silicon Heartland." He noted that the money isn't just for Intel, but "to pave the way for other economic development" in the area, which has also attracted major investments from Microsoft and Amazon.

"We expect a lot more than Intel, so we have to build for more than Intel," DeWine said.

Much of the money is devoted to improving intersections around the Intel site, but some of the funding hints at larger projects, such as $5 million to study improvements to U.S. Route 62 (Johnstown Road) between Smith's Mill Road and Johnstown, and another $2 million to study improvements to Route 37 from Delaware to Route 161.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, left, Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks, center, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that the state will spend an additional $90 million on road improvements near the Intel factories under construction in Licking County

"What we're announcing today is really just the beginning," DeWine said. "The roads out there were just never designed to handle this sort of traffic."

Most of the projects won't be undertaken for at least two years, and some are six or seven years away. Still, local officials welcomed the news.

"It's really difficult for local governments to find this kind of money," said Bill Lozier, director of projects for Licking and Fairfield County Transportation Improvement Districts. "We're going to get on this right away."

Lozier said all the roads mentioned can use improvement, but he is especially eager to see improvements on Clover Valley Road between Green Chapel Road and U.S. Route 62.

Monday's announcement came days after the New Albany Company  founded by billionaire Les Wexner and chairman Jack Kessler and which developed much of New Albany from a village to a city as well as assembled the land for the Intel site  requested a road through Licking County connecting I-71 north of Columbus and I-70 east of Columbus.

DeWine and ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said that request had nothing to do with Monday's announcement, which has been in the works far longer.

The funding announced Monday comes on top of millions already devoted to roads around the Intel project, including $75 million to widen Route 161 between Interstate 270 and U.S. Route 62, which is days away from starting.

That project came in well below the $110 million budgeted for it, helping free up some funding for the newly announced projects, Marchbanks said.

Where is the money being targeted?

Here are the local roads targeted for improvements, cost and planned start year:

Thornwood Drive/The Hill intersection reconstruction, $4 million, 2025

Duncan Plains Road/County Line Road roundabout, $5 million, 2025

Route 605/Walnut Street roundabout, $5 million, 2025

Route 37/U.S. Route 62 intersection improvements, $1 million, 2026

Route 37/County Line Road roundabout, $4 million, 2026

Fancher Road/County Line Road roundabout, $4 million, 2026

Mink Street/Clover Valley Road/Green Chapel Road improvements, $12 million, 2027

Beech Road/U.S. Route 62 realignment study, $1 million, 2027

Mink Street/Duncan Plains Road roundabout, $10 million, 2028

Various Licking County local roads, $20 million, To Be Determined

Here are state roads targeted for improvements, cost and planned start year:

Route 161 noise wall, I-270 to U.S. Route 62, $8 million, 2026

Route 37 corridor study, $2 million, 2028

State Route 161/Interstate 70 connection study, $1 million, 2028

U.S. Route 62 feasibility study, Smith's Mill Road to Johnstown, $5 million, 2030

Route 161 study, widening U.S. Route 62 to Thornwood Drive, $8 million, 2030

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: See where Ohio plans to spend $90 million to improve roads near Intel
FIRST ON FOX: Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, and Jim Banks, R-Ind., are introducing legislation to push back against Chinese and Russian ties to U.S. colleges and universities, in an attempt to stop U.S. taxpayer dollars funding those countries militaries.

Stefanik and Banks, who both serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee, are introducing the Halting Academic Liaisons To (HALT) Our Adversaries Act.

The bill bars federal funding going to U.S. academic institutions that have "contractual partnerships" with institutions in China and Russia. Specifically, it would require the Pentagon to identify those universities in China and Russia which provide support to their countries armies and add them to a list of malign actors. It would then block funding for those U.S. institutions which maintain ties to those on that list, or a company linked to the Chinese government.

STEFANIK TAKES AIM AT UNACCEPTABLE BLINKEN TRIP TO CHINA AFTER FOREIGN HACKERS ACCESSED GOVT EMAILS

The legislation would also block the Intelligence Community from giving funding to U.S. institutions which maintain a partnership with any Chinese military company in the U.S., or a Chinese university linked to a company aligned with the Chinese government.

BIDEN CLAIMS SPY BALLOON MORE EMBARRASSING FOR CHINA, SUGGESTS IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL'

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I am working to protect U.S. taxpayer dollars from benefiting adversarial militaries in Communist China or Russia," Stefanik said in a statement. "Make no mistake: these are our foreign adversaries, and my legislation will halt taxpayer funds going to colleges and universities who in any way contribute to the military capabilities of Communist China and Russia."

"The threat posed by Communist China and Russia continues to grow as they enhance their capabilities and engage in malign activities around the world," she said. I will continue to ensure the U.S. taxpayer dollars do not supplement those efforts and that we continue to maintain our military superiority."

Rep. Jim Banks highlighted intellectual property theft and espionage from Russia and China.

"We have seen far too many examples of intellectual property theft and espionage to allow university partnerships with foreign adversaries," Banks said in a statement. "The cutting-edge research being done at schools like Purdue in my home state of Indiana gives our defense industry an unmatched advantage that we cannot risk exposing to China and other bad actors."

The bill has already found support from at least one group pushing for tougher action against U.S. adversaries. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action said in a statement that the bill "will help protect critical US investments in research that could make it into the hands of US adversaries."

RFK JR CLAIMS BIDEN TROOP MOBILIZATION IS PREP FOR GROUND WAR WITH RUSSIA

The legislation comes as tensions remain high with Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, there has been increased aggression from China in recent months. Reports emerged of attempts by the communist regime to build a spy base in Cuba, just months after a Chinese spy balloon flew across the U.S. before being shot down. There are also ongoing concerns about a potential invasion of Taiwan by Beijing.

Stefanik took aim at the Biden administration last week for dispatching Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China in June after learning of an intrusion into government emails the same day -- accusing the administration of "legitimizing the CCPs aggressive behaviors in the process."
A stranded Australian sailor and his dog survived 2 months adrift in the Pacific Ocean by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater after running into a storm on their 3,700-mile journey

Tim Shaddock's boat had its communication electronics wrecked by a storm after setting off from La Paz in April. Russ Schleipman/Getty Images

An Australian man and his dog have been found after being lost at sea for two months.

Tim Shaddock, 51, and his pooch, Bella, survived by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater.

Shaddock and Bella were found in good health by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico on Thursday.

An Australian sailor and his dog survived two months alone at sea after a storm left them stranded in the Pacific Ocean.

The Sydney resident, Tim Shaddock, 51, and his dog, Bella, were rescued from their disabled catamaran on Thursday by a tuna trawler, the Australian outlet 9News reported.

The pair set off in April from La Paz, Mexico, on a 3,700-mile journey to French Polynesia, during which a storm erupted and damaged their vessel, according to the outlet.

Shaddock was on his way from La Paz to French Polynesia. Screenshot/Google Maps

With the boat's communications knocked out by the storm, Shaddock and Bella were left adrift in the North Pacific.

They ate raw fish and drank rainwater to stay alive, and Shaddock hid under the boat's canopy to avoid sunburn, he told 9News.

Two months later, they were discovered off the coast of Mexico by a helicopter that was accompanying a tuna trawler, 9News reported.

When he was found, Shaddock was wearing two hats to shield himself from the sun and sporting a dense, bushy beard that people have compared to Tom Hanks' look from the film "Castaway."

The sailor's doctor told the outlet that Shaddock had "normal vital signs" and didn't suffer any major injuries. Bella was also found in good health, 9News reported.

Shaddock was seen smiling with a cup of coffee and a blood-pressure monitor on his arm in footage obtained by the outlet.

"I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," Shaddock told 9News. "I'm just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time."

But the sailor added that he was "in very good health."

Another sailor who survived alone at sea, a 47-year-old Dominican resident named Elvis Francois, survived 24 days in the Caribbean in December by eating ketchup and seasonings. He was repairing his boat when ocean currents pushed him from shore, per The Associated Press.

And in early 2020, a Singaporean man, Wong Tetchoong, 59, spent nearly three months alone at sea as the world closed its docks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His yacht was damaged when he arrived in Fijian waters, and the local navy rescued him on April 30. Wong told the Fiji Sun he was able to procure food from some ports despite being denied entry.

Read the original article on Insider
A strange, giant golden cylinder showed up on an Australian beach, and authorities are asking people to stay away from it as they try to figure out what it is

This mysterious object recently washed up on an Australian beach. Australian Space Agency/Twitter

A mystery dome-like object recently washed up on a remote beach in Australia.

Police and officials are trying to figure out what the strange gold-colored cylinder is.

And authorities have asked beach-goers to stay away from the giant object until they remove it.

A mysterious giant, dome-like object washed up on a remote beach in Australia, perplexing locals, officials, and police as they try to figure out what the strange gold-colored cylinder is.

Officers from the Western Australia Police Force have been guarding the object, and the department has asked people to stay away from it until it is removed from the beach.

The large, apparent-metal object showed up on a beach near Western Australia's Green Head and was reported to police on Sunday, according to authorities.

The Western Australia Police Force said in a statement that it has launched a joint investigation into the matter.

"We want to reassure the community that we are actively engaged in a collaborative effort with various State and Federal agencies to determine the object's origin and nature," the police force said.

Meanwhile, the Australian Space Agency said in a tweet that the object may be from fallen space debris from a foreign rocket.

Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) July 17, 2023

"We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia," the space agency tweeted. "The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information."

The space agency also warned that "the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object," since its origin remains unclear.

Police said they don't believe the object came from a commercial aircraft.

Authorities initially said the object was being treated as "hazardous," but said that an analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service and Chemistry Centre of Western Australia determined the object to be safe and not a risk to the public.

"Recovery and safe movement of the item will be coordinated following formal identification of the item and its origin," the Western Australia Police Force said in a Facebook post.

Local resident Garth Griffiths told Australia's ABC News that his neighbor told him Sunday about the mystery object, which he estimated to be up to 10 feet long and eight feet wide.

"Sometime yesterday, a local lady and her partner discovered it just floating on the edge of the water and dragged it out with their four-wheel drive," Griffiths told the news outlet.

He added that curious children started digging sand castles around the debris.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told the BBC that the object could be a fuel tank from a rocket that had plunged into the Indian Ocean at some point in the last year.

Read the original article on Insider
Student-loan borrowers can tell Biden what they want from his new debt relief plan. Here's how.

President Joe Biden. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Student-loan borrowers have a few days left to submit comments on Biden's new debt relief plan.

The first public hearing on the plan will be held on Tuesday.

Biden is beginning a new process for relief after the Supreme Court struck down his first plan.

Student-loan borrowers didn't get a say in President Joe Biden's first plan to cancel their debt. But they do now.

On June 30, the Supreme Court struck down Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers. By a 6-3 ruling, the high court decided that the law the president used to enact the broad debt relief  the HEROES Act of 2003  was an overreach of authority and cannot be used to wipe out loans for millions of Americans.

But shortly after the ruling, Biden and his Education Department announced they will be trying again to cancel student debt using the Higher Education Act of 1965, which states that the department can "enforce, pay, compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand" related to federal student debt. As opposed to the HEROES Act of 2003, the Higher Education Act requires the administration to go through the negotiated rulemaking process, in which it is required to solicit public comment and hold hearings to construct its new relief proposal.

"Like I said, we have to do these public hearings," Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council, said during a June press briefing. "There has to be a certain amount of preparation to do the public hearings. You have to intake the comments that you get from the public, and then you have to decide whether to change your proposal accordingly before you do the next public hearing."

And if a student-loan borrower wants to tell Biden what they want to see in his new proposal, they have just three days left to do so. Anyone can submit a comment on the federal register through July 20 regarding anything they want the department to consider related to its new debt relief plan. So far, over 9,000 people have commented, with a batch of commenters saying that "it is essential that debt relief provides at least up to $20,000 per borrower and that it is available to everyone who has federal student loans. Families are depending on the relief already proposed: over 26 million people have applied and 16 million have been approved."

Along with the opportunity to submit public comments, the Education Department is holding the first public hearing on the new debt relief plan on Tuesday. Those who wish to tune into the hearing can register here. Following the public hearing, the department will announce the dates for negotiations with committees made up of various stakeholders formed after the hearings, and it anticipates holding three sessions at "roughly 4-week intervals," according to the federal register.

While the negotiated rulemaking process plays out, the department has made clear that payments are still resuming in October, with interest beginning to accrue again in September. To give borrowers some relief, there will be an "on-ramp" period for a year following the payment restart during which borrowers who miss payments will not be reported to credit agencies, but interest will still accrue during that time.

The department will also implement its new income-driven repayment plan, and on Friday, it announced that over 800,000 borrowers will have some or all of their loans forgiven due to a one-time account adjustment, "holding up the bargain we offered borrowers who have completed decades of repayment," Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said in a statement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
An employee at a Subway restaurant was arrested after he shot a man during a fight about a parking spot, Indiana police say.

Police in Bloomington said the shooting outside the restaurant happened at 1:25 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. Bloomington is about 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

Officers were dispatched to the Subway after reports of a shooting and the accused shooter running from the scene, police said Monday in a news release.

The 51-year-old victim was found with a gunshot wound to the chest near dumpsters outside the restaurant. He was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries, police said.

The investigation revealed the shooting stemmed from an argument between the victim and the 22-year-old Subway worker, identified as Sean Rivers, according to police.

Rivers and the victim had gotten into some sort of verbal argument because of where the victim had parked, police said.

When the man exited the restaurant, police said Rivers followed him outside and shot him. The Subway worker then retrieved his belongings from inside the restaurant and fled on foot, according to the news release.

Rivers was found a half hour later at a home and was taken into custody, police said. He was charged with attempted murder.

McDonalds customer shoots employee in leg after fight, Georgia police say

72-year-old shot and killed outside Hardees as he waved at cars, Georgia cops say

Shoot them. Chipotle order turns chaotic after duo demands more cheese, Ohio cops say
Sundays soaker caused hundreds of delayed or canceled flights for some people trying to fly out of Logan Airport.

The weather sucks right now. Were supposed to be heading to Jacksonville, says Brandon, a traveler.

The trip home for some passengers will have to wait a day. They checked in their bags only to find their flight to Florida got canceled.

Pretty stressed out because we both have jobs that are pretty demanding that we need to be in Jacksonville for, says Brandon, a traveler.

Scrolling the airport monitors, Boston 25 News found flights also canceled to New York, Newark, and Memphis.

I have to get to work. I dont have any more vacation days. I have been here for a week and plan on getting home tonight. I am going to see if this Hilton has a room for us, says Shelley Hamond, a passenger.

Because the weather is considered an act of nature, airlines arent responsible for compensating passengers in the event a flight gets canceled, leaving some travelers scrambling for arrangements.

I am going to call my cousin to rescue me, says Venel, a passenger.

Control the controllable and this just wasnt it today, but we will make it home tomorrow and we will go from there, says Marlene, a passenger.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Supreme Court, Republicans to blame for lack of debt forgiveness, students say in poll

The Supreme Court and Republicans are on the top of the list for college students and recent graduates to blame for the lack of student debt relief after the high courts recent ruling striking down President Bidens forgiveness plan, according to a new poll from Generation Lab.

The survey released Tuesday showed 47 percent of college students and recent graduates across the country blame the Supreme Court for unforgiven student loan debt, while Republicans came in second place at 38, 10 percent blamed the president and only 4 percent blamed Democrats.

The Supreme Court at the end of June ruled against Bidens up to $20,000 in student debt relief, a decision that was celebrated by Republicans and denounced by Democrats.

The challengers in the case that ultimately led to the demise of the presidents plan were six Republican-led state attorneys general.

The poll found 77 percent of young people knew about the courts recent decision, while 23 percent did not.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed did not agree with the Supreme Courts ruling, and only 17 percent did. Twenty-one percent were not sure if they agreed or disagreed with the courts decision.

The results of the survey were first reported by Axios.

The student debt relief would have helped more than 40 million borrowers with student debt, costing around $400 billion.

Biden has been sure to keep all eyes on Republicans after the plan was shot down by the court.

I didnt give any false hope, he previously said when questioned if he led borrowers astray in thinking they would get relief. The Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given.

Immediately after the decision, Biden introduced a new path to student debt relief, but it will take months to go through the negotiated rulemaking process. The administration also recently forgave student debt for more than 800,000 borrowers.

Republicans have continued to be vocal against Bidens attempts at student loan forgiveness, arguing it is unfair to those who have paid off their debts or did not go to college.

The Biden administrations blatantly political attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court is shameful. The Biden administration is trampling the rule of law, hurting borrowers, and abusing taxpayers to chase headlines, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said after the loan forgiveness for 800,000 borrowers.

The Generation Lab poll was conducted between July 12 and July 17, surveying 783 college students and recent graduates across the country. The unweighted margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The man accused of killing four people in a Henry County neighborhood on Saturday has been killed.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett confirmed to Channel 2s Mark Winne that Andre Longmore, 40, was killed in a shootout with deputies and police officers Sunday afternoon.

A Henry County deputy and two Clayton County police officers were wounded during the incident. The deputy, who Scandrett said was shot in the back, was transported by Life Flight to Grady Memorial Hospital.

One of the police officers was sent to Grady via ambulance, the other was treated on the scene.

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Police had been looking for Longmore after he allegedly opened fire on residents in the Dogwood Lakes subdivision of Hampton, killing three men and a woman on Saturday.

During a Sunday afternoon news conference, Hampton Police Chief James Turner identified the four victims: Scott Leavitt, 67; Shirley Leavitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ronald Jeffers, 66.

The monster is dead, Scandrett said during the news conference. The citizens of Hampton, the county of Henry, the metro Atlanta area, and the entire state of Georgia can breathe a little easier tonight. The suspect is off the street.

Read: Suspect accused of shooting 4 to death in Georgia killed during manhunt, officials say

Clayton County police said that they responded to an apartment building on Wagon Wheel Court in Jonesboro after a Henry County deputy made contact with the vehicle that Longmore had last been seen in.

Police and Sheriff Deputies said they made contact with Longmore inside one of the apartments and he began firing at them. We gave chase, reengaged the suspect, he produced a handgun again, gunfire was exchanged and the suspect was neutralized, Scandrett said.

CLICK HERE to read the original article by WSB-TV.

Read: Number of Jacksonville shootings decrease since 2022, but city officials emphasize more work needed

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Suspect in Atlanta-area shooting that claimed 4 lives killed after manhunt, officials say

The man accused of fatally shooting four people in an Atlanta suburb was killed Sunday after a two-day manhunt, officials said.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said at a press conference that 40-year-old Andre Longmore was shot and killed during a confrontation with police Sunday afternoon. A sheriffs deputy and a Clayton County police officer were also injured in the ensuing shootout.

The citizens of Hampton, County of Henry, metro Atlanta area and the entire state of Georgia can breathe a little easier tonight, Scandrett said. This monsters off of our streets.

Longmore allegedly shot and killed four people in Hampton, a city roughly 35 miles south of Atlanta, at around 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Hampton Police Chief James Turner said at an earlier press conference.

The mass shooting led to an all hands on deck manhunt for the suspect, with the sheriffs office offering a $10,000 dollar reward for information.

We will hunt you down in any hole that you may be residing in and bring you into custody, Scandrett said at a press conference Saturday, addressing Longmore directly.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Suspect in killing of 4 neighbors in Georgia is shot dead after manhunt

Suspect in killing of 4 neighbors in Georgia is shot dead after manhunt

A man accused of killing four neighbors in the Atlanta suburb of Hampton, Georgia, was killed Sunday after a manhunt, officials said.

"The monster is dead," Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett said at a news conference Sunday afternoon. "The entire state of Georgia can breathe a little easier tonight."

Law enforcement tracked the suspect from Saturday's bloodshed to an area near the border between Henry and Clayton counties, about 20 miles south of Atlanta, he said.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the man twice before he was "neutralized" and ultimately declared dead, Scandrett said.

Officials had been looking for Andre Longmore, 40, and a GMC Acadia SUV he was believed to be driving. Authorities were armed with an arrest warrant Sunday based on four allegations of murder.

Officials said Longmore fatally shot four residents of Dogwood Lakes Drive and Dogwood Ridge about 10:45 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, Hampton Police Chief James Turner identified the victims as Scott Levitt, 67; Shirley Levitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ronald Jeffers, 66.

He said motive remained a mystery. Longmore was a resident of Dogwood Lakes Drive community. The Acadia was stolen from Blizzard, Turner said.

"This community is grieving," Hampton City Manager Alex Cohilas said. "We're thankful we have achieved a resolution in which no more loss of life has occurred."

Turner said his city of more than 8,000 last reported a homicide in 2018 and is one of the safest communities in the state. "It's just not normal for us," he said of Saturday's violence.

Scandrett spoke of "a couple" of law enforcement officers who were injured Saturday. The worst of Saturday's injuries were suffered by an officer struck in his back by gunfire, the sheriff said.

The officer was conscious, breathing and expected to survive, Scandrett said. At least one other officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

The killing spree and law enforcement's response were under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Logo of Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch is seen at a shop on Buergenstock

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group has filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government for confiscating rainbow-coloured watches that celebrate LGBT rights, in an act the company says has damaged its reputation.

Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and rights groups have warned of growing intolerance against the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

In May, Malaysian authorities confiscated watches from Swatch's 'Pride collection' because of the presence of the letters 'LGBTQ' on the watches, the home minister said.

Home ministry officials "illegally" seized 172 watches from 16 outlets, Swatch said in court documents seen by Reuters.

The lawsuit, filed on June 24 at the Kuala Lumpur high court, was first reported on Monday by the Malay Mail, a Malaysian news website.

"Without a doubt, the seized watches did not and are not in any way capable of causing any disruption to public order or morality or any violations of the law," Swatch said in the lawsuit.

The seizure notices served to Swatch described the watches as having elements of or promoting LGBTQ rights and potentially breaching Malaysian law, the company said.

Most of the seized watches, which have a combined retail value of 64,795 ringgit ($14,250.05), did not contain the 'LGBTQ' lettering, Swatch said.

Swatch is seeking damages and the return of the watches, saying its ability to do business in the country has been "greatly jeopardised" by the seizures.

Swatch Group said on Monday it does not comment about ongoing legal cases.

Malaysia's home ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kuala Lumpur high court is set to hear the case on July 20.

Malaysia has jailed or caned people for homosexuality. Last year, 18 people were detained at a Halloween party attended by members of the LGBT community.

The seizure and lawsuit come ahead of crucial regional polls that will pit Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's progressive coalition against a mostly conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance.

In the run up to the elections, Anwar has again been accused by critics of not doing enough to protect the rights of Muslims in multi-racial, multi-faith Malaysia.

Anwar was imprisoned for sodomy and corruption for nearly a decade, charges he denied and said were politically motivated.

The premier has repeatedly said this month that his government will uphold principles of Islam, state media reported. He has also said LGBT rights will not be recognised by his administration.

($1 = 4.5470 ringgit)

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff, additional reporting by John Revill in Zurich; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Bernadette Baum)
Taiwan reports record number of Chinese warships in waters around the island

A record 16 Chinese warships were spotted in waters around Taiwan in a 24-hour period late last week, the islands Defense Ministry reported, in what analysts said was the latest sign of an intimidation campaign against Taipei by Chinas ruling Communist Party.

The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) activity in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. local time Saturday followed exercises earlier last week that saw dozens of Chinese warplanes fly past the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the key regions of Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Over 72 hours in the middle of last week, 73 PLA aircraft either crossed the Taiwan Straits median line  an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected  or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the islands ADIZ.

During that same period, nine PLA vessels were reported in waters around Taiwan in three consecutive days.

The 16 Chinese ships around Taiwan on Friday into Saturday was the most since the islands Defense Ministry began providing daily updates of PLA activity around the island in August 2022.

It is a growing military effort, Carl Schuster, a Hawaii-based analyst and former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, told CNN on Monday.

The military operations indicate Beijings efforts are twofold, he said.

One, constant PLA activities around the island present its defenders with a range of possible attack routes to design defenses for, and two, to practice, rehearse and train for the moment should it come, Schuster said.

That moment would be a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Chinas ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its territory despite never having controlled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.

Chinese state media on Sunday touted the naval activity, noting the PLAN breaking the record for the number of vessels deployed in its drills in the region, in a story in Global Times.

Analysts said Sunday that the recent intensive exercises demonstrate the PLAs capabilities in encircling the island, the Global Times story said.

Neither Taiwans Defense Ministry nor the Global Times article gave details on what PLA warships were in the waters around Taiwan.

But Chinese state-run media said the PLA exercises likely featured amphibious landing training and the story was topped with a picture of a PLAN amphibious assault ship it said was taken during a maritime real-combat training exercise recently.

Schuster said he expects the PLA to keep increasing the pressure on Taiwan.

We will see more such exercises and next years will more complex and larger in terms of units involved and extent of their activities, he said.

CNNs Eric Cheung contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Taiwan's Vice President William Lai assumes the chairmanship of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei

By Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China reacted with anger on Monday to a planned visit next month to the United States by "separatist" Taiwan presidential frontrunner Vice President William Lai, as the government in Taipei said it saw no reason to overreact to mere transit stops.

Taiwanese presidents and vice presidents traditionally make transits of the United States on trips to the few remaining countries still to maintain formal diplomatic ties with the Chinese-claimed island, and this time Lai will be attending the swearing in of Paraguay's new president, Santiago Pena.

This U.S. trip, though, has extra significance as Lai is running to succeed President Tsai Ing-wen at Taiwan's next election in January, and presidential candidates generally visit the United States ahead of the vote to discuss their run with officials there. Lai is currently leading in most opinion polls.

Such transits infuriate China, which views them as covert support by the United States for Taiwan's separateness from China and challenge to Beijing's territorial claims.

In April, China staged war games around Taiwan after Tsai met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the government had already lodged a diplomatic complaint with the United States about Lai's stopovers.

"China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, resolutely opposes sneaky visits by Taiwan independence separatists in any name or for any reason, and resolutely opposes any form of connivance by the United States to support Taiwan independence separatists," she said.

"China will pay close attention to the development of the situation and take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Lai's transit was "routine" and consistent with past practice, given that 10 Taiwanese vice presidents, including Lai himself, have traveled via the United States.

There is no reason for the PRC to use this transit as a pretext for provocative actions," Blinken said on Monday, referring to the People's Republic of China.

Blinken added that he had repeatedly told Chinese counterparts, including top diplomat Wang Yi during a meeting in Jakarta last week, that "we have no desire to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Our policy hasn't changed".

'USUAL PRACTICE'

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the United States also expected the presidential candidate of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, Hou Yu-ih, to visit sometime in the early fall.

Taiwan's presidential office said Lai would arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14, the day before Pena is sworn in as the country's next president.

Speaking to reporters, Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui declined to give details on Lai's U.S. transits, saying they would come later.

Asked whether the government was worried about the Chinese reaction to Lai's U.S. visit or whether it would prompt more Chinese war games, Yui said that it was the "usual practice" to make such stopovers for reasons of safety and comfort.

"There is no reason or cause for it to create commotion," Yui said.

China has repeatedly rebuffed offers of talks from Tsai and her government, believing she is a separatist.

Lai angered China in 2018 while he was premier, telling parliament he was a "Taiwan independence worker" and that his position was that Taiwan was a sovereign, independent country - a red line for Beijing.

Both Tsai and Lai say that the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is already an independent state, despite only 13 countries formally recognising it, including Paraguay.

Pena visited Taiwan last week and met both Lai and Tsai, who cannot run for office again after serving two terms.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by Kim Coghill, Lincoln Feast, Michael Perry and Deepa Babington)
Taiwans vice president plans to visit the US in August, raising concern of potential rebuke from China

Taiwans vice president plans to visit the US in August, raising concern of potential rebuke from China

Taiwans Vice President Lai Ching-te, who is running for president next year, is to visit the United States next month, and the Biden administration is reportedly attempting to downplay the "transit" stop in order to stave off condemnation from Beijing.

At a press conference Monday, Taiwans Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui revealed that Lai will stop in the U.S. while traveling to attend the Paraguay presidents inauguration.

Lai is expected to arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14, a day before the inauguration, Yui said, according to the Wall Street Journal, without offering more details on the vice presidents planned itinerary in the U.S. Asked about concern over Chinas reaction to the trip, Yui said there would be "no justification for any harassment," given it would be the 11th time a Taiwanese vice president has stopped over in the U.S.

A Biden administration official told the Journal Sunday that Lai would not stop in Washington, D.C., as the United States has agreed not to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

BLINKEN GRILLED ON ALLEGED DISCONNECT WITH BIDEN ON TAIWAN POST-CHINA TRIP: WE ARE THERE FOR TAIWAN

Lai Ching-te, Taiwanese vice president and the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for the 2024 presidential elections, will reportedly visit the U.S. in August.

"We dont take sides. We wont interfere in Taiwans election, and we expect Beijing not to interfere either," the official reportedly said, warning China should not respond with provocation.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Lai, the presidential candidate of the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is considered more aggressive in advocating for Taiwanese independence compared to current President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

China had vowed "strong and resolute measures" in response to Tsai transiting in New York and California in the spring to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other U.S. officials. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan last August similarly prompted China to engage in threatening military exercises.

The Biden official told the Journal Sunday that Hou Yu-ih, the candidate for Taiwans main opposition Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, also has a scheduled trip to the U.S. this fall.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, reportedly received a grilling from Chinese officials during the landmark two-day Beijing trip regarding Washingtons stance on the upcoming January 2024 elections in Taiwan.

Vice President Lai Ching-te is considered more aggressive in advocating for Taiwanese independence compared to current President Tsai Ing-wen.

BLINKEN SAYS US 'DOES NOT SUPPORT TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE' DURING CHINA VISIT

Though Blinken maintained that the Biden administration would keep an even hand and does not support any meddling, Chinese officials sought to induce Washingtons cooperation against Lai, considered by Beijing as a member of the "pro-independence" wing, sources previously told the Journal.

China regards close U.S. ally Taiwan as its own territory, and regularly sends planes and warships to harass the island's military and intimidate its 23 million citizens. Just days ago, U.S. officials said Blinken stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and raised concerns by Washington and its allies over Chinas actions in his late-Thursday meeting with Wang Yi, who heads the ruling Communist Partys Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on April 5, 2023, in Simi Valley, California.

Blinken and Wang, along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, were attending the Jakarta meetings with counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-nation regional bloc that is often pinned between competing interests of the two leading world powers over a range of issues, including tensions regarding Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Though the U.S. has sent officials, including Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, ties remain at a low. China has pointedly refused to reestablish contact between the two militaries, possibly as a protest against U.S. sales of defensive weaponry to Taiwan and sanctions against Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Taiwans vice president will transit through the U.S. next month, travel likely to draw intense pushback from China and further strain relations with Washington.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, who is also a presidential candidate, will stop in the U.S. on his way to attend the inauguration of Paraguays president in mid-August, the islands presidential office said at a news conference Monday.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui, speaking at the press conference, did not say which city Lai will transit through but that the trip will be planned according to precedent set by previous trips to South and Central America, for which transit stops in the U.S. were arranged.

Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen transited through the U.S. in April on her way to official meetings in Guatemala and Belize. While Tsai met with U.S. lawmakers in New York and California, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the transit description gives it the veneer of an unofficial and private visit.

A State Department spokesperson told The Hill that Lai will make two-stopovers through the U.S., going to and from his visits in South America, and said that the travel is routine given the distances involved.

The U.S. has explained to Beijing that there is no reason for them to overreact to this transit or to use it as a pretext for provocative action in the Strait or for interference in Taiwans election, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Lais transit is in line with the One China policy, which allows Taiwanese officials to operate independently from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the official name for the Chinese government in Beijing, while withholding recognition of Taiwan as an independent state.

Lai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party and is the partys presidential candidate for elections set to take place in January 2024. The State Department spokesperson said that Washington is impartial in Taiwans elections and that at least one other candidate is expected to visit the U.S. in the fall.

The United States is committed to impartiality. We do not favor any particular candidate and party, and were committed to fair treatment of the candidates, the spokesperson said.

All of this is consistent with the concerted efforts we are making [to] preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is critical to regional and global security and prosperity. The United States and China have differences when it comes to Taiwan but they have managed those for over 40 years.

But the PRC is firmly opposed to any form of official interaction between the U.S. and Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in a briefing Monday.

The Taiwan question is the very core of Chinas core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in the China-U.S. relations, Mao said.

The PRC has taken provocative military action against Taiwan in response to contacts between Taipei and Washington. This includes live-fire military drills around the island in response to a visit to Taipei by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in August 2022.

In April, Taiwan said that PRC ships and warplanes crossed into its air and sea space in retaliation for Tsais transit through the U.S. on the way to official diplomatic engagements in Central America.

The Biden administration is balancing providing support for Taiwan while seeking to stabilize relations with China. It has resumed high-level talks between senior President Biden officials and Chinese politicians that were severed amid a series of conflicts and crises.

While the Biden administration does not take a position on supporting Taiwans independence, it wants to provide the island with the diplomatic clout and military support to fend off Chinese efforts to subsume the country  either by coercion or force.

Updated: 2:20 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Taiwan VP to attend inauguration of Paraguay's Pena with US transits

Taiwan Vice President and Chairman of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) William Lai will transit the United States on a visit to Paraguay (Sam Yeh)

Taiwan on Monday said Vice President William Lai will attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president next month with US stopovers, a move likely to spark a rebuke from Beijing.

Lai will lead a delegation to Asuncion for the inauguration of Santiago Pena on August 15 "to show the importance Taiwan attaches to its diplomatic ties with Paraguay", said deputy foreign minister Alexander Yui.

Paraguay is the last remaining country in South America that diplomatically recognises Taiwan over China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day, by force if necessary.

Lai's trip will require him to transit through the United States, which could draw citicism from Beijing.

Recent US transits by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Lai had angered China's government, which considers such stops as lending Taipei greater international legitimacy.

"We had arranged transits in the United States during previous visits to Central and South America and it's also being arranged this time according to precedents," Yui said.

In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China against taking any action over Lai's stopovers to and from Paraguay.

"There is no reason for the PRC to use this transit as a pretext for provocative action," Blinken said, calling the stops "very routine."

In April China's military staged three days of drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan after Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on her way home from a visit to two Central American allies.

The announcement of Lai's trip came after Pena wrapped up a visit to the island over the weekend, and vowed to be "on the side of" Taiwan during his five-year term.

Yui stressed that such US stopovers were nothing new.

"Taiwanese vice presidents have transited in the United States 10 times before... there is no reason for any unnecessary harassment."

Yui did not disclose Lai's planned transit locations, saying that the vice president's itinerary was still being finalised.

Lai last stopped in the United States in January 2022 on his way to the inauguration of Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras.

At the time Honduras officially recognized Taiwan.

But in March this year it ditched Taipei and transferred official diplomatic ties to China, in a victory for Beijing.

aw/sco/pmh/mlm
TOPSHOT-AFGHANISTAN-TALIBAN-OPIUM-AGRICULTURE

A Taliban security personnel destroys a poppy plantation in Sher Surkh village of Kandahar province on April 11, 2023. Credit - Sanaullah SeiamAFP via Getty Images

For years, the international community tried and failed to rein in Afghanistans drug economy, which in 2021 amounted to at least 14% of the countrys GDP. But the Taliban, which swept into power that August after the U.S. withdrawal, appears to have now suppressed opium poppy cultivation by almost 90%. On the surface, that is a remarkable development. Vast, illegal drug production amplifies corruption, predatory rapaciousness, and lawlessness helped bring down the U.S.-backed Afghan Republic, not to mention setting off high addiction rates. But suppressing opium production without offering economic alternatives creates grave socioeconomic harms to the already suffering Afghan people. And it is setting up the world for far worse public health consequences.

According to David Mansfield of consulting firm Alcis, the Talibans enforcement of its 2021 ban on drug production more or less wiped out poppy cultivation in Helmand and Nangahar, two major production areas. The countrywide decline seems to be on par with the Talibans highly effective poppy ban in 2000. And just like then, the economic and social consequences of the ban are severe.

The Taliban has been remarkably effective in maintaining brisk trade and crucial minerals exports, stabilizing the Afghan economy, significantly reducing corruption in taxes and customs, and generating some $2 billion in yearly revenuesthe same as what the Afghan Republic did under far more generous international circumstances. But according to Mansfields estimates, the current opium ban has cost the Afghan economy $1.3 billion and 450,000 jobs at the farm-level alone, and that doesnt include the high economic losses downstream. Whats more, most of the Talibans budget is used to fund its military and security apparatus, leaving little for the Afghan people. As the economist Bill Byrd puts it, the Talibans economic stabilization is one of a famine equilibrium. With 90% of the population stuck in poverty, what has kept Afghans from starving is humanitarian aid. Yet that aid has been rapidly declining this yearby at least $1 billion out of the $3 billion provided in 2022.

More from TIME

Those who lost their opium livelihoods mostly cannot find economic alternatives to feed their families, including in the security services, as they used to during the Afghan Republic. Wheat has never been a good replacement crop, and the economy in Afghan cities is down as well. Essentially, once stocks from the summer 2022 opium bumper crop that the Taliban allowed to be harvested runs out, many households will experience dramatic declines in their ability to buy food, rent land, maintain housing, and receive medical care. As with prior opium bans in Afghanistan, many households will fall even deeper into debt and be forced to marry off their daughters at an extremely young age. Migration out of Afghanistan will ramp up.

Read More: Far From Home

Opposition to maintaining the ban into a second and perhaps third year will likely grow, including among the Talibans key constituencies, such as landed households in the countrys majority Pashtun areas and among Taliban commanders. Many of them have funded their fighters and patronage cliques from the opium profits for years. Frictions and tensions at even high levels of the Taliban could escalate. The reason why the drug ban persists because it actually serves Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzadas interests by depriving Taliban commanders of independent funding for patronage. Yet any further centralization of power in Akhundzadas hands is bad.

So are the global public health consequences. If the ban is maintained and in another year or so Europe starts experiencing a heroin drought not yet felt, a fentanyl epidemic will likely surge. Unlike during the 2000 poppy ban, fentanyl today is not a rare drug. In North America alone, it has set off the deadliest drug epidemic ever in history.

Mexican cartels, the key traffickers of fentanyl into North America, have developed new smuggling and retail networks as well as synthetic drugs production hubs in Western Europe. So far, the labs have been producing methamphetamine, the worlds most potent meth, but they can easily switch to fentanyl. Because of fentanyls high potency-per-weight ratio, Chinese traffickers can also directly ship fentanyl to Europe. Or they can rely on their partnership networks, such as with Italian criminal groups.

Moreover, the very cheap and easily produced fentanyl could start flooding other markets normally supplied by Afghan heroin, such as Pakistan and even Afghanistan itself. That being said, its possible that heroin from Myanmar and over time Central Asia or Pakistan, both places where cultivation used to be prevalent, could fill the void.



Either way, its clear that cutting off supply doesnt end use. It just forces those with substance use disorder and without treatment to switch to more dangerous drugs or new suppliers. For these reasons, the Taliban should not be praised for or encouraged to persist in its drug ban. Certainly, no diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime should be awarded for it. But the international community should increase humanitarian aid and explore strengthening the Afghan rural economy through local investment. Such an approach made a lot of sense before the drug ban enforcementit is even more urgent now. Like during the past 20 years, the flow of heroin out of Afghanistan is best tackled through economic development and by countering drug trafficking outside of Afghanistan.
It's not just overworked tech workers  high-ranking tech leaders are increasingly turning to alcohol and painkillers as they grapple with high stress and long hours.

Especially ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, new research finds, CEOs have been turning to controlled substances to manage stress and long hours.

In a recent survey of 501 tech leaders by All Points North (APN), a "mind-body health company" that offers mental health programs, and independent market research consultancy Censuswide, almost half of tech leaders use controlled substances every day or almost every day.

While it's worth pointing out that APN is financially vested in treating tech leaders with substance abuse issues, the numbers still paint a dire picture.

A particularly provocative finding? That the specter of artificial intelligence putting humans out of their jobs appears to be a significant factor in all the drinking and pill-popping.

A whopping 74 percent of respondents said that "AI and the thought of being replaced by a computer have negatively impacted their health," according to the survey. Another 31 percent said they "worry AI will take their job."

"The old anxieties of the long-forgotten dot-com bubble burst have resurfaced, and tech leaders and employees are scrambling to deal with the harsh realities of job insecurity," APN founder and CEO Noah Nordheimer wrote in the report, calling the findings "grim."

"The impacts arent just economical, either: the rise of generative AI, specifically the mainstream launch of ChatGPT, is expected to create new jobs while eliminating others, causing a drastic reshuffling of the workforce not seen since the industrial revolution," he added.

And tech leaders are clearly feeling the pressure over relentless worker cullings in the industry as well, with 31 percent reporting having increased their alcohol intake "due to stress regarding layoffs."

As a result, according to Nordheimer, tech leaders are "turning to dangerous coping mechanisms as an escape."

Substances include the usual suspects like cigarettes, nicotine vapes, and alcohol. But 45 percent of respondents also reported having used painkillers, including Codeine, Oxytocin, and Vicodin, to cope with high stress. Another 34 percent reported having used stimulants like Adderall, while 35 percent said they used sleeping pills.

It's not just pharma, either. As the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year, entrepreneurs including Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Google founder Sergey Brin have joined a growing number of leaders microdosing psychoactive substances including LSD and magic mushrooms, both of which made an appearance in the APN report, alongside a cornucopia ranging from anabolic steroids to ketamine.

Other experts have corroborated the observation that white-collar workers are turning to drugs. Daniel Angres, medical director at Chicagos Positive Sobriety Institute, told Bloomberg earlier this year that substance use has only gone up as people turned to remote work over the last couple of years. And that's especially the case in industries like tech, finance, and law, where there are typically fewer resources for workers, such as access to therapists or drug testing.

It's that kind of lack of support that Nordheimer argues should change.

"Its time for the tech industry to confront the root of these mental health issues and give its employees the support they need," he wrote in the report. "An established culture of innovation in tech could nudge this sector toward effective emerging treatments if the industry is brave enough to embrace the opportunity."

More on tech leaders and drugs: After Blowing Up Crypto Industry, Exec Turns to Magic Mushrooms
Ted Cruz is getting really worked up about the 'Barbie' movie and accusing it of feeding young girls 'Chinese communist propaganda'

Sen. Ted Cruz called the new Barbie movie "Chinese communist propaganda." Scott Olson via Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Ted Cruz slammed the "Barbie" movie for its depiction of a disputed region in the South China Sea.

"This is Chinese communist propaganda," Cruz told The Daily Signal on Sunday.

The movie has also caused controversy among claimant nations, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Sen. Ted Cruz really doesn't like the "Barbie" movie.

The Texas lawmaker this weekend ripped the movie and accused it of pandering to the Chinese censors and feeding young girls with "communist propaganda" with its depiction of a contested region in the South China Sea.

"There's a scene in 'Barbie,' where there is this map of the world, and it's drawn like with crayon. I mean, it's really a very simple cartoon. And so they have this blockish thing that is called 'Asia.' And then they've drawn what are called the nine-dashes," Cruz said in an interview with The Daily Signal on Sunday.

"This is Chinese communist propaganda in which the Chinese are asserting sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea. And they don't have any right to it under international law, but they are trying to take it away from their neighbors there," Cruz added.

This is not the first time the Texas Republican has weighed in on the "Barbie" movie. Cruz previously criticized the movie on his podcast and on Twitter.

"We've seen an ongoing pattern of Hollywood movies kowtowing to the Chinese communists," Cruz said in his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," on July 7.

"And they recognize that repeating what makes the Chinese Communist Party and the government happy increases the chances that the government will allow the movie to be sold in China," Cruz said on his podcast. "But I got to say it is shameful to see Hollywood acting as a mouthpiece for the Chinese communists."

China's nine-dash line depicts China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, and encompasses much of the region. In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague found that China's territorial claims had no legal basis and ruled that China had violated international law.

The ruling hasn't stopped China from asserting control over the region. China has built 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands, a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

The US has no territorial claims in the South China Sea but has carried out regular naval operations in the region.

"The United States is defending every nation's right to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Benfold did this week. Nothing PRC says otherwise will deter us," the US Navy said in a statement on January 20, 2022, when it conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea.

"Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations," the US Navy added.

The "Barbie" movie's depiction of the disputed region in the South China Sea has also caused controversy among claimant nations, Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam banned the movie while Philippine censors asked the movie's distributor, Warner Bros., to "blur the controversial lines in order to avoid further misinterpretations."

A spokesperson for Warner Bros. told Variety on July 6 that the "map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing."

"The doodles depict Barbie's make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the 'real world.' It was not intended to make any type of statement," the spokesman said.

Representatives for Cruz did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two teenage boys killed in a jet ski accident on Lake Cumberland in July have been identified.

Pulaski County Coroner Clyde Strunk said Cole Fischer, 14, and Chase Fischer, 18, died July 14 after a boat collided with the jet ski they were riding near the Woodson Bend Boat Dock.

The boys were from Villa Hills in Kenton County.

Fischer Homes, which is headquartered in Erlanger, released a statement on July 17, according to multiple published reports, acknowledging the loss of chairman Greg Fischers teenage sons.

The Fischer Homes family is mourning the tragic and profound loss of Chase and Cole Fischer, said the statement. Our deepest condolences are with their parents, Greg and Amy Fischer, their sister, and their grandparents, Henry and Elaine Fischer. The Fischer Group has always been a company about family, and our team is grieving with and praying for the entire Fischer family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We ask that their privacy be respected during this unimaginable time.

The accident happened about 12:45 p.m. on Friday. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said in a news release that it happened in the South Fork of the Cumberland River. The boat that was involved took the victims to shore, where they were treated by Somerset-Pulaski County EMS before being declared dead at the scene by the Pulaski County coroner, the release stated.

Strunk told Herald-Leader reporting partner WKYT that the boys were wearing life jackets and that he does not think alcohol was a factor in the collision.

The bodies were taken to the state medical examiners office for an autopsy, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Fischer Homes is one of the largest home-building companies in the U.S., with communities in Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Atlanta, St. Louis and Mason, Ohio.

Do you need a license to drive a boat in KY? What to know about boating this summer
The Swiss teen was caught in the act (Twitter/@Agenzia_Ansa)

For the second time in less than a month, a tourist has been caught defacing one of Romes best-known historic attractions.

A Swiss teenager is the latest offender to start carving her name into the ancient amphitheatre.

The 17-year-old was caught in the act, with a local tour guide managing to video her scratching the letter N into the wall of the famous landmark.

It is the first time I have managed to film an act of vandalism at the Colosseum but in six years I have seen dozens, there are also those who rip off parts of the wall, David Battaglino told Repubblica Roma. They even spat on me once for scolding a boy.

Nuovo sfregio al Colosseo, una turista svizzera incide le sue iniziali: rischia il carcere e una maximulta. E' stata filmata da una guida e denunciata #ANSA https://t.co/LwYpfzyrdK pic.twitter.com/ZptKpOD1Db  Agenzia ANSA (@Agenzia_Ansa) July 15, 2023

After Mr Battaglino reported this most recent act of vandalism at the Unesco World Heritage Site, the teen and her parents are reportedly being questioned by police.

He alleged that the girls parents were blase about her behaviour, saying: shes just a kid, she wasnt doing anything wrong.

They could face a fine of up to 15,000.

It comes just weeks after a man was caught vandalising the Colosseum at the end of June.

The tourist from the UK triggered widespread outrage by carving his girlfriends name into the ancient stone.

Ivan Dimitrov, who lives in Bristol, was filmed engraving his and Hayley Braceys initials into the 2,000-year-old structure.

Footage of the incident soon went viral before Italys Carabinieri tracked the pair down in Bulgaria, prompting Mr Dimitrov to beg for forgiveness.

In an apology letter published in Romes Il Messaggero newspaper, addressed to the prosecutors office and Romes mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, Mr Dimitrov said he was not aware of the ancient monuments age or the seriousness of the deed committed.

Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity, he wrote.

It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument.

Mr Dimitrovs lawyer, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, told Il Messaggero that his client was the prototype of the foreigner who frivolously believes that anything is allowed in Italy, even the type of act which in their own countries would be severely punished.
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FILE PHOTO: The Tesla logo is seen on a car in Los Angeles

By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Tesla Inc's directors will return $735 million to the company to settle claims they grossly overpaid themselves in one of the largest shareholder settlements of its kind, according to a Monday filing in a Delaware court.

The settlement resolves a 2020 lawsuit by a retirement fund which holds Tesla stock and challenged stock options that were granted to Tesla directors starting in June 2017.

The settlement does not impact the $56 billion compensation package of Elon Musk, which is being challenged by shareholders in a separate lawsuit that went to trial last year. A ruling is expected soon in the Musk case.

The directors, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, agreed to return the equivalent value of 3.1 million Tesla stock options, according to a court filing.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. The directors acted in good faith and in the best interests of Tesla stockholders but agreed to settle to eliminate the risk of litigation to themselves and to the company, according to a court filing.

The directors were accused of awarding themselves unfair and excessive compensation in the form of around 11 million stock options from 2017 to 2020 that the allegedly grossly exceeded norms for a corporate board.

The case was brought by the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit in 2020 and the settlement is paid to Tesla to benefit the company, a type of case known as a derivative lawsuit. The settlement is one of the largest ever for a derivative case in the Court of Chancery, a major venue for shareholder litigation.

Tesla and Musk have a reputation for fighting lawsuits. Musk has prevailed at trial in a defamation lawsuit, a case accusing him of securities law violations and a shareholder lawsuit accusing him of coercing Tesla into buying SolarCity.

As part of the settlement, the directors also agreed to not receive any compensation for 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the board will change the way compensation is determined.

Tesla had defended against the lawsuit by arguing that the company went through almost unprecedented growth, sending the company's stock price up 10-fold. Along with that gain in stock value, stock options awarded to the directors and to Musk rose sharply in value.

Tesla had argued it used the stock options to ensure the incentives of directors were aligned with the goals of investors.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, DelawareEditing by Nick Zieminski and David Evans)
Tesla is the dominant electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in the United States, and its sales are climbing throughout the rest of the world as well  including in the worlds largest EV market, China.

According to late-June reporting from Electrek, Tesla was on track to deliver 155,000 vehicles in China in the second quarter of the year. That would set a new record for Tesla, marking the most EVs its sold in the country in a single quarter. That figure is up 13% from the previous record, which was set in the first quarter.

The number may not keep climbing, though, as some experts expect Tesla to plateau in China due to increasing competition from domestic car brands. Chinese automotive company BYD recently unveiled its new EV, dubbed The Seagull, at the Shanghai automotive show, along with a promise that it will be the most inexpensive EV in the world upon its release, costing only about $11,200.

Unfortunately, The Seagull will not be available to customers in the United States, where, sadly, some affordable EVs are also on the way out. But in China, an EV that costs less than a quarter as much as the base price Tesla Model Y could take a serious bite out of Teslas overall sales. According to Electrek, Teslas market share in China is expected to drop from 16% to 13% due to new models from BYD and others.

Unless you are a Tesla shareholder, however, this should all still come as good news. The more EVs replacing planet-overheating gas-powered internal combustion engine vehicles, the better. And its even better if those EVs are ones that regular people can actually afford.

The entire idea of an EV market is false. EVs are a direct and complete replacement for anything with a gas tank, one Electrek commenter wrote regarding the news. Tesla isnt losing market share in a made up EV market. It is gaining market share in the car market.

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EL PASO, Texas  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to quell migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a move that opponents call a "dangerous stunt" that will endanger migrants at the border.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar sent a letter, alongside seven other Texas congressional Democrats, to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken alleging that Abbott's aquatic barrier along the river border in Eagle Pass, Texas, is a potential violation of international law.

"Gov. Abbott's installation of floating barriers in the Rio Grande to deter migrant crossings is yet another dangerous stunt that prioritizes political posturing over the safety and well-being of both Texans and migrants," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "Instead of notifying and collaborating with the appropriate federal agencies  such as the International Boundary and Water Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , and the Department of Homeland Security  Gov. Abbott continues to undermine the federal government by misusing state resources to interfere with federal immigration and security responsibilities.

Previously: Texas will deploy floating buoys in Rio Grande next month to deter unlawful crossings

"Gov. Abbott is not only wasting taxpayer dollars with these stunts ... he is once again choosing inhumane and dangerous practices that intimidate, endanger, and hurt migrants and their families and put CBP personnel at risk."

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar holds a press conference with Senior Advisor to President Biden Mitch Landrieu, Local Leadership, on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Blue Flame Building in Downtown El Paso.

The letter states that the first segment of the barrier, being installed in Eagle Pass, is expected to cost $1 million.

"We urge the DOJ and DOS to take immediate action regarding this matter and the potential violations and obstructionism," the letter states.

However, the Democrats' opposition to the move did not appear to dampen the three-term Republican governor's enthusiasm for the recent initiative at the Texas-Mexico border. On Friday, Abbott told Fox News the buoys will "bolster" measures that have long been in use.

In addition to (razor wire), we now have buoys in the water to prevent people from even crossing the middle part of the Rio Grande River and coming into the state of Texas, he told the cable outlet.

An image shared on Twitter by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shows a marine barrier being installed along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, as part of the governor's ongoing effort to stem illegal immigration.

Will the barrier extend across the entire Rio Grande in Texas?

Abbott announced his plan to install an aquatic barrier along the border June 8 following the Texas Legislature's passage of a series of border security measures.

The buoys are being deployed in 1,000-foot segments in high-traffic areas along the Rio Grande rather than across the entire expanse of the 1,885-mile river in Texas.

A close-up view of the buoy system that Texas plans to deploy on the Rio Grande.

"We can put mile after mile after mile of these buoys," Abbott said during the news conference last month. "What we're doing right now is we're securing the border at the border. What the buoys will allow us to do is to prevent people from even getting to the border."

The large string of orange balls will be attached to the riverbed and secured with netting below to ensure people do not attempt to swim under them. Additionally, the oversized buoys rotate, which has the effect of keeping people from trying to climb over.

Smugglers have historically found creative ways around border barriers, throwing rope ladders over 30-foot fencing and cutting windows in steel mesh.

How much will the Rio Grande buoy barrier cost?

While officials have put the cost of the first 1,000-foot segment of the Rio Grande floating barrier at $1 million, it is unclear how much the entire project will cost.

However, in an interview after last month's announcement of the new buoy system, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw praised the new aquatic barrier as a more cost-effective measure than the permanent fencing "installed by the previous administration."

Additionally, he noted that the floating barricade has the additional benefit of mobility, which allows for it to be deployed in different sites as immigration patterns shift.

Beto O'Rourke responds to bouy barriers

While Abbott has praised the new border operation, saying Texas will "use every tool to secure the border," other lawmakers and political leaders have expressed concern and frustration over the move.

Abbott's 2022 opponent, former U.S. Rep., D-El Paso, Beto O'Rourke blasted the move as an illegal maneuver that will damage the environment and endanger the lives of those attempting to enter the country.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke arrives at Mesita Elementary School in El Paso, Texas to hold his last campaign stop on election day on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022.

"Abbott putting buoys (and) nets in the middle of the Rio Grande, almost certainly illegal (and) increases likelihood of drowning in addition to ecological damage," O'Rourke said in a tweet. "So bad, the idea was even rejected by Trump administration. Now it's actually happening. Where is Biden administration?"

Abbott putting buoys & nets in the middle of the Rio Grande, almost certainly illegal & increases likelihood of drowning in addition to ecological damage. So bad, the idea was even rejected by Trump administration. Now its actually happening.



Where is Biden administration? https://t.co/q5pLjB6QF1  Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 10, 2023

O'Rourke said the following in another tweet: "If the federal government does nothing to stop this, more people will needlessly die." He also alleged that Abbott and McCraw are aware of the threat of drowning and have said "the hope is that the possibility of death will deter people from trying to cross the river."

O'Rourke is far from the only Texas political figure speaking out on Abbott's move  U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is worried about the buoys' drowning threat.

The buoy wall @GovAbbott is installing in the Rio Grande will cause more people to drown. Theyre drowning devices.



Border crossings are down 50%, but Republicans are still fearmongering about migrants to distract from their failure to make progress on issues that matter most. pic.twitter.com/o0cuJunGCI  Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) July 10, 2023

The buoy wall (Abbott) is installing in the Rio Grande will cause more people to drown," Castro said in a tweet. "They're drowning devices. Border crossings are down 50%, but Republicans are still fearmongering about migrants to distract from their failure to make progress on issues that matter most."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Rio Grande buoy barrier: Lawmakers push back
(Bloomberg) -- Thai pro-democracy leader Pita Limjaroenrat will attempt a second time to become the nations prime minister, after a previous try last week was thwarted by conservative lawmakers and military-appointed senators.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Pita, 42, the leader of the Move Forward Party that emerged as the single-largest party in the May general election, hopes for his support base to increase in the vote due July 19. He had secured 324 nods last week, 51 short of the number needed to secure the premiership.

The eight-party coalition agreed to nominate me to be Thailands 30th prime minister on July 19, he said after a meeting coalition partners on Monday evening. The allies reaffirmed their support to his candidacy, quelling speculation that there was rift within the group.

His comments came on a day when members of the 250-strong Senate cited parliamentary provisions to say that he cant run for a second time, which adds a new hurdle for Pitas attempt at government formation. Any delay in putting in place a new administration will hurt an economy that is already grappling with the effects of a global downturn in demand for goods.

Addressing some senators claim that he cannot be nominated again, Pita said a prime minister nomination is different from a motion, which if it fails cannot be raised twice in the same parliamentary session.

The main obstacle to Pitas bid is the old guards opposition to Move Forwards agenda to amend the lese majeste law, or Article 112 of the Thai criminal code, which penalizes criticism of the king and other royals.

Pita, who Monday reiterated that he wont back down from that campaign promise, also said he will eventually step aside to let a coalition partner take the lead. That will happen only should he fail in his second attempt, and also if a bill brought by Move Forward to strip the Senate of its voting power fails to be passed.

On Wednesday, Pita will still be the lone candidate for the top job, with the conservatives, including the Palang Pracharath Party, yet to name a candidate to challenge Pita.

The Move Forward party won 151 seats in the May 14 election, making it the biggest winner. Pita cobbled together an alliance of eight parties that hold more than 60% of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. But he still needs the support of senators to reach the minimum 375 combined parliament votes to become prime minister. One senator resigned last week.

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court is also due to meet to consider a petition from the poll panel seeking Pitas disqualification as a lawmaker, because it found he was in breach of election rules.

--With assistance from Pathom Sangwongwanich and Suttinee Yuvejwattana.

(Updates with details throughout)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Wagnerians

Another column of Wagner private military company fighters has arrived in Belarus, according to the monitoring group the Belarusian Hajun on Telegram on July 17.

The column is said to be moving towards Asipovichy and the camp in the village of Tsel, along the M5 highway from Babruysk.

The newly arrived column comprises a minimum of 20 vehicles of different types, including UAZ Patriots, pickups, bread trucks, construction equipment, buses, and trucks.

Notably, these vehicles were flying Russian flags, bearing the insignia of the Wagner PMC.

Based on updated details, this marks at least the third column of fighters to arrive in Belarus since July 11.

Read also: Kremlin purges 28 high-ranking officers after Wagners mutiny  Estonian intelligence

On July 14, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced that Wagner PMC fighters had reached a field camp near the city of Asipovichy in Mogilev Oblast. Their purpose in Belarus is to provide training to the countrys troops as instructors.

Furthermore, on July 15, the Belarusian Hajun reported the presence of a substantial convoy ofpassenger and cargo vehicles in Belarus, displaying license plates associated with the so-called DPR and LPR, pro-Russian military formations from Donbas. Various factors indicate that this equipment belongs to the Wagner PMC.

Wagner fighters in Belarus: What is known

On June 24, the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ended their one-day rebellion after negotiations with self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options, one of which involved their deployment to Belarus.

Read also: Russian Storm Z units increasing presence in Bryansk Oblast, crime rate rises

Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner fighters. Satellite images of a potential private military contractor field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for the Wagner troops, he mentioned that they would be provided with accommodation if necessary.

According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Belarus has the capacity to host approximately 8,000 Wagner PMC mercenaries. However, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the transfer of Wagner fighters to Belarus.

Read also: Lukashenko lacks funds for PMC Wagner, unsuccessfully seeks meeting with Putin  opposition

Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner fighters in Belarus would be involved in training Belarusian nationals for combat. This statement was supported by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and on July 12, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus confirmed negotiations regarding the training of Belarusian special forces.

Meanwhile, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced on July 14 that Russia had withdrawn nearly all of its military personnel from Belarus.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas (May JAMES)

A quarter million people were evacuated in southern China and Vietnam before a major typhoon roared ashore late Monday bringing fierce winds and rain and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains.

The China Meteorological Administration said typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon of the year, made landfall on the coast of Guangdong province at around 10:20 pm (1420 GMT), bearing maximum winds of 136.8 kilometers (85 miles) per hour.

Storm surges and lashing rains also hammered the southern coastline from Guangdong to Hainan provinces on Monday night, it said.

The forecaster had issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning in a four-tier colour-coded system.

Nearly 230,000 people in Guangdong were evacuated to safety before the storm's landfall, including more than 8,000 fish-farm workers who were brought ashore, according to state news agency Xinhua. Local authorities also ordered the closure of dozens of coastal tourist destinations, it added.

The meteorological administration said the storm was moving to the northwest at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour and could rake across the Guangxi region early Tuesday. Talim could lose speed by Tuesday morning and "weaken and dissipate over northern Vietnam" on Wednesday, it said.

Authorities in Vietnam said they were preparing to evacuate about 30,000 people from the areas forecast to be hardest hit in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces from Monday afternoon.

Talim "might be one of the biggest to hit the Gulf of Tonkin in recent years", Vietnam's top disaster response committee said in an online statement.

Tourists have been advised to leave outlying islands and airlines have rescheduled services to avoid the storm.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed disaster response teams to prepare for "immediate rescue and relief works" late Sunday, warning of possible floods.

- Flights grounded -

At least 1,000 people were evacuated in Yunfu city in Guangdong province, the state-backed Southern Daily reported.

Trading on Hong Kong's US$5.2 trillion stock market was cancelled Monday as the Asian financial hub came to a standstill.

The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas due to a storm surge and ferries and most bus services in the city were suspended.

More than 1,000 travellers were affected by flight cancellations and delays, the Hong Kong Airport Authority said.

Hundreds of trains in Guangdong and Hainan, including high-speed trains between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the metropolis adjacent to Hong Kong, were suspended Monday as the typhoon bore down on the region, the state-run China Daily reported, citing local service operators.

Hainan island authorities asked ships in nearby waters to return to port after the local marine forecasting station warned of waves of up to six metres (20 feet), Xinhua reported.

Ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were suspended early Sunday.

Meilan International Airport and Qionghai Boao Airport, both on Hainan island, have cancelled all flights, state media reported.

FlightAware, the international flight-tracking website, put that figure at more than 160 cancellations of flights into and out of the island Monday.

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong near Macau cancelled more than 80 flights, local media said.

Scientists have warned that typhoons are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

prw-tjx/dva/mlm/md
Threat of Russian drone attacks on two oblasts

Ukraines Air Force has warned of a threat of drone attacks by the Russians in two Ukrainian oblasts.

Source: Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "Threat of the enemy using attack UAVs in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts."

Details: An air-raid alarm has been sounded in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

Reminder: The Russians have struck Kharkiv three times during the past day.

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Threats of desertion are spreading in Russia's military as troops openly disrespect their commanders, experts say

Russian servicemen patrol the destroyed part of the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Ukraine's port city of Mariupol on May 18, 2022, amid the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images

Insubordination is spreading through the Russian military in Ukraine, a report said.

Soldiers are threatening to desert their positions, The Institute for the Study of War said.

It follows the failed uprising against the Kremlin by the Wagner mercenary group.

Insubordination is spreading through the Russian military in Ukraine after top commanders were fired for questioning the Kremlin's war strategy, according to a report by a think tank.

According to the respected Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Russian sources, the Kremlin has in recent days fired a series of top commanders in Ukraine, most of whom were leading the defense of Russian positions in occupied Ukraine, specifically in Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia.

The areas have been the scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks, as Ukraine seeks to push Russian forces out.

The most senior commander removed from his position was General Ivan Popov, who in an act of defiance criticized the treatment of front line troops and the lack of artillery support in an audio recording released last week.

"The reported dismissal and arrest of commanders leading combat effective units and formations appears to be associated with cases of insubordination," the ISW said.

It names the dismissed officers as Major General Vladimir Seliverstov, Major General Alexander Kornev, and Major General Ramil Ibatullin. It cited Russian military bloggers, an important source of information about the Russian military, saying that authorities were also preparing to arrest Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky.

According to the report, the officers dismissed all questioned the decisions of senior commanders in Ukraine.

The report says that the defiance towards Russia's top commanders appears to be spreading through the ranks.

It cites an audio recording from Russian airborne units, known in Russian as VDV, in the occupied Kherson region. In the audio, soldiers said they would abandon their positions if their commanding officer, Teplinsky, is arrested.

"This audio appeal, if legitimate, is a threat of mass desertion in the face of the enemy on behalf of Teplinsky. Desertion in the face of the enemy is a capital offense in many militaries. The VDV servicemen are blackmailing the Russian MoD to ensure that Teplinsky continues to command troops in Ukraine," the ISW said.

The Russian military is in turmoil in the wake of the June mutiny by fighters from the Wagner mercenary group, who sought the firing of Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu for blunders in Ukraine.

Russian forces have faced steep casualties and in the invasion of Ukraine, and are reportedly fighting with low morale and poor equipment. A Ukrainian counteroffensive aimed at driving them back has so far made limited gains.

According to reports, in the wake of the uprising the Kremlin launched a search for traitors in the upper ranks of the Russian military, arresting Sergey Surovikin, a former supreme commander of Russian forces in Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CANTON  Three 18-year-olds who participated in riots at Indian River Juvenile Correctional School in Massillon have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the October disturbances.

Darius D. Burns, Damari Thomas and Cantrelle A. Henderson each pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated riot, escape and vandalism for confrontations that occurred on Oct. 18 and Oct. 22 at the prison.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa Hartnett sentenced all three after they pleaded guilty July 5.

Thomas received the longest sentence, four to six years. Henderson's sentence is three to 4 1/2 years. Burns was sentenced to two to three years' incarceration. Burns is listed in court records as being from Circleville. Addresses for Thomas and Henderson are listed as the Stark County Jail.

Hartnett ordered all three to repay restitution in an amount yet to be determined but not to exceed $200,000 in total.

Each defendant received credit for time served in the county jail: 79 days for Burns and Henderson, 77 days for Thomas.

All three would be required to complete the court's re-entry program if they were on parole in Stark County following their release for prison.

Union: Staffing remains an issue at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility

Report: Violence, harassment, vacancies plague Indian River juvenile prison

Teens at Indian River, which employs 294 people and houses about 154 juveniles, launched two riots in October, taking over a housing unit and then two weeks later barricading themselves in a school building. The second disturbance, which kids livestreamed on Facebook via a state laptop, caused $265,000 in damages.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Teens guilty of rioting, vandalism at Indian River juvenile prison
There are three things that need to happen before our system can render "Justice for All," writes guest columnist.

The criminal justice system in Oklahoma has once again drawn national and international attention for a wrongful conviction in a death penalty case. The Richard Glossip case is just the latest addition to the growing list of wrongful convictions in our state. We should, of course, be grateful that the injustice of the convictions in these high-profile capital cases has been revealed. However, we also should recognize that there are almost certainly many other wrongful convictions, in capital and non-capital cases, which never draw sufficient public attention to be revealed and remedied. Some improvements have been made to Oklahomas criminal justice system in recent years. However, there are three things that need to happen before our system can truly and reliably render Justice for All.

More: Rabbis: Capital punishment is archaic, antithetical to faith built upon justice, mercy

First, district attorneys should be term-limited to two four-year terms. It is a sad fact that most wrongful convictions are discovered when, for whatever reason, an incumbent district attorney leaves office. Unlike most other state elected officials, the 27 district attorneys are not subject to any term limits. Oklahomans decided years ago that the power of incumbency should be limited in our state government. All the reasons stated then in support of term limits apply equally now to district attorneys. In addition, there are two even stronger reasons for term-limiting district attorneys in particular:

 All the decisions made by a district attorney regarding which persons will be charged with which crimes and be subject to which punishments, including the death penalty, are unilateral decisions. There is no review or oversight. Unlike most other state elected officials, who are just one member of a decision-making body or who must cooperate with another state agency or branch of government to make or implement decisions, a district attorney has no such constraints. As a result, district attorneys are arguably the most powerful elected officials in Oklahoma.

 A candidate who challenges an incumbent district attorney must be a practicing attorney in that district. A potential candidate knows that, human nature being what it is, if he or she is not successful, it is quite possible that there will be unpleasant consequences for his or her practice when it involves dealing with the district attorneys office. This knowledge is a powerful deterrent for any potential candidate.

 There should be a three-year waiting period between the last day of service as a district attorney or assistant district attorney and the first day of service as a district court trial judge. It is a common career path in courthouse politics to become a district court trial judge directly after serving as a district attorney or assistant district attorney. This creates a situation in which a new district court trial judge will immediately be evaluating, purportedly in an unbiased and neutral way, the testimony of law enforcement officers with whom he or she had worked regularly for years as a prosecutor. Again, human nature being what it is, our criminal justice system should not allow such a situation to exist. In addition, if a former district attorney or assistant district attorney acquires some experience in criminal defense during the three-year waiting period, that might ensure impartiality even more.

 There should be a Brady violation exception to the absolute prosecutorial immunity that district attorneys and assistant district attorneys now enjoy. Absolute prosecutorial immunity was created by the 1976 U.S. Supreme Court case of Imbler v. Pachtman. It provides that a prosecutor cannot be sued for money damages in a civil lawsuit by a person (say, a defendant) who is the victim of intentional prosecutorial misconduct. Since 1976, in civil lawsuits across the country, absolute prosecutorial immunity has been held to protect prosecutors who have coerced witnesses, falsified evidence, solicited and knowingly presented perjured testimony, introduced evidence known to be illegally obtained, and initiated prosecutions in bad faith (for personal reasons or with knowledge that the person did not commit the crime).

More: Former U.S. attorneys: Prosecutors must do the right thing for the right reason

More to the point in Oklahoma, absolute prosecutorial immunity has been applied to Brady violations. A Brady violation (named after the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case that established the rule) occurs when a prosecutor intentionally withholds from the defense evidence which tends to prove that the defendant is not guilty (i.e., exculpatory evidence). Based on news reports, it appears that Brady violations are at the heart of almost all the wrongful convictions that have been revealed in Oklahoma. The possibility of a prosecutor who withholds exculpatory evidence being held personally liable for money damages in a civil lawsuit might have the beneficial effect of reducing such intentional prosecutorial misconduct, and reducing wrongful convictions.

These three changes can be initiated by the voters of Oklahoma or by their Legislature. But until they are made, it is reasonable to assume that wrongful convictions will continue.

Robert M. Anthony

Robert M. Anthony served as general counsel for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for 15 years before retiring in 2021; prior to that, he served as an assistant city attorney in Norman, an assistant attorney general in Oklahoma and as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State in Mexico City and New Zealand, and was in private practice in Norman and Oklahoma City.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Voters, Legislature can make changes to reduce wrongful convictions
Thurston County man shot by deputy July 4 reportedly had fake gun. How did it happen?

A Thurston County man who a deputy shot at his home on July 4 has been charged with assaulting two deputies with what was found to be a fake pistol.

Geoffrey Ian Gilley, 35, attended his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on July 5. Deputies arrested him the day before after responding to what they thought was a domestic violence call on the 7500 block of 14th Avenue Northeast near Lacey.

Deputies allege he produced a weapon and one of the responding deputies fired his weapon, according to a news release from the Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office, which is leading the investigation into the incident. The team includes the Mason County Sheriffs Office and Washington State Patrol.

The shooting reportedly caused minor injuries to Gilley, and he was treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Court records say a bullet may have grazed his torso.

Court records indicate Gilleys weapon was actually an airsoft gun and the records say Gilley was experiencing a mental health crisis.

After he was treated at the hospital, deputies booked Gilley into the Thurston County jail on suspicion of two counts of second-degree assault. On July 5, Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy found probable cause for two counts of third-degree assault against law enforcement.

Murphy ordered Gilley be released on his personal recognizance, according to court records. However, part of the conditions of release were that Gilley would be evaluated by Washington state Designated Crisis Responders before being released.

In a Tuesday news release, the Grays Harbor Sheriffs Office said crisis responders determined Gilley was not an immediate risk to himself or others and there was no legal reason to detain him. Gilley was released on July 6.

Paul Logan, chief of special services for the Grays Harbor County Sheriffs Office, told The Olympian on Wednesday that investigators are still working to determine whether the deputy who shot Gilley should face charges.

Gilley has a known criminal history that dates back to 2006, most of which includes lower-level crimes that were prosecuted in Thurston County District Court and some in Olympia Municipal Court, according to court records.

However, he was accused of fourth-degree domestic violence in two Thurston County Superior Court cases, one in 2010 and another in 2017.

The investigation

A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the shooting from the perspective of law enforcement.

Two deputies responded to a domestic violence call at about 3:50 p.m. July 4 at a home on 14th Avenue. Gilley reportedly had called 911 and told dispatch, Send the police out here or I will kill someone and hung up the phone.

A third deputy arrived after the first two contacted Gilley on the front porch. The statement says this deputy heard gunshots as he approached the residence and saw the first two deputies standing in front of the home with their pistols drawn.

The deputy joined the first two and entered the home. In the main entryway, the deputy reported seeing a black pistol holster and a tan pistol on the floor.

Gilley had sprawled on the ground and the trio of deputies moved to detain him without further incident, according to the statement.

The deputies checked Gilley for injuries but found only a small wound on his upper belly just below his chest. The statement says it appeared he was grazed by a bullet or perhaps struck with a ricochet from the gunfire.

The first two deputies then briefed the third deputy on what had occurred. They reportedly said they greeted Gilley on the front porch, he retreated into the home and then returned with a pistol in a holster.

The deputies allege Gilley removed the pistol from the holster and pointed it at them. One of the deputies yelled something about a gun and fired shots, according to the statement.

The third deputy inspected the pistol the deputies said Gilley pointed at them. He reported it appeared realistic, but it had an orange tip, indicative of a fake gun, that had been colored black with permanent marker.

Three shell casings were found at the scene. One rested around the front right of a Toyota Highlander that was parked in the driveway, another rested near the front end of the vehicle and the last one lay on the windshield of the vehicle.

A fourth deputy reported that Gilley made an excited utterance admitting to pulling a firearm on the deputies, court records say.

During the incident, a woman stood outside near the Toyota with her children in the car. She reportedly told deputies Gilley had several mental health diagnoses and that he had stopped taking his medication for about two months.

As a result, she said Gilley had been slipping into a crisis about every three weeks. She said Gilley had an airsoft gun that was very realistic.
Thailand's Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat says he is chasing support in parliament for a second vote for the prime ministership (Lillian SUWANRUMPHA)

The liberal reformist seeking to become Thailand's prime minister said Monday he was marshalling support for his next tilt at the job after military-appointed senators foiled his first attempt.

Efforts to elect a government have deadlocked on parliament's refusal to endorse the candidacy of Pita Limjaroenrat, whose Move Forward Party (MFP) won the most seats in May elections.

Establishment lawmakers consider his party's pledge to reform the kingdom's strict royal defamation laws a red line and the Harvard-educated politician's nomination fell 51 votes short last week.

Pita said the eight-party coalition supporting him had agreed to renominate him for a second vote Wednesday, adding he was canvassing senators who did not support him in the first round.

"We still are talking to find more support," he told reporters.

"There are several who missed the vote because of other duties," he said. "It is still possible they might vote."

MFP won nearly 40 percent of the vote in May's poll but Pita's attempt at forming a government was blocked by supporters of the Thai establishment.

Junta-appointed senators oppose MFP's proposal to soften the kingdom's royal defamation law, under which offenders can be jailed for up to 15 years.

Just 13 members of the 250-strong upper chamber voted for him last week.

Thailand's Constitutional Court could also take up a case Wednesday on whether Pita, 42, should be disqualified from parliament entirely for owning shares in a media company, prohibited for MPs under the Thai constitution.

Pita, who made his fortune in a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father. The station has not broadcast since 2007.

He said Monday he was unfazed by the Constitutional Court case against him the same day as he submits himself to another parliamentary vote.

"It does not affect my candidacy for prime minister," he said.

The court has also agreed to hear a case alleging that the MFP's campaign promises to amend the royal defamation laws are tantamount to a plan to "overthrow" the constitutional monarchy.

The roadblocks thrown in front of Pita's candidacy have dismayed supporters eager for progressive reforms after nine years of army-backed rule that followed a 2014 coup.

"What I would like to see is for the senators to respect our votes," retail worker Preaw Roengsart, 28, told AFP Sunday at a small Bangkok rally for the party.

"I feel like this is it for us. If we don't come out and speak now our voice will forever be silenced."

The case has drawn international attention, including from Washington.

"We are very closely watching the post-election developments. That includes the recent developments in the legal system, which are of concern," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters, making clear the United States has no preferred outcome in the Thai election.

"We believe this moment is an opportunity for Thailand to demonstrate its commitment to democracy," he added.

bur-gle/rbu/mlm/des
[Source]

A cat owner recently shared her nightmare experience with Taiwans official carrier China Airlines and accused the airline of neglecting her pet.

About her TikTok post: TikToker Nina Galy (@ninadoesthemost) spoke about the purported incident in a video posted on July 6.

The TikToker was traveling with her cat, Baby Cat, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Bali, Indonesia, with a layover in Taipei, Taiwan. Galy told Insider that she is planning on moving to Bali soon.

In her now-viral post, which has garnered over 17 million views, Galy says that she followed the protocols to ensure that her cat could also travel to Bali. She claims that the pet doctors who signed her cats paperwork exclusively for Bali and Indonesia made her pay almost $1,300 in travel expenses and certifications.

More from NextShark: 'Easy, Medium, Hard and Asian': The origins of the viral 'emotional damage' TikTok meme

The start of her problems: The "nightmare" experience purportedly began at LAX after a manager informed her that her cat could only fly in a hard carrier and not in her plane's cabin with her.

After her boarding pass was scanned, Galy was told that she could not step into the plane because she did not pay for her cat to travel. While attempting to pay at the gate, China Airlines allegedly charged her card "four times, three different amounts." Galy told Insider that she does not know what the separate charges of $230, $90, $90 and $320 were for.

More from NextShark: Former NBA center advises Kevin Durant tweet Free Taiwan' to get traded off by Nets owner Joe Tsai

The incident continues: Galy shares in her video that right after arriving in Taiwan over 13 hours later, she was informed that her cat, who was sedated and unable to eat and relieve herself, could not come with her to Bali despite having a baggage tag on her carrier that read Final Destination: Bali.

A manager, whom Galy described to Insider as someone who had a general lack of empathy," allegedly informed her that the problem was caused by a "human error" at LAX. She was later forced to buy a return ticket to the U.S., which purportedly cost $1,800.

When she tried to reason with the manager in Taipei, she was purportedly told that "China Airlines does not owe you anything.

More from NextShark: Chinese influencer exposed for posing as Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine

What happened next: Galy eventually paid for her return ticket and was allegedly made to wait 13 hours for the next plane back to Los Angeles.

She also shared that she was not allowed to see her cat during that time, saying, "My cat had to remain in the basement for an additional 13 hours by herself, until our 12.5-hour flight back was ready to board. They said they covered her cage with a blanket, so she's trapped in the dark, for what would be 25 hours, before boarding the return flight."

The aftermath: Galy was eventually reunited with Baby Cat the next day. Although the cat appeared to be fine, Galy notes in an update video she posted on TikTok that Baby Cat "smells terrible" and "definitely peed in her cage and threw up."

More from NextShark: Half Moon Bay farm workers resume jobs amid labor conditions probe sparked by shootings

@ninadoesthemost Im choosing not to share the details of what was told to me for legal reasons. However, the gravity of this situation was known BEFORE I arrived to Taiwan, and they also did accept responsibility for human error. So now Ive got even more work to do with this  original sound - Ninadoesthemost

I felt like I had betrayed the trust that had taken me almost 10 years to build with my cat, she told Insider about the 38-hour ordeal she and her cat went through.

Her next step: "I am pursuing legal action and am seeking an international lawyer to help solve this effectively," Galy was quoted saying.

She also shared claimed that China Airlines' corporate account saw her Instagram updates about the incident, but they have yet to reach out to her.
An 18-year-old woman died when a tire came soaring onto her car as she drove on an interstate, Kentucky police say.

It happened at about 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 16, on Interstate 75 in Boone County, a Northern Kentucky suburb of Cincinnati.

The Boone County Sheriffs Office said a tire broke away from a vehicle that was traveling on the northbound lanes of the interstate. It rolled over the concrete barrier and flew into the windshield of a Buick LaCrosse in the southbound lanes, sheriffs officials say.

Lauren Collins, the 18-year-old driver and sole occupant of the LaCrosse, was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she died from her injuries, according to the sheriff.

Collins, of Independence, attended Simon Kenton High School and went to the University of Kentucky, according to her Facebookpage.

Deputies did not find the vehicle that lost its tire. Sheriffs officials said it is possible the tire fell off a pickup truck.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boone County Sheriffs Office at 859-334-8466.
The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a Village of Lansing man was struck by a motor vehicle on state Route 13 and killed July 14.

Sheriff's office and medical rescue personnel responded to the northbound lane of Route 13 between North Triphammer Road and Warren Road at about 5 p.m. on Friday for a report of a motor vehicle off the roadway.

Officials said the female driver was uncooperative, refusing to get out of the vehicle. First responders canvassed the area and quickly located a male believed to have been a pedestrian struck by the vehicle.

The man, identified by the Sheriff's Office as 47-year-old Rahman Nasiri of Lansing, was pronounced dead at the scene.

More: Upstate New Yorkers agree with downstaters on one thing, survey shows. Crime is a problem

Tompkins County authorities are seeking information from the public as the investigation continues. Anyone with information about the crash or who may have observed Nasiri walking along Route 13 between Warren and North Triphammer roads is asked to call the crash tip line at 607-266-5420.

Nasiri was wearing tan/khaki pants and grey shirt.

No charges have been filed. The driver's identity is not being released as the investigation is ongoing, the Sheriff's Office said.

New York State Police, the Lansing Fire Department, Bangs Ambulance and Dryden Ambulance assisted the Sheriff's Office at the incident.

Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Tompkins County Sheriff's Office investigates after pedestrian killed
Several top Democrats in the House of Representatives responded after one of their fellow party members, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, called Israel a "racist state" over the weekend and then walked back the comment.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass. and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., put out a statement Sunday countering Jayapal's remarks.

"Israel is not a racist state," they said without specifically mentioning Jayapal by name.

"Certainly, there are individual members of the current Israeli governing coalition with whom we strongly disagree," the leaders added. "Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure."

Jewish House members Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Dean Phillips, D-Minn., Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. and Kathy Manning, D-N.C., also wrote a letter that called Jayapal's comments "unacceptable," according a draft of the letter obtained by Fox News that is still being circulated for more signatures.

'SQUAD' DEM FACES BACKLASH FOR SMEARING ISRAEL AS 'RACIST STATE': 'TRULY DISGUSTING'

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, center, speaks at the U.S. Capitol on May 31, 2023 in Washington, D.C., alongside Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-CA, and House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-MA.

"Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and antisemitic, but they also undermine Americas national security," says the letter, which names Jayapal for her "unacceptable comments."

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., speaks during a news conference with newly elected incoming members of the CPC at the AFL-CIO building in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022.

"We will never allow anti-Zionist voices that embolden antisemitism to hijack the Democratic Party and country," the members added.

HOUSE DEM JAYAPAL GRILLS FBI'S WRAY ON COLLECTING AMERICANS' DATA, WARNS OF 'DIFFICULT' FISA REAUTHORIZATION

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., responded to Jayapal's words on Twitter by defending Israel.

"Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and is not a racist state," Schiff said. "It faces constant attacks and the threat of terrorism, and is a key U.S. ally."

The Californian added, "Israel has every right to exist as a Jewish homeland. Instead of denigrating an entire state and its people, we should work towards a two state solution and a lasting peace."

Jayapal, D-Wash., who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has faced widespread criticism since she called Israel a "racist state" during an appearance Saturday at the Netroots Nation Conference in Chicago. She later retracted the comment.

"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 during a panel discussion at the event.

Video of her comments quickly went viral, prompting backlash.

On Sunday, Jayapal released a statement on Twitter that attempted to clarify her comments about Israel, saying she does not "believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist" but accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing "outright racist policies."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, listens to Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, as Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs, right, looks on during a weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem, on July 17, 2023.

"At a conference, I attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested. Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement," Jayapal wrote.

"I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist," the Democrat continued. "I do, however, believe that Netanyahus extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminator and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government."

REP JAYAPAL CLASHES WITH CNN HOST OVER AMERICANS SUPPORTING SPENDING CUTS AS PART OF DEBT LIMIT DEAL

She added, "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."

"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," Jayapal continued. "On a very human level, I was also responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continued anti-semitism and hate violence that is rampant today."

The letter from Jewish House members said they "appreciate her retraction."

The controversy comes as some Democrats in the chamber are planning to boycott when Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivers an address to a joint session of Congress later this week.

Fellow "Squad" member, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said on Twitter that there was "no way in hell" she would attend. Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both Democrats from New York, also said they would not attend.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was elected president in 2021, is scheduled to address Congress on July 19.

Jayapal told CNN that she does not think she will attend the address but has not "fully decided."

Herzog, who was elected president in 2021, is scheduled to address Congress on July 19. The visit also coincides with Washington celebrating 75 years since the founding of Israel, the anniversary of which was observed in April.

Fox News's Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Top House Democrats rebuke Jayapal comments that Israel is a racist state as she tries to walk them back

Top House Democrats are rebuking Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapals comments from earlier this weekend that Israel is a racist state, which she sought to walk back on Sunday.

Israel is not a racist state, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu said in a statement that did not mention the progressive leader by name.

A draft statement signed by a handful of other House Democrats and circulating among lawmakers offices on Sunday expresses deep concern over what it calls Jayapals unacceptable comments, adding, We will never allow anti-Zionist voices that embolden antisemitism to hijack the Democratic Party and country.

Their pushback comes ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzogs address to a joint meeting of Congress later this week, which some progressives have said theyll skip, citing concerns about human rights. House progressives have been vocal about their opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the US sponsorship of Israels Iron Dome defense system.

Jayapal, a Washington State Democrat, said Israel is a racist state on Saturday while addressing pro-Palestine protesters who interrupted a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago.

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, she told protesters chanting Free Palestine.

Jayapal sought to clarify her remarks in a Sunday afternoon statement, saying that she does not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist, while offering an apology to those who I have hurt with my words.

She went on to call out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus extreme right-wing government, which she said she believes has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies.

But her initial remark  made after protesters yelled Israel is a racist state during a panel she was participating in with Illinois progressive Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Jesus Chuy Garcia  struck a nerve with some members of her own party.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who has signed the statement circulating among Democratic lawmakers, told CNNs Jim Acosta on Sunday that not only was Jayapals statement hurtful and harmful, it was wholly inaccurate and insensitive. Im thankful that she retracted it.

The Florida Democrat added that Jayapal had spoken to a number of Jewish members of Congress on Sunday and that is in part, I think, what resulted in the retraction and apology.

We need to make sure we continue to work together, Wasserman Schultz said. But we all have to be careful about what we say in the heat of the moment, and I think she learned that the hard way.

CNN reached out to Jayapal earlier Sunday before she released her statement.

In her statement, the congressman reiterated her commitment to a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live freely, safely, and with self-determination alongside each other.

And she explained her earlier comment by saying, in part, On a very human level, I was also responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing anti-semitism and hate violence that is rampant today.

The draft statement from some Democrats nodded to antisemitism and also invoked American national security.

Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and antisemitic, but they also undermine Americass national security, the lawmakers write.

House Democratic leadership also touted Israel as an invaluable partner.

Our commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally and beacon of democracy in the Middle East is ironclad, the leaders wrote in their own statement. We look forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the United States House of Representatives this week.

Jayapal said Friday she doesnt believe she will attend Herzogs speech Wednesday on Capitol Hill. I dont think I am. I havent fully decided.

I think this is not a good time for that to happen, Jayapal told CNNs Manu Raju when asked if Speaker Kevin McCarthy had made a mistake in inviting Herzog.

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri have all said they will not attend.

Democratic leadership has been supportive of Herzogs visit, with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York extending the invitation last year. I look forward to welcoming him with open arms, Jeffries, a New York Democrat, said at a news conference last week, calling Herzog a force for good in Israeli society.

Herzog will visit the White House on Tuesday. As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, the visit will highlight our enduring partnership and friendship. President (Joe) Biden will reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israels security, the White House said in a statement.

President Biden will stress the importance of our shared democratic values, and discuss ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis, the statement continued.

Netanyahu has not been invited to Washington by the Biden administration since taking office again in December last year, amid a raft of policy differences between the two governments.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Top House Republicans say RFK Jr. will still testify even after suggesting COVID-19 was designed to spare Jews

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would not support disinviting Robert Kennedy Jr. from testifying.

Kennedy Jr. was previously scheduled to testify about censorship before a special subcommittee.

The long-shot Democratic hopeful is facing intense criticism over antisemitic remarks about COVID-19.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Monday that Republicans will move forward with a scheduled hearing featuring Robert Kennedy Jr. after the long-shot Democratic presidential hopeful was denounced for making antisemitic comments about COVID-19.

"I disagree with everything he said," McCarthy told reporters. "The hearing we're going to have this week is about censorship. I don't think censoring somebody is the answer here."

Republicans have called Kennedy Jr. to testify before a special subcommittee on the "weaponization" of the federal government. The hearing is just the latest sign of how the Democrat's campaign is being supported and uplifted by Republicans and conservatives.

Kennedy Jr. is facing a torrent of criticism after he suggested that there is "an argument" that COVID-19 was targeted to spare Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews. His remarks were widely condemned as anti-Semitic.

"There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately," Kennedy Jr. said at a press dinner in remarks first reported 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."

The Anti-Defamation League said that Kennedy Jr.'s remarks "feeds into sinophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories about COVID-19," CBS News reported.

In response, Kennedy Jr. claimed that The Post mischaracterized his comments. He said that he was not claiming COVID-19 was a bioweapon. He was simply discussing how he believes nations are developing bioweapons. Conspiracy claims about US involvement in Ukrainian labs have been repeatedly debunked.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who also chairs the special subcommittee, also told reporters that the GOP would go ahead with the hearing.

"Yeah, I totally disagree with what he said, but he's a Democrat," Jordan told Politico. "I disagree with other things he said too. But we're having him because of censorship."

Kennedy Jr. is being asked to testify on Thurday about his experience of being silenced by social media platforms for his posts that spread false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine and other anti-vaccination rhetoric.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Top Iowa evangelical leader says people want to turn the page on Trump

Top Iowa evangelical leader says people want to turn the page on Trump

A major evangelical leader in Iowa argued Monday that a gathering of religious conservatives last week showed many voters are ready to turn the page from former President Trump.

Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader in Iowa, offered his takeaways from the groups summit in Des Moines last Friday. He said former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley intrigued and impressed, while entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was inspired and on message. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), he said, was in command and validated his leadership bona fides.

Vander Plaats said the biggest win was Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signing a heartbeat abortion bill at the event, while the biggest loss belonged to Trump, as it becomes more clear  people want to turn the page.

Vander Plaats has long been a leading evangelical figure in Iowa, which will host the first caucuses on the GOP primary schedule next January. He has endorsed the last three winners of the Republican caucuses, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2016.

He has been critical of Trump in recent months as the former president pursues the Republican nomination in 2024, but Vander Plaats has yet to endorse a particular challenger.

Trump drew blowback in Iowa last week by skipping the Family Leadership Summit, which was attended by most major 2024 Republican presidential candidates, and by attacking Reynolds on social media over her decision not to endorse a candidate in the primary.

The former president is set to attend a town hall event in Iowa Tuesday hosted by Fox Newss Sean Hannity.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The commanding officer and the senior enlisted leader at the Marine Corps East Coast recruit training regiment have been fired, the Marine Corps confirmed Monday.

Col. Bradley Ward and Sgt. Maj. Fabian Casillas on July 5 were relieved of their leadership positions at the recruit training regiment at Parris Island, South Carolina, for loss of trust and confidence, Marine spokesman Maj. Philip Kulczewski said in a statement Monday in response to a Marine Corps Times query.

No other information is available at this time, Kulczewski said.

In his statement, Kulczewski identified the fired leaders only as the Recruit Training Regiment Commanding Officer and Sergeant Major.

Ward had been commander of the regiment since July 2021, and Casillas had been his senior enlisted adviser since sometime in 2022, according to an archived version of the regiments website from March, accessed through the website Wayback Machine.

The regiments new commander is Col. Christopher McArthur, a prior-enlisted Marine whose last job was at a joint command in Virginia, according to the bases website. The new sergeant major is Sgt. Maj. Michael Brown, a former drill instructor who has served as the enlisted leader of battalions at the South Carolina boot camp since 2019.

Ward is a prior-enlisted Marine who went through recruit training in South Carolina and later served as a drill instructor there, according to a Marine Corps news release from 2021. Casillas also previously served as a drill instructor.

Marine Corps Times could not immediately locate contact information for Ward and Casillas.

Boot camp tragedy: A recruit died. His drill instructor faces the blame

A series of high-profile tragedies has occurred at the South Carolina Marine base in recent years.

In June 2021, the month before Ward took command of the Recruit Training Regiment at the South Carolina boot camp, a recruit, Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, died during the culminating event of recruit training.

His senior drill instructor, Staff Sgt. Steven T. Smiley, was later charged with negligent homicide and other alleged offenses. His trial at the base started Monday.

In the span of two months this year, at least two recruits died at the South Carolina boot camp.

Pfc. Noah Evans, 21, died during a physical fitness test in April, and Pvt. Marshall Hartman, 18, died in a non-training incident in June, Marine officials said.

The base command opened investigations into both deaths.

The investigation into the death of Evans, a native of Decatur, Georgia, has been completed, and Marine Corps Times has requested it under the Freedom of Information Act. The investigation into Hartmans death is ongoing, Kulczewski confirmed in response to Marine Corps Times query.
NEW YORK, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Over 1,500 flights in and out of the United States have been canceled as of Sunday evening as storms battered the country's northeast over the weekend.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain have caused massive flight disruptions and ground stops at major airports in New York and New Jersey, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has experienced the most significant cancellations, with 362 flights canceled and 337 delayed as of Sunday evening, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

In New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport has seen 318 canceled flights and 426 delayed flights. At LaGuardia Airport, another airport in the city, the number of canceled flights has reached 270.

Boston Logan International Airport also experienced a ground stop due to thunderstorms on Sunday evening. FlightAware data showed that nearly 260 flights were canceled.

In the U.S. Northeast, over 56 million people were under a flood watch, as heavy rain moved through on Sunday, causing flash flooding and power outage in parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. 
(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, a top candidate for president, will stop in the US next month en route to South America, plans that risk roiling tensions with China months before the election.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Lai will transit the US on his way to Paraguay, where hell attend the presidential inauguration of Santiago Pena, the Foreign Ministry in Taipei said Monday, without providing further details about the stopover.

It is usual practice for a Taiwanese official to transit through the US, Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui said Monday at a press briefing in Taipei. Well follow the usual practice and handle it with the principles of comfort, convenience, safety and dignity, he added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Monday at a regular press briefing in Beijing that her nation had filed a diplomatic complaint with the US about the plans for Lais stopover.

China opposes any form of official interactions between the US and Taiwan, she said. We stand rock firm against the Taiwan independence forces making any visit to the US.

China protests all official engagement with the government in Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own. A senior Biden administration official said Lais transit wouldnt go beyond precedent and would be low key, private and unofficial.

Taiwan will hold presidential elections in January and leading contenders usually visit the US before voters cast their ballots. Hou Yu-ih, the opposition Kuomintangs candidate, is expected to transit through the US sometime in the early autumn, the official said.

The US is committed to impartiality in the upcoming election, the official added, calling on Beijing not to interfere in the vote, or use the transit as a pretext for any coercion.

Military Drills

Lais visit is likely to provoke a reaction from Beijing. After President Tsai Ing-wen met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a similar transit in the US in April, the Peoples Liberation Army held major military drills around the democracy of some 23 million people.

The PLA also held exercises in August 2022 after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei  that military activity included sending missiles over Taiwan. The US criticized Chinas maneuvers, and President Joe Biden has repeatedly pledged to protect Taiwan if it is invaded.

READ MORE: China Warplanes Make Biggest Taiwan Incursion in 3 Months

Last week, PLA warplanes made their biggest incursion into sensitive areas around Taiwan in three months while Pena visited Taipei. Paraguay is the only South American country to officially recognize Taiwan as a nation, and Pena said during his visit that hes determined to maintain the relationship. Hes set to be sworn into office on Aug. 15.

Lai has gone to the US twice in recent years. In 2020, he visited Washington, meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, a critic of Chinas policies, and visiting officials at the National Security Council. He stopped in Los Angeles last year as part of a trip to Honduras, which later switched ties to Beijing.

READ MORE: Why Taiwans 2024 Election Matters From China to US: QuickTake

The DPP candidate has consistently led polls in Taiwan, while Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Peoples Party and the KMTs Hou jostle for second place.

China blames the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for damaging cross-tensions by frequently having officials meeting with figures from other nations. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has refused to interact with Tsai because she doesnt accept Beijings stance there is just one China.

--With assistance from Rebecca Choong Wilkins.

(Adds comment from US official.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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On Oct. 7, 1932, a routine flight from what is now Scott Air Force Base to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, turned into a narrow brush with death shortly after takeoff.

Heres how the OFallon Progress reported the hair-raising incident.

A Curtiss A-3 observation-type army plane caught fire near Scott Field Friday morning, and Maj. V. E. Prichard and Staff Sergt. James E. Clifton saved their lives by bailing out in their parachutes.

The plane was flying at an altitude of about 3,000 feet when Maj. Prichard, a passenger, leaped out. He said he could not see Sergt. Clifton, who was piloting the plane at the time, because of the smoke from a blaze on the motor. Sergt. Clifton leaped a moment later from a wing. He suffered a sprained back when he landed. Maj. Prichard was uninjured.

The plane landed in a cornfield in Silver Creek bottoms, about two miles east from the field. It was wrecked and a total loss.

Sergt. Clifton had flown the plane from Maxwell Field, Alabama, to pick up Maj. Prichard, an artillery officer, and take him to Maxwell Field for an inspection. He had just taken off on the return flight when the accident occurred.

The cause of the fire was undetermined.

According to Clifton, who is 27, everything went all right until they reached 2,000 feet. Then smoke near the engine began pouring out indicating that the plane was on fire. Clifton then kept climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet so that the Major would have plenty of room for his drophe had never jumped before.

After the Major made a successful leap Clifton started his ship downward in the hopes of making a safe landing. Choking from the effects of smoke at an altitude of 600 feet he crawled out on a wing, grasped the ring of his parachute and fell off. When he regained consciousness he was lying on his back in a field.

75 years ago, July 22, 1948

Joseph Panter, operator of Panters tavern at Shiloh had a narrow escape from probable serious injury when a steel half barrel of beer exploded in a cooler under the bar Sunday afternoon.

A number of patrons were in the tavern at the time but no one was injured. A section of a faucet struck the chest of Ardell Kreutzer, a patron, but he was not hurt.

Panter was behind the bar at the time. He had just drawn a glass of beer, and moved from his usual position to tune in a television set, when the top blew out of the barrel.

The impact blew open the cooler doors, shattered the top of the cooler, and struck the ceiling, leaving it with a hole. Foaming beer spouted and drenched the surroundings, being blown with such force that it reached the ceiling. Several beer glasses were hurled off the bar to the floor. A strange incident was that not a single bottle on the back of the bar was disturbed.

Patrons in the tavern at the time as well as the owner are of the opinion that had Panter been drawing beer at the time he would have probably been seriously injured or killed.

Damage to the equipment and ceiling is estimated at about $1,000.

50 years ago, July 19, 1973

A special census of the City of OFallon will be taken the week of July 23.

Applications for work as census enumerators may be picked up at the office of City Clerk Robert E. Bode, in City Hall. Applicants must be 18-years-old or older and the applications are to be taken to the Census supervisor at the Enterprise Grange Building, Washington and Vine at 10 a.m., July 23.

The census will determine the citys revenue from state income tax and motor fuel tax funds.

The citys 1970 population was given as 9365 and the OFallon estimate is 10,500. Persons who will be out of town the week of July 23 should go to the city clerks office before leaving to fill in an enumeration card. In that way, the city will receive correct benefits.

The special census is undertaken at the citys expense. OFallon expects additional income as a result of the count.
Trans kids are already at risk of suicide. How will new rules in Texas affect them?

As policies targeting transgender students in North Texas schools and statewide are set to take effect, parents, students and advocates worry about how those new rules will affect trans and nonbinary students mental health.

Schools in the Fort Worth area are implementing newly adopted rules regarding which bathrooms trans students can use, which choirs they can sing in and how teachers and classmates are required to refer to them. And across Texas, trans kids and their parents worry about a new law that cuts off access to gender-affirming care.

Researchers say transgender students are already more likely to consider suicide because of the hostile social environment many face at school and elsewhere. Advocates for transgender kids say new policies will only make matters worse.

Keller ISD adopts bathroom, pronoun policies for trans students

Last month, the Keller Independent School Districts board voted to approve a policy requiring students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their sex as assigned at birth. Under the policy, schools may make accommodations, including allowing students to use single-stall bathrooms.

Trustees also adopted a policy stating that district employees may not promote, encourage, or require the use of pronouns that are inconsistent with a students or other persons biological sex. The policy leaves trans and nonbinary students little recourse if a classmate or teacher intentionally refers to them using the wrong pronouns.

Days before the meeting, the ACLU of Texas sent a letter to members of the board, as well as Superintendent Rick Westfall, warning them that the policy violates federal law and runs contrary to guidance from nonpartisan education groups, including the Texas Association of School Boards. In the letter, ACLU lawyers argued that it is deeply invasive and unlawful for district officials to question students sexual characteristics.

The new policies in Keller mirror similar rules put in place last year in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. Under that policy, when a parent or student requests that the student be referred to using pronouns that match the students gender identity, the matter is up to the teachers discretion.

The Keller ISD meetings public comment section stretched on for more than an hour and a half, with speakers on both sides of the issue lining up to give two-minute testimonies. District resident Fran Rhodes thanked the board for enacting the policy, saying the bathroom restrictions were necessary to keep students safe at school. Regarding the policy on pronouns, Rhodes argued that no one should be required to use language that runs contrary to their beliefs.

Everyone can make that decision for themselves, but district policy should not force the use of specified pronouns on anyone, she said.

Thorn Hawthorne, a trans woman who was a student at Central High School in Keller ISD in the early 2010s, urged the board not to approve the policy. Hawthorne told trustees that deliberately misgendering trans people is a form of hate speech, and she worries that allowing teachers and students to do so with no repercussions will embolden people who want to do harm to trans and nonbinary people.

Shortly after the board adopted the policy, Marc Weaver, a theater teacher at Independence Elementary School in Keller ISD, posted a petition online urging the board to reverse the policies. By Friday morning, the petition had garnered more than 17,000 signatures, though it wasnt clear how many of those came from within the district.

In the petition, Weaver wrote that policies targeting transgender students can have academic repercussions, including increased absenteeism and a heightened risk of dropping out of school.

It is crucial for KISD to prioritize the well-being and success of all its students by implementing policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination, Weaver wrote. By doing so, we can foster an environment where every student feels valued and respected.

The new rules in Keller ISD represented just one of several policy changes targeting trans and nonbinary students in North Texas and statewide in June, which is Pride Month. Days before the Keller board meeting, the board of directors at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, a public charter school in southwest Fort Worth, approved a policy barring students from singing in choirs that didnt correspond with their sex as listed on their birth certificates. The decision followed more than three hours of public comment by teachers, parents and students, as well as community members with no connection to the school.

Also last month, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill barring transgender and nonbinary children in Texas from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Under the law, children who are already taking the drugs are to be weaned off them in a safe and medically appropriate way. But researchers from the medical schools at Harvard University and Yale University told the medical news website Stat News in May that theres no medically appropriate way of doing so.

On Wednesday, a group of families and medical professionals sued to block the law before it goes into effect on Sept. 1. Attorneys with the ACLU of Texas, which Is one of several organizations representing the plaintiffs, argued that the ban violates the Texas Constitution because it overrides the judgment of patients, parents and doctors.

Trans kids are more likely to consider suicide, research suggests

In a study published in 2021, researchers from the National Institutes of Health found that LGBTQ adolescents were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to their straight, cisgender peers. They also tended to become suicidal at a younger age and move more quickly from suicidal ideation to developing a plan to kill themselves than their straight, cisgender peers, according to the study.

Researchers wrote that LGBTQ people are at increased risk for mental health problems in general, and suicidality in particular, because they face a more hostile and stressful social environment characterized by stigma, prejudice, and discrimination.

But research suggests that teachers and school leaders can mitigate some of that harm by showing support for transgender students. In a study conducted in 2018, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that the risk of depression and suicide drops drastically when trans youths are allowed to use their chosen names at home, work and school.

In a previous study, UT researchers found that trans adolescents have suicidal thoughts at nearly twice the rate of their peers, and about one in three reported that they were considering suicide. In the 2018 paper, researchers wrote that when trans students had even a single context where they were allowed to use their preferred names, there was a 29% drop in suicidal thoughts. Researchers wrote that allowing trans students to use their chosen names at school is a simple way that districts can show support for those students.

Trans former Keller student says she was mistreated at school

Hawthorne, the former Keller ISD student, told the Star-Telegram that she was badly mistreated by teachers and other students while she was in school. After she came out as trans during her freshman year, Hawthorne wasnt allowed to use either the boys or the girls bathrooms, she said. A few teachers were willing to find some accommodation, she said, but others werent. Once, when she left class to use the bathroom, a group of teachers and school security guards stopped her before she got there. She later found out that school staff members had been watching her on security cameras, she said.

I was a child. I was 14 or 15 years old, she said. I was very small, very non-threatening, but people just did not want to share space with a trans person.

Hawthorne said she had a little recourse when other students mistreated her. In one case, a classmate grabbed her cell phone out of her hand and threw it across the room, breaking it. The student who threw the phone didnt get into trouble, Hawthorne said. Instead, the teacher punished Hawthorne, she said. In another case, another student hit her. She told the campus administrator, who said Hawthorne must have done something to provoke the other student, she said.

Hawthorne said those interactions are examples of what trans people encounter every day. She said theres a dangerous misconception that all trans people are predatory and inherently dangerous, especially to children.

Thats not how being trans works, she said. Were just born, we figure out that were trans, and then usually our life falls apart after that because of the way people react to it.

As that treatment continued, Hawthornes grades began to drop. When Hawthorne was 17, her mother pulled her out of school. Hawthorne took the GED exam and passed.

In an emailed statement, a Keller ISD spokesman said the district couldnt comment on Hawthornes experience. But school staff members are trained on how to intervene in cases of bullying, he said, and the districts student code of conduct and employee handbook outline consequences for bullying.

While teachers and campus leaders are no longer allowed to require students to refer to their trans and nonbinary classmates using the correct pronouns, the district encourages any student who feels harmed by the actions of others to get support from a school counselor or campus administrator, he said.

School can be hard to navigate, says nonbinary Azle student

Beatrice, an Azle High School student who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, said most of the hostility theyve felt at school comes from adults, not other students. Beatrice asked only to be identified by their first name because of concerns about state investigations targeting parents who provide gender-affirming care to trans children. Some teachers are supportive, they said, but others arent. So it can be hard for LGBTQ students to know where they can turn when they need to talk to an adult.

The Azle Independent School District doesnt have a district-wide policy regarding which bathrooms students should use, instead leaving the matter up to campus leaders to decide, a district spokeswoman said. At Azle High School, trans and nonbinary students are allowed to use a teachers bathroom.

Beatrice said they think that solution is generally a fair compromise. Beatrice cant go into either the boys or girls bathrooms without risking a confrontation, they said, so a teachers bathroom feels like the safest option. As the district builds new schools in the future, theyd like to see single-stall gender-neutral bathrooms included in the plans, but they acknowledged it would be complicated to add them to buildings that were built decades ago.

But recently, a friend who is a trans girl tried to use a girls bathroom at her school instead of the teachers restroom she typically uses. A teacher who knew the girl before she transitioned stopped her and insisted she use the boys bathroom, Beatrice said. The interaction left the girl feeling dysphoric, Beatrice said. Gender dysphoria is the physical and emotional distress that some trans and nonbinary people feel stemming from the conflict between the sex they were assigned at birth and the gender with which they identify.

Although they werent directly involved in the incident, Beatrice said it still left them, and every other trans and nonbinary student at school, feeling tense. Theres a lot of hatred in the world directed at trans and nonbinary people, Beatrice said, and situations like that make them feel like they arent safe at school.

You feel frowned upon, they said. You feel disrespected.

Beatrice said theyd also like to see the district find a way to list trans students preferred names in student records so that substitute teachers know the correct name to call during roll. Being called by their birth name, which is often known as their deadname, can be a source of stress and anxiety for many trans and nonbinary people. While some people may address trans people by their deadnames as an act of aggression, Beatrice said they understand substitutes are just using the only names listed on the class roll. But it still creates an awkward situation they said could easily be avoided.

Beatrice said theyve heard others at school and elsewhere in the community say that LGBTQ+ issues are an uncomfortable topic. But they say those topics shouldnt be off limits just because they make some people feel uncomfortable. Teachers especially need to understand those issues because they need to be able to work with gay and trans students, they said.

Effects of school experience can follow trans kids for years

Hawthorne said the effects of her experience in high school have followed her in the decade since she dropped out. She feels uncomfortable in a classroom setting, she said. She still expects to be punished when she hasnt done anything wrong, she said, and she doesnt expect teachers and classmates to take her seriously.

Thats made it difficult to pursue a college degree, she said. She started the first year of an associates degree program about a half dozen times, then had to leave each time, she said. Ten years after leaving high school, shes now an undergrad at the University of Iowa.

Im currently working on my bachelors degree at 27, when most people would be finishing their postgraduate degree, she said.

Thinking back on the end of her high school career, Hawthorne thinks her mother made the best decision she could have by pulling her out of school. Considering the direction her grades were headed, she said its unlikely she would have graduated even if shed stayed.

But even if it was the best decision, its one that continues to affect her a decade later. Hiring decisions and college application processes are generally opaque, so she cant know for sure. But she suspects that shes been turned down for job and school opportunities because she has a GED instead of a high school diploma  something she says wouldnt be an issue if teachers and administrators at her school had been more supportive.

People will look at someone who didnt graduate high school and just make a lot of assumptions, she said. ...I just wonder how different things would be right now had I not been so mistreated and so ignored by school administration.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, dial 988 or text SAVE to 741741 to be connected with crisis support services.
Oleg Khorzhan

The leader of the Communist Party in Russian-occupied Transnistria, Oleg Khorzhan, was found dead in his home at the age of 47, the Moldovan service of Radio Liberty reported on July 17.

Khorzhan's body with numerous stab wounds was found at his home in in a village near Tiraspol, the capital of the Russian-occupied region.

Read also: Ukraine will not send troops to Transnistria without Moldova's request  Zelenskyy

According to the so-called Transnistrian Interior Ministry, Khorzhan was found with "signs of violent death" by his wife next to an "open and empty safe".

The head of the Communist Party of Russia, Gennady Zyuganov, claims that his colleague Khorzhan was "killed at home."

"Last night, our leader of the Transnistrian Communist Party, Oleg Khorzhan, was killed," Zyuganov said.

Read also: Transnistrian puppet authorities accuse SBU of assassination attempt, Chisinau denies

He was killed at home, we demand to immediately start an investigation and [find out what happened].

Khorzhan is a former member of the "parliament" in occupied Transnistria. In 2006, he opened a reception office in Tiraspol for the head of the now-banned Communist Party of Ukraine, Petro Symonenko. He supported strengthening ties with Russia.

In December 2022, he was released after 4.5 years in prison for committing "violent actions against a government official."

According to the Moldovan news outlet Newsmaker, Khorzhan held a rally in Tiraspol without the approval of the local "authorities," after which several participants were detained, including Khorzhan's son.

The "investigation" claimed that the politician came to the local police station and tried to reach the detainees, and in the scuffle tore the shoulder straps off several policemen. According to his supporters, the police officers attacked Khorzhan first.

Read also: Transnistria residents refuse to sign contracts with Russian army, says Ukrainian intel

In March 2022, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Russia's act of military aggression against Moldova and its occupation of the Transnistrian region as a crime.

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
Travel story about Paris turned into tirade. Heres how to stop rants in their tracks

A neighbor recently stopped by to tell us about his trip to Paris.

What began as a pleasant recounting of his adventures quickly turned into a lengthy tirade about the lack of service hed received in a streetside cafe.

His agitated manner was intrusive and off-putting. We couldnt wait for him to end the conversation so we could escort him to the door.

This man was engaged in ranting, a one-sided, angry and vehement declaration in an inappropriate setting.

Rantings sole purpose is to vent anger, differentiating itself from such similar behaviors as pontificating (speaking in a pompous manner) or lecturing (scolding or explaining in a long and tedious way).

Ranters tend to have their favorite topics, the most common being politics, politicians or public policies.

Multiple pet peeves can set them off.

In fact, those inclined toward ranting can do so over nearly any subject.

Ranters usually rage about topics over which they have no control  i.e. the appearance of a new roundabout.

They seldom transmit their vitriol into action. Few run for public office, initiate letter-writing campaigns or donate to a cause.

Instead, they complain to whomever will listen, seeming to equate frequency and decibels with civic action.

What these irritable chatterboxes fail to realize is that their blustering puts everyone near them on edge.

It contaminates an entire airspace the way germs from an uncovered sneeze expose innocent bystanders to a virus.

Many a social gathering has been ruined by ranters senseless, aggressive ramblings.

Even if we agree with their opinions, the style and delivery are so distasteful that we feel embarrassed or repulsed.

Unfortunately, listeners are often reluctant to snap ranters out of their reveries. Good manners tell them to be patient and wait until its their turn to speak.

Yet ranters adhere to different social values and think nothing of overextending their stay at the social podium.

As one topic draws to a close, theres another cued up and ready to spew.

Meanwhile, non-ranters cower on the sidelines, hoping the diatribe will soon end.

Of course, we all have our own opinions. And its fun to share and discuss them when the setting and company are right.

The key is to read the room for clues about what to share and when to share it.

Ranters may never get the non-ranting memo, but there are steps we can take to manage their behavior. Heres how:

Dont engage with ranters. Debating them is frustrating and futile. Instead, refuse to take up the discussion so you neutralize the issue and leave them with nothing to say.

Change the subject. Look for something new and positive to discuss: How is your granddaughter doing? I hear shes quite the volleyball player! Ranters may be flattered, caught off guard and forced to momentarily shift gears.

Publicly call out the behavior. Have the courage to speak up. A firm but non-threatening statement such as, This is such a lovely event. I dont want to ruin it by talking about unpleasant issues. How about we find another topic, may stop ranters in their tracks and give others a much-needed reprieve.

Leave the room. Excuse yourself if necessary to refill your glass or step outside. While this may seem rude or extreme, it may be the only way to break the ranting cycle.

Linda Lewis Griffith is a retired marriage, family and child therapist who lives in San Luis Obispo, California. Reach her at lindalewisgriffith@sbcglobal.net .
A traveler's Delta flight was canceled, so he called the airline's number listed on Google. It led to a scammer  then he says he discovered more airlines with the same problem.

A Delta Air Lines plane. Nicolas Economou/Getty Images

A Twitter user said he was nearly scammed because of a canceled Delta Air Lines flight.

Shmuli Evers called a number listed on Google, but it turned out that he wasn't talking to Delta.

After the call, Evers said he found at least six other airlines with wrong numbers listed on Google.

The Twitter user Shmuli Evers shared a story of canceled flights, scammers, and plenty of red flags.

Under the username @Shmuli, Evers detailed a story that started with a canceled Delta Air Lines flight.

"My @delta flight got canceled from JFK. The customer service line was huge, so I google a Delta JFK phone number. The number was 1888-571-4869 Thinking I reached Delta, I started telling them about getting me on a new flight," he tweeted Sunday.

But that phone call led him to a scam, he said. And, after more digging, Evers said he discovered at least six other airlines with what he suspected were scam numbers listed on Google.

In a statement sent to Insider, a Google spokesperson said: "We do not tolerate this misleading activity, and are constantly monitoring and evolving our platforms to combat fraud and create a safe environment for users and businesses."

Evers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The traveler said he noticed red flags after calling the number listed on Google

In a tweet on Monday, Evers described a lengthy in-person wait at Delta's customer service desk. He said he turned to Google for help booking another flight because his flight had been canceled after he had sat on a plane for 2  hours at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

He said he called the number listed under Delta's contact information for the airport via the search engine.

Evers said that the call initially dropped but that he noticed a "red flag" when he received a call back from a different number. In the hopes that it wasn't a scam, he tweeted that that he gave the person on the phone his name and confirmation number.

That person then offered to help him book a flight later that evening, Evers said.

"He texted me a screenshot of a flight detail from Newark, and asked me to confirm via SMS (red flag) number 845-284-1309. I thought about it and texted him back to go ahead, still thinking I am talking to Delta.." Evers tweeted.

Evers added that he then asked the caller where he was located. Evers said the man told him that he was in Rochester, New York  but when he asked the man where that was located, Evers said he told him it was two hours south of New York City. But Rochester is 5.5 hours northwest of New York City.

For Evers, that was the final red flag. Evers said he refused to share his credit-card information with the caller because they "wanted me to pay him 5 times the price of the original ticket cost."

In a statement sent to Insider, a Delta spokesperson said that "whenever we become aware of an alleged scam targeting our customers, including in this situation, we immediately conduct an investigation. Using the facts gained from an investigation, when able, we can then address each unique situation as appropriate with the necessary legal means at our disposal."

Evers looked up the numbers for other airlines and found more wrong numbers

A composite of screenshots from the Google pages for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport where suggested edits have been submitted to change the listed phone numbers for both airlines.

Shmuli Evers tweeted that he discovered at least six other airlines with inaccurate numbers.Google

After his experience with Delta, Evers started looking at the other contact information listed on Google for major airlines.

At the time of publishing his tweet, Evers said the numbers listed on Google for American Airlines, Air France, ITA Airways, Qantas Airways, and Turkish Airlines were incorrect at their respective JFK airport locations.

Evers also said he found an inaccurate number listed for Southwest Airlines at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.

The Google spokesperson said the company had "already begun reverting the inaccuracies, suspending the malicious accounts involved, and applying additional protections to prevent further abuse. "

Evers isn't the only one to encounter similar scams

Several other Twitter users commented that they had experienced a similar scam when trying to contact an airline.

A user called @TyffiBoo wrote, "happened to me but with JetBlue. The first red flag was the man picked up the phone on the first ring and I wasn't on hold for an hour."

Another Twitter user said they were scammed out of nearly $2,500.

"I had the same experience with a scammer when I called Etihad using Google search. Unfortunately, I fell for it and lost $2,400," they wrote under the username @Rembrandt727.

Scams targeting the airline industry aren't new, according to Better Business Bureau.

The bureau advises travelers to "use caution and double-check the URL or phone number before providing your credit card information."

The organization's website also urges travelers to research and be wary of third-party websites. Travelers who decide to submit a payment for travel online or over the phone should use a credit card because these payments can be disputed with their credit-card companies, the bureau says.

Have you encountered a scam when trying to reach an airline through Google? Insider would like to hear from you. Email mhumphries@insider.com to share your story.

Read the original article on Insider
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reportedly ate an order of potentially hallucinogenic mushrooms at a restaurant during a visit last week to Beijing.

During her visit, the secretary and her team stopped at a location of Yi Zuo Yi Wang, a restaurant chain specialising in dishes from the Yunnan province, where a food blogger on Weibo spotted the top official eating a variety of Chinese dishes.

When I walked by their table on my way to the washroom, I slowed down to take a glance at the dishes they ordered, the blogger wrote.

Janet Yellen a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 8, 2023 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The selection included grilled fish, greens, and jian shou qing mushrooms.

Our staff said she loved mushrooms very much, the restaurant wrote on social media. She ordered four portions of jian shou qing (a Yunnan wild mushroom species). It was an extremely magical day.

An aide to the secretary confirmed to CNN she dined at the restaurant and ordered the mushrooms.

The mushrooms are thought to potentially be hallucinogenic, Dr Peter Mortimer, a professor at Kunming Institute of Botany who studies the regions mushrooms, told CNN.

Lanmaoa mushrooms are considered poisonous as they can be hallucinogenic, he said. However, scientists have not, as of yet, identified the compounds responsible for causing the hallucinations. It remains a bit of a mystery, and most evidence is anecdotal. I have a friend who mistakenly ate them and hallucinated for three days.

The Independent has contacted the Treasury Department for comment.

Chinese state media quoted diners praising Ms Yellen for her interest in Chinese cuisine and warning about the impacts of the mushrooms.

You thought you were walking straight but you just fell sideways, one person who had eaten a similar dish told the Xinhua state news agency.

The restaurant where the secretary ate was quickly flooded with reservations.

"We received a larger number of inquiries about bookings. We are fully booked for Friday and Saturday," a staff member told the state-owned Global Times.
If a tree falls on your car during Sacramento summer heat, who is responsible for damages?

You may have already spotted a fallen branch this summer around Sacramento as the days heat up and moisture dissipates.

Its not uncommon for this time of year.

The phenomenon known as the summer branch drop can create a disturbance in peoples daily lives. If suddenly a tree branch falls on your parked vehicle, it can certainly put a damper on your day  and deficit in your wallet.

Heres why branches fall during the summer, who covers damage and who is responsible for clean up:

Why do tree branches fall during summer months?

According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, drought stress can contribute to sudden branch drop  but its not the only factor. Generally, heat and lack of moisture in the summer months can cause trees to self prune and its more common with mature trees, The Bee previously reported.

Branch dropping is common in oak trees..

There is no way to prevent branches from falling, according to the University of California research. However, there are some preventative measures you can take:

Upkeep your trees by shortening long horizontal branches

Keep a proper watering schedule for your trees needs

Will my car insurance cover a fallen tree branch?

You may be covered if you have comprehensive coverage, but youll want to check your policy.

This usually covers policy holders on incidents that are out of their control or incidents often referred to as acts of God, The Bee reported in January. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car caused by something other than a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism, windstorm, flood and falling objects, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Comprehensive coverage requires a deductible fee to move forward with a claim. Deductibles are typically around $500, but can be more or less, depending on what you picked when you selected your policy.

If a tree or tree branch falls on your car, you can file a claim through your auto insurance. If you only have liability insurance  coverage for accidents  the damage probably isnt covered.

There is typically $500 limit to have a tree removed from the damaged structure, said spokeswoman Amy Harris in an email to The Bee. The fee only includes removal of the tree off the vehicle, not off the property.

Harris advises that people do the following if a branch or tree falls on their car:

Document the damage with pictures and video. This information can all be helpful in the claims process.

Get recommendations for contractors and shop around for the best pricing on car damage.

Make sure estimates are all detailed and dont pay for any work up front.

If the tree isnt from your property and you can can prove a neighbor or a public entity neglected the fallen tree, they may be responsible for damages. Otherwise: Its likely on you and your insurance.

Who cleans up the fallen tree in Sacramento?

Trees and their fallen branches are mostly a fact of life in Sacramento  especially in areas with a dense tree canopy.

Heres who is responsible for the cleanup:

A tree falls on your home

If a tree or a large tree branch falls on your home, youll need to call a private tree company to remove the tree, said county spokeswoman Janna Haynes in a previous Bee story. This also applies to private streets. Youll have to go through your insurance company to find out what damage will be covered.

The rules for the city of Sacramento are similar to those of the county. If a tree or branch falls on private property, the owner is responsible for clean up as they would for any other plant or shrubbery, The Bee previously reported.

A tree falls on the street

If a tree branch falls on a public street, you should report it to the city or county, depending on where you see it  and especially if you notice that its touching power lines. Here are some options to get in touch with someone to clean up the branch in unincorporated county:

Dial 3-1-1

Dial 916-875-4311

Make a report online at Sacramento Countys 311 website

If you need to report a fallen branch to the city of Sacramento, the rules are similar to those of the county. Dial 3-1-1 or 916-808-5011 to report fallen tress or branches on public roads.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Trial delayed after accused murderer decides not to represent himself

EVANSVILLE  The man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Kayla Marie Warner will go to trial in September despite earlier plans to begin seating a jury on Monday

According to court records, a judge vacated 23-year-old Jean Dtae Holland's Monday trial date after Holland withdrew his request to represent himself. Holland has retained a defense attorney.

During a hearing on Friday, Holland and his newly obtained counsel, Robin Craig, successfully petitioned Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Pigman to continue the case, records state.

Evansville police arrested Holland on Feb. 11, 2022, nearly three months after police found Warner unresponsive and suffering from apparent knife wounds at her Vann Park Boulevard apartment.

Holland faces three charges in connection with Warner's death: felony murder; obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony, and misdemeanor theft. According to the Evansville Police Department, Holland was one of the last people to see Warner alive.

An attorney conference in Holland's case is scheduled to be held on Sept. 6 ahead of his new trial, court records state.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville murder trial delayed as defendant seeks counsel
A District of Columbia police lieutenant accused of warning Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio he was being investigated and later lying about their communication will face trial starting Feb. 13, 2024.

Lieutenant Shane Lamond allegedly tipped off Tarrio, then national chairman of the right-wing extremist group, that law enforcement had an arrest warrant for him related to the destruction of a Black Lives Matter banner in the nations capital.

Justice Department prosecutors also say Lamond lied to federal law enforcement officers when asked about the nature of his relationship with Tarrio, suggesting it was one-sided and that Tarrio primarily shared what their plans were. Hes charged with three counts of making false statements.

Lamond was indicted on May 18, two weeks after Tarrio and three other Proud Boys were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. A fifth Proud Boy was acquitted of sedition but convicted of other serious felonies. Some of Lamond and Tarrios exchanges were revealed as evidence during the trial.

On Dec. 18, 2020, Lamond asked Tarrio whether he anonymously tipped off the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that he was responsible for burning a historic Black churchs Black Lives Matter banner, according to Lamonds indictment. Tarrio responded that he posted it on social media.

The same day, Tarrio told other Proud Boys he got the jump on the narrative for the banner burning, which would make it difficult to prosecute him for a hate crime. He cited the information to his contact at DC Metro.

Lamond, who was an intelligence officer at MPD, told Tarrio on Christmas 2020 that he was asked to identify the extremist group leader in a photo posted on the right-leaning alternative social media website Parler. Tarrio was depicted kneeling next to the banner.

They may be submitting an arrest warrant to the U.S. Attorneys office, Lamond wrote to Tarrio.

The pair spoke on the phone for about 14 minutes on Dec. 30, and messages between Tarrio and other Proud Boys that day suggested they knew Tarrio faced arrest.

Days later, on Jan. 4, Tarrio was arrested. A system message in the chat between Lamond and Tarrio showed the settings were changed to self-destruct their correspondence, according to the Lamond indictment.

Prosecutors claim Lamond and Tarrio communicated more than 500 times across multiple platforms beginning in July 2019.

During Tarrios Jan. 6 trial, attorneys for the Proud Boys leader attempted to use his relationship with Lamond as evidence the group was not engaged in criminal activity.

If convicted, Lamond faces up to 30 years in prison for the obstruction of justice charge and up to five years in prison for each count of making a false statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A batch of medical supplies departed from Shanghai on Saturday, as part of the Chinese government's 10 million yuan (about 1.39 million U.S. dollars) humanitarian emergency aid to Sudan, according to information released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

Since the outbreak of armed conflicts in Sudan, the Chinese government has paid close attention to its humanitarian situation, and decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the country. It mainly includes 939 tonnes of rice and medical supplies such as examination gloves, gauze bandages, disposable surgical gowns and medical hats.

The rice is being processed and packed and will be sent to Sudan as soon as possible, according to the agency. 
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters

Years before the conservative legal scholar John Eastman devised a kooky theory to keep a losing president in the White House, he played a little-known role in crafting another bit of right-wing fiction: a religious novel about the Supreme Court.

Eastman played a prominent role in advising the legal aspects of Deadlock, a 2002 anti-abortion legal thriller that examines what would happen if a moderately liberal Supreme Court justice had a sudden brush with deathand then suddenly converted to Christianity.

Its a fun romp of SCOTUS fanfiction, if you put aside the way the writer infantilizes a middle-aged woman whose intellect earned her a seat on the nations highest court, recycles tired conservative talking points about abortion mills, and demonizes liberals by reducing them to literary tropes.

Its Not Looking Good for Trumps Coup Lawyer John Eastman

Eastman is now under intense scrutiny. He lost his job as dean of Chapman University law school outside of Los Angeles after his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election. After reviewing Eastmans private correspondence, a federal judge cited evidence of a crime. Last year, a congressional panel exposed his instrumental role in shaping former President Donald Trumps scheme to stay in office by having his vice president refuse to certify electoral results. And hes currently on trial against the California bar, which is trying to take away his professional credentials for threatening the nations democracy.

But no one has yet publicly reviewed his advisory role in Deadlock, which Eastman did while running the conservative Claremont Institute Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at a time when he was filing Supreme Court briefs to weaken environmental protection laws and strip Americans of their birthright citizenship rights.

Eastman is the first person whom author James Scott Bell thanks in his acknowledgments.

Professor John Eastman of Chapman University School of Law, former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas, walked me through much of the Supreme Courts day-to-day operations as well as many of the legal aspects of the novel, Bell wrote.

One of the smart guys, he is a credit to his students, his school, and the enterprise of American law, he continued.

In a call with The Daily Beast, Eastman said he doesnt remember reading the book, but said he advised Bell on internal workings of the court, like how cases make their way up the chain and how justices debate issues behind closed doors.

The plot line seemed interesting, he said, noting that hed just read a summary of the book on Amazon before the phone call, which he recorded.

The inner workings of the Supreme Court and its place in American government, are closely scrutinized in Bells novel, which explores the unthinkable: a shakeup that threatens to undermine the nations confidence in the judiciary. Two decades on, with public confidence in the high court at an historic low following revelations of justices cavorting with billionaires and a conservative majority that swiftly eliminated abortion rights by overturning Roe v. Wade, the books premise and drama almost feel quaint.

Judge Shuts Down Trump Coup Memo Scribe John Eastmans Expert Witness

Deadlock opens with a suicidal Alabama girl whos suffering trauma after an abortion at a predatory clinic. She keeps dreaming about being tied down to the floor and cut open by mysterious figures in black robes. The novel follows her precedent-setting case against that clinic, a David-and-Goliath battle led by a novice Black lawyer fighting on her own against a white-shoe Southern law firm and a liberal Yale legal scholar.

But the novels protagonist is Associate Justice Millicent Mannings Hollander, the Supreme Courts powerful swing vote who gets her life turned upside down when she nearly dies, sees a brief vision of hell, and is forced to confront her new reality while recovering back home in rural California with her Bible-thumping mom. Meanwhile, Capitol Hill is alive with corruption as the president and a powerful senator are scheming to make her chief justicebut only on the condition that shell remain a liberal bulwark.

Millie, as shes called, hasnt gone on a date since high school 35 years ago and starts to fall for a Christian preacher in jeans and a leather toolbelt whose tanned arms, glistening with perspiration, were strong. Theres a hint he looks a bit like Gary Cooper: solid, rugged, quintessentially American.

She just sits around while he tells her, I think our country has fallen into spiritual darkness over the last fifty years. A large part of that has to do with our courts. (Important sidenote: This preacher also served time in federal prison for terrorizing abortion providers.)

The book asks readers to believe Millie is an intellectual powerhouse, yet bested by the legal prowess of her handsome preacher, who is also a former lawyer. Her best friend is a board member at a fictional stand-in for Planned Parenthood who calls this Supreme Court justice kiddo. When Millies not soul-searching, shes being lectured by a retired right-wing justice who tells her to use your noodle.

Theres copious bourbon drinking and cigar smoking by Democrats. Journalists are referred to as amoebas, rat-like, and hungry sharks. Theres an Italian mobster who somehow only hangs out at Manhattan tourist spots and talks about Al Pacino. Theres even a passing mention of that New York buildings guy, Donald Trump.

Trump Attorney John Eastman Loses Bid to Protect His Phone From Feds

But the heart of the legal drama in the bookwhat Eastman is credited with advisingcenters on what goes on behind the Supreme Courts white marble columns.

At an oral argument, the justices take turns posing questions about the First Amendments Establishment Clause, which forbids the government from making laws respecting an establishment of religion.

In a closed-door judicial conference, justices debate the constitutionality of Ohio constructing a sign at its statehouse that displays its biblical state motto, With God, all things are possible. The novel reaches its denouement when a converted Millienow a textualist in the spirit of the late Justice Antonin Scalialaunches into a discussion about how the Christianity of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and their original intent must be taken into account when considering the role of religion in American law.

As president, for example, [Jefferson] used federal money to build churches and sponsor Christian missionaries. He established religious requirements for the University of Virginia. He was not a strict separationist by any means, Millie says to the horror of her liberal counterparts who now realize shes no longer on their side.

Eastmans role in the book first came to The Daily Beasts attention when Bell last month donated $100 to the disgraced attorneys legal defense fund, which has raised nearly half a million dollars since its inception two years ago.

Praying for you, John. You helped me with my novel about the Supreme Court years ago. Godspeed, Bell wrote.

When reached by The Daily Beast, Bell was reluctant to respond to questions about Eastmans role in the book. He later wrote back that he came up with the plot and legal angles on his own, noting that he's a retired lawyer. Bell said he didn't share any scenes with Eastman while working on the book.

"That all came from me," Bell wrote.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Former President Trump gloated over his big win in Sundays Turning Point USA straw poll, calling the results a blowout.

Just heard that I (WE!) won the big Turning Point Straw Poll in a BLOWOUT, getting 85.7% of the Vote, Trump posted on Truth Social.

Ron DeSanctimonious came in a solid 3rd with 4.3%, Vivek got 2%, and Sloppy Chris Christie, as usual, got a big, fat, ZERO! the former president added. Turning Point put on a GREAT event in West Palm Beach, setting all kinds of records, including in attendance!

The Turning Point straw poll showed Trump garnering more than 85 percent support among attendees of the conservative groups event. Michigan businessman Perry Johnson (R), who announced his long-shot bid for the White House in March, followed with nearly 8 percent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) came in third place with 4.3 percent support and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy had 2 percent. Other GOP presidential candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), registered 0.0 percent support, according to the poll.

When asked who their second choice for president would be, Ramaswamy topped the poll with about 51 percent support, followed by Trump with about 21 percent. DeSantis received about 13 percent, and Scott received nearly 6 percent. No other candidate had more than 5 percent support.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Organizers noted attendees were asked not to list their first choice candidate as also their second choice candidate, but some Trump supporters listed him as both anyway.

Also, more than 30 percent of attendees said former Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who repeatedly denied the results of her election, should be the vice president. Twenty-four percent said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla) should be vice president, and nearly 23 percent picked Ramaswamy.

Trump and fellow GOP hopefuls Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) also spoke at the event over the weekend.

In its release, Trafalgar Group, which published the poll, did not disclose the number of people who participated in the survey or margin or error estimates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump news  live: Manchin run could help Trump as ex-president eyes two of his GOP 2024 rivals for VP

Donald Trump is considering his Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates should he win the GOP nomination.

The former president told Fox News on Sunday that his running mate could possibly be among those in the 2024 field saying there are some very talented people in the race.

He said that Vivek Ramaswamy has done a very good job and Senator Tim Scott is a very good guy but stopped short of saying who he would pick if the time came.

Over the weekend, Mr Trump headlined the first of a two-day conference hosted by right-wing political activist group Turning Point USA alongside far-right lawmakers, candidates and pundits, including Tucker Carlson and Matt Gaetz.

In his rambling Saturday night address condemned investigations and criminal indictments against him while telling Ron DeSantis to get home to Florida, accusing his rival for the Republican nomination for president of neglecting the governors office.

The campaign for Mr DeSantis, meanwhile, reported raising more than $20m in the first six weeks of his campaign, but roughly a dozen staffers were recently fired in a shakeup as his polling numbers trail the former presidents.

Key points

Marjorie Taylor Greene launches anti-trans speech at Turning Point conference

Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in rambling, threatening remarks

Trump asks Georgia Supreme Court to quash grand jury indictment report

Trump Organization employee target for obstruction of documents probe

No reason to delay Trump trial in documents case, prosecutors say

Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene accidentally films ad for Biden reelection

15:44 , Oliver O'Connell

"That sounds you're hearing is the White House thanking Marjorie Taylor Greene for the campaign commercial," @JonLemire on MTG's speech at the conservative Turning Point Action conference. https://t.co/XVfmJrn81Y pic.twitter.com/Oxab4n5nFq  MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 17, 2023

Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

15:27 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Graeme Massie and Alex Woodward report.

Donald Trump brands US a third -world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

Trump praises the federal judge he appointed who is now overseeing the Mar-a-Lago case

14:00 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon to the southern district in Florida in 2020.

Now, she is overseeing the federal case against him on charges of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property after leaving the White House.

His legal team has also pressed the judge to issue a continuance in the trial as he seeks to indefinitely delay the case. The filing is awaiting a decision from Judge Cannon.

Asked on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News whether he believes the judge will grant the motion, the former president said he didnt know.

I know its a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge, he said.

Im very proud to have appointed her, he added. But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.

Asa Hutchinson met with jeers at Turning Point

13:30 , Alex Woodward

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was met with boos and Trump chants at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida, where the crowd has effectively coronated the former president in his run for the White House.

The ex-presidents eldest son Donald Trump Jr later said on the stage that at least Mr Hutchsinson had the b**** to show up to the conference, unlike the absentee Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is not appearing at the event.

Not a lot of Hutchinson fans pic.twitter.com/Ojsf0b9yFo  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

Notably, Trump did not attend a Tucker Carlson-led evengelical summit on Friday, where the former Fox News pundit grilled the other candidates. Carlson later appeared at the Turning Point event, where there is unanimous support for the former president.

Unsurprisingly, Trump dominates Turning Point Actions straw poll

13:00 , Alex Woodward

With the exception of the candidates running against him (except for Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster who said he is not running against anyone), speaker after speaker at the Turning Point Action conference pledged their loyalty to Donald Trump.

The results of a straw poll are no surprise, then, with the former presdent getting 85.7 per cent of attendees votes.

Ron DeSantis, considered his main rival for the 2024 nomination, received 4.3 per cent.

The top picks for Mr Trumps running mate include failed candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lake (30.8 per cent), US Rep Byron Donalds (24 per cent), and Mr Ramaswamy (22 per cent).

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate: Its actually not fair

12:30 , Alex Woodward

Trump has suggested he will not participate in the first debate among candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, telling Fox News host Maria Bartiromo that its not fair for candidates who are polling well to be asked questions alongside lower-polling candidates.

He added: Why would you be doing a debate? Its actually not fair. Why would you let someone thats [polling] at zero, or one, or two, or three, you know, be popping you with questions.

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate

Trump knows he lost 2020 election but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

12:00 , Alex Woodward

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 acknowledged losing the election he continues to publicly insist otherwise.

Trump knows he lost 2020 but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Far-right pundits and lawmakers evangelise and crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Points Florida conference

11:30 , Alex Woodward

On the stage of an influential activist groups two-day conference, far-right conspiracy theorists, Republican presidential candidates and members of Congress veered into Christian nationalist evangelising, QAnon-adjacent conspiracy mongering and a bleak picture of an America in rapid decline under Democratic leadership.

The guest speakers at Turning Point USAs inaugural Turning Point Action Conference in Florida repeatedly denied the existence of transgender people, claimed that support for Ukraine is built on a lie, and characterised President Joe Biden as both a frail and incapable stooge and the most corrupt politician of all time.

And they professed their loyalty to both Donald Trump, who delivered rambling remarks in primetime on 15 July, and to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News pundit celebrated by Turning Point guests as the key figure who can articulate their long list of grievances.

More from this weekends conference:

Far-right pundits and lawmakers crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Point conference

After starring in a Fox News conspiracy, Ray Epps is now suing the network

10:45 , Oliver OConnell

Ray Epps says his life was ruined by a conspiracy theory amplified on Fox News. Hes now suing the network for defamation

Alex Woodward has more:

He was a loyal Fox viewer before he starred in a conspiracy theory. Now hes suing

Trump considers Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates

10:26 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is considering his Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates should he win the GOP nomination.

The former president told Fox News on Sunday that his running mate could possibly be among those in the 2024 field saying there are some very talented people in the race.

You have some good people on the stage actually. I think you have some very talented people. Ive been impressed by some of them. Some of them Im very friendly with, actually, he said, adding: I think you have good potential Cabinet members, too.

He said that Vivek Ramaswamy has done a very good job and Senator Tim Scott is a very good guy but stopped short of saying who he would pick if the time came.

Donald Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in grim, rambling Turning Point speech

10:00 , Alex Woodward

In his nearly two-hour-long headlining remarks to the Turning Point Action Conference on 15 July, Trump said that the American dream was dead under Joe Biden as he relentlessly mocked his predecessor and painted a bleak picture of a nation in decline.

Donald Trump brands US a third -world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

Biden 2024 campaign raised twice as much as Trump 2Q 2023

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The $72m brought in by the presidents re-election campaign is more than double the $35m raised by former president Donald Trumps campaign during the full 90-day period running from 1 April to 30 June, and more than triple the $25m which Mr Trumps closest primary rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, raised during the second quarter.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Biden campaign raised twice as much as Trump in 2nd quarter of 2023

Why Casey DeSantis matters to the 2024 race

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kelly Rissman writes:

Casey DeSantis has quickly become the face of Gov Ron DeSantis presidential campaign. The Florida first lady has been credited for everything from her fashion sense, local celebrity, and ability to baby proof the governors mansion, to serving as a humanizing contrast to her husband.

But is her rising profile enough to turn her husbands campaign around? Some have criticized her up to her eyebrows  literally  while others think she is a vital asset to the DeSantis campaign.

Read on...

Walmart Melania, Americas Karen: Why Casey DeSantis matters to the 2024 race

Order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies paused by court

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal appeals court Friday temporarily paused a lower courts order limiting executive branch officials communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.

Biden administration lawyers had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to stay the preliminary injunction issued on July 4 by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Doughty himself had rejected a request to put his order on hold pending appeal.

Fridays brief 5th Circuit order put Doughtys order on hold until further orders of the court. It called for arguments in the case to be scheduled on an expedited basis.

Read on...

Appeals court pauses order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

Tucker Carlson and Pence clash over Ukraine

04:45 , Alex Woodward

Tucker Carlson on Friday appeared to lose his patience with Mike Pence after the 2024 presidential candidate refused to back down from his support for arming Ukraines defence forces.

Andrew Feinberg has more:

Tucker Carlson and Mike Pence clash in heated exchange over Ukraine at GOP 2024 forum

They spent roughly half of their discussion sparring over Mr Pences view of the nearly 18-month-old war, which the ex-vice president described in stark terms based on his two visits to the region.

When he addressed the Turning Point conference on Saturday night, Carlson continued his attacks on the former president and boosted a narrative of Ukraine that has shaped an element of the Republican Party and its base while earning accolades from Russian state media.

If youre a Christian leader and Christians are going to jail for their views, you are required to say something, said Carlson, reviving a misleading narrative that accuses Ukraines Jewish leader Volodymyr Zelensky of persecuting Christian priests. And if you dont, youre not much of a Christian leader.

How thankful are we for Tucker Carlson revealing true snakes  who do not have our best interests in mind, said right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, between cackling over viral clips of President Biden and boos directed at Mr Pence.

Tim Scott agrees with Tucker Carlsons dismissal of Russia threat

02:45 , Oliver OConnell

Republican Senator Tim Scott or South Carolina appeared to agree with former Fox News host Tucker Carlsons assertion that Mexico poses a bigger threat to the US than Russia in a chummy 2024 campaign trail forum.

Eric Garcia has more:

Tim Scott agrees with Tucker Carlson comments dismissing threat posed by Russia

Ex-Secret Service agent not surprised by White House cocaine find

Monday 17 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver OConnell

A day after the Secret Service reached an end to its investigation into the presence of cocaine in the White House, former Secret Service agent Evy Poumpouras said she wasnt shocked that the drug was able to get in.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Ex-Secret Service agent says shes not surprised by White House cocaine scandal

Far-right pundits and lawmakers evangelise and crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Points Florida conference

Monday 17 July 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward

On the stage of an influential activist groups two-day conference, far-right conspiracy theorists, Republican presidential candidates and members of Congress veered into Christian nationalist evangelising, QAnon-adjacent conspiracy mongering and a bleak picture of an America in rapid decline under Democratic leadership.

The guest speakers at Turning Point USAs inaugural Turning Point Action Conference in Florida repeatedly denied the existence of transgender people, claimed that support for Ukraine is built on a lie, and characterised President Joe Biden as both a frail and incapable stooge and the most corrupt politician of all time.

And they professed their loyalty to both Donald Trump, who delivered rambling remarks in primetime on 15 July, and to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News pundit celebrated by Turning Point guests as the key figure who can articulate their long list of grievances.

More from this weekends conference:

Far-right pundits and lawmakers crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Point conference

Trump praises the federal judge he appointed who is now overseeing the Mar-a-Lago case

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:45 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon to the southern district in Florida in 2020.

Now, she is overseeing the federal case against him on charges of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property after leaving the White House.

His legal team has also pressed the judge to issue a continuance in the trial as he seeks to indefinitely delay the case. The filing is awaiting a decision from Judge Cannon.

Asked on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News whether he believes the judge will grant the motion, the former president said he didnt know.

I know its a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge, he said.

Im very proud to have appointed her, he added. But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.

Turning Point straw poll puts Ramaswamy, not DeSantis, as top No. 2 pick if theres no Trump

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:14 , Alex Woodward

Turning Point Actions attendees notably did not pick Ron DeSantis as a No 2 pick for the Republican nomination in a weekend straw poll.

Even though they were asked to pick a different candidate than the first round, which overwhelmingly went for Trump, attendees also picked Trump as a No 2.

But Vivek Ramaswamy  a Trump booster who told the crowd that he wasnt running against any candidate  received 51. 2 per cent of the second-choice vote.

Unsurprisingly, Trump dominates Turning Point Actions straw poll

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:10 , Alex Woodward

With the exception of the candidates running against him (except for Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster who said he is not running against anyone), speaker after speaker at the Turning Point Action conference pledged their loyalty to Donald Trump.

The results of a straw poll are no surprise, then, with the former presdent getting 85.7 per cent of attendees votes.

Ron DeSantis, considered his main rival for the 2024 nomination, received 4.3 per cent.

The top picks for Mr Trumps running mate include failed candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lake (30.8 per cent), US Rep Byron Donalds (24 per cent), and Mr Ramaswamy (22 per cent).

Just in Turning Point USA straw poll

Presidential Poll

President Trump 85.7%

Businessman Perry Johnson 7.8%

Governor DeSantis 4.3%

Businessman Ramaswamy 2.0%

VP Poll

Kari Lake 30.8%

Representative Donalds 24%

Businessman Ramaswamy 22.7%

Senator Tim Scott 6.9%

Governor pic.twitter.com/PQloYUhI1I  The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) July 16, 2023

Trump asks top Georgia court to toss election probe grand jury report and disqualify prosecutor

Sunday 16 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking Georgias highest court to prevent the district attorney who has been investigating his actions in the wake of the 2020 election from prosecuting him and to throw out a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating since early 2021 whether Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden. She has suggested that she is likely to seek charges in the case from a grand jury next month.

Read more...

Trump asks top Georgia court to disqualify election probe prosecutor and toss grand jury report

Tommy Tubervilles military blockade over abortion jeopardises national security, US Army veteran senator says

Sunday 16 July 2023 21:05 , Alex Woodward

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.

House Republicans have also 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.

GOP senator jeopardises national security with anti-abortion military blockade

Report: Special counsel issues criminal warning to Trump Organization employee over alleged obstruction

Sunday 16 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The special counsel investigating former president Donald Trump threatened potential criminal charges against a Trump Organization employee suspected of lying to investigators, according to sources of ABC News.

Jack Smith transmitted a letter to a staffer that indicated that they might have perjured themselves in an appearance before the federal grand jury that ultimately indicted Mr Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Special counsel issues criminal warning to Trump Organization employee, report says

Asa Hutchinson greeted with jeers at Turning Point

Sunday 16 July 2023 19:36 , Alex Woodward

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was met with boos and Trump chants at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida, where the crowd has effectively coronated the former president in his run for the White House.

Not a lot of Hutchinson fans pic.twitter.com/Ojsf0b9yFo  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

The ex-presidents eldest son Donald Trump Jr later said on the stage that at least Mr Hutchsinson had the b**** to show up to the conference, unlike the absentee Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is not appearing at the event.

Notably, Trump did not attend a Tucker Carlson-led evengelical summit on Friday, where the former Fox News pundit grilled the other candidates. Carlson later appeared at the Turning Point event, where there is unanimous support for the former president.

2020 election probe: Trump prosecutors met with Pennsylvania and New Mexico officials

Sunday 16 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal prosecutors under supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith have reportedly spoken with top election officials in Pennsylvania and New Mexico as part of the Justice Department probe into Donald Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election.

According to CNN, Mr Smiths team has in recent months conducted interviews of Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt and New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, with both officials providing information on matters related to the 2020 election.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Prosecutors met with Pennsylvania and New Mexico officials in 2020 election probe

Trump knows he lost 2020 election but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Sunday 16 July 2023 17:17 , Alex Woodward

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.

Christie, who is running against Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, told ABC News host George Stephanopouls that the former president 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 acknowledged losing the election he continues to publicly insist otherwise.

Trump knows he lost 2020 but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Ron DeSantis open to make changes to Social Security for people in their 30s and 40s

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:50 , Alex Woodward

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Ron DeSantis said of course he would protect Social Security for seniors, if elected.

That goes without saying, he added. When people say were going to somehow cut senior Social, thats totally not true.

But when it comes to the future of the program for people who are in their 30s and 40s and hope to retire in the coming decades, thats a much different thing, he said, casting doubt on the viability of the program for other generations.

Talking about making changes for people in their 30s or 40s  thats a much different thing, and thats something I think theres going to need to be discussions on, he said.

DeSantis: When people say we're going to somehow cut seniors' social security, that is totally not true. Talking about making changes for people in their 30s and 40s, that's a much different thing, pic.twitter.com/XodfM1R3bD  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

DeSantis to become first GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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 to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week

Trump insists he can end the war in Ukraine as soon as he enters office. He cant explain how

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:56 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump has continued to insist that he can end Russias war in Ukraine if he is elected into office, but he hasnt ever explained how, exactly, he would.

Asked directly on Fox News by host Maria Bartiromo, the former president says he has a good relationship with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky.

Thats not going to be enough for Putin to stop bombing, she interrupted.

This is how he explained what his negotiation would look like: I would tell Zelensky, No more, you gotta make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you dont make a deal, were gonna give them a lot, were gonna give them more than they ever got, if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day.

Trump: "Putin liked Ukraine a lot. It was the apple of his eye." pic.twitter.com/4VgLGTvyxN  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 16, 2023

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate: Its actually not fair

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:45 , Alex Woodward

Trump seems unlikely to participate in the first debate among candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, telling Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday that its not fair for candidates who are polling well to be asked questions alongside lower-polling candidates.

Why would you be doing a debate? Its actually not fair, he said. Why would you let someone thats [polling] at zero, or one, or two, or three, you know, be popping you with questions.

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate

Just in: Ron DeSantis to be interviewed by CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:17 , Alex Woodward

CNN will air an interview from anchor Jake Tapper with Ron DeSantis on Tuesday.

The interview will air on CNNs The Lead at 4pm ET on 18 July, days after the Florida governors presidential campaign let a dozen staffers go as his polling numbers trail his 2024 GOP rival Donald Trump.

JUST ANNOUNCED: GOP presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will sit down with @CNNs @JakeTapper on the campaign trail in South Carolina for an exclusive interview. Tune in to @TheLeadCNN on Tuesday 7/18 at 4pmET for the full interview. pic.twitter.com/7ixiejqFaR  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) July 16, 2023

Marjorie Taylor Greene launches anti-trans speech at Turning Point conference

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:56 , Alex Woodward

Far-right US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene launched into a transphobic speech using Jeff Foxworthy-style setups to accuse Democratic officials and voters of being pedophiles for supporting transition healthcare.

She called the Democratic party the party of pedophiles in her remarks to the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Sunday morning.

Trans youth, Bud Light and Target have been frequent targets on the stage all weekend, with host Charlie Kirk spelling out explicitly that anti-trans attacks are a winner politically for Republicans.

Former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly said on Saturday that 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.

(Getty Images)

Geraldo grilled about friendship with crazy, racist, misogynistic Trump

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera faced a grilling from panelists on The View about his past friendship with crazy, racist and misogynistic Donald Trump.

Mr Rivera appeared on the talk show on Thursday  just weeks after he revealed in a Twitter video that he had been fired from Fox News show The Five after 23 years with the right-wing network.

Rachel Sharp reports on what was said.

Ex-Fox News host grilled about friendship with crazy, racist, misogynistic Trump

ICYMI: Ron DeSantis campaign fires staff as Florida governor trails Trump in the polls

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:13 , Alex Woodward

The presidential campaign for Ron DeSantis has dismissed a number of staffers in an effort to trim costs months after the Florida governor entered the crowded 2024 GOP field.

Ron DeSantis campaign fires staff as Florida governor trails Trump in the polls

Report: Jared Kushner and Hope Hicks have testified in front of grand jury investigating Jan 6

Sunday 16 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal prosecutors investigating Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results have questioned his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, among other witnesses to see if the former president acknowledged he had lost.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Jared Kushner has testified in front of grand jury investigating Jan 6, reports say

Hunter Biden lawyers warn Trump to end attacks

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for the presidents son Hunter Biden sent Donald Trump a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday, alleging that the former presidents frequent hostile comments about Mr Biden are defamatory and likely to inspire violence.

We are just one such social media message away from another incident, the letter, obtained by Law360, claims, citing the violent attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband as a cautionary tale of the dangers of online rhetoric.

Will he listen?

Hunter Biden demands end to Trump attacks and says they may inspire violence

Poll: Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States

Sunday 16 July 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Click through for the details:

Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States, an AP-NORC poll finds

Giuliani knew claims about Georgia election workers were false, court docs show

Sunday 16 July 2023 06:45 , Alex Woodward

A court filing from the mother-and-daughter pair of Georgia election workers who are suing Rudy Giuliani for defaming them shows that Mr Giuliani had no evidence that either of them was involved in any manner of election fraud when he passed surveillance footage of them to former president Donald Trumps advisers as they scrambled to justify claiming the election had been stolen from the then-president.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Damning court documents reveal Giuliani knew claims about election workers were false

No reason to delay Trump documents trial until after 2024 election, prosecutors say

Sunday 16 July 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutors working under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith have urged Judge Aileen Cannon to reject former president Donald Trumps request to indefinitely postpone his trial on charges that he allegedly unlawfully retained national defence information and conspired with his aide Walt Nauta to obstruct justice.

In an 11-page filing submitted on Thursday, Mr Smiths team said Mr Trump and Mr Nauta have provided no valid legal justification for their request to delay any trial until a to-be-determined date set for sometime after the 2024 presidential election, and noted that such an open-ended request violates the 1974 Speedy Trial Acts requirement that courts establish a date certain for trial at the earliest practicable time after consulting with both prosecution and defence counsel.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Prosecutors say no reason to delay Trump documents trial until after 2024 election

After hosting her book event, Kari Lake claims Arizona brewery is getting death threats

Sunday 16 July 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kari Lake has claimed that an Arizona brewery has received death threats after it hosted her book event.

The far-right Republican attended the event at the Firetruck Brewing Company venue in Tucson to promote her book, Unafraid: Just Getting Started.

Graeme Massie reports.

Kari Lake claims Arizona brewery is getting death threats after hosting her event

Donald Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in rambling, threatening remarks

Sunday 16 July 2023 02:20 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trumps remarks  rambling, full of falsehoods, exaggerations, threats to democratic institutions and inflammatory statements targeting communities across the country  have concluded in Florida, where another lineup of Republican lawmakers and pundits will return to the Turning Point stage for more campaign-building speeches tomorrow.

Donald Trump brands US a third -world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

Trump outlines extreme America First immigration plan that would end birthright citizenship and begin mass deportations

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:53 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump has proposed reintroducing an even wider ban on people from majority Muslim countries from entering the US, the 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.

Trump: When I return to office, the travel ban is coming back even bigger and much stronger than before. The US will not be condemned for the same fate as countries like France pic.twitter.com/LZfZ9JtdxX  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

DeSantis campaign reportedly fires a dozen staffers

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:48 , Alex Woodward

Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign has fired roughly one dozen staffers, and more firings are expected in the coming weeks, according to NBC News.

Despite bringing in $20m within the first six weeks of the year, the campaign is looking to bring costs down, according to sources speaking with the outlet.

Those close to the campaign are reportedly blaming his campaign manager Generra Peck while polling is showing the campaign lagging behind frontrunner Donald Trump.

(AP)

Trump calls indictments bulls*** and continues bogus election laims

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:00 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump once again called the indictments against him a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time and election interference that deny his election to the presidency in 2024, as he faces criminal charges for falsifying business records and a multimillion dollar fraud lawsuit in New York, federal charges for illegally withholding classified documents in Florida, and potential charges stemming from 2020 election interference.

He said the indictments are making people go through hell and destroying their families.

The former president falsely stated that the 2020 election was rigged against him, and claims that the investigations against him are an attempt to rig next years election as he seeks another term in the White House.

This is an attempt to win the 2024 election, but so far  its had the opposite effect. Its lifted us to new heights. People know its all bull****, he said.

Trumps campaign raised $35m in the second quarter of 2023, nearly double the $18.8m he raised during the first three months of the year.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, has raised $72m during the second quarter.

(REUTERS)

Trump paints apocalyptic picture of US hellhole in Turning Point remarks

Sunday 16 July 2023 00:40 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump called the US a third-world hellhole ruled by perverts and thugs, depicting a collapsing nation where the American dream is dead under his successor President Joe Biden.

He pointed to invisible sick and sinister forces that are trying to destroy the nation from within, he said in his grim remarks from the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Saturday.

He said he will use the power of the executive branch, if elected, to reclaim colleges and choke off the money to schools that are launching a Marxist assault on Western civilization itself.

The days of subsidizing communist indoctrination  are over, he said.

(Getty Images)

Matt Gaetz wants to introduce a bill creating school prayer time

Sunday 16 July 2023 00:21 , Alex Woodward

Students can pray in school whenever theyd like. Far-right US Rep Matt Gaetz, however, says he plans to introduce legislation so that in every classroom in America, there will be time for students to pray if they want to, a measure that could appear to violates the establishment clause of the US Constitution and mandate Christian prayer in schools.

He said that beautiful US Supreme Court that Trump gave us might end up upholding it, should it ever become law.

Gaetz: In the coming days, I will introduce a national prayer in school law so that in every classroom in America, there will be time for students to pray if they want to. This beautiful Supreme Court that Trump gave us just might uphold a constitutional law like that pic.twitter.com/hP1P61MSMK  Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2023

Tucker Carlson jokes that he was fired from Fox News for questioning January 6 and legitimacy of the 2020 election

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:51 , Alex Woodward

In a largely rambling speech around censorship to a crowd at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida, Tucker Carlson joked that he was fired from Fox News for questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the US Capitol.

He said there was never a national conversation about what happened in the election and its aftermath, and that anyone who questioned the outcome and the attack was basically hounded out of public life in America, whether they were deplatformed, jailed or fired from their jobs.

The crowd started to laugh and cheer.

Pretty funny, Carlson said, laughing. Sorry, I was so into it I lost self-awareness for a minute.

Carlson was fired from the network shortly after Fox settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787m to avert a blockbuster defamation trial. A former producer for his program also recently settled with the network for $12m, and the network also was sued by a man who was the subject of dozens of segments on his program accusing him of being a federal agent who incited the riots.

Tucker Carlson addresses the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on 15 July. (REUTERS)

A loyal Fox viewers lawsuit strikes at the networks egregious lies

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward

For the past two years, Ray Epps has been living a surreal nightmare, one born out of the same conspiracy theory universe that launched a riot in the halls of Congress, hundreds of criminal investigations, and a blockbuster defamation lawsuit against one of the most influential cable networks in the country.

The man in the middle of the right-wing conspiracy theory surrounding January 6 has accused Tucker Carlson of amplifying a fantastical story that has destroyed his family and his business, accusations that echo an historic $787m settlement between Fox and Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of spreading defamatory statements about the company in the elections aftermath.

It certainly is possible for us to prove a pattern of disregard for the truth, attorney Michael Teter tells The Independent.

I believe that this case is ripe for punitive damages, not just because of the willfulness on the part of lying about Ray and the egregious lies but also because theres a past conduct here of disregard for the truth, he says.

He was a loyal Fox viewer before he starred in a conspiracy theory. Now hes suing

Vivek Ramaswamy blames censorship for January 6

Saturday 15 July 2023 22:28 , Alex Woodward

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster among Republican candidates vying for the 2024 Republican nomination, painted an apocalyptic vision of the state of the contry in his remarks to a lackluster crowd at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Saturday.

The 37-year-old far-right figure blamed wokeism, transgenderinism and climatism for the poison that fills what he characterized as a void in American society.

At a time in our national history, when the things that used to fill our void, faith, patriotism, hard work, family, these things have disappeared, and that leaves a black hold in its wake, he said.

His remarks largely echoed other speakers at the conference and statements from other far-right pundits who deny the accelerating climate crisis and scapegoat trans people for what he believes is American decline.

Ramaswamy also invented a baseless narrative about the January 6 attack, which he did not blame on bogus conspiracy theories or the actions of people who refused to accept the outcome of a democratic election.

The truth is this: January 6 was the result of a pervasive culture of censorship across this country, he said. When you tell people they cant scream, thats when they start tearing things down.

Post-It notes are attached to the faces of GOP candidates for the 2024 presidential nomination at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on 15 July. (Getty Images)

Turning Point speakers turn up anti-trans agenda

Saturday 15 July 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward

The speaking lineup at Turning Point USAs Turning Point Action conference in Palm Beach, Florida wasted no time targeting transgender rights in their laundry list of grievances to rally attendees and tee up 2024 campaigns.

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.

Republican US Rep Byron Donalds also falsely claimed that the radical left wants to drive a wedge between parents and children by affirming childrens genders.

Charlie Kirk (EPA)

Tucker Carlson turns his Christian summit with GOP hopefuls into platform for Putin

Saturday 15 July 2023 20:45 , Alex Woodward

Tucker Carlson returns to the political stage at the Tuning Point Action conference one day after a evangelical-hosted Republican presidential showcase for the former Fox News pundit, who spoke with several Republican candidates who are not Donald Trump.

Russias invasion of Ukraine dominated the event, as Carlson pressed the candidates with a line of questioning that questioned whether Ukraine was the aggressor and adopted a position that appeared to stand alongside Putins.

He will return to the stage this evening just before Trump delivers headlining remarks at the far-right Turning Point USA-hosted conference.

More from his Friday event from Josh Marcus and Ariana Baio:

Support for US-Ukraine alliance divides 2024 GOP hopefuls at Tucker Carlson forum

Lincoln Project airs new ad calling Tuberville a traitor

Saturday 15 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project has blasted Senator Tommy Tuberville for blocking Senate confirmations of all senior military officers to protest a Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care.

Thanks to the senator, the US Marine Corps is without a leader for the first time in 150 years. In a new ad by the group, the Lincoln Project says the Marines proud legacy is being tarnished by Mr Tuberville, labelling him a domestic enemy and a traitor.

Watch the ad below:

Biden calls out Tubervilles ridiculous block on military promotions

Saturday 15 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden on Thursday hit out at Alabama Senator Tommy Tubervilles monthslong effort to block the upper chamber from advancing hundreds of promotions for military officers and nominations for key positions in the US armed services, calling the Republican lawmakers position ridiculous and a threat to national security.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Biden calls out GOP senators ridiculous block on military promotions

Glitter really does get everywhere...

Saturday 15 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A Republican lawmaker has a bizarre new label for Hunter Biden  glitter.

Speaking at a House Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday, Rep Wesley Hunt compared President Joe Bidens son to the sparkly stuff.

Hunter Biden to me, is like glitter. He is on everything and you cannot get rid of him, he fumed.

Read on...

GOP lawmaker compares Hunter Biden to glitter: You cannot get rid of him

New Mexicos top election official met with federal prosecutors for special counsel probe

Saturday 15 July 2023 15:30 , Alex Woodward

The top election official in New Mexico is among several statest officials who have talked with federal prosecutors as part of the special counsels probe into the 2020 election.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver spoke with prosecutors at some point over the last few months, as Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith investigates Donald Trumps pressure campaign to overturn election results in states that he lost.

Prosecutors have subpoenaed election officials several states and correspondence with Trump-linked officials.

New Mexicos election official met with prosecutors for 2020 special counsel probe

Cassidy Hutchinson, key witness at January 6 hearings, lands book deal

Saturday 15 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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 Hutchinsons 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 publishers announcement.

Read more...

Former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, a key witness at Jan. 6 hearings, has a book deal

Weak GOP midterm showing and recent court ruling put US House majority in play in 2024

Saturday 15 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

After an anaemic 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.

Read on:

The US House majority is in play next year after a weak GOP midterm showing and recent court ruling

Broadway actor cleared over Jan 6 role

Saturday 15 July 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A former actor and Broadway star has been cleared of all charges related to his involvement in the Jan 6 Capitol riots.

James Beeks, a member of the Oath Keepers, was facing charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and civil disorder.

He was acquitted of both charges on Wednesday, but his co-defendant Donovan Crowl was convicted on both counts.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the details.

Broadway star cleared over Jan 6 role after his own lawyer argues he was a wannabe

DeSantis rules out being Trumps running mate

Saturday 15 July 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis, who is trailing Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination for president, has said he is not interested in becoming Mr Trumps running mate.

Abe Asher reports:

Ron DeSantis rules out being Trumps running mate: Im not a number two guy

Report: Special counsel has interviewed senior state official in Michigan in Trump probe

Saturday 15 July 2023 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Justice Department investigators have interviewed Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as part of their investigation into Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Ms Bensons meeting with prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith took place last month and lasted for several hours, a source told CNN.

Graeme Massie reports.

Special counsel has interviewed senior state official in Michigan in Trump probe

Bob Woodward: Trump sees democracy as enemy territory

Saturday 15 July 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward said he believes former President Donald Trump looks at democracy as enemy territory during an interview on MSNBC.

The problem with Trump is, I think he looks at democracy as enemy territory, to be quite frank, Mr Woodward told the networks Ari Melber on Tuesday.

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump sees democracy as enemy territory says journalist who helped bring down Nixon

After losing immunity in E Jean Carroll case, Trump fumes about crooked DOJ

Saturday 15 July 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump reacted with fury to news that the US Department of Justice no longer considers him immune from a defamation lawsuit from E Jean Carroll.

Ms Caroll is suing Mr Trump for denying that he sexually assaulted her in Manhattan during the 1990s. In 2019, while serving as president, Mr Trump said that Ms Carroll was not my type, and that the alleged assault never happened.

If a federal employee is sued for defamation over actions connected to their job, the DOJ can step in as the defendant and effectively stop the lawsuit from proceeding on the grounds that the federal government cannot be sued for defamation.

Abe Asher explains why Mr Trump can no longer rely on the federal government to defend him.

Trump fumes about DOJ after losing immunity in E Jean Carroll case
Donald Trump is considering his Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates should he win the GOP nomination.

The former president told Fox News on Sunday that his running mate could possibly be among those in the 2024 field saying there are some very talented people in the race.

He said that Vivek Ramaswamy has done a very good job and Senator Tim Scott is a very good guy but stopped short of saying who he would pick if the time came.

Over the weekend, Mr Trump headlined the first of a two-day conference hosted by right-wing political activist group Turning Point USA alongside far-right lawmakers, candidates and pundits, including Tucker Carlson and Matt Gaetz.

In his rambling Saturday night address condemned investigations and criminal indictments against him while telling Ron DeSantis to get home to Florida, accusing his rival for the Republican nomination for president of neglecting the governors office.

The campaign for Mr DeSantis, meanwhile, reported raising more than $20m in the first six weeks of his campaign, but roughly a dozen staffers were recently fired in a shakeup as his polling numbers trail the former presidents.

Key points

Marjorie Taylor Greene launches anti-trans speech at Turning Point conference

Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in rambling, threatening remarks

Trump asks Georgia Supreme Court to quash grand jury indictment report

Trump Organization employee target for obstruction of documents probe

No reason to delay Trump trial in documents case, prosecutors say

Trump considers Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates

10:26 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is considering his Republican 2024 rivals as potential running mates should he win the GOP nomination.

The former president told Fox News on Sunday that his running mate could possibly be among those in the 2024 field saying there are some very talented people in the race.

You have some good people on the stage actually. I think you have some very talented people. Ive been impressed by some of them. Some of them Im very friendly with, actually, he said, adding: I think you have good potential Cabinet members, too.

He said that Vivek Ramaswamy has done a very good job and Senator Tim Scott is a very good guy but stopped short of saying who he would pick if the time came.

Donald Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in grim, rambling Turning Point speech

10:00 , Alex Woodward

In his nearly two-hour-long headlining remarks to the Turning Point Action Conference on 15 July, Trump said that the American dream was dead under Joe Biden as he relentlessly mocked his predecessor and painted a bleak picture of a nation in decline.

Donald Trump brands US a third -world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

Biden 2024 campaign raised twice as much as Trump 2Q 2023

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The $72m brought in by the presidents re-election campaign is more than double the $35m raised by former president Donald Trumps campaign during the full 90-day period running from 1 April to 30 June, and more than triple the $25m which Mr Trumps closest primary rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, raised during the second quarter.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Biden campaign raised twice as much as Trump in 2nd quarter of 2023

Why Casey DeSantis matters to the 2024 race

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kelly Rissman writes:

Casey DeSantis has quickly become the face of Gov Ron DeSantis presidential campaign. The Florida first lady has been credited for everything from her fashion sense, local celebrity, and ability to baby proof the governors mansion, to serving as a humanizing contrast to her husband.

But is her rising profile enough to turn her husbands campaign around? Some have criticized her up to her eyebrows  literally  while others think she is a vital asset to the DeSantis campaign.

Read on...

Walmart Melania, Americas Karen: Why Casey DeSantis matters to the 2024 race

Order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies paused by court

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal appeals court Friday temporarily paused a lower courts order limiting executive branch officials communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.

Biden administration lawyers had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to stay the preliminary injunction issued on July 4 by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Doughty himself had rejected a request to put his order on hold pending appeal.

Fridays brief 5th Circuit order put Doughtys order on hold until further orders of the court. It called for arguments in the case to be scheduled on an expedited basis.

Read on...

Appeals court pauses order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

Tucker Carlson and Pence clash over Ukraine

04:45 , Alex Woodward

Tucker Carlson on Friday appeared to lose his patience with Mike Pence after the 2024 presidential candidate refused to back down from his support for arming Ukraines defence forces.

Andrew Feinberg has more:

Tucker Carlson and Mike Pence clash in heated exchange over Ukraine at GOP 2024 forum

They spent roughly half of their discussion sparring over Mr Pences view of the nearly 18-month-old war, which the ex-vice president described in stark terms based on his two visits to the region.

When he addressed the Turning Point conference on Saturday night, Carlson continued his attacks on the former president and boosted a narrative of Ukraine that has shaped an element of the Republican Party and its base while earning accolades from Russian state media.

If youre a Christian leader and Christians are going to jail for their views, you are required to say something, said Carlson, reviving a misleading narrative that accuses Ukraines Jewish leader Volodymyr Zelensky of persecuting Christian priests. And if you dont, youre not much of a Christian leader.

How thankful are we for Tucker Carlson revealing true snakes  who do not have our best interests in mind, said right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, between cackling over viral clips of President Biden and boos directed at Mr Pence.

Tim Scott agrees with Tucker Carlsons dismissal of Russia threat

02:45 , Oliver OConnell

Republican Senator Tim Scott or South Carolina appeared to agree with former Fox News host Tucker Carlsons assertion that Mexico poses a bigger threat to the US than Russia in a chummy 2024 campaign trail forum.

Eric Garcia has more:

Tim Scott agrees with Tucker Carlson comments dismissing threat posed by Russia

Ex-Secret Service agent not surprised by White House cocaine find

Monday 17 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver OConnell

A day after the Secret Service reached an end to its investigation into the presence of cocaine in the White House, former Secret Service agent Evy Poumpouras said she wasnt shocked that the drug was able to get in.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Ex-Secret Service agent says shes not surprised by White House cocaine scandal

Far-right pundits and lawmakers evangelise and crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Points Florida conference

Monday 17 July 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward

On the stage of an influential activist groups two-day conference, far-right conspiracy theorists, Republican presidential candidates and members of Congress veered into Christian nationalist evangelising, QAnon-adjacent conspiracy mongering and a bleak picture of an America in rapid decline under Democratic leadership.

The guest speakers at Turning Point USAs inaugural Turning Point Action Conference in Florida repeatedly denied the existence of transgender people, claimed that support for Ukraine is built on a lie, and characterised President Joe Biden as both a frail and incapable stooge and the most corrupt politician of all time.

And they professed their loyalty to both Donald Trump, who delivered rambling remarks in primetime on 15 July, and to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News pundit celebrated by Turning Point guests as the key figure who can articulate their long list of grievances.

More from this weekends conference:

Far-right pundits and lawmakers crown Trump and Tucker at Turning Point conference

Trump praises the federal judge he appointed who is now overseeing the Mar-a-Lago case

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:45 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon to the southern district in Florida in 2020.

Now, she is overseeing the federal case against him on charges of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property after leaving the White House.

His legal team has also pressed the judge to issue a continuance in the trial as he seeks to indefinitely delay the case. The filing is awaiting a decision from Judge Cannon.

Asked on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News whether he believes the judge will grant the motion, the former president said he didnt know.

I know its a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge, he said.

Im very proud to have appointed her, he added. But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.

Turning Point straw poll puts Ramaswamy, not DeSantis, as top No. 2 pick if theres no Trump

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:14 , Alex Woodward

Turning Point Actions attendees notably did not pick Ron DeSantis as a No 2 pick for the Republican nomination in a weekend straw poll.

Even though they were asked to pick a different candidate than the first round, which overwhelmingly went for Trump, attendees also picked Trump as a No 2.

But Vivek Ramaswamy  a Trump booster who told the crowd that he wasnt running against any candidate  received 51. 2 per cent of the second-choice vote.

Unsurprisingly, Trump dominates Turning Point Actions straw poll

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:10 , Alex Woodward

With the exception of the candidates running against him (except for Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster who said he is not running against anyone), speaker after speaker at the Turning Point Action conference pledged their loyalty to Donald Trump.

The results of a straw poll are no surprise, then, with the former presdent getting 85.7 per cent of attendees votes.

Ron DeSantis, considered his main rival for the 2024 nomination, received 4.3 per cent.

The top picks for Mr Trumps running mate include failed candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lake (30.8 per cent), US Rep Byron Donalds (24 per cent), and Mr Ramaswamy (22 per cent).

Just in Turning Point USA straw poll

Presidential Poll

President Trump 85.7%

Businessman Perry Johnson 7.8%

Governor DeSantis 4.3%

Businessman Ramaswamy 2.0%

VP Poll

Kari Lake 30.8%

Representative Donalds 24%

Businessman Ramaswamy 22.7%

Senator Tim Scott 6.9%

Governor pic.twitter.com/PQloYUhI1I  The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) July 16, 2023

Trump asks top Georgia court to toss election probe grand jury report and disqualify prosecutor

Sunday 16 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking Georgias highest court to prevent the district attorney who has been investigating his actions in the wake of the 2020 election from prosecuting him and to throw out a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating since early 2021 whether Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden. She has suggested that she is likely to seek charges in the case from a grand jury next month.

Read more...

Trump asks top Georgia court to disqualify election probe prosecutor and toss grand jury report

Tommy Tubervilles military blockade over abortion jeopardises national security, US Army veteran senator says

Sunday 16 July 2023 21:05 , Alex Woodward

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.

House Republicans have also 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.

GOP senator jeopardises national security with anti-abortion military blockade

Report: Special counsel issues criminal warning to Trump Organization employee over alleged obstruction

Sunday 16 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The special counsel investigating former president Donald Trump threatened potential criminal charges against a Trump Organization employee suspected of lying to investigators, according to sources of ABC News.

Jack Smith transmitted a letter to a staffer that indicated that they might have perjured themselves in an appearance before the federal grand jury that ultimately indicted Mr Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Special counsel issues criminal warning to Trump Organization employee, report says

Asa Hutchinson greeted with jeers at Turning Point

Sunday 16 July 2023 19:36 , Alex Woodward

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was met with boos and Trump chants at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida, where the crowd has effectively coronated the former president in his run for the White House.

Not a lot of Hutchinson fans pic.twitter.com/Ojsf0b9yFo  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

The ex-presidents eldest son Donald Trump Jr later said on the stage that at least Mr Hutchsinson had the b**** to show up to the conference, unlike the absentee Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is not appearing at the event.

Notably, Trump did not attend a Tucker Carlson-led evengelical summit on Friday, where the former Fox News pundit grilled the other candidates. Carlson later appeared at the Turning Point event, where there is unanimous support for the former president.

2020 election probe: Trump prosecutors met with Pennsylvania and New Mexico officials

Sunday 16 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal prosecutors under supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith have reportedly spoken with top election officials in Pennsylvania and New Mexico as part of the Justice Department probe into Donald Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election.

According to CNN, Mr Smiths team has in recent months conducted interviews of Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt and New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, with both officials providing information on matters related to the 2020 election.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Prosecutors met with Pennsylvania and New Mexico officials in 2020 election probe

Trump knows he lost 2020 election but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Sunday 16 July 2023 17:17 , Alex Woodward

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.

Christie, who is running against Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, told ABC News host George Stephanopouls that the former president 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 acknowledged losing the election he continues to publicly insist otherwise.

Trump knows he lost 2020 but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Ron DeSantis open to make changes to Social Security for people in their 30s and 40s

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:50 , Alex Woodward

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Ron DeSantis said of course he would protect Social Security for seniors, if elected.

That goes without saying, he added. When people say were going to somehow cut senior Social, thats totally not true.

But when it comes to the future of the program for people who are in their 30s and 40s and hope to retire in the coming decades, thats a much different thing, he said, casting doubt on the viability of the program for other generations.

Talking about making changes for people in their 30s or 40s  thats a much different thing, and thats something I think theres going to need to be discussions on, he said.

DeSantis: When people say we're going to somehow cut seniors' social security, that is totally not true. Talking about making changes for people in their 30s and 40s, that's a much different thing, pic.twitter.com/XodfM1R3bD  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

DeSantis to become first GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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 to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week

Trump insists he can end the war in Ukraine as soon as he enters office. He cant explain how

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:56 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump has continued to insist that he can end Russias war in Ukraine if he is elected into office, but he hasnt ever explained how, exactly, he would.

Asked directly on Fox News by host Maria Bartiromo, the former president says he has a good relationship with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky.

Thats not going to be enough for Putin to stop bombing, she interrupted.

This is how he explained what his negotiation would look like: I would tell Zelensky, No more, you gotta make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you dont make a deal, were gonna give them a lot, were gonna give them more than they ever got, if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day.

Trump: "Putin liked Ukraine a lot. It was the apple of his eye." pic.twitter.com/4VgLGTvyxN  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 16, 2023

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate: Its actually not fair

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:45 , Alex Woodward

Trump seems unlikely to participate in the first debate among candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, telling Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday that its not fair for candidates who are polling well to be asked questions alongside lower-polling candidates.

Why would you be doing a debate? Its actually not fair, he said. Why would you let someone thats [polling] at zero, or one, or two, or three, you know, be popping you with questions.

Trump suggests he wont participate in first GOP debate

Just in: Ron DeSantis to be interviewed by CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:17 , Alex Woodward

CNN will air an interview from anchor Jake Tapper with Ron DeSantis on Tuesday.

The interview will air on CNNs The Lead at 4pm ET on 18 July, days after the Florida governors presidential campaign let a dozen staffers go as his polling numbers trail his 2024 GOP rival Donald Trump.

JUST ANNOUNCED: GOP presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will sit down with @CNNs @JakeTapper on the campaign trail in South Carolina for an exclusive interview. Tune in to @TheLeadCNN on Tuesday 7/18 at 4pmET for the full interview. pic.twitter.com/7ixiejqFaR  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) July 16, 2023

Marjorie Taylor Greene launches anti-trans speech at Turning Point conference

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:56 , Alex Woodward

Far-right US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene launched into a transphobic speech using Jeff Foxworthy-style setups to accuse Democratic officials and voters of being pedophiles for supporting transition healthcare.

She called the Democratic party the party of pedophiles in her remarks to the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Sunday morning.

Trans youth, Bud Light and Target have been frequent targets on the stage all weekend, with host Charlie Kirk spelling out explicitly that anti-trans attacks are a winner politically for Republicans.

Former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly said on Saturday that 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.

(Getty Images)

Geraldo grilled about friendship with crazy, racist, misogynistic Trump

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera faced a grilling from panelists on The View about his past friendship with crazy, racist and misogynistic Donald Trump.

Mr Rivera appeared on the talk show on Thursday  just weeks after he revealed in a Twitter video that he had been fired from Fox News show The Five after 23 years with the right-wing network.

Rachel Sharp reports on what was said.

Ex-Fox News host grilled about friendship with crazy, racist, misogynistic Trump

ICYMI: Ron DeSantis campaign fires staff as Florida governor trails Trump in the polls

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:13 , Alex Woodward

The presidential campaign for Ron DeSantis has dismissed a number of staffers in an effort to trim costs months after the Florida governor entered the crowded 2024 GOP field.

Ron DeSantis campaign fires staff as Florida governor trails Trump in the polls

Report: Jared Kushner and Hope Hicks have testified in front of grand jury investigating Jan 6

Sunday 16 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal prosecutors investigating Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results have questioned his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, among other witnesses to see if the former president acknowledged he had lost.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Jared Kushner has testified in front of grand jury investigating Jan 6, reports say

Hunter Biden lawyers warn Trump to end attacks

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for the presidents son Hunter Biden sent Donald Trump a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday, alleging that the former presidents frequent hostile comments about Mr Biden are defamatory and likely to inspire violence.

We are just one such social media message away from another incident, the letter, obtained by Law360, claims, citing the violent attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband as a cautionary tale of the dangers of online rhetoric.

Will he listen?

Hunter Biden demands end to Trump attacks and says they may inspire violence

Poll: Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States

Sunday 16 July 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Click through for the details:

Americans are widely pessimistic about democracy in the United States, an AP-NORC poll finds

Giuliani knew claims about Georgia election workers were false, court docs show

Sunday 16 July 2023 06:45 , Alex Woodward

A court filing from the mother-and-daughter pair of Georgia election workers who are suing Rudy Giuliani for defaming them shows that Mr Giuliani had no evidence that either of them was involved in any manner of election fraud when he passed surveillance footage of them to former president Donald Trumps advisers as they scrambled to justify claiming the election had been stolen from the then-president.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Damning court documents reveal Giuliani knew claims about election workers were false

No reason to delay Trump documents trial until after 2024 election, prosecutors say

Sunday 16 July 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutors working under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith have urged Judge Aileen Cannon to reject former president Donald Trumps request to indefinitely postpone his trial on charges that he allegedly unlawfully retained national defence information and conspired with his aide Walt Nauta to obstruct justice.

In an 11-page filing submitted on Thursday, Mr Smiths team said Mr Trump and Mr Nauta have provided no valid legal justification for their request to delay any trial until a to-be-determined date set for sometime after the 2024 presidential election, and noted that such an open-ended request violates the 1974 Speedy Trial Acts requirement that courts establish a date certain for trial at the earliest practicable time after consulting with both prosecution and defence counsel.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Prosecutors say no reason to delay Trump documents trial until after 2024 election

After hosting her book event, Kari Lake claims Arizona brewery is getting death threats

Sunday 16 July 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Kari Lake has claimed that an Arizona brewery has received death threats after it hosted her book event.

The far-right Republican attended the event at the Firetruck Brewing Company venue in Tucson to promote her book, Unafraid: Just Getting Started.

Graeme Massie reports.

Kari Lake claims Arizona brewery is getting death threats after hosting her event

Donald Trump brands US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in rambling, threatening remarks

Sunday 16 July 2023 02:20 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trumps remarks  rambling, full of falsehoods, exaggerations, threats to democratic institutions and inflammatory statements targeting communities across the country  have concluded in Florida, where another lineup of Republican lawmakers and pundits will return to the Turning Point stage for more campaign-building speeches tomorrow.

Donald Trump brands US a third -world hellhole run by perverts and thugs

Trump outlines extreme America First immigration plan that would end birthright citizenship and begin mass deportations

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:53 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump has proposed reintroducing an even wider ban on people from majority Muslim countries from entering the US, the 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.

Trump: When I return to office, the travel ban is coming back even bigger and much stronger than before. The US will not be condemned for the same fate as countries like France pic.twitter.com/LZfZ9JtdxX  Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2023

DeSantis campaign reportedly fires a dozen staffers

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:48 , Alex Woodward

Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign has fired roughly one dozen staffers, and more firings are expected in the coming weeks, according to NBC News.

Despite bringing in $20m within the first six weeks of the year, the campaign is looking to bring costs down, according to sources speaking with the outlet.

Those close to the campaign are reportedly blaming his campaign manager Generra Peck while polling is showing the campaign lagging behind frontrunner Donald Trump.

(AP)

Trump calls indictments bulls*** and continues bogus election laims

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:00 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump once again called the indictments against him a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time and election interference that deny his election to the presidency in 2024, as he faces criminal charges for falsifying business records and a multimillion dollar fraud lawsuit in New York, federal charges for illegally withholding classified documents in Florida, and potential charges stemming from 2020 election interference.

He said the indictments are making people go through hell and destroying their families.

The former president falsely stated that the 2020 election was rigged against him, and claims that the investigations against him are an attempt to rig next years election as he seeks another term in the White House.

This is an attempt to win the 2024 election, but so far  its had the opposite effect. Its lifted us to new heights. People know its all bull****, he said.

Trumps campaign raised $35m in the second quarter of 2023, nearly double the $18.8m he raised during the first three months of the year.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, has raised $72m during the second quarter.

(REUTERS)

Trump paints apocalyptic picture of US hellhole in Turning Point remarks

Sunday 16 July 2023 00:40 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump called the US a third-world hellhole ruled by perverts and thugs, depicting a collapsing nation where the American dream is dead under his successor President Joe Biden.

He pointed to invisible sick and sinister forces that are trying to destroy the nation from within, he said in his grim remarks from the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Saturday.

He said he will use the power of the executive branch, if elected, to reclaim colleges and choke off the money to schools that are launching a Marxist assault on Western civilization itself.

The days of subsidizing communist indoctrination  are over, he said.

(Getty Images)

Matt Gaetz wants to introduce a bill creating school prayer time

Sunday 16 July 2023 00:21 , Alex Woodward

Students can pray in school whenever theyd like. Far-right US Rep Matt Gaetz, however, says he plans to introduce legislation so that in every classroom in America, there will be time for students to pray if they want to, a measure that could appear to violates the establishment clause of the US Constitution and mandate Christian prayer in schools.

He said that beautiful US Supreme Court that Trump gave us might end up upholding it, should it ever become law.

Gaetz: In the coming days, I will introduce a national prayer in school law so that in every classroom in America, there will be time for students to pray if they want to. This beautiful Supreme Court that Trump gave us just might uphold a constitutional law like that pic.twitter.com/hP1P61MSMK  Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2023

Tucker Carlson jokes that he was fired from Fox News for questioning January 6 and legitimacy of the 2020 election

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:51 , Alex Woodward

In a largely rambling speech around censorship to a crowd at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida, Tucker Carlson joked that he was fired from Fox News for questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the US Capitol.

He said there was never a national conversation about what happened in the election and its aftermath, and that anyone who questioned the outcome and the attack was basically hounded out of public life in America, whether they were deplatformed, jailed or fired from their jobs.

The crowd started to laugh and cheer.

Pretty funny, Carlson said, laughing. Sorry, I was so into it I lost self-awareness for a minute.

Carlson was fired from the network shortly after Fox settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787m to avert a blockbuster defamation trial. A former producer for his program also recently settled with the network for $12m, and the network also was sued by a man who was the subject of dozens of segments on his program accusing him of being a federal agent who incited the riots.

Tucker Carlson addresses the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on 15 July. (REUTERS)

A loyal Fox viewers lawsuit strikes at the networks egregious lies

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward

For the past two years, Ray Epps has been living a surreal nightmare, one born out of the same conspiracy theory universe that launched a riot in the halls of Congress, hundreds of criminal investigations, and a blockbuster defamation lawsuit against one of the most influential cable networks in the country.

The man in the middle of the right-wing conspiracy theory surrounding January 6 has accused Tucker Carlson of amplifying a fantastical story that has destroyed his family and his business, accusations that echo an historic $787m settlement between Fox and Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of spreading defamatory statements about the company in the elections aftermath.

It certainly is possible for us to prove a pattern of disregard for the truth, attorney Michael Teter tells The Independent.

I believe that this case is ripe for punitive damages, not just because of the willfulness on the part of lying about Ray and the egregious lies but also because theres a past conduct here of disregard for the truth, he says.

He was a loyal Fox viewer before he starred in a conspiracy theory. Now hes suing

Vivek Ramaswamy blames censorship for January 6

Saturday 15 July 2023 22:28 , Alex Woodward

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster among Republican candidates vying for the 2024 Republican nomination, painted an apocalyptic vision of the state of the contry in his remarks to a lackluster crowd at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on Saturday.

The 37-year-old far-right figure blamed wokeism, transgenderinism and climatism for the poison that fills what he characterized as a void in American society.

At a time in our national history, when the things that used to fill our void, faith, patriotism, hard work, family, these things have disappeared, and that leaves a black hold in its wake, he said.

His remarks largely echoed other speakers at the conference and statements from other far-right pundits who deny the accelerating climate crisis and scapegoat trans people for what he believes is American decline.

Ramaswamy also invented a baseless narrative about the January 6 attack, which he did not blame on bogus conspiracy theories or the actions of people who refused to accept the outcome of a democratic election.

The truth is this: January 6 was the result of a pervasive culture of censorship across this country, he said. When you tell people they cant scream, thats when they start tearing things down.

Post-It notes are attached to the faces of GOP candidates for the 2024 presidential nomination at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on 15 July. (Getty Images)

Turning Point speakers turn up anti-trans agenda

Saturday 15 July 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward

The speaking lineup at Turning Point USAs Turning Point Action conference in Palm Beach, Florida wasted no time targeting transgender rights in their laundry list of grievances to rally attendees and tee up 2024 campaigns.

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.

Republican US Rep Byron Donalds also falsely claimed that the radical left wants to drive a wedge between parents and children by affirming childrens genders.

Charlie Kirk (EPA)

Tucker Carlson turns his Christian summit with GOP hopefuls into platform for Putin

Saturday 15 July 2023 20:45 , Alex Woodward

Tucker Carlson returns to the political stage at the Tuning Point Action conference one day after a evangelical-hosted Republican presidential showcase for the former Fox News pundit, who spoke with several Republican candidates who are not Donald Trump.

Russias invasion of Ukraine dominated the event, as Carlson pressed the candidates with a line of questioning that questioned whether Ukraine was the aggressor and adopted a position that appeared to stand alongside Putins.

He will return to the stage this evening just before Trump delivers headlining remarks at the far-right Turning Point USA-hosted conference.

More from his Friday event from Josh Marcus and Ariana Baio:

Support for US-Ukraine alliance divides 2024 GOP hopefuls at Tucker Carlson forum

Lincoln Project airs new ad calling Tuberville a traitor

Saturday 15 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project has blasted Senator Tommy Tuberville for blocking Senate confirmations of all senior military officers to protest a Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care.

Thanks to the senator, the US Marine Corps is without a leader for the first time in 150 years. In a new ad by the group, the Lincoln Project says the Marines proud legacy is being tarnished by Mr Tuberville, labelling him a domestic enemy and a traitor.

Watch the ad below:

Biden calls out Tubervilles ridiculous block on military promotions

Saturday 15 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden on Thursday hit out at Alabama Senator Tommy Tubervilles monthslong effort to block the upper chamber from advancing hundreds of promotions for military officers and nominations for key positions in the US armed services, calling the Republican lawmakers position ridiculous and a threat to national security.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Biden calls out GOP senators ridiculous block on military promotions

Glitter really does get everywhere...

Saturday 15 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A Republican lawmaker has a bizarre new label for Hunter Biden  glitter.

Speaking at a House Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday, Rep Wesley Hunt compared President Joe Bidens son to the sparkly stuff.

Hunter Biden to me, is like glitter. He is on everything and you cannot get rid of him, he fumed.

Read on...

GOP lawmaker compares Hunter Biden to glitter: You cannot get rid of him

New Mexicos top election official met with federal prosecutors for special counsel probe

Saturday 15 July 2023 15:30 , Alex Woodward

The top election official in New Mexico is among several statest officials who have talked with federal prosecutors as part of the special counsels probe into the 2020 election.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver spoke with prosecutors at some point over the last few months, as Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith investigates Donald Trumps pressure campaign to overturn election results in states that he lost.

Prosecutors have subpoenaed election officials several states and correspondence with Trump-linked officials.

New Mexicos election official met with prosecutors for 2020 special counsel probe

Cassidy Hutchinson, key witness at January 6 hearings, lands book deal

Saturday 15 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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 Hutchinsons 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 publishers announcement.

Read more...

Former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, a key witness at Jan. 6 hearings, has a book deal

Weak GOP midterm showing and recent court ruling put US House majority in play in 2024

Saturday 15 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

After an anaemic 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.

Read on:

The US House majority is in play next year after a weak GOP midterm showing and recent court ruling

Broadway actor cleared over Jan 6 role

Saturday 15 July 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A former actor and Broadway star has been cleared of all charges related to his involvement in the Jan 6 Capitol riots.

James Beeks, a member of the Oath Keepers, was facing charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and civil disorder.

He was acquitted of both charges on Wednesday, but his co-defendant Donovan Crowl was convicted on both counts.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the details.

Broadway star cleared over Jan 6 role after his own lawyer argues he was a wannabe

DeSantis rules out being Trumps running mate

Saturday 15 July 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis, who is trailing Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination for president, has said he is not interested in becoming Mr Trumps running mate.

Abe Asher reports:

Ron DeSantis rules out being Trumps running mate: Im not a number two guy

Report: Special counsel has interviewed senior state official in Michigan in Trump probe

Saturday 15 July 2023 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Justice Department investigators have interviewed Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as part of their investigation into Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Ms Bensons meeting with prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith took place last month and lasted for several hours, a source told CNN.

Graeme Massie reports.

Special counsel has interviewed senior state official in Michigan in Trump probe

Bob Woodward: Trump sees democracy as enemy territory

Saturday 15 July 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward said he believes former President Donald Trump looks at democracy as enemy territory during an interview on MSNBC.

The problem with Trump is, I think he looks at democracy as enemy territory, to be quite frank, Mr Woodward told the networks Ari Melber on Tuesday.

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump sees democracy as enemy territory says journalist who helped bring down Nixon

After losing immunity in E Jean Carroll case, Trump fumes about crooked DOJ

Saturday 15 July 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump reacted with fury to news that the US Department of Justice no longer considers him immune from a defamation lawsuit from E Jean Carroll.

Ms Caroll is suing Mr Trump for denying that he sexually assaulted her in Manhattan during the 1990s. In 2019, while serving as president, Mr Trump said that Ms Carroll was not my type, and that the alleged assault never happened.

If a federal employee is sued for defamation over actions connected to their job, the DOJ can step in as the defendant and effectively stop the lawsuit from proceeding on the grounds that the federal government cannot be sued for defamation.

Abe Asher explains why Mr Trump can no longer rely on the federal government to defend him.

Trump fumes about DOJ after losing immunity in E Jean Carroll case
Trump Roasted For Making Up A Law 'Out Of Thin Air' About Classified Documents

Legal experts and critics lashed Donald Trump over the weekend after he fabricated a law he claimed gives presidents the absolute and unquestioned right to take any documents when they leave office.

The former president made the claim during a speech at the conservative Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday.

While railing against last months federal Espionage Act indictment over his handling of classified documents taken from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump claimed: Whatever documents a president decides to take with him, he has the absolute and unquestioned right to do so.

This was a law that was passed and signed, he insisted. And it couldnt be more clear.

Legal experts did not agree. Laurence Tribe, a legal scholar and Harvard University professor emeritus, said no such law exists.

National security attorney Bradley P. Moss said it was an illegitimate argument that would fail in court. Its a political talking point. Thats all, he tweeted.

Nope. No such law exists. Period. https://t.co/uBpSMoGl44  Laurence Tribe   (@tribelaw) July 16, 2023

This isnt a legitimate legal argument. Itll fail in court. Its a political talking point. Thats all. https://t.co/Lk4FT52GiN  Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) July 16, 2023

Trump has made similar claims in the past. Last month, he argued that a president leaving office has the absolute right to keep [documents] or he can give them back to NARA if he wants, referring to the National Archives and Records Administration.

His assertions have been repeatedly debunked by legal experts, who noted that the Presidential Records Act Trump has cited in his defense actually states the opposite. The 1978 law requires records created by presidents and vice presidents to be turned over to NARA at the end of their administrations.

Trump has also claimed he could take any documents he wanted because he had a standing order to automatically declassify any documents he took from the White House  a claim that has been contradicted by many high-ranking members of his own administration, the relevant federal agencies and his own comments on a 2021 tape obtained by CNN.

His latest fiction drew backlash and ridicule online:

Of all the not true things, this is the not truest https://t.co/bSMFC9kNWv  Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) July 16, 2023

No such law exists. Generally, laws granting rulers absolute power arent a thing in U.S. https://t.co/iHDXyHFb0a  THE UNDERTOW, by Jeff Sharlet (@JeffSharlet) July 17, 2023

Say youve never read the Presidential Records Act without saying youve never read the Presidential Records Act: https://t.co/PYHSYC6LGm  Gail Helt (@ghelt) July 16, 2023

THE LAW LITERALLY SAYS 100.00% THE INVERSE OF THIS. Its entire purpose was to do the inverse of what he is saying!



A lobotomized person can read the Presidential Records Act and discern this in 4 seconds. https://t.co/3GpSqPQadb  Spiros Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) July 16, 2023

Every day I pray this idiot testifies at his own trial. https://t.co/zpMYfeihPS  Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) July 16, 2023

The only way Trump is not convicted of stealing documents



Is if a MAGA cult member causes a hung jury



44 US Code 2022-The Presidential Records Act



The United States shall reserve and retain COMPLETE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, AND CONTROL of Presidential records



Emphasis added https://t.co/WXWTqq0Lvlpic.twitter.com/0yj0WrHpgS  Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast (@axidentaliberal) July 16, 2023

The best way to defend your case is to continually own up to the crimes and just make up lawsand do it all on camera.



Jack Smith must be in fits of laughter and shock at how dumb this man is. https://t.co/h3pYVpo0n0  Darshan Sanghrajka - @chiefchimpanzee on Threads (@chiefchimpanzee) July 16, 2023

Related...
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - Georgia's top court on Monday rejected former President Donald Trump's latest effort to block an investigation into whether he and his allies illegally sought to interfere with the state's 2020 election, weeks before prosecutors are expected to seek formal charges.

Court records showed the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the petition, filed last week by Trump's lawyers, that had sought to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and to quash a special grand jury report that recommended indictments against certain individuals.

The report has remained largely under seal while Willis finalizes her investigation. The special panel, which did not have the authority to issue its own indictments, produced the report after interviewing about 75 witnesses over the course of nine months, including some of the state's top officials.

Willis' probe began soon after a recorded January 2021 phone call in which Trump urged Georgia's top election official to "find" enough votes to overturn Democrat Joe Biden's statewide victory, falsely claiming that widespread fraud had tainted the results.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has denied any wrongdoing and accused Willis, an elected Democrat, of targeting him for political reasons.

Willis has indicated to local officials that she will seek indictments in the case from a regular grand jury in August.

Trump's lawyers previously filed a separate petition asking the state judge who oversaw the grand jury to quash its report and disqualify Willis from the case. The judge has not yet ruled on that request.

Trump became the first former U.S. president to face criminal prosecution in March, when New York prosecutors charged him with falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn star who said she had an affair with him. Trump has denied her account.

He was separately charged in federal court in June with unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving office and obstructing efforts to retrieve them.

He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax)
The deal has been described as "strategic and comprehensive"

Tunisia and the EU have signed a deal to tackle "irregular" migration - meaning those moving in breach of rules.

Tunisia has become the main departure point for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

The EU has been struggling to cope, with 72,000 migrants making the journey this year alone, mostly to Italy.

The deal includes $118m (90m) to stop smuggling, strengthen borders and return migrants.

In recent months, black migrants in Tunisia have faced violent attacks due to an increasingly hostile environment.

Tunisia's President Kais Saied had accused migrants of partaking in a "plot" to change the country's demographic profile, blaming "traitors who are working for foreign countries". He later denied being racist.

Tunisia is suffering an economic crisis and increasing numbers of Tunisians are also trying to leave the country to go to Europe.

The EU-Tunisia deal says migrants at the border will be treated with the "full respect of human rights" and also seeks to carve out legal pathways for people to migrate.

The deal, which the EU describes as "strategic and comprehensive" also outlines a plan to boost Tunisia's economic growth through "socio-economic reforms" and greater cooperation on a green energy transition, education, research and innovation.

The European leaders, including Italian and Dutch Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni and Mark Rutte, who were in Tunis for the signing of the deal described it as an "important step" to deal with migration and an agreement which would also benefit "the Tunisian people", according to the AFP news agency.

President Saied also defended his record on migration, saying that the country "gave the migrants everything it can offer with unlimited generosity," AFP reports.

There is still a question mark over a long-term loan of $1bn (764m) that the EU has previously offered to help Tunisia out of its economic crisis, because it depends on the outcome of separate talks with the IMF. However those negotiations with the Washington-based finance agency have since stalled.

Aside from the anti-migration comments, President Saied also faces opposition from Tunisians who accuse him of seizing control for himself.

President Saied, who was elected in 2019, has carried out a series of measures to enhance the powers of the presidency at the expense of parliament and the judiciary. Two years he ago sacked his prime minister, suspended parliament and a year later pushed through a constitution that gives him almost unlimited powers.

His critics have accused him of a coup, but President Saied said he was simply taking action to "save the state" after Covid severely damaged the economy.
On Friday Greek media reported that two Turkish F-16s entered Athens' flight information region without permission and were intercepted by Greek jets. Some 48 hours earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted in a statement that there would be no such incursions. This latest move will likely complicate efforts for the Biden administration to assure Congress that Turkey can be trusted with 40 new F-16 fighter jets.

Erdogan has prioritized securing the F-16s prior to green lighting Swedens NATO bid, but experts warn Sweden's accession to NATO is not a done deal.

"It is likely that President Erdogan is looking to get assurances from the U.S. (namely Congress) that the sale of F-16 fighter jets will be approved before he ratifies Swedens membership. He is under no significant pressure to get this done earlier," Sinan Ciddi, non-resident senior fellow and Turkey expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

Ciddi further noted in an essay in the publication 1945 that Erdogan could call a special session of parliament in a matter of days rather than wait for October to ratify Stockholm's membership to NATO.

President Biden and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet at the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11, 2023.

When the State Department notified Congress of a potential F-16 sale to Turkey, it cited "NATO alliance unity" as a reason for the deal. Coming out of Vilnius, the administration has joined Congress in making deconfliction between Turkey and Greece as important to the alliance as the membership of Sweden and Finland.

GREECE ELECTION: ECONOMY, MIGRATION, SCANDALS LOOM LARGE IN PIVOTAL VOTE

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In recent calls with the Turkish president and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, both President Biden and national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington sees de-escalation and calm in the eastern Mediterranean and stability in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey as core U.S. interests.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have insisted that congressional approval for Turkish F-16s would be contingent on ensuring American weapons could not be used by Turkey to challenge Greek sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Before the intrusion into Greek airspace on Friday, Erdogan seemed to be on board. In a press conference in Vilnius, Erdogan declared, "We have never used our F-16s against Greece and we dont plan to use them against Greece moving forward." In a move to perhaps further assuage Greek concerns, Biden recently talked about a defense package for Greece, including F-35 fighter jets which Congress has already signed off on.

Erdogan and Mitsotakis also met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius and agreed to continue multiple levels of communications and to hold a meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council in Thessaloniki in the fall.

TURKEY'S CONFRONTATIONAL FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES GREECE, EUROPEAN UNION AMID RISING MARITIME TENSIONS

F 16 fighter jets take part in the NATO Air Shielding exercise near the air base in Lask, central Poland, on Oct. 12, 2022.

Erdogan said Turkey will move ahead with Swedens ratification process when the Turkish parliament meets in October. The United States and NATO allies want the deal to move faster, within the next two to three weeks.

Although the sale is seen as a positive development for Turkeys relationship with NATO and its newest member Finland (and potentially Sweden), the deal is still looked at with some consternation by U.S. lawmakers, who fear it was made at the expense of Greece.

A group of lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 8 urging the Biden administration to include assurances in the F-16 package that Turkey is not allowed to use American weapons within the NATO alliance.

"Given Turkeys history of using American F-16s for overflights in the Aegean and to challenge Greek sovereignty, we request mechanisms that provide for the pause, delay or snapback of the transfer of American weapons to Turkey if it resumes its destabilizing actions in the Eastern Mediterranean that threaten or undermine U.S. national security interests or NATO security architecture," the lawmakers wrote.

RUSSIA MAKES NUCLEAR THREAT TO SWEDEN, FINLAND OVER NATO CONSIDERATION

The lawmakers are looking for oversight mechanisms, including snapback provisions, that could be used to put a hold on the F-16s in the event Turkey violates Greek territorial sovereignty.

Despite concerns in Congress, some experts on the region don't think there's much to fear.

"Greece will now likely receive the F-35s following the sale of F-16s to Turkey. Therefore, the F-16 sale to Turkey will likely be met with a shrug in Athens, as it makes getting the much more advanced and more capable F-35s more likely. Given the trepidation in Congress over selling anything to Turkey, particularly from Sen. Robert Menendez, I assume this makes it likely that the U.S. will support a sale of the F-35s to Greece," Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Fox News Digital.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observes a military exercise in Izmir, Turkey, on June 9, 2022.

Many diplomats and observers believe that President Erdogan held Swedens NATO bid hostage, using their application to apply pressure on the United States to move forward with the sale of the fighter jets and military modernization kit. The United States has denied the allegation.

"President Biden has been clear and unequivocal for months that he supported the transfer of F-16s to Turkey, that this is in our national interest, it's in the interest of NATO that Turkey get that capability. He has placed no caveats or conditions on that in his public and private comments over the past few months, and he intends to move forward with that transfer in consultation with Congress," Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Erdogan also rejected the notion that Ankaras likely ratification of Swedens NATO membership was linked to the F-16 sales. The Swedish government took the necessary steps to alleviate Turkish concerns and promised to reignite Turkeys path toward joining the European Union.

The Turkish president has made not so subtle overtures toward the West since winning re-election to a third term in May, extending his rule into its third decade.

"Turkey was given an opportunity to get back into the good graces of the NATO alliance and blew it by extorting its allies," said Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council. "Turkeys lack of reliability as an ally brought the tensions it causes within the NATO alliance front and center, and made maintaining stability in the Aegean  both via holding Turkey accountable and arming Greece  a declared U.S. interest."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during their talks at the Kremlin on March 5, 2020 in Moscow. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Other experts warn that Erdogan's maneuvers have more to do with a pragmatic and transactional approach to foreign policy than Turkey actually tilting toward the West, and any decoupling from Russia is unlikely in the near term.

"Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin know each other perfectly, they aggravate each other on many topics, but always have a superior interest in cooperating. Lets not forget that Russia has major stakes on all issues happening across Turkish borders, be it in Syria, in the South Caucasus, in the Eastern Mediterranean or in the Black Sea," Mathieu Droin, visitng fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Fox News Digital.

If Turkey doesnt fulfill its end of the bargain, it would not be the first time the U.S. has placed an embargo on their NATO ally. Congress blocked arms sales to Turkey between 1975 and 1978 over the Cyprus conflict. Other arms sales have been put on hold since, notably the Trump administration removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program after Turkey purchased S-400 surface-to-air defense system form Russia.
Turkey's Erdogan says he is open to meeting with Syria's Assad

FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters in Ankara after the second round of the presidential election

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he was open to a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, but that setting the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian territory as a precondition for talks was "unacceptable".

Turkey has been the biggest military and political ally of the Syrian opposition, which controls the last rebel bastion in northwest Syria. Ankara has set up dozens of bases and deployed thousands of troops in northern Syria, preventing the Russian-backed Syrian army from re-taking the region.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul ahead of his departure for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates, Erdogan said that Turkey has never "shut the door" to discussions with the Syrian government.

"We can hold a four-party summit (with Syria, Russia and Iran), and I am also open to a meeting with Assad. What matters here is their approach toward us," Erdogan said.

Damascus' condition of a complete withdrawal of Turkish forces for such a meeting was "unacceptable", he added.

Erdogan first said earlier this year that he may meet Syrian President Assad as part of a new peace process, but Assad said in March that there was no point in a meeting with Erdogan until Turkey's "illegal occupation" ended.

"We are fighting against terrorism there. How can we withdraw when our country is under continuous threat from terrorists along our border... We expect a fair approach," Erdogan said.

The defence ministers of the two countries met late last year for the highest-level talks between the two neighbours, whose governments have been at odds since 2011, when the Arab Spring uprisings reached Syria and plunged the country into war.

The foreign ministers of the two countries also met in Moscow in May ahead of Turkish elections as part of talks overseen by Russia.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Daren Butler and Sharon Singleton)
GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson was greeted by boos and chants of Trump Sunday when he walked onto the stage to speak at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Fla..

Despite this, Hutchinson welcomed the audience and continued introducing himself to attendees. I am delighted to be here today to express my support for young people being engaged in the political arena and fighting for the conservative cause, he said.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Hutchinson went on to discuss recently finishing eight years as Arkansass governor before he handed the reins of state government over to Sarah Huckabee Sanders, to which the audience cheered.

Chants and rumbles of Trump rose as the audience started again a few moments later, after Hutchinson said, As Republicans, we need to be able to fight for our cause. We need to be able to build the spirit of our cause and to bring in independent and those like-minded folks that can support us and win in 2024.

The GOP hopeful continued while Trump chants persisted, even pausing for a few seconds until the crowd quieted.

It was not all pushback for Hutchinson, with some of the crowd cheering when he discussed certain policy choices such as his ban on biological men competing in womens sports.

Other GOP presidential candidates including Trump and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also spoke at the conference.

Hutchinson formally announced his bid for president in April, positioning himself as a non-Trump, candidate. He called out the former president to drop out of the race, previously telling The Hill, The last thing that we need is another Joe Biden-Donald Trump race in 2024.

A Morning Consult poll released last week showed Trump as the front-runner of the Republican race, with 56 percent of potential GOP primary voters saying they would back the former president, compared to Hutchinsons 1 percent backing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with a delegation of cadres of A Just Russia-Patriots-For Truth party, led by the Russian party's chairman Sergei Mironov, in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with a delegation of cadres of A Just Russia-Patriots-For Truth party in Beijing on Monday.

The delegation was led by Sergei Mironov, the Russian party's chairman.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that under the strategic guidance and personal promotion of the two heads of state, China and Russia have continuously deepened political mutual trust, steadily advanced practical cooperation and maintained close and effective international coordination, setting a model of a new type of major-country relations.

He said the Communist Party of China (CPC) is willing to work with the A Just Russia party to fully implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously enrich the content of exchanges between the two parties, and make new contributions to the development of China-Russia relations in the new era.

Noting that the National People's Congress of China and the Russian Federation Council have always maintained good exchanges, Zhao said the Chinese side is willing to further deepen exchanges and mutual learning to provide a more fine-tuned legal guarantee for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

Mironov said the A Just Russia party highly values the friendly and cooperative relations between Russia and China, and between the two parties, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the CPC and promote the in-depth development of Russia-China parliamentary cooperation. 

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with a delegation of cadres of A Just Russia-Patriots-For Truth party, led by the Russian party's chairman Sergei Mironov, in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
The authorities will be evacuating children from nine settlements in the Vovchansk territorial hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] in Kharkiv Oblast on a compulsory basis.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, during the national 24/7 newscast on 17 July

Quote: "Recently, a decision was taken at the Defence Council regarding the mandatory evacuation of children from nine settlements in the Vovchansk territorial hromada. We need to evacuate 194 children. They will initially be evacuated to the city of Kharkiv, and later we will ask people where they would like to go next.

Our priority is evacuating people beyond the borders of Kharkiv Oblast, but people do not want to go further than the city of Kharkiv. We have accommodation reserved not only in Kharkiv, but in other oblasts too - Poltava, Rivne and other oblasts [of Ukraine]."

Details: Syniehubov stated that "people are reluctant to evacuate".

But safety is the priority, he said.

"These settlements are attacked every day. This morning the Russians shelled the city of Vovchansk, injuring one person. They launch attacks using not just S-300 systems but all types of weaponry, especially since the front line lies along the Kupiansk area," he added.

Syniehubov also noted that Russian troops are deployed along the border with Russia on the northern and northeastern fronts, where they are building fortifications.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russians are building up their capacity and "trying to move on from just deploying reconnaissance and sabotage groups, to attempting large-scale assaults". The Ukrainian forces respond appropriately and repel them, so the Russian army cannot advance, Syniehubov said.

Background:

On 10 July, Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, announced that the authorities were evacuating all residents of a five-kilometre zone in the Sumy Oblast hromadas on the Russian border.

However, the mandatory evacuation was later called off.

Ukraine's government has been offering to evacuate people from Sumy Oblast free of charge since 15 July.

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A spokesperson said the defence department was aware of the issue and it was being taken seriously

Millions of US military emails have been mistakenly sent to Mali, a Russian ally, because of a minor typing error.

Emails intended for the US military's ".mil" domain have, for years, been sent to the west African country which ends with the ".ml" suffix.

Some of the emails reportedly contained sensitive information such as passwords, medical records and the itineraries of top officers.

The Pentagon said it had taken steps to address the issue.

According to the Financial Times, which first reported the story, Dutch internet entrepreneur Johannes Zuurbier identified the problem more than 10 years ago.

Since 2013, he has had a contract to manage Mali's country domain and, in recent months, has reportedly collected tens of thousands of misdirected emails.

None were marked as classified, but, according to the newspaper, they included medical data, maps of US military facilities, financial records and the planning documents for official trips as well as some diplomatic messages.

Mr Zuurbier wrote a letter to US officials this month to raise the alarm. He said that his contract with the Mali government was due to finish soon, meaning "the risk is real and could be exploited by adversaries of the US".

Mali's military government was due to take control of the domain on Monday.

Mr Zuurbier has been approached for comment.

US military communications that are marked "classified" and "top secret" are transmitted through separate IT systems that make it unlikely they will be accidently compromised, according to current and former US officials.

But Steven Stransky, a lawyer who previously served as senior counsel to the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence Law Division, said that even seemingly harmless information could prove useful to US adversaries, particularly if it included details of individual personnel.

"Those sorts of communications would mean that a foreign actor can start building dossiers on our own military personnel, for espionage purposes, or could try to get them to disclose information in exchange for financial benefit," Mr Stransky said. "It's certainly information that a foreign government can use."

Mali has become increasingly close with Russia since a 2020 coup unseated its former government

Lee McKnight, a professor of information studies at Syracuse University, said he believed the US military was fortunate that the issue was brought to its attention and the emails were going to a domain used by Mali's government, rather than to cyber criminals.

He added that "typo-squatting" - a type of cyber-crime that targets users who incorrectly misspell an internet domain - is common. "They're hoping that a person will make a mistake, and that they can lure you in and do stupid things," he said.

When contacted by the BBC, a spokesperson said the defence department was aware of the issue and it was being taken seriously.

They said the department had taken steps to ensure that ".mil" emails are not sent to incorrect domains, including blocking them before they leave and notifying senders that they must validate intended recipients.

Both Mr McKnight and Mr Stransky said human errors were prime concerns for IT specialists working in government and the private sector alike.

"Human error is by far the most significant security concern on a day-to-day basis," Mr Stransky said. "We just can't control every single human, every single time".
U.S. Navy veteran Phil Ehr, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in 2020, is launching a bid to oust U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

Beating Scott is likely to be an uphill battle for Ehr or any other Democrat. The former two-term Florida governor is heading into his first Senate reelection campaign with the advantage of incumbency and vast financial resources to draw from.

During his first Senate bid in 2018, Scott spent nearly $64 million of his own money to defeat former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. As he heads into his reelection campaign, Scott already has $3 million in the bank, ready to spend.

Ehr, by comparison, raised just over $2 million for his 2020 challenge to Gaetz, a conservative firebrand who represents a deep-red district in the Florida Panhandle. Gaetz ultimately won that race by 30 percentage points.

In announcing his Senate campaign on Monday, Ehr, a retired Navy commander, drew heavily on his military service; a video released by his campaign touts his 26 years in the Navy, including missions in the Balkans and Desert Storm. More recently, he said, he has been involved in providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

He cast Scott as part of what he called the axis of lies, a cohort of Republican politicians, whom Ehr said had been complicit in spreading misinformation.

Rick Scott is a coward. We cant trust him in the battle for our rights, the truth and our future, Ehr said in his announcement video. So once again, duty calls. Its always quietest before the storm.

His campaign also shared a poll from the progressive firm Change Research suggesting that Scott may be more vulnerable to a challenge than many political observers previously thought.

Ehr is unlikely to be the only credible Democratic candidate running for the nomination to challenge Scott in 2024. Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has also said that shes considering a Senate bid, as has Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins.

Democratic former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson filed paperwork for a Senate campaign last month. Republican Keith Gross, a lawyer and former assistant state attorney, has also launched a longshot primary challenge to Scott.

A spokesperson for Scotts reelection campaign did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment on Ehrs entrance into the race. But Scotts allies dont appear intimidated by the senators new challenger.

Best @chuckschumer and @FlaDems can do in #FLSen is a guy who lost a congressional race 2 cycles ago by 30 points, Chris Hartline, a longtime adviser to Scott, tweeted, referring to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Florida Democratic Party.
US senators introduce bill giving the president power to ban TikTok at Capitol Hill news conference in Washington

U.S. Senator Manchin speech stokes speculation of White House run US senators introduce bill giving the president power to ban TikTok at Capitol Hill news conference in Washington

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Maverick Democratic Senator Joe Manchin on Monday said he believed that having a third-party candidate run in the 2024 U.S. presidential election would "threaten" the two major political parties into tacking towards more moderate positions as their only path to victory.

The former West Virginia governor left open the door to being just such a candidate, but said he had not yet decided whether to launch a third party bid under the "No Labels" banner.

In an interview sponsored by the self-described centrist group No Labels, Manchin enticed an audience in New Hampshire saying, "I love independent everything ... I'm the most independent Democrat you've ever met."

The No Labels event was held at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.

New Hampshire is a regular stop for presidential hopefuls because of its early spot in the primary election calendar. Candidates see it as a way of building momentum early on if they perform well there.

Manchin has made a career in the Senate employing uncertainty about how he would vote on major legislation in the narrowly divided Senate in an attempt to steer bills in what he portrays as a more moderate direction.

Arguing the Republican Party has "gone too far right" and Democrats are now "too far left," Manchin said pushing the major party presidential candidates to the center "can't be done unless they're threatened."

He added, "The only way you can threaten is have people out there that say listen, either side can't win without the independent (voter)...that center-left, center-right, an independent Republican, an independent Democrat."

Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, a No Labels activist, said he hoped a third-party candidate would not be necessary in next year's race for the White House.

He added, however, that if by "Super Tuesday" in early March - when a series of state primary elections are held - it appears as if Donald Trump will be the Republican presidential nominee and Joe Biden the Democrats' pick, "We will present a presidential and vice presidential candidate on a No Labels ticket ... but only if we see an opportunity to win."

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley, in a statement ahead of the No Labels town hall event, accused the group of being "bankrolled by several high-profile Republican donors and supporters of former President Trump" in an attempt "to knock out President Biden and pave the way for another four years of scandal and division with Donald Trump."

Manchin, 75, is arguably the most conservative Democratic senator. He has told reporters he will wait until late this year before announcing whether he will seek re-election to his U.S. Senate seat representing West Virginia.

Should Manchin seek another term, he would likely face a serious challenge from Governor Jim Justice who is seeking the Republican Party nomination in the Senate race. The state has been leaning heavily Republican, having overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Trump, 77, leads a crowded field of Republican presidential aspirants and is waging a no-holds-barred campaign in which he continues to repeat the falsehood that he won the 2020 presidential election.

Many voters express worries about 80-year-old President Joe Biden seeking a second term. But speculation of an independent candidate entering the race generates heartburn among Democratic strategists who want the incumbent re-elected.

Opinion polling shows neither Democrats nor Republicans are thrilled with their likeliest 2024 White House candidates, with four in 10 Republicans telling a May Reuters/Ipsos poll that they think Trump should not run again in 2024, and a similar number of Democrats citing a similar view on Biden.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Alistair Bell, Howard Goller and Lincoln Feast.)
For decades, starting primarily in the 1950s, the federal courts have stepped in to right the wrongs of Mississippis racist 1890 state constitution.

Let it be known that on June 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court said in its view the wrongs had already been corrected. The nations highest court announced its refusal on that day to hear a case challenging the centuries-old Mississippi Constitution provision that imposes a lifetime ban on voting for people convicted of certain felonies.

The provision, it was clear at the time  even boasted by the framers of that 1890 constitution  was enacted as one of the many tools to keep Black Mississippians from voting. There was a racist belief then that African Americans were more prone to commit certain crimes, so they imposed the lifetime felony voting ban. At the time, the provision imposed a lifetime voting ban on a person convicted of bigamy or perjury, for instance, but not for someone who committed murder or rape.

The Mississippi Center for Justice and other groups that filed the lawsuit in 2017 on behalf of people who have lost their right to vote argued before the federal court that because of the racist origin of the provision, it should be struck down. The federal courts in landmark cases have struck down other Mississippi constitutional provisions designed to keep African Americans from voting, such as the poll tax and so-called literacy tests. And, of course, other provisions of the states 1890 Constitution not related to voting, such as the absurdly labeled separate-but-equal schools, have been famously invalidated by the federal court.

The Supreme Court justices did not say why they refused to hear the felony suffrage case.

But a majority of the U.S. 5th Court of Appeals ruled in 2022 the provision was not unconstitutional because the racial taint from 1890 had been removed by actions taken in the 1950s and 1960s by the Mississippi Legislature. The 5th Circuit reasoned that legislators passed resolutions approved by voters to add murder and rape as disenfranchising crimes. The changes removed the racial taint, the judicial majority ruled. Notably, the electorate was not given an opportunity to vote on whether to keep the original racially motivated crimes as disenfranchising crimes.

So, some including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown, who disagreed with the majority decision not to hear the case, questioned whether the racial taint had been removed.

Constitutional wrongs do not right themselves, she wrote.

Those who say the racial taint had been removed perhaps would have a stronger argument if the Legislature would allow voters to decide if they want to maintain the provision banning people from voting for life even after they complete their sentence. Most other states  more than 40  do not have lifetime bans on voting.

In 2020 Mississippians were given an opportunity by the Legislature to remove another provision placed in the 1890 Constitution to discriminate against Black people. And given the opportunity, Mississippians by an overwhelming majority  79% to 21%  voted to remove the provision.

The provision required all elections for statewide office to be decided by the Mississippi House if a candidate did not obtain a majority vote and win a majority of the 122 House districts. The provision was placed in the Constitution to prevent Black residents, who were a majority at the time, from winning statewide office. The framers also had drawn House districts in a manner to keep Black candidates from winning a majority of them, thus making it difficult for African American statewide candidates to gain approval from the House.

Of course, voters had the opportunity to repeal the provision thanks to the action of the courts.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan of Mississippis Southern District told state officials if they did not remove the provision that he might be inclined to do so himself. But first, he said, he hoped the Legislature would give the citizens the opportunity to remove the provision.

The federal courts took no such action on felony suffrage.

While the federal courts appear to have stopped its crusade on the racist provisions of the Mississippi Constitution, federal judges now are being asked to strike what some say is a racist Mississippi law. The law takes away the right to elect judges to newly created judicial posts in predominantly African American Hinds County and instead gives the white state Supreme Court chief justice the authority to appoint those judges. The right to elect judges is not taken away in any other area of the state except for Hinds County, where Black residents make up 75% of the population.

Whether the federal courts see a racial taint in the controversial law remains to be seen.

This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter.
UFW just got big union wins at New York farms. Is the same coming for California?

The United Farm Workers just had its biggest unionizing success in years, and it didnt happen in California.

In a first for the historic labor union, it organized nearly 500 workers at five farms in New York. The victories, which will increase UFWs membership by 8%, come four years after a state law passed giving farm workers the right to organize.

For us, its proof of concept that when you change the laws, workers can win, said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a UFW spokesperson.

Like many unions, UFW has struggled to organize over the last few decades, its membership dwindling from 60,000 to around 6,000. Even with legal protection, farmworker organizing is often slow, painstaking work. Many prospective union members are reluctant to give up 3% of their already low wages for dues, and worry that their immigration status leaves them vulnerable to employer retaliation.

But there are signs of a resurgence on both sides of the country.

The New York law includes components similar to recent California legislation. Its signing culminated a long battle by UFW to expand unionization rights for farm workers. Now, bolstered by the new law, some labor experts say similar victories could be on their way in the Golden State.

Union victories in New York show us that laws do matter in protecting workers rightsSo the fact theres been these big wins, I think we should expect something like that in California, said Ana Padilla, executive director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center.

Different states, different laws

UFW and Padilla attributed the recent certifications to the 2019 New York law, the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. The legislation prohibits retaliation against farmworkers desiring to organize, and allows them to vote by signing pro-union cards.

Prior to the law, farm workers in New York had no state-protected right to organize. That was in accordance with the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which was rooted in racism and excluded farmworkers from the right to unionize without retaliation. At the time, many of those workers were Black.

Since then, only a few states have enacted legislation protecting organizing and collective bargaining for agricultural workers. Attempts at federal reform have failed repeatedly.

In states where bargaining isnt specifically protected, farmworkers can decide to form a union but an employer does not have to negotiate a contract. UFW is currently dealing with that conflict in Washington, where workers at a mushroom farm voted to unionize but the company refuses to bargain.

From UFWs perspective, only three states have true unionization rights  California, New York and Hawaii. Though it sometimes takes years, these states require the company to recognize the union. Even then, that doesnt always guarantee a win.

In 2020, a major raspberry grower in Watsonville decided to shut down after losing a multi-year legal battle against UFW and being ordered to uphold a statewide contract.

New era in farmworker organizing

California just approved its version of a card check law, giving farmworkers an additional way to unionize.

Newsom vetoed a similar measure in 2021, citing technical issues. The following year, the governor faced pressure from labor advocates and President Joe Biden. He eventually signed with the caveat that new legislation would be passed in 2023 to address concerns around implementation and voting integrity.

New legislation finally appeared in early May, with Newsom signing it a few weeks later.

Under the new law, farmworkers can sign cards to show their union support and drop them off at the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) office. Previously, they had to call for a union election by petitioning the ALRB and then notifying their employer. Elections would often be held at the worksite.

Labor advocates and UFW said it has been difficult to organize without the new provisions because employers could union bust and take action against workers, including threats of deportation for those who are undocumented. There have only been six union elections for farmworkers since 2016.

It was a functionally broken process that had resulted in no new union certification for many years and it wasnt because workers didnt want it, De Loera-Brust said. It was because there were too many barriers, given the realities of poverty, immigration status and the vulnerability to retaliation that workers face.

The union currently has 20 UFW contracts in California, representing about 5,000 to 8,000 workers. The count is taken in late December, when many farmworkers dont work, and fluctuates annually depending on weather conditions and international trade patterns.

However, there is a possibility that unionization and membership increases because of the new legislation. Padilla said the law mirrors New Yorks, indicating that the same may be coming.

It does signal a new era in farmworker organizing, she said.

In New York, the organized farms include four apple orchards and one vegetable grower  Wafler Farms, Cahoon Farms, Porpiglia, A&J Kirby and Lynn-Ette. Four of the five farms are located near Rochester.

Uphill battle coming?

De Loera-Brust and UFW are tight-lipped about what the California legislation means moving forward and a potential timeline for organizing, saying only that the new law is important but not a silver bullet. That tactic follows similar quiet organizing in New York.

But in California the union will likely face much more opposition given its history. That could mean years of laborious organizing before seeing any progress.

Its going to be a much harder uphill battle for the union to try to do this here, said Rob Roy, president and general counsel for Ventura County Agricultural Association.

Roy, who advocated against the California measure, said agriculture associations have been educating members about the new law over the last six months. Much of the agricultural industry opposed the bill because they believe such a change would make it easy to commit voter fraud and force employees to unionize.

Roy also pointed to the type of farmworkers that UFW organized in New York. The majority were from Jamaica or Mexico with H-2A visas to do seasonal work.

They really dont have a connection with the employer, Roy said. Whereas in California, most of these people work most of the year or year round for particular employers.

Roy conceded there are some agricultural employees that the union will reach, while De Loera-Brust acknowledged challenges come with UFWs storied history.

In California, UFW is more established, De Loera-Brust said. And obviously that has some perks because workers know who we are. But it also means that growers know that were here.

He declined to share more on the unions plan.

Im not going to share any specific California organizing strategy because growers read your paper too, De Loera-Brust said.
(Bloomberg) -- The UK Labour Party wants groups of officials from different government departments to tackle the long-term threat posed by states such as China  which it views as hostile to British interests  if it comes to power at the next general election.

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A new joint cell between the Home and Foreign offices would share intelligence and expertise, speed up decision-making and break down traditional barriers and turf-wars between departments, Labours home affairs spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper, said in a speech on Monday. Another joint Home Office and Treasury task-force would respond to the short-term and long-term economic threats to the UKs homeland security, she added.

The response to China is different to the issues that we face from Russia or the issues that we face from Iran, Cooper told the RUSI think tank in London. There is an overarching failure to have that coordinated focus that brings all government departments together to address this and to plan for the future.

Beijing has long rejected claims that it poses a threat to other nations, with China saying its committed to its peaceful rise. In a letter earlier this month marking the 70th anniversary of ice-breaking diplomatic missions between the UK and the Peoples Republic, President Xi Jinping said the relationship has helped support world peace and more than $100 billion of annual two-way trade.

Those ties have been strained over a range of issues including Beijings crackdown on the former British colony of Hong Kong and Londons support for Washingtons efforts to check growing Chinese military and industrial might. Last week, Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee accused the British government of a short-termist approach to China, saying it had left the country severely handicapped in tackling Beijings economic dominance and spying.

Coopers remarks echo those of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who told the House of Commons in May that it was in the UKs national interest to engage with China, without cozying up to it. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose Conservatives are trailing Labour by double digits in most national polls, must call an election by January 2025.

Whilst the debate on counterterror is on how to update and modernize a comprehensive strategy, we dont yet have the robust and long-lasting equivalent of the government strategy for dealing with hostile states, she said.

Cooper criticized the Conservatives domestic security response to fast-changing concerns overseas as too disjointed, disorganized and delayed.

Were going to continue to have extensive trade with China, so therefore you need to identify which are the sectors, which are the supply chains, that are most significant in terms of resilience, in terms of their crucial impact, whether its on our economy or on our security as well, Cooper said.

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Mykhailo Fedorov

Maritime drones "tore apart" the Crimean Bridge, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said in a Telegram post on July 17.

In his post, Fedorov also pledged to increase the production of drones in Ukraine in response to a Russian propaganda video that announced that the manufacturing of Russian Lancet kamikaze drones would increase by 50 times.

Read also: Were underwater drones involved in Crimean Bridge explosion?

"Yesterday, a video from the production of Russian Lancet drones went viral online," said Fedorov.

And today, the Crimean Bridge was blown up by maritime drones, so [increased manufacturing] it will be for every type of drone. It's better to act, not to blab photos of our own production facilities, and supply the defense forces.

According to him, Ukraine's production of certain types of drones has increased more than 100 times compared to last year. At the same time, the official emphasized that even more drones are needed.

Read also: Ukraines SBU to reveal details of blasts on Crimean Bridge after victory

"And they will come," Fedorov added.

Crimean Bridge: the latest on the explosion

Since the early hours of July 17, all traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been suspended, as Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed Crimean governor, declared an extraordinary event.

Russian publications have reported on explosions and significant damage to at least one section of the bridge. The Russian Ministry of Transport later reported damage to the roadway.

Read also: Crimean Bridge damaged by Ukrainian surface drone  retired officer

Later, photos appeared confirming the serious destruction of at least one span. The occupation authorities announced the resumption of rail transportation, but road traffic remains paralyzed. Huge traffic jams have formed in front of the bridge, and the occupation administration is calling on Russians to travel through the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast reported two dead and a child injured.

Russian media write that the Crimean Bridge could have been attacked by modified underwater drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces hinted that the explosions could be a Russian provocation.

An NV source in law enforcement reported that Ukraines Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the incident and the bridge was attacked using surface drones.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force comments on Crimean Bridge explosions

The SBU ironized that the bridge "failed to withstand the military load" and promised that all details about the organization of the attack would be disclosed after Ukraine's victory.

On Oct. 8, a powerful explosion occurred at the Crimean Bridge, which Russia employs to deploy armored vehicles and military personnel to southern Ukraine, resulting in the collapse of several sections into the Kerch Strait.

The Kremlin regime has accused Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, of organizing the sabotage. However, Budanov has refuted these claims, dismissing them as baseless accusations.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukraine to evacuate children from some settlements in Kharkiv Oblast

Synyehubov noted that evacuation to Kharkiv is preliminary planned

The Kharkiv Regional Defense Council has made a decision to evacuate children from nine settlements near Vovchansk in Chuhuiv District, due to risks posed by constant across-the-border Russian shelling, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said in a Telegram post on July 17.

"The safety of the civilian population, especially children, remains our priority," Synehubov wrote.

Read also: Russians destroy railway station in Kharkiv Oblast with artillery  photo

Synehubov specified that there are a total of 194 children in the Vovchansk urban community, with 144 of them in the city of Vovchansk. There is a need to evacuate them to safer settlements within the Kharkiv region, together with at least one parent or legal guardian.

Read also: Seven remain hospitalized, including one-year-old child, after Russian missile strike on Kharkiv Oblast town

He noted that initially evacuation to Kharkiv is planned. However, depending on people's preferences, the possibility of placing them in dormitories in other regions of Ukraine, including Poltava and Rivne oblasts, is being considered.

Read also: Russia launches four S-300 missiles at Kharkiv at night

According to him, all evacuated families will receive temporary housing, humanitarian aid, and so on.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Moscow's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal came hours after drones struck the only bridge connecting Russia's mainland to the annexed Crimea peninsula (STRINGER)

Russia on Tuesday issued a veiled warning over the future of grain exports via the Black Sea after refusing to extend a key agreement allowing safe passage for cargo ships from Ukrainian ports.

The warning came hours after Ukraine said a Russian strike overnight had damaged facilities at the southern port of Odesa, one of the main transit hubs for grain under the pact signed with the United Nations and Turkey.

"Without appropriate security guarantees, certain risks arise here (in the Black Sea)," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Were a new arrangement to allow for exports "formalised without Russia, then these risks should be taken into account", he said.

Moscow's invasion last year saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships until the agreement -- brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July 2022 -- allowed critical grain shipments to restart.

The Kremlin said it was exiting the deal on Monday, after months of complaining that elements of the agreement allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said Ukraine was nonetheless prepared to keep exporting grain via the Black Sea despite Russia's exit.

But Peskov put Moscow's position in stark terms when he said Ukraine was using the Black Sea export corridor "for combat purposes".

Russia later told Turkey that the coordination centre overseeing the deal would be disbanded in the wake of Moscow's exit.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the decision to quit the deal also meant Russia would lift "safe navigation guarantees" for cargo ships in the Black Sea.

- Retaliation strike -

Moscow said its strike on Odesa came in retaliation for a Ukrainian attack one day earlier on the Crimea bridge, a key transit artery linking Russia's mainland to the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The bridge was targeted using seaborne drones by Kyiv's navy and SBU security service, a source told AFP.

Moscow's forces struck back against "facilities where terrorist acts against Russia had been prepared using unmanned boats", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.

Kyiv's military earlier said it had destroyed six Kalibr missiles and 21 Iran-built attack drones targeted at the Odesa region, but that port facilities were damaged in an assault overnight.

"Unfortunately, the debris of the downed missiles and the blast wave from the downing damaged the port infrastructure facilities and several private homes," Ukraine's military southern command said in a statement.

The Odesa region is home to the maritime terminals central to the export deal between Moscow and Kyiv that has enabled the shipment of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the past year.

- 'Tough fight' -

While Kyiv has launched a counteroffensive to punch through the Russian lines, Moscow's forces have also sought to make their own gains.

They are pounding Kyiv's forces close to the eastern town of Lyman, hoping to force the Ukrainians to redeploy and abandon their drive to retake captured cities such as Bakhmut.

Further to the north, the Russian military said Tuesday it had advanced 1.5 kilometres (one mile) in an area near the city of Kupiansk.

Ukraine had stockpiled Western arms ahead of the highly anticipated fight against the Russian troops, but has acknowledged slow progress and called on the United States and other allies to provide more long-range weapons and artillery.

General Mark Milley, the top US military officer, said Tuesday that Kyiv's forces are facing heavily fortified Russian positions that include complex minefields, tank obstacles, barbed wire and trenches.

But Ukraine has "a significant amount of combat power not yet committed," he said.

"Right now, they are preserving their combat power, and they are slowly and deliberately and steadily working their way through all these minefields, and it's a tough fight."

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Ethiopian scholar highlights deepening China-Africa ties in new book

Xinhua) 10:10, July 17, 2023

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. (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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
TAIPEI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of mainland university teachers and students visited the Chengchi University in Taiwan on Monday and conversed with students there.

The group visit, led by the Party chief of Peking University Hao Ping at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, is the first such trip to the island by mainland universities for exchanges over more than three years.

Noting the significance of the delegation's visit in his welcoming remarks, Chen Shu-heng, vice president of the Chengchi University, expressed his hope that the delegation would enjoy a happy and successful journey and help resume exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

While delivering remarks, Hao said he expected further efforts to redouble exchanges and cooperation with the Chengchi University, intensify understanding and mutual learning, and jointly cultivate talent and boost social wellbeing. He also urged joint endeavors to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In his remarks, Ma Ying-jeou lauded the importance of the delegation's visit and expressed hopes that youths from both sides of the Strait can engage in more exchanges and foster friendship.

The 37-member delegation kicked off its visit to Taiwan on July 15. It will also visit other educational institutions such as the Chinese Culture University and the Taiwan University. 
Ukraines SBU to reveal details of blasts on Crimean Bridge after victory

Loud explosions were heard on the Crimean bridge

Ukraines SBU Security Service will reveal everything about the explosions on the Crimean Bridge on July 17 after Ukraines victory, SBU press secretary Artem Dekhtyarenko told NV.

Currently, were watching with interest as one of the symbols of Putins regime once again failed to withstand a military load, he said.

Dekhtyarenko reiterated that in a previous interview, SBU head Vasyl Malyuk had said that the norms of international law allow for cutting off the enemys logistical routes.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force comments on Crimean Bridge explosions

The Crimea Bridge is currently one of the transport corridors of military supplies for the Russian army, the press secretary said.

Together to victory! Glory to Ukraine!

Latest updates on the Crimean Bridge blast

On the morning of July 17, Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Russia-occupied Crimea, declared an extraordinary event near the 145th pylon of the Crimean Bridge.

Russian media outlets have reported explosions and potential damage to the bridges pillars and one of its sections. The Russian Ministry of Transport later claimed that the roadway had been affected.

Automobile and railway traffic has been suspended, resulting in significant congestion. Occupying forces are encouraging Russians to travel through temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Read also: Illegal constructions are short-lived says Ukrainian Presidents Office

The SBU and the Ukrainian Navy reportedly played a role in the nighttime explosion of the Crimean Bridge, according to an anonymous law enforcement source.

The source revealed that the attack on the bridge utilized surface drones.

On Oct. 8, 2022, a powerful blast also rocked the Crimean Bridge, which Russia uses to transfer armored vehicles and personnel to southern Ukraine. As a result, several of its pillars fell into the Kerch Strait.

The Kremlin regime accused Budanov of organizing sabotage. In turn, the Ukrainian intelligence denied these statements, calling them delusional.

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Amfitriti, a bulk carrier part of Black Sea grain deal, and other commercial vessels wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi in Istanbul

Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Grain shipment deal can operate without Russia Amfitriti, a bulk carrier part of Black Sea grain deal, and other commercial vessels wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi in Istanbul

KYIV (Reuters) -The Black Sea grain shipment deal must continue and could operate without Russian participation after Moscow's withdrawal on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Ukraine, Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, was a food source for 400 million people. "Africa has the right to stability. Asia has the right to stability," he said.

Russia halted participation on Monday in the year-old agreement that lets Ukraine export grain through a Black Sea safe shipping corridor, causing concern in poorer countries that price rises will put food out of reach.

Moscow suggested that if demands to improve exports of its own grain and fertilizer were met it would consider resurrecting the deal formally known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey was hailed as preventing a global food emergency following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and blockade of Black Sea ports.

"Ukraine, the U.N. and Turkey together can ensure the operation of a food corridor and vessel inspections. This is necessary for the entire world," Zelenskiy said.

In a separate message on the Telegram app, Zelenskiy said that in a phone conversation with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the two men agreed "to work together, and with the relevant countries, to renew food security and food shipments by way of the Black Sea".

In his video message, the Ukrainian president said the world now "has the opportunity to show that blackmail is not allowed for anyone ... We must all ensure security, protection from Russian madness.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative can and should continue to operate - if without Russia, then without Russia."

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who is in New York this week to participate in a U.N. Security Council meeting, urged Russia to stop "playing hunger games."

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; additional reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Grant McCool)
Key Developments on July 17:

Grain deal collapses after Russia pulls from agreement

Crimean Bridge damaged after reported explosions

Military: Russian forces on the offensive in Lyman-Kupiansk direction

Foreign Ministry marks 9-year anniversary of Russian downing of MH17

More Wagner mercenaries arrive in Belarus

Russia dealt a significant blow to global food security on July 17 by announcing its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, effectively collapsing the deal.

The initiative, brokered by Turkey and the U.N. in July 2022, has played a crucial role in stabilizing food prices worldwide amid a surge caused, in part, by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Ukraine is one of the world's largest grain suppliers. The deal allowed Ukraine to continue exporting its agricultural products through the Black Sea during the full-scale invasion.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that "the part of the Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far," adding that "as soon as the Russian part is completed, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately."

Peskov did not specify if Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal was related to the explosions on the Crimean Bridge on the same day, nor did he give further details on "the Russian side."

However, Russia has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the grain deal since its implementation, using it as a bargaining chip to demand sanctions affecting its fertilizer industry be lifted.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Russia's decision.

"Ultimately, participation in these agreements is a choice. But struggling people everywhere and developing countries dont have a choice," he wrote, adding that the hundreds of millions of people facing hunger "will pay the price."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that every involved party other than Russia "is ready to continue to supply grain," adding that Ukraine was "approached by companies that own ships. They said that they were ready if Ukraine would allow and Turkey would let the ships pass."

Zelensky also said that "even without the Russian Federation, everything must be done so that we can (continue to) use this Black Sea corridor."

Explainer: Whats up with the grain deal and Russia? On Nov. 2, Russia announced it would continue its participation in the deal that allows grain shipments from Ukraine via the Black Sea, ending several days of turmoil when the vital deal was hanging by a thread. The grain exports crisis started with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Explosions reported at Crimean Bridge

Russian media reported two explosions at the Crimean Bridge around 3 a.m. local time on July 17 and accused Ukraine of being behind the act.

The Crimean Bridge connects Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014, with Russias Krasnodar Krai.

Russian-installed proxy officials in Crimea reported that traffic was halted on the bridge due to an "emergency" incident and issued a cautionary advisory to local residents, urging them not to travel via the bridge.

Local proxy officials claimed that the bridge's railroad track remained undamaged. However, a conflicting report from the Russian news agency TASS revealed that eight trains traveling to and from Crimea experienced delays as a result of the explosions.

During a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on July 17, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said that one span of the part of the bridge for road vehicles is completely destroyed and cannot be restored.

The governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast Vyacheslav Gladkov also claimed that the explosions killed a man and a woman and injured a child.

According to Andrii Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraines defense intelligence, the damage to the Crimean Bridge could create logistical difficulties for Russian forces, noting that Russia uses the bridge as a "major logistics hub for moving forces and resources deep into the territory of Ukraine."

Kyiv has neither claimed responsibility for the explosion nor denied its involvement.

Yusov said Kyiv will not comment on the cause of the damage, noting he could "only quote the chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who said 'the Crimean Bridge is an unstable structure.'"

This is not the first time such an incident has been reported at the Crimean Bridge. On Oct. 8, 2022, the bridge suffered damage following an explosion, which Russian officials claimed was caused by a truck filled with explosives detonating near a tanker train on the bridge.

Former NATO envoy to Moscow: Potential escalation with Russia is a myth The West failed to understand the Russian regime before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Robert Pszczel, the former NATO envoy to Moscow from 2010-2015, said on the sidelines of the Warsaw International Summit in Kyiv on July 7. Once the punching bag of Russian propagandists during his appearances on The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query

Russian forces on the offensive in Lyman-Kupiansk direction

Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraines Eastern Military Command, said on national television on July 17 that Russia is concentrating "more than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, 370 MLRS" in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.

Kupiansk was liberated in Ukraine's counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast in September 2022. Lyman, located in Donetsk Oblast, was liberated just weeks later.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia "continues to focus its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka axes," and heavy fighting is underway.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, said that the situation in the east was difficult.

According to Syrskyi, Russia is attempting to gain ground in the Kupiansk area and continue "the offensive into the depth of our battle formations."

At the same time, Russia is moving more troops into the area around Bakhmut, to try to prevent Ukrainian forces from advancing, Syrskyi added.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar previously reported on July 16 that Ukrainian forces have made progress along the southern flank of Bakhmut and are attempting to hold positions along the northern flank.

Ukrainian forces are also engaging in artillery strikes against Russian forces in the city of Bakhmut while enduring incoming shelling themselves, according to Maliar.

Retired chief of UK military: As international partners deliberate, Ukrainians pay the price Ukraine has been forced to do battle with less equipment than it needs because of the caution of its international partners, said Mark Carleton-Smith, the U.K.s former top military commander, during his visit to Kyiv. Carleton-Smith, who was in the country as part of the Warsaw International Forum The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov

Foreign Ministry marks 9-year anniversary of Russian downing of MH17

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry marked the nine-year anniversary of the Russian downing of flight MH17 on July 17, calling it "one of the most terrible pages (in the history) of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine."

MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when Russian proxies in Donetsk Oblast shot down the plane using a BUK missile system. All 298 passengers on board were killed, including 80 children.

In November 2022, the Hague District Court found Russian nationals Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinsky, as well as Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko, guilty of murder for their involvement in shooting down MH17.

The trial began in March 2020. The three men were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay 16 million euros in compensation to the relatives of the victims.

However, they were tried in absentia, meaning that they are still at large.

The Foreign Ministry maintained that Ukraine is dedicated to bringing those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

"Ukraine will continue to make all possible efforts to establish justice for the victims of the tragedy, hold Russia and all guilty accountable, and guarantee that such tragic incidents do not happen again."

Ukraines fight to bring Russian leadership to justice puts legal systems to ultimate test In pursuit of justice for Russias many war crimes, Ukraine is actively seeking the establishment of an international tribunal. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already launched investigations into alleged Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Ukraine. However, the The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

More Wagner mercenaries arrive in Belarus

The monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported on July 17 that a third convoy of the Wagner mercenary group arrived in Belarus and was heading towards the camp near Asipovichy.

"Another large convoy of the Wagner Group mercenaries is moving right now in the direction of Asipovichy and the camp in the village of Tsel along the M5 highway from Bobruisk," Hajun wrote on Telegram.

According to the anti-government group's report, the column includes 20 vehicles, including pickups, trucks, and buses, driving under Russian and Wagner flags.

Belarusian Hajun wrote that this is at least the third Wagner convoy to arrive in Belarus since July 11.

Belarusian state media reported on July 14 that Wagner mercenaries were in the country to train Belarusian territorial defense forces.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko allegedly helped broker a deal for Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops to relocate to Belarus after their armed rebellion in late June stopped short of reaching Moscow.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said on July 16 that Wagner mercenaries stationed in Belarus do not pose a serious threat to border security as they number in the hundreds, not thousands.

However, there is a potential for the Wagner mercenaries to be used to try and destabilize the situation along the border with Ukraine, which is why Ukrainian authorities are keeping track of their movements.
Ukraine war latest: US to formally allow European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16s

Key developments on July 16:

US to allow European countries to start F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots

Military reports advancing over 1 kilometer southeast

Russian forces strike Kharkiv, killing 1, injuring at least 3

Explosions reported in occupied Sevastopol, Luhansk, Berdiansk, Mariupol

Russia continues abducting children from occupied Luhansk Oblast

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that U.S. President Joe Biden will allow European countries to launch the much-anticipated training for Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets.

"The president has given a 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 the Europeans are prepared," Sullivan said.

European leaders have said they need several weeks to prepare training abilities, said Sullivan.

The statement comes after reports that European countries were still awaiting formal approval from the U.S. to begin training.

"The U.S. will not be the hold up in ensuring that this F-16 training can get underway," he said.

The battlefield conditions in Ukraine are currently "not ideal" for the employment of F-16 fighter jets, Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, the director of operations of the Joint Staff, said on July 13.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced on July 11 that the "fighter jet coalition" has been officially formed during the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Reznikov signed a memorandum outlining the training terms with 11 coalition members.

Those are Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The coalition also includes Canada.

Retired chief of UK military: As international partners deliberate, Ukrainians pay the price Ukraine has been forced to do battle with less equipment than it needs because of the caution of its international partners, said Mark Carleton-Smith, the U.K.s former top military commander, during his visit to Kyiv. Carleton-Smith, who was in the country as part of the Warsaw International Forum The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov

Explosions reported in several Russian-occupied cities

Explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied cities of Sevastopol, Luhansk, Berdiansk, and Mariupol.

Exiled adviser to Mariupol's mayor, Petro Andriushchenko, reported Russian air defense working in the port city and that loud explosions were heard in the seaside area.

Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed striking the Russian ammunition depot in the Yuvileine village, a suburb of Luhansk.

Explosions in the Crimean city of Sevastopol were reported on July 16, according to the Russia-appointed head of occupied Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev.

He claimed Russian air defense and fleet repelled drone attacks. No civilian casualties were reported.

Sevastopol and Luhansk have been Russian-occupied since 2014, while Russian troops occupied Berdiansk and Mariupol in the spring of 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly vowed to liberate all of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea.

Tamila Tasheva, Ukraine's permanent representative for Crimea, told Newsweek on July 16 that Ukraine must deal with an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 Russian citizens who came illegally to Crimea after the annexation.

According to Tasheva, those who do not leave before Ukraine liberates the peninsula will face "expulsion."

How Russia steals and rewrites Ukrainian history to justify its claims in Ukraine Appropriating and rewriting foreign history has been a key aspect of Russias imperialist narratives. This is especially true about the history of Ukraine, which Russia has sought to subjugate for centuries. Crediting Russia as being the sole successor of the medieval Kyivan Rus and laying claims The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Battlefield update

Ukrainian forces advance in the Berdiansk and Bakhmut directions, the military reported on July 16.

Valeriy Shershen, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria military sector, reported that Ukrainian forces had advanced over a kilometer into Russian defense lines in the Berdiansk direction in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The situation in the Melitopol direction, where Ukrainian forces are also conducting the counteroffensive, reportedly remains unchanged.

Intense battles are also taking place on the eastern front, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. The front line is changing several times a day, Maliar said.

Over the past day, Russian attacks have been reported in Sumy, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts.

Moscow keeps focusing its military efforts on eastern Ukraine, the military said.

Its a lottery: How Ukraines assault brigade counterattacks near Bakhmut Editors note: The Kyiv Independent spent a day with soldiers from the 80th Separate Assault Brigade in June, and the story is comprised of interviews with them about their experience near Bakhmut. The soldiers are identified by their names or callsigns, and their deployment locations are not reveal The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russian attack kills 1, injures at least 3 in Kharkiv

Russian forces have attacked Kharkiv, killing one civilian and injuring at least three others, according to the local authorities.

The Prosecutor General's Office reported that Russian forces struck Ukraine's second-largest city with two S-300 missiles. One civilian was killed, and three others were injured, according to the statement.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on July 16 that seven people were injured.

Soviet-made S-300 missile systems, initially designed for air defense, have been repurposed by Russia to attack land targets in Ukraine.

The repurposed air defense missiles are known for their inaccuracy and have become Russia's weapon of choice for attacks against the cities.

Russia keeps abducting Ukrainian kids

Russian forces continue to abduct Ukrainian children from the occupied Luhansk Oblast, Governor Artem Lysohor reported on July 16.

While Russia claims its forces are "sending Ukrainian children for hospital treatment," Lysohor said Russia hadn't returned even the first group of children taken away this year.

Since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, Moscow has abducted over 19,000 children from the occupied territories, according to Children of War, a Ukrainian national database. Only 383 children have been brought back to Ukraine so far.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's official overseeing the abduction of children.

In its statement, the ICC writes that it believes Putin "bears individual criminal responsibility" as the leader of Russia for the crimes committed against Ukrainian children.
In pursuit of justice for Russia's many war crimes, Ukraine is actively seeking the establishment of an international tribunal.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already launched investigations into alleged Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Ukraine.

However, the ICC lacks jurisdiction to prosecute a crime of aggression, which under the Rome Statute qualifies as a "leadership crime" committed by people holding a prominent political, civil, or military position. Neither Ukraine nor Russia are signatories to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

"There's a legal gap. There is no international mechanism to investigate and prosecute crimes of aggression against Ukraine," Anton Korynevych, the Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large, told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia has veto power in the UN Security Council. The Ukrainian government has advocated for alternative options to charge Russia's top leadership, including Vladimir Putin, for waging war.

Three options are being considered: a special tribunal established under the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a tribunal formed through an international agreement and open for signing, and a hybrid tribunal combining Ukrainian and international elements.

The Ukrainian government is trying to persuade Western allies to back what it considers the most legitimate option: the special tribunal established under the UNGA.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian legal experts from civil society argue that the UNGA approach may not address the demands for justice from victims' families. It would solely target the high-ranking Russian leadership, not those directly responsible for committing the crimes.

Deliberations on the best approach are still underway, and neither tribunal option has been adopted so far, with each alternative having its challenges.

EU top justice official: We arent waiting for wars end to prosecute Russian crimes As Russias war against Ukraine rages on, the European Unions top justice official says the EU and its partners want to bring all perpetrators of international crimes to justice. Not only war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, but also the crime of aggression, European Commissioner f The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

Primary crime

The crime of aggression is commonly referred to as the "primary crime" from which many other international crimes often originate.

"Proving the crime of aggression is much easier It will immediately lead to the top," said Ambassador Korynevych, a specialist in international criminal law who is the Ukrainian government's point person on establishing such a tribunal.

But prosecuting Russian crimes of aggression against Ukraine falls outside the jurisdiction of international courts. Ukraine and Russia are not among the 123 countries party to the Rome Statute, the international treaty that established the ICC and conferred jurisdiction upon it.

European officials have encouraged Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute and the Kampala Amendments, encompassing the crime of aggression.

"The ratification package is ready to be sent to the parliament by the president for a vote," Nadiia Volkova, the head of the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG), told the Kyiv Independent.

Despite not being a signatory of the Rome Statute, Ukraine willingly submitted to the ICC's jurisdiction in 2014 and extended its commitment indefinitely in 2015.

After Russia launched its all-out war, Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, initiated an investigation focusing on genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Ukraine.

This has already begun to produce results.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official allegedly tasked with overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia, on March 17.

As a result, the Rome Statute signatories are now bound to arrest Putin and Lvova-Belova. The arrest warrant has already caused South Africa to seek ways to dissuade Putin from attending the BRICS summit, scheduled for Aug. 22 in Johannesburg.

Another notable development emerged two months later. The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) started to gather evidence on the Russian political and military leadership's crimes against Ukraine.

The ICPA is unique as it is the first international effort to investigate the crime of aggression, officially launched after World War II.

Yet, Kyiv's hesitance to ratify the Rome Statute prompted a race to establish a special tribunal.

"A special tribunal is needed to avoid a situation where national courts and the ICC bring the lower ranks of the Russian military to justice, yet Russia's military and political leadership manage to avoid culpability," Korynevych added.

Judicial reform formally completed as second top judicial body is appointed All 16 members of the High Qualification Commission, a judicial body that vets and nominates candidates for judicial jobs, have been appointed now. The final selection was made on June 1 by the High Council of Justice, the judiciarys main governing body. The council, which makes final decisions on The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Special tribunal

The special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine requires the international community's involvement. Ukraine didn't have broad international support in the spring of 2022 as almost nobody hesitated to discuss a tribunal into Russia's leadership.

Ukraine's resistance and governmental efforts gave more credence to the idea.

"Today, the difficulty of creating a feasible mechanism for punishing the crime of aggression is no longer being discussed," Andrii Smirnov, deputy head of the President's Office.

NATO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly have publicly supported the idea. The Core Group of the Special Tribunal for the Russian crime of aggression consists of 37 countries.

Ukraine is looking to the UNGA, which Russia also recognizes, to seek better international legitimacy for the special tribunal.

"This is the fastest, most legitimate, most credible way  to create a tribunal in the widest possible global format, bypassing the UN Security Council," Smirnov told the Kyiv Independent.

A special tribunal through UNGA could be carried out by the 140 states that approved the resolution denouncing Russian aggression in Ukraine. Only five countries, including Russia, opposed it.

However, some countries oppose a special tribunal, fearing repercussions for their leadership in other conflicts, including some of Ukraine's key backers.

According to Smirnov, Ukraine is collaborating with these countries to find a mutually agreeable framework backed by arguments against such concerns.

"No NATO allies' (previous) military campaigns aimed at territorial annexation, genocide, or mass crimes against humanity," he explained.

Another option discussed is establishing a special tribunal via the large-scale international treaty with Ukraine's signature and "opened for signing and ratification to all countries," said Smirnov.

Over a dozen EU member states have already launched their own investigations based on universal jurisdiction, as well as the involvement of their citizens in Russia's war.

In late May 2022, the European Parliament supported a resolution titled "on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine."

On Jan. 19, the parliament supported an earlier resolution calling for a special international tribunal on the crime of aggression against Putin and his companion in the aggression against Ukraine, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Ukraine's government is also considering a legal mechanism to try Russia's leadership in absentia.

"There is symbolism in convicting Putin in absentia, but it does not bring justice to the victims and their families," said Volkova, who heads the organization representing war victims in court trials.

Zakhar Tropin: Why Washingtons approach to punishing Russia wont work The U.S. State Department recently announced its support for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression against Ukraine in a hybrid internationalized format. This move echoes the myopic policies of Western countries toward Ukraine and has very little legal groundi The Kyiv IndependentZakhar Tropin

Domestic system flooded

While the Ukrainian government is pushing for an international tribunal, the domestic legal system has taken the brunt of over 100,000 investigations into alleged Russian crimes. And it barely handles it.

"The national legal system can't manage investigations on such a scale," Gunduz Mamedov, a former Deputy Prosecutor General, told the Kyiv Independent.

Since the first trial conducted last May, Ukraine has convicted 53 Russian nationals, with a handful of verdicts issued in absentia.

"The justice system lacks the necessary experience and ample laws (to persecute war criminals)," Volkova said.

Some progress has been made as Ukrainian judges undergo extensive training in the U.K. to preside more effectively over cases involving Russian soldiers accused of war crimes.

Mamedov and Volkova said a special tribunal for the crime of aggression would not solve the issues surrounding investigations in Ukraine.

Experts advocate for creating a hybrid tribunal, bringing national and international investigators, prosecutors, and judges together.

Ukrainians under occupation face deportation, loss of property after Putins new order Editors Note: The names of the people from the Russian-occupied territories interviewed by the Kyiv Independent for this story have been changed to protect their identity, as they have shared sensitive information that could place them in danger. As Russia largely exhausted its military potential The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

Hybrid tribunal

The hybrid approach is inspired by successful models of Bosnia, Cambodia, and Sierra Leone as it has proven effective in holding individuals accountable for war crimes, including the conviction of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Experts are confident that a hybrid tribunal is suitable for investigating and prosecuting all four core international crimes - war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression.

However, Ambassador Korynevych has expressed concern that the hybrid mechanism would overlap with the ICC's jurisdiction.

The ICC selectively chooses only a few of the most challenging cases.

"Perhaps it will be against the (Russian) commanders," said Volkova.

Establishing a link between alleged Russian war crimes and leadership orders could take years for the ICC.

"The ICC could deal with the 'big fish,' and the hybrid mechanism, if created, should deal with the current (Ukrainian) investigations the ICC will not consider," said Mamedov, an expert on international humanitarian law.

He added that a hybrid mechanism could "complement" the ICC's investigations.

The hybrid tribunal could also raise concerns about the legal immunities of the Russian leadership. Putin, like any other state leader, has legal immunity from prosecution in national courts.

"Given the particularity of the crime of aggression and the ICC jurisdiction, there should be separate jurisdiction for the crime of aggression," Korynevych explained.

A tribunal into alleged Russian international crimes in Ukraine would send a strong message, underscoring that the crime of aggression knows no geographical limitations, be it in Europe or anywhere worldwide.

Ukraine and its partners are still considering the most effective option for establishing the international tribunal.

"Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine has global consequences. The punishment should be as credible and broad as possible," Smirnov said.

"Without punishment for the primary crime, we will not be able to restore justice," said Smirnov.
Ukraine's Security Service detains FSB agent who reported to Russia on consequences of attack on Kramatorsk

Counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine have detained an FSB informant in Donetsk Oblast who collected data and sent the occupiers information about the consequences of the Russian missile strike on a cafe in Kramatorsk on 27 June.

Source: press service of the Security Service of Ukraine

Quote: "The Security Service of Ukraine has detained an informant who reported to the FSB on the consequences of a Russian strike on a cafe in Kramatorsk...

He received this task immediately after the air attack on the city.

Most of all, the FSB was interested in information about the number of people killed and injured in the attack.

The aggressor also tried to get as much information as possible about the possible affiliation of the victims with the Ukrainian Defence Forces."

Details: The FSB informant also tracked the locations and movements of Ukrainian defenders in Kramatorsk.

The occupiers needed intelligence data to prepare new air strikes on the region.

The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed and detained the informant while he was performing a new task in Kramatorsk.

All photos: The Security Service of Ukraine

The investigation says the informant was a local resident who was recruited by the Russian secret service in the spring of 2023.

He came to the attention of the Russians because of anti-Ukrainian comments in various Telegram channels.

Further communication was carried out through the messenger. For conspiracy, the suspect registered his account under a fake name.

The Security Service of Ukraine investigators have served the detainee with a notice of suspicion.

He is currently in custody.

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Crimean Bridge after the explosion

Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, commented on the explosions that occurred at the Crimean Bridge on July 17, stating that it was only fitting to be pleased with the situation.

It is truly a cause for satisfaction, he said on national television on July 17.

We must maintain patience and intensify our opposition towards the occupying force, he added.

Since the early hours of July 17, all traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been suspended, as Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed Crimean governor, declared an extraordinary event.

Read also: Crimean Bridge damaged by Ukrainian surface drone  retired officer

Russian publications have reported on explosions and significant damage to at least one section of the bridge. Later, the occupiers announced the resumption of rail transportation, but road traffic remains paralyzed.

An NV source in law enforcement reported that Ukraines SBU Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the incident.

On Oct. 8, a powerful explosion occurred at the Crimean Bridge, which Russia employs to deploy armored vehicles and military personnel to southern Ukraine, resulting in the collapse of several sections into the Kerch Strait.

The Kremlin regime has accused Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, of organizing the sabotage. However, Budanov has refuted these claims, dismissing them as baseless accusations.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukrainian Air Force warns of ballistic missile threat in four oblasts

On the night of 16-17 July, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the threat of Russian troops using ballistic missiles in four oblasts of Ukraine.

Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "There is a threat of [Russians] using ballistic missiles in Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava and Donetsk oblasts."

Details: An air-raid warning is currently in force in the above-mentioned regions.

Background: Earlier, the Air Force warned of the threat of Russian attack drones in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

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Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has announced that the next meeting in the Ramstein format will take place on 18 July.

Source: Reznikov in a column for LIGA.net, European Pravda reports

Details: The defence minister did not specify the format of the next Ramstein meeting.

According to Reznikov, Kyiv "will continue to do the impossible at another Ramstein-style meeting on 18 July". The minister added that he had heard "No, that won't happen; it's impossible" in regards to "every type of foreign weaponry that has been on the front for a long time".

"Actually, it is possible, but in due time and provided we stay persistent," Reznikov summed up.

Background:

At the NATO summit in Lithuania, Reznikov signed a memorandum with the 11 member countries of the fighter jet coalition which defines the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.

The coalitions member states also agreed that the training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets would begin in Denmark in August.

On 17 July, Colonel Yurii Ihnat, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, emphasised that the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters has not yet begun, and the departure of the first group of pilots is expected.

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The Ukrainian Defence Forces downed two Iranian-made Shahed attack UAVs over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on early 17 July.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy attacked the oblast with drones around 01:00. Our defenders shot down both Shahed UAVs in the sky over the oblast. The defenders from Air Command Skhid (East) were engaged."

Background: The Russian forces attacked Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblast using attack drones overnight.

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MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos reached 2.78 billion U.S. dollars in May, up 2.9 percent year-on-year, the Philippine central bank said on Monday.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the remittances in the first five months totaled 14.46 billion U.S. dollars, 3.1 percent higher from the same period in 2022.

The United States, Singapore and Saudi Arabia were among the top countries that contributed to the increase in remittances.

Filipinos have worked and settled across international borders over the past decades and personal remittances remain a major source of the Southeast Asian country's foreign exchange inflows.

In 2022, personal remittances from overseas Filipinos rose by 3.6 percent, reaching an "all-time high" of 36.14 billion U.S. dollars, or 8.9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). 
Oleh Sentsov was injured

Oleh Sentsov, the famed Ukrainian filmmaker and former Russian political prisoner, has been wounded in a Russian artillery strike, the filmmaker wrote on Facebook on July 16.

Sentsovs airborne unit came under enemy artillery fire resulting in three soldiers receiving shrapnel wounds.

Sentsov himself had fragments removed from his face, while smaller pieces in his arm and leg will remain there forever, he said in a post.

The filmmaker also posted a photo from an ambulance. During the artillery shelling, the soldiers were in a Bradley fighting vehicle which saved their lives, he added.

The week didnt go well, Sentsov wrote.

We came under artillery fire on the very first combat sortie after returning, during the landing. Our Bradley saved our lives again. Three were wounded, mostly by fragments, which have already been removed from my face, while small ones in my arm and leg will remain with me forever. The other guys are also doing well  Zaporizhzhya doctors know their business, thank you!

Last week, Sentsov received a mild concussion. He turned 47 on July 13.

Read also: Oleg Sentsovs Rhino available on Netflix from May 23

On July 14, he and Ukrainian female writer Oksana Zabuzhko were awarded Frances highest honor  the Legion of Honor.

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Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Catherine Colonna, his French counterpart, have discussed Russia leaving the Black Sea Grain Initiative on the sidelines of the UN meeting on 17 July.

Source: Kuleba and Colonna on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kuleba stated that he and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna condemned Russia abandoning the grain deal.

Quote from Kuleba: "Russia has caused this crisis by blocking the Ukrainian sea ports, and now it continues to blackmail the world. We have discussed the steps towards facilitating global trade security."

More details: Catherine Colonna has also reported about the meeting and remarked that she has discussed "the situation in Ukraine, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Russia had called into question, and the support Ukraine needs to be able to protect itself and bring back peace according to the UN statute" with her Ukrainian counterpart.

Background:

Dmytro Peskov, spokesperson of the Kremlin, reported on 17 July about the suspension of the grain deal.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the Russian President Vladimir Putin indeed wanted to continue the grain deal and would talk to him about it.

The White House representative remarked that Russias decision "will affect the trade security and harm millions of vulnerable people worldwide".

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Ukrainian helicopter crew say women flash them as they fly overhead, boosting their morale as they fight Russia

A Ukrainian Mi-24 attack helicopter during military drills in Dnipropetrovsk region in June. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

A Ukrainian air-force crew told The Sunday Times that women flash them when they fly overhead.

One woman even proposed marriage by holding up a sign as they flew over a town, a pilot said.

The Ukrainian air force is trying to keep morale high as it faces a strong Russian counterpart.

A Ukrainian helicopter crew told The Sunday Times that women in the country flash them as they fly overhead, boosting their morale as they fight Russia.

In a recent feature, the show of support was described by a Ukrainian pilot, referred to only as a major named Maksym.

The article said his crew had saved the GPS locations of places where it'd happened, lighthearted moments in their dangerous and often demoralizing missions against a far superior Russian air force.

One woman even proposed marriage to them by holding up a sign, per the report.

Maksym and his fellow airmen have been flying a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8 helicopter on daily missions to Bakhmut, an eastern city in Ukraine, which has become a flash point in the war.

On their way to their missions they try to keep the conversation light and positive, The Times said. They recently threw a bottle of cognac wrapped in a towel to an elderly man they spotted in the war-torn landscape, the report said.

These kinds of interactions are more viable because the helicopters, per the report, fly very low to avoid Russian air defenses. The Times said they are often just 15 feet above the ground.

The Ukrainian air force is struggling against a far better-armed Russia, Maksym said. The disparity is especially strong between the air forces, which Maksym characterized by saying: "The Russians understand we can do nothing to them in the air."

Ukraine has limited ammunition and no aircraft that counters Russia's newest models in the sky, he said. Half of his unit has already been killed, he added.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Wall Street Journal last month that Russian air superiority would exact a heavy toll on Ukrainian soldiers if Western powers did not provide them with reinforcements.

July 20, 2023: This story was updated to clarify the attribution in the Sunday Times story, which was based in part on an interview with the entire Ukrainian helicopter crew, not just the crew member identified as Maksym.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Crimean Bridge

Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate will not comment on the causes of the explosions that damaged the Crimean Bridge in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on July 17, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said this morning.

Read also: Explosions and shooting heard in Sevastopol, Russians claim drills

We can only quote the words of the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, that the Crimean Bridge is a needless construction there, Yusov said.

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been blocked since the early hours of the morning after the Kremlin-appointed puppet leader on the peninsula, Sergei Aksenov, declared an extraordinary event.

Meanwhile, Russian state media reported that there was possible damage to the bridges pillars.

On Oct. 8, 2022, a powerful blast also rocked the Crimean Bridge, which Russia uses to transfer armored vehicles and personnel to southern Ukraine. As a result, several of its pillars fell into the Kerch Strait.

Read also: Crimean bridge must be destroyed, says Zelenskyy advisor

The Kremlin regime accused Budanov of organizing sabotage. In turn, the Ukrainian intelligence denied these statements, calling them delusional.

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KYIV (Reuters) - Three Ukrainian media outlets quoted unnamed sources as saying Ukraine's domestic security agency and navy were behind Monday's incident on the Crimean Bridge, and that they had used sea-borne drones to attack it.

Ukraine's government did not comment on the incident and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the navy declined to say whether they were involved, although some Ukrainian officials portrayed the bridge as a legitimate military target.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, online publication Ukrainska Pravda and The New Voice of Ukraine media outlet cited one or more sources saying the navy and the SBU were behind the incident, in which Russia said two people were killed.

All three media outlets quoted at least one source as saying sea-borne drones had been deployed against the bridge.

Suspilne quoted a navy spokesman as saying he had no such information and urging the broadcaster to wait for official announcements. A Ukrainian military spokesperson suggested the attack could have bene a provocation staged by Russia.

In comments to the RBC Ukraine media outlet, an SBU spokesperson quoted the security agency's chief, Vasyl Malyuk, as having said in previous interviews that it was justified in war to "cut off the enemy's logistical routes" and that the bridge was used as a Russian military supply route.

The SBU posted a message on the Telegram messaging app showing a picture of an explosion on the bridge last October and recast a Ukrainian folk song to read: "Nightingale, my dear brother, the bridge 'has gone to sleep' again."

Presidential political adviser Mykhailo Podolyak welcomed news of the incident, without saying how it happened.

"Any illegal structures used to deliver Russian instruments of mass murder are necessarily short-lived... regardless of the reasons for the destruction," he wrote on Twitter.

(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka and Kyiv newsroom, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Ukrainian pilot says its air force is so outclassed by Russia's that it can 'do nothing to them in the air'

A Ukrainian pilot of getting into an Mi-24 attack helicopter, one of Ukraine's outdated aircraft, in June 2023. The airman pictured is not the one described in this story. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

A Ukrainian pilot described his struggle against much more powerful Russian aviation.

The pilot told The Sunday Times about the limited impact that Ukraine's outdated gear can have.

Russia has changed its aviation tactics, which is proving difficult for Ukraine in its offensive.

A Ukrainian pilot told The Sunday Times that his country's air force is so outclassed by Russia that it can "do nothing to them in the air."

The pilot, identified only by his rank of major and his first name Maksym, told the publication on Saturday that his team has been struggling in its missions around Bakhmut against a far better-armed Russia.

He and his fellow airmen fly a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8 helicopter, a model which entered service in the late 1960s and is far less effective than Russia's modern helicopter fleet.

On top of outmoded gear, they also have limited ammo. Maksym said his crew flies only one mission a day because they don't have enough rockets for more attacks. The problem, he said, extends from helicopters to fighter jets, where Ukraine has nothing to counter Russia's newest models.

"The Russian jets are much better quality than ours," Maksym told The Times. "It's like comparing a Mercedes to a Lada." A Lada is a Soviet-era car from Russia, which had a reputation for being cheap, bulky, and unreliable.

The Russians are flying a large number of advanced combat aircraft, including the Kamov Ka-52 helicopter, he added.

The Ka-52 is mainly designed for fierce battle, while the Mil Mi-8 Maksym has is designed for troop transportation rather than fighting.

"The Russians understand we can do nothing to them in the air," said Maksym. He said that half of his unit had been killed.

Maksim's comments came after reports that Russia has changed the way it uses its aviation assets as Ukraine launches its counter-offensive.

Senior Ukrainian military officials said recently they were concerned about Russia's "aviation and artillery superiority."

Russia has used helicopters to blunt Ukraine's attempts to advance using armored troop vehicles on land, which, The Financial Times reported.

A top British air force general, Chief Marshal of British Air Staff Rich Knighton, told a conference in London last week that Russia's air force "remains largely intact."

Citing British intelligence, Knighton said that Russia's air force had retained 96% of its 2,021 fixed-wing aircraft and 90% of its 899 helicopters, with losses of 86 planes and 90 helicopters.

Knighton said neither Russia nor Ukraine had been able to gain air superiority, but that Ukraine was facing "a massive challenge without air superiority and without being able to strike the adversary in the deep."

Read the original article on Business Insider
UN resident coordinator for Yemen David Gressly (R) and Edrees al-Shami (2nd-R), the Huthi-appointed executive general manager of SEPOC, sign documents on board the UN-owned Nautica vessel off the coast of Yemen's western port of Hodeida (Mohammed HUWAIS)

The United Nations on Monday handed over a vessel that will take on board oil from a decaying tanker in the Red Sea, an operation aimed at averting an environmental catastrophe.

The handover ceremony took place aboard the Nautica, which is being renamed the Yemen, in the presence of Yemen's Huthi authorities who control the capital Sanaa.

In the coming days, an operation is expected to begin pumping 1.14 million barrels of crude oil to the Nautica from the FSO Safer, a rusting 47-year-old ship that the UN describes as a "ticking time bomb".

The UN-owned ship arrived off war-torn Yemen on Sunday.

Monday's ceremony highlighted close cooperation between the UN and the Huthis, who since 2015 have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised government based in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.

The UN had been hoping for a low-key event, but the Huthis invited high-ranking officials from various ministries as well as more than 20 local journalists to board the new ship.

As high-ranking Huthi officials looked on, David Gressly, the UN resident coordinator for Yemen, signed the handover papers along with Edrees al-Shami, the Huthi-appointed executive general manager of SEPOC, the Yemeni oil and gas company.

Gressly said the ship transfer had been organized with the participation of all parties to Yemen's conflict and that it now belonged to "the people of Yemen".

However, Huthi officials have said it will now fall under their control.

The Nautica, purchased by the UN in March, is smaller than the Safer, with a clean, rust-free red-and-blue hull.

It is expected to moor alongside the Safer so that pumping can begin by the end of this week.

rcb/ho/hc
Nautica vessel off the coast of Yemen western port of Hodeida, to be used for a risky operation to pump more than a million barrels of oil from a decaying tanker and prevent a catastrophic spill (Mohammed HUWAIS)

The United Nations on Monday handed over a vessel that will take on board oil from a decaying tanker in the Red Sea off war-torn Yemen, an operation aimed at averting an environmental catastrophe.

The handover ceremony took place aboard the Nautica, which is being renamed the Yemen, in the presence of the country's Huthi authorities who control the capital Sanaa.

In the coming days, an operation is expected to begin pumping 1.14 million barrels of crude oil to the Nautica from the FSO Safer, a rusting 47-year-old ship that the UN describes as a "ticking time bomb".

The UN-owned ship arrived off Yemen on Sunday.

Monday's ceremony highlighted close cooperation between the UN and the Huthis, who since 2015 have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised government based in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.

The UN had been hoping for a low-key event, but the Huthis invited high-ranking officials from various ministries as well as more than 20 local journalists to board the new ship.

As Huthi officials looked on, David Gressly, the UN resident coordinator for Yemen, signed the handover papers along with Edrees al-Shami, the Huthi-appointed executive general manager of SEPOC, the Yemeni oil and gas company.

Gressly said the ship transfer had been organised with the participation of all parties to Yemen's conflict and that it now belonged to "the people of Yemen".

However, Huthi officials have said it will fall under their control.

"The handover is to the Safer company (SEPOC) which is located in Sanaa. So Safer in Sanaa is authorised to receive the tanker," the Huthis' transportation minister, Abdulwahab al-Dhura, told AFP.

The internationally recognised government in Aden does not acknowledge Shami's authority and has named its own executive general manager of SEPOC.

- Oil in dispute -

The Nautica, purchased by the UN in March, is smaller than the Safer, with a clean, rust-free red-and-blue hull.

It is expected to moor alongside the Safer so that pumping can begin by the end of this week.

Assuming the transfer operation is a success, the oil will stay on the Nautica for the foreseeable future.

Ownership of the oil is disputed by Yemen's warring factions.

The Huthis have previously said they want to sell it and use the revenue to cover their employees' salaries.

They have also called for the completion of onshore storage facilities where the crude could potentially go.

Gressly told AFP that progress on the Safer operation raises optimism for a political resolution to Yemen's brutal war.

"It's not easy to predict the future here, of course, but the fact that everybody came together among the parties in conflict... could potentially give a bit of a boost to the process," he said.

Fighting has dropped off considerably since a truce went into effect in April 2022, though it officially expired six months later.

In April, a Saudi delegation led by Mohammed al-Jaber, the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, travelled to Sanaa for direct talks with the Huthis, fuelling hopes for a negotiated settlement.

Hussein al-Ezzi, the Huthis' deputy foreign minister, told AFP on Monday that they would be open to further discussions, though he cast doubt on the possibility of an imminent breakthrough.

"Talks are always a positive thing, and we are open to any efforts and negotiations with any party, especially Saudi Arabia, which is the head of coalition," he said.

"Always the environment of any negotiations is positive, but the outcomes are limited."

rcb/ho/fz
Antonio Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret over Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, calling on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to preserve the agreement, Guterres said at a press briefing on July 17.

Read also: Russia once again halts Ukrainian grain exports

He clarified that he had written a letter to Putin asking him to maintain the grain agreement.

"In this letter, which I consider it necessary to quote, I emphasize that, I quote, 'since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, as well as taking into account the measures taken by the Russian Federation, Russian grain trade, as well as export volumes and fertilizer markets, have been stabilizing. Russian exports are approaching full recovery, as stated by the Russian Grain Exporters Union and the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association," said Guterres.

Guterres also said that the UN offered Russia an alternative to SWIFT to facilitate international payments.

"We have created an individual payment mechanism for the Russian Agricultural Bank through JPMorgan, outside of SWIFT," he concluded.

Read also: President Zelenskyy honors MH17 victims on ninth anniversary of war crime

On July 17, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement after an attack at the Crimean Bridge.

Since June 27, Russia has not registered any new ships under the grain agreement, effectively sabotaging the operation of the grain corridor.

Read also: Zelenskyy stands firm as Russia withdraws from grain agreement

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, mediated by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, allowed for three Ukrainian ports to resume exporting agricultural produce.

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
People gather in March in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest against bills limiting transgender kids access to puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune

At least once a day Dr. Ximena Lopez sees a parent crying in her clinic. Theyre crying because Lopez just told them they need to find a new way to get transition-related care for their children  by leaving Texas or sourcing treatments outside the state  because the state outlawed these treatments for trans youth.

After a yearslong barrage by activists and lawmakers, the state has won the battle against the use of transition-related care, like puberty blockers and hormone therapies, for transgender youth. While the war over this health care remains in question  and a legal fight to block the new law begins in Texas  clinics have closed and some doctors have stopped providing this care.

"The reason why I'm leaving Texas is that it's unbearable for me, Lopez said. It's so devastating that I just can't bear living in a state where I feel oppressed and where I'm just seeing my patients suffer."

Lopez formerly provided gender-affirming care to trans youth as the director of the GENder Education and Care, Interdisciplinary Support (GENECIS) program, which was jointly run by the Childrens Medical Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. By the end of July, shell no longer practice at the Dallas hospital and plans to move out of Texas.

In light of the states ban on gender-affirming care for kids, The Texas Tribune spoke with over half a dozen doctors who practice this type of medicine about the fear of losing their jobs, scaring away medical providers from working in Texas and  most importantly  revoking this critical health care for transgender children.

From state-launched investigations into the families of trans youth, to threats of actual violence, doctors are fearful to speak out against the attacks on transgender health care. Physicians raised concerns that the state is driving physicians away from Texas and inadequately training the next generation of medical professionals.

[In a political era of parental rights, Texans raising trans kids say new law strips them of choice]

Many said Texas was treading into a new era of medicine  marked by restrictions to gender-affirming care and reproductive health care  one in which the government tells doctors how and who they can treat.

Many doctors the Tribune spoke with declined to share their names for fear of harassment. Some likened the conversations with parents informing them that they can no longer provide this type of care to their children to cancer diagnoses or impending hospice care.

Medical providers say this type of care is lifesaving for transgender youth who face higher rates of suicide attempts and mental health problems than their cisgender peers. One in five trans and nonbinary young people attempted suicide in the past year, according to a 2023 survey conducted by The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization that focuses on LGBTQ+ youth.

Last month Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation that restricts transgender youth from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy, two treatments used to address gender dysphoria, the medical term for the distress someone experiences when their gender identity doesnt match their body.

In Texas we must protect children from making permanent, life-altering decisions before they have the mental capacity to do so, and Senate Bill 14 does just that, Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, said in a statement to the Tribune. Medical providers say puberty blockers are reversible and hormone therapy is partially reversible.

Mahaleris pointed to a recent survey from the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation that found a majority of the Americans surveyed oppose the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to treat transgender youth.

Senate Bill 14 was the forerunner in a broad swath of bills, aimed at reshaping the lives of LGBTQ+ Texans, that lawmakers pushed through this legislative session. Republican politicians also passed restrictions on drag shows and transgender athletes this session, but the implications of SB 14 are long reaching and profoundly affecting the lives of Texas families, said doctors who practice gender-affirming medicine. Families of trans youth have already fled Texas, but those who remain in the state must grapple with the consequences of losing health care access.

Several families with trans children have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the state from banning gender-affirming care. They argue the new law violates their parental rights by stopping them from providing medical care for their children and discriminates against transgender teens on the basis of sex.

In response, state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, released a statement that said the attempt to overturn their law would be unsuccessful.

While we recognize the complexities surrounding the treatment of gender dysphoria in children, we believe it is the sworn duty of the Texas Legislature to protect the safety of the children of our state  including from well-meaning but misguided physicians, the lawmakers statement said.

In recent months, many patients  including adults  have lost access to care as providers have left the state, a spokesperson for Texas Health Action, a nonprofit health care provider with clinics in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, told the Tribune.

Dr. Anita Vasudevan, a primary care physician from Texas who chose to continue practicing in California instead of returning to her home state because of the ban on gender-affirming care and abortion, said the loss of Lopez and the GENECIS program highlights the issue of specialized providers leaving the state. This translates to missed learning opportunities for medical professionals in training, which will result in worse care for patients, she said.

"We're building a generation of providers that just, unfortunately, won't receive the level of training that they need in order to take care of patients in the ways that they need to be taken care of, Vasudevan told the Tribune. That's a hard pill to swallow.

An onslaught of interventions

For children already receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy under the guidance of their medical team, SB 14 taking effect presents a daunting transition.

Lawmakers decided doctors must wean their patients under 18 of these treatments in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate.

But doctors who administer gender-affirming medical treatments say there is no such thing.

This is comparable to asking a medical professional to wean a Type 1 diabetic off of their insulin  you would never do that, Brett Cooper, an adolescent medicine physician from Dallas, said in a statement to the Tribune.

Cooper said SB 14 prohibits medical professionals from providing evidence-based, best-practice care to their patients. Including evidence that supports the use of these treatments and the recommendations of major medical groups like the American Medical Association.

He added that, like the states ban on abortions, this legislation will make it more difficult to recruit medical professionals to do business in Texas.

There has been a chilling effect of the Legislature getting involved in the doctor-patient relationship and attempting to prevent physicians from providing the evidence-based and medically necessary care to their patients, Cooper said. Physicians know best how to care for their patients, not the Legislature.

Texas Republicans effort to regulate the lives of transgender youth started long before Abbott signed SB 14 in June. Six years ago, the Legislature unsuccessfully tried to pass a bill requiring transgender people to use restrooms in public schools and governmental buildings that aligned with their sex assigned at birth.

In the years since, Republicans in the state have mounted a multipronged attack on gender-affirming care, in part, because issues like restrictions to medical care for LGBTQ+ people and drag shows had strong support from Republican voters.

In 2021, after the Legislature failed to restrict gender-affirming care, activists turned their attention to Lopezs GENECIS program, targeting hospital board members and accusing the program of committing child abuse. Shortly after Childrens Health quietly closed the clinic, which was jointly run by UT Southwestern, Lopez was prompted to sue the hospital for shutting down operations to new patients.

The following year, Abbott directed the states Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents providing this type of care to their trans children for child abuse, terrifying families that they might be separated from one another.

More recently, suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton launched investigations against both Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston and Dell Childrens Medical Center of Central Texas for providing this type of care  even before SB 14 became law. Doctors working at Dell Childrens parted ways with the hospital after Paxtons announcement, which left patients and their families scrambling to find specialty care, some of the needed treatments were unrelated to the gender-affirming treatments the state targeted.

Other states that have passed laws forbidding trans youth from taking puberty blockers and hormone therapy have encountered legal challenges. In Arkansas, a similar restriction to gender-affirming care was struck down as unconstitutional on the basis that it violated the due process and equal protection rights of transgender children and families. Legal groups in Texas have already committed to challenging SB 14.

Despite the rebukes of these laws in the courts across the country, the quiet closures of clinics and doctor departures in Texas have left medical professionals feeling alone in the fight for their patients best interests. Evidence shows access to gender-affirming care for young people improves the mental health of trans minors. Doctors said hospitals facilitating this type of health care are aware of its benefits, but are fearful of pushback from politicians.

"Many hospitals in these states, like Texas, I think are against these politicians and extremists and legislators, [but] they're afraid of financial risks, they're afraid of retaliation and they're taking the easy way out which is to abandon their doctors and their patients and just subdue to this political pressure," Lopez said.

Her employer, UT Southwestern, did not return requests for comment for this story.

While large hospital systems are not the only providers who treat trans youth, advocates say its evident that a chilling effect has reached physicians who prescribe gender-affirming care across the state.

In San Antonio, a city of nearly 1.5 million, only one doctor was administering gender-affirming care to trans youth in recent years, said Andrea Segovia, senior field and policy adviser for the Transgender Education Network of Texas. But after Abbott leveraged DFPS to investigate Texas families, the provider stopped providing these treatments, Segovia said.

Shes watched the number of providers who care for trans patients shrink. She said parents of trans youth are struggling to find pediatricians for their trans kids even for non-gender affirming care purposes, like routine vaccinations and physicals.

People are being treated like they have a scarlet letter, Segovia said.

De facto elimination of care

Prior to his graduation from UT Southwestern Medical School this spring, Antonio Garcia was deliberating where to pursue his residency training in family medicine.

He could stay in Texas, where he grew up and his family lives, by leveraging his existing geographic connections to match into a residency  a competitive process in which medical students are placed at specialized programs in hospitals or clinics for further medical training after graduating.

During medical school, Garcia worked with providers in the GENECIS program, including Lopez, where he saw the positive impact the clinic had on patients and their families. He wanted to continue doing that important work, by providing gender-affirming care to trans people.

To do that Garcia has decided to leave Texas.

"I also saw that as an opportunity to leave all of this behind and go somewhere where I knew that I was going to be able to get gender-affirming-care training, where I was going to be able to live my life openly, freely and not have to have all of these kind of concerns, Garcia told the Tribune. As a gay man, Garcia said the states increasing hostility to the LGBTQ+ community prompted his decision to leave Texas.

[Twenty years after a breakthrough Texas case launched a new era of gay rights, trans people are still in the fight]

Seeing the backlash against individual providers and clinics has been devastating, Garcia said. Noting Lopezs departure, he said the animosity toward medical professionals and trans people is driving doctors away.

[The doctors are] doing the right thing for these families, for these kids, and seeing that work be stifled and impeded has been just really unfortunate, he said.

One area of particular concern, doctors said, is the worsening of an existing pediatric specialists shortage. In Texas, an estimated 17.4% of children have special health care needs that require attention from specialized pediatricians, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These shortages mean patients have to travel longer distances and wait for weeks or months to see subspecialists, which can result in delaying or forgoing treatment.

Lauren Wilson, a pediatric hospitalist and the president of the AAP Montana chapter, partially attributes this shortage of doctors for children to the disparity in pay between adult and pediatric specialists. According to a 2023 compensation report from the healthcare-related companies Doximity and Curative, endocrinologists make nearly $60,000 more annually than their pediatric specialist peers, who undergo commensurate levels of training.

Shortages in this speciality  pediatric endocrinology  is of particular concern to Wilson because these doctors treat a wide range of children. This area of medicine deals with hormones and associated issues and mostly treats children with diabetes or growth problems. But these physicians also often specialize in gender-affirming care treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapies for trans children (less specialized physicians can also administer gender-affirming care.)

Wilson said these laws targeting pediatric health care  which could criminalize medical practices not even related to gender-affirming care  are unprecedented. In April, Montana became one of 20 states to ban trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care. Its also the state that barred a transgender lawmaker from the Montana House floor for violating decorum rules after she told colleagues that voted in favor of restricting gender-affirming care would have blood on their hands.

Wilson also noted the de facto elimination of care by targeting clinics, by state leaders and extremists, has forced hospitals to stop this care.

We're in a position as physicians where we want to do what's best for our patients, we want to follow all relevant guidelines. But we also want to not go to jail or lose our license to practice medicine, Wilson said.

The Tribune asked Abbotts office about the prospect of Texas losing medical providers because of the new law.

Passed by a bipartisan majority in the Texas Legislature, SB 14 ensures access to appropriate and medically necessary services, with parental or legal guardians consent. Endocrinology treatments and procedures that are not intended to change the biological sex of a minor are unaffected by this law, Mahaleris, Abbotts spokesperson, said.

Its not clear how many doctors have left or will leave Texas in response to restrictions on gender-affirming treatments, but states that have enacted other health care restrictions offer some clues.

States with abortion bans saw a 10.5% decrease in applications for obstetrics and gynecology residencies in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Doctors, including Lopez, said they have already seen the effects with candidates deciding after the interview process not to accept positions in Texas because of the politics.

Living in a medical dictatorship

Treating gender dysphoria in Texas is not new. In 1965, the UT Medical Branch opened a gender clinic, providing treatment for hundreds of transgender people in the decades that followed.

Most major hospitals in Texas have been providing this type of care for over a decade. It only became widely controversial after lawmakers sought to criminalize doctors for providing this care, Lopez said.

Doctors lamented the spread of misinformation by lawmakers advocating against gender-affirming care during the most recent legislative session. Experts say this has further contributed to distrust between the public and the medical community, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic because of vaccine misinformation.

Hospitals across the country, including Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Boston Children's Hospital, have received bomb threats and violent messages after far-right harassment campaigns falsely accused the hospitals of performing genital surgery on minors.

Doctors say while transition-related surgeries are rarely performed on people under the age of 18, these procedures were also banned by SB 14. Conservative activists have incorrectly cast gender-affirming care as irreversible genital mutilation in an effort to restrict access to these treatments.

Several doctors declined to share their names publicly, citing a fear that false allegations would be directed at them. Doctors suspect threats of violence and harassment are why some Texas hospitals targeted by far-right activists chose to quietly stop providing these medical treatments, instead of standing with patients and doctors.

No one feels particularly safe, said one doctor who spoke with the Tribune on the condition that their name would not be published.

Lawmakers who oppose this type of care feel emboldened, Lopez said.

"It's just also, again, a dangerous precedent because if politicians can tell hospitals what to do, then they can do that for so many things, she said. And then where is the patient's autonomy? Where's the voice of science and medicine at that point?"

Doctors pointed to an example of a trial court in 2021 that ordered doctors to administer the drug ivermectin, commonly used to treat parasitic worms in horses, after a patients relative sued the Fort Worth hospital to compel physicians to administer it. The treatment gained notoriety as a false cure for COVID-19 in right-wing circles, including from then President Donald Trump. The 2nd Court of Appeals reversed the lower courts decision, but the attempt to supersede the doctors expertise was clear.

Doctors worry that the latest health care restriction for trans youth is a dangerous precedent with an uncertain future. While much of the attention around gender-affirming care was aimed at children, bills limiting this type of care for adults have also gained traction in the Texas Legislature.

"I can compare this with living in a medical dictatorship, in which you are told what treatment you can and can't do, Lopez said. But it's not based on reason. It's based on whatever the person in power is saying is best."

Disclosure: Dell has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.
KIGALI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda is set to open its first diplomatic mission in Budapest, Hungary, "very soon" as part of the country's plans to strengthen cooperation with the European country, President Paul Kagame has said.

"Rwanda intends to open a diplomatic presence in Budapest, Hungary, very soon as job creation for our countries and fostering an enabling environment for business are key priorities," Kagame told a press conference Sunday alongside his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Novak in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

Rwanda and Hungary enjoy good relations and are committed to making bilateral ties even stronger, he said.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on training and education in the atomic industry for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, cooperation within the framework of Stipendium Hungaricum, a Hungarian government higher education scholarship program, and a loan facility agreement on the upgrading of the Karenge water treatment plant.

"Through the new agreements signed today, we are committed to building on this shared vision and creating mutually beneficial opportunities for the people of Rwanda and Hungary," Kagame said.

He commended Hungary's loan offered to Rwanda to upgrade the Karenge water treatment plant, saying that Rwanda looks forward to benefiting from Hungary's expertise in water management.

"We appreciate that we will also be working with Hungary to train Rwandans in the field of nuclear energy, an important component of our future energy plans," he said. "I look forward to exploring more opportunities to deepen our cooperation."

Novak said that Hungary recently opened a trade and consular mission in Kigali as part of strengthening bilateral cooperation with Rwanda.

"I am very happy that President Kagame has announced his willingness and plan to open their diplomatic mission in Hungary," she said. "So, in the very near future, they will also have a diplomatic presence in Budapest. We warmly welcome Rwanda's decision, and I hope that it can give even more impetus to our cooperation."

Novak said her Rwanda state visit was her first visit as a president to an African country and she chose Rwanda because she wanted to see for herself how much Rwanda has developed in the past decade. 
Open the pod bay doors, Hal.

Im afraid I cant do that, Dave.

The above dialogue is from Stanley Kubrick and Arthur Clarkes 1968 classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Hal was an advanced AI computer that had gone rogue and killed the crew of a spaceship. Dave was the last living astronaut who had to shut Hal down in order to survive. It is a film about technology becoming sentient and taking over human functions.

The actors union (SAG/AFTRA) is on strike negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) which represents Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Brothers, Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon and the principle TV broadcast networks. SAG is asking for increased compensation, which has declined dramatically, but primarily they are addressing the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) being used to replace live actors. The union says: AI poses an existential threat to creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from having their identity and talent exploited without consent and pay.

The Writers Guild (WGA) has been on strike since May over similar issues. Members fear that generative AI programs like ChatGPT could soon be used as a substitute for their human labor. I have been a member of SAG for 40 years and WGA for 30. I fully support the strikes. AI issues encroach on aspects of all our lives.

Open the pod bay doors, Hal.

The seventh episode of The Crowded Room dropped on Apple TV+ last week, starring Tom Holland (Spiderman) and Emmy Award winning Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout). I play a judge. And season three of Tyler Perrys All the Queens Men will be available on BET later this month. I play James Deauville, father of Queen, played brilliantly by Eva Marcille. Earlier this year billionaire Perry became the first African American to own two major television networks, BET and VH1. I also appear in Natasha Rothwells How to Die Alone, which will drop on Hulu soon. Enjoy these episodes it may be the last work we do on camera for a while.

James Lane was a student in the musical theater program at Penn State. He was also one of the stars of Surfacing, our feature film about campus life in the 60s. He went on to perform on Broadway as Billy Flynn in Chicago and appeared in Kiss Me Kate, King Kong: The Musical, The Scottsboro Boys and Chorus Line. Presently he is performing in Triple Threat on Theatre Row on 42nd Street in one the best one-man shows I have ever seen. It runs until the end of July. Dr. Tony Leach and Sita Frederick, director of the Center for Performing Arts at Penn State, are attempting to arrange a teaching residency for him next semester.

In other news, Charima Young, Penn States assistant vice president for local government and community relations, is moving on up. She has accepted an executive post with Kaiser Permanente in Maryland. Mayor Ezra Nanes said of her departure, Charima played a central role in forging a strong and dynamic relationship between the Borough and Penn State, and her positive impact will be enduring. It truly is hard to imagine our community without Charimas presence.

Around town, we celebrated Bastille Day on Friday with a six course French feast prepared by Chef Gillian at the Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon French cafe. The annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and the Peoples Choice Festival held at the Grange fairgrounds brought thousands of happy visitors to Happy Valley. This coming Friday, Next Stage will open Shaws St. Joan at The State Theatre, featuring Mandy Brown, Jeff Buterbaugh, Michael Waldhier and Jason Zanitsch, directed by Scott Travers. During times that try our souls, we should seek oasis of joy to help get us through.

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lions Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
The US cannot confirm the involvement of Ukraine or any other party in the recent explosions on the Crimean Bridge that connects the Russian-occupied peninsula to mainland Russia.

Source: Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a press briefing on 17 July

Details: Singh said that she could not confirm either sides claims about who had been involved in the Crimean Bridge explosions, but stressed that Crimea was part of Ukraine.

She said that the US is leaving it to Ukraine to talk about the operations it undertakes.

She added that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to fight the war against Russia and to defend its land, its people, and its freedom.

Background:

Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea, said an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge and the bridge has therefore been closed to traffic. Russian Telegram channels have reported that a span on the bridge has collapsed.

Sources in Ukraines Security Service told Ukrainska Pravda that the attack was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy using surface drones.

Later, the theory that two surface drones were used was also mentioned by the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti, citing the National Anti-Terrorist Committee of the Russian Federation.

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US envoy Kerry calls for 'urgent action' on climate at China talks

US Climate Envoy John Kerry looks on during a House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee hearing on "The State Department's Climate Agenda: A Budget Overview by the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski)

US climate envoy John Kerry held four hours of talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday, calling for "urgent action" as the two countries revived stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.

Climate talks between the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters came to a halt last year after Nancy Pelosi, then-speaker of the US House of Representatives, enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory.

Kerry, a former secretary of state, has enjoyed comparatively cordial and consistent relations with China despite Washington and Beijing locking horns over Taiwan and other issues.

Kerry met his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing on Monday, with the two men speaking for around four hours, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Both countries "must take urgent action on a number of fronts, especially the challenges of coal and methane pollution," Kerry wrote in a tweet after the talks.

"The climate crisis demands that the world's two largest economies work together to limit the Earths warming," Kerry tweeted.

Beijing said after the talks that "climate change is a common challenge faced by all mankind".

China would "exchange views with the United States on issues related to climate change, and work together to meet challenges and improve the wellbeing of current and future generations", foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday Kerry would press Beijing not to "hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation" in order to slow-roll efforts to cut emissions.

"Every country, including China, has a responsibility to reduce emissions," Sullivan said.

"And the world, I do believe, should step up and encourage -- indeed, pressure -- China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions."

China has long used its official status as a developing nation to justify its high emissions, with Sullivan saying "there is more work for them to do on that front".

"Secretary Kerry will make that point when he's in Beijing," he said.

- Coordinated efforts -

Kerry's trip follows two other high-profile visits by US officials -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen -- that were aimed at stabilising US-China ties.

His visit to China came as the Northern Hemisphere endured record-setting summer heat waves, which scientists have said are being exacerbated by climate change.

"The Kerry visit and the resumption of climate interaction underscores the critical importance of coordinated efforts to address the climate crisis," Chunping Xie, Senior Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, told AFP in written comments.

"It also demonstrates their shared determination to navigate a complex geopolitical relationship to promote the common good," said Xie.

As the leading emitter 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 China will reduce its use of coal from 2026.

But Beijing approved a major surge in coal power in April -- a move Greenpeace said prioritised energy supply over the emissions reduction pledge -- fuelling concerns that China will fail to meet its targets.

"In terms of specific outcomes, one thing that I hope could be moved forward at least is the methane action plan," Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told AFP.

Methane was the main new area of agreement between the two countries in a joint declaration following 2021 global climate talks in Glasgow, Myllyvirta said, although significant progress has not since been achieved by China.

"Given the massive clean energy growth that is taking place in China, it does look like the country would be in place to commit to a stronger target than it currently has," said Myllyvirta.

"But it's going to take more than one intercontinental flight by Kerry to bring that about."

bur-tjx/dva
Affirmative action for college students in Brazil led to better employment prospects for those who benefited from the policy. Cesar Okada via Getty Images

When Brazil implemented affirmative action at its federal universities in 2012, the policy prompted a public debate that largely resembles the debate over affirmative action in the United States.

Brazils affirmative action policy requires every federal university to reserve at least half of all seats for students from certain groups. Out of that half, about half of the seats go solely to Black, mixed and Indigenous Brazilians. The other half go to low-income public-school students. Other universities are free to set their admissions policies.

Like many Americans, some Brazilians worried that affirmative action would reduce the quality of education in public universities. Some were concerned that only the more privileged members in the targeted groups would benefit and that affirmative action wasnt worth it. Others doubted that beneficiaries could keep up academically and feared that their peers would suffer as a result.

As researchers who study college admissions, economics and the equity of social interventions and policies, we took a critical look at the effects of affirmative action in Brazil. To do this, we examined prior research, as well as the effects of affirmative action on student learning and future earnings. In America, these outcomes are difficult to study because, prior to the use of race being banned in college admissions, schools implemented affirmative action as they saw fit. In Brazil, all federal universities had to implement affirmative action the same way.

Unfounded fears

Brazilian federal universities are some of the best in the country. Even more importantly, they are tuition-free. They are the preferred universities for most high school students and their families. Historically, mostly well-off students attended these universities.

Through our research, we concluded not only that Brazilians fears about affirmative action lowering the quality of the nations universities were largely unwarranted, but also that across most measures the policy has proved to be quite beneficial.

Specifically, we found that:

 Those admitted to universities via affirmative action performed quite well in their studies. By the time they graduated, their grade-point averages were not much different from the GPAs of other students. In the most selective majors, the disparities in GPAs that existed when students began their studies had largely disappeared by graduation.

 Students admitted through affirmative action did not hamper the learning of their peers. Sometimes, they outperformed peers who entered college the regular way without affirmative action. This is a reminder that traditional admissions processes may not be as meritocratic as some people may think.

 Students admitted via affirmative action were 7% more likely to work as managers or directors later in their careers than if the policy were not in effect. Such students also end up with many more years of education than they would otherwise. This means that many of these students would not pursue a higher education degree at all if these places were not reserved for them.

Implications for the United States

As elite colleges and universities in the U.S. grapple with how to achieve diversity after the Supreme Court banned the use of race in college admissions, we believe our findings bear particular relevance.

Some Americans argue that schools can achieve diversity through race-neutral policies. At least in the Brazilian context, we found that race-neutral policies were ineffective for achieving racial diversity.

We found that race-targeted policies were associated with a significant increase in Black students, whereas race-neutral policies didnt affect the percentage of Black, mixed and Indigenous Brazilian students in college. Part of the reason is because a large share of candidates, white and nonwhite, compete under income-based quotas. Thus, income-based quotas do not effect the racial composition of university students because these quotas benefit students from all racial backgrounds.

Race-based affirmative action seems necessary to achieve racial diversity, according to the Brazilian evidence. This is consistent with at least one other study from the U.S., where race-neutral policies have been shown to be less effective than those explicitly considering race.

By almost every measure studied, affirmative action in Brazil worked to generate a more diverse student body without reducing the quality of education. Even so, the inequality in Brazils higher education system remains.

In 2000, out of the 853,000 students enrolled in tuition-free public universities, around 596,000 were white and 239,000 were Black. By 2010, the system had expanded to 1,788,000 places, with white students numbering 1,063,000 and Black students 689,000. Brazils congress successfully made affirmative action mandatory in part because of the large impact of the many-but-scattered initiatives by public universities in the 2000s.

As the U.S. grapples with issues of equity and access to higher education, Brazils experience imparts valuable lessons. There, race-based affirmative action policies promote diversity and the values of equal opportunity that American universities like to espouse. Race-based affirmative action can effectively increase enrollment of underrepresented minorities without compromising academic performance. This is something that income-based quotas may not be able to accomplish. Further, the Brazilian experience shows that these policies do not negatively impact other students.

Now that the U.S. courts have banned the use of race in college admissions, college and university leaders must find and adopt new ways to make their campuses more diverse. How to achieve that may be a challenge, but it seems to remain a worthwhile pursuit.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Neil Lewis Jr., Cornell University; Inacio Bo, University of Macau, and Rodrigo Zeidan, NYU Shanghai.

Read more:



The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
US to provide over $500 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine

US flag

Washington will provide over $500 million in humanitarian aid to the Ukrainians who have suffered from the full-scale Russian invasion, USAID announced via Twitter on July 17.

The new funding will be used to provide food, medical services, temporary housing, and create safe spaces for women and girls who have been affected by the war. Additionally, psychosocial assistance will be provided to the most vulnerable populations, along with multi-purpose cash assistance.

Read also: Norway allocates over EUR 300 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine

On July 17, the head of USAID, Samantha Power, arrived in Kyiv. Power had already visited the capital in October 2022.

Read also: Serbia has decided to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine

On July 7, the United States announced another package of military aid for Ukraine, which included DPICM cluster munitions.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE PHOTO: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive to Washington from weekend at Camp David

Biden invites Israel's Netanyahu to US after lengthy delay FILE PHOTO: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive to Washington from weekend at Camp David

By Emily Rose and Steve Holland

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden, after a lengthy delay, on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States for an official visit later this year, the White House and prime minister's office said.

Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern about a judicial overhaul undertaken by Netanyahu and his right-wing government as well as Israel's expansion of settlements on the occupied West Bank.

Biden extended the invitation during a phone call between the two leaders, a day ahead of a visit to Washington by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have invited Herzog, whose position as head of state is mostly ceremonial, to address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, but some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have signaled that they might not attend the event.

A senior Biden administration official said Biden and Netanyahu had agreed to meet "later this year in the United States." Whether the meeting would take place at the White House was unclear.

Netanyahu returned to power more than six months ago, but Biden had pointedly declined to issue an invitation until long after most Israeli prime ministers would have made the visit.

Amid escalating West Bank violence, the Israeli government's actions authorizing settler outposts and inflammatory comments from a member of Netanyahu's cabinet had drawn criticism from U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to Israel in March.

The Israeli statement said Netanyahu told Biden he would try to form a "broad public consensus" for a planned overhaul that critics say would strip its highest court of much of its power. The legislation has prompted anti-government protests in Israel for months.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Biden remains concerned about the judicial overhaul and "some of the extremist activities and behavior by some members of the Netanyahu cabinet."

"Those concerns are still valid. They're disturbing," he said.

"We want to see Israel be as vibrant and as viable a democracy as possible and that means that you build programs and reforms and changes in a way that is based on compromise and ... the broadest possible consensus across the governing organization."

Biden and Netanyahu also discussed efforts to counter Iran's nuclear program, Kirby said, and Biden stressed the need to pursue a two-state solution to the conflict with Palestinians and to boost security on the West Bank.

The Israeli statement said the two leaders shared a "long and warm" conversation, focused on curbing threats from Iran and its proxies and strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

(Reporting by Emily Rose and Steve Holland; additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Franklin Paul and Howard Goller)
US to send F-35s, F-16s to Gulf region after Iran attempt to seize oil tankers

The U.S. military will send a Navy destroyer and F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to the Gulf region after a number of recent alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz caused by Iran, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed Monday.

In response to a number of recent alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] has ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

The U.S. military already has F-16s and A-10 Warthogs in the region  the latter of which has been patrolling there for more than a week after Iranian naval forces on July 5 tried to capture two oil tankers in or near the Gulf of Oman, firing on one of them.

A defense official first told reporters on Friday that the F-16s were meant to give air cover to the ships traversing through the waterway  a crucial supply route for the worlds oil shipments  and act as a deterrent to Iran.

Singh said the additional assets were meant to help with Irans continuing efforts to engage in destabilizing activity.

In light of this continued threat and in coordination with our partners and allies, the [Defense Department] is increasing our presence and ability to monitor the strait and surrounding waters, Singh said.

She also said the Pentagon calls upon Iran to immediately cease these antagonizing actions that threaten the free flow of commerce.

Singh could not say how long the deployment would last, as Austin and his commanders are always assessing how long assets would be needed in the region.

She added that the aircraft were enroute but would not say where the aircraft were being flown from.

The early July encounters follow successful attempts from Iran to seize oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Texas-bound ship in April and another one about a week later.

The strait, which flows into the Gulf of Oman and is bordered by Iran, is a waterway for which the globe depends on for more than one-fifth of the worlds oil supply.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The most familiar moral and ethical dilemmas in warfare have to do with inflicting harm: deciding whether to fire on a person who represents an uncertain threat, for example, or living with the knowledge of civilian collateral damage of battle.

Marine veteran Peter Lucier, who served on active duty from 2008 to 2013, has lived through and written about these kinds of quandaries. But as a civilian working with the volunteer-run organization Team America Relief to evacuate former U.S. military interpreters and their families from Afghanistan during and after the U.S. military withdrawal and Taliban takeover in 2021, Lucier experienced another kind of moral conflict: deciding whom to save.

Over the course of one night in August 2021, Lucier said, he and a few other veterans within the organization were tasked with filling 40 seats on an evacuee bus with women and children who represented the neediest cases theyd managed. It was wrenching, emotional work, forcing Lucier to pass over some Afghans he knew and cared about to evacuate others he believed were more at risk. Why do I have this power? He recalled thinking, as the men debated, late into the night, which lives to save.

That was a difficult, hard thing, and made all of us feel really gross, Lucier said.

A few hours later, the veterans would learn that the bus had been re-tasked and filled with children from an orphanage, making their evening of heartbreaking choices irrelevant.

The episode was representative of a hidden and enduring cost of war: moral injury, or the aftermath of circumstances that force a person to participate in or bear witness to events that contradict their own moral beliefs and expectations. The military withdrawal from Afghanistan spurred a new rash of moral injury diagnoses, as troops and veterans questioned the meaning of what theyd fought for and grappled with the reality of Afghan allies left behind and in danger.

While not new, the phenomenon of moral injury and its implications are under-studied, with very little scientific research. The Department of Veterans Affairs is now working to lay the groundwork for better understanding and treatment by undertaking the first-ever large-scale population study of moral injury to be conducted among veterans of the post-9/11 wars.

According to a solicitation published in June, the VA office of Research and Development plans to conduct a mixed-methods study to determine the U.S. Veteran population prevalence of moral injury. The research effort will include an online survey of a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. veterans, expected to include 3,000 respondents; and a secondary comparison study in which 20 veterans who identify as having moral injury and 20 who do not, all with similar exposure to morally injurious events participate in a series of interviews about their thinking and experiences.

Brett Litz, a clinical psychologist at VA Boston Health Care System and Boston University who has pioneered VA research on the topic of moral injury, told Military Times via email that the concept of moral injury makes intuitive sense, even as it has not been studied in-depth as a separate phenomenon.

People have harmed people they care about or have been harmed by others or they have borne witness to grave inhumanity and cruelty, etc., and understand from personal experience that these experiences can have lasting existential impact, he said. I think the public also has some understanding that the [post-traumatic stress disorder] model and the treatments that have been developed to address PTSD are limited and appreciate the explanatory value of traumas either colored by grave moral wrongs or traumas that entail moral transgressions.

While PTSD and moral injury are often grouped together, they manifest differently: Litz has previously described the former as a racing heart and the latter as a broken heart. In Luciers experience, PTSD forces a sufferer to relive traumatic events of the past in memory. Moral injury, on the other hand, emphasizes feelings of ethical failure and self-betrayal.

It was more about this sociological idea of, I have this system of values that I believe in, and being put in this meat grinder of war forces you to make imperfect decisions where no matter which decision you make, you are going to violate your own ethical code, Lucier said.

A 2022 article, authored by Litz and 10 other researchers, cites a recent explosion of interest in moral injury within healthcare and mental health, the media and veterans organizations. Litz told Military Times that it would be hard to say for sure, but one could argue the case that the new surge in interest was driven by the Afghanistan withdrawal, which opened a national, veteran-led conversation about what the nation owes its troops and allies.

Better data on moral injury and its manifestations is not merely essential for public understanding: it also has real-world implications for treatment approval and coverage. As Litz wrote this year for an editorial in the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, moral injury risks are dismissed as an illegitimate condition because it hasnt yet been codified as a known mental disease.

An earlier and smaller-scale survey effort, also led by Litz, resulted in the development of a Moral Injury Outcome Scale, which helps to illustrate how the experience of moral injury can alter how a person views themself and the world around them. Under the category shame-related outcomes are statements such as: I am not the good person I thought I was, and People would hate me if they really knew me.

The second category, trust violation-related outcomes includes the statements I have lost faith in humanity, and I am angry all the time.

A VA-funded clinical trial of 174 veterans with PTSD that also preceded the upcoming population study suggests one possible treatment for moral injury symptoms: Adaptive Disclosure-Enhanced, a psychotherapy approach that emphasizes repair through activities such as writing letters to a deceased person from the event, loving kindness meditation to foster compassion, and mindfulness training. Litz said the planned survey will also advance this field of research.

No trial to date has measured moral injury as an outcome. So, we do not know which treatments are efficacious for the symptoms and functional impairments of the moral injury syndrome, he said. Now that we have the Moral Injury Outcome Scale, this state of affairs will change.

According to the posted solicitation, the survey will be deployed nationally and take 30-45 minutes to complete. At least 950 of the respondents will be veterans who served in a combat or war zone, and at least 400 will be within the ages 18 to 54. Respondents will be paid $20 for their time, the solicitation states. The entire data collection and assessment effort will take three years, Litz said.

Lucier said he believes in helping the larger society to understand the existence of moral injury in war veterans and to bridge the gap between those veterans and people who can surround them with compassion and without judgment.

Just being there, being willing to listen  just having a society that acknowledges war in ways that are meaningful, Lucier said, I think those are really powerful sociological factors that can help.

Editors Note: Hope Hodge Seck worked for Team America Relief as an unpaid volunteer in 2021 and 2022.
Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing.' An old book sparks a new controversy in the Vatican

Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez, archbishop of La Plata, officiates Mass at the Cathedral in La Plata, Argentina, Sunday, July 9, 2023. Fernandez was appointed by Pope Francis to head the Holy See's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

LA PLATA, Argentina (AP)  Three decades ago, when he was a parish priest in Argentina, the man named by Pope Francis to be the Catholic Churchs new guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy wrote a short book about kissing and the sensations it evokes.

Some conservative sectors in the church are using the reflections in Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing to criticize the designation of Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez to lead the Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, a body once known as the Holy Office that for centuries was responsible for persecuting heretics, disciplining dissidents and enforcing sexual morality.

These are ultra-conservative sectors that deeply hate the Argentine pontiff (Francis), Fernandez, the archbishop of La Plata, a city 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Buenos Aires, told The Associated Press.

They take a phrase from the book and say: Look at the level of this theologian. How can a person who uses these expressions be the prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith? said Fernandez, who dreamed of being a poet when he was younger.

The 80-page book, published in 1995 but not longer in print, has emerged as a key point used to blast the appointment of the 60-year-old archbishop commonly known as Tucho" to one of the Vatican's most powerful offices.

The book highlights the importance of kissing in human relationships, defining them as expressions of absolute love. In English, Kiss, in Italian, bacio, in French, baiser, in German, kuss, in Portuguese, beijo. Depending on how its done, it is also often called peck, sucking, drilling, etc., the book says.

An article published earlier this month on Catholic news agency Zenit said that everyone is talking about Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez ... and above all about his kisses.

Criticism of the archbishop, whose appointment was seen by some as an attempt to break with the past, has come from conservative religious figures in the United States.

Pray that he returns to the Catholic faith, Joseph Strickland, bishop of Tyler, Texas, wrote on social media.

Fernandez, who has long had a close relationship with the pope, a fellow Argentine, said he rejected later offers to reprint the book.

I was already older, and I thought this is a book about the kiss ... so I said, No, no, no, please, dont reprint it, lets leave this in the past. But well, now its my karma, Fernandez said with a laugh.

One of the excerpts from the book reads: A couple with a lot of sex, a lot of sexual satisfaction, but few kisses that are genuine or with kisses that say nothing is digging the grave of love with each sexual encounter, creating routine, fatigue, and weariness until one of them finds something more human.

Fernandez argued he cant be accused of anything because the work in question contains no heresy or error. He stressed that the strategy of his critics is to quote phrases from the book repeatedly to question the pope for appointing someone with such superficial theology and street language to a key position.

The book includes a poem written by Fernandez: How was God so ruthless to give you that mouth... No one can resist, witch, hide it.

The cardinal complained on social media that critics mistranslated bruja, or witch, as bitch.

Fernandez said he wrote the book along with a group of young people when he was a parish priest in the Argentine town of Santa Teresita, in the central province of Cordoba. He said it was written as a catechesis for teenagers, with the contributions of his young collaborators, and he improved them by providing a little editing.

In the books introduction, Fernandez wrote that the book was not written from his personal experience and that his goal was to summarize what mortals experience when they kiss.

Fernandez says he has written dozens of texts since then and his critics should cite ones he has published in top-level journals. He has been the rector of the Catholic University of Argentina and head of the Argentine Society of Theology. He was recently named a cardinal.

But they take this little youth catechism, from a poor parish priest from the countryside, and take phrases out of context, Fernandez said.

In Argentina, Fernandez has received some criticism on social media but has the support of the church in his homeland.

He has given an excellent and clear explanation of the issue, said Maximo Jurcinovic, director of communications for the Argentine Episcopal Conference.

Fernandez said the pope told him his task as head of the doctrinal office would be guarding the teaching that stems from faith in order to give a reason for our hope, but not as enemies who point fingers and condemn.

The book is not the only piece of controversial writing Fernandez has done in the past.

He has acknowledged that some of his writings were sent to the Vatican, anonymously, after then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio appointed him as rector of the Catholic University of Argentina in 2009. The controversy resulted in a two-year delay in his being cleared for the job.

Fernandez wrote about the ordeal soon after Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis, recounting that a newspaper article he had penned about gay marriage had been included in the anonymous dossier and that an unnamed Vatican congregation  believed to be the one responsible for Catholic education -- repeatedly refused to receive him to explain himself.

He has also had to acknowledge mistakes in his handling of a 2019 case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing minors. The case has drawn allegations by critics that Fernandez tried to protect the priest, a charge that he has denied.

Today I would certainly act very differently and certainly my performance was insufficient, he told AP after celebrating Mass in La Plata.

By appointing Fernandez to head the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis seemed to indicate a desire for a break with the past.

The Dicastery over which you will preside in other times came to use immoral methods. Those were times when, rather than promoting theological knowledge, possible doctrinal errors were pursued. What I expect from you is certainly something very different, the pope wrote in a letter to Fernandez.

German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, who served as prefect of the office until Francis fired him in 2017, said the new directives are out of place considering the mission of that department was to protect and promote the revealed faith.

This is not a theological academy or a talk show where everyone can express their opinion, Muller said on conservative U.S. broadcaster EWTN.

Fernandez has characterized himself as a reformist who doesnt like to break with everything, but advocates for a church that is more inclusive, more respectful of different ways of living and thinking.



Associated Press journalist Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
By Vivian Sequera

CARACAS (Reuters) - The families of Venezuelan migrants lost in the Caribbean sea are demanding their government investigate the disappearance of their loved ones after years of stasis.

At least 150 people have gone missing in connection with a series of vessels which have sunk between Venezuela's north coast and islands in the Caribbean since 2015, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration.

Of the at least 7.3 million Venezuelans who have fled economic and social crisis in their homeland, at least 100,000 have traveled via sea to island neighbors like Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and Curacao, according to the UN.

"We ask for speed, four years have passed (...) the investigation isn't being carried out," said Jhonny Romero, president of a family advocacy group for the missing 150 migrants, as he and other families protested outside the prosecutor's office in Caracas in June.

Just one body has been found from the nine sunken vessels from the cases represented by the group, said Romero, whose 27-years-old son Jhonny de Jesus went missing along with 32 others as they attempted to reach Curacao in 2019.

Sea travel is one of the deadliest options for desperate migrants searching for new opportunities the world over, with thousands drowned each year between Africa and Europe via routes, including the Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean sea.

It is not clear if sea crossings in the Caribbean are more deadly than overland routes which take migrants through the dangerous Darien Gap, a stretch of jungle connecting Colombia and Panama through which hundreds of thousands cross each year.

While five men were arrested and await trial in connection with the boat which carried Romero's son, the bereft father echoed demands by other families for investigations to reveal what happened to their relatives and to lead to convictions of those responsible.

Neither the attorney general's office nor the navy responded to questions from Reuters about the missing boats, the charges against the arrested men or the volume of illegal passages, among others.

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

Passengers, many who cannot swim, often travel at night without life jackets, one person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Boat pilots drop passengers off around 30 meters from shore, the source added. In Aruba, migrants must scale rocky outcrops of up to four meters high and many fail, drowning as a result they said, though bodies have not been found.

There are no investigations in Aruba or Curacao into the whereabouts of Venezuelan migrants missing during sea crossings, an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

"We regrettably don't have figures of people who are suspected to have gone missing because we haven't found any bodies," said Shalick Clement, spokesperson for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, which monitors the waters of Aruba and Curacao.

The coast guard of Trinidad and Tobago did not respond to questions.

"We went to Caracas to look for answers," said Ana Arias, a 43-year-old housewife whose daughter Luisannys Betancourt went missing on a boat journey in April 2019.

The boat was found abandoned on an islet, but Luisannys was not one of the 10 occupants - out of 38 - who were rescued.

Families are looking for "clarification of the events, for answers," said Carolina Bastardo, whose pregnant daughter and two grandchildren were traveling on a boat which sunk in May 2019.

Wreckage of the boat, the Ana Maria, was never found, while a Venezuelan believed to be the pilot fled Grenada before an investigation could be conducted, police said.

"We've had four years of full of silence, of pain - it's desperate," she said.

(Reporting by Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Tibisay Romero in Valencia and Mircely Guanipa in Maracay; Writing by Oliver Griffin)
This photo taken on July 1, 2023 shows workers making final preparations for the traffic opening of the remaining 84 km eastern section of the East-West Highway in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)

ALGIERS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite the blistering sunshine in July, the construction site of the East-West Highway in Algeria's easternmost province of El Tarf is buzzing with activity.

Chinese and Algerian workers are braving the extreme heat, busy laying asphalt and making final preparations for the opening of the road to traffic.

"The section holds pivotal importance because its opening signifies the full completion of the 1,216-km-long East-West Highway, which connects 17 Algerian provinces and brings the country closer to other Arab countries," Djotni Benaissa, head of the highway project at Algeria's National Highway Agency, told Xinhua in an interview.

The East-West Highway, crossing from Algeria's eastern border with Tunisia to the western border with Morocco, is considered one of the country's most important projects.

In November 2017, Algeria inked a deal with the China International Trust and Investment Corp. (CITIC) to finalize the remaining 84 km eastern section of the highway near the Tunisian border, about three years after it was abandoned by the initial Japanese contractor over payments disputes.

CITIC Construction, which used to build other sections of the East-West Highway, was selected as the succeeding contractor of the project thanks to its previous remarkable performance.

Mohamed Khaldi, director of the agency, hailed CITIC Construction for "its adherence to local laws and regulations and international norms during its previous construction work of the highway," adding that the company has implemented "advanced technology to ensure high standards and quality of the project."

The construction process has overcome numerous challenges due to the complex terrain and geological conditions.

"In Europe, a roadbed fill with a height of more than 5 meters is considered high. In this project, the fill reaches 44.7 meters at the highest," said Ji Zongli, the project's chief engineer, when elaborating on their difficulties.

"The soil is predominantly marl, which will turn into mud when wet," Ji added, calling it a disaster for engineers.

In early summer this year, El Tarf experienced unusually heavy rainfall that lasted for over a month, posing great challenges to the construction work.

"Although the inclement weather disrupted work plans and significantly affected the project's progress, CITIC Construction persisted so as to finalize the project before the deadline," said Ait Mahmoud, an Algerian geologist.

Besides, the company has assisted Algeria in cultivating talents. Over the past years, it has offered technical training to 16,000 Algerian engineers, said Qi Shujie, the deputy general manager of CITIC Construction Algeria.

Larbaoui Mohammed, whose Chinese name is A Bao, is a representative of those young engineers. He joined CITIC in 2008 after graduation and has got promoted to project manager.

"Thanks to the opportunity provided by CITIC Construction, I have gained extensive knowledge and managed to buy a house and a car by myself," he said.

"Young Algerian engineers, who have accumulated experience through long-term cooperation with their Chinese colleagues, are highly skilled and represent the future of the industry in Algeria," said Mohamed Salah Kafi, the head of the eastern region bureau of Algeria's National Highway Agency. 

This photo taken on Aug. 18, 2022 shows project personnel of CITIC Construction using construction machinery to set up fire prevention belt within the forests in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 18, 2022 shows project personnel of CITIC Construction using construction machinery to set up fire prevention belt within the forests in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows the finished section of the remaining 84 km eastern section of the East-West Highway in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 5, 2023 shows Qi Shujie, the deputy general manager of CITIC Construction Algeria, and Mohamed Salah Kafi, the head of the eastern region bureau of Algeria's National Highway Agency, together paving the last meter of the East-West Highway with asphalt in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 21, 2023 shows workers busy laying asphalt and making final preparations for the traffic opening of the remaining 84 km eastern section of the East-West Highway in El Tarf Province, Algeria. (Photo provided by CITIC Construction/Handout via Xinhua)
BURLINGTON, Vt.  Flooding caused by torrential rains in Vermont devastated farm crops, leaving local farmers scrambling to clean up in hopes of replanting before it's too late in the season.

Pitchfork Farm co-owner Eric Seitz said he knew it wouldn't be good when he saw the initial forecast calling for 3 inches the Friday before the rainfall started.

"Three inches kind of across the state, all that water ends up in the river that runs along our farm," Seitz said. "And as it turned out, it ended up being around 7 or 8 inches."

The Burlington farm is known for its carrots and other produce supplied to local restaurants and grocery stores. Seitz said he checks the forecast for rain daily because heavy rainfall can be problematic for carrot seed germination.

When the Winooski River began to flood the Intervale, there wasn't anything they could do to save the crops.

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"We were scrambling to harvest what we could, and then Tuesday morning, there's nothing to do but stand there and watch the water," Seitz said.

Seven feet of floodwater covered crops, including baby kale, arugula and lettuce.

After the rain stopped, the farm staff used kayaks and canoes to paddle through the vegetable fields covered in feet of water.

In 18 seasons, this is the second devastating flood for the farm. First, flooding was caused by Hurricane Irene in 2019, and now the most recent July flooding event.

The flash floods came during the middle of harvest season for fruiting crops, including peppers and watermelon. Around this time of year, the farm staff would prepare to plant fall crops, including carrots, beets and fall cabbage that grow through the winter.

"We grow about 100,000 pounds of carrots, for instance. We just finished selling the last of last year's crops, and the window on getting those seeded is rapidly closing," Seitz said. "It's not looking great for the business."

Supporters of the farm started a GoFundMe fundraiser for $100,000 to help Seitz and co-owner Rob Rock continue to pay their employees and keep their business afloat until next season. In five days, the fundraiser has garnered more than $66,000. This would be a lot for an individual, but it likely won't be enough for a small business supporting 12 employees to keep their staff off unemployment.

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"That amount, while unbelievable, and just extraordinarily generous, that's about two and a half to three weeks' worth of revenue for us in July and August," Seitz said.

The latest forecast for more rain will hinder further efforts to replant.

"We just need the fields to dry up, and we need the rain to stop," Seitz said.

Flooding at Pitchfork Farm vegetable fields in Vermont after historic flooding. (Image: Pitchfork Farm)

According to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) several growers contacted the department about handling produce and fields after the flooding.

"Under U.S. law, crops, where the edible portion of the plant has contacted floodwaters, are considered adulterated and cannot be sold for human consumption," according to the Department of Agriculture. "Because floodwaters may contain sewage, chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens or other contaminants, these crops must be discarded, destroyed or tilled into the soil."

The department has additional resources available online for agriculture businesses to help after the floods.

VAAFM Director of Communications and Policy Scott Waterman said many agricultural lands are located near the rivers in Vermont. The VAAFM is still in the process of assessing the damages to farmlands.

Waterman said even with the ongoing assessment it's safe to say the losses are "excessive, potentially staggering" for Vermont farmers.

For farmers unsure where to start, they can by documenting damages and file a report with their county Farm Service Agency office.

The process of receiving help after the floods will be a two-part process for farmers.

Any help for damages to crops and land will be through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Declaration and damages to infrastructure, including barns, will be through FEMA.
Veteran police official Edward Caban becomes first Latino to head the NYPD

Edward A. Caban gestures after being sworn in as NYPD police commissioner outside New York City Police Department 40th Precinct on Monday, July 17, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

NEW YORK (AP)  Edward Caban, who joined the New York Police Department as a young patrol officer in 1991 and rose through the ranks, was sworn in Monday as police commissioner, becoming the first Latino to lead the 178-year-old department.

Mayor Eric Adams administered the oath of office in front of the Bronx stationhouse where Caban started his career, and praised his new police commissioner as representative of this blue-collar city.

Caban, the son of a transit police officer who served with Adams when the now-mayor was on the transit force, said he joined the NYPD as a young Puerto Rican kid at a time when when the top bosses of the police department didnt really look like me.

His beaming father, retired Detective Juan Caban, and other family members joined Caban as he was sworn in as the city's top police official.

Caban thanked Adams for choosing him to head the 33,000-member police department.

To be the first Hispanic police commissioner is an honor of the highest measure, Caban said.

Caban, 55, has served as acting commissioner since the resignation of Keechant Sewell, who announced last month that she was stepping down after 18 months.

Sewell, the first woman to lead the department, did not provide a reason for her resignation, but there had been speculation that other officials including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, an Adams ally, were undermining her authority.

Adams and Caban both praised Sewell, who did not attend her successor's swearing-in.

Commissioner Sewell smashed a glass ceiling, Caban said, "and she did so with grace, confidence and honor."

Adams said Caban, who served as first deputy commissioner under Sewell, had worked side by side with Commissioner Sewell to deliver double digit decreases in shootings and murders.

Caban worked in several precincts across the city as he climbed the ranks from patrol officer to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, executive officer, commanding officer, deputy inspector, inspector and first deputy commissioner.

The police department he will lead, the nation's largest, is more diverse than the largely white and male police force he joined 32 years ago.

According to department figures, 31% of uniformed officers are Hispanic, a slightly higher number than the 29% of the city's population identified as Hispanic by the Census Bureau.

About 11% of the department's officers are Asian and about 16% are Black, compared with a city population that is about 14% Asian and 24% Black.
(Bloomberg) -- Ongoing opposition protests in Kenya are undermining a nascent recovery in the nations tourism industry after the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

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The demonstrations against surging living costs and the outcome of last years elections have coincided with the peak of the tourism season, impacting hotels, lodges, restaurants and tour organizers. About 3.1 million people are directly employed in the industry, Kenyas third-biggest source of foreign exchange, with its abundant wildlife and picturesque Indian Ocean beaches the main attractions.

Every day were seeing cancellations, both business and leisure travelers. Getting these bookings back is hard, Mike Macharia, chief executive officer at Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, said in a phone interview. This will kill the industry. It means we forget the second half of this year. This madness has to stop.

Main opposition leader Raila Odinga, who narrowly lost the August presidential elections to William Ruto, called for the protests after the Supreme Court rejected his application to overturn the result. Besides demanding an audit of all election-related technology that he says will prove he was the rightful winner of the vote, Odinga wants the opposition to have more say in the appointment of electoral-agency officials  a process he argues is controlled by the government.

Read More: Why Kenya Has Been Rocked by Opposition Protests: QuickTake

The protests were suspended in April after the government agreed to talks with the opposition over electoral reforms and measures to reduce living costs, but resumed on July 7 following the introduction of new taxes, including a doubling of value-added tax on fuel. The unrest has persisted despite the High Court suspending the levies.

Almost two dozen people have died in violence related to the demonstrations in the past week alone, according to the UN Human Rights Office. Businesses have been shuttered and looted, and public infrastructure has been vandalized. Commuter train services were suspended last week due attacks on carriages, according to Kenya Railways Corp.

The UN agency is very concerned by the widespread violence, and allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, including the use of firearms, by police during protests in Kenya, spokesman Jeremy Laurence said in an emailed statement.

Ruto has taken a tough line against the protesters, accusing Odinga of taking advantage of disgruntlement over high food and fuel prices to try and overturn the outcome of a legitimate election. The hit to the tourism industry will have a knock-on effect on tax collections at a time when the country is already at high risk of debt distress, with the government spending more than half of the revenue it collects on servicing its loans.

Read more: IMF Poised to Expand Kenya Loan Program by 45% to $3.5 Billion

The protests and the suspension of the tax hikes by the courts have made the Kenyan governments task of averting a sovereign default all the more difficult, Capital Economics said in an emailed note.

Companies in the tourism industry will start cutting jobs if the protests continue, placing downward pressure on wages, according to Macharia.

Its going to be a tall order to achieve a target of growing tourism earnings by 60% to 425.4 billion shillings ($3 billion) this year, he said.

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Fresh off its first commercial mission, Virgin Galactic will return to the skies on August 10 to take three private citizens to suborbital space and back.

The crew for the mission, called Galactic 02, includes 80-year-old Jon Goodwin, a former Olympian and an early Virgin Galactic ticket holder; and mother-and-daughter duo Keisha Schahaff and 18-year-old Anastatia Mayers, who won their seats in a charity fundraiser for the nonprofit Space for Humanity. Schahaff and Mayers, who are from Antigua and Barbuda, will be the first people from the Caribbean to travel to space.

Beth Moses, Virgin Galactics head of astronaut instruction, will round out the crew. This will be the fourth time Moses will travel to suborbital space with the company.

The flight is expected to last about 90 minutes. As with Virgin Galactics previous flight, Galactic 02 will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Virgin Galactic is competing against Blue Origin in the burgeoning space tourism market, which serves both private wealthy individuals and governments and enterprises looking to exploit the benefits of a zero-gravity environment. But while Blue Origin uses a rocket to vertically lift a crewed capsule into suborbital space, Virgin Galactic uses a specialized aircraft, which carries a spaceplane, called SpaceShipTwo, to high altitude and releases it mid-air.

Both vessels -- the aircraft and the spaceplane -- are guided by two pilots each. For this mission, CJ Sturckow and Kelly Latimer will be piloting the VSS Unity spaceplane. This will be Sturckow's eighth trip to space, and Latimer's first. Nicola Pecile, a former pilot with the Italian Air Force, and Mike Masucci, who has flown four previous Virgin Galactic missions, will be at the helm of the VMS Eve mothership.

The company completed its first commercial flight at the end of June after many years of development, and more than a few setbacks. Billionaire Richard Branson founded the company in 2004, with plans at the time to commence commercial service as early as 2007. But myriad technical issues -- including a catastrophic test flight in 2014 that resulted in the death of one of the pilots -- meant that Virgin Galactic did not complete its first crewed mission until the summer of 2021.

With last months successful mission, the company said it would move to monthly missions to start working through its customer backlog. Virgins longer-term goal is to transition from the VMS Eve motherships to a class of planes it calls Delta, with the eventual aim of flying them upwards of 400 times per year.
Vision problems could mean higher dementia risk, study finds: 'Eye health and brain health are closely linked'

Vision problems could mean higher dementia risk, study finds: 'Eye health and brain health are closely linked'

Older adults with vision problems may be more likely to develop dementia, a new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology has found.

Researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor analyzed data from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study, which showed a link between all types of vision problems  distance acuity, near acuity and contrast sensitivity  and a higher prevalence of dementia, including Alzheimers disease.

Distance acuity (visual acuity) is a measure of the clarity or sharpness of vision from 20 feet away, according to the American Optometric Association.

This is usually tested by having the person read letters on a Snellen chart.

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Near acuity is a measurement of how well someone can see something up close.

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Contrast sensitivity measures the persons ability to distinguish between an object and the background it is set against, or to differentiate between two similar colors.

Older adults with vision problems may be more likely to develop dementia, according to a new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

The more types of vision problems a person has, the higher the chances of dementia, the study findings stated.

The study included national data from 2,967 participants aged 71 and older.

"We hypothesized that visual impairment would be associated with dementia because prior studies found an association," said lead study author Olivia Killeen, M.D., clinical lecturer for ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Eye health and brain health are closely linked in older adults ," she added.

"This study is unique because it used up-to-date, objectively measured visual acuity (meaning participants all had their vision tested)," she went on.

"This allowed us to analyze the associations between visual acuity and dementia."

Although eye health and brain health are closely linked in older people, the good news is that most vision problems are treatable, Killeen said.

"For example, cataracts are one of the main causes of visual impairment in older people, and vision loss from cataracts can be reversed with cataract surgery ," Killeen explained.

"Because visual impairment is associated with dementia, treating vision problems may be one key to reducing the risk of dementia."

A Cedars-Sinai study found in March that early signs of Alzheimers disease can be detected in eye exams.

The study did have some limitations, she pointed out.

The researchers did not have information on the causes of visual impairment, which means they couldnt study the association between specific eye conditions  such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration  and dementia.

BE WELL: GET REGULAR EYE EXAMS TO PROTECT VISION AND CATCH WARNING SIGNS EARLY

"Randomized controlled trials are needed to measure the impact of treating vision problems on dementia," Killeen said.

The results are consistent with previous research showing a link between sensory impairment and higher risk for dementia, agreed Dr. Gary Small, chair of psychiatry and behavioral health physician-in-chief at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey .

"Getting routine eye care is important for early diagnosis and treatment of vision problems," said the lead author of a new study.

Small was not involved in the University of Michigan study.

"Mental stimulation keeps neural circuits active and strong, which protects the brain from age-related declines," he told Fox News Digital.

"Loss of visual stimulation will lead to withdrawal and less mental engagement ."

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Given this recent studys large sample size and "objective measures of visual impairment," Small said the results are particularly compelling.

"It's important for anyone, especially older adults, to regularly check their visual acuity and correct deficits to optimize quality of life and protect against dementia," he said.

The more types of vision problems a person has, the higher the chances of dementia, the study findings stated.

Added Small, "The bottom line is that the old adage, Use it or lose it, applies not just to physical health but to cognitive health as well."

Protection and prevention are key to improving outcomes, both visual and cognitive, Killeen agreed.

"Getting routine eye care is important for early diagnosis and treatment of vision problems," she said.

"The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people 65 and older get routine eye exams every one to two years."

As Fox News Digital previously reported, a Cedars-Sinai study found in March that early signs of Alzheimers disease can be detected in eye exams.

EARLY ALZHEIMERS DISEASE COULD BE DIAGNOSED THROUGH EYE EXAMS, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

Patients who had mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimers disease were found to have higher amounts of amyloid beta 42, a protein that forms the "plaques" that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimers  as well as cells called microglia, which are also associated with progression of the disease  in their retinas.
On Monday, Vivek Ramaswamy became the first 2024 Republican presidential candidate to release a list of top judicial appointments that he would make if he becomes president.

Ramaswamy's list includes a pair of Republican senators, Sens. Ted Cruz, of Texas, and Mike Lee, of Utah, as possible nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court or federal appellate courts. The list also names a pair of federal judges who ruled against President Biden in separate decisions.

The 37-year-old founder of Strive Asset Management told The Associated Press during an interview Monday that he was releasing the list to show voters the candidates he believed were in line with their judicial interests.

"It's important when you're asking voters to select the next president of the United States, that you be as transparent as you can about what you're going to do," Ramaswamy said.

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Vivek Ramaswamy became the first 2024 Republican presidential candidate to release a list of top judicial appointments.

He is the first Republican to share such a list during the 2024 primary campaign. The move matches a decision of former President Donald Trump, also a 2024 candidate, who released a list of potential judicial appointments during the 2016 campaign, when the winner of the general election was going to be tasked with choosing the replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia.

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The direction of the Supreme Court was a powerful issue for Trump in his 2016 bid, and remains at the forefront of voters minds going into the 2024 contest as the high court recently struck down affirmative action in education and ended Bidens student loan handout.

Trumps decision was widely praised by his supporters and helped secure the nomination in a Republican primary that had over a dozen candidates.

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Sen. Mike Lee is a potential Supreme Court pick for Vivek Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy's list includes several prominent conservative legal names and federal judges who he would elevate to appellate seats.

It includes Judge Kathryn Mizelle, who struck down Biden's air travel mask mandate in 2022, and Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who struck down the FDA's two-decade-long approval of the abortion pill. Both are Trump appointees.

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The list also includes Paul Clement, who served as solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, as well as James Ho, another Trump nominee, who Ramaswamy said quoted his own book, "Woke, Inc.," in one of his rulings.

Ramaswamy clarified that he would not nominate Cruz or Lee if it would upset the balance of the U.S. Senate, where the Democratic Party currently holds a majority by two votes.

Vivek Ramaswamy is looking to become the latest political outsider to capture Republican enthusiasm and win his partys nomination.

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Ramaswamy is looking to become the latest political outsider to capture Republican enthusiasm and win his partys nomination. He will have to do so running against Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Republican stars such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Warren calls for investigation of Tesla in wake of Musks Twitter takeover

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is calling for an investigation into Tesla and its potential conflicts of interest following CEO Elon Musks acquisition of Twitter last fall.

In a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler Monday, Warren said she is requesting an investigation into Tesla and the companys disclosures on how its board is managing the apparent conflicts of its Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk.

Warren said Musks actions since he purchased Twitter and became its CEO  while still remaining Teslas CEO  have raised concerns about conflicts of interest, misappropriation of corporate assets, and other negative impacts to Tesla shareholders.

Teslas board has a legal obligation to serve its shareholders. Im urging @SECGov to investigate, Warren added in a tweet.

Warrens office did not immediately respond to a request for further information.

The Hill has reached out to Tesla for comment on the letter, which was first reported by CNBC.

Mondays letter echoes concerns Warren addressed last year in a letter to the chairman of Teslas board where she said she was concerned the companys board failed to meet its legal duty.

Warren said Monday the board has so far refused to provide answers.

Despite recent and repeated calls from investors to address these actions, the Board appears to have failed to uphold its legal duty to ensure that Mr. Musk act in the best interest of Tesla, she wrote.

Mr Musks personal wealth  and his personal relationships with Board members  do not shield him or the Tesla Board from meeting basic SEC governance and disclosure rules, Warren added later.

Musk came under fire last year when he began selling billions of dollars worth of Tesla stock as he worked to purchase Twitter for $44 billion, according to filings with the SEC.

He has continued to draw ire from some lawmakers, particularly on the left, over his handling of the platform.

Since purchasing the social media platform, Musk has made a series of controversial choices including ousting some top executives, implementing mass layoffs and starting the Twitter Blue program, requiring users to pay a monthly subscription fee for the verification checkmark.

On Saturday, Musk announced Twitter is experiencing a nearly 50 percent drop in advertising revenue while also dealing with heavy debt flow, despite telling the BBC in April the platform is roughly breaking even.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(U.S. Army)

America's Got Talent showcases some of the most, well, talented people in America. Hosted by Terry Crews and judged by Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara, the TV competition draws millions of viewers each season. 2023 marks the 18th season of the show, and has performers competing for a $1 million prize. "This season promises to deliver some of the wildest acts to ever grace the 'AGT' stage," the show says on its YouTube page. While it wasn't wild, the 82nd Airborne Division "All American" Chorus put on a show like no other for their AGT audition.

The performance began at the command of Staff Sgt. Gilbert. Calling the formation to attention, he marched them on stage with true military precision. In their OCP uniforms, full-color 82nd Airborne Division insignias and iconic maroon berets, the paratroopers made quite an impression on both the judges and audience. The seriousness was broken with a charming "Hey everybody" from Staff Sgt. Gilbert who made their intentions clear. "We're here to win," he told Cowell.

The All American Chorus performs cadences, Americana and popular songs (U.S. Army)

Based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, the All American Chorus is made up of troopers from across the 82nd Airborne Division. Together, they embody "the hearts and souls of the paratroopers, past and present." To that end, the All American Chorus' performance on AGT was dedicated to Spc. Elijah Crawford who died the week before. When Staff Sgt. Gilbert ordered the chorus to fall in, the troopers got to work.

Led by Staff Sgt. Gilbert, the All American Chorus started with a traditional airborne cadence. This prompted slightly puzzled looks from the judges but garnered cheers and applause from the audience. Then the real show began as the troopers broke into an a cappella cover of "My Girl" by The Temptations. The harmony of the soldiers caught Crews and the judges off guard as the crowd got louder. Klum exclaimed, "Yes," Mandel started swaying and even Cowell cracked a smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqXKRvEszI

Other troopers took turns leading the chorus as the audience sang and clapped along. The choreography of the performance matched the tune perfectly. In true Army fashion, the All American Chorus had a surprise waiting at the end to ensure victory for the 82nd. With the crowd on their feet and cheering, the troopers accomplished their mission. The 82nd Airborne Chorus received a "Go" from the judges and moved on to the elimination round.
[Source]

Lea Salonga has gone viral for the professional way in which she handled fans who harassed her backstage.

What happened: On Saturday, Cristopher Retokelly Carpila posted a video of the incident on Facebook, which happened last week after a performance of the Broadway musical Here Lies Love" at New York's Broadway Theatre.

In the two-minute clip, a fan can be heard speaking to the 52-year-old Filipino actor outside her dressing room and asking if they could take a picture with her.

Who are you? Salonga asks, seemingly confused. Im so sorry, I dont know who you are.

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Unless youre on the guest list, we cannot have you back here, she firmly adds. So youll have to go to the [stage] door. Im sorry, because if I allow this now, then other people are going to take advantage of this.

Another fan mentions that they are friends of Giselle G Tongi, one of the productions co-producers. Salonga repeats that they are not on the guest list before calmly asking them to wait over at the stage door. She also tries to explain that not allowing fans into her dressing room is for security purposes.

The fans follow Salonga down a hallway, and she eventually shows them the location of the stage door, which leads to the outside of the building. Before the video ends, the actor accepts their request to take a photo with her.

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The filmed incident, which made headlines over the weekend, has already been viewed over 2.1 million times.

Sharing her side of the story: On Monday, Salonga took to Twitter to address the incident.

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Just a reminder I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you, she wrote in one tweet.

When one of our lead producers and our dance captain saw the video and learned about what happened, they said, You were still very nice, if that were me I wouldve cussed at them and kicked them out, she wrote in another tweet. Im not the type to cuss people out, but I will protect my territory and my boundaries. If I lose fans as a result, so be it.

When one of our lead producers and our dance captain saw the video and learned about what happened, they said, You were still very nice, if that were me I wouldve cussed at them and kicked them out. Im not the type to cuss people out, but I will protect my territory and my  Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023

Tighter security: Other Twitter users wrote about the incident, seemingly frustrated by the Filipino fans behavior.

Filipino journalist Ruel Mendoza declared that the fans think that they are entitled to do what they want and not follow rules.  The venue needs tighter security.

Salonga replied to Mendozas tweet, saying, "Hi, Ruel! Actually, we have multiple levels of security at the theater. But I had a ton of guests that night and perhaps they folded right into them. Security policies have been even more tightened. Thanks for your concern, and hope to see you on our dance floor soon! Itll be good to see you again!"

Hi, Ruel! Actually, we have multiple levels of security at the theater. But I had a ton of guests that night and perhaps they folded right into them. Security policies have been even more tightened. Thanks for your concern, and hope to see you on our dance floor soon! Itll be  Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 16, 2023

Salonga also shared in another tweet that she spoke with Tongi about the incident, writing, I checked in with G after this happened she had no idea who they were.

I checked in with G after this happened.. she had no idea who they were.  Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 16, 2023

About Here Lies Love: Salonga, who is making a guest appearance in the new Broadway musical, started her five-week run on Tuesday.

She notably performs the song Just Ask the Flowers as Aurora Aquino, the mother of Benigno Ninoy Aquino. The latters assassination was the trigger that sparked the Philippines People Power Revolution, which resulted in the downfall of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
A wealthy Russian businessman claims the UK detained his $50 million superyacht to look 'tough'

Grace Dean/Insider

A Russian businessman claimed the UK detained his superyacht to look "tough," Bloomberg reported.

The $50 million vessel was detained by the UK last March, though its owner hasn't been sanctioned.

He now wants to move the yacht, which has been moored in London since late 2021.

A wealthy Russian businessman who wasn't featured on any sanctions lists following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has claimed the UK detained his luxury superyacht to look "tough," Bloomberg reported.

Phi, a 192-foot superyacht worth around $50 million, was detained by the UK government last March after Russia invaded Ukraine and the UK banned all Russian-owned or -operated ships from its ports.

The UK's National Crime Agency had declined to name Phi's owner, merely saying that he was a Russian businessman who kept his ownership of the vessel "deliberately well hidden" and who hadn't been sanctioned by the UK.

Court filings say that Sergei Georgievich Naumenko, a Russian property developer, is the beneficial owner, though The Financial Times previously reported the vessel was ultimately owned by Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, the founder of Motiv Telecom.

Phi has been moored in Canary Wharf, London's financial hub, since the end of 2021. Its detention last year means that it remains the property of the owner but isn't allowed to leave. In late March this year, Naumenko sued the UK's transport department, asking the court to let him move vessel and award him undisclosed damages.

Phi has been moored in Canary Wharf, London's financial hub, since the end of 2021. Grace Dean/Insider

Naumenko's lawyers have argued that by detaining the vessel, the UK government is trying to push him to criticize the Russian government, Bloomberg reported.

"Disproportionate action against individuals cannot be justified by a generalized desire to appear tough, whether that message is intended for consumption by the domestic electorate or elsewhere," his lawyer Nigel Giffin said in court filings viewed by Bloomberg.

Naumenko has said that he has no connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But the UK's Department for Transport disagrees. "The system of patronage under President Putin's regime means that Mr. Naumenko was unlikely to have made and retained such a level of wealth without showing loyalty and directly or indirectly benefiting from the Russian regime," Jason Pobjoy, a lawyer for the department, said in court documents, per Bloomberg.

At the time of Phi's detention, Grant Shapps, the UK's then-secretary of state for transport, said that Phi belonged to a "Russian oligarch" and "friends of Putin."

Pobjoy said that detaining a superyacht could influence whether other wealthy Russians continue showing political support to Putin, per Bloomberg. Shapps previously said that Phi's detention had "turned an icon of Russia's power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies."

When Phi was detained, the vessel's captain said it was "government overreach and nothing more than a publicity stunt." He added that Phi's owner was "guilty by association of his passport only" and had "never been connected with anyone" who was sanctioned.

The superyacht, built by Royal Huisman, has a freshwater swimming pool and a wine cellar.

When contacted by Insider, the Department for Transport declined to comment. Naumenko's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
JUBA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Unity State in northern South Sudan have recorded 31 measles deaths among children aged 5-10 who recently returned from war-torn Sudan, health officials said on Monday.

Duol Biem Kueiguong, director-general of the State Ministry of Health, told Xinhua that about 700 children suffering from measles are admitted to Bentiu state hospital.

"We have recorded 31 death cases of measles, and 700 children... are admitted in Bentiu State hospital," he said.

Some pregnant returnees are also confirmed to be suffering from measles, Biem said.

"All health facilities are full of patients admitted with measles," he said. "We are conducting a measles campaign in populated areas."

On June 3, authorities in Rubkona County of Unity State declared a measles outbreak among returnees displaced by the conflict in neighboring Sudan.

According to the World Health Organization, measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family, and is normally passed through direct contact and the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing severe disease, complications and even death.

South Sudan now hosts more than 149,000 returnees, including refugees who fled fighting in Sudan across the 12 border crossing points, according to the United Nations.

The fighting, which erupted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15 and soon spread to different parts of the country, is being fought between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict. 
An explosion occurred on the Crimea bridge in the early hours of July 17

The Crimean Bridge could have been attacked by modified underwater drones, Russian Telegram channel Mash reported on July 17.

Jet ski wreckage was found in the area of the attack near pillar 145. The location of the wreckage suggests that the jet skis were aimed at the bridges pillar.

Russian social media groups also claim that at the time of the attack, a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike drone was seen "flying in the sky over the Black Sea."

Since the early hours of July 17, traffic has been stopped on the Crimean Bridge.

Read also: Ukraines SBU to reveal details of blasts on Crimean Bridge after victory

Crimean puppet governor Sergey Aksyonov announced an "emergency" and Russian social media groups reported explosions and possible damage to the bridge's support.

An NV law enforcement source said that the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the nighttime attack on the Crimean Bridge.

On October 8, a powerful explosion occurred on the Crimean Bridge, which Russia uses to deploy armored vehicles and manpower to southern Ukraine, causing several of its spans to fall into the Kerch Strait.

The Kremlin regime accused Ukraines spy chief Kyrylo Budanov of organizing the sabotage. In turn, Ukraines Defense Intelligence denied these statements, calling them "nonsense."

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
Where are the best public high schools in Pennsylvania? These 25 topped the list

Though one Centre County institution cracked the list, Pennsylvanias top 25 public high schools are mostly located near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, according to Niche, a site offering data on schools and colleges across the country.

Reviews and data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education, Common Core Data, Civil Rights Data Collection and more fuel Niches rankings. The Pittsburgh-headquartered school search platform ranks public high schools through the following broad categories:

Academics grade, which is based on state assessment proficiency, graduation rates, advanced placement courses, SAT and ACT grades, student-to-teacher ratios, college admissions and more.

Diversity grade, which is based on a student racial diversity index, parent or student surveys on culture and diversity, economically disadvantaged percentages and gender diversity.

Teachers grade, which is based on the academics grade, parent or student surveys on educators, teacher absenteeism, salary index, the portion of teachers in their first or second year of teaching, average salary and student-to-teacher ratio,

Niche breaks down its overall grades for public high schools into the following categories:

Academics grade: 60%

Culture and diversity grade: 12.5%

Parent/student surveys on overall experience: 10%

Teachers grade: 10%

Clubs and activities grade: 2.5%

Resources and facilities grade: 2.5%

Sports grade: 2.5%

Pennsylvanias top 25 public high schools received overall grades of A+ or better, but their strengths and achievements vary. Heres a brief look at how the institutions compared.

25. North Penn Senior High School

Location: Lansdale, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A- teachers, A clubs and activities, A diversity, A college prep, B administration, A+ sports, B- food and C+ resources and facilities

North Penn Senior High School instructs 3,138 students in grades 10 through 12 with a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio. According to recent test scores, roughly 78% of its students are proficient or better in math, while 83% are proficient or better in reading.

24. Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School

Location: Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A- clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, A administration, A sports, A- food and B- resources and facilities

Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High Schools 1,503 students in grades nine through 12 produce a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Niche reports. Approximately 81% of the student body is proficient or better in math, while 87% is proficient or better in reading.

23. Central Bucks High School South

Location: Warrington, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, A administration, A sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Central Bucks High School South owns a 17-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 1,722 students in grades 10 through 12, Niche reports. Just about 91% of those students are at least proficient in math, while about 89% of students tested proficient or better in reading.

22. Upper Dublin High School

Location: Fort Washington, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, B+ administration, A+ sports, B food and B resources and facilities

Upper Dublin High School instructs 1,320 students in grades nine through 12, resulting in a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Niche says. Roughly 73% of the schools students tested proficient or better in math, while 95% tested proficient or better in reading.

21. Garnet Valley High School

Location: Glen Mills, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A sports, B food and B- resources and facilities

Garnet Valley High School has a 13-1 student-to-teacher ratio across a student body of 1,546 in grades nine through 12. Recent state test scores indicate roughly 84% of students are proficient in math, while at least 87% are proficient or better in reading.

20. Bayard Rustin High School

Location: West Chester, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A- teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A sports, B+ food and B resources and facilities

Roughly 1,215 students in grades nine through 12 give Bayard Rustin High School a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Niche reports. Approximately 82% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while about 88% can say the same for reading.

19. Central Bucks High School West

Location: Doylestown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Yet another representative of the Central Bucks School District, this school offers a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across 1,507 students. A recent batch of standardized tests indicates about 94% of Central Bucks High School Wests students are at least proficient in math, while about 83% are at least proficient in reading.

18. Hershey High School

Location: Hershey, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, B administration, B+ sports, A- food and B- resources and facilities

Ranked the best public high school in Dauphin County, Hershey High School instructs 1,128 students in grades nine through 12 and offers a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio. At least 90% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while at least 91% are proficient or better in reading

17. State College Area High School

Location: State College, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, A food and B resources and facilities

Representing Centre County among Niches best public high schools in Pennsylvania, State College Area High School holds a 12-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 2,436 students. Recent test scores indicate at least 90% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while at least 85% are proficient or better in reading.

16. Wissahickon Senior High School

Location: Ambler, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, B+ clubs and activities, A- diversity, A college prep, B+ administration, B+ sports, C food and C+ resources and facilities

Wissahickon Senior High School offers a 13-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 1,467 students in grades nine through 12. Roughly 81% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while about 91% can say the same for reading, Niche reports.

15. Great Valley High School

Location: Malvern, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, B clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A+ college prep, B administration, B+ sports, B- food and C+ resources and facilities

Roughly 1,402 students in grades nine through 12 attend Great Valley High School, prompting a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores indicate at least 88% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while about 96% are proficient or better in reading.

14. Mt. Lebanon Senior High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, C+ diversity, A college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A food and B resources and facilities

Out in Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon Senior High School instructs 1,820 students in grades nine through 12 and holds a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Roughly 85% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while at least 93% of students are proficient or better in reading.

13. Upper St. Clair High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A college prep, B+ administration, A+ sports, A- food and B- resources and facilities

Another Pittsburgh-area school, Upper St. Clair High School owns a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio across its body of 1,315 students in grades nine through 12. Recent standardized test scores indicate at least 91% of students are at least proficient in math, while 96% are at least proficient in reading.

12. Central Bucks High School East

Location: Doylestown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, C+ diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Central Bucks High School East holds a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 1,385 in grades 10 through 12. The schools most recent batch of standardized test scores indicate roughly 93% of students are at least proficient in math, while at least 90% are proficient or better in reading.

11. Fox Chapel Area High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A college prep, B administration, A sports, B food and B resources and facilities

Roughly 1,309 students in grades nine through 12 attend Fox Chapel Area High School near Pittsburgh, prompting a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Just about 87% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while approximately 90% are proficient or better in reading.

10. Strath Haven High School

Location: Wallingford, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- clubs and activities, B diversity, A+ college prep, B+ administration, A sports, C+ food and C+ resources and facilities

Ranked the second-best public high school in Delaware County, Strath Haven High School owns a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across 1,210 students in grades nine through 12. According to recent standardized test scores, roughly 74% of those students are proficient or better in math, while 88% can say the same for reading.

9. Unionville High School

Location: Kennett Square, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A+ college prep, B- administration, A+ sports, A- food and B- resources and facilities

Roughly 1,348 students in grades nine through 12 attend Unionville High School, which has a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Niche reports. Approximately 93% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while about 96% of students are at least proficient in reading.

8. Central High School

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, B+ clubs and activities, A+ diversity, A college prep, B+ administration, B sports, C+ food and C- resources and facilities

This Philadelphia-based magnet school instructs 2,381 students in grades nine through 12 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 24-1, Niche reports. Recent standardized test scores indicate about 98% of Central High Schools students are at least proficient in math, while 99% are proficient or better in reading.

7. North Allegheny High School

Location: Wexford, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A+ college prep, B+ administration, A+ sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Out near Pittsburgh, North Allegheny High School teaches 2,698 students in grades nine throgh 12, resulting in a 15-1 student-to-teacher ratio. According to Niche, recent test scores suggest 81% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while about 91% are at least proficient in reading.

6. Harriton Senior High School

Location: Rosemont, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, B+ sports, A- food and B resources and facilities

Harriton Senior High School owns an 11-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across 1,261 students in grades nine through 12, Niche reports. Recent standardized test scores indicate 85% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while 94% are at least proficient in reading.

5. Lower Merion High School

Location: Ardmore, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers, A+ clubs and activities, A- diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, A- food and B resources and facilities

Ranked the best public high school in Montgomery County, Lower Merion High School instructs 1,721 students in grades nine through 12 with a 13-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Roughly 87% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while about 95% can say the same for reading.

4. Downingtown STEM Academy

Location: Downingtown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, B+ clubs and activities, A- diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, B+ food and B resources and facilities

This top-rated magnet school holds a 14-1 student-to-teacher ratio while instructing about 883 students in grades nine through 12, Niche reports. Recent standardized test scores suggest at least 95% of Downingtown STEM Academys students are proficient or better in math, while virtually all students are proficient or better in reading.

3. Radnor Senior High School

Location: Radnor, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A+ college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A food and B- resources and facilities

Radnor Senior High School covers 1,165 students in grades nine through 12 while offering a 13-1 student-to-teacher ratio. At least 89% of the schools students are proficient or better in math, while about 92% can say the same for reading.

2. Conestoga Senior High School

Location: Berwyn, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Conestoga Senior High School instructs a whopping 2,335 students in grades nine through 12 with a 16-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Approximately 91% of the schools students are at least proficient in math, while about 92% are proficient or better in reading, according to recent testing data.

1. Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, C- clubs and activities, A diversity, A+ college prep, B- administration, B- sports, C- food and D- resources and facilities

Ranked first among Niches list of Standout High Schools in America, this magnet school instructs 1,180 students between grades five through 12 with a 22-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores indicate at least 95% of the schools students are proficient in math and reading.
While the Russian invasion has shown the world the next generation of high-tech warfare, old-school tactics are decimating Ukrainian troops: land mines, booby traps, and tripwires

Unexploded munitions and other explosive devices found by members of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine as they cleared mines off a field not far from the town of Brovary, northeast of Kyiv, on April 21, 2022. OLEKSII FILIPPOV/AFP via Getty Images

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed new technological advances for wartime.

Despite high-tech drones and missile systems, mines and tripwires are maiming soldiers the most.

Mines cause more wounds among troops than artillery, a Ukrainian medic told the NYT.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has showcased the horrific effects of some of the world's latest advancements in wartime technology from air and sea drones to advanced electronic warfare systems  but, according to reports from soldiers on the ground in Ukraine, land mines and booby traps are causing more damage.

Insider reported dense minefields are forcing Ukrainian troops to abandon their Western tanks and undertake the tedious and life-threatening work of demining fields rigged with explosives across areas as wide as 10 miles.

"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 Washington Post.

Instead, soldiers tasked with demining use long probes and metal detectors to painstakingly tap the earth along booby-trapped fields, identifying mines and clearing a narrow pathway for infantrymen to follow. But the job, while simple in concept, is anything but in practice.

Troops can locate boody traps by looking for nearby dead animals who have fallen for the tricks. At the same time, fiberglass rods are used instead of metal detectors to find electrically triggered mines, Insider previously reported. In instances where a mine cannot be removed, specialists will take atypical approaches to detonation, such as using a rope and grappling hook to snare trip wires from a distance.

Mines left by Russian troops in Ukraine are frequently buried with anti-handling devices that cause the internal explosives to detonate when touched, The New York Times reported. Ukrainian Major Maksym Prysyazhnyuk, a demining expert, told the outlet a common "trick for idiots" is being spotted by his teams  they come across anti-personnel mines buried just in front of loaded trip wires, targeting soldiers who might try to disable the wire.

The soldiers also contend with so-called jumping mines, which launch shrapnel after being stepped on, spraying nearby soldiers with pellets of plastic and metal. Green, plastic "leaf" mines, also called butterfly or petal mines, litter the area. Wounds caused by plastic mines are particularly difficult to treat, as medics cannot locate where plastic shrapnel is embedded in the body using traditional methods like X-rays.

"To clear mines, you should have a lot of motivation and a cool head," Prysyazhnyuk told the Times. "It's such delicate work, like of a surgeon, but at the same time, explosions are going off all around you."

A medic with the Ukrainian military told the Times that wounds caused by mines are more common among soldiers he treats than those caused by artillery.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, a retired US general, has called attempting to break through Russia's defenses like trying to get through "20 kilometers of hell," Insider previously reported, as soldiers are forced to navigate rows of trenches, anti-tank traps, minefields, and barbed wire.

Representatives for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, the Government of the Russian Federation, the United States Department of Defense, and the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Russian troops aren't the only ones deploying antipersonnel mines as they continue their invasion of Ukraine. Insider previously reported Human Rights Watch this month urged Ukrainian officials to investigate reports of butterfly mines being used against Russian soldiers.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Several members of the Kennedy family have distanced themselves from anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jrs claim that the virus which causes Covid-19 was somehow engineered to target white and Black people while sparing Asians and Jews of Eastern European descent as an example of antisemitism that puts Americans at risk.

During a press event in New York City on 11 July, Mr Kennedy baselessly stated that there is an argument to be made that the disease is ethnically targeted and claimed that the Sars-CoV-2 virus was targeted to attack Cucasians and Black people even as those who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Mr Kennedy later falsely claimed that he had made the remarks at an off-the-record event and attacked the New York Post who had reported on his offensive comments, accusing him of trying to to discredit [him] as a crank  and by association, to discredit revelations of genuine corruption and collusion.

His comments were widely condemned by numerous Jewish groups including the Anti-Defamation League, which called them deeply offensive pointed out that they feed into sinophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Joe Kennedy III, a special economic envoy to Northern Ireland and a former congressman, tweeted: My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said.

My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said.  Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) July 17, 2023

Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, issued a statement calling her brothers comments deplorable. She said: I STRONGLY condemn my brothers deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting.

I STRONGLY condemn my brother's deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting. https://t.co/9YCag7JtHm  Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) July 17, 2023

She added: His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination.

Joe Kennedy II wrote in a statement: Bobbys comments are morally and factually wrong. They play on antisemitic myths and stoke mistrust of the Chinese. His remarks in no way reflect the words and actions of our father, Robert F. Kennedy.

Speaking at the White House daily press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to respond to Mr Kennedy directly, citing his status as a 2024 presidential candidate.

But Ms Jean-Pierre said the anti-vaccine activists comments were insensitive to the countless American families with empty seats at the dinner table because theyve lost people to the virus since it began spreading across the globe in March 2020.

Robert F Kennedy is running as a Democratic candidate for the 2024 election (EPA)

Continuing, Ms Jean-Pierre said the claims Mr Kennedy made on a tape which was published by The New York Post were false as well as vile, and said they put our fellow Americans in danger.

if you think about the racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories that come out of saying those types of things, its an attack on our fellow citizens, our fellow Americans and so it is important that we ... speak out when we hear those claims made more broadly, she said.

This President and this whole administration is going to stand against ... those false claims against ... Asian Americans, against Jewish Americans, she said. Were going to continue to speak out and we believe ... its important to protect the dignity of our fellow Americans.
(Bloomberg) -- The White House denounced comments by Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that falsely claimed Jewish and Chinese people were most immune to Covid-19.

Most Read from Bloomberg

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the remarks an attack on our fellow citizens that fuel antisemitism and racial bias.

The claims made on that tape is false. It is vile. And they put our fellow Americans in danger, Jean-Pierre said at her Monday press briefing.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison also condemned Kennedys comments, saying they do not represent the views of the Democratic Party.

Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy  a former US attorney general and senator assassinated during his 1968 campaign for president, has become a vocal anti-vaccine activist. Kennedy has promoted conspiracy theories about the dangers of vaccines and has become more prominent for his views since the coronavirus pandemic.

An article published in the New York Post last week included video that appears to show Kennedy at a dinner saying that Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately.

Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese, Kennedy said.

In a tweet, Kennedy claimed the Post story was mistaken.

(Updates with additional details, background from fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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The White House on Monday blasted comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about COVID-19 as vile amid broader condemnation of the Democratic presidential candidates claim that the virus was manipulated to target white and Black people.

The firestorm began after The New York Post reported Kennedy Jr.s comments, in which he said during an event last week that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to attack those groups of people while avoiding Chinese people and Ashkenazi Jews.

The claims made on that tape is false, it is vile, and they put our fellow Americans in danger, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing with reporters. If you think about the racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories that come out of saying those types of things. It is an attack on our fellow citizens, our fellow Americans. And so it is important that we essentially speak out when we hear those claims made more broadly.

Democratic officials and anti-discrimination leaders immediately challenged the veracity of Kennedys claims, which he sought to backtrack by saying in part he didnt think the virus was deliberately engineered.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a statement saying the environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist should be prevented from serving as an elected official.

Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, also called the comments deeply troubling, tweeting that they do not represent the views of the Democratic Party.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday urged Republicans who control the House of Representatives to drop a provision in aviation legislation that would let airlines advertise the price of tickets without including government fees and taxes and to include new consumer protections for passengers.

The House is set to vote this week on legislation authorizing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but Republicans excluded many consumer protections sought by Democratic President Joe Biden.

The bill would rescind a 2012 Transportation Department regulation that requires airlines to advertise full fares including government fees and taxes. Democratic Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others are seeking a vote on an amendment to keep the full fare disclosure rules.

Schakowsky said that "the airline industry and congressional Republicans are once again prioritizing profits over people."

The White House said in a statement of administration policy that "the disclosure requirements currently in place for passenger tickets are necessary to help consumers comparison shop for a ticket."

Biden's administration in June submitted draft legislation to Congress seeking to mandate that airlines pay cash compensation for delays of three hours or more when carriers are responsible. While Biden in May said the administration was writing new rules to require airlines to compensate passengers with cash for significant flight delays, the passage of legislation would bolster the administration's legal authority.

The Transportation Department plans to write regulations requiring airlines to cover expenses such as meals and hotels if carriers are responsible for stranding passengers. Most carriers voluntarily committed last August to provide hotels or meals but resisted providing cash compensation for delays.

There is no legal requirement for airlines to compensate U.S. passengers for delayed or canceled flights. The European Union and some other countries require compensation of up to 600 euros ($674) for significant delays.

The White House also expressed concern in the statement about the House bill's proposal to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65 - a change opposed by major aviation unions.

"Making this change without doing research and establishing any necessary policies would be outside the international standard," the White House said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Will Dunham)
Who's in the first GOP debate? Here's a rundown of candidates who qualify

WASHINGTON - As the 2024 presidential election heats up, Republicans vying for the White House are preparing to face off during the first GOP primary debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee  the largest city in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.

But who will qualify for a spot on stage?

The Republican National Committee set forth requirements in June that candidates must meet on status, polling, fundraising and pledging to take part in the debate.

How it works: Candidates must poll at least 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and 1% from an early state poll from two carve out states recognized by the committee.

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Candidates must also have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors part of their presidential campaign committee - with at least 200 unique donors per state - and sign a pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee.

While top candidates in the Republican primary polls have qualified for a spot, other lesser-known candidates are struggling to make headway. Some candidates have refused to participate altogether.

Here are the candidates who are on track to qualify for the first debate:

Donald Trump

Ron DeSantis

Nikki Haley

Vivek Ramaswamy

Tim Scott

Chris Christie

Here are the candidates still working on qualifying:

Mike Pence

Will Hurd

Doug Burgum

Asa Hutchinson

Ryan Binkley

Francis Suarez

Larry Elder

Heres a deeper rundown of which Republican hopefuls might make an appearance  and which ones might not  on debate night.

Donald Trump

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 15: 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.

Former President Donald Trump  the GOP frontrunner  will qualify for the debate.

A survey from Morning Consult shows Trump has 56% of support from potential GOP voters, and hes placed first in other national and state polls. His campaign said that he has also raised more than $35 million during the second quarter of the year - about twice the amount raised during the first quarter, Politico first reported.

But whether Trump will participate is still up in the air.

Trump threatened to skip the debate in late June claiming on Truth Social that Fox News, one of the events sponsors, ignored his campaign events. He suggested to Fox News host Bret Baier on his show "Special Report" last month that he didn't want to spar with low-polling candidates.

"They're all very low," Trump said. "So why would I allow people at one or two percent, at zero percent, to be hitting me with questions all night? You know, I don't think it's fair."

He's also considered scheduling a competing event for that night, according to NBC News.

Ron DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis waves to the audience during Operation Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops at Ankeny Regional Airport on Saturday, July 15, 2023 in Ankeny, Iowa.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whos trailing behind Trump in the Republican primary polls, will hit the debate stage.

His campaign announced he raised more than $20 million during the first six weeks of his candidacy and has about 50,000 donors as of late June, according to the New York Times. The survey from Morning Consult shows that DeSantis has garnered 17% of support among potential GOP voters.

DeSantis said in an interview two weeks ago with Fox News host Will Cain he will be on the debate stage regardless of whether Trump joins.

I hope everybody who's eligible comes, DeSantis said. I think it's an important part of the process and I look forward to being able to be on the stage and introducing our candidacy and our vision and our leadership to a wide audience.

Last month, DeSantis dodged the question of whether he would support Trump if he becomes the nominee in 2024. However, DeSantis later said that he didnt avoid the question and would "respect the outcome of the process," according to The Hill.

Nikki Haley

Former Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is on track to meet the requirements for the debate.

Haleys spokesperson told USA TODAY that she has well over 40,000 unique donors and is looking forward to being on the debate stage. The New York Times reported shes raised over $7.3 million through her campaign and affiliated committees between April and June.

The survey from Morning Consult shows she has registered 3% of support among GOP voters, which is on par with two of her rivals. Shes also maintained scoring above 1% in other polls.

Haley indicated on Twitter she plans on supporting the eventual nominee for the Republican party.

Absolutely irresponsible that Trump, DeSantis, and others won't commit 100% to supporting the Republican nominee, Haley tweeted. Theres no room for personal vendettas in this battle to save our country.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has fulfilled the debate criteria, according to his spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

McLaughlin told USA TODAY that Ramaswamy has 65,000 donors. As part of his fundraising strategy, Ramaswamy has laid out incentives for supporters such as offering to give them a 10% cut of the total money he raises for his presidential bid, according to Axios.

The survey from Morning Consult shows Ramaswamy has received 8% support from GOP voters, surpassing former Vice President Mike Pence and trailing behind DeSantis. Hes also starting to receive double-digit figures in some polls.

Ramaswamy will take the loyalty pledge if the other candidates do, McLaughlin said.

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks to a crowd during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C. on June 10, 2023.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who filed to run for president last month, is facing difficulty meeting the debate criteria.

The survey from Morning Consult shows he has gained 7% support among voters, trailing behind Ramaswamy, and he's maintained over 1% support in other polls. However, the New York Times reported last week he has not yet received donations from 40,000 unique donors.

Hes also raised less than $1.2 million for his campaign in the second quarter of the year  far below what his rivals have raised, according to the Washington Post.

Despite announcing his candidacy late compared to his rivals, Pence  a familiar face among voters  has already garnered attention from voters as he campaigns across key states and maintains a critical position against Trumps stances on abortion, immigration, criminal justice and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Pence said in a CNN town hall last month in Iowa he would support whoever ends up being the Republican nominee in 2024.

Tim Scott

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott delivers his speech announcing his candidacy for president of the United States on the campus of Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, S.C., Monday, May 22, 2023.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott said during an interview last month on Fox News Americas Newsroom that he's met the requirements for the debate.

The survey from Morning Consult shows hes scored 3% support among GOP voters, and hes also maintained an average 3.2% of support in the Republican primary polls, according to data from RealClearPolitics.

Scotts campaign told the New York Post theyve been backed by 40,000 donors in early July and announced Wednesday that theyve raised $6.1 million in the second quarter of fundraising, according to The Hill.

Scott indicated in a Fox News interview in May he will support the eventual nominee, saying all Republican candidates would be better than any Democrat candidate.

Chris Christie

Republican Presidential candidate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during a gathering, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has qualified for the debate.

He told CNN host Anderson Cooper on Wednesday hes received more than 40,000 unique donors in just 35 days. Hes taken in fundraising from big donors such as Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown and Lewis Eisenberg, who was a former ambassador to Italy during the Trump administration, according to CNBC News.

The survey from Morning Consult shows he garnered 3% of support among voters  on par with two of his rivals  and has scored above 1% in other polls. Although his poll numbers are not as high as Trump's or DeSantis', he appears to be gaining momentum as a fierce rival against his running mates.

Last month, Christie called the loyalty pledge a useless idea on CNNs State of the Union but said he will do what is needed to be on the debate stage. In an ABC News interview, Christie said he will take the pledge as seriously as Donald Trump did eight years ago, when Trump signed the pledge but refused to agree to back the eventual nominee.

Will Hurd

Former Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, addresses the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition on April 22, 2023, in Clive, Iowa. Hurd, also a former CIA officer, entered the Republican presidential race two months later.

Former Republican Texas Rep. Will Hurd is working to fulfill the debate requirements, according to his campaign spokesperson.

Will entered the race only a few weeks ago, but he fully intends on fulfilling the polling and donor thresholds, a Hurd for America spokesperson told USA TODAY.

However, the survey from Morning Consult shows Hurd received 0% of support among GOP voters, and hes not included in some polls. He encouraged his followers on Twitter to donate $1 to support his campaign in late June so he could fulfill the 40,000 donor requirement.

The spokesperson said Hurd wont sign the loyalty pledge from the Republican National Committee.

This is not about whether or not hell support the Republican nominee, its about refusing to support Donald Trump, the spokesperson said.

Doug Burgum

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum talks with supporters after he announced his bid for the Republican nomination for President, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Fargo, N.D.

Wealthy Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is taking several steps to meet the debate criteria.

The survey from Morning Consult shows Burgum has received 0% support among GOP voters, but he has reached 1% in certain national or state polls, according to The Hill.

Burgum reported raising $11.7 million for his campaign in the second quarter of the year last week, but about $10.2 million of that amount was self-funded, according to NBC News.

His campaign is offering a $20 gift card to anyone who donates at least one dollar, and the offer lasts for the first 50,000 donors. Experts, however, have raised questions over the legality of this method, according to NPR.

Asa Hutchinson

Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Moms for Liberty meeting in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is struggling to fulfill the debate criteria.

He's attracted crowds of no larger than 50 people to his Iowa events, according to the Des Moines Register. He also told radio host Hugh Hewitt in early July that he has more than 5,000 donors and has more work to do to reach the 40,000 donor requirement.

The survey from Morning Consult shows he has 1% support from GOP voters and a polling average of 0.8%, according to data from RealClearPolitics.

Despite his low numbers, Hutchinson told ABC News in May he is in the race for the long haul and that his support among voters will expand.

Ryan Binkley

Ryan Binkley speaks during the Turning Point Action general session at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach July 16, 2023.

Texas business executive Ryan Binkley is working towards fulfilling the debate requirements, according to a campaign spokesperson.

"Ryan is engaged in a major ad blitz and canvassing effort to be able to qualify for the debate," his spokesperson told USA TODAY. "He is winning over supporters and donors everywhere he and his digital footprint go."

But his name doesn't appear in most national polls or the survey from Morning Consult. He has also raised $2 million for his campaign overall - $1.8 million of which he self-funded, according to Forbes.

Binkley's spokesperson said he is close to 5,000 donors and expects "to exceed that by the end of the Turning Point Action conference."

Francis Suarez

Republican presidential candidate Miami Mayor Francis Suarez speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, March 3, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.

Republican Miami Mayor Francis Suarez might not qualify for the GOP debate.

But his spokesperson, Soledad Cedro, told USA TODAY Suarez' campaign is three weeks old and he will be on the debate stage.

Suarez tweeted on Friday that his campaign committee had raised $1 million and will meet the criteria for the first debate, though he didn't specify how many donors he has. Suarez's major setback, however, are his low polling numbers.

The survey from Morning Consult show he's received 0% support from GOP voters, and he has a polling average of 0.1% according to data from FiveThirtyEight.

Sean Freeder, a political science professor at the University of North Florida, previously told USA TODAY Suarez will have a difficult time leveraging himself as the top candidate given his late entrance and competition with two high-profile candidates from Florida.

Larry Elder

Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder speaks during the annual Roast and Ride fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

Conservative commentator Larry Elder is unlikely to qualify for the GOP debate.

His campaign referred USA TODAY to an opinion piece he wrote for The Hill, in which he criticized the debate requirements and said he is running for president to give back to the country rather than serving as a piggy bank for a political party.

However, he said in an interview with News Nation last month that he will work hard to meet the criteria.

Hes not included in the survey from Morning Consult, but data from RealClearPolitics shows he has a polling average of 0.5%.

His campaign spokesperson declined to say how many donors he has, but said Elder is "optimistic" he will reach 40,000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First GOP presidential debate: Here's a rundown of who will qualify
Why Crimeas Kerch Bridge is a big deal in Russias war in Ukraine

The Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea once again came under attack early Monday, causing disruptions to a key supply route for Moscows military as Ukraine wages a crucial counteroffensive.

The strike bore similarities to an attack in October, but there were key differences  notably that Ukraine took responsibility this time.

The previous collapse reportedly occurred when a truck bomb exploded and ignited several fuel tanks in a passing train. Ukraines minister for digital transformation said Mondays attack was carried out using naval drones.

This weeks attack was deadly, reportedly killing two parents and injuring their daughter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to respond to the senseless attack, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow was pulling out of a deal to allow exports of grain via the Black Sea.

The United States accused Putin of weaponizing global hunger, while the United Nations said Russias decision would strike a blow to people in need everywhere.

Why the Kerch Bridge is important to Russia

This image provided by Maxar Technologies, shows the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea on Monday, July 17, 2023. (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)

The Kerch Bridge is important militarily, but also deeply symbolic for Putin, who oversaw the illegal invasion and occupation of Crimea almost a decade ago.

Putin announced his plans to build the 12-mile, road-and-rail bridge soon after he seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and Putin himself personally inaugurated the bridge when it opened in 2018, driving across in an orange dump truck.

The bridge is widely disliked by Ukrainians, who view it as a symbol of Russian occupation.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, did not explicitly claim responsibility for Mondays attack, but said it was necessary to take out the bridge.

Any illegal structures used to deliver Russian instruments of mass murder are necessarily short-lived, he said.

Video of the bridge shows both lanes badly damaged, with at least one section of the bridge nearly falling into the water below.

Russias Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Monday that road traffic would resume in one direction by Sept. 15, and that the bridge would be completely repaired by Nov. 1.

The bridge is a key supply line between Russia and its forces based in Crimea, along with southern provinces such as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which are on the front lines of the war.

Russia has also built a land bridge as an alternate crossing, but it is more difficult and dangerous.

Putin responds to latest attack

Putin claimed the terrorist act would not set back Russias war effort.

There will be a response from Russia to the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge. The Ministry of Defense is preparing relevant proposals, he said during a meeting with officials.

The bridge is also a key component of many Russians summer vacation plans, as it provides easy passage to the popular coastal resorts in Crimea  meaning tens of thousands of Russians are now effectively stranded on the peninsula.

Russias government said that it will relax border checks along alternative routes in occupied southern Ukraine to help them get home, per the Wall Street Journal. Commercial flights to and from Crimea have been halted following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Naval drones play significant role for Ukraine

In this handout photo taken from video released by Investigative Committee of Russia, investigators work at an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait. (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)

The use of naval drones in the attack is also significant, as the weapons have been a focus of Ukraines military in countering Russias far superior navy.

In October, 16 of the kamikaze naval drones assaulted Russias Black Sea fleet, damaging its new flagship.

Popular Mechanics noted that whichever vessels were used in the bridge attack would have needed to carry a large payload and navigate through Russian patrol boats and helicopters  and may have avoided radar by staying underwater.

The reality is that Ukraine is constantly imposing high costs on the Russian Navy by launching small, cheap [unmanned surface vessels] against ships and port facilities, Samuel Bendett, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said on Twitter.

Defending against such attacks means constant state of awareness and high-levels of stress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Why the Crimean Bridge is so important to Vladimir Putin

The Crimean Bridge, which links the annexed peninsula to mainland Russia, was hit by two strikes early Monday in an attack a Ukrainian security official told CNN Kyiv was responsible for.

The crossing is a vital artery for supplying Russias ongoing war on Ukraine, allowing people and goods to flow into the Ukrainian territories that Moscow has occupied in the south and east of the country.

Also known as the Kerch Bridge, it holds personal value for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the Kremlin narrative it marks the reunification of Crimea with the Russian mainland.

Mondays attack on the crossing was the second since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine  and Kyiv has reiterated that it hopes to reclaim the peninsula in its ongoing counteroffensive.

Heres what you need to know:

Why is the bridge so important to Russia?

The Kerch Bridge is strategically important because it links Russias Krasnodar region with Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

It also has huge symbolic importance for Russia, which built the 12-mile bridge  the longest in Europe  at a cost of around $3.7 billion. It was the physical expression of Putins objective to take over Ukraine and bind it to Russia forever.

The day it opened, Putin led a triumphant convoy over the bridge. Ukrainians revile the bridge, which stands as a reminder of Russian occupation.

In October, the bridge was partially destroyed when a fuel tanker exploded and damaged a large section of the road. The Kremlin was quick to blame Kyiv for that explosion, and Putin alleged that it was an act of sabotage by Ukrainian security services. Moscow was quick to repair the bridge after the explosion last year.

What does Russia use the bridge for in the war?

The bridge is a critical pipeline for providing Crimea with both its daily needs and supplies for the military, in addition to fuel and goods for civilians. Russian military convoys have regularly used the bridge to aid their full-scale invasion of Ukraine  carrying vehicles, armor and fuel.

If the Russian militarys use of the crossing is hampered, its supply lines to forces in southern Ukraine would become more tenuous.

Russia has used the Crimean railroads to ferry supplies to forces in Kherson, and several rail hubs in both Crimea and Kherson have been attacked by long-range Ukrainian rockets. Rail traffic across the Crimea bridge is continuing to operate on Monday, albeit with delays, according to video on social media, a Russian official and Russian state media.

Ukraines counteroffensive has been advancing into the Kherson region, which is just north of Crimea. The Ukrainian militarys General Staff said last week that in the south of Ukraine, in particular in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian forces are focusing their main efforts on preventing further advance of Ukrainian troops.

What is the status of the bridge?

A widely circulating video, which appears to have been captured this morning from a train passing on the parallel rail bridge, shows significant damage to one of the bridges road spans.

The railroad track was not damaged by the strike, Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, said on his Telegram channel. Russian state media RIA Novosti and TASS report that rail traffic is continuing to operate with delays.

Prominent Russian military blogger Boris Rozhin said on Monday morning that ferries and other large landing ships will transport cars that are now unable to cross the bridge, adding that he expects repairs to take some time.

Russian investigators gather near a destroyed car at the damaged section of the bridge on July 17, 2023. - Investigative Committee of Russia/Handout/Reuters

What is the Kremlin saying?

The Russian government on Monday said that two Ukrainian seaborne drones were responsible for the bridge attack, though it did not provide evidence for that allegation.

The Kremlin has also opened an official investigation into what the Russian Investigative Committee calls a terrorist act committed by the special services of Ukraine.

Putin has been briefed on the strike, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russias Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin will travel to Crimea on Monday to assess the situation.

What is Ukraine saying?

A source in Ukraines Security Service (SBU) told CNN the attack on the bridge was a joint operation of the SBU and Ukraines naval forces.

The source spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity because they had not received authorization to speak on the record.

Earlier on Monday, a Representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Andrii Yusov told Ukraines public broadcaster that the destruction of part of the Crimean bridge could create logistical difficulties for Russian forces who have been using it as a major logistics hub for moving forces and resources deep into the territory of Ukraine.

Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers, which create potential advantages for the Ukrainian defense forces, Yusov noted.

Previous reporting from CNNs Olga Voitovych, Mick Krever, Victoria Butenko, Anna Chernova, Tim Lister and Amy Woodyatt.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CAIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) on Monday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the London Institute of Banking & Finance, the state-run Ahram Online news website reported.

The MoUs were inked on the sidelines of the regional fintech event Seamless North Africa 2023, which kicked off in Egypt on Monday, according to the report.

The MoU with the CBN focuses on the exchange of expertise in fintech, innovation, e-payment, and financial inclusion, while the one with the London institute is to offer training programs, workshops, and courses to Egyptian fintech sector leaders, said the report.

At the event, CBE Governor Hassan Abdallah announced issuing of a new Fintech Outlook report that reveals several positive indicators of the country's fintech sector, which garnered around 800 million U.S. dollars in investment last year.

The two-day event brings together 150 international and local experts, and more than 100 exhibitors to discuss and evaluate the future of the financial ecosystem through a slew of arrangements, including keynote presentations, panels, and case studies. 
Why You Feel A Sharp Pain Under Your Breasts (And When To Worry)

Depending on symptoms, the sharp, burning, or dull aching feeling under your breasts could be serious.

Depending on symptoms, the sharp, burning, or dull aching feeling under your breasts could be serious.

Chest pain is the second-biggest cause of emergency room visits, with 8 million such visits in the United States per year. The pain you feel might be directly near the center of your body or, for some people, it occurs right under their breasts.

Whether its a sharp, stabbing, burning, or dull reoccurring pain, you might be wondering if that discomfort under your breasts is something serious. Pain under your breasts can be as simple as having heartburn, which might not be dangerous to your health. However, some causes can be concerning  especially when they involve your heart, symptoms go unnoticed, or they affect daily life, Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified emergency physician, told HuffPost.

If the chest pain significantly affects your daily activities, persists for an extended period, or does not respond to conservative measures, it is advisable to seek medical advice for further evaluation and appropriate management, Whittington said.

Since symptoms of more severe conditions tend to be overlooked or unrecognized in women, its important to be armed with information. HuffPost asked experts to explain causes behind pain under the breasts, as well as symptoms and when to see a doctor.

Precordial Catch Syndrome

Described as a sharp, needlelike pain near the heart, precordial catch syndrome involves chest pain that typically occurs when taking a breath, and usually subsides when you inhale more deeply. You might feel this along the left side of the sternum, or just beneath the left breast. Although it might feel similar to serious conditions like heart disease, the syndrome is common and harmless, Whittington said.

Precordial catch syndrome is not well understood, but it is believed to be related to irritation or inflammation of the nerves in the chest wall, he said. The pain may result from the pinching or trapping of nerves, especially the intercostal nerves that run between the ribs. The condition may also be associated with muscle spasms or tension in the chest muscles.

Unlike a heart attack, the pain caused by the syndrome wont radiate to other parts of the body and doesnt involve any other symptoms.

Thankfully, the chest pain typically goes away on its own after 30 seconds to three minutes, and it does not need specific treatment. However, its important to notify your doctor if new symptoms arise.

Mastitis

Sometimes chest pain can be due to mastitis, an inflammation of the breast. The most common reason for this is a bacterial infection resulting from breastfeeding. It can occur when a clogged milk duct doesnt let milk fully drain from the breast, leading to the infection.

This type of breast inflammation might cause a hard, swollen and red breast area, with a fever, chills, and a flu-like feeling.

Sometimes the cause is inflammation and swelling of different parts of the breast/chest tissue that may not properly allow breast milk to be removed from the breast/chest by the baby or by a breast pump, Stephanie Yabut, an associate director of nursing and lactation consultant programs at The Mount Sinai Hospital, told HuffPost. Sometimes, mastitis may be the result of an infection that can cause inflammation and swelling.

As a result, you might feel pain in the chest area. Symptoms might last from two to five days, with pain usually found in one breast.

Typically, antibiotics are required to treat mastitis over the course of 10 days. Abscesses, or collections of pus, may form and might need to be drained. Additionally, a biopsy may be needed to ensure that symptoms arent the result of other forms of infection.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis, often called chest wall pain, is a result of inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone, which is why you might feel pain under your breasts. Pain and discomfort typically becomes worse as you move or breathe, and when you press against your ribs or breastbone.

The inflammation might be caused by sudden chest injury, viral infections, strain from coughing, exercise or arthritis.

Costochondritis is typically a harmless condition, Whittington said. In most cases, it is a self-limiting condition that resolves on its own with time. It is usually not a cause for concern, and the pain can be managed with conservative measures such as rest, applying heat or cold packs, and over-the-counter pain medications.

The condition tends to cause long-lasting pain that can improve after several weeks but may also persist for months.

Gastritis

The most common symptoms of gastritis  aka inflammation of the stomach  are abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn and upset stomach. It also can cause a burning sensation in the middle of the chest, near the breasts.

Gastritis can result from many things, including infection, autoimmune disorders, anemia and various irritations. High-fat foods, alcohol, cigarettes, acidic drinks like coffee, and long-term use of ibuprofen can trigger inflammation of the stomach lining.

Approximately half of adults will report reflux symptoms when they have gastritis. One of these is heartburn, which occurs when stomach acid rises to the esophagus. The causes of heartburn include medications, alcohol, caffeine, stress, and eating large meals or spicy food.

Acute gastritis may last for a short time, or a couple of weeks. However, chronic gastritis may linger for months.

Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough blood. As a result, a common symptom is chest pain that occurs in the center or on the left side of the chest and lasts for a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. This can feel like a squeezing sensation, fullness, and uncomfortable pressure on the chest or near your breast. You might also feel pain in your arms, shoulders, jaw, neck or back.

Compared with men, women experiencing heart attacks have symptoms that are less often associated with this medical emergency, such as chest discomfort, nausea, and back or jaw pain. Additionally, symptoms like chest pain can be mistaken for less serious conditions, including heartburn.

Its important to seek immediate care if you experience these symptoms, especially if they last for 15 to 20 minutes.

Anxiety

Anxiety and panic disorder can cause chest pain near the breast, and they are associated with elevated rates of high blood pressure. Additionally, hyperventilation (or rapid breathing) can also cause musculoskeletal chest pain due to strain or spasm of the chest wall muscles.

As a result, rib cage tightness may feel like pressure around the ribs, which are located around your chest muscles. Symptoms of panic disorder include chest pain and pressure, a choking sensation, palpitations, dizziness and chills.

Experiencing a sense of intense fear, dread, perceived loss of control, or feelings of imminent or anticipatory doom serve as internal sirens that activate internal systems, Rachel Ginsberg, a psychologist at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told HuffPost.

Chest pain caused by anxiety is typically not harmful, Ginsberg said. However, panic disorder can cause more damage to your health if left untreated.

Due to higher rates of cardiovascular conditions associated with untreated panic disorder  as well as the emotional burden, time and resources spent seeking medical treatment due to unrelenting fear of a heart attack or death  this can erode quality of life, Ginsberg said.

Although chest pain and discomfort are common among people with anxiety, other symptoms should not be ignored. Its critical to receive immediate care if you experience sudden chest pain that spreads to your arms, jaw, or back and lasts longer than 15 minutes, as well as shortness of breath and chest tightness or heaviness. Additionally, if new symptoms arise and become severe or persistent, its important to rule out any serious health conditions.

If you are uncertain about the cause of your chest pain or if it is your first experience with chest pain, it is advisable to consult a health care professional for an accurate diagnosis, Whittington said.

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Why the historic Michigan State University Farm Lane bridge is headed to the scrap pile

The Farm Lane bridge construction site on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.

EAST LANSING  Work is underway to rebuild one of Michigan State Universitys busiest bridges, an effort that will increase the structure's capacity, and improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

The Farm Lane bridge, between Shaw Lane and Auditorium Road, is undergoing the first phase of a year-long, $48 million project planners say will replace the structure, rebuild the road and add bike lanes. In addition, workers are adding a new pedestrian bridge a few yards to the west of the structure that, on an average class day, serves about 7,000 pedestrians and 12,000 vehicles.

The first phases of the project are set to be complete by the time most university students move in Aug. 22. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the summer, though they may experience some detours.

Once students leave for end-of-the-semester break, the road will close through the spring 2024 semester while the bridge itself is demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.

Fred Woodhams, communications manager for MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, said the project will substantially upgrade the nearly 90-year-old bridge.

We know that this has been a large inconvenience for everyone who's been visiting campus over the summer, but it is necessary that the bridge be fully replaced to ensure that it can be used for many decades in the future, he said.

The bridge's capacity has been reduced for safety reasons. Following a 2021 inspection, northbound traffic was shifted to the middle lane and maximum weight limits were reduced.

"It has deteriorated to an extent that reconstruction is necessary to ensure campus' main river crossing remains safe to use," Woodhams said. "If bridge load limits were reduced much further, large commercial trucks like fire trucks, garbage trucks and snow plows might not be able to use the bridge."

Loaded tractor-trailers already are prohibited from using the bridge.

Woodhams said the bridge is the only river crossing on campus that is above the 100-year-floodplain, meaning it serves as a crucial means of transport across the Red Cedar in the case of an extreme flood.

In addition to replacing the bridge, Woodhams said the project will add a barrier-free path to the bank of the Red Cedar River and provide entry to The Rock, a campus monument found at the northeast corner of the bridge.

A rendering of the completed Farm Lane bridge project on display at the construction site on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.

Along with allowing more and heavier traffic, the new bridge will provide infrastructure for increased electricity distribution to north campus, a fiber optic communication duct that will provide faster data transfer, and a steam main that is not susceptible to flooding.

Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause.

A photo of sheep crossing the Farm Lane bridge in 1911 is on display at the construction site on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU begins $48 million project to rebuild Farm Lane bridge over Red Cedar
Why more employers are opting out of testing for marijuana

Marijuana plants grow at a secured growing facility in Washington County, N.Y., May 12, 2023. How are employers dealing with testing workers for marijuana? | Hans Pennink, Associated Press

Rapidly changing state laws about marijuana and a low number of eligible workers have caused a growing number of employers to no longer require applicants to pass a marijuana drug test in order to get the job, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The fast-changing legal landscape around cannabis is complicating employers decision about whether to test, especially when many otherwise good hires are turned away due to marijuana use, the Post said.

Amber Clayton, senior director of Knowledge Center Operations at the Society for Human Resource Management, told the Post, Employers are still figuring out, How do we navigate these laws and still have the ability to employ people and keep people safe?

Denise Polliciella, the founder and an attorney at Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan, told CBS News that not hiring marijuana users leaves a lot of very capable, very good employees on the sidelines when you should be giving them gainful employment because its not affecting their employment in any way.

Related

Marijuana at work

Online work news platform Business said some employers believe getting rid of required marijuana drug tests could compromise workplace safety, since side effects of marijuana could include dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue, with more serious effects being disorientation or hallucinations.

There are heavily regulated industries and certain professions (e.g., school bus driver, airline pilot, federal contractor, etc.) where job candidates and employees must be tested for drugs, and marijuana is on the list of no-go substances, Business said.

Michigan ended marijuana testing for most state jobs this year, excluding law enforcement officers, health care providers and employees operating heavy machinery, per CBS News.

Related

Marijuana legalization

According to Pew Research Center, about 30% of U.S. adults believe marijuana should be legalized for medical use, while 59% said medical and recreational use.

Business said, States must be listening to what the people want, because the District of Columbia, three territories and 37 states have legalized the use of marijuana, be it medically, recreationally or both.

In Kargers Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids journal, research showed there are about 3.6 million legal medical cannabis patients alone.

The Post said some states have laws that protect workers use of marijuana while theyre on their own time and some employers are considering excluding THC from drug testing.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the major psychoactive component found in cannabis, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Why the state's air quality data for Lansing was offline for 2 days

LANSING  Lansing area residents can now see the current air quality information for the region for the first time in at least two days.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy's website reports air quality data for cities across Michigan, but as the department issued "Action Alert" days on Sunday and Monday because of Canadian wildfire smoke, data for the Lansing region was not available.

Michigan has around two dozen air quality monitors that are linked to the AirNow federal system that can give near-live updates on air quality, available at www.airnow.gov/.

Monitors in Jenison and Bay County were listed on Monday afternoon as "ND" or no data, as Lansing's monitor had been. The Lansing monitor began reporting fresh data after noon Monday. It was offline since at least Sunday.

Hugh McDiarmid, a spokesman for EGLE, said in an email there was a communication issue in Lansing which staff resolved, and that air quality monitors can be impacted by network or other communication issues.

He added that data from Port Huron was not available Monday and staff were onsite Monday working to fix it.

McDiarmid said the monitors are regional, and conditions in individual neighborhoods can vary based on topography and other issues, "...so even though you may live in Anytown, MI, your neighborhood air quality may differ  good or bad  from the monitors reading."

If there is an air quality alert in the region but state data is not available, he advised people to take the appropriate precautions, or use the AirNow website that shows some data that can be helpful in determining air quality.

In the past month, Canadian wildfire smoke has clogged Michigan's air several times, at times parts of the state had some of the worst air quality in the world.

On Monday afternoon, Lansing's air quality index was 58, which is considered moderate risk. Ann Arbor and the Detroit area were both considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, with AQI scores of 126 and 145, as of 2 p.m. Monday.

Any rating between 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The state's alert covers 47 counties, including Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Shiawassee and Jackson counties.

A Monday forecast from AirNow anticipates "no real threat of returning wildfire smoke for the foreseeable future. Since smoke models only forecast out a couple of days, we will keep an eye on updated model runs and will make updates to the forecast as needed if any alert-able smoke is looking to impact the state."

There are typically two types of air quality alerts: Ozone and particulate. The wildfire smoke has generally been about particulates in the air, although particulates can increase the risk of ozone alerts, McDiarmid said, such as the first time in Michigan's history when both alerts were issued in June.

The forecast calls for moderate ozone conditions Tuesday and Wednesday and good ozone conditions the rest of the week. No particulate alerts are anticipated in the AirNow forecast.

The forecast says the work week should see increasingly better air. There is a chance for a small increase in particulates in the air on Wednesday but southern wind patterns and anticipated rain Thursday should reduce much of the risk.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Why air quality data for Lansing was offline for two days
As wildfires gobble more Canadian acreage, crews struggle to even keep up

By the time the Silver State Hotshot crew arrived from Nevada a few weeks ago, Canadas wildfires had already scorched millions of acres and shattered all-time burning records.

So everyone already knew what they were up against.

In the scope for us, in the states, this would one of the largest fires to occur  ever  Its a gigafire, said Zac Krohn, a division supervisor with the US Forest Service as he briefed the hotshot crew on another steamy day in northern Quebec.

The firefighters on Saturday took in the instructions, suited up, shouldered axes and chain saws and hiked into burned and barren forests looking for dangerous hotspots still smoldering.

The Silver State Hotshot crew extinguishes a hotspot in the forest north of Lebel-sur-Quevillon. - Matthew J. Friedman/CNN

At this point, were just trying to secure the edge and protect the community, said Krohn. There was no taming these wildfires now, they were too vast and too hot, he said.

Crews know the work will be brutal: They have long days, as much as 16 hours, traveling to new areas detected as hotspots and sometimes hiking hours to get to them.

Canada is already on pace to have its worst wildfire season in recorded history and the season is little more than half over.

There are more than 880 fires burning throughout the country and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says at least 580 of the current wildfires are out of control, according to its website.

And the conflagrations are having an enormous impact on Canadas neighbor, as well: Forecasters predicted around 70 million Americans on Monday would see decreased visibility and poor air quality, including residents of Chicago, Detroit, New York, St. Louis and Cleveland.

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires had drifted south by Monday evening, blanketing North Georgia, Atlanta and other parts of the southeast, according to the National Weather Service in Atlanta. The smoky conditions could linger in the Atlanta and the North Georgia area through Tuesday and over central and south Georgia possibly until Wednesday, NWS meteorologist Ansley Long told CNN.

Its no understatement to say that the 2023 fire season is and will continue to be record-breaking in a number of ways, said Michael Norton, a director general with Canadas Northern Forestry Centre, during a technical briefing earlier this month.

The total area burned now exceeds any year on record since we started measuring and keeping accurate records, he said.

According to data, this weekend the country set yet another record  with nearly 25 million acres consumed, an area nearly the size of Ohio.

When its the year to burn and the conditions are right, its just going to continue to burn. The best thing we can do as an incident management team is to focus on protection of people and communities, said Matt Rau, an incident commander with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team based in the United States.

A tent city in Lebel-sur-Quevillon houses international firefighting forces. - Matthew J. Friedman/CNN

For weeks now, Raus hotshot crews have been scanning blackened and scarred forests from the air and on the ground trying to assess how best to protect people and property.

Amid the cliche on everyones lips  that Canada isnt out of the woods yet  firefighters pitching in from all over the world are taking in the scope of this emergency.

The wildfires continue to defy history even though an increased number of firefighters and rainfall have managed to at least mitigate some of the damage. But the work is dangerous. On Sunday, Canadian authorities announced a second firefighter had died battling the wildfires.

Officials cautioned that any rain was like a drop in an otherwise empty bucket, with nearly every region in the grips of some stage of drought.

Temperatures were hotter than usual during the spring and severe weather and lightning strikes ignited forests already compromised by climate change.

When they burn like this theres no way to even put people in front of it to stop the fire, theres no amount of resources on the ground or from the sky thats going to be able to stop of these fires when they get the momentum, said Rau.

His base of operations is in Lebel-sur-Quevillon, a Quebec town that has already evacuated twice since fire season started.

International crews from the US, South Korea, South Africa, Portugal and several other countries have pitched in, coordinating with Canadian resources that are already stretched.

And this weekend the Canadian government called in the military to help battle new blazes in western provinces. Bill Blair, the emergency preparedness minister, tweeted that he had approved a request for federal assistance and the armed forces would be deployed.

The town of Chibougamau, Quebec, is still on edge after evacuating the entire community of about 7,000 in a matter of hours in June.

Van carries South Korean firefighters who are joining the effort to tame the wildfires. - Matthew J. Friedman/CNN

Mayor Manon Cyr, on describing the decision to evacuate, said: Strangely, I wasnt scared, I was mad. And then I have to calm down and say, Manon, you have a job to do. And thats why I said to my people lets stay calm, lets be patient, keep it Zen.

Residents have been back for weeks, but they know the threat will continue through summer, maybe longer.

Dont be surprised if it continues and, secondly, this is a problem that is going to go on into the future, said Rau.

That also applies to US residents who once again this week will be dealing with air quality alerts, now from wildfires in Canadas west, he said.

CNNs Matthew J. Friedman and Amy Simonson contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Last week, prominent Twitter Blue accounts began posting screenshots of thousand-dollar payouts they received through the platforms newly launched ad revenue-sharing program.

The program grants high-engagement Twitter users whove paid for verification a share in ad revenue starting in the replies to their posts. To qualify, users need to have at least five million impressions on their posts in each of the last three months.

Figures like Andrew Tate, a misogynistic media personality who is currently facing charges of human trafficking in Romania, took home more than $20,000. Other influential right-wing accounts like Ian Miles Cheong, Benny Johnson, and QAnon influencer Jacob Creech netted several thousand. But its not all sunshine and checks, a number of prominent conservative accounts are furious that they were excluded from the first round of payments  some even think the system will make the website worse.

The account @Catturd2, an anonymous right-wing shitposter whose real-world identity is concealed by pseudonymous cat, boasts almost two million followers. Previously a Musk sycophant, Catturd has soured on the billionaire in recent months, and wrote on Monday that most, not all, of the hand-picked Twitter accounts who were given big checks, not because of their ad revenue potential, but for being teachers pets are becoming insufferable.

Catturd complained that he had tried to figure out how I could get paid at first because of the size of my engagements and the years of work Ive put in, but now that I see whats going on, Im good.

I dont want my account to become a suck-up cringefest, he added.

Most, not all, of the hand-picked Twitter accounts who were given big checks, not because of their ad revenue potential, but for being teacher's pets are becoming insufferable.



They used to have accounts that interested me but now it's just a 24 hour Twitter advertisement on  Catturd  (@catturd2) July 17, 2023

In the comments of Catturds post, a crowd of verified users complained that they too had not been included in the program. We didnt get a check either, and we signed up back in February, wrote the pro-Trump comedic duo The Hodge Twins, whose shared account has more than two-million followers.

Dr. Anna Maria Loupis, a Danish medical professional who regularly trafficks in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, wrote to her half a million followers that Twitter has become so bad and unfair  Paying and boosting some influencers while destroying others.

Loupus included a screenshot of the website Twitter Shadowban Test, allegedly showing that her account engagement was being artificially restricted by the platform. If @elonmusk decides to keep his promises of free speech, Ill start tweeting again, she wrote.

The Covid vaccine conspiracy group Vaccine Safety Research Foundation, which has accumulated just short of 30,000 followers, wrote that they have been trapped in a never-ending subscription review on Twitter for months.

While @elonmusk enjoys raking in our Twitter blue fees, it seems hes blocking monetization for our movement, they wrote.

 Urgent update! VSRF & other health freedom organizations have been trapped in a never-ending "subscription review" on Twitter for months. While @elonmusk enjoys raking in our Twitter blue fees, it seems he's blocking monetization for our movement. Spread the word! https://t.co/kOgVpffAqh  Vaccine Safety Research Foundation (@VacSafety) July 17, 2023

Turning Point USA personality Drew Hernandez complained that he hadnt received a penny and have millions of impressions past 3 months, pay for Twitter Blue, and been activated for Subscriptions.

The griping from mid-tier influencers who feel jilted by Musk is not unfounded. According to The Washington Post, plenty of creators are privately irked by what they see as Musk playing favorites and arbitrarily granting monetization to accounts he likes. One anonymous former Twitter executive told the Post that the numbers used to calculate an accounts engagement metrics are totally and completely bogus and that it feels like theyre arbitrarily writing checks to people they like, which is not a sustainable creator strategy.

Any kind of content monetization weve done in the past was based on a revenue model, the executive added. This just feels pulled out of thin air for a specific subset of creators that [Musk] wanted to placate.

The subject of revenue looms large over Twitter. The company is facing a slew of lawsuits from former employees who claim they are collectively owed millions in severance agreements that Musk never followed through on. On Monday, former employees of Twitter Africa revealed to CNN that the company had ghosted them after promising months of severance, and help with relocation expenses and legal fees.

On top of the lawsuits, Musk publicly confirmed on Saturday that the company is still experiencing negative cash flow, citing a ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load.

Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else, Musk wrote.

More from Rolling Stone

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Click here to read the full article.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS  A 30-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man pleaded not guilty Monday to hitting a woman with his vehicle June 16 and leaving the scene.

Cody J. Provost faces charges of hit-and-run involving great bodily harm and obstructing an officer. During a hearing Monday morning, Wood County Circuit Judge Todd Wolf found there was enough evidence for the case to move forward. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 15.

According to the criminal complaint, at 10:43 a.m. June 16, a caller reported a pedestrian hit by a vehicle that left the scene of the crash on George Road in the Wood County town of Seneca.

A deputy saw a woman lying on the side of the road and her left leg was injured. The woman said she and her daughter were walking north on George Road with traffic when she was hit by a vehicle from behind, according to the complaint.

A man reported he had seen the woman and her daughter walking on George Road uninjured and then drove by again and saw the woman lying in a driveway Surveillance video from nearby showed a number of vehicles in the area around the time the woman and her daughter were walking, including a red pickup pulling a black trailer, according to the complaint.

A deputy reported finding part of a chrome side mirror from a vehicle in the road, according to the complaint. The mirror was determined to be from a 2012 to 2014 Ford pickup. The daughter said it was a black truck that hit her mother.

Two days after the crash, on June 18, a deputy contacted Provost, who lives on George Road. Provost had a 2013 maroon Ford 350 pickup. Provost said he was at his grandfather's home on George Road June 16 when he heard a helicopter and sirens. Provost said he was not driving with a trailer on June 16, but he has a similar trailer, according to the complaint.

Provost said he drove his trailer to Stevens Point on June 17. He said he did not see a woman walking on George Road June 16, according to the complaint. The back of the mirrors on his pickup were chrome, but they were intact.

An investigator-sergeant spoke with Provost on June 19. The investigator noted the mirror on Provost's pickup was much cleaner on the passenger's side than on the driver's side. He also saw a trailer tire in the back of Provost's truck. Provost admitted to lying to officers when he spoke with them before, according to the complaint.

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Provost said he was driving his pickup and pulling his trailer going to his grandfather's house on June 16 when he was distracted, according to the complaint. Provost said there was a, "90 percent chance he was looking at his phone." He said he heard something hit his mirror, but he did not see what he hit and thought it was a mailbox.

Provost said he felt bad when he found out a person was hit, but he did not know what to do. He said his mirror must have hit the woman and then the trailer ran her over, according to the complaint. He realized his mirror was broken when he got to his grandfather's house.

Provost said he found a mirror similar to the broken one on Facebook Marketplace and drove to Minocqua to get the mirror, according to the complaint. He replaced the broken mirror on June 17 and burned the damaged mirror. Provost said he also changed the look of his trailer by adding wooden sides and removing the spare tire.

Medical records for the woman hit by a vehicle showed her left leg had a displaced thigh bone with at least two breaks. She was placed in a soft cast on her leg going from her ankle to her upper thigh, according to the complaint.

Provost is free on a $5,000 cash bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and 9 months in prison and a two-year revocation of his driver's license.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune's special offers at wisconsinrapidstribune.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play.

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wisconsin Rapids man pleads not guilty to hit-and-run in Seneca
A driver is facing 10 charges, accused of fleeing Massillon police in a stolen vehicle early Monday at speeds reaching 110 mph.

The pursuit ended when the 37-year-old suspect hit a Massillon police cruiser at 12:27 a.m. on Trump Avenue SE near Baker Street in Canton Township, according to Sgt. Bridget Matt of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

A Massillon Police Department press release said officers were called at 12:08 a.m. to the 900 block of Lincoln Way E for a report of a stolen vehicle. While checking the area, they found the vehicle and tried to get it to stop. But the suspect led officers on a high-speed chase.

Troopers from the Canton Post of the highway patrol were asked to help pursue the stolen vehicle on U.S. Route 30 eastbound, but the chase ended before troopers could arrive, Matt wrote in an email.

The Massillon Police Department said that while the stolen vehicle was stopped, the suspect did not obey officers' commands and switched seats while they were watching. She continued to disregard their commands. Officers released their police dog Luiz, who apprehended the suspect. She sustained an injury to her left upper arm, according to police.

The Canton Township Fire Department took her to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital before she was booked into the Stark County Jail.

The woman is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Massillon Municipal Court on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, felonious assault, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, receiving stolen property, vandalism, obstructing official business, cocaine possession, resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license and a motor vehicle lighting violation. She is listed in court records as not having a permanent address.

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Police chase from Massillon to Canton Township ends in crash
A woman convicted of killing a Carmel man after poisoning his oatmeal and strangling him while her child waited in a car lost her appeal.

Heidi Littlefield unsuccessfully argued there was insufficient evidence to prove the murder, her conviction violates Indiana's double jeopardy law, and that the sentence was inappropriate given her character. The judge disagreed, saying the "the horrendous circumstances of the crimes" do not warrant a revised sentencing.

Littlefield, 42, is serving 115 years in prison after a jury found her guilty of murdering Francis Kelley, 46, and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder last October. The two were in a custody dispute over their 2-year-old child at the time.

Littlefield and her adult daughter Logan Runyon sneaked into Kelley's house and put fentanyl in his oatmeal and miso soup.

In testimony against Littlefield, Runyon, 22 at the time of the killing, said they found Kelley struggling to breathe on the floor after their third poisoning attempt in January 2021. She said Littlefield went upstairs in the Carmel home, found his favorite necktie and tied it around his neck.

Logan Runyon: Daughter gives devastating testimony against mom in Carmel oatmeal killing trial

Why Heidi Littlefield's appeal was unsuccessful

Littlefield claims she's innocent. She argued in the appeal that while there was enough evidence to support her attempt to kill Kelley, nothing established that she did kill him.

She identified a different father of one of her children as a suspect. His phone records show he was near Kelley's house at the time of his death. IndyStar is not identifying the man as he has not been charged or arrested in connection with the death.

The judge responded evidence from the Kelley's autopsy and primary cause of death, asphyxia due to strangulation, were sufficient enough to support her murder conviction, according to the court brief filed Thursday.

More on Littlefield's appeal: Oatmeal murder case appeal points to new suspect, explores 'gap in evidence'

In response to her claim of a double jeopardy violation, the judge said that Indiana law upholds her conviction, writing that conspiracy to commit murder is a separate crime than murder itself, because "the agreement itself constitutes the criminal act."

Littlefield also argued that the 115-year sentence was inappropriate given her character, difficult childhood, alcohol abuse and lack of criminal record. The judge found the sentence fit based on Littlefield's multiple attempts to kill Kelley, manipulation of Runyon to participate in the murder plot, and the fact that she left her minor daughter in the car during the killing.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel oatmeal murder appeal fails over 'horrendous circumstances'
One person drowned and a second person was found clinging to a tree after heavy rain turned a rural creek into a rushing river, according to the Alexander County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina.

Lisa Michelle Riahi, 49, of Hickory, was found dead more than two miles from where she went into the water, officials said in a news release. The identity of the other person was not released.

It happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15, when a vehicle was swept up by flooding in the rural Ellendale community, about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte, officials said.

More than 7.3 inches of rain fell earlier in the day, causing Duck Creek to overflow its banks near the intersection of Duck Creek Drive and Dover Church Road, officials said.

Dispatch reported two victims. ... Emergency agencies located one victim clinging to a tree off Duck Creek Dr (and) ... deployed a raft to the victim in the tree at approximately (12:15 a.m.), the sheriffs office said.

The search for the second victim continued into the daytime. ... (She) was located deceased around 2.2 miles from the initial incident.

The woman was swept away after she jumped out of a vehicle into the water. Investigators have not said who was driving.

An investigation is ongoing, officials said.

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SEOUL, July 17 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's automotive export hit a new record high in the first half of this year owing to robust demand for eco-friendly vehicles, government data showed Monday.

Car shipment surged 46.6 percent from a year earlier to 35.7 billion U.S. dollars in the January-June period, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

It surpassed the previous high of 25.2 billion dollars tallied in the first half of 2014 on the continued global demand for locally-made electric vehicles.

The number of exported vehicles was 1,423,017 in the first half, up 32.6 percent from a year earlier.

Export for eco-friendly cars jumped 70.4 percent to 12.4 billion dollars, while the number of exported such vehicles soared 51.5 percent to 384,681.

The number of vehicles manufactured in local factories gained 23.5 percent from a year earlier to 2,197,687 in the first half, topping 2 million in four years since 2019.

The number of cars sold in South Korea, including locally-made and imported vehicles, was 893,737 in the first half, up 10.7 percent from a year earlier. 
Update: Woman killed in new homeless housing apartment complex in Tri-Cities. 1 arrested

A woman was killed Sunday at the newly opened Catholic Charities housing apartment building in Pasco.

Pasco police confirmed to the Herald that there had been a homicide inside the Bishop Skylstad Commons.

The housing complex, a first of its kind for the Tri-Cities, opened in April at the corner of Lewis Street and 20th Avenue. It has rooms for 60 people struggling with chronic homelessness.

On Monday, Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary confirmed a woman was found dead about 6:30 a.m. Sunday at the housing unit. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

The victim was identified as Elisa Ramos, 39.

Pasco police reported Monday afternoon that due to the scenes complexity crime scene technicians with the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab were called in to help with the investigation.

Evidence was collected at the scene, and a suspect was identified. Later that day, the suspect was located in north Franklin County and taken into custody without incident, said the Facebook post.

Franklin County jail records show Reymundo Carrillo-Bojorgez, 28, was booked in on suspicion of first-degree murder at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Its unclear if he and Ramos were residents of the complex.

The Tri-City Herald was unable Monday to reach officials with Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington about the death.

The housing complex aims to give people a place to live for as long as they need before they are able to move into other housing in the area.

Residents are offered a host of services including behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment and employment counseling.

They also receive health and wellness classes, adult education and food preparation lessons.

Benton County Human Services helped tenants, based on their needs, to move into the apartments this spring.

Catholic Charities operates several similar housing units across Eastern Washington, including St. Michaels Haven in Walla Walla and Buder Haven in Spokane.

The organization has more than 2,600 affordable housing units and 600 units in a supportive environment.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.
The name of the woman shot dead by Orlando police officers Friday has been released by the agency, while the officers who killed her will not be identified.

The woman, 32-year-old Rachael Ellis, was shot by cops after she allegedly charged at them with knives. Police arrived at an apartment complex on the 12000 block of Pioneers Way around 12:03 p.m. Friday after a call from Ellis boyfriend who told dispatchers Ellis was holding a knife and threatening to kill herself.

After negotiating multiple times with Ellis, she confronted the officers and was killed, Deputy Chief Chad Ochiuzzo told reporters.

The names of the officers, who Ochiuzzo said were trained in crisis intervention, will not be released, with OPD citing Marsys Law, a victims rights amendment to the Florida constitution adopted by voters in 2018.

Body camera footage of the incident is expected to be released in the coming weeks while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting.
Woman shoots men she found in her apartment after getting home, Pennsylvania cops say

A woman who was arriving at her apartment found four men she didnt recognize inside her home, according to authorities in Pennsylvania.

She and the intruders got into a confrontation, police said, before she started shooting at the men.

Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the area for a self-defense shooting at 1:34 a.m. Sunday, July 16, authorities said. Officers found the woman standing in the street with a man lying on the ground.

The man had been shot in his right leg and right arm, according to a statement from police. He was treated on scene before being taken to a hospital for further treatment.

Soon after, officers found another man blocks away suffering from a gunshot wound to his back, officials said. He was rushed to a hospital and listed in critical, yet stable, condition.

The two men have been arrested and charged with burglary and related offenses, police said.

Investigators are looking for the other two men involved in the burglary, according to FOX 29.

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Woman vanishes after slipping and falling in Vermont river, cops say. Body now found

An Air National Guard helicopter found a 25-year-old womans body in a Vermont river the day after she went missing, state police said.

Katie Hartnett, of Burlington, was visiting the 18-mile Huntington River the afternoon of July 14 when she slipped and fell in, according to a July 15 Vermont State Police news release detailing the findings of an investigation.

The search for Hartnett  involving about 40 people from rescue and law enforcement units  ensued after police were called to a parked car sitting empty on the side of the road for several hours in Richmond the evening of July 14, they said.

After her body was located in the water, it took an hour for rescue teams to recover her, according to police. Her official cause and manner of death is pending and will be determined by the Chief Medical Examiners Office in Burlington.

Hartnett visited the river upstream of the Huntington Gorge, a scenic spot designated as dangerous due to risks of drowning and falling, as well as rushing waters and steep cliffs, according to the Vermont River Conservancy. Over two dozen people have died at the gorge.

In the week leading up to Hartnetts death, historic storms slammed Vermont with about two months of rainfall in a few days  resulting in catastrophic flooding  in what officials describe as Vermonts worst natural disaster since 1927, The Associated Press reported.

At the end of a challenging week already full of heartbreak for Vermont, I am deeply saddened by the news that we suddenly and tragically have lost a beloved member of our Burlington community, Katie Hartnett, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a statement on July 16.

Hartnett was employed as a paraeducator at Champlain Elementary School and previously graduated from Burlington High School, Weinberger said. She was the only child of former Burlington City Councilor Dave Hartnett and Lisa Hartnett.

This is a devastating loss for the (Burlington School District) community, for Katies many friends across Burlington and beyond, and most of all, for her parents and family, Weinberger said.

A candlelight vigil was held for Hartnett at Flynn Elementary School in Burlington the evening of July 16, according to the Burlington School Districts Facebook page.

We have lost Katie far too soon, Weinberger said. As we take care of ourselves, our families, and our community, I encourage us all to honor Katie by moving forward each day as she did, with love, kindness, and patience for each other.

Burlington is about 140 miles northeast of Albany, New York.

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'You have my word': Hobbs pledges action on key issues in Navajo Council speech

WINDOW ROCK  Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs pledged Monday to work with Navajo Nation tribal leaders on key issues, including the rising number of missing Indigenous people, fraudulent rehab centers and water rights in a wide-ranging speech on the first day of the Nation Council's summer session.

Since taking office in January, Ive made it a priority to engage with Indigenous communities because for too long, you have been left without a seat at the table," said Hobbs to a packed audience at the Navajo Nation Council Chamber.

The Navajo Nation Council was established 100 years ago, years ago, and to commemorate the anniversary, Hobbs, a Democrat, appeared for the start of its annual summer session. The council meets four times a year at the council chamber and has been celebrating the centennial of the tribal government with cultural events.

Hobbs went straight into what her administration has done in her first six months to work with and address not only issues important for the Navajo Nation but other tribes:

Tripled the staff size of the state's Office on Tribal Relations.

Established a northern Arizona support team to serve constituents, tribes and local agencies.

Established a task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

For years, the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People has gone unaddressed and ignored, Hobbs said. My team wasted no time in consulting with community leaders to establish a task force to ensure continued action in addressing this crisis.

Hobbs cites efforts to stop fraudulent rehab centers

Hobbs also talked about the fraudulent sobriety centers that have preyed on vulnerable Indigenous communities, an issue The Arizona Republic first reported about in December. Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes promised in May to crack down on the fraudulent providers.

After learning of the issue in the first weeks of my administration, we began immediately to address the crisis, Hobbs said. The culmination of that initial work was my announcement in May that payments were suspended to more than 100 sober living providers.

She said this was the first step of many to hold bad actors accountable and work to support people on the ground who are in need of housing, medical care and proper rehabilitation services.

Hobbs said Carmen Heredia, director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona's Medicaid and CHIP agency, has worked to consult with tribes on this issue and is implementing several operational changes at the agency.

On another issue, Hobbs said Arizona received nearly $1 billion in funding to expand broadband internet access, and her administration will work with tribes to use the funding.

She also said the recently passed bipartisan budget included $10 million for the Window Rock Dine College campus, $13 million to build roads and bridges in Navajo Nation and $9 million to create and strengthen green jobs and businesses.

'Water is a human right': Supreme Court ruling in Navajo case disappoints, angers people

Indigenous communities are 'stewards of natural resources'

On the subject of water, Hobbs said Indigenous communities have borne the brunt of destructive federal policies and inaction. She said she has created a water policy council that tribes will be a part of to help develop policies and solutions for the state.

Bidtah Becker, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources from 2015 to January 2019, was appointed to represent the Navajo Nation on this water policy council. Becker worked with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority as an associate attorney and served as an attorney for the Navajo Nation, focusing on water rights and natural resources. In January, she was appointed chief legal counsel for President Buu Nygren's cabinet.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Navajo Nations claims that the federal government was required to assess the water needs and secure supplies to meet those needs.

I recognize that Indigenous people are the stewards of our natural resources and this of value I share, Hobbs said. This is why I have taken such an aggressive stance on water management, tackling issues like the Colorado River and the future of water supplies head-on. On these issues and more, Ive been proud to work with the Navajo Nation and our Native communities in the opening months of my administration.

Council Delegate Casey Allen Johnson, who represents the communities of Cameron, Coal Mine Canyon, Birdsprings, Leupp and Tolani Lake, was one of two delegates allowed to ask Hobbs a question and focused on Navajo Nation water rights, asking for the governor's support.

Water is life, Johnson said. We need water on the Navajo Nation.

He told Hobbs about a family of seven with livestock living in Coal Mine Canyon whose water use is capped at 500 gallons per week.

They can only flush their toilet twice a day, said Johnson. They have to stretch their water. We really need help with water infrastructure. We need help with rights to our water. We would like your support on our water rights, and I know during your campaign thats what you shared with us. Im going to hold you to your word. We are all witnesses to that.

After Johnson told Hobbs to have a safe trip back to the 120-degree weather, Hobbs responded and said her office is committed to re-engaging with the tribe on water rights and ongoing settlement discussions.

You have my word we will be engaged, Hobbs said.

More: To keep the Colorado River's heart beating, people step in to do what nature once did

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: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs pledges action in Navajo Nation Council visit
How the wreckage of the Titanic was found during a secret US Navy mission to recover nuclear submarines

The wreckage of the Titanic. AP Photo

It took 73 years to find the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The ship was finally found in 1985 by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel.

Decades later, Ballard revealed that the dive was actually a secret Cold War Navy mission.

Almost immediately after the Titanic sank in April 1912, there were attempts to recover the wreckage and the bodies of those who had gone down with the ship. But the limited diving technology of the time prevented this from becoming a reality for more than seven decades.

In 1985, the wreckage was found during a joint exploration by an American oceanographer, Robert Ballard, who was also a Navy officer, and a French oceanographer, Jean-Louis Michel. But the dive initially had nothing to do with the Titanic at all  it was a secret mission to find the wrecks of two nuclear submarines, the USS Scorpion and the USS Thresher.

But that wasn't made public until 2008 when Ballard revealed the true nature of the mission to National Geographic.

"The Navy is finally discussing it," Ballard told National Geographic in 2008.

Robert Ballard during a book tour in 1987. Bettmann/Getty

Ballard originally met with the US Navy in 1982 to secure funding for a new type of submersible technology that would allow him to find the Titanic. The Navy agreed to fund the project  but only if it would be used to investigate the sunken submarines. The USS Thresher sank in April 1963, and the USS Scorpion followed five years later, in May 1968. They remain the only nuclear submarines the Navy has ever lost.

The Navy agreed that Ballard could search for the Titanic if there was any time left in the mission after finding the subs  and after confirming whether the Soviet Union had played any part in sinking them.

"We saw no indication of some sort of external weapon that caused the ship to go down," Ronald Thunman, then the deputy chief of naval operations for submarine warfare, told National Geographic.

A shot of the Titanic wreck in 1996. Xavier Desmier/Gamma-Rapho/Getty

With 12 days left in the mission, Ballard was able to find the Titanic using a hunch that the ship had split in two and left a trail of debris.

"That's what saved our butts," Ballard said. "It turned out to be true."

Ballard said the Navy was nervous that people would catch on to why they were actually scouring the ocean floor.

"The Navy never expected me to find the Titanic, and so when that happened, they got really nervous because of the publicity," Ballard said. "But people were so focused on the legend of the Titanic they never connected the dots."

So, 23 years later, Ballard disclosed the truth about his mission. He also wrote about his experience finding the ship in his book "The Discovery of the Titanic."

"It was one thing to have won  to have found the ship," he wrote. "It was another thing to be there. That was the spooky part."

Correction: July 18, 2023  An earlier version of this story misstated when the USS Scorpion disappeared. It was lost in May 1968, not May 1965.

Read the original article on Business Insider
One of the last traces of the early Xbox era is going away. Microsoft has revealed it's replacing Xbox Live Gold with a Game Pass Core tier on September 14th. The $60 per year (or $10 per month) subscription is necessary to play many (but not all) online multiplayer games on consoles, as before, but it also represents a shift in how the company doles out bonus games.

The company is sunsetting Games with Gold, which offered a steady flow of titles for Live subscribers. Instead, you'll get a base collection of more than 25 games with new entries two to three times per year. Most of them are first-party games like Doom Eternal, Forza Horizon 4 and Halo 5, although you will find the occasional third-party project like Among Us and Human Fall Flat.

If you're already an Xbox Live Gold member, you'll automatically switch to Game Pass Core when it's available. Games with Gold ends on September 1st. However, you'll still have access to any Xbox One games you claimed if you're either a Core or Ultimate member. Redeemed Xbox 360 games are yours to keep even if your subscription lapses.

Microsoft has signalled its intent to change Live Gold for a while. It stopped offering year-long subscriptions in 2020, and ditched Xbox 360 games in 2022. The company planned to raise Gold prices in 2021 before quickly reversing the decision.

The change might be disappointing if you liked Games with Gold's more frequent catalog expansions. While you do get some hits, it's a not-so-subtle way to steer you toward an Ultimate subscription with a much larger selection (including some day-one titles), cloud gaming and an EA Play membership. In that sense, PlayStation Plus Essential (which still offers bonus games every month) may be more appealing if you're open to Sony hardware.

With that said, Sony pulled the PlayStation Plus Collection this spring. Unless you got the selections through other promos, you'll have to pay to revisit some of the PS4 era's best games. Microsoft isn't strictly mimicking Sony's strategy (it's mainly a bid to showcase first-party releases), but this is a rough equivalent if you're just looking for an instant library.
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Tuesday he hoped his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, including shadowing of Manila's vessels by Chinese coastguard ships.

Marcos said he was aware of Duterte's visit to China, adding that he welcomed any form of communication between the two countries.

"I hoped they discussed the issues we are seeing, shadowing, all these things now so we can achieve progress," Marcos told reporters.

Marcos was elected as president for a six-year term in 2022, taking over from Duterte who had adopted a more pro-China stance.

His remarks came after Xi told Duterte to continue to promote cooperation between the two countries, after bilateral relations cooled with Duterte's successor seeking closer ties with Washington.

"I hope you will continue to play an important role in the friendly cooperation (between China and the Philippines)," state media cited Xi as saying during a meeting at the Diaoyutai state guest-house in Beijing on Monday.

Under Marcos, relations between China and the Philippines have grown tense, with Manila pivoting back to its traditional ally, the United States.

The Philippines and the U.S reaffirmed a decades-old security alliance during a visit by Marcos to the White House in May, where President Joe Biden said the U.S. commitment to defending its ally was "ironclad".

Washington has pledged to defend the Philippines, which allowed the U.S. access to four additional military bases this year, angering Beijing.

Marcos also said granting U.S. access to the bases was a defensive step that would be "useful" if China attacked democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

China has always insisted on being friendly with its neighbours, which it sees as its partners, Xi said, without commenting on the state of current bilateral ties.

"During your tenure as president of the Philippines, you had resolutely made the strategic choice to improve relations with China in an attitude of being responsible to the people and to history," Xi told Duterte.

Last month, Duterte told domestic media that the Philippines could become a "graveyard" if it gets caught up in U.S.-China tensions.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Editing by Mike Harrison)
With the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in higher education last month, New York colleges have come under pressure to reconsider giving priority to the children of alumni in admissions decisions.

Advocates have described the practice, known as legacy admissions, as affirmative action for the white and wealthy  giving a boost to students who on average come from higher income families with experience navigating the college application process.

More than seven in 10 private colleges in New York consider whether applicants are related to alumni, as do more than a third of public schools, according to data compiled by Education Reform Now.

The United States has long claimed to have an ideology of meritocracy, said Jacquelyn Martell, executive director of the advocacy groups New York chapter, that you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps. That is not true.

In New York State, in particular, weve seen gross amounts of economic disparities, housing disparities, and disparities in access to quality education.

Proponents of legacy admissions defend it as a tool to build multigenerational bonds between families and their schools, including to solicit donations and even fund scholarships that can help diversify campuses.

But its future was put to the test last year when state lawmakers proposed legislation to end the practice statewide. The bill was met with backlash from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, who at the time called it an unreasonable intrusion that will fail to achieve its own aims.

The statewide association has since changed its tune on the policy.

While legacy admission has been an important recruitment tool for some New York colleges, we recognize the publics perception that the practice also has the effect of expanding privilege instead of opportunity, said Lola Brabham, president of the CICU.

In light of the Supreme Court decision banning the use of race in the college admissions process, the Independent Sector will not continue its opposition to banning legacy preference in admissions. New Yorks independent colleges and universities remain deeply committed to fostering diverse, welcoming campus communities and ensuring higher education is accessible to all.

Legacy admissions is also facing a federal challenge after a Boston firm charged this month that Harvard University is violating education civil rights law by prioritizing applicants related to alumni. The filing came just days after the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that race cannot be considered in admissions in the 41 states that had yet to outlaw affirmative action, including New York.

A Daily News survey of a dozen New York colleges and universities with the lowest acceptance rates yielded few results. Most did not return requests for comment or directed The News to statements on affirmative action released after the decision. Columbia University and Hamilton College both declined to answer questions about their policies after the Harvard complaint.

At Cornell University, the issue became a flashpoint in 2018 when students, alongside advocates at other universities, organized a petition to demand an end to legacy admissions. A few years later, the Student Assembly renewed their call and close to unanimously passed a resolution against the practice. Neither effort was successful.

Nearly 17% of the Class of 2021 were related to alumni, according to the student newspaper. A spokesperson for the university declined to provide updated figures or comment on their practices, referring The News to a statement released after the Supreme Court ruling.

When universities are free to admit broadly diverse classes through an individualized and holistic application review process, said Cornell President Martha Pollack, they are intentionally creating a student body with the potential to create a spark of insight, to advance knowledge, and to challenge one another and thereby strengthen an argument or call an assumption into question.

As always, Cornell will follow the law, but within its scope we will remain a welcoming community.

Roughly 7% of college freshmen at Colgate University were the children or grandchildren of alumni, university data show. More than a third of legacy students who applied were admitted, compared to a 12% acceptance rate overall. University officials did not return a request for comment.

Prospective students at New York University can likewise identify themselves as legacies on their applications, but it will not tip the scale. Less than 2% of the freshman class in fall 2021 were the children of alumni..

While the University is always happy to have the children of alums apply and attend, unlike many peer schools, being the child of an alum is not a factor in our admissions decision-making, spokesman John Beckman told The News.

At Sarah Lawrence College, students can share where their parents went to school on the common application, but spokeswoman Falguni Smith said they do not use legacy status when making admission decisions.

In light of the Supreme Court decision, the liberal arts college added a new essay prompt that asks applicants to describe how they believe their college goals might be impacted by the end of affirmative action. Its one of three options applicants can choose from for their response.

We use a holistic approach to our admissions review, which has always been inclusive and never exclusively race-based, Smith said.

No changes were made at SUNY colleges leading up to the Supreme Courts decision, though the school system said it will incorporate federal guidance when released.

Now that the ruling has been made, SUNY is analyzing all admissions practices, said Holly Liapis, a spokeswoman for the public university system, though she added that parent alumni status is a standard common app question.

Whether the end of affirmative action pushes the state bill to ban legacy preferences over the finish line remains to be seen, but State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), one of its co-sponsors, is optimistic.

Legacy preferences are simply affirmative act for privileged kids, said Gounardes. Thats wholly indefensible. Its always been indefensible, but especially now.

Colleges that do not comply with the legislation would be forced to pay a penalty equivalent to the cost of tuition and fees for 10% of the schools full-time student body. That money would go into the coffers of the states Tuition Assistance Program, which subsidizes college costs for low-income students.

The Fair College Admissions Act was reintroduced last session by Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn) to focus solely on legacy admissions. A previous version of the bill would have outlawed binding early decision processes, criticized for disadvantaging students who need to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.

This is exactly the right thing to be doing at this moment in time, Gounardes said.
New Zealand Election Too Close to Call Three Months From Vote

New Zealand Election Too Close to Call Three Months From Vote

(Bloomberg) -- New Zealands general election remains too close to call three months out from the vote, with the ruling Labour Party and the main opposition National Party almost neck-and-neck in the latest opinion poll.

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Support for Labour fell 2 percentage points to 33% in a 1News/Verian poll published Monday in Wellington, while National also dropped 2 points to 35%. Labours partner the Green Party rose 3 points to 10%, while Nationals ally the ACT Party gained 1 point to 12% support.

If the results were replicated at the election on Oct. 14, National and ACT would be able to command 61 seats and therefore a slim majority in the 120-seat parliament. Labour and the Greens would be unable to form a government even with the support of the smaller Maori Party.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins initially boosted Labours chances of winning a third term when he took over from Jacinda Ardern in January, but the partys support has now declined for a third straight poll as the government grapples with soaring prices and a weakening economy.

Hipkins remains the nations most-preferred prime minister but the gap with National leader Christopher Luxon has narrowed. Support for Hipkins fell 1 point to 24% while support for Luxon gained 2 points to 20%.

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PHNOM PENH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework has elevated Cambodia-China ties to new heights as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a Cambodian senior government official said.

Cambodian government chief spokesman Phay Siphan said mutual strategic trust, support, and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference and win-win cooperation have boosted the ironclad friendship between both countries even stronger and unbreakable.

"The two countries have always moved ahead together rain or shine thanks to close ties and cooperation," he told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

Siphan said the bilateral "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, established by both countries in February, would boost the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.

The framework has been focused on six priority areas, including political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

"Our bilateral relations have been subsequently elevated from one level to another, reaching higher and higher," he said.

"This framework is another foundation to further solidify the Cambodia-China friendship," he said.

As 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Siphan said the initiative has provided tremendous benefits to Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction.

"Under the BRI, Cambodia has received a lot of benefits and the whole ASEAN has considered the BRI as a foundation for social development in our region," he said.

He said the BRI has promoted peace, international cooperation and development and that the initiative has neither created enmity towards any country nor blocked the development of others.

"Under the BRI, no country in the region have been isolated, but they have been connected, linking Asia, ASEAN with China, which is a huge market with a population of over 1.4 billion," Siphan said.

He said under the BRI, many mega-projects such as hydropower plants, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Phnom Penh-Sihanouk Expressway, the Morodok Techo National Stadium, the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport and the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway have been carried out in Cambodia.

"These mega-projects have importantly contributed to accelerating sustainable socioeconomic and tourism development in Cambodia," he said.

The BRI, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was initiated by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

According to official statistics, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have signed documents under the BRI framework as of Jan. 6.

Siphan said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), effective since 2022, have greatly boosted Cambodia's export and economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, Cambodia's export to China was valued at 713.2 million U.S. dollars during the January-June period of 2023, an increase of 16.6 percent from 611.5 million dollars over the same period last year.

Siphan said the two pacts are a magnet to attract more foreign investors, especially from China, to the country.

"These trade pacts will help Cambodia graduate from its least developed status by 2027 and become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050," he said.

Siphan said all these cooperation mechanisms have provided vigorous momentum to the building of a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. 
(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand is calling on China to play its part in de-escalating rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

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New Zealand is concerned about a worsening strategic environment and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular in places like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said in a speech Monday in Auckland. We have direct interests in these areas and are therefore focused on the need for tensions to be carefully managed and de-escalated in the wider interests of the region. And we look to China to play its part in this regard.

Hipkins, who recently returned from leading a trade delegation to China including a meeting with President Xi Jinping, reiterated that the relationship between the two nations is complex. China is the largest offshore market for New Zealand milk, meat and logs but the South Pacific nation is also concerned about human rights, democracy, disarmament and demilitarization in the region.

The Indo-Pacific is becoming more contested, less predictable, and less secure, Hipkins said. In this increasingly complex global environment, our relationship with China will continue to require careful management.

Hipkins said New Zealand will speak candidly, but respectfully with China about issues on which the nations differ.

New Zealand will also work with others to address global challenges, he said.

That New Zealands approach will often align with that of our most like-minded partners, with whom we share many common interests and values, should not be a surprise, he said. Australia, in particular, is New Zealands only ally and our closest partner. It is natural that we will often have a similar perspective on the sharpening geostrategic environment.

Still, Hipkins said there is tactical strength in not always taking the same approach as other partners, noting that engagement with Southeast Asian nations and India is another means of influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Ukraine honours the memory of the victims of the Malaysian Airlines Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight which Kremlin-controlled Donetsk militants shot down with a Russian Buk anti-air missile on 17 July 2014.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Our thoughts and our hearts are with the families and loved ones of each and every one of the 298 victims. This tragedy caused by the aggressor will never be forgotten. The occupier state, the terrorist state, will fully answer for all crimes committed in Ukraine."

Quote from Kuleba: "Russia shot down the MH17 nine years ago, killing all 298 people aboard. It lied about the tragedy for years, trying to dodge accountability, until the Dutch trial stated the truth. We mourn the MH17 victims and reiterate: accountability for Russian crimes is inevitable."

Russia shot down #MH17 9 years ago, killing all 298 people aboard. It lied about the tragedy for years trying to dodge accountability, until the Dutch trial stated the truth. We mourn the MH17 victims and reiterate: accountability for Russian crimes is inevitable. @United24media pic.twitter.com/g5BGET3yHI  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) July 17, 2023

Background:

The Malaysian Airlines plane crash on 17 July 2014 in the east of Ukraine killed all 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch nationals.

The trial in the case began on 9 March 2020 after several years of evidence gathering by the international Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

The JIT concluded that the plane was shot down with a Buk anti-aircraft missile system belonging to the 53rd Air Defence Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.

The District Court of The Hague found Igor Girkin and his subordinate militants Sergei Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko guilty of downing the MH17 jet, but acquitted Oleg Pulatov. Girkin, Dubinsky and Kharchenko were sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment. The court ordered their arrest.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine hopes to continue grain supplies through the Black Sea corridor without Russia, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as quoted by his spokesperson, Serhiy Nykyforov, on Facebook on July 17.

Zelenskyy emphasized that there were no agreements between Ukraine and Russia regarding this matter.

Read also: Russia's war against Ukraine to top agenda at BRICS summit, says South African president

We had two agreements: Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN; another agreement was Russia, Turkey, and the UN. So when Russia says it is stopping, it is breaking its agreements with UN Secretary-General Guterres and President Erdogan. Not with us. We had no agreements with them, he stated.

The president also added that he has already instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare an official response for the UN and Turkey.

Read also: Erdogan may meet with Putin after talks with Zelenskyy

I have given instructions to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after receiving an official signal from the Russian Federation, to prepare our official signals to the United Nations and Turkey, so that they respond to me as the President of Ukraine, whether they are willing to continue our initiative, Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also emphasized that all parties, except Russia, are ready to continue grain supplies from Ukraine.

Read also: Russia once again halts Ukrainian grain exports

Even without Russia, we need to do everything possible to utilize this Black Sea corridor. We are not afraid. Companies that own ships have approached us. They have said that they are ready to continue grain supplies if Ukraine releases it and Turkey allows it  everyone is ready to continue grain supplies, he concluded.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
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
Saudi Arabia and Japan set the stage for strong trade ties by exchanging 26 pre-signed economic agreements between the two nations on Sunday at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Jeddah.

The signed deals encompassed healthcare, clean energy, mining and digital innovation sectors.

The exchange marks the growing bilateral relationship led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who arrived in Jeddah on Saturday to promote the island states major local companies and explore deeper opportunities to collaborate with the Kingdom.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih welcomed the Japanese delegation to the Kingdom and sought for mutually reliable economic partnership.

The Japanese visit is part of the delegations tour in the Middle East by the Japanese governments Economic Partnership Mission to strengthen Japans economic ties with the regions countries.

The delegation includes members from Fukui-based APB, a Japanese corporation specializing in research and development, production and sales of lithium-ion batteries. ...continue reading
By Oladipo Abiola The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi has reiterated that he is not ready to celebrate his birthday in todays Nigeria due to the deplorable state of the nation. According to Obi, he made the decision to stop celebrating his birthday about twenty years ago and he is ready to stand by it. Taking to his Twitter page on Monday, Peter Obi disclosed in a personally signed statement that he would be turning 62 on Wednesday, 19th July 2023 and some of his supporters including members of the obedient family and Labour Party have been pressurizing him about celebrating his birthday. He however told them that instead of celebrating, all those who wish to do so or give him any gift should look around them and give such gifts to those in need. The former Anambra State Governor urged them to visit hospitals, orphanages, homes of the disabled and aged and give such gifts to them generously. Obi also emphasized that despite all the negative things going on in Nigeria at the moment, he believes a country that works is still possible and urged the citizens not to give up on their hopes for a better Nigeria. He wrote: Wednesday 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years, that I will not celebrate my birthdays in todays Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation. However, some friends, members of the Labour Party, and OBIdient Family and supporters have asked how they can join me in celebrating that day, and even present some gifts. Let me humbly and respectfully appeal to all those who desire to celebrate me with any kind of gifts, to look around them and extend such gifts to the people in need, especially in these difficult times. I urge them to visit hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged and people with disabilities, and offer them such generous gifts. They can also visit schools of basic studies in remote areas and support them with the basic amenities they need. Those who wish to do more can visit various IDP camps in different parts of the country. I intend to do the same thing. Aside from sharing my time and resources with the less fortunate people around me, I plan to raise money for schools, hospitals, etc. I have already said that the sacrifices for a better Nigeria must now start from us, the leaders and the well-placed. The state of our nation must give us cause to pause and ponder. There is far too much insecurity, violence, and bloodshed. This month alone over 200 lives have been lost to sustained violent attacks in Mangu LGA in Plateau State. Similarly, in Benue State, over 100 lives have been lost in recent times, the latest being 27 persons killed in Adogo Ugbaam, Akpuuna, and Diom communities in Ukum LGA. There are also many other cases of kidnappings and killings in different parts of the country. I want to celebrate in a New Nigeria where the lives and properties of citizens will be secure. I want to celebrate in a productive Nigeria that can create opportunities for our youths. I want to celebrate in a Nigeria that works for all and which Nigerians can be proud of. This, and not my birthday, is the true celebration that will be beneficial to all Nigerians. As Nigerians, we must always expand our imagination of the Possible, believing as we do that a New Nigeria is POssible. -PO NAIJANEWS

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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 eighth 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.
PIERCE  Dont fix what isnt broke. Organizers of the Pierce County Fair realize the truth in that old adage, which is why the five-day event  which runs from Wednesday, July 26, through Sunday, July 30, at the Pierce County Fairgrounds  will feature many of the attractions that have prov
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea stayed silent Wednesday about the detention of an American soldier who sprinted across the Koreas heavily fortified border as other members of his tour group looked on in shock. Some observers said the North was unlikely to send him back any time soon a
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Some local government units (LGUs) announced class suspensions on Monday as the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, continues to dump rains over the country.

Gloomy weather is expected in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Mimaropa and Metro Manila, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA also said the low pressure area east of Mindanao is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday. It has no direct effect yet on the country's weather.

Here are the LGUs where class suspensions are in effect:

Angeles City, Pampanga  all levels in both public and private schools

Baliwag City, Bulacan  all levels in both public and private schools

Manaoag, Pangasinan  pre-school to senior high school in both public and private schools

Iloilo City  all levels in both public and private schools

This list will be updated.
Egypt is considering building three new Free Zones, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced Sunday to Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

The future Zones, Madboulys office indicated in a statement, will be Alexandria, the 10th of Ramadan, and the 6th of October cities.

The office also indicated that the Premier reviewed the latest progress on companies applying for or receiving gold licenses during his meeting with GAFIs CEO.

The North African country in July simplified the conditions for issuing licenses for private free zone projects by approving amendments to the investment law.

The country currently has 9 public-free zones.

The building of the three new Free Zones is in line with authorities plans to attract foreign direct investments and private investments. To attract these investments, the Supreme Council for Investment issued 22 decrees in mid-May.
Kenyan President William Ruto  who has said he cannot accept anarchy amid oppositions calls for more anti-government protests to be held later this week  has become yet another leader in the East African country who is facing the consequences of confusing a parliamentary majority for popular legitimacy, according to experts.

Ruto warned his government will not allow planned three days of opposition protests to take place starting from Wednesday (19 July) after more than 300 people were arrested in the aftermath of two rounds of deadly demonstrations last week. The presidents warning came as the party of the main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, called for more rallies to be held against tax hikes that Ruto signed into law last month. Protests will no longer take place in our nation of Kenya. The one they have planned for Wednesday will not be possible, said Ruto, who beat Odinga in an August election.

Ruto pledged to be a champion for the poor in the lead-up to last years elections, but his critics say the tax rises will hurt Kenyans already struggling to afford basic commodities, such as maize flour. It seems that Ruto is coming up against the limits of his power, wrote Patrick Gathara, a Nairobi-based communications consultant, writer, and political cartoonist, in a recent opinion piece. His absolute majorities in both houses of parliament and his control of the executive may have somewhat obscured an obvious and fundamental weakness: that he does not enjoy much of a mandate. Gathara also notes that Ruto has become, amid deadly anti-government protests, [yet] another Kenyan president is facing the consequences of confusing a parliamentary majority for popular legitimacy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the opening of a new Huawei Innovation Center in the country, expressing hope that the Chinese giants new technologies would help Africa leapfrog into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Speaking at the launch event in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa commended Huawei for its confidence in the South African economy and its potential. Standing alongside the Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong and the President of Huawei sub-Saharan Africa, Leo Chen, Ramaphosa noted that for South Africa, expanding digital infrastructure is one of the primary engines of economic growth. The development of information technology is key to the competitiveness of our economy. Huawei has also recently partnered with South African company Vuma to provide higher speeds for fiber internet.

Huawei was sanctioned in the United States in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump due to concerns that Beijing was trying to monopolize networks and possibly use them for potential espionage activities. The company, however, already has a significant digital presence in most of Africa, much of which struggles with low connectivity. Earlier this year, a group of US lawmakers criticized Pretoria for its ties to Beijing, including its use of Chinese tech. Washington has been playing catch-up to China in the continent, announcing last year that US-backed telecom company Africell had invested to deliver a 5G network in Angola.

While the US-led global campaign against Huawei has gained traction in some countries in the Global North, the concerns raised about the pliability of the Chinese companys 5G network for espionage and surveillance have left Africa largely unperturbed, according to Emeka Umejei, a media expert from the American University of Nigeria. Umejei warns that in the long-term, Huaweis 5G network could hold troubling consequences for Africas transitional democracies. The rise of a hegemonic Chinese internet may result in the reproduction of digital authoritarianism in Africa.
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has led a peaceful protest after the authorities blocked a rally to publicly confirm he would run in next years presidential elections, as the countrys prosecutor has filed an international arrest warrant against Sonkos French lawyer.

The 49-year-old main opposition figure, dressed in red in a sign of anger, appeared outside his home Saturday (15 July) to kick off the protest, symbolically banging pots for several minutes. This came after Sonko had on Thursday (13 July) been unanimously voted in as the PASTEF-Patriots candidate for the 25 February 2024 presidential elections, a party statement said. He has been confined by security forces at his home in Dakar since late May and his nomination comes despite lingering questions over his eligibility due to criminal convictions and prison sentences.

Sonko told supporters another date for the rally would be chosen, adding Macky Sall is trying to eradicate PASTEF and prevent me from being a presidential candidate, Sonko said, urging his supporters to wear red in protest. Meanwhile, Senegalese prosecutors on Friday (14 July) said they had filed an international arrest warrant against Sonkos French lawyer Juan Branco who was wanted for alleged crimes and offences connected to the unrest which shook Senegal in June 2022. But Sonco remained defiant, expressing his support to his legal counsel. Branco could also face a lawsuit on a separate matter in France, reportedly for unveiling the identity of two employees at the French embassy to Senegal.
The worlds largest producer of cocoa, Cote dIvoire, has suspended its 2023-2024 exports citing bad weather that has caused the death of at least 30 people since April 2023.

Yves Brahima Kone, head of the countrys cocoa regulator, told media that the freeze will deal a blow to buyers who are big raw materials trading houses like Cargill and Olam, and chocolate makers like Barry Callebaut, Hershey and Nestle.

The country, Kone stressed, before the freeze, exported more than million tons of cocoa seeds.

Harvests of the crop have started and shipments to the countrys ports should start by October, Kone also said, adding that yields are expected to dwindle significantly.

We hope that production from January to March 2024 will balance our volumes, otherwise it will be a problem. We stopped sales a few days ago because were not sure we have enough volume to cover demand, Head of the regulator said.

The West African country has witnessed bad weather; torrential rains that have battered several regions including economic capital Abidjan. At least 30 people have died.
The state of Israel has just announced its recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Western Sahara region. The decision comes as many countries continue to cement their support for Moroccos territorial integrity through recognition or the opening of representations in Moroccan southern provinces.

A statement from the Moroccan royal cabinet said King Mohammed VI received a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, who informed him of Israels decision.

In the letter, the Israeli official also said that the Israeli recognition of Moroccos territorial integrity will be reflected in all relevant acts and documents of the Israeli government.

Netanyahu also informed the Moroccan monarch that Israels decision will be transmitted to the UN, regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member, as well as to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations.

Israel is also examining positively the opening of a consulate in the city of Dakhla and this within the framework of the implementation of this decision, the letter indicated.

Israels recognition comes amid diplomatic gains Morocco has been scoring in the past decade in the Sahara dossier.

A lengthy list of countries has reflected their support for Moroccos territorial integrity either through recognition or the opening of representations in the countrys southern provinces in Dakhla and Laayoune.

The Israeli decision to recognize Moroccos sovereignty over the disputed Sahara region comes a year after Spain officially endorsed the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the serious and credible solution to end the dispute.

The news also comes a few weeks after Israeli media announced that the Israeli government was exploring the decision and would most probably announce it in the near future.

While visiting Morocco last month, Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), urged Israel to recognize Moroccos territorial integrity, stressing that the region is historically Moroccan.

As a native of this land [Morocco], I openly declare that Israel must recognize the Moroccanness of the Sahara, Ohana said, adding that a serious discussion and consultations are underway within the Israeli government on the matter.

U.S. also recognized Moroccos sovereignty over the region in December 2020.
Wildfire haze over the Brooklyn Bridge on June 30. Photo: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

With Canadas worst-ever wildfire season raging on, it was only a matter of time until the haze from thousands of square miles of scorched forest would drift back down to New York. A little over a month after a smokepocalypse tinged the sky orange, the haze is coming back; Empire State residents will get a sequel  though in a less severe form.

Thanks to a cold front in central Canada, the smoke from the wildfires pushed down across the Great Lakes states over the weekend, making its way to New York. On Monday, the State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality warning for all of New York with the Adirondack region and central New York expected to experience the greatest decline in air quality. The primary pollutant from wildfire smoke is known as PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can make breathing difficult depending on the local level. According to the Environmental Protection Agencys air quality index, a level between 100 and 150 can cause issues for some sensitive groups, including children, seniors, and people with respiratory conditions like asthma. Above 150 is considered unhealthy for all groups with health officials advising everyone to limit outdoor exercise and those sensitive groups to avoid exercising outdoors.

In June, the haze in the air came largely from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario that are slowly being brought under control by Canadian firefighters and the international crews that rushed to aid the effort. This time around, the smoke is wafting in from conflagrations in British Columbia in the Canadian West where over 300 fires are burning:

British Columbia continues to impress. Numerous fires are still burning in the province as fire weather persists into summer. #wildfire #canada #Vancouver

Another MASSIVE resource order to Canada is being fulfilled by U.S. resources and some have already mobilized.



A province pic.twitter.com/85yx8TnRBb  The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 13, 2023

In the Adirondack region on Monday morning, the AQI was at 155 for fine particulate matter, and in central New York, it was 160. The western New York region encompassing Buffalo was also at 155, and New York City was around 115. In June, when an eerie-orange haze hung over the entire state, the AQI was over 400 in New York  the worst air quality ever recorded in the city. And while it does not appear that the state will experience those levels this time, the governors office is taking pains to be responsive after facing criticism for a slow response to the initial crisis. Before New Yorkers woke up on Monday, Governor Hochul had already issued an air quality alert for the day with cellphone alerts going out if the air quality index goes above 200 in a given region.

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The right reverend Tucker Carlson. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Iowas conservative Evangelicals represent a hardy breed of religiopolitical activists who are acutely aware of their powerful role within the national Republican Party. Theyve long constituted a potential stumbling block to GOP presidential front-runners, including Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. Candidates dont have to be fellow Evangelicals to appeal to this constituency, but they typically do need some sort of faith-based nexus. For example, though 2012 Iowa caucuses winner Rick Santorum is a traditionalist Catholic, he was in total sync with conservative Evangelicals on hot-button cultural issues and equally disdainful of Establishment Republicanism.

That all changed after Trumps Iowa loss in 2016. There and nationally, the heathenish mogul became the favorite politician of conservative Evangelicals. Indeed, his very un-Christian ethic of vengeful cruelty toward real or perceived enemies appears to have struck many theocratically inclined Republicans as a heaven-sent scourge defending, if not sharing, their faith. But in 2024, Trumps comeback effort is being challenged by candidates very much like the churchy politicians who used to win the hearts of Iowa Evangelicals, and often the caucuses. They are being aided by the 45th presidents patent contempt for Christian right leaders like Bob Vander Plaats of the powerful Family Leader organization, and his close ally Iowa governor Kim Reynolds.

So it was of intense interest to political junkies everywhere to see what would happen on July 14, when Iowa Evangelicals gathered under the aegis of the Family Leader to hear from the major 2024 candidates other than Donald Trump, who snubbed the event. Would they rally around their old friend Mike Pence, who had fought the culture wars against gays and feminists and government schools for decades? Or maybe Tim Scott, whose speeches are often difficult to distinguish from Sunday sermons? Or perhaps Ron DeSantis, who seems to lack the fire of personal faith but is almost scientifically aligning himself to the right of Trump on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights and wokeness?

Thats not how it worked out. The star of the Family Leadership Summit was its designated candidate-interviewer, unemployed right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson. Sure, Vivek Ramaswamy got some audience raves, and Ron DeSantis did himself some good as well. But in both cases, the candidates did well to the extent that they agreed with Carlsons take on the world, particularly with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war. It was a bit of a surprise to learn that Iowas conservative Evangelicals appear to be as exercised about Joe Bidens support for Ukraine as they are about his alleged coziness with baby-killers and sodomites and pedophile groomers. But perhaps they were in part just wowed by Tuckers star quality, much as Trump bowled them over once he became the Republican presidential nominee in 2016.

Its interesting to compare the former Fox News stars appeal to Trumps among this particularly powerful Republican constituency. Carlson is not a religious illiterate who can be viewed as an unwitting instrument of the divine will. He is an even more exotic creature in the company of conservative Evangelicals: a mainline Protestant. Indeed, hes a lifelong and hereditary member of the Episcopal Church, a particularly despised institution in MAGA-land thanks to its cultural liberalism and unparalleled Establishment credentials. But Carlson is, in conservative eyes, the best kind of Episcopalian  an angry and alienated Episcopalian, as he explained to an Evangelical magazine in 2013:

We still go to the Episcopal Church for all kinds of complicated reasons, but I truly despise the Episcopal Church in a lot of ways. Theyre for gay marriage because its trendy. Its another way to express how hip they are. They dont care at all what God thinks of it, because they actually dont believe in God. And then the fact that they sanction abortion.

On another occasion, Carlson said his church is not even a Christian religion at this point. This is actually a very common opinion of mainline Protestants among the kind of people who attended the Family Leadership Summit. But perhaps more to the point, he subscribes with quasi-religious passion to a kind of state-imposed cultural conservatism typified by Hungarian authoritarian leader Viktor Orban, whom Carlson has lionized relentlessly, even hosting his show from Budapest in 2021 and putting together a pro-Orban documentary. As The Guardian reported, this was no casual bromance between a credulous journalist and an exotic strongman:

Sitting in a book-lined office, Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary, agreed [with Carlson] it was one of the capitals producing very nice ideas. He went on to praise Donald Trump as a great friend of Hungary and laud the former US presidents America first foreign policy.

The kind of thinking that Carlson and Orban were discussing in a fawning TV interview on Thursday was, in their words, about families, borders and the struggle of Christian democracy against leftist liberalism. But for critics of both men, it was nothing less than an authoritarian, ethno-nationalist blueprint for the United States itself.

Carlson is just one of a number of American right-wing figures lauding Orban as a defender of Western civilization against un-Christian secular liberalism and Islam. But it shows why calling the former Fox News personality a Christian nationalist isnt quite right: Hes a Christian internationalist who implicitly views Putins Russia as a civilizational ally. Thats the broader context in which to understand why Carlson focused on Ukraine policy in Des Moines and savaged Christian right war horse Pence for his solidarity with the bad actors of Kyiv, as Jonathan Weisman reported:

 Mr. Carlson called Ukraine an American client state, accused Ukraines Jewish leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, of persecuting Christians and strongly indicated Mr. Pence had been conned, despite evidence to the contrary.

If Carlson had shouted to the audience during his grilling of Pence, Can I get an amen?, he would have probably been gratified by the response.

The conservative Evangelical surrender to Trump in the last few years remains a disturbing sign of that communitys willingness to subject traditional Christian values to the most radical kind of cultural conservatism. But the surrender in Des Moines to Tucker Carlson shows it was no accident, and wont perish when Trumps own career finally ends.
Photo: Jeenah Moon/REUTERS

Between 2019 and 2021, the United States experienced a crime spike that defied tidy explanations. In 2019, the homicide rate was up 11 percent from 2014, and slightly higher than in 2018, then jumped another 29 percent in 2020, the biggest single-year increase in a century. The rate rose by 4 percent in 2021  then, just as suddenly, it began to decline, a downward slope that prevailed through 2022. Were still just over halfway through 2023, but early signs suggest that murders have fallen by double digits.

There are important caveats to these trends. Other kinds of violent crime, like robberies and burglaries, fluctuated more than homicides during that period. Murders are up in Memphis compared to the same time last year but down by 30 percent or more in cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis. Homicides in the U.S. hit their lowest rate in six decades in 2014, just six years before the latest spike, but that was still way higher than in any other developed economy. And even with the current drop, were seeing more murders today than we did in 2019.

Despite these confusing signals, there are some constants, like the fact that murder is most common where poverty and its related despairs are concentrated: poor Black neighborhoods. Other aspects are harder to diagnose. The homicide spike afflicted cities in disparate regions with little regard for whether they were large or small, run by Democrats or Republicans, or patrolled by a tough on crime prosecutor or a dovish progressive. Murder rates went up in 2020 in some of the most heavily policed cities, like Chicago, and are declining in others with fewer cops than they had in 2020, like New Orleans.

What has not changed, though, is the widespread belief that hiring more cops is the best way to reduce crime, despite the fact that there is little to no conclusive evidence this is true. While crime as a policy issue remains clouded by epistemological uncertainty, politicians and officials have never been more confident in the cure  a contrast that is especially stark now that the high tide of pandemic-era crime has receded, leaving us with far greater resources for policing than we had just a few years ago.

We actually know very little about what causes crime to rocket or crater. Even the big decline that began in the 1990s, and that continues to make todays crime rates among the lowest in decades despite the recent uptick, is largely a mystery to experts. Police officials spent years touting the benefits of stop and frisk in New York, only to watch crime continue to fall after the city abandoned it. The postGeorge Floyd social order is characterized on the one hand by a steady push for more policing and an inexorable climb in police budgets and on the other by crime trends that are a mountain range of peaks and valleys, bouncing up and down with little rhyme or reason.

Thats not to say were totally flying blind. Theres growing evidence that the crime wave of 2020 stemmed from the pandemic-driven shuttering of institutions, like schools and community centers, that offer support to young people in crisis. Theres also evidence that crime rises after high-profile incidents of police abuse, like the murders of Floyd and Tyre Nichols in Memphis. On the flip side, a more visible police presence can function as a deterrent to some offenses. But overall, if youre looking for a prescriptive solution, the available data is frustratingly hazy on the benefits of more policing.

That hasnt stopped the political and pundit classes from insisting on those benefits anyway. Spend this money now, President Biden urged municipalities that got money from his COVID-relief bill last year, encouraging them to hire more cops. Sure enough, police officials are more than happy to conflate correlation with causation, enthusiastically taking credit for the recent decline. As Acting NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban told reporters in July, it was no coincidence that a drop in crime had coincided with his departments use of proactive policing  code for Mayor Adamss revival of stop-and-frisk-like practices.

What is clear amid so much uncertainty is that the negative effects of more policing have stayed relatively constant. Between the height of the 2020 Floyd protests  when the concept of defunding and even abolishing the police entered the lexicon  and the ensuing backlash that led Democrats at all levels of government, from Adams to Biden, to rush to prove they were tougher on crime than Republicans, the number of people killed by cops annually had remained steady and in some measurements had actually risen; 1,200 people were killed by police in 2022, 102 more than in 2019. If high-profile police killings are indeed a catalyst for crime spikes, then the most likely outcome of this pattern is that crime will spike again.

What is also clear, however, is that hiring more cops is politically popular. A Vox poll from 2019 found that more than 60 percent of Black, white, and Hispanic Americans supported increasing the number of police officers to deal with high crime.

Assuming the inevitability of these rewards has led politicians into some perilous waters. Residents of Atlanta are effectively split on their support for the citys proposal for a new police training center, which would cost $90 million and has been nicknamed Cop City by its opponents. The project gained momentum amid rising anxiety about crime, which led the last mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, to abandon her reelection bid in 2021 and her successor, Andre Dickens, to win office by campaigning from her right. But since then, cops and protesters have clashed at the construction site, resulting in mass arrests and the slaying of an activist. A recent public-comment session attracted hundreds of opponents to the city-council chambers, belying the notion that Bottomss downfall amounted to a pro-cop mandate.

But for the most part, it appears Americans have made their choice. As the last few years snap into greater focus, putting the fading hopes of the Floyd uprising and the pandemic crime spike in new context, our politics of crime seem to have reverted to the mean. The difference is that voters and politicians alike are more aware of what the trade-offs are and are at peace with them.

Were not just talking about police brutality, though its remarkable, if not surprising, how quickly people are willing to look away from it. Nor is the problem only that cops are enjoying a windfall just as the public-safety benefits of nonpolice entities  like those schools and community centers that are now struggling with post-pandemic cuts  are becoming more apparent. Were talking about reinvesting in a culture of criminalization and punishment, where all manner of social ill is addressed using cops and jails.

America leads the world in both the rate and volume of people it locks away, which makes mass incarceration the most obvious consequence of this reinvestment. But there are also quality-of-life costs for people forced to live under the laws constant suspicion and surveillance, and those are harder to measure. What about those who cant move through their own neighborhoods without being stopped and searched? What about the millions of Americans who cant vote, find housing, get hired for even menial jobs, or pay for food because theyre stuck in a legal choke hold that was first applied by the cops?

Its not prison, but its not freedom either. At the very least, the drop in crime should encourage more humility about what hiring more cops is actually achieving, now that the pandemic has revealed how idiosyncratic American crime trends actually are. Instead, weve thrown out the logic of cause and effect and accepted that, regardless of what the data shows, well keep indulging the same old delusions about the police.
Photo: Jeff Bachner/New York Daily News via Getty Images

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams announced that he had selected Edward Caban to be the next NYPD commissioner. Cabans elevation was widely anticipated after being named interim commissioner following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Keechant Sewell. He will be the first Latino to lead the NYPD in the departments history.

The mayor also announced the appointment of Tania Kinsella, a 20-year veteran of the force, to be the next first deputy commissioner. Kinsella will be the first woman of color to hold that position in NYPD history.

Adams made the appointment official on Monday during an event at the departments 40th Precinct in the Bronx, the district where Caban began his career. The crowd full of administration officials and elected politicians behind Adams was enthusiastic during his remarks, breaking out in chants of Eddie! Eddie!

We knew we had to appoint the right person, and I saw in Eddie, long ago, the possibilities. I knew that there was something special about Edward Caban, Adams said.

The mayor described Cabans partnership with Sewell, and his work as deputy commissioner, as playing a key role in the improvements of crime rates across the city during his tenure, calling him the right choice for right now.

Unlike his predecessor  Sewell was hired from the Nassau County Police Department  Caban has spent his whole career with the NYPD. He first joined the force in 1991 and rose through the ranks, later becoming an inspector in 2015. Caban became deputy commissioner in 2022 under Sewell.

After being sworn in, Caban noted the historical nature of his appointment and thanked his father, a former transit officer, for mentoring him.

My journey with NYPD began over 32 years ago, a young Puerto Rican kid from Parkchester standing on a foot post in the South Bronx just like thousands who came before me and thousands who have come after me. In those days, the top bosses of the police department didnt really look like me. Police Officer Eddie Caban could not walk into the 40th precinct, look up at the leadership photos hanging on the wall and envision his future, he said.

Caban also thanked Sewell for the work she did during her 18 months as commissioner and for her friendship, saying she smashed the glass ceiling that lingered on for far too long as the first woman to helm the department.

Caban is known to have a good relationship with Adams who, the New York Times reports, pushed personally for him to be made first deputy commissioner position, citing law enforcement sources. Its been alleged that Sewell, who did not publicly give a reason for her resignation, left in part due to perceived micromanaging from Adams and Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, both former NYPD officers themselves.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  CNN Philippines has issued a statement on its official YouTube channel which was temporarily disabled by the social media platform on Monday.

It states:

"Please be informed that our YouTube channel is temporarily disabled due to alleged copyright issues. A notice to this effect was sent to CNN Philippines early this afternoon.

"We are pursuing ways to resolve these issues so that our YouTube Channel will be back online as soon as possible.

"We at CNN Philippines maintain our steadfast commitment to strictly adhere to copyright rules and trust that this misunderstanding will be resolved at the earliest possible time."
Three local businesses will compete for $75,000 in a statewide funding competition thats coming to Auburn in August.

The Alabama Launchpad competition will provide funding for companies in their concept stage or in their early seed stage to help owners get ideas off the ground. Alabama Launchpad will hold its public final on the Auburn University campus at the Park.

Alabama Launchpad is a $1 billion fund investor thats funded 110 startups, invested $5.9 million into the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Were thrilled to provide Alabama Launchpads Cycle 2 2023 finalists with robust mentorship from an expert lineup of business leaders and experts, said Miller Girvin, executive vice president of Innovation & Talent at EDPA. Launchpad is building a sustainable pipeline of innovation and job creation in Alabama, which can transform the economic landscape of the state.

Eleven businesses startups are competing in the final on Aug 17. Three of those businesses NanoPrintek, Inc., VivoSphere, LLC and Autonoma, Inc are based right here on the plains.

NanoPrintek and VivoSphere are both competing in the concept stage category for a $25,000 prize. Both companies are part of Auburn Universitys New Venture Accelerator program.

Autonoma is competing in the early seed stage category for $50,000.

NanoPrintek has created the worlds first dry nano printer. According to their website, the companys dry printing technology allows people to design and print various pure materials and hybrid structures without a need for inks.

VivoSphere creates 3D cell culture models to help with in vitro drug testing. According to their website they seek to Generate more human-like responses with more human-like tissues.

Autonoma, Inc. creates autonomous vehicle simulation and validation tools. The company uses simulators to allow real world vehicles to see in a virtual environment.

Since Alabama Launchpad began in 2006, it has funded 114 startup companies. They have also invested over $6.1 million in funding. Winning business have created over 1,300 jobs across the state.

This will be the fifth time Alabama Launchpad has come to the plains. Auburn also hosted the program every year from 2016 to 2019.

For tickets to the Aug. 17 event, visit the Eventbrite page for the Alabama Launchpad Cycle 2 2023 Finale.
Europes benchmark natural gas prices extended last weeks losses to drop by nearly 3% midday in Europe on Monday after a prolonged maintenance period on a key Norwegian gas supply route ended this weekend.

The front-month futures at the TTF hub, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, traded at $28.32 (25.22 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 11:57 a.m. GMT on Monday, down by 2.84% on the day.

Last week, Europes gas prices posted their biggest weekly loss for this year, 22%, as Norwegian gas supply increased following the end of regular maintenance at the giant Troll gas field and several other gas processing plants in Norway.

Over the past month, maintenance at some facilities had to be extended beyond the original end date, which caused volatility in the gas market due to uncertainty about the Norwegian supply.

But the maintenance works at the Nyhamna gas processing plant ended on Saturday as planned after work took over a month more than originally thought.

As a result, Norways gas exports rose on Monday by 60 million cubic meters a day (mcm/d) at 318 mcm/d, according to Refinitiv Eikon data cited by Reuters.

Norway is now Europes single largest gas supplier after Russia cut off pipeline supply to most of its EU customers after the invasion of Ukraine.

The return to regular Norwegian gas supply to the UK and mainland Europe has calmed the gas futures market in recent days, despite the prolonged heatwave in southern and central Europe with temperatures above normal levels and reaching record highs.

Despite higher demand for cooling, natural gas demand in Europe continues to be subdued, also due to weaker demand for industrial activities.

Stockpiles are also elevated, giving further confidence to governments ahead of the winter. As of July 15, gas storage sites across the EU were 80% full, according to data by Gas Infrastructure Europe.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices fell by around 1% in early Asian trade on Monday after major Libyan oilfields resumed production over the weekend following a brief shutdown and after China reported second-quarter economic growth below expectations.

In the morning in Europe, the U.S. benchmark WTI Crude was trading down by 0.98% at $74.68 per barrel, while the international benchmark, Brent Crude, traded below the $80 per barrel mark it had reached last week for the first time since May. Brent was down by 0.96%, at $79.10.

Underwhelming Chinese GDP data weighed on the oil market, again, after the worlds second-largest economy and top crude oil importer reported early on Monday 6.3% GDP growth for the second quarter, missing expectations of 7.3% growth and slowing quarter-on-quarter. GDP in the second quarter rose by just 0.8% compared to the first quarter, after 2.2% quarterly growth in the first quarter.

The economic growth miss from China added to the return to production of large Libyan oilfields to weigh on oil prices on Monday.

Last Friday, Libyas largest oilfield, Sharara, was fully halted amid protests on Friday as tensions in the restive African OPEC producer returned. The El Feel oilfield close to Sharara was also affected and was also stopped. Combined, the Sharara and El Feel oilfields in southwestern Libya pumped around 350,000 bpd of crude oil before the stoppage.

The halting of production at the fields was the result of protests by the Al-Zawi tribe over the kidnapping of Faraj Bumatari, a former finance minister.

Bumatari has been released, tribal leader Al-Senussi Al-ahlaiq told Reuters, which led to the resumption of production at Sharara and El Feel.

Libya lost 340,000 barrels in production due to the closures, Oil Minister Mohamed Aoun told Dubai-based Asharq TV this weekend.

The oil ministry warned that Libya would lose market share due to the on-and-off supply.

The loss of confidence in the continuity of Libyan oil supply to the global market will result in a loss of market share for Libyan oil and decreased demand for it, the ministry said in a statement carried by Reuters.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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NATO summits tend to be rather drab affairs. Most announcements are known well in advance and the official summit communique that runs to several pages of technocratic prose normally just gets a cursory look by disinterested media.

Not so at the Vilnius summit on July 11-12. The document was eagerly scrutinized for words indicating if or when Ukraine could join the military alliance. Emotions were running high: from the first crushing disappointment, if not downright anger, expressed by the Ukrainian leadership about what was offered to them, to a second day of reconciliation of sorts, and smiles, albeit slightly forced.

To understand what all the fuss is about, one must go back to the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 when Ukraine (as well as Georgia) got the thumbs-up to join the alliance but were offered no concrete pathway or timeline. What Kyiv and many NATO members, notably in the east, wanted in Vilnius was to go beyond the Bucharest declaration. The phrase I heard most in the run-up to the meeting was to "avoid another Bucharest."

Comparing the Vilnius and Bucharest declarations, it is fair to say that Kyiv got a "Bucharest 2.0" or perhaps a "Bucharest+." It has inched closer to NATO, but only a little. The Bucharest text stated that "NATO welcomes Ukraine's and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO." It then describes the way forward, by stating that "MAP is the next step for Ukraine and Georgia on their direct way to membership." MAP, meaning Membership Action Plan, was a NATO membership waiting room of sorts that many Central and Eastern European candidates were placed in before joining, in which they had to undertake specific political and military reforms.

Deep Background: The Vilnius declaration is linguistically more forward-leaning. It states that "Ukraine's future is in NATO." It then noted that "we reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognize that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan." The MAP being removed was consistent with Finland's and Sweden's routes to joining the alliance.

This new status, in the words of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, "will change Ukraine's membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process." Yet, the process isn't entirely clear, and what has truly frustrated the Ukrainians was the final sentence of that paragraph that underlines that "we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted that it's "unprecedented and absurd when [the] timeframe is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about "conditions" is added even for inviting Ukraine."

Drilling Down

Some NATO officials -- speaking on the condition of anonymity -- say that it was a miracle that the word "invitation" was included at all. This goes further than anything before, although arguably means nothing without time frames and pathways.

It is also interesting to note that the conditions are not spelled out. Stoltenberg was pressed on this continuously at summit press conferences, and he vaguely mentioned issues such as the need for Kyiv to "strengthen their governance, including fighting corruption." But for Zelenskiy it was clear that Ukraine will be invited once the war is over, and he said that he "hadn't heard any other opinion in the room."

I was told by diplomats not authorized to speak on the record that the reason why NATO didn't spell out explicitly that Ukraine will become a member upon a successful resolution of the war is that this would invite Russia to continue the fighting indefinitely, even just by rocket strikes on Ukrainian territory in a bid to constantly keep Kyiv from joining the alliance.

When it comes to time frames and pathways, what Ukraine's closest friends in the alliance wanted in the text -- but didn't get -- was some signposting of the next steps -- for example, an explicit mention of a NATO ministerial meeting in the fall to discuss the issue, or even making reference to taking stock of the situation at the NATO summit in Washington in July 2024.

In this sense, the 2008 Bucharest declaration was actually more promising. There it was stated that "we have asked foreign ministers to make a first assessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting." That assessment, though, never came, as Russia's attack on Georgia in August 2008 derailed the entire process.

Another phrase that didn't make it into the Vilnius declaration was "Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO" -- a sentence Stoltenberg used when he visited Kyiv earlier this year. In fact, diplomats told me the declaration text had pretty much remained the same since the NATO foreign ministerial meeting in Oslo in May when the outlines of the documents were first discussed behind closed doors.

Those outlines became what NATO, in fact, offered Ukraine in Vilnius: no MAP needed, the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council to upgrade formal political relations, and a multiyear assistance program worth 500 million euros ($562 million) a year.

What was clear was that the United States, but also Germany, didn't want to go any further. When asked why, I got two explanations from various diplomats I spoke to. One was the fear of edging closer to offering Ukraine Article 5 protection -- NATO's mutual-defense clause -- that could lead the military alliance into direct confrontation with Moscow. The other was the U.S. presidential election next year. That means that it's likely little can be expected at the NATO Washington summit next summer -- which will be taking place in the middle of an election campaign.

With that in mind, it was interesting to watch U.S. President Joe Biden. He didn't hold a press conference, which is rather unusual for an American president attending a NATO summit, and he skipped the dinner with other heads of state and governments. He did, however, have a long sit-down with Zelenskiy and delivered a rousing speech at Vilnius University after the summit in which he said that "we will not waver, our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for liberty and freedom today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes."

Brief #2: How The G7 Countries Might Help Ukraine

What You Need To Know: What did lighten the mood on the second and final day of the NATO summit was the security commitments -- both political and military -- offered to Ukraine while it waits to become a full member. Just as with the summit declaration and Ukraine's membership quest, much of this is about semantics. What most NATO officials think (but don't say out loud) is that NATO can, in fact, only offer one such security guarantee -- and that is membership. And that was not on the table.

At the same time, Kyiv doesn't like the word "assurances." That was offered to Ukraine in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 by the United Kingdom, the United States, and notably Russia, in exchange for giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. These assurances ultimately meant nothing as Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and later that same year fueled a war in the eastern parts of Ukraine that eventually led to the Russian full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

What instead happened was that the G7 leaders, who were all gathered in Vilnius, agreed on a "joint declaration of support to Ukraine" on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Biden described it as "a powerful statement of our commitment to Ukraine as it defends its freedom today and as it rebuilds its future." And Zelenskiy, standing alongside the U.S. leader, noted that "the Ukrainian delegation is bringing home significant security victories for Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children."

Deep Background: Many questions still remain. What exactly is being offered by the West's leading democracies from the G7? From when does it apply? And will it be ironclad guarantees or something weaker? Looking at the G7 declaration, it is stated that "today we are launching negotiations with Ukraine to formalize -- through bilateral security commitments and arrangements aligned with this multilateral framework, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements -- our enduring support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community."

Two things stand out immediately. The wording "commitments and arrangements" are clearly weaker than "guarantees." On the other hand, the fact that these future bilateral deals with G7 members need to be formalized "in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements" means that national parliaments in the respective G7 countries must back them. And this gives them political weight. Ultimately this will be a question about how fast these deals can be negotiated -- and how much money or arms will be sent Kyiv's way.

Drilling Down

Notably, the G7 statement talks about discussions starting "immediately" and that the commitments will include "ensuring sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future" before outlining a number of areas of support, such as air defense, artillery and long-range missiles, armored vehicles, as well as training of Ukrainian forces and boosting cybersecurity and intelligence sharing.

To me, the most interesting paragraph is the following: "In the event of future Russian armed attack, we intend to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine appropriate next steps. We intend, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements, to provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment across land, sea, and air domains, and economic assistance, to impose economic and other costs on Russia."

Although I didn't manage to get any real clarification from officials or analysts on what a "future Russian armed attack" means in the context of what has been an ongoing war, my reading of the text is that this sentence implies longer-term arrangements, especially in the case that a negotiated cease-fire was broken by Russia further down the road.

Ultimately, for now, Ukraine must rely on Western arms deliveries. In the run-up to the summit, France announced that it would supply Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles and the United States said that it would provide cluster munitions -- a move that horrified several European partners who have banned the use of them but that Zelenskiy described as "fair," noting that Russian forces have been pounding Ukraine with cluster munitions for a long time already.

The next question is whether the United States will send its long-range artillery weapons -- Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) -- to Ukraine. When asked, Zelenskiy said with a dry smile, "I don't know," and added, "There are conversations, but not everything at once."

A lot will now depend on how Ukraine is faring on the battlefield with what it has received so far. Diplomats I have spoken to concede that some sort of Ukrainian military success must arrive this year as the European Union and crucially the United States will shift focus to big elections in 2024.

A lot will now depend on Zelenskiy's power of persuasion. While he was getting a rock-star reception by adoring crowds wherever he went in Vilnius, many allies of Ukraine weren't particularly keen on his forthright criticism of them on Twitter. From speaking to officials from some of Ukraine's closest allies, who weren't authorized to speak on the record, the feeling was that the Ukrainian president went a bit over the top and was too emotional.

Perhaps the most memorable statement from the entire summit was that of British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, who is much-admired in Ukraine. He told British journalists at the summit that the U.K. was not the online retailer Amazon when it came to supplying arms and that Western countries would like to see some more gratitude for what they are doing for Kyiv. Shortly after the summit, Wallace announced that he will step down from his role at the next U.K. cabinet reshuffle, which sources told the BBC is expected in September.

Hanging over all of this discussion and diplomacy have been reports about U.S. back-channel negotiations with Russian officials on some sort of settlement of the war. If such talks did take place, the Biden administration has said they were not sanctioned or supported by the White House. I spoke to a few well-placed European officials who said that the United States is still considering a future status of Ukraine as a neutral, non-NATO country to be a useful bargaining chip with the Kremlin in future talks.

Looking Ahead

On July 17-18, there will be a summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels. It's the first such meeting since 2015, and the talk in the run-up to this one has centered around the final summit declaration and the EU being supposedly upset that the CELAC countries have insisted on scrubbing the draft text of any references to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Later this week, on July 20, EU foreign ministers will gather in Brussels for their monthly meeting. Ukraine will, of course, feature prominently, but look out for their lunch discussion on Turkey and the state of play in EU-Ankara relations. Just before the NATO Vilnius summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan implored the EU to revive Turkey's stalled membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO, so it's possible the ministers could discuss a potential visa deal with Ankara or ways to upgrade Turkey's aging customs union with the EU.

By RFE/RL

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Wheat prices jumped as news broke Monday that Russia let the UN-brokered grain deal lapse at midnight, Istanbul time, marking the end of the Turkey-administered humanitarian corridor which let Ukrainian grains get exported to global markets. Russia since confirmed the deal has been "terminated".

What was formally called the Black Sea Grain Initiative had already been extended for multiple short increments since its implementation in July 2022. The Kremlin confirmed in a statement by Dmitry Peskov: "The Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today. As the President of the Russian Federation said earlier, the deadline is July 17."

"Unfortunately, the part relating to Russia in this Black Sea agreement has not been implemented so far. Therefore, its effect is terminated," the presidential spokesman continued. Ultimately this will put much more pressure on Kiev, already in the midst of a failing counteroffensive, which is likely Russia's strategic purpose in suspending the deal.

But Peskov suggested it could be reimplemented if Russia's conditions for resumption are met, namely the country's ability to export its own foodstuffs safely, after Moscow has long voiced its objections, which has included blaming the Ukrainians for placing naval mines in the Black Sea corridor.

"As soon as the Russian part is completed, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately," Peskov said. He further described the agreement as having "been de facto stopped" - again suggesting the possibility of a speedy resumption following negotiations that would address Russia's concerns.

Currently there's speculation that the fresh attack on the Crimean Bridge (also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge) was a last straw, but Moscow is downplaying the connection. The Washington Post writes Monday morning:

Ukraines military and security services were responsible for the attack on a key bridge that connects the Crimean peninsula to the Russian region of Krasnodar, a Ukrainian official said Monday. Ukraine used sea surface drones to attack the bridge  an important supply artery for Russias war in Ukraine  the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of military operations. On Monday, the Kremlin said the grain deal, which allowed Ukrainian grain to be shipped from Black Sea ports despite wartime hostilities, is "being terminated" until Russias demands are met.

However, Peskov noted that Russia's willingness to pull out of the grain deal initiative was communicated prior to the attack, which reportedly killed two civilians and suspended bridge traffic. Russia has denounced the "terrorist attack".

The White House reaction has been to say that Moscow has been using the grain deal as "a weapon" - as stated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Putin for his part has complained that food exports have not been going to countries which are most in need, in Africa and the Middle East, but instead to Kiev's preferred Western partners in Europe who are busy supplying battlefield arms.

China reacted later in the day Monday...

Moscow has the two killed in the overnight Crimea Bridge attack involved a Russian family traveling on vacation whose vehicle was destroyed. A statement further alleged assistance to Ukrainian forces by the US and UK.

"This regime [the Ukrainian government] is terrorist and has all the hallmarks of an international organized crime group," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a written statement. "Ukrainian officials and military personnel take those decisions with direct input from American and British special services and politicians. The US and Britain are managing a state-like terrorist structure," it said.

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The Baltic states of Estonia and Lithuania have set a target to decouple from the Russian power grid in early 2025, ending three decades of dependence on Moscow, Reuters reports.

"As a compromise, we're (are) agreeing to bring this deadline a year closer. So, leaving in the beginning of 2025," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Reuters at a NATO summit in Vilnius last week.

"We see what happens in Ukraine, where people are being killed and bombs continue to fall  I don't think it's the right choice to keep cooperating with the aggressor just because this saves a few cents," Rokas Masiulis, the chief of the Lithuanian power grid operator Litgrid, told reporters on Monday.

Back in 2018, the Baltic states as well as Poland and the European Commission signed a deal backed by 1.6 billion euros ($1.61 billion) in European funding to upgrade their infrastructure and disconnect from the Russian grid by 2025.

Many western nations continue distancing themselves from Russia with varying degrees of success. Europe, Russias largest customer of most energy commodities, especially natural gas. Has dramatically cut down its imports of Russian energy supplies following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Gas exports from Gazprom to Switzerland and the EU fell by 55% in 2022, the state-owned firm reported earlier this month.

The United States has stopped all oil imports from Russia but still buys most of its enriched uranium from Russia

But Russia itself is also dependent on its neighbors for critical infrastructure. Gazprom has maintained gas flows to Europe via Sokhranovka point despite an ongoing transit dispute with Ukraines Naftogaz. Ukrainian transit flows have remained stable at slightly above 40 million cubic meters per day according to data from Gazprom, as reported by Energy Intelligence.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller had earlier threatened to slap sanctions on Naftogaz as it continues to pursue an arbitration case for non-payment of transit fees by Gazprom. According to Naftogaz the "funds were not paid by Gazprom, neither on time nor in full" for the gas transit. Last year, Ukraine suspended the flow of gas through Sokhranovka, which delivers almost a third of the fuel piped from Russia to Europe through Ukraine.

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By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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After months of decline following falling crude prices, gasoline and diesel prices have started rising thanks to soaring crude prices. National average gas prices in the United States have inched up to $3.565 per gallon from $3.543 a week ago, while a gallon of diesel now averages $3.842 from $3.837 a week ago. Oil markets are looking to build on three straight weeks of increases, which coincides with the oil price rally.

Oil markets have enjoyed a sustained rally over the past three weeks, with oil prices briefly moving above $80 per barrel for the first time in two months ostensibly thanks to rising demand and OPEC+ supply cuts finally causing global markets to tighten.

Whether or not the oil price rally has any legs, however, remains to be seen with supply tightness in global oil markets being challenged by growing production from the likes of Iran and Venezuela as well as record production by the U.S. Shale Patch.

Rystad Energy has estimated that whereas OPEC and its allies have announced cuts amounting to ~6% of 2022's production, non-OPEC supply has made up for two-thirds of those cuts, with the U.S. accounting for half of that.

The Biden administration has been pleading with American producers and even OPEC to ramp-up production in a bid to keep oil and fuel prices low. But its become a tug-of-war between the U.S. Shale Patch and OPEC with the former trying to take advantage of cyclically high oil prices by growing production while the likes of Saudi Arabia and Russia are trying to keep supply low in a bid to goose prices.

For the second month running, the leading OPEC producer, Saudi Arabia, has extended its voluntary 1M bbl/day oil production cut for another month, this time till August. The reduction will take the countrys production to ~9M bbl/day, the lowest level in several years. Saudi has been single-handedly sacrificing sales volume in bid to goose weak oil prices, but has so far reaped little reward.

However, oil traders remain unconvinced that the cuts will have the desired effect over the long-term, with Marwan Younes, chief investment officer of hedge fund Massar Capital Management, saying the gains are likely to be short-lived.

The problem is when you cut production in an already weak environment, the impact is limited. It looks like we could be here for a while, Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, has told the Wall Street Journal.

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Japan, a major importer of energy commodities, plans to propose the creation of a global emergency reserve for natural gas, similar to the emergency reserve requirements for oil by the International Energy Agency (IEA), as the resource-poor import-dependent nation looks to avoid shortages and price spikes.

Japan is expected to propose a global emergency gas stockpile at a natural gas conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, sources with knowledge of the plans told Bloomberg on Monday.

While the EU has a collective target to fill gas storage sites to 90% by November 1 of each year, a target set after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there isnt a global natural gas emergency reserve.

For the IEA members, which include most developed economies including Japan and the United States, each country has an obligation to hold oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil imports and to be ready to collectively respond to severe supply disruptions affecting the global oil market. Countries have flexibility on how to meet that obligationstocks can include stocks held exclusively for emergencies and stocks held for commercial purposes (both in the form of crude oil and as refined products), as well as holding stocks in other countries under bilateral agreements.

Japans proposal for an emergency reserve of natural gas is similar to the IEA emergency oil stock requirements, according to Bloombergs sources.

Last year, global natural gas prices surged to records after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and after Russia cut off gas pipeline supply to most EU countries. In August 2022, the benchmark European prices and the spot Asian LNG prices hit record highs as Europe and Asia competed for LNG supply ahead of the 2022/2023 winter.

Amid all these developments, Japans trade deficit surged to a record high in August 2022.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Via AG Metal Miner

Liberty Steel recently won a bid to take over Hungarys Dunaferr. According to Hungarys Ministry of Economic Development, a local court put the integrated flats producer into liquidation in late 2022. Liberty will pay 55 million ($61 million) for the Dunaferr plant, beating out Indias Vulcan Steel, Ukrainian group Metinvest, Swiss-based Trasteel Trading, and local company Trinec Property.

In its July 11th statement, the Ministry stated that Liberty originally submitted its bid on July 7. However, the organization also noted that the hard work is just beginning. The government is committed to an outstanding green transition for the future of the steel industry. They also went on to add The operation of the factory is in need of reorganization. Significant improvements are necessary for the production of higher value-added products, the modern, 21st-century technological change, and the production of green steel.

Liberty Steel Inherits Significant Steel-Making Capacity

A Budapest municipal court put Dunaferr into liquidation in December 2022. At the time, reports indicated that the steelmakers debts exceeded Ft 500 billion ($1.48 billion). The Hungarian government also asked Liberty to supply volumes of coal to Dunaferr in order to keep the coking ovens in operation. Reports noted that the plant also restarted blast furnace No. 2 in February, followed by the cold and hot rolling mills.

Dunaferr has two blast furnaces, which can produce about 1.2 million metric tons per year of pig iron. It also has two 135-ton basic oxygen furnaces to convert that iron into about 1.6 million tons of crude steel. In addition, the site has a twin-stand vertical caster capable of producing 1.7 million metric tons of slab in 230mm gauge and in 860-1550mm widths. Meanwhile, Dunaferrs hot rolling mill can produce hot rolled coil with a maximum width of 1,540mm and in 1.2-18mm gauges.

Further downstream, Dunaferr can produce cold rolled coil in 0.4-2.5mm gauge and a 550-1,540mm width. Information on the companys website also noted that the site has a hot-dipped galvanizing line.

Some Analysts Question Libertys Overall Stability

One source expressed reservations about Libertys acquisition considering the companys current situation and history. Indeed, Liberty currently faces a number of lawsuits in connection with debts related to financier Greensills 2021 collapse. That incident also prompted Liberty to seek a buyer for Belgian flats producers Hayange and Ascoval in 2021.

The source also noted that Dunaferr has suffered from a lack of investment in all areas since 2008. Russias VEB.RF, previously known as Vnesheconombank, ended its funding to the previous owner. Industrial Union of Donbass was forced to end their ownership as a result of the financial crisis. The source added that Liberty does not own captive resources, which could complicate the acquisition of needed feedstock for Dunaferrs hot end.

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Liberty Steel has an estimated global crude steel capacity of about 15 million metric tons per year based on information from its website. Other assets of the group include an integrated longs and flats producer at Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, and a Romanian integrated flats producer at Galati. The group also has a flats roller in Skopje, North Macedonia, and a plate producer Czestochowa, Poland.

By Christopher Rivituso

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SLB, the biggest oilfield services firm in the world, is halting all shipments of products and technology into Russia from all SLB facilities worldwide, in response to the continued expansion of international sanctionsmore than a year after other major Western oilfield services providers and oil and gas producers abandoned their Russian operations.

The other major oilfield services providers, Baker Hughes and Halliburton, sold their Russian businesses last year, while Big Oil  including Exxon, Shell, and BP  ended new investments in Russia and said they would be looking to exit the Russian market as soon as applicable regulations allow.

SLB, formerly known as Schlumberger, however, only voluntary measures to curtail its Russian activity and announced that it would make no new investments in Russia and would not deploy new technology used in its services business.

SLB takes its responsibility to comply with export control and economic sanction laws extremely seriously, and the company remains aligned with the international community in condemning and calling for an end to the war in Ukraine, the firm said in the statement announcing a halt to shipments of equipment and technology to Russia.

Earlier this year, Ukraines National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) included SLB in the list of international war sponsors.

The American company SLB plays a critical role for the aggressor state, occupying 8% of the Russian oil service market, the Ukrainian government said in April.

To compare, Baker Hughes signed in August last year an agreement to sell its Oilfield Services business in Russia to its local management team.

A month later, Halliburton announced it completed the sale of its Russia operations to a Russia-based management team made up of former Halliburton employees. As a result, Halliburton no longer conducts operations in Russia. The new Baker Hughes and Halliburton businesses in Russia operate independently of their former parent companies.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Chinese navy's visit showcases Congo-China friendship: minister

Xinhua) 10:24, July 17, 2023

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. (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. (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. (Photo by Liu Zhehao/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said his department has agreed with the police to put a thousand foreigners rescued during a Las Pinas raid under the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Although theyll be kept in the Las Pinas quarters in the POGO where they were raided because we do not have the facilities in the BI to keep them, Remulla said Monday.

He added the BI was requested to blacklist foreigners as they were involved in an illegal activity.

On the foreigners' continuing detention, Remulla said violations of their terms of stay are enough to hold them indefinitely under BI custody.

Its legal custody because they are under investigation for violation of their visas or the conditions of their visas because the presumption is if they have working visas then they are here legally to work in a lawful activity, Remulla said.

Authorities 'rescued' over 2,000 workers, including foreigners late in June from alleged human traffickers in a POGO compound.

READ: Over 2K workers rescued in POGO hub raid in Las Pinas

Remulla earlier said they could not file a case as the police failed in its case buildup.

READ: DOJ chief: PNP's POGO trafficking raid lacks evidence
A UN-led project to prevent a catastrophic explosion and oil spill offshore Yemen will start this week, with 1 million barrels of oil to being pumped out from a decaying tanker that has been sitting off the Middle Eastern country for years.

The replacement vessel Nautica left Djibouti this weekend en route to the site off Yemen, where the dilapidated tanker, the Safer, has been moored for years and has been at risk of exploding or breaking up at any time, the UN said on Saturday.

The tanker arrived at Hodeidah on Sunday, in preparation for unloading more than a million barrels of crude oil from the dilapidated Safer vessel, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Bin Mubarak tweeted.

All technical preparations and agreements have been finalized, and the oil aboard the Safer will be pumped out in a ship-to-ship transfer that is expected to take about two weeks to complete, the UN said.

The UN has been warning for years that the tanker off the Yemeni coast could explode or sink, in warnings that an environmental disaster and potential disruption of oil shipping routes around the Red Sea is waiting to happen.

The Nautica very large crude carrier (VLCC) set sail in April from Zhoushan, China, as part of the United Nations coordinated operation to remove the oil from the FSO Safer supertanker.

The rescue tanker was secured in March by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and launched crowdfunding to secure donors for the rescue operation.

Speaking from aboard the Nautica, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, said on Saturday: The ship-to-ship transfer of the oil is an important milestone, but not the end of the operation. The next critical step is the installation of a CALM buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely moored.

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Last week, Gressly said, The completion of the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil by the start of August will be a moment when the whole world can heave a sigh of relief, adding that the worst-case humanitarian, environmental and economic catastrophe from a massive oil spill will have been prevented.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A person buying insurance does so because he or she is concerned about the future. A house fire could lead to a financial wipe-out. A car accident resulting in hospitalization could result in savings-depleting bills without insurance.

Insurance companies, however, concern themselves primarily with the past. They pay people called actuaries to create detailed models of risk using voluminous data from the past regarding medical diagnoses, life expectancy, damage due to natural disasters, auto accident statistics and myriad other pieces of information. These models help insurance companies predict the frequency and severity of the events they insure against and thereby set their rates.

If, however, conditions that create risks are rapidly changingas they are now with climate changemodels dependent on past data become unreliable. As a result, property and casualty insurers have been stung by huge losses due to severe weather. For example, the California wildfires of 2017 and 2018 resulted in $29 billion in insurance claims. But insurers only took in $15.6 billion in premiums.

Hurricanes and floods resulted in $120 billion in insured losses in 2022. Companies expect insured losses to continue to rise as climate change intensifies.

So much of modern life depends on the availability of insurance. Homeowners who have paid off their homes can go without insurance, but few do. That's because homes are often the largest asset that a family owns. Homes with mortgages are always insured because the lender requires it. The lender wants to make sure it will get its money back in case the home is destroyed.

And no modern business can function without insurance for property and liability. Even nonprofit organizations including houses of worship carry insurance. Divine protection is not usually considered enough by those who govern such institutions.

Now the viability of the insurance industry is at risk. Insurance companies know this, and one solution is simply not to insure homes and businesses in places at high risk for flooding, hurricanes, wildfires and other quickly mounting hazards. For example, many insurance companies have left Florida due to the increasingly high and unquantifiable risk. Three major insurers stopped writing polices in Florida recently. Twelve other national companies left the state previously between 2020 through 2022. Of the remaining companies, many are Florida-only insurers and six of those became insolvent last year. Thirty Florida-only companies are being watched closely by state regulators because of fears they might become insolvent.

Climate-enhanced wildfire risks in California have led three large insurers to stop writing new policies for homeowners. The companies also say that state regulators' limits on policy premiums in the face of rising risks were part of the reason for pulling back.

Naturally, states want to keep insurance available and affordable for their citizens. So, many have opened their own property and casualty insurance companies to fill the gap left behind by private insurers. Problem is, those state-sponsored insurance companies face the same risks as the exiting private companies. Any losses that exceed resources will ultimately be made up by taxpayers, many of whom do not benefit from state-backed insurance and many of whom purchased or built homes and businesses in less risky places.

The mounting risk has not gone unnoticed by those to who insure insurance companies known as reinsurers. Insurance companies often insure themselves against major losses through reinsurance. Earlier this month reinsurers upped their rates for U.S. property and casualty insurers by as much at 50 percent.

Of course, the rest of the world is experiencing huge losses due to climate change-enhanced severe weather, too. Examples include catastrophic flooding in eastern Australia and floods affecting more than 33 million people in Pakistan, both in 2022.

It would be one thing if this new normal were a one-time change. Insurance companies could probably easily adjust. But the problem with climate change is that it is a moving target. Severe weather is going to get worse and worse as climate change continues to intensify. (This is also a problem for those seeking for fortify seawalls and levees and create more stringent building codes.)

The intersection between the prices buyers of insurance are willing or able to pay and the prices insurers need to stay solvent must of necessity shrink. And, the reluctance of insurers to take on risk they can no longer understand is already making private insurance less available. That means more and more people may go without insurance in an increasingly risky environment. And, that means one of three things:

Governments choose to provide insurance. (For example, the U.S. government already provides 95 percent all the flood insurance in the country.) Governments end up paying to rebuild uninsured homes, businesses and other private infrastructure when they are damaged in natural disasters. In the absence of government help, those who are uninsured and haven't the resources to rebuild will leave or sell at rock-bottom prices whatever is left of their property. Much of what gets devastated will never be rebuilt.

Remember, climate change will not only increasingly affect private homes and businesses, but it will destroy more and more public infrastructure putting additional stress on governments both to repair that infrastructure AND to assist homeowners and businesses with their repairs and rebuilding. And, the areas affected by such catastrophes will continue to multiply. Witness the flooding that has just happened in New England in the past week.

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Insurance costs are ultimately borne by society. Rising insurance rates are just one indication of the costs associated with climate change. We cannot just boycott high prices and hope for them to come down. They won't because risks keep increasing. That means the only way to deal with ever rising insurance rates and declining availability will be to address climate change itself.

In Limits to Growth, the groundbreaking study of future resource and capital flows, the authors noted that what will ultimately halt growth is NOT lack of resources, but the dedication of all investable capital to maintaining the existing system. This will leave no capital for expanding the size of the economy. Rising insurance and rebuilding costs are becoming a major destination for capital that would otherwise go towards producing economic growth. This is moving us ever closer to outcome suggested by the Limits to Growth researchers.

By Kurt Cobb

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MASS SHOOTINGS

More than a year after 11-year-old Mayah Zamora was airlifted out of Uvalde, Texas, where she was critically injured in the Robb Elementary school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers, the family is still reeling.

Knocks on the door startle Mayah into a panic. The family is skipping Fourth of July celebrations to avoid booming fi reworks. An outing to the Little Mermaid movie requires noise-canceling headphones.

Since 2016, thousands of Americans have been wounded in mass shootings, and tens of thousands by gun violence, with that number continuing to grow, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Beyond the colossal medical bills and the weight of trauma and grief, mass shooting survivors and family members contend with scores of other changes that upend their lives.

Survivors talked to The Associated Press about the mental and physical wounds that endure in the aftermath of shootings in Uvalde; Las Vegas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, during a Fourth of July parade last year.

They describe staggering medical bills that in Mayah's case top $1 million, abandoning a dream career after 20 years, uprooting families and struggling to hold down a job, walk pets or even leave the house.

Uvalde

Mayah suffered wounds to her chest, back, both hands, face and ear, and needed so many surgeries her parents said they stopped counting. The family relocated to San Antonio, where Mayah spent 66 days in the hospital and still needs care.

"Her hospital bill is insane," said Mayah's mother, Christina Zamora. "It reaches close to $1,000,000, maybe over," not including rehabilitation, follow-up visits and counseling.

A year later, Christina and Mayah's father, Ruben, said they don't know what bills will be covered by insurance and how much they will need to pay. When Mayah was discharged, they realized one parent needed to stay home to care for her.

Christina quit her job. Facing daunting bills with one income instead of two is scary, she said. The relocation also has separated the family: Ruben works seven days on, seven Off in Uvalde. The couple's oldest son, Ruben Jr., stayed in Uvalde to attend college and work. Zach, 12, "misses him. He misses our old normal life."

Mayah is terrified to return to Uvalde.

"It's heartbreaking when your little one can't enjoy the things that she did before, and all these other kids are able to do," the elder Ruben said. "It tears you up."

Colorado Springs

Ashtin Gamblin was working the front door at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Nov. 19 when a person armed with a semiautomatic rifle shot and killed five people and injured 17 more, including Gamblin.

"I was shot nine times. Five to my left arm. Twice to my right arm. Twice to my left breast. Both of my humerus were shattered. So two broken arms," the 30-year-old said. Six months later, "my right arm is still fractured. My left hand, we're still working on function."

Tasks that were once simple, such as walking her dogs, are now challenging and the loss of autonomy has been difficult, Gamblin said.

She has battled with health insurance, the hospital and workers' compensation officials to figure out who would foot the $300,000 medical bill.

Gamblin also no longer felt safe in her apartment, where she could sometimes hear gunshots outside. She bought a house in a quieter neighborhood: "a house I wasn't prepared to buy," she said. "I bought a $380,000 safe space."

She lists other unexpected post-shooting costs: a flooded basement, a service animal, a new car to get to doctor's appointments.

Half a year later she is not mentally recovered enough to return to work.

"I just can't be there.  I don't feel safe going to the grocery store. I don't feel safe being in public," she said. "I have no idea what I'm doing with my life currently."

So far in 2023, nearly 400 people in the U.S. have been wounded in mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. And 140 people have died in mass killings this year, which is on track to surpass 2019, the deadliest year on record for mass killings since 2006, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

"There is a lot of focus on the people that are killed. And I'm grateful for that. Those are my friends and they deserved all of the attention and more," Gamblin said. "The downfall is the rest of us are still suffering."

Las Vegas

Tia Christiansen had worked in the music industry for more than 20 years when a gunman unleashed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history at a Las Vegas music festival she helped organize in October 2017.

The shooter rained gunfire from the windows of a high-rise casino hotel onto an outdoor concert crowd, killing 58 people and injuring more than 850.

Christiansen was scheduled to be at the festival that day. But she felt ill and stayed in her room, two doors down from where the gunman fi red.

"The room was shaking. It was incredibly loud. There was actually a moment when the gunfire was so loud that I literally instinctively ducked and put my hands over my head because I thought that the walls or the ceiling would come crumbling down," Christiansen said. "I completely reconciled my life and thought, 'Am I ready to die?'"

She was physically unscathed. But her life turned upside down. After the shooting, she worked a few more festivals, until she "had a complete, total breakdown on site crying."

"What I came to understand about myself in that moment was, I don't know if I can do this anymore," she said.

At concerts, Christiansen no longer focused on fans' joy, instead fixating on emergency exits and whether people could get to safety. She has since given up her career in the music industry, letting go of her dreams.

Her lingering PTSD and need to control her environment also has affected Christiansen's relationships with her friends and family.

"My personality changes. I get very short-tempered, and I get very judgmental. I'm quick to be snippy," she said. "That is heavy energy to be around."

Christiansen, who is based in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, turned to spending. She bought a new bed to try to fi nd more comfort and relied on delivered meals to avoid leaving her home.

"The financial aspect of it is crushing, absolutely crushing," she said. "I don't know how many years it's gonna take to pay that Off ."

Now Christiansen is part of a mentorship program for the Everytown Survivors Network, which connects thousands of gun violence survivors to resources and aims to end gun violence.

"The trauma doesn't go away," she said. "Even if you're not wounded in the moment, there is injury."

Highland Park

Leah Sundheim, 29, was a night manager at a hotel in Las Vegas when she got "the worst phone call you can ever receive."

Her mother, Jacquelyn Sundheim, had been killed at a shooting during Highland Park's 2022 Fourth of July parade, along with six other people.

"That flight home broke me," Sundheim said.

She then moved back to Highland Park to be close to her father.

"I couldn't be away from my family," Sundheim said. "I can't do another flight like that ever."

Mass shootings cause a variety of trauma, she said. Her experience is different from that of her aunt and cousins, who were sitting next to Jacquelyn Sundheim when she died.

"They have the visual and sound  of watching her be murdered, and my dad has the trauma of receiving the phone call and then subsequent hours trying to get to her body. My trauma is waking up to my phone ringing and hearing that my mom was killed," she said.

Whichever type of trauma survivors experience, she said, "it shatters the sense of security that you have in the world."
In an airmail letter to his parents from besieged Corregidor Island in the Philippines, Army Capt. Ronald O. Pigg predicted he would have a bunch of stories to tell when World War II ended and he finally could return home to Omaha.

(I) assure you that I expect to stay OK, Pigg, 31, wrote in the letter, postmarked March 5, 1942 and published five days later in The World-Herald. Tell everyone hello for me, and see to it that we get the tools, weapons and planes we need, as there is a war on here  I know  first hand.

But Pigg did not live to tell his family those stories.

The garrison fell two months laterm on and Pigg, a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers, became one of the 11,000 POWs captured by the Japanese military.

Two and a half years after his capture, after untold suffering in a Japanese prison camp, Pigg was huddled with more than 1,200 other POWs in the hot, stinking hold of the Japanese transport hell ship Enoura Maru at Takao, on the island of Formosa (now Taiwan), when U.S. aircraft bombed it. An estimated 400 men died.

Pigg and the others had survived a similar attack on another hell ship, the Oryoku Maru, a few weeks earlier in Manila.

Its not certain whether Pigg died in Takao, or a few days later aboard another ship bound for the Japanese mainland. But he didn't get to Japan alive.

No one knows what happened to his body.

Now the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is trying to find out. This year they have disinterred 71 caskets containing 431 sets of remains linked to the Enoura Maru and the Oryoku Maru from military cemeteries in Hawaii and the Philippines and brought the remains to the DPAA lab at Offutt Air Force Base for identification.

All have been buried in graves marked unknown since the 1940s.

DPAA anthropologists hope to identify many of the 985 missing service members from the ill-fated hell ship journey, including Pigg and 11 others from Nebraska. At least 16 more are from Iowa.

These guys held out for months against pretty tough odds, and they did a lot of heroic acts in the process, said Greg Kupsky, the agencys lead historian for the project, in a statement. If we can give them their names and identifications back, and send them home to their families, that would be great.

20,000 BONES  SO FAR

One Omahan with a keen interest in the outcome is Ronald L. Pigg, 81, a second cousin of the missing captain who has delved deeply into the background of the relative whose name he shares. Several years ago he gave the Army a DNA sample he hopes might lead to an identification.

"I myself would like to see him recovered," Pigg said. "To me it would make a difference because of the many, many hours I've spent learning about him."

The Enoura Maru project is currently slated to last eight years and is the largest one ever undertaken by DPAA. Its even larger than the USS Oklahoma project, which wrapped up at the Offutt lab in 2021 and resulted in the identifications of 361 of 394 missing sailors and Marines from a battleship that was sunk at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

The first coffins linked to the Enoura Maru were disinterred from Honolulus National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Jan. 9, on the 78th anniversary of the attack, said Carrie LeGarde, the Offutt-based forensic anthropologist who is leading the project.

On July 1, an Air Force jet flew more flag-draped coffins believed to contain 315 sets of remains to Offutt, bringing to 360 the number of remains now at the Offutt lab. The rest are scheduled to arrive later this summer.

LeGarde said about 20,000 bones have now been catalogued, with DNA samples extracted from some for submission to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware.

We are in the inventorying stage, she said.

Considering the ordeal of the hell ship victims, it is remarkable there are any remains to identify.

After the fall of Corregidor, the POWs were transferred to several slave-labor camps in the Philippines. They were held for 2 years in appalling conditions; many died in captivity of disease and starvation.

Later in the war, Japan experienced severe labor shortages and began shipping thousands of Allied prisoners to the homeland. They packed them tightly into the holds of cargo freighters with little food, water, or air, and no sanitation or medical facilities. They didn't much care whether the prisoners survived.

'NO COMBATANTS ... SUFFERED MORE HORRIBLY'

The POWs came to call them "hell ships" because of the inhuman conditions on board.

"No combatants in the war suffered more horribly than the prisoners on these hell ships," said historian Donald L. Miller in his 2001 book, "D-Days in the Pacific."

Slow-moving and unmarked, the hell ships were easy marks for U.S. submarines and carrier aircraft. More than a dozen were attacked and sunk.

On Dec. 13, 1944, 1,621 POWs, mostly officers, were loaded into the cargo hold of a former Japanese passenger liner, the Oryoku Maru. They had minimal space, food, water and air. The temperature quickly rose to well over 100 degrees.

Men began to die of suffocation, and the insane were knifing anyone available to suck the blood of the victim to satisfy their thirst, said Maj. Arthur Peterson, a POW survivor, in a diary used at war-crimes trial after the war. By daylight there were several score dead either from suffocation or by murder."

Two days later, aircraft from the carrier USS Hornet attacked the ship as it sailed up the coast to Subic Bay. About 280 POWs were killed, some of them shot in the water by Japanese guards as they tried to escape from the sinking ship.

"Some of them were too hurt or sick to be shipped, so they were taken to a cemetery and executed," LeGarde said.

Two weeks later, guards packed the survivors onto the Enoura Maru and a second livestock freighter, the Brazil Maru, for the journey to Japan. They arrived at Takao after four days, on New Years Eve. At least 20 prisoners died en route.

'A MASS OF WRECKAGE AND DEAD'

On Jan. 6, the POWs from the Brazil Maru were also crammed onto the Enoura Maru, making a dismal situation even worse.

Dysentery is spreading and the flies are out of control entirely. There are literally millions of them, Peterson wrote in his diary. The bulkheads appear to be a moving mass of black and green.

On Jan. 9, 1945, aircraft from the Hornet attacked the ship  once again, with no idea that it held prisoners. About 270 were killed in a direct hit.

Peterson described the forward hold as a mass of wreckage and dead.

The calmness of the men when under air attack is miraculous, he said. Most of them . . . would just as soon be blown up by Uncle Sam's planes as starved to death by the Nips.

After a few days, some bodies were taken ashore and burned. Others were buried. All of the living  about 900 prisoners  were moved over to the Brazil Maru for the final tortuous journey to Moji, Japan, a port on the northern tip of the island of Kyushu.

During the 16-day ordeal, about 40 prisoners died per day  if not from their wounds, then from starvation, dehydration, disease or exposure.

The hold continuously has a pile of 40 to 50 emaciated bodies which are removed above decks once a day and buried at sea, Peterson wrote in his diary. It is impossible to recognize your best friend on the death pile due to emaciation, etc. It makes the identification of the dead extremely difficult.

A roll call upon landing at Moji indicated just 497 of the POWs had survived the voyage. A report for the war-crimes tribunal described the men who disembarked as "walking skeletons."

They were scattered to several different prison camps in Japan, most still sick. Another 200 died before Japan surrendered in August 1945.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Services search for the remains of U.S. war dead brought them to Formosa in 1946. About 400 sets of remains  most, but not all, associated with the Enoura Maru  and were recovered and sent to Hawaii for reburial in communal graves.

The search was unable to recover remains from Oryoku Maru from the wreckage along the shoreline at Olongapo, near Subic Bay. But some POWs who died after making it ashore were recovered and buried at Manilas U.S. military cemetery.

ONE POW IDENTIFIED, HUNDREDS TO GO

Several years ago, DPAA historians and forensic anthropologists started studying the historical files and decided to take on the identification of the Enoura Maru unknowns.

The service branches began tracking down relatives of the missing POWS to get DNA samples for comparison. So far, they have obtained samples from about 70% of the families of the missing, LeGarde said, or nearly 700. Defense Department rules call for at least 60% family reference samples before disinterments are allowed.

As a test, DPAA disinterred one casket in 2017 that records showed contained the remains of a single service member. Forensic anthropologists did identify one person  Marine Corps Capt. Lester A. Schade, 27, of Abbotsford, Wisconsin  from dental records. But the bones in the casket contained DNA from at least four different people.

LeGarde said other caskets also have been found to contain the bones from many more people than shown in the records, complicating identification.

They are very commingled, similar to the Oklahoma, she said.

Still, LeGarde said, the agency has made seven tentative identifications so far. Those IDs must be confirmed before families are notified and they are publicly announced.

So far, it's working, she said. Thats good news for the project overall.

A CLUE IN A DIARY

Ronald Pigg isnt getting his hopes too high.

About 20 years ago, he began researching his namesake cousin whom he had heard very little about while growing up.

He learned that the first Ronald Pigg was born in Massena, Iowa, in 1910. His mother, Myrtle, died when he was about 3. His father, Arthur, remarried about three years later, and moved to Omaha.

Pigg attended Park School near Hanscom Park and graduated from Technical High School in 1928. He attended the University of Omaha for a year, and in 1935 earned a civil engineering degree from Iowa State.

That same year, he married Ruth Stiver. They did not have children.

After graduating, Pigg got a job with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was sent to the Philippines in 1939 to help shore up Corregidor's fortifications against a possible Japanese attack.

Though he worked for the Corps as a civilian, he was commissioned as an Army captain on Jan. 6, 1942, in the first desperate weeks of the Japanese invasion.

Im sure getting a workout, he wrote in his one letter home.

The prospects for Pigg and the rest of the POWs grew bleaker as it became clear no rescue was possible.

In July 1945, Piggs family was notified that he had been killed seven months earlier in the sinking of the Oryoku Maru, at the beginning of the hell ship ordeal.

During his research, however, the younger Ronald Pigg discovered a reference to his cousin in Petersons diary in an entry dated January 28, 1945.

Underway at 6 a.m. Deaths increasing, Peterson wrote. Captains Eichlin and Ronnie Pigg are dead.

That leads Pigg to believe that his cousin survived until just before the ship docked at Moji.

I never felt hed be recovered at all, Pigg said. I assumed they just put him overboard.

Still, identifications of the dead were difficult as the men on the ships suffered and died. Peterson himself said that many mistakes were made.

So there's at least a sliver of hope that Ronald Pigg could see the World War II hero who shares his name identified and brought home, perhaps to be buried next to his parents in Massena.

I would be ecstatic about it, Pigg said. I hope I live long enough to see the results.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
By all available measures, COVID-19 infection rates in Nebraska are as low as health officials have ever seen them.

Concentrations of the virus in wastewater have ticked up slightly in some areas but remain low. Emergency room visits for the virus, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, also are at a monthslong lull.

Im really happy with that, said Dr. Matthew Donahue, Nebraskas state epidemiologist. Before weve hit peaks and valleys and then we go back up. Weve hit a valley and weve stayed in that valley for quite some time, the longest time weve stayed in a valley since this all kicked off.

Nationally, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that the agency had seen small increases overall in emergency department visits, test positivity and wastewater levels and that hospital admissions had leveled off after steadily declining.

The welcome respite in Nebraska, Donahue said, likely is due to several factors, starting with immunity conferred by vaccines and past infections. During summer, Nebraskans spend more time outdoors and overall disease transmission is lower.

The southern United States, on the other hand, has seen summer increases in transmission of COVID-19 as people gather indoors to escape the heat.

Most Americans 16 and older  96.7%, according to the latest estimates by the CDC  by December had antibodies to the coronavirus from being infected with COVID-19, vaccinated for it or some combination of the two. Some 77.5% had at least some of their immunity from a prior infection while 81.4% of Americans had gotten at least one dose of vaccine.

The coronavirus continues to cause harm, however, Donahue said. COVID-19 was the states third leading cause of death in 2022. The nation as a whole was still recording 550 deaths from COVID-19 a week in mid-June.

The best way to protect against serious illness and death is to keep up to date on vaccines, he said. Over the 20-week period from September through January, Nebraskans who were vaccinated and had an updated booster shot were 17 times less likely to die than people who were unvaccinated.

Some 17% of the U.S. population has received an updated booster dose, a figure that improves to 43.3% for the vulnerable 65 and older group. Some 18% of Nebraskans have gotten updated boosters.

New coronavirus variants continue to emerge, although Donahue said hes not seeing any on the horizon that are raising big alarms.

He considers three characteristics when he looks at new variants: contagiousness, or how many people a variant can infect; severity, or their likelihood of causing severe illness; and immune escape, or how much protection is provided by past infections and vaccinations.

Those three characteristics most often are determined by mutations in whats known as the spike protein, which is found on the surface of the virus and allows it to enter cells.

Initially, health officials in Nebraska tracked variants in the state by sequencing the genomes of samples from nasal swabs collected at hospitals, clinics and test sites, he said. Thats how they identified the delta variant when it reached Nebraska in the summer of 2021 and omicron in the winter of 2021-22.

But during and after omicron, Donahue said, residents increasingly turned to using at-home tests that werent submitted to labs to test for the virus. That left labs short of samples.

Instead, the state and its partners earlier this year became one of the first groups in the U.S. to begin tapping the wastewater surveillance system they had established as an early warning system for virus surges to also monitor for new variants. Instead of sequencing the whole virus, however, they figured out how to sequence the spike protein.

The initiative began as a partnership among the University of Nebraska Medical Centers College of Public Health, the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, although the work now is being done within the public health laboratory.

Two new variants recently have shown up nationally, EU.1.1 and EG.5. Both evolved from omicron and its descendants, BA.2 and XBB. EU.1.1 has remained at low levels, and EG.5 has increased but not exploded, he said. And hes not seeing immediate concerns in terms of increased contagiousness, severity or immune escape.

From my perspective, Im not staying up at night over these, Donahue said.

Thats good news going into fall, when Nebraskans should expect cases to increase, he said. Fall and winter have brought the states biggest surges. Its also when residents gather together indoors.

As a result, Donahue said hes looking forward to the new updated booster expected this fall. While vaccines provide lasting protection, that protection decreases over time. The new shots will target a strain in the currently dominant XBB lineage.

When exactly theyll be available, and to whom, isnt clear.

Donahue said he plans to get one of the new boosters and an updated flu shot. People 60 and older also will be able to get a new shot for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.

In the interim, he said, Nebraskans should get all the doses theyre eligible for. Everyone age 6 and older should get one of the current updated boosters. Those 65 and older can get an another booster in addition to the first.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
Another round of thunderstorms is expected to invade eastern Nebraska and western Iowa late Monday, but dry conditions should prevail the rest of the week.

We are expecting another storm system rolling off the Rockies and into our area late Monday or early Tuesday, Van DeWald, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said Sunday. After that, it looks like the rest of the week is dry.

The chances for severe weather will be most likely in northeast Nebraska, he said. There is only a marginal risk for severe storms in the Omaha area.

Temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid- to upper 80s most of the week, with a high of 84 predicted in Omaha on Monday. Storms could drop Tuesdays high to around 80, but temperatures will quickly rebound.

We are looking at normal summertime temperatures all week, DeWald said. Its nothing unusual with (high) temperatures reaching the mid- to upper 80s.

What is unusual are the wildfires in Canada that continue to make for a large amounts of smoke and haze across much of the country. The Douglas County Health Department warned Sunday that the smoke is especially threatening to people with asthma or other breathing problems.

So far, eastern Nebraska has escaped the worst of the smoke and other air pollution from the Canadian wildfires, according to a statement from the Health Department. If that changes, DCHD wants everyone to be aware of the situation so they can take simple measures to prevent illness.

People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and heart disease, along with children and pregnant women, should take extra precautions when wildfire smoke is in the area. Use the Douglas County Health Department website to monitor conditions.

If you need to go outside, please limit your activities, and do only essential tasks, monitor the conditions, and wear a respirator if one is recommended, the statement said. If you have heart or lung disease or other conditions that may be impacted, check with your provider before working outside or using a respirator. Dont hesitate to seek medical help if you need it.

When air quality becomes a concern, here are several steps you can take to protect yourself inside your home:

Choose a room you can close off from outside air and filter the air.

Avoid burning anything in the room  like candles or fireplaces.

Dont fry or broil meat, smoke tobacco products, or vacuum.

If you have central air conditioning, use high efficiency filters to catch particles.

Stay hydrated with water or other nonalcoholic drinks.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose family car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threateningly high temperatures and severe air pollution from Canadian wildfires.
Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose family car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threateningly high temperatures and severe air pollution from Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Monday's search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

The children's father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while the children's mother, Katie Seley, and a grandmother grabbed the other children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. Sheils and his son made it to safety; Seley and the grandmother were swept away.

The grandmother survived, but Seley, 32, was among five killed by the floods.

A wall of water came to them; they did not go into the water, Brewer said of the Sheils family.

Scott Ellis, an uncle to the missing children, described the family as utterly devastated.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday.

No matter how long Ive been doing this  over and over and over, many, many years  you find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

Pennsylvania's flash floods drowned Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, according to Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck.

The county commissioners signed an emergency declaration in response to the flooding.

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott on Monday toured some of the destruction from recent torrential rains, including a damaged inn that was cut in half by flood waters.

Buttigieg said Vermont has endured two storms that would be called once in a century events in the span of just 12 years.

We cant go into the future requiring communities to put everything back exactly the way it was if a 100-year-flood is about to become an annual event, he said.

More rain was forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles, known as PM2.5, are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

The EPA advises keeping outdoor activities light and short when air quality indexes reach above 150 on the agencys map. On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the U.S., thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the West, a mountain biker died Saturday in blistering desert heat east of San Diego after he and three fellow bikers helped rescue four hikers who were without water.

Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua said the bikers called 911 and two rode back to a trailhead to give directions to rescuers. A helicopter hoisted the hikers, and the two bikers that had stayed with them headed to the trailhead. One did not arrive and was found unresponsive about a quarter-mile away. He later died, though there was no information on the cause of death.

Temperatures also soared in Phoenix, which hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday shortly after 12:30 p.m., marking 18 consecutive days the city has hit that temperature and tying an earlier record for consecutive days at or above 110 degrees. Phoenix is expected to surpass the record on Tuesday.

Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, the National Weather Service said.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)  Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff's deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.

Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense search for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday morning's shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgia's main city.

Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police said a Henry County sheriff's deputy saw the SUV that Longmore stole from one of the victims and began chasing him, calling for help. After exchanging gunfire with Longmore, Clayton police said he ran away.

Justin Robinson told WANF-TV that Longmore entered the backyard of a townhouse.

He had a gun, he was bleeding, he was naked, Robinson said.

Robinson said he alerted police officers, who were greeted with gunfire when they entered the townhouse where Longmore had hidden.

"Soon as they open the back door this guy starts shooting, shoots at the cops, Robinson said. The police start shooting.

A Henry County sheriffs deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured in the attempt to arrest Longmore, officials said.

One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time," Scandrett said of that officer.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said all three officers are expected to recover. Details on the conditions of the other two wounded officers were not immediately made public.

Hampton Police Chief James Turner said the four killed Saturday were all residents of the same Dogwood Lakes neighborhood where Longmore lived, and where all were shot within a 10-minute span. He identified the victims as 67-year old Scott Leavitt and his wife, 66-year old Shirley Leavitt, as well as 65-year-old Steve Blizzard and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers.

Sherry Wyatt, who works at Hampton's recreation center near Jeffers home, said Jeffers would regularly come in to sing at the senior center that shares the building.

A few months ago, Jeffers came over to her side of the building to practice and she told him how beautiful was his voice.

Im just so glad I told him he sang like an angel, said Wyatt, adding her heart was heavy Sunday over his death. I know he is in heaven now singing.

A relative of Blizzard did not immediately respond to a Facebook message.

Authorities had been seeking to arrest Longmore on four murder warrants for the deaths. Turner said Longmore's motives remained under investigation.

On Sunday, neighbor Frankie Worth told The Associated Press he heard a gunshot Saturday morning as he was reaching for his living room window to open the blinds and see how much yard work he had to do.

Worth said he ducked just for a second and then looked back out the window. You know, when you get incoming, youve got to know where its coming from, said Worth, who identified himself as a Marine Corps veteran.

Longmore, who Worth knew only as Andre, was standing in the street. He described seeing the man's hands jerking from the recoil of firing a silver handgun.

Worth said the man appeared to have fired at a small white car driven by another neighbor, an older white gentleman. He said the shooting happened near a cul-de-sac where they all live.

Worth said he first thought there'd been a road rage confrontation, but said the man moved deliberately. He didnt appear angry, upset, agitated, Worth said.

Worth said Longmore appeared to evaluate whether he needed to shoot again and then started walking casually toward the entrance to the subdivision, then at a brisk stride. Worth said he ran upstairs, watching Longmore disappear behind some trees as he called police.

Turner told reporters earlier that detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes in Dogwood Lakes. At least three police cars staked out the neighborhood Sunday, limiting access. About 40 houses on two streets flank a lake in the neighborhood, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of downtown Atlanta.

Ron Foster, who lives on the main road outside the subdivision entrance, said Longmore drove through his yard and his neighbors yard, destroying multiple ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks in the grass. Foster was inside his house when he heard crunching metal.

What was going through that mans mind after he did all he done? Foster wondered. It was unreal.

Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia's racetrack for NASCAR events. The most recent homicide before Saturday in the town of 8,000 had been in 2018, Turner said. It's not normal for us, he said.

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 AP and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley said the city would hold a prayer vigil Monday evening for the four victims and their loved ones.

We have their back and we will continue to support them throughout their bereavement, Tarpley said.

An earlier version of this report incorrectly named the Clayton County police chief as Kevin Turner. He is Kevin Roberts.
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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said the Philippine government will not execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) should it proceed to resume its investigation into the drug war under the Duterte administration.

"Wala silang gagawin dito. Wala silang kinalaman dito. Anong gagawin nila? Papasukin nila tayo? Gusto ba nilang pasukin tayo bilang kolonya na naman?" Remulla said a day before the ICC's appeal chamber is set to announce its decision on whether to resume the probe.

[Translation: They have nothing to do here. What will they do? Invade us? Do they want to invade us like a colony again?]

The ICC has insisted that it has jurisdiction over crimes of international concern that occurred in the country when the Philippines was still a member of the Rome statute, the treaty that established the court.

EXPLAINER: ICC and its authority

Remulla reiterated that the government would not allow the ICC to interfere as he stressed that the country has its own legal system.

If the investigation resumes, the Justice secretary says it would only prove that politics is involved in ICC decisions.

"Meron pong political agenda ang mga taong may nais makialam sa kalayaan ng Republika ng Pilipinas at sa ating sovereignty," he said.

[Translation: Those who want to interfere with the freedom of the Republic of the Philippines and its sovereignty have a political agenda.]

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has admitted that he is not too optimistic that the decision would favor the government.

But whatever the outcome, Guevarra said the government's investigation and prosecution of alleged abuses in the notorious drug war will continue.

Meanwhile, Kristina Conti, lawyer of some of the families of drug war victims and secretary general of National Union of Peoples Lawyers, said in a statement that they hope the ICC Appeals Chamber to be fair and wise in its decision, to be enlightened and compassionate.

The court has so far comported itself as victim-centered, engaging us in various stages of the proceeding, the ICC assistant to counsel added, emphasizing that they will continue to cooperate with the ICCs requests for information, views and concerns.

Conti also said she hopes the decision "will be a turn in the tide against impunity in the Philippines."

According to government data, Duterte's war on drugs claimed over 6,000 lives, but local and international human rights organizations estimate an even higher tally of between 12,000 and 30,000 deaths.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this story.
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa.  Heavy rains pounded an already saturated Northeast on Sunday for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, canceled airline flights and power outages. In Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late Saturday afternoon claimed at least five lives.

Officials in Bucks County's Upper Makefield Township in Pennsylvania said torrential rains occurred about 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars. At least five people died and two children, a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said.

Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.

"There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said.

Sunday's strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 350 flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were canceled at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Hundreds of flights were delayed.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.

Thousands of power outages also were reported.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged people to stay home Sunday until the storms passed.

"Here comes the rain. It just seems unrelenting this year," she said. "You have to avoid unnecessary travel. ... A flash flood doesn't give you warning  and in those moments your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death."

Hochul said 5 inches of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from last week's storms. Disaster declarations will cover more than a dozen New York counties.

Manchester, New Hampshire, the largest city in northern New England, opened its emergency operations center in response to severe weather. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and other officials urged residents to stay inside.

Flooding forced Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut to close Sunday until further notice. Several flights were delayed.

Flash flooding was reported in New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury and other Connecticut towns, leaving many roads impassible. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said he was headed to Bristol, home of ESPN, to view flooding.

In northern New Jersey, some roads were closed Sunday as crews worked to repair stretches of concrete that buckled under heavy rain and flooding. Local creeks washed over passageways and a rockslide blocked Route 46. Thoroughfares were a mess of water and rocks covered in brown sludge.

In Pennsylvania, a sudden, torrential downpour turned deadly in Upper Makefield Township.

Fire Chief Tim Brewer told reporters the area got about 6 to 7 inches of rain in 45 minutes.

"In my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it," he said. "When the water came up, it came up very swiftly."

About 4 to 5 feet of water washed over the road and three of an estimated 11 cars were swept away. All three were later recovered and no one was found inside, Brewer said. Eight people were rescued from the cars and two from the creek, he said.

The two children who remained missing Sunday are part of a Charleston, South Carolina, family visiting family and friends. They were on their way to a barbecue when their vehicle got stuck in the flash flood, Brewer said.

"As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, Dad took his 4-year-old son while the mother and the grandmother grabbed the two additional children, aged 9 months and 2 years," he said. The father and son were "miraculously" able to get to safety. "However the grandmother, the mother, and the two children were swept away by the floodwaters," Brewer said. The mother was among those later found dead.

"We continue to look for the two children. We are not going to give up," Brewer said.

About 150 people were searching the creek during the night and 100 were involved Sunday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro vowed aid from state emergency and transportation officials. "All hands are on deck," he said.

As far south as North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed on the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, recovery efforts were underway in Vermont from recent days of heavy precipitation.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation said 12 state roads remained closed while 12 were partially open to one lane of traffic and 87 were reopened that were previously closed.

The agency said 211 bridge inspections have been completed in damaged areas and there are four state bridges closed and four town structures closed.

Rail lines throughout Vermont were also damaged, the transportation agency said. The agency said it reopened 57 miles of rail lines, and 64 miles of rail line remained closed.

"Our crews have been working tirelessly all week to repair the damaged state roads and bridges, and to restore the state's transportation infrastructure for Vermonters and visitors," Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn said.

Meanwhile, scorching heat wave across the Southwest has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat watch or warning.

Photos: Hot weather has US, world sweltering
LINCOLN  In what is thought to be one of the first such cases in the citys history, a Lancaster County judge sent a Lincoln couple to jail after investigators found two unsecured guns  including an AR-style rifle  stored in their 5-year-old daughters closet in March.

The couple  Jordan Tucker and Tara Gonzales, both 33  had stored a .22-caliber Remington rifle and a black 7.69 SKS assault rifle in their daughters closet, which Lancaster County sheriffs deputies searched in March after Tucker applied for a state application to purchase a firearm, which violated the terms of his bond in an unrelated felony court case, according to court filings.

Deputies searched the house, near 14th and Nelson Streets, in early March and found the house was dirty, unkempt and full of trash, Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said in a probable cause statement for the couples arrest.

In the girls closet, they found the assault rifle with a magazine inserted and nine rounds attached to an ammo sleeve on the rifle, Schwarz said. And deputies found an unlocked and open medicine bag full of prescription drugs in the couples 10-year-old sons dresser, Schwarz said.

And drug tests later revealed that at least one of the childrens hair tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, prosecutors said at a hearing this month.

The Lancaster County Attorneys Office in March charged Tucker and Gonzales with misdemeanor child abuse, a criminal statute that County Attorney Pat Condon said he cant recall previously using to file charges in an incident involving access to or storage of firearms.

Tucker also was charged with providing false information on a handgun application  the document that led to the search of his north Lincoln home in March, which also prompted prosecutors to seek temporary state custody for the couples children, according to court filings.

Both Tucker and Gonzales pleaded no contest to the charges.

At one of Tuckers two sentencing hearings Friday, his attorney, Mark Rappl, sought leniency from Judge Matthew Acton as his client watched via Zoom from the Nebraska State Penitentiary, where Tucker was sent in May for an unrelated theft charge.

Rappl argued that the most egregious offense at hand was that one of the childs hair follicles tested positive for fentanyl  a happening that, Rappl said, could not have been Tuckers fault, since he was passing regular drug tests as part of a separate court case against him.

And he argued that the time Rappl is already serving, which will keep him incarcerated for at least six more months and include parole supervision for another nine after his release, amounted to sufficient safeguards for the community, asking Acton to order the man to pay a fine or serve a jail sentence of fewer than seven days.

Acton, though, was unconvinced.

So storing unsecured weapons including a rifle and then another assault rifle, with a magazine, in the daughters closet and storing a full bag of methadone in the sons dresser arent egregious, Mr. Rappl? the judge asked.In brief comments to the court, Tucker told Acton the way things happened shouldnt have happened.

And Ive taken responsibility for that and just want to move on and get through it, make things better, he said.

Acton sentenced the 33-year-old to three more months of incarceration  a stint that the judge ordered run consecutive to the time hes already serving.

Thirty minutes later, in a courtroom down the hall from Actons, Judge Laurie Yardley sentenced Tucker to two more months in jail, also ordered to run consecutively.

And in a hearing Monday morning, Acton sentenced Gonzales to a monthlong jail stint of her own in addition to 15 months of probation, according to court filings.

The couples children remain in state custody.
Nigerias Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the just concluded polls will be short-lived.

The Senate president stated this on Wednesday at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

Mr Saraki explained that contrary to the views of many Nigerians, the outcome of the March 9 presidential election was a loss to the entire country and not just the PDP.

INEC had declared President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC winner of the election.

Mr Buhari, according to the electoral body, scored 15,191,847 votes. Atiku Abubakar of the PDP garnered 11,262,978 votes to finish as runner-up.

But in his response to the declaration, the PDP candidate said the result was unacceptable to him and he would challenge it in court.

While delivering his remarks, Mr Saraki further noted that the conduct of the election, including the role of the military during the exercise, has made the country a laughing stock in the international community, adding that the purported winners of the election are ashamed of the process.

This victory that the other party has seen is going to be short lived. If anybody believes that it is a loss to PDP, it is a loss to the country that history will not forgive.

We said it many times here, that the worst to do is to do an election that as a country Nigeria will not be proud of.

We have done an election that no doubt anybody and even those that think they have won are ashamed of the kind of election that we did.

I think it is a shame to the country and to those that were given that responsibility to do. They have Saturday as their last opportunity to try as much as possible to reclaim part of their embarrassment to the country.

How can a country like Nigeria, as the speaker said, Ghana has done it, even Congo, even Zimbabwe have done elections. And we say we do elections, with seven inconclusive. We did elections before, in 2015, we did it in 2011, 1999 and after so many years, this is what we can produce.

It is not a loss to the PDP, it is to the country. It just shows the level of desperation. I have confidence that this will be shortlived and as such let us ensure on Saturday, that these five states that are ours remain within the PDP and INEC should for once do what is right.

We have a great future ahead and I believe we will start that on Saturday to make sure that we defend those five states that are declared inconclusive, Mr Saraki said.

Also speaking at the NEC meeting, the PDP vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, said he wondered the kind of legacy the APC administration is setting for the younger generation if they supervise electoral malpractices.

As for me, while we blame the INEC and the security agencies, the biggest shame goes to those who are directing them to do the wrong thing.

If you choose to be a leader, especially with APC that claims integrity, the biggest corruption and the biggest show of a government that does not believe in integrity is to rig election. Because the process through which you come into office, is far more fundamental than what you do there after.

I think we should hold them responsible for what is happening in this country now. The examples we are setting for the young ones, I dont know what they will tell a young man who is cheating in an exam in this country after seeing the ways our elections are conducted. I dont know what they will tell those who are robbing banks and kidnapping people, because we have seen the biggest of it by this election where people are happy after robbing the nation and their states, Mr. Obi said.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, said the emergency NEC meeting is to enable party members deliberate on issues relating to the March 23 supplementary polls.

The PDP chairman cautioned the INEC chairman to ensure that the results of the supplementary polls reflect the wishes of the people of the affected states.

He added that if the INEC chairman continues the way he has been going, he would truncate the nations democracy.

He charged the INEC boss to see the supplementary polls as an avenue for the electoral commission to redeem its credibility.

He also admonished the military personnel that might be deployed for the supplementary elections to stick to their rules of engagement.
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the plan by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs), to increase electricity tariffs, describing the move as anti-people, oppressive, unjustified and aimed at discrediting his The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the plan by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs), to increase electricity tariffs, describing the move as anti-people, oppressive, unjustified and aimed at discrediting his government

The OPC President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, in a statement today, July 16, signed by its General-Secretary,Comrade Bunmi Fasehun, OPC advised the President to quickly Kill the dangerous move by the DISCO.

It noted that the move had similarly been rejected by workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and industrialists under the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Afolabi said that Nigerians are still grappling with the scrapping of fuel subsidy, and that increasing the cost of electricity would be adding to citizens burden and paint the Tinubu administration as uncaring.

It is observed that DISCOs have already served notice to consumers to expect to pay higher electricity tariffs from July 1, which was deferred, following the failure to secure the required permission of the government.

OPC pointed out that the power distributors would increase their earnings if they stopped incessant power cuts with their poor attitude to rendering services.

Today, citizens are the ones buying their own poles, transformers, cables and prepaid meters. DISCOs have turned themselves into rent-takers and blackout distributors, Afolabi lamented. We cannot continue this way.

Especially, DISCOs should be told to supply prepaid meter meters free-of-charge, something they have refused to do so far because they enjoy sending crazy bills to customers who suffer darkness and power failure all the time.

OPC advised the DISCOs to borrow the example of the telecommunications companies (TESCOS) that had reduced the cost that consumers paid for calls and data.

Reminding the companies that they had inherited the backbone and infrastructure of the old NEPA and PHCN for a small amount, Afolabi said that in comparison, TESCOS independently made colossal investments in laying underground, underwater and fibre-optic cables, antenna and electricity generators, and they are reaping the profits today.

OPC asked DISCOs to justify the hundreds of billions in public funds that past regimes had pumped into the sector, even when the distribution segment of the electricity value chain had been privatised.

According to the organisation, it had become clear that the DISCOs wanted to reap where they did not plant, because the generation and transmission companies were largely discharging their responsibilities while distribution remained problematic.

President Tinubu should tell distribution companies that if they cannot deliver with the current tariff, they should submit their licences and close shop.

Moreover, the government should scrap this territorial monopoly, where only one DISCO has commandeered a service area and allows no competition. Consumers in any area should be able to choose and transfer to other DISCOs as currently obtains in telecommunications and in other countries. That will create competition and push DISCOs to render quality service in order not to lose customers to competing suppliers.




By Haruna Salami

The Senate has described the alleged padding of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act as misguided and mischievous.





According to the upper chamber, the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act was part of the constitutional duties of the Senate to accommodate funding for the Federal Governments Palliative for the Nigerian public among other National demands.

The reaction of the Senate to the alleged padding of the Supplementary Budget as reported in some sections of the media was contained a statement issued by the Chairman,, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The Senate said that it was not ready to join issues with some misguided and mischief makers on the recently appropriated N70bn for the National Assembly which they have mischievously described as a gift from the Executive arm of government.

According to the statement, after the passage of the Supplementary Budget to accommodate funding for Federal Government Palliative for the Nigerian public, among other urgent national demands, the socio-political space has been inundated with spurious, inaccurate and irreverent misinterpretations.

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 70b Naira 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 yawning and the need for exigent attention. Many senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.

The so 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 environment need a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.









 Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such 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 being alleged in some misinformed media outfits.

Adaramodu urged fellow compatriots to see the National Assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria, adding that the National Assembly is the soul of democracy and the 10th Senate shall join hands with other arms of government and our forward looking Nigerians to sing new songs of progress, development, safety and all round economic recovery and growth.
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IS South East still a part of Nigeria? The Constitution says so. Like almost everything in the Constitution that is observed in gross breach, insecurity in the South East is treated as the regions headache.

Nigeria is a tripod standing on two legs? Those familiar with a tripod know it stands on three legs. Pre-civil war Nigeria stood on three legs. The war damaged one of the legs.

Nigeria paid a lot of attention at damaging that leg. In the past eight years, particularly, the Muhammadu Buhari administration made it clear in words, deeds, and indeed, that it would act without concerns for the damaged keg.

Rogue elements are on the increase in the South East. They spawn because those who are doing nothing to restore sanity in the area are mostly beneficiaries of the confusion. The Federal Government, vested with exclusive constitutional and legal provisions and resources to manage insecurity is unconcerned.

When a leg of a tripod is damaged, the cook treats the damaged stand with extra care, knowing that without such care, as he stirs, the pot and its contents are at a high risk of being upturned. And there are consequences.

Mischief makers see the serial unrest as a chance to de-brand the South East such that it is not an investment destination, unfit for human sustainable living. The media optics highlight these opinion. A May 2023 report on Nigerias security by Abuja-based security outfit, Beacon Intel said of 675 people killed, 5.2 per cent or 35 were in the South-East, making it the safest region in the country. The got minimal mention in the media. What is unique about the South East is the sit-at-home orders.

Only on 7 July 2023, Mr. Victor Onyenkpa, Chief Operating Officer, KPMG Africa, raised a point about the unease of doing business in the South East at a symposium in Aba to mark the 70th birthday of C. Darl Uzu, a known investor in infrastructure, estates, and lead private sector promoter of the Enyimba Economic City Development. He graphically showed billions of Naira were lost to the sit-at-home orders, and how South Easts GDP was shrinking. The facts cannot be disputed.

The media, difficult to define in the digital era, are in a race to list the commotion in the South East right to how many markets were in disarray in a day. A colleague who arrived from Lagos on Thursday was shocked to see people on the streets of Aba. There was another sit-at-home that was to last a week. The impressions are that people imprison themselves to avoid the gunmen who have taken over the streets.

Intensity of the madness varies from State to State, city to city. Our spaces have been conceded to mere criminals with whatever names and causes they choose to glorify their assault on Nigeria.

Our Governors should be comprehensively ashamed of themselves. Why are they in office? To have convoys? To disperse resources as they please? To ensure that their people are decimated while they firm up alliances that create more turbulences in the South East?

Are they so afraid to lose their empty empires that they cannot ask questions, the right questions? What fill their days? Debauchery? Meetings? Photo opportunities? The competition to amass more resources?

Our Governors  just five people  cannot hold a meeting to restore dignity to their cherished offices. They are only visible in agitated competitions to damage the South East more through their utterances or loud silences.

One of my teachers describes what is going thus: In effect, we have two parallel governments in each of the five States. And neither is of any benefit to the governed. Perhaps, we should say three governments  the federal manipulating the other two, benefitting from the chaos. The Governors should be ashamed of themselves.

The other two governments are the gunmen who order sit-at-homes and enforce them and State governments that do nothing except budget billions of Naira as security votes to extend their comfort. What happens to the people does not matter.

Some insight from the Owerri Prison break of 2021. According to Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of DSS, There was enough intelligence, enough actionable intelligence. Actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it, one week ahead of the event and of course, 72 hours before the event and then 48 hours before the event.

So, three times, the Nigeria Police Force was informed by the DSS that this is going to happen.

Apparently, nothing was done (to stop the attacks). You can see that the Governor was referring to that particular report that its not IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra).

If Governor Hope Uzodinma blamed outsiders for the attack, did he know who they were? What was done about them.

The prison is near the highest concentration of security in Imo State. A look at the places close to Owerri Prison  Government House, headquarters of the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, the army brigade on Obinze is not too far away. The invaders released more than 1,800 prisoners. Was anyone sacked for the breach?

There have been more attacks in Imo and other South East States since then.

Our homeland is turning into a wasteland. Deserted, distressed, denied, decimated. Traditional weddings, festivals and funerals used to be our local tourism and funnelled resources into the local economy. They are all gone. Insecurity constantly erodes our culture. Fear has become our living.

Anything done, or not done about insecurity in the South East affects Nigeria, shrinks the country. There is a poor understanding of the insecurity in the South East when it is treated as insecurity of the South East. It is a Nigerian situation situated in the South East.

Is Nnamdi Kanu the issue? Not any longer. The Federal Government and those rogues on the streets manipulate his name into the crises. The Court of Appeal freed him. Why would the government still hold him?

What stops the Federal Government from making a formal complaint to the Finnish government about Simon Ekpa who makes the sit-at-home broadcasts?Has the Federal Government told Finland about the dedicated menace Ekpa is?

Governments complicity is too obvious that few seem to expect any solution from government. Is there any part of Nigeria that has more check points than the South East? Outside extorting the people and taking advantage of the young ladies in their locations, what else do they do?

The promise by the new Chief of Defence Staff to deploy more troops to the South East simply means more militarisation of our spaces. There are enough reasons to know that better uses of troops in place is required.

We lost the civil war. We did not lose our senses. The challenge is for us to find solutions that we can take to willing partners to secure our spaces. Only our actions would prove that we have had productive meetings.

The South East must act fast. The contest  global, local  for space keeps intensifying. The same contest encompasses the environment, economics, power, politics, and more importantly, the politics of power.

Power is never enough. Its dynamics ensure that those who think they are masters of the power of politics still feel inadequate.

Meetings where more time is spent praising the nuances of breaking the kolanuts than dealing with the killing of our people, our homeland, are no solutions. We must act more purposely. Details of what can be done and how to do them are not matters for public consumption. As Okokon Ndem would say during the civil war, when surrounded by enemies, we must be eternally vigilant; we cannot afford to sleep.

Next week: More on this matter.

Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues.

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The Senate on Sunday dismissed claims on the padding of the 2022 supplementary budget by N70 billion.

The upper legislative chamber was reacting to the backlash that trailed the inclusion of N70 billion in the amended 2022 supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu had requested the parliaments approval of $800 million presented by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May.

The Federal Government planned to utilize the funds as palliative to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal in 12 million households in the country.

The Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, who reacted to the criticism of the lawmakers following the approval of the budget amendment in a statement in Abuja, said the N70 billion was for the purchase of furniture and repair works in lawmakers offices.

He added that no lawmaker would receive any penny from the money.

READ ALSO: Senate confirms appointments of Gen. Lagbaja, other service chiefs

The spokesman said: 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 naira was a gift to the legislators.

A visit to the suites, offices, and the general structures of the National Assembly Complex would reveal a yawn and the need for exigent attention. Many senators had to bring their chairs, tables, and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.

READ ALSO: Drama as APC disowns Senate, Reps principal officers appointment

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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 environment needs a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.

Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such 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 being alleged in some misinformed media outfits.
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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

Police operatives in Anambra State have recovered a trailer-load of cement, which was hijacked from its owner and diverted into the bush by a yet-to-be-identified armed men.

The trailer, containing 1000 bags of cement, was snatched on gunpoint at Obiliokite in Delta State, but was recovered in a bush in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

According to a press statement issued to this reporter, Izunna Okafor, by the Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the HOWO Trailer with Reg. No. Delta AKU 247 XB containing 1000 bags of Bua Cement was recovered over the weekend by a team of police operatives attached to Area Command Headquarters, Ihiala, working with operatives of Anambra State Vigilante.

While noting that the armed men who hijacked the cement diverted at the Okija axis of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway when they sighted the police/vigilante joint patrol team, and then abandoned the truck in the bush and fled; the Police Spokesman also noted that the Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP Aderemi Adeoye had ordered a manhunt for the hijackers.

He said, Information revealed that the truck was hijacked at gunpoint by yet unidentified persons on 14/07/2023 at Obiliokite in Delta State.

The armed criminals on sighting the joint patrol comprising of the Police and Vigilantes along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway pulled off the road at Okija, abandoned the truck, and fled.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye has ordered a manhunt for the gunmen. He called on locals within the area to help with any useful information that will help in apprehending the fleeing suspects. He assured that any information given in this regard shall be treated with the confidentiality it deserves.

DSP Ikenga also revealed that the recovered truck-load of cement had been released to its rightful owner on the Instruction of CP Adeoye, while calling on the members of the public who have useful information about criminals and/or their activities to contact the Police Control room number 07039194332.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (North), Abubakar Kyari, at the meeting of the partys National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday, emerged the Acting APC National Chairman. He succeeds Abdullahi Adamu at the NWC meeting at the partys National Secretariat, Abuja.

Kyari in media interaction after the NWC meeting, officially declared that former Chairman Adamu and former National Secretary Iyiola Omisore have resigned from office.

According to him, in line with the APC constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, will serve as the acting National Secretary of the APC.

Kyari had declared: As members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we are here to address you to the happenings and recent developments regarding the party.

The NWC wishes to inform you the resignation of the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and that of the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

And with this development and according to the constitution of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), it is now incumbent on my humble self Senator Abubakar Kyari as a Deputy National Chairman, North to assume the office of the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

And subsequently also, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus, Fuantar will now assume the office of the acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

And with this recent developments in the change of leadership, I will like to inform everybody here that the proposed National Caucus meeting slated for Tuesday, the 18th of July 2023 and the National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for Wednesday night is July 2023 are hereby been postponed.

And this postponement will not be indefinite but a new date will be communicated in the near future.
Leading Civil Rights Advocacy Group:- Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has tasked president Ahmed Bola Tinubu to offer explanation to over 200 million Nigerians about the veiled threat of chaos, anarchy, made by his lawyers to the Presidential election Tribunal, if his election is annulled.

President Bola Tinubu had reportedly warned that nullifying the February 25 election that produced him as president, on account of the fact that he did not score 25% of the lawful votes cast during the election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) could lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.

Besides, Tinubu told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC) that the two petitions filed by candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and his counterpart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seeking the nullification of his victory at the February 25, presidential election are not only novel but not familiar with the countrys electoral laws.

Tinubus submissions were contained in his final written address against the two petitions pending at the PREPEC.

READ ALSO: HURIWA petitions World leaders, seeks FGs arrest of Asari-Dokubo

Reacting to the widely published written address made by a team of lawyers for President Tinubu, HURIWA stated that it will be wrong if the President who had admonished those who were returned by INEC as number two and three during the disputed poll to go to Court would be seen, threatening fire and brimstone if his victory is annulled, that is assuming without conceding that those words in the final written address actually meant physical threat of upheavals.

This is why it will be urgent and right that President Tinubu personally finds out from his lawyers the import of those words and to explain to Nigerians what he the president actually meant in that written address to the Presidential Election Tribunal, HURIWA affirmed.

HURIWA in a statement by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko the National Coordinator, stated that it will amount to a direct attack on the independence of the Judiciary as empowered by section 6 of the Nigerian Constitution, if President Tinubu is actually threatening Nigerians with chaos and anarchy, should his victory be declared a nullity by a competent Judicial body. HURIWA also said those words may be misconstrued as veiled blackmail and intimidation against the judiciary.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Former President Rodrigo Duterte met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, with Xi welcoming the former Philippine chief executive at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to China's state media.

Reports said Duterte was joined by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, while Xi was with State Counselor Wang Yi, Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs member Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong, and Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying.

In a separate tweet, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Xi "appreciates the strategic choice Mr. Duterte made to improve relations with China during his presidency."

It said Beijing also acknowledged Duterte's "important contributions to friendly exchanges between the two countries".

"China values its relations with the Philippines and is ready to work with the Philippines to promote the steady and sustained growth of bilateral relations," the Chinese Foreign Ministry added.

There is no information yet on who extended the invitation to Duterte and in what capacity he is representing the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it does not have official information on Duterte's China visit.

"We do not have official information on the visit of the former president," the DFA said in a message to reporters.

CONTEXT: Duterte is Xi's 'most important friend'

Duterte tried to reinvigorate the Philippine-China ties during his term.

Xi called Duterte as his "most important friend," according to a CNN Philippines 2018 report citing then Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"Between us, we have made so many more friends. Actually President Duterte is the most respected and most important friend for President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people," Wang had said.

In 2021, Xi even sent a "thank you letter" to Duterte thanking him for the friendship and hospitality after his two-day state visit to the Philippines.

"I set great store by China-Philippines relations and value my personal friendship with you, Mr. President. I will work with you to strengthen political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in all fields so that the tree of China-Philippines friendship will grow more luxuriant and bear more fruits," Xi wrote.

The warming of Philippine-China ties during Duterte's time was amid issues in the South China Sea.

But both sides emphasized that the disputes in the South China Sea do not reflect the "overall" bilateral relationship of Manila and Beijing.
President Bola Tinubu has departed Nairobi, Kenya, for Abuja, at the end of the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU).

The President who departed Abuja on Saturday for the A.U. meeting in Kenya is scheduled to arrive Abuja on Monday.

President Tinubu made several contributions during deliberation at the AU meeting, some of which touched on how Africa can attain integration and prosperity; and relieving Africans from languishing in pain and anguish, including Africas unity and strength, making strong rejection of a new scramble for the African continent.

The Nigerian President had also enjoined African leaders to respect democracy, rule of law, and ensure political stability.

President Tinubu may, however, be returning home to be welcomed with the rancour in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which snowballed into the resignation of the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, who leads the partys National Working Committee (NWC).
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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

Gallant soldiers attached to the 192 Battalion, Nigerian Army, operating within the 81 Division have successfully blocked over 20,000 bullets sent to Anambra State, as they successfully intercepted and disrupted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate.

Acting on reliable intelligence, the troops, over the weekend, conducted a thorough stop-and-search operation along the Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Their efforts led to the discovery of a significant cache of illegal ammunition concealed in a truck with the registration number ENU 697 XY, which was destined for Anambra State.

The intercepted truck was found to be carrying a total of 18,000 cartridges of 12 calibre in 720 packets, with 25 cartridges in each packet. Additionally, there were 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre in 250 packets, making it a total of 20,500 cartridges. The ammunition, both red and black cartridges, were discreetly imported from Mali via the Idiroko border.

Two individuals involved in the smuggling attempt, identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian, and Mr. Lukman Sani, the driver, have been apprehended and are currently in custody. They are cooperating with the ongoing investigations.

According to Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, preliminary investigations have revealed that the criminals successfully evaded several checkpoints on their journey to their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they had intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.

He said: The timely intervention by the vigilant troops, however, thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.

The Nigerian Army, therefore, appeals to all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their commitment and urged them not to relent as they strive in synergy with other services and security agencies to provide safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians and the socio-economic development across the country.

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, says he will not celebrate his 62nd birthday due to the myriad of challenges confronting the country.

In a statement shared on his Twitter page on Monday, Mr Obi said although his friends, family and supporters sought a celebration, he would not rescind his two-decade decision of not celebrating his birthday amid the deplorable  state of the country.

Wednesday, 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday, said the former Anambra governor. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years that I will not celebrate my birthdays in todays Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation.

Rather than accede to requests of families and friends, Mr Obi urged those who wish to offer him gifts to commemorate his birthday to channel the gesture to the needy.

 Let me humbly and respectfully appeal to all those who desire to celebrate me with any kind of gifts to look around them and extend such gifts to the people in need, especially in these difficult times

 I urge them to visit hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged and people with disabilities and offer them such generous gifts. They can also visit schools of basic studies in remote areas and support them with the basic amenities they need, Mr Obi said.

The Labour Party flag bearer made a case for the rising insecurity, violence and bloodshed in the country as one of the reasons he chose not to celebrate his birthday.

He cited the recent attacks in Mangu LGA Plateau State, which claimed over 200 lives and the recent killings in Benue, where over 100 people died.

Mr Obi emphasised that the sacrifices for a better Nigeria must start with everyone, including the leaders and the well-placed in the society.

He stated that he longs to celebrate in a new and productive Nigeria where the lives and properties of its citizens are secure.

 I want to celebrate a Nigeria that works for all and which Nigerians can be proud of. This, and not my birthday, is the true celebration that will be beneficial to all Nigerians, Mr Obi added.

The former Anambra governor, after defecting from the PDP in 2022, became the anointed candidate of youths who sought a change in Nigerias political helm of affairs.

However, he lost the election to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has hailed The Guardian newspaper as it marks its 40th anniversary since its inception.

Mr Obi took to his Twitter page to heap accolades and to share his admiration for the media house while urging them to remain firm in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

It pleases me to join Nigerians and especially the media community in Nigeria to congratulate The Guardian Newspaper for reaching the landmark publishing age of 40 years.

The entry of The Guardian into the realm of Nigerias print media was propitious and very significant because of the discipline and the high ethical and quality editorial content that earned it the distinction of being referred to as the Flagship of Nigeria Journalism.

Gladly, the Newspaper has lived up to its motto: Conscience, Nurtured by Truth through its succinct, mature, and unbiased editorial contents that stood it out as a utility partner in nation-building, Mr Obi said.

Mr Obi pointed out the efforts and sacrifices of The Guardian newspaper in ushering in the democratic rule Nigerians enjoy today while ousting the military regime in Nigerias polity.

He also commended The Guardian newspaper for surviving the harsh entrepreneurial and political environment in Nigeria for the past forty years while remaining steadfast in producing highly ethical and professional journalism.

Mr Obi also paid a special tribute to the publisher and all past and present staff of The Guardian for creating the success story of The Guardian newspaper through the years.

According to Wikipedia, The Guardian newspaper was first published on 22 February 1983 as a weekly newspaper, appearing only on Sundays.

The Guardian started daily publication on 4 July 1983 and 2023 makes its forty years of existence.
The Federal Government has confirmed the first case of Anthrax in Nigeria after disclosing on Monday that the disease was detected in a farm in Niger State.

Making this known in a statement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it is deeply concerned to announce the confirmation of an anthrax case in Niger State, Nigeria.

It added that On 14th of July, 2023 the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria was notified of animals manifesting symptoms of a suspected case of anthrax in a farm in Suleja, Niger State.

The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along AbujaKaduna expressway Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings  anus, nose, eyes and ears.

A Rapid Response team comprising of federal and state One Health Professional Team visited the farm to conduct preliminary investigations and collected samples from the sick animals.

Subsequent laboratory tests by the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory confirmed the diagnosis, marking the first recorded case of anthrax in Nigeria in recent years and after the report of an outbreak of anthrax in Northern Ghana a few weeks ago.

According to the statement, all animals affected have died.

The Ministry had a few weeks ago communicated the risk of incursion of Anthrax into the country, following confirmed outbreaks in Ghana and other countries in West Africa.

Anthrax is a major zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats but can also infect humans, who come into direct contact with infected animals or consume contaminated animal products.

The disease can also be transmitted through contaminated pasture, feed and water.

The clinical signs of Anthrax in animals include sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings (nose, ear, mouth and anal region).

The spores of anthrax can persist for decades in a contaminated environment.

The Federal Government said it has through the Ministry and in collaboration with the Niger state government, taken proactive measures to timely control and contain the disease.

READ ALSO: Lassa Fever: Nigeria Records 170 Deaths So Far In 2023  NCDC

Such measures include Quarantine of the affected farm; deployment of 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccines for ring vaccination of susceptible animals species around the infected farm; educating the farm workers using a One-health approach on the symptoms, preventive measures and what to do when they notice any sign of the disease.

Other measures include the finalization of the plan for state-wide vaccination of susceptible animals against anthrax and the intensification of passive surveillance activities in livestock farms, markets and abattoirs and others are heightening targeted public awareness campaigns on anthrax.

Also, the Ministry urged all livestock owners to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicion of illness or deaths on their farms; avoid contact with sick or dead animals and their products and avoid slaughtering sick animals as slaughtering of sick animals can expose people to anthrax spores.

Livestock owners are also advised to avoid contact with wild animals and products such as bush meat, report any incidence of the sudden death of animals to the nearest veterinary authorities, use personal protective equipment (gloves, facemasks, goggles, boots) when handling sick animals or dead animals, practice suitable biosecurity measures and dispose of all cases of animals in an environmentally friendly manner and in consultation with veterinarians, environmental and public health officers.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi said he will not be celebrating his 62nd birthday due to the alarming state of insecurity in the country.

In a series of post shared on his Twitter page on Monday, Peter Obi expressed concern over the reports of killings and abductions occurring across Nigeria.

Expressing deep sadness over the recent wave of killings in Benue, Plateau, and other states, Obi conveyed his desire for a New Nigeria where the lives and properties of citizens are secure.

He highlighted the number of fatalities in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where over 200 people have been killed, and in Benue State, where the death toll has exceeded 100.

The former Anambra governor, who noted that he would prefer to celebrate his birthday in a safe and productive countr, urged his supporters to join him in acts of charity or visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to contribute to schools and hospitals.

He also urged those who wished to celebrate him with gifts to instead extend their generosity to those in need, particularly during these challenging times.

Peter Obi wrote, Wednesday 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years, that I will not celebrate my birthdays in todays Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation.

However, some friends, members of the Labour Party, and OBIdient Family and supporters have asked how they can join me in celebrating that day, and even present some gifts.

Let me humbly and respectfully appeal to all those who desire to celebrate me with any kind of gifts, to look around them and extend such gifts to the people in need, especially in these difficult times.

I urge them to visit hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged and people with disabilities, and offer them such generous gifts. They can also visit schools of basic studies in remote areas and support them with the basic amenities they need.

Those who wish to do more can visit various IDP camps in different parts of the country. I intend to do the same thing. Aside from sharing my time and resources with the less fortunate people around me, I plan to raise money for schools, hospitals, etc.

I have already said that the sacrifices for a better Nigeria must now start from us, the leaders and the well-placed. The state of our nation must give us cause to pause and ponder. There is far too much insecurity, violence, and bloodshed.

This month alone over 200 lives have been lost to sustained violent attacks in Mangu LGA in Plateau State. Similarly, in Benue State, over 100 lives have been lost in recent times, the latest being 27 persons killed in Adogo Ugbaam, Akpuuna, and Diom communities in Ukum LGA.

There are also many other cases of kidnappings and killings in different parts of the country. I want to celebrate in a New Nigeria where the lives and properties of citizens will be secure. I want to celebrate in a productive Nigeria that can create opportunities for our youths.

I want to celebrate in a Nigeria that works for all and which Nigerians can be proud of. This, and not my birthday, is the true celebration that will be beneficial to all Nigerians.

As Nigerians, we must always expand our imagination of the Possible, believing as we do that a New Nigeria is POssible.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian comedian, Akpororo recently appologized to Obidients over his comment about Peter Obis court case against Bola Tinubu.

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Isreal DMW, the logistics manager of Afrobeats superstar Davido, has addressed the ongoing speculation regarding his association with up-and-coming artist, Trevboi.

KanyiDaily recalls that Trevboi was recently declared wanted following his alleged involvement in the death of a young man at Bar 38 club in Fadeyi area of Lagos State.

Taking to his Instagram page, Isreal clarified the relationship between Davido and Trevboi, stressing the suspect was never signed to DMW.

He explained that Trevboi was merely someone whom Davido had graciously decided to support by featuring in one of his songs and even taking care of all the expenses for the music video.

Israel DMW made it clear that Davido and Trevboi had since gone their separate ways, especially after the suspect had the audacity to insult his boss as a form of repayment for his generosity.

He wrote, Trev was never Ogas signee. He was just somebody whom Oga assisted freely, by, jumping into his song. Oga even paid everything for his video shoot. Oga, long parted ways with him when he even had the guts to insult Oga, as a payback for all his kindness.

KanyiDaily had also reported how Davidos former signee, Lil Frosh was accused of beating his girlfriend, Gift Camille, beyond recognition and threatening to release her naked videos which he recorded.

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The four-seater Sling 4 plane was assembled by a group of 20 students from vastly different backgrounds.

The crew landed in Namibia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Tanzania and Uganda during the 12,000km (7,455 mile) trip.

Pilot Megan Werner, 17, founder of U-Dream Global project, said she was thrilled by the accomplishment.

Im so honoured to have made a difference around the continent at the places weve stopped.

The purpose of the initiative is to show Africa that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, she added.

Another Sling 4 plane, flown by professional pilots, accompanied the teen flyers, whose goal was to give motivational talks for other teenagers along the way.

The teenagers built the aircraft in three weeks from a kit manufactured in South Africa by the Airplane Factory. Construction included assembling thousands of small parts.



Megans father, Des Werner, who is a commercial pilot, said it would normally take 3,000 man hours to assemble a Sling 4.

The impressive feat had its challenges, Megan said.

In the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, they could not get fuel.

When we eventually got it, the support aircraft started leaking fuel so they couldnt fly with us and only two people  Driaan van den Heever, the safety pilot, and I carried on, Megan said.

We were concerned about flying across Sudan because of the political unrest in that country.

Megan was one of six in the group to have obtained a pilots licence, and the six shared flying duties in their silver aircraft, which is emblazoned with maps of Africa on both wings together with sponsors logos.

Their basic pilots licences presented a further challenge as they only allow flying at a height where the ground is still visible and prohibit entering cloud.

The last leg, from Addis Ababa to Cairo via Aswan, tested the pilots mettle.

Driaan van den Heever and I flew alone for 10 hours, without the support aircraft, so it was two teenagers, all by ourselves with no support, Megan said.

The two pilots encountered a problem with one of their avionic systems about an hour into Egyptian airspace. So they decided it would be better to land at the closest domestic airport in Abu Simbel.

That created a little chaos but it was done in the interest of safety, Des Werner said.

In the end it was just a loose connection which they sorted out but the bureaucratic process took a while to sort out because they had to complete a report, he added.

When we landed in Egypt the authorities wanted to arrest us, take our passports and licences but luckily after about four hours, everything was sorted out and we got some more fuel and carried on to Aswan. We then flew from Aswan to Cairo and it was a really awesome feeling to land here, said Megan.
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has condemned President Muhammadu Buharis planned visit to South Africa, following the xenophobic attack on Nigerians.

Fani-Kayode described Buharis planned trip as an insult to Nigerians.

Buhari will depart Abuja on Wednesday on a three-day state visit to the Republic of South Africa.

According to a statement by Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, this followed an invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The statement added that the meeting is to discuss the welfare of Nigerians and find common ground for building harmonious relations with their hosts.

However, Fani-Kayode insisted that Buhari should have rejected the invitation extended to him by Ramaphosa, following the killing of Nigerians.

In a tweet, the former Minister wrote: A President does not reward a foreign power that has just slaughtered his citizens with impunity with a state visit.

@MBuharis visit to South Africa is inappropriate and an insult to the Nigerian people.This is yet another 1st in the ignoble hall of infamy and shame for Nigeria.
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has spoken publicly for the first time over the continuous detention of Agba Jalingo, a journalist standing trial for criticising him.

Mr Jalingo, publisher of CrossRiverWatch, was arrested on August 22 over a report he published, alleging that Mr Ayade diverted N500 million belonging to the state.

The journalist has been in prison since Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Calabar denied him bail twice.

Speaking after a long silence on the matter, Governor Ayade said Mr Jalingo was detained because he tried to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor stated this while answering questions from journalists at the presidential villa, shortly after meeting with President Buhari on Monday, January 27, 2020.

Governor Ayade said the case in court is between the Federal Government versus Agba Jalingo and not Cross River State government.

He noted that Agba was charged for treason and the state does not have powers to try anybody for treason as such it couldnt have been him who is detaining Mr Jalingo.

In court, it is Federal Government versus Agba Jalingo, not Cross River State. Hes in court for treason, a state does not have power to try anyone for treason, its not me, he said.

Speaking further, Ayade disclosed that Mr. Jalingo is not a journalist rather the Chairman of a political party whose presidential candidate tried to topple President Buharis led Federal Government with the assistance of Agba Jalingo who is a state chairman of the party.

You are seeing him as a journalist, but hes not, hes the chairman of Sowores party in Cross River State so hes a politician. He has a primary calling, which is journalism..

Mr Ayade said the journalists arrest and trial is in connection with Omoyele Sowores #RevolutionNow protest.

On his Facebook page, he sent pictures where he was being teargassed at the revolution march in Lagos. His own pictures, posted by himself and when Sowore was being arrested, he went back to his Facebook to post that the revolution has just started, we will continue this battle until revolution works. He admitted this in Court, Ayade said. Once he started the campaign to overthrow the government of President Buhari, he ceased to be seen from the point of journalist because he has become the state chairman of a party.

Governor Ayade, however, says he has been working for Mr Jalingos release from Calabar prison where he has been incarcerated.

I am of the opinion that Agba should be released because I think he was just youthfully excited. If you ask Agba Jalingo today, Im the one working with his lawyers for his freedom, Im the one sustaining him and sending upkeeps, he said.

Mr. Ayade also cleared the air that he is not behind the Incarceration of Jalingo, stating that his intellectual background as a professor wont let him prosecute a journalist.

I have an intellectual background as a professor, I will stand with journalists at all times and I will never prosecute somebody.

Speaking further, Ayade said, Jalingo is his not just from the same home town with him, but he is his brother and he has assisted Jalingo severally only for Jalingo to turn back against him in betrayal and blackmail. The governor narrated instances where he assisted the Journalist in setting up the various businesses he is involved with, but will rather be blackmailed for personal issues.

Please dont get it wrong, Agba Jalingo is not just from Cross River State, hes not just from Obudu, where I also come from, hes my brother. Please ask Agba Jalingo, that CrossRiverWatch, the first person to give him money to set up the office was myself. His official vehicle, it was me. I dont have to list all of these, he knows that I have funded and supported him, but journalism stops where blackmail becomes part of your strategy. Today you need something, then Ayade is a good man and you start writing all the good things, but if I take my phone and show you our WhatsApp communication, you will call me a godly man. Today I need money to set up a computer school, tomorrow I need money to feed my birds, the other day I need to be INNOSONs sole distributor in Cross River State, I do all that. But when I dont get a thing right you go to the social media and write something as careless as Governor Ayade has taken N500 million to Russia. You impugned my fathers name, my character, my family name, for just a personal request that Ive not met, out of many that I have met. Please for once, put yourselves in my shoes. All I simply did was to stay out of the issue, the governor said.

The governor reiterated that he has been working for Mr. Jalingos release from Calabar prison where he has been incarcerated.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  The low pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao may enter the countrys weather monitoring area on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Posible ho ngayong araw ng Lunes ay pumasok na ito sa Philippine Area of Responsibility (It will possibly enter PAR this Monday), PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said in a 4 a.m. update, noting that it still has no direct effect on the countrys weather condition.

After Tropical Storm Dodong exited the PAR Saturday afternoon, the state weather agency reported that a cloud cluster developed into an LPA on Sunday. It was last located 1,070 kilometers east of Mindanao and is seen to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 1-2 days.

Once a tropical cyclone, it will be named Egay, the fifth storm to enter the PAR this year and the second this July.

Badrina said the usual track of weather disturbances during July is passing through Luzon or recurving towards Japan.

PAGASA also said rains are still expected over parts of the country due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat.

It will still drench the west part of the Philippines, specifically Ilocos region, Bataan and Zambales, as well as other parts of Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila on Monday, Badrina said.
There has been series of calls for resignation of World Health Organization (WHO) Director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as hes been accused of aiding China to lie about their death toll numbers thereby covering up the true impact of Coronavirus in the Asian nation.

China says it has had 81,000 cases with 3300 deaths compared to the US death toll now over 10,000 and the US believes China covered up their death toll and in the process helped spread the disease. In February, when China reported 17,238 infections and 361 deaths, Tedros, an Ethiopian, said there was no need for countries to impose travel restrictions and that measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade were not needed.



Last month Tedros praised the Chinese regime, saying: For the first time, #China has reported no domestic #COVID19 cases yesterday. This is an amazing achievement, which gives us all reassurance that the #coronavirus can be beaten.

Now US politician, Republican Sen. Martha McSally has called for his removal from the job saying he helped China cover up a lie with some estimates suggesting their death toll could be as high as 40,000.

Dr Tedros deceived the world. At one point, he even praised Chinas transparency during its coronavirus response efforts despite a mountain of evidence showing the regime concealed the severity of the outbreak. This deception cost lives. She said to Fox News on Monday.

She added that she never trusted a communist and that the Chinese governments cover-up of this virus that originated with them has caused unnecessary deaths around America and around the worldI think Dr Tedros needs to step down.



It should be remebered that a whistleblowing doctor, Dr Li Wenliang, who first alerted the rest of the world to the escalating crisis within Hubei province, was sanctioned by medical authorities and police.

He later died of the virus and the country denied questionning him with the help of the police, labeling it as a rumor.
Daily global temperatures reached an unofficial record high multiple times this week, according to at least one metric, and caused communities around the planet to take drastic measures to help people beat the heat.

A work stoppage in Beijing stretched into this week after a string of days where temperatures were higher than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

In North Grenville, Ontario, the city repurposed hockey rinks into cooling centers as temperatures reached 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) and felt like 38 degrees (100 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity.

And the National Weather Service in the United States has issued heat advisories for a large swath of the continental U.S., reported a number of heat-related hospitalizations in Austin and San Antonio in Texas and recorded record-breaking temperatures in cities including Portland, Oregon, Tampa, Florida and El Paso, Texas.

Photographers for The Associated Press captured how people all over the world endured  and in some cases suffered from  the heat.

People dove into bodies of water in Ukraine, Turkey and Spain. Tourists in Rome and a man in Manila shielded themselves from the sun using umbrellas. A security guard in Beijing and a construction worker in Nashville wiped sweat from their faces on days when the temperature was over 100 degrees.

And climate scientists told the AP that the record-setting heat is poised to continue as the planet keeps warming. Commenting on the global temperature highs earlier this week, Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field said, A record like this is another piece of evidence for the now massively supported proposition that global warming is pushing us into a hotter future. ___

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.
The Georgia Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal challenging the validity of roughly $700 million in property tax breaks that Rivian is expected to receive for its future $5 billion electric vehicle factory.

The states highest court said last week it will let stand an appellate courts ruling that primarily sided with the state and a local development authority and paved the way for a bulk of those property tax breaks to be reinstated for Rivian.

The company, which employs thousands at the Normal manufacturing operations where it launched production in September 2021, first announced plans to build the $5 billion plant in Georgia later that year.

The decision is a boon for the electric vehicle upstart thats behind one of the states largest-ever economic development projects, and it deals a blow to critics who say the tax savings dont stand up to scrutiny and go against the wishes of nearby residents.

Applauding the decision were the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Joint Development Authority of Jasper (JDA), Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties, which own the 2,000-acre Rivian project site in southern Morgan and Walton counties.

The earlier decision from the Court of Appeals in support of the Rivian project is now final, reinforcing that the State and JDA provided unrefuted evidence that this project is sound, reasonable, and feasible, the agencies said in a joint news release.

John Christy, an attorney representing seven Morgan County residents who were challenging the tax breaks, said hes disappointed the Georgia Supreme Court did not take up the case. He added that he believes the case raised important issues.

In April, a panel of three appellate judges ruled in favor of the state and JDA on four of five aspects of the legal controversy over the the bulk of the $1.5 billion incentive package used to woo the California-based startup to Georgia.

The panel found a local superior court judge erred by declining to approve or validate bonds at the center of $700 million in local property tax breaks that Rivian was poised to receive. The panel also ruled the land lease Rivian signed is a limited arrangement known as a usufruct, not a taxable lease called an estate for years.

The lower court ruling threatened the proposed factory and presented Rivian the opportunity to terminate its agreement with the state and JDA in May if the local property tax breaks werent reinstated. Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe told the Atlanta Journal Constitution earlier this year that, Were committed to this state and this project.

Two of the three judges on the panel sided with the local judge on one item, ruling that Rivian may owe certain taxes on specific equipment within the factory. A spokesperson for the state and JDA said that ruling will not be appealed, meaning the equipment taxes will not be abated. The value of those taxes depends on the assessed value of equipment that Rivian installs on-site, which has not been publicly released.

The appeals court did not validate the bonds, meaning theyll have to go back to get a local judges approval before the tax savings will be finalized.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Rivian factory has yet to take place, but the project site is currently being graded. Its expected to begin production in 2026, a year later than initially scheduled.

The plant is expected to employ 7,500 workers, and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said it will spur thousands of ancillary and supplier jobs.

A project of this scale attracts suppliers and builds a thriving community that can support more local businesses, Wilson said in the release. The benefits will be felt across the e-mobility ecosystem and the dozens of other industries its supply chain touches.

While this legal battle over incentives is over, several other challenges related to the Rivian project are still working their way through the courts.

Many of the same plaintiffs in the incentives case are involved in two separate lawsuits accusing the state of taking over the Rivian site to avoid public scrutiny during rezoning discussions. A local judge ruled the plaintiffs must pre-pay $365,000 to cover the state and JDAs legal fees under whats known as a petition for bond, a tactic designed to discourage frivolous lawsuits against local and state governments. The Georgia Court of Appeals has agreed to determine whether the petition for bond is warranted.

Rivian and two contractors enlisted to clear and grade the project site are also being sued in U.S. District Court by a nearby resident who claims muddy runoff from the site has choked streams and ponds downstream in violation of federal environmental law. That case is still pending.

Cox Enterprises, owner of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, owns about a 4% stake in Rivian.

Inside Rivian's test drive operation in Normal
BLOOMINGTON  A Bloomington woman is jailed after she admitted to setting fire to her apartment building Saturday, police said.

Mariah S. Griffin appeared in a Monday bond court hearing on a Class 2 felony charge of arson. Judge Sarah Duffy found probable cause for her arrest.

Assistant State's Attorney Aaron Fredrick told the court that first responders were called at 5 p.m. Saturday at 1723 W. Illinois St. Once on scene at the the Sunnyside Court complex, he said they found residents fleeing the property.

He said one wall in the apartment Griffin resides in had fire damage, including to a melted curtain rod. Fredrick said Griffin admitted to officers that she set a curtain on fire with a cigarette lighter.

The prosecutor said Griffin struggles with methamphetamine use and mental health issues. Griffin also said she intentionally set the fire, but did not intend to harm other residents in the building, Fredrick continued.

Duffy set her bond at $150,000, with 10% to apply for release. She also ordered her to complete all recommended mental health treatments.

Griffin's arraignment hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 28.

Jeremy Hayes, director of the Bloomington Housing Authority, described the incident for The Pantagraph as a small fire in the structure's end unit, based on photos he had reviewed. And, no one else was displaced, he said.

Since a more formal assessment is needed, he said an exact damage estimate is unavailable, but repairs could cost a few thousand dollars.

Hayes recalled past kitchen fires at the property where damage was curbed from spreading to other units due to fire walls.

Frank Friend, spokesperson for the Bloomington Fire Department, said it was a minor fire that hurt no one.

Griffin remains in custody, as of Monday.

This story has been updated.

Photos: On the job with the Bloomington Fire Department 031322-blm-loc-2ridealong 031322-blm-loc-1ridealong 031322-blm-loc-3ridealong 031322-blm-loc-4ridealong 031322-blm-loc-5ridealong 031322-blm-loc-7ridealong 031322-blm-loc-8ridealong 031322-blm-loc-9ridealong
BLOOMINGTON  A Normal man is being held in the McLean County jail after police said he spat on a hospital security guard.

Arrest affidavits provided to The Pantagraph by the McLean County States Attorneys Office said Wesley F. Turner, 44, was arrested Friday afternoon by Normal Police Department officers. Records indicate he was wanted on a warrant related to a petition to revoke his probational sentence ordered in November 2022, when he pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony charge of violating an order of protection.

Turner told arresting officers he was experiencing health issues, and he was then taken to Carle BroMenn Medical Center. Once there, the report said he was combative with NPD officers and the hospital staff who were treating him.

Police said they saw Turner turn toward a private security officer and spit on his arm.

Turner appeared in a Saturday bond court hearing on a Class 2 felony charge of aggravated battery to a peace officer. A judge found probable cause for his arrest and set his bond at $10,000 with 10% to apply for release; he remains in custody as of Sunday.

Turners arraignment hearing is set for 9 a.m. July 28.

A booking photo was not immediately available for this story.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
In 2013, Mississippi passed the Literacy Based Promotion Act, which required all third graders to read at grade level to advance to the fourth grade. At the time, Mississippis reading scores were historically among the lowest in the nation. The state spent two years and $20 million preparing for the rollout of the program.

The program included intensive literacy instruction for third graders reading behind grade level.

Fourth grade reading scores in the state went from 49th in 2013 to 21st in 2022.

In 2013, Mississippi students were 9 percentage points below the national average. By 2022, it had exceeded the national average.

In 2022, at the fourth grade level, Mississippis lower-income children and lower-income Black children both outscored their peers nationwide by roughly one academic year.

The results have been referred to as the Mississippi Miracle by the New York Times and the Associated Press, among others.

Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hitzik, citing the work of education bloggers Bob Somerby and Kevin Drum, recently suggested the success of Mississippis third grade reading gate program may not be the Mississippi Miracle it has been reported to be, based on a closer look at the data.

While we question some conclusions reached by Somerby, Drum and Hitzik, their data analysis revealed a bit of information worth following. While Mississippi fourth grade literacy scores now outpace the national average for both white and Black students, eighth grade literacy scores are far below the national average.

This suggests students who received intensive literacy instruction in third grade made only temporary gains, briefly besting their national peers in fourth grade but falling back behind in subsequent years.

Thats easy to understand: Its reasonable to assume the conditions (socioeconomic status, family status, etc.) that caused the students to fall behind by the third grade persist beyond the third grade, despite the instruction.

The decision to implement this program at the third grade level was not random. Studies showed that a child who cannot read at grade level by third grade is unlikely to ever catch up. We suspect the same can be said for those not reading at grade level in fourth through twelfth grades too.

Yet there is no program -- and certainly no additional funding -- to reenforce what they learned through the intensive instruction they received in the third grade. The data suggest students may benefit from additional intensive instruction beyond the third grade year.

Mississippis commitment to improving reading shouldnt begin and end in the third grade. We believe establishing some program along the lines of third grade gate for subsequent grades might truly change the landscape of public education in Mississippi.

By definition, a miracle is something that is inexplicable. We much prefer success built on commitment and resources.
The World Bank has advised the government to implement an urgent emergency energy action plan to address challenges in the countrys energy sector.



The World Bank Managing Director in charge of Operations, Ann Bjerde, who made the call, said the countrys problems in the energy sector were very serious and would get worse with debilitating effects on economic growth if not addressed.



"Once the problems are at the level that Ghana has, if not arrested and addressed with an emergency action plan, things will get worse, and this will cost the state more to keep the energy sector running at a time money is needed for other things," she said.



She stated this during an interaction with journalists in Accra last Friday to end her three-day visit to the country.



Ms Bjerde stressed that the emergency energy plan must be comprehensive, robust and focused on investment in metering, billing and efficient collection of revenue to ensure a vibrant sector.



While in the country, she held discussions with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Ghanas economic situation and the need for bold reforms to address the challenges.



Ms Bjerde said one of the issues that came up strongly for discussion was the need for urgent action to contain the challenges in the energy sector.



Vulnerable populations



She underscored the need for the ministries of Energy, Finance, and Gender and Social Protection to work together to ensure that the implementation of the energy plan was done in a manner that protected vulnerable groups.



Ms Bjerde said the World Bank would offer expert advice on how to integrate social protection into the energy plan to ensure that the vulnerable populations were protected in the wake of tariffs increment associated with the energy reforms.



"It is not rocket science; it is difficult, it requires a lot of attention day to day to get it done. But it can be done. If it is left unattended to, the problem will be worse and will cost the state more," she said.



Ms Bjerde stressed that the billing and collection of revenue would have to be efficient on the basis of proper metering.



"That way, you will know where the problems are. If you are providing electricity, billing for it and not collecting, you will know where the problems are then you can go and collect the revenue.



"If there are customers that just refuse to pay, you may also have to disconnect them," he said.



Technical support



Ms Bjerde said the World Bank was ready to support the country to implement the plan by providing technical advice on what needed to be done in terms of the billing, metering and revenue collection.



In doing so, she said, it was important to set up a dedicated account to hold all the different revenue flows in the energy sector.



"This will ensure that those who are generating the electricity are paid to sustain power supply," she said.



The World Bank Managing Director, Operations, underscored the need for the government to look more towards bolstering public-private partnerships and exploring the possibility of outsourcing certain functions and other initiatives to cut energy losses.



"Energy that is lost should really be energy that is consumed and properly accounted for," she said.



Ms Bjerde also emphasised the need to fix challenges along the value chain, especially by ensuring that independent power producers (IPPs) were paid, stressing that "without IPPs, gas production, distribution and transmission companies, we cannot sustain the sector".



"Most of the costs in the energy sector are not on the front of the distribution company; it is on the generation side, so the money needs to flow from where you collected it back up to the generation of electricity. And if it does not, the generators cannot keep producing electricity, and you will end up with interruption of supply, and this will really cause more economic problems because economic growth will be impacted," she said.



Energy potential



Ms Bjerde said Ghana had a huge potential to become a regional hub of energy.



She, therefore, urged the country to do the right investments to make sure that transmission and interconnection agreements with other countries that needed electricity were pursued to the maximum.



She said one exciting area was to make a transition from conventional energy to renewables.



"There is a huge potential in solar energy, and around the world, what we have seen is that when countries shift to renewable energy, they will need to make commensurate investments in transmission and equipment because it requires investment to be able to accommodate renewable energy technology," she said.



Ms Bjerde also urged government to look at developing local manufacturing capacities to have advantage in certain areas of growth.

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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Many parents and teachers are in support of the implementation of Reproductive Health Education (RHE) in basic schools to promote sexual and reproductive health and right of children in Ghana, a research report has shown.



The research conducted by the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG), a Non-Governmental Organisation, in two districts each in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Upper East Region was part of a five-year RHE project dubbed, Evidence to Action: Sexual Health Education Advocacy Project being sponsored by the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU).



The research sought to find out whether parents and teachers supported the implementation of RHE in basic schools or not and at which levels and what personal and environmental factors could influence their choice.



At a dissemination workshop to make the findings known to stakeholders held at Bolgatanga, the findings showed that 60 per cent of teachers and 90 per cent of parents supported the implementation of the RHE in basic schools.



However, Mr Dominic Anarigide, the Project Officer, YHFG, who presented the findings, said the research further noted that the implementation of the RHE should begin at the Upper Primary level.



Ms Augustina Dechegme Achigibah, the Programme manager of YHFG, noted that although the findings could not be generalised to the larger population, its implementation should be in conformity with the sociocultural beliefs of society.



Ms Priscilla Nyaaba, the Executive Director of YHFG, called on various stakeholders, especially the Ghana Education Service (GES) and religious bodies, among others, to collaborate and intensify conversation for RHE in basic schools.



This, Ms Nyaaba noted, would help reduce teenage pregnancies, minimize child marriage, limit transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and enable adolescents to make informed decisions to help their career and personal development.



According to Ms Nyaaba the Ministry of Education and its partners developed a national guideline for the teaching of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools in 2019, but the initiative was met with great opposition from various stakeholders due to its content, leading to a halt in its implementation.



She said while it was important to acknowledge that some elements in the document did not meet the acceptable societal norms in the Ghanaian community, it was crucial that stakeholders were engaged on the way forward as RHE was important for the growth and development of young people, especially adolescents.



Ms Priscilla Lisa Tanbesagr, the Bolgatanga Municipal Girl Child Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said the implementation of RHE in basic schools was fundamental to safeguarding the future of the younger generation, adding that it was only when they were educated that they could make appropriate decisions regarding their sexual life.



Sheikh Abu-Baka Sadiq Abdul-Rahaman, a participant, noted that it was important religious bodies and other stakeholders were engaged to examine the content of any policy document in relation to sex education before its introduction into schools.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Global Media Alliance (GMA) has marked the end of the World PR Day Festival with a spectacular grand summit.



The highly anticipated event, held on July 14th, brought together industry experts, distinguished guests, and professionals from around the country. With the theme "Harnessing the Power of Public Relations," the summit aimed to celebrate the pivotal role of PR in shaping global narratives and driving effective communication strategies.



The summit witnessed the presence of esteemed guests, including the Chief Director at the Ministry of Information who represented Information Minister Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), and the CEO of Global Media Alliance.



Their participation further emphasized the significance of the event and highlighted the commitment to advancing the field of public relations.



The half-day summit commenced with an opening ceremony that featured welcoming remarks from the CEO of Global Media Alliance Ernest Boateng. In his address, he underscored the crucial role of public relations in today's interconnected world, emphasizing its power to influence public opinion, foster social change, and enhance organizational reputation.



He stated that through effective communication, PR professionals have helped bridge divides, dispelled misconceptions, and promote harmony among diverse communities.



Chief Director at the Ministry of Information, Madam Charlotte Morgan Asiedu in her speech emphatically stated that As we harness the power of public relations, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to ethics, responsibility, and integrity. We must ensure that public relations never become a tool for manipulation or deception.



Rather, it should be a force that amplifies authenticity, empowers the voiceless, and upholds the values of honesty and transparency,



She also thanked GMA for providing a space where communicators can have open conversations that enforce the PR community in Ghana.



A series of engaging panel discussions and interactive sessions followed, covering various aspects of the public relations profession with panelists such as Sophia Kudjordji, Chief Communications Officer for Jospong Group of Companies; Emma Wenani, Chief Director for Global Media Alliance; Adelaide Abbiw-Willams, Chief Executive Officer for SES HD Plus and Nana Essilfuah Tamakloe, Director Marketing & Corporate Relations.



The President of the IPR, Mawuko Afadzinu delivered a compelling goodwill message, highlighting the importance of harnessing the power of public relations through building trust and transparency. The message provided valuable perspectives on the future of the industry and inspired attendees to maximize the impact of their PR efforts.



The World PR Day Festival Summit successfully concluded the Three-month long festival on a high note, reinforcing the power of public relations in shaping global narratives and driving effective communication strategies. The event's distinguished guests, engaging sessions, and insightful discussions collectively underscored the significance of harnessing the power of PR to create a positive impact in today's world.

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Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh says Ghana remains committed to a clean energy sector within the context of its energy transition framework.



Contributing to a panel discussion on the energy sector at the opening session of UK-Africa Industrial Decarbonisation Ministerial Tour on Monday, 17th July, 2023, Dr. Prempeh said Ghana has made great strides in developing a transition framework that will ensure a just and an equitable transition towards achieving net zero.

According to the Minister, the country has also made significant progress in advancing its national energy policy.



This, he said, is supported by the Ministry of Energys vision for a clean power sector and also underpinned by efforts to provide universal access to electricity by 2024 which currently stands at 88.85% as well as increasing the installed capacity of modern renewable energy in the energy mix to 10% by 2030.



The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, indicated that the countrys energy transition framework is being implemented to the letter.



Our energy transition framework around which some of these bold decisions revolve has been developed to provide a clear-blue print towards achieving net zero in a just and an equitable manner, which provides a firm basis for the judicious exploitation of our other God-given energy resources , he stated.



The framework, the Ministere emphasized, is being developed into an investor-friendly one as it provides key opportunities for strategic investment.



He further noted that Ghanas economy will be fueled largely by electricity with a future electricity demand modelled at 380000 GWh with a corresponding installed generation capacity of 83GW by 2070.

An estimated 200Million ton of CO2 equivalent emission will be saved, he said



He added that Ghanas nationally determined contribution to Paris agreement has been revised and presented at COP26 with new targets in key sectors of the economy.

Emission reduction target, he revealed, stands at 68 million tons of CO2.



He called for massive investment in Ghanas energy sector and reiterated efforts at converting the energy transition framework into an investor-friendly one.



The UK-Africa Industrial Decarbonization roadshow will continue in Edinburgh, Leeds and New castle in the coming days in July with the aim of bringing issues on the subject to the front burner for discussion.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  In-house presidential production group Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) will be in charge of directing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Monday.

The RTVM will take care of it. In other words, yung mga beterano nila, sabi nila kayang-kaya nila yan [their veterans, they said they can really do the job], Velasco told reporters.

This was less than two weeks after the same official confirmed Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications Paul Soriano as the director of Marcos second SONA.

READ: Full house likely at SONA with easing of health protocols; Paul Soriano back as director

Soriano directed Marcos first SONA last year.

RTVM covers the presidents activities, either for broadcasting or video archiving.

SONA preparations

Velasco also said the House of Representatives (HOR) preparations for the SONA is about 95% done, with organizers waiting for the final guest list from the Office of the President, Senate and other key government offices.

All preparations have been done. Physical arrangements, security. We are confident by Friday everything will be all set, he added.

The HOR expects around 2,000 guests, including former presidents and members of the diplomatic corps, to attend.

Velasco said former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whos also a congresswoman, and Joseph Estrada, have confirmed their attendance.

Theres no word yet on former President Rodrigo Dutertes attendance.
In the ninth edition of its Dream Car Promotion, Vodafone Ghana has awarded a brand-new Suzuki Swift GLX to Michael Archer, a resident of Suhum.



The promotion, which is in its tenth cycle and runs every six months, has rewarded customers over the years with cars, houses, mobile phones, cash prizes, and other exciting packages.



At a brief presentation ceremony, other Vodafone customers who won in the promotion were rewarded with brand new iPhone 14s and other exciting prizes.



An elated Mr. Michael Archer expressed appreciation to Vodafone Ghana for acknowledging and rewarding his patronage of the service.



I previously won a brand-new iPhone from Vodafone. I never expected to win the car! Thank you, Vodafone! he said. He urged all others to use the services of Vodafone Ghana for their convenience.



Speaking about the event, David Umoh, the Director of the Consumer Business Unit at Vodafone, expressed appreciation to customers for their loyalty to Vodafone Ghana over the years and also commended winners for believing in the brand.



"As a customer-focused company, we are constantly looking for ways to thank our customers for their patronage and loyalty. We are doing this through a variety of channels, including the Dream Car Promotion. I encourage Vodafone consumers to stay connected to Vodafone Ghana and take advantage of our services and promotional offers," he said.

David also encouraged customers to participate in the tenth cycle of the Vodafone Dream Car Promotion, which is currently ongoing.



The tenth cycle of the Dream Car promotion started in May this year and is accessible to all Vodafone Ghana customers, who can subscribe by simply dialling *2018# and following the prompt.



To win the promotion, participants must answer up to five questions per day to build points. Each month, Vodafone Ghana will reward the customer who has the most points with a brand-new iPhone. The participant with the most points overall will be awarded the grand prize at the end of the promotion.







Source: Peacefmonline com









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Buruli ulcer is endemic in the Dormaa Municipality of the Bono Region, Mr Daniel Kwame Owusu-Mensah, the Dormaa Municipal Disease Control Officer, has said.



He said the Municipality had recorded more than 60 cases in 30 endemic communities in the area since 2010 with many of the affected people having various deformities.



Mr Owusu-Mensah appealed for collective efforts among all stakeholders to bring the situation under control.



The Municipal Disease Control Officer said though Buruli ulcer was common among children, the municipalitys situation was different with the adult population being infected.



Speaking with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a training of some health workers on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) at Dormaa-Ahenkro, Mr Owusu-Mensah said the mode of transmission of Buruli Ulcer remained unknown.



He, however, said the disease was common among farmers farming around water bodies and people engaged in sand winning in the municipality.



The MIHOSO International Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the days training to empower the 22 health workers to easily identify, treat and manage NTDs in the Municipality as part of a project it is implementing, covering more than 68 communities in the Municipality.



Similar training was organised for five community volunteers to support the health workers.



The Foundation, a human rights and social development-centred organisation, is partnering with Basic Need Ghana, another NGO, to implement the two-year project that would enhance the quality of life of vulnerable and affected people in the area.



Titled Building Civil Society Coalition to Advocate an Integrated Approach to Control Skin-NTDs and Enhance the Quality of Life of Vulnerable and Affected People in Ghana, the project sought to contribute towards prevention, control and elimination of the NTDs infection, ameliorating the mental health and psychosocial impact of debilitating the disease and social stigma.



Mr Owusu-Mensah said Buruli ulcer had deformed many of the affected people in the municipality because they failed to report and seek early treatment and medication.



He advised the people to avoid self-medication and report abnormalities in their body system to health facilities for attention.



He said elephantiasis and yaws were also common, saying 24 cases of the former and three cases of the latter had been recorded in the municipality since 2016.



Mr Thomas Benarkuu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Operations, MIHOSO, said the two-year project implementation would contribute to progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and skin health for all.



It would enhance health and well-being, eliminate discrimination and exclusion, deepen human rights, and improve participation and productivity.



Under the project implementation, Mr Benarkuu said self-help peer support groups of people with skin-NTDs would be established to promote self-care and for peer emotional support to members and other affected persons and develop and widely disseminate materials on skin-NTDs to create public awareness in the municipality.



He called for support from the project-implementing communities to help identify and support affected people to access medication.



Mr Stephen Nyarko Ameyaw, the Dormaa Municipal Director of Health, commended the project implementers and their partners and gave the assurance that the Directorate would also support the project to achieve desirable outcomes.



Good health is wealth and there is the need for us as health professionals to be abreast with changing trends in the health sector.



We should not leave the NTDs and chase other diseases because NTDs have a huge burden on the economic condition of the nation and we need to give the NTDs equal attention, Mr Ameyaw stated.





Source: GNA









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Insurance group Hollard Ghana and its subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance have launched a swanky Customer Experience Centre and toll-free customer service line to deliver exceptional experiences to their stakeholders.



The Hollard Customer Experience Centre is primarily a call centrestrategically located at the groups head office at Capital Place, Airport Residential Area, serving customers nationwide. It is equipped with innovative technologyand highly skilled Customer Experience Advisors responsible for promptly addressing the needs of enquirers and customers of the insurance group. The centre will address their insurance queries, including claims and policy updates in English, Twi, Ewe, and Hausa.



A highlight of the launch of the Customer Experience Centreis Hollard Ghanas new toll-free number, 0800-444-999[CO1] . The public can contact the group of companies every weekday without charge.Upon dialling, they will be welcomed by Hollards popular Chatbot ambassador, Araba Hollard,who willdirect them to the relevant advisor. They can easily connect with Hollard via all mobile networks from anywhere in the country, removing geographical barriers and ensuring that assistance is just a phone call away.



Speaking on the announcement, the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Cynthia Ofori- Dwumfuo, said the initiative is driven by the company's purpose to continuously seek a better way to satisfy the needs of their customers.





"We are thrilled to introduce our Customer Experience Centre and toll-free number to Ghana because were big on delivering premium service. Our focus on customer experience reaffirms our commitment to showing them care and dignity.Our stakeholders know us well for our innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks they face, so this is business as usual for us. We truly love to put our customers first, so this centre will make us even more accessible.



"On the operational side, were big on productivity. We haveoptimisedthe toll-free number and the Customer Experience Centre to achieve operational efficiency while serving customer needs in real-time. This means shorter call wait times, instant responses,product sign-ups, renewals, and more.Were delivering prompt assistance while maintaining international standards of professionalism. Were proud of our work upscaling our customer engagement touchpoints. Weve progressed beyond simple switchboard calls..



With the introduction of the new toll-free number, all existing Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life telephone numbersnow route to this tollfree number.



About Hollard Ghana



The countrys favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market, having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide.

With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions and customised, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more,and can be reached via 0307000599. Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, https://melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini has justified the Minority caucus' boycott of Parliament.



The Minority has decided to boycott Parliamentary proceedings in solidarity with some of their Members in Court. The MPs: James Gyakye Quayson, Assin North; Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam and Collins Dauda, Asutifi South are facing various accusations leveled against them in court.



Many have described the boycott as irresponsible and needless



However, Inusah Fuseini says its a matter of the heart.



"The matter is emotive; it is a matter of the heart . . .the Minority caucus is a group . . . three of our members are in court: Gyakye Quayson, Ato Forson and Collins Dauda and we feel what they're going through can happen to anybody since majority of them are former appointees . . . in the case of Gyakye Quayson, it's political persecution . . . what is happening in Parliament is just a manifestation of some level of desperation from the NPP. Ato Forson was a Deputy Minister. He has no authorization to issue any directive without the permission of the Minister. His is just to assist the substantive Minister. With Collins Dauda, he didn't start Saglemi and I've read the document and you'll see that he was faced with a very difficult situation . . . we want to express our solidarity; what affects one affects all," he indicated in an interview on Neat FM's 'Me Man Nti' programme.



Listen to him in the video below





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A frontline aspirant of the New Patriotic Party flagbearer election, Boakye Agyarko, as part of his campaign, has spelt out his vision for the country.



The former energy minister has stated that it is his vision to build a strong, optimistic and unified Ghana.



According to him, "all around the world, nations are divided, especially in Africa. There is sharp divisions if a country is not fortunate to have a unifier as the leader. My vision is to have a population with a high quality of life.



He disclosed this in an interview on Kokrokoo on Hello FM, in the early hours of Monday, 17th July, 2023.



Mr Agyarko, told the host that, not only does he want a unified Ghana, but he is also passionate about Ghana's educational system.



He summarised it:



Secondly, a stable and a peaceful nation. Youre not able to progress in an unstable nation. Thirdly, the government machinery must be efficient to yield maximum results. I will bring into being an efficient government machinery.



'The other thing I am interested in is our educational system. We need a well-educated population, either than that, we cannot compete with the outside world. We are in an era of artificial intelligence.



Boakye Agyarko is in the Ashanti region as part of his ongoing media engagement tour.



Amongst other issues, the show was centered on the biography of Boakye Agyarko, his vision and achievements at the party and government level.



The former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen; the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong; and 6 other candidates have been cleared by the Vetting Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest the NPP flagbearership race.



The clearance gives the green light for the 10 candidates to begin preparing for the Super Delegates Congress of the NPP, where the number will be struck down to only 5 candidates.



It is this final 5 candidates list that will be presented to delegates to vote on for a presidential candidate towards the 2024 general elections.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI) introduced in the erstwhile Kufour government is the brain child of Alan Kyerematen, Mr Richard Nyamah, Deputy Spokesperson of NPP Flagbearer Hopeful Alan Kyerematen, has said.



He said the PSI was a blueprint envisioned and implemented by Mr Kyerematen in the Kufour government and not Kwamina Bartels as some persons were ignorantly and deliberately purporting.



Mr. Nyamah said this during an interview on Metro TV in reaction to a false claim made by one Mr Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe that the PSI initiative was not implemented by Alan, because the latter was in the United States as an Ambassador in President Kufours first term.



Mr Nyamah stressed that Alan Kyerematen envisioned and presented the PSI initiative to President Kufour in 2000, after which a cabinet inter-ministerial committee was constituted and chaired by President Kufour on the initiatives.



Mr Nyamah indicated that, though, Hon Kyerematen was in the United States of America as an Ambassador from 2001 to 2003, during the first term of President Kufour, it was his brain child that was deliberated upon by the team constituted by the former President, of which he (Alan) was the coordinator, to look into the initiatives.



No wonder upon his return to the country in 2003,the PSIs were added to his new portfolio as Minister of Trade and Industry to spearhead and implement the initiatives to boost Ghanas local economy and industrialization drive.



The Presidential Special Initiatives, he explained, were anchored on four major projects, namely cassava for industrial starch, salt, oil palm and garments.



Mr Nyamah said the PSI had the prospect of raising not less than $50billion in revenue for the country if it had been sustained by the NDC government when they took over power in 2009.



He said the initiatives had key deliverables and tangibles introduced by Hon Kyerematen to build a robust local economy.



He added that this goes to show the innovative and competent nature of Alan Kyerematen which shows him as a leader with great vision and plans.



Even as Trade and Industry Minister in current government, the records are there to show with the success of the One District One Factory spearheaded by Alan Kyerematen, which is supporting private sector growth and providing employment, he said.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, South African National Democratic Congress Council of Elders Chair and the Group Chairman for Allied Consortiums has thrown his support behind the World Bank's directive to Ghana regarding an energy plan.



Having an energy policy as directed by the World Bank would help not to fall into the 'dumsor' ditch again.



Speaking on Joynews Prime Morning programme Monday, 17th July, 2023, he claimed that, "I've always believed that if we do our things right, we could even be an exporter of energy and I think as a country we need to have a concerted effort in ensuring managers of the economy are able to come up with a policy in line with the World Bank's policy", he stated.



In offering counselling to government, Mr. Benjamin Quashie argued that Ghana needs to adhere to the directives of the World Bank since we have a programme with them. "This should help us steer our affairs properly and avoid any further energy crisis going forward as a country", he emphasized.



With reference to the 'dumsor' debate, the SA NDC Council Chair indicated that this has always been an area where there has been a tug of war between "My NDC and the NPP about excess capacity. But, what the World Bank is saying is an indictment on the government. That, there is a looming danger in the energy sector, which we must stop the politicking in order to avert", he shared.



Further, he contended that, from the look of things there is something the government isn't telling Ghanaians. "Who is government fooling by not telling the full story but telling us half-truths?" He quizzed. "I think Ghanaians should hold the government responsible if anything untoward happens regarding the energy sector. They only presented to us the good side of the policies without telling us the realities", he claimed.



According to Mr. Quashie, the time has come for the country to move away from policies that target the next election but, "Rather make policies that ensure Ghanaians are ok. The energy sector policies should be looked at devoid of politics to ensure we don't go back into 'dumsor' ", he emphasized again.



It was his considered view that with our ailing economy, if 'dumsor' should happen again, then it would be disastrous for our country.

Source: Peacefmonline com









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Stephanie Karikari, renowned for her grace, elegance, and infectious charisma as a former beauty queen, now embraces a new role as the captivating host of "SK Guide."



With a passion for television and a deep curiosity about the diverse backgrounds of people, Stephanie ventures into the world of hosting to bring to light the hidden treasures, untold stories, and uncharted territories within Africa.



"SK Guide" is a groundbreaking travel and lifestyle show highlighting Africa's extraordinary economic advancements.



It is an exclusive ticket to witness the phenomenal economic developments and remarkable accomplishments that have propelled Africa to the forefront of the global stage.



The show, which will premiere on Friday, July 21, will be aired every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on Akwaaba Magic Ch 150 and GOtv Supa Ch 102.



"SK Guide" is a visionary show that seeks to leave a lasting impact on its viewers.



Karikari emphasizes the importance of unveiling Africa's abundant blessings, educating those in need, and showcasing investment opportunities.



It also showcases the diverse lifestyles across various countries and cultures. As the journey commences in Ghana, Stephanie Karikari is determined to shed light on Africa's untold stories and showcase its remarkable potential.



Speaking on what sets "SK Guide" apart from other shows, Karikari affirms; "This is a versatile show that cuts across from young to mature, Africans to foreigners. It is Africa's excellence."



Each "SK Guide" episode presents a unique and captivating theme and a star-studded lineup of guests. Joining Stephanie on this unforgettable journey are Claudia Lumor, the CEO of Glitz, along with musical sensations KiDi and DBlack.



Adding their expertise and insights will be the influential entrepreneur Kofi Amoabeng, the Honorable Minister of Energy, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, and the esteemed Member of Parliament, Honorable Haruna Iddrisu.



Stephanie Karikari, acclaimed for her impressive achievements as a beauty queen, expresses her enthusiasm for her new role as a television host.



She shares; "TV has always been a major interest, and hosting was the perfect path for me to delve into. Most importantly, it allows me to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds. It's an exciting journey into the realm of television."



Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated "SK Guide" premiere on Friday, July 21, at 3:30 p.m., exclusively on Akwaaba Magic Channel 150 and GOtv Supa Channel 102.



Join Stephanie Karikari on an enthralling journey of discovery as she unravels Africa's economic marvels and invites viewers to witness the continent's excellence firsthand.

Source: 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:

Golden apple snail laying eggs. Credit: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

An invasion of apple snail could be "disastrous" for rice production and food security in Kenya as well as other rice growing regions across Africa, according to a new CABI-led study published in the journal Pest Management Science.

The scientists, led by Kate Constantine, Project Scientist at CABI, highlight apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) as a serious problem in Kenya's Mwea Irrigation Scheme. Extension agents stated apple snail is one of farmers' top five complaints and agro-dealers reported that 70% of complaints on a daily basis were due to apple snail.

Household surveys and focus group discussions with smallholder farmers, alongside key informant interviews, revealed the invasive specieswhich is native to South Americareduced rice yields by up to 14% and net rice income by up to 60% for farmers experiencing moderate levels of infestation (>20% of cultivated area affected).

The researchers stress that it is "essential" that strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are rapidly implemented. This includes, the scientists say, raising awareness, outreach and capacity building at all levels of the farming system.

In Kenya, around 300,000 small-scale farmers are involved in rice cultivation, not only providing labor but also earning their livelihood, with the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga County accounting for 80-88% of the country's rice production.

The Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development predicts that rice consumption will reach 1,292,000 tons by 2030. As a result, rice has been identified as a priority value chain in the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP 2018-2028) and National Rice Development Strategy-2 (2019-2030), which aims to transform Kenya's agriculture towards sustainable food and nutrition security and socio-economic development.

However, there is considerable untapped potential to expand rice production in the country, with estimates suggesting a production potential of up to 1.3 million hectares of irrigated rice.

Constantine said, "Rice production has seen consistent growth in demand over the last three decades, with its potential to improve rural livelihoods being widely recognized. In Kenya, rice is the third most important cereal grain after maize and wheat, and its consumption is increasing at a faster rate than production."

"However, rice farmers in Mwea face various challenges, including water shortages, rice blast attacks, high input costs, low land productivity, machinery shortages, bird damage, poor infrastructure, and a lack of resilient and acceptable rice varieties."

"The recent introduction of apple snail has added to these challenges, posing a serious threat to rice production in the region and potentially across Africa."

Fernadis Makale, co-author, added that, in response to the apple snail threat, a Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) drawn from various national and international institutions has been established to lead management efforts and provide consolidated advice to farmers on how to effectively manage the pest.

The researchers found that farmers reported increased use of chemicals to try and combat apple snail as well as the costly practice of hired labor to physically remove egg masses and snails.

Makale said, "The negative impacts will only increase over time as apple snail continues to spread. It is a call for urgent action. There is a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity for potential containment, or possibly even eradication, before apple snail becomes widespread in Kenya, and the only feasible option will become management, with its associated high economic, livelihood and environmental costs."

The scientists argue that in the absence of action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous, not only for farmers in Mwea but further afield. For example, if the snail spreads into the irrigated rice-production area of Ahero, at the edge of Lake Victoria, rice production in Tanzania and Uganda would be threatened, and from here inevitable further spread would occur.

"There are also serious food security implications as apple snail threatens any progress that has been made towards Kenya's self-sufficiency in rice production," Constantine added.

More information: Kate L. Constantine et al, Assessment of the socioeconomic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya, Pest Management Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ps.7638 Journal information: Pest Management Science

Provided by CABI
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:

Cover of Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (July issue). Credit: BAMS

A publication on early results from the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) on climate change in the Arctic appears in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

The CRC Transregio, led by the meteorologist Professor Manfred Wendisch from Leipzig University, is currently in its second funding period. Other participants in the CRC Transregio are the Universities of Bremen and Cologne as well as the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig.

"Being featured on the cover is a kind of international accolade for the work of our entire team," says Professor Wendisch. "The publication will help to make our results even more visible beyond the narrow circle of specialists, within the entire international community of meteorologists, oceanographers and climate scientists."

The Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the world. This phenomenon is known as Arctic amplification. To understand this warming, the Transregional Collaborative Research Center (AC) was established in 2016. It includes modeling and data analysis efforts as well as observational elements.

The project has generated a wealth of ground-, air-, ship- and satellite-based data on the physical, chemical and meteorological properties of the Arctic atmosphere, cryosphere and upper ocean, which are available to the Arctic climate research community.

Some 1,700 data sets alone are stored on a freely accessible research data server, which is operated by the University of Bremen and the Alfred Wegener Institute. Global coupled atmosphere-ocean models have been continuously developed as part of the Collaborative Research Center's work.

The scientists used existing and new data to identify short-term changes and indications of long-term trends in Arctic climate variables. For example, they found that the Arctic atmosphere has become significantly more moist and regional storm activity has increased. Winter warming in the regions around Svalbard and the North Pole has increased, resulting in a decrease in sea ice thickness in the Fram Strait and in snow depth on the ice.

In order to better link results in the future, researchers are developing cross-cutting themes to answer key questions in four focus areas: lapse rate feedback, surface processes, Arctic mixed-phase clouds, and airmass transport and transformation.

More information: M. Wendisch et al, Atmospheric and Surface Processes, and Feedback Mechanisms Determining Arctic Amplification: A Review of First Results and Prospects of the (AC)3 Project, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2022). DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0218.1 Journal information: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  The camp of suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has filed a motion seeking to dismiss the solons murder case for the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.

The motion moved to dismiss Pamplona Mayor and the slain governors widow Janice Degamos murder and attempted murder complaint against Teves, claiming an "utter lack of confidence to support a probable cause."

It cited the recanted statements of the 10 gunmen who killed Degamo which tagged Teves as the mastermind behind the Pamplona Massacre.

READ: 5 more Degamo suspects affirm recantation

The recanted confessions of the ten suspects, which was the sole evidence against Teves, Jr. have no probative value and are inadmissible against him, the motion read.

One of Teves lawyers earlier said that the main case against Degamo was rooted in the suspects statements and without these, it was enough to question the validity of the case against the congressman.

However, the Department of Justice in May said that even with the recantations, there is more than enough evidence to pin down the accused."

Teves legal team highlighted the testimonial evidence cited by the complaint. Not even one of the private complainants or their witnesses, claim any personal knowledge of the participation of Teves, Jr. in the subject crimes.

They also questioned the object evidence against Teves, namely, the safe house where the assassination was supposedly planned and a helicopter allegedly used to transport the shooters.

It is settled that both the alleged safe house as well as the helicopter are owned by HDJ Agriventures Corporation, not by Teves, Jr., the motion said.

Teves brother, Pryde Henry Teves, is the president of HDJ Agriventures Corporation.

Lastly, it claimed that there was no proof of inducement or conspiracy linking Teves to the Degamo slay.

The complaint utterly fails to furnish proof, even allegations, as to whether this criminal inducement is present on the part of Teves, Jr None of the witnesses or co-respondents in this case ever attest as to their receiving instructions, orders, promise, price or reward, or any form of inducement from Teves, Jr. the motion read.

Authorities previously gave Teves until July 17, Monday, to respond to the allegations made against him.

The solon has been tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Degamo in March, but Teves has since maintained his innocence.

Citing threats to his life, Teves has refused to return to the Philippines despite the recantation of testimonies by Degamo slay suspects.

RELATED: Teves has no plans to return home to face charges  Bato

Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' head legal counsel, said that he is sure Teves will return but that he is not sure when.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said Monday the suspects involved in the killing of Degamo have been transferred to a facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicutan, Taguig City.

BJMP already took custody of them, he said.

On the move to tag Teves as a terrorist, Remulla said another meeting of the Anti-Terror Council will be held after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s State of the Nation Address.
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General and detailed image of the anthropic marks identified on bay tree posts at La Draga. Right: Oriol Lopez-Bulto at La Draga, with an oak post recovered from the site. Credit: Autonomous University of Barcelona

Researchers have identified marks carved intentionally on bay trees some five or ten years before the Neolithic settlement of La Draga was built in Banyoles 7,200 years ago. The discovery confirms the presence of human groups in the area before they settled there, showing they selected, marked and controlled the forests.

A research team from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) has found the earliest known evidence of forest management based on the analysis of several of these anthropic markings located on posts made out of bay tree wood (Laurus nobilis) used in building La Draga (Banyoles, Girona), the only lakeside Neolithic site of the Iberian Peninsula dating back 7,200 to 6,700 years.

The research was conducted by Oriol Lopez-Bulto, Ingrid Bertin and Raquel Pique, from the UAB Department of Prehistory, and archaeologist Patrick Gassmann, and was published in the International Journal of Wood Culture after being presented at the From Forests to Heritage conference held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2022.

The study indicates that the trees were marked several times with adzes. The wood continued to grow on top of the scars left by the marks, and some five to ten years later, those same trees were cut down and converted into posts to be used in the early phases of building the settlement.

Marks such as the ones found at La Draga had been previously identified at a site located in Switzerland, the Hauterive-Champreveyres site, but were at least 1,000 years younger than the ones found at La Draga.

"The discovery is of great importance due to the extreme difficulty in finding archaeological evidence on when and how the first groups of humans managed these forests, given the natural degradation of the wood over time," points out Oriol Lopez-Bulto, first author of the article.

La Draga is one of the few European sites to register wooden remains in good conditions, due to being submerged in water on the edges of Lake Banyoles.

"There are signs that the communities at La Draga managed the forests, but until now we have not been able to demonstrate this with enough physical evidence," explains Raquel Pique, co-authora of the research. "The results allow us also to confirm the presence in the area of a group of people inhabiting La Draga years before the settlement was established and who selected, marked and controlled the forest."

Wood rarely used in the Neolithic

Bay tree wood was rarely used in the Neolithic in Europe, despite it being readily available in areas mainly located close to lakes. In the case of La Draga, it is documented in the remains of fires, tools, and in very few elements used for building, with a very secondary role when compared to oak: of the 1,200 posts recovered to date from the site, bay tree wood represents only 1.4%, in comparison to the 96.6% of posts made out of oak.

The marks of forest management at La Draga however were only discovered on bay tree posts, opening the question of why this type of wood was intentionally marked. "It could have been a way to avoid the use of this wood, for practical reasons, such as marking different territories, or even for symbolical reasons, but more studies will be needed clarify this question," researchers point out.

Profound knowledge of natural resources

Researchers confirmed in earlier studies that the inhabitants of La Draga had a profound knowledge of the natural resources surrounding the settlement. They managed plants and animal herds and used oak for practically everything, with an accurate selection of shapes and dimensions when building the posts that would later be used to build their cabins.

"The management of forests is a very relevant economic and social activity, which requires expertise, planification and social organization to succeed. Once again, our study demonstrates the economic importance and evolution of the inhabitants of La Draga and, in general, of the Neolithic groups of the western Mediterranean," states Lopez-Bulto.

To conduct the study, researchers used a combination of different methodologies, such as direct observation and registration, traceology and experimental archaeology, 3D scanning, taxonomic identification and dendrochronology.

A lakeside site unique in Spain

The archaeological site of La Draga, discovered in 1990, lies on the eastern shore of Lake Banyoles and is one of the earliest farming and livestock rearing settlements in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as one of the first lakeside Neolithic sites to exist in Europe (52004800 BCE). While it was inhabited, the settlement formed the shape of a peninsula inserting itself into the lake, with a soft and continuous downward slope. Based on the prospecting work, it is estimated that the settlement measured some 8,000 square meters.

The location of the site, in permanent contact with the water level, has contributed to the exceptional conservation of the organic materials, from wooden posts used for the cabins to tools (ax handles, sickles, digging sticks, etc.), remains of woven baskets and even rope. These remains make La Draga one of the most important sites in which to study Europe's Neolithic era.

More information: Oriol Lopez-Bulto et al, Sorting the Trees: The Role of Laurus nobilis in the Woodland Management Practices at La Draga (Banyoles, Spain), International Journal of Wood Culture (2023). DOI: 10.1163/27723194-bja10023
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Southern white rhino female for the BioRescue project. Credit: Jon A. Juarez

In the four years since the start of an ambitious project to save the northern white rhino from extinction, the BioRescue consortium has made significant progress towards its ultimate aim. Using advanced assisted reproduction technologies, 29 northern white rhino embryos have been created and cryopreserved, ready for a future transfer to a surrogate mother.

During a scientific field trip to Kenya in May 2023, the thirteenth egg collection from a northern white rhinoceros (NWR) was carried out by a team of scientists and conservationists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Safari Park Dvur Kralove, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.

The procedure involving female rhino Fatu went smoothly without any complications, and 18 eggs were harvested. They were matured and fertilized at the Avantea lab in Cremona, Italy, leading to five further embryos being produced, the highest number of embryos from any one egg collection so far. The sperm for fertilization came from two different bulls, thereby improving genetic diversity.

Previous procedures in November 2022 (eleventh collection) and February 2023 (twelfth collection) had yielded two and zero embryos, respectively.

Furthermore, in May 2023 the BioRescue team made another promising step toward saving the most endangered mammal species on our planet. The consortium members successfully identified and selected two wild southern white rhino females (SWR) as potential surrogate mothers. Both females were examined and translocated into a safe enclosure. They will now be crucial in supporting the breeding efforts within the BioRescue project for the NWRs.

The consortium members also checked the health status of the SWR teaser bull Ouwan and confirmed that he is still functionally sterilized. The teaser bull indicates by copulating with a female that a potential SWR surrogate mother is ready to receive an embryo. The bull must be sterilized; otherwise it makes no sense to perform an embryo transfer, as the female would become pregnant with the bull's sperm.

The next steps of the BioRescue project will be to perform embryo transfers with SWR embryos to demonstrate that the chosen transfer protocol is suitable and works. Once a proven pregnancy is achieved the team will use the protocol for transferring cryopreserved NWR embryos to produce viable offspring as soon as possible.

Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Research in the International Journal of Business Information Systems has focused on the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and their effects on the business bottom line. The researchers suggest that ERPs can have profound effects on an organization, significantly improving efficiency and profits. However, if used inappropriately they can lead to corporate decline and even bankruptcy.

ERP systems are advanced management information systems that integrate various functional areas within an organization with the aim of streamlining operations and improving overall efficiency.

Ford Lumban Gaol of Binus University and Mohamad Fajar Deniansyah of the Bina Nusantara University both in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Tokuro Matsuo of the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, Japan, have examined the efficiency of business processes both before and after the implementation of an ERP system. The team found meaningful improvements are possible.

But, they also highlight the factors that must be considered if the implementation of an ERP system is to be successful. They suggest that management must have vision and a solid business strategy while it is critical that experience among the company ERP team is strong.

Without this vision and team experience, ERP system implementation can fail leading to misalignments between operational strategy and business processes. Problems will arise if implementation takes longer than- anticipated, user training is inadequate, there are cost overruns and a lack of management dedication to the approach.

When handled well, an ERP system as implemented in the automotive industry example discussed in the paper, shows that significant improvements in business processes can be made. The research underscores the positive impact of an ERP system on the company's design and manufacturing unit specifically, the team reports.

As companies seek ways to optimize their processes and gain a competitive edge, this research provides insights into the potential for corporate transformation that is possible with an ERP system if undertaken with foresight, vision, and experience.

More information: Ford Lumban Gaol et al, The measurement impact of ERP system implementation on the automotive industry business process efficiency, International Journal of Business Information Systems (2023). DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2023.132124

Provided by Inderscience
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In the world of fast fashion, where trends are born as quickly as they are discarded, global trade regulations have struggled to keep pace with relentless cycles of production and consumption.

In attempting to meet the demands of this fast-paced sector, global trade has historically failed to address the troubling reality hiding behind the industry's glamorous facade: a supply chain tainted by human rights abuses and forced labor.

But experts say that's changing.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began enforcing the standards for manufacturing and trade under the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act to crack down on Asian goods that U.S. officials suspect are the product of forced labor by imprisoned ethnic minorities. Those include the Uyghurs, whose maltreatment has been extensively documented.

The United States has banned a large number of garment imports from Vietnam, a major exporter of textiles. Companies there were found to be sourcing materials, including cotton, from manufacturers in China that the U.S. government believes violated trade and labor standards.

"We have a calling to use trade as a force for good, advocating for fairness creating real opportunity for all of our people," said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai at a "Dean's Dialogue" with USC Marshall Dean Geoffrey Garrett at Town and Gown on the University Park Campus in May.

"There are substantial challenges in the relationship," said Tai, referring to the U.S. and China. "The People's Republic of China's growth and development over the last few decades have been phenomenal, but the impacts, and especially the negative impacts on other economiesincluding oursare having consequences that we cannot ignore."

Under scrutiny, brands confront the human cost of fast fashion

"The fast fashion industry openly admits to creating disposable products with no apologies. But it's crucial to include labor in the definition of sustainability because people are an integral part of our environment," said Annalisa Enrile, a teaching professor of social work at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Shein, the world's largest online fashion retailer, has faced repeated backlash for suspected labor and human rights abuses in its supply chains, particularly the use of materials produced by imprisoned Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region. U.S. lawmakers have called for investigations and potential tariffs, further complicating Shein's rumored plans to go public. The brand has since relocated its headquarters from Nanjing, China, to Singapore and invested in massive PR campaignsincluding extravagant influencer factory tours in China to clean up its image.

Enrilean expert in global justice, human trafficking and exploitative laborsheds light on the plight of migrants and child laborers, who constitute a significant portion of the global labor force. The International Labor Organization estimates that there are over 170 million migrant workers worldwide, nearly half of whom are women.

"Anywhere you have large-scale migration, you will also have a higher rate of labor exploitation. These countries often have export processing zones where factories are built with different laws and standards to attract businesses. It's a massive scope, with thousands of people migrating for labor every day, leading to entire villages in developing countries without women," Enrile said.

Gender-based violence and harassment in the fashion industry are well-documented, primarily driven by male factory owners and supervisors who enforce unreasonable production targets imposed by fashion brands. Some employers resort to coercive measures, including pressuring female workers to vow to not become pregnant, denying maternity leave and terminating pregnant employees.

Meanwhile, conservative estimates from the International Labor Organization show that South Asia, a major hub for the world's garment exports, is home to approximately 16.7 million children aged 5-17 engaged in child labor, with 10.3 million falling within the 5-14 age range. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 represent around one-fifth of all child laborers in South Asia.

However, Enrile pointed out that it is difficult to quantify and understand the full extent of child labor globally due to variations in its definition across countries. For example, in Vietnam, the age of employment is 15. In Bangladesh the legal age is technically 14, but children as young as 12 are allowed to engage in loosely defined "light work."

Empowered consumers drive fashion toward social responsibility

In today's ever-evolving landscape, the rise of conscious consumerism has become a game-changer. With a heightened awareness of the profound environmental and social consequences of their decisions, consumers are exerting immense pressure on fashion brands to revolutionize their supply and labor practices. The demand is clear: align with sustainability, embrace social responsibility and embody unwavering ethical values.

"The accessibility of information has brought to light the ethical concerns around product sourcing. We're seeing a preference for not just fair trade, but direct trade and more conscious and socially aware consumerism," said Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, the James Irvine chair in urban and regional planning and professor of public policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy.

Consumers value the origin of products, showing a preference for goods hailing from regions known for their quality, Currid-Halkett explained. An example of this is the resurgence in American manufacturing, especially the "Made in the U.S." movement prominent in high-end denim and loungewear such as T-shirts and sweatshirts.

"It holds great importance for the American economy as it reflects a sense of social consciousness around our purchasing decisions. When a product is made in the U.S., made in L.A. or made in Brooklyn, part of its appeal lies in knowing where it comes from and who is making it," she said.

The trend is gaining traction among a much larger consumer base, she added. While high-income consumers initially had the means to pay for these types of goods, ethically sourced clothing is becoming increasingly more accessible amid growing sensitivity toward climate change and social justice.

"The industry's pursuit of the best version of a product extends beyond luxury; it encompasses a balance between quality and affordability. This shift in consumer mindset is reshaping our nations' industries as they seek out the people, countries and places that produce the best versions of various products," Currid-Halkett said.

The future of fashionand supply chain transparencyis digital

Companies have already begun leveraging the power of emerging technologies, such as generative AI and mixed reality, to bolster their marketing strategies. Through robust e-commerce platforms, they provide personalized recommendations driven by AI algorithms. virtual reality and augmented reality technologies enable virtual try-ons and immersive shopping experiences.

But this expanding digital toolkit also presents opportunities for enhancing transparency and accountability across even the most complex supply chains.

Nick Vyas, an associate professor at the USC Marshall School of Business and an expert in global supply chain management, sees great promise in artificial intelligence to revolutionize business processes within the global fashion industry.

Through generative AI, retailers and manufacturers can track inventory using RFID tags and IoT sensors, ensuring better visibility throughout their clothing supply chains. AI-powered decision-making can help companies select suppliers based on their performance, certificates, and historical and real-time data, ensuring ethical sourcing practices.

"Beyond the quest for lucrative expansion in new and existing foreign markets, the industry must redefine its success parameters. We must transition from a single bottom-line approach to a triple bottom line that includes profit, people, and the planet," Vyas said.

"The prevailing economic headwinds should accelerate our investment in emerging technologies that enhance efficiency and promote sustainability. As we navigate these tumultuous times, the key to resilience lies not in resisting change but in embracing it," he said.

"Change requires a collective commitment to transparency, both in our own actions and in the systems that govern us," Enrile added. "Just as we have made strides towards environmental sustainability, we must apply the same dedication to human rights."
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Rimrock Draw rock shelter near Riley, Oregon, during excavation in 2016. Credit: University of Oregon

Oregon archaeologists have found evidence suggesting humans occupied the Rimrock Draw rock shelter outside of what is now the Eastern Oregon town of Riley more than 18,000 years ago.

The University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeological Field School, led by archaeologist UO Patrick O'Grady, has been excavating at the Rimrock Draw rock shelter since 2011 under an official partnership agreement with the Bureau of Land Management. Discoveries at the site have included stone tools and extinct mammal tooth fragments from the Pleistocene Epoch. The pieces of tooth enamel are identified as bison and camel.

In 2012, O'Grady's team found camel teeth fragments under a layer of volcanic ash from an eruption of Mount St. Helens that was dated at more than 15,000 years ago. The team also uncovered two finely crafted orange agate scrapers, one in 2012 with preserved bison blood residue and another in 2015, buried deeper in the ash. Natural layering of the rock shelter sediments suggests the scrapers are older than both the volcanic ash and camel teeth.

Radiocarbon dating analysis on the tooth enamel, first in 2018 and then again in 2023, by Thomas W. Stafford Jr. of Stafford Research and John Southon of University of California, Irvine, yielded exciting results: a date of 18,250 years before present.

That date, in association with stone tools, suggests that the Rimrock Draw rock shelter is one of the oldest sites of human occupation in North America.

"This early date aligns well with the oral histories of the tribal nations in the region, many of whom have stories about witnessing geological events like the Missoula floods, a series of events that changed everything for the tribes between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago," said David Lewis, who received his doctorate in anthropology from the UO and is currently a professor of anthropology at Oregon State University. "As well, tribes have oral histories of encountering giant animals, monsters on the land, and Rimrock Draw rock shelter's evidence suggest that we did interact with the megafauna, and they may have become characters in our histories of the time before memory."

Additional testing of other camel and bison tooth fragments is currently underway, and archaeobotanists are studying plant remains from cooking fires as well.

"The identification of 15,000-years-old volcanic ash was a shock, then Tom's 18,000-years-old dates on the enamel, with stone tools and flakes below, were even more startling," O'Grady said.

Currently, another archaeological site on BLM-managed public lands in western Idaho, known as Cooper's Ferry, is thought to be the oldest known site of human habitation in western North America. Evidence there suggests human occupation dating back more than 16,000 years.

"This is a very exciting development for the archaeological community," said Heather Ulrich, BLM Oregon/Washington archaeology lead. "Previous excavations on BLM public lands in Oregon have provided archaeological evidence of human occupation dating back 14,000 years. Thanks to the partnership with Dr. O'Grady and the university, these new dates push our archaeological knowledge of human occupation in North America even farther, perhaps the oldest yet."

This summer, O'Grady plans to complete the final archaeology field school at Rimrock Draw. The team will be working on several units where more ice age animal remains and artifacts are providing supporting evidence for the 2012 discoveries.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Indiscriminate use of packaging materials derived from petroleum has led to a huge buildup of plastic in landfills and the ocean, as these materials have low degradability and are not significantly recycled. To mitigate this problem and meet growing demand for products that are safe for human health and the environment, the food industry is investing in the development of more sustainable packaging alternatives that preserve nutritional quality as well as organoleptic traits such as color, taste, smell and texture.

An example is a film made of a compound derived from limonene, the main component of citrus fruit peel, and chitosan, a biopolymer derived from the chitin present in exoskeletons of crustaceans.

The film was developed by a research group in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, comprising scientists in the Department of Materials Engineering and Bioprocesses at the State University of Campinas's School of Chemical Engineering (FEQ-UNICAMP) and the Packaging Technology Center at the Institute of Food Technology (ITAL) of the Sao Paulo State Department of Agriculture and Supply, also in Campinas.

The results of the research are reported in an article published in Food Packaging and Shelf Life.

"We focused on limonene because Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of oranges [if not the largest] and Sao Paulo is the leading orange-producing state," said Ronierik Pioli Vieira, last author of the article and a professor at FEQ-UNICAMP.

Limonene has been used before in film for food packaging to enhance conservation thanks to its antioxidant and anti-microbial action, but its performance is impaired by volatility and instability during the packaging manufacturing process, even on a laboratory scale.

This is one of the obstacles to the use of bioactive compounds in commercial packaging. It is often produced in processes that involve high temperatures and high shear rates due to cutting or shaping. Bioactive additives easily degrade in these processes.

"To solve this problem, we came up with the idea of using a derivative of limonene called poly(limonene), which isn't volatile or particularly unstable," Vieira said.

The researchers chose chitosan for the film matrix because it is a polymer of natural origin and has well-known antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. Their hypothesis was that combining the two materials would produce a film with enhanced bioactive properties.

In the laboratory, the scientists compared films with limonene and poly(limonene) in varying proportions to address the challenge of finding a way to combine them with chitosan, since theoretically they do not mix. The researchers opted for polymerization, a process in which polymers is made from smaller organic molecules.

In this case, they used a compound with polar chemical functions to start the reaction and to increase interaction between the additive and the polymer matrix. They then analyzed the resulting film to evaluate properties such as antioxidant capacity, light and water vapor protection, and resistance to high temperatures.

The results were highly satisfactory. "The films with the poly(limonene) additive outperformed those with limonene, especially in terms of antioxidant activity, which was about twice as potent," Vieira said. The substance also performed satisfactorily as an ultraviolet radiation blocker and was found to be non-volatile, making it suitable for large-scale production of packaging, where processing conditions are more severe.

The films are not yet available for use by manufacturers, mainly because chitosan-based plastic is not yet produced on a sufficiently large scale to be competitive, but also because the poly(limonene) production process needs to be optimized to improve yield and to be tested during the manufacturing of commercial packaging.

"Our group is working on this. We've investigated other applications of poly(limonene) in the biomedical field, for example. We're trying to demonstrate the multifunctionality of this additive, whose origins are renewable," Vieira said.

More information: Sayeny de Avila Goncalves et al, Poly(limonene): A novel renewable oligomeric antioxidant and UV-light blocking additive for chitosan-based films, Food Packaging and Shelf Life (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.fpsl.2023.101085

Provided by FAPESP
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Sweltering weather is expected to continue in Italy and other parts of Europe over the next few days.

Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

From North America to Europe and Asia, people gulped water and sought shelter from the sweltering heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days.

Europe, the globe's fastest-warming continent, was bracing for its hottest-ever temperature this week on Italy's islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) is predicted, according to the European Space Agency.

"We're from Texas and it's really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it's even hotter here," Colman Peavy, 30, said as he sipped a capuccino at an outside terrasse in central Rome with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week Italian vacation.

With June already having been the world's hottest on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, Mother Nature seemed intent on July not falling far behind.

China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperature reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago.

In nearby Turpan city, where ground surface temperatures sizzled at 80C in some parts, authorities have told workers and students to stay home and ordered special vehicles to spray water on major thoroughfares, the meteorological body said.

In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalized, health officials said.

In Japan, heatstroke alerts were issued in 32 out of the country's 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions.

Temperature forecasts for Europe and the Mediterranean at 2 m above the surface, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), data as of July 17, 2023, 0000 GMT.

At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media reported, including 51 who were taken to hospital in Tokyo.

The heat was enough for at least one man to dispense with social mortification in Hamamatsu city.

"It's honestly unbearable without a parasol, although I have to admit it is a bit embarrassing," he told national broadcaster NHK of the umbrella in his hand.

'Oppressive' US heat

In western and southern states in the US, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region.

California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon.

In Arizona, the state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon.

"We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) ... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt".

Southern California was fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders.

Maps showing forecasted daily maximum heat index for the US from July 18-20.

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," with the health ministry sounding a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

Temperatures were due to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.

Nevertheless, visitors thronged to tourist hot spots like the Colosseum and the Vatican.

"I'm from South Africa. We're used to this heat," said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, a civil engineer from Cape Town. "You have to drink lots of water, obviously wear your hat and that's about it."

Greece saw a respite on Monday, as temperatures eased a bit and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its regular opening hours after shutting for a few hours during the previous three days.

But a new heatwave was expected from Thursday and authorities on Monday ordered several seaside resorts evacuated as a precaution after a wildfire broke out in Kouvaras, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Athens.

"It's a difficult fire, the winds are really strong," said firefighters spokesman Yannis Artopios as seven water planes, four helicopters and 150 firefighters battled the blaze.

In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across most of the country.

Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where meteorologists warned that "abnormally high" temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in the southern Andalusia region in what would be a new regional record.

First aid for heatstroke.

Killer rains

Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday.

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.

It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is behind the intensification of heatwaves.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

"Routine" infanticide of newborns by married parents in early modern Europe was a much more widespread practice than previously thought, a new book posits.

This fresh insight sits at the heart of a new book, "Death Control in the West 15001800: Sex Ratios at Baptism in Italy, France and England, "by Gregory Hanlon and contributors.

The French-trained behavioral historian says, "In most cases, infanticide was a crime leaving no aggrieved party seeking revenge if it was committed right away. It could be overlooked and forgotten with the passage of time."

Widespread infanticide

Hanlon, who is Distinguished Research Professor at Dalhousie University in Canada, calls attention to the limited scope of existing scholarship, which has never focused on sex ratios of infants brought for baptism within hours or days after their birth.

These records reveal startling spikes in the number of male baptisms in the aftermath of famines or diseases.

He notes, "Historians in the West have relied almost exclusively on records of criminal trials in which unwed mothers or married women carrying progeny not sired by their husbands hid their pregnancies and killed their newborns alone or with female accomplices. Married infanticidal mothers may have been a hundred times more numerous."

Hanlon's research suggests that in rural Tuscany at the height of infanticide the victims might have constituted up to a third of the total number of live births.

Beyond the lone woman perpetrator

Using baptismal registers and ecclesiastical censuses drawn from scores of parishes in Italy, France and England, Hanlon shows similar infanticide patterns across city and country, for Catholics, Calvinists and Anglicans alike.

In Italy's rural 17th century Tuscany, Hanlon suggests that parents seemed willing to sacrifice a child if they were a twin, opting to keep just one of the newborns. In the north Italian city of Parma, Laura Hynes Jenkins found that working-class parents preferred girls over boys.

Contributor Dominic J. Rossi finds a clear pattern of a preference for girls in the French town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot after 1650.

Rossione of the five former students who contributes to the bookposits the idea that "the lower-status families would want to marry their daughters up at the same time as economic conditions allowed them to make long-term plans for social movement."

Meanwhile Evan Johnson, another contributor, finds evidence to demonstrate that upper-class parents in rural Mezin showed a clear preference for keeping newborn males.

Infanticide within the contemporary

"Death Control in the West 1500-1800" shines a light on the many infants whose existence went unrecorded and whose deaths remained unpunished.

Hanlon calls attention to lax punitive measures taken for crimes of infanticide, and notes, "Tribunals operated against single mothers almost exclusively, but only if they killed the newborn deliberately. Simple abandonment was not a comparable offense."

The roles of the state and criminal justice system are rigorously examined in the study, alongside realities of poverty and social class structures. The book draws parallels between histories of infanticide and present discussions of reproductive rights.

"Infanticide is murder, of course, but people did not consider this murder to be a crime," explains Hanlon, who says "most people could live with it as an unpleasant fact of life."

Together, Hanlon and his contributors invite readers to reckon with infanticide beyond a moralistic approach, in order to understand the social practice's ramifications for our present times.

More information: Gregory Hanlon, Death Control in the West 15001800, (2022). DOI: 10.4324/9781003289784
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UTM linguistics professor Derek Denis is is examining how Toronto's diverse languages are influencing English locally. Credit: Nick Iwanyshyn

Most Canadians are familiar with the "aboot" stereotype, and any Canadian who has traveled to the American Midwest might pause a bit when some Americans call the common fruit an "epple." And of course, there's "Tor-on-toh" versus "Tronno."

While these distinctions in how we speak English are subtle and may be explained by a difference in dialect or variety, it's how these subtle changes occur in a multicultural city like Toronto that interests Derek Denis, an associate professor of linguistics at University of Toronto Mississauga.

Denis was teaching a course at UTM when he told his students of Multicultural London English (MLE), a multiethnolecta way of speaking with influences from multiple different languagesstudied by linguists.

A conversation with a student led him to wonder if Toronto also had its own multiethnolect.

Denis and UTM students Vidhya Elango, Nur Sakinah Nor Kamal, Maria Velasco, and Srishti Prashar, conducted research and found that the Greater Toronto Area does indeed have its own multiethnolectwhich they call Multicultural Toronto English (MTE). It's a way of speaking that arises from a variety of features present in Toronto, including its vast diversity of languages. Their findings were published in January 2023 in the Journal of English Linguistics.

"I was telling (students) about the development of a new pronoun, which is the 'man' pronoun, in MLE," Denis says. "Pronouns are slow to change linguistically, so the fact there is this new pronoun was exciting, and one of my students put her hand up and said, "We have that here too.'"

An example of this is "I almost missed the TTC but mans made it here anyways," where 'mans' replaces the pronoun "I." Variations heard in Toronto and in London include man, mans and mandem.

Indeed, "mans," "Tronno" and other observations are features of MTE, Denis says.

The study found that among immigrant youth communities in the Greater Toronto area, vowels were distinctive from previous reports of Canadian English.

While similar phenomena have been documented in European cities, there hasn't been a lot of research on it in North America. It's part of why Denis was so interested in pursuing the research.

"I grew up in Scarborough, in a pretty diverse area," Denis says. "You hear all kinds of English around you, all kinds of accents.

"So, I started looking into this in an academic way."

Denis' team of work-study students collected data through interviews of youth in ethnolinguistically diverse regions of the GTA involving a set of questions to answer, casual conversations, and a word list to read aloud.

"We noticed particular vowel realizations," he says. "So, we created a list of words that had those target sounds in them, about 100 or so."

Canadian raising and 'goat' monophthongization

They investigated a mix of vocalic phenomena, but two of themCanadian raising and "goat" monophthongizationreally caught Denis' attention. Credit: University of Toronto Mississauga

"(Canadian raising) is the easiest to grasp," Denis explains, referring to the difference between "about" and "aboot."

While "aboot" has become a stereotype resulting from how Americans perceive a much subtler pronunciation, Denis says it's the one people know best.

"Canadian raising affects two vowels," he says. "When the vowel is followed by a certain sound, the realization of that vowel is a little bit higher in the mix. It's subtle."

Except of course the not-so-subtle "aboot" is what Americans hear, as the phenomenon doesn't exist in American English. Denis says the presence of a stereotype means there is a social meaning attached to how the word is pronounced. As a result, their research shows an almost unconscious avoidance of this feature of Canadian raising with the word "about."

That's to say, young Torontonians are trying to avoid saying anything resembling "aboot." It's why Denis doesn't consider "aboot" to be a feature of MTE.

But in another example, where there isn't any social meaning or stereotype present, the data shows a difference in pronunciation consistent with Canadian raising: 'eyes' and 'ice." In MTE, the "I' has distinct sounds in this example.

"They're two different sounds," he says. "But we don't have a stereotype of 'eyes' and 'ice.'" Americans don't make fun of us for saying 'ice,' but they make fun of us for saying 'aboot.'"

Another phenomenon that Denis traces to the influence of other languages and dialects is "goat" monophthongization. To understand this, it's important to know what a monophthong and a diphthong are. The former is a sound formed by one vowel in a syllable, like "cat," while the latter is a sound formed with a combination of two vowels in a syllable, like "coin" or the subtler "goat."

Essentially, it involves the movement of the tongue during speaking.

"It's the process of a vowel that is normatively produced as a diphthong becoming a monophthong, so there's less movement of the tongue," he says.

Denis and his team found that in MTE, youth surveyed exhibited "monophthongization"that is a two-vowel syllable turning into a one-vowel syllablewith the word "goat."

That is, the "oa" sound was becoming a more "oh" sound. "Goat" versus "goht."

"'Goat' monophthongization is probably the phenomenon we can most clearly link from an influence from Jamaica patois," Denis says. "The vowel in Jamaican patois is not quite exactly the same, but we can trace the influence to it."

'Feature pool' of variables

MTE results from what linguists called a "feature pool," where several variables influence how a language slowly changes over time. In Toronto, some of those features might be associated with ethnicities like in the example of "goat." But some features arise from an authenticity of being from a communitylike the difference of how "Toronto" is pronounced.

"It's like this mixture that people pick and choose from," Denis says. "That's why I hesitate to call this a dialect because it's not exactly that, it's a pool of features that individuals use to develop their own linguistic style."

The results of the research showed a great deal of "interspeaker variability" in the way of speaking among youth in immigrant communities. But it's a result of English changes and developments within Toronto communities, Denis notes.

Denis continues his research on MTE and plans to publish a book on his findings soon.

More information: Derek Denis et al, Exploring the Vowel Space of Multicultural Toronto English, Journal of English Linguistics (2023). DOI: 10.1177/00754242221145164
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High-pressure ridge over Texas, 2018. Credit: Weatherbell

Jet streams are relatively narrow bands of strong wind in the upper atmosphere, typically occurring around 30,000 feet, and blowing west to east. Their normal flows lead to week-to-week weather variations, modulated in the mid-latitudes by ridges and troughs in the jet stream. A high-pressure ridge, for example, produces clear, warmer weather conditions; a trough is typically followed by stormy conditions. Together, these form waves in the jet stream that can stall as the waves grow and become more amplified, causing "stuck" weather patterns that produce longer storms and heat waves.

New research published in Nature Communications describes observations linking increased warming at high latitudes and the ever-decreasing snow cover in North America to these stalls in atmospheric circulation.

"These persistent and extreme conditions are thought to be increasing in the future as a result of this increased waviness in the jet stream," said the study's lead author Jonathon Preece, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia.

Since 2000, frequent "stuck" weather patterns have produced heat waves over Greenland, resulting in exceptional melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. In contrast to these observations, global climate models actually project a slight decrease in the blocked patterns over Greenland and, consequently, the models have underrepresented the contribution of meltwater runoff from the ice sheet to global sea level rise.

"These patterns have been consistently creating pulses of melting over the Greenland ice sheet that have been accounting for a large portion of the annual melting," said study co-author Marco Tedesco, a professor at Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and lead principal investigator on the project. "Accounting for such an aspect is crucial for anticipating not only how much but how fast Greenland is and will be contributing to sea level rise."

"One question is whether this is a consequence of climate change that we can expect to continue in the future [that] the climate models are failing to resolve," said Preece. "Or are the climate models correct, in which case we'd expect things to revert back to the norm and perhaps the rate of accelerated melt of the ice sheet will taper some?"

The new study presents evidence of a link to climate change, both in the increases in jet-stream waviness and ever-decreasing spring North American snow cover extent, which "is impacting the atmosphere in a way that is favoring these blocked high-pressure systems over Greenland," Preece said.

Multiple studies have highlighted the discrepancy between climate models and observations. This study provides evidence of a direct connection between the observed shift in summer atmospheric circulation over Greenland and amplified warming at high latitudes.

"The new study is the first that we know of that demonstrates a direct link between the observed change in summer atmospheric circulation over Greenland and diminished spring snow cover, which is something we can confidently say is a consequence of climate change," said co-author Thomas Mote, a geographer at the University of Georgia.

More information: Jonathon R. Preece et al, Summer atmospheric circulation over Greenland in response to Arctic amplification and diminished spring snow cover, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39466-6 Journal information: Nature Communications

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
(CNN)  The Crimean Bridge, the only link between the annexed peninsula and Russia, has suffered damage to its spans, Russias Transport Ministry said Monday as multiple Telegram channels reported strikes on the bridge and a local official confirmed at least two deaths.

There is damage to the roadway on spans of the Crimean Bridge, the Transport Ministry said on Telegram.

The spans on a bridge are the lengths between the support piers.

Last October, a huge blast partially damaged the bridge, causing parts of it to collapse.

Sergey Aksenov, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea, said an emergency incident had been reported, halting traffic on the bridge, which serves as a vital logistical node for Moscows military in its war against Ukraine.

Two strikes were allegedly carried out on the bridge around 3 a.m. local time, damaging part of the bridge, according to the Telegram channel Grey Zone, which supports the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Explosions were heard around 3:04 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. local time, Grey Zone and popular Crimean blogger TalipoV Online Z said on Telegram.

CNN is unable to verify the reports.

Videos posted on Telegram by Baza, Grey Zone and other Crimean news outlets appeared to show part of the bridge collapsed and a vehicle damaged in the latest incident.

The governor of Russias Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed that two people were killed and a third person was injured in the incident.

Gladkov said a girl was injured and her parents were killed while traveling in the car that was damaged in the incident.

Emergency responders and law enforcement have been dispatched to the scene, said Aksenov, the head of Crimea. The Transport Ministry said an inspection of the bridge was underway.

Aksenov urged residents and those traveling to and from Crimea to choose an alternative land route.

The nearly 12-mile bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the longest in Europe and carries both road and rail traffic.

The bridge was severely damaged on October 8 when a fuel tanker exploded and destroyed a large section of the road.

It holds huge strategic and symbolic importance for Russia, which built the 19-kilometer bridge at a cost of around $3.7 billion after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. It was the physical expression of Russian President Vladimir Putins objective to take over Ukraine and bind it to Russia forever.

It is a critical artery for supplying Crimea with both its daily needs and supplies for the military, in addition to fuel and goods for civilians.

A Russian-backed official of the peninsula, Elena Elekchyan, said Crimea is well supplied with fuel, food and industrial goods.

After the October 8 blast, Russia quickly set about repairs to the span. It was fully reopened to traffic in February.

Earlier this month, Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar made what appeared to be the clearest admission yet that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the October attack.

This is a developing story, more to follow.

This story was first published on CNN.com. Vital bridge linking Crimea with Russia damaged, Russian Transport Ministry says
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A pharmacy's sign flashes 44C near the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves and wildfires scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 children close to a Greek seaside resort.

Health authorities have sounded alarms from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and shelter from the burning sun, in a stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

Near Athens, a forest fire flared in strong winds by the popular beach town of Loutraki where the mayor said holiday camps for youngsters had come under threat.

"We have saved 1,200 children who were in the holiday camps," said mayor Giorgos Gkionis.

Emergency services were also battling wildfires in Kouvaras and the resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida near Athens. Several homes were burned in the area, according to footage from public broadcaster ERT.

"The extreme weather ... is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies," said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

"This underlines the increasing urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible."

'We thought we'd escape'

In Rome, where temperatures hit a near-record 39C on Monday, American Colman Peavy could not believe the heat as he sipped a cappuccino at a cafe with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week vacation.

"We're from Texas and it's really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it's even hotter here," said the 30-year-old.

It was already the world's hottest June on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, and July looks to be readying to challenge its own record.

China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperatures reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago.

Heatstroke alerts had been issued in 32 out of Japan's 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions.

At least 60 people were treated for heatstroke, media reported, including 51 taken to hospital in Tokyo.

In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalized, health officials said.

Maps showing forecasted daily maximum heat index for the US from July 18-20.

'Oppressive' US heat

In western and southern US states, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region.

California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon.

In Arizona, state capital Phoenix tied its record of 18 consecutive days above 43C (109F), as temperatures hit 45C (113F) early Monday afternoon.

The US National Weather Service predicts similar highs at least through Sunday, while warning of overnight lows remaining dangerously elevated, above 32C (90F).

"We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit)... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt."

In Southern California, several wildfires have ignited over the past few days in rural areas east of Los Angeles.

The biggest, named the Rabbit Fire, had burned nearly 8,000 acres and was 35 percent contained on Monday morning, according to authorities.

In neighboring Canada, 882 wildfires were active on Monday, including 579 considered out of control, authorities said.

Smoke from the fires has descended on the United States again, prompting air quality alerts across much of the northeast.

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", with a red alert issued for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

Spain enjoyed little reprieve with temperatures of 47C in the southern town of Villarrobledo.

Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday.

 2023 AFP
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Images of the 2020 Bobcat Fire area indicate soil burn severity and the locations the researchers studied. Credit: a: USDA Forest Service; b: A.J. West; d: Pleiades / CNES, Distribution AIRBUSDS, sourced via SkyWatch Space Applications Inc., and USGS 3D Elevation Program

In 2020, one of the largest wildfires in Los Angeles County raged across the San Gabriel Mountains, scorching more than 115,000 acres, damaging or destroying over 150 structures, and raining ash and smoke down on pandemic-weary Angelenos.

But even after exhausted firefighters had finally snuffed out the flames, the Bobcat Firelike other so-called "mega-fires" that have become more common due to climate changecarried the potential to wreak more havoc in its wake. As rainstorms deluge burnt areas, flooding, mudslides and debris flow can compound the fire's damage.

Understanding how water accumulates and monitoring the movement of runoff and streamflow in burn areas helps authorities predict when and where these post-wildfire events might occur so they can provide affected residents with early warning of flash flooding and debris movement.

A slippery slope

Common knowledge has long held that loss of vegetation during a fire leaves soil vulnerable to erosion because the plant roots that hold the soil in place wither and die. Scientists, however, have long held a different view: that as leaves burn, their waxy coating forms an organic, oily substance on the soil's surface.

This waxy coating creates a water-repellant layer at or near the surface. Scientists believed this layer prevented the ground from absorbing water, resulting in rapid water runoff akin to a "Slip 'N Slide" that carries mud and debris.

New research published in Nature Communications has called that scientific theory into question.

A watershed finding

Scientists at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Michigan, the U.S. Geological Survey and Rutgers University, monitored two wet seasons following the Bobcat Fire, from December 2020 to March 2022. The team concluded that water was, in fact, being absorbed by the burnt ground that contained this waxy coating.

Specifically, the team studied three watershedsareas of land that drain rainfall and snowmelt into streams and riversin Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains. Two of the watersheds burned during the 2020 Bobcat Fire and the other was mainly untouched.

The researchers found that post-wildfire, a significant portion of the water flow in all three watersheds came from water that had been absorbed in the ground.

Joshua West, professor of Earth sciences who led the study at USC Dornsife, said it was no surprise that the flow of water and debris in the burned area's stream was four to 10 times greater than the flow in the unburnt area's stream. What he didn't expect was that stormwater had permeated the ground in both of the burnt watersheds.

This finding contradicted scientists' previous beliefs that little water would be absorbed in the burnt watershed due to the presence of waxy soils.

In the unburnt watershed, however, the researchers found that trees absorbed the water as anticipated, preventing it from reaching streams.

West and Ph.D. candidate Abra Atwood surmised that in keeping with the popular notion, increased water in rivers originated from the burnt areas because burned trees and vegetation could not retain water in their roots as they normally would, but not from the inability of the soil to absorb water.

The research team's finding that the water-repellent layer does not prevent water from being absorbed into the soil strengthened their hypothesis that the water in streams comes from both rainfall and groundwater, leading to increased flooding in burnt areas versus unburnt.

Water buildup poses enduring threat

Identifying areas that are at high risk for debris flow and mudslides and accurately predicting the amount of debris flow following rainfall in burn areas depends on understanding how water infiltrates the soil in different areas and how it contributes to the flow of streams.

Also, the dynamics of water flow and how water accumulates below the surface can significantly impact how quickly landscapes recover after a wildfire. This recovery affects the stability of hill slopes and helps buffer forests against severe drought.

On the flip side, water accumulation can contribute to landslides for up to four years after a fire as pressure builds up in the soil.

"The underground water accumulation suggests that the potential for landslides extends far beyond the two years following the fire, posing an enduring problem," West said. "The abundance of water stored in areas affected by the Bobcat Fire, for example, could serve as a harbinger of future flooding concerns in the years to come."

West is confident that the study's findings hold important information that can be used by the USGS to improve burn area monitoring and predict flooding and mudslides after a wildfire.

More information: A. Atwood et al, Importance of subsurface water for hydrological response during storms in a post-wildfire bedrock landscape, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39095-z Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Flying cars. Space tourism. Safe reentry for astronauts coming back from Mars.

These technologies are still science fiction, but some won't be for much longer, according to Charles "Mike" Fremaux, NASA Langley Research Center's chief engineer for intelligent flight systems.

To test these concepts, particularly in regard to public and military safety, NASA Langley is building its first new wind tunnel in over 40 years. The NASA Flight Dynamic Research Facility, a project Fremaux has been pursuing for 25 years, will replace two smaller wind tunnels that are around 80 years old. The center's most recent and largest, the National Transonic Facility, was built in 1980.

"These facilities are really kind of tailor-made for doing a lot of that work," he said at a presentation at the Virginia Air & Space Science Center in Hampton on Tuesday. The talk was part of NASA Langley's Sigma Series community lectures.

"That's not our traditional wheelhouse. We haven't tested anything with a propeller on it in decades."

That's because many new craft will depend on electric vertical takeoff and landing, or "eVTOL," technology. With likely dozens or even hundreds of private vehicles in the airways, research is needed to understand how vehicles will react in real-world conditions.

Fremaux expects some of these technologies will likely be mainstream by 2040 or sooner.

The $43.2 million federal government contract to design and build the 25,000-square-foot facility went to BL Harbert International, a construction company based in Birmingham, Alabama. It is expected to open in early 2025.

The wind tunnel will be 130 feet tall, Fremaux said, comparing its capabilities to those it will replace: The 12-foot, Low-Speed Spin Tunnel built in 1939 and the 20-foot, Vertical Spin Tunnel built in 1940.

One project he worked on using the center's other wind tunnelsthere are currently around 16 operating, Fremaux saidwas the Stardust Mission in 2006, the first spacecraft to bring back material from outside the moon's orbit.

Without parachute technology developed at NASA Langley, it wouldn't have been possible to recover samples from that mission, Fremaux said.

Now, along with testing the next generation of commercial, earthbound aviation, the Flight Dynamics Research Facility will provide experimental support for entry, descent and landing of missions returning from the moon and Mars, as well as exploration of Venus and Titan, a moon of Saturn.

The research will support human space exploration, contributing to the possibility of safe landing and reentry on a human mission to Mars.

The research will be similar to some NASA Langley has performed for nearly 100 years as public and private air traffic went from hard-to-imagine to hard-to-imagine-life-without, Fremaux said.

The tunnel will provide safeguards not just to the public, but for the technicians who work there.

"How are the models going to be launched and retrieved?" audience member Ronald Hermansderfer, 89, asked, referring to small, free-flying scale models.

"The plan is to do that just like we do now; a very skilled technician is going to launch the models by hand. That's not a joke," Fremaux said to murmurs from the audience. "That's true, and we have one right here, now retired, who did it for many years. So I know that was a loaded question."

Fremaux recognized Hermansderfer, who worked at the center as a technician from 1983 to 2002. Hermansderfer's job was dangerous; if someone opened the wrong door elsewhere in the facility, affecting the pressure differential, a technician could be sucked into the wind tunnel while launching a model.

The new system will have a pressure equalization system, Fremaux said.

After the talk, Hermansderfer said that, as a kid, he used to set paper airplanes on fire and throw them out of windows. He did something remarkably similar in the testing tunnels at Langley. But it never really occurred to him he was in danger.

His sonalso named Ronald Hermansderfer and also retired from NASA Langleylaughed.

"Maybe they just didn't tell you," he said.

2023 The Virginian-Pilot.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Prof. Dr Ute Hellmich at the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry of the University Jena. Credit: Anne Gunther/Uni Jena

The ordered areas of proteins are readily studied. Consequently, a great deal is known about the role of these areas in the biological function of the respective proteins. However, an international research team led by biochemist Prof. Dr. Ute Hellmich has shown that disordered areas are also pivotal.

Their comprehensive examination of the disordered area of a receptor channel protein has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The group demonstrated through eleven different methods how this area influences the function of the entire protein. Therefore, disordered protein areas should not be overlooked in research, even though they may not always be straightforward to investigate.

Investigating disorder in proteins

Proteins play a part in all processes of life. They facilitate the reading and duplication of genetic material, digest nutrients and carry out countless other essential functions. These large protein molecules can be best researched when they have a clear structurethat is, when the individual areas within the molecules are ordered.

"Classically, these proteins would be examined using X-ray crystallography or cryo-electron microscopy. But these methods are most suited for regular, or ordered, structures," explains Hellmich. "For this reason, in some studies the disordered areas are intentionally removed to better examine the remaining molecule. But if you are specifically interested in that area, that is of course not an option."

Hellmich and her team specifically studied a very large, disordered area of the receptor channel protein TRPV4. "So-called Transient Receptor Potential Channels, which include TRPV4, control our perception of pain and temperature and play a crucial role in the immune system and during infections," Hellmich elucidates her research subject. "There are more than 60 known mutants of TRPV4 that cause serious illnesses. This clearly indicates how significant these proteins are," she adds.

"In some representatives of this protein class, the disordered area comprises half of the entire molecule. This alone demonstrates that these domains cannot be overlooked," continues the biochemist. The TRPV4 protein that her team studied has one of the largest disordered areas of this protein class in mammals, specifically containing about 130 to 150 individual amino acids. If you cut off this disordered area, TRPV4 loses its function.

A multidisciplinary perspective

In their work, the researchers used a total of eleven different biochemical and biophysical methods in various combinationsfrom nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to mass spectrometry to molecular dynamic simulations. "At some points, we pursued a research question with different methods at the same time. We simply wanted to be quite certain that we understand the receptor correctly," explains Hellmich. "This approach enabled us to create a molecular map of this disordered area. Thus, we discovered a network of various activity-determining elements that activate or deactivate the receptor depending on the chemical environment.

"When you consider that these disordered areas of receptor channel proteins have not been viewed in this way before, our research work certainly opens a completely new perspective on protein research and the biological function and regulation of receptors by their disordered areas," Hellmich says. "Whether it might even be a paradigm shift, we will likely see in the coming years. I am confident that our further work within the framework of the 'Balance of the Microverse' excellence cluster here at the university will contribute to this," says the scientist.

More information: Benedikt Goretzki et al, Crosstalk between regulatory elements in disordered TRPV4 N-terminus modulates lipid-dependent channel activity, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39808-4 Journal information: Nature Communications

Provided by Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena
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This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. Credit: Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR via AP

A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday.

Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue found that only 15 of the whalesa mixture of adults and calveswere still alive, and attempted to refloat two of the more active animals that were low down in the water.

But by Sunday afternoon rescue teams decided that the remaining whales should be euthanized on welfare grounds, after considering the shallow beach, rough wave conditions and how long the whales had been out of the water.

The charity said the whole pod may have followed a female whale onto the beach when she had problems giving birth.

"Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow," it said in a statement. "A sad outcome for this pod and obviously not the outcome we were all hoping for."

Experts will begin carrying out post-mortem work Monday to determine what caused the whales' death.

This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. Credit: Mairi Robertson-Carrey/BDMLR via AP

This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. Credit: Mairi Robertson-Carrey/BDMLR via AP

This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows pilot whales in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. Credit: Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR via AP

This handout photo issued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) shows a pilot whale in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Sunday, July 16, 2023. A pod of 55 pilot whales have died after they were found washed ashore on a beach in Scotland in the worst mass whale stranding in the area, marine experts said Monday. Marine rescuers, the coast guard and police were called to Traigh Mhor beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland after receiving reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there early Sunday. Credit: Cristina McAvoy/BDMLR via AP

Andrew Brownlow, from the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, said that would be a "monumental task."

"In terms of the number of casualty animals, this is the biggest one we've had," he told the BBC.

Experts will take samples and data from some of the whales, and the bodies will be taken to a landfill site and buried after the post-mortem is complete, he added.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

New research has shown that having positive contact with people from diverse groups can reduce the development of harmful intergroup conspiracy beliefs.

Experts from the University of Nottingham's School of Psychology, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, found that among British participants, positive intergroup contact interfered with the development of conspiracy theories about other groups. The findings have been published in the European Journal of Social Psychology.

"Intergroup conspiracy theories are common and potentially can lead to everything from misinformed voting to extreme expressions of prejudice. Seeking ways to reduce conspiracy theories is of particular importance," says social psychologist Dr. Daniel Jolley from the University of Nottingham.

Three studies were conducted with over 1,000 people, where the team explored whether positive intergroup contact interferes with the development of conspiracy theories about other social groups.

The first two studies explored relationships, where British participants were asked about their experience of contact with immigrants (Study 1) or Jewish people (Study 2) and their belief in conspiracy theories in relation to them. In the third study, participants were asked to think about a positive contact experience with a Jewish person and then report their conspiracy beliefs held about this group. Participants also reported their feelings (prejudice) towards the target group in each study.

The research demonstrated that those people who had experienced higher quality positive contact with Jewish people or immigrants or imagined a positive contact experience were less likely to believe conspiracy theories about them. Importantly, these effects remained even when accounting for (negative) feelings towards the target group, demonstrating that the effect is not merely another prejudice reduction effect.

Dr. Jolley said, "The research findings offer a promising potential starting point for developing tools to bring diverse groups of people together who may not usually have contact and try to foster positive conversations to help reduce potentially harmful conspiracy theories from taking hold.

"While the problems are often very complex, and positive contact will not solve all the issues surrounding conspiracy theories towards certain groups, the fact that this work offers a potential tool to reduce intergroup conspiracy theories is a notable breakthrough. Our work offers a framework that, along with future research, might lead to the reduction of conspiracy beliefs in the general population."

More information: Daniel Jolley et al, More than a prejudice reduction effect: Positive intergroup contact reduces conspiracy theory beliefs, European Journal of Social Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2973
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Extensive bleaching of the soft coral Palythoa caribaeorum on Emerald Reef, Key Biscayne, Florida. Undated image. Credit: NOAA

NOAA scientists have tracked a steady climb in ocean temperatures since April 2023, which is causing unprecedented heat stress conditions in the Caribbean Basin, including waters surrounding Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico.

More isolated marine heat wave conditions have been detected off the Northeast U.S. coast, along the path of the Gulf Stream. NOAA has also been monitoring a large marine heat wave in the Northeast Pacific (in the Gulf of Alaska) that has been sitting offshore since late 2022.

As we gather more data about these events, NOAA scientists are providing answers to big questions about marine heat waves.

What are marine heat waves?

Marine heat waves are usually defined as any time the ocean temperature is above the 90th percentile for a specific length of time. This means that the temperatures are warmer than 90% of the previous observations for a given time of year. Marine heat waves can last for weeks, months or years. Marine heat wave conditions are monitored by NOAA's Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch.

How are marine heat wave observations and measurements made?

The National Weather Service's National Data Buoy Center collects and disseminates real-time quality-controlled marine observations using 1,300 weather observing stations. Global ocean surface temperatures are also monitored daily using blended satellite measurements.

Why is this marine heat wave in South Florida significant?

In the last week (as of this writing), water temperatures throughout the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea have been approximately 1.85.4F (13C) warmer than normal. Temperatures around Southern Florida are the warmest on record (going back to 1981). The latest conditions can be seen on the NOAA PSL Map Room webpage.

Given that we are in the thick of the Atlantic hurricane season and the tropical North Atlantic is already warm, extremely warm ocean temperatures in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are concerning. Developing tropical storms that pass into the region may strengthen as a result of these conditions. The ongoing marine heat wave in South Florida could impact sensitive marine ecosystems in the region, such as shallow water corals.

How long has the marine heat wave been going on? How long will this heat wave last?

The current Gulf of Mexico marine heat wave has been present for several months, beginning in February/March of 2023. NOAA's experimental marine heat wave forecasts indicate a 70%100% chance that extreme ocean temperatures will persist in the southern Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea through at least October 2023. We have low-to-medium confidence in this prediction given the historical skill of the forecasting system in these regions.

What role does climate change play in this marine heat wave off Florida?

The ocean absorbs 90% of the excess heat associated with global warming. As a result, we know that marine heat waves all over the planet are becoming warmer over time. The absolute temperature of the current event is warmer because of climate change, but it would have likely still occurred without climate change.

Warming trends also impact our marine heat wave prediction systems, typically by increasing the probability of marine heat waves in our forecasts.

How are corals and marine ecosystems impacted by marine heat waves?

Marine heat waves cause stress to corals and other marine ecosystems. Exposure to extreme temperature for long periods of time causes a breakdown in the relationship between coral and the algae that live inside of them. The coral is left pale or white, i.e., bleached. The lack of food from the algae can lead to the death of the coral.

If the heat stress does not subside, the coral will die. Mortality becomes likely if the corals experience ocean temperatures of 1C greater than the historical maximum monthly average for two months, or 2C greater than the historical maximum monthly average for one month.

How does NOAA anticipate these marine heat waves may impact fisheries and ecosystems?

Extreme heat can be destructive and deadly for marine systems. An unprecedented marine heat wave known as "the Blob" dominated the northeastern Pacific from 2013 to 2016, and upended ecosystems across a huge swath of the Pacific Ocean. This led to an ecological cascade, causing fishery collapses and fishery disaster determinations.

"The Blob" caused whales' prey to be concentrated unusually close to shore, and a severe bloom of toxic algae along the coast delayed opening of the valuable Dungeness crab fishery. Humpback whales moved closer to shore to feed in some of the same waters targeted by the crab fishery, resulting in a then-record 53 whale entanglements in 2015 and 55 in 2016.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In the past 70 years, thousands of pesticides have been applied worldwide to increase agricultural production. The intensification of agriculture has led to higher yields, but what are the side effects? Systematic monitoring programs on pesticide residues in ecosystems are only established for water bodies and crops, and only scattered information is available on residues in soils, sediment, air, indoor dust, and the human body.

A session by the SPRINT project at the Science Summit at the UN General Assembly in New York on 27 September 2023 will offer significant new knowledge to solve the urgent question of reducing pesticide risk as a base for transitioning to sustainable agriculture.

SPRINT is the first European-wide effort, extended to Argentina as a significant feed exporter, to monitor actual pesticide application patterns and the resulting distribution of pesticide residues across all central cropping systems. At the UN Science Summit, the initial results of a monitoring campaign will be presented from the growing season 2021, based on the analysis of about 600 samples across soil, plants, surface water, sediment, air and indoor dust and urine and fecal samples from approximately 700 people.

SPRINT focuses on more than 200 active substances of synthetic pesticides and their metabolites from products that are either approved, are substitute candidates or are now banned in the EU. Pesticide residue distribution in different environments is linked to the hazardous properties of the pesticide residues for the ecosystem and human health. Laboratory tests also identify the effects on the ecosystem and human health.

Key findings from the monitoring campaign

Overall

Pesticide residue mixtures are omnipresent in all ecosystems and humans; the presence of mixtures is the new normal.

In more than 90% of the human urine and fecal samples, residues are detected, with a maximum of 20 different types.

Benchmarks for pesticide mixtures in humans, soil, sediment, air and indoor dust are not yet included in the regulations.

In the environment

38% of the European surface water bodies exceed the benchmarks for drinking water quality.

96% of the soils sampled under conventional farming contain pesticide mixtures with a maximum of 20 residues.

79% of soils under organic farming contain mixtures as well.

Most pesticide residues detected in soils and water are classified as hazardous for earthworms or fish.

More than 90 different pesticides and pesticide metabolites were detected in the air in two European agricultural areas.

On crops and farms

More than 40% of the crops contain mixtures with a maximum of 20 residues per sample. The maximum residue level (MRL) for single residues is mostly not exceeded, but there is no MRL for mixtures.

Ecosystems connected to organic farms contained fewer residues but often mixtures of mostly banned pesticide residues from past applications.

The highest accumulation of pesticide residues is detected in indoor dust of farmhouses, with up to 121 different residues per sample in conventional farmhouses and more than 80 in organic farmhouses.

More than 30% of the residues detected in indoor dust are classified as carcinogenic, with more than 60% potentially affecting reproduction development.

In advance of the Science Summit, Violette Geissen, the project leader, said, "Our research has shown just how widespread these pesticide residues are in our homes, bodies and ecosystems. Based on our results, we propose a new risk indicator system to account for the frequency and levels of pesticide use that can be included in future regulations. With the EU's strong commitment to regulation and human safety, we are confident our new data will help inform decision-makers as they work towards the EU's policy goals of a 50% reduction in the use and risk of pesticides."
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The high-energy physics community is eagerly anticipating the announcement of the world's best measurement from the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment later this year, while the Muon g-2 Theory Initiative is working to shore up the predicted value using new data and new lattice calculations. Credit: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab

Predicting the numerical value of the magnetic moment of the muon is one of the most challenging calculations in high-energy physics. Some physicists spend the bulk of their careers improving the calculation to greater precision.

Why do physicists care about the magnetic properties of this particle? Because information from every particle and force is encoded in the numerical value of the muon's magnetic moment. If we can both measure and predict this number to ultra-high precision, we can test whether the Standard Model of Elementary Particles is complete.

Muons are identical to electrons, except they are about 200 times more massive, are not stable, and disintegrate into electrons and neutrinos after a short time. At the simplest level, theory predicts that the muon's magnetic moment, typically represented by the letter g, should equal 2. Any deviation from 2 can be attributed to quantum contributions from the muon's interaction with otherknown and unknownparticles and forces. Hence scientists are focused on predicting and measuring g-2.

Several measurements of muon g-2 already exist. Scientists working on the Muon g-2 experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory expect to announce later this year the result of the most precise measurement ever made of the muon's magnetic moment.

Simultaneously, a large number of scientists are working on improving the Standard Model prediction of the value of muon g-2. Several parts feed into this calculation, related to the electromagnetic force, the weak nuclear force and the strong nuclear force.

The contribution from electromagnetic particles like photons and electrons is considered the most precise calculation in the world. The contribution from weakly interacting particles like neutrinos, W and Z bosons, and the Higgs boson is also well known. The most challenging part of the muon g-2 prediction stems from the contribution from strongly interacting particles like quarks and gluons; the equations governing their contribution are very complex.

Even though the contributions from quarks and gluons are so complex, they are calculable, in principle, and several different approaches have been developed. One of these approaches evaluates the contributions by using experimental data related to the strongly interacting nuclear force. When electrons and positrons collide, they annihilate and can produce particles made of quarks and gluons like pions. Measuring how often pions are produced in these collisions is exactly the data needed to predict the strong nuclear contribution to muon g-2.

For several decades, experiments at electron-positron colliders around the world have measured the contributions from quarks and gluons, including experiments in the US, Italy, Russia, China, and Japan. Results from all these experiments were compiled by a collaboration of experimental and theoretical physicists known as the Muon g-2 Theory Initiative. In 2020, this group announced the best Standard Model prediction for muon g-2 available at that time.

Ten months later, the Muon g-2 collaboration at Fermilab unveiled the result of their first measurement. The comparison of the two indicated a large discrepancy between the experimental result and the Standard Model prediction. In other words, the comparison of the measurement with the Standard Model provided strong evidence that the Standard Model is not complete and muons could be interacting with yet undiscovered particles or forces.

A second approach uses supercomputers to compute the complex equations for the quark and gluon interactions with a numerical approach called lattice gauge theory. While this is a well-tested method to compute the effects of the strong force, computing power has only recently become available to perform the calculations for muon g-2 to the required precision. As a result, lattice calculations published prior to 2021 were not sufficiently precise to test the Standard Model. However, a calculation published by one group of scientists in 2021, the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal collaboration, produced a huge surprise. Their prediction using lattice gauge theory was far from the prediction using electron-positron data.

In the last few months, the landscape of predictions for the strong force contribution to muon g-2 has only become more complex. A new round of electron-positron data has come out from the SND and CMD3 collaborations. These are two experiments taking data at the VEPP-2000 electron-positron collider in Novosibirsk, Russia. A result from the SND collaboration agrees with the previous electron-positron data, while a result from the CMD3 collaboration disagrees with the previous data.

What is going on? While there is no simple answer, there are concerted efforts by all the communities involved to better quantify the Standard Model prediction. The Lattice Gauge Theory community is working around the clock towards testing and scrutinizing the BMW collaboration's prediction in independent lattice calculations with improved precision using different methods. The electron-positron collider community is working to identify possible reasons for the differences between the CMD3 result and all previous measurements. More importantly, the community is in the process of repeating these experimental measurements using much larger data sets. Scientists are also introducing new independent techniques to understand the strong-force contribution, such as a new experiment proposed at CERN called MUonE.

What does this mean for muon g-2? The Fermilab Muon g-2 collaboration will release its next result, based on data taken in 2019 and 2020, later this year. Because of the large amount of additional data that is going into the new analysis, the Muon g-2 collaboration expects its result to be twice as precise as the first result from their experiment. But the current uncertainty in the predicted value makes it hard to use the new result to strengthen our previous indication that the Standard Model is incomplete and there are new particles and forces affecting muon g-2.

What is next? The Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment concluded data taking this spring. It will still take a couple of years to analyze the entire data set, and the experiment expects to release its final result in 2025. At the same time, the Muon g-2 Theory Initiative is working to shore up the predicted value using new data and new lattice calculations that should also be available before 2025. It will be a very exciting showdown. In the meantime, the high-energy physics community is eagerly anticipating the announcement of the world's best measurement from the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment later this year.
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People holding tightly to umbrellas walk near Victoria Harbour as Typhoon Talim passes near Hong Kong on July 17, 2023.

A quarter million people were evacuated in southern China and Vietnam before a major typhoon roared ashore late Monday bringing fierce winds and rain and forcing the cancelation of hundreds of flights and trains.

The China Meteorological Administration said typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon of the year, made landfall on the coast of Guangdong province at around 10:20 pm (1420 GMT), bearing maximum winds of 136.8 kilometers (85 miles) per hour.

Storm surges and lashing rains also hammered the southern coastline from Guangdong to Hainan provinces on Monday night, it said.

The forecaster had issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning in a four-tier color-coded system.

Nearly 230,000 people in Guangdong were evacuated to safety before the storm's landfall, including more than 8,000 fish-farm workers who were brought ashore, according to state news agency Xinhua. Local authorities also ordered the closure of dozens of coastal tourist destinations, it added.

The meteorological administration said the storm was moving to the northwest at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour and could rake across the Guangxi region early Tuesday. Talim could lose speed by Tuesday morning and "weaken and dissipate over northern Vietnam" on Wednesday, it said.

Authorities in Vietnam said they were preparing to evacuate about 30,000 people from the areas forecast to be hardest hit in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces from Monday afternoon.

Talim "might be one of the biggest to hit the Gulf of Tonkin in recent years", Vietnam's top disaster response committee said in an online statement.

Tourists have been advised to leave outlying islands and airlines have rescheduled services to avoid the storm.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed disaster response teams to prepare for "immediate rescue and relief works" late Sunday, warning of possible floods.

The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas.

Flights grounded

At least 1,000 people were evacuated in Yunfu city in Guangdong province, the state-backed Southern Daily reported.

Trading on Hong Kong's US$5.2 trillion stock market was canceled Monday as the Asian financial hub came to a standstill.

The Hong Kong Observatory has warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas due to a storm surge and ferries and most bus services in the city were suspended.

More than 1,000 travelers were affected by flight cancelations and delays, the Hong Kong Airport Authority said.

Hundreds of trains in Guangdong and Hainan, including high-speed trains between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the metropolis adjacent to Hong Kong, were suspended Monday as the typhoon bore down on the region, the state-run China Daily reported, citing local service operators.

Hainan island authorities asked ships in nearby waters to return to port after the local marine forecasting station warned of waves of up to six meters (20 feet), Xinhua reported.

Ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were suspended early Sunday.

Meilan International Airport and Qionghai Boao Airport, both on Hainan island, have canceled all flights, state media reported.

FlightAware, the international flight-tracking website, put that figure at more than 160 cancelations of flights into and out of the island Monday.

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong near Macau canceled more than 80 flights, local media said.

Scientists have warned that typhoons are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

 2023 AFP
(CNN)  Russia has a stockpile of cluster munitions and will consider using them against Ukraine if they are used against us, President Vladimir Putin said.

Putins comments come just days after Ukraine received a delivery of American-made cluster munitions, though a top Ukrainian military official told CNN they had not yet been used.

Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of cluster munitions, the Russian leader said during an interview with a pro-Kremlin journalist.

If they are used against us, we reserve the right to mirror actions.

Washingtons decision to send cluster bombs to Kyiv was controversial and criticized by human rights groups.

The weapons are particularly dangerous to civilians and noncombattants when fired near populated areas because they scatter explosive material, so-called bomblets, across large areas. Those that fail to explode on impact can detonate years later, posing a long-term risk to anyone who encounters them, similar to landmines.

The danger posed by cluster weapons has prompted more than 100 countries  including the United Kingdom, France and Germany  to sign a treaty prohibiting their use.

US President Joe Biden told CNN that the decision whether to send cluster munitions to Ukraine was very difficult, but he opted to do so because Kyiv needs more ammunition to continue its fight to push Russian troops out of Ukrainian territory.

A top official at the US Defense Department said Kyiv gave assurances in writing that it would not use the cluster munitions in urban areas.

In his interview, Putin said that the Biden administration had called the use of cluster munitions a war crime and that he agreed with that assessment.

Its not clear exactly which comments Putin was referring to, but former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last year at the outset of the conflict that reports of Russias use of cluster bombs, if confirmed, would constitute a war crime.

Putin also claimed that Russia has not yet used cluster munitions, despite evidence to the contrary.

In March, the United Nations said it had compiled credible reports that Russian forces had used cluster munitions in populated areas at least 24 times. A CNN investigation last year found that the Kremlin fired 11 cluster rockets at Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, during the wars opening days.

This story was first published on CNN.com. Putin says Russia has sufficient cluster munitions and may retaliate if Ukraine uses them
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Researchers mapped the presence of snail shells and bees in sections of the McMaster Forest. Credit: McMaster University

McMaster biologists studying the local abundance of a typically uncommon wild native bee have found a clear link between the unusual population spike and the concentration of a non-native snail in the same area.

This native bee, a species of mason bee called Osmia conjuncta, uses the empty shells of dead snails to incubate its offspring. Though several species of bees commonly nest in snail shells in Africa, Asia and Europe, little research had previously been done on shell-dwelling bees in North America.

The shells of European grove snails, which can proliferate in near-urban fields, come in an array of sizes and colors. These non-native snails happen to be especially abundant in Hamilton and parts of Niagara 20 times greater than in comparable habitats elsewhere.

The work, led by undergraduate student Isobel Fanaki and graduate student Sebastian Irazuzta and supervised by Professor Susan Dudley, is described in a new article in the journal The Canadian Entomologist.

The supply of suitable shells in the study area allows the bees to choose optimal nurseries for their offspring, boosting their local populations.

"Grove snails are non-native, but they have been considered benign because they only eat dead plants," Dudley says.

"What this study implies is that they have made an ecological impact in North America by providing a super-abundant nesting resource for one species of bee."

The finding is part of a rich cache of new quantitative information about the otherwise sparsely distributed bee, which is also abundant in Hamilton and Niagara.

The McMaster team carefully mapped the presence of shells and bees in grassland sections of the McMaster Forest Nature Preserve, a 47-hectare (115-acre), university-owned property not far from campus, which features a restored prairie set between forested ravines.

The researchers measured off one-meter sample sections in the study area and counted as many as 87 suitable shells in a single square meter. On average, they found 11 suitable nesting shells per square meter, a huge number compared to other North American snail studies, which have found there is typically only one shell of the right size for bees to use per two square meters.

The researchers learned the nesting bees use a Goldilocks-like approach, typically rejecting the largest and smallest shells and the darkest and lightest shells.

The biologists believe the bees turn down newer, darker shells because of the higher risk of contamination and infestation from the bodies of decomposing snails inside, and that they also reject the most faded older shells, likely because they are more brittle and offer less protection.

The abundance of ideal incubators for the solitary bees has created a much more robust population in the study areas than is typically found elsewhere.

The McMaster researchers found snail shell-nesting bees represent roughly one in five of all wild bees in their study area, compared to fewer than one in 300 in other parts of North America where they are present at all.

"This is an interesting example of how a seemingly unrelated non-native species has led to the proliferation of a previously uncommon native bee," Irazuzta says.

"It's incredible that while Osmia conjuncta has been listed as a snail shell-nesting bee for decades, the only published evidence of this trait has been an anecdotal account from 1937," Fanaki says.

"This research gives us more concrete evidence that this species is a snail shell-nesting bee after all. While it may seem a little obvious, confirming this simple fact is very helpful for future study."

The findings are also significant because they reveal the success of one species of wild bee while the broader population of wild native bees is under threat, both from domesticated honeybees which compete with them for food, and from human encroachment.

Wild bees and other native pollinators are critical to preserving the diversity of plants, which is critical to the health of the environment.

More information: Isobel O. Fanaki et al, The native snail shellnesting bee Osmia conjuncta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) exploits a local abundance of exotic Cepaea snails (Stylommatophora: Helicidae), choosing empty shells by size, colour, and microhabitat, The Canadian Entomologist (2023). DOI: 10.4039/tce.2023.10
FORT ANN  A Queens man was sentenced recently to 7 years in prison for weapon and drug offenses.

Christopher M. Rivers was arrested in August 2021 after Washington County Sheriffs deputies pulled over a vehicle that was driving erratically on Route 149 in Fort Ann.

Police searched the vehicle and found heroin, cocaine and a handgun that had been stolen from Vermont.

Rivers was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, as well as traffic infractions.

He pleaded guilty in Washington County Court on May 19 to felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He is also likely get 3 years of post-release supervision when sentenced on June 15.
(CNN)  A record 16 Chinese warships were spotted in waters around Taiwan in a 24-hour period late last week, the islands Defense Ministry reported, in what analysts said was the latest sign of an intimidation campaign against Taipei by Chinas ruling Communist Party.

The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) activity in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. local time Saturday followed exercises earlier last week that saw dozens of Chinese warplanes fly past the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the key regions of Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Over 72 hours in the middle of last week, 73 PLA aircraft either crossed the Taiwan Straits median line  an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected  or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the islands ADIZ.

During that same period, nine PLA vessels were reported in waters around Taiwan in three consecutive days.

The 16 Chinese ships around Taiwan on Friday into Saturday was the most since the islands Defense Ministry began providing daily updates of PLA activity around the island in August 2022.

It is a growing military effort, Carl Schuster, a Hawaii-based analyst and former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, told CNN on Monday.

The military operations indicate Beijings efforts are twofold, he said.

One, constant PLA activities around the island present its defenders with a range of possible attack routes to design defenses for, and two, to practice, rehearse and train for the moment should it come, Schuster said.

That moment would be a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Chinas ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its territory despite never having controlled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of the island.

Chinese state media on Sunday touted the naval activity, noting the PLAN breaking the record for the number of vessels deployed in its drills in the region, in a story in Global Times.

Analysts said Sunday that the recent intensive exercises demonstrate the PLAs capabilities in encircling the island, the Global Times story said.

Neither Taiwans Defense Ministry nor the Global Times article gave details on what PLA warships were in the waters around Taiwan.

But Chinese state-run media said the PLA exercises likely featured amphibious landing training and the story was topped with a picture of a PLAN amphibious assault ship it said was taken during a maritime real-combat training exercise recently.

Schuster said he expects the PLA to keep increasing the pressure on Taiwan.

We will see more such exercises and next years will more complex and larger in terms of units involved and extent of their activities, he said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taiwan reports record number of Chinese warships in waters around the island"
Two New York State firefighters who have spent the last two weeks in Canada dousing the massive blazes there said if something like this hit the Adirondacks, they would look to more helicopters, especially if they had to reach remote places.

We use the national guard and the state police helicopters currently, said Crew Boss Ranger Gary Miller.

If we get anything big like they have, probably more helicopters would be needed, Miller said, adding later that he would look to more helicopters and more bambi buckets, the massive buckets that helicopters haul from a lake or pond to the fire.

Miller, from Hamilton County, led a team of eight from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, who are more used to going to western states to fight summer fires instead of heading to the north. This was the third volunteer effort from New York State this year.

Vegetation is thicker in the Canadian Wilderness where they were fighting, said Lincoln Hanno, who works in Herkimer and Lewis counties. It was his first time fighting a fire outside of New York.

He was most impressed by the terrain that could be both steep and more dense than what he is used to.

Its spruce thicket after spruce thicket in northern Canada, Hanno said. He added that slash, or fallen trees and other ground-level barriers made travel difficult.

The crew spent their time in Micoua Fire Complex, a 40,000-acre fire, about 6 hours northeast of Quebec City. More than 4,000 fires are burning in Canada, with a total of nearly 24 million acres burned, press materials said. The Adirondack Park is about 6 million acres large.

During an online press conference a day after returning from Canada, Miller said they were mainly putting out the smaller fires that were burning near the larger areas that were already burned.

The expanse of the burn of the fire we were on impressed him. He said there would be a large black, burned area and then a huge expanse of green with a smaller black portion sometimes a mile or two away. That was the hot spot.

Pretty much that was the gist of our two-week assignment: Seek and destroy hot spots, Miller said.

All three firefighters  John Scott out of Suffolk County, Long Island was also on the call  talked about how the firefighting Canada is different because of that terrain.

First, unlike in the lower 48, the fighters do not attempt to get a fire break around a fire. The fires are much too vast and the terrain too difficult to allow anything like a crew large enough to contain it or to be able to use bulldozers or other equipment to clear the path.

But Canada has water. So they set massive pumps at the water source and lay fire hose sometimes miles through the wilderness to douse the flames.

They said they brought home some lessons from their time in the Quebec province.

The helicopter pilots were extraordinary, Miller said, adding that the precision they had with the bambi buckets was impressive, and the way Canadian firefighters use pumps to draw water from miles away was something to consider, he said.

No one, not the firefighters or Canadian leadership, expect the fires to stop burning until winter. They are too massive and too remote. Still, the crew from New York saw it as a positive experience.

We did what we were told to do and we did it well, Miller said of the 14 days they spent battling the flames.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded all that the fires are burning worse and longer than in recent years because of climate change and steps need to be taken to reduce that threat.

The focus of the press conference remained on the fighters who had returned.

I couldnt be more proud to lead this incredible group, Seggos said.

David Corey - Essex and Franklin counties

Lincoln Hanno - Herkimer and Lewis counties

Howard Kreft - Ulster County

Gary Miller - Hamilton County

Joseph Pries - Dutchess and Putnam counties

Logan Quinn - Essex County

John Scott - Suffolk County

Nathan Sprague - Cattaraugus County

The Rangers were joined by wildland firefighters from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
From the Silver Bay YMCA: Silver Bay YMCA is delighted to announce that Rev. Karen Skalla will begin her tenure as a Chaplain for Silver Bay YMCA starting Aug. 1.

Skalla will be filling the position previously held by Rev. Bruce Tamlyn. Tamlyn retired from his role as Chaplain December 31, 2022, and had been serving the Silver Bay community in a variety of capacities for 52 years.

Karen, with her unique experience in the fields of Spirituality and in Medicine, will bring a deep sense of caring to this role. Karen is also creative, and I am excited have her bring new life and energy to the Spiritual Life Department, Garth Allen, Silver Bay YMCAs spiritual life director, stated.

Skalla comes to Silver Bay from Brownsville, Vermont and is no stranger to Silver Bay, as she has stayed at Silver Bay through the Pastoral Respite Program.

Silver Bays Pastoral Respite Program has been my refuge for nearly 20 of those (31) years in medicine. I discovered it during a life-altering Clinical Pastoral Training Program designed for healthcare providersand then spent the rest of my career exploring and advocating for the integration of Spirituality and Medicine. A giant leap of faith took me to Seminary at Boston University, followed by ordination in the Methodist Church and Spiritual Director Training at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center outside of Boston, stated Skalla.

Although Silver Bay YMCA is sad to see Tamlyn go, and wishes him the best in retirement, they are excited to welcome Skalla to the spiritual life family.
ATLANTIC CITY  Chief James Sarkos highlighted actions by police in the previous two weeks during a CitiStat meeting last week.

On July 5, officers responded to the 300 block of Rosemont Place after getting reports of a woman being held there against her will, Sarkos said. Police also had information that the suspect holding her was having a mental health crisis, and had pointed a gun at her.

Officer Jonathan Walsh engaged him in conversation, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody, Sarkos said. After obtaining a search warrant, Sgt. Michael Tracy found two handguns in the apartment, Sarkos said. The suspect also was found to be in possession of cocaine, according to a previous police report.

Troy Williams, 45, was charged in that incident with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault, terroristic threts, certain person not to possess a weapon and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was sent to the Atlantic County jail.

On July 6, Sarkos said detectives arrested three men after a drug investigation in the 2500 and 2600 blocks of Pacific Avenue and confiscated a large amount of cocaine and two illegal handguns.

One of the guns had been reported stolen in Georgia, Sarkos said.

Nasi Donaldson, 24, and Daniel Smith, 24, both of Atlantic City, were charged in that incident with possession of CDS, possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense, certain person not to possess a weapon, receiving stolen property and possession of a high-capacity magazine. John Bonds, 55, of Atlantic City, was charged with possession of CDS. All three were sent to the Atlantic County jail.

Detectives Nicholas Berardis and Christopher Smith, and Officer Adrian Nunez-Santos and his K-9 partner Narco were credited with the action.

CitiStat Briefs: City clears vagrants, debris out of vacant Madison Hotel After a complaint came in about homeless people breaking into the vacant Madison Hotel on th

Police statistics

Calls for service year-to-date are up 29% in 2023 over the same time in 2022, Sarkos said, and arrests are up 120%

There were 914 arrests at the same time last year, and 2,010 arrests to date this year.

In 2022 there were 56,650 calls for service at this time, and this year there have been 73,189, the chief said.

Firearms recoveries are up 55% year-to-date, with 93 firearms taken off the street by police so far this year. Of those, 77 have been handguns, four rifles, five shotguns and seven ghost guns with no serial numbers.

Last meetings concerns

The sidewalk is being redesigned and changes in perimeter landscaping considered for an area of Connecticut Avenue where residents complained at the previous CitiStat meeting that there is no access to their buildings for first responder vehicles, Planning Director Jacques A. Howard said.

We should be completed by the end of July or sometime in August, Howard said. The purpose of the project is to facilitate emergency vehicles and first responders access to a development impeded by landscaping.

Long and winding road to demolition in Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY  The saga surrounding a single blighted building that has played out at city 

Fire Department

Atlantic City firefighters responded to 397 calls for service from June 26 to July 9, including 184 rescue/emergency medical calls, 85 false alarms, 69 good intent calls, 22 other service calls, 21 hazardous conditions and 16 fires, fire Chief Scott Evans said.

The Junior Fire Academy is in full swing with more than a dozen students ages 12 and older, Evans said. The two-week academy teaches kids about firefighter drills and what it means to be a firefighter.

The Fire Department is also issuing new safety equipment called a bailout kit to its firefighters, Evans said. The kit has safety tools to use should a firefighter be trapped in a building.

CitiStat statistics

From June 28 to July 12 the CitiStat Report a Concern system received 160 complaints, IT Director Pat Quinlan said.

In the same period, 304 cases were handled and closed (42 from this period and 262 from prior periods), and 118 are still in progress.

The most common complaint was about high grass and weeds, followed by reports of abandoned buildings and debris on properties, Quinlan said.

Atlantic City man arrested after pointing gun at woman An Atlantic City man was arrested and two handguns were recovered after he pointed a firearm at a woman Thursday, police said.

New concerns

Residents and business people brought new concerns to the CitiStat meeting Wednesday, asking for help controlling trash and unsafe parking conditions at short-term rental properties in the Bungalow Park neighborhood, and for help dealing with the homeless and drug problems in various neigborhoods.

City officials will tell the public how they are addressing those concerns at the next CitiStat meeting, 10 a.m. July 26 in the Fannie Lou Hamer meeting room in Stockton Universitys Atlantic City academic building.
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.
A Davenport man is accused of fleeing police on his motorcycle at speeds reaching 130 mph.

Ryan James Couper, 21, fled an Iowa State troopers attempted traffic stop at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Utah Avenue and River Drive in Davenport, according to court records. The trooper stated in the document that the reason for the attempted stop was Couper was traveling at about 87 mph in a 50 mph zone. His motorcycle also had no license plate.

At the time of the attempted stop, the trooper was eastbound on River Driver in a marked patrol car and in full uniform, according to court records. The trooper saw the motorcycle approaching from behind, checked its speed and pulled over. The motorcycles driver, later identified as Couper, then made a U-turn and went west toward Interstate 280.

The trooper turned on the squads lights and sirens and pursued Couper, who traveled through intersections at more than 100 mph, ignoring traffic signals as he went, court records state.

He several times looked back at the police vehicle before continuing to flee, the records state.

The pursuit ended at 110th Avenue and southbound U.S. Highway 61 when police arrested Couper, court records state. The trooper searched him and found a Glock 9mm pistol in his waistband, police said.

Couper admitted, apparently while talking on his cell phone, to fleeing police, court records state.

The documents also indicate that Couper made several other statements, including that he traveled up to 130 mph during the chase, was on unsupervised probation, and did not have a drivers license, registration or insurance.

When investigators checked his license, they found it was suspended, records state.

The state patrol brought Couper to the Scott County Jail at 12:12 p.m. on Sunday and he was free on $8,100 bond just over an hour later, according to the Scott County Jail website.

He has been charged with eluding and being a person who is ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, according to court records.

Couper is scheduled to make an appearance in court on Tuesday.
An Illinois man faces multiple charges in Scott County, including an allegation he falsely claimed his gun was stolen.

When investigating a report of a stolen firearm Sunday, Davenport police found Jamal James Hudson, 51, of Knoxville, who had three guns on him, including one he reported stolen. Police also found methamphetamine and marijuana in his possession, records state.

Scott County authorities have charged Hudson with false report of an indictable offense to a public entity, person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and two counts each of controlled substance violations and failure to affix drug stamp, according to county court records.

Police responded about 3:45 p.m. to Fejervary Park to meet with Hudson about a reported disturbance at Vander Veer Botanical Park, records show. Hudson had officers go to Vander Veer, because he said a person had taken his gun from his vehicle, but officers found the weapon was still in Hudsons possession.

Police found he also had about 13 grams of methamphetamine, about 48 grams of marijuana and two other firearms besides the one he reported stolen, records state. All the firearms and the drugs were found in Hudsons vehicle and he was its only occupant.

Police checked the two substances, which field tested positive for meth and cannabis, records state. Neither of the drugs had the proper Iowa drug tax stamp affixed.

During an interview with officers, Hudson admitted the marijuana was his, court records state.

In a separate case, authorities charged Hudson with two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, accusing him of also having a grinder for the marijuana and a pipe for the methamphetamine, court records state.

Hudson remained in custody Monday morning, held on a $10,000 cash-only bond, according to the Scott County Jail website.

His next court date has been set for Aug. 10, according to court records.
Niabi Zoo is now home to three African painted dogs.

The species, Lycaon pictus, is native to the grasslands of east Africa and has never been housed before at Niabi Zoo.

Zoo Director Lee Jackson said in a news release that the dogs are highly intelligent and a social-ecological keystone species in Africa.

Much like North American wolves, he said, the dogs play a critical role in the health of their ecosystem. They also are an endangered species.

We are proud to share this beautiful species with the community and tell its story, Jackson said.

Niabi has been working for several years with conservationists in Africa who are on the frontline of painted dog research, and we have, on a number of occasions, brought in some of those scientists to share their work with our guests.

The painted dog exhibit was built using funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the Rock Island County American Rescue Plan Act, and a generous grant from the Carver Charitable Trust, as well as donations from the community.

Niabi Zoo is operated by the Forest Preserve District of Rock Island County and is situated on more than 40 acres in Coal Valley with more than 200 animal species.

The zoo is home to more than 800 animals from around the world.

For more information about the zoo visit NiabiZoo.com on the World Wide Web.
A Polk County District Court judge temporarily blocked enforcement Monday of a new law signed just days earlier by Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds that would ban the vast majority of abortions in the state.

The order means abortion  for now  remains legal in Iowa up until 20 weeks of pregnancy.

District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin  who was appointed by Reynolds  granted a request from Iowa abortion providers to halt enforcement of the new restrictions until its constitutionality can be considered by the courts.

Reynolds signed House File 732 into law Friday afternoon at the Christian conservative Family Leadership Summit, after it was passed earlier in the week during a one-day special session of the Iowa Legislature. During her remarks, Reynolds called abortion the most important human rights cause of our time.

In their own words, the abortion industry stressed the need for a temporary injunction so they could continue with 200 scheduled abortions in the next two weeks, Reynolds said in statement Monday responding to the court order. While life was protected for a few days, now even more innocent babies will be lost.

The abortion industrys attempt to thwart the will of Iowans and the voices of their elected representatives continues today, but I will fight this all the way to the Iowa Supreme Court where we expect a decision that will finally provide justice for the unborn, Reynolds said.

The law took immediate effect Friday after Seidlin rejected a request from the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and Dr. Sarah Traxler to immediately block enforcement. Seidlin said he would have to flippantly rule from the bench just for expediencys sake to grant the request, and that he hoped to have a ruling issued by the end of Monday  which he did.

HF 732 prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat  defined as cardiac activity, the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac  is detected. Doctors would be required to first perform an abdominal ultrasound to detect embryonic or fetal cardiac activity.

The law would change the amount of time that women have to seek an abortion from 20 weeks post-fertilization to as little as six weeks  before many women know they are pregnant. The bill includes exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape in cases reported within 45 days, and incest in cases reported within 140 days. It also includes exceptions for miscarriages, a fetal abnormality that would result in the infants death and for when the mothers life is threatened.

We are deeply relieved that the court granted this relief so essential health care in Iowa can continue, Dr. Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks, medical director of the Emma Goldman Clinic, said in a statement. We are also acutely aware that the relief is only pending further litigation and the future of abortion in Iowa remains tenuous and threatened.

Seidlins order temporarily bars, or enjoins, the state from enforcing HF 732, with the exception of a requirement directing the Iowa Board of Medicine to adopt rules to administer the bill. Should the injunction entered today ultimately be dissolved, it would only benefit all involved, patients and providers alike, to have rules in place to administer the law, Seidlin wrote in his order.

Peter Im, a staff attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, argued in court Friday that the law unquestionably imposes an undue burden on Iowans access to abortion care and violates their constitutional rights to due process, dominion over ones body, the ability to have control over their lives and their futures and to make their own decisions about their health care.

While the ban contains some exceptions for abortions, Iowa physicians have warned the restrictions do not account for complications that occur during pregnancy, and will hinder their ability to provide necessary care and respond to time-sensitive issues.

In the wake of Iowa and U.S. Supreme Court rulings reversing a fundamental right to abortion, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Daniel Johnston argued a new rational basis test now applies in court. To pass the test, laws need only be rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest.

The fetal heartbeat bill aims to prevent the destruction of human lives, and the court must take those lives into account in its analysis, Johnston said. "The status quo is precisely the thing that the state believes is harmful."

While the Iowa Supreme Court last year held the Iowa Constitution does not guarantee a fundamental right to abortion subject to strict scrutiny, Seidlin wrote the current state of the law in Iowa remains, at least for the time being, that some level of constitutional protection applies to women seeking abortion in Iowa, requiring an undue burden standard for analysis.

Seidlin cited the state Supreme Courts 2022 plurality decision from Justice Edward Mansfield, who was appointed by former Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican. Mansfield wrote the undue burden test remains the governing standard.

This court is not at liberty to overturn precedent of our Supreme Court, Seidlin wrote.

The state would have to ask for the Iowa Supreme Courts permission to appeal and stay the lower courts order, Im said. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

We certainly hope the Iowa Supreme Court will stick by its precedents and will continue to require that abortion restrictions meet that standard, Im told reporters Monday. ... Of course, the court can change its mind.

Ruth Richardson, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said the fight to preserve Iowans fundamental right to reproductive freedom is far from over.

While we know that the state may seek an appeal, we are proud to resume services for our patients and provide patient outreach to help break through the state of manufactured chaos and confusion, Richardson told reporters on an online call.

Richardson said Planned Parenthood staff stayed late Thursday to ensure we that we could help as many patients as possible before the law went into effect. She did not have specific numbers for patients who traveled out of state to receive care, or whose abortion appointments were rescheduled, but said staff received hundreds of phone calls from Iowans confused over what types of health care theyre able to access.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Western Regional Director Adam Schwend, in a statement after the ruling, said: Activist judges must stop interfering on behalf of the radical abortion lobby and respect the will of the people.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott holds a town hall meeting to talk about his plans for presidency
The state added rape charges to a case against a Rapid City man accused of sexually touching a young child during a one-and-half-year period nearly a decade ago.

In July 2022, a grand jury charged 31-year-old Teegan Herron with two counts of sexual contact with a child under sixteen. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The indictment alleged the molestation occurred between July 1, 2014 and Jan. 1, 2016. During that time frame, Herron was 22 and 23 years old. The alleged victim was almost three years old in July 2014 and four years old at the beginning of 2016.

The court originally scheduled a trial to begin at the end of February. It was rescheduled to start June 26.

About two weeks before trial  on June 14  a grand jury added two counts of first-degree rape to the indictment. The trial was cancelled, and Herron pleaded not guilty to the additional charges on July 7.

In South Dakota, first-degree rape is defined as sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13. It is a class C felony with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

Sexual contact with a a child under 16 is a class 3 felony with a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison. Normally, the maximum is 15 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.

Since Herron has a prior felony conviction for forgery in 2010, the maximum sentence for the sexual contact charges would increase to 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

From 2011 to 2015, Herron also collected eight misdemeanors, including petty theft, possession of marijuana, and driving without a license and insurance.

The sexual crimes investigation first began in August 2016 when the child's father noticed concerning behavior in his daughter, according to law enforcement reports. When the alleged victim was interviewed, she didn't disclose any abuse to the interviewer, and no charges resulted.

In January 2022, the alleged victim's mother contacted police and said her daughter disclosed more information and was ready to talk with the authorities. The alleged victim told police she had been "holding it in for eight years," according to a law enforcement report.

Herron is out on a $5,000 surety bond while his case moves through court. He is scheduled to appear for a status hearing on Aug. 4.
A South Dakota fire department rescued three ducklings that were stuck in a storm drain near a highway ramp.

The Rapid City Fire Department posted photos of the rescue on Thursday on Facebook and wrote: The crew was able to climb in the drain and rescue the ducklings successfully! There seemed to be no fowl play.

One photo captures two fuzzy ducklings wading inside the storm drain when the crew arrived. Other photos show firefighters descending a silver ladder into the drain and setting up a hose. Finally, a crew member climbs back up the ladder with a duckling in hand.

A person who lives in that area noticed that a mama duck kept walking around in the street in the same spot. That person investigated, found ducklings in the storm drain, and called the fire department for help, Battalion Chief Calen Maningas said.

Seven people from the fire department went to rescue the baby birds, he said.

Captain Tyler Powell was one of them. He said the drain was filled with water, runoff and debris.

There were different culverts that came into that drain. And every time we went down to try and grab the ducklings, they would swim into one of the other culverts and hide from us, Powell said.

The team figured out where the culverts ended, Powell said, so they set up a hose and strategically sprayed water to flush the ducks out to the other side  and into the hands of the waiting firefighters who handed the birds up to each other and placed them in a cardboard box above ground.

Powell said the ducklings were fine throughout the rescue.

The firefighters left the ducklings with the person who originally called about them. That person hoped the mother duck would return so he could give the ducklings back to her, Maningas said.

Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15
(CNN)  US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered F-35 and F-16 fighter jets deployed to the Middle East, as well as the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, in response to Iranian activities in the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to a number of recent alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the Secretary of Defense has ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the US Central Command Area of Responsibility to defend US interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday.

The deployments come after two incidents earlier this month in which Iranian Navy ships attempted to seize merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The US Navy intervened in both incidents on July 5. In one instance, in which an Iranian vessel was approaching the Richmond Voyager oil tanker, Iranian personnel opened fire on the tanker and hit the ship near the crews living spaces.

In light of this continuing threat, and in coordination with our partners and allies, the department is increasing our presence and ability to monitor the straight and surrounding waters, Singh said. We call upon Iran to immediately cease these destabilizing actions that threaten the free flow of commerce through this strategic waterway of which the world depends on for more than one fifth of the worlds oil supply.

Last week, a senior defense official said that US air and maritime forces are working together to continue monitoring the waterway, recently starting to fly A-10 attack aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz. The A-10s were deployed in late March.

The US also bolstered its forces in the Middle East in May after destabilizing actions from Iran in the Persian Gulf.

[The] United States will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through the Middle East waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at the time.

He added that there is simply no justification for Iranian actions to interfere, harass or attack merchant ships.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US orders deployment of fighter jets and Navy destroyer to Middle East in response to Iranian activities"
HARLEM  While working with Indigenous people on six continents, ecologist Cristina Eisenberg has found a common thread  seeds are sacred.

There are seeds in medicine bundles in almost every culture, she said. There are seeds in burial mounds. Seeds are sacred. Each seed is a life.

On the northern plains of Montana, Eisenberg is one of several persistent, professional women who created a program based on humility, healing tribal relationships and Indigenous people while also working to restore native habitat.

People are collecting native seeds from species like green needlegrass, June grass and blue gramma for restoration projects through the Bureau of Land Managements Seeds of Success program  a national native seed collection initiative.

But its so much more than that.

Oregon State University, the Society for Ecological Restoration and the Fort Belknap Indian Community have all joined to offer select tribal members education and employment through the program.

So emotionally charged is the task before the women that, unlike any other agency meetings, hugging has replaced handshakes when greeting.

Were doing best western science, but were doing it to the best of our ability in keeping with the cultural traditions and the Indigenous knowledge here, Eisenberg explained.

The women

To grasp what is occurring takes a bit of explaining as these women were brought together by a confluence of events, like streams joining to create what appears to have become a powerful river.

Eisenberg was working on a long-term ecological restoration project with the Kainai First Nations people in Canada. Peggy Olwell, BLMs Plant Conservation Program lead, heard about the project and invited Eisenberg to replicate the program in the United States.

What I said to Peggy is it will only work if its done on a communitys terms, Eisenberg said. Each community is different. Each tribe is different and will have different priorities.

Velman

Perhaps no one at BLMs Montana office had more understanding of the difficulties of establishing Native American programs than Wendy Velman, the Botany Program leader. Since 2011, Velman said she has been managing for the tribal interest first. However, in projects with the Crow and Northern Cheyenne the loss of staff, funding and the pandemic eventually scuttled the work.

Despite the setbacks, Velman persevered. The agency created programs at the Missoula Field Office collecting camas, bitterroot and whitebark pine with Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal members, and the Dillon Field Office is working with the Shoshone-Bannock in Idaho on a bitterroot project, she said.

Its been a really long journey since I got here, but this is kind of a culmination of tons and tons of conversations and putting people together, she said.

Pablo

One of the people Velman credited with giving the Seeds of Success program credibility was Marcia Pablo, the BLMs tribal liaison. As a Kootenai tribal member and a western-educated woman, Pablo said she has a foot in two very different worlds. While sitting at a meeting with federal officials, she noted the spirits of her dead ancestors were all around her, so she was not alone and the room was more crowded than it appeared.

Pablo said one of the first things she asked Velman is: What can we give back to the community? In a nod to tribal heritage, the program now underway includes conversations with elders, spirituality in the gathering of seeds by saying prayers, giving offerings of tobacco and conducting sweat lodge ceremonies.

She called the current project the highlight of her career, which included a stint as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

The biggest thing about all of this is healing, she said. We are healing past history, and we are building for the future. So its bigger than all of us.

Spottedbird

One individual exemplifying the potential of the program is 19-year-old Savannah Buckman Spottedbird. The Fort Belknap youth was recruited into the program last year and said the work of learning about plants, soil and collecting seeds has dramatically altered her life.

It kind of gave me a purpose, she said while leaning on a soil auger. It gave me peace and happiness. This is quite literally my home away from home.

Spottedbird is now employed year-round by the Seeds of Success program through Oregon State University where she plans to pursue an education. Its quite the turnaround for Spottedbird.

I hated school and science, she said. It was so boring to me.

The tie to OSU is Eisenberg. Last August, she was hired for two newly created programs in the College of Forestry  the associate dean for Inclusive Excellence and the Maybelle Clark Macdonald director of Tribal Initiatives in Natural Resources at the Corvallis, Oregon-based institution.

Forestry

The two positions were established under the leadership of Tom DeLuca, dean of Forestry at OSU and former Forestry dean at the University of Montana. DeLuca has worked to elevate tribal initiatives at OSU. When Eisenberg was hired, and DeLuca learned about the Seeds of Success project, he saw an opportunity.

I was so blown away by it because of what she was doing by combining this wonderful Seeds of Success program within BLM, but also combining it with social justice issues and specifically empowering tribal youth and trying to bring science and bring opportunities for tribal youth into their lives through this really unique program, DeLuca said.

This is an area where a lot of individuals are wanting to effect change and see the need to overcome a lot of past wrongs and to create opportunities to do things right, he added.

After hiring Eisenberg, OSU took over for the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), a global program providing leadership and expertise on restoration. SER had partnered with the BLM on the Native Seed and Grassland Restoration Program in Fort Belknap. The connection, again, was Eisenberg. She is a director at large for SER.

The feds

Lathered in sunscreen on a warm and windy July day, with prairie dogs chirping warnings in the background, Eisenberg gave a brief tutorial on the implementation of the Seeds of Success program on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

Listening intently were BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and BLM Montana-Dakotas director Sonya Germann. They, along with a group of tribal and BLM representatives, were spread out amid a cactus-riddled grassland just north of the Little Rocky Mountains, marveling at the thick growth of grasses, flowers and other plants following a wet spring.

The BLMs Montana-Dakotas office was recently awarded $1.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for two years of Seeds of Success work. In a partnership that began in 2019, SER and the BLM joined with the Fort Belknap Community  composed of Assiniboine, or Nakoda, and Gros Ventre tribal members  to employ them in native seed collection. Under the five-year partnership with the tribes, the seeds will be used by agencies like the BLM for restoration at places like abandoned mine sites.

Eisenberg credited Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Cabinet-level Native American woman, for fostering the rapid change at the federal level. The change may now include an inter-agency tribal co-stewardship program within the BLM and Forest Service to replicate across the nation what is being done in Montana.

So things are moving really fast, Eisenberg said. How can we develop the leaders of tomorrow within tribal nations?

Seven of the nations largest charitable organizations have also reached out to Eisenberg offering financial assistance to cover any federal funding gaps for such a program, she said. In her humble fashion, Eisenberg credited Olwell with the vision to create the program, calling it her legacy.

Now, how do we build this to capacity? Eisenberg asked. I think that were onto something. But were running out of time.

Investing

The Biden administration is investing $200 million into the National Seed Strategy, Stone-Manning said. Of that, $130 million will go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the other $70 million split up within the Department of Interior.

Stone-Manning called the Seeds of Success program a confluence of so much we are working on.

And here we have this remarkable, once-in-a-generation  although it should be a regular thing  opportunity with a bunch of funding for restoration, and that restoration needs native seed, she said. Were behind, but programs like this are going to help us catch up and in a meaningful way.

Change

As a Native American and Latinx ecologist, Eisenberg said she experienced many of the same hardships and barriers as those she is now helping, including homelessness and transgenerational trauma. Now she stands at the nexus of a program with potentially life-changing ramifications for what could be generations of Native Americans.

The seed she has planted is already growing; just ask Savannah Buckman Spottedbird.

Honestly, what I just want to do for my community is have people know that theyre heard or theyre seen, or that theyre not really alone, Spottedbird said. Because theres a lot more of us  not even just us teenagers and kids going through trials and errors  but a lot of our adults on the rez too ... think there is no coming back, that theres no hope, that nothing is ever going to change. But change is in ourselves. We just want to find it. We need someone to spark the light, and someone to not give up and give us hope.
BY NJ THAKURIA





Guwahati: Press Club of Assam (PCA) expresses profound grief at the untimely demise of photo journalist Dhanti Hira (25) at Samaguri in Nagaon district and demands a thorough probe into his mysterious death after a road accident in night hours on 16 July 2023. Dhanti, who worked for a city-based satellite news channel NKTV, was returning home from Samaguri with two of his friends on a bike and unfortunately hit two youths at Khatowal. It seemingly erupted with hot arguments following which Dhantis two friends fled from the location. Some locals took Dhanti to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.




Kathmandu, Nepal, July 17, 2023: Office bearers meeting of the Nepali Congress is being held today to discuss the agenda to be submitted to the central committee meeting starting tomorrow.





According to the secretariat of the party chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba, the official meeting is going to be held today at 2 o'clock at Deuba's residence Dhumbarahi. Apart from the current office bearers, outgoing working committee office bearers have also been invited to the meeting.





The meeting of the Central Committee of Nepali Congress was supposed to be held on July 12, but it was postponed for Wednesday after the death of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's wife Sita Dahal.





It is said that the date of the party's policy session will be decided at the meeting of the central committee which will be held from tomorrow.





According to the constitution of the Nepali Congress, the policy convention should be held within 6 months of the party's general convention, but even after years have passed since the last convention, the policy convention has not been organized yet.




The cost of the insurance that covers medical bills and lost wages when Virginians are hurt or die at work is set to decline again.

The basic building blocks for what insurers charge businesses for workers compensation coverage  called loss cost  would decline 0.5% for voluntary coverage and 2.5% for assigned risk coverage beginning next spring if the State Corporation Commission accepts the just-filed proposal from the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Employers with more than two employees are required to have workers compensation insurance. Voluntary coverage is coverage that insurers compete to offer companies with relatively normal numbers of claims; assigned risk coverage is for firms that cannot get coverage otherwise.

This will be the ninth year in a row that rates would decline, if the SCC approves.

This decline, though, is not as big as those the commission has approved in recent years, including last years 6.8% decline in voluntary coverage, 2021s 16.4% decline and 2020s 20.2% decline.

Workers compensation rates are a matter of importance to Virginias business community, said Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Historically, the workers compensation has been managed responsibly, protecting workers financial interest, and maintaining a competitive rate for business, when compared with other states, he said.

Virginia employers costs for workers compensation are the second-lowest in the nation, tied with Michigan, at 61 cents per $100 of wages paid, according to the National Academy of Social Insurance. Only Washington, D.C., with its workforce of mainly office and retail workers, has lower costs.

Costs in Virginia declined 19.6% between 2016 and 2020, the latest year for which data is available, NASI said. That is slightly less than the 20.7% decline nationally.

NCCI calculates the loss cost portion of what insurers will charge based on the past two years of insurers claims experience in Virginia, with projections forward about other basic costs.

Those other basic costs include the impact of expanded benefits  generally, in Virginia, involving coverage for work-related cancer  as well as the impact of wage increases and the cost of the capital that insurers need in order to back their promises to pay claims.

What insurers actually charge will exceed the loss cost and will vary depending on the other expenses they want to cover and their profit goals.

This years proposed decline for voluntary coverage reflects a 2.4% decline in claims payments  down 4.5% per year over the past two years for lost wages and death benefits, and down 2.5% per year for medical costs, adjusted for trend factors, wrote Amanda Glish, an actuary and senior data scientist at the NCCI, in testimony for the SCC. The cost of handling claims slipped by 0.3%.

On the other hand, the impact of benefit changes would push claims expenses up by 2.1%.

The assigned risk claims and trends and benefits roughly followed the voluntary market pattern, but a reduction in differentials  meant to ensure that the assigned risk pool that all insurers support can fund itself  allowed for a larger decline than in the voluntary market.

The Most Unionized Industries in the U.S. The Most Unionized Industries in the U.S. Union membership has sharply declined in recent decades The difference between union and nonunion wages has also declined 15. Administration of economic programs and space research 14. Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills 13. Administration of environmental quality and housing programs 12. Natural gas distribution 11. Administration of human resource programs 10. Sewage treatment facilities 9. Public finance activities 8. Foundries 7. Air transportation 6. Elementary and secondary schools 5. Justice, public order, and safety activities 4. Bus service and urban transit 3. Rail transportation 2. Postal Service 1. Labor unions
A retired priest who served at two Richmond-area churches for more than a decade has been accused of child sexual abuse, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond said.

An allegation was made against the Rev. Walter Lewis. The person who made the allegation, whom the diocese did not identify, said the abuse took place in the 1980s at St. Anne Catholic Church in Bristol. Lewis denies the allegation, according to the diocese, which removed him from all public work while the investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement has been contacted, the diocese said.

Bristol is in the Diocese of Richmond, which takes up much of Virginia, south of the Diocese of Arlington in Northern Virginia.

Lewis became a priest in the diocese in 1979. During his service, he was assigned to St. Bridget Church in Richmond and St. Mary in Henrico County. Lewis worked at St. Mary from 1995 to 2009, according to the Catholic Virginian.

He also worked at Holy Spirit in Virginia Beach, St. Andrew in Roanoke, St. John Neumann in Powhatan County and Good Samaritan in Amelia County. Lewis retired from active ministry on July 1, the diocese said.

In 2017, Lewis pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving, his second such charge in less than 10 years, according to the Powhatan Local. Lewis, who worked at St. John Neumann at the time, was sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Lewis grew up in Richmond and graduated in 1971 from Cathedral High School, which used to be near the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, according to The Catholic Virginian.

He also conducted services at the State Farm Correctional Center for about 22 years.

In 2019, the diocese published a list of clergy who were accused of sexual abuse involving a minor. There are roughly 50 names on the list.

The purpose of the list, Bishop Barry C. Knestout said at the time, was to bring about healing to those who have experienced abuse in the church and heighten awareness of this tragic situation.

From the Archives: The opening of Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall
Chesterfield County has received $3.6 million in federal funding to improve road safety in the Meadowbrook neighborhood.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportations Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. Funding from the RAISE program will address transportation needs throughout North Chesterfield. Meadowbrook is one of four projects in Virginia to receive the grant.

A primary focus of the project involves reconfiguring a nearly mile-long stretch of Hopkins Road  from Beulah Road to Meadowdale Boulevard  making up $360,000 of the total grant. The county will also develop the existing corridor to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Richmond Regional Transportation Safety Plan of 2022 and the Virginia Department of Transportation cited more than 500 crashes along Hopkins Road since 2015 as a chief cause for investing in that area.

I am so pleased that the U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes our needs and wants to better the access, safety and transportation in Meadowbrook, said Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland. The RAISE grant provides an excellent opportunity for the county to complete critical transportation projects that we may not have otherwise had the funding to carry out.

Another part of the project will see the Chippenham Parkway and Hopkins Road interchange receive $3.2 million to address safety improvements, as the area is prone to crashes.

N.Va. sexual assault case raises questions about hospital liability A Virginia nurse disciplined at one hospital left to work for another hospital where he sexually assaulted a patient.

Early plans propose converting the interchange to a diverging diamond or making turn lane improvements, which will be geared toward reducing crashes during peak commuting periods and pedestrian mobility.

The remaining $40,000 of the grant will go toward evaluating and implementing microtransit in North Chesterfield, with a goal of improving safety and air quality conditions by moving away from single-occupancy vehicles. The county will work with the Greater Richmond Transit Co. on this initiative.

RAISE was founded as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery in 2009, later switching to Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development from 2018 to 2020.

The initial program was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Since then, Congress has distributed more than $7 billion for transportation projects across the U.S.

From the Archives: The opening of Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall Cloverleaf Mall
Sean Sublette Meteorologist Follow Sean Sublette 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

Almost as quickly as it rose Sunday night, the James River in Richmond began to fall on Monday afternoon.

The river crested about 1 foot above flood stage at 8 a.m. Monday, officially at 13.11 feet at the Westham Gauge site near the Huguenot Bridge.

Despite some short-lived but intense rain in Richmond on Sunday, the root cause of the flooding was dozens of miles upstream, near Lynchburg. A Thursday night deluge there dropped 5 to 6 inches across most of the Hill City, with one gauge in the citys Boonsboro section recording 6.5 inches in 24 hours. As that rain ran into the James and washed downstream, it initially nudged the river in Richmond to about 7 feet during the day Saturday, but the river started to slowly fall again on Saturday night.

After more rain in Lynchburg on Friday, an additional 3 to 4 inches of rain covered the city Saturday night. Lynchburg officially had 8.15 inches in four days, although analysis of additional rain gauge and radar data suggests a wide area of 6 to 10 inches over those four days, which included the adjacent communities of Amherst, Rustburg, Forest and Concord.

Additionally, the rain on Saturday night expanded further in scope, with a broad area of 2 to 3 inches reaching northward to Charlottesville. And all of that area sits in the James River drainage basin. With the soil having been saturated from the previous couple of days, the rainwater raced into streams and creeks, collected in the James, and headed toward Richmond on Sunday evening.

In Richmond, the James returned to a level below flood stage late Monday afternoon, but it will likely stay above the 6-foot threshold until late Thursday.

Elsewhere across the U.S., heavy rains over the weekend caused flash flooding in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Drier times ahead

Smaller scatterings of thunderstorms are expected statewide over the next several days, allowing a gradual drying out. The burst of heavy rain in Richmond on Sunday  1.57 inches between noon and 1 p.m.  sent our monthly total above normal, now at 3.44 inches for July.

Despite the frequent rains of the last couple of weeks, this July is about 2 degrees warmer than normal so far. Even though we have not had a serious heat wave, the persistently high humidity has kept low temperatures either normal or above normal every night this month. Only three nights have gotten below 70 degrees, and none has been below 68.

Looking forward over the next 10 days, the core of the heat nationally will remain in the West. There is no sign of the upper 90s in metro Richmond until at least the end of the month.

Return of the Canadian smoke

The latest wave of smoke from the Canadian wildfires pushed into the U.S. over the weekend, reaching Virginia on Monday. A hazy sky has been the largest impact thus far, as most of the smoke is higher in altitude and has not had a dramatic effect on air quality at ground level. However, there has been some influence  air quality edged into Code Orange on Monday afternoon, meaning the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Air quality is forecast to improve to a moderate level on Tuesday before the haze and smoke edge away entirely later this week.

From the Archives: Jackson Ward in the 1970s and 80s
Cozumel hosts Fifth LGBTTTIQ+ Quintana Roo Parliament session

Cozumel, Q.R.  Cozumel became the headquarters of the Fifth LGBTTTIQ+ Quintana Roo Parliament to give voice and participation to the community. During the session, various proposals that guarantee their rights and freedoms were heard.

The session promoted the community to make visible their participation in public and political agendas, as well as seek legislative solutions so that they can be implemented in law with the support of the Chamber of Deputies.

On behalf of Cozumel Mayor Juanita Alonso Marrufo, Third Councilor Fabiola Aislinn Chavez Brito, recognized the representatives of the different municipalities and members of the City Council for their support in the initiatives that are promoted in terms of equality and inclusion in the state.

Chavez Brito thanked the city of Cozumel for hosting the event so they can continue to work in favor of the rights of the community, saying that it was an opportunity for the current administration to improve human rights by listening to the needs of the LGBTTTIQ+ community.

He emphasized the commitment of the Cozumel government by taking the reins to continue advancing in terms of inclusiveness and gender equity. He also recognized that to date, different dimensions of inequality persist and continue to be a source of conflict, persecution, invisibility, discrimination and violence.

However, he said that being a progressive government, they are committed to advancements through parliamentary exercises which represent advancements toward the path of equality, inclusion and social peace.

During the event, remembrance of the four parliaments already held was made with Cozumel being the fifth venue. They talked about the different activities that have been carried out in Quintana Roo such as marches, the delivery of the petition to the deputies and the request for state condoning of the change of gender identity by Linger Michelle Mendez Vidal, Parliament Coordinator State.

Mendez Vidal affirmed that the objective is to unify and bring the community closer to the governments, to demand the changes that have to be made in the municipalities, saying there must also be an approach with the Chamber of Deputies to have their support in the petitions to obtain legislative solutions so that they can be implemented in law and carry out those changes.
Felipe Carrillo Puerto mayor presents projects for global recognition

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R.  In a work meeting held at the Secretaria de Turismo offices in Cancun, Felipe Carrillo Puerto Mayor Mary Hernandez presented the key tourism projects that will lead the municipality.

Hernandez says the projects will see Felipe Carrillo Puerto recognized worldwide.

During the meeting, she met with the Secretary of Tourism of the State of Quintana Roo, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, and other prominent officials who analyzed the municipal projects.

Hernandez reported that the projects include the opening of Puerta al Mar, the development of a tourism project in the community of X-pichil and the promotion of the seven lagoons in the ejidos of Santa Isabel, Noh Beck and Tihosuco.

The Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, affirmed his commitment to support these projects, considering them a priority for Felipe Carrillo Puerto, especially with the imminent arrival of the airport and the Mayan Train stations.

In addition, they agreed to recognize the natural and cultural attractions of the area.

In June, National Geographic visited the municipality to document its Mayan culture and significant transformation.

Last week, mobile signal testing began along a stretch of highway dead zone after the installation of fiber optics. The fiber optics were installed as part of upgrades due to infrastructure projects such as the Tulum Airport and Maya Train.
FGE investigating deadly targeted shooting in Chetumal neighborhood

Chetumal, Q.R.  A Chetumal man shot five times has died in hospital. The shooting happened outside his home in the Primera Legislatura neighborhood Sunday. It was around 5:30 p.m. when neighbors reported the shooting to police.

Armed men reportedly arrived and began shooting at the unidentified male. He was outside his home during the targeted attack. Bullets hit him five times. He was transferred to hospital by ambulance where he died shortly after being admitted.

The FGE of Quintana Roo provided a brief statement on the Sunday afternoon shooting. The FGE Quintana Roo reports that it has initiated an investigation for the crime of qualified homicide to the detriment of a male with a reserved identity derived from events that occurred in the Primera Legislatura neighborhood in the state capital.

Investigative Police and experts from different specialties are carrying out the necessary steps to find the person or persons likely responsible for this unfortunate event.
Gareth Bonello: unlocking Li Bais romantic poetry through music

10:51, July 17, 2023 By Wu Sha, Yu Ying ( People's Daily Online

Drinking beneath the blooming peach blossoms, gazing at the waterfall on Mount Lu and bathing in the Mid-Autumn Festivals full moonWelsh musician and songwriter, Gareth Bonello, shares the romantic poems of Li Bai with Western listeners through music. In 2011, Bonello took up a residency in Chengdu and produced Y Bardd Anfarwol (The Immortal Bard), an album based on the life story of the famous Chinese poet Li Bai.

Bonello is fascinated by Chinese traditional music, and Y Bardd Anfarwol merges Li Bais poetry with Welsh traditional music, Welsh folklore, and Chinese traditional instruments, such as the erhu, guzheng, pipa and xiao. This harmonious fusion transcends spatial and cultural boundaries, and even today Bonello performs songs from this album at his live performances; they are on the set list of his UK tour this summer.

Gareth Bonello (Photo/ Patrick Shead-Simmonds)

In recent years, Bonello has been studying for a PhD with the University of South Wales, delving into the music of Khasi Hills in Northeast India and the links between Wales and the region, which has brought in more musical traditions into his work. Going forward, Bonello hopes to write more music with Chinese musicians to open another window for Westerners to understand Chinese history and culture.

A musical encounter with Chengdu

Gareth Bonello performing in Chengdu

Peoples Daily Online: You first visited Chengdu as a musician in residence to find inspiration for your music. What impression did Chengdu leave you with?

Gareth Bonello: In 2011, I was given the opportunity to take up a residency at the Chengdu Associated Theatre of Performing Arts , organised by the British Council and PRS Foundation. I was there for seven weeks and worked with many musicians from the Associated Theatre. I have never been to China before, so this was really an experience for me. I was completely blown away by Chengdu. The impression I had was of a city that was rapidly being built up. It was busy, but also continued to be connected to its heritage and its past. The other thing about Chengdu was the delicious food. I have never come across food like that before so much spice and heat.

Peoples Daily Online: Working as a musician in residence in Chengdu, you had many opportunities to exchange ideas with local Chinese artists. What were some of the more memorable exchanges?

Gareth Bonello: While I did my best to try to pick up as much Chinese as I could in Chengdu, my Chinese was still a work in progress, and most of the musicians at the Associated Theatre did not speak English either. So, we were communicating through music. I think the strength of music is that you do not need a language and you do not need to share even a culture; people can appreciate music on an emotional level and on an intellectual level. I had an amazing exposure to music, dancing, and lots of instruments that I had never heard before. I sat with the musicians individually and asked them to play me something from their instruments, so I could get a sense of what the instrument sounded like. I just remember the first time I heard Jiang Qian playing the guzheng on live. It blew me away. The range of sounds that she was able to get out of it, the story, and the journeys she could take you on through playing some traditional Sichuan pieces and well-known traditional Chinese pieces were just fantastic.

Peoples Daily Online: What aspects of Chinese music did you enjoy the most?

Gareth Bonello: I was fascinated by the variety of sounds that Chinese instruments could make and gradually got to know the range of the instruments and what they can do. The Chinese scales were very interesting, following a pentatonic scale, and that was one of the first times I had come across scales like this outside of Blues tradition. The variety of melodies that were being presented to me through these five notes was just beautiful. I found the tradition of making sounds that imitate certain animals or scenes in Chinese music very interesting. Musicians would pluck the cajon to make it sound like a goose or a flock of geese coming in to land. Music is not just melodic but abstract, as well as creating sounds that you hear in the natural world. This really inspired me.

Using Welsh music to understand Li Bais poetry

Y Bardd Anfarwol (The Immortal Bard)

Peoples Daily Online: Li Bai is one of the most famous poets in China, but Westerners know very little about him. Could you share with us the story behind Y Bardd Anfarwol?

Gareth Bonello: I wanted to tell the story of Li Bai through music, and the album explores from his young early days leaving home and trying to find inspiration in the mountains and then goes to his death. Many songs in the album used Li Bais own words or his own images to describe his life journey, including poems like Ballads of Four Seasons, Quiet Night Thought and Drinking Alone Under the Moon. My song Antiffoni was inspired by Li Bais Question and Answer on the Mountain and The Priest of Ten Mountain. In the song, I wrote Bum ar daith dros bryn a ddwr/ Am gyngor gwr doeth penwyn/ A oes hadau wediu hau/ Ymhlith y blodau eirin? Li Bai writes so romantically, and I find it very magical that Li Bai could convey profound ideas through a few simple lines of poetry. I think this is why he is one of the most famous Chinese poets.

On top of that, I wanted to do a sound portrait of Chengdu. I was doing a lot of field recordings of different spots in Chengdu, for example, people selling noodles, workers labouring on construction site and birds singing in the park, to try to capture some of modern China. I wanted to give something back to Chengdu because the musicians I collaborated with for this album were all based there.

I collaborated here in the UK with The Mavron String Quartet, a composer called Seb Goldfinch and the UK Chinese ensemble based in London, as well as recording some of the pieces that had elements of Chinese traditional music in Chengdu with local musicians. So, in the end, it was a real collaboration of musicians from Wales, from London and from China.

Peoples Daily Online: How was the album received by listeners in the West?

Gareth Bonello: Y Bardd Anfarwol was very popular and particularly well received in Wales. People were very fascinated by it because there had not been anything like it done before. It won the Welsh Language album of the year in the 2014 Eisteddfod, which is a high honor in Welsh culture. I felt glad about sharing the work I have done in China with people from different places, which has allowed a lot more people in Wales now to have an understanding of Li Bai and Chinese traditional music. The album also inspired a Welsh stage production called Rhith Gan by Wyn Mason. Mason became fascinated by Li Bai because of my album and wrote a modern drama about the relationship between a daughter and a father. Li Bai is kind of like a spirit guide, appearing as the fathers mentor in the play. I was able to provide musical accompaniment to the performance, playing the pipa and guitar off the side. The production won a drama medal at the 2015 Eisteddfod.

Peoples Daily Online: People can connect with music through melody without being able to fully understand the lyrics. Many Chinese people bonded with your music, even though it was written in Welsh. How was the reception for this album among Chinese audiences?

Gareth Bonello: Chinese audiences were really interested in the combination of Welsh folk and classical style music with traditional Chinese music, which they had never heard before. They were fascinated to learn more about the work that I had done, as well as why I was interested in Li Bai and Chinese traditional music. I was invited to perform Y Bardd Anfarwol in many Chinese cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming. I had a wonderful time touring, and it was the first time I have been reunited with the musicians that had recorded on the album back in 2013.

Sharing is the strength of music

Gareth Bonello

Peoples Daily Online: How do you bring together elements of Chinese music with Welsh traditional music and folklore in your work?

Gareth Bonello: At the moment I have been working on a new album of Welsh traditional music and the collaboration with the musicians in China had made me rethink and relearn the way that I played the guitar, which remains to this day. So, when I play the guitar, sometimes it can sound like a Chinese instrument, or it can sound like Chinese scales. I still do play some of the songs from Y Bardd Anfarwol live. For instance, last weekend I was in Swansea, and I played one of the travelling songs, Yr Wylan Fry, which is about Li Bai's departure from White King City. Hopefully one day I will get a chance to play the album in its entirety again with all the musicians.

Peoples Daily Online: Recently, you have been studying for a PhD at the University of South Wales, exploring the music of Khasi Hills in Northeast India. What is the value of understanding different musical traditions and collaborating with people from all over the world?

Gareth Bonello: International collaborations is not just about creating a piece that works together, but also to understand your own culture a little better and then reflecting it back to your people. I hope through interacting more with other cultures through music, there will be better understanding between cultures. If international collaboration is done right and sensitively with trust, it is very valuable. It is much better that people are talking with instruments and sharing rather than arguing over tables or with guns. Sharing is the strength of music and a way to bring people from different cultural backgrounds together. Music is a way of communicating without language.

Peoples Daily Online: To continue cultural exchanges, what new collaborations do you hope to form with Chinese musicians in the future?

Gareth Bonello: An aspect I did not explore before was folk music. I would be fascinated to learn more about Chinese folk music, which is more earthly than traditional Chinese music. To do that I would probably need to visit more remote areas and villages, which is the kind of work I have been doing in northeast India recently. I feel that there is a lot of interchange between Northeast India and Southern China, particularly places like Yunnan. So, it would be interesting to have a collaboration between musicians from these two regions. I would love to do more collaborating with Chinese musicians going forward, and I think also it would be really fascinating to bring in more Welsh musicians.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Six Cubans recovered from makeshift boat on Tulum beach

Tulum, Q.R.  Six people of Cuban origin were recovered from a makeshift vessel in the municipality of Tulum. On Sunday, the the Coordination Group for the Construction of Peace and Security Quintana Roo, headed by the Secretary of Citizen Security of Tulum, reported on the discovery of the boat.

On board the tiny vessel were six men. They were reported Saturday after making landfall on a Tulum beach. Authorities did not say exactly where the boat was found, only that the six on board were attended to by emergency services.

Their recovery was in coordination with National Guard and the Secretary of the Navy. It is the first known vessel to appear on a Tulum municipal beach, at least this year. Most of the Cuban vessels found make landfall on Isla Mujeres or Cozumel or less often, Cancun.

A total of six Cuban men, four pictured here, were located inside the makeshift vessel. Photo: SSC QRoo July 15, 2023.

In a brief statement, the Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana of Qunitana Roo said Authorities managed to rescue six people of Cuban origin in a collaborative work of the Coordination Group for the Construction of Peace and Security Quintana Roo, headed by the Secretary of Citizen Security of Tulum, in coordination with the National Guard and the Secretary of the Navy

The men arrived in Mexican territory in a boat. They were rescued on the beaches of the municipality for which they were immediately attended to by emergency services to verify their physical and health condition.

Additional details were not provided.
Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley will host a Women Build Day in Pulaski County on July 22.

The event is being held to empower and encourage women to serve by working together to address affordable homeownership challenges in our community, according to a Habitat news release.

Volunteers will be building decks at two build sites located on Henry Ave in Pulaski and Stafford Drive in Dublin, according to the release.

By volunteering, local women gain the construction knowledge and skills that can be used to maintain or repair their own homes while also supporting affordable homeownership in the NRV, Brenda Sternfeld, volunteer Coordinator at Habitat NRV, said in the release.

Kiedel Harroff, assistant construction manager for Habitat NRV, added: The goal of Habitat Women Build events is to celebrate womens achievements and promote equality while providing opportunities for hands-on learning. Given these tools, women can succeed in making a tangible difference in our community.

While Women Build events focus on the inclusion of women in the work of building homes, the initiative does not exclude volunteers of any gender or gender identity, nor does it promote discrimination of any kindall community members and partners are encouraged to sign up, according to the release.

Supporting inclusion, diversity, and equity are long-withstanding efforts that would not be possible without sponsors like National Bank of Blacksburg, Colley Architects, Dahdoul, and Jimmy Johns of Radford, according to the release. Other businesses interested in supporting this initiative should reach directly out to Jim Drader, executive director, by e-mailing jdrader@habitatnrv.org.

Space is limited for this event. Individuals interested in signing up can register at habitatnrv.org/womenbuild.

- The Roanoke Times
Khalid Salaita, professor of chemistry at Emory University, received the 2023 Future Insight Prize from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: Kay Hinton, Emory University

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, awarded its 2023 Future Insight Prize to Khalid Salaita, professor of chemistry at Emory University. The award comes with $540,000 to fund the next phase of research into an air sensor that can continuously monitor indoor spaces for pathogens that can cause pandemics.

"I'm extremely thankful to receive the Future Insight Prize as this enables us to continue our path toward an early-warning system for emerging threats," Sailta says. "Our research sets the stage for fully automated detection of airborne pathogens without human intervention or sample processing."

The Merck Future Insight Prize recognizes groundbreaking ideas to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges in health, nutrition and energy. The Salaita lab's sensor, a rolling micro-motor called "Rolosense," holds the potential to help mitigate, or even prevent, a pandemic.

"The importance of being prepared is a key lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic," says Belen Garijo, chair of the executive board and CEO of Merck, a leading science and technology company. "There are many promising collaborations to build an inclusive framework for pandemic preparedness, but we still lack an effective warning system to detect potential threats before it is too late. The pioneering work of Khalid Salaita could help fill this urgent gap in our global defenses."

Salaita's lab has already shown that a prototype of the sensor can detect the five variants of COVID-19 that it has tested, along with influenza type A. Theoretically, Rolosense can be programmed to simultaneously screen for a wide group of viral pathogens within a breath sample from an individual or within ambient indoor air.

Within the next five years, the researchers hope to have viable products available to provide convenient, non-invasive, rapid ways to detect airborne viral pathogens. These products may include testing kits for the home and healthcare clinics that screen for an array of viruses within a single test, delivering a result within minutes.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop automated viral air sensors that function similar to smoke detectors," Salaita says. "These sensors could be located in busy locations like airports, hospitals and schools to continuously monitor aerosolized particles for viruses."

Salaita is also on the faculty of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of Georgia Tech and Emory.

Curiosity got the ball rolling on the project around a decade ago.

"We wondered if we could convert chemical energy into mechanical work and make something move," Salaita recalls. "Ultimately, our goal was to mimic life at the nanoscale. We wanted to make artificial, miniscule motors that match the sophistication and functionality of proteins that move cargo around in cells and perform other functions."

As a graduate student in the Salaita lab, Kevin Yehl had the idea of constructing a DNA-based motor using a micron-sized glass sphere as its "chassis." Hundreds of DNA strands, or "legs," were allowed to bind to the sphere. They were then placed on a glass slide coated with the fuel: RNA.

The result was the invention of the first rolling DNA-based motor in 2015. Dubbed the "Rolosense," the motor was 1,000 times faster than any other synthetic DNA motor. It was so fast that a simple smart phone microscope could capture its motion through video.

Its speed and stability gave the Rolosense potential for real-world applications, such as a tool for medical diagnostics.

Emory graduate students continued to work on refinements of the technologies through the years. Alisina Bazrafshan, who has since graduated and is now a scientist at Illumina, a DNA sequencing company, enhanced the speed and persistence of the DNA-based motors.

When Selma Piranej joined the Salaita lab as a Ph.D. candidate in 2018, she began working on a project to build computer programming logic into the Rolosense. She tapped a well-known reaction in bioengineering to perform the computation and then paired it with the motion of the Rolosense. The computer readout becomes simply "motion" or "no motion."

These two logic gates of "motion" or "no motion" can be strung together to build more complicated operations, mimicking how regular computer programs build on the logic gates of "zero" or "one."

Piranej took the project even further by finding a way to pack many different computer operations together and still easily read the output. She simply varied the size and materials of the microscopic spheres that form the chassis for the DNA-based rolling motors. For instance, the spheres can range from three to five microns in diameter and be made of either silica or polystyrene. Each alteration provides slightly different optical properties that can be distinguished through a cell phone microscope.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the chemists began focusing on using the Rolosense technology to develop an indoor air sensor to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the infectious agent of COVID-19.

The Salaita lab received a $883,000 grant for the project from the National Institutes of Health RADx Radical initiative, which aims to support new, non-traditional approaches for rapid-detection devices that address current gaps in testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as well as potential future pandemic viruses.

Co-investigators on that grant included Gregory Melikian, a professor at Emory School of Medicine, in the Department of Pediatrics' Division of Infectious Disease; and Yonggang Ke, assistant professor at Emory's School of Medicine and the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering.

An additional key collaborator is Primordia Biosystems, a company that specializes in building microfluidic chips that can sample virus-containing aerosols in the air.

Piranej continued to work on the project along with fellow Emory Ph.D. students. She searched through the scientific literature to find an aptamer, a piece of DNA that would bind to a universal spike protein on SARS-CoV-2, sticking to it like Velcro.

Experiments showed that this bind stalls the Rolosense motor, giving the "no motion" readout that signals the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Variants of SARS-CoV-2 share the same spike protein, so the Rolosense is able to detect a range of them.

By adding different aptamers, or binding agents, the researchers have shown they can detect other viruses as well, including influenza type A. Millions of nano-motors are deployed at once via the technology. The motors can be individually programmed so that they each respond only to one specific virus. That means multiple viruses could be simultaneously screened for within one test sample.

"Unlike conventional tests, we don't have to treat a viral sample in any way to get a result," Salaita says. "We can do the detection directly from a nasal swab, saliva sample or breath condensate. We don't have to do any kind of amplification process to enhance the signal. That's a huge advantage in terms of making the assay more assessable while also preserving ultrasensitive detection."

The Merck award will support the researchers as they further refine and test the technology.

"Some of the world's leading experts at testing and validating new COVID diagnostics happen to be on the Emory campus," Salaita notes. His team will be drawing from this expertise, along with thousands of samples from human COVID-19 infections available in an NIH RADx Radical Diagnostic Core Resources center located at Emory School of Medicine. The samples are used to benchmark and validate the efficacy of a viral assay.

A key challenge in terms of a Rolosense product for home testing or use in a physician's office is integration of the breath-collection tube with the readout device.

The development of a viral sensor to continuously monitor indoor air also must overcome many chemistry and engineering challenges.

"We've shown that our nano-motors can run for at least 24 hours, but we need them to run for days or weeks at a time in an automated system," Salaita says. "We also have to engineer methods to collect air samples while filtering out enzymes in the atmosphere that chop up DNA. We need to circumvent these enzymes so that they don't destroy the DNA nano-motors."

While more development and clinical evaluation is needed, Salaita remains confident that the Rolosense will one day become a useful tool for public health.

"One thing is for certain," he says. "There is a need for viral-detecting devices for public indoor air spaces as we enter an era when pandemics will likely become more common."

Provided by Emory University
 Debate over FIRST STEP Act safety value expansion  and whether "and" means "or"  now scheduled for first SCOTUS argument for OT23 | Main | "At the Intersection of Probation and Jail Reduction Efforts" 

July 17, 2023

Some notable stories about Jan 6 riot cases, now more than 30 months later

I continue to keep an eye on a number of January 6 riot prosecutions because, though Jan 6 was a unique moment of lawbreaking, the subsequent prosecutions continue to provide high-profile lessons for deepening our understanding of many aspects of our federal criminal justice system. Against that backdrop, I have seen in recent days a number of intriguing new Jan 6 prosecution and sentencing stories that seemed worth rounding up here:

From the AP, "Rioter who hurled bow like a spear at police during Jan. 6 attack gets more than 7 years in prison"

From BBC News, "The 'QAnon Shaman' and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty"

From CBS News, "After courtroom outburst, Florida music teacher sentenced to 6 years in prison for Jan. 6 felonies"

From Courthouse News Service, "In rare move, federal judge acquits Jan. 6 defendant"

From The Hill, "Legal experts see strong potential for Trump charges in Jan. 6 probe"

From Insider, "QAnon Shaman, who pleaded guilty and made a heartfelt apology in Jan. 6 case, has changed his mind and wants his plea reversed"

From NBC News, "'Idiot' Jan. 6 rioter who stole John Lewis photo from Nancy Pelosi's office gets 4 years"

July 17, 2023 at 02:25 PM | Permalink

Comments

But the people who forced DJT to be whisked away and burned down a church got nada . . . .

Posted by: federalist | Jul 18, 2023 5:57:32 PM

Maybe you can provide an Equal Protection amicus brief on behalf of the Jan 6 defendants, federalist. It seems even DJT might need some Jan 6 amicus help soon.

Posted by: Doug B | Jul 18, 2023 6:33:36 PM

Whether or not a judge would buy it doesn't mean that it's ok to have double standards. I love the non-defense defense of what DOJ is doing.

Posted by: federalist | Jul 19, 2023 10:42:57 AM

Ah yes, a non-federalist federalist "non-something something" claim.

Posted by: Doug B | Jul 19, 2023 1:02:10 PM

I am not talking about law. When the people don't trust the system, and there's a critical mass of such people, violence can ensue.

There are double standards being used here. We can agree to disagree whether the Fifth Amendment is being violated, but when people rightly feel that they've been sentenced for who they are, rather than what they did, there may be some responses that people don't like. The DOJ is playing with fire.

Posted by: federalist | Jul 19, 2023 3:08:40 PM

Post a comment
The front drive of 26 and 31 Ridout Road. (PHOTO: Google Maps/Screenshot)

SINGAPORE  Singapore's Ministry of Law (MinLaw) has instructed opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Facebook user Thamil Selvan, and online publication Jom to issue corrections under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

The corrections are in response to articles and social media posts containing false statements about the rental of Ridout Road colonial-house properties by ministers K. Shanmugam and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

On Sunday (16 July), Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong issued correction orders targeting an article published on 2 July by opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam on his website, The Ricebowl Singapore.

The article "Will SLA issue a statement denying the rumours that they have awarded any contracts to Shanmugam's son's company?" was found to contain false statements.

This correction order also encompass Facebook user Thamil Selvan's post on 1 July, which was likewise determined to contain false statements.

What inaccurate claims were made?

The false claims made in the article and the Facebook post stated that the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) awarded a contract to renovate properties at 26 Ridout Road and/or 31 Ridout Road to home interior and renovation company Livspace. The posts also alleged that the contract was awarded because Livspace's chief executive officer is the son of Home Affairs and Law Minister Shanmugam.

In its statement, MinLaw clarified that SLA did not appoint Livspace or Shanmugam's son to carry out works on the properties, as stated by Tong during the 3 July Parliamentary sitting.

Instead, SLA engaged an external consultant to assess the necessary works, which were then awarded to separate contractors through open tenders.

A probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) found no evidence of corruption or criminal wrongdoing in the rental of the Ridout Road properties by Shanmugam and Balakrishnan.

Under POFMA, Jeyaretnam and Thamil Selvan are required to carry a correction notice on their website, Twitter, and Facebook accounts, stating that their posts contain false statements.

The correction notice must also include a link to the government's Factually article, which provides factual information and clarifications on the matter.

MPs engage in lengthy debate over ministers K. Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan's rental of Ridout Road properties on 3 July. (PHOTO: MCI/YouTubeScreengrab)

Government clarifies false claims on Jom

Tong, together with Minister of Communications and Information Josephine Teo, also issued a correction order to online publication Jom for an article titled "Singapore This Week" published on 7 July.

The article falsely claimed that Senior Minister Teo did not respond to questions concerning the issue of "actual or apparent conflicts of interest and possible breach of the code of conduct for ministers" during his ministerial statement on the Ridout Road investigation.

It also falsely stated that SLA spent over $1 million on renovations for the Ridout Road properties due to the involvement of the ministers.

The joint statement by ministers Tong and Teo clarified that Jom's article omitted important information provided by Senior Minister Teo in Parliament on 3 July. He had "expressly clarified that he meant it was important to observe the spirit as well as the letter of the code".

Furthermore, the statement emphasised that Teo affirmed Shanmugam's recusal from the matter, relieving him of any responsibilities. The statement added, "This meant that he no longer had any duty in the matter. There could thus be no potential or actual conflict of interest."

The statement also clarified that the identity of the tenants had no bearing on the renovation costs incurred by SLA. The amount spent was consistent with SLA's general practice and was deemed necessary due to the condition of the properties and relevant conservation requirements.

Minister Teo also issued a correction direction against Jom for falsely claiming that the government caused Instagram to geo-block a post by opposition figure Charles Yeo.

The joint statement clarified that the government did not issue any directions or requests to Instagram's parent company, Meta, regarding the post.

A check conducted by Yahoo Southeast Asia on Monday (17 July) revealed that the online publication Jom, along with Selvam and Jeyaratnam, have published the necessary correction notices on their respective social media pages and websites.

Correction notices published: Jom, Selvam, and Jeyaratnam acknowledge false statements with links to Factually article. (Screenshot/Ricebowl/Jom/FB/ThamilSelvan)

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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addresses the notable resignations of Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui, providing insights at a press conference at the Istana on 17 July. (PHOTO: Screengrab/PMO YouTube)

SINGAPORE  Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin had engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui, which persisted despite being told to end it, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

During a press conference held on Monday (17 July), PM Lee conveyed that he had discussed this relationship with Tan, with their most recent conversation occurring in February this year. At that time, Tan acknowledged his mistake and offered his resignation.

"I had accepted his resignation," Lee disclosed. "But I told him, first, I needed to make sure the residents of Kembangan-Chai Chee and Marine Parade continued to be taken care of. Meanwhile his relationship with Ms Cheng had to stop.

However, PM Lee said he obtained information "very recently" that strongly suggested Tan and Cheng's relationship was still ongoing. Consequently, he decided that Tan needed to depart immediately, regardless of the readiness of alternative arrangements.

Around the same time, a video clip of Tan caught on a hot mic using inappropriate language was circulating. PM Lee said, "I asked to see him...During our discussion, he agreed to leave immediately - both for his unparliamentary conduct as well as his inappropriate relationship with Ms Cheng, which he had told me he would break off but he did not.

PM Lee vows to uphold party discipline

The Prime Minister emphasised that their inappropriate relationship was a "more serious matter" than Tan's use of unparliamentary language because Tan held the position of Speaker of Parliament, while Cheng was an MP for Tampines GRC. "There should not have been a relationship," he said.

Cheng had also received counselling from PM Lee in February, but continued the relationship with Tan.

Tan, 54, is married with two children while Cheng, 47, is not married.

It saddens me to discover that these two PAP MPs have fallen short of the high standard of propriety and personal conduct that we expect from all PAP MPs, PM Lee said.

When such a situation arises, it is my duty as secretary general of the party to deal with them and put things right. This means to counsel, to correct, to admonish, and ultimately, if necessary, to remove the MP from the party and parliament."

He further acknowledged the difficulty of taking such actions against their friends and comrades-in-arms and the potential political embarrassment and cost involved.

Nonetheless, he believes the PAP must uphold party discipline and standards of conduct. Their duty lies with parliament and the people of Singapore, and "that is paramount", he added.

The Straits Times reported that, when questioned about whether the affair would have become public knowledge without the recent incident involving Tan's hot mic, PM Lee responded that it probably would have been revealed sooner or later, as it had already reached that point.

But it so happened that the hot mic incident came up and therefore precipitated this moment," he added.

Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui resign from Parliament and the People's Action Party (PAP). Their resignations were announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday (17 July) (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore/PAP website)

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Malaysian-born comedian, who grew up in Singapore, gained fame in The Daily Show and has released 2 Netflix specials

Ronny Chieng to perform in Singapore at The Star Theatre on 13 September (Photos: John Nacion/Getty Images and Now/Live/Facebook)

SINGAPORE - Comedian Ronny Chieng will return to Singapore for a one-night-only homecoming show at the Star Theatre on 13 September.

The 37-year-old last performed in Singapore in November 2019 during his 'Tone Issues' tour at the Esplanade Theatre.

The Malaysian-born performer, who grew up in Singapore, gained famed as a "senior correspondent" on Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show'. He has released two Netflix comedy specials, 'Asian Comedian Destroys America!' in 2019 and 'Speakeasy' last year.

He has also starred in Hollywood movies like Marvel's 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings', 'M3GAN' and 'Joy Ride', and had a recurring role in Disney+ series 'American Born Chinese'.

Pre-sales for show tickets will run from 10am to 11.59pm on Tuesday (18 July) via Sistic. Fans can sign up for event promoter Now/Live's mailing list before 10pm on Monday to receive the pre-sale link, of which will be emailed out at 9am on Tuesday.

General sales will begin at 10am on Wednesday. Details of ticket prices and categories have yet to be announced.
SIOUX CITY  A man was killed Monday in an early-morning shooting and stabbing incident on the city's north side.

At around 4:19 a.m. Monday, Sioux City Police officers were dispatched to 406 26th Street for a report of a stabbing and possible burglary. On arrival, officers found a man outside the house suffering multiple stab wounds, according to a press release from the Sioux City Police Department. The man lived at the residence.

Officers found another man suffering multiple gunshot wounds in a search of the residence.

Both men were transported to the hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries. The man suffering the gunshot wounds later succumbed to his injuries.

Neither man has yet been identified.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with additional information can call the Sioux City Police Department at 712-279-6440 or Crime Stoppers at 712-258-8477.
NEW YORK  Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.

Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country.

What a ghastly milestone, said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that.

Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasnt strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out.

"You may as well say Martians have landed, right? Its hard to wrap your mind around it, he said.

A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.

The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago.

We used to say there were two to three dozen a year, Fox said. The fact that theres 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic.

But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesnt automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Hopefully it was just a blip, said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis.

There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we wont know for some time, she added.

Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the countrys overall gun violence.

We need to keep it in perspective, Fox said.

But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called red flag laws, though Lee says the term is politically toxic.

Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.

Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Conventions public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governors proposal.

Leatherwood said he doesnt want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade.

The Nashville shooter used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.

Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.

Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals, NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans.

Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty.

Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.

Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims and worries about Pauls future.

I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral, he said. It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school.

Interactive: Find out more about mass killings in the U.S. Interactive: Number of mass killings by year Interactive: Mass killings by location scaled by number of victims Interactive: Search mass killing incidents Interactive: Timeline of mass killings scaled by number of victims killed Interactive: Number of mass killings and victims killed this year compared with previous years Interactive map: People killed by shootings, per 100,000 residents
The mother of a Lincoln motorcyclist killed in a crash in northeast Lincoln in April has sued the driver of the SUV that collided with him.

Braedon Timm, 21, died at a local hospital following the crash the afternoon of April 25 near North 84th and Holdrege streets.

Lincoln Police didn't cite the other driver, 75-year-old Michel Drahota, citing witnesses who said Timm had been speeding and changing lanes in the moments before the crash.

But this week, Timm's mother, Shari Timm, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Drahota on behalf of Timm's estate.

In the accident report, Lincoln Police Investigator Alan Pickering said the 21-year-old was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle south on 84th Street and continued through the intersection at Holdrege Street, where he collided with Drahota, who was turning left onto Holdrege Street from the northbound lane of 84th Street.

Pickering said Timm crashed into Drahota's Toyota RAV4.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews took Timm to a local hospital, where he died.

A passenger in Drahota's SUV suffered minor injuries.

Though Drahota wasn't cited, Pickering said in the crash report that the 75-year-old had failed to yield the right-of-way to Timm in an action that contributed to the crash.

Shari Timm's attorney, Jonathan Urbom, alleged the collision was the result of Drahota's negligence for failing to keep a proper lookout to avoid the collision and yield to oncoming traffic.

The family is seeking $10,000 for funeral and burial expenses, in addition to money to compensate them for his loss to the family.

An attorney hasn't yet entered an appearance for Drahota or responded to the lawsuit.

Timm was a 2020 graduate of Lincoln North Star High School.
Despite Election Day being over 15 months away, Iowas congressional representatives each have pulled in over a million dollars since the first of the year.

Only one of the four Republican incumbents has had a challenger announce a campaign.

Democrat Ryan Melton announced July 4 he will run again against Rep. Randy Feenstra. Melton lost to Feenstra in the 2022 general election, earning 30.4% of the vote compared to Feenstras 67.3%.

Two incumbents have hosted fundraising events this year featuring presidential candidates in their home districts, drawing crowds of donors and swarms of media.

Feenstra hosted his campaign event, the Feenstra Family Picnic, May 13 in Sioux Center.

Rep. Zach Nunn hosted his campaign fundraising event, Operation Top Nunn, in Ankeny on Saturday.

Despite not hosting her fundraiser yet, Rep. Ashley Hinsons campaign has raised the most out of the four incumbents so far, and is just getting started, she said. Hinsons fundraising event, Ashleys BBQ Bash, will be held Aug. 6 in Cedar Rapids.

The support our campaign continues to receive is amazing  our grassroots team is all in to keep this seat red, grow our Republican House majority, and take back the White House, Hinson said in a news release.

Nunns campaign is focused on garnering more funding to be ready to beat any potential Democratic challengers in 2024.

With back-to-back strong fundraising quarters for IA-03 and over $1 million in cash on hand going into the second half of 2023, Congressman Nunn is putting challengers on notice, Campaign Manager Kendyl Parker said in a news release. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee can see these numbers and will allocate even more resources to IA-03, so we have to be ready. Congressman Nunn is putting in the work to bolster our campaign war chest for the attacks to come.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has not announced plans for a fundraising event this year.

Heres how the candidates have fared fundraising from Jan. 1 to June 30, including links to the Federal Election Commission database of the candidates donors:

4th District

Total receipts for the period: $1,143,480

Spending: $598,502

Cash on hand: $1,568,666

Total receipts for the period: $0

Spending: $570

Cash on hand: $3,527

3rd District

Total receipts for the period: $1,439,731

Spending: $390,108

Cash on hand: $1,150,691

2nd District

Total receipts for the period: $1,461,518

Spending: $493,732

Cash on hand: $1,036,235

1st District

Total receipts for the period: $1,334,337

Spending: $517,169

Cash on hand: $1,145,506

Senate

Sen. Joni Ernsts name will not be on the ballot until 2026, but her campaigns fundraising efforts have led to nearly $400,000 since Jan. 1. Ernst hosted her fundraising event, Jonis Roast and Ride, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds June 3, where she was joined by a portion of the presidential candidate field.

Total receipts for the period: $379,376

Spending: $219,029

Cash on hand: $1,134,089

Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa #50. Guthrie County #49. Benton County #48. Boone County #47. Fayette County #46. Osceola County #45. Iowa County #44. Clinton County #43. Tama County #42. Grundy County #41. Clayton County #40. O'Brien County #39. Hancock County #38. Chickasaw County #37. Wayne County #36. Howard County #35. Des Moines County #34. Humboldt County #33. Keokuk County #32. Shelby County #31. Harrison County #30. Delaware County #29. Floyd County #28. Worth County #27. Hardin County #26. Kossuth County #25. Jackson County #24. Clay County #23. Sac County #22. Lee County #21. Ida County #20. Monroe County #19. Audubon County #18. Butler County #17. Fremont County #16. Emmet County #15. Page County #14. Calhoun County #13. Adams County #12. Franklin County #11. Montgomery County #10. Cerro Gordo County #9. Monona County #8. Appanoose County #7. Greene County #6. Ringgold County #5. Pocahontas County #4. Dickinson County #3. Cass County #2. Cherokee County #1. Palo Alto County
Extreme heat will cost the U.S. $1 billion in health care costs  this summer alone

Posted on 17 July 2023 by Guest Author

This story was originally published by Grist by Zoya Teirstein. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here. This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.

Extreme heat  summertime temperatures and humidity that exceed the historical average  is being made more frequent and intense by climate change. In the first two weeks of June, a late-spring hot spell prompted schools in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes areas to close or send students home early. A heat wave broke temperature records in Puerto Rico  the heat index, a measure of how temperatures feel to the human body, reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit on parts of the island. And extreme heat spurred deadly storms and power outages for hundreds of thousands of customers from Texas to Louisiana.

All that heat is bad for human health and leads to a rise in hospitalizations for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory diseases, particularly among the urban poor, who often lack access to air conditioning and green spaces. Those hospitalizations will come with a hefty price tag. A new report from the public policy research group Center for American Progress estimates extreme heat will create $1 billion in health care-related costs in the United States this summer. The analysis, provided exclusively to Grist, projects that excessive heat will spur nearly 235,000 emergency department visits and more than 56,000 hospital admissions for conditions related to increased body temperature across the country this summer.

As the number of heat-event days increases, the probability that people are going to get rushed to the emergency room or get hospitalized increases, said Steven Woolf, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a professor of family medicine and population health at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and a coauthor of the report. We were interested in trying to quantify how big a risk that is.

Woolf and a cohort of academics, scientists, and doctors from Virginia Commonwealth University analyzed health insurance claims in Virginia during the 80 extreme heat days that occurred in the state, on average, every summer from 2016 and 2020. The claims were filed for emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and other medical care. They used that data to determine how many Virginians sought a doctors help during these heat waves compared to other days. The authors tallied up heat-related illnesses, defined as including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, as well as heat-adjacent illness  dehydration, rapid pulse, dizziness, or fainting.

In Virginia, extreme heat spurred some 400 outpatient care visits for heat-related illness, 4,600 emergency room visits for heat-related or heat-adjacent illness, and 2,000 heat-related hospital admissions each summer. These are likely underestimates, the reports authors noted, since many patients with higher body weight or organ diseases such as heart disease, for example, experience complications during heat waves that could be classified as heat-adjacent illnesses but are rarely formally diagnosed as such by their physicians. And many victims of extreme heat dont seek medical care at all, which further obscures the true burden of heat-related illness.

The authors extrapolated from Virginias data to reach the conclusion that extreme heat will inflate health care costs across the nation by $1 billion every summer for the foreseeable future, an estimate Woolf said will probably shift as the breadth of research on this topic expands. The authors also found that the burden of extreme heat will be shouldered unequally by Americans. The costs will be felt most acutely in low-income and historically marginalized communities, where access to cooling resources such as air conditioning is patchy and green spaces are scarce. People who live in nice neighborhoods, who have air-conditioned homes and tree-lined streets with plenty of shade, Woolf said, are protected from the heat in a way that doesnt occur in a different part of town where theres not much shade and people are less likely to either have air conditioning and fans or to have the resources to pay the electrical bills.

These inequities point to a slew of possible solutions, starting with a recognition on behalf of local and state governments that neighborhoods need to become more resilient to the effects of extreme heat. Many cities are already adapting to protect people from climate change, Woolf said, including using building and roofing materials that reflect heat, passing laws that subsidize power bills for low-income residents, and planting trees  a relatively low-cost intervention that is surprisingly effective at bringing down street-level temperatures. Local emergency management officials could also do a better job forecasting extreme heat so people have time to prepare, and public health officials could offer clearer communication about the symptoms of heat illness.

Justin S. Mankin, an assistant professor in Dartmouth Universitys geography department who was not involved in this report and published a separate study last year on the economic impact of heatwaves in the U.S., acknowledged that the report is part of an essential effort to quantify the health care burden associated with extreme heat. But he said the methods the reports authors used didnt paint a complete picture, noting that a more comprehensive assessment of the economic toll of heat would have also accounted for the costs that pile up in the weeks, months, and even years after an extreme event, not only while the event is happening, as the report does.

Id like to see more rigorous estimates of these costs using more sophisticated approaches, he said. A more complete analysis would have looked at insurance claims from every state, instead of nationally extrapolating from Virginias data. The problem is that many states dont have whats called an all-claims database, which is a full and public accounting of all of the emergency room visits and hospitalizations that occur in a given year. If we had that for all 50 states, we could do this analysis for the whole country, Woolf said.

The report, Woolf noted, also doesnt take the ways in which heat may affect businesses, infrastructure, schools, and other aspects of American life into account. He called for more research on this topic. The collective implications of severe weather are really rather intimidating, he said. They just strengthen the arguments for us needing to do something about climate change and to be proactive about it.
Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

My boyfriend of two years lives an hour away. He usually comes to stay every other weekend or I go to see him once a week (I share custody of my two children). We have been content (not happy) with this arrangement. He recently moved into a multi-family apartment, which is owned by a friend of his, who is also now his neighbor. The friend, whom I have never met, has basically been in hiding for almost two years because he is awaiting trial for sexual assault of a minor. Ugh. My boyfriend is insistent he was framed. However, none of his other friends associate themselves with the guy and the guy admitted to police that he was alone in the bedroom with the male child. Double ugh.

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The guy was also given a job by my boyfriend when he couldnt get one in their small town. He didnt show up to work for two weeks and ghosted him for a month or so. My boyfriend swore him off at the time but is now buddy buddy with him again. I am disgusted by the idea of this guy and question the integrity of my boyfriend because he is so willing to give this guy a pass. I have told him about my discomfort with this relationship, even framing it as, If I had a friend thatyou would warn me. The guy is also an alcoholic, bisexual, depressed, and has misogynistic behavior. What should I do? I feel like I cannot visit my boyfriend because I am so disgusted by this friend that holding my tongue isnt an option. Im not a fan of the friendship or the choices he has made. Help!

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Not a Fan

Dear Not a Fan,

Hold on. Why am I reading about a person who is awaiting trial for sexual assault of a minor being bisexual and depressed?? First of all, you dont need to add anything at all to make your concerns about him as a potential predator seem urgent. You really dont. Second, people are allowed to be bisexual and depressed! These things are legal! Definitely not disgusting! And not even problematic! If you think they are, you might have problems getting along with people that go way beyond this letter.

That said, you really, really dont want to be in a relationship with someone whose integrity you question. The feeling will extend beyond this particular disturbing situation to other choices your boyfriend makes. Youll grow to resent him and likely even be disgusted by him. It just wont work. And hes not going to be able to talk you out of it. Even if the friend is acquitted, youll remember how your boyfriend responded to the available facts, and youll hate him for it. Cut your losses.

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Dear Prudence,

I (she/her) have a close friend in her late-20s who is stuck. Her emotionally abusive family forces her to live with them (lest she bring shame upon the family, even though she would never touch a man before marriage). She is well aware that they are abusive. The escape plan is to marry a guy shes in a secret long-distance relationship with by getting both pairs of parents to agree, which will be difficult. By default, she is stuck in a cycle of getting emotionally beaten down, consequently not having the wherewithal to pass her college classes or hold down a job, and spending herself deeply into debt as a coping mechanism.

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I want to help her get out even if the parent-appeasing plan doesnt work. I can provide some financial support, but not anywhere near enough to fix her financial situation. I have made it clear that she is welcome to stay in my home, but she wont because my partner is male. I give her advice regarding frugality and getting work done, but I hold back hard because I dont want to be another critical voice. She sees a therapist and psychiatrist and has investigated local support organizations. My current attitude is that its my role to provide love, validation, perspective, fun, and gentle advice. But its hard to sustain a comfortable, respectful friendship when I am so sad about what looks to me like shooting herself in the foot in so many ways. I secretly wish she would just leave her faith and parents. How can I help prevent my friend from withering away?

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Just Want Her to Be Happy

Dear Just Want Her to Be Happy,

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Its extremely difficult to watch another person suffer, especially when you believe you can see a path out of that suffering and shes inexplicably choosing not to take it. But you wrote, Its my role to provide love, validation, perspective, fun, and gentle advice, which is exactly right. Its exactly what I would have told you. After all, its impossible to redirect another adults entire life, as much as you might like to. Even if you have the perfect plan in mind and are willing to provide a place to live and some money! You cant change her values and the choices she makes. But you know that. I think you also know that the answer to How can I help prevent my friend from withering away? is You cant.

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So lets change your focus to How can I prevent myself from withering away while watching my friend deal with abuse and make bad choices? The best path forward is to figure out whether you can enjoy and appreciate the person she is now, with her current living situation, her current relationship, and her current spending habits. If none of that ever changes, what can you two still do together, given her depressing circumstances? Do you still enjoy her company? Can you connect over a shared interest in books, music, memes, recipes, or working out? Can you join forces to use Instagram to investigate the latest gossip in the lives of high school classmates who you didnt actually know very well? This is sort of like how, when dating, you should be with someone who you like now, not someone you might like one day in the future when they improve enough to meet your standards. If you cant do that, youre not doing her any favors by sticking around just to fret and judge her choices, and youre not doing yourself any favors either.

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Dear Prudence,

My maternal grandmother has been given four weeks to live. My mom is not incredibly close with her because my grandmother is fairly toxic. My mom, however, is a sweetheart. She has a youre always there for family mentality. My grandma was not very nice to me, especially when things got difficult for me. None of my moms siblings have been particularly supportive of me and it seemed to all be spearheaded by my grandma. Last Thanksgiving, she said some truly hurtful things and I really havent been able to forgive her. I am just done with her.

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The problem is, I know I will be expected to go to her funeral and all the associated activities. I dont want to, but even more importantly, I have some major deadlines coming up for some applications that will help me live out a major dream of mine. That deadline is right after the timeline in which my grandma has to live. I do not want to risk my dream to go to my mean, old grandmas funeral. I know this will upset my mom. Should I go out of respect or try to get out of it?

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Bye Bye Grandma

Dear Grandma,

This may be a non-issue because timelines for how long people have to live are often wrong. But even if her death does line up with the few days before your applications are due, you should go to the funeral. Dont do it for your grandma (shell be dead!); do it to support your mom and, as a bonus, see any likable cousins or other relatives who you may be close to. Funerals, kind of like weddings, are important times to connect with family and nurture relationships. Theyre not just about the person who passed away. Theyre also about the people who are still living, and their relationship to each other. Plus, this is a month away! You have time to plan ahead. Do a little extra work on your applications each day starting now, and finish them while your mean, old grandmother is still alive.

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Dear Prudence,

My boyfriend wont tell me about his first time having sex. We have been together for five years and he has never been keen to share stuff about his past relationships, and whenever I ask questions about his exes, he claims that he doesnt need to talk about the past because now I am his partner and the past doesnt matter. I just dont get it: I want to learn about his past so I can get to know him better. I am very keen to share stuff from my past. I always hope he asks me questions about my past relationships and sexual experiences, but he never doeshe claims not to be interested in learning about them. Some of my friends know more about my past relationships and sexual experiences than my partner! I think thats ridiculous. I dont think he has got anything to hide, he is just very reservedand sometimes very shy when it comes to talking about sexuality and sexual experiences. What should I do? Should I just accept this reserved/shy side of his personality, or should I keep fighting (knowing Ill achieve very few results) to get him to open up on the topic?

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Fight or Settle

Dear Fight or Settle,

Youre right that in many relationships it would be normal to have this information. Hes right that in many others, the topic doesnt come up. My vote is for Just accept this with a caveat: Is this reserved/shy side of his personality part of a trend that might ultimately really bother you? Put a note into his personnel file in your mind. Just a little write-up about how youre not a big fan of how private hes been about this, and a short reflection on how it makes you feel. Then let it go.

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But continue to pay attention to whether hes secretive or weird about other stuff, for example. Or if you ask about his day and get a fine every night. If you dont get invited to events with his friends. If he doesnt talk much when hes around yours. If, some days, you can tell something is wrong but he wont open up to you. If the file is starting to bulge with all the hes private and it bothers me notes, you may start to ask some questions about your compatibility. But if its a bad match, it will be because of just thatyour personalities clashingnot about his lack of interest in recapping his sexual past for you.

Classic Prudie

I live in a huge apartment complex with about 500 tenants. I happen to live on the back side of the complex, with a window facing the dumpster in the alleyway. Many of the maintenance workers hang out in that alley when theyre not working. Ive been working from home for six months now, meaning I spend way more time overhearing their conversations than I used to. They probably spend three to four hours a day just shooting the breeze. They laugh loudly, speak at a way higher volume than necessary, and tell an endless number of sexist jokes in Spanish.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, Katie Quinonez-Alonzo knew her professional life was about to change. Then the executive director of the last remaining abortion clinic in West Virginia, she could see that the Republican majority in the state Legislature would soon pass a lasting ban on abortion.

She and the clinics board of directors began researching the laws in neighboring states. If their clinic had to stop providing abortions, they thought, perhaps they could open a new one in the region. It wouldnt be as convenient to their patient population as the Charleston location, but it would be closer than many existing alternatives.

Ohio was outa six-week abortion ban had taken effect immediately after Roe was overturned. (That law is now on hold, per a lower courts injunction.) Abortion remains broadly legal in Virginia and Pennsylvania, but those states can be politically volatile, making it hard to predict how abortion providers would fare in the long term without the protections of Roe.

This left one neighboring state: Maryland.

There, legislators had passed a package of bills designed to expand the availability of abortion in the state. And they had also begun the process of adding the right to abortion to the state constitution.

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We felt like it was really, truly a duty, if we share a border with this state, that we should do everything in our power to try to keep abortion as accessible as possible to West Virginians, Quinonez-Alonzo said.

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Soon after her Charleston clinic was forced to cease providing abortions, Quinonez-Alonzo spent a day looking at potential locations for a new clinic. Standing in a parking lot of one property in rural far-western Maryland, less than two miles from the West Virginia border, the realtor pointed in the distance. She said, You see those mountains over there? Thats West Virginia, actually,  Quinonez-Alonzo recalled.

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The visual proximity to the state held a symbolic resonance. That sentence really cemented in my mind: This is the building, Quinonez-Alonzo said. This has to be the building where Womens Health Center of Maryland opens.

In a matter of weeks, the center will begin providing abortions up to 16 weeks of pregnancy smack-dab in the middle of an abortion desert, as Quinonez-Alonzo put it. It will be one of two new independent abortion clinics that have opened in Maryland so far since Roe was overturned.

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While Roe stood, many Democrats in office didnt see the need for proactive legislation to safeguard reproductive rights or expand abortion services. But over the past few years, in response to the Supreme Courts ever-rightward leanand, eventually, the overturning of Roeseveral blue states have moved to protect abortion access, providers, and patients with new laws and funding.

Last year, recognizing that Oregon abortion providers would likely see a rush of patients from across the border in Idaho, the Oregon Legislature established a $15 million fund to help patients pay for abortions and associated expenses, such as travel and hotel stays. In California, legislators passed a robust package of abortion-access bills, including a law that eliminates out-of-pocket costs like copays for abortion services. California lawmakers are currently considering another package of 17 bills, one of which would shield health care providers from prosecution for mailing abortion medication to patients in other states.

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On the East Coast, Maryland has leaned into its role as a beacon for abortion access in a region with dwindling options, and as a destination for people who need to travel across state lines to terminate a pregnancy.

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore recently signed a new law that prohibits Maryland entities from assisting in abortion-related investigations and court proceedings that originate in other states, shielding abortion providers and out-of-state patients from other states restrictions. Another new law helps protect patients by barring electronic medical records about their reproductive health care from being shared across state lines without consent.

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A third law allows non-doctors like physician assistants and nurse midwives to provide abortions, and it sets aside funding to train them, which could relieve some of the increased burden on providers who are seeing lots of out-of-state patients. Maryland is also one of just eight states that require private insurance plans to cover abortion care with no cost-sharing.

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And next year, Maryland residents will vote on an amendment that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, making it much harder for any future Legislature to take them away. A poll from the Baltimore Sun and the University of Baltimore found last year that 71 percent of likely Maryland voters would support such an amendment.

In other words, in this unpredictable era of reproductive health care in the U.S., Maryland is about as safe a place an abortion provider can be.

That doesnt mean the going is easy. At a public hearing in April, a county commissioner in the jurisdiction where Womens Health Center of Maryland is set to open told a crowd of attendees who had come to protest that, though all three commissioners opposed the abortion provider coming to Allegany County, there was nothing they could do. Even if the commissioners voted to ban abortion in the county, he said, I cant trump the governor and I cant trump the legislature. In some corners of the state, theres still plenty of hostility toward Maryland abortion providers.

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But there is a lot more security. And its a major reason why Diane Horvath and Morgan Nuzzo, an OB-GYN and nurse midwife, respectively, opened Partners in Abortion Care in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., last fall. We have Democratic supermajorities in our General Assembly and in our Maryland Senate. We now have a Democratic governor, which is a wonderful, wonderful thing, Horvath said. For an abortion provider in the mid-Atlantic, Maryland is a really good place to work, and to live, and to have this clinic open.

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Partners in Abortion Care began as a dream nurtured by Horvath and Nuzzo, who had previously worked together at an abortion clinic in the area. When they spent time together outside of work, the two women would often talk about what they would have done differently if theyd been in charge at the other clinics where theyd been employed.

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As you do with your badass friends, you talk about your five- and 10- and 20-year plans for what your life is going to look like, Nuzzo said. And it always included the idea of having a clinic together at some point.

In her medical training, Horvath had learned to do abortions later in pregnancy, including in the third trimester, which are a bit more complicated than earlier abortions. But it had never been the focus of her work. Even in states where such abortions are legal, not many clinics offer them. But patients who need abortions later in pregnancy are often youngera disproportionate number are children. Others are adults with deeply wanted pregnancies who get a catastrophic fetal health diagnosis, or people who know they want an abortion from the start but need time to save up the money and make the trip to a clinic.

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I kept saying to myself for years: Third-trimester care, later care, is so important, but I cant do it. Or Its not right for me in this point in my life. Or Someone else is taking care of it,  she said. But Horvath realized that many of the practitioners who offer later abortions were getting older. They couldnt meet the need forever. It became more and more clear, as time passed, that I couldnt keep saying that, and I couldnt keep counting on other people to provide the care.

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Horvath and Nuzzo decided that when they opened a clinic together, they would offer abortion care in all trimesters of pregnancy. Neither of them knew much about what it would take to open a clinic or run a business. But in December 2021, they both happened to be out of a job, and they were paying close attention to the growing conservative bloc on the Supreme Court.

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We were like, listen, we think Roe is going to fall, Nuzzo said. We know how to do later abortion. There are very few clinics that do it. Why not us? Why not now?

The two friends gave themselves a crash course in operating a business. They courted donors, talked to banks, got what they call a predatory loan, and raised nearly $425,000 on GoFundMe. Then, in May 2022, while they were having dinner together, the Dobbs decision leaked.

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And so were sitting there being like, All right, it has to happen. There is no other option for this clinic to not be open,  Nuzzo said.  Theres going to be this huge influx of people, this huge influx of need for care, especially for later procedures. We have to get this clinic open. 

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In October of last year, Partners in Abortion Care opened in College Park, Maryland. So far, the clinic has served patients from more than 30 states, many of whom had never been on a plane or even left their home state before traveling to Maryland for an abortion.

The opening of new clinics in Maryland is not just a benefit for out-of-staters. It will directly benefit Marylanders who might have otherwise faced longer wait times at clinics overburdened with patients from across the Midwest and Southeast. We know that whenever abortion is banned in one state, the harms of that abortion ban dont stay within that states borders, Quinonez-Alonzo said. It spreads out, and it disrupts the ecosystem of abortion access in neighboring states.

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Related From Slate Pamela Herd and Donald Moynihan Medicaid Is in Deep Trouble Right Now Read More

That ripple effect could worsen in months to come, as some states where abortion is now legal may pass stricter bans. In Ohio and South Carolina, for instance, bans passed by the state legislatures were blocked by judges. The political will to ban abortions still exists in those states, though, and they are liable to be controlled by Republicans for the foreseeable future.

All it will take is a new judicial ruling or a creative legislative workaround to push a ban through.

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Even Virginia may not stand as a buffer for long. It is closer than Maryland to the states in the Southeast where abortion is banned, and abortion is still legal in Virginia until the point of fetal viability. But it is not a reliable sanctuary. Though Democrats held the governors seat and both chambers of the state Legislature just a few years ago, they now retain only a meager majority in the state Senate. Earlier this year, that majority was the only obstacle standing in the way of the Republicans in the state House and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who tried to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. If Democrats lose that majority in the next state Senate election, a ban will almost certainly succeed.

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When Horvath and Nuzzo first found the 3,100-square-foot property in College Park where they would open Partners in Abortion Care, they expected that the space would be big enough to meet their needs for about five years, at which point theyd consider expanding. But already, less than a year in, they have had to bring on more staff and expand their schedule to accommodate patient demand.

Even knowing all of the information, we still underestimated the need, Nuzzo said.

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With conservatives eager to restrict abortion access to the greatest extent possible wherever it is politically feasible, a federal bansuch as the 15-week ban Sen. Lindsey Graham has proposedcould someday render Marylands protections moot. It would only take a couple of bad elections for Democrats to give the Republican Party the votes needed to ban abortion nationwide. The Supreme Court would not stand in the way.

But for now, Maryland abortion providers are doing what they can, where they are, to be a regional backstop for abortion access.

Were talking about the five-year plan involving some bigger space and more staff, and we want to continue to hire, Horvath said. I tell my dad, whos conservative, that Im a job creator now, so Id like to create more jobs.
Republicans are mad at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In recent weeks, GOP members of Congress have called for investigations into the FBIs inner workings, recommended the FBI headquarters be moved out of the D.C. area, floated slashing the bureaus funding, and suggested withholding the salaries of certain officials. Long-shot Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has even called for the FBI to be eliminated entirely.

Much of the anger has been focused on one man: bureau director Christopher Wray. On Wednesday, Wray, a registered Republican who was appointed by President Donald Trump, went before the House Judiciary Committee for one of his routine appearances before Congress. The hearing, though, was no simple check-in: For just about every question, Republican lawmakers used their time to chastise Wray, highlight their favorite FBI-related conspiracy theories, and accuse Wray of oppressing Republicans. It was Wrays first appearance since Trump was federally indicted, and the GOP committee members were ready to whip up their voters anger about how unfair that is. Again and again, in recent weeks, Republican congressmen have insisted that Wray was doing the Democrats bidding. (The idea that Im biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background, Wray said at one point Wednesday.)

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If you havent kept up with Fox News, however, it might have been hard to follow what, exactly, the congressmen were talking about. So here is our guide to the top talking pointsand conspiracy theoriesRepublicans are citing these days when yelling about the FBI.

Shielding the Bidens From Investigations

One of the primary conservative conspiracy theories about Wray is that his agency does allegedly scandalous work on the Biden familys behalf.

During the hearing, Rep. Matt Gaetz questioned Wray about whether the Biden administration and FBI interfered in the IRS investigation into Hunter Bidens taxes, to protect both Hunter and his father. Gaetz pressed Wray on whether the bureau muzzled an IRS employee who claims both that he was muzzled, and that the FBI and broader Justice Department prevented him from pursuing leads involving Joe Biden. One of those leads was a document that Republicans say showed that both Bidens had received a $5 million bribe from Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian natural gas firm whose board Hunter Biden gained a seat on while Biden was vice president, in exchange for Burismas policy influence over the Obama administration.

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Theres no evidence for any of this, including that the administration or bureau ever pressured the IRS employee during its Hunter Biden probe. In 2020 the FBI reviewed the Burisma document, and says it was kept private because it contained unsubstantiated claims that could prove misleading or false; indeed, its contents are completely unverified. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who also viewed the document when the FBI made it available, claimed it did little to bolster debunked Hunter BidenBurisma conspiracy theories. Republicans at the hearing grumbled that the version released was too redacted to show much of anything, and that they needed to see the full document.

Ignoring the Hunter Biden Shakedown

Another key Biden-related accusation deals with a 2017 WhatsApp message Hunter Biden sent to a Chinese energy executive. The message was released last month by Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, and they have pointed to it as proof Joe Biden was involved in his sons shady international business dealings.

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I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled, Hunter Biden wrote in the text. He continued: I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father.

Most Democrats have pointed out that the elder Biden held no political office at this point and that his son, who was struggling with addiction at the time, may not have been entirely truthful about Joe Bidens involvement. (Hunter Biden has an undoubtedly bad history of using his fathers name for clout.)

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Sounds like a shakedown, doesnt it, director? Gaetz asked Wray in the hearing. You seem deeply uncurious about it, dont you? Gaetz said. Almost suspiciously uncurious. Are you protecting the Bidens?

Stoking the Insurrection

Here is where we get truly off the wall: Some Republicans believe that the Jan. 6 raid on the Capitol was encouraged if not staged by FBI agents. Take, for example, the following exchange between Wray and Rep. Andy Biggs:

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Biggs: How many agents or human resources were present at the Capitol complex, in the vicinity, on Jan. 6? Wray: Well, again, its going to get confusing because it depends on when we deployed and responded to the breach that occurred. Obviously, there were federal agents Biggs: Sure, youre talkingyou and I both know were talking different things here. Please dont distract here, because were focusing on those who were there in an undercover capacity on Jan. 6. How many were there? Wray: Again, Im not sure I can give you that number as I sit here. Im not sure there were undercover agents on scene.

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This line of questioning was based on Biggs understanding of the description of events from former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who has complained that intelligence officials and the military were too slow to move on reports of coming violence. (Biggs: Sund reportedly has asserted that the protest crowd was filled with federal agents.) But Biggs lets-cut-through-the-bullshit retort makes it clear that what he really means to ask is whether FBI agents goaded Trump supporters into entering the Capitol.

Lying About Ray Epps

The FBI did Jan. 6 assertion overlaps with theories about Ray Epps, an Arizona Trump supporter who is now suing Fox News for defamation. On his former show, Tucker Carlson had promoted the conspiracy theory that Epps, who was seen urging people into the Capitol on Jan. 6, was actually an undercover FBI agent.

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Mr. Wray, you have arrested hundreds of people related to Jan. 6, Rep. Troy Nehls said in the hearing. Now look into the camera, sir, when you answer my next question. Are you going to arrest Mr. Epps, yes or no?

When Wray (who did not look into the camera) explained that he could not speak about an individuals legal situation, particularly given that the FBI exists to investigate and not to prosecute, Nehls waved him off.

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A lot of people getting arrested for not going into the Capitol but into the restricted area, Nehls said. But yet, Ray Epps, who, many people feel: fed, fed, fed, meaning that hes a federal agent. I will tell you, Mr. Wray: If you dont arrest Mr. Epps, theres a reason behind it. I believe you know what it is, and it appears to me you are protecting this guy.

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Ultimately, Wray told Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat, that Epps was not a government agent and that it was ludicrous to think the insurrection was orchestrated by FBI sources and agents.

Planting Pipe Bombs

During his time, Rep. Thomas Massie grilled Wray about why the FBI hadnt found the culprit who placed pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee. Massies questions fixated on the DNC.

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Nine hundred days ago is when this happened, he said. You said you had total confidence wed apprehend a subject. Weve found video that looks like somebody, a passerby, miraculously found this pipe bomb at the DNC, and then notified the police. Miraculously, I say, because it was in specifically the same, precise time to cause a maximum distraction from the events going on at the Capitol.

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He didnt straight-out say it, but Massie seems to think the pipe bombs were a false flag, planted by the FBI. The reasoning, supporters of this theory explain, is that such an explosion would divert law enforcement resources away from the Capitol, allowing the riot to grow out of control as it was provoked by the bureaus undercover agents, while also placing the blame on conservatives. Those who buy into the theory often demand to know why the person behind the bombs hasnt been arrested yet, implying that the FBI knows who did it and is protecting thembecause its an FBI agent. Again, theres no evidence of this.

Censoring Free Speech

That social media companies discriminate against conservatives is now a tired claim. But Republicans are currently fired up over a July 10 report from the House Judiciary Committee alleging that the FBI had been reckless when it gave social media companies the usernames of accounts that Ukrainian spy agency SBU gave the bureau. Some of the accounts, the report said, were not Russian agents but legitimate conservative Americans. The FBI has defended this as a matter of helping to fight Russian disinformation. But Republicans see the communications as evidence the FBI was involved in censoring Americans political speech.

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Related From Slate Molly Olmstead RFK Jr. Isnt Just an Anti-Vaxxer. His Conspiracy Theories Go Way Further. Read More

In the hearing, lawmakers depicted these communications as evidence of the FBIs political motivations, arguing that they reveal the bureaus meetings to police election-related speech and its censorship of news about Hunter Bidens laptop, and that it shut down any discussions of COVID that were counter to the orthodox positions. At one point, Wray was faced with the accusation that the FBI had helped Big Tech censor discussion of the lab-leak theory.

The idea that the FBI would somehow be involved in suppressing references to a lab-leak theory is somewhat absurd when you consider the fact that the FBI was the onlythe onlyagency in the entire intelligence community to reach the assessment that it was more likely than not that was the explanation of the pandemic, Wray said.

Vilifying Concerned Parents, Pro-Life Activists, and Traditional Catholics

First, the parent activists. In 2021 Attorney General Merrick Garland put out a memo telling the FBI to coordinate with local leaders to deal with a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school boards. Republicans have described this memo as equating concerned conservative parents in the parental rights movement with violent extremists.

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I will say to you the same thing that I said to all 56 of our field offices as soon as I read the memo, which is that the FBI is not in the business of investigating or policing speech at school board meetings or anywhere else, for that matter, Wray said in the Wednesday hearing.

Second, the pro-life activists. Last year, the FBI arrested a man named Mark Houck on charges he violated a federal law against harming or intimidating abortion service providers. Houck had shoved a 72-year-old Planned Parenthood volunteer but was later acquitted. Still, different stories around the nature of Houcks arrest (Houck described it as 20 to 30 armed agents descending on his house; the FBI disagreed with that) made it a major rallying cry for the anti-abortion cause. During the hearing, Rep. Chip Roy brought up Houcks case.

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Your job is to protect the American people from the tyrannical FBI storming the home of an American family, Roy said. Wray responded by describing it as a routine, uneventful arrest.

Finally, the Catholics. A January memo from the Richmond field office identified increasing interest among racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists in radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology. This enraged conservatives who believed that the FBI was labeling orthodox Catholicism as extremism. It was an intentional misreading of the memo, which warned only that violent white supremacists might find themselves attracted to far-right traditionalist Catholic communities. But the FBI apologized anyway.

Somehow, this list is not exhaustive. Some critiques of the FBI are valid; others, pure fantasy. But as long as Republicans feel themselves to be on the wrong side of the law, we should expect to see more and more accusations that the bureau is persecuting them.
For more than a decade, the fight for a new, gleaming, suburban FBI headquarters has been between Maryland and Virginiaand its gotten exceptionally hot in recent times. In the past few months, though, House Republicans, whove had their targets trained on the FBI, have introduced a couple of new options into the mix: Alabama, and nowhere. Would a new headquarters located nowhere work for the FBI?

Federal law dating back a couple of years requires the General Services Administrationthe governments landlordto pick a new location in an expeditious manner, from one of two sites in Maryland or a third site in Virginia. And while the manner hasnt been particularly expeditious, there was a major development in the process last week. After much, much pushback from the Maryland delegation led by a determined Rep. Steny Hoyer, the GSA revised its site-selection criteria to put less emphasis on proximity to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and more emphasis on advancing equity and cost, two areas where the Marylanders believe they have Virginia beat.

The Maryland delegation announced in a joint statement that it was encouraged by the changes. Meanwhile, Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, whose district includes the proposed Virginia site, was furious.

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In February, I said Maryland was trying to cook the books to get the FBI headquarters relocated to their state, Connolly said in a statement. Today, I fear Ive been proven right. This process has been marred by one form of political interference after another. Sadly, GSA has caved to that pressure and such interference has now been rewarded.

With the selection process finally refinalized, and a victor to be chosen soon, could it be that one of the 21st centurys most storied fights for a government contract will soon resolve?

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That a political fight will  end?

Not quite. Because Republicans are in charge of the House, and MAGA members hate the FBI for reasons that are largely untethered to reality. They formed a new subcommittee devoted to whining about how the FBIthe Federal Bureau of Investigationis biased against conservatives. As FBI Director Chris Wray told the House Judiciary Committee last week, the idea that Im biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background. (Wray is a registered Republican appointed by Donald Trump.)

But House Republicans couldnt quite settle on a strategy to retaliate against the FBI, or its parent, the Justice Department, for the federal indictment of Trump over mishandling classified documents. While some hard-right Republicans immediately suggested cutting FBI or DOJ funding, more mainstream folks within the party worried that such a process of defunding the police would be terrible policy and would run counter to their messaging against Democrats.

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What Republicans settled on earlier this month as a first volley, then, was targeting the new FBI headquarters project as a symbolic strike against the agency. No more would these hippie-dippie leftist federal agents get a sleek new campus in the suburbs with bougie coffee shops, granola-bar stations, and goat-yoga rooms. Nopetheyd be stuck in the dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover Building in downtown D.C., getting hit by chunks of falling concrete.

And so, in the relevant House appropriations bill that passed out of committee last week, the new FBI headquarters received no new funding. (More mainstream Republicans did join Democrats, though, to beat back an amendment from conservative Rep. Andrew Clyde that would have revoked past funding for the project.)

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Related From Slate Molly Olmstead Why Republicans Are So Mad at the FBI Read More

Now, some House Republicans are floating another option that does deliver the FBI a new headquarters, but takes it out of the dark-blue environs of the National Capital Region. In a letter last week to House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordanwhos been leading the weaponization of the federal government subcommitteeurged her to include language enforcing an FBI headquarters move away from the Beltway. He recommended transferring it to a growing FBI satellite campus in Huntsville, Alabama.

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That language didnt make it into the bill, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has instead suggested a deconsolidated FBI structure with a much smaller FBI administration building, and more FBI agents out across the country, helping to keep the country safe.

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All of this amounts to shenanigansfor the moment.

The Senate, in its committee spending bill, approved another $375 million for the new FBI headquarters in the National Capital Region, and the Senate typically does an excellent job of jamming the House on government funding matters.

But the sudden hostility from Republicans to a new headquarters in suburban D.C. does concern those in Maryland and Virginia for whenever a winner gets chosen. At that point, Congress will have to approve the full construction funds, and thats going to be a big bargaining chip for House Republicans in future spending negotiations. Who knows what could happen to the project if a Republican takes the White House in 2024? The last Republican to win the presidency killed the project, which didnt get back on track until Joe Biden was elected in 2020.

The FBI headquarters relocation process continues to be cursed in the most unusual of ways. Once the selection process appears to be months away from finality, Republicans decide their top enemy is the FBI, an innately conservative institution that may have cost someone one of the past two presidential elections, but not Donald Trump. Well check back in another decade.
As soon as the Supreme Court struck down the presidents student debt forgiveness plan last month, advocacy groups began pressuring the Biden administration to find another way in. And so far, the White House seems to be acting as fast as it can to solve the problem, in a variety of other ways.

On Friday, the administration announced that it would be canceling $39 billion in student loan debt for some 800,000 people. The relief will be available in the next few weeks to borrowers who enrolled in income-driven repayment plans or who would have qualified for it if they had enrolled. It is likely to be the first of many smaller debt-relief announcements in the weeks and months to come.

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And speaking at the White House on the afternoon the Supreme Court decision came down, President Biden announced a temporary repayment plan that wont penalize borrowers for missing monthly payments, and a rulemaking process that will lean on the Higher Education Act to push through widespread debt relief.

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Legally, the HEA is Bidens best bet for making a big difference. It has a statute that gives the education secretary the power to essentially wipe out any amount of debtfor any borrowerwithout exceeding $1 million. (If the debt being relieved exceeds $1 million, it requires review from the attorney general.) Progressive student debt advocates have been pushing the HEA approach from the get-go, and as our colleague Mark Joseph Stern wrote, the action is less likely to get struck down by the Supreme Court. (The plan the court struck down was going to be accomplished through executive action as part of COVID emergency relief.)

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The only problem? Debt relief under the HEA must go through negotiated rulemaking, meaning it will have a lot of steps and will require many rounds of public comments. And Biden needs to get this done fastboth because he has another presidential campaign coming up and because, under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, borrowers will be exempted from crushing taxation on their student debt forgiveness only through 2025.

Related From Slate Mark Joseph Stern Joe Bidens New Student Debt Relief Plan Might Actually Work This Time Read More

Plus, advocacy groups including the Debt Collective, Student Borrower Protection Center, and the Student Debt Crisis Center are demanding that things move faster this time around. After announcing the now-defunct student debt forgiveness plan last year, it took the White House nearly two months to launch applications, which, advocates asserted, allowed sufficient time for legal challenges to mount.

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Just using this specifically legal authority is not enough to guarantee success. How he uses it, and how fast, matters too, wrote Astra Taylor, cofounder of the Debt Collective, in an essay for the Nation. She also argued that though the White House cant completely ward off all future litigation, it would be better off fighting those battles from the high ground of relief having already hit peoples accounts.

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Conservatives, the Supreme Court, and the odd think tank have suggested another approach: push student debt relief through Congress. Per Chief Justice Roberts majority opinion, Bidens initial debt-relief proposal fell under the major questions doctrine, which holds that issues of economic and political significance must be made with explicit permission from Congress.

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But the reason these entities are pushing the congressional route is because it will never happen. Congress, of course, is currently controlled by Republicans. They have a small, unruly, but very real majority. On top of that, there is a nontrivial chunk of moderate Democrats who couldnt care less about student loan debt cancellation. Theyre not motivated enough to defy the White House publicly on the issue, but theyre also not going to volunteer to put in the effort behind the scenes to make it happen. (There are also several Democrats who are actually willing to defy the White House and team up with Republicans on this, making the Republican majority even stronger.)

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Even before the Supreme Courts decision, the current Congress made its opinion on all this very clear. Just a few months ago, both the House and the Senate passed a bill, via the Congressional Review Act, that would have blocked the Biden debt forgiveness plan altogether, going so far as to reinstate already-forgiven debt for those who qualified for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. That proposal got Democratic votes in both chambers before Biden vetoed it in early June. As part of the debt ceiling negotiations, congressional Republicans got Biden to sign on to a formal end to the three-year-long payment pause for federal student loans.

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So the White House, despite having plenty of vocal support from some progressive representatives like Ro Khanna, will have to go it alone. Bidens first try had the advantage of being quicker and a lower-effort lift, but this second try looks much more difficult for the Supreme Court to derail.

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If Fridays announcement is any indication, it seems as if the strategy is for the Biden administration to spend the next 12 months gradually chipping away at student debt, in hopes of those efforts culminating in pushing through a bunch of relief all at once. The question, of course, is just how much the all in all at once will encompass. While the administration settled on $10,000 and $20,000 per borrower for its initial proposal, the HEA authority is expansive, and groups like the NAACP want to see the White House relieve much more debt per person. Its possible that we could see a push from activist groups to get that figure back up to $50,000 per borrower, a number that was floated early in the debt relief process. Despite the opposition from the court and an uphill climb ahead, what we are seeing, plainly, is some optimism on this issue.
Imagine a future in which A.I.s automatically interpretand enforcelaws.

All day and every day, you constantly receive highly personalized instructions for how to comply with the law, sent directly by your government and law enforcement. Youre told how to cross the street, how fast to drive on the way to work, and what youre allowed to say or do onlineif youre in any situation that might have legal implications, youre told exactly what to do, in real time.

Imagine that the computer system formulating these personal legal directives at mass scale is so complex that no one can explain how it reasons or works. But if you ignore a directive, the system will know, and itll be used as evidence in the prosecution thats sure to follow.

This future may not be far offautomatic detection of lawbreaking is nothing new. Speed cameras and traffic-light cameras have been around for years. These systems automatically issue citations to the cars owner based on the license plate. In such cases, the defendant is presumed guilty unless they prove otherwise, by naming and notifying the driver.

In New York, A.I. systems equipped with facial recognition technology are being used by businesses to identify shoplifters. Similar A.I.-powered systems are being used by retailers in Australia and the United Kingdom to identify shoplifters and provide real-time tailored alerts to employees or security personnel. China is experimenting with even more powerful forms of automated legal enforcement and targeted surveillance.

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Breathalyzers are another example of automatic detection. They estimate blood alcohol content by calculating the number of alcohol molecules in the breath via an electrochemical reaction or infrared analysis (theyre basically computers with fuel cells or spectrometers attached). And theyre not without controversy: Courts across the country have found serious flaws and technical deficiencies with Breathalyzer devices and the software that powers them. Despite this, criminal defendants struggle to obtain access to devices or their software source code, with Breathalyzer companies and courts often refusing to grant such access. In the few cases where courts have actually ordered such disclosures, that has usually followed costly legal battles spanning many years.

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A.I. is about to make this issue much more complicated, and could drastically expand the types of laws that can be enforced in this manner. Some legal scholars predict that computationally personalized law and its automated enforcement are the future of law. These would be administered by what Anthony Casey and Anthony Niblett call microdirectives, which provide individualized instructions for legal compliance in a particular scenario.

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Made possible by advances in surveillance, communications technologies, and big-data analytics, microdirectives will be a new and predominant form of law shaped largely by machines. They are micro because they are not impersonal general rules or standards, but tailored to one specific circumstance. And they are directives because they prescribe action or inaction required by law.

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A Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice is a present-day example of a microdirective. The DMCAs enforcement is almost fully automated, with copyright bots constantly scanning the internet for copyright-infringing material, and automatically sending literally hundreds of millions of DMCA takedown notices daily to platforms and users. A DMCA takedown notice is tailored to the recipients specific legal circumstances. It also directs actionremove the targeted content or prove that its not infringingbased on the law.

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Its easy to see how the A.I. systems being deployed by retailers to identify shoplifters could be redesigned to employ microdirectives. In addition to alerting business owners, the systems could also send alerts to the identified persons themselves, with tailored legal directions or notices.

Related From Slate Justin Sherman The Shockingly Small Team in Charge of Protecting Millions of Americans Privacy Read More

A future where A.I.s interpret, apply, and enforce most laws at societal scale like this will exponentially magnify problems around fairness, transparency, and freedom. Forget about software transparencywell-resourced A.I. firms, like Breathalyzer companies today, would no doubt ferociously guard their systems for competitive reasons. These systems would likely be so complex that even their designers would not be able to explain how the A.I.s interpret and apply the lawsomething were already seeing with todays deep learning neural network systems, which are unable to explain their reasoning.

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Even the law itself could become hopelessly vast and opaque. Legal microdirectives sent en masse for countless scenarios, each representing authoritative legal findings formulated by opaque computational processes, could create an expansive and increasingly complex body of law that would grow ad infinitum.

And this brings us to the heart of the issue: If youre accused by a computer, are you entitled to review that computers inner workings and potentially challenge its accuracy in court? What does cross-examination look like when the prosecutors witness is a computer? How could you possibly access, analyze, and understand all microdirectives relevant to your case in order to challenge the A.I.s legal interpretation? How could courts hope to ensure equal application of the law? Like the man from the country in Franz Kafkas parable in The Trial, youd die waiting for access to the law, because the law is limitless and incomprehensible.

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This system would present an unprecedented threat to freedom. Ubiquitous A.I.-powered surveillance in society will be necessary to enable such automated enforcement. On top of that, researchincluding empirical studies conducted by one of us (Penney)has shown that personalized legal threats or commands that originate from sources of authoritystate or corporatecan have powerful chilling effects on peoples willingness to speak or act freely. Imagine receiving very specific legal instructions from law enforcement about what to say or do in a situation: Would you feel you had a choice to act freely?

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This is a vision of A.I.s invasive and Byzantine law of the future that chills to the bone. It would be unlike any other law system weve seen before in human history, and far more dangerous for our freedoms. Indeed, some legal scholars argue that this future would effectively be the death of law.

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Yet it is not a future we must endure. Proposed bans on surveillance technology like facial recognition systems can be expanded to cover those enabling invasive automated legal enforcement. Laws can mandate interpretability and explainability for A.I. systems to ensure everyone can understand and explain how the systems operate. If a system is too complex, maybe it shouldnt be deployed in legal contexts. Enforcement by personalized legal processes needs to be highly regulated to ensure oversight, and should be employed only where chilling effects are less likely, like in benign government administration or regulatory contexts where fundamental rights and freedoms are not at risk.

A.I. will inevitably change the course of law. It already has. But we dont have to accept its most extreme and maximal instantiations, either today or tomorrow.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
A version of this piece originally appeared on Assigned.

People are getting really worked up about the fact that trans women can breastfeed their kids. In late June, Mika Minio-Paluello, who works on climate policy, spoke about water shortages in the UK for a TV segment. In a b-roll shot, she rinsed out a breast pump. It didnt take long for users of Mumsnet, a parenting forum notorious for hosting extreme anti-trans views, to theorize that the pump was a prop planted so that Minio-Paluelloa trans woman who has a childcould pretend she was a regular mother.

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Mere days after this, Fox News brought the breastfeeding controversy over to the U.S. with a story that dug up a few sentences from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website referencing breastfeeding in the trans community. While the CDC guidance seems aimed primarily at supporting trans men and trans mascs who give birth after top surgery, it was presented by Fox as evidence that the CDC supports breastfeeding by trans women. This frame was subsequently picked up by the New York Post, the Daily Caller, and many more.

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As with many similar small controversies, a frenzy of activity among right-wing writers and anti-trans activists commenced, with each trying to oneup the others performative disgust over trans womens bodies. To which I say: Maybe they should calm down their feelings and consider the biology here. The science behind lactation is neat!

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We usually think of a mom breastfeeding a baby that she personally gave birth to, but that conception is a little limited. In parts of Africa, re-lactation (thats induced lactation for a woman who has previously breastfed) is a common cultural practice that has been leveraged to feed children of women with HIV or AIDS. Folklore, particularly in the Muslim world, contains many stories of women who breastfed children other than their own, including tales of virgins doing so without ever having given birth. There are also rare reports from around the globe, bordering on folk tales, of cis men breastfeeding children.

Not that it cant actually happen. In Western medicine, hormonal conditions resulting in cis male lactation are well known, and the understanding of how both breast growth and lactation can be produced in cis men using hormones goes back at least as far as this study from 1954. Although the literature on this is mixed, at least one study has suggested that the composition of such milk is within the normal range of more typically produced human breast milk.

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This milk production can be just secretions, though. When it comes to producing enough milk to be a food source for a child, something called the Newman-Goldfarb Protocols for Induced Lactation comes into play. The protocol starts with the use of hormonal birth control, which is known to work by mimicking the hormonal balance found in pregnancy, preventing new pregnancies from starting. After several months of a pregnancylike hormone balance, patients abruptly stop taking the birth control to mimic the hormonal change of giving birth. The Newman-Goldfarb protocol then has patients start an anti-nausea medication called domperidone, which is known to increase levels of prolactinthe hormone that triggers milk production.

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Patients, including cis men, who take domperidone are known to have lactation (galactorrhea) as one potential side effect. While its not the only medication known to increase prolactin, its considered one of the safest. Although its possible to induce lactation simply by stimulating the breasts with pumping or with a childs latching on, domperidone seems to increase the amount of milk produced (according to Drs. Newman and Goldfarb), bringing it closer to the amount needed to nourish a child. Even so, many women (both trans and cis) who follow the protocols find they need to supplement their milk production a bit to keep their baby fed.

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Related From Slate Alex Kirshner The Biggest Misconception About the Trans Athletes Debate Read More

The use of domperidone comes with concerns about a rare but serious side effect, specifically an increased risk of heart failure for at least some patients. While the drug is widely used in Europe, Canada, and Australia, including being sold over the counter in many countries, the FDA has not approved it in the U.S. due to these concerns. (It is generally believed that only trace amounts of the drug would be transferred to a breastfeeding infant, but this has not been established conclusively as yet.)

Cis moms have used the Newman-Goldfarb protocols to breastfeed adopted infants and children born through surrogacy for years, and there have been several news articles covering the practice. (Although domperidone cant be prescribed for this purpose in the States, some U.S. women obtain it from Canada or elsewhere for the purpose.) In a dozen stories about adopted, surrogate, or same-sex moms using hormone therapyarticles that ran as early as 2011 and as recently as this past Aprilnot a single one I read editorialized against the practice. Mentions of potential risks were muted, with the focus being the emotional reactions of cis women who felt they benefited greatly from having the chance to nurse their kids. The 2011 piece ran in the Daily Mail with the headline How Adoptive Mothers Are Learning to breastfeed Their New Babies and featured a gauzy pink photo of a woman breastfeeding her child. The piece emphasized the experience of bonding that breastfeeding allowed adoptive moms.

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That kind of coverage stands in stark contrast to the recent meltdowns over trans women feeding their kids. A Daily Mail article that ran on July 5 warned in the very first sentence that trans women are self-indulgent and selfish, according to an unnamed source concerned that the Newman-Goldfarb protocolwhich is what the cis moms also usemay pose a health risk to babies. (According to a National Library of Medicine database updated in May: No adverse effects have been found in a limited number of published cases of breastfed infants whose mothers were taking domperidone.)

The most overheated corners of the conservative internet quickly sexualized the issue, insisting that trans women who induce lactation arent doing it to bond with their babies or help their partners, but must instead have more nefarious motives  because theyre trans. Several conservatives simultaneously insisted that breast milk that comes from a trans woman cant possibly be milk. This over-the-top concern implies that trans women are incapable of assessing the basic reality on the ground as they parent their kids. Further, a case report published in May 2023 in the Journal of Human Lactation analyzed the macronutrients of a trans womans milk, finding that it was indeed adequately nutritious.

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More research, and perhaps general monitoring of the outcomes, for both trans and cis women who breastfeed kids using the Newman-Goldfarb protocol seems desirable. (Trans women are demonized for choosing to mother in ways that include potential risks; cis women are often expected to perform certain actions and roles, any potential risks that they may personally be uncomfortable taking on be damned.) But it would be a stretch to imagine that induced lactation presents any significant public health concern, or even wild deviation from the inventive ways human beings have thought about milk over the years. The current meltdown over trans women breastfeeding is based not on science but a fear that science is being implemented to help and benefit the wrong people.
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If you have a deep love for capturing moments through photography and dream of transforming that passion into a profitable endeavor, then this article is tailor-made for you. You will uncover an extensive list of 27 exceptional online platforms that allow you to sell your awe-inspiring photographs. From photography enthusiasts to professionals, these stock photo websites offer a chance to showcase and monetize your creativity.

The Upsurge of Selling Photos Online

The online selling of photos is on the rise, fueled by the increasing demand for high-quality images from businesses, marketers, bloggers, and more. Photography equipment has also become more accessible, making this a popular way for people to build a business or earn some extra side income. This growing trend has created opportunities for photographers to monetize their work and cater to the needs of various industries.

Understanding Stock Photography Sites

Stock photos are pre-existing images licensed for specific uses, usually commercial ones. These images play a crucial role in the digital landscape, offering a vast array of visuals that cater to a diverse range of themes and concepts. From marketing materials to web design and editorial content, stock photos enhance visual storytelling across different mediums.

Sell Your Business Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success

Stock photography sites act as a bridge between photographers and potential buyers. They provide a platform where photographers, under their photography business names, can upload and sell their pictures online. At the same time, businesses, content creators, and individuals can easily search and buy these high-quality visuals for their projects using specific keywords or photography business names. This two-way arrangement serves as a convenient marketplace for high-quality visuals. It helps photographers reach a wider audience while offering users a one-stop solution for their visual needs.

The benefits of using stock photography sites include:

Access to a diverse range of images: Stock photo sites offer an extensive library of images across various categories. This vast selection makes it easier for users to find the perfect image for their projects.

Stock photo sites offer an extensive library of images across various categories. This vast selection makes it easier for users to find the perfect image for their projects. Affordability: Unlike commissioning a photoshoot, buying stock photos is usually more cost-effective, especially for businesses with tight budgets.

Unlike commissioning a photoshoot, buying stock photos is usually more cost-effective, especially for businesses with tight budgets. Time-saving: Stock photos are ready for immediate download and use, saving users the time to organize a photoshoot.

Stock photos are ready for immediate download and use, saving users the time to organize a photoshoot. Ease of use: Stock photo sites usually have user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for users to search, select, and purchase images.

Stock photo sites usually have user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for users to search, select, and purchase images. Support for photographers: These platforms provide photographers with a global platform to showcase their work and generate income.

In conclusion, stock photography sites offer a win-win situation for both photographers and users. Photographers get to monetize their creativity and talent, while users gain access to a broad array of high-quality images for their various needs.

Where to Sell Stock Photos

If youre looking to sell your stock photos, several platforms can help you turn your passion into profit. Check out these options to start monetizing your photography skills:

1. Alamy

Join Alamy to sell your work globally and earn up to 50% commission. They pay out over $1 million monthly. Enjoy global exposure, empowering tools, and complete creative control. There are no long-term commitments, and students get the added benefit of receiving 100% commission for two years.

2. 500px

500px is a leading online network for photographers, offering exposure, recognition, and opportunities for growth. They help photographers showcase their work, challenge themselves, and gain recognition for their skills. Their platform provides immediate exposure, career-building tools, and performance insights to help photographers succeed.

3. SmugMug

SmugMug is a photography platform that helps photographers sell their photos with ease. It offers quick setup, customizable pricing, efficient billing, and robust sales tools. Users can display their photos creatively, control privacy settings, and access professional-grade printing options.

4. Shutterstock

Join Shutterstocks global community of contributors and earn money sharing high-quality images and videos. Upload content easily, get tips for success, and earn from worldwide customer downloads. Showcase work, grow skills, and reach millions of customers.

5. iStock Photo

iStockphoto is a stock content site founded in 2000 and part of the Getty Images family. It offers ready-to-use photos, illustrations, vectors, and video clips. Key features include exclusive content, worry-free licensing, free content, inclusive storytelling, and royalty-free files.

6. BigStockPhoto

BigStockPhoto is a platform where you can earn money by uploading your original photos and illustrations. Sign up for free, upload your images, retain copyrights and track sales. It was founded in 2004, acquired by Shutterstock in 2009, and offers over 124 million royalty-free images.

7. Getty Images

Getty Images offers a creative community for photographers, videographers, and illustrators to share their content. Earn money with licensed work seen by top brands and agencies. Keep copyright ownership while accessing a vast global distribution network.

Platform Overview Notable Features Alamy Alamy offers a platform for photographers to sell their work globally and earn commission. Offers up to 50% commission, global exposure, empowering tools, complete creative control, no long-term commitments, special offer for students. 500px 500px is a leading online network for photographers, offering exposure and opportunities for growth. Helps photographers showcase their work, challenge themselves, gain recognition, immediate exposure, career-building tools, performance insights. SmugMug SmugMug is a photography platform that helps photographers sell their photos. Offers quick setup, customizable pricing, efficient billing, robust sales tools, creative display options, professional-grade printing options. Shutterstock Shutterstock is a global community of contributors earning money from high-quality images and videos. Easy content upload, tips for success, earning from worldwide customer downloads, showcase work, skill growth, reaches millions of customers. iStock Photo iStockphoto is a stock content site offering ready-to-use photos, illustrations, vectors, and video clips. Offers exclusive content, worry-free licensing, free content, inclusive storytelling, royalty-free files. BigStockPhoto BigStockPhoto is a platform where photographers can earn money by uploading their original content. Free signup, retains copyrights, tracks sales, part of the Shutterstock family, offers over 124 million royalty-free images. Getty Images Getty Images offers a creative community for photographers, videographers, and illustrators. Earn money with licensed work, keep copyright ownership, access a vast global distribution network, content seen by top brands and agencies.

Where to Sell Your Photos

Looking to turn your photos into income? Check out these platforms to sell your work and start earning money. Discover the various opportunities available and find the best fit for showcasing and monetizing your photography skills:

8. Etsy

Etsy offers a marketplace where photographers can showcase and sell their work to a wide audience. Etsys user-friendly interface and global reach allow photographers to monetize their craft and connect with potential customers who appreciate their unique style and creativity.

9. Fine Art America

Fine Art America is a leading online marketplace for artists and photographers to sell their art and prints. They offer a wide range of products like canvas prints, phone cases, home decor, and more. With global fulfillment centers, artists can set their own prices and reach a large audience worldwide.

10. Redbubble

Redbubble is a platform for artists to sell their art on products worldwide. Artists upload designs, customers purchase products, and theyre produced and shipped on demand. With over 70 products available, artists have control over pricing and receive support and protection features.

11. Society6

Society6 empowers artists by providing a marketplace to sell their original work. They offer a variety of products to showcase artwork, handle fulfillment, and support artists with a thriving community and resources. Start selling on Society6 and get paid for your art.

12. ArtPal

ArtPal is a free platform for artists to sell their art. They can create galleries, sell originals or use Print-on-Demand, and receive 100% of profits. Payments are processed instantly, and artists retain all rights to their work.

13. Artfinder

Artfinder is an art marketplace that connects artists with buyers worldwide. They offer artists a global audience, control over their store and pricing, and exclusive benefits. Their mission is to make art accessible and affordable while supporting artists careers. They prioritize originality, openness, courage, and decency in their approach.

14. Saatchi Art

Saatchi Art is a leading online gallery connecting artists with a global community. With representation in 110+ countries, artwork sold in 140+ countries, and millions of monthly page views, it offers support, secure payments, shipping assistance, and exposure through curated features, shows, and promotional initiatives.

Platform Overview Notable Features Etsy Etsy is a marketplace where photographers can showcase and sell their work to a wide audience. User-friendly interface, global reach, monetization for photographers, unique style and creativity promotion. Fine Art America Fine Art America is an online marketplace for artists and photographers to sell their art and prints. Wide range of products, global fulfillment centers, artists can set their own prices, large audience reach. Redbubble Redbubble is a platform for artists to sell their art on products worldwide. Artists upload designs and control pricing, products produced and shipped on demand, support and protection features, over 70 products available. Society6 Society6 empowers artists by providing a marketplace to sell their original work. Offers variety of products to showcase artwork, handles fulfillment, supports artists with a thriving community and resources. ArtPal ArtPal is a free platform for artists to sell their art. Allows artists to create galleries, sell originals or use Print-on-Demand, receive 100% of profits, instant payments, artists retain all rights to their work. Artfinder Artfinder is an art marketplace that connects artists with buyers worldwide. Offers artists a global audience, control over their store and pricing, exclusive benefits, prioritizes originality, openness, courage, and decency. Saatchi Art Saatchi Art is a leading online gallery connecting artists with a global community. Offers support, secure payments, shipping assistance, exposure through curated features, shows, and promotional initiatives, representation in 110+ countries, artwork sold in 140+ countries, millions of monthly page views.

Where to Sell Nature Photos

If you have a knack for capturing the beauty of nature through your camera lens, there are numerous platforms where you can sell your stunning nature photos. Here are some options to showcase and monetize your captivating nature photography:

15. Payhip

Payhip is an online platform that helps sellers monetize their nature photos. It offers a user-friendly interface, optimized checkout, and supports various payment methods. Payhip handles payment processing and file delivery and offers marketing tools. Theyre also trusted by over 130,000 sellers worldwide.

16. Blue Planet Archive

Blue Planet Archive is a specialized stock photo agency founded by photographers. They offer amazing images of the Earth, including wildlife, landscapes, underwater scenes, and environmental issues. Aspiring photographers and artists are welcome to contribute.

17. CanStockPhoto

CanStockPhoto allows photographers to sell their images easily and for free. They earn commissions when their images are downloaded, and referrals can earn them $5 USD. CanStockPhoto also partners with Fotosearch, giving maximum exposure. The upload system is fast, supporting simultaneous submission of up to 20 images.

18. Dreamstime

Dreamstime is a platform where anyone can sell photos, images, and videos. To get started, register for free and upload your files, ensuring they meet the necessary criteria. Contributors can earn 25-50% revenue share and exclusive files receive bonuses. As your content gets downloaded, it moves up in levels, earning higher prices. Dreamstime also offers extended licensing options.

19. Adobe Stock

Join Adobe Stock to sell your content and expand your creative career. Benefit from native integration into Adobe apps, market insights, and superior tools like machine learning and a fast workflow. You retain ownership of your work and earn a 33% royalty on sales.

20. Creative Market

Creative Market is a design marketplace connecting creators with millions of customers. Shop owners can earn money selling their work, set prices, and enjoy perks like a 9-million-member network. No exclusivity lock-in, instant delivery, and tools for managing shops are provided. Join today to start your own shop.

21. Fiverr

With a global marketplace, Fiverr connects sellers with millions of buyers on its platform, offering a vast potential customer base. Set your own prices, showcase your portfolio, and deliver high-quality images. Join Fiverr today and start earning from your stunning nature photography.

Platform Overview Notable Features Payhip Payhip is an online platform that helps sellers monetize their nature photos. Offers user-friendly interface, optimized checkout, supports various payment methods, handles payment processing and file delivery, offers marketing tools. Blue Planet Archive Blue Planet Archive is a specialized stock photo agency providing amazing images of the Earth. Offers wildlife, landscapes, underwater scenes, and environmental images, welcomes contributions from aspiring photographers and artists. CanStockPhoto CanStockPhoto allows photographers to sell their images easily and for free. Photographers earn commissions when images are downloaded, partnerships with Fotosearch for maximum exposure, quick upload system, earning potential from referrals. Dreamstime Dreamstime is a platform where anyone can sell photos, images, and videos. Offers 25-50% revenue share, bonuses for exclusive files, levels system for content downloads, extended licensing options. Adobe Stock Adobe Stock is a platform where you can sell your content and expand your creative career. Offers native integration into Adobe apps, market insights, machine learning tools, fast workflow, a 33% royalty on sales while retaining ownership of work. Creative Market Creative Market is a design marketplace connecting creators with millions of customers. Shop owners set prices, perks like a 9-million-member network, no exclusivity lock-in, instant delivery, tools for managing shops. Fiverr Fiverr is a global marketplace connecting sellers with millions of buyers. Allows sellers to set their own prices, showcase their portfolio, vast potential customer base.

Where to Sell NFT Photos

If youre interested in venturing into the world of NFTs and selling your digital photos as unique and valuable tokens, there are dedicated platforms available. Explore the options below to delve into the exciting realm of NFT photography:

22. OpenSea

OpenSea is the largest marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique digital goods with tradeable and usable properties. Their vision is to create vibrant economies using open protocols and interoperable standards. Founded in 2017, OpenSea supports multiple blockchains and is backed by top firms, offering a wide range of categories for digital items.

23. Rarible

Rarible is an online marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It allows creators to mint and sell their own NFTs, providing a platform for artists, musicians, and other creators to showcase and monetize their work. Users can also buy, sell, and trade NFTs within the Rarible community.

24. SuperRare

SuperRare is a digital art marketplace for NFTs on Ethereum. Artists create and tokenize their work as digital assets. Its a curated platform to buy, sell, and discover digital art. Features include top artist rankings, curated exhibitions, and blockchain tokenization. It connects artists and collectors in a unique art market.

25. MakersPlace

MakersPlace is a marketplace for digital creators to sell NFTs to a community of 100K+ collectors. It protects artwork, offers earnings on sales and royalties, and pioneers blockchain tech. The platform verifies authenticity and has a diverse team of experts from art and technology backgrounds.

26. Nifty Gateway

Nifty Gateway, a part of Gemini, provides secure storage for NFTs. Publishers can create and publish their own NFTs with flexible payment and custody options. They offer creator-owned smart contracts, easy payouts, and various drop types. Nifty Gateway aims to make NFTs accessible and collaborates with artists and brands.

27. Quantum Art

Quantum Art partners with influential artists, curating collections of artwork for a new generation of global collectors. Led by Kris Graves and Rodolphe Kodderitzsch, the Quantum Curatorial Team collaborates with artists to create optimal drop stories, sizes, selections, sequences, and values. They welcome submissions from established artists and collections of historical importance.

Platform Overview Notable Features OpenSea OpenSea is the largest marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), with a wide range of categories for digital items. Supports multiple blockchains, backed by top firms, offers a wide range of categories for digital items. Rarible Rarible allows creators to mint and sell their own NFTs, providing a platform for artists, musicians, and other creators to showcase and monetize their work. Enables creators to mint their own NFTs, community-centered trading and selling platform. SuperRare SuperRare is a digital art marketplace for NFTs on Ethereum, connecting artists and collectors in a unique art market. Features top artist rankings, curated exhibitions, blockchain tokenization, and a curated platform for buying, selling, and discovering digital art. MakersPlace MakersPlace is a marketplace for digital creators to sell NFTs to a large community of collectors and verifies authenticity. Protects artwork, offers earnings on sales and royalties, pioneers blockchain tech, has a diverse team of experts from art and technology backgrounds. Nifty Gateway Nifty Gateway provides secure storage for NFTs and allows publishers to create and publish their own NFTs with flexible payment and custody options. Offers creator-owned smart contracts, easy payouts, various drop types, and aims to make NFTs accessible and collaborates with artists and brands. Quantum Art Quantum Art curates collections of artwork for a new generation of global collectors, focusing on influential artists and collections of historical importance. Partners with influential artists, curates collections of artwork, led by experts, welcomes submissions from established artists and collections of historical importance.

FAQs: Best Places to Sell Photos Online

What are the differences between a stock photography site and a stock photo site?

A stock photography site and a stock photo site are essentially the same thing. Both platforms offer a collection of professional images that can be licensed and used for various purposes, such as websites, advertisements, and publications.

What are some considerations when choosing a stock photography website to sell images?

When choosing a stock photography website to sell images, consider its reputation, customer base, pricing, royalty structure, licensing terms, ease of image management, and promotional opportunities. Look for a site with a good track record, fair royalties, suitable licensing, user-friendly interfaces, and effective promotion to reach more buyers.

How can stock images be optimized for better visibility on stock photography websites?

To improve the visibility of your stock images on photography websites, it is important to focus on high-quality and relevant content. This involves using appropriate keywords and descriptions, properly tagging and categorizing images, adhering to technical specifications, and regularly updating your portfolio with fresh and diverse content.

Can digital images other than photos, such as illustrations and graphics, be sold on stock photo sites?

Stock photo sites accept illustrations and graphics, offering a diverse marketplace for photographers and digital artists to monetize their work. Buyers benefit from a wide range of visual content options, while creatives expand their income potential and gain exposure in various mediums. Collaboration among artists fosters a rich and inspiring community.

What are some ways to ensure a stock photo stands out among millions of images on a stock photo website?

To make a stock photo stand out, choose a visually appealing and unique image that captures attention, use descriptive and relevant keywords for better search results, and make sure the photo has good composition and clarity. You should also consider adding a personal touch or a creative element to make it memorable.

How profitable is it to sell your photos online?

If youre interested in learning how to make money with photography, selling your photos online can be a profitable venture. With the right platform and marketing, you can earn money from your creative work. By reaching a global audience, you increase your chances of making sales. However, its important to invest time in learning about the market, optimizing your images, and staying consistent to maximize your profitability.
Whether youre planning a weekend road trip, need an economy-sized vehicle for an upcoming business meeting, or just need to get around for a few days in a different city, the best car rental apps can help.

In this article, well take a look at 11 of the best car rental app options available in 2023 that will make sure your travels go smoothly and you arrive at your destination safely. Lets get started!

What is the Best Car Rental App?

Turo is a leading car rental app in 2023, providing services in 56 countries and over 5,000 cities. With a wide selection of car models, easy communication with hosts, and the option to earn money by renting your own car, Turo stands out in the market. Renters benefit from affordable options, insurance savings, under-25 rental options, and a seamless pick-up/drop-off process. To get started, download the Turo app for Android and iOS.

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How to Choose the Best Car Rental App

Choosing the right car rental app for your needs can be difficult. Here are four key criteria to consider when choosing a car rental app:

Cost of Rentals

When looking into car rental apps, the cost of renting a vehicle is one of the most important considerations. The cost should reflect your budget and needs, so make sure youre getting a good deal at an affordable rate.

Range of Cars Available

Another factor to consider is the range of cars available. Look for an app that provides you with a wide selection of vehicles, from hatchbacks to luxury sedans, so you dont have to settle for something that doesnt fit your needs.

Quality and Reliability

The quality and reliability of any car rental app are essential when selecting one. Make sure that your chosen platform is reliable and has positive customer reviews. This will help ensure that you get the best experience possible when using their services.

User Interface & Experience

Finally, take note of the user interface and experience offered by each car rental app you investigate. Some apps may provide a better overall experience than others, from booking a vehicle quickly and easily to finding a specific kind of vehicle type in mere seconds.

The 11 Best Car Rental Apps to Consider

With so many options out there it can be overwhelming to find the right car rental app. Heres a guide to the 11 best car rental apps that you should consider. Start exploring now and start your journey with confidence.

1. Getaround App

Getaround revolutionizes transportation with its innovative car-sharing platform. Through its website, drivers seeking the perfect vehicle can easily locate and reserve vehicles from private car owners who are willing to share their rides for a fee. As of 2019, Getaround had garnered a substantial following, boasting 5 million users and a fleet of 20,000 shared cars globally.

Key Features:

Quick and easy signup process

Verification speeds up access to car browsing

Rent cars, trucks, convertibles, or vans for hours or days

Getaround Connect technology helps locate and unlock cars via phone

Pros:

Quick and simple

Positive impact on the environment

Safe, with insurance and driving record checks included

Cons:

Can be more costly than competitors

Higher chance of user and owner dissatisfaction

Limited locations available

Download the Getaround app for Android and iOS.

2. Turo

Turo lets you skip the rental car counter with the worlds largest peer-to-peer car-sharing platform. With Turo, you can even start your own car-sharing business. Turo takes pride in its commitment to sustainability, offsetting 100% of its estimated global carbon emissions. This means that as you utilize their platform to grow your scalable car-sharing business or fulfill your travel aspirations, you can do so with peace of mind knowing that Turo has taken responsibility for its impact on the environment.

Key Features:

Turo offers car rental services in 56 countries and over 5,000 cities

Filter through delivery options and car features

Choose from 800+ car models

Easily communicate with the host through the app

Earn money as a car owner by sharing your car on Turo

Pros:

Affordable car rental options

Insurance cost savings

Under 25 rental options

Smooth pick-up/drop-off process

Connect with local renters

Helpful rental reviews

Cons:

Limited one-way rental options

Possibility of pick-up/drop-off inconvenience

Download the Turo app for Android and iOS.

3. Zipcar

Zipcar is available in the US, UK, Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, Turkey, and Taiwan. Find the perfect car using their app, which will give you access to 3,000+ cars and vans throughout the globe.

Key Features:

Hourly or daily Zipcar reservation

Wide range of vehicle options (sedans, hybrids, vans, etc.)

Sort cars based on availability, make, and model

View future reservations

Get directions to your Zipcar

Locate your reserved Zipcar by honking its horn

Pros:

Wide range of affordable car options

Cars are available 24/7 with constant access

Insurance coverage included in the rental fee

Toll passes and gas cards are provided in the car

No need to use your personal credit card for gas

Cons:

Risk of unpleasant odors (e.g. smoke, body odor)

No guarantee of compliance with cleaning rules

Need to fill up the car before returning, with no guarantee of the previous driver doing so

Additional fees can accumulate with poor mileage tracking

Long road trips may be better served by traditional car rental companies with unlimited daily rates

Download the Zipcar app for Android and iOS.

4. carSHAiR

carSHAIR created a car-sharing platform that goes beyond just driving and ownership. The goal was to empower car owners, promote financial literacy, and give back to the community. They also donate a portion of their profits to charity.

Key Features:

Get access to a vehicle when and where you need it

Use your parked car to earn money through car sharing with carSHAiR

carSHAiR simplifies the process of turning your car into a source of passive income

As a carSHAiR member, you have access to a community of verified members and secure authentication

carSHAiR markets your car for you, making it easier for you to earn passive income

Get help and support whenever you need it with carSHAiRs 24/7 live concierge support

Pros:

User-friendly app

Accessible for non-tech savvy individuals

Exceptional customer support

Cons:

Challenging photo upload process

5 business days to receive payment for a completed trip

Long processing time for reimbursement requests

Only available in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Atlanta

Download the carSHAiR app for Android and iOS.

5. Lyft Rentals

Lyft Rentals simplifies car rental with no paperwork or counter wait. Rent a car for any purpose, be it a weekend trip, business travel, or errands, with the flexibility offered by Lyft Rentals.

Key Features:

Discount for multi-day trips and new users

Free car upgrades

Automatic local gas rate charging without added fees

All within the Lyft app

Pros:

Easy-to-use app for both Android and iOS users

Variety of vehicle options from private owners and Sixt partnership

Free Lyft credit to the pickup location

Free car accessories like car seats and ski racks

Unlimited mileage

Cons:

Limited to 16 states

$10 Lyft credit may not fully cover transportation to the rental lot

Not user-friendly for non-tech people

Download the Lyft riders app for Android and iOS.

6. Uber Rent

Find the perfect car for any occasion with Ubers rental service, powered by its partners. Choose from well-known brands, and enjoy flexible scheduling and add-ons, all at great prices, through the Uber app.

Key Features:

Flexible rental duration from 1 to 12 hours

Add or remove stops on the go, up to 5 stops at a time

Convenient, stress-free transportation with no parking or traffic worries

Book on the Uber app for short-term car rental anytime

Pros:

The Uber car rental option offers a cost-effective solution for those who cant afford car ownership

The rental partners handle all maintenance and repair needs, ensuring you a hassle-free experience. If your car breaks down, theyll provide a replacement

Choose rental duration to fit your needs and rent when needed, even if you already own a car

Enjoy driving newer, well-maintained cars with the Uber rental program, avoiding the worries of older vehicle issues

Cons:

Careful reading is required to avoid extra insurance or mileage charges from rental partners

Access to rides may be scarce in rural areas, small towns, or some cities

Download the Uber app for Android and iOS.

7. HyreCar

Rent a car for rideshare, delivery, and more with HyreCar. Drive as needed and earn on your terms with rentals for Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, and others. Choose from daily, weekly, or monthly options.

Key Features:

HyreCar is a top peer-to-peer car-sharing platform for gig workers

Book a suitable car from local owners for your rideshare or delivery work

Helps find new ride options during car repairs or to save personal car miles

Local car owners can list their vehicles and become car-sharing entrepreneurs

Pros:

Ideal for both new and experienced gig workers

Gig workers can achieve financial freedom with HyreCar

Tons of cars to choose from

Cons:

Can be an expensive long-term solution

All the cars have daily mileage limits set by owners, typically ranging from 150-300 miles

Car pickup/drop-off must be coordinated with the individual owner

Download the HyreCar app for Android and iOS.

8. Enterprise

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a proud American company founded on principles of honesty, integrity, and community service. Today, its the largest car rental business with over 8,000 global locations, offering car rental, sharing, sales, and more.

Key Features:

Free travel planner app for the US, Canada, Europe, and Latin America

Award-winning customer service

Vehicle options from economy to luxury car rental

Industry-leading cleanliness and sanitization of every rental car

Pros:

Enterprise offers low rates for short-term car rentals

Over 8,000 locations worldwide with free pickup from hotel/home (not airport)

No hidden fees and a loyalty reward program, Enterprise Plus, is available

Points earned for money spent on rentals with expedited in-store service

Additional 10% after 6 rentals, free car upgrades for 12 and 24 rentals

Cons:

A young driver fee of $25 may apply

Long-term rentals may have better deals elsewhere

Additional driver fee of $15 per day, except for spouse/domestic partner

Download the Enterprise app for Android and iOS.

9. Budget

Plan your trip with Budget Car Rental for savings on car rentals, with top deals, rates, and accessories. Budget, founded in 1958 in LA by Morris Mirkin, is a well-respected global car rental company known for its excellence and value.

Key Features:

Book, change, or cancel car rentals 24/7

Locate nearby Budget car rental locations with addresses and operating hours

Get directions to your Budget rental location

Fastbreak members have a single hub for all rentals

Get on-road support with Roadside Assistance

Pros:

Streamlined process, no complicated steps

Wide range of vehicle options and customization

Easy profile and reservation modification

Cons:

The app may have occasional difficulties in determining location, but restarting the app usually resolves the issue

Download the Budget app for Android and iOS.

10. Alamo

Alamo offers low car rental rates at popular destinations worldwide, with a fleet of over 150,000 cars serving 15 million travelers annually. It is the third-largest car rental company in the US.

Key Features:

Find rental locations and reserve a car using filters

View all your rentals in one place

Prepare for pickup with Accelerated Check-In

Get 24/7 support and help with FAQs

Pros:

Simple reservation process

Available discounts

Convenient online check-in

Members who are part of the rewards program receive a 5% discount

Cons:

Fees for drivers under 25

Credit card requirement

A limited number of locations, with the majority being located at airports

Download the Alamo app for Android and iOS.

11. Hertz

Hertz offers diverse car rental options and convenient locations worldwide and prioritizes customer service for all types of trips. With over 10,000 airport and neighborhood locations across 145 countries, Hertz provides quick rental access that also provides car rental franchise opportunities.

Key Features:

One-touch log-in feature

Easy navigation with menus and features tailored for mobile use

Save time by using previous searches to book your next car rental quickly

Find Hertz locations worldwide with information on hours of operation, contact details, and directions

Get special deals and content through Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership

Pros:

Free upgrades, no extra driver fees, and more with the Hertz rewards program

AAA members get special discounts

Free pick-up and drop-off service, except at airports

Hertz guarantees the best rate with an extra 10% off if you find a lower rate elsewhere

Cons:

Non-Gold Plus members pay an additional daily fee for each additional driver

Higher rates for shorter rentals compared to competitors

Reports of overcharging for gas and extras, especially in foreign locations

Download the Hertz app for Android and iOS.

App Name Key Features Pros Cons Available on Getaround Quick signup, car browsing, and Getaround Connect technology. Quick and simple, environmentally friendly, insurance and driving checks included. More costly, higher dissatisfaction, limited locations. Android, iOS Turo Services in 56 countries, various car models, in-app host communication, personal car-sharing business. Affordable, insurance cost savings, under 25 options, rental reviews. Limited one-way rentals, possible pick-up/drop-off inconvenience. Android, iOS Zipcar Hourly/daily reservations, wide range of vehicles, future reservations, locate reserved Zipcar. Affordable, 24/7 availability, insurance covered in fee, toll passes and gas cards provided. Possible unpleasant odors, cleaning rules, need to fill up the car before returning, extra fees for poor mileage tracking. Android, iOS carSHAiR Access to a vehicle when needed, earn money, carSHAiR member access, 24/7 live concierge support. User-friendly, accessible for non-tech individuals, exceptional customer support. Challenging photo upload, delayed payment and reimbursement, limited locations. Android, iOS Lyft Rentals Discounts for multi-day trips and new users, free car upgrades, local gas rate charging, all within the Lyft app. Easy to use, variety of vehicle options, free Lyft credit to pick-up location, free accessories, unlimited mileage. Limited to 16 states, $10 Lyft credit may not cover transportation to rental lot, not user-friendly for non-tech people. Android, iOS Uber Rent Flexible rental duration, add/remove stops, stress-free transportation. Cost-effective, maintenance and repair handled by partners, flexible rental duration, newer well-maintained cars. Extra charges from partners, scarce rides in rural areas or small towns. Android, iOS HyreCar Peer-to-peer platform for gig workers, book a suitable car from local owners. Ideal for gig workers, financial freedom, lots of cars to choose from. Can be expensive long-term, daily mileage limits, pickup/drop-off must be coordinated with the owner. Android, iOS Enterprise Free travel planner app, award-winning service, cleanliness and sanitization of cars. Low rates, free pickup, no hidden fees, loyalty reward program. Young driver fee of $25 may apply, better deals elsewhere for long-term, extra driver fee of $15 per day. Android, iOS Budget Book, change, or cancel rentals 24/7, locate nearby locations, get on-road support. Streamlined process, wide range of vehicle options, easy profile and reservation modification. App may have occasional difficulties in determining location. Android, iOS Alamo Find rental locations, view all rentals, prepare for pickup. Simple reservation process, available discounts, online check-in. Fees for drivers under 25, credit card requirement, limited number of locations. Android, iOS Hertz One-touch log-in, easy navigation, save previous searches, find Hertz locations, special deals through rewards program. Free upgrades, special discounts for AAA members, free pickup/drop-off, best rate guarantee. Extra fee for each additional driver, higher rates for shorter rentals, reports of overcharging. Android, iOS

The Bottom Line

There are many different car rental and vehicle-related apps available in 2023, each with its own unique features and benefits. There are even parking apps to get you an open spot without wandering around all day long. Whatever your needs may be, there is sure to be an app that meets them. From budget-friendly options to luxury services, the best car rental apps provide a convenient experience for all travelers. With so many different options, it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you, but hopefully, these reviews will help you find the perfect fit.

What app lets you rent someones car?

Turo is a popular app that lets you rent someones car. It offers cars from hundreds of makes and models, giving you a wide variety of options to choose from. On Turo, you can filter your search by price, location, type of vehicle, amenities, and more. You can also read reviews from past renters to get an idea of what other people think about the vehicles before renting them. With its reasonable prices and convenient services, Turo is a great option for rental car needs.

Is there an app for car rentals like Airbnb?

Yes, there are several apps that offer car rental services much like Airbnb. For instance, Getaround allows users to rent a car from people in their local community.

You can view available vehicles and book your rental instantly without having to go through a rental agency or dealership. Plus, the prices are often cheaper than traditional car rentals due to reduced overhead costs for the owner of the vehicle.

What is the easiest place to get a rental car from?

The easiest place to get rental cars is often through an online platform. Apps such as Turo and Getaround provide convenient car rental services that are often cheaper than traditional agencies. With these apps, you can view available vehicles in your area and book a rental with just a few clicks. Theyll also have reviews from past renters so you can ensure you get a quality vehicle.

What car rental fees will I pay with a car rental service and app?

Renting a car through a car rental service or app can involve a number of potential fees, not all of which may be immediately apparent. Here are some of the common types of fees you may be charged:

Rental Fee: This is the base fee for the car rental itself, typically calculated on a daily or weekly basis. The cost can vary significantly depending on the type of car, the rental company, and the location. Insurance Fee: Most rental companies offer a variety of insurance options for additional fees, such as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Liability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), and more. While some of these may be optional, others might be mandatory depending on the companys policy and the laws of the country or state where you are renting the car. Fuel Fee: Depending on the rental companys policy, you may be required to return the car with a full tank of gas or pay a refueling fee. Some companies may also offer a pre-paid fuel option where you pay for a full tank of gas upfront and can return the car with any level of fuel. Equipment Rental Fee: If you need additional equipment such as a GPS, a child seat, ski racks, or other items, these will typically involve additional fees. Underage Driver Fee: Many rental companies charge an additional fee for drivers under a certain age (usually 25). This fee can vary significantly from one company to another. Additional Driver Fee: If more than one person will be driving the car, some companies charge an extra fee for each additional driver. One-way Rental Fee: If you pick up the car in one location and drop it off in another, there may be a one-way rental fee. Mileage Fee: Some rental agreements may include a limit on how many miles you can drive and charge extra for any miles driven over this limit. Taxes and Surcharges: These can include sales taxes, airport surcharges, local and state taxes, and other fees. These can add a significant amount to the total cost of the rental. Late Return Fee: If you return the car later than agreed, you may be charged an additional days rental or a late return fee. Early Return Fee: Some companies may charge a fee if you return the car earlier than the agreed date. Toll Charges: If you drive on toll roads, you will be responsible for the toll charges. Some rental companies offer electronic toll payment devices for an additional fee.

Its worth noting that GPS usage in rental cars can indeed drain battery life quickly if used continuously, so plan accordingly to ensure your device has sufficient power for your journey.

Always carefully review the rental agreement and all fees before you finalize your car rental to avoid any surprises.

How much does a car rental service and app cost?

The cost of renting a car through a car rental app or service can vary depending on various factors such as the type of vehicle, the length of the rental, and the location. However, on average, a daily rental for an economy car can cost around $30 to $40, while a more luxurious or larger vehicle can cost $70 to $100 or more per day. Keep in mind that these are just average costs and prices can fluctuate based on factors like location, availability, and time of the year.
Florida-based contractors HX5 LLC, its CEO Margarita Howard, and the affiliated joint venture HX5 Sierra LLC will pay $7,759,693.92 to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The United States government accused the companies and Howard of providing false information about their eligibility for federal set-aside contracts for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Small business set-aside contracts assist small businesses, including socially disadvantaged companies, to compete in the American economy, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. When companies misrepresent their eligibility for such contracts, other small businesses are denied the business opportunities intended by Congress.

The Small Business Administrations (SBA) 8(a) business development program, designed to aid small businesses owned and controlled by disadvantaged individuals, came into the spotlight with these allegations. The accused parties were alleged to have fraudulently procured six 8(a) contracts from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021.

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Specifically, the government alleged that HX5 and Howard failed to report distributions and payments to Howards family members and provided false information to the SBA regarding Howards assets. If accurate information had been given, it would have led to HX5s removal from the SBA 8(a) Program, making HX5 Sierra ineligible for 8(a) set-aside contracts. Due to the alleged false statements, HX5 maintained its 8(a) Program status, and HX5 and HX5 Sierra were awarded contracts from NASA, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force they were not eligible for.

This result demonstrates a coordinated effort among our agency partners to ensure that disregard for the integrity of small business contracting will not go unchecked, said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida.

The settlement includes the resolution of claims under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Vantage Systems Inc. As part of the resolution, Vantage Systems will receive $1,357,964.00. Qui tam provisions allow private parties to file an action on behalf of the U.S. and receive a portion of any recovery.

This cases resolution underscores the importance of honesty and transparency in the pursuit of government contracts. For small businesses, the ramifications of false reporting and misleading actions can be financially devastating and lead to reputational damage. As small business owners vie for valuable government contracts, maintaining the integrity of the process is crucial to foster an equitable competitive environment.

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Cases of self-harm and suicidal thoughts potentially linked to the drugs.

The number of suicides in Slovakia increased year-on-year to 563 in 2022. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

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Last week, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched an investigation into the drugs Saxenda, Wegovy and Ozempic, after Icelandic health authorities reported 150 cases of self-harm and suicidal thoughts potentially linked to the three drugs.

While the first two are weight-loss drugs, the third one is intended for treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

The drugs are widely marketed. With the exception of Wegovy, the other drugs are available in Slovakia as well. Both are prescribed by doctors.

As of July 13, the Slovak State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) has three reports of negative side effects in regards to Ozempic, with one being an allergic skin reaction and the remaining connected to pain and cramps. In case of the latter drug, SUKL inspectors have so far received only a report of acute pancreatitis after taking Saxenda.

No self-harm and suicidal thoughts related to their intake have been reported in Slovakia.

The EMA stresses that it is not yet clear whether the drugs are the cause of the symptoms, or whether they can be attributed to other factors such as underlying conditions in patients. A full opinion is expected by November.

According to recent data of the National Health Information Centre, the number of suicides in Slovakia increased year-on-year to 563 last year, which is 13 more than in 2021. 464 were committed by men.

The most common method of death by suicide was hanging, strangulation and suffocation.
Who doesnt love a good blend, especially when its for a good cause, made by those with good taste? And that is exactly what the Bay Areas Equator Coffees has on offer. Continuing with their Chefs Collection limited release coffee, Equator has teamed up with award-winning chef, author, and restauranteur Tanya Holland for the new blend California Soul, with proceeds going to benefit Mandela Partners.

Equator has a long history of working with influential chefs to create special-release coffees for a cause. In the past they have collaborated with the likes of Thomas Keller, Dominique Crenn, Tyler Florence, Brandon Jew, and Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, each of which helped design their featured coffee as well as select the charity it would benefit.

For this most recent blend, the brand tapped Chef Tanya Holland, whose accolades in the culinary world are frankly too many to list. She is the chef/owner of Oaklands Brown Sugar Kitchen, competed on Bravos Top Chef, hosts her own show Tanyas Kitchen Table on the OWN Network, has written multiple books, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the James Beard Foundation, just to name a few.

For her California Soul Blend, Chef Holland selected three coffee: a washed processed and a natural processed both from the Kayon Mountain Estates in Southern Guji, Ethiopia and a washed coffee from the Ketiara Cooperative in the Gayo Mountain region of Sumatra. Medium roasted, the coffee is fruit-forward, with notes of blackberry, pecan, and bittersweet chocolate.

For the beneficiary, Chef Holland tapped West Oaklands Mandela Partners, a non-profit that works in partnership with local residents, family farmers, and community-based businesses to improve health, create wealth, and build assets through local food enterprises in limited-resource communities, per the press release. $1 of each 12oz bag of California Souland $2 from every 2lb bagwill go to benefit Mandela Partners.

Partnering with Equator is an opportunity to work with a like-minded women-led company with integrity that represents excellence in the industry; these things have always been important to me, said Chef Tanya Holland. Supporting the work of Mandela Partners with this coffee is an exciting chance to support the community where my first restaurant (Brown Sugar Kitchen) got its start.

Chef Tanya Hollands California Soul Blend is available for purchase at Equator cafes and online for $19 for a 12oz bag and $43 for a 2lb. For more information or to purchase a bag, visit Equator Coffees official website.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

All images courtesy of Equator Coffees
New Delhi is the capital of the largest functioning democracy on earth: India. The summers here are as fiery as the politics, peaking 113 degrees Fahrenheit. This time of year the most popular beverages around town are lassis (sweet thick buttermilk), chaas (buttermilk), and shikanjis (spicy spritzy lemonade), sipped to cool down this booming metropolis filled with movers and shakers and iconic monuments, where modern trimmings of the 21st century embrace centuries-old architecture and culture. The City of Rallies is filled with a thriving youthful population, theres always something interesting to debate, discuss, and chatter over.

Coffee drinking culture has been around in New Delhi since at least 1962, when Devans opened what might be the first modern roasters in the city. This style of commercial-grade coffee purveyor are still a favorite for many locals, but today New Delhis coffee scene is in flux. Now more than ever before there is a noticeable difference in the quality of coffee and the way it is sourced, served, and sipped here in the capital city. Shops that roast their own coffee are particularly strong right now, contributing to coffee education and advocacy across the city, and they form the core of this guide.

New Delhi is home to a positively booming coffee culture. Here, in no particular order, are the cafes that help define the city today.

Savorworks Coffee & Chocolate Atelier

What happens when you combine the art of making chocolate, coffee, and add a huge helping of passion? You get Savorworks Roasters, located in the Chattarpur district of New Delhi. This is a cafe where every food and drink comes with its own story, and nothing is done the easy way.

Chocolate is roasted and mixed on-site and the same is true for the coffee. Every syrup, like the one in their Calamansi sodaa citrus hybrid between a lemon and tangerineis prepared in house, and coffee producers are often invited to share their processes and stories. Nothing is left to chance here, and experience is at the forefront. Cofounder couple Baninder Singh and Paweena Withyasathien can be seen talking to customers, roasting, or taking part in daily activities at the establishment, which emphasize community. Pour-overs are thoughtfully served in three distinct origami cup shapes. Each cup is expertly designed to elevate and amplify the unique taste profile, providing a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. Even seemingly ordinary delights, such as the Black Forest cake are crafted with the utmost care. The experience here is never overpowering but instead offers a delightful harmony at every level.

Quick Brown Fox Coffee Roasters

Founder Vaibhav Bindal, a trained Q-grader, has a deep appreciation for the Dhan Mill Compound, a network of sheds that have now been converted into a vibrant retail shopping community. Each shop owner within this gated market has showcased their imagination by transforming their spaces, and QBF Coffee is no exception. Stepping inside transports you to a different era, where the charm and character of the surroundings are truly captivating. A blend of carefully positioned indoor plants along with wooden tones and abundant natural light create an atmosphere that beautifully blends Scandinavian and Japanese influences. Immerse yourself in a cinematic reality as American classics from the 1930s to the 1950s set the backdrop, allowing you to disconnect from the outside world.

Whether youre catching up with friends or meeting business partners, this space provides the ideal ambiance. Their new menu has doubled in size, offering an extensive selection of food and brews. While local favorites include milk-based espresso drinks, dont miss the opportunity to try their smooth nitro, always on tapan absolute must-try. Having a few years of experience and know-how under its belt, QBF Coffee expects to open a new location in South Delhi in 2023.

Saltoro Coffee Roasters

Nestled in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, lies the picturesque planned city of Noida. A true sanctuary for nature enthusiasts, this planned city is now home to a bustling coffee culture. Started in 2020, during the lockdown by Natansh Bhayana, Saltoro is the name of a barren land shared by India and Pakistan. Inspired by a more European approach to coffee, Saltoro is always evolving and helping locals discover specialty coffee.

Today, Saltoro is managed jointly by the Creative Director, Shneel Bhayana, who says that the cafe is a space where the bestest of friends and fiercest of enemies meet. Situated on the rooftop of a thriving market scene in the area, Saltoro Coffee roasts are all credit to Natansh who uses the Silon ZR7 Coffee Roaster and a 2kg electric roaster. He single-handedly manages the entire roasting process for all the cafe drinks as well as commercial and online orders.

A bright space with an alluring coffee bar, Saltoro proudly invites visitors to have a conversation about the beverage theyre drinking. Mingling couples can while away the hours on their rooftop tablesallowing a welcome respite from New Delhis bustling streets. The indoor space offers everyone a chance to indulge in a finely brewed coffee or indulge in a mixture of healthy and indulgent food. Jain food offerings include a number of sandwiches and a vibrant customized quinoa Buddha Bowl.

Rossette Coffee Lab

Founded by Vansh Anand, a hospitality graduate with a personal penchant for coffee, Rossette Coffee Lab is situated on the second floor of a residential West Delhi building. The lab is a work in progress, having first opened its doors to the public in May 2023.

Heaps of green coffee bags from a wide variety of Indian estates welcome you as you enter this multipurpose space. Move a little further and youll be greeted by a cupping table and a number of espresso machines and gadgets of all varieties. While you can order any kind of coffee here, the idea is to pay for an experiencethe chance to become a barista for a day. For Rs. 100 ($1.22 USD), you will be handed a test tube filled with coffee beans, which you can grind, tamp, and extract yourself a shot on the Conti Monaco or the Profitec Pro 700. Sign up for a special cupping session or just come in for a coffee with friends.

Speaking to Vansh or the customer turned co-founder, Aashrray Singla for even two minutes will give you an insiders eye to the magic of specialty coffee. Ask them about their most recent origin visits and youll learn how even the robusta used is selectively handpicked, impacting the overall flavor of the coffee. Finally, pro-tip: the elevator may be shut off when you visit, but you should call ahead and nudge them to switch it on.

Kaffa Cerrado



Founded by siblings Rasalika, Saudamini, and Krittivas Dalmia, Kaffa Cerrado is a roastery exploring coffees from across the world. They started out importing roasted beans, only to realize that the coffee had gone stale by the time it was brewed. So, like many others in New Delhi, they began roasting themselves.

When COVID hit, the founders shut down around eight cafes and in-store collaboration locations around New Delhi. Today only one full-experience cafe remains open along with another corporate tie-up. Due to heavy taxes placed on imported coffee in India, their offerings for coffee beans are slightly pricier than others. To introduce them to the variety of international coffees, patrons of the cafe can enjoy an international cup at minimally higher rates. Situated in an industrial area, the roastery and adjacent cafe offers a quiet space and window into the coffee roasting processamidst the chaos of Okhla. The crowd is a combination of work-from-cafe regulars and coffee enthusiasts who come to experiment with various methods and roasts. Take time to enjoy their house blend espresso drinks, which feature Indian, Brazilian, and Ethiopian beans. Those craving handmade brews will definitely find the Colombian AeroPress and Ethiopian Chemex worth their while.

Dhaval Mehta is a journalist based in Mumbai, India. Read more Dhaval Mehta for Sprudge.

Photos provided by the cafes, used with permission
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/air-raid-warning-issued-in-parts-of-ukraine---authorities-1111928570.html

Air Raid Warning Issued in Parts of Ukraine - Authorities

Air Raid Warning Issued in Parts of Ukraine - Authorities

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Air raid warnings were in effect in several regions of Ukraine late on Sunday night, according to air raid data from the countrys Ministry... 16.07.2023, Sputnik International

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russia's special operation in ukraine

kharkov

dnepropetrovsk

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Air raid sirens went off in the Ukrainian regions of Sumy, Poltava, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk and Kirovograd at around 22:12 local time (19:12 GMT) on Sunday, the ministrys online map showed. Ukrainian media reported that explosions were heard in the Ukraine-controlled parts of Kherson on Sunday night. Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Zaporozhye regional administration, said on Telegram late on Sunday that blasts were heard in the Kiev-controlled city of Zaporozhye. 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/20230716/third-of-us-bradley-vehicles-sent-to-ukraine-likely-destroyed-analysts-say-1111926815.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/controversy-arises-as-boston-mayor-admin-admits-compiling-critics-list-media-reports--1111928866.html

Controversy Arises as Boston Mayor Admin Admits Compiling Critics List, Media Reports

Controversy Arises as Boston Mayor Admin Admits Compiling Critics List, Media Reports

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's administration has admitted to compiling a list of her most vocal critics and sharing it with the Boston PD due to security concerns.

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2023-07-16T22:36+0000

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us

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richard nixon

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's administration has admitted to compiling a list of her most vocal critics and sharing it with the Boston Police Department due to security concerns. The disclosure came after opponents of Wu obtained the email containing the list through a public records request. The list, with 15 names inside, was created in response to incidents where the Mayor was harassed and intimidated by individuals outside her home and during public events, according to her office.According to Wu's spokesman, Ricardo Patron, the Boston Police Department requested the list after individuals on the list repeatedly disrupted the Dorchester Day Parade, harassing the Mayor and her family.The email containing the list was sent by Dave Vittorini, Wu's former Director of Constituent Services, to Boston Police Capt. Robert Ciccolo. It included the names of 15 individuals, including City Council candidate Christine Vitale, anti-vaccine activists protesting outside Wu's home, and restaurant owners who oppose Wu's policies.The purpose of the list was not explained in the email, and it remains unclear what actions the police took upon receiving it. The email was sent after protests outside Wu's Roslindale home last year. Additionally, Wu aides Tiffany Chu and Brianna Millor were copied on the email.The revelation has raised concerns about potential suppression of the right to protest and intimidation of critics. This comes shortly after the passing of an ordinance that restricts protests outside the Mayor's residence during specific hours.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230714/former-fbi-agent-wray-evasive-under-scrutiny-because-bureau-has-become-ministry-of-truth-1111875723.html

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boston mayor michelle wu, us george orwell caricature, boston pd protect michelle wu, freedom of meeting suppression in us, does us have freedom of speech,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/haphazard-kerch-bridge-attack-shows-kiev-lacks-intent-to-take-back-crimea-1111945714.html

'Haphazard' Crimean Bridge Attack Shows Kiev Lacks Intent to 'Take Back Crimea'

'Haphazard' Crimean Bridge Attack Shows Kiev Lacks Intent to 'Take Back Crimea'

Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst at the Pentagon, told Sputnik the attack had both psychological and military purposes, but also demonstrated Kiev has no serious plan to retake Crimea.

2023-07-17T17:38+0000

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2023-07-18T08:34+0000

michael maloof

ukraine

kerch strait bridge

attack

crimean bridge terror attacks

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The Ukrainian government has indirectly admitted its part in the attack, which is just the latest of numerous attempts to destroy the 12-mile-long structure. A truck bombing in October 2022 killed five people and damaged both the road and rail parts of the bridge, which Kiev denied any connection to until earlier this month, when it admitted to bombing the bridge "in order to break the logistics of the Russians."Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the US Secretary of Defense, told Sputnik that Mondays attack had both psychological and military purposes, but also demonstrated that Kiev has no serious plan to "retake" Crimea. The Russian-speaking region declared independence from Ukraine in March 2014 and subsequently requested re-unification with the Russian Federation, following a popular referendum."That said, it appears to me that it was meant to show that the Ukrainians can strike, but it's very limited, very haphazard. Now, I have had one report that a US Reaper [unmanned aerial vehicle] was in the area and that these were Marine UAVs or unmanned vehicles, which had just a slight surface above the water but were guided to their destination. I have no other reports other than that one so I can't really confirm that. If that's the case and these were Marine drones, if you will, unmanned, and were guided somehow, presumably by this Reaper, which shows US-Ukrainian cooperation, if that's the case. Again, no confirmation. So this is still an unfolding event," he said.Maloof said that the meager capability demonstrated by the attack, combined with its basic inability to actually stop transit from Krasnodar to Crimea, "doesn't indicate to me any serious intent by the Ukrainians to have a plan, if you will, to take back Crimea."Indeed, Maloof noted that Ukraine would have required a lot of technical assistance to carry out such an attack, which likely shows US or UK involvement."The type of drones that I'm hearing about, underwater drones, they didn't have that capability earlier. They had to get it from somebody. And the ability then to manipulate their guidance systems, which suggests either it is out of the UK or the US. If the report that I heard earlier of a Reaper, a US Reaper in the area at that time, which has reconnaissance and attack capability, was used to guide these drones, then that suggests that Ukraine on its own would not have had that capability."Maloof said the US is "going to have to be very mindful of and careful of" any Russian reaction to the attack on the bridge if they were indeed involved in it.Turning to the subject of the paused grain deal, which provided safe passage for Ukrainian and cereal exports and Russian cereal and fertilizer exports in order to alleviate pressure on global prices, Maloof said Kiev's actions "suggest the Ukrainians don't want to continue the grain deal.""I doubt that they get a considerable amount of income from it. I think it once again shows a lack of strategic thinking on the part of the Ukrainians, and in terms of timing, Mr. Putin said he wasn't inclined to approve the renewal of the Grain Deal, but Turkey's Erdogan has said that he feels that Mr. Putin will come around and renew it. A renewal of it is vital to a lot of countries", he added strseeing that African states would be particularly vulnerable to any halts in food and fertilizer supplies.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/iran-reserves-right-to-deterrent-measures-as-us-sends-f-16s-to-its-backyard-1111947688.html

Iran Reserves Right to 'Deterrent Measures' as US Sends F-16s to Its Backyard

Iran Reserves Right to 'Deterrent Measures' as US Sends F-16s to Its Backyard

The Pentagon beefed up its Mideast garrison with F-16 fighter jets over the weekend, supposedly to deter Iran from seizing any more oil tankers. The Islamic... 17.07.2023, Sputnik International

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world

iran

persian gulf

pentagon

deterrent

response

us

f-16

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The deployment of additional US military assets in the Persian Gulf threatens to destabilize the region, and Iran has the right to take deterrent measures to respond accordingly, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said.Washingtons "destabilizing and provocative" actions "could create new sensitivities in the region in the strategic sphere of the Persian Gulf and inflame insecurity and instability," the spokesman said.The Islamic Republic has one of the strongest militaries in the Middle East, and has proven repeatedly that it is prepared to use it to defend the nations interests, including against even the United States. In June 2019, Iranian air defense forces shot down a $220 million US spy drone after it violated Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. In January 2020, after Washington launched an unprovoked assassination strike against Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC Quds Force commander, Iran bombarded a pair of US bases in Iraq with about a dozen ballistic missiles, leaving over 100 US troops with traumatic brain injuries.On both occasions, Tehran also took steps to avoid unnecessary loss of life and further escalation, sparing a US spy jet flying near the destroyed drone in the 2019 incident, and providing Iraq with ample warning time ahead of the January 2020 strikes, with the likely knowledge that Baghdad would transfer the warning to Washington.F-16 DeploymentThe US deployed an unknown number of F-16 fighter jets to the Persian Gulf over the weekend, with an anonymous senior US military official suggesting the Pentagons increased visibility in the region would serve as a deterrent to prevent Iran from seizing any more commercial vessels. The official also pointed to growing tensions between US occupation forces in northeastern Syria and the Russian, Syrian and Iranian militaries, citing in particular Russian aggression in the skies over the Arab Republic.On Sunday, the Russian military reported a dozen US violations of a 2019 deconfliction deal by the US-led anti-terrorist coalition in the space of 24 hours, including violations of Syrian airspace by two F-16 fighter jets and an MC-12W reconnaissance aircraft in the at-Tanf area along international commercial air routes.The US set up an illegal garrison at at-Tanf in 2016, and built it up into a major training base where Damascus, Moscow and Tehran allege jihadist militants receive training for operations against the Syrian government.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/white-house-focused-on-release-of-detained-us-citizens-rather-than-iran-nuclear-deal-1111927931.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-military-says-us-led-coalition-breached-deconfliction-protocols-12-times-in-syria-1111927819.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/kiev-regime-drops-hint-at-having-hand-in-crimean-bridge-terror-attack-1111931446.html

Ukraine Drops Hint at Having Hand in Crimean Bridge Terror Attack

Ukraine Drops Hint at Having Hand in Crimean Bridge Terror Attack

The Security Service of Ukraine has implicitly admitted its involvement in organizing the pre-dawn attack on the Crimean Bridge, which left two people dead and one child seriously injured.

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crimean bridge terror attacks

ukraine

russia

attack

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On Monday, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence department, Andrei Yusov, commented on the Crimean Bridge incident, quoting the agency's head, Kirill Budanov, who stated that "this structure is unnecessary". RBC-Ukraine, citing a source in the Security Service of Ukraine, reported that the terror attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy, using surface drones.The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, responded to the incident on its Telegram channel by publishing a modified excerpt from a Ukrainian folk song: "Nightingale, dear brother, the bridge has fallen asleep again.""This is folk music, and the lyrics are from the Security Service," the SBU posted on its Telegram channel.Alexei Goncharuk, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, called the incident, which left two people dead, and a child injured on the Crimean Bridge, a "victory for Ukraine" and demanded that those involved be awarded the highest state honors.Earlier, Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Crimea, announced the suspension of traffic on the Crimean Bridge due to the incident near the 145th pylon from the Krasnodar Region side. He urged the residents of Crimea and visitors to the peninsula to refrain from traveling over the Crimean Bridge and choose an alternative route through other regions.According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod Region, two of his constituents, a man and a woman, died as a result of the attack, and their underage daughter was injured. The Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Region confirmed the two deaths. Speaker of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, said that the Crimean Bridge was attacked by the "Kiev terrorist regime."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/two-unmanned-surface-vehicles-attacked-crimean-bridge---russian-national-anti-terrorism-committee-1111931183.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/russia-suspends-participation-in-grain-deal---kremlin-1111932906.html

Russia Suspends Participation in Grain Deal

Russia Suspends Participation in Grain Deal

The suspension of the year-old Black Sea Grain Initiative comes after months of controversy concerning Western countries' failure to implement its terms ... 17.07.2023, Sputnik International

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russia

ukraine

black sea grain deal

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Moscow has suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but will be prepared to return to the deal as soon as agreements concerning Russia are implemented properly, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.July 17 was the deadline for the Grain Deal's extension, with Moscow warning repeatedly in recent weeks and months that it would consider halting its participation in the agreement until and unless its demands concerning artificial measures put in place by the United States and its allies to strangle Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports were met.The Grain Deal or Black Sea Grain Initiative is a two part agreement signed in July 2022 by Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye, and the United Nations to facilitate agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine - two of the world's leaders on agricultural production who jointly account for over a third of global cereals exports.The first part of the agreement - the facilitation of the export of Ukrainian foodstuffs from Black Sea ports through waters controlled by the Russian Navy, have been implemented in full, with tens of millions of tons of grains including corn, wheat, barley, and sunflower oils worth over $5.5 billion exported through safe corridors over the past year.The second part of the agreement, concerning Russian food and fertilizer exports, has not been implemented to anywhere near the same levels, with the United States and the European Union failing to lift or ease sanctions restrictions, resulting in banks hesitating to issue loans for purchases of Russian grain, insurers refusing to provide insurance, and agricultural equipment producers halting sales to Russia and stopping the supply of spare parts and maintenance, all in fear of reprisals from Washington and Brussels. At the same time, Russia's agriculture-focused Rosselkhozbank remains disconnected from SWIFT, resulting in difficulties in international payments, and many foreign assets and deposits of Russian companies linked with the transportation of food and fertilizers remain blocked. Finally, a section of the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline - which used to ship Russian ammonia for use in fertilizers to the Black Sea port of Odessa, was blown up by Ukrainian saboteurs in June, restricting Russia's ability to export fertilizers via traditional trade routes.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed regret over Russia's decision later in the day Monday, saying the Grain Deal had "made history" and prevented a global food crisis. Erdogan said recently appointed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the agreement's fate. He added that he personally expects to discuss the deal with President Putin after returning from his whirlwind fundraising tour in the Gulf.A UN official confirmed to Sputnik later in the day that the international body had been officially notified by the Russian side on the Grain Deal's suspension. "We've received a note in Istanbul," the official said.Russian deputy representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy confirmed that Moscow's decision on the Grain Deal was final, and said there are no talks ongoing on the matter.Grain Deal's Main Purpose UnfulfilledIn addition to failing to account for Russia's commercial and economic interests, the Grain Deal did not serve the moral, humanitarian purpose which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined when lobbying Moscow to sign it in 2022: namely the effort to ensure food security for food-insecure nations in the Global South.Earlier this month, Russia's Foreign Ministry calculated that just 2.6 percent of all shipments via the Grain Deal went to the world's most food insecure nations, including Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia, with 80 percent going to countries with high or above average incomes. Other estimates suggest that nearly 70 percent of the grain ended up in European Union countries and Turkiye, with part of these deliveries used as surplus grain to fatten up domestic livestock.According to Moscow, of all the exports carried out by Ukraine over the Black Sea Grain Initiative's lifespan, some 70 percent consisted of feed corn and fodder crops, while Russian grain supplies (70 percent of which consist of wheat), as well as fertilizers, remain constrained despite their potential to help push down spiking global wheat prices, which have a tendency to hit developing nations the hardest.President Putin dropped hints on the Grain Deal's fate in an interview with Russian media last week."As for the conditions under which we had agreed to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain, yes, there were clauses within this agreement with the UN under which Russian interests had to be taken into account, including logistics, insurance, the transfer of funds related to payment for our agricultural goods, and many other points," Putin said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/what-is-the-ukraine-grain-deal-everything-you-need-to-know-1111913789.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/check-out-the-black-sea-grain-deals-key-details--1111903412.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/kiev-stands-to-lose-500-mln-a-month-if-grain-deal-terminated-analysis-shows-1111921168.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/russia-to-continue-food-supplies-to-global-south-despite-black-sea-grain-deal-suspension-1111949743.html

Russia to Continue Food Supplies to Global South Despite Black Sea Grain Deal Suspension

Russia to Continue Food Supplies to Global South Despite Black Sea Grain Deal Suspension

Moscow suspended the year-long Black Sea Grain Deal after the West failed to implement its part of the agreement.

2023-07-17T19:17+0000

2023-07-17T19:17+0000

2023-07-17T19:17+0000

ukraine

russia

european union (eu)

europe

us

black sea grain deal

grain

fertilizer

north africa

south africa

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"Russias decision to end the grain deal was expected," Dr. Anuradha Chenoy, a retired professor from the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Sputnik. "The collective West and Ukraine have continuously violated their part in the Grain Agreement as signed between Russia, Turkiye and the UN."The grain deal expired on July 17 with Russia having repeatedly warned the West it would not extend the agreement until and unless its demands concerning Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports were met.While Russia has fully implemented its part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed in July 2022 by Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye, and the United Nations, the US and the EU failed to lift or ease sanctions preventing Russia's shipments of grain and fertilizers. Russia's Rosselkhozbank has remained disconnected from SWIFT, with the EU unwilling to lift restrictions on the nation's agriculture-focused bank, despite earlier agreements. Likewise, Western shippers and insurers still refuse to transport Russian agricultural goods because of sanctions. In addition, the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline - which was used to transport Russian ammonia fertilizer to the Black Sea port of Odessa - was blasted by Ukrainian saboteurs in June.Nonetheless, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stressed on Monday that as soon as the West implements its part of the deal, Moscow would resume the agreement.Who Benefitted the Most From Grain Deal?As per the UN, the EU emerged as the main beneficiary of the Black Sea Grain Deal: 38% of all grain was sent to the Old Continent; another 30% went to Turkiye; and 24% to China."The EU benefited a lot," Nadein-Raevskiy agreed, adding that on the EU's periphery, many countries have suffered from the flood of cheap Ukrainian grain.In April, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria introduced a temporary ban on Ukraine's agricultural products. Previously, the countries of Central Europe repeatedly called on Brussels to move all surplus grain out of their states toward Africa and the Middle East for humanitarian purposes within the framework of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes.However, those who had not benefited from the deal were vulnerable developing nations. Only 2% of grain has been supplied to the Global South despite the West's earlier declarations that the whole idea behind the deal was to feed the world's poorest countries.Russia did not benefit, either. Because of the discount in prices for Russia's grain  formed as a result the grain deal  the grain industry of the Russian Federation lost about $1 billion over the year, Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Russian Grain Union (RGU), stated at a press conference on Monday.West's Propaganda Part of Hybrid War Against RussiaThe West has already tried to pin the blame for the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Deal on Russia. The EU condemned Moscow, with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claiming that Russia's decision is a "cynical move".For his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken  knowing that the West has not lifted a finger to implement its part of the agreement  criticized Russia in advance last week. As per Blinken, Moscow used the deal "as a weapon.""Since the hundreds of sanctions placed on Russia have not worked so far, the West, however, will continue with this strategy as they believe in their own campaign," the Indian scholar continued, adding that the Western elites do not care about ordinary people in the Global South.Through its propaganda campaign, the West is seeking to sever ties between the Global South, said the scholar, calling it a part of the overall US/NATO hybrid war against Russia.Russia Will Continue to Feed Africa and AsiaNonetheless, Dr. Chenoy has no doubts that Russia will find a way to transport its own grain to poor developing countries."The last time the grain deal was ended, Russia sent many shiploads of grain to the countries of the Global South that needed them most. This was especially acknowledged by the African Union. I expect Russia will likely do the same," Chenoy said.Despite the burden of sanctions, Russia managed to export over 15 million tons of grain, as well as a large amount of mineral fertilizers by November 2022. More than 90% of deliveries went to countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov told journalists at the time.This spring, the Russian Federation supplied 4.9 million tons of wheat to foreign markets in May; five million tons in April; and 5.2 million tons in March. Among buyers of Russian grain are Egypt, Yemen, Brazil, Bangladesh, Oman, Mexico, Mozambique, Tunisia, Senegal, Tanzania and Rwanda, to name but a few.In 2022, Russia updated the record for gross grain harvest: a total of 157.676 million tons was harvested, 29.9% more than in 2021. In 2023, the grain harvest in the Russian Federation is expected to be 123 million tons, including 78 million tons of wheat.The suspension of the Black Sea Grain Deal wouldn't mean the halt of food supplies to the Global South, the Russian expert emphasized. Russia will also continue free deliveries to the poorest countries of Africa and Asia, he said."On the one hand, it would seem to be completely unprofitable, but unprofitable from a financial point of view. The political aspect probably prevails in this case, and we are seriously strengthening our positions in those areas [in the Global South]," Nadein-Raevskiy concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/russia-suspends-participation-in-grain-deal---kremlin-1111932906.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/what-is-the-ukraine-grain-deal-everything-you-need-to-know-1111913789.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/check-out-the-black-sea-grain-deals-key-details--1111903412.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/un-admits-no-vessels-with-russian-fertilizers-dispatched-under-black-sea-grain-initiative-1111915262.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221227/russias-grain-fleet-why-is-west-so-unnerved-about-moscow-growing-independent-1105827047.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/russian-forces-destroy-enemy-infantry-trying-to-attack-in-zaporozhye-direction-1111929724.html

Russian Forces Destroy Enemy Infantry Trying to Attack in Zaporozhye Direction

Russian Forces Destroy Enemy Infantry Trying to Attack in Zaporozhye Direction

Members of the Russian Vostok Group have destroyed all Ukrainian infantry groups that were attacking in the Zaporozhye direction.

2023-07-17T02:35+0000

2023-07-17T02:35+0000

2023-07-17T02:40+0000

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"In the Zaporozhye direction, the enemy made attempts to attack our positions with small groups of infantry All groups have been destroyed," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that, in the south Donetsk direction, the "Vostok" Group of Forces has been systematically attacking Ukrainian troops, having destroyed a pickup truck with nationalists and two mortar crews. Russian aerial reconnaissance has uncovered a concentration of nationalists in the Novodaryevka area, which was then destroyed by artillery fire, the spokesperson told Sputnik. In addition, Russian forces have destroyed the command and observation post of the Ukrainian military in one of the sectors of the south Donetsk direction and prevented a planned attack.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/enemy-has-no-success-putin-positive-about-special-op-in-ukraine-1111917667.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/saudi-crown-prince-japans-prime-minister-discuss-bilateral-ties-1111929592.html

Saudi Crown Prince, Japans Prime Minister Discuss Bilateral Ties

Saudi Crown Prince, Japans Prime Minister Discuss Bilateral Ties

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Jeddah, discussing bilateral relations, as well... 17.07.2023, Sputnik International

2023-07-17T01:38+0000

2023-07-17T01:38+0000

2023-07-17T01:38+0000

asia

crown prince mohammed bin salman

fumio kishida

saudi arabia

japan

jeddah

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Regional and international issues were discussed, as well as cooperation in economy, trade, investments and culture, SPA said on Sunday. In addition, the parties discussed cooperation within the framework of the Saudi plan "Vision 2030" to diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia by cutting the link to income from hydrocarbon production. After the talks, Mohammed bin Salman and Kishida held a meeting with Japanese business representatives, SPA specified. Japan and Saudi Arabia agreed to start a new strategic dialogue at the level of foreign ministers in order to expand contacts between the two countries in the field of politics, diplomacy and security, Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after Kishidas talks in Jeddah. The Japanese foreign ministry announced earlier this month that Kishida was going to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar from July 16-18 to discuss a variety of issues and expand business opportunities for the country's enterprises.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230613/saudi-arabia-syria-agree-to-resume-economic-cooperation---state-media-1111104322.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/towering-ash-cloud-spewed-by-alaska-vocano-prompts-warning-for-pilots-1111941382.html

Towering Ash Cloud Spewed by Alaska Volcano Prompts Warning for Pilots

Towering Ash Cloud Spewed by Alaska Volcano Prompts Warning for Pilots

A warning has been issued to pilots due to the drifting cloud of ash spewed into the air by Shishaldin volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

2023-07-17T20:04+0000

2023-07-17T20:04+0000

2023-07-17T20:04+0000

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An air alert was recently issued to pilots due to the drifting ash cloud spewed by an erupting volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.The US National Weather Service issued the inflight weather advisory as volcanic ash can be very dangerous, as its very hard particles - often boasting jagged edges, can cause a jet engine to shut down. The Shishaldin volcano, located 679 miles (1,093 kilometers) southwest of Alaska's largest city Anchorage, had been exhibiting heightened unrest since July 11, with seismologists warning of a potential eruption risk. One explosion occurred on Friday, producing an ash cloud that drifted south over the Pacific Ocean. It was estimated to measure up to 40,000 feet (12.19 kilometers). This was followed up by a second explosion on the same day.Footage taken by a US Coast Guard crew and since widely-circulated on social media showed smoke rising from the lava emitted from the volcano.The volcano in question is the highest mountain peak of the Aleutian Islands, appearing as a perfectly symmetrical cone about 52,493 feet (16 kilometers) in diameter at its base. The mountain soars to about 9,373 feet (2,857 meters) above sea level, and its upper 6,601 feet (2,012 meters) is almost entirely covered by glacial snow and ice. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the area, and has displayed moderate bouts of activity over the years.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/ukraines-terror-attack-on-crimean-bridge-whats-known-so-far--1111932977.html

Ukraine's Terror Attack on Crimean Bridge: What's Known So Far

Ukraine's Terror Attack on Crimean Bridge: What's Known So Far

What is known so far about Ukraine's terror attack on the Crimean Bridge overnight on July 17.

2023-07-17T13:39+0000

2023-07-17T13:39+0000

2023-07-17T15:22+0000

crimean bridge terror attacks

crimea

crimean bridge

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The terror attack on the Crimean Bridge overnight on Monday had been preceded by a flurry of attempts to strike the critical infrastructure that has long been an eyesore for the Kiev regime.Ukraine's authorities made an unsuccessful attempt to hit targets on Russian territory with S-200 anti-aircraft missiles earlier in the month, with the Russian Defense Ministry thwarting the attack.One of the S-200 missiles launched by Kiev was aimed at the Crimean Bridge, while the other flew to a military airfield in the Rostov region, the ministry said.According to the report by the Russian Aerospace Forces to Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, four Ukrainian ballistic targets were destroyed on July 9. Two S-200 missiles were destroyed by means of air defense, two more similar missiles were suppressed by means of electronic warfare. Ukraine's military persisted with more similar attacks later in the month. On the morning of July 16, the regime being used by NATO and its allies to fuel the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine resorted to use of drones. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed later that its forces had successfully repelled an attempted attack on targets in Crimea and Sevastopol.In total, two UAVs were shot down overnight and five were suppressed by electronic warfare forces. Two surface drones were also destroyed in the outer roadstead, the Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Sunday.Attack Launched by 'Terror Regime'As July 17 dawned, Crimean head Sergey Aksenov announced that an emergency had prompted the closure of all traffic on the Crimean Bridge linking the peninsula to the Russian mainland due to the fact that the road part of it had sustained damage. People were urged to avoid traveling via the bridge.Later in the day, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying that the attack on the Crimean Bridge was committed by Kiev. The decision to target the bridge was made by Ukrainian officials, their military, and with the participation of US, and UK Special Services, the ministry added in a statement.Overnight, two unmanned surface vehicles had attacked the infrastructure, according to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee.Russian investigators are identifying those involved in the organization of the terrorist attack, the committee added. Law enforcement agencies are carrying out the necessary operational and investigative actions.Civilian Targets Fair Game A civilian couple who had been driving by car from Stary Oskol, Belgorod region, died in the attack on the Crimean bridge. Their 14-year-old child was wounded. The woman, Natalia Kulik, worked as an education department head in Novy Oskol, a town in Russias Belgorod region. The civilian infrastructure of this territory bordering on Ukraine has been regularly targeted by Ukraines military, armed with NATO-supplied weaponry.Locals have described Natalia Kulik as "a person with a kind soul, always helping everyone," while the family was "a loving and close-knit one, with a lovely daughter." Her husband worked as a Kamaz truck driver. Natalia had gone on vacation a week ago, and was greatly looking forward to a trip to the Crimea. They were supposed to travel in two cars with their sister. Now, after Ukraine's terrorist attack that killed both parents their daughter has been left an orphan.The child's life is not in danger, she has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Temryuk Central Hospital.Russias Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Crimea Bridge, which is a civilian object.Underscoring that civilians crossing the bridge in a vehicle, Alexei and Natalia Kulik, had died in the attack, the ministry voiced hope that the global community would display integrity and give proper assessment of this new crime committed by Ukrainian authorities. If the investigation of the Crimean bridge attack reveals Western origins of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in the strike, it will confirm complicity of the West, the ministry added.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia has no illusions on the possible involvement of the West in the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge.Adding that Russia is aware of the insidious nature of the Kiev regime, the spokesman vowed the Russian authorities would remain vigilant.Russian President Vladimir Putin has received reports concerning the situation with the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, the Kremlin spokesman said.He added that Russia's commander-in-chief had instructed to start repair and restoration work on the Crimean Bridge.The Security Service of Ukraine has implicitly admitted its involvement in organizing the pre-dawn attack on the Crimean Bridge. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence department, Andrei Yusov, commented on the incident, quoting the agency's head, Kirill Budanov, who stated that "this structure is unnecessary". A Ukrainian media outlet, citing a source in the Security Service of Ukraine, reported that the terror attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy, using surface drones.2022 Attack on Crimean BridgeCivilian targets have always been fair game for the Kiev regime, and the 19-km long bridge that connects the peninsula to the Russian mainland has been in the crosshairs of Ukraines authorities for a long time.Crimea opted to split off from Ukraine after the February 2014 Euromaidan coup, voting overwhelmingly in a referendum in March 2014 to rejoin Russia. Since then, Ukrainian officials and their allies had made repeated bellicose statements about their desire to target the $3.7 billion piece of Russian infrastructure. The Kiev regime finally acted upon these threats in October 2022.Russian authorities immediately rushed to set in place a series of measures to repair damage and ensure stable transport ties between Crimea and Krasnodar Territory. Light vehicle and train traffic via the bridge resumed shortly along the undamaged rail portion and the surviving roadway section of the bridge. However, buses and trucks had to temporarily use the emergency ferry service.At the time, Russias President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to step up security for transport crossing through the Kerch Strait, as well as electricity and energy infrastructure in the area. Vladimir Putin called the blast on Crimean Bridge a terrorist attack aimed at destroying civilian infrastructure.While Kiev refused to officially take responsibility for the sabotage, its officials had gloated over the attack in Twitter posts, and dropped hints that the attack on the bridge was just "the beginning," with Moscow calling the comments proof of Ukrainian authorities terrorist nature.Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) stated a week after the attack that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate was responsible for the explosion targeting the Crimean Bridge. The FSB also said that the explosive device was camouflaged in rolls with a construction polyethylene film and was shipped from the [Ukrainian] seaport of Odessa to Bulgaria's Ruse in early August.According to the FSB, control over the movement of cargo along the entire route and contacts with participants in the criminal scheme had been carried out by an Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate employeeRussian President Vladimir Putin stated after the attack on the bridge that through its continued terrorist activities Kiev had put itself on par with the most odious terrorist groups, and vowed to harshly respond to such crimes.Russia proceeded to launch a series of missile strikes deep into Ukraine in the wake of the bridge attack after confirming Ukrainian special forces involvement. The strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure and military command and communications posts across the country. The Russian President issued a warning, saying that the strikes would be followed up if Ukrainian attacks against Russian infrastructure continued.Earlier this month, Ukrainian deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar made an admission that Kiev had carried out the attack on the Crimean Bridge in autumn of 2022.273 days since we struck the first blow on the Crimean Bridge to disrupt the logistics of the Russians, Malyar had written on Telegram."Terrorist regime," was the succinct response from Maria Zakharova, the official spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230710/ukraine-makes-unsuccessful-attempt-to-attack-crimean-bridge-with-s-200-missile-1111782841.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-air-defense-navy-repelling-drone-attack-on-sevastopol-1111902623.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/two-unmanned-surface-vehicles-attacked-crimean-bridge---russian-national-anti-terrorism-committee-1111931183.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/kiev-regime-drops-hint-at-having-hand-in-crimean-bridge-terror-attack-1111931446.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221010/crimean-bridge-attack-ukraines-sabotage-teams-take-orders-from-washington-senior-official-reveals-1101698419.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/targeting-the-unarmed-ukraines-grim-record-of-terrorist-attacks-1109074865.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/what-is-the-ukraine-grain-deal-everything-you-need-to-know-1111913789.html

What is the Black Sea Grain Deal? Everything You Need to Know

What is the Black Sea Grain Deal? Everything You Need to Know

The Kremlin announced Monday that the Black Sea Grain Initiative had effectively been suspended. What is this agreement? How did it come about? What are its... 17.07.2023, Sputnik International

2023-07-17T08:52+0000

2023-07-17T08:52+0000

2023-07-17T11:38+0000

russia

ukraine

the united nations (un)

turkiye

grain

grain exports

black sea grain deal

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Grain Deal's OriginsDue to Russia and Ukraine's status as major food producers and exporters, the year-and-a-half long, US and NATO-provoked and sponsored conflict between the two countries has had a notable impact on global food security.Russia is single-handedly the largest supplier of wheat to international markets, and Ukraine the fifth largest prior to last year's escalation. According to the United Nations, combined, the countries account for as much of 19 percent of global barley supply, 14 percent of wheat supply and 4 percent of corn supply, or over a third of total global cereal exports. Russia and Ukraine also lead the world in rapeseed oil production and exports, and jointly command 52 percent of the sunflower oil market. Russia has also consistently been among the world leaders of the global fertilizer market, accounting for 15.5 percent of total exported fertilizers in 2022.According to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), when the Donbass crisis escalated into a full-on NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine over a year ago, global food prices jumped a whopping 12.6 percent in March 2022 alone, an all-time high since the FAO's food price index was created in 1990.After Russia's special military operation started, Western powers accused Moscow of deliberately obstructing Ukrainian grain supplies to international markets - an accusation which Russia vehemently denied. In fact, Moscow said, it was Kiev that had created obstacles to grain exports. In addition to setting grain on fire at the Mariupol Port in the Sea of Azov, the Ukrainian military systematically mined Black Sea waters near the country's coastline, which made grain exports to global markets by sea essentially impossible. Russian President Vladimir Putin assured at the time that Russia was not obstructing grain exports from Ukraine, and if Kiev were to de-mine the ports, grain ships would be able to leave them without any problems.On May 1, 2022, UN World Food Program German office director Martin Frick reported that nearly 4.5 million tons of grain had been held up at Ukrainian ports due to the conflict.Simultaneously, Russian grain and fertilizer exporters were refused port services, denied the means to be able to pay for shipments or provide insurance for them as Western countries piled on sanctions and threatened foreign countries and companies with crushing secondary restrictions.A Plan FormsIn mid-May 2022, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed the easing of restrictions on Russian fertilizer suppliers in exchange for Russian assurances on the security of grain-laden ships leaving Ukrainian ports. The UN proposal to resolve the crisis also included plans to de-mine Ukraine's Black Sea coastline to allow grain ships to leave ports.The UN proposal received the support of China and Turkiye, with Ankara expressing willingness to provide a safe corridor for Ukrainian grain deliveries.On May 30, President Putin made clear in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russia was ready to export fertilizers and food provided that sanctions on Moscow were lifted.On July 13, military delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye, plus representatives from the UN, met for the first time in Istanbul, Turkiye to try to settle the grain issue. Media were not allowed to attend.Prior to the talks, Turkish and UN officials held separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian representatives.SuccessOn July 22, 2022, representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN met in Istanbul and signed the 'grain deal', also known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. It's seldom dwelt on, but the deal is actually a package agreement comprised of two documents: the 'Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilizers to the World Markets' and the 'Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports'.As its name suggests, the first document provided for the lifting of restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer exports, including the elimination restrictions and obstacles set up by the US and the European Union. The UN Secretariat was required to take steps to help remove obstacles that may arise in finance, insurance or logistics, and to strive to achieve specific exemptions for food and fertilisersproduced in the Russian Federation, from measures taken with regard to the Russian Federation in accordance with the principle that these measures do not apply to food and fertilizers, thereby facilitating unfettered exports of Russian food and fertilizers.The document noted that the memorandum shall remain valid for three years," and that "the Russian Federation and the Secretariat will notify each other in writing three months prior to the date on which they intend to terminate this Memorandum.The parties to the second document included Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye, with the UN playing an auxiliary role. The goal, again as the name implies, was to facilitate safe navigation for the export of grain, food and fertilizers, including ammonia, from the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. The document spelled out in detail the procedures for the passage of ships through the humanitarian corridor and their inspection, monitoring, modalities of de-mining and the prevention of dangerous incidents with the help of the forces of the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, in which representatives of Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye, plus UN employees would be present.The first vessel with Ukrainian grain onboard was the Razoni bulk carrier, traveling under the flag of Sierra Leone. The ship left the port of Odessa on August 1, 2022.In the fall, the Russian Foreign Ministry estimated that as of late October, about 70 vessels were detained or removed from operation during the implementation of the Ukrainian part of the grain deal due to systematic violations and attempted smuggling.First Signs of TroubleRussia first began to express concerns with the implementation of the grain deal in August 2022. Commitments to lift sanctions on Russian vessels engaged in grain and fertilizer exports were not kept. Problems with insurance and servicing of ships in ports were not addressed. Banks did not issue loans to purchasers of Russian grain and denied bank guarantees, often citing the danger of Western sanctions. Kiev refused to lift its blockade on a massive Russian pipeline shipping ammonia for fertilizers through Ukrainian territory to Odessa. President Putin expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of grain deal at the Eastern Economic Forum in September 2022:The deal was also criticized by presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other Russian officials and politicians.On October 14, 2022, several days after the terror attack on the Crimean Bridge, President Putin warned that Moscow might refuse to renew the grain agreements if it transpired that the explosives used for the terror act had been smuggled aboard a grain carrier from Odessa.Speaking at the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club on October 27, 2022, Putin poured more criticism on the deal, this time denouncing the situation with Russian fertilizers:On October 29, 2022, Ukraine launched a terrorist attack on the Black Sea Fleet ships and civilian vessels on the inner and outer harbors of the Sevastopol Base in Crimea, prompting Russia to suspend its participation in the grain deal. On November 2, Moscow resumed its participation after Kiev provided guarantees that the Black Sea grain corridor and Ukrainian ports would not be used to conduct any more hostilities against Russia.The grain deal was set to expire on November 18, 2022, with participants deciding to renew the mechanism for another 120 days, until March 18, 2023. Despite agreeing to the renewal, Russian officials continued to point to issues with the agreements' implementation, specifically as relates to restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer exports.On March 2, 2023, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement entitled On the Istanbul Food and Fertiliser Accords, where it indicated that only a portion of the package deal concerning Ukrainian food exports has been implemented since the documents were signed eight months prior. Moscow noted that the bulk of Ukrainian grain exports went to high income countries (47 percent), primarily the EU, and above-average income countries (34 percent). At the same time, supplies to countries needing the grain the most were steadily decreasing and amounted to just 2.6 percent of the total.The Foreign Ministry further noted that Kiev continued to block the deliveries of ammonia via the Togliatti-Odessa pipeline for purely political reasons, while progress in implementing the memorandum on Russian food and fertilizer exports had tapered down almost to zero. Western countries continued to impose crushing sanctions on Russian exports.Moscow Puts Its Foot DownOn March 13, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin held consultations regarding the extension of the grain deal in Switzerland with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and UN Conference on Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. Following the talks, Vershinin said Russia had no objection to renewing the Black Sea Initiative again after the second renewal expired on March 18, but only for 60 days.On March 14, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko confirmed the grain deals renewal for another 60 days. The Kremlin characterized the grain deals extension as a goodwill gesture.Kiev rushed to deny that the deal had been renewed for only 60 days, with Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov saying this was at odds with the agreement and claiming that the agreement was actually renewed for 120 days.In addition, the senior Russian diplomat pointed out that 60 days would be enough to make progress, not in words but in practice, toward implementing the provisions of the memorandum signed by Russia and the UN.In April, Foreign Minister Lavrov alleged that the Russian part of the deal was not being carried out at all.Cavusoglu also spoke about the importance of removing obstacles to Russian fertilizer exports.Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy also spoke in April about Moscows dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Russia-related component of the deal. He put the odds of its further extension at 50-50.UN officials also spoke about the need to ensure the full implementation of the package agreements. Asked in March whether the UN could make progress on issues raised by Russia, Farhan Haq, Guterres deputy spokesman, mentioned the need to see what progress could be achieved on a range of issues.In May, commenting on the implementation of the grain deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said grounds for optimism were very modest. Peskov noted that Russia was interested in adhering to the grain deals terms, but stressed that it would not do anything against its own interests.Along with the failure to implement the Russian component of the grain agreement, Moscow's dissatisfaction has also been tied to the Ukrainian military's actions. In March and April, Russia's military reported that Kiev had attacked deployment sites of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, as well as Crimeas civilian infrastructure, in violation of the guarantees that the Black Sea humanitarian corridor would not be used for hostilities.The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the further extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative beyond May 18 would be out of the question without progress on resolving five systemic problems:On May 5, Turkiye hosted a meeting of technical delegations on the grain deal in Istanbul. The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that participants discussed the agenda of an upcoming meeting of deputy defence ministers from Russia, Turkiye and Ukraine.A Sputnik source in Turkiye reported at the time that the agenda of the technical meeting also included the issue of guarantees of Rosselkhozbanks return to the SWIFT system. The UN and a number of Western countries were said to have discussed this issue in detail.On May 10 and 11, Istanbul formally hosted talks of the delegations from Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN on the grain deals extension.On May 17, President Erdogan announced that the grain deal would be extended for another two months and that Turkiye would do everything in its power to ensure the full implementation of the agreements.On June 7, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that a Ukrainian sabotage group had blown up a section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in Kharkov Region. The press service of Transammiak, the operator of the pipeline on the Russian side, reported that the Russian section of the piece of infrastructure had been disconnected from the Ukrainian section, that it remained in good working order and was under constant monitoring.Dmitry Peksov said the destruction of a section of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline substantially complicated the possibility of extending the grain deal.Following talks with the UN in Geneva, Deputy Foreign Minister Vershinin said the opportunities for restoring the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline and ammonia exports from Togliatti to Ukrainian ports had been suspended for a long time after Kiev's terrorist act. He added that the incident had dealt a blow at the UN secretary-generals ideas and initiatives for getting the pipeline up and running.On June 10, Vershinin stated that a decision on whether to extend the grain agreement or not would be based solely on Russias interests.On June 13, President Putin said at a meeting with war correspondents that Russia was thinking about withdrawing from the grain deal, especially as the corridor was being used by Ukraine for drone attacks. Speaking about the agreement in general, and about why Russia had extended it so many times despite the continued failure by the West to meet Moscow's interests under the deal, Putin said Russia was not doing it for Ukraine, but for friendly countries in Africa and Latin America.Raw NumbersAs of July 10, 2023, total grain and food exports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative amounted to some 32.8 million tons.At 16.8 million tons, corn accounted for almost half of the grain shipped, while wheat accounted for 8.9 million tons from the total. Sunflower meal shipments reached 1.9 million tons, sunflower oil 1.7 million tons, barley 1.3 million tons, rapeseed 985,600 tons, and soybeans 802,200 tons.According to UN statistics, five countries received more than half of all exports: China (8 million tons), Spain (6 million tons), Turkiye (3.2 million tons), Italy (2.1 million tons) and the Netherlands (1.9 million tons).In early July, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that over 80 percent of the grain went to the countries with high and above average incomes, while the poorest economies (Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia) received only 862,086 tons, or 2.6 percent of all shipments. On average, only two World Food Program vessels participated in the Black Sea Initiative each month throughout the year that the deal had been in effect, compared with 90 commercial grain carriers.Earlier, in the spring, Moscow indicated that despite the fact that global food prices had fallen by 18.6 percent since March 2022, wheat prices remained high and many consumers couldnt afford them. One of the reasons Moscow cited was the fact that 70 percent of Ukrainian exports included feed corn and fodder crops. According to the Foreign Ministry, the normalization of Russian supplies of grain (70 percent wheat), as well as fertilizers, which guarantee the next year's harvest, would help overcome crushing prices. However, Moscow's efforts to make fertilizers available to the poorest economies continued to face numerous obstacles, connected to failures to fully implement the grain deal.In late May, Foreign Minister Lavrov said that after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, about 300,000 tons of fertilisers were seized at EU ports, with Moscow pledging to donate these fertilizers to developing countries. However, since September 2022, thanks to the "colonial practices" of the Europeans, only two batches of these seized fertilizers had been shipped to date - 20,000 tons to Malawi and 34,000 tons to Kenya. Russia plans to deliver another 34,000 tons of fertilizer to Nigeria in the near future if Western countries don't put up any more artificial roadblocks.Deal's Fate is SealedOn July 4, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that there were no grounds for renewing the Black Sea grain deal after its expiration on July 17, adding that the Russian side" would make all "necessary efforts in strict accordance with the rules of procedure to ensure that all participating vessels are able to successfully complete their mission and leave the Black Sea before the expiration date.In an interview with Russian television last week, President Putin said that "nothing" had been done to take Russian interests related to the grain deal regarding logistics, insurance, payment systems, etc into account. "It's been a one-sided relationship," he said. "Despite this, we voluntarily extended this so-called deal many times. Many times. But listen, enough is enough."And now you know the rest of the story.

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Tioga Downs welcomed two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings as well as three divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday (July 16).

Wild Ticket (pictured above) won the $54,500 first division for colts and geldings. Show Me grabbed the early lead but Wild Ticket took over just before hitting the quarter in :28.2. He used a :30 second quarter to be first to the half in :58.2. Situationship made a three-wide move going down the backstretch and battled for the lead. Wild Ticket was first to three-quarters in 1:26.4. As they reached the stretch, Wild Ticket found another gear and won easily in 1:55.1. Situationship finished second and Show Me was third best.

Wild Ticket is a two-year-old colt by Chapter Seven-Onthewildside. Marcus Melander trains for owners AMG Stables, Kjellgren, Heights Stable and Mantorp LLC. The win was his first in two starts. Brian Sears steered the $13.40 winner.

Nottingham shocked the field in the $55,500 second division for colts and geldings. Bargain was first to the quarter in :28.2. He used a :29.1 second quarter to be first to the half in :57.3 and cruised to three-quarters in 1:26.3. As they made the turn for home, Nottingham emerged first-over and went all out after eventual second-place finisher Bargain. Nottingham motored right on by to win in a lifetime best of 1:55.4. Devious Mojito As was third.

Nottingham is a two-year-old colt by E L Titan-Marian. He is owned by Exceed Stables and trained by Jenny Melander. Nottingham is now two-for-three lifetime. Marcus Miller drove the $46.20 winner.

R Melina took the $35,900 first division for fillies. Sadbirdstillsinging was first to the quarter in :28.3. R Melina went on by and took over with a lap to go. She was first to the half in :58. Star Attraction went first-up to challenge as they headed for the final turn. R Melina led to three-quarters in 1:27.3. As they made the turn for home, R Melina shook off Star Attraction and cruised home to win in a lifetime best of 1:56.3. Sadbirdstillsinging was second and Epoch finished third.

R Melina is a two-year-old filly by Chapter Seven-Goodtogo Hanover. She is trained by John Butenschoen for owners M&L Of Delaware LLC and Alabama Harness Association LLC. The win was her second in three outings. Tyler Buter sat in the bike behind the $3.20 winner.

Sister Mary Maude captured the $35,900 second division for fillies. Erin jolted to the lead and led to the quarter in :28.2. Sister Mary Maude went on by and took the lead with a circuit to go. She was first to the half in :59. Erin went first-up to challenge for the lead heading for three-quarters. Sister Mary Maude got there first in 1:27.2 and flew down the stretch to win in a lifetime best of 1:56.3. Shirin got second money and Hippie Shake finished third.

Sister Mary Maude is a two-year-old filly by Crazy Wow-Perfect Match. Ron Burke trains the streaking filly for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, William Switala and James Martin. The win was her fourth (consecutive) from five starts. Joe Bongiorno drove the $3.50 winner.

Date Night Hanover grabbed the $36,600 third division for fillies. Senorita Palema put up all the early fractions -- a first quarter in :28.3 and a slowed second quarter of :29.4 to hit the half first in :58.2. Date Night Hanover made her move first-up from third while Senorita Palema was first to three-quarters in 1:27.3. Date Night Hanover and Senorita Palema traded blows all the way down the stretch with the former surging by late to win in a lifetime best of 1:56. Senorita Palema had to settle for second and Communion Money finished third.

Date Night Hanover is two-year-old filly by Chapter Seven-Dont Wait Up. Owned by Jeff Snyder and Onda Racing Stable while trained by Marcus Melander, she is now two-for-two. Brian Sears drove the $5.10 winner.

Live harness racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday, July 21, with the card starting at 6:15 p.m. (EDT).

(With files from Tioga Downs)
Raymond George Wilson of Kerwood, Ont. passed away on Wednesday, July 12 in his 91st year.

He was married to his loving wife Dorothy (nee McLean) just two weeks short of 68 years. He was a lifetime resident and farmer in Kerwood, Ont., and has always been extremely interested in the harness racing industry. He owned horses in partnership with his brothers Melvin (predeceased) and Keith Wilson for a number of years but also followed their successes closely. In recent years, he was the biggest fan of his son Dean and wife Ashley's breeding operation and followed all of the horses they raised and sold. He learned how to use his laptop in his 80s specifically so he could see the entries and results daily on Standardbred Canada and to see all of the updates on deanandashleywilson.ca.

A private funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 18. He always had a special place in his heart for children. In lieu of flowers, Raymond requested that you consider donating to the Ronald McDonald House. Online condolences and donations may be left at strathroyfuneralhome.com.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Raymond Wilson.
Standardbred Horse Sales Company is now accepting entries for its Annual Mixed Sale at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

This year's live Mixed Sale will be held on Thursday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 10.

The Black Book 2 catalogue will close to new entries at the end of the business day on Oct. 6. As always, mixed sale horses will be available for inspection prior to the mixed sale.

This year, Black Book 2 will be available at the sale and a limited number will be mailed. The catalogue will be available digitally around Oct. 16, several formats will be on the Standardbred Horse Sales Company website or by calling its office. This decision was made to allow additional time for sellers to make decisions as well as owner statements to be prepared. The catalogue is set to go to press on Oct. 16.

For more information, please contact Dale Welk at [email protected] or Judy Casey at [email protected].

(With files from Standardbred Horse Sales Company)
The Mexican consulate will be visiting Scottsbluff from Omaha on Saturday, July 22 at Riverside Business Plaza from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. via appointment, with the help of Empowering Families Nebraska.

The consulate will be available to help Mexican nationals in the community obtain documents like passports, birth registrations and other forms of documentation.

Its an important service because it helps our Mexican nationals do things like open up a bank account, or facilitate different processes here in the community, so thats an important service, Maricia Guzman, programming director of Empowering Families, said. Then other individuals will have families that have land or other things in Mexico that they are passing on to relatives so they need the proper documentation for that, so that is really the purpose of this event.

The staff at Empowering Families feel that this event greatly connects with the advocacy work they do for groups in the community of Western Nebraska themselves, she said.

One of the biggest things we do here is advocacy for different groups in our community, especially groups that dont have a lot of other outlets for advocacy. The immigrant community is one that we support and focus a lot of our efforts on, and so obviously the people who will be utilizing these services are immigrants, so by having them come in, it supports our community by helping facilitate these processes, Guzman said. Things like opening bank accounts or being able to manage things back in Mexico, and without this documentation, it can make life complicated for a lot of people and so it really just helps ease the processes that they have to go through and improve the overall quality of life for our Mexican nationals.

The importance of having the consulate come to the western part of the state is convenient because of the difficulty of getting to the main office in Omaha for some people.

Its really important because for some individuals travel might be an issue, they might not have a drivers license, and taking time off of work might not be something that is manageable or individuals arent able to take time off to travel to Omaha to obtain these documents, Valeria Rodriguez, executive director of Empowering Families, said.

So the Mexican consulate coming to our community just demonstrates that they care about Mexican Nebraskans across the state, and want every Mexican national to have access to these services.
Leroy and Erma Hamburg gave a new meaning to the phrase, growing old together, as both will be 100 years old this year. The couple celebrated their birthdays together Saturday, with Leroy officially having hit triple digits on July 13, and Irma turning 100 later this year.

After arriving at the party, it was noted if one wanted the chance to talk with the Hamburgs, it would be awhile because they had amassed so many friends over their many years.

The couple recently celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary as well, having celebrated the milestone on May 13 of this year.

Along with the celebration for the couples anniversary and birthdays, Leroy received a Quilt of Valor for his service in World War II.

I was in the army, I was in tanks, M4A1's mainly, Leroy said. "I was on a lot of ships as well running supplies back and forth, Leroy said.

Throughout their lives, the Hamburgs had many different undertakings.

Judy Templin, daughter of the couple, said, They both worked very hard all of their lives. Mom was a great sewer all of my life. She crocheted, knitted. Dad enjoyed working with his hands, and fishing and building things.

Erma was known for baking and cooking as well, with her grandkids enjoying her lemon meringue, butterballs and homemade rye bread.

These days, the Hamburgs enjoy spending time with their grandkids and friends. .
With sharks being spotted from Cape Cod to Florida, Virginians are keeping watch for the finned creatures. Several shark incidents around the Fourth of July and beyond have kept beachgoers on alert, even though data suggest that attacks in Virginia are extremely rare.

The number of people that are attacked or bitten by a shark per year is miniscule compared to the number of times the shark has been completely close to you and you had no idea, said Timshel Purdum, deputy director for education at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.

According to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Virginia has had five confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1837. By comparison, bordering North Carolina checks in with 78 attacks during that period, the fourth-most in the country.

Although five shark bites were reported in New York during a recent two-day stretch, sharks were not spotted in at least two of the incidents.

Lots of things bite, Purdum said. The shark might get the bad rap, but theres a lot of things with teeth in the ocean.

Purdum says many viral shark videos  such as the Florida spotting on July 4  can be faked or can be misleading because the average person might mistake a dolphin for a shark during a brief glimpse.

Earlier this month, the sighting of a 10-foot shark prompted the closure of a Long Island, New York, beach. Earlier, a group of about 50 sand sharks were spotted off the coast.

We are now more vigilant than ever, said George Gorman, the New York park director in Long Island. We have drones in the sky that watch over the waters. We have lifeguards on WaveRunners that watch over the waters.

Virginias low shark attack total could be attributed to the Chesapeake Bay, which largely contains brackish water that is saltier than fresh water but not as salty as seawater. Species that frequent the bay include tiger sharks, bull sharks, sandbar sharks, reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead sharks.

The bays conditions make for a less attractive environment for other species. Temperature shifts due to climate change have also been cited as possible factors in sharks moving away from areas they previously inhabited.

Sharks may appear more frequently in the portion of Virginia along the Atlantic Ocean. The shark population has been helped since overfishing in the 1980s. In 2001, then Gov. Jim Gilmore created a shark task force to increase ocean-beach safety after two deadly shark attacks in Virginia and North Carolina waters.

Still, the overall risk of being attacked remains relatively small.

Sharks are really interesting, awesome creatures, said Jennifer Guild, communications director for the Science Museum. If were really embracing awareness and trying to understand them, then its not just about this one seemingly scary part of their behavior.

Even with very few shark incidents across the commonwealth, the Science Museum does offer some shark safety recommendations for vacationers heading to Virginia Beach and elsewhere:

Remain calm during a potential shark spotting: Splashing and screaming can generate more flashing of the body, making it more attractive to a shark that might mistake a person for a fish.

Avoid heavy fishing areas: The bait plus the fish that are caught can release blood that attracts sharks.

Do not wear shiny jewelry in the water: The accessories could resemble fish scales or school fish.

Avoid swimming between dusk and dawn: Certain shark species are crepuscular, meaning they are active during dark periods.

Stay out of the water: I know its not an answer, but it is their habitat right? Purdum pointed out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The fires, which occurred at dawn on Sunday, resulted in the complete destruction of Abd al-Rahman Pasha al-Youssef's palace, Syria TV writes.

Several historical and archaeological buildings and shops in the Sarouja neighbourhood of Old Damascus were extensively damaged by the fire that broke out on the weekend. Among the structures affected were the palace of Emir Mahmal al-Hajj al-Shami, the leader of the Hajj Convoy, Abd al-Rahman Pasha al-Youssef, and the house of Khaled al-Azm, the former Syrian Prime Minister, who was ousted when the Baath Party came to power in 1963.

The fires, which occurred at dawn on Sunday, resulted in the complete destruction of Abd al-Rahman Pasha al-Youssefs palace. This historic building was the first in Damascus to have electricity, dating back to 1907. The fire also ravaged Khaled al-Azms house, which served as the Damascus Historical Museum and Ottoman Documentation Center. Tragically, the fire consumed the valuable Ottoman Genealogy manuscripts section of the museum.

Sources in Damascus reported that the Al-Youssef Palace had suffered from neglect and lack of maintenance before being engulfed in flames. According to Syrian historian Sami Moubayed, the palace had deteriorated from the inside and was inhabited by a simple man whose grandfather had worked for Abdul Rahman al-Youssef, the palaces namesake, who was killed in 1920.

Moubayed further revealed that the palace had been converted into workshops and shops, with the stable now serving as rental spaces for small workshops. Remarkably, the palace had once hosted the German Emperor Wilhelm II during his visit to Damascus in 1898.

One notable story surrounding the palace revolves around the mysterious disappearance of gold belonging to Abdul Rahman al-Youssef. After his death, no trace of the gold was found in Ottoman or international banks. It was speculated that the gold might have been hidden within the palace, leading to numerous attempts over the years to uncover it. The most recent attempt occurred in 2017 when the Syrian regimes intelligence services discovered the hidden gold.

Although the fires in the Sarouja neighbourhood did not result in any casualties, they caused significant financial losses, with numerous homes and shops being destroyed. The cause of the fires remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.

Previous incidents

It is worth mentioning that the Sarouja neighbourhood has experienced previous fire incidents. In April 2016, a fire in the Al-Asrounieh market caused extensive damage to over 80 shops. Fires also broke out in the Sarouja market in October 2016, the Al-Hamidiyah market in December 2016, the Bab al-Jabiya area in July 2017, and the entrance to the ancient market in September 2017, resulting in various levels of destruction.

The recent fires have underscored the vulnerability of Old Damascus historical buildings and the need for increased preservation efforts to protect the citys rich heritage.

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 Syrian Parliament highlighted the "catastrophic consequences of unilateral sanctions imposed by Western governments" on Syria, according to al-Baath.

The Peoples Assembly (Parliament) has criticized a recent report by the European Parliament on the humanitarian situation in Syria, denouncing it as false and urging the European bloc to maintain objectivity by condemning the United States exploitation of Syrias energy and agricultural resources.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Syrian Parliament expressed its dissatisfaction with the June report from the European Parliament, stating that it contains inaccuracies and distortions aimed at justifying the policies of certain Western governments that harm the interests of the Syrian people.

The statement emphasized, If the European Parliament truly seeks objectivity in its humanitarian perspective, it should condemn the illegal plundering of Syrias energy resources and agricultural wealth by U.S. military forces.

The Syrian Parliament also highlighted the catastrophic consequences of unilateral sanctions imposed by Western governments on Syria, affecting sectors such as education, healthcare, water services, and transportation.

These measures violate international law and the United Nations Charter, the statement emphasized.

The parliament further criticized the so-called exemptions and exceptions to these sanctions, stating that they are mere lip service and have no tangible effect.

The statement called on the European Parliament to adopt a new approach in line with international law and humanitarian principles. It demanded that the bloc immediately and unconditionally lift all forms of sanctions imposed on the Syrian people.

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.
Erdogan emphasized that Damascus' condition regarding the Turkish withdrawal from Syria is unlikely to be met, according to Athr Press.

Amid the ongoing stalemate in the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement process, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his openness to a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. However, he emphasized that Damascus condition regarding the Turkish withdrawal from Syria is unlikely to be met.

Speaking at a press conference before his visit to Saudi Arabia as part of his Gulf tour, Erdogan stated, We maintain communication channels with the Syrian side, and the established quadripartite mechanism is operational. He also mentioned the possibility of a meeting with President Assad.

Simultaneously, Erdogan highlighted his belief that the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria, as demanded by Damascus, is not feasible. He cited the presence of Kurdish units near the Turkish border and claimed ongoing threats to Turkey. He argued, Would these same words be used against other countries? No, they wouldnt. Therefore, we are seeking a fair approach. Once we find this fair approach, we can address and resolve all related issues.

Since the beginning of the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement path, Damascus has made its position clear, as articulated by President Bashar al-Assad during his visit to Moscow last March. He stated, Regarding a meeting with President Erdogan, it is contingent upon Turkey clearly and unambiguously committing to a complete withdrawal from Syrian territory, ceasing support for terrorism, and restoring the situation to pre-war conditions. Only under these circumstances would a meeting between President Erdogan and myself hold any significance. Otherwise, what purpose would it serve if it cannot yield definitive results for the Syrian conflict?

How will this path end?

Amid the current impasse in the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement process, discussions have taken place among key stakeholders, including Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, regarding a road map to advance the path of reconciliation. Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian Presidents Special Envoy to Syria, confirmed this development following the Astana 20 talks.

In an effort to bridge their differences, both sides are reportedly considering proposals to address the contentious issue of Turkish withdrawal from Syria. Leaked information from Yeni Safak suggests that Ankara has put forward a suggestion during the talks to establish a joint military coordination mechanism. This mechanism would facilitate collaborative operations against centers of terrorism. Each country would be represented by a delegate within this mechanism, and further details are expected to emerge in subsequent meetings.

Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm newspaper, previously disclosed a meeting with President Assad, shedding light on the ongoing developments in the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement path. According to Atwan, President Assad conveyed that understandings have been reached, emphasizing the forthcoming withdrawal from Syrian territory. This withdrawal is anticipated to pave the way for an improvement in bilateral relations beyond their previous state. It is worth noting that any future understanding will be based on the Adana Agreement of 1998, which previously regulated relations between the two countries.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Safadi's tour comes a month and a half after the Amman consultative meeting, al-Souria Net.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi is currently visiting the Qatari capital, Doha, where he will engage in discussions on various topics, notably the Syrian situation.

Safadis visit to Qatar commenced on Sunday, during which he held meetings with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, as well as other Qatari officials.

Prior to his visit to Qatar, Safadi had travelled to Damascus two weeks ago, where he met with President Bashar al-Assad and other government officials. Subsequently, he visited Turkey, where he held meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Safadis tour comes a month and a half after the Amman consultative meeting and the subsequent Arab actions regarding the Syrian regime. The focus of his tour is Jordans Arab initiative for resolving the Syrian crisis, which adopts a step-by-step approach.

During his meeting with Qatars foreign minister on Sunday, Safadi discussed this approach, emphasizing its alignment with Security Council resolution 2254. They also addressed the importance of implementing the Amman Message and taking practical measures to address the humanitarian, security, and political consequences of the Syrian conflict. Additionally, they discussed finding a resolution for the Syrian refugee crisis and combating drug smuggling from Syria to neighbouring countries.

Most Arab countries, except for Qatar and Kuwait, have taken steps to normalize relations with the Syrian regime following a collective Arab decision to reinstate Syrias membership in the Arab League. However, Qatar maintains that its concerns lie not with Syria as a country, but with the ruling regime.

The Qatari foreign minister, in his initial comments after the Syrian regimes return to the Arab League, acknowledged that each country has the sovereign right to determine its approach toward normalizing bilateral relations.

Previously, Safadi has highlighted the significant challenges facing the Arab initiative. The success of the step-by-step approach is contingent upon the Syrian regimes level of cooperation and compliance.

Arab capitals maintain that their engagement with the Syrian regime is based on a step-by-step framework. However, the Syrian regime, as stated by Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, denies adopting this approach and instead emphasizes the need to take necessary measures to achieve a resolution in Syria.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Iraq called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria in a manner that alleviates the suffering of its people, according to al-Watan.

Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi emphasized that the security of Syria is an essential component of Iraqs and the regions security. He underlined that his country fully supports all efforts aimed at lifting the coercive economic measures imposed on Syria.

Regarding Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shayaa al-Sudanis visit to Syria, Awadi stated in a press release, Iraq firmly believes that the security and stability of Syria are integral to its own security and stability, as well as that of the entire region.

He further remarked, Iraq stands in solidarity with all endeavours to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria in a manner that alleviates the suffering of its people and addresses their basic needs. We are committed to supporting Syrias reintegration into the Arab community and actively participating in its economic recovery and mitigating the wars consequences.

Regarding the key topics discussed during Sudanis visit, Awadi highlighted, Among the primary issues for future discussions and cooperation between our two countries are border security, the prevention of terrorist infiltration, the eradication of terrorist threats, and other areas of joint collaboration. Additionally, we aim to include Syria in economic integration projects, such as the Iraqi development line project that connects the East and West, and the possibility of re-establishing the Baniyas pipeline for the export of Iraqi oil through Syria. Moreover, we will address water-related concerns and work towards ensuring equitable quotas for all parties in accordance with international laws.

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.

According to a recent report, the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad has deliberately attacked makeshift camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in north-west Syria. Additionally, on Saturday, Iraqi authorities reportedly deported three Syrian Kurdish refugees back to Syria after arresting them due to residency issues. This action was taken despite concerns about the safety and security of these individuals in their home country.

Syria regime bombed IDP camps despite evidence of civilian presence  report

The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has intentionally targeted makeshift camps inhabited by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in north-west Syria, according to a new report.

In the report, published by the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC), it stated its findings that the regime and its allies conducted a significant number of deadly attacks on the IDP camps, with overwhelming evidence that they were aware of the sites being civilian and housing the displaced persons.

According to the report, there was sufficient intelligence gathered by regime forces prior to the dropping of barrel and cluster bombs that would have made the presence of IDPs in the camps clear. Citing the use of an archive of 2 million videos, SJAC said that it verified 17 incidents of attacks on camps, despite easily being identified as civilian from the air due to their distinctive layouts and characteristic, blue-coloured tents.

The camps targeted include those in the rebel-held province of Idlib in Syrias north-west like the Al-Naqeer camp, which had already long been struggling with humanitarian crises such as frequent flooding and a lack of medical and healthcare access, food supplies and clean water.

Witness testimonies collected by the SJAC reported that helicopters and aircraft belonging to the regime and its allies had been seen flying over and nearby the camps shortly before the attacks, with one witness stating that We were watching the helicopter heading straight towards the camp and, while it was over the camp, it dropped a barrel bomb on the camp, and we saw it first-hand.

Iraqi authorities deports three Syrian Kurdish refugees back to Syria

Iraqi authorities, on Saturday, reportedly deported three Syrian Kurdish refugees to Syria after they were arrested on residency issues, disregarding concerns about their safety in their home country, New Arab reported.

The step coincides with a formal visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Syria on Sunday, in which he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and discussed activating security and intelligence cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus.

The three Syrians, originally from Northeast Syria, were transferred to the Syrian intelligence from Baghdad International Airport on a flight to Damascus International Airport, an official from the Iraqi interior ministry in Baghdad has told The New Arabs Arabic sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

There are nearly thirty other Syrians arrested in Baghdad, who might be extradited to the Syrian authorities as well, an official, who refused to be named, also told the outlet. Families of the three Kurds remain in Baghdad, and they do not know what will be the fate of the deported men.

The extradition of the Syrians is a dangerous step, the three Kurdish youths have got guardianship from the UN, and their refugee cases were pending for relocation in a third country, Jalal Brifkani, a political activist from Duhok province in the Iraqi Kurdistan region told al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The step came within a security agreement between Iraq and the Syrian regime; lives of those Syrians are under threat after extraditing to the Syrian authorities.

The Iraqi authorities arrested the three Syrian Kurds  Qahraman Ako Ali, Faisal Ako Ali, and Ali Zakaria Khalil- in March. Rashid Ali Jan, head of Jani Roj Charity Organization, has told Rudaw outlet. He asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to intervene to stop extraditing nearly thirty other Syrian Kurds by the Iraqi government to the Syrian regime, as the extradition is considered abusing human rights.

A decade into the shadow war in Syria, Israel still disrupting Tehrans takeover efforts

Despite considerable success for Israel in its shadow war against Tehrans effort to build a war machine in Syria, the Iranian-led radical axis remains highly active there, jns.com reported.

The shadow effort, dubbed the campaign between the wars by the Israeli defense establishment, began a decade ago and has seen reports of hundreds of airstrikes on weapons supply runs and efforts to build attack bases by Iran, Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Syria.

On July 3rd, an airstrike attributed by international media to Israel targeted Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria, causing damage and leading to the facilitys closure.

On June 30th, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War released a report stating that the Iranian Quds Force, which is a part of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, and Hezbollah, established a new military headquarters in Mayadin, eastern Syria. The report also said that Hezbollah began building a military base in Deir-ez-Zor, not far from Mayadin.

The base includes weapons depots, a training camp, and residential buildings for pro-Iranian militia fighters and their families. Meanwhile, the Quds Force and Hezbollah also recently reportedly built a new military headquarters and barracks south of Damascus.

Observers describe the efforts as components of a plan to secure weapons smuggling routes in Syria, and to link the routes to the Syrian-held part of the Golan Heights on the Israeli border, and to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, a former Israel Defense Forces Military Intelligence Research Division head and former director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs, told JNS that the campaign between the wars has been largely successful. It prevented a substantial quantity of Iranian weapons from reaching Hezbollah and Iranian-controlled forces in Syria and Lebanon, he said.

Erdogan open to meeting al-Assad but not to withdrawing from Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is open to talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but would not meet him if a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian territory were set as a condition.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on Monday ahead of his departure for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Erdogan said Turkey has never shut the door to discussions with the Syrian government.

Turkey has been the biggest military and political ally of the Syrian opposition, which controls the last rebel-held bastion in the country, which is in northwest Syria on the Turkish border.

Ankara has set up dozens of bases and deployed thousands of troops in northern Syria, preventing the Russian-backed Syrian army from re-taking the region. Turkey has also been a base for Syrian opposition groups since 2011.

We can hold a four-party summit [with Syria, Russia and Iran], and I am also open to a meeting with Assad. What matters here is their approach towards us, Erdogan told journalists.

Eight years later: A Syrian university professor starts from scratch to support her family in Germany

The New Humanitarian has published a detailed report on a Syrian university professor who faced the daunting task of starting from scratch in Germany to support her family. Having had a successful career and a fulfilling life in Syria, Nadwa Jazzan was determined to regain that sense of accomplishment in her new home. However, the bureaucratic job market in Germany posed numerous challenges, requiring language proficiency and often disregarding qualifications earned outside the country. Despite holding a five-year masters degree, Nadwas credentials were only recognized as equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Germany. This setback made her feel like she was starting over from nothing. Nevertheless, Nadwa remained resilient and focused on her goal, setting her sights on reclaiming her professional status in Germany.

According to the report, Nadwa encountered significant hurdles as she started anew in Germany to support her family. Despite having a successful career and a fulfilling life in Syria, the civil war forced her to leave everything behind. In Germany, she confronted language barriers, the challenge of re-certifying her qualifications, and xenophobia from society. Determined to regain her professional status, Nadwa set her sights on becoming an English teacher. However, she had to overcome the demanding German language exam to fulfill her goal. Despite the hardships, Nadwas resilience and determination symbolize the struggles experienced by many Syrian refugees in Germany, as they strive to integrate into society and rebuild their lives.

Despite her professional background, Nadwa struggled to find suitable employment due to language barriers, qualifications not being recognized, and informal barriers rooted in xenophobia.

Nadwa made sacrifices, leaving her son Tammam behind in Syria while she sought a better future in Germany. After years of hard work, Nadwa secured a teaching assistant position and eventually obtained a class of her own. With the support of her neighbour and overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, Nadwa successfully reunited with Tammam in Germany.

She continued to work tirelessly, juggling work, language classes, and taking care of her family. Nadwas dedication paid off as she passed the advanced language exam, paving the way for future opportunities. However, the challenges persisted, as her husband Adham struggled to find stable employment, and Tammam faced difficulties in adjusting to his new life. Nevertheless, Nadwa remained determined to support her family and build a brighter future for them in Germany.
Our favorite place to wine & dine in Disney Springs is at Wine Bar George by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. Did you know theres only 172 master sommeliers in the country?

This summer, Wine Bar George launched a new summer menu this week including some new items such as Snapper Crudo, NY Strip Steak and the M.C.T sandwich and is participating in Flavors of Florida going on now.

Guests can join us now through August 13 for Flavors of Florida at Disney Springs! We are offering our new Dicuru Burrata with tomatoes from The Villages Grown, Belle Glade corn and Olde Hearth sourdough bread. I recommend pairing with Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio or Louis Michel Premier Cru Chablis. Both of which we offer on our menu by the glass, bottle and ounce! This seasonal burrata will be available for a limited time this summer during lunch and dinner.  Master Sommelier George Miliotes, Owner of Wine Bar George at Disney Springs

They also recently opened a location inside Orlando International Airport MCOs new Terminal C where they offer 75 wines all available by the glass, the bottle and the ounce, as well as a food menu, led by Ron Rupert, Director of Culinary Development for Wine Bar George, including breakfast, small plates, cheese and charcuterie and entrees.

Read on to check out our latest visit to Wine Bar George and an interview with the founder himself, Mr. George Miliotes of Wine Bar George!

Heres an inside look of our recent visit to Wine Bar George at Disney Springs:

Buy a Corkcicle for $40, get a complimentary frozen drink! Their Corkcicle designs rotate frequently so be sure to check out @winebargeorge on instagram for current inventory.

As for the complimentary drink, we always order the Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple, Moscato, & Vodka.





Housemade Hummus  cucumber, olive oil, naan bread, chipotle





Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites  tomato nage, pecorino





Skirt Steak  roasted potatoes, grilled bok choy, mushrooms, chimichurri

Freaujolais  Beaujolais, Vodka, Raspberry

Tasty Chomps Q&A with Master Sommelier George Miliotes

How did you develop your passion for wine, and what led you to become a specialist in this field?

Im very lucky that my familys been in the restaurant business since I was 12-years-old. That allowed me to become interested in wine even when I could only look at the labels. As a teenager I definitely enjoyed deciphering them. As I got older, I was allowed to start tasting and selling the wine, and from there my appreciation of food and wine grew.

Ive always been a little obsessed with food and I still look forward to what is for lunch or dinner every single day. Becoming a specialist in wine, and wine and food together was the logical way to feed this passion.

Could you tell us about your approach to curating and developing a wine list for your restaurant?

Over my 40+ years of work in a restaurant and wine business I have my stable of wine producers who are on all the list that Ive built. I also enjoy searching out new producers and new wines. So when developing a list, I use my experience yet I am constantly looking for things that are new and interesting, and of course delicious.

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in the world of wine?

Here at Wine Bar George, we have a stable of Sommeliers, servers and bartenders, who all drive each other and me every day. This way we stay current on what is going on in the industry. Its become almost like a game where we are testing each other as to what we know about new wine laws, new producers and new styles.

Can you share some tips for someone who is new to wine and wants to explore and learn more about it?

For those who desire to learn more about wine, I always recommend starting a relationship with a retailer and a restaurant who are as passionate about wine as they are. Asking questions, sampling as many different things and finding what you like is part of the joy of wine. Having knowledgeable people where you purchased your wine is always a good angle. I also recommend taking the introductory level class to the Court of Master Sommeliers. This class allows you to see the depth and breadth of the world of wine. We also teach you the basics of tasting wine.

In your opinion, what are the emerging wine regions or grape varieties that customers should keep an eye on?

There is so much cool and fun stuff going on in the wine world today that is hard to tag one varietal or one area about to explode. I will say that there are many areas of the United States that are not traditionally known for wine that are starting to make really interesting wine, whether it be Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, upstate New York, North Carolina, or Maryland (to just make a few  the list is not exhaustive). And those who know me know that I am a fanatic about Riesling and Tempranillo, and the many facets those varietals take.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the restaurant industry, especially considering your familys long-standing involvement in the field?

I was blessed with parents that loved and nurtured my passion for the food and the wine business throughout my childhood and teens. My wife Leanne always supported me in my journey of becoming a Master Sommelier, and our journey through the wine and the restaurant business. I simply would not be where I am today without her.

How has growing up in a family immersed in the restaurant industry shaped your understanding and passion for the culinary world?

My wife and I are of Greek heritage. Anyone who knows anything about Greek families knows we are most certainly food obsessed. So striving to find the best, freshest ingredients and preparing them simply, which are the hallmarks of Greek cuisine, has always been in the forefront of what we strive to do.

What valuable lessons have you learned from working in the restaurant business?

Everyone should be required to work in a restaurant at some point in time. There is so much to learn about life and people. An overriding principle to me is to care for, invest and develop your people every single day. If you cant make running your restaurant fun, enjoyable and profitable you should probably be in another business. The idea of full hands in and full hands out translates directly over to running your household properly.

What are some of the most popular dishes and items right now at Wine Bar George?

Our family style skirt steak, crispy mac and cheese bites and the big board of cheese and charcuterie continue to be some of our most popular items from day one. We did just launch a new summer menu though and I expect that guests will come to equally enjoy our snapper crudo and NY strip steak with rosemary vinaigrette and guajillo butter.

What are your upcoming plans?

We have some exciting events in the works for this summer and fall, details will be released soon!

Wine Bar George

1610 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

winebargeorge.com

(407) 490-1800
No emergencies were reported late Sunday or early Monday as officials on the Oregon side of the Lewis and Clark Bridge prepared to airlift patients in critical condition during the bridges complete closure.

Washington State Department of Transportation reported ambulances, pedestrians and bicyclists could not cross the bridge that spans Rainier and Longview from 10 p.m. Sunday through 8 a.m. Monday.

Columbia Fire and Rescue Division Chief of EMS Jerry Cole said no one was airlifted during that time period.

Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday the Lewis and Clark Bridge closed for up to eight days while crews replace two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam, closing vehicle traffic. WSDOT spokesperson Kelly Hanahan said the contractor is bound to complete the work by 8 p.m. Monday, but repairs could wrap up sooner.

She said the biggest variable is how often emergency crews will need to cross the bridge, which would cause construction work to stop and potentially disturb the drying concrete.

Crews worked from Sunday night to Monday morning to install new floor beam under the bridge. The installation left a stretch of roadway open Monday while the area around the beam was prepared for concrete to be poured and new finger joints to be laid in.

During the complete closure, people requiring emergency medical attention on the Oregon side of the bridge were planned to be transported by Life Flight, Cole said Sunday. The former Trojan Nuclear Power Plant parking lot on Highway 30 was set as a landing zone for Life Flight aircraft.

Those deemed non-critical were planned to be driven to either Portland or Astoria for medical care, Cole said.

Now ambulances can cross the bridge to the closest hospital, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview. Pedestrians and cyclists can also cross.

Detours

During the entire closure, drivers have two road detour options: The Astoria-Megler Bridge between Megler and Astoria, which is 54 miles from Rainier, or the Interstate 5 Bridge between Vancouver and Portland, which is 57 miles from Rainier. Detour routes can add up to two and a half hours of travel time, reports WSDOT.

People with important medical appointments will receive what Cole called a front-of-the line pass to board the Wahkiakum County Ferry, also known as the Ferry Oscar B, that runs between Puget Island, Washington near Cathlamet and Westport, Oregon.

WSDOT reports the ferry will run twice an hour, 24 hours a day, while the bridge is closed. The ferry has limited capacity and officials ask the vessel be reserved for urgent matters that do not require an ambulance. A priority lane will be set up for travelers with non-emergency medical needs, first responders and healthcare workers. Priority ferry travelers should bring a badge or documentation of their medical appointment.

All other travelers should prepare for long lines and hours wait times, WSDOT reports.

Hanahan said WSDOT has an agreement with the ferry  which transports walk-ons, bicyclists and vehicles  to cover all fees during the bridge closure.

Hospital, other fire departments

The St. John Medical Center emergency room has also agreed to fast-track our patients, Cole added.

Debra Carnes, senior director of marketing and communication for PeaceHealth, said the hospital is ready for such emergencies but did not know the exact timeline of when the bridge would close to emergency vehicles.

We were told somewhere along the eight days it would close even to EMS, but I was not aware it was the first 10 hours, Carnes said Sunday.

Carnes said the medical center does planning all the time for emergencies, such as road closures to mudslides.

I think were fully prepared for this, she said.

Clatskanie Fire Chief Steve Sharek said the department increased staffing during the bridge closure, though they were not able to get funding from Washington or Oregon lawmakers to do so.

Even though there has been a lot of planning regarding the closure, Cole said timelines could change.

It is construction, he said. So, once they get in there, things could change, and we realize that.

Editors note: The Daily News reporter Brennen Kauffman contributed to this article.
Officials say patients in critical condition on the Oregon side of the Lewis and Clark Bridge will be airlifted during the first phase of the bridge's construction that started at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Washington State Department of Transportation reports ambulances, pedestrians and bicyclists cannot cross the bridge that spans Rainier and Longview from 10 p.m. Sunday through 8 a.m. Monday, but can after that time period.

Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday the Lewis and Clark Bridge closed for up to eight days while crews replace two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam, closing vehicle traffic.

People requiring emergency medical attention on the Oregon side of the bridge will be transported by Life Flight, said Columbia Fire and Rescue Division Chief of EMS Jerry Cole. The former Trojan Nuclear Power Plant parking lot on Highway 30 will be a landing zone for Life Flight aircraft.

Those deemed non-critical will be driven to either Portland or Astoria for medical care, as first responders are not allowed to cross the bridge for the first roughly 10 hours, Cole said. The closest hospital to Rainier is PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview.

People with important medical appointments will receive what Cole called a "front-of-the line pass" to board the Wahkiakum Ferry that runs between Puget Island, Washington and Westport, Oregon. The St. John Medical Center emergency room has also agreed to "fast-track our patients," Cole said.

Debra Carnes, senior director of marketing and communication for PeaceHealth, said the hospital is ready for such emergencies but did not know the exact timeline of when the bridge would close to emergency vehicles.

"We were told somewhere along the eight days it would close even to EMS, but I was not aware it was the first 10 hours," she said.

Carnes says the medical center does "planning all the time" for emergencies, such as road closures to mudslides.

"I think we're fully prepared for this," she said.

Clatskanie Fire Chief Steve Sharek said the department increased staffing during the bridge closure, though they were not able to get funding to do so. He said the department "developed an instant-action plan."

Even though there has been a lot of planning regarding the closure, Cole said timelines could change.

"It is construction," he said. "So, once they get in there, things could change, and we realize that."

He said his department has not coordinated with other fire agencies on the Washington state side of the bridge.
People can donate school supplies to all Cowlitz County Fibre Federal Credit Union locations through the end of the month in a partnership between the regional financial institution and local philanthropist Bill Ammons.

Heather Snyder, assistant vice president of Fibre's marketing and community development, said the credit union has been holding the collection drive for a decade.

Schools in Clatskanie, Cathlamet, Castle Rock, Toutle, Naselle, Kelso, and Longview school districts will receive donations.

Last year, more than 10,000 items were collected, Snyder said, during the credit union's drive to support Ammons.

Ammons, the retired owner of the Pacific Barber Shop in Kelso, created the day of community kindness to encourage local good deeds, and spent decades spearheading local coat, shoe and school supply drives.
Two middle school students have been certified as experts in Microsoft programs, the Kelso School District reports in a news release.

Adam Martin and Xander Sunday, who were eighth graders at the time, both attended Coweeman Middle School and were the only students in the Kelso School District to pass the exams necessary to prove their skills in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel.

Martin and Sunday both received a Microsoft certificate designating them as experts as well as an achievement plaque.

This was an incredible challenge these two boys undertook and conquered, said Coweeman computer instructor Tauni Hatfield in the news release. They are extremely talented, driven and a joy to have in class. I look forward to following their future achievements as they move on to Kelso High School and beyond.

Microsoft certifications can be used for those moving into jobs that focus on computer science and technology, according to the Microsoft website. These jobs can include working as a data analyst, engineer, developer, technology manager and data consultant, according to Microsoft.
The candidates running in the Kelso City Council primary agree that Kelso residents want better roads and better communication from the city.

The primary in Kelso is the largest race on the Aug. 1 ballot, with four candidates listed for the council seat. Not among them is the seat's current councilor, LaDonna Page, who opted not to run for a full term after being appointed to the position in 2022.

The three main candidates in the primary are Veryl Anderson, Scott Olson and Drew Wood. Jeremiah Harrington told The Daily News on Thursday he is no longer running for the position, saying he had personal issues come up in recent weeks, but his name will still appear on ballots.

All of the three remaining candidates told The Daily News the council needs to do more outreach for residents' comment, whether that means open houses or fewer rules for public comments during meetings.

Veryl Anderson

75, volunteer specialist for Cowlitz County Child Advocacy, lifelong Kelso resident

This year is Anderson's first time running for election but her familiarity with the Kelso government goes back decades. She worked in City Hall for 40 years, eventually retiring as the city's finance director. Her father was Ernie Parrott, a former Kelso councilor who had a road named after him.

Anderson said she understands the ins and outs of how the city works. Her biggest goal, though, is to work on revitalizing excitement about Kelso among the city's residents.

"We need to keep moving forward, we need to keep the ball rolling. I think we are spinning our wheels sometimes," Anderson said.

Anderson has a strong focus on the city's downtown blocks. She wants to see the Kelso Public Library relocate there instead of in the housing and community complex being planned in West Kelso because it would be easier to walk to and closer to City Hall and major local businesses.

"We need to get something downtown where people want to come spend time (there) ... Then we'll clean up the roads and stores, and then people might want to move here," Anderson said.

One of Anderson's ideas for cleaning up the city was bringing back dump days, the free weekend access to the Cowlitz County Landfill which the county eliminated in the early 1990s.

Scott Olson

72, retired, lived in Kelso for five years

Olson said he was elected for the Montpelier City Council in Idaho to stop infighting among the existing councilmembers. He has also had stints as a school board member and Chamber of Commerce president in Idaho before moving to Washington.

Olson thought the city was wasting money on things like design consultants for construction projects. At the same time, he said Kelso was not doing enough to spread the word about the work they did on road repairs and other priorities.

"You need to be proactive and get ahead of doing things. I think we spend too much responding to emergencies," Olson said.

Olson did not want the city to get directly involved in housing, whether it was homeless housing or the West Kelso Catlin project. The approach he supported more directly was tax breaks for housing developers.

"If we give them a break for this development here, and they build something that will house 20 to 30 people, those are going to be productive members of the community. They're earning money and spending money," Olson said.

To help the city deal with homelessness, Olson suggested forced community service or other work programs for homeless people who don't go into addiction treatment.

Drew Wood

58, thrift store manager, lived in Kelso for 11 years

Drew Wood is the brother of Brian Wood, current city councilman elected in 2021. Wood said he wants to make sure the city takes actions that benefit the widest swath of residents and feels his long experience working for nonprofits would help him understand that.

I have seen the problems facing people at the bottom of the economic scale. I can see how theyre struggling, and I can use that experience and knowledge to make decisions, Wood said.

Wood said a lot of the city's problems come back to the lack of funds. He said the city's infrastructure priorities should be based on what affects the most people and Kelso should work with other cities to address issues like homelessness.

Wood agreed with the city's approach to the West Kelso housing project. He said there needed to be a clear, active center of Kelso where people could gather.

"It could be downtown or it could be anywhere. But there isn't anywhere that vibrant currently," Wood said.
EU has urged the US to join efforts in regulating AI to safeguard global interests; Israel has covertly integrated AI systems into its military operations; Shashi Tharoor highlights AI's impact on jobs, this and more in our daily AI roundup. Let us take a look.

1. EU urges US to join efforts in regulating AI to safeguard global interest

The EU's Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, is urging the US to take action in regulating AI, according to the Wired reports. Reynders, responsible for crafting and enforcing laws across the EU, believes that the US has outsourced the regulation of tech giants to the EU due to unproductive lawmakers and business-friendly courts. Ahead of his meetings with US officials, Reynders expressed his frustration with the lack of action from the US, despite proposals from various tech executives, whistleblowers, and government officials. He emphasised the need for the US to address the issue of data protection and privacy, citing the EU's GDPR as an example.

2. Israel integrates AI systems into military operations

Israel has quietly integrated AI systems into deadly military operations, utilising artificial intelligence to select air strike targets and coordinate logistics, as per Bloomberg reports. The AI recommendation system analyses vast amounts of data, while the Fire Factory model calculates munition loads, assigns targets to aircraft and drones, and proposes schedules. Although human operators oversee the systems, they are not subject to international or state-level regulations. Supporters argue that AI surpasses human capabilities and reduces casualties, while critics have raised concerns about potentially deadly consequences and accountability for mistakes.

3. Shashi Tharoor highlights AI's impact on jobs - replacing some, creating others

AI will replace some jobs but also create new ones, according to MP Shashi Tharoor. Speaking at a seminar on the future of jobs and AI, Tharoor highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the impact of AI on employment, particularly in India with its high unemployment rate, new Indian express reported. He referred to a report suggesting that 30% of jobs by 2030 will be completely new, requiring skills that do not yet exist. Tharoor emphasised the importance of adaptability and learning new skills to stay relevant in the changing job market. He also discussed the need to ensure that AI benefits humanity rather than replacing it, emphasising the enduring importance of the human touch.

4. Experts call for reskilling as tech companies embrace Gen AI'

Industry experts are emphasising the need for reskilling and responsible innovation as generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) becomes more prevalent in businesses. Elon Musk has announced the formation of xAI, an AI company focused on self-regulation. Companies like HCL, Wipro, and Zoho are investing in Gen AI labs and developing AI solutions. While AI itself may not displace jobs, individuals with access to AI can. Experts highlight the importance of strong moral standards and self-regulation in AI development, particularly regarding sensitive and private information.

5. AI tool facilitates information theft, raising cybersecurity concerns | Israel Hayom

The AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, has gained immense popularity, but a new report reveals a concerning development. A generative AI tool called WormGPT has emerged on underground forums, enabling hackers to carry out digital attacks and steal information. WormGPT generates personalised fake emails, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks. This tool operates without ethical boundaries and poses a significant risk, as even hackers with limited capabilities can easily launch attacks using this technology. The emergence of WormGPT emphasises the dangers associated with generative AI.
The United Nations Security Council is set to hold its first-ever meeting to address the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to international peace and security. This meeting, organized by the United Kingdom during its presidency of the council, is scheduled for July 18. The UK Ambassador, Barbara Woodward, highlighted the tremendous potential of AI, but also acknowledged major risks, such as its use in autonomous weapons or controlling nuclear weapons.

UN Council meeting

The event will feature briefings from international AI experts and the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who recently expressed concerns about the dangers associated with advanced AI. He compared the alarm surrounding AI to the loudest warning signals heard from its developers, emphasizing its potential as an existential threat on par with nuclear war.

To address these concerns, Guterres revealed plans to establish an advisory board on artificial intelligence in September, aiming to develop initiatives that the UN can adopt. He also supported the idea of a new UN agency dedicated to AI, using the International Atomic Energy Agency as a model due to its knowledge-based structure and regulatory powers.

Ambassador Woodward stressed the need for a multilateral approach in managing the opportunities and risks of AI. She highlighted AI's potential benefits, such as assisting UN development programs, enhancing humanitarian aid operations, supporting peacekeeping efforts, and aiding conflict prevention through data collection and analysis. Additionally, AI could help bridge the gap between developing and developed countries.

However, Woodward acknowledged that addressing the risks associated with AI is crucial for global security. European efforts to regulate AI have been at the forefront, and on June 14, EU lawmakers approved the world's first comprehensive rules for artificial intelligence.

In May, the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, emphasized the importance of government intervention to mitigate the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems. The idea of establishing a U.S. or global agency to license and regulate powerful AI systems has been proposed to ensure compliance with safety standards.

The Security Council meeting, chaired by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, aims to gather expert perspectives on AIa rapidly developing technologyand initiate discussions among the 15 council members on its implications. In addition, the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced that the country will host a summit on AI later in the year, providing a platform for a global multilateral discussion on this critical issue.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are employing artificial intelligence (AI) systems in their military operations to select targets for air strikes and manage wartime logistics. As tensions rise in the occupied territories and with arch-rival Iran, the IDF has turned to AI technology to enhance its capabilities, according to a Bloomberg report.

While specific operations are not disclosed, officials confirm the use of an AI recommendation system to analyze vast amounts of data and suggest targets for air strikes. An AI tool, called Fire Factory, is utilized to swiftly organize air raids. Fire Factory employs military-approved target data to calculate the appropriate munition loads, prioritize targets, assign them to aircraft and drones, and propose a schedule.

Questions of accountability and regulation surrounding AI in warfare

Human operators oversee both systems, reviewing and approving individual targets and air raid plans. However, the use of this technology is not currently regulated at the international or state level. Supporters say that improved algorithms can outperform human capabilities and potentially reduce casualties. Critics, on the other hand, express concerns about the potentially lethal consequences of relying on increasingly autonomous systems.

Tal Mimran, a lecturer of international law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former legal counsel for the army, highlights the risks involved to Bloomberg, "If there is a mistake in the calculation of the AI, and if the AI is not explainable, then who do we blame for the mistake?" he asks. A single error can wipe out a whole family.

Although specific details of the IDF's AI usage are classified, statements from military officials suggest that the technology has been employed in periodic conflicts in the Gaza Strip. Israel frequently carries out air strikes in response to rocket attacks in that region. In 2021, the IDF referred to the conflict as the world's first "AI war," citing the use of artificial intelligence to identify rocket launchpads and deploy drone swarms. In addition, Israel conducts raids in Syria and Lebanon to target weapons shipments to Iran-backed militants.

As tensions with Iran escalate and concerns over its uranium enrichment persist, Israel has been issuing regular warnings against Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons. The IDF anticipates potential retaliation from Iranian proxies in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, potentially leading to a significant multi-front conflict. AI-based tools like Fire Factory are specifically designed to handle such scenarios, allowing quicker decision-making with human oversight.

Colonel Uri, head of the IDF's digital transformation unit, emphasizes the efficiency gains from AI implementation. He explains, "What used to take hours now takes minutes, with a few more minutes for human review. With the same amount of people, we do much more."
Bitcoin could help mitigate the climate change emergency that were seeing in real time as swathes of the northern hemisphere experience extreme heatwaves, affirms the CEO of one of the worlds largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations.

The analysis from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes as extreme temperatures are breaking records worldwide. Both the US and China saw the mercury crossing 50C on Sunday and southern Europe is bracing for the all-time records to be broken this week.

He says: Amidst the global climate change emergency, a perhaps surprising contender is emerging as a potential solution: Bitcoin.

Contrary to belief in some quarters, this revolutionary digital currency has the capacity to drive positive change and aid in the fight against climate change.

With its unique characteristics and transformative potential, Bitcoin is positioned to play a crucial role in transitioning to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

The deVere CEO continues: An often-overlooked point is that Bitcoin mining (the process of verifying and adding transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain while also creating new Bitcoins) could speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

Clearly, clean energy is the way forward, but their sources are sometimes irregular and theres not enough storage capacity for when these sources generate excess energy.

Bitcoin miners, who need huge amounts of energy, could act as major buyers of last resort, providing substantial profit for investment and expansion. This would then enhance the renewables supply, which would go on to bring down prices for consumers and further drive demand.

Bitcoins rise in popularity has resulted in increased wealth accumulation for early adopters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Many individuals within the Bitcoin community are leveraging their newfound wealth to fund sustainable projects and initiatives.

This philanthropic approach can lead to significant investments in renewable energy, clean technology, and other climate change mitigation efforts, notes Nigel Green.

He also stresses the promotion of financial inclusion. Bitcoin has the potential to enhance financial inclusion for underserved populations around the world. By providing individuals with access to digital currencies and blockchain-based financial services, Bitcoin can empower the unbanked and foster economic growth in marginalized communities.

This increased access to financial resources enables individuals to invest in sustainable practices and contribute to climate change mitigation.

He concludes: While no monetary system or investment is perfect, and the crypto ecosystem can still improve in many ways, the argument that digital currencies cannot necessarily form part of a climate change mitigation strategy does not stand-up to scrutiny.

Indeed, as the emergency intensifies, we must use every weapon at our disposal to fight it  and Bitcoin is one of them.
Nokia announced an expansion of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts to the state of Gujarat with the establishment of a Nokia Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Skill Development in collaboration with Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and Kaushalya- TheSkill University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The centre was inaugurated by Shri Balvantsinh Rajput, Honble Cabinet Minister for Labour, Skill Development and Employment, Govt. of Gujarat. He was accompanied by Shri Kunvarjibhai Halpati, Honble State Minister, Labour, Skill Development and Employment, Govt. of Gujarat and Dr. Anju Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour, Skill Development and Employment.

The CoE at ITI Kubernagar is setting up a Skill Lab for training of candidates in 5G technology skills with the aim of providing placement offers within 4-6 weeks of course completion to at least 70% of learners. About 300 such candidates will benefit from the program in the first year of the project. Nokia will be investing in infrastructure, equipment and training for the five labs in the CoE as part of its India CSR program.

Amit Marwah, CMO, Nokia India, said, As part of our larger commitment to local communities, we are facilitating connectivity and digitization to further positive socio-economic, educational and health impacts in India. This is an important initiative supporting the Honble Prime Ministers vision of Digital Bharat. Nokia is at the forefront of leading innovation in telecom technologies, and we are investing to develop a pool of technically skilled manpower to help build the 5G ecosystem.

Arvind Bali, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council, said, The unveiling of our state-of-the-art CoE with 5G, IoT, Advanced Security Surveillance, Line Assembler and Advanced Mobile Repair labs, represents a significant milestone in our organizations commitment to skilling youth of India in emerging telecom job roles. We are thrilled to showcase this facility and demonstrate the immense potential it holds for the future.
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:

(From left) University of Maryland computer science Ph.D. students Richard Roberts and Julio Poveda are shown with their adviser, Associate Professor Dave Levin. The trio recently concluded a study that uncovered significant privacy concerns with cellphones purchased from police property room auctions. Credit: University of Maryland

Law enforcement agencies nationwide regularly sell items that are seized in criminal investigations or are unclaimed from lost-and-found inventories. Many of these itemsvehicles, jewelry, watches and electronic devices like cellphonesend up at online auction houses.

People looking for a bargain can bid on cellphones in bulk, snatching up dozens at rock bottom prices for parts or other uses. This ultimately provides revenue for the police agencies, making for a good deal for everyone involved. Or is it?

A recent study by University of Maryland security experts found that many of the phones sold at police property auction houses are not properly wiped of personal data. The study, conducted over two years with cellphones bought from the largest police auction house in the U.S., uncovered troves of personal information from previous owners that was easily accessible.

Of the 228 phones that the UMD team successfully bid on, 61 (27%) contained personal data like social security numbers, credit card and banking information, passport data, pictures of driver's licenses, and more.

"We were actually surprised at the level of personal information we found, and the ease by which we could access it," said Dave Levin, an associate professor of computer science who led the UMD team.

Levin, a core faculty member in the Maryland Cybersecurity Center, first became interested in this topic through a casual conversation with a colleague. After determining there was a security breakdownwhether through police not wiping the phones, or auction houses not taking proper safeguards before shipping items to the highest bidderLevin and several of his graduate students set out to explore the scale of the problem

The first step was to work closely with the university's legal counsel and institutional research review board to determine the appropriate protocols needed to view any personal data.

"There were stringent guidelines in placehow each phone we received was catalogued, the processes we used to access the phones, and most importantly, what we would be legally required to do if we found any evidence of child abuse," said Julio Poveda, a second-year computer science Ph.D. student who was part of the research team.

The UMD team did not come across any evidence of child abuse, but did uncover other information that was unsuitable for public dissemination, such as depictions of adult nudity and drug use.

Some of the phones they accessed had been used in criminal activities like identity theft, a discovery Levin found particularly troubling.

"It's as if people that were victims of identity theft were being 're-victimized' by having their personal information available again for anyone to see," he explained.

The UMD team determined that some of the phones had been used by sex workers, with text messages between the workers and their clients still intact.

"It's important to remember that your phone does not just have your data, it has data from anyone who has communicated with you," said Richard Roberts, a sixth-year computer science Ph.D. student and lead author of the study.

Roberts, who presented the team's academic work at the IEEE Symposium on

Security and Privacy earlier this year, said that out of the 61 phones the researchers accessed, they determined that there had been some form of digital contact with more than 7,000 people.

Levin, Poveda and Roberts are all security experts, but decided against using using any type of sophisticated digital forensics for their study. "We wanted to attempt to gain access to any cellphone data using techniques that someone on the street might use," Roberts said.

The researchers were shocked at how easy it was. One of the phones arrived with a sticky note attached with the phone's passcode in plain view, a leftover from the originating police agency that had already legally hacked the phone. Multiple other phones had PINs or passcode patterns that were easy to guess.

"Sadly, passcodes like 1-2-3-4 are still in common use today," Levin said.

Last October, the researchers reached out to the auction house where they purchased the phones. The companyPropertyRoom.com, which bills itself as the largest police auction house in the U.S. working with more than 4,400 law enforcement agenciespromised to investigate the problem. Shortly after that, the company stopped selling bulk lots of phones altogether for a short period, then started again, prompting the researchers to purchase another batch.

"We found that PropertyRoom had started wiping the phones but failed to wipe the phones' [Secure Digital] cards, which in several cases had partial backups of the phones' contents," Levin said.

After pinging the company again to inform it of this oversight, the UMD researchers received no further response.

A subsequent investigative report by a local television station prodded the company to publish a message on its website stating it was aware of the security concerns and was taking corrective measures.

From a security standpoint, Levin said, police agencies should avoid auctioning used cellphones. "Just destroy them," he said. "[The police agencies] don't get that much money in return, and the potential damage far outweighs any financial incentives."

He also suggested that people take better precautions in the event their phone is lost or stolen and ends up being resold.

"Use your phone under the assumption that somebody else might later become its legal owner," Levin said. "Set a passcode that is hard to guess, minimize the private information that's easy to access, and remotely wipe your phone if it is lost or stolen. Otherwise, our study shows just how easy it is for someone to gain an incredible amount of access to your private information."

More information: Richard Roberts et al, Blue Is the New Black (Market): Privacy Leaks and Re-Victimization from Police-Auctioned Cellphones (2023). DOI: 10.1109/SP46215.2023.00167
Bryan is the first stop on H-E-Bs Mobile Kitchen which will provide local families with hot meals, school supplies and more this evening.

H-E-Bs Hunger Relief will be hosting the drive-through event in partnership with the Brazos Valley Food Bank as part of the companys Summer of Sharing tour. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Brazos Center located at 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan.

The event will serve families and children from both Bryan and College Station school districts. Families who want to participate are asked to register through the Brazos Valley Food Bank website via this link.

The H-E-B Summer of Sharing tour will take place throughout August and will also make stops in Conroe and San Antonio.

According to H-E-B, the tour will ultimately help over 4,000 families.
FS KKR Capital (NYSE:FSK  Get Free Report) is one of 1,201 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare FS KKR Capital to related companies based on the strength of its valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, profitability and dividends.

Risk and Volatility

FS KKR Capital has a beta of 1.38, suggesting that its share price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, FS KKR Capitals peers have a beta of 0.69, suggesting that their average share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Insider and Institutional Ownership

33.7% of FS KKR Capital shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.5% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of FS KKR Capital shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio FS KKR Capital $1.64 billion $92.00 million 81.88 FS KKR Capital Competitors $206.98 million -$8.07 million -30.79

This table compares FS KKR Capital and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

FS KKR Capital has higher revenue and earnings than its peers. FS KKR Capital 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.

Profitability

This table compares FS KKR Capital and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets FS KKR Capital 3.89% 11.82% 5.12% FS KKR Capital Competitors 365.92% 7.60% 4.86%

Dividends

FS KKR Capital pays an annual dividend of $2.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 13.0%. FS KKR Capital pays out 1,066.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 8.0% and pay out 1,251.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. FS KKR Capital is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for FS KKR Capital and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score FS KKR Capital 0 4 0 0 2.00 FS KKR Capital Competitors 1060 4552 5920 93 2.43

FS KKR Capital presently has a consensus price target of $21.25, indicating a potential upside of 8.14%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 85.37%. Given FS KKR Capitals peers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe FS KKR Capital has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

FS KKR Capital beats its peers on 9 of the 15 factors compared.

FS KKR Capital Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

FS KKR Capital Corp. is a business development company specializing in investments in debt securities. It provides customized credit solutions to private middle market U.S. companies. It invest primarily in the senior secured debt and, to a lesser extent, the subordinated debt of private middle market U.S. companies. It seeks to purchase interests in loans through secondary market transactions or directly from the target companies as primary market investments. It also seeks to invest in first lien senior secured loans, second lien secured loans and, to a lesser extent, subordinated loans, or mezzanine loans. In connection with the debt investments, the firm also receives equity interests such as warrants or options as additional consideration. It also seek to purchase minority interests in the form of common or preferred equity in our target companies, either in conjunction with one of the debt investments or through a co-investment with a financial sponsor. Additionally, on an opportunistic basis, the fund may also invest in corporate bonds and similar debt securities. The fund does not seek to invest in start-up companies, turnaround situations, or companies with speculative business plans. It seeks to invest in small and middle-market companies based in United States. The fund seeks to invest in firms with annual revenue between $10 million to $2.5 billion. It focus on providing customized one-stop credit solutions to private upper middle market companies with annual EBITDA of $50 million to $100 million at the time of investment. It seeks to exit from securities by selling them in a privately negotiated over- the- counter market. For any investments that are not able to be sold within the secondary market, the firm seeks to exit such investments through repayment, an initial public offering of equity securities, merger, sale or recapitalization.

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PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund (NYSE:PGP  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,300 shares, a decline of 42.2% from the June 15th total of 10,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 37,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its holdings in PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 147,346 shares of the companys stock worth $1,404,000 after acquiring an additional 6,867 shares during the last quarter. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at $1,353,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 131,206 shares of the companys stock valued at $972,000 after buying an additional 4,040 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 120,229 shares of the companys stock valued at $891,000 after buying an additional 24,800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 107,630 shares of the companys stock valued at $798,000 after buying an additional 2,609 shares during the last quarter.

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PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of PGP traded up $0.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $7.54. The company had a trading volume of 54,686 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,301. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $7.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.44. PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund has a 52 week low of $6.11 and a 52 week high of $8.63.

PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund Dividend Announcement

About PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a $0.069 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 12th. This represents a $0.83 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.98%.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Global Stocksplus & Income Fund is a closed ended balanced 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 and public equity markets across the globe. The fund uses a long/short strategy to invest in securities by using financial derivatives such as options.

Further Reading

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PIAIF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,741,400 shares, an increase of 281.4% from the June 15th total of 456,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 15,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 113.1 days.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Price Performance

Shares of PIAIF remained flat at $6.50 during mid-day trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 15 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,174. The stocks 50 day moving average is $6.71 and its 200-day moving average is $6.93. Ping An Insurance has a 12-month low of $3.89 and a 12-month high of $8.19.

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Company Profile

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Featured Articles

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers.

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PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (OTCMKTS:PTNDY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,000 shares, an increase of 66.7% from the June 15th total of 600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.0 days.

PT Vale Indonesia Tbk Stock Performance

PTNDY stock remained flat at $21.95 during midday trading on Friday. PT Vale Indonesia Tbk has a one year low of $16.59 and a one year high of $24.29. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $21.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $21.92.

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PT Vale Indonesia Tbk Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 22nd were given a dividend of $0.213 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.03%. PT Vale Indonesia Tbks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.50%.

About PT Vale Indonesia Tbk

PT Vale Indonesia Tbk engages in the mining and processing of nickel in Indonesia. It operates a concession area of 118,017 hectares located in central, south, and southeast Sulawesi. The company was formerly known as PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk and changed its name to PT Vale Indonesia Tbk in September 2011.

Further Reading

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ABN AMRO Bank (OTCMKTS:ABMRF  Get Free Report) and NU (NYSE:NU  Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, profitability and institutional ownership.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

51.8% of NU shares are held by institutional investors. 1.2% of NU shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations for ABN AMRO Bank and NU, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ABN AMRO Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A NU 0 2 4 0 2.67

Profitability

NU has a consensus price target of $6.51, indicating a potential downside of 15.62%. Given NUs higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe NU is more favorable than ABN AMRO Bank.

This table compares ABN AMRO Bank and NUs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ABN AMRO Bank N/A N/A N/A NU -3.21% 6.73% 1.19%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares ABN AMRO Bank and NUs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ABN AMRO Bank N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A NU $4.79 billion 7.56 -$364.58 million ($0.04) -193.00

ABN AMRO Bank has higher earnings, but lower revenue than NU.

Summary

NU beats ABN AMRO Bank on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ABN AMRO Bank

(Get Free Report)

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. provides various banking products and services to retail, private, and business clients in the Netherlands and internationally. It operates through three segments: Personal & Business Banking, Wealth Management, and Corporate Banking. The company provides savings and deposits products; labelled residential mortgage products under the Florius brands; and consumer loans under the Alpha Credit Nederland, Credivance, Defam, Moneyou, and ABN AMRO brands. It also issues, promotes, manages, and processes credit cards; provides revolving credit card facilities and pension schemes, as well as consumer credit and mortgages; and life and non-life insurance products. In addition, it offers asset-based solutions, including working capital solutions, equipment leases and loans, and vendor lease services; private banking and wealth-management-related services; and derivatives and equity clearing services. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

About NU

(Get Free Report)

Nu Holdings Ltd. provides digital banking platform and digital financial services in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and internationally. It offers Nu credit and debit cards; Ultraviolet credit and debit cards; and mobile payment solutions for NuAccount customers to make and receive transfers, pay bills, and make everyday purchases through their mobile phones. The company provides savings solutions, such as Nu Personal Accounts, a digital account solution that supports all personal finance activities, from daily purchases and money transfers to savings; and Nu business accounts designed specifically for entrepreneur customers and their businesses. In addition, it offers NuCrypto, a solution for buying and selling cryptocurrencies through the Nu app; NuInvest, an investment product that provides equity, fixed-income, options, and ETF products, as well as multimarket funds with curated asset allocations based on the customer's risk profile and financial position; personal unsecured loans; in-app buy now pay later' solution for Nu card customers to pay credit and debit purchases, and banking payment slips over time in up to twelve installments; and NuInsurance protecting solutions to help its customers secure life insurance and funeral benefits. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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PetroChina Company Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCYF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in 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 presently 29.3 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, HSBC upgraded PetroChina from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th.

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PetroChina Stock Performance

Shares of PetroChina stock traded up $0.01 on Friday, reaching $0.73. The company had a trading volume of 63,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 287,719. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.69. PetroChina has a 1 year low of $0.37 and a 1 year high of $0.75.

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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AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its stake in shares of SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (NYSEARCA:SMLV  Free Report) by 3.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 58,322 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,017 shares during the period. AdvisorNet Financial Inc owned approximately 3.12% of SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF worth $6,131,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in SMLV. Cowa LLC grew its position in shares of SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF by 9,901.0% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 838,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $957,000 after acquiring an additional 829,707 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF by 606.5% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,826 shares of the companys stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 2,426 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF by 45.4% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 4,589 shares of the companys stock worth $494,000 after purchasing an additional 1,432 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC raised its holdings in SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 20,942 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,254,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE bought a new stake in SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $46,000.

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SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF Price Performance

SMLV stock traded down $0.49 on Monday, reaching $104.61. 1,500 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,724. SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF has a one year low of $96.28 and a one year high of $116.46. The company has a market cap of $194.57 million, a P/E ratio of 12.69 and a beta of 0.98. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $102.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.72.

SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF Profile

The SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (SMLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility index. The fund tracks an index of US small-cap stocks selected and weighted by low volatility and other factors. SMLV was launched on Feb 20, 2013 and is managed by State Street.

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Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG  Free Report) had its price target reduced by Barclays from $42.00 to $39.00 in a report published on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Friday. StockNews.com cut shares of Conagra Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, May 20th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $43.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Conagra Brands from $44.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Conagra Brands has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $39.00.

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Conagra Brands Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CAG opened at $32.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company has a market cap of $15.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.54. The firms fifty day moving average is $34.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.42. Conagra Brands has a 52-week low of $32.18 and a 52-week high of $41.30.

Conagra Brands Increases Dividend

Conagra Brands ( NYSE:CAG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 13th. The company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.02. Conagra Brands had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 15.19%. The business had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.65 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Conagra Brands will post 2.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.26%. This is a boost from Conagra Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 28th. Conagra Brandss payout ratio is 92.96%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Conagra Brands

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bartlett & Co. LLC boosted its position in Conagra Brands by 4,324.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 35,397 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,194,000 after buying an additional 34,597 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 48,670 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,641,000 after acquiring an additional 607 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 12,433 shares of the companys stock valued at $419,000 after acquiring an additional 645 shares during the last quarter. DMC Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 27,474 shares of the companys stock valued at $926,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Conagra Brands by 83.8% in the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 53,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,813,000 after acquiring an additional 24,511 shares during the last quarter. 88.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Conagra Brands

(Get Free Report)

Conagra Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer packaged goods food company in North America. The company operates in four segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice. The Grocery & Snacks segment primarily offers shelf stable food products through various retail channels in the United States.

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Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors Inc. trimmed its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 7.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 118,082 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,384 shares during the period. Altria Group comprises about 1.8% of Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position. Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,269,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 85.6% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 542 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.38% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $45.45 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $45.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.63. The company has a market capitalization of $81.13 billion, a PE ratio of 14.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $40.35 and a 1-year high of $51.57.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.01). Altria Group had a net margin of 22.44% and a negative return on equity of 245.43%. The firm had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.12 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.94 per share. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 120.90%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on MO. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.00.

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.

Further Reading

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BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MYN  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 89,600 shares, an increase of 379.1% from the June 15th total of 18,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 77,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.2 days.

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Price Performance

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund stock traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $10.02. The company had a trading volume of 15,027 shares, compared to its average volume of 74,399. BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund has a 1 year low of $8.89 and a 1 year high of $11.27. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $9.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.07.

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BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a $0.0315 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund Company Profile

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of MYN. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund by 32.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 19,967 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 4,939 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund by 11.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,849 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $203,000 after acquiring an additional 1,774 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund by 13.7% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 14,150 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $171,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $610,000. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its position in BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund by 9.5% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 443,825 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $5,370,000 after acquiring an additional 38,503 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 21.73% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

BlackRock MuniYield New York Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in a portfolio of long-term investment grade municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes.

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Blue Chip Partners LLC decreased its holdings in shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 7.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,079 shares of the banks stock after selling 321 shares during the quarter. Blue Chip Partners LLCs holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $244,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Annapolis Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 83.3% during the 1st quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 429 shares of the banks stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the period. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors own 44.92% of the companys stock.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance

NYSE:TD traded up $0.47 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $63.90. The company had a trading volume of 577,855 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,325,168. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 52-week low of $55.43 and a 52-week high of $70.67. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $60.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.43. The company has a market capitalization of $117.55 billion, a PE ratio of 10.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend

Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.52 by ($0.09). Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 15.51% and a net margin of 17.72%. The company had revenue of $9.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.10 billion. As a group, research analysts expect that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.709 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 7th. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.44%. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is 48.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TD has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Barclays cut shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. CIBC raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $101.83.

About Toronto-Dominion Bank

(Free Report)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Free Report) (TSE:TD).

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Shares of Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Hold from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation and nine have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $127.20.

Several research firms have weighed in on LEN. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Lennar from $127.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Barclays increased their price target on Lennar from $120.00 to $135.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Lennar in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. They set a sell rating and a $105.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com cut Lennar from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, June 16th. Finally, BTIG Research increased their price objective on Lennar from $120.00 to $148.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th.

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Lennar Stock Performance

Shares of LEN opened at $133.24 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 7.08, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market cap of $38.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.09, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a 50-day moving average of $117.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $107.23. Lennar has a 12-month low of $69.90 and a 12-month high of $133.24.

Lennar Dividend Announcement

Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, June 14th. The construction company reported $2.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.62. Lennar had a net margin of 12.66% and a return on equity of 18.27%. The firm had revenue of $8.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.28 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Lennar will post 12.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Lennars payout ratio is 10.24%.

Insider Transactions at Lennar

In other Lennar news, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 10,790 shares of Lennar stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.46, for a total value of $1,310,553.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 270,556 shares in the company, valued at $32,861,731.76. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 9.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Connections Group Inc. purchased a new position in Lennar during the 2nd quarter valued at about $128,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its position in shares of Lennar by 11.8% during the second quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 14,412 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,806,000 after buying an additional 1,524 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Lennar by 3.9% during the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,496 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,190,000 after buying an additional 356 shares during the period. Everhart Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Lennar by 14.7% in the second quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,403 shares of the construction companys stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares during the period. Finally, Central Bank & Trust Co. grew its holdings in Lennar by 29.5% in the second quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. now owns 1,990 shares of the construction companys stock worth $249,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.69% of the companys stock.

Lennar Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $45.86.

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup began coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They set a neutral rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on CAVA Group in a research report on Monday, July 10th. They set a buy rating and a $48.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley began coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler began coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They issued an overweight rating and a $45.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on CAVA Group in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They issued an outperform rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company.

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CAVA Group Trading Down 0.0 %

CAVA Group stock opened at $47.67 on Monday. CAVA Group has a fifty-two week low of $36.45 and a fifty-two week high of $54.86.

Insiders Place Their Bets

CAVA Group Company Profile

In other CAVA Group news, insider Kenneth Robert Bertram purchased 2,295 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $22.00 per share, with a total value of $50,490.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 1,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,000. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In related news, CFO Tricia K. Tolivar acquired 2,500 shares of CAVA Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $22.00 per share, with a total value of $55,000.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer now directly owns 2,500 shares in the company, valued at $55,000. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, insider Kenneth Robert Bertram acquired 2,295 shares of CAVA Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $22.00 per share, with a total value of $50,490.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 1,500 shares in the company, valued at $33,000. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders acquired 9,295 shares of company stock valued at $204,490 in the last ninety days.

(Get Free Report

CAVA Group, Inc owns and operates a chain of Mediterranean restaurants. The company offers salads, dips, spreads, toppings, and dressings. It sells its products through whole food markets and grocery stores. The company also provides online food ordering services. Cava Group, Inc was founded in 2006 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

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Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. (OTCMKTS:KCDMY  Get Free Report) and Outokumpu Oyj (OTCMKTS:OUTKY  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. and Outokumpu Oyjs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. N/A N/A N/A Outokumpu Oyj N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. and Outokumpu Oyjs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. $2.31 billion 3.16 $221.55 million $0.34 35.00 Outokumpu Oyj $9.12 billion N/A $654.25 million $1.11 2.40

Volatility and Risk

Outokumpu Oyj has higher revenue and earnings than Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V.. Outokumpu Oyj is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V., indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. has a beta of 0.65, indicating that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Outokumpu Oyj has a beta of 0.82, indicating that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. and Outokumpu Oyj, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. 0 0 1 0 3.00 Outokumpu Oyj 1 2 2 0 2.20

Outokumpu Oyj has a consensus price target of $5.00, indicating a potential upside of 87.97%. Given Outokumpu Oyjs higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Outokumpu Oyj is more favorable than Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V..

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.0% of Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.5%. Outokumpu Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. pays out 123.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Outokumpu Oyj pays out 8.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

Outokumpu Oyj beats Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V.

(Get Free Report)

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and commercializes disposable products for daily use by consumers in Mexico. The company offers diapers, pull-up training pants, swim diapers, wet wipes, shampoos, cream and bar soaps, and feeding products for babies; beauty products, including bar soaps, liquid hand soaps, foaming liquid soaps, liquid body washes, micellar water, and makeup removing wipes; and underwear, protectors, feminine pads, and prefolded products for adults. It also provides toilet paper, napkins, facial tissues, and paper towels for home; feminine pads, panty liners, tampons, and intimate wipes for women; and dispensers, jumbo roll toilet papers, paper towels, hand towels, anti-bacterial gel, disinfecting spray, facemasks, and industrial cleaning cloths for professional use. The company offers its products primarily under the Huggies, KleenBebe, Pull-Ups, Evenflo, Kleenex, Kotex, Depend, Cottonelle, Petalo, Suavel, Vogue, Sanitas, Marli y Kimlark, Jabon Escudo Antibacterial, and Jabones Kleenex brands. The company also exports its products. Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S. A. B. de C. V. was founded in 1925 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico.

About Outokumpu Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Outokumpu Oyj produces and sells various stainless steel products in Finland, other European countries, North America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers cold rolled coils, strips, and sheets; precision strips; hot rolled coils, strips, and plates; quarto plates; precise components, including welded stainless-steel I-beams, H-beams, hollow-section tubes, bent profiles, structural sections, press plates, roll shells, and blancs and disks; long products, which includes wire rods, wires, bars, rebars, billets, blooms, slabs, and ingots; and forged and rolled billets. Its products are used in various applications, including commercial kitchen, cooking, food industry, and home appliances; automotive and transportation; building and infrastructure; energy and marine; and heavy industries. The company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.

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Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras (NYSE:EBR  Get Free Report) and Principal Solar (OTCMKTS:PSWW  Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras and Principal Solar, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras 0 0 2 0 3.00 Principal Solar 0 0 0 0 N/A

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras currently has a consensus target price of $70.00, suggesting a potential upside of 783.84%. Given Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras is more favorable than Principal Solar.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Volatility & Risk

5.4% of Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras shares are owned by institutional investors. 39.2% of Principal Solar shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras has a beta of 0.82, indicating that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Principal Solar has a beta of 7.33, indicating that its share price is 633% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras and Principal Solars net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras 1.32% 0.93% 0.39% Principal Solar N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras and Principal Solars revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras $6.60 billion 2.76 $513.03 million $0.69 11.48 Principal Solar N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras has higher revenue and earnings than Principal Solar.

Summary

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras beats Principal Solar on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras

(Get Free Report)

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.  Eletrobras, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Brazil. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, wind, and solar plants. It owned and operated 32 hydroelectric plants; As of December 31, 2022, it operated 32 hydroelectric plants; five thermal plants, including coal and gas power generation units with a total installed capacity of 1,482 megawatts; and two nuclear power plants comprising Angra I with an installed capacity of 640 megawatts and Angra II with an installed capacity of 1,350 megawatts. It also operates 66,939 kilometers of transmission lines. The company was incorporated in 1962 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

About Principal Solar

(Get Free Report)

Principal Solar, Inc. does not have significant operations. It focuses on renewable energy and natural gas sectors. The company is headquartered in Dallas Texas.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning.

CW has been the subject of several other reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Curtiss-Wright from $196.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. William Blair assumed coverage on Curtiss-Wright in a report on Friday, May 19th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $186.80.

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Curtiss-Wright Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CW opened at $188.26 on Thursday. Curtiss-Wright has a 1-year low of $127.61 and a 1-year high of $191.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $172.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.90. The company has a market capitalization of $7.22 billion, a PE ratio of 23.42 and a beta of 1.27.

Curtiss-Wright Increases Dividend

Curtiss-Wright ( NYSE:CW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The aerospace company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.12. Curtiss-Wright had a return on equity of 16.54% and a net margin of 11.81%. The firm had revenue of $631.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $585.49 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.31 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Curtiss-Wright will post 8.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. This is a boost from Curtiss-Wrights previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. Curtiss-Wrights dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.95%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Curtiss-Wright news, VP Paul J. Ferdenzi sold 2,064 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total value of $392,160.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 17,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,245,580. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 219 shares of company stock valued at $34,039. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new stake in Curtiss-Wright during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC bought a new stake in Curtiss-Wright during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Curtiss-Wright during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in Curtiss-Wright by 26.8% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 303 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Curtiss-Wright by 91.3% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 350 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. 81.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Curtiss-Wright Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Curtiss-Wright Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products, solutions, and services to the aerospace, defense, general industrial, and power generation markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power.

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EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Citigroup from $195.00 to $210.00 in a research note published on Friday, Benzinga reports. Citigroup currently has a buy rating on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on EGP. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EastGroup Properties in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of EastGroup Properties from $180.00 to $175.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th. Mizuho upgraded shares of EastGroup Properties from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $180.00 to $185.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price objective on shares of EastGroup Properties from $174.00 to $188.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $178.20.

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EastGroup Properties Price Performance

EGP stock opened at $185.50 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $170.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $165.28. EastGroup Properties has a 52-week low of $137.47 and a 52-week high of $186.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.93, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06.

EastGroup Properties Dividend Announcement

Insiders Place Their Bets

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th were given a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. EastGroup Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 129.20%.

In other EastGroup Properties news, Director Hayden C. Eaves III sold 638 shares of EastGroup Properties stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.41, for a total value of $104,255.58. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,540 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,232,111.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EastGroup Properties

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. WCM Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 15,203 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,618,000 after acquiring an additional 991 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 29.1% during the 2nd quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 1,172 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $203,000 after acquiring an additional 264 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 14.7% during the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 66,962 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,625,000 after acquiring an additional 8,570 shares during the period. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd grew its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 24.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd now owns 11,557 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,006,000 after acquiring an additional 2,259 shares during the period. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 3,466 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.56% of the companys stock.

About EastGroup Properties

(Get Free Report)

EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina.

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Fee Only Financial Planning L.C. reduced its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Free Report) by 17.1% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,216 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 664 shares during the period. Fee Only Financial Planning L.C.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $230,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Financial Freedom LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 172.9% in the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. 78.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of EFA opened at $73.47 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $72.39 and a 200-day moving average of $71.25. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52 week low of $54.61 and a 52 week high of $74.38.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Free Report).

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Herbst Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 63.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,650 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,525 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises 2.8% of Herbst Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Herbst Group LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $4,001,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Northeast Investment Management lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Northeast Investment Management now owns 17,058 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,858,000 after purchasing an additional 975 shares during the last quarter. Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 16.0% during the 1st quarter. Warren Street Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 667 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the period. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 352.4% during the 1st quarter. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC now owns 5,849 shares of the companys stock worth $2,009,000 after acquiring an additional 4,556 shares during the last quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 6,801 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,336,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Dupont Capital Management Corp lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 18.8% during the 1st quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp now owns 20,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,899,000 after purchasing an additional 3,184 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.25% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock traded down $1.39 during trading on Monday, reaching $448.07. 1,023,922 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,064,532. The firm has a market capitalization of $425.34 billion, a PE ratio of 71.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.38. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $296.32 and a 1-year high of $469.87. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $444.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $383.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.02.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by ($0.11). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 61.42% and a net margin of 20.54%. The firm had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.87 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.62 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 71.86%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on LLY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $485.00 to $550.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday. They issued a buy rating and a $560.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $421.00 to $430.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $475.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $447.00 to $498.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $443.45.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $467.60, for a total value of $76,744,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,241,071,556. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $467.60, for a total value of $76,744,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,241,071,556. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $429.46, for a total value of $2,576,760.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,941 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,864,681.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 970,965 shares of company stock worth $423,725,107 over the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT  Free Report) by 16.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 788,412 shares of the companys stock after selling 153,747 shares during the period. iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF accounts for approximately 4.6% of Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC owned 0.07% of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF worth $18,433,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in GOVT. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 24,695 shares of the companys stock worth $642,000 after purchasing an additional 1,879 shares during the period. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $1,071,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 338,812 shares of the companys stock worth $8,440,000 after purchasing an additional 10,375 shares during the period. Equitable Holdings Inc. raised its position in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 10.4% in the 1st quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 406,752 shares of the companys stock worth $10,132,000 after purchasing an additional 38,476 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its position in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 34.3% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 558,798 shares of the companys stock worth $13,920,000 after purchasing an additional 142,658 shares during the period.

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iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Stock Performance

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF stock opened at $22.87 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $23.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $23.11.

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Dividend Announcement

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Profile

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th were given a dividend of $0.0506 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 3rd.

(Free Report)

The iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of fixed-rate nonconvertible U.S. Treasury securities with a remaining maturity of one year or more. GOVT was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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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 note published on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Watches of Switzerland Group in a research report on Monday, May 15th. They set an outperform rating on the stock.

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Watches of Switzerland Group Price 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 companys 50-day moving average price is $8.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.50.

About Watches of Switzerland Group

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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Inspire Medical Systems (NYSE:INSP  Free Report) had its price objective upped by Stifel Nicolaus from $300.00 to $350.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on INSP. UBS Group raised their price target on Inspire Medical Systems from $300.00 to $304.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Bank of America raised their price target on Inspire Medical Systems from $310.00 to $355.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. KeyCorp raised their price target on Inspire Medical Systems from $321.00 to $335.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Inspire Medical Systems from $315.00 to $340.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price objective on Inspire Medical Systems from $335.00 to $360.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $325.70.

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Inspire Medical Systems Price Performance

NYSE:INSP opened at $326.08 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -209.03 and a beta of 1.44. Inspire Medical Systems has a 1 year low of $159.62 and a 1 year high of $330.00. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $306.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $272.33.

Insider Activity

Inspire Medical Systems ( NYSE:INSP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported ($0.53) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.70) by $0.17. Inspire Medical Systems had a negative return on equity of 10.27% and a negative net margin of 9.35%. The business had revenue of $127.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $120.06 million. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.61) EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 84.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Inspire Medical Systems will post -1.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, VP Steven Jandrich sold 8,000 shares of Inspire Medical Systems stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.02, for a total value of $2,168,160.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,184,628.42. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, VP Steven Jandrich sold 8,000 shares of Inspire Medical Systems stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.02, for a total value of $2,168,160.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,184,628.42. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Jerry C. Griffin sold 529 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $293.91, for a total value of $155,478.39. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,671 shares in the company, valued at $1,078,943.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 19,013 shares of company stock worth $5,426,250. 4.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Inspire Medical Systems during the 4th quarter valued at about $279,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Inspire Medical Systems by 20.8% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,143 shares of the companys stock valued at $540,000 after buying an additional 369 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its position in Inspire Medical Systems by 45.7% during the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 19,231 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,844,000 after buying an additional 6,032 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its position in Inspire Medical Systems by 155.8% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 40,631 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,234,000 after buying an additional 24,747 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in Inspire Medical Systems by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 4,225 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,064,000 after buying an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. 98.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Inspire Medical Systems

(Get Free Report)

Inspire Medical Systems, Inc, a medical technology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of minimally invasive solutions for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States and internationally. The company offers Inspire system, a neurostimulation technology that provides a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe OSA.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $99.71 and last traded at $99.69, with a volume of 162906 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $98.93.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Trading Up 1.0 %

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $93.07 and its 200-day simple moving average is $90.57. The stock has a market cap of $13.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 415 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Accel Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 105.5% during the 1st quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 409 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index).

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Cwm LLC lowered its stake in iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:SMLF  Free Report) by 39.6% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,174,644 shares of the companys stock after selling 769,807 shares during the period. Cwm LLC owned 0.07% of iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF worth $60,212,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in SMLF. Bogart Wealth LLC increased its position in iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF by 149.3% during the first quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 501 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $69,000. SouthState Corp grew its stake in iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 7,410 shares of the companys stock valued at $368,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new position in iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF in the 4th quarter worth $417,000. Finally, Destiny Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 8,210 shares of the companys stock worth $421,000 after acquiring an additional 516 shares during the period.

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iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA SMLF traded up $0.40 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $55.34. 14,905 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 102,590. The companys 50-day moving average price is $51.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $51.83. iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $43.93 and a 1-year high of $56.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $946.31 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.77 and a beta of 1.10.

iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF (SMLF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the STOXX U.S. SmallCap Equity Factor index. The fund tracks an index of small-cap US equities. Stocks are selected and weighted to increase exposure to four factors (quality, value, momentum, and low volatility).

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SMLF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Small Cap Equity Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:SMLF  Free Report).

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Skyline Champion (NYSE:SKY  Free Report) had its target price increased by Jefferies Financial Group from $61.00 to $62.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Skyline Champion in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Skyline Champion Price Performance

Shares of SKY opened at $68.69 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.92 billion, a PE ratio of 9.83 and a beta of 1.67. The companys 50-day moving average is $65.20 and its 200-day moving average is $65.79. Skyline Champion has a fifty-two week low of $44.68 and a fifty-two week high of $76.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 4.19 and a quick ratio of 3.38.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Skyline Champion

Skyline Champion ( NYSE:SKY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 30th. The company reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $491.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $518.80 million. Skyline Champion had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 36.23%. The companys revenue was down 23.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.51 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Skyline Champion will post 3.92 EPS for the current year.

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Skyline Champion during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its position in Skyline Champion by 1,610.0% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,026 shares of the companys stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 966 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Skyline Champion by 805.5% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,150 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 1,023 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Skyline Champion by 99.8% in the 1st quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,291 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,000 after buying an additional 645 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Skyline Champion by 8,505.3% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $90,000 after buying an additional 1,616 shares during the period.

Skyline Champion Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Skyline Champion Corporation produces and sells factory-built housing in North America. The company offers manufactured and modular homes, park models RVs, accessory dwelling units, and modular buildings for the multi-family and hospitality sectors. It builds homes under the Skyline Homes, Champion Home Builders, Genesis Homes, Athens Park Models, Dutch Housing, Atlantic Homes, Excel Homes, Homes of Merit, New Era, Redman Homes, ScotBilt Homes, Shore Park, Silvercrest, and Titan Homes brands in the United States; and Moduline and SRI Homes brand names in western Canada.

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Commentary: Another step to steer China-U.S. relations back on track

Xinhua) 11:03, July 17, 2023

BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Frequent high-level interactions are the latest steps towards a detente between China and the United States.

Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jakarta, their second meeting within only one month. Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also visited Beijing.

Last year in Bali, the two countries' heads of state reached a consensus that set the direction for China-U.S. relations. However, bilateral relations have gone off course owing largely to a string of Washington's misconceived words and deeds against China.

For the world to become better, the China-U.S. relationship brooks no further retrogression. By receiving Blinken and Yellen, China hopes that Washington will work together with Beijing to truly translate the common understandings reached by the two presidents into concrete actions, to steer China-U.S. relations back on track.

To this end, the two countries need to properly manage differences and remain undisturbed by all sorts of distractions so as to create favorable conditions for stabilizing their relations. The pair should guard against Gray Rhino events, which might have a disruptive impact on bilateral relations, and properly handle Black Swan events to ensure that they won't evolve into new challenges.

The U.S. side should fully respect China's core interests, refrain from unwarranted interference in China's internal affairs and violation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, give up attempts to oppress and contain China in trade and technology, and lift unjustified and unreasonable sanctions imposed on China.

Most imperative is to jointly explore and establish guiding principles or strategic frameworks for China-U.S. relations. Beijing has always hoped for a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship, believing that the two sides can overcome all obstacles and find the right way to get along with each other on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

To stabilize and improve China-U.S. relations, America needs to reflect on what sent the relations into a downward spiral, translate the Bali consensus into concrete actions and implement those commitments made by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Biden has made multiple pledges that the United States does not seek a new Cold War with China, that it does not aim to change China's system, that the revitalization of its alliance is not targeted at China, that the United States does not support "Taiwan independence" and that it has no intention to seek a conflict with China. It remains to be seen if Washington will follow through on these commitments.

Yawei Liu, director of the China Program at The Carter Center, argued that it's up to the United States whether the bilateral relations can improve.

The recent high-level interactions indicate that both sides aspire to a detente. This momentum needs to be maintained, and sincerity is a prerequisite for constructive communication. The Wall Street Journal reported that Yellen's trip had aided fragile efforts by the two sides to keep talking, but warned that "going any further is likely to test Washington and Beijing's ability to resist tit-for-tat measures."

The peaceful coexistence of the world's two largest economies is crucial for the future and destiny of humanity. China has always demonstrated sufficient sincerity in seeking dialogue to improve relations with the United States, which stand at a crossroads.

There is still hope, notably with the upcoming visit of U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and a possible trip by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, that bilateral relations may go back on the right track. But if Washington persists in playing the old trick of double-dealing, or even becomes all the more bent on containing China, chances are that China-U.S. relations will spiral downward into an abyss of confrontations and conflicts.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
All that really matters By Dr. Robert Owens

web posted July 17, 2023 Back when I was an atheist and I believed this is all there is I was passionately interested in politics, economics, and current events. I was committed to working for my side and to defeating the other guy. Now that I'm a born-again child of God, a citizen of Heaven, and merely a pilgrim here I follow the ever-changing kaleidoscope of civic events more like a soap opera. Yes, I understand that within this bubble we know as the space-time continuum the ins and outs of who's up and who's down actually make a difference. For example, it will have a profound impact on the United States whether we hand the government over to socialist revolutionaries or if we deliver it to capitalists. However, in the grand scheme of things this makes about as much difference as which queen bee is laying eggs in which hive. I came to this level of a wokeness after years of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with God. Just as a caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly, I believe humans go through much the same process. Only instead of a two-stage process like a butterfly we go through three stages. First, we're a fetus (in Latin fetus means little one) for approximately nine months. Second, we're born into this world and live here for as long as we do. And finally, we pass from this world into eternity. Let's see: nine months, maybe 120 years, eternity. Which stage do you think is the real deal? The nine months prepare us for the 120 years and the 120 years prepare us for eternity. Two of these stages are merely steppingstones for the main event. Therefore, I contend that humans are in fact eternal beings who pass through two stages of development to become what we were created to be. All that really matters in this stage of our development is the direction we're facing when we leave it. Are we looking to God and putting our faith in Him? Or are we looking to the world still grasping for all it has to offer? Think of it this way: if when we're a fetus inside our mother the umbilical cord is wrapped wrong or if there is a chromosomal problem, we could enter life with some sort of handicap that we will spend the next 120 years dealing with. In the same way if we enter eternity facing in the wrong direction, we will spend eternity dealing with the ramifications of that choice. From my personal Christian perspective here's the 411 on how we turn from the world and face in the right direction. Everyone can see that this world is broken. Evil runs rampant. The bad are rewarded. The good are crushed. Sickness, poverty, and oppression are on display in every direction. If God is good, why would He create such a horror show? The easy answer is He didn't. When He was done with creation He paused and looked around. Surveying all that He had done and it was "Good." Then man turned away from God, embraced Satan, and God cursed the world while at the same time promising that a Savior would come who would step on Satan's head and deliver humanity from the grip of the evil we chose. The price was a sinless sacrifice, the good for the bad. No human could do it because none of us has ever or could ever live a sinless life. Therefore, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to be incarnated as a human, live a sinless life, and then offer himself up as a sacrifice for us all. After His sacrifice Jesus descended into hell and as an eternal being suffered the punishment for every sin that had ever or would ever be committed. Then He was born-again in the very heart of darkness, triumphed over Satan, and God raised Him from the dead. Jesus led all those who had died waiting for this deliverance out of Satan's grasp and emerged on the third day with the keys to death and hell. After spending forty days instructing His disciples on how to carry the message of the best news ever to the world He ascended into heaven. Ten days later the Holy Spirit arrived and filled the new believers so that from then on they were no longer earth bound humans. They were instead wall-to-wall God birthed children of the Most High on a pilgrimage here with a mission to share their experience to be witnesses. There it is in a nutshell. The word Gospel means "Good News" in old English. So, when you get filled to overflowing with all the bad news the world vomits up every day why not turn to the good news. Don't worry about what you can't do anything about. Do you think if you missed one news broadcast or if you stopped watching them forever it would make any difference to what is happening on the stage of the world or would the actors just keep reading their lines and playing their parts? Bad news impacts us more than we can ever impact it. It's like a joke making the rounds: An English asks an Amish fellow, "Why didn't the COVID pandemic rampage through your communities?" The Amish fellow says without hesitation, "Because we don't have any TVs." The TVs, radios, magazines, and papers may carry the news, but only the Bible has the Good News. It all comes down to choices: "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." In other words, no matter what, we're all going to serve somebody. It will either be any one of the countless gods of this world or the one true God. How do you make that choice? Is it by joining the right church? Is it by attending the correct services, worshipping in a certain way, or following any of the endless rules the world invents to complicate and build a barrier between us and the God who wants us to join His family? No! Not only has He made it simple He has made it easy. All we need to do is confess Jesus as the Lord of our life and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead and we will be saved. That's it. Do that and we have joined God's family. Then we can pour ourselves into His Word so that it's life-giving Spirit will fill us and recreate us. Forget about the bad news and study the Good News instead. Let's "Eliminate the negative, accentuate the positive, latch on to the affirmative, and don't with mess mister in between." Or to put it another way, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." This is an excerpt from the book Love by Dr. Robert Owens. This and all his books are available from Amazon in paperback or kindle at Amazon. Home
National Australia Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant 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 volume of 355,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days.

National Australia Bank Trading Up 0.3 %

NABZY stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $9.24. 51,405 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 186,156. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $8.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.55. 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 given a dividend of $0.2666 per share. This is a boost from National Australia Banks previous dividend of $0.24. This represents a yield of 5.74%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th.

National Australia Bank Company Profile

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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Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (NYSE:NM  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 22,700 shares, a decrease of 31.2% from the June 15th total of 33,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 49,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Navios Maritime in a research report on Sunday. They set a buy rating on the stock.

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Navios Maritime Stock Down 1.3 %

Navios Maritime stock traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $1.63. 18,157 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 71,726. Navios Maritime has a 52-week low of $1.53 and a 52-week high of $2.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.17 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.61. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $1.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.10.

Institutional Trading of Navios Maritime

Navios Maritime ( NYSE:NM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 24th. The shipping company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $65.41 million for the quarter. Navios Maritime had a net margin of 31.38% and a return on equity of 97.48%.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Navios Maritime by 83.4% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 908,070 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $3,296,000 after acquiring an additional 412,836 shares during the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP lifted its position in shares of Navios Maritime by 155.5% in the 1st quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 112,258 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $407,000 after purchasing an additional 68,324 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime in the 1st quarter worth about $328,000. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime in the 1st quarter worth about $202,000. Finally, Privium Fund Management UK Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime in the 4th quarter worth about $72,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.62% of the companys stock.

Navios Maritime Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc operates as a seaborne shipping and logistics company in North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America, and internationally. It focuses on the transportation and transshipment of dry bulk commodities, including iron ores, coal, and grains. The company operates in two segments, Dry Bulk Vessel Operations and Logistics Business.

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North Ridge Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 2,860 shares of the aircraft producers stock, valued at approximately $607,000. Boeing accounts for about 0.6% of North Ridge Wealth Advisors Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BA. United Bank boosted its stake in shares of Boeing by 4.7% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 5,036 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $964,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in Boeing by 1,064.4% in the 1st quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 850 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $163,000 after purchasing an additional 777 shares in the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Boeing by 68.0% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,111 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $1,362,000 after buying an additional 2,879 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of Boeing during the first quarter valued at approximately $836,000. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Boeing by 26.7% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 2,127 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $408,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares during the last quarter. 60.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Boeing Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE BA traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $213.23. 473,827 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,749,822. The Boeing Company has a 1 year low of $120.99 and a 1 year high of $223.91. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $209.57 and a 200 day moving average of $207.96. The stock has a market cap of $128.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.80 and a beta of 1.41.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($1.27) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.98) by ($0.29). The business had revenue of $17.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.56 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($2.75) earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -1.3 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 412 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.36, for a total transaction of $84,196.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,511,109.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BA has been the subject of several research reports. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Boeing from $225.00 to $220.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com raised shares of Boeing from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 26th. Northcoast Research downgraded shares of Boeing from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $180.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, SpectralCast reissued a reiterates rating on shares of Boeing in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $223.14.

Boeing Profile

(Free Report)

The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital.

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Cardinal Energy (TSE:CJ  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Raymond James from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a report published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Separately, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Cardinal Energy from C$10.50 to C$9.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th.

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Cardinal Energy Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of Cardinal Energy stock opened at C$6.93 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.23, a PEG ratio of -0.26 and a beta of 3.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.47. Cardinal Energy has a 12-month low of C$6.25 and a 12-month high of C$9.96. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$6.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$7.12.

Cardinal Energy Announces Dividend

Cardinal Energy ( TSE:CJ Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported C$0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.12 by C($0.02). The firm had revenue of C$134.98 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$138.60 million. Cardinal Energy had a return on equity of 31.32% and a net margin of 46.63%. On average, analysts forecast that Cardinal Energy will post 0.7296451 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be paid a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 28th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.39%. Cardinal Energys payout ratio is currently 43.90%.

Cardinal Energy Company Profile

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Cardinal Energy Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of petroleum and natural gas in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Cardinal Energy Ltd. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Burke & Herbert Financial Services (OTCMKTS:BHRB  Get Free Report) is one of 276 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Burke & Herbert Financial Services to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, risk and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Burke & Herbert Financial Services and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Burke & Herbert Financial Services N/A N/A N/A Burke & Herbert Financial Services Competitors 35.15% 10.03% 0.94%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Burke & Herbert Financial Services and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Burke & Herbert Financial Services $56.77 million N/A 0.54 Burke & Herbert Financial Services Competitors $2.33 billion $633.06 million 262.72

Analyst Ratings

Burke & Herbert Financial Services peers have higher revenue and earnings than Burke & Herbert Financial Services. Burke & Herbert Financial Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Burke & Herbert Financial Services and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Burke & Herbert Financial Services 0 0 0 0 N/A Burke & Herbert Financial Services Competitors 1041 2944 3047 11 2.29

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 260.28%. Given Burke & Herbert Financial Services peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Burke & Herbert Financial Services has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

4.9% of Burke & Herbert Financial Services shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.6% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 15.5% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Burke & Herbert Financial Services peers beat Burke & Herbert Financial Services on 8 of the 8 factors compared.

Burke & Herbert Financial Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company that provides various community banking products and services in the Northern Virginia. It offers consumer and commercial deposit products, such as digital banking, demand, negotiable order of withdrawal, money market, and savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company also offers loans, such as commercial real estate, single family residential, owner-occupied commercial real estate, acquisition, construction and development, commercial and industrial, and consumer non-real estate and other loans. In addition, it offers treasury and cash management services; and online and mobile banking, and wealth and trust services. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Rogers Communications (NYSE:RCI  Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on RCI. Desjardins lowered Rogers Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Barclays started coverage on Rogers Communications in a report on Monday, May 8th. They set an overweight rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rogers Communications currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $74.31.

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Rogers Communications Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE RCI opened at $44.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a current ratio of 1.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.01, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $45.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.99. Rogers Communications has a 52-week low of $36.23 and a 52-week high of $50.16.

Rogers Communications Increases Dividend

Rogers Communications ( NYSE:RCI Get Free Report ) (TSE:RCI.B) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.71 billion. Rogers Communications had a return on equity of 19.36% and a net margin of 11.49%. Sell-side analysts expect that Rogers Communications will post 3.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. This is an increase from Rogers Communicationss previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.32%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 8th. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.11%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rogers Communications

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in Rogers Communications by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 11,981,324 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $555,454,000 after purchasing an additional 244,793 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Rogers Communications by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,396,833 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $646,770,000 after purchasing an additional 238,829 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of Rogers Communications by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 8,822,801 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $408,893,000 after acquiring an additional 589,494 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in shares of Rogers Communications by 117.4% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 5,857,386 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $273,931,000 after acquiring an additional 3,163,142 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its stake in shares of Rogers Communications by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 5,122,778 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $271,429,000 after acquiring an additional 158,520 shares in the last quarter. 40.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Rogers Communications Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in North America. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device financing, device protection, global voice and data roaming, wireless home phone, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device shipping services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands.

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DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 67,000 shares, a growth of 78.2% from the June 15th total of 37,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 202,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

DNB Bank ASA Stock Up 1.4 %

DNBBY traded up $0.28 during trading on Monday, hitting $20.17. The company had a trading volume of 107,007 shares, compared to its average volume of 110,554. The company has a market capitalization of $30.84 billion, a PE ratio of 8.73, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.28. DNB Bank ASA has a one year low of $15.58 and a one year high of $20.79. The firms 50-day moving average price is $17.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.44. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.46.

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DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 11th. The company reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $4.06 billion for the quarter. DNB Bank ASA had a net margin of 25.61% and a return on equity of 13.64%. As a group, equities analysts expect that DNB Bank ASA will post 2.43 earnings per share for the current year.

DNB Bank ASA Increases Dividend

About DNB Bank ASA

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 27th were paid a $1.0048 dividend. This is a positive change from DNB Bank ASAs previous dividend of $0.90. This represents a yield of 5.44%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 26th. DNB Bank ASAs payout ratio is presently 42.54%.

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DNB Bank ASA provides financial services for retail and corporate customers in Norway and internationally. The company offers personal banking products and services, including savings and investment products; loans, such as home mortgages, and car and consumer loans; pet, home and property, travel, and personal insurance products, as well as insurance products for vehicles; retirement savings products; foreign exchange and treasury activities; and Internet and mobile banking services, as well as cards.

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Kronos Advanced Technologies Inc. (OTCMKTS:KNOS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 25,100 shares, an increase of 188.5% from the June 15th total of 8,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 76,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Kronos Advanced Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:KNOS traded up $0.00 during trading on Monday, reaching $0.01. 282,600 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 319,545. Kronos Advanced Technologies has a 52-week low of $0.01 and a 52-week high of $0.03. The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.01 and its 200-day moving average is $0.01.

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Kronos Advanced Technologies Company Profile

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Kronos Advanced Technologies Inc manufactures, distributes, and licenses air movement and purification devices in the United States. The company offers air purifiers and masks. It markets and sells products directly through our website, 1800safeair.com, as well as through independent sales representatives.

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TELUS (TSE:T  Free Report) (NYSE:TU) had its target price cut by UBS Group from C$28.00 to C$27.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price objective on TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of TELUS from C$32.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. TD Securities upped their price target on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$32.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Scotiabank cut their price target on TELUS from C$31.00 to C$29.50 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, Cormark decreased their target price on TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of C$31.05.

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TELUS Price Performance

Shares of T opened at C$24.32 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$26.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$27.12. TELUS has a 52-week low of C$24.20 and a 52-week high of C$30.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.41, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of C$35.26 billion, a PE ratio of 23.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.70.

TELUS Increases Dividend

TELUS ( TSE:T Get Free Report ) (NYSE:TU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported C$0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.28 by C($0.01). TELUS had a return on equity of 8.98% and a net margin of 7.63%. The firm had revenue of C$4.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$4.86 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that TELUS will post 1.0455718 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a $0.364 dividend. This is an increase from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.99%. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is presently 142.16%.

About TELUS

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TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services.

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Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST  Get Free Report)s stock price rose 6% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $26.78 and last traded at $26.54. Approximately 496,202 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 27% from the average daily volume of 676,023 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.04.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Vista Energy from $23.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, March 27th.

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Vista Energy Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of $2.38 billion, a PE ratio of 7.98 and a beta of 2.11. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $22.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $19.77.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vista Energy

Vista Energy ( NYSE:VIST Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $303.21 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $296.58 million. Vista Energy had a return on equity of 38.18% and a net margin of 28.33%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. will post 4.19 EPS for the current year.

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of VIST. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Vista Energy by 39.1% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 21,207 shares of the companys stock worth $193,000 after purchasing an additional 5,966 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Vista Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $2,727,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vista Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $179,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Vista Energy by 165.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 55,186 shares of the companys stock worth $502,000 after buying an additional 34,425 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in Vista Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $3,748,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 44.88% of the companys stock.

Vista Energy Company Profile

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Vista Energy, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets located in Neuquina basin, Argentina and Vaca Muerta. It also owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. In addition, the company involved in drilling and workover activities located in Argentina.

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Kurdish general: "The Kurdish region is not southern Lebanon, Kurds do not take orders from Tehran" By Suzan Quitaz

web posted July 17, 2023 In late June 2023, Iranian-affiliated media outlets reported that the Kurds of Iraq signed a "secret weapons deal with the Devil," namely, the United States. Responding to a question on this alleged secret deal, Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said, "We have never trusted the U.S. government, and we will never trust it because it has pursued its relations to create tension between countries. The Iraqi government will definitely clarify this issue, and the regional authorities should also explain it, and we should see what their explanation is in this regard." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched multiple attacks on targets in the autonomous Kurdish region in the north of Iraq for the past two years. The Mullah regime and its affiliated media outlets regularly accuse Iranian Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan of inciting unrest in Iran's Kurdish region; it accuses them of committing "terrorist" activities inside Iran and working with Israel. Iran has also claimed that Mossad has bases in Kurdistan, Iraq. Randa Slim, a program director at the Middle East Institute, said, "The Iranian regime is in a paranoid mode. They firmly believe Mossad is using the Kurdish territory and Kurdish opposition groups to send weapons and fighters into Kurdish areas in Iran." The Kurdish groups Iran fears include the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), the Komala Party, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). The Iranian regime has repeatedly called on the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) to disarm groups like PDKI and PAK, relocate them to refugee camps, and move them away from the Iraqi-Iranian border, a border predominantly populated by Kurds. In March 2023, Iran and the Iraqi central government signed a border security agreement that would obligate Iraq to disarm Kurdish armed groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran's then-Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Shamkhani, who was one of the signatories of the security agreement, said the deal "can completely and fundamentally end the vicious actions of these groups." However, Iran's Intelligence Ministry still maintains that KRG's officials are not doing enough to curb the activities of these groups, which Iran labels as "terrorists." According to Iranian spokesperson, Kanaani, PAK is one of the terrorist groups which been a source of contention between Tehran and Baghdad. He claimed, "Being a refugee with a weapon shows that the groups stationed there are not refugees, and they have terrorist natures and separatist motives. We expect the Iraqi government and the regional authorities to resolve the concerns and threats." Interview with PAK's Commander General Hussein Yazdanpanah Across the border, in Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdistan region, known to Kurds as Southern Kurdistan or Basur, Commander General Hussein Yazdanpanah, whose fighters have been engaged in an armed struggle against the Iranian regime for decades, spoke to The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA). Gen. Yazdanpanah spoke about the Iranian threat and its mission to turn the Kurdish region into a proxy enclave like Southern Lebanon. He spoke to JCPA about how the Kurds of Rojhalet, or Eastern Kurdistan (the Kurdish region of Iran), have been at the forefront of rejecting the Mullah state and its political system. Gen. Yazdanpanah told JCPA that the Kurds did not vote for the Islamic Republic and never submitted to Tehran. For the past four decades, Tehran has ruled Kurdistan by force of arms and militarism. "For three decades, Tehran has been trying to put the Kurdistan Region, like Southern Lebanon, under its command. But the Kurdistan Region and Kurds do not take Tehran's orders. The Iranians do not want a Kurdish entity behind their back. They do not want to have a democratic entity. The Iranians want to occupy the Kurdistan Region using direct pressure from Baghdad. Iranian forces tried to occupy Erbil in 2017, but the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, including PAK forces, defeated the attacks. Now Tehran is using missiles and drones to impose its will and control on the Kurdistan Region." The general continued, saying that Tehran's end game is to turn the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq into Southern Lebanon, a region it can control. The general stated, "I have sent letters to political leaders in the region to warn them about this and asked them to fight Tehran and Baghdad." According to Yazdanpanah, the United States' regional absence has allowed Iran to pursue a more aggressive policy. It explains how Iran works with Iraq's central government using Iraqi courts to implement Iran's wishes and control over both Kurds and Iraqi Arab citizens. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Iran has been deeply involved in Iraq's political life. It has ties and extorts control over a dozen Iraqi political parties. Iran's IRGC Quds Forces funds and trains paramilitary groups aligned with these parties. Many of these militias operate under Hashd Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), who have pledged allegiance to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader. Hashd Shaabi, alongside smaller armed Shia militias, used terror and violence towards any Iraqi who opposes Iran. Kali Robinson, an editor at the Council of Foreign Relations, wrote, "Iran's meddling was one cause of widespread anti-government demonstrations that began in Iraq in 2019, when protesters denounced Tehran for propping up the corrupt government system established in the post-Saddam era and condemned repression by Iran-backed militias." Iran is not only in control of Iraq's political life but also controls a significant aspect of Iraq's economy: Iraq is Iran's second-biggest partner after China. Iranian-made low-quality goods flood the Iraqi market and kill off local businesses. Iran also controls a significant section of Iraq's energy sector and has positioned itself as the unofficial protector of Iraqi Shia Shrines in Najaf and Karbala. Shrines bring millions of pilgrims and, with it, a vast financial enterprise. No wonder Iraq's Kurdish President Barham Salih said in 2021, "You simply cannot move Iraq and Iran apart." However, General Yazdanpanah argues that Iran and its proxies within the Iraqi government will never succeed in their conquest to occupy Iraq's Kurdish region. On the subject of disarming and relocating PAK and other Kurdish dissident groups, the general declared: PAK has played an essential role in protecting the structure of Southern Kurdistan (the Iraqi Kurdish region) and its communities. Our forces played an important role in the three-year fight against ISIS. They also played a major role in defeating the joint attacks of Hashd Shaabi and the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force that wanted to occupy Erbil in 2017. The KRG and the international community know this. Therefore, the Iranians, who are now in a hurry to end the structure of the Kurdistan Region before the presidential elections in the United States, are trying to cut us off from supporting Southern Kurdistan. They want to isolate it from its friends and supporters. They even want to cut off the region from the support of the international coalition. The general is confident that KRG will never abandon PAK: "KRG will never make such a mistake. We have always supported the Kurds in Iraq and have given our blood to protect them. The KRG greatly respects us and acknowledges our role in the fight against ISIS. I am telling you that's not going to happen. But if the situation gets to that point, we will turn Rojhalet to the Border Mountains of East Kurdistan." JCPA asked the general about the Iraqi central government's security agreement with the Iranian regime regarding demilitarizing Iraqi Kurdistan and disarming dissident Kurdish groups like PAK. He answered, "Unfortunately, Iraq is not a sovereign state; it is ruled and dictated to by Tehran. This agreement is a conspiracy against the Kurdish Region and us. We have not used the Kurdish Region's borders to launch attacks against Iran. From the very beginning, our struggle has been within our country (the Kurdish region in Iran). Our future is the unity of all Kurds (). We and the KRG must fight Bagdad and Tehran together, defend our people, values, dignity, and nationality, and not succumb to their unjust, oppressive, and terrorist policies." JCPA asked the general about a recently published IRGC report which claimed that an unnamed "foreign intelligence service" was commanding PAK fighters' attacks in Iran. He totally rejected the accusation and said, "Iranians are used to lying about foreign involvement." He continued: "Iran is carrying out military attacks in our land, Kurdistan. Kurdistan has never been part of Persian territory, nor its inhabitants Persians. The Iranian regime has occupied Kurdistan by brutal military force and imposed a collectivist system on the Kurdish people." The general asserted that "the Kurdish people have the right to fight Tehran for their freedom in any way they can, apart from terrorism." The general rejected the Iranian narrative that links Kurdish struggle to "foreign states there is no foreign state or hand behind our struggle. Of course, we welcome any state that supports us, provided it does not interfere in our private affairs or harm our path to independence." General Yazdanpanah explained why the Iranian regime views PAK as a threat, and the reasons are many. "It could be because we are calling for dissolving the Iranian state. Iran is not a natural state; it was not formed by the consent of the people it is ruling. It was established through oppressive means of genocide and forced assimilation of millions of non-Persian ethnic and religious minorities. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not only a threat to the enslaved population but also to the entire Middle East's security and world peace. Therefore, the best solution is to dissolve it like what happened in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia." On Israel, the general stated, "Israel has never helped us at PAK. I wish it could support the Kurds and our struggle." More than 300,000 Jewish Israeli Kurds are living in Israel. JCPA asked the general what kind of support he like to see from them. He said that before establishing the State of Israel, "they lived among us in Kurdish cities and villages. We lived together without discrimination. Among the 300,000, there is a family who once stayed with my grandfather before they decided to go to their homeland, Israel. The Kurdish community in Israel knows how Kurdistan has been subjected to oppression, occupation, looting, and killings under the rule of occupying states (Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey). I expect my brothers and sisters in Israel to support Kurdistan for its freedom and statehood. They can influence the policy of their country's government. They can raise the Kurdistan issue, make it a criterion in the elections, and vote for a candidate who supports Kurdish statehood," said the general. On Kurdish Statehood, the general said, "I see two opportunities missed. One is that in 2003, when the Iraqi state collapsed, the Kurds should have declared independence. The second was when ISIS was established on the Kurdistan borders. I supported the Kurdistan Independence Referendum (September 2017) with all my might." As the interview drew to a close, Gen. Yazdanpanah was asked what he hopes to achieve. The answer was firm and immediate: "The right to freely decide the political destiny of my oppressed nation, an independent and democratic Kurdish State." Suzan Quitaz is a Kurdish-Swedish journalist and researcher on Middle Eastern affairs. She has conducted freelance research and writing assignments for several media outlets, including Al Majalla, a Saudi current affairs magazine, The New Arab, and MEMRI. She worked as a freelance producer on two documentaries for Al Jazeera and previously worked for several years as a producer and researcher at Al Araby television. Home
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Zip Code
EuroCham proposes full inclusion of EU members on Vietnam's visa exemption list

By Huong Dung Mon, July 17, 2023 | 1:46 pm GTM+7

EuroCham, the leading voice of the European business community in Vietnam, has proposed the expansion of Vietnam's visitor visa exemption list to encompass all 27 EU member countries.

In a letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the commerce chamber said it recognized the recent efforts undertaken by the Vietnamese government to streamline its visa system, EuroCham appreciates the extension of e-visa validity to a 90-day period, enabling multiple entries and exits starting from August 15.

European toursists visit Vietanam. Photo courtesy of Tourism magazine.

EuroCham commends the Vietnamese authorities for extending the temporary residence period for citizens from countries exempt from visas by Vietnam to 45 days, it added.

However, it said further measures are necessary to fully capitalize on the vast potential of the EU-Vietnam economic relationship and foster robust economic growth. Presently, the visitor visa exemption list includes only seven EU member countries, namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

With the aim of promoting enhanced trade and investment opportunities, EuroCham underlined the vital importance of expanding the visitor visa exemption list to encompass all 27 EU member countries.

"This expansion will bring in a large number of travelers from the EU market, which has a population of over 500 million. By removing barriers for high-income international travelers to visit Vietnam, we will undoubtedly unlock amazing opportunities for the country's economy after a difficult few years," said Gabor Fluit, chairman of EuroCham Vietnam.

"It's not only about the sheer number of visitors, but also the extended duration of their stays and their substantial purchasing power where European travelers truly stand out. European travelers tend to stay much longer, often for two weeks or more. This extended period allows them more of an opportunity to contribute to the economy, and perhaps even explore business prospects along the way. It's all about creating room for travelers to create more value during their visit, he added.

This initiative has garnered substantial support from Team Europe, with the appeal being co-signed by 18 ambassadors of EU members to Vietnam as well as the chairs of national European business associations. The appeal, addressed to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and Ministry of Public Security, highlights the considerable potential for the positive impact on the Vietnamese economy resulting from an expanded visitor visa exemption list.

It anticipates a significant increase in European travelers and a surge in business activities as a direct result. EuroCham envisions this will play a pivotal role in stimulating the economy, expanding trade opportunities, and increasing foreign direct investment inflows, according to its release.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 5.6 million international visitors in the first half of this year, accounting for 66% of the figure the country recorded in 2019 before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism  the new name for the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism from July 1.

The UK, France, and Germany were the three biggest markets for Vietnam tourism in Europe.

Vietnam aims to welcome 110 million tourists including 8 million international visitors in 2023 and earn about VND650 trillion ($27.56 billion) from tourism.
Generali Vietnam head becomes Manulife Vietnam CEO

By Nguyen Long Mon, July 17, 2023 | 3:45 pm GTM+7

Canadian-invested life insurer Manulife Vietnam has appointed Tina Nguyen, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the sector, as its new CEO.

Nguyen will report directly to Phil Witherington, president and CEO of Manulife Asia, the company said in a Monday release.

Tina Nguyen, new CEO of Manulife Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

Before taking the latest assignment, she had served as the CEO of Italian-invested life insurer Generali Vietnam from December 2015 to this July, according to her Linkedin profile.

Earlier, she was the chief customer officer at British life insurer Prudential Vietnam. Altogether, she spent more than 11 years at Prudential Vietnam in various managerial positions, including chief strategy officer and finance director.

Before Prudential Vietnam, she served as an associate manager in auditing at EY, and financial controller at Texas Electric Cooperatives in Austin, Texas in the U.S.

Nguyen takes charge at Manulife Vietnam at a time when the life insurance sector in Vietnam is caught up in its worst client confidence crisis, mostly due to bancassurance activities.

Regarding Manulife Vietnams bancassurance services via Saigon Commercial Bank, company chairman Sachin Shah said at a press briefing in Ho Chi Minh City this April that his firm would resolve all customer complaints.

He said his firms solutions might include lowering insurance premiums.

The Ministry of Finance said June 30 that life insurers Prudential, MB Ageas, Sun Life and BIDV Metlife have been found guilty of bancassurance violations and will have to pay administrative fines to fix their wrongdoings.

Many irregularities involving banking staff have been found in the sales of insurance policies. These included the provision of misleading information and not strictly following the ministrys insurance premium guidelines.
Investors make major inroads into Vietnam private equity scene

By Thuy Nguyen Mon, July 17, 2023 | 8:13 am GTM+7

The Vietnamese market has been proving attractive to international private equity (PE) companies, reflected by the investment portfolio expansion of giants like KKR, Warburg Pincus and SK Group.

An artists impression of Novaland's Aqua City Township in Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. Warburg Pincus is a major investor in Novaland. Photo courtesy of Novaland.

SK Group, South Koreas second-largest conglomerate, has been investing heavily in Vietnam. It established Singapore-based SK Southeast Asia Investment Corp. in 2018 and has invested in promising Vietnamese companies, including the purchase of a 9.5% stake for $470 million in Masan Group, a leading Vietnamese multi-business corporation, and $1 billion in Vingroup, the countrys largest private conglomerate. The two transactions were announced in 2021.

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Chung Euisun joined a 205-strong business mission led by President Yoon Suk Yeols state visit to Vietnam from June 22-24 to further boost bilateral economic ties.

SK Group, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and Vietnamese conglomerate T&T Group signed a memorandum of understanding on June 23 to cooperate on developing LNG and hydrogen projects in Vietnam, which is seeking to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 via a clean energy transition.

In May, Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan paid a working visit to the United Arab Emirates to grow investment and trade opportunities.

The UAE Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, held a meeting with Xuan on May 5 to discuss strengthening the economic partnership between the wealthy nation and Vietnam by boosting trade and investment.

The two sides discussed enhancing opportunities for cooperation and talks at the private-sector level and increasing the UAEs investments in the Vietnamese market in new economic sectors. This promises more PE investments from the Middle East country in Vietnam.

Currently, the UAEs investments in Vietnam amount to AED260 million ($71 million), and several UAE companies such as DP World, Emirates Investments Group, Mubadala, and Borouge have invested in Vietnam, the UAE Minister of Economy said in a statement the same day.

Also in May, Chris Freund, founder and partner of Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital, told Reuters that it is looking to build a climate fund worth up to $200 million as early as next year, focusing on investments that will help with the regeneration of forests in the Mekong region.

The HCMC-based firm is setting up a team for the fund, which will look at businesses that will help restore forests including those involved in organic and seaweed farming in the Mekong region, which includes Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, Freund said.

There are actually a lot of businesses like that that are doing those things in this region," Freund said in an interview with Reuters. "But there's really no fund investing in those."

The climate fund is set to be the first to focus specifically on Southeast Asia with the launch coming at a time when investors globally are increasingly focusing on investments that can help in the fight against global warming.

On May 19, 2023, Vietnams EQuest Education Group announced its successful raising of $120 million through a combination of debt from creditors and equity from KKR, a global private equity giant that had already invested $100 million in EQuest.

The U.S. heavyweight announced its first investment of $100 million in EQuest in May 2021. Together with that equity investment, Annabelle Vultee joined the Vietnamese firms board of directors at the time. Prior to that, she had been the China chief operating officer of EF Education First.

EQuest said the latest proceeds will be utilized for the investment in the Canadian International School System in Ho Chi Minh City, to expand its college and university operations, particularly Broward College Vietnam campuses in Hanoi, Hue, and HCMC.

Broward College Vietnam students. Photo courtesy of EQuest.

In March 2023, VinaCapital, the leading domestic asset manager in Vietnam with a diversified portfolio of nearly $4 billion in assets under management, and Japanese conglomerate Ryobi signed a deal to form a business alliance to jointly explore real estate and other investment opportunities in Vietnam.

The duo will look at suitable real estate projects and opportunities in listed and private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, and energy. The VinaCapital-Ryobi strategic partnership was established thanks to the engagement of Aozora Banks Japan Desk in Vietnam.

Toshiyuki Matsuda, group president of Ryobi, said his corporation and VinaCapital first worked together about 10 years ago on an equity investment that did very well.

Representatives of VinaCapital and Ryobi Group kick off their investment partnership in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of VinaCapital.

In January 2023, Vietnam-based PE firm ABB said it is seeking to raise $100 million for its second fund in this years second half.

ABB, which is associated with investment banking company Asia Business Builders, launched its first $20 million PE fund in 2018, which is now fully invested. The second vehicle will continue to back growing Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are already making money or substantial revenue.

Asia Business Builders is a Vietnam-focused merchant bank boutique that manages a growth private equity fund through Singapore-based ABBPE Capital Management Pte. Ltd. and provides strategic M&A advice through its parent company ABB Merchant Banking JSC.

World Bank Group investment arm IFC is considering a proposed investment of $10 million in this second fund, called ABB II, an IFC disclosure on July 11 showed.

In December 2022, Sapien Group, an Australia-based financial services group, launched its Vietnam chapter with a strategy to invest at least A$100 million ($67.8 million) in Vietnam annually.

The Vietnamese unit seeks to aid SMEs to boost production, job creation, and incomes. Sapien Ventures, under Sapien Group, focuses its investments in startups related to fintech, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. Sapien Capital Partner, another unit under the same roof, will invest in education, high-tech agriculture, and renewable energy.

World-leading private equity firm Warburg Pincus led a $250 million investment in property developer Novaland, one of Vietnams largest listed companies, in May 2022. The deal marked the New York-based giants first investment in Novaland, kicking off their strategic partnership.
Nebraska governor focuses on Vietnam market to bolster trade

By Thuy Tuong Mon, July 17, 2023 | 2:12 pm GTM+7

Governor of the U.S. state of Nebraska Jim Pillen will continue to focus on building trade, investment, economic development and educational opportunities with Vietnam moving forward, his office said.

In a statement on Sunday (U.S. time), the Midwestern states office said Pillens trade mission to Vietnam on July 9-15 aimed largely at promoting Nebraska's agriculture and food products to consumers in Vietnam.

His visits during the trip included MM Mega Market, a Thailand-invested supermarket chain, and Vietnamese store New Viet Dairy.

Both locations, located in Ho Chi Minh City, operate grocery stores that import significant quantities of U.S. meat products, including beef, into Vietnam.

It is very informative to learn about what consumers are looking for at the grocery store and to see how our products are displayed, Pillen said in the statement.

Understanding that will allow us to cater more specifically to the desires of those customers in a way that is beneficial to Nebraska farmers, producers and other related businesses.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (middle) visits a U.S. beef counter at New Viet Dairy on July 11, 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Nebraska government.

In addition to inspecting the products at the two locations, members of his delegation witnessed how they were marketed to shoppers.

The trade mission was the governors first to Vietnam. The Nebraska delegation included director Sherry Vinton of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, chancellor Dr. Joanne Li of the University of Nebraska  Omaha, and agriculture-related business, academic and government representatives.

In Vietnams southern industrial province of Binh Duong on July 12, Pillen and Binh Duong Chairman Vo Van Minh signed a memorandum of understanding to step up the two sides cooperation in many areas.
Vietnam plans $17 bln railway routes to seaports

By Tri Duc Mon, July 17, 2023 | 10:22 pm GTM+7

Vietnam plans to mobilize $17 billion to build two major railway routes linking with seaports in the northern and southern regions, and hopes to begin construction by 2030.

The Ministry of Transport said in a recent response to National Assembly delegates that the 380km Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway will link Lach Huyen terminal in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong with Lao Cai province, which borders China, via Hanoi. The estimated cost for building the 1,435mm dual gauge railway is $10-11 billion.

In the south, the 128km Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway will link Bien Hoa town, an industrial hub in the southern province of Dong Nai, with the Cai Mep-Thi Vai terminal in Vung Tau town, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The 1,435mm dual gauge railway has an estimated cost of $6.2 billion.

Cai Mep-Thi Vai terminal in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Ba Ria-Vung Tau newspaper.

Given their large investment outlays, the two projects are included in the Prime Minister's list of projects targeting foreign investment in the 2021-2025 period; and they would also use significant public investment, the ministry said.

The new railway routes will reduce road traffic linked to seaports and help cut logistics cost in the country. Logistics cost in Vietnam is equivalent to 17% of the GDP at present, above the global average of 10.6%; and the government hopes to reduce this to about 16% in 2025.

The cost of transportation via railways or waterways is equivalent to 50-70% of road transport, the ministry added.

A Vietnam Railways train with refrigerated containers. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Railways.

Refrigerated container train

Last Friday, state-owned Vietnam Railways inaugurated a refrigerated container train connecting Song Than station in the southern province of Binh Duong with Dong Dang station in the northern border province of Lang Son to facilitate shipments to China. Binh Duong is a manufacturing hub in southern Vietnam.

The train, featuring 21 cars with 40 refrigerated containers, can carry 900 tons of goods on the 72-hour route. It will mainly deliver farm produce to the domestic market in China and the European market via transit in China.

In February, Vietnam Railways launched an international cargo route connecting Pingxiang town in China's Guangxi province with train stations in northern Vietnam.

In the first phase, two trains will run each day on the Kep-Dong Dang-Pingxiang route, transporting 80-100 containers in total. The service will deliver electronics, industrial goods, construction materials, industrial wood and raw ore.

In January, Vietnam Railways launched a container route connecting Vietnam with Kazakhstan, halving the travel time compared to maritime routes. Starting in Ho Chi Minh City it passes through Hanoi and Xian city in China en route to Kazakhstans biggest city of Almaty, carrying mostly electronic products.

Of the total freight transport volume of 1,109 million tons in the first six months of this year, up 15.9% year-on-year, railways accounted for 2.2 million tons, down 26.4%, according to the General Statistics Office. The railway sector's freight volume was the second lowest, only higher than the aviation sector with 0.2 million tons. The GSO attributed the fall to fewer export-import orders and fierce competition from waterway transportation.
Computer Science

Microsoft Seeks Teachers for Pilot of Visual Studio Code for Education

Microsoft has introduced Visual Studio Code for Education, a new computer science instruction platform that takes students beyond beginner coding and teaches them tools used by professional developers. Microsoft is inviting educators to join the pilot program, try it out in their classrooms in the 202324 school year, and provide feedback.

VS Code for Education was built for students in grades 9 through 12 and beyond, the company said. Students can gain practical skills for future careers by learning to code with the program.

Educators are invited to try the first course on the new platform, Introduction to Python, which is designed to run a full academic year and does not require any prerequisites or prior coding knowledge, Microsoft said. It is currently offered only in English, and pilot participants are invited to request specific features if they have ideas for making the program better, the company said.

VS Code for Education includes a number of accessibility features, such as zoom and high contrast for visibility, keyboard-only navigation, and screen reader optimization. Most browsers are supported, and there are workarounds for non-support notifications, Microsoft said.

Educators accepted into the pilot program can also join the Educator Professional Learning Community. To qualify, educators must:

Be U.S.-based and teach the Introduction to Python course during the 2023-24 academic year;

Be willing to teach at least part of their computer science course with VS Code for Education; and

Be able to actively contribute to the Educator Professional Learning Community, including providing feedback on their and their students experiences with VS Code for Education, as well as participate in customer research calls with Microsoft and other pilot-participating educators.

The VS Code for Education pilot is free for educators accepted into the program, with no additional software or subscription required to participate, Microsoft said.

Learn more and apply to join the pilot at the VS Code for Education website.
Early Education

Study Finds Positive Results for Disadvantaged Children in Fifth Grade from Public Pre-K Programs

A recent study conducted by University of California Irvine School of Education associate professor Jade Jenkins, along with other researchers, showed marked positive outcomes for Black and Hispanic disadvantaged children in the fifth grade who had attended pre-K programs. The study has implications for states such as California providing funding for free pre-K attendance.

The study, Understanding Heterogeneity in the Impact of Public Preschool Programs, was recently published in Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). Along with Jenkins, team leaders Tyler Watts from Teachers College at Columbia University and Kenneth Dodge from Duke University, expanded on research done in 2014, when North Carolinas public pre-K program, NC Pre-K, was begun.

The study followed 1.2 million students who had attended NC Pre-K. Of those, 58% were White non-Hispanic, 29% were Black non-Hispanic, 7% were Hispanic, and 6% were multiracial and Other race/ethnicity. It revealed the greatest positive effect on Black and Hispanic students from disadvantaged backgrounds as measured by fifth-grade achievement.

Most surprisingly, we found that funding for pre-K had larger effects for children who later experienced more adverse environments, like going to elementary schools with lower average achievement, or with many inexperienced teachers; this suggests to us that pre-K may help protect children against future adverse experiences, Jenkins said.

As California continues its rollout of its new universal prekindergarten (UPK) initiative, to provide free prekindergarten programs to all 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 school year, the studys outcomes suggest the importance of pre-K learning for disadvantaged children.

Jenkins said the team will be monitoring the role of pre-K learning in enhancing educational equity for young children  during the UPK implementation.

Visit this SRCD page to read the abstract and download the study.
Profiles of Valor: Larry Taylor, Medal of Honor By Mark Alexander

web posted July 17, 2023 Cracker Barrel is a Tennessee-based family restaurant franchise, and when we took our annual cross-country drives 15 years ago with our teenage kids, they loved making these "country stores" our dinner destination for the familiar homestyle menu. More recently, a local Cracker Barrel had become my destination of choice for regular Saturday morning breakfasts with a former Vietnam POW, Lt. Col. Bill Gauntt (USAF, Ret.). It was a special time of fellowship that included our mutual friend, John Connor, whose father became a World War II POW after his B-17 was shot down over Germany. I owed Bill a deep debt of gratitude after he walked another old fighter pilot, my father, through his last days. It has been difficult to return to Cracker Barrel since Bill's passing last year, and I had not done so ... until this week. It was the location chosen for a two-hour lunch with a guy I have known for two decades but have not seen recently due to his health challenges. You may recognize the name Larry Taylor, an Army Cobra pilot whose actions one night in Vietnam I profiled back in 2021. I've had inquiries about efforts to expedite the upgrade of his Silver Star to a Medal of Honor. "Expedite" may seem the wrong word given the fact that the actions in connection with this upgrade occurred 55 years ago. But there are still nominations pending for members of Andrews' Raiders in 1862, some of whom were the first Medal of Honor recipients. As I noted in Larry's profile regarding the Medal of Honor for Col. Paris Davis, "These nominations are often delayed not only because the service verification standards are very detailed but because nominees are almost universally humble warriors who require the advocacy of others, as they are disinclined to promote their own nomination." Likewise, this was true of the long-overdue award to Korean War Veteran Col. Ralph Puckett (USA, Ret.). For context, over the course of his multiple tours in Vietnam beginning with the 1st Squadron/4th U.S. Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, Larry Taylor flew more than 2,700 missions  including 1,200 combat missions in the UH-1 and Cobra  was engaged by enemy fire 340 times, and was forced down five times. He was awarded 61 combat decorations, including 44 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Bronze Stars, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, and a Silver Star. As you might imagine, there were many harrowing operations, and of course a few humorous tales associated with those awards. But one award for a death-defying action rises above all the others. Taylor received a Silver Star for his heroic role in a rescue operation on the night of June 18, 1968, while piloting his AH-1G Cobra helicopter gunship as the flight leader of his two-gunship fire team. As our military readers know, the Silver Star is the third-highest military award for valor, behind the Medal of Honor and the service branch Distinguished Service Crosses. But in this case, his Silver Star award is not commensurate with the valorous actions of then-Lt. Taylor, who provided direct fire support and then rescued a four-man Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team surrounded by a numerically superior enemy force. That team was moments from being overrun and killed. The events of that dark night near the village of Ap Go Cong, Binh Duong Province, have been well documented by members of F Company, 52nd Infantry (LRP), 1st Infantry Division, as were the 17 holes in Larry's Cobra from enemy fire. Of his actions that deadly night, Larry humbly observed: "I just got caught doing my job. I didn't plan on it. Didn't expect it. It just happened. That's what you do. I told my men, 'You never leave a man on the ground,' and we never did, and I never lost a man. Not one. ... I'd flown thousands of missions in Vietnam and saved countless lives. But none had meant so much to me as the four we saved that night, for life had never become so sweet as the night I became the angel of death ... no man left behind." There are suspect reasons for the delay of this upgrade. Notably, according to 1-4 CAV folklore, at some point in the communication exchange after being denied his request to rescue the team that night, "one of the pilots" accused, over an open mic, the officer in the chain of command above him of "having unnatural relations with his mother." But the original refusal to recommend Taylor for a Medal of Honor has less to do with that insult to a senior officer than his direct defiance of orders. However, it is notable that many Medals of Honor have been awarded to those defying orders  and that makes sense given those orders related to just how deadly the situation was. Revitalizing the now-seven-year-old petition for the upgrade of Larry's Silver Star was Gen. B.B. Bell (USA, Ret.), board member at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Last Saturday, all the efforts of those Larry saved, and other veterans including Gen. Bell, culminated with a phone call. Normally, when a sitting U.S. president wants to speak with someone out in flyover land, there is an advance call advising you to be available at a certain time and number. That didn't happen with Larry, whose wife Tony picked up the phone and was told to standby for the president of the United States. Now, given my "relationship" with Joe Biden, if I had gotten such a call, I would have immediately known it was a prank. However, this was a call Larry never expected to get, but he realized in that moment that it was indeed Biden calling. Larry told us: "We talked for quite a few minutes. I told him, 'I thought you had to do something to receive a Medal of Honor.'" Biden responded, "I have your 201 file. You are coming to Washington." Larry says he "told me to wear whatever I'd wear to Sunday school." On reflection, Taylor says: "Most people on the street don't know what the hell [the Medal of Honor] is, but I do, so I'm proud. To be mentioned in the same company as those people kind of makes you stop and think. It's an exclusive fraternity, that's for sure." Indeed it is. Since the first medals were awarded, American presidents and military commanders have, in the name of Congress, presented 3,535 Medals to 3,516 recipients  amazingly, 19 service personnel are double recipients. In a nation of some 330 million people, there are just 65 living recipients. That number is about to become 66. Bravo Zulu, Larry! Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home
HARRISBURG  The Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art at Southeastern Illinois College will be hosting an art auction of the collected works of the late Anne B. Rowe with a closing reception on Thursday, July 20 from 6-8 p.m.

A nationally known and award-winning artist, Rowe was best known for her portraits. A prolific artist, Rowes artistic abilities and work reached beyond portraits and ranged from whimsical, to historical, to landscapes, to still life. She worked with many different mediums including sculpture, ink, graphics, charcoal, photography, oil painting, amongst others. Rowes final wishes were that her art would spread joy and beauty to the homes of people and families who know that art is not what you see, but what you make others see, (Edgar Degas).

Art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to bid on 12 different works by Rowe when the auction opens on Friday, July 14. To bid, please visit sic.edu/AnneRowe.

We are so fortunate to house and host this event, said museum curator, Melody Bryant. Annes works are remarkable and intriguing. Anyone would be fortunate to have her work in their collection.

The auction will end at 8 p.m. during the reception on July 20. This celebration will feature wine, cheese, light appetizers, desserts and assorted beer. As always, admission is free and open to the public.

Summer hours of operation for the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art are Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m., the first Sunday of the month from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. or by appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, contact 618-252-5400 ext. 2599, email hisemuseum@sic.edu or visit www.sic.edu/hisemuseum.
COLUMBIA  National Tattoo Day is celebrated annually on July 17, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is highlighting the regulations and procedures that ensure safe tattooing throughout our state.

In 2004, lawmakers passed a bill that legalized tattooing on those aged 18 and older in South Carolina. Two years later, after DHEC established health and safety standards, licensed tattoo facilities began operating.

DHECs Healthcare Quality is responsible for making sure tattoo facilities adhere to Regulation 61-111, Standards for Licensing Tattoo Facilities. Routine inspections and complaint investigations allow DHEC to track the safety and compliance of facilities.

Regulating this profession is important for public health, as there can be risks associated with tattooing if it isnt done safely and properly, said Charlene Bell, Division of Hospitals and Professionals director. Enforcing the standards for licensing tattoo facilities supports the safety of South Carolinians receiving services.

DHEC currently regulates 162 licensed tattoo facilities across the state. Tattoo facilities are inspected for cleanliness, sterilization and sanitary conditions prior to initial licensing and are subject to inspections at any time without prior notice. DHEC also ensures that the artists meet training requirements.

Because tattooing breaks the skin, safety precautions should be taken to avoid potential risks and complications. Risks of unsafe tattooing include:

 Skin infections from unhygienic practices and unsterilized equipment

 Infections from contaminated ink

 Inflammation and an overgrowth of scar tissue

 Bloodborne diseases from unsterilized equipment contaminated with infected blood

DHEC advises residents to make sure the following precautions are taken before getting tattooed:

 The tattoo facility is licensed by DHEC by using DHECs Find a Facility

 The tattoo artist is wearing fresh gloves for each new procedure

 The tattoo artist is using unused needles, tubes and trays/containers

 The tattoo artist uses heat or chemical sterilization to sterilize all non-disposable equipment between customers

Learn more about how DHEC regulates tattoo facilities and additional useful information via DHECs Tattoo Facilities webpage.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he's stepping down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago. The 81-year-old Jackson, who has battled health problems in recent years, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization's annual convention, which included a two-hour tribute to its longtime leader. Jackson implored attendees to "stop the violence" and "keep hope alive." The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, the pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, will take over as leader of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
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?"
CHARLESTON  In our part of the world, monarch butterflies are best known for a few key traits: they depend entirely on milkweed plants to survive; they migrate each fall to Mexico; and their population is in trouble.

Now, the findings of a five-year study by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources biologists suggest that coastal South Carolina is home to a unique group of monarchs that takes exception to some of these assumptions.

The recently published research indicates that monarch butterflies live year-round in South Carolina, relying on swamps in spring, summer and fall and sea islands in the winter. While these monarchs rely heavily on aquatic milkweed (Asclepias perennis) as a host plant for their eggs and caterpillars, they were also found to use swallow-wort (Pattalias palustre)  a viney relative of milkweed that grows near salt marshes and was previously unrecognized as an important host plant for monarchs.

This research adds another layer of nuance to the fascinating story of the monarch butterfly, said SCDNR associate marine scientist and first author Dr. Michael Kendrick.

The peer-reviewed paper, published recently in Scientific Reports, has its roots in the decades-long fascination one man has had for South Carolinas butterflies. Longtime SCDNR biologist John Billy McCord (who retired from the Department as a fisheries biologist in 2010, only to return to focus on monarchs) first began capturing and marking monarch butterflies along the coast in 1996, which is when he began to take note of an intriguing pattern.

I noticed butterflies at Folly Beach, South Carolina, in November and December when I thought they should be overwintering in Mexico, McCord said. Once I started tagging some of these butterflies, it became clear they were staying here throughout the winter.

Researchers commonly study butterfly migrations using a capture-mark-recapture method. In this system, biologists or volunteers catch a butterfly using a net and apply a small sticker with an identifying number to its outer wing. If that individual is later recaptured, researchers can use its identifying sticker to determine how long the butterfly has been at large since first being tagged and how far the butterfly has traveled.

For this study, McCord began tagging monarchs across both inland swamp and sea island habitats in January 2018. Over the next several years, McCord tagged 18,375 monarchs and documented aquatic milkweed as a host plant in swamps ranging from the Pee Dee watershed south to the Savannah River border with Georgia. At the same time, he worked to recapture tagged butterflies to determine how long they stayed in South Carolina and when they moved each season.

The results showed strong seasonal patterns. McCord captured monarch butterflies in every month of the study period, establishing that many monarchs are overwintering in South Carolina rather than migrating to the well-known sites in Mexico. Monarchs in this study were more concentrated in maritime habitats (i.e., barrier islands directly on the ocean) in winter but were widely dispersed across coastal plain swamps in spring, summer and fall.

SC islands important to red knot migration Recent research by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and its partners has shown the importance of the states barrier islands in the ep

McCord found aquatic milkweed and monarchs (either eggs, caterpillars, pupae or adults) in 18 different watersheds in the coastal plain. These shallow, swampy systems can be hot, buggy, and challenging to sample, which may partly explain why their use by monarchs has gone relatively unnoticed. Nonetheless, this new research shows just how important South Carolinas swamps are to monarch butterflies, a finding that could inform land conservation in coastal South Carolina.

The extensive use of inland swamps and maritime habitats by monarchs suggests that protections of these habitats may be critical to protecting monarchs in this region, the authors wrote in the paper.

Duke Energy grant to equip SCDNR water rescue unit Duke Energy has awarded the S.C. Department of Natural Resources with grant money that will help equip the agencys recently formed swift water rescue unit.

"Many questions remain to be answered, however," said Dr. Kendrick. "More information on population trends and the full extent of the migration patterns of these monarchs will be important to developing effective conservation strategies."

Citation: Kendrick, M.R., McCord, J.W. Overwintering and breeding patterns of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in coastal plain habitats of the southeastern USA. Sci Rep 13, 10438 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37225-7
(TBTCO) - Cung gap nhieu kho khan, vuong mac trong cong tac giai ngan von au tu cong nhu nhieu ia phuong khac, nhung voi su no luc, quyet tam cua cua cac cap lanh ao tinh va cac on vi lien quan, hien tinh ong Thap a giai ngan von au tu cong at at 50,38%, cao hon 21,75% so voi muc giai ngan trung binh ca nuoc va ang ung thu 2 (sau tinh Tien Giang) ca nuoc ve ty le giai ngan cao.
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A second 16-year-old male was arrested in connection to two separate but related shootings  one at Fairgrounds Road on July 11 and the other on Bighorn Road on July 13, the Natrona County Sheriffs Office announced Monday.

On Thursday, the Casper Police Department arrested a 16-year-old male and transported him to the Natrona County Detention Center, the statement said.

He is being charged as an adult with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of felony property damage and one count of witness intimidation for shootings that occurred Tuesday and Thursday.

Over the weekend, investigators identified a second 16-year-old male suspect involved in the shooting incidents, the statement said. He was arrested Saturday evening without incident.

He is being charged as an adult with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit witness intimidation and accessory after the fact, the statement said.

Neither of the boys names have been released to the public.

The first incident happened around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night near the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, authorities said.

Law enforcement responded to a report of a group of juveniles and young adults arguing and creating a disturbance, the statement said.

While law enforcement was responding reporting parties told dispatch that they heard what they believe to be a single gun shot and that there was one adult female with an apparent gunshot wound to the lower leg, the statement reads.

The woman was sent to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was later released, the statement said.

Two days later, the Casper Police Department responded to a report of shots fired on the 3500 block of Bighorn Road at about 5:30 p.m., the statement said.

Reporting parties stated that they heard what they believed to be approximately 10 gunshots, the release states.

When officers arrived, they determined that an occupied home was hit by 10 bullets, but none of the people inside were injured, the statement said.

The Natrona County Sheriffs Office and the Casper Police Department determined the two shootings were related and identified the 16-year-old male as a suspect. Now, a second juvenile suspect has been identified.

Officials believe that the incidents are isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to community members, the statement said.

The disputes are believed to be between two groups, the statement said.

No additional information was immediately available Monday morning.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning said she directed her state offices to implement corner crossing, the Billings Gazette reported Thursday, even though a high-profile Wyoming dispute over the act is headed for appeals court.

On Friday, the BLM walked it back.

The BLM is reviewing the courts decision and has not issued any new guidance regarding corner crossing, the agencys press secretary said in an email to WyoFile.

The about-face leaves the legality of corner crossing in limbo, especially on the nearly 6 million acres of corner-locked land that the mapping app OnX has determined is managed by the BLM.

Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one parcel of public property kitty-corner to another without touching adjacent private land. Its theoretically the only practical way to access millions of acres of public land in the West where the land ownership occurs in a checkerboard pattern of alternating public and private property.

Thats the case for 2.44 million acres of Wyoming land, including some sections on the slopes of Elk Mountain. There, Missouri hunters Bradly Cape, Zach Smith and Phillip Yeomans unwittingly put corner-crossings legality to the test in 2020 and 21 when they stepped through the airspace above pharmaceutical giant Fred Eshelmans 22,045-acre Carbon County ranch without actually touching it.

Criminal charges against the three Missourians didnt stick, and they prevailed in a civil case in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming. An appeal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, however, awaits.

In an interview with the Billings Gazette, Stone-Manning suggested shed issued a corner-crossing directive ahead of the appeals courts outcome.

Our solicitors think its pretty clear, she said. Were taking that ruling quite seriously and making sure that our state directors are implementing it.

Casper attorney Ryan Semerad, who represented the Missouri hunters, told WyoFile on Thursday that he was happy to hear BLM was recognizing the district courts ruling, but admitted there were still legal ambiguities.

Until we get a declaration from the 10th Circuit yay or nay, were still going to do a little bit of head scratching, Semerad said. We dont have a definitive answer. Were waiting to hear if it holds up.

Semerad speculated that Eshelman might have seen the writing on the wall when he requested earlier this month for a judge to stall the decision about corner crossings legality ahead of the appeals court verdict.

I do believe that the stay is, in effect, conceding that Judge Skavdahls ruling required implementation like this, he said. Thats just me reading the tea leaves.

A BLM-Wyoming official told WyoFile that changing policy to explicitly legalize corner crossing wont be the flip of a switch.

If this holds up under appeal and becomes the law of the land, there has to be time so we can work with private landowners, said Brad Purdy, the state offices deputy state director for communications. This will be a change.

Purdy urged public land users to exercise great caution if theyre thinking about corner crossing. He said he wouldnt personally do it at this time.

We could easily see some public safety issues here, Get off my property-type thing, he said. I have a GPS, Im an old Marine and I can navigate with a map and a compass, but for right now Ill stick to my normal haunts on public land.
After a woman was shot in the leg with a bullet intended for someone else near the Natrona County Fairgrounds, the alleged teenage gunman was led to a witness Casper home by a friend, affidavits show. The alleged gunman fired 10 rounds into the home.

Endre Wass, 16, is believed to have been the shooter in both incidents, and Benjamin Jackson-Rocca, 16, allegedly led Wass to the home of a witness who provided law enforcement information about the first shooting, the affidavits state.

Wass is being charged as an adult with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of felony property damage and one count of witness intimidation in connection with both shootings.

Rocca is being charged as an adult with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit witness intimidation and accessory after the fact, the statement said.

The shooting that injured the woman took place July 11 and the home on Bighorn Road was fired into on July 13.

The evidence and witness statements indicate Wass intended to shoot his new girlfriends teenage ex-boyfriend after they were feuding and threatening each other over her for weeks, the affidavit in Wass case states.

On July 11, an unnamed citizen reported a disturbance at the south entrance to the Natrona County Fairgrounds at 10:22 p.m., the affidavit states. The caller said there were about 10 to 20 people involved in the dispute, and someone had threatened to go get a gun.

While deputies were receiving this information, a single gunshot was fired, the affidavit states. Multiple citizens then reported shots fired and a woman screaming.

An 18-year-old Casper woman was found struck by a bullet on her left shin just a few inches above her ankle, the affidavit states.

She could be heard yelling, I cant walk! a security video capturing the incident showed. When she lifted her leg, the upper portion of her leg was clearly straight, but the lower portion of her leg could be seen dangling...

The woman was transported to Wyoming Medical Center, where a surgeon had to use a metal rod and numerous screws to reconnect the separated portions of her tibia and fibula.

An investigations sergeant interviewed the woman on July 12, but there did not appear to be any reason or motive for why she was shot, the affidavit states.

But witnesses from the scene identified a silver-colored car turning south on Fairgrounds Road from a vacant lot and fleeing the scene as the single shot was fired that night, the affidavit states. They also described seeing a green laser when the shooting happened.

After further investigation, an unnamed source, who had personal knowledge of the silver-colored car that fled, identified Wass as the shooter, the affidavit states. The gun he allegedly fired was equipped with a green laser.

The source was allegedly with Rocca, who instructed he or she to pick up his friends on the way to the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo, the affidavit states. Wass was one of the friends that they picked up.

Wass allegedly fired the gun while seated inside the car alongside his friends, the affidavit states.

The source stated the gunshot was not intended for the woman but a teenage male, the affidavit states. Wass allegedly wanted to shoot him because he had recently started dating that juveniles ex-girlfriend.

One of Wass family members confirmed that the two teenage males had been feuding and threatening each other over the girl in the weeks leading up to July 11, the affidavit states.

Two days later, a Casper resident reported that he heard 10 gunshots near his house on Bighorn Road at 5:30 a.m., the affidavit states. Several phone calls about the incident began rolling in.

At 6:05 a.m., a citizen called dispatch to report there had been gunshots and there were bullet holes in their house, the affidavit states. They also informed dispatch that their house being shot was related to the shooting that occurred near the Fairgrounds on July 11, 2023, as retaliation.

Law enforcement quickly found 10 bullet holes in the house once they arrived.

One bullet went into a bedroom, where a 12-year-old child was sleeping at the time, the affidavit states. The only reason the child or other members of the home were not struck by gunfire appeared to be nothing more than sheer luck.

Casper police located shell casings on the street, which visually matched the spent shell case recovered from Fairground Road, the affidavit states.

In an interview with authorities, Rocca claimed to not know that Wass was going to shoot, but knew he carried a gun, the affidavit states. But Rocca allegedly confirmed that he had been informed that someone inside the home had cooperated and provided information to law enforcement about the fair shooting.

Rocca is accused of leading a group of teenagers to the witness home, where Wass began firing shots from the rear drivers window in the direction of the home.

Wass allegedly said that the individual had to know this [shooting] would happen for snitching, the affidavit states.

Then, Rocca asked the group to flee to Colorado, but the unnamed driver decided against it once they reached Douglas and turned around.

That same day, officers obtained a search warrant for a residence where Wass lives, the affidavit states. They located a backpack in the home, which held a handgun equipped with laser sight, ammunition and Wass Wyoming license.

He was taken into custody.

Casper police interviewed two unnamed sources, who told detectives that a group went over to the home and Wass shot at the home while the car drove by, the affidavit states.

As the group drove away from the home, Wass allegedly made comments and jokes to the group about how hot this baby is in reference to his gun, the affidavit states. He also made multiple comments about being grown up, not being a kid anymore and not being afraid to do this [shooting] again.

Court appearances

Rocca, who had intimate knowledge of everyone involved in the dispute made his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court Monday.

He was arrested on Saturday night for his alleged involvement in both shootings. Rocca is facing up to 23 years in prison.

Rocca is not believed to be the shooter in either incident, but the second shooting wouldnt have happened without him, Assistant District Attorney Blaine Nelson said in court Monday.

...[H]e led the shooter to that second victim, Nelson said.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Patchen set Roccas bond at $100,000 cash-only, which was $50,000 less than the states recommendation.

Is there any way I can get out on, like, house arrest or something? Rocca, who is a student at Roosevelt High School, asked in court Monday.

Patchen denied altering the bond further given the severity, he said. One of Roccas family members started quietly cursing and said hes only sixteen after bond was set.

Wass made his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court on Friday.

The Casper Police Department arrested Wass on Thursday following the drive-by shooting, authorities said. He was transported to the Natrona County Detention Center.

He is facing up to 60 years in prison, the affidavit in his case states.

Wasss bond was set at $250,000 cash-only. Both teenagers are being held at the Natrona County Detention Center.

Wass is expected to have his preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. on July 20; Roccas preliminary hearing was not scheduled as of Tuesday morning.

This story has been updated.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
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.
The six-mas band amalgamationTRIBE, Lost Tribe, Harts, Bliss, Pure and Roguewill stage four events this weekend to mark their 20th anniversary and launch their Carnival 2024 presentation, Rainforest.

The three-day launch starts tonight with SunSet Theatre on Ariapita Avenue, featuring a theatrical and cultural street parade from Ana to Carlos streets. The showcase culminates with the launching of The Lost Tribes Fly presentation.
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.
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.
Back-to-school is a time-honored tradition, and whether you have kids returning to the classroom or not, you can relive the excitement by supporting local nonprofits in a quest to make the coming school year successful for children and families in need.

That success is facilitated by SVP Tucsons 2Gen Collaboration, which will stage its Third Families Coming Together event at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave.

Families Coming Together is a series of social capital events intended to bring families together in a shared space to learn about the resources within our 2Gen Collaboration of eight nonprofits that serve multiple generations in a number of different areas. We are building spaces where families can come together in a safe, comfortable, fun atmosphere and learn from one another  families helping families, said Jennie Grabel, vice president of programs at SVP Tucson.

SVP Tucson is a nonprofit network dedicated to connecting philanthropists and strengthening nonprofits. The 2Gen initiative resulted from a series of community listening sessions designed to address challenges faced by low-income families in education, workforce development, mental and physical health, and the ability to attain assets.

The collaboration harnesses support through eight local nonprofits: Make Way for Books, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Boys to Men, Job Path, Interfaith Community Services, YWCA of Southern Arizona, Parent Aid and Tucson Jewish Free Loan.

Two-generation approaches are not new. This is indigenous wisdom from years and years of deep understanding that we are all interconnected, not only as humans, but as family units, said Grabel.

She emphasized that supporting individuals doesnt result in the same gains as supporting each element of the family, whatever that family looks like. The approach reflects recognition of the importance of family systems to overall well-being.

Ultimately, we want the whole family system to thrive, said Grabel.

A guiding principle within the collaboration is to build cohesive, family-centered, cross-generational referrals through participating nonprofits.

If a parent is in school through Job Path, we encourage them to sign up for educational support for their little ones through Make Way for Books. We are working to ask families to provide feedback so we can determine which resources to bring in next, said Grabel.

The newest partners  Parent Aid, YWCA of Southern Arizona and Tucson Jewish Free Loans  bring unique strengths to the collaboration, according to Grabel.

She said the interest-free loans offered by Tucson Jewish Free Loans can help protect low-income families from predatory lending practices while parenting classes and other resources offered by Parent Aid and YWCA of Southern Arizona provide additional assistance to move families out of poverty.

The integration of resources leverages collective strengths, according to Magdalena Verdugo, CEO of YWCA of Southern Arizona.

This collaboration brings families together in one place and gives them the opportunity to learn about other organizations and the resources that each particular organization brings to the table. As a network of nonprofits, we can really hone in on each agencys expertise and do a soft hand off so there is a smooth transition for our families to get the support they need, said Verdugo.

She emphasized that the mission of the YWCA is to eliminate racism and empower women by promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

It is about equity and accessibility and making families aware of mechanisms they can put in place so they can define their success. I say define success because success doesnt look the same for everyone and we need to honor that. We empower women to learn about what their success may look like and to make the choices that are best for them and their families, said Verdugo.

Promoting awareness about the collaboration is also key, and Grabel said events such as the upcoming Families Coming Together event fulfill that goal.
Local credit unions: Tucson credit unions (Vantage West Credit Union, Tucson Federal Credit Union, Pyramid Federal Credit Union, Pima Federal Credit Union, Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union, Hughes Federal Credit Union) and the GoWest Foundation have teamed up with Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona to combat hunger and food insecurity. Throughout the month of July, the credit unions have adopted delivery routes, with leadership and staff delivering essential meals to individuals and families in need.

Sundt Foundation: The Sundt Foundation recently awarded $37,610 in grants to eight Tucson charities. The foundation awards quarterly grants to local Southern Arizona charities that support disadvantaged children and families. Awardees include:

St. Lukes Home in the Desert: $10,000 to support renovations to its home, which provides assisted living care for low-income individuals.

$6,610 for Marshall Home for Men to make urgent home repairs. The personal care facility serves elderly men with limited means, and most of the residents are veterans.

Youth on Their Own and Wheels for Kids each received $5,000. YOTO will use its grant to support its Mini Mall, where youth experiencing homelessness can receive free basic items such as food, hygiene supplies and school supplies. Wheels for Kids collects and overhauls used bikes to distribute to deserving kids, teens and adults. The grant will be used to purchase bike helmets, parts and locks.

Gabriels Angels received $3,500 to support the expansion of its pet therapy teams in Tucson. Gabriels Angels delivers free pet therapy services to at-risk children in Arizona.

The following three nonprofits each received $2,500:

Inside Out Network connects men and women leaving incarceration to assistance in shelter and housing; support groups; multiservice agencies; churches and ministries; substance abuse treatment; health care; legal matters; employment and job training; and education.

The BICAS grant supports its Youth Earn-a-Bike program, a multi-session bicycle repair course where students learn bicycle mechanics, practice tangible skills, build self-confidence and earn a bike.

Tu Nidito Children and Family Services provides emotional support programming to children, teenagers and families impacted by the diagnosis of a serious medical condition or death of a loved one.
(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Marin County firefighters pull a hose up a hill during a controlled burn training on June 16, 2023 in San Rafael, California. Newly hired seasonal firefighters with the Marin County Fire Department participated in a live fire wildfire training as firefighters prepare for California wildfire season.

Over the weekend, four wildfires broke out in the southern California county of Riverside amidst searing temperatures; on Sunday, most of the state was under excessive heat warnings.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Rabbit Fire, the largest of the blazes, had consumed 7,600 acres by Sunday and was 10% contained after igniting Friday afternoon.

California Wildfires Prompt Evacuation

On Friday, Cal Fire officials reported a vegetation fire in the Lakeview community. The Rabbit Fire was initially reported as 20 acres in size and rapidly spreading. Cal Fire investigators are still investigating the incident's cause.

Sunday's incident update revealed that the Rabbit Fire threatened at least 152 structures. Authorities stated in the latest update that they anticipate the fire to be contained by Wednesday.

Per CNN, Cal Fire tweeted that firefighters made progress on Sunday and downgraded a portion of the evacuation order for the Rabbit Fire to an evacuation warning for several areas.

On Friday and Saturday, firefighters worked to contain the much smaller Reche, Highland, and Gavilan fires that broke out in Riverside County. According to an update from Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department, Sunday saw the lifting of evacuation orders for the Reche and Highland fires.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Reche Fire has consumed more than 435 acres and is 60% contained, while the Highland fire has consumed 105 acres and is 70% contained.

The Gavilan fire in unincorporated Perris, Riverside County, has burnt 250 acres and is 50 percent contained. Authorities have stated that evacuation orders for this fire remain in effect.

Per Fox News, the fires were all within 40 miles of Riverside County, and temperatures in some areas reached triple digits over the weekend as firefighters battled the blazes. The Rabbit Fire, the largest of the blazes, has burned 7,600 acres and is 5% contained, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department on Saturday night.

Other forest fires include the 105-acre Highland Fire, which is 70% contained, the 437-acre Reche Fire, which is 50% contained, and the 250-acre Gavilan Fire, which is 25% contained.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage, according to officials, who ordered the evacuation of approximately 1,000 homes. Hundreds of firefighters, along with firefighting helicopters and aircraft, were dispatched.

Read Also: Manhattan Architect Arrested Over Long Unsolved Serial Killer Case

US Experiences Severe Heatwave

As California braces for its warmest weather of the year, hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to combat the blazes. Nevada, Arizona, and California will experience even higher-than-anticipated maximum temperatures, according to Mirror.

In some desolate regions, daytime temperatures are expected to reach 120F and remain above 90F at night. Earlier in the week, leaders issued warnings about the risk of wildfires.

As temperatures rose on Saturday, more than 110 million people, or roughly one-third of the United States, were under extreme heat advisories, watches, and warnings. Death Valley, California, one of the hottest sites on Earth, could attain record-breaking temperatures on Sunday, July 16.

As a result, Death Valley National Park has posted warnings on its website advising visitors not to hike after 10 a.m. local time. A man died in his vehicle in Death Valley National Park earlier this month.

Extreme heat appears to have caused the demise of the San Diego resident, 65, who was discovered on July 3 in the morning. Initial investigation suggested that heat-related illness may have contributed to the driver's loss of control.

The previous day's maximum temperature was a sweltering 52.5C, while the overnight minimum was 36.6C. An investigation revealed that the vehicle's air conditioning was not functioning, and the driver's window was down, indicating that the air conditioning was not functioning while the individual was driving.

Related Article: Iceland Sees New Volcanic Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula After Weeks of Earthquakes

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Content warning: This story mentions difficult topics like suicide. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988.

Creosote, the beloved desert plant, can survive up to two years without water because of its robust root system.

Much like plants, people also use their root systems to endure lifes challenges. But sometimes finding and embracing those roots is a journey of its own.

The owner of local metaphysical shop Yolia Botanica, Guadalupe Lulu Tineo, has been on that journey for the last several years, all of which led her to her latest venture  opening a brick-and-mortar.

Yolia Botanica officially opens its doors at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 22 at 2210 S. Sixth Ave. #8.

The shop will feature some of Tineos handcrafted items like floral bundles, creosote bath and body oils, multi-purpose home and energy cleaners and cleansing mists, plus crystal tools and gemstone jewelry.

Tineo started delving into the world of spiritual and energetic healing around five years ago after a series of hardships.

It's transformed a lot. It started off as one thing and then it just evolved into me finding my purpose and finding a meaning and a sense of belonging in a community that has felt the same way that I have, she said.

So many people don't find their footing, so many people don't know where their roots are because all their life, they were denied of their identity and they were shamed and pointed out for their identity. And it has given me so much peace, it's given me so much love, compassion and empathy for people, for myself, for everything I've went through. And I just don't see it any other way  everything led me here.

When life hands you zucchini, make calabacitas

Tineo is from Sonora, Mexico and moved to Tucson when she was 9 years old. From the very beginning of her arrival to the United States, she faced adversity and what felt like the diminishment of her identity.

I don't want to call it trauma. But in a way it was for me, out of all three siblings  I have an older sister and a younger brother  I think I took it the hardest, she said. The transition was really hard and I was bullied at school.  They used to call me a wetback in school and I got bullied for not speaking English and for just looking different, for being different. And that was a really, really rough time.

Around 10 years ago, she applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) permit, which cost hundreds of dollars, but she never received it. There was a mistake in the application causing her permit to be delivered to the wrong address.

Despite fighting for six months to get a new permit, it was a lost cause.

Even when she married her husband, who is a U.S. citizen, and had U.S.-born children, Tineo still struggled to prove that she was enough, she recalled. She continued to fight for her permanent residence permit for five years until she finally had enough in 2018.

I was on the verge of just losing all hope, she said. I remember I sent in my application and I got denied. In September (2018), I was sent a letter saying that I was denied and there was no explanation, nothing. I was so crushed  so, so crushed. I didn't understand how someone with a clean record, with a life to give, with a child, all these things that you'd look for, for somebody that can be the image of your American dream, (can be denied). It was me, I had it all. I had never hurt anyone. I had always wanted to be part of our society and contribute to our community. And I couldn't.

2018 was a rough year for Tineo.

Before she was denied permanent residency in September, she experienced what she referred to as a mental breakdown after constantly feeling defeated and living with postpartum depression.

That summer, she attempted suicide.

I just snapped. I remember I was so tired. I was so sleep-deprived. I felt so alone, she said. What was my purpose? Why was I even here?

Her sister helped save her life by calling for help, which led to Tineo being taken into a crisis unit. But because of her undocumented status, she wasnt able to receive the help she needed.

They told me, We can either enter you into the system and you'll have to go through all the legal sides of it, which puts you at risk of we don't know what or we can just pretend you never came, she said. So I walked out of there with so much shame.

But 2018 was also the turning point for Tineo, who told herself that she couldnt continue to define herself by a piece of paper. (She ultimately received legal resident status in December 2018.)

By October of that year, she started her own business selling crystals, gemstones and herbal remedies that could help cleanse the soul. Initially known as Herbonyx, she later renamed her business Yolia Botanica.

There was a lot of internal turmoil from not being able to do anything or not being able to have aspirations for myself, she said. And it makes me emotional when I talk about it because this is why this is such a big deal for me. Because for the first time in my life, I dared to dream. And as small as it may be, as humble as it may be, it's the biggest thing I've ever done outside of (having) my kids.

I'm so proud of everything that has come before me to teach me that this is where I'm meant to be. And that no matter how many things were thrown at me to tell me that I didn't belong and that I didn't deserve it or that I wasn't worthy of it, I am. And I have always been, it was just difficult back then.

Raices y Curanderismo

When Tineo opens Yolia Botanicas brick-and-mortar shop this month, she hopes to help locals connect with their roots and culture by providing the tools and space they need to heal their inner selves  no matter their background.

That's my goal ... to create this space for people who have lost their roots, who have lost that sense of belonging with their culture because it was taken from them, because it was taken from their families and from their families before them, she said. And so it's just this generational robbery of identity and culture that we've gone through as descendants of Indigenous people. We've lost so much of that. And so we're sicker than ever, sadder than ever, with a lot of internal turmoil. And some of us have just needed a sense of belonging all along. That's all we've needed.

Tineo is currently a curandera student, which means she's learning and practicing the traditional Mexican folk healing arts known as curanderismo. She described curanderismo as a mixture of African shamanism, Western medicine from Spain and Indigenous plant knowledge.

Because she utilizes curandero, all of her products are ethically sourced. She also doesnt purchase or sell white sage (or palo santo) bundles because she's against the illegal poaching on Indigenous lands in California.

Multiple news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, Arizona Republic and High Country News have reported on white sage poaching in recent years.

They (poachers) go take it to their shipping department or wherever and they send it to China. And China is doing all these things with it and then selling it back to you, she said. Urban Outfitters, Walmart, Spencers, the new-age witch shop down the street is selling it for $4. Those $4 don't belong to them. It was illegally poached to begin with.

And how can you ensure white sage is ethical? You can't, there's no regulation for it. And this is something Indigenous people in California are trying so hard to fight  that there should be a regulation for it at the level of poaching that is happening or else it's going to go extinct. And now we're harming communities directly because we are all partaking in that, because we're ignorantly buying things that we know nothing about.

Instead of using white sage, Tineo uses creosote, cedar, cinnamon and other floral elements to make her cleansing bundles.

I allowed myself to dream once and now there's no stopping me.

After learning about the many challenges Tineo faced throughout her life, it wasnt surprising to hear that another obstacle was the deciding factor in her decision to make the leap from an online shop and pop-up vendor to a brick-and-mortar.

In April of this year, she was involved in a collision on Interstate 10 when someone crashed into her car causing her to lose control and swerve across multiple lanes during rush hour traffic.

She ended up swerving off the freeway onto the frontage road, put her car in park and screamed into the steering wheel. She called the incident the worst feeling shes ever experienced.

The crash that could have killed her happened after months of feeling burnout from participating in back-to-back local markets where she felt like she didnt belong or was overwhelmingly disappointed with the amount of work she put in and what she received in return.

She took it as a sign that it was time for something new.

When she found the perfect location for a shop on Sixth Avenue, she said she had $3,000 in the bank and a bucket of dreams.

But where there were gaps to be filled, the community stepped up to fill them.

Tineo was able to move into the space thanks to a list of 11 local sponsors, including Espresso-Self Tucson, Tucson Tea Company, N1 Electric and Sobee's Tucson Cleaning, who agreed to help out.

I allowed myself to dream once and now there's no stopping me, she said. And now I'm just like, Keep dreaming girl, just keep dreaming. I would love to see myself outgrow this space in the next year or so and move somewhere with the ability to integrate more hands-on full healing practices. ... But my goal is to be able to provide different kinds of limpias or cleanses that aren't just like cleaning your house. Like I'm pulling the dirty clothes out of your soul. And I think in a bigger space, we will be able to do that. I will be able to do that.

For Tineo, finding your roots, embracing your differences and enriching your soul (also known as yoli in the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl) is everything.

Because with a strong root system, you can survive anything.

This is an extension of me, she said. It's an extension of my journey. I've worked very hard and struggled with the feeling of unfairness all my life. And for the first time ever, I finally feel like I made justice for everything I couldn't do. And all the dreams I couldn't have with this store.

For more information about Yolia Botanica, visit her Instagram page.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

I graduated from Rincon High School in 1969 at the height of national and world conflict. The Vietnam War, assassinations, Civil Rights upheavals, social revolutions, and drug use upheavals became the norms. At a time of pre-internet, cell phones, dozens of news broadcasts, social studies teachers and print newspapers covered all local, national, and world events. Almost all households subscribed to the Arizona Daily Star or the Tucson Citizen, and some like ours, subscribed to both despite our low income and that neither of my parents went to high school.

I developed a love of journalism at a very young age, and starting in junior high always noted my desired career choice was to be a journalist. However, back then very few female journalists covered hard news so I majored in English education and minored in journalism at the University of Arizona. Due to a fortunate series of events, I was able to work both at the same time for about 35 years before becoming a school district grants director where I was able to put my skills in writing and research to good use.

Internally, though successful as a grant writer, I missed being an English teacher back in the days when my own skills and creativity allowed me to cover the curriculum my way without writing the state standards on the blackboard every other English teacher was writing on their blackboards. And I missed writing news, features, and an editorial column for the Nogales International after my school day ended. Teaching and journalism have so changed, however, that even if I made a U-turn, neither of those careers exist in their former form and it is unlikely that local or even the state publications will exist in decades to come.

I am heartsick as I approach the time of not working in any profession that teaching without a script and true journalism are both dying and unlikely to be revived. Local broadcasters spend precious air time on un-newsworthy topics and print newspapers are a third their original size with only occasional in-depth features not scripted by their mega-owners. Even more disturbing is that very few households even subscribe to even papers available digitally and certainly few with those under 50 years of age.

Check out the results of career surveys still given in middle and high school and it is clear that very few students desire to be teachers  especially at the high-school level  and fewer yet select journalist. What does this in and of itself say about creating a free-thinking citizenship?
One year later, there is no more doubt. Attendees at this year's meeting booed at even the suggestion of a contested GOP primary. Trump, they overwhelmingly said, is their pick.

Trump, for sure. I dont think anyone else really has a chance, said Sky Sanchez, 21, a student from Durham, North Carolina, who was volunteering at the conference with the Tea Party Patriots.

Soren Nielsen, 18, who lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan, said he had been seriously considering DeSantis earlier this year, worried that Trump had lost momentum, particularly after a weaker-than-expected Republican showing in last years midterm elections.

But those views changed as he watched Trump reenergize his campaign and saw DeSantis falter.

I started to realize his campaign did not launch as successfully as I thought it would, Nielsen said. "And he doesnt have the stamina, like Trump does, to win a general election.

While the conference provides only a snapshot of a small slice of the electorate, the views expressed in interviews here over the weekend reflect the broader contours of the GOP contest six months before voting is to begin. While DeSantis was once seen as a serious threat to Trumps hold on the party  and remains his strongest challenger  he has so far failed to catch fire. His campaign over the weekend confirmed it had laid off a handful of staffers amid concerns over runaway spending, while polling shows Trump ahead by 20 to 30 points, or more, even after a pair of criminal indictments that only seemed to bolster his standing.

Last year, both Trump and DeSantis attended the Turning Point Student Action Summit, held in Tampa, as they prepared to launch their campaigns. DeSantis headlined the Friday night program; Trump headlined Saturdays. Both were introduced with pro wrestling-style videos and elaborate pyrotechnics. Both received rousing welcomes.

But this year DeSantis chose to skip the events, as did most other top-tier candidates, turning it into a full-on Trumpfest, like so many other conservative gatherings. The program featured a whos-who of MAGA world, including MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell, Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr.

The former president was met with thundering applause Saturday as he mocked DeSantis' campaign, calling it a hopeless cause that was only dividing the party and wasting money.

Of the 2024 GOP candidates who did decide to show up, several received very rough receptions. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic, was loudly booed as he took the stage and later interrupted when the crowd began to chant Trumps name. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was greeted by jeers, as some shouted RINO  Republican In Name Only  and Traitor!

When former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, a speaker at the event, suggested that the primary was a two-person race between Trump and DeSantis  Realistically, its probably going to be one of those two, she said  the room erupted in anger.

I think they like Trump, Megyn, responded Charlie Kirk, Turning Point's founder.

Indeed, an unscientific survey of attendees found Trump was the first choice for president for nearly 86% of respondents. Asked to name their second pick, 51% named Vivek Ramaswamy, the millionaire tech entrepreneur who has declined to criticize Trump. (DeSantis last year had been the first choice of 19% of attendees, behind only Trump. This year, he was the first choice of just over 4%.)

Beyond the main stage, an exhibition hall was filled with tables selling MAGA merchandise, including bejeweled purses with Trump's name spelled out in rhinestones. One wall featured large cutouts of each candidate's face. Attendees were encouraged to share thoughts using Post-it notes. DeSantis entries ranged from TRAITOR to Trump is your Daddy. Attendees pegged Trump their ONLY HOPE and "The ONLY choice. period, though also noting he Might go to jail.

DeSantis decision to skip the event, citing a scheduling conflict, drew criticism from attendees and angered organizers who noted their long history with the Florida governor.

While founder Kirk has endorsed Trump and Turning Point is widely seen as a pro-Trump organization, it has also organized events for DeSantis over the years. Indeed, earlier this year, Kirk drew Trumps ire for appearing too cozy with DeSantis as the Florida governor's stock was on the rise.

As for DeSantis' no-show over the weekend, Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point's chief operating officer, said, You only have a few opportunities in the grand scheme of an election cycle to get in front of major groups and all the media and to pass up this opportunity to lay out your vision for America I just think is one of the biggest mistakes."

DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin noted that the governor had spent the day with Iowans and spoke to a packed house at the Tennessee GOP Statesman Dinner later that night."

This was a day after he delivered the strongest interview at the Family Leadership Summit, which Donald Trump notably skipped, Griffin said. "Ron DeSantis is campaigning to win.

Nielsen, who had been leaning toward DeSantis before switching to Trump, said he has concerns about DeSantis electability. If he were to win the primary, Trump voters arent going to vote for him, he said. All those people arent guaranteed Republican voters. Theyre guaranteed Trump voters."

Dolan Bair, 21, said he, too, had been more leaning toward DeSantis, drawn to his embrace of culture war issues and his 20-point margin of victory in his reelection race last fall. But now he doubts that DeSantis can win the presidential primary.

I dont think he has the same sort of energy," said Bair, of Kent City, Michigan.

Riley Tobin, a 21-year-old student at the University of Hawaii, said he had admired DeSantis from afar during the COVID-19 pandemic as he rolled back restrictions. But he feels DeSantis has failed to measure up to expectations as a presidential candidate.

A year ago, everyone was in love with DeSantis, said Tobin after the conference Sunday. I really think he could have had a phenomenal campaign, but he turned to the wrong people and had the wrong supporters. And you could hear it yesterday, having 6,000 people pretty much boo at him. Its like hes doing something wrong if hes making that many upset conservatives.

Some critics cited DeSantis' comments on Ukraine; others his perceived establishment ties. Some were furious at the very fact that he had dared to challenge Trump in the first place."

Im very disappointed in him, said Alan Pincus, 66, one of the thousands of party activists, officials and fans of the speakers who joined the students at the event. Since he announced hes running, I am no longer a fan.

Pincus, who is running for Congress and lives in Boynton Beach, Florida, credited Trump for DeSantis first victory as governor and accused him of disloyalty, echoing a charge Trump often makes. The fact that he even decided to run against Trump is astounding to me. Its not about personal gains anymore. Its about bringing this country back.

Jasmin Rodriguez, 61, who traveled to the event from Harker Heights, Texas, said she loved what DeSantis had done in Florida, but was disappointed in his decision to run. "Dang, dude! You should have just waited a bit, you know? Wait your turn.

Last year, she said, she would have loved to see Trump pick DeSantis as his vice president or support him in 2028. But now her opinion has soured.

Hes burned that bridge, said her ex-husband, Randy Rodriguez, 50. Hes been a huge disappointment.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  The bodies of four women began appearing in wooded areas in northwest Oregon in February, though police initially said the cases appeared to be unconnected. But on Monday, prosecutors dropped a bombshell, saying they are linked and at least one person of interest has been identified.

The state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for any of the women, prosecutors said in a statement.

But, in an about-face from a June 4 Portland Police Bureau statement saying six deaths did not appear to be connected, the Multnomah County District Attorneys office in Portland announced that four of them are.

Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively, ... and they have determined that there are links between four cases: Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real, the prosecutors office said.

Investigators have interviewed multiple people in connection with these cases and have identified at least one person of interest that is linked to all four, the DA's office added.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys office in Portland says no charges have been filed against anyone but that the community is not currently in any danger. Local media reported a man is in custody. The announcement led to online reports of a serial killer, but officials did not use those words in announcing the connection between the deaths.

The womens bodies were found in Portland and rural areas starting on Feb. 19, with the latest one found on May 7. One body was found about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Portland, near a creek in Polk County.

The first body discovered was that of Smith, 22, found in a wooded area in a suburb southeast of Portland. Smith's disappearance was reported to police in suburban Gresham on Dec. 22, 2022.

Its quite like a piece of you is missing, thats really the only way you can describe it, Hailey Smith, Kristins sister, told KPTV, a Portland television station, as family members searched for the then-missing woman.

Family members hung up fliers and looked for Smith near homeless shelters and other sites in downtown Portland. And a private Justice for Kristin Smith Facebook page with over 600 members was created over four months ago.

Perry was 24 when she died. Her body was found on April 24 near a state park alongside the Columbia River, east of Portland.

Perrys mother, Diana Allen, said her daughter struggled with her mental health. Allen shared a photo with The Associated Press of Perry taken after Perry won spiciest chili in a contest several years ago.

She was so proud of it, Allen said. She had an amazing personality when she had her mental health under control.

Websters body was found on April 30 near Mill Creek in rural northwest Polk County. She was 31.

Real, 22, was last seen at a fast-food restaurant near Portland on March 27, police said. She was reported missing on April 4. Her body was found on May 7 in a forest southeast of Portland.

Investigators from nine law enforcement agencies, including the prosecutors offices in three Oregon counties and the Oregon State Police, have been collaborating on the cases, authorities said.

This story has been updated to correct the location where two of the womens bodies were discovered. While two of the women were from Gresham and Milwaukie, the bodies were found elsewhere in rural areas.

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. AP Writer Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose family's car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threateningly high temperatures and severe air pollution from Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Monday's search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

The children's father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while the children's mother, Katie Seley, and a grandmother grabbed the other children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. Sheils and his son made it to safety, but Seley and the grandmother were swept away.

The grandmother survived, but Seley, 32, was among five killed by the floods.

A wall of water came to them; they did not go into the water, Brewer said of the Sheils family.

Scott Ellis, an uncle to the missing children, described the family as utterly devastated.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday.

No matter how long Ive been doing this  over and over and over, many, many years  you find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

Pennsylvania's flash floods also drowned Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said.

The county commissioners signed an emergency declaration in response to the flooding.

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott toured some of the destruction from recent torrential rains on Monday, including a damaged inn that was cut in half by flood waters.

Buttigieg said Vermont has endured two storms that would be called once-in-a-century events in the span of just 12 years.

We cant go into the future requiring communities to put everything back exactly the way it was if a 100-year flood is about to become an annual event, he said.

More rain was forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the U.S., thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the West, a mountain biker died Saturday in blistering desert heat east of San Diego after he and three fellow bikers helped rescue four hikers who were without water.

Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua said the bikers called 911, and two rode back to a trailhead to give directions to rescuers. A helicopter hoisted the hikers, and the two bikers who had stayed with them headed to the trailhead. One did not arrive and was found unresponsive about a quarter-mile away. He later died, though there was no information on the cause of death.

Temperatures also soared in Phoenix, which hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) on Monday shortly after 12:30 p.m., marking 18 consecutive days the city has hit that temperature and tying an earlier record for consecutive days at or above 110 degrees. Phoenix is expected to surpass the record on Tuesday.

Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, according to the National Weather Service.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius) for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, according to the National Weather Service.

Associated Press writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; and Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia contributed to this report.
Des Moines Register. July 14, 2023.

Editorial: We give up. Time for Iowa cities to legalize fireworks. Bans arent working.

The only thing this state of affairs accomplishes is to diminish respect for the law. Des Moines ban is no deterrent; its defied openly. Police are in an impossible position.

Iowas anything-goes approach to fireworks sales is a terrible policy that delivers little benefit to the state while leading to big nuisances every summer, and maiming a few residents, for good measure.

It is understandable that cities, including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale and others, cling to any regulation state lawmakers deign to allow them in hope of dissuading at least a few people from adding to the noise, air pollution and emergency room visits. They say, officially, that people are not allowed to use consumer fireworks within city limits.

Its a message completely at odds with permanent and temporary fireworks retailers filling seemingly every other street corner every June. Its time for cities to try something different.

Enforcement of city bans is almost nonexistent

Depending on the city, the threat of enforcement is either zero or near zero, and everybody knows it. Enforcing prohibitions is extraordinarily challenging for a number of reasons. Its hard to identify and cite the perpetrators of such transient offenses. And the sheer volume of complaints makes it impractical for police to answer them promptly, if at all. About 1% of calls in the metro area around this July 4 resulted in a citation, according to statistics compiled by the Register. No citations were issued in Des Moines in July.

The only thing this state of affairs accomplishes is to diminish respect for the law. Des Moines ban is no deterrent; its defied openly. Police are in an impossible position. Officers dont deserve to be blamed for weeks of cacophony and burned grass and garbage receptacles at city parks.

Its more practical to admit that people are going to use fireworks

State lawmakers ought to see thousands of complaints each year and repeated episodes of damage to public property, reverse course and once again ban fireworks sales statewide and allow cities full authority to regulate fireworks in any way they see fit. But, absent a tragedy on the scale of the 1930 Spencer fireworks disaster that destroyed 80 businesses, its hard to imagine that. Just last year, the state barred cities from restricting fireworks sales.

So that leaves few options for city councils. In 2022, Des Moines Councilwoman Connie Boesen suggested looking for ways to increase enforcement. Thats a tall order. Its time to be realistic: Des Moines and the others should go the other direction: Give in and repeal their bans. That could give cities a chance at deploying scarce resources to achieve more modest goals, such as protecting public park property.

No doubt, it wont be fun to surrender to the states policy misadventure. This stance in essence represents the editorial board throwing in the towel, reversing a long-held position, based on public health and safety concerns, that supported the states decades-long ban on sale of fireworks as well as city ordinances restricting use other than public displays.

Its also true that there may well be moral value in some instances for a city to draw a line in the sand against misguided state laws. Des Moines would have been justified in pursuing since-abandoned proposals to protect abortion access and reduce marijuana-possession prosecutions.

This isnt one of those instances. Pragmatism is more in order here.

More personal courtesy is in order, too

As another July 4 cleanup winds down, dont forget that a little bit of courtesy would go a long way toward mitigating how personal fireworks displays in cities can harm neighbors.

Pick up your mess: That might mean coming back after daylight.

Observe time restrictions: State law permits fireworks use until 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on July 4 and an adjacent weekend. Thats plenty of time after dusk.

Fireworks are legal in Iowa. Local government isnt making anything better by pretending otherwise.

END
Detroit News. July 12, 2023.

Editorial: Voting expansion should be secure and efficient

Proposal 2 passed in November, enshrining certain voting rights in Michigans constitution. Now the Democratic-controlled Legislature has passed bills to institutionalize the expanded rights across the state.

Its critical to get the nuts and bolts of how Michigans new voting mechanisms will work in place as far in advance of the 2024 elections as possible. With the Democratic presidential primary moved up to the end of February, the Legislature has been under pressure to craft the new voting infrastructure  which should expand access for Michiganians  and help clerks implement it.

Still, some of these changes will require more volunteers and more funding, and have the potential to increase voting fraud throughout the state.

Voters expanded rights and access by passing Prop 2, but the onus will be on clerks and new volunteers to ensure election integrity, a contentious issue in Michigan during the past several elections.

One of the most time-consuming, radical changes is that counties will now be able to offer a minimum of nine days of early voting, more if local clerks think their municipality can facilitate it. There is a lot of flexibility in how individual municipalities can handle early voting, which can be beneficial. It may also mean only some residents will reap the benefits of the new system.

Itll be up to clerks to decide whether or not their municipality can facilitate such an ask, meaning the state will become a patchwork of voting rules by county  or even by city, if local clerks have different resources. Poorer, more rural areas will be less likely to fund and create the same opportunities as more urban ones.

There are also concerns about expanding Election Day for so long before the actual day. Under the bills, clerks are allowed to offer between nine and 29 days of early voting. That could lead to inequal access for all communities as municipalities will shoulder additional early in person voting costs, on top of the millions of dollars it will cost the state to implement. Also, such expanded early voting could disrupt the ease and accessibility people have come to expect when they vote.

Democrats went further than the measures passed in Proposal 2, allowing ballots to be printed on demand at early voting sites and expanding the types of identification voters can acceptably submit to prove their registration. Expanding these terms can lead to fraudulent voting, especially if poll volunteers dont know what to be looking for on each type of new ID.

These kinds of provisions, not approved by residents, open the door to a looser voting system than Michigan has had and than is even allowed by Prop 2. Such expansive voting procedures might further erode what lack of trust in the system already exists.

Prop 2 required expansion of the ballot drop box system, which means every city or township must have at least one drop box and distribute them equitably throughout a municipality. But this provision, too, could lead to an unequal distribution of resources for more urban areas with higher populations.

As this bill package heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, there are more expansive proposals making their way through Lansing, including pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and repealing a ban on paid rides to the polls, as well as a Michigan version of the Voting Rights Act.

Michigan will be contending with massive new changes to its voting system in this falls municipal elections, and statewide and presidential elections in 2024.

The Legislature and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson should prioritize provisions that make it possible for clerks and volunteers to carry out Proposal 2 securely and efficiently.

Traverse City Record-Eagle. July 16, 2023.

Editorial: Medication in jail means life, not luxury

When judges hand down sentences for crimes, they dont usually order hallucinations, seizures, headaches and muscle cramps.

That would be cruel.

Yet, too often, inmates experience some extra-judiciary punishment by way of drug withdrawal in jails when they dont receive their doctor-prescribed medications.

Last week, an emergency hearing convened after a woman, incarcerated in Leelanau County jail for a drug-related conviction, experienced symptoms that she and her mother connected to seizures. For a week, she said she was not given lorazepam, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, seizure disorders and sleeping problems. The drug was reportedly administered about an hour before an emergency court hearing on the matter.

In 2021, a Grand Traverse County inmate had to go to court to get Vyvanse, a medicine used to treat diagnosed attention deficit disorder. In another case, an inmates prescription access for suboxone, used to treat substance use disorder, became the basis of a ACLU suit and a $25,000 settlement.

Prescriptions are hardly champagne and caviar for these inmates. They are basic, and potentially life-saving, necessities.

In 2019, Paul Bulthouse, 39, who was incarcerated in Muskegon Countys jail following a probation violation, died after suffering multiple seizures, court records show. Bulthouse was prescribed klonopin, a sedative used to manage seizures and panic attacks; his family said he did not receive it.

In the end, Muskegon County Board of Commissioners settled for $2.4 million with Bulthouses family, and the four Muskegon County jail guards pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty.

Not providing medications  especially those used to treat substance use disorder that are shown to prevent withdrawal, relapse and overdose  is a dangerous and pervasive practice.

The Marshall Project found in 2022, that even though the First Step Act requires prisons to provide addiction medications, only 10 percent of 15,000 eligible prisoners get them.

Just this past week, Michigans Department of Health and Human Services sent out a notice seeking proposals to expand medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs in Michigan county jails  using opioid settlement money.

In Rhode Island, all three forms of MOUD medications are used in its correctional system, resulting in a nearly two-thirds reduction in statewide opioid overdose deaths.

This U.S Food and Drug Administration-approved, evidence-based method can save lives, preventing relapse and overdose post-incarceration.

Medication should be delivered to the inmates in a controlled, secure way so the medication isnt abused. But taxpayers shouldnt have to pay out unnecessary court settlements to the families of the inmates either.

We believe that getting this right will make a difference, not only to prisoners and inmates, but for those in charge of their care.

Let people do the time for the crime the way the judges intended  and just give these inmates their meds.

Mining Journal. July 11, 2023.

Editorial: Celebrate July as Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month

July is Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month, which reflects that July 1 marks the 85th anniversary of the effective date for the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. This act ensures a percentage of funds from hunting equipment purchases go toward nationwide wildlife management projects.

To coincide with the 10th anniversary of the law that established the Michigan Wildlife Council, the MWC, which educates the public on the importance of wildlife management and the role hunting and fishing plays in protecting the states wildlife and natural resources, unveiled its inaugural Top 10 list of wildlife management success stories.

MWCs Top 10 success stories are the Kirtlands warbler, moose, ring-necked pheasant, osprey, lake sturgeon, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, elk, muskellunge and wood duck.

The Kirtlands warbler, whose summer breeding habitat mostly is in the northern Lower Peninsula with nests only in young jack pine forests, is a huge success story. Wildlife management practices have increased the population to over 2,000 nesting pairs, more than double the recovery goal.

More than 100 years ago, moose no longer existed in the Lower Peninsula, and only a handful lived in the Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources now estimates there are as many as 500 or so in the U.P., although there still is no hunting season on them.

See a lot of wild turkey around? The MWC said that careful habitat management and strategic relocation efforts have led to population increases in Michigan  from 2,000 in 1960 to over 200,000 today.

Theres still more accomplish. Michigan is trying to bring back the grayling to northern Michigan streams after having been decimated by unchecked logging and fishing. (Note the key word is unchecked. Thats why wildlife management practices are so important.)

With the grayling, building a brood stock and rearing them are part of the process, which is to include efforts at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery in Harvey.

Even if people dont hunt or fish, they should realize that license sales from those activities are Michigans main source for conservation and wildlife management. That means everyone  even those wont never pick up a shotgun or fishing rod  benefits from those sales. Thats something they should remember.

Although the standard saying for many issues with months dedicated to them is to urge people to keep them in mind all year, this especially holds true with Michigan wildlife conservation.

Plant native vegetation, support local habitat initiatives and donate to important causes.

You even can buy a fishing license, even if you never cast a lure.

END
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP)  An Alamogordo police officer who was shot in the face with a sawed-off shotgun during a foot chase with a suspect has died, authorities said Monday.

Forty-one-year-old Anthony Ferguson, an 11-year veteran of the Alamogordo Police Department, was airlifted to a trauma center, where he had been listed in critical condition after the shooting early Saturday, according to police. He died late Sunday.

Police said 26-year-old Dominic De La O, of Alamogordo, was charged with attempt to commit first-degree murder and aggravated battery on a police officer with a deadly weapon. He is being held at the Otero County jail.

De La O will likely face upgraded charges now that Ferguson has died.

District Attorney Scot Key said that because the defendant was arrested on a no bond warrant in another pending felony drug case, he cannot get out of jail.

The state will be presenting the case to the Otero County grand jury as early as next week. It is anticipated that the charges will include first-degree murder, Key said.

In January, De La O was arrested on suspicion of pulling out a handgun during a fight with officers, court records show. He was shot by Alamogordo police during the incident.

A warrant for De La Os arrest was issued last Wednesday because authorities said he violated his conditions of release by being at a party where a shooting occurred.

De La O will be represented by Raymond Conley with the public defender's office. He could not immediately be reached for a comment.

On Saturday, officers tried to pull over the vehicle De La O was driving without headlights or taillights, police said. De La O fled, crashed into a light pole, and then ran from the scene before the shooting, according to authorities.

De La O suffered a leg wound and was arrested after being treated and released from a hospital, police said.

Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne has called on the citys 31,000 residents to contact state lawmakers and the governors office to ask them to revisit New Mexicos bail reform laws.

Republican members of the New Mexico Senate also said Monday that more needs to be done to address gaps in the criminal justice system.

"Not one more New Mexican should become the victim of a preventable violent crime, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

Alamogordo residents planned to gather along city streets Monday evening for a procession during which the officer's body would be brought home. The procession was due to stop in front of police headquarters to honor Ferguson's service to the community.
Right now, the plan is to keep things simple.

Three sandwiches. Two meats. Plenty of coffee. Plenty of wine.

One of the meats is brisket, prepared according to that time-honored culinary tradition of, "It's my mom's recipe."

The other is pastrami, which subjects beef brisket to a lengthy, painstaking, labor-intensive process to transform into something rich, tender, highly seasoned and carrying a subtle yet noticeable presence of wood smoke.

As one of the three sandwiches is that classic of the deli menu, the Reuben, one might think that corned beef would also be available.

"Every time we gave people samples of our corned beef and our pastrami, they always preferred the pastrami," said Hunter Stone Gambill. "Which is great, because it streamlines things even more."

Gambill on Saturday officially opened his newest restaurant, Gambill's Jewish Deli, in the Shops at Mother Road, 1102 S. Lewis Ave.

It's the second restaurant concept Gambill has had in this space. Originally, it was Gambill's Wine & Coffee, which was inspired by Spanish tapas bars Gambill had visited during his travels.

"It was doing well, and interest seemed to be growing," Gambill said. "Then there was all the construction that went on (at the intersection of 11th Street and Lewis Avenue) made it difficult for people to get in here.

"Also, we learned very quickly that our customers came to eat, whereas in Spain, the focus at a tapas bar is on the drinks," he said. "Since this space has no prep kitchen, it was challenge to meet everyone's demands. So I really didn't have any problems with going in a different direction."

Gambill's career in food might seem as if has been going in a lot of different directions. In addition to the new deli, he also owns Gambill's Pastaria, 1921 S. Harvard Ave., serving up variations on Italian-American classics, from chicken parmigiana to pizzas, with almost all ingredients made inhouse; and later this summer will open Gambill's Tex-Mex Barbecue, in the house that once held the Dragonmoon Tea Co. and Table 20.

Gambill also owns OK Distilling Co., roasts his own coffee (which can be purchased at his restaurants), and frequently collaborates with fellow food entrepreneurs and chefs for unique pop-up experiences.

"I don't think in terms of 'concepts,'" Gambill said. "All these projects are things that I'm passionate about, that reflects a lot of my personal experiences, and that I think bring something new to Tulsa."

Gambill's Jewish Deli fulfills those requirements, in that Gambill's family is Jewish and he's active in Tulsa's Jewish community.

"And aside from the synagogue (Congregation B'nai Emunah, which hosts a pop-up restaurant called Seventeenth Street Deli on occasion), no one in town was offering a traditional Jewish deli experience," he said.

For Gambill, that starts with the way he makes pastrami. It is drycured, rather than brined, then spritzed with red wine vinegar and given a special rub before being smoked, then steamed to the desired texture and flavor.

"I don't know of anyone in town who makes pastrami who does the steaming process," he said.

The pastrami ended up in the deli's Reuben sandwich, as well as one called The Pistol, which includes the usual accoutrements on a Reuben sandwich  the sauerkraut, the Swiss cheese, the rye bread  augmented by a spicy homemade mustard that can set the lips to tingling.

The other sandwich currently available is called the Pauli, and features brisket prepared according to a recipe used by Gambill's mother, topped with Provolone cheese and horseradish mayo on club bread, a version of sourdough.

Gambill said that he likes to give a personal twist to all the foods and drinks he serves. "For some people, mayo and brisket just aren't a thing," he said, "but that's the way my mother would serve these sandwiches."

Sandwiches are sold based on the amount of meat they contain. A 6-oz. sandwich is $17; the 12-oz. version, which is more than substantial, is $25. All sandwiches are served with kettle-cooked potato chips and house-made half-sour pickles.

The shop still offers an array of Spanish-influenced coffee drinks, as well as about two dozen wines from around the world, including France, Spain, South Africa, Israel and Australia, as well as some domestic labels.

Hours for Gambill's Jewish Deli are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The deli's menu will slowly begin to expand, especially once the up-scale apartment complex, Noma, opens across the street.

"We plan to be open for breakfast, and have house-made bagels and lox, along with breakfast sandwiches and burritos," he said.

Because of the space limitations, all the food served as Gambill's Jewish Deli is prepared offsite, at Gambill's Pastaria. That practice is also why Gambill's Tex-Mex Barbecue, which originally had been slated to open before the deli, is still a work in progress.

"We basically ran out of prep space," Gambill said. "We're planning on building a separate prep kitchen, so we can have all our prep in one place."

He's also planning to create a Taco Bar and Brewery that will share space with OK Distilling Co, at 1724 E. Seventh St., as well as what he calls a "kid-friendly coffee shop" that he hopes can be open by early fall.

"A lot of what we do is to provide the sort of experiences that me and my family would like to have," Gambill said. "A place where I can go with my son in the morning and have a bagel and a good cup of coffee is something I look for as a parent. And if it's something I think needs to exist, I'm pretty confident other people will think it needs to exist, too."

Tulsa diners seem to believe that the restaurants Gambill operates certainly need to exist. Gambill said that most restaurants have a customer retention rate  diners who return to a given place repeatedly  around 30 percent, meaning that more than two-thirds of customers who visit a restaurant for the first time never return.

"Our retention rate has been  comparatively speaking  astronomically high," he said. "We're averaging better than 50 percent at the Pastaria, and it seems to keep growing.

"I know we're not going to be everything to all people," Gambill said. "We just want the people who do try what we have to offer to love it."
(Photo : GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin asserted that Russia possesses a "sufficient stockpile" of cluster munitions and will "retaliate" if Ukraine employs controversial weaponry.

President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia possessed a "sufficient stockpile" of cluster bombs and reserved the right to use them if such weapons, whose use he described as criminal, were used against Russian forces in Ukraine.

Ukraine announced on Thursday that it had received cluster explosives from the United States, its largest military ally, which says the munitions are required to make up for shell shortages encountered by Kyiv's forces during a counteroffensive.

Putin Says Russia Has Stockpiled Cluster Bombs

Per Reuters, over 100 countries have outlawed cluster munitions because they typically discharge many tiny bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a large area. Some will inevitably fail to detonate, posing a threat for decades, especially to minors.

Kyiv has stated that it will use cluster munitions to disperse adversary troop concentrations when attempting to reclaim its territory, but not on Russian territory. Putin told state television that Russia would retaliate in kind if necessary.

Putin stated that he viewed the use of cluster munitions as a crime and that, despite having experienced ammunition shortages in the past, Russia had not yet needed to employ them.

Human Rights Watch asserts that both Moscow and Kyiv have employed cluster bombs. The United States, Russia, and Ukraine have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of cluster bombs.

Putin also stated on state television that he saw no problem with Russian specialists examining captured Western military equipment and missiles, such as the Storm Shadow missiles Britain supplied to Ukraine, to determine if any useful components could be incorporated into Russia's military hardware.

This is the first time the United States has commented on the delivery of munitions to Ukraine. The use of cluster munitions by Russia and Ukraine has been extensively documented, and cluster rounds have been discovered in the aftermath of Russian attacks.

Pavel Zarubin, a correspondent for Rossiya TV, posted excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel on Sunday before its broadcast on Sunday evening. The Pentagon announced Thursday that US-supplied cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine, as per Daily Mail.

The US views the munitions, bombs that detonate in the air and unleash many smaller bomblets, as a means to provide Kyiv with desperately needed ammunition to bolster its offensive and drive through the Russian front lines.

President Joe Biden made the final decision last week after months of deliberation on the complex issue. Humanitarian organizations and some US allies have long criticized cluster munitions for their high "dud rate," meaning they frequently leave behind unexploded bomblets that can continue to damage civilians long after a battle.

Read Also: California Wildfires Break Out as Deadly Heat Wave Persists, Prompts Evacuation

Russia-Ukraine War

Proponents contend that Russia has already employed cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the US-supplied weaponry leaves far fewer unexploded rounds in their wake. Ukraine has pledged not to use them in densely populated areas.

The Ukrainian military reported in a Sunday morning update that Russia had launched two Shahed explosive drones made in Iran, two cruise missiles, and two anti-aircraft guided missiles in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the previous 24 hours.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia continues to prioritize offensive operations in the industrial east of Ukraine. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the regional governor of Donetsk, stated on Sunday that two region residents were slain and one was injured on Saturday.

On Sunday, the deputy defense minister of Ukraine, Hanna Maliar, stated that combat in eastern Ukraine had "somewhat intensified" amid a slow counteroffensive that has yielded Ukraine minor territorial gains.

She wrote on Telegram that Russia had been "actively attacking" in the direction of Kupiansk in the north-eastern Kharkiv region for two days and that Ukrainian forces were "on the defensive" there.

Since ceding control of the city to Russia in May, Ukraine has endeavored to encircle it.

In a separate excerpt from Zarubin, Putin argued that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile.

According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, two young boys, ages eight and ten, were injured when an incendiary device left by Russian forces exploded in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday. Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional administrator, stated that Russia had launched 69 artillery attacks against the Kherson region.

Related Article: Putin Could Let Wagner Mercenaries Keep Fighting in Ukraine in 1 Condition

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The national coffee and doughnut chain announced it will officially open its new location off of 96th Street North and Garnett Road on Saturda
Owassos first responders are looking for citizens to support their efforts through blood donation with Our Blood Institute.

Those who give at the Boots & Badges blood drive on Wednesday, July 26, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Owasso Community Center will provide blood needed to save local lives, such as those that firefighters and law enforcement officers rescue.

Anyone who is at least 16 years old are encouraged to donate. All successful donors will receive a special edition Boots & Badges T-shirt and a choice of one free entry to Frontier City, Hurricane Harbor or Science Museum Oklahoma.

Owasso first responders see the daily need for blood firsthand when the people they rescue require life-saving treatment, Jan Laub, Executive Director Tulsa, said. We cant say enough about the service our police officers and firefighters provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available in emergency situations.

OBI is the sixth-largest independent blood center in the nation, with 16 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, including nine centers throughout Oklahoma. OBI provides more than 90% of Oklahomas blood supply to more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances.

Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are welcome.
Application season: Applications are now available online for students attending Broken Arrow Public Schools or Owasso Public Schools who qualify for free or reduced priced school meals based on family size and income.

Broken Arrow has its application available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Filipino and Vietnamese through baschools.org and families are strongly encouraged to complete it by Sept. 21. Owasso families may access the application through owassops.org, sending an email to ram.meals@owassops.org or picking up a paper copy at the districts enrollment center, 202 E. Broadway.

With the end of universal free school meals in 2022, eligible students must re-apply each year to receive free or reduced price school meals. The forms are also used to help calculate federal aid awards to individual schools and districts, as well as determine household eligibility for other assistance programs, including fee waivers for the ACT and SAT and discounted internet access under the Federal Communications Commissions Affordable Connectivity Program.

Broken Arrow Public Schools starts classes on Aug. 16. Owasso Public Schools starts classes on Aug. 17.

Tech toys: Officials with Devon Energy and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation officially opened a STEM Center Thursday morning at the Dream Centers west campus, 4122 W. 55th Place.

Featuring a 3-D printer, snap circuits and child-friendly robotics kits, the two entities previously donated almost 50 similar centers for elementary students around the Tulsa area, including one at the Dream Centers north campus, 200 W. 46th Street North.

Financial incentive: At its Monday meeting, Sperrys board of education approved a one-time retention stipend for full-time certified and support employees who were hired by the district before Jan. 1 and will be returning for the 2023-2024 school year. As approved, eligible certified staff will each receive $2,000 while eligible support employees will get $1,000 each.

Help wanted: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting a job fair Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Maintenance Facilities Building, 1555 N. 77th E. Ave., for open support positions, including custodians, campus police and child nutrition staff.

School board calendar: The boards of education for Bartlesville, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Glenpool, Liberty, Mounds, Owasso and Prue are scheduled to meet Monday.

The State CareerTech board is scheduled to meet Thursday in Oklahoma City.
NEW YORK  The trail went cold as clues 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 York's 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 they believe is responsible for some of the 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 can't 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 Barthelemy's cellphone to torment her relatives with calls soon after her disappearance, including one in which he said he'd killed her.

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 toddler's mother, were sex workers, police said.

But investigators say the suspect, Rex Heuermann, might not be responsible for all of the deaths. He has so far only been accused of killing Barthelemy and 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, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who disappeared three years earlier. Heuermann says he is innocent, according to his lawyer.

Barthelemy, who grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., was found Dec. 11, 2010, more than a year after she went missing. Two days later, the bodies of three other young women were found nearby.

Clues included strands of hair, the burlap used to wrap the bodies and a belt embossed with possible initials.

And there were the phone calls, including one from Barthelemy's cellphone on the day she was last seen alive. It was traced to the Long Island town of Massapequa, about 20 miles from where her body would later be found, not far from Heuermann's house.

If convicted on all charges, Heuermann would face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

"Death is too good for him," the victim's mother, Lynn Barthelemy, told NBC News. "I'd like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates," she said.

But the grieving parent 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 hasn't 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. Her mother, Lorraine Ela, died last year.

Ela's hopes were buoyed three years ago when investigators discovered new evidence: a belt embossed with two letters that might have belonged to the suspect.

Nicole Haycock, one of Waterman's longtime friends and her brother's former girlfriend, was surprised by the announcement of Heuermann's arrest Friday. At first, she thought it was a hoax.

"There's 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., escort 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 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 family's 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 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 didn't 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 don't believe she would have never come back after 20 years."

Mack said the family was stunned by the news of an arrest.

"It's a lot to process," she said, adding she doesn't know what to make of the fact that Heuermann wasn't charged in Valerie's death.

"I'm just waiting for all the other facts to come out for us to really understand what happened and who's responsible," she said. "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 discovering the first four bodies, known as the Gilgo Four, and other remains soon after.

A look at some of the most notorious serial killers in the US since 1970 1970-2005: Samuel Little February-May 1971: Juan Corona 1972-1978: John Wayne Gacy 1974-1991: Dennis Rader 1975-1998: Robert L. Yates Jr. 1976-1977: David Berkowitz 1976-1986: Joseph James DeAngelo 1977-1978: Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth A. Bianchi 1977-1978: Ted Bundy 1978-1992: Jeffrey Dahmer 1978-1995: Theodore Kaczynski 1979-1981: Wayne B. Williams 1983: Henry Lee Lucas 1984-1985: Richard Ramirez 1984-1985: Charles Ng and Leonard Lake 1985-2007: Lonnie David Franklin Jr. 1989-1990: Aileen Wuornos 1989-1993: Joel Rifkin 1990-1993: Heriberto Seda 1997-1999: Angel Maturino Resendiz 2002: Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Muhammad 2005-2006: Mark Goudeau 2007-2009: Anthony Sowell 2014: Darren Deon Vann
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma Ethics Commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp has submitted her resignation, citing her frustration with the agencys funding levels as appropriated by the Legislature.

Kemp told the five-member commission in a letter that it needs to begin looking for a new director immediately and complete the transition by Dec. 31.

In her resignation letter, she said that with a record state budget for fiscal year 2024, it seemed reasonable to expect an investment in the commission to restore its education program, build upon its administrative compliance program, and devote resources to combating the increased and exponential use of dark money.

Unfortunately, that did not occur despite what appeared to be a significant amount of support for the Commissions request, she wrote.

The agency asked the Legislature for a budget of slightly more than $1 million and received $687,950.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission was created in 1990 as a constitutional agency by a vote of the people. It oversees and enforces rules governing state campaigns and rules of ethical conduct for state officers and employees.

In 2018, the agency filed suit against the state, saying lawmakers were required to provide adequate funding to the agency so it could perform its duties. In a 5-4 vote, the states high court sided with the Legislature, saying the agency must be treated the same as other agencies.

Kemp said funding was one of a number of issues in her decision  but a big one.

She holds a law degree from the University of Oklahoma and began serving as the commissions executive director on July 1, 2016.

She previously served as general counsel to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, an attorney for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and an attorney for the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

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Related Tulsa mayor shares view on open primaries in Oklahoma at panel discussion

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahomas Senate District 4, a region of tree-covered foothills that hugs the states eastern border, is represented by Tom Woods, a feed store owner and rancher elected last year after advancing past a Republican primary and winning the partys runoff election.

The runoff win assured Woods the open Senate seat as no Democrat, Libertarian or independent candidate filed for the race, making a general election in November unnecessary.

The lack of non-Republican candidates also meant the districts 21,000 voters not registered as Republican  nearly half of the districts electorate  had no say in their next state senator.

It was a similar situation for 1 in 5 Oklahoma voters last year who lived in a legislative district with an election but could not participate in the primary that selected their next legislator.

Of the 831,778 eligible voters living in a state Senate district with an election last year, 162,383 were unable to cast a ballot because they were registered as an independent or a member of a party that did not have a candidate, according to The Oklahomans analysis of voter data.

More than 209,000 voters also could not participate in open state House district elections because they could not vote in the only primary race being held.

Oklahomas semi-closed primary system shuts out hundreds of thousands of voters each election cycle, suppressing voter turnout and catering to the political fringe in terms of election issues. Some are calling for a change in hopes of improving representation at the state Capitol and reversing Oklahomas status as one of the lowest voter participation states in the nation.

We talk to a lot of people in counties all over the state who tell us, Well, I want to vote in a primary, but Im registered Republican, and in my area, there is no Republican candidate, so Im not able to vote, said Margaret Kobos, the founder of Oklahoma United for Progress, an organization exploring ways to reform the states primary election system.

We have Democrats who say the same thing, including one (voter) in Payne County who recently told me they havent been able to vote in a primary in like 20 years. Thats not a healthy system.

Oklahoma primary elections are mostly closed as Republican and Libertarian primary races only allow voters registered in their party to cast a ballot. Unaffiliated voters can participate in Democratic primaries, but that still leaves out Republicans and Libertarians.

Some might find it logical that a partys primaries are only open to party members.

But closed primaries shut out voters when candidates from only one party are running. Not only are voters left without a say, their tax dollars fund an election they cannot participate in.

Twenty-one states hold open primaries, which means any voter can cast a ballot in a primary election regardless of previous party affiliation.

Ranked choice voting  used in at least 22 states  allows voters to rank their desired candidates on a primary ballot in case one candidate fails to receive majority support.

In Oklahoma, a primary candidate with less than 50% support moves into a runoff, along with the other highest vote recipient. But ranked-choice ballots would hold an instant runoff that calculates which candidate had the highest level of support, which advocates say allows input from the most voters.

Officials with Oklahoma United said they want to present an alternative primary system to voters on a future statewide ballot, but are still researching what method would gain the most support.

There are different types of open primaries, but were not going to reach for something that the voters of Oklahoma dont want, said Kobos, who added polling is being done to see what Oklahoma voters would support.

But what we are hearing, and what we see in a very direct way at our gatherings, is that people are really hungry for a change and a little modernization in our system that will allow people to be better connected to policies and government.

Closed primary elections can sometimes cater to a partys core voters, especially low-turnout elections and runoffs.

There are districts with only Democratic primary races, and those races tend to produce more progressive lawmakers. But most Oklahoma districts with a single primary race are Republican-controlled and often push candidates to latch onto issues that are top of mind for the most conservative voters.

Jeremy Gruber, president of the national organization Open Primaries, said allowing all voters to participate in a primary could help prevent extremist candidates from winning elections because it holds them accountable to their entire constituency.

What it does mean is that you are representing everybody who lives in your district. Your values and your agenda is set by them, not by the state party, not by the national party, but by the people who voted for you or who will vote, Gruber said.

Consider the issue of abortion: a majority of Oklahomans oppose complete abortion bans, according to multiple polls. But most voters in a Republican primary likely have a stronger opposition to abortion than all other voters. That could explain why the Republican-controlled Legislature last year was quick to ban nearly all abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest, even though most Oklahomans want those exceptions and some Republican lawmakers admitted the exceptions were necessary.

Gruber said open primaries also allow independent voters  18% of Oklahoma voters  a chance to be more involved in electing their representatives.

If independents are the ... fastest-growing group of voters in the country, and the fastest growing group of voters in Oklahoma, then it benefits both parties to have an election system that allows them to build bridges to those voters, Gruber said.

Gruber spoke at a panel discussion this week hosted by Oklahoma United, which is affiliated with the Open Primaries organization.

Kyle Shelley, an Oklahoma City resident, attended the panel discussion and said he was interested in open primaries and ranked-choice voting because he felt it gave moderate voters like himself more of a say.

We now let the parties only elect extremists for the most part. I dont want that, Shelley said. Ive voted Republican and Democrat. Im a true moderate. So I want to see more of them. I just hope these guys can be successful in doing that.
A 45-year-old Skiatook man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Osage County early Monday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

Aaron Rogers was driving south on Oklahoma 11 about 5 miles north of Skiatook just before 6:30 a.m. when his 2004 Nissan Frontier ran off the right side of the road, according to a preliminary crash report.

Rogers overcorrected, causing the pickup to then go off the left side of the road, where it rolled and came to rest on its side. Rogers, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the crash and condition of the driver remain under investigation, the report states. Troopers said the weather was clear and dry at the time.
Cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom will be boosted after the latter becomes a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), British Ambassador in Vietnam Iain Frew said in a video released by the British Embassy in Vietnam on Sunday.

Britain formally signed a treaty in New Zealand on Sunday to become the 12th member of the free trade bloc.

The CPTPP is a landmark trade pact agreed in 2018 between 11 countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, Reuters reported.

I am delighted to announce that the UK is now an official member of the CPTPP. The pact will make it easier for Vietnamese and British companies to trade, said the British ambassador.

The milestone is meaningful as it marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United Kingdom this year, said Frew.

The UK and Vietnam are now part of a trade bloc of 12 countries with combined GDP of $15 trillion. Together, we will be helping to set progressive trade rules for the future, he stressed.

On behalf of the British government, Britains Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the treaty to make the country the first in Europe to join the CPTPP.

This is a modern and ambitious agreement, and our membership in this exciting, brilliant and forward-looking bloc is proof that the UKs doors are open for business," Reuters reported, citing Badenoch.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (L, 2nd) and the representatives of Singapore and the United Kingdom (in blue) are pictured at the event. Photo: Reuters

Joining the CPTPP will give the UK multiple big chances and expand its access to the market of more than 500 million people.

The trade accord will also spur the British economic growth and create hundreds of thousands of jobs, she said.

A report recently released by the British government showed that in 2019, one in every 100 British employees worked for a CPTPP-owned firm, equivalent to over 400,000 jobs across the UK.

Britain expects businesses from CPTPP countries to make a positive contribution to the UK economy.

In 2019, CPTPP-owned enterprises accounted for 0.3 percent of all businesses in the UK, but generated 6.1 percent of the countrys total business turnover.

Speaking of the benefits of joining the CPTPP, the British ambassador in Vietnam said that Britains whisky and automobile exports to CPTPP members are eligible for tax exemption.

British Deputy Ambassador Marcus Winsley told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Britain expects to make its contribution to digitalization and intellectual property processes in the trade bloc.

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The Peoples Committee of Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam has proposed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development allow the province to directly export durians to China rather than stopping at a border gate for phytosanitary and customs declaration requirements.

Vu Duc Con, deputy director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, said on Monday that the provincial administration had written to the ministry seeking approval for the proposal.

As per the prevailing regulations, trucks carrying durians for export to China via official channels must stop at border gates to complete phytosanitary and customs declaration procedures before entering China, said Con.

However, these procedures take a lot of time, leading to the quality of durians being reduced.

As such, the association and provincial department urged the Dak Lak administration to propose the ministry allow the province to conduct these steps at certified packaging facilities for export.

If the proposal is passed, the province will establish a phytosanitary station to make it easier and faster to export durians grown in Dak Lak Province to China, Con said.

He hopes the province will implement the plan as this years durian harvest season comes.

Durians grown in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam are transported to a point of purchase after they are harvested. Photo: The The / Tuoi Tre

Dak Lak Province is home to some 22,500 hectares of land for durian cultivation in 2022, with the annual output of 188,000 metric tons, according to the provinces Sub-Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection.

The province boasts 17 packaging facilities and 49 durian planting areas covering 2,000 hectares provided with official export codes from China.

Dak Lak aims to maintain the durian growing area in the province at over 22,000 hectares in 2025, with an annual output of 225,000 metric tons.

The province is enhancing its efforts to have 20 percent of the total durian cultivation area eligible for official export to China.

The Dak Lak Durian Association has debuted a website, hiephoisauriengdaklak.org.vn, to provide information about durians and accelerate consumption of the fruits in the upcoming harvest season.

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Delays in a flood control project in Ho Chi Minh City which was initially planned to require an estimated investment of VND10 trillion (US$422 million) have caused the cost to increase by over VND3 trillion ($126.5 million), including VND1.5 trillion ($63.3 million) of loan interest by the end of May.

The loan interest is increasing VND1.46 billion ($61.6 million) per day.

The city aimed at putting the first phase of the tidal flood prevention project with the impact of climate change taken into account into operation in 2018, but it remains incomplete.

The municipal Department of Planning and Investment has teamed up with other relevant agencies to remove bottlenecks plaguing the project, developed by Trung Nam Construction Investment Corporation.

The project, including six floodgates and a 7.8-kilometer embankment along the Saigon River, is aimed at solving tidal flooding affecting an area of 570 square kilometers with about 6.5 million people along the riverbank and in the downtown area.

The project is around 90 percent complete but the investor has halted work on it since November 15, 2020 due to a shortage of capital.

Under the build-transfer contract for the project signed between the investor and the municipal Peoples Committee, the project was supposed to be completed within 36 months from June 26, 2016.

The investor borrowed loans from the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the Ho Chi Minh City administration offered guarantees for the lending. The State of Vietnam recapitalized BIDV.

However, the central bank recovered the amount recapitalized to BIDV in December 2020, causing many difficulties for the investor.

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has weighed using some land lots to make payments to the investor but the investor has yet to complete the project and has put it on hold, so the city has yet to make such payments.

As a result, the investor has no capital to pay back loans and resume work on the project.

BIDV has recently required the city to make payments to Trung Nam so that the company can pay loans and interest.

The city and Trung Nam should adjust the total investment in the project and clarify the progress and payment schedules as well, the bank requested.

In a proposal sent to the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Council, Vu Dinh Tan, director of Trung Nam, said it would take at least six months to meet the requirements of BIDV, which would extend the completion of the project.

In other words, the company cannot put the project into use at the end of this year.

Therefore, it proposed the city mobilize capital from Ho Chi Minh City Finance and Investment State-Owned Company and other resources.

A section of Tran Xuan Soan Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is regularly flooded due to high tides. The municipal Department of Construction says the $422-million anti-flooding project will help tackle floods on the street. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Local residents pinned high hopes on the big-ticket anti-flooding project, but it remains incomplete after seven years, causing a huge waste of the citys budget and failing to benefit local residents, according to Dr. Pham Viet Thuan, head of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Economics.

The city has hold organizations and individuals involved in the delays in the project accountable. With the current progress, its hard to complete the project in November 2023," Dr. Thuan said.

To remove difficulties, a report assessing resources, finance, and especially techniques [for the project] is needed."

Lawyer Nguyen Huu The Trach from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the investor must assume the main responsibility for the project management and execution, resulting in the cost overruns.

The investor should be held accountable for failing to fulfill its commitments and articles in the contract with the city when the project is suspended or delayed.

It may be subject to financial consequences of the delays, including paying the loan interest.

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee is responsible for supervising and managing the project to prevent delays.

If the city fails to fulfill its jobs, it may also bear responsibility for financial issues at the project, the lawyer added.

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(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden's campaign raised nearly $20 million, but a report claims that a billionaire backing his re-election was linked to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

President Joe Biden's campaign committee raised $19.9 million from April to June, which is less than he raised four years ago when he was one of more than a dozen candidates in an open primary, though his political operation claims it raised an additional $52 million for Democratic Party groups.

Biden's campaign released a statement highlighting its recent fundraising successes and criticizing Republican candidates for their "embarrassing lack of enthusiasm" for their campaigns.

Biden's Campaign Fundraising

Biden's campaign statistics include the support of the Democratic National Committee, an advantage neither Republican candidates nor the two long-shot Democratic candidates possess.

Marianne Williamson, a Democratic candidate, raised over $920,000 in the most recent quarter. This past quarter, Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised $6,300,000, as per The Hill.

The fundraising report demonstrates that Biden and his team have not yet embarked on the 2024 campaign trail and are relying on the Democratic National Committee as the early staging ground for their efforts next year.

Only four individuals were on the campaign's personnel: campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks, spokesperson Kevin Munoz, and general counsel Jennifer Maury Riggan.

Biden's campaign, the DNC, and a joint fundraising effort that includes every state Democratic Party organization in the country announced on Friday that they raised $72 million during the second quarter.

Still, the campaign needed to explain how the various organizations distributed the funds. The nearly $20 million contributed directly to the campaign positions Biden slightly ahead of what former President Donald Trump raised into his campaign committee during the same period but behind what Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis raised in less time as a declared candidate.

It is also a few million dollars less than the amount Biden raised in the second quarter of 2019 when he raised $22 million in a congested race for the Democratic presidential nomination. And it's a far cry from the $46 million President Barack Obama's re-election campaign raised in the same quarter twelve years ago, NBC NEws reported.

Since 2019, however, circumstances have changed. Biden, the leader of the Democratic Party, is collaborating closely with the Democratic National Committee to raise funds for his campaign and the party.

And the funds raised by the national party and the 51 state and territorial Democratic Party committees with which he is fundraising will help fund his 2024 efforts across the country and those of other Democrats on the party's ballot.

Read Also: Putin Threatens To Hit Back With Cluster Bombs as Forces Still Possess 'Sufficient Stockpile'

Billionaire Linked to Jeffrey Epstein Backs Biden Re-Election Bid

Meanwhile, a joint fundraising committee authorized by the Biden campaign has received a six-figure contribution from a tech magnate who, in 2014, visited a private island of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, contributed $699,600 to the Biden Victory Fund on April 26, according to records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

According to Fox News, the donation occurred precisely one week before the Wall Street Journal's report that Hoffman visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands at least once in 2014.

According to the report, Hoffman and Epstein intended to return to the island in November 2014 before traveling to Boston. It is still being determined what the purpose of these planned travels was.

Hoffman intended to stay at Epstein's luxurious Manhattan townhouse in December 2014 after arriving late in New York City. Biden attended a fundraiser hosted by Hoffman on behalf of the super PAC at the private residence of Shannon Hunt-Scott and Kevin Scott in Los Gatos, California, last month.

According to FEC records, Biden has benefited from Hoffman's extravagant spending on campaign contributions. Hoffman contributed $1.5 million to a super PAC that supported Biden in the 2020 election and the maximum individual contribution permitted to Biden's campaign.

Such expenditures can result in certain advantages, such as access. The White House visitor records indicate that Hoffman visited the White House five times in the past year. One of the visits was for the state banquet with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The other four trips were for meetings with Madeline Strasser, who advised then-White House chief of staff Ron Klain, Kimberly Lang, who was executive assistant to Biden's national security adviser, and Jordan Finkelstein, who was special assistant to Biden and chief of staff to the president's senior adviser.

Related Article: US Defends Decision To Send Cluster Munition to Ukraine; EU Reveals $545 Million Support Agreement for Kyiv

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Security officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City have detected a gun and multiple live rounds in a package and carry-on luggage during separate screenings.

Security personnel at the domestic terminal of the airport found a suspicious package at 19:42 pm on Sunday, thereby working with relevant units and the owner of the bag to examine it.

The parcel was discovered to contain a black gun and 10 bullets.

IQ Logistics JSC sent the package on Hanoi-bound flight VN220, which was scheduled for take-off at 8:00 pm on the same day.

The firm failed to show valid papers for the gun and bullets.

The case was transferred to police in Ward 2, Tan Binh District for investigation.

On Saturday night, security officers detected a bullet in a 36-year-old passengers carry-on luggage at the checkpoint of the domestic terminal.

The passenger, named Luu Quang D., was set to board flight VJ284 heading for Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam.

The bullet, which still had explosive material, was identified as a type used for AK-47 rifles.

During the examination period, the passenger failed to show any valid paper related to the bullet, so security officers cooperated with the Southern Airports Authority to book D. for the violation and handed the case over to police.

Security officers at local airports have frequently detected guns and bullets sent by air. Guns have been found being disassembled into pieces and placed in packages for air transport.

In mid-April, security officers at Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city discovered a package containing a gun and 10 bullets. The package was set to arrive in Hanoi.

Another case was reported at Da Lat Airport on March 14. Security officers found parts of a homemade gun and two bullets in a package at the airport.

On July 8, security officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport found a package sent by a postal service provider containing a Claymore mine housing.

On July 5, a checked bag owned by a foreign passenger was discovered containing six plastic bullet casings at the Ho Chi Minh City-based airport during screening. The passenger was set to fly to Phu Yen Province in south-central Vietnam.

As per Vietnams prevailing regulations, firearms and explosive materials are banned from being brought onto aircraft.

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Typhoon Talim in the East Vietnam Sea will pass through Chinas Leizhou Island on Tuesday morning before making landfall in the area from Quang Ninh to Thai Binh Provinces in northern Vietnam later the same day, according to the forecast from the central weather agency.

The typhoon, the first storm in the waters this year, was located 290km east and southeast of Leizhou at 7:00 am Monday, packing winds of up to 133km per hour and squalls reaching 183km per hour, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

At 4:00 am on Tuesday, the typhoon will be centered in the eastern part of Leizhou, around 190km east of Vietnams northern Hai Phong City, with maximum wind speeds of 166km per hour.

The storm will then move west and northwest to enter the Gulf of Tonkin at 15-20km per hour and gradually weaken on its way.

The storm eye will form off the coastal area of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh Provinces at around 4:00 pm on Tuesday, with winds down to 133km per hour at most.

The storm will make landfall in the northern area between Quang Ninh and Thai Binh Provinces later on the same day, before downgrading into a tropical depression and then a low-pressure area.

Due to the effects of the typhoon, the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea will have very rough seas with winds of 133km per hour and gusts of up to 183km per hour from Monday afternoon.

On the early morning of Tuesday, the northern coastal area from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh Province will have the strongest winds of 102km per hour and squalls amounting to 149km per hour.

Swells of up to 3-5 meters in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin and to 2-4 meters in the waters of the Quang Ninh-Nam Dinh region will be possible.

Flooding and landslides may occur in low-lying areas in the seashore as well as sea and river mouths, the center warned.

From Monday evening to Thursday, the northern region will see heavy to torrential rains, with precipitation of up to 400 millimeters, even 500 millimeters in some places.

The north-central Thanh Hoa-Nghe An region will be covered by downpours with rainfalls of over 300 millimeters.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, chaired a meeting on Monday morning with relevant agencies and local authorities to discuss and deploy urgent measures in response to the coming typhoon.

Accordingly, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, and Nam Dinh Provinces are expected to ban vessels from operating at sea from 12:00 pm on Monday, and Hai Phong will follow suit from 9:00 pm the same day.

The coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh plan to evacuate nearly 30,000 people.

More than 17,000 tourists remained on some islands off Quang Ninh and Hai Phong as of 6:00 pm on Sunday. They all were notified of the coming typhoon and began to be transported to the mainland. For those who want to continue staying on the islands, local authorities will take necessary measures to ensure their safety, Pham Duc Luan, chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, told the meeting.

As of 6:00 am on Monday, about 52,000 ships operating at sea, with 226,000 people on board, have been informed of the latest movements of the typhoon to take timely safety measures, the Border Guard Command reported.

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National carrier Vietnam Airlines made adjustments to its international flight schedule on Monday in response to the anticipated arrival of Typhoon Talim, the first storm forecast to impact Vietnam this year.

The departure of flights VN592 and VN593 connecting Hanoi and Hong Kong, as well as flights VN594 and VN595 between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong, scheduled for Monday, have been subjected to a seven-hour delay.

Flight VN430 from Da Nang, central Vietnam and bound for Seoul, South Korea is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport 45 minutes behind schedule, while the departure time from Da Nang remains unchanged.

Flight VN318 traveling from Da Nang to Tokyo, Japan is anticipated to arrive at Narita Airport 25 minutes late, while the departure time from Da Nang remains unaffected.

Additionally, there is a possibility of other flights being affected by the adjustments to the operational schedule.

The carrier will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates on any additional changes to the flight schedule.

As of 1:00 pm on Monday (Vietnam time), Typhoon Talim was centered about 280 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong, according to the South China Morning Post.

Based on the weather forecast issued by Vietnams National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has identified Van Don and Cat Bi International Airports, located in Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City, as those likely to be impacted by gusty and strong winds and thunderstorms.

Additionally, Noi Bai International Airprort in Hanoi and Tho Xuan Airport in north-central Thanh Hoa Province are expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds resulting from the storm circulation.

As the storms center is forecast to be over the Gulf of Tonkin on Tuesday morning, Cat Bi and Van Don airports were not directly impacted by the storm on Monday.

By noon on Monday, airlines had not yet provided any information regarding changes to flight schedules to and from those two airports.

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An aircraft operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines made an emergency landing in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Sunday during the flight from Britain to Vietnam as a passenger was ill and needed emergency treatment.

Flight VN50 leaving Heathrow Airport in Britain at 5:00 am (British time) on Saturday for Ho Chi Minh City landed unexpectedly at Dubai International Airport seven hours after taking off, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

After discovering a passenger, a 36-year-old French national, suffering shortness of breath, the flight crew of the plane called on a volunteer doctor on board to examine the health of the passenger.

However, the passengers health condition did not improve, so the captain and the crew decided to land at the nearest airport.

The plane arrived at the Dubai airport at 8:55 am on Sunday (UAE time) so that the ill passenger could receive emergency treatment.

After the passenger was taken to an emergency room, the plane was filled up with jet fuel and continued on its journey to Ho Chi Minh City.

The aircraft landed safely at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 5:43 pm on the same day, five hours and 13 minutes later than scheduled.

The passengers health condition is now stable.

This is not the first time that Vietnam Airlines has changed its flight schedules to save ill passengers.

The airline has either delayed its planes or allowed aircraft to make emergency landings due to passengers weak health conditions many times.

Landing unexpectedly to ensure the safety of passengers is a need. This action requires a timely decision from flight crews and an airline. Though changes in flight schedules cost a fortune and take much time, the safety of passengers is put at first at Vietnam Airlines, said a Vietnam Airlines representative.

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The Hanoi Peoples Court on Monday morning suspended a trial for 54 defendants, who are currently facing charges of bribery in relation to repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, for two hours so that the defendants could provide proof of their efforts to ease the consequences of their violations before the municipal Peoples Procuracy proposes sentences against them.

According to the court, updates on defendants acts to ease the consequences of their violations would help procurators suggest appropriate sentences.

The Peoples Court of Hanoi launched the first-instance trial of 54 defendants on Tuesday last week and expected to finish it in a month.

Of the defendants, 21 are accused of taking bribes, while 23 are charged with giving bribes, four with brokering bribery, and four others with abusing positions and powers while on duty.

One defendant is being prosecuted for committing fraud for property appropriation and the other is accused of committing fraud for property appropriation and giving bribes, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The total amount of bribery money in this case reached US$9.5 million, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

That included about $2.65 million given to police officials to avoid prosecution.

During the four first days of the trial, defendants who are ex-officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Government Office, and the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security admitted that they took bribes worth billions to tens of billions of Vietnamese dong each from enterprises to approve repatriation flights. (VND1 billion = $42,251)

However, most of them denied that they had forced or suggested enterprises to give bribes, adding that they only received money as thank-you gifts after having arranged such repatriation flights.

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung (in a checked shirt) is taken to the court in Hanoi. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

The most high-ranking ex-official facing charges in this case is former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung, who stands trial for taking bribes.

He repeatedly affirmed that he neither caused difficulties nor forced enterprises to give him money before approving repatriation flights.

However, he admitted to having received VND21.5 billion ($908,516), reasoning that at the time, he was not aware that receiving bribes was against the law.

Pham Trung Kien (C, first row), former secretary of a deputy minister of health, in the courtroom. Photo: Nam Anh / Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, Pham Trung Kien, former secretary of a deputy minister of health, was charged with abusing his power while on duty, taking 253 bribes at a total value of over VND42.6 billion ($1.8 million) from individuals and enterprises.

He rejected the testimonies of relevant firms that he forced them to give bribes.

I did not ask any firm to give money to be granted a certificate for rescue flights. Instead, they contacted me for help, he claimed.

On the other hand, many defendants who are owners of enterprises declared that former officials told them to give money or caused difficulties to force them to bribe, at hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong per rescue flight. (VND100 million = $4,222)

Vu Minh Thang, director of Hanoi-based Thuan An Company, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department rejected his companys applications for a rescue flight license eight times.

His company got the license in the ninth application after he gave VND600 million ($25,338) to Nguyen Thi Huong Lan, former director of the department.

He later received phone calls from Kien and Vu Anh Tuan, former officer of the Ministry of Public Securitys Immigration Department, who told him to spend VND150-200 million ($6,334-8,446) per repatriation flight.

Dao Minh Duong, chairman of Hai Phong City-headquartered Vijasun JSC, affirmed that he witnessed Kien shouting at an enterprise's representatives and requesting them to pay VND150 million ($6,334) per rescue flight in a meeting hall of the Ministry of Health.

Duong added that during that time, Kien called him at 8:30 pm every day to urge him to transfer money.

Hoang Van Hung, an ex-investigator from the Ministry of Public Security, is taken to the court in Hanoi. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Many ex-officials were also accused of taking bribes to help enterprises avoid investigation.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, former deputy director of the Hanoi Police, said he received money from Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, former deputy general director of Blue Sky Trading, Services and Tourism Company in Hanoi, and shared it with Hoang Van Hung, an ex-investigator from the Ministry of Public Security, to help Le Hong Son, former general director of Blue Sky, who was arrested earlier for giving bribes.

Tuan said he gave Hung hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars after each meeting with Hang.

Hung told Tuan to prepare $450,000, including $350,000 for the procuracy and $100,000 for other officials, then divide the money into two bags and put them in a Samsonite attache case, Tuan added.

Tuan later asked his subordinate to hand over the case to Hung.

According to the indictment, Tuan declared he had kept $400,000 and transferred a total of $2.25 million to Hung.

Meanwhile, Hung denied the accusation, saying that he would plead guilty if the procuracy gives a piece of evidence.

He said he met Hang at Tuans house but did not discuss how to save Son. He claimed innocence.

Hung admitted to receiving the Samsonite case but it contained four wine bottles, not cash.

Tuan is charged with brokering bribery, while Hung is accused of appropriating assets.

According to the indictment, in early 2020, Vietnam started closing itself off to the world in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The country organized nearly 2,000 flights during the COVID-19 pandemic to repatriate more than 200,000 Vietnamese nationals from 60 countries and territories, as commercial flights were not available during the period, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

During the process of licensing the flights and approving the quarantine plans in localities from September 2020 to December 2022, a number of officials from ministries and sectors as well as individuals from businesses, along with other people, committed law violations.

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There is no record of Kentuckys Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, using his key fob or any other kind of security card to get into the state Capitol building for the last three years, and his office is repeatedly refusing to say why.

What? HuffPost is on the case.

The facts: A series of open records requests for Camerons key fob and security card logs at the Capitol building came back blank. The blank pages span all the way back to January 2020, which was the last time Cameron was registered using his key fob to enter the building.

The Kentucky state office that processes open records requests, the Finance and Administration Cabinet, specifies in a letter accompanying the records that nothing has been withheld or redacted. As in, the blank pages are blank because there are no records.

Heres a screenshot of the letter saying nothing was left out of the records.

"No documents were withheld or redacted."

And heres a screenshot of one batch of Camerons key fob records, from May 2022 to May 2023. HuffPost obtained copies of all of these records.

Nope, nothing there.

Nope, nothing there.

Camerons office is in the Capitol building. In fact, all three branches of Kentuckys state government are in that one building in Frankfort. There is another satellite office in Frankfort for the attorney general that hes not necessarily expected to go into.

An open records request for key fob records for that office, from September 2022 through March 2023, resulted in a 4,195-page report showing lots of staff members going in. But no Cameron.

The attorney general has definitely been in the state Capitol at least a handful of times since he was sworn in in December 2019. HuffPost searched Associated Press and Reuters photo databases for images of Cameron inside the building. A few turned up.

Heres one of the attorney general in January 2020, delivering some paperwork to the secretary of states office in the Capitol building.

Yep, in the Capitol building.

Yep, in the Capitol building.

Heres one from November 2022, when Cameron paid his respects to former Kentucky Gov. John Brown as he lay in state in the Capitol rotunda.

Here's Cameron in the Kentucky State Capitol rotunda.

Here's Cameron in the Kentucky State Capitol rotunda.

And heres one of Cameron sitting in his Capitol office in August 2021, taking part in an interview.

Cameron is even in his office in this shot.

Cameron is even in his office in this shot.

There are several possible explanations for why there is no record of Cameron, who is currently running for governor, passing through security to go into his office.

One is that someone else has been swiping him in with their key fob every single time, like a staffer or a security officer. Another possibility is that Cameron has been entering the Capitol somewhere less secure, where his fob card isnt needed. Still another possibility is that hes working out of one of the five other attorney general field offices scattered around the state.

And of course, its possible the attorney general isnt going in to work much at all.

HuffPost reached out to the Kentucky State Police, which provides security at the Capitol, to ask about security protocols for elected officials entering the building. HuffPost also reached out to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, which provides Capitol media credentials, with questions about security and access. Neither responded.

It only adds to the mystery of Camerons whereabouts that he has a reputation for trying to keep public information private. Amye Bensenhaver, a retired state assistant attorney general who wrote open records and open meetings decisions in the Kentucky attorney generals office for 25 years, wrote a recent op-ed laying out what she describes as Camerons disdain for the principles of open government.

The weirdest part of all of this, though  and the only reason were writing this story at all  is that Camerons office has repeatedly refused to explain what the deal is.

In a series of email exchanges over the last few weeks, Camerons aides insisted that the attorney general has been coming in to work and that theres nothing weird about there being no record of him entering the building for years.

This is not correct, Atley Smedley, Camerons deputy communications director, said of the idea that the attorney general is not going into his office. Attorney General Cameron has regularly come to his office since he assumed the position of Attorney General in December 2019.

Smedley did not respond to a follow-up email asking why the attorney generals key fob logs are all blank if hes been coming into his office. When HuffPost followed up again, asking the same question, Camerons communications director Shellie May responded.

She dodged the question and said the attorney general works hard.

Attorney General Cameron works tirelessly advocating for the men, women, and children of all 120 Kentucky counties, May said. The records do not accurately reflect the comings and goings of General Cameron or any elected official, nor can any conclusions be drawn from them.

HuffPost followed up again, last week, and shared still more public records showing that Cameron had been using his fob key to enter the Capitol between May 2019 and January 2020  eleven times in total.

Asked what changed with Camerons entry into the Capitol after January 2020, a Cameron aide requesting to be referred to only as a spokesperson for the office had this to say:

What makes it clear that Daniel Cameron has been on the job working for Kentuckians, among other things, is the fact that he has sued the Biden Administration dozens of times to stop its misguided policies. And he has stopped the Beshear Administration from violating the rights of Kentuckians on multiple occasions. The key fob records do not accurately reflect the comings and goings of General Cameron or any elected official, nor can any conclusions be drawn from them.

So, still no explanation.

HuffPost tried one last time on Tuesday to give Camerons office a chance to explain why theres no record of him using his fob key to enter the Capitol for three years when there used to be a record of him doing so. No response.

Here is Cameron at an election night watch party after winning the Republican primary for governor in May 2023 in Louisville. This is not in the state Capitol.

Here is Cameron at an election night watch party after winning the Republican primary for governor in May 2023 in Louisville. This is not in the state Capitol.

There are no specific rules for how often a state attorney general has to go into the office. Cameron is certainly the public face of the office, and can lean on dozens of employees to carry out office business while he may be out in the community or working remotely.

During the legislative session, though, it makes much more sense that Cameron would be in the Capitol.

Bensenhaver, who served under six previous Kentucky state attorneys general, told HuffPost on Monday that her guess is that Cameron is simply being swiped into the Capitol by his security detail or by a state trooper on the scene. She was puzzled by the self-incriminating responses from the attorney generals office.

Im surprised they would be so obtuse about this. All they have to do is explain to you that the attorney general, as a matter of practice, does not sign himself in. Thats a better explanation than there is no record, said Bensenhaver, who is also the co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. Theyre really shooting themselves in the foot by obfuscating if hes there. We have to assume he comes in and out of the Capitol.

Hed better be there, she added.

If you have photographic evidence of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron using a fob key or any other kind of security card to get into the state Capitol, please contact the local authorities us. Anonymity guaranteed.
It's possible to achieve returns close to the market-weighted average return by buying an index fund. A talented investor can beat the market with a diversified portfolio, but even then, some stocks will under-perform. While the Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad (KLSE:PERSTIM) share price is down 11% over half a decade, the total return to shareholders (which includes dividends) was 13%. That's better than the market which declined 0.8% over the same time. Furthermore, it's down 10% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

View our latest analysis for Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

While the share price declined over five years, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 6.8% per year. So it doesn't seem like EPS is a great guide to understanding how the market is valuing the stock. Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS.

It is unusual to see such modest share price growth in the face of sustained EPS improvements. We can look to other metrics to try to understand the situation better.

Revenue is actually up 12% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad's TSR for the last 5 years was 13%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad provided a TSR of 7.5% over the year (including dividends). That's fairly close to the broader market return. That gain looks pretty satisfying, and it is even better than the five-year TSR of 2% per year. Even if the share price growth slows down from here, there's a good chance that this is business worth watching in the long term. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad that you should be aware of.

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 Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group is suing the Malaysian government for seizing rainbow-colored watches that honor LGBT rights. The business claims that this action has hurt its reputation.

Although homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia, which has a mainly Muslim population, rights organizations have expressed concern about the growing intolerance of the LGBT community there.

Illegal Seizure of Over 100 Swatch Watches

(Photo : by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND- AUGUST 16: A large group of people gather outside the Swatch store as a new supply of the Omega/Swatch "Moonswatch" goes on sale on August 16, 2022 in London, England.

The presence of the letters "LGBTQ" on the timepieces led Malaysian officials to seize watches from Swatch's "Pride collection" in May, according to the home minister.

According to court records, representatives of the Home Ministry "illegally" took 172 watches from 16 retailers, as reported by Reuters. The case was revealed for the first time on Monday by the Malay Mail, a Malaysian news website. It was filed on June 24 at the Kuala Lumpur high court.

According to the seizure letters given to Swatch, the watches may have violated Malaysian legislation by featuring or endorsing LGBTQ rights. Most of the seized timepieces, which have a combined retail value of 64,795 ringgit ($14,250.05), were devoid of 'LGBTQ' writing, according to Swatch.

Swatch claims that the seizures have "greatly jeopardized" its ability to conduct business in the nation and is requesting compensation and the restoration of the watches. The Kuala Lumpur high court will hear the matter on July 20.

Read Also: Target Pulls LGBTQ Products Amid Threats to Employees' Well-Being

Homosexuality in Malaysia

In Malaysia, homosexuality has resulted in imprisonment or caning. At a Halloween celebration that the LGBT community attended the year before, 18 people were imprisoned. Before significant provincial elections that will pit Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's progressive coalition against a predominantly conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance, the seizure and lawsuit were filed.

Anwar has once more come under fire from detractors in the lead-up to the polls for not doing more to defend Muslims' rights in Malaysia, a multiracial, multireligious country. Anwar was detained for almost ten years on claims of sodomy and corruption, which he vehemently rejected and claimed were politically driven.

This month, the prime minister has reaffirmed that his administration will defend Islamic beliefs. Additionally, he has stated that his administration will not recognize LGBT rights. Malaysia has a long history of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under the Penal Code and can be punished by up to 20 years in prison with whipping.

Muslims may also be convicted in a court under Sharia law, which can impose even harsher penalties, including death. No laws in Malaysia protect LGBT people from discrimination or hate crimes. The government has taken steps to marginalize further the LGBT community, such as banning same-sex couples from adopting children.

The situation for LGBT people in Malaysia is particularly difficult for transgender people. They are often subjected to violence and discrimination, and they face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, education, and employment.

In recent years, some efforts have been made to improve the rights of LGBT people in Malaysia. In 2021, the Federal Court struck down a state law banning consensual same-sex conduct. However, this ruling did not affect the federal law criminalizing same-sex sexual activity, and LGBT people continue to face widespread discrimination and violence.

The government of Malaysia has a long way to go to ensure the rights of LGBT people. Until then, LGBT people in Malaysia will live in fear and uncertainty.

Related Article: India Opposes Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Wildfires spread during the hottest days of the year in Spain, Italy and Greece

Wildfires are spreading in the Mediterranean as temperatures continue to rise due to the current heat wave. Some homes have been burned down.

In Greece, strong winds are hampering the work of firefighters, who have had to attend to multiple fronts south, east and west of Athens.

Three towns and a summer camp with more than 900 children have been evacuated. Police have arrested a man suspected of arson.

The first blaze started in Kouvaras, 50 kilometres southeast of Athens.

Greece, along with Italy and Spain, has been gripped by a heatwave since last week, with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in the centre of the country.

A man tries to extinguish the fire with a hose near Loutraki 80 Kilometres west of Athens, Monday, July 17, 2023. - AP Photo

In Spain, the fire that broke out on Saturday on the island of La Palma is gradually weakening, although it still has several active fronts. Authorities estimate that some 3,500 hectares and 20 buildings have been burnt.

Most of the 4,000 people who were evacuated on Saturday have already returned to their homes.

The heat wave and the risk of fires have also reached Italy, where thermometers could comfortably exceed 40 degrees these days.

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. The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running Sunday during the hottest hours.

A man holds an umbrella as he and other tourists enters the ancient Acropolis hill during a heat wave, in Athens, Greece, Thursday, July 13, 2023. - AP Photo

Police are investigating the origin of the fire that broke out Sunday night at Catania airport. Authorities have suspended all flights until Wednesday.
By Fanny Potkin, Sam Nussey and Supantha Mukherjee

SINGAPORE/TOKYO/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The European Union is lobbying Asian countries to follow its lead on artificial intelligence in adopting new rules for tech firms that include disclosure of copyrighted and AI-generated content, according to senior officials from the EU and Asia.

The EU and its member states have dispatched officials for talks on governing the use of AI with at least 10 Asian countries including India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines, they said.

The bloc aims for its proposed AI Act to become a global benchmark on the booming technology the way its data protection laws have helped shape global privacy standards.

However, the effort to convince Asian governments of the need for stringent new rules is being met with a lukewarm reception, seven people close to the discussions told Reuters.

Many countries favour a "wait and see" approach or are leaning towards a more flexible regulatory regime.

The officials asked not be named as the discussions, whose extent has not been previously reported, remained confidential.

Singapore, one of Asia's leading tech centres, prefers to see how the technology evolves before adapting local regulations, an official for the city-state told Reuters. Officials from Singapore and the Philippines expressed concern that moving overly hasty regulation might stifle AI innovation.

As Reuters reported last month, Southeast Asian countries are drawing up voluntary guidelines. Japan, for its part, is leaning towards softer rules than the stringent approach championed by the EU, as it looks to the technology to boost economic growth and make it a leader in advanced chips.

Efforts in Asia are part of a global push by European nations that include talks with countries such as Canada, Turkey and Israel, Dutch digital minister Alexandra van Huffelen told Reuters in an interview.

"We're trying to figure out on how we can make the regulation from the EU copied, applicable and mirrored ... as it is with the GDPR," van Huffelen said late last month, referring to General Data Protection Regulation, the EU's data privacy regime.

The emergence of AI has been hailed as a breakthrough that will usher in an era of rapid advances in science and technology, revolutionizing all aspects of human activity, but also painted as an existential threat.

EU lawmakers in June agreed to a trailblazing set of draft rules, which would make companies such as ChatGPT operator OpenAI disclose AI-generated content, help distinguish so-called deep fake images from real ones and ensure safeguards against illegal content.

The proposed legislation, which also envisages financial fines for rule violations, faces resistance from companies, with 160 executives last month signing a letter warning it could jeopardise Europe's competitiveness, investment and innovation.

Still, officials from the EU, which has signed "digital partnerships" with Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, voice optimism they can find common ground with international partners to advance cooperation on technologies including AI.

"Our mission is again to make sure that what's happening in the EU, which is our large constituency if I may say so, is protected," EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Reuters during a trip to South Korea and Japan to discuss AI and semiconductors.

"I believe that it will be probably not too far from each other because we share the same values," Breton said of regulation of AI in the EU and countries such as Japan.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) economies made of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, the United States and the European Union, in May called for adoption of standards to create "trustworthy" AI and to set up a ministerial forum dubbed the "Hiroshima AI process".

Seoul will continue discussing AI regulation with the EU but is more interested in what the G7 is doing, a South Korean official said following a meeting with Breton.

The EU is planning to use the upcoming G20 meetings to further push for global collaboration on AI, notably with 2023 president India, van Huffelen told Reuters.

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin, Sam Nussey and Supantha Mukherjee; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) - The British government said on Monday it had introduced new sanctions, including against Russian Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov, related to what it describes as Moscow's forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Britain imposed 13 new sanctions designations in response to "Russia's attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity", some of which it said were linked to the forcible relocation of children. They will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

"In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's true intention - to wipe Ukraine from the map," British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement.

"Today's sanctions hold those who prop up Putin's regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased."

Russia's embassy in Britain called the new sanctions "categorically unacceptable and legally null", and said in a statement the people sanctioned included those who had taken part in the rescue of children.

An EU sanctions package last month included those the bloc said were responsible for "the forced transfers and deportation of Ukrainian children and persons responsible for the looting of Ukraine's cultural heritage".

In June 2022, Britain also sanctioned Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children.

Britain says many of the children have been sent to re-education camps, where they are "exposed to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and military education."

Earlier this month Russia said it had brought some 700,000 children from the conflict zones in Ukraine into Russian territory for their own protection.

Ukraine has managed to return some of them but says many are considered illegally deported, without permission from their parents or Ukrainian authorities.

In June, Ukrainian prosecutors charged a Russian politician and two suspected Ukrainian collaborators with war crimes over the alleged deportation of dozens of orphans from the formerly-occupied southern city of Kherson.

Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova was also sanctioned on Monday "for using her position to support the Russian state's damaging anti-Ukrainian policies", Britain said.

Cleverly will chair a session on Ukraine at the UN Security Council in New York later on Monday, where he will highlight the deportation of Ukrainian children, his office said.

(This story has been officially corrected to change the number of sanctions to 13 from 14 in paragraph 2 and remove the line on Anton Krasovsky in paragraph 12)

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, additional reporting by Caleb Davis; editing by William James and Philippa Fletcher)
Feel the breeze on the refreshing waters of Lake Bled (Slovenian Tourist Board)

Blistering heat, soaring temperatures, historic highs: fear-inducing headlines were hard to miss this weekend, as the intensifying heatwave continues to sweep across southern Europe.

New red alerts were issued in sixteen cities in Italy and forecasters say that Sicily and Sardinia could face a record-breaking 49C over the coming days, potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe. Whilst some travel chaos is par for the course during peak tourism season, British holidaymakers are now, understandably, reconsidering their travel plans altogether and seeking milder climes.

As classic vacation destinations  including parts of Italy, southern Spain and Greece  continue to be affected by scorching heat and considered a health risk to visit, its now time to look to the unconventional for your last-minute summer break this year. From Oslo to Slovenia  these getaways promise cooler environs, whether through northerly location, higher altitude, reliable breezes or refreshing waters.

The city one: Oslo, Norway

Diving into the Oslo Fjord on a warm day (Visit Oslo)

Cool-factor Even without a heatwave, southern European hubs like Rome or Madrid are sweltering in summer. But the Norwegian capital boasts 22C highs and nature-coddled landscapes that let you cool down in sparkling blue fjords or dense forest. Throw in trendy alfresco dining, new museums and slick architecture, and youve got one cool city break.

See & Do With the city perched on the edge of a fjord, attention turns to the water in summer as locals dive in from the pier at Tjuvholmen or splash in Srenga seawater pool. Active adventurers can head out into forested wilds  many nearby trails snake past lakes up to lush peaks  but save plenty of time for city thrills too. Sleek Scandi design abounds at the new Munch Museet , dedicated to the countrys best-known artist, Edvard Munch, and the recently renovated National Museum .

Eat At SALT , right on the fjord, alfresco street food dining meets the most Nordic of accessories: a sauna. Grab a table overlooking the water and tuck into blush-pink Scandi shrimps doused in lemon or Roman-style pizza.

Stay Set in the former headquarters of the city electric company, steps from the leafy Royal Palace grounds, art deco Sommerro channels The Ned energy with its multiple restaurants and retro-modern furnishings. From 225, sommerrohouse.com

The island one: Madeira, Portugal

Southerly Madeira is cooled by ocean breezes (Visit Madeira / Digital Travel Couple)

Cool-factor Despite a southerly latitude thats similar to Marrakech, the island of Madeira usually maintains highs in the mid-20Cs throughout summer  all thanks to the cooling winds that waft in from the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. The beach-dotted southern coast receives the lions share of heat, so stick to the Jurassic Park-wild north or lush mountainous interior to maximise refreshment.

See & Do Madeira is famed for its hiking, with trails snaking up along historic levada (irrigation channels) deep into the mountains; tackle one on a beautiful balmy morning. Later explore the cooling volcanic caves of Sao Vicente or be tickled by breeze at 580m-high Cabo Girao, the second-highest sea cliff in the world.

Eat You come to Restaurante Sao Cristovao primarily for the view of blue Atlantic expanse, washing up against electric-green north coast peaks. But you stay for the simple fish and meat grills, washed down with icy beers.

Stay Pools dont get cooler than the seawater number at Belmond Reids Palace in Funchal, set among cliffs and kissed by Atlantic Ocean spray. The grand dame hotel itself is no less impressive, an opulent pink-hued pile with elegant terrace dining and rooms draped in romantic floral fabrics. From 360, belmond.com

The beachy one: Palanga, Lithuania

Turns out Lithuania has brilliant beaches - that arent too hot, either (Andrius Aleksandravicius / Lithuania Travel)

Cool-factor Want a beach break minus the 40-something-Celsius sizzle? Boasting soft golden sands and blue waters, Palanga could be Mediterranean Spain  but this is Lithuania, in the comparatively bracing Baltics. Days on the 18km-long sandy banks are spent dipping in the refreshing waves, and kicking back in sun-and-cloud climes sitting comfortably in the low-to-mid-20Cs.

See & Do Youre here for the beach, of course, so spread your towel on the central stretch by the pier to enjoy the local buzz (or further to the north or south if you prefer quiet). Once youve had your fill of lazing around, explore Unesco-listed Curonian Spit National Park  home to dunes, myriad birds and lighthouses  on a guided tour. Or visit the Amber Museum , detailing the history and culture around this precious gemstone, found locally in abundance.

Eat Who doesnt love Champagne and seafood? Sunset dinners at Selfish , on Palangas pine-backed sandbanks, come with oyster platters, tuna tataki and as much fizz as you can handle  all a two-minute stroll from the surf.

Stay Kick into full R&R mode at Palanga Life Balance Spa Hotel, where soothing mineral waters (balneotherapy) and muscle-melting massage meet an Italian restaurant. Youre about as close to the beach as it gets, too. From 158, palangahotel.lt

The mountain one: Saas-Fee, Switzerland

In lush summer Saas-Fee is a hikers dream (Waldhotel Fletschhorn)

Cool-factor While many people save the Alps for winter, visit in summer and youll get a verdant wonderland and 20C climes perfect for active pursuits. Swiss village Saas-Fee is car-free and unspoilt, with Heidi-esque wooden builds and furry roaming marmots; the most picturesque of bases for exploring.

See & Do With more than a dozen 4,000m peaks surrounding Saas-Fee, theres no end to the mountain adventure here. Expect hiking and bouldering, biking and glacier excursions. Cable car rides lend sweeping views over the epic nearby surrounds; canyoning plunges you deep between stony ridges. Twenty kilometers of groomed piste even welcome experienced skiers through July and August.

Eat Go for the full chalet atmosphere at Gletschergrotte , which has juicy burgers and apple strudel to tempt you into its wood-lined interior. Or better yet grab a seat on its sunny terrace, lined with blooms and gazing to snow-dusted peaks.

Stay Tucked into pine woods on a mountain slope overlapping the Mischabel peaks, Waldhotel Fletschhorn puts nature immersion first, with forest-bathing sessions and e-biking through the wilds. Not that youll be roughing it; theres also a Michelin-starred restaurant and a spa serving up Swedish massage. From 168, fletschhorn.ch

The on-board one: Kornati Islands, Croatia

All the cool blues - and lots of seaside breeze - yachting in Croatia (Aleksandar Gospic / Croatian National Tourist Board www.croatia.hr)

Cool-factor Sure, Croatia is southern Europe and yes, temperatures are currently very sultry. But things cool down remarkably when you trade land for a holiday aboard a yacht  and the chic index goes up tenfold too. Corral a bunch of your best (ship)mates and set off for a week of island hopping in the enchanting Kornati archipelago, fuelled by impromptu sea dips and bottomless bottles of rose. Ahoy!

See & Do With over 100 islands ringed in luminous crystalline waters, its little wonder much of the Kornati archipelago is officially a national park. The best (not to mention the coolest) way to see them is via your own yacht charter, letting you explore hidden inlets, humble fishing ports and salt lakes on islands like Levrnaka and Telascica. Having your own boat spells not just the wind in your hair but the freedom to stop as you please for a cool-down, snorkelling in the shallows or swimming in narrow straits.

Eat In the town of Kornati next to a row of bobbing boats, simple taverna Konoba Ante Vrulje dishes up crowd-pleasing seafood on umbrella-shaded tables.

Stay Helm has catamaran and cruiser hires in Croatia sleeping four to six people from 2,500 per week excluding skipper. A skipper costs an additional 1,080. helm.yt

The lakes one: Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled is a cool waterside break sans-sizzling climes (Slovenian Tourist Board)

Cool-factor While verdant Slovenia is seeing an uptick in temperatures right now, the pleasant waters of Lake Bled still allow for a chilled-out blue-sky break. On the whole, youll still find cooler climes here than in much of nearby Italy, and plenty of lush natural wonder to escape into too.

See & Do Take to the waters in a traditional wooden row boat, gliding along the luminous blue waters; hotels rent them out by the hour. Stop off at Bled Island, where the Church of the Mother of God awaits with its postcard-gracing bell tower and an epic 99-step staircase. Time for a dip? Check out one of a number of dedicated lake lidos, such as Grajsko kopalisAe.

Eat Pair lakeside locale with Michelin-standard dining at Julijana , which alongside local-sourced meats and lake fish serves up decadent pastry-topped squares of the regions signature Bled cream cake.
Conservative MP and chair of the defence select committee Tobias Ellwood (Dominic Lipinski/ PA) (PA Archive)

Britain should reopen its embassy in Afghanistan and restore talks with the Taliban to avoid a fresh wave of terrorism, a senior Tory MP has claimed.

Tobias Ellwood said said he is far from being a Taliban appeaser and said 20 years ago his brother was killed by Islamic extremists.

But Mr Ellwood, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said that during a recent trip to Afghanistan, he witnessed unreported compromises the war-exhausted nation is currently willing to accept.

Mr Ellwood said he saw improved security, free travel and the disappearance of widespread corruption, adding the black market opium trade is seemingly gone.

If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration.

Tobias Ellwood

Writing in The Telegraph, he said: This war-torn nation has not experienced relative peace like this since the 1970s.

This, to put it mildly, was not what I was expecting.

After a dozen visits to the country urging Nato and the UN to do exactly what the Taliban have now achieved, I had to grapple with the harsh reality of the Wests strategic missteps.

The MP for Bournemouth East said it is time for Britain to rethink and re-engage with Afghanistan and the Taliban.

He said: The first step is reopening our embassy.

The second is to get real. Afghanistans future could be war again or life as a Chinese vassal.

Nato left Afghanistan nearly two years ago, which saw the Taliban take back power in the country.

The Taliban brought back bans on education for girls and laws stopping women from going to work.

The Taliban also banned womens beauty salons, adding on laws that prevent women from being in public spaces like parks and gyms.

Mr Elwood said: The British Embassy is closed for political rather than security reasons.

Of course, this boycott endures because of the Talibans regressive laws against womens education and employment.

If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration.

A more pragmatic strategy is needed. The Talibans restrictions on womens rights may well serve as a negotiation tool for shared understanding. But such a possibility will remain unknown until we wake up.

Asked about the calls on Sky News, Mr Ellwood said we really do need to re-engage with the Taliban. Otherwise, this frail country, the economy is still on edge, they need Western international support and we can not do that from shouting from afar, he said.

The MP added that sufficient support could stave off another cycle of terrorism and levels of instability that would lead to huge mass migration.
It will also cover tutoring, peer mentorship opportunities, and assistance with teacher certification exams.

"Many of our RISE and ATP students are first-generation college students. This funding will help us offer more holistic support," Hardee said. "Social supports such as field trips help build connections among students and academic supports ensure their success."

The UNG Foundation will also provide some funding to allow UNG to hire a part-time employee to serve as a RISE and ATP liaison with the school systems who can offer more extensive support for the future educators, particularly in helping participants navigate their roles as both paraprofessionals and college students.

Twelve RISE and ATP participants graduated in spring 2022, the most to complete UNG degree programs at one time since they were begun. In total, 25 participants have graduated from the programs.

Dr. Lauren Johnson, the College of Education assistant dean who along with Hardee has guided the programs since their inception, sees this grant funding as a great investment.

"I hope that this motivates other school districts to partner with us and other institutions to develop programs like this. These programs are mutually beneficial," Johnson said. "This funding supports students who want to become teachers in their own communities. Their impact is way more powerful than we can say right now."

Most of all, she is thankful for the message it sends to RISE and ATP students.

"These students are gems. They are amazing students. They are superstars," Johnson said. "Many of them work one or more part-time jobs while in school. They deserve all the opportunities for success that are available."

Ashley Espinoza, a graduate from Gainesville, Georgia, completed her degree in May 2023 in middle grades education with concentrations in science and social studies. Espinoza expressed gratitude that she would graduate debt-free. She also participated in UNG's teacher residency program at West Hall Middle School for 2022-23, serving as a teacher of record and earning half the teacher salary. She will teach seventh-grade science at the school starting in the fall. Espinoza said the professional development supported by the grant is invaluable.

"We can lean on one another, learn through hands-on experience with an in-field job while in school, and have the support of the school district and our professors to ensure our success to graduation and when we enter the teacher profession," Espinoza said.

The Georgia Power Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is the third-largest corporate giving foundation in Georgia. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that are enriching communities across the state and is part of Georgia Power's philanthropic focus to empower Education, Environmental Stewardship and Communities. Through the Teachers for Georgia program, the Foundation has awarded 13 scholarship endowment grants to 10 colleges and universities across the state. Educational partnerships with Call Me MISTER, Profound Gentlemen and Relay Graduate School of Atlanta are also part of the portfolio.
As nations race to prepare their forces after Russia invades Ukraine, Army Chief Alfons Mais of Germany said that his country is certain it would have the best-equipped army division among European NATO partners by 2025.

Berlin now lacks a single division, a military formation with more than 20,000 soldiers prepared for conflict. The first of its three divisions is expected to be operational by 2025, with the second in 2027.

Rebuild of Divisions Across Western Nations

(Photo : by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 13: Soldiers of the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, stand in an honour guard formation during a state visit at the Chancellery on January 13, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Germany has been increasing its defence spending in recent years. In 2022 it is due to rise to EUR 49.29 billion from 46.93 in 2021.

According to the lieutenant general, Germany would send two mechanized brigades first, followed by a medium unit that was more lightly armed, and then get reinforcements from a Dutch brigade. An average brigade has 5,000 soldiers.

The primary organizational building elements of the land forces that would be required to manage a fight with a peer foe are divisions, according to Reuters.

After decades of fighting minor wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, Western nations are frantically trying to rebuild and re-equip their divisions, which were neglected, dismantled, and deprived of their weapons and ammunition.

Because Western nations are already supplying Kyiv with massive quantities of shells, further depleting inadequate reserves that have been dwindling since the end of the Cold War. Mais recognized that it would be ambitious to provide the division with enough ammunition by 2025.

According to Mais, fully equipping the second German division, slated to be combat-ready in 2027, heavily depends on the arrival of purchases from the 100 billion euro special budget materializing at the personnel level.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proclaimed a "Zeitenwende" (historical turning moment) and created a special fund to modernize a German military that had suffered from years of financial neglect.

Read Also: NATO Launches Largest-Ever Air Force Drill in ' Show of Strength'

Berlin's Army Division

Berlin's army division is a major component of the German military. It plays a key role in the defense of Germany and Europe.

The division was formed in 2015 following the decision by the German government to increase military spending. It is composed of three brigades: the 1st Infantry Brigade, the 2nd Panzer Brigade, and the 3rd Mechanized Brigade. The division also includes several support units, including artillery, air defense, and engineering.

The division is headquartered in Berlin, but it is also deployed to other parts of Germany and Europe. It has been involved in a number of NATO exercises, and it is also prepared to deploy to crisis areas on short notice.

The division is equipped with the latest NATO weapons and equipment. This includes Leopard 2 tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and Patriot air defense systems. The division also has several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other high-tech equipment.

The modernization of Berlin's army division is a sign of Germany's renewed commitment to NATO and the defense of Europe.

Related Article: NATO's First Major Defence Plans in Decades Mark Return to Cold War Strategies

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Two University of North Georgia (UNG) Public Safety officers have been credited with saving the life of a runner on July 4.

Bryan Schuler collapsed while running in the Firecracker 5K. Sgt. Brody Clements and Officer Madison Comer responded to the scene near the Holly Theater in historic downtown Dahlonega, Georgia.

"I checked the subject, and he was breathing intermittingly at first then he stopped," Clements said. "I started chest compressions and executed approximately 40 compressions and then the subject came back to us."

Schuler was taken to a nearby hospital.

"Our incredible team of professionals does not hesitate when confronted with emergencies. I am very proud of the way they serve our campuses and communities," Greg Williams, UNG director of Public Safety and chief of police, said.

Williams said he has received multiple messages from community members about the quick actions of the officers, including one from Caleb Poole, a resident of Dahlonega.

"While passing through town with my wife, we witnessed Sergeant Clements and Officer Comer providing extremely high-quality CPR to a downed runner," Poole said. "My wife and I decided to stop in case they needed assistance during CPR, but your two officers were able to get a pulse back, turn the subject to his side, maintain his airway, and provide overall amazing aid until handing him off to EMS. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with how Clements and the other officer performed. You should be extremely proud of how they performed and represented the agency."

All UNG police officers are trained to administer CPR/AED, and various other life-saving measures in the event of a medical emergency until medical professionals can arrive, and Clements and Comer reverted to their training to save a person's life, Williams said.

The training process for UNG's Public Safety is a priority, Sgt.Trent McGuffey said, adding that officers keep up with their training and re-certification.

Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard commended the officers' quick action.

"Due to the officers' response, I truly believe this was a life-saving event. I'm not a doctor, but it looked like his vitals stopped and the officers regained his vitals," Jarrard said. "It would have been a different outcome if they weren't present."
HCM CITY  Vietjet has officially launched the direct flight from HCM City to Haneda Airport in central Tokyo, meeting the demands of tourists and business people alike, the airline announced on Sunday.

With seven return flights every week, passengers can easily travel between HCM City and Tokyo, Vietjet said.

Haneda Airport, the largest airport of Japan and one of the top in Asia, is conveniently located less than 30 minutes from central Tokyo and is one of the largest transit points from Asia to western countries through an extensive domestic and international flight network.

Flights from HCM City to Tokyo (Haneda) depart at 5pm and arrive at 1am the next day (local time). Flights from Tokyo (Haneda) to HCM City depart at 12am and land at 4.10pm (local time).

HCM City-Tokyo (Haneda) is the second route of Vietjet, after HCM City-Tokyo (Narita), connecting HCM City, the most dynamic economic and cultural centre in Viet Nam with one of the world's leading developed mega-cities, Tokyo.

From now until December 31, passengers have opportunities to hunt for tickets to fly to Tokyo and other Vietjet international routes every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday priced at zero ong, excluding fees and taxes.

The promotional airfares can be found at www.vietjetair.com and via the Vietjet Air mobile app, with flexible flight schedules from August 10, 2023 to March 31, 2024, Vietjet said.

It added that passengers also can accumulate bonus SkyPoints on each flight to redeem vouchers for Vietjet flights, plus services from 250 favourite brands.  VNS
THUA THIEN-HUE  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue on Sunday worked with leaders of central Thua Thien-Hue on developing the province into a city directly under the central Government.

Speaking at the conference, NA Chairman Hue said that Thua Thien-Hue had a glorious revolutionary tradition and unique culture.

It is the only province in Viet Nam and in Southeast Asia with seven heritages honoured by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

It is an attractive tourist destination, famous not only in the country but also around the world with outstanding cultural and natural resources.

In the past three years, the province's average economic growth rate reached 7.3 per cent per year.

Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita this year is estimated at nearly US$2,700, an increase of nearly 1.2 times compared to 2020.

Budget revenue increases by 12.5 per cent per year on average, and this year the number is estimated at VN13 trillion ($550 million).

Export turnover is estimated to increase by an average of 13.6 per cent per year.

Total investment capital in the area in the past three years is over VN84 trillion ($3.5 billion), increasing by 8.3 per cent per year on average.

In the first six months this year, more than 1.6 million tourists visited Thua Thien-Hue, which increased by 2.3 times compared with the same period last year.

Speaking at the conference, representatives highly appreciated the provinces socio-economic development achievements.

Believing that the province has great potential for tourism, the delegates hoped that the province would have many unique tourism products to attract investment in the tourism sector.

On that basis, NA Chairman Hue asked the province to complete important plans and projects, the first goal is building Thua Thien-Hue into a city directly under the central Government by 2025.

The second goal is to build the province into a typical heritage city of Viet Nam, a regional and sub-regional nuclear city, a large and distinctive centre of Southeast Asia in terms of culture, tourism, science and technology.

It will be a strong marine economic centre of the country, the growth pole of the central region which has sustainable urban development with green growth, adaptation to climate change by 2030.

The third goal is to build Thua Thien-Hue into a city with characteristics of typical culture, green, intelligence, sustainability and a high level of economic development in the country, towards a safe, friendly destination, a land of happiness and full of energy by 2050.

NA Chairman Hue asked the provinces leaders to maintain political security and social order and safety.

Also in his working trip to Thua Thien-Hue, NA Chairman Hue on Saturday offered incense and flowers at the Hue City martyrs' cemetery, visited and gave gifts to families with great contribution to the nation in the province.  VNS
HA NOI  The trial into the high-profile corruption case concerning repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens overseas during the height of the COVID-19 border lockdown continued its fifth day on Monday, as the Ha Noi Peoples Procuracy listed its recommended sentences against the 54 accused.

The trial was postponed for a few hours in the morning as the lawyers for the defendants updated the amount of ill-gotten money that the defendants have paid back.

Among the 21 on trial for receiving bribes, the Procuracy sought the death penalty  the harshest sentence in the case  against Pham Trung Kien, former secretary to incumbent deputy health minister o Xuan Tuyen.

Kien was said to have received 253 bribes worth VN42.6 billion (US$1.8 million), the most of any defendant in the case, and has paid back in redress about a third of the total, or VN15 billion. He was ordered to pay back the entire amount he had taken.

The Procuracy determined that Kien was tasked with receiving documents and submitting them to the Deputy Minister of Health for approval, as well as signing documents related to providing opinions on the approval of flights as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organisations, and individuals, which the defendant turned into an opportunity to make money.

For the same crime, two senior leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  deputy minister To Anh Dung and head of the consular department Nguyen Thi Huong Lan  were asked to be jailed for 12 to 13 years and 18 to 19 years, respectively, while 19 to 20 years was sought for Vu Anh Tuan, a former official of the Immigration Department.

The Procuracy sought sentences of 2 to 20 years against 17 others that were also charged with receiving bribes, including Nguyen Quang Linh, former assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister (7 to 8 years), and Nguyen Thanh Hai, former international relations specialist to the Governments Office (7 to 8 years).

Four defendants were charged with abusing their power while performing official duties. The representative of the Ha Noi Procuracy requested a sentence of 5 to 6 years for former Ambassador of Viet Nam to Malaysia Tran Viet Thai, 4 to 5 years for defendants Nguyen Le Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Hoang Linh  both former officials of the embassy, and 2 to 3 years for defendant ang Minh Phuong, a former official of the embassy.

The 23 defendants charged with bribery have been recommended to receive sentences ranging from 12 months of suspended imprisonment to 12 years of imprisonment.

The four defendants in the intermediary bribery group have been proposed to receive sentences ranging from 2 to 7 years.

Particularly serious

The indictment stressed that this is a particularly serious and complex case. The defendants' criminal behaviour involved accepting bribes and abusing their power while performing their official duties, taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to commit their crimes.

The criminal acts occurred in various ministries, sectors, and localities, and the charges against the defendants mainly belong to the category of extremely serious crimes, which are particularly dangerous to society.

The defendants who accepted bribes are individuals who hold high positions of power in State agencies.

After committing their criminal acts, they showed signs of collusion by making false statements to cover up their wrongdoings and even exerted influence and sought help to escape prosecution when the investigation into the scandal got underway, according to the indictment.

To date, some defendants have not been completely truthful in their statements and have not admitted to their criminal acts.

The indictment highlights that the Party's and the State's policy of organising more than 1,000 flights to bring back over 200,000 citizens from 62 countries and territories was a demonstration of compassionate policy by the country, underlining the meaningful and noble purpose of these flights.

However, this noble policy was tarnished by a number of corrupt officials, which damaged the credibility of our country with our people and international friends, reads the indictment.

Some defendants who accepted bribes have exploited peoples safety as an opportunity to make money for themselves.

Specifically, these defendants were said to have created difficulties and established a mechanism for representatives of businesses to pay bribes in order to obtain flight permits.

Therefore, severe and appropriate punishment is needed, corresponding to the nature and severity of the defendants' criminal behaviour.

However, according to the Prosecutor's Office, some mitigation of the punishment for the defendants should also be considered.

At the time of the pandemic outbreak, the process of organising flights to bring citizens back to the country was both fast and complicated, with no clear regulations on procedures, which was a loophole that the defendants took advantage of.

Some defendants did not actively demand money but committed their crimes due to being unable to resist temptation, the indictment noted.

"Greasing the wheels"

Starting from April 2020, the Vietnamese Government began allowing rescue flights to bring citizens back home, and people only had to pay for their airfare and not for the quarantine expenses.

Later, there were also combo flights, where citizens voluntarily paid the entire flight and quarantine fees.

From early 2020 to mid-2021, authorities approved and organised more than 1,000 flights, bringing back over 200,000 citizens from 62 countries and territories.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone proposed 772 flights to bring citizens back, including 400 rescue flights and 372 combo flights.

During the approval process for these flights, investigation agencies found that to "grease the wheels," a group of 20 businesses with over 100 legal entities raised airfare prices and added many additional expenses for customers wanting to return to Viet Nam during the pandemic.

In the process of approving these flights and quarantine arrangements in localities, from September 2020 to December 2022, 25 individuals took advantage of their positions, power, and assigned tasks to receive a total of nearly VN165 billion ($6.9 million) in bribes, and abused their power while performing official duties, causing losses of over VN10 billion.  VNS
HA NOI  In a fast changing world, the Mekong - Ganga cooperation (MGC) should prioritise assisting member countries to improve their competitiveness and obtain sustainable development, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told the 12th MGC Ministerial Meeting on Sunday.

The hybrid event saw the participation of the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and India.

In his speech, Son affirmed the importance Viet Nam attaches to and its effective contributions to the MGC.

Suggesting three groups of cooperation measures, he said that first, economic connectivity between the Mekong countries and India should be enhanced to boost recovery and sustainable growth, with new measures devised to facilitate cross-border trade, investment opportunities promoted, businesses connectivity supported, transport connectivity stepped up, and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises assisted.

Second, member countries should guarantee a green and sustainable future for the next generations via cooperation in response to food, water and energy security challenges; transferring technology and investing in clean and renewable energy; and mobilising resources for supporting energy transition.

Third, they should increase people-to-people exchanges to help strengthen their friendship and partnerships.

The minister called for boosting cooperation in education and vocational training to help meet the huge demand for high-quality human resources, and expanding tourism links, especially in culinary and wedding tourism, to help recover the economies. He also asked India to continue assisting the Mekong countries to preserve UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage elements.

The Vietnamese official also proposed some joint activities to mark the MGCs 25th anniversary in 2025.

At the meeting, participants noted that for more than 20 years since its inception, the MGC has helped reinforce friendship, promote socio-economic development, narrow the development gap among the members, and contribute to the building of the ASEAN Community and the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

The Mekong countries appreciated Indias financial aid for 105 projects on reducing poverty in remote areas and supplying clean water and building houses of culture in rural areas under the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, including 46 projects in Viet Nam.

They shared the view that the region is facing many challenges in the post-pandemic period, but there are also numerous opportunities they need to seize.

Discussing the MGC orientations, the ministers agreed to focus on trade and investment facilitation, connectivity enhancement, education, sustainable management of transboundary water resources, science and technology, agriculture, healthcare, culture, and tourism.

They highly valued and approved Indias initiative on setting up a mechanism for coordinating the MGC sectoral cooperation and an MGC business council to encourage enterprises contributions and boost substantive cooperation, thereby generating benefits for people and businesses.

The officials agreed to extend the MGC Plan of Action 2019-22 until the end of 2024, and to hold the 13th MGC Ministerial Meeting in 2024. VNS
HA NOI  Ha Nois Department of Education and Training has collaborated with departments and agencies to rebuild the school planning network and reassess projects that did not meet requirements in order to reclaim land funds and utilise them for school construction.

According to the Director of the department Tran The Cuong, it was crucial to replace delayed and substandard projects with schools to accommodate the increasing student population.

Ha Noi recently witnessed a highly stressful entrance exam for public high schools, with only half of the total number of secondary school graduates being admitted to public high schools as expected. The proportion of students securing a place in public high schools in the city has reached its lowest point in the past ten years.

About 33,000 students, accounting for 44.3 per cent of the total, were left with no choice but to enrol in private high schools, continuation schools or vocational schools.

Ha Noi had announced its plans to enrol 72,000 students for public schools out of the total of 129,210 secondary school graduates in the 2022-2023 academic year. This meant that one out of every two students would have to attend a non-public school.

Consequently, after Ha Noi released the admission criteria for public high schools, many parents lined up overnight at private and autonomous public schools such as Phan Huy Chu High School, Hoang Cau High School, and Ta Quang Buu High School to submit applications for their children to enter 10th grade.

There were cases where students met or exceeded the admission scores but couldnt secure a spot due to arriving late. Some parents even experienced a situation where the admission scores increased just one day after the initial announcement, creating concerns that their children would miss the opportunity to be admitted.

To address this situation, the citys Department of Education and Training has issued a document requiring high schools to assign authorised admission officers and make their contact information, hotlines, and support services publicly available.

These measures were aimed at providing timely guidance and assistance to students and their parents and ensuring security and orderliness during the enrollment period.

It explicitly prohibited the gathering of students and parents outside the school gate, as it could lead to disorder and insecurity in the surrounding area.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of the Ministry of Education and Training to promptly review and report on the admission process for public high schools for timely solutions.

Enrollment crisis

Parents queuing overnight to enrol their children was a common sight at most educational institutions in Ha Noi. Last year, parents had to draw lots for a chance to enrol their children in Hoang Liet Preschool in Hoang Mai District or line up overnight to purchase application forms for Grade 1 at Marie Curie Primary School in Nam Tu Liem District.

This June, hundreds of parents competed for enrollment at Van Bao Elementary School in Ha ong District, leading to overcrowding and chaos.

During a recent Q&A session at the Ha Noi City People's Council meeting, director of the education department Cuong affirmed that Ha Noi did not lack public schools.

Figures from the citys department showed that there was a total of 129,210 secondary school graduates in the city this year.

The department allocated 128 public and semi-public high schools to enrol 75,430 students and assigned 95 private high schools to enrol 26,829 students as well as 29 vocational education centres to admit 10,305 students.

Therefore, the total number of available spots was 112,564.

Currently, Ha Noi has four specialised high schools affiliated with universities, with a total of nearly 2,000 spots available for nationwide enrollment.

More than 14,000 students still had to switch to vocational education.

However, many parents had different opinions.

Nguyen Van Xuan in Tay Ho District told the online newspaper cafebiz.vn that the suburban districts did not lack public schools, and students who achieved a score of 4 in any subject could secure admission to public high schools. But distance is a real challenge.

On the other hand, the inner-city areas experienced a severe shortage of classrooms.

Xuan said his child achieved an average of 7.7 points per subject but still couldn't get into Tay Ho High School. The alternative choice was studying at ai Mo High School, 20km away from their home, if they insisted on attending a public school.

"My child will have to leave for school at 5:30am. It will be extremely challenging for him for the whole three years. I really want my child to attend a public school because the tuition fees are affordable, he said.

Considering all factors, Xuan accepted a private school despite the financial burden. However, finding a quality private school with reasonable tuition fees was not an easy task.

We are not being selective. We just have very few choices," he said.

Xuan said the shortage of classrooms has created significant pressure in the inner city. The class sizes have increased significantly beyond the actual capacity.

My family lives in HDI Tay Ho apartment complex, which consists of four buildings with 600 apartments, but there is only one private preschool with a monthly fee of VN6 million. Apartment complexes in Ha Noi are mushrooming, but the number of classrooms does not match the population density, he said.

Nguyen Thanh Mai in Thanh Xuan District said students from the inner city failed to scramble for seats at public schools would have to go to suburban districts like Ba Vi, Son Tay, or Thach That as there were indeed schools available.

"Ha Noi needs to reconsider how urban planning is conducted to ensure that parents no longer have to queue overnight or draw lots for their children's education," she said.

Untangling the knot

Professor Pham Tat Dong, former chairman of the Viet Nam Association for Promoting Education, raised his concerns over Ha Noi - the political, cultural, and educational centre of the country - was still struggling with a situation where parents had to scramble to secure a school spot for their children.

"Frankly speaking, in Ha Noi, many prime locations have been used up for building high-rises, and there have been suspended projects that waste good land. Yet land for building schools is not available, he said.

The availability of schools doesn't simply mean having enough seats for students. Schools need to meet all the requirements for standards such as minimum area per student, facilities, and the capability of the school," he emphasised.

According to Dong, when planning new urban areas, the education sector needed to advise local authorities on the number of additional kindergartens and primary schools. Construction projects must meet all the standards and requirements for social facilities before they were approved.

The education sector also needs to calculate the number of additional teachers, he added.

Dong noted that public schools must be included in urban planning. In reality, many urban areas have lots of private schools, but the fees are unaffordable for many people.

Planning should meet the common needs of the community to ensure all students have access to education and adequate quality training, he said.

The citys Department of Education and Training has proposed the renovation and repair of 123 schools under its management by 2025. Additionally, the city plans to construct 16 new schools, including seven inter-level schools. The total investment for these projects amounted to VN8.87 trillion (US$375 million) from the city's budget.

The department has also proposed solutions for the upcoming academic year, including expediting the construction and establishment of new schools, as well as the renovation of public high schools. It will review and reclaim delayed projects to build public schools and develop a school network plan for the city by 2023, with a vision to 2050. Priority will be given to allocating land within key urban areas for the construction of public schools.

The department will provide recommendations to the city on enhancing financial resources and investing in constructing schools, as well as mobilising social resources for investment in non-public schools and schools with foreign involvement, it said.  VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City Police are set to inspect all accommodation rented to foreigners to ensure their landlords comply with regulations related to reporting foreign residents.

The month-long inspection from August 1 follows a spate of crimes committed in the city by foreigners.

The police said failure to report foreigners staying in their premises by landlords poses the risk of crimes.

The city is home to some 100,000 foreigners, the largest of any city or province in the country.

It has some 80,000 rental establishments such as hotels, apartments and houses, according to the police

Since the beginning of last year the police have found over 5,300 such crimes, mostly in rental apartments and secluded neighbourhoods.

In recent years there has been a large number of illegal immigrants entering the country.

The crimes include hi-tech fraud, online gambling, and illicit lending through apps, according to the police.

These criminals usually rent secluded houses and apartments without adequate oversight to carry out their criminal acts.

The police have an online portal at https://hochiminh.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn where hosts can report foreigners staying with them.

Up to 96 per cent of all accommodation facilities have utilised the service.

The police have requested foreigners living in the city to co-operate with the inspection teams and ensure proper reporting.  VNS
Da Nang tourism attracts many visitors to watch the Fireworks Festival

This year, Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) opened on June 2 and ended on July 8. After 3 years of hiatus due to the epidemic, the organization of this event has attracted many tourists to Da Nang tourism.

During more than 1 month of the festival, more than 942,000 guests were staying in Da Nang. Accommodation facilities have served more than 3.5 million visitors in the first 6 months, reaching 83% of the plan in 2023.

Compared to the same period in 2022, this number is 2.1 times higher and 4.4% higher than in the first 6 months of 2019 (3.35 million visits).





Of which, there were 930,000 international arrivals, reaching 182% of the plan and 11.3 times higher than the same period in 2022; 2.57 million domestic visitors, reaching 69% of the plan, up 67.7% over the same period in 2022.

With the number of tourists increasing as much as this year, Da Nang City People's Committee said that the revenue from accommodation and travel services in the past 6 months was estimated at VND 6,231 billion, up 99% over the same period in 2022 and 12.2% compared to the same period last year.

The number of tourists staying overnight in Da Nang is still low

Tourists and revenue increase, but the number of overnight guests in Da Nang is low

Although Da Nang tourism attracts many visitors during the fireworks festival, this city's average number of overnight stays is small.

Accordingly, the average number of days of stay of overnight guests for 6 months is 1.71 days/time, of which international guests are 2.21 days/time; domestic tourists are 1.42 days/time.

This figure is lower than the same period in 2022 and lower than the tourist destinations of Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh Provinces.

Reasons why tourists rarely stay overnight in Da Nang

Firstly, Da Nang is subject to strong competition with domestic tourist destinations. Besides, Da Nang is close to Quang Nam and Hue, so visitors have many choices to combine sightseeing, accommodation, and shopping.

Secondly, the city's products and services must be more attractive to prolong tourists' stay and spending. Services in Da Nang need to be more professional, and the competition is not equal among tourism businesses is also the cause of this situation.

Thirdly, the city needs tour operators with the scale and capacity to specialize in exploiting potential international markets for long-term stays.





In addition, Da Nang does not have a modern and popular public transport system to connect Da Nang's tourist destinations with neighboring points, making it convenient for tourists to visit and travel but still entirely in Da Nang.

It is necessary to look at an objective way to evaluate Da Nang tourism, from which there are plans to improve and attract more tourists to come and stay completely in Da Nang.

See more:

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A domestic rabbit invasion hits Florida. On Tuesday, July 11, many bunnies were roaming the streets of the Jenada Isle neighborhood in Wilton Manors.

The Wilton Manors community said it will allow supporters to raise money so that these bunnies can be relocated instead of exterminating them.

Domestic Rabbit Invasion Hits Florida!

According to ABC News' latest report, the bunnies invading the Wilton Manors community are lionhead rabbits. Alicia Griggs, a Floridian living in Fort Lauderdale, said that lionhead rabbits are hopping around the street.

Griggs is decided to spearhead a rescue effort to save these bunnies. The initiative is expected to cost between $20,000 to $40,000.

The rescue program involves capturing, vaccinating, providing shelter, and neutering the bunnies.

Aside from this, Griggs and other animal supporters in the community are planning to find people who can adopt the lionhead rabbits, which are around 100.

"They really need to be rescued. So we've tried to get the city to do it, but they're just dragging their feet," said Griggs via the Washington Post.

She added that the city thinks that if they decided to rescue these rabbits, then residents will require them to get rid of other animals, such as iguanas.

Read Also: Rescue Pets Of The Week: Adopt, Don't Shop, Get Two New Best Friends! Angora Rabbits Johanna, Megara Are Peas In A Pod (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Fun Facts About Lionhead Rabbits

Lionhead rabbits are not really born in Florida. These bunnies originated in Belgium and France.

Many people across the globe decided to domesticate these rabbits, making them house pets.

Since they originally came from France and Belgium, they are not really suited for Florida.

These rabbits are having a hard time living outdoors in Florida because of the heat and other dangerous factors.

If ever you want to adopt a lionhead rabbit, here are some things you need to know about this exotic pet:

Lionhead rabbits prefer living in colonies because they are sociable animals.

They are considered crepuscular animals since they are active at dawn and dusk.

These bunnies can grow between 8-10 inches.

You need to be alert when it comes to cats, dogs, foxes, and weasels since these animals are among the common predators of lionhead rabbits.

Related Article: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Detects Deadly Rabbit Disease For The First Time; What Is RHDV2?

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This month, officials from Vietnam, together with the other nine ASEAN nations and Australia and New Zealand, are set to complete all necessary procedures so that they can officially ink the second protocol to amend the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) next month. At present, negotiations have been completed.

ASEANs deal with Australia and New Zealand sees added benefit

The upgrade comes at a time when many developed economies  including Australia and New Zealand  are increasing their footprint in Southeast Asia to diversify their supply chains and reduce trade risks.

Dina Kurniasari, director general of ASEAN Negotiation under Indonesias Ministry of Trade, said, The protocol is expected to be inked on the sidelines of the 28th ASEAN economic ministerial-level meeting with Australia and New Zealand in August, Kurniasari said. Compared to the current deal, the upgraded version will make it more favourable for businesses to tap into the markets of ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.

The AANZFTA was signed in 2009 and took effect in 2010. It was first upgraded via the first protocol for amendments signed in 2014 and taking effect in 2015. The agreement embraces an area with a population of more than 650 million people and over $4.5 trillion in combined GDP.

The upgraded agreement will deliver a range of value-added elements, including new chapters and provisions on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), trade and sustainable development, and education services, said Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The value-added elements will also cover enhanced provisions on e-commerce, competition, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade in goods, rules of origin, trade in services, and investment.

The upgraded AANZFTA will support our service suppliers, goods exporters and investors to grow their reach into ASEAN and accelerate trade diversification. It will foster greater commercial linkages and drive cooperation, it continued.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, businesses benefit from the AANZFTA upgrade via improved transparency solutions; lower costs and time for exports and imports; use of technological solutions for trade; cooperation in digital technology, sustainable development, and education services; increased participation of MSMEs in economic activities, including government procurement; and smoother flow of essential goods during periods of crises.

Law firm Dezan Shira & Associates also commented that by upgrading the AANZFTA, the participating countries hope to spur post-pandemic growth, facilitate trade, make supply chains more resilient, and encourage sustainable development.

Tariff reductions under the AANZFTA were completed in 2020, leading to the decrease of tariffs on over 90 per cent of goods traded between the countries. In ASEANs more developed markets, the agreement has reduced tariffs on up to 96 per cent of goods. The agreement also eliminated non-tariff barriers, such as export subsidies and quotas on imports and exports, Dezan Shira & Associates said.

According to Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the two-way trade between Vietnam and Australia enjoyed a record on-year growth of 26.91 per cent to $15.7 billion last year, including $5.55 billion and $10.14 billion worth of Vietnams exports and imports, respectively.

Both nations two-way trade value figure stood at $4.52 billion in the first four months of this year, including $1.69 billion and $2.83 billion worth of Vietnams exports and imports, respectively.

Early last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid an official visit to Vietnam, with both nations announcing the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Trade Ministers Dialogue.

PM Albanese and counterpart Pham Minh Chinh discussed expanding bilateral cooperation on climate, energy and the environment, including a new Australian commitment of $105 million focussed on enabling Vietnam to increase its uptake of clean energy and clean energy infrastructure and to update its mining law to draw foreign investment to develop Vietnams critical minerals resources.

Looking to the future, leaders also welcomed growth in air links between the two countries with the increase in direct flights and the addition of new direct flights from Vietnam to Brisbane, which will boost tourism and trade ties, said the Australian Embassy to Vietnam.

Both countries are now underway to elevate the Australia-Vietnam relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, from the existing strategic level.

As of June 20, Vietnam attracted nearly $2 billion in registered investment capital from Australia for 602 projects.

The DFAT highlighted Vietnam on its website as an attractive to Australian investors. Vietnams economy attracts strong domestic and foreign investment flows. Its rapid industrialisation, geographic proximity to rapidly growing economies, and embrace of trade liberalisation has led Vietnam to become one of the most trade intensive economies in the world.

Australian investment is concentrated mainly in manufacturing and processing industries; food services; agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Prominent Australian investors in Vietnam include Austal, Blackstone Minerals, BlueScope Steel, CBH Group, LOGOS, Linfox, Mavin Group, RMIT University, and SunRice.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam-New Zealand bilateral trade turnover last year hit over $1.4 billion, up over 20 per cent on-year, according to the MoIT. At a bilateral meeting on June 27 in China between PM Chinh and New Zealands PM Chris Hipkins, both leaders set a target of raising the two-way trade turnover to $2 billion next year. They agreed to encourage a more open market for goods, including agricultural products.

New Zealand has the fourth-highest vegetable export turnover in Vietnam, accounting for 7 per cent of the market. In 2022, New Zealand began to import citrus products from Vietnam. Vietnamese limes became popular there alongside other existing Vietnamese products in New Zealand, such as dragon fruit.

As of June 20, Vietnam lured in nearly $208.3 million in registered investment capital from New Zealand for 51 projects.
Hoa Ninh IP will cover an area of 400 hectares and will focus on attracting investors from the electronic, engineering, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods sectors. Hoa Ninh expects to entice at least two $100 million projects worth $5 million per ha upward.

Expected to cover an area of 360ha, Hoa Nhon IP is targeting light industry, and high-end construction materials with at least two projects having investment capital of over $60 million. The remaining projects cost at least $4 million per ha.

Hoa Cam-phase 2, with a scale of 120ha, prefers projects in mechanical assembly, electronics and electricity with at least a project having a capital of more than $50 million.

Bui Duc Loi, managing director of Hoa Cam Industrial Park JSC, the developer of Hoa Cam IP-phase 1, said that establishing additional IPs was an urgent requirement because at present many manufacturers in IP-phase 1 want to introduce investors and partners to investment in new IPs in Danang.

Tran Van Ty, deputy head of Danang Industrial Parks Management Authority, said that the authority would accelerate procedures to select investors for these IPs.

Besides this, the authority will collaborate with relevant authorities to implement procedures to switch traditional IPs to eco-IPs and revoke the licence of long-delayed projects as part of the plan for the 2021-2025 period.

Danang is home to six IPs, which cover a total area of 1,067ha. The occupancy rate has reached more than 87 per cent, including four IPs reaching 100 per cent.

Widescale renovations needed for FIEs to thrive in Dong Nai Unfinished roads for industrial parks, dust pollution from airport construction, and lack of housing for on-site workers are just some of the difficulties facing foreign-invested enterprises in southern province of Dong Nai.

Vietnam taking stock of industrial park capacities Many localities want to expand high-tech industrial parks to resolve the overload of existing parks and simultaneously welcome new high-quality capital.

Haiphong boasts distinctive advantages in attracting FDI With a cumulative total of nearly $25 billion of foreign direct investment so far, and with another $10 billion expected by 2025, Haiphong is becoming the new hub for foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam.
About 200 participants including government leaders, international organisations, business associations, and experts will gather at VIRs conference themed Realising Resolution 29: New Approaches for Pharma-Healthcare Development this week to discuss the current development situation in pharma and healthcare.

Fresh mindsets called for in post-pandemic healthcare

The key issue will be the importance of the resolution on continuing to promote industrialisation and modernisation of the country by 2030.

Resolution No.29-NQ/TW is the guideline for the development of sectors and industries, and includes 10 groups of key solutions and 59 key tasks to be implemented before 2030. The government acknowledges that it requires radical changes in mindset and actions to achieve its vision.

According to the Pharma Group, a sector committee of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, drawing from international experiences and building development strategies and incentives will require inter-ministerial collaboration and the participation of various stakeholders, including the private sector. The primary role of the government is to direct and oversee implementation progress, which is crucial to ensuring the goals are achieved.

Pharma Group chairman Emin Turan told VIR, Realising the goals means generating breakthroughs in pharma sector development, which require the adoption of innovative approaches and clearly defined policy priorities to achieve long-term goals. This will not only foster the sectors growth and innovation, but also create spillover effects and driving forces for other industries.

Pharma Group Vietnam represents the voice of the innovative pharmaceutical industry. It has more than 20 member companies who are multinationals such as Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Bayer Vietnam, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Hoffman-La, Roche, and Pfizer.

Grand approaches wanted

A recent shortage of drugs and medical equipment for treatment, which caused widespread negative impacts, is a typical example of how important a new approach is for the future sustainable development of the sector, experts said.

Vietnams health system is facing many challenges as it is severely affected by rising infectious and non-communicable diseases, hospital overloads, and an ageing population, as well as an unstable supply of medicines and medical equipment.

Worse still, the pharmaceutical industry lacks advanced technology and techniques. As shown in a recent report from the Ministry of Health, for over a decade drug production has expanded in scale with 228 factories meeting GMP-WHO standards, of which 18 production lines meet EU-GMP standards.

Meanwhile, the total pharmaceutical market value in 2022 was estimated at $6.2 billion, and the percentage of drugs that fail to meet quality is less than 2 per cent.

In fact, many domestic drug factories only invest in production lines for dosage forms, focusing on common and generic drugs. They have not yet approached or applied modern technology, new apothecary techniques, or produced specialised drugs, special treatments, and original brand-name drugs. More than 90 per cent of raw materials for domestic drug production are currently imported.

The potential of medicinal materials and traditional medicine has also not been promoted or tapped into.

Dr. Trinh Van Lau, chairman of the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Companies Association, said, There should be an institutional breakthrough to create better conditions to encourage enterprises to research, develop, receive, and transfer technologies for the production of modern dosage forms.

Nguyen Hai Nam, rector of the Hanoi University of Pharmacy, said, To raise the ranking of the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam, it is necessary to take the lead in investing in research, trials, and development of biological and innovative drugs, as well as capitalising on the remarkable advancements in innovation to accelerate the creation of strong, sustainable, high-quality health systems.

To better facilitate businesses and investors, Vietnams healthcare sector is reforming administrative procedures, as well as amending laws and regulations. It is working on the draft amendments to the Law on Health Insurance and expects to submit to the National Assembly for discussion in October and for approval in May 2024. Meanwhile, the amended Law on Pharmacy is in the pipeline, which is also expected to be discussed by legislators next spring.

Pinning down trends

Investment in healthcare has tended to focus on innovation and technology transfer, and recent developments by multinationals have reinforced the trend.

Viatris Inc., a global healthcare company formed in November 2020, announced in late 2022 a broadening partnership with Medochemie, an EU-GMP manufacturer, to localise innovative products in Vietnam. Under this partnership, Viatris transfers technology that licences Medochemie to manufacture Viatris drugs for identified non-communicable diseases in its Vietnam facilities.

Viatris most prominent initiative is the Lotus Project  one of the first innovative drug production technology transfer projects in Vietnam, licensed in 2019. Vietnam was the only Asian country selected by its global company for tech transfer of off-patent originators.

Eunice Cho, country manager of Viatris Vietnam, said, In addition to seeing good growth potential for the company, we understand that our performance in Vietnam is in line with our purpose of meeting health needs and ensuring access to quality medicines.

Elsewhere, in March, AstraZeneca Vietnam and the Ministry of Health signed an MoU to deepen their long-term partnership and strengthen collaboration to enhance healthcare for the Vietnamese people. The expanded partnership, to last until 2028, will see comprehensive cooperation between the two parties in disease prevention and control, pharmaceutical research and development, manufacturing, and sustainable health system development.

According to KPMGs recent report The Value of Innovation in Vietnam, the innovative pharmaceutical industry can potentially grow at a sustained 15-20 per cent rate, with more than $26.8 billion output added by 2045. Employment in the innovative pharmaceutical industry is also likely to grow by 5-10 per cent, resulting in a 9-13 per cent growth of labour productivity and an additional 50,000-100,000 new high-skilled jobs by 2045.

AstraZeneca Vietnam honoured with special BritCham award AstraZeneca Vietnam has received the British Chamber of Commerce's (BritCham) first-ever 50th Anniversary Recognition award for the company's unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and its profound impact on Vietnam's healthcare sector.

Hoan My Medical Group and Siemens Healthineers enter partnership On June 19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoan My Medical Group, a leading private healthcare network in Vietnam, and Siemens Healthineers, a German medical technology giant, signed an MoU to advance healthcare services in Vietnam.
Parents scramble at Ta Quang Buu High School in Hanoi to submit applications for their children to enter the 10th grade. (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Hanoi - Hanois Department of Education and Training has collaborated with departments and agencies to rebuild the school planning network and reassess projects that did not meet requirements in order to reclaim land funds and utilise them for school construction.

According to the director of the department, Tran The Cuong, it was crucial to replace delayed and substandard projects with schools to accommodate the increasing number of students.



Hanoi recently witnessed a highly stressful entrance exam for public high schools, with only half of the total number of secondary school graduates being admitted to public high schools as expected. The proportion of students securing a place in public high schools in the city has reached its lowest point in the past ten years.



About 33,000 students, accounting for 44.3% of the total, were left with no choice but to enrol in private high schools, continuation schools or vocational schools.



Hanoi had announced its plans to enrol 72,000 students for public schools out of the total of 129,210 secondary school graduates in the 2022-2023 academic year. This meant that one out of every two students would have to attend a non-public school.



Consequently, after Hanoi released the admission criteria for public high schools, many parents lined up overnight at private and autonomous public schools such as Phan Huy Chu High School, Hoang Cau High School, and Ta Quang Buu High School to submit applications for their children to enter the 10th grade.



There were cases where students met or exceeded the admission scores but couldnt secure a spot due to arriving late. Some parents even experienced a situation where the admission scores increased just one day after the initial announcement, creating concerns that their children would miss the opportunity to be admitted.



To address this situation, the citys Department of Education and Training has issued a document requiring high schools to assign authorised admission officers and make their contact information, hotlines, and support services publicly available.



These measures were aimed at providing timely guidance and assistance to students and their parents and ensuring security and orderliness during the enrollment period.



It explicitly prohibited the gathering of students and parents outside the school gate, as it could lead to disorder and insecurity in the surrounding area.



Furthermore, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of the Ministry of Education and Training to promptly review and report on the admission process for public high schools for timely solutions.



Enrollment crisis



Parents queuing overnight to enrol their children was a common sight at most educational institutions in Hanoi. Last year, parents had to draw lots for a chance to enrol their children in Hoang Liet Preschool in Hoang Mai district or line up overnight to purchase application forms for Grade 1 at Marie Curie Primary School in Nam Tu Liem district.



This June, hundreds of parents competed for enrollment at Van Bao Elementary School in Ha Dong district, leading to overcrowding and chaos.



During a recent Q&A session at the Hanoi City People's Council meeting, Cuong affirmed that Hanoi did not lack public schools.



Figures from the citys department showed that there was a total of 129,210 secondary school graduates in the city this year.



The department allocated 128 public and semi-public high schools to enrol 75,430 students and assigned 95 private high schools to enrol 26,829 students as well as 29 vocational education centres to admit 10,305 students.



Therefore, the total number of available spots was 112,564.



Currently, Hanoi has four specialised high schools affiliated with universities, with a total of nearly 2,000 spots available for nationwide enrollment.



More than 14,000 students still had to switch to vocational education. However, many parents had different opinions.



Nguyen Van Xuan in Tay Ho district told the online newspaper cafebiz.vn that the suburban districts did not lack public schools, and students who achieved a score of 4 in any subject could secure admission to public high schools. But distance is a real challenge.



On the other hand, the inner-city areas experienced a severe shortage of classrooms.



Xuan said his child achieved an average of 7.7 points per subject but still couldn't get into Tay Ho High School. The alternative choice was studying at Dai Mo High School, 20km away from their home, if they insisted on attending a public school.



"My child will have to leave for school at 5:30am. It will be extremely challenging for him for the whole three years. I really want my child to attend a public school because the tuition fees are affordable, he said.



Considering all factors, Xuan accepted a private school despite the financial burden. However, finding a quality private school with reasonable tuition fees was not an easy task.



We are not being selective. We just have very few choices," he said.



Xuan said the shortage of classrooms has created significant pressure in the inner city. The class sizes have increased significantly beyond the actual capacity.



My family lives in HDI Tay Ho apartment complex, which consists of four buildings with 600 apartments, but there is only one private preschool with a monthly fee of 6 million VND. Apartment complexes in Hanoi are mushrooming, but the number of classrooms does not match the population density, he said.



Nguyen Thanh Mai in Thanh Xuan district said students from the inner city failed to scramble for seats at public schools would have to go to suburban districts like Ba Vi, Son Tay, or Thach That as there were indeed schools available.



"Hanoi needs to reconsider how urban planning is conducted to ensure that parents no longer have to queue overnight or draw lots for their children's education," she said.



Untangling the knot



Professor Pham Tat Dong, former chairman of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, raised his concerns over Hanoi - the political, cultural, and educational centre of the country - was still struggling with a situation where parents had to scramble to secure a school spot for their children.



"Frankly speaking, in Hanoi, many prime locations have been used up for building high-rises, and there have been suspended projects that waste good land. Yet land for building schools is not available, he said.



The availability of schools doesn't simply mean having enough seats for students. Schools need to meet all the requirements for standards such as minimum area per student, facilities, and the capability of the school," he emphasised.



According to Dong, when planning new urban areas, the education sector needed to advise local authorities on the number of additional kindergartens and primary schools. Construction projects must meet all the standards and requirements for social facilities before they were approved.



The education sector also needs to calculate the number of additional teachers, he added.



Dong noted that public schools must be included in urban planning. In reality, many urban areas have lots of private schools, but the fees are unaffordable for many people.



Planning should meet the common needs of the community to ensure all students have access to education and adequate quality training, he said.



The citys Department of Education and Training has proposed the renovation and repair of 123 schools under its management by 2025. Additionally, the city plans to construct 16 new schools, including seven inter-level schools. The total investment for these projects amounted to 8.87 trillion VND (375 million USD) from the city's budget.



The department has also proposed solutions for the upcoming academic year, including expediting the construction and establishment of new schools, as well as the renovation of public high schools. It will review and reclaim delayed projects to build public schools and develop a school network plan for the city by 2023, with a vision to 2050. Priority will be given to allocating land within key urban areas for the construction of public schools.



The department will provide recommendations to the city on enhancing financial resources and investing in constructing schools, as well as mobilising social resources for investment in non-public schools and schools with foreign involvement, it said.

Hanoi to offer public bicycle service from September From September, people in Hanoi can enjoy public bicycle service at a cost from 5,000-10,000 VND (0.21-0.42 USD) for 30 minutes of use, Do Ba Dan, Chairman of Tri Nam Group, the investor in the project, said on July 5.
KB Financial Group chairman and CEO Yoon Jong-kyoo brought up 'glocalisation' as a key strategy for its global expansion at a recent town hall meeting with its employees in late June.

According to Kedglobal, the portmanteau of 'globalisation' and 'localisation' underlines the group's efforts to cater to local customers through customised products and services in overseas markets, utilising its financial technologies and infrastructure.

If we pursue globalisation based only on our experience in South Korea, it will fail. We must build our competitive edge in each country, Yoon said at the meeting.

Under the 'glocalisation' strategy, South Korea's largest banking group is targeting the digital banking market in Cambodia while focusing on traditional banking services in Vietnam.

The chief executives of Kookmin Bank, KB Securities Co., KB Insurance Co. and other subsidiaries participated in the gathering, together with 106 foreign employees of those companies from 14 countries where KB Financial Group operates.

The main topic of the four-hour meeting was how to strengthen KB Financials global businesses and the capabilities of its employees, as well as about enhancing its competitiveness.

According to Kedglobal, KB Financial has set its sights on Southeast Asia as the first step towards entering the global market.

In 2020, it acquired a majority stake in Indonesia's Bank Bukopin and then took full control of Cambodian lender PRASAC, the countrys largest microfinance institution, in 2021.

Those moves are in line with the groups efforts to increase global operations to nearly 30 per cent of total revenue by 2030 and then to 40 per cent by 2040 at the latest.

If there is a chance, we will aggressively pursue mergers and acquisitions in overseas markets, Yoon said.

In Vietnam, KB Securities Vietnam, a subsidiary of KB Financial Group, is diligently establishing and expanding its operations in Vietnam's stock market.

Meanwhile, KB Bank Vietnam, another part of KB Financial Group, also operates in the country, with a particular emphasis on the foreign direct investment sector, providing banking services to international businesses.

Korean lenders aspiring to become major market players South Korean financial conglomerates are deepening their involvement in Vietnam through a series of strategic agreements in energy, banking system restructuring, and digital payments.

Samsung Vietnam teams up with Shinhan Bank Vietnam on digital payments In a landmark move, Samsung Vietnam and Shinhan Bank Vietnam have joined hands, etching an MoU to revolutionise the digital payment arena in Vietnam on June 14.

Shinhan Bank Vietnam organised Bike Run event to present bicycles and scholarships to students at SOS Childrens Village Vietnam, attended by the First Lady of the Republic Korea Shinhan Bank Vietnam (Shinhan Bank) organised the Bike Run event to present bicycles and scholarships to underprivileged students at SOS Children's Village Vietnam. The First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Keon Hee attended the meaningful event. This is one of the First Lady's activities during the trip to accompany President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol on his state visit in Vietnam.
Laos ships abroad more than 408 million USD worth of cassava products in the first five months of this year. (Photo: Laotian Times)

Vientiane  Laos expects to earn more than 2 billion USD from agricultural exports this year, up from 1.73 billion USD in 2022, local media reported.

In the first five months of this year, the value was 901 million USD, fulfilling 75.14% of the yearly target, with cassava, coffee, banana, corn and sugarcane as the main export items.



Notably, the country shipped abroad more than 408 million USD worth of cassava products, mainly to China, Vietnam and Italy, said Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy.



Over the past years, the Lao government has encouraged farmers to cultivate more types of plants to serve the domestic market and exports.

Laos promotes use of electric vehicles The Lao government has taken many measures and policies to encourage its people to use electric vehicles (EVs), as an effort to reduce fuel imports and save foreign currency while mitigating hazardous substances and ensuring energy security in recent years.
The vulnerability, known as CVE-2023-21716, carries a severity rating of 9.8 out of 10, enabling remote code execution on targeted devices. By exploiting this loophole, hackers can gain the ability to launch widespread virus campaigns, seize control of compromised devices, exfiltrate and encrypt data, as well as distribute and execute additional malicious codes.

Nguyen Tien Dat, director of Bkav's esteemed Malware Research Center, stressed the inherent allure of such vulnerabilities to hackers, given their presence in commonly used document file formats.

Furthermore, users with automatic updates disabled face the intricate challenge of applying the necessary security patches, making securing such vulnerabilities a daunting task for many.

Despite a patch being made available as early as February, Bkav's data reveals that almost four million computers in Vietnam remain susceptible to virus attacks due to the absence of necessary updates.

The update allows users to scan their computers and promptly identify the presence of the CVE-2023-21716 vulnerability. If detected, two options are provided. Users can either use Windows Update via the Settings menu to apply the patch, or manually download the official patch from Microsoft by clicking 'OK' on the scan result notification.

Phishing attacks represent the simplest and most commonly employed method for exploiting this vulnerability. Hackers employ deceitful tactics, luring users into downloading seemingly harmless Word documents that harbour malicious elements.

In fact, users need not even open the Word document itself; merely previewing it could lead to a successful attack.

This vulnerability, despite being flagged by experts some time ago and Microsoft taking prompt action in February to address the issue, continues to pose a significant risk to users and the potential for exploitation remains substantial.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications disclosed that during the initial half of 2023, the Authority of Information Security handled 6,362 network attacks. This figure marks a 4.2 per cent decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2022 when 6,641 incidents were recorded.

Coteccons signs MoU with Microsoft Vietnam On May 30, Coteccons  one of the top construction companies in Vietnam  signed a three-year MoU with Microsoft Vietnam for the 2023-2025 period to leverage the power of AI and cloud technology to promote innovation in the construction industry.

Firemon, Nessar, and Viettel IDC collaborate to enhance cybersecurity in Vietnam On April 14, Nessar and Viettel IDC jointly announced the signing of a strategic cooperation contract with FireMon, a provider of security policy management solutions, aiming to provide effective options for customers in Vietnam.
What does the opening of a new Hanoi office mean to MSD Vietnam and the bilateral relationship between this country and the United States?

Known as Merck & Co. in the US and Canada, we came to Vietnam in 1996 because of the potential, opportunities, local talents, and more importantly, we came here to make a difference for peoples health.

Jennifer Cox, managing director of MSD Vietnam

The milestones throughout the journey have demonstrated our commitment to Vietnam, as well as the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The new office has a modern design, accommodating open workspaces in the first LEED-certified building in the capital. We also inaugurated the newly expanded warehouse in Thu Duc of Ho Chi Minh City, with capacity quadrupled. The new warehouse will significantly increase the storage capacity of vaccines and drugs to respond in a timely manner and meet the increasing healthcare needs of Vietnamese people.

The continued investment after nearly 30 years of MSDs presence in Vietnam confirms our long-term commitment and reaffirms our trust in the growth of Vietnam.

This month also represented an important opportunity for our two countries as they celebrate 10 years of their comprehensive partnership. MSD was honoured to be recognised by the US ambassador to Vietnam to stand front and centre in strengthening the bilateral relationship in healthcare, innovation, and science.

Can you explain the notable programmes that MSD has implemented in Vietnam?

MSD currently has more than 20 innovative medicines and vaccines being launched to address unmet medical needs. Millions of patients have access to our products, many of which are lifesaving.

Besides introducing vaccines and medicines, MSD has been working cross sector to enhance access for Vietnamese people to these innovative solutions, as well as tackling critical healthcare challenges in the country. These partnerships range from combating antimicrobial resistance and supporting the scale-up of HPV vaccination, to strengthening access to primary healthcare and improving maternal health in vulnerable communities.

MSD has been working with hospitals on the antimicrobial stewardship programme, piloted at Cho Ray Hospital since 2012. In 2020, we partnered with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and expanded the scheme to 36 hospitals, and 46 hospitals have actively enrolled as of 2022.

Immuno-oncology opens a new chapter in cancer treatment. MSD was proud to be the first company to introduce immunotherapy in Vietnam in 2017, and collaborated with Phyto and the Bright Future Fund to implement a patient access programme in 36 hospitals nationwide. In 2022, the MoH awarded a certificate of merit for MSD in recognition for our contributions to the patient access initiative.

In order to reduce maternal mortality, we are continuing the MSD for Mothers initiative towards 2024. The project invests in innovative interventions helping women in various ethnic minority regions of Vietnam to access quality maternal care.

Biopharma company MSD Vietnam, known as Merck & Co. in the US and Canada, inaugurated its new office in Hanoi on July 7.

What are your suggestions to improve the quality of care for people in the near future?

Healthcare in Vietnam has progressed significantly over past years and continues to make relentless efforts to improve quality of care. MSD is proud to help realise this shared goal as a trusted healthcare partner through multiple long-term partnerships.

The pandemic has illustrated the importance of resilient health systems and offers an opportunity for action. In the near future, we see the critical need to enhance the sustainability of healthcare. For example, Vietnam is quickly updating advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, ensuring that eligible patients can access innovative treatment sustainably remains a challenge, especially when the ratio of out-of-pocket for healthcare in Vietnam is still high.

The need to update the National Reimbursement Drug List is also urgent, as is the need to implement more public-private partnerships so that Vietnamese patients can access innovative treatments.

The president of MSD in Asia-Pacific has emphasised the importance of Vietnam as a critical market. Can you share the directions of growth for MSD in Vietnam?

MSD will continue to make far-reaching investments and collaborate strongly with key stakeholders in Vietnam.

Following the new office in Hanoi, we will renovate the office in Ho Chi Minh City, building an environment where our employees can thrive. MSD commits to fostering a diverse, inclusive space for employees while operating responsibly within communities and the environment.

We collaborated with the Red Cross to organise blood donation days to address the shortage of blood after the pandemic period. And in February, we hosted a coastal clean-up in Cam Ranh and Khanh Hoa while encouraging the reduction of single-use plastic.

We are also partnering with hospitals and research institutes to roll out clinical trials to increase opportunities for patients to access innovative vaccines and medicines here.
Speaking with VIR on July 13, Hong Sun, president of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam said, "There are no plans to outlaw chilli imports from Vietnam."

The Plant Protection Department (PPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) stated that it has not received any notice about South Korea prohibiting or suspending the importation of Vietnamese chilli products. The rumour has been traced back to an incident involving a single shipment of chilli products from Vietnam, not for all chilli products from Vietnam.

The PPD has confirmed this with the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point under the MARD, and identified Long Thanh Co., Ltd as the shipper in question.

Vietnamese businesses are required to conduct inspections prior to export at one of eight laboratories approved by South Korean partners for testing pesticide residue, and there are concerns from the PPD that the spread of inaccurate information can adversely influence the image of Vietnamese chilli.

Vietnam exported approximately 5,000 tonnes of chilli in 2022, generating an export turnover of $12 million.

Vietnamese farm produce introduced at chili fest in Italy Vietnamese agricultural products have been introduced at the 10th Chili Pepper Festival, one of the most awaited culinary fests in a year that is taking place in Italian central city of Rieti from September 1-5.
RoK, Vietnam recognise each other's international driving permits, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Seoul  Citizens of the Republic of Korea (RoK) with a valid driver's licence can soon be eligible to drive in Vietnam with an international driving permit under a bilateral pact that will come into effect on July 23.

The pact was signed between the two nations on June 23 during RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Vietnam.

The Korean National Police Agency expected some 4.3 million Korean citizens to take advantage of the international driving permit to drive in the Southeast Asian country. Vietnamese tourists are already able to drive in the RoK with an international driving permit.

Korean citizens with a driver's licence can apply for the international driving permit. Once issued at police stations, licence examination offices, Incheon Airport or Gimhae Airport, the permit is valid for a year.

Earlier, the RoK Government had granted permission for holders of international driving permits issued by Vietnam to drive in the RoK under Article 96 of the country's Road Traffic Law.

The RoK is a signatory of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1946) which has been ratified by 101 countries. The country accepts international driving licences of signatories of the 1968 Vienna Convention.

However, Vietnam only accepts driving licences of countries participating in the Vienna Convention with the participation of 86 nations.

Vietnam, RoK boost intellectual property cooperation The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPO) under the Ministry of Science and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) of the Republic of Korea (RoK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening intellectual property cooperation at a ceremony on June 22 in Hanoi.

Vietnam, RoK enhance partnerships in construction The International Contractors Association of the Republic of Korea (RoK) (ICAK) and the Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors (VACC) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 22, during an ongoing State visit by President of the RoK Yoon Suk Yeol.

Vietnam, RoK boost cooperation in technology, innovation The State Agency for Technology Innovation (SATI) under the Ministry of Science and Technology on June 22 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation in advanced technology development with the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT).
Renowned author urges better understanding, collaboration between China, US

11:17, July 17, 2023 By Liu Ning, Zhong Wenxing ( People's Daily Online

In a recent interview with People's Daily Online, acclaimed author and scholar Simon Winchester, whose specialties encompass literature, history, technology, and geography, offered his perceptions of China and underscored the substantial transformations he has observed over time. He championed increased cultural exchange between China and the West, and called on the United States to encourage improved collaboration with China.

China's transformation and progress

Since his first visit to China in 1978, Winchester has observed a substantial transformation in the country. He noted marked advancements, particularly in cleanliness, prosperity, and safety. Infrastructure improvements, including expressways, skyscrapers, and subways, have left him in awe.

The interview also delved into China's ascent in science and technology, with Winchester acknowledging the country's dominance in manufacturing. He distinguished between inventing and producing and urged Chinese scientists and young innovators to embrace risk-taking and view failure as an integral part of the learning journey.

In discussing the influence of Chinese tech giants like Huawei on global technology and innovation, Winchester expressed his admiration for the company's achievements and underscored the significance of healthy competition in the global marketplace.

Winchester shared with People's Daily Online his belief that U.S.-imposed sanctions stem from envy. He stated, "They know that Huawei is a very inspiring company led by very inspired people I think everything I've seen in these last two weeks confirms my belief that Huawei is simply a very clever company, doing remarkable things that should not be any threat to America, except in a commercial sense. Competition in commerce is a very good thing."

Simon Winchester (People's Daily Online/Liu Ning)

Encouraging cultural exchange

Winchester further urged Western individuals to travel to China to discover this huge, old, and impressive country.

He referenced his earlier work, "The River at the Center of the World," which documented his year-long journey across China, following the Yangtze River from Shanghai to Xizang.

The author warmly recalled the unique landscapes and the variety of people he encountered, particularly in western and southern China. "I'm impressed by eastern China, but I love western China and southern China. These are places that foreigners don't visit nearly so frequently. And I've had so many good experiences," Winchester stated.

His visits to the Mogao Grottoes also left a profound impression on him, exemplifying the allure of the country's cultural heritage.

Advocating for understanding and collaboration

Winchester called for an enhanced understanding between China and the U.S., underscoring the advantages of collaboration and peaceful coexistence.

"Huawei, symbolically, China generally, in my view, is not a threat to the United States," Winchester remarked. He expressed concerns about the escalating anti-China sentiment among certain American politicians, often manifested in their public addresses and media appearances.

Instead, he proposes that cooperation between the U.S. and China would prove beneficial not only to these two nations but also to the entire world.

Winchester pointed out that traditionally, China has remained within its own borders, saying that China has maintained its territorial integrity without seeking expansion.

Winchester suggested inviting Americans, especially those harboring misconceptions about China, to visit the country and experience its reality firsthand.

He stressed the vital role of education in bridging divides and dispelling misconceptions. The scholar also highlighted the need to tackle the ignorance about China among American youngsters.

Winchester placed the responsibility on the U.S. to nurture a relationship with China founded on friendly competition, mutual knowledge, and understanding.

Continuous learning and broad interests

Regarding his adeptness at staying informed across diverse fields, Winchester credited his extensive reading habits and frequent travel. He recognized his wide array of interests and saw it as an advantage in exploring various topics. He expressed his continued desire to learn and disseminate knowledge through his writings.

His book, "The Perfectionists," explores engineers' and scientists' pursuit for precision, which has drived human progress across multiple industries. He acknowledged the dual impacts precision has had on society, resulting in both positive outcomes like the Industrial Revolution and subsequent technological advancements and negative ones.

The conversation shifted to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), which elicited concern from Winchester. While recognizing AI's remarkable capabilities, he expressed the need for international regulation. He emphasized the urgency for nations to overcome their differences and collaboratively tackle the challenges and implications posed by AI.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chengliang)
At Cotswold Airport, close to Cirencester, ZeroAvia's hydrogen-electric engine has completed nine test flights. The engine simply releases water as an exhaust.

The engine will help the "decarbonization of aviation," according to Sergey Kiselev, vice president of ZeroAvia, as reported by BBC News.

Other aerospace companies are working on hydrogen-powered engines, although most don't anticipate commercial flights until 2035. How did they do it, and is it conceivable to fly much sooner than previously imagined without accelerating climate change?

The Dornier 228

Because they are not creating a whole new aircraft, the company is moving considerably more quickly. The Dornier 228 is a conventional 19-seater plane being developed by ZeroAvia. It has two propellers and is typically powered by kerosene.

One of them has been swapped out for an electric engine, and a hydrogen fuel cell is used to produce energy on board. In case of failure during the testing time, the other engine continues to run on kerosene.

However, after the technology is validated, both engines will use hydrogen fuel cell electricity. The only component that needs to pass safety tests is the new engine, and the business is collaborating with the Civil Aviation Authority to obtain certification.

About 12 passengers can ride on the Dornier 228 when it has a hydrogen engine. According to Chief Commercial Officer Sergey Kiselev, it can travel between 250 and 310 miles (400 and 500 kilometers). From Bristol Airport to Newcastle or London to Paris, you could travel that way.

The usage of hydrogen fuel cells in automobiles and trucks is not new. When hydrogen and oxygen are combined chemically, a process known as "reverse hydrolysis" is used to produce heat, water vapor, and, most importantly, electricity.

The business intends to release a larger hydrogen-electric engine by 2027 that will power larger aircraft. This might travel closer to 620 miles (1,000 km) and accommodate about 50 passengers.

Read also: China's First Passenger Plane Makes Official Commercial Debut

Customers are Now Signing Up for Carbon-Free Flights

The Cotswold Airport's hangar is modest and located distant from the large research facilities of Airbus, Rolls Royce, and Boeing. However, ZeroAvia has already received more than 1,500 orders for its initial engine.

(Photo: by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California on May 2, 2023.

One is Air Cahana, a brand-new airline from California with "a mission to decarbonize aviation."

The local environmental entrepreneur Dale Vince, who started the renewable energy company Ecotricity, was another early customer.

Larger aerospace companies are keeping an eye on the modest start-up. In its extensive research program ZeroE, Airbus also employs hydrogen. The company is investigating both using liquid hydrogen directly for burning and employing hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to power propellers.

However, Airbus plans to replace the tiny ZeroAvia engines with hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035, a full decade later.

The business is facing at least two significant obstacles. One is to have a safe, approved, and operational engine by 2025. Making sure that there is some brand-new, fresh hydrogen waiting for the airplane when it lands at the other end will be the other, more difficult problem.

Related article: Chinese Researchers Successfully Achieved Mach 5+ in Test of New Hypersonic Rocket Engines

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone (SENA) on July 13 confirmed a $293 million investment from Runergy, a leading solar panel manufacturer. The news came through the economic zone's online portal, announcing that the investment is earmarked for the construction of a silicon and semiconductor manufacturing plant.

The significance of this investment was underscored by the prime minister's presence at the project's investment certificate presentation, held concurrently with a meeting with several key Chinese economic conglomerates.

The new facility's capacity, projected to yield an annual output of 14,635 tonnes of silicon and 995 million 182mm semiconductors, marks a significant step forward in Vietnam's tech landscape. Beyond manufacturing, the project will cater to factory leasing services. Execution of the project is slated for Hoang Mai I Industrial Park, nestled in Quynh Thien ward of Hoang Mai town, within the SENA remit.

This development succeeds a spate of job listings by Runergy in Thailand for a multitude of roles spanning administrative, legal, human resources, and accounting domains. These positions, offering salaries between VND15 million ($640) to VND60 million, specified a requirement for Chinese language proficiency and a minimum of diploma-level education.

A key player in the solar power arena, Runergy PV Technology from Thailand, is an affiliate of China's Jiangsu Runergy New Energy Technology. Capitalising on global renewable energy opportunities, the enterprise has remained steadfast in its commitment to researching, developing, and manufacturing high-efficiency solar panels and modules.

The establishment of Runergy PV Technology Vietnam on July 7, signified the firm's expansion within the country. Song Wen Xiang, incumbent CEO of Runergy PV Technology (Thailand), was appointed as the legal representative of the newly formed entity.

Runergy's robust foray into the region followed an extensive survey in February 2023 of prospective investment sites, including Hoang Mai I and II industrial parks within SENA.

In a high-level meeting with Nghe An People's Committee in March 2023, Runergy expressed satisfaction with Vietnam's investment climate and articulated its aspirations to expand its footprint in the country. This sentiment was echoed by Dao Long Trung, chairman of Runergy, highlighting Nghe An as a potential investment locale.

The latest data from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment positions Nghe An province eighth nationally in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) for H1/2023, pulling in a substantial $720.94 million.

Up to June 20, 2023, the province drew eight FDI projects with registered capital of $613.15 million and augmented five existing projects with an additional $107.79 million, making a total new and adjusted registered capital of $720.94 million.

Nghe An is currently home to 124 active foreign-invested projects with the total registered capital of nearly $3.3 billion. This includes 76 projects within the Southeast Economic Zone and other IPs of the central province with the total registered investment capital of $2.95 billion and 48 projects outside the Southeast Economic Zone totalling $334.45 million in registered capital.

Hanmi Semiconductor spreads wings in Vietnam South Korean firm Hanmi Semiconductor has forged its path into Vietnam, capitalising on the countrys strategic foothold in Asia's high-tech supply chain and its bountiful pool of local talent.

Semiconductor makers set up shop In a testament to Vietnams burgeoning semiconductor market, numerous foreign manufacturers have swiftly announced plans to establish a presence in the country.
In early July, the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) recommended to the government and relevant ministries and branches that they devise processes and procedures for inspecting the grade of steel imported into Vietnam. This will enhance the investigation and application of proper trade remedies to limit unjust rivalry for imported steel products and safeguard the domestic steel industry.

This recommendation was made because in the first five months of the year, Vietnam imported approximately 4.6 million tonnes of steel worth approximately $3.93 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of 220,000 tonnes worth $480 million.

Significantly, Chinese steel imports tend to spike dramatically once more. From more than 200,000 tonnes in JulyAugust 2022, it has risen to more than 600,000 tonnes in April of this year. The most direct reason is that a devalued yuan is advantageous for exports, according to Pei Hao, a senior FIS analyst based in Shanghai. Moreover, China's export prices are appealing.

"The yuan depreciated by approximately 5 per cent, China's real estate market remained lethargic, and demand in certain countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, the Middle East, and Africa increased, resulting in a surge in China's steel exports," said VSA chairman Nghiem Xuan Da.

On the Vietnamese market, even though the demand for steel has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the low price of steel from China due to the weak yuan has prompted a number of trading companies to retain their inventory.

Currently, in Vietnam, import regulations are extremely lax. According to the VSA, steel is not required to declare conformance or inspect imported products and commodities because it is not included in the group of products that pose a threat in Circular No. 06/2020/TT-BKHCN.

Currently, most imported steel is exempt from import duties. Other steel products, such as galvanised steel sheet, coloured corrugated iron, steel conduit, and prestressed steel, are no longer subject to trade remedies such as the steel billet safeguard.

In 2022, Vietnam imported more than $11.9 billion worth of finished steel products, totalling 11.7 million tonnes. The deficit in steel trade was $3.9 billion.

Currently, China accounts for approximately 41.6 per cent of Vietnam's steel supply markets, Japan for 15 per cent, Korea for 12.2 per cent, Taiwan for 8.8 per cent, and India for approximately 6.5 per cent.

Tough times for building materials sector The construction materials industry has seen revenue drop by $1 billion over the last two years and is valued at approximately $2 billion annually at present, far below its pre-pandemic figures. This observation came from Dinh Quang Huy, chairman of Vietnam Building Ceramics Association at a seminar held on June 10 in Hanoi seeking measures to help building materials firms out of their current difficulties.

Export pressure on steel groups heightens When competing with China's massive output to meet the rising demand, Vietnam's steel exports are hampered.
Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

Bangkok - Thai authorities have relaxed procedures to create favourable conditions for migrant workers and address labour shortages in the post-COVID-19 recovery process.



Thailand and Cambodia have reached an agreement to create more favourable conditions for more than 40,000 Cambodian migrant workers who are reapplying for or renewing their work permits.



Pairoj Chotikasathien, Director-General of the Department of Employment under the Thai Ministry of Labour, said the agreement was obtained at a meeting between Thai labour authorities and their Cambodian counterparts, in the hope of easing a labour shortages.



Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations, Cambodian workers are allowed to work legally in Thailand for four years.



Many migrant workers returned to their home country during the pandemic. As work permits held by these workers are expiring for the period of January of last year to July 31, 2023, they will have to renew their permits and other related documents to either return to work in Thailand or continue living and working in this country.



Pairof said that these Cambodian workers will be exempt from the usual requirement to wait 30 days from the day their work permit expires until they are allowed to reapply.

The entire reapplication process will be conducted online to improve convenience for workers, he added.



A similar agreement was also reached at a meeting between the Thai labour authorities and their Myanmar counterparts. Myanmar migrant workers will be also exempt from the 30-day break rule and will be able to reapply immediately for a work permit when their current one is about to expire.

Both Cambodia and Myanmar authorities have requested a discount on the visa fee.

Vietnam, Thailand jointly fight human trafficking Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh held a working session with Thai Minister of Social Development and Human Security Chuti Krairiksh in Bangkok on July 12 to promote bilateral cooperation in combating human trafficking and share experience in social welfare development.
Tien Giang master plan: Marine and urban economy being growth engines

On the afternoon of July 12, the meeting to appraise the planning of Tien Giang province for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, took place and was chaired by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong.

Phuong stated that planning played a critical role in the socioeconomic development of the whole country, and of each sector, region, and location in particular. The planning is a good opportunity to rearrange the new development space, create new motivation for the province's development, and remove the bottlenecks, Phuong said.

He said that Tien Giang has a favourable location for economic, cultural, and tourism development, located on an important traffic axis, 70km far from Ho Chi Minh City and 100km from Can Tho city. It is the transshipment area between the Mekong Delta provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, both by waterway and road.

In 2011-2020, the growth of Tien Giang reached 6.55 per cent per year, higher than the general average (about 6.15 per cent of the region; or 6.21 per cent of the whole country). The economic growth rate in 2022 has seen a remarkable growth of 7.02 per cent on-year, which is a positive signal reflecting the determination and unceasing efforts of all government agencies, businesses, and the people

He said to continue promoting economic development, as well as solving social problems, adapting to climate change, and protecting the environment, Tien Giang needs to develop a high-quality master plan, utilising as much potential as possible, overcoming difficulties, and promoting selective investment attraction.

Nguyen Van Vinh, Chairman of Tien Giang People's Committee, said that they had several important opportunities for a breakthrough development in the Mekong River Delta.

Vinh said that after two years of building and asking for opinions, the province had a summary report on the planning of Tien Giang that was nearly 1,000 pages thick. In this, Tien Giang aims to become an industrial province with an industrial-service-agricultural economic structure, one of the growth poles of the Mekong Delta, and a bridge between the Mekong Delta and the southeast region.

"Of this, agriculture is an important and specific economic sector, developing Tien Giang province into a national tourism centre. The marine economy and the urban economy will be the driving force for growth," Vinh said.

Tien Giang will also develop various sociocultural fields; promote effective international integration; ensure national defence, security, social order, and safety; protect the environment; and cope with climate change effectively and sustainably.

The master plan sets out 22 economic, social, environmental, infrastructure, and defence and security targets. In particular, the growth rate in 2026-2030 will be high at 8-9 per cent per year.

GRDP per capita by 2030 will be about VND140-145 million ($6,000-6,200), the rate of urbanisation by 2030 will be about 45-47 per cent, transport infrastructure will be developed synchronously, and the digital economy will be promoted to support economic growth. The poverty rate will be reduced to about 1.1 per cent by 2025, and 0.7 per cent by 2030.

Breakthroughs will focus on solving bottlenecks, developing key infrastructure, developing industries, agriculture and green, smart cities, and tourism services, trade, logistics, and real estate market with administrative reform, well-preparing economic infrastructure to draw businesses and develop high-quality human resources.

"After being approved, the provincial planning will create new growth engines and values for Tien Giang province," said Vinh.

Tien Giang attractive to both domestic and foreign investors As a gateway linking the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, and the southeastern region, Tien Giang province with its role as an important part of the southern key economic region is becoming increasingly attractive to domestic and foreign investors.

Tien Giang invests 650,000 USD in irrigation projects along coastal districts The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has invested 15 billion VND (650,000 USD) in 70 in-field irrigation projects on 27,000ha of farming land in the coastal districts of Go Cong Dong and Go Cong Tay during the 2020 - 21 dry season.
The biggest e-commerce platforms in Vietnam are backed by international names, Photo: Shutterstock

Tran Ngoc Thai Son, CEO and co-founder of prominent e-commerce platform Tiki, tendered his resignation to the companys Board of Directors last week.

The news came as a surprise to many, given Sons pivotal role in shaping Tiki since its inception 13 years ago. Sons reported departure comes at a critical juncture for Tiki as it grapples with recent performance setbacks. Over the past decade, the platform climbed the e-commerce ranks in Vietnam, providing stiff competition to regional giants such as Shopee and Lazada.

However, the recent fiscal year presented significant challenges for the company. In the light of audited reports, Tikis total revenue for 2022 declined by 7 per cent compared to 2021. Concurrently, the companys total expenses rose by 4 per cent, which resulted in a 39 per cent surge in its operational losses.

This suggests that an initial public offering (IPO) may be delayed until 2024 or early 2025.

Once considered the brightest star among Vietnamese startups, Tiki received hundreds of millions in investment from various funds. In May last year, Shinhan Financial Group  South Koreas second-largest banking behemoth  agreed to acquire a 10 per cent interest, making it the companys third-largest stakeholder In 2021, Tiki successfully raised $258 million in a funding round led by AIA Insurance.

However, Vietnams e-commerce scene has always been a fierce battleground, and Tikis competitors are internationally experienced and financially muscular.

Lazada has the backing of Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce titan, while Shopee is financially supported by Sea Group, once the highest-valued startup in Southeast Asia. All three players have engaged in a costly race, splurging on promotions and advertisements to draw users.

Tikis growth pace has slowed significantly, unable to keep up with the intense competition and rigorous market demands. This trajectory has sparked questions about the companys future in the high-stakes e-commerce industry.

The e-commerce landscape is primed for a shift from short-lived rapid expansion to a focus on sustainable business growth, said Pham Thi Quynh Trang, COO of Lazada Vietnam in an interview in March.

Despite the evolving focus, Trang remains confident that the e-commerce sector continues to offer substantial opportunities for a diverse range of businesses. Lazada, in particular, has chosen to prioritise a strategy of stable, sustainable operation, Trang said.

Vietnams e-commerce sector has seen a rise in revenue in 2023 so far, according to the countrys Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy. The retail e-commerce revenue reached an estimated $10.3 billion, marking an approximate 25 per cent surge from the same period last year and contributing to 7.7 per cent of the total consumer goods and services revenue nationwide.

However, the Vietnam E-commerce Index 2023 report released last week puts forward a caution to the growth story. The rapid expansion of e-commerce has unmasked several sustainability issues, particularly pertaining to environmental repercussions.

The process of order completion in the realm of online retail, particularly logistics and last-mile delivery, has given rise to significant environmental concerns. Key areas of concern include the overuse of packaging materials that are not environmentally friendly, coupled with the emission of a substantial amount of carbon. The issue becomes more severe in the context of express delivery services, the report said.

To effectively mitigate these challenges, it is of paramount importance that all stakeholders within the e-commerce ecosystem come together, the report added. Government regulatory bodies, e-commerce companies, academic institutions, research bodies, and professional social organisations need to work in unison to address these environmental concerns, it said.

Tiki diversification still to latch onto sustained success Despite concerted efforts in service diversification, e-commerce giant Tiki has its back against the wall amid challenging times.
The 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting was held last week in Jakarta

It is expected that from now until the years end, representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment will continue working with peers from the other nine ASEAN member states to discuss a new version of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) signed in 2009. The updated deal will be among a slew of solutions for ASEAN to expand their trade and investment ties.

The upgraded agreement is expected to be signed in 2024, a representative from the ASEAN Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VIR.

An upgrade trade negotiating committee has been set up to intensify negotiations in accordance with the ATIGA Upgrade Negotiations Work Plan.

We noted the progress of the ATIGA upgrade negotiations which is targeted to be comprehensive in scope and cover not only traditional trade-in-goods elements but also emerging and future issues to ensure that the upgraded ATIGA will be a modern, comprehensive, forward-looking agreement relevant to business communities and more responsive to regional and global developments, stated the joint communique of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting organised last week in Indonesia which acts as ASEAN chair this year.

The EU-ASEAN Business Council has proposed that regarding trade liberalisation under the ATIGA, specific measures should be explicitly included on the tariff-free treatment of reused, recycled, repaired and remanufactured goods to speed up movement to a circular economy in ASEAN.

Remaining tariffs on some goods in some member states should be further eliminated to bring the agreement on par with other agreements that have been entered into subsequently, the council said.

In another case, in the chapter on trade facilitation, it is recommended that improvements should include specific and enforceable deadlines for the further expansion of the ASEAN Single Window to include all documentation needed for the import or export of goods.

Also, it is needed to include a provision for simplified clearances for low-value shipments; include a commitment to move to full paperless systems for customs and other documentary requirements; and include provisions to enhance dialogue and consultation with the private sector. There is also a need to include more specificity in the chapter on enhancing trade facilitation in the region.

Under the ATIGAs existing commitments, ASEAN member nations vowed to remove tariffs to 98.6 per cent out of the total goods and products in 2021.

The agreement is the backbone of ASEAN economic integration. According to the MoIT, the new deal will help remove many barriers, making it more favourable for Vietnam to expand trade and investment ties with regional economies. In fact, the implementation of regional economic commitments including the ATIGA has benefited many enterprises in Vietnam as the import tariffs of products into regional markets have almost been removed so far.

For example, since last year, TH Group has marketed more than 30 product lines - including milk, foodstuffs, and organic agricultural products - in Singapore thanks to reduced tariffs. TH Group and Singapores HAO Mart have forged strategic ties on consuming and promoting these products in Singapore.

All world-class brands have set foot in Singapore, so now is our presence in this market, which will then be expanded to Malaysia and other nations to benefit from reduced tariffs and high purchasing power, said Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, director of International Marketing at TH Group.

According to the MoIT, TH Group is among many big enterprises in Vietnam that have been boosting exports to regional markets. In the first half of this year, total exports turnover from Vietnam to other regional economies is estimated to hit 16.3 billion  and companies in Vietnam used an estimated $20.3 billion to import goods from these markets.

The MoIT has coordinated with the Ministry of Finances General Department of Vietnam Customs to successfully connect with the ASEAN Single Window, an environment that connects and integrates the national single window of each ASEAN member state which significantly expedites cargo and promotes ASEAN economic integration.

Additionally, Vietnam has also exchanged the electronic certificate of origin with the D form with nine regional nations. In 2022, the total number of e-dossiers exchanged with these nations was about 250,000.

Denny Abdi, Ambassador of Indonesia to Vietnam, said that the implementation of regional commitments under deals like the ATIGA offer Indonesian companies opportunities to export goods to and invest in Vietnam.

He said that over the past five years, there has been a 9.77 per cent increase in bilateral trade. He cited the General Department of Vietnam Customs as reporting that total trade between Indonesia and Vietnam reached $14.17 billion in 2022, up by 23.04 per cent from $11.5 billion in 2021.

Regarding investment, Indonesia considers Vietnams position as strategic for the enhancement of mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In recent years, Indonesian investors have increasingly been interested to invest in Vietnam, Ambassador Abdi said.

According to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of June 20, total registered investment capital from ASEAN in Vietnam hit $101.87 billion, including Singapore ($73.43 billion), Thailand ($13.1 billion), Malaysia ($13 billion), Brunei ($945.4 million), Indonesia ($645 million), the Philippines ($607.7 million), Laos ($71.1 million), and Cambodia ($69.8 billion).

Regional member states have also agreed that they should adopt a holistic approach to building a competitive funding environment, which will allow them to woo more foreign direct investment (FDI) within the bloc and from its partners of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Such facilitation should incorporate business and other measures not limited to foreign investment procedures alone. Synergies should be sought between related efforts and the activities and tools of authorities other than investment promotion agencies, the members agreed.

It should also cover business registration and approvals, licences, and other administrative requirements and processes, and tax-related and social security procedures, for example.

ASEAN, G7 foster judicial cooperation The ASEAN-G7 Justice Ministers' Interface convened in Tokyo, Japan on July 7, aiming to foster cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Seven (G7) countries in the field of law and justice.
Dong Hoi Airport plays an important role in delivering passengers and goods in the northern central region, Vung Ang Economic Zone, and surrounding areas. However, the current capacity of the airport is below demand and insufficient for the region's socioeconomic development potential.

Quang Binh People's Committee is seeking advice and opinion from the MoT for the province's implementation plans, and from the MPI about the feasibility of the investment timetable, in order to be granted approval in principle on the project.

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is the main investor in the project, and the company hopes that the MoT and the commission can reach a compromise to allow it to organise the design competition for the expanded project.

ACV has plans to start construction of the T2 terminal and expansion of the aircraft car park in the third quarter of 2024 with completion of these two sub-projects expected by the first quarter of 2026.

Under the prime minister's recently approved national master plan on airport development, the projected annual capacity of Dong Hoi Airport is three million passengers by 2030 and five million by 2050.

Thailand to invest nearly 3 billion USD in expanding international airports The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) plans to invest 100 billion THB (2.8 billion USD) in the expansion of its six international airports in Thailand over the next five years.

Capital region's second airport expected by 2050 A second airport in the capital region is expected to take shape by 2050 to ease the burden on the Noi Bai International Airport, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Construction of terminal at Long Thanh intl airport to begin in August Work on a passenger terminal at Long Thanh International Airport in southern Dong Nai province is scheduled to start in August, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced at a working session on July 6 with the provincial People's Committee.

Long Thanh terminal construction set to begin in August Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has unveiled plans to commence the construction of a $1.46 billion passenger terminal at the forthcoming Long Thanh International Airport in August, marking a significant milestone in the nation's ambitious three-phase airport project.
Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier, has encountered formidable obstacles in securing landing slots at international airports, as well as experiencing slot losses at London's Heathrow Airport. Moreover, the airline has grappled with the complexities of acquiring slots in China, where it has been granted a mere 28 international slots across four major airports.

These significant issues were recently addressed by Vietnam Airlines during its mid-year review conference, shedding light on the company's achievements in the first half of the year and outlining its objectives for the latter half of 2023.

Upon reviewing these challenges, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) revealed that Vietnam Airlines, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, was unable to retain its historical slots for the Summer 2023 schedule at London Heathrow Airport, which had previously received seven flights per week.

Vietnam Airlines now operates three flights per week on the Hanoi-London Heathrow route and two flights per week on the Ho Chi Minh City-London Heathrow route. These slots are newly assigned, without the recognition of historical status, for the Summer 2024 season.

The CAAV has diligently communicated its concerns to the relevant authorities in the UK, appealing for support to safeguard Vietnam Airlines' historical slots at London Heathrow Airport. However, the Department of Transport and the independent coordinating body responsible for slot allocation in the UK have been so far unable to grant this request.

In relation to China, Vietnamese airlines are presently operating at approximately 25 per cent of their pre-pandemic capacity, while Chinese airlines have achieved approximately 38 per cent of their pre-pandemic volume.

Vietnam Airlines' Summer 2023 schedule encompasses five regular routes, connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, resulting in a cumulative frequency of 19 flights per week. Additionally, the airline operates regular charter flights from Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Danang to 14 destinations in China, accounting for 25 flights per week.

Seven Chinese airlines operate 10 routes, originating from nine cities in China and serving Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These flights amount to a combined frequency of 93 round-trip flights per week.

Turning to India, two Vietnamese carriers have effectively utilised their allocated supply capacity of 28 flights per week, with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air operating 14 each, while Indian airlines have utilised just 14 out of their allocated 28 flights.

There is keen interest from Vietnamese companies to increase the frequency of flights to the four major Indian cities by proposing a complete removal of restrictions on supply capacity.

The CAAV has suggested the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport adopt a 'use it or lose it' approach, enabling the retention of historical slots when Vietnamese and Chinese airlines fail to utilise their slots fully during the Summer 2023 schedule.

Additionally, formal requests have been submitted to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, seeking support in securing new slots at Chinese airports in accordance with the needs of Vietnamese airlines during the Winter 2023 schedule.

The challenge in India does not lie in obtaining slot confirmations from authorities there, but rather in the fact that Vietnamese airlines have already reached their allocated capacity as specified in the existing MoU between the two countries' aviation authorities.

The CAAV has been actively engaging through diplomatic channels to urge India to consider increasing frequencies on routes to the four major cities. The CAAV suggests that the lack of consideration from Indian authorities stems from the underutilisation of the agreed allocations by Indian airlines, which has impeded a thorough review of the proposal.

GE Digital joins with Bamboo Airways to save on fuel costs GE Digital has announced a new agreement with Bamboo Airways that will help the airline enhance its fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Bamboo Airways is set to adopt GE Digitals Fuel Insight and FlightPulse, two market-proven software solutions that are designed to provide airlines with data they can use to reduce fuel costs and optimise operations.
I recently read that the current life expectancy for the United States is 76.1 years. I thought about that for a moment then realized I am 76.5 years old. I am on borrowed time! Global life expectancy is 73.16 years.

There are exceptions, of course. Jimmy Carter, 98, and Rosalynn, 95, just celebrated their 77th anniversary. Two of my best friends are 86 and 88 and I know of two centenarians who are 102. Mother Teresa remained active until her death at age 87. Billy Graham was 99.

Eventually the years catch up to us. No one is exempt. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, education, wealth or position. We all grow old, and we will all die. The Bible is clear. We have finished our years with a sigh. As for the days of our life they contain 70 years, or if by strength, 80 years. ... for soon they are gone and we fly away. (Psalm 90)

So, at this age, where is my hope? What do I look forward to?

My hope is in the next generation and the promises of God. This month we will welcome two babies into our neighborhood. We hosted their expectant parents and neighbors in our home last month for a celebration. We prayed for a healthy birth for each mother and child and gave thanks for the miracle of new life. Their parents are thrilled. If these little ones live as long as I have, they could see the year 2100. What will that look like? What kind of world will that be?

Most science-fiction scenarios predict a dystopian future. A dark place following near annihilation. I pray for a world of global peace and understanding, a world of acceptance between all peoples of differing ethnicities. I pray it will be a world in which the next generation turns back the clock on global warming. A world where the abundant resources of the Earth are shared so that none go hungry.

When Jesus sat on a hillside with his closest disciples, he looked down the corridors of time that stretched between his day and ours. He saw wars and rumors of wars. Nations rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, earthquakes and famine. He painted a dark picture. But, in the end He saw the sunrise of prosperity and peace at His glorious return. (Mark 13)

What do I have to look forward to? My hope is in Christ. I look forward to a few more years to bless these who are younger, and I look forward to His eternal home in the heavens. He has said, Everyone that lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:26) I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all. And no man can snatch them from my Fathers hand. (John 10:28-29)

I have stood on the edge of eternity with family and friends as they drew their last breath. It is a beautiful place, not unlike the seashore, its ceaseless waves stretching beyond the horizon where the sun rises in a crimson sky. The sun will rise and the Son who rose from the dead will return.
Three people were dead and five were in the hospital Monday following an overnight fire that destroyed an apartment building in Lacy Lakeview.

The Northgate Apartments, which consisted of a single two-story building with 16 units at 115 Faye St., collapsed in the fire, Lacy Lakeview Fire Chief Cody Newman said.

The three dead bodies were discovered in the collapsed rubble of the building, Newman said. Lacy Lakeview officials had not released the names of the deceased as of late Monday afternoon.

About 30 to 35 people lived in the apartments just north of Texas State Technical College.

Newman said the department received a call around 11:43 p.m. Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, finally getting the fire mostly controlled by Monday morning, with small fires continuing to burn beneath the rubble.

First responders worked throughout the day, sifting through the ruins to both extinguish the remaining cinders and look for missing residents.

Newman said four residents were taken to the hospital initially and a fifth person had a medical emergency after evacuating from the building. Another person who was believed missing after the fire was found uninjured by mid-morning Monday.

Newman said the department received a call around 11:43 p.m. Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, and smoke still billowed from the ruins Monday morning.

Residents of Faye Street were awakened during the night by screaming and sirens. Pete Rubio said he got out of bed to use the bathroom when he first heard screaming coming from the apartments.

I looked out the door here, and I saw the fire starting up, Rubio said. Then all of a sudden, it just spread out. People were all over the yard here.

Faye Street resident Cynthia Bassham said she was sitting outside on her porch when she saw several kids running down the street and police cars arriving on scene, which prompted her to walk down the street to see what was going on.

Next thing I know, it was in flames, Bassham said. There were people jumping out of the windows. There were people, their clothes were burned.

Newman said the cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshals Office. Preliminary investigations were inconclusive, Newman said.

Waco, West, Ross, Elm Mott and Bellmead fire departments aided Lacy Lakeview firefighters, along with Heart of Texas Fire Corps, American Red Cross, American Medical Response and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross were on scene helping the 30 to 35 displaced residents with their immediate needs. Red Cross spokesperson Delia Castillo said volunteers are providing displaced residents with shelter, food, clothing, medicine and mental health resources.

As of early afternoon, the organization had opened 14 cases for assistance and was working to open more, she said.

Our hearts go out to our neighbors who were impacted by the Northgate Apartment complex fire in Lacy Lakeview, Castillo said in a statement to the Tribune-Herald. The American Red Cross Heart of Texas Chapter is responding to help meet the urgent needs of over 30 residents who were displaced by this tragedy. Red Cross volunteers are providing immediate assistance, emotional support and will be there as they start the road to recovery.

Many of the Northgate residents barely escaped with their lives and lost most of their personal belongings.

Resident Elyssa Hixson was out of state when the fire happened, but said her boyfriend Enzo and dog Jax were home. Luckily, her boyfriend and dog escaped unharmed, but the couple lost all of their belongings, including much of what they had purchased for their unborn daughter, who is due in November.

He called me, and I hear screaming in the background, Hixson said. We lost everything. We have a child on the way and all of our stuff was destroyed. Everything is gone; ultrasound pictures, baby diapers. Everything like that is gone.

Hixson also said she and her boyfriend lost items from deceased relatives.

We lost everything that they gave us, what we had left from them, she said. It was just a lot mentally and emotionally on both of us.

Apartment manager Tabatha Milam said around 11:30 p.m., she heard residents running down the halls of the building, banging on doors and screaming that the building was on fire.

Milam said she only had enough time to grab her purse and her dog, and when she came outside, the entire right side of the building was engulfed in flames. She said she saw tenants jumping from the second-floor windows.

There were tenants throwing mattresses out and jumping, Milam said. Instantly, everything was on fire. The entire building was engulfed in 10 minutes.

Milam said one resident broke his leg after jumping from a second floor window to escape the fire, and another suffered severe burns. In addition to the three residents who were killed, Milam said 11 pets died from the fire.

Milam said she is still in shock.

Im still numb, she said. I dont even know what Im supposed to feel yet.

Robert Sinkler was a maintenance employee of the apartment building for two years. He said the three residents who died will be missed.

Its hard to lose everything you have, and then people that you know and have been acquainted with and made friends with as well, Sinkler said. We were very well acquainted with one of them. Its very hard.
Gallium is a crucial component of US military radars, thus Beijing's latest export restrictions may not have a significant impact on the Pentagon's supply chain since American defense authorities will hunt for alternatives, according to experts.

As retaliation for US-backed sanctions on the Chinese semiconductor industry, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said this month that it will apply export limits on goods related to gallium and germanium starting on August 1 in order to protect "national security and interests," as reported by South China Morning Post.

Gallium in the US

(Photo : by LOU BENOIST/AFP via Getty Images))

This photograph taken on June 15, 2023 shows the Star NG radar (Primary Surveillance Radar for Approach) on the Thales site in Ymare, near Rouen, northwestern France.

The export of the strategic metals is subject to the regulations, and infractions could result in administrative sanctions or criminal prosecution. China's Ministry of Commerce stated that germanium and gallium items clearly served both military and civilian uses when announcing the limitations.

Gallium has long been a crucial component of US advanced defense systems and the military supply chain. It is widely utilized in advanced microelectronics, including semiconductors and LEDs. It has primarily been utilized in high-energy radars, including the AN/SPY-6 and AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radars used by the US Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.

The AN/SPY-6 is a three-dimensional radar that will be installed on the most recent Arleigh Burke class destroyer, which is in charge of air and missile defense and uses the Aegis combat system.

The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a 3D short- and medium-range radar that can also spot unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, targets that breathe air, rockets, and artillery. These systems' antennas and other crucial, hard-to-replace components are supported by gallium nitride (GaN) technology.

Read Also: HNGN Weekly Wrap-Up: Biden on Sweden's NATO Bid, China's New Trade Policies, Coco Lee's Death

Beijing's Plan to Disrupt the Defense Supply Chain

Beijing saw an opportunity to use Washington's "fear of vulnerability" against the US to boost its leverage, and one of its goals was to undermine the semiconductor export control in order to disrupt the defense supply chain.

As the US-China competition grows, radar systems have once again been the subject of geopolitical arm-wrestling.

Beijing retaliated with economic sanctions after South Korea deployed the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system in 2016, claiming the radar system endangered China's security interests.

In September, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei, Taiwan approved a US$412 million contract to Raytheon, a significant US aerospace and defense corporation, to improve and maintain surveillance radar. For its involvement in Taiwanese arms sales, Raytheon was subject to sanctions from Beijing in February.

Chinese researchers unveiled one of the most potent radars in the world in June. This radar can detect ballistic missiles as far away as 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles), much beyond the range of standard radars, which typically operate within a few hundred kilometers.

The US Geological Survey states that the country exclusively depends on imports and has no local gallium production. On the other hand, in 2020 and 2021, China was responsible for more than 95 percent of global gallium production. Between 2018 and 2021, 53 percent of the metal imported into the US came from China.

The Pentagon declared it had a strategic stockpile of germanium but no inventory reserves of gallium in response to Beijing's export restrictions.

Each year, Japan and South Korea produced 3,000 kg and 2,000 kg of primary gallium, respectively. Germany halted producing the metal in 2016, but after noticing a spike in world prices, it declared it would start up again in 2021.

Following pressure from Washington about technology that could be used for military objectives, China has restricted the export of gallium.

China is no longer able to create and maintain supercomputers or produce advanced semiconductors for use in military applications due to limits established by the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security in October.

China, according to the bureau, utilized the prohibited materials to "produce advanced military systems, including weapons of mass destruction [and] improve the speed and accuracy of its military decision-making, planning, and logistics."

Related Article: China Restricts Exports of Gallium, Germanium as Trade War With US Escalates

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Fukushima documentary

Waco Friends of the Climate will screen the documentary The Fukushima Disaster, the Hidden Side of the Story, at its 6 p.m. meeting July 25, at the South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St.

The film looks at the health impacts of the 2011 nuclear accident and takes a skeptical view of the actions of Japanese officials.

The event is free, and all are welcome. Vegan refreshments will be served.

For more information, email anorthc@aol.com.

School supply drive

The Salvation Army is joining with local Walmart and H-E-B stores to collect back-to-school supplies from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 4-6.

During the campaign, shoppers can purchase and drop off school supplies and other requested items at Salvation Army collection bins at Walmarts on Franklin Avenue and in Hewitt in yellow buses.

Waco H-E-B stores also will be collecting back-to-school donations for school supplies that will then be purchased for The Salvation Army to distribute. Shoppers can round up their bills, including curbside purchases, to donate throughout the month of August.

The goal is to provide new school supplies to 300-500 students in McLennan County, ensuring children have the supplies they need for success.

Doris Miller input sought

The city of Waco is seeking community input on the next phase of the Doris Miller Community Center.

Residents are asked to take a 10-question survey, available at surveymonkey.com/r/RYF58XX, to set priorities for outdoor spaces, including aquatic opportunities.

DAR lineage workshop

The annual Daughters of the American Revolution lineage workshop will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

The Henry Downs Chapter is hosting the free event to assist women 18 and older who are interested in joining the organization.

Attendees will learn about the steps needed to document lineage. Those who have family documents of the last three generations should bring them to the workshop.

Reservations are helpful for planning but not required. For more information, call 254-709-4208 or email HenryDownsVIS@gmail.com.

Church giving backpacks

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1801 Gurley Ave., will give away backpacks during a back-to-school gathering from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 5.

For more information, call 254-315-7837.

Back-to-school picnic

The GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund will have its fourth annual Community Barbecue & Back-to-School Picnic from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 28 at Texas State Technical College, 3801 Campus Drive.

The event will kick off the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival. The picnic will feature free barbecue, along with the distribution of free backpacks and school supplies to help children get ready for school. Families can drive through or stick around and relax in the park with music by DJ Auggie.

For more information, call 908-672-6024.

Back-To-School Bash

The Waco Police Department will hold its third annual Back-To-School Bash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 29 at Richland Mall, 6001 W. Waco Drive.

The event will include a chance to meet and greet Waco police, fire, emergency medial and SWAT personnel, along with free eye screenings, kids haircuts, immunizations, face painting, family fun games, great music and back-to-school shopping.

Cooling center extended

The city of Waco and Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management have extended availability of their cooling center through Friday.

The center is open from 1 to 8 p.m. at the city Multipurpose Center, 1020 Elm Ave.

Air conditioning, seating and bottled water will be available on-site. Pets are welcome if they are in a crate.

NARFE to meet Thursday

The Waco Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet at noon Thursday at Poppa Rollos Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive.

All active and retired federal employees are invited to attend.

YMCA Lego robotics

Greater Waco YMCA, 6800 Harvey Dr., is hosting a Lego Masters Robotics Class from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7.

The class is for ages 8 to 15 and costs $20 for YMCA members, $30 for non-members. The registration deadline is Aug. 1.

Participants will use Legos, axles, pulleys and motors to create robots.

For more information email chernandez@ymcactx.org or call 254-776-6612.
The Military Aviation Museum achieved a significant milestone over the weekend with the arrival of their latest acquisition, Curtiss C-46F Commando 44-78774, better known as The Tinker Belle. After a significant effort by maintenance staff from the Fighter Factory and local personnel in Monroe, North Carolina, The Tinker Belle made the flight to her new home successfully on Saturday, arriving a little after 6pm. The museum stayed open a little later than usual so that visitors could witness the historic aircrafts arrival. They held a small party afterwards, with a specially made cake bearing an image of the aircraft in the icing.

While in good overall condition, the aircraft had not flown in a couple of years, so her regular aircrew no longer had currency on type  neither did anyone else in the lower 48 either, since The Tinker Belle is the last flightworthy, US-based Commando outside of Alaska. Indeed, Everts Air Cargo of Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska is the last US operator of the type, with four active C-46s currently on their books. This presented a small problem in getting the aircraft to Virginia Beach, but thankfully, Everts was able to provide one of their highly experienced Commando pilots, Terry Galyean, for The Tinker Belles ferry flight from Monroe, North Carolina. The Military Aviation Museums chief pilot, Mike Spalding was in the right seat, while Al Lintz, the museums senior director of maintenance served as engineer/scanner for the flight.

Now that the aircraft is safely home, it will need to undergo a period of TLC before it can begin flying at Museum events and air shows further afield. Once the aircraft is ready, Museum pilots will then undergo type-rating training with help from Everts, although the team hasnt yet decided whether that will take place in Alaska or Virginia yet. In the meantime, the C-46 will serve as a marvelous exhibit, helping retell the oft-overlooked story of the C-46 pilots and aircrew who flew often perilous missions Over the Hump to transport precious war materiel from India over the Himalayan mountain range to where it was desperately needed in China to combat the Japanese.

The Museum is planning to allow visitors to tour inside The Tinker Belle on certain days, with the first such opportunity arriving this coming Saturday (July 22nd) during their annual South Pacific Luau and Hangar Dance Event.
CEDAR FALLS  While a lot of high schoolers may be hopping on planes this summer to vacation with their families, incoming Cedar Falls senior Param Sampat will be taking a different kind of trip  to attend a highly selective leadership opportunity in the nations capital.

Sampat has been selected as one of two representatives from Iowa to attend Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., a weeklong civic engagement and leadership training program.

From Friday to July 28, he will join two young men from each of the 48 other participating states  all but Hawaii  who have just finished their junior year of high school. The 98 senators are chosen out of a pool of about 20,000 applicants, making it an incredibly selective program.

Sampats journey with the program began with a simple email from his U.S. history teacher, Jeremiah Longnecker, letting him know that he and a handful of other students had been chosen to interview to attend Boys State at Camp Dodge.

At first I was pretty reluctant. ... I did it because I really like my history teacher and I got one of the two spots from my school, he said.

At Boys State in June, roughly 200 attendees from around the state were broken into groups called cities. For the week, the participants then campaigned for various elected city and state positions, such as city council, mayor or governor.

Sampat was chosen to be the Federalist Party chair, one of two political parties in the simulation. He ran a party convention and helped his candidates gain votes. After the election cycle was over, he also was chosen to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court.

If I could choose a word to describe it, it would be surprising, he said. I enjoyed it so much and I never thought I would. I met so many new great people and I made a lot of friends.

While Sampat may have been surprised, his parents say the drive for success he displayed during the week fits right in with who he is at heart.

Even since he was in middle school, Param was always very ambitious. He always wanted to do everything right, do everything perfect, and that has just continued, his father, Parag, said. Hes such a hard worker sometimes we have to stop him and say, Are you sure youre going to be able to do all of that? He not only does it, he wants to do it the best way and he wants to do it perfectly.

During Boys State, a list of nominees were vetted down to 10 individuals to interview for the national positions. Param and his family found out he had been selected for Boys Nation during the closing ceremony on the final day.

It made me so proud that he would be the one to represent Iowa, his mother, Rashmi, said. I cant even explain how proud I felt just hearing his name.

Sampat will be representing Iowa alongside Iowa City West student Andrew Dong. During the week, the pair will engage in similar civic training activities, this time acting as senators who have the option to run for Boys Nation president.

They will also tour the sights in Washington, D.C., including a visit to Capitol Hill and a chance to meet U.S. senators.

The program is sponsored by the American Legion, which covers the travel costs for participants over the course of their stay. Sampat is the third person from Cedar Falls ever selected for the event.

Its quite an honor for any American Legion Post in the state of Iowa to have one of their delegates from Iowa Boys State sent to the national one, said Tom Hagarty, post adjutant and Boys State coordinator at the Cedar Falls American Legion Post. And its quite an honor for the Legion Post in Cedar Falls to have him going and representing us.

The citys previous national representatives were former Cedar Falls Mayor Jon Crews in 1963 and Jacob Pence, who attended Boys Nation in 2015 and went on to graduate from West Point.

While it seems like hed make a good public official one day, Sampat has his eyes on another goal. After high school, he wants to go to college and major in biology or neuroscience to eventually become a doctor. Whether he has a career in politics or not, he still finds plenty of value in all his experiences with the program.

I feel like for me, its not about getting political power and all that, its about enjoying that experience, he said.

Ill never get to engage in something like this ever again, so Im just looking forward to meeting new people and meeting people from all around the country who are all ambitious and goal oriented and have so many different world views.

What do Iowans want? An inside look at what 20 Iowans say about their lives, government About the series 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. What Iowans want - Carl Cleveland What Iowans want - Jesse Persons What Iowans want - Fatiya Adam What Iowans Want - Garie Lewis What Iowans want - Everett Hamner What Iowans want - Leslie DuPree What Iowans want - Akeem Carter What Iowans want - Forest Dillavou What Iowans want - Mary Heller What Iowans want - Jamie Oberheu What Iowans want - Jamie Swartley What Iowans want - Alyshea Gow What Iowans want - Jason Squier What Iowans want - Ryan Globe What Iowans want - Deb Weilage What Iowans Want - Laito Zarkpah What Iowans Want - Emma Bade What Iowans Want - Chris Garcia What Iowans want - Kelli Bryant What Iowans want - Alleena Blackwell
WATERLOO  Hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Cedar River in a celebration of Latin culture over the weekend.

More than a dozen different cultures were recognized at the Fiesta! festival, presented by the Waterloo Center for the Arts in partnership with Veridian Credit Union.

The cultural showcase started in the afternoon and contained traditional dance performances, exhibitors, crafts, food vendors and a the breaking of a pinata. Parranderos Latin Combo  made up of members from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Honduras and Des Moines  provided music for the night.

Food available at the festival included elote, or Mexican corn on the cob, and Mexican fruit cups. Nilvia Reyes Rodriguez said once four food vendors signed on to the event, others soon followed. She said the festival even had to turn down some people.

Rodriguez said the weekend festival was a great representation of how Latin celebrations actually work.

The festival is multigenerational, and theres something for everyone, she said. At Latino celebrations, you will see toddlers as well as 80 year olds dancing.

The local celebration has been held for more than 12 years, Waterloo Center for the Arts registrar and festival committee member Elizabeth Andrews said.

It originally began as a Cinco de Mayo commemoration, but due to the often colder weather and Cinco de Mayo being specific to Mexican culture, the festival moved to July.

Andrews is the curator for international textiles at the WCA, which includes many from Latin American countries. She said there are blouses, scarves, skirts and quilts on display in the museum.

Rodriguez said although there are cities in Iowa with larger Latino populations  such as Denison, Perry and West Liberty  the number of Latinos in the Cedar Valley is growing.

Adriana Garcia Ledezma, a community health worker at Black Hawk County Public Health and a Fiesta! committee member, said she believes the largest Latino population in the Cedar Valley comes from Mexico but more people are coming from Honduras. She said many people come to be closer to their families and take advantage of job opportunities.

She said the festival allows Latinos to represent pride in their community.

Non-Latinos get to know our culture and share and celebrate, Ledezma said. It makes us feel recognized and valid.

Photos: The 2023 Fiesta!, a Latin heritage showcase at RiverLoop Amphitheatre Fiesta 1 Fiesta 2 Fiesta 3 Fiesta 4 Fiesta 5 Fiesta 6 Fiesta 7 Fiesta 8 Fiesta 9 Fiesta 10 Fiesta 11 Fiesta 12 Fiesta 13 Fiesta 14 Fiesta 15 Fiesta 16
Authorities have received a flood of evidence and information related to the suspect charged in some of the Gilgo Beach killings since his arrest, the Suffolk County District Attorney told CNN on Monday.

We feel we can prove these three murders, Ray Tierney said on CNN This Morning.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested Thursday and charged with the murder of three of the Gilgo Four, a group of four women whose remains were unearthed near the islands Gilgo Beach in 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

He is also the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance and killing of the fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, according to a bail application from prosecutors, though he has yet to be charged in the case.

Were also confident that were going to be able to eventually charge that fourth murder, Tierney said.

We have a description of the last individual who saw the final victim, Amber Costello, alive that matches that of this defendant, who has a rather unique physical appearance, Tierney said. We have phone evidence, and we also have that DNA evidence.

Heuermanns DNA was found on one body, and his wifes DNA was found on two bodies, Tierney said.

The Gilgo Four are among 11 sets of human remains that were found strewn across Long Islands South Shore between 2010 and 2011, launching what police have called one of the most consequential homicide investigations in the islands history.

Heuermann has so far only been charged in connection with three of the killings.

When asked whether investigators expect to connect Heuermann to more victims, deputy police commissioner Anthony Carter said, As we continue to gather evidence, anything is possible.

The multijurisdictional task force will continue to investigate Heuermann and the remaining unsolved cases by piecing together years of the suspects activities, combing through tip lines and interviewing witnesses, Carter said.

Theres still an active investigation as to his whereabouts and his conduct from the time that the bodies were discovered right up until Thursday, the investigator said.

Authorities have had Heuermann on their radar for more than a year as investigators gathered enough evidence to make an arrest. But they ultimately decided to arrest him Thursday out of concern that he may have set his sights on another victim, Carter said.

It was an adrenaline rush, he said of hearing the arrest was finally happening.

I knew that this person was a demon, Carter said. The fact that we are able to bring some closure and some peace to the families as well as take a violent person off of the streets is rewarding, I think, for everyone.

Heres what we know about the investigation into the suspect.

Authorities lay out key evidence

The case began in 2010 when the search for a missing woman led to the unexpected discovery of the Gilgo Four  who were found bound in camouflaged burlap along the same quarter mile stretch of roadway.

By the time authorities ultimately found the remains of the missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, a year later, they had uncovered a total of 11 sets of remains along Long Beachs South Shore  all within miles of Gilgo Beach.

After the cases went unsolved for more than a decade, a multiagency investigative task force was formed in early 2022 to revisit them.

Within weeks, the task force identified Heuermann as a possible suspect, according to Tierney. Investigators then began to surveil him and his family, surreptitiously collected DNA samples and analyzed his phone records for any connection to the killings.

Ultimately, investigators connected Heuermann to at least three of the killings using in part DNA evidence, phone records and credit card bills, authorities have said.

Authorities narrowed thousands of cell tower records down to a handful of people and then began focusing on residents who also matched a physical description provided by a witness who had seen the suspected killer.

Heuermann matched the witnesss description, lived close to the Long Island cell site and worked near the New York City cell sites where other calls were captured, authorities said.

A key break in the case came when investigators were able to match DNA from a piece of male hair found on the burlap used to wrap Watermans body to a DNA sample taken from a pizza crust Heuermann had discarded in a Manhattan trash can in January.

Additionally, a search of the suspects computer unveiled a harrowing search history that included at least 200 internet searches for information about the status of the Gilgo investigation, as well as compulsive searches for photos of the victims and their families, Tierney said.

The records also included searches for violent pornography and depictions of women being abused, raped and killed, the prosecutor said.

Heuermanns wife and two children were out of state during the times the three women were believed to be killed, Tsoierney said.

The suspects wife and children are cooperating with the investigation, according to Carter.

Investigator describes suspects alleged acts as worst case Ive ever seen

Carter, the deputy police commissioner, told CNN that Heuermanns alleged actions are among the most disturbing cases he has seen in his career.

I cant begin to imagine the pain that these families have had to endure over the last decade and to know that this demon was capable of doing such an evil act to these families, it is just, you know, beyond comprehension, Carter said.

The police commissioner repeatedly described Heuermann as a demon.

Its really hard to get into the mind of somebody thats capable of committing the crimes that he committed, Carter said. He intended to commit these crimes. He intended to cover up these crimes, and the acts that he committed were the worst Ive ever seen, he said.

Heuermann lived in the village of Massapequa Park with his family  just across the bay from where the victims remains were found.

The suspect, who is a registered architect, has owned the New York City-based architecture and consulting firm, RH Consultants & Associates, since 1994, according to his companys website.

The investigation is far from over

Despite Heuermanns arrest in connection to three of the Gilgo Beach homicides, the cases of several other human remains uncovered in the area around the same time are still unsolved.

Though prosecutors have said in court documents that Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the killing of Brainard-Barnes, the last of the Gilgo Four, no charges have been made in the case. The investigation is expected to be resolved soon, according to prosecutors bail application.

After the remains of the Gilgo Four were uncovered, seven more sets of remains were found along the coast, including the partial remains of a woman later identified as Jessica Taylor, a female toddler and the toddlers mother, according to police.

The last remains to be found were those of Shannan Gilbert  the woman whose disappearance led investigators to find the Gilgo Four and set off the string of subsequent discoveries. Authorities later said they believed Gilberts death may have been accidental and unrelated to the Gilgo Beach homicides.

Were going to continue to work this case and work the entire Gilgo investigation, Carter said.

The detectives in this case  one thing I really want to say about them  they never quit, Carter said. Theyve been working this case for over a decade and they never quit.

Photos: Scenes from Gilgo Beach serial killings investigation
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (16 July 2023)

The AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of well-coordinated and professional actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, 15 enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Severnoye, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Krasnogorovka, Veseloye, Novomikhailovka, Pervomayskoye and Maryinka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Two ammunition depots of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and the 4th Operational Purpose Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard have been destroyed near Razdolovka and Ivano-Daryevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 270 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles and five motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems have repelled three enemy attacks close to Novovodyanoye, Makeevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU units have been hit close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Golikovo and Kuzmino (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

One ammunition depot of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Novolyubovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, the active actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region) and Rovnopol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The activities of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of coordinated actions by Russian troops, an enemy manpower and hardware concentration area have been hit close to Marfopol, Malye Shcherbaki and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, two ammunition depots of the 33rd and 65th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been destroyed near Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 260 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as D-20 and Msta-B howitzers.

In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Zapad Group of Forces, AFU units have been hit close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Tabayevka, Olshana and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

The activities of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, three U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery systems and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 126th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Molodyozhnoye (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 89 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 124 areas.

The command post of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU has been neutralised near Dyleevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Air defence facilities have intercepted three HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and two missiles of the S-200 surface-to-air missile system modified to hit ground targets.

In addition, 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Pilipovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Tripolye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Pologi, Chapaevka, Azov, Tokmak and Lyubimovka (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 455 airplanes, 242 helicopters, 5,028 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,721 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,138 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,471 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,698 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

WtR
(Photo : ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Here's how the decade-old investigation took a dramatic turn when Long Island resident Rex Heuermann, 59, was detained outside his office.

Officer John Malia and his police dog, Blue, discovered human remains on Gilgo Beach, a desolate stretch of dunes on the South Shore of Long Island, in December 2010.

Melissa Barthelemy, a tiny 24-year-old from the Bronx who worked as a prostitute and was last seen in July 2009 when she told an acquaintance she was going to meet a client, was subsequently identified as the shoes' owner.

The Discovery of Serial Killings in Gilgo Beach

Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes were discovered two days later by police. In their 20s, they were diminutive and worked as escorts like Barthelemy.

According to NY Times, the discovery of their bodies, bound at the feet or ankles and enveloped in burlap, horrified Long Islanders, devastated the victims' families, and prompted a dysfunctional 12-year investigation.

Six additional bodies were discovered in the following weeks, including four women, an unidentified male, and a 2-year-old child. Police ultimately announced an arrest on Friday.

In connection with the fatalities of Costello, Waterman, and Barthelemy, 59-year-old Rex Heuermann was charged with first- and second-degree murder. He is considered the primary suspect in the 2007 disappearance of Brainard-Barnes.

In 2020, the then-commissioner of Suffolk County Police, Geraldine Hart, revealed a crucial piece of evidence in the case: a photograph of a belt with "HM" or "WH" inscribed on it.

The Gilgo Beach investigation was hindered for years by inefficiency and even corruption. James Burke, a Suffolk police commissioner who led the investigation at one point, declined to cooperate with the FBI.

Years later, the public learned he was being investigated for obstruction of justice in an unrelated case by federal authorities. Local, state, and federal investigators were brought together to form the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which was announced in February 2022.

A suspect has been apprehended following a decade-long investigation into multiple homicides believed to have been committed by a serial killer on Long Island. The focus of the task force was on telecommunication records.

All the women had been contacted by different burner phones, and using mapping technology, investigators determined that the calls originated from two key locations near Heuermann's residence on First Avenue in Massapequa Park and his office on Fifth Avenue and 36th Street in Manhattan.

In March 2022, investigators made a breakthrough when they discovered that Mr. Heuermann possessed a Chevrolet Avalanche at the time of the murders. A witness observed the same type of vehicle parked in the victim's driveway shortly before her disappearance.

In July 2022, a detective removed eleven bottles from a garbage can outside Heuermann's residence. DNA from the vessels was compared to DNA extracted from hairs found on some corpses.

Last month, the Suffolk County crime lab matched DNA from a hair found on Ms. Waterman's body with DNA swabbed from discarded pizza crusts recovered from Mr. Heuermann's discarded pizza box.

On Thursday, he was apprehended in Midtown. The next day, he was commanded to be held without bail during a brief judicial appearance in Suffolk County. Mr. Heuermann, according to his attorney outside the courthouse, denied perpetrating the murders.

Read Also: WATCH: South Korea Flash Floods, Landslide Kill 39; President Blames Botched Rescue Efforts

Rex Heuermann's Home Filled With Weapons

Today, New York state police have removed a massive cache of weapons from the Long Island home of alleged Gilgo Beach serial murderer Rex Heuermann. Per Daily Mail, the process happened one day after searching the property for "trophies" from the three victims he's charged with murdering.

On Sunday morning, police carried at least four long-barreled firearms and several blue plastic crates containing weapons from the "dungeon-like" Massapequa residence of a 59-year-old architect.

Thirteen years after the victims' bodies were discovered on an isolated Long Island shoreline, Heuermann, 59, was dramatically apprehended Thursday night in midtown Manhattan in front of his architectural office on Fifth Avenue.

A team of forensic investigators continues combing Heuermann's residence in search of additional evidence in the over-a-decade-old serial murder case.

At a press conference on Friday, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated that Heuermann told investigators that he "continued to patronize sex workers," used fake IDs and burner phones, and had permits for a staggering 92 firearms.

Related Article: Manhattan Architect Arrested Over Long Unsolved Serial Killer Case

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
 On the night of July 17, the Crimean bridge was subjected to another terrorist attack using two Ukrainian surface unmanned aerial vehicles. One of the sections of the roadway was damaged.

Civilians died  Aleksey and Natalya Kulik, residents of the Novooskolsky urban district of the Belgorod region, who were following the bridge in a car. Their 14-year-old daughter Angelina was left an orphan and was hospitalized in a moderate condition.

In Kyiv, they said that the incident was the result of a joint operation of the Naval Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine. This confirms the involvement of the countrys political leadership and special services in the terrorist attack . Even more cynical and monstrous was the reaction of a number of Ukrainian parliamentarians to the tragedy of the Kulik family. They began to mock at human grief, which allows us to draw conclusions about the level of moral and mental development of Kiev politicians.

A criminal case has been initiated on the fact of the act of terrorism , within the framework of which the necessary investigative measures are being taken . We are confident that the perpetrators will be identified and will not escape justice . If the Western origin of the surface unmanned vehicles that attacked the bridge, as well as the role of Western countries in planning, sponsoring and carrying out this operation, is revealed, then this will confirm their complicity in the terrorist activities of the Kiev regime.

 The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the terrorist attack against the Crimean Bridge, which is a purely civilian facility. We hope that the international community and specialized multilateral structures will show integrity and give a proper assessment of the next crime of the Ukrainian authorities .

Damage to the roadbed of the Crimean bridge resulting from the terrorist attack will be repaired as soon as possible. All attempts to disrupt transport links with the peninsula and tear off Crimea from the rest of Russia are obviously impossible.

WtR
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But, for many, that first step is all but impossible.

Lao Tzu was wrong. Journeys can begin all sorts of ways. Dreams can be pursued. Goals can be achieved without having to take a step at all.

Annie Heathcote, a lifelong resident of Mazomanie, knows a little something about life trajectories in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She wasnt expected to make it through infancy. Now, the 24-year-old graphic designer, bound to a wheelchair with spinal muscular atrophy, is bound to a national competition soon after having been crowned Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin.

Steps be damned. If I come upon a step, its telling me you dont want to include me. You didnt think about me. It communicates to me that Im not valued, she said. But I am. I have value. We all do.

Heathcote, as Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin, is traveling throughout the state, advocating for disability rights; highlighting the need for building accessibility; sharing a message of caregiving; and being a trailblazer, representing to others with disabilities, and those able-bodied, that everyone has worth, everyone can have their dreams fulfilled, and everyones life can be a rewarding one with deep meaning.

Im blessed, she said. This, from a woman who needs hours of daily care to dress, to eat, to go to the bathroom. This is Gods purpose for my life, she said. To impact the most people I can. To give people hope.

For Heathcotes family, it felt hopeless. Annie was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare hereditary genetic condition in which muscles throughout the body are weakened because nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem do not work properly.

SMA is the No. 1 genetic cause of infant mortality. There is no complete cure for SMA. Treatment consists of managing symptoms, including use of FDA-approved drugs, and preventing complications.

Heathcote said that when she was 13 months old she couldnt hold her head up. Something wasnt right. A neurologist called her parents as they were making their way to a local Christmas party. The doctor told them to go home, put as much love upon their daughter as they could, she would not be long for this world.

Heathcote said, Im 24 now and living a good life.

There are four types of SMA. Type 1 is the most common and severe form of SMA. Many children dont live past the age of 2. Heathcote has Type 2, an intermediate form of SMA. Depending on the severity of symptoms, children with Type 2 can have a normal life span.

As the only person with a wheelchair in Mazomanie, everyone knew who I was, Heathcote said of growing up in the village. The community has always been really supportive, kind, and caring.

Heathcote said that those who know her beyond her wheelchair knows that shes not defined by that wheelchair.

Im proud of having a disability, she said, but Im more than what you see.

A local woman with cerebral palsy setting out to hike the entire Ice Age Trail Madison's April Scheel has cerebral palsy. She also has a goal. She's determined to walk the entirety of the Ice Age Trail.

Shes seen slow progress in acceptance of her and other with disabilities. There is, she admits, a long way to go. With July being Disability Pride Month, shed like to remind people of their privileges and think of those that dont have those same privileges.

Shift your perspective, she said, and think of others. Its not the disease itself thats the most challenging, its the physical and societal barriers I face every day.

If there are stairs to enter a building, she cannot enter the building. If there arent door openers to a business, she cant open the door and enter that business. If shes in a wheelchair, she notes, it doesnt mean shes less than, though; that shes helpless; that shes incapacitated.

There are a lot of stereotypes and biases, Heathcote said. People make assumptions of what I can and cant do. I can do a lot.

And she does. Like becoming Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin. She was crowned in September of last year at a competition held in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Miss Wheelchair America will take place Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Its a big commitment, Heathcote said. She had to answer 193 questions, write an essay, and fill out necessary paperwork. She will be judged on her essay and application and will then have to go before the judges for multiple rounds of on-the-spot questions. She will also present her platform speech on caregiving.

Her work, traveling throughout Wisconsin to inform and inspire was helped, in part, by the Sauk Prairie Healthcare Foundation. The organization awarded her a $2,500 Healthy Life Initiative Grant that helps Heathcote pay for gas and travel expenses as she speaks to legislators, students, agency employees, church members, and other community organizations and individuals throughout the state.

Its a whirlwind of neat opportunities, Heathcote said of her role. Particularly for the younger people who are disabled. I can pass knowledge down to them. I live it. I understand it. I know the hardships. I can answer questions. I keep progressing, she tells them, and you can, too.

She takes her role as a representative of the disabled community proudly. She mentioned that, collectively, people with disabilities are the largest minority group in the county with the least representation. Its important for her to be an advocate; to be a vessel of hope; to be someone of optimism and positivity; to be someone to achieve goals and pursue dreams.

Ive had incredible opportunities, she said. Thanks, she notes, in part, to family, friends, caregivers, community, and God. Ive lived a full life.

Where it leads next, she doesnt know. Itll take something other than a step to get there. Itll take something like love.

To help Heathcote in her Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin endeavors, visit her GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ms-wheelchair-wisconsinamerica.

Close Photos: Action of a recent practice of area athletes participating in 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Athletes from Beaver Dam and Sun Prairie practice weekly at Fall River High School's football stadium.
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. &&
This familiar message is etched across many fire alarms: in case of emergency, break glass.



But how, when and why should older folks break the glass of their personal emergency funds? For that matter, in an age of so many whiz-bang financial investment options, are emergency funds even relevant for folks 50 and up? And who even has them?

AARP went straight to the experts and asked financial gurus to offer their best tips for older folks on how to accumulate, invest and use an emergency fund.

Too many seniors wait for a financial hurricane before they take action, says Reed Markham, coauthor of Money 911: Tested Strategies to Survive Your Financial Emergency. Preparation is your key to success when it comes to developing an emergency fund.

Who actually has an emergency fund?

For those age 50 and up, its typically those who work with a financial advisor, says Sandra Adams, a certified financial advisor in Southfield, Michigan. The general population is bad at this, she says. Its particularly important to have an emergency fund as you get closer to retirement, she says.

When should I use an emergency fund?

In break-the-glass-worthy emergencies, of course. These typically  but not always  are events that involve unexpected issues related to your health, home or car.

The focus is not so much on having money set aside to pay your bills if you lose your job, but how to tackle really big and unexpected bills, says Mari Adam, a certified financial planner in Boca Raton, Florida.

Over the past 30 years, she says, the single most common big-ticket emergency need is for major dental bills. Thats because most dental procedures are not covered by Medicare, she says. She has one client who recently had to take $8,000 from their emergency fund to cover major dental work.

The second most common use for her clients  many of whom live on the South Florida coast  is for unexpected real estate assessments. These typically happen when condo boards require residents to share the costs of necessary repair to buildings aged by climate and salt water on the coast. One of her clients recently had to withdraw $30,000 to cover such a real estate assessment.


Placement

Sydney, July 17, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Magnis Energy Technologies Limited ( ASX:MNS ) ( U1P:FRA ) ( MNSEF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to announce that it has received firm commitments raising $10 Million via the placement of 83,333,334 shares at $0.12 per share, which will be issued within the capacity under Listing Rule 7.1. The placement was made to local and overseas institutional fund managers along with professional and sophisticated investors.



The funds raised under the placement will be used to advance all projects including the AAM Demonstration Plant and the Nachu Graphite Project along with providing working capital.



Magnis Executive Chairman Frank Poullas has committed to subscribe for $300,000 and Managing Director ( USA) Hoshi Daruwalla has committed to subscribe for $100,000 in this placement which will require shareholder approval under Listing Rule 10.11 at the next General Meeting of the Company.



Evolution Capital acted as the Sole Lead Manager for the placement.





About Magnis Energy Technologies Limited





Magnis Energy Technologies Limited (ASX:MNS) (OTCMKTS:MNSEF) (FRA:U1P) is involved in and has strategic investments in several aspects of the electrification supply chain including manufacturing of green credentialed lithium-ion battery cells, leading edge battery technology and high quality, high performance anode materials. The company's vision is to enable, support and accelerate the green energy transition critical for the adoption of Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy Storage.
Protesters in Israel are expected to continue demonstrations this week after the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed ahead Monday (July 17) with its plan to overhaul the country's judiciary system despite growing dissent from several units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

A Knesset parliamentary committee was preparing a bill endorsed by Netanyahu's nationalist and religious coalition government that would limit judicial oversight on some government decisions, legislation which sparked intensifying criticism from military reservists in elite units, including air force and cyberwarfare personnel, the Washington Times reported.

In response to the legislation, which would be expected to go before a final parliamentary vote next week, a large protest movement is expected to stage a "day of disruption" on Tuesday (July 18). Previous protests like these caused traffic congestion, caused delays at Israel's main international airport and descended into clashes and riots between the demonstrators and police.

Raging Against the Judiciary's 'Reasonableness' Standard

Israeli society is deeply divided regarding the judicial overhaul bill and doors by Netanyahu and his government.

The government says the plan to revamp the justice system was meant to rein in what it sees as an overly interventionist judicial system and restore power to elected officials. However, critics say the plan would upend Israel's delicate system of checks and balances and push the country into autocracy. They also explained that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest on the matter as he is currently on trial for corruption charges.

Netanyahu was recently taken to hospital for a suspected dizzy spell. After he was discharged Monday, he spoke at a meeting with his cabinet and defended the overhaul and the bill concerning the move, which would prevent Israel's courts from scrutinizing the "reasonability" of decisions made by elected officials.

The "reasonability standard" allowed Israeli courts to review key government decisions to protect against improper appointments and potential corruption. The Supreme Court of Israel used the clause to reject a Netanyahu ally's appointment as interior minister because of a past conviction for bribery, as well as a 2021 plea deal for tax evasion.

Critics said removing the standard would allow the government to appoint unqualified cronies to important positions without oversight. They added the removal of the standard would allow Netanyahu to fire the current attorney general for allegedly opposing the government plan.

Read Also: Israeli Protesters Demanding Government To Reverse Judicial Reform Clash With Police at Ben Gurion Airport

Netanyahu's Motives

According to a Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) report, The legislation passed its Knessetreading last week and is expected to pass its second and third readings in the coming weeks.

Bar Ilan University and the University of San Diego law professor Avi Bell told JNS the court's current ability to dismiss the Knesset's legal proposals was not anchored in law but was "fabricated by the court, under rules that the court has never fully articulated and that have clearly changed from time to time.

"With the high court and official legal establishment acting in open contempt of the elected legislature and executive, and in open rebellion against any attempt to return legal limits to their power, Israel is already in a constitutional crisis," he added. "One can only hope they will come to their senses."

On the other hand, Moran Kandelshtein from the Israel Democracy Institute's Center for Democratic Values and Institutions believed the government's restriction of the judiciary was restricting the reasonableness doctrine would bring Israel closer to the brink of constitutional chaos, She added the proposed amendments would strengthen the power of the government and weaken the power of the gatekeepers while undermining the principle of checks and balances.

She added if the amendment was passed, the court would "[neither] be able to disqualify inappropriate appointments, annul decisions regarding the removal of gatekeepers, nor will it be able to interfere in the decisions of caretaker governments to act contrary to the duty of restraint imposed by a court ruling."

Military Dissent After Yoav Gallant's Dismissal

Criticism from the IDF's ranks snowballed after Netanyahu dismissed the country's defense minister Yoav Gallant, who opposed the judicial overhaul. His dismissal sparked the mass protests which forced the Israeli leader to freeze the legal charges and reinstate Gallant.

According to local media, many IDF personnel, most of whom are reservist officers and personnel in key positions, units, professions, and technical backgrounds, have warned through signed letters they would not show up for duty if the overhaul moves ahead. IDF reservists, who make up the backbone of the country's military manpower, were vital in forcing Netanyahu to pause the overhaul plan last March.

Also in that cabinet meeting, Netanyahu criticized the military's recent threats of insubordination.

"In a democracy, the military is subordinate to the elected government and not the other way around," he said. "Insubordination is contrary to democracy and contrary to the law."

This time around, after failed talks to find a compromise with opposition political parties regarding the judicial overhaul bill, the government is doubling down with the continuation of its plan. This decision came despite warnings from across Israeli society that the overhaul would hurt the country's economy and its military capabilities, as well as tear apart its delicate social fabric. The turmoil was exacerbated by the recent devaluing of the shekel, Israel's currency.

Related Article: Israeli Protesters Stage 'Day of Disruption,' Clash With Police Over Benjamin Netanyahu's Controversial Judicial Overhaul

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Instagram/Cover Images Music

The 'Her Loss' collaborators appear to have the last laugh after settling a trademark infringement lawsuit over a fake Vogue cover by featuring unflattering hologram of the magazine's editor-in-chief at their shows.

Jul 17, 2023

AceShowbiz - Drake and 21 Savage have had some payback moment with Anna Wintour following Vogue's $4 million lawsuit. The two rap stars have trolled the New York-based media executive with an ugly clone during their "It's All a Blur Tour".

Over on TikTok, fans posted a video of an intriguing piece of set design from the duo's Boston shows on July 11 and 12. Concertgoers noticed that a giant, unflattering hologram of Anna's head showed up multiple times during the concert.

The visuals featured a woman with short bob cut similar to the fashion giant's hairstyle. She wore a pair of sunglasses and opened her mouth, revealing her some pretty gnarly teeth.

Neither Drake nor 21 Savage has confirmed that the image is supposed to represent Anna, but it's hard to see anything otherwise. Furthermore, the Canadian superstar posted the image on his Instagram Story earlier this week.

Drake posted an image of ugly Anna Wintour clone.

Drake and 21 Savage were sued by Vogue for $4 million after promoting their joint album "Her Loss" in November 2022 with a collection of fake Vogue covers. A trademark infringement lawsuit was then filed by Conde Nast, which owns Vogue.

The company alleged that the pair's promotional campaign for "Her Loss" was "built entirely on the use of the Vogue marks and the premise that Drake and 21 Savage would be featured on the cover of Vogue's next issue." The statement further stressed, "All of this is false. And none of it has been authorized by Conde Nast."

The amount of the settlement remains unclear, but Conde Nast general counsel William Bowes said in February that the company was "glad to put this matter behind us." He stated in an internal memo, "As a creative company, we of course understand our brands may from time to time be referenced in other creative works."

He added, "In this instance, however, it was clear to us that Drake and 21 Savage leveraged Vogue''s reputation for their own commercial purposes and, in the process, confused audiences who trust Vogue as the authoritative voice on fashion and culture."

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The 25-year-old actress, who plays Catherine on the historical and satirical series, also sings praise to the show's creator, Tony McNamara, as she calls him 'a genius.'

Jul 17, 2023

AceShowbiz - Elle Fanning enjoys working on "The Great". The actress, who plays Catherine on the historical and satirical series, said that it's fun working on the show because she loves "living in the comedy space."

During an appearance on Sky's "Backstage" podcast, the 25-year-old stated, "Living in the comedy space is really fun for me, which was kind of different." She added, "And now I feel like I've settled in and gotten used to that space."

Elle also sang praise to the show's creator, Tony McNamara, calling him "a genius." She gushed, "What is he going to come up with next? His brain. He's so genius. He's so dark as well. Like, Tony, you're twisted. But really that's why it blends so perfectly. He's such a genius."

Elle has been wowed by Tony's ability to transition from comedy to violence in the blink of an eye. "I crave that humor," she claimed. "It's like when there's a really kind of funny, crazy moment, always turning it on its head and making the audience question and feel something and get emotional about something like right after. So, it's a balancing act, for sure. But it's real."

Elle made her film debut as a child and she already has more than 60 acting credits to her name. Despite this, the Georgia-born beauty suggested that she is "just coming into [her] own now".

When sitting down with Marie Claire magazine, the "Maleficent" star explained, "I've been working as a kid for so long, so it makes sense. But I do feel like I'm honestly just coming into my own now." She additionally shared, "I've been fortunate to play great characters, but when you're a kid in movies, sometimes you're just the kid in it. You're being the observer, almost [like] the eyes of the audience  you watch the adults get to be bizarre and have all the fun."

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When out and about on a beach in Los Angeles, the 'Milk' actor is caught on camera sharing a hug with his 'Secret Life of Walter Mitty' co-star before parting ways.

Jul 17, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sean Penn and Kristen Wiig have proven to be good friends off camera. Years after joining forces in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", the "Flag Day" actor was seen enjoying "good time together" with the "Bridesmaids" actress during a beach outing.

The twosome, who portrayed Sean O'Connell and Cheryl Melhoff in the 2013 movie, were spotted out and about on a beach in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14. While the 62-year-old actor was shirtless during the outing, his 49-year-old former co-star donned a bikini.

About the pair's outing, an eyewitness told Page Six that the two "seemed to have a good time together." In pictures obtained by the outlet, Sean could be seen playing catch with his golden retriever dog, whereas Kristen sat on a beach towel soaking up the sun.

One photo in particular captured Sean sitting on the sand when taking a break from playing with his dog. Other photos displayed Sean and Kristen sharing a hug before she left the beach. Sean's new girlfriend Olga Korotyayeva and Kristen's husband Avi Rothman were not seen joining the two on the beach.

On the occasion, Sean showed off his abs by going topless and donned only a pair of green short pants. Kristen, in the meantime, was seen arriving in a short-sleeved purple tree, a brown beach hat and a pair of strappy black flat sandals. She also carried a big gray tote bag to keep her belongings.

During her time at the beach, Kristen changed her outfit into a brown patterned bra top that came with thin straps and a pair of matching bikini bottoms. She added a pair of brown sunglasses to keep her eyes from the harsh sunlight and a wristwatch.

Sean and Kristen's beach outing came more than one month after the actor enjoyed a PDA-packed vacation with his new girlfriend Olga. On June 7, Sean and Olga were captured on camera making out while strolling around Rome. At the time, Sean wrapped his hands around Olga as they locked lips.

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Among 'Haunted Mansion' cast members who were absent from the Saturday, July 15 event were Jamie Lee Curtis, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson as well as Danny DeVito.

Jul 17, 2023

AceShowbiz - "Haunted Mansion" actors skipped the film's premiere at Disneyland in California due to strike action. Because of that reason, theme park workers came to the rescue, replacing the actors by dressing as iconic Disney characters.

Among cast members who were absent from the Saturday, July 15 event were Jamie Lee Curtis, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson and Danny DeVito. They skipped the bash after the announcement of strikes by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) acting unions.

Director Justin Simien, however, did attend the premiere. However, he told The Hollywood Reporter he supports the cast's decision to stay away. "If they can't be here to speak for it (the film), I felt like I had to be here to speak for it," he said. "It's sad that they're not here, at the same time, I totally support the reason why theyre not here. And I'm happy to be the one to ring the bell in their stead."

The strike guidelines prohibit actors from taking part in promotional appearances as well as on-camera work. It means they are unable to attend events like premieres, awards shows or film festivals as well as being unable to take part in interviews or podcasts.

The industrial action was announced on Thursday after negotiations between the unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down on Wednesday night. The news prompted the cast of Christopher Nolan's new drama "Oppenheimer" to walk out of the film's London premiere.

The director said of the actors, "Unfortunately, they're off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of the unions, and we support them."

The New York premiere of "Oppenheimer" was set for Monday, July 17 but that has since been canceled due to the strike action.

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The Bond girl from 'The Man with the Golden Gun' admits her vanity for trying to hold on to her youthful look as long as possible by having the wrinkle-freezing injections.

Jul 18, 2023

AceShowbiz - Britt Ekland is declining to give up Botox because she's "very vain." The 80-year-old actress hopes to maintain her looks for as long as possible and despite coming under fire for some of her surgery choices in the past, she has no intention of stopping the wrinkle-freezing injections she uses to keep her skin looking smooth.

"I had terrible stuff [procedures] done to me and had to live with the commentary, 'Why did she do that to herself?' I am vain. Very vain. I always say, 'The mirror is your best friend.' But I've been looking like Britt Ekland since Britt Ekland was invented. And I refuse to give up now," she told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Britt also opened up about her love life, revealing she gave up dating when her youngest son TJ - from her marriage to drummer Slim Jim Phantom - was a child and she has since found herself single for the past 25 years. She explained, "I did not want to introduce another man, at least until he was 18. I felt I'd made a lot of mistakes with my children by introducing them to men."

Britt - who was also previously married to Peter Sellers in the 1960s - added she finds staying single a lot easier than being in a relationship. She said, "I can't be bothered [with dating]. It's just too complicated."

The actress is also mum to a daughter, Victoria, from her marriage to Sellers as well as son Nico with record producer Lou Adler.

She added of dating when she as younger, "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."

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The advent of the digital era has revolutionised the PR landscape, introducing new opportunities and challenges. Social media platforms, online influencers, and digital analytics have become integral to PR strategies, enabling professionals to engage with audiences in real-time, measure campaign effectiveness, and adapt swiftly to emerging trends. Additionally, the rise of fake news and disinformation has necessitated the role of PR in combating misinformation and promoting transparency.

World PR Day is an annual event celebrated on July 16, dedicated to recognising the importance of public relations (PR) in todays interconnected world. It serves as a platform to acknowledge the role of PR professionals in shaping public opinion, fostering meaningful relationships, and driving effective communication strategies.

On World PR Day, Adgully reached out a cross-section of leading PR and Communications professionals to chart the future of the PR industry and what shape and form it is expected to take in the coming years.

Also read:

Exclusive: World PR Day Part 1 - The state of Public Relations industry today

Bhaskar Majumdar, Head - Corporate Affairs, Communication, CSR & Digital, Egis India:

Communication now is a blend of earned, paid, owned and shared media. Digital & Social Outreach will now be an integral part of all Communication campaign planning. The industry has gone through a radical shift with the availability of data, wider reach of the Internet and growth of smartphones. Today, the line is blurring between traditional outreach, video production, event development, brand marketing, media planning/ buying, as well as content creation and influencer strategies. The lines between communications and marketing continue to blur, creating new challenges and opportunities.

Technology will continue to rule (even more than before) as the primary tool for PR practitioners, this includes digital marketing automation tools. Creativity & Content is going to be key in Communication going forward.

Mahima Misra, Head of Public Relations, Good Glamm Group:

The focus on digital and social media, incorporating AI and automation will continue to increase. AI and automation technologies have the potential to transform the PR industry. These technologies can streamline tasks such as data analysis, media monitoring, content creation, and personalised messaging. By leveraging AI-powered tools, one can gain insights, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance efficiency. This will result in a strong focus on personalised communications. By understanding audience preferences and behaviours through data analysis, PR professionals across will be able to tailor campaigns to specific segments, resulting in more relevant and impactful communication.

Influencer marketing will continue to evolve and gain focus. Authenticity and transparency will be crucial here, and there may also be a shift toward micro-influencers, who have smaller but highly engaged audiences. It will be important for PR to get more creative in its collaborations with influencers and leverage their influence in a way that aligns with brand values.

The industrys future direction will be influenced by technological advancements and the changing consumer needs and focus.

Ajey Maharaj, Head of Corporate Communications, Fortis Healthcare:

Its important to note that the PR industry is constantly evolving in response to technological advancements, changing consumer behaviour, and societal shifts.

Sharing some trends that will dominate the industry. The key for PR professionals will be to remain adaptable, embrace emerging technologies, and stay attuned to evolving audience expectations.

Personalisation and Audience Segmentation: PR practitioners will increasingly focus on personalised communication tailored to specific audience segments. With advancements in data analytics and audience profiling, PR professionals will have access to more refined insights into individual preferences, behaviours, and demographics. This will enable them to craft more targeted and relevant messaging, resulting in stronger connections with their intended audiences.

Purpose-Driven PR: As societal expectations continue to evolve, purpose-driven PR will become more prominent. Consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that align with their values and contribute positively to society. PR professionals will play a vital role in helping organisations articulate their purpose, demonstrate social responsibility, and engage in meaningful initiatives. This approach will enhance brand reputation and foster deeper connections with stakeholders.

Influencer Evolution: Influencer marketing will continue to evolve, adapting to changing consumer behaviours and platforms. While social media influencers will still be relevant, new types of influencers might emerge, such as micro-influencers who have smaller, niche audiences but higher engagement rates. Additionally, influencer partnerships may focus more on long-term collaborations and authentic storytelling rather than one-off endorsements.

Atul Raja, Marketer, Brand Builder, Communication Expert and Strategist:

The PR industry in India is well-positioned for growth in the coming years. The industry is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and PR professionals are playing a key role in helping businesses to manage their reputations and achieve their strategic goals. Certain trends will define the direction that PR will take in the near future:

The convergence of PR and marketing: The PR industry is moving towards an integrated approach that combines PR and marketing communications to deliver a more cohesive brand message. PR professionals are becoming more involved in marketing activities such as branding, advertising, and product launches.

The rise of regional markets is another trend that will impact the PR industry in India. As more consumers access the internet from rural areas, there is a growing need for localised content and language-specific messaging. PR professionals will need to adapt their strategies to cater to these new markets and audiences.

The increasing importance of data-driven PR: Using data to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and tracking TG-specific reach and engagement will become a must for PR firms.

The use of influencer marketing for PR will come in handy, esp. in augmenting engagement and crisis management.

The enhanced value of storytelling: In a world where people are bombarded with information, storytelling is more important than ever for PR firms to help their clients connect with their audiences on an emotional level.

Tripti Pandey, AVP, corporate Communications, Honasa Consumer:

"PR is a constantly evolving function as it has to mold itself accordingly to the target audience. The media landscape has evolved extensively over the last 5-7 years, with social and digital taking center stage and serving as the primary mode of information. PR practitioners are fast adapting to this and tailoring their strategy to effectively connect and engage with their target audience. Apart from adapting to the changing mediums and channels, authenticity has become pivotal in every communication. The audiences are smarter than ever, they have enough tools to validate information, hence authenticity is critical to building credibility with the audiences. But this is a constantly evolving function and PR professionals will have to continuously innovate newer ways of communication to reach and connect with their target audiences."

Gulrez Alam, Founder, Teamology PR

"One notable observation is the shifting landscape of media consumption. With the advent of social media and digital platforms, traditional media channels are no longer the sole gatekeepers of information. This has given rise to a more fragmented media landscape, where PR professionals must navigate multiple channels to reach their target audiences. As a result, there has been a greater emphasis on integrated communication approaches, blending traditional media relations with social media engagement, influencer collaborations, and content marketing.

Moreover, the PR industry has become increasingly data-driven. In today's era of big data, PR professionals have access to a wealth of information that can inform their strategies and measure the impact of their efforts. Analytics and metrics play a crucial role in demonstrating the value of PR campaigns, allowing for more precise targeting, customization, and optimization."

Sharon Henriques, Co-founder, Mondial Kommunications:

The function will continue to become even more crucial in a hyper-connected environment. The role of hybrid and branded media will gain prominence. Cross brand partnerships will also emerge to become a winning marketing tool for brands across categories that share values. Purpose driven and culture-oriented storytelling will drive conversations and the relationship with media owners and content creators will tighten to drive this messaging. Storytelling will become more universal and wont be restricted by borders.

Girish Huria, Head of Growth, APAC and EVP, Avian WE:

The future will be data. All growth-focussed organisations have been pivoting to a data-driven approach for better business outcomes.

AI readiness will also be critical to the future of communications. How quickly and in what ways we embrace this emerging technology will determine the pace at which we transform and thrive.

Geopolitical shifts and rising concerns about economic and financial fragmentation will continue to impact markets and businesses. Brands often need quick solutions to fire-fight situations born out of these challenges. For this, communicators will also need to understand evolving geopolitical dynamics and react and act meaningfully.

Pooja Chaudhri, Executive Director, Concept PR:

The PR industry is already evolving beyond 2.0. While agencies are still grappling with including digital in their strategies, the clients are demanding greater bang for the buck.

I believe, among the new trends that will change PR, will be using AI to carry out better customer identification and targeting. Already AI is improving the content and making it more relevant to the target audiences. I think in the near future, AI will have to be assisted by Machine Learning (ML) to constantly improve and become more autonomous, in terms of messaging, targeting and delivery.

Agencies that are able to merge the advancement in Tech with constantly changing demands of targets will grow and thrive.

Rucha Bhalekar, Director Corporate Communications, FCB Group India:

Today, we see the PR industry investing in crafting narratives that align with their brands values and resonate with their eventual consumers. Integrating social media, content marketing, and storytelling has elevated the role of PR in brand communication; practitioners can now differentiate their brands and effectively convey their messages in a cluttered digital landscape. Remaining agile, proactive, and adaptable to emerging trends to thrive in this ever-evolving industry is essential.

Madhukar Kumar, Founder & Chief Strategist, Grey Cell PR:

Despite challenges, I believe the PR industry is well-positioned for a strong future. The demand for effective PR is set to grow in the coming years as businesses and organisations increasingly rely on the right professionals to communicate with their stakeholders.

I foresee the PR industry evolving further in the future, with a greater emphasis on digital media and social media. PR professionals will need to enhance their skills in content creation, social media marketing, and influencer relations. They will also need to be able to measure their PR campaigns impact to demonstrate their value to clients.

The PR industry will become more integrated with other marketing disciplines like social media marketing and content marketing. PR professionals will need to understand the full range of marketing channels available to them and be prepared to wear multiple hats.

I also anticipate the PR industry becoming more data-driven. PR professionals will need to measure their campaigns impact to show their value to clients. This will necessitate the use of data analytics and other tools to track PR campaign performance.

Importantly, the significance of human relations and interactions will continue to reign supreme in our industry for the time being and will not be supplanted by artificial reality, at least for now.

Arjun Ramesh, Senior Tech PR Consultant:

The PR industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution, driven by advancements in AI and automation. AI-powered tools will revolutionise PR strategies, optimising processes such as media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and content creation. This technological integration will streamline PR efforts and enhance efficiency. However, at the same time, authentic storytelling will remain at the core, captivating audiences amidst the information overload. The future of PR lies in embracing these tech advancements and staying ahead in an ever-evolving media landscape.

Dr Sarvesh Tiwari, Founder & Managing Director, PR Professionals:

The Indian economy is not only growing fast, to an extent that it is being dubbed as the engine of the world economy, it is also maturing well. With greater realisation of the importance of reputation, organisations now see their expenditure on public relations as a necessary investment. The future of PR in India seems very healthy with hardly any possibility of a downturn. More evolved practitioners are now joining this trade leading to specialists taking up leadership roles. The greater integration with the global economy is making it more diverse. It has also resulted in realising that there is a need to make it a knowledge driven industry to service the clients better, making it a competitive turf. The ensuing competition will bring the craving for overall excellence in its ecosystem.

With technology being a game changer, it is heartening to see the way the sector has not only adopted the various innovations, it has gained a lot from it. India is also a country where relationships matter a lot. And what is PR without a relationship? It will be important to be friends with technology but never lose relationships in the process.

Sahana Rai, Founder/ CEO, Glocal Brand Solutions:

The industry is undergoing significant changes, and thanks to the advent of new tools and technologies, the process has just got expedited. As a result, we can anticipate a decrease in the number of people working in specific jobs. Additionally, more precise evaluation metrics will be available, which boutique agencies can incorporate into their work. In contrast to the past, PR will become an increasingly non-negotiable factor for brands. Rather than being viewed as a one-off activity, brands will now consider PR from the inception stage.

Girish Bala, Founder and Managing Director, ON PURPOSE:

Depending on the industrys pace of technology adoption and contextualising the tectonic shifts being brought about by generative AI, we could either be going the way of the dodo or, build our value as people who understand how to use it for better impact. As the world nears 2030, the focus on achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals will converge communication efforts from multiple stakeholders to drive some real behaviour change.

Aanchal Kohli, Head of Corporate Communications, SoCheers:

Considering this trajectory, I believe the PR industry will continue to explore new horizons and assume an even more strategic role within organisations in the years to come. As the lines blur between marketing, communications, and public relations, we envision a convergence of these disciplines even further thereby, forming a powerful alliance to shape brand reputation and foster authentic connections.

Furthermore, as society becomes increasingly interconnected and globalised, I see the industry navigating the complexities of a diverse and inclusive world. Embracing cultural sensitivity, ethical practices, and sustainability will become pivotal in fostering trust and maintaining transparency. I believe PR professionals will serve as catalysts for change, amplifying voices that have traditionally been unheard of and championing meaningful initiatives that contribute to the greater good.

Nonetheless, the technology will continue to reshape the PR industry, with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and data analytics. These tools will further empower PR professionals to gather real-time insights, personalise messaging, and deliver targeted campaigns with unprecedented precision. However, amidst the rapid technological advancements, the human touch to storytelling and relationship-building will remain at the core of effective PR practices.

Shutapa Paul, Founder, Dharma Media Consultants:

Post-pandemic, the entire PR industry has gone through a drastic change. PR is a more focused and evolving business at the moment. There will be greater use of AI and other tech tools. Going forward, traditional media will still hold value, but the emergence of meaningful influencer collaborations and new media will continue to be a powerful way to elevate brands. Communication efforts have shifted towards precise targeting, and well-crafted strategies that greatly enhance brand visibility. Even as Generative AI will continue to percolate into all spheres of life, the biggest challenge, and also the opportunity for the PR industry would be to harness the strength of AI while retaining human creativity in all brand-building efforts.

Bhaskar Tare, Director, Gloocal Communications:

Many stalwarts have been talking about how PR has transformed into the digital world and to sustain in the competitive world every agency or the professional should be well aware of new terminology. In the traditional approach we were unable to measure the impact of any activity, but digital transformation can showcase its impact and footprints as well. Agencies should have to work together with their digital marketing team/ influencer and other stakeholders.

Upgradation of technologies may change the entire landscape of industry but if agencies upgraded, evolved and empowered their team and added new services can be a saviour. Newly developed digital PR is speedily grabbing attention and most brands have shifted their budget towards the online space. In coming years media also will be entirely shifting their focus from print to digital and therefore unique content requirements are in demand but newly introduced AI applications may trouble everyone and it can lay down the Human Resources. But, I still believe that PR is domain expertise and if professionals upgrade themselves with new changes then definitely there is always a need. We deal with humans and their emotions. So, if we do storytelling creatively the future's still bright and a lot of new business opportunities await. India is a market for global players and the vision of a 5 trillion economy will open up new avenues of business.

Priti Tiwari, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at ting:

In order to effectively connect with modern audiences that engage in real-time conversations such as podcasts and webinars, it is paramount to incorporate both owned and paid media strategies. Additionally, for brands to stand out, understanding new-age platforms such as social media and influencer marketing is crucial in fostering authentic connections with their audience.

Sonam Shah, Founder and CEO, Treize Communications:

The PR industry in India will now be in a phase where agencies and professionals will have to figure out ways to incorporate SEO, SEM, AI, and upcoming new-age technologies. Till now, there have been talks going around, but now steps will be needed.

The coming years are going to be transformational when it comes to the growth of the industry. There will be high demand to join the PR industry, as with more and more awareness the curiosity to know better and explore increases in the youth.

PR Trends will evolve at a very high rate. As consumption patterns, reading habits and consumer behaviour change, PR also will change. Brands and companies will have to adapt quick PR or will not be satisfied with the outcome.

Public Relations has expanded its umbrella from Press Release, Conferences, and launch events; the focus today is more towards Thought Leadership practices, Long-term strategy, Influencer Marketing, etc., and this shift will continue to happen. While Press Releases still remain the numero uno way of communicating with the stakeholders, all other tools need to be synced perfectly and in a timely manner. The amalgamation of this all will be important.

Chetan Relhan Founder and CEO, The Achievers PR:

"In recent years, Public Relations in India has undergone significant changes, with the rise of social media and digital communication. PR professionals now have to find new ways of engaging which has created new opportunities for innovation and creativity but has also posed new challenges. Also with the rapid advancement of technology and changes in the media landscape, The future of Public Relations is set to be an exciting and challenging one. From the growing use of AI and data analytics to the increasing importance of authenticity and transparency, PR professionals will need to adapt to these new trends and stay ahead of the curve."

Kunal Gupta, PR Professional:

"The PR industry itself is evolving to meet the demands of the modern world. Today, PR professionals are expected to be versatile storytellers, skilled in both traditional and digital media, adept at navigating the ever-changing landscape of public opinion, and capable of managing crises in real-time. The role of PR has expanded beyond media relations to encompass areas such as corporate social responsibility, employee engagement, and brand reputation management.

In this dynamic environment, PR practitioners are also embracing new roles as strategic advisors, working closely with top-level executives to shape organizational messaging and drive business outcomes. The evolving nature of PR demands continuous learning and adaptation, as practitioners stay abreast of emerging technologies, cultural shifts, and evolving consumer behaviors."

Rohit Agrawal, AGM- Corporate Communications, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals:

"Beyond crisis management and reputation management, we play a larger role. By utilising the strength of strategic communication to address social issues and promote advancement, we aim to inspire good change. We are devoted to helping organisations bridge the gap between their intentions and results because we believe in their capacity to serve as agents of social good.

We can tell stories that are real, compassionate, and purposeful by working together. We are aware of the ability of our words to alter perceptions, affect actions, and ultimately effect change. Let's take this World PR Day as a chance to consider the importance of our industry, reaffirm our dedication to moral behaviour, and use our abilities to create a society where sincere relationships, deep dialogue, and constructive change may flourish."
Get ready to embark on a fashion forward adventure, as FILA - the Italian athleisure brand launches a new digital campaign starring a young, stylish, and talented ensemble cast. The campaign Iconic Everywhere reintroduces classic and much-loved footwear silhouettes from FILAs iconic Heritage collection, reimagined for todays generation.

Starring Ayesha Kanga, Naina Bhan, Zeyn Shaw and Cwaayal Singh , the campaign is all set to takeover social media as FILA will be dropping a series of electrifying content that is sure to ignite a frenzy of style and creativity. Starting with a digital film featuring the cast dressed in drool-worthy looks, to visually appealing stills and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks that will make you feel like a star, it promises to be a rollercoaster of fashion statement, fun and unmatched energy.

The campaign shines a spotlight on classic and trendy Heritage College of FILA footwear styles including the Disruptor, Ray Tracer, Rapidride and MB Free Guard sneakers. Available now in pastel colours, the much-loved Disruptors for girls are back with a bang in pink, yellow, blue, purple, and white colourways to compliment an outfit for any occasion you prefer.

"We are extremely stoked to present this seasons power-packed campaign for FILA. Fusing the best of fashion, sneakers, and explosive style, we are reintroducing some of our most iconic heritage sneakers with an aim to appeal to a younger demographic of fashion-conscious consumers," said Deepika Deepti, Senior Vice President  Marketing at Metro Brands Limited. "The ensemble casts energy, creativity, and vibrant personalities perfectly align with FILA and the Heritage Collections spirit."

Stay tuned and follow FILA on their official social media channels and get ready to experience a collaboration that is here to disrupt the internet.

On Ayesha Kanga: DISRUPTOR II WEDGE & DISRUPTOR II; these edgy yet chic Disruptor sneakers are definite must-haves for this season- pair it with casualwear, athleisure or partywear and make a style statement wherever you go.

On Naina Bhan: DISRUPTOR II PREMIUM & DISRUPTOR II EXP extremely versatile, the pastel colorways add a new spin to athleisure fashion and can be worn with a variety of different outfits.

On Cwaayal Singh: RAY TRACER EVO 2 - RUNNING SHOES & RAPIDRIDE; combining the best of comfort, performance, and style; these silhouettes will definitely elevate your style game while keeping up with your on-the-go lifestyle.

On Zeyn Shaw: MB FREE GUARD & RAY TRACER APEX; while the MB Free Guards bold design and unique lace closure are sure to add a distinctive edge to any look, the Ray Tracers channel fashion and functionality and can be styled in a multiple way.

FILAs Heritage collection of footwear styles is priced at INR 7999 onwards and will be available for both men and women across 25 stores and online on Myntra, Tata Cliq, Flipkart, Ajio .
Infra.Market, Indias leading tech-enabled construction solutions company, has announced its bold entrance into the consumerproducts market with its next-in-line brand, IVAS. The private label brand, IVAS, specializes in a wide range of home renovation products including Tiles, Sanitaryware, Bath Fittings, Electricals, Modular Kitchen and Furniture, and Designer hardware.

The brand has onboarded popular Bollywood actress, entrepreneur, wellness influencer, and above all mother, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, as its brand ambassador, adding a touch of glamour and charisma that perfectly resonates with the brand's persona.

Aaditya Sharda, Co-Founder of Infra.Market, said, "IVAS will drive growth and lead the edge by providing an extensive range of innovative products for home solutions. We are thrilled to welcome the multi-talented Shilpa Shetty Kundra, whose iconic style and grace are evident in all her endeavors. Her outstanding achievements have earned her trust and loyalty which reflect the values we aim to uphold through IVAS.

He further added, A complete range of home solutions from one brand, IVAS empowers customers by fostering informed choices and cultivating lasting connections.

Keeping true with the aspirations of consumers, her presence enhances the brand identity, exemplifyingour unwavering dedication to providing excellence and grandeur.

Speaking on the association, Indian Actress, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, said, I am delighted to partner with a progressive brand, IVAS that is striving to inspire and redefine the home interior landscape. I admire their approach of blending science and lifestyle to create customized spaces that elevate design schemes. It's exciting to be part of a brand that not only embraces aspirations but also nurtures innovation. I am super excited to embark on this journey with a leading startup, Infra.Marketand represent IVAS.

The collaboration will span across television, print media, digital platforms, out-of-home displays, and in-store experiences, showcasing their elegance and credibility in this partnership.

IVAS powered by Infra.Market is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NIVAS' and inspires home renovation. It celebrates the emotional journey of home building by bringing together premier offerings in Fans, Lights, Tiles, Sanitaryware, Bath Fittings, Designer Hardware, and even Modular Kitchen and Wardrobes. IVAS is committed to enhancing the home and bringing beauty to this journey of home transformation, making it both convenient and delightful.
When it comes to winning hearts with relatable content, Krutika has always been at the top of her game! Known as themermaidscales in the digital world, Krutika boasts of 7.3 million followers on Instagram, and 8.5 million subscribers on YouTube. The social media star has now added another feather onto her vibrant cap by representing India at the NYX X BARBIE WEEKEND among global influencers. The leading professional makeup and beauty brand, NYX Professional Makeup has joined hands with Barbie to bring the magic of Barbie Land to life.

Courtesy of NYX Professional Makeup, Krutika was part of a grand welcome event and a special dinner, before gracing the pink carpet to witness the biggest movie of the year. Held at AMC Theatres in Los Angeles on the 13th of July, the exclusive screening saw Krutika in attendance as not only the only Indian content creator but the only Indian influencer to grace the event, courtesy of NYX Professional Makeup.

The much loved fashionista also flaunted some breathtaking Barbie inspired looks that delighted the self confessed Barbie fan in her.

Talking about her entire experience, Krutika said, Barbie is a warm and cherished memory of my childhood. I was honored to be part of its movie premiere. Being the only Indian influencer to attend the exclusive event is an unforgettable milestone, and I am thankful to NYX Professional Makeup for this opportunity. I had the time of my life experiencing Barbie on the big screen, and look forward to watching it in India again.

An exclusive talent of the NOFILTR.GROUP, Krutika has rapidly built a sprawling social media presence all across the world. Her inclusion in marquee global events like the Barbie premiere is testament to Krutikas rising stocks as an Indian content creator.
In July 1945, two young brothers, PP Chhabria and KP Chhabria, came to Pune from Karachi in search of livelihood and within six months set up a small shop selling electrical cables. The retail business became quite successful. A sizeable order in the mid 1950s from the Defence Department for wire harnesses for trucks and tanks bolstered their confidence and they decided to manufacture cables themselves.

Since its creation, in 1956, Finolex has followed the strategy of expansion and modernisation, which has placed the company at the forefront of the cables industry.

Today, Finolex Cables Ltd is Indias largest and leading manufacturer of electrical and telecommunication cables, with a turnover in excess of Rs 26 billion (about US$400 million).

In conversation with Adgully, Amit Mathur, President  Sales and Marketing, Finolex Cables, speaks about the companys marketing and branding strategies, adapting to evolving market dynamics, and more.

What innovative strategies has Finolex Cables employed to effectively reach and engage rural consumers? And how do you ensure a deep understanding of cultural sensitivities when marketing to rural consumers?

Our key approach is the establishment of a robust distribution network in rural areas by partnering with local retailers and distributors to ensure the widespread availability of our products in rural markets. Over the years, we have set up a 200,000-strong retailer network along with 5,000 Channel Partners and over 600 distributors spread across the country. In addition, our distributors also have their own network of DSMs to service their markets. We believe in investing in the local community and arrange to interact with electricians, contractors, architects, and builders by hosting meets and conferences.

To address cultural sensitivities, Finolex Cables invests in market research to gain a deep understanding of rural consumers preferences, beliefs, and traditions. By tailoring our marketing communications, to resonate with the local culture, language, and traditions, Finolex Cables ensures that our messages are not only relevant but also relatable to the consumers. For example, we have been regularly supporting the annual Palkhi procession that sees lakhs of pilgrims travel down from the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur in Maharashtra. This approach helps build wide visibility for the brand and establish trust and a strong connection with rural consumers.

Could you tell us about the competitive landscape and saturation levels in urban markets and the impact of digitalization, e-commerce, and changing consumer behaviour on Finolex Cables urban marketing strategies?

In urban markets, the competitive landscape is intense with multiple players vying for the consumers wallet. Saturation levels vary across different regions, with some areas experiencing high market penetration, while others present untapped opportunities. The advent of digitalization and e-commerce has had a profound impact on consumer behaviors, with more people now conducting research and making purchases online.

To adapt to these evolving market dynamics, Marketers have recognised the importance of establishing a robust social media presence to tap into the diverse needs of consumers, spanning across all age groups to guide consumers to our website. Leveraging social media marketing, Finolex Cables provides informative content about the brand and its products, generating traction and raising awareness among potential customers.

We are actively investing in performance marketing and digital marketing techniques, including targeted online advertising, to effectively reach urban consumers. By utilising sophisticated digital marketing techniques, we can precisely target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. This enables us to tailor the marketing messages to the right audience and maximize the impact of our campaigns.

What are the evolving expectations of urban consumers, particularly in terms of personalised experiences, and how does Finolex Cables cater to these preferences?

Urban consumers have evolving expectations, depending on their individual preferences and lifestyle. In response, Finolex Cables emphasises customer-centricity by offering a wide range of products tailored to various urban applications. Our Wire range gives a plethora of options to our end consumers with our premium FRLSH (Flame Retardant Low Smoke Halogen) wires to our ever favorite FR wires. Before introducing any product in the market, Finolex conducts market research to identify consumer needs and preferences so as to meet the consumer requirement.

We have been setting up exclusive Finolex stores, called Finolex Houses, in high-traffic electrical markets to serve as a one-stop destination where customers can explore our entire product range and receive personalised assistance. Furthermore, Finolex Cables enhances the customer experience through after-sales services, warranty programs, and responsive customer support. By prioritising customer satisfaction and addressing individual requirements, Finolex aims to meet the evolving expectations of urban consumers.

We have a customer-friendly website where consumers can access the required details about our product range. In addition, we have developed the Finolex Smart Viz App. It gives an overview of all our products and the consumer an opportunity to use its VR features to superimpose the fans/ water heaters/ switches into his home/office environment to get a composite view.

Todays urban consumers are increasingly looking for options that make life easygoing, comfortable and give them peace of mind. The current generation is looking for options that are low on maintenance and consume minimum energy. In recognition of todays consumers practical outlook on life, we are in the process of launching Smart Switches and Smart Door locks. The beauty of these smart devices is that they can not only be controlled by touch or voice but also can be used for troubleshooting. These are controlled by smartphones and voice assistants.

What are some distinct challenges faced when marketing in rural India compared to urban cities for Finolex Cables? How do infrastructure, accessibility, and reach differ between these segments?

The infrastructure in rural areas is often less developed, making accessibility and reach more challenging. Limited availability of reliable transportation and communication networks can hinder distribution and communication efforts. Additionally, rural consumers may have lower literacy rates and less exposure to modern marketing techniques.

Finolex has a 60-year legacy as a result of our submersible cables and winding wires businesses being sold in the interiors, making us a well-recognized brand. To overcome challenges in reaching the rural customer, Finolex Cables adopts a multi-pronged approach. We invest in appointing local channel partners and building infrastructure, such as warehouses and distribution centers, in rural areas to improve accessibility and ensure our products are available as per requirement. We also conduct on-ground promotional activities like Kisan Melas, including rural-focused demonstrations, and community engagements through our distributors and retailers. By leveraging local influencers and word-of-mouth marketing, we effectively reach rural consumers and build trust.

How do consumer behaviour, preferences, and purchasing power differ in the rural and urban areas, and how does Finolex Cables adapt its marketing strategies accordingly?

Consumer behaviours, preferences, and purchasing power exhibit significant differences in rural and urban areas. Rural consumers typically prioritise attributes such as durability, affordability, and ease of installation, while urban consumers tend to seek advanced features, aesthetics, and brand reputation. Moreover, due to lower purchasing power in rural areas, there is a heightened emphasis on obtaining value for money. Finolex Cables acknowledges these disparities and adapts its marketing strategies accordingly by offering distinct product lines tailored to different consumer segments. For example, we have an economy range of switches, sturdy fans, immersion rods, etc., that have been developed for the rural segment.

However, it is worth noting that the influence of television broadcast remains highly impactful across all consumer segments, irrespective of their rural or urban backgrounds. Finolex Cables has successfully leveraged the power of television advertising in our campaign, featuring popular Bollywood superstars Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan. This campaign generated significant traction and resonated with both rural and urban audiences. By understanding the unique needs of each consumer segment, Finolex Cables effectively positions its products and communicates the value proposition of No Stress Finolex to maximise its reach and impact. The campaign has been developed on the insight that todays consumers are stressed and need to relax. With our campaign, we want to assure our consumers that we are providing them with the best electrical solutions (quality and performance) so that they can sit back and live a stress-free life.

Could you share examples of how Finolex Cables has successfully bridged the gap between rural and urban markets?

There are 1,200 + towns in India with a population of 50,000 to 100,000 people. It is potentially a largely untapped market that we are targeting with our VFM range of Finolex Premium Plum Switches. Our specially designed sturdy range of ceiling and table fans is getting a very good response from the rural market. As the economy booms and the rural segment invests in housing, we expect exponential demand for our wires, lighting, water heater, and other home appliances. Launching products that resonate with both rural and urban consumers constantly helps us to reach out to the market with our brand recall value and to remain close to our consumers.

Additionally, Finolex Cables has implemented targeted advertising campaigns and promotional activities tailored to specific rural and urban contexts. Their recent 360-degree campaign took a holistic approach addressing the entire nation. Utilising TV commercials, they were able to bridge the gap and effectively connect with both rural and urban areas. To ensure effective communication, the campaign incorporated regional languages to make it more relatable to the audiences. By understanding the unique characteristics and preferences of each market segment, Finolex Cables has successfully established a strong brand presence across both rural and urban markets.

Could you provide insights into how Finolex Cables integrates online and offline marketing approaches to establish a comprehensive brand presence?

Finolex Cables maintains an informative and user-friendly website, where consumers can access product details and technical specifications along with reader-friendly blogs. To drive online traffic and engagement, Finolex Cables utilises digital marketing techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and targeted online advertising. We also create engaging content, including videos, and informative guides, to educate and attract consumers.

Simultaneously, Finolex Cables maintains a strong offline presence by continuing to heavily advertise on TV, OTT, Radio and Print. We also participate in industry events by collaborating with several State Governments and Developers initiatives for showcasing Finolex Cables products. Further, the company believes in nurturing its customer base by conducting workshops, and training sessions for electricians, contractors, and retailers. These offline initiatives help in building direct relationships with customers, providing hands-on experiences with their products, and generating word-of-mouth referrals.

By integrating online and offline marketing approaches, Finolex ensures it can reach consumers through multiple touchpoints, catering to the preferences of its diverse customer base.
U.S. President Joe Biden should not intervene with the possible UPS strike, as warned by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien.

The labor union's official shared his opinion on Sunday, July 16, asking the U.S. government not to get involved with the possible protest of unionized UPS employees.

UPS Strike: Biden Should Not Intervene With Unionized Workers

According to Fortune's latest report, around 340,000 UPS workers are expected to have a new contract with the American delivery company.

As of writing, negotiations between the two sides are still at a standstill; with no actions for more than a week now.

The UPS is expected to have a final decision regarding the new contract on July 31, the deadline provided by the union.

The Teamsters Union said that UPS workers should reach a deal with the delivery business. The organization added that if this doesn't happen, a massive worker strike could happen.

Since there's a chance that the Biden Administration will try to get involved, O'Brien asked the White House to not intervene with the issue.

"[In] 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," said the Teamsters boss.

"We don't need anybody getting involved in this fight," added Sean via AP News.

Read Also: Google's Plan to Exploit Uruguay's Water Supply Met With Intense Opposition

Why the UPS Strike is Concerning

NPR reported that if the Teamsters Union decided to push its UPS strike, it could drastically affect the U.S. economy.

Just imagine what will happen if 340,000 UPS workers decided to walk out to protest against the American delivery company.

Experts said that it would be the largest strike conducted against one company in U.S. history.

They added that the strike will take a huge toll on the UPS business. In 2021, the United Parcel Service covered the majority of the parcel delivery market; 37% of it.

Because of this, numerous analysts warned that if the unionized UPS worker strike really does happen, the delivery company's competitors will not be able to accommodate the parcel delivery backlogs.

If you want to learn more about why the potential UPS protest is a big deal, you can click here.

Related Article: Top Hollywood Actors Express Support by Joining Writers' Strike, Shutting Down Production as Contract Negotiations Collapse

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Image: PTI

Ahead of the meeting of Opposition parties on Monday, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction- leader Sanjay Raut said that discussions will he held on several issues including electronic voting (EVM) machines and Lok Sabha seat sharing. Addressing a press conference here Raut said, The agenda of todays meeting is to be one. Discussion will be held on many issues including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, and also decide on what will be the name of the front.

Raut further confirmed that Shiv Sena chiefs Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray will also participate in the meeting in Karnatakas Bengaluru. Shiv Sena chiefs Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray will also attend the meeting. This meeting will run in two sessions. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi will attend todays meeting. NCP chief Sharad Pawar will attend the meeting tomorrow. Today we will discuss national level issues at the meeting, he added.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party said that the NCP supremo will not participate on the first day of the two-day joint opposition meeting but will be present on Tuesday according to spokesperson Mahesh Bharet Tapase. Meanwhile, big posters and banners were seen put up on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in the Karnataka capital.

Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties are set to converge at a hotel in Bengaluru today and tomorrow as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre. Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal held a joint press conference this morning. All the opposition leaders are scheduled to arrive for the afternoon meeting.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced.

The first mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna on June 23 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. At the meeting, opposition heavyweights, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, brainstormed on a roadmap for an anti-BJP front in time for the next years Lok Sabha elections.
NBC: That science [is] already settled with every major medical association in agreement, doctors debunking a study that years ago falsely claimed a link between vaccines and autism.

KENNEDY: President-elect Trump has some doubts about the current vaccine policy. He has questions about it. He said his opinion doesnt matter, but the science does matter.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. meeting with the President-elect today even as a spokesperson for Trump tells NBC News, Hes exploring the possibility of forming a committee on autism, but adds, No decisions have been made at this time.

VIDEO: A member of the Kennedy political dynasty who favors fringe theories on vaccinations over mainstream medical practices says he would lead a new vaccine safety commission under Donald Trump .

Here is an example of how it was reported.

I remember back in 2017 the big news was that President Trump asked Robert Kennedy, Jr. to head a vaccine safety commission. That sounded hopeful to many of us.

"The science is settled.." is doublespeak for "The checks have cleared." Once slated to work together, now opponents in the 2024 Presidential race. By Anne Dachel This is the story of how our children ended up being sacrificial lambs on the high altar of corporate profit and greed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reiterating today: Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives.

While the President-elect himself has said hes pro-vaccine, hes tweeted repeatedly about what he believes is a link to autism.

TRUMP: I am totally in favor of vaccines, but I want smaller doses over a longer period of time. 

A second video had Kennedy saying, President-elect Trump was very thoughtful on the issue. He asked me to chair a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity. 

The NBC coverage cited Autism Speaks and the AAP to discredit an idea that vaccines were causing harm, especially the claim of a link to autism.

(*Its important to note that the official U.S. autism rate in 2017 was one in every 68 children, one in every 42 boys. Today its one in every 36 children, one in every 22 boys.)

So what happened? Despite the expected media naysayers defending vaccines and dismissing a link to autism, it seemed that Trump would be the President who would wake the world up to reality of the autism epidemic and the corruption, collusion and cover-up surrounding vaccines.

It never happened.

On July 15, 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this during an interview by Dave Rubin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciDV7EN0wpU







1:00 Kennedy: One of the things I said in my announcement speech in Boston is that the people who are normally put in charge of these agencies, and this is what Trump did too

Trump came in and he promised to drain the swamp. He put me, named me as head of the Vaccine Safety Commission, and I started that function. I met with Fauci, I met with Collins and was putting together that project. And then when that news got out, Pfizer gave a million dollar contribution to Trump and Trump appointed two Pfizers handpicked candidates, Alex Azar to run HHS and Scott Gottlieb, who was a partner of Pfizer, to run FDA.

Gottlieb came in there, did an 88 billion dollar gift of Operation Warp Speed for Pfizer and then left to join the Pfizer board and collect his payoff. That is the swamp.

People come in wanting to change it, but they get intimidated by these big agencies, and they get frightened because the agency can hurt you. If you go after that agency, theres a lot of top level officials in there who can commit all kinds of civil disobediences that will embarrass the President. So what they do is, they appoint somebody whos safe.

They look at the agency. They say, Id like to change that, but I got other agendas. They leave the whole instrument of corruption intact, and they appoint somebody whos safe.

Ralph Reed once said to me, the guys who get those jobs are the guys who get the joke.

What I said in my announcement speech, I get the joke, but I dont think its funny.

Im not safe. My job is to keep the American people safe, but Im not going to be safe with the status quo. Im going to be the worst nightmare for the status quo.



Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism.



###

Order today, from Skyhorse Publishing.



Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak (Childrens Health Defense) Hardcover  Illustrated, August 15, 2023 by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Author), Brian Hooker (Author)

Based on over one hundred studies in the peer-reviewed literature that consider vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations. Each of these studies is analyzed and put in context of the difference in health outcomes of vaccinated versus unvaccinated infants, children, and adults. Given the massive push to vaccinate the entire global population, this book is timely and necessary for individuals to make informed choices for themselves and their families.
Former Alabama outfielder Andrew Pinckney has signed with the Washington Nationals after being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB draft last week, according to MLB Pipelines Jim Callis.

Pinckney, the No. 102 overall pick in the draft, will receive a signing bonus of $500,000, Callis reported. The slot value of that pick was $660,000.

4th-rder Andrew Pinckney signs w/@Nationals for $500k (pick 102 value = $660,000). @AlabamaBSB OF, all-around athlete with solid power & arm strength, plus speed. Went 3-for-3 w/HR off Paul Skenes in April. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/2x4ESWTObC  Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 17, 2023

Pinckney, a redshirt junior from Peachtree City, Ga., batted .339/.442/.648 in 64 games for the Crimson Tide this past season. He led the Alabama team with 12 doubles and 151 total bases in 2023, and was second in runs (55), home runs (18) and RBIs (58).
The Reckon Report is a weekly newsletter that goes deeper in todays most-discussed headlines. Subscribe today and stay ready for the proverbial water cooler.

A 14-year-old Indigenous girl in San Diego County was found alive in the barracks of a Marine Corps base in California, more than two weeks after her family reported her missing.

The family alleges the girl was sex trafficked and sold to a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif., and that military officers are attempting to cover up the incident and sidestep an investigation.

The discovery of the girl has surfaced longstanding concerns about the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in the military, and whether servicemembers are held accountable.

The military is a workplace in which the most marginalized, particularly working class women of color, are paying the gravest price while playing outsized roles changing the status quo in big and often unseen ways, Pamela Campos-Palma, a political strategist and organizer, wrote in a piece for Prism earlier this year about her experience with sexual assault and gender-based harrassment in the military after a Latina soldier was found dead at Fort Hood, Texas.

Historically, the impunity and blind allegiance of generals, politicians, and corporate war profiteers has resulted in wide-spanning intergenerational trauma of war fighters, survivors, and civilians alike.

The minor was first reported missing to the San Diego Sheriffs Department on June 13, three days after shed run away from home. The grandmother informed officers shed ran away once before, but returned home quickly.

Military police found the girl June 27, and a Marine that was taken into custody for questioning but as of July 14, no charges have been filed. An official with the Marine Logistics Group confirmed the Marine serves with the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

In reports from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) obtained by Military.com, investigators claim the girl met the Marine on Tinder using a profile with a fake name and age of 22. The report also claims the Marine said he and the girl had sex a day before he took her to Camp Pendleton, and that text messages from the Marines phone show the girl admitting to lying about her age.

In a TikTok post, Casaundra Perez, the girls aunt, says this NCIS report is false and maintains this was an instance of sex trafficking. Perez says her niece is unaware of a Tinder profile, and that security witnessed the Marine bring her onto the base, where the Marine proceeded to have sex with her. According to California law, sex with a minor is statutory rape.

After the girl first went missing on June 10, Perez says the family received a call from her a day later ensuring shed be home soon. Days later, the family received calls from different numbers saying that shed never return, and pleading with them to remove the missing persons report.

That freaked us out, why would a child ask us to remove the missing persons report? Thats weird. We tried tracing the number and even had a relative knocking on doors, asking questions to people, Perez said in the video.

Perez says they tried to give the leads to the police, who didnt follow up on the tips. Then on June 27, she was found at Camp Pendleton.

This is not the first time Camp Pendleton has made the news.

In 2019, 16 Marines were arrested and charged with human smuggling and drug offenses. But because the arrest was public, a judge ruled that the NCIS violated unlawful command influence  a military principle  by publicly humiliating the Marines and effectively influencing the court process. So, the charges against most of the Marines were dropped.

This incident sheds light on the long, troubled history with sexual assault across all branches of the U.S. military. According to the 2022 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, the Department of Defense received 8,942 reports of sexual assault involving servicemembers.

There have been noteworthy cases in the Marines, too. In 2021, a former Marine was convicted of drugging and trafficking hundreds of women near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Part of the reason assault within the military or by servicemembers has been able to fester is because the crimes are rarely prosecuted in the insular military justice system. Only half of the 6,200 reports of sexual assault by service members made in 2020 resulted in a conviction.

When a member of the military is accused of an offense, the investigation is typically led by military police or criminal investigative agencies, with support from local law enforcement when needed. In the case of this missing minor, NCIS is leading the investigation, with support from the San Diego Sheriffs Department.

However, unlike federal courts, the military justice system is not obligated to release court records to the public. A 2016 law attempted to do away with some of the secrecy in the military by requiring military courts to release records at all stages of the justice system, but in early 2023, the Department of Defense issued guidelines allowing its six branches the discretion to suppress information until a trial is over.

In the TikTok, Perez expressed concern over authorities mishandling of the investigation, from the moment her niece was reported missing and officers chose not to pursue the familys leads. Now, she claims military authorities are attempting to brush the incident under the rug, pointing to an article on military.com that includes information from a NCIS report of the incident which Perez says is false.

The more people that are aware, the less likely it is for predators to hide. As for the military, its looking really bad on you, Perez said in the TikTok.

Montse Reyes is a writer and editor based in Oakland and raised in Californias Central Valley. She enjoys writing about the intersection of race, gender and class, particularly as they relate to culture at large.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Although he had only been in the state for just a few weeks, Jason Gregory had already touched lives.

Gregory, 18, had recently moved from Alabama to the Ann Arbor area to pursue the first steps of becoming a master electrician. In June, he was found on a Washtenaw County highway with a gunshot wound to the head.

It is heartbreaking to know that Jasons future and our future with him was violently and senselessly taken away, wrote Morgan Gregory, his mother, in an email to MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

Police were called to westbound I-94 near Parker Road in Lima Township around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, for a report of a single-vehicle crash. When they arrived, they found Jason Gregory, the driver, bleeding from his head, Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. Jeff Frasier told Magistrate Elisha Fink at a swear-to hearing on Tuesday, June 27. While enroute to the hospital, officials discovered Gregory had been shot in the head at least one time.

Kendall Newbern, 16, was charged with open murder, armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed and larceny from a person in connection with the incident. He was referred to a competency exam on Thursday, July 6, and is set to next appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Newbern said he and Gregory did not know each other, Frasier said.

Read more: Judge orders competency exam for 16-year-old charged in I-94 homicide

Jason Gregory had recently graduated from Buckhorn High School near Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Michigan over Memorial Day weekend, according to Morgan Gregory.

He had plans to help his aunt and uncle with the animals on their property while also starting training in the field of electrical, she said.

Her son had spent two years of high school in the construction program at Madison County Career Tech Center and had scheduled an interview with Ann Arbor Electrical JATC to apply for their Residential Apprenticeship Program, she said. The program would have been an early step to becoming a master electrician in six years.

As a child, Jason spent a lot of time playing with Legos and sketching, a creativity his mom said she sees as an inspiration to his career path. He often gave her drawings for Mothers Day, she said.

The drawings always reminded (me) of the special relationship between a mother and son, she said. I treasured these drawings when Jason gave them to me, but now they are treasured even more so.

Despite only being in the Ann Arbor-area for a short time, Jason Gregory had already made an impact. A manager at one of his jobs reached out to his mother after hearing the news of his death, Morgan Gregory said.

She relayed to me how this fun young kid had an attitude that was infectious, that he was respectful, eager to help and always went above and beyond, Morgan Gregory said. She also told me that Jason made everyone laugh, and his kindness to everyone was something the world needed more of.

Its a sentiment she agrees with, she said.

Jason Gregory had a rare connection to animals, particularly dogs and horses, his mother said. At 13, he adopted a rescue dog, who began displaying symptoms of tick paralysis.

Jason stayed by her side day and night to care for her and provide her the treatment she needed so she could return to full health, she said. That was the start of the two of them becoming inseparable.

The dog now stays with Jasons aunt and uncle.

She still looks for Jason to come home there, Morgan Gregory said.

A GoFundMe to cover Jason Gregorys funeral expenses has raised nearly $5,000 as of Monday afternoon.

Although she has been amazed by the support of Michigan residents who knew her son, Morgan Gregory said, the family is both missing him and mourning an unfufilled future.

Her son will never get to have a career, own a house or have a wife or children, she said. Much of the family is in shock, she added.

All of us are grieving, each in our own way, she said. However we grieve, one thought seems to be prevalent with all of us: Jason was taken from us way too soon, and he is greatly loved and missed.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

Read more from The Ann Arbor News:

Suspect in Michigan womans 2011 murder arraigned

Man accused of stabbing father 22 times charged with murder

Detroit-area human relations commissioners ousted after flying LGBTQ+ flag, violating new ban
The suspect in the deadly shooting of a pregnant mother who was slain while holding her toddler daughter will remain behind bars despite her attorneys plea that she be released because is eight months pregnant.

Aaniyah Nowden, 21, is charged with capital murder in the July 7 shooting of 36-year-old Justina Wallace.

Wallace was shot during a domestic dispute with Nowden, who both have children by the same man, authorities said.

The pregnant mother of five died the following day at UAB Hospital.

The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. in the 3200 block of 17th Avenue North. Wallace, her daughter, and at least two of her young sons were at the shooting scene.

Photos and videos posted to social media showed the suspect pointing a gun at the victim while the victim was holding daughter Sky, who turned 2 just two days later.

Justina Wallace, a 36-year-old mother pregnant with her sixth child, was shot to death in Birmingham on July 7, 2023, while holding her toddler daughter. Friends threw 2-year-old Sky a birthday part on Sunday.

Nowdens attorney, Erskine Mathis, filed a motion for an emergency bond hearing before Jefferson County Judge Alaric May.

Mathis said Nowden was taken from the Jefferson County Jail to the hospital three days after her arrest because she is experiencing high blood pressure and preeclampsia.

The attorney was seeking a reasonable bond or Nowdens release on electronic monitoring so that she could go stay with unborn babys father until at least after delivery so the child can at least get a start in life with her mother, or his mother.

Mathis said Nowden has since been moved from general population at the county jail to the lockups medical floor but said theres a problem there as well.

Shes locked up in her own cell for 23 hours out of the day, he said. For one each day, shes in general population (on the medical floor).

Many of the people on the medical floor are there for mental problems, he said. It scares her to death when she has to go out in that big room with all those people hollering and screaming. Its frightening her.

Aaniyah Nowden, 21, is charged with capital murder in the July 7, 2023, shooting death of 36-year-old Justina Wallace. Police said both women had children by the same man. (Jefferson County Jail)

She knows very well that shes charged with capital murder. I will tell the court right now, weve seen all the newspaper coverage and the stuff on social media. This is a self-defense case, Mathis said.

Its going to come out to be a self-defense case and I believe when its all over with, shes going to be found not guilty in spite of the fact that its been made out that shes a terrible person. That just aint so.

He said Nowden has never been in trouble, and he noted that the father of her unborn baby was in Mondays hearing to support her.

Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Dain Stewart said Nowden is charged with capital murder in the presence of a child.

That child  who witnessed the deadly shooting  was also fathered by the father of Nowdens unborn child.

Stewart said as the case proceeds, he anticipates charging Nowden with a second charge  capital murder of two or more persons since the slain Wallace was pregnant as well.

The prosecutor noted that both charges are death penalty eligible.

I do agree that when this case goes to trial, that the defense in this case will be self-defense, Stewart said.

However, the defendant in this case did give a statement to (Birmingham homicide detective) Kyle Johnson admitting that when she shot the victim, she saw that the victim was holding her 2-year-old child and had nothing else in her hand, Stewart said. That was in her own words in a post-Miranda statement.

Stewart said that while prosecutors are compassionate that the defendant is a pregnant person, there is no allegation that shes not receiving adequate medical care or attention in the jail.

The unfortunate circumstance is that across the state of Alabama there are many incarcerated pregnant people, Stewart said.

He asked that, because of the severity of the charges against Nowden and the likelihood of conviction, that she remain held without bond.

Judge May said that prior to the hearing, he checked himself with the jail on Nowdens condition.

The jail told me right now everything is stable, that she was taken (to the hospital) as a precaution, and that she doesnt need any special care, May said.

Mathis replied with this, None of us want to be on the short end of this stick if something were to happen.

The judge denied Nowden bond, which brought tears from her supporters in the courtroom.

The court does not lack compassion when it comes to Ms. Nowdens condition, however, based on the charge itself, based on the fact that the death penalty may be applicable and from what the state appears to be saying, the state will probably seeking the death penalty as well as potentially adding on a second death-penalty applicable count, Im not going to set a bond, May said.

This is just a tragic situation.
The Alabama Legislature begins a special session Monday facing a five-day deadline to redraw the states seven congressional districts.

On June 8, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Alabamas current map, with one majority Black district out of seven, most likely violates the Voting Rights Act in a state where Blacks make up one-fourth of the population.

A three-judge federal district court, which originally made that ruling in January 2022, set a July 21 deadline for the Legislature to draw a new map with two districts that are majority Black or close to majority Black. Lawyers representing the state in the lawsuit suggested that timeline.

The new map must be ready in time for next years election. Secretary of State Wes Allen, who is the states top election official, has told the court that a new map would need to be in place by Oct. 1. The primaries are in March 2024.

The Legislatures reapportionment committee meets at 10 a.m. Monday. The House and Senate convene at 2 p.m. It will take a minimum of five days to approve a map, the same as any other bill.

The court gave Black voters and organizations who are plaintiffs in the litigation until July 28 to file objections to a new map. Lawyers for the state would have to respond by Aug. 4. If a hearing in the case, if necessary, would begin on Aug. 14.

If lawmakers fail to approve a new map, the three-judge court will do so. The court has hired an expert to do that.

Alabamas district map has not changed much since 1992, when a federal court order made District 7 the first majority Black district. As a result that year, Alabama elected its first Black member of Congress since 1877. The state has maintained the six-to-one ratio in its congressional delegation since.

The district court, which held a seven-day hearing last year, found the Black population is large enough and geographically compact enough to create a second majority Black district that is reasonably configured.

The litigation is the result of lawsuits filed by three groups challenging the current map. They are known as the Milligan, Caster, and Singleton plaintiffs, identified by the names of the lead plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs have submitted maps to the reapportionment committee that they say would fix the Voting Rights Act violation. Those include a map supported by the Milligan and Caster plaintiffs that would make District 2, which now covers the southeast portion of the state, a second majority Black district.
A Madison County father has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2018 shooting death of his 13-month-old son.

WAFF is reporting that Bradley Parker, 38, entered the plea Monday morning before his trial was set to start.

Parker received probation as he is the primary caregiver for the couples other child, according to WAAY.

His wife, Aleisha Parker, 35, was found guilty of manslaughter back in February. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Aleisha Parker was originally charged with murder along with her husband Bradley in the childs death, until a hearing later that year when a Madison County judge said the testimony suggested the case was a horrible accident.

Dante suffered a gunshot wound at the Parker familys Tybee Drive home in the early morning hours of Aug. 25, 2018. The child was downstairs, apparently in a play pen, when the shooting happened.

At a preliminary hearing in 2018, Madison County sheriffs investigator Jason Payne recounted several statements made by the Parkers and testified that their stories at first appeared to be concocted.

The husband later told investigators that he went downstairs that morning and saw his wife holding a gun near the childs play pen, Payne testified.

The husband, in an attempt to prevent his wife from harming herself or their child, tried to take the gun away, Payne testified. The gun, a Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver, went off during the struggle, and Dante was struck by a bullet.

Initially, the couple told conflicting stories about how the gun went off. However, investigators said the accounts did not match with the physical evidence.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall signed a letter that said states need to have access to medical information for people who travel out of state for abortions or gender-affirming health care.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch wrote the letter last month to oppose proposed federal rules that would shield that information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Marshall was one of 19 attorneys general who signed.

After the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization last year, Alabama outlawed abortion. Women seeking to terminate pregnancies must travel out-of-state to get access to legal abortion services. The new federal rules would prevent that information from being disclosed to Alabama investigators.

In April, the White House announced the plan to protect reproductive health information.

The rule would prevent an individuals information from being disclosed to investigate, sue, or prosecute an individual, a health care provider, or a loved one simply because that person sought, obtained, provided, or facilitated legal reproductive health care, including abortion, according to a fact sheet issued by the administration of President Joe Biden.

Mississippi Today first reported on the letter on July 13. In the letter opposing the new rules, the prosecutors said the rules could make it difficult to investigate doctors and clinics.

The proposed rule would thus curtail the ability of state officials to obtain evidence of potential violations of state lawseven when requested under a court order or other type of legal process, the letter said.

Abortion providers could use the rule to avoid detection, they said.

Suppose that state officials had reason to believe that an abortion provider deliberately performed an abortion in violation of state law, resulting in serious injury to the woman, and that the provider then falsified medical records and referred the woman to an out-of-state provider to cover it up. State officials would clearly have a basis to investigate that provider for a potential violation of law, according to the letter.

Under HIPAA, law enforcement and state regulators can access health information during investigations. In Alabama, hospitals frequently provide information to investigators in cases where women have been accused of drug use during pregnancy.

Alabamas abortion law bans termination at all stages of pregnancy and does not include exemptions for rape or incest. The law targets doctors, who face between 10 and 99 years in prison if convicted. Women who receive abortions cannot be prosecuted.

Earlier this year, Marshall speculated that women who use abortion pills could be subject to prosecution under the same law that targets illegal drug use during pregnancy. He walked back those statements a few days later. After he reversed course, Marshall said Alabama authorities would only target doctors and other medical providers.

In the letter, Fitch wrote that states have valid reasons for wanting to maintain legal access to information about reproductive health care. She said the Biden administration has falsely accused anti-abortion states of going after women who seek abortions.

The Administration, however, has pushed a false narrative that States are seeking to treat pregnant women as criminals or punish medical personnel who provide lifesaving care, the letter said. Based on this lie, the Administration has sought to wrest control over abortion back from the people in defiance of the Constitution and Dobbs. The proposed rule here continues that effort.

The letter also said the new rules should not block access to information about gender-affirming health care for minors. Alabama passed a law banning those treatments, but parts of it have been blocked by courts.

The proposed rule focuses on abortion, the letter said. But its broad definition of reproductive health care includes health care related to reproductive organs, regardless of whether the health care is related to an individuals pregnancy or whether the individual is of reproductive age. Given its far-reaching and radical approach to transgender issues, the Administration may intend to use the proposed rule to obstruct state laws concerning experimental gender-transition procedures for minors (such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical interventions).
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said investigations are underway after a shooting crime was reported near 1st and South Gless streets in Boyle Heights.

Police alleged the shooting happened Sunday night (July 16), when two women aged 21 and 25 were shot in the incident, with the older one dying at the scene. The 21-year-old woman was taken to hospital for treatment after she was shot in the leg. She is now in a stable condition.

The two male suspects ran from the scene and remain at large as of Monday morning (July 17). No descriptions were released by police as of this report.

Police said the incident was believed to be gang-related, but the cause of the shooting is still being investigated.

Read Also: Philly Shooting: Gunman Arrested, Identified

Latest Of Many Shootings In Boyle Heights

The shooting is the latest in a string of incidents in the Los Angeles neighborhood.

Last week, a man was arrested and charged for allegedly shooting multiple people with an AR-15-style firearm while driving a car in Boyle Heights. 25-year-old autistic man Noah Martinez was also shot and killed while walking home from work last June.

This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.

Related Article: Cleveland Shooting Left 9 People Injured, Prompts a Search by Law Enforcement for Shooter Still at Large

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The stepfather of an Arizona high schooler has been acquitted in the 17-year-olds 2001 disappearance, according to news reports.

A judge acquitted Michael Turney of all murder charges in Alissa Turneys death, AZFamily reported.

She was first reported as a runaway by Michael, who told authorities that Alissa had left a note and was going to California, ABC 15 reported.

Her body was never found.

In August 2020, Michael Roy Turney was arrested on second degree murder charges, Phoenix Police announced via Twitter.
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This is an opinion column.

Steve Marshalls gonna make you pay. In more ways than one.

And a new law will help him shield some of those getting paid.

Marshall has convinced Alabama to award a $30,000 contract to a lawyer to ensure that the Equal Rights Amendment is not illegally added to the U.S, Constitution, and another $108,000 for a lawyer who specializes in challenging federal actions, which Marshall should be good at by now.

And if you add up the lawyers  and the doctors and psychologists who claim to be experts in gender identity  the Alabama Legislatures Contract Review Committee over the last two years has awarded up to $2.7 million in contracts to help Marshall defend the states anti-trans laws. Some of those contracts were passed last year and renewed this year.

The state has already paid more than $400,000 to those defenders, including $20,000 to Dianna T. Kenny, an Australian critic of transgender politics, and $28,000 to controversial James Cantor, a Canadian sexologist who is a darling of the anti-trans crowd but has been labeled a troll by trans advocates. He quit the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality after being criticized for his views.

Who knows when it will end? The money will pile up, but dont expect to find out how much more about what experts might get paid, thanks to a bill pushed by Marshall this year. The AG  he dares not defend your right to transparency in his government  is now allowed to redact the names of people hired for professional services related to lawsuits. That doesnt include the lawyers themselves.

We wont have a right to know who they are. We just pay for them. One way or another.

And on we go.

The Legislatures Contract Review Committee last week approved contracts worth $975,000 for five lawyers from Washington D.C.s Cooper & Kirk, as the Alabama Reflector first reported. Another lawyer, Christopher Mills, was granted a $180,000 contract for the same type of work, and has already been paid $91,900 over the last two years.

At the same meeting the panel reapproved contracts to pay one lawyer, Bill Lunsford, up to $14.9 million over the next two years. Thats money were spending to defend Alabamas odious prison system, instead of spending it on fixing prisons. That includes $9.9 million over two years to defend a suit the U.S. Justice Department filed against Alabama for failing to protect inmates from each other and from guards.

Lunsford has already been paid $17.8 million over the last five years, state finance records show, prompting Rep. Chris England to refer to Lunsford as his own government agency at this point.

RELATED: Marshall sidelined the prison systems own lawyers.

Mandy Spiers, a lawyer for the Alabama Department of Corrections, told members of the Contract Review Committee the agency has no choice but to fight the case with outside lawyers picked by the attorney general

The attorney generals office has prohibited us from settling this case, multiple times, she said of the federal governments case against Alabama.

She also reminded them that Marshall in April stripped the Deputy AG designations from ADOC lawyers, so they can no longer represent the system in cases.

So we are unable to bring any of them in-house, she said.

Marshalls office has not responded to questions about the fiscal responsibility of it all. Much less the humanity.

But Rep. England, a member of the Contract Review Committee, said the current contracts are just a fraction of what you will have to pay to defend this admittedly deeply flawed prison system.

Im not hung up on $9.9 million. Im hung up on well over a hundred million dollars over the life of this litigation thats going to the same attorney, England said.

And theres the thing. We are throwing big money away to defend something any reasonable person would see as wrong. An overcrowded, understaffed prison system rife with death, disease, rape, assault, extortion, assault, drugs and indifference.

England, a lawyer, said it, too.

Theres not much dispute in terms of liability here, in terms of our issues and overcrowding and conditions and staffing and so forth, he said. So a lot of this just continues to drag on and it just ends up costing us a lot more money instead of just trying to figure out a way to work it out.

We spend huge amounts of money to fight the culture wars, to protect our ability to discriminate, and to ignore our own flaws.

We pay for our sins in millions of ways.

Steve Marshall makes sure of it. Just dont ask who we paid.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner at AL.com.
A panel of Alabama lawmakers approved a proposed new congressional district map during a contentious meeting Monday, with the Republican majority passing the plan by a vote of 14-6 over opposition from Democrats.

The plan, which was picked over several plans favored by Democrats, moves ahead for further consideration by lawmakers during a special session that starts Monday afternoon.

On June 8, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Alabamas current map, with one majority Black district out of seven, most likely violates the Voting Rights Act in a state where one-fourth of residents are Black.

A three-judge federal district court ordered the Legislature to approve a new map by Friday. The new map must be in place for next years elections.

The reapportionment committee discussed a number of proposed plans before approving one called the community of interest plan that was supported by the Republican co-chairs of the committee, Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, and Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro.

On the community of interest plan, District 7 would remain the only majority Black district, with a Black voting age population of 51.55%, which would be down from 57.07% on the current map. District 2 would have the second highest percentage of Black voting age population, at 42.45%. That is up from 31.86% on the current map.

The three-judge court said to fix the Voting Rights Act violation, Alabama would need a map with a second district with a majority Black population or close to a majority Black population to give Black voters an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

Pringle said the community of interest map was designed to follow that instruction from the court by providing District 2 as an additional district where Black voters could elect a candidate of their choice.

The goal here for me was to provide that opportunity for an African American to be elected to Congress in the Second district, Pringle said.

Democrats on the committee said they lacked key information on the plan, including a report on voting history that would show more accurately whether Black voters would have a realistic chance to elect a candidate in District 2.

Black lawmakers on the panel favored other plans, including those proposed by the plaintiffs who successfully challenged the current map as a violation of the Voting Rights Act.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, supported two plans that would make District 6 the second opportunity district for Black voters. Those plans would put all of Jefferson County in District 6, which would have a Black voting age population of 40%. Although thats lower than the Black voting age population would be in District 2 under the community of interest plan, Smitherman said recent election history shows that Democrats have received more than 50% of the vote in District 6 under the plans he supported.

Smitherman said he doubted the court would accept the community of interest plan as creating a second opportunity district for Black voters in District 2.

It has to be a true and genuine opportunity, Smitherman said. We cant go there trying to fake them out. Thats not going to work.

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said the public has had no chance to review the community of interest plan because it was not available until Friday, after the two public hearings the reapportionment committee held. England said key information about the plan is missing, including a report on voting history in the districts, or performance report, that will show more than the population numbers about whether the redrawn District 2 would realistically give Blacks a chance to elect a candidate of their choice.

I dont understand why it wouldnt have been presented well in advance to give it time to get that analysis done, to give it also time for sunlight on it for people to vet it, look at it, ask questions about it, England said. We dont even know if it works. And thats how terrible this process was. The public did not get an opportunity to vet the map that passed today that we dont even know satisfies the court ruling.

Pringle said a voting history report on the community of interest plan would be available Monday night or Tuesday.

An organization affiliated with the National Democratic Redistricting Committee issued a statement Monday saying the plan approved by the reapportionment committee would be challenged in court if it passes the Legislature.

It is clear that Alabama Republicans are not serious about doing their job and passing a compliant map, even in light of a landmark Supreme Court decision, " said Marina Jenkins, executive director of the National Redistricting Foundation. This map and the process that led up to it are as deceitful as they are shameful. This follows a pattern we have seen throughout history when it comes to redistricting in Alabama, where a predominately white and Republican legislature has never done the right thing on its own, but rather has had to be forced to do so by a court. If the legislature enacts this shameful map, it will be challenged in court.

The National Redistricting Foundation supports a map proposed by groups that won their case against the current map at the Supreme Court, the Milligan and Caster plaintiffs. That map, called the VRA Plaintiffs Remedial Map, has two districts with a majority Black population. District 2 would have a Black voting age population of 50.08%, and District 7 would have a Black voting age population of 54.5%. Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, spoke for that plan during the committee meeting on Monday.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said the Legislature would do its job even though he did not agree with the court decision on the current map, approved in 2021.

I am frustrated that were here, Reed said. I feel like that the Legislature did a good job in 21, the process of doing what the people of Alabama had asked us to do. I felt like we moved forward with that in an appropriate way and everybody seemed to be satisfied with it.

I know that the process has moved through the three-judge panel and then to the Supreme Court. And theyve given an order that we need to redo the map. So here we are. It doesnt mean were excited about it. But we are going to do our job.

Alabamas district map has not changed much since 1992, when a federal court order made District 7 the first majority Black district. As a result that year, Alabama elected its first Black member of Congress since 1877.
Updated at 3:34 p.m.: After hearing oral arguments for an hour Monday afternoon, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals did not immediately rule on a pleading by James Barber to put his scheduled execution on hold.

Barber is scheduled to die by lethal injection later this week in a 30-hour window set last month by Gov. Kay Ivey. The window begins at midnight Thursday and continues until 6 a.m. Monday.

Judges on the appeals court peppered attorneys representing Barber as well as the state of Alabama on various aspects of their arguments and, before adjourning, gave no indication how it would rule.

Much of the discussion focused on the team that will administer the IV lines to Barber. The state had issues with establishing IVs in executions last year, leading to a moratorium while the state reviewed its processes.

Two execution attempts failed last year when prison workers could not get an IV line started before the death warrants expired at midnight. An autopsy of Joe James following the states last successful execution in July 2022 revealed punctures across his body in efforts to establish an IV line, according to a court filing by Barber.

The issue of being subjected to multiple needle sticks to establish over an extended period of time could violate Barbers Eighth Amendment rights, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, his attorneys have argued.

The states decision to install a new IV team from the one used last year makes no difference, Barber attorney Mara Klebaner argued in the appeals hearing.

All the people the state chooses to staff the IV team are fungible and the same, she said. Its like picking up a different can of soda off the shelf from a factory that isnt passing safety inspections. The state uses the same standards of quality control and theyre going to get the same product.

Richard Anderson, an assistant Alabama attorney general, told the appeals court that using a new IV team represented a good faith effort by the state to make a material change as a result of those two incidents in the fall of 2022.

Anderson also said the change severs the link between Barber and any issues from last year. He also pointed to over two decades of successful executions in Alabama carried out by lethal injection.

History didnt begin in July 2022, Anderson said referring to the execution of James. And it didnt end in November 2022. Thats when Ivey ordered a review of the states processes following the failed execution of Kenneth Smith because of issues establishing the IV lines.

Original story: Attorneys for James Barber will argue before the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Monday afternoon to stop his scheduled execution later this week for the 2001 murder of an elderly Madison County woman.

Barber filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit late last week after a federal judge denied his request.

In court filings, Barbers attorneys have said the state of Alabama has botched its last three execution attempts over the past two years and that, given medical personnel have struggled to establish an IV line for him in the past and the states previous issues, he should not be subjected to death by lethal injection.

Related: Federal judge denies James Barbers request to block execution by lethal injection

Barber has stated a preference instead for death by nitrogen hypoxia  a format the state has said it is not prepared to implement at this time.

The hearing will be before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Barber was convicted in Madison County for the slaying of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps. Epps was beaten to death with Barbers fists and a claw hammer in her Harvest home, according to court records. She suffered multiple skull fractures, head lacerations, brain bleeding, and rib fractures.

Gov. Kay Ivey established a 30-hour window for Barbers execution to be carried out at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, beginning at midnight Thursday and continuing until 6 a.m. Friday. Its the first time the state has set an execution window of longer than 24 hours, a result of a review of the states execution process Ivey called for after the previous issues with other condemned inmates.

The states review of its execution protocol came after problems arose with three previous execution attempts. Barber argues in his appeal that he has the same body mass index as one of the inmates for whom personnel struggled to establish an IV line and a higher BMI than another. Because of those previous struggles and the similarities in BMI, Barber said that should not be an option in his execution.

Mr. Barber will likely be subjected to the same grisly fate because the evidence shows that Defendants have not made any meaningful changes to their execution protocol or procedures, Barbers appeal brief said.

The state disputed that claim, saying that new medical personnel will be establishing the IV lines for Barber. The state also said that while Barber cited instances where medical personnel have struggled to establish an IV line on him, he made no mention in his filing of several other occasions where there were no issues.

The state also took issue with Barbers attorneys having repeated delays in efforts to stop the execution.

Mrs. Epps and her family have waited for justice for (22) years, the states response said. And in an attempt to avoid that justice, Barber waited to bring his current claims. Because those claims are both dilatory and meritless, Barbers motion for a stay of execution should be denied.

This story will be updated
The Today shows lifestyle contributor Jill Martin revealed Monday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer after learning that her father was a BRCA gene mutation carrier.

In an emotional appearance on NBCs morning show, and in an accompanying essay published on the Today show website, Martin shared that she was diagnosed on June 26 after a slew of mammograms, tests and screenings. The 47-year-old was considered at high risk for breast cancer because her grandmother died from the disease  the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States  and her mother had a double mastectomy in her late 40s before her breast cancer turned invasive.

Her mother, however, tested negative for the BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutations 20 years ago, erroneously leading Martin to believe that she was not at as high a risk for the disease.

After genetic testing, Martin was told that she tested positive for BRCA 2  and her father was too  meaning that they carried the gene mutation known to pose a cancer risk.

Because of those positive tests, which I will be forever grateful we took, my father will get screened and stay vigilant about breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer, which he now knows hes at a higher risk for, she wrote. And because of that test, I had a sonogram and an MRI and it turns out ... I have breast cancer.

I am telling this story now because I couldnt go through months of operations, and start to recover both physically and mentally, without shouting from the rooftops telling everyone to check with their doctors to see if genetic testing is appropriate, she added.

Sitting down with Today co-anchors Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie on Mondays episode, Martin said that the test saved her life six weeks ago, even after she had been vigilant about getting mammograms and proactive about her health.

Had I not gotten the test, I wouldnt have gotten the scans and we would be telling a very different story, she told her colleagues. So I feel super grateful to be here, to be able to say: talk to your doctors and go get tested.

The Fashion for Dummies author was joined by her doctor, Elisa Port, chief breast surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, during the appearance to discuss the scientific aspects of the diagnosis.

Mammograms do save lives and they are still the No. 1 way to detect breast cancer. But no test is perfect and mammograms certainly arent, Port said. And they pick up about 85 to 90% of cancers, but not 100%. And thats why we screen and recommend screening high-risk patients, adding on other imaging tests to close that gap.

Port is set to operate on the Steals and Deals and Ambush Makeover segment host this week. Martin will have a double mastectomy and will begin the reconstruction process with a specialist at Mount Sinai. She has also been advised by her obstetrician/gynecologist to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in a few months as part of the preventative surgery process because she is now at a 20% increased risk of getting ovarian cancer.

That is not a percentage I am willing to live with, Martin wrote, adding, I have had some time to process, so now Im in get-it-done robotic mode. Different people cope in different ways; for me, I am not hiding under the covers crying. Instead, I want to do everything I can to beat this and protect my family.

Martin encouraged readers and viewers to get informed by talking to their doctors about genetic testing and cancer risks, understand that breast cancer can go undetected by a mammogram and know the effect of genetics on children.

Martin hoped that her news would spur something referred to in the medical field as the Angelina Jolie Effect, referring to the spike in people who got tested after the Oscar winner revealed in 2013 that she was having preventative surgery after losing her mother to breast and ovarian cancer and testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation herself.

Do you know how many lives she likely helped save? My guess is a lot, Martin wrote.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
After nearly five years, the residents living in unincorporated areas west of Mobiles city limits will get a chance to vote Tuesday on whether they should be annexed into the city.

At stake for annexation supporters, including Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons office, is whether the City of Mobile will rise in population from 184,952 to above 200,000 residents. To do so, the city will need to win a majority of support in four distinct areas -- the Airport corridor, Cottage Hills, Kings Branch and Orchard Estates. If all four areas vote a majority Yes on annexation, then the citys population will surge above 210,000, which would make Mobile larger than Birmingham (197,493) and Montgomery (200,465). Only fast-growing Huntsville (215,857) will be larger.

The vote isnt all-or-nothing. If a majority of voters in one of the corridors votes to be annexed into the city, then that corridor will became part of Mobile no matter what voters in the other three corridors decide.

The campaign leading up to Tuesdays vote has included a few surprises, and the results are expected to be close. Here are five things to watch for during and after Tuesdays vote:

Voters arrive to a polling place in Mobile, Ala., during a past election. Mobile's municipal elections are taking place on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (file photo)

1. Voter turnout. Mobile has had some anemic returns in recent elections. In last years midterm elections, Mobile County was the worst of the states five largest counties in the state, with only 34.4% of voters participating in the General Election. The state average was 38.5%. A year before, during the citys municipal election, turnout was at 24.19%, and represented a notable drop from previous municipal elections when 37% to 46% of registered voters would go to the polls. The argument can be made that the 2022 midterm, and the 2021 municipal elections lacked much political intrigue for Mobile. In addition, turnout is typically higher in the western areas of Mobile during municipal contests. But questions remain on whether Mobile will continue to struggle with voter apathy. And in a low voter turnout contest, anything is possible.

2. Racial demographics. Four distinct areas west of the citys limits will get a chance to vote on Tuesday. If all 25,806 residents are annexed, the citys voting age populations racial demographics will be a razor-thin 46.8% Black-46.7% white. Currently, the voting age gap is 49.7% Black-44.4% white. However, the city could become majority white if voters in two majority Black areas -- Kings Branch (population 2,432) and tiny Orchard Estates (695 residents) -- decided against joining the city. The largest areas slated for annexation are the Airport corridor (6,107 residents), and Cottage Hills (16,662 residents). Combined, the two areas have a voting age population that is approximately 66% white, 22.4% Black. Organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center will be taking notice on the outcome. In 2021, the SPLC warned the city that annexation of land with white populations for the city -- without annexation of land that includes comparable Black population -- would likely violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because such action would serve to dilute Black political power.

3. Future redistricting. If any of the areas west of the city limits vote in majority to be annexed, it will likely lead to another redistricting process for the Mobile City Council. The council has already been through this once, and with plenty of headaches. The last redistricting of council seats concluded last August. The end result: For the first time in Mobiles history -- a majority of Black council districts was created. The seven-member council has long been represented by four white members, three Black.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson celebrates his re-election as mayor of Mobile on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at The Crown Hall in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

4. Stimpsons political sway. The mayor has been front and center in his support for annexation, but he is also facing opposition in the strangest of places. Martin Scott Catino, who is heading up the Faith Family Freedom Coalition Metro Mobiles opposition to annexation, has blasted the Stimpson administration for its social policy positions, namely for appointing LGBTQ liaisons in 2022. Its the first time Stimpson, a Republican, has been called out during a campaign over a conservative policy point. The mayor has opted not to address Catinos remarks. Stimpsons focus has been on discussing and promoting what he believes are the economic merits of annexation. The mayor, up until now, has enjoyed plenty of political support in western Mobile, and his overall electoral victories have grown over the years. He defeated former Mayor Sam Jones in 2013 with 53% of the vote. He then followed up in the 2017 rematch with Jones by garnering 57% support. And in 2021, Stimpsons support grew even further with 62.5% of the overall vote.

A billboard linking LGBTQ policies to a "Vote No" on Mobile's annexation question during a special election on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, has surfaced along Airport Boulevard near Baker High School in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

5. LGBTQ politics, and public safety. Catinos group is advertising a No vote on Tuesday, citing their concerns about people living within unincorporated Mobile annexing into a city that supports social policies that are opposite of conservative values. Hes named two concerns: The citys addition of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and LGBTQ liaisons. Will the criticism stick? The West Mobile Annexation Committee, a longtime pro-annexation group, argues that social issues have no relationship to underlying issue of annexation. Mobile has a large LGBTQ population, which shows up in strong numbers during annual Pride events. But politically speaking, the LGBTQ population in Mobile hasnt had strong showings during recent elections.

Kimberly McKeand, the co-plaintiff in the Searcy vs. Strange lawsuit in 2014 -- which led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Alabama -- finished sixth out of six candidates in the Mobile County District 2 race in 2021. She only amassed 3.4% of the vote. Tex Copeland, the citys first political candidate identified as non-binary -- a term used for some whose gender identify doesnt fall into categories of male or female -- finished third out of three candidates in the District 5 race. Copeland only received 8.9% of the overall voters. And despite an urging by the citys LGBTQ community, Mobile has never considered the adoption of a non-discrimination ordinance similar to those in place in Birmingham and Montevallo.

The West Annexation Committee also stresses that the future of public safety is at stake with Tuesdays vote. That could be the case after Mobile City Councilman Joel Daves signaled that, after Tuesdays vote, the city could terminate police and fire protection within its three mile police jurisdiction. That could affect 71,000 residents -- about the size of Dothan.

Related content:

Why LGBTQ policies are animating a Mobile annexation campaign

This story was updated at 8:45 p.m. on July 17, 2023, to add the fate of public safety within the police jurisdiction as a possible looming storyline with Tuesdays special election vote.
Count him in: Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville likes the idea of moving the Federal Bureau of Investigations national headquarters to the Rocket City.

In a tweet Monday morning, Tuberville threw in his support:

The @FBI has needed a new headquarters for years now.



I agree with @Jim_Jordan: the best place for @FBI headquarters is its state of the art facility in Huntsville. https://t.co/PHMK0pTAVQ  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) July 17, 2023

I agree with @Jim_Jordan: the best place for @FBI headquarters is its state of the art facility in Huntsville, Tuberville tweeted.

The senator was referencing a Wall Street Journal story from earlier this month reporting that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) supports moving the headquarters to Huntsville.

This comes as the bureau is eyeing a move from its Washington, D.C. building to a suburb of the nations capital, in either Maryland or Virginia.

The FBI currently works out of the 50-year-old J. Edgar Hoover Building, with more than 5,000 employees, located across the street from the Justice Departments headquarters.

According to the Journal, its another volley in the war going on between the FBI and Republicans who say the agency has grown too partisan in its investigations of former President Donald Trump, and moving to a red state might change the organizations priorities.

The proposal would seemingly stand little chance of succeeding legislatively with Democrats in control of the Senate and the White House.

The FBI, in response, said there are numerous operational reasons to keep the headquarters in Washington, given its proximity to the FBI academy near Quantico, Va., and other intelligence agencies. In a statement, the bureau said its Huntsville campus couldnt accommodate the minimum of 8,500 employees planned to occupy the new headquarters in Washington.

The FBI is building whats unofficially been described as a second headquarters at Redstone Arsenal. Federal funding for ongoing construction has already exceeded $3 billion.

This idea that were going to build a new, big Pentagon and put all the FBI mainly in one place, I dont think its a good structure, Kevin McCarthy said Friday.

One of the goals weve set in this Congress as Republicans is to do the oversight so we can impact the appropriations process, Jordan said in a brief interview at the Capitol, and put limitations on how taxpayer money is spent to stop the weaponization of these agencies against the American people.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, which is competing with neighboring Maryland to host the new FBI headquarters, called the Republican ideas a solution in search of a problem.

I think they just got a political bug against federal law enforcement agencies, he said.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle issued a one-sentence statement to AL.com in response to the Wall Street Journal story: Were proud of the FBI presence in Huntsville and will support whatever Congress decides is best for the betterment of our country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, under fire for his months-long hold on military promotions as a protest for a new Pentagon policy on abortion services in the military, raised the point Monday that his strategy is not as novel as some have portrayed.

In 2020, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a decorated Iraq war veteran and senator from Illinois, invoked a similar hold in protest.

"Duckworth Announces Blanket Hold on Senior Military Confirmations" https://t.co/m0Bg5TL8Vv https://t.co/DSCK2lMk3N  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) July 17, 2023

Tuberville on Monday tweeted a three-year-old press release from Duckworth announcing her hold of more than 1,200 promotions. Duckworth demanded that former Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirm in writing that he did not block the promotion of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to colonel. Vindman, then the Ukraine expert during the Trump administration, listened to and reported his concerns about the call former President Donald Trump had with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The House of Representatives eventually impeached Trump over the phone call, in which he asked Zelenskyy to publicly announce an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in exchange for military aid.

Vindman eventually retired, having never been promoted to colonel.

Duckworth lifted her hold after two weeks after receiving assurances Vindman received no promotion backlash as a result of reporting the Ukraine phone call.

Three years later, Duckworth blasted Tuberville for his hold on military promotions. Tuberville is objecting to the policy providing paid leave and travel expenses for servicewomen to receive abortions in the aftermath of the Supreme Court last year returning the issue of abortion rights to the states. Tuberville said he will lift his hold if Congress votes to approve the policy or if the policy is rescinded.

Asked during an appearance Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press if she was willing to put a vote on the issue in the Senate, Duckworth said Weve given him (Tuberville) many options for a vote, and hes turned them all down. Joni Ernst (Republican U.S. senator from Iowa) has a bill that goes even further than where Senator Tuberville is, and he declined that vote.

And Republican leadership had offered him multiple off-ramps to this, Duckworth said. And hes backed himself into a corner, I mean. You know what hes saying is that Democrats need to pass a national codification of Roe V Wade. We would love to do that. Obviously, thats not going happen anytime soon with the Senate as closely split as it is, she said.

Im going to just say what President Biden has said. It is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that hes not jeopardizing national security when he injects politics into the defense process, Duckworth said.

In another tweet Monday, Tuberville said, I didnt start this. (Biden) injected politics into our military and imposed taxpayer funding of abortion that nobody voted for. I am trying to get politics out of the military.

And in retweeting Duckworths post of her op/ed on MSNBC criticizing Tuberville, the Alabama senator said, This is not about abortion. This is about taxpayer-funded abortion that Congress NEVER authorized.

While tax money does not fund the abortion itself, it does provide funds for paid leave and travel expenses.
Climate change protesters spray-painted Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Lauries superyacht Sunday while it was docked in Ibiza.

Two members of Spanish activist group Futuro Vegetal unleashed red and black spray paint from fire extinguishers on the yacht Kaos.

The two young men then unfurled a banner that read, You consume, others suffer. Crew members on the superyacht tried in vain to wash off the paint with hoses.

The richest 1% of the worlds population pollutes more than the poorest 50%, the Futuro Vegetal members said. They are condemning us to a future of pain, misery and desolation.

The two protesters were arrested Sunday by Spanish police, but the activists expected them to be released Monday on bail.

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. The mega-rich live off the suffering of others.

Futuro Vegetal activists also spray-painted a private jet at Ibizas airport on Friday night. The group captioned that post, Your luxury, our extinction.

Walton Laurie, 72, did not issue any statements in response to the protest. Following the death of her father and Walmart co-founder Bud Walton in 1995, Walton Laurie inherited a stake in Walmart that is now worth more than $8 billion. She is considered one of the 300 richest people in the world.

Her superyacht, Kaos, has been highlighted in multiple sailing magazines for its extensive amenities, including a cinema, sauna, swimming pool and even an aquarium on board.

Walton Laurie met her future husband, Bill Laurie, while attending the University of Memphis. They owned the St. Louis Blues from 1999 to 2011.

2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An Alabama soldier pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter in the 2020 death of his girlfriends 5-year-old son.

Sgt. Bryan Starr, who was stationed in Columbus, Georgia but lived with his girlfriend in southeast Alabama at the time of the November 2020 incident, forced 5-year-old Austin Birdsey out of a vehicle in Russell County after the boy complained about wanting a new family, prosecutors said, according to WRBL.

Starr made the boy exit the vehicle in a church parking lot and told him he could find a new family there, prosecutors alleged.

Austin was then struck and killed by another vehicle.

Starr was facing reckless murder charges but pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter in a Russell County courtroom, according to WRBL.

Under the agreement, Starr, who is in the process of retiring faces a five-year sentence. It will be up to a judge to decide whether all of the term will be served in prison or a portion will be probation.

His sentencing is scheduled for September.
Russia's decision to terminate its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative is already taking a toll on wheat, soybean, and corn.

After the Russian government pulled out of the Ukraine grain deal, prices of the mentioned grains above are rising.

Russia's Grain Deal Termination Leads to Wheat Price Hikes

According to CNBC's latest report, Russia announced its withdrawal from the grain deal on Monday, July 17.

"Today is the last day of the Grain deal. When the respective parts for Russia's benefit are fulfilled, Russia will return to the deal," said Russian Diplomat Dmitry Peskov.

Because of Russia's decision, soybean, corn, and wheat price hikes are now on the news.

After the deal's termination, the Wheat prices increased by 3%, reaching 689.25 cents per bushel.

Corn futures also rose, reaching more than 526 cents per bushel. Meanwhile, prices of soybean soared by up to 1,388.75 cents per bushel.

Before the deal's termination, Russian President Vladimir Putin already complained that the export of Russian fertilizers and food was not honored even though they are under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

BBC News reported that Putin also complained that the Western sanctions were preventing the country's agricultural export.

Because of this, Putin warned that they will terminate the Ukraine grain deal-and this is what the Russian government did.

Read Also: Russia Claims Ukraine Launches Drone Attacks Over Crimea-What's the Damage, Casualties?

Why Other Nations Should Be Worried

The decision of Russia to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative should worry other nations as well.

The University of St. Gallen Prof. Simon J. Evenett explained that the Russian government's withdrawal from the grain deal reflects the "coup de grace" of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"The demise of the Black Sea Deal is a blow for the nations sourcing cheaper Ukrainian wheat.," said the global trade and economic specialist.

He added that the deal's demise could cause a minor disturbance. But, if the deal's termination will not trigger lots of export bans.

"Going forward what matters is whether Russia weaponizes its wheat exports," he added.

Related Article: Putin Threatens To Hit Back With Cluster Bombs as Forces Still Possess 'Sufficient Stockpile'

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Former President Donald Trump appeared to be lukewarm to the idea championed by Republican lawmakers to move FBI headquarters to Alabama, saying he prefers the facility to be near the Department of Justice building in Washington.

I think the FBI should be somewhat close to DOJ -- if theyre all honest people, Trump told Fox News Maria Bartiromo during an appearance Sunday on Sunday Morning Futures.

When Bartiromo attempted to clarify that Trump doesnt agree with the GOP suggestion to move the headquarters to Alabama, Trump said: Id move anything to Alabama, because I love Alabama. If Alabama wants it, Im all for it. No, I love Alabama. But I think theres something to be said of the FBI and the Department of Justice  they work together. They could walk across the street. So every time you need somebody in court or whatever youre doing, they have to ride 1  or 2 hours in traffic from a place in Virginia thats very far away?

Trump was referring to the FBIs plan to relocate its headquarters to a D.C. suburb, either in Virginia or Maryland.

Some congressional Republicans, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville and House Judiciary Chairman and Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Chairman Jim Jordan, are pushing for FBI headquarters to move its main building to its Huntsville facility.

But Trump said his plans while in office were to have the FBI move into a new building in Washington.

The FBI currently works out of the 50-year-old J. Edgar Hoover Building, with more than 5,000 employees, located across the street from the Justice Departments headquarters.

I like the idea of it being close to the Justice Department because they work together. Thats what I preferred, thats what I was going to do, Trump said. But I like the FBI being somewhat close to the Department of Justice. And I will tell you, the FBI people felt that was good, also.

The FBI headquarters-to-Alabama proposal would seemingly stand little chance of succeeding legislatively with Democrats in control of the Senate and the White House.
If SCOTUS recent ruling striking down President Bidens relief plan still has you reeling, then the Broke & Bothered newsletter is for you. Join Reckons Alexis Wray as she questions the legitimacy of student loans, gives you tools to take action and shares stories from real people most impacted: Enter your email to subscribe.

Feeling depressed, stressed and worried? Your student loans might be partly to blame, according to researchers at the University of Georgia.

The weight of repaying student loan debt looms over borrowers, exacerbating the mental health issues of millions of Americans, the report states.

With borrowers flocking to social media to share their concerns about the student loan debt crisis, the researchers analyzed more than 85,000 student loan-related posts on Reddit and Twitter from 2009 through 2020.

Student loan debt per se is not a bad thing, but people need to know what theyre getting into, said Gaurav Sinha, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in UGAs School of Social Work. People have a limited cognitive bandwidth. We spend a lot of time thinking about money and our debts. That not only affects your financial health but also your mental health.

Researchers like Sinha found that the majority of users who posted about their loans on Reddit and Twitter were negative and that many expressed sadness and fear about the future of their finances.

For borrowers who expressed living with mental illness, the stress of repaying their student loans would negatively affect their well-being, according to the study; and for almost one out of three borrowers without known mental illness who vented online researchers found that if those individuals continue to experience prolonged bouts of anger about student loans then over time, it could lead to a mental health crisis down the road.

People shared their doubts over whether they can pay back their loans, and others mentioned worrying thoughts including self-harm, Sinha said.

Many users had too much money to pay back, they didnt get those dream jobs they thought they would with their degree and now they dont know what to do. They feel trapped.

Among the Reddit and Twitter posts, users overwhelmingly expressed a desire to know more about student loans, how to manage repayment and what that could mean for their future earnings and savings.

We also need to focus on making higher education accessible and affordable to address this problem holistically.

With the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down President Bidens student loan forgiveness plan aimed at canceling up to $20,000 for borrowers in June, those who owe loans are expected to start making payments come September or October.



Borrowers are worried about the future of affording and paying back their student loans. Are you one of them? Share your story and thoughts here with Reckon.
Sign up for Reckons latest weekly newsletter covering the three topics never to be discussed at the dinner table. Enter your email to subscribe to Matter of Faith.

When faced with a choice between enforcing religious sexual guidelines and firing an employee, a federal court said religious employers right to enforce their religious principles in their hiring practices was more important than protecting employees from workplace discrimination.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, issued the ruling in late June. The ruling affirmed a lower courts decision that found the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 could protect Christian businesses from certain anti-discrimination laws.

This ruling is the first challenge to the Supreme Courts 2020 interpretation of Title VII, which protects employees from discrimination on the basis of sex, which the Supreme Court said includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

The case was brought by Braidwood Management, a Christian-owned management company, in a class-action lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Braidwood asked the court to clarify Title VIIs prohibitions against sex discrimination, as applied to sexual orientation and gender identity. The company claimed the Title VII requirement violated the First Amendment and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

This case is the first challenge to the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, that found Title VII nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sex includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Why is the case important?

This case is significant for LGBTQ+ rights because it establishes a precedent in the Fifth Circuit, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In those states, employers who have religious objections to the anti-discrimination law may be able to use their religious beliefs as a defense against lawsuits.

It may also impact colleges and universities that have religious objections to the anti-discrimination law, as they can now argue for religious liberty when it comes to enforcing the law.

In other states, this case is not binding precedent, but it could still influence future decisions.

What it did and didnt do

Heres how legal firm Husch Blackwell explained the implications of the case.

The Fifth Circuit held that the Christian management company is exempt from Title VII, as interpreted by Bostock, because compliance would substantially burden its ability to operate according to the owners religious beliefs. It also declined to find the EEOCs generalized interest in prohibiting all forms of sex discrimination in every potential case to be a sufficiently compelling interest to justify burdening an employers religious exercise rights.

This decision did not address whether Title VII prohibits employers from establishing sex-neutral rules of conduct (regarding issues like sex-separated bathrooms, gendered dress codes, and employer policies related to transgender healthcare). It also did not address whether Title VII prohibits discrimination against bisexual individuals.

How has the Supreme Court ruled? Its complicated.

This case is one of many high federal cases that address religious rules about sexuality and gender and the right to the free practice of religion.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian website designer who challenged the state of Colorados anti-discrimination law in 303 Creative v Elenis. The court found a Christian web design business could deny services to LGBTQ+ people, making this the second Colorado case to make it all the way to the Supreme Court over legal squabbles over religious freedom and sexual orientation.

One Texas Judge has already used the Supreme Courts ruling in 303 Creative v Elenis to try to end same-sex marriage. Judge Dianne Hensley cited the case in support of her refusal to perform gay weddings due to her Christian beliefs about sexual orientation.

The composition of the court has changed significantly since the 2017 Supreme Court ruling that sided with a cakeshop that sought the right to deny services to same-sex couples.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote for the majority in 2018, retired less than a month later. The more conservative Brett Kavanaugh took his place. Two years later, the courts senior liberal justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, died at the age of 87, allowing then-President Donald Trump to appoint another conservative jurist, Amy Coney Barrett, to replace her.

Whats next?

While the ruling did clarify how the Fifth Circuit intends to interpret Title VII, the case leaves employers in murky waters when it comes to what will be the ultimate advice when it comes to religious freedom in hiring practices.

This decision, even though in fleshing out what Bostock means, leaves so much open that Im not sure it advances the ball on helping employers understand what the rules of the road are, Corey Devine, a partner at labor and employment firm Muskat, Mahony & Devine LLP, told Bloomberg Law.

But the ruling allows faith-based companies to challenge Title VII interpretations before theyre enforced, likely emboldening other employers with religious objections to LGBTQ+ rights to go to court, attorneys said.

I think this makes it easier for more lawsuits to move forward on this issue, Margo Wolf ODonnell, co-chair of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLPs labor and employment practice, also told Bloomberg Law.










English News China's Juncao technology brings better future to people in developing countries

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 17 Juillet 2023



Since she joined a training program on the Juncao technology in China in 1995, she has always been committed to the research and communication of the technology in South America. The expert, who is now in her 70s, has trained more than 2,000 people and translated a Chinese Juncao textbook into Portuguese, which was published in Brazil.

By Lin Dongmei At the recent 8th annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, a farmer named Freda Korarome from Papua New Guinea (PNG) shared her story of fighting poverty with assistance from technology.



From the deep mountains in PNG's Eastern Highlands to the UN headquarters in New York, she told her amazing journey with the Juncao technology to the world, a wonderful experience she could not imagine before.



Juncao, which literally means "mushroom" and "grass" in Chinese, can be used, as its name suggests, to grow edible mushrooms as livestock feed or as a green barrier to stop desertification. It is hailed by many as "magic grass."



As a female representative of the beneficiaries of the Juncao project of the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, Korarome was the first Juncao grower to deliver a speech at the UN headquarters.



She said in the speech that after receiving technical training and guidance from Chinese Juncao experts, she employed 25 people in her village to grow Juncao, most of whom were females. Every week, she would sell 200 kilograms of fresh mushrooms to local dealers. Soon she earned money, with which she built a new house and bought a new car for her family.



The woman, in cooperation with Chinese experts, has offered training sessions for more than 1,500 people in 10 surrounding villages. The Juncao technology has increased local farmers' income, and lowered the rate of malnutrition in the community from 70 percent to 55 percent, she noted.



Her story has inspired people around. According to Korarome, people call her every day to congratulate her success and to learn the Juncao technology.



The Juncao technology marks a successful practice of China in promoting poverty alleviation, as well as an important contribution made by the country to the sustainable development of the world.



Juncao is a sound substitute for timber to be used as a substrate for growing edible mushrooms. It has solved the problem troubling the world that to produce edible mushrooms, trees must be cut down. So far, the technology has been applied in over 100 countries.



I serve as the deputy director of the China National Engineering Research Center of Juncao Technology. Over the past more than 20 years, I have met many women like Korarome.

After learning the Juncao technology, they became entrepreneurs and sci-tech workers. I see from them the strong aspiration of women in developing countries to eliminate poverty and embrace happiness, as well as the important role played by the Juncao technology in increasing the well-being of people, especially in improving the living environment for women.



I first realized that the Juncao technology could be life-changing for impoverished women when I worked in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in 2005.



In the province, there were many single mothers and grandmothers. They were poor in land and education, living on a meager income from government jobs.



A Chinese idiom goes that giving a man a fish feeds him for a day, but teaching a man fishing feeds him for a lifetime. After learning the Juncao technology, these women saw their income increase. They could afford their children's schooling, opened groceries in villages and even started a logistics business, which completely changed the lives of themselves and their families.



The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 sustainable development goals, and the Juncao technology serves 13 of them including gender equality. In many developing countries, the technology can not only lift women's social status, but also serve as a demonstration that helps improve local productivity and economic vitality.



Under the guidance of Chinese experts, some women in Fiji, especially those with disabilities, have embraced a better life by growing Juncao. Among the nearly 2,000 people trained by the China-aided Juncao demonstration center in Fiji, women and people with disabilities account for 56.7 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.



Arailde Fontes Urben, professor with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, has contributed to the promotion of the Juncao technology in South America.



Since she joined a training program on the Juncao technology in China in 1995, she has always been committed to the research and communication of the technology in South America. The expert, who is now in her 70s, has trained more than 2,000 people and translated a Chinese Juncao textbook into Portuguese, which was published in Brazil.



Developing the Juncao technology would benefit the whole mankind. China's Juncao has blazed a trail of sustainable development for the world.



It is believed that more and more women, who are indispensable for developing the industry, will realize their dreams with the Juncao technology.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > World's first desert rail loop injects vitality in southern Xinjiang's economic, social development China's H1 foreign trade hits record high "Seniors' classrooms" bring better cultural life to elderly in SE China's Fujian province Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Ruins of ancient port evidence to prosperity of Maritime Silk Road

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 16 Juillet 2023



The study of the Maritime Silk Road is usually divided into three linksproduction, transportation and market. The ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port has elements closely related to all three links, including docks, ships, shipping routes, navigation marks, and kilns. It is a Maritime Silk Road heritage site with complete elements.

By Liang Yanhua On the vast blue sea, the Maritime Silk Road is a link between different civilizations, bearing witness to the communication and exchanges between the Chinese nation and the world with rich cultural heritage resources.



The ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port in Wenzhou, a city in east China's Zhejiang province, was discovered by archeologists between 2021 and 2022, bringing back to life the bustling scene of Wenzhou, a node along the Maritime Silk Road, back in the day.



During the archaeology project, important remains related to the port were unearthed, including eight docks and two shipwrecks dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), tons of stacked porcelain pieces belonging to the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and lacquered woodware.



Barbican ruins built in the Song and Yuan dynasties and in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) were discovered, and remains of dikes, bridges, sluice gates and piers that witnessed the change of the coastline over the course of more than 1,000 years.



"The ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port is one of the most important archeological discoveries at ancient port sites along the Maritime Silk Road to date. The discovery has outstanding value in world navigation history and will become an important cultural heritage site supporting the Maritime Silk Road's application for world heritage," said Jiang Bo, vice president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites.



The ancient city of Wenzhou has a history of 1,700 years. The city is surrounded by mountains on its eastern and western sides, with deep water and a stable shoreline.



The favorable geographical condition makes the ancient city closely defended and gives it natural advantages in building ports. Since its establishment, the city's location and the port site have basically remained unchanged.



Sitting in the middle of China's eastern coastline with favorable conditions as a port, Wenzhou has long been a node along the Maritime Silk Road.



In 2018, a frosted glass bowl, originating in the Sasanian Empire, was unearthed in a tomb of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) at a cluster of ancient tombs in Oubei township, Yongjia county of Wenzhou. The cultural relic is important evidence of Wenzhou's earlier participation in trade along the Maritime Silk Road.



In the late Tang Dynasty (618-907), Wenzhou was one of the major ports hosting Japanese merchants. Between the late Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and the Yuan Dynasty, Wenzhou entered a period of great prosperity following the rise of the Longquan kiln.



The mountainous coastal geography and open economic structure have shaped the unique regional culture of Wenzhou.



The ancient people here were adept at operating boats and sailing in the sea, and they were influenced by the concept that smooth trade is conducive to industry and commerce. Wenzhou has long been an important shipbuilding base in China and maintained a leading position in shipbuilding technologies.



The two shipwrecks found in the discovery adopted the most advanced innovative technologies in the Song Dynasty, including the keel structure and the water-tight bulkhead. Porcelain pieces, from Yuan Dynasty, were mostly found stacked in rows, and at least 90 percent of them were produced at the Longquan kiln.



Longquan porcelain products were the main export porcelains during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and the middle of the Ming Dynasty. Wenzhou, an important port and hub for maritime and inland waterway transportation, became a major distribution center and a point of departure for the export of Longquan porcelain products.



The densely distributed remains of docks and the stacked porcelain pieces unearthed attest to Wenzhou's position as a node along the Maritime Silk Road and an important port for the trade of Longquan porcelain products.



The study of the Maritime Silk Road is usually divided into three linksproduction, transportation and market. The ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port has elements closely related to all three links, including docks, ships, shipping routes, navigation marks, and kilns. It is a Maritime Silk Road heritage site with complete elements.



The discovery fills the blank of port heritage sites along the Maritime Silk Road at home and abroad with great significance for deepening research on the Maritime Silk Road.

The Maritime Silk Road, old and vibrant, has improved the well-being of people in areas along it. Today, it is showing renewed vitality.



In recent years, Wenzhou's container shipping sector has grown fast. The city has expanded its network of foreign trade shipping routes and currently operates 11 near-sea routes.



Currently, the city is accelerating the development of a higher-standard open economy and promoting higher-level opening-up.



Working with the National Center for Archeology under China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, Wenzhou plans to build a themed park at the ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port to fully explore the Maritime Silk Road culture with high standards. In addition to protecting cultural relics, the city hopes to bring the ruins site closer to the public.



Blessed with the ruins site of the ancient port, Wenzhou is glowing with renewed vigor in the new era.



(Liang Yanhua is head of the archaeology project at the ruins site of the Shuomen ancient port in Wenzhou.)



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No country would ever depend on an out-and-out rival for something as vital as energy. Yet the Biden administration, through its zealous, misguided pursuit of "net-zero emissions," is fast-tracking America's dependence on Communist China for the minerals and components that back-end green technology. The administration also is curbing the mining industry, again allowing China to monopolize America and the world in minerals and ores.

This strategic disaster is a complete reversal of what President Donald Trump had achieved. Under him, the U.S.  long dependent on OPEC for oil  became a net exporter of natural gas and crude oil for the first time in more than 50 years. Exploration of oil and natural gas boosted the economy, lowered energy prices, and bolstered national security by increasing our energy independence.

Biden, on assuming office, pledged to eliminate the fossil fuel industry and pursue a radical climate agenda to replace carbon energy with renewables. He has since called for replacing 50% of carbon-fueled automobiles with electric vehicles (E.V.s) by 2030, creating a carbon-free electric grid by 2035, and having a carbon-free economy by 2050. This push toward unstable solar and wind power will markedly increase dependence on China, which dominates the market in materials required for E.V.s, batteries, and other renewables.

As a report from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) states, "green energy runs through communist China." It notes that even if China were a trustworthy trading partner, near-total dependence on one country would still disadvantage America greatly.

While Biden pursues a chimerical goal, increasing energy prices in America despite rich domestic resources of oil, natural gas, and coal, China and India are building coal plants to grow their economies with readily accessible electricity. The green agenda, for whatever it's worth, is also defeated by the massive amounts of carbon energy required to manufacture wind turbines and solar panels and the unrecyclable material with which they will clog landfills at the end of their useful lives. Manufacturing E.V.s requires six times more minerals than gas-powered cars; wind farms require nine times more minerals than gas-fired plants. Add to that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the import of required materials.

The U.S. neither has the minerals needed to make E.V.s, windmills, and solar panels, nor the capability to extract and process them. The U.S. Geological Survey has listed 50 minerals as critical to the security of the U.S., and China is the primary producer of many of them. The risk of supply disruption is therefore extremely high.

The Biden administration has also thwarted American efforts to mine for renewables to support its own climate agenda by committing to placing 30% of all land and waterways in "conservation" by 2030. So, as we are forced to move from fossil fuels to "clean energy"  that is, land-intensive wind power, mineral-dependent solar power, and the prospect of having some 500,000 E.V. charging stations  we might bear in mind that these sources are so far unproven. According to the Monthly Energy Review, as of 2022, only 1.8% of U.S. energy was produced by solar-power sources and 3.7% by wind-power sources. Fossil fuels and nuclear plants generated 87% of the total energy supply. So the hope of solar and wind energy sustaining us by 2035 is foolhardy.

Energy entrepreneur Brian Gitt, who believes that nuclear and natural gas are the most viable energy choices over the next 20 years, estimates that an offshore wind farm requires 13 times more critical minerals than a natural gas power plant, plus massive amounts of steel, concrete, and non-recyclable plastic. A disillusioned champion of renewable energy, Gitt examined the lifecycle of solar and how the manufacturing process uses a vast array of minerals, toxic chemicals, and fossil fuels. Solar panels require 10 times the minerals to produce the same energy as a natural gas plant, and installing them involves covering natural habitats with concrete and steel.

Sustainable development" projections of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which has called for moving from "fuel-intensive" to "material-intensive" energy to reach net-zero emissions as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, will call for a 42-fold increase in demand for lithium, a 25-fold increase in demand for graphite, a 19-fold increase in demand for nickel, and a sevenfold increase in demand for rare earth minerals by 2040.

President Trump pulled out of the Paris accord in 2017, citing how it disadvantages the U.S. with "draconian financial and economic burdens," while allowing China to increase emissions for 13 years and providing India billions of dollars in aid from developed countries. Biden, however, rejoined the accord on his first day in office, signaling that he is okay with the punishing requirements. He followed up with domestic policies that inflict more punishment on our economy.

In 2019, the U.N. Environment Program reported that China had outspent every country in green or renewable energy research and development, and positioned itself as the primary supplier of "clean" energy. It also dominates the solar manufacturing industry. This came about because Chinese miners and processors, operating with few restrictions, are free to engage in the challenging and environmentally damaging extraction and refining of rare earth minerals used in "renewable" energy sources.

Not only is China the world leader in rare earth separation processes, it manufactures half the world's steel. Its powerful position is predicated on cheap coal-fired power plants: it uses over half the world's coal, nine times as much as the U.S. lax environmental standards, government subsidies, and forced labor have paved its path to the status of economic powerhouse. Now, the U.S. is far more dependent on China  by a factor of 3.5  for rare earth minerals than it was for oil from the Middle East.

The domestic commitment to renewables is counterproductively tied to environmental policies: under the Biden administration, many federal mining leases have been revoked, new ventures are subjected to crippling permit delays, and Democrat lawmakers are intent on making it more costly to mine for metals and minerals in the U.S. These policies are aimed at making environmental standards stricter, extracting significant royalties, and disallowing the deduction of expenses from mining operations. Currently, getting permission for a mining project takes 710 years, given lengthy appeals and other legal challenges.

In a recent appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee, Minnesota state senator Tom Bakk summed up the situation perfectly. His state has some of the largest undeveloped deposits of copper, cobalt, nickel, platinum, and more. But, he said, the Biden administration has "severely hobbled mining" in the U.S., leaving communist China with a monopoly, concluding, "It's bad for Minnesota, it's bad for the country. Frankly, I think it's bad for the world."

Senator Bakk is right. Energy insecurity will threaten American national security. And if America is weakened, free societies across the world will be under threat. We cannot allow that to happen.

Image via Pxfuel.
The late Rush Limbaugh had a way of summarizing the issues in a concise, pithy way. On matters regarding the armed services, he would always remind his audience that the purpose of the military is to kill people and break things.

Thats not to say that there arent a thousand specific details about the military that are worth talking about. We have to discuss the force strength levels in peacetime and the force strength levels in time of war. We have to hammer out how much to pay the enlisted men and the officers, the infantry and the artillery, the JAG officers in the field and the engineers and clerks on desk duty stateside.

Which munitions should we use, how much ammunition should we stock, how thinly can we spread our forces, how much should we spend on advertising to bolster recruitment?

There is a reason we have numerous defense committees in Congress and whole departments in the executive branch dedicated to the armed forces and their veterans. Theres a lot to decide, a lot to keep track of.

But whats its purpose? In the final analysis, everything they do is about defending the nation and its allies from attack by foreign armies, and, when needed -- hopefully, only when needed -- going out on offense and waging war.

In other words, every discussion, every budget allocation, every hire, must be in the service of this ultimate need: to occasionally kill people and break things.

Throughout our nations last hundred years, we have often had to remind people of this, as various issues have popped up that interfere with the mission of the armed services. For example:

Feminists wanted women in combat; traditionalists said Look, this is nothing against women, but having both men and women in combat together will jeopardize the mission. Chivalrous men will be distracted from their duty in combat if women fighting alongside them are injured; regular guys will be distracted from their duty in peacetime if hormones kick in and romances occur. And then we have to consider the undeniable differences in physical ability -- as groups -- and how it affects the ability of the corps.

Homosexual activists wanted to remove the traditional bans on same-sex relationships in the military. Look, this is nothing against gays and lesbians, but you have to admit that all the same challenges posed by temptations and risks, from romance to abuse, that plague the challenge of women in combat go double if you allow homosexual activity in the military.

Over the years, America essentially lost both of those arguments. What has it done to our forces? The statistics show the results: pregnancies, venereal diseases, abuse, depression, drug addition, suicide.

All because we lost track of the key focus. We allowed our military to get distracted from its mission, and to cater instead to the sociopolitical desires of the Washington establishment and its NGOs, the New York press, and the Hollywood-controlled pop culture.

Our military is worse off for it. And that means the homeland, the defense budget, and our allies are worse off for it as well, because anything that degrades our military readiness hurts all these too.

The social issues are back in the news today, as the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is debated in Congress. As it originates in the House of Representatives -- as all budget matters must, by law -- the Republican-held House has had to deal with destructive changes that the Biden-Harris regime and the prior Democrat Congresses have inserted into our armed forces, often in secret.

As soon as the Dobbs ruling came out, the Biden-Harris Defense Department created a new authority for military travel to obtain abortions, despite the military having always banned abortion coverage in the past. As soon as transsexual surgery and hormone replacement drug abuse became de rigueur over the past few years, the Biden-Harris regime went all-in, authorizing so called transitioning in the service at taxpayer expense, despite the military having always banned coverage of elective surgery (as in fact virtually all traditional insurance programs always have).

Ever since the poisonous concept of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) started infecting Americas corporate boardrooms a few years ago -- turning the concept of equality on its head by mandating hiring and promotion quotas independent of talent and qualifications  the Left has sought to inject it into our military, to do as much damage to the military as such efforts have done to the business sector.

The NDAA that arose this week from the U.S. House therefore includes -- as it must -- provisions to rein in these errant policies. It slaps down the effort to make taxpayers pay for abortion tourism. It bans the infestation of the military with DEI officers both at headquarters and on base. It warns against the inclusion of racist themes and invective (such as the poisonous claim that our Founding Documents are inherently racist) in official military training manuals and videos.

Frankly, none of this should be shocking. None of this should even be disputed. Its a matter of keeping politics out of the Armed Services, and focusing on the mission: to have an efficient military that can best defend our homeland and our allies from foreign aggressors.

The Left is reacting to this NDAA bill as one would expect: they accuse the Republicans of injecting politics into the military budget. They claim that this is no place for politics and social issues. They have the chutzpah to put on a shocked face and say how horrified they are that Republicans -- whom they now refer to exclusively as Extremist MAGA Republicans! -- are dealing with this reality as if it wasnt the Left that introduced all these issues in the first place.

The GOP would have been happy to never talk about these things in this context. Its the Democratic Party that put them on the table.

The GOP is only addressing these issues now because it has to. The Democrats snuck in these programs, sometimes often illegally, through executive orders and internal policies under the cover of night. It has fallen to the current House leadership to shine the light of day on them and cast the hard votes, in support of the real mission.

The military is not there for social engineering. Its not there to mainstream deviant behavior, to equalize outcomes in the American public, or to plant toxic race theory in the minds and hearts of our recruits.

The military is in place to protect the United States of America, to deter wars and to win them.

Anything designed to distract from these legitimate purposes has no business in our military.

John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland-based international transportation professional and consultant. A onetime Milwaukee County Republican Party chairman, he has been writing a regular column for Illinois Review since 2009. His book on vote fraud (The Tales of Little Pavel) and his political satires on the current administration (Evening Soup with Basement Joe, Volumes I and II) are available on Amazon.
In what may turn out to be one of the most glaring examples of fake news in recent memory, the New York Post, in an exclusive on Saturday morning, published an incendiary article titled RFK Jr. says COVID may have been ethnically targeted to spare Jews.

Before that, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. had enjoyed his highest profile week yet in his campaign to win the 2024 Democrat presidential nomination. He had appeared live and in studio on three programs on the FOX News channel, the countrys #1 cable news network, and in another 20-minute interview with Piers Morgan on FOXs streaming FOX Nation platform, and had raised additional millions of dollars in donations for his campaign.

Suddenly, his insurgent campaign was put on the defensive on social media and the mainstream and some of the alternative media by the Post article, assisted by a blaring headline on the Drudge Report that as of press time has been on Drudges home page for more than 36 hours.

This is lede in the Post story by Jon Levine:

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dished out wild COVID-19 conspiracy theories this week during a press event at an Upper East Side restaurant, claiming the bug was a genetically engineered bioweapon that may have been ethnically targeted to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. Kennedy floated the idea during a question-and-answer portion of raucous booze and fart-filled dinner at Tonys Di Napoli on East 63d Street.

The NY Post, according to Similar Web, is the #6 most visited site among News & Media Publishers in the United States. It has gained credibility and fans on the right for its fearless original reporting on Hunter Bidens laptop and much more.

In his article Saturday, Levine offered his negative analysis and some early critical comments about what Kennedy had supposedly said at the dinner.

Kennedys remark echoes well-worn anti-Semitic literature blaming Jews for the emergence and spread of coronavirus which began circulating online shortly after the pandemic broke out, according to The Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at the University of Tel Avivs 2021 Antisemitism Worldwide Report. . . This is crazy, said Morton Klein, President of the right-leaning Zionist Organization of America. It makes no sense that they would do that. I read everything. I was totally against the vaccine. . . I wanted to convince myself it was correct not to take it. I have never seen anything like this. Klein, who said he had been advising Kennedy on Israel issues and called him a good friend, said the remark left him worried. . . . The left-leaning Anti-Defamation League went further saying in a statement saying: The claim that COVID-19 was a bioweapon created by the Chinese or Jews to attack Caucasians and black people is deeply offensive and feeds into sinophobic and anti-semitic conspiracy theories about COVID-19 that we have seen evolve over the last three years.

The only problem is that the possibility and potential use of genetically engineered, racially- and ethnically-targeted, bioweapons has been reported on for years including in the mainstream media and the peer reviewed scientific literature.

The first hit to come up in an Internet search of the subject was an April 10, 2023 article in the National Review by Jim Geraghty, The Coming Threat of a Genetically Engineered Ethnic Bioweapon. Geraghty begins with a quote from a Wall Street Journal article by Paul M. Dabbar one week earlier:

Around 2017, the Energy Departments national laboratories started having significant concerns about biosecurity with regard to China. A Chinese general [Zhang Shibo] who was head of the National Defense University in Beijing publicly declared an interest in using gene sequencing and editing to develop pathogenic bioweapons that would target specific ethnic groups, which may be the most evil idea I have ever encountered. . . Biology is among seven new domains of warfare discussed in a 2017 book by Zhang Shibo (), a retired general and former president of the National Defense University, who concludes: Modern biotechnology development is gradually showing strong signs characteristic of an offensive capability, including the possibility that specific ethnic genetic attacks () could be employed.

In the scientific literature in 2009, in the Journal of Medical Ethics published by BMJ  the British Medical Journal  an article Is all fair in biological warfare? The controversy over genetically engineered biological weapons by J. M. Appel begins:

Advances in genetics may soon make possible the development of ethnic bioweapons that target specific ethnic or racial groups based upon genetic markers. While occasional published reports of such research generate public outrage, little has been written about the ethical distinction (if any) between the development of such weapons and ethnically neutral bioweapons.

More recently is a post-COVID article published in the British Medical Journal in 2020, New insights into genetic susceptibility of COVID-19: an ACE2 and TMPRSS2 polymorphism analysis, cited yesterday by RFK, Jr in a tweet on Twitter.

In Media Twists RFK's Remark at NY Press Event, a defense of Kennedy written by John Leake, who co-authored a book on Covid with Peter McCullough, MD (The Courage to Face COVID-19: Preventing Hospitalization and Death While Battling the Bio-Pharmaceutical Complex) and writes a Substack site with the doctor, Leake quotes Kennedys actual remarks at the East Side restaurant dinner:

We need to talk about bioweapons. . We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars into ethnically targeted microbes. The Chinese have done the same thing. In fact, COVID-19, there is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately. The races that are most immune to COVID-19 arebecause of the genetic structure, the genetic differentials among different races, of the receptors, of the ACE-2 receptorsCOVID-19 is targeted to attack caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese. We dont know if it was deliberately targeted or not, but there are papers out there that show the racial and ethnic differential impact of that. We do know that the Chinese are spending hundreds of millions of dollars developing ethnic bioweapons, and we are developing ethnic bioweapons. Thats what all of those labs in the Ukraine are about. They are collecting Russian DNA so that we can target people by race.

If Kennedys quotes are indeed accurate (the unedited comments are in a video via the NY Post here), its fair to say that the NY Post in its article on Saturday at best took Kennedys words out of context  and then went trolling for negative comments by some prominent Jewish individuals and organizations.

Kennedy himself has been tweeting his responses to the Post article all weekend. Yesterday he wrote:

I demand the editors of the @nypost retract, and that @LevineJonathan apologize for this false, underhanded, and inflammatory article.

On Sunday evening, Kennedy posted a new interview online  a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, named the most famous rabbi in America by the Washington Post and Newsweek. Rabbi Shmuley asserts on camera that Bobby is not an anti-Semite. Kennedy, in the clip posted on his Facebook, then goes on to note that in his opinion about the NY Post article:

. . . what was done to me. . . its an interesting phenomenon. I was tarred in a way that we call targeted propaganda. For many, many years, Ive been censored on the issues that I want to talk about. This is a new kind of censorship. Now everybody has to let me talk because Im running for president. Theres a new kind of censorship called targeted propaganda that is designed to make me look unpalatable, unhinged, crazy, a crank, a conspiracy theorist and its something that all of us really need to combat. Because we need, as you say, Rabbi Shmuley, we need an open, congenial, respectful discussion in this country. We need to be able to talk about issues without being tarred, without being subject to marginalization, vilification.

Kennedy concluded by saying That conversation needs to begin with an agreed upon reality, and usually that means when it comes to the scientific realm peer-reviewed science. . . And we should not be tarred for talking about it.

Taken with the NY Posts previous article about the dinner with RFK, Jr. at Tonys Di Napoli on East 63d Street in New York City (that one was titled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. press dinner explodes in war of words and farting and reads like something from the National Enquirer), one wonders whats up with the newspaper. A person with firsthand knowledge of the Kennedy campaign told me yesterday, The NY Post seems to have a particular hatred for RFK, Jr.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics and the politics and economics of health care, popular culture, and media for over five decades. He is a regular contributor to the BBC Radio and Television. His web page with links to his work is http://peter.media. Peter's extensive American Thinker archive: http://tinyurl.com/pcathinker. Peter's Twitter account is @pchowka.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Many people are still debating if roundabouts are an effective solution to prevent road accidents in the U.S.

Of course, this road junction has its pros and cons. But, it seems like roundabouts' beneficial factors overwhelm its weaknesses.

Are Roundabouts the Best Solution for US Road Accidents?

According to Time Magazine, almost 43,000 Americans were killed in car accidents in 2022.

Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's data, road deaths are just as many as those killed by guns.

In 2021, more than 7,000 U.S. residents died just by walking on sidewalks. Numerous experts said that road accidents are likely to kill 1 in 93 Americans.

Unlike the U.S., other countries, such as France, made efforts to make their roads safer. They are implementing speed limits on minor roads, installing speed cameras, as well as build roundabouts.

Daniel Knowles, a well-known American author behind the "Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What to Do About It," said that roundabouts are effective because they force drivers to slow down.

Aside from slowing cars, Knowles also said that roundabouts help reduce congestion since slow vehicles need less stopping distance.

Another benefit that roundabouts offer is reducing carbon emissions. Since cars are going slowly, they tend to burn less fuel, leading to fewer carbon emissions.

Read Also: New Data Claims Americans Now Tipping Less; Here are Factors Affecting Service Tips

Pros and Cons of Roundabouts

Aside from the good things above mentioned by Knowles about roundabouts, the Washington State Department of Transportation provided other pros of this road junction that you need to know:

Roundabouts improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians; 37% reduction in overall collisions; 90% percent reduction in fatality collisions; 40% reduction in pedestrian collisions; and 75% reduction in injury collisions.

Smoother vehicle redirection on roads.

Vehicles will have no stop light to beat, helping them avoid accidents.

Roundabouts help government officials save money from building traffic lights and hiring traffic men.

Of course, roundabouts still have their cons, such as the following:

Building roundabouts on high-speed roads requires a larger area, which can be pretty expensive.

More directional and warning signs are needed to ensure that drivers are aware of the roundabout.

Roundabouts are not that safe when it comes to cyclists and motorcycle riders.

Very large roundabouts cause problems for entering vehicles due to the high circulating speeds of other cars within the road junction.

Related Article: Over 50% of Americans Bring Their Work on Vacations! Here's How to Avoid This Habit

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Recently the Supreme Court put an end to Joe Bidens efforts to give erstwhile college students almost a trillion dollars in debt relief, although the Biden administration is trying again. Thats a lot of money But thats actually a tiny fraction of the money the government has wasted on redistribution, aka social programs, over the last six decades.

Next year, the United States will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the War on Poverty, which President Lyndon B. Johnson initiated in 1964. The Wars programs initially started on a modest scale but have expanded almost parabolically since. By the Wars 50th anniversary, the government had spent more than $22 trillion on various welfare and redistribution programs.

A decade later, it spends $1 trillion a year on said programs, not including various targeted expenditures under Social Security or Medicare, which make the true total simply unknowable. To put that in perspective, $1 trillion is greater than the GDP of 194 of the worlds 213 countries.

Is this massive expenditure justified by the results of the War on Poverty? Initially, one might suggest the results say yes. As of 2021, poverty in the United States hovered at approximately 11.6%, down from the approximately 18% rate in 1964 when the War on Poverty began. Thats a reduction of 6.6% or almost one-third.

Image by Vince Coyner.

A closer look, however, reveals that this 6.6% reduction after an expenditure of $30 trillion seems underwhelming, to say the least. To see the full picture of the failed War on Poverty one need only look at the poverty rate over the 15 years before this War began.

In 1949, the poverty rate in the United States stood at 34%, which was fully one-third of the nations population. Over the next 15 years, without significant government redistribution programsindeed, without a War on Povertythe poverty rate fell almost by half, dropping from 34% to 18%, a reduction of a full 16 percentage points.

So, without government spending significant money, poverty fell by 16% in a period of 15 years, or 1.08% per year. But with the government spending more than $30 trillion over the next 55 years, poverty fell by a total of just 6.4% or .12% per year! That means that, without government intervention, the poverty rate was falling 10 times faster than it did once government programs kicked in.

And that 11.6% itself deserves a closer look. In 2014, when the War on Poverty turned 50, the American poverty rate was still at 15%. That means that, after spending $20 trillion over the previous half-century, the government had successfully reduced poverty by a mere 3%.

When Barack Obama entered the White House in 2008, the poverty rate stood at 12.5%. It jumped up to 15% for four years before dropping back to 12.5% by the end of his presidency, which is where it stood when Donald Trump took the White House.

A mere three years later, Trumps economic renaissance had reduced poverty by 2%, bringing it to its lowest level in history10.5%, before the Covid scam derailed the prosperity engine. To put that in perspective, Donald Trumps economy brought poverty down by 2% in 3 years, fully half as much as the government spending did in 50 years after spending $30 trillion!

And of course, the income numbers only tell part of the story. Sadly, there is much more to it. An unintended consequence of the War on Poverty appears to have been a skyrocketing of single-parent households, which is a significant driver of poverty.

In 1964, around 4% of American children were born to unwed mothers. By 2021, this percentage increased a full ten times to 40%. Under the heading of Unintended Consequences, one could observe that the welfare programs intended to save children from poverty have, by making it economically and socially viable for single-parent households to exist, effectively stranded many children in poverty and, worse, inflicted on them the coincident pathologies of poor education and crime, both of which, not coincidentally are also consequences of government failure.

From another perspective, lets draw a comparison between the effects of government spending and the impact of private-sector investments. Lets take just three companies, Apple, Amazon, and UPS, which together had about $1 trillion in revenue in 2022, approximately the same amount the government spent on welfare that same year. These companiesand many others like themrevolutionized industries; drove many trillions of dollars of business for customers and vendors and affiliates; directly and indirectly employ millions of Americans who are breadwinners for their families, and at the same time generated trillions of dollars of wealth for investors.

One can only wonder what might have happened if the more than $30 trillion the government wasted on its failed War on Poverty had, instead, been invested in startups similar to Apple and Amazon. Not that we want the government taking our money and investing itWE DONTbut imagine the impact that money might have had if it somehow had been targeted towards entrepreneurship and economic development.

The 2% reduction in poverty during Trumps first three years demonstrated with crystal clarity that market-driven prosperity is a far more efficient vehicle for reducing poverty than government spending of any form. At a minimum, a market-driven solution would likely have fostered a far more empowered, economically vibrant, and dramatically more prosperous population than the generational dependency created by the government with its alphabet of aid programs.

Benjamin Franklin understood this more clearly than virtually any politician in America today, having commented:

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

Whether its student debt or the federal and state welfare perpetuation machines, America would be better off looking to the Founding Fathers for guidance than the grifters at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue

You can follow Vince on Twitter at ImperfectUSA
On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800 left JFK airport in New York City heading east to Paris. Twelve minutes after its 8:19 departure the doomed 747 blew up off the south coast of Long Island, killing all 230 souls aboard.

On August 23, 1996, the New York Times reported on its front page, above the fold right, Prime Evidence Found That Device Exploded in Cabin of Flight 800. According to the Times, only the FBIs uncertainty about whether the device was a bomb or a missile kept it from declaring TWA 800s destruction a crime.

On that same day, above the fold left, was the headline, Clinton Signs Bill Cutting Welfare; States in New Role.

The Clintons had an election to win. One of those storylines would have to go. A month later, the administration started floating the possibility of a mechanical failure, and the bomb and missile story lines, despite the prime evidence, were allowed to die.

Legendary JFK press secretary and former U.S. senator Pierre Salinger knew better. A loyal enough Democrat, he sat on what he knew until it had lost its political punch. He broke his silence at an aviation conference in the French resort city of Cannes just two days after the November election.

There, Salinger told the assembled executives that he had very important details that show the plane was brought down by a U.S. Navy missile. He added the obvious: If the news came out that an American naval ship shot down that plane it would be something that would make the public very, very unhappy and could have an effect on the election.

Imagine that -- the intelligence community conspiring with a Democrat party administration and the Department of Justice to suppress information that might well have altered the outcome of a presidential election.

The media joined the conspiracy to make sure no one would ever dare to do in the future what Salinger had just done. The conspirators did not care what role Salinger had played in Camelot.

They were quick to swat him out of the Kennedy pantheon. The FBI, the White House, the Navy, all took a shot. Salinger was unready for the assault. The media found the subject irresistible. In the month of November 1996 alone, the New York Times ran four articles with headlines that mocked Salinger.

George Johnson was particularly merciless. It was all linked to Whitewater, Johnson wrote, unless the missile was meant for a visiting U.F.O.?

Johnsons reference to Whitewater was not uncommon. He made slighting illusions as well to Waco, Ruby Ridge, Arkansas state troopers, Vincent Foster, and other sources of amusement in Clinton-era newsrooms.

What Johnson was attempting to do, and he was hardly unique in so doing, was to paint TWA 800 as one wacky anti-Clinton conspiracy out of many. What he did not do -- no one at the Times did after the first two days -- was speak to any of the 258 FBI witnesses to a likely missile strike.

Nor did any CIA analyst talk to an eyewitness. That did not stop the agency from taking the lead role in determining what the eyewitnesses saw. The CIAs true commission was to find some semi-plausible explanation to explain away what the eyewitnesses actually did see.

On November 18, 1997, the FBI shared the CIA analysis in its closing summary of the case. The CIA animation, presented just once, showed the nose of the 747 blowing off as a result of a spontaneous explosion.

The noseless plane then allegedly rocketed upwards more than 3,000 feet fooling the eyewitnesses into thinking they saw a missile. The animation did not fool the aviation community. To a person, they thought the scenario impossible, laughable even.

The CIAs intended audience was the media. Mark Hosenball, among others, fell hard for the CIA video. Under his byline, Newsweek ran a fully affirmative, nine-frame, full-color recreation captioned with the unlikely boast, CIA Photos.

For Hosenball, the video provided a necessary rebuttal to speculation about a mystery missile. As he told the story, some of the 244 FBI witnesses claimed to have seen a streak of light arcing across the sky. In reality, that some was 258, and the 244 was 736. But who was counting?

Not Hosenball. He had information enough to assure his readers that what the witnesses really saw was the fuselage of the burning, climbing plane rocketing upwards some three-thousand-plus feet. Indeed, had Hosenball been on the CIA payroll he could not have done more to legitimize the agencys crude rewrite of history.

Robert Hager of NBC rivaled Hosenball in the uncritical affirmation of government talking points. In fact, the CIA cited Hager in an in-house newsletter as an example of how well the media received the zoom climb animation.

The work was riveting, the newsletter quoted Hager as saying. Hager congratulated the CIA on its fascinating, highly informed presentation. In the years to come, authorities could rely on Hager to pass off TWA 800 agitprop as news.

Fast forward 23 years. The CIA and the FBI brass once again had an election to win and a major chunk of evidence to hide. For a year, the FBI had suppressed all information about Hunter Bidens laptop.

Once the story leaked out, the intelligence community came to the FBIs rescue. Some 51 of its retired operatives rallied to assure the public that the Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation. The media fell eagerly in line, and once again their man prevailed.

What was more disquieting this time around is that the conspirators scarcely bothered to conceal their actions. They didnt much care if everyone knew what they were doing -- just as long as the big guy won.

Jack Cashills TWA 800: Behind the Cover-Up and Conspiracy is now available in paperback.

Image: National Archives
Philadelphia, 1787. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are just leaving Independence Hall, having decided on the general structure for the new United States. A crowd had gathered on the steps of Independence Hall, eager to hear the news. A woman approaches Benjamin Franklin and asks him, "Well, Doctor, what do we have? A republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replies sagely, "A republic, if you can keep it."

Fast-forward to the height of the Cold War. Former FBI employee Cleon Skousen authors The Naked Communist, which outlines a concerted effort to overcome and control all of the world's governments through the implementation of social progressivism. This book is also later reinforced by the admission of Yuri Bezmenov, a KGB agent who defected to the United States in 1984.

Although I generally do not subscribe to conspiracy theories, let's take a look at my summation of what the author predicted sixty-five years ago. I think you will be amazed.

Get control of the schools. Use them to "sell" socialism. Soften the curriculum. Get control of the teachers' associations.

Infiltrate the press. Get control of editorial, writing, and policymaking positions.

Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

Break down cultural standards by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

Present degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, and healthy."

Infiltrate the churches and replace religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the grounds that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

Discredit the American Constitution as it is inadequate and out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation among nations on a worldwide basis.

Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

Support any social movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture  education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudice to the suppressive influence of parents.

Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate in the American tradition, that student and special interest groups should rise up and use "united force" to solve economic, political, or social problems.

Is it too late for America to keep our Republic? No. But socialists are not targeting me to change; they are just waiting my generation to quietly fade away. They are focused on the youth in America, trying to convince them that the freedoms we currently enjoy in America are outdated and their way is better.

Don't allow the death of freedom and liberty in America  once Franklin's republic is gone, it will never return. Let's "keep it" instead.

Image: National Archives.
A few days ago, Georgia state representative Meisha Mainor, an African American who represents a deep blue district, announced her decision to leave the party of slavery and become a Republican.

My name is Rep. Meisha Mainor and today I made the decision to leave the Democrat Party.



I represent a blue district in the city of Atlanta so this wasnt a political decision for me. It was a a MORAL one.



I will NEVER apologize for being a black woman with a mind of my own. pic.twitter.com/q3snDGejCN  Rep. Mesha Mainor (@MeshaMainor) July 11, 2023

That was certainly a courageous move, and in response, Rep. Mainor has been subject to a campaign of abuse, much of it horrifyingly racist. The party of slavery, despite its rhetoric of decrying "systemic racism," remains committed to a perspective of black inferiority (requiring the lower standards of affirmative action for blacks to advance, for instance) and dependence on them for perpetual subsidy in order to achieve economic parity.

Evidence that racism is at the heart of the Democrats' political doctrine was not slow in appearing on Twitter. And rather than cowering in fear or retreating into self-pity, Rep. Mainor has shared her responses to the appalling reactions she has received.

Most are so disgusting that I don't even want to embed them here. You can see a collection of them here at Conservative Firing Line. But here is one sample. (I wonder what Haitian immigrant Karine Jean-Pierre would have to say about it?)

Dear Florida Democrat,

Sorry you feel this way about Black Americans & Haitians. Democrats have a long unfavorable relationship with Haitians, your sentiment isnt surprising. I pray you find support at the Univ of Central Florida for your hate and anger. https://t.co/mJKyY6Z8XQ pic.twitter.com/qPGXZjWtr3  Rep. Mesha Mainor (@MeshaMainor) July 16, 2023

Photo credit: Twitter.
Speaking at Turning Point USAs ACTCON convention this past weekend, Roger Stone predicted that Michelle Obama will be the Democrat partys nominee for president. He may be right. I certainly wouldnt discount her being on the ballot or actually winning.

Heres Stones tweet with the video showing him making that prediction:

I predict that Michelle Obama will be the Democrat Party Nominee for President in 2024.



You heard it here first.#ACTCON2023 @TPAction_ pic.twitter.com/AVqk36hmnh  Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) July 17, 2023

Now, as a veteran of many years in American politics, Im going to tell you something somewhat shocking. Joe Biden will not be the nominee of the Democratic Party in 2024. Kamala Harris will briefly become president but the only way in their party they can replace a woman of color is with another woman of color. And yes, youve heard it here first: The Democratic nominee for president will be Michelle Obama. They have already rigged their primaries. The reason that they have canceled the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary is to put South Carolina [first], a state where a majority of Democrat primary voters are African-Americans, and they will allow Gavin Newsom to purchase the vice presidential nomination, but the Obamas will hold him up for six or eight hundred million dollars to do so.

Predicting the future is a notoriously tricky business, but I think that Stones prediction is at least plausible based on the known facts.

In the short term, getting Biden out and Kamala in is reasonable on its face. Biden is degrading with exponential speed. Its fine to keep him propped up in office to sign the necessary executive orders to advance the Democrat partys plans, but they cannot keep the farce going through the campaign season.

Image: Michelle Obama (edited). YouTube screen grab.

During 2020, COVID gave Democrats the excuse to hide Biden in his basement most of the time. When he had to attend functions and rallies, COVID was again a useful excuse for a small turnout.

This time around, though, trotting Biden out for events is simply impossible. He walks like a broken robot, he cant read the teleprompter, hes frequently incoherent, and voters, if they dont understand now, will soon realize that his uncontrolled temper is a sign, not of power, but of dementia.

Jills anguish notwithstanding, Biden will be gone from the scene, giving Kamala a chance to play president. (Thomas Lifson explains how the 25th Amendment works when a living president steps down because of incapacity.) However, Kamala is every bit as incoherent as Biden, without the excuse of dementia. Shes a no-go. Unfortunately, leftist women, especially leftist black women, will be very angry if a black-ish woman is sidelined.

RFK Jr. is also a no-go. I cannot get over my visceral distrust for the man (hes a Kennedy and, until about ten minutes ago in political terms, had despotic views on climate change and gun control), but thats just me. More than that, the Democrat party will not tolerate him. Hed have to run as a third-party candidate, which would probably hurt the Democrats more than it would the Republicans.

The only way to save the Democrat party from RFK Jr. and Kamala is to put up someone black, female, and hugely popular. Beyonce and Oprah seem like unlikely candidates. That leaves only Michelle.

Michelle is hugely popular on the left, especially with leftist women of all colors. Ill never forget the worshipful regard for her I saw when I visited my children on college campuses and spoke with their friends. Shes viewed as brilliant, compassionate, competent, beautiful, and ideologically perfect. The media, of course, view her in the same light and, while Americans claim to distrust the media, it still controls their views.

The fact that she has never demonstrated any practical abilities at all, let alone the ability to lead a major (although declining) nation, is irrelevant. After all, this is the same electorate that voted for a two-term one-term Senator without any known managerial abilities, either. That means that things like debates wont matter. Shell be prepped enough to survive, shell fall back on her one skill, which is race-hustling, and her fans will be fine with that.

The only thing that will stop a Michelle Obama candidacy is Michelle herself. Shes long expressed distaste for the political life and clearly loves being a leftist grifter, complete with luxury homes in coastal regions, friends with yachts, and all the other perks of fame and money without responsibility. The only thing I can imagine shifting her is Barack promising that, when she gets elected, hell take care of all the work, and she just needs to look pretty and read the teleprompter.
Public schools (I prefer the term "government schools") in Democrat-run cities have become a racket, plundering taxpayers' funds and failing to deliver even a minimally acceptable education. The fact that Americans spend more on their government schools than any other country, and yet our students place near the bottom of standardized achievement tests, is all the proof that one needs. We are being cheated on a massive scale, and the future of the nation is in peril when large numbers of children, mostly but not exclusively minorities, are being condemned to low pay and social status because they are so innumerate and illiterate.

John Hinderaker of Powerline drew my attention to the news of a stunning "settlement" that Bill de Blasio agreed to in the last days of his failed mayoralty in New York City.

The New York Post reported:

Roughly 5,200 black and Hispanic ex-Big Apple teachers and once-aspiring educators are expected to collect more than $1.8 billion in judgments after the city stopped fighting a nearly three-decade federal discrimination lawsuit that found a certification exam was biased. It's the largest legal payout in city history. As of Friday, 225 people who failed the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test used for teacher licensing from 1994 to 2014 had already been notified they're getting settlements of at least $1 million, according to an analysis of Manhattan federal court records. Court rulings found the exam violated civil-rights laws, allowing far more white candidates to pass.

I agree with John Hinderaker that these rulings must be based on the fallacious legal doctrine that any examination or criterion that has a "disparate impact" on minorities is presumptively illegal racism. So the blacks and Hispanics who failed the exam  and thereby revealed that they were incompetent to teach their subject matter to students  are entitled to be paid for all the years they did not teach, as if they had been working. And they will be entitled to pensions as if they had been working. Meanwhile, they keep the income from the jobs that they did work at all those years, in effect receiving pay for two careers.

The money for all of this, almost two billion dollars, will not be available to make schools better. And because the settlement exacts such a large penalty, we can be sure that schools will be allowing incompetent teachers who could not pass the exam to penalize their students by being unable to teach, for example, math concepts that they themselves do not understand. It is not clear if the standards will be lowered only for black and Hispanic test-takers, or whether whites, Asians, and other groups also will see their standards lowered. I suspect that in the end, there will be no meaningful testing of competence as a result.

People whose sole professional distinction was their inability to pass a competence test are now in line to become wealthy if they failed the exam long ago. For instance:

Herman Grim, 64, of Queens, on July 5 was awarded the biggest judgment to date  a jaw-dropping $2,055,383. It includes $1,583,114 in back pay for time never clocked, lost interest accrued, and other compensation.

This purported civil rights "victory" will result in minority students (and others) being cheated out of a decent education. This is a shameful example of a political/legal system gone insane.

I hope the Supreme Court will have an opportunity soon to strike down the disparate impact theory of civil rights litigation. It is an urgent priority, most of all, to help minorities.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, license.
Can you imagine being a schoolkid and being told there will be no summer vacation for the next few years?

That's a logical response to the ugly reality of union boss Randi Weingarten's championed lockdowns, which have put America's younger schoolchildren some 4.1 to 4.5 months behind on educational achievement compared to kids before the pandemic lockdowns, according to a new study reported by Axios.

U.S. elementary and middle-school students' academic progress last school year at best stalled, leaving behind lingering achievement gaps set off by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new NWEA study. Why it matters: While billion of dollars have been spent to help them recover from pandemic education setbacks, the nation's youngest students are academically behind  and may require more months of schooling just to catch up. The analysis reinforces recent data that showed U.S. 13-year-olds' math and reading scores had dropped to their lowest levels in decades. Details: NWEA researchers analyzed scores for approximately 6.7 million students between third and eighth grade at 20,000 public schools on NWEA's assessments for reading and math. The results were then compared to scores from around 11 million students in the same grades who were tested during the 20162017 and 20182019 academic years.

Who the hell is responsible for that result? Who forgot to plan? Who gets fired for this kind of mass damage?

Or was this a plan?

Given that it was Weingarten who was the driving force behind the extended school lockdowns, even against medical recommendation, let's just say it certainly coincides with fresh paydays for her union interests.

Billions in fact were spent on supposed "COVID alleviation measures" (they meant "lockdowns"), which in the end brought this damaging result, but certainly led to a lot of bonuses for school administrators. Now that the money's been shelled out, schoolchildren are left with the learning loss and the prospect of losing their summers in order to catch up.

This being the public school system, of course, they don't really care if the kids never catch up. They got those bonuses, so what's the problem? Quite likely, these public school will carry on as usual with no additional schooling to get the children back to the level that previous classes of kids had been at. Alternatively, they will get the kids those extra months of teaching time  for a price.

Either way, the teachers' unions win out  and either way, the kids lose.

Any questions as to why the public's faith in the public school education system has hit an all-time low this year, with just 26% of respondents to a Gallup poll expressing any confidence in it?

That's a rotted-out system that has systematically stiffed America's schoolchildren and still has yet to pay for it. They'd don't pay for anything in their failure-ridden universe  they just get paid.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
According to news reports, Mexico is challenging Texas's floating barrier plan on the Rio Grande. This is the story:

Mexico's top diplomat said Friday her country has sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. government expressing concern that Texas' deployment of floating barriers on the Rio Grande may violate 1944 and 1970 treaties on boundaries and water. Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Barcena said Mexico will send an inspection team to the Rio Grande to see whether any of the barrier extends into Mexico's side of the border river. She also complained about U.S. efforts to put up barbed wire on a low-lying island in the river near Eagle Pass, Texas.

I don't know if Mexico has a case. I'm not familiar with border treaties. At the same time, Texas claims that the barrier is on the Texas side of the water.

Mexico does not help its case when it allows more caravans to come north. This is the other story:

Nearly a thousand migrants that recently crossed from Guatemala into Mexico formed a group on Saturday to head north together in hopes of reaching the border with the United States. The group, made up of largely Venezuelan migrants, walked along a highway in southern Mexico, led by a Venezuela flag with the phrase 'Peace, Freedom. SOS.' The men, women, children and teenagers were followed by Mexican National Guard patrols.

So what is Texas supposed to do? On the one hand, Mexico complains about Texas stopping people from crossing the river  a dangerous thing to attempt, by the way. Some have actually drowned. On the other hand, Mexico allows another caravan to form and head north. Why isn't Mexico stopping this problem at the source?

Add to this mess a Biden administration without a border policy, and you have the definition of a "problema," a big "problema."

Maybe the Biden administration should call on Mexico to control its own border more efficiently before it takes Texas to court. Of course, I'm not expecting the Biden administration to do a thing, or the same nothing that we've seen for 30 months.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Kmusser.
Who needs enemies when you've got Gen. Mark Milley running the Pentagon?

Here's the latest military fiasco on his watch, as reported by the Financial Times (second link here):

Millions of US military emails were misrouted to Mali by a "typographical leak" that exposed highly sensitive information, including diplomatic documents, tax returns, passwords and travel details of senior officers. Despite repeated warnings over a decade, the steady stream of email traffic to the .ML domain, the country identifier for Mali, continues to be the result of people mistyping .MIL, the suffix for all US military email addresses. The problem was first identified nearly a decade ago by Johannes Zurber, a Dutch internet entrepreneur who has a contract to manage the country domain in Mali. Zuurbier has been collecting misleading emails since January in an effort to persuade the US to take this issue seriously. He has nearly 117,000 misdirected messages  about 1,000 arrived on Wednesday alone. In a letter to the United States in early July, Zurber wrote: "This danger is real and can be exploited by enemies of the United States."

Three things make this story newsworthy: the Dutch entrepreneur who has been catching these things for a while and trying to alert the Pentagon to the scope of the problem is about to lose his contract with the Mali government  and the Mali government will take over instead.

Two, he's been trying to alert the Pentagon about it and getting ignored. The Pentagon says it is aware of the problem and has it all under control  but this guy is obviously sitting on lots of emails.

Three, the Mali government, by the wildest of coincidences, isn't just a crummy little third-world hellhole as perceptions may be. It's a tight and favorite ally of Russia, which has obviously seen the value of that alliance with a country that just keeps getting mis-sent U.S. military communications. What a convenient ally for them  they don't even need to pay spies or hackers. All they need is access to friendly ally Mali's servers, and they can hold their hats out and let it rain. Mali's happy to help out, and Russia will reward it well.

With the Pentagon denying a problem and the Dutch entrepreneur saying there is a problem, this sounds like reason enough to haul in Milley yet again for another grilling from the House on this latest fiasco.

What exactly are they doing to prevent misdirected emails? Are they spending so much time on woke education for military desk jockeys they aren't training them properly? How are they holding people accountable for mistakes? Can they program in a .mil key on all keyboards and block any hand-typed email addresses to prevent this from happening? Congress should be entitled to straight answers on that, because the incompetence of this Pentagon and the wokester geniuses who brought us the Afghanistan pull-out is pretty obvious.

Time to fix this immediately before the Russians get hold of the servers and read every sort of Pentagon email that can be misrouted to sunny Mali.

Image: U.S. government image via RawPixel, public domain.
Elon Musk is now considered the second biggest threat to Tesla. In the latest Markets Live Pulse survey, investors claimed that Tesla is at risk because of how the billionaire makes decisions.

Elon Musk's Decision-Making is Tesla's 2nd Risk, Investors Warn

According to Fortune, the MLIV Pulse survey involved over 600 investors. Around 54% of them believe that the industry competition is putting Tesla's business at risk.

The remaining 26% said that Elon Musk's decisions and behaviors are the main concern for Tesla shareholders.

Matthew Tuttle, the CEO of Tuttle Capital Management, warned that Elon Musk is a very unpredictable individual.

This very reason is what makes the billionaire one of the top risks for Tesla, as explained by Matthew.

Because Tesla's revenue margins are shrinking, 67% of the investors who answered the MLIV Pulse survey said that Elon should start focusing more on his EV company.

"Competition is the most important risk factor for Tesla longer term, and even mediocre execution for the crop of around 100 new EVs coming to market this year will put pressure on Tesla," warned Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin.

He added that Tesla is definitely leading the EV market, for now. But, the automaker needs to understand how its revenue margins are shrinking.

Read Also: Will Tesla Giga France Arrive? French President to Meet With Elon Musk

Is Elon Musk Distracted by Twitter?

Twitter is not really in a good condition as of press time. Because of this, numerous analysts believe that the billionaire is distracted by the social media platform.

Recently, CNBC reported that Musk announced Twitter's negative cash flow. The billionaire said that the platform is in heavy debt.

Elon added that these issues are happening because around 50% of Twitter's ad revenue dropped. This is not surprising considering that many advertising companies already pulled out their funds from Twitter.

Another problem that Elon Musk is facing is the existence of Threads. Ever since Meta launched its new platform to compete with Twitter, many advertisers said that they plan to advertise on Threads.

Although Twitter's revenue still hasn't recovered, Elon still needs to pay attention to Tesla and the EV market competition.

Related Article: Elon Musk Confirms Twitter's Negative Cash Flow-Here's the Reason Behind Its Heavy Debt

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Its no secret that this sudden influx of generative AI tools has had companies like Google working around the clock to integrate the new technology into their various services. Now, in recent news, Google has launched its latest experimental project called NotebookLM, an AI-powered note-taking tool designed to assist students and learners in organizing and accessing lecture notes and coursework materials more effectively.

How does it work?

Initially introduced as Project Tailwind during Google I/O in May, NotebookLM aims to simplify the process of understanding and retrieving relevant information from various documents. The tool seamlessly integrates with Google Docs, allowing users to select multiple documents and interact with NotebookLM to ask questions, gain insights, and even generate new content. Additionally, the tool will automatically summarize lengthy documents and transform video outlines into scripts.

For instance, if a student is studying World War 2 and has a specific question about the significance of the Battle of Bulge, the AI tool will first refer to the users existing notes and supporting materials to provide an answer. However, even if the user hasnt explicitly mentioned the battle in their notes, NotebookLM will obtain information from reliable sources through source-grounding.

Addressing inaccurate information and data privacy concerns

To ensure the reliability of the information, the AI tool includes built-in citations that streamline fact-checking and verification processes. Moreover, unlike conventional chatbots that draw data from a wide range of sources, the NotebookLM only focuses on user-provided data, thus enhancing the accuracy of information. However, its important to note that Google acknowledges the possibility of occasional errors, particularly if the provided information is inaccurate or incomplete.

When talking about data privacy concerns, Google emphasizes that NotebookLM respects user privacy, as the AI model only accesses documents explicitly uploaded by the user, and the data is neither used to train new AI models nor made available to others.

Although the new NotebookLM AI tool is making its debut to a select group of users in the United States, Google has already announced plans to expand the feature to more regions in the near future.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 17 - Rome is to host an international conference on migration on July 23, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday, She added that Tunisian President Kais Saied and several other heads of state or of government of Mediterranean countries are expected to attend.

"I see it as the beginning of a path that might allow for a different partnership from the past," said the premier after her meeting with Saied in the presidential palace of Carthage in Tunis. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 17 - The Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and Tunisia is to be considered a "model" for relations between the bloc and north African countries, Premier Giorgia Meloni said in Tunis on Sunday.

"We have reached a very important goal that comes after a lot of diplomatic work. The Memorandum is an important step towards creating a real partnership between the EU and Tunisia," said Meloni after meeting with President Kais Saied in the presidential palace.

The Memorandum allows "an integrated approach to the migration crisis", added the premier of the agreement signed on Sunday and covering five pillars: macro-economic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition, people-to people contacts, and migration.

"Italian diplomacy has long worked for this objective," said Meloni, insisting that such a partnership "would have been unthinkable until a few months ago".

"I say this with pride but also with gratitude towards the Commission. The Memorandum is a starting point," she explained.

Meloni returned to Tunis with European Commission President Ursula Van Der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday in the hope of signing off on the Memorandum of Understanding after two visits to lay the groundwork for an agreement last month.

The EU has promised a major investment package and diplomatic efforts to help Tunisia land a loan from the IMF to enable it to ease its severe financial crisis and avert the risk of a default.

The unstable situation in the North African country has been a major factor in a huge increase in the number of migrants and refugees arriving in Italy by sea this year. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 17 - Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was engaged in an exchange of barbs with the head of Italy's tax agency on Monday linked to the League leader's call for an overhaul in the State's relationship with taxpayers.

At the weekend Salvini called for a "great, definitive fiscal peace" to liberate "millions of Italians who have been held hostage for too many years by the inland revenue agency".

The government is trying to install a 'fiscal peace' with taxpayers to end the current situation in which the authorities have a huge backlog tax disputes with millions of people worth many billion euros, much of which is unlikely to ever be collected.

Opposition parties have criticised this approach, saying it risks helping tax evaders.

On Monday inland revenue agency Director Ernesto Maria Ruffini said the fight against tax evasion is not driven by the desire to persecute.

"It is a question of justice towards all those, and they are the vast majority, who pay their taxes year after year," Ruffini told a conference.

Salvini defended his stance after Ruffini's comments.

"Fiscal peace is advantageous for the State," he said.

Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto, meanwhile, said an amnesty for some tax disputes was a possibility.

Ex-premier and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte accused the government of "inciting tax evasion". (ANSA).


An Australian sailor named Tim Shaddock and his dog named Bella were rescued after three months of being stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

According to the 51-year-old Sydney man, as he told Australian TV network 9News, he departed from the Mexican port town of La Paz en route to French Polynesia, but a storm struck his catamaran, wiping out all of her electronics.

For the remainder of their journey, the man and his pet were reduced to eating small amounts of raw fish and drinking rainwater until they were rescued by a Mexican tuna trawler over the weekend.

"I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," Shaddock told local media, adding he was lucky to have fishing and other survival gear with him.

"I have not had food, enough food, for a long time," he said.

Upon his rescue, doctors treating Shaddock aboard the trawler were surprised he had "normal vital signs."

Shaddock and Bella were spotted by a helicopter serving the tuna trawler, which was on its way back to Mexico, 9News reported.

Read Also: South Korea Flash Floods, Landslide Kill 39; President Blames Botched Rescue Efforts

Physiologist: Shaddock's Survival Credited to Luck and Right Behavior

According to University of Portsmouth physiology professor Mike Tipton, Shaddock was lucky his boat had a canopy for him to rest in the shade.

"If you get sunburn, that affects your ability to regulate your body temperature," he said. "If you do absolutely nothing and you rest and you stay cool, you can get away with as [little] as 110 to 220 milliliters of water a day."

Tipton added Bella's company was also helpful as it kept him sane during his three-month ordeal while being lost at sea as a "needle in a haystack."

"It was a combination of luck and the right behavior," he added.

Related Article: Greece Boat Disaster: Coastguard Accused of Pressuring Survivors to Blame Egyptian Men

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Amol Rajan has said he will not try to out-savage Jeremy Paxman, ahead of the airing of his first episode as quiz master on University Challenge.

The BBC journalist, 40, hailed his predecessor as a giant of broadcasting but said he would approach contestants with a certain amount of affection.

Rajan was announced last year as the new host of the popular quiz show, taking over from Paxman, who fronted the show for 29 years.

He is the third person to present the main series of the programme in its 61-year history. Bamber Gascoigne had launched the quiz in 1962.

"I'm trying to be a friend to them but I'm also the boss" Is @AmolRajan going to be as savage as Jeremy Paxman as the new host of University Challenge  #TheOneShow  https://t.co/0ym6fgULhS pic.twitter.com/JoO80CEzrX  BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) July 17, 2023

Speaking to The One Show on Monday ahead of the airing of his first episode, Rajan said he had had a sweet phone call with Paxman after landing the role, and promised he would try not to screw it up.

(Paxman) is a giant of broadcasting; such an enormous heroic figure in our culture, he said.

I had two messages one is thank you for passing the show on in such great condition the ratings are great, the shows format is as solid as ever.

But the other thing is Ill try not to screw it up.

Throughout his tenure on University Challenge, Paxman was known for his biting remarks and exasperated reactions to incorrect answers from contestants.

Asked about his own presenting style, Rajan said: I dont know if I can out-savage (Paxman). Im going to be me.

Ive got a rule  Im going to do put-downs, A, if they deserve it and B, if I really knew the answer.

Jeremy Paxman was well known for his biting remarks to contestants (Yui Mok/PA)

I think if you like to have a scathing put-down and youre making up that you knew the answer, people were about to be able to tell.

But youve got to do it with a certain amount of affection  and these young people are so amazing.

Theyre not from wealthy backgrounds necessarily. Theyre incredibly clever and they just want to have a good time.

So Im trying to kind of be a friend to them, but Im also the boss and so if they do say something embarrassing  as I have once or twice been told off myself  I will tell them off.

Rajan said he had not yet seen the first episode, and would be watching with his son Winston.

He added that the moment will be poignant after the death of his father last year.

(My father) came to this country (with) family values, aspirations, and a real belief in education and knowledge, he said.

And I think the reason University Challenge specifically means so much to me is it kind of embodied what he sacrificed to come to this country for, and so its going to be a bit sad that hes not there tonight.

Here's how NOT to be a contestant on University Challenge according to @AmolRajan  #TheOneShow  https://t.co/0ym6fgULhS pic.twitter.com/yMTGSpPRnd  BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) July 17, 2023

But to be doing this. I know if he was watching hed absolutely love it.

University Challenge returns at 8.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Tackling the tough questions will be 28 new student teams from universities across the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton.

The show has a new set and title sequence, but its format will remain the same, with contestants expected to buzz in and answer questions on a vast array of subjects.

Rajan also presents Radio 4s flagship Today programme and Amol Rajan Interviews, and has hosted BBC podcasts on subjects including education, climate change, fairness and population.

In 2020, he appeared as a contestant on a celebrity Christmas special of University Challenge, but his team from Downing College, Cambridge, lost to Durham University.

In May 2021, Paxman announced he was being treated for Parkinsons disease but said his symptoms were currently mild.

It was revealed in an ITV documentary that his doctor diagnosed him with the disease after noticing he was less exuberant on University Challenge.

Paxman said: It turned out that he had been watching University Challenge and had noticed that my face had acquired whats known as the Parkinson Mask.
An accommodation barge set to house 500 asylum seekers is on the move as Parliament prepares for further arguments over Rishi Sunak and Suella Bravermans plans to stop the boats.

Plans to house migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland Port, Dorset, are a month behind schedule but the vessel has finally left Falmouth, Cornwall, where work on it was being carried out to prepare it for its new role.

The barges departure from Falmouth on Monday morning came as MPs prepared for a fresh clash with the House of Lords over the Illegal Migration Bill.

Comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse, leads a Save the Children protest against the Illegal Migration Bill outside the Home Office in central London (Lucy North/PA)

Downing Street defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing them in hotels.

It came as comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse and holding a placard saying stop child detention, led a Save the Children protest against the Bill outside the Home Office in central London.

The protest followed ministers facing criticism over a decision to paint over murals of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, at a migrant reception centre in Kent.

Members of the Lords want further concessions in the Bill on limits to the detention of children, modern slavery protections and the provision of safe and legal routes for refugees to the UK.

Asked if Rishi Sunak has a message to people in Portland Port opposed to the Bibby Stockholm barge being moored there, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: I think its right for the public as a whole that we move away from a situation where 6 million a day of taxpayers money is going towards housing these individuals in hotels.

Thats not a good use of money and obviously that puts unplanned pressure on local areas as well.

We think it is better to open specific sites designed to house immigrants that come in, done in a more planned way.

Thats what we are seeking to do with the Bibby Stockholm and thats what were seeking to do in other parts of the country  opening up sites to take the pressure off local areas and to reduce the cost.

This approach will save taxpayer money compared to the money were spending on hotels.

Dom Joly leads a protestoutside the Home Office in central London (Lucy North/PA)

The Lords inflicted a string of fresh defeats on the Government last week over the much-criticised Bill, which ministers insist is integral to efforts to tackle small boats crossings in the English Channel.

It means the continuation of the parliamentary tussle over the Bill, known as ping-pong, where the legislation is batted between the Lords and Commons, until agreement is reached.

Downing Street indicated ahead of the votes on Monday that it was not expecting to make further concessions.

The Commons had overturned a raft of earlier revisions by the unelected chamber, despite rebellions by Tory MPs  including former prime minister Theresa May  who have concerns about the reforms.

The Bill is part of a package of measures designed to deter migrants from crossing the channel by making it clear that if people enter the UK by irregular means, they will not be able to remain and will face being sent either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

The Bibby Stockholm had been in dry dock in Falmouth for refurbishment (Matt Keeble/PA)

The deal to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda has been mired in legal difficulties and will end up in the Supreme Court.

With a backlog of asylum cases in the UK, the Government is also seeking to cut the cost of hotel bills by using alternative accommodation including the Bibby Stockholm and former military bases.

Councils and campaigners have been given the green light to bring a High Court challenge against housing migrants on the disused airfields.

Braintree District Council and a nearby resident are bringing legal action to challenge the use of Wethersfield in Essex to house up to 1,700 men while West Lindsey District Council is challenging similar plans for RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Dozens of asylum seekers have already been moved into Wethersfield (PA)

Dozens of asylum seekers have already been moved into Wethersfield.

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm later this month.

Home Secretary Ms Braverman had told MPs on June 5 that the vessel would be in Portland within a fortnight, but this deadline was missed.

Dorset Council has been given a 2 million funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: We can confirm that Bibby Stockholm is now on its way to Portland Port.

Using vessels as alternative accommodation, like our European neighbours are already doing, will be better value for British taxpayers and more manageable for communities than costly hotels.

We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimise disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper declined to commit to ending the much-criticised use of barges and disused military bases to house asylum seekers while a backlog in processing cases is tackled.

Instead, she told reporters after a speech in central London Labour will rapidly clear the backlog if it wins power  before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.
Vladimir Putin is using food supplies as a weapon by pulling out of an agreement to allow grain exports from Ukraine, James Cleverly said.

The Foreign Secretary condemned the Russian leaders actions, pointing to United Nations (UN) estimates that it could condemn millions more people to hunger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) deal would be halted, adding that Russia will return to the previous arrangements after its demands are met.

Moscow has claimed that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its own exports of food and fertiliser  which it argues are also critical to the global food chain.

Putin is using food as a weapon. The UK strongly condemns Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This decision hurts the worlds poorest.  James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) July 17, 2023

But Mr Cleverly said: Putin is using food as a weapon. The UK strongly condemns Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This decision hurts the worlds poorest.

Mr Cleverly said the UN-backed BSGI had played a significant role in lowering and stabilising global food prices, delivering more than 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets.

The UN estimates that without the grain provided by the BSGI, the number of undernourished people worldwide could increase by millions, he said.

He dismissed the Kremlins objections, saying: Contrary to Russian claims, the UN and other partners have taken significant steps to ensure that Russian food is able to access world markets.

The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war.

Mr Cleverly raised the issue at the UN in New York at a UK-chaired session of the Security Council.

Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to the people in need everywhere. And we call on Russia to return to the table and agree to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative indefinitely and to implement it fully, he told the meeting.

Russias actions are taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Meanwhile, Russian officials are being hit by British sanctions over Mr Putins chilling forced deportations of Ukrainian children.

 SANCTIONED: Russian officials responsible for forcibly deporting over 19,000 Ukrainian children. By tearing children away from their families, Russia aims to erase Ukraines future. They must be returned. pic.twitter.com/s8MHdagV7X  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) July 17, 2023

Mr Cleverly announced 14 new asset bans and travel freezes against Russians deemed to have played a role in trying to erase Ukrainian national identity.

Some 19,000 children have been forcibly deported to Russia or territories controlled by Moscow during the invasion, Ukrainian figures suggest.

Many are sent to re-education camps where they are reported to be exposed to a programme of cultural, patriotic and military education drawn up by Russia.

Mr Cleverly said: In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putins true intention  to wipe Ukraine from the map.

Todays sanctions hold those who prop up Putins regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased.

Among the officials targeted are Russian education minister Sergei Kravtsov and Moscows childrens rights commissioner Ksenia Mishonova.

In Westminster, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper announced that Labour would introduce a bespoke mechanism to proscribe state-sponsored threats, such as Russias Wagner mercenaries, instead of trying and failing to use counter-terror legislation.

In a speech for the Royal United Services Institute in central London, she said the party would establish a joint cell between the Home Office and Foreign Office to share intelligence and speed up decision-making by ending turf wars between the departments.
The Government accused the Lords of attempting to delay the implementation of minimum service levels for key services as it rejected calls for further consultation and parliamentary oversight.

MPs rejected a Lords amendment to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill by 302 to 205, majority 97, which would have forced the Government to undertake a consultation, produce an impact assessment and provide for parliamentary oversight before regulations for specific sectors could be made.

The Bill will return to the House of Lords, continuing the parliamentary tussle known as ping-pong.

Labour shadow business minister Justin Madders said the Lords amendment was asking the Government to undertake genuine consultation before implementing minimum service regulations.

He told the Commons: Consultation so far has been limited to only half of the areas that the Bill legislates for. And as far as they go, they dont really deal with the fundamental questions.

By rejecting this amendment, the Government are in effect saying one of two things: either they dont know whether they break international law, or they do know and they just dont care.

Business and trade minister Kevin Hollinrake said: This House has been asked these questions before and twice this House has said no with an overwhelming majority.

He said the Bill already requires the Government to undertake consultations and said they have already been undertaken for a number of service areas.

He said impact assessments were published and final impact assessments will be published alongside the regulations which will be brought forward for approval in Parliament in due course.

He added: The Bill is compatible with the UKs international obligations.

He also told MPs: The real impact would be to delay the implementation of minimum service levels given the additional and lengthy consultation and parliamentary requirements which we heavily suspect is its purpose.

Unnecessary delays to protecting the lives and livelihoods of those we have been elected to represent cannot be justified.
Conservative MP and chair of the defence select committee Tobias Ellwood said Britain should reopen its embassy in Kabul and negotiate with the Taliban.

Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Ellwood said he is far from being a Taliban appeaser and said 20 years ago his brother was killed by Islamic extremists.

But Mr Ellwood, who is also a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said that during a recent trip to Afghanistan, he witnessed unreported compromises the war-exhausted nation is currently willing to accept.

Mr Ellwood said he saw improved security, free travel and the disappearance of widespread corruption, adding the black market opium trade is seemingly gone.

He said: This war-torn nation has not experienced relative peace like this since the 1970s.

This, to put it mildly, was not what I was expecting.

After a dozen visits to the country urging Nato and the UN to do exactly what the Taliban have now achieved, I had to grapple with the harsh reality of the Wests strategic missteps.

The MP for Bournemouth East said it is time for Britain to rethink and re-engage with Afghanistan and the Taliban.

He said: The first step is reopening our embassy.

The second is to get real. Afghanistans future could be war again or life as a Chinese vassal.

Nato left Afghanistan nearly two years ago, which saw the Taliban take back power in the country.

The Taliban brought back bans on education for girls and laws stopping women from going to work.

The Taliban also banned womens beauty salons, adding on laws that prevent women from being in public spaces like parks and gyms.

Mr Elwood said: The British Embassy is closed for political rather than security reasons.

Of course, this boycott endures because of the Talibans regressive laws against womens education and employment.

If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration.

A more pragmatic strategy is needed. The Talibans restrictions on womens rights may well serve as a negotiation tool for shared understanding. But such a possibility will remain unknown until we wake up.
Count Binface has criticised Boris Johnson and expressed his hate for the former prime minsters resignation honours list, calling it a complete travesty as he makes a bid for election success in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Comedian Jon Harvey will stand as Count Binface and plans to repeal Mr Johnsons nominations if he is elected as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the upcoming by-election.

If youre a political leader in Britain, youve got to have a five-point plan. Heres mine. #VoteBinface #UxbridgeandSouthRuislip pic.twitter.com/dfiaUuSl2n  Count Binface (@CountBinface) July 5, 2023

I hate it. It stinks. Its a complete travesty and that utter disgrace of a former prime minister should not have been allowed to recommend a single human to the (equally disgraceful) House of Lords, the independent candidate told the PA news agency.

If I am elected to Parliament, I will seek a private members bill to repeal every single one of Bojos appointments, and for the icing on the cake I will also abolish the Lords. All of them.

Count Binface ran against Mr Johnson in the 2019 general election, but hopes this year he will exceed the 69 votes he received last time, and said gaining a majority would be justice.

Boris Johnson (Leon Neal/PA)

The independent candidate also stood for mayor of London in 2021, when he pledged to rename London Bridge as Phoebe Waller Bridge and earned 24,775 first choice votes.

Count Binface believes that voting for him in the by-election will give people a chance to show Parliament what you really think of them.

Theres going to be a general election in the next year or so anyway, so this by-election is a free hit, he said.

Count Binface said it is time to take out the trash on politicians who have made a mockery of politics as he hopes to take Mr Johnsons seat and plans to rename election day, July 20, as Bindependence Day if he is elected.

Count Binface has been critical of Mr Johnson (Count Binface/PA)

He also criticised the current Government, calling Prime Minster Rishi Sunak utterly pathetic, while he dubbed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer only slightly less pathetic.

Mr Harveys character remains much the same as it was four years ago, running on a manifesto of bringing back Ceefax and moving the hand dryer in the Crown and Treaty pub in Uxbridge to a more sensible position.

Count Binface urged voters to put their faith in him and said: People of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, make your vote Count!
The Foreign Secretary will call for international co-operation on artificial intelligence at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

The rapid development of the emerging technology has prompted fears abouts its potential, as well as hope of the possibilities it could offer.

Questions about potential regulation has been a recurring issue in recent months among politicians and policymakers across the world.

A UN Security Council session on the technology  the first the organisation has held  will be chaired in New York by the UK.

The briefing is expected to discuss the potential implications of artificial intelligence on global peace and security, with discussions also set to focus on how the safe and responsible use of the technology can be achieved.

James Cleverly is expected to call for the widest coalition of international actors to respond to AI.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to position the UK as a world leader on the technology, with London set to host the first major summit on the issue later this year.

No country will be untouched by AI, so we must involve and engage the widest coalition of international actors from all sectors, the Foreign Secretary is expected to say.

The UK is home to many of the worlds trail-blazing AI developers and foremost AI safety researchers.

So this autumn the UK plans to bring world leaders together for the first major global summit on AI safety.

Our shared goal will be to consider the risks of AI and decide how they can be reduced through co-ordinated action.

Momentous opportunities  on a scale that we can barely imagine  lie before us.

We must seize these opportunities and grasp the challenges of AI  including those for international peace and security  decisively, optimistically and from a position of global unity on essential principles.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith hailed the briefing session as an important milestone.
Members of the cast and crew of British sitcom Goodness Gracious Me will reunite to mark the shows 25th anniversary at the Desiblitz Literature Festival.

The sketch show, which parodied stereotypes in the British and Asian communities, starred Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir and Nina Wadia.

Ghir and Wadia will join scriptwriter Sanjeev Kholi to discuss the impact and legacy of Goodness Gracious Me, during the headline event at the festival in October.

Goodness Gracious Me starred Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal (Yui Mok/PA)

The announcement comes after rumours of a possible fourth series of the show, which was first televised on BBC Two in 1998 and ran until 2001.

Further names at the reunion will be revealed in September.

Since starring in Goodness Gracious Me, cast members have gone on to win multiple awards.

Syal was honoured with a Bafta fellowship at the annual television awards in May, placing a bindi on her trophy and saying it represented change.

Her husband Bhaskar was made an OBE in the New Year Honours List in 2005.

The 2023 Desiblitz Literature Festival, the UKs leading book festival celebrating British South Asian writing, will take place from October 20 to 29.

The festival will feature themed events including crime fiction, childrens fiction, historical fiction, poetry readings, memoirs, and discussions about diversity in British publishing, with a variety of music from Bangla to Punjabi folk music.

Festival director Indi Deol Said: Our mission at the Desiblitz Literature Festival is to continue bringing together diverse audiences, transcending boundaries and celebrating the richness of cultures.

With 90% of our festival events free to attend, we open doors to all, fostering inclusivity and accessibility.

At the heart of our festival, we champion new and emerging voices, amplifying their stories and perspectives. We believe in nurturing talent and providing a platform for aspiring writers to shine.

We invite you to explore the vibrant tapestry of storytelling, where renowned authors, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive workshops and mesmerising performances await.

Mark your calendars and join us for a transformative experience that will leave you inspired, enlightened and connected.
The Government is failing to support sustainable farming, which undermines the UKs food security, researchers have said.

Analysis from the think tank Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that droughts, rising temperatures and increasing numbers of pests and disease  all features of climate change  are plaguing UK food producers.

It said there is an urgent need to transform the UKs food system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and halt the destruction of nature, which as a result would improve farmers ability to produce food.

Food poverty, as well as wastage, is also damaging the health of the UK public and its environment, and the Government needs to take a leading role in transforming the system, the researchers said.

Post-Brexit trade deals are undermining UK farmers and the countrys climate goals while offshoring the UKs carbon footprint, they added, while supermarkets are dominating the market, buying at discount and selling at high volume, leaving producers with too little of the final price paid by the consumer.

IPPR researcher Lesley Rankin, co-author of the report, said: The climate and nature crisis poses one of the greatest risks to the UKs domestic food production and the UK Government has consistently failed to treat this threat with the urgency it deserves.

If we are serious about ensuring food security and leaving our environment in a better state than we found it for generations to come, it is crucial we act immediately and involve farmers and communities every step of the way.

The evidence is crystal clear: protecting our planet, boosting farmers livelihoods and food security go hand in hand.

Now its on the Government to act to put us on a path that provides a better life for us all.

As part of their investigation, the researchers spoke with farmers from three counties  Cumbria, Kent and Somerset  to get a picture of the challenges and opportunities they face.

They said nature-friendly practices are having a positive impact on their businesses as well as the environment, but the Government is not adequately supporting farmers in making a sustainable transition.

Environmental Land Management Schemes (Elms) are currently replacing the old system of farming subsidies, which paid farmers an amount of money related to the size of land they worked without regard for its impact on nature or climate.

The new system is designed to reward farmers for switching to more nature-friendly practices such as maintaining hedgerows, but the IPPR said the schemes are failing to win the confidence of farmers with concerns that public money is not being spent effectively enough.

The IPPR also said that Government regulation is failing to penalise the worst polluters because it has underfunded the Environment Agency by nearly 1 billion over the last 12 years.

They want a robust intervention from the Government, which would provide 2.4 billion a year in support for farmers in England over the next decade to help them improve nature and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.

Trade deals should also ensure that imported food aligns with UK standards on environment, welfare and safety as well as workers rights.

And food partnerships should be set up in local areas to increase the market for healthier food that is also more beneficial to nature and the climate, the researchers said.

Luke Murphy, co-author of the report and head of the fair transition unit at IPPR, said: The lack of a Government strategy for our food and farming sector has serious consequences.

Its undermining our ability to produce food domestically, making farmers lives harder, and entrenching a food system that is wasteful, bad for our health, and damaging to the environment.

The Government must provide long-term financial support for the transition, and strengthen trade policy to guarantee environmental and worker standards.

It must protect British farmers from being undercut by food produced to lower standards abroad.

A Government spokesman said: We are committed to backing our farmers so we can grow our economy, protect nature and deliver the food security that is needed.

We have embarked on our next steps to deliver this, by committing to maintain the 2.4 billion annual farming budget and investing in productivity and innovation on farms.

Together this action will move us away from ineffective EU policies and instead support British farmers to take actions that help produce food sustainably.

We have also always been clear that we will not compromise the UKs high food safety and animal welfare standards in trade negotiations so as to protect British farmers and native food production.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper hailed the fantastic job done by outgoing HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston as he visited Birmingham on Monday to see the new Curzon Street Station taking shape.

Mr Harper was joined on the rainy visit by his Australian counterpart, Catherine King, as they inspected the city centres new 300 metre-long viaduct to see the view passengers will have while travelling into Birmingham on HS2 trains.

Despite delays to the controversial rail project, which was initially scheduled to open in 2026 but has been pushed back to between 2029 and 2033 due to construction difficulties and rising costs, Mr Harper told the PA news agency he was confident it was making great progress.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper during a visit to the site of the HS2 project at Curzon Street Station (Jacob King/PA)

His visit came just days Mr Thurston, 56, announced he would leave his role in September after six-and-a-half years leading the Government-owned company.

Speaking about Mr Thurstons resignation, Mr Harper paid tribute to the businessman and engineer.

He told PA: The chief executive has decided to leave the company and he has my thanks because he has done a fantastic job getting it to this point but he himself has said he wants to hand over the baton to fresh leadership and thats what the company will be putting in place in the weeks and months to come.

Mr Thurstons departure comes at a time when Phase One of the project between London and Birmingham is at peak construction, with major work taking place at more than 350 sites, including Curzon Street.

Mark Harper and Australian transport minister Catherine King viewing a recently developed viaduct which will eventually bring HS2 services into Birmingham city centre (Jacob King/PA)

The Transport Secretary said a huge amount of progress has been made on the construction of the station since he last visited the site seven months ago.

In the next decade, the new station will welcome high-speed services into Birmingham city centre, which HS2 said will increase the capacity of the rail network and connect cities and towns across the West Midlands and beyond  creating new jobs, business and educational opportunities and boosting growth in the regional economy.

Mr Harper said: Its great, I was here seven months ago, you can see a huge amount of progress already. I get briefings on the project that says it is making progress but its nice to come here and see it myself.

Catherine has been here to listen to our experiences of this for what they are planning on doing with high speed rail in Australia and its great to show her the project in action.

Workers are seen on the recently developed viaduct (Jacob King/PA)

We had a great meeting this morning with Andy Street [mayor of the West Midlands] to talk about the economic benefits of HS2, which he explained really clearly  the investment, the new jobs coming into the city, so its all very exciting.

Explaining why Curzon Street was so important, Mr Harper said: This is going to be the gateway to the city for people using HS2 and coming in and out of the city.

If you look at the designs, it is going to be a fantastic space. The design has been done so the railway doesnt actually cut anything off.

People will be able to use the space below it and it will create a whole new exciting part of the city.

Mark Harper said there had been a huge amount of progress (Jacob King/PA)

Once built, Curzon Street Station will be one of the most environmentally friendly stations in the world, HS2 has said.

It will eventually welcome nine high-speed services per hour into the city centre.

With seven terminal platforms, it will form part of HS2s opening phase, with the first services expected to run from west London into the station by 2033, serving around 25,000 passengers a day.

Mr Harper said he was confident the in-service dates for when trains will be running on the first phase of the railway are absolutely on track.
Top Iranian military official says powers of U.S., West declining

Xinhua) 13:27, July 17, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Microsoft and Sony signed a 10-year deal to keep the Call of Duty series available on PlayStation.

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer announced the exciting news on Twitter.

"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," he tweeted.

Read Also: Sony Accidentally Reveals the Cost of Creating Its Games

Microsoft and Sony Exclusive Partnership for Call of Duty Only

The Twitter announcement did not directly stated the duration of the deal. However, head of global communications of Xbox, Kari Perez confirmed with The Verge that the 10-year commitment is only exclusive to Call of Duty.

Originally, Microsoft offered Sony to keep "all existing Activision console title on Sony, including future versions in the Call of Duty franchise or any other current Activision franchise on Sony through December 31, 2027."

The deal was first proposed by Microsoft last December 2022 and was changed drastically to cater the announced partnership.

"Even after we cross the finish line for this deal's approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before," vice chair and president for Microsoft, Brad Smith tweeted.

Battle for Activision Blizzard Ends

On July 15, the Federal Trade Commission lost its last attempt to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard.

Despite of that, there are still complications on the U.K. with The Competition of Market Authority (CMA) blocking Microsoft's deal.

The CMA issued a notice of extension on its overall investigation from July 18 to August 29 after reports of Microsoft planning to give up some control on their cloud-gaming business in UK to break the deal.

Related Article: FTC Appeal Against Microsoft Deal Denied by Court
Hostile states are using organised crime gangs to carry out illegal activity in the UK, the head of the National Crime Agency has warned.

NCA director-general Graeme Biggar highlighted the emerging links between serious and organised crime and hostile states in a speech outlining the agencys annual assessment of crime threats to Britain.

Speaking in Westminster, central London, on Monday, he said: North Korea has for some time used cybercrime to steal funds and more recently cryptocurrency.

The Russian state has long tolerated and occasionally tasked the cybercrime groups on its territory, and had links with its oligarchs and their enablers.

And over the last year we have seen hostile states beginning to use organised crime groups  not always of the same nationality  as proxies.

It is a development we and our colleagues in MI5 and CT (counter-terrorism) policing are watching closely.

Intelligence suggests that states including Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are paying criminals in the UK to target individuals here, including threats to life.

This is thought to be because it is harder for them to get their own operatives into the country since the Salisbury poisonings in 2018.

Mr Biggar said the biggest group of offenders in the UK is those who pose a sexual threat to children, estimated to be between 680,000 and 830,000 people  around 10 times the prison population.

National Crime Agency chief Graeme Biggar said one of the key threats to the UK is child sexual abuse, including viewing abuse images online (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

He warned that the availability of abuse images online has a radicalising effect by normalising paedophiles behaviour, and that viewing images, whether real or AI-generated, increases the risk of someone going on to abuse a child themselves.

There are around 59,000 people involved in serious organised crime in the UK, with around 12 billion generated by criminal activities each year, and around 100 billion of dirty cash from across the globe laundered through the UK.

Key threats to the UK include:

 Criminals exploiting migrants travelling to the UK in small boats.

The number of arrivals doubled to more than 45,000 in 2022, with gangs using bigger, flimsier, single-use boats and packing more people on to each craft, Mr Biggar said.

 Illegal drug use that fuels a raft of other crimes including violence, theft, use of guns and modern slavery.

Nearly 120 tonnes of cocaine and 40 tonnes of heroin are consumed in the UK every year, and NCA analysis of waste water suggests cocaine use is increasing by 25% in some areas. The agency wants to stop the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl getting a hold here as they have done in the US.

 Online fraud, which accounts for more than 40% of all crime.

Mr Biggar said: We assess that 75% of fraud is partially or fully committed from overseas. Generative AI is also being used to make frauds more believable, through the use of ever better deep fake videos and Chat GPT to write more compelling phishing emails.

Analysis of waste water by the NCA suggests cocaine use has risen by 25% in some parts of the UK (Home Office/PA)

The NCAs national strategic assessment suggests that more people could be drawn into crime as a result of the rise in the cost of living, for example being used as money mules.

This is where people accept payments into their own bank accounts and move them on in return for a small fee.

It is also thought that organised acquisitive crime, including high-value burglaries, gangs stealing cars, robberies and metal thefts, will increase due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Biggar said developments in technology such as increased use of end-to-end encryption are making the agencys work harder.

Hyper-realistic child abuse images created using artificial intelligence are also difficult to identify as computer-generated.

He finished his speech by saying: Law enforcement, including the NCA, needs to do more to be at the leading edge of new technology: this will require collective vision and sustained investment.

And, secondly, we need more effective strategic partnership from technology companies.

This is about responsible behaviour about designing public safety into their products alongside privacy, so that we all reap the benefits from technology, rather than suffering their consequences.
North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll has resigned from Labour after being blocked by the party from running for another role in the North East.

The left-leaning mayor, who has been described as the last Corbynista in power, was last month barred from the longlist to run in the new expanded North East authority.

Mr Driscoll said on Monday that people are tired of being controlled by Westminster and party HQs as he lashed out Sir Keir Starmer for breaking promises.

Ive decided to resign from @UKLabour and serve as an Independent Mayor. People are tired of being controlled by Westminster and Party HQs. They want someone to stand up for them. Let the people decide. 25k by end of Aug & Ill stand as North East Mayorhttps://t.co/WuDEGd3xxJ pic.twitter.com/kscPeMmlX5  Mayor Jamie Driscoll (@MayorJD) July 17, 2023

He will continue as an independent in his current job and seek to contest next years North East mayoralty election independently.

In a scathing resignation letter to the Labour leader, Mr Driscoll wrote: Given you have barred me from running as North East mayor, despite being incumbent mayor, I have no other choice.

In 2020 you told me to my face that you would inspire people to come together  disciplining people to be united is going nowhere. Youve broken that promise.

Youve U-turned on so many promises: 28 billion to tackle the climate emergency, free school meals, ending university tuition fees, reversing NHS privatisation; in fact, a list of broken promises too long to repeat in this letter.

Please stop saying I make no apologies for before you find yourself saying I make no apologies for making no apologies.

It is not grown-up politics to say Britain is broken and then claim things are now so difficult we will abandon any plan to fix it. That is mental gymnastics worthy of Olympic gold.

Mr Driscoll promised to run in the North East contest if he raised 25,000 through a crowdfunder by the end of August  a sum he hit within hours.

He said: Millions of people feel the parties in Westminster dont speak for them.

They want decisions made closer to home  and not by people who are controlled by party HQs in London.

Mr Driscoll was pushing on to try to raise a total of 150,000, which he says is the approximate amount needed to run a full campaign.

The partys move in June to bar Mr Driscoll from the North East contest prompted a furious backlash.

A senior Labour source at the time linked the decision to the mayor sharing a panel with filmmaker Ken Loach, who was expelled from the party amid efforts to root out antisemitism from the party.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism over his treatment of figures on the left of the party (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But figures on the left of the party blamed factionalism under Sir Keirs leadership, before trade union chiefs accused it of a monumental own goal by excluding Mr Driscoll.

Responding to his exit, a Labour spokesperson said: The Labour Party is delighted that local party members have selected Kim McGuinness as our candidate for the North East mayoral election next year.

With Keir Starmer as leader, the Labour Party is a changed party, relentlessly focussed on delivering for working people, and we make no apologies that Labour candidates are held to the highest standard.

The Tories have let our region down, and as Labour mayor, Kim will be the strong voice the North East deserves.

Asked about accusations of a purge of the left, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme: Weve always been a party that has people from all sorts of different views and perspectives and that needs to continue, thats really important to who we are.

Its also important that we focus together on making sure weve got great candidates to stand for election and also that were ready to be able to try and form a Labour government.
Lindsay Lohan has welcomed her first child with Bader Shammas.

The Mean Girls star, 37, and her financier husband are over the moon in love, a spokesperson for the actress told the PA news agency.

Lohan announced she was expecting her first child in March by posting a photo on her Instagram of a baby grow with coming soon written across the item.

She and Shammas married in April 2022 and fell pregnant later that year.

Lindsay Lohan (Ian West/PA)

A spokesperson told PA on Monday: Lindsay Lohan and her financier husband, Bader Shammas, welcomed a beautiful, healthy son named Luai.

The family is over the moon in love.

The child was reportedly born in Dubai, with Lohan previously saying the city gives me that space to have my own vision of what I need to do next.

Her breakout role came in the 1998 film The Parent Trap in which she played estranged twin sisters Hallie Parker and Annie James.

It was a critical success and helped launch Lohans acting career.

She went on to star in multiple popular Noughties films, including Mean Girls, Herbie Fully Loaded, Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen and Freaky Friday.

Lohan revealed that her Freaky Friday on-screen mother, Jamie Lee Curtis, was among those who have given her advice.

I spoke to Jamie Lee Curtis recently and she was like, You just bring the baby with you and everything will be fine, she told American publication Allure last month.

Curtis congratulated Lohan on social media, writing: MAGIC MONDAY!

My movie daughter just made me a movie grandmother. Blessings to Lindsay and Bader for the birth of Luai!

Lohan took a partial step back from the Hollywood limelight after years of tabloid attention alongside pop star Britney Spears and US socialite Paris Hilton.

She has returned to screens recently, following a rom-com deal with Netflix which included last years Falling For Christmas and this years Irish Wish.
The Metropolitan Police have agreed to pay 2 million to the family of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, according to reports.

The UKs largest police force agreed to pay the sum after admitting the original murder investigation 36 years ago was mired in corruption and incompetence, The Times reported.

The payout is one of the biggest in policing history, covers family legal fees and avoids the need for civil proceedings, according to the newspaper.

Mr Morgan, who co-founded PI firm Southern investigations, was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987.

Several subsequent inquiries have been mired with claims of police corruption.

The family said: We are in advanced stages of discussions with the Met and the family met with the commissioner last week.

This is a legal process and as such we are unable to go into the specifics of those discussions at this time.

The initial investigation into Mr Morgans death was heavily criticised, with the murder scene not searched and left unguarded, and no alibis sought for all the suspects.

A later probe by Hampshire Police, brought in to investigate amid fears of corruption, was compromised when a senior Met officer was appointed to work with the team.

No-one has ever been brought to justice over the killing.

In June 2021 an independent panel produced a scathing report which accused the Met of a form of institutional corruption for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved murder.

The forces commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is expected to make a public apology this week for corruption, incompetence and defensiveness in its response to the murder, The Times reported.

The newspaper also said the commissioner met the family last week where he apologised to them before the settlement was signed.

They are said to have been disappointed that no action has ever been taken against officers in the case and reportedly accused the commissioner of defensiveness.

Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, who is responsible for professionalism, also attended and apologised for extensive failings, the newspaper said.

At the time of the reports publication, Ms Gray apologised on behalf of the force to Mr Morgans family.

She said: We fully acknowledge how unacceptable and deeply regrettable this situation is.

We are working to understand what has taken place and any impact. We apologise to the family of Daniel Morgan and to the panel.

The Met said at the time: We deeply regret our failure to bring those who murdered Daniel Morgan to justice.

The forces then commissioner Dame Cressida Dick later said she did not accept it is institutionally corrupt.

In May, documents relating to the inquiry into Mr Morgans death were found in a locked cabinet at New Scotland Yard that had not been used for several years.

A total of 95 pages of material which should have been disclosed to the panel were discovered.

A further 71 pages were identified that would have been provided to His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) as part of its subsequent inspection.

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment.
BrewDog has said it plans to triple the size of its bars and hotels business to around 300 venues by 2030.

The Scottish brewer and pub brand said its sales surged across the bar business over the past year as it was boosted by its rapid expansion.

BrewDog launched its first bar site in Aberdeen in 2008 and now has more than 100 venues, including sites in Las Vegas, Berlin and Brisbane.

The latest growth ambitions will see the business open new bars in the UK, India, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, USA and Thailand this year, with plans for sites in China and South Korea further down the line.

BrewDog opened its first site in Las Vegas last year (BrewDog/PA)

In the UK, BrewDog is set to target larger format venues similar to its flagship bar in London, Waterloo, as well as sites in travel locations as part of its partnership with SSP, which will include its first opening at Gatwick airport in December.

The group will also target new hotel openings in the UK as part of the plan.

It came as the hospitality brand revealed that revenues from BrewDog bars increased by 44 million, or 68%, in 2022 compared to the previous year.

BrewDog said it expected bar revenues to increase by a further 25% in 2023.

James Watt, chief executive officer of BrewDog, said: Last year we opened our two most ambitious bars yet in Las Vegas and Waterloo, and in a tough economic climate both have vastly exceeded our expectations.

The success of our new landmark locations is testament to our strategy of investing in high-footfall locations and creating unique environments that redefine the bar experience  everything from coffee shops and workspaces, to hidden cocktail bars, podcast studios, ping pong, bowling and our own beer school.

In some locations we even have a micro-brewery on site, so our customers can learn to brew for themselves.
The Government has promised grants of up to 157 million to several nuclear technology projects across the UK as it launched a separate competition for businesses to develop new nuclear reactors.

From Tuesday companies will be able to sign up with a new arms-length Government body, Great British Nuclear.

The companies could then be able to tap into billions of pounds of Government and private money to help develop smaller nuclear power plants, energy security secretary Grant Shapps is set to announce on Tuesday.

Mr Shapps will be speaking in London later on Tuesday (Victoria Jones/PA)

It was unclear how much Government money Mr Shapps was planning to put towards the development of these smaller, more agile, nuclear reactors.

The so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) that Mr Shapps wants to build are still unproven at any scale.

The idea is to design nuclear power plants which are small enough to be manufactured in factories and then transported to where they are going to be used.

This, the theory goes, will allow builders to benefit from the economies of scale of mass-production.

The first prototypes have started operating in Russia and China within the last three years.

The Government has promised that GB Nuclear will help the Government hit its target that around a quarter of Britains electricity will come from nuclear by 2050.

However, it is the latest in a series of promises made by successive governments to ramp up the countrys falling nuclear production.

In 1979, Margaret Thatchers government promised 10 new nuclear power plants, to be built at a pace of one a year from 1982. Only one was ever built, Sizewell B.

Decades later Tony Blair promised a new generation of nuclear power plants which would help to reduce the UKs carbon emissions.

Sizewell B is the only nuclear power plant to have come online in Britain in over three decades (Chris Radburn/PA)

Reviving Mr Blairs plans years after, David Camerons government promised to build eight power plants. Out of these none have been completed, although Hinkley Point C is under construction.

Ahead of his speech later on Tuesday Mr Shapps said: Britain has a rich history as a pioneer of nuclear power, having launched the era of civil nuclear power  and Im proud to be turbocharging its revival and placing our country once again at the forefront of global innovation.

By rapidly boosting our homegrown supply of nuclear and other clean, reliable, and abundant energy, we will drive down bills for British homes and make sure the UK is never held to energy ransom by tyrants like Putin.

Today, as we open Great British Nuclear and the competition to develop cutting-edge small modular reactor technology, which could result in billions of pounds of public and private sector investment, we are seeing the first brush strokes of our nuclear power renaissance to power up Britain and grow our economy for decades to come.

Alongside the launch of GB Nuclear the Government also announced that it would give grants of up to 157 million to several different projects.

This includes up to 77 million to accelerate the development of a nuclear business in the UK and support new designs.

This will maximise the chance of small and advanced modular reactors being built during the next parliament, the Government said.

Up to a further 58 million will be available for the development and designs of a new advanced modular reactor, which operate at higher temperatures, and new types of fuel.
More 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.

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.
Bosses from AstraZeneca, Google, Shell and other major companies will gather in Downing Street on Tuesday for the first meeting of Rishi Sunaks Business Council.

Pitched by Downing Street as a body to report from the business frontlines, 14 executives and bosses will attend the meeting.

Other companies represented include NatWest, Sainsburys, Vodafone and BAE Systems.

Mr Sunak said: The more businesses innovate and invest, the more we grow and create good jobs right across the country.

I look forward to hearing first-hand from business leaders about how we can break down the barriers they face and unlock new opportunities for them to thrive.

My new Business Council is one of the many ways we are making the UK the best place to do business and invest, so we can future-proof and grow our economy.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is to hold the first meeting of the Governments new Business Council (Alberto Pezzali/PA)

The gathering on Tuesday will also include a reception for around 100 businesses to celebrate British enterprise.

The council is intended to meet biannually, with the terms of membership lasting until the end of the year.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan said it was an honour to join the business council to help drive prosperity and growth in the UK, specifically through the provision of secure, affordable and cleaner energy.

He said: The economic and societal challenges we face today require candid collaboration between government and business to deliver the undoubted growth potential that we have in this country.

AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said: The private sector has a vital role to play working with government and society to build a sustainable economy.

I look forward to productive discussions on matters affecting the UKs growth agenda and efforts to truly become a global science superpower creating high value enterprises, jobs and advancing the UKs global net zero ambitions.

Charles Woodburn, the BAE boss, said: Its more important than ever that government and industry work closely together and as one of the UKs largest employers, playing a key role in supporting national security as well as economic prosperity, Im looking forward to discussing how we can help drive growth and attract investment into the UK as part of the new Business Council.
A homegrown terrorist considered launching a mass gun attack on the late Queens funeral after converting to Islam in prison, a court has heard.

Edward Little, 22, rejected the plan as too late and instead decided to target a Christian preacher at Speakers Corner in Londons Hyde Park, the Old Bailey heard.

He discussed his plans including his desire to get hold of a Mac-10 submachine gun and AK-47 assault rifle with extremists in encrypted chats on the Threema messaging platform.

At one point, he wrote: I dont think there has been an attack in the UK with guns so a semi-automatic rifle would send a even stronger message.

The funeral of the late Queen was held at Westminster Abbey in September (Andrew Milligan/PA)

On September 18 last year, Little identified the Queens funeral  due to be held at Westminster Abbey the following day  as a possible target.

It was suggested that tyrants of the earth would be there, to which Little responded: I was just thinking that but unfortunately its too late.

Days later, on September 23, Little was arrested en route to buy a gun for 5,000 having taken a taxi from Brighton to London.

Little, from Pelham Street, Brighton, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday by video-link from HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire.

Opening the facts of the case against him, Duncan Penny KC said: The defendant is an Islamic extremist who planned to murder the Christian preacher Hatun Tash at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.

The defendant planned to murder those who were with Hatun Tash, and any police officers or soldiers who were in the area.

UK-born Little was said to have converted to Islam at Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution in Kent and at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham, after he turned 18.

Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Last summer, he downloaded extremist propaganda including copies of the al-Qaida publication Inspire.

In his chats on Threema, he referred to Hasham Tash as an evil witch and said he could shoot her point blank and everyone with her.

He suggested that with the money he had and his ability to get more weapons he should strike a bigger target.

He spoke of wanting to buy a Mac-10 so I can spray it at them and then use pistol for police.

But he added that the problem with the macs is that they are too quick and it runs out very quik.

Little said he would wear a camera so he could live-stream the attack.

On September 17, Little revealed that he 100% had a brother in prison who would be joining in the operation.

He said he would travel to London for reconnaissance and see if it was best to have us hit separate targets.

On September 23, Little agreed to pay a taxi driver 300 to take him from Brighton to Lewisham, south London, saying money was no problem.

Edward Little at the Old Bailey in London (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

On his arrest, he was carrying a rucksack with 5,000 in cash, a passport and two mobile phones.

Little declined to answer questions in police interviews but his mood changed when he was shown a YouTube view of the preacher.

He launched himself from his chair across the table at an officer, swinging repeatedly with his fists before being restrained.

He went on to admit assaulting the officer at Newbury Police Station last September 28 and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

At the hearing on Monday, Little also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a fellow inmate at Belmarsh prison on April 3.

Little attacked the victim with boiling water mixed with sugar and two razor blades for disrespecting his religion.

The defendant had been convicted of 14 offences in seven separate cases, including for robbery, having a knife and drug dealing, dating back to 2017.

Mrs Justice McGowan adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed for a report to be prepared on Littles future risk and for him to be given the opportunity to attend court in person.
Seven people required treatment after a flat fire in Glasgow.

Firefighters found the first floor tenement flat in Bathgate Street, Dennistoun, well alight after being called out on Monday afternoon.

The street was taped off while four crews fought to extinguish the blaze.

A number of people have been referred to Glasgow Infirmary for medical care but none are said to have been seriously injured.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: We were alerted at 1.22pm on Monday July 17 to reports of a building fire on Bathgate Street, Glasgow.

Operations Control immediately mobilised four fire appliances to the scene and firefighters were met with a building well alight.

Three male and one female casualty were handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and taken to Glasgow Infirmary for precautionary checks and a further three casualties were discharged on scene.

Firefighters remain in attendance and are working hard to extinguish the fire.

One of the three appliances was still on site at about 4pm.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 1.35pm on Monday July 17, we were called to a report of a fire at a property on Bathgate Street, Glasgow.

Emergency services are at the scene and inquiries are ongoing.
Installation view of Huong Dodinh's solo exhibition, "VIE | VIDE," at Pace Gallery Seoul / Newsis



Huong Dodinh's 'VIE | VIDE,' Matthew Day Jackson's 'Counter-Earth' concurrently on view in Seoul



By Park Han-sol



A scene of pure "luminosity and brilliance." That is how Huong Dodinh recalls her very first encounter with snowfall in 1950s France.



It seemed that the whole earth was swallowed up by the infinite stretch of whiteness overnight  an unrecognizable change in the eyes of a young Vietnamese girl, who had to flee from her home country at the age of eight with her family after the outbreak of the First Indochina War (1946-54).



Weeks later, however, when the snow began to melt, it suddenly revealed the subtleties of everything underneath it that was still pulsating with life and colors. The imagery has never left her to this day.



Thus began the 78-year-old's lifelong artistic quest to transfer the profoundly luminescent shades of white onto canvas  reminiscent of a snowfield whose seemingly empty surface hides the vital force beneath.



On view at "VIE | VIDE" at Pace Gallery Seoul, Dodinh's first solo exhibition mounted in Asia, is the artist's K.A. series that speaks to the minimalist and contemplative nature of her practice. Those that visited this year's Gwangju Biennale may remember her paintings featured at the city's Mugak Temple.





Huong Dodinh's "K.A 268" (2022)  Huong Dodinh / Courtesy of Pace Gallery



In her work, the distinctly translucent and reflective background is brought to life by applying multiple thin layers of homemade paint onto canvas  the process she likens to the Eastern lacquer technique. All of her muted pigments are sourced from mineral powders found in Provence, southern France and created by her own hand.



And against such backgrounds, lines, arcs and geometric shapes float fluidly, often in numbers that feel the most significant to her as they are interpreted as symbols signifying the evolution of life: three as "the proper beginning," five as "the disciplined training" and seven as "fully mastering the skill and being granted creative liberation."



With her emphasis on the meditative aspects of art production that comes from endless repetition of gestures, Dodinh's practice is somewhat reminiscent of Korean "dansaehkwa" (monochrome painting.)



"I work solely with my hands and a brush from start to end without the aid of any digital tools or assistant whatsoever, because every one of my gestures becomes an integral part of my piece," the artist said at the gallery. "My goal is to produce art that can last for years as it continues to throb with life."





Matthew Day Jackson's "Two Moons (after Bierstadt)" (2023)  Matthew Day Jackson / Courtesy of Pace Gallery



Whereas Dodinh's process-oriented abstractions are born from her hands alone, New York-based Matthew Day Jackson, whose works are presented concurrently at Pace at his first solo Seoul show, "Counter-Earth," noted how he wanted "to distance myself from the creation of the image by not relying on gesture or any concept of signature."



In line with the goal of "keeping my fingerprints out" of the picture, the multidisciplinary artist adopted a photomechanical process involving a semi-autonomous laser for his latest body of landscape paintings  where the strange and familiar intersect as in the world of science fiction.



Jackson's pieces on view take cues from the 19th-century landscape paintings and photography  including masterpieces by Caspar David Friedrich, Albert Bierstadt and Eadweard Muybridge  as well as Andrei Tarkovsky's boundary-pushing sci-fi films, but add his own otherworldly, celestial touch to the depicted sceneries.





Installation view of Matthew Day Jackson's solo exhibition, "Counter-Earth," at Pace Gallery Seoul. Photo by Sangtae Kim. Courtesy of Pace Gallery
By-elections this week threaten to cause misery for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as the Conservatives battle to save seats in three crunch local polls.

All eyes in Westminster will be on the by-elections in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty as well as Somerton and Frome on Thursday, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats both hoping to inflict blows on the Tories.

It could be a drama-filled end to a parliamentary term not short on political theatrics, with the Uxbridge and Selby polls triggered amid the fall-out of Boris Johnsons furious reaction to the Privileges Committee investigation and the row over his resignation honours list.

The economic outlook is difficult too, with households still struggling with stubbornly high inflation and mortgage holders pitched into misery by rising interest rates.

Combined with NHS pressures and the impact of months of industrial unrest, it could be a difficult start to summer recess for Mr Sunak.

Pollster and political analyst Lord Hayward believes the UK has now returned to normal mid-term politics.

What were looking at is a series of by-elections where people will naturally express their anger about the current government.

Boris Johnson, in a curious way, managed to defy mid-term in some cases, although not necessarily in by-elections.

The Tory peer added: People will express their view about government but  and this is where it becomes different  all the seats there is the burden of the events of the last 12 months.

The Conservatives, he said, could pay the penalty for the controversies and turmoil that plagued Mr Johnsons government, only brought to an end somewhat by the findings of the Privileges Committee last month.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will be hoping for success in Somerton and Frome (Andrew Matthews/PA)

In Uxbridge, the former prime minister held the west London constituency since 2015, securing it with a 7,000 majority at the last general election in 2019.

His sudden exit came as a shock in both the constituency and in the Commons  but it has offered Labour a chance to snatch the seat from Mr Sunaks party.

Labour candidate and local councillor Danny Beales will be hoping to become the areas next MP.

But Conservative councillor Steve Tuckwell and the Tories are hoping that the Sadiq Khan-backed Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) scheme is enough to sway voters away from the opposition.

Lord Hayward said it will be the first time a local issue has dominated a campaign since the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, when Labour suffered huge losses to the Liberal Party.

Bitter campaigning in the constituency saw Labour candidate Peter Tatchell attacked in some quarters for being gay.

In the same way, the Uxbridge poll could turn out to be a de facto referendum not on the Government itself but on the Ulez scheme.

Sir Keir Starmers party has been campaigning hard in the Uxbridge seat, with the suburban town potentially a key marker of the extent of Labour gains ahead of the next general election.

Nigel Adams resigned as MP for Selby and Ainsty after being denied a peerage in Boris Johnsons resignation honours list (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Selby and Ainsty contest, in the North Yorkshire Conservative heartland, may prove even more of a bellwether for Labour.

Outgoing MP Nigel Adams resigned after being denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list.

An MP for 13 years, Mr Adams had been due to leave politics at the next election after securing a 20,000 majority in 2019.

Barrister and district councillor Claire Holmes is fighting to keep the seat blue, but Labour strongly believes that Keir Mather, a 25-year-old Oxford graduate, is in with a chance.

It is a tough ask for Labour, but they seem to be incredibly bullish, says Lord Hayward.

Labour has said that victory there would be the largest majority it has overturned since the Second World War.

It does have some history in the area, with Lord Hayward pointing out that the old Selby constituency  with different boundaries  did have a Labour MP between 1997 and 2010.

Nonetheless, the loss of such a majority would be a significant blow for the Conservatives 18 months out from a general election, with defeat there likely to spark more soul-searching among MPs about the partys prospects.

This week could bring bad by-election news for Rishi Sunak (Frank Augstein/PA)

The final by-election in Somerton and Frome is seen as offering a perfect opportunity for the Liberal Democrats to gain a seat, with some seeing victory there as a near certainty.

The poll was prompted by the resignation of David Warburton amid allegations of sexual harassment and cocaine use. He had held the seat since 2015 when the Tories took it from the Lib Dems.

Faye Purbrick, who sits on Yeovil Town Council and Somerset County Council, will be hoping voters look past the circumstances of the contest when ballot boxes open on Thursday.

But it could prove an uphill struggle, says Lord Hayward.

Another seat with a 20,000 majority, the constituency could well be turned yellow come Friday morning with Sir Ed Daveys Lib Dems hopeful of success for candidate Sarah Dyke.

Held by former Lib Dem minister David Heath for more than a decade, the Somerset constituency contains a strong party base able to take advantage of the Governments troubles.

Until eight years ago, Lib Dems had every seat in Somerset, said Lord Hayward.

They lost them all in the great sweep of 2015. But they had all those all those seats in Somerset.

So theyre building and they did very well in the local elections in 2022.

So they are building on a very strong base of Lib Dem support. And this is the one that the Government was always going to have most difficulty with.
Rishi Sunak has praised Ben Wallace for a distinguished career following the Defence Secretarys announcement he will resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Wallace, who has been Defence Secretary since 2019, will stand down as an MP at the next general election.

The Prime Minister said he would be sad to see Mr Wallace go but I completely understand and sympathise with his decision.

Mr Wallace played a key role in the UKs response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, centre right, with Ukrainian soldiers (Ben Birchall/PA)

Mr Wallace is believed to have told Mr 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.

Speaking to broadcasters, the Prime Minister said of course I am when asked if he was sad to see his Defence Secretary go.

As @RishiSunak decides who should become the new defence secretary, he should look no further than the person who got Type 31 and Boxer over the line prior to the 2019 GE. The same person fully appreciates the financial constraints that prevent an increase in defence spending at  Nicholas Drummond (@nicholadrummond) July 17, 2023

Bens been a great Defence Secretary. Ive enjoyed working with him and hes got a track record he can be very proud of, the Prime Minister said.

But, look, hes been in politics and public service for a very long time, and, as he said, he wants to be able to spend more time with his family, and as a dad myself I completely understand and sympathise with that.

Mr Sunak said Mr Wallace had been talking to me about this for a little while, I wish him well, hes got a distinguished record in public service.

The Prime Minister said the UK had been playing a global leadership role on security and defence matters.

I saw that first-hand myself when I was at the Nato summit last week and I can see the respect that other countries have for the UKs role, our leadership on defence matters, the fact that we have consistently invested in defence, the fact that we have led the conversation on supporting Ukraine.

Those are all things that the British public should be really proud about, our countrys role.

Meanwhile, foreign office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said it would be a privilege to serve as Defence Secretary in response to a supportive industry analyst on Twitter.
Three men have been sentenced for using a religious organisation as a front to smuggle 400 kilograms of cannabis hidden in fruit tins into the UK.

Dalton Anderson, Alvin Russell and Sinclair Tucker used tins of callaloo and ackee fruit to hide the drugs, which would have had a street value of up to 2 million.

The trio used Birmingham-based Vision Christian Ministries (VCM) as a front to ship the cannabis from Jamaica to Birmingham Airport, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

All three men were sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Monday.

Rick Mackenzie, NCA operations manager, said: This crime group cynically used a religious organisation to conceal their multi-million-pound drugs conspiracy.

Dalton Anderson, 51, of Groveland Road, Tipton, was sentenced to nine years in prison (NCA/PA)

The illegal drugs trade fuels violence and exploitation in the UK while generating huge profits for the serious criminals behind it.

The NCA works tirelessly, including with partners like Border Force, to pursue the traffickers and protect the UK public.

The cannabis was smuggled to the UK in three shipments between March and May 2017, all of which were addressed to the now-dissolved VCM.

All three were seized by Border Force, with the men arrested on May 23 2017 while inspecting the third consignment, which had been delivered to Birmingham Airport.

Alvin Russell, 45, of Wood Lane, West Bromwich, was sentenced to five years in prison (NCA/PA)

Anderson, 51, Russell, 46, and Tucker, 65, were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court last November of fraudulently evading the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug.

Judge Martin Hurst handed Anderson a nine-year prison sentence, as well as a concurrent five-year term for possession with intent to supply a class B drug after five kilos of cannabis were found at his home in Groveland Road, Tipton, West Midlands.

Russell, of Wood Lane, West Bromwich, was sentenced to five years in prison, with Tucker, also of Groveland Road, Tipton, given a two-year suspended term.

Paul Harper, of the Border Force Central Region, said: Drugs are a plague to our neighbourhoods, exploiting the most vulnerable in our society.

Sinclair Tucker 65, of Groveland Road, Tipton, was spared jail (NCA/PA)

This seizure and others demonstrate the despicable lengths criminals will go to, exploiting a religion to line their own pockets, which will only cause harm to our communities.

Thanks to this great work by Border Force officers at Birmingham Airport these drugs were stopped from infiltrating our communities, further highlighting our commitment to smashing the illegal drug trade and protecting our borders.

Together with the NCA we will continue to tackle and break these disgraceful supply chains and go after those who seek to abuse our borders.
Large industrial trawlers fishing in English waters will soon have to install cameras that will monitor their catch, the Government has said.

Known as remote electronic monitoring (REM), the cameras, along with gear sensors and GPS trackers, will collect data on the size of catches as well as types of species caught and will be introduced in stages over the next five years.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the measure will be voluntary at first but will eventually become a legal requirement for all pelagic trawlers over 24 metres fishing in English waters.

The idea is part of a series of post-Brexit Fisheries Management Plans which the Government wants to use to manage stocks more sustainably.

Totalling 43, the plans contain short, medium and long-term measures, with the first six published on Monday.

Defra said it has spent the last 18 months speaking to fishing experts and scientists to devise the measures, which include shutting down catching whelk for certain parts of the year to allow populations to recover and collecting data on the amount of bycatch such as sea birds, whales and dolphins.

Species covered by the plans include crab and lobster, whelk, king scallops, bass, flat fish in the southern North Sea and Eastern channel and other non-quota demersal fish.

The Government said it will also remove an individual cap on the quota for around 400 vessels under 10 metres, currently set at 350kg a year, though they will still be subjected to a pool quota.

There are also plans to find new ways of reducing discards  throwing unwanted catches of fish back into the sea  as Defra said the EU ban on discards has not been very effective.

Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermens Organisations, said: For centuries, fishing has produced food, provided jobs and supported communities.

Measures to strengthen fishing businesses and enhance their sustainable growth will bring tangible benefits to the UK.

Fisheries Management Plans represent a genuinely ambitious attempt to break away from the unsuccessful top-down impositions of the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) and unite fishers, scientists and regulators in building something new and better.

Fishermens livelihoods depend on healthy seas and sensible regulations. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate in shaping them.

Lobster is one of the species the Government wants to manage more sustainably (Ben Birchall/PA)

The Government also said it will spend 45.6 million from the UK Seafood Fund to update infrastructure.

Along with the first six of its management plans, it said will also publish its response to two consultations on sandeel fishing and mitigating flyseining on Monday.

Flyseining is a form of trawl fishing on catches where there is no quota and some fishers are concerned the practice is depleting stocks of red mullet, gurnards, squid and other species.

There are also plans to open a fishery for catching bluefin tuna for sport.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said it welcomed the Governments plans on introducing REM, calling it an important first step towards achieving fully documented, transparent, and sustainable fisheries.

Nicola Cusack, MCSs fisheries policy manager, said: These plans are vital tools for achieving sustainable fisheries and for the UK Government to deliver its ambition for world leading fisheries management.

We need strong and ambitious policies and leadership that supports the marine environment while providing certainty and clarity for sea users and decision makers alike.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said: The UK has some of the finest fish stocks in the world, forming an integral part of healthy marine ecosystems while providing livelihoods, enjoyment and prosperity to coastal communities.

Todays reforms mark a clear departure from the outdated Common Fisheries Policy now we are an independent coastal state, and will deliver the UKs ambition to build a modern, resilient and profitable fishing industry underpinned by sustainable fish stocks and a healthy marine environment for the future.

Defra said it will be running online and in-person events through August and September for anyone interested in fishing and the marine environment where they can find out more about the reforms.
The UK is set to pursue a new trade deal with Turkey in an effort to deepen relations with the country.

Negotiations on an updated free trade agreement are expected to begin in 2024 after the two countries announced on Tuesday that there was scope to improve the existing trade deal.

The current deal, which was rolled over after Brexit, is restricted to trade in goods and UK negotiators will attempt to expand the relationship to cover digital trade and services, reflecting Britains status as a predominantly service economy.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business and Trade Secretary, said: Turkey is an important trading partner for the UK and this deal is the latest example of how we are using our status as an independent trading nation post-Brexit to negotiate deals that are tailored to the UKs economic strengths.

I look forward to using the deal to deepen the UK-Turkey trading relationship, drive economic growth and support businesses up and down the country.

UK negotiators objectives are still to be determined following a consultation expected to begin in the autumn, but are likely to focus on expanding access to Turkey for UK services.

There could also be scope for securing cheaper imports from Turkey, particularly of Mediterranean fruit and vegetables and products such as olive oil.

Exports minister Lord Offord will visit Turkey later in July to discuss other potential opportunities.

Britains trade with Turkey was worth 23.5 billion in 2022, but heavily favoured Turkey with the UK importing 6.5 billion more than it exported, according to Government figures.

Turkish exports to the UK include vehicles, clothes and electric machinery, while the UK sells power generators and metals to Turkey.
The Tory candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has admitted it will be very difficult for the party to hold on to Boris Johnsons former seat in Thursdays by-election.

Steve Tuckwell, who is a Conservative councillor for South Ruislip, said he is working incredibly hard to secure a victory, despite a recent poll, which gave Labours Danny Beales an eight-point lead.

The Tories are desperately seeking to hold on to the constituency after former prime minister Boris Johnson resigned as its MP in June, shortly before the publication of a cross-party report concluding he deliberately misled the Commons over partygate.

Uxbridge & South Ruislip By-Election Voting Intention: LAB: 41% (+3)CON: 33% (-20)LDM: 6% (=)REC: 5% (New)GRN: 4% (+2)IND: 4% (New)Others: 7% (+6) Via @JLPartnersPolls, 26 Jun  6 Jul.Changes w/ GE2019.  Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) July 7, 2023

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Tuckwell said: First thing, Boris Johnsons name is not on the ballot paper; mine is.

Pundits and pollsters are predicting that this is going to be a Labour win, so that is giving me additional motivation to work as incredibly hard as I can.

Ive knocked on literally hundreds, possibly thousands of doors over the last four weeks since I was selected.

Its no illusion that this is going to be very difficult, its going to be hard and its going to be challenging, but Im incredibly motivated to earn every vote.

Mr Tuckwell said there were a variety of reasons why he is not leading in the polls.

Boris Johnson resigned as an MP last month (PA)

Local Uxbridge voters generally believe it will be a close race between Labour and the Tories at the by-election.

Bernie Sammons, 82, an Optometrist from Uxbridge, said he believed the Conservatives would hold on to the seat.

He said: I know last time (at the 2019 general election) it was a little bit near the mark, but I would say it will just about be a Conservative win.

But there will obviously be more Labour (votes).

Oh gosh, if the Labour Party got in  oh my goodness  theyll kill us.

Imagine what tax increases the Labour Party will make.

Former Labour voter, Steve Williams, 57, a business owner from Uxbridge, said the Tories still have a chance to receive a massive majority.

He said: I think (the Tories) still have a chance to win because of their local support which might be a good or bad thing for businesses.

But, Im pretty glad Boris is gone because he was a bit of a liability.

Whoever gets in  it will be good if theyre a local.

He added that he is not really sure who he will vote for at the by-election.

The Liberal Democrat candidate, Blaise Baquiche said he wants to send a personal message to the Tories about partygate at the election.

Mr Baquiche said he does not want a political alliance with Labour or any other party (Blaise Baquiche)

He said: Partygate for me is personal, I lost my father to Covid in the very week that Boris Johnson partied.

I find Johnsons lack of contrition sickening, and I feel like I represent hundreds of thousands of families across the country who feel the same way.

I feel like there are people up and down this country who may have voted Conservative all their life, but are just sick of this Tory top brass.

Who are completely unapologetic about partygate and Liz Truss kamikaze budget.

Those are the sorts of Tories that those Conservative supporters want out.

So they should send a message to the Tories at this by-election and just not vote for them.

At the 2019 general election, Mr Johnson increased his standing majority to 25,351, from 23,716 in 2017, with Labour in second place on both occasions.

The other candidates set to run are: Cameron Bell (Independent), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Jeremy Corbyns brother Piers Corbyn (Let London Live), Laurence Fox (Reclaim Party), Sarah Green (Green Party), Richard Hewison (Rejoin EU), Rebecca Jane (Ukip), Enomfon Ntefon (Christian Peoples Alliance), Leo Phaure (Independent), 77 Joseph (Independent), Kingsley Hamilton (Independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Steve Gardner (Social Democratic Party).

PA approached Labours Danny Beales for an interview but he was unavailable.
Outgoing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he has not thought about his legacy ahead of the publication of a paper that will set out the armed forces future.

Mr Wallace, who has been Defence Secretary since 2019, said on Saturday he will stand down as an MP at the next general election.

He told The Sunday Times his departure is due to the strain the job has put his family life under.

On Tuesday, the long-awaited defence command paper will be published.

It will set out how the UK will invest an additional 2.5 billion in stockpiles and a global response force.

A further 400 million will be spent on modernising personnel accommodation.

The report will also outline how investment in science and technology will be prioritised as part of an effort to modernise the armed forces.

Despite its publication being one of his last major actions as Defence Secretary, Mr Wallace said he does not think of it as his legacy  but as fulfilling a debt he owed to servicemen and women.

I dont think of legacies, I just think its the natural step, he said.

We started talking about this at the beginning of the year; there was a commitment to the integration of review refresh, which obviously was going to trigger this.

I was determined that the lessons from Ukraine were brought forward and so that people now know what we need to do and I think thats important.

Mr Wallace said he arrived in the department with the view it was not threat-led enough.

Id always arrived in the department with the view that, having been security minister, the department wasnt threat-led enough. It wasnt responding to threat quick enough. And I think weve laid that.

Mr Wallace during a visit to a British Army military base in the South West to view Ukrainian soldiers training on Challenger II tanks (PA)

But this is not about legacy, I owe it to the men and women of the armed forces to import the lessons of Ukraine to make sure where were investing were doing so on the right track.

There has been speculation the paper will recommend cuts to the Armys size, with some reports saying it will shrink from 75,000 personnel to 73,000.

Mr Wallace said the discussion about personnel numbers has been a distraction from the simple realities.

He said: We have carried a force for many, many decades, both under the Labour government and the Conservative government, where we focused on numbers and hollowed out behind.

Thats not what Ive ever done as Defence Secretary. Ive increased the funding  a significant rise in real-term funding to defence.

Ive made sure that we were invested in reversing some of that hollowing out, to make sure that what we offer to the Government and to the British people is what we can deliver on the tin.

There is no point having an armed forces just for the parade ground.

Mr Wallace said he was prepared to speak out as a backbencher if Mr Sunak did not stick to his promise to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP in the run-up to the election.

Asked if he would hold the Prime Ministers feet to the fire once he steps down in September, Mr Wallace said: What I will say is that it is important that everyone sticks to the pledges that they have made.

Mr Wallace played a key role in the UKs response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

His Wyre and Preston North constituency in Lancashire will disappear at the next general election because of boundary changes and he said he will not seek a new seat.

He is believed to have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on June 16 of his plans to stand down from Cabinet.

On Monday, Mr Sunak praised Mr Wallaces distinguished career.

Labour warned that the defence plan was not a good enough response to war in Europe.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey said Mr Wallace must explain if he is pledging new money for stockpiles or these are funds already announced.

The British Army is being cut to its smallest size since Napoleon and there is still no plan to ensure our Nato obligations are fulfilled in full.
Elevate your mental and physical well-being by slowing down your practice.

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Whether on 90s-style chokers or old-school graphic tees, you've probably seen or heard of yin and yang. Two sides of the same coin, yang is marked by high-energy, activity, and heat, while yin is marked by rest, quiet, and rest.

Much of the yoga practiced in the Western world  Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, and Kundalini  is classified as yang yoga. Active, vigorous, and (sometimes) hot, there's no doubt that these yang styles can improve strength and mobility, and offer a number of health and fitness benefits. But there's another style of yoga worth incorporating into your routine, as well: Yin yoga.

Rather than focusing on working your muscles and jacking up your heart, the slower-paced yin yoga practice works on recentering your mind and stretching your fascia, says yin yoga instructor Kelly Aguilera, lead teacher of Sacred Roots Teacher Training. "All positions are seated or supine (lying) and are held for an extended period of time," she explains. Typically, 3 to 10 minutes.

Intrigued? Read on for a complete guide on yin yoga  including info on the health benefits of incorporating it into your exercise and wellness routine, how to start, and more.

What Is Yin Yoga?

Simply, yin yoga is ~*chill*~ yoga. Yin yoga instructor Rachel Hirsch, the co-founder of Empowered Yoga, a yoga studio in Los Angeles, California describes it as "a yoga practice rooted in Chinese and Taoist principles." It's a "relaxing style of yoga," she says.

Unlike the (yang) yoga you practice at Y7, CorePowerYoga, or whatever your go-to local studio where flow is the focus  that's transitions from position to position with speed, grace, and control  stillness is the focus of yin yoga. "In yin yoga, you get into a pose and then hold it," says Aguilera.

By holding poses, you're able to stretch your deeper connective tissues (AKA fascia) more effectively than when you simply pass through a pose, explains Hirsch. "By holding poses for much longer than in other styles of yoga, you are able to stretch and lengthen your connective tissue," such as your fascia, ligaments, and tendons, she explains. Staying still in a pose has the added benefit of stilling your mind, she adds.

Key Principles of Yin Yoga

There are three main principles to the Yin Yoga practice. The goal of these principles is simply to help you get the most out of your yin yoga practice as possible.



Find Your Edge

Fact: Nobody and no body are created the exact same. Well, this principle takes that into account. "The idea is that each practitioner should move into a pose at a depth that is appropriate for them on that particular day," explains Aguilera. Indeed, trying to go deeper into a pose (just because the person on the mat beside you is doing crazy contortionist moves) can cause you to over-stretch, which can lead to injury. This principle also acknowledges that our access to range of motion can vary based on a variety of factors that change day-to-day, such as hydration levels, recent physical activity, and more, she adds.

Bluntly, if you find yourself huffing and puffing, or shaking and quaking in the middle of a yin yoga, you're not abiding by this principle.

Resolve to Remain Still

The goal of yin yoga is the same as the goal during the freeze portion of freeze tag: To remain still. "When we remain still and passive in a pose, we are able to more effectively affect the connective tissues of the body," says Aguilera.

Don't be surprised if this principle is tricky to adhere to at first, says Hirsch. "Overcoming the urge to fidget, move, adjust can be incredibly challenging for both the body and mind," she says. But the more you practice it, the easier it gets.

Hold for Time

Again, in a yin yoga class, you'll hold each pose for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes, says Aguilera. "That's because your fascia needs more than a minute to respond," she explains.

As you hold, the sensation will build in your muscles and you may feel the urge to release builds [by moving or fidgeting], says Hirsch. Here, focusing on your breath can be incredibly beneficial, she says.

Benefits of Yin Yoga

During most other (yang) yoga classes, the emphasis is on simultaneously strengthening your muscles and accessing the deepest range of motion possible. During yin yoga, however, the focus isn't necessarily on strengthening your muscles, nor on getting into the deepest stretch, says Hirsch. Rather, the goal is to stretch and elongate your connective tissues (fascia, tendons, and ligaments).

"Fascia is the thin sheath of connective tissue that encompasses all of the body's muscles and organs," explains Hirsch. This fascia can get tight from things like dehydration, lack of movement, stress, and everyday wear and tear, she says. When your fascia gets tight, you can have a harder time doing day-to-day activities without pain, such as reaching into a cabinet or picking up your pup.

"When you give fascia time to relax and stretch through things like yin yoga, you create space for everything else inside the fascia and body," explains Hirsch. In turn, this increases mobility and flexibility, reduces the sensation of stiffness, and increases movement freedom.

Beyond the physical benefits of yin yoga, there are mental and emotional benefits, too. "We move quickly in this world, always from one thing to the next," says Hirsch. "The practice of yin requires you to slow down, breathe through discomfort, [and] push past thoughts of wanting to give up." Altogether, this helps reduce stress, promote relaxation, and support your ability to move mindfully, she says.

How Yin Yoga Differs from Other Yoga Styles

Put simply, yin yoga is more gentle than other popular styles of yoga, such as Vinyasa, Hatha, or Power yoga.

"In Vinyasa yoga, for example, you're moving breath to movement, typically with speed, to build and release heat," says Hirsch. (Here, heat is code for core body temperature). In yin, you are neither moving with speed nor building heat. Yin yoga won't get your heart rate going and core temperature up the same way Vinyasa does, she explains. You will, however, be "focused on sitting with discomfort," explains Hirsch.

To be clear: While yin is a gentle form of yoga, it's *not* the same as hatha yoga, which is sometimes known colloquially as gentle yoga. During a Hatha yoga flow, you're moving movements, intentionally focusing on the breath. While you are moving slower through the movements in a Hatha yoga class than you would in Vinyasa, you're not holding the poses the way you do with a yin yoga class, she explains.

"Yin yoga is most commonly compared to restorative yoga, which is a yoga practice that focuses on relaxing the mind and body, and calming the central nervous system," says Hirsch. While it's true that there are some major similarities  both styles are lower intensity and may use props, for example  they are different. "Yin isn't focused on healing the body through easing the mind the way restorative yoga is," she says. "Instead it's primarily focused on stretching your connective tissues."

Yin Yoga Poses and Sequences

You may be used to yoga classes requiring you to wiggle your bum in the air (downward dog) or stand on one leg (tree). But during yin yoga, you won't be on your feet at all. "All yin yoga poses are done from a sitting or laying down position," explains Aguilera.

Some of the most common yin yoga poses include:

Child's Pose

Savasana

Butterfly Pose

Dragon Pose

Sphinx Pose

Reclined Twist

Unlike Ashtanga yoga, which follows the same specific sequence every single time, in yin yoga, the sequence of poses can be customized to your specific intent, time frame, and experience level.

If, for example, you have lower back pain, your yin yoga sequence will include a number of decompression exercises like savasana, seated forward fold, and sphinx. Meanwhile, if you have tight hips, your sequence might include butterfly pose, dragon pose, and reclined twist, instead.

Precautions and Modifications

The exercise modality most often described as scalable is CrossFit  but yin yoga is scalable, too. Meaning, it is a practice that can be tailored to safely suit your current abilities. "Any skilled yin yoga teacher will be able to help you find a variation of the shapes that fit them and their body best," says Aguilera.

That said, yin yoga is all about stretching your connective tissues. So, people with certain connective tissue disorders, joint hypermobility, and pre-existing muscle strains should talk to a healthcare provider before introducing a yin yoga practice into their routine. It's also best for pregnant people, and anyone with any underlying conditions or diseases to talk to their doctor before introducing any new fitness regime to their routine  including yin yoga.

When you do start, says Hirsch, the best thing you can do is listen to your body and work within what feels good. Remember: one of the key tenets of yin yoga is to find your personal 'edge' and not to cross it. So if you are uncomfortable or the practice isn't making your body feel good, try lessening the depth of the pose, or modifying it. If the discomfort continues, stop and talk to your provider.

Incorporating Yin Yoga Into a Routine

Ready to give yin yoga a whirl? Hirsch recommends going to an in-person class first  especially if you don't have past experience with yoga.

"Often in person, you can get more personalized recommendations, feedback, and solutions for your body," she says. Each body is different, so what may be supportive for one person and body might be harmful to another, she says. A knowledgeable in-person teacher can provide personalized feedback specific to your body that allows you safely practice yin.

"Once you become more comfortable, you can take this practice online or even solo in your home," says Hirsch. While studios usually provide the props you need, if you tune in from home, you'll probably want a yoga mat, says Aguilera. (Though, she notes it's not necessary if you have some other soft surface to practice on). "Bolsters, blocks, and blankets are also nice to have, but blankets can be rolled together to create larger props or pillows used instead if that's more accessible," she says.

Whether in-person or online, most yin yoga classes run 60 to 75 minutes. "Most students take yin yoga once or twice per week," says Aguilera. How often you take it will depend on your current fitness goals, as well as your ability to make time to yin. Of course, the more frequently you come, the quicker you'll see improvements in your mobility and mental health.







Finding Yin Yoga Classes and Resources

When it comes to finding a yoga class, Google is your best friend. To find an in-person yin yoga class near you, simply type 'yin yoga class near me' or 'yin yoga studio' into the search bar. A similar search with the word 'video' replacing 'studio' will provide results for free online offerings. Alternatively, you can also check out a variety of online fitness platforms like MyYogaTeacher, GloYoga, and Alo Moves, which give you access to yin yoga classes, usually for a monthly subscription fee.







Restful, restorative, and rejuvenating to your connective tissues, yin yoga is a great wellness add-on for anyone feeling stiff, stressed, or sore. While it is far less active and sweaty than other (yang) yoga practices, yin yoga is accessible to people across a variety of fitness levels, ages, and experience levels.



Related: 13 Online Yoga Classes and Apps for Beginners to Master Yogis

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Read the original article on Shape.
FIRST ON FOX: It is an invitation in the state where caucuses lead off the Republican presidential nominating calendar that nearly all the GOP White House candidates will find hard to resist.

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is inviting all the GOP presidential hopefuls to join her for "Fair Side Chats" next month at the Iowa State Fair.

Reynolds' political team says the one-on-one style interviews "will go beyond just the issues of a presidential campaign and allow fairgoers to see who the candidates really are."

The governor shared her news first with Fox News Digital and in an appearance on "Fox and Friends" on Monday morning.

HOW THIS ONETIME BATTLEGROUND STATE IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND TURNED BRIGHT RED

IGov. Kim Reynolds speaks to guests before signing into law a bill that will ban most abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy during a visit to the Family Leadership Summit on July 14, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Iowa State Fair  held annually in August at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines  has been a must-stop for decades for presidential contenders of both major political parties in the year ahead of the nominating contests.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Reynolds' interviews will take place at JRs South Pork Ranch at the fairgrounds and will be scheduled throughout the duration of the Iowa State Fair, which this year is being held Aug. 10-20. The governor's team highlights that Reynolds interviews with the presidential candidates will be open to fairgoers and the media.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

"I couldnt be more excited to host the Presidential Candidates at our world-class Iowa State Fair, showcasing all we have to offer," Reynolds said in a statement to Fox News. "These one-on-one Fair-Side Chats offer the candidates an incredible opportunity to share their message directly with Iowans. With just 6 months to go until the Iowa Caucus, its crunch time!"

The Iowa GOP announced earlier this month that the 2024 presidential caucuses will be held on Jan. 15.

The Iowa Caucuses display at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2020.

The Reynolds campaign says it has already spoken with a number of presidential candidates and is in the process of finalizing dates. Reynolds aides say all the candidates in the field of over a dozen Republican White House contenders have been invited.

That includes former President Trump, who is the commanding front-runner in the latest GOP presidential nominations polls in Iowa, other early voting states and in national surveys, as he makes his third straight White House run.

WHY DONALD TRUMP IS TARGETING IOWA GOV. KIM REYNOLDS

Trump last week criticized Reynolds - a popular two-term governor - for staying neutral in the race for the GOP presidential nomination race.

"I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!" the former president wrote on Truth Social.

In 2017, Trump nominated longtime Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as U.S. ambassador to China. Reynolds  who was lieutenant governor at the time  succeeded Branstad as governor. The then-president endorsed Reynolds ahead of her narrow election in 2018 to a full term in office. Reynolds was easily re-elected by 19 points last year.

Reynolds' pledge to stay neutral in the presidential nomination race is in line with previous Iowa governors. Iowa's all-Republican congressional delegation is also staying neutral as the large field of 2024 presidential contenders descends on their state.

The governor joined Trump in March in Davenport, as the former president made his first stop in Iowa as a 2024 candidate. Reynolds did not join Trump when he returned to the state in early June and again earlier this month.

Former President Trump greets supporters accompanied by Gov. Kim Reynolds during a campaign rally, in Davenport, Iowa, March 13, 2023.

Trump's comments came two days after the New York Times reported that some Trump advisers had privately complained about Reynolds' multiple appearances with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the campaign trail.

DeSantis is second in nearly all the latest polls, trailing Trump by double digits but ahead of the rest of the field of candidates, who are all in the single digits.

A source in Trump's political orbit told Fox News that campaign officials are not frustrated with Reynolds and point to Trump's overwhelming front-runner position right now in Iowa.

Trump took plenty of incoming fire for his criticism of Reynolds, and a Republican state senator who had endorsed the former president switched his support to DeSantis due to the incident.
By Emily Rose and Steve Holland

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden, after a lengthy delay, on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States for an official visit later this year, the White House and prime minister's office said.

Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern about a judicial overhaul undertaken by Netanyahu and his right-wing government as well as Israel's expansion of settlements on the occupied West Bank.

Biden extended the invitation during a phone call between the two leaders, a day ahead of a visit to Washington by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have invited Herzog, whose position as head of state is mostly ceremonial, to address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, but some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have signaled that they might not attend the event.

A senior Biden administration official said Biden and Netanyahu had agreed to meet "later this year in the United States." Whether the meeting would take place at the White House was unclear.

Netanyahu returned to power more than six months ago, but Biden had pointedly declined to issue an invitation until long after most Israeli prime ministers would have made the visit.

Amid escalating West Bank violence, the Israeli government's actions authorizing settler outposts and inflammatory comments from a member of Netanyahu's cabinet had drawn criticism from U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to Israel in March.

The Israeli statement said Netanyahu told Biden he would try to form a "broad public consensus" for a planned overhaul that critics say would strip its highest court of much of its power. The legislation has prompted anti-government protests in Israel for months.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Biden remains concerned about the judicial overhaul and "some of the extremist activities and behavior by some members of the Netanyahu cabinet."

"Those concerns are still valid. They're disturbing," he said.

"We want to see Israel be as vibrant and as viable a democracy as possible and that means that you build programs and reforms and changes in a way that is based on compromise and ... the broadest possible consensus across the governing organization."

Biden and Netanyahu also discussed efforts to counter Iran's nuclear program, Kirby said, and Biden stressed the need to pursue a two-state solution to the conflict with Palestinians and to boost security on the West Bank.

The Israeli statement said the two leaders shared a "long and warm" conversation, focused on curbing threats from Iran and its proxies and strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

(Reporting by Emily Rose and Steve Holland; additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Franklin Paul and Howard Goller)
K bank headquarters in central Seoul / Courtesy of K bank



By Anna J. Park



K bank has become the first local internet-only bank to launch web firm banking services. The digital bank announced on Monday that it has recently commenced offering firm banking services to an online second-hand market platform.



Firm banking refers to financial payment and settlement services provided by banks specifically tailored for a particular business or company. It involves a range of financial products and services designed to meet the unique needs of each company.



In particular, the internet-based service, which K bank provides to corporate clients, enables convenient access for users without requiring the installation of separate dedicated lines (for communication) or restricting service subscribers to utilizing specific lines. This also removes network usage fees, which come with firm banking services provided by other domestic banks.



Based on the strengths of web-based firm banking, K bank plans to increase the number of corporate partners relying on the bank's firm banking services and become a leader in the market.



"K bank has been enabled to provide an internet-based firm banking service, which also boasts a strengthened information protection by adopting various latest network security technologies," an official from K bank said. "With continual innovation in IT technologies, K bank will provide differentiated solutions for partnering clients, solidifying its status as a leading digital financial platform."


WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with him in the U.S. this fall, the White House said, even as he expressed ongoing concern about Netanyahu's controversial plans to overhaul his country's judicial system.

Monday's phone conversation between the U.S. and Israeli leaders came one day before Israel's figurehead president Isaac Herzog is set to visit to the White House and as Netanyahu's government pushes forward with the judicial changes that have sparked widespread protest in Israel.

The Biden administration declined to say whether Biden would host Netanyahu at the White House  as the Israeli leader has hoped  or in New York on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly.

White House visits are typically standard protocol for Israeli prime ministers, and the delay in Netanyahu receiving one has become an issue in Israel, with opponents citing it as a reflection of deteriorating relations with the U.S.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden again on Monday expressed concern to Netanyahu over the judicial plan  as he did when they last spoke earlier this year  and urged the broadest possible consensus over the legislation that has been pushed by Netanyahu and his hard-line coalition.

Netanyahu and his allies, a collection of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist parties, say the plan is needed to rein in the powers of unelected judges. Opponents, who have held months of large-scale protests across Israel, say the plan will destroy Israels fragile system of checks and balances and move the country toward authoritarian rule. Herzog has appealed for a compromise that has thus far proven elusive, as many American Jewish groups and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan.

Kirby said during the call Biden also expressed his ironclad, unwavering commitment to Israel's security and that the two leaders discussed Iran's nuclear program and regional security issues. Biden also expressed concern over Israel's continued settlement growth in the West Bank and urged Israel to take steps to preserve the viability of a two state solution with Palestinians.

Biden, Kirby said, also welcomed steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank and moves by Israel and Palestinians to move toward another round of direct talks.

During his visit, Herzog is set to meet with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressional leaders, and will become the second Israeli president, after his father Chaim Herzog, to address Congress to mark Israel's celebration of its 75th year of independence.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -A pact that has allowed the safe Black Sea export of grain from Ukraine for the past year will expire at the end of Monday after Russia said it will suspend its participation.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.

Moscow refused to extend the agreement, complaining that promises to free up its own shipments of food and fertilisers had not been kept, but signalled if more steps were taken to help its exports it might consider restoring the deal.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the expiry of the pact meant safety guarantees would be withdrawn and the northwestern Black Sea would again be designated an area of temporary danger for shipping.

Insurers on Monday were reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine.

The last ship left Ukraine under the deal on Sunday. Russia's February 2022 invasion and blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports sent global grain prices soaring. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.

Nearly 33 million metric tons of corn, wheat and other grains have been exported by Ukraine under the arrangement.

Russia has formally notified Ukraine, via the Russian embassy in Minsk, that it was suspending its participation in the Black Sea grain deal.

To convince Russia was join the pact, a three-year memorandum of understanding was also struck with the United Nations under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia with its food and fertiliser exports.

But a statement from Russia's foreign ministry said none of Moscow's requirements - including the resumption of ammonia exports through a pipeline leading from Russia to the Ukrainian port of Odesa, and the reconnection of its state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payments system - had been met.

The foreign ministry said: "Only upon receipt of concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider restoring the deal."

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Russia's decision to suspend a Black Sea grain export deal a "cynical move", adding that the EU would continue to work towards ensuring food security for poor countries.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the continuation of the deal, adding that he will discuss it when they meet in person in August.

Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, the main agribusiness organisation in Ukraine, said alternative routes such as river ports were more expensive to use in terms of transportation costs.

However, he expected a solution.

"As an option, why don't we assess the possibility of the continuation of the grain deal without Russia? We had experience of this already in November 2022," he added.

The reaction on the grains market was modest, with U.S. wheat futures up about 3% while U.S. corn futures rose nearly 1%.

"I think there is market belief that Russia and the EU have large supplies of wheat which can meet world demand in the coming months, with harvests arriving," one German trader said.

There was concern, however, that expiry of the pact would add to food inflation at a time when global hunger remains around record levels.

"The global inflation especially on food has eaten up more of our aid than people understand," Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council told Reuters.

"Rations are being cut to children every day now across the world  it is utterly dramatic and this (deal) was one of the few glimmers of hope in this age of Biblical starvation"

A key Russian demand has been for the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to be reconnected to the SWIFT international payments system. The bank was cut off from SWIFT by the European Union in June 2022 over Russia's invasion.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a final effort on Tuesday to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the grain deal for several months in exchange for the EU connecting a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT for grain and fertilizer transactions, sources said.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; additional reporting by Rachel More in Berlin, Micheal Hogan in Hamburg, Emma Farge in Geneva, Bansari Mayur Kamdar in Bangalore, Huseyin Hayatsever and Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul, Max Hunder in Kyiv and Reuters bureaux; writing by Nigel Hunt and Nina Chestney; Editing by Will Dunham, William Maclean and David Evans)
Thomar Latrell Simmons and Carlee Russell (left), and Carlee Russell. (Photos via Instagram; Hoover Police Dept.)

The boyfriend of 25-year-old Carlee Russell, an Alabama woman who disappeared last week after reporting seeing a toddler walking along the interstate, suggested she had been kidnapped in a social media post Sunday announcing her safe return.

She was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until shes physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment, Thomar Latrell Simmons said in an Instagram post Sunday afternoon. All I [ask] from everyone right now is to be respectful of Carlees situation.

Its unclear if Simmonss claims came directly from Russell, her family or officials, as no one has given any details about her disappearance in public posts or statements to date. Law enforcement has been mum on the investigation and has provided little insight into what happened to Russell after Thursday evening.

As we continue to investigate we will release information that is determined to be factual and pertinent to the public, Hoover, Ala., police said in a statement Sunday afternoon. Police added that they had not received any calls of someone missing a child.

The department did not respond to Yahoo News request for comment.

Carlee Russell. (Hoover Police Dept.)

Simmonss post offers the first piece of possible insight into Russells sudden disappearance Thursday, which sparked national headlines and a statewide search before she returned, alone, to her familys home late Saturday. In another post, Russells mother shared the relief of her daughters safe return.

Our baby is safe! Talitha Robinson-Russell wrote in a Facebook post Sunday afternoon and thanked supporters for their generosity and compassion. Please consider the fact we have not slept for 3 nights and we are mentally and physically exhausted.  We do want to ask for privacy at this time to allow us to just love on our daughter and each other with our close family and friends.

What happened?

On Thursday, around 9:30 p.m., Russell was driving home after picking up dinner when she called 911 to report that she saw a young boy in a diaper walking along the side of I-459, according to Hoover police. Afterward, Russell called her brothers girlfriend while she allegedly approached the child to ask if he was OK. But the girlfriend never heard the child say anything. Instead, she heard Russell scream and then lost contact with her, hearing only traffic in the background. Russell, who graduated with a bachelors degree in psychology from Auburn University at Montgomery and was taking nursing classes at Jefferson State Community College, had just gotten off her part-time job at a spa in Birmingham.

Police were dispatched to the area within three minutes and found Russells car door open, the engine running and her phone on the ground alongside her hat and wig, Robinson-Russell told AL.com. Soon local, state and federal agencies offered assistance and resources to aid in the search for her, using drones and nearby traffic video footage.

Then, shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday, police received a call from the Russell family home that she had returned home, on foot, alone. The Hoover Fire Department transported Russell to UAB Hospital to be evaluated. She was treated and later released.

Carlee Russell. (Hoover Police Dept.)

Proliferation of missing Black women

For many observers on social media, Russells safe return is evidence of what can happen when the same amount of media coverage is given to Black women as other demographics.

In a 2016 study, Missing White Woman Syndrome, attorney and legal scholar Zach Sommers found that when Black people are missing, their disappearances generate far fewer stories than those of people in other groups.

At any given time, there are tens of thousands of Americans categorized as missing by law enforcement, Sommers wrote. However, only a fraction of those individuals receive news coverage, leading some commentators to hypothesize that missing persons with certain characteristics are more likely to garner media attention than others: namely, white women and girls.

And in the U.S., Black women are disappearing at an alarming rate. In 2020, 268,884 women were reported missing, according to the National Crime Information Center, with nearly 100,000 of them being Black women and girls. Black women make up less than 15% of the U.S. population, but they accounted for more than a third of missing women in 2020.
The California Supreme Court rejected an attempt by Uber to limit the ability of their drivers to take employment-related disputes to court. (Robert Alexander / Getty Images)

The California Supreme Court rejected an argument by Uber that sought to limit the ability of its drivers to take employment-related disputes to court.

In a case brought by driver Erik Adolph against Uber, the ride-hailing and delivery giant argued that because Adolph signed a contract requiring him to take any employment-related disputes to arbitration, he could not lead a case in court on behalf of other drivers.

California's Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, allows workers to sue on the states behalf for labor law violations, and Uber's argument, if recognized by the court, would have limited its scope. However, the court unanimously determined that Adolph could not sign away his right to represent his peers in a class-action lawsuit.

Employer groups have been closely following the case, contending that more "shakedown" lawsuits would result if the court found for Adolph.

The decision follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2022 in another California case, Viking River Cruises Inc. vs. Moriana, in which the high court concluded the opposite, that PAGA violated the rights of employers and that the claims of other employees would have to be dismissed because the employee sent to arbitration would no longer have standing to pursue that litigation.

Read more:Column: Two Uber drivers read the fine print  and won millions for California gig workers

But Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a separate concurring opinion, stating that standing under PAGA was a matter of state, not federal, law and kicked the matter back to California.

California courts, in an appropriate case, will have the last word," Sotomayor wrote.

There is a long history of debate and litigation over whether employers can require workers to sign agreements waiving their right to sue over employment-related disputes. The state high court's Monday decision aligns with previous rulings, including its 2020 decision in Kim vs. Reins International California Inc. and its 2014 ruling in Iskanian vs. CLS Transportation Los Angeles.

In the California Supreme Court opinion published Monday, Justice Goodwin H. Liu wrote that "an order compelling arbitration of the individual claims does not strip the plaintiff of standing as an aggrieved employee to litigate claims on behalf of other employees under PAGA."

"The question here is whether an aggrieved employee who has been compelled to arbitrate claims under PAGA ... maintains statutory standing to pursue 'PAGA claims arising out of events involving other employees'" Liu wrote. "We hold that the answer is yes."

Liu had led questioning during oral arguments May 9.

Uber attorney Theane Evangelis of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher said the ride-hailing company is reviewing whether to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The California Supreme Courts decision contravenes the U.S. Supreme Courts holding in Viking River, violates the Federal Arbitration Act, and undermines the legislatures intent in enacting PAGA," Evangelis said in an emailed statement. "We are considering our appellate options.

Adolph's original lawsuit, filed in October 2019, alleged that while working as an Uber Eats delivery driver, he had been misclassified as an independent contractor and as a result was not properly paid under minimum wage and overtime rules in the California Labor Code.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bontas office had supported Adolph's position in a friend of the court brief, noting that PAGA was born out of a period of serious under-enforcement of the Labor Code that was disproportionately affecting some of the States most vulnerable workers.

Under PAGA lawsuits, any monetary recoveries won for violations such as failing to pay overtime is split between employees and the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency, with the government receiving 75% of funds.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Kevin Yao and Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's economy grew at a frail pace in the second quarter as demand weakens at home and abroad, with the post-COVID momentum faltering rapidly and raising pressure on policymakers to deliver more stimulus to shore up activity.

Chinese authorities face a daunting task in trying to keep the economic recovery on track and putting a lid on unemployment, as any aggressive stimulus could fuel debt risks and structural distortions.

Gross domestic product grew just 0.8% in April-June from the previous quarter, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday, versus analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.5% increase and compared with a 2.2% expansion in the first quarter.

On a year-on-year basis, GDP expanded 6.3% in the second quarter, accelerating from 4.5% in the first three months of the year, but the rate was below the forecast for growth of 7.3%.

The annual pace was the quickest since the second quarter of 2021, but the reading was heavily skewed by economic pains caused by stringent COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai and other major cities last year.

"The data suggests that China's post-COVID boom is clearly over," said Carol Kong, economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney.

"The higher-frequency indicators are up from May's numbers, but still paint a picture of a bleak and faltering recovery and at the same time youth unemployment is hitting record highs."

Indeed, recent data showed a rapidly faltering post-COVID recovery as exports fell the most in three years due to cooling demand at home and abroad while a prolonged downturn in the key property market has sapped confidence. The weak overall momentum has raised expectations policymakers will need to do more to shore up the world's second-biggest economy.

Authorities are likely to roll out more stimulus steps including fiscal spending to fund big-ticket infrastructure projects, more support for consumers and private firms, and some property policy easing, policy insiders and economists said. But analysts say a quick turnaround is unlikely.

All eyes are on an expected Politburo meeting later this month, when top leaders could chart the policy course for the rest of the year.

URGENT POLICY SUPPORT?

While China is seen on track to hit its modest 2023 growth target of around 5%, some analysts say there are risks of the goal being missed.

"It was quite a disappointing number at just 6.3%, so clearly the momentum is slowing down," said Alvin Tan, head of Asia FX strategy at RBC Capital Markets in Singapore.

"At this pace of deceleration, there's now actually a risk that the growth target may not be achieved - this 5% may not be achieved if the economy continues to decelerate at this pace. So I think this does raise greater urgency for more policy support soon."

Most analysts say policymakers are likely to dole out modest supportive measures, instead of embracing any aggressive stimulus due to limited room and worries of growing debt risks, analysts said.

However, a deeper slowdown could stoke more job losses and fuel deflationary risks, further undermining private-sector confidence, they said.

A senior central bank official said on Friday that the bank will use policy tools such as the reserve requirement ratio(RRR) and medium-term lending facility to weather economic challenges.

Last month, the central bank cut its benchmark lending rates by a modest 10 basis points.

For June alone, China's retail sales grew 3.1%, slowing sharply from a 12.7% jump in May, the data showed. Analysts had expected growth of 3.2%.

Industrial output growth unexpectedly quickened to 4.4% last month from 3.5% seen in May, but demand remains lukewarm amid a bumpy post-COVID economic recovery.

Some economists have blamed the "scarring effects" caused by years of strict COVID measures and regulatory curbs on the property and technology sectors - despite recent official efforts to reverse some curbs to support the economy.

With uncertainty running high, cautious households and private businesses are building up their savings and paying off their debts rather than making new purchases or investments. Youth unemployment has hit record highs.

(Reporting by Kevin Yao, Ellen Zhang and Joe CashEditing by Shri Navaratnam)
BEIJING (AP)  U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was holding talks Monday with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, as the U.S. seeks to restore contacts that were disrupted by disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and China's territorial claims.

Chinas official Xinhua News Agency said Kerry was meeting with Xie Zhenhua for the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between representatives of the worlds two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus.

China is the worlds largest producer and consumer of coal and has proceeded with building new plants, while at the same time forging ahead with renewables such as solar and wind power.

Yet, congressional Republicans questioning of Kerry ahead of his trip at times broke down into challenging the existence of the scientifically established fact of climate change.

But with Republicans as well as Democrats overall accepting the science underlying the warming climate, much of the criticism from GOP committee members zeroed in on the appropriateness of the U.S. engaging in climate negotiations with China.

China has pledged to level-off carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. The U.S. and the European Union have urged China to adopt more ambitious reduction targets.

Kerry is expected to push for a reduction in China's reliance on coal and setting targets on methane that, along with carbon dioxide, is a main contributor to the earth's warming climate. As with the U.S. and Europe, China has seen record stretches of high temperatures that have threatened crops and prompted cities to open Cold War-era bomb shelters to help residents escape the heat.

U.S. lawmakers faulted China for refusing to make bigger cuts in climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions and the country's insistence that it was still a developing economy and should not be held to the same climate standards as developed Western economies.

Kerry responded that the clear disparity between Chinas claims and the size of its economy as the worlds second largest could not be allowed to deadlock global progress on cutting emissions. He also ruled out the likelihood of persuading China to hold itself to the same emissions-cutting requirements facing other big economies, at least on this visit.

Kerry is the third senior Biden administration official in recent weeks to travel to China for meetings with their counterparts there, after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

China broke off some mid- and high-level contacts with the Biden administration, including over climate issues, to show its anger with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis August trip to self-ruled Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as its territory and held menacing military exercises around the island to advertise its threats of blockade and invasion that could draw the U.S. into a major conflict in a region crucial to the global economy.

Other problems have rocked relations since then, including the transit across the U.S. of what Americans say was a Chinese spy balloon.

A stroke suffered by Xie, Chinas top climate diplomat, also contributed to a stall in U.S.-China climate discussions.

The Biden administrations aim with Beijing now is to achieve stability, if we can, without conceding anything, Kerry told lawmakers prior to his visit.

"What were trying to do is find ways we can cooperate to actually address the crisis of climate, Kerry said. China, he said, is critical to our being able to solve this problem.

In a commentary published Sunday, Xinhua said recent U.S.-China official interactions are a good sign for preventing further miscalculations, and steering bilateral relations back on track.

However, it added that Beijing was seeking more concessions on the political side  something the U.S. has said it will not provide.

It is especially true for the White House to bear in mind that seeking to compartmentalize cooperation with  or competition and suppression against  China in bilateral ties is simply unrealistic in practice and unacceptable for Beijing, Xinhua said.

For China-U.S. cooperation to be healthy and sustainable, bilateral ties must be treated as a whole, it said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has layered an antisemitic gloss on his anti-vaccine rhetoric. (Associated Press)

It has been well noted that, whatever their starting points, conspiracy theorists sooner or later get around to blaming the Jews.

During a press dinner in New York last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is hoping to convert his portfolio of chuckleheaded conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and all sorts of other things into the semblance of a presidential campaign, went there last week.

"We've put hundreds of millions of dollars into ethnically targeted microbes," he said, delivering his spiel to dining companions who heard him out with increasingly evident discomfiture. "In fact, COVID-19  there's an argument that it is ethnically targeted.... COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."

Even in Hitler's Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic, as Anne Frank did....Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2022

The dinner took place Tuesday, but videos from the event were first published by the New York Post over the weekend. Kennedy tried to backtrack with a tweet Saturday but, as I'll show, that fell into the category of erecting what Winston Churchill might have called a bodyguard of lies. Despite his subsequent disclaimer, the import of his words was that Jews were using the pandemic for their own sinister purposes.

Notwithstanding his defense that he was just pointing out facts (none of his assertions were factual) and the assurances from sycophants like Rabbi Shmuley Boteach that he's no antisemite, Kennedy's remarks were truly and unmistakably antisemitic: He specified that Jews are a population relatively protected from a virus that some unnamed sinister force is targeting to ethnic groups. What else would you call this?

It's tempting to say that Kennedy "crossed the Rubicon" with his comments, but that would suggest that this was a one-time thing. Actually, Kennedy has exploited antisemitic tropes before.

At a Sacramento appearance in 2015, for example, he called the purported epidemic of autism caused by childhood vaccinations  a connection that has been conclusively debunked  a holocaust," using a term that has come to signify the murder of 6 million European Jews by the Nazis.

At an anti-vaccine rally last year in Washington, he said that surveillance technologies being promoted by Bill Gates would make Americans less free than were Jews under the Nazis.

"Even in Hitler's Germany," he said then, "you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic, as Anne Frank did.... Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide."

Kennedy's COVID-19 claim  and the others in which he used antisemitic observations to advance his world view  reflect a long history in which anti-science claims and antisemitism have been handmaidens.

"Linking antisemitism to antiscience has a basis deeply rooted in European history going back to the 1300s," writes vaccine scientist Peter Hotez, a veteran debunker of pseudoscientific claims about disease and vaccines, in an upcoming paper.

Read more:More on the unsavory history of the vaccine-autism 'link'

The practice intensified under Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. The Nazis vilified Albert Einstein, burning his books and papers in Berlin and forcing him into exile (eventually in the U.S.). His theory of relativity was denounced as a "Jewish fraud."

Today's attack on biomedical science, Hotez adds, "increasingly embraces both Nazi imagery and Holocaust denialism." Anti-vaccine activists today have accused Jews of creating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID, and "profiting from sales of vaccines or other COVID-19 prevention measures."

Hotez, who is Jewish, has himself been "compared to [Nazi doctor Josef] Mengele for developing vaccines or being a vaccine advocate," he writes. He and other vaccine advocates have been threatened with Nuremberg-style trials or execution  a common threat levied against doctors by the anti-vaccine movement.

Antisemitism has also moved into the Republican Party mainstream, which also has a long history of anti-science policy-making. In a tweet on Oct. 23, 2018, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), now the House speaker, issued a tweet accusing George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, three Jewish billionaires, of trying to "BUY this election."

That echoed the ancient accusation that Jews plot secretly to rule the world, an allegation that has been so focused on Soros in recent years that this name alone serves as an antisemitic dog whistle to the Republican base.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) targeted Jewish political donors George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer in this 2018 attack. (Twitter)

In a 2018 Facebook post, right-wing crackpot Marjorie Taylor Greene  a Republican from Georgia who was elected to the House in 2021 and is now part of McCarthy's inner circle  associated the California wildfires that year with financial gains enjoyed by Rothschild Inc., another historical target of antisemites.

Greene conjectured that the fires were caused by "lasers or blue beams of light...coming down to Earth I guess." Greene's argument has been ridiculed as the "Jewish space laser" theory, but its antisemitic content shouldn't be minimized.

Greene also has called Soros a Nazi collaborator, even though he was not yet 2 years old when the Nazis first came to power in the German Reichstag and 15 when World War II ended.

That brings us back to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite his family's long association with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party  his father, a one-time U.S. senator from New York, was slain in 1968 as he launched a campaign for president, and his uncles were President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.)  his pronouncements on vaccines and COVID-19 hew closely to GOP and right-wing orthodoxy.

In his defensive tweet Saturday, Kennedy disputed the New York Post's assertion that he said COVID may have been "ethnically targeted" to spare Jews.

Read more:Column: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a threat to your health  and our democracy

He tweeted, "I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews."

Rather, he wrote, "I accurately pointed out... that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews. I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered."

He linked to the study he said was the basis for his assertion.

Let's wade into this hurricane of lies. To begin with, the study he cited was not from 2021, but 2020. It was submitted to the journal BMC Medicine in April that year  scarcely four months after the first outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in China, and therefore an early analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome at best.

In any case, the paper doesn't say what Kennedy claimed. The paper was based on DNA lab analyses, not on any findings about ethnic susceptibility to the virus. It came to no conclusions about any "disproportionate" effects of the virus, but only noted that some groups have different genetic characteristics that may or may not affect their susceptibility to infection. The paper's authors wrote that "these factors are largely unknown."

The authors did emphasize, however, that mortality and morbidity related to COVID-19 were closely tied to factors such as "age and co-existing health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases"  findings that have held up over time.

To the contrary, no evidence has surfaced relating the genetic factors the paper referred to  and that Kennedy ran with  to the course of the pandemic.

To validate Kennedy's claims that different genetic features of human cells contribute to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, "you would need to show that that actually mattered in the real world of human beings," says John P. Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

"In the three years since that paper, I'm not aware of any evidence that different human cells and different human populations in cell culture differ in any significant way in their ability to support SARS-CoV-2 infection," Moore, who spent years battling denialism that HIV caused AIDS, told me.

Read more:Column: Sorry, Joe Rogan: Scientists should never 'debate' anti-vaccine quacks. Here's why

"There is no scientific basis that is out there for what Kennedy is saying," Moore says. There has been so much research on the implications of genetic diversity for the COVID pandemic, he says, that "we would know for sure if what Kennedy is saying was true, and there is no such evidence."

Kennedy's plea that he "never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews" is undermined by his own words, as recorded in the published video clip. The implications of what he says are crystal clear.

In his defensive tweet, Kennedy ignored the questions of who he thought was doing the targeting of COVID-19 and why it would be targeted at Caucasians and Black people. He failed to elucidate why he singled out Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese in his rundown of supposed immunities. The paper, however, makes no mention of the Chinese, but only mentions DNA analyses of South Asian and East Asian populations, which encompass many other populations in addition to ethnic Chinese.

And why mention Ashkenazi Jews? (Ashkenazis generally trace their origins to Western and Central Europe, as distinguished from Sephardic Jews, who trace theirs to the Iberian peninsula and North Africa.)

Put it all together, and Kennedy is reaching to paint an ethnic picture of the COVID pandemic that is profoundly at odds with actual infection and death rates of nations and ethnic communities worldwide. He does so by treating the rough findings of a study of ethnic genome variations as though they were firm conclusions based on hard evidence, and joins them to claims mired in sheer fantasy about research into "ethnically targeted microbes."

Has Kennedy now gone too far in his effort to base a presidential bid on conspiracy-mongering? Moore draws a lesson from the eventual defeat of HIV denialists. "We used to expose the stupidity of some of the leaders of the AIDS denialists by pointing out that they also believe 9/11 was a Mossad/CIA hoax, that the Loch Ness Monster was real, et cetera" he says. "That kind of cross-conspiracy craziness costs credibility...not with the hard core but with the subset that is persuadable."

Kennedy's appeal to antisemitism may indeed narrow his appeal, which appears to be exaggerated anyway. The question is who was listening to him, even before this.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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.
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries are debating whether to update their climate pledge ahead of this year's COP28 summit, to show they expect to exceed their current goal for CO2 emission cuts, a draft document showed.

The 27-country EU has one of the most ambitious climate targets among major economies - having agreed in law to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.

A draft document, seen by Reuters, said EU countries may notify the United Nations that they can reach a 57% emissions cut. The text was in brackets, indicating it is not yet agreed by all countries.

The overshoot would only happen if countries comply with recently-passed EU policies to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. They include obligations to expand renewable energy, and higher fees for companies that pollute.

An updated pledge from Europe - the world's fourth-biggest emitter after China, the United States and India - could increase the pressure on other countries to improve their green goals ahead of this year's United Nations climate summit in November.

The United Arab Emirates, the summit's host, has asked all governments to update their targets by September, and called for faster progress.

"We have to face facts. While I appreciate that progress has been made over the past years, the incremental steps taken so far to address the climate crisis are not meeting the urgency of the moment," COP28 incoming president Sultan al-Jaber told a meeting of governments last week.

Countries' existing CO2-cutting targets would fail to prevent far more dangerous levels of global warming - which scientists say would bring even more disastrous and frequent impacts than the extreme heatwaves, wildfires and floods already experienced around the world today.

Still, appetite for green policies varies between countries, and some recent EU proposals have hit political resistance - including a flagship law to restore damaged natural environments, which a minority of countries opposed for fear it would disrupt farming, housing construction and other activities.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Over 50 leaders from the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean will hold their first summit in eight years on Monday, adding momentum to an EU push for new political and economic allies prompted by the Ukraine war and suspicion of China.

At the two-day EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit in Brussels, both sides are expected to be eager to forge economic partnerships, but delicate discussions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Europe's role in the slave trade could complicate the talks.

Regardless of the outcome, officials said the meeting itself marked a step towards stronger ties.

"The most important issue of the meeting is the meeting itself," Argentine Undersecretary for Latin American and Caribbean affairs Gustavo Martinez Pandiani told a small group of reporters in Brussels. "After eight years, we are able to reconnect."

The EU has said it wants a joint declaration condemning Russia, but knows this will be difficult to achieve. While most CELAC countries backed a UN resolution in February demanding an immediate Russian troop withdrawal, Nicaragua voted against and Bolivia, Cuba and El Salvador abstained.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pitched himself as a neutral and potential peace broker.

The European Union has cut itself off from Russia, which until the Ukraine war began in February last year, was the bloc's biggest supplier of gas.

It also wants to reduce its reliance on China and build alliances with "reliable partners" to open up more markets to trade and to secure minerals critical for electric vehicles and the broader transition to a low carbon economy, a supply chain China dominates.

The EU has acknowledged it has sometimes neglected its Latin American partners as China's role in the region has risen, but that regular EU-CELAC summits can provide a counter-balance to Beijing.

All 60 leaders are invited to the Brussels talks, but the presidents of El Salvador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela are among those not expected to travel.

Although keen for EU investment, CELAC partners generally want the economic benefits of processing and producing lithium batteries or electric vehicles, rather than the smaller returns of shipping minerals to be processed elsewhere.

The EU is pressing ahead with a trade agreement with Chile, the world's largest copper producer and second largest lithium producer, and officials have said it could enter force next year.

It is also seeking to unlock trade deals struck with Mexico in 2018 and with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 2019, though officials have played down expectations of any breakthroughs during the summit.

The EU and Argentina will sign a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation before the summit starts.

The EU may also offer details on plans to invest 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) in CELAC infrastructure projects, part of its Global Gateway initiative. ($1 = 0.8907 euros)

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Barbara Lewis)




By Yi Whan-woo







Seoul is suffering the sharpest population decline among Korea's 17 municipalities, data showed on Monday, as many people can't afford to buy a home in the nation's capital and subsequently are moving to less central areas in search of cheaper housing.







Most of the major cities and provinces also have been losing population. But it is more associated with the low birthrate and aging society that has been dealing a blow to the entire country, whereas the shrinking population in Seoul is mainly caused by a housing bubble, according to sources.







According to Korean Statistical Information Service, a website run by Statistics Korea, the number of residents in Seoul went down by 7.5 percent or 766,946 to 9.42 million between 2012 and 2022.







This is the largest rate of decline among the country's 17 municipalities during the 10-year period, followed by Busan with 6.2 percent and Daegu with 5.7 percent.







Seoul still accounts for 18.3 percent of the nation's total population of 51.43 million.







Nevertheless, the city's population growth has been falling consistently. In 2020, the

for the first time in over 30 years, according to the city government.







Experts said the skyrocketing housing prices are making it tougher to live in Seoul and prompting people to settle in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, both parts of the greater Seoul area.







They noted the population in the greater Seoul area increased by 3.4 percent or 852,520 to 25.98 million over the 2012-22 period.







By region, the number of residents in Incheon increased 4.3 percent or 123,333 to 2.96 million while that of Gyeonggi Province went up by 12.4 percent or 1.49 million to 13.58 million.







"Seoul residents are moving out to Incheon and Gyeonggi Province to buy affordable housing," a market source said. "Those coming from rural areas as well as major cities and provinces are also settling in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, not Seoul, due to the high housing prices."







Housing prices in Seoul especially skyrocketed in recent years over the failed real estate policies under the previous Moon Jae-in administration and costly borrowing rates.


By Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. aid chief Samantha Power is set to announce more than $500 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine on Monday during a visit to the war-torn country, where the United Nations says some 17 million people need help following Russia's invasion.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power in Kyiv will announce the assistance to respond to the needs of Ukrainians affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to an announcement shared in advance with Reuters.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides have been killed and millions have fled their homes since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, triggering Europe's biggest land war since World War Two.

The aid, which will be provided through the United Nations and other non-governmental organization partners, will increase support for those who have been displaced or otherwise affected by the war with emergency food assistance, health care and safe drinking water, among other assistance, according to the announcement.

"The U.S. will continue to stand with the people affected by Russias devastating full-scale war and remains committed to providing life-saving assistance to those who need it most," the announcement read.

Over 9,000 civilians have been killed and 16,000 injured since Russia invaded Ukraine, and there are nearly 6 million Ukrainian refugees across Europe, according to the United Nations.

With Monday's announcement, the United States will have provided over $2.6 billion in humanitarian assistance since the war began, including more than $1.9 billion through USAID.

During her visit to Ukraine, Power will meet with farmers, energy workers and emergency response teams, among others, and will also visit USAID partners who deliver vital assistance to those suffering as a result of Russia's invasion, according to the agency.

Monday's announcement of assistance comes just a month after the collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam on June 6, flooding hundreds of houses in both Ukrainian and Russian-controlled territory in one of the greatest disasters of the conflict thus far.

International legal experts assisting Ukraine concluded last month that it is "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for planting explosives at the dam. Moscow has said Ukraine blew it up on the suggestion of Western leaders.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, aiming to retake occupied territory and seize the initiative in Russia's invasion. Kyiv has made incremental gains in parts of the east and south since launching its long-awaited counteroffensive.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Paul Tomasch and Diane Craft)
Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are suing liberal advocacy groups and two California cities that they allege violated their First Amendment rights through a coordinated cancellation of their rallies.

The two lawmakers had scheduled America First rallies in Anaheim and Riverside in 2021, but both venues canceled the events after they faced pressure from activists and local government officials. The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday, alleges their First Amendment rights were violated after the cities coerced the private venues to cancel the rallies, including a threat to revoke one venue's permit.

Gaetz and Taylor Greene filed the lawsuit along with their funding committees. They're seeking an injunction that would ban cities from "coercing private venues from entering into facilities use contracts with Plaintiffs for future political rallies." They also requested damages for emotional distress.

HOUSE DEM JAYAPAL GRILLS FBI'S WRAY ON COLLECTING AMERICANS' DATA, WARNS OF 'DIFFICULT' FISA REAUTHORIZATION

Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are suing liberal advocacy groups and two California cities that they allege violated their First Amendment rights through a coordinated cancellation of their rallies.

Ten advocacy groups are named in the lawsuit, which details how they allegedly pressured the cities to get the rallies canceled.

JORDAN SAYS FBI SHOULD BE KICKED OUT OF PROBES INTO US CITIZENS FLAGGED IN FISA INVESTIGATIONS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., have filed the lawsuit along with their funding committees.

The scheduled rally in California was initially at Pacific Hills Banquet & Event Center, whose owner said he canceled after learning Gaetz and Taylor Greene would be speaking. It was then moved to Riverside Convention Center, which canceled due to an issue with the certificate of insurance, according to the lawsuit.

MATT GAETZ, HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE CONTINUE HEARING IN EFFORT TO END ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE OF US

Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., eventually hosted the rally outside Riverside City Hall in California.

A third venue was chosen called Grand Theater, which also canceled after facing pressure from local leaders. The lawsuit alleges a city code enforcement officer told the venue that their conditional use permit would be "in jeopardy if they did not cancel the event."

Mike Lyster, the chief communications officer for Anaheim, told Fox News Digital the city has not formally received the complaint but is aware of it and will review it.

Riverside did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The rally was later hosted outside the Riverside City Hall.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  The U.N.s World Food Program announced Monday that it is facing a shortage of funds and wont be able to help 100,000 people in Haiti this month who urgently need assistance.

The 25% cut comes as a record 4.9 million people in the country of nearly 11 million need help with finding food, the agency said.

These cuts could not come at a worse time, as Haitians face a multi-layered humanitarian crisis, their lives and livelihoods upended by violence, insecurity, economic turmoil and climate shocks, said Jean-Martin Bauer, the agencys director for Haiti.

The agency warned that its Haiti response plan is only 16% funded, and that it wont be able to provide food to a total of 750,000 Haitians if it doesnt secure $121 million through the end of the year.

Unless we receive immediate funding, further devastating cuts cannot be ruled out, Bauer said.

So far this year, the World Food Program has provided more than 450,000 school children with hot meals, often the only food they receive in a day.

Per capita, the number of Haitians facing emergency-level food insecurity is the second highest in the world, with nearly 5 million struggling to eat every day, according to the agency. More than 115,000 children younger than 5 also are expected to struggle with malnutrition this year, a 30% surge compared with last year.

Gang violence has worsened the situation, paralyzing the transportation of goods and preventing people from leaving their homes.
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

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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.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday urged Mexican-Americans not to vote for Texas Governor Greg Abbott in response to Texas putting a barrier of orange buoys in the Rio Grande to stop migrants crossing into the United States.

Mexico's incoming foreign minister, Alicia Barcena, said last week that the barrier violates a water treaty and may intrude on Mexican territory.

"We don't have to do much, just tell our compatriots not to vote for the governor of Texas or for lawmakers of the Republican Party who support these measures," Lopez Obrador said in a press conference when asked about the Texan initiative.

Barcena said Mexico had sent a diplomatic letter to the U.S. last month on the issue as she explained her government is dispatching a mission to inspect where the buoys are located.

Lopez Obrador, a leftist, has hit back against Republican moves to toughen immigration policy by encouraging voters of Mexican origin to reject the party at the polls.

In May, he accused Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of going after migrants, and called on Latinos in the United States not to support the American's presidential ambitions.

(Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
ISLAMABAD (AP)  The top military leadership of Pakistan and neighboring Iran agreed to step up cooperation and intelligence sharing and take effective actions to prevent attacks by separatist militants along their porous border, Pakistani officials said Monday.

The agreement was reached during a visit by Pakistans powerful army chief Gen. Asim Munir to Tehran over the weekend, officials said. Munir traveled to Tehran on a two-day visit following a surge in attacks in the country's southwestern Baluchistan province, which shares a long border with Afghanistan and Iran.

Pakistans relations with Iran have witnessed ups and downs in recent years because of cross-border attacks by Pakistani militants. Small separatist groups have been behind a long-running insurgency calling for gas and oil-rich Baluchistans independence from the central government in Islamabad.

Pakistani anti-Iran militants have also targeted the Iranian border in recent years, increasing friction between the countries.

In a statement, Pakistan's military said that Munir met with the Iranian armys chief of staff, Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, and called on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

It said the sides agreed that terrorism was a common threat. 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, the statement said.

The visit also comes as tensions have increased between Pakistan and Afghanistans Taliban rulers, who have been accused by Islamabad of sheltering a key outlawed militant group called Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The group has become emboldened since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.
This photo provided by Jersey Central Power & Light shows flooding along Snyder Road, in Phillipsburg, N.J., near the intersection with county Route 519, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Courtesy of JCP&L via AP)

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP)  Crews in suburban Philadelphia on Monday intensified the search for a missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, swept away after weekend rains swelled the banks of a creek while they were driving to a barbecue with their family.

Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer said Monday the effort would be a massive undertaking and that 100 search crew and numerous drones would be looking for the siblings along the creek that drains into the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday, Brewer said earlier.

As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, Dad took his 4-year-old son while the mother and the grandmother grabbed the two additional children, he said. The father and son were miraculously able to get to safety. However the grandmother, the mother, and the two children were swept away by the floodwaters, Brewer said. The mother was among those later found dead.

The grandmother survived, Upper Makefield Police said in a social media post. But the mother of the two children died. Four other people died in the flooding, but it was unclear who they were. Victims' names have not been released.

Another news conference is planned for Monday afternoon.

An already saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching rain over the weekend resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday and planned to tour damage early Monday in the northwest part of the state.

A confirmed tornado touched down Sunday morning in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, but no injuries or major property damage were reported. In New Hampshire, where some roads caved in several towns, heavy rain postponed Sundays NASCAR race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway by a day.

Vermont reported no immediate safety threats following historic flooding nearly a week ago that dumped up to two months' worth of rain in two days. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg planned to visit the state later Monday.

More rain was in the forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

The deadly flash flooding in Pennsylvania called to mind the torrential rain that led to at least 25 deaths in New Jersey when the remnants of Ida passed through the state in 2021. People abandoned cars along washed-out roadways as muddy waters overtook driving lanes and flooded low-lying houses then.

In 2018 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, heavy rains brought up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of water in a short time. No one died in that flooding.

___

Associated Press writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; and Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia contributed to this report.
One of the women believed to have been killed by New Yorks Long Island Serial Killer is a North Carolina native, born in Charlotte and raised in Wilmington.

Amber Lynn Costello is one of the three women Rex Heuermann is charged with murdering. Her body was discovered in 2010 on a beach in Long Island.

According to Associated Press reports from February 2011, Costello was from Wilmington and had been married to Michael Wilhelm of Kannapolis. Wilhelm told AP that Costello moved to New York after a falling out with her family over her drug dependency.

A Newsday profile of Costello published in February 2011 said that Costello left her North Babylon, NY, home on Sept. 2, 2010 telling her roommates, If my sister calls, tell her I love her. Costello, born in Charlotte, was twice married and divorced and had four nieces, Newsday reported.

Kimberly Overstreet, Costellos younger sister, got Costello into a drug rehab program in New York, and Costello lived in a sober house for a while before moving into an apartment, according to the profile. When Costello stopped communicating with family, her sister told Newsday that she thought Costello was back in rehab.

LISK suspect arrested last week

Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect who lived in Massapequa Park on Long Island and worked in midtown Manhattan, was arrested last week and charged with the murders of three women, with a possible fourth charge forthcoming.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bail.

Authorities search in the brush by the side of the road at Cedar Beach, near Babylon, N.Y., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Police looking for a missing sex worker on Long Islands Fire Island discovered three bodies and a set of skeletal remains near Oak Beach.

Who are the Gilgo 4? Are there other victims?

The four women at the center of the Heuermann case are known as The Gilgo Four, because they were found in the same area on Gilgo Beach on Jones Beach Island, a Long Island barrier island, in 2010.

Their bodies were discovered when police were searching for another young woman who had disappeared, 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert. Instead of finding Gilbert, police discovered the bodies of four women wrapped in camouflaged burlap. They had all been strangled, according to reports. (Gilberts body was found later.)

All four women are believed to have been sex workers that Heuermann contacted through an escort service.

Costello: Costello was 27 years old and living in North Babylon when she disappeared. According to a site dedicated to the case, Costello was last seen leaving her home on foot on September 2, 2010. She was going to meet a client. Costello, who had three roommates, was never reported missing. She was found on December 13, 2010. She is thought to be the fourth victim in the Gilgo Four. Heuermann has been charged with Costellos murder.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes: Brainard-Barnes was 25 years old and living in Connecticut when she was killed. She is believed to be the first victim of the Long Island Serial Killer. Brainard-Barnes was last heard from on July 9, 2007, when she called a friend in Connecticut from a motel in New York. She told the friend she was going out on a call. She was reported missing a week later. Her body was found on December 13, 2010. Note: Heuermann has not yet been charged with Brainard-Barnes murder.

Melissa Barthelemy: Barthelemy was 24 years old and living in the Bronx when she was killed. She was last seen at her apartment on July 12, 2009. That evening, she told a friend she was going to meet a man and would be back in the morning. Her cell phone records show that she traveled from the Bronx to Manhattan, with activity in Freeport, Massapequa and Lindenhurst, reported Gilgo News. Her mother reported her missing on July 18, 2009.

After her disappearance, her younger sister received taunting phone calls from someone using Barthelemys phone. The calls are believed to have come from the killer and were made from Manhattan. Barthelemys body was found on December 11, 2010. She was the first victim discovered, but is believed to be the second of the four women to be killed. Heuermann has been charged with her murder.

Megan Waterman: Waterman was 22 years old and living in Maine when she disappeared on June 6, 2010. She was staying at a motel in Hauppauge, on Long Island, at the time of her disappearance, and left at 1:30 a.m. on June 6 to meet a client at a nearby convenience store. She was reported missing in Maine on June 8, by family members concerned that she had not called to check on her 3-year-old daughter. Her body was found on December 10, 2010. She is thought to be the third victim of the Gilgo Four. Heuermann has been charged with her murder.

Other victims: Seven other bodies were later found nearby, including Gilberts, but Heuermann has not been connected to those, as far as police have indicated. But, police have stressed that the investigation is ongoing.

Even with this arrest, were not done. Theres more work to do in this investigation regarding the other victims, of the Gilgo Beach bodies that were discovered, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said last week.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The leader of Solomon Islands on Monday hit back at criticism of his nation's deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia had nothing to fear.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the remarks at a news conference in the capital Honiara after returning from a visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials.

Sogavare said that while in China, he signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan.

He said the plan enhances cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed" to strengthen the capacity of police law enforcement in the Pacific nation.

The new agreements come after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China last year, raising fears of a military buildup in the region. The U.S. has countered with diplomatic moves of its own, including opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands switched allegiance from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, threatening the close ties with the U.S. that date to World War II.

Both the U.S. and Australia have raised concerns about the secrecy of the new police plan.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters she had asked about the plan when she met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Jakarta last week.

Wong said Australia wants more transparency and takes the view that security is best provided for within the Pacific family.

At the news conference, Sogavare accused the U.S. and Australia of being un-neighborly by criticizing the police plan.

This is nothing but interference by foreign states into the internal affairs of Solomon Islands, Sogavare said.

He said China's plan to help the police complemented existing Australian and New Zealand police programs in his nation.

Australia and the United States should not fear Chinas police support to Solomon Islands, Sogavare said.

Home to 700,000 people and lying about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, Solomon Islands has been one of Chinas biggest successes in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific.

Chinas Foreign Ministry earlier said that Sogavares visit to Beijing would inject new momentum into relations and deepen mutual political trust.
By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday blamed authorities' failure to follow disaster response rules as the death toll from days of torrential rain grew to 39, including a dozen people found dead in a submerged underpass.

The rains have pummelled the country's central and southern regions since Thursday as the rainy season that started in late June reaches its peak. The interior ministry has also reported nine people missing and 34 injured across the nation.

Twelve deaths, including three bodies retrieved overnight, occurred in a tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, where 16 vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday after a river levee collapsed. Nine others were hurt.

The incident fuelled questions over South Korea's efforts to prevent and respond to flood damage. Some drivers who use the road regularly blamed the government for failing to ban access to the underpass even though floods were widely forecast.

Floods have claimed dozens of lives during recent rainy seasons as weather patterns have become more extreme.

The government last year vowed to take steps to better cope with climate change-induced disasters after the heaviest downpours in 115 years pounded Seoul, including the glitzy district of Gangnam, leaving at least 14 dead and flooding subways, roads and homes.

Yoon, just back from an overseas trip, on Monday convened an intra-agency meeting on disaster response and said the situation was made worse because of poor management of vulnerable areas.

"We've repeatedly emphasised access control over dangerous areas and preemptive evacuation since last year, but if basic principles of disaster response are not kept on the spot, it is difficult to ensure public safety," Yoon told the meeting.

He called for authorities to make the utmost effort to rescue victims and vowed support for recovery work and affected families, including designating flood-hit areas as special disaster zones.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies and Tom Hogue)


MOU with Vietnamese media outlet Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, top right, and The World and The Vietnam Report Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son, top left, show their copies of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed to promote cooperation between the two news outlets, during an online signing ceremony, Thursday. Next to Nguyen Truong Son is Vietnam Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang. At bottom left are Ambassador of Vietnam to Korea Nguyen Vu Tung, second from left, and Counsellor Le Anh Tuan who helped arrange the signing ceremony. The other participants are Korea Times staff. Korea Times photo by Ahn Seong-jin
By Liz Lee and Ryan Woo

BEIJING (Reuters) -Tropical storm Talim strengthened into a typhoon early on Monday and is set to be the first to make landfall in China this year, prompting authorities to issue flood warnings, cancel flights and trains, and order people to stay at home.

The China Meteorological Administration said the typhoon was expected to increase in intensity to become "severe" by the time it makes landfall at night along the southern coast between Guangdong and Hainan.

As of 5:18 p.m. (0918 GMT), China's meteorological centre said Talim was located 110 km (68 miles) southeast of Zhanjiang city in Guangdong province, with gusts near its centre clocked at a top speed of 40 m/s (144 kmh).

Winds stronger than 41.5 m/s would put Talim in the severe typhoon category, very rare for a typhoon this early in the rainy season.

The national forecaster has urged authorities in Guangdong and Hainan to be on standby to respond to the typhoon.

Markets in Hong Kong halted trade for the day as the city's observatory put up a storm signal for Talim, and all court hearings in the city were adjourned.

China's meteorological centre forecast gale force winds in seas near southern provinces and regions and exceptionally heavy rains of 250-280 mm (9.8-11 inches) on the southwestern coast of Guangxi and northern Hainan Island.

Parts of Guangxi were told to brace for flash floods through Tuesday.

"Violent" waves of 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 feet) are expected to assail northern parts of the South China Sea through Tuesday, according to state media.

Hainan's Marine Forecasting Station warned of waves of up of 6 m south of the tourist island, Xinhua reported.

Authorities in Hainan asked ships in nearby waters to return to port and ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were suspended early on Sunday.

CANCELLATIONS

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong cancelled 43 inbound and 36 outbound flights on Monday, and Meilan International Airport in Hainan's capital city Haikou and Qionghai Boao Airport, also on the resort island, cancelled all flights, state media reported.

High-speed railway and suburban trains on Hainan were suspended as well, with routes connecting to the tourist island shut until Friday.

Haikou city will also suspend classes, work, flights, and park and business activities from noon Monday, requiring residents to stay home, state television CCTV reported. Emergency shelters were opened to the public, it said.

In Fujian, north of Guangdong, local authorities declared a rainstorm emergency, with rains and thunderstorms predicted to persist from the weekend in most counties and cities.

The Chinese meteorological centre said rainfall in several cities in southeastern Fujian and eastern Jiangsu provinces reached 200-300 mm (7.87-11.81 inches) within three hours early on Monday.

Even before Talim's arrival, passengers on a public bus in Jiangsu waded through knee-high water to get to their seats after the vehicle ploughed through a water-logged road, videos posted on social media showed.

"The water in some places is already a metre deep," a social media user said.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Himani Sarkar, Tom Hogue and Sharon Singleton)
By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Tesla Inc's directors will return $735 million to the company to settle claims they grossly overpaid themselves in one of the largest shareholder settlements of its kind, according to a Monday filing in a Delaware court.

The settlement resolves a 2020 lawsuit by a retirement fund which holds Tesla stock and challenged stock options that were granted to Tesla directors starting in June 2017.

The settlement does not impact the $56 billion compensation package of Elon Musk, which is being challenged by shareholders in a separate lawsuit that went to trial last year. A ruling is expected soon in the Musk case.

The directors, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, agreed to return the equivalent value of 3.1 million Tesla stock options, according to a court filing.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. The directors acted in good faith and in the best interests of Tesla stockholders but agreed to settle to eliminate the risk of litigation to themselves and to the company, according to a court filing.

The directors were accused of awarding themselves unfair and excessive compensation in the form of around 11 million stock options from 2017 to 2020 that the allegedly grossly exceeded norms for a corporate board.

The case was brought by the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit in 2020 and the settlement is paid to Tesla to benefit the company, a type of case known as a derivative lawsuit. The settlement is one of the largest ever for a derivative case in the Court of Chancery, a major venue for shareholder litigation.

Tesla and Musk have a reputation for fighting lawsuits. Musk has prevailed at trial in a defamation lawsuit, a case accusing him of securities law violations and a shareholder lawsuit accusing him of coercing Tesla into buying SolarCity.

As part of the settlement, the directors also agreed to not receive any compensation for 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the board will change the way compensation is determined.

Tesla had defended against the lawsuit by arguing that the company went through almost unprecedented growth, sending the company's stock price up 10-fold. Along with that gain in stock value, stock options awarded to the directors and to Musk rose sharply in value.

Tesla had argued it used the stock options to ensure the incentives of directors were aligned with the goals of investors.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, DelawareEditing by Nick Zieminski and David Evans)
Top House Democrats are rebuking Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapals comments from earlier this weekend that Israel is a racist state, which she sought to walk back on Sunday.

Israel is not a racist state, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu said in a statement that did not mention the progressive leader by name.

A draft statement signed by a handful of other House Democrats and circulating among lawmakers offices on Sunday expresses deep concern over what it calls Jayapals unacceptable comments, adding, We will never allow anti-Zionist voices that embolden antisemitism to hijack the Democratic Party and country.

Their pushback comes ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzogs address to a joint meeting of Congress later this week, which some progressives have said theyll skip, citing concerns about human rights. House progressives have been vocal about their opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the US sponsorship of Israels Iron Dome defense system.

Jayapal, a Washington State Democrat, said Israel is a racist state on Saturday while addressing pro-Palestine protesters who interrupted a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago.

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, she told protesters chanting Free Palestine.

Jayapal sought to clarify her remarks in a Sunday afternoon statement, saying that she does not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist, while offering an apology to those who I have hurt with my words.

She went on to call out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus extreme right-wing government, which she said she believes has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies.

But her initial remark  made after protesters yelled Israel is a racist state during a panel she was participating in with Illinois progressive Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Jesus Chuy Garcia  struck a nerve with some members of her own party.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who has signed the statement circulating among Democratic lawmakers, told CNNs Jim Acosta on Sunday that not only was Jayapals statement hurtful and harmful, it was wholly inaccurate and insensitive. Im thankful that she retracted it.

The Florida Democrat added that Jayapal had spoken to a number of Jewish members of Congress on Sunday and that is in part, I think, what resulted in the retraction and apology.

We need to make sure we continue to work together, Wasserman Schultz said. But we all have to be careful about what we say in the heat of the moment, and I think she learned that the hard way.

CNN reached out to Jayapal earlier Sunday before she released her statement.

In her statement, the congressman reiterated her commitment to a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live freely, safely, and with self-determination alongside each other.

And she explained her earlier comment by saying, in part, On a very human level, I was also responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing anti-semitism and hate violence that is rampant today.

The draft statement from some Democrats nodded to antisemitism and also invoked American national security.

Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and antisemitic, but they also undermine Americass national security, the lawmakers write.

House Democratic leadership also touted Israel as an invaluable partner.

Our commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally and beacon of democracy in the Middle East is ironclad, the leaders wrote in their own statement. We look forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the United States House of Representatives this week.

Jayapal said Friday she doesnt believe she will attend Herzogs speech Wednesday on Capitol Hill. I dont think I am. I havent fully decided.

I think this is not a good time for that to happen, Jayapal told CNNs Manu Raju when asked if Speaker Kevin McCarthy had made a mistake in inviting Herzog.

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri have all said they will not attend.

Democratic leadership has been supportive of Herzogs visit, with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York extending the invitation last year. I look forward to welcoming him with open arms, Jeffries, a New York Democrat, said at a news conference last week, calling Herzog a force for good in Israeli society.

Herzog will visit the White House on Tuesday. As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, the visit will highlight our enduring partnership and friendship. President (Joe) Biden will reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israels security, the White House said in a statement.

President Biden will stress the importance of our shared democratic values, and discuss ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis, the statement continued.

Netanyahu has not been invited to Washington by the Biden administration since taking office again in December last year, amid a raft of policy differences between the two governments.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

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Former President Donald Trump. (AP)

Former President Donald 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.

Judge Aileen Cannon. (U.S. Senate via AP)

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.

Rulings slowed DOJ probe

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.
By Valerie Volcovici

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said it was "imperative that China and the United States make real progress" in the four months before U.N.-sponsored climate talks begin in Dubai, as waves of extreme heat and rainfall hit large parts of the globe.

While Kerry met his counterpart Xie Zhenhua in the Chinese capital Beijing on Monday in efforts to rebuild trust between the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters, severe heat warnings had been declared in Italy, Greece and the United States.

Floods have already killed 40 people in South Korea and at least five in the U.S. northeast, with unusually heavy rainfall in India also forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people in the capital New Delhi.

China has also experienced months of record-breaking heat and extreme weather, with readings at one weather station in the far northwestern region of Xinjiang on Sunday hitting an all-time high of 52.2 degrees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit).

"Floods and intensive storms happen with greater frequency than ever before ... Fires devour millions of acres of forest every year," Kerry said as delegates gathered in a conference room overlooking Beijing's Forbidden City on Monday morning.

"It is toxic for both Chinese and for Americans and for people in every country on the planet."

Kerry urged China to partner with the United States to cut methane emissions and reduce the climate impact of coal-fired power, with the two sides aiming to restore relations following a suspension in talks last year.

"In the next three days we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves," Kerry said.

This week's meetings, which will continue until Wednesday, will have no formal schedule but are expected to focus on the abatement of methane and other non-CO2 emissions, as well as the run-up to the COP28 global climate talks starting in November.

China's reliance on coal is also likely to be on the agenda. Kerry praised the "incredible job" China has been doing in building up renewable energy capacity but said it had been undercut by the construction of new coal power plants.

China has pledged to start reducing coal consumption, but not until 2026, and new coal power project approvals have accelerated since last year.

"MUTUAL TRUST"

Kerry's third visit to China as U.S. climate envoy marks the formal resumption in top-level climate diplomacy between the two countries. The former Secretary of State is the third U.S. official to visit Beijing in recent weeks as China and the U.S. aim to stabilise their broader bilateral relationship.

China's Xie said on Monday that the two climate envoys could play a role in improving tense relations between the two countries.

The two met on Sunday night for a one-on-one dinner. Kerry complimented Xie for being back at work after overcoming illness. Both referred to each other as friends.

"Yesterday after we met each other, I did a little calculation," Xie said. "I counted that since the two of us have been appointed special envoys, we have met 53 times."

But despite cordial relations between the two veteran envoys, underlying tensions between the two sides could still hamper progress this week.

Talks were suspended last year following the visit of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims.

Beijing has also accused the United States of unfairly criticising China's climate record while failing to meet its own pledges, particularly when it comes to financing climate action in poorer countries.

China has also bristled at U.S. calls that it should do more to cut greenhouse gases, saying it is a developing country with historical emissions that remain significantly lower than those of the United States.

A senior State Department official said efforts to force developing countries to shoulder more of the burden of emission cutting will be a "point of contention" with China, which says it is inconsistent with the Paris agreement.

"I think that Kerry and Mr. Xie have a very strong partnership, they have mutual trust," said Zhang Haibin, Associate Dean at the School of International Studies at Peking University.

"But you know, looking to the future ... There is a lot of uncertainty. U.S. domestic politics is now in the next presidential election already. U.S. domestic politics is very complicated."

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Andrew Hayley and the Beijing Newsroom; Writing by David Stanway; Editing by Sonali Paul and Jacqueline Wong)
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, tasked by Pope Francis to help bring peace to Ukraine, was heading to Washington on Monday to meet U.S. officials as a follow up to his talks in Kyiv and Moscow, the Vatican said.

A statement said he would be there for three days but did not say who he would be meeting.

The visit is aimed at promoting peace in Ukraine and supporting "humanitarian initiatives to alleviate the suffering of people who have been hit the hardest and the most fragile, in particular children," the statement said.

Last month, Zuppi visited Moscow, where he met with the head of Russia's influential Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, and with Russia's Children's Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

Earlier in June, he visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy, who met the pope in May, has asked the Vatican to back his unconditional peace plan, which calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders.

The Vatican statement's mention of humanitarian initiatives and children appeared to be a reference to Kyiv's request - and the Vatican's willingness - to help with the repatriation of Ukrainian children.

Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since February 2022, in what it condemns as illegal deportations.

Zuppi said earlier this month that he was working on a "mechanism" that could ensure the return of the children.

(Additional reporting by Federica Urso; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Olivier Amar, a former executive at the college aid startup Frank, was indicted last week and accused of helping defraud JPMorgan Chase into buying the company for $175 million, according to court documents.

The four federal counts filed against Amar, the start-ups chief growth officer  wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy  were added to a case against its founder, Charlie Javice.

Amar, 49  the second Frank employee to be charged  pleaded not guilty Thursday and was released on a $1 million bond.

Javice, 31, was arrested this year and charged with the same four counts of fraud. She also pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.

Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission added Amar as a defendant in its civil suit against Javice, which also alleges fraud.

Attorneys for Javice and Amar did not respond to requests for comment.

Javice and Amar hired a data scientist to fabricate a list of users that appeared to show the company had 4.25 million student customers when JPMorgan requested evidence to support Franks data, according to the complaint from the SEC. The company had fewer than 300,000 users, the complaint said.

FILE - Charlie Javice, of Miami Beach, Fla., leaves Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York, after signing a $2-million bond to remain free on charges that she duped J.P. Morgan Chase with fake records to acquire Frank, her student loan assistance startup company, for $175-million. The fraud case against Javice has taken a step toward trial with an arraignment on an indictment returned in a New York court. Javice pleaded not guilty on Monday, May 22, 2023, to an indictment returned late last week in Manhattan federal court. (Lawrence Neumeister / AP file)

According to the filing, Javice sent a WhatsApp message to Amar about the data scientist in 2021, saying: I found my genius. He says it will take him an hour[.] Amar responded, great.

Javice later paid the data scientist $18,000 for his services, the complaint said.

The defendants also created a list of real names that could be falsely passed off as those of Frank customers, and Amar arranged for the company to pay $105,000 to a third-party data compiler for its college student data in case the scientist did not provide the fabricated list of users, the complaint said.

JPMorgan learned of the alleged scheme when it sent an email marketing campaign to the list of supposed Frank customers and it generated very few responses, according to the SEC complaint.

Javice, 31, founded the company in 2017, and JPMorgan Chase acquired it in 2021. As part of the acquisition, the bank also hired Javice and Amar.

JPMorgan shut Frank down in January.

Javice received more than $21 million for selling her equity stake in Frank to the bank and an additional $20 million as a retention bonus, prosecutors said.

Amar received $5 million from the merger, as well as an employment agreement that included a $3 million retention bonus, the SEC complaint said.

Last year, JPMorgan sued Javice and Amar in federal court in Delaware alleging fraud and accusing them of lying about Franks size.
By Stelios Misinas and Lefteris Papadimas

KOUVARAS, Greece (Reuters) -Two wildfires, fanned by strong winds, raged uncontrolled through coastal towns near Athens on Monday forcing residents to flee their homes and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of children from a summer camp.

The blaze that broke out in the village of Kouvaras, about 27 km (17 miles) southeast of the Greek capital, spread fast amid erratic winds, a Greek fire service official said.

A Reuters witness said at least five houses were severely damaged by the fire which also tore through the seaside residential area of Lagonisi, a popular summer resort.

Police helped evacuate more than 100 citizens in the wider area. Dozens of horses were evacuated in trucks as the flames reached stables in the nearby areas of Kalyvia and Anavyssos.

"Due to high winds, the blaze spread across 12 kilometres in two hours," Greek Fire Service spokesman Ioannis Artopoios told a televised briefing, adding that police had detained a person suspected of arson.

More than 200 firemen assisted by 20 soldiers, 68 fire engines, 10 aircraft and six helicopters were fighting the flames.

Coast guard boats were patrolling along the coast to help evacuate citizens if needed, and more vessels were on standby in case they needed to intervene.

Around 1,200 children in a summer camp and the residents of a rehabilitation centre were evacuated due to another wildfire burning close to the seaside resort of Loutraki, about 50 miles west of Athens, a local mayor told Greek television.

About 135 firemen with 50 fire engines, 40 soldiers and 13 aircraft had been deployed to contain that blaze which forced police to shut part of a highway and disrupted train services.

A third fire broke out in the afternoon and was burning forest about 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Athens, in the area of Dervenochoria.

Authorities said they were battling 81 blazes in total across the country on Monday, with the biggest fronts near Athens, and were bracing for more fires on Tuesday due to soaring temperatures and strong winds.

"Tuesday will also be a very difficult day. There is a very high risk for fires," Artopoios said adding that strong winds will persist.

Wildfires are common in Greece in summer, but a dry winter has created tinderbox conditions.

Greece's recently re-elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on trip for a leaders' summit in Brussels, said that he was being constantly briefed over the fires, which he attributed also to climate change. He urged citizens to follow civil protection rules.

"Today was the first really tough day of this summer. It is certain that more will follow. We've had, we have and will have fires, which is also one of the results of the climate crisis that we experience with increased intensity," he said.

The Greek meteorological service has warned of a high risk of fire this week, just as the country is recovering from the first major heatwave of the summer.

A second heatwave is forecast to affect the Mediterranean nation later this week.

Greece still has memories of a wildfire disaster in 2018, when a blaze killed 101 people in the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens.

(Reporting by Stelios Misinas, Stamos Prousalis, Lefteris Papadimas and Angeliki Koutantou; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Sharon Singleton and Christina Fincher)
A TV screen shows a file image of Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during a news program at Seoul Station, June 1. AP-Yonhap



The powerful sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned Monday that it would be "delusional" for the United States to believe that Pyongyang's disarmament was possible.



Kim Yo-jong criticized Washington's policies of strengthening its extended deterrence and military alliance with South Korea, stating that such actions would only make it difficult for Pyongyang to engage in dialogue, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.



"The U.S. is being delusional if it believes that it could halt our advancement and further achieve irreversible disarmament by temporarily halting joint military drills, suspending the deployment of strategic assets or reversibly easing sanctions etc," Kim said.



Kim also rejected U.S. calls for unconditional talks, dismissing them as a ploy to hinder North Korea's progress.



"We stand ready to firmly respond to any actions that could infringe upon our sovereignty and harm the stability of our people," Kim said, adding that its recent firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was just the beginning.



Kim has made several remarks in recent days, including her condemnation of the United Nations Security Council for convening a meeting to discuss the ICBM firing. (Yonhap)


Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public for three weeks, an unusually long absence during a busy period of diplomatic activity in Beijing, sparking intense speculation in a country known for its political opaqueness.

Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was promoted to foreign minister in December, after a brief stint as ambassador to the United States.

As foreign minister, Qin has delivered searing rebukes of Washington after relations plunged to a new low in the aftermath of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US.

He has also played a key role in subsequent efforts by both sides to stabilize rocky ties and restore communication, including meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Beijing in mid-June.

But the high-profile diplomat has not been seen in public since June 25, after he met with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Russia in Beijing.

In his last public appearance, a smiling Qin was seen walking side by side with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese officials after a short-lived insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia.

Given Chinas status and influence in the world, its indeed very strange that its foreign minister has not appeared in public for more than 20 days, said Deng Yuwen, a former editor of a Communist Party newspaper who now lives in the US.

When asked about Qins prolonged absence at a press briefing Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said she had no information to provide, adding that Chinas diplomatic activities are being carried out as usual.

Qins absence was made all the more conspicuous by the flurry of diplomatic activity in the Chinese capital in recent weeks, including high-profile visits by senior US officials Janet Yellen and John Kerry.

Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell earlier this month in Beijing but the meeting was pushed back after China informed the EU that the dates were no longer possible, Reuters reported, citing an EU spokesperson.

The EU was informed of the postponement just two days before Borrells scheduled arrival on July 5, according to Reuters.

Qin also failed to show up at an annual foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia last week. Instead, Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi attended the gathering in his place.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry told a regular news briefing last Tuesday that Qin could not attend the ASEAN meeting because of health reasons, according to Reuters.

But that response was missing from the briefings official transcript posted later on the ministrys website. The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings.

The brief health reason cited by authorities, however, has failed to quell a groundswell of largely unsubstantiated speculation as to why Qin has not been seen.

These rumors are driven by a lack of transparency in the Chinese political system, in which information is closely guarded and important decisions are mostly made behind closed doors, said Deng, the US-based analyst.

Under Xi, this political opacity has only intensified, as he cracks down on dissent and concentrates power in his own hands.

This is a problem for totalitarian regimes. Totalitarian regimes are inherently unstable because everything is decided by the supreme leader alone, he said.

If anything unusual happened to a senior official, people will wonder if their relations with the top leader have soured or whether it is a sign of political instability, said Deng.

Senior Chinese officials have disappeared from public view in the past, only to be revealed months later by the ruling Communist Partys disciplinary watchdog that theyve been detained for investigations. Such sudden disappearances have become a common feature in Xis anti-corruption campaign.

Adding to the sensitivity of Qins absence is his perceived close ties to Xi, who secured a norm-breaking third term in power last autumn with a new leadership team stacked with loyal allies, according to Deng.

Qin Gang was single-handedly pulled up the ranks by Xi. Any problems with him will reflect badly on Xi too  implying that Xi failed to choose the right person for the job, said Deng.

CNNs Wayne Chang contributed to this reporting

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YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Nagorno Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan will address the nation on Monday.

In a statement posted on social media on July 17, the Nagorno Karabakh President said hed speak about the grave situation and upcoming actions amid the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation caused by the Azerbaijani blockade.

The address is expected to be televised at 22:00.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations highest court  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.
The winners in the race this time stand to make large amounts of money.

In the dozen years between 1957 and 1969, the Americans and the Russians went on a series of space races. The Russians won almost everything at first. They were to first to send a satellite into orbit (Sputnik in 1957), the first to send a living thing into space, the dog Laika in the same year, the first to send a human being into orbit (Yuri Gagarin in 1961). The first person to walk in space, meaning exit the spacecraft while in orbit, was Aleksey Leonov in 1965. After this the United States registered its first win in 1969 when it was able to land humans on the moon. The US remains the only nation to be able to do this and it last did so in 1972. The Soviet Union tried and failed to develop a large rocket and so the space race virtually ended in the early 1970s. For 50 years, there has been no interest in moon landings with humans because the cost is very high and the American public lost interest.

The Space Shuttle programme was seen as a lower-cost, reusable way for America to send its astronauts into orbit and to the International Space Station. However, two disasters, one in the 1980s and another in the early 2000s (in which Kalpana Chawla was killed) and unexpectedly high costs ended the programme over a decade ago. After that, America did not even have the capacity to send humans into orbit, something that changed only in 2020 when a private firm was able to begin its service.

Russians still fly rockets based on the same technology that was used in the 1960s, with some modifications, and much of the technology in the space race came from Nazi Germanys military rocket programme of 90 years ago. The captured scientists on the two fronts were pressed into service by the Americans and the Russians.

One reason why space innovation was stagnant for so many decades is that it was funded by governments which were spending large amounts on nationalistic projects. Even today, the budget for Nasa, the US space agency, is $25 billion. Isros budget is about $1.5 billion, which makes its achievements over the decades quite remarkable.

This changed about 15 years ago, when it became clear that satellite communications, GPS and the Internet, were going to be very big drivers in the economy. Private firms began to take an interest first in developing the technology that would go into satellites and then to build rockets. This second shift happened after the US government funded space start-ups and allowed them, under conditions, to develop rocket technology. As rockets are no different from missiles, their development and manufacturing is tightly controlled. Only American citizens, for instance, can work at these firms. This limits the amount of talent they can absorb but is one way that the government can ensure the technology does not reach what it considers to be the wrong hands.

Even with these restrictions, the private sector has breathed new life into the space sector. Another, much smaller, space race began after the US governments funding between two firms to launch the first human to orbit on a private rocket. Boeing, the giant company, lost out to the younger SpaceX, though it had received more funding than the start-up. Today, the rockets are reusable to a large extent and at least two firms are building giant rockets of the size that existed 50 years ago. The target is two-fold, the first is to lower the cost of space and reduce the cost per kilogram of putting things into orbit. The second is human space flight and attempting to colonise Mars. Imagine what a difference it will make to the world if there is an outpost humans create on another planet. Of course, this will be difficult: Even today in 2023, the number of entities that have sent humans into orbit around the earth is limited to Russia (USSR), the United States, China and the company SpaceX.

The winners in the race this time stand to make large amounts of money (SpaceX, which is privately held, is valued at over $100 billion) and also own technology that will help them monopolise space. Efficient rocket engines, new fuels, highly complex aspects of reusability and fuel transfers make this the domain of a very few entities.

The cost of launching a satellite runs into hundreds of crores of rupees. The monopoly over space will mean that, particularly on the commercial side, that is to say satellite launches, will be controlled by companies or nations that others will have no option but to go to. Even the UK and Germany today have no launch capacity and are dependent on either private entities or their ally, the United States, to launch satellites.

Frances Ariane programme is currently dormant after it eased out its older rocket and is developing a new one. All of this makes this an exciting time for space around the world. This is the background in which India is attempting to soft-land a rover on the moon and will attempt, at some point next year hopefully, sending humans into orbit.

By the end of this decade, we will have a good idea of which nations and which companies are winning this new space race, and what that means for the future not just of science and technology but of humans as a whole.
Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako slams the "deliberate and humiliating campaign" by the Babylon Brigades, a pro-Iranian Christian militia, announcing that he is moving to a monastery in Iraqi Kurdistan. After he urged Christians to maintain their national identity, some held rallies in various cities to show support for him. According to experts, an attempt is underway to undermine the neutrality of the Christian community amidst Iraqs ongoing political chaos.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  The highest authority of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, has been forced to leave the patriarchal see in Baghdad and move to a monastery in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, via Istanbul.

This is a direct consequence of the "deliberate and humiliating campaign" against the Chaldean patriarch by the Babylon Brigades, a pro-Iranian Christian militia.

Such persecution is compounded by the decision of Iraqs president to withdraw the Republican Decree (147), an unprecedented [act] in Iraqi history, Card Sako says in a statement in Arabic and English posted on the patriarchate's website.

A few days ago, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid withdrew what could be called the "institutional recognition" of the office of the patriarch.

Mr Rashid repealed Decree 147 issued by his predecessor Jalal Talabani on 10 July 2013, which recognised the cardinals pontifical appointment as head of the Chaldean Church "in Iraq and in the world" and therefore "responsible for the assets of the Church".

Rayan al-Kildani (Rayan the Chaldean), a self-styled Christian leader who heads the Babylon Brigades, wants to seize Church assets, sources say, a point Card Sako makes in his statement.

"I made this decision so that, the protector of the constitution and the keeper of the beautiful Iraqi fabric achieves Babelyons desire to issue a decree appointing Rayan Salem Doda (Babelyon) as Custodian of the Endowments of the Church," reads the statement.

The latter goes on to explain that relatives of the Chaldean would be put in charge of the patriarchate.

"It is unfortunate that we in Iraq live in the midst of a wide network of self-interest, narrow factionalism, and hypocrisy that has produced unprecedented political, national and moral chaos, which is taking root by now more and more," Cardinal Sako writes.

Despite the situation, he urges Christians to maintain their faith in God and keep their national identity until the "storm passes with the help of God."

The decision of the Iraqi government deprives the patriarch of immunity as a religious leader and the right to represent the faithful, while the Babylon Brigades enjoy representation in the Iraqi parliament.

According to the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Arab, al-Kildani wants to include the Christian question in its political agenda and use it in the service of the militias that control Iraq behind whom is Iran", unlike the patriarch who has always tried to "preserve the independence of the Chaldean Christian community.

According to the governor of Wasit, Muhammad Jamil al-Mayahi, Cardinal Sako "is a symbol of unity and brotherhood, and his departure from Baghdad is a loss for all of us."

Meanwhile, in the cities of Karamlesh and Erbil Iraqi Christians have rallied in support of the Chaldean patriarch.

"The entire Christian community of Iraq is threatened, and Chaldean and Syriac Assyrians have united to affirm their support for the patriarch of the Chaldean Church," said several associations, such as the Assyrian Democratic Movement, the Popular Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Council, the House of Mesopotamia (Bet-Nahrain) Patriotic Union, the Sons of Mesopotamia (Bnay Nahrain) Party, and the Assyrian Patriotic Party.
by Shafique Khokhar

Zaki Masih is a Christian and was arrested by the police in Sargodha. A dispute over land was the real reason for the complaint; even the imam came to his defence. Minority rights activists in Pakistan are increasingly concerned about the escalation in the country's use of accusations cloaked with religious motives.

Sargodha (AsiaNews) - Police in Sargodha have arrested a Christian man on blasphemy charges for sharing a post on Facebook. This new arrest "for blasphemy" - adding to the dozens of arrests of members of the Ahmadi Muslim religious community - has raised the level of concern among minority rights activists in the country, who are calling on the authorities to address the misuse of blasphemy laws, which have increasingly become tools for settling personal issues and vendettas.

Zaki Masih, 35 years old and a Christian, was arrested by police in Sargodha - a town halfway between Islamabad and Lahore - on 8 July. The blasphemy charges against him were brought by Muhammad Awais, a Muslim neighbour for 'deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious sentiments of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs'.

Possible prosecution for this offence carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine. The police intervened despite the fact that the imam of the village mosque and other Muslims in the neighbourhood also sided with Zaki, who confirmed that the man's social post did not disrespect any religion.

Moreover, the Facebook post was not even an 'original' message from Masih, but a sharing of a post by another person - incidentally of Muslim faith - criticising those who commit food fraud. The family believes the case filed is a way of settling a long-standing land dispute - won by Zaki - with people who still hold grudges, despite efforts to reconcile through village elders.

Starting with this case, Joseph Jansen, a minority rights activist, expressed deep concern about the increasing number of blasphemy complaints and arrests targeting mainly members of minority religions and are urging the authorities to address the misuse of blasphemy laws.

Jansen urged people to be careful when using social media platforms and to take measures to protect themselves from potential 'evidence' against them for blasphemy. Ashik Naz, a human rights activist, said that 'between 300 and 400 people, including young children, have been forced to flee their homes because of false accusations of blasphemy made against a family member'.
by Nirmala Carvalho

In previous WYDs, some Indian participants chose not to return home; as a result, Indian authorities are tightening controls. For Fr Chetan Machado, executive secretary of the Catholic Youth Movement (CYM) of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), 80 per cent [of applicants] should be able to travel for the WYD.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Some 900 Indians have registered for World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon (Portugal) where they will be able to meet with Pope Francis from 2 to 6 August.

To do so, participants must fill out a registration form and receive a letter of recommendation from their local bishop (with the diocesan letterhead), signed and with its official seal. Once these documents are obtained, they can apply for a visa.

Lots of documents are required to register and get a visa, said Fr Chetan Machado, executive secretary of the Catholic Youth Movement (CYM) of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).[*]

This has resulted in lots of issues, so much so that We are not even sure whether everyone who registered will get a visa for Lisbon. But 80 per cent should be able to travel for the WYD, he added.

Red tape and delays could jeopardise the educational experience for hundreds of Indians. Indian authorities are also being very thorough since some young people who attended previous editions voluntarily did not come home.

Rejected applicants are quite discouraged as flights for Europe are scheduled for the first half of next week. Emotions over this trip are running high.

I was looking forward to this moment and now it is happening. I can't wait to experience the WYD-Lisbon, see Pope Francis and many youths from all over the world, said Abhishek Bhattacharjee, national coordinator of Young Catholic Students-Young Students' Movement (YCS-YSM).

It is a life experience for youth all over the world, especially for Asian youth, to meet millions of young people under one umbrella, that of the Holy Mother Church, said Fr Anil DSa, Asian chaplain at the International Young Catholic Student (IYCS).

Portuguese authorities are trying to facilitate visa procedures, especially at the Portuguese consulate in Goa, while other applicants have to go through the Embassy in Delhi.

"For me, this is a second World Youth Day, explained Fr. Chetan Machado. I saw young people really involved. I can't wait to live another experience.

Along with youth from around the world, young Indians also worked on this year's theme Mary arose and went with haste, which comes from the Gospel of Luke, noted Bishop Ignatius D'Souza, chairman of the CCBI Youth Commission.

This is a call to the youth to be active and mission oriented to follow Marys example to rise up, get involved and become more active in their commitment to God and to the Church, he added.

The church in India has a vibrant faith, and the vitality of Jesus must be taken to others, witnessed in service to the elderly, the marginalised, the vulnerable, those with special needs and even our own peers.

[*]The national episcopal conference of the bishops of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in India.
Vatican sources tell Reuters that President Vo Van Thuong will be in Rome for the signing of the agreement. Such a deal corresponds to Card Parolins request for a permanent liaison office in Beijing. Meanwhile, Chinese Catholic websites have not reported Pope Franciss recognition of Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong is expected to visit the Vatican later this month for the signing of an agreement that will allow the Holy See to appoint a permanent representative in Hanoi, the Reuters news agency reported yesterday, citing high-ranking Vatican sources.

President Thuong, who took office last March, should meet Pope Francis in Rome. The last time a Vietnamese head of state, then President Tran ai Quang, met with the pontiff was in 2016.

The Holy See and Vietnam have been negotiating on a permanent papal representative for some time. The Holy See already has a non-permanent representative to the Southeast Asian country, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, who is the nuncio to Singapore and is authorised by the Vietnamese government to visit the country.

An agreement in principle for a permanent office in Hanoi was reached last year. Now, the deal can be implemented. The last time the Holy See had a permanent representative was in 1975 when the apostolic delegate to Vietnam was expelled by the communist government.

Although a major step forward, the presence of a permanent representative falls short of full diplomatic relations.

The issue is relevant also for relations between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China. Seen from the Vatican, the Vietnam deal could serve as a pragmatic model for relations with Beijing.

Opening a permanent Holy See liaison office in China to order to open a dialogue and respectful exchange is one of the requests made by the Vatican Secretary of State, Card Pietro Parolin in an interview with Vatican media on Saturday after Pope Francis decided to appoint Joseph Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai ending the canonical irregularity created by Beijing.

As one might have expected, no Chinese Catholic website controlled by the Communist Party of China has reported the popes decision, nor have the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or the diocese itself.

Even Xinde ignored the news. Usually, the online Catholic paper covers the pontiff's activities; for example, just a week ago, it described as a "double gift" the appointment of Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong as a cardinal and as a member of the synod.

This time, there was nothing on the matter, not necessarily because it deems it irrelevant to Catholics in China, but out of self-censorship, the umpteenth time an episcopal appointment appears as a Chinese internal affair, despite the agreement with the Holy See.
Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani gives a lecture on the District of the Contemporary in Rome at Korea University in Seoul, July 10. Courtesy of Embassy of Italy in Korea



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Korean tourists, fascinated by Rome's ancient structures such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon, are attracted by the historical charm of the city.



However, seasoned Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani believes the city's allure extends beyond its age-old grandeur. And as Rome constantly evolves, its burgeoning contemporary district is emerging as a vibrant testament to modern Italy, establishing a contrasting yet harmonious urban dynamic.



Despite being overshadowed by Rome's age-old edifices, Vattani, who served twice as secretary general of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now president of Venice International University, emphasized how the city's modern architectural additions, formed as part of its urban regeneration, balances and complements the rich cultural, historical and architectural heritage of the metropolis.



Taking a quick glance at Korea, especially Seoul, Vattani expressed admiration for the innovative work of Korean architects, namely Kim Swoo-geun and Seung H-sang, in shaping the city's identity.



"Trying to establish the city's identity is an important move. It would have been extremely interesting to try and explain that we were doing something similar with the contemporary Rome," Vattani told The Korea Times ahead of a special lecture at Korea University, July 10.



Vattani drew a parallel between Seoul and Rome based on their shared experiences of hosting the Olympics, which led to significant urban development and the creation of iconic infrastructure in both cities as their cultural heritage is not static but an ongoing process.





Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani gives a lecture on the District of the Contemporary in Rome at Korea University in Seoul, July 10. Courtesy of Embassy of Italy in Korea



"Rome has a long, long history of over 3,000 years. Everybody seems to believe that the ancient Rome and following that, the Renaissance and Baroque era are cultural heritage... I feel that we are somehow underestimating what has happened in the 20th century. The 20th century was an extraordinary century because a number of architects appeared, who created not only specific buildings, but urban spaces," he said.



Vattani turned his eyes outside the Aurelian Walls when Palazzo della Farnesina, Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, was built in the Foro Italico area in northern Rome. The modern-style architecture was not welcomed by diplomats at first when they moved there in 1959, thinking they had been forced to relocate into an area isolated from the center of power.



To challenge the negative perception of the building and the area, Vattani thought of bringing in contemporary art to the ministry edifice.



"I was convinced that bringing works by contemporary Italian artists into the building would have helped carry the building into the second millennium," he said.



This marked the inception of the foreign ministry's art collection, known as the Farnesina collection, which now stands as a pivotal aspect of Italy's cultural diplomacy. The collection is currently exhibited at Art Sonje Center in Seoul.



He continued to expand interest to modern buildings built in the area, such as the Olympic Village, the Flaminio Stadium, the Grand Mosque of Rome, the MAXXI museum by Zaha Hadid and Auditorium Parco della Musica by Renzo Piano.





This collection of photos by Umberto Vattani showcases the District of the Contemporary in Rome. Courtesy of Umberto Vattani
The Colorado River runs through western Garfield County in this June photo. Becky Mitchell has been hired as the states interstate negotiator on issues involving the rivers watershed.
The IMZ-URAL was founded by the Soviet Government back in 1941. One year earlier, in 1940, the Soviet Union bought the design and production technique for BMW R71 machines and sidecars, while the first M-72 model was released in 1941.

81 years later, in 2022, the Russian manufacturer launched the URAL Geo Limited Edition, a motorcycle with a sidecar attached to it, based on the GearUp version. The bike packed additional features that enhanced its already excellent off-road capabilities and a unique hand-painted camo livery.

Over the years, URAL has released several special edition versions inspired by the International Space Station, a drone carrier, James Bond, and nuclear icebreakers. Each special edition machine was made using an existing model with additional options and features, special paint schemes, and built-in limited numbers.

The 2022 URAL Geo Limited Edition got its power from a two-cylinder air-cooled boxer engine with electronic fuel injection in charge, boasting 41 hp with a peak at 5,500 rpm and 57 Nm (42 lb-ft) torque at 4,300 rpm.

In the appearance department, the Geo Limited Edition machine packed standard features, such as a round headlight, a windscreen, a high-mounted front fender, a sidecar with two smaller headlights, three wire-spoke wheels, and a spare wheel mounted on the rear side of the sidecar, and a two-wheel drive system.

The old-looking machine was fitted with top-end brakes, comprising a 295 mm floating NG disc with a four-piston Brembo caliper on the front wheel and a 256 mm fixed NG disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.

The 2022 Ural Geo Limited Edition was for sale in 2023 (at the time of writing) at an MSRP of $26,999.
An extremely important nameplate for Hyundai, the Santa Fe rolled out in 2000 for the 2001 model year. Elevated to the mid-size crossover segment for the second generation, the sport utility vehicle prepares for its most profound redesign yet for the 2024 model year.

Photo: Hyundai

The South Korean automaker's mid-size crossover adopts Land Rover Defender-like proportions for its fifth generation. Referred to as MX5, the 2024 model further stands out with the help of headlights featuring H signature lighting. Scheduled to premiere in full next month, the newcomer has been confirmed with foldable rear seats. Foldable second- and third-row seats, that is. The outgoing Santa Fe, codenamed TM, comes exclusively with five seats in the United States.H-pattern signature lighting is also featured out back, where you'll also find body-color accents on the quarter windows. The profile further shows low-profile rubber mounted on multi-spoke wheels, the kind of wheels that are better suited for an Escalade in a rap music video than a front-biased crossover of South Korean origin.Black-out pillars, body-color side mirror caps, and black-painted rails for the roof also need to be mentioned, along with a slightly longer wheelbase than before. Curiously, Hyundai describes the rear liftgate as being a tailgate. Official photos of the all-new Santa Fe also reveal a monolithic dashboard with Land Rover influences. Even the steering wheel has that Land Rover thing about it, which is both disappointing and nice.Disappointing for aping the British automaker so much, and nice for a Hyundai. The South Korean marque has integrated all climate controls in a single gloss-black panel, which also features two rotary controls. Land Rover much?The center tunnel that connects the console of the Santa Fe to the dashboard rocks two wireless phone chargers and two cup holders large enough for thermal bottles. The hollow section underneath is a welcomed change as well, as are the slim air vents, twin high-resolution screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, as well as the wait for it steering column-mounted shifter.The shifter's location should be a hit with American customers. The H motif of the headlights and taillights also carries over to the interior, especially if you look closer at the design of the air vents. Wood garnishing and Nappa leather upholstery will be available, with Hyundai also confirming a suede headliner made from recycled plastic. The eco-friendly theme continues with the floor mats and third-row seatbacks, which are also made from recycled plastic. The interior door cards and the crash pad use leatherette rather than the real thing.Engine choices are still a mystery, but don't expect any substantial changes from the current selection of six- and four-cylinder lumps. Depending on the market, the fourth-generation TM is available with anything from a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder lump to the 3.5-liter Lambda II and 3.5-liter Smartstream V6 powerplants.Available with purely internal combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the Santa Fe for the US market currently starts at $28,750 (sans destination charge). Those eyeing the hybrid or plug-in hybrid are charged $36,210 or $42,410 right off the bat, respectively. An electric version isn't planned, for it would cannibalize sales of the upcoming Ioniq 7
Last time we spotted the facelifted compact crossover a couple of weeks ago, it still had almost the entire exterior completely under wraps. Besides the usual trippy vinyl stickers, it had some thick camouflage and a lot of plastic cladding hiding the refreshed design. This amount of camo is normally reserved for brand-new vehicles, but remember that this is a facelift meant to keep the three-year-old Tucson interesting until its replacement arrives.For the latest leg of testing, the Korean auto firm removed some of the camo up front, revealing more of the new grille, lighting units, and bumper. However, it's still impossible to make out the differences. The rest of the car remains under wraps, and that includes that fake hump at the back. The wheels are identical to those of the previously scooped prototype, and if it's one thing that Hyundai hasn't ditched yet, it is the trailer, though it was much bigger on the latest snapped tester.We wouldn't hold our breath for significant updates under the hood, though the manufacturer might make certain units more frugal and perhaps less polluting. On the right side of the pond, it's offered with gasoline and electrified assemblies, with the punchiest model boasting 261 horsepower. The all-wheel-drive system will continue to be reserved for higher specs, and choosing a more humble variant means having to live with front-wheel drive.The US family comprises the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 187 horsepower. This mill powers the SE, SEL, XRT, N Line, and Limited trim levels and will probably carry over. The Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions round off the offering in our market, and you're looking at an MSRP of $31,350 for the former and $37,500 for the latter. The base non-electrified version starts at $26,900 before destination, and chances are the facelift will bring a small price bump.Most people who have a soft spot for compact crossovers are probably curious about how long they'll have to wait for Hyundai to unveil the facelifted Tucson. The truth is that we don't know, not yet anyway, but we could speculate that it might be due in the coming months. The order books should open shortly after the grand unveiling, and if we were to guess, we'd say the US-spec could arrive at dealers nationwide as a 2025 model, though there's no way to know for sure yet.
Volanti is the name of an Australian-made drone claiming to be no less than the most advanced all-electric, fixed-wing UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in the world. Built for challenging tasks, it recently started participating in a major agricultural program in the US.

VTOL

A futuristic vision of more efficient agriculture includes things like satellite imagery and high-precision drones. Such UAVs can play an important part in predicting crop yields and quality, something that can become a great asset in the commodities market.Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has launched a large-scale project with the purpose of improving water and nutrient management. Since it focuses primarily on innovative technology for aerial remote sensing, drones like the Carbonix Volanti can make a difference.Volanti is apower lift drone created by Carbonix , an Australian company based in Sydney. Already successful in its home country, the Volanti made its debut in Michigan as part of MDARD's project. A team from a different company, the US-based consultant ArgenTech, was responsible for piloting the drone during the test flight.A 3.6-meter (11.8 feet) UAV, Volanti combines a 1 kg (2.2 lbs) payload with a two-hour flight time. Most importantly, it can cover up to 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of difficult terrain. It was designed for fast aerial surveys in challenging conditions, which makes it a great match for Michigan's large areas that need this kind of survey.Volanti combines VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capabilities with the increased speed and efficiency of horizontal flight. In terms of payload sensors, it offers an impressive range, including photogrammetry, ISR, and multi-spectral.Carbonix also developed a special, custom-built transport box for the Volanti. It's a reinforced transport case with foam inserts that can fit on any standard van. This way, the Volanti stays protected against any potential damage during transportation or when stored, which increases its durability. The UAV also comes with a Carbonix Ground Control Station. This is basically a portable command-and-control package with integrated joysticks for piloting the Volanti remotely.Carbonix is over a decade old and one of Australia's top UAV experts. An America's Cup veteran, Dario Valenza, founded it in 2012. The company was one of the first to focus on long-range drones for aerial surveillance and high-precision data capture.In addition to this milestone related to the Michigan debut, the Aussie company enjoyed another recent success. It's one of the Australian Aviation Awards 2023 finalists for "Best Innovation of the Year."Carbonix's main manufacturing partner is Quickstep, which will be producing components for the Volanti UAV at its facility in Geelong, Victoria. Soon, this collaboration could extend to Carbonix's entire UAV range. At its debut in 2017, Volantis estimated price neared AUD 150,000 ($102,000).
Fiesta sales may have been on the low side of subcompacts in the past five years or thereabout. However, the freshly discontinued Fiesta may come back in the form of an EV by decade's end.

EV

Martin Sander, the guy in charge of passenger cars at Ford of Europe, let it slip that Ford is currently exploring multiple opportunities to bring the Fiesta back from the dead. Speaking to Automotive News, he also waxed lyrical about Dearborn's cooperation with Wolfsburg in regard to future electric cars and SUVs.As you're fully aware by now, the Ford Motor Company uses the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform to build the Explorerfor Europe at the American automaker's Cologne assembly plant in Germany. The MEB will also serve as the basis for yet another electric crossover, which is due next year. A coupe-styled crossover, the second MEB-based sport utility vehicle may revive the Ford Motor Company's Capri moniker.Regarding the Fiesta EV, chances are the Dearborn-based company will use Volkswagen's upcoming MEB Entry platform. Think of it as the lower-cost version of the MEB. The biggest difference between said platforms comes in the form of a front-mounted electric motor for the MEB Entry versus RWD for the MEB.Martin Sander made it clear that nothing concrete has been decided as of July 2023, though. A Fiesta EV based on the MEB Entry is merely wishful thinking for the time being. With Ford currently weighing the development of a small vehicle platform of its own, the Fiesta EV may very well be 100% Ford underneath.Sander told the cited publication the Fiesta EV isn't high on the European division's list of priorities. Although Martin didn't explain why, chances are Ford of Europe is reluctant to a conventional hatchback. In this case, there's no place for a Fiesta EV in the automaker's European lineup due to the Puma EV.A different animal from the original sport compact, the Puma is made exclusively at Ford's assembly plant in Craiova, Romania on the B-car platform of the Fiesta . Its electric sibling is due in 2024, with series production to be handled by the production site in Craiova as well.We also have to remember that relying too much on a competing automaker's technologies will ultimately hurt the Ford Motor Company . The MEB-based Explorer EV and yet-unconfirmed Capri EV are merely stopgaps in an ultra-competitive market where automakers are required to meet an extremely ambitious CO2 target for their entire fleet, each and every year.On the other hand, the Fiesta EV makes plenty of sense in this part of the world. Lest we forget, a subcompact hatchback was crowned Europe's best-selling new car in 2022. In addition to the Peugeot 208, the top 10 also comprised subcompacts like the Renault Clio-based Dacia Sandero, Toyota Yaris, Opel and Vauxhall Corsa, Dacia Duster, and  in 10th place  the Renault Clio.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, second from right, talks to Kim Gi-hyeon, fourth from left, chief of the ruling People Power Party, after arriving at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, July 17, following his eight-day trip that took him to Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol was set to preside over a disaster response meeting Monday upon his return from a weeklong trip to Europe that included visits to Lithuania and Poland and an unannounced stop in Ukraine.



The planned meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters comes as the number of people dead or missing in recent downpours has risen to 49 after four more bodies were recovered from a once-flooded underground road in the central city of Cheongju.



Yoon's three-nation trip began with a visit to Vilnius for a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, where he underscored his commitment to deepening cooperation with the military alliance through a new tailored partnership program and Korea's participation in a military information sharing system with NATO member states.



From Lithuania, Yoon made a three-day official visit to Poland for talks with President Andrzej Duda on deepening the bilateral strategic partnership and cooperating for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.






Just like traditional cars, all-electric vehicles use cooling systems to keep certain parts at an adequate temperature. The liquid circulates through a series of metal pipes and transfers heat away from the high-voltage battery pack and motor. But while many electric vehicles (EVs) have just one type of coolant that may need some topping up occasionally, the Ioniq 5 has two. One needs replacing far more often than the other.

EV

Photo: Ioniq 5 Owner's Manual

kW

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is pretty well-known in the US, but it has yet to reach the same level of popularity as Tesla's Model Y. However, the existing tens of thousands of owners must know about an essential service operation regarding the two-coolant implementation  they must be replaced at certain intervals, according to the owner's manual.It is a feature not found on other EVs built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). For example, the Kia EV6 or the Genesis GV60 do not have such a system.The stylish crossover uses the standard, cheap coolant that is pink and has a separate circuit for the low conductivity one that is blue. Depending on the Ioniq 5 you bought, the vehicle requires between 6.6 and 7.2 quarts of pink coolant. The blue type must be refilled with at least 9.9 quarts of liquid, but the rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 with a heat pump uses the most low-conductivity coolant  12.6 quarts.For the 2021 and 2022 model year Ioniq 5 s, the complete replacement of the blue coolant is recommended at every 40,000 miles interval. For the 2023 model year units, the automaker dropped the threshold to 35,000 miles intervals. This decision puts this service operation under the automaker's complimentary maintenance program, meaning you won't have to pay for the first check and refill. The program covers the three years of use or 36,000 miles of driving, whichever comes first.It's important to know the configuration of your Hyundai. Most service advisors still need to get used to performing this maintenance operation, and you can avoid any miscommunication by knowing your car's configuration and what service it might need. Moreover, the South Korean brand recommends Ioniq 5 buyers check their vehicles' coolant levels monthly.Some buyers who have already had this service operation performed on their vehicles report various quotes. Some said they had to pay around $700, while others showed $250 invoices, proving that dealerships are still getting the hang of it. Customers may be receiving a cost estimation for a full flush. But upon inspection, the technician may discover such an operation is unnecessary. All they end up doing is topping up the liquid with a jug or two of coolant.Hyundai designed the Ioniq 5 with the "N" version in mind. This newly-launched version of the crossover is more capable and requires improved heat control if it's often put to the test. Thus, it makes sense to have more coolant to prolong the battery's life and keep the motors running without overheating.Also, it's important to remember that the Ioniq 5 boasts 800V architecture, which enables impressive charging speeds of up to 350per hour. So much power transfer needs some serious cooling.Plus, telling owners that they must schedule this service from time to time is a great way of mitigating any coolant leaks, an issue that has plagued some early Ioniq 5s . It is not, as some think, a new way to keep dealerships that see shrinking oil change revenue happy.But if you feel like doing this yourself, we found genuine pink and blue Hyundai coolant online in one-gallon jugs for around $40 to $50.Finally, it is worth mentioning that Tesla has designed the Model Y (built on 400V architecture) differently, and the Ioniq 5 rival does not need its battery coolant replaced for the life of the vehicle. But it might be better to disguise a simple system check as a fluid replacement than end up having to replace expensive battery packs or motors because they overheated.
They call it Bubblegum. But it might as well be Barbie's daily driver. It is actually a jazzy pink Porsche 911 restomod paying tribute to the 993 generation. The car has just made its European debut.

The Porsche, just as you see it looking in these photos, was on display at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It was the first-ever show outside the United States for Porsche restoration and customization specialist Gunther Werks.The 911 993 is a one-of-one commission, sporting a vibrant three-stage pink pearlescent ultra fine metallic paint. By the time you said all that long paint name, you already forgot where you started. That's alright, we'll take you back there. A carbon fiber center stripe and plenty of carbon fiber just about everywhere complete the looks of the Porsche. And by "everywhere," we mean front splitter, bumper intakes, hood stripes, and prominent rear wing. The car runs on five-spoke Fuchs-style wheels.The wide body kit and LED headlights and taillights bring the 1990s car to the present without altering its DNA.But wait! There is actually more to it than this head-turning, eye-damaging color. Gunther Werks ' first right-hand drive commission is a Porsche 993 coupe restored, ordered by a British Customer. It is GW's manner of celebrating its official debut in the UK and European markets. It is the first time Bubblegum sets wheels outside American soil.If you expect the pink them to continue on board this Porsche, well, you were right. There are carbon fiber bucket seats and a three-spoke steering wheel in Alcantara with contrasting pink stitching. Black leather covers the dashboard. The original instrument cluster with five round clocks, four in black and one in white (the tachometer), kept its ground.Bubblegum comes with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. In its naturally aspirated form, the power unit develops 430 horsepower (435 PS), but it seems that we're dealing with a turbocharged version, all sent to the rear axle. But Gunther Werks has built a reputation for offering high-performance vehicles. They would not have left the engine untouched. So were counting on some extra oomph this time as well.Bubblegum was not the only car that the company crossed the Atlantic Ocean with, to show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past week. The California-based specialist also an orange Porsche to the Project Tornado to the event as well. The Project Tornado is also on its European debut. But we know for sure that this one gets 700 horsepower (710 PS).No word on the pricing just yet. But considering how much Gunther Werks worked on customizing it, it might be just as strident as this Porsche is.
The Ford F-150 Lightning's price now starts from $49,995. This is the MSRP displayed for the entry-level Pro trim that used to have a starting cost of $59,974. The decision to discount the promising all-electric pickup truck came shortly after the first production-ready Tesla Cybertruck left Giga Texas. Here's what you need to know.

EV

Photo: Ford

America's most successful pickup truck manufacturer has decided to make its first all-electric pickup truck much cheaper. Even though it may initially look like a decision that counters Cybertruck's enthusiastic production start, you should know that the F-150 Lightning used to have a starting cost of $39,974 for its work-oriented trim.High demand, production issues, parts shortages, and expensive raw materials forced the American brand to raise the Pro version's price to $59,974. But it had the desired effect for a short time  demand kept dropping while Ford was actively working to increase supply and shorten delivery times.Right now, for some trims like the XLT, there is no reservation process. Retail buyers can spec their truck as they like and have it delivered to them in October or faster. Mind you, this depends on a plethora of factors, so make sure to ask your dealer about this aspect if having the truck ready for work in a short amount of time is crucial to you.At the time of writing, the Ford F-150 Lighting XLT has a starting price of $54,995 ($69,995 with the extended range battery), while the Lariat trim adds $15,000 to the sticker. If you want more range for your all-electric Lariat, the price climbs to $77,495.If you're the type of person that always wants the best, then F-150 Lightning Platinum might suit you. However, be ready to splurge because it has an MSRP of $91,995.Ford slashed the prices across the board. The XLT used to cost $59,474, the Lariat $74,474, and the Platinum $96,874.The above values do not include the updated federaltax credit or other local incentives.Sadly, the F-150 Lightning Pro remains sold out for 2023, which feels like a mistake on Ford's part. If they now canceled half the worth of the previous price hike, why not allow Americans to forget about the Cybertruck or the Chevy Silverado EV?But disregarding the frustration of those ready to switch to affordable all-electric trucks but unable to get their hands on one, we should be happy about this development. It's a strong signal that terrible pricing policies might end, and zero-tailpipe emission vehicles can take over without incurring huge initial costs for buyers. But with money being as expensive as it is today, there isn't that much room left for costly acquisitions.Ford's decision to give up on some generous profit margins also shows that electric vehicles can now be manufactured at a lower cost and can be sent out the factory gate faster, a sign that we're entering a new era for the automotive industry where supply chain woes and parts shortages are not a worry anymore. Plus, new orders might be very appreciated by dealers and automakers soon enough, which could lead to new incentives.But the decision to apply some hefty discounts shouldn't make anyone experience fear of missing out. Ford and Tesla may be competitors who have never experienced bankruptcy but are also allies.The Dearborn-based automaker inked a deal with the now Texas-based EV manufacturer to adopt the North American Charging Standard ( NACS , the "Tesla charging port") and allow Ford owners to replenish their vehicles' energy storage units at Superchargers in the US and Canada.
If you haven't heard about the Aero2, you'll know when it enters service. This atypical aircraft with all the qualities of a Swiss-made product has already conquered the US market. Right now, top players in Switzerland's aviation industry are joining forces to supply Aero2's manufacturer with the best components.

A few years ago, Dufour Aerospace introduced Aero2 as "the Swiss army knife of drones," a catchy phrase referring to the aircraft's high versatility. This cargo drone is basically an eVTOL, meaning it can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. At the same time, thanks to the unusual tilt-wing design, it also comes with the benefits of a fixed-wing airplane, primarily increased speed and energy efficiency.Although only 13.4-foot-long (4.1 meters), with a 20-foot (6.1 meters) wingspan, Aero2 is surprisingly powerful. In standard configuration, it's ready to carry almost 90 pounds (40 kg) over more than 200 nautical miles (400 km). This range (the equivalent of a three-hour flight time), coupled with an efficient cruising speed of 81 knots (151 kph), is possible thanks to hybrid propulsion.The Aero2 was designed with versatility in mind. In terms of propulsion, it can be equipped with a hybrid system comprised of four electric main motors, one electric tail motor, and a two-cylinder boxer engine that can recharge the batteries in flight.Plus, this Swiss-made drone offers the advantage of payload-range flexibility. This means it can swap payload capacity for range. In other words, the maximum payload will equal a minimal range. At the other end of the spectrum, its range can increase to 750 nautical miles (1,390 km) or a flight time of more than ten hours if the payload drops to 22 pounds (10 kg).When it comes to safety, Aero2 (which was designed for uncrewed operations) features a redundant design, allowing it to continue to fly even in the case of a motor or propeller failure, plus redundant motors for controlled landing (if a motor or controller fails in hover mode).Since the beginning of this year, Dufour Aerospace has been selecting Swiss partners t hat will help bring the Aero2 to life. Aerolite AG is the latest. Known as an expert in lightweight aircraft components, it will produce the structural parts of the Aero2's nacelle and tail. Initially, this will be limited to just four prototype aircraft. Still, the collaboration could be extended for serial production in the near future.The 100% Swiss drone with a tilt-wing design will make its public debut all the way in America. Spright, a US-based operator, is officially the launch customer for this cargo drone. Its main operational field will be related to middle-mile deliveries of medical goods. Dufour hopes to have the production version ready for delivery to the US by 2025.
Ashotian was charged last November with abuse of power and money laundering in connection with his past chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of Yerevans Mkhitar Heratsi Medical University. The accusations, strongly denied by him, stem from a number of property acquisitions carried out by the university administration on his alleged orders. Armenias Investigative Committee claims that those deals caused the state-run university substantial financial damage.

The law-enforcement agency also charged Ashotian with waste of public funds following his arrest on June 15 which it attributed to his alleged attempts to obstruct its investigation. The oppositionist, who is the HHKs deputys chairman, denies such interference.

The opposition party headed by former President Serzh Sarkisian has condemned Ashotians arrest as government retribution for his harsh criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Pashinians government and political allies insist that he did not order the investigators and courts to prosecute his vocal critic.

Ashotians lawyer, Tigran Atanesian, asked the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeals to overturn a lower courts decision to allow investigators to hold his client in pre-trial detention for at least two months. One of the high courts judges, Artur Nahapetian, rejected the appeal.

Atanesian said the decision was predictable because Nahapetian is a close friend of Argishti Kyaramian, the head of the Investigative Committee and one of Pashinians trusted lieutenants.

Ashotian, 47, was an influential figure during Sarkisians rule, serving as education minister from 2012-2016 and subsequently heading the Armenian parliaments foreign relations committee.

Ashotians supporters have also condemned the authorities for sending to him to Yerevans Nubarashen prison whose inmates include individuals convicted of murders and other violent crimes. The Investigative Committee has declined to clarify why he is not held in two other prisons reserved for former government and security officials.

Vartan Harutiunian, a veteran human rights activist, suggested that the committees choice of the prison is an additional punishment for Ashotian. Had he been kept in another prison he would have found himself in a very different human environment, Harutiunian said, pointing to the presence of many violent criminals at Nubarashen.

The authorities have also banned Ashotians family members from visiting him in the prison. In addition, unlike many other criminal suspects and convicts, the former minister is not allowed to talk to them by phone.
Arayik Harutiunian said that the Karabakh Armenians are not only struggling with severe shortages of food, medicine and energy but also facing a real threat of physical annihilation. He said he expects Armenia, Russia, the United States and the European Union to back up their calls for the lifting of the blockade with concrete actions and to uphold Karabakhs right to self-determination.

If the plight of the people of Artsakh does not return within a week to a more or less stable and normal state with international intervention, then we will resort to tougher actions both in Artsakh and outside of it, he warned before joining a nonstop sit-in staged in Stepanakerts central square.

Thousands of people rallied there on Friday at the start of the daily protests organized by Karabakhs leadership. They marched to the headquarters of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to demand that it unblock Karabakhs only land link with Armenia and the outside world.

Azerbaijan further tightened the blockade on June 15, banning all relief supplies to Karabakh carried out by the peacekeepers as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross. This only aggravated the shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential items experienced by the local population.

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly urged the Azerbaijani side on Saturday to lift the blockade and unblock Armenias supplies of electricity and natural gas to Karabakh. Baku rejected the call and criticized Moscow in unusually strong terms.

Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko deplored Bakus incorrect reaction during a meeting with the Azerbaijani ambassador in Moscow on Monday. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Rudenko insisted on the need for complete and immediate unblocking of the Lachin corridor and Bakus compliance with relevant provisions of the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire.

The U.S. and the EU likewise renewed last week their calls for the resumption of traffic through the corridor. The issue was on the agenda of Saturdays talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders hosted by the EU head, Charles Michel, in Brussels. Still, an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty was apparently the main focus of the summit.

Rudenko reiterated a Russian proposal to organized more talks on the treaty which Moscow says must put in place security guarantees for Karabakhs population.
17 July 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The Russian-Ukrainian war has had an impact on the economic, political and demographic situation in the region and the world. During the last year and a half, rich people and officials in Russia have been migrating to different countries in order to avoid military conscription. At the same time, the large influx of Russians to foreign countries has also benefited some countries. One of them is Armenia...

According to the information provided by some sources, the lowest-income people in Russia turn to Armenia as a last resort. This refers to people who work for wages and want to earn daily.

So, Russian citizens who go to Yerevan are looking for rental houses first, and then jobs. On the one hand, this displeases the local community, but on the other hand, it has become a source of income for a certain class.

In addition, such a slang has already appeared in Armenia: "these Russians". But why are some Armenians dissatisfied with "these Russians" as emphasised in their language?

According to a survey conducted among local people, while many people in Yerevan cannot find work for themselves, the Russians occupy some vacancies. For example, in the last few months, Russians have started to operate in IT, repair and various services in Yerevan, which caused dissatisfaction of the unemployed local population. At the same time, Armenians are very dissatisfied with Russians occupying their homes. Armenians complain that Russians own and rent the best houses in Yerevan. And the local people get a small profit from it by renting cheaper places for themselves.

As for the profiteers, a different picture can be found here. Thus, an Armenian citizen named Parandzem Vartanyan notes that the influx of Russians to Yerevan has led to an increase in the price of real estate and other products.

Russians, especially IT people, can afford to pay rent, like in Moscow or Berlin. And the Armenian owners profit from this. But we do not have the opportunity to live with dignity.

Our rent went up from 220 euros a month to 550 euros, we moved for the first time. Then more upgrades. We have already moved three times. As a result, the whole family moved to the garage for 150 euros per month, the 36-year-old nurse Parandzem Vartanyan said.

As local residents told the publication, prices in the Yerevan real estate market have doubled or even tripled. Often began to come across advertisements for renting an apartment "for a Russian family." This immediately reminded the Armenians of the post-Soviet times, when in Russia their compatriots were faced with ads that offended them I will rent housing to the Slavs.

A young Muscovite, Matvey, who arrived in Yerevan in March 2022, said that he paid 1,500 euros for rent in Moscow, but here he pays 1,700 euros to live in the city center.

At present, in the case of widespread unemployment in Armenia, the creation of such an opportunity for the local residents is like a heavenly food sent from the heavens to the people of Israel. During the survey among Armenians, there were even those who wanted the war to continue. They note that after the Karabakh war, the situation in Armenia has become much more tense. There is no population left in the country, many young people died in the war, and the rest fled the country in different ways.

Making a profit in Armenia today is a miracle. For this reason, although Armenia celebrate the arrival of Russians to the country as a great party, on the other hand, they see themselves as humiliated beings in the world.

They come to us, live better than us, they speak Russian everywhere. Sometimes they behave very arrogantly, although they might be ashamed of the fact that because of them prices have tripled. For them, this promotion is nothing, but for us it is just the destruction of our usual life, Taron, a resident of Yerevan has told French media.

In addition, the opinions of many Russians who moved to Yerevan were published in the media. According to their general views, Armenia is a place of last resort for them. Otherwise, living in Armenia is extremely risky.

The Russian female immigrant notes that Armenians are more conservative and criminally inclined than Russians. For example, a Russian woman living in Yerevan says that she feels very anxious while walking among local residents. Because the society pays a lot of attention to her clothes and the expensive jewelry she wears, and in some cases, she is even asked questions about her income. And finally the conversation ends like this: Get back to your Russia.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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17 July 2023 06:07 (UTC+04:00)

"We lost the war because we rejected reality and fed the public with self-deception."

Armenian historian Zohrab Gevorgyan said this in a conversation with the Armenian media, Azernews reports, citing Day.az.

According to the historian, the biggest problem of the Armenian society is that they are insincere.

"The constant search for the guilty. And this is also a serious problem," Gevorkyan said.

The historian was asked if he agrees with the view that Armenia is facing major security challenges and uncertainty following the events of 2020 and 2021. Moreover, he was also asked whether Armenia is moving along the path of a defeated country, while remaining a convict of the situation.

In his reply to the questions he stated that the Armenian authorities are constantly looking for the culprits, and the Armenian society is divided into two parts, each of which has its own culprits for the situation in which Armenia finds itself.

Zohrab Gevorgyan also commented on the fact that Arayik Harutyunyan wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This letter simply causes laughter. For many years these people have not been able to answer the question - what do they want? Orientation towards Russia is completely wrong. They write a letter to the head of that state, whose foreign minister constantly declares that they are not recognized. And at the same time, they refuse the mediation of the United States. This is a great misfortune for the Armenians," the historian said.

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17 July 2023 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Given the weapons the Ukraine received from Western countries and how the capabilities of the Ukrainian Army increased after acquiring these weapons in the war, the Azerbaijani Army can be considered one of the strongest armies not only in the region, but in the world. The mentioned facts are not rhetoric, but a true indication of a recent historical event.

Actually, prior to the Ukrainian Crisis, Azerbaijan proved its military capacity in the 44-day War in 2020. However, as new challenges appear, Azerbaijan is not self-conceited and works on further development. The country purchases new weapons, the capacity of the domestic defense industry increases day by day and simultaneously the government makes reforms in the Army.

Speaking to Azernews, the military expert Ramil Mammadli noted that after the 44-day War, the Azerbaijan Army has been further modernized thanks to the implemented reforms.

As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated, an environment of close cooperation with Turkiye was formed. First of all, the ground forces were formed as a separate structure, and commando military formations were created within it. Commando military formations are one of the third most important phases of the reform in the direction of professionalization of our army, organization of professional military personnel, the military analyst said.

He mentioned that in the second phase of reforms there were creation of the contract soldiers structure and the creation of Special Forces. He emphasized that it is the development of this structure in a new format.

I consider it [creation of commando units] the third phase of reforms. Besides that, it is clear what form of the process will take. Of course, the Azerbaijani army will not turn back on the conscriptions. However, the number of professional military personnel will be increased in special types of troops in special forces, in Sea Cats of the naval forces, and in other types of troops. This is part of the long-term project, the third wave, and one of the main periods, launched in the direction of organizing the personnel of the army from professional military personnel, he opined.

The Pundit also touched on the issue of purchasing modern weapons and ammunition. He underscored that the Azerbaijani army is constantly enriching its arsenal with modern weapons and equipment.

Among these weapons, the main directions are rocket-artillery air defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other military means. But now the situation is about to change. Armenia, which faced a humiliating defeat in the 44-day war, is already trying to purchase UAVs and anti-UAV systems. In this regard, the Azerbaijani army is obliged to start a number of new projects, Ramil Mammadli said.

At the same time, the pundit thinks that Azerbaijan has already started these projects. He noted that the projects include improving Azerbaijan's air defense system; identifying and neutralizing low-flying vehicles and so on.

Low-flying vehicles also cover UAVs. As is known, the capabilities of UAVs are already wider. More precisely, it is considered a dangerous military tool in terms of detecting and destroying certain targets. Therefore, Azerbaijan has a great need for anti-UAV systems and, of course, work is being done in this direction, as well, R.Mammadli said.

Regarding the issue of military equipment, the expert underlined that Azerbaijan has already tested its equipment in the 44-day war. He mentioned that in order to further enrich these technical capabilities, cooperation is being established with the local defense industry sector, as well as with foreign defense industry enterprises. Besides, he recalled that Azerbaijan is expected to purchase new tactical missile systems, about which Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made a statement.

Also, thanks to the ground troops, reforms are being carried out, and here we are talking about the acquisition of new equipment and technologies. However, in general, the Azerbaijani army had sufficiently enriched its technical capabilities even before the war. It is expected that the process will continue in this way. Also, the matter is that buying newer products may not be profitable. Buying every modern weapon may not be important, the military analyst said.

He added that, within the next year, the foundation of the agreement will be laid in the direction of renewing the naval forces of the Ministry of Defense and equipping them with new warships. Besides, according to him, measures will be taken to develop the naval forces.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
17 July 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Although the progress of the Brussels meeting was received in a positive mood from the West, the attitude of neighboring Russia to the process was ambiguous. Yesterday, the covered and biased statement of the Russian MFA regarding the border crossing point in Lachin expressed its attitude to the process.

Azerbaijan is considered a strategic ally with Russia, and an agreement document was signed on this on 22 February 2022. In addition, Russia recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and has repeatedly confirmed it. However, this approach of the Russian side last week not only overshadowed the existing relations, but also created a serious reaction among the public.

According to Azerbaijani political analyst Matin Mammadli, the Russia's position is based on its sense of competition with the West.

"It is an extremely sad fact that after the Brussels meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia made statements containing certain prejudices against Azerbaijan. A certain threatening tone can be felt in those statements. I believe that Russia, by demonstrating such a position, is trying to say that it does not accept the role of the West, the European Union, or the United States as the main mediator in the negotiation process, and at the same time it is trying to restore its monopolism in the negotiation process," the expert emphasized in his comment for AZERNEWS.

M. Mammadli, while explaining Russia's position, noted that official Moscow was never interested in a one-time solution to the conflict in the South Caucasus.

"Approaching the issue in general, I would like to add that Russia is not interested in solving the problems and conflicts in the region. In other words, official Moscow thinks that as long as the issue of solving these problems is prolonged, Russia will maintain its influence over the region. In other words, in their opinion, the solution to the problems is the end of Russia's role. As for the latest statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, I think that Russia's biased approach to the processes between Azerbaijan and Armenia is also due to the fact that the West has a leading position in the negotiations. Even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said that Russia is ready to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia if negotiations take place in the near future. Let me note once again that this shows Russia's initiative to show itself as the main mediator in the negotiation process," the political analyst said.

At the end of his comment, Matin Mammadli also noted that Russia undermines its partnership position by making such a statement. According to the expert, Azerbaijan has always considered Russia as its strategic ally, guided by the documents signed between Baku and Moscow.

"I would like to add one point that the last statement of the Russian MFA was, of course, full of many contradictory points. The main point is that Russia recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. A number of Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, made statements in this regard. Both countries signed an agreement on strategic alliance activities in February 2022. In other words, such a position of the Russian MFA recently is contradictory to Russia's previous position on Azerbaijan," the expert concluded.

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British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks delivers a speech during the opening of the "Archisculpture" exhibition, commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United Kingdom at The Trinity Gallery in Yongsan District, Seoul, July 13. The exhibit features Won Beom-sik's photography, in which he reconfigures images of iconic British buildings from Buckingham Palace to the Elephant House, a cafe in Edinburgh where J.K. Rowling is said to have written the Harry Potter series, to create new sculptural constructs. Courtesy of The Trinity Gallery
17 July 2023 15:42 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's export potential has increased 5-6 times in recent years, Azernews reports, citing Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov telling at the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture held in Baku.

Sahib Mammadov said that a favorable environment has been created for the flow of investments into the country. Many achievements related to socio-economic development will be signed in Azerbaijan.

The deputy minister noted that the country has enough favorable mechanisms for the successful implementation of the socio-economic policy.

The Deputy Minister said that during the last years, the export potential of Azerbaijan increased 5-6 times. The share of the private sector in the GDP is 37 percent. He emphasized that Azerbaijan has many achievements in the economic field and we do our best to expand the business environment.

The Deputy Minister also noted that Azerbaijans relations with the countries that are members of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture have strengthened in recent years. He said that considering the potential of Muslim countries, there is a need to further expand this cooperation. He added that in general, the interest of Muslim countries in Azerbaijan is increasing.

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The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation has published a new book about the great poet of Azerbaijan Molla Panah Vagif "The vizier himself, in word is shah" (Ozu vzir, sozu sah).

The publication was issued due to the announcement of the Shusha city as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2023, in order to promote the literary heritage of outstanding personalities of the Turkic world, Azernews reports.

The book contains poems dedicated to Molla Panah Vagif by Azerbaijani and foreign poets, imitations (nazireler) written on his works, phrases by Azerbaijani and world-famous literary figures as well as epic (dastan) "Vagif", the well known drama of the same name by Samad Vurgun and debate poems (deyishmeler) between Vagif and Molla Vali Vidadi.

It also covers works by famous Azerbaijani artists embodying the image of the poet in the visual arts, as well as photographs from the play "Vagif", staged in the theaters of Azerbaijan in different years.

The book opens with a foreword "Molla Panah Vagif and a few words about this book" by head of the project, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva.

In the preface, Gunay Afandiyeva outlines the importance of the literary activity of Molla Panah Vagif for the Turkic world.

"The creative heritage of the outstanding personalities of the Turkic world, the works written about them, are of great significance for the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation. The book "The vizier himself, his word is shah" is another project of the organization in this direction. In the book, poetic works, pearls of fine art dedicated to the personality and literary heritage of the poet, once again show that Vagif is alive and akin to the Turkic peoples".

The compiler and editor of the book, which was issued in the Zardabi publishing house, is the poet Farid Huseyn, the art designer-Honored Art Worker Ziyadkhan Aliyev, consultant-Honored Cultural Worker Barat Vusal, the author of the explanations is the translator Mohammed Nuri.

Initiated in 2012, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of the Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third nations.

The foundation provides assistance in the protection, study, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects, and programs.

The organization carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.

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17 July 2023 14:01 (UTC+04:00)

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudswoman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva has published an appeal in connection with environmental crimes committed by Armenia, Azernews reports.

The appeal reads:

Armenia, which for 30 years has held under occupation the territories of Azerbaijan recognized by international law, along with the commission of crimes against peace and humanity, as well as war crimes, continues to cause serious damage to the environmental security of the region. The damage inflicted on Armenia's fertile soils, water basins, atmosphere, forest fund, flora and fauna, mineral resources, and energy sources has led to an imbalance in the ecological balance not only in our country but also in the region as a whole. All this once again proves that Armenia commits environmental crimes, and does not fulfill its obligations under international conventions on ecology and the environment, to which it has acceded. However, we deeply regret that international organizations and international non-governmental organisations active in the field of environmental protection demonstrate silence on the problem that is the source of the global threat created by Armenia.

One of Armenia's new initiatives, which may create regional environmental problems, is the desire to build a large $70 million steel plant with an annual production capacity of 180,000 tons on an area of 16,500 square meters in the region bordering Azerbaijan and very close to the border with Turkiye - in the village of Arazdayan. Building such a plant in the area and dumping waste into the Araz River, the second largest river in the South Caucasus, could pollute not only this river but also the Arpachay. The toxic gas released into the air as a result of the activities of the plant under construction will have a serious impact on fauna and flora. Also, if the metallurgical plant starts to work, it will lead to a violation of the ecosystem, air pollution with toxic waste. Thus, Armenia again flagrantly violates the norms and principles of international law, in particular the provisions of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espo Convention). According to the provisions of this Convention, to which Armenia is a party, in the event of a negative environmental impact of a major economic activity that the participating States plan to organize on their territory, on the territory of other countries, this activity must be agreed with the relevant authorities of these countries, a document must be prepared on environmental impact assessment.

In addition, it should be especially noted that, despite the expiration of its service life, the Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP) operating in Armenia poses a real threat not only to Azerbaijan and Armenia itself but also to the South Caucasus as a whole.

We call for international organizations active in the field of environmental protection, international non-governmental organisations, and civil society institutions to take joint decisive steps to solve global and regional environmental problems resulting from environmental crimes committed by Armenia, to fulfill the obligations arising from existing international documents in the field of environmental protection, and to prevent the recurrence of similar actions in the future.

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17 July 2023 15:18 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on the allocation of $7.6 million for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Azernews reports.

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17 July 2023 17:28 (UTC+04:00)

The 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture started in Baku on 17 July, Azernews reports, citing Azertac.

Speaking at the event, the President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs' Organisations (Employers' Organisations) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev welcomed the guests and expressed gratitude for choosing our country as the venue for the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

About 100 delegations from 20 countries, including Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and Egypt, as well as representatives of Azerbaijan's state structures and members of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, are attending the opening of the Board of Directors meeting.

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17 July 2023 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

With the support of the State Tourism Agency, Azerbaijan's gastro-tourism opportunities were promoted at the National Geographic Traveler culinary festival held in London, Azernews reports, citing National Geographic-Food Festival

National culinary heritage, Azerbaijan's tea culture, and national sweets were presented at the event.

Visitors of the festival had the opportunity to taste national culinary samples such as pilaf, kutab, kuku, as well as Azerbaijani wines.

A Tea ceremony, Rice and saffron masterclasses, and tasting ceremonies of Azerbaijani wines were held as part of the event.

Azerbaijan's ambassador to Great Britain, Elin Suleymanov, also visited the national stand.

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17 July 2023 21:00 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Fuat Oktay, Azernews reports, citing Azertag.

Fuat Oktay thanked the President of Azerbaijan for the reception and conveyed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s greetings to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the greetings, and asked Fuat Oktay to communicate his greetings to the President of Turkiye.

Emphasizing the fact that the relations between the two countries were very reassuring, Fuat Oktay said that the ties were developing on the basis of the One nation, two states principle. He stressed the importance of further developing Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations, which were officially raised to the level of alliance with the signing of the Shusha Declaration, and in accordance with the goals and objectives of that document. Noting the importance of Azerbaijan standing by Turkiye in the aftermath of the earthquake that occurred in his country, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye expressed his gratitude for this support.

Fuat Oktay then voiced his satisfaction with the expansion of economic and trade relations and hailed the efforts of the two countries towards the expansion of cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States.

At the same time, he also drew attention to Turkiyes serious concern regarding the installation of a monument to Nemesis terrorists in Armenia.

Fuat Oktay then touched upon the issues of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, education, military, military-technical, defense, etc.

Appreciating the importance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's state visit to Azerbaijan after the elections in Turkiye, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted that extensive discussions held in relation to the development of bilateral relations during this visit.

Touching upon the development of cooperation in the military and military-technical field between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, the head of state said that the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the opening of the new Central Command Post of the Air Force while in Baku was yet another example of the development of cooperation between the two countries in the military field. Pointing out that the relations between the two countries were developing on the basis of the Shusha Declaration and the principle of alliance, the President of Azerbaijan emphasized the importance of cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States, as well as the further development of this cooperation at the parliamentary level, the further expansion of the activities of the foreign relations committees of the parliaments within the Organization of Turkic States.

The President of Azerbaijan noted that the installation of the Nemesis monument in Armenia was unacceptable.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on issues of cooperation in the Middle Corridor and energy areas, further expansion of economic and trade relations, and noted the fact that trade turnover had recently reached 6 billion dollars as a result of the Preferential Trade Agreement between Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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17 July 2023 18:06 (UTC+04:00)

Russia is withdrawing guarantees for the safety of navigation, shutting down the maritime humanitarian corridor in the northwestern Black Sea, Azernews reports, referring to the official statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the "Black Sea Initiative" ceases to function from July 18, and the joint coordination center in Istanbul will be disbanded: "Russia is restoring the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea."

The message says that in the conditions of non-fulfillment of the conditions of the Istanbul agreements, "the continuation of the initiative, which has not justified its humanitarian purpose, loses its meaning".

"Only upon receipt of concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider restoring the deal," the statement reads.

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17 July 2023 22:15 (UTC+04:00)

On July 15, Uzbekistan Airways from Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) to Tashkent delivered the tenth batch of the Daclatasvir drug against hepatitis C, allocated by the Egyptian government as humanitarian aid to Uzbekistan, , Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

More than 3,000 packages of Daclatasvir-60 mg in 114 boxes are intended for patients at the Research Institute of Virology under the Health Ministry of Uzbekistan.

It should be noted that Egypt has made significant progress in the fight against hepatitis B and C viruses. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the population of the country has completely recovered from this disease, Minister Khaleed Abdughaffar said at the 76th WHO session, which was held in Geneva on May 21-30 this year.

The Egyptian government has developed and is successfully implementing a national program Healthy lifestyle, which is expected to allocate $100 million.

It is important to note that this action is carried out in accordance with the agreements concluded during the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Egypt on February 20-21, 2023, as well as negotiations between the ministries of health of the two countries.

It should be recalled that in his election program, the President of Uzbekistan put forward an initiative that the treatment of hepatitis C would be carried out in our country at public expense.

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Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency has demonstrated its ornithological tourism at the Global Bird Fair.

The British Birdwatching Fair is an annual event for birdwatchers, held every August at Rutland Water in Englad, Azernews reports.

Within the fair, suppliers of bird watching equipment as well as artists and tour companies display and sell their wares.

The large-scale event is held every year as an international event to promote ornithological tourism as an important direction of ecotourism.

Over 270 companies from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Great Britain, USA, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and other countries took part in the fair this year.

The fair visitors were given detailed information about the biodiversity of Azerbaijan's national parks, including Ag-Gol, Absheron and Shirvan. The guests were provided insight into the favorable seasons for bird watching in Azerbaijan.

Note that Ag-Gol National Park was established in 2003 for the preservation of migrating routes, areas of wintering and nesting of waterfowl and wader birds, as well as for breeding of commercial fish species.

The Absheron National Park is a great place for all those fascinated by nature.

Established on the basis of Absheron State Nature Sanctuary, the Absheron National Park stretches 783 ha in the administrative territory of Baku city.

Gazelle, jackal, fox, rabbit, badger, Caspian seal, birds such as silver gull, wheezing swan, grey and red-headed black, white-eyed black ducks, big white bittern, sandpiper, bald-coot, and other migrant birds are inhabited here.

Shirvan National Park was founded in 2003 for the protection of goitered gazelles listed in the Azerbaijan Red Data Book.

The park is home to ghazals. Its functions also include environmental monitoring, public environmental education, as well as creating conditions for tourism and recreation.

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Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin speaks during a plenary session of the diplomacy and unification committee at the National Assembly, July 13. Yonhap



Korea's vice foreign minister on Monday played down concerns that a surprise visit by President Yoon Suk Yeol to Ukraine might worsen relations with Russia, indicating that Seoul's relations with Moscow would be manageable despite the visit.



First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin made the remarks in an SBS radio interview earlier in the day, noting the Korea and Russia have a "sort of formula in managing Korea-Russia relations after the Ukrainian war."



"It is like a tacit understanding that the two countries will tolerate up to a certain point in managing their relations under such special circumstances," he said. "Considering this formula, the president's visit will not worsen (ties with Russia) that much."



Chang, who previously served as ambassador to Russia, pointed out that Moscow would have "considered it seriously" if Korea announced the assistance of lethal weapons to Ukraine.



During a surprise visit to Ukraine last week, Yoon agreed to provide the country with a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance under the name "Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative."



Korea has sent various forms of nonlethal aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia's invasion but has rejected Kyiv's requests for lethal weapons. (Yonhap)


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Western Kern's legacy oil fields have gained new interest recently as a place to bury carbon dioxide. But what about also using the area's amp
UPDATE Cougar 'Standoff' Over on N. Oregon Coast: Cat Has Left Haystack Rock / Cannon Beach

Published 07/16/23 at 3:11 p.m. - Updated 07/17/23 at 6:41 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

UPDATE: CANNON BEACH BACK OPEN - COUGAR HAS LEFT. Full Story Here Cougar Leaves Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock, This Part of Oregon Coast Back Open - Nehalem Bay still has a cougar situation

(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  A series of cougar sightings has resulted in some closures on the north Oregon coast, and that includes a kind of standoff on Sunday night as authorities are waiting for a cougar to leave Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock. (Khula Makhalira. Taken at 6:40 AM.)

The cougar situation in Cannon Beach started about 6:30 a.m., causing the entire beach in that area to be closed. That is still happening at this hour  about 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The beach closure will last as long as the cat is there.

Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) told Oregon Coast Beach Connection this is a first, at least in modern times.

This is the first confirmed sighting of a cougar at Haystack Rock, they said.

Earlier this weekend, Nehalem Bay State Park had to close the eastern part of the Loop Trail because of multiple cougar sightings.

For your safety, please remain off this section of trail while the signs and caution ribbon are up, said Oregon State Parks and Recreation.

In Cannon Beach, a veritable small army of responders are in the Haystack Rock area of the north Oregon coast town, blocking off the beaches and trying to keep both the cougar and the public safe  as well as themselves.

The cougar showed up on the rock by dawn, presumably having arrived overnight. A handful of photos have made social media, showing an adult mountain lion (cougar) crawling around the rock structure.

Cannon Beach Police Department (CBPD) spokesman Bruce St. Dennis told Oregon Coast Beach Connection the big cat has not left.

He's walking around various parts of the rock and has not been on the sand at all, St. Dennis said. Sometimes he's wandered to the west side of the rock where we can't see him, but jet skis can keep track of him there.

Responding to the scene are members of Oregon State Police Game Troopers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Parks, Haystack Rock Awareness Program, and Cannon Beach Fire. There are some personnel on jet skis.

St. Dennis said they had no clue which path the cougar took out onto the beach before dawn. Now, it's just a waiting game.

The whole strategy is to make him feel comfortable enough to leave and go back to his own bed, St. Dennis said. We have a 2,000-foot-wide corridor cleared for him to leave.

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They are hoping the cougar will at least take off after dark, and St. Dennis said it wasn't clear what would happen if the animal didn't.

Tranquilizing the cougar or trying to capture him isn't really an option, St. Dennis told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Both situations put responders at great risk, as well as the cat.

And that's just not a good ending for anyone, St. Dennis said.

UPDATES FROM HRAP

As of 9:30 p.m., the cougar is still on the rock. Also on scene are federal authorities from US Fish and Wildlife.

Our program has been out on the beach to help answer questions and assist with crowd control for the majority of the day, HRAP said. As of now, the cougar is still on Haystack Rock. The hope is that as the tide recedes, the cougar will make its way back down.

HRAP said a beachgoer spotted the cougar at 6:30 a.m. and alerted staff that was already out there: Lead Interpreter on Shift Michelle Schwegmann then reported it to police.

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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One 'Crappy' Report: Oregon Coast Beaches May Have Poo Issues

Published 07/16/23 at 4:51 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast)  Oregon's coastline may be among the poopiest in the nation, at least from one recent report by Environment America (EA) called Safe for Swimming. The group used data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, saying a high number of Oregon beaches tested came up with some amount of contamination on about one quarter of the days they were tested. (Above: Lincoln City, Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

17 out of the 21 beaches tested had fecal bacteria present that were potentially harmful, happening at least 25% or more of the testing days.

The study, however, does not necessarily click with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) numbers for beach advisories due to contamination. OHA tests some 80 beaches on the Oregon coast every three weeks from May through September and only issues a handful of advisories during that period.

The EA numbers studied all U.S. beaches using a variety of data sources, and it said some 55% of beaches around the entire country had at least one testing day when contamination was high enough to be worrisome.

That number rockets to 70% of beaches when you look at just the west coast, with California's lengthy coastline puffing up those numbers considerably. All numbers were from 2022.

However, Oregon coast strands appeared to have their own issues, as EA found some of the state's more polluted beaches tended to be at Rockaway Beach, Manzanita, Bastendorff near Coos Bay, and Harris Beach at Brookings.

Manzanita had the highest at 10 testing days and 9 of them coming up dirty: a 90% score.

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Bastendorf Beach had 86% of its seven days rate unsafe, and Harris Beach State Park also clocked in at that number.

Seal Rock State Recreation Site saw 83% and Rockaway Beach was at 82%.

Also mentioned were Sunset Bay State Park, two areas of Cannon Beach, Nye Beach and the D River access at Lincoln City, though in the 70  60 percentile range. The latter three, however, tend to come up a more often than many others when OHA issues a beach advisory.

EA, like OHA when it delivers advisories, said the sources of such pollution incidents can come from septic or sewer systems, rain runoff or livestock upstream. The actual cause of advisories is never known as scientists cannot trace them back.

Cannon Beach has banned feeding gulls in at least one area, because mass flocks of them hovering over humans feeding them can contaminate streams. Most oceanfront lodgings on the Oregon coast urge you not to feed them because of the droppings they leave on the properties.

You can keep an eye on any possible advisories at the OHA testing page.







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Sunset Bay, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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No, complete access to everyone voting, even in a willy nilly manner, is more important than getting it right by limiting access to those that would commit Voter Fraud.

Yes, the most inalienable right of real citizens of this Democratic Republic is the Right to Vote, and that right shall remain sacrosanct for perpetuity.

Again, I don't vote and I don't care.

707 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?
Despite having to meet the same inspection requirements, state-inspected meat processing facilities can sell only within the state, while federal facilities can sell across state lines

This restriction makes an already fragile supply chain even more so, and harms North Carolina's small farmers while driving up meat prices for consumers

Congress has debated reforms proposals for years, including this year's PRIME Act, but in the meantime, North Carolina could participate in the federal Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program, which allows certain state-inspected meat and poultry products to be shipped across state lines

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the meat processing industry was in crisis mode. With migration mostly on hold due to border restrictions, the industry was already having a tough time with staffing before viral cases and even breakouts started happening in the facilities. These combined factors caused meat processing facilities to struggle to keep up with demand, sometimes having to shut down for weeks at a time.The problem might have been less serious and more manageable if more meat processing facilities were allowed to distribute meat both intrastate and interstate.Debating the PRIME ActCurrently, interstate selling of meat products is limited to meat coming from federally inspected meat processing facilities. The issue is not a matter of differing standards, however. Under the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967, state-inspected meat processing facilities, which exist in North Carolina and 28 other states, must meet the same requirements and standards as federally inspected facilities. Even so, state-inspected facilities can sell their products only in-state.Such restrictions hamper the free flow of meat products, essentially handcuffing the industry's supply chain. Most harmed are smaller meat farmers who are deprived of access to out-of-state consumers, while customers must pay higher prices due to the limitations on supply.A bill before Congress, the PRIME Act (for) would be geared to curtail supply-chain issues during economic shocks by addressing certain regulations and restrictions on small-scale meat processing. With a large, bipartisan list of cosponsors, the bill would grant states the authority to regulate the processing and sale of meat products within their borders, without interference from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).This would be a step in the right direction, but more can be done.Currently, small-scale farmers and ranchers face significant challenges in accessing local meat-processing facilities due to various federal regulations and inspection requirements. The PRIME Act would seek to alleviate these barriers by allowing the sale of meat processed in custom slaughterhouses directly to consumers, restaurants, and retailers within the same state. This exemption would apply as long as the meat products do not cross state lines, making it an intrastate commerce issue.Critics, including the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and other interest groups, express concerns regarding food safety risks, asserting that federal inspections are essential to ensure consumer protection. They argue that exempting small processors from federal oversight could lead to potential health hazards and a lack of uniform standards across state lines.Supporters, however, argue that the PRIME Act would empower local producers, enhance food sovereignty, and provide consumers with greater access to locally produced meat. Smaller-scale processing facilities can uphold high safety standards while accommodating the specific needs and preferences of local communities. In addition, there is the problem of the federal government regulating intrastate commerce, a power that should be completely left to the states based on their individual economic situations.For example, poultry farmers with less than 20,000 chickens are already allowed to process their own meat or go to custom slaughter facilities to sell within their own states. If poultry farmers have been doing it for years without major safety concerns, why can't hog and cattle ranchers?Nevertheless, while the PRIME Act's deregulation would be a positive reform, the legislation may not be the right solution to future supply chain shocks, given that it would be limited to intrastate commerce. A better solution, and one that might gain support from large ranch operations and wavering congressmen, would be to keep state standards equal to federal standards and allow interstate sales of meat from state-inspected meat processing facilities.Such a measure would particularly benefit the hog industry in North Carolina, which is the third largest producer of pig meat in the nation, behind only Iowa and Minnesota. Given North Carolina's comparative advantage in pork, state officials should be pushing for easier and faster production of pork for interstate sales by allowing for the interstate sale of pork processed at state-inspected facilities.North Carolina should take advantage of the Cooperative Interstate Shipping ProgramRegulation of interstate commerce is the bailiwick of the federal government. In recent years Congress has been debating legislation to make a blanket allowance of interstate sales from state-inspected facilities, but no proposal has yet passed into law. Here is where North Carolina officials can step up to the plate by providing information on how to apply for a program that allows for interstate commerce to state run meat processing facilities.The Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program is a program in the United States that allows certain state-inspected meat and poultry products to be shipped across state lines. It was established by the USDA in 2011 to provide greater market access for small-scale processors and to support local food systems.Under the program, states can enter into agreements with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to have their own meat and poultry inspection programs deemedfederal standards (which they already must be anyway). Once a state's program is deemed equivalent to federal standards, then eligible processors in that state can apply for participation in the Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program.Unfortunately, though North Carolina would be qualified for participation in the program given that it is one of the 29 states with a state-inspected meat processing program, North Carolina nor any of its meat processing facilities currently participate. The number-one producer of pork in the nation, Iowa, however, does. So unlike North Carolina, Iowa can better expedite and expand its export of pork while supporting small hog farmers.A blanket allowance of state-inspected meat products would still be preferable, of course. But while Congress debates, North Carolina officials can and should take advantage of the Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program. Doing so would help small farmers who may have a hard time transporting animals to federally inspected facilities, while it would also grow North Carolina's agricultural economy and national footprint.
Some of Senator Jim Perry (RINO-Kinston)'s votes on healthcare issues this session have been exposed as hurting consumers, so a PAC affiiliated with Big Medicine has run cover for Perry by sending out a misleading postcard to help prop him up. Perry's district is Beaufort, Lenoir, and Craven counties. Perry's campaigns have been heavily funded by Big Medicine special interests and he has consistently been their water boy in backing their legislation.

Most recently, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, which Perry voted for and was very active in twisting other legislators arms over, was exposed by a study from Johns Hopkins University, which showed it is likely to increase costs both to taxpayers and to individuals for insurance costs and medical care. Another major issue where Perry was very active in pushing the agenda of Big Medicine was legislation to allow Blue Cross / Blue Shield to loot its own reserves, a bill that our NC Insurance Commissioner and our NC State Treasurer both warned will raise insurance premiums in the future for consumers.

With the word getting out that Perry had stabbed consumers in the back TWICE this session on health legislation, he needed a smokescreen. The so-called "Affordable Healthcare Coalition of North Carolina," which is a creature of the health insurance industry, particularly Blue Cross / Blue Shield, jumped in to provide it through a postcard mailing,

The postcard praises Perry for voting for an obscure technical piece of legislation that it never really explains but makes outsized claims over. The bill, HB346, is actually one that many House conservatives, including Keith Kidwell, voted against. It allows big hospital corporations to create paper entites that theoretically might help their profit margin but are unlikely to have any real impact on consumers. While the postcard says the bill "cut government red tape" it actually created more government red tape, just in a way that might help big hospital profits. It re-prints two media headlines that are misleading because the articles they come from actually address other healthcare issues.

Jim Perry is always there for Big Medicine, and now Big Medicine is there for him. They must smell a primary in the works. It is just a case of a powerful special interest looking out for one of their own.
Hong Kong: Tse Chin-wan headed to Guangdong

Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan will depart for a visit to Guangzhou and Zhaoqing tomorrow, and return on Thursday evening.

He will call on the Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province to strengthen co-operation in agriculture and fisheries between Guangdong and Hong Kong. He will also visit Guanxing (Zhaoqing) Agricultural Technologys aquaculture farm, the Guangdong International Fishery High Tech Park, the Vegetable Basket Project (Zengcheng) Customs Clearance Facilitation Zone and the Conghua Racecourse to learn about the latest developments in related industries.

During Mr Tses absence, Under Secretary for Environment & Ecology Diane Wong will be Acting Secretary.

This story has been published on: 2023-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
4 killed in mass shooting in U.S.

Xinhua) 13:34, July 17, 2023

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed in a mass shooting in the U.S. state of Georgia on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The shooting happened at around 10:45 a.m. local time (1445 GMT) in the Dogwood Lakes area of Hampton, a city in southwestern Henry County, about 45 km from Atlanta, Georgia's capital, according to local police.

The victims were three men and one woman, Hampton Police Chief James Turner told a news conference, saying police detectives are investigating at least four crime scenes.

Police are still looking for the suspect, who is identified as Andre Longmore, a 41-year-old local male resident. Hampton police department released a photo and description of the suspect, who is believed to be driving a 2017 black GMC Acadia and carrying a black handgun.

Officials asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the police.

"DO NOT APPROACH, CALL 911 IF YOU SEE HIM," said the police department on its Facebook page.

At least 382 mass shootings have happened across the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group which defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 15, in this photo provided by Seoul's presidential office. Yonhap



Korea's policy stance against the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged, the defense ministry said Monday, after President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise visit to the war-torn nation in a show of solidarity over the weekend.



During his talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday, Yoon agreed to provide Ukraine with a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance under the name "Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative."



"There is no change in the government's position that Korea does not provide lethal weapons," Jeon Ha-kyu, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing.



Following the summit between Yoon and Zelenskyy, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said Korea will supply Ukraine with more mine detectors and demining equipment as part of its assistance package.



Seoul recently sent portable mine detectors and protective suits in its latest batch of military supplies to support Ukraine



Last year, it sent three batches of nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine, including first-aid kits, medicine, gas masks, tents, bulletproof vests and food for field troops. (Yonhap)


A 30-story, 435,000-square-foot medical office building on the Upper East Side of New York City is set to be the first privately built medical office building in the area, according to a July 17 report from Real Estate Weekly.

The building will be located in a medical corridor that houses six major hospitals and spans 19.5 million square feet across 60 buildings.

The anchor tenant of the new building will be New York City-based orthopedic provider Hospital for Special Surgery, which has signed a lease for 195,580 square feet of outpatient space on floors two through eight.

Floors nine through 29 will offer 226,160 square feet of office space. The building has sought accommodations from the Department of Health to open ambulatory care and surgical facilities as well.

The building is projected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. Newmark and Extell Development will be the executive leasing agents for the project.
Little Rock, Ark.-based Rock Dental Brands has added two Florida practices to its network.

The DSO affiliated with Baptiste Orthodontics and Baptiste Dentistry for Kids, both in Orlando, Fla. Both practices were founded by Andre Baptiste, DDS, according to a July 17 news release shared with Becker's.

With the additions, Rock Dental Brands supports 105 practices across Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama.
Malta, Ill.-based Kishwaukee College is offering a 12-week dental assistant program.

The program will have a mix of online lectures and in-person clinical training at a local dental practice, according to a July 10 news release from the school.

The total cost of the program is $1,300, including textbooks and supplies, and will run from Aug. 27 to Nov. 18, according to the school's website.
A car crashed into a Maryland hospital July 16, requiring some intensive care unit patients to be transferred elsewhere, according to the hospital.

The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. at the Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center in Fort Washington, Md. No injuries were reported among patients, staff or the driver of the vehicle, according to the hospital.

"The motorist was driving at a high rate of speed during inclement weather, lost control of the car and crashed into a generator and the hospital's ICU," Sara Newman Viscomi, director of public relations and marketing, said in a statement shared with Becker's.

"The car caught fire but was quickly extinguished when fire, police and EMS personnel arrived on the scene. Patients in the ICU were quickly and safely moved out of the unit to other areas of the hospital. Some patients were transferred to other nearby hospitals."

Ms. Newman Viscomi said the ICU is not operational as of July 17, and the hospital is assessing the damage to the generator and how quickly repairs can be made so patients can return to the unit.

"The leadership team at Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center assembled [July 16] to ensure all patients were taken care of, clean up the ICU, and assess the damage," she said. "This situation could have ended much worse, so we are very thankful no one was injured in this accident."
Several hospitals and health systems across the U.S. are facing lawsuits regarding data breach incidents that involved patients' protected health information.

Here are lawsuits involving four health systems as reported by Becker's since June 27:
Public health emergency funding during the COVID-19 pandemic helped hospitals' net operating margins hit an all-time high, according to a study published in JAMA Health Forum July 14.

The study examined national RAND data and American Community Survey data between 2017 and 2021 to evaluate hospitals' financial performance during the first two years of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Researchers assessed 4,423 short-term acute care and critical access hospitals.

Eighty percent of the hospitals received public health emergency funds during 2020 and 2021. Seventy-five percent had a positive net operating income during this period. For more than 3,000 hospitals, financial performance improved post-public health emergency; these facilities saw a median net operating income improvement of $5.3 million.

Median operating margins reached an all-time high of 6.5 percent between 2020 and 2021, compared with 2.8 percent margins pre-2020 according to the study. Hospitals saw a median $1.9 million increase in net operating income during this time period.

However, 16 percent of hospitals experienced new financial distress despite receiving public health emergency funding. Nearly one-fifth of the hospitals were located in a census tract with more than 20 percent Hispanic residents; these facilities were more likely to experience financial distress even after receiving federal funds. A high concentration of Hispanic residents was the only independent variable associated with financial distress after receipt of public health emergency funding, according to the study.

And not all funds were distributed equally, the study pointed out. Hospitals with uncompensated care that represented 10 percent or more of their operating expenses in 2019 were less likely to receive COVID-19 funding than those that reported no uncompensated care burden.

Highly urban hospitals averaged $4.8 million more in COVID-19 funding than rural hospitals, and health system-affiliated hospitals received $1.2 million less than unaffiliated hospitals. For-profit hospitals received $5.4 million less than nor-for-profit hospitals, but still were not in financial distress during the emergency, according to the study.

Some relief funds went to hospitals that did not need them while others received too much, the study's authors noted in their discussion. This led some hospitals to hit peak operating margins rather than restoring to pre-pandemic levels.

"It should be underscored that policy makers were required to act quickly to direct COVID-19 PHE funding; however, based on the COVID-19 lessons, it will be important to consider alternative ways of allocating scarce public dollars to support our nation's health system in crisis," the authors wrote. "To that end, policy makers should ensure they have the necessary data to estimate the effects and to proactively build models to simulate relief payments and their effects on hospital finances, which could be used to better inform decision-making regarding the allocation of emergency aid."
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che introduces the city's Irwin mango and dishes created with the mango variety, commonly known as apple mango here, to Korean consumers during an event at Lotte Hotel Seoul, July 13. Courtesy of SAM Communications



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Located in Southern Taiwan, Tainan is celebrated for its rich agriculture, particularly its prized mangoes. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che visited Korea last week bringing the sweet, juicy treats from his city.



"I have come to present the mangoes of Tainan to Korea. They are in their peak season. Had I come two months earlier, I would have showcased our pineapples," Mayor Huang said during an interview with The Korea Times at a hotel in Seoul, July 13, boasting the city's agriculture based on favorable climate, state-of-the-art technology and skilled farmers with bundles of know-how.



Huang explained that Taiwan, with its tropical climate, is an abundant source of a variety of tropical fruits such as pineapples and mangoes.





Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Lotte Hotel Seoul, July 13. Courtesy of SAM Communications
Madera (Calif.) Community Hospital  which has been closed since the start of 2023  is applying for an $80 million loan from a newly created program, with hopes of reopening the hospital, The Fresno Bee reported July 14.

Madera Community is one of 16 hospitals across California applying for the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which Gov. Gavin Newsome signed into law May 15. The program allows struggling hospitals to receive zero-interest loans if they submit a plan to the state detailing how they will return to profitability.

The program has $300 million available for distressed hospitals. So far, hospitals are asking for $385.3 million.

Madera officials aim for the loan to entice a potential buyer to purchase and reopen the hospital. Even if a buyer is found and the loan is approved, hospital officials warned that it will take time before Madera Community could reopen.
Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based SoutheastHealth is shuttering its home health service line in Cape Girardeau, Stoddard County and Dexter due to labor shortages.

The home health services will end in August, with the program in Stoddard County ending Aug. 8, and Cape County closing Aug. 15, according to a July 14 press release from SoutheastHealth.

Declines in payor reimbursements as well as labor shortages were attributing factors to the decision.

The hospital is looking for other roles and positions for its home health services employees to take on and is reaching out to other healthcare organizations to assist in transitioning its home-based care patients to other programs.
Chief Medical Officer of Rome, Ga.-based AdventHealth Redmond, Julie Barnes, MD, will retire Aug. 31, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

Dr. Barnes began her 43-yearslong healthcare career as a teen volunteer at AdventHealth Redmond, where she worked for 30 years.

Before becoming CMO, she occupied roles as a switchboard operator, nurse aid, nurse and physician, according to the release from the Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based system.

Her successor has not been named.
Between economic uncertainty and workforce woes, it's a difficult time to be driving a business. Most C-suite leaders would give up their high posts for a less stressful role, according to a recent survey from Deloitte.

The management consulting firm surveyed 3,150 C-suite executives, managers and employees across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. It collaborated with Workplace Intelligence, an independent research firm based in Boston.

Seventy-five percent of executives said they were "seriously considering quitting for a job that would better support their wellbeing," up from 69 percent last year.

C-level leaders aren't alone in their discontent  64 percent of managers and 60 percent of employees share the desire to leave for more balance. Read more about the workforce's wellbeing here.
Cedars-Sinai's organ transplant program had its busiest year on record with 616 successful transplants for better patient outcomes, according to a July 17 news release shared with Becker's.

Kidney transplants accounted for more than half of the health system's record year of organ transplants at a total of 316 kidneys as well as one dual kidney-pancreas procedure. In addition, 15 of the kidney transplants were performed on pediatric patients, denoting a record for the system.

In addition to kidney transplants, surgeons at Cedars-Sinai also performed 202 thoracic organ transplants, 126 heart transplants and 76 lung transplants  all of which out-performed the health system's transplant numbers last year, according to the release.
Registered nurses and clinicians with MaineHealth Care at Home in Portland, Maine, are calling for the removal of the home health services agency's management team.

MaineHealth Care at Home is an affiliate of MaineHealth and provides comprehensive home health, hospice and population health services in Southern and MidCoast Maine. Of its 70 employees, 65 pediatric nurses and clinicians, including physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers are calling for the removal of the current management team, according to the Portland Press Herald.

According to a National Nurses United news release, MHCAH management "unjustly terminated" two longtime nurses who worked in the home health agency's pediatric department and suspended four other clinicians a few weeks earlier. The nurses are represented by Maine State Nurses Association, an NNU affiliate.

Earlier this year, two departments making up about 10 percent of the agency's workforce resigned along with an unspecified number of clinicians in the York office of MHCAH who exited either due to resignation or termination, according to the union.

"The loss of these colleagues has severely impacted patient care and our ability to accept new patients," employees' petition of no confidence delivered to MHCAH management July 10 said. "Before these valued colleagues left, several of them voiced their serious concerns to this management team and with human resources. However, they did not feel as though their concerns were taken seriously. They felt it was in their best interest to leave the organization entirely."

In the petition, clinicians call on MaineHealth "to live up to the values it espouses and hold these managers accountable for the damage they have done to our staff and to MHCAH." The petition also calls for MaineHealth to immediately reinstate the clinicians who were terminated by MHCAH management and compensate suspended staff for any losses incurred due to their suspensions.

"The petition is the direct result of disciplinary action taken against a group of union members, including the termination for just cause of two nurses, one of whom was the union's chief steward," a MaineHealth spokesperson told Becker's. "This is the union's way of expressing dissatisfaction with that decision."

The system spokesperson said the employee terminations are going through the grievance process within their contracts.
Los Angeles-based Cedars Sinai plans to adopt an artificial intelligence chatbot from startup K Health that will steer patients toward the right level of care and connect them with a human provider if needed, Forbes reported July 17.

The health system also participated as a strategic investor in a $59 million funding round for K Health, which the news outlet valued at about $800 million. Cedars-Sinai plans to launch an app by the end of the year that will link the chatbot to the system's Epic EHR and ultimately lead patients to a nurse or physician.

Shlomo Melmed, MD, executive vice president of academic affairs and dean of the medical faculty at Cedars-Sinai, told the news outlet that primary care can be a challenge for academic health systems. "It's sort of counterintuitive. For serious illness, we are so effective, and yet, for the common ailments, we have so many logistical challenges," he said. "There are 25 million people in Southern California and we have difficult access to primary care, so the potential is huge.

"K Health has trained its large language model, which is similar to the technology that powers ChatGPT, on healthcare specifically, including deidentified data from 10 million patients at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, according to the story. The company said it found that physicians and nurses agreed with one of its AI's diagnoses 84.2 percent of the time and the top-ranked diagnosis 60.9 percent of the time.

Jon Ebbert, MD, an internist and professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic who was involved with that research, told the news outlet the technology could speed up the intake process for patients with low-acuity conditions so physicians can make diagnoses faster and allow them to spend more time on complex cases. "That's the work that needs to be done in these spaces," he said. "What are the clinical conditions that are right for a digital practice partner to assist me? And what are the ones that I don't really think it's appropriate to deploy?"
Hospitals are adopting additional security measures after the shooting and death of an orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics in Collierville, Tenn., the Commercial Appeal reported July 16.

Police allege that Larry Pickens, 29, of Memphis, Tenn., shot and killed Benjamin Mauck, MD, in an exam room July 11. Mr. Pickens was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

Campbell Clinic said in a social media post July 16 that the Collierville location remains closed this week as staff and colleagues continue to mourn the loss of Dr. Mauck. On July 13, the clinic posted that its patients and staff should expect "increased security presence" and that it asked law enforcement to increase patrols at its locations.

Many other hospitals and healthcare institutions in the Memphis area told the Commercial Appeal they had been looking to improve their security even prior to the shooting and will continue to do so.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare shared a statement with the newspaper, saying the health system offered employees additional workplace violence and active shooter training and installed license plate reader cameras at its campuses. The system also shared plans to limit entry points and increase the presence of trained security personnel at facilities.

Regional One Health will continue to maintain a presence of "skilled security officers" on location as well as regular training for employees, the provider said, according to the Commercial Appeal.

"We actually have situational awareness and de-escalation training scheduled for interested staff beginning next month," spokesperson Angie Golding told the newspaper. "We had these sessions scheduled prior to the tragic events of this week, but this is one example of our added security efforts."

Saint Francis Healthcare shared the following statement with the Commercial Appeal: "Our hearts are with the family of Dr. Benjamin Mauck during this difficult time. Prior to this incident, we made a significant investment to enhance our security on our campuses and upgrades will continue to be implemented. Saint Francis Healthcare takes the security and safety of our employees, patients, physicians and visitors very seriously."

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville shared the following statement with Becker's on July 12: "We are saddened by the tragic incident that occurred at Campbell Clinic in Collierville, Tenn., yesterday. While it did not directly involve any of our employees, our hearts go out to Dr. Benjamin Mauck's family, the office staff and others who were nearby. Any violence against a healthcare professional affects all of us in the medical community.

"We are concerned about the increasing violence that we're experiencing as a nation and the effect that its having on us all. As an employer, first responders and caregivers, we are devastated and praying for an end to the violence. We will also be reaching out to other community leaders and organizations to identify helpful solutions to this ongoing issue. As we adjust to the changing reality happening in public spaces, hospitals and clinics, we are increasing our investment in security and working to enhance the safety and security of our facilities in a number of ways, including by conducting regular security patrols, ensuring our parking lots are lighted well, using advanced technology such as Flock Safety License Plate Reader cameras, and collaborating with police departments."










All members of the Cleveland Clinic team are referred to as "caregivers," because every employee should be focused on patients regardless of their position. In fact, part of every person's job is to help deliver the highest quality care and provide the best patient experience, Stephanie Bayer, senior director of patient experience at Cleveland Clinic, told Becker's.

That said, it's understandable that C-suite leaders are focused on varying priorities, depending on which office they are sitting in. Financial leaders might find this nugget difficult to read, but "healthcare is not investment banking. There are other ways to make $1," Ms. Bayer said, adding empowering caregivers with the tools they need to "remove the noise" and integrate empathy into day-to-day operations should be a top priority for all leaders.

Ms. Bayer said she and her patient experience team are focused on making sure their message gets through to colleagues loud and clear. Cleveland Clinic is constantly doing more to improve the way it delivers on its patient experience promise because patients who have good experiences are more likely to adhere to care recommendations and have better outcomes.

"The people working for you want to be engaged and connected to patients, and they need their help in prioritizing how patient experience can be delivered in a highly reliable way," Ms. Bayer said. "Providing authentic, supportive experiences results in the hospital being able to offer patients better, safer care  often in more efficient ways."

Here are four patient care initiatives Cleveland Clinic is using to ensure patient experiences that lead to high satisfaction scores.

Plan of care visits build on an overall communication-comes-first strategy that has long been a top priority for the healthcare system. Cleveland Clinic holds plan of care visits daily between caregivers  including, at a minimum, the provider and one nurse  and the patient or patient representative. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the patient's care plan for that day.

"This is a built-in care model process that requires patient-centric team communication with metrics and expectations of daily performance," Ms. Bayer said.

Plan of care visits are a central part of Cleveland Clinic's Communicate with H.E.A.R.T. (hear, empathize, apologize, respond and thank) programs.

Leadership meeting time means safety story time. Leslie Jurecko, MD, chief safety, quality and experience officer, helps to align all three areas of importance at the Cleveland Clinic. Every meeting  from the enterprise leadership council to small team huddles  begins with a safety story that also reflects a patient experience, the patient experience leader said.

A different kind of healing. Cleveland Clinic's art and medicine division also lives in the patient experience realm. "Not only do they offer support through art and music therapists directly to patients," Ms. Bayer said, "but they are also experts at programming for healing environments."

This program includes regular performances by artists in residence and uses art therapy to help both patients and caregivers "unpack trauma," she said
The lone pediatric hospital in San Diego County, Rady Childrens Hospital, has seen an increase of youth admissions due to cannabis poisoning, according to a July 16 report from the San Diego Union Tribune. But, according to a new report from the CDC, it may not be the only facility seeing an increase.

Cannabis-involved emergency department visits rose for individuals under 25 years of age most during the pandemic, according to CDC data. While the instances spiked, experts noted the reason is unclear and determining why or how could be different for different ages.

Cases increased the most for adolescents between 15 and 24, but also sharply increased specifically for children between 11 and 14 years old. Female patients were also more likely to visit an emergency department due to cannabis intoxication.

"We were seeing about 20 kids per year, with the average age being 3 years old," Natalie Laub, MD, a pediatrician and cannabis researcher at Rady Childrens Hospital told the Tribune. "Then COVID happened, and now we're seeing upwards of 80 to 100 children a year in 2020, 2021, 2022."

The increases Dr. Laub has witnessed at Rady Children's Hospital the last few years is reflective of national trends. According to the CDC, these levels continue to remain above pre-pandemic trends.

"These increases might stem from multiple factors, such as increased use as a coping mechanism for pandemic-related stressors, use of highly concentrated THC products, increased availability of cannabis in states with legal marketplaces, and increased unintentional ingestions associated with packaging that is appealing or confusing to youths," the CDC wrote of its findings.
Surabhi Kumar, third from right, spouse of Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar, helps students from Seongnam Youth Support Center draw images of Indian deity Ganesha during their visit to the embassy's Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, July 13. Courtesy of Embassy of India in Korea



By Kwon Mee-yoo



The Embassy of India in Korea hosted an event for the Korean boys at Seongnam Youth Support Center and Youth Share House, introducing the country's rich culture at the embassy's Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, July 13.



The event, held in cooperation with the Seoul International Women's Association (SIWA) as part of the association's community-building initiative "Coming Together," exposed underprivileged young Koreans to the rich heritage of India, providing an opportunity to explore and appreciate a different culture.



Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar stated that the embassy's workshop for Korean students was founded on the belief that cultural experiences and exchanges foster mutual understanding, increase awareness and cultivate friendships among different people.



"For the youth living in a globalized world today, I personally believe that such exposure is very critical," he said in a greeting to the students. "You all will get a glimpse about India and its incredible diversity and I do hope that it will also ignite further interest about our country."



The embassy prepared an afternoon packed with cultural delights, beginning with a video presentation of India's vibrant nature and heritage, followed by an art workshop drawing Indian deity Ganesha led by the ambassador's daughter Aditi.



Experts from the center also taught lessons for the Indian dance "kathak" and yoga to the young boys from the shelter, which is run by Italian missionary Father Vincenzo Bordo, also known by his Korean name, Father Kim Ha-jong. The embassy also arranged Indian refreshments after the workshop.



The ambassador and his spouse said it was wonderful to share their country's culture with their young friends from the Seongnam Boys' Shelter after wrapping up the event.



"We would like to express our gratitude to Father Vincenzo for his unwavering commitment and dedication towards spreading hope and joy among these children and providing them with a supportive home environment," they said.



"Everyone enjoyed the different workshops and sessions on yoga, kathak and art and the introductory tourism video which showcased the incredible diversity of our country India ... We believe that cultural exposure and exchange helps in enhancing awareness, promoting mutual understanding among people and forging friendship. And for the youth living in an ever-globalized world today, such cultural exposure is critical."


Hospitals, health systems and provider organizations in Massachusetts have launched a multilingual digital campaign to recruit workers.

The "Find Your Place in Healthcare" digital campaign, led by the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, will run through this summer, according to a July 17 news release.

The association estimates 19,000 job vacancies in Massachusetts acute care hospitals.

With this in mind, this campaign is part of efforts to expand the healthcare workforce, including nurses and clinicians, administrative professionals and support staff, according to the group.

The association said the campaign includes social media materials translated into Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. Individual hospitals and health systems have agreed to incorporate this initiative into their recruitment efforts.

According to its website, association members include 70 licensed hospitals, many of which are part of 29 member health systems, as well as interested individuals and other healthcare stakeholders.
Peter Ramsey, MD, completed the first artificial intelligence-assisted hip replacement in March.

Dr. Ramsey, of OrthoSC in Myrtle Beach, performed the procedure March 22 using the OrthoGrid system, a spokesperson for the practice said in a July 17 email to Becker's. He operated at Conway (S.C.) Medical Center.

OrthoGrid has hip-specific software and is designed to reduce operating time, according to its website.
Hotelier Paddy McKillen has said he does not believe his Qatari opponents in a legal battle over Maybourne group have the backing of the state of Qatari

Belfast-born hotelier Paddy McKillen has said he does not believe that the owners of the Maybourne Hotel Group have the support of the Qatar state in their legal battle with him.

But he vowed he was up for a tough fight with his former business partners in an interview with the Irish Times after being appointed honorary consul in Ireland for Vietnam.

The property developer has been locked in litigation over the value of Maybourne, which owns luxury London hotels Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkeley.

Mr McKillen told the Irish Times: From what I hear, the state doesnt like this battle over the most famous hotels in the world.

I think the present regime is not happy with the way Ive been treated, and [feel] I should be paid honourably, and that this court situation should be taken out of the newspapers.

Mr McKillen, who is from west Belfast, claims he is owned around 1bn after entering a profit-sharing agreement with the Qataris in 2015, when they acquired a 36% interest in the hotel group.

He said: After seven years with the Qataris I believe they cheated me out of my rightful earnings and their policy is to tire me out and delay things through court cases.

Instead of having a fantastic end-of-partnership party, they decided to send an email in the middle of the night saying dont come into the hotels, dont talk to the guests. Theyre pretty tough people. So yes its going to be a tough fight, but Im up for it.

The two sides are in dispute over the value of the Maybourne group. Mr McKillen said: I am not allowed to say how much they owe me. But the Financial Times has estimated the hotels as being worth 5bn.

"Of which, after costs, I am entitled to 36%, he said. I have created 64% for my two partners. They dont see that as a reason to pay me. So I am very upset and annoyed, as you can imagine.

Theyve made an awful lot of money out of my sweat. To try to say the hotels arent the value [they are] is just a nonsense. So their policy is to drag me through the courts. But Im big and ugly enough to fight them at their own game.

Their tactic of criticising me gets away from the point that the hotels are packed, their quality is exceptional, and we did [the refurbishments] under budget and ahead of programme. The fact is they just dont want to pay me.

Asked for a response the Irish Times, Charlotte Alexander-Stace, communications director of the Maybourne Group, said: We have no comment to make on this.

Mr McKillen was formerly enmeshed in a prolonged legal row with Frederick and David Barclay over the hotels. Their interest was ultimately acquired by the Qataris.

He told the Irish Times that he hoped he would be able to foster better relations with Vietnam as honorary consul, and has opened a consulate office at St Stephens Green in Dublin.

A major refurbishment project at Claridges led by Mr McKillen was chronicled in BBC documentary The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild earlier this year. It featured a series of contractors from Northern Ireland who worked on the project.
Amol Rajan will not try to out-savage Paxman as new University Challenge host (Ric Lowe/Lifted Entertainment/ITV Studios/BBC/PA)

Amol Rajan has said he will not try to out-savage Jeremy Paxman, ahead of the airing of his first episode as quiz master on University Challenge.

The BBC journalist, 40, hailed his predecessor as a giant of broadcasting but said he would approach contestants with a certain amount of affection.

Rajan was announced last year as the new host of the popular quiz show, taking over from Paxman, who fronted the show for 29 years.

He is the third person to present the main series of the programme in its 61-year history. Bamber Gascoigne had launched the quiz in 1962.

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Speaking to The One Show on Monday ahead of the airing of his first episode, Rajan said he had had a sweet phone call with Paxman after landing the role, and promised he would try not to screw it up.

(Paxman) is a giant of broadcasting; such an enormous heroic figure in our culture, he said.

I had two messages one is thank you for passing the show on in such great condition the ratings are great, the shows format is as solid as ever.

But the other thing is Ill try not to screw it up.

Throughout his tenure on University Challenge, Paxman was known for his biting remarks and exasperated reactions to incorrect answers from contestants.

Asked about his own presenting style, Rajan said: I dont know if I can out-savage (Paxman). Im going to be me.

Ive got a rule  Im going to do put-downs, A, if they deserve it and B, if I really knew the answer.

Jeremy Paxman was well known for his biting remarks to contestants (Yui Mok/PA)

I think if you like to have a scathing put-down and youre making up that you knew the answer, people were about to be able to tell.

But youve got to do it with a certain amount of affection  and these young people are so amazing.

Theyre not from wealthy backgrounds necessarily. Theyre incredibly clever and they just want to have a good time.

So Im trying to kind of be a friend to them, but Im also the boss and so if they do say something embarrassing  as I have once or twice been told off myself  I will tell them off.

Rajan said he had not yet seen the first episode, and would be watching with his son Winston.

He added that the moment will be poignant after the death of his father last year.

(My father) came to this country (with) family values, aspirations, and a real belief in education and knowledge, he said.

And I think the reason University Challenge specifically means so much to me is it kind of embodied what he sacrificed to come to this country for, and so its going to be a bit sad that hes not there tonight.

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But to be doing this. I know if he was watching hed absolutely love it.

University Challenge returns at 8.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Tackling the tough questions will be 28 new student teams from universities across the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton.

The show has a new set and title sequence, but its format will remain the same, with contestants expected to buzz in and answer questions on a vast array of subjects.

Rajan also presents Radio 4s flagship Today programme and Amol Rajan Interviews, and has hosted BBC podcasts on subjects including education, climate change, fairness and population.

In 2020, he appeared as a contestant on a celebrity Christmas special of University Challenge, but his team from Downing College, Cambridge, lost to Durham University.

In May 2021, Paxman announced he was being treated for Parkinsons disease but said his symptoms were currently mild.

It was revealed in an ITV documentary that his doctor diagnosed him with the disease after noticing he was less exuberant on University Challenge.

Paxman said: It turned out that he had been watching University Challenge and had noticed that my face had acquired whats known as the Parkinson Mask.
A man charged with raping and blackmailing two 15-year-old boys has been accused of a catalogue of similar offences against a third teenage boy.

Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court today by video link from prison, Stephen Lee McIlvenny (20) was charged with a further 13 offences alleged to have been committed between November 1, 2019, and October 29, 2022.

McIlvenny, from Glasvey Close, Dunmurry, west Belfast, faces charges of anal rape, oral rape, administering a noxious substance with intent to commit a sex offence, sexual assault, blackmailing the teenage boy into engaging in sexual activity, inciting him to engage in sexual activity, causing him to watch pornography, voyeurism and possessing and distributing indecent images of a child.

He also faces three drug offences including supplying a psychoactive substance, being concerned in supplying class A cocaine and supplying class B cannabis.

On a separate indictment, McIlvenny, who has been in custody since late last year, faces 14 sex offences against two other boys, alleged to have been committed between March 1 and November 9 last year, including two counts each of rape, sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming of a child, making indecent images, possessing indecent images and sexual communication with a child.

He faces further single counts of voyeurism and inciting a child to take an indecent photograph.

Previous courts heard that according to the two initial schoolboy complainants, they were raped and abused on a weekly basis. It is the police case that McIlvenny blackmailed them into having sex with him by threatening to release intimate images he had of the pair.

A third complainant then came forward after McIlvenny was charged. In court on Monday, a prosecuting lawyer revealed that both cases are being worked on by the same investigation team and the same lawyers within the PPS.

She added that before the files can be joined and progressed, more work was still be done and noted that the PPS was seeking a four-week adjournment.

Defence counsel Mark Farrell conceded that it was a complicated file and had no objection to the adjournment.

Remanding McIlvenny, now listed as C/O Hydebank YOC, back into custody, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay put the case back to August 14.
A TUV councillor has said the PSNI is lying in a mess of its own making as an Alliance MLA accused the force of rolling back the clock on LGBT relations in Northern Ireland.

It comes after the PSNI confirmed members who wish to attend this year's Pride march in Belfast will not be allowed to do so in uniform as they have done since 2017.

Belfast City Council representative Ron McDowell told The Nolan Show the PSNIs is bound by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act to promote good relations between different groups within society.

What we have at the Pride parade is a barrier set up between protesters and counter-protesters, he said.

"The parade is marked sensitive by the Parades Commission and thats now going to have to be policed by the PSNI.

"But the irony is that the PSNI for the past six or seven years has been taking part in the parade.

"How can that be seen as impartiality?"

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton has acknowledged the move will come as a disappointment to some."

The PSNI's LGBT+ staff support network said it was "bitterly disappointed" by the change.

But Mr McDowell said the PSNI has made the right decision when asked what kind of message the u-turn signals to the public.

"This message says that the PSNI dont belong to any one section of the community, he added.

The fact that the LGBT+ community has been enjoying special treatment from the PSNI for the last number of years has been a bone of contention.

Where does it stop?

"Do you have the Orange Order turning out and saying they want cars and officers in the parade?

Mr McDowell said the PSNI is obligated to show equal respect to all individuals and their traditions and beliefs as he pointed out that 500,000 people participated in or watched Twelfth of July demonstrations.

PSNI land rover ahead of previous Pride parade in Belfast.

"Pro ratio the Twelfth of July should have 12 bright orange painted cars and 250 officers parading with colourettes, he said.

"Maybe we could even have a PSNI band.

However, Mr McDowell branded his own suggestion as absurd as he stressed no one is calling for such a move.

"We want an impartial police force, he added.

The elected representative defended the PSNIs participation in Remembrance Day events arguing that Irish government officials attend along with politicians from all sides of the community.

Mr McDowell said remembrance services are not political in nature, but reflective adding: Pride is absolutely different.

"Its a protest  its a politically motivated event and its their to change society according to their own whims and aspirations.

However Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson dismissed the councillors remarks as total and utter nonsense and branded the PSNI decision as disgraceful.

"I think what the PSNI have done with this single decision is roll back the clock on years of hard work both by the PSNI and members of the community to build relationships and trust in the police and confidence in the police, he added.

Mr Tennyson said that the police was not and easy place to be for LGBT+ people in the late 90s and early 2000s as he called on the chief constable to reconsider the damaging decision.

"What you are saying to those officers is yes, you go to Pride, yes  you may be a LGBT member of the community going to Pride to celebrate your identity and who you are  but you must not identify yourself as a police officer, he added.

"You are effectively saying you should go back into the closet.

"That is hugely damaging and destructive.

The Assembly member said he has personally been left upset by the PSNIs decision.

For the first time in my life it feels as though we are going backwards, Mr Tennyson continued.

"I think the PSNI owe an explanation to the community as to why they have taken this decision and I would urge the chief constable to revisit it.

Mr Tennyson conceded that the Pride parade is a protest march, but insisted it is not political.

It prompted Mr McDowell to draw attention to the theme of this years event which is Stand By Your Trans and to the fact that Ulster Rugby has been banned from this years parade.

"Unfortunately it is a politically motivated event if it is an open parade that welcomes everybody then why were Ulster Rugby banned? he said.

"Of course it is because there are political ideals associated with that.

The Belfast Telegraph asked the PSNI to clarify what has changed this year, compared to previous years, which has led to the changes announced.

A spokesperson said they will not be making any further comment.
The front of a shop on the Lisburn Road has suffered extensive damage after a car crash on Sunday.

Police attended the two-vehicle road traffic collision on the Lisburn Road at the junction with Eglantine Avenue shortly after 3.45pm.

A police spokesperson said: Both of the cars mounted a footpath as a result of the collision and extensive damage was caused to the front of a nearby commercial premises. No injuries were reported.

Enquiries remain ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101.
Chloe raking in dough with sales of earrings made from Ikea bags and video games

A Lisburn woman who has created a six-figure business with her weird and wonderful jewellery designs is encouraging others to pursue their dreams  even if they dont have business knowledge.

Chloe Morris (23) founded Cuteryko three years ago during the pandemic while studying for a degree in graphic design at Ulster University.

I started it as a hobby when we were in lockdown, she explained.

I was in university and had been furloughed from my job in Sainsburys. I always enjoyed accessories, so I started making earrings from old Nintendo DS games around the house, and then I went to charity shops and got things to upcycle.

I really liked finding unique things that you wouldnt think could be turned into earrings. I thought it was so fun.

Watch: How earrings made from Ikea bags and Nintendo games turned Lisburn woman into TikTok star

Cuteryko is entirely independent, with Chloe selling bags, rings, necklaces and bracelet designs, but she says her most popular products are the quirky earrings.

The bestsellers include earrings made of mini make-up mirrors, Ikea bags, bitesize lipsticks and tiny bubble wands.

Chloe said: A lot of the earrings have two functions, so for example the bubble earrings might be the most popular.

You can take them off and blow bubbles with them. People love those for festivals.

My favourite ones are the lipstick earrings. I think theyre really fun and so handy as well.

I get the most compliments about them.

Cuteryko Ikea bag earrings

Chloe attributed a lot of Cuterykos success to Instagram and TikTok, where she has amassed nearly 300,000 followers, with her products being viewed by tens of millions of people.

Quickly after I began creating earrings in 2020, I decided to set up an Instagram, which is probably the best thing I could have done at the time, she said.

In the first six months, I got over 20,000 followers.

I think I had a good eye for digital pictures. I made all my branding and logos myself and designed my own website.

Her fiance Carl previously worked in finance, but ever since social media helped Cuteryko take off, he quit his job and now works with Chloe in the business full-time.

As a young woman from a single-parent family growing up in Northern Ireland, she didnt have external funding or financial support, which is why Carl believes she is so inspiring.

Im very proud of her. She did her degree while starting her own business during a global pandemic and graduated last year with a first class honours, he told this newspaper.

She has done so well and I want her to get the credit she deserves.

Cuteryko earrings

Chloe came up with the name Cuteryko when she was aged 12 for her social media pages, and although it doesnt mean anything specifically, shes glad the name stuck as its memorable and has a cute vibe to it.

We have so much international business now and I feel the name gives it more legitimacy than something like earrings by Chloe, Carl added.

Since creating an account on TikTok around a year ago, the couple said that the business has gained much more attention around the world.

Carl said: Before our orders mainly came from the UK and Ireland, now Id say over a third are from the US and we ship pretty much everywhere in the world as well.

Cuteryko has dispatched over 10,000 packages since beginning three years ago, and last summer received a major boost when new bead bags went viral online.

Chloe Morris and Carl O'Neill

That was last July and within that month we made nearly 20,000 turnover, said Carl.

Since then, its been building so much and this current tax year, were forecasting to make six figures. Its been absolutely amazing.

With no previous entrepreneurial experience or qualifications in business studies, Chloes advice to others considering starting their own creative venture is to just put yourself out there.

She said: Definitely make an Instagram and a TikTok, show what youre selling, show your personality. Make sure your branding is strong and I definitely think if I was able to do it, anyone can.

Chloe added that anyone can advertise easily and organically through social media without having to pay a penny.

You dont have to have big backing, but start small and keep building, she explained.

Instead of doing nine to five, youre basically working 24 hours a day, but it is fun and you enjoy it more when youre doing something you love.

You can find out more at cuteryko.com or follow @cuteryko on Instagram and TikTok
Jackie McKeown went to great lengths to get stories - including taking a job as a maid in a brothel and travelling to Egypt with a mother aiming to get back her three children after her ex-husband abducted them from England to Cairo.

The Northern Irish journalist died suddenly on July 7 at her home in Newry aged 56. Her colleagues described her reporting work as fearless and tenacious, and saying she was wonderful with people.

The mother of one was born in Banbridge, Co Down, in 1967 but her family fled the violence in Northern Ireland and moved to England in 1972, putting down roots in Croydon in south London.

Jackie studied journalism in her early 20s in London in the mid 80s, starting her career as an NCTJ trainee in titles at the Croydon Advertiser, including the Caterham News, where a former reporter colleague told of her passion to expose truth.

Jackie later put in shifts in newspapers including the London Evening Standard and the Sunday Mirror.

Her sister Tara told how for one story the newsdesk dispatched Jackie to go undercover in a brothel as a maid and sniff out details of the business.

In another story, for the Sunday Mirror, she travelled to Egypt with an English mother aiming to get back her three children after her ex-husband abducted them from England to Cairo in a saga famous in the late 80s to the mid 90s.

After several years of London reporting, Jackie moved to Northern Ireland in the early 90s. In her early days, she moved to Banbridge, but commuted to Newry to work in the Newry Democrat, before later settling in Newry.

One former colleague in the Newry Democrat said Jackie deployed her London reporting experience in the paper, describing her as a trailblazer from day one.

We thought we were great doing our little features. She just came along and she blew us into smithereens, said Mary Kennedy. She was a genius, a trailblazer.

Jackie also reported for media including the Sunday Life, The Examiner in Crossmaglen and with the Lisburn newspaper The Ulster Star - for which she was named as IPR Provincial Journalist of the Year.

In 1995 she began work with the UTV Kelly show as a TV researcher.

In later years, Jackie reported on the 1998 Omagh bombing, and held posts including news editor with the News Letter in Belfast and later as the Editor of the Newry Democrat from 2007 for two years.

She shifted into subediting and worked for titles including the Irish Independent, Irish Daily Mail, Irish Mirror and, more recently, the Irish Daily Star.

Jackie is survived by her daughter Ciara, her mother Rosa van Wijk (her late father was Alan McKeown) and her sister Tara McKeown.
Rafael Grossi, right, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), shakes hands with Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the Democratic Party of Korea during a meeting with the opposition party's lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, July 9. The IAEA defended its status as an international organization "within the United Nations system" after some lawmakers questioned the agency's relevance in an apparent bid to undermine the credibility of its Fukushima report. AP-Yonhap



Nuclear watchdog maintains radiation dose from Fukushima water 'will be undetectable and negligible'



By Jung Min-ho



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defended its status as an organization "within the United Nations system" after some Korean lawmakers questioned the agency's relevance in an apparent bid to undermine the credibility of its report that gave the green light to releasing into the ocean treated wastewater from a crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima.



In response to inquiries recently sent by The Korea Times, Sinead Harvey, the agency's press officer, also expressed confidence in the result of its safety review of the Japanese plan, saying the radiological dose to the Korean public would be 'negligible."



"The IAEA is an autonomous international organization within the United Nations system. It is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field with a membership of 176 Member States," Harvey said.



The statement comes after several lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), including Yang Yiwonyoung and Lee Jae-jung, raised doubts about the IAEA's relations with the U.N. and its expertise in writing such a report.



The IAEA official said the agency conducted an "independent and impartial" analysis regarding all aspects of the release plan and applied relevant international safety standards. What this means is that the IAEA assessed if Japan's measures would have any possible consequences in terms of the protection of present and future generations in the country as well as other ones.



"International safety standards apply not only to local populations but also to populations remote from the discharge activities; and that where effects could span generations, subsequent generations have to be adequately protected without any need for them to take significant protective actions. This is an important fundamental safety principle given the long-term approach currently envisaged for discharging ALPS-treated water," Harvey said.



"Based on the marine dispersion model used by TEPCO, activity concentrations of tritium and other radionuclides in international waters will not be influenced by the discharge of ALPS-treated (the Advanced Liquid Processing System filtration process) water into the sea and will be undetectable or indistinguishable from background levels."



Those international standards used by the IAEA are constantly updated, "taking into account advances in science and technology and learnings from research and experience" and are approved by all IAEA member states and co-sponsored by the competent organs of the U.N. and its relevant agencies, she noted as IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi explains in the report's foreword.





Protesters wearing masks of President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, hold a rally against Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, in Seoul, July 7. AP-Yonhap
A new Atlantic railway spine and plans to link all three airports in Northern Ireland to the train network are believed to be included in the Island Strategic Rail Review which cannot be formally published due to the collapse of Stormont.

But details of a rail network running from Ballina in Co Mayo to Rosslare in Co Wexford are expected to come before Irish Cabinet later this month according to the Irish Times.

A train line to Donegal is also thought to included in the all-island review which was jointly commissioned by Irelands Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and former Stormont Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon in 2021.

Reconnecting Donegal to the railway network with connections to Derry, Strabane and Omagh was a priority for the former SDLP MLA.

In April 2021, Stormonts then Infrastructure Minister and the Irish Minister for Transport announced the launch of the all-island Strategic Rail Review.

They jointly announced a consultation in November that year to seek feedback on the future of rail services on the island.

It closed in January 2022, with some 8,000 responses, but the report  expected at the end of last year  has yet to be published.

Rail campaign groups from across both Northern Ireland and the Republic had previously said that an absolute deadline of April 2023 should have been set for the reports release.

It is understood that faster speeds between major cities form an integral part of the review which will also set out a plan for linking the three airports in Northern Ireland to rail networks.

It is expected that the draft review will be published by the Government with the official review published once the Northern Ireland Executive is reformed.

A recommendation for a major pivot away from roads to rail  for passengers and freight  is believed to be central to the document. .

A rail line between Athenry in Co Galway and Claremorris in Co Mayo would be a central component of the new spine seeking to forge multiple freight connections to ports and secure higher-speed travel between major cities.

Mr Ryan has argued that a major modal shift from car use to rail use is required if the Republic of Ireland is to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Authors of the review were given a mandate in 2021 to improve connections between major cities on the island and to improve regional accessibility.

Last year a study revealed that rail travel between major towns and cities was slower than by car for all routes with the exception of Portlaoise to Dublin and Galway to Athlone.

A trip between Cork and Belfast was found to take six hours and 44 minutes by rail which was two hours slower than by road.

Dublin Airport will have to rely on the construction of the Metrolink in the 2030s as there is no rail network nearby.

Campaign groups from across Ireland have previously said they should no longer be left in limbo by the absence of a functioning government at Stormont.

A Department for Infrastructure (DfI) spokesperson confirmed that a draft final report has been received by officials.

"In taking this through the approval process and in consultation with the relevant authorities in both jurisdictions it was determined that Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening should be undertaken, they said.

"The screening process is complete and it has been determined that a SEA is required.

The spokesperson said work has commenced on scoping and completing the SEA which will be subject to public consultation anticipated to proceed over the summer.

"The draft final report of the Review will be published at the same time for the purposes of the consultation, they added.

Following the completion of the SEA, it is anticipated that the Minister for Transport and Government in Ireland as well as Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, will be asked to approve the review.

"Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the relevant legislation in place at the time.

"It is anticipated the final review, incorporating any changes following the outcome of the SEA process, will be published in the autumn.
EXCLUSIVE | Daughter ripped from fathers arm by IRA gunmen in brutal 1998 murder calls for apology from Sinn Fein

Caitlin Darragh was a baby in her fathers arms when gunmen stormed into their flat and shot him. She breaks her silence over the brutal 1998 murder and tells about the familys enduring pain

Andrew Kearney's daughter Caitlin Darragh holding a picture of Andrew taking care of her when she was a child, with Andrew's sisters Lisa Kearney (left) and Eleanor Kearney King: Picture by Aodhan Roberts for Belfast Telegraph

Suzanne Breen Mon 17 Jul 2023 at 07:00
An aircraft crashed into a cliff face in the Isle of Man on Monday.

A Coastguard spokesperson said: HM Coastguard is coordinating the response with the Isle of Man Coastguard after reports a light aircraft had collided with the cliff face at Bradda Head, Isle of Man.

The Peel RNLI lifeboat was sent, along with HM Coastguards helicopter from Caernarfon to carry out a search.

Isle of Man emergency services  police, fire and ambulance - are also involved. It is not yet known whether anyone was injured or killed in the incident.
Rishi Sunak has said he wants to put an end to people being taken advantage of with low-quality courses by restricting universities in recruiting students to them.

The number of students who can be accepted on to poor quality degree courses in England will be capped, or even reduced to zero, under the Prime Ministers proposals.

Critics argue that the plans are a rehash of previous policy announcements and will make it harder for young people to pursue their aspirations.

Mr Sunak said the key message of the policy is: You dont have to go to university to succeed in life.

He told broadcasters during a visit to an east London school on Monday: For many people, university is the right answer and it does brilliantly, but actually there are a range of people who are being let down by the current system.

Theyre being taken advantage of with low-quality courses that dont lead to a job that makes it worth it, leaves them financially worse off.

Thats what were clamping down on today. But, at the same time, making sure that young people have a range of fantastic alternative opportunities, whether that be apprentices or higher technical qualifications, for example.

The announcement by Mr Sunak and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is part of the Governments response to the Augar review, established by Theresa May in 2017.

Among the reports recommendations, which also included cutting tuition fees and increasing funding for further education, was an aim to reduce the number of low-value courses leaving students with poor job prospects.

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Under the plans, ministers will ask Englands universities regulator to limit the number of students universities can recruit on to courses seen to fail to deliver good outcomes for graduates.

Asked if the Office for Students (OfS) will be ordered to do so, Mr Sunak said: No, the regulator is independent, and rightly so.

What the regulator will do is look at a range of different outcomes for courses. So, what kind of jobs are students going on to, do they complete the course, how much do they earn in later life?

On the basis of all of that, theyll be able to figure out Well, hang on, that course actually isnt delivering value for money. Its letting people down and we should not put students on it because were letting them down.

With that information, students can make more informed choices and, at the same time, were making it easier for them to find things like apprenticeships.

Students could even be banned from certain courses altogether, Downing Street said.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: In extremis, recruitment limits could be used to prevent any recruitment to a course.

The OfS has powers to suspend a providers registration or even remove it from their register if they wish, but its up to them to decide the scope and nature of any recruitment.

Rishi Sunak said the Government is boosting skills training and apprenticeships provision (Alberto Pezzali/PA)

The measures will also see the maximum fee that can be charged for classroom-based foundation year courses reduced to 5,760  down from 9,250.

The Government said classroom-based foundation year courses  an additional year of study designed to help prepare students for degrees with specific entry requirements, such as medicine  are being encouraged in subjects where it is unnecessary.

Education minister Robert Halfon said it is absolutely not the case that the policy is an attack on arts and humanities courses.

But, when repeatedly pressed, he refused to name any degrees that could be subject to recruitment limits.

When it was put to him that the policy is woolly, the senior Tory told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Its a very substantive policy because it focuses on it could be any course.

It focuses on individual courses that have poor employment outcomes; that is not woolly at all.

It could be any particular course and what were doing is making sure that students who leave university have good jobs, good skills at the end.

Education minister Robert Halfon declined to give examples of courses that could face a cap on student numbers (House of Commons/PA)

Professor Steve West, president of Universities UK, said: The Office for Students already has the power to impose recruitment limits on courses which breach certain minimum thresholds for continuation, progression, and completion.

The vast majority of courses exceed these thresholds so any measures by government need to be targeted and proportionate, and not a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

He added: It is right that the regulatory framework is there as a backstop to protect student interests in the very small proportion of instances where quality needs to be improved.

Opposition MPs said the measures are a cap on aspiration which will restrict choice for young people.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: This is simply an attack on the aspirations of young people and their families by a Government that wants to reinforce the class ceiling, not smash it.

The Conservatives appalling record on apprenticeships means it cant be trusted to deliver the overhaul that our young people need, and (the) new role for the Office for Students will be to put up fresh barriers to opportunity in areas with fewer graduate jobs.

Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats education spokeswoman, said: Rishi Sunak is so out of ideas that hes dug up a new version of a policy the Conservatives have announced and then unannounced twice over.

Universities dont want this. Its a cap on aspiration, making it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.
Dozens of references to offensive terms found in official documents

Meghan has claimed that an unnamed royal had asked Prince Harry how dark their sons skin tone might be, before Prince Archie was born. Photo: Getty

The RCT 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 British nation. Photo: Getty

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 has revealed.

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 Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson to denounce the word as inappropriate and offensive.

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.

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 Meghan, 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 her husband, the late Prince Philip  had asked Prince Harry how dark their sons skin tone might be, before Prince Archie was born.

Meghan has claimed that an unnamed royal had asked Prince Harry how dark their sons skin tone might be, before Prince Archie was born. Photo: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II 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.

British 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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.
Finance minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the meeting as it got under way in Gujarat (AP)

Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations (G20) will address critical global economic challenges during a meeting in India, including the threats posed by climate change and rising debt among low-income countries.

The finance minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 will focus on strengthening the global economy as growth remains uneven and below average.

In her opening remarks ahead of the meetings being held in Gandhinagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Ms Sitharaman said: What we need are coordinated international efforts to navigate this challenging period.

Earlier on Monday, Ms Sitharaman and US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said the two countries were working together to further the groups agenda.

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They spoke after holding talks on the sidelines of the G20 meetings, a sign of the importance of their countries relationship at a time of tension with China.

The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries, Ms Yellen said.

Ms Sitharaman said a priority for the G20 and host country India is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consensus on intractable issues associated with rising indebtedness of low and middle-income countries.

Ms Yellen added that it was vital to press for more ambition and specific reforms with respect to global development banks.

Both leaders emphasised the need to tackle debt issues facing low- and middle-income countries and to improve the multilateral debt restructuring process.

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen and Indias finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman address the media (AP)

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts in 2022, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. More than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

The meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors will conclude on Tuesday.

A meeting of G20 finance chiefs in Indias technology hub of Bengaluru in February ended without a consensus, with Russia and China objecting to the description of the war in Ukraine in a final document.

Ms Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, following a recent trip to Beijing.

She reiterated the deepening ties between the two countries on Monday and said the United States and India are among the closest partners in the world.

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In a statement, she said the US was looking forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed Indias energy transition.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite US and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy.

The country has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven-endorsed price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Despite this, the US has increased ties with India and courted its leaders. President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honouring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster their partnership.

The two leaders pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.
A damaged car in front of a burned tree near Loutraki, west of Athens, Greece (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Wildfires outside Athens have forced thousands of people to flee seaside resorts, closed motorways and gutted holiday homes, as high winds pushed flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by days of extreme heat in Greece.

Authorities issued evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities as two major wildfires edged closer to summer resort towns and gusts of wind hit 70kph (45mph).

The army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers freed retirees from their homes, rescued horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames.

Before nightfall, water-dropping planes and helicopters tackled the flames near Lagonisi, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) south east of the capital.

The second large wildfire broke out in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, some 90 kilometres (55 miles) west of Athens, where a childrens summer camp and rehabilitation centre for seniors were evacuated, local officials said.

Fire service spokesman Yiannis Artopios said the strong and changeable winds and mountainous terrain in which both fires broke out were slowing the firefighting effort.

The conditions are changing constantly and this has to be matched by our response. We have ordered multiple evacuations, he said.

A fire near Loutraki, west of Athens, Greece (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

The evacuees gathered along the coastline or were put up in schools and hotels, while coast guard vessels were dispatched to smoke-heavy beachfronts to assist if needed.

On a visit to Brussels, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the risk posed by wildfires this month as extremely difficult to deal with.

We have always had wildfires and we always will have them. But with the effects of the climate crisis, we are experiencing fires with increasing intensity, Mr Mitsotakis said, speaking on the margins of talks between leaders from the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Greater Athens and much of southern Greece were on the second highest level of alert for wildfires on Monday and Tuesday following a four-day heatwave that eased over the weekend.

A man tries to extinguish a fire with a hose near Loutraki (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

More heatwave temperatures are expected later in the week.

Residents and visitors in areas affected by the two fires received mobile phone alerts from the Civil Protection Ministry.

Loutraki mayor Giorgos Gionis said municipal workers were also assisting seniors in the evacuations, adding that the operation had been impeded by mobile phone reception outages.

Local officials confirmed that homes had been destroyed and badly damaged in both fires.
A new campaign stresses the value of social care and encouraging people to choose it as a career.

The Social Care  Making a Difference initiative, which is delivered by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, launched two weeks ago.

Mum-of-three Stephanie McAleese (33), from Limavady, is one of more than 38,000 social care workers in Northern Ireland, setting out on her career with Connected Health just under seven years ago. She is now a regional manager, leading a team of 190 care assistants and three area managers.

I originally worked in a butcher counter, and being able to establish positive relationships with elderly customers, I wanted to take this to the next level and be a carer in the community, she explains. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I am helping someone remain in the comfort of their own home.

To be able to put a smile on someones face every day, by helping them enjoy the little things in life is one of lifes greatest achievements.

Connected Health was her first care job, and within two weeks, she knew it was the right career for her.

More importantly, to believe in a vision, to be part of something revolutionary, that challenged the status quo of health care, thats when I knew, she says.

When I get up in the morning and put my uniform on, I know that what I do is making a difference, and to work in a workplace that promotes safe and effective care, and puts the service users at the forefront of what we do.

Even on bad days, I know that I am helping someone, I know that someone I am going to care for wishes that they could turn back time and do some things different, it makes me appreciate the things I have.

Stephanie with one of her clients, Pat

Alongside healthcare professionals, social care workers are the backbone of society, keeping people safe and well at home.

With more than 38,000 registered, it makes social care the largest segment of the health and social care workforce in Northern Ireland.

My role is to support and assist the area managers for each area to ensure we are delivering the highest standard of care to our clients.

I liaise daily with next of kins, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists and key stakeholders, explains Stephanie.

Some people think we just make tea and leave again, our role is so much more. We are the people keeping hospital beds free, the role of the carer is evolving every day, with bigger expectations and bigger responsibilities, but we evolve every day and adapt to new challenges.

One of the biggest misconceptions within health and social care is that its an unskilled role, this is untrue, to be a carer you are required to be resilient and motivated, and you must have a desire to help others.

We are not an unskilled workforce, we are a highly trained, efficient workforce that is constantly developing, training, learning and reflecting to ensure our clients receive the service we promise to deliver.

The initiatives launch kicks off a summer-long campaign of activity, celebrating the vital contribution social care workers make to our community, and highlights how fulfilling a professional role in social care can be.

The role that I am in has taught my children to be resilient, and have a real caring nature, explains Stephanie of the impact of her job on her children.

A lot of my kids compassion comes down to them hearing me speak about my day at work and how we as a company treat and respect people.

The (childrens) teacher at school chats about how kind and caring the wee McAleeses are.

I would also like to think the added values Connected Health have taught me I pass on to my children, such as empathy and nurturing.

Her advice for anyone interested in pursuing a role in the industry is to choose your organisation wisely.

I had a clear career path, from carer to regional manager.

Its so important to know that the organisation you work for will invest in you as an individual to provide you with the skillset and resources to continue professional development.

Our job is so rewarding knowing that every day we turn up at work, we are making a difference to our clients lives.

For information about the campaign, and view social care stories, go to niscc.info/social-care-stories
A desperate criminal facing charges connected to the Newtownards feud pleaded with dissidents for behind-bars protection.

Ryan Buster Johnston was returned to Maghaberry Prison last month, accused of breaching the terms of his bail.

Fearing for his safety, he sought help from three republicans charged in connection with the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell. But according to jail sources, Johnston was told to f**k off, leaving him red-faced.

Buster is under threat from a Traveller gang who he owes money to and some of them are in Maghaberry, a source told Sunday Life.

He fears he could be attacked, so he sent word to a couple of dissidents who are charged in connection with Caldwell attempted murder. He offered them information in return for protection, but they told him to f**k off.

Johnston was being held on a committal wing at Maghaberry Prison alongside dissidents Liam Leakie McDonnell (36), Tiernan McFadden (25) and Caolan Brogan (23), who were later transferred to the segregated republican Roe House unit.

The three men from Derry are charged with putting a New IRA statement on a wall, claiming the attempted murder of DCI Caldwell.

Johnston sending word to them begging for help is the talk of the jail, added our source.

It shows just how desperate he is. In fairness, the dissidents were smart enough to tell him to take a hike.

Johnston (29) is accused of making threats to kill and affray over an incident in May connected to the loyalist feud ravaging Newtownards.

He is alleged to have shouted threats to a male, saying: We are going to stiff you youre a dead man walking.

Johnston faces further unrelated charges of common assault, affray and disorderly behaviour in connection with a separate alleged attack on a man at Ards Shopping Centre on March 31.
A Myanmar democracy activist and her family, who are U.N. refugee card holders, were kidnapped from their home in Malaysias capital earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said Monday, adding that people linked to the Malaysian government may have been involved.

Activist Thuzar Maung was targeted because she supported the Myanmar pro-democracy movement against the Burmese junta, but it was a first for holders of United Nations refugee cards, said a source who works with migrant groups in Malaysia.

The July 4 abduction in Kuala Lumpur was carried out meticulously, raising suspicion that people connected to the Malaysian government may have participated, Phil Robertson, HRWs deputy Asia director, told BenarNews.

What is clear is this action was professionally planned and carried out with a great deal of efficiency, leaving very few clues  raising suspicion that persons connected to the Malaysian government could be involved, Robertson said.

Police in Selangor, the state encompassing Kuala Lumpur, said they were investigating the report.

Malaysia has been among the most vocal Southeast Asian nations calling for strong action against the Myanmar military, which toppled an elected government in February 2021. Yet it has deported thousands, including military defectors, to Myanmar, human rights groups have complained.

Unidentified men abducted Thuzar Maung, 46; her husband, Saw Than Tin Win, 43; her daughter, Poeh Khing Maung, 16; and sons Aung Myint Maung, 21; and Thukha Maung, 17; on July 4 from their residence in Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, HRW alleged, citing witness accounts and CCTV footage.

We fear that Thuzar Maung and her family were abducted in a planned operation and are at grave risk, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at HRW, said in a statement. She demanded the Malaysian government urgently locate the family and ensure their safety.

While there was so far no evidence to conclusively determine who was responsible, the only party with a true motive was the Burmese junta, said HRWs Robertson.

[T]hose with a real motive to carry out this heinous abduction are the Myanmar military junta and its Embassy in Malaysia, and that possibility must be immediately and thoroughly investigated as well, he said.

The Malaysian migrant group source, who asked that their name not be disclosed for safety reasons, concurred with Robertson, saying Burmese refugees live in constant fear of deportation because their embassy in Kuala Lumpur represents the Burmese military.

Thuzars public support of the shadow and civilian National Unity Government  made up of former elected legislators and other junta opponents  and her help for the NUG on Myanmar migrant welfare issues would be reasons that the junta would target her, the source said.

And the reason the abduction was made public late is because Thuzars colleagues requested confidentiality until late last week due to concerns that media exposure could potentially endanger her, the source told BenarNews.

Selangor state police said they were trying to find Thuzar and her family.

The police have received a police report regarding this matter, Selangor Police chief Hussein Omar Khan told BenarNews.

Following that, an investigation has been initiated under the Missing Person Inquiry Paper, he said without providing details.

BenarNews contacted the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, as well as Malaysias Foreign and Home Affairs ministers for comment but did not immediately hear back from them.

No signs of robbery

In Malaysia, Thuzar, whose name is also spelled Thu Zar Moung, works as chairwoman of the Myanmar Muslim Refugee Community and the Myanmar Migrant Workers Committee. According to HRW, she arrived in Malaysia in 2015.

Her Facebook page, where she posts criticism of alleged abuses by Myanmars junta, has more than 93,000 followers, HRW said.

CCTV footage showed a car entering the gated community where Thuzar lived with her family, at around 4:30 pm July 4, HRW said.

The driver told the security guards they were police. Two hours later, Thuzar Maung was on the phone with a friend, who heard her yell to her husband that unknown men were entering the house, before being disconnected, the HRW statement said.

At about 7:10 p.m., the same car and the two cars owned by Thuzar Maungs family were seen leaving the compound. Thuzar Maungs phone and the phones of her husband and children appear to have been immediately turned off, as no calls have gone through since.

The activists colleagues who entered the house on July 5 said there were no signs of robbery, HRW said.

The last post on Thuzars Facebook account was at 5:07 a.m. July 4.

BenarNews had met with Thuzar in September 2022 when she said she fled from Mandalay in Myanmar after facing discrimination because of her Muslim identity and being falsely accused of associating with terrorism.

The Muslim community in that area were heavily accused. I was frightened and decided to flee the country. Because I had a passport at that time, I was able to book a flight and get to Thailand. Thailand granted a visa on arrival, and then I went to Malaysia, she told BenarNews back then.

I went to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Kuala Lumpur in 2015 and pleaded my case. I showed them proof that I was accused and discriminated against due to my religion. Then we received our U.N. cards.
In this Oct. 20, 2021 file photo, Former President Moon Jae-in, wearing a pilot uniform, sits in the cockpit of a Korean-made FA-50 jet fighter at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, as he arrives to attend the opening ceremony of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition. Korea Times file



Korea will hold an international defense exhibition in October to showcase advanced military hardware and technologies, organizers said Monday, amid Seoul's push to become a major player in the global arms market.



The six-day Seoul International Aerospace Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 will kick off on Oct. 17 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, involving 550 companies from 35 countries, the organizers said.



It would mark the largest-ever edition of the exhibition, which first launched in 1996.



During this year's event, the organizers seek to hold various aircraft demonstrations and exhibit advanced military assets and equipment, including F-35 radar evading fighter jets, FA-50 light attack aircraft, K2 battle tanks and K9A1 self-propelled howitzers.



They are also in talks with the U.S. military to showcase its aircraft and other assets to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance this year, an official told reporters.



The first four days will host various seminars and forums for defense industry officials before the exhibition is opened to the general public in the last two days.



The exhibition's previous edition in 2021 featured hydrogen-fuel drones, virtual reality-based training systems, laser weapons systems and multipurpose unmanned vehicles, as well as military aircraft, including FA-50 fighters.



This year's event will take place after Korea unveiled a goal last year to become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027. (Yonhap)


Members of Malaysias Ministry of Home Affairs enforcement unit with 25 rainbow-colored watches confiscated from Swatchs Pride Collection at One Utama Shopping Center, Kuala Lumpur, May 13, 2023.

Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group has filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government for confiscating 172 rainbow-colored watches that promote LGBTQ+ rights.

Malaysias Ministry of Home Affairs seized the watches worth 64,795 ringgit ($14,250) from the companys Pride Collection during raids at 16 outlets between May 13-15.

Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the timepieces were confiscated because they contained the acronym LGBTQ, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.

The LGBTQ+ community has long faced discrimination in Malaysia, where homosexuality is forbidden and sodomy can be punished with imprisonment and corporal punishment.

The arbitrary seizures, done without prior notice, caused loss and damage to the companys trading reputation, Swatch said in the lawsuit filed on June 23 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The company is seeking the return of the watches and substantive damages.

Swatch said most of the watches did not contain the LGBTQ+ letters but were inspired by several colors of the rainbow. It also said the seizure notices did not clearly state on what basis the watches were being confiscated.

As far as we are aware, rainbow images or LGBTQIA2S+ words are not banned in Malaysia, Swatch said in the lawsuit.

The company said it received no complaint from authorities or the public that the designs were problematic, nor was it given any opportunity to be heard before the raids.

The judicial review named four respondents, namely the government of Malaysia, the Home Affairs Ministry, the ministrys chief secretary and the ministrys enforcement division secretary.

The case will be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court On Thursday.

The Home Affairs Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The raids on the Swatch stores intensified concern about increasing homophobia and extremism in Malaysia, where discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is often led by the countrys politicians.

In February, the government made headlines when it banned two childrens books due to allegations they promoted LGBT lifestyles, as well as a novel deemed harmful to Malaysian morals.

More recently, conservative political parties have called for a concert by chart-topping British band Coldplay to be canceled, due to its support of the pride movement.
Relatives pray for urns containing the ashes of relatives killed in the Philippine governments war on drugs, during a Catholic service in Caloocan city, Metro Manila, July 6, 2023.

On the eve of an international courts ruling on whether it will press on with investigating the former Philippine presidents war on drugs, the Marcos administration said Monday that it would not honor any related arrest warrants.

The Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Court (ICC), in The Hague, said it would rule July 18 on the Philippine governments appeal to block the resumption of the ICC prosecutors probe into thousands of drug war killings under ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Should the court reject the appeal, the government would refuse to cooperate in executing warrants tied to the case, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

No, they wont do anything here. They have no involvement here. What will they do? Do they want to invade us again like a colony? That has long been over, Remulla said in an interview with reporters on Monday.

We were colonized by Spain, colonized by the United States, and colonized by Japan. Enough of that. Now, we are a free country with our own legal system, he said.

A rejection would allow ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan to carry on with his probe into the drug war during Dutertes presidency as well as extrajudicial killings by his so-called vigilante group, the Davao Death Squad, when Duterte served as the mayor of southern Davao city.

Khan could continue to gather evidence and request that ICC judges issue arrest warrants, according to the Human Rights Watch.

Among those who could be summoned are Duterte and his former national police chief, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who was the architect of the drug war during much of Dutertes time in office (2016-22).

Citing previous ICC investigations in other countries, HRW noted that the time before warrants and summons might be issued could range from a little less than two months to over six years.

The ICC could seek to prosecute Filipinos if the appeals chamber rules against the Philippines, the state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra as saying on Sunday.

There is no further appeal available to the Philippine government. Depending on the evidence we may be able to gather, the ICC prosecutor may seek the issuance of summonses or warrants of arrest against certain individuals, Guevarra said.

Regardless of the outcome of our appeal, the Philippine government will continue to focus on its own investigation and prosecution of alleged abuses in connection with the war on drugs. It will defend and assert the sovereignty of the Republic at all times.

Then-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte jokes to photographers as he holds an Israeli-made Galil rifle at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 19, 2018. [Bullit Marquez/AP]

In 2018, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the international treaty that created the ICC, and repeatedly said he would not allow himself to be subjected to an international trial.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., winner of the 2022 presidential election who ran with the former presidents daughter, Sara Duterte  now the vice president  has called the ICC probe a threat to our sovereignty. Marcos so far has refused to allow the Philippines to rejoin the ICC.

Victims see no justice

Drug war victims and their families unanimously and strongly urged the ICC to continue investigations, saying justice remains elusive for them, according to a 20-page document made public. They cited an absence of proper documentation and genuine investigation, inaction under the new government, security concerns and fear of retaliation.

The document is part of the May 22 report published by the ICC Registrys Victims Participation and Reparations section.

In all communications received by the VPRS, victims unanimously support an ICC investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the context of the [war on drugs] in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 17 March 2019, the report said.

In the words of the victims, justice and accountability in the Philippines remain largely elusive and victims and victims families face enormous difficulties in seeking accountability using available domestic legal remedies.

The victims, as cited in the report, also highlighted the prolongation of the drug war under the Marcos administration.

In their submission, no investigations or prosecutions are being conducted into alleged war on drugs-related crimes committed under the former administration or the current one, the report said.

Moreover, victims report that  local authorities would mostly pressure victims families not to file cases, it said.

More than 8,000 suspected drug addicts and dealers were killed during Dutertes term as president, according to government figures. He once told police force members that he would protect them from prosecution if they were charged, as long as the deaths occurred while they were performing their mandate as law enforcement officers.
Pita Limjaroenrat (center), leader of the Move Forward Party and candidate for prime minister, shakes hands with Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew after holding a meeting with the eight-party coalition in Bangkok, July 17, 2023.

Pita Limjaroenrat conceded Monday that a defeat in a second parliamentary vote for prime minister set for July 19 would end his quest to become Thailands first pro-democracy leader in nine years, but hed make way for another opposition candidate.

After meeting with partners in a progressive coalition on Monday, the Move Forward Party leader said that in the interest of the Thai people, he would step aside so that a nominee from the Pheu Thai party could be elected prime minister, if he lost in the next round of voting.

Also scheduled for Wednesday is a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether Pita should be indicted for owning shares in a now-defunct media company  a violation of Thai election laws, although the judicial decision wont affect his nomination for PM.

The eight-party pro-democracy alliance, which includes Pitas Move Forward Party, the highest vote-getter and Pheu Thai Party, which came in second in the May 14 general election, met on Monday to decide who to nominate in the second round of voting for prime minister.

In regards to the upcoming July 19 [parliamentary meeting] the eight parties agreed to nominate me, Pita Limjaroenrat, as the candidate for Thailands 30th prime minister, he said at a press conference.

In order to safeguard this eight-party MOU, I would step aside and let the second party try to be the manager of the next cabinet as well as Article 272, Pita said about a scenario where he is not elected on Wednesday, although a date for a third round of parliamentary voting has yet to be announced.

Pita was referring to a memorandum of understanding with seven other parties to stay united and fight the parties in the previous conservative, pro-royal regime.

Article 272 is a clause in the 2017 military-backed constitution that gives unelected Senators, who were appointed by the junta, the power to vote for the prime ministerial candidate. On Friday, Move Forward proposed amending the law to strip the pro-royal Senators of that power.

[I]f theres no improvement  substantial improvement  then I think I have to think about this country, think about the vacuum, he told reporters.

In the first round of voting last Thursday, Pita failed to win the requisite votes needed to become PM.

He received 324 votes, falling short by 51 votes needed of the 749-member bicameral parliament. Only 13 senators voted for him.

A majority of the Senate, including active armed forces chiefs and retired officers, were either absent or voted against Pita as PM. Move Forwards campaign platform called for reforming laws shielding the monarchy and amending a draconian royal defamation law, Article 112.

Pita faces the same hurdles on Wednesday, this time with the optics potentially complicated by the Constitutional Courts decision on his stock ownership in the media company.

Pro-democracy activists set off on motorbikes from the Democracy Monument during a car-mob protest as they call on Thailands senators to vote for Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat in this weeks upcoming second vote for prime minister in parliament, in Bangkok, July 16, 2023. [Jack Taylor/AFP]

Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of Thai Liberal Party, an ally of Move Forward, said over the weekend he had invited two more parties from the conservative Prayuth side  Democrat Party (25 seats) and Chat Thai Pattana Party (10 seats)  to join the pro-democracy alliance. As of Monday evening, neither had responded.

Even if they agreed to join, the alliance would have needed 51 more seats, which they would not bring.

The most viable option would be the Bhumjaithai Party with 71 MPs, but bringing it in is an impossibility, one analyst said.

It is apparent Bhumjaithai will not join the pro-democracy side, said Nuttakorn Vititanon, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University. A part of the outgoing ruling bloc, Bhumjaithai has said it would not support a PM who seeks to amend the law against defaming the monarchy.

In the upcoming vote, it is hard for the coalition to change the minds of senators, it needs more than 50 votes, Nuttakorn said.

Pitas chances of becoming a prime minister are remote and far from reality.

As for Pheu Thai, it has three prime ministerial candidates at its disposal who could fill the void should Pita fail, observers said.

These candidates are ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatras daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and party advisers Srettha Thavisin and Chaikasem Nitisiri.

Chiang Mai Universitys Nuttakorn said the eight-party coalition could splinter if the attempts to pitch a Pheu Thai candidate also fail.

Prayuth is not there. Pheu Thai could explain that Prayuth called it quits, Nuttakorn said, referring to a possibility that Pheu Thai could ally with arch-nemesis and the United Thai Nation Party, which won 36 seats.

Until recently, UNTP was headed by former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the ex-army chief who led a military coup in 2014 that toppled the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra. Prayuth announced last week that he was retiring from politics.

Chances of a polar swing are not impossible.
FILE - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds takes part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference on Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. On Monday, July 17, 2023, an Iowa judge temporarily blocked the states new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, just days after Reynolds signed the measure into law.
Georgia mass shooting suspect is killed during intense search and 3 officers are wounded, police say

Authorities say officers killed a man in an exchange of gunfire as they tried to arrest the suspect in the weekend killings of four people near Atlanta
Putin says Russia has sufficient stockpile of cluster bombs as Ukraine gets its own supply from US

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster munitions, warning that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons
Soloists Erin Morley, Will Liverman and Reginald Mobley perform "Carmina Burana" with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood on Sunday.
Military commanders pay tribute to five fallen Marines during a ceremony held to mark the fifth anniversary of their death in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. The service members were killed during a test flight of an MUH-1 Marineon helicopter in July 2018. Courtesy of Marine Corps
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On Sunday, the Pittsfield Police Department asked for the public's help locating 16-year-old Mya Acito, who was reported missing.
GREAT BARRINGTON  Paul Joffe worked hard his entire life and traveled very little.

But he is determined to reverse that and very soon.

Joffe is closing the bright yellow roadside Flying Church Coffee gazebo that he built from scratch, selling his New Marlborough property, buying a boat and setting sail.

I just want to sail around the world, said Joffe, 61. Its a dream.

Fear not for the end of coffee in what is otherwise an espresso desert north of Rubiners alley. Fear not for the end of the breakfast sandwiches and smoothies.

They just might not be Joffes  the place is for rent. And nearly a dozen prospective tenants have contacted him since he posted to Facebook on Sunday about his closing this summer.

Joffes departure, however, might leave the town wanting for Joffes community spirit and brand of humor. His logo shows angel wings flapping on holy trinity steam rising from a cup. He also took possession, at some point, of the giant Creepy Santa that had changed hands a number of times. Joffe stored it in his cow pasture for a time.

Joffe built the little yellow takeout-only shop in 2019 just before the pandemic hit. He had already finished redeveloping the Flying Church, so named by locals when Joffe jacked the historic former United Methodist Church off Main Street up on steel stilts to create a lower retail level.

Thats where the Pixie Boulangerie bakery and Stephen Donaldson Photography are now located. The offices upstairs are occupied, and the entire building is about 90 percent full.

The one stubborn vacancy is in the heart of the church  a 5,000-square-foot space designed for a restaurant or music venue or both.

It was his 20th historic renovation project, most of which were in New York.

His interest in coffee had drove him into roasting, then to learn more about the trade in Seattle. His shop was the first business of his in any of his development projects.

The coffee shop was special, he said, though his spirit is casting him in a new direction. I want to finally retire.

He put his home, a historic building and former school on 340 acres, on the market. When it sells, hell buy a sailboat and likely take some lessons since, he said, I dont even know how to sail.
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Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
This photo, provided by Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, shows police officers searching a mountain for the body of a buried baby in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Yonhap



A bill to toughen the punishment for the intentional killing of newborn babies and relevant body abandonment passed a National Assembly committee Monday.



The Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved the revision of the Criminal Act, which calls for raising the punishment for infanticide and abandonment of an infant's body to the level of the punishment for ordinary murder and body abandonment.



The revision came amid growing social resentment over a large number of recent deaths of unregistered babies.



The current law stipulates the death penalty, life sentence or an imprisonment of at least five years for those convicted of ordinary murder but caps the punishment for infanticide at an imprisonment of not more than 10 years.



It also stipulates an imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 5 million won ($3,950), or an imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 15 million won for those convicted of ordinary body abandonment, compared with a prison term of up to two years or a fine of up to 3 million won for those convicted of infant body abandonment.



The revision is scheduled to be presented to a parliamentary plenary session Tuesday before going into effect about six months later. (Yonhap)


Leveraging UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the two nations expand their relationship into domains of higher education and research

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to establish first campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.

The signing took place in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. The MoU was signed by HE Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, ADEK Under

Complementing the ongoing UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the MoU reflects the shared vision of both nations 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.

IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi will complement the academic, research and innovation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi through collaboration with key players such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71 to offer complimentary programs, conduct cutting edge research, and advance the local startup ecosystem.

The IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi campus is expected to launch its academic programmes in 2024 and a host of bachelors, masters and PhD programmes, and operate research centres related to sustainable energy and climate studies, as well as computing and data sciences. IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi is expected to offer a diverse range of programmes covering Energy and Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics and Computing and other disciplines of engineering, sciences, and humanities.
African Bank, Brave Group, and Media Mix 360 have entered into an audacious advertising and media business partnership. African Bank has been working with Brave's public relations unit Bold, and the Group will now be extending the relationship to include above-the-line advertising services.

Media Mix 360 is a full-service media agency that has been in business since 2009. From traditional media planning and placement to the shape-shifting terrain of digital, it prides itself on providing media solutions that will deliver.

The appointments follow a rigorous pitch process and robust levels of engagement, and the three-year contract begins.

African Banks chief marketing officer Sbu Kumalo says he is excited by the potential inherent in this partnership: African Bank is more than simply a bank. We are a mission manifesting itself as a bank. Our heritage story is not only unique, it is inspiring. The concept of audacity is embedded in our DNA, which is why we need audacious partners like Brave and Media Mix 360 to help us get our message across and instill the Audacity to Believe in South African consumers.

Brave Group CEO Musa Kalenga says he is delighted to welcome African Bank in this new capacity and to help them build and develop their core value proposition of audacity.

Notes Kalenga: The story of the institution with its genesis in 1964 is one that inspires and resonates even to this day. The founders with just R70 in their pockets decided to start a bank not for themselves, but for Black people, because banks at the time did not serve this important market properly.

Their arduous journey is one that inspires hope and pride, and will be the foundation of our messaging in this new age of digital banking. Poised for greatness, the bank is currently undergoing a repositioning to build its reputation as a major player in South Africa. It is this transformative ambition that makes Brave Group and African Bank a powerful match.

Andile Kona, founder and managing director of Media Mix 360, says: African Bank and our agency share a common ethos of integrity, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of success. With a robust understanding of the South African media, Media Mix 360 is well positioned to contribute to African Banks growth and market presence. As part of this partnership, we aim to leverage its in-depth knowledge of the South African media landscape to enhance African Banks visibility and reach. By utilising a tailored approach, our agency will deliver targeted strategies that align with the brands unique heritage, connecting African Bank with its target audience in meaningful ways.

This partnership presents an exciting opportunity for us not only to add value, but also to contribute to the sustainable growth of African Bank. We are confident that our expertise and understanding of the local media landscape will help propel the brand to new heights.

African Bank, the Brave Group and Media Mix 360 all share a strong belief in the potential of South Africa and why the notion of having an authentic transformative purpose is critical to success.

Kalenga says: Operating in a transformative and forward-thinking manner is part of Brave Groups DNA. The company has long understood its role in driving brave thinking through knowledge, teamwork, experience, risk, exploration, and research. The agency group stands for creativity born from confidence and insight  a tried-and-tested recipe for success that will stand its new client in good stead.
Promise, a Johannesburg-based agency has been shortlisted in the print category for best newspaper/magazine ad and interactive ad for its Plan (a) print ad at New York Festivals.

An ad by Promise Agency has been shortlisted.

The ad was created for AfriSams corporate initiative aimed at giving South Africans access to quality architectural building plans.

This years shortlisted entries include top-scoring innovative campaigns that engaged consumers and seamlessly showcased the brands message on a variety of platforms. Campaigns submitted by prominent global agencies created brand affinity through active interaction, inspired emotional connection, aligned like-minded consumers, and utilised trail-blazing tech to entertain and create a personalised brand experience.

Top countries

The US, Germany, South Korea, China, and United Arab Emirates were in the lead with a robust number of campaigns from top-tier agencies advancing to the next round. Additional countries with an impressive number of entries shortlisted include Japan, Canada, Brazil, India, Australia, Philippines, and the UK.

Work created by best-in-class agencies from around the globe saw campaigns created for prominent brands advance to the next round. Brands achieving shortlist status include Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Oreo, Burger King, Ikea, BMW, Netflix, Nissan, McDonalds, Samsung, Hyundai, Dell Technologies, Audi, Hana Bank, Jeep, Babyshop, adidas, Verizon, Hulu, Wendys, Mercedes Benz, META, Under Armour, Spotify, Stella Artois, Mercado Libre, Coors Light, WhatsApp, Deutsche Telekom, Delta, Krombacher, Buick, Cannon, Dodge, and Uber Eats.

Jury

Entries shortlisted moved ahead to the executive jury sessions led by 2023 executive jury president, Bianca Guimaraes, partner & executive creative director for Mischief US. The executive jury is a strategically assembled panel populated with internationally recognised industry executives and leaders known for their award-winning cutting-edge creative. Together in face-to-face jury sessions, the executive jury determined the 2023 New York Festivals Advertising Awards winners.

NYFs grand jury panel included a diverse range of creative leadership talent. The 2023 online grand jury included chief creative officers, CEOs, executive creative directors, art directors, copywriters, strategists, designers, and communications pros from around the globe who thoughtfully reviewed all entries and played a pivotal role in selecting the worlds best advertising.

New York Festivals Advertising Awards will announce the 2023 award-winners on 19 July 2023.

View the shortlist here.
Former President Jacob Zuma's Foundation announced on Friday that he is presently in Russia for medical treatment and will return to South Africa once his doctors conclude their care.

Source: Reuters.

Zuma's presence in Russia for medical treatment follows the Constitutional Courts rejection of a request by the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, wherein it sought permission to appeal a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal. The ruling determined that Zuma should return to prison because his release on medical parole was considered invalid.

The potential outcome could result in Zuma's return to prison, this effectively two years after his initial arrest, which incited widespread protests causing at least 337 fatalities.

The former president was due to be incarcerated in June 2021 on charges of contempt. In July 2021, he surrendered himself to authorities, but after two months, he was granted medical parole due to his deteriorating health condition.

This followed his refusal to comply with a court order to appear before a corruption inquiry that investigated financial scandals during his time as the country's leader from 2009 to 2018.

Zuma also faces separate charges of corruption related to an arms procurement scandal that occurred in the late 1990s during his tenure as vice-president.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has declined to detail the ailment that former President Jacob Zuma is apparently being treated for in Russia.

Although the trip was private, it was not a secret as incorrectly suggested. H.E President Zuma and his team travelled on a commercial flight full of passengers, said Mzwanele Manyi, JGZ Foundations spokesperson.

The DA has demanded the immediate detention of the former president.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has affirmed that the police will carry out any instructions issued by the Department of Correctional Services regarding the potential arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.
As the world over celebrated World PR Day on 16 July- a day when practitioners celebrate and recognise public relations {PR) as a strategic tool to better communicate - what does the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) mean for the future of PR?

Image supplied. Ethel Ramos, MDf Avatar PR, considers what AI means for the future of PR

I believe that the future of PR is a hybrid of human and AI. AI will automate many of the routine tasks that PR professionals currently do, such as media monitoring, social media management, and content creation.

This will free up PR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks, such as building relationships with journalists, developing thought leadership, and managing crises.

Focus on strategic tasks

The inaugural Africa PR and Communications Report 2023 reveals that strong relationships with the media are still essential for PR and communications in Africa - with 84% of respondents saying having good relationships with journalists is important to their work.

AI-powered tools can be used to monitor social media, news outlets, and other sources for mentions of a brand or organisation.

This information can be used to track the effectiveness of PR campaigns and identify potential crises.

It can also be used to automate social media tasks, such as posting content, responding to comments, and managing hashtags. This can free up PR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks.

Understand audiences better

PR professionals can also use AI to analyse social media data to track the spread of misinformation and identify potential crises. This information can help PR professionals to respond to crises more effectively.

In addition, AI will help PR professionals to better understand their audiences. AI-powered tools can analyse social media data to track trends, identify influencers, and measure the effectiveness of PR campaigns. This information can help PR professionals to tailor their messages to specific audiences and achieve their desired results.

These are just a few examples of how AI is being used in public relations today. But as AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative ways to use AI in PR as Amsterdam-based outfit, PR Lab, lists.

Of course, AI is not without its challenges.

One challenge is that AI can be biased. If AI is trained on data that is biased, then the results of its analysis will be biased as well.

This is why it is important for PR professionals to be aware of the potential for bias in AI-powered tools and to use them with caution.

Another challenge is that AI can be used to spread misinformation.

AI-powered bots can be used to create fake news articles and social media posts. This can damage the reputation of brands and organisations.

It is important for PR professionals to be aware of the potential for AI to be used to spread misinformation and to take steps to mitigate the risk.

What brands need to consider

By considering these factors, brands can use AI to improve their reputation management and PR efforts and build stronger relationships with their customers.

The importance of data privacy As brands collect more data about their customers, it is important to be transparent about how this data is being used and to protect customer privacy. This includes providing clear and concise privacy policies, giving customers the ability to control their data, and taking steps to secure data from unauthorised access. Customers are increasingly concerned about their privacy, and brands that fail to address these concerns could face reputational damage. In addition, there are a number of regulations governing data privacy, such as the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA). Brands that fail to comply with these regulations could face significant fines. The need for human oversight While AI can be a powerful tool for reputation management and PR, it is important to have human oversight to ensure that AI-powered decisions are fair and ethical. AI algorithms can be biased, and they may not always make decisions that are in the best interests of customers. For example, an AI algorithm that is used to target advertising may disproportionately target certain groups of people, such as people of colour or people with disabilities. Human oversight can help to ensure that AI-powered decisions are fair and ethical. Humans can review AI algorithms to identify potential biases, and they can make sure that AI-powered decisions are aligned with the company's values. An ever-changing landscape The field of AI is constantly evolving, so brands need to be prepared to adapt their strategies as new technologies emerge. For example, new AI technologies could be used to create more personalised content or to predict and prevent crises more effectively. Brands need to be aware of these new technologies and be prepared to adopt them as they become available. In addition, the regulatory landscape for AI is also evolving. As governments become more aware of the potential risks of AI, they are likely to enact new regulations. Brands need to be aware of these regulations and be prepared to comply with them.

Human-first

Overall, I believe that our human efforts as practitioners can be beautifully augmented by AI-powered platforms to help PR professionals become more efficient, more strategic, and more effective.

Creative thinking, strategic planning and instinct are all essential attributes of communications professionals that no machine will ever offer in our lifetime.
Provoke Media's Influence 100 2023 has named Twitter the company with the worst managed reputation, while Elon Musk is the only business leader in the worst leader communicator.

Provoke Medias Influence 100 2023 has named Twitter the company with the worst managed reputation, while Elon Musk is the only business leader in the worst leader communicator

Most admired PR company

Edelman was named the most admired PR agency, maintaining its unequivocal top spot for the fourth year running. In 2019 it was temporarily knocked off by Weber Shandwick, after a six-year straight run of being the most frequently-cited public relations agency when the Influence 100 were asked which firm they most admired.

Coming in second place, as last year, was strategic comms powerhouse Brunswick, which regularly shows up in the top five mentions.

The only other agencies to get multiple mentions were Italys MY PR, Weber Shandwick and Freuds.

Made up of global in-house communications and brand marketing leaders, the Influence 100 also named South African Razor (M&C Saatchi Abel) in the list.

Best brand communications and corporate reputation management

When asked to name the companies the Influence 100 think have best managed their brand communications and corporate reputation over the past year, unlike previous years, there was no stand-out winner.

There were an equal number of multiple mentions for Microsoft (which last year was far ahead of any other brand), Disney, Apple, Nvidia, Lego and Tata Group.

Worst brand communications and corporate reputation management

Twitter, hitherto a regular on the best brand communications list, not only had no nominations but switched to the other side.

Unsurprisingly, given the tumultuous change in ownership to Elon Musk, it was in joint first place on the list of the companies that the Influence 100 think have managed their reputations least effectively over the past year.

In joint first place with Twitter was brewer, Anheuser-Busch, after its handling of the Bud Light trans influencer controversy, and in third place was cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which collapsed swiftly last November.

Best world leader communicator

Out of the Influence 100s list of nominees for best communicator among world leaders this year, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenkskyy again came out head and shoulders above anyone else, having consolidated his status as a hero in leadership and communications terms as Russias invasion stretched into a second year.

Despite announcing in January that she was stepping down, New Zealands prime minister Jacinda Ardern again received multiple nominations for second place  the same as last year, after three years of running in the top spot.

The only other leader who received multiple mentions was Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Worst leader communicator

On the list of the worst communicators among the worlds leaders, Russias president Vladimir Putin was in undisputed first place, far ahead of other nominees.

In joint second place were former UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Elon Musk, the only business leader on the list.

This tranche of research also reveals some valuable insights into what the Influence 100 think are the biggest challenges for the future of PR agencies, with many frank responses focused on AI and other advances in technology, creativity, talent, diversity, proving return on investment, and agility.
Womandla Global Network has created a campaign in celebration of World PR Day which was held on Sunday.

The initiative aims to recognise and honour 17 outstanding African women leaders who have made significant contributions in the fields of PR, corporate communications, and corporate affairs.

These trailblazing women have showcased remarkable achievements and played pivotal roles in shaping the industry. "We are privileged to acknowledge their outstanding accomplishments and consider them as some of the pioneering figures within the fields," says Sam Gqomo, director of Womandla Global Network.

Noteworthy women include representatives from global brands such as Procter & Gamble, Mastercard, and Kellogg SA, as well as talented professionals from Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.

As part of this campaign, each candidate was asked to share their insights on how PR and Communications can contribute to the sustainable development of Africa. Their valuable perspectives have been showcased to inspire future advancements and foster the growth of our continent.

Here are some of their insights

Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, CEO of Stratcomm Africa: Communication and PR are critical tools for Africas development enabling the bridging of the knowledge gap to empower Africans for sustainable development. They also help to educate those introducing innovations to Africa about the realities of the continent and the best approaches for partnership.

Kamini Redhi, vice president of marketing and communications for Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard: Marketing and communications contribute to Africas sustainable development by starting conversations, raising awareness through information sharing, allowing for stakeholder engagement, and encouraging actions that will bring about positive change, socio-economic growth, and sustainable development.

Zandile Mposelwa (MBA), corporate affairs director at Kellogg South Africa: Telling authentic and fit-for-purpose African stories, especially our reputation-building, and management stories is important to support the growth and development imperatives of the continent.

Ingrid von Stein, lead communications strategist at Dentsu: PR and communications holds one of the pivotal keys to Africas sustainable development. Through strategic storytelling, they bridge communities and foster partnerships. PR amplifies the voices of African entrepreneurs, attracting investments and nurturing innovation. Communications dismantling stereotypes, promoting cultural exchange and responsible tourism.

Read all the posts here.
Women's priority parking spaces at a building in Seoul / Korea Times file



By Lee Hae-rin



Women-only pink parking spaces in Seoul disappeared, Monday, 14 years after they were first introduced to assist and protect women, replaced by family-friendly spots the following day.



According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the revised ordinance on allocation and management of parking spaces is enforced starting Tuesday.



With the revision, women's priority parking spaces, marked with pink paint with a stick figure wearing a skirt, will be changed to family parking zones, marked with orange paint with three different stick figures: a person holding a cane; a person holding a baby; and a pregnant woman.



The figures reflect the expansion of the group of people who can benefit from the parking space regardless of their gender and age, while still addressing the needs of parents with young kids and pregnant women drivers.



The pink parking policy was introduced in Seoul in 2009 as a protective measure amid a series of violent crimes committed against women  especially in basement parking spaces.



Over 72 percent of violent crimes committed in parking lots  168 out of 233  were sex crimes, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, according to annual police statistics from 2020. Over 27,800 crimes from that year were committed in parking spaces, taking up 1.8 percent of total crime cases.



The policy allocates more than 10 percent of parking spaces as priority parking spaces for women in parking lots that can accommodate more than 30 cars.



Such female-friendly parking spaces tend to be located closer to the entrances of buildings, next to handicapped spots or elevators to increase the safety of female drivers. In Seoul, 1,988 out of 16,640 public parking spaces were allocated for women's priority parking as of March.



Unlike parking spaces allocated for people with disabilities, women's priority parking spaces are not subject to fines for improper use.



The policy stirred up controversy in relation to female privilege and instigated online debates on the worsening gender divide by promoting the stereotype that women are bad drivers, where some argued the policy should endorse not only women but also other drivers with mobility needs.



In response, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced last August that the city will transform women's priority parking into family priority parking. The usage rate of the pink parking spots has remained low at around 16 percent, according to the city government.



Women's parking spaces have been adopted in other countries, including Germany, China, Australia and Indonesia, mostly intended to reduce the risk of sexual assault in parking lots, which tend to be dark and deserted. Similar arguments referencing reverse discrimination and the potential for greater harm to come to women as a result of the designations have been raised in those places also.


The Stadio School of Fashion is launching new short courses designed to provide flexible and accessible learning opportunities, which aim to empower individuals with the skills needed to thrive in South Africa's fashion economy.

Image source: Wavebreak Media Ltd  123RF.com

These short courses cover a diverse range of topics, allowing students to tailor their learning experience to their specific interests and career goals. Whether through on-campus contact learning, online-assisted programs facilitated by industry experts, or self-study courses, Stadio offers flexibility and practicality to suit every individual's needs.

"Our mission is to cultivate a new generation of fashion innovators, creative problem solvers, and industry leaders," said Leonardo Snyman, head of Campus: Johannesburg and Pretoria at Stadio School of Fashion. "By offering these short courses, we are opening the doors to individuals who want to gain new skills or enhance their existing foundation in the dynamic world of fashion."

Course content

On-campus contact learning programmes include the Design Studio package, which comprises three core practical fashion modules: Garment Construction, Pattern Design, and Creative Design. This 10-week full-time programme aims to provide students with a solid foundation in fashion design principles and techniques, preparing them for potential careers in the industry.

For those already working in the fashion industry, Stadio School of Fashion offers online short learning programmes, including Fashion Entrepreneurship, A Sustainable Fashion Future for Southern Africa, Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design, and Principles of Styling. Led by industry experts who serve as mentors, these programmes provide valuable insights and industry-relevant content to enhance participants' knowledge and skills.

Additionally, Stadio School of Fashion offers online self-study short learning programmes, allowing students to unlock new career opportunities at their own pace. Courses such as Visual Merchandising, Textiles, and Trends provide specialised knowledge and skills that elevate professionals' resumes or a trendsetter's portfolio in the ever-evolving fashion landscape.

Stadio School of Fashion's Short Courses are open to all, welcoming individuals with a passion for fashion and a desire to explore new horizons within their careers, or prospective ventures in fashion or apparel. With a strong emphasis on practicality, industry engagement, and immersive learning experiences, these courses prepare students to become sought-after professionals in fashion design, fashion media, and the business industries.

The Stadio School of Fashion is internationally accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
Santam has revealed its collaboration with the South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating the growing rates of insurance crime in the country.

In 2021, the Association for Savings and Investments South Africa detected 4,287 fraudulent and dishonest insurance claims to the value of R787.6m across all insurance categories. A sharp increase of more than 29% from the previous years 3,186 fraudulent and false claims worth R587.3m.

According to Jerry Chetty, head of business integrity at Santam, the partnership augments Santams ongoing efforts to reduce insurance crime and to limit the negative impact on society and the financial sector.

As a member of SAFPS, Santam can access information of consumers who have been listed for confirmed fraudulent activity and also identify individuals who may have become victims of identity theft.

He says the partnership fosters collaboration between 100 corporates, governmental organisations and other NPOs aiming to eradicate fraudulent financial transactions by sharing details of suspected identify theft, impersonations and other fraudulent activity.

Chetty explains that an insurance contract is based on the principle of good faith, which requires honesty, sincerity and integrity from all parties.

Chetty says in recent times he has seen an increase in policyholders providing false and misleading information during the underwriting or claims stage and warns that this could have detrimental repercussions.

Chetty stresses that submitting false or inflated claims is a criminal offence.

Apart from rejecting a fraudulent claim and reporting a criminal case to the South African Police Services; Santam will also as part of its partnership with the SAFPS, share the prima facie evidence of confirmed fraudulent activity with the SAFPS community.

This could have implications for policyholders as other organisations in the community will be able to access this information and use it in their own assessment and client selection processes, warns Chetty.

Promoting awareness and honesty

He urges South Africans to be mindful when providing information to insurers during policy applications or when lodging a claim as insurance fraud is a serious crime with potentially severe consequences.

Chettys advice is that all stakeholders must be honest and transparent when dealing with their insurers.Chetty adds that the SAFPS provides many free services to protect citizens against identity theft and scams.

He advises anyone who suspects they may have fallen victim to scammers to take immediate action. SAFPS services include:

Protections registration if you suspect you were a victim of identity theft;

The use of biometric authentication when transacting: www.securecitizen.co.za;

Yima assists citizens with protecting them against scams: www.yima.org.za;

Through this partnership we hope to reduce the destructive economic impact of insurance crime and improve societal values, concludes Chetty.
Every society is built around the rule of law and adherence to that law. However, the custodians of the law (police and lawmakers) can't be present in every instance where there is a breach of legal and ethical behaviour. Citizens must be equally invested in being law-abiding citizens and exposing instances where questionable behaviour occurs.

Dr Uduak Johnson, Mancosa academic

Whistleblowing has exposed many cases of corruption and unlawful behaviour including several recent cases involving South Africa's most prominent citizens. However, this has come with significant risks, as many whistleblowers face intimidation, bullying and sometimes even grievous bodily harm or death.

Despite this, the role of a whistleblower is essential for economic growth. Three Mancosa academics have been invited to present a research paper titled: Whistleblowing in South Africa: A vulnerable watchdog at the upcoming Brics Summit to be held in Pretoria, South Africa from 17 to 19 July.

Discussing a key issue

Following extensive research, Dr Uduak Johnson, Dr Premlall Ramlachan, and Andile Magqirana compiled an exciting paper, which will be presented at the University of Pretoria, where an important delegation from the Brics countries will be meeting between 17 and 19 July.

"The role of whistleblowers is important in any society. However, it is crucial in developing countries that are challenging the current global economic powers. We must highlight the important role that whistleblowers play in the growth of these economies," says Dr Johnson.

Reporting illegal activities: only for the brave few

The role of whistleblowing has increased in South Africa over the past ten years.

Whistleblowing saw the creation of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, where civil societies demanded that significant action be taken against those involved in corruption and state capture. Another important whistleblowing case was the reporting on corruption at the Gauteng Department of Health. Finally, another prominent whistleblowing case was the tell-all interview from former Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter on ENCA, where he reported on alleged corruption at the power utility.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the brave role of whistleblowers in South Africa. However, these parties continuously face all kinds of discrimination. Our research paper highlights this issue from the perspective of whistleblowers who shared their experiences with the media. We examined these cases using a critical social justice approach and applied ethical theories to compile our research," says Dr Johnson.

There needs to be governance reform

One of the key issues that the paper discusses is the need for governance reform. "While many governments have acknowledged the important role of whistleblowers, very little has been done to create platforms where whistleblowers feel safe," says Dr Johnson.

Dr Johnson points out that in some countries, whistleblowers are rewarded for coming forward and exposing corruption and other illegal activities. Despite this, these parties still face significant reprisals and discrimination. Another important issue highlighted in the Mancosa Paper is that even though whistleblowing is prominent in most countries, governments and legal authorities are sometimes guilty of not following through with the investigations into cases of suspected corruption.

Highlighting benefits

While the Mancosa research paper highlights the plight of whistleblowers as social watchdogs, it also hopes to encourage the reform that will create meaningful change.

"In February this year, the Financial Action Task Force greylisted South Africa citing a lack of systems and processes which assesses and manages the risk of corruption and money laundering. If encouraged, whistleblowing would have created a platform to address rising corruption risks. If used effectively, it could be a significant weapon in our efforts to recover our economic position," says Johnson.

Additionally, whistleblowing is the biggest weapon civil organisations can use to keep governments in check and encourage meaningful societal change.

An important platform

Johnson points out that presenting this paper at the Brics Summit is a major platform for highlighting this issue.

"The Brics cluster is currently showing significant value in challenging the traditional dominance enjoyed by Western economies. Many other countries have noticed the Brics cluster's value and applied for membership. Brics is posing a serious challenge to the hegemony of the US dollar as the exclusive global currency for international economic transactions, says Johnson.

He adds that South Africa could play a central role in this recovery. However, this will only be possible if we have an economy that is driven by a financially strong private and public sector. This can only be achieved if whistleblowing is encouraged rather than left vulnerable."

He adds that a few developments have occurred since the publication of this paper. Government has issued a discussion paper for public opinion on issues related to adjusting the policies related to whistleblowing and the protection of whistleblowers. This is good news for the future of whistleblowers in South Africa.




Mark Modimola is a South African artist based in Johannesburg working in digital art, illustration and painting

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mark Modimola is an African artist drawn to nature, urged and inspired by the rich tapestry of culture that makes up Africa and its diaspora. A seer and communicator of the ties between people and nature through his creations, which challenge how we see the mind and spirit of Africans.

Mark Modimola. Image supplied

I am about Africa - Mark Modimola

Tells us what it is to be an African visual artist?

It is to be African in one's philosophy, practice and outlook. One's perspectives take into account the nature of being for Africans. An African visual artist creates with an attitude that reflects the physical and spiritual landscapes of Africa, a dynamic, versatile output, everchanging.

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Many things, I wanted to feel accepted, I wanted to be capable and I wanted to help people. To contribute positively to society. I know I didn't want to be useless to society. I know I didn't want to be a burden but a beacon.

How did you end up in the industry?

I woke up and I left society to find myself, went into nature and found a precious message from the source. When I spoke this message, it manifested as art.

Where do you find inspiration?

In music, the sun, the sky, and water. Scents carried by the wind. Colour. The songs of various birds, the crunching of the earth while I walk across a trail and the variety of flora. Changing seasons. People. language and history.

Image supplied

Describe your career so far.

Exponential

What has been the highlight of your career?

Working as part of the team that created the award-winning novel All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa. Being one of the winners at the Amex ZA Graphic Arts Challenge competition and my winning work of art being featured on a mural at the Keyes Art on Mile gallery. Attending my art residency with Wa Na Wari house, a stalwart of Black creativity in one of the most prominent cities in the world, Seattle, USA.

What are you currently streaming/reading/listening to?

Iphupho L'ka Biko - Uthixo Ukhona

The brother moves on - Umthandazo Wamagenge

Kokoroko - Age of Ascent

Uncle Waffles - Yahyuppiyah

DJ Maphorisa x Kabza De Small - Koko

Merriam Makeba - Kilimamjaro

Hugh Masekela  Gold

Image supplied

When you're not busy creating a piece of artwork, what do you do?

I go into nature to birdwatch with my new binoculars. I also download bird guides in every city I visit (I'm annoyingly obsessed with birds). I am also the proud owner of a flute which I suck at playing.

Whats next on your journey?

More public artworks - I aim to work with organisations and institutions to create works that engage the public both locally and internationally. Working in collaboration with brands and governments to speak to our culture with nature.
World Youth Skills Day is observed on 15 July and it's particularly apt for South Africa, which is reeling under a youth unemployment catastrophe that leaves around six out of every 10 young people jobless. To fix this, we need unprecedented levels of partnerships between government, South African corporates, and civil society to not only give young people the necessary skills but to ensure those skills get them into a job.

Photo by Kampus Production via www.pexels.com

Matric isnt enough

The first issue is education. Right now, young people are often not ready to tackle the job market environment, particularly after completing high school because of low levels of literacy and numeracy. This impedes the ability to effectively participate and contribute to the economic activities of the county.

To provide real employability and a meaningful future for our youth, simply getting children through matric isnt enough.

The problem is that a lot of our youth arent completing school, as Stats SAs General Household Survey 2021 reveals that 29,3% of 18-year-olds and 46,3% of 19-year-olds dropped out of school in 2020. This results in an unskilled and jobless population.

This means that the youth finds themselves in a disadvantaged position when it comes to accessing opportunities, be it entrepreneurial or employment, or even to further their education. Giving young people skills bridges the gap to get them to a point where they can actively participate in the economy.

While hard skills are still relevant for a developing country like South Africa, the nature of jobs and required skills are changing globally. Modern employers are seeking transferable skills like problem solving, critical thinking, conflict resolution, communication, and teamwork. What is referred to as soft skills.

Upskilling to match actual jobs

The second big issue we must address is to ensure that we are not just upskilling but doing so with actual jobs in mind. In August 2022, the Department of Home Affairs released a list of over 100 critical skills that South Africa is in need of. Although these skills require tertiary education, there are some that can be acquired with just a matric certificate. This list should be used as a guide to skills development in the country.

What we need right now is actual jobs and economic activity. We must not only focus on creating a supply of skilled people but also work on the demand side. There needs to be a demand for every skill, and employment opportunities available for it.

To do this, we must engage with sectors that are future facing and growing, like tourism and technology, and understand their specific needs, and skills for those jobs. At Anglo American, our youth projects focus on training and exposing young people from mining communities to economic opportunities in various growing sectors, especially in the future facing industries.

An example of this is Zimeles tourism & hospitality programme in partnership with Summit which aims to train and place around 3,000 young people from Anglo Americans mining communities in jobs. To date, nearly around 800 have completed the training and nearly 500 have been placed in jobs, including an opportunity to work on luxury cruise liner, Silversea.

The social impact of jobs

Its important to understand the social impact of jobs. They dont just give the young person an income. Being able to earn a living gives young people hope, inspires, and encourages personal development.

More than that, these young people become role models for their friends and families back home, who previously would not have seen a path out of a community or a situation. Now they see a path.

Along the way, though, we must deal with a range of structural issues and obstacles which make it incredibly difficult for young people to get economically active. Many lack access, both from a networking and geographical perspective, which has a major impact on how they can access economic opportunities to start with.

Networking is critical

Networking is a critical element in getting young people into jobs. A network is simply something that opens your way forward, whether in the form of information, specific skilling, the knowledge of opportunities, and the means to take advantage of them. Its often not who you are, but who you know. Studies show that friendships between wealthier and poorer individuals are linked to increased earnings later in life for poor children. Our challenge is to forge these networks.

Another skill that we can never have enough of is entrepreneurship. Many young people have the energy and drive to run their own businesses, but dont know where to start. Give them the tools and access to opportunities that will widen the net of employment. Nothing brings joy to an entrepreneur than creating a job opportunity or making a difference in other peoples lives.

Ultimately, though, what our country needs is responsible skilling that gives people meaningful working experiences, and invests in their ability to access opportunities and progress in life. To do this, we need industries and development partners to engage on an unprecedented scale. Its a big ask, but it has to be done.
Frimax Foods in Durban fired the workers who downed tools in an unprotected strike in June.

Some of the workers, who were dismissed from the Frimax chip factory in Verulam, Durban, for participating in an unprotected strike last month, wait outside the CCMA. Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko / GroundUp

Dismissed Frimax chip factory workers in Verulam, Durban, want the Labour Court to intervene in their case against the company.



The workers were fired in June for participating in an unprotected strike over working conditions, among other things.



Workers say they have waited six weeks for the formal dismissal letters they need in order to claim UIF.



The company has promised to respond to the workers and their union by 20 July.

Workers, who were fired from the Frimax chip factory in Verulam, Durban, for participating in an unprotected strike last month, are heading to the Labour Court to challenge their dismissal.

In June, GroundUp reported that the 219 Frimax workers had downed tools on 5 June and were dismissed by the chip producing company soon after. They made several allegations against their employer related to discrimination, mistreatment and withholding wages.

According to workers, they went on strike after the company refused to negotiate on internal grievances with their new union, the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union (AMITU).

Frimax says it has a closed shop agreement with the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) and that AMITU cannot represent them on internal matters.

By 29 June, about 93 workers had returned to work and signed an affidavit stating they had been forced to strike by their colleagues. The remaining workers opted to fight their dismissals at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

On Thursday, about 34 of the dismissed workers arrived at the CCMA office, but only eight of them could fit into the small meeting room. Workers were told by the companys lawyer, Stephen Pillay, that their union representatives would be notified of the status of the dismissal letters once ready, but they were not happy with this and decided to approach the Labour Court to intervene.

Worker Bonelihle Goge said they have been waiting six weeks for the formal dismissal letters from the company. They need the letters in order to submit a claim with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

We were hoping that by bringing the company to CCMA things will be done fast. I cant even imagine what I will say to my landlord because at the end of the day I need money to pay my rent, said Goge.

Frimax human resources manager Deshni Govender said the companys attorney advised them to work through the union to issue the UIF forms. Govender promised the company would respond to the union by 20 July.

Employees were given a notice to sign their notices of termination as well as collect their UIF documents. None of the employees have approached HR yet. These employees were not retrenched, they were dismissed for participating in an illegal strike, she said.

According to Govender, the company lost over 500 hours due to the strike, which resulted in a considerable production loss.

About 93 employees have returned to work and the remainder continue to strike outside our premises with no valid reason, she said.

A date for the Labour Court matter is yet to be confirmed.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.
The story of the young photographer whose joyful images of his niece holding a loaf of Albany Bread has been picked up and reported on by news channels and social media channels after the photographs were viewed over a million times online.

Lungisa Mjaji's photos of his niece are viral sensation, showing the power of soical meida - and joy!

It is a story that shows the power of social media, but also a story of joy. It began when Lungisa Mjaji, who is a photography student at the Tshwane University of Technology, was given a university assignment.

Am Lungisani Mjaji, a commercial photography student from Tshwane University of Technology, sharing the untold story behind my viral photograph.The image is part of my project called "My Footprint,"aiming to capture the beauty of South Africa's rural landscapes.Featuring my niece pic.twitter.com/O0jsJw1zJp  Lungisani Mjaji (@MjajiLungisani) July 10, 2023

Back home in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the aspiring photographer decided to capture ritual South Africa through his project which he named My Footprint.

He wanted to show this part of the country in a joyful light. He then asked his three-year-old niece, Lethukukhanya Mjaji, to pose for his project. The bread was provided by his mother.

As Mjajis photographs of his niece and the bread became a viral sensation, the media wanted to know who the photographer was behind the images.

Visual storytelling

In an interview with TimesLive, Mjaji explains that he grew up with the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage that is rural South Africa, and when he started to experiment with a basic camera in his teens, he wanted to capture this, using the power of visual storytelling.

It fills me with immense joy and a sense of accomplishment to see the positive impact my work has had and the recognition it has received.

I am grateful for the support and love from South Africa and for the opportunity to make a difference through my photography, he says in the article.

He adds, Lethukukhanya understood the assignment and willingly participated, displaying her natural talent. Together, we created images that resonate with the South African audience and capture the spirit of the child and our country.

Imithandazo kamama angavele akhale  https://t.co/W1kGvfaMzu  Lungisani Mjaji (@MjajiLungisani) July 10, 2023

In fact, her joy as captured by Mjaji has led to the public demanding that Miss Albany or the Albany Bread Girl as she has become known, become the face of the brand.

A feel good story

It is such a feel-good story that it is no surprise that it was picked up by the Good Things Guy. Something about the pureness of her smile against a backdrop that is far from glossy reminded South Africans of our nations spirit, says the the Good Things Guy.

Mjajis TikTok video of the shoot with his niece was shared by the Love Albany Bread page on Facebook. Albany reached out to the family and paid them a visit after his nieces pictures went viral on social media.

Mjaji has reported that branch managers brought a gas stove for his grandmother, blankets, lunch boxes and hampers for his niece and other children in the area who often help him with his photography.

The South African has reported that Bokomo has offered a year's supply of Corn Flakes to Lethukukhanya Mjaji aka Miss Albanys family.
The top alcohol brand consumed in South Africa is 4th Street Wine, followed by Savanna Dry, Carling Black Label, Brutal Fruit and then Gordons Gin at number five.

Source:  123rf 123rf The past decade has seen the consumption of alcohol by category change significantly in South Africa

A variety of sweet wines from Distell,4th Street Wine sells well to lower-income consumers and in tough times, with five-litre boxes available for R140 from Pick n Pay (equivalent to R21 for a bottle).

Gordons dominates the Gin category attracting 41% of all gin consumers, while Brutal Fruit also dominates its category at 61% of all drinkers in that category.

The past decade has seen the consumption of alcohol by category change significantly in South Africa says research by Eighty20*, a consumer strategy, research and analytics business, that specialises in helping brands better understand customers, that unpacked the number of people who drink (but not the volume), and the brands they consume.

Top 5 alcohol categories

The top five alcohol categories for men in 2023 are beer, gin, cider, liqueur (nearly half of which is Jagermeister) and boxed wine.

The top five a decade ago included whisky and brandy.

For women in 2023 it is the same grouping as men, only gin has been replaced with flavoured alcoholic beverages.

Perhaps also reflecting the current economic climate, 10 years ago, womens top five included champagne and wine in a bottle.

The flavoured alcohol category has grown significantly, as shown by the massive growth in brands like Flying Fish and Brutal Fruit, particularly amongst women

Beer category

While South Africans ubiquitous love for beer is still evident, consumption over the past 10 years has changed in terms of key brands consumed.

In 2013, the top beer was Castle Lager, followed by Castle Light, Carling Black Label, Heineken and Hansa Pilsener.

A decade later, 2023 sees Carling at number one, other brands (which includes a massive influx of small independent brands and craft beers) at second, Castle Light, then Flying Fish and Heineken  bumping Castle Lager from the top five in its entirety.

Flying Fish, which launched a decade ago is now the third most popular beer brand, ahead of Amstel, Castle Lager and Budweiser - brands that hit significantly harder in terms of ad spend (according to Ornicos 2023 Liquor Industry Report).

It is also the most over-indexed beer for women, second only to Black Label which enjoys a whopping 60% more consumption, says Andrew Fulton, director at Eighty20.

Category loyalty

Category loyalty is another interesting lens through which to view consumption.

Two thirds of craft beer drinkers consume traditional beer (with Flying Fish and Amstel Radler in their top five choices), while only two per cent of traditional beer drinkers consume craft beers.

While beer is the second choice of most hard-tack drinkers, for wine drinkers, and particularly champagne drinkers, beer is much further down the list of their choice of alternatives.

Flavoured alcoholic beverage drinkers also prefer cider to beer, but if they drink beer, it is likely to be one of the lite brands. Interestingly, while only 13% of South Africans who consume beer live in the Western Cape, for craft beer the figure is 37%!

* Eighty20 uses MAPS data, a nationally representative survey of 20 000+ South Africans. Available on Eighty20s Data Portal unpacks the number of people who drink (but not the volume), and the brands they consume.

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One of the requirements in the World Bank financing agreement to fund the construction of Medupi and Kusile was a $245m budget for a battery storage project. In 2023 the state-owned power utility appointed Hyosung Heavy Industries of South Korea and Pinggao Group of China to oversee design and execution of the first of two phases in its inaugural battery energy storage system (Bess) project. The two companies in turn have appointed local service providers for the project.

Actom battery energy storage. Source: Supplied

For the Bess programme, the government has lifted many of the stringent local content requirements that normally apply to state-driven capital projects - such as, for example, the National Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

"The relaxation of the local content requirements opens the door to suppliers from other parts of the world to participate in the Bess projects, thereby increasing the level of competition that local suppliers have to face. As a local manufacturer we understand that we cannot rely on protectionism and need to compete on a global platform and have structured our manufacturing operations and product offerings accordingly," said Steve Jordaan, divisional CEO of Actom Power Transformers.

"The developers, engineering, procurement and construction contractors (EPCs) and client have the benefit of local support for the product over the life of the project when procuring from local manufacturers, he remarked.

These advantages apply to all the Actom transmission and distribution divisions that have been awarded contracts to manufacture and supply electrical equipment for Bess projects.

Repeat business

In September 2022 Actom was awarded a contract for the manufacture and supply of three 40MVA power transformers required for the 132kV/22kV collector substation that is currently under construction for the 80MW Skaapvlei project in the Western Cape - the biggest of the Bess projects being undertaken by Pinggao in the current phase. The EPC for Skaapvlei is Midrand-based Proconics.

"The transformers for Skaapvlei are repeat designs of units we've previously produced for Eskom. We completed the manufacturing of the three units in record time which have already been delivered thereby meeting the exceptionally short contract period of only seven months," Jordaan commented.

MV Switchgear was awarded contracts in June and July to manufacture and supply medium voltage primary switchgear and ring main units for the collector substations of three Bess projects being developed under Hyosung's overall control.

These are the 40MW Pongola and 8MW Elandskop projects in Kwazulu-Natal as well as the 20MW Hex project in the Western Cape. The EPC for Pongola and Elandskop is Roodepoort-based Tractionel Enterprise, while Besamandla of Cape Town is the EPC for Hex.

"The existing 11kV Hex distribution substation's switchboard, which consists of MV Switchgear's SBV4E gear, is being extended to serve as the collector substation for the Hex project, for which we are contracted to supply and install four more SBV4E indoor panels," said Rhett Kelly, the division's design and development manager.

The primary switchgear for the 22kV Pongola collector substation comprises nine panels of GMAe gas-insulated fixed pattern indoor switchgear from Schneider Electric, an international producer of low and medium voltage equipment with which Actom has a longstanding local value-added reseller (Var) agreement.

Trusted equipment

For the 11kV Elandskop collector substation, the division will supply a four-panel air-insulated withdrawable pattern indoor AMV12 switchboard. Both the GMAe and AMV12 switchgear product ranges were previously successfully evaluated by Eskom Distribution as part of the national enquiry CORP2826 - following which Actom was awarded national contracts.

The firm's popular gas-insulated RMV ring main units are to be deployed in all three of the abovementioned Bess projects. These comprise six 11kV units for Hex, three 11kV units for Elandskop and twelve 22kV units for Pongola.

For all three projects we are required to provide custom-designed internal arc classified enclosures to house the various combinations of extensible and non-extensible RMV ring main units, each with a separate low voltage auxiliary compartment to house the protection relays and the supervisory controls and data acquisition (Scada) equipment, said Kelly.

High Voltage Equipment has been awarded contracts for the supply of various substation equipment for Hyosung's 40MW Pongola, 8MW Elandskop and 20MW Hex projects as well as Pinggao's 80MW Skaapvlei and 10MW Paleisheuwel projects in the Western Cape.

The equipment to be supplied by the division for these five projects comprise of disconnectors, voltage and current transformers, circuit breakers and surge arresters ranging from 6,6kV to 132kV.
As the new, emerging businesspeople, South African youth represent immense potential. They are expected to play a pivotal role in growing the economy, enabling social cohesion and driving positive change.

Ben Bierman

These three young entrepreneurs, although from different backgrounds and with experience across various sectors, share the same resilient spirit and drive to succeed  no matter what.

Kgahlego Rasebotsa | Founder of Interior Bubble

Armed with a business administration degree and a long-standing affinity for the creative arts, businesswoman Kgahlego Rasebotsa started her company, Interior Bubble, at the tender age of 26. Growing up in Polokwane, Rasebotsa has succeeded in building a formidable business empire from humble beginnings. After graduating, she suffered depression after not being able to find a job. But entrepreneurship provided the answer she was looking for.

Rasebotsa started selling scatter cushions in pop-up stores and over time, expanded her service offering to designing and producing office and home furniture. Today, her company Interior Bubble, is a thriving creative venture that turns 'houses into homes'. In 2019, she made it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list  a testament to the fact that hard work and determination can get anyone over the finish line.

Vuyo Pakade | Founder of Foonda

One may look at Vuyo Pakade and his accomplishments as a social entrepreneur and assume that his journey has been easy, when in fact he is a shining example of a South African who has risen up against the odds. Pakade is the son of a single mom who demonstrated, through the unrelenting pursuit of success in her own career in the medical field, that education is a powerful tool for social upliftment and empowerment.

Following in his mothers footsteps, Pakade graduated with a business science degree in 2017, specialising in economics. He had aspirations to become a chartered accountant, but life had other plans. The emergence of the #FeesMustFall movement resonated with his convictions in the importance of good education and following his own reflections on how to address the need for more equitable learning opportunities, he founded Foonda.

Today, Foonda is a tech platform that makes it easier for students to find and apply for scholarships, bursaries, learnerships and other sponsorship opportunities. The launch of the demo version of Foonda amassed over 800 sign-ups. Pakades vision is to help 100,000 youth to find employment by investing in their educational journeys.

Lizl Naude | Founder of Lilly Loompa Upcycled Homeware

Prior to 2016, young entrepreneur Lizl Naude found herself up against several insurmountable obstacles, including great financial difficulty. To support her family, she began making handmade jewellery and later, found creative ways to upcycle discarded waste into homeware.

These were the earliest beginnings of Lilly Loompa Hardware, an innovative upcycle business that today is both a profitable venture and a solution to better, more sustainable waste management. Her home is currently the main collection point for waste that is upcycled into products, but in future, she aims to establish a larger collection point in Klapmuts, that will pay community members for the waste they bring in.

During lockdown, Naude created what has become one of her brands flagship products  the My Africa Lap Desk, made from discarded wood. The portable desk allows people to set up a workstation wherever they find themselves and display the desk as a piece of art when not in use. Together with her growing team, she is on a mission to 'transform trash' and is making inroads into solving several social and environmental problems in the process.

These compelling stories of hope and endurance are clear examples of how South African youth can earn a livelihood, support their communities and contribute towards building the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. Turbulent economic times pose a very real challenge to future of our countrys youth, but within those challenges lie many opportunities to thrive and grow as a business leader and be an inspiration for the next generation of entrepreneurs.




Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk attends a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, currently under trial on academic fraud charges connected to his daughter and son, said Monday he respects his children's decision to renounce controversial academic degrees.



Cho, a former Seoul National University professor who served as a justice minister under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, made the remark as he appeared for a hearing at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul.



An appeal trial is currently under way after Cho was given a two-year prison term on charges connected to his children's admission to a medical school and a graduate school.



Last week, Cho Min, the ex-minister's daughter, dropped her lawsuits filed to reverse decisions by Korea University and Pusan National University's Graduate School of Medicine to revoke her admissions, saying she will "go back to the starting point and start again with a clean slate."



The ex-minister's son also announced through a lawyer a decision to relinquish his master's degree in political science from Yonsei University Graduate School last week.



"As a father, my heart ached but I decided to respect their decisions to begin anew from the starting point," the ex-minister said.



"Since a guilty sentence was finalized for professor Chung Kyung-sim at the Supreme Court, she herself and the family humbly accepted it and are reflecting on themselves," Cho said, referring to his wife who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence on academic fraud and other charges.



The former minister also indirectly refuted speculation that he would run in next year's parliamentary election, saying, "There are many people writing fiction about my future on the basis of groundless imagination and speculation." (Yonhap)


One of the sure-fire ways to accelerate a country's decline to failed state status is to clamp down on legitimate comment.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has just signed into law a bill that imposes penalties on citizens "willfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe."

Blockbusters

Thank goodness President Cyril Ramaphosa doesnt take himself that seriously. If he did, he would be sending around Bheki Cele and one or other goon squad to arrest the executives at Nandos (and their ad agency) for the latest TV ad which certainly doesnt make our country of unintended comedians look very clever.

But, being Nandos, it is very funny.Its an award show for Mzansis Hot Plots and features a number of theoretical blockbusters taken straight from the headlines.We have the Comrades in Arms. From Russia with Love which features someone who could look like a senior ANC minister in bed with two Russian generals. Given the fact that many in the ruling party have a fascination with Moscow and would love, in the words of the Beatles, to be back in the USSR, the gag is spot on in terms of timing.

But Ramaphosa himself is not spared in The Buffalo Soldiers. Everything undeclared all at once. We see two khaki-clad dudes who look like they might work at a game ranch in Limpopo, frantically stuffing cash into a leather sofa.

Sounds a bit Phala-Phala, doesnt it? But, given the absurdity of all that has happened around the saga of the US dollars hidden in our Presidents couch, it is sadly so spot on that it is difficult to tell where reality might end and the satire might begin.

Quick creative thinking

Its all a good giggle, though, but combines with Nandos message: Its winter, so forget about hot plots and get the special on Nandos Hot Pot.

An Orchid to Nandos and long may you keep on keeping on in taking the mickey out of anyone and anything in your efforts to spice up our lives.

Nandos is often successful because its gags are timeous and built around the news. That takes quick creative thinking and execution, because there is nothing worse than a stale joke.

But last week, retroviral and Iwisa, the maize meal brand, set the bar so high for instantaneous marketing reaction to the news that I doubt anyone would better it.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donovan Goliath | CREATOR (@donovangoliath)

Within hours, if not minutes, of the snow beginning to fall in Joburg, they got their man, comedian Donovan Goliath, out with a cellphone, posting on TikTok that this wasnt snow, it was a very clever marketing activation by Iwisa. And, the flakes softly falling did look a bit like sprinklings of maize meal.

The gag got a lot of eyeballs on social media as well as on some mainstream websites, so it was a cost-effective way of getting Iwisas brand noticed in a humorous way.

For lightning-fast reactions, another Orchid this week to Iwisa and retroviral.

Brand evangelism

The Holy Grail of marketing, they will tell you, is to get your consumer to become more than just a mere buyer of your product or service, it is to get them to be a brand evangelist. This is a true influencer who so believes in what you sell that they will praise it without payment, through word of mouth and on social media.

For many years, I was just such a person for Apple computers. After using them in a work environment and seeing how they were years ahead of the PC people (Bill Gatess rubbish, I used to call it), I bought Macs for home use.

Like the rest of the Apple early adopters, I had to cope for many years with compatibility issues, lack of software and, Apples biggest bugbear, the prices.

I could always justify it, though, by pointing out to my PC-using friends and family, that the quality of Apple was of orders of magnitude greater than that of anything produced by Microsoft or anyone else. This particularly applied to Apples high-definition displays, which were perfect when you were working with imaging or design. And they last longer, too.

At home I have two iMacs  the newest is six years old (spring chicken for a Mac) and the other must be at least 15. I also have a 2012 Macbook Pro laptop. When the newer iMac and Macbook Pro started giving issues recently, I had a brief, heart attack-inducing look at the options for replacing them with new units. Together, I would not see much change from R76,000, I worked out. Sure, the new computers would have better processor sand better RAM memory cards, but they would still have the same storage.

An outfit called Repaircentric sorted out both machines and replaced the existing hard-disk drives with SSDs (Solid State Drives), which are basically big USB memory sticks and are the current solution for most new computers.

They both whizz along much faster than before (SSD-equipped machines do) and, in total, they cost a twelfth of what buying new would have.

The point is that Apple  which makes huge profits margins)  is pricing itself out of the market, especially for its own evangelists. That may be good business, but it is just nasty, in my view.

An Onion, then to Apple (ironically this is being typed on my iMac) for leaving behind the people who originally made you into the global giant you are today.
There is now the capacity to make tyranny total in America. James Bamford, journalist

Were all being targeted now.

Were all guilty until proven innocent now.

And thanks to the 24/7 surveillance being carried out by the governments spy network of fusion centers, we are all now sitting ducks, just waiting to be tagged, flagged, targeted, monitored, manipulated, investigated, interrogated, heckled and generally harassed by agents of the American police state.

Although these precrime programs are popping up all across the country, in small towns and big cities, they are not making us any safer but they are endangering individual freedoms.

Nationwide, there are upwards of 123 real-time crime centers (a.k.a. fusion centers), which allow local police agencies to upload and share massive amounts of surveillance data and intelligence with state and federal agencies culled from surveillance cameras, facial recognition technology, gunshot sensors, social media monitoring, drones and body cameras, and artificial intelligence-driven predictive policing algorithms.

These data fusion centers, which effectively create an electronic prisona digital police statefrom which there is no escape, are being built in partnership with big tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon, which helped to fuel the rise of police militarization and domestic surveillance.

While these latest expansions of the surveillance state are part of the Biden Administrations efforts to combat domestic extremism through the creation of a precrime crime prevention agency, they have long been a pivotal part of the governments plans for total control and dominion.

Yet this crime prevention campaign is not so much about making America safer as it is about ensuring that the government has the wherewithal to muzzle anti-government discontent, penalize anyone expressing anti-government sentiments, and preemptively nip in the bud any attempts by the populace to challenge the governments authority or question its propaganda.

As J.D. Tuccille writes for Reason, [A]t a time when government officials rage against misinformation and disinformation that is often just disagreement with whatever opinions are currently popular among the political class, fusion centers frequently scrutinize peaceful dissenting speech.

Indeed, while the Biden Administration was recently dealt a legal blow over its attempts to urge social media companies to do more to combat so-called dis- and mis-information, these fusion centers are the unacknowledged powerhouses behind the governments campaign to censors and retaliate against those who vocalize their disagreement and discontent with government policies.

Already, the powers-that-be are mobilizing to ensure that fusion centers have the ability to monitor and lockdown sectors of a community at a moments notice.

For instance, a 42,000-square-foot behemoth of a fusion center in downtown Washington is reportedly designed to better prepare law enforcement for the next public health emergency or Jan. 6-style attack. According to an agency spokeswoman, Screens covering the walls of the new facility will show surveillance cameras around the city as well as social media accounts that may be monitored for threatening speech.

Its like a scene straight out of Steven Spielbergs dystopian film Minority Report, set in 2054, where police agencies harvest intelligence from widespread surveillance, behavior prediction technologies, data mining, precognitive technology, and neighborhood and family snitch programs in order to capture would-be criminals before they can do any damage.

Incredibly, as the various nascent technologies employed and shared by the government and corporations alikefacial recognition, iris scanners, massive databases, behavior prediction software, and so onare incorporated into a complex, interwoven cyber network aimed at tracking our movements, predicting our thoughts and controlling our behavior, the dystopian visions of past writers is fast becoming our reality.

Our world is now characterized by widespread surveillance, behavior prediction technologies, data mining, fusion centers, driverless cars, voice-controlled homes, facial recognition systems, cybugs and drones, and predictive policing (pre-crime) aimed at capturing would-be criminals before they can do any damage.

What once seemed futuristic no longer occupies the realm of science fiction.

The American police states take on the dystopian terrors foreshadowed by George Orwell, Aldous Huxley and Phillip K. Dick have all been rolled up into one oppressive pre-crime and pre-thought crime package.

In this way, the novel 1984 has become an operation manual for an omnipresent, modern-day surveillance state in which ordinary Americans find themselves labeled domestic extremists for engaging in lawful behavior that triggers the governments precrime sensors.

The technocrats who run the surveillance state dont even have to break a sweat while monitoring what you say, what you read, what you write, where you go, how much you spend, whom you support, and with whom you communicate and then classifying you as a danger.

Computers now do the tedious work of trolling social media, the internet, text messages and phone calls for potentially anti-government remarks, all of which is carefully recorded, documented, and stored to be used against you someday at a time and place of the governments choosing.

In this way, with the help of automated eyes and ears, a growing arsenal of high-tech software, hardware and techniques, government propaganda urging Americans to turn into spies and snitches, as well as social media and behavior sensing software, government agents are spinning a sticky spider-web of threat assessments, behavioral sensing warnings, flagged words, and suspicious activity reports aimed at snaring potential enemies of the state.

Its also a setup ripe for abuse.

For instance, an investigative report by the Brennan Center found that Over the last two decades, leaked materials have shown fusion centers tracking protestors and casting peaceful activities as potential threats. Their targets have included racial justice and environmental advocates, right-wing activists, and third-party political candidates.

One fusion center in Maine was found to have been illegally collecting and sharing information about Maine residents who werent suspected of criminal activity. They included gun purchasers, people protesting the construction of a new power transmission line, the employees of a peacebuilding summer camp for teenagers, and even people who travelled to New York City frequently.

In one Florida county, police have been using their precrime program to generate lists of people it considers likely to break the law, based on arrest histories, unspecified intelligence and arbitrary decisions by police analysts. Then, according to the Tampa Bay Times, deputies are deployed to find and interrogate anyone whose name appears, often without probable cause, a search warrant or evidence of a specific crime. They swarm homes in the middle of the night, waking families and embarrassing people in front of their neighbors. They write tickets for missing mailbox numbers and overgrown grass, saddling residents with court dates and fines. They come again and again, making arrests for any reason they can.

The goal? Make their lives miserable until they move or sue.

This is how the government is turning a nation of citizens into suspects and would-be criminals.

This transformation is being driven by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency notorious for militarizing the police and SWAT teams; spying on activists, dissidents and veterans; stockpiling ammunition; distributing license plate readers; contracting to build detention camps; tracking cell-phones with Stingray devices; carrying out military drills and lockdowns in American cities; using the TSA as an advance guard; conducting virtual strip searches with full-body scanners; carrying out soft target checkpoints; directing government workers to spy on Americans; conducting widespread spying networks using fusion centers; carrying out Constitution-free border control searches; funding city-wide surveillance cameras; and utilizing drones and other spybots.

Twenty years after being formed in the wake of 9/11, the DHS is a massive, costly, power-hungry bureaucracy working hard to ensure that the government is all-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful.

Yet heres the thing: you dont have to do anything illegal or challenge the governments authority in order to be flagged as a suspicious character, labeled an enemy of the state and locked up like a dangerous criminal.

In fact, all you need to do is use certain trigger words, surf the internet, communicate using a cell phone, drive a car, stay at a hotel, purchase materials at a hardware store, take flying or boating lessons, appear suspicious to a neighbor, question government authority, or generally live in the United States.

The following activities are guaranteed to get you censored, surveilled, eventually placed on a government watch list, possibly detained and potentially killed.

Use harmless trigger words like cloud, pork and pirates. Use a cell phone. Drive a car. Attend a political rally. Express yourself on social media. Serve in the military. Disagree with a law enforcement official. Call in sick to work. Limp or stutter. Appear confused or nervous, fidget, whistle or smell bad. Allow yourself to be seen in public waving a toy gun or anything remotely resembling a gun, such as a water nozzle or a remote control or a walking cane, for instance. Stare at a police officer. Appear to be pro-gun, pro-freedom or anti-government. Attend a public school. Speak truth to power.

Its just a matter of time before you find yourself wrongly accused, investigated and confronted by police based on a data-driven algorithm or risk assessment culled together by a computer program run by artificial intelligence.

Before long, every household in America will be flagged as a threat and assigned a threat score.

Without having ever knowingly committed a crime or been convicted of one, you and your fellow citizens have likely been assessed for behaviors the government might consider devious, dangerous or concerning; assigned a threat score based on your associations, activities and viewpoints; and catalogued in a government database according to how you should be approached by police and other government agencies based on your particular threat level.

Combine predictive policing with surveillance, overcriminalization and precrime programs, then add in militarized police trained to shoot first and ask questions later, and as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, youll be lucky to escape with your life.

If youre not scared yet, you should be.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/226j6cyc

ABOUT JOHN W. WHITEHEAD

Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His most recent books are the best-selling Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, and a debut dystopian fiction novel, The Erik Blair Diaries. Whitehead can be contacted at staff@rutherford.org. Nisha Whitehead is the Executive Director of The Rutherford Institute. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at www.rutherford.org.

Publication Guidelines / Reprint Permission

John W. Whiteheads weekly commentaries are available for publication to newspapers and web publications at no charge. Please contact staff@rutherford.org to obtain reprint permission.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, center, the People Power Party chairman, inspects a village of Cheongyang County, South Chungcheung Province, Monday, one of the regions that were hit hard by the torrential downpour over the weekend. Yonhap



The leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) traveled Monday to the deadly underpass flooding site and promised to determine what went wrong in the response to the flooding and hold those responsible to account.



The underground roadway in the central town of Osong, some 112 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was flooded Saturday morning when the nearby river overflowed after an embankment was brought down by rising water levels due to heavy rain, leaving at least 16 vehicles, including a bus, trapped under water.



Rescuers pulled four more bodies from the flood-hit underground tunnel overnight, bringing the death toll to 13 amid fears that casualties could rise as rescuers continue an operation to drain and search the underpass.



"I offered words of comfort to the bereaved families and told them we are very sorry," PPP leader Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon told reporters during the visit. "We will clearly determine the truth and hold those responsible to account regardless of their position or status."



Earlier in the day, Kim also visited the nearby city of Gongju, another hard-hit region, and asked Rep. Chung Jin-suck, who represents Gongju, to mobilize all necessary human resources to cope with the aftermath of the disaster.



Separately, PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok requested all member lawmakers to refrain from going on trips abroad, and said members from his party will participate in volunteer work to help restoration efforts in the disaster-hit areas.



The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also promised bipartisan support for recovery efforts.



"We will actively cooperate in restoring this national disaster. We will maintain an emergency response system from the regional committee level and remain strongly committed to supporting efforts to restore the damage," DPK leader Lee Jae-myung said at a party leadership meeting.



The DPK plans to hold off any political schedules, including submitting a motion to open a parliamentary probe into an expressway project, until the rain subsides and the situation gets under control, an official from the party said.



Still, the DPK criticized the government for responding poorly to the disaster.



"This is a man-made disaster, which was caused by a lack of proper evacuation and control measures," DPK floor leader Park Kwang-on said. (Yonhap)


NEW DELHI (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 has said.



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.


Actors in Los Angeles will picket the studios of Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros on Monday as Hollywoods biggest strike in more than 60 years enters its first full week.

Performers walked out on Friday morning after contract negotiations between actors union Sag-Aftra (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down.

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Approximately 160,000 actors are now on strike, joining the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who walked out on May 2nd.

WE know #sagaftramembers want a fair contract. Show the AMPTP how serious you are. NY and LA members, check out the #SAGAFTRAstrike picket line schedules and get more info at https://t.co/EE6qPXDi3T.



Let us know if well see you there  #SAGAFTRAstrong pic.twitter.com/fpNfTNF6cg Advertisement  SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 17, 2023 Advertisement

It is the first time both unions have been on strike since 1960. The last time SAG members went on strike was in 1980, when the union was led by Ronald Reagan.

Actors in New York will picket the offices of HBO and Amazon, Warner Bros and Netflix, Paramount and NBC Universal on Monday.

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Thelma And Louise star Susan Sarandon, Dont Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde, Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, Bullet Trains Joey King, Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever, Once Upon A Time actress Ginnifer Goodwin, This Is Us star Mandy Moore and Kids actress Rosario Dawson are among the stars who have been seen on picket lines.

Sir Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan, Robert Downey Jr and Josh Hartnett at the premiere of Oppenheimer before the cast walked out (Ian West/PA)

Actors will not film new projects or promote their films at junkets, premieres, awards shows or conventions during the strike.

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The premiere of new Disney film Haunted Mansion went ahead at Disneyland at the weekend, but without stars Owen Wilson, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tiffany Haddish in attendance.

The cast of Christopher Nolans new movie Oppenheimer walked out of the London premiere last week as news of the impending strike broke and planned junkets for films including Barbie have also been affected.

Producers of independent films could be granted waivers to continue shooting despite the strike, as long as they are operating outside of the studio system.

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The upcoming indie film Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson, has reportedly been granted permission to move ahead, with Deadline reporting that more exemptions will follow for projects with no connection to a studio or streaming service that are not affiliated with the AMPTP.

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The contract between the union and the AMPTP, which represents the major film studios, TV networks and streaming giants, expired after negotiators failed to reach an agreement over a number of issues including pay and the use of AI (artificial intelligence).

The union said actors face an existential threat to their livelihoods with the rise of generative AI technology and the threat of unregulated use.

We know you have questions. We have answers!#sagaftramembers, make sure you know what you CAN'T WORK on during the #SAGAFTRAstrike  #SAGAFTRAstrong pic.twitter.com/CBzz4eK4F2  SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 16, 2023

Chief negotiator for Sag-Aftra, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, said studios had asked for the ability to scan the faces of background artists for the payment of one days work, and then be able to own and use their likeness for any future projects without consent or compensation.

The issue is the main plot of a recent episode of Netflix series Black Mirror, in which Salma Hayeks character discover her AI likeness could be used by a production company without her knowledge.

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The issue of pay has also been a key part of negotiations as the advent of streaming has changed the way actors are compensated for their work.

While in the past they would make money from residuals, where they would be paid based on re-runs of their shows and films, streaming has severely dented this, with actors and writers saying their residuals have plummeted.

The union says members are striking for a fairer division of profits, but the AMPTP says negotiators chose to forego the highest percentage increase in minimums in 35 years in favour of going on strike.
The former chief executive officer of a charity that has been helping Ukrainian refugee in Ireland has complied with an order to vacate the organisation's Cork based officers, the High Court has heard.

Late last week the Together-Razem Centre Company Limited by Guarantee obtained a High Court order against Mr Wojciech Bialek, who is alleged to have resigned earlier this year.

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The charity is funded by the HSE and has for many years provided support services to immigrants living in Ireland, and in recent times have been helping refugees from Ukraine.

The injunction restrains Mr Bialek, or any other persons who are aware of the order from removing, deleting or copying any of the plaintiff's documents held at its premises at Kilnap Business Park, Old Mallow Road, Blackpool, Cork

The order also restrains the defendant from transferring or withdrawing any funds or monies held by the plaintiff, or trespassing, entering or attending at the plaintiff's property.

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The defendant is further restrained by the injunction from representing himself to any other party as being an employee, trustee, or chairperson of the plaintiff.

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When the matter returned before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore on Monday the court was told that the order had been complied with, and the offices have been vacated.

Allegations

The court also heard that Mr Bialek rejects the allegations made against him by the plaintiff. His lawyers told the court that they needed time to fully respond to the allegations against him.

It was also suggested that the dispute, which concerns a charity with limited funds, could be short circuited if the court was to make an order directing the members of the charity to hold a general meeting where new directors could be elected by the organisation's members.

The plaintiff has alleged that the defendant and others have unlawfully, and not in accordance with company law, have attempted to remove members of the charity's board of directors and replace them with other persons.

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Such an order could make the proceedings moot, the court was told.

Lawyers for the plaintiff told the court that it wants the defendant to reply to what are serious claims. It also said that it is yet to regain possession of its offices,

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Mr Justice O'Moore put in place a timetable for the exchange of documents in the case, and adjourned the case to a date later this month.

The judge said he was not prepared to make an order under the Companies Act at this stage directing the charity to hold a meeting to select members of its board.

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However, the defendant could bring a motion asking the court to make such an order when the case is next back before the court,.

In its action the applicant charity claims that Mr Bialek stood down from the role he has held since 2012 after an independent accountant, appointed by the charity's board of directors to review the charity's historical transactions and accounting practises, had sought clarification on certain matters from the defendant.

It is claimed that he resigned after he was asked to respond to questions raised by the independent accountant about certain transactions.

EGM

The charity claims that last month the defendant and others claiming to be members of plaintiff called an Extraordinary General Meeting of the charity.

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It is claimed that a resolution removing the existing directors and the company secretary, and replaced them with alternatives, was passed at the EGM.

The plaintiff claims that EGM and the vote was invalid.

It is also alleged that following the EGM, the defendant started to identify himself in correspondence as being the charity's chairperson attended and effectively seized control of the charity's offices by changing the locks.

The plaintiff claimed that these actions were unlawful and brought High Court proceedings seeking various orders against the defendant.

The claims of wrongdoing are denied.
China-Croatia joint police patrol to improve security in Croatian tourist cities

Xinhua) 13:59, July 17, 2023

ZAGREB, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Eight Chinese police officers will join their Croatian counterparts to patrol in four major Croatian tourist cities for one month in order to better serve tourists, especially Chinese tourists, in the country.

This year's joint police patrol project was launched on Sunday at the Chinese embassy in Croatia's capital Zagreb and has been the fourth of such kind since 2018.

This tourism season's China-Croatia joint police patrol will be conducted in Zagreb, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik, all of which are main tourist destinations in Croatia.

Qi Qianjin, Chinese ambassador to Croatia, Irena Vuksanovic, state secretary of the Croatian Interior Ministry, Zorica Lausic, chief of the International Police Cooperation Division at the Croatian Interior Ministry and the eight Chinese police officers attended today's ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Qi said the joint project has effectively improved the experience of Chinese tourists in Croatia and made contributions to China-Croatia tourism cooperation.

The mutual trust and cooperation demonstrated by the joint police patrol project are invaluable, Qi said, noting that China attaches importance to developing mutually beneficial and win-win relations with European countries, including Croatia, and the joint police patrol is the epitome of China-Croatia friendship.

"We are ready to work with Croatia to consolidate our traditional friendship, explore further cooperation potentials and push forward a steady and long-term growth of China-Croatia comprehensive partnership of cooperation," he said.

Lausic hailed the good cooperation between the two sides as the joint police patrol has contributed to making Croatia a "safe tourist destination."

With this year's eight Chinese police officers, so far a total of 30 Chinese police officers have joined the project, she said, adding that this confirmed the success of the project.

Xu Jianjun, one of the eight Chinese police to work here, said that they will work together with Croatian colleagues to help enhance the security of Chinese tourists and overseas Chinese in Croatia.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A search operation is under way in a flooded underground tunnel in the central town of Osong, July 17. Yonhap



Police plan to launch an investigation into the recent deadly flooding of an underground roadway in the central town of Osong, which has claimed 13 lives, officials said Monday.



The underground roadway in western Cheongju, located 112 kilometers south of Seoul, was flooded Saturday morning when the nearby Miho River overflowed after an embankment was brought down by rising water levels due to heavy rain, leaving at least 16 vehicles, including a bus, trapped under water.



Rescuers pulled four more bodies from the flood-hit underground tunnel overnight, bringing the death toll to 13. Casualties could rise as rescuers continue an operation to drain and search the underpass.



Police officials said the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency in the region plans to form a special investigation unit to be in charge of the case as soon as the ongoing search operation is completed.






An Irishman living in Spain, who came back during the pandemic lockdown to look after his ill 85-year-old mother for a short time, is challenging his prosecution over returning to Spain, the High Court heard.

Ryan O'Gorman, who had been living and working seasonally in Ibiza for several years, returned to Ireland in June 2021 to look after his mother for a few days as she was recovering from Covid.

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When he arrived at the airport, he was asked by a garda if his travel was essential, and he explained why he was here.

However, he subsequently received a 2,000 fixed penalty notice. When he failed to pay it a District Court prosecution followed.

A hearing of the prosecution is scheduled for this Friday.

On Monday, his counsel Conor Power SC, instructed by Brian Burns of Burns Kelly Corrigan Solicitors, was granted leave to seek an injunction prohibiting the prosecution.

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The case is against the DPP, the Minister for Health and the State. The application was made on an ex-parte basis meaning only the O'Gorman side was represented.

Ms Justice Niamh Hyland indicated she was prepared to grant an order prohibiting the prosecution but would await until Mr Power returns to her before Friday to see if the State side will agree not to proceed.

Mr Power said previous regulations making it an offence for those resident in Ireland to travel abroad to look after a sick relative abroad were found to be discriminatory.

His case was that they were replaced with equally discriminatory regulation towards those who returned to Ireland from abroad for the same purpose.

In his proceedings, Mr O'Gorman seeks a number of orders and declarations including the quashing of the fixed penalty notice and the court summons.

He also seeks a declaration that the temporary restriction regulations under the Health Act 1947 was an unlawful breach of the right to travel under the Constitution and EU law.
The mother of a teenager who died by suicide who had secured a High Court injunction restraining Gemma O'Doherty from harassing her has brought additional proceedings seeking to establish the identities of Twitter account holders alleged to have breached the order.

Edel Campbell's lawyers have asked the High Court for orders directing Twitter to disclose the identities and contact details of the operators, controllers and owners of three accounts on the social media platform.

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The three accounts are '@irishlightpaper', '@cavandrugwatch' and '@michaelmg3'.

Last month the court made orders in favour of Ms Campbell, who claims she has been the subject of a campaign of harassment by Ms Doherty.

Mc Campbell claims that the harassment is linked to proceedings she has brought against Ms O'Doherty over the alleged unauthorised publication of the image of plaintiff's late son on media associated with the defendant.

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She claims that Ms O'Doherty has wrongly and unlawfully used the image of plaintiff's son Diego Gilsenan in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination.

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She secured an injunction restraining Ms O'Doherty from harassing the plaintiff, or from publishing Ms Campbell's and her late son's images or any personal confidential material about them.

Ms ODoherty is also restrained from encouraging or inciting others to intimidate the plaintiff.

The court also made orders requiring Ms ODoherty to take down and remove any image of the plaintiff and her late son from any form of media that she owns or operates.

The Irish Light

The injunction is to remain in place pending the final outcome of Ms Campbell's action against Ms O'Doherty, trading as 'The Irish Light'.

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On Monday, Ms Campbell's lawyers returned to court and told Mr Justice Brian O'Moore that three twitter accounts have published statements allegedly in breach of the injunction.

The statements on the accounts, which Ms Campbell suspects may be under the control of Ms O'Doherty, were published after the injunction was granted by the High Court.

Ms Campbell's legal team of David Kennedy SC, Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe Bl instructed by solicitor Ciaran Mulholland wrote to Twitter seeking information about the account holders' owners and controllers.

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In reply Twitter said that it could not furnish such information in the absence of a court order.

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As a result, Mr Kennedy told the court, his client was seeking various disclosure orders against Twitter and Ms O'Doherty in respect of the three accounts.

His client was also seeking an order from the defendant directing her to disclose whether she is the owner, operator or controller of the three accounts.

Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted the plaintiff permission to serve short notice of the motion on Twitter and the defendant.

The matter will return before the High Court later this month.

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Last May Ms Campbell launched a High Court action aimed at restraining Ms O'Doherty, trading as 'The Irish Light', from using or publishing the image of Ms Campbell's late son for any purpose without the plaintiff's consent.

Harassment

The plaintiff claims that Ms O'Doherty is a journalist and the publisher of The Irish Light, a free periodical newspaper, and the publisher/editor of the www.irishlightpaper.com website.

Following Mr Gilsenan's death in August 2021 it is claimed that Ms O'Doherty used the image of the plaintiff's son in an article which it is claimed wrongly stated that he died as a result of the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine.

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Ms Campbell, from Kingscourt, Co Cavan, claims that despite making several pleas to Ms O'Doherty to cease using her son's image, the defendant has allegedly refused to do so, and has denied that the use of the image is unethical.

Ms Campbell claims that the unauthorised and repeated use of her son's image amounts to a harassment and breach of her constitutional rights, and has caused her emotional pain, suffering and harm.

Seeking the injunction, it was claimed that the defendant's conduct towards Ms Campbell in social media posts became "exponentially worse" after the action was launched.

It was also claimed that as a result of an alleged direct call for action by Ms O'Doherty anonymous attack accounts have been set up on social media targeting Ms Campbell.

It was further claimed that a lot of the material posted by the defendant in online lectures and talks about his client has adversely affected the plaintiff's health.

It is alleged that Ms O'Doherty's comments go outside the limits of what can be considered the right to freedom of speech.

Ms O'Doherty was asked to stop using the picture of Ms Campbell's son, which it is claimed was taken from RIP.ie used without consent.

However, the defendant had refused to do so.
A planning watchdog has rejected an ethics complaint made by broadcaster, Pat Kenny against a planning consultant in the badger planning row concerning a proposed nursing home adjacent to the Kenny family home in Dalkey.

Last week, Mr Kenny admitted to being flabbergasted at An Bord Pleanalas crazy and bizarre decision to grant planning permission to Bartra Property for a five storey 104 bedroom nursing home for the Yonder site on Ulverton Rd and Harbour Rd in Dalkey in south Dublin.

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A central part of the Kenny opposition was the impact the nursing home scheme would have on a local badger sett and Mr Kenny commented this is the badgers Alamothe board with this decision has effectively killed the badgers."

Now, it has emerged that Pat Kenny and his wife, Kathy lodged a formal ethics complaint to the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) against planning consultant, Patricia Thornton of Thornton OConnor Town Planning during the course of the planning dispute.

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The planning consultancy firm was employed by Bartra Property in the case.

Confirmation of the IPI complaint is contained within a 25-page Kenny objection against the nursing home released by the appeals board which also contains a number of still CCTV/infra-red images of badgers.

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The images show a badger cub suckling its mother; two cubs at play; a badger mother carrying a cub back to the sett and a rare early morning sighting at the sett.

The Kennys told An Bord Pleanala we are surprised to find ourselves in the position of having to defend the badger family given that they are protected in law".

In their complaint to the IPI, Pat and Kathy Kenny alleged that a section of a planning appeal report by IPI member, Patricia Thornton contained false and misleading information in relation to the Bartra nursing home scheme.

Sanction

In their complaint, the Kennys told the IPI we were shocked by this behaviour and believe that it merits action and sanction by the institute.

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However, after examining the Kenny complaint, the Membership & Professional Practice Committee of the IPI found that a significant breach of the IPIs Code of Professional Conduct did not take place.

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In the IPI decision letter, the three-person committee confirmed that Ms Thornton did confirm that the Kenny complaint was correct in that a quote in her planning submission on behalf of Bartra from an An Bord Pleanala Inspectors report was incorrectly attributed.

However, the IPI committee found that while the inaccuracy is unfortunate, it is as a result of human error.

The IPI sub-committee stated that Ms Thornton has notified An Bord Pleanala of the error.

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The three-person committee concluded that in light of the correspondence received by the Institute, the nature of the error and the explanation of the errors it is the unanimous decision of the sub-committee that a significant breach of the Institutes Code of Professional Conduct did not take place.

The sub-committees two-page report stated that the substance of the Kenny complaint is that Ms Thornton in making an appeal to An Bord Pleanala incorrectly attributed statements from An Bord Pleanala inspectors report thereby creating the impression that An Bord Pleanala were previously in favour of the scale of the development subject to the appeal.

The IPI stated that the Kenny complaint pointed out the statement was included more than once in the appeal and alleged that this is an attempt to mislead An Bord Pleanala."

Asked to comment on the findings of the IPI sub-committee, Mr Kenny said on Monday: We found the decision by the IPI unbelievable.

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"We never heard from the appeals board on this. If Patricia Thornton corrected the report with An Bord Pleanala, everyone who was an observer in the case should have got details for that correction and none of us did, as far as I know.

Asked to comment on the Kenny complaint and the IPI outcome a spokesperson for Thornton OConnor Town Planning declined to comment.
A total of 469 members of An Garda Siochana left the force in the last year.

Officials fear it will be tough to police new Government legislation without an increase in resources, including new laws covering hate speech and hate crimes due to take effect in autumn.

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General secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors (AGSI), Antoinette Cunningham, said while these laws are welcome, Gardai are already struggling with an increase in street crime and anti-social behaviour across the country.

"The evolution of law happens all of the time. The evolution of the implementation of the rule of law evolves as well if you have the people to do that.

"If we do not have the adequate resource to deal with it then it remains a societal issue," she said.

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It comes as Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has come in for criticism over how new laws will be implemented.

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As the Irish Examiner reports, Ms McEntee strongly defended the proposed laws around hate crime and hate speech, claiming they are needed to protect people who are currently too afraid to leave their homes.

The bill to criminalise hate speech, which is currently going through the Seanad, has attracted significant criticism, including from Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jnr.

However, Ms McEntee said: "There are people in this country who don't want to leave their house because they're afraid.

"That's nothing to do with commentary and culture wars that might be happening separate, it's because of their race, it's because of their sexual orientation, it's because of their nationality, it's because they have a disability.

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"This legislation is about protecting them from hate crimes where they are physically assaulted, where there are assaults on their property and other forms of crimes, but also where is language use that incites that type of violence against another person."

A number of senators also raised concerns around the fact that hate is not explicitly defined in the bill when it was debated earlier this week.

She said there is a very clear understanding among the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions and An Garda Siochana as to what hate word means.

"The reason that we haven't defined hate is by defining hate and using another word, you then have to try and describe essentially what that means," she said.
The head of Tusla has admitted the agency is now at "crisis point" after an outgoing judge wrote to numerous government ministers and other State agencies expressing his "utmost concern" over the welfare of some children in care and the likelihood of future legal challenges as a result of current "systemic" shortcomings.

Judge Dermot Simms, who has since retired from the Dublin Metropolitan District Court, sent the detailed letter accompanied by related documents after he had been told in court by the Child and Family Agency of an "unprecedented crisis" faced by Tusla.

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Judge Simms said the issue is primarily due to a lack of properly regulated suitable placements for foster care, residential placements and special (secure) care, and unfilled posts in Tusla, alongside a shortage of qualified personnel and staff retention issues.

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The letter, published by the Child Law Project alongside its latest volume of reports, argues that "systemic failures" not limited to Tusla but also involving interaction between other State agencies, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) and the Prison Service, had contributed to the current crisis.

He also referred to issues with Gardai and its communication with Tusla on the progress of child sex abuse complaints and adequate monitoring of children in care, "especially where there is evidence of children engaged in prostitution".

The judge specifically referred to "unapproved and unregulated" special emergency arrangements (SEAs), suggesting there could be as many as 130 of these placements.

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These involve children staying in hotels, B&Bs, holiday centres, activity centres, and non-Tusla registered or privately leased properties, where they are supervised by either Tusla staff, private provider or a community a voluntary provider.

According to the CLP, as of last April there were 55 children in care in SEAs and a further 78 unaccompanied minors seeking international protection in SEAs.

'Utmost concern'

Referring to the difficulty to securing a suitable placement for a nine-year-old boy and also to what Tusla described in a court as the "unsuitable placement" of a six-year-old girl in an SEA, the judge wrote that "these types of cases, too numerous to outline, have featured in the court on a daily basis".

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Judge Simms said he had the "utmost concern for the immediate predicament and welfare of children who are in care" and that it required "immediate and coordinated action" to address the crisis.

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He added: "There is also the risk, or indeed likelihood, that the State will face claims in the future arising out of its failure to comply adequately with its duty of care and statutory duty to many of these children."

Responding to the publication of the CLP report and Judge Simmss intervention, Tusla chief executive Kate Duggan said the agency was now at a "crisis point".

Ms Duggan echoed the praise of Judge Simms for frontline social workers and others working with vulnerable children "within the resources available", but admitted that Tusla now faced "unprecedented challenges".

Ms Duggan said these included an increasing referral rate, an inadequate supply of emergency and alternative care placements, an increase in the number of separated children seeking international protection, and workforce supply issues, particularly in Social Work and Social Care. She also referred to more children with more complex needs.

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"This increase in demand for services, in the context of wider societal issues such as the housing crisis, global movement, poverty, domestic and gender-based violence, drugs, criminality and exploitation, have placed the agency at a crisis point," Ms Duggan said.

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"However, we continue to work hard to mitigate risks, and to engage with other state agencies and departments, to seek to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society receive a timely and appropriate response," she added.

Human rights obligations

The CLP said the issuing of the letter and the associated documents to the Ministers for Children, Health, Justice and Public Expenditure, as well as the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and other bodies, including Hiqa, was "unusual".

The chief executive of the Child Law Project, Dr Maria Corbett, said: "We share the judges concerns and echo his call for urgent action. Our reports illustrate that the lack of appropriate placements is having a detrimental effect on the care system."

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The CLP published the letter from the now-retired judge with his permission, and Ms Corbett said the latest batch of court reports included examples of placements ending in an unplanned manner, children being placed far from their families, and vulnerable children in unregistered emergency settings, which fall outside of the usual inspection regime.

"Such practices undermine 20 years of progress and risk Ireland breaching its international human rights obligations," Dr Corbett said.

The latest CLP volume details examples of parental mental health, parental addiction, homelessness and domestic violence.

In one case a judge lifted the in-camera rule to allow a childs guardian ad litem (GAL) to bring a complaint to the Ombudsman for Children after a nine-year-old boy from Dublin was moved to a privately-run residential placement in the north-west of the country, far from his family, and was then abruptly moved to another placement in the south-east.

In another case the placement of a teenage girl ended so abruptly that she was at school at the time and was not allowed to return for her belongings, which had been placed in black plastic bags  a situation described by the girl's guardian ad litem as "devastating".
A man whose sister was shot dead by a soldier almost half a century ago in Northern Ireland has urged MPs to reject a controversial Bill to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Bill) is set to return to the UK's House of Commons this week.

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Peers recently removed a contentious element of the proposed legislation which would have offered immunity from prosecution to those who committed crimes during the Troubles if they co-operated with a truth-recovery body, but MPs will have the opportunity to restore that provision.

The legislation would also stop new inquests and civil cases taking place.

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Victims groups, the main Stormont political parties and the Irish Government have all expressed their opposition to the Bill.

The UK government has said the legislation is the best way to deliver for victims of the Troubles.

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Michael OHare, whose 12-year-old sister Majella OHare was shot dead in Co Armagh 47 years ago, said victims deserved the right to justice.

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He said: MPs need to pause and put themselves in my shoes.

If your sister was shot and killed, youd want the truth to come out and youd rightly expect justice.

Majella OHare was shot dead in Co Armagh (Family handout/PA)

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My sister Majellas life mattered, she was taken from us in the most horrific way.

This Bill betrays her, my family and every victim still waiting for the accountability were all entitled to.

Shame on the UK Government ignoring our pleas to drop the Bill.

I call on MPs to show up, reject the Bill and tell government to think again.

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Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UKs Northern Ireland deputy director, said the UK government is ignoring the pleas of victims.

She said: It is disgraceful that a Bill universally opposed, and which betrays victims in the most cruel and contemptuous way possible, continues to be pushed through by the UK government.

The call to abandon this shameful Bill has never been more urgent.

Now is the time for MPs to decide whether they will prop up governments plan to protect murderers or stand with victims and for their rights to truth and justice.

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Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty International, urged MPs to reject the legacy Bill (Liam McBurney/PA)

The stakes for victims could not be higher and we must not lose sight of the fact that there is a better, previously agreed, human rights-compliant and victim-centred way forward to deal with the legacy of the conflict.

She added: As it stands, the UK government has chosen to ignore this. All eyes are now on MPs to see if they will do the same.

MPs must also consider the dangerous international precedent which will be set by this Bill; providing a blueprint for letting state forces and illegal armed groups off with murder and other serious crimes  a legacy no government should want to create.

Recent protests against the legacy Bill have called on the Irish government to take an interstate case against the UK to the international court of the Council of Europe should the Bill pass, which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would consider.

Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has previously said he believes the Bill is human rights-compliant and will lead to more families receiving information about the deaths of their loved ones during the Troubles.
Death Valley is approaching its highest ever temperature as parts of the planet struggle to cope with a record summer heatwave.

The valley along part of inland Californias border with Nevada in the US has long been acknowledged as the hottest place on Earth.

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Meteorologists with the US National Weather Service said temperatures were expected to reach a high of 53.33 degrees at the aptly-named Furnace Creek.

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.

Many Americans have been warned over excessive heat (AP)

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Las Vegas also faced the possibility of reaching an all-time record temperature over the weekend.

Meanwhile, wildfires in Canada have led to air quality alerts in several US states, stretching from Montana to Ohio.

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The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.67 degrees in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, according to an official at the World Meteorological Organisation.

Temperatures at or above 54.44 degrees have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.

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With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur, the World Meteorological Organisation said.

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 US.

Water levels decline at the Lake of Sainte-Croix, southern France (AP)

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The heatwave is just one component of the extreme weather hitting the planet over the weekend.

Five people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars. A nine-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl remain missing. In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding.

On Sunday, Spanish authorities said more favourable weather conditions helped firefighters slow down the advance of a wildfire on La Palma in Spains Canary Islands that had forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents.

The blaze, which started on Saturday, affected an area of about 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) and burned some 20 houses and buildings.

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Authorities had earlier urged people not to go near the area on the north-west side of the island. More than 300 firefighters were deployed and nine water-carrying helicopters and two planes are being used to try to extinguish the fire.

Local residents look on at a burning forest fire, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma (Europa Press via AP)

In southern France, human-caused climate change is lengthening droughts, meaning the reservoirs are increasingly drained to lower levels to maintain the power generation and water supply needed for nearby towns and cities.

It is concerning many in the French tourism industry, who are working out how to keep their lakeside businesses afloat in the long term if water levels remain low or unpredictable.

The three reservoir lakes in the area  Serre Poncon, Castillon and Sainte-Croix  quickly became a draw for nature lovers after their construction in the middle of the 20th century. They are known for their crisp, clear waters in undisturbed valleys surrounded by tall mountains.

The region attracts more than 4.6 million visitors a year, most of whom flock to the cool lakes during the summer months.

Water levels in the reservoirs are set and managed by national energy giant EDF, which operates the dams.

Last year, the low water levels from a lack of snow and rain in the spring meant the company was forced to draw on the reservoirs to keep hydroelectric power going and water pipes in southern France flowing for drinking and agriculture.

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Military Emergency Unit personnel work to extinguish a forest fire the Canary island of La Palma (UME via AP)

By August, Frances government warned the country was in the midst of its fourth heatwave that year, further dwindling water supplies that evaporated in the blazing temperatures.

Tourism companies are already preparing for groundwater in the region not replenishing fast enough, with water restrictions possible

Heatwaves are not as visually dramatic as other natural disasters, but experts say they are more deadly. A heatwave in parts of the South and Midwest United States killed more than a dozen people last month.

It is also a worldwide phenomenon, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the US North-East, India, Japan and China.

For nearly all of July, the world has been in uncharted hot territory, according to the University of Maines Climate Reanalyser.

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, it is 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.

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Dangerous heat continues across Central California. Dehydration can be dangerous. Remember to drink plenty of water and reduce time in the sun. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/0brhZjjVOY  NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) July 16, 2023

The two hottest temperatures on record are the 55 degrees noted in 1913 in Death Valley and the same in Tunisia in July 1931.

Mr Burt, a historian with The Weather Company, finds fault with both of those measurements and lists a figure of 54.4 degrees in July 2021 in Death Valley as his hottest recorded temperature on Earth, saying that 130 degrees is very rare, if not unique.

There are other places similar to Death Valley that may be as hot, such as Irans Lut Desert, but these are uninhabited so no-one measures there, Mr Burt said. An official weather station was established in Death Valley in 1911.

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.

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Scientists such as NOAA climate analysis chief Russ Vose said most of the record warming the Earth is now seeing is as a result of human-caused climate change, partly because this El Nino only started a few months ago and is still at a weak-to-moderate stage.

It is not expected to peak until the winter, so scientists predict next year will be even hotter than this year.
Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations (G20) will address critical global economic challenges during a meeting in India, including the threats posed by climate change and rising debt among low-income countries.

The finance minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 will focus on strengthening the global economy as growth remains uneven and below average.

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In her opening remarks ahead of the meetings being held in Gandhinagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Ms Sitharaman said: What we need are coordinated international efforts to navigate this challenging period.

Earlier on Monday, Ms Sitharaman and US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said the two countries were working together to further the groups agenda.

The global economy & global health are inextricably linked. This morning, I urged @g20org Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors to:

1. prioritize the #G20 Joint Finance & Health Task Forces work

2. invest in the Pandemic Fund

3. see health as a productive sector

Together! pic.twitter.com/vZUwLYw1GN Advertisement Advertisement  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 17, 2023

They spoke after holding talks on the sidelines of the G20 meetings, a sign of the importance of their countries relationship at a time of tension with China.

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The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries, Ms Yellen said.

Ms Sitharaman said a priority for the G20 and host country India is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consensus on intractable issues associated with rising indebtedness of low and middle-income countries.

Ms Yellen added that it was vital to press for more ambition and specific reforms with respect to global development banks.

Both leaders emphasised the need to tackle debt issues facing low- and middle-income countries and to improve the multilateral debt restructuring process.

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US treasury secretary Janet Yellen and Indias finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman address the media (AP)

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts in 2022, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. More than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

The meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors will conclude on Tuesday.

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A meeting of G20 finance chiefs in Indias technology hub of Bengaluru in February ended without a consensus, with Russia and China objecting to the description of the war in Ukraine in a final document.

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Ms Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, following a recent trip to Beijing.

She reiterated the deepening ties between the two countries on Monday and said the United States and India are among the closest partners in the world.

Here's how the vibrant capital of #Gujarat is decked up to host the 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting where delegates will engage in discussions concerning crucial global economic issues.



 July 17-18

 Gandhinagar #G20India #FMCBG pic.twitter.com/C6jfpRXsq3  G20 India (@g20org) July 16, 2023

In a statement, she said the US was looking forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed Indias energy transition.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite US and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy.

The country has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven-endorsed price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Despite this, the US has increased ties with India and courted its leaders. US pesident Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honouring Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster their partnership.

The two leaders pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.
Global temperatures were soaring to historic highs as the world's two biggest carbon emitters, the United States and China, sought on Monday to reignite talks on climate change.

With scientists saying the target of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial levels is moving beyond reach, evidence of the crisis was everywhere.

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A remote town in China's arid northwest, Sanbao, registered a national record of 52.2 degrees.

Wildfires in Europe raged ahead of a second heat wave in two weeks that was set to send temperatures as high as 48 degrees.

And nearly a quarter of the U.S. population fell under extreme heat advisories, partly due to a heat dome that has settled over western states.

"In many parts of the world, today is predicted to be the hottest day on record," tweeted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation.

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"The #ClimateCrisis is not a warning. Its happening. I urge world leaders to ACT now."

Ahead of meeting Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry urged China to partner with the United States to cut methane emissions and coal-fired power.

Prolonged high temperatures in China are threatening power grids and crops and raising concerns about a repeat of last year's drought, the most severe in 60 years.

Typhoon Talim was gaining strength and due to make land at night along China's southern coast, forcing the cancellation of flights and trains in the regions of Guangdong and Hainan.

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In South Korea, torrential rains left 40 people dead as river levees collapsed causing flash floods. They followed the heaviest recorded rain in the capital Seoul last year.

An anticyclone nicknamed Charon - who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead - could cause Europe to break its highest recorded temperature of 48.8 degrees, possibly on the Italian island of Sardinia, according to Italy's Air Force weather service.

The high temperatures are especially risky for people like teenage sisters Matilde and Angelica Aureli from Rome, who during extreme heat can only venture outside after 9 p.m. because of their albinism. The genetic condition affects the protective pigment melanin in hair, skin and eyes.

"In the summer, it is getting hotter year by year... it's actually very scary as an experience because for people with albinism, the sun keeps getting worse," Matilde said.

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In Spain, temperatures could rise to as high as 44 degrees in some regions and will not fall below 25 degrees at night, increasing the probability of wildfires, said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for state weather agency AEMET.

However, a forest fire on the island of La Palma in the Canaries that forced the evacuation of 4,000 people was being brought under control as temperatures fell, local official Sergio Rodriguez said in an interview on TVE.

The heat dome across the western United States also helped to generate heavy rains in the northeast, claiming at least five lives. The heat warnings spread as far as Florida.

In California's Death Valley, tourists gathered in Furnace Creek on Sunday in anticipation of witnessing the hottest recognised temperature on earth: 56.7 degrees in 1913, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Maverick Democratic senator Joe Manchin on Monday is set to address a bipartisan group in New Hampshire, a critical early-voting state in the 2024 US presidential primary elections, feeding speculation that he could be weighing a third-party candidacy.

The former West Virginia governor, first elected to the US Senate in 2010, will speak to the No Labels organisation promoting the possibility of backing a third-party candidate.

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Mr Manchin, 75, is arguably the most conservative Democratic senator. He has told reporters that he will wait until late this year before announcing whether he will seek re-election to his US Senate seat representing West Virginia.

Should Mr Manchin seek another term, he would likely face a serious challenge from governor Jim Justice who is seeking the Republican Party nomination in the Senate race. The state has been leaning heavily Republican, having overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Possible White House bid

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Meanwhile, Mr Manchin has not swatted away reporters' questions over whether he might consider what would be a long-shot run for the White House as an independent candidate.

"It is clear that most Americans are exceedingly frustrated by the growing divide in our political parties and toxic political rhetoric from our elected leaders," Mr Manchin said in a No Labels statement last week detailing Monday's town hall event at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.

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Mr Trump, a 77-year-old former president, leads a crowded field of Republican presidential aspirants and many voters express worries about 80-year-old president Joe Biden seeking a second term. But speculation of an independent candidate entering the race generates heartburn among Democratic strategists who want the incumbent re-elected.

Opinion polling shows that neither Democrats nor Republicans are thrilled with their likeliest 2024 White House candidates, with four in 10 Republicans telling a May Reuters/Ipsos poll that they think Mr Trump should not run again in 2024, and a similar number of Democrats citing a similar view on Mr Biden.

We're not in this to be spoilers.

On Sunday, No Labels co-chair Joe Lieberman said his group will not field a candidate in 2024 if polling showed that doing so would help elect the Democratic or Republican presidential nominee.

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"We're not in this to be spoilers," Mr Lieberman said in an interview with ABC's This Week program.

With more than a decade in Congress, Mr Manchin at times has complicated legislative initiatives being pushed by his party leaders.

But Democratic leaders have treaded softly as Mr Manchin also has been key to the party holding onto its Senate majority.

Since the start of Mr Biden's presidency in 2021, Mr Manchin has done battle over Democrats' drive to expand a child tax credit aimed at raising poor families out of poverty and insisted on relaxed permitting rules for fossil fuel energy projects, which would benefit West Virginia.

That has enraged progressives pushing for government policies encouraging a phasing out of oil, natural gas and coal due to climate concerns.

Democrats hold majority control of the Senate by a narrow 51-49 margin. The 2024 Senate races present the party with an uphill battle to hold that control, given challenging races projected in Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and other states. The election takes place on November 5th, 2024.
A resident looks at a submerged rice paddy in Wonbong village, South Chungcheong Province, after a heavy downpour, July 16. Yonhap



The nation's central and southern regions, already battered by heavy monsoon rains over the past week, are bracing for another spell of torrential downpours, the state weather agency said Monday.



With heavy rain warnings in effect for the central provinces of Chungcheong and almost all of the southern provinces below, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that extremely heavy rains of more than 70 millimeters per hour are expected in some areas Tuesday.



About 50 people have been killed or gone missing nationwide in the heavy downpours over the past week.





Firefighters take action as a bridge has been flooded in Busan after a heavy rain warning in this July 16 photo provided by Busan Metropolitan City Fire & Disaster Headquarters. Yonhap
Great Expectations 

Disney+, Wednesday

Olivia Colman tells you everything you need to know about Miss Havisham in just a few minutes of Steven Knights Great Expectations. Credit: Pari Dukovic/FX

Throughout the first episode of this iconoclastic Charles Dickens adaptation, a desperate 19th-century convict named Magwitch (Johnny Harris), rages at every turn. I am a volcano, he howls, vowing vengeance even as he faces transportation to Australia.

When local schoolboy Pip (Tom Sweet) first encounters him by night, Magwitch is meant to be a terrifying sight. But hes not, merely because at the end of the episode we meet wealthy, reclusive spinster Miss Havisham, who is genuinely terrifying because shes played by Olivia Colman.

Look on what remains of me, she quietly directs the boy, the wedding dress she was left at the altar in now grey from decades of obsessive wear, while her features suggest a venomous psychological fissure. Colman tells you everything you need to know about her misandrist in just a few minutes. It is a magisterial performance, which should be of little surprise since The Crown and Fleabag star is approaching the peak of her powers.
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Review Eating outDouble Bay Neil Perry magic between each slice: Double Bay spot offers the (baked) goods for a fraction of fine-dining prices A trip to Baker Bleu, opposite tree-edged Guilfoyle Square, feels just like sitting in the south of France, replete with excellent sandwiches, dazzling sourdough croissants and crusty bread with golden crackling chew. Lenny Ann Low July 17, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 9 Baker Bleu is a hive of activity. Steven Siewert 2 / 9 Poached chicken with green goddess sandwich. Steven Siewert 3 / 9 Soaking up the sun. Steven Siewert 4 / 9 Margherita pizza. Steven Siewert 5 / 9 Khorasan tin loaf. Steven Siewert 6 / 9 Potato and rosemary pizza slice. Steven Siewert 7 / 9 Olive fougasse bread. Steven Siewert 8 / 9 Cinnamon twists. Steven Siewert 9 / 9 Rye caraway. Steven Siewert Previous Slide Next Slide Cafe$$$ Mike Russell, co-owner of cult bakery Baker Bleu, has two words for veteran chef Neil Perry. Sandwich king, he says. Perry  an ardent fan of Mike and Mia Russell, whose bread and pastries are famous in Melbourne and served in Perrys restaurants  fires right back. The best bread in the country, he says. Put the two together  people and baked dough  and Baker Bleu in Double Bay, a joint venture between Perry and the Russells, is the answer.

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Poached chicken with green goddess sandwich. Steven Siewert Designed by IF Architecture in Melbourne, and sitting beside two Perry restaurants  Margaret and Next Door  Baker Bleu opened in September. It is the third Baker Bleu outlet, and the first in Sydney, after the Russells left for Melbourne in 2016, keen to bake bread away from Sydneys stifling business costs. Now, adored by Melbourne customers and restaurants, their bread, pizza and pastries are baking near their old hood. Its amazing to be back here, Russell says. I was working at Iggys in Bronte and living in Clovelly back then. Life was pretty good so it was a lot to say goodbye to.

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Today, standing in the Baker Bleu premises in Double Bay, he marvels at the enterprise. I mean, weve got a seven-tonne, five-deck gas-fired oven and were, what four, five kilometres from the city? he says. If you want fresh bread, and youre anywhere nearby, this is the place to get it, apart from Iggys. Here you get that Neil Perry magic between each slice. Perry  whose Baker Bleu sandwiches range from poached chicken to Walker albacore tuna, Blackmore wagyu beef, egg and mayonnaise and hand-sliced smoked salmon  never tires of things between bread. Potato and rosemary pizza slice. Steven Siewert

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A sandwich is almost the perfect food, he says. I come in every morning and its really hard not to immediately make a little mini roast beef on rye. Oh and the baguettes, I love their crunch. He also loves the Baker Bleu pizza. Mike was making pizzas originally and weve added a few flavours, he says. But the base of it, youve got this amazing sourdough, and the development of flavour that pizza gets, its just extraordinary. The key pull of Baker Bleu is high-quality food elements from two revered food creators at relatively affordable prices. Eat a dazzling sourdough croissant with ham and cheese or the Blackmore wagyu salt beef sandwich with pickled onion and chillies on rye while sitting on a stretch of footpath buzzing with curation. Soaking up the sun. Steven Siewert

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Perrys patch, opposite tree-edged Guilfoyle Square, feels like a mini European city replete with Australian accents. Dapperly dressed food-lovers whisk away bags of khorasan tin loaves, Vegemite and cheese twists, seeded spelt or racks of seeded bagels. Some pull bread ends off to eat on the way home. A dedicated coffee counter means you can sip espresso in bright, wintry sunshine while pulling apart a beautifully rich chocolatine or wallopingly good cinnamon twists in minutes. Frankly, if a European holiday is out of the question, pack a bus pass and emigrate here. Baker Bleus round shrub-edged tables sit on a boulevard milling with elegance, even if the slices of margarita or pumpkin and feta pizza are too engrossing. Lots of people say to us, Oh my god, its like sitting in the south of France, Perry says. Its a beautiful spot. Margherita pizza. Steven Siewert

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Perry says the quality ingredients used, created with kitchens at his nearby restaurants, set Baker Bleu apart from a normal sandwich shop. David Blackmores beef, Walker MSC tuna, he says. Then you add CopperTree butter, proper Murray River salt and, of course, the best bread going. It makes a great sandwich. When the eating has ended, peruse Baker Bleus hefty marble counter. Special shelving inlets feature marmalade, eggs, peanut butter, chocolate and Baker Bleus own Golden Granola to buy. Take home the khorasan or super country loaf for excellent toast, their crusts offering a golden crackling chew as melting butter seeps through the pillowy core. Or just hold onto your table, miss the next bus and consider the beautiful, wallet-friendly union of Perry and the Russells. That, says my father, after finishing the poached chicken sandwich, is a good sandwich.

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Russell later agrees. No better judgment than that. The low-down Baker Bleu Vibe: Bread and pastries to rock your world, with sandwich fillings and pizza toppings by veteran chef Neil Perry in a European slice of Sydney. Go-to dish: Poached chicken sandwich on country loaf and cinnamon twist.
A planned Olympic drone show in Brisbane this weekend has been cancelled, after a disastrous display before a Matildas match in Melbourne resulted in up to 350 drones falling into the Yarra River.

Australian Traffic Network, which performed the show in Melbourne on Friday night, had been commissioned to conduct a drone display of the Olympic rings and Paralympic Agitos above the Story Bridge on Saturday night.

But Friday nights incident, before the Matildas 1-0 World Cup warm-up win over France at Marvel Stadium, has forced a rethink.

Nobody was injured because of the malfunction.
Body-worn vision showed police attempting to talk to Abdi, before he started yelling: Leave me alone! He then yelled Allahu akbar more than 10 times as he moved towards police with a knife. Raghe Mohamed Abdi. Credit: Nine News Rounds were fired at Abdi. By 6.18am, police were administering first aid to the 22-year-old, whose body lay by the motorway at Drewvale.

Detective Inspector Christopher Knight told the court police found the elderly couples keys on Abdis body after the shooting. He was also believed to be wearing clothing from the Antills home, Knight said. Police at the Ulinga Crescent crime scene in Parkinson. Credit: Matt Dennien At the time, police believed Abdi was influenced by the Islamic State, and the incident happened hours after he had removed a tracking device he was wearing as part of bail conditions. Abdis actions were later declared a terrorism incident.

The day the Antills were killed, Abdi had left his home after arguing with his stepmother over ideological views of music, the court heard. He was later picked up and dropped off near bushland by his sister, where he removed his tracker, which alerted police. Knight told the court there were several DNA forensic matches to Abdi at the Antills home, including his blood-stained clothing he left in the couples wheelie bin and a bloody fingerprint on the door, which was off its hinges. Knight told the court the clothing Abdi was wearing at the time he was shot appeared to be clothing from the Antill home. In their master bedroom, clothes were out on the bed, he said. The knife Abdi was holding while he was shot was the same brand as a set at the Antill home, Knight said, and Maurice Antills wallet was found in bushland nearby.

Terry OGorman, representing Abdis family, pointed out police had made assumptions rather than dealt in facts regarding the case, including that Abdi could not be clearly identified on some of the CCTV footage. He also highlighted the knife could not be conclusively identified as one missing from the Antills kitchen. Abdi had been arrested at the airport months before he was shot, with police believing he was travelling to Somalia on a one-way ticket, possibly to join a terrorist group. The court heard Abdi was released on September 3, and had a tracking device fitted on September 4. But in the days after his death, Abdis family claimed he never appeared to be radicalised. They said he had mental health issues and the system failed to help him.

Abdis friend, Kais Itaywi, told the inquest when he had attended the Kuraby Mosque, he, Abdi and others, including a man who was later charged with terrorism-related offences, discussed jihad and fighting overseas. Itaywi phoned the national security hotline after being concerned Abdi was heading down a radicalised path. Itaywi said Abdi spoke about travelling to Somalia to hide from the Australian authorities. The court also heard Abdi had a general dislike for non-Muslims. The inquest before Deputy Coroner Stephanie Gallagher was set to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting of Abdi, and his release from custody in September 2020.
The military is helping WA Police identify a mystery object which washed ashore on a remote beach north of Jurien Bay on Saturday.

The two-metre metal cylinder, rusted and covered in barnacles, was found by locals in Green Head, Western Australia, before authorities were notified and cordoned the area off to investigate.

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker said the object could be space junk, with between five and 10 rockets launching across the world each week.

When a rocket launches, theres usually multiple stages and often the first few parts separate before entering orbit, so if it is space junk, it is from the early parts of a rocket launch as theres no evidence of the scorching patterns you would see on things that have re-entered the Earths atmosphere, he said.
Its a five-hour round-trip journey  one train and two buses each way  for 19-year-old student Vina Afaj to get from her home in the outer suburbs to her inner-city university campus for each class.

I have to plan my whole day just around that commute time, she said. I am actually somewhat exhausted by the time Ive gotten there.

Vina Afaj says she would use a local study hub, but still needs to commute hours to campus for science classes. Credit: Eddie Jim

Long and expensive commutes faced by thousands of students like Afaj and their alternative  the high costs of moving to the inner city  are a major barrier to university study, creating an educational divide between young Australians based on where they live.

Almost 45 per cent of Australians aged 25 to 34 have a university degree, but the proportion of those with degrees drops the further you get from the inner-city campuses. Just 15 per cent of young people from the Hawkesbury area, at the edge of northern Sydney, have a degree. In the Cardinia area on Melbournes south-east fringe, that figure is 19 per cent.
Its late afternoon when a local fisherman turns up in his runabout. Hurling an enormous anchor overboard, hes met on the beach by the chef from Aore Island Resort, wiping his hands on his apron. After a brief exchange, he makes his selection, carrying tonights dinner  literally plucked from deep waters nearby  back to the kitchen. Much of the catch is still wriggling but not for long.

Aore Resort from the water.

Within hours, were dining on some of that spectacular haul  a whole baby fish baked in banana leaf, with sand between our toes at the Australian-run resort. The same fisherman returns later in the week, as do others when the weather isnt blowing, with a prized lobster catch.

Set a short boat ride off Vanuatus largest island Espiritu Santo (Spanish for the Holy Spirit and commonly called Santo) Aore offers guests not only the chance to experience ocean and farm to plate dining but an authentic slice of Pacific life too.

Owned by the Gray family, the 18-bungalow resort has overcome significant challenges since 2020, including pandemic lockdowns and border closures and a category five cyclone that not only washed away the jetty, but destroyed bungalows, caused major structural damage and left Aores tropical gardens in ruins.
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Retirement units have become a more affordable option for older Australians amidst the affordability crisis gripping Australia, a new study has revealed.

The 2022 PwC/Property Council Retirement Census found a widening affordability gap between retirement units and the traditional real estate market, with the average cost of a two-bedroom independent living unit (ILU) in a retirement village growing by just 6.6% over the 18 months to December 2022 to $516,000, compared to the 26% jump in national house prices over the same period to $831,900.

Daniel Gannon (pictured above), executive director of the Retirement Living Council, said the latest figures showed the crucial role of retirement villages in providing affordable housing options for older Australians, who were often hit hardest by cost-of-living pressures because of their fixed incomes.

On average, units in retirement communities across Australia are 48% cheaper than the median house price in the same suburb, Gannon said.

He said retirement villages should not be confused with aged care.

Retirement Living communities offer a unique housing option that enhances wellbeing and lifespan for older Australians, and actually prevents the entry into aged care, Gannon said.

At a time when national housing affordability is eroding, and health care costs are also growing, the value proposition of retirement communities is strengthening  but there are some warning bells starting to sound.

The census also revealed that the three-year development supply pipeline of retirement units was down by more than 50% to 5,100 dwellings, from the previous census forecast of 10,500. Findings also showed that national retirement village occupancy remained steady at nearly full capacity of 90%.

The reality is, we have a market thats pretty much full, which actually provides an affordable housing option when few other affordable options remain, and yet barriers to building more are emerging, Gannon said.

Its not an unfamiliar story for this part of the housing market. Higher construction and debt costs together with general economic uncertainty has applied downward pressure on the supply pipeline.

He urged caution to policymakers, given supply is forecast to ease and with ongoing legislative reviews expected to impact Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

If governments make it harder for operators to build and operate retirement communities, the supply clamp will tighten even further  on a sector that we know offers an affordable and bespoke offering for older Australians, who simply cant keep up with the traditional market which is becoming increasingly unaffordable to rent or buy into, Gannon said.

From 4.4 million, the number of people aged over 65 is expected to increase to 6.6 million by 2041, presenting opportunities and risks for governments, he said.

Australias population is ageing, which means our three tiers of government need to address and solve the challenges associated with housing this demographic cohort now, Gannon said.

If more seniors are living in age-friendly communities, there is significant economic upside for state and federal governments through reduced interaction with the health system and delayed entry to aged care.

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campus news

Class project improving life at Buffalo City Mission

Mirna Cadet takes a break in the reading area she and fellow members of Team Traffic Cones created in the women and children's shelter in the Buffalo City Mission. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Its not just what youre giving. Its more the interaction. Youre helping this individual facing a hard time to know we are thinking of you and that other people love them and care for them.  Mirna Cadet, May graduate and member Team Traffic Cones

When Mirna Cadet started the project-based Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) capstone course, she couldnt help thinking she should drop it. She was graduating that spring, and if the theme of the course wasnt intimidating enough  find a way to improve the world around you, and then do it  she faced the required 100 hours outside of class. What am I doing? Cadet asked herself when the course add-drop deadline came and went. It was scary. That was then. Since, Cadet and her Team Traffic Cones classmates identified a need for reading spaces in Buffalo City Mission and set up three, building bookshelves with more than 1,000 donated books for the men and women residents. At the same time, Cadet reconnected with the love of volunteering she acquired as a teenager cleaning Brooklyn churches and working in an animal shelter because she really wanted a pet. I was reminded of the idea of community and whats it like to give, says Cadet, who came to Brooklyn from Haiti at age 11, learning English on the fast track while enduring ridicule from her peers. And its not just what youre giving. Its more the interaction. Youre helping this individual facing a hard time to know we are thinking of you and that other people love them and care for them. Not bad for a three-credit undergraduate course.

Impactful outcome with City Mission

I was really impressed with her teams PPE capstone project, says David Emmanuel Gray, professor of philosophy who designed Integrating PPE (PHI 485) with the help of the Career Design Center. Her team had some setbacks early on, but Mirna remained flexible and resilient. With all her hard work, Team Traffic Cones was able to pivot into an extremely impactful outcome with the Buffalo City Mission. It was amazing to watch. This is exactly the type of work that embodies the spirit of my course. They were asked to make the world better  and they most definitely did. Before attention returns to the book areas, Cadet insists on giving others their due. Professor Gray was always a motivator, says Cadet. He always told us, Yes, Im in your corner. Every time we had a new flier and location, he was the very first person to post that. Same for the members of her Team Traffic Cones. Besides Cadet, they are Allison Merchan, presenter, rising senior in business administration; Lawrence Lin, recorder, who graduated this spring with a degree in political science; and Glenn Wright, monitor, a spring graduate with a marketing degree. Ditto for the UB community, for their unwavering support, she says. We had our doubts but thanks to perseverance we succeeded, says Merchan. There is a lot more to be done. I hope this sets in place many more collaborations between UB and the Buffalo community.

Team Traffic Cones gathered almost 1,800 books for the reading areas in the Buffalo City Mission. Photos: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki



Now a few words on Team Traffic Cones. Each team needed a name, Cadet explains.

The beanie that inspired Cadet's team name.

I like bright colors, she notes. The day the team was formed, Feb. 17, I was wearing my orange beanie and my orange shoes. Her classmates told her she was looking really bright. Yeah, Im a traffic cone, answered Cadet. Are you serious? they asked. Yeah, Im a traffic cone, she repeated. The weather wasnt too nice that day, and I told them I was going to go direct traffic at Flint Loop because its always a little chaotic there. One said we should be Team Traffic Cones. So all of us voted we should be Team Traffic Cones. Several table-display book drives later, the Cones had gathered almost 1,800 books. Team members sorted and cleaned them, and choose the best for their bookshelf project. Cadet still has some in her car trunk.

Team Traffic Cones identified a need for reading spaces in the Buffalo City Mission, and set up three spots for men and women residents. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki



Fills what was missing component
Paddy fields in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, are flooded, Sunday. Yonhap



Chungcheong, Jeju forecast to see up to 300 mm through Wednesday



By Ko Dong-hwan





A seasonal stationary front is formed above the Korean Peninsula between the North Pacific High, bottom right, and the Tibetan anticyclone, top left, and low atmospheric pressure in this graphic image by the Korea Meteorological Administration released Monday.
On July 13, 2023, the completion ceremony of the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant (DSTP) project undertaken by POWERCHINA was held in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others attended the ceremony.

Sheikh Hasina praised at the ceremony, "The overall plan for wastewater management in Bangladesh began with the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant (DSTP). It has played a significant role in improving the environment and water quality of multiple rivers. "

The Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant (DSTP) Project is an important component of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) . It is not only the first and largest modern large-scale sewage treatment plant in Bangladesh, but also the largest single sewage treatment plant in South Asia so far.

This sewage treatment plant has been operational for over a year, and it can treat the domestic sewage produced by nearly 5 million people every day. It has significantly reduced the water pollution in downtown Dhaka and improved the quality of life of local people. During the construction of the project, it also created thousands of job opportunities for the local community and contributed to the local economy by procuring equipment and materials worth approximately 300 million yuan.

The villagers of Dasherkandi expressed their delight and gratitude for the operation of the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant (DSTP): "Previously, the water here was black and dirty. Now we can swim in clean water," another villager added, "After the Dasherkandi Sewerage Treatment Plant (DSTP) was put into use, a lot of diseases have been curbed, such as mosquito bites, malaria, diarrhea, etc. Before the construction of the plant, many of us had no jobs, and many people were employed during the construction process. For us its a good thing, and I hope to benefit more in the future.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230715628529/en/
The company has contributed more than USD 10 Bn to the exchequer in the last 5 years while in FY 2022-23 the total contribution to the exchequer was over USD 3 Bn

to the exchequer in the last 5 years while in FY 2022-23 the total contribution to the exchequer was over USD 3 Bn The company contributed approx. Rs. 3,100 Cr. every year on an average during last 5 years to the State of Rajasthan in form of Royalties, DMF, etc

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company in the zinc-lead-silver business, has

per its 6th Tax Transparency Report

Hindustan Zinc is committed to be fully compliant with all applicable tax regulations and to transparently communicate tax positions. In complying with tax laws, Hindustan Zinc takes into account both the letter and spirit of the law. The company maintains the highest standards of integrity with respect to tax compliance and reporting.

This report is part of Hindustan Zincs voluntary initiative to be at the forefront of transparent disclosures and to demonstrate our agility in tax reporting and focus on maintaining high standards in disclosures. The report can be accessed on the company website:
Team The Future Event organized the 2Edition of India's Only Speech-Tech & Voice AI Focussed Conference & Exhibition - SpeechTech Summit - India recently at the Sheraton, New Delhi. This networking event was designed to host industry experts, in charge of the contact centre and customer experience and are early adopters of speech or voice technology in the Indian market. The B2B platform of the summit reflected on the latest tendencies and recent application changes in the voice recognition space in the Indian market.With 1000+ handpicked attendees, this conference was sponsored by almost 15 industry leaders along with 35+ Media Partners. With Kore.AI being the Platinum Sponsor and Gnani.AI & Rezo.AI joining as the Gold Partners, ClearTouch was the official Omnichannel Experience Partner. Some of the other key sponsors and solution providers that demonstrated their solutions are Shaip, Vodex, Omind Technologies, Ubona Technologies, Verloop.io, SandLogic, Saarthi.AI & Phonon.io.In the words of Neil Barman, Senior Vice President - Growth, APAC & MEA at Kore.AI, When it comes to languages, India is a country of diversity. With continuous seamless support, like Kore.AI has been doing, I believe India will be one of the biggest adopters of Speech Technology on the Global Spectrum. Keeping that in mind, I feel organising this Summit has been a fabulous initiative by The Future Event team. The atmosphere here is electric and kudos to the team for such a great event!The summit was the perfect combination of informative sessions, keynotes, and panel discussions that provided the attendees with actionable insights into their business strategies. Some of the key topics that were covered during these 2-days are:

"We were excited to bring together the best and brightest minds in the Speech Technology & Voice AI industry for the SpeechTech Summit India," said a representative of the event organizer. "This summit was an opportunity for professionals across the industry to share their expertise, learn from one another, and explore the latest trends and innovations that are shaping our industry."While 50+ expert speakers took the stage to discuss & provide their insights on the latest strategies, innovations, and challenges in the industry, the 300+ pre-scheduled meetings provided the attendees with ample networking opportunities to connect with peers, industry experts, and solution providers. This allowed them to gain new insights and perspectives, as well as build new partnerships and collaborations that can help them improve their practices and achieve better outcomes. Apart from this, the summit was also attended by 40+ solution providers and 25+ exclusive exhibitors.When asked about his experience at the conference, Prateek Singh, Director - Enterprise Sales and Alliances at Gnani.AI, said Each of the panel discussions & keynote sessions were very insightful in the sense that you get an idea about what each of the partners/competitors in the industry are up to, what is the thought leaderships expectations from the industry and how we can work towards achieving those. Having said that, in my opinion, the best part of this summit was the networking opportunity with the various stakeholders of the industry.The 2nd Edition SpeechTech Summit India is the only two days conference and exhibition designed to discover Voice and Conversational AI application in all industry sectors, from BFSI, Retail & eCommerce, BPO's & Call Centers and many more. The 3Edition of the summit is expected to be hosted in June 2024, that will be organised by team The Future Event Media & Productions. For more information on the upcoming events, visit: https://thefuture-event.com/
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Postal Code


Korea's proactive roles essential as global pivot state



President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise visit to Ukraine, Saturday, demonstrating Korea's steadfast solidarity and support for the war-torn country against Russia's invasion. Yoon vowed to offer extensive support for Ukraine in the areas of security and humanitarian assistance as well as postwar reconstruction.



Yoon made the pledges as Ukraine has been suffering from enormous difficulties and setbacks due to Russia's inhumane aggression. Any attempt by a mightier state to undermine the sovereignty of another nation by force cannot be pardoned under any circumstances. Yet, regrettably, the tragedy of the war that began in February last year is being repeated every day. As a responsible member of the international community, the visit by the head of state of the Republic of Korea is very meaningful.



Fresh from the two-hour summit, Yoon and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a joint statement where the Korean leader pledged comprehensive support through the "Ukraine Peace Solidary Initiative." Both leaders agreed to cooperate in pursuing the "Peace Formula Summit" proposed by Zelenskyy. Yoon promised efforts to induce developing countries to join the event designed to boost solidarity for peace.



Yoon's recent visit will help expand Korea's role as a "global pivotal state" through a solidarity of free nations based on the "values diplomacy" which Yoon has advocated so far. Previously, former presidents Park Chung-hee and Roh Moo-hyun visited Vietnam and Iraq, respectively, to encourage Korean soldiers dispatched there. But it was the first time that a Korean president visited a country at war to which Korea did not dispatch troops.



The situation in Ukraine was so precarious and risky that Yoon apparently made the decision to travel to Kyiv after he arrived in Poland on the last leg of his latest overseas trip. Given this, Yoon deserves applause for putting into action his emphasis on a solidarity of liberal democracies.



Yoon also clarified Korea's unswerving will to participate in the restoration of the war-devastated country. Korea has the experience of rising from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War. It should not neglect Ukraine. Yoon expressed his firm belief that Ukraine will manage to realize its own "Miracle on the Dnieper River" reminiscent of Korea's "Miracle on the Han River."



Many businesses in Korea, Ukraine, Poland and Turkey signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) as part of efforts toward the rehabilitation of Ukraine. Hyundai Engineering & Construction is poised to rebuild Boryspil International Airport, while Samsung Corp. will embark on the reconstruction of Ukraine's westernmost city of Lviv.



Despite many merits, Yoon's seemingly proactive diplomatic activities also trigger concerns over a possible backlash and entailing risks. For starters, the recent visit may prompt the Russian government to take retaliatory measures against Korean businesses and nationals in Russia. The West may be tempted to ask Korea to provide even lethal weapons to Ukraine beyond humanitarian aid, citing Korea's status as the ninth-largest exporter of defense products.



Yet it is totally improper, let alone the humanitarian aspect, for Korea to seek the provision of lethal weapons, because such a move will have a catastrophic impact on relations between Seoul and Moscow. Worse still, it will also accelerate the trading of weapons and military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, further straining tensions on the Korean Peninsula.



The post-war restoration in Ukraine will cost up to 2,000 trillion won ($1.58 trillion) of which Korea could account for 66 trillion won worth of projects. Besides such economic benefits, what matters more is Korea's accountability as a responsible member of the international community. It should actively participate in the reconstruction projects by mobilizing all possible knowhow, technologies and capital accumulated in the process of overcoming its own post-war hardships.



It is in line with Korea's national interests to fortify solidarity among countries sharing the same values of freedom and taking an active part in the restoration projects. Moreover, it is also the way for the nation to relentlessly pursue its much-touted target toward a global pivot state.








By Ahn Ho-young



This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between Korea and the United States, and will witness a large number of seminars held on the subject both in Korea and the U.S. I recently attended one such seminar held in New York which was jointly organized between the Korea Foundation and the Asia Society.



Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific Danny Russel moderated the first session and started by raising the following question with me: "The Yoon government began to talk about GPS (the Global Pivotal State policy) from early on; declared the Indo-Pacific Strategy in December last year; and issued National Security Strategy last week. Could you unpack them for us?"



I thought "unpacking" each of the initiatives would take too much time, and suggested focusing on the common denominators underlying the three different but interrelated initiatives. For me, there are two essential common denominators. One of them is the shared perception of the challenges now buffeting the rules-based international order, which had enabled Korea's industrialization, democratization and national development.



Another is the resolve of the Yoon government to work vigorously with like-minded countries to defend and promote the rules-based international order. After making this general introduction regarding the new Korean government's basic orientation in foreign and security policy, I intently followed the discussions to better learn which issues were of particular interest to the U.S. panelists and the public gathered at the Asia Society.



One issue often cited by U.S. participants was Korea-Japan relations. They admired in particular the audacious decision that President Yoon made to resolve the difficulties raised by the Korean Supreme Court's ruling on the forced labor issue and to visit Japan in order to advance the deeply frozen relations with the country. They hoped that the improvement in Korea-Japan relations would lead to further development of trilateral cooperation among Korea, Japan and the U.S. to better address the challenges we presently face in Northeast Asia and beyond.



Another issue of high interest to U.S. participants was the tension in the Taiwan Strait and what action Korea would take in case of a flare-up of military conflicts there. One member of the Korean delegation responded by saying that the Taiwan contingency would become the Korean contingency. He elaborated by emphasizing the importance of the East China Sea for Korea's maritime transport and the impact the military conflict would have on security on the Korean Peninsula. I observed how intensely the U.S. participants held on to each word spoken by the Korean panelist.



In this context, I tried to address certain concerns raised about Korea's new foreign and security policy; Korea's new policy is overly pro-U.S. and would undermine Korea's relations with China.



I reminded the U.S. participants about the geopolitical and geo-economic realities around the Korean Peninsula. China is one of the few countries which could and should play a crucial role to nudge North Korea toward denuclearization. China's portion in Korea's overall trade is still above 20 percent. Given such a reality, Korea must continue to cooperate with China.



It should be done, however, on the basis of a rules-based international order and mutual benefit and mutual respect. This is clearly laid down in Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy and is being implemented consistently.



Other than these two issues, U.S. participants expressed keen interest in how the Washington Declaration was received in Korea, especially given the fact that more than 80 percent of Korean citizens supported the idea of Korea developing its own nuclear weapons.



I told U.S. participants that there were two key points in the declaration: joint planning and joint implementation. The reason why a large number of Korean citizens worry about the U.S. extended deterrence is because of the perception that Korea does not have any voice in how the deterrence would work in a contingency situation. The agreement on joint planning and joint implementation in the Washington Declaration, if they are fully executed, will provide a much-needed voice for Korea, and significantly strengthen Korean citizens' confidence in U.S. extended deterrence.



I also said that the key component of NATO's Nuclear Planning Group is the standing working group. The Nuclear Consultation Group, to be formed between Korea and the U.S., must also have such a group and work full-time on joint planning and joint implementation.



Through the two-day seminar at the Asia Society, I could observe that the series of foreign and security policy initiatives of the Yoon government were closely followed and supported by U.S. experts gathered at the Asia Society. Highly positive momentum has been created over the past year. Now, we must make best use of the momentum so that Korea and the U.S., along with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, can further strengthen the rules-based international order. That will be the most meaningful way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Mutual Security Treaty between Korea and the U.S.





Ahn Ho-young is chair professor of Kyungnam University. He served as vice foreign minister and Korean ambassador to the United States.




Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 1:38PM

Image: Activision Blizzard

Microsoft and Sony have reached a deal to keep the popular video game franchise Call of Duty (CoD) on PlayStation consoles for at least another decade, even after Microsoft completes its USD 69 billion purchase of CoD publisher Activision Blizzard.

The agreement ends more than a year of failed negotiations between the two tech giants over the fate of Call of Duty, which is typically the best-selling game of each year and has a loyal fan base across both platforms.

A Sony representative told Axios that the arrangement would last at least 10 years but did not disclose any other details. Microsoft did not comment on the specifics of the deal either. But it reiterated its commitment to keeping Call of Duty accessible to all gamers.

The deal comes amid regulatory scrutiny over Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This acquisition would make Microsoft one of the largest employers of game developers worldwide and the top third-party publisher on PlayStation.

Regulators in the U.S., U.K., and Europe have questioned whether Microsoft could use its ownership of Activision Blizzard to gain an unfair advantage over Sony by making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox and PC or offering it earlier or better on its own devices.

Microsoft has denied any such intentions, saying it would be more profitable to keep Call of Duty on multiple platforms and expand it to new ones. However, Sony executives expressed doubts about Microsoft's offer and terms, fearing that Microsoft could still use Call of Duty to hurt PlayStation's market share or revenue.

Sony's agreement with Microsoft comes two days after an appeals court rejected the Federal Trade Commission's request to delay the merger until it completes its antitrust review. The FTC had argued that the merger would harm competition and innovation in the gaming industry.

Regulators in the U.K. have also blocked the merger but said last week that they would consider a restructuring of the deal and make their final decision by August.

Microsoft's bid for Activision Blizzard expires on Tuesday, but both parties could agree to extend it.
The logo of Samsung Electronics is seen during a media tour at the company's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, June 13. Reuters-Yonhap



Korea's tech giant asked to be agile to accelerate growth



By Kim Yoo-chul



Leadership has required commitment and a willingness to move in directions that others have avoided. In history, great leaders have the ability to convince, encourage and persuade others to follow.



Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, for example, had stared down the derision of market analysts and key industry peers when deciding to open Apple retail stores. Those stores went global and outpaced conventional retail stores in terms of retail sales rates. Subsequently, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics and Sony all followed Apple's lead with brand-centric tech retail stores.



The example of does not necessarily reflect all key fundamental factors behind the measurement of business sustainability. However, this case is one example of why leaders and executives should stay agile. Therefore, companies can act much faster, more resiliently and increase speed and adaptability to keep up with changes in today's challenging business environment.



Drastic and rapid changes require firms to develop ideas and to read markets at a very early stage. Tech experts contacted by The Korea Times stressed agile methods can help companies avoid misallocation from the outset.



But when it comes to Samsung Electronics, the world's top producer of memory chips, some company insiders and experts are voicing concerns about what lies ahead under the weight of a challenging business environment.



Developing winning strategy



Because Samsung Electronics' products range from consumer electronics, displays and telecom equipment to chips, the tech giant is ideally positioned to pursue greater synergy between its key businesses.





A Samsung Electronics' digital billboard is seen in the Times Square area of New York City, March 2. Reuters-Yonhap



The vertically-integrated nature of Samsung's business is sometimes considered as a source of concern for its chief competitors. However, this nature makes it possible to deepen in-house partnerships allowing the company's affiliates to share new technologies and to apply them in end-products. Samsung Electronics did not invent the smartphone. But it developed transformative new technology and ran with them.



For the TV and smartphone businesses, for example, Samsung typically releases its own version at least a few months or a year after such releases by sector leaders. This strategy has so far been highly effective as the company's unique and notorious vertically-integrated structure could be able to help it figure out where the markets are heading in terms of popular tech products, insiders said.



"Basically, Samsung has long been pursuing a fast-follower strategy. While some critics say pushing speed-focused goals won't work as today's tech world favors the pursuit of interconnected software and software-hardware systems. But the point is that a fast-follower strategy requires creativity and skill. This classic strategy is something that Samsung can handle with no huge risks," an executive said. "If Samsung wants to become leaner and meaner, it's necessary for the top corporate management to specify a new version of winning strategies that will convince employees."



Samsung's semiconductor business is known to have suffered an operating loss of 8 trillion won during the first six months of this year as it was still on track to clear out inventories, according to estimates by local brokerages. This lies in stark contrast to the early 2010s when Samsung remained profitable despite huge market turmoil in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.



"There's no need to highlight the addiction to past success. However, as Samsung is a technology company, technology matters the most. In memory chips, where Samsung controls nearly 50 percent of global consumption, when the company's competitors struggled, Samsung's management reached a consensus to eat up more shares from its rivals. This was only possible because Samsung's technology was far better than its rivals. But it seems like Samsung has the desire to pursue co-existence and stability with its rivals that include SK and Micron Technology of the U.S.," a company insider said by telephone.





Samsung Display's Rollable Flex displays are showcased at SID Display Week in Los Angeles, May 23. Courtesy of Samsung Display
Top 10 Social Work Certificate Courses: Advantages, Top Institutes, Fees, and Eligibility and More

According to the International Federation of Social Workers, Social Work is defined as:

"Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities, and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being."

Basically, Social Work is a blanket term that covers almost all disciplines. In order to improve the individual and collective well-being of people, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole, Social Work (SW) is a practice-based academic subject and profession. Social work practice draws on a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, and economics, in order to interact with institutions and policies, conduct evaluations, design interventions, and improve social responsibility and functioning. The enhancement of people's lives, the easing of biopsychosocial anxieties, the empowering of people and communities, and the realization of social justice are among social work's ultimate goals.

Today, a social worker's responsibilities go beyond merely offering assistance. In many business and public institutions, they actively participate in managerial, administrative, and policy-making choices. Students who enroll in social work certificate programs learn how to advocate for injustice and human rights, encourage compassion and service to others, and do research on a variety of subjects.

Social Work Certificate programs offer a variety of topics, including caring for the elderly, mentally sick, physically disabled, refugees, persons affected by natural disasters, and more. There are numerous colleges and learning platforms like edX, Udemy, and Coursera that offer certificate programs in social work. Below is a list of the top 10 social work certificate programs.

1. Certificate in Criminal Justice and Social Work:

The course is designed for people who work in institutions for special needs kids, observation and rescue houses, courts, prisons, and homes for beggars. This course is also available to students who want to work in social services. In this course, students will study about the components of social work and how the criminal justice system functions.

Platform: IGNOU

Duration: 6 months

Eligibility: Graduate in any field

Fees: INR 1,400

2. Older Citizen Care: A Partnership Model:

The course introduces students to practical approaches for efficiently caring for senior citizens. Students gain knowledge of useful techniques for providing seniors with improved care as well as the difficulties that come with getting older. The perspectives of older people on aging, the benefits and principles of partnership-centered care, and practical techniques for meeting the needs of the elderly are all explored. Students will be able to explain the advantages of partnership-centered care and design their own care plan by the time the course is over.

Platform: FutureLearn - Deakin University

Duration: 2 weeks

Fees: INR 550 per month

3. Refugee Interpreting: Contexts, Practises, and Ethics:

The function of the interpreter and the difficulties they encounter when working with refugees are topics covered in the training. Ethics, cultural sensitivity, and emotional reflexivity when working with migrants are among the subjects covered. Students will gain knowledge of ethical conundrums, problems encountered in the context of humanitarian aid, and the function of interpreters in various contexts. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to use various methods and instruments to interpret the context of humanitarian activity.

Platform: FutureLearn - University of Glasgow

Duration: 3 weeks

Fees: INR 550 per month

4. Working with Refugees in a Supportive Way: Principles, Tools, and Perspectives:

Students are introduced to the fundamentals of intercultural communication, interpretation, and psychology and how dealing with refugees may be impacted by these concepts. The fundamentals of human migration will be covered, as well as interdisciplinary approaches to working with refugees. Interethnic relations, cultural diversity, legal frameworks, intercultural communication, socialization, and other subjects are explored. After completing this course, students will have a better understanding of how refugees are integrated into the host countries.

Platform: FutureLearn - University of Glasgow

Duration: 3 weeks

Fees: INR 550 per month

5. Global Health Governance: Resolving Health Inequities and Globalisation:

The challenges that healthcare professionals and policymakers encounter are the main topics of this course. Students will gain knowledge of how globalization has affected health systems around the world as well as how various governments have responded to persistent health disparities. The principles of global health, health disparities, case studies, theories of globalization, societal barriers to health, and other subjects are discussed. Students will understand how to address issues with global health by the end of the course.

Platform: FutureLearn - St. George's University of London

Duration: 3 weeks

Fees: INR 550 per month

6. Program for a Certificate in Web Addictions:

The goal of the course is to prepare students to provide healthcare to people who have internet addictions and mental health issues. Students will study consultation techniques and intervention expertise in order to put them to use in real-world situations. Students in the course are prepared to offer behavioral healthcare treatments to individuals with comorbid physical and mental health issues.

Platform: School of Social Work - University of Michigan

Fees: INR 37,010

7. Online Diploma in Combating Oppression:

In many contexts, the course emphasizes the eradication of structural oppression and the promotion of equality, social justice, inclusion, and diversity. By interfering at the micro, meso, and macro practice levels, students will apply the course principles to acquire new skills. The underpinnings of oppression, its instruments, counter-oppression tactics, and its effects are all explored. Students will graduate with the ability to advocate for anti-oppression practices and take the lead in their environments.

Platform: School of Social Work - University of Michigan

Fees: INR 43,169

8. Online Political Social Work Certificate:

The focus of the course revolves around how to use politics and other policies to advance social work and social justice. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become politically active as well as advocate for the micro and macro implications of politics. The foundations of political social work, its tools, and its specialized knowledge areas are all covered. After completing this course, students will have knowledge of how to use political actions to advance social justice.

Platform: School of Social Work - University of Michigan

Fees: INR 34,537

9. Addressing Poverty, Vulnerability, and Social Exclusion: Human Rights, Human Wrongs:

The course covers the fundamentals of human rights and how they can be fully implemented for everyone. Students gain knowledge of the human rights system, the function of international politics, and contemporary humanitarian approaches. Frameworks for international law and human rights, contested rights, gendered violence and injustice, social exclusion, and other issues are explored. Students will leave the course with a solid understanding of human rights and the legal impediments to their application.

Platform: edX

Duration: 11 weeks

Fees: Free

10. The Foundations of Social Work, Social Worker 202:

The course covers the skills and knowledge needed to begin a career in social work. The fundamentals of social work, confidentiality, working with a variety of clients, client interactions, and career alternatives will all be taught to students. The philosophical, theoretical, and historical facets of social work are explored. The course is designed for those who are still considering a career in social work before deciding to pursue a higher degree in the discipline. Professionals in social work can benefit from the course's practical applications and real-world settings.

Platform: Udemy

Duration: 2 hours 33 minutes

Fees: INR 1,999



Advantages of Social Work Certificate Course:

Through certificate programs in social work, students acquire specialized knowledge in a variety of fields of social work as well as knowledge pertaining to the application of such abilities. Due to the fact that students can demonstrate their talents through the various certification credits they obtain, these courses also increase employment prospects.

Eligibility Criteria for Pursuing Certificate Courses in Social Work:

Students are frequently required to present a high school diploma or another equivalent document in order to enroll in social work certificate programs. The eligibility varies according to the complexity of the topics addressed in each course.
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...
Carter Center observers Sarah Johnson (left) and David Carroll (right) and legal analyst Fadoua Ouni confer outside a Tunisian polling station in December. Voter turnout was less than 9%.

United States

Last November, the Center dispatched nonpartisan observers to polling places throughout Fulton County, Georgia, the states largest county and home of The Carter Center. It was the first time the Center observed the voting process in a U.S. election after more than 110 in other countries. Observers watched to see that poll workers followed proper procedures, voters were not intimidated or harassed, and officials handled ballots properly. The Carter Centers observation efforts contributed to the closure of the states investigation of Fulton County elections.

Our observers reported no serious irregularities that could have affected the outcome in Fulton County, said Avery Davis-Roberts, associate director of the Centers Democracy Program. There were a few minor glitches, most of which can be overcome with additional training of election workers, but overall it was a very clean and well-run election.

After the election, The Carter Center observed the Georgia Secretary of States risk-limiting audit, which is a statistical process that checks the accuracy of the vote count. Again, no problems were cited.

Election observation on a national scale would be hard to accomplish in the U.S., Davis-Roberts said.

Observing a national election in the United States would be a big challenge because every state has its own set of laws and rules, she said. Were looking at the possibility of a statewide observation, but even that would have some high legal and logistical barriers to overcome, depending on the state.
An airplane of Asiana Airlines is parked on the tarmac at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, Friday. Yonhap



Flight cancellations and delays are on the rise on Asiana Airlines' domestic and international routes after its pilots began a work-to-rule protest last month for higher wages, the company said Monday.



On June 7, the around 100 pilots at Asiana began the protest, in which they only do what is stipulated by company policies and rules.



The work-to-rule campaign, which includes such tactics as the "overuse" of jet fuel and "excessive" maintenance work, disrupts flights, causing delays, the company said in a statement.



From June 7 through July 16, Asiana had to cancel two international and 10 domestic flights, with 56 flights on international and domestic routes delayed due to the pilots' collective action, the statement said.



"They are demanding a whopping 10 percent increase in basic pay for the 2019-2022 period as there was no wage increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is far higher than the company's proposed 2.5 percent rise for the four-year period," a company spokesman said over the phone.



Other unionized workers, except for pilots, have already accepted the 2.5 percent wage increase for the pandemic-hit period, he said.



The company is in talks with the union, but there seem to be differences between them over wages, the spokesman said, adding any industrial action could result in major damage to related parties.



Worse still, the pilots' union plans to begin a strike next Monday, raising concerns over the planned walkout's impact on passengers planning to travel, businesses that transport their products via aircraft and the tourism industry.



Airlines usually prepare for a sharp increase in travel demand as people take trips for summer holidays from the middle of July through the end of August.



Asiana plans to reorganize flights and reschedule existing flights as it expects the number of flights on international and domestic routes to plunge 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively, it said.



"Given the company's current financial status, it is impossible to accept the union's demands," the statement said. "The company is calling for the union to cancel the planned strike immediately and have negotiations with the company in a sincere manner." (Yonhap)




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Foreign workers pour molten metal into molds at a factory in Gyeonggi Province in this November 2022 file photo. Korea Times



By Kim Hyun-bin



Nearly one out of every two companies in Korea are calling on the government to increase the quota of foreign workers they can hire as many small firms struggle to fill their workforce, according to a survey by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Monday.



KCCI surveyed 502 companies employing non-Korean workers and found that 46.8 percent want the current level of 110,000 workers introduced this year to increase in 2024. About 43.2 percent preferred to maintain the current level, while only 9.2 percent suggested reducing it.



The government previously raised the quota of non-professional foreign workers holding E-9 visas to 110,000 this year from 69,000 in 2022, to address a labor shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. E-9 visas, which are issued to foreigners working in the manufacturing, construction and agricultural sectors, are valid for four years and 10 months.



The Foreign Workers Policy Committee under the Prime Minister's Office determines the foreign workforce quota annually and reviews and approves plans related to foreign workers.



More than half of the surveyed companies (57.2 percent) reported a shortage of non-professional foreign workers, mainly due to additional vacancies caused by domestic workers quitting.



The surveyed companies also complained about legal limitations to hiring foreign workers and difficulties in finding suitable foreign laborers. Companies that experienced labor shortages said they need an average of 6.1 additional foreign workers, while they currently employ an average of 9.8, accounting for 12.7 percent of their workforce.



"There is a need for the continued recruitment of foreign workers to address labor shortages among member companies. Despite the entry of 110,000 foreign workers this year, the aging domestic workforce and an aversion to manual labor by younger Koreans pose ongoing workforce shortage challenges," Pocheon Chamber of Commerce foreign worker specialist Lee Sang-taek said.



"There needs to be a sustainable foreign workforce recruitment plan at least at this year's scale over the coming years to address the labor shortage at SMEs," he added.



However, companies hiring foreign workers also face difficulties, particularly when such employees demand the termination of their labor contracts in order to change companies. The law permits foreign workers to change workplaces only if the employer terminates the contract or engages in illegal or dishonest actions. However, that provision is frequently abused.



Over half of the surveyed companies (52.4 percent) experienced demands from foreign workers to terminate their labor contracts for the purpose of switching jobs.



Only 11.4 percent of those cases resulted in a smooth resolution with employees returning to regular duties after reaching an agreement. In September, the government plans to implement changes to limit the movement of foreign workers to specific regions and industries to address this issue.




Police officers look at collected fragments of the Russian rockets, including cluster rounds, that hit Kharkiv, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Dec. 3, 2022. AP-Yonhap



Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Moscow 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 hasn't used cluster bombs in the war with Ukraine so far. But 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 before a scheduled broadcast on 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 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 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.





An cluster ammunition rocket lies on a sunflower field at sunset, in the recently retaken area of Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sept. 23, 2022. AP-Yonhap
U.S. Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry delivers a speech at the Congress centre during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Jan. 17. AFP-Yonhap



U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was in Beijing on Monday to revive stalled talks and pressure China to step up its efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions.



Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of 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.



He is likely to have his work cut out for him, however, with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan telling CNN on Sunday that Kerry would press China not to "hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation" in order to slow-roll efforts to cut emissions.



"Every country, including China, has a responsibility to reduce emissions," Sullivan said.



"And the world, I do believe, should step up and encourage  indeed, pressure  China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions."










The Chattanooga Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America will honor Captain Larry Taylor, the latest Medal of Honor winner, at the Walden Club on Tuesday, Aug. 22, with a social starting at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.Captain Taylor grew up just south of Chattanooga in Saint Elmo. He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and participated in the ROTC program. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and attended the Armys Aviation School, and served as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.He was previously awarded a Silver Star for his actions on the night of June 12, 1968.Now, after a years-long endeavor by local veterans, lawmakers and others, including former Army Ranger Dave Hill, one of the rescued solders, and retired 4-star General B. B. Bell, Taylor's Silver Star has been upgraded to the Medal of Honor.Reservations are mandatory and can be requested at moaachattanoogachapter@gmail.com, or toCDR James Hargrove at jhargrove@epbfi.com.
Dalton City Councilmember Annalee Harlan Sams resigned her seat on Monday in order to run for mayor.

Georgia law requires elected officials to vacate their office before seeking election for another position if their new term would begin more than 30 days before the end of their existing term in office. Ms. Sams' seat on the council will be on the ballot in November.

Ms. Sams' resignation from the City Council was effective at 12 p.m. on Monday, July 17. Councilmember Sams represented Ward 2 of the City of Dalton and her term was set to run through the end of 2025. The agenda for Monday night's meeting of the Mayor and Council includes a resolution to accept her resignation and to declare a special election to fill the vacancy. The unexpired portion of Ms. Sams' term as the Ward 2 representative will be on the ballot during the November general election.

Article II, section 2 of the Georgia state constitution says that, "the office of any state, county, or municipal elected official shall be declared vacant upon such elected official qualifying, in a general primary or general election, or special primary or special election, for another state, county, or municipal elective office or qualifying for the House of Representatives or the Senate of the United States if the term of the office for which such official is qualifying for begins more than 30 days prior to the expiration of such official's present term of office."

Mayor David Pennington's term is set to expire at the end of the year and he has said that he will not seek another term. Mr. Pennington also served as Dalton's mayor from 2008 until 2014 when he resigned in accordance with state law to campaign for the Georgia governor's office.




Carolyn Sue Haerr, 74, of Spring City, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2023, at her home after a 2 month battle with leukemia.

She is survived by her husband, Christopher Haerr; daughter Dina Haerr Hess (husband Don Hess) and son Greg Haerr (wife Amy); and seven grandchildren: Kit, Connor, Roiya, Brianna, Bella, Rowan, and Brendan. She is also survived by four brothers and a sister: Dale Lenear, June Roberson, Charles Lenear, David Lenear, and Jim Lenear.

Carolyn was the most wonderful sister, wife, mother, and grandmother a family ever could have wished for. She and her husband Christopher grew up together and were best friends for their entire lives, and they were married for nearly 55 years. They were inseparable and loved spending time together, traveling to national parks and other scenic areas during their retirement, and creating priceless memories with their children and grandchildren.

Carolyn earned her BS in Nursing at Southern Illinois University and her MSN at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She worked as a nurse for over 50 years in a career which she described as "everything but OB," including serving at the VA Hospital in St. Louis and as Director of Nursing at Dayton Hospital. Her career included hospital work, home health, and, after her theoretical retirement, school nurse for the Rhea County Schools, where she delighted especially in her ability to provide medical care for many children with limited access to healthcare. She was well known for her compassion and endless dedication to everyone she served.

Carolyn was ceaselessly active in her church and in her local community, and even in retirement she was constantly busy with volunteer work. She was a member of the Spring City United Methodist Church for 45 years. She was an extremely active member of the United Methodist Women and served in many local, district, and conference offices, including serving as the Holston Conference UMW Vice-President and then as the Conference President. She passionately supported UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and other missions. One of her favorite missions was traveling once or twice per year with the Mexico Medical Mission team to the remote communities of Ixtepec and Tatocac, Mexico in the Sierra Madre mountains to provide medical care to people who otherwise lack any access to healthcare. Hundreds of people walk long distances to come to the clinic every time it is made available. The work of the Mexico Medical Mission was so critical to her that even though she was feeling tired and weak, she still went on the most recent trip April 29-May 7. We didn't know yet then why she was not feeling well, but she went and served to the best of her ability because she knew how much her medical expertise was needed.

Carolyn was infinitely kind, infinitely generous, and never stopped putting love, faith, and hope into constant daily practice. She rarely sat still because there was just too much she wanted to do. Our loss is immeasurable and our lives will never be the same without her. She was the center of our family, the most intrinsic part of our family puzzle. She leaves behind not only an unfathomable hole in our family but in her entire community, where she served and loved without ceasing for all the decades of her life.

A memorial service will be held at the Spring City Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. Her ashes will be interred in the Hanna Cemetery in Noble, IL.

In lieu of flowers, Carolyn requested that donations be made to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). 100% of your donation reaches your chosen mission project or ministry. Donations may be made online at https://umcmission.org/give/ (scroll down to the blue box that says "give online" and select from one of the 5 options). To give by phone, call 1-888-252-6174 (credit card gifts accepted). To give by mail, send checks to UMCOR Global Ministries, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068.

Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of the arrangements of Carolyn Sue Haerr and asks that you share your memories and condolences with her family on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.




Everything Is Terrible! is making a stop in Chattanooga to play Stove Works on Aug. 3.Officials said, "On top of the film screening EIT!'s live extravaganza includes song, dance, life-size puppets and a renewed belief in life itself. There is truly nothing like it."Now that society is collapsing, Everything Is Terrible! is reborn with their new and fantastical expedition into found footage... but this time the adults can stay home! EIT! has unearthed thousands of forgotten DVD & VHS tapes aimed at yesterdays youth to bring you their most mind-melting movie to date.Watch in awe as all colors of the rainbow join forces to destroy the tyranny of adult civilization once and for all! All of your oldest friends will be there; skateboarding web-surfers, rapping math equations, gigantic baby ducks and maybe even a wizard or two. And what EIT! show would be complete without a live experience that makes the Ice Capades look like a stupid piece of trash. Finally, an all-encompassing extravaganza created for kidz... by kidz."EIT! is the video and performance art collective that is responsible for culling some of the bleakest video memories of the internets horrid history. Cat massage, The Pedo-Hunting Dino, Duane, Gerbert and the French pubic hair styling tutorial are a few that have wowed and confused millions of viewers around the globe. Everything Is Terrible!s (now 8) feature length found footage films compile endless pieces of forgotten ephemera into a psychedelic retelling of the American myth that is both hilariously sickening and endlessly compelling. 2018s The Great Satan was called a masterpiece by both Film Threat and The Chicago Reader. EIT! has also collected over 35,000 Jerry Maguire VHS tapes that will one day live in a permanent pyramid in the desert. Their Jerry Maguire Video Store immersive art installations in LA and Denver have been praised by The New York Times, Vice, The Paris Review and more. Their permanent installations for Meow Wolf have been seen by millions."
Interview: Expert says Algeria-China relations can be model for Africa, Arab world

Xinhua) 14:18, July 17, 2023

ALGIERS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's visit to China from Monday to Friday is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, foster sustainable development and promote world peace, an expert has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Smail Debeche, president of the Algeria-China Friendship Association, said the "historical and political ties between the two nations serve as a foundation for strategic convergence." He hopes bilateral relations can be a model for Africa and the Arab world.

Debeche, also a professor of political sciences and international relations at the University of Algiers 3 and member of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front of Algeria, said over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Algeria have firmly supported each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns.

The two countries have maintained a consistent stance on international and regional hotspot issues and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, becoming strategic partners that walk hand in hand.

Tebboune's visit "is expected to yield positive outcomes in terms of serving Algeria's strategies for economic diversification and sustainable development," he said.

The professor added that the president "seeks to enhance the existing strategic partnership in various key sectors, including agriculture, food security, technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development such as roads and ports, exploration of raw materials, higher education and scientific research."

Debeche underlined the mutually beneficial outcomes of the Belt and Road Initiative. "This initiative facilitates direct trade ... ultimately aims to establish win-win partnerships and foster infrastructure development, enabling participating countries to transition from import dependency to becoming producers in collaboration with Chinese companies."

For example, he argued that countries, including Algeria, have moved beyond being mere importers of Chinese products and started producing these goods through cooperation with China.

Debeche saw development as the primary means of addressing global challenges. He recognized China's success in eradicating absolute poverty and expected the country's Global Development Initiative to enable countries to overcome differences and achieve economic growth.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China dispatching medical teams to Algeria. China has sent 27 batches of medical teams to the country, providing medical services for over 27 million patients and delivering approximately 2.07 million newborns. The teams have received high praise from the local government and people.

At that time, Algeria emerged from a brutal war and urgently needed medical assistance. The Chinese medical teams brought hope and timely assistance, Debeche said. Chinese doctors treated patients and trained local doctors. He said medical cooperation between the two countries has become an example of China-Algeria cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A helicopter drops water to stop fire on Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait, in Kerch, on Oct. 8, 2022. AP-Yonhap



The Crimea Bridge, a key supply line for Russian troops in Ukraine, was damaged in an "emergency" situation which killed two people and injured a child, Russian officials said on Monday, while Ukrainian media reported blasts on the bridge.



Traffic was stopped from using the Russian-built bridge linking Russia to Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014, said Russian officials. Reuters video showed no traffic on the bridge.



The 19 km (12-mile) road and rail bridge has been a pride infrastructure project of President Vladimir Putin, who drove a Mercedes across the bridge in 2022 after it was repaired following an explosion.



Sergei Aksyonov, a Russia-installed governor, said the emergency occurred on the 145th pillar of the bridge which links the Crimean peninsula to the Russian region of Krasnodar. He did not provide any further details.



Russia's transport ministry said that there was damage to the road on the bridge closer to the Crimean Peninsula, but there was no damage to the pillars. It did not say what caused the damage.



The RBC-Ukraine news agency reported that explosions were heard on the bridge.



Russia's Grey Zone channel, a heavily followed Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported that there were two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 a.m. (0004 GMT) and 03:20 a.m.



The parents of a girl were killed and their daughter was injured in a passenger car on the bridge early on Monday, said Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia. He did not say how the people were killed.



Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's Odesa military administration, posted a photo on his Telegram account of what seemed to show part of the bridge broken. It was not immediately clear whether that was related to any attack.



Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.



George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said on Twitter that if the bridge was seriously damaged it would significantly impact Russian supply lines.



"Russia will only have one ground supply line - the coastal highway on the Sea of Azov  to sustain (or evacuate) its tens of thousands of troops in occupied Kherson Crimea if UKR manages to degrade/destroy the bridge," said Barros.



It was not immediately clear what the incident on the bridge would mean for the U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.



The U.N. deal is due to expire on Monday, with the last ship to travel under the deal leaving the port of Odesa early on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com.





Flame and smoke rise from Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait, in Kerch, Crimea, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. AP-Yonhap
The future of electronics will be based on novel kinds of materials. Sometimes, however, the naturally occurring topology of atoms makes it difficult for new physical effects to be created. To tackle this problem, researchers at the University of Zurich have now successfully designed superconductors one atom at a time, creating new states of matter.

Scanning tunnelling microscope image of two of the superconducting structures created, which consist of individual chromium atoms. University of Zurich

What will the computer of the future look like? How will it work? The search for answers to these questions is a major driver of basic physical research. There are several possible scenarios, ranging from the further development of classical electronics to neuromorphic computing and quantum computers. The common element in all these approaches is that they are based on novel physical effects, some of which have so far only been predicted in theory. Researchers go to great lengths and use state-of-the-art equipment in their quest for new quantum materials that will enable them to create such effects. But what if there are no suitable materials that occur naturally?

Novel approach to superconductivity In a recent study published in Nature Physics, the research group of UZH Professor Titus Neupert, working closely together with physicists at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics in Halle (Germany), presented a possible solution. The researchers made the required materials themselves  one atom at a time. They are focusing on novel types of superconductors, which are particularly interesting because they offer zero electrical resistance at low temperatures. Sometimes referred to as ideal diamagnets, superconductors are used in many quantum computers due to their extraordinary interactions with magnetic fields. Theoretical physicists have spent years researching and predicting various superconducting states. However, only a small number have so far been conclusively demonstrated in materials, says Professor Neupert.

Two new types of superconductivity In their exciting collaboration, the UZH researchers predicted in theory how the atoms should be arranged to create a new superconductive phase, and the team in Germany then conducted experiments to implement the relevant topology. Using a scanning tunneling microscope, they moved and deposited the atoms in the right place with atomic precision. The same method was also used to measure the systems magnetic and superconductive properties. By depositing chromium atoms on the surface of superconducting niobium, the researchers were able to create two new types of superconductivity. Similar methods had previously been used to manipulate metal atoms and molecules, but until now it has never been possible to make two-dimensional superconductors with this approach.
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is offering the free two-night community event in Cherokee, North Carolina.
This man says that he can completely afford to take his wife on expensive vacations, but he just never does this because she is a real pain in his backside when he does take her on vacation.

He has taken his wife on several trips that he thinks have been absolutely incredible, but she wound up ruining every single one with her constant complaining.

This has only led to him feeling like he should just give up. So, he does one of two things; he allows his wife to pick their vacation plans and provides no comment, or he plans a vacation thats just really local.

For instance, he will buy VIP concert tickets for himself and his wife and then will arrange for them to stay at a fancy hotel in the middle of their city so they can have an exciting night out.

When she plans our vacations, they are pretty basic, he explained. She planned a trip to Hawaii. Which I thoroughly enjoyed.

But we didnt do anything great. I would have planned a helicopter trip to see all the volcanoes and jungles from the movies. We mostly stayed in Honolulu and saw Pearl Harbor.

I honestly didnt realize it, but it has been five years since I took my wife somewhere I would consider amazing. That was a two-week trip to Iceland.

His wife quite recently asked him why he does go on extensive vacations with his family members and friends, and they all end up talking about it for a year straight, yet he never wants to go anywhere with her for an extended amount of time.

He finally told her the truth; he knows she doesnt have a good time on their lavish vacations, so thats why he stopped inviting her to go on them.

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They wanted a party of their own.

In a Pentecostal church in a village in northwestern India, a well-known pastor announced earlier this year that the time had come. Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims all have their respective political parties, and now Christians would too.

As the number of Christians has grown in Punjab, a northern Indian state bordering Pakistan, theyve faced increased scrutiny, criticism, and false accusations, not to mention insulting public statements about Jesus. Christians have existed in Punjab for nearly 200 years, but Pentecostal ministries with an emphasis on signs and wonders have drawn new crowds, new convertsand a new need for political representation.

In April, pastor Harpreet Deol at Open Door Church said the United Punjab Party (UPP) would be launched under the auspices of the Pentecostal Christian Parbandhak Committee, organizing Christians into an electoral force. They would start with state elections before going national.

Christians in Punjab aim to forge a collective voice, advocating for their concerns and promoting harmony, the president of UPP, Albert Dua, who is Catholic, told CT. The launch of the United Punjab Party by Christians in Punjab represents a significant step forward in the quest for political representation and protection of the rights and interests of the Christian community.

The UPP, however, was not welcomed with open arms by Christians across the country. Some Christians in India think that politics is dirty and that Christ followers should stay out of it. But even believers who are actively involved in winning elections and advancing an agenda did not greet the creation of this new party with joy.

Pushpanathan Wilson, a Christian member of Parliament from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, said he expected the UPP to make things worse for Christians in India.

Fighting elections by forming a Christian political party is disastrous, he said. Starting a separate party would only weaken the secular forces who are strong enough to fight Hindu fundamentalists.  We will be putting our future generations at risk of being isolated and ignored in our country.

Ruling federally for nearly a decade, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has largely been perceived as being ideologically opposed to India being a pluralist, secular democracy, where everyone has equal access to the public square and equal rights, regardless of religion. BJP members promote Hindutva, or Hinduness, and advocate for a Hindu nation, which may or may not tolerate cultural and religious differences.

Christians are a distinct minority in India, making up less than 3 percent of the population. There are some pockets where Christians have concentrated numbers, including Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and now parts of Punjabbut not enough to make them a potent political force.

If success is measured in getting a Christian candidate elected, we [will] fail, said Atul Aghamkar, director of the National Center for Urban Transformation, which is a wing of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. Christians are a scattered minority and lack the consolidated numbers needed to win elections.

Where they have been politically successful in India, Christians have, for the most part, worked in secular parties. In the early days of the independence movement, many Christians were active members of the Indian National Congress. Many continue to show loyalty to the center-left party, and Christians are generally seen as a reliable bloc of voters for the Indian National Congress.

There have been, however, a number of efforts to launch specifically Christian political organizations over the years. Some have managed to have success at the state level. In Tamil Nadu, theres the Indian Christian Front, the Christian Democratic Front, and the Christian Munnetra Kazhagam. In Telangana, the Indian Christian Secular Party. In Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Christian Party.

Most of these are very small and have not managed to exert any significant influence, especially when it comes to national politics. Organizing believers in India in any effective way on a national scale is incredibly difficult.

Ashish Shinde, a Christian politician from Maharashtra who belongs to the Hum Bhartiya Party, said that Christian modes of organization just dont lend themselves to voter mobilization. Hindus support other Hindus, Sikhs support Sikhs, and Muslims, Muslims; but Christians do not always believe their interests will be best represented by fellow believers.

There is not only a very strong denominational divide but also membership divide, Shinde said. A Methodist will not worship in any Methodist church; he will go to his own specific Methodist church which he is a member of. So, when one Christian who represents the entire community wants to fight an election, he is not accepted by the entire community.

Practically, according to Shinde, it makes more sense to build coalitions with non-Christians who share a vision of India that will allow Christians to flourish along with everyone else.

They should work with like-minded politicians, he said.

John Dayal, the spokesperson of the All India Catholic Union and a veteran news editor, agrees. He thinks its important for Christians to get involved in politics in India. But they can do that by forming alliances and seeking out common ground.

Indian Christians are duty bound to exercise their franchise and to seek political office, he said. They may remain independent political activists or join any political party whose ideology they agree with.

Theres really no chance a Christian party would win a significant number of seats, according to Dayal.

Unless they have a candidate of real caliber and some real resources, they will not get the results they have been hoping for, even praying for, he said. It is not a good idea to start a party unless one is convinced that they have the numbers to win the elections.

This is a practical consideration, but also better ideologically, according to many Christians involved in politics in India. By embracing secular parties and working with religiously diverse coalitions, Christians can show they are seeking not just their own selfish interests but the common good of all Indians.

Which is what the party in Punjab ended up doing. For both practical and ideological reasons, the new Christian party decided to seek cooperation with another party ahead of the May election. Instead of putting up its own candidates for a parliamentary election in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha district, the UPP urged supporters to cast their votes for the Aam Aadmi Party (the Common Man Party). When the votes were tallied, the Aam Aadmi candidate, Sushil Rinku, won by a margin of more than 58,000 votes. And news reports gave some credit to the UPPs Christian voters.

While the election did not likely forge a collective voice for Christians in Punjab, UPP leaders still hope it is the beginning of a big change in the way Christians engage in politics in India.

While challenges remain, the UPP's endeavor is poised to shape the political landscape, the president of the party, Albert Dua, told CT, and contribute to the inclusive development of the state.
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.
This aerial view shows coastal erosion around the house of Diane Saint-Jean in the Magdalen Islands of Quebec, Canada, on May 29. AFP-Yonhap



In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the small Magdalen islands, foot paths are caving in, cliffs are receding and the sand dunes are disappearing, leaving homes vulnerable to the lashing waves.



The archipelago, part of Quebec province in eastern Canada, is in a race against time  and the elements  to survive global warming. Residents are feeling the effects of climate change on a daily basis.



"The Magdalen islands are in the front row when it comes to the changes taking place. We are miniscule faced with the immensity of it all," says Mayka Thibodeau from CERMIM, a research center focused on sustainable development.



The changes seem to be coming fast and furious, leaving the roughly 13,000 residents reeling, as they realize their island home will need to adapt quickly and radically in the decades to come if it is to survive.



The islands' picturesque shores have already been eroded, receding by an average of half a meter a year, according to a study by the University of Quebec at Rimouski.





This aerial view shows coastal erosion in the Magdalen Islands of Quebec, Canada, on May 26. AFP-Yonhap



It's a figure that concerns Diane Saint-Jean and her partner  they live on the coast and worry the next big storm could sweep their home into the water.



"We were rather naive, we were sure there would be a solution. But nature proved us wrong," says Saint-Jean, her voice shaky as she stares at the nearby cliffs, which are slowly disappearing.



The two women live in La Martinique, a slim band of territory that links the archipelago's two main islands.



They have spent thousands of dollars to reinforce the cliff at the foot of their yard, but in September 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck with brute force, quickly washing away the giant rocks meant to protect their property.



"We woke up one morning and realized we'd thrown away our money. But what can we do?" rues Saint-Jean, a retired nurse.





A restoration sign is posted at a beach in the Magdalen Islands of Quebec, Canada, on May 26. AFP-Yonhap



Costly emergency work



Erosion is a bit of a sensitive topic for most residents on the Magdalen islands, which were first populated in the 18th century and are located more than five hours by boat from continental Canada.



Everyone here remembers spots that are now gone  especially houses that had to be moved because of the risk of flooding.



The situation is a headache for local authorities, who must invest millions of dollars for emergency work.



In Cap-aux-Meules, in the center of town, part of the pedestrian walkway collapsed in 2018, leaving the hospital, a retirement home and a cemetery in the direct path of dangerous waves.



Last year, local authorities built a huge gravel beach, using 143,000 tons of stones along an 800-meter stretch to raise the shoreline.



It was not the first time the tactic had been used.



"Solutions exist but they are extremely expensive and these projects have to be maintained. So each time we intervene, it's a tax burden for the future," says Jasmine Solomon, who monitors erosion for the local government.



"We likely won't be able to protect everything. There are spots that are going to need to change, that's for sure."





This aerial view shows coastal erosion in the Magdalen Islands of Quebec, Canada, on May 28. AFP-Yonhap
Woman who says Christ freed her from demons of rejection warns believers about oppression

A Christian woman who claims to have experienced demonic oppression is warning believers to be wary of the devils plan to torment them through demons.

Elizabeth Fondong recounted her experience in a recent Delafe Testimonies episode about how she struggled with demonic oppression for nearly two decades even though she was a professing follower of Jesus.

Fondong recalled being tormented by the demons of rejection, timidity and fear and avoided sharing the Gospel with friends because she feared rejection.

Oppression is anything that goes against your will. I wanted to be expressive. I wanted to love people. I actually would write letters to my friends," Fondong said, explaining, "I was not able to give those letters.

"Five years later, I would find those letters there. I just could not [give them to friends] because I was just afraid they would reject me. I thought they would not receive the love."

Stressing that she "wanted to share the Gospel with my friends," Fondong compared the fear that she had to "a log on top of you" and "a heavy weight that doesn't let you be yourself.

Fondong, who was raised in a Christian home and became a believer as a child, said she felt like her true self  which was an outgoing, bubbly and loving woman  was being held hostage through demonic oppression starting in early childhood.

Inside of me, there was a really great Elizabeth. There was a loving Elizabeth. But outside, I was sad, timid, withdrawn, unloving, unpleasant and just really, the wall was around me, Fondong said.

Every time, people would be like, they are scared of talking to me. And yet, inside of me, I wanted to talk to them. So really, that oppression is that thing that separates you from who you truly are.

Fondong said she continued to struggle with demonic oppression while she attended medical school and later married a Christian man who she described as "extraordinary" and someone who showered her "with amazing compliments."

But I kept feeling not good enough with all the love. Now, I was not deficient in love in any way. And yet, I wasn't feeling good enough, she said.

In 2009, as she struggled with insecurities stemming from demonic oppression, Fondong said her husband started to talk to her about demonic oppression and they began reading a book on the subject.

I didn't really think I really had a demonic stronghold at that time. But reading the book, I actually saw that through the spirit of rejection, and fear, I was actually oppressed by demonic spirits. So, it was at that time in 2009 that I sought deliverance, Fondong recounted.

Fondong said she was seeking two things. The first was "freedom from fear" since she felt it was separating me from truly serving God." The other was she felt the oppression affecting my marriage."

"My husband was pouring out love on me, but I wasn't receiving that love. I wasn't receiving the compliments. I wasn't blossoming in those compliments. And then I was not open to correction," she added. "It was making our marriage really stressful.

One evening in 2009, Fondong said she had her first deliverance experience. That night, she felt led to start praying for herself and all of this "stuff started coming out of my mouth."

"My husband came and started praying for me. He started commanding the demons to come out. Demons of fear, demons of rejection, demons of timidity, and I was screaming, Fondong recalled.

When stuff was coming out, I was really shocked because I really thought that maybe these things are just in my mind, but they actually affected my body as well. And the spirits came out."

According to Fondong, it would take "a couple of sessions of deliverance" because it was "like peeling an onion, more and more stuff gets shown."

For the first time following her deliverance, Fondong looked at herself in the mirror and said, God, you did an amazing job. I truly look beautiful.

It was the first time  and I was already in my 20s  that I could actually appreciate the goodness of God. Because all along, I kept feeling like, I wish I was this. I wish I was that. God, if you could just change this and if you could just change that. For the first time, I could say, God, you did an amazing job. I love what you do, she recalled.

After being delivered, Fondong and her husband started their own missionary ministry where they now do deliverance sessions to help free others from demonic oppression.

Fondong said she and her husband teach others that the first step every Christian should take when they realize they are being oppressed by demons is admitting aloud that the issues are coming from the devil.

The spirit of rejection is of the devil. That's one thing that we first have to identify. Because sometimes, we get so used to bondage that we don't even seek to be set free. But it is of the devil, Fondong stressed.

The Bible says, 'I did not give you a spirit of fear, [but rather] a spirit of love, of power and [self-control]. I always say, if you're not working in love, receiving love and giving out love, if you know your mind is oppressed by indecision, by not loving yourself  that is of the enemy and you should hate it."

Fondong warned that "what you accept, you will never be set free from" and that the "first thing to do is to hate the dysfunction that you're in and then seek to be set free knowing that Jesus Christ came to set the captives free.
Order restricting Biden admin. contact with social media giants blocked by appeals court

A federal appeals court has stopped a lower court ruling restricting the Biden administration's communication with social media companies to flag posts that the government considers misinformation amid complaints the collaboration led to censorship of politically unfavorable speech.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order last Friday staying a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in the case of State of Missouri et al v. Joe Biden et al.

The circuit court order placed the district court injunction on pause "until further orders of the court," days after Doughty, a Trump appointee, rejected a request from the Biden administration to lift the injunction, reported NPR.

A three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit, which has a total of 17 members, will soon hear arguments on whether to grant a longer stay.

In May 2022, the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, accusing the federal government of unlawfully censoring people through collaboration with major social media outlets.

The case stemmed from allegations that the administration has been working with Facebook and Twitter to censor posts that advanced conservative viewpoints or news that portrayed the Biden family in a negative light.

Censored posts included dissenting views on how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, a theory that COVID-19 was leaked from a lab in Communist China, and negative news reports about President Joe Biden's son Hunter.

"As a direct result of these actions, there has been an unprecedented rise of censorship and suppression of free speech  including core political speech  on social-media platforms," claimed the lawsuit.

"Not just fringe views, but perfectly legitimate, responsible viewpoints and speakers have been unlawfully and unconstitutionally silenced in the modern public square. These actions gravely threaten the fundamental right of free speech and free discourse for virtually all citizens in Missouri, Louisiana, and America, both on social media and elsewhere."

Earlier this month, Doughty blocked federal officials from "meeting with social-media companies for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms."

Additionally, the administration officials were prohibited from "emailing, calling, sending letters, texting, or engaging in any communication of any kind with social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner for removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech."

The restrictions did not include situations like "informing social-media companies of postings involving criminal activity or criminal conspiracies," "contacting and/or notifying social-media companies of national security threats, extortion, or other threats posted on its platform" and "informing social-media companies of threats that threaten the public safety or security of the United States."

In response, an unnamed White House official told The Washington Post that the U.S. Department of Justice was "reviewing the court's injunction and will evaluate its options in this case."

"This Administration has promoted responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic and foreign attacks on our elections," stated the White House spokesperson.

"Our consistent view remains that social media platforms have a critical responsibility to take account of the effects their platforms are having on the American people, but make independent choices about the information they present."
Inside a father's fight to save his son in trans sanctuary state of California 'If you love your children, you need to flee California,' state lawmaker warns

After a state family court severed Ted Hudacko's joint custody from his trans-identifying son, the California father was left twisting inside a legal straitjacket while his son underwent a procedure that even violated a California court order protecting the child, a scenario countless parents across the U.S. might face given the state's commitment to being a "sanctuary state" for underage sex change procedures, he says.

Legal recourse for parents who object to "gender-affirming" care and seek to prevent irreversible bodily harm to their children seems all but impossible in light of systemic changes in California law  of which Hudacko's is a case study.

The Bay area father told The Christian Post that his plight is a harrowing example of what other parents across the U.S. can expect to happen if their child who's struggling with gender confusion moves to California.

Last September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 107 into law. In the Golden State, minors can obtain experimental puberty blockers, opposite-sex hormones and body mutilating surgeries, effectively creating what some call a "trans sanctuary" state.

That law, which went into effect in January, amended California's Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). Changes to the statute permit California state courts to trump the jurisdiction of other states' courts where the parents might be prosecuted because harming children via chemical or surgical sex-change procedures is prohibited.

States that have passed laws protecting children from trans procedures or where state medical boards have ruled against allowing such experimental practices to be performed on children and teenagers younger than 18 include Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, South Dakota, Mississippi, Utah, Florida, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Idaho, Kentucky, Iowa, Texas and Tennessee. Some of these states' laws are presently being contested in the federal court system.

A handful of other states have introduced similar legislation this year, and the status of those bills remains pending. Concurrently, progressive-leaning states such as Vermont and Minnesota are going in the opposite direction and are either considering or are in the process of enacting laws similar to California's to become a sanctuary state for trans sex-change procedures.

What appears to be emerging is an extremely fractious culture war dividing deep-blue and deep-red states on this matter. "Especially if it becomes an intersection with the family court situation," Hudacko stressed. Family courts, he adds, "are a giant racket."

Hudacko has not seen his trans-identifying son, Drew (whose name has been changed in this report to protect his identity), for over three years. He retains shared custody of another son  who does not suffer from gender confusion  and has been forced to navigate the complex world of Bar complaints against the attorney who represented Drew to facilitate a hormonal "gender transition" against his father's wishes.

In 2020, California Superior Court Judge Joni Hiramoto stripped Hudacko of shared custody of Drew following a contentious court battle. His lengthy ordeal was detailed in a 4,800-word investigative piece published in City-Journal in February 2022 by journalist Abigail Shrier, the author of the 2020 book Irreversible Damage. Hiramoto happens to be the mother of a trans-identified child. But it was her appointment of Daniel Severin Harkins  the minor child's counsel who Hudacko says undermined him at every turn  that was, as Shrier put it, "the final nail in the coffin of his parental rights."

Documents shared with The Christian Post reveal previously unknown details about Harkins' identity and his role in the case.

For example, in an Aug. 3 response to Hudacko's complaint to the California State Bar, deputy trial counsel Mark Harvey of the California Bar referred to Harkins 17 times using the feminine prefix "Ms" and is repeatedly referred to with female pronouns "she" and "her." Until then, the Hiramoto-appointed minor child's counsel had been referred to with male identifiers, and there had been no indication that the lawyer, who is a man, was experiencing gender discordance and himself identified as female.

Harkins did not respond to The Christian Post's requests for comment.

In response to CP's questions about the case, the State Bar of California said in an emailed statement that it has "no authority over any local, state or federal courts, or the judges who oversee them" and it "cannot share or confirm any personal details of any licensed attorney other than what is available on their attorney profile, or via any publicly available discipline reports." The Bar added that it could not find any discipline record for Harkins.

Hudacko now retrospectively wonders if this had been hinted at during a custody hearing in June 2020 when Hiramoto first announced her intention to appoint Harkins as his son's attorney. Court transcripts show the judge mentioned Harkins' "transgender experience" and that he had "special training," but she did not clarify what "experience" or "training" actually meant.

Hudacko, after initial setbacks, requested that the California Bar grant an extension of the investigation period for a good cause pursuant to several provisions outlined in the California Bar's Rules of Procedure. The response letter from Harvey characterizes Hudacko's complaint as pertaining to Harkins' "duty to perform legal services" on his behalf, when Hudacko maintains the crux of his grievance is about code of ethics violations, none of which were ever addressed.

If the California dad's case is indicative of the prevailing "trans sanctuary state" climate, parents with similar complaints about their minor child's appointed counsel in the family courts are unlikely to get traction with the State Bar. In fact, only a minuscule number of lawyers found guilty of misconduct ever face repercussions, according to state records. Appendix A in the California State Auditor's Report shows that from January 2010 to November 2021, 221,185 complaints were filed against lawyers for malpractice. Only 2% resulted in disbarment and 2.8% resulted in suspension, 0.2% received public reproval, and 0.1% resigned with charges pending.

A surgery that violated the court order

While going back and forth with the California Bar over ethics questions, Hudacko was astonished to find a nearly $210,000 bill that had been charged on his insurance statement in October 2021. He subsequently confirmed with his ex-wife that a hormone-blocking implant had been placed in his son's arm and that his son had also started taking cross-sex hormones, both of which were administered without Hudacko's knowledge or consent. Unlike other hormone blockers, which can be injected or taken orally, the hormone-blocking implant was inserted into Drew's arm via a surgical procedure in August 2021. It was thus a violation of the court's order.

Section 7b of a follow-up order dated Aug. 26, 2020, where the court awarded sole temporary legal custody and physical custody of Drew to Hudacko's ex-wife, a restriction was included, specifically that the boy "will not be permitted to undergo any gender identity related surgery until they are 18 years of age, absent a written agreement by both parties."

According to medical records reviewed by CP, four different types of blockers, also called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRhA), were discussed at the clinic where his son was treated, the Child and Adolescent Gender Center of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Leuprolide acetate (Lupron) and triptorelin are injections and spironolactone is an oral tablet. By contrast, the subcutaneous implant (histrelin acetate) requires a surgical procedure.

The surgery to insert the hormone-blocking implant occurred months before Hudacko realized it had happened when Drew was 17, violating the court order. Its contribution to the child's eventual sterilization might also violate the California Family Code Section 6925(b)1, which does not authorize a minor child to be sterilized without the consent of the child's parent or guardian.

That law has been upheld and reaffirmed in several state court cases, including in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren, a 1997 case that centered around an underage girl obtaining an abortion. The California Supreme Court also held in that ruling that the disclosure of medical information to a child's parent was minimal and necessary and did not impede on the underage girl's decision to have an abortion.

Similarly, in a 1978 case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, Stump v. Sparkman, the decision held that regarding the sterilization of a minor, not only is it inappropriate, but it's also not protected by judicial immunity. By this established precedent, while Hiramoto is immune since she is a judge, Hudacko maintains that Harkins is partly culpable and thus subject to further recourse, given that his underage son's sterilization was enabled.



Among Hudacko's main grievances to the California Bar is that he alleges Harkins violated Rule 4.1 in the California Rules of Procedure for attorneys. That rule states that when representing a client, a lawyer "shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact or law to a third person." Likewise, it adds that failing "to disclose a material fact to a third person when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal or fraudulent act by a client" is prohibited.

Hudacko believes Harkins allegedly did this by advising Drew and his ex-wife to pursue going ahead with the medicalization, despite the violation of the court order. The California Bar, however, concluded in correspondence with him that he did not "present sufficient facts to support an investigation" into Harkins.

In an interview with Lynne Kohm, a professor of family law at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, CP asked about the legal ethics pertaining to judicial disclosure when a family court judge appoints counsel to represent a trans-identifying minor, and it's later disclosed that the appointed counsel had been in the process of changing their own "gender identity," particularly if gender medicalization is an issue in a custody dispute. She replied that it certainly sounds like a conflict of interest, referencing the professional code of conduct all lawyers must abide by at all times.

"And conflict of interest is not a political thing," Kohm stressed, noting that lawyer misconduct is delineated in Rule 8.4 in the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, and every state has adopted some version of them.

A key portion of Rule 8.4 section G states that it is misconduct to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know "is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or socioeconomic status in conduct related to the practice of law."

But today, Kohm said, this rule is being used "as a hammer to make people not be able to have any opinions opposing gender identity."

"The whole idea of this rule is to not undermine the public confidence in the legal profession but it's doing exactly that because it's carving out special treatment for those who are ideological [about these issues]," she said, adding that parental rights are "especially precious as they are pre-Bill of Rights and inalienable."

"To have your parental rights restricted there had to be abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Now, 'abuse' is being defined differently," Kohm explained.

This is becoming even more complicated as some states are passing laws restricting trans medicalization for minors while others are enabling parents to take their children to states that permit it, such as California.

Progress note documents prepared by the UCSF gender clinic's medical director, Dr. Stephen Rosenthal, show that Hudacko's ex-wife and Drew were "navigating [a] complex family situation," notably insurance issues as Drew was using his father's plan. The notes show that Hudacko was not in support of Drew's "gender care" and that his ex-wife had "complete medical custody."

When Hudacko first learned of these experimental protocols for youth expressing gender dysphoria or temporary confusion about their sex, he reached out to Dr. Erica Anderson, a gender psychologist based in Oakland, California, and Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist in private practice in Rocklin, California, both of whom, he said, informed him about how these drugs contribute to sterilization.

All hope that Hudacko had that the sterilization of his son might be reversed is gone, as it has now been many months since his son was launched on a path of experimental medicalization. A pediatric endocrinologist from Georgia said in an email to CP that, assuming the drug regimen was consistently followed, the combination of a hormone blocker implant plus opposite-sex hormones makes infertility permanent, adding that surgery to remove the genitals would, naturally, "seal the deal."

Hudacko maintains that Hiramoto's deliberate selection of Harkins to be Drew's legal representative, coupled with a formal Bar complaint process where few filings ever materialize in any meaningful action, leaves parents with virtually no options and no hope for accountability. State officials with whom he has interacted have used frustratingly bureaucratic language that leaves considerable wiggle room for evasion; few non-lawyers can understand it.

CP asked Matt Malone, public information officer for the Contra Costa County Courts, how many cases where there has been a custody dispute around a trans-identified child did Hiramoto appoint Harkins as the child's counsel.

Malone replied in an email that such inquiries fall under the public records request provision in California called Rule 10.500, which "obligates the Court to provide records when they are obtainable from inquiry into a single court-maintained database, such as our case management system. (See Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 10.500 (e)(1)(B).)"

"But the Court's case management system is not capable of searching for and/or selecting cases based solely on the identity of particular counsel. Nor does the Court's case management system identify a case based on the gender identity of a minor or of particular counsel. Thus, the Court has no responsive records," Malone said.

The court lacks any information to assess whether the gender identity of particular counsel is public knowledge, he added.

Hudacko says he will continue to pursue every possible avenue, but the environment is bleak.

"It would be very easy to want to crawl up in a corner and lick my wounds and go away and hide. But that doesn't solve anything. Not myself, not for Drew [or anyone] who may currently be entrenched in this. As much positive reinforcement in accolades he is being given and is reinforced, starting with his mother, and the first licensed marriage and family therapist ... and then of course, the canard that parents [of trans-identified children] are told: 'Do you want a trans daughter or a dead son'?" Hudacko said.

"And the pressure and tools used as a bludgeon to separate and label parents such as myself who have questions and seek a proper differential diagnosis, and [who want] to look at a panoply of possible causes [rather] than just simply jumping to the conclusion that, 'Aha! He's trans, we've got to social transition him. And then, the subsequent steps,' basically, labeling parents such as myself as toxic or unsafe. And then, a concerted gang effort to separate that child from the parent."

Patricia Campbell, Hudacko's former attorney, was a great lawyer for him, Hudacko recalls. Sadly, she died from cancer last year.

"One of the great challenges I had throughout the entire proceeding from the get-go  I talked to many attorneys  was finding attorneys who didn't conflate transgender with being gay. Very few attorneys seemed to get that these procedures are sterilizing. And if they don't understand that they're sterilizing procedures, they don't understand the child endangerment issues."

Hudacko continues searching for lawyers with the courage to take on a broken and abusive system. "How are we going to stop this? How are we going to change? Is this thing stoppable or not? I see mixed signs," Hudacko said, noting increased coverage in more mainstream outlets.

He added: "It's very Orwellian; it's very upside-down, the new-speak. I don't think we'll have much of a society for very long if we don't do something about this trend. It really comes down to how do we change this. We're certainly trying through the legislative process."

"But the process in California is broken."



As if to underscore that very point, the process is so dysfunctional that it has led some elected California state officials to urge parents to move out of the state, lest they want to be changed with child abuse for trying to save their children from medicalized gender transition.

Speaking before a group of parents at a state Senate Judicial Committee, California state Sen. Scott Wilk, a Republican, warned against language in yet another pending bill, AB 957, which a Democratic state senator had amended to change the California Family Code to include "gender affirmation" alongside a child's need for "health, safety, and welfare." Critics of the bill believe that failure to affirm a child's "gender identity" and wishes to undergo experimental sex-change procedures will put parents at risk of being charged with child abuse.

"In the past, when we've had these discussions, and I've seen parental rights atrophied  I've encouraged people to keep fighting," Wilk said on June 13, adding that he has since changed his mind on that approach.

"If you love your children, you need to flee California. You need to flee," he said.
Iranian pastor sent to prison over 1,000 miles from his home

An Iranian pastor has been relocated to a prison over 1,000 miles from his residence in the country's southern region after he was recently arrested and facing contested accusations of undermining state security.

Pastor Matthias (Abdulreza Ali) Haghnejad of the Church of Iran has been transferred to a prison in Minab city, Hormozgan province, a significant distance from his home in Bandar Anzali, the United Kingdom-based human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.

Pastor Haghnejad and another church leader, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, are accused of attempting to destabilize the state, a charge brought against them after a couple from their denomination allegedly incriminated them under duress.

Pastor Haghnejad was previously acquitted of similar charges in 2014, only for them to be reinstated in January 2022. These allegations were brought back to life on Nov. 25, 2019, when political police received permission from then-chief justice and Iran's current President Ebrahim Raisi to overturn a Supreme Court decision in Pastor Haghnejad's favor, according to CSW's sources.

CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas expressed concern over the repeated legal troubles faced by the pastors.

"CSW is appalled by the relentless effective judicial persecution of Pastors Haghnejad and Nadarkhani," Thomas said, emphasizing that this is a clear violation of Article 14:7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Iran is a signatory.

Thomas urged Iran to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief for all citizens, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Haghnejad and others imprisoned due to their faith.

Earlier this month, CSW reported on Pastor Nadarkhani's situation, mentioning the new charges against him and Pastor Haghnejad. The accusations came from the couple, identified as Ramin Hassanpour and Saeede Sajadpour, who political police may have pressured.

Thomas said at the time, "[These charges] reportedly emerged after psychological pressure was exerted on their accusers, who only have a passing acquaintance with one of the pastors. This alone should render these allegations unreliable and inadmissible."

Allegations of this magnitude are seldom made by ordinary citizens. A CSW source suggested that the Hassanpour family was coerced into accusing the pastors under the threat of having their children taken away. Thomas called for due process to be followed and for the pastors' charges to be dropped, stating, "These men are clearly being subjected to officially engineered harassment due to their church leadership roles."

Pastor Nadarkhani was previously arrested in May 2016 during a raid on Christian homes by the Ministry of Intelligence. Despite the pastors' previous sentences being reduced, the new charge underscores a concerning trend of suppressing religious freedom.

Christian support organization Open Doors noted in its 2023 World Watch List that despite a crackdown on house churches, there has been significant growth in Iran's underground church movement.

However, Christians, especially those who convert from Islam, face increasing oppression in Iran.
Mike Signorelli offers message of revival, healing and deliverance in new film

V1 Church Pastor Mike Signorelli is on a mission to see revival, freedom, healing and deliverance worldwide  and now he's using film to help bring that message to a broader audience.

"The Domino Revival," releasing October 24 as a Fathom Event, chronicles Signorelli's journey across the United States, where he says he witnessed a remarkable revival, "medically verifiable miracles," deliverance from the occult, restored marriages, and hundreds of people finding hope amidst thoughts of suicide. The film showcases powerful testimonies and hopes to inspire viewers to believe God can continue to work miracles in their lives today.

In an interview with The Christian Post, the New York City pastor said the film will give viewers a "front ow seat" of revival.

"We saw medically verifiable miracles and have the doctor's proof to show it. We saw many people surrender their lives to Christ and come out of witchcraft and the New Age," he said. "We saw so many testimonies and marriages being restored. One of my favorite moments that we're going to feature in this movie is watching hundreds upon hundreds of people cancel suicide. It's my hope is that as people watch the cinematic experience, from the footage that we captured, that God continues to do it today."

The title of the film comes from a vision he had of a large domino being pushed down in Domino Park, Brooklyn. He was inspired by the concept of dominoes falling in sequence, where the first "yes" to the Gospel initiates a chain reaction of transformation throughout the entire Northeast, the U.S. and beyond.

At the church's first revival in Domino Park, the pastor said he witnessed powerful encounters with God, including salvation, deliverance and manifesting demons being cast out.

"We had taxi drivers getting saved. They were on their break at the park, and they heard the Gospel, and people were manifesting demons spontaneously, and we were praying for them and they're receiving deliverance," he recalled. "That was our first event, and then we just went all over the United States."

Now, with the film's release, Signorelli said he hopes to continue the domino effect of revival through theater screenings across the nation.

One memorable moment featured in the film occurred in Huntington Beach, California, where the pastor preached to over 1,000 people on the importance of forgiveness and how it can lead to physical and emotional healing.

As a woman forgave someone, she purportedly experienced miraculous healing from rheumatoid arthritis, with her hands opening up instantly. Similar stories of healing and deliverance were said to have been witnessed nationwide, with individuals reporting the dissolving of tumors, cysts and other physical afflictions.

"We're not spiritual weirdos," the pastor said. "My church is a multi-site national church that's filled with medical professionals. So I encourage people to let doctors confirm what the Great Physician already did. That's just one of many, many stories of radical healing."

Discipleship is a crucial element of the church's ministry, the pastor said. He highlighted the example of Mary Magdalene, who experienced deliverance from seven demons and then became a devoted follower of Jesus, testifying about His resurrection.

"The Domino Revival" highlights partnerships with local churches and V1's national church network, ensuring that new believers have a place to grow and mature in their faith. For those who lack access to physical church communities, Signorelli's global online church provides opportunities for deep relationships and spiritual growth.

"We teach people how to be disciples, and then how to make disciples that make disciples, and we're just seeing so much fruit," he said.

Signorelli acknowledges that many churches are uncomfortable with the concept of deliverance ministry. But he contends it has a biblical foundation. And while not everyone has a demon, he said it is essential to recognize the prevalence of demonic encounters in the Gospel narratives and early church history.

"I don't actually think I'm doing anything new. I think I'm just trying to do the ministry of Jesus, which means praying for the sick but also casting demons out of those who need it," he said.

In today's culture, where people seek supernatural experiences in all the wrong places, Signorelli urged the local Church to reclaim its authority to deliver people from the bondage of demonic influence, he said.

"I don't think I'm doing anything outside of orthodoxy," he said. "I think I'm just doing things that, quite frankly, are not trendy in the American church, but as a result of New Age and tarot card reading, sage, and all these crazy things that people are getting involved with, unfortunately, for a lot of pastors, we're going to have to get comfortable with engaging the supernatural aspects of the Gospel, because people are going to the all the wrong places for supernatural experiences."

Through "The Domino Revival," Signorelli hopes to ignite a passion for revival and a return to the roots of the faith. He challenged the trend-focused culture by encouraging a return to the ancient paths of the first-century church.

"What I love about revival is the prefix 're' means 'again,'" he said. "We need the 21st-century church to start looking like the first-century church."

As he sees a hunger for God among Generation Z, a resurgence of faith among retiring boomers and a determination to rebuild and remain committed among millennials, Signorelli believes that America is poised for a powerful revival.

"We're already in revival," he said. "My hope is that this movie is going to throw gasoline on the fire."

Learn more about "The Domino Revival" here.
'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."
Is the slippery slope argument against ordaining women valid?

One argument that patriarchal Christians commonly use against womens ordination is the slippery slope: the ordination of women will lead to the ordination of people in same-sex unions.

Wayne Grudems Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth exemplifies this. This is part of a broader argument that affirming womens ordination somehow waters down the Bibles authority, leading Christians to abandon traditional sexual ethics, namely Gods ideal: sex between husband and wife.

While much can be said against the slippery slope argument, this article will focus on the many supporters of gender equality in the Church who also cite Scripture to uphold traditional sexual ethics. To make this case, this article will briefly cover four points:

1. Many denominations ordain women but not those in same-sex relationships.

2. The largest Evangelical egalitarian organization, Christians for Biblical Equality, affirms the traditional view that marriage [is] between a woman and a man.

3. Advocates for women in ministry have provided articulate exegetical rebuttals of attempts to defend gay ordination.

4. The Bible repeatedly affirms womens ministry but not gay sex.

Point 1: The Christian Post recently published an article highlighting five theologically conservative denominations that affirm women pastors:

Assemblies of God

Christian and Missionary Alliance

ECO = Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians

Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Global Methodist Church

In addition, all of these denominations ordain women but not practicing gays:

Brethren in Christ Church

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

Canadian Reformed Church

The Christian Reformed Church in North America

Church of the Brethren

The Eastern Orthodox Church (diaconate only)

The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

The National Baptist Convention

Mennonite Church Canada

Mennonite Church USA

Reformed Church in America

Association of Vineyard Churches.

On June 29, Scarlett Clay wrote in CP that all mainline denominations that ordain women have approved of ordaining practicing gays. But Wikipedia classifies American Baptist Churches USA, the fifth largest denomination in the USA as mainline. In November 2005, the General Board of the ABCUSA voted to amend the document entitled We Are American Baptists by stating that American Baptists are a people who submit to the teaching of Scripture that Gods design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman, and acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with biblical teaching.

Similarly, the Anglican Communion Lambeth Conference of 1998 called gay relationships incompatible with Scripture. The Anglican Church of Australia in 2017 passed a motion recognizing that the doctrine of our church, in line with traditional Christian teaching, is that marriage is an exclusive and lifelong union of a man and a woman, and further, recognizes that this has been the subject of several General Synod resolutions over the past 15 years. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a global network of conservative Anglican churches represents more than two-thirds of Anglicans throughout the world. They include The Anglican Church of North America. It affirms only two expressions of faithful sexuality: lifelong marriage between a man and a woman or abstinence.

Point 2: The statement of faith of the largest evangelical egalitarian organization, Christians for Biblical Equality, with leaders in more than 100 denominations and 214 countries states: We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, is reliable, and is the final authority for faith and practice. Its core values include: Scripture is our authoritative guide for faith, life, and practice. Gods design for relationships includes faithful marriage between a woman and a man, celibate singleness, and mutual submission in Christian community. This explicitly protects against the slippery slope.

Point 3: Advocates for women in ministry have been at the forefront of providing articulate exegetical rebuttals of attempts to defend the ordination of practicing gays and attempts to legitimize gay practice. They include Richard B. Hays, Relations Natural and Unnatural: A Response to John Boswells Exegesis of Romans 1, and David F. Wright, Homosexuals or Prostitutes? The Meaning of  (1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10), Homosexuality: The Relevance of the Bible.

As I argued in my Christian Post essay here, in 1 Corinthians 11:216, Paul prohibits men leading in worship from styling their hair like women because this was done to attract same-sex hookups. This is also why Paul in 11:7 asserts that woman [not another man] is the glory of man and in 11:9, that woman was created for man.

Remember that shortly before this in 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul referred to men who have sex with men. This translates two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in gay acts. Then in 6:11, he writes, And such were some of you. The Roman historian Livy (59 BC AD 17) writes that in Dionysiac cult initiation rites near Corinth there were more lustful practices among men with one another than with women. 1 Corinthians 11:216, therefore, provides a biblical basis not just for ministry by women (prayer and prophecy, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of worship), but for not ordaining practicing gays, since that would put a seal of approval on gay acts that God calls detestable (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13).

Point 4: The Bible repeatedly affirms womens ministry but repudiates gay sex. This shows that the Bible regards them as fundamentally different and unrelated.

In Romans 16 alone, Paul greets by name 10 people he identifies as co-workers. Seven are women: Phoebe, deacon of the church of Cenchreae  leader (prostatis LSJ 'one who stands before  leader, chief  president') of many, including me (12), Prisca  fellow worker in Christ Jesus, (3), Mary  worked hard among you (6), Junia  outstanding among the apostles (7, Eldon Epp, Junia), Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who worked hard in the Lord (12), and the beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord (12).



Hellenistic literature offers no comparable affirmation of women leaders. 1 Corinthians 11:216 approves prophesying by women. Even the Orthodox Presbyterian Church five-member three-year study on Women in Ordained Office concluded:

If 1 Corinthians 11  is read on its own terms, its plain suggestion is that women praying and  prophesying in public meetings of the church are recognized and accepted practices; nothing in the passage even intimates disapproval.

Nowhere, however, does the Bible teach that practicing gays should be put in positions of ministry leadership. Quite the contrary, 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6 require that overseers and elders be above reproach. There is nothing in the Bible regarding women in ministry corresponding to Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:2627 and 1 Timothy 1:10s descriptions of gay acts.

In conclusion, the slippery slope argument against womens ordination is nonsense. It incorrectly identifies the ordination of women as what leads churches to ordain those in same-sex unions. Like most Evangelical egalitarians, I uphold the Bibles authority and believe in traditional sexual ethics. We support gender equality in the Church not despite what the Bible teaches, but because of the Bibles affirmations of women in ministry.
Judge removed from 7-year-old James Younger case, new judge to be appointed

The Texas judge who rejected a jury's decision granting conservatorship to a mother intent on medically gender-transitioning her 7-year-old boy into a girl and instead awarded joint conservatorship to both parents has been removed from the case.

A regional administrative judge, a conservative Republican, will soon be appointing a new judge to oversee the ongoing dispute.

In late October, Judge Kim Cooks of the 255th district ruled that parents Jeff Younger and Anne Georgulas would share conservatorship and have equal decision-making regarding the medical and psychological treatment of the boy, and Jude, his twin brother.

Georgulas believes James is a transgender girl and is already socially transitioning him, calling him "Luna," and plans to pursue hormonal interventions like puberty blockers in the next six months to a year.

Two days prior to Cooks' ruling, however, a jury had awarded Georgulas sole conservatorship in an 11-1 decision that elicited a massive public outcry, heightened media scrutiny, an investigation from Governor Greg Abbott, and promises from state lawmakers to outlaw the medical transitioning of minors during the next legislative session.

Georgulas' attorneys filed to have Cooks recused from the case because of a Facebook post the judge shared on her personal page, a Dallas Morning News article about her ruling where she added a statement of her own, neither [the] Governor nor any legislature had any influence on the Courts Decision.

Georgulas' attorneys maintained that by Cooks commenting on the case her impartiality had been compromised, and that "nothing the judge posted was in the best interest of the children in the case or to advance justice, but to simply advance her own political aims," according to The Texan last week.

Logan Odeneal, Jeff Youngers attorney, argued Cooks actions did not meet the statutory requirement for recusal because her comments were made after the final verdict was issued.

An amicus attorney on the case  appointed by the court to be a third party, neutral voice  agreed with Odeneal, and asked for the motion to be scrapped.

Last week, Georgulas' team's request was granted.

Judge Tena Callahan, a retired district court judge, recused Cooks from the case. Thus, Cooks will not hear another motion from Georgulas, that the jurys original decision in her favor, be upheld.

The fate of James Younger now rests in the hands of Ray Wheless, a regional administrative judge who is a conservative Republican from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Wheless will be assigning a new judge to oversee the contested case.

Jeff Younger, the boy's father, has called the administration of puberty-blocking drugs and hormones "chemical castration."

James Younger's parents are both presently forbidden from speaking to the media because of a gag order that was issued in October at the time of the ruling.

Per the terms of the order, Jeff Younger's website, SaveJames, had to be shut down. Yet a Facebook page of the same name and a blog called SJSaveThousands is being run by friends of the family with the goal of rescuing both James and thousands of other children facing medical gender transitioning in similar situations but whose stories are not widely known.
LDS Church could be a $1 trillion denomination by 2044, report suggests

With an estimated wealth of $236 billion in 2022, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could potentially cover all of its current expenses "forever" with returns from current investments without collecting any additional tithes from congregants. It could also become a $1 trillion denomination as early as 2044, a new report from The Widow's Mite contends.

The report, prepared anonymously by "current and former Church members whose professional and educational backgrounds include business, finance, law, investment management, economics, journalism and history," was created through an analysis of "publicly available sources."

"The material is made available as a way to advance research and increase understanding regarding the financial state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," the researchers note.

Christopher Moore, a spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, characterized the report as speculation and declined to respond on the record to a series of questions asked by The Christian Post on Monday.

He told The Salt Lake Tribune, which first cited the report, that no comment could be given because the "main themes" came from "anonymous accounts."

The report comes months after the church and its affiliated investment manager, Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc., was fined a collective $5 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for using shell companies to hide the size of their investment portfolio, which grew to a reported $32 billion in 2018.

In 2019, a report on a whistleblower complaint to the Internal Revenue Service alleged that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stockpiled some $100 billion of tithes and donations meant for charity.

Officials at the organization pushed back, saying the "vast majority" of the funds are spent immediately for church business and related humanitarian work.

Church officials also acknowledged that they have managed to save and invest the organization's finances well to build a "prudent reserve for the future."

"Over many years, a portion is methodically safeguarded through wise financial management and the building of a prudent reserve for the future. This is a sound doctrinal and financial principle taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents and lived by the Church and its members. All Church funds exist for no other reason than to support the Church's divinely appointed mission," the church said. "Claims being currently circulated are based on a narrow perspective and limited information. The Church complies with all applicable law governing our donations, investments, taxes, and reserves. We continue to welcome the opportunity to work with officials to address questions they may have."

In estimates of the church's wealth highlighted by The Widow's Mite, researchers suggest that the church could cover all of their current expenditures "forever" with approximately $1 billion left over annually to reinvest or give charitable aid with just a 4.25% annual return on their approximately $157 billion "endowment" being managed by Ensign Peak "without asking members for 'one dollar of donation' ever again."

Still, when asked last year if church members struggling with abject poverty could be exempted from paying tithes to the church, Elder David A. Bednar, said during an event at the National Press Club in Washington that even though the church "doesn't need their money" it would be better for them to "obey God's commandments.

"The pathway out of poverty is keeping the commandments of God, including tithing," Bednar said. "The Church doesn't need their money, but those people need the blessing that come from obeying God's commandments."

The Widow's Mite researchers estimate that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more monetary assets than many of the world's wealthiest institutions, including Harvard University, Yale, Stanford University, Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

They couldn't, however, find much evidence of what the Church is doing with its invested savings.

"In 2009 and 2010, Ensign Peak distributed emergency funds to shore up Church investments in valuable for-profit businesses. Profits from Church investments have long paid for General Authority living allowances. Otherwise, there's no stated use or plan for the money, other than accumulating more money," the researchers explained.

The report also states that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a real estate portfolio worth approximately $102 billion at the end of 2021.

"The Church does not disclose all of its real estate holdings," the researchers said. "We know that the Church owns tens of thousands of properties, recorded under many unique entity names."

The report highlights that in recent years, as the church's finances have come under scrutiny, there has been an increase in charitable aid, but its investments are growing significantly faster than its giving.

"Church investments may be growing faster than the Church's ability to give away a meaningful portion in humanitarian aid. To give billions in direct aid, the Church may also need to set up a separate, global organization with secular governance," the researchers said.

"A potential benefit of trying, or committing to a bold goal, it the altruistic bandwagon effect. Who might join with the Church to execute a humanitarian commitment of billions per year," they added. "Many miracles are possible if surplus money were to be deployed in faith, instead of being concealed out of fear."
New, more resistant varieties of peaches are being grown on the campus of the University of Georgia, in Griffin. AFP-Yonhap



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."





Peach farmer Stuart Gregg at his family farm in Concord, Georgia in July / AFP



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.





A sign warning of the temporary closure of Gregg Farms in Concord, Georgia, after the collapse of the peach harvest / AFP
'Nation's Report Card' records significant decline in math, reading scores after pandemic closures

Student reading and math scores suffered significant declines in the past three years as the nation analyzes the impact the COVID-pandemic had on education, according to The National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The congressionally-mandated NAEP, also known as the "nation's report card," released Monday suggests dramatic declines in math and reading levels for fourth and eighth graders. Math scores showed the largest drop since NAEP began administering tests in 1990, and reading scores declined in both grade levels since the pandemic.

The average reading scores for both grades decreased by three points since 2019, before COVID forced schools to enact remote learning measures. Similarly, the average math scores for fourth and eighth grade declined by five and eight points, respectively.

Most states saw scores decline for fourth and eighth-grade math and reading between 2019 and 2022.

Overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the study assessed over 400,000 students at over 10,000 schools across the country at the beginning of the year, scoring students on a scale of zero to 500.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said the findings in the report are "appalling and unacceptable."

"This is a moment of truth for education," he said during a call with reporters Monday. "How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery, but our nation's standing in the world."

Peggy Carr, the commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics, said the drop in math was to be expected in light of the nationwide pause to in-person learning during the pandemic.

"We really need the teachers to teach math," Carr said. "Reading, on the other hand, is something that parents and communities are more comfortable helping students with."

Nicole Neily, president of the advocacy group Parents Defending Education, believes that the report proves American parents' concerns about their children's education during the pandemic correct.

"American students were the subject of a years-long social experiment that will impact our country's economy for decades to come," Neily wrote in a Monday statement shared with The Christian Post.

"It's time to hold the education bureaucrats, activists, and public health officials who mocked, shamed, and derided families accountable for their decisions  and refuse to cede them any further authority (or funds) going forward."

The group's director of outreach, Erika Sanzi, agrees with Carr that the academic outcomes for students were "predictable."

"We knew prolonged school closures and masking would have catastrophic effects on children," she stated. "And now we have more evidence that they did."

Last month, NAEP released the results of an assessment that found historic declines in reading and math scores for 9-year-old students. The scales used in the evaluation also ranged from zero to 500, with the group testing around 7,400 students from 410 schools from January to March 2020 and 2022.

"Average scores for age 9 students in 2022 declined 5 points in reading and 7 points in mathematics compared to 2020," the report stated. "This is the largest average score decline in reading since 1990, and the first ever score decline in mathematics."

The assessment noted that declines in math scores differed by race, with black students experiencing a 13-point score decrease compared to a 5-point decrease among white students. According to the report, the score gap between the two races went from 25 points in 2020 to 33 points in 2022.

City students, who previously scored 213 on average in reading and 236 in math in 2020, experienced a seven-point decline in 2022. Students in suburban schools, who once scored 225 in reading in 2020, saw their scores decline by 8 points in 2022. Math scores for the same group of students went from 245 in 2020 to 236 in 2022.

Carr said in an August statement that COVID-19 may have "exacerbated" learning challenges already existing, particularly for students already underperforming.

"There's been much speculation about how shuttered schools and interrupted learning may have affected students' opportunities to learn," Carr wrote.

"Our own data reveal the pandemic's toll on education in other ways, including increases in students seeking mental health services, absenteeism, school violence and disruption, cyberbullying, and nationwide teacher and staff shortages."

A study released in July by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates the pandemic may have also impacted student behavior. The agency collected data from 846 participating schools between May 10 and May 24 as part of its School Pulse Panel.

According to the study, 87% of public schools reported the pandemic negatively impacted students' socio-emotional development for the 2021-2022 school year. Eighty-three percent of public schools also agree that the pandemic negatively affected students' behavioral development.

Forty-eight percent reported an increase in disrespect towards teachers and staff, and 56% noted an increase in student misconduct in the classroom. Forty-nine percent saw a rise in rowdiness outside the classroom, and 42% experienced increased use of prohibited electronics in class.
Reading for fun reaches record low in US amid declining test scores: report

Amid reports of plummeting test scores, new research finds that the percentage of students who report that they read for fun has reached a record low, according to an assessment released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

The congressionally-mandated NAEP administered a long-term trend (LTT) reading and mathematics assessment to 13-year-old students from October to December throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

According to the assessment, the average reading scores for 13-year-olds declined by four points and nine points in mathematics compared to NAEP's previous assessment during the 2019-2020 school year.

Only 14% of students reported reading for fun almost daily, a decrease of 3% lower than in 2020 and 13% lower than in 2012. The year 2023 recorded the lowest percentage of students who reported that they read for fun almost every day than all previous assessment years. In 1984, 35% of students reported reading for fun almost daily.

"Fifty-one percent of 13-year-old students scoring at or above the 75th percentile in 2023 reported that they read for fun on their own time at least once a week, whereas 28 percent of 13-year-old students scoring below the 25th percentile reported doing so," the report reads. "The percentage of students who reported reading for fun on their own time once or twice a month was also larger for students at or above the 75th percentile. Conversely, the percentages of students who reported reading less frequently  a few times a year or never or hardly ever  were larger for students performing below the 25th percentile."

Reading scores were lower for both males and females and students eligible and non-eligible for the school lunch program.

"In mathematics, scores declined compared to 2020 for most student groups; for example, scores were lower for Black, Hispanic, and White 13-year-olds, for students attending schools in all regions of the country, for students eligible and not eligible for the NSLP, and for students at all reported levels of parental education," the report reads.

Female students experienced an 11-point score decrease in mathematics, whereas males saw a 7-point decline, widening the gap between the sexes from 2020. The score gap between white and black students also widened from 35 points in 2020 to 42 points in 2023.

The decline in scores among middle school students comes shortly after an October 2022 NAEP report that found dramatic reductions in math and reading levels for fourth and eighth graders.

The average reading scores for both grades decreased by three points since 2019, before COVID forced schools to enact remote learning measures. Similarly, the average fourth and eighth-grade math scores declined by five and eight points, respectively.

In most states, math and reading scores for fourth and eighth-grade students declined between 2019 and 2022.

The month before, NAEP released another assessment that found historic declines in reading and math scores for 9-year-old students. The average reading scores for 9-year-old students in 2022 declined by five points and seven points in mathematics compared to 2020.

"This is the largest average score decline in reading since 1990, and the first ever score decline in mathematics," the report reads.

Scores differed among racial groups, with black students experiencing a 13-point score decrease compared to a 5-point decrease among white students. According to the report, the score gap between the two races went from 25 points in 2020 to 33 points in 2022.

Another NAEP assessment released in May 2023 found that U.S. history and civics test scores declined for eighth-grade students nationwide. Eighth-grade scores for U.S. History went from 263 in 2018 to 258 in 2022, falling by five points. In civics, the students had an average civics score of 150 out of 300 for 2022, a decrease of three points since 2018.

Only 13% of eighth-grade students were rated proficient in U.S. history, and only 20% were considered proficient in civics. One percent of students were considered advanced in U.S. History, while only 2% were rated advanced in civics.
Russia's religious persecution campaign in Ukraine backed by Orthodox Church, David Curry warns

Russia is conducting a religious persecution campaign in occupied Ukraine that has led to attacks on hundreds of churches with the backing of leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church, warns prominent international religious freedom advocate David Curry.

Curry, the head of the nonprofit watchdog group Global Christian Relief, who also serves as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, highlighted the various instances of religious persecution in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

These include attacks against churches and the targeting of worship leaders.

Curry, who for years headed the U.S. branch of Open Doors, said that many leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church believe that the country is "divinely inspired" to take the land, a mindset they use to justify the targeting of pastors and churches.

"It's a sad illustration of what has happened too often throughout history," Curry said. "My perspective and [Global Christian Relief's] perspective is that churches should be sacred, and people of faith should be able to practice their faith peacefully. And they shouldn't be targeted because they're from a religious minority or because they are from a different denomination or tribe within the Christian faith."

Headlines were made in May after Russian soldiers seized the Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity in Mariupol. In a report last month, Global Christian Relief stated that after expelling the clergy from the church, 30 troops remained at the building, taking advantage of its proximity to occupied residential buildings.

Data shared at the Summit on International Religious Freedom by the Ukrainian Institute for Religious Freedom in late January suggested that nearly 500 religious buildings, theological institutions and sacred places were wholly destroyed, damaged or looted by the Russian military since the invasion began.

Russia has also murdered at least 26 religious leaders while torturing and imprisoning others, Dmytro Vovk from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said in March during a USCIRF hearing.

Curry disclosed that he had spoken with several leaders within the Russian Orthodox Church and several Ukrainian leaders.

"We're talking to Christian leaders on both sides," the Global Christian Relief CEO said. "And I would love to see that kind of coming together in brotherhood, to try and pray together, get to know each other, trying to build some trust between the leadership of these various groups."

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarch Kirill, has expressed support for the war in several sermons calling for Russians to "rally around" the authorities. He accused "enemies" of attempting to destroy the unity between Russia and Ukraine. Russian clergy members who disagreed with the church patriarch and spoke out against the war have faced fines or imprisonment.

Additionally, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church view the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as illegitimate, giving an additional pretext for permitting the invasion, Global Christian Relief warns. In the last several years, hundreds of churches left the Russian Orthodox Church and joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, independent of the Moscow patriarch.

After speaking with leaders from the Russian Orthodox Church, although he could not reveal their names, Curry stressed that they understand the seriousness of religious persecution, even if their views on the situation do not align with his.

"I still think that it's worth getting Christian leaders in Ukraine and Christian leaders in Russia together in some neutral spot to pray together and to try to build some bonds in the midst of this war," he said.

Regarding his interactions with U.S. government officials, Cury said he has spoken with Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue.

The last time Curry spoke with Blinken was in October, although many of those conversations occurred through Curry's role at USCIRF. He said that his organization has also called for the international court system to consider these crimes of religious persecution.

Curry said faith leaders have a responsibility to cross boundaries within their communities and stressed that establishing relationships with others makes them more likely to listen to the person communicating with them.

"And there are many of these sorts of situations where people in Evangelical circles don't understand, don't communicate, don't build relationships with people out of Orthodox contacts, and vice versa," he said. "And that's where people who are leaders in faith communities need to build relationships because, in a crisis, you need to know each other."

The U.S. State Department identifies Russia as a country of particular concern for its violations of religious freedom, imposing economic sanctions and tariffs.
School-based health clinics offer 'gender-affirming care' at 'no cost' to students in Seattle

Health facilities located in at least two public schools in Seattle, Washington, are providing "gender-affirming care" to students while school staff are instructed to refrain from informing parents if their children identify as the opposite sex.

In a Tuesday blog post, the advocacy group Parents Defending Education shared screenshots documenting how school-based health centers located at two schools that are part of Seattle Public Schools offer gender transition services to students.

The website for the Nova Wellness Center located at Nova High School outlines how it provides "no cost comprehensive, trauma-informed, and gender-affirming care" to students.

The website for the Meany Health Center, based at Meany Middle School, lists "gender reaffirming care" as one of the services it offers. The Country Doctor Community Health Centers operate the clinics at both schools.

CDCHC, a local nonprofit, provides services to "transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse" patients. The organization's website identifies its services as "gender-affirming medications," including estrogen, androgen blockers and testosterone and "hormone therapy for adolescents and specialty referrals for younger patients as needed."

The nonprofit also says it can help patients with "obtaining mental health letters of support" for gender-affirming procedures and referrals. However, the centers do not provide puberty blockers for younger patients.

Seattle Public Schools' policy document, "Gender-Inclusive Schools: Transgender and Gender-Expansive Student Rights and Supports," states that district staff "should not disclose a student's transgender or gender X status to others unless (1) legally required to do so or (2) the student has authorized disclosure." District employees are further advised to avoid using gender pronouns when contacting the parents or guardians of trans-identified pupils if the student's asserted gender identity at home is unclear.

It's unclear whether the schools inform parents if their children are seeking "gender-affirming care" at the school-based clinics.

In a statement to The Post Millennial, Seattle Public Schools said: "Community healthcare agencies independently operate School-Based Health Centers in spaces provided by Seattle Public Schools. Seattle Public Schools does not supervise or participate in the provision of health care services in these clinics."

Last year, the media outlet reported an 853% increase in students identifying as non-binary within the Seattle district over a three-year period. The rapid explosion comes as a recent study estimated that at least 3 million K-12 students are enrolled in public school districts where they can change their name and preferred pronouns to reflect their chosen gender identity without parental consent.

The study was released by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies in February and is based on an analysis of the 20 largest school districts in the U.S.

The report, authored by former U.S. Department of Education Press Secretary Angela Morabito, conceded that "because this study examines only a sample of school districts, the total number of districts nationwide that allow students to change their name and pronouns at school without parental permission is likely far higher."

Morabito cited Seattle Public Schools as a school district that "directs school employees to use a new name and pronouns without parental consent," while Parents Defending Education includes Seattle Public Schools on a list of more than 1,000 public school districts that "openly state that district personnel can or should keep a student's transgender status hidden from parents."

In a statement to The Christian Post, Morabito stressed the impact of these policies on the relationship between parents and their children. According to Morabito, whenever "schools keep a child's assumed identity a secret from the parents, they drive a wedge between parents and their children."

"Parents cannot assume schools will respect their rights. These harmful policies are by no means limited to big-city districts," she continued. "Every parent should inform themselves of policies in their school district and speak up if schools are willing to conceal major information from them about their own kids."
Woman who wants to transition 7-y-o son James Younger into girl loses latest court battle

A Texas mother who intended to transition her 7-year-old son James into a girl named Luna has lost again in court.

Dallas judge Mary Brown ruled Wednesday against the request of Anne Georgulas, who asked the court to revert to an October jury ruling that might have yielded her receiving sole conservatorship of her son James Younger, a 7-year-old boy she says is a transgender girl named Luna, and his twin brother, Jude, according to LifeSiteNews.

Brown also ruled against another motion from Georgulas' team, that a parenting coordinator in the case, Stacey Dunlop, be dismissed.

"The argument to disqualify the parenting coordinator centered mainly around the concern that he becomes a tie breaker rather than a mediator and would then ultimately be making most of the difficult decisions for the twin boys," LifeSiteNews explained.

The case garnered international media attention in October after a jury awarded Georgulas sole conservatorship in an 11-1 decision, allowing her to continue "transitioning" James into "Luna." The father, Jeffrey Younger, has maintained that James shows "no signs of wanting to be a girl when given the choice."

Amid massive public outcry, Judge Kim Cooks overruled the Oct. 21 jury verdict and ruled that conservatorship would be 50-50, shared between Georgulas and Jeffrey Younger, who has been resisting the transitioning of his son.

The matter was back in court this week because Georgulas' attorneys were successful at getting a new judge after they argued Cooks had acted improperly when she posted an article about the ruling on her Facebook page following the conclusion of the proceedings. In the post, Cooks asserted that neither Texas Governor Greg Abbott nor any legislature influenced her decision. Cooks was summarily recused from the case.

Georgulas' attorney said they would move to appeal Wednesday's ruling, arguing that both Brown's and Cooks' rulings were not authorized or enforceable based on the jury's verdict.

Cooks' order also forbade both parties from speaking to the media about the case through a gag order. As a result, Jeffrey Younger's website, Save James, had to be shut down.

A Facebook page of the same name that is being operated by friends of Younger noted that the quest to prevent James from being given puberty-blocking drugs and other experimental medical practices to "transition" him is not over.

"Your prayers answered! Little James saved for now. Thank you all!" one post read, noting in a subsequent post that the only true winners were the lawyers.

"Jeff's defense will cost him approximately $15,000. The plaintiffs side, Koonz Fuller, possibly much more because they filed several motions and amendments. Appeals court will be in the $100,000 range for Jeff," the Facebook page administrators noted.

The tagline on Younger's original website was "Save James, Save Thousands of Kids," which was intentional because he and his team did not want to forget the other children and parents who are in similar situations but for whatever reason do not have the ability to resist the transitioning of their children.

The Younger case has prompted several state legislators to call for the banning of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and transgender surgeries on minors.

The South Dakota House passed a ban on such practices Wednesday, in a 46-23 vote, the first legislative body in the nation to do so.
Christian councillor suspended over Pride tweet launches legal action

A Christian councillor suspended by the Conservative Party after posting a tweet criticising LGBT Pride events is to launch legal action.

King Lawal, a Conservative councillor at North Northamptonshire Unitary Council for the last two years, tweeted, "When did Pride become a thing to celebrate. Because of Pride Satan fell as an arch Angel. Pride is not a virtue but a Sin. Those who have Pride should Repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you. #PrideMonth #Pride23 #PrideParade."

The comments were posted alongside an image with a verse from Isaiah 3:9 which said: "Whatever God calls 'Sin' is nothing to be Proud of."

The tweet was posted in response to a Twitter thread by Anglican commentator and broadcaster Calvin Robinson expressing concern about the sexualised nature of Pride events.

Following a backlash against his comments, Cllr Lawal issued a statement in which he denied that it was hateful to refer to Pride as a sin.

"When Christians refer to 'sin' or 'sinners' we are speaking of ourselves. We are not singling out specific people or groups of people as sinners. Sin according to the bible includes, lying, stealing, gossip and hatred, not just things like homosexuality, adultery and sex outside of the marriage. Jesus said that even to have unholy thoughts that we never act on is sinful. Therefore every single one of us is sinful by this standard, including myself," he said.

He continued, "So when Christians say 'repent' and believe in Jesus or refer to something you associate with as 'sin', it's not because they hate you. it is because they love you and want to see you saved from punishment the same way they have been saved.

"I therefore do not come against those celebrating Pride to attack who they are, my intention was to say that I would not celebrate this any more than I would celebrate a month of gossip or anything else the bible calls sin."

The 31-year-old councillor has been suspended by the local branch of the Conservative Party pending an investigation involving Conservative headquarters.

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting Cllr Lawal, said that in addition to the Conservative Party, he has been "cancelled" by six other organisations, including the local library which banned him from holding surgeries there, and a charity that has removed him as a trustee.

He has also been warned of a possible police investigation.

It called the repercussions faced by Cllr Lawal "unprecedented" and said that they demonstrate that "Christians who hold public office can no longer express their beliefs without having their careers and lives dismantled".

Cllr Lawal said: "It is now almost impossible to say something biblically truthful on sexual ethics in UK society without being cancelled and having your life ruined.

"During Pride month, I was appalled by some of the illegal activity I saw online at these events. I had real concern for the children witnessing it who will grow up believing this is ok.

"It is very rare for me to take to Twitter, but I saw that the Pride movement was silencing any questioning or dissent and I could no longer be silent.

"What I said was biblically sound and a protected expression of the Christian faith.

"As the only black councillor in the whole of Northamptonshire, I know what it is like to be in the minority, and I would never discriminate against anyone. I have diligently represented all my constituents; however, I must also be free to express my beliefs without fear."

He continued, "What has happened shows that I am not free and that this is not a free country anymore. If it was free, I would be able to speak.

"The message my story sends is that Christians must stay silent on these issues, or else. What I expressed was not something I made up in my mind, it is what it says in the Bible.

"How I have been treated is really troubling for a democratic society. It must ring alarm bells and should concern everybody who cares about Christian freedoms and free speech as this can now happen to anyone that is not in support of this extreme LGBT movement."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said it was "a clear case of viewpoint discrimination against a standard expression of Christian belief".

"Where is 'diversity', 'tolerance' and 'inclusion' here? We have only a monoculture which requires approval, allegiance and promotion of LGBT Pride no matter what," she said.

"Institutions and even the government have been captured to such an extent by this ideology that if you speak against it, within a week, you can become a 'non-person.'

"The pace at which Cllr Lawal has been essentially removed from public life for expressing his beliefs is disturbing as he has been democratically elected and undemocratically cancelled.

"Local authorities, schools and even libraries cannot be allowed to discriminate against and exclude Christians and their beliefs under the increasingly draconian and oppressive banner of 'inclusivity'."

Cllr Jason Smithers, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said: "North Northamptonshire Conservative Group are an inclusive group. We continue to be committed to reducing inequality within our communities and creating a fair and inclusive environment for everyone. We fully support our LGBTQ+ community, as we support all communities."

Conservative Campaign Headquarters have been contacted for comment.
How Jesus got it wrong

We shake our heads in bewilderment at a world where everything seems turned upside down. Wrong has become right, equal opportunity has become racism and justice has become unjust. At one time liberals accused Christians of believing in a 'sky fairy' of our own imaginations. Today progressives deny science and believe that men can become women by wishful thinking.

Violent compassion

Progressives proudly see themselves as being compassionate and caring people, the virtuous sector of society. Yet they applauded and defend a convicted kidnapper and attempted murderer who incited violence at a Trans+ LGT march in London.

Sarah Jane Baker, who served 30 years in prison, told the crowd in Hyde Park: 'I was going to come here and be really fluffy, be really nice and be really lovely and queer and gay and laugh.' Then continued, to cheers and applause, 'If you see a TERF, punch them in the f****** face.'

We might assume our elected MPs, charged with making and upholding laws, would condemn this. Sadly Baker was supported by Labour MP Clive Lewis who excused the outburst with the most spectacular bit of whataboutery. 'Advocating violence against others is wrong and this is no exception,' he tweeted. 'But as you'll be aware, violent language and actions are not unique to one side on this issue.' There has yet to be a feminist who has assaulted or incited violence against trans people, but facts don't matter in the upside-down progressive world.

We have become used to the Wonderland nature of progressives where words mean whatever they choose them to mean. It is more disturbing when this attitude is found in the Church. We have become accustomed to leaders in mainstream denominations performing theological gymnastics to justify stands which go directly against Scripture. What is new is church leaders being embarrassed by Jesus. In the last week alone, two significant church leaders have said or implied that Jesus got it wrong.

Jesus lacked pastoral sensitivity

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell told the Church of England's General Synod that the Lord's Prayer could be 'problematic' due to its 'oppressively patriarchal' connotations. The gospels of Matthew and Luke recount the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray: his answer was the Lord's Prayer which begins with 'Our Father'. In the Bible we find Jesus continually referring to God as his 'Father', whose preferred pronouns seem to be 'he' and 'him'. Perhaps Jesus was not pastorally sensitive enough, or he didn't fully understand what he was saying.

To confuse the issue further the Revd Christina Rees, a campaigner for female bishops, threw in a straw man adding that Cottrell had 'put his finger on an issue that's a really live issue for Christians and has been for many years. The big question is, do we really believe that God believes that male human beings bear his image more fully and accurately than women? The answer is absolutely not.'

Is there a single theologian or church leader at any level who thinks that males are more fully in the image of God than females? Unfortunately liberal Christians have a need to be seen to be virtuously furthering the progressive fight, even if it means tilting at windmills of their own imaginations.

The General Synod, the ruling body of the Church of England, legislates for the church. In February it launched a commission to examine 'gendered language'. With Cottrell's statement it doesn't take a prophet to realise the big question to emerge will be whether the CofE should stop referring to God as 'He' and use 'gender-neutral terms' instead. They must be asking themselves, 'How did Jesus get it so spectacularly wrong?'

No conversions here

What the CofE can do the Roman Catholics can do just as well. The Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, Americo Aguiar, has been created a cardinal by Pope Francis. This means Aguiar will be eligible to vote in the College of Cardinals at the next papal vacancy. Francis is trying to assure a liberal succession.

In a complete rejection of Jesus' command to 'go therefore and make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:18-20), Monday's National Catholic Register reports Aguiar, head of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023, as saying, 'We don't want to convert the young people to Christ or to the Catholic Church or anything like that at all.' In the interview, the new cardinal said that in his opinion the intention of WYD was to have young people journey together, respecting their diversity.

He said he wanted to enable each young person attending WYD to be able to say: 'I think differently, I feel differently, I organise my life in a different way, but we are brothers and we go together to build the future.' He added: 'This is the main message of this encounter with the living Christ that the Pope wants to provide to young people.' Aguiar stressed that it's important 'that we all understand that differences are a richness'.

In this he is in lockstep with the Pope. In 2019, Francis signed, along with a prominent imam, the Abu Dhabi statement which proclaimed: 'The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in his wisdom, through which he created human beings.'

The Roman Catholic church now parrots the progressive mantra 'Diversity is our strength'. For Francis and Aguiar diversity comes before Christ; it is acceptable for youngsters to live Christ-less lives as long as they are nice and accepting. Observing diversity and inclusivity matters more than truth, matters even more than salvation.

The topsy-turvy world of the progressive has gripped the Church, the one institution which should be able to say that there is such a thing as truth 'and the truth will set you free' (John 8:31-32). Traditional Christians may be disparaged as throwbacks and out of date, we may be termed many kinds of 'phobe', but unless we hold fast to the truth of Christ, especially against those who would distort the message of the gospel, there will be no bulwark against the progressive insanity turning the world upside down. It is time for us to fight back.

Campbell Campbell-Jack is a retired Church of Scotland minister. He blogs at A Grain of Sand.
Iranian pastor sent to prison over 1,000 miles from his home

(CP) An Iranian pastor has been relocated to a prison over 1,000 miles from his residence in the country's southern region after he was recently arrested and facing contested accusations of undermining state security.

Pastor Matthias Haghnejad of the Church of Iran has been transferred to a prison in Minab city, Hormozgan province, a significant distance from his home in Bandar Anzali, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.

Pastor Haghnejad and another church leader, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, are accused of attempting to destabilize the state, a charge brought against them after a couple from their denomination allegedly incriminated them under duress.

Pastor Haghnejad was previously acquitted of similar charges in 2014, only for them to be reinstated in January 2022. These allegations were brought back to life on Nov. 25, 2019, when political police received permission from then-chief justice and Iran's current President Ebrahim Raisi to overturn a Supreme Court decision in Pastor Haghnejad's favor, according to CSW's sources.

CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas expressed concern over the repeated legal troubles faced by the pastors.

"CSW is appalled by the relentless effective judicial persecution of Pastors Haghnejad and Nadarkhani," Thomas said, emphasizing that this is a clear violation of Article 14:7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Iran is a signatory.

Thomas urged Iran to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief for all citizens, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Haghnejad and others imprisoned due to their faith.

Earlier this month, CSW reported on Pastor Nadarkhani's situation, mentioning the new charges against him and Pastor Haghnejad. The accusations came from the couple, identified as Ramin Hassanpour and Saeede Sajadpour, who political police may have pressured.

Thomas said at the time, "[These charges] reportedly emerged after psychological pressure was exerted on their accusers, who only have a passing acquaintance with one of the pastors. This alone should render these allegations unreliable and inadmissible."

Allegations of this magnitude are seldom made by ordinary citizens. A CSW source suggested that the Hassanpour family was coerced into accusing the pastors under the threat of having their children taken away. Thomas called for due process to be followed and for the pastors' charges to be dropped, stating, "These men are clearly being subjected to officially engineered harassment due to their church leadership roles."

Pastor Nadarkhani was previously arrested in May 2016 during a raid on Christian homes by the Ministry of Intelligence. Despite the pastors' previous sentences being reduced, the new charge underscores a concerning trend of suppressing religious freedom.

Christian support organization Open Doors noted in its 2023 World Watch List that despite a crackdown on house churches, there has been significant growth in Iran's underground church movement.

However, Christians, especially those who convert from Islam, face increasing oppression in Iran.

 The Christian Post
Mother seeks to block withdrawal of son's life support

A mother has applied to the Court of Protection to stop doctors from removing her 20-year-old son's life support.

Andy Casey was out with friends on the evening of 9 July when he suffered a severe brain injury after being punched in the back of the head and falling to the floor.

He is being treated in the intensive care unit at St George's Hospital, London, where doctors want to turn off his life support after concluding that he is likely to be 'brain-stem dead'.

Under the doctors' plans, his life support will be turned off if he does not respond positively to tests.

Casey's family are opposed to the withdrawal of his life support and his mother, Samantha Johnson, has made an emergency application to the Court of Protection to stop it from going ahead.

"My son deserves a fighting chance and it is shocking that the NHS wants to withdraw life support after less than a week," she said.

"I was devastated to be told that they are going to withdraw my son's life support in a couple of hours and there is nothing we as a family can do about it.

"We are a large and tightly knit family, and we are all strongly against this, but our wishes are being ignored. We have been so fortunate to get legal advice quickly enough to know our rights, and we will fight this case all the way through the courts to ensure we have done everything to save Andy's life."

According to the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting her application, Casey appeared to breathe independently for two hours the morning after the attack and "has since made some independent attempts to breathe".

CLC argues that there is no scientific consensus on the theory of being 'brain-stem dead'.

The theory came under scrutiny last year in the case of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee, who doctors at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, believed to be brain-stem dead and therefore wanted to remove his life support.

In an initial ruling, the judge concluded that Battersbee was "dead on the balance of probabilities", but this verdict was later overturned by the Court of Appeal which held that a diagnosis of death required certainty or near certainty.

His life support was eventually turned off last August against the family's wishes after they lost a final High Court bid to have him moved to a hospice.

In the same month, testing to declare whether a person is brain dead was placed under review after the High Court heard that a baby who was pronounced dead by doctors started to breathe again independently.

New guidance on brain stem testing is to be published this year by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC).

CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said: "It is vital in moments such as this that we do not rush. This family is asking for time for Andy. In a situation as complex as this Andy's family should not feel under pressure to switch off life support."
Not everyone wants to celebrate Pride month

All around the country throughout June big commercial concerns, including major retailers, have been promoting Pride month.

In my local town the main shopping mall is called the Eden Centre. Along one of the thoroughfares of the mall there is a specially erected photo station. It has steps up to a platform to stand on, along with rainbow-coloured surroundings, to enable shoppers to take selfies. The construction carries the words 'Pride 2023' and the hashtag #Edenjoy. The Eden Centre management have thereby assumed that shoppers are joyful about the very concept of a Pride month, and by doing so they are also demonstrating to the world their impeccably woke credentials.

In the local Tesco supermarket shoppers are greeted by a large Pride flag and a poster which tells us, "Standing Proud Together ... We stand together and make everyone feel welcome, every day." This is a somewhat inaccurate statement, because Tesco executives obviously do not have any concern about the sensitivities of their customers who are Christians and who believe the Bible's plain teaching that homosexuality is sinful.

At a nearby retail park shoppers at M&S Food have to walk by a noticeboard which announces, "We'll double your donation to celebrate Pride", the reference being to an LGBT charity. The presumption behind this notice is that the customers at M&S will of course wish to celebrate Pride. This presumption, however, is totally dismissive of those who adhere to a Christian worldview.

At my local Waitrose store there is a sign by the entrance declaring, "Proud to be ourselves - celebrating Pride together". This highly trendy rejoicing in being 'inclusive' is, however, strangely exclusive of those who choose not to follow the new national religion of promoting all things LGBT. May I courteously ask the John Lewis Partnership, what about those customers who are Christians and who want to "be themselves" without having to endure the virtue-signalling of supermarkets intent on rubbishing Biblical morality?

Many will doubtless claim that these comments are 'homophobic', but the concept of homophobia has simply been invented to smear anyone who dares to disagree with the LGBT agenda. It is a device to shut down civilised debate and to silence all opposition. However, it is the duty of a Christian minister to point out the seriousness of sin, and it is in fact an act of love to one's neighbour to do so.

The endless propaganda by government, big business and the media in promoting the LGBT cause is also encouraging many young people to reject the Christian faith in their desire to be fashionable. The situation is made worse by many compromised churches which are willing to abandon the Bible's authority in order to swim with the tide.

What the executives at Waitrose, M&S and Tesco and various other major commercial concerns are publicly saying in their endorsement of Pride is quite simply this: the Bible is wrong and we, in our 21st century enlightenment, know better than God.

So this is where we are now at in modern Britain: one of big business's most desired marketing techniques is to publicly trash the word of God and effectively to tell Christians that they are bigoted people, because they believe in keeping the commandments of God.

Pastor Peter Simpson is minister of Penn Free Methodist Church in Buckinghamshire.
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua before a meeting in Beijing, China, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap



U.S. climate envoy John Kerry held four hours of talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday, reviving stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.



Climate talks between the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters came to a halt last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory.



Kerry, a former secretary of state, has enjoyed comparatively cordial and consistent relations with China despite Washington and Beijing locking horns over Taiwan and other issues.



Chinese state media said Kerry met his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing.



"Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change affairs, concluded his talks with John Kerry, the special envoy of the U.S. president for climate issues, which lasted for around four hours," state broadcaster CCTV said.



It did not give any further details.



Beijing said after the talks "climate change is a common challenge faced by all mankind".



China would "exchange views with the United States on issues related to climate change, and work together to meet challenges and improve the wellbeing of current and future generations", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.



U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday Kerry would press Beijing not to "hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation" in order to slow-roll efforts to cut emissions.



"Every country, including China, has a responsibility to reduce emissions," Sullivan said.



"And the world, I do believe, should step up and encourage  indeed, pressure  China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions."



China has long used its official status as a developing nation to justify its high emissions, with Sullivan saying "there is more work for them to do on that front".





U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry attends a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, China, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap
On 15 May 2011, a tremendous movement erupted all over Spain: the indignados. Within a few years, it found a political expression in the rise of Podemos. But the upcoming elections this month are set to confirm the terminal decline of this party, led into a dead end by its leadership. This represents the end of a political cycle. It might seem that we have returned to square one. But the end of this cycle is preparing the ground for a new revolutionary upturn of the mass movement, on a higher level, enriched by the whole experience of the past decade.

[Leer en espanol]

The emergence of Podemos

Podemos emerged in the European elections of 25 May 2014, coalescing around the figure of Pablo Iglesias. He had become very popular through television debates, with his energetic and courageous denunciations of the Spanish political regime and of the role of big business and the banks in the context of the economic and social crisis then ravaging the country.

Under the slogans, Down with the caste! and Break the lock of the 1978 regime [referring to the 1978 constitution of the Spanish state, written at the end of a revolutionary period, which is today known as the Transition to democracy, a transition that actually ended in a rotten compromise between the old fascist regime and the leaders of the main workers parties], Podemos obtained 8 percent of the vote in those elections, and went on to reach 28 percent of the voting intentions in the polls six months later, making it the first party in terms of electoral preference. Such was the degree to which the other political parties, both left and right, had been discredited. On 30 January 2015, Podemos made a show of force that no other party has been able to match, when it single-handedly rallied 300,000 people in the streets of Madrid. This was the high point of its influence.

The Spanish bourgeoisie panicked. Just a couple of days before he died, in late September 2014, the countrys leading banker, president of Santander bank Emilio Botin, expressed his enormous concern about Podemos to a select group of journalists. In those months, the leadership of Podemos received requests for private meetings from the likes of the US Embassy and from executives of the countrys main companies, with whom they met in secret. They wanted to know the real scope of their subversive plans. So too did former President Rodriguez Zapatero of the PSOE. Nothing has entered the public domain regarding the content of those meetings.

The indignados

None of this fell from the sky. Podemos was the political expression of the gigantic wave of mass mobilisations over the previous three years, and the accumulated experience of those years. According to the official statistics, in 2012 and 2013 there were an average of 123 daily acts of protest of varying type and extent, throughout the length and breadth of the country. 25 percent of the population reported having participated in demonstrations.

Thousands of young people responded to the police eviction by setting up a months-long occupation camp in the Puerta del Sol / Image: Fotograccion, Wikimedia Commons

The cycle began with the impressive mobilisation of the indignados, which started on 15 May 2011 following the police eviction from Puerta del Sol in Madrid of a camp of young people protesting against the social conditions young people were suffering in, amidst the acute crisis of 2008-2013. Thousands of young people responded to the police eviction by setting up a months-long occupation camp in the Puerta del Sol. This was replicated across main squares in towns and cities all over Spain. But much like today, the discrediting of the official milk-and-water Left gave overwhelming majorities for the right, first in the municipal elections of May 2011 and then in the general elections of November that year.

At that time, Rajoys right-wing Peoples Party (PP) presented a moderate, centrist image, which served to hide its true colours, especially from those layers driven desperate by the effects of the crisis. But from the very first moment, the PP government embarked on a brutal policy of social cuts, which had already commenced under the Socialist Party (PSOE) government of Zapatero, as well as attacks on democratic rights. It passed the labour reform, which ceased to make collective agreements binding on employers, and the Gag Law, which gave sweeping powers to the police on the streets.

All this triggered the biggest mass mobilisation since the 1970s. There were two massive general strikes in 2012. Waves numbering millions took to the streets against the cuts, in what were known as the White Tide (in defence of healthcare) and the Green Tide (in defence of education). A march of miners from Leon to Madrid, protesting against the closure of the mines, was met by 200,000 people in the capital at the end of June 2012. In late September 2012, an illegal rally was called around the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, gathering tens of thousands of people, who remained throughout the night and into the early morning. The struggle against evictions reached an unprecedented scale: 20,000 evictions were halted through mass direct action.

A network of social movements sprang up, in which tens of thousands of people participated (the Mareas or Tides, mortgage-holders groups, Stop Evictions, platforms against repression, against the restriction of the right to abortion, for the republic, etc.) The middle class turned sharply to the left, joining the movement. The high point was the Dignity March on 22 March 2014, when one million people took over Madrid under the slogan that democracy and the economy ought to be placed in the hands of the people.

The turn to the political front

As a result of these movements, there were more than 1,100 disciplinary proceedings in 2013 alone, with fines of between 300 and 6,000 issued. More than 3,000 workers and social activists were prosecuted, most of them for participating in pickets and labour protests. Many of them ended up in prison.

In parallel to this, the Catalan national question explosively burst onto the scene. Although the nationalist Catalan leaders initially raised the slogan of independence in a demagogic manner  blaming Madrid for cuts they themselves were implementing in Catalonia  the movement took on a life of its own. It was fuelled by the surging anti-establishment mood and the shameless anti-Catalan sentiment exhibited by the Spanish right and the state apparatus. Simultaneously, anti-monarchy sentiment was spreading, spurred on by the rampant corruption of the royal family.

The crisis of the regime and a pre-revolutionary atmosphere hung over society. This marked a moment in which millions of people, seeking a political alternative that could transform society, ruptured with the regime and the political system.

This  and not, as some of its leaders imagined, original language, slogans and organisational forms  was the real secret to Podemos strength. Overnight hundreds of thousands of people joined Podemos and thousands of circles (agrupaciones) were set up all over the country.

Opportunism of the leadership

The truth must be told. The Podemos leadership shaped the movement in an opportunistic way, being terrified of the extent of its influence, which they had by no means anticipated. They refused to structure a democratic organisation in which the militant rank-and-file could determine the partys policy and orientation. On paper, the organisation was hyper-focussed on assemblies. In reality, all decisions were taken at the top, and could not be overturned by any lower bodies.

The Podemos leadership shaped the movement in an opportunistic way, being terrified of the extent of its influence / Image: Ministerio de Cultura de la Nacion Argentina, Wikimedia Commons

The partys radical programme, which included retirement at 60 and the nationalisation of key sectors of the economy (without specifying which ones!), was soon abandoned. Instead of preparing the organisation for struggle through social movements and trade union work, they confined their activity to the electoral plain.

The more left-wing layers were marginalised and purged from above. They made use of old careerists from the Izquierda Unida (IU, an electoral coalition formed by the old Communist Party), the PSOE, and the discredited Iniciativa per Catalunya, among others, and put them at the head of the movement in many areas. Podemos was filled with all sorts of petty-bourgeois careerists, office-seekers, apolitical types without any class consciousness who saw an opportunity to get ahead. And the leadership consciously promoted this layer to try to cushion it from the pressure of the rank and file.

Despite his radical, and at times courageous, phraseology, what has always characterised Pablo Iglesias is a deep-rooted distrust of the ability of the working class to transform society. He panics about a frontal confrontation with the system, for which he has no alternative. He has always placed his whole trust in apparatus manoeuvres or theatrics. All this condemned Podemos in advance, although this was not evident to the bulk of its members at the time because of the enormous political authority then enjoyed by Iglesias.

In the municipal elections of May 2015, Podemos and its allies achieved resounding victories in the big capitals, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Cadiz, Santiago, Coruna, and others. It defeated the PSOE in almost all areas except Asturias, Andalusia, Extremadura and the two Castillas. Its initial courageous defence of the right of self-determination for Catalonia and the Basque Country made it the leading party in both territories, ahead of the Basque and Catalan nationalists.

It is true that the regime launched a ferocious and shameless campaign of slander and smear, and improvised a right-wing Podemos through Ciudadanos to wrest a temporarily radicalised middle-class layer from it. But it was the continuous vacillations and zig-zags of the Podemos leadership to the right and left, instead of maintaining a firm position, that sowed doubts among the most unstable part of its support base, which gradually shifted over to PSOE and Ciudadanos.

Even so, Podemos surpassed 21 percent in the 2015 and 2016 general elections (now in coalition with IU), coming very close to electorally overtaking PSOE. But its inability to offer a way forward after PSOEs refusal to form a left-wing bloc with it to oust the PP from government, which had lost its absolute majority, provoked growing frustration among the lefts grassroots. It initiated a shift to the right by a layer of the middle classes, dissatisfied with a left that proved incapable of offering a way out of the situation.

The 2015 elections and their repetition months later in 2016 led to political paralysis, as Rajoy's PP found itself in a minority in Congress, without support to form a government. The PSOE apparatus, headed by Pedro Sanchez, reacted to the vacillations of Podemos and to the real danger of being ousted as the first party on the left. Sanchez confronted the right wing of the party headed by Susana Diaz, who didnt want to hear anything about any agreement with either Podemos or the Catalan and Basque separatists, whom she accused of being anti-system forces. Rather, the right demanded PSOE abstain, thus allowing a minority PP government to continue, despite a majority for the left in Congress when left-wing nationalist and pro-independence forces were taken into account.

Sanchez defeated Diaz in the partys primaries, and galvanised enough votes from the PSOE rank-and-file to get elected as general secretary of the party, reflecting the rebellious mood among the working masses more broadly. This gave the PSOE a left profile at that time, allowing it to maintain and strengthen its electoral base.

A turn to the right

In 2017, after the defeat of Inigo Errejons right wing in the second national congress of Podemos, there was a new turn to the right, with an increasingly dwindling active membership. This shift to the right was consolidated with the Catalan independence referendum of 1 October of that year. Podemos turned its back on the movement, and maintained a so-called equidistant position  between this democratic, revolutionary movement on the one hand, and Spanish nationalism on the other. From there, Iglesias promoted an absurd discourse about a supposedly progressive Spanish nationalism, which aimed to cleanse and recycle the word patria among new and politically inexperienced layers. And this was then, of course, exploited by the ultra-right Vox party for their own ends.

Podemos staked everything on forming a coalition government with Pedro Sanchez / Image: Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa, Wikimedia Commons

From that moment on, the Podemos leadership undertook to subordinate itself to PSOE. Any notion of surpassing the latter was abandoned. It staked everything on forming a coalition government with Pedro Sanchez, to the point of abandoning any and all street mobilisations and renouncing the party programme. And this served to kill the rebellious and radical spirit of the movement, setting it on a sure path towards decline. Millions were moved to trust Podemos, not because they believed it might gain a few crumbs from the table of the rich, but because they saw it as a vehicle for completely changing their lives. This trust represented a new hope for the radical transformation of society, even if it might not have been expressed clearly or consistently.

Parallel to this, in the 2019 mayoral elections we saw the fall of the Mayors for Change (alcaldias del cambio) elected in Madrid, Zaragoza, Galicia, and other areas, who had differed but little from the conventional left reformist municipalities. Those left standing, such as Barcelona, Valencia and Cadiz, suffered the same ignominious fate at the last elections on 28 May.

The coalition government

In the general elections of April 2019, the right suffered a resounding defeat, due to the mass mobilisation of left voters concerned about the advance of the far-right Vox. The refusal of Unidas Podemos to help Sanchez form a government if he did not let them enter it, caused an electoral rerun in November of that year, resulting in a similar left-right balance of forces. With his instinct for a well-timed coup, this time Sanchez accepted Pablo Iglesias offer to form a coalition.

As we warned at the time, the entry of Unidas Podemos (the electoral brand adopted from 2016) into a coalition government with PSOE, would make it co-responsible for management of the capitalist crisis that would leave broad layers of the working class unsatisfied. By mimicking the PSOE, and with no substantial difference in its programme and language, PSOE would inevitably be the ones to gain at UPs detriment. After all, workers will naturally vote for the larger of two parties when theres no major distinction between them.

And once in the governing coalition, UP (including the Podemos leaders) betrayed two of the main pillars of the mass movement of 2012-2014, renouncing the demand to completely repeal the PPs labour reform and the Gag Law. Nor did it offer any solution to the housing crisis, another of the pillars of the movement. They excused themselves on account of being a minority in the government. But this is no excuse at all, as these very promises were signed up to by both UP and PSOE in their programme for government, and were merely left unfulfilled. UP are therefore co-responsible for bending the knee to the rich and powerful. With PSOEs apparatus being wedded to the old regime, this outcome was inevitable. In opposition, UP could have achieved the same small advances, whilst maintaining a clean banner. They could have then stood out as a point of reference in contrast to the inadequacies of the PSOE government. Instead, they have handed the opposition space over to the reactionary right.

An irreversible decline

The boastful smugness of Pablo Iglesias when he proclaimed in years gone by that the struggle in the streets changes nothing, and that things can only be changed from within the (capitalist) institutions, has cruelly turned against him and his party.

Pablo Iglesias leadership, having made all sorts of concessions to the right of the party, having promoted Carmena, Inigo Errejon and Yolanda Diaz, had ended up betrayed by the latter. The first two  who headed the candidatures of Unidas Podemos in Madrid  split without warning on the eve of the 2019 regional and municipal elections, and took with them most of Podemos electoral base in Madrid, making the most of the authority that the leadership of Podemos had conferred upon them in the previous period. Yolanda Diaz, for her part, has ended up completely marginalising Podemos in the shaping of the electoral platform, SUMAR, vetoing the presence of its main leaders on the electoral lists.

The wheel has completed one full revolution, but the crisis of the regime has not gone away / Image: Luis Fernandez Garcia, Wikimedia Commons

That group that once upon a time presented itself as the left wing of Podemos (Anticapitalistas) has played a truly lamentable role. Unable to articulate a current of opposition to the policies of the leadership, and despite the fact that they came to have a great internal weight and controlled important federations, they only put distance between themselves and Iglesias on questions of internal democracy and procedure. They never presented nor agitated for any different radical political programme.

They split from Podemos at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, without a coherent explanation. They have since become an irrelevance with a minimal presence in the social and workers movements, with opportunist deviations of all kinds, such as their turn in Andalusia to a bland, petty-bourgeois, Andalusian folk nationalism.

Today, what remains of Podemos is an increasingly rotten collection of public officials: without a defined ideology or programme, and with no membership base whatsoever and no roots in the social struggle. Its decline is irreversible.

A new revolutionary cycle is coming

The wheel has completed one full revolution, but the crisis of the regime has not gone away. The demons of the past are back, and they arent going away: the weakness of Spanish capitalism, the old Francoist state apparatus rearing its head, the crisis of legitimacy of a corrupt monarchy, the burden of the privileges of the Church, the Catalan and Basque national question, which are sure to return with even greater vigour if the right is installed in the Moncloa Palace [the Prime Ministers residence].

The working class and, above all the youth, are not the same as they were 9 or 12 years ago. They have been through an apprenticeship, and have emerged with a more critical and distrustful attitude. The fact that, already today, thousands of young people are orienting themselves towards communism, without adopting false ideologies as intermediary steps, is a clear indication of the revolutionary potential of the future.

The crisis of Spanish capitalism, which will deepen with the impending global recession, combined with the anti-worker policies that the right or of the crisis-ridden social democracy, whichever is in power, will be forced to pursue, will create the conditions for a new mass explosion, as in the 2011-2014 cycle, and a new mass turn towards political action, as we saw from 2014 onwards. But the next return of the masses to the front of political struggle will have a deeper anti-capitalist character.

It will bypass the kind of outdated strong-man politics we saw with Podemos, and an official left that is even more discredited today than it was during the last political cycle.

It is the task of the Marxist tendency, of a communist current like that represented by the IMT, to arrive at that moment in history with hundreds and thousands of cadres capable of intervening to guarantee victory. Our task is to contribute to the construction of a revolutionary and internationalist communist party of the masses capable of leading the working class to the seizure of power.
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Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele
Termen extins: CDF anunta concurs privind selectarea unui expert pentru elaborarea Studiului de Fezabilitate privind crearea unei entitati nationale responsabile de prevenirea si combaterea violentei fata de femei si a violentei in familie
The Marshfield Village Store, which sits at the junction of two country highways in a tiny Vermont town, has become a little bit of everything in recent days as residents struggle to recover from historic floods that battered the state.

First the shop in Marshfield, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) east of the states biggest city, Burlington, served as a shelter for about three dozen people. By Friday it was a distribution center for much-needed fresh water and a go-to for supplies.

Were about to start putting it out more formally, if there are other folks who havent been able to get the support that they need yet, so that we can get equipment and volunteers to them, emergency medication, work on their properties, thats where were at right now, said Michelle Eddleman McCormick, the stores general manager.

Storms dumped up to two months worth of rain in a couple of days in parts of the region earlier this week, surpassing the amount that fell when Tropical Storm Irene blew through in 2011 and caused major flooding. Officials called this week`s flooding the state`s worst natural disaster since floods in 1927, and some suggested storms like this showed the impacts of climate change.

More rain is expected in the coming days, and Vermont authorities said Saturday that brings the possibility of landslides.

The flooding has been blamed for one death: Stephen Davoll, 63, drowned in his home Wednesday in Barre, a central Vermont city of about 8,500 people, according to Vermont Emergency Management spokesman Mark Bosma. He urged people to continue taking extra care as they return to their homes and repair damage.

The loss of a Vermonter is always painful, but it is particularly so this week,  U.S. Sen. Peter Welch said in statement.

It was the second flood-related death stemming from a storm system and epic flooding in the Northeast this week. The first was in upstate New York, where a woman was swept away by floodwaters in Fort Montgomery, a small Hudson River community about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of New York City.

President Joe Biden on Friday approved Vermont Gov. Phil Scotts request for a major disaster declaration to provide federal support. Scott also said late Friday he has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue a disaster designation for the state due to damage to crops.

Farms were hit hard, just after many growers endured a hard freeze in May. Its expected to destroy a large share of our produce and livestock feed, Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said at a news conference. It was too soon to determine damage costs, he said.

In our mountainous state, much of our most fertile farmland lies in river valleys, and countless fields of corn, hay, vegetables, fruit, and pasture were swamped and buried, Scott said.

Assessors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were scheduled to begin inspecting hard hit areas of Vermont on Saturday. That will help determine who will qualify for government assistance. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is also scheduled to arrive in the state next week to survey flood damage.

The state and others in the Northeast, including New Hampshire and Maine, are bracing for more wet weather expected to hit Sunday and into next week. The New Hampshire Department of Safety and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services said they are closely monitoring water levels across the state.

We dont know the extent of some of these storms, Scott said.

Many communities have been in touch with Vermont emergency management officials, but state officials said Friday they hadn`t yet heard from about two to three dozen of them. National Guard troops were sent to establish contact. The state also announced centers will open to help flood survivors recover this weekend in Barre and Ludlow, a southern Vermont ski village.

Most emergency shelters have emptied, with fewer than 70 people remaining. The focus has shifted to providing food and water and repairing infrastructure, including dozens of closed roads. State officials estimated 23 water treatment plants were either flooded or discharged untreated sewage into waterways.

Ludlow residents have mostly returned home and were able to get electricity and water, Municipal Manager Brendan McNamara said. All roads into town previously cut off by flooding are now accessible.

But plenty of challenges remained. The post office and wastewater treatment plant were heavily damaged. The main grocery store and several restaurants were closed due to damages. In their place, scores of pop-up pantries emerged to provide fresh meals. The community center has served as a clearinghouse for water, food and medicines donated by volunteers streaming into town.

You walk up and down the street, and any place that wasn`t hit has a sign out front __ free food. Please come and get, McNamara said. That tells me we have one heck of a community.

As of Friday about 5,200 people statewide had registered to help relief efforts through the state emergency management agency and an online volunteer recruitment effort, according to Philip Kolling, director of SerVermont.

What we are doing does not even begin to capture all of the volunteers being organized through local organizations, towns and informal networks, and we encourage those local efforts as they often can address critical needs more quickly, Kolling said.

Some volunteers offered to drive for the charity Meals on Wheels or take people to medical appointments, others to assist with general cleanup.

In Ludlow, Calcuttas restaurant was preparing meals for first responders, volunteers and anyone else who might need one. The large banquet room was set up with cots, water and toiletries.

Theres plenty of work that needs to be done to get us back to normal, said Michael Reyes, who works for a hospitality group that owns the restaurant.

With more rain coming, it`s critical that residents adhere to safety restrictions as they dig out of the storm, said Miro Weinberger, mayor of Burlington, Vermont`s largest city.

We continue to operate under a state of emergency, and more heavy rain is expected Sunday. Again, I urge you to heed all road closures and all directions from state and local officials, including to stay away from the river banks, brooks, and streams where flash floods can happen quickly, Weinberger said.

McCormack reported from Concord, New Hampshire, and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press reporters Lisa Rathke in Marshfield and Michael Casey in Boston contributed.

Top photo: Volunteer Lori Duff, of Montpelier, Vt., center left, throws a bag of flood-damaged waste onto an ever-growing pile outside Capitol Grounds coffee shop in downtown Montpelier, Thursday, July 13, 2023. In Vermont, communities were cleaning up Thursday from the floods that were more destructive in some places than 2011s Tropical Storm Irene. (Jeb Wallace-Brodeur/The Times Argus via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A church that refused to submit a proof of loss or agree to make a representative available for an examination under oath cant expect its insurer to pay a $2 million storm damage claim.

A panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday affirmed a District Court decision granting summary judgment in favor of Church Mutual Insurance Co., dismissing a lawsuit filed by Concord Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Missouri.

The undisputed facts demonstrate that Church Mutual has satisfied all elements necessary to deny coverage based on Concord Baptists failure to cooperate in the investigation of its claim, the panel opinion says.

Concord Baptists property was damaged by wind and hail during a storm on March 27, 2020. The church submitted a claim to Church Mutual for damage to the roofs of each building on the property  a church, a worship center, storage barn and three retail buildings.

Crawford & Co., Church Mutuals adjuster, examined the damage the next month. The insurer also hired an engineer to assist in the damage payment. Church Mutual issued two payments to the church totaling $237,852.24.

The Concord Baptist was not satisfied and demanded an appraisal of the damages to the roofs of the church and worship center. Church Mutual asked the church to submit any documentation supporting its claim, but the church did not respond.

Church Mutual learned that Concord Baptists appraiser intended to submit an estimate that damages were more than $2 million. The insurer sent a letter instructing the church to limit the appraisal to specific portions of the church roof and worship center roof. The policy excluded cosmetic damage that did not threaten the function of the structure.

The church sent a revised demand for appraisal of all the damages it claimed were caused by the storm. Church Mutual asked Concord Baptist to send a notarized proof of loss form and provide a representative to submit to an examination under oath.

The carrier also reminded the church that its insurance policy required it to cooperate with the claims examination. The churchs attorney responded with a letter that accused Church Mutual of engaging in delaying tactics.

The church filed a lawsuit in Missouri state court in February 2021. Church Mutual removed the case to federal court. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. with the Western District of Missouri denied Concord Baptists request for appraisal.

Later, Epps granted Church Mutuals motion or summary judgment, finding that Concord Baptist had breached the cooperation clause in its insurance policy by failing to submit a proof of loss form, provide supporting documentation, or submit to an examination under oath. The judge also found that Church Mutual suffered substantial prejudice because Concord Baptist had failed to submit documents that it needed to properly investigate the claim.

Concord Baptist appealed the ruling.

The appellate panel said Concord Baptist admitted that it breached the terms of the policy by failing to submit a proof of loss or submitting to an examination under oath. The facts also show that the insurer suffered substantial prejudice as a result.

Submitting the POL and submitting to an EUO would have allowed Church Mutual to understand the basis for Concord Baptists claim and would have provided Church Mutual with the opportunity to further investigate the validity of the claim and any underlying coverage issues, the opinion says.

Top photo courtesy of Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City.
PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP)  A fire at a Louisiana chemical plant triggered explosions that shook homes several miles away and sent flames and smoke billowing into the air, prompting emergency officials to urge a few hundred nearby residents to shelter indoors for several hours and to turn off their air conditioners.

Flames erupted late Friday at Dow Chemical`s plant on the Mississippi River near Plaquemine, south of Baton Rouge. Iberville Parish officials told The Times- Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate that the fire started in an area of the plant that handles ethylene oxide, a flammable and highly carcinogenic chemical.

The parish`s sheriff, Bret Stassi, said no one was injured and that the company had accounted for all its workers.

Residents of roughly 350 households within a half-mile (0.80 kilometers) of the plant were told to shelter inside for several hours overnight. As Dow Chemical and environmental officials monitored the air for hazardous materials, emergency officials urged sheltering residents to shut off their air conditioners and ceiling fans.

The Iberville Parish Council said in a statement early Saturday that no hazards had been detected and that people could leave their homes as Dow`s emergency crews continue to mitigate the fire.

The sheriff told WBRZ-TV that six explosions were detected at the plant around 9: 30 p.m. Friday. Tall flames could be seen rising from the site, with thick smoke overhead.

Residents felt their homes shake in Baton Rouge, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away, WAFB-TV reported.

Kenneth Haydel said he was with family members near the plant when they heard several loud explosions a few seconds apart.

We looked up in the sky and the whole sky was lit up orange, Haydel said.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
CENTENNIAL, COLORADO, July 17, 2023  Commercial Restoration Company (CRC), a leading national provider of commercial restoration and reconstruction services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Clay Humphries as its new Senior Vice President. With over four decades of experience in the insurance claims industry, Clay brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to the company.

Clay has held various notable positions throughout his career, demonstrating his strategic leadership skills and dedication to driving organizational growth. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Executive General Adjuster at Sedgwick, playing a vital role in the successful integration of VeriClaim, Inc. into Sedgwick. Prior to this, Clay served as the Vice President  South Region at VeriClaim where he made significant contributions during his 14-year tenure.

Clay Humphries is an absolute asset to our leadership team. With his extensive experience in the insurance industry, we couldnt be more excited to have him on board, said Bill Sutter, Founder and CEO of Commercial Restoration Company. His expertise in commercial property damage claims is a total game-changer. It will undoubtedly elevate CRCs performance and significantly contribute to our continual growth.

Chuck Borden, President of Commercial Restoration Company, also shared his enthusiasm, stating, We are absolutely thrilled to have Clay join CRC! His impeccable track record and deep understanding of day-to-day claims operations will undoubtedly bring tremendous benefits to our organization. With Clays guidance and expertise, we are well-positioned to provide our valued clients with unparalleled restoration and reconstruction services.

In his role as Senior Vice President, Clay will work closely with the leadership team to support the overall development and growth of CRC. He will utilize his extensive background and unique insights to drive strategic initiatives and ensure client satisfaction.

CRC is really establishing itself as one of the leading mitigation and reconstruction firms in the industry, and I couldnt be more proud to be a part of this amazing organization, said Clay Humphries, Senior Vice President of Commercial Restoration Company. In the commercial property damage restoration sector, there are incredible opportunities for growth and innovation, and Im excited to collaborate with the leadership team and bring my expertise to enhance the client experience.

Commercial Restoration Company is confident that Humphries appointment will further solidify its position as a leader in the restoration industry and reinforce its commitment to delivering outstanding service to clients.

About Commercial Restoration Company, LLC

Commercial Restoration Company is a leading national provider of restoration and reconstruction services. CRC helps companies of every size and industry prepare for and recover from major property damage. From fires to floods to hail to hurricanes, weve seen and responded to it all. When you work with CRC, you know youre getting quality work thats done right. For more information, visit commercialrestoration.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On this Buckeye Talk, Nathan Baird and Doug Lesmerises are playing off the Thursday episode that dug into the 1998 Ohio State-Michigan State game. Was that the most devastating loss in Ohio State history? The one game that fans would want to reverse the outcome of?

Or would it be another game, maybe a loss by a great OSU team with national title hopes to an opponent like Michigan, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, USC or another team?

Doug made a top-10 list of the results he thinks the Buckeyes would most want to change, and Nathan gathered an array of answers from text subscribers to come up with their list of the most popular games to undo.

It makes for an interesting look at the long, successful history of Ohio State by examining how many times a single loss in a season kept them from a title.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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Subscribe to Buckeye Talk on podcast platforms like:

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WOODMERE, Ohio -- In this landlocked community better known for its commercial corridor, village officials continue efforts to open more doors toward residential housing development.

The work will likely start with the zoning code, particularly the current lot frontage requirement for construction of new houses.

Currently, the villages zoning cannot physically support new residential development and is a significant hindrance to those wishing to build a new home within Woodmere, notes a preliminary study by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

The county report and recommendations go on to call the existing zoning regulations a challenging obstacle to overcome.

Many of the remaining vacant lots in Woodmere are 50 feet wide and 200 feet deep. But since 1988, the village has required that no new dwelling unit can be (built) on any lot with a front footage of 145 feet and at least three-quarters of an acre in overall size.

If there was a previous home on the lot at the time council passed those new regulations 35 years ago, the applicants new construction might be grandfathered in, Mayor Benjamin Holbert noted.

That doesnt help Al and Lanice Gibson, currently of Cleveland, who now own two contiguous lots on Maplecrest Road across from the Woodmere Service Department.

The Gibsons have held onto one parcel for about 15 years and bought the other more recently, with no record of previous construction on either.

Those combined lots are still only 126.7 feet wide across the front, Al Gibson said, although the 257-foot depth of their property does meet code.

They have already approached the village Planning and Zoning Commission about the needed variances.

But they have no authority to make that decision -- it lies in the hands of council, Holbert said at councils July 12 Committee-of-the-Whole public discussion.

He added that with no record of a former house on those properties, there is no precedent for a grandfather clause.

Holbert said hes been approached by a judge, various hospital executives and others who are interested in building homes in Woodmere, but are dismayed by the antiquated zoning laws in place.

Another concern for Woodmere would be setting a legal precedent by granting a single request such as the Gibsons rather than establishing uniform guidelines for all applicants.

Holbert said he has had several conversations with Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne about housing opportunities in Woodmere.

The county also suggests that we look at our Master Plan and try to update it, as well as revising village ordinances, Holbert told council.

Councilman Seth Young said the village could also have the benefit of using the county Planning Department, rather than hiring a consultant.

Already missing out on property taxes, vacant lots could continue to remain unproductive indefinitely if they are bought up by developers for speculative purposes.

Its a complicated scenario that doesnt stop or start with one resident, Young added. This conversation is not just about one house. And we need to get the ball rolling on this, because its not going to happen overnight.

Planning Commission insight

At the same time, Woodmere Planning and Zoning Commission member Morgan Ford believes the village could also benefit from lot splits, where the owner of a larger property could demolish their existing house, build on one lot and sell the other, also boosting the local tax base.

I am for the change (to the zoning code) -- I think its important that it happens for the growth of the community, Ford said.

Fellow Planning and Zoning Commissioner Letitia Nall told council she built her 63-foot-wide house three years ago on a total lot with 170 feet of frontage. That did include a three-car garage.

She urged council to take a step back and consider what the village really wants in terms of multiple ages and stages (of life).

We need to rework (single-family residential zoning) and take an overarching look at what we want our community to look like going forward, Nall said.

In reviewing the county report, Councilman Waymond Scott noted that many of the recommendations are essentially going back to pre-1988 standards, with opportunities to consolidate lots becoming increasingly difficult.

In the meantime, Councilman Hilman Lindsey wondered how many more times the Gibsons will have to come back to council.

Theres a standard were trying to get to, in terms of whats buildable and whats not, Lindsey said. I would hope to be able to open more lots. But I want to get this mans house built.

That would be a ranch home, Al Gibson said after thanking council for its consideration.

I have the design plans back in my shop, he said. Wed like to start as soon as possible, and were keeping a positive outlook.

In light of the villages landlocked status, Council President Nicole Culliver said: We will depend on Planning and Zoning for the nuts and bolts of this. And at the next meeting, well determine what needs to be done to take the next step forward.

The county Planning Department has already made some general suggestions.

Looking towards the future, the village should consider a comprehensive review of its residential zoning dimensional standards to achieve the vision for new single-family housing development within the community, the county report states.

Regular meeting

In other business at the regular July 12 meeting, council gave second reading to a proposed $1.2 million bond issue to rebuild the service department garage and remodel Village Hall, including the police and fire departments. A final reading and council vote will be next.

Council then voted to hire four new part-time firefighters and paramedics, as well as one part-time police officer and a part-time laborer.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, council also heard from two senior firefighters who contend that they have been subject to smear campaigns and character assassinations for speaking out about conditions in the department.

These included disciplinary issues and safety concerns, with those firefighters advocating a union rather than the existing open-door policy they say is in place with the village.

Nall, a former paramedic prior to serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said she fully heard the concerns from the village fire department and EMS.

Culliver said many issues were discussed at councils recent Safety Committee meeting, adding that everything takes time.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
AKRON, Ohio  An Akron man was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted last month of the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man on New Years Eve in 2019.

Dustin Austin, 39, will be eligible for parole after serving 31 years of his sentence for the slaying of 24-year-old Darrick Boyer, according to a news release from Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh.

According to the prosecutors office, Boyer, along with several others, was at the home of Mariah Austin on Dec. 31, 2019. Boyer and Austin have children together, prosecutors say.

An argument reportedly broke out and Dustin Austin, Mariahs cousin, was called to the home, prosecutors say. Dustin Austin arrived with Deonbra Mosley and reportedly ordered Boyer at gunpoint to take off his clothes. As Boyer was attempting to leave, Austin shot and killed him, authorities say.

Austin was found guilty by a Summit County jury on June 9 of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, felonious assault, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery, all with gun specifications. He also was convicted of having a weapon under disability.

Mosley, 32, of Akron, pleaded guilty on June 26 to voluntary manslaughter in connection with Boyers slaying. She is serving a 13-to-18-year prison sentence.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The accused getaway driver in the July 9 mass shooting in downtown Cleveland that hospitalized nine appeared before a judge on Monday in Cleveland Municipal Court.

Kevin Del Valle-Salaman, of Lorain did not speak as he watched and listened in a video feed from jail following his arrest on Saturday in Lorain.

Judge Suzan Sweeney imposed a $5 million bond on the 24-year-old defendant, who remained expressionless.

Prosecutors say that Del Valle-Salaman drove the accused gunman, 25-year-old Jaylon Jennings, and a third, unidentified male from Lorain to the Warehouse District prior to the shooting, then fled with the other two men afterward.

Youve caused a lot of people a lot of stress and caused public fear and caused businesses in downtown Cleveland to lose a lot of money, Sweeney told the defendant.

To come in from Lorain County is a major problem, sir, she added.

Police say that Del Valle-Salaman drove a 2023 black Kia Sportage to a parking lot on West 6th Street that early morning. He and the two other suspects observed a group of patrons exit Rumor Bar & Lounge.

The trio returned to the Sportage, where Jennings retrieved a 9 mm Glock with an extended magazine, police allege. While Del Valle-Salaman and the unknown man waited at the car, Jennings shot at a crowd of people, authorities say.

Related: View the scene of West 6th Street after the mass shooting; Cleveland police release officer-worn video footage

Related: Video shows group rushing into MetroHealth Medical Center emergency room

All nine victims survived after being treated at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Authorities arrested Jennings at a Lorain home on July 11. He is charged with nine counts of attempted murder and is being held on a $9 million bond.

Del Valle-Salaman does not have a felony record, a defense attorney told the court on Monday.

Jennings next court hearing is scheduled for July 21. Del Valle-Salamans next appearance is scheduled for July 25. Their cases are expected to go before a Cuyahoga County grand jury within days.

Felonious assaults with guns in Cleveland are up more than 12 percent this year, according to police. The increased violence has led to hot tempers and finger-pointing between Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council members.

Bibb has stressed that his administration has done everything possible to stem the citys violent summer, as it has focused on violence prevention issues and technology to help police. But Councilman Michael Polensek said more needs to be done. He has said it is the most violence he has seen in the city in more than 40 years on city council.
PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio  A suspect in a burglary in Lake County was arrested after he reportedly was too drunk to find his way to a bus station in order to escape.

Lake County Sheriffs Office deputies were called to Fairgrounds Road in Painesville Township on Friday after someone spotted the suspect sitting in the grass and holding a set of bolt cutters, the sheriffs office says. The suspect was too intoxicated to take care of himself and was still drinking alcohol when deputies arrived, the sheriffs office says.

The man first was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, but when the suspect was searched, deputies say they found items reportedly stolen from a couple in Concord Township. The sheriffs office says the man admitted he was trying to get back to the Columbus area but was unable to find the bus station because he was too drunk.

The sheriffs office did not release the identity of the suspect but says he is being held in jail on felony burglary charges.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Police arrested a man Saturday night and accused him of shooting a woman multiple times in the face in the citys Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Officers responded to the 3500 block of East 154th Street at about 9 p.m. Saturday for a call that a woman had been shot.

Upon arrival, officers found 33-year-old Rachel Daniels on the floor with gunshot wounds.

Police said a 34-year-old man and Daniels were visiting tenants at the address and that the two had a conversation, which resulted in the suspect pulling out a gun and shooting her.

Police said the suspect attempted to flee, but a neighbor grabbed the accused shooter and held him down until officers arrived and arrested him.

Daniels was taken to University Hospitals, where she died.

The shooting is still under investigation, police said.
MACEDONIA, Ohio  Current events spurred chef Claude Booker to create a Soul Food pantry brand. The first influence was the pandemic. The second was the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Our core business was steam table and buffet items that were fully cooked, says Booker, who worked in food service. When the pandemic hit, all chefs departments throughout the country were shut down. At first, people didnt know how you got Covid, and all the buffets shut down.
UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania  Torrential rains in eastern Pennsylvania created flash flooding that swept away several vehicles, with five people confirmed dead and two young children missing.

The Upper Makefield Township Police Department released a statement saying the five confirmed deaths are a mass casualty incident the likes of which we have not seen before. Among the dead is the mother of the two missing children, who are ages 9 months and 2 years old.

This has been unbelievably devastating to all the families involved, all of our first responders, and to our community as a whole, the department says in a statement on Facebook. We are all in grieving over the loss of life we have seen. However, our commitment to finding the two children who are still missing is unwavering as we will do all that we can to bring them home to their loved ones.

The torrential rains occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, according to police. Fire Chief Tim Brewer told reporters the area got about 6 to 7 inches of rain in 45 minutes.

About 4 to 5 feet of water washed over the road and three of an estimated 11 cars were swept away. All three were later recovered and no one was found inside, Brewer said. Eight people were rescued from the cars and two from the creek, he said.

A family from Charleston, South Carolina, were on their way to a barbecue when their cars were caught in the flooding, police say.

The father was able to get to safety with his 4-year-old son, but the mother and grandmother, who were trying to get the two other children to safety, were swept away, police say. The grandmother survived and was treated at a hospital, but the mother was later found dead, police say.

We cannot even begin to imagine what this family is going through, but they know we are here to help them through this process and to bring their beautiful children home, the police department said.

The flooding in Pennsylvania was part of a string of storms that hit the northeast, causing widespread flooding and power outages. Officials in Vermont were warning of possible landslides caused by the heavy rain.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 350 flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were canceled at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Hundreds of flights were delayed.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Lushongwe Village in Gwanda as relatives and friends of four family members who were part of the 17 people who died from gas inhalation at an informal settlement in Boksburg outside Johannesburg, South Africa, gave them an emotional send-off.

Mrs Clester Ndlovu (26), her four-year-old son, Learnmore, her sister Mrs Siziwe Nyathi (21) and her daughter, Thembelihle (2), were among the 17 victims who died when a cylinder with unidentified toxic gas leaked.

The incident occurred on July 6 in Angelos Squatter Camp. The victims were found within a 100m radius of the scene.

Preliminary investigations showed that the toxic gas was used by illegal miners to extract what they thought to be gold from the soil. The area has, for decades, been plagued by illegal mining, mostly for gold or coal.

Johannesburg, commonly known as the city of gold, is home to a labyrinth of abandoned mine shafts that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.

Illegal gold miners mostly from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, have taken over the abandoned shafts.

In a heart-breaking scene, relatives of the deceased wept uncontrollably as the four coffins were being removed from the hearses. Many of them were struggling to come to terms with the harsh reality of losing their loved ones.

The four victims were buried at their rural homes in Lushongwe Village in Gwanda on Saturday afternoon.

Mrs Ndlovu left behind two children aged three months and eight years who survived the incident.

This was after their father Mr Patrick Ndlovu covered them with a blanket which probably reduced the amount of the toxic gas they inhaled.

Mr Ndlovu was hospitalised for five days.

Mrs Ndlovu and her son were buried at her fathers homestead while Mrs Nyathi and her daughter were interred at her maternal grandmothers homestead.

The family members and relatives first laid to rest Mrs Ndlovu and her son before moving on to bury Mrs Nyathi and her daughter.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Ndlovu said he arrived home shortly after 6pm and found his wife gasping as she lay helplessly on the floor while clutching onto their children.

When I got home there was some noise as people wailed in the area, and there was a foul smell coming from one of the shacks. People seemed confused as they couldnt comprehend what was happening, he said.

I found my wife and children lying on the floor, including our three-month-old baby and the other two children aged four and eight years. I took our three-month-old and placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Mr Ndlovu said he immediately directed his eight-year-old son to lie on the bed before he also covered him with a blanket.

I lost consciousness and the next thing I remember is waking up on a hospital bed. I later learnt that my wife and our four-year-old son died at the scene, he said.

Mr Ndlovus cousin, Ms Siphokuhle Ncube said when she arrived at the scene the following day, the poisonous gas was still in the air although it had subsided.

She said they had to wear masks in order to move around the area.

The grandfather to the two deceased women, Mr Zwelihle Nyathi said it was painful for them to lose family members in such as tragic incident.

My two grandchildren were still young and now that they are gone, we have, as a family, been left with a huge responsibility of looking after their children. They have left a huge gap in our lives and as a family, we are devastated, he said.

Mr Nyathi said they were assisted by the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa to repatriate the bodies.

Mr Nyathis nephew, Mr Ndabezinhle Ndlovu said they posted on different social media platforms seeking assistance from well wishers.

We got assistance from Kings and Queens Funeral Parlour who offered their services at a discounted price. The Zimbabwe consulate in Johannesburg also engaged us and assisted in covering repatriation costs including facilitating the processing of relevant documents, he said.

Zanu-PF candidate for Gwanda North Constituency, Cde Lungisani Ncube said the local community assisted the bereaved family in mobilising resources.

Cde Ncube said the intervention by Government also brought the much-needed relief.

We would like to thank Government under the leadership of President Mnangagwa for the great support during this painful period. Families usually struggle to repatriate bodies of their relatives from South Africa but in this case, everything was done timeously, he said.

The horrific incident occurred when gas leaked from a cylinder that was being drained by a group of illegal miners, who wanted to cut it open and use the gas to process gold. According to South African media reports and witnesses, the gas bottle which leaked was stolen from a local company in the area. Chronicle
BURLINGTON, Kentucky  An 18-year-old woman was killed Sunday when a tire that had broken off a truck struck her vehicle, authorities say.

A news release from the Boone County Sheriffs Office says Lauren Collins of Independence, Kentucky, was driving a 2012 Buick LaCrosse south on Interstate 75 at about 12:15 a.m. when the crash occurred.

The sheriffs office says its believed a tired from a dually pickup truck traveling north on I-75 broke off. The tire bounced over a concrete median and hit Collins vehicle.

Rescue workers had to cut apart Collins car in order to free her and she was flown by helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the hospital, the sheriffs office says.

The sheriffs office says it has not found the vehicle that lost the tire. The crash remains under investigation.
LONDON (AP)  Russia halted a breakthrough wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would suspend the Black Sea Grain Initiative until its demands to get its own food and fertilizer to the world are met. While Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural exports, it has shipped record amounts of wheat.

When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal, Peskov said.

The suspension marks the end of an accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last summer to allow food to leave the Black Sea region after Russias invasion of its neighbor worsened a global food crisis. The initiative is credited with helping lower soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil and other food commodities.

Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that developing nations rely on.

The grain deal provided assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. While Western sanctions do not apply to Moscows agricultural shipments, some companies initially were wary of doing business with Russia because of the measures.

Ukrainian authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

The suspension of the deal sent wheat prices up about 3% in Chicago trading, to $6.81 a bushel. Analysts dont expect more than a temporary bump to food commodity prices because places like Russia and Brazil have ratcheted up wheat and corn exports, but food insecurity worldwide is growing.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed three Ukrainian ports to export 32.9 million metric tons of grain and other food to the world, more than half of that to developing nations, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

The agreement was renewed for 60 days in May, but in recent months, the amount of food shipped and number of vessels departing Ukraine have plunged, with Russia accused of preventing additional ships from participating.

The war in Ukraine sent food commodity prices to record highs last year and contributed to a global food crisis also tied to other conflicts, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts and other climate factors.

High costs for grain needed for food staples in places like Egypt, Lebanon and Nigeria exacerbated economic challenges and helped push millions more people into poverty or food insecurity.

Rising food prices affect people in developing countries disproportionately, because they spend more of their money on meals. Poorer nations that depend on imported food priced in dollars also are spending more as their currencies weaken and they are forced to import more because of climate change. Places like Somalia, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia are struggling with drought.

Under the deal, prices for global food commodities like wheat and vegetable oil have fallen, but food was already expensive before the war in Ukraine and the relief hasnt trickled down to kitchen tables.

The Black Sea deal is absolutely critical for the food security of a number of countries, and its loss will compound the problems for those facing high debt levels and climate fallout, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said this month that 45 countries need outside food assistance, with high local food prices a driver of worrying levels of hunger in those places.

The grain deal has faced setbacks since it was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey: Russia pulled out briefly in November before rejoining and extending the deal.

In March and May, Russia would only extend the deal for 60 days, instead of the usual 120. The amount of grain shipped per month fell from a peak of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 1.3 million metric tons in May, the lowest volume since the deal began.

Exports expanded in June to a bit over 2 million metric tons, thanks to larger ships able to carry more cargo.

Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing new ships from joining the work since the end of June. Joint inspections meant to ensure vessels only carry grain and not weapons that could help either side also have slowed considerably.

Asked Monday whether an attack on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was a factor in the decision on the grain deal, the Kremlin spokesman said it was not.

Meanwhile, Russias wheat shipments hit all-time highs following a large harvest. It exported 45.5 million metric tons in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another record of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
Artisan builds models of Chinese navigator Zheng He's fleet, revives glorious adventure

People's Daily Online) 14:39, July 17, 2023

China marked the 19th National Maritime Day on July 11, a day that celebrates the ocean voyages of Chinese navigator Zheng He.

Fu Kunxiang works on a model of a ship of the legendary fleet of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Twenty-one models of the legendary fleet of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator who sailed across Asia and Africa during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), are on display at a museum in Jinning district of Kunming city, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The 21 ship models, with a scale of 1:100, are the most popular exhibits at the museum.

Models of the legendary fleet of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator, on display at a museum in Jinning district of Kunming city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

57-year-old Fu Kunxiang, the artisan who created the models, said by building the models, he wants to create a revival of the glorious adventure. Fu, who has been committed to ship model building for 40 years, is an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of building models of ancient ships in Kunming city, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

According to historical records, Zheng He's fleet consisted of more than 200 different ships, including over 60 treasure ships. The largest treasure ship was about 150 meters long and 60 meters wide.

A model of a treasure ship of Zheng He's fleet built by Fu Kunxiang's team. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Fu and his team went to many places in the country to look for information about Zheng He at local museums, and learned the techniques of building ancient ships from elderly shipbuilders in fishing villages.

Models of ships of Zheng He's fleet, with a scale of 1:50, are on display in Busan, South Korea in 2016. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Fu Kunxiang works on a model of a ship of the legendary fleet of Zheng He, a Chinese navigator. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Fu said it takes about two months to build a model of an ancient ship.

To accurately recreate the ships, Fu and his team adopted the watertight-bulkhead, a traditional craftsmanship for the construction of ocean-going vessels and dougong, an ancient architectural structure used in the construction of ships.

A control building at the stern of a model of a ship of Zheng He's fleet. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

In 2019, the German Museum of Technology in Germany collected a model of a treasure ship of Zheng He's fleet made by Fu. The model received high praise from European experts.

Models of ships of Zheng He's fleet on display during a cultural expo held in Yunnan Province in 2017. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Models of ships of Zheng He's fleet on display at Kunming Foreign Language School in Kunming. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

As an inheritor of the ship model building techniques, Fu also devotes his energies to promoting the craft and the Zheng He culture. He has taught his techniques to an apprentice who was born in the 1980s and worked with many middle and primary schools to promote the traditional ship culture among students.

Now, Fu and his team have completed nearly half of the ship models with a scale of 1:100. The man said that when the ship models are finished, he will embark on a journey to recreate the historical voyage of Zheng He, and display the ship models in places along the new Maritime Silk Road.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's new Twitter show has landed one of its first advertisers.

Carlson agreed to a seven-figure advertising deal with Public Square (PublicSq.), a shopping app that promotes itself as being the "starting point" for conservatives to battle environmental, social and governance policies, according to people familiar with the matter.

The people declined to be named in order to speak freely about an agreement that has yet to be made public. Representatives for Carlson did not return requests for comment before publication.

The move indicates that Carlson is looking to use his new program to lure conservative-friendly advertisers eager for a bigger platform. The show, which Carlson launched after Fox News parted ways with him in late April, draws millions of views, even though observers say the numbers have dropped since his first episode in June. Carlson's show on Fox reportedly brought in $77.5 million in advertising revenue just last year.

Carlson's departure from Fox News came after the network's parent company settled Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million. The host figured prominently in the public battle over the suit.

Carlson has become even more outspokenly conservative on Twitter than he was on his primetime show on Fox. The show drew criticism recently when Carlson hosted social media personality Andrew Tate, who has been accused by Romanian investigators of committing human trafficking and rape. Tate and his brother have both denied wrongdoing.

Fox News sent a cease-and-desist letter to Carlson as he was ramping up his presence on Twitter after his departure from the company, according to Axios. The outlet reported that Carlson is still under contract with Fox and that the company maintains his contract keeps his content exclusive to the company through Dec. 31, 2024. Carlson's team responded to the letter in a statement: "Tucker will not be silenced by anyone."

Carlson's show appears to match well with the conservative leanings of Public Square.

Michael Seifert, the CEO of Public Square, previously discussed how the company wants to help take on ESG, which has become a target for Republican lawmakers at both the state and federal levels, right-wing officials and media figures.

"So there's really this cool parallel economy ecosystem that's been created. And it all starts with consumer spending. We hate ESG, we hate DEI [Diversity Equity and Inclusion], we talk about these policies all the time in the news," he said in an interview with Breitbart News. "But the only way that we are going to topple those corrupt philosophies that are destroying our economy is by shifting consumer spending. And so we're offering the easiest directory out there to go and do that as your starting point."

Seifert declined to comment.

The Public Square ads are expected to start appearing on Carlson's show in late August. Public Square is set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in the coming days through a merger with Colombier Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, according to the Daily Mail.

A February press release for the merger said the deal "is expected to provide up to $158.5 million in cash" to Public Square. Colombier Acquisition Corp. is led by Wall Street veteran Omeed Malik.

The release said the company's expected new board of directors, once it goes public, will include Seifert, Malik; Nick Ayers, who was an aide to then-Vice President Mike Pence; and former Arizona Senate GOP candidate and Peter Thiel ally Blake Masters. Ayers was initially involved with the Thiel-backed "anti-woke" bank GloriFi, but did not have a managerial role, according to The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported in November that the startup was shutting down.

Malik's investment firm, 1789 Capital, is planning to be one of the early investors into Carlson's new media company, the people said. It will be an eight-figure investment, and it will happen by the end of the summer, these people explained. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Carlson and longtime ally Neil Patel are looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the company.

Patel did not return a request for comment.

Malik, meanwhile, has started fundraising for two candidates for president: Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Carlson said on one of his recent Twitter show episodes that Kennedy, who has grown popular on the political fringes with his anti-vaccine views, is beating President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary. A June Quinnipiac poll shows Biden with 70 % support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, while Kennedy has 17% among those same groups.
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Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Dow power

Stock are headed into this week on a positive wave. While the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed down slightly Friday, the three major U.S. indices polished off a strong week. The blue-chip Dow, in fact, had its best week since March, finishing all five days higher. After softer but still strong jobs numbers for June and improving inflation numbers, investors are eager to see what the Federal Reserve will do at its policy-setting meeting later this month. The market is betting on the central bank resuming its rate-hiking agenda after a pause last month, but with economic numbers looking solid, the question becomes about how much longer the Fed will keep raising. Follow live market updates.

2. Earnings pour in

A Tesla Inc. store in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Bloomberg | Getty Images

Investors got a taste of the new earnings season last week with reports from PepsiCo, JPMorgan Chase and Delta Air Lines. This week gets even busier with multiple big names on the schedule, including Netflix and Tesla . Will it be a bumpy ride this quarter? Wall Street thinks so. Analysts expect S&P 500 companies' earnings will be down more than 7% versus a year earlier, according to FactSet. Here are the major companies on deck this week: Tuesday: Bank of America , Morgan Stanley (before the bell)

Wednesday: Goldman Sachs (before the bell); Netflix, Tesla, IBM , United Airlines (after the bell)

Thursday: Johnson & Johnson , American Airlines (before the bell)

3. Call of Duty: Armistice

A scene from "Call of Duty Modern Warfare." Source: Call of Duty Modern Warfare

Sony ceased its standoff against Microsoft 's deal to buy Call of Duty game maker Activision Blizzard , just days before the agreement was set to close. Sony, which makes the PlayStation console, had expressed concerns as recently as last month that the Microsoft-Activision deal would be anti-competitive, effectively giving the tech giant exclusive control over the lucrative Call of Duty franchise. But on Sunday, the two sides said they reached a long-term agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation after the Activision deal is settled. While that's not certain, Microsoft's chances of pulling it off have grown substantially after federal courts rejected the Federal Trade Comission's attempts to stop the deal. Microsoft and Activision aim to sew it up Tuesday.

4. Media meltdown

Scene from "Squid Game" by Netflix Source: Netflix

With striking writers and actors shutting down production, weak advertising revenue and persistent streaming losses hurting bottom lines, blockbusters coming up short, and traditional TV on its way out, the U.S. media industry is in big trouble. No path forward looks particularly great, either. Netflix, the great disruptor, is set to kick off media earnings this Wednesday. While the streaming giant is in relatively good shape  its stock has surged back after last year's slump, and it can rely on international productions during the strikes  its rivals are increasingly facing a series of existential crises. For instance, Disney CEO Bob Iger effectively put his company's TV assets, including its ABC broadcast network, on sale last week after he revealed that the television business is doing worse than he'd feared. Will consolidation and fire sales be the answer? CNBC's Lillian Rizzo breaks it down.

5. Russia kills grain deal

Bulk carriers are docked at the grain terminal of the port of Odessa, Ukraine, on April 10, 2023. Bo Amstrup | Afp | Getty Images
Emad Mostaque, founder and CEO of Stability AI, speaks during the Bloomberg Technology Summit in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Artificial intelligence will be the biggest bubble of all time, according to the CEO of open-source AI company Stability AI.

Speaking with UBS analysts on a call last week, Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque said of artificial intelligence: "I think this will be the biggest bubble of all time." He added that it is still at the very early stages and not ready for mass-scale adoption in industries like banking just yet.

"I call it the 'dot AI' bubble, and it hasn't even started yet," he said.

Stability AI is the company behind Stable Diffusion, one of the other more popular generative AI tools aside from OpenAI.

Stable Diffusion allows users to generate photo-realistic images by inputting text. It has more than a million users and has raised over $100 million from investors including Coatue and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Mostaque, its co-founder and CEO, has been accused of making misleading claims about his background, achievements, and partnerships. He disputed the claims one by one in a detailed response on his personal blog.

Generative AI has captivated the imagination of many an academic, boardroom executive, and even school student, for its ability to produce humanlike language and visual content from scratch in response to user prompts by using vast amounts of data.

AI has long been around, with the technology now a common feature of online browsing, social media platforms, and home assistants. Beyond consumer applications, the technology is being used in medicine, transportation, robotics, science, education, finance, defense, and other industries.

However, a more novel form of AI which has come about recently is generative AI, which is used in tools such as the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, from U.S. tech firm OpenAI, as well as Google Bard and Microsoft Bing Chat, and image generators like Dall-E, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney.

Mostaque said that the total amount of investment needed in AI was likely to be $1 trillion "because it's more important than 5G as infrastructure for knowledge," and suggested banks like UBS would have to adopt the technology as it is a "massive market."

But, he added, it is at the "early stages" of development right now.

"It's not quite ready" to be deployed at scale within large industries like financial services, "but we can see the value," Mostaque said.

Mostaque said that companies that do not use AI appropriately in their businesses will be "punished" by the stock market.

He cited the example of Google , which lost $100 billion in a single day after its Bard AI chatbot gave inaccurate information in a promotional video upon its release. Google is competing aggressively with Microsoft to win in the race to build superior AI tools.

"I think this is real. I think that there aren't many investable opportunities here, and you'll see people moving from the best chip manufacturers to companies that are using this to impact their bottom line and their top line appropriately. And you will see the market punishing those that don't use this," Mostaque said.

"This will be one of the biggest investment themes over the next few years," he added.

WATCH: Inflection A.I.'s Reid Hoffman: A.I. is the new industrial revolution, the 'cognitive revolution'
Eli Lilly on Monday said it applied for full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of its Alzheimer's treatment, donanemab, and expects the agency to make a decision by the end of the year.

The application is based on positive phase three clinical trial results on donanemab, which significantly slowed the progression of Alzheimer's in patients at the early stages of the mind-robbing disease.

The results also showed that treating patients who are at the earliest stages of the disease can slow Alzheimer's progression by around 40% to 60%.

"The earlier you begin to use the drug perhaps the more slowing that can be," Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks said in an interview Monday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

Eli Lilly is among the pharmaceutical companies racing to market new treatments for the disease after Eisai and Biogen's drug Leqembi won FDA approval this month. The agency's signoff on Leqembi was a milestone in the treatment of Alzheimer's, even though the drug and donanemab aren't cures.

Both treatments are monoclonal antibodies that target amyloid plaque in the brain, considered a hallmark of the disease.

An FDA approval of Eli Lilly's donanemab would expand the treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans of all ages who have Alzheimer's, the fifth-leading cause of death for adults over 65.

The company did not disclose how it would price donanemab after a potential approval.

But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has said Medicare will cover Alzheimer's drugs  as long as they receive full FDA approval and health-care providers participate in a registry system that collects data on how the drugs work in the real world.

Ricks said the registry requirement appears to be a "pretty light touch" that doesn't "take a lot of effort." But he noted that the data that will be collected seems "pretty low value" in the process.

"So we hope to have that [requirement] rescinded in time and full coverage for donanemab when it's approved," Ricks told CNBC.
Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images

17% of employers offer some kind of student loan aid

Few employers offer student loan benefits, which can take many forms. Seventeen percent offer some type of student loan assistance, according to a 2021 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Another 31% planned to offer some type of assistance in the next year or two, the poll found. The most popular workplace programs don't offer direct relief for student loan payments. For instance, about four in 10 employers that offer assistance do so via contributions into the 401(k) accounts of borrowers who are paying off student debt.

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There are two other popular routes: debt payment counseling or education, and granting access to 401(k) loans  in essence, allowing an employee to borrow against their retirement savings to repay student debt. "It seems like retirement savings is the constant here," said Will Hansen, executive director of Plan Sponsor Council of America, a group that represents employers offering workplace retirement programs. "We're now being used as the vehicle to assist with other financial habits, from student loans to emergency savings." Many workers, especially younger ones, prefer student loan payment assistance over more traditional benefits such as a 401(k) match, according to a Lending Tree survey. More than half, 54%, of workers ages 18 to 24 held that opinion. The share declined to 45% for those ages 25 to 34, and to 39% for 55- to 64 year-olds, according to the poll, conducted in 2016.

There should be some type of assistance and support for employees to get out of this debt. Derrick Johnson president and CEO of the NAACP

There should be student-loan-related "enticements" in employee compensation packages, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, who called student loans "a personal crisis for far too many Americans." "Just like 401(k) and health benefits, there should be some type of assistance and support for employees to get out of this debt," said Johnson. "There's a role for the corporate community to step up and offer that level of support," he added. Of course, the best policy route would be for lawmakers to give financial assistance to student loan borrowers directly, instead of via workplace tax breaks, he added.

A valuable tax break for borrowers will end in 2026

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Some of the most valuable workplace benefits, experts said, were created by the CARES Act pandemic relief law in March 2020. The law expanded an existing tax break for educational assistance by adding student loan repayment as a qualifying educational expense. That expansion  of Section 127 of the tax code  allows employers to pay up to $5,250 a year toward a worker's student loans. The payments are tax-free for the employee and business. About 8% of companies offer a student loan repayment plan, according to SHRM. By comparison, 48% pay tuition assistance for those enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school. The expanded tax break for student loan payments is temporary, however. It will end in 2026, absent action from Congress. SHRM is calling on lawmakers to make this tax break permanent. It also called for higher annual limits on the tax-free payments.

The American Federation of Teachers, a labor union, also hopes the tax break is extended, a spokesman said. "We've negotiated tax-free employer paid assistance in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in several of our health-care affiliates in Washington state," AFT President Randi Weingarten said in an emailed statement. "And we are making these proposals elsewhere, including in Orange County, Florida." Starting in 2024, employers will also be allowed to pay a 401(k) match to borrowers making student loan payments, a provision enacted by a 2022 law known as Secure 2.0. Student debt payments are essentially treated like a 401(k) contribution, qualifying borrowers for a match. About 2% of employers sponsoring a 401(k) plan intend to implement the policy, while another 9% will likely add or consider it, according to a Plan Sponsor Council of America poll. Twenty-two percent are unsure.

Retention tool or alienating policy?

Advocates for more student loan assistance at the workplace say that, in addition to helping employees relieve financial stress, which ultimately makes them more productive workers, such policies can help employee retention. That may prove useful in a labor market in which job openings, which surged to record highs during the pandemic era, are still elevated and employers may have trouble hiring. "With such a tight labor market, companies want to be creative in their benefit offerings to attract top talent," Hansen said. But there's tension here: Such programs will appeal to certain employers and workforces over others, experts said.

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images
Nvidia shares have more room to run, even after notching all-time highs this year, according to Citi. Analyst Atif Malik raised his price target by $100 to $520 while maintaining his buy rating. Malik's target implies an upside of 14.4% over the next year. That means Malik sees more steam in Nvidia's rally. The stock has skyrocketed more than 200% to all-time highs since the start of the year as investors have grown increasingly excited about the potential for artificial intelligence. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia's strong year Malik's bull case implies the rally could go even further to $600 per share, or another 32% from Friday's close. That share price would be more than four times higher where the stock finished in 2022. But neither his price target nor bull case are considered outlandish for the stock. Though both are above the average analyst's price target of $479.22, neither exceeds the highest price target on Wall Street of $767 per share, according to Refinitiv. Nvidia is considered a clear AI winner, he said, with more than 90% of market share in a market for AI acceleration that's expected to be valued around $150 billion in 2027. Malik said Nvidia should have a "substantial advantage" in the AI space over Advanced Micro Devices going forward. When it comes to software, Malik said competitors will need multiple generations to match what Nvidia has developed. It also continues to lead on graphics processing units on the accelerator and system levels, he added. In addition to the price target hike, Malik also raised his outlook for earnings per share in upcoming years. He now expects EPS to be 6% higher than previously anticipated in the 2024 fiscal year. In 2025 and 2026, EPS should be 38% and 30% higher, respectively. Despite the bullish outlook, he noted stock performance could be affected by increased gaming competition, slower-than-expected adoption of new technology, difficulties in data center or auto markets or crypto mining if it weighs on gaming sales. "We continue to see favorable risk-reward on accelerating Y/Y data center sales through the year with China ban, slower macro impact on gaming demand, and competition as key near- to long-term downside risks," Malik said.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Firefly's Alpha 95 ft tall rocket launches from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in September 2021. Alpha is designed to carry payloads up to 1,300 kilograms for the price of $15 million per launch.

Since launching its first successful orbital launch in October, Firefly Aerospace has kept busy  and is on the cusp of raising more cash.

The Austin, Texas-based rocket builder and in-space services company is close to announcing the closure of an oversubscribed capital raise, its CEO Bill Weber told CNBC's Manifest Space. The startup, now valued at over $1 billion, gained more commitments to invest than initially planned at a time when many space startups struggle with diminishing funds and a broader downturn in investments.

Firefly can currently launch its medium-launch rocket, Alpha, every two months. The company hopes to increase that pace to one launch a month.

"Alpha has a demand signature for the next three to four years, which is more than good enough for what we want to do with it," Weber told CNBC.

To match the expected increase in launch frequency, Firefly has turned to acquisitions. It bought launch and space transportation startup Spaceflight Inc. and assets from the recently bankrupt Virgin Orbit, while also doubling the size of its facilities in Austin.

The proximity of the company's design, engineering, manufacturing and testing facilities allows it to rapidly develop its technology compared to competitors.

Follow and listen to CNBC's "Manifest Space" podcast, hosted by Morgan Brennan, wherever you get your podcasts.

Firefly's growth is necessary to prove consistency and dependability to its customer base, which is predominantly government contractors, Weber said.

The company will provide launch services to the U.S. Space Force next month for its Space Systems Command's VICTUS NOX mission. Firefly's lunar lander, Blue Ghost (named after the North Carolina lightning bug), will head to the moon next year. Weber told CNBC the company is also in talks with the intelligence community about classified payloads.

Weber believes that government contracts are essential to proving the company's reliability to commercial players.

"The scrutiny that the U.S. Space Force puts Firefly through and the amount of exacting standards we have to meet in order to fly for NASA ... there isn't a customer out there that would say our standards are even more robust than that," he said. "There are some that would match. It's a perfect place for us to prove out that this isn't a risky venture."

Firefly's client base has expanded to include defense contractors. Firefly recently agreed to launch a tech demonstration for Lockheed Martin . Northrop Grumman has partnered with the startup to develop MLV, designed to replace the Antares rocket that is currently built in Ukraine and powered by Russian engines.

The company's total addressable market exceeds $8 billion, according to Weber.

While many investors are concentrated on SpaceX's mega rocket Starship and how the heavy-lift launcher will disrupt small-to medium-lift markets, Weber insists those fears are a "gross oversimplification" of the launch market. There will still be a need for smaller players to focus on precise launches to send fewer payloads to space, he said. If anything, it also speaks to the need for tools like the company's Space Utility Vehicle to move objects like national security payloads or replacement sets to a specific location.

As for plans to go public, Weber, who has helmed public companies and founded a special purposes acquisition company, or SPAC, said he believes the company will be a great candidate, adding that the macro environment, which has largely stunned public space companies, will help to decide timing.

"There are a lot of companies out there that shouldn't be public that are public right now. And I think they're facing the difficulty of that," Weber said. "My expectation though is whether we are a public offering or we remain private, good execution today is going to set up whatever that outcome is."
Former US President and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump gestures about weight lifting as he speaks at a Republican volunteer recruitment event at Fervent, a Calvary Chapel, in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 8, 2023.

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday unanimously dismissed a longshot bid by former President Donald Trump to quash the special grand jury report that recommended criminal charges in the Fulton County district attorney's probe of Georgia's 2020 election.

The state Supreme Court also rejected Trump's request that it bar Fulton DA Fani Willis from continuing to oversee the criminal investigation.

The ruling came weeks before Willis is expected to seek indictments in the probe of efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory over him in the Peach State.

So far, no one has been criminally charged in the investigation. And the identities of more than a dozen people who the special grand jury recommended be prosecuted remain secret.

The state's high court said Trump's attorneys failed to show that the case presents "one of those extremely rare circumstances" that requires bypassing lower courts.

Trump's legal team has a pending similar request in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta to bar the special grand jury's work and report from being used in any future civil or criminal proceeding.

In a petition four days ago, Trump's attorneys acknowledged that it would be highly unusual for the state Supreme Court to take the case, since that body normally reviews appeals from lower courts.

But they argued that the court should take up the matter directly, in part because of Trump's status as a former president and a 2024 presidential candidate.

And, as they did in their petition in Fulton County court, the lawyers argued that the evidence compiled by the special grand jury in the election probe was "unlawfully obtained."

In its dismissal Monday of Trump's petition, the Supreme Court said it has "made clear that a petitioner cannot invoke this Court's original jurisdiction as a way to circumvent the ordinary channels for obtaining the relief he seeks without making some showing that he is being prevented fair access to those ordinary channels."

And Trump "makes no showing that he has been prevented fair access to the ordinary channels," the justices wrote.

Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Supreme Court's ruling.

The special grand jury heard evidence and testimony from dozens of witnesses last year, but it did not have the power to return indictments.

Last week, two regular Superior Court grand juries were empaneled, soon to be tasked with deciding whether to criminally charge Trump and his allies.

Willis' criminal investigation began in 2021, shortly after the public revelation that Trump had called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and pressured him to "find" enough votes to reverse Biden's win in the state.

Raffensperger rebuffed that request, which was part of an effort by Trump and his allies to either reverse his loss in the Electoral College to Biden, or to raise enough doubt about the results in several key swing states like Georgia to throw the decision about who would be president to the House of Representatives.

Trump is currently the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Since launching his campaign, he has already been indicted in two other criminal cases.

In New York state court in Manhattan, he has pleaded not guilty in Manhattan to charges of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels.

And he also has pleaded not guilty in Florida federal court to charges related to his retention of classified records after he left the White House.

The special counsel in the classified records case, Jack Smith, separately is investigating Trump for possible crimes in his attempt to reverse his loss in the 2020 election, and for his actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by a mob of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

A joint session of Congress met that day to certify Biden's win in the Electoral College.
Goldman Sachs is optimistic on Yelp as investors weigh the outlook for the digital advertising industry in the second half of 2023. Analyst Eric Sheridan upgraded the stock to buy from neutral and raised his price target by $9 to $47. Sheridan's new target implies shares could rally 23.3% from Friday's close. The upgrade comes "on the back of stable/rising local advertising trends, an analysis of the incremental margin opportunity and the potential for stable/increased shareholder returns in the years ahead," Sheridan said in a note to clients Monday. Yelp rose 3.1% in Monday premarket trading. The stock has gained nearly 40% since 2023 began, with the bulk of the gain coming after it last reported earnings. YELP YTD mountain Yelp's 2023 Sheridan's $47 target for shares puts him ahead of peers on Wall Street, with the next most bullish analyst expecting the stock to reach a relatively modest $43, according to Refinitiv. Looking at the entire industry, Sheridan said digital ad trends should either be stable or slightly improve in the second quarter compared with the first. The companies should be helped by easier comparison periods; sustained strength in advertising from industries such as travel, local and omnichannel retail; and a small rebound in brand advertising across the board from the deep cuts in late 2022. Still, he said companies should continue to bring conservative commentary around future performance on earnings calls despite the solid backdrop in the first half of 2023. Yelp is one stock in the space with a risk/reward skew that has turned more positive, Sheridan said. A stable or even slightly improving local advertising environment, improvements to the ad technology stack and new initiatives are reasons Sheridan thinks the company can maintain revenue growth in the medium to high single-digit percent range between 2024 and 2027. The company should also see stable margin expansion over the next five years as revenue growth comes through high incremental margins, he said. Free cash flow could continue getting put to work on stock buybacks, with Yelp having the potential to purchase about 50% of its market cap over the next half decade. Despite the stock's rally, he said shares are still considered cheap when comparing price and earnings.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, center, and ranking member Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., conduct the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the "Report of Special Counsel John Durham," in Rayburn Building on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to hand over documents about content moderation on Threads in response to an earlier subpoena related to the panel's ongoing investigation of tech platforms' policies and contact with the Biden administration.

The letter, obtained exclusively by CNBC, is an early indication of the added spotlight Meta's newest product could bring to the company in Washington. Threads competes directly with Twitter, which owner Elon Musk wants to shape with his self-declared free speech absolutism in mind, despite at times suspending users including journalists.

While Meta executives have made clear they don't want news and politics to dominate the conversation on Threads, it's a large part of what users have historically come to Twitter to discuss. The more that becomes the case on Threads, the more it could land in political crosshairs.

"Indeed, Threads raises serious, specific concerns because it has been marketed as rival of Elon

Musk's Twitter, which has faced political persecution from the Biden Administration following

Musk's commitment to free speech," Jordan wrote. He pointed to a Wall Street Journal article that found the Federal Trade Commission had asked Twitter to hand over internal communications about Musk and identify journalists who were allowed to access the company's records, as part of a probe into whether Twitter could still adequately protect consumer information.

"In contrast, there are reports that Threads will enforce 'Instagram's community guidelines,' which resulted in lawful speech being moderated following pressure by the government," Jordan wrote. He pointed to a recent lawsuit against the Biden administration filed by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana that alleged the federal government had suppressed speech through its efforts to get social media platforms to address what it viewed as harmful posts related to the Covid-19 pandemic or elections, for example.

On July 4, a federal judge in Louisiana granted in part a preliminary injunction in that suit that barred several Biden administration officials from meeting with social media companies to encourage them to remove or delete posts. It also prevented those officials from even flagging certain kinds of social media posts to the companies to encourage their removal or suppression.

In the wake of the ruling, the State Department canceled a regular meeting with Facebook about the 2024 election and hacking threats, a person at the company told The Washington Post. On Friday, an appeals court agreed to put a temporary pause on the preliminary injunction, meaning government flagging of social media posts could resume until the court further considers the case.

Jordan wrote that the committee's Feb. 15 subpoena, which was sent to Amazon , Apple , Google , Meta and Microsoft , "is continuing in nature," meaning it also applies to Threads despite its more recent launch. He said the new letter serves as a formal notice to preserve relevant existing and future documents about Threads and asked Meta to provide documents related to Threads' content moderation and discussions with the Biden administration by the end of the month.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the letter House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg here:
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Russia on Monday said it had suspended a humanitarian corridor to deliver key Ukrainian grains to global markets, hours before the agreement's expiry. First signed in July 2022, the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative has been repeatedly extended in short increments, amid increasing discontent from Russia over perceived restrictions that limit the full dispatch of its own grain and fertilizer exports. Moscow formally notified Ankara, Kyiv and the U.N. secretariat that it opposed extending the initiative, Tass cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on a Google-translated Telegram post. "Only if concrete results are received, not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider resuming the 'deal,'" the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Monday statement on Facebook, according to a Google translation. It stressed that the agreement expires on July 18 and was only "directed to serve the narrow self-interests" of Kyiv and its Western allies. Peskov said that Moscow's objection to prolonging the grain deal was communicated even before an explosion on a Crimean bridge that reportedly killed two and halted traffic  which Russian-backed officials have called a "terrorist attack" and blamed on Ukraine.

'Another act of cruelty'

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was set up to abate a global food crisis after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of fellow key grain exporter and neighbor Ukraine. Under the deal, more than 1,000 ships carrying nearly 33 million metric tons of agricultural products have departed from Ukraine's war-weary Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, previously known as Yuzhny. The agreement also oversaw the transport of 725,167 tons of wheat to sail on World Food Program ships to some of the world's most food insecure countries, such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield slammed Russia for exiting the landmark agricultural agreement. "Russia has dealt another blow to the world's most vulnerable," Thomas-Greenfield said in brief remarks ahead of a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "This is really another act of cruelty," she added. "This is what it looks like when one country decides to hold humanity hostage. The bottom line is this: The world needs the Black Sea Grain Initiative. And all Member States must come together and urge Russia to reverse its decision; resume negotiations; extend, expand and fully implement this initiative." The European Union also condemned the Kremlin's withdrawal from the agreement. "I strongly condemn Russia's cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Turkiye's efforts," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter on Monday. "EU is working to ensure food security for the world's vulnerable." Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to work with Turkey and the United Nations to continue the deal, according to press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov. "We are not afraid. We were reached by companies that own ships. They said that they are ready, if Ukraine will let go, and Turkey will pass, then everyone is ready to continue supply of grain," Nykyforov added.

Wheat's at stake

A worker handles wheat grain in a storage granary in Hungary, May 16, 2023. Akos Stiller | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Wheat prices jumped 3.5% as the news broke. "Ukraine will now be forced to export most of its grains and oilseeds through its land borders and Danube ports. This will significantly drive up transportation costs and pile further pressure on Ukrainian farmers' profits. The knock-on effect of this is it could prompt them to plant less next season, placing further pressure on supplies going forward," said Carlos Mera, head of the agri commodities markets at Rabobank, in emailed comments. Simon Evenett, a professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen, said that Russia's announcement is the "coup de grace on a deal that was on its last legs." "Shipments have been falling steadily this year," he added. The grain pact allowed the export of commercial food and fertilizer supplies, including ammonia, from the three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Cargo ships proceed through the agreed humanitarian corridor to Istanbul, one of the busiest ports of Turkey, whose administration under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been deeply immersed in the negotiations. Following the announcement, Erdogan on Monday expressed his belief that his Kremlin counterpart Putin wants to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative, hailing the agreement as a diplomatic success, according to a Google translation of comments reported by Turkish state news agency Anadolu on Telegram. Erdogan added that he will hold phone talks with Putin on the topic ahead of their anticipated in-person meeting in August and that the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers will likewise discuss the agreement. Erdogan's entreaties may enjoy a frosty reception, after Turkey last week dealt an indirect blow to Moscow by finally endorsing the NATO membership bid of Sweden during a meeting of the military alliance in Vilnius, Lithuania. "Russia would have you believe it is being forced to end a deal that, in fact, it benefits from  a deal designed to alleviate some of the global consequences of its war of choice," Michael Carpenter, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said on July 13, estimating that over 32 million tons of grain and food reached global markets to date as a result of the deal. The Russian Rusgrain union said on Telegram that it plans to continue supplying its customers as part of its commitment to fight world hunger, irrespective of the Ukraine deal development. "All contractual obligations of Russian grain exporters will be fulfilled," it said, according to a Google translation.

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Russia's withdrawal from a critically important wartime deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea has reignited fears about global food security, with analysts describing the initiative's demise as both an inevitable setback and a blow to markets.

Hours before the agreement's expiry, Russia said Monday that it would not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The agreement, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July of last year following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was a rare diplomatic breakthrough designed to avert a global food crisis.

"Today is the last day of the Grain deal," Kremlin Dmitry Peskov said. "When the respective parts for Russia's benefit are fulfilled, Russia will return to the deal."

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has been repeatedly extended in short increments, amid increasing discontent from Russia over perceived restrictions that limit the full dispatch of its own grain and fertilizer exports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated these complaints over a weekend call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying  according to a Google-translated report from the Kremlin  that the key objective of supplying grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent, had not been achieved.

Wheat, corn and soybean prices all rose on the news. Wheat futures jumped 3% on Monday, hitting a high of 689.25 cents per bushel, its highest level since June 28 when the contract traded as high as 706.25 cents.

Wheat prices remain well below the peak levels of 1,177.5 cents per bushel reached in May of last year, however.

Corn futures soared to a high of 526.5 cents per bushel, while soybean futures surged to a high of 1,388.75 cents per bushel.
U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during a joint press conference before a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on June 23, 2023 in New York City.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield slammed Russia for exiting the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"Russia has dealt another blow to the world's most vulnerable," Thomas-Greenfield said in brief remarks ahead of a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "This is really another act of cruelty."

Thomas-Greenfield said Russia was holding "humanity hostage" by not renewing the agricultural deal that has overseen the safe passage of nearly 33 million metric tons of foodstuffs to global destinations.

"According to the World Food Program, more than 345 million people are suffering from high levels of food insecurity. And we know without a shadow of doubt, that Russia's brutal war against Ukraine has pushed millions and millions more people to the brink, especially in the Middle East and Africa," Thomas-Greenfield said.

"The bottom line is this: the world needs the Black Sea Grain Initiative," she said, adding that all U.N. members should work to reverse Russia's decision.

 Amanda Macias
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SINGAPORE  Gig workers in Singapore face "vulnerabilities" that need to be addressed, said the country's senior minister of state for manpower. Speaking to "Squawk Box Asia" on Monday, Koh Poh Koon said the pandemic has shown that platform workers in the city state perform a "useful service" and they're "here to stay" for the foreseeable future. "Over time, if they undertake this as a longer term career, they [should not be] lagging behind the rest of the population in terms of their longer term needs," he said. Areas that need to be considered include retirement adequacy, injury compensation and housing, he added. His comments come after the Singapore government accepted a set of recommendations by a tripartite workgroup to make sure that platform workers are better represented. This means that such workers will be able to "gain some legal mandate" and negotiate on equal footing with platform companies, added Koh, who is also the senior minister of state for sustainability and manpower. Such workers typically work for ride-hailing or food delivery companies such as Grab , GoJek and Foodpanda. According to Singapore's ministry of manpower, there are 88,400 platform workers in the country, as of 2022.

Gig workers face 'significant management control'

The minister clarified that a legal mandate for gig workers is "not exactly the same as a union." "There are some areas that unions can negotiate on that [are] irrelevant to the platform, workers and their companies," he added. "For example, platform workers are not interested in getting a promotion, they are not going to be able to get the annual so-called bonus at the end of the year, neither do they get typical annual sick leave." "So it's quite different because these workers value flexibility, but yet they're subjected to significant management control," Koh said. That includes changes in matching and pricing algorithms on platforms that may affect the livelihood of gig workers. "The incomes are modest, and they are somewhat more precarious than your typical employees. We think that something that helps them to be able to speak for themselves  would be important to balance the relationship and allow the platform ecosystem to develop in a more sustainable manner," Koh said.

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A recent DBS study showed that gig workers were found to be the most financially stretched group in Singapore, with savings declining year-on-year to an "unhealthy range." The expense-to-income ratio of gig workers was 112% in May  "significantly higher" than the median customer's 57%, DBS said. It is however "not meaningful" to discuss the possibility of a minimum wage for gig workers as they are free to work as much or as little as they want, Koh pointed out. "What's important is to preserve flexibility that both the workers and the platform companies desire. And that's a very key principle in the discussions."

The "Tripartite Workgroup on Representation for Platform Workers" was established in August last year by the manpower ministry  together with Singapore's labor movement and the Singapore National Employers Federation. "The important thing to realize is that in Singapore's labor landscape, our labor, industrial relations are built upon what we call tripartism. That is our secret sauce," Koh stressed. "Tripartism involves both government, platform companies in this case, and also platform workers in the unions  the three parties working closely together will form the foundation for that relationship of trust."

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Residents gathering near a Singapore national flag outside City Hall in Singapore.

Singapore's non-oil domestic exports fell 15.5% in June from a year earlier, official data showed on Monday, weighed down by declines in both electronic and non-electronic products.

Last month's fall compared with a Reuters poll forecast of an 15.8% drop, and extended the 14.8% contraction seen in May.

Singapore's economy narrowly avoided a technical recession as seen in New Zealand and Germany with second quarter preliminary estimates showing 0.3% growth on a quarter-on-quarter basis. The first quarter was a 0.4% quarter-on-quarter contraction.

On a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis, non-oil domestic exports grew 5.4% in June, following May's 14.6% decline. That was lower than analysts' predictions for a 5.9% decline.

Non-domestic oil exports to Singapore's top 10 markets declined as a whole last month.

Exports to neighboring Malaysia contracted 30.7% year-on-year last month due to lower shipments of integrated circuits, articles of plastic and specialized machinery.

Shipments to Indonesia declined 35.7% after drops in exports of petrochemicals, plastic plates and sheets and primary chemicals. Exports to China grew 3.1% in June after posting a 3.7% growth in May.
The Kerch Bridge that links Crimea to Russia, taken on Oct. 14, 2022.

The Russian-installed head of Crimea's Parliament has blamed Ukraine for a "terrorist attack" on the Crimean bridge that halted traffic, and reportedly killed two people.

"Tonight, the terrorist regime in Kyiv committed a new crime  they attacked the Crimean bridge," Head of Crimea's parliament Vladimir Konstantinov said in his Telegram channel.

The bridge, a 12-mile crossing of road and railways, is a crucial transportation and supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine.

"In retaliation  we will follow the news. Our Secretary of Defense has promised strikes against criminal decision-making centers," he threatened.

Russia's Grey Zone channel, a Telegram channel with affiliations to the Wagner mercenary group, also posted: "Two strikes were made on the Crimean bridge by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," according to translations from Google.

The incidents reportedly occurred at 3.04 a.m. and 3.20 a.m. local time. CNBC could not independently verify the reports.

According to the Transport Ministry of the Russian Federation, the bridge itself was not damaged. The incident occurred at a part leading to the bridge.
US climate envoy John Kerry gestures as he speaks next to China's special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua during a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on May 24, 2022. Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said it was "imperative that China and the United States make real progress" in the four months before the COP28 global climate talks in Dubai, as he met his counterpart Xie Zhenhua in the Chinese capital on Monday. He also urged China to partner with the United States to cut methane emissions and reduce the climate impact of coal-fired power, with the two sides aiming to rebuild trust following a suspension in talks last year. As delegates representing the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters gathered in a conference room overlooking Beijing's Forbidden City on Monday morning, Xie said the two climate envoys could play a role in improving U.S.-China relations.

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"In the next three days we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves," Kerry said. This week's meetings, which will continue until Wednesday, will have no formal schedule but are expected to focus on the abatement of methane and other non-CO2 emissions, as well as the run-up to COP28. China's reliance on coal is also likely to be on the agenda. Kerry praised the "incredible job" China has been doing in building up renewable energy capacity but said it had been undercut by the construction of new coal power plants. China has pledged to start reducing coal consumption, but not until 2026, and new coal power project approvals have accelerated since last year.
BANGUI, Central African Republic - March 23, 2023: Demonstrators carry banners in Bangui, on March 22, 2023 during a march in support of Russia's presence in the Central African Republic. Taking advantage of the vacuum created by the departure of the bulk of French troops, Moscow sent "military instructors" to the country in 2018, then hundreds of Wagner paramilitaries in 2020 at the request of Bangui, faced with a threatening rebellion.

Since the Wagner Group's aborted rebellion against the Russian military late last month, a cloud of uncertainty has hovered over the mercenary force's operations around the world.

The Wagner Group, a paramilitary unit founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia, is known for both brutality and effectiveness in its role as a private mercenary contractor with close ties to the Kremlin, often popping up on conflict-ridden states to help fragile governments repel armed insurgencies.

Its fighters have played a key role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, securing crucial territories in some of the conflict's bloodiest battles to date. But the group also has a significant presence elsewhere in the world  not least in Africa.

Hundreds of Wagner troops were spotted last week departing from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), where the Kremlin-linked group has its largest and broadest overseas presence.

It comes just weeks after Wagner boss Prigozhin embarked on an ill-fated rebellion in Russia, ordering his troops fighting in Ukraine to march toward Moscow.

The mutiny ended with a deal brokered by Belorussian leader Alexander Lukashenko that saw Prigozhin seemingly exiled to Belarus, but a lack of clarity has ensued over his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Wagner's chain of command has been called into question, with the Kremlin attempting to re-establish its control over the previously allied mercenary force.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that mercenaries who were not involved in the mutiny may be offered the opportunity to sign contracts with the Russian armed forces, rather than handing over their arms. Sky News reported Friday that the Wagner personnel who left CAR had refused to sign new these contracts.

It remains unclear whether the exodus of Wagner personnel in CAR last week was related to a routine rotation of troops, a refusal to sign contracts, or a Moscow-ordered withdrawal designed to curb Prigozhin's empire.

However, the Officers' Union for International Security (OUIS), a U.S.-sanctioned Wagner front company operating in CAR, announced over the weekend that a fresh wave of fighters had arrived in the CAR capital of Bangui.

"The planned rotation continues. Several hundred experienced professionals from the Wagner company are joining the team working in CAR," the OUIS said in a statement on Telegram.

"Russian instructors will continue to aid soldiers in the Central African armed forces to ensure security in anticipation of the constitutional referendum scheduled for July 30."

Whatever the reason for the rotation, Alex Vines, director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, told CNBC on Wednesday that the number of troops departing "seems higher than normal."

Chris Weafer, CEO of Moscow-based Macro-Advisory, noted that Prigozhin appears to have reached an "understanding" with the Kremlin. "He will not again threaten the regime, and in exchange, he can remain free to manage his business interests and, possibly, to continue managing Wagner," he told CNBC.

Weafer suggested that Wagner, or some variation of it, will "continue to be useful for the Kremlin" in several countries in Africa, adding that it is "unlikely they will again operate in eastern Ukraine."

"It is a very Russian solution to what is essentially an internal power dispute," he added.

The 'pro-Russian state' experiment in Africa

Over the past six years, Wagner has established a significant presence on the African continent, both militarily and in terms of political and economic influence, serving as an important vehicle for Russia to expand its diplomatic and economic interests.

Mercenary activities have been confirmed in CAR, Sudan, Libya, Mali and Mozambique, but Chatham House's Vines noted that only in the CAR has Wagner been able to establish an all-encompassing military, economic and political presence.

Wagner entered CAR in 2018 at the request of President Faustin-Archange Touadera to protect the government and lucrative mines against armed rebels amid an ongoing civil war. The group's influence has since expanded to include the mining of gold and other natural resources.

It proved an opportune moment for Moscow, which saw the potential to expand its geopolitical reach as France began to loosen ties to its former colonies in Africa.
Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, smiles as he plays bridge following the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, May 5, 2019.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway dumped a significant portion of its stake in Activision Blizzard as Microsoft's deal to buy the video game company edged closer to the finishing line.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate disclosed a 1.9% stake in Activision with 14,658,121 shares, a new 13G filing released Monday evening showed. That compared with a 6.3% stake at the end of March and a 6.7% stake at the end of 2022.

Shares of Activision soared more than 9% last week on news that the Federal Trade Commission lost its bid to block Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game publisher. Microsoft's appeal against U.K. regulators' block on Monday was granted a two-month pause.

The stock closed Monday at $93.21 apiece. In January 2022, Microsoft announced intentions to buy Activision for $95 per share.

The "Oracle of Omaha" previously revealed that one of his investing lieutenants, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, first took a stake in Activision in October and November 2021with an average cost of $77 per share.

The 92-year-old investing legend has since added to the holding in a merger arbitrage play, betting that Microsoft's proposed acquisition of the video game company would close.

Buffett revealed that he and his longtime business partner Charlie Munger started doing merger arbitrage deals five decades ago, back when it was called "workouts."
Electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk meets with French Minister for the Economy and Finances Bruno Le Maire on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the "Choose France" Summit at the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris on May 15, 2023.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent a letter urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Tesla and its board of directors over possible "conflicts of interest, misappropriation of corporate assets, and other negative impacts to Tesla shareholders" related to CEO Elon Musk's Twitter takeover.

In the letter sent to SEC Chair Gary Gensler on Monday, Warren wrote that the Tesla board's "apparent lack of independence" from Musk, combined with "inaction and incomplete disclosures, raise questions about possible violations of securities laws and exchange rules which fall under SEC's jurisdiction."

The nine-page letter, first obtained by CNBC, reiterates concerns Warren had raised in earlier correspondence to Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm in December 2022, after Musk led a $44 billion buyout of Twitter. The take-private deal included $13 billion in debt, and Musk reportedly sold billions of dollars worth of his Tesla shares to finance the transaction.

A spokesperson for the SEC's Office of Public Affairs said Gensler "will respond to Members of Congress directly."

Musk appointed himself CEO of Twitter after the deal closed and quickly made sweeping changes to the social network, while cutting more than three-quarters of the staff at the company and authorizing teams of employees from Tesla and SpaceX to assist him there.

Citing CNBC's reporting on the matter, Warren wrote that taking Tesla employees over to Twitter could have comprised "possible violations of state and federal labor law," and that Tesla's board had not informed shareholders appropriately about the ways that the two companies have worked together, or may work together.

In recent weeks, Musk appointed Linda Yaccarino, who previously ran global advertising for Comcast's NBCUniversal, to the role of Twitter CEO. Her hiring stirred hope that Twitter's beleaguered advertising business would soon recover and that Musk would return to focus on Tesla and SpaceX.

Early Saturday, Musk admitted that Twitter's cash flow remains negative after 50% ad revenue declines and "heavy debt." Tesla is scheduled to report its second-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday of this week.

In her letter to the SEC chairman, the senator said that the appointment of Yaccarino still leaves Musk in charge of Twitter, where he is now CTO and executive chairman, and the arrangement could lead to conflicts of interest.
Market Movers rounded up the best reactions from investors and analysts on Tesla . The pros, including Jim Cramer , discussed the electric vehicle maker after Wells Fargo raised its price target to $265 a share from $170. Tesla also tweeted on Saturday that built its long-awaited first Cybertruck at its Texas gigafactory. The stock popped 3.2% on Monday. The company is set to report quarterly earnings on Wednesday.
"Russia has a sufficient reserve of various kinds of cluster munitions, various kinds. So far we have not done it, we have not used them, and we have not had such a need, despite a certain shortage in munitions at a certain point of time. But we didn't do this," President Vladimir Putin told the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" program on the Rossiya-1 TV channel, according to comments reported by Russian state news agency Tass. Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that Moscow has a "sufficient reserve" of its own cluster munitions and said Moscow reserves the right to use the controversial weapons for "tit-for-tat actions." Kyiv received a stockpile of cluster munitions, or cluster bombs  weapons containing multiple explosive submunitions, or bomblets, that are released over a wide area  from the U.S. last week, but Putin said Moscow is now ready to deploy the same weaponry against Ukraine. "Russia has a sufficient reserve of various kinds of cluster munitions, various kinds. So far we have not done it, we have not used them, and we have not had such a need, despite a certain shortage in munitions at a certain point of time. But we didn't do this," Putin told the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" program on the Rossiya-1 TV channel, according to comments reported by Russian state news agency Tass. "But of course, if they [cluster munitions] are used against us, we reserve the right to tit-for-tat actions," the president said. He said the U.S. is supplying cluster munitions to Kyiv because of Ukraine's general shortage of shells, claiming "the Ukrainian army spends up to 5,000-6,000 155mm caliber shells per day of fighting, while the U.S. produces 15,000 a month." "They have a shortage, and Europe already doesn't have enough [shells]," Putin said, adding "so, they didn't find anything better than to propose the use of cluster munitions."

Though not banned by the United States, Russia or Ukraine, cluster bombs are outlawed in over 100 countries under a global pact, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, because of the danger they pose to civilians. The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images

The U.S.' decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions comes as Kyiv's stockpiles of conventional artillery shells run low, and as it looks to break through Russian defenses in its counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory in the south and east of the country. Still, the supply of such weapons is controversial. Though not banned by the United States, Russia or Ukraine, cluster bombs are outlawed in over 100 countries under a global pact, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, because of the danger they pose to civilians. Children are seen to be at particular risk as the bomblets can fail to explode until they're later picked up, and are easily unseen and trodden on. Human rights groups condemn the weapons and have called for a complete ban on their use. A number of Ukraine's international partners have balked at the U.S. decision to send cluster bombs to Kyiv, though both Russia and Ukraine are believed to have already deployed cluster munitions since the war started in February 2022, according to the U.N.-partnered Cluster Munition Monitor civil society group. The United Nations called on the warring parties to immediately cease all use of cluster munitions. It has deplored their use, stating that "cluster munitions are not only dangerous in the short-term, but pose severe long-term risks to local communities." Up to 40% of cluster munitions fail to explode on impact, the U.N. said, which allows for "decades of intermittent detonations."

Unpalatable, but necessary?

Defense experts have argued that while the use of cluster bombs is unpalatable to a number of Ukraine's NATO allies and human rights groups, the uncomfortable truth is that there is an urgent need to maximize the efficiency of Ukrainian artillery fire and alleviate Ukrainian and wider NATO ammunition shortfalls. They add that cluster munitions could be a critical factor in determining the outcome of the conflict. That has become increasingly salient amid a flagging counteroffensive, with Ukraine's forces facing miles of Russian defensive fortifications that were built up in the months leading up to the counteroffensive, and while waiting for more military hardware from allies.

"Cluster munitions would be valuable in breaking through Russian trenches, while the threat to civilians is negligible amid Russia's mass emplacement of unmarked minefields," said defense analysts Jack Watling and Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, in an analysis published last week. "Ukraine is currently undertaking a major offensive, seeking to break through three successive lines of Russian defences to liberate occupied Ukrainian territory. To do this, the AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] must fight their way through over 30 kilometres of complex, unmarked minefields, across tank obstacles, and into extensive trench lines, covered by Russian UAVs, artillery and helicopters." Progress in the counteroffensive is "critical to preventing Russia from indefinitely protracting the conflict," the analysts said, adding "therefore, there is a direct correlation between enabling Ukraine to succeed on the battlefield now, and creating the necessary preconditions for a viable peace."

An unexploded tail section of a rocket  which appears to contain cluster bombs  launched from a BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher, in Lysychansk on April 11, 2022. Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images

To break the defense line, Watling and Bronk said, Ukrainian artillery is "critical for suppressing Russian indirect and direct fire, thereby enabling Ukrainian troops to assault Russian trenches." But, it added, Kyiv is fielding fewer artillery pieces than the Russian military and finite stocks of ammunition has become "a major constraint on how long Ukraine can maintain a high tempo of operations." The U.S. is providing Ukraine with dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) rounds that are designed to be fired from 155 millimeter Howitzer cannons. Watling and Bronk said DPICMs for 155 mm howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems "greatly multiply the efficiency of artillery fire against entrenched troops."

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While a conventional artillery shell has a very low probability of killing Russian troops unless it lands directly in a trench (and even if it does land in a trench, a high-explosive round will only spread shrapnel in the trench sector within the line of sight of the point of detonation, the analysts note) a DPICM round spreads 72 submunitions over a significant area, having a far more lethal impact.

Dangerous precedent?
In a significant statement, the EIB Vice President said that the bank was not planning to make any future investments in China and that brings a huge opportunity for India.

European Investment Bank is in the final stages of negotiations to announce 500 million euros in funding for the Indian government. Earlier this year the EIB had committed to investing one billion euros in India's green hydrogen sector . Speaking exclusively to CNBC TV18, Kris Peeters the Vice President for EU Investment Bank said, "EIB is working on important negotiations towards the first phase of its investments in renewable energy. We are going to invest not just in green hydrogen but on onshore wind mills and solar panels sector."

Peeters said the European private sector is very keen on exploring opportunities in India's green hydrogen and electrolyzer manufacturing program. "We at EIB are seeing what European electrolyser maker John Cokerill can do not just in Europe but also in India," he said.

In a significant statement, the EIB Vice President said that the bank was not planning to make any future investments in China and that brings a huge opportunity for India.

"The world is looking to India and what it is doing in energy, climate and its cities. Time for India to tell the global financing world about the huge investment opportunity that lies here," he said.

To date, the European Investment Bank has invested 4 billion euros in India , out of which 3.1 billion euros has gone towards infrastructure and sustainable transport programmes in Lucknow, Bangalore, Pune, Bhopal, Kanpur and Agra.

Peeters said, the EIB, the climate financing bank of Europe is making an investment of 10 billion euros outside Europe every year, and a large chunk of it could go to India. The EIB is also a part of the industry led, Indian Hydrogen Alliance.
Seoul, South Korea (CNN)  Raising a child in South Korea is no easy task. By the time their toddlers can walk, many parents have already begun scouting out elite private preschools.

Their goal? That by the time these toddlers turn 18 they will have grown into students able to ace the countrys notoriously uncompromising, eight-hour national college entrance exam known as the Suneung and win their place in a prestigious university.

But getting to this point involves an arduous, expensive journey that takes its toll on both parents and children alike. Its a system widely blamed by researchers, policymakers, teachers and parents for a litany of problems, from inequality in education to mental illness in the young and even the countrys plummeting fertility rate.

Hoping to solve some of these issues, the South Korean government took a controversial step this week: making the college entrance exam easier.

Officials will remove so-called killer questions from the Suneung, also known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said in a news briefing Monday.

These notoriously difficult questions sometimes include material that isnt covered in public school curricula, Lee said, lending an unfair advantage to students with access to private tutoring. He added that while it was a personal choice for parents and children to seek tutoring, many feel forced to do so due to the intense competition to do well in the exam.

The ministry seeks to break the vicious cycle of private education that increases the burden for parents and subsequently erodes fairness in education, Lee vowed.

Mind-bending questions and a life-changing exam

By the time South Korean teenagers enter high school, much of their lives revolve around academic results and preparing for the day of the CSAT  a date that is widely seen as making or breaking ones future.

They have good reason to be anxious; the killer questions range from headache-inducing advanced calculus to obscure literary excerpts.

The ministry published several sample questions this week, drawn from past CSAT tests and mock exams, to illustrate the types of problems that would be removed in future tests.

One question, combining math concepts such as the differentiation of composite functions, was deemed more complicated than those covered in public schools, which can cause psychological burden on test takers, the ministry wrote. Another sample question asked test takers to analyze a lengthy passage about the philosophy of consciousness.

In the face of such tough odds, most Korean students enroll in extra tutoring or classes at private cram schools known as hagwons. Its common for students to go from their regular school classes straight to evening hagwon sessions, and then to continue studying by themselves into the early morning hours.

As a result, the hagwon industry in South Korea is massive, and profitable. In 2022, South Koreans spent a total of 26 trillion won (almost $20 billion) on private education, according to the Ministry of Education.

Thats almost as much as the GDP of such nations as Haiti ($21 billion) and Iceland ($25 billion).

Last year, the average student across elementary, middle and high schools spent 410,000 Korean won (about $311) per month on private education, said Lee  the highest figure since the education ministry began tracking figures in 2007.

Cycle of inequality

Hagwons have become so prevalent in South Korea that last year 78.3% of all students from elementary to high school participated in private education, according to the education ministry. That places huge pressure on the few families and students who cant afford the extra classes.

And the competition for university admission is steeper in a country where nearly 70% of students enter higher education  a higher proportion than in other wealthy nations, with the United States at 51% and the United Kingdom at 57%, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Its why many South Korean parents, across various income brackets, pour their resources into their childrens education, for fear they will fall behind otherwise.

But this system deepens and perpetuates educational inequality, experts argue. The burden is significantly higher for poorer families, who tend to spend a much higher proportion of their income on their childrens education compared to wealthier households. And still, the playing field remains uneven, with studies showing a clear gap in student achievement between low and high income families.

On Monday, the education minister singled out hagwons for criticism, accusing them of being private education cartels that profit off the anxiety of parents and students.

Parents, teachers and educational professionals all want the government to take an active role so that private education can be absorbed into the (public) school education, Lee said, promising to make the system fair and to eradicate hagwon culture.

To this end, the government has set up a temporary call center for residents to report wrongdoings by hagwons and private academies, he said.

He added that the government will also provide more after-school and tutoring programs within the public sector, and provide better childcare services to prevent students from being cornered into attending hagwons.

The cost of excellence

This educational rat race also takes a heavy toll on both students and parents.

Critics have long argued that the burden on students is one factor driving a mental health crisis in the country, which has the highest suicide rate among OECD nations.

Last year, the Ministry of Health warned that the suicide rate was increasing among teenagers and young adults in their 20s, partly due to the lingering effects of the pandemic.

A 2022 government survey added to the grim picture. Of the nearly 60,000 middle and high school students surveyed nationwide, almost a quarter of males and one in three females reported experiencing depression.

In a previous report, nearly half of Korean youth aged 13 to 18 cited education as their biggest worry.

Education weighs heavily for parents, too. Experts believe the staggering expenses are a major factor behind South Koreans growing reluctance to have children  along with other burdens like long working hours, stagnant wages and sky-high housing costs.

South Korea is regularly ranked the most expensive place in the world to raise a child from birth to age 18, in large part due to the cost of education. Many couples feel they must focus their resources on just one child, if they have kids at all.

Last year, the countrys fertility rate, already the worlds lowest, fell to a record low of 0.78  not even half the 2.1 needed for a stable population and far below even that of Japan (1.3), currently the worlds grayest nation.

The costs of child-raising are high, and represent a large part of the budget of low-income families. Without additional income, having a child leads to a lower standard of living, and low-income families face a poverty risk, said the OECD in a 2018 paper, adding that giving up or postponing childbearing is one way to avoid poverty.

The government itself has long grappled with this issue, saying in 2008 that families were heavily burdened by excessive spending in childcare and education. Without new policies to reduce this burden, the country risks further exacerbating the problem of low birth rates in our society, it warned.

A step in the right direction?

Efforts to fix the problem so far have proved largely ineffective. The government has spent more than $200 billion over the past 16 years to encourage more people to have children, with little to show for it.

Activists say South Korea needs deeper change instead, such as dismantling entrenched gender norms and introducing more support for working parents.

Targeting the CSAT, some hope, could be a step in that direction. Some groups, such as the civic organization The World Without Worry About Private Education, welcomed the decision, saying it was necessary to prevent children from being immersed in excessive competition.

But others arent convinced, with some critics online calling it a surface-level solution to a more complex issue, coming as the government looks to shore up support ahead of next years general election.

And many high school seniors, preparing to take the exam in November, have complained they feel blindsided by the abrupt change after spending years studying material they thought would be included. Some agreed the private education sector needed reform, but doubted the effectiveness of this move.

From the standpoint of a current high school senior, I dont think private tutoring will decrease just because killer questions are eliminated, one user posted on Instagram.

Another wrote on Twitter: I think the way to get rid of the private education craze is not to remove killer questions or lower the difficulty of the CSAT, but to improve the job market environment where regardless of your educational background, you can work at a safe place, receive a sufficient wage, and have human rights guaranteed.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "South Korea is cutting killer questions from an 8-hour exam some blame for a fertility rate crisis."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  There is no legal issue with the possible transfer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH), to the Office of the President (OP), according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"We advise that there is no legal issue on the possible transfer of the PhilHealth to the OP as it is a legitimate exercise of the president's power of control over the executive department, bureaus, and offices, which justifies an executive action to carry out reorganization measures to ensure an efficient bureaucracy," DOJ Usec. Raul Vasquez said in a written legal opinion.

In a letter dated June 26, Vasquez wrote to DOH Usec. Kenneth Ronquillo and the Presidential Management Staff in response to their request for a legal opinion on the proposal, which DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa claimed would improve efficiency at the government health insurance.

Citing the Administrative Code of 1987, Vasquez pointed out that the president may reorganize his office "to achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency in government."

As the proposed transfer of PhilHealth is within the prerogative of the president to streamline the implementation of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), Vasquez said the DOJ expects no legal problems should the transfer ensue.

The Universal Health Care (UHC) law mandates that the national government pay the premiums of people classified as indirect contributors. All Filipinos are required by the same law to be enrolled in the government's NHIP through PhilHealth.

Vasquez explained that a joint congressional oversight committee is tasked to regularly review the implementation of the UHC, while the NHIP "shall provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health services" for Filipinos.

He noted that PhilHealth itself is responsible for submitting to the president and to Congress an annual report on the implementation of the NHIP.

A senator earlier expressed alarm about the transfer proposal, saying the DOH should not abandon its responsibilities in carrying out the UHC law.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  The Bureau of Immigration is on alert against recurring illegal recruitment targeting former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it intercepted two women attempting to leave earlier this month.

The modus operandi of these unscrupulous individuals involves using the records of legitimate contracts to facilitate their departure under false pretenses, while actually redirecting them to work illegally in a different country, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Monday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon, Immigration Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said the target are former OFWs.

Ang OFW kasi kapag may previous work sila abroad, ang kanilang presentation sa immigration officer ay babalik sila, said Mabulac.

[Translation: Since they previously worked abroad, OFWs can present themselves to the immigration officer as someone whod be going back to the country they have been to.]

According to the Bureau of Immigration, the two Filipinas were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. One was bound for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the other for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Mabulac said the BI and the Department of Migrant Workers are dealing with the illegal recruitment activities.

Iimbestigahan natin na dapat, kapag umaalis sila para magtrabaho, mayroon silang overseas employment certificate at dumaan sila sa proseso ng ating batas, Mabulac said.

[Translation: We will investigate that when they leave to work, they must have an overseas employment certificate and go through the process as required by law.]

The next time, maa-alert tayo. Kapag nag-attempt sila, makikita natin kung this time na aalis sila, compliant na sila, Mabulac said. Ang ine-ensure natin na every time na aalis sila, according to their purpose, dapat may kaukulang document sila pine-presenta.

[Translation: We will be more alert next time. If they attempt to leave the country, we will check if they are compliant. We will ensure that if they leave, according to their purpose, they should present their corresponding documents.]

Mabulac said illegal recruitment is usually posted online, particularly through the platform TikTok.

This incident serves as a reminder to all returning OFWs to exercise caution and be vigilant in their dealings with recruiters, said Tansingco.

READ: BI reminds OFWs to be vigilant against employment scams
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Three policemen from the Manila Police District (MPD) allegedly involved in robbery and extortion at a computer shop in the city surrendered to authorities on Monday.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the three cops who surrendered to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission are part of a group of five policemen seen on security camera footage robbing a computer shop in Barangay 525 in Sampaloc, Manila on the night of July 11.

The PNP said the group forcibly entered the shop and then introduced themselves as police officers conducting an operation against illegal gambling.

The five allegedly accused the 73-year-old owner of the shop of involvement in an illegal gambling den before they took the shops earnings amounting to 44,000.

The PNP said the policemen had no search warrant and were not in uniform.

The suspects also allegedly demanded from the shop owner weekly protection money worth 4,000.

PNP chief PGen Benjamin Acorda Jr. earlier ordered police units to assist the MPD in tracking down the five cops.

In a press briefing on Monday at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo said Acorda is expecting that the five MPD policemen would be accounted for within the week, especially since the MPD leadership declared them as absent without official leave.

Our chief PNP has already instructed the Intelligence Group (IG) and the IMEG (Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group) to help in the conduct of the manhunt operation against these five policemen, said Fajardo.

Hopefully, there would be positive results this week and the District Director of MPD, PBGen Andre Dizon, is also confident that with the help of the IG and IMEG, they would be able to get them, she added.

All five cops are from the MPD Police Intelligence Operations Unit. Fajardo said they are facing criminal and administrative charges.

Kung natatandaan niyo yung sinabi ng Chief PNP before, for those PNP personnel who will be reported involved in any illegal drug activities, hindi lamang sila ang iimbestigahan, pati na rin yung kanilang team leader, yung immediate supervisor up to the station commanders. Kung may makikita na failure on the part of their chief of police ay magkakaroon ng sanction ito under the doctrine of command responsibility, she explained.

[Translation: It can be recalled that the Chief PNP said personnel reported to be involved in any illegal drug activities will be investigated along with their team leader, immediate supervisor, all the way up to the station commanders. If failure on the part of the chief of police is determined, there will be sanctions under the doctrine of command responsibility.]

She added that the MPD also sent personnel to provide security for the victim.

The policemen's involvement in the incident also resulted in the relief of around 50 cops assigned to the unit, including its head.

The two other cops implicated in the crime are still in hiding.

CNN Philippines' Crissy Dimatulac and Pia Garcia contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Customs authorities have confiscated 240 million worth of counterfeit items, including knockoffs of luxury fashion brands Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, at the Port of Subic.

In a statement over the weekend, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said authorities intercepted two 40-foot shipping containers of fake goods.

The shipments were initially reported as t-shirts but were later found to have logos and designs of known brands.

Counterfeit branded merchandises include logos of Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, Lacoste, GAP, Nike, Zara, Reebok, and others.

The BOC said the shipments violated Intellectual Property Rights regulations.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, together with District Collector Talusan and in partnership with other authorities, discovered 1,269 boxes of counterfeit products bearing trademarks and copyrighted materials without the required authorization from the rights holders, the BOC said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Authorities on Monday assured jeepney drivers that the feared phaseout of traditional jeepneys will not happen yet.

There would still be a phaseout, but this would happen two or three years from now, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III told CNN Philippines The Source.

Prior to the planned three-day strike that will start on July 24, Manibela held a protest in March against the phaseout of traditional jeepneys and the mandatory consolidation of franchises, which are part of the governments public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

Guadiz said based on at least 40 consultations conducted by government, the general concern of the transportation sector is the jeepney phaseout.

However, he said he already assured jeepney drivers that they can continue plying their routes if their vehicles are found to be roadworthy, or if they pass the basic tests of the Land Transportation Office.

For those who will be displaced once the fleet modernization starts, Guadiz said the government has a social support program ready for them.

For now, the LTFRB wants to focus on completing industry consolidation.

Guadiz said that as of June 30, over 63% or 100,349 of more than 158,000 jeepney units have been consolidated.

Meanwhile, over 72% or 14,484 of more than 19,000 UV Express units have complied with the program.

The LTFRB hopes to consolidate at least 90% of jeepneys and UV Express vans by December 30.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Monday said she will talk with national government agencies in a bid to keep on servicing around 300,000 residents affected by the territorial dispute with Taguig City.

"Sa susunod na mga araw, makipag-ugnayan at makikipag-tulungan ang inyong lingkod at ang city government sa mga kaukulang departamento at ahensya ng national government," she said in a video posted on the city's official Facebook page.

"Hahanap kami ng paraan para maipagpatuloy ng Makati ang pagtulong at paglilingkod sa inyo (affected residents)," she added.

[Translation: In the coming days, we will coordinate and seek help from the appropriate departments and agencies in the national government. We will find a way to keep on providing Makati's services to the affected residents.]

Last April, the Supreme Court announced that it resolved with finality declaring the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation (BMR), which includes lifestyle and business district Bonifacio Global City (BGC), as part of Taguig. The resolution was dated Sept. 28, 2022.

The government of Makati City said this covers 10 residential barangays in its second district with an estimated population of 300,000, namely Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside.

Makati's legal officer, Don Camina, earlier said the court decision will have "far-reaching consequences" on the stability of businesses in affected areas.

He added that it "could also prejudice the right to vote and the access to vital services of both Makati and Taguig residents."

The city then filed its second motion for reconsideration to challenge the ruling but the high court refused to entertain it, citing its September 2022 verdict.

In the video, Binay said their government has yet to receive a copy of the decision but clarified they will respect the Supreme Court's ruling.

Last July 1, the local government of Taguig asked Makati City for a "coordinated and orderly transition" of affected villages, assuring it is prepared to "take on the responsibility of governing your communities."

But Binay is adamant that the Taguig government cannot match the service her city can provide to the locals. She said the city has allocated over 9 billion for services for the Makati population in 2022.

"Hindi lahat ng serbisyo at benepisyo na ibinibigay ng Makati ay ibinibigay o kayang tapatan ng Taguig, maging sa dami o sa kalidad," she said.

[Translation: Not all services and benefits given by Makati can be provided or matched by Taguig, in quantity or quality.]

Some of the benefits the residents may lose are in the services for education, health, and cash allowance for the elderly, she said.

Binay said some affected residents are in an "uproar" due to the decision, with others asking if protests should be formed.

"There is an uproar. May mga umiiyak, may mga nagagalit (Many residents are crying and angry). There are people who are asking if they can still (hold a) rally (at the) Supreme Court," the mayor told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

"What needs to be done is to assure them that Taguig would be able to provide the same benefits that they are receiving in Makati. That is what needs to be heard," she added.

The mayor said Taguig's earlier announcement of giving scholarship grants to senior high school graduates from the affected Makati citizens, amounting to at most 50,000 yearly, is impossible.

Binay pointed out that basic guidelines on policies for benefits, such as holding out college scholarships for senior high school Makati graduates due to lack of residential years in Taguig, are vague for the 3,500 students.

Binay told the affected people that even if her hands are tied, the Makati government is ready to serve and help them.

"Handa ako, at ang inyong city government, na tulungan kayo. Saan man kayo mapunta, kayo ay mananatiling mga Makatizen," she said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration has made significant progress for the Philippines, a year after he assumed the presidency.

That's what I want to explain to people that we have made significant progress, Marcos told reporters Monday when asked about his preparations for his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems work, how the government works, it is also how we are seen or judged in the international community. That's equally important, the president added, without elaborating.

Marcos said his report to the people would be very simple.

It's just a performance report for Filipinos to see sa dami ng mga pronouncements, sa dami ng mga salita, kung ito ba ay talagang may kabuluhan, he said.

[Translation: It's just a performance report for Filipinos to see in the number of pronouncements, in the number of promises, if they come to fruition.]

Marcos is set to deliver his second SONA on July 24.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to support laws that would elevate the plight of women and the LGBTQ+ community, as the latter is set to deliver his second SONA on July 24.

Bilang chairperson ng Senate Committee on Women, [sa tingin ko] hindi dapat kaligtaan ng presidente ang pinakabunerable sa ating lipunan, lalo na nag kababaihan, kabataan at ang LGBTQIA+ community, Hontiveros told reporters.

[Translation: As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, I think the president should not neglect the vulnerable sectors in our society, especially women, the youth and the LGBTQIA+ community.]

Hontiveros said laws such as the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act and the Gender Responsive and Inclusive Pandemic Management Act are still pending in the legislature.

Ang batang pagbubuntis ay isang social epidemic na kailangan nang lutasin, Hontiveros said. Kitang-kita nitong pandemya na triple ang hirap na naranasan ng kababaihan  mula sa paglala ng domestic violence hanggang sa kakulangan ng sexual and reproductive health access.

[Translation: Teenage pregnancy is a social epidemic that needs to be solved. We see that during this pandemic, women experienced triple hardships from the worsening domestic violence up to the lack of sexual and reproductive health access.]

Hontiveros said once the https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3463731456!.pdfGender Responsive and Inclusive Pandemic Management Act is passed, addressing the gender-differentiated need of women during national emergency responses will be institutionalized.

The senator also said she still hopes the president will support the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill, as Marcos promised during his presidential campaign to advocate laws protecting the LGBTQ+ community.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Joel Villanueva earlier said the SOGIE bill is not considered a priority measure as more important bills need to be passed.

READ: SOGIE bill 'not a priority,' says Villanueva

However, the Commission on Human Rights called for a swift progress of the SOGIE bill, stressing that the LGBTQ+ community faces different kinds of discrimination.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, meanwhile, said the president is likely to approve an advisory body or commission on LGBTQ+ affairs under his office.

READ: Marcos seen to approve presidential LGBTQ advisory body  first lady
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  The multispecialty medical center that will be built in Clark Freeport Zone is expected to be finished before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. steps down in 2028, an official said.

According to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Alejandro Tengco, the first building may be completed in two years.

Taon-taon magkakaroon ng multi-year funding ang ibat ibang building. Kung tayo ay papalarin, baka bago mag-2028 ay matapos natin lahat ng building, he said on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Clark Multi-specialty Medical Center in Pampanga.

[Translation: Every year buildings will secure multi-year funding. If we get lucky, we can complete all the buildings before 2028.]

Pagcor, in partnership with the Clark Development Corporation, Department of Health, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, lead the construction of the medical facility.

The facility, which will be constructed on a 5.7-hectare property in Clark Freeport Zone, will specialize in four medical disciplines: pediatric, renal, cardiovascular, and oncology.

I am happy that the province of Pampanga, Region 3, will again have this additional medical facility. It will also cater to patients not only from Region 3, but Regions 1, 2 and Metro Manila for the specialties in the heart, kidney, cancer and pediatric ailments, the President said during his speech at the ceremony.

Marcos also reiterated his administrations target of improving Filipinos access to healthcare services.

We will establish rural healthcare units. We will establish barangay centers. We will establish botika de barangay. We will go back to that idea. All of these things we are putting together so that at least when it comes to the fundamental healthcare for our countrymen that we can say is readily available to them, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  The top official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) said Monday that the agency spent over 3 million not just for the new logo itself, as the winning project bidder also had other deliverables.

I don't think the critics or the masses were aware. Hindi lamang 3 million yung logo lang. There are so many other deliverables na ipagkakaloob ng designer tulad po ng mga manual, Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco told members of media during a chance interview on Monday.

[Translation: The 3 million did not only cover the logo. There were so many other deliverables that the designer would need to provide, such as manuals.]

Despite criticisms, Tengco maintained that the new logo would be used in Pagcors properties across the Philippines.

Gagamitin po iyan sa mga stationaries. Gagamitin iyan sa mga envelopes. So mali yung pagiisip na yung 3 million ay para sa logo lang, he added.

[Translation: Were going to use it for our stationaries, envelopes. So its wrong to think that the 3 million was only for the logo.]

Pagcor unveiled its new logo during the agency's 40th anniversary celebration on July 11.

The logo, which resembles a flame with shades of blue and red, "symbolizes the flame that ignites change and drives progress," Tengco earlier said.

A House resolution was filed last week seeking an investigation into the gaming regulators new logo after it drew public backlash.

READ: Makabayan seeks probe on 3-M Pagcor logo; gaming body refutes plagiarism allegations

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also expressed his desire to launch a probe into the questionable logo.

We should look into the issues of cost and copying. More importantly, on the need or lack of it of a new logo, Rodriguez said.

I would like to know the rationale behind the unnecessary change and the expenditure of 3 million in taxpayers money, he added.

The lawmaker also urged Pagcor to drop the new logo, and instead intensify its fight against illegal gaming activities.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday took Malacanang to task for what she called its deafening silence on the seventh anniversary of the countrys arbitral victory in its maritime row with China.

Speaking before the Kapihan sa Senado, Hontiveros questioned why the Palace did not issue any statement, even after the Chinese Embassy in Manila dismissed the arbitral ruling as illegal, null, and void.

Pagkatapos mag-statement ang Chinese Embassy ng kanilang pagbasura sa ating tagumpay sa Arbitral Ruling, wala man lang kibo ang Palasyo? The silence is deafening, Hontiveros told reporters.

[Translation: After the statement of the Chinese Embassy dismissing the Philippines victory in the Arbitral Ruling, there was no reaction from the Palace? The silence is deafening.]

Hontiveros said the administration should not have stopped with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalos statement commemorating the arbitration win, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should make a strong, categorical statement during his second State of the Nation Address on July 24.

RELATED: More nations reaffirm support for PH on 7th anniversary of WPS ruling

Sana sa SONA (State of the Nation Address) sabihin na niya (Marcos) finally, categorically na pinanghahawakan din niya at itataguyod din niya yung tagumpay natin sa Hague tribunal kasi wala pa siyang ganyang categorical public commitment and I think thats what we need in order to bring the full force of the executive behind this victory, Hontiveros said.

[Translation: I hope that during the SONA, Marcos can finally say, categorically, that he upholds and promotes our victory in winning the Hague tribunal since he has yet to have a categorical public commitment and I think thats what we need in order to bring the full force of the executive behind this victory.]

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) last week launched a microsite on the Philippines-China maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, which provides resources relevant to the subject.

The site's title "Not One Inch" was attributed to President Marcos' previous statement that the country would not lose an inch of its territory.

Hontiveros earlier filed a resolution urging the DFA to formally raise Chinas incursions before the United Nations General Assembly and call on Beijing to "stop the harassment" of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate President Migz Zubiri expressed support for the measure.

We should present to the UN (United Nations) the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, Zubiri said in a statement.

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 the freedom of navigation, he added.

Zubiri said the resolution will be tackled in the plenary on Tuesday and that he expects it to secure the vote of the majority.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Authorities identified another fugitive in the raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Las Pinas City in June.

In a press briefing on Monday, Philippine National Police spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo said the fugitive is among the five Chinese executives of Xinchuang Network Technology, Inc. which authorities searched based on a warrant.

Yung pinaka-last po na na-discover po na pugante ay sa China. Ito po ay lumalabas na isa sa mga subject ng search warrant at tumatayo bilang big bosses sa Xinchuang company or dating Hongtai, said Fajardo.

[Translation: The last fugitive discovered was from China. This person appears to be the subject of a search warrant and is one of the big bosses of the Xinchuang company, or formerly Hongtai.]

Investigations revealed that the person is from Fujian province and is the subject of a warrant of detention issued by the Public Security Bureau in China over charges of illegal business.

On July 5, 2023, the Anti Cybercrime Group turned over seven foreign nationals to the Bureau of Immigrations Fugitive Special Unit.

After a thorough investigation and cross-referencing of identities with embassy records, it was determined that these fugitives were wanted in their respective countries for various serious crimes including contract fraud, drug trafficking, telecom fraud, and theft.

Meantime, authorities also discovered that two of the rescued victims from the June raid were minors.

One is a 17-year-old Indonesian and the other is a 17-year-old Malaysian.

To address the unique needs of the rescued minors, they are currently undergoing comprehensive processing under the care of a social worker from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the help of an interpreter.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  Some members of the LGBTQIA+ community have agreed to make adjustments to the bill seeking to penalize discrimination based on one's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC), principal author Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday.

Mga amyenda kaugnay ng academic freedom, parental authority tungkol doon sa ikinatatakot ng iba na marriage license na wala naman doon sa bill, gagawing categorical yun, Hontiveros told the Kapihan sa Senado without going into detail.

[Translation: Amendments related to academic freedom, parental authority, and a categorical provision that states marriage licenses are not covered in the bill.]

Critics fear the SOGIESC bill would pave the way for same-sex marriage, even as the Senate bill does not include a marriage license in the list of documents that should not be denied someone on the basis of SOGIESC.

Hontiveros said advocates have agreed to put an explicit exemption, but this and other changes can only be made once the committee report is reverted to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality that she chairs.

The Senate Committee on Rules, headed by Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, has yet to decide on which committee should handle subsequent hearings on the SOGIESC bill. Hontiveros, who is also a member of the committee, said she talked to Villanueva about the compromises the advocates are willing to make, but has yet to receive a specific reaction.

Other colleagues welcomed the development, Hontiveros said.

Yung community sa sobrang pag-effort nila dito ay nag-adjust na, at nung naikwento ko sa mga kasamang senador yung mga amyenda na handa silang ibigay, doon pa lang sa committee report, ay sabi nga nila okay thats good news, she said.

[Translation: The community already expressed openness to the adjustments in the committee report, and when I shared this with some senators, they said okay, thats good news.]

CNN Philippines has requested a comment from Villanueva, who is also the son of Rep. Eddie Villanueva, Jesus is Lord church founder.

The younger Villanueva earlier said a number of colleagues have expressed reservations on the SOGIESC bill and are seeking a more comprehensive anti-discrimination measure.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will file a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court after it ordered the next barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to be held on December 2025, the same year as the next midterm polls.

The Comelec will be filing a motion for reconsideration doon po sa naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Hindi bilang hindi kami sumasang-ayon. Sumasang-ayon kami sa lahat ng sinabi ng Korte Suprema sa guidelines ng pag-postpone, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said at the first-ever Procurement Summit.

Subalit yung sa amin po yung pagco-conduct ng eleksyon within the same year ng national at local tsaka yun. Sa aming palagay, may nakikita po kami na dapat i-clarify ng mabuti yung issue na yun, he said.

[Translation: The Comelec will be filing a motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court decision. Not because we disagree. We are with what the Supreme Court said about the guidelines on postponement. But for us, the elections would be held in the same year as national and local polls. In our opinion, the issue needs to be clarified thoroughly.]

The Comelec chief said they have directed the Office of the Solicitor General to file a necessary motion for reconsideration once they receive the full copy of the decision.

Naghihintay kami ano ba yung mismong nakalagay sa desisyon. Baka kasi iba ang nakalagay na wordings doon and kung ma-satisfy ang Comelec, then the Comelec might not decide to file an MR. But in the meantime, based doon sa nailabas na statement mula sa ating Supreme Court, we will be filing a motion for reconsideration, Garcia said.

[Translation: We are waiting to see what's really in the decision. There might be something different in the wordings and if the Comelec is satisfied, then the Comelec might not decide to file an MR. But in the meantime, based on the statement released by the Supreme Court, we will be filing a motion for reconsideration.]

The high court earlier declared as unconstitutional Republic Act 11935 or the law postponing the barangay and SK elections to October 2023. Despite the unconstitutionality, it said the local polls should push through on October 30 due to necessity.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/6/27/supreme-court-law-bske-postponement-unconstitutional.html

After October 2023, the Supreme Court said the next BSKE must be held on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter.

Garcia expressed concern over conducting the next barangay and SK elections during the same year of the national elections.

Kung ganun din lang ang sinasabi na ituloy na ang eleksyon nang October. So tuloy na. Ibig sabihin, valid ang October election. Eh di kung bibilangin mo three years ng October so dapat 2026. Yun ang contention ng Commission on Elections, he said.

[Translation: If they're saying that the election should be in October, so be it. That means the October election is valid. If you count three years after October, so it should be 2026. That is the contention of the Commission on Elections.]

Garcia earlier said preparing for two elections to be held in the same year is not new for the Comelec, but it will be challenging schedule-wise and if the necessary budget is not approved. He said P25 billion is needed as preparatory budget to conduct an automated election, whether national or local.

Ang problem talaga namin is kung automated ang BSKE, so dapat makasama sa budget ng 2024 yung budget na preparatory sa BSKE, Garcia explained.

Ipapakiusap po ng Comelec na sana dagdagan ng P2,000 across the board ang lahat ng mga teachers natin sa 2025 elections. Nararapat lang po ito dahil wala silang tax exemption. Bagong sistema po ito, bagong proseso, he added.

[Translation: The problem really is if the BSKE is automated, so the 2024 budget should include the preparatory budget of the BSKE. The Comelec will request that teachers be given an additional P2,000 across the board for the 2025 elections. That's just right because they have no tax exemption. This is a new system, a new process.]

The Comelec chief also said there is a need to follow the law that says elected barangay and SK officials must serve for three years.

Sa aming palagay, we have to respect yung three years and equally the term of office, in the same manner na gusto natin maging regular ang election. Regular ang conduct of election dapat predictable din, dapat alam mo rin yung term of office ng barangay at SK, Garcia explained.

[Translation: For us, we have to respect the three years and equally the term of office, in the same manner that we prefer a regular election. If the conduct of elections is regular, the term of office of the barangay and SK should also be predictable.]

The Comelec says its preparations for the 2023 barangay and SK elections are nearly complete, except for the printing of 1.3 million additional ballots. The poll body will begin dispatching and deploying election-related cargo to offices of provincial, city and municipal treasurers on August 1.

The Comelec earlier said it will conduct pilot testing of the automated election system (AES) for the BSKE in specified areas in Quezon City and Dasmarinas City for the 2023 polls.

The barangay and SK elections are scheduled for October 30.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calls on Filipinos to embrace technology as the administration pushes for the digitalization of government processes.

"With the power of technology, we can break barriers and bridge gaps in ways that we have never been able to do before," Marcos said on Monday.

Marcos led the launch of the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU) System and the Peoples Feedback Mechanism (eReport), which are components of the Department of Information and Communications (DICT) eGov PH Super App.

The president said the eLGU and eReport will help eliminate layers of bureaucracy as he urges all national agencies and LGUs to collaborate with the DICT.

"I am optimistic this system will be used to help curb criminality, lawlessness and ensure immediate responses to various incidents around the country thereby making our communities safer for everyone," Marcos said.

DICT chief Ivan John Uy and Interior and local government chief Benjamin Abalos joined Marcos during the launch.

Abalos said 58% of all LGUs are currently implementing online business permitting systems.

He believes the eLGU system will fast track efforts to digitalize LGUs. It covers various local government services such as business permit licensing, notice of violations, health certificates, local civil registry, and real property tax.

"The eLGU initiative represents a paradigm shift in our way of delivering public service," Abalos said.
South Park fans may find that the real Douche v. Turd debate isnt between presidential candidates  its between streaming platforms.

This past February, Warner Bros. Discovery filed a massive, $200 million lawsuit against Paramount Global over a 2019 deal made between the two megacompanies that David Zaslavs company claims was supposed to secure exclusive streaming rights for South Park. Lo and behold, when Paramount launched their own streaming service, Paramount+, in 2021, Warner claims that loopholes and exceptions built into the half-billion dollar deal put South Park content on the new streaming platform. Despite their deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount seemed poised to use Trey Parker and Matt Stones masterpiece series to bolster their bid in the subscriber wars, even claiming in early 2022 that they will be South Parks global streaming hub by 2025.

In the midst of multiple Hollywood strikes, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramout+ are united on the issue of Lets screw over everyone who actually creates the content, but theyre ready to pour millions of dollars in legal resources into fighting over the question of Who gets Towelie?

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Defendants Motion has the dubious distinction of trying to downplay while simultaneously highlighting the very misconduct which forced Plaintiff to file this suit, a WBD representative wrote in a motion to toss out Paramounts partial motion to dismiss the suit entirely  the Chewbacca Defense would be much easier to follow than whatever this is.

WBD continued, The reality is that Defendant South Park Digital Studios agreed that Plaintiffs HBO Max streaming platform would be the exclusive destination for consumers looking to stream new episodes of the popular comedy series South Park. They asserted, Defendants came to regret having granted these exclusive streaming rights to Plaintiff when Paramount Global launched its own streaming platform, Paramount+.

Regardless of what the eventual outcome of this expensive legal battle may be, one thing is clear  if you ask Parker and Stone, the millions to hundreds-of-millions of dollars spent on legal fees and settlements would all be better spent on something that will actually improve the world. Something like renovating Casa Bonita.
Interview: 65 years on, Cambodia-China ties reach new heights -- senior gov't official

Xinhua) 15:11, July 17, 2023

PHNOM PENH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The bilateral "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework has elevated Cambodia-China ties to new heights as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a Cambodian senior government official said.

Cambodian government chief spokesman Phay Siphan said mutual strategic trust, support, and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference and win-win cooperation have boosted the ironclad friendship between both countries even stronger and unbreakable.

"The two countries have always moved ahead together rain or shine thanks to close ties and cooperation," he told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

Siphan said the bilateral "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, established by both countries in February, would boost the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.

The framework has been focused on six priority areas, including political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

"Our bilateral relations have been subsequently elevated from one level to another, reaching higher and higher," he said.

"This framework is another foundation to further solidify the Cambodia-China friendship," he said.

As 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Siphan said the initiative has provided tremendous benefits to Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction.

"Under the BRI, Cambodia has received a lot of benefits and the whole ASEAN has considered the BRI as a foundation for social development in our region," he said.

He said the BRI has promoted peace, international cooperation and development and that the initiative has neither created enmity towards any country nor blocked the development of others.

"Under the BRI, no country in the region have been isolated, but they have been connected, linking Asia, ASEAN with China, which is a huge market with a population of over 1.4 billion," Siphan said.

He said under the BRI, many mega-projects such as hydropower plants, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Phnom Penh-Sihanouk Expressway, the Morodok Techo National Stadium, the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport and the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway have been carried out in Cambodia.

"These mega-projects have importantly contributed to accelerating sustainable socioeconomic and tourism development in Cambodia," he said.

The BRI, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was initiated by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

According to official statistics, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have signed documents under the BRI framework as of Jan. 6.

Siphan said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), effective since 2022, have greatly boosted Cambodia's export and economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, Cambodia's export to China was valued at 713.2 million U.S. dollars during the January-June period of 2023, an increase of 16.6 percent from 611.5 million dollars over the same period last year.

Siphan said the two pacts are a magnet to attract more foreign investors, especially from China, to the country.

"These trade pacts will help Cambodia graduate from its least developed status by 2027 and become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050," he said.

Siphan said all these cooperation mechanisms have provided vigorous momentum to the building of a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
There are sites that are classified as Green Belt that we want to build on,' Lisa Nandy proudly declared during her media rounds last week.

The Shadow Levelling Up Secretary has pledged to take on the 'taboo' of building on undeveloped land, as part of Labour's plan to solve the housing crisis within ten years.

This spiel would be more convincing were it not for the fact that, back in 2016, the Wigan MP told her local newspaper: 'I believe it is wrong to consider Green Belt land for development. Green Belt land is there to prevent urban sprawl and provide space for recreation.

She's in good company. Thirty-seven Labour MPs in England have spoken out against such schemes  no fewer then eight of whom are Labour frontbenchers.

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Pat McFadden, said of plans in his Wolverhampton constituency: 'I am opposed to these proposals and want to see this beautiful and much-loved area preserved as part of the Green Belt.'

The Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, Lisa Nandy (pictured) has pledged to take on the 'taboo' of building on undeveloped land, as part of Labour's plan to solve the housing crisis within ten years

Peter Kyle, the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, backed a campaign against a development in his Hove constituency.

The list goes on. Surely it's only a matter of time before we have another screeching U-turn from the Labour leader himself, Sir Keir Starmer.

The historic outfits worn by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, and his team during the Coronation procession are set to go on show for the first time. The black and gold Robe of State and lace jabot and cuffs worn by Sir Lindsay will be among the items on display when the State Apartments of Speaker's House are opened for the summer. But it is surely the fabled teal dress and hat worn by Penny Mordaunt, as she carried with such aplomb the Sword of State, that will steal the show.

Boris Johnson's former communications chief Guto Harri has revealed just how close the ex-PM once was to fellow Brexiteer Sir Bernard Jenkin, now his nemesis on the Privileges Committee which voted to suspend him from Parliament for 90 days following the Partygate inquiry. Harri told LBC's Nick Ferrari: 'They used to get on well, they agreed over plans for a Thames Estuary airport. I remember Boris ringing him up one day and singing the song Islands In The Stream to him.'

What a shame they can no longer 'rely on each other  a-ha'!

Mischievous question of the week from former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie: 'In the annual disclosure of staff salaries, the BBC reveals the 10pm news presenter Huw Edwards received a 25k rise to 439,999 due to extra work, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. That's a lot of money. I wonder what he does with it all?'

After the Huw Edwards affair, former Brexit minister Lord Frost called for a smaller, cheaper, BBC focusing on serious politics, news and the 'Western canon of music and drama'. Could the plain-speaking peer be eyeing up the vacant position of BBC Chairman? The prospect of Frost wielding the knife will surely send shudders through W1A.

Best moment in Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical, which has opened in London's Phoenix Theatre  when King Charles sings to a version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody: 'I'm just a posh boy/Nobody loves me.'

Labour MP Jess Phillips tweets: 'I do love my constituents, yesterday in evening surgery one was shocked that I was only 41 and another opened with, 'You look rough, been a long day?' '
The Indo-Pacific CPTPP is a complex acronym. Yet its significance is simple. This trade deal  the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership  gives the UK a foothold in the worlds fastest-growing economic region.

It is precisely the kind of breakthrough deal made possible by Brexit. The UK no longer has to wait for sclerotic Brussels bureaucracy, with its protectionist tendencies, to forge deals on our behalf.

Established in 2018, the CPTPP includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

It offers the immediate opportunity to sweep aside tariff restrictions among the countries involved, providing easier access to a market of 500million people and 12trillion of income.

Department for Business & Trade of Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch during a visit to Auckland for the signing of membership to CPTPP

Whereas growth rates in Europe are stalling, output in the CPTPP region is thriving with the Asia-Pacific region forecast to account for 50 per cent of global expansion between now and 2035.

Critics of the deal, signed by Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch in New Zealand at the weekend, were quick to point out that the estimated 0.08 per cent boost to Britains gross domestic product will make little short-term impact on trade losses from leaving the EU.

However, the reality is that being part of a vibrant bloc which currently accounts for 13 per cent of the worlds income is invaluable.

The biggest prospective gains come from opening the UKs booming services sector to the CPTPP. The City of London rivals New York as the worlds largest generator of financial, legal and professional services.

Critics of the deal, signed by Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch in New Zealand at the weekend, were quick to point out that the estimated 0.08 per cent boost to Britains gross domestic product will make little short-term impact on trade losses from leaving the EU

The biggest prospective gains come from opening the UKs booming services sector to the CPTPP

In addition, being part of the CPTPP should encourage further inward investment to the UK from businesses and funds based in the Asia-Pacific region. Countries in the bloc already directly employ some 400,000 people in Britains workforce.

For example, Malaysian investors are responsible for the multi-billion pound investment into South Londons iconic Battersea Power Station while Singapore has been buying up great swathes of commercial property in Britain.

Canadian investors, meanwhile, already own a chunk of Heathrow and a trading delegation was in the UK last week looking at early opportunities to buy English and Welsh lamb.

Among the products immediately expected to benefit from a more open trading regime in the Pacific are farm goods, motor vehicles, gin and whisky as well as luxury goods.

It may prove to be a slow burn. But being part of the fastest-growing regional trade grouping in the world will, over the longer haul, boost efforts to raise UK growth and prosperity.


The family of the murdered private detective Daniel Morgan are to receive a significant six-figure sum from Scotland Yard over the decades-long corruption that has blighted the hunt for his killers.

The confidential out-of-court deal is part of a reported 2million settlement including legal costs which will see the Metropolitan Police admit failings in the 36-year-old unsolved case.

Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley is expected to apologise publicly later this week for corruption, incompetence and defensiveness in the forces response to the murder, sources have confirmed.

The development comes two years after a bombshell official report into the case branded the Met institutionally corrupt and accused it of more than 30 years of cover-up and incompetence.

Daniel Morgan, 37, (pictured) was found in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London on March 10, 1987. Scotland Yard has apologised to the family of Mr Morgan after documents relevant to the inquiry into his death were discovered in a locked cabinet that had not been used for a number of years

Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley (pictured) is expected to apologise publicly later this week for corruption, incompetence and defensiveness in the forces response to the murder, sources have confirmed

The Met agreed to pay compensation to the Morgan family  led by the victims campaigning brother Alastair (pictured)  18 months after they announced plans to sue the force, alleging that a decades-long cover-up of corruption was continuing

The legal agreement  approved by London mayor Sadiq Khan  marks another hugely damaging day for the force and its controversial former commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick.

The 16million independent panel report in June 2021 found that Dame Cressida personally placed hurdles in the way of the search for the truth about the axe killing of Mr Morgan in 1987.

In a damning verdict, it found her force had been more interested in protecting its reputation than in cracking what has been dubbed the most investigated unsolved murder in the history of the Metropolitan Police.

Baroness OLoan, who led the inquiry, described the institutional corruption finding as equivalent to the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which concluded the force was institutionally racist.

Dame Cressida dismissed the findings of the withering report and declined demands to resign, only to lose her job several months later after a string of scandals  including her handling of the VIP sex abuse inquiry Operation Midland  which dogged her time at the helm of Britains biggest force.

The compensation deal with the Morgan family, said to have been agreed in the last week, is a vindication of the Mails acclaimed coverage of the case, which started with a three-part series  the Met Corruption Files  in 2014.

That series and our subsequent investigations exposed suspected overlapping corruption in the Morgan and Stephen Lawrence police inquiries, and named and shamed key figures accused of criminality, including the murdered mans crooked ex business partner, Jonathan Rees.

He has denied any involvement in the killing.

No one has been brought to justice for the murder of Mr Morgan in a south London pub car park in 1987. The 37-year-old was found with an axe lodged in his skull and 1,000 in banknotes in a pocket.

After five separate criminal inquiries and an inquest, at an estimated cost of 30million, it was hoped that the eight-year panel inquiry would finally uncover the truth.

Instead, it became clear after the publication of Baroness OLoans report that the stench of institutional corruption pervading the Met meant the family are unlikely ever to get justice.

The Met agreed to pay compensation to the Morgan family  led by the victims campaigning brother Alastair  18 months after they announced plans to sue the force, alleging that a decades-long cover-up of corruption was continuing.

Despite the inquirys findings against Dame Cressida and the force, the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime  the body that oversees the Met  decided she would not face disciplinary action.

Announcing the legal claim in December 2021, the Morgan family solicitor, Raju Bhatt, said the civil claim alleged misfeasance in public office as well as breaches of the Human Rights Act.

Baroness OLoan, who led the inquiry, described the institutional corruption finding as equivalent to the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence (pictured)

Dame Cressida would be named as a defendant, with the lawsuit alleging widespread wrongdoing as identified by the inquiry report.

The claim dated back to 1987 and alleged wrongdoing immediately after the killing, when one suspect worked on the murder investigation, running through to recent years.

Mr Bhatt said: The repeated failure over decades to confront corruption includes the obstruction of the independent panels work and the response of the Met to that panels findings.

Exact details of the payout to the Morgan family are covered by a confidentiality clause but sources have confirmed that the amount of compensation (excluding legal costs) is a significant six figure sum. According to The Times, the overall settlement is worth about 2 million.
Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, and McFlurries have pretty much become synonymous with McDonald's in America.

But many will be shocked to learn that if you visit the fast-food joint in Europe, you'll find a vastly different menu filled with decadent desserts like multi-layered chocolate cake and tiramisu as well as mouthwatering dishes like deep-fried calzones and crispy chicken wings.

A food blogger named Karissa recently traveled to a series of cities across Europe, and she decided to visit a McDonald's in each one - and was stunned to discover that the items available were completely different depending on the country she was in.

A food influencer named Karissa, recently traveled to a series of cities across Europe, and she visited popular fast-food chains in each one - and was stunned to discover that the items available were completely different depending on the country she was in

From marshmallow donuts in Italy to bacon and cheese-slathered fries in Spain, the influencer has lifted a lid on some of the incredible delicacies that are offered in McDonald's across the pond.

She also visited a few Burger Kings and a Taco Bell during her travels - and similarly to McDonalds, she was blown away by all of the lavish foods that she discovered on their menus.

She shared her reviews on her TikTok account and quickly went viral, gaining millions of views and leaving many people on the web in awe - and jealous - over some of the epic items that are on the menu overseas.

Prepare to get hungry and check out all the impressive dishes that are offered at fast-food joints across Europe, which aren't available in the US.

McDonald's in Rome, Italy

The McDonald's in Rome offered an array of 'gorgeous pastries' including cakes, pies, macarons, and donuts, so naturally, Karissa struggled to decide what to order

Thanks to the opulent and impressive dessert options, she opted to only focus on its sweets

She decided to go for a 'multi-layered chocolate cake,' which came with 'rich chocolate cream' and a 'crunchy' dark chocolate ganache on top, which she called 'best thing she's ever eaten at a McDonald's'

The McDonald's in Rome offered an array of 'gorgeous pastries' including cakes, pies, macarons, and donuts, so naturally, Karissa struggled to decide what to order.

The social media star also had to try out the $2.90 tiramisu

'I wanted to try it all,' she admitted. 'But I just got a few things.'

Thanks to the opulent and impressive dessert options, she opted to only focus on its sweets.

She decided to go for a 'multi-layered chocolate cake,' which came with 'rich chocolate cream' and a 'crunchy' dark chocolate ganache on top.

It cost her $2.90 and she called it the 'best thing she's ever eaten at a McDonald's.'

She gushed after taking her first bite: 'It actually melts in your mouth.'

The social media star also had to try out the $2.90 tiramisu, which was topped with a 'fluffy mascarpone cream' and 'soft lady fingers' that were 'soaked in coffee.'

She said it was surprisingly 'not too sweet' and rated it an eight out of 10. Afterwards, she got a chocolate croissant, which was only $1.

'It was filled with a descent amount of dark chocolate,' she said of the dessert. 'And the quality of the chocolate here is so good. It's so cocoa-y and rich. And it was pretty flaky too.'

Afterwards, she got a chocolate croissant, which was only $1. 'It was filled with a descent amount of dark chocolate,' she said of the dessert. 'And it was pretty flaky too'

Karissa completed her meal with a marshmallow donut. 'It has a sugary glaze [on it]. It was so soft,' she described the treat. 'And the chewy marshmallows added a fun texture'

In addition to being impressed with the food, Karissa was also in awe over the way the McDonald's - which is the largest in the world and can seat up to 450 people - looked

She couldn't stop gushing over the immense arched ceilings, intricate mosaics on the walls, and stunning stone floors as she enjoyed her food

Karissa completed her meal with a marshmallow donut, which cost her $1.50.

'It has a sugary glaze [on it]. It was so soft,' she described the treat. 'I feel like McDonald's donuts are sometimes stale but this one was pretty moist. And the chewy marshmallows added a fun texture.'

In addition to being impressed with the food, Karissa was also in awe over the way the McDonald's - which is the largest in the world and can seat up to 450 people - looked.

She couldn't stop gushing over the immense arched ceilings, intricate mosaics on the walls, and stunning stone floors as she enjoyed her food.

McDonald's in Liguria, Italy

During her travels through Italy, Karissa visited another McDonald's - and this time she tried some of the chain's beloved dishes and she said its meals were just as good as its desserts

Karissa started her meal off with a panzerotti - an Italian staple that isn't offered on the American menu

'They're like little calzones,' Karissa explained. 'But they're filled with tomato and mozzarella. These were better than some of the pizza I've had here'

She then got the McCrispy Chicken Sandwich - which is called the Grand Crispy Chicken there and was priced at $7.30 - and she insisted that it was tastier than the American version

During her travels through Italy, Karissa visited another McDonald's - and this time she tried some of the chain's beloved dishes like its McCrispy Chicken Sandwich and beef wrap, and according to the food blogger, its meals were just as good as its desserts.

While she didn't specify where the second McDonald's was located in Italy, based on her other posts, it seems as though she was vacationing in the stunning coastal region called Liguria when she hit up the fast food chain.

Karissa started her meal off with a panzerotti - an Italian staple that isn't offered on the American menu.

'They're like little calzones,' Karissa explained. 'But they're filled with tomato and mozzarella.

'Maybe I'm just a sucker for deep fried things, but these were better than some of the pizza I've had here.'

It cost her $2.70 for three of them. As for the McCrispy Chicken Sandwich - which is called the Grand Crispy Chicken there and was priced at $7.30 - she insisted that it was tastier than the American version thanks to its 'soft, buttery bun' and the consistency of the meat.

After that, she tried one of McDonald's signature beef wraps for $6.70, which came with bacon and a 'cheesy bacon sauce.' She praised it for being loaded with so much meat

One thing that Karissa discovered on the menu that surprised her was a 'block of parmesan cheese' for $1

Karissa got a few more desserts during the visit, including a Baci Perugina McFlurry - ice cream topped with a dark chocolate sauce and 'crunchy' hazelnuts

'It was so crispy. I don't know how, but they figured out fast-food chicken in Europe,' she added.

She revealed it also offers a Smarties McFlurry. But what shocked her was that the Smarties were not the same as they are in America - they were actually filled with chocolate

After that, she tried one of McDonald's signature beef wraps for $6.70, which came with bacon and a 'cheesy bacon sauce.'

She praised it for being loaded with so much meat, adding: 'The meat quality is just so good. Also the tortilla was really soft.'

In the end, however, she admitted that the bacon could have been a little crispier, so she gave it a seven-and-a-half out of 10 rating.

One thing that Karissa discovered on the menu that surprised her was a 'block of parmesan cheese' for $1.

Karissa got a few more desserts during the visit, including a Baci Perugina McFlurry - ice cream topped with a dark chocolate sauce and 'crunchy' hazelnuts.

'It was incredible,' she revealed. 'It was weirdly not too sweet. It was just decadent - melty rich chocolate, oh my God.'

She revealed it also offers a Smarties McFlurry. But what shocked her was that the Smarties were not the same as they are in America, they were colorful hard-sugar shells filled with chocolate.

'Smarties here are kind of like M&Ms,' she explained. 'They get so crunchy when mixed with the cold ice cream.'

McDonald's in Marseille, France

Karissa also ate at a McDonald's in Marseille, France, and just like the ones in Italy, it had a slew of delicious options that aren't available in the States

First, she tried something called the Royal Bacon Burger, which cost her $14.70. She said of the sandwich: 'It was stacked, it had, like, pickle slices, bacon. The meat was juicy'

She also got the Croque McDo for $3.10 - which is made up of ham and two slices of Emmental cheese on toasted bread

Karissa also ate at a McDonald's in Marseille, France, and just like the ones in Italy, it had a slew of delicious options that aren't available in the States.

Next up, Karissa ate the CBO sandwich - which stands for chicken, bacon, and onion - and it quickly became one of her favorites

First, she tried something called the Royal Bacon Burger, which cost her $14.70.

'I think this is only a thing in France,' she said of the sandwich. 'It was stacked, it had, like, pickle slices, bacon, and mustard with actual mustard seeds in it. The meat was juicy.'

She also got the Croque McDo for $3.10 - which is made up of ham and two slices of Emmental cheese on toasted bread.

'It was kind of simple but really delicious and rich,' Karissa dished. 'The bread was all crispy on the outside.'

She gave it a seven out of 10, explaining that she deducted some points because she felt it was a little overpriced.

Next up, Karissa ate the CBO sandwich - which stands for chicken, bacon, and onion - and it quickly became one of her favorites.

She told her followers: 'The bread had bacon bits baked into it. And the chicken had the perfect crunch without being too dry. It also had these crispy fried onions and melted cheese.'

She also highlighted a special sauce that they offered just for fries, called Pommes-Frites Sauce, which she described as like a 'tangy mayo'

Of course, Karissa had to try some of the sweets so she ordered a dark chocolate filled cookie with hazelnuts for $2.70

She also highlighted a special sauce that they offered just for fries, called Pommes-Frites Sauce, which she described as like a 'tangy mayo.'

She admitted that while it was 'pretty good,' she felt like it needed 'some heat' to it and recommended mixing it with hot sauce.

Of course, Karissa had to try some of the sweets so she ordered a dark chocolate filled cookie with hazelnuts for $2.70.

'The warm, chocolate-y center with the crispy edges... Why don't we have this cookie in America?' she asked.

McDonald's in Barcelona, Spain

Next up, Karissa headed to Barcelona, Spain and she made sure to dine at a McDonald's while she was there

Immediately upon looking at the menu, the influencer knew she had to order the chicken wings - which she described as 'crispy' and 'pretty moist'

According to Karissa, the chain's burgers are very different in Spain - because they come with a fried egg, gouda cheese, and BBQ sauce

Next up, Karissa headed to Barcelona, Spain, and she made sure to dine at a McDonald's while she was there.

Immediately upon looking at the menu, the influencer knew she had to order the chicken wings - which she described as 'crispy' and 'pretty moist.'

'Why were they so good? They were like piping hot and really well seasoned,' she revealed.

The $3.20 wings - which got a nine out of 10 rating from Karissa - came with a spicy buffalo sauce that she said was 'just OK.'

According to Karissa, the chain's burgers are very different in Spain - because they come with a fried egg, gouda cheese, and BBQ sauce.

The McDonald's in Barcelona also offered a version of fries that came loaded with bacon and cheese for an extra $1.20.

The McDonald's in Barcelona also offered a version of fries that came loaded with bacon and cheese for an extra $1.20

Karissa was also excited to discover a new flavor of McFlurry that she had never seen before - Conguitos, which is named after a popular candy brand in Spain

Karissa also tried a few pastries - including something called the Strawberry Pop Dot (left), a 'mini donut' filled with Biscoff (right), and a macaron

Days later, Karissa visited a McDonald's cafe in Barcelona, where she tried a whole slew of other things

Karissa was also excited to discover a new flavor of McFlurry that she had never seen before - Conguitos, which is named after a popular candy brand in Spain.

'Oh my gosh, you can add chocolate sauce and caramel, and the crunchy, nutty white chocolate Conguitos... this might have been the best McFlurry I've ever had,' she said.

Karissa also tried a few pastries - including something called the Strawberry Pop Dot, which was only 60 cents and was like a Starbucks cake pop with pieces of lollipop on top, a 'mini donut' filled with Biscoff, and a macaron.

'It was so sweet and crunchy and fluffy,' the traveler said of the Strawberry Pot Dot.

Days later, Karissa visited a McDonald's cafe in Barcelona, where she tried a whole slew of other things.

This time, she ordered one of the fast food joint's breakfast sandwiches, called the Tortilla de Patatas, which she described as a 'fluffy, buttery, delicious omelet with potatoes and onions.'

This time, she ordered some of the fast food joint's breakfast sandwiches, including the Tortilla de Patatas (left) and the Jamon Iberico Sandwich (right)

To finish her meal off, she ate some carrot cake, which she wasn't as impressed with. She explained: 'It was just OK, it wasn't super moist or sweet or soft'

She said the bread 'was a little dry' and it was slightly salty, so she gave it a seven-and-a-half out of 10.

She also got the Jamon Iberico Sandwich, which was basically some ham on multi-grain bread.

'The meat was delicious,' she revealed. 'It was kind of buttery, super thin.'

To finish her meal off, she ate some carrot cake, which she wasn't as impressed with.

She gave the dessert a low rating of five-and-a-half out of 10, explaining: 'It was just OK, it wasn't super moist or sweet or soft.'

Taco Bell in Barcelona, Spain

In addition to eating at McDonald's all across Europe, Karissa also visited some other popular chains - including a Taco Bell in Barcelona

Upon entering the eatery, she was instantly blown away by how 'bougie' it was. It had two stories, which meant it offered plenty of seating

Most importantly, there was a whole array of food on the menu that she said she had 'never seen' anywhere else

In addition to eating at McDonald's all across Europe, Karissa also visited some other popular chains.

She went to a Taco Bell in Barcelona to see how it differed to the ones in America, and upon entering the eatery, she was instantly blown away by how 'bougie' it was.

It had two stories, which meant it offered plenty of seating, but most importantly, there was a whole array of food on the menu that she said she had 'never seen' anywhere else.

First up, she tried out the Naked Chicken Nachos, which she explained 'are basically chip-shaped chicken nuggets.'

'They come with this warm, melty nacho cheese sauce,' she said. 'They're kind of like a thinner, crispier version of McDonald's nuggets with the cheese sauce that you get from the movies.'

In the end, Karissa gave the nachos, which cost her $3.25, a six-and-a-half out of 10 because she felt they were a little too 'salty.'

Next up, she ate one of Taco Bell's Beef Squares - a tortilla stuffed with minced meat, cheese, and any sauce of your choice. She opted for guacamole and pico de gallo, and was impressed with the results.

'It's not bad,' she said upon tasting the burrito-like dish, which cost her $2.

First up, she tried out the Naked Chicken Nachos, which she explained 'are basically chip-shaped chicken nuggets'

Next up, she ate one of Taco Bell's Beef Squares - a tortilla stuffed with minced meat, cheese, and any sauce of your choice, and she was impressed with the taste

After that, she ate Taco Bell's $5.20 Burrito Bowl, which she described as 'so fresh' but a little 'spicy'

When Karissa tried dipping it in some barbeque sauce, she admitted that it was 'not really the right combo.'

She also raved about the company's Taquito Lupita, a $2.50 treat that comes with caramel flavored ice cream and a 'crispy tortilla' on top

But when she combined it with the cheese sauce from the nachos instead, she was amazed.

She gushed to her followers, 'It's actually so good,' before giving it a seven out of 10.

After that, she ate Taco Bell's $5.20 Burrito Bowl, which she described as 'so fresh' but a little 'spicy.'

'The Burrito Bowl was so fire, I've never had a [Taco Bell Burrito Bowl in America] so I can't really compare the two, but the ingredients were so fresh,' she said. 'And the sour cream and cheese combo added this richness.'

When it came time for dessert, Karissa said there were 'so many cool' options.

'I got the Creamy Bell Chips Ahoy - which is just ice cream with a hazelnut sauce that's so rich,' she revealed.

'The Chips Ahoy crumble kind of pops in your mouth, like Pop Rocks, it's like Fizzy.'

She also raved about the company's Taquito Lupita, a $2.50 treat that comes with caramel flavored ice cream and a 'crispy tortilla' on top.

'It's this cinnamon sugar, dulce de leche ice cream with a crispy tortilla that is so crunchy. It's super sugary and really good,' she gushed.

Burger King in Liguria, Italy

While in Italy, Karissa also tried some of the delicacies offered at Burger King, starting with something called the American Complete Burger

Karissa tried a crispy chicken wrap next, which she couldn't stop gushing about. 'The chicken was super crispy, it had this amazing crunch, and the tortilla was soft,' she revealed

While in Italy, Karissa also tried some of the delicacies offered at Burger King, starting with something called the American Complete Burger.

'I think it's so funny to see what other countries call American burgers,' she explained.

She gave the $12.30 sandwich an eight of 10 rating, explaining that it came with a 'thick and crispy' hash brown, bacon, 'really juicy' tomatoes, lettuce, and of course, a beef patty.

Karissa tried a crispy chicken wrap next, which she couldn't stop gushing about.

'The chicken was super crispy, it had this amazing crunch, and the tortilla was soft,' she revealed.

She was stunned to find a series of sauces offered at the chain that aren't available in the US, including a salsa (which she said was 'meh') and a curry mango condiment (which she loved).

For dessert, she opted for the chocolate salted caramel souffle, which she explained was 'like a soft, warm kind of brownie-like souffle with a gooey caramel center and ice cream on top'

She then ordered a piece of cheesecake, which came with Nocciolata spread. Karissa explained: 'It's kind of like Nutella but with less sugar, but it's just as smooth and chocolate-y'

When it came time to try some goodies, she said 'the dessert game was next level.'

She opted for the chocolate salted caramel souffle, which she explained was 'like a soft, warm kind of brownie-like souffle with a gooey caramel center and ice cream on top.'

She then ordered a piece of cheesecake, which came with Nocciolata spread.

Karissa explained: 'It's kind of like Nutella but with less sugar, so it's not as intensely sweet but it's just as smooth and chocolate-y. The cheesecake was actually really smooth too.'

Burger King in Barcelona, Spain

Last but not least, Karissa ate at a Burger King in Barcelona, Spain, and shared her thoughts on everything she tried to TikTok

She began with something called the Cheesy Dorito Burger, which cost $8.45 and comes with 'crunchy, cheese-filled, Dorito-shaped nuggets inside'

She also had some chicken wings, which she said were 'so well seasoned and flavorful,' and then it was time for dessert

Last but not least, Karissa ate at a Burger King in Barcelona, Spain, and shared her thoughts on everything she tried to TikTok.

She began with something called the Cheesy Dorito Burger, which cost $8.45 and comes with 'crunchy, cheese-filled, Dorito-shaped nuggets inside.'

She gave it an eight out 10 - and praised the bun, which she explained was toasted with cheese on top.

Karissa also highlighted the company's Chili Cheese Bites - explaining that they were 'super crispy' on the outside and 'gooey' on the inside.

'They're filled with melty cheese and jalapenos, they added some nice heat,' she dished.

She got a Toblerone King Fusion, which are 'basically like Burger King's version of McFlurries,' according to the social media star

It came with 'crunchy, white chocolate-covered cookies' on top, and she was allowed to add any sauce of her choice. She opted for caramel and chocolate syrup, and gave it a 10 out of 10

She also had some chicken wings, which she said were 'so well seasoned and flavorful,' and then it was time for dessert.

She got a Toblerone King Fusion, which are 'basically like Burger King's version of McFlurries,' according to the social media star.

It came with 'crunchy, white chocolate-covered cookies' on top, and she was allowed to add any sauce of her choice.

She opted for caramel and chocolate syrup, and gave it a 10 out of 10. She said: 'It's so creamy and so sweet.'
A video showing how bacon is made has resurfaced - and it has taught fans of the meat how it is really made.

The clip, which was originally aired by the Discovery UK channel in 2018 and has reappeared on YouTube, shows some grim insights into how the processed meat is made.

But bacon fans say it hasn't put them off eating the pork product, with some saying it made them want to throw a strip on the grill.

The detailed video shows how bacon, which is processed and sometimes even pre-cooked in factories, starts with pork bellies.

These large piece of the pigs are tossed into a big tumbler - this action softens them, making it easier to remove the skins.

The savoury streaks are a staple of the classic English breakfast, and are usually enjoyed with eggs, beans, toast and a hot cup of tea or coffee

A metal hanger called a 'comb' is pressed into the pork bellies so they can be hung on to a rack - where they will receive a shower of liquid smoke

Each pork belly then goes skin-side down on to a conveyor belt. This conveyer carries the belly to a long automated blade that slices the skin away from the meat.

The skins drop onto another conveyor belt to be processed into pork rinds.

Meanwhile, the meat pieces head toward a flipping device, turning them back-side up, so that workers down the line can trim off any remaining pieces of skin.

Next, workers mix up a brine solution that will cure the pork. Salt is funnelled into a tank of water and mixed thoroughly until dissolved, before liquid smoke and other flavourings are added.

The pork bellies now pass under an injector head, and its needles repeatedly inject the curing solution into each pork belly.

A metal hanger called a 'comb' is pressed into the pork bellies so they can be hung on to a rack.

They are then transported to the 'drench cabinet' for a shower of liquid smoke, which adds colour to the surface to the meat, as well as flavour.

The pork bellies are transferred to a big oven, in which they will cook for five hours, at a low temperature. This will allow the flavours to permeate the meat.

Meat pieces head toward a flipping device, turning them back-side up, so that workers on the line can trim off any remaining pieces of skin

A worker funnels salt into a tank of water and mixes it thoroughly until the salt is dissolved, which adds to the flavour of the bacon

Workers load the meat into chutes which sway back and forth over a blade - slicing the meat into bacon-sized pieces

After this process, the meat goes into a blast freezer for a quick cool down, then into another cooler for a couple of days.

This cooling process firms the meat, which makes it easier to slice.

The pork bellies then head to a sizing station where their sides get a quick trim.

They also get passed through a metal detector to ensure pieces of the metal hanger have not become lodged in the meat.

After that, the pork bellies are stacked and wrapped, and stored in a freezer until they're ready to be sliced into bacon.

They are cut up on what is called the 'slice line'.

Here, the workers load the meat into chutes. The chutes sway back and forth over a blade which slices the meat into bacon-sized pieces.

The almost-finished browned bacon is loaded on to parchment paper so that it can be packaged and distributed.

The bacon strips fall neatly on to a conveyor belt. Another conveyor belt rolls over the slices to secure them for cooking in a browning microwave.

As the fat cooks off the bacon, it drains into a trough - the dripping from this fat will be used to make gravy and pet foods.

The cooked bacon now exits the microwave, and comes under the watchful eye of an inspector, who discards broken or not-up-to-par slices.

Mechanic wheels now roll the browned bacon slices on to parchment paper, with a tiny electronic eye keeping track of the number of slices.

Finally, the bacon is stacked for packaging, and is ready for distribution.

Bacon-lovers expressed joy and enthusiasm over the video - and even gave the workers a nod for their 'hard work'

After watching the video, viewers tool to the comments section to share their thoughts, with many appearing surprisingly positive given the somewhat grisly manufacturing process.

One, voicing their appreciation for the workers, wrote: 'This hasn't reduced my love for bacon in any way, I just think about how much work it takes.'

Another agreed, adding: 'Wow!!! This is a serious process! No wonder bacon is so expensive.'

And a third was also impressed by the clip, writing: 'I love the no waste of delicious pork belly I kinda just wanna get a whole piece and throw it on a grill.'

However, while viewers of the bacon video were not put off the meat, some fans of Worcestershire Sauce vowed never to consume it again, after watching a video revealing the manufacturing process and ingredients.
A mom has caused quite the stir online after sharing a video of her husband repeatedly screaming 'no' after she revealed she was accidentally pregnant with their fourth child.

Anissa Cofer, from Rockwall, Texas, took to TikTok with a clip of the moment she told husband James they would soon be welcoming another member to the family.

She said that James' passionate reaction was a result of the couple being 'done having babies.'

Other social media users took to the comments in their droves and branded it as 'the most raw and real reaction.'

Anissa Cofer, from Rockwall, Texas, took to TikTok with a clip of the moment she told husband James they would soon be welcoming another member to the family

The mom said that James' passionate reaction was a result of the couple being 'done having babies'

In the clip, which has so far been viewed a staggering 5.9 million times, Anissa sets up a hidden camera to film her husband's reaction.

She glances toward the camera as she nonchalantly says: 'Oh I forgot, you got [asked] to look at that thing today, I opened it but I didn't open the mail inside of it.'

Anissa points toward the package on the bed before her husband takes a seat at the edge of the shot.

He asks 'what is it?' before she brushes off: 'I don't know.'

James then pulls a piece of paper out of the envelope and is stunned by the announcement in front of him.

The unsuspecting father says: 'I'm not f***ing playing, stop playing with me. Anissa, no! I'm not... no!'

He dramatically throws the papers down before holding his head in his hands and continuing to shout 'no.'

James says: 'Don't do this to me. Please tell me that you're joking.'

Other social media users took to the comments in their droves and branded it as 'the most raw and real reaction'

Anissa looks toward the camera and picks up the pregnancy test to confirm with her husband.

He screams once again, jumps up off the bed and storms out of shot but can still be heard shouting: 'Babe! F***!'

Anissa, who then swiftly turned off the camera, added overwritten captions which read: 'When you're done having babies but get a positive test and your husband's reaction isn't what you expected... excuse the language.'

Elaborating further, Anissa uploaded the clip alongside a caption that read: 'Needless to say, she's the blessing we never knew we needed.'

And dozens of social media users piled in to share their thoughts on the reaction.

One joked: 'I, as the mom, would've had this reaction to my own test.'

The couple has since welcomed their newborn - a daughter who they named Nola Jayde - into their family

Another added: 'The most rawest and real reaction and I love it!'

And a third said: 'This is exactly how I would react too, so I totally get it. I'd love them, but NOOOO.'

However, not everyone found the funny side.

Addressing some of the negative comments, Anissa leapt to her husband's defense as she wrote: 'In no way was his reaction hurtful. Its an in the moment reaction of complete shock.

'She's the biggest blessing and he's the best daddy to our babies.'

The couple has since welcomed their newborn - a daughter who they named Nola Jayde.
Police investigating a rape case who lost interview videos said it was 'not necessarily our job to recover' them in an email forwarded to a victim's lawyer, a new documentary has revealed.

'Sam', whose story is told in new ITV1 and ITVX's Catching My Rapist, reads the email in the programme after her video interview master tape was mislaid by officers investigating the case.

She was raped in 2018 by Nuruzzaman Shahin, and embarked on a five-year struggle for justice before he was jailed for 31 years in January for a string of serious offences against women including five charges relating to Sam.

The shocking email chain features a discussion between Metropolitan Police officers in the case against Shahin talking about new allegations made since Sam's report to police in 2018.

It says their focus should be on these new potential victims and to 'keep away' from cases like hers and the other two complainants from that year that were also lost.

'Sam' (pictured), whose story is told in new ITV1 and ITVX's Catching My Rapist, reads the email in the programme after her video interview master tape was mislaid by officers investigating the case

Sam reads the email in the programme: 'In 2018, matters were presented to the CPS as rape. The three ABE masters are now missing. Sad for the victims but not necessarily our job to recover. There are significant gaps in the case.

'So in my view, as before, keep away from the 2018 for now, and focus on the current. We have some cracking NEW [in capital letters] witnesses, and if all goes to plan, there will be one or two or three girls working with him when he is arrested. This will be recent evidence of his enterprise.'

After reading the email, Sam admits: 'Just makes you feel s*** doesn't it? Just trying to keep us on the case in the case that they need us.'

The interview disk was later found, but was among a number of recordings that went missing during the case.

An audio recording played in the programme also features Shahin, when asked about raping three women by one of his drivers, saying 'So? So?... They need to call the police.'

Catching My Rapist, which airs at 10.45pm tonight on ITV1 and ITVX, follows Sam's extraordinary struggle over half a decade to bring the man who raped her to justice.

The film follows 'Sam' with complete access to her story - from revealing her rape, through 18 months in a safe house and botched police investigations, to her discovery of other victims and crucial evidence.

The man who raped her was accused of scores of sexual assaults against women who applied for work at his London escort agency and finally, after 13 years, he was arrested and charged on 37 counts.

Sam was raped in 2018 by Nuruzzaman Shahin (pictured), and embarked on a five-year struggle for justice before he was jailed for 31 years in January for a string of serious offences against women including five charges relating to Sam

They included four charges of rape and assault by penetration against Sam and her friend 'Gabrielle'. A nine-week landmark trial ensued in October last year.

Discussing her ordeal, Sam admits in the film: 'I was anxious. I was depressed. I felt dirty. I felt used, I felt like damaged goods or something. I don't know.

'I definitely at that moment was like, I want to go to the police, but I'm scared to go to the police. What are these people gonna think of me that I've made a decision to be an escort? And then what, you've been raped?'

She first met Shahin in April 2018 when she signed up to an escort agency after running out of money while living in London.

She initially looked for a job as a waitress, before being offered work as an escort with the SoulMate agency via a message from Shahin: 'It said, paying for sex is prostitution and illegal, but paying for somebody's time and company, so escorting, wasn't.

'You'll make 500 a night type thing. I just kind of thought, you know that sounds easy I was under the impression that it was illegal to pay for sex.'

He invited her to his flat for an interview, where he raped her, with Sam recalling: 'Shahin gave me some excuse straight away as to why it was in this flat.

'And then he requested my passport and said he needed to check my right to work Once I went into the room, he closed the door straight away and locked that door I was just in a state of, like, panic. I remember being fixated on some sort of filming equipment.'

Sam (pictured) reads the email in the programme: 'In 2018, matters were presented to the CPS as rape. The three ABE masters are now missing. Sad for the victims but not necessarily our job to recover. There are significant gaps in the case'

She later realised he had set up a profile for her on a prostitution website, offering services she hadn't agreed to.

Sam says: 'I stayed ultimately, as long as I did, because I was scared of him. I was scared that there were consequences to me. I mean, have I broken the law? This man knew where I lived. He can find me.'

After five months, she built up the courage to go to a police station and was interviewed.

Sam moved into a women's refuge because of the threat posed by Shahin. But 16 months after her rape, the police sent her a letter in August 2019 stating no further action would be taken.

Sam was devastated, saying: 'I handed over everything related to the case. And this man continues to run his operation and exploit women and the system's okay with that. Something had to happen. It had to stop.'

She found other victims of Shahin who spoke to her about their experiences, including 'Gabrielle', who says of Sam: 'I asked her if he raped her, too She said yes. And what she described, she said exactly the same things that I say - the same process, the same kind of interview.'

After discovering Shahin was still using her picture on his site, Sam hired a girl by clicking on her own image.

When she arrived, the girl was nothing like her, and Sam offered to help her. Sam says: 'It was really funny because she told me Shahin spoke about this girl who went to the police.

"The police didn't do anything. They didn't do anything," You know, and here I'm thinking, "He's talking about me."'

Sam spoke to a lawyer, Kate Ellis at the Centre for Women's Justice, who helped get the investigation reopened.

Nine months later police revealed the video recording of her original interview had been lost.

After Sam returned to the police station for a third interview after the DVD in her second failed to work, she says: 'I felt really exposed. And it's taking my memory back into a time where I was quite helpless. I don't like that feeling.'

After Shahin was charged in 2021 with 40 offences, Sam was interviewed again by police over the suggestion she colluded with another witness.

She says: 'It made me scared to speak to any of the other girls. To know the fear that came out of, am I going to damage this case by speaking to somebody? It put me in a bit of a position where I felt like my support network was a little bit fragile. I was a bit fragile.'

Finally the case was brought to trial in October 2022, and Shahin was found guilty on all five charges relating to Sam, and four out of five relating to Gabrielle. He was convicted of 22 charges and sentenced to 31 years in jail in January 2023.

Sam says: 'Being believed, you know, makes me feel validated, has helped me let go of some of the deeper feelings

'I think the main thing is that he's now off the streets, is no longer a hazard, is no longer a threat. So I'm safe, and everyone else is safe from him too. I think that's the biggest thing.'

Sentencing Shahin, Judge Levitt said: 'As well as paying tribute to the victims, I want to apologise to them all on behalf of the criminal justice system for the fact that it took so long for the defendant to be charged...

'Ms A and Ms B [Sam and Gabrielle] who were the first to complain to the police, had been told more than once that no criminal proceedings would be brought.'

The Metropolitan Police says it is moving to transform the way it investigates rape and serious sexual offences, and has almost doubled its detection rate for rape.

It said: 'Victim-survivors are at the forefront of every rape investigation and will always be treated with respect and dignity by officers.

'We are now moving to transform the way police investigate rape and serious sexual offences, investing hundreds more officers and staff into targeting abusers, supporting victims, and making women and girls safer. We have almost doubled our detection rate for rape.'

Catching My Rapist ITV1 & ITVX 10.45pm tonight (Monday)
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You might be surprised to learn that, until now, there wasnt a brand dedicated to creating period products specifically for tweens and teens. Founders Sana Clegg and Fiona Simmonds saw a gap in the market and took action.

The result: Pinkie, the first-of-its-kind range of organic cotton period pads customized to fit young girls between the ages of eight and 16. Prices start at only $9.99 for a package of 18 pads.

Pinkie Pads The brainchild of founders Sana Clegg and Fiona Simmonds, Pinkie pads are the first organic cotton period pads designed specifically for girls between the ages of eight and 16. The hypoallergenic, toxin- and dye-free pads are packaged in patent pending wrappers that make it simple to slip the pad out directly. Choose from mini, small, regular, and combo options. Shop

If theres one thing anyone can agree on, its that these are challenging years for any child. The onset of puberty doesnt make it any easier.

And if anyone understands that well, its moms of girls. Between them, Clegg and Simmonds have seven children. When they ventured with their daughters to the drugstore, they found that there were no organic options for kids of that age.

That's a big deal, as the pads on the shelves may be too large and create discomfort for girls who, at that age, might be on the cusp of getting their first period or have got it recently. A sustainable option that actually fits well is a game-changer.

It was all the inspiration they needed to develop Pinkie, a forward-thinking brand that captures the essence of modern youth while addressing their specific needs, right down to the fit of their pads.

Made for her: Pinkie pads are innovative, offering one-of-a-kind organic cotton period pads designed specifically for girls between the ages of eight and 16.

The pads are all organic, dye-free, and toxin-free, in addition to being biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and plant-based. Notably, theyre packaged in ultra-cute wrappers that make it easy to slip the pad right out.

The wrapper allows for easy disposal, too, helping girls develop smart, eco-friendly habits at a young age. Its an innovative approach, so its almost no wonder that the company partnered with Target to launch its range in retail storefronts nationwide.

Clegg and Simmonds really walk the walk, providing girls who are at-risk and may not have access to menstrual care products with everything they need, such as those in the Basha Valley of Pakistan.

In fact, Pads for Pakistan reported that Pinkie donated some 330 organic cotton pads to the cause. Its another reason that parents and girls alike can feel good about using the brand.

Moms on the move: Mothers Sana Clegg and Fiona Simmonds saw a gap in the feminine hygiene market and developed Pinkie in response.

My daughter is so grateful! Best pads ever! exclaims one parent. My daughter is so happy to have finally found a pad that works for her. She is very active and needed the perfect size pad for her so that she is comfortable and confident.

Another states, I was so excited to share Pinkie's small sized pads with my 5th and 6th grade daughters. They are still petite and all the pads we have tried were bulky. They loved how soft Pinkie pads are and I'm so grateful they are organic cotton and completely chemical-free.

Choose from minim, small, and regular sizes, or pick up a combo pack. Youll find the full collection of Pinkie pads at Target right now.
The Princess of Wales revealed Prince Louis was 'very upset' to miss Wimbledon yesterday because he had been 'practicing being a ballboy'.

Kate Middleton, 41, was joined by Prince William, 41, and her eldest children Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, eight at the All England Club for the men's final on Sunday.

Both George and his younger sister appeared wowed by the action, punching the air in delight to celebrate Carlos Alcaraz's maiden Wimbledon title in the nail-biting five-set epic against Novak Djokovic.

But Louis, the youngest member of the family aged five, was unhappy that he couldn't join them despite practising being a ballboy this year.

Arriving at SW19 with her husband and two children, the Princess of Wales told Ella Ottaway, who runs the All England Club's young people programme: 'Louis was very upset he wasn't coming today.'

The Princess of Wales, 41, revealed Prince Louis, five, was 'very upset' to miss Wimbledon yesterday because he had been practising being a ballboy'

Louis, the youngest member of the family aged five, was unhappy that he couldn't join them despite practising being a ballboy this year (pictured on Friday)

During the conversation, Kate revealed: 'It's Charlotte's first time, George came last year. They've been eagerly watching.

'Charlotte, you've been getting to grips with the scoring.

After their conversation, 16-year-old ballboy Joel revealed that Louis 'tries to practise the standing and staying serious like us'.

He added: 'He tries to practise the stands and how we stand at the back of the court and next to the players.'

Prince Louis often manages to steal the show at royal engagements, from sticking his tongue out at his mother tp dramatically covering his ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

During the Coronation, the youngster was spotted cheering for his grandfather from the royal carriage, exclaiming: 'Yaaaay Say king. Yaaaay king,' lip reading expert Jacqui Press told Femail.

He was also seen excitedly pointing at royal fans and whispering to his sister Charlotte as they departed.

However it's possible Prince Louis was unable to attend the event at Wimbledon yesterday because, at the age of five, he is too young.

The Wales's were in high spirits during their outing at the All England Club for the men's final yesterday

Something caught young Charlotte's eye as she and her older brother George waved at some well wishers

Prince George (right) and Princess Charlotte (left) stole the show as the pair punched the air in delight to celebrate the world number one's maiden Wimbledon title in the five-set epic

Their mother, the Princess of Wales, beamed as she congratulated the 20-year-old Spaniard and handed him his trophy

According to Wimbledon's official website, 'a ticket is not required for those under five, but children under five are not allowed into the Show Courts (Centre, No.1, No.2, No.3, Court 12 and Court 18'.

But while Louis had to watch from home yesterday, he did enjoy a day out with the whole family on Friday.

The royal joined his parents and siblings on a visit to a military air show in Gloucestershire.

During the engagement, the family-of-five were taken on a tour of the huge C-17 transporter aircraft - which was used to transport the late Queen's coffin in the days ahead of her funeral last September.

At one point during the tour, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince William paused by a display board to read about the history of the aircraft.

While standing next to his big sister, Prince Louis happily spoke with members of the RAF - but his face dropped when he heard a plane take off in the airfield.

The royal paused for a moment before covering his ears with his hands and letting out a small cry.

The Prince and Princess of Wales' youngest son appeared quite upset by the noise and looked around for his parents.

However, Louis was only bothered for a matter of seconds and quickly turned his attention back to the pictures on the display board.

It wasn't the first occasion Prince Louis has been bothered by the sound of loud engines - as he grumpily covered his ears at his most recent Trooping the Colour appearance in June.

In May, Prince Louis told a royal fan that he wants to follow in Prince William's footsteps one day and become a pilot.
Technology usually makes our lives a little easier, however sometimes when it glitches it can be hilarious.

People from around the world have shared the times their apps or computers have glitched and Bored Panda has collected the funniest disasters.

They include a man from Pakistan, who was notified that his Dominos pizza delivery was actually coming from another continent.

Meanwhile, a social media user was told her comment about bread went against community guidelines on Instagram.

And a runner was surprised when his Strava app told him he'd run 300 miles in one evening - across several oceans and countries.

People from around the world have shared the times their apps or computers have glitched creating hilarious errors and Bored Panda collated them into a gallery including someone's FitBit that told them to 'remain vigilant' and 'consult a doctor' because their heart rate was above 0 bmp

Elsewhere someone was notified by their FitBit to 'remain vigilant' and 'consult a doctor' because their heart rate was above 0 bmp.

While Google Maps appeared to show melted bridges and holes in the earth on a few people's devices.

Here FEMAIL takes a look at the most bizarre tech glitches that will have you scratching your head...

There is nothing more frustrating then when a computer tells you that you are not a human

While this person was confused by a website saying that female is not a valid gender option

A man was shocked to see that his Strava running app logged his run as over 300 miles across numerous countries

While a social media user was told her comment about bread went against community guidelines on Instagram

This person's food app awkwardly logged their dog as 327 calories by mistake, thinking it was a jam bun

This Google Maps glitched and made these bridges look like they had melted into the river in Greece

One person, from Pakistan, who was notified that his Dominos pizza delivery was actually coming from another continent

Elsewhere someone's Google Maps created a terrifying hole in the ground that looked like something out of a Sci Fi movie

While this person's desired salary was rejected as it wasnt lower than 0 according to this website

This calculator struggled with the very difficult equation of 1 + 1 and claimed it was 'infinite'

This person's Iphone was trying to subtly tell them that their sleep schedule was really messed up
A fuming mum and dad have declared that they will never return to Killingworth Morrisons after their son was 'kicked out' of the Killingworth Shopping Centre - following the enforcement of a policy banning under 18s without an adult.

Hazel and Andrew Atkinson, from Forest Hall, Tyne and Wear, claim that their son Oliver, 13, took a trip to Morrisons at Killingworth on the afternoon of July 12.

Oliver went out to try out his new bike and to buy ingredients for a sausage and egg recipe he had learned to make at school.

However, as the year 8 pupil at George Stephenson High School entered the store and began to look for his ingredients, it is alleged that he was approached by a security guard who asked him to leave the premises.

Mum Hazel claimed that when she called the supermarket to make a formal complaint, she had been placed on hold for an hour, before being told: 'I'm sorry, I'm not taking this call. Have a nice day.'

A Morrisons security guard removed 13-year-old Oliver Atkinson from the Killingworth branch after he visited the store to buy ingredients for a muffin recipe

She was then allegedly hung up on - and the furious mother has vowed to never return.

There are signs erected at the Killingworth Shopping Centre - in which Morrisons is located - stating that there is 'no admittance to under 18s without a responsible adult after 4pm.'

However, Hazel claims that Oliver headed to the supermarket straight after school, which finishes at 3.30pm.

She said: 'It's frustrating because Oliver is 13, just getting into cooking and he loves to cook for himself. He was looking forward to getting all this stuff and they've banned him from going to the shop.

'Usually we get the ingredients, but he wanted to go himself on his new bike, so we gave him the money and off he went.'

Before the incident, Hazel and and Andrew have been frequent customers at the store in the Killingworth Centre - but will now opt to shop elsewhere.

Hazel added: 'We spend about five or six-hundred pounds in that shop for food, petrol, all sorts. Not anymore - I'm not going there ever again.

'There's a Lidl, an Aldi, a Sainsbury's, and, if I drive a bit further away, there's an Asda.'

Signs are displayed at the Killington Shopping Centre to warn under-18s that they may not be admitted without an adult after 4pm

The mum has insisted that she understands the problems the Centre faces as 'throngs of children' visit the site at the end of the school day.

However, she questions why a blanket ban has been issued on under-18s - which she believes is ageist.

She continued: 'Ban the kids who are causing trouble by all means. But if a regular adult came in and started a fight, that adult would be banned from the shop and it would be policed. Maybe their photo would be put up at the security desk.

'Why ban all the kids instead of just the few who are causing trouble? That's what I don't understand.'

Hazel and Andrew are concerned for other families who may be as equally affected by the policy.

Hazel said: 'There are families who have got elderly relatives who depend on them, as well as young children that they've got to look after.

'Unfortunately, some kids have to step up and support their families in ways that no kids should have to do. What about those families?'

A Morrisons spokesperson has assured that the ban at Killingworth shopping centre (pictured) is 'temporary' - but that the safety of staff and customers is 'the most important thing'

Andrew added: 'It's disgusting that Morrisons are allowed to teach our town's young people that it is ok to discriminate against someone because of their age. That sort of thing can have very serious consequences on a community and cause problems for us in the future.'

The Killingworth Centre declined to comment on the signage and directed queries to the Morrisons branch in the Centre.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: 'The safety of our staff and customers is the most important thing for us and so we have temporarily introduced a ban while we look for a long term solution.'

For years, under-18 schoolchildren and teenagers have been banned from several British shops amidst a wave of antisocial behaviour.

In 2012, Tesco banned an entire school from entering a Northamptonshire store after a campaign of intimidation and spate of thefts.
Viewers of BBC's World on Fire were left in floods of tears last night as Harry Chase, struggled to navigate his relationship with his Polish wife Kasia Tomaszeski.

The ambitious BBC1 drama, which follows characters living through the first year of the Second World War, was met with widespread praise when it first aired in 2019.

And last night, the programme returned, with the first episode seeing Jonah Hauer-King's character Harry navigating the challenges of his marriage to Kasia.

In emotional scenes, Kasia was introduced to Harry's ex Lois for the first time - as well as being introduced to his baby, Vera.

Later in the episode, Kasia call herself a 'fighter' before revealing she wants to return to Warsaw to help her people.

Viewers of BBC's World on Fire were left in floods of tears last night as the popular series returned after a four year hiatus

Many of those watching the first episode of the new series broke down in tears, with one writing: 'This scene killed me.'

Another commented: 'Making all the Harry and Kasia shippers have a breakdown with this scene. I need them back together.'

A third added: 'The final Harry Kasia scene hurt me though. I didn't ask for this pain.'

In the emotional first episode of the new drama, Harry and Kasia struggled to navigate their relationship amidst the ongoing war.

The two could be seen discussing how they would navigate the challenges of their relationship, with one moving scene showing Kasia confessing she wanted to return to Warsaw to help in the war efforts.

Attempting to comfort his wife, Harry said: 'The moment I left you behind in Warsaw I wanted you to be safe, and you are safe now. You don't need to fight anymore.

'You can begin to become yourself again.'

Kasia retorted: 'I am a solider, not a sister or wife.'

He answered her: 'No, you are my wife.'

Many of those watching the programme confessed they were left in floods of tears over the programme

Clearly emotional, she replied: 'No, I am just a woman you got trapped with as your timing was wrong.'

At the end of the episode, Harry is shown packing up his bag while his wife offers to help him.

He said: 'No, it's straight forward. I've mastered the art by now.'

He sat down on the bed alongside her, saying: 'I love you.'

Meanwhile she said: 'Who I am, or who I was?'

Harry responded: 'You.'

She said: 'What if I can't find a way back before all of this. If I'm only good at war.'

He said: 'Nobody is good at war, it's only what we're supposed to do.'

Kasia replied: 'Perhaps it's what I am supposed to do.'

Finally, the couple are seen separating, with Harry leaving the house in a car while Kasia watches on from the window.

In the emotional first episode of the new drama, Harry and Kasia struggled to navigate their relationship amidst the ongoing war

The two could be seen discussing how they would navigate the challenges of their relationship, with one moving scene showing Kasia confessing she wanted to return to Warsaw to help in the war efforts

The synopsis for the episode reads: 'RAF pilots are sent to destroy German bombers prowling the skies above Manchester, with rescue operations underway on the streets below. The true reality of war has arrived in Britain.'

Meanwhile the new episodes 'will take viewers from the war-torn streets of Britain deep into Nazi Germany, the resistance within occupied France, and the brutal sands of the North African desert  where troops struggle to adapt to a very different kind of combat.'

Speaking about the drama, creator Peter Bowker said: 'As always, we tell stories which have an unforced and not always comfortable contemporary resonance, stories that demonstrate both human resilience and human folly and stories of ordinary lives in extraordinary times.

"Historical drama should not be about nostalgia and I hope this isn't how this series is regarded. It is about asking questions of the present by interrogating stories from our past.

'And at the heart of these stories, amongst multiple perspectives, the single question remains  'If you had been there, what would you have done?'"

The first series of the drama was a huge hit when it aired in 2019, and it wasn't long before a second series was announced.

However, the planned 2020 shoot was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

And previously speaking about the first series of the drama, Peter divulged: 'World On Fire tells the hidden human stories within the big historical events we think we know.

'From Harry, a young English translator in Warsaw caught up in negotiations with the Nazis and trying to smuggle his Polish lover Kasia out of the country, to Lois, the girl who is waiting for him at home, a young Mancunian factory worker who will come to take all the opportunities the war can offer to live a different kind of life.

'To Nancy, a female US war correspondent who can't find peace unless her life is at risk, to the Rossler family in Berlin, worried for their soldier son and willing to do anything to protect their disabled daughter from the attentions of the ruling Nazi regime.

'These are the stories of the ordinary people who shaped our world.

'Stories of loyalty and brutality, courage and fear, hopes, stories of love and loss, hopes and dreams forged in extraordinary times.'
Princess Diana was first snapped wearing the jumper at a polo match in 1981

Princess Diana's historic black sheep jumper has gone on view at Sotheby's alongside letters sent between Buckingham Palace and the jumper's designers.

Described by the auction house's global head of fashion and accessories, Cynthia Houlton, as one of the 'most iconic' pieces the royal wore, the red knitted garment will be on view at Sotheby's London Galleries from July 17-19.

It will then head to Sotheby's Inaugural Fashion Icons Sale in New York, where it will go under the hammer on September 7, with an estimated price of between 40,000 and 70,000.

Diana first wore the woollen jumper  with its black and white sheep motif  to a polo match of her fiance, the then-prince of Wales, in June 1981.

It was one of the first pieces designed by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne for their knitwear label Warm & Wonderful, and the outing helped catapult their brand into the public eye.

Princess Diana first wore the jumper in 1981, here she is snapped during another outing in the garment, a polo meeting in Windsor in 1983 with then-Prince Charles

The jumper, created by Warm & Wonderful is on display in Sotheby's in London, before heading to New York where it will go under the hammer

They said: 'Much to our amazement, the first we knew of Lady Diana Spencer wearing the sweater was when we saw her on the front page of one of the Sunday newspapers.

'Her influence was impactful almost immediately thereafter, led to a surge in sales and public awareness of our small label, for which we will be forever grateful.'

Alongside the jumper are two letters, which were sent between the label and Buckingham Palace.

According to Sotheby's, Diana damaged the sleeve of the garment - perhaps by catching it on her engagement ring - so the Palace wrote to Warm & Wonderful asking for it to be repaired several weeks after the royal had been snapped wearing it.

They decided it would be best to replace it.

According to Sotheby's Cynthia Houlton: 'They sent her a new one in 1981, and then in 1983, she was actually photographed again wearing the replacement sweater at another polo match.'

This is significant, the spokesman said, because 'in terms of pieces, if you think of Princess Diana and her wardrobe, she certainly had lots of options in terms of things she could have chosen to wear, things that... meant something to her'.

Cynthia explained: 'This sweater... given the fact that she wore it more than once in very public settings... speaks a lot to how important the sweater was to her.'

The royal is snapped wearing the 'Black sheep' wool jumper by Warm and Wonderful to a polo meet in Windsor in 1981

The then-Lady Diana Spencer sits in her car during the polo match in Windsor, wearing the jumper for the first time in public

And the royal donned the sweater once more, wearing it once again to attend the polo in Windsor, this time in 1983 (here, she is snapped speaking with Sarah Ferguson)

Describing the jumper as 'one of the most iconic pieces Princess Diana has ever been photographed in', she added that the piece has never been to market before.

According to Cynthia: 'It's such an exciting thing that since 1981, we've been talking about it, and... are now auctioning it. To me, this is the single most iconic piece of hers.'

The brand knitted a new sweater for the late princess, but the whereabouts of the original remained unknown until they rediscovered it in March this year in their attic, tucked away in a small box beside a cotton bedspread.

Warm & Wonderful stopped producing the black sheep style in 1994, but it was reissued in 2020 as a collaboration with the brand Rowing Blazer.

The actress Emma Corrin wore a replica of the sweater when she played Diana in the fourth season of Netflix's The Crown in 2020.

ICONIC: The jumper is so well-known, it was worn by the actor Emma Corrin who played Princess Diana in Netflix drama The Crown

The jumper, which was worn by the princess on multiple occasions, was recently rediscovered in a box in the attic of the manufacturers

TEAR: The small tear in the cuff could have been the result of the garment getting caught on the royal's engagement ring, some have speculated

Meanwhile, a sweater of the same design is part of the permanent collection of London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Sotheby's is offering the original sweater as part of its inaugural Fashion Icons sale which will run during New York Fashion week from August 31 to September 13.

The auction house holds the record for the most valuable Diana dress ever sold  an aubergine ball dress which was bought for 604,800 dollars (around 474,870) in January 2023.

It also sold Diana's Attallah Cross to Kim Kardashian in the Royal and Noble auction in London in January for 163,800.

Speaking about the jumper, Sotheby's global head of fashion and accessories Cynthia Houlton said: 'This exceptional garment, meticulously preserved, carries the whispers of Princess Diana's grace, charm, and her keen eye for fashion.'
If you're partial to the regular pop of a Tic Tac - whether it's for a quick freshen of the breath or a fruity burst of flavour - then you may want to nip to the shops to try an interesting new flavour.

Tic Tac have teamed up with Sprite to release a fizzy Lemon-Lime Sprite flavour - just in time for a sweet, zingy refresher during the long summer days.

A video posted by newfoodfindsuk on TikTok shows the product stocked up and ready for purchase at a One Stop Shop alongside other popular flavours.

The new snack will be available to buy for a limited time at an introductory price of 1.50.

They will be sold in 49g packs containing about 100 individual Tic Tacs.

The new Tic Tac collaboration with Sprite has produced a lemon-lime flavour released in the UK for a limited time

A family full of different flavour combinations are manufactured by TicTac - owned by Italian company Ferrero

Tic Tac is a brand of small, hard mints owned by Italian company Ferrero - who manufacture products such as Nutella and Ferrero Rocher - and sold in a variety of flavours in over 100 countries worldwide.

Some of the most well-known flavours in the UK include: Fresh Mint, Lime & Orange, Berry Bliss, Cherry Cola, Citrus Mix and Fruity Adventure.

Tictac boasts of the new Sprite flavour on its website as being a 'new fizzy refreshment' ready to be experienced.

Fans were excited by the new launch and said that trying the summery flavour is a 'must'

According to the company's site, Tictac was created in 1969 - the same year as the moon landing - with the original "Mint" flavour being the first.

The special taste behind this classic flavour is due to high-quality peppermint being cultivated from The Piedmont region in Italy.

The name for the Tic Tac brand was actually inspired by the "rattling" sound the box makes when you shake it.

In 2008, Tictacs were the only food that a teenager from Maidstone, Kent could consume while battling a mystery illness.

17-year-old Natalie Cooper insisted that the two-calorie mints were the only thing her body did not reject. The rest of her sustenance came from a specially-formulated mix which she received through a tube.
Lady Amelia Spencer shared a glimpse behind-the-scenes at her wedding as she celebrated her birthday this week.

Princess Diana's niece Amelia, 31, and Greg Mallett, 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on March 21.

However until now, the newlywed has shared very few images of the big day with royal fans.

This weekend, she reshared a post from a friend on her Instagram sending her birthday wishes alongside a snap from the big day.

In the never before seen photograph, Lady Amelia could be seen enjoying a quiet moment with her twin sister Lady Eliza and her husband Greg.

Lady Amelia Spencer, 31, shared a glimpse behind-the-scenes at her wedding as she celebrated her birthday this week

Lady Amelia and Greg can be seen holding hands across Lady Eliza's knee, while she rests a hand on her new brother-in-law's back.

In the snap, the bride wears her custom Versace dress which took over two-and-a-half months to craft.

Meanwhile Lady Eliza donned her elegant baby pink bridesmaid dress, which featured halterneck detailing and a slit in the skirt.

The society beauty, who is the cousin of Princes William and Harry, met her real estate beau while they were both studying at the University of Cape Town.

The couple were together for 11 years before Greg, 32, popped the question at the exclusive Clouds Wine & Guest Estate in Stellenbosch in 2020.

Announcing their engagement on Instagram, Greg wrote: 'So this was the best day of my life. 22nd of July 2020, I asked the love of my life to spend the rest of her life with me and she said YES.

'Couldn't be happier and I love you with all my heart @ameliaspencer15.'

Greg and Amelia first met through mutual friends in Cape Town 13 years ago. In July 2020, Lady Amelia Spencer got engaged to long-term boyfriend Greg following a romantic proposal in South Africa

Speaking to Hello magazine shortly afterwards, Greg explained how he presented Amelia with a pink box - which contained eight smaller ones.

He said: 'In each box was a photograph of a "first time". The final box contained a note instead of a picture, that said: "But most importantly, I know that you will remember tonight as the night that I proposed."

'As Amelia was reading the note, I dropped to one knee with the ring.'

'I burst out crying,' Amelia added. 'I was in shock, I said: "Yes, yes, yes!" and gave him a hug and a kiss. I'm used to Greg being very romantic but I really had no idea.'

Charles, the younger brother of the late Princess of Wales, previously revealed that Greg had asked for his blessing before proposing in South Africa.

Taking to Twitter last year, he said: 'So happy for my daughter, Amelia, engaged to her boyfriend of 11 years, Greg - its wonderful to hear them both so excited about their future.

'Sending them both love, and every good wish for their life together. I love that Greg asked my blessing before proposing. Very sweet.'

In 2021, the couple relocated from South Africa to London shortly after Amelia's big sister Kitty's lavish wedding in Rome - with celebrations being spread over four days.

Lady Amelia and Eliza, 31, were celebrating their birthday in style last week - as they holidayed in a luxury hotel with their partners

Lady Eliza's beau Channing Millerd posted a gushing tribute to the socialite on his Instagram page

The couple tied-the-knot at exclusive venue at Quoin Rock Manor House on a mountaintop in the winelands of South Africas Western Cape on March 21.

Speaking to Hello following their ceremony, Greg said: 'My love for Amelia has been reborn. Every day I fall more in love with this beautiful human by my side.'

In her first Instagram post since sharing her wedding photographs, the socialite took to her social media profile to offer a glimpse of her honeymoon to her 56,000 followers.

'The first few days of our magical honeymoon @coco_resorts #cocomoments,' she captioned the collection of picturesque images.

In one photograph the affectionate couple share a kiss while standing in the sea, and others showed the newlyweds enjoying breakfast in a pool.

Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza are currently
Dale Harvey, known for his Facebook pub reviews, went to Benidorm on a stag do

A man who has visited more than 1,600 pubs was left speechless when he watched an X-rated magic show in Spain.

Dale Harvey went to Benidorm with some friends for a stag do and thought they'd pop into legendary boozer, The Red Lion, to catch the adult entertainment.

Dale and his fiancee Holly Booth are on a mission to visit every single pub in the UK - yet the man who reviews every boozer on his Facebook was lost for words when it came to writing a post about the so-called Sticky Vicky show at the Spanish pub.

In a Facebook status, he shared some photos of the evening and wrote: 'I would do a review for The Red Lion in Benidorm... But last night I saw things that no man should have to see.'

He told the Daily Star: 'It was packed out with people cheering, just amazed by what they're witnessing. I can honestly say it's like nothing we've got in this country.

Dale Harvey (pictured) went to Benidorm with some friends for a stag do and thought they'd pop into legendary boozer, The Red Lion, home of Sticky Vicky

Her daughter, Maria, (left, pictured with her mother, the original act) now performs the same show

GrandmotherVicky Leyton was diagnosed in 2016 with cancer, which she has since recovered from, however, it has been reported that she is suffering with early onset dementia

'It's certainly the strangest experience you'll probably ever have when going into a pub for a drink.'

Grandmother Vicky, now 80-years-old, used to perform a series of X-rated tricks in front of stupefied holidaymakers.

Following her retirement, her daughter, Maria, now performs under the same name.

The original performer, born Victoria Maria Aragues in Tenerife, but who has been using Vicky Leyton for decades, announced she was leaving behind her act in 2016 after 35 years of entertaining holidaymakers.

She was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and made a full recovery, but The Sun reported that she is suffering from early onset dementia.

Meanwhile, Maria told the publication: ' I decided to do her show when everyone wanted to take advantage of her name and lie to the public about who her daughter was.

'My intention was to ally myself with my mother to be stronger, and shut up the liars.'
Lindsay Lohan's dad, Michael Lohan, had the sweetest reaction to his daughter's new arrival.

The proud grandfather chatted exclusively with DailyMail.com about the latest addition to their family, and he couldn't stop gushing over how 'amazing' the actress and her husband, Bader Shammas, will be as parents to their 'blessed little boy.'

Lindsay, 37, and Bader, 36, who wed in 2022, revealed that they had welcomed their first child together on Monday - a 'beautiful, healthy son named Luai.'

And while the Freaky Friday alum's dad, 63, was overjoyed by the news, he admitted that it was hard for him to grasp the fact that his 'baby isn't a baby anymore.'

Lindsay Lohan's dad, Michael Lohan (seen with the star in 2002), had the sweetest reaction to his daughter's new arrival

Lindsay, 37, and her husband Bader Shammas, 36, who wed in 2022, revealed that they had welcomed their first child together on Monday - a 'beautiful, healthy son named Luai'

'All I can say is, pinch me,' he said excitedly to DailyMail.com. 'I feel like I'm in a dream.

Now, proud grandfather Michael (seen with Lindsay and his ex-wife Dina) chatted exclusively with DailyMail.com about the latest addition to their family

'My baby isn't my baby anymore - she's a mommy. I'm so happy for Lindsay and Bader. They'll be amazing parents to their blessed little boy, Luai.'

Lindsay's representative first confirmed the exciting news to DailyMail.com hours prior, saying in a statement: 'Lindsay Lohan and her financier husband, Bader Shammas welcomed a beautiful, healthy son named Luai. The family is over the moon in love.'

The baby was born in Dubai, where the couple lives, and he is believed to have arrived on Monday. Luai is an Arabic name that means 'shield or protector.'

TMZ reported that members of Lindsay's family will soon travel to Dubai to meet little Luai.

Lindsay and Bader first started dating in 2019, and announced that they were engaged via Instagram in November 2021.

'My love. My life. My family. My future,' the Parent Trap alum wrote at the time.

The couple tied the knot on April 3, 2022, during a secret wedding. And nearly one year later in March 2023, she announced that she was expecting her first child.

'All I can say is, pinch me,' he said excitedly to DailyMail.com. 'I feel like I'm in a dream. My baby isn't my baby anymore - she's a mommy. Lindsay and Bader will be amazing parents'

Lindsay and Bader first started dating in 2019. The couple tied the knot on April 3, 2022, and nearly one year later in March 2023, she announced that she was expecting her first child

Afterwards, an insider told Us Weekly that Lindsay's pregnancy had united her estranged parents.

'Michael and Dina are co-parenting very well,' the source claimed. 'They wanted this for Lindsay for so long.'

Michael famously had multiple run-ins with the law throughout Lindsay's childhood - he was convicted of criminal contempt of court in 1990 and sentenced to three years in jail, and in 1997, he was arrested again for violating his probation by flying to California to visit Lindsay after she was hospitalized for an asthma attack on set of The Parent Trap.

In 2004, he was also charged with attempted assault after he got into a fistfight with Dina's younger brother during a party at their Long Island home.

While awaiting his trial, Michael found himself in more hot water when he got into a car accident and was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He was arrested numerous other times that year - first for leaving a Long Island hotel without paying his $3,800 bill and second for punching a sanitation working in the face.

Michael (seen in 2011) was arrested multiple times for things like assault, DUI, skipping out on a hotel bill, and violating his probation

He and Lindsay's mom, Dina Lohan (seen with Lindsay), eventually separated in 2005, while he was in prison, but it was said that her pregnancy brought her estranged parents together

Lindsay (seen with Bader) defended her dad during an interview with Oprah in 2013, explaining that she 'loves' both of 'her parents' and that she 'doesn't blame them'

He and Lindsay's mom, Dina Lohan, eventually separated in 2005, while he was in prison.

He was released in March 2007, after spending two-and-a-half years behind bars, but was arrested once again in 2011 after an altercation with his on-and-off-again girlfriend, Kate Major.

Even so, Lindsay defended her dad during an interview with Oprah in 2013, explaining that she 'loves' both of 'her parents' and that she 'doesn't blame them,' while reflecting on her own mistakes.

'I grew up in a very chaotic home and there were moments of everything being just wonderful and perfect and then things being so uncontrollable and chaotic,' she recalled.

'It was at times the wonderful place she always wanted it to be, but other times it was like Hell. A lot of stuff went on when I was young.

'I hate the bad rap [my parents] get. They're just parents, at the end of the day. I don't blame anyone for my mistakes.

'It's something that people go through and unfortunately I waited too long to face it, even though I've been seeing a therapist for years and years.

'Nobody's perfect. I love my parents and I'm not going to say that certain situations I would have preferred to have been handled differently.'
She launched the brand in March 2019 with one product: a $48 firming lotion

Priscilla Hajiantoni was just 26 when she decided to back herself and launched Bangn Body, a brand best known for its firming lotion and iconic yellow tubes

A young woman has revealed how she made the stomach-churning decision to spend her hard-saved first home deposit on launching a business.

Priscilla Hajiantoni was just 26 when she decided to back herself and launched Bangn Body, a brand best known for its 'game-changing' firming lotion and iconic yellow tubes.

Speaking to FEMAIL the now 30-year-old from Melbourne, Australia admits she was anxious to spend her hard-earned cash on a dream.

'It was one of the biggest decisions of my life, but I also knew this is what I needed to do and had to back myself as we were putting everything into it.'

Not only did she spend her life savings but the business minded young woman also ditched her job in corporate business and finance to start her company.

'I finished up work on the launch day of Bangn Body. I knew if I wanted this to be my reality I needed to go all in with no plan B,' she said.

And it has paid off - the blonde beauty has sold over 600,000 tubes of the $48 firming lotion in just four years.

Priscilla Hajiantoni was just 26 when she decided to back herself and launched Bangn Body, a brand best known for its firming lotion and iconic yellow tubes

She has sold 600,000 tubes of the original firming lotion

Within two years of starting her business Priscilla had made $8million earning her a spot on the Forbes Rich List.

She also managed to get her foot in the door of the property market and has bought a house in Melbourne with her husband Jake.

'We are hoping to renovate but like anything Bangn Body takes full priority so this is a slow renovation.

Jake used to work in commercial construction but left to work at Bangn Body.

Priscilla's husband Jake used to work in commercial construction but left to work at Bangn Body

'I cannot believe that our yellow tube has travelled into that many homes and peoples lives globally. When I started Bangn Body I never imagined that this would happen. I am truly grateful to be a part of so many people's skin journey's and helping them with their skin

The couple have been together for 15 years, and were engaged for six before getting married in February 2023.

'This was a full-circle moment for us,' she admitted.

The young entrepreneur is still amazed when she sees the sales figures.

'I cannot believe that our yellow tube has travelled into that many homes and peoples lives globally. When I started Bangn Body I never imagined that this would happen. I am truly grateful to be a part of so many people's skin journey's and helping them with their skin,' she said.

And admits while spending her initial house deposit was the scariest moment, financially, there have been others since starting the business.

'There will always be moments in business where anxieties creep in, however I just try to remember why I started and what really matters,' she said.

'Of course there are always stresses around new product launches, scaling, formulating, manufacturing whereas before the stress or anxiety was launching and making noise. We have an incredible community who have been instrumental to our growth.'

Priscilla spoke to FEMAIL back in 2021 when she made the Forbes 30 under 30 list.

'Within two weeks [of launching] our customers were sending in their before and after images on their own merit, thanking me and the firming lotion for changing their lives. I was stunned to say the least,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Priscilla launched Bangn Body in March 2019 with her $48 firming lotion that now sells every two minutes around the world

The Melbourne entrepreneur's work into the spotlight and earned her a place on the Forbes 30 under 30 list with the product

Growing up around hair and beauty salons owned by her mother and aunty, the hard-working Aussie knew it was an industry she had plenty of knowledge in to pursue.

She began to research good quality, natural skincare in 2016 after facing skin troubles in her early twenties, harnessing all of her learnings to create a firming and anti-ageing, vegan and cruelty free skincare product that was made in Australia and suitable for all skin types three years later.

Bangn Body's debut product has a pineapple and coconut scent with ingredients like sunflower oil, avocado oil, green coffee bean extract and shea butter.

Unlike other body lotions, Bangn Body's product doesn't just moisturise and hydrate your skin, but it also firms it, reduces redness, bumps and breakouts and increases collagen production.

Unlike other body lotions, Bangn Body's product doesn't just moisturise and hydrate your skin, but it also firms it, reduces redness, bumps and breakouts and increases collagen production (eczema healing pictured)

Bangn Body's debut product has a pineapple and coconut scent with ingredients like sunflower oil, avocado oil, green coffee bean extract and shea butter

'It's now pretty much known nationwide as the yellow tube of goodness, all thanks to our beautiful community,' she said.

The brand's introduction to beauty store Mecca saw it sell out within eight hours of hitting the shelves, a testament to how effective the products are.

'I am beyond grateful to our loyal customers and community who have helped make Bangn Body profitable from day one and have helped us grow month on month and year on year to a multi-million dollar business that also allows us to give back to life changing charities and initiatives worldwide,' she said.

'I've always said this business isn't for me or about me, it's for our customers and wider communities that we can all come together to create positive change for those around us and for the next generation.'

The brand's introduction to beauty store Mecca saw it sell out within eight hours of hitting the shelves, a testament to how effective the products are (stretch marks pictured before and after use of Bangn Body)

Finding out her business venture was included in Forbes rich list this year was a real 'pinch me' moment for Ms Hajiantoni

'Bangn Body is here to creative positive change and help people's lives and this recognition just reiterated that we are certainly on the right track to doing that,' she said (acne healing pictured)

'I'm nearing the end of my first tube and am absolutely IN LOVE! The smell of Pina Colada in Hawaii, the luscious-ness of the lotion and the obvious results. I already have a new order waiting in my drawers and I will keep buying,' Nel Watkins wrote.

'This product has changed my life! I used so many oils and creams during pregnancy and nothing stopped my stretch marks. After giving birth I found Bangn Body and the results have been amazing,' Tiarna Maree said.

A third added: 'Just wanted to say thank you for creating this godsend of a product! Honestly wasn't sure if it was going to be all that was promised, but the results after seven days are literally jaw dropping'.

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Australian adults have been urged to get up to date on their de-worming precautions.

Medical professionals have revealed that it's 'essential' for adults and children to ingest de-worming tablets or chocolate every six months.

Tegan and Jarrod, from the Gold Coast, recently went to the doctor after finding several worms in their toilet.

The Aussie couple was unaware about the standard practice and only realised they were supposed to de-worm themselves in their early-30s.

Jarrod revealed that he had several strange symptoms - including an itchy bottom, loose bowels, and a rash - when his GP recommended taking the medication.

Tegan and Jarrod, from the Gold Coast, recently went to the doctor after finding several worms in their toilet

There are several types of worms that can cause problems in adults, including threadworm, roundworm, strongyloides, whipworm and hookworm.

According to Healthdirect, threadworm is the most common worm infection in Australia and New Zealand (with other worm types considered quite rare).

'I didn't know we were supposed to be de-wormed every six months,' Jarrod said in a video. 'I actually don't think I've been wormed since I was six months old.'

Threadworms are usually acquired by ingesting eggs, and children with threadworms can get the eggs under their fingernails when scratching their itchy bottoms.

The eggs can then be spread via bed linen, bathroom fittings, and food - which makes them extremely contagious.

Healthdirect also notes that some worm infections don't have any symptoms, which can lead the infected party to believe they're in perfect health.

Adults in particular may actually show no signs of infections, which is why Dr Sravani Chintapalli recommends de-worming every six months, beginning at the age of two-years-old.

Tegan and Jarrod ingested an over-the-counter de-worming chocolate to treat themselves.

'I don't want to see worms in the toilet anymore,' Tegan said.

Many were shocked adults weren't de-worming every six months.

'I have two kids in school, I worm them at the start of every term,' a mum said. 'It's the easiest way to remember.'

'I de-worm myself when I do my kids which is twice a year - I thought everyone knew this!' another wrote.

'I get shocked at how no one knows and it's not just common knowledge,' a woman said.

According to Healthdirect, threadworm is the most common worm infection in Australia and New Zealand
Due to complications and infection, she thought she would die

A young woman who required a bone marrow transplant as a 'last resort' to combat her Crohn's disease thought she was going to die in the process.

Jordan Lambropoulos, from Adelaide, was diagnosed with the incurable inflammatory bowel disease at nine years old - and for the last 10 years doctors have 'exhausted every available conventional therapy' to try to help her.

The 25-year-old was admitted to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital to have the important procedure on May 10.

It has been her biggest hurdle to date and she feared losing her life while sleeping in a hospital bed.

'I remember being too scared to sleep as I didn't think I'd wake up again, and in some ways I kind of just wanted it to be over with,' Jordan told FEMAIL.

As she lay alone she recorded two videos of herself for her family telling them her wishes if she were to pass away in the night.

The stem cell transplant was the first in Australia to be undertaken specifically for Crohn's.

Jordan Lambropoulos was diagnosed with Crohn's disease aged nine. After doctors 'exhausted all options', a stem cell transplant was required as a 'last resort' (pictured before transplant)

The brave 25-year-old underwent the procedure on May 10; however, there were complications and she suffered from pneumonia (pictured on the day of the transplant)

'I remember being too scared to sleep as I didn't think I'd wake up again, and in some ways I kind of just wanted it to be over with,' Jordan told FEMAIL. As she lay alone she recorded two videos of herself for her family telling them her wishes if she were to pass away in the night

Recalling what she said in the video to her family, Jordan said: 'I told my parents I didn't want a funeral, I didn't want people to be sad, and I certainly didn't want them to feel that the transplant was to blame.

'The only thing that kept me going was looking at the pictures and quotes my mum had written on my whiteboard. They reminded me that I needed to stay.

'I didn't feel ready to die, as much as I wanted the pain and suffering to be over with. I didn't want to be that patient who was meant to give hope to others but instead becomes a mortality figure.'

Jordan suffered from complications both before and after the procedure.

On transplant day, doctors determined she had pneumonia with inflammation and fluid in the lungs, but the cause was unknown.

'The fluid would come up and make me feel like I was drowning in my own body and I was unable to lie flat,' Jordan recalled.

'That night I spiked another 40C fever and despite having countless heated blankets on, I shivered and my entire body shook.

'We encountered every complication I could possibly think of. If it weren't for the thoroughness and hard work of the team at St Vincent's Hospital, I might not be here today.'

After living with the 'invisible illness' for years and experiencing the 'trauma' of a stem cell transplant, Jordan says the procedure is 'one of the most difficult processes a human can go through'.

Jordan was diagnosed with Crohn's - an incurable inflammatory bowel disease - at just nine years old. The stem cell transplant has been her biggest hurdle to date

'This was a life-or-death situation,' she said, adding: 'Although the death aspect would have come in the form of a slow, miserable process of me continually losing my small bowel.' With this in mind, she wanted to take a chance on the stem cell transplant in attempt to save her life, rather than let the condition deteriorate her body (pictured before treatment)

'This was a life-or-death situation,' she said.

'Although the death aspect would have come in the form of a slow, miserable process of me continually losing my small bowel.'

With this in mind, she wanted to take a chance on the stem cell transplant in attempt to save her life, rather than let the condition deteriorate her body.

Jordan was admitted to hospital a week prior begin her preparation and chemotherapy.

'In the days leading up to my transplant, I started cyclophosphamide [a medication to treat cancer] and rabbit ATG (anti-thymocyte globulin) to destroy every immune cell in my body and every stem cell in my bone marrow,' she said.

But after experiencing a reaction to the ATG, she developed fevers of 41C, acute hepatitis (non-viral) and 'dangerously low' blood pressure.

She was transferred to ICU in the days leading up to the procedure.

'ICU was beyond traumatic, and while the staff were brilliant, I don't think I could ever see the inside of St Vinnie's ICU again without having a panic attack,' Jordan said.

'I have never been tested like I have during my transplant, and I would rather die than every go through it again.

'It's essentially an entire immune system transplant and the recovery period is anywhere from six to 24 months.'

There is limited information to measure the success of the transplant Jordan had because it is so uncommon.

She experienced complication after complication during the transplant process. 'I have never been tested like that before,' she said (pictured in 2023)

However, she considers the stem cell transplant to be a success, despite the complications

Now she is going through chemo-induced menopause, experiencing common side effects including hot flushes (pictured in 2022)

What is a stem cell transplant? A bone marrow transplant is a medical treatment that replaces your bone marrow with healthy cells. The replacement cells can either come from your own body or from a donor. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant or, more specifically, a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Transplantation can be used to treat certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma, and other blood and immune system diseases that affect the bone marrow. Stem cells are special cells that can make copies of themselves and change into the many different kinds of cells that your body needs. Cancer and cancer treatment can damage your hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are stem cells that turn into blood cells. Step 1: Collecting your stem cells: This step takes several days. First, you will get injections (shots) of a medication to increase your stem cells. Then your health care team collects the stem cells through a vein in your arm or your chest. The cells will be stored until they are needed. Step 2: Pre-transplant treatment: This step takes 5 to 10 days. You will get a high dose of chemotherapy. Occasionally, patients also have radiation therapy. Step 3: Getting your stem cells back: This step is your transplant day. It takes about 30 minutes for each dose of stem cells. This is called an infusion. Your health care team puts the stem cells back into your bloodstream through the catheter. You might have more than one infusion. Step 4: Recovery Source: cancer.net Advertisement

Now she is going through chemo-induced menopause, experiencing common side effects including hot flushes, but believes the process 'went well'.

'My disease can recur at any point, but for now, I'd personally consider my transplant to be a success. Any day that I am here living and breathing is a blessing,' she said.

The medicine behind my transplant was and is ground-breaking, and I hope that one day it will benefit others, too. My remaining stem cells are being stored, and I have consented to my cells and genetics to be used for future research.'

Jordan is open about her disease on Instagram and encourages other young people to speak out about their symptoms, regardless of how 'embarrassing' it might be (pictured in 2022)

Jordan is open about her disease on Instagram and encourages other young people to speak out about their symptoms, regardless of how 'embarrassing' it might be.

Because she was diagnosed so young, Jordan knew nothing about Crohn's or the severity of the condition, but remembers her mum crying after being told the awful news.

'I had no idea what to expect at that point and at first it was quite overwhelming but I put it to the back of my mind,' she said.

While Crohn's disease isn't usually fatal, it is incurable and can cause life-threatening complications if left untreated.
Shocked by $70 fee to use airport machine

Traveller issues ATM warning after taking money out in Morocco

A young woman has been left in shock after being charged $70 to take money out from an airport ATM whilst on holiday in Morocco.

The American traveller, who is currently living in Sweden, explained she had no idea how much the transaction would cost her until it was too late.

Posting her ATM receipt on Facebook the young woman asked 'WTF' had happened in the hopes of avoiding future payouts.

'It doesnt make sense. I took out 5000dr which is about $500 but got charged $548? Wtf happened? And how do I avoid this again?,' she said.

According to the receipt she was charged a conversion mark-up of 4.5per cent.

A world traveller has been left in shock after trying to take money out in Morocco (stock image)

Other seasoned in the travellers in the group were blown away by the charge.

'The only other time I have had heard of a charge like that is at the currency exchange - that is outrageous for just a withdrawal,' one woman wrote.

Others were less shocked.

'That's why I don't take money out at airports. High key they always charge an arm and a leg,' another added.

'It happened to me in Italy, ATMs can charge what they want. It is totally insane,' one woman complained.

Some women commented on the post to share their tips with most recommending tourists steer clear of airport ATMs.

'They will always have a higher exchange rate. There should be a tonne of ATMs in the city with a much lower rate.'

Another traveller said ATMs have high conversion fees to catch tourists out.

High ATM fees can happen anywhere - one person said it is important to choose the currency from the country you are in not the one you are from - ie Euros in Europe

Tips for taking money out abroad: Travellers shared their tried and true tips for accessing cash overseas. 1 - Take money out in the local currency - don't click the 'conversion' option or your home currency option 2 - Check to see if fees are per transaction or percentage based - if it is per transaction take the maximum you can/want out 3 - Use Western Union services where possible 4 - Pay on card and online (for things like accommodation and tickets) when possible to limit how much local cash you need 5 - Avoid ATMs with names you recognise from your own country - use a local ATM 6 - Avoid ATMs at airports and international ports Advertisement

'Always choose to charge the currency you are withdrawing, not the conversion. For example in Europe choose euros, not US dollars,' she said.

She also suggested to avoid withdrawing on a credit card.

A third told her to be on the lookout for an ATM without fees.

The young woman admitted she thought 'all ATMs had the same fees.

She said she felt like she had 'fallen into the trap' because she felt under pressure to carry cash as cards are widely rejected by store holders in the country.
Many don't think twice about going to the toilet for a wee.

But, sometimes funky-smelling pee can leave you feeling panicked and questioning what is behind the odour.

Here, MailOnline reveals the top three foods which could be the cause of your whiffy urine, according to a doctor.

Dr Semiya Aziz, a London-based GP, said that while an unusually-scented wee is typically harmless, you should consult your doctor if you notice a persistent change.

Coffee compounds and antioxidants are absorbed by the digestive tract, broken down into waste products called metabolites, then excreted in urine, which can make urine smell

Coffee

It's bad news for coffee aficionados. Coffee is a common trigger of funky-smelling urine.

Compounds and antioxidants inside the beans are absorbed by the digestive tract, broken down into waste products called metabolites, then excreted in urine, which can make urine smell.

On top of this, caffeine is a diuretic  meaning it increases urine production.

As a result, those who drink large amounts of coffee can become dehydrated, making their urine have a higher metabolite concentration and stronger smell.

Dr Aziz said: 'The compound found in coffee may give urine a stronger and more distinct smell.

'While it can act as a diuretic, it can also lead to dehydration, which in turn can lead to concentrated urine and a more noticeable smell.'

While the average person in the UK and the US drinks around two cups daily, many rely on five cups to get through a working day.

Smelly urine is not the only downside to consuming so much of the hot beverage. The copious amounts of caffeine can have serious impacts on your heart.

Consuming high doses (more than 500mg, around five cups of coffee) can lead to anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and increased heart rate.

One cup can have 80 to 100mg.

Asparagus, garlic and onions

It is not surprising pungent foods can lead to stinky urine.

Sulphur-loaded foods such as asparagus, garlic and onions can have a massive impact on not only the smell of your wee, but also the colour.

Methyl mercaptan is a sulphur-based compound in these foods that is absorbed into the bloodstream and passed through the body's renal system  the kidney, ureters and the urethra.

Sulphur-loaded foods such as asparagus, garlic and onions can have a massive impact on not only the smell of your wee but also the colour

It is a common cause of funky smelly urine described as rotten cabbage.

However, not everyone can detect the stench.

It is estimated that less than 50 per cent of people can smell a change in urine after eating sulphur-packed foods such as asparagus.

Some also break down the sulphur byproducts quicker, so there is not enough passing through the body's renal system to make any impact.

Dr Aziz said: 'Asparagus is a vegetable which contains a compound called asparagusic acid, which produces a sulphur-like odour when broken down by the body.

'Luckily not everyone can detect this odour, but those who do, may notice a strong, pungent smell shortly after consuming asparagus.'

Spices

The ingredients that give your curry its smell may also leave your urine smelling odd.

Spices such as cumin, turmeric and coriander are all well-known culprits of stinky wee.

The aromatic chemicals which give those delicious dishes their enticing smell can be maintained as they pass through the body.

Even after all your food has been digested, the smelly compounds can still pass through your kidneys and be noticeable in your wee.
Basking in the sun by the pool and exploring exotic sites, all while getting the dream body you've always wanted?

It almost sounds too good to be true.

But experts have today warned that it often is.

Brits are now being urged to think twice before signing up to 'all-inclusive' cosmetic surgery and holiday package deals.

Such deals, offered by clinics or agencies funnelling Brits to foreign cosmetic surgery hubs like Turkey, often 'trivialise' the life-changing decision to get plastic surgery and often underplay the risks involved, campaigners say.

Dozens of Turkish clinics offer such packages and often include VIP airport transfers in 'luxury vehicles' and five-star hotel stays with breakfast to sweeten the deal for Brits considering going under the knife abroad.

Turkish clinics offer packages including VIP airport transfers in 'luxury vehicles' and five-star hotel stays with breakfast. Some even promise free tours of cities like Istanbul and the choice to take another guest at no additional cost, as well as 24/7 emergency lines, overnight nurse visits and even massages

Some add tours of historic cities like Istanbul and the option to bring a friend for free, as well as 24/7 emergency lines, overnight nurse visits and even massages.

None of the deals uncovered by MailOnline's probe promise free booze alone, like in typical all-inclusive holidays.

Even without all these extras, and just comparing the cost of operations, it is almost always cheaper for Brits to get boob jobs, bum lifts and liposuction in Turkey than in the UK.

Clinics in Istanbul and other popular Turkish hubs boast they can offer such cheap prices because 'general wage costs are lower than in Europe'.

MailOnline found some cosmetic surgery packages in Turkey being sold for under 3,000.

Brits can get a Brazilian Butt Lift in Istanbul from Medaway, with the package including a five-night hotel stay, VIP airport transfers, free consultations in the UK and aftercare, all for 2,699.

The Medaway website showcase some of its hotels that patients can stay in. The Ramada Golden Horn Hotel & Suites in Istanbul boasts a spa, restaurant and bar. It advertises that some rooms 'come with a terrace or balcony overlooking the city or the sea'

The Medaway website offers a BBL package that includes a five night sin a hotel, VIP transfers, liposuction, a consultation in the UK and aftercare all for 2699

READ MORE: I went to Turkey for a BBL - I genuinely thought I was going to die and will never forget the horrors I saw Dani, now 23, and fully recovered, runs an OnlyFans account and has been featured in Playboy Advertisement

In comparison, a similar procedure in Britain alone can cost 6,000, according to private analysis site, WhatClinic.

Another operator, Medicci Aesthetics, offers a five-day stay in an Istanbul hotel with breakfast included for two people for patients who book a procedure with a Turkish surgeon.

It also boasts of overnight nurse visits, airport transfers, free beauty therapy, a 24/7 emergency line and two massages as part of its surgery package.

The company defended the all-inclusive package and said it offers these deals to provide 'optimal conditions for patient safety'.

But UK surgeons and the NHS advise against buying cosmetic surgery as part of any holiday deal.

Surgeons say treating operations as a holiday sends the wrong message.

Marc Pacifico, president of The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said all-inclusive holiday packages 'trivialise' the decision to get plastic surgery.

'I would definitely advise anyone considering a plastic surgery procedure not to think of having it as part of a "holiday package",' he said.

'There are so many problems and flaws with that approach  it is surgery and has risks  it is not a holiday.'

Most plastic surgery procedures require patients to rest for a significant period afterward, with no sunbathing, alcohol or swimming allowed, according to BAAPS.

Any lack of rest can be dangerous and not give your body time to properly heal, increasing the risk of complications.

BAAPS also advised people against flying straight after surgery due to the specific risks of developing potentially life-threatening blood clots.

Blood clots are a potential risk after any operation as a result of tissue, fat or collagen entering the circulatory system, or from damage to veins during surgery.

This risk is heightened even further by getting on a plane too quickly after a procedure.

Patients sitting for hours immobile on a plane put their body recovering under immense stress, risking burst stitches and blood clots.

Medics recommend patients wait at least five to seven days before getting on a plane after boob job or liposuction and between seven to ten days after a face lift of a tummy tuck.

Letsmedi's Instagram page shows videos of city tours with patients after surgery, in this case after gastric sleeve surgery

Adverts on the Letsmedi Instagram page show 25 per cent off deals for liposuction and 15 per cent off deals for gastric sleeve operations to name a few, with images of smiling slim women to sell the 'all inclusive' procedure

Dr Pacifico added that clinics offering such packages don't only trivialise surgery, they can also make it more dangerous for 'potentially vulnerable' patients grappling with insecurities in how they look.

'The majority of people who are going abroad for cosmetic tourism are doing it for financial reasons because they can't afford it in the UK,' he said.

'They are therefore financially vulnerable as well as psychologically vulnerable.

'The cost for treating or rectifying a complication in the UK is not something that has entered their mind.'

The advertising standards authority (ASA) has also raised alarm over adverts which 'trivialise' getting plastic surgery by selling it as part of all-inclusive holiday packages and offering flash sales.

MailOnline's investigation found Istanbul-based medical travel company Letsmedi offers combined surgery and sightseeing packages.

Adverts on their Instagram page show 25 per cent off deals for liposuction and 15 per cent off deals for gastric sleeve operations, with images of smiling slim women to sell the 'all inclusive' procedure.

Although their 'all-inclusive' offers only include hotels stays, airport transfers and aftercare, their website also gives you the opportunity to add on sightseeing tours of Istanbul, shopping tours and manicures for about 170.

These activities are showcased on their website and Instagram page in videos showing patients on city tours following their surgery.

Other clinics also offer city tours as part of their 'all-inclusive' packages, with Beauty Travels 24, based in Istanbul, offering a 'free city tour' in a package with hotel stay, airfare, transfers and follow up examinations.

The letsmedi website gives you the opportunity to buy add on sightseeing tours of Istanbul, shopping tours and manicures for 200 Euros. These activities are showcased on their website and Instagram page in videos showing patients on city tours after their surgery

The Medaway website suggests a week itinerary that includes sight-seeing two days after having a nose job

Another travel website called Turkey Travel Planner also advertises tourist activities for plastic surgery patients and, in one example, suggests those getting a nose job will still have time to see the sights.

'No matter how long you stay for the surgery and recovery, you'll get a chance to appreciate the charm and elegance of this remarkable nation,' the website reads.

'You get the nose surgery you've always dreamed of along with a stellar vacation.'

Similarly on the Medaway website, a suggested week itinerary includes a sight-seeing trip two days after a nose job.

Although it may be possible to have a holiday before having plastic surgery, the NHS says it is 'unrealistic to have one straight after as this can increase the risk of things going wrong'.

It adds that you need to rest, not lie in the sun, drink alcohol, go swimming or even go sightseeing as some medical travel sites suggest.

The red flags of getting cosmetic surgery abroad All surgery carries risk, but it is important to do your research before hopping on a plane to get cheap plastic surgery. Although it can cost less than getting surgery in the UK, you need to bear in mind that the safety standards may not be the same. Holiday packages You should be cautious of any website that sell cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday, the NHS warns. Some websites sell the idea of sightseeing alongside hotels with breakfast included. NHS advice adds that if you are looking at holiday packages make sure you have a consultation with a surgeon and don't just meet a salesperson. The health service adds that you should not pay to see a surgeon you have never met. The Royal College of Surgeons of England also echoes the NHS's concerns and advises to not agree to cosmetic surgery before meeting the surgeon and visiting the hospital. UK plastic surgeon Veerle Rotsaert said: 'Travelling long-haul overseas to have surgery done, followed by no proper aftercare, that's where often things go wrong. 'Often third party agencies sell surgery without any surgeon ever seeing the patient in person and having a proper consultation until it is actually surgery day.' Extra costs Many of the surgeries offered overseas in countries such as Turkey are more affordable than private clinics in the UK. However, there could be hidden costs. The Royal College of Surgeons of England urges people to consider the cost for additional flights and hotel stays for future corrective, or touch-up procedures. It also warns patients to consider what might happen overseas if they pay ahead of time but change their mind before the operation as their right to a refund could vary in different countries. Choosing the right surgeon Surgeons and clinics are regulated differently in different countries and standards can vary. Before traveling abroad for surgery the NHS says you should ask if the surgeon is fully trained in the surgery you want and how long they have been practicing for. The surgeon should also be fully insured to carry out the surgery you want, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It suggests asking to see details of the surgeons insurance. It is also vital you have a proper consultation with your surgeon before you consent to having the surgery, experts warn. Risks of flying Flying and having major surgery increases your risk of getting a blood clot, which can be life threatening. As a result, the NHS warns people should wait five to seven days to fly after procedures such as breast surgery and liposuction and wait seven to 10 days to fly after facial cosmetic procedures or tummy tucks. However, some surgeons suggest waiting between two to six weeks before flying depending on the procedure. Dr Rotsaert explained: 'This is because first of all, you want patients to stay relatively close to their surgeon in case of any immediate post-op issues.' He added: Secondly because of the deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism risk associated with the act of surgery, it's aftermath, as well as prolonged immobilisation.' Drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and walking about during your flight can help circulation, but this doesn't completely remove the risk of a blood clot especially having major surgery, the British Association of Plastic Reconstruction and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). Aftercare Follow up care after your surgery is an important part of your treatment. But traveling abroad can make it more complicated. Before getting surgery outside of the UK consider how long it would take you to travel back to your surgeon if there is a complication, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Make sure you have a contact for a named doctor that can deal with any complications, rather than a helpline, experts warn. You need to also make sure the clinic will deal with any problems and that they will help if you are not happy with your outcome. In many cases the NHS will not help you unless you have a serious complication which requires emergency or life-saving support. Source: NHS, BAPRAS and Royal College of Surgeons England. Advertisement
A boy in California has defied the odds by celebrating his fourth birthday  after being born under the most tragic circumstances.

Little Beckham Hughes, from southern California, was born via an emergency C-section after his mother, Rachel Hughes, suffered a blackout behind the wheel of their car in 2019.

Her body slumped forward and her foot pressed hard on the gas, causing the car to careen off the road at 55mph and smash into a stone wall.

Doctors warned the boy may not survive when he was born weighing 2lbs. He had to stay in hospital for more than three months and was intubated and fed via an IV drip.

At the age of six months, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy  a neurological condition where sufferers struggle to move and communicate. He still can't walk but has learned to sit, stand and pull himself around with his arms. He also struggles to speak, with doctors saying he will likely need to learn sign language.

At the age of six months, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which doctors said happened because of damage to blood vessels inside his brain

Rachel Hughes, 24, from California, needed an emergency C-section after she was found to have a burst placenta following a car crash. She is pictured above holding her son Beckham who was born at 27 weeks when he weighed just 2lbs 8oz

Beckham is shown above being held by his father Hunter along with his mother Rachel and younger sister Blakely, now three

Ms Hughes said: 'I carry with me a lot of guilt and often question if I did enough to protect him.

'There are days when the weight of it all feels unbearable.

'But then, I look into Beckham's eyes and see his resilience, his beautiful spirit shining through, despite the pain. And in those moments, I know I must carry on and be strong for him.'

Hughes, then 24 years old, had been driving to work at 10am in June when she suddenly realized she had forgotten her laptop and turned back.

But when she reached an intersection, the then mother-to-be, who was 27 weeks pregnant, suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous  and passed out 'before my brain could even communicate with my body to hit the brakes'.

The next thing she knew, she was being carried out of the wreckage of her car by a passerby who had called emergency services.

Doctors are not sure why the expectant mother passed out, but said it may have been because her placenta had ruptured  causing massive internal bleeding.

Placental abruption  when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus  happens in about one in a hundred cases, estimates suggest.

The cause is often unknown, says the Mayo Clinic.

Ms Hughes was flown to a hospital in Utah where scans showed she had suffered no broken bones, only bruising.

But there was massive concern about her unborn son, whose heartbeat was starting to slow down.

He was immediately delivered via emergency C-section weighing just 2lbs 8oz.

Ms Hughes said: 'The doctors warned us about the potential loss of our baby, brain damage, brain bleeds, infections and cerebral palsy.

'It was unequivocally the most terrifying moment of my life.

'Nothing can prepare a parent for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) rollercoaster, but the love I felt for Beckham was stronger than the fear and uncertainty.'

Her son was kept in the NICU for more than three months while his internal organs matured before being allowed to go home for the first time.

He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old, which doctors said was caused by a massive bleed on the brain that damaged neurons.

The boy also struggled with speaking, but at the age of two had been helped to say 'mommy' and 'daddy' by a speech therapist.

Ms Hughes said: 'The first time I saw my baby I was filled with love. He was absolutely perfect and incredibly tiny.'

The crash happened when Ms Hughes blacked out, causing her to drive off the wall and into a stone wall at about 55 miles per hour

Beckham spent about three months in intensive care after his birth (pictured) before he was discharged

He is pictured above in hospital where he needed to stay for more than three months before being discharged

He is pictured above with his sister, who was born about a year after him

Ms Hughes and her husband Hunter had a second child, a daughter called Blakely, the following year.

They now blog about their experience raising a child with cerebral palsy on social media, and their TikTok has wracked up more than 200,000 followers.

Ms Hughes added: 'Instagram feels like I'm opening up and showing everyone I've ever met my most sacred thoughts and feelings and it's terrifying.

'It took me two years to share with anyone outside of family and literally two or three friends that Beckham was diagnosed with cerebral palsy because it was accompanied with so much grief. Grief I can't even describe. Then I look back at these videos.'

She added: 'The day they told me he was dying, so they were going to let me hold him for the first time to say goodbye.

'I see more grief and sadness than my heart and mind can even comprehend but I also see the literal miracle he is.'

About nine in ten babies born between the 27- and 30-week mark survive, doctors say, because many of their vital organs are already well-developed.

This includes the lungs, which mature at around 24 to 28 weeks, allowing youngsters to breathe outside the womb.

More than half of babies born at this point are, however, later diagnosed with a neurological disability. Some 20 percent of these have severe neurological problems.
Men should be offered a 'one-stop shop' for prostate cancer tests similar to those widely available for breast cancer, experts say.

A pilot scheme in London found the time to make a diagnosis could be cut in half by fast-tracking men suspected of having the disease.

They were offered an MRI scan, with the results the same day  and in many cases a biopsy the same day if needed.

A study of the one-stop approach carried out on 2,130 men found they got a prostate cancer diagnosis or the all-clear just under 16 days after a GP referral.

Those who had the usual multiple appointments waited close to 32 days. But the 'one-stop shop' option  available in multiple hospitals and clinics for women with suspected breast cancer  is not being rolled out fast enough for prostate cancer, warn experts.

Men should be offered a 'one-stop shop' for prostate cancer tests similar to those widely available for breast cancer, experts say (file image)

Senior study author Professor Hashim Ahmed, of Imperial College London, said: 'A one-stop pathway for prostate cancer should be made available to as many centres as possible, as soon as possible, within this year. Speeding up diagnosis could help many men catch their cancer before it spreads.

'For around a fifth of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, who are told that it has spread, a faster diagnosis means quicker treatment, which makes a difference.

'For those who do not have cancer, finding this out quickly will save anxiety and distress.'

Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said the one-stop method is 'transformational  it can help save lives'.

Researchers found the cancer detection rate using the fast-track process was similar to that seen in 2,435 men investigated normally. Around a quarter of men at the one-stop centres were found to have prostate cancer which required medical treatment.

The three hospitals using the quicker method showed very similar results, suggesting it can be rolled out at various locations with different patient profiles.

Chiara De Biase, a director at Prostate Cancer UK, called for more research on how it could be implemented nationwide.

The technique  Rapid Assessment for Prostate Imaging and Diagnosis (RAPID)  was piloted from April 2017 to March 2020, with the results reported this year in the journal BJU International.
Kids as young as eight are vaping, council bosses have warned amid the UK's ever-growing e-cigarette epidemic.

The shock data, collated by a Trading Standards branch, was shared at a Lancashire County Council meeting last week.

It also revealed that one in six teens there are now regular vapers  almost triple the proportion in 2020.

Members of the Tory-led council slammed 'unscrupulous businesses' selling brightly coloured and fruity vapes to children for 'pocket money prices'.

One labelled them as 'modern-day alcopops'.

Children as young as eight are reportedly using vapes in some parts of England (stock image)

Shock data earlier this year revealed a record 11.6 per cent of 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain have now tried vaping. This is up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago, before the UK's kid vaping epidemic blew up

One councillor even reported how children as young as eight had been seen using the vapes in Morecambe.

The Lancashire Trading Standards figures echo a national trend.

Usage rates among teens have almost doubled in a decade.

Experts blame the colourful marketing tactics for kickstarting Britain's child vaping epidemic, which has prompted dire warnings that we are 'sleepwalking into an existential crisis'.

Doctors fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

E-cigs produce many dangerous chemicals linked to fatal lung and heart conditions.

Conservative Cllr Sue Whittam, who brought the issue for debate at the meeting, said 'unscrupulous businesses' were targeting young people with vapes.

'Children seem to be able to get hold of them and, more worryingly, manufacturers of the vapes are deliberately targeting young people,' she said.

'Just ask Google and you can buy  online  brightly coloured vapes in a variety of attractive flavours, such as strawberry ice cream, watermelon and gummy bears  in fact, every flavour you can think of and they are not expensive to buy.

'It is a worrying trend that something that was designed to help smokers quit has now become something that our young people are using,'

Morecambe Central member Margaret Pattison added that she was aware of 'scary' instances in her town, where children as young as eight had been seen with the devices and she feared they would take up traditional smoking in the future.

'The colours and flavours are attractive, which could lead to future smokers,' she said.

Lancashire County Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing Michael Green said recent data from the trading standards survey had also found a fifth of young people tried vaping before also trying traditional smoking.

He added that disposable vapes, available at 'pocket money prices', were the most popular type of device amongst youngsters.

'Disposable vapes have thus far been the most problematic  and these are the most common types of vape which are smoked by our young people, with seven in ten in Lancashire preferring this type,' he said.

Cllr Green said that so far this year trading standards had removed 11,000 illegal vapes from the market for not displaying adequate warning or containing too much e-liquid.

Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost ten times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting

He echoed evidence that while vaping is a better alternative for adult smokers looking to quit traditional smoking it as critical that more be done to stop young people from picking up the habit.

The debate comes after the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, called for the Government to ban the sale and manufacture of single use vapes by 2024.

The brightly coloured devices are sold under brand names including Elf Bar and Lost Mary and feature fruity and bubblegum flavours appealing to children.

Colourful displays of the gadgets, sold for as little as 5, litter high streets across the UK. Some shops even sell the devices next to sweets.

Data released earlier this year showed 11.6 per cent of 11-to-17-year-olds in Britain have now tried vaping.

The figure is up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago.

Vaping-related hospitalisations among young people have also increased with 40 admissions for 'vaping-related disorders' among patients aged under 20 last year, up from 11 two years earlier.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to crack down on the youth vaping crisis.

It also comes after MailOnline revealed that e-cigarettes have been linked to five deaths in Britain.

Latest figures show the proportion of adults using e-cigs in the UK increased last year to the highest rate on record, at 8.3 per cent, according to the charity Action on Smoking and Health. This accounts for the roughly 4.3million people across the country

NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape

None of the fatalities, which have all occurred since 2010, are proven to have been caused directly by vaping. No ages were mentioned for any of the deaths.

But health chiefs tasked with policing the safety of e-cigs admit there is 'a suspicion' the gadgets may have been to blame.

Almost 1,000 serious adverse reactions to e-cigs have also been logged by Britain's health watchdog, including blood, nervous system and respiratory disorders, as well as cancer and injuries such as burns.

These incidents are based on reports, meaning it does not necessarily prove the product in question was to blame for the health problem.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements.

Health chiefs say e-cigarettes carry a fraction of the risk of smoking and believe they can play a key role in weaning the remaining 5million smokers in Britain off tobacco and putting an end to the killer habit.

Although widely viewed as safer than smoking, the long-term effects of vaping still remain a mystery.

Doctors fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

A damning MailOnline expose in April laid bare the true scale of the problem and the marketing tactics of vape retailers trying to target children.

Tom Padley, now 19, from Putney, London, told MailOnline at the time that he had been using vapes since the age of just 13.

Tom, who picked up the habit in boarding school, said 'it's not like cigarettes, where you would have to find a place to go outside and do it  you can just do it non-stop indoors'.

But six years into vaping, he has begun to suffer health issues.

'I get ill a lot more. I get ulcers occasionally in my mouth. I have a lot of coughs. I guarantee it's massively increased due to vaping,' he told MailOnline.
It has already been heralded as the 'turning point' in the decades-long war against Alzheimer's.

But questions about whether donanemab  and two similar drugs  are really the answer to combating the devastating disease remain unanswered.

Landmark trial findings published today revealed that donanemab, given as a once-monthly infusion, slowed the decline of Alzheimer's by up to 60 per cent.

Patients in the earliest stages of the memory-robbing disease were spared from the inevitable worsening of their symptoms.

Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, which owns the drug, announced it had already sought regulatory approval in the US. It expects to apply for the same green light in the UK within six months.

However, leading experts have warned Britain is not ready to dish out the resource-intensive drug, or rivals lecanemab and aducanumab.

Donanemab is given to Alzheimer's patients through an IV infusion once a month. The monoclonal antibody  a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances  travels to the brain . Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque  a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them

Researchers today unveiled that donanemab slowed cognitive decline in Alzheimer's by 35 per cent by removing toxic plaques in the brain

Others have cautioned they could be too expensive to garner approval, with price tags of around 16,000/year being floated around the US, where the original drugs are already available.

Serious concerns have also been raised about side effects of the trio of medications, which are designed to clear a toxic protein that builds up in the brain and is thought to be responsible for memory loss.

Experts also suggested the drugs' effects may not even be noticeable to patients or their families.

Donanemab, which has yet to be given a brand name, was most effective in under-75s in the earliest stages of disease.

Researchers examined almost 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer's. Patients were either donanemab or a dummy drug over 18 months.

Participants at the earliest stage of disease with mild cognitive impairment had the greatest benefit, with a 60 per cent slowing of decline compared to placebo.

Among patients with early Alzheimer's whose brain scans showed low or medium levels of a protein called tau, the drug was found to slow clinical decline by 35 per cent.

READ MORE: Is this the 'beginning of the end' of Alzheimers suffering? Breakthrough drug signals 'treatment era' for memory-robbing disease but experts warn the NHS is 'not ready' to dish it out An experimental Alzheimer's drug developed by Eli Lilly slows cognitive decline by more than a third, the company has said (stock image) Advertisement

When the results were combined for people who had different levels of this protein, there was a 22.3 per cent slowing in disease progression, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The same results, widely anticipated in the dementia field for months, were simultaneously presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Amsterdam.

Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This is truly a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's and science is proving that it is possible to slow down the disease.

'Treatments like donanemab are the first steps towards a future where Alzheimer's disease could be considered a long-term condition alongside diabetes or asthma - people may have to live with it, but they could have treatments that allow them to effectively manage their symptoms and continue to live fulfilled lives.'

The monoclonal antibody  a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances  travels to the brain.

Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque  a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them.

However, like with any medical treatment, the drug is not risk-free.

Serious side effects such as brain swelling and bleeds were seen among some of the patients as well as three deaths linked to taking the medication.

'Concerns remains over the side effects of these drugs - a significant proportion of patients developed a form of brain oedema,' says Dr Ivan Koychev, a senior clinical researcher and consultant neuropsychiatrist at the University of Oxford.

Brain bleeds occurred in 314 patients (36.8 per cent) in the donanemab group and 130 patients (14.9 per cent) in the placebo group.

In the group that received donanemab, three participants (0.4 per cent) died, which researchers said was linked to their treatment.

For comparison, there was one treatment-related death (0.1 per cent) in the placebo group.

From 1906 when clinical psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer first reported a 'severe disease of the cerebral cortex' to uncovering the mechanics of the disease in the 1980s-90s to today's 'breakthrough' drug lecanemab, scientists have spent over a century trying to grapple with the brutal disease that robs people of their cognition and independence

Less than a year ago, another drug, called lecanemab (pictured), was found to slash cognitive decline among those with the memory-robbing condition by 27 per cen t

Dr Liz Coulthard, associate professor in dementia neurology at the University of Bristol, said patients will need to be aware of these 'significant side effects' so they can choose whether to take the drugs or not.

Professor Gill Livingston, an expert in the psychiatry of older people at University College London, noted that the medication carries 'significant side effects' and there is 'still a lot of work to do to know what it means for most people with Alzheimer's'.

Drug makers are yet to confirm the cost so it is unclear whether it will even reach patients in the UK, she added.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considers the cost-effectiveness of any new approved medicine, which is a key factor in whether it is rolled out in Britain.

The failed Alzheimer's drugs Eli Lilly abandoned trials of would-be Alzheimer's therapy solanezumab in January 2018 because the effects it was having were of no statistical significance. Merck stopped a late-stage human trial of the drug verubecestat in February 2018 because a safety analysis said the benefit-to-risk ratio was not good enough. Johnson & Johnson stopped trials of its experimental Alzheimer's drug atabecestat in May 2018 because of safety issues. Some patients started to show signs of liver damage and the scientists decided the trial was too risky to continue. In 2018, Pfizer completely stopped trying to develop dementia treatments after a number of unsuccessful attempts, notably of Alzheimer's drug bapineuzumab in 2012. Roche halted two late-stage human trials of crenezumab, which it hoped would slow early Alzheimer's, because a mid-study analysis said it was unlikely to work, the company announced in January 2019. Amgen and Novartis abandoned an Alzheimer's drug called CNP520 in July 2019 because patients' symptoms continued to get worse when they were taking the treatment. Biogen and Eisai, who developed the new drug lecanemab, scrapped two late trials of Alzheimer's treatment elenbecestat in September 2019. Advertisement

It looks at how effective a medication is, if any rival drugs work better and how much it costs in comparison to the next-best treatment.

Eli Lilly has not yet confirmed donanemab's price, but researchers have suggested it will cost $1,600 (1,273) per dose or $20,000 (15,909) annually.

Additionally, experts have questioned the significance of the donanemab results.

Dr Matthew Schrag, a neurologist at Vanderbilt University, told MailOnline that it is 'a bit of a mirage' to claim that donanemab slows the progression of Alzheimer's by a third.

He said: 'The study evaluated patients on the Integrated Alzheimers Disease Rating Scale, which scores patients on a 144 point scale (lower scores mean worse symptoms).

'The difference between the treatment and placebo groups was around 3 points, or roughly a 2 per cent absolute difference.

'This is the difference a patient or their family can expect to experience and it is a very small effect  small enough that most will not notice after 18 months of difficult and expensive treatments.'

Dr Schrag added: 'We need to be cautious with this new group of medications. I think it would be a mistake to rapidly roll out these treatment on a large scale.

'These drugs have serious side effects, are difficult to administer and I fear they over-promise outcomes related to memory.

'The fight for an effective therapy is not over  patients with Alzheimers need better treatments than this.'

Other roadblocks that could hinder donanemab becoming an Alzheimer's treatment in the UK is the complexities around diagnosing Alzheimer's early and administering the drug.

Donanemab works best when given to those at the earliest stages of the disease.

However, the NHS notes that it can take several appointments and tests over many moths before a doctor can confirm whether someone has the memory-robbing condition. Charities warn it can take longer than a year.

If donanemab is approved, patients would then require additional scans, including a PET scan to measure the concentration of amyloid in the brain.

Patients would also need to take cognitive tests so medics could monitor their mental abilities as they received treatment.

Then, once treatment begins, patients would need to receive monthly infusions for up to 18 months, which is much more resource-intensive than taking medication at home to manage the condition  the current treatment protocol.

Alzheimer's sufferers would also require regular scans to ensure they were not experiencing severe side effects, such as brain bleeds.

Experts have previously admitted that the NHS is 'not ready' for the rollout of such treatment and follow-up care.

Dr Coulthard said: 'The resource implications of taking this sophisticated approach are enormous.

'We need to transform our access to brain scans and infusion suites and train a skilled workforce to deliver these treatments.

Vaccines and antibodies, brain zapping helmets, oxygen therapy and stem cells are just some of the areas experts are exploring in the hunt for a cure for Alzheimer's

'Alzheimer's is a common condition, and we want people to be eligible for treatment on the basis of need, rather than access being limited to those who can afford private care or live in certain areas of the country.'

Professor Paresh Malhotra, head of neurology at Imperial College London, said the NHS would need to 'adapt considerably' if donanemab was approved in the UK.

Other experts question whether Alzheimer's treatments should even be tackling amyloid.

The protein has long thought to be the driving force behind Alzheimer's.

However, a 2022 investigation by top research journal Science uncovered 'shockingly blatant' tampering of results in a key 2006 study upholding the amyloid hypothesis.

And subsequent research has suggested that the protein is only part of the story in tackling Alzheimer's and cannot offer a cure.

Dr John Sims, senior medical director at Eli Lilly today confirmed that while donanemab doesn't cure Alzheimer's by tackling amyloid, it can provide a 'very good treatment' and delay the progression of the disease.

Around 850,000 Britons and 5.8million Americans have Alzheimer's disease.

The disease is the leading cause of dementia, a condition where suffers have an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.

Dementia affects 900,000 people in the UK and an estimated 7million in the US.

The condition is considered a global health concern as people live longer. It puts an increasing burden on health care systems including in the UK.

Treating and caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia is estimated to cost Britain 25billion each year, according to Alzheimer's Research UK, the vast majority of that being in social care spending.
In the fight against Alzheimer's donanemab has been hailed a game changer, and could one day be available to patients in the US and UK.

The milestone drug in the race to beat the brain disorder disease could be an effective treatment for Alzheimers patients. But how does it work and what do the results actually show?

MailOnline has detailed answers to all of your questions about the Alzheimer's drug donanemab, including whether the treatment is harmful.

Donanemab is given to Alzheimer's patients through an IV infusion once a month. The monoclonal antibody  a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances  travels to the brain . Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque  a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them

Researchers today unveiled that donanemab slowed cognitive decline in Alzheimer's by 35 per cent by removing toxic plaques in the brain

The failed Alzheimers drugs Eli Lilly abandoned trials of would-be Alzheimer's therapy solanezumab in January 2018 because the effects it was having were of no statistical significance. Merck stopped a late-stage human trial of the drug verubecestat in February 2018 because a safety analysis said the benefit-to-risk ratio was not good enough. Johnson & Johnson stopped trials of its experimental Alzheimer's drug atabecestat in May 2018 because of safety issues. Some patients started to show signs of liver damage and the scientists decided the trial was too risky to continue. In 2018, Pfizer completely stopped trying to develop dementia treatments after a number of unsuccessful attempts, notably of Alzheimer's drug bapineuzumab in 2012. Roche halted two late-stage human trials of crenezumab, which it hoped would slow early Alzheimer's, because a mid-study analysis said it was unlikely to work, the company announced in January 2019. Amgen and Novartis abandoned an Alzheimer's drug called CNP520 in July 2019 because patients' symptoms continued to get worse when they were taking the treatment. Biogen and Eisai, who developed the new drug lecanemab, scrapped two late trials of Alzheimer's treatment elenbecestat in September 2019. Advertisement

How does the Alzheimer's drug donanemab work?

Donanemab is given to Alzheimer's patients through an IV infusion once a month.

The monoclonal antibody  a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances  travels to the brain.

Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque  a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease.

This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them.

Patients stop taking donanemab once the amyloid accumulation has been cleared from their brain.

Half of participants in a trial of the drug reached this point after one year, and seven in 10 stopped taking it within 18 months.

What did the donanemab trial results show?

Eli Lilly, the US pharmaceutical firm behind the treatment, boasted that donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

Researchers examined almost 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer's, when the tell-tale memory loss first begins but before the cruel disease has managed to fully take hold.

All had a build-up of amyloid in their brain  one of the two main proteins thought to interfere with the communication between brain cells among patients with dementia.

Half of the volunteers received a monthly infusion of donanemab while the others were given a dummy drug, known as a placebo, over 18 months.

Donanemab was found to slow 'clinical decline' by 35.1 per cent in patients whose brain scans showed low or medium levels of tau  the second protein thought to drive Alzheimer's.

It means people with disease could still perform day-to-day tasks, such as shopping, housekeeping, managing finances and taking medication.

And 47 per cent saw no progression in their Alzheimer's one year later.

When the results were combined for people who had different levels of tau, there was a 22.3 per cent slowing in disease progression, on average.

The final results from Phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study were presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Amsterdam.

Participants who took donanemab also had 84 per cent lower amyloid levels after 18 months, compared to a one per cent drop among the placebo group.

Is the Alzheimer's drug donanemab dangerous?

Like any treatment, donanemab is not without risks.

Researchers found some serious side effects, such as brain swelling.

Brain bleeds occurred in 314 patients (36.8 per cent) in the donanemab group and 130 patients (14.9 per cent) in the placebo group.

From 1906 when clinical psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer first reported a 'severe disease of the cerebral cortex' to uncovering the mechanics of the disease in the 1980s-90s to today's 'breakthrough' drug lecanemab, scientists have spent over a century trying to grapple with the brutal disease that robs people of their cognition and independence

Vaccines and antibodies, brain zapping helmets, oxygen therapy and stem cells are just some of the areas experts are exploring in the hunt for a cure for Alzheimer's

In the group that received donanemab, three participants (0.4 per cent) died, which researchers said was linked to their treatment.

For comparison, there was one treatment-related death (0.1 per cent) in the placebo group.

Deaths have also occurred in trials of other similar, rival drugs, sparking concern among some experts who have said they wouldn't feel comfortable telling their patients that the drug is safe.

Those who were given the drug were also more likely to have an infusion-related reaction, such as a fever, vomiting and headaches (9 per cent vs 0.5 per cent).

And 112 patients taking donanemab withdrew due to the side effects, compared to just 38 withdrawals among the placebo group.

When will donanemab be available?

Eli Lilly has submitted data to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and expects it to make a decision by the end of the year.

It is also applying to other regulators for approval, including the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

If approved by the MHRA, donanemab would need to be assessed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) before it could be rolled out on the NHS. This process could take a couple of years.

Another Alzheimer's drug, lecanemab, which works in a similar fashion, was last month approved in the US.

How is donanemab different to other new Alzheimer's drugs?

Donanemab  which has yet to be given a brand name  works by binding to amyloid after it has formed plaques in the brain.

Lecanamab, also known as Leqembi, targets the protein as it begins to form fibres in the organ.

Less than a year ago, another drug, called lecanemab (pictured), was found to slash cognitive decline among those with the memory-robbing condition by 27 per cen t

Meanwhile, aducanumab attaches to amyloid at both stages.

Lecanamab and aducanumab were developed by Japanese and US pharmaceutical firms Eisai and Biogen.

Lecanamab has already been approved in the US but is still being examined by UK regulators.

Aducanumab was given the green light in the US but rejected by EU officials over concerns that, despite early studies showing promise, aducanumab had failed in clinical trials to show any major improvements in patients' symptoms.

Isn't there already drugs for Alzheimer's?

Current Alzheimer's drugs only temporarily improve some symptoms.

One option is Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, which increase levels of acetylcholine  a substance in the brain that helps nerve cells communicate.

This can boost patients' memories, as well as helping them think more clearly and better manage daily activities.

Meanwhile, memantine blocks the effects of an excessive amount of a chemical in the brain called glutamate.

It can improve memory, helping sufferers remember recent conversations, where they put things and ease delusions or anxiety.

Additionally, there are medicines that can be taken to treat behaviour changes such as anxiety, agitation and aggression.
An elderly woman misplaced her false teeth only for doctors to discover she had swallowed them.

The patient, who suffered from dementia, only had mild pain, difficulty swallowing or nausea, but was taken to the hospital by her son as a precaution.

Doctors were puzzled as to where the lower denture could have gone and performed an scan on the elderly patient.

A camera was inserted into the woman's lower digestive system where the denture was discovered in her stomach.

The elderly woman was unaware she had swallowed her missing dentures and was not complaining of any pain, swallowing difficulties or nausea.

Doctors performed an esophagogastroduodenoscopy to search for the missing dentures and discovered them in the patient's stomach.

The endoscope was then removed and re-inserted with a foreign body hood protector attached to the tip.

After several failed attempts, doctors were able to place the hood protector over the denture and grasp it with rat-tooth forceps, removing the foreign object from the woman's stomach.

The procedure lasted just over two hours and the patient was allowed to return home the following day.

Experts at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said there was no significant injury caused by the denture's removal.

The medical team wrote: 'Dentures are actually one of the most commonly ingested items in adults. Others include bones, chicken or fish, and jewelry.'

Doctors added that the woman's history of dementia, stroke, and central nervous system lymphoma made her less aware of the foreign body passing into her stomach.

The medical team advanced an endoscope into the woman's esophageal sphincter where the denture was discovered in her stomach.

Doctors attached a hood protector over the denture and grasped it with rat-tooth forceps. After several attempts, doctors were able to remove the denture from the woman's stomach without injury.

As a result, she did not experience any related symptoms such as abdominal pain, swallowing difficulties, or nausea.

'Foreign body ingestion is an under-recognized hazard in adults, especially in the elderly where it may lead to significant morbidity and even mortality,' the medical team said. 'A prior study estimated that 1,500 individuals in the United States die annually from this phenomenon.'

According to a separate study, endoscopic retrieval in adults is required in roughly 20 percent of cases and emergency surgery is necessary in another 1 percent of cases.
A drug can slow early Alzheimer's by up to 60 per cent in a breakthrough hailed as the 'turning point' in the fight against the disease.

In a 'defining moment' for dementia research, results from trials of donanemab found it significantly delayed the worsening of symptoms in people with this type of dementia.

It is the second treatment after lecanemab to offer hope to patients in what experts have hailed 'the decade of Alzheimer's', which could one day see it likened to other long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes.

Scientists said it also ended the decades-long debate over whether the accumulation of sticky plaques, or amyloid, is at least partly responsible for the degenerative disease.

Donanemab is given to Alzheimer's patients through an IV infusion once a month. The monoclonal antibody  a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances  travels to the brain . Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque  a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them

Researchers today unveiled that donanemab slowed cognitive decline in Alzheimer's by 35 per cent by removing toxic plaques in the brain

Unveiling the full trial results at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Amsterdam yesterday, Eli Lilly and Company said it had already sought approval from US regulators the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The US pharmaceutical giant said it expected to apply to UK regulators within 6 months. It means patients could start being treated with the drug in as little as 18 months.

Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This is truly a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's and science is proving that it is possible to slow down the disease.

'Treatments like donanemab are the first steps towards a future where Alzheimer's disease could be considered a long-term condition alongside diabetes or asthma - people may have to live with it, but they could have treatments that allow them to effectively manage their symptoms and continue to live fulfilled lives.'

Given as a monthly infusion in hospital, donanemab was found to halt mental decline for more than a year in around half of patients. It was most effective in under-75s in the earliest stages of disease, the new results showed.

Researchers examined almost 1,800 people with early-stage Alzheimer's with patients given either donanemab or a dummy drug over 18 months.

Those at the very earliest stage of disease, known as mild cognitive impairment, had the greatest benefit, with a 60 per cent slowing of decline compared to placebo.

Among patients with early Alzheimer's whose brain scans showed low or medium levels of a protein called tau, the drug was found to slow clinical decline by 35 per cent.

Levels of tau are a marker of how far the disease has progressed. When the results were combined to include people who had higher levels of that protein, there was a 22 per cent slowing in disease progression.

Researchers said some patients were taken off the drugs after as little as six months because scans showed the amyloid in their brains had completely disappeared.

Likening it to radiation treatment for cancer, they said treatment could then stop  with early indications suggesting the plaques which were decades in the making, would take several years to return.

The drug works by using the immune system to remove amyloid - toxic plaque build-ups in the brain that stop brain cells communicating.

Consequently, it is only effective for people with early-stage Alzheimer's and not other forms of the disease, such as vascular or frontotemporal dementia.

But the findings represent a major breakthrough for the disease, which until just months ago had no definitive treatments.

It comes after Eisai and Biogen's lecanemab was shown to slow decline by 27 per cent, leading to its FDA approval earlier this month.

Scientists said the successes of both donanemab and lecanemab ended the decades-long debate over whether the accumulation of sticky plaques  amyloid- is at least partly responsible for the degenerative disease.

Dr Maria Carrillo, from the Alzheimer's Association, said: 'With this fuller picture, there is additional, convincing scientific evidence that thoroughly removing beta amyloid from the brain is associated with significant slowing of disease progression in people living with early Alzheimer's.

'The results illustrate that initiating treatment as early as possible enables the possibility of a bigger beneficial effect, but also that there is potential for slowing of disease progression even when treatment is started later in the disease progression.

'These benefits are real and meaningful, giving people more time to participate in daily life, remain independent and make future health care decisions.'

As well as delaying the worsening of symptoms for between 4.5 to 7.5 months on average, the drug also meant patients could continue to perform daily activities for longer, researchers said.

Dr Mark Mintun, group vice-president of neuroscience research and development at Lilly and president of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, said it could help early, symptomatic Alzheimer's disease to 'keep working, enjoying trips, sharing quality time with family' and 'feel like themselves, for longer'.

However, the treatment was not without some serious side effects such as brain swelling, which occurred in up to a third of patients in the donanemab trial.

For most, the issue resolved without causing symptoms. But there were three deaths that were linked to taking the medication, with at least two thought to be the result of swelling or bleeds.

Experts said patients will need to be aware of risks of treatment so they can choose whether they take these drugs.

Professor Paresh Malhotra, head of neurology at Imperial College London, said: 'If the drug is approved in the UK, then NHS services will need to adapt considerably to provide it and there will need to be honest discussion between patients, carers, and doctors about the benefits and risks associated with this type of treatment.'

The UK's regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), will now determine if both drugs are safe for UK use before drug's watchdog NICE assesses whether they are cost effective for the NHS.

These processes are likely to take at least 18 months, giving the health service time to gear up for any mass roll-out.

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, of Alzheimer's Research UK, said today's announcement 'marks another milestone' following decades of research.

She said: 'We're entering a new era where Alzheimer's disease could become treatable.

'As a potential first-generation treatment, donanemab's effects are modest. But these results provide further confirmation that removing amyloid from the brain can change the course of Alzheimer's, and may help people affected by this devastating disease if they're treated at the right time.

'Set against this, it's clear that donanemab does come with side effects, which for some can be very serious. Regulators will need to balance these benefits and risks before it is given a license for use.'
Back in September 2020, 11-year-old Samir Touati looked set for a bright future.

A keen student, hed just got into a competitive secondary school and was the kind of youngster who enjoyed zooming around on his bike or playing with friends in the park near his home in Barking, Essex.

But the happy routine came to an abrupt end within weeks of the start of his first term, after he caught Covid.

Less than six months after recovering from the infection in September 2021  which caused fever, severe chest pain and fatigue  he was confined to a wheelchair with long Covid symptoms.

I dont remember a day without pain, Samir, 13, told Good Health in a voice heavy with fatigue.

Back in September 2020, 11-year-old Samir Touati (pictured before Covid) looked set for a bright future

But the happy routine came to an abrupt end within weeks of the start of his first term, after he caught Covid (pictured now)

Long Covid has taken my life and smashed it to bits. It has taken every happiness and destroyed it beyond repair. It has all but killed me.

His mother Jana, 52, describes how difficult her sons life has become.

He is unable to stand up. Any movement gives him severe pain all over his body, she says.

He also has noise sensitivity which makes him cry out and causes muscle spasms if he even hears the vacuum cleaner, for instance.

But the worst thing is the chronic tiredness that stops him going to school, says Jana, an accountant and mother of three, who is married to Mohamed, 56, who was previously a chef and is now a full-time carer for Samir.

Samir has been ill for 20 months and, until he gets some kind of proper treatment, he isnt going to recover, says Jana.

Long Covid  defined as symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog that last for at least two months after infection  is thought to affect at least two million people in the UK; around 69,000 of them children.

That number is rising as the virus continues to circulate. And while Britain led the world in developing vaccines and treatment for acute Covid, it seems research into long Covid has been left behind.

Just as the UK Covid-19 Inquiry starts to investigate the pandemics impact, patients and doctors are calling for more help now for those suffering from the effects of the infection.

Specialist doctors recently gave an emotional presentation in Westminster to MPs from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on coronavirus, with Dr Rae Duncan, a consultant cardiologist at Newcastle Hospitals, detailing the stories of some of her patients, many young and previously fit but now desperately ill with long Covid.

Dr Duncan told the hearing: Covid is not over, its still killing, disabling and maiming: what level of death and disability is it going to take for us to take this seriously? Long Covid research is no longer prioritised and the economic consequences in the UK and globally are going to be catastrophic for decades, she said at the hearing in May.

In July 2021, NHS England published its long Covid plan for 2021/22, which included 70 million to expand long Covid services and 30million for an enhanced service for general practice to support patients.

But when it published its updated plan in July last year, there was no funding for the enhanced service.

And although a network of specialist NHS long Covid clinics has been created, patients interviewed by Good Health reported waiting times of more than a year and of only being given advice on symptom management, rather than treatment.

If we dont find a treatment, more individuals are going to be longer-term disabled, said Dr Duncan.

Less than six months after recovering from the infection in September 2021  which caused fever, severe chest pain and fatigue  Samir was confined to a wheelchair with long Covid symptoms

[That includes] young adults who are a significant part of our workforce and children who are part of our future workforce.

One potential approach that some doctors (including Dr Duncan) believe could help is targeting changes to blood-clotting processes caused by the virus.

Research has shown that some people with long Covid have tiny clots (microclots) in their blood: these are thought to reduce the supply of oxygen to vital organs, tissues and, in particular, to the mitochondria, the batteries in our cells.

This in turn causes the chronic debilitating fatigue and other symptoms of long Covid.

Dr Duncan showed the APPG an image of a blood sample containing fragments of blood-vessel lining from an 11-year-old with long Covid who is now in a wheelchair as a result.

Long Covid has ripped my life from me Hollie Bramwell had just embarked on a career as a history teacher when she became ill with Covid. The 27-year-old had hoped to buy a house with her boyfriend James Young, 33, a railway manager. Instead, 18 months on, they are both still living with her parents in Chartham, Kent. Hollie Bramwell 27, with her dog Mabel is a former history teacher and now housebound, delibilated by long covid and suffering from a lack of effective treatment Every morning she waves all three off to work at 7.30am and spends long days alone with her dog Mabel for company. She caught Covid at her school in December 2021. Like many others she struggled back into work but then found she couldnt cope. My heart rate can go up to 180 when I stand up and I just black out, says Hollie (pictured with Mabel). Every morning Holly waves all three off to work at 7.30am and spends long days alone with her dog Mabel for company As a history teacher the most embarrassing thing is the brain fog. She faced a ten-month wait to be seen at a long Covid clinic, only to be told there was nothing they could offer for her symptoms. Im completely reliant on my parents and James, says Hollie. I couldnt possibly teach or socialise. My life has been ripped from me. Advertisement

She explained that the clots are formed when T-cells (white blood cells that are part of the immune system) are chronically activated by a Covid infection, leading to the overproduction of molecules called cytokines that damage the lining of blood vessels.

Blood components called platelets respond to this by clumping together in a clot.

And, depending on where the clot forms, this could help explain the wide range of long Covid symptoms.

The APPG was told how 38 to 50 per cent of previously fit people aged between 16 and 40 affected by long Covid are being left bedridden and in wheelchairs.

Many are unable to sit up as a result of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, where the heart rate suddenly rockets, causing fainting.

Some think this may be linked to microclots. These microclots might also help to explain UK research, published in the journal Circulation in 2022, which found that people who caught Covid in the first wave had a risk of heart attack or stroke 21 times higher than those without a Covid diagnosis.

By six months to a year after diagnosis, the risk had gone back down, although it remained higher than it was pre-Covid.

Greater health problems lie ahead, suggested Dr Duncan: The post-Covid condition is not just long Covid; theres an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and Parkinsons disease.

Theres a lot we still dont know but were beginning to get signals that treating the blood vessel issues of long Covid may reduce the future risk of heart disease.

The role of microclots was first identified by Resia Pretorius, a professor of physiological sciences at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in 2021.

Following her research, private clinics offering an expensive blood washing system called apheresis to clear these microclots were set up across Europe, including in Germany, Cyprus and Switzerland.

Blood is taken out of one arm and put through a machine that splits red cells from plasma, explains Dr Asad Khan, a respiratory disease consultant based in Manchester.

The plasma is run through a filter to remove excess clotting factors and then re-combined with the red cells and put back in the other arm.

Dr Khan, who has long Covid, has himself had the treatment in Germany.

He was first infected with coronavirus while treating patients in November 2020 and says hes had it four times since: he has been unable to work because of debilitating fatigue, brain fog and muscle pain.

My symptoms were so bad I contemplated ending my life, says Dr Khan, who belongs to a Facebook group for doctors with long Covid that has 2,000 members.

Last year, when Good Health first spoke to Dr Khan, hed already spent 30,000 on apheresis.

He has now had 21 sessions (each lasts three to four hours and costs around 1,110) at a total cost, with other therapies, of 50,000  his life savings.

Apheresis has helped, but hasnt got me back to where I was. I was completely fit but now Im struggling all the time, he says.

An investigation by the BMJ in 2022 reported that long Covid patients were travelling abroad and spending thousands to have this treatment.

While some said their symptoms had improved, experts flagged that there is as yet no published and peer reviewed evidence showing that apheresis and anticoagulation therapy reduce the microclots.

Other experts are circumspect about microclots being the key to long Covid.

There are many mechanisms proposed and microclots is just one, says Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London.

Samir's mother Jana (pictured with him), 52, describes how difficult her sons life has become. He is unable to stand up. Any movement gives him severe pain all over his body, she says.

There hasnt been much hard data published so we dont have definitions, pathways and therapies yet. Ondine Sherwood, a spokesman for the charity Long Covid SOS, added: We understand why people are so excited about the microclots theory because it feels like progress. Unfortunately, were still a long way from microclot treatment being available on the NHS because we lack robust data.

We still dont know why people are developing these clots; whether they are indeed driving symptoms; which patients would most likely benefit from anticoagulant therapy; and whether removing the clots is a permanent solution. Without the right research we cant move on.

The underlying issue is a lack of resources.

Professor Altmann says: Were losing 2 to 3 per cent of the workforce and many children to this condition. We need to take it seriously.

When I talk to scientists around the world theyre surprised were doing so little in the UK because we were seen as world leaders in recognising [long Covid] in the first place.

Amitava Banerjee, a professor of clinical data science at University College London, is leading Britains only publicly funded trial of long Covid therapies  looking at the benefits of antihistamines, anti-inflammatories and an anti-clotting drug.

However, the trial is a year behind schedule, partly because of a lack of resources. We dont think long Covid is one disease, theres likely to be different sub-types based on different clusters of symptoms, says Professor Banerjee.

Microclots are probably one of those, but even if microclots explain some of the problem, we need to understand more. Anti-clotting drugs can themselves be very dangerous because they can cause bleeding.

Samir has been ill for 20 months and, until he gets some kind of proper treatment, he isnt going to recover, says Jana

Despite the risks, some desperate families are embarking on anti-clotting therapy privately.

In December 2022, almost 18 months after her daughter Victoria developed Covid, Sarah Priest, a mother of two, obtained a prescription for the anti-clotting drug clopidogrel from a private doctor.

Im sure Victoria has clots because of the improvement in her condition, says Sarah, who works as a part-time teacher for adults with learning disabilities.

Victoria, 13, previously a keen cellist and Girl Guide, had missed almost two years of school, but shes now in a home education group, able to engage more and getting some quality of life back, says Sarah, 45, from Worthing, West Sussex.

The toll of long Covid on children is particularly worrying, with a recent survey by the University of Derby finding that fewer than half of children with long Covid were back in full-time school.

For Jana Touati, effective treatment for Samir seems elusive.

Were aware there is the possibility of using anti-clotting therapy but theres nowhere in the UK where he could be tested to see if he would benefit, she says.

We couldnt take him to Germany because theres no way he can travel.

Particularly upsetting, she says, is that while her older two children are moving on with their lives, Samir is still struggling.

They got Covid at the same time as Samir but recovered within days  my daughter Amal is 18 and due to go to university and Yacob is 16 and has done GCSEs, but Samir isnt moving on. Hes spent two years being unwell.

Hes very bright academically but has missed out on a great deal of school and normal things. He can hardly move around in the house, let alone play outside. I wonder when his life will ever go back to normal. Its incredibly worrying.

Long Covid SOS longcovidsos.org

Long Covid Kids longcovidkids.org
One of them had legs and to be honest, looked a little scary  Professor Pietro Valdastri is describing one of his designs for a miniature robot capable of navigating its way through a human body, one of 20 prototypes he has designed with the potential to diagnose or even cure disease.

The idea was that the spider robot would be sent into the colon to investigate a [suspicious] growth, and the legs would help to create space to allow the robot to move through  its a narrow space, says Professor Valdastri, chair of robotics and autonomous systems at Leeds University.

Another of his designs, which looks like a pair of sharp teeth, would carry surgical clips into the body to where needed in order to stem bleeding.

All the tiny robots  known as capsule robots  come equipped with a camera and some also carry a sensor that can detect bleeding or the pH of tissue (which can determine abnormalities, and may give an idea if its potentially cancerous).

The capsule robot also needs to carry a tiny radio transmitter capable of sending that information to the outside world  so a surgeon can see in real-time whats happening  and a receiver, so that it responds to commands to go forward and back, for example.

The idea was that the spider robot would be sent into the colon to investigate a [suspicious] growth, and the legs would help to create space to allow the robot to move through  its a narrow space, says Professor Valdastri (Pictured is a magnified view of the tiny crab robot, standing on the edge of a coin)

And, ideally, a battery source for power and a reservoir to store drugs, adds Professor Valdastri.

Then, if something suspicious is detected  either by the robot itself or the doctor  the robot could eject the drug where needed.

These robots are so small they would be swallowed or inserted via an orifice.

Sounds far-fetched? Actually its not: for while the scary spider robot hasnt made it far past the drawing board, another of the Professors miniature robots will be tested on human volunteers for the first time next month.

Nor are his designs the only ones in development; in fact, the march of the medical miniature robot appears to be very much under way.

Some zip around the body independently, while others are plugged into a long tether or wire that provides power  but all have the potential to change how we diagnose and treat common conditions, from checking growths to unblocking arteries and even delivering vital medications such as chemotherapy exactly where needed.

READ MORE: Robots could free up a million NHS days by completing pesky admin tasks, Health Service suggests Advertisement

The robot being trialled next month is designed to offer a pain-free alternative to a colonoscopy, where a tube with a camera is inserted into the colon to investigate abnormalities.

A colonoscopy takes around 45 minutes and can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, so the patient is normally sedated.

Around 900,000 colonoscopies are performed every year in the UK.

Colonoscopy is painful because a stiff tube is inserted into the colon, which has many bends, but the endoscope is not flexible, says Professor Valdastri.

The capsule robot, by contrast, is a tiny, cylinder-shaped device measuring 2.5cm by 1.5cm  the size of a broadbean.

With this capsule robot it would be painless so the patient wouldnt even need sedation, says Professor Valdastri.

It also takes a long time to train someone to carry out a colonoscopy, so there is a lack of capacity. We hope to improve that with our robotic system. The staff would still need training, but for this it is much easier  its like learning to play a video game.

For the human trials, the robot will be pushed via the volunteers bottom into the colon.

Attached to a flexible, hollow tether, it will then be driven around the colon by a magnetic field controlled by a doctor with a joystick.

It races around the colon like a little car, sending live images of what it sees, says Professor Valdastri, explaining that its fully rotational camera can be used to look for polyps, small growths that, while generally harmless, can in some cases develop into tumours.

(Who would volunteer for such a thing? Professor Valdastri says he has plenty of offers  many of them who have lost relatives to colon cancer.)

Smaller than a flea, a single crab robot stands on the edge of a coin. A miniature robotic crab tinier than a flea has become the smallest-ever remote-controlled robot

If any suspicious polyps are spotted, then tiny tools can be passed down the hollow tether to snip them away (and the polyp removed along the tether).

A major benefit for the patient is that the robot  able to view 360 degrees with its moveable camera  is more thorough than traditional colonoscopy, which is essentially a static camera on a rigid tube that can only look forwards.

We hope to be able to visualise more of the colon, so that we wont leave behind any polyps, as can currently happen, says Professor Valdastri.

Once it reaches the dead-end junction at the end of the colon, the little robot turns around and exits through the back passage.

Professor Valdastri makes it sound simple, but it has taken 15 years of painstaking research to get to a stage where he is ready to test one of his designs in humans.

One of the main barriers has been working out where the robot is in the body at any given time.

Thats been overcome by including a sensor inside the robot. This can be tracked by a larger external robot, which moves the capsule robot using a magnet (this can be done with or without the control of a doctor using a joystick).

If the study of five to 15 healthy volunteers is successful  and the results should be available later this year  then a study of 100 or so people will be undertaken, directly comparing the outcome (both what is spotted and ease of use) to a standard colonoscopy.

Are mini robots the next big thing in medicine? Many experts see huge potential.

An area of research with the wow factor is how Dr Nisha Patel, a consultant gastroenterologist and an honorary senior clinical lecturer at Imperial College London, describes this technology.

She is part of a team that has developed a different robot to replace the colonoscopy.

This one, she says, is a bit like an octopuss arm, very soft and gentle which could diagnose and treat growths within the colon.

The idea of an arm-like shape is that it can flatten out the folds [of the colon], allowing us to see any lesions, she explains.

The lining of the colon is crumpled  a bit like a rug that has been walked all over  and a polyp can hide behind the ruffle.

Thats another reason polyps get missed: as many as 27 per cent go undetected by colonoscopy, according to a 2012 study in the journal Gut and Liver.

The robot would be loaded through the colon  and once inside would inflate and navigate around on its own, powered probably by a battery, says Dr Patel.

The arm, which has suction and washing capabilities (to help suck away fluid and debris to allow a clear view), is loaded with a camera lens and imaging technology. This technology includes artificial intelligence, which could potentially diagnose polyps on the spot.

It also includes a system called digital spectral imaging, which takes multiple layers of images and sees through the colon wall  a bit like Supermans X-ray eyes  to detect polyps or growths hiding behind folds and which might otherwise be missed.

It is so clever. It will not only see growths, it will then be able to say This polyp has changed from normal colonic lining and theres an 80 per cent chance this is heading towards cancer and should be removed, says Dr Patel.

Any polyps that are spotted would then be removed into a net attached to a connecting tether, and pulled back out of the body.

Dr Patels robot measures 15cm long by 3cm wide when fully inflated  a giant among the mini robots. But there are others in development that measure less than 1mm (these are termed microrobots.)

The smallest so far is the crab-shaped robot (see main picture) measuring just 0.5mm wide  smaller than a flea. It is being developed by scientists at Northwestern University in the U.S., who say it could one day help unclog blocked arteries or eliminate tumours, for example.

The crab (some say it is more spider-like)  a shape chosen at whim  moves with the help of an external laser that heats the alloy material its made with.

A special glass coating helps it rapidly cool, and this heating and cooling process helps propel it forwards. The laser can be directed externally to alter the robots course.

Results revealed in the journal Scientific Reports in May last year proved the early design worked, and it is now being refined.

But its not just their size that makes these mini robots noteworthy, its their ability to potentially improve how conditions are treated  for example, by delivering drugs directly to hard-to-reach places to help treat recurrent bladder infections.

In May, scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder, in the U.S., reported that they had successfully tested a self-propelled robot thinner than a human hair that could zip through the body at speed and could do just that.

Their robot has three fins (see box, below left) that not only propel it forwards but, when needed, help it attach to the bladder wall, where it pumps out a drug thats been soaked into its sides.

Propeller thinner than hair Resembling a ships propeller, this is a greatly enlarged picture of a robotic fin micro-robot  in reality its thinner than a human hair. It has been developed by scientists at Northwestern University in the U.S., who say that in future it will help deliver drugs exactly where theyre needed in the body  not only making the drugs more effective, but also reducing potential side-effects. The robot is powered by an air bubble inside it that moves when exposed to ultrasound: it travels very fast for its size, the equivalent of a human running at 400mph. Advertisement

We wanted to produce a form of technology that can deliver higher concentrations of drug to a tissue of interest, to improve the efficacy and reduce the side-effects to other parts of the body not intended as targets for the drug, Wyatt Shields, an assistant professor in the department of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Good Health.

The robot is powered by an air bubble held in fluid inside it. When exposed to ultrasound applied externally, the bubble vibrates to propel the robot forwards, at quite some speed.

The robot can swim at up to 150 body lengths per second  which is roughly equivalent to a 6ft human running at over 400mph, says Dr Shields.

The scientists have deployed thousands of these microrobots, pre-loaded with the steroid dexamethasone, into the bladders of mice.

Tests showed that they were able to attach to the bladder wall and stay in place, and then deliver the drug, successfully stimulating immune cells in the area.

Potentially this could alter the way conditions such as interstitial cystitis  a painful condition that affects half a million people in the UK  are treated.

Treatments for the condition are limited. One option is to insert medication in liquid form into the bladder via a catheter (a flexible tube), but this has to be retained for at least 15 minutes.

A microrobot armed with medicine could potentially offer a more effective  and user-friendly  treatment option.

Dr Shields acknowledges there are challenges ahead, not least in getting the robots to where they need to be.

Administering them intravenously and expecting them to go exactly where they need to is an enormous challenge that may not be solved any time soon, he says.

We are currently studying the relationship between robot shape and its direction of motion, and this may give us the ability to more precisely control the robots within the body.

Once it has finished, the idea is that this robot will eventually be excreted via the urine.

You wouldnt even feel it go, says Dr Shields, who hopes the design will be in use in around five years.

Another drug-delivery robot has been developed at Stanford University in the U.S.

The origami-style mini robot, which is the size of a pea, is able to fold out into different permutations. Its concertina shape means it can be manoeuvred to crawl, spin or swim around awkward parts of the body; and when it hits its target, it can squeeze in on itself to pump out the drugs.

Moved by an external magnetic field, the robot can automatically switch between rolling and flipping motions to adapt to the terrain.

Astonishingly, it appears to work.

Early test drives in a pigs stomach were successful, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Communications last year.

The Stanford scientists believe that as well as delivering drugs, the robot could be armed with tiny forceps to help take biopsies, for example. It also has suction capacity, which the scientists say could potentially enable it to suck up a blood clot, for example.

Of course, challenges lie ahead  not least what happens to a robot when its job is done.

While excretion through the bloodstream and then urine is one option, another being investigated is the use of algae to make the robot itself. The algae would then be coated in magnetic particles so that it could be steered externally, but would be fully biodegradable.

The other challenge is their size. Everything has to be sized down, and even the energy source needed for power can take up precious space.

This is why some robots are positioned on the end of catheters, meaning they can use the space that would be occupied by a power source for something else, says Dr Mohamed Abdelaziz, a medical roboticist at Imperial College London.

The catheters are tools to get the microrobots closer to the target. And using the catheter means you can get the robot where it needs to be quickly.

He is working on a smart robotic catheter that could be used to investigate heart troubles in children.

Currently, investigation involves a form of X-ray that exposes them to radiation  and exposing them to this when they have congenital heart disease increases the risk of cancer, he says.

The team now has a working prototype which has already been successfully tested on animals.

What makes these fixed devices robots is that they have some extra functionality; they can carry out tasks, says Dr Abdelaziz. Some of his colleagues are arming tiny robots with sensors.

Adding a sensing tip means that it can then tell if a growth it encounters is a benign or malignant tumour, he explains.

It is, of course, not just mini robots that are making their mark; other robots are already transforming healthcare.

In Japan, the government has been investing heavily in human-like robots to help fill the shortfall in care workers. Nursing homes there can apply for local government grants to help fund robots which may, for example, help lift patients, entertain or comfort them. More than 10 per cent of care homes catering for older patients have at least one.

But robotic systems are not without their drawbacks.

A study in the journal PLOS One, where researchers analysed incidents involving robotic surgery (where giant spider-like arms are stationed over a patient and moved by a surgeon using a joystick-like device) that had been reported to the official regulator in the U.S., found there had been 144 deaths and 1,391 injuries as a result between 2000 and 2013.

Around 14 per cent of the injuries involved bits falling off the robotic arm and damaging the patient, but 8.6 per cent involved unintended operation of instruments  in other words, the robot doing its own thing.

This must surely be one of the biggest fears about mini robots  that they go rogue inside the body.

Medical concept in the field of nanotechnology. Genetic engineering and the use of nanorobots to replace part of the DNA molecule

Each of the experts Good Health spoke to stressed that getting a mini robot approved will involve as many if not more safety checks as getting a new drug approved.

But one potential problem, says Carl Heneghan, a professor of evidence-based medicine at the University of Oxford, is that when it comes to regulation there is the potential to fall through the cracks.

Because they are, in essence, implantable devices, they should be subject to trials lasting a minimum of three years  and ideally longer  to determine their safety, he says.

However, while in the U.S. the system is pretty strict about the need for trials, the European system is more lax. Its viewed as a test ground for developers to determine the long-term consequences of their devices and then get approval in the U.S.

He adds: Whenever the next technological breakthrough comes along, the reality is often it offers minimal benefit above what is in place already, and so it is incredibly important we do not open the door to new technologies that come with an inappropriate level of risk.

All these issues aside, the other problem of course will be persuading members of the public that its safe to trust their health to a minute high-speed robot. And whether they are prepared to do that remains to be seen.
'The shares are due for a re-rating.'

It's an easy phrase to bandy around, but what does it actually mean?

Is there any way of quantifying how or why a re-rating of a given company might be due?

Well, in the mining sector, there is.

It's known as the Lassonde Curve and it has a long pedigree of use by analysts trying to make sense of where share prices might go in the absence of revenues and given the propensity for explorers and developers frequently to issue new equity.

In essence, the curve presents the different stages of exploration and development and shows how share prices are likely to rise or fall depending on exactly where any given company sits on the curve.

Model: The Lassonde Curve shows how share prices are likely to rise or fall depending on exactly where any given mining company sits on the curve

It's named after Pierre Lassonde, the founder of one of Canada's biggest royalty companies, Franco-Nevada.

And if ever there was a man who knows about investing for growth, it's Pierre Lassonde.

Franco Nevada was founded in the 1980s off a fundraising that amounted to less than C$1million. Today, the company is worth nearly C$37billion, and Lassonde remains chairman emeritus.

So how does the curve work?

Well, resources company shares are worth mere pennies  or even fractions of pennies  at the speculative exploration phase, when all they really have is an idea. But following initial drill results, if successful, the shares will likely strengthen, and if a full-blown discovery is made will likely strengthen further on each successive set of results.

Gradually a resource is built up, value is confirmed and the shares strengthen further.

This is the first upward lift of the Lassonde Curve, driven by speculative money moving into the stock in response to ongoing exploration success. It's also often the most pronounced upward arc of the curve.

Next comes a period of consolidation. You've got a resource  well and good, but now you need to do all the necessary but less value-enhancing work like metallurgy, environmental studies, economic evaluations, permitting, and so forth.

There's no getting around this process, but creating abstract valuation models and doing necessary technical work just doesn't have the same energy as the discovery of, say, a million ounces of gold.

At this point, the shares are likely to drift, as shareholders find it hard to identify imminent inflection points. The first downward arc of the Lassonde Curve has begun.

Often, companies try to counteract this well-established pattern by running drill programmes on other projects to keep newsflow coming. And this can sometimes work. But it doesn't invalidate the Lassonde Curve model  it merely runs interference on one curve by setting up a second curve for another project.

One-project companies don't have this luxury, although being focused on one project is often a more straightforward proposition for equity investors to get their heads around.

Because in the end, if the project is good enough, a share price revival will come.

Why is this?

Simple. At some point the market will begin to wake up to the reality that a project is going into production.

By then, most of the hot speculative money that drove the valuation at earlier points on the curve is already likely to be out, and new, more serious and institutional money will start coming in, looking for growth in NAV and for yield. And another re-rating occurs.

Within this model, there are nuances.

For example, it's often held that the best time to trade on the upward leg of the earlier curve is before drill results come in.

That's because speculative money will come into the shares on anticipation of success and drive the price up. But there remains the very real possibility of failure. In such event, the shares will likely drop back to their starting level and nobody will be any the better off.

However, anyone selling before the results were known would have been able to lock in speculative gains.

Occasionally, the speculative run-up before exploration results are released can mean that success, when it comes, has already been priced in, and by the time the good news is known the share price has run out of momentum.

So, which companies might we apply the Lassonde Curve to in the current market?

Any exploration or development company is in theory appropriate.

But here are a couple that seem to be at different stages of the Lassonde Curve.

Helium One, which is looking for helium in Tanzania, will drill a proof-of-concept well by the end of the third quarter of this year. If successful, and if Helium One goes on to prove up what it thinks it's got at its Rukwa project, the company could become one of the world's major suppliers. Expect action in the share price as drilling gets underway.

Further along the curve is Greatland Gold, a perennial favourite amongst speculative investors, but a company which is now moving towards production in partnership with the world's biggest gold company, Newmont.

Greatland shares have been lagging in recent months, as the company continues to labour through that period between the euphoria of discovery and the hard reality of generating production. But production isn't far away now, and according to the second upward leg of the Lassonde Curve, that means that the shares are due an uplift.

To read more small-cap news click here (www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk).
The chairwoman of Hargreaves Lansdown is leaving following severe criticism from one of the investment platform's founders over her leadership, according to Sky News.

Deanna Oppenheimer has chaired the FTSE 100 company for the last five-and-a-half years amidst a particularly turbulent period for the UK's financial markets.

Last October, Hargreaves's co-founder and its largest shareholder, Peter Hargreaves, called on her to stand down, accusing her of overseeing a 'diabolical' performance at the business.

Leader: Deanna Oppenheimer has chaired Bristol-based Hargreaves Lansdown for the last five-and-a-half years amidst a particularly turbulent period for the UK's financial markets

Since Oppenheimer joined as chair, Hargreaves has achieved significant growth in assets, customer levels and turnover during her tenure but has seen its share price more than halve.

It benefited handsomely during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic from a surge of retail investors, many of them young first-time traders looking to make a little extra money.

Yet trade slowed significantly as lockdown restrictions were loosened and people started spending more time outdoors and in the office.

The company has also contended with the fallout from the collapse of the Woodford Equity Income Fund, which Hargreaves had heavily promoted before it collapsed in 2019, leaving tens of thousands of investors nursing significant losses.

Sky News claimed that an announcement regarding Oppenheimer's departure was 'imminent' whilst the search for her successor was already underway.

The American-born also chairs Crowne Plaza owner Intercontinental Hotels Group and holds non-executive directorships at media agency Thomson Reuters and technology consultancy Slalom.

She previously occupied board positions at Tesco, Whitbread, and payments processor Worldpay, held senior roles at Barclays and founded CameoWorks, an advisory firm to CEOs of early-stage technology businesses.

Chris Hill is already planning to step aside as Hargreaves's chief executive next month, when he will be replaced by Dan Olley, the former head of data science provider Dunnhumby.

In February 2022, Hill launched a growth strategy that included proposals to invest 175million on its technology platform and launch a new financial advice service, partly funded through suspending special dividend payments.

But Peter Hargreaves has heavily criticised the plan, calling the proposed service 'completely unnecessary' and instead urging the group to implement a 'huge round of cost-cutting.'

This is Money contacted Hargreaves for a response but did not receive a reply.

Hargreaves Lansdown shares closed 0.8 per cent down at 832.8p on Monday.
Sluggish economic data from China is fuelling fears that the countrys rebound from its strict Covid-19 lockdown policies is starting to splutter.

Official figures published in Beijing showed that the worlds second largest economy expanded by just 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of the year, having grown by 2.2 per cent over the previous three months.

On an annual basis, output was 6.3 per cent higher than a year earlier, well below analyst expectations of a 7.3 per cent rise.

Such growth rates are figures that the UK and other advanced economies can only dream of.

But the worse-than-expected performance has sparked fears that Chinas boom over the last three decades  which has helped to fuel global economic expansion  is running out of steam.

Slowdown: China's economy expanded by just 0.8% in the second quarter of the year having grown by 2.2% over the previous three months

Another longer-term concern is the countrys steadily rising youth unemployment rate, which hit a record high of 21.3 per cent in June  up from 20.8 per cent in May  as Chinese graduates struggled to find jobs.

There are also concerns that increasing numbers are taking a break from Chinas relentless work culture.

Sheana Yue, China economist at Capital Economics, said the GDP data showed that the post-pandemic recovery was fizzling out and there were currently few signs of activity picking up across the rest of the year.

She said given the bleak backdrop, policymakers were likely to make further moves to stabilise the economy, with measures so far having fallen short of what is needed to provide a meaningful boost.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen  a former chairman of the Federal Reserve  said the slowdown in China posed a threat to the global economy.

Many countries do depend on strong Chinese growth to promote growth in their own economies, particularly countries in Asia  and slow growth in China can have some negative spillovers for the United States, she told Bloomberg Television.

Analysts at research house Gavekal Dragonomics said if the economy continued at the current pace, China would miss its official target of 5pc growth for the full year.

A key area of decline was in the property markets  a major pillar of the Chinese economy as it embarked on a breakneck pace of construction to modernise its towns and cities.

Data showed that sales of homes and new housing projects slumped to their lowest levels in six months, suggesting that both buyers and developers remained cautious after the industry found itself gripped by a debt crisis during the pandemic.

The major symbol of the debacle was Shenzhen-based Evergrande, Chinas second-largest property developer.

Late in 2021, it defaulted on a 230billion debt pile which sent ripples across the sector and saw several other developers collapse. That left unfinished homes across the country, sparking protests from mortgage borrowers.

China has also been hit by the cost of living crisis in the West as consumers in the UK, Europe and North America cut back on buying goods manufactured in its massive industrial heartlands.

Chinas exports last month were down 8.3 per cent on a year earlier while imports dipped by 2.6 per cent, data showed.

Retail sales, meanwhile, were up 3.1 per cent in June but this was below expectations and sharply below the 12.7 per cent jump seen in May.

Slowing retail spending among Chinese shoppers is a big concern for many luxury brands which rake in a large portion of their sales from the countrys big consumer market and growing middle class.

Cartier owner Richemont dampened the mood in the sector further with news that sales in the Americas were sharply lower, sending its shares down 10.4 per cent, Burberry fell 1.8 per cent and LVMH dropped 3.7- per cent.

Mining firms, which supply vast amounts of raw materials to supply Chinas ever-hungry industrial base, also suffered amid fears of a demand slowdown.

Anglo American and copper giant Antofagasta both lost 2.5 per cent and Rio Tinto shed 2.4 per cent.

China is a major consumer of commodities and disappointing economic indicators typically drive down shares in miners and oil companies over fears that demand for metals, minerals and energy products will be lower than previously hoped, said AJ Bells Danni Hewson.

Some economists warned that Chinas officials would need to pursue further action to try to revive sentiment in the economy.

They particularly cited its private sector, which faced a battle to bring down the record high numbers of young people, aged between 16 and 24, out of work.

Carlos Casanova, senior Asia economist at Union Bancaire Privee, said the record unemployment level for the young doesnt bode well for sentiment, for stability, for common prosperity.

A record 11.6m university graduates are expected to enter Chinas workforce this year but will face a hyper-competitive jobs market and a gruelling work culture which leaves many prone to burnout.

Last year, many on Chinese social media began to extol the virtues of Tang Ping, or lying flat, a term used for taking a break from relentless work and pushing back against Chinas notorious 996 culture of working 9am-to-9pm, six days a week.

But the trend of rising unemployment and growing disillusionment with work threatens to destabilise the Chinese governments efforts to catch up with the US economically.

And President Xi Jinping has previously warned against lying flat, saying it would jeopardise social mobility.
Gresham House has become the latest British company to fall prey to foreign private equity.

The asset manager agreed to a 470million takeover by US outfit Searchlight Capital that will earn its bosses a near-40million windfall.

The board of the 166-year-old City firm, which manages about 8billion in assets, has agreed to be swallowed up by Searchlight, as long as shareholders approve.

But while investors representing 33 per cent of the shares have given their backing to the deal, the takeover has not received universal acceptance.

Aviva Investors, which owns about 4 per cent of Gresham, accused them of taking short-term gain rather than holding out for long-term opportunities.

Takeover: The Gresham House board, which manages about 8bn in assets, has agreed to be swallowed up by US outfit Searchlight Capital

Searchlights 11.05-a-share cash offer adds a 62.5 per cent premium to Greshams previous closing price on Friday.

And the shares rocketed 55.9 per cent after the deal was announced yesterday. But analysts described the takeover as opportunistic following recent share price falls.

Gresham Houses history dates back to 1857. It switched focus to embrace sustainable finance after a management takeover in 2014. It now focuses on forestry, renewable energy and battery storage.

Managers and directors have pledged to sell more than 3m shares under the deal, netting them 36.6million.

Among the big winners will be chief executive Anthony Dalwood, whose stake is worth 9.7million, and Ben Guest, who will earn 11.7million.

Guest is the founder of Hazel Capital, which was taken over by Gresham in 2017, and he still runs it under its new guise as Gresham Houses energy division.

Also earning a windfall will be Sir Damon Buffini, whose Saffie Investments vehicle is in line for 10.8million, as well as the Berkshire county pension fund  Greshams biggest shareholder  which will receive 51.6million.

Chairman Anthony Townsend said it would mark a new and exciting chapter for Gresham House, adding: We are confident that Searchlight will accelerate our international and domestic growth strategy.

But Trevor Green, head of UK equities at Aviva Investors, said: Its a case of other UK investors taking the short-term gain rather than holding out for the longer-term opportunities in this attractive investment vehicle.

It will be disappointing to see Gresham House leave the quoted market and leaves us with materially less opportunities to invest in forestry.

Peel Hunt analyst Andrew Shepherd-Barron said the offer for Gresham looks reasonable, although a more robust environment would have justified a higher price in our view.
Shares in Cartier owner Richemont plunged as a slowdown in the US and worries about China hit luxury stocks around the world.

The Swiss company reported a seemingly impressive 19 per cent rise in first quarter sales amid strong demand in Asia following the lifting of Covid restrictions.

But shares fell 10.4 per cent as investors fretted about a 4 per cent slide in revenues in the Americas with demand in the US particularly weak.

Jewel role: Actress Elle Fanning (pictured) is the face of Cartiers Grain de Cafe collection. The Swiss firm reported a seemingly impressive 19% rise in first quarter sales

Official figures showing the Chinese economy grew by just 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of the year also sparked concern about demand for other luxury goods.

Shares in Burberry fell 1.8 per cent and Louis Vuitton owner LVMH and rival French group Hermes were down 3.7 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively.

The 4 per cent slide in sales in the Americas contrasted with a jump of 32 per cent in its Asia-Pacific business.

Jewellery sales rose 24 per cent as shoppers splashed out items such as Cartiers 7,100 18 carat yellow-gold and diamond necklace and its 38,400 Love bracelet.
New direction: Santander chairman Ana Botin wants to beef up the firm's investment banking division

Santander is beefing up its investment bank by hiring at least 50 bankers. Spains biggest bank is best-known for its retail operations in Latin America and Europe  including in the UK.

But it wants to become a bigger player in investment banking under chairman Ana Botin, who previously worked for JP Morgan.

The expansion will involve hiring bankers, many from stricken Credit Suisse, according to Reuters. More than 20 have already been recruited, chiefly in the United States, with further hiring due to take place in Britain and Spain.

In the US, the number of staff employed at its corporate and investment banking business has climbed from about 500 at the end of 2019 to around 900, helped by the acquisition of fixed-income broker Amherst Pierpont.

In Britain, staff count has risen from 350 to around 700 in the same period.
His administration was caught transporting migrant juvenile delinquents in other counties including San Bernardino, without warning in 2008

California politicians and former government officials have pointed out Gavin Newsom's own history of 'dumping' migrants elsewhere when he was mayor

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for a criminal investigation of Republicans flying migrants to the vice president's home and Martha's Vineyard  despite having his own controversial past of 'dumping' criminal immigrants on others, critics claim.

Newsom was caught up in a scandal in 2008 as Mayor of San Francisco, when it emerged his administration was shipping foreign-born juvenile criminals to San Bernardino without local leaders' knowledge.

The policy of shipping migrants to other counties, dubbed 'dumping', led to an uproar at the time.

Now Newsom's calls for probes of Republican governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott over flying migrants to Democrat areas is prompting politicians and former California government officials to accuse him of hypocrisy.

California politicians and former government officials have pointed out Gavin Newsom's own history of 'dumping' migrants elsewhere when he was mayor of San Francisco

California state assemblyman and former Riverside district attorney Bill Essayli (left) and James Bradley, a likely Republican candidate for California Senate in 2024, called out Newsom's 'hypocrisy' in an interviews with DailyMail.com

Migrants who recently crossed the border between the U.S. and Mexico are pictured boarding a bus in Brownsville, Texas, in May

'He's no stranger to transporting individuals he doesn't want in his communities,' said California state assemblyman and former Riverside district attorney Bill Essayli.

'But the minute that somebody else does it, a Republican does it, it's got to be a national crime.

'I think it's political hypocrisy.'

Likely Republican candidate for California Senate in 2024, James Bradley also slammed the governor as 'hypocritical'.

'He's calling out GOP governors when he was guilty of doing the same thing in 2008,' Bradley told DailyMail.com.

Last September, Florida governor DeSantis sent two planes of 48 migrants from his state to the chic island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in a political stunt that drew condemnation among Democrats.

Texas governor Abbott also took credit for busing between 75 and 100 migrants to VP Kamala Harris' official residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington DC.

Newsom slammed them on Twitter, calling for the Justice Department to 'begin an immediate investigation into these inhumane efforts to use kids as political pawns'.

'Transporting families, including children, across state lines under false pretenses is morally reprehensible, but it may also be illegal,' the California governor said.

But in 2008, Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco when his administration was caught transporting child migrants convicted of crimes in San Francisco down to other counties including San Bernardino, taking advantage of a lack of communication requirements between local governments. He is not known to have sent any out of state.

Newsom was mayor of San Francisco in 2008 when his administration was caught transporting migrants convicted of crimes to other counties without notifying local governments. He is pictured with ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle after winning the election in 2003

Newsom (left) and Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar (right) of Bexar County met this last month to 'compare notes' on possible charges against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for flying migrants out of Texas to Democratic enclaves

Between the expiry of Title 42 on May 12 and June 23, more than 49,000 migrants presented at Southwest border ports to claim asylum, according to CBP. Pictured are migrants in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on May 23

'They are dumping people here without telling us who, what, when and where,' then-San Bernardino District Attorney Michael Ramos told the Los Angeles Times in 2008.

Among them were illegal immigrant cocaine dealers from Honduras, eight of whom escaped.

Police reported 'hundreds' of calls for service at 'group homes' in Yucaipa where the juvenile offenders were sent.

'San Francisco has a legal and moral obligation to notify us, and they didn't,' Michelle Scray told the LA Times as assistant chief probation officer for the county at the time.

County Supervisor Gary Ovitt called it 'lunacy'.

The blowback caused an embarrassing climbdown by the then-mayor, who canceled the policy.

Carl McHenry, 85, lived in Yucaipa at the time, and told DailyMail.com that his neighborhood suffered a 'crime wave' as a result of the migrant 'dumping' policy in 2008.

'My wife's Social Security check was stolen from our mailbox. My son's car radio was stolen, and there were several other crimes committed in our neighborhood,' he said.

'Nobody could figure it out, because it's a very safe town.

'We later found out there were juvenile delinquents being shipped from San Francisco to a halfway house four doors down from us by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Over the last year, Republican governors in Texas and Florida have been busing and flying migrants to Democratic strongholds and so-called Sanctuary Cities including New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C., without advance warning

'It's funny to me seeing him complain about illegal immigrants being sent to Democrat areas when he did the same thing when he was Mayor of SF.

'This is so typical of the hypocrisy of Gavin Newsom.'

Newsom's San Francisco government also had a policy of busing California-born homeless people who moved to his city, back to their hometowns.

The policy received mixed responses, with critics accusing the then-mayor of dumping unwanted people on other counties, and supporters pointing to positive results for re-housing thousands of people.

Since the policy, Homeward Bound, began in 2005 it has housed almost 11,000 people until it ended in 2016  though current SF mayor London Breed is now restarting it.

Volunteer homeless people will be transported back to a family member or friend elsewhere in the state, at a typical cost of $180 to $270, and given $10 per day. They will be required to check in with a supervisor regularly.

The San Francisco Chronicle found in 2019 that of a sample of 262 people who used the program, 149 were in stable housing after moving, 96 were unreachable, and 16 ended up in jail or on the street.

'Gavin Newsom not only transported criminal, illegal aliens out of his city when he was mayor, but he also transported homeless people to other counties to get them out of San Francisco during his time there,' Essayli, a Riverside-based Republican, told DailyMail.com.

'What Democrats accuse Republicans of doing, they often have already done at a bigger level.'

Newsom's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Whitney Simmonds told DailyMail.com exclusively that she believes that her father has been set up by is other children who are holding a 'grudge'

Donald Santini, 65, remained on the run for 39 years until he was finally located living in a small California community with a wife, daughter and grandchildren

The daughter of one of America's Most Wanted fugitives says that he is innocent of the gruesome murder of a Florida mother in 1984

In June, Whitney Simmonds found out that her father had been hauled away by US Marshals in relation to the brutal slaying of a mother of four in Florida in 1984.

That's also when Whitney discovered that her father's name was really Donald Santini, that he was 20 years younger than she believed and that he had been living under various aliases throughout most of his life in order to avoid law enforcement. For, Whitney, the story is still unraveling.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Whitney said that she believes that her father is being set up by his angry other children and that he's being railroaded by the justice system leaving the world assuming that he's guilty.

Santini, 65, was arrested on June 7th after the FBI tipped of US Marshals after the suspect applied to renew his passport.

He was charged with the murder of Cynthia 'Cindy' Ruth Wood, 33, in Bradenton, Florida. Authorities say that Wood was involved in a custody dispute at the time of her death and that Santini arranged to meet up with her to share some damning information about her children's father.

Donald Santini, 65, pictured with his granddaughter, who lived with the suspect and his wife

Whitney Simmonds pictured with her mother, a native of Thailand, who moved to the United States in the 1980s

Cynthia Wood met Santini as the suspect's girlfriend's children were attending the day care where the victim worked

Santini was the last person seen with Wood, 33, before her body was discovered strangled and left in a canal. The arrest warrant said a medical examiner determined she had been strangled and Santini's fingerprints were found on her body

Whitney's father was born on an US Air Force base in Texas and later joined the military himself. While stationed in Germany in 1978, he was convicted on rape charges.

After his discharge from the service, Santini was arrested on aggravated robbery charges in his home state, he was accused of holding up a convenience store with a knife. Following a confession, he fled for the Sunshine State while out on bail. Shortly after Wood's murder, he headed west, ending up on outskirts of San Diego.

In other reports, it's described that Santini was attempting to date Wood. In our interview, Whitney said her dad was something of a 'ladies man.' Santini was immediately named as a suspect in the crime after Wood was found dead in a watery grave. He had already fled.

Whitney said that she believes her older siblings that Santini sired through various relationships had 'set up' her father. Last week, DailyMail.com revealed that Whitney firmly believed that her father was innocent.

'I feel like they knew and they folded on my dad. I think my sister and my brother did. Within the next week [after Santini's arrest] they were at my mom's house selling stuff that belonged to me dad. It was rough for me, to walk into his house and see everything gone already,' Whitney said.

'I want to see the actual evidence. They say they have his fingerprints on her body but those fingerprints aren't around her neck, so who strangled her?' Whitney said.

She said believes her father's assertion that Cindy Wood was the victim of a contract killing orchestrated by her estranged husband, something Santini alluded to during his interrogation by investigators.

'Most likely her husband set it up. Why else would the mention that she was in the middle of custody battle? Who told them that my dad had dirt on the husband?'

Santini pictured with his wife, right, and daughter, left, at Thanksgiving 2020

Simmonds said mother was sold as an indentured servant to Chinese family at the age eight after her father was killed by her grandmother's boyfriend with banana cutter during a feud

Santini alluded to the fact Wood's murder being a contract killing during an interview with prosecutors

Heidi Pareigis, shown here, rented a room to Santini around the time of the Cynthia Wood murder, Whitney Simmonds speculates that she may just not liked her dad

The area where Cynthia Wood's body was found in 1984

Speaking about her father's former landlord, Heidi Pareigis, who said in an interview on television in the 1980s that she heard Santini discussing the killing of Wood. Whitney said: 'I don't know. She could have just not liked my dad.'

At some point between 1984 and 1990, Santini settled in southern California town of Campo, a suburb of San Diego. In 1990, he married Whitney's mother, Somnuk, a Thai immigrant who came to the US in the 1970s, having met her at a disco in the late 1980s. The couple got married in Las Vegas.

'I guess they were just dancing and some guy was trying to get my mom to dance with him and my dad stepped in and made her feel more comfortable, because they other guy was making her feel uncomfortable,' Whitney said.

Whitney said that her father never really talked about his life before he met her mother. She knew that he was from Texas and that he suffered sexual abuse in his youth.

'He told me a couple of stories about girlfriends that he had, I guess he had multiple girlfriends, he's kind of a ladies man.'

Whitney's daughter talked about her normal life with parents who never fought. Prior to his arrest, Santini and his wife had custody of Whitney's daughter.

Whitney said they made an agreement that if she went back to school, they would look after her daughter. After Whitney graduated, her daughter wanted to remain with her grandparents because she 'loves them so much.'

Santini's daughter, who goes by Whitney, has maintained her father's innocence in a series of social media posts

Pillar of the community... and a fugitive on America's Most Wanted list: Santini and his wife pictured together in 2013

Santini was caught in San Diego in early June, after evading arrest for 39 years

Asked how her daughter, now 13, is coping with the aftermath of Santini's arrest, she said the teen is not doing well and is depressed.

Santini was an entrepreneur who started multiple businesses over the years, including an antique dealership and a Thai restaurant.

She said that she was raised as an only child even though her father had other children, some of whom are more than 20 years older than her.

Despite knowing about some siblings, Whitney said that she was completely shocked by a woman who came forward this week to say that she married Santini in Texas in the 1970s and that the couple have a daughter named Jennifer.

That woman, Marla, said that she thought her estranged husband died when he never returned home one day. Since his arrest, she has spoken to Santini.

However, Whitney said that her father did not live a mysterious existence. 'My whole life, it was so normal. He's such a square, he never got into trouble. He would actually help the police when they needed when he was an apartment manager. It's just hard for me to believe that he would be a murderer.'

Whitney went on to say that over the last 12 months, her father had grown slightly more paranoid and didn't want her to post any pictures of him online.

Santini had a gun safe in his home but it was mainly used for antique rifles that he had from his dealership days.

According to law enforcement, Santini was located and arrested because he applied for a passport renewal. Whitney said that her dad was having an issue with getting identification and for some reason didn't want to apply for a driver's license.

Whitney went on to say that over the last 12 months, her father had grown slightly more paranoid and didn't want her to post any pictures of him online

In 2018, Santini was interviewed by ABC San Diego after the deaths of two people who lived in an apartment building that he managed

Whitney said that she doesn't believe that story because he did his passport renewal through the mail. She says that story was cooked up to protect the person who fingered her father to cops.

'I think it was definitely somebody who knew and that they held a grudge against him.'

Since her father's arrest, Whitney said that she visited him in jail in San Diego and that she spoke to him on the phone in Florida.

'He was not happy about me speaking to the media because he just got out of solitary confinement on Wednesday for talking to the media. He said he was told if he speaks out again, he's going back in.'

Whitney went on to say that the prosecutor's office are working with the public defender's office in order to secure a guilty plea.

'They want him to plead guilty. They're probably just gonna try to cover up anything that has to do with him being innocent.'

Whitney said that her mother is planning to sell their family home and move to Las Vegas.

'She's just a really nice lady from the jungles of Thailand who didn't meet my dad until she was 38.'

Whitney said her mother toured the world before landing in the US and meeting her father, their daughter was born a few years later

A Facebook post made by Santini's daughter shortly after his arrest

Her mother was sold as an indentured servant to a Chinese family at the age eight after her father was killed by her grandmother's boyfriend with a banana cutter during a feud.

'So she ran off with him and left my mom behind in this like little remote jungle town or tribe.'

Whitney said her mother toured the world before landing in the US and meeting her father, their daughter was born a few years later.

After his arrest, Santini wrote a letter to a local news station where he said: 'The reason I have been able to run so long is to live a loving respectful life.

'Things are not as they seem. I need a lawyer that doesn't try to push me through the system to keep me quiet. The problem is I have no money.'

While on the lam, Santini often appeared at public meetings and was considered a 'pillar of the community' by neighbors who said they were stunned by the news.

A colleague who witnessed his arrest said that Santini was 'very involved with his granddaughter in gymkhana (an equestrian sport).' She added that the child lives with him and his wife, and is enrolled in a local school.

In Santini's letter protesting his innocence while in jail awaiting extradition in San Diego, he claimed he was active in the local Rotary Club and owned a Thai restaurant.

Santini has appeared multiple times on America's Most Wanted

Santini went on to write in the letter to ABC San Diego that he was abused as a child and that he would kill animals in his youth.

He apologized for his past mistakes but made no reference to Wood's murder.

Officials say Wood's murder wasn't Santini's first foray into violent crime.

In 1978, he was convicted on rape charges while serving in the US Army in Frankfurt, Germany. The suspect's birth announcement shows that he was born into a military family on Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.

After his discharge from the service, Santini was arrested on aggravated robbery charges in his home state, he was accused of holding up a convenience store with a knife. Following a confession, he fled for the Sunshine State while out on bail.

He left behind another wife and and daughter in Texas, his estranged wife Marla Santini told WFLA earlier this month.

Marla, who has since kept the last name Santini, told the station that one of her daughters saw the suspect on the news and recognized him.

'I hadn't seen him in 40 years. I haven't heard nothing. I have not talked to anybody. Everybody, his family, no one's heard anything from him,' she told the station, adding that she thought he was dead.

After confirming his identity, Marla said that she set up a video call with her estranged husband. The pair are still legally married.

'He got on the first video. He says, 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you. Do I?' I went, 'Really? Really? I have your daughter.''

Marla described her interactions with Santini as 'pleasant.'

'He don't act like he's the same person,' she said.

Marla said that he told her he left her and his child because of 'demons' and that it was nothing personal.

Once in Florida, Santini began working as a janitor in a hotel under the name Charles Michael Stevens. During this time, he started a relationship with a woman named Pamela Kincaid, and eventually moved in with her and her two children.

Wood was the manager of a daycare center which Kincaid's children attended, and police allege that Santini had tried to date her.

Her body was found fully clothed in a watery grave in Riverview, just outside of Bradenton, about two days later. But the hunt for her killer went cold for 39 years.

At the time of her death, Wood was embroiled in a custody battle with her estranged husband, Barry Wood, whom she accused of being physically abusive during their marriage. Those charges were expunged after she was murdered.

In the intervening years both Barry Wood and the victim's son have died.

Santini pictured during his first court appearance in San Diego in June

Cynthia Wood's stepdaughter, Denise Kozer, was 20 years old when the murder occurred, she says her entire family have suffered the after effects of the awful crime

'She was sort of a hippy woman. She would have went to the ends of the Earth for all of us. Even though I wasn't hers by blood, but just growing up with and around her, we were a family,' Wood's stepdaughter Denise Kozer told ABC Tampa in June.

Kozer said she was 20 years old when her stepmother was murdered, and her siblings were three, five and 12. All have suffered various mental health and homelessness issues throughout their lives.

'My siblings really didn't get the full life with her, which angers me,' she added.

'If they need extra evidence, we're willing to let them exhume the body - whatever it takes to make sure that he doesn't go anywhere. I asked them not to let him out on bond. That was our one request we had,' Kozer said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times following Santini's court appearance on July 6th.

'He has a wife and children in California, and I feel sorry for them because they probably didn't know, either. But they're all still alive. Our lives were devastated, changed forever,' Kozer also said.

The Bradenton Herald described the suspect in Wood's death as a 'tall, slender, blond man' who sported a blond moustache. The Herald's report mentions that the last witness to see Wood was her 14-year-old son, Thomas, who told police that he saw her getting in the suspect's brown Ford.

The newspaper's report goes on to say that the Texas Rangers were involved in the search for Santini as authorities believed the suspect headed for Kentucky before going to the Lone Star State.

Whitney said that she doesn't believe that story because he did his passport renewal through the mail. She says that story was cooked up to protect the person who fingered her father to cops

Since her father's arrest, Whitney said that she visited him in jail in San Diego and that she spoke to him on the phone in Florida

After Wood was killed, Santini absconded, this time headed for California. At this stage, authorities estimate that Santini was using 13 different aliases, reports the Times.

The Herald article lists Santini's other known aliases as Donald Chapman and John Trimble.

Santini was interviewed by KGTV in 2018 in relation to the deaths of the parents of seven children in San Diego. He's named as 'Wellman Simmons' in the story and referred to as the manager of the family's apartment building.

'It really was one of the most shocking things I've ever heard in my life,' neighbor Rick Fox said of Santini's arrest in an interview with ABC San Diego.

Anybody who would like to see an old case solved would be happy, and I'd be happy for the family of this lady who was strangled and killed, but it is totally shocking,' he added.

Another colleague, Karen Russell, told East County Magazine that she was there when US Marshals but the cuffs on the suspect.

'I was there when he got arrested. He has a wife and granddaughter. He was very involved with his granddaughter in gymkhana. His granddaughter lives with them and goes to school out here,' Russell told the website.

'It makes me very angry, because the community didn't deserve this. Too bad he landed here It's a distraction for the water company,' she added.

She also said that Santini would tell people that he was 80 years old even though he was only in his 60s.

Investigators at the scene of Wood's murder in 1984

While in jail awaiting extradition in San Diego, Santini sent a letter to ABC San Diego in which he apologized for his past mistakes but made no reference to Wood's murder

Shortly after Wood's murder, a woman named Heidi Pareigis told NBC Tampa Bay that she and her husband husband rented out a room to Santini. At one point, she said that she heard him openly discuss the murder.

'He pointed out where he had done it, exactly how he had done it and such. He was just glowing about it, you know? When he talked about violence and crime, he got an actual happy feeling out of it.'

Santini was arrested after he attempted to apply for a passport in early June. The tip that led to his arrest came from the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force.

He was held at San Diego Central Jail until being extradited back to Florida. 'This arrest allows us to reexamine evidence collected in 1984 using the technology of today, as the case is now considered open once again,' a spokesperson for Hillsborough Sheriff's Office told the Times.

Documents stated that Santini should not be eligible for parole because of his 'past and present patterns of behavior.' His ability to evade police is cited in the complaint.

'I'm pleading with the district attorney and the sheriff's office; please do not give him any bond; he doesn't deserve anything. My stepmother didn't deserve what happened to her either,' Kozer told the ABC affiliate.

'You will pay for what you've done to our lives and so many lives. And I hope you get the death sentence,' she also said.

'[Santini has] committed two violent dangerous crimes, and has demonstrated the skill and wherewithal to deviously and adeptly evade justice by hiding his true identity and living under multiple fake names and identities for over 39 years,' prosecutors say in documents.

He was represented by a public defender named Daniel Miller in San Diego and is now represented by Hillsborough County public defender Jamie Kane.

'We don't know anything about the underlying facts that are alleged, he could have not committed this,' Miller told ABC San Diego. In his first appearance in court, Santini admitted that he was the man police were seeking.

He did not fight the extradition order but did say that he did not 'feel safe' going back to Florida. Santini made his fist appearance in court in Florida on his 65th birthday which was also the anniversary of Wood's murder.

In court, Kane said that there's no evidence that the suspect left Texas with an outstanding warrant.

'Where is the failure to appear warrant? Where is the circuit court case number? Where is the evidence that he was on pretrial release? Other than a simple statement of Mr. Santini, who is not a legal expert,' Kane said.
A man survived after plunging 152 feet into the Detroit River from a bridge connecting Michigan to Canada - with the alarm being raised by two women who lost a father and partner in the same river decades earlier.

The man, identified as contractor Spencer Baker, 27, who was working on the Ambassador Bridge and replacing its suspension cables, was rescued on Wednesday evening by a crew aboard a Detroit mail delivery boat.

Bernita Flowers witnessed the terrifying plunge first hand.

'It brought back a few memories  yes, it did,' she told WXYZ.

29 years ago, her partner and father to daughter, Terri George, drowned in the same Detroit River.

Spencer Baker, 27, survived a 152-foot fall into the Detroit River from the Ambassador Bridge that connects Michigan to Canada

Baker made quite the splash after plummeting from the bridge where he was working

Baker was working to replace cables on the massive suspension bridge that connects the U.S. to Canada

'For that to happen, it resurfaced everything I thought I was over,' George said, speaking of the fall. 'It shocked me so bad. I couldn't believe it was happening in front of my own eyes.' she added.

Detroit Fire Chief James Harris said people who were fishing saw the man in the water and alerted the J.W. Westcott.

The Westcott crews regularly practice man overboard drills and were prepared to respond. They quickly sprung into action and safely pulled the man out of the river.

'He's very fortunate,' Harris said.

Detroit Fire Chief James Harris said people who were fishing saw the man in the water and alerted the crew of the J.W. Westcott who brought him aboard

Eyewitnesses were able to capture dramatic footage of the rescue on Wednesday evening

Incredibly, Baker remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal

The Ambassador Bridge which connects Detroit to Canada is North Americas busiest international crossing but there is a 152 foot drop should someone fall from it

'The force of the impact had ripped most of his clothes off of him,' Sam Buchanan, captain of the Westcott, told Fox 2 Detroit.

'His work boots were still on him and his pants were around his ankles and he had his T-shirt on.'

Buchanan said Baker was ferried back to shore where Detroit paramedics took over.

'We were relieved that he could talk to us, but he was pretty out of it,' Buchanan said. 'He kept asking us what happened to him and we told him that he fell off the bridge.

'We scrambled out to our boat and we got aboard - myself and two crew members, and with the help of the folks in the park they were pointing to where the man was,' Buchanan explained.

Surveillance cameras captured the fall and subsequent rescue

Bernita Flowers and daughter Terri George ran to raise the alarm

The mother and daughter told how they lost a loved one of their own 29 years ago

Bernita's partner and Terri's father drowned in the Detroit Rivers in 1994

'We had him on our hands probably about two to three minutes after he hit the water so it was a pretty quick recovery and once we got him on the boat we got him back to our dock and the Detroit Fire Department was here already. They were really fast on their response.'

Baker would not go into details as to what caused him to fall but maintains he was 'doing everything I needed to do, and that's all I'm going to say about that.'

'I was just thinking this is it, man, my life is over,' Baker told CTV. 'I'm never going to see my daughter again. My fiancee. My whole life flashed before my eyes.'

Baker, who has a four-month-old daughter was still conscious when he was rescued. He was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital but has since been released.

'I remember being in the water and trying to keep my head up on my back,' he said.

'And then I just remember hearing the people on the boat saying 'we're coming, we're coming.''

Spencer Baker, 27, is pictured at home with his fiancee and four-month-old baby daughter

All of the ribs on his left side are broken while his right cheekbone is also fractured, and his 'whole body is purple.'

'I feel very, very fortunate,' Baker says. 'I'm so thankful for all the people that ran to help me rescue me.

'It's been really heartwarming, but at the same time it's been tough because it's all going through my head right now.'

Baker will likely be off work for months as he recovers from his injuries.

'I'm worried about the future because I've got to provide for my daughter and my family,' says Baker. 'I don't know how long it's going to be before I'm fully functional again.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with expenses over the coming months.

George and Flowers who witnessed a drowning incident three decades after losing a close family member of their own say the rescue brought them a sense of closure.

'I think he has a little baby, the victim, and I was just so happy that that baby gets to experience her dad more. It's really touching,' George said.

The Ambassador Bridge which connects Detroit to Canada is North Americas busiest international crossing.

The Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the incident.
Australians are set to shiver through the rest of the week as two coast-to-coast cold fronts sweep the country bringing chilly temperatures, gusty winds and rainfall.

The first cold front will hit the far south coast of Western Australia on Monday, bringing showers between Bunbury and Albany before making its way across the Great Australian Bight.

The second cold front will smash Western Australia on Tuesday afternoon with gusty winds and heavy showers, with the entire west coast hit by Wednesday afternoon.

Weatherzone meteorologist Corine Brown told Daily Mail Australia the stronger cold front will hit Perth on Tuesday and Wednesday with 'significant wind chill'.

Two cold fronts followed by a 'chilly airmass' will bring gusty winds and chilly temperatures to almost all states and territories across the country (pictured)

The first cold front will hit the far south coast of Western Australia on Monday, brining showers between Bunbury and Albany before making its way across the Great Australian Bight and towards the south and east coast of Australia

'Temperatures are not what we would consider extreme cold days. However, with significant wind chill it will make it feel extremely cold,' Ms Brown said.

'Wednesday is the day to watch for Perth, with lots of cloud cover and gusty winds forecast.'

Perth could also see showers from Tuesday through to the end of the week, with Wednesday expected to be the wettest day with rainfall of up to 15mm.

Temperatures across the week in the state's capital will reach the high teens during the day and a low of 8C at night.

Ms Brown explained the two fronts would be followed by a 'chilly airmass' which will roll across the country, hitting the south and southeast coast during the week.

She added Adelaide will see significant wind chill causing some 'extremely cold' days during the week.

'That cold airmass will move across towards Adelaide, and we will see significant wind chill on Monday and Tuesday, with the city feeling no warmer than about 12C,' Ms Brown said.

'Chill will certainly make it feel colder from Thursday through to Saturday, making it feel extremely cold despite temperatures not being particularly low.'

Maximum temperatures for Adelaide will hover between 15 and 16C for the week, with a low of 5C on Tuesday.

Showers are forecast for Adelaide from mid-week through to Sunday, with Thursday bringing up to 5mm of rainfall.

Victoria's capital will feel 'no warmer than about 10C' on Wednesday, with Thursday feeling between four and five degrees cooler than the actual temperature.

Ms Brown said the two cold fronts and cool airmass will create some extremely cold nights and mornings for Melbourne towards the end of the week.

Melbourne is forecast to reach a maximum of 15C and a minimum of 5C during the week, with showers developing from Thursday.

Sydneysiders are less likely to feel the effects of the first cold front but will experience some chilly days as the second front moves across the country.

Ms Brown said Sydney will be hit by extremely cold weather on Wednesday, with temperatures feeling around 10C.

However, the chance of cold mornings are probably more likely in the western parts of Sydney rather than the CBD.

Weatherzone meteorologist Corine Brown explained gusty winds will make cities feel cooler than the actual forecast temperatures (stock image, pedestrian braving the cold)

Sydney will see temperatures ranging between seven to eight degrees, up to 19 to 21 degrees during the week, with a chance of showers on Friday and Sunday.

Aussies in Canberra are being warned to brace for chilly weather as the cold front settles in from Wednesday.

Temperatures will reach a frosty low of -3C on Wednesday and Thursday, with strong winds creating extremely cold days from Friday through to Sunday.

Ms Brown said Tasmania is 'continually being smashed by cold fronts' with quite chilly temperatures for mainland standards.

'Hobart residents would likely just say "suck it up, it's not that cold" but for mainland standards there are definitely some cold days ahead,' Ms Brown said.

Minimum temperatures in Hobart will range between five to nine degrees and highs around the mid teens, with showers expected every second day of the week.

Things will be warmer in the Sunshine State, with Brisbane forecast to reach tops of 24 degrees by next weekend.

Brisbane will also see some rain early in the week before the wet weather clears on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Darwin will feel no effects from the cold fronts staying at a balmy 33C and no rain for the entire week.
Seven entire hospitals are 'structurally unsound' and urgently need replacing after being made with 'aero bar' concrete, a damning report warns.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, builders made extensive use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to build the likes of hospitals and schools.

Over the last year there have been warnings about the risk of crumbling ceilings and the catastrophic consequences it could have.

Now, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed 41 hospitals contain the material, including seven with RAAC 'present throughout'.

The material is structurally weaker than traditional concrete and has previously been likened to a 'chocolate Aero bar', with an expected lifespan of 30 years.

Hospitals affected include Hinchingbrooke hospital in Cambridgeshire, above

Another hospital affected is Airedale in West Yorkshire, pictured

The report reads: 'In recent years, the NHS has become aware of a serious issue with its buildings constructed from lightweight RAAC.

'A number of hospitals still in operation today contain RAAC, including seven which have the material throughout.

'Since the late 1990s it has become increasingly apparent that the material can become structurally unsound.'

Hospitals affected include Airedale in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth King's Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire, Mid Cheshire Leighton in Cheshire and Frimley Park in Surrey.

The two worst affected include West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and James Paget Hospital in Norfolk.

The West Suffolk Hospital has already been forced to install 27 metal supports under RAAC planks to make it safe.

Leaked documents also revealed the hospital hired a law firm to produce a report into the risk of 'corporate manslaughter' charges should a fatal roof collapse happen.

The government has pledged to remove RAAC from the NHS estate by 2035, and has allocated 685 million to mitigate safety risks in the buildings over the next few years.

The rebuilding of these hospitals has been prioritised as part of the government's ambition to build 40 new hospitals by 2030.

The report says, as a result of this prioritisation, eight hospitals that were originally due to be constructed towards the end of the decade will now be completed after the deadline.

Another hospital affected is Frimley Park in Surrey

The DHSC confirmed all seven RAAC hospitals have been prioritised due to their 'urgent need of repair and risk they pose to patient and staff safety.' The department added they are 'aiming to get spades in ground' by 2025 to 2027.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: 'It's a calamity that several hospitals have serious concerns about the safety of their structure.

'This Government has serious questions to answer about how we got here, but first and foremost, they need to take action to ensure patient safety.' On the issue of hospitals severely affected by RAAC, health secretary Steve Barclay has previously said: 'These...hospitals are in pressing need of repair and are being prioritised so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology.'
Biker gang members are reaching out to the NSW Raptor Squad with the intent of severing ties with their gangs.

They are requesting the squad's assistance in conducting home raids to recover their club colours, aiming to minimise the potential consequences they may face from their former club.

That's according to NSW Police Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, who says the 'constant' attention from police has become a major factor for bikies choosing to walk away.

Increased presence and pressure from NSW Raptor Squad is taking its toll on bikies. Pictured is a recent raid on the NSW/Victorian border

'When their wives are at them, their family are at them saying "I've had enough of this crap" because we are turning over the car, visiting your home. Sometimes every couple of days,' Det Supt Koutsoufis told The Daily Telegraph.

'We have bikies ring us up to say "come and do a search warrant or a Fire Arm Prohibition order on our house", telling us they will have their vest out so they can go to the club and say the cops took it.'

Police claim the number of murders and public place shootings has significantly dropped in recent years due to the efforts of the Raptor Squad.

The 'constant' attention from not only from the NSW Raptor Squad but also their families has become a major factor for bikies choosing to walk away.

That's despite 18 gang-related murders in the last two and half years.

The most recent was drug baron Alen Moradian, who was shot multiple times from close range in broad daylight in a Bondi Junction carpark in Sydney's east last month.

The NSW Raptor has founded in 2009 and became a standalone squad in 2021, dedicated to targeting and dismantling organised criminal networks.

Raptor ramped up its statewide presence earlier this year when the task force expanded with 50 additional officers based in northern and southern NSW.

'If you could see every single thing that comes through the doors of what's happening out there, you would think we were at war and yet the work of Raptor, the suppressions over the past 17 years, is spectacular. The statistics support it,' said Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor, boss of the Criminal Group Squad.
Universities offering 'rip-off' courses will be subject to strict controls to protect students and taxpayers.

In a crackdown on poor-quality degrees, caps will be placed on the numbers who can be recruited on to courses that are 'not worth the paper they're written on'.

Degrees with high dropout rates and poor employment prospects will be limited by the Office for Students, the universities watchdog. At the same time, there will be new measures to boost access to alternatives to university such as apprenticeships.

Writing in today's Daily Mail, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says that, while some British universities are 'leading the way in getting young people ready for valuable careers', it is not the case everywhere.

'There are too many universities offering poor courses that don't help people get well-paid jobs or offer skills that are needed in the real world,' she adds.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last night: 'Too many young people are being sold a false dream and end up doing a poor-quality course at the taxpayers' expense'

'Three years at university is a huge commitment and a significant financial investment for anyone to take on. So it's not fair if students are saddled with a degree that's not worth the paper it's written on. These courses aren't just a waste of time and money for students  they're costly for the taxpayer, too.'

Nearly three in ten graduates do not progress into highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months after graduating, according to the Office for Students.

And the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that one in five graduates would be better off financially if they had not gone to university.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last night: 'Too many young people are being sold a false dream and end up doing a poor-quality course at the taxpayers' expense that doesn't offer the prospect of a decent job at the end of it. That is why we are taking action to crack down on rip-off university courses, while boosting skills training and apprenticeships provision.

'This will help more young people to choose the path that is right to help them reach their potential and grow our economy.'

Ministers want to ensure that universities and colleges are offering high-quality provision, and that young people are encouraged to choose the path that is right for them.

READ MORE: Students hit by a marking boycott by lecturers are warned they could lose their university place if they insist their work is graded properly Advertisement

In a bid to reduce the number of people encouraged to take a foundation year in subjects where it is not necessary, the maximum fee that universities can charge for classroom-based foundation year courses is being reduced from 9,250 to 5,760.

A foundation year is designed to prepare students for degrees with specific entry requirements such as medicine, but research shows many are encouraged to take one in subjects such as business.

In addition, the Government will ask the Office for Students to make it easier for students to assess the quality of each university course  including its earning potential  to make an informed decision about where to study.

Courses which fail to deliver well-paid jobs for graduates will be subject to stricter controls.

And from this autumn there will be a new single website where students and employers can search for information about everything from apprenticeships and technical qualifications known as T Levels to courses in essential skills.

Mrs Keegan said higher education needed to be 'reliable and high quality' to give businesses the 'skilled workforce they need to compete on the global stage'.

There have long been concerns that students are being duped into undertaking low-quality courses by flashy marketing materials promising glamorous or fulfilling careers without any evidence. In many cases, the dropout rate can be high, and employment outcomes are poor.

Universities have been accused of having a vested interest in running these 'Mickey Mouse' courses because they are cheap to lay on and students still pay 9,250 a year in tuition fees for them.

Examples include a full-time BA (Hons) in creative writing at the University of Bolton, where average earnings are 14,500 for graduates after three years, according to statistics from official website Discover Uni.

The average figure for all similar courses in England is 17,500. Students of the BA (Hons) course in music production at Newcastle College earn on average 13,500 three years after graduating, compared to 19,000 for all similar courses.

Students were told of the severe consequences if they did not accept the 'derived mark' for assignments that had been completed but not assessed due to industrial action

And the average salary three years after graduation from the BA (Hons) in English at City College Norwich is 14,000, some 7,500 less than the average figure for all English degrees.

Philip Augar, chairman of the independent Review of Post-18 Education and Funding, said: 'This is another strong signal for universities to control such recruitment as it is not in students' best interests and I hope the sector responds constructively.'

But Labour education spokesman Bridget Phillipson branded the plans an 'attack on the aspirations of young people and their families by a government that wants to reinforce the class ceiling, not smash it'.

She added: 'The Conservatives' appalling record on apprenticeships means it can't be trusted to deliver the overhaul that our young people need.'
A flight attendant who thwarted the British man who tried to detonate explosives in his shoe on a trans-Atlantic flight in 2001 says he has been pushing to move from his supermax prison back to his native England.

Cristina Jones, 61, said she has been informed that 'shoe-bomber' Richard Reid has been trying to transfer from Colorado prison ADX Florence, also known as 'The Alcatraz of the Rockies', to a nicer confinement closer to home.

'I was contacted as they were notifying me he had made a petition to be transferred back to the UK,' Jones said.

Reid is serving life without parole after he tried to set off the shoe bombs on a Paris-to-Miami American Airlines flight just months after the September 11 attacks.

Though it's not clear the exact prison Reid would have been transferred to, Jones says she was asked what her thoughts were on the possibility.

Cristina Jones, 61, said she has been informed that 'shoe-bomber' Richard Reid has been trying to transfer from Colorado prison ADX Florence, also known as 'The Alcatraz of the Rockies', to a nicer confinement closer to home

Reid is serving life without parole after he tried to set off the shoe bombs on a Paris-to-Miami American Airlines flight just months after the September 11 attacks

'It was my understanding that they would always contact me with updates of which they previously did,' she told The Mirror.

'They sought my opinion over his petition, which was, of course, negative. I opposed his move back to Britain.'

In addition, Jones claims that Reid was 'missing' from the prison system for about two weeks recently.

Benjamin O'Cone, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, confirmed that he had been outside BOP custody for a brief period.

'There are several reasons why an inmate may be referenced as 'not in BOP custody. Inmates who were previously in BOP custody and who have not completed their sentence may be outside BOP custody for a period of time for court hearings, medical treatment or for other reasons.'

'We do not provide specific information on the status of inmates who are not in the custody of the BOP for safety, security, or privacy reasons.'

Jones was still disturbed by the idea that he wasn't being kept track of.

'His disappearance from the prison system was shocking to me. I was under the understanding that any new developments of his custody would be relayed to me. I would like to know why he was not in custody and where he was.'

Colorado prison ADX Florence, also known as 'The Alcatraz of the Rockies'

He was jailed in 2003 jailing for trying to blow up the plane, which was carrying 197 passengers, by detonating explosives in his shoes. His shoes are pictured in 2011 beside an FBI model as part of an exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, DC

Reid has since been returned to ADX Florence.

He was jailed in 2003 for trying to blow up the plane, which was carrying 197 passengers, by detonating explosives in his shoes.

During his trial, he told the court that he was an enemy of the U.S. and 'a soldier of Allah'.

The court heard how passengers complained of smoke in the cabin shortly after an in-flight meal.

Reid was discovered sitting alone trying to light a match, where flight attendants told him smoking was forbidden.

Jones was able to slow him down, grabbing onto him, only to watch him bite her finger so hard it left permanent scarring.

'It's a situation where you have to do something. At that moment, there wasn't a lot of time to make a choice,' she said.

Stewards and passengers were able to subdue him by binding him with plastic handcuffs, seatbelt extensions and headphone cords.

Reid was jailed in 2003 for trying to blow up the plane, which was carrying 197 passengers, by detonating explosives in his shoes

Reid, who is serving life without parole in a Colorado prison known as 'The Alcatraz of the Rockies', tried to set off the bombs on a Paris-to-Miami American Airlines flight. He had placed the bombs in the bottom of his shoes (pictured)

The plane was then diverted to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts.

Reid pleaded guilty to eight counts of terrorism, including placing a bomb on a commercial aircraft, attempted murder and interfering with a flight crew.

Tests on the explosives later revealed that Reid, who had been denied access to a flight 24 hours earlier because of his agitated behavior, had been walking in rainy weather which had caused the fuse to be too damp to ignite.

His attempted bombing led to heightened security at airports across the world, with all airline passengers departing from the U.S. now having to pass through airport security in socks or bare feet while their shoes are scanned.
A man allegedly shot a woman dead and wounded her daughter after the pair had dropped off food and medicine to his house.

The man, 51, allegedly gunned down Aleksandra Vergulis, 51, and Daniela, 22, after the pair dropped off the groceries at Campbelltown, in Adelaide's north-east, on Saturday.

Aleksandra and Daniela reportedly regularly visited the man to check on him and bring him supplies.

A bloodied shopping bag was visible at the address, beside a bloodstain on the driveway, with the meat and medication that had been in it spilled on the ground.

Daniela Vergulis (pictured) was allegedly shot by her in Adelaide on Saturday

A bloodied shopping bag (pictured) was visible at the address on Sunday, beside a bloodstain on the driveway

Police rushed to the house around 1.30 on Saturday afternoon, where they found Aleksandra dead out the front.

Daniela, who was seriously injured, was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The man then allegedly barricaded himself inside the house as dozens of specialist officers swarmed the street.

He surrendered to police at around 5pm and was taken to the City Watch House where he was charged with murder and attempted murder.

He 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 graduated from the same university just 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.

'I look forward to continuing my career in law, and I can't 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 joyful comment sharing her pride.

Aleksandra Vergulis (pictured) was allegedly shot dead on Saturday

Around 30 officers swarmed the street as tense negotiations kicked off at the Campbelltown home

'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.'

Neighbours described Ms Vergulis as a 'lovely woman' and said they were shocked by the tragedy.

As the alleged shooting unfolded, police cordoned of the home and surrounding streets while heavily armed Special Task and Rescue 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.

Specialist officers are pictured at the scene on Saturday amid the four-hour siege
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Richard White last week took the title of Australia's richest boss after mining magnates Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and his wife Nicola announced their separation.

But the Wisetech co-founder is perhaps ruing the day he passed from a little-known executive to a headline-grabbing figure, given the inevitable scrutiny that comes with it.

His girlfriend Zena Nasser has been propelled into the spotlight with her glamorous lifestyle and love for luxury items coming to light.

Less glossy details about her past have also surfaced after Nasser was accused in 2007 of sharing an 'improper relationship' with an inmate while she worked as a criminal defence lawyer.

She recently flaunted her wealth after sharing an 'unintentionally hilarious' TikTok video, made by her teenage daughter, to her personal Facebook page, the AFR's Rear Window column reported.

Richard White's (left) glamorous girlfriend, Zena Nasser (right), recently shared an 'unintentionally hilarious' TikTok video made by her teenage daughter to her personal Facebook page

In it, Ms Nasser mouths the words to ABBA's 'Money, Money, Money' from various locations in St Tropez while Mr White works away in the background

In it, Ms Nasser mouths the words to ABBA's 'Money, Money, Money' from various locations in St Tropez, France.

In one clip, she reportedly mimes, 'I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay. Ain't it sad?' as the camera pans briefly past her billionaire boyfriend who is working away on his laptop.

Ms Nasser's Facebook page has now been locked. Her LinkedIn and Instagram accounts appear to have been deleted.

She describes herself as a 'mother and lawyer' on her Twitter page.

Ms Nasser used to work as a criminal defence lawyer, acting for members of the Notorious bikike gang and Michael Ibrahim, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2008 over the fatal stabbing in 2006 of Robin Nassour.

She also represented convicted murderer Bassam Hamzy.

In 2009, the Daily Telegraph reportedly described her as 'the Rolex-wearing, Gucci shoe-clad daughter of a Lebanese developer'.

She told the newspaper she did not understand 'the fascination with women representing bikies'.

But she had reportedly been banned by NSW Corrective Services from entering any prison in the state for up to two years in 2007.

The ban came after she was accused of conducting an improper relationship with an inmate.

Her boyfriend of three years took the top spot on the AFR's Rich Bosses List after Dr Forrest announced last Wednesday night he was separating from his wife of 31 years Nicola Forrest, wiping $20billion from his personal fortune.

In one clip, Ms Nasser reportedly mimes 'I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay. Ain't it sad?' as the camera pans briefly past her billionaire boyfriend who is working away on his laptop

WiseTech Global founder Mr White is now Australia's richest boss ousting mining tycoon Andrew Forrest (pictured with CSIRO scientist and Genics founder Melony Sellers)

The Rich Bosses List ranks the wealthiest executives of the 300 largest companies on the Australian stock exchange based on the value of their shareholdings in the business.

WiseTech is a software company focused entirely on the logistics industry that Mr White founded in 1994 after a few other successful businesses and a brief career in a rock'n'roll band in his 20s.

The company was listed on the ASX in 2016 when Mr White was 60 and made him a billionaire by the following year.

White has described himself as a 'refugee' from the music industry who is good friends with iconic Aussie band The Angels and once worked repairing guitars for Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC.

While his first love was music he decided the business world suited him more - first making money from guitar repairing to then moving into stage lighting.

White's $10.5billion stake in is company puts him ahead of Forrest who, after a rearrangement due to the separation with his wife, holds a $9.2billion shareholding in Fortescue Metals Group.

Ms Nasser has subsequently deleted her Facebook and Instagram accounts
Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott is going after China in a new campaign ad showcasing his tough-on-China prowess as the race for the 2024 GOP nomination heats up.

The ad, which will be aired on T.V. and digital platforms in Iowa and New Hampshire beginning Monday, is part of a previously announced $6 million ad buy - part of the senator's push to build up his name recognition and position on key policy issues.

'China is the biggest threat to America's security,' Scott states in the ad exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, which comes after a number of Biden administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Climate Czar John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have traveled to the communist state to meet with counterparts in recent weeks.

'Emboldened by Joe Biden's weakness, they are buying up our farmland, spying on our kids, and stealing our jobs.'

'As president, I'll keep China out of our homeland and out of our data,' says Scott

'As president, I'll keep China out of our homeland and out of our data,' Scott continues.

'I'll protect American workers, and I will return our military to the fiercest fighting machine in the world.'

The ad concludes with Scott saying the U.S. needs a commander in chief with a 'backbone.'

Federal lawmakers are warning that businesses funded by Beijing's authoritarian government are buying up U.S. farmland at an 'alarming rate,' which is dangerous to national security.

Trump and other 2024 candidates have vowed to crack down on Chinese-backed companies' ability to buy 'vital infrastructure' in the United States.

In addition, the Scott campaign ad references China using TikTok to 'spy' on Americans - particularly children who use the app.

TikTok's parent company ByteDance has strong connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The popular social media company has confirmed that its app source code is written by Chinese engineers, which lawmakers have told DailyMail.com is alarming because it puts Americans' data directly in 'danger' due to the CCP getting 'back door' access to private information.

The ad follows on the South Carolina Senator's speech last week at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, where he elaborated on his strategy to combat China's rising aggression.

'You look at the long-term threat to our nation, it's China. The existential threat that we face long-term becomes China,' he said in Iowa.

'You look at this rising axis of evil that we're seeing being formed, it's Russia, China, and Iran. Breaking that to pieces before it gets started, I think is in our vital interest.'

Scott has also called the Biden administration's immediate inaction on the Chinese spy balloon that flew over the country in February a 'dereliction of duty' and should have been shot down right away.

Former President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would consider adding Scott as his vice presidential running mate.

'I think he's a very good guy. We did opportunity zones together,' Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. 'Tim is very good.'

There are 15 candidates vying for the GOP nomination in 2024  with Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis far leading the pack

Scott wants to 'protect American workers' from the Chinese in a new campaign ad

'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.'

However, Scott has 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 last week. 'I did not enter this race to come in second place. Second place is first loser.'

Trump is also considering entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for the number two position in the White House.

'I think Vivek has done a very good job, frankly. I think some others have done a good job,' Trump said.

Trump added 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.

The former president also called Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 'very smart person.'

According to new fundraising data for the second quarter of 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading all presidential 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.'

Scott's campaign team has touted that the senator has over $21 million cash on hand heading into the third quarter.

That's compared to Trump's $22.5 million and DeSantis' $12.2 million.
The first time I tell anyone, really go into detail about the truth of my love affair at school with my Spanish teacher Miss P, is nearly 20 years later.

The guy I confide in is a recent friend, Pete. He thinks about the story for a day or two, and then speaks his mind: 'You realise, don't you, that if what happened to you happened in a school today, there'd be police, lawyers, a court case. It's a criminal offence and there's good reason for that. It's abuse, lad.'

'I suppose it's a fine line,' I mutter.

'What are you talking about? It's not a fine line at all. Call it what it is. Sexual abuse.'

'Oh, come on, Pete, I was party to it. I let it happen. It takes two...'

'She was 35. You were 17, for Christ's sake. A kid.'

My mind goes back to my torrid last months at school: the secrecy, the lies, and then the utter humiliation of exposure. The shame of it, which all seems to fall on my shoulders and not hers.

Even as my life starts to cave in, I refuse to accept the inevitable. The beginning of the end comes on the first day of the spring term in January 1993, when my best mate Nick can't meet my eye. He's the only one who knows about me and Miss P... and that is only because he guessed when he smelled her perfume on me.

The first time I tell anyone, really go into detail about the truth of my love affair at school with my Spanish teacher Miss P, is nearly 20 years later

But best mate or not, he can't keep a secret, at least not at a New Year's Eve party. 'In my defence,' he says, 'I was monumentally wasted.'

I have hopes that Ant, the schoolmate he told, was also drunk and won't remember the details. But these evaporate the moment I see Ant's big grin. 'Yeah, all right vicar, I won't tell a soul,' he laughs. 'But come on, what's Miss P like in the sack?'

If our affair wasn't already too close to public knowledge, Miss P is flaunting the engagement ring I bought her before Christmas, emptying my childhood building society account to do it. She claims her Spanish boyfriend, 'Carlos', gave it to her. But this isn't the most convincing lie, because no one has ever seen Carlos.

He doesn't exist  the only proof of him is a photo she took with a random guy on holiday in Spain with me last year.

To create an excuse for us to be together, she proposes giving me 'private tutorials'  at my mother's house. Miss P must be pretty convincing when she suggests the idea to Mum, because the three of us end up having Sunday lunch to discuss these extra lessons.

Over a meal of Waitrose fish pie with a bottle of wine, Miss P makes her generous offer to give me weekly free tutoring, as a way to get my grades back up to scratch after the disappointment of being rejected by Oxford University.

Such is her poise that under the table she kicks off her shoe and, still talking, begins to slide her foot up my leg. I mirror her movements, hidden by the long tablecloth. With my longer legs, I can reach further, run my foot along the inside of her bare thighs, which she obligingly separates.

When Mum gets up to fetch dessert, Miss P grabs my toe, rubs it up and down against herself, and mimes an orgasm. 'Don't worry, Mrs Gibson,' she calls out, 'I'm sure he'll be back on top before you know it.'

What I am sure of is that I have split myself in two. I've carved out two distinct versions of me. A double life.

Old me, who goes to school, sits in lessons, does homework, sings in chapel, chats to the lads about nothing important.

Other me, who exists in a parallel universe of secrecy, lying on demand, pretending I'm not a teenager but a real grown-up man.

Then, the worst happens. It's a couple of weeks before school breaks up for Easter. I'm in the library, and from the other end of the long room, I hear the door open and close emphatically, then feet walking hurriedly, start-stopping, coming down the aisle, clearly looking for something, or someone. I look up and see her.

Her face is white, and she's lost her composure. Glancing around, she sinks into a chair on the opposite side of the table, head in her hands. 'I have just been spoken to,' she begins, her breath catching in her throat, 'at break, in the staffroom'.

A warning from a friend, Mr Roberts the science master. Teachers are talking  they say we've been seen together. 'You haven't told anyone, have you?'

'No, no, of course not,' I lie automatically.

But I know whose fault it is. Mr Roberts the science master runs a boarding house on the school campus. And one of the boys who lives there is Ant.

Over the following days, paranoia grows inside me. In every lesson, every assembly, at lunch in the dining hall, in the library, I see faces staring at me, eyeing me with suspicion, and I'm convinced they all know, the whole school.

Any minute, there will be a summons to the headmaster's office and that will be that. I'll be out. And what about Miss P  will she lose her job? Or worse, face the police? She said once that our relationship isn't illegal. Surely they can't lock her up or anything.

Miss P isn't waiting for that to happen. She asks around and learns that one of the chief gossips is the history teacher, Mr Harris. She doesn't wait to hear his side first, just storms into his classroom after lessons, on the offensive, berating him for spreading vile rumours, not letting him get a word in.

'He clearly wasn't expecting petite Miss P to confront him,' she laughs. 'I certainly had his attention.'

This is the story she tells him: she took pity on me last year when she found me in an emotional state. Found out I'd been having a hard time, displaced at a new school, parents divorcing, mother's cancer, clearly fragile. And, from that point onwards, I'd formed a bit of an attachment to her.

This led to some extra tuition, always with my mother in the vicinity. I don't argue, even though she's making me out to be the needy one.

Her excuses might save her, but they don't help me. The teachers begin ignoring me. They don't return my greetings in the corridor. When I have my hand up in class, I'm overlooked. Then my German teacher, Mr Grice, addresses the class about our upcoming exams.

'Everyone needs to pull out all the stops to score highly in these papers. There are no shortcuts  at least not if you're studying German.' He pauses, shuffles something around on his desk, then adds, not looking up: 'Perhaps it's different if you're taking another language and getting special attention.'

None of the others appear to register the comment, but he may as well have walked over and landed a massive fist in my gut.

Then my tutor, Mr Batsford, calls me into his office. 'I've heard what people, my colleagues, have been muttering, and I have to tell you, I don't like gossip, tittle-tattle,' he says, with feeling. 'However, they've been hard to ignore, these things that are being talked about by everyone. So, I decided to speak to Miss P myself.'

His tone changes, softens, and as he speaks, he gets up, moves to sit on the edge of the desk. In this small room, he's very close. 'I just wish you'd come to me first, Joseph, when you were experiencing these difficulties at home.'

His hand reaches towards me, past my shoulder, my arm, my hand, to my thigh. 'It's quite all right,' he says, his voice thicker, deeper now. 'I only want what's best for you, dear boy.'

Whether it's because he can feel the tautness in my leg, the freeze of my shoulders, the quickening of my breath, he lifts off and finally returns to his side of the room. I take my cue and stand to go.

I can only pray that Mr Batsford's wandering hand isn't a signal that his backing comes with its own set of conditions. All the lads have speculated about his preferences, but I really don't want to be the one to find out the truth.

What is very clear, though, is that everyone knows about me and Miss P, from the junior boys to the headmaster.

The humiliation stays with me for the next 17 years . . . until, in my mid-30s, I find myself pouring my heart out to Pete, a bloke I barely know. He, like me, is living on a narrowboat, a few hundred yards up the canal from where I'm moored.

'What I want to know is, what happened next?' Pete asks. 'I mean, you were still with her when you left school. When did it end?'

I sip my beer. 'About four weeks ago,' I say. He doesn't believe me at first. But it's true.

After leaving school, Miss P convinced me not to take my gap year, or fulfil my ambition of volunteering abroad and even sailing the Atlantic. Instead, I married her at the end of my first year at a local university. Nick was my best man.

Two years later, aged 21, I stumbled out of education with a second-class degree, a ring on my finger, a sensible haircut and a one-year-old in a buggy.

That third year of uni was surreal. I was looking after the baby while my wife was teaching and I would bring our child into school at break times so she could feed him.

I'd stand there waiting to take the baby home again, feeling like a pariah, surrounded by my former teachers. They just blanked me. Denial is the default position for that type of school.

Two years later, aged 21, I stumbled out of education with a second-class degree, a ring on my finger, a sensible haircut and a one-year-old in a buggy (file image)

My wife left teaching as soon as she got pregnant with our second and never returned to full-time work. I think the school was only too glad to see the back of her.

How they let her stay when our first was born I still don't really know. Perhaps they were anxious about repercussions, bad press if they made her redundant.

I got a job I hated. 'No one really likes their job,' my wife said, as I signed the mortgage papers. 'You're doing this for our children.'

I changed jobs every couple of years, chasing the bigger salary to keep everyone happy  'everyone' being my wife and her parents. I had little contact with mine.

I did look for distractions, hobbies that might one day, somehow, become a career. I started a band, gigged a bit, dreamed of touring, until the demo we sent off got zero interest.

I tried willow-weaving, imagining a bucolic life deep in the countryside. I enrolled in a cheese-making course, dreamed of keeping my own goats.

I drafted a business plan for an organic cafe, before 'organic' was a thing. I made enquiries about taking over a surf shop on the coast. 'Daddy's going through another phase,' she would sigh to the kids, rolling her eyes.

But as for being a dad? I loved it. I might have looked stupidly young, but I wasn't thinking about that when I read their bedtime stories, taught them to ride bikes, dressed up as a dinosaur for their birthday parties.

Eventually, I burnt out. A midlife crisis, I suppose, except it was about 15 or 20 years before most men. The doctor signed me off work with exhaustion.

I picked up pieces of work here and there, but my career, as I'd known it, was behind me. The strain chipped away.

As much as I loved being a dad, I was failing as a husband. Failed as a son, too; all those lies. Poor Mum. Poor Dad. They deserved a better son, and I haven't been much of one all these years. Although, just recently, we've begun to repair our past.

'While you're beating yourself up about the past,' asked Pete, 'what's your wife doing? I mean, does she feel guilty about what she did?'

'Ha! Are you kidding?' I snort. 'Not for a second. No way. Lately, of course, she's just focused on her anger towards me for leaving her. I get that. But feel guilty? Take responsibility for how this all started? Not a chance. As far as she's concerned, this is all on me.'

Pete shakes his head. 'Some day, things will have to change. Schools will have to stop turning a blind eye to the abuses happening under their noses, all the time.'

He's right about that. I think back to my last weeks at school, when every person in a position of authority must surely know about me and Miss P . . . and they all remain wilfully silent, determined not to take any action.

Our relationship is so obvious, Miss P asks me to invite her to the school prom as my date. I can't face that, but, as a compromise, I agree we'll dance together.

She's not usually someone given to making an entrance, but on prom night, picking her way through the forest of tables, she is anything but invisible. I am not the only one with my jaw hanging open.

It's impossible not to take her in. I can feel everyone in the room appraising her. She is dressed in a proper ballgown, with puffy shoulders and a ballooning skirt, and her bust pushed right up to bursting. Her hair is piled high on her head in full Bond-girl bombshell display.

She clutches my shoulder and practically hauls me out of my chair and on to the dance floor. By now, the whole room is jumping to the sound of 1980s classics. As we begin our best moves, one song blends into another. I lose track of time.

At some point, my head swimming, I break off to use the bathroom, and my mate Nick takes his chance to steer me away. There's a marquee outside with a smaller dance floor and much better music. As we walk in, a small figure flies out of the twisting shoal, clasps my wrists roughly and drags me in.

Gulika, the quietest girl in my year, has had a drink or two, it seems  and she's lost her inhibitions. With her unpinned black hair, short dress hugging her tiny frame and this unfamiliar confidence, she is transformed. 'You look amazing, Lika!' I yell over the music, but my words are drowned out.

As the beat pounds, she hurls herself into my arms  legs around my waist, clutching my chest, face buried in my neck. Her thighs tighten, her hands grab the back of my head. In the pitch dark, all I can see are her still-shining eyes. Then I feel her lips on mine, her tongue in my mouth.

I break away. Miss P will want to know where I am. I have to go back to her. But just for one moment, I caught a tantalising taste of how my teenage life could have been.

Joe Gibson is a pseudonym. Adapted from Seventeen: A Coming Of Age Story, by Joe Gibson, to be published by Gallery Books on July 20. 16.99.  2023 Joe Gibson. To order a copy for 15.29, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25. Promotional price valid until July 30, 2023.
This story has been amended to clarify that only Parker's has settled, and not that all the defendants, including Alex Murdaugh, had reached a settlement

The family of Mallory Beach, the young woman who was killed during a fatal late night boat ride in 2019, have reached a $15 million out of court settlement with the insurance company of the grocery store that sold Paul Murdaugh beer before the deadly crash.

Beach, 19, was thrown from the boat when it crashed into Archers Creek Bridge, in Beaufort, South Carolina, in February of that year. Her body was found five days later.

It is believed Paul Murdaugh, 19, was drunk at the time, with Buster accused of lending his younger brother his ID in order for him to buy alcohol before the crash.

Following months of negotiations a 'global settlement' has been reached with the grocery store's insurance company. Alex Murdaugh, who is serving two life sentences for murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul, was also a defendant in the case.

The trial which had been planned for August 14 in Hampton County, South Carolina, will now be scrapped.

Aside from Murdaugh, who owned the boat that crashed, other defendants include Savannah convenience stores owner Greg Parker and his company, Parker's Kitchen chain of gas stations which sold alcohol to Murdaugh's son, the alleged driver of the boat at the time of the accident.

Mallory Beach's family, the 19-year-old woman killed during a fatal late-night boat ride in 2019, has reached an out-of-court settlement with the grocery store that sold Paul Murdaugh beer

The family patriarch Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison for wife and son's deaths in March of this year

Beach, 19, was thrown from the boat when it crashed into Archers Creek Bridge, in Beaufort South Carolina, in 2019. Her body was found five days later

The six youths on board that night, who were under 21, were ejected from the vessel and all but Mallory Beach made it to shore. Her body wasn't found for a week

The Beach family alleged how a Parker's convenience store employee was negligent to sell alcohol to an underage Paul only hours before the crash, in effect contributing to Mallory's death.

Although the female clerk selling the alcohol looked at the ID and ran it through her system verifying that it was valid, she did not make sure that the person handing over the driver's license matched the height, weight, or face of the person buying it.

Attorney Mark Tinsley confirmed limited details of the settlement agreement on Sunday night to News 4.

Other occupants on the boat also settled claims against Parker's, including Morgan Dowdy, Miley Altman, Conor Cook, and Anthony Cook will share $3 million.

Connor Cook, and cousin Anthony resolved the case for one million dollars each while Dowdy and Altman will split the remaining million.

'Case won't see a trial,' Palmetto State attorney Bakari Sellers tweeted ahead of the settlement on Sunday. 'That's (Parker's) last pebble. Will settle.'

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Parker's attorney, PK Sphere, said that the contents of the settlement agreement were not meant to be disclosed due to a mediation agreement.

'Recently, the court ruled that Parker's would be tethered to Alex Murdaugh at the upcoming trial. The fact remains that Tajeeha Cohen made a legal and valid sale, as was determined by SLED. This case was never about that legal and valid sale nor was it about the repeated bad decisions that these young adults made that night,' PK Sphere said.

'For Mark Tinsley, it was all about using the Murdaughs' bad actions and the unfair law of joint and several liability in South Carolina to make Parker's pay for a verdict intended to punish the Murdaughs. Given the outsized publicity this case has received, being tethered to a convicted murderer all but ensured Parker's would not receive a fair trial.

'The application of the joint and several liability law in South Carolina meant that, if Parker's was found even 1% at fault, it would have paid for the entirety of any verdict rendered against the Murdaugh family.

'The unfairness of that caused Parker's insurance carriers to resolve these suits to avoid paying the likely award intended to punish Alex Murdaugh.'

'This marks the conclusion of all the boat crash cases. We sincerely hope that all involved parties will find some measure of closure.'

The settlement will give the bulk of the money to the Beach family

Paul was indicted on three counts of boating under the influence in April 2019. But while awaiting trial, the 22-year-old was gunned down in 2021

The settlement will give the bulk of the money to the Beach family.

'We are pleased we were able to get some resolution on this case and keep the Beach family from having to go through the pain and suffering of a trial and hear testimony, and have to relive their daughters' death.

'We are happy the settlement agreement is not confidential as well so that the public sees that you will be held responsible no matter who you are or how much money you have,' Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley wrote in a statement.

The six youths on board the boat on the night of the crash, who were all under 21, were ejected from the vessel - and all but Beach made it to shore. Her body wasn't found for a week.

Paul was indicted on three counts of boating under the influence in April 2019.

But while awaiting trial, the 22-year-old along with his mother Maggie, were found shot to death at their hunting lodge in June 2021.

Paul's father Alex Murdaugh, who has since been convicted of his wife and son's murders, had tried to convince the jury that someone else had killed Maggie and Paul in revenge for the boat wreck.

The boat crash victims and their families recently appeared in a Netflix docuseries called Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.

Alex Murdaugh was convicted in March for the murders of his wife and son. He had long claimed that someone else was responsible for the murders in response to the boat crash

Paul Murdaugh and his mother Maggie (left) - who were both named in a lawsuit over Mallory Beach - have since been murdered. Husband and father Alex (second-right) is behind bars for the murder his son and wife. Alex's eldest son Buster (right) has already settled in the $50million, paying an unknown amount to Mallory's family and other boat crash survivors

Prior to the murders, one of the six teens on board the boat had testified that they were scared to speak about the Murdaugh family because they knew how to 'cover things up.'

All of the survivors had told the authorities that [Paul] Murdaugh was drunk and there had been arguments over his determination to drive his boat.

Beach's boyfriend Anthony Cook offered to get them all an Uber home but Murdaugh was insistent they would travel by boat despite the fog and a lack of light on the vessel.

Cook told attorneys that Murdaugh had a 'crazy' alter-ego called 'Timmy' who came out when he was drunk.

On the night in question Cook stated: 'The whole way everybody was fighting and arguing. We drifted around in circles numerous times. We idled along.Miley was steady hollering that she had to work the next morning. She was ready to go.

'All Paul was doing was making a fool of himselfthen for some reason Paul acted like he was on drugs or something.

'He started taking off his clothes during one of the arguments and it is 40 degrees outside.'

According to Cook, Murdaugh stripped 'all the way down to his boxers,' and belligerently refused to let anyone else drive his boat.

Both Cook and Altman told how Murdaugh, 'slapped, pushed and spat' on his girlfriend Doughty as the bitter arguing continued.

Asked if Murdaugh had ever spat on her when he was sober, Doughty replied, 'No.' She admitted to having witnessed him smoking weed and taking cocaine on other occasions.

Describing the terrifying scenes as the youngsters begged Murdaugh to let someone else drive, or just take them home, Altman recalled, 'I yelled at him once and he just told me..he was like..shut the eff up and sit the eff down. Nobody else is driving my boat.'

The family of Mallory Beach (pictured) also reached a tentative settlement earlier this year with Murdaugh's surviving son Buster Murdaugh in a $50million lawsuit after she was killed

Paul Murdaugh was believed to have been drunk when the boat with six people onboard crashed in Archer's Creek near Parris Island, and Buster was accused of lending his younger brother his ID in order for him to buy the alcohol

One of the boat passengers told attorneys that Paul Murdaugh had a 'crazy' alter-ego called 'Timmy' who came out when he was drunk

Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina into which the boat crashed in 2019

Doughty told how she and Beach cowered in the boat with their arms 'intertwined,' as Murdaugh continued the journey that was doomed to end in such tragedy.

Ultimately, Cook remembered, the boat suddenly took off. In a chilling recollection he said: 'We went from a two-mile-per-hour idle to the bow of the boat sticking up in the air and I went to the back.'

Cook pulled Beach down next to him and held on to her but the next thing he knew, he testified, he was 'waking up' in the water, grabbing at piles of weed and debris and fighting against the swift current and frigid temperatures.

Alex Murdaugh, 54, is pictured during his double murder trial in February 2023 at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina

Both Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were found gunned down at the South Carolina estate in June 2021

The survivors then quickly established that nobody could locate Beach. Her body was found a week later.

In January 2023, after months of negotiations 'several defendants' including Buster settled with the Beach family and three of the other surviving passengers in the fatal crash.

Four years after the boat crash tragedy and nearly two years after Maggie and Paul were murdered at their South Carolina home, the family patriarch Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison for his wife and son's deaths.

Murdaugh is now serving two consecutive life sentences for murdering Maggie and Paul the family's hunting lodge in June 2021.
Suella Braverman yesterday challenged Sir Keir Starmer to sack any member of his top team who supports eco-zealots in a fresh row over Labours links to Just Stop Oil.

The Home Secretary accused the Leader of the Opposition of hypocrisy for saying one thing one day and doing the exact opposite the next.

It came after one of Sir Keirs closest advisers allegedly sought to broker a secret meeting with the protesters, who have blocked motorways, roads and disrupted major sporting and cultural events.

Ms Braverman called on the Labour leader, who condemned JSO activists as wrong and arrogant, to stop bowing to fringe lobbies and extremists.

And she said he should sack those within his party who sided with the eco-protesters.

Suella Braverman (pictured) yesterday challenged Sir Keir Starmer to sack any member of his top team who supports eco-zealots in a fresh row over Labours links to Just Stop Oil

She named Labour MP Jessica Morden, Sir Keirs parliamentary private secretary, who The Mail on Sunday said covertly offered activists the opportunity to come in and chat. Sir Keir described the claims as nonsense.

Ms Braverman said in an open letter to the Labour leader: I am in one sense surprised by this remarkable act of bad faith. In another sense, however, saying one thing one day and doing the exact opposite the next day is typical behaviour for you and Labour, including with your own flip-flopping on support for Jeremy Corbyn and Brexit.

For the sake of the countrys energy security, for the sake of the thousands of jobs which will be destroyed by your North Sea policy, and above all to show that anti-democratic wreckers cannot dictate to democratic politicians... I appeal to you to behave in the same way both in public and in private.

That must mean sacking Jess Morden MP and all your other frontbenchers, such as [climate change spokesman] Ed Miliband MP and Kerry McCarthy MP, who have expressed sympathy with JSO or Extinction Rebellion.

It must mean ordering all office-holders in your party, including your government in Wales, to end contact with the extremist groups.

Sir Keir has faced a fierce backlash from union allies, industry leaders and his own MPs over the partys multi-billion-pound green energy plans.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) has refuted all claims his officials had met eco activists

Green energy pioneer and JSO backer Dale Vince has donated 1.5 million to Labour in the past decade, and experts fear Labours plans to ban new North Sea oil projects risk haemorrhaging skilled jobs.

Sir Keir denied his officials had met eco activists.

The Labour leader told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: There havent been meetings.

Ive not met them, my team arent meeting them. Its a complete distraction.
A woman has been mauled by a pack of dingoes during her morning jog on a beach in K'gari, Queensland.

The woman in her 30s was set upon by four native dogs shortly after 9am on Monday at Orchid Beach.

She was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition with wounds to her limbs and torso after suffering 'multiple bite wounds' at about 9am on Monday, the Queensland Ambulance Service said.

Daily Mail Australia understands a vehicle swerved towards the pack of animals to scare them away before calling for emergency help.

Queensland's Department of Environment confirmed the woman was chased into the ocean by four wongari (dingoes).

'She is receiving first aid for her injuries,' a spokesman said on Monday.

'The full details of the incident are not yet known, and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will conduct an investigation.

'Residents and visitors to the island are advised to be dingo-safe at all times,' the spokesman said.

A rescue helicopter has been dispatched to K'gari in Queensland after a woman was seriously injured in a dingo attack (stock image)

The attack is the latest in a string of incidents on the island in recent months.

A dingo had to be euthanised following several attacks on humans, including the biting of a French tourist as she sunbathed on the eastern side of the island.

Earlier this month, an eight-year-old boy was attacked by a dingo while being held by his father.

The dingo jumped up and bit the boy on the buttocks, leaving him with puncture wounds and scratches down his back.

While weeks earlier, a 10-year-old boy was bitten on the shoulder by a dingo before being dragged underwater near a campsite in June.

K'gari- formerly known as Fraser Island - has gained a reputation for attacks by the Aussie native with ranger Danielle Mansfield previously telling Daily Mail Australia, the animals have been showing no fear of humans.

K'gari- formerly known as Fraser Island - has gained a reputation for attacks by the Aussie native with ranger Danielle Mansfield previously telling Daily Mail Australia, the animals have been showing no fear of humans (pictured: Tourist bitten on the bum by dingo on the island)

'People who think it is harmless to throw a sausage or discarded bait or fish frame to the dingoes have caused the current and historic problems we are having with these dingoes,' she said.

'Rangers have observed dingoes lingering around camping areas and parked vehicles, and that means they're trying to solicit food from visitors because they've previously been fed.

'This has to stop now, and people have to make their personal safety and the safety of their friends and families a priority.'

She also issued a warning to keep a close eye on children while on the island.

'These animals are capable of inflicting serious harm, and they have bitten children and adults, and some are quite brazen and are not fleeing when yelled at or when someone brandishes a stick,' she said

'We have had instances where commercial operators have come to the aid of people who are being stalked or snarled at.

'We are providing dingo-safe messaging to parents and carers each day, and there are too many instances where children are not being appropriately supervised.

'On K'gari, this means children and teenagers must be within arm's reach of an adult at all times, even if you can't see any dingoes in the area.'
The Foreign Secretary is tipped to succeed him, say senior government figures

Wallace announced on Saturday he will step down as MP and Defence Secretary

James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat are both being tipped to take over Ben Wallace's role as Defence Secretary, according to reports.

Both contenders would bring past experience to the role, as the Foreign Secretary is an army reservist, while security minister Tugendhat is a former army officer with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It comes after Mr Wallace confirmed on Saturday he will not stand as an MP in the next election and will leave Rishi Sunak's cabinet in the next reshuffle - which is expected to take place in September.

Senior government figures have said James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat are now both 'in the running' to replace him, according to The Times.

Others expected to be considered are armed forced minister James Heappey and chief secretary to the Treasury John Glen - as well as Penny Mordaunt, who briefly held the position under Theresa May.

James Cleverly, pictured in June, is being tipped to take over Ben Wallace's role as Defence Secretary, according to reports

Also said to be in the running is security minister Tugendhat, a former army officer with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a Minister of State in the foreign office, could then take over Cleverly's job - which will remain of vital importance as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on.

READ MORE: Ben Wallace will stand down as Defence Secretary and will NOT stand as MP in next election Advertisement

The September reshuffle will leave Sunak with a fresh cabinet as he seeks to hold onto power in the 2024 General Election.

The Prime Minister is also expected to replace Therese Coffey as environment secretary and Steve Barclay as health secretary.

Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North, told the Sunday Times 'I'm not standing next time' in an interview this weekend.

Wallace has played a key role in responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson.

He previously said he remains supportive of Rishi Sunak and the Government and the departure would not be related to the Conservative Party's current challenges.

In his interview with the Sunday Times, he admitted that he told Sunak of his plans to stand down on June 16 and he had hoped to make the announcement this summer.

His departure came after reports he was 'set to quit' Government after he missed out on becoming Nato secretary-general.

It comes after Mr Wallace, pictured in June, confirmed on Saturday he will not stand as an MP in the next election and will leave Rishi Sunak's cabinet in the next reshuffle

He previously expressed an interest in standing for the role but the current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, was given another year in charge despite military alliance officials dismissing the claims earlier in the year.

Wallace is hugely popular among Tory members and had previously not ruled out a future bid to become the party's leader - although he twice declined to stand for the leadership last year in the contests to replace Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss.

He served as a Conservative member of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 until 2003.

He then entered Westminster after he was elected as an MP for Lancaster and Wyre in 2005 and went on to become an MP for Wyre and Preston North in 2010.

Wallace currently holds a 16,781 vote majority in the north west constituency following his re-election in 2019.

He was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 24 July 2019 following three years spent as the Minister of State for Security at the Home Office.

He told the Sunday Times: 'I took over a department that had suffered 30 years of cuts and conceded that the whole of government was about health and education, while defence was just a discretionary spend.

'What I hope I've managed to do the last four years is unlock genuinely new money and win the argument that defence is core.'

Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in Government, having been security minister under Theresa May before being promoted to Defence Secretary by Johnson and continuing the role under his two successors.
Tradespeople have lashed out after the pension age was raised to 67 amid concerns it could soon increase by another three years.

The age to qualify for the pension was raised from 66 years and six months to 67 on July 1 with the move impacting any Australian born after December 31, 1956.

Experts predicts the age could rise even further to 70 by the year 2050 with the news sparking backlash among hardworking Aussies.

Tradespeople are concerned their bodies simply won't be able to cope with the backbreaking work as they age.

One Australian recorded himself holding a sign and hitting out at the proposal to raise the age pension in 2018 with the video resurfacing and going viral in 2023.

Tradies (including tree lopper Peter, pictured) have lashed out at the pension age, which increased to 67 on July 1, amid claims it will keep rising until it hits 70

A photo of a tradie (pictured) complaining about the rising pension age has gone viral again

'Only a bloke who's worked in an office his whole life would think you can work until you're 70!' the sign said.

Responding to the original post, one woman spoke for many in saying, 'My body is just tired, as is my husband's.'

'We both need to just rest now. We had planned on retiring ... Then they changed the goalposts,' she wrote.

Steve said working as a concreter in his mid-60s was already taking a toll on his body and that the new retirement age was 'unfair' on those doing physical labour.

'Now I'm starting to feel it more in my knees, I've got arthritis in my hands, I've had two back surgeries,' he told A Current Affair.

'It does seem a little bit unfair that you have to work all your life.'

Peter, who cuts down trees in the Gold Coast for a living, compared the raising of the pension age to his job.

'It's just like climbing a tree,' he said. 'The injuries are just climbing all the time, it's getting harder, worse, sorer all the time.'

He described what was happening as 'very scary'.

'Unfortunately I thought 65 would be a nice time to retire and get on a pension but now we are talking 67,' he said.

'Is it going to go up to 68, 69, 70?'

Steve (pictured right) said working as a concreter in his mid-60s was already taking a toll on his body and that new retirement age was 'unfair'

Macquarie University Professor Hanlin Shang believes the pension age will need to rise to 70 or government spending will spiral out of control.

He and other researchers estimate that the retirement age will rise to 68 by 2030, 69 in 2036 and 70 by 2050.

'As Australians live longer than before, it presents a challenge to the government to fund retirees through a pension scheme,' Professor Shang said.

'Less people in the working group and more in retirement will make the old age dependency ratio higher.

'What this means is there are less working people to support elderly people. And with more elderly people in the population, this will create a burden for the government pension system.'

Professor Shang added that 'raising the pension age is the obvious way to sustain the current pension scheme without collecting more taxes'.

Peter, though, said politicians don't understand the burden that working physical jobs has on older bodies.

'It would be nice to be a politician sitting on a nice comfortable chair all day in an air conditioning room or office,' he said.

'They need to come out and see what it's like to do some physical work. That would make them change their mind in trying to stretch this pension out to 67, 68, 69, 70.'

Australians are able to access a pension wage at 65 years and 6 months as long as they were born between July 1, 1952 and December 31, 1953.

From July 1, anyone born after January 1, 1957 will not be able to get the age pension until they are 67-years-old.

Anyone born before that date can still retire at 66.

One woman spoke for many in saying 'My body is just tired, as is my husband's ... We both need to just rest now. We had planned on retiring ... Then they changed the goalposts.' Stock image

As well as the pension age rising to 67, there were also some other - more positive - changes affecting older Australians that came in on July 1.

Those aged at least 67 can now earn $204 a fortnight (for single people) or $360 as a couple before losing their full pension.

The amount of money individuals or couples can earn per fortnight before they no longer qualify for any pension payment has also been raised, to $2,332 for singles and $3,568 per for couples.

This means many people who did not previously qualify for any pension payment will not be able to get some money from the government.
More than 80,000 of taxpayers' money has been spent on hiring taxis to take drug addicts to an NHS clinic to be injected with 'free' heroin.

Addicts with 'chaotic' lifestyles are picked up and ferried to the 4million clinic, where they are given the Class A drug.

Earlier this year, the Mail revealed that the heroin-assisted treatment facility had cost taxpayers more than 165,000 per patient  and had logged 26 overdoses.

The latest figures, which come amid a row over Scotland's drug death rate, the highest in Europe, sparked fury at a time when the NHS is in crisis as waiting lists spiral.

Anti-drugs campaigner Annemarie Ward, of human rights advocacy service FAVOR UK, said: 'This is basically the state acting as an 'enabler' for addicts and encouraging them not to take responsibility for their own lives.

More than 80,000 of taxpayers' money has been spent on hiring taxis to take drug addicts to an NHS clinic to be injected with 'free' heroin

'There is a difference between rights and responsibility. Of course people have a right to treatment for addiction but people also have to take responsibility for themselves.

'This takes us into the territory of sick co-dependence, with millions spent on giving patients heroin when a place in rehab is proportionately much more cost-effective.'

The Mail has been told that some patients have been picked up from pubs or other locations rather than their own homes to be taken to the heroin clinic in Glasgow.

Ms Ward, a vocal critic of the SNP Government's drug strategy, said the centre was aimed at tackling the chaotic lifestyles of drug addicts  but the fact that patients rely on taxis to get to their appointments suggests it is failing to restore stability to the patients' lives.

The aim is to help those whose addictions are so far advanced that methadone has proved ineffectual  so the NHS gives them heroin.

In March, it emerged that only 24 people had participated in the Enhanced Drug Treatment Service (EDTS).

Ms Ward (pictured), a vocal critic of the SNP Government's drug strategy, said the centre was aimed at tackling the chaotic lifestyles of drug addicts but the fact that patients rely on taxis to get to their appointments suggests it is failing to restore stability to the patients' lives

There have been 26 overdoses since 2019, while 12 patients have been transferred to other support services.

Now NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), which runs the EDTS, has disclosed that 80,027 of taxpayers' money has been spent on taxis for EDTS patients since 2019.

It said taxi trips are 'planned and agreed on an individual basis for a temporary period in order to support people to engage with services'.

Pharmaceutical-grade heroin is given to addicts at the EDTS under medical supervision in a bid to stop them using deadly street heroin.

NHSGGC said in March that a total of 3,966,001 had been spent on the scheme between its 2019 launch and the end of last year, while 24 people have been treated so far.

There have been '26 instances' where current or former patients of EDTS have 'presented due to overdose'.

The health board insisted that 'monitoring of patients shows that those who complete a year of treatment' have a significantly reduced number of overdoses during treatment at EDTS compared to the preceding year.

Last night, Scottish Tory drugs spokesman Sue Webber said: 'While these schemes might be supporting some people, there are much better ways in which near six-figure sums could be spent on helping people struggling with addiction get the support they need to transform their lives.

'That includes ministers finally giving their backing to the Scottish Conservatives' Right To Recovery Bill, which would guarantee a right to access treatment to all those struggling with addiction.'

In July last year, Scotland's drug death toll was branded a 'national emergency' as official figures showed an average of four victims a day.

The Scottish Government has insisted 'there is a strong body of evidence to support the effectiveness of heroin-assisted treatment  showing it can reduce the use of street drugs and increase the likelihood of individuals remaining in treatment'.

An NHSGGC spokesman said: 'Where appropriate, taxis are provided for service users throughout all Glasgow alcohol and drug recovery services, including the Enhanced Drug Treatment Services, and are budgeted for accordingly.

'Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a rise in costs during 2020 and 2021, in keeping with contingencies, where users required face-to-face assessments, reviews and interventions.

'Figures from 2022 show a drop in spend of more than 88 per cent from 2020.'
Cops investigating Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann searched two storage units yesterday and today looking for evidence of any 'trophies' he might have kept from his alleged kills.

The two storage units are both in Amityville, next to Massapequa Park, where Heuermann has lived his whole life.

It's unclear how large the units Heuermann kept are, but those available at the site range from a $70-a-month 4ft by 4ft unit to a $600-a-month 20ft by 20ft space. Others are climate controlled.

The same investigative teams continue to search Heuermann's home, where he has lived since the 1980s. His wife, Asa Ellerup, and their adult children have not been seen since his dramatic arrest on Thursday night.

Heuermann has so far been charged with the murder of Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and is being looked into for the murders of the other six women whose bodies were found in 2011.

Police swooped on Heuermann on Thursday night out of fear that he would strike again - they said he continued to patronize sex workers 'at all hours of the night', and was using burner phones to conceal his identity.

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

Image shows police at the single unit as they investigate 'in relation to the Gilgo suspect case'

Cops this weekend searched a storage unit at the Omega Self Storage in Amityville, near where the bodies were found and where Heuermann lives

The storage units are just 2.3 miles from Heuermann's home and are also near where the bodies were found on Gilgo Beach

Now, there are mounting questions as to why it took police 13 years to solve the case.

The first breakthrough came last year when a New York state trooper found Heuermann's name registered to a first generation Chevrolet Avalanche that was similar to the car described by a witness to Amber Costello's disappearance.

He also physically matched the description that witness gave to a man Amber had been seen with.

Heuermann did not live far from Costello, nor did he try to hide his ownership of the vehicle.

Indeed it was pictured sitting outside his house by both Bing Earth and Google Earth.

The pimp of slain sex worker Amber Costello told authorities in 2010 that her killer was a large, white male around 6ft 4 or 6ft 6, in his mid-40s with dark, bushy hair and glasses 'like an ogre', court papers revealed.

The Chevrolet Avalanche that led police to Heuermann was pictured outside his home on Bing and Google Earth images. A similar car had been described by witnesses to Amber Costello's disappearance

The same Chevrolet Avalanche outside Heuermann's home in a Google Earth image. The vehicle was eventually found in South Carolina

A different, newer Chevy Avalanche was seized from Heuermann's home this weekend

Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park. The property was raided on Friday and over the weekend

A witness also said that he saw a rare first-generation Chevy Avalanche parked in Costello's drive.

Suffolk County Police Chief Rodney Harrison told the New York Daily News: 'Once we got that car, who it connected to, that's when the investigation got legs.'

Searches revealed a car like the one described was linked to Heuermann, who also fit the FBI's profile of the killer, at the time a number of women went missing.

The Gilgo Beach investigation began in 2010 after sex worker Shannan Gilbert disappeared and a search for her body uncovered the remains of several other women.

Authorities made a number of shocking discoveries when the remains of eight women, a man and a child were found near the Gilgo Beach area between December 2010 and April 2011.

Some of the remains found also matched with partial remains found decades earlier, as far back as 1996.

But in 2012, the case slowed as medical examiners ruled Shannan Gilbert had drowned accidentally during a drug-induced panic.

Her family brought a lawsuit against the investigating police department, sure of her murder. An independent autopsy organized by the family also contradicted the earlier findings.

Four years later, in 2016, Suffolk Police Chief of Department James Burke was imprisoned, found to have assaulted a suspect who had stolen his duffle bag reportedly containing sex toys and porn tapes in 2012.

His boss, District Attorney Thomas Spota, was also imprisoned for obstructing justice in relation to the scandal.

In a twist that year, an attorney for victim Shannan Gilbert's family said Burke should be investigated, bringing forward a sex worker who claimed she had had an aggressive encounter with him in 2011.

Suffolk's Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has dismissed speculation linking him to the case.

But the breakthrough came only weeks after newly elected Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney formed a task force in February last year, tracking burner phones and DNA testing hair found on bodies.

Investigators reeled through Heuermann's internet history, discovering more than 200 internet searches on the Gilgo Beach investigation's updates.

Court papers reported he even continued to contact sex workers.

In January 2023, hair found on a piece of burlap used to wrap one of the Gilgo Beach victims was matched with DNA found on a pizza box in Heuermann's trash.

On July 13, Heuermann was charged with the killings of Megan Waterman (found 13 December, 2010), Amber Costello (December 13, 2010) and Melissa Barthelemy (December 11, 2010), nearly 13 years since police first found the bodies.

The unsolved case has become one of America's biggest ongoing mysteries and became the inspiration for Netflix's 2020 film, 'Lost Girls'.

Now, questions turn to why it took so long to make an arrest.

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

Heuermann, 59, was dramatically arrested Thursday night in midtown Manhattan outside his architectural office on Fifth Avenue

'It's unclear why the Suffolk PD didn't gather this info after the discovery of Amber Costello in late 2010,' one Twitter user pointed out. 'That would have at least put Heuermann on their radar much sooner.'

Heuermann, a Manhattan architect who counted American Airlines and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection among his lucrative clients, stands at 6'6' and can be seen wearing glasses in several images including a Tinder profile picture and his yearbook photo from 1981, fitting the description given by witnesses.

Costello's pimp admitted he planned to rob the client as part of a ruse where he turned up pretending to be an enraged boyfriend but chose not to due to his size.

The sex worker received a text message the following day saying: 'That was not nice so do I [sic] credit for next time.'

Costello agreed to meet him the following night and was never seen again.

The witness also described the suspect as 'being into prostitutes,' according to the New York Daily News.

Heuermann is 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.

Cops released a laundry list of 'red flags' that they say led them to Heuermann as a suspect, with the first piece of evidence being the Chevrolet Avalanche.

According to documents filed in Suffolk County court, investigators were 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.

Cops tracked the prime suspect for more than a year, saying they were intending to build a case methodically as the evidence piled up. They finally swooped in on the suspect due to fears he would strike again, leading them to decide it was time to 'take him off the street'.

On Sunday, state police, FBI and Crime Lab officials were seen removing evidence from Heuermann's Long Island home - including a cache of weapons and what appeared to be a clear plastic bag of stuffed animals.

Police, FBI and Crime Lab officials take what looks like toys and stuffed animals from Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, Long Island, on Sunday

The army of forensic investigators will continue to comb through Heuermann's home in hopes of finding further evidence in the serial murder case that stumped them for over a decade.

Cops take evidence from Heuermann's ramshackle home where he has lived since the 1980s

Heuermann's home is just a 25-minute drive from where the bodies were found

Police earlier in the day removed weapons from suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer's property

At least four long-barreled firearms were taken from the architect's 'dungeon'-like Massapequa home as well as several blue plastic boxes with weapons in them.

Since his arrest, many of Heuermann's neighbors and associates have come forward to share their experiences with him - including interior designer, Dominique Vidal, who revealed the creepy voicemail message he had left on her phone in February.

Vidal said she had previously been in the same networking organization as Heuermann, who had asked her if she knew about the Gilgo Beach murders.

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.

An officer was seen removing two addition firearms from the home on Sunday

Officers combing through the property loaded several blue plastic containers with weapons into them into a waiting truck

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.

A a criminal profiler who pegged the serial killer as an 'average Joe' back in 2011 said it was 'gratifying' to see he was spot-on.

The removal of the firearms comes days after it was revealed the Rex Heuermann had permits for an astonishing 92 weapons

'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.

He predicted 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?'

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

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

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'.

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

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.'

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.

Rex Heuermann is shown in one of his Tinder profile pictures. Police tracked the fictitious email account he used on the profile and his burner phone number to the case

Heuermann's yearbook photo

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.
The parents of a baby girl who was fighting for her life in Bali before generous Australians shelled out almost $200,000 to fly her to a Gold Coast hospital are actually a fashion influencer and an artist who flip vans for a living.

Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the true identities of the couple, who call themselves Honey and Pan Ahimsa, as they return with their daughter 'Baby Lucky' to Indonesia where they are now renovating a house.

Baby Lucky captured the nation's hearts in February when her mum launched a desperate bid to charter a medical evacuation flight for her then-seven-week-old baby girl to Australia.

Lucky was suffering sepsis and pneumonia and doctors had reportedly only given her a 50 per cent chance of survival. She was medevac-ed to Australia for life-saving care not available in Indonesia after receiving $190,000 in donations.

Honey and Pan are not the names Lucky's parents were born with. Honey was previously known as Melbourne-born model Rachael Eti, aka Rachael Eti-King.

Meanwhile, husband Pan is Canadian Graham White, who has travelled the world visiting hippie haunts and compared himself to world famous street artist Banksy.

The pair have their own 'ethical clothing' label. They also on-sell re-styled vehicles, such as vans favoured by van-lifers - marketing one with a popular Instagram audio track popular with alternative types. One such van was sold for $60,000.

'Welcome to the new rich,' the lyrics go. 'We're debt free'.

Honey Ahimsa is Rachael Eti-King (above) from Melbourne, a model and influencer. Generous Australians raised almost $200,000 for to medevac her baby daughter to Australia

Ms Eti-King aka Honey Ahimsa (above) and her family were flown to the Gold Coast where her seven-week old daughter was treated at a hospital for sepsis

One of the vans Honey and Pan Ahimsa aka Rachael Eti-King and Graham White have flipped and sold for up to $60,000. The home was marketed with a popular alternative audio track, lyrics of which included: 'Welcome to the new rich.... We're debt free'

White, the son of a concrete industry worker who grew up on a farm in Ontario, Canada, previously called himself Pan Trinity Das and was married to Los Angeles actress Kyrie Maezumi, before meeting Rachael Eti in Bali.

In an interview in 2018, he explained that the name 'Pan is an artist identity I picked up' as a teenager.

'I felt like the previous me had too many limitations whereas Pan could do anything,' he said.

He said in another interview, in 2016 with Ontario's Northumberland News, that Graham White had morphed into Pan Trinity Das after hitchhiking to Montreal and becoming an artist devoted to 'spiritual art that raises awareness to global issues'.

It is not clear when he changed his name to Pan Ahimsa, but after meeting Ms Eti-King and having their first child, Hendrix White, in mid-2018, she then became known as Honey Ahimsa.

As Rachael Eti, the now 30-year-old influencer and model prefers to be called Honey Ahimsa in Bali where she lives with her partner Graham White aka Pan Ahimsa

Ms Eti-King (seen last week) posted on her Honey Ahimsa Instagram site about renovating a Balinese home they had bought

Together, as their online personas Pan and Honey - with the surname Ahimsa, which means not causing harm to other living things in the Sanskrit language - the couple re-style buses or vans which they on-sell for up to $60,000.

In a caption for a bus conversion ad on her Honey Ahimsa Instagram page, Ms Eti-King wrote: 'We converted a bus into our home. Such a dream come true! Follow for more Bus life and tips on how to live like a nomad. We travel the world as a family converting vans and buses.'

The audio accompanying the ad - a popular meme - said: 'Welcome to the new rich. We don't care what kind of house you live in or what kind of car you drive.

'We don't care about those designer brands. We're debt free. What we care about the most is time, experience'.

One Mercedes Benz van styled by the couple was advertised on Campervans Australian Marketplace by Rachael Eti-King for sale on the Gold Coast last November for $53,000 last November.

Ms Eti-King promoted it as a 'Dream Van' with a registration plate from her home state of Victoria. She said the couple 'can deliver to NSW, Qld or South Aus for additional cost'.

Racheal Eti-King at one point had an online page called 'bluntsnbikinis' when first going to Bali where it is believed she met her future partner Graham White now known as Pan Ahimsa

Baby Lucky with her odler brother Hendrix at hospital after

Pan Ahimsa, formely Graham White, works on one of the vans that he and his Australian partner Rachael Eti-King flip and then sell as glammed-up vehicles

One week before Christmas last year, Ms Eti-King gave birth to baby Lucky via 'natural home birth on a tropical island in Thailand', according to her Instagram page.

In early February, Lucky was put on a ventilator at Siloam Hospital in Denpasar, before an online fundraiser was started and reached more than $190,000 in a few days.

Lucky was treated and was able to breathe on her own. Honey and Pan Ahimsa told Channel Seven's Sunrise 'She did so well. She's a strong little girl'.

This week, Ms Eti revealed on her Honey Ahimsa Instagram page that she and her husband were moving back to Bali.

'We found an old/run down Balinese house and very slowly ... we are now back and starting the renovating process again.

'This is such a triumphant feeling. Our first home.'

She later said the couple had not bought their new home and were instead just renting, adding 'our weekly rental cost is only $83 a week and renovating a house in Bali also costs very little money'.

Rachael Eti and Graham White have transformed their lives as Honey and Pan Ahimsa running van flipping and ethical garment businesses

Baby Lucky's medevac from Indonesia to Australia was funded online by donations from Australians and others who gave more than $190,000

Pan Ahimsa used to be plain old Graham White back in Peterborough, Ontario where he grew up on a farm with his family (pictured above with his dad, Paul White)

Ms Eti was underwhelmed about prices back in her home country, posting on Instagram last weekend that 'after spending months in Australia and quite honestly stressing about how much cost of living is, it's so refreshing to be back in Bali where cost of living is low and quality of life is high'.

Apart from renovating vans and buses, one of which was advertised for just under $60,000, Ms Eti and Mr White also run a clothing company. It has the motto: 'Our mission is to save the world with sexy sustainable fashion'.

The pair have both modelled a T-shirt with the slogan 'Do No Harm' stencilled on the front.

Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Honey Ahimsa for comment.
World on Fire

Rating:

Becoming Elizabeth

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RIP Sean Bean. One of the running jokes of television is that the grizzled Yorkshireman rarely lives to see the end of any series  killed off more than 25 times across his career.

He seemed to cheat his telly destiny when the wartime epic World On Fire (BBC1) first aired in 2019. As conscientious objector and World War I veteran Douglas, he did all he could to prevent his wide-boy son Tom from joining up.

His craggy charm went a long way to thawing the heart of snobbish Robina (Lesley Manville), lady of the manor and an admirer of Oswald Mosley (her excuse was she couldn't resist a man in a polo neck).

But it was too much to expect that Sean's character could survive a four-year lay-off.

World On Fire finally returns after interminable Covid delays but, in the meantime, Douglas has been killed  flattened when the Luftwaffe dropped a bomb on his terraced house.

Writer Peter Bowker's sweeping ambition is to depict the many arenas of the war in World on Fire (BBC1)

That's the problem with being a 'conshie'. As Leon Trotsky said, 'You may not be interested in war but war is interested in you.'

Grief hasn't softened Robina. Her spiky asides, like barbed wire dipped in poison, are a delight, as is the relish with which Manville delivers them.

Greeting her son's wife, Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz), she complimented her: 'I must say, I thought Polish women to be rather, I don't know... bovine  but you're really quite beautiful.'

Douglas's daughter Lois (Julia Brown) returned, but perhaps not for long. Doubling as an ambulance driver and firefighter during the Blitz, she dashed into a burning building at the end of this opening episode to rescue an old chap's false teeth.

The roof fell in and we last saw her lying under rubble. Perhaps fatally bad luck runs in the family.

Writer Peter Bowker's sweeping ambition is to depict the many arenas of the war. Last time round, that meant Paris and Warsaw, and no doubt the Eastern Front and D-Day lie ahead. Whether we'll go as far as Burma and Japan, we'll have to wait and see.

Our hero Harry (played by Jonah Hauer-King, married to Kasia, in love with Lois) is off to North Africa, where he'll find the Desert Rats fighting against Germans, Italians and an inadequate budget for special effects.

Scenes in a sandstorm were so obviously filmed in a studio, they looked like those 1960s episodes of Star Trek where Captain Kirk and his crew beam down to an arid planet. I half-expected Klingons to attack. Phasers set to stun, men!

There was a low-budget feel to the Tudor drama Becoming Elizabeth (Ch4), starring Alicia von Rittberg in the title role, and Jessica Raine as Henry VIII's widow, Catherine Parr  determined to keep hold of political power by befriending the teenage princess.

Edward VI (Oliver Zetterstrom) is on the throne, a blond and petulant mini-tyrant in the mould of Game Of Thrones' mean little monarch, Joffrey.

There was a low-budget feel to the Tudor drama Becoming Elizabeth (Ch4), starring Alicia von Rittberg in the title role, and Jessica Raine as Henry VIII's widow, Catherine Parr  determined to keep hold of political power by befriending the teenage princess

First shown on the Lionsgate+ streaming channel last year (no, me neither, but it's available via Amazon Prime), it features wonderful costumes, all fur collars and acres of velvet. If you enjoy the spectacle of messengers galloping out of castle courtyards on frosty mornings, this is the sort of period drama you'll love.

But the script is lukewarm sludge. Characters repeatedly explain their complex family connections and court politics to each other, or spout fake Shakespeare. 'What devil down there is playing finger puppets with us all?' complained Jane Seymour's scheming brother Thomas (Tom Cullen).

Thomas and Catherine are allies, something made vividly explicit in the opening sex scene. Jessica never got up to anything like that in Call The Midwife. What ever would Sister Julienne say?
It is part of airline's 'summer offer' which includes ice cream on long-haul flights

It used to be one of the best-loved perks of flying with British Airways.

So passengers will be cheered by the news that free tea and coffee is making a comeback - but only on certain routes.

There was an outcry when complimentary food and drink were axed seven years ago as part of cost-cutting measures implemented by then BA boss Alex Cruz.

Since then, the offer of a free bottle of water and snack has returned on short-haul flights after being introduced as a goodwill gesture during the pandemic.

Now passengers flying on what BA used to classify as 'mid-haul' routes to Cairo and Amman are being offered a complimentary cup of tea or coffee, saving them 2.80.

Sources said there were currently no plans for free hot drinks to return to the rest of BA's short-haul network

It is part of the airline's 'summer offer' which includes ice cream on long-haul flights

In a message to staff last week revealed by the Sunday Times, Mr Cruz's successor, Sean Doyle, said: 'We want to surprise and delight customers, and what's more delightfully British than a cup of tea?'

It is part of the airline's 'summer offer' which includes ice cream on long-haul flights and the return of pre-takeoff sparkling wine in premium economy (World Traveller Plus).

Sources said there were currently no plans for free hot drinks to return to the rest of BA's short-haul network, with the offer open only to passengers flying to and from the Jordanian and Egyptian capitals.

However the routes are operated by the same aircraft as those flying to European destinations, giving travellers reason to hope.

'This summer we are offering customers travelling on some of our longer short-haul flights complimentary tea and coffee as part of our surprise and delight initiative,' a BA spokesman said.
A teenager was threatened by armed robbers on a bus with police releasing footage of two men they believe could assist them with their inquiries.

The 17-year-old boarded a route 250 bus at Rushall railway station in Fitzroy North, in Melbourne's inner north, on March 26.

At around 2.05am two men, both unknown to the teen, sat next to him on the bus and seemingly threatened him with a weapon.

The two men are alleged to have threatened a teenager on a bus in Melbourne.

'As the bus began to leave the bus stop, the teenager felt what he thought was a weapon press against his ribs,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

The two men then demanded the teen hand over his iPhone, fleeced jumper and shoes, before the duo got off the bus at Park Street and Rathdowne Street in Carlton North at around 2.11am.

Police have confirmed the victim was not physically injured.

Released CCTV vision shows two men who police believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.

The first male is of caucasian appearance, 182cm tall with a slim build, and was seen wearing a blue jumper, white puffer jacket and black runners.

The 17-year-old had boarded a bus in Melbourne's inner north and was told to hand over his personal belongings by the two men.

The second man is perceived to be of African appearance, 152cm tall with a slim build, and was seen wearing a black puffer jacket, camouflage patterned pants and white runners.

Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Some CCTV which shows Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins at Parliament House on the night of her alleged rape was automatically overwritten and cannot be recovered, a court has heard.

Portions of footage which showed the pair during the night in question was handed over to a court on Monday, after a top silk in the defamation proceedings between Mr Lehrmann and media outlets demanded to know why it wasn't produced earlier.

However, the court also heard other parts of the vision could not be produced because it was not quarantined at the time and was overwritten.

Mr Lehrmann launched defamation suits against Network 10 and TV host Lisa Wilkinson in March over an interview with Ms Higgins' on the Project - during which she first alleged he raped her in March 2019.

Mr Lehrmann has always denied the allegations.

He also launched proceedings against the ABC over the live broadcast of a National Press Club address by Ms Higgins.

While he was not named in the report or in Ms Higgins' speech, Mr Lehrmann claims former colleagues and people in political circles were able to identify him.

Some CCTV footage from Parliament House aired on Channel Seven earlier this year, showing Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann on the night in question. However, other footage from other angles was overwritten and automatically deleted, a court heard

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson, Network 10 and the ABC for defamation over Ten's coverage of Ms Higgins' claims, and the ABC's broadcast of a National Press Club speech by Ms Higgins

The case has been travelling through the Federal Court since Justice Michael Lee granted an extension of time earlier this year.

Tim Senior, the lawyer acting for Channel 10, said the material produced to the court on Monday was the footage that aired on Seven's Spotlight program in June.

However, he also said the Department of Parliamentary Services 'searched various servers', and the other footage sought by Ten no longer existed.

'It's apparent that the material that was the subject of that particular subpoena was not quarantined in any way and was automatically overridden, so that material doesn't exist,' Mr Senior said.

'Searches have been carried out to see whether that material was on a server somewhere, but apparently it's not.

'We were satisfied that the scope of the subpoena was understood, the searches had been carried out, and had produced no documents. We were satisfied as to why no documents were produced in response to that subpoena.'

Documents from numerous parties - including author Peter FitzSimons, publisher Penguin Random House and ABC journalist Laura Tingle - were subpoenaed and produced to the court on Monday.

On the last occasion, earlier this month, high-profile defamation silk Sue Chrysanthou SC demanded to know why Parliament House 'did not have' some of the CCTV from the night of March 22, 2019, which captured the pair together in Canberra despite it already being broadcast in a Channel 7 Spotlight interview.

At a case management hearing on Monday, Justice Lee was told there no longer had to be evidence given as to why the footage could not be produced as it had been found and produced to the court.

The court was told there had been correspondence with representatives of the Department of Parliamentary Services and the footage was found after they 'searched various servers'.

The court also heard raw footage from the Spotlight interview had been supplied.

Brittany Higgins during the trial of Bruce Lehrmann last year

Subpoenas were also provided from Penguin Random House and ABC journalist Laura Tingle and were read onto the record by Justice Lee.

One of the subpoenas involved discussions between Mr FitzSimons and Ms Higgins over a lucrative book deal understood to be worth more than $325,000.

A further case management hearing has been scheduled for August.

In May, Mr Lehrmann dropped a defamation lawsuit against News Corp's News Life Media and journalist Samantha Maiden.

News Life Media did not have to make an apology or pay damages, and the articles of concern have remained online.

Mr Lehrmann's Supreme Court trial in the ACT last year was aborted due to juror misconduct. He had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins.

The charges were subsequently dropped by the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, who declined to pursue a retrial over concerns about Ms Higgins' mental health.

Mr Lehrmann has continued to deny the allegations.
Shirtless selfies of Alex Murdaugh lounging about in his prison cell have been leaked from his South Carolina jail-issued tablet that he gets to play games and make FaceTime calls on.

Murdaugh can be seen with and without his t-shirt, yawning at the screen and wearing headphones in the snapshots that are thought to have been automatically taken by his device each time he logged on.

The pictures from the South Carolina Department of Corrections were taken throughout June and show Murdaugh's ginger hair has grown back since March, when his first photo from prison showed him with a shaved head.

Murdaugh - who is currently serving two life sentences for the shooting deaths of his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22 - can even be seen smiling in some of the 34 photos obtained by YouTuber Phone Calls From Prison in a Freedom of Information request.

The bare surroundings of the cell can be seen with the framework of a metal bed and a single desk lamp attached to a railing - and at least one of the photos seems to have been taken at night with Murdaughs face only illuminated by the glow of the tablet.

Photos of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh lounging about with his top off in his South Carolina prison cell have been posted online

In a series of selfies from prison, Murdaugh can be seen using a prison-issued tablet that he makes video calls with

In another shot appears to be relaxing as he places his arm behind his head

In many of the photos Murdaugh is seen with his top off - some from above as he relaxes in bed - while in many others he can be seen wearing a white t-shirt and occasionally a set of yellow headphones.

Sometimes he can be seen hugging a cushion to his chest inside his tiny room at McCormick Correctional Institution near South Carolina's border with Georgia.

Murdaugh does not appear to be too unhappy with his new home and in several of the snaps can be seen relaxing as he places his arm behind his head.

It's unclear whether Murdaugh has been making video calls to his remaining son, Buster, from the tablet - which does not allow general internet access but does allow inmates to place calls to family and friends with prison approval.

The gadgets are also believed to come with a selection of basic apps including movies, games and radio that prisoners are allowed to listen to and emails can be sent to approved contacts.

Fellow YouTuber JumpSuitPablo who also posted them in an online video says he believes recent storms in South Carolina may have knocked out the prison air conditioning system resulting in Murdaugh taking off his top.

At least one of the photos seems to have been taken late at night with the prison cells lights off and Murdaughs face only illuminated by the glow of the tablet

Murdaugh does not appear to be too unhappy with his new home and in several of the snaps can be seen smiling

In some of the snaps, Murdaugh can be seen yawning as he relaxed on his prison bed

This shot sees Murdaugh walking along a prison corridor

When the tablets were first introduced to the prison in 2019, there was outrage online.

One viewer to local TV station ABC4 said, 'This is jail not a luxury cruise.'

'Throw mad money at incarcerated criminals because they are still breaking the law while in prison,' said another.

This tablet is supposed to help inmates connect to family and friends 'in a more meaningful way.'

'For the guys that are just using them because they want to lay on their bunks at night and talk to their mom, now they will be able to do that with these tablets,' former corrections director Jon Ozmint said.

'I think what they do more than anything else is they fight that boredom that breeds hopelessness, by eliminating the boredom you are also eliminating the hopelessness,' says Ozmint.

More than 140 institutions across the country are said to be using similar devices.

'My big selling point was talking to other directors and frankly other jail administrators about how much safer it made it for their officers, staff,' said South Carolina Director of Corrections Bryan Stirling.

'Safer because the prisoners stayed engaged, able to study, communicate and relax. They will pay for that privilege. Just like a traditional phone call their use will be charged and heavily monitored.'

Murdaugh appears shirtless in man of the pictures obtained from his prison tablet

Sometimes Murdaugh can be seen hugging a cushion to his chest

As a convicted double murderer, Murdaugh is being housed with the state's most brutal and violent inmates.

McCormick Correctional Institution, which has a maximum capacity of 1,128 adult male inmates, has a violent and chaotic history which includes prisoners rioting, inmates murdered in their cells and drugs being smuggled in via drone.

Despite his crimes, Murdaugh has allegedly been bombarded with love letters and approached by Netflix for further episodes of its docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.

The life he is now living is a far cry from the privileged world of multi-million dollar homes from the coast to the hunting lands of the Lowcountry he is used to.

Prisoners can be held in the general population or in special management, which is reserved for those who are difficult to manage, are on disciplinary, who have safety and security concerns or are in protective custody.

The offenders at the level 3 maximum security institution, located on the Georgia-South Carolina border, have usually committed violent acts. They are closely supervised and held in single or double bunked cells.

Offenders can take adult literacy courses, earn a GED, and various religious worship services and substance abuse treatment programs are provided.

McCormick Correctional Institution also participates in the correctional industries program and inmates are employed in an upholstery shop, in powder coating metal products, and in a modular furniture plant.

Smiling Alex Murdaugh appears shaven-headed in a mugshot from prison on March 7 2023

Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in March following a six-week blockbuster trial

McCormick Correctional Facility where Alex Murdaugh is being held

Alex Murdaugh is led out of the courthouse to a waiting prison van to begin his life sentence in March

Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife and son at the family's hunting estate in Moselle in June 2021 after a trial in the county where he was formerly a top lawyer.

Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaugh's failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home and the grisly scene of the killings.

The lawyer admitted stealing millions of dollars from the family firm and clients, saying he needed the money to fund his drug habit.

Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about 100 other charges ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion.

During his trial, disgraced Murdaugh, whose family has wielded immense judicial power in the region for three generations, lied to cops about his alibi before making the sensational decision to take the stand where he changed his story to fit damning evidence.

Alex Murdaugh with wife Maggie and their sons Buster (left) and Paul (right)

The life Murdaugh now faces is a far cry from the privileged world of multi-million dollar homes from the coast to the hunting lands of the Lowcountry he is used to

Just after 10pm on June 7, 2021, Murdaugh called 911 claiming through blubbering tears that he had discovered his wife and son gunned down outside the kennels of their estate.

However, Murdaugh had fired five shots at his wife with an automatic rifle before shooting his son in the head and chest with a different weapon to make it look as though his barbaric murders were an ambush.

As police arrived on the scene, the lawyer said he had been to visit his mother and had returned to discover his Maggie and Paul dead.

As video evidence would later reveal, he was lying.

Prosecutors think Murdaugh killed his wife and son because he feared his years of stealing millions of dollars from his law firm and clients would be exposed and his lofty standing in the community toppled.

They said he hoped their deaths would make him a sympathetic figure and draw attention away from the missing money.
The former NYC Mayor showed up at the alleged serial killer's Long Island home

'America's Mayor' Rudy Giuliani hinted he gave the inspectors at the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect's home 'a lead they seem to have rejected' when he showed up at the crime scene over the weekend.

The former NYC mayor was reportedly driven up to the Long Island home of suspect Rex Heuermann, 59, as investigators continued loading boxes and bags of evidence into several large trucks parked out front.

Giuliani sat in the car and spoke with several law enforcement officers on the scene before driving away.

During the Sunday episode of Giuliani's podcast 'Uncovering the Truth with Rudy Giuliani,' the one-time personal attorney to Donald Trump said that he gave cops a lead they seem to have rejected - though he did not elaborate on what that was.

He then gave a free tip to any prosecutor tasked with looking after this case: 'Never ever try a case without going to the scene of the crime.'

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani was seen on Long Island over the weekend speaking with law enforcement officers at the home of suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann

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

'Go there, stay there, and feel it,' he added, noting that prosecutors should not let the crime be described to them by them by others - they need to be physically present themselves.

He continued: 'relive what the criminal did and you will find - half the time, you will find blockbuster evidence.'

Giuliani praised investigators on his show - despite cops repeatedly failing to act on clues pointing to Heuermann since the case began.

'The mayor commends all involved in the case, but knows there is still work to be done in order to deliver justice,' said Ted Goodman, Giuliani's political advisor.

Questions have been raised after it emerged the first generation Chevy Avalanche described by a Gilgo Beach witness in 2010 appears on Google Street View outside Heuermann's ramshackle home.

Heuermann was arrested Thursday and charged with 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, all of whom were part of the infamous 'Gilgo Four.'

The bodies of four women were found along a short stretch of Long Island's Ocean Parkway back in 2010.

Heuermann pleaded not guilty. Court documents say he is also the 'prime suspect' in the murder of the fourth woman whose body was found 13 years ago - Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Heuermann is a Manhattan architect who resides in Long Island, close to the spots where the bodies were discovered.

Remains of more than 11 victims have been found in the area. Investigations into the other deaths are ongoing.

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.

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 worked through the weekend loading box after box of evidence into large trucks for further inspection

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

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.

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' to her family members in the days after her disappearance, in which a male voice admitting to killing and sexually assaulting her.

Investigators were back at the house Sunday 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.
A Long Island woman claims she fled from a Long Island park after suspected Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann snuck up behind her wearing 'filthy clothes' just two weeks ago before he was arrested.

The 25-year-old, who would only give her first name Ally, was out for a bike ride in Brady Park - a short drive from Heuermann's Massapequa home on July 3 when he came so close she could feel him 'breathing' behind her.

'He came up behind me and he asked me what time it was,' Ally said, describing Heuermann as having 'popped right out of the woods', and said his advances became creepier as he continued to ask her questions.

'He was trying to compliment me. Asking me if I came here often. Asking me my name,' added Ally, becoming yet another neighbor to recall an off-putting encounter with Heuermann.

Ally described Heuermann as having 'very dirty clothes on' and approached her at least twice during her bike ride - just days before he was arrested at his home nearby on July 14.

A Long Island woman is speaking out after alleging that she had a disturbing encounter with suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann two weeks before he was arrested

The 25-year-old, who would only give her first name Ally, said that she was going for a bike ride in Brady Park, just a short driver from Heuermann's Massapequa home where he was arrested Friday

'The first time he came up behind me I felt like breathing behind me. Then he asked me what time it was and he saw the picture of me and my boyfriend on my phone. So he was just asking me questions,' she said.

She became so upset by Heuermann pestering her that she phoned her sister to pick her up from the park, despite having her bike with her.

Ally said that she filed a police report shortly after but was left in shock when two weeks later, she saw a photo of Heuermann being arrested in connection with the Gilgo Beach killings.

'My mom showed me the picture and I started screaming. I got so nervous because I realized that that was him,' Ally told the New York Post.

It's unclear if Long Island police have followed up with Ally after she filed her report.

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.

On Friday after Heuermann's arrest, the Chevy - which appeared to be in pristine condition - was seen being towed away by cops.

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

On Sunday, state police, FBI and Crime Lab officials were seen removing evidence from Heuermann's Long Island home - including what appeared to be a clear plastic bag of stuffed animals.

Since his arrest, many of Heuermann's neighbors and associates have, like Ally, come forward to share their experiences with him - including interior designer, Dominique Vidal, who revealed the creepy voicemail message he had left on her phone in February.

Vidal said she had previously been in the same networking organization as Heuermann, who had asked her if she knew about the Gilgo Beach murders.

Heuermann 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.

Police, FBI and Crime Lab officials take what looks like toys and stuffed animals from Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, NY, in afternoon on Sunday, July 16, 2023

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

Cops take evidence from Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, NY, in afternoon on Sunday, July 16, 2023

Above Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, NY, on Sunday, July 16, 2023

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

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.

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

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.

Rex Heuermann is shown in one of his Tinder profile pictures. Police tracked the fictitious email account he used on the profile and his burner phone number to the case

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

Heuermann's yearbook photo

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.
Shocking footage has captured the moment vegan activist Tash Peterson burned a police notice banning her from all pubs and restaurants in Western Australia.

Ms Peterson was issued with a 12-month ban from entering any venues that serve alcohol after becoming involved in an ugly exchange with chef John Mountain at his Perth restaurant Fyre on June 30 and July 8.

Mr Mountain had banned vegans from his restaurant last month prompting Ms Peterson to stage protests outside his venue where she disturbed diners by playing loud audio of squealing pigs while shouting about the 'animal apocalypse'.

Now the 29-year-old has torched what she claimed to be the police notice she was served informing her of her ban from all licensed premises in the state.

Ms Peterson (second from right) has twice protested at John Mountain's (second from left) Fyre restaurant in Connolly, north of Perth after the chef banned vegans

Vegan model Tash Peterson lamented 'trillions of non-human people are brutally murdered for human pleasure' before apparently torching a police notice banning her from venues serving alcohol

'I don't comply to this any more, I don't accept this serving notice,' the model and vegan protestor said, before burning a piece of paper.

In doing so Ms Peterson not only rejected the police order, originally issued by Joondalup Police, she challenged the authority of WA's court system.

'I will continue to go into restaurants and places with liquor licenses if they are profiting and serving animal abuse, torture, enslavement and murder,' she said.

'No-one can stop me from bringing to light the largest holocaust in history where trillions of non-human people are brutally murdered simply for human pleasure.'

In the clip, which she posted to her social media channels, she claimed the notice was 'a complete misuse of the law'.

'This notice is designed for disorderly, drunken and violent people not animal rights activists.

'They are using it in an attempt to silence me, to stop me from bringing light to the animal holocaust in many venues.'

It was the fourth time the high profile activist, who is famous for confrontational and provocative protest tactics, has been banned from the state's licensed venues.

Ms Peterson often appears near naked, covered in body paint, or wearing fetish gear, during her public protests.

The unrepentant Mr Mountain, who banned vegans from his restaurant in June, commenced legal action against Ms Peterson after their confrontation on July 8.

He accused her of having a hidden agenda behind her animal advocacy.

'She's just clutching at straws, desperately trying to get another 15 minutes of fame. Her only motivation is to increase her subscriptions on OnlyFans,' he told The Australian.

Ms Peterson shares racy content to OnlyFans where she reportedly made as much as $40,000 per month

Chef John Mountain has been repeatedly targeted by Ms Peterson since banning vegans from his restaurant in June

'She pulls in $40,000 a month  I've looked it all up. She makes nearly as much as me  she just doesn't have to get out of bed for it.'

Ms Peterson has 70,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram and a further 18,000 followers as an model on adults-only platform OnlyFans.

In WA, police have the power to issue Barring Notices to individuals who are violent or disorderly, engage in indecent behaviour, or contravene any written law on licensed premises.

Daily Mail Australia approached WA Police for comment.
Mark Anthony Vella's life as a loving father, farmer and husband was violently ended when he was shot dead in his sleep.

His wife, Dale Lee Vella, has been sentenced for up to 24 years' jail for his murder, which a judge says may never be understood.

'It is clear (Dale Vella) murdered her husband,' Justice Helen Wilson said during sentencing on Friday in the NSW Supreme Court.

Mark Vella was shot in the eye by his wife Dale while he was asleep at his family home

Ms Vella was sentenced for 24 years behind bars for murdering her husband Mark.

'Why it occurred is much less clear and may never be known.' she said.

The couple had a relatively normal day on their Murrumbateman property before Mr Vella was killed in August 2021.

Vella had noticed one of their dogs was missing and the pair rode together on their quadbike to find the pet.

They then stacked firewood inside and had dinner with their friend David Borg and daughter Georgia.

Later that night, Vella put a gun to her husband's right eye as he slept and shot him at close range. He died instantly.

Mr Borg was woken by a loud bang and a knock at his door.

Dale Vella told him to call an ambulance and said 'I was going to shoot myself, but I shot him'.

He then called an ambulance and woke up Georgia, who later 'tortured herself' over what she could have done to help her father.

'There was nothing she or anyone else could have done to assist him,' Justice Wilson said.

Vella never denied killing her husband at their home on the NSW southern tablelands, though she pleaded guilty to manslaughter instead.

Her barrister Greg Hoare told the Supreme Court jury to find her not guilty of murder, arguing she had a substantial mental impairment at the time.

In a statement read by crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe during Vella's sentencing hearing, Mr Borg remembered making the ambulance call, knowing his friend would not survive, and how it has haunted him since.

Dale Vella told police that her husband had abused her for years. She never denied murdering her husband

'It saddens me you thought your only two options were suicide or murder Dale,' he wrote.

'I will never have another friend like Mark.'

In a police interview after her arrest, Vella said she had endured years of psychological abuse at the hands of her husband.

In a video recorded on her phone before the shooting she said to the camera, 'I just can't live like this anymore, I've let him abuse (their children) emotionally for years, I've tried leaving, but he doesn't care about anybody but himself'.

'None of the children believed he'd abused them or their mother, each spoke of him as a loving father,' Justice Wilson said on Friday

The jury found her guilty of murder the same day it retired.

'So many have suffered and will continue to suffer for her crime,' Justice Wilson said.

'The court does not accept the demonisation of Mr Vella.'

The couple's children sat tearfully at the back of the court on Friday as their mother was sentenced.

Vella will be eligible for parole in February 2039.

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Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out Crimean bridge attack with help of UK

The Kremlin today blamed Britain for orchestrating the deadly kamikaze drone strike that hit Vladimir Putin's 3billion bridge linking Russia to Crimea and sparked a fireball explosion.

Dramatic footage appears to show the moment huge explosions ripped through the 12-mile crossing, with large flashes and thunderous blasts seen and heard from neighbouring towns.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of carrying out the attack with the involvement of Britain and the US - without providing any evidence to support her outlandish claims.

Putin's furious propagandists predictably parroted the Kremlin's line and called for Moscow to conduct a retaliatory strike on the Tower Bridge in London, describing the landmark as a 'legitimate target'.

A couple were killed and their 14-year-old daughter was seriously injured following the blasts on the bridge, which is a major supply line for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project that was personally opened by Putin.

A section of the crossing was destroyed in the double strike, with pictures showing twisted metal barriers, debris and a damaged car in a major blow to Moscow's war effort.

Huge explosions hit the Crimea Bridge, with large flashes and thunderous blasts seen and heard from neighbouring towns

The night sky was lit up after the explosions on the major 12-mile crossing in the early hours of Monday morning

Russian investigators collect debris on the damaged Crimean Bridge on Monday following the drone strike

Pictured: The damaged Crimean bridge following a drone attack on Monday

Putin's furious propagandists predictably parroted the Kremlin's line and called for Moscow to conduct a retaliatory strike on the Tower Bridge in London (file image), describing the landmark as a 'legitimate target'

The head of RT propaganda media empire Margaret Simonyan (right) - a close ally of Putin (left) - called for a strike on London Bridge

'It's very bad, in real life [the damage] looks very bad,' a witness told local media.

Drivers were seen in dash cam footage braking sharply after the explosions destroyed parts of the crossing and sent debris flying towards them at around 3am on Monday morning.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the UK and US of helping Ukraine carry out the attack.

'Today's attack on the Crimean bridge was carried out by the Kyiv regime. This regime is terrorist and has all the hallmarks of an international organised crime group,' she said.

'Decisions are made by Ukrainian officials and the military with the direct participation of American and British intelligence agencies and politicians. The US and Britain are in charge of a terrorist state structure.'

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said Moscow knew 'very well' that the UK, US and NATO were providing intelligence to Ukraine

'We know very well how deep the coordination is between the Kyiv regime, Washington, a number of European capitals and NATO,' Peskov said when asked about the Crimean bridge strike.

'We know perfectly well how much information comes from NATO and Washington to Kyiv on a permanent basis. Therefore, we have no illusions here.'

The head of RT propaganda media empire Margaret Simonyan - a close Putin ally - parroted the same lines, but went further by calling for a strike on London Bridge.

Simonyan claimed the 'attack on the Crimean Bridge was carried out with the help of British intelligence.'

She demanded: 'Does this make Tower Bridge a legitimate target? For me, that's quite it.'

Meanwhile, furious Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov insisted Putin redouble his efforts to take over Ukraine in response to the strikes.

'Ukraine must be completely cut off from the Black Sea, otherwise the threats to Crimea will be repeated again and again,' he said.

'Odessa and Mykolaiv should again become Russian regions.'

Sections of the bridge are missing alongside twisted metal barriers following the strikes

Russian investigators and emergency services' members gather near a destroyed car on the Crimean bridge following the explosions

The bridge was severely damaged, with one part of the road slanting away towards the water of the Kerch Strait below

Another senator Andriy Klishas said 'the denazification and demilitarisation of Ukraine are very urgent tasks'.

He posted: 'We will understand that these tasks have been completed when such actions become impossible for the remnants of the Ukrainian state.'

Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Putin should 'blow up' the homes of Ukrainians in response to the drone strike.

A ranting Medvedev said: 'The world and our own experience shows that it is impossible to fight terrorists with international sanctions, intimidation or exhortations.

'They only understand the language of power. Only personal and completely inhumane methods.

'Therefore, it is necessary to blow up their own houses and the houses of their relatives.

'Look for and eliminate their accomplices, abandoning the insipid idea of a trial against them.

'But the main thing is to destroy the top leadership of terrorist formations, in whatever cracks these insects hide. It's difficult but possible.'

While Russia immediately blamed Ukraine's armed forces for the explosions but it was initially unclear if the attack was by missile, kamikaze sea drone or an explosion in a vehicle crossing the structure - or who was responsible.

Initial Russian suspicions focused on marine drones.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, Natalia Humeniuk, said the incident on the Crimea Bridge could be an act of provocation on Moscow's side.

'The creation of such provocations, which the occupying authorities of Crimea report immediately very loudly, is a typical way of solving problems by authorities of Crimea and the aggressor country,' Humeniuk told the national broadcaster Rada.

Parents Natalya Kulik, 36, and her husband Alexei, 40, were killed in the strike. They had been in their Hyundai car which was close to one of the blasts.

Their daughter Angelina, 14, suffered wounds, a broken nose and concussion.

Pictures show a section of the bridge tilted and hanging down following the explosion

Parts of the bridge were destroyed in the attack which Russia has blamed on Ukraine

A section of the crossing was destroyed in the double strike, with pictures showing twisted metal barriers and debris

The strikes sparked chaos for those crossing the bridge. Drivers were seen in dash cam footage braking sharply after the explosions destroyed parts of the crossing and sent debris flying towards them at around 3am on Monday morning. Pictured: A policeman at the scene

Video from the bridge showed damage to the structure amid scenes of confusion and panic

Witnesses reported one span and a support pillar collapsed during the attack which occurred just after 3am local time. Pictured: The Crimean bridge after the strike, with the area believed to have been destroyed highlighted in yellow

'The girl was injured,' Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region said in a message on the Telegram messaging app. 'The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mum.'

'No words can calm the pain of loss here,' he said. The girl is being treated in intensive care at a hospital in Russia's Krasnodar region.

Sergei Aksyonov, a Russia-installed governor, said the 'emergency' occurred on the 145th pillar of the bridge. He did not provide any further details.

It was initially unclear how great the structural damage is to the crossing, but rail traffic resumed later on Monday morning after being halted for about six hours.

The bridge was previously attacked in October 2022.

In the latest incident one span and a support pillar 'collapsed', according to witnesses. Tourists were seen telling a wounded woman in a black car not to move but to wait for assistance.

The timing of the explosions was put at 03:04 and 03:20 local time.

Russia blamed Ukraine for an attack on the bridge last October. Ukraine admitted only indirectly to the attack months later.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's Odesa military administration, posted a photo on his Telegram account of what seemed to show part of the bridge broken. It was not immediately clear whether that was related to any attack.

After the October attack, Putin ordered the bridge repaired and even drove a Mercedes across it.

Today's attack came as the Russian authorities had vocally encouraged people to visit the Black Sea peninsula despite it being in the war zone.

Queues of traffic immediately worsened during the night as the bridge became inoperable.

Vladimir Putin was reported to have been woken, and an emergency meeting of Russia's security council was expected.

Sergey Aksyonov, Moscow-appointed ruler of Crimea, said: 'Given the current situation, I ask residents and guests of the peninsula to refrain from travelling over the Crimean Bridge and, for security reasons, to choose an alternative land route through new regions.'

George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said if the bridge was seriously damaged it would significantly impact Russian supply lines.

'Russia will only have one ground supply line - the coastal highway on the Sea of Azov - to sustain (or evacuate) its tens of thousands of troops in occupied Kherson & Crimea if UKR manages to degrade/destroy the bridge,' Barros said on Twitter.

In Monday's attack, traffic could be seen coming to a halt as a portion of the bridge fell away

One of the damaged vehicles could be seen in footage posted to social media

An armed ship sails next to Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea on Monday

A view shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula

Two explosions were heard on Vladimir Putin's 3 billion 12-mile bridge, connecting annexed Crimea to Russia resulting in casualties. The same bridge was also hit in October, as pictured above

The occupation official said: 'Traffic has been stopped on the Crimea Bridge.

'An emergency occurred in the area of the 145th support from the Krasnodar region.

'Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working.

'I spoke with the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev,. Measures are being taken to restore the situation. We keep in touch with colleagues from the Krasnodar region.'

A senior Russian politician said today that Russia should not renew the Black Sea deal that would allow the safe export of Ukrainian grain in light of the attack on the Crimean bridge.

Sergei Mironov, leader of the A Just Russia party in Russia's parliament, said Moscow should instead respond by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure.

'That is what we need to do, and not discuss a grain deal that helps Kyiv's rulers and their Western masters line their pockets. There can be no grain deal after another terrorist attack,' he said on Telegram.

And Russia today refused to extend the agreement that has enabled Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports for the past year, complaining that promises to free up its own shipments of food and fertilisers had not been kept.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had notified Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations that "without Russia's participation, the 'Black Sea Initiative' ceases to function from July 18".

The crossing links Krasnodar to Crimea over the Kerch Strait between the Black and Azov seas.

Social media postings appear to show a portion of the 12-mile bridge having entirely collapsed

Footage posted online was extremely grainy with few discernable details

Head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, 49, meets president Vladimir Putin

The bridge, Europe's longest, was built by a company controlled by Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg. Putin has long lauded the project, boasting at one point that Russian Tsars and Soviet leaders had dreamed of building it but never did.

The Crimean peninsula has been a cherished vacation destination for Russians, especially after Moscow launched its invasion on Ukraine in 2022 and travelling to the West became much more difficult for Russians.

In recent weeks, traffic jams to the entrance of the bridge went for kilometres on daily basis as Russians went on holidays.

On Monday morning the traffic jam ran for kilometres before police directed vehicles away from the bridge. Social media accounts showed cars lined up on the bridge and its entrance.

Meanwhile, the train track was reopened on Monday, with video showing the first Moscow bound train from the Crimean capital Simferopol crossing past the damaged bridge.

Russian propaganda had previously claimed the Crimean bridge was impossible to attack because of 20 different kinds of security protecting it, including military dolphins

The bridge had been previously attacked in a bomb explosion in October 2022

In early July, a video from the Ukrainian defence ministry warned of the risk of attacks in Crimea.

The message stated: 'Big plans this summer?

'A travel advisory is in effect for certain beaches.

'We warned you last summer to stay away from Crimea.'

There was a key Russian fear that disgruntled Wagner fighters turning against Putin could attack the bridge, said Telegram channel Ukrainian channel InformNapalm two weeks ago.

Its post stated: 'Who is the most terrible saboteur in Russia now?

'That's right, Wagner PMC [Private Military Company] rebels.

'It is possible that some attentive people passed information to the FSB that the Wagnerites are preparing to bring explosives and ammunition to Crimea, because the agreements on the part of the Kremlin have not been fully implemented.'

A girl, 14, was injured in the bridge strike, reported Baza media outlet.

She was a tourist from Stary Oskol in Belgorod region and was taken to a hospital in Krasnodar region.

She suffered body wounds, a broken nose and concussion, reported Baza.

Her parents died in the incident, said reports which had not been officially confirmed.

Later the Ministry of Transport denied structural damage to the support pillar of the bridge while admitting the roadway was damaged, reported Mash media outlet.

The pro-Russian authorities in Crimea urged people not to seek to cross the bridge.

A train from Crimea to Moscow was held on the peninsula side of the crossing, its power switched off.

Initial reports were confused over the likely cause of the strikes.

Military channels on Telegram speculated on a kamikaze marine drone.

Pro-Kremlin Readovka channel suggested 'a missile attack was carried out on the Crimean bridge, as a result of which the 145th support pillar collapsed'.

This is one of 600 pillars on the bridge but it was initially unconfirmed that there had been a collapse.

A later Readovka report stated: 'The Crimean bridge could have been attacked by naval drones.

'Attacks on the Crimean bridge could have been carried out by surface UAVs.

'This is evidenced by the nature of the damage to the support and the fact that the damage[was] to a much shorter extent than after the first terrorist attack last autumn.

'At the same time, air-to-ground missiles could also be used, as previously reported.

'Most likely, the drones were delivered to the line of attack using a mother ship.'

Or 'an enemy drone could also be launched from the territory of a third country, such as Georgia.

Kyiv 'previously used the territory of other states to organise the first terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge.

'According to available information, one support was damaged, one span collapsed, another partially.'

The damage was to the road, not the rail section of the crossing, reported Readovka.

Russia launched a formal criminal case into the bridge strikes.

'A specially-created group of the most experienced investigators in the investigation of particularly important cases and forensic investigators left to conduct investigative actions in connection with the incident on the Crimean bridge,' said a statement from the Russian Investigative Committee in occupied Crimea.
Horrific footage has captured the moment two teenage boys tried to bash ducks with a pole in the middle of the night.

The pair carried out the despicable act near a pond in the Blakes Lake Reserve at Blakeview, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, at 11.40pm on Sunday.

Local woman Sheree, who lives across the road from the park, revealed the disturbing act was caught by security cameras at her house.

Two teenage boys have been caught on security footage (pictured) appearing to bash a group of defenceless ducks with a pole at Blake Lake Reserve, in northern Adelaide's Blakeview

Sheree said that as well as attempting to bludgeon the animals with a pole, the pair also tried to run over the ducks with their scooter.

'They were pretty much pulverising these ducks and trying to spear them with these poles,' Sheree told the Advertiser.

The security footage showed one of the teenage boys appearing to dislodge a pole off of an object near the curb of the street.

He then runs towards a lamppost where the ducks are resting and proceeds to wind his arm back and start swinging while his friend watches on.

Sheree attempted to confront the boys but they walked away without speaking to her.

'These kids shouldnt be doing this to innocent animals. Not to mention its a main feature of the whole suburb,' she said.

Locals were disturbed by the incident after Sheree posted it to a community page as the park is a popular spot for families and the ducks a particular attraction for children.

A nearby resident whose cameras caught the teens in the act said locals are disturbed as the park is a popular spot for families and in particular children to look at the ducks

Sheree contacted police shortly afterwards but was unsure if they had attended to the scene to investigate.

'Police were notified of a disturbance at Main Terrace, Blakeview about 11.50pm on Friday 14 July,' a spokesperson for South Australia Police told Daily Mail Australia.

'There was minimal description of persons involved and no further information provided at the time.

'No one has been reported or arrested at this time.'

The spokesperson urged anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers.
Australians have been told to be on the lookout for counterfeit money with fake $50 notes circulating around the country.

NT Police last week said the fake bank notes were handed in by a local business in Darwin.

'The note has a paper texture and the security window has visible defects, having been glued on,' they said.

'Police are urging everyone to be vigilant of counterfeit money being distributed.'

Australians have been told to be on the lookout for counterfeit money with fake $50 notes circulating around the country

NT Police last week said the fake bank notes were handed in by a local business in Darwin

To the untrained eye, the $50 notes appear to look the exact same as real currency but upon closer inspection there is a visible circle around the clear part of the note where the southern cross is.

Similar botched notes have also been popping up in Sydney, Daily Mail Australia can confirm.

One Sydney woman who came across a counterfeit $50 note quickly discovered it was a fake after she managed to scrunch it into a ball.

The note was also easily able to be ripped in half.

Queensland Police also issued an alert in May this year after counterfeit $100 notes were found in the Bundaberg area.

Anyone who stumbles across money they suspect is fake is urged to contact police.

One Sydney woman who came across a counterfeit $50 note quickly discovered it was a fake after she managed to scrunch it into a ball

Counterfeit notes can also easily be torn in half

Last October, students from one of Sydney's most prestigious schools were allegedly caught using fake money to trick a small business owner out of $100.

Double Bay Newsagency store manager Jim Cho claimed a couple of students from Scots College in Bellevue Hill, in the city's east, came into his store and asked to exchange four $50 notes for two $100 notes.

However, he claims two of those $50 notes were fake.

Double Bay Newsagency store manager Jim Cho claims students from Scots College gave him fake money (pictured, the fake $50 students allegedly paid with compared to a real note)

It wasn't until Mr Cho checked the register that he noticed two $50 notes were much shorter than the others - with the newsagency losing $100 to the students.

He claims the same group then came in days later and tried to pull the same stunt again.

Mr Cho reported the incident to police, with Scots College confirming they were cooperating with investigators and the store owner had since been repaid in full.
Flash floods have affected multiple states this past week, with a dam in Vermont coming one foot away from failing

A life-threatening flood warning has been issued after a Mississippi dam suffered a 100 foot break and residents were told to move to higher ground immediately.

Shocking drone footage shows raging water has eroded the land around the structure of the Archusa Creek Water Park Lake Dam, as it also poured over the top of the wall into the creek below.

The National Weather Service posted an alert warning of 'life-threatening flash flooding of areas downstream' after the dam broke at 8:04pm CT on Sunday.

'If you are in low lying areas below the Archusa you should move to higher ground immediately,' officials warned.

'Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,' they added.

Drone footage showed a 100-foot dam breach in Mississippi Sunday night amid a heavy storm in the area, with officials saying it could cause 'life-threatening' flash floods

The warning is in effect until at least 5:15 a.m. CT Monday morning. NWS officials posted an update at 11.01pm local time to say dam operators were still reporting the failure of the western spillway.

The nearest downstream location, Desoto Landing, could see flooding during the early morning hours of Monday, the NWS warned.

The entirety of Archusa Creek Park is closed to the public until further notice, the park confirmed on Facebook Sunday.

Archusa Creek was one of three different bodies of water in Clarke County that the National Weather Service said could be impacted by wet weather Sunday night.

The other two waterways part of the warning are Hanging Moss Creek and Chickasawhay River, both also in Clarke County.

Clarke County Sheriff Todd Kemp said he breach is near an emergency spillway and some were still trying to get their boats out of the water in time to avoid the flooding.

Local officials and sheriff's deputies are on standby throughout the night, Kemp added.

Flash flooding has been a problem in multiple states in the past week, with a dam in Vermont coming one foot away from failure last Tuesday.

Archusa Creek was one of three different bodies of water in Clarke County that the National Weather Service said could be impacted by wet weather Sunday night, with officials saying the dam officially broke at 8:04 p.m. CT

The footage from high above the creek shows the dam which has clearly been ruptured, with water raging through the approximately 100-feet wide breach

Land around the dam structure has been eroded away and the water is flowing over part of the dam walls, with trees beginning to uproot and float in another video

The NWS posted an alert that there was a possibility of 'life-threatening flash flooding of areas downstream'

The entirety of Archusa Creek Park is closed to the public until further notice, the park confirmed on Facebook Sunday

The warning is in effect until at least 5:15 a.m. CT Monday morning with officials observing the breach well past midnight local time

Posted by Chad Daniels on Sunday, July 16, 2023

It's the second time the state has faced rough weather this week, as torrential rain fell for several hours Thursday in central Mississippi, flooding roads, homes and businesses in Winston County, about 90 miles north of Clarke County.

Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh said law enforcement officers rescued at least eight people from vehicles and removed several others from homes as the water rose.

Swift water washed one car into a ditch, but the driver escaped before it submerged. The man stood knee-deep in the floodwater on top of his car as officers rescued him, Pugh told The Associated Press.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported in the county by the evening, the mayor said.
The sister of one of the Gilgo Beach victims has revealed how the killer would torment the family by calling them on the phone and on at least seven occasions even used the victim's personal cellphone.

The body of Melissa 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 along remote stretches of coastline on New York's Long Island. Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann, 59, has been charged with three murders - including Barthelemy's - after being arrested at his Long Island home on July 14.

The ordeal was especially unnerving for Barthelemy's family as the suspect used Barthelemy's own cellphone to taunt her relatives in 2009 with multiple calls soon after her disappearance - including one in which he admitted he'd killed her.

'He killed her; he raped her. Maybe one day he'd tell me where she was,' Amanda F, Barthelemy's sister, told PIX11, after she started receiving phone calls when she was 15.

The body of Melissa Barthelemy (pictured here with brown hair), who grew up in Buffalo, New York, was found on December 11, 2010, more than a year after she went missing

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann (pictured), 59, is charged with three murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder

Chillingly, Amanda also revealed the man had been keeping tabs on her in the aftermath of her sister's murder: 'e knew my name. He knew what I looked like.'

'He had a strong accent, New York, Long Island. He was very monotone when he talked, like a middle-aged white guy.'

Police later traced the calls and found pings from her dead sister's phone had been detected at Penn Station in Manhattan, close to where Heuermann's office is located, according to the court documents, and also in Massapequa, where he lives.

Recalling the terrifying phonecalls in 2020, Amanda said that the killer had called her to call her sister insulting names, referring to her sex work.

'He killed Melissa after having sex with her,' Amanda F. retold. 'In the final call, he said he'd killed her.'

A total of seven calls were made to the family with the final one being placed on August 26, 2009.

The dates of the calls were revealed during Heuermann's criminal arraignment on Friday.

Barthelemy, a petite blonde woman, was the first of the serial killer's victims to be found on Ocean Parkway in December 2010.

Barthelemy was an escort who had disappeared from the Bronx the year before.

The killer provided clues including strands of hair, the burlap used to wrap the bodies and a belt embossed with possible initials.

The first victim, Melissa Barthelemy (left), 24, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman (right), 22, was found two days later

Heuermann is charged with killing Amber Costello (right) and is linked with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (left)

Rex Heuermann is shown in one of his Tinder profile pictures. Police tracked the fictitious email account he used on the profile and his burner phone number to the case



Heuermann was charged with first- and second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. Authorities said he is also the 'prime suspect' in another killing.

A cousin of Barthelemy's, Amy Brotz, said the arrest rekindled anger and grief - but also brought the prospect of closure.

'I can't 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.'

While closure could be near for Brotz and her family, the ordeal is not yet over.

She worries that prosecutors won't 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.

To accelerate the search for Barthelemy's 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.

Crime scene investigators bring out evidence from the Massapequa Park home of Rex Heuermann who was arrested as a suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial killing

Forensics teams were seen combing through Heuermann's Long Island home on Friday. A freezer was among items seized

A map showing where eight of the victims remains were located along the barren stretch of Ocean Beach Parkway in Gilgo Beach, located on the South Shore of Long Island

Long Island architect Rex Heuermann (pictured), 59, has been arrested in connection with the Gilgo Beach serial killings in a major police breakthrough

The toddler and three other victims have yet to be identified. All 10 adult victims, including the toddler's mother, were sex workers, police said.

But investigators say the suspect, Heuermann, 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 three years earlier, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Heuermann says he is innocent, according to his lawyer.

If convicted on all charges, Heuermann would face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

'Death is too good for him,' the victim's mother, Lynn Barthelemy, told NBC News.

'Id like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates,' she said.

But the grieving parent expressed relief that a suspect was finally in custody.



Although all of the cases have not been solved, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said many affected communities would be 'sleeping a lot easier' after Heuermann's 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 on Friday.
An unlucky Aussie has found themselves at the fury of an ANZ branch after parking their car in the wrong spot.

The driver left their black Nissan Captiva in a parking spot reserved for ANZ bank staff members at its Burwood branch, in western Sydney.

While away, an ANZ staff member covered the car's bonnet, windshield and roof with signs explaining the motorist is parked in the wrong spot.

An image of the car was shared to Reddit on Friday, showing the A4 paper signs stuck to the car with masking tape.

'Warning!! This is a private car park for ANZ stuff use only. You have illegally occupied. Please move your car immediately before further action taken. ANZ Burwood,' the signs read.

The black Nissan Capitva was plastered with A4 signs after it was left in a parking spot reserved for ANZ workers at the bank's Burwood branch (pictured)

The person who shared the image claimed one note would have been enough for ANZ in Burwood to get their message across.

'Burwood ANZ does not mess around. One note would have been enough, but this seems personal,' they wrote.

Social media users found the warning signs funny, with many claiming to have experienced an unwanted vehicle parked in the wrong spot.

'That's just how the banks often treat their customers,' one person wrote.

'And that was how ANZ Burwood got the bill for a detail, cut and polish on a Holden Captiva,' another person commented.

A third chimed: 'I love this level of petty.'

Others noted the bank could be liable for any damages to the car's paint caused by the adhesive tape.

'Are we ignoring the tape used? I smell a new paint job, Curtesy of ANZ Burwood,' one person wrote.

'The danger here is if they damage the paint getting the packing tape off, the ANZ is liable for the damages,' another person added.

'That tape will damage the paint when they remove it and they have a big pile of evidence that is was done by a ANZ employee and signed on behalf of ANZ,' a third person commented.

Others said the warning message was not the 'sort of publicity' that would make ANZ's corporate office happy.

An ANZ spokesman said the bank is aware of the issue and is working to understand the circumstances around the warning messages.

'We are aware of these social media reports and are working to understand what has occurred here,' an ANZ Spokesman told Yahoo News.

The signs warned 'further action' would be taken if the driver did not move their car (pictured)

It's understood the signs have since been removed and that the car had been parked in the spot for several days.

The rightful parking spot owner might find it difficult to enforce their threat of 'further action' as towing companies are generally hesitate to get involved.

Complex laws in NSW mean a towing company could be sued if they remove a car from private property without the vehicle owner's permission.

Police and councils are also reluctant to get involved but have organised the removal of a vehicle when it is abandoned, poses a danger to the public or is obstructing traffic.
The boss of one of Australia's Big Four accountancy firms has admitted his $3.5 million pay packet is generous and makes him 'incredibly privileged' - but defended it as a reflection of the going rate within his industry.

Deloitte CEO Adam Powick said his salary - seven times that of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - is the result of a 'free market'.

Under grilling by Labor senator Deborah O'Neill at an inquiry into public sector consulting, he was asked if he believed he was 'really worth seven times the salary of the prime minister'.

Mr Powick answered: 'No.'

Deloitte Australia's chief executive argued it was difficult to compare his salary to that of a politician because they are 'different professions and systems'.

'We're in a free market... I never have set my salary and my salary is set to be commensurate with others that play a similar role in our profession.

'We also try to ensure the partners and our people are paid commensurately and competitively with others in our profession.'

The CEO of Deloitte Australia has admitted the work he does should not necessarily constitute a $3.5million annual pay packet - but defended his salary as a reflection of the market rate in the industry

But Mr Powick acknowledged his 'incredible privilege' and said he is 'fortunate to earn what I do'.

'I happen to deeply recognise that I am incredibly privileged to earn what I do, for what I do,' he said.

The inquiry was set up following a tax advice scandal involving PwC, where a former partner passed on confidential government information to clients.

Former consumer watchdog head Allan Fels has called for big consultancy firms to be broken up to reduce the risk of conflict of interest.

Mr Powick was one of four executives from Deloitte to front the public hearing on Monday.

He revealed the average base salary for a partner at the firm is anywhere between $500,000 and $600,000, but would not confirm how many employees earned more than $1million.

Labor Senator Deborah O'Neill grilled Mr Powick at a Senate inquiry into public sector consulting, asking whether he believed he was 'really worth seven times the salary of the prime minister'

Adam Powick said the enormous sum - seven times that of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - is the result of a 'free market'

Elsewhere in the inquiry, Deloitte's chief risk officer Sneza Pelusi revealed an employee was stood down after 'inadvertently breaching' protocols by sharing confidential information while working on a government project.

The incident was reported to the governmental department involved, but further details of the project were not made public on Monday.

Ms Pelusi said the information was not shared outside of Deloitte, but confidentiality requirements within the team working on the project were breached.

The information was not used for commercial gain, chief executive Adam Powick said

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said while she was aware of an over-reliance on consultancy firms being used for government projects, and the scale became apparent after she won office.

'It is a problem - it is worse than I thought,' she told ABC Radio.

'We're taking steps to rectify that, but it's going to take a bit of time because of the way the imbalance has occurred over particularly the last five to seven years.'

The finance minister said the government was trying to bolster in-house consultancy for the public service.
The man accused of the 1978 Spear Creek triple murder has walked out of the Supreme Court a free man after all charges against him were dropped.

Bruce John Preston, 67, was charged with the alleged triple murder of Karen Edwards, her boyfriend Timothy Thomson and their friend Gordon Twaddle in 2019 - more than 40 years after their bodies were found.

Police allege the trio of friends were gunned down in the bush at Spear Creek, outside Mount Isa, in October 1978.

Their bodies were found two weeks later about 12km from Mt Isa.

They had only just set out on a motorbike road trip around Australia.

The man accused of the 1978 triple murder in Spear Creek, 67-year-old Bruce Preston (pictured), has walked free from Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday

Mr Preston, a retired senior prison officer at NSW's Goulburn Supermax jail, was arrested in 2019 after the Queensland Homicide Investigation Unit's cold case team reviewed the case.

Mr Preston, who was on bail when he appeared before Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday, was formally discharged of all three murder charges.

The Crown entered a Nolle Prosequi (a formal notice of abandoning a case) in respect of the indictment before the court, after it had determined it could no longer prosecute the case.

Mr Preston was discharged of all three murder charges.

The court was told one of the reasons was because a number of key witnesses had either died or were not in good health to give evidence before a trial.

Prosecutors dropped their case after key witnesses had either dad or were in poor health, telling the Brisbane Supreme Court (pictured) that they could not continue in good faith

Police allege Tim Thompson (left), was gunned down alongside his girlfriend, Karen Edwards (middle ) and their friend Gordon Twaddle (right) at Spear Creek, north east of Mount Isa

The Crown prosecutor told the court he was unsure when those key witnesses had died.

'There had (also) been some information that had been provided (which) had been inaccurate and some essential evidence had been overlooked ... therefore there was a determination a trial, any trial, on a public interest basis would have been fundamentally unfair,' the Crown prosecutor said.

'The matters are constantly reviewed and investigated so the critical analysis can be ultimately reviewed.'

Mr Preston's defence barrister, Russell Pearce, told the court his client had always maintained his innocence and was cooperative throughout the investigation.

'The prosecution is not proceeding because witnesses have passed away and or on the occasion witnesses are no longer able to due to poor health given evidence,' Mr Pearce said.

'I want to put on the record that throughout these proceedings, the defence has worked collaboratively to ensure all evidence found its way before a hearing.'

The Moondarra Caravan Park, near Mount Isa, (pictured) where the trio of friends were last seen alive on October 5, 1978

Justice Peter Callaghan said there had been 'terrible' communication between the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions office about the issues surrounding the witness list.

'In this case there seems to be a clear indication that just didn't happen,' Justice Callaghan said, referring to the review process by the DPP.

Supporters of the trio were left to come to terms that their loved one's deaths remained unsolved.

Mr Twaddle and Mr Gordon were both originally of New Zealand, with Mr Gordon also having lived in, Melbourne and Alice Springs.

Ms Edwards was from Dandenong in Melbourne before she started travelling.
The estranged wife of Victorian union boss John Setka has made another appearance in court, as she fights charges alleging she plotted to kill her husband.

Emma Walters was first arrested by Victoria Police in March, when she was alleged to have told private investigator Adrian Peeters she wanted to kill her husband.

She was charged with incitement to commit conspiracy to murder, incitement to acquire a firearm and making threats to kill Mr Setka.

Documents released by the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Monday reveal Ms Walters, 46, has since been charged with trying to incite a person to traffic a drug of dependence, and trying to incite a person to possess a drug of dependence.

She was also charged with committing an indictable offence, namely incitement to commit conspiracy to murder, while on bail.

The ex-lawyer, who has previously denied the allegation she was plotting to kill Mr Setka in a statement to The Herald Sun, beamed into her most recent hearing via a videolink.

Emma Walters, the wife of Victorian union boss John Setka, has been charged with conspiring to kill him

Ms Walters, whose address is listed as West Footscray, is alleged to have committed the newer offences while heavily intoxicated in the back of an ambulance, according to The Age newspaper.

It said Ms Walters was lapsing in and out of consciousness when she asked an ambulance attendant if there were any sedatives she could use 'for him.'

Police unsuccessfully sought to revoke her bail in May, arguing that she was still trying to kill Mr Setka and could succeed.

Setka, 59, is the Victorian Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

In a brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said he had reviewed a preliminary brief of evidence against Ms Walters contained in what is known as a hand-up brief, and listed the matter for a committal hearing in November.

Ms Walters (pictured right with Mr Setka) is alleged to have asked a private eye to kill her husband

Police unsuccessfully sought to revoke her bail in May, arguing that she was still trying to kill Mr Setka and could succeed.

Setka, 59, is the Victorian Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

In a brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said he had reviewed a preliminary brief of evidence against Ms Walters contained in what is known as a hand-up brief, and listed the matter for a committal hearing in November.

Police unsuccessfully sought to revoke her bail in May, arguing that she was still trying to kill Mr Setka and could succeed.

Setka, 59, is the Victorian Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

In a brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said he had reviewed a preliminary brief of evidence against Ms Walters contained in what is known as a hand-up brief, and listed the matter for a committal hearing in November.
A Turkish court has sentenced a struck-off doctor to six years behind bars after one of his patients died after a botched bum job.

Defendant Oner Ozsoyeri was found guilty of causing death through negligence by the 13th Criminal Court of First Instance in Buyukcekmece, Istanbul.

The court heard how the struck-off GP gave victim Kubra Boyraz filler injections in her rear at his beauty clinic in Beylikduzu on September 19, 2020, despite not having the necessary certification and training to perform the procedure on the 38-year-old.

Chilling security camera footage seen during Ozsoyeri's trial shows his victim walking zombie-like after the buttock augmentation.

As she staggers through the clinic's reception, two members of staff hold onto her arms and three more walk behind her following the procedure which would soon lead to her death.

Chilling security camera footage seen during Ozsoyeri's trial shows his victim, Kubra Boyraz, walking zombie-like after the buttock augmentation

The court heard how the struck-off GP gave victim Kubra Boyraz (pictured) filler injections in her rear at his beauty clinic in Beylikduzu in Spetember 2020

More footage from a camera outside the clinic shows Kubra being bundled into the back of a car before she is driven home.

She was 'struggling to speak' and 'unwell', the court heard.

Kubra then became unconscious that same evening before she was rushed to hospital after her condition worsened. She passed away a day later on September 20.

An autopsy revealed that she died after the filler injections in her bum blocked her blood vessels. Silicon was found in her blood as well as her lung tissue.

Ahead of the verdict, Ozsoyeri claimed to the court: 'I am not the one who committed the act. Witnesses also testified that I was not present in the room.

'My medical licence was revoked six months before the incident, not due to professional reasons but for other reasons.

'I was not present at the location in my capacity as a doctor. The deceased person was a patient of Erdal Bey. I am innocent and I request acquittal.

'I wasn't even in the room. I did not perform the procedure. As a person, I tried to do everything for the individual. I directed her to the hospital, but she refused.'

The police are pictured arresting the five suspects believed to be involved in the case in Istanbul. The trial against the other suspects is still ongoing

Kubra Boyraz, 38, victim of the fatal botox procedure, is seem being brought home after leaving the hospital in Istanbul following the procedure

Kubra Boyraz became unconscious the same evening of her procedure before she was rushed to hospital after her condition worsened

Victim Kubra Boyraz was seen walking zombie-like after the buttock augmentation that led to her death

During his trial, the court heard how Ozsoyeri had been reported for injuring several cosmetic surgery patients by injecting them with inappropriate substances in 2009.

Ozsoyeri was subsequently sentenced to 5 years, 8 months and 17 years in prison for 'causing the death of a person by negligence'.

The wider case is still ongoing, with co-suspects Erdal Dogruya, Omer Elmali, and Bulent B. accused of violation of the Basic Law on Health Services.

The first co-suspect is also accused of causing death through conscious negligence and treating patients without being a doctor.
The toddler disappeared without trace on July 8 from Haut-Vernet , an Alpine hamlet south of Grenoble, where he was staying with his grandparents. Prosecutor Remy Avon said on Monday that the investigation is being launched to 'investigate causes of the worrying disappearance.' Some scenarios, such as a bird of prey or wolf attack, have already been ruled out. A total of 20 houses were also searched, but nothing was found there. Now the police are investigating the scenario in which Emile would have come into contact with an agricultural machine. A farmer from the village of Le Vernet, where the search is taking place, told BFMTV that it would not be an illogical scenario.
A BBC podcast claims to have unearthed the voice of Banksy from a radio interview in the US some 18 years ago - in which he boasts about how 'fun' it is to illegally display his work in noted galleries around the world.

The snippet is taken from the All Things Considered news show on National Public Radio (NPR) in March 2005 - just days after the street artist had hung up his work inside the Met in New York.

The rare interview is heard for the first time in the UK on BBC Sounds' The Banksy Story, a ten-episode podcast series on Radio 4 that chronicles the life and career of one of the most famous artists of the 21st Century.

The resurfaced chat follows a decades-long attempt to reveal the graffiti maestro's identity, which has been shrouded in mystery since he first emerged in the late 1990s.

An investigation by the Mail on Sunday in 2008 said it had identified the enigma as Robin Gunningham, a former public schoolboy who grew up in the suburbs of Bristol - but this has never been confirmed by the artist or his inner circle.

A general view of the GoMA in Glasgow, where graffiti artist Banksy last month announced his first official solo exhibition for 14 years. It will run until late August

A quintessential Banksy moment, after Girl with Balloon was auctioned for $1.4million, the work of art lowered itself through a shredder built into the frame

READ MORE: Who is Banksy? All the theories about the anonymous graffiti artist A series of Banksy murals appeared across Ukraine in 2022, Putin appears to be losing in a Judo match to a young boy, the anti-war graffiti is seen by many as Ukraine's resistance to the Russian invasion Advertisement

'We assume that you are who you say you are, but how can we be sure?' asks the NPR host, to which the person claiming to be Banksy retorts with a Bristolian twang: 'Oh, you have no guarantee of that at all.'

In the NPR chat, the alleged Banksy says he sees himself as a 'painter and decorator' and claims he likes to glue his work to the walls of institutions such as the Louvre in Paris because 'You don't want to get stuck in the same line of work your whole life long, do you?'

The host asked how the alleged Banksy gets into institutions and hangs his work up without permission.

He replies that he has been reading books about Harry Houdini, adding: 'Like him I won't go into the details but he's got some good tips to offer artists coming up, I would say...

'I think it's testament to the frame of mind most people are in when they're in a museum really.

'Most people don't really notice things and let the world go by For instance in the Met, they hung a Henri Matisse painting upside down for 42 days I believe it was, until someone told them it was round the wrong way.

'I was aiming for at least 42 days, but unfortunately didn't get that far.'

Asked if he works alone in hanging his work up without permission he said: 'I do... you don't want to bring other people into that.'

He added: 'I thought some of them were quite good, that's why I thought, you know, put them in the gallery, otherwise they'd just sit at home and no one would see them, right?

'If you wait for people to latch on to what you're doing you'll be waiting forever, you might as well cut out the middle man and go and stick it in yourself.'

When he is told that what he is doing is illegal, the man replies that 'that's what makes it good fun'.

Art piece 'Slave Labour' by Banksy displayed during his solo show 'CUT & RUN: 25 years card labour' at The Gallery Of Modern Art (GOMA), in Glasgow

Banksy has kept his identity a secret since first appearing in 1990s at first to hide from criminal charges but now to protect the mystery of his name

Banksy latest show in Glasgow includes authentic artefacts, ephemera and the artist's actual toilet

'Flower Thrower' also known as 'Love is in the Air' by Banksy displayed during his solo show 'CUT & RUN: 25 years card labour' at The Gallery Of Modern Art (GOMA), in Glasgow

During his early years, Banksy was anonymous due to fear of being prosecuted for his street art. Now, he paints covertly to protect the air of mystery and stay out of the spotlight.

His work, which usually makes strong political statements, has appeared all over the world and sold for millions at auctions.

A new exhibition showing the works of Banksy opened in Glasgow last month - in what is his first official exhibition in 14 years.

The Cut & Run show, at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), is the first exhibition to be officially authorised by the elusive street artist in more than a decade.

The exhibition covers 25 years of Banksy's career and features a selection of the artist's stencils for the very first time.

The show also exhibits an array of artefacts collected throughout Banksy's career - including the artist's own toilet.

The Cut and Run show at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is the first exhibition to be officially endorsed by Banksy in 14 years

As for Banksy's choice of Glasgow as the location for his latest show, he said the traffic cone which famously sits on the head of the Duke of Wellington statue outside the gallery, was behind the pick

Banksy said: 'I've kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage.

'But that moment seems to have passed, so now I'm exhibiting them in a gallery as works of art. I'm not sure which is the greater crime.'

Various unsanctioned exhibitions of Banksy's work have taken place around the world in recent years.

However, Banksy said that 'while the unauthorised Banksy shows might look like sweepings from my studio floor, Cut & Run really is the actual sweepings from my studio floor.'

As for his choice of Glasgow as the location for the show, Banksy said the traffic cone which famously sits on the head of the Duke of Wellington statue outside the gallery, was behind the pick.

A gallery label for the show explains: 'For anyone who isn't aware - the statue out the front has had a cone on its head continuously for the past 40-odd years.

'Despite the best efforts of the council and police, every time one is removed another takes its place.

'This might sound absurd and pretentious (just wait until you see the rest of the exhibition), but it's my favourite work of art in the UK and the reason I've brought the show here.'

The stencils on show include those used for some of Banksy's most famous pieces.

Those include Girl With Balloon, which appeared on walls throughout London from 2002 onwards, and Kissing Coppers which appeared on the wall of The Prince Albert Pub in Brighton, East Sussex.

It also features a model that shows the way through which the modern artist managed to shred a version of Girl With Balloon during an auction at Sotheby's in London in 2018.

The Banksy artwork hit the headlines when it partially self-destructed at the conclusion of an auction in which it had been sold for 1.1million.

The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden inside its frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and just a single red balloon left on the painting.

The artist subsequently renamed the work Love Is In The Bin and later it sold at auction for 18.58million in 2021.

The Glasgow show will run for almost three months from 18 June to 28 August and could tour in the future if it proves popular.
Horrifying video shows rampaging dolphins ramming and trying to drag swimmers under the water just a few yards off a popular beach in Japan, as screaming members of the public watched on helplessly.

A spate of dolphin attacks off Suishohama beach in the town of Mihama, Fukui prefecture, on Sunday left at least four beachgoers injured.

A man in his 60s had his ribs broken as he was rammed by one of the mammals while another man, in his 40s, sustained bites on his arm.

The aggressive animals continued to go after swimmers and at least two more were injured in vicious attacks later in the day.

Footage shows the sea emptied of people as a dolphin lurked near the shoreline, with dozens watching in terror from the safety of the beach.

A terrifying encounter between one bather and a dolphin shows a man swimming for his life as the mammal appears to chase him

The video shows bystanders yelling at those still in the water and screaming as they can see the dolphin catching up with the man

Dozens of tourists watched a dolphin attack from the safety of the beach, with many filming it

Fukui, on the north coast of Japan, has recorded a total of six dolphin attacks so far this year, according to local police.

A string of attacks were also reported in the seaside area last year, which is popular with local families and tourists.

Officials have put up signs warning the public against approaching or touching the dolphins.

They have warned swimmers: 'If you see them, don't go into the water'.

But many appeared to ignore this advice over the weekend, with social media awash with videos of bathers, kayakers and paddleboarders braving the shallows.

Many of those who chose to go in the water to cool off were quickly targeted by the dolphins, and forced to flee as the mammals swam towards them.

A terrifying encounter between one bather and a dolphin shows a man swimming for his life as the mammal appears to chase him.

Footage shows the sea emptied of people as a dolphin lurked near the shoreline

One bather, who was floating in a pink rubber ring, was seemingly oblivious of the dolphin's presence in the moments before it rammed into him

The sea emptied as terrified beachgoers tried to steer clear of an aggressive dolphin

Horrified bystanders watch on as swimmers desperately try to get away from the dolphin

The animal appears to wrestle with one man, thrashing about in the water as terrified paddleboarders and kayakers retreat in horror

One bather rapidly swam away as the dolphin appeared to by pursuing him

Helpless onlookers on the beach and a nearby paddledboard and boats watched as a man was almost completely dragged under the water

In one clip, a man appeared to be clapping at the dolphin, possibly taunting it or in an effort to get it to swim away

The video shows bystanders yelling at those still in the water and screaming as they can see the dolphin catching up with the man and pulling him under.

The animal appears to wrestle with the man, thrashing about in the water as terrified paddleboarders and kayakers retreat in horror.

Another clip shows a man in a pink rubber ring, who is seemingly oblivious as the dolphin circles him before the colliding with him and almost dunking him under the water.

Wild bottlenose dolphins can find swimming alongside humans 'incredibly stressful', scientists have suggested, citing evidence it disrupts their behavioural routines.

There are around 600,000 bottlenose dolphins around the world and they are one of the most widely-distributed dolphin species.
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Greece has started mass evacuations this afternoon with ferocious wildfires bearing down on popular coastal resorts - as a scorching heatwave threatens to break records during Europe's 'hottest ever week'.

Authorities 'saved' 1,200 children from holiday camps threatened by wildfires near the seaside resort of Loutraki, the town's mayor told local media, after flames were whipped up by strong winds.

Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft battled a massive blaze in the village of Kouvaras, which is around 17 miles from Athens, with people being ordered to leave their homes.

Blazes have also engulfed areas around the seaside resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida, and authorities have evacuated people from a number of villages, as well as a rehabilitation centre and summer camps.

The blaze reportedly started in Kouvaras and quickly spread south toward the Attica region and the resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida.

The Greek Fire Service described it as 'a difficult day with several fires (burning) across the country,' with scenes of charred trees, cars and homes bringing back traumatic memories for many after dozens of lives were lost to inferno-like forest fires in 2018.

Brits holidaying across the Mediterranean are bracing for the arrival of even hotter weather this week, with the sweltering heat set to soar even higher after an anticyclone called Charon, so-called after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, reached Europe from North Africa on Sunday night.

Tourists have collapsed and fainted in the severe heat in Italy and Greece and wildfires have also ripped through homes in La Palma and Turkey in the past week after temperatures across southern Europe hit 43C.

Heatwave Charon is tipped to force thermometres above 48.8C in Italy in the coming days, a new record high, with experts warning that the mercury could also approach record levels in Spain and Greece.

The World Meteorological Organisation has urged people to 'stay safe', cautioning that the heatwave is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August across parts of southern Europe.

The smoke-covered landscape in Loutraki, Greece, shows the ferocity of the wildfires gripping the country amid a sweltering heatwave

A Greek flag flutters in the wind as a wildfire threatens homes some 30 miles southeast from the centre of Athens

Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire as the firefighters battle the blaze by land and air in Gulnar district of Mersin, Turkiye

Local firefighters operate during a wildfire at Kouvaras area in Attica, Greece

Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft battled a massive blaze in the village of Kouvaras

A fire burns next to high voltage electricity pylons and someone's home in the Kouvaras area of Attica, Greece

Homes in Greece have been engulfed by flames as the Europe faces a severe heatwave. Pictured: People stand in front of a house, as a wildfire burns in Kouvaras, Greece

A fire burns next to high voltage electricity pylons at Kouvaras area in Attica, Greece

Olive groves have been ravaged by wildfires in the Lagonisi area of Greece

A wildfire ripped through La Palma, Canary Islands, over the weekend, forcing around 4,000 to evacuate from their homes

Grooms have had to evacuate horses from a riding centre amid wildfires in Kalyvia, near Athens, Greece

Empty beaches were pictured in Portugal this afternoon, as holidaymakers seemingly preferred to stay indoors rather than brave the high temperatures, which reached around 32C on the Algarve

A photo shows a pharmacy's sign indicating the current outside temperature near the Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti (Spanish Steps) in Rome

A firefighter helicopter drops water on wildfire as firefighter teams conduct extinguishing works by land and air to control wildfires in Canakkale, Turkey

The World Meteorological Organisation has warned that temperature records may be broken and urged people to stay safe and follow advice

A man in Croatia desperately tries to cool down by tipping water from a fountain over his head earlier today

Authorities have closed the Greek capital's top tourist attraction, the Acropolis, during the hottest hours, with tourists set to endure 41C heat there and in Cyprus by the end of this week.

Authorities in Kouvaras said it is difficult to deal with the forest fires there due to the strong winds, and spokesman Yannis Artopios explained the tough conditions for those battling the flames.

'It's a difficult fire, the winds are really strong, with gusts reaching up to 37 miles per hour.

'We are in the middle of the period of fighting fires. The conditions expected will be particularly difficult and favour forest fires.'

British tourists across the Mediterranean are being warned of the life-threatening dangers of the blazing sun, with temperatures set to reach 45C in Antalya, Turkey, by the end of the week. In Spain, temperatures will soar to 44C by tomorrow.

Streets have emptied across Spanish cities, with tourists seeking shelter in Seville while Madrid has suspended road cleaning services and given shelter to homeless people amid the unbearable temperatures.

Empty beaches were pictured in Portugal this afternoon, as holidaymakers seemingly preferred to stay indoors rather than brave the high temperatures, which reached 32C on the Algarve.

And in Italy, tourists were warned to brace for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time'.

The Italian island of Sardinia is set to bear the brunt of the unforgiving weather, with forecasters predicting that temperatures could reach a 49C. The previous record high of 48.8C was registered in the Sicilian town of Floridia on August 11, 2021.

Health officials have issued red weather alert warnings for 16 cities across the country, including Rome where temperatures are expected to soar to a record-breaking 43C. The capital's previous record high of 40.5C was set in August 2007.

A red alert warning 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.

'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.'

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.

A man rests in a shade shelter during the heatwave in Zagreb, Croatia, earlier today as he escapes the heatwave

Tourists refresh themselves with water from Barcaccia fountain in Piazza di Spagna during the ongoing heat wave

A man refreshes himself at a water tap in Zagreb, Croatia, today as people flock to water taps and fountains to cool down

A woman covers herself with a scarf in Avignon, southern France, as she dodges the heatwave earlier today

A boy refreshes himself at a fountain in Zagreb, Croatia, as people flock to water fountains and taps to keep cool

 Southern Europe remains gripped by a heatwave and exceptionally hot weather continues this week



 Record breaking temperatures are possible, with the most extreme heat focused across Italy, Greece and North Africa - here temperatures may reach the high 40s Celsius pic.twitter.com/PMBYQj8G02  Met Office (@metoffice) July 17, 2023

Tourists desperately try to call down with cold refreshments as they struggle with the heat in Rome, where temperatures reached 44C on Monday

A man covers his head in water at a fountain in Rome, Italy, on Monday amid scorching temperatures

A man whose head is covered in a scarf to shield him from the searing sun fills a bottle of water at the Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Holidaymakers gather under the shade of trees at a beach in Zygi, Cyprus, on Sunday

A view of the beach of Torre Faro Pilone near Messina on the island of Sicily, crowded with bathers during a heat wave on Sunday

People cool off at a water fountain in Messina, on the island of Sicily, during a heatwave on Sunday

Animals are also suffering with such extreme weather conditions. Pictured: A pigeon refreshes itself at a fountain in Zagreb, Croatia

'This is not normal. I don't remember such intense heat, especially at this time of year,' said Federico Bratti, sunbathing at Lake Garda.

And in the Sicilian city of Catania, the airport has been shut down until Wednesday due to a fire that broke out late on Sunday.

Firefighters said they managed to contain the blaze about 90 minutes after it was called in, but provided no details on possible causes or any link to current high temperatures in the region.

Catania was among several Italian cities that imposed a hot weather red alert on Sunday, along with the Sicilian capital of Palermo and the third island's largest city of Messina, as the country braced for record high temperatures in the coming days.

Flights at the Sicilian airport, which according to the Assoaeroporti sector group, ranked fifth for traffic in Italy last year and first on the island, have been suspended until 1200 GMT on Wednesday, the management company said.

Ansa news agency reported dense smoke in the lower part of the facility after the fire broke out, sending people rushing out of the airport shouting and in distress. No one has been injured.

The deadly heat is wreaking havoc across Europe, with wildfires raging across the continent and tourists fainting from the blistering heat.

Britons who have travelled to the Mediterranean have told how the heat is so intense that they have suffered sunstroke and been forced to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.

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 across the country.

The heatwave will intensify from Monday, with temperatures reaching 44C in the Guadalquivir valley near Seville in the south of the country, forecasters predicted.

A man stands in front of a fan before entering the Colosseum in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists rest on a bench in the shade in Rome, Italy, on Monday

Tourists use umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun near the Colosseum in Rome on Monday

A woman cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists cool off in the sea in the Cypriot coastal town of Zygi on Sunday

A boy cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists cool off in front of a fan before entering the Colosseum during a heat wave in Rome on Monday

A couple seek refuge from the sun under the shade of nearby trees in Seville, Spain, on Sunday

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.

On Sunday, Spanish authorities said more favourable weather conditions helped firefighters slow down the advance of the blaze.

The blaze, which started on Saturday, burned through an area of about 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) and ripped through some 20 houses and buildings.

Europe's highest recorded temperature of 48.8C, registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded in the coming days, notably on the Italian island of Sardinia, meteorologists have said.

'I'm really struggling with the heat. I've bought a mini fan, an umbrella and bottles of water,' said Lilu Da Costa Rosa, a 48-year-old Brazilian saleswoman visiting Rome on Sunday.

In the Vatican, 15,000 people braved sweltering temperatures on Sunday to hear Pope Francis lead prayers, 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.

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

The flames of the La Palma fire can be seen in the background on Saturday

People bathe in the area of Lake Sirio to cool off, in the province of Turin, Italy, on Sunday

Holidaymakers cool off in the sea by Torre Faro Pilone beach near Messina on the island of Sicily during a heatwave on Sunday

People eat ice creams during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy, on Monday

People walk on Fori Imperiali during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome on Monday

A street vendor sells hats during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome on Monday

Tourists sit in a horse-drawn carriage in Seville amid soaring temperatures in Spain on Sunday

People enjoy the shaded banks of the Guadiaro river at 'La Cueva del Gato' near Benaojan, in southern Spain on Saturday

A woman takes a shower at Mondello beach to cool off, during a heatwave across Italy, in Palermo, on Saturday

The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running Sunday during the hottest hours.

The devastating effects of the heatwave has been seen across Europe, with 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 last Tuesday due to the heat in the Italian city of Lodi, southeast Milan, as temperatures soared to above 40C. The worker, who has not been named, later died in hospital.

Scientists have relentlessly warned of the damaging effects of climate change. As well as withering crops, melting glaciers and raising the risk of wildfires, higher-than-normal temperatures also cause health problems ranging from heatstroke and dehydration to cardiovascular stress.

The Red Cross has urged people to check on the most vulnerable during the high temperatures, such as children and older people.

It also called on people to stay hydrated and to watch for signs of heatstroke, which can include vomiting and fainting.

Scientists have said climate change combined with the emergence this year of the El Nino weather pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, have fuelled record-breaking temperatures.

El Nino events, which occur every two to seven years, are marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific near the Equator, and last about nine to 12 months.

The world has warmed an average of nearly 1.2C since the mid-1800s, unleashing extreme weather including more intense heatwaves, more severe droughts and storms made fiercer by rising seas.

Oceans absorb most of the heat generated by planet-warming gases, causing heatwaves that harm aquatic life, altering weather patterns and disrupting crucial planet-regulating systems.

In June, global sea surface temperatures hit unprecedented levels. Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for the month since satellite observations began, at 17 per cent below average, breaking the previous June record by a substantial margin.

While sea surface temperatures normally recede relatively quickly from annual peaks, this year they stayed high, with scientists warning that this underscores an underappreciated but grave impact of climate change.
China's foreign affairs minister has seemingly disappeared from public view, fuelling speculation that he has engaged in an affair with a well-known television presenter.

Rumours are continuing to circulate that Qin Gang, known for his aggressive approach as one of the 'Wolf Warrior' diplomats, may have fallen foul of the communist state's leadership after only assuming the role in December.

Qin was elevated seamlessly through the ranks of China's Communist Party, spending time as ambassador to the UK and US. He made a name for himself through his aggressive approach towards meetings with western officials.

But Qin has not been seen for several weeks now. His last public appearance was a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart on June 25. This is a peculiarly long time for a foreign minister not to be seen in public.

This has caused some to claim he may have engaged in an affair with a popular television presenter Fu Xiaotian, 40, who has also not been seen for some time after a flirtatious interview surfaced between them.

Rumours have circulated, especially in the Taiwan and Hong Kong press, that Qin and Fu may have engaged in an affair following a 'flirtatious interview'

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a joint press conference with Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt in Oslo in May

Fu Xiaotian is a presenter and producer of Talk With World Leaders on China's Phoenix TV

China's foreign ministry initially refused to comment on the minister's apparent disappearance.

However, when he failed to show at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta, as he was scheduled to last week, the ministry cited 'health reasons'.

Wang Yi, Qin's predecessor and now Xi Jinping's foreign affairs advisor, stepped in instead, and even took over to hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

At the same time, television presenter Fu Xiaotian has also not been seen for some time, as well as her infant son.

The Cambridge-educated presenter is one of the most prominent figures on Chinese television and frequently interviews the state's top officials.

This has caused rumours to circulate, especially in the Taiwan and Hong Kong press, that the two may have engaged in an affair.

Social media users pointed towards 'affectionate flirting' that was seen between Qin and Fu in an interview in Washington DC in March last year.

Users also noted Fu's often flirtatious interview technique when speaking to politicians.

'But when she turns her attention to a high-ranking Chinese official, she may have violated the Chinese Ministry of State Securitys regulations,' one user said, as reported by The Times.

Television presenter Fu Xiaotian, 40, has also not been seen for some time after a flirtatious interview surfaced between her and Qin

Social media users pointed towards 'affectionate flirting' that was seen between Qin and Fu in an interview in Washington DC in March last year

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a joint press conference with German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock in Beijing Friday, April 14, 2023

Chinese human rights activist Lin Shengliang noted that Qin became China's ambassador to the US in 2021. The supposedly 'flirty' interview took place in March 2022. Fu then gave birth to her child in November of that year.

Fu is then claimed to have shared a picture of her son on social media platform Weibo with the comment 'a victorious opening' when Qin was promoted to state councillor. This has caused some to speculate that she was congratulating the now-foreign minister.

Then, in her last social media post before she disappeared from public appearance, Fu shared pictures of a jet, a screen shot of the interview with Qin, and a picture of her with her son.

Engaging in affairs is not unusual for China's top officials, but can be used as a pretext to remove those who have fallen foul of the leadership.
Just Stop Oil has been warned by Rishi Sunak that he 'will not let eco-zealots ruin the British summer' after a day of action that targeted 15 locations with 200 protesters.

The climate change group has pledged to 'paralyse London' over the coming weeks with slow-marching columns ten times bigger than any previous marches, to force the 'murderous Government'  as they refer to it  to scrap new domestic oil and gas licences.

Today, they threatened a summer of chaos after activists held their biggest slow march protest yet at 15 locations across London, while well-known eco-zealot Eddie Whittingham ruined his own University of Exeter graduation ceremony with a fire extinguisher stunt.

In response to the group's ongoing action, the Prime Minister told ITV News that 'of course we are going to transition to net zero' but in a 'sensible, practical way'.

He added: 'What I'm not going to be doing is giving into what I'd call eco-zealots who are busy disrupting all of the things over the British summer whether that's the Proms of all things to all the sporting events that we love. That's not a constitutive way to tackle climate change.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) said today that he wouldn't be 'giving into eco-zealots disrupting all of the things over the British summer'

A furious member of the public started to grab and pull protesters off Marylebone Road this morning

A man on a motorcycle snatches a Just Stop Oil banner while activists block traffic on Marylebone Road in central London

'I don't think that's right and I've given the police more powers to tackle this type of disruptive protest and I actually think they are doing enormous damage to their cause by behaving in that way.'

It comes as violence spilled out during the morning rush hour as the lobby group yet again disrupted traffic and crucial road networks. After the Met Police removed 183 protesters from the roads and arrested 21, JSO said: 'We will not stand by.'

JSO protesters descended on Bishopsgate, Whitehall, Bird Cage Walk, Bayswater Road, Aldwych, Lillie Road, Jamaica Road, Islington High Street, Kensington Road, Praed Street, Holloway Road, Wandsworth Bridge, Commercial Road, Cromwell Road and Bridge Street.

Their latest antics led to one furious motorist taking matters into his hands in by grabbing protesters and swinging them onto the side of the road. He warned: 'I'm telling you one last time.' Another frustrated Londoner snatched one of the group's orange banners as he drove by on a motorbike.

Hinting at further action this summer, JSO tweeted: '@metpoliceuk have been removing Just Stop Oil have been removing Just Stop Oil supporters from the roads...only for the marches to appear in new locations. We will not stand by while everything we know and love is destroyed.'

JSO has been in the spotlight recently for halting play at Wimbledon and during a test match of The Ashes by throwing orange confetti. Protesters interrupted a live recording of the Channel 4 programme The Last Leg on Friday.

Their controversial methods have long divided opinion as their protests cause major disruptions to the public by gluing themselves down to roads and airport runways.

One motorist chased a protester down Marylebone Road this morning before he started to shove those holding up traffic.

Nearly 200 protesters have poured on to the streets of London this morning as Just Stop Oil vows an 'escalation of resistance'. Demonstrators are pictured in the Strand

He then visibly became more agitated and started to grab one demonstrator by their orange hi-vis jacket and dragged them to the side of the road.

After briefly returning to the passenger seat of a white Range Rover, the man suddenly left his car again and shouted: 'Are you trying to wind me up?'

Marching towards the eco-zealots he then waved his finger at one of them, shouting: 'I'm going to tell you one last time.'

The seething motorist then became more aggressive, grabbing onto a protester's arm before swinging them to the side of the road, losing a shoe in the process.

He eventually returned to the vehicle after two minutes of remonstrating and the car was allowed to pass.

JSO, in what it describes as an 'escalation of resistance from previous weeks', descended on the capital at around 8am today in 15 groups.

On Marylebone Road, a furious motorist chased the eco-mob down the street and demanded they move

After getting more and more impatient with the group's antics, he then started to swing them onto the side of the road

Londoners are facing the biggest ever Just Stop Oil protest this morning as eco-zealots descend on the capital

The Met Police said it had arrested 21 protesters but JSO hit back and said 'we will not stand by'

Protesters, in groups as small as five and large as 25, marched along key roads in central London as they carried placards reading 'new oil = murder', 'hottest June ever' and 'can't eat oil'.

JSO allege they were followed by police 'before marches began' and that officers began issuing Public Order Act (Section 12) notices just minutes after the first demonstration set off.

The Met, working with City of London Police, confirmed that it first moved five protesters slow walking in the road at Bishopsgate. Three who failed to move were arrested.

At 8.24am, officers issued 15 protesters Section 12 orders to move off the road on Whitehall. Half an hour later, 25 eco-zealots were removed off Bird Cage Walk in Westminster.

At 9.11am, police swooped in to remove seven on Bayswater Road in central London and later arrested a sole protester in Aldwych.

Some 10 to 15 were ordered off the roads in Lillie Road, Fulham, at 9.40am, while police then responded to 10 more in Jamaica Road, Bermondsey.

At 9.45 am, eight slow marchers were ordered to move off Islington High Street, while at 10.02am, six more were sent packing on Kensington Road by the Royal Albert Hall.

At around 10.17am, seven more were removed from Praed Street, Paddington, while nine more were ordered to vacate Holloway Road at 10.52am.

Police then attended 25 protesters at Cromwell Road, 20 off Commercial Road and 13 off Wandsworth Bridge - all just after 11am.

Officers attended to 12 protesters in Bridge Street at 11.35am and six more on Cromwell Road at 11.37am.

Ben, 36, was among those arrested this morning. He said: 'I am being arrested unlawfully for marching in the road to highlight the impact of the climate change crisis and how this government is refusing to take relevant action to protect its citizens'

Just Stop Oil says that 15 demonstrators have already been arrested this morning. A senior officer is seen taking a protester into custody today

The eco-zealots have pledged to 'paralyse London' over the coming weeks with slow-marching columns ten times bigger than any previous marches. Demonstrators are pictured in Bishopsgate, City of London this morning

The protesters want to force the Government to scrap new domestic oil and gas licences. Demonstrators are seen marching in Bishopsgate, City of London this morning

JSO claims that officers were following demonstrators on the tube this morning. MailOnline has approached Met Police and the City of London Police for comment.

Ben, 36, was among the Just Stop Oil demonstrators arrested this morning.

In a video shared online, the activist said: 'I am being arrested unlawfully for marching in the road to highlight the impact of the climate change crisis and how this government is refusing to take relevant action to protect its citizens.'

He said the Government issuing new oil and gas licences has a 'major impact' on citizens and is 'genocidal'.

'The Government is leading to the destruction of habitats, of homes and millions of people's lives,' he added, before encouraging others to join the organisation's protests.

Frances Davis, 20, from Norwich, was also taken into custody this morning. She claims her arrest came less than 15 minutes after she started marching.

'I'm under arrest for demanding the same thing as the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the United Nations and the government's own scientific advisers have been demanding - and we've just been ignored,' she said.

'We've tried everything else and now I'm in handcuffs, just for going on a march.'

An activist is taken into custody in Bishopsgate after being issued a Public Order Act (Section 12) notice just minutes after the JSO demonstration set off

Activists from Just Stop Oil block traffic in Whitehall this morning

A protester is arrested in Bishopsgate this morning after a JSO oil demonstration was swiftly removed by City of London Police

A motorcyclist makes his way through JSO activists trying to block traffic in Whitehall in central London this morning

JSO, in what it describes as an 'escalation of resistance from previous weeks', descended on the capital around 8am today in 14 groups

Offices stopped and searched dozens of protesters this morning, the group claims. Demonstrators are pictured this morning in Westminster

JSO also claims that officers were following demonstrators on the tube this morning

The group reportedly plans on 'shutting down the capital' during their 'biggest week of action yet'. Demonstrators are pictured during the protests this morning

The group reportedly plans on 'shutting down the capital' during their 'biggest week of action yet'. In their week-long protest, they hope to interrupt traffic with their groups of slow-marchers until Saturday.

Louis Pilfold, 32, said she is marching this morning because 'our children deserve lives as good as ours have been'.

'They have done nothing to deserve the hardship of climate breakdown. It's important that we engage with the reality of our predicament- that continued dumping of carbon into the atmosphere has put us in the midst of a human-made extinction event,' the engineer, from Camden, said.

'Scientists are warning that irreversible tipping points have already been triggered. We have to face up to the fact that the quickly destabilising climate will result in chaos - as we are starting to see.

'We also have to realise our leaders have zero intention of resolving this crisis, due to criminal corruption amongst other factors. Our children need us to move quickly from despair into action, that is why I'm marching and you should be too.'

An officer is seen taking a JSO protester into custody this morning

Protesters, in groups as small as five and large as 25, marched along key roads in central London as they carried placards reading 'hottest June ever' and '0 days since last wildfire'

Just Stop Oil has warned that more action is on the way this summer as they plan to 'paralyze London'

Anne Taylor, 74, a retired teacher from Oxford, added that she was 'terrified' about her four grandchildren's futures.

'I simply have to do whatever I can. Thats why I am marching today with Just Stop Oil. I hate to disrupt other peoples lives. But life simply cannot continue as usual. We are sounding the alarm. This is an emergency. Its happening right now,' she said.

Ms Taylor claimed she would 'rather be working on my allotment or in my garden' but has taken to the streets because 'we are in a climate crisis' which she said the Secretary General of the United Nations describes as out of control.

'I have four grandchildren. I am terrified for their future,' she added.
Suella Braverman is set to warn the threat of Islamist terror continues to be the 'most severe' in the UK with Islamic State and al-Qaeda both still seeking to plan attacks on British soil.

The Home Secretary is due to unveil an update to CONTEST, the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, tomorrow.

According to The Times, Ms Braverman will outline how Islamist terrorism still represents three-quarters of MI5's workload.

She is also expected to warn that terrorism is 'becoming increasingly unpredictable, making cases harder to detect and investigate'.

CONTEST was last updated in 2018, when Theresa May was prime minister, in the wake of the major terror attacks in London and Manchester.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is due to unveil an update to CONTEST, the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, tomorrow

CONTEST was last updated in 2018, when Theresa May was prime minister, in the wake of the London Bridge attack (pictured)

Last year, counter-terror police foiled eight 'late-stage' terror plots with a number of them described by Scotland Yard as 'close calls' and 'goal line saves'.

The Metropolitan Police revealed earlier this year they are handling 800 live terrorism-plot investigations.

Ms Braverman is also expected to use the CONTEST update to warn about the threat of hostile countries, including Russia, using terrorism to sow division in the UK.

She will say that 'terrorist narratives are also exploited by hostile actors such as Russia, which is seeking to promote divisive and polarising narratives in the West', and warn that 'this is likely to increase in the future', The Times reported.

A Whitehall source told the newspaper: 'This is the first [report] of its kind for five years and is a comprehensive update for the UK's response to terrorism.

'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.'
Theresa May is again set to lead a Tory rebellion against the Illegal Migration Bill as Rishi Sunak rushes to get new asylum laws passed before Parliament's summer break.

The House of Commons will this afternoon consider a fresh raft of changes to the Bill, which aims to end the Channel migrant crisis, as made by the House of Lords.

It will be the latest round of so-called 'ping pong' between MPs and peers over the legislation.

The Commons last week overturned a series of Lords' revisions to the Bill, but the Government then suffered nine fresh defeats in the upper chamber as peers demanded further changes.

These included limits to the detention of children, modern slavery protections and the provision of safe and legal routes for refugees to the UK.

Mrs May last week voted against the Government over modern slavery provisions and the ex-prime minister is expected to rebel on the issue again, now that the Bill has returned to the Commons once more.

But any Tory revolt is unlikely to be big enough to defeat the Government, with Mr Sunak hopeful he can get the Bill through both Houses before MPs go on their six-week summer recess on Thursday.

Theresa May is again set to lead a Tory rebellion against the Illegal Migration Bill as Rishi Sunak rushes to get new asylum laws passed before Parliament's summer break

The Prime Minister, pictured on a visit to a school in east London today, has argued the Bill is vital to his plans to tackle the Channel migrant crisis

Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, has insisted the Government is not planning any further compromises over its plan to tackle small boat crossings

Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, has insisted the Government is not planning any further compromises over its plan to tackle small boat crossings as it seeks to pass the legislation.

'It's incumbent on those who choose to criticise our approach to provide an alternative,' he said last week.

'It's not a serious or grown-up way to conduct a debate to say, 'well we have concerns about Rwanda', 'we don't like the compliant environment'  'We don't want this, we don't want to', but not to come up with an alternative.'

The Archbishop of Canterbury has led opposition to the Illegal Migration Bill in the House of Lords.

He last week urged the Government to back all the latest amendments made by peers.

'The issue of immigration and asylum is an extraordinarily divisive one,' Mr Welby said.

'This is a massive international issue on a generational basis and it needs profound thinking on a long-term basis in order to tackle it.

'Legislation and strategy must be fitted to the problem, not the problem to the legislation. It's not how it works.

'It is essential that the solutions we go forward to are those which bring together the whole of politics on all sides of both Houses and the unity of our country instead of using this as a wedge issue to divide things.

'So this is a moment of reconciliation and opportunity for deep and profound long-term thought, as happens for instance with climate change.

'This is not a party political issue, it is one in which we must work together, for if we work separately we will fall separately.'

Last week, the biggest Conservative revolt over the Bill saw 16 Tory MPs vote against the Government amid concerns about the impact of the legislation on modern slavery provisions.

Before leading a rebellion on the issue, Mrs May told the Commons: 'I know that ministers have said this Bill will enable more perpetrators to be stopped, but on modern slavery I genuinely believe it will do the opposite.

'It will enable more slave drivers to operate and make money out of human misery. It will consign more people to slavery.

'No doubt about it, I think if Lords amendment 56 is overthrown that will be the impact.'
Justice chiefs are clamping down on the number of transgender criminals caged in women's jails amid fresh concerns over prisoner safety.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has tightened up its rules on transgender inmates in England and Wales in the wake of the Isla Bryson scandal, with at least two trans prisoners having now been moved to men's jails or special trans wings.

It comes after sexual predator Bryson was sent to an all-female prison when she was convicted of raping two women while still a man.

A Government review has now said transgender women convicted of sex offences or jailed for murder and other violent crimes like kidnapping or attempted murder, pose a safety risk to other female inmates.

'We've changed the rules so transgender women who've been convicted of sexual or violent offences  or who retain male genitalia  cannot be held in a women's prison unless in truly exceptional circumstances,' a Government spokesman told the Telegraph.

Isla Bryson, 31, was convicted in January 2023 of raping two women - pictured outside court for a previous hearing

The court heard double rapist Bryson was seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment

'This Government is clear that biological sex matters and our common sense approach means well over 90 per cent of transgender women in custody are held in men's prisons,' the official added.

Bryson was convicted in January of raping two women: one in Clydebank in 2016; and one in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019; committing the offences while still a man known as Adam Graham.

The double rapist met both the victims online, with prosecutors saying the 31-year-old pervert 'preyed' on vulnerable women.

But the case sparked an uproar after Bryson was initially locked away in an all-female prison, HMP Corton Vale, before being moved to a male facility following the outcry.

Dominic Raab, the former justice secretary, tightened the rules in England and Wales in the wake of the controversy.

The MoJ declined to say how many transgender inmates had been transferred out of all-female jails, but the Telegraph reported the number could be as many as six.

Figures previously revealed there were 168 legally male trans women in prisons across England and Wales last year.

A further 11 had legally switched genders by obtaining gender recognition certificates.

Bryson, formerly known as Andrew Graham, was convicted at Glasgow High Court in January of raping two women (pictured outside court)

Bryson was moved to HMP Corton Vale, an all women's prison before then being removed from the jail following an outcry

However, figures from a damning study by the MoJ show men jailed for sexual offences are twice as likely to identify as trans women than men jailed for other types of offences.

The shocking report, revealed by prison magazine Inside Time, followed a series of interviews with prisoners who had already transitioned and feared the 'fakers' were a threat to their reputation.

Sarah Firth, a forensic psychologist with the prison service who carried out the study, said: 'There was a theme in the findings related to participants having to prove their authenticity to others, but also questioning how genuine or fake other transgender prisoners were.

'Participants described how the fakers were a threat both to the reputation of prisoners who were transitioning gender, but also a threat to the limited resources that were available to them in custody.'

It comes after trans women inmates have spoken out recently over 'imposters' who they say are claiming to be trans to have more lenient treatment behind bars.

Of those interviewed for the latest study by the MoJ, most denied that being transgender increased their risk of committing sexual offences.

One participant reportedly said that jealousy of a female partner's femininity was a factor in motivating their sexual offence.

Others told researchers that suppressing their true gender identity had led them to encounter a range of problems, including substance abuse, relationship difficulties and hypermasculinity.

It comes after trans women inmates have spoken out in recent months over imposters who they say are claiming to be trans to have more lenient treatment behind bars

READ MORE: Jailed trans double rapist Isla Bryson is served divorce papers by estranged wife after sex attacker sparked row over SNP gender laws Advertisement

Frith told an academic conference earlier this month: 'It's not the gender dysphoria in itself that has direct links with offending, but the climate created as a result of living with gender dysphoria.'

Her study was commissioned by the HMPPS Transgender Advisory Board, a group which was set up by the MoJ to advise on the safety and wellbeing of transgender people in custody serving a sentence in the community.

A MoJ spokesperson said: 'Well over 90 per cent of transgender women in custody are held in men's prisons and they receive the same treatment as male prisoners.

'Transgender women who've been convicted of sexual or violent offences  or who retain male genitalia  cannot be held in a women's prison unless in truly exceptional circumstances.

The approach by the MoJ in England and Wales differs from Scotland's. In Scotland there is a presumption transgender women will be held according to a self-declared identity - unless there are concerns about risk.

Whereas in England and Wales, transgender women can only be held in a female jail if a risk assessment by the Complex Case Board deems is safe to do so.
This is the moment a sea lion which had clambered onto the side of its enclosure fell several feet, slamming its keeper to the floor as she tried to push the 330lb animal back in.

As the sea lion, called Triton, teetered on the edge of his glass tank, keeper Sonia could be seen rushing over to stop him from falling.

But the friendly beast then came crashing down on top of her, with his weight knocking Sonia to the floor instantly and leaving spectators at Mallorca's Marineland worried she had 'broken something'.

British, German and American tourists watched on in horror as the incident unfolded, with several seen jumping out of their seats.

But thankfully, shortly after the aquatic mammal and its keeper hit the floor, they appeared to recover quickly, with Triton seen waddling after Sonia as the pair hurried off to get him checked by medics.

This is the moment Triton was seen teetering on the edge of his glass tank at Marineland, Mallorca

The sea lion's full weight was shouldered by the female keeper, who was unable to bear the 330-pound beast

Among those in the audience was influencer Micah Diaz, 20, who is from Clearwater, Florida, USA and was visiting Marineland with his family.

He witnessed the shocking moment Triton managed to escape the tank, which is surrounded by hundreds of seats for paying spectators.

'I was on a family vacation to Marineland in Mallorca,' he said.

'I am a surfer and very comfortable around marine animals and have been to many aquariums.

'I have never seen an accident like this.

'I immediately was in shock and thought the woman broke something.'

After Sonia managed to wriggle out from under Triton, the pair quickly jumped back up and he was whisked away to be checked over.

'The sea lion was then taken away,' he said.

'I'm assuming to be checked out for injuries or put back in the tank.

'This does not happen often.

'It seemed as if the sea lion got a little excited.

'But thankfully both were ok.'

At the end of the ordeal, Sonia had gotten up and pet the sea lion as a gesture that both were unharmed and still friends.

Triton's weight knocked Sonia to the floor instantly and left spectators worried she had 'broken something'

Sonia managed to wriggle out from under Triton and the pair quickly jumped back up before he was whisked away to be checked over

Triton, who performs every day for visitors to the park, has been described by his keepers as '150 kilos of love and kindness'.

Marineland shared a video after the incident of the seal and Sonia together to show that both are doing well and thank the public for their concern.

The park is a popular marine amusement park that also holds dolphin and sea lion shows.

The attraction is not everyone's cup of tea, and the practice of keeping wild animals in captivity and training them for performances has been criticised by campaigners in Europe and the US in recent years.
Others scrambled to a platform in the sea before being rescued by kayakers

Sun seekers shrieked in horror after unknowingly swimming just feet away from two sharks in just the latest sighting of the creatures off the coast of Spain's beaches.

Footage showed two blue sharks moving through shallow waters near a beach in Portbou, Catalonia, at around noon on July 16, according to local media.

Swimmers scrambled to flee from the water after spotting the predators circling.

While some beach-goers made it to shore, others took refuge on a platform in the sea and had to be taken back to dry land by heroic kayakers.

It comes after a steep increase in sharks spotted off the coast of Spain's beaches that has terrified tourists and locals alike.

While some beach-goers made it to shore, others took refuge on a platform in the sea and had to be taken back to dry land by heroic kayakers

Footage showed two blue sharks moving through shallow waters near a beach in Portbou, Catalonia, at around noon on July 16, according to local media

Despite the panic of the latest sighting's, no one was reported injured.

After footage of the incident was shared on social media, Portbou mayor Gael Rodrigues stated: 'Portbou beach is completely safe.'

READ MORE: Moment enraged dolphin rams swimmer and pushes another under the surface in front of screaming tourists at Japanese beach Advertisement

He added that blue sharks are often spotted off beaches in the municipality because they are native to the area.

The incident is not the first shark sighting off the Catalan coast this year. On June 23, bathing was prohibited off three beaches in Alcanar due to the presence of two blue sharks.

The blue shark can grow up to 13 feet long and can weigh up to 450 lb. The species is listed as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

One social media user commented on the footage: 'We shouldn't fear these creatures. And they often have more fear of us than we have of them! We are in their home.'

It comes after British holiday-makers were enjoying a relaxing day on a Malaga beach, soaking up the sun, when a shark was spotted through the waves.

The shark's presence, just off the coast of resort town Torremolinos, caused the British holiday-goers to flee out of the water and back to safety on the shore.

Dozens lined the beaches, peering out over the water to spot the shark's dorsal fin protruding from the waves.

Footage appears to show two people (left) in the water as they try and swim away from the circling sharks

Swimmers scrambled to flee from the water after spotting the two sharks circling

British holiday-makers were enjoying a relaxing day on a Malaga beach, soaking up the sun, when the creature was spotted through the waves

The shark stuck around off the beach's coast for about half an hour before a lifeguard encouraged it to swim back out to sea

Dozens lined the beaches, peering out over the water to spot the shark's dorsal fin protruding from the waves

The sharks presence, just off the coast of Torremolinos, caused the British holiday-goers to flee out of the water and back to safety on the shore

Emily McEwan, took to social media after her holiday was interrupted by the panic over the shark.

She told The Sun: 'It was a little bit of a surprise because we've all seen films like Jaws but you never really expect yourself to be in the sea when you see that fin.'

She said the sighting happened on the morning of June 27. She had been on a family holiday after just giving birth to a baby boy.

The shark was seen off the beach's coast for about half an hour before a lifeguard encouraged it to swim back out to sea.

The new mother said she tried to find out which species it was, but was still non-the-wiser.

She posted the video of the sighting on social media, captioning the clip: 'Off to the beach for what was meant to be a nice relaxing day.'

A previous sighting was seen off a dock on the island of Arousa in the Galician province of Pontevedra, home to spectacular white sandy beaches and small coves which are popular with tourists and locals.

This was also a blue shark seen in this sighting, which rarely bite humans but have been implicated in fatal attacks in the past.

Footage showed the shark's tell-tale fin appearing above the water line as it approached a fisherman's boat. The clear, shallow water made it very easy to see.

A blue shark was spotted off a dock on the island of Arousa in the Galician province of Pontevedra

It comes just days after a shark neared the shoreline off a Costa Blanca beach

Local fisherman Rogelio Santos Queiruga insisted the tintorera, which appeared to be injured from a harpoon, faced greater danger than humans.

He admitted: 'If we try to touch it, it can hurt us with its teeth or rough skin.'

But he added, insisting these types of sharks are not great white sharks or tiger sharks which can be very aggressive: 'The fact they are seen close to the coast is good news.

'It is a sign that on the high seas, where they usually live, they may be recovering following decades of overfishing.'

The shark seen in the province of Pontevedra has been described as measuring around five feet and was thought to be not yet fully-grown.

Fishermen filmed it swimming in the shallow water because its presence so close to the shoreline is rare.

The water temperature in the area was around 20 degrees Celsius, which is higher than normal.

The shark seen in the province of Pontevedra has been described as measuring around five feet and was thought to be young and not yet fully-grown

This time the type of species seen was a blue shark, which rarely bite humans but have been implicated in fatal attacks in the past

Footage showed the shark's tell-tale fin appearing above the water line as it approached a fisherman's boat

Earlier in June, a fully grown blue shark measuring some seven feet caused panic off the Costa Blanca beach of Aguamarina in Orihuela Costa, south of Alicante.

Bathers were filmed trying to run to safety through waist-high water as it neared the shoreline.

Lifeguards blew on their whistles to warn locals and holidaymakers and urge them to get out of the sea as quickly as possible.

One woman, thought to have been an elderly person seen being helped out of the water by Good Samaritans, is said to have suffered a panic attack after realising the shark was beside her.

It washed up dead the following day by rocks at La Caleta Beach in Cabo Roig a couple of miles away.

The same day it emerged that species of shark had been spotted inside Ciutadella Port in Menorca.

Fishermen filmed it swimming in the shallow water because its presence so close to the shoreline is rare

A cow shark also approached a boat belonging to a group of fishermen in early July, off Cap de Formentor near Puerto Pollensa in Majorca.

The men turned the boat engine off to avoid hurting it.

Blue sharks rarely bite humans but have been implicated in several biting incidents, four of which are said to have ended fatally.

A blue shark was blamed for an attack on a holidaymaker in Elche near Alicante in July 2016.

The 40-year-old victim was rushed to hospital and given stitches to a wound in his hand.

First aiders described the bite as 'large' and said he had come out of the sea with blood streaming from the injury.

In August 2018 tourists fled the sea in panic after a blue shark, among the most common in Spain, appeared off the packed Majorcan beach of Calas de Majorca on the island's east coast.

In April a near seven-foot shark also believed to be a tintorera was filmed in the surf on the south-east coast of Majorca at a nearby beach called Cala Llombards.

Initial reports pointed to a tintorera or blue shark which was about seven-foot long

The footage showed it was obviously disorientated.

A Spanish woman watched it as its fin appeared above the water's surface and it headed towards the shoreline in the clear water before nearly beaching on the sand.

She could be overheard saying as it was knocked on its side in the swallow water and thrashed its tail around in a bid to get back out to sea: 'This one is going to end up getting stuck here.

'We have to get it out of the water, it's going to stay where it is.'

Its efforts eventually paid off and it was filmed swimming back out to deeper water before disappearing.

Last month, Russian tourist Vladimir Popov, 23, was filmed being attacked by a tiger shark and dragged underwater off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

His body parts were later recovered from inside the predator's belly after it was clubbed to death by beachgoers.

Biologist Juan Antonio Pujol told a Spanish paper after it emerged the blue shark seen off Aguamarina beach last Thursday had been found dead at a nearby beach: 'Coming across something like this when you're swimming in the water makes an impression but you should stay calm because they're not aggressive.'
Millions of military emails have been accidentally directed to Mali due to a 'typo', exposing highly sensitive information - despite repeated warnings for the last decade.

Instead of typing .MIL, the suffix to all US military email addresses, people typed in .ML, which is the country identifier for Mali. This resulted in a steady flow of sensitive email traffic being sent to Mali, the Financial Times reports.

One misdirected email included travel plans for General James McConville, the chief of staff of the army.

It included a full list of room numbers for him and 20 others, the General's itinerary as well as details how to collect his key at the Grand Hyatt in Jakarta for a then-upcoming trip to Indonesia in May.

About ten years ago, a Dutch internet entrepreneur called Johannes Zuurbier first identified this problem.

One misdirected email included travel plans for General James McConville (pictured), the chief of staff of the army

Zuurbier, who has a contract to manage Mali's country domain, has reportedly also been collecting misdirected emails - nearly 117,00 of them - since January in order to show the government the seriousness of the issue.

He sent a letter to the government earlier this month, saying: 'This risk is real and could be exploited by adversaries of the US.'

Mali's government - which has close ties to Russia - gains control of the .ML domain and therefore the misdirected emails today after Zuurbier's ten-year management contract ran out.

Zuurbier said he approached several government officials like a defence attache in Mali, a senior adviser to the US national cyber security service as well as some White House officials.

He took over control of the Mali domain in 2013 and quickly noticed many requests for domains like army.ml and navy.ml coming in, which he suspected were for emails.

The system he set up to catch any correspondence like that was soon overwhelmed and stopped collecting messages.

Zuurbier said he got legal advice and repeatedly tried to alert the government - to no avail.

Of the nearly 120,000 emails Zuurbier has collected just in the last few months, none are marked as classified and much of them are just spam mail.

However, some of the misdirected emails contain highly sensitive data on military personnel like General McConville.

The sensitive information shared in these emails include X-rays and other medical data, information from identity documents, crew lists for military vessels as well as staff lists for military bases, tax and financial records, photos of bases, inspection reports, maps of installations, criminal complaints against personnel as well as internal investigations into bullying.

The misdirected email for General McConville included a full list of room numbers for him and 20 others, the General's itinerary as well as details how to collect his key at the Grand Hyatt in Jakarta for a then-upcoming trip to Indonesia in May (this is a mockup of what it could have looked like)

Crucially, they also included official travel itineraries and bookings, potentially putting officials travelling abroad at risk if the information lands in the wrong hands.

Mike Rogers, a retired American admiral who used to run the National Security Agency and the US Army's Cyber Command, told the Financial Times: 'If you have this kind of sustained access, you can generate intelligence even just from unclassified information.'

While he added that it was not uncommon for people to send an email to the wrong address by mistake, the question was 'the scale, the duration and the sensitivity of the information'.

He warned that the imminent transfer of control over the domain to Mali was posing a significant problem, because it is a foreign government that 'sees it as an advantage that they can use'.

Lieutenant Commander Tim Gorman, who is a spokesman for the Pentagon, told the Financial Times that the Department of Defense was aware of the issue and was taking it seriously.

He added that emails from those with a .MIL domain sending an email to someone with a .ML suffix would be 'blocked before they leave the .mil domain', after which the sender would be notified they would have to validate the email address of the internal recipient.

Common nominators in the emails include travel agents working for the military misspelling email addresses and staff members sending emails between their own accounts.

Another high-profile leak included correspondence of an FBI agent with a naval role, who tried to forward six messages to their military email but sent them to Mali instead.

These included an urgent diplomatic letter from the Turkish embassy to the state department about possible operations by the militant Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) against Turkish interests in the US as well as a briefing on domestic terrorism and a global counter-terrorism assessment.

Another dozen people requested recovery passwords for an intelligence community system to be sent to a .ML address rather than their military address with .MIL, while others sent passwords for the Department of Defense's secure access file exchange.

The US military isn't the only one affected by the mistakenly sent emails, as Dutch army personnel - who have the domain .NL - sent emails to .ML instead.

Emails sent by the Australian Department of Defence also went astray when they were sent to the .ML domain rather than the US military .MIL domain.
Britons' holiday plans face chaos after train drivers announced a fresh overtime ban today, threatening disruption to services at the height of the summer break.

Members of Aslef at 15 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime from Monday, July 31 until Saturday, August 5 in the long-running dispute over pay.

The announcement comes after Aslef launched a week-long overtime ban from today until Friday which the union warned will 'seriously' affect services. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will also strike on July 20, 22 and 29.

There is also expected to be severe disruption on the London Underground between July 23 and 29 due to action by both Aslef and the RMT.

Aslef claimed today that train companies do not employ enough drivers, which is why they are dependent on rest day working, which the union said was voluntary.

Among the services affected by the upcoming action by Aslef will be those on Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Great Northern and Island Line.

Barriers closing off part of London Waterloo railway station during a previous strike on June 2

Also expected to hit will be LNER, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway, Thameslink, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

When are rail strikes planned - and which lines will be hit by the new Aslef strike action? Members of Aslef will refuse to work overtime from Monday, July 31 to Saturday, August 5, on these lines: Avanti West Coast

Chiltern Railways

Cross Country

East Midlands Railway

Gatwick Express

Greater Anglia

Great Western Railway

Great Northern

Island Line

London North Eastern Railway

Northern Trains

Southeastern

Southern

South Western Railway

Thameslink

TransPennine Express

West Midlands Trains There is also a week-long overtime ban from Aslef from today until Friday. Separately, there will also be a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on July 20, 22 and 29. And there will be severe disruption across the London Underground network between July 23 and 29 due to strike action by Aslef and the RMT. TfL has said there will be 'little or no Tube service' between July 25 and 28. The RMT Tube strike will be on July 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28. And the Aslef Tube strike will be on July 26 and 28. There are only two days over the next three weeks until August 5 on which there are no strikes - June 24 and 30. Advertisement

The action will be the fourth week-long ban on overtime since May by Aslef, which claims to have the membership of 96 per cent of the train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said today: 'We don't want to take this action.

'We don't want people to be inconvenienced, but the blame lies with the train companies, and the Government which stands behind them, which refuse to sit down and talk to us, and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer to train drivers who have not had one for four years - since 2019 - while prices have soared in that time by more than 12 per cent.

'The proposal they made on April 26 of 4 per cent with a further rise dependent, in a naked land grab, on drivers giving up terms and conditions for which we have fought, and negotiated, for years was not designed to be accepted.

'We have not heard a word from the employers since then - not a meeting, not a phone call, not a text message, nor an email - for the last 12 weeks, and we haven't sat down with the Government since January 6.

'That shows how little the companies and the Government care about passengers and staff. They appear content to let this drift on and on.

'In contrast, we want a fair resolution. That's why we are taking this action, to try to bring things to a head.

'Then I can concentrate on my day job working with others in the industry to rebuild Britain's railways for passengers, for business, and for this country.'

Aslef's withdrawal of non-contractual overtime will start at 0.01am on July 31 and end at 11.59pm on August 5.

It follows two other week-long bans on working overtime - from May 15 to 20, and July 3 to 8  in addition to this week's action.

Aslef - which stands for the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - has also called 11 one-day strikes during the dispute.

Five of these took place last year on July 30, August 13, October 1, October 5 and November 26.

The other six were this year on January 5, February 1, February 3, May 12, May 31 and June 3.

Empty platforms at London Paddington train station on June 2 during last month's RMT strike

Separately, members of the RMT will strike on July 20, 22 and 29.

RMT members including station staff, train managers and catering staff will be involved in that action.

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: 'Aslef's leadership continues to disrupt customers' travel plans. They rejected a fair and affordable offer, without putting it to their members, which would take average driver base salaries for a four-day week without overtime from 60,000 to nearly 65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards.

'Train companies will work hard to minimise the impact of the overtime ban at 13 train operating companies between July 31 and August 5 that will affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services. Customers are advised to plan their journey in advance and check before they travel.

'We ask Aslef to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a better, more reliable railway with a strong long-term future.'

Passengers have been advised to check their travel arrangements in advance over the coming weeks because the level of service will vary across the country.

The RDG also confirmed passengers with Advance tickets can be 'refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled'.

Yesterday, RMT chief Mick Lynch said he had not met a Government minister since January despite strike action continuing.

Amid talks between ministers and other unions, Mr Lynch told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: 'No contact. They seem to pick out the RMT as a special category where they can't negotiate on a reasonable basis.

Aslef's general secretary Mick Whelan (centre, with members on a picket line outside Newcastle station on May 31) said the 'blame lies with the train companies'

'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.

'So I don't know whether they're waiting for all this other stuff to be cleared out the way. We don't know if there's going to be settlements yet - they're out for referendum and consultation with their members, we'll see.

'They've certainly offered the others more than we've been offered. There's no strings attached to those deals; we've got to accept a whole host of change and dilution to those terms and conditions, and job losses.'

Mr Lynch said strikes will continue until an agreement is reached.

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'I think the Government's got to recognise - I think it has recognised - its early approach was completely wrong.

'And actually the lack of respect they've shown for a lot of the public sector, I think, has been one of the aggravating factors in the industrial action we've seen.'

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'This Government has played its part by facilitating fair and reasonable pay offers that would see generous increases for rail workers.

'Union leaders should stop blocking their members from having a vote on these offers and give them the chance to help resolve this dispute.'
Couple stepped in to help owner free 38ft vessel from jagged rocks in Menorca

This is the dramatic moment a British couple came to the rescue of sailboat passengers moments before their vessel was about to be crushed against rocks in Menorca.

After a Spanish rescue crew gave up on the hapless victims, Felicity Hanson and husband Joe saved the day by helping to free the 38ft sailboat that had become jammed on jagged rocks.

The two had woken up aboard their 40ft Gibsea 402 sailboat in the sleepy fishing village of Es Grau to find the boat behind them had been dragged over the rocks overnight.

An easterly swell in the Mahon Marina had pummeled against all the vessels and their anchorages, but the boat behind them had been knocked so far that it was being pushed back onto land.

Felicity, 30, a digital marketing consultant, and Joe, 32, an accountant - both from Manchester but now living aboard their boat full-time - watched as a Spanish rescue rigid inflatable boat tried but failed to free the yacht.

The two woke up in the sleepy fishing village of Es Grau to find the boat behind them had been dragged over the rocks overnight (pictured)

There were around six guests on board the boat which was being knocked into land and against the jagged rocks

Felicity and Joe came to the rescue of a Spanish sailboat crew moments before their vessel was about to be crushed against rocks

'We woke up in the morning and spotted it looking like it was right against the rocks,' Felicity said.

'We watched for a minute or two as lots of ribs buzzed around it, then saw the big rescue coming in. The rescue boat tried for maybe 30 minutes and then gave up.'

The rescue team had tried to tug the boat off the rocks with an inch-thick tow line pulling full-throttle. But after no success, and only causing further damage to the boat, the Manchester couple stepped in.

Joe had already gone over to offer some advice, offering the use of their halyard - a rope used for raising or lowering the sail - to be used to pull the sailboat from the rocks. However, this had been turned down by one of the Spanish rescuers.

By this time, the owner of the boat had returned to the vessel, having chartered the boat to paying guests who were currently aboard.

They began helping the owner by grabbing the main halyard, pulling the boat sideways, while the owner pulled backwards with his rope while a nearby catamaran owner helped by holding the line.

'We started by grabbing the main halyard and pulling the boat sideways with our boat, then the owner pulled backwards with another boat.

'The strength needed to pull the boat sideways was more than our little six-HP (horsepower) could do. A nearby catamaran came to help with their ten-HP dinghy, they held the line, and Joe towed them too so we had 16-HP of force which still wasn't enough.'

Once they had formed a plan, it took just a minute for the boat to be freed from the rocks.

Joe and Felicity, originally from Manchester, enjoying a drink on their boat which they live on full-time

Felicity and Joe sail full-time, working remotely as a digital marketing consultant and an accountant, respectively

There was severe damage caused to under the boat following the clash with the rocks

The hull of the boat was scraped and battered at it was knocked against the jagged rocks

The boat had drifted over to the rocks overnight following an eastern swell that dragged its anchor

The Manchester couple filmed the scene and uploaded it to their Instagram account @at-the-hansons where it has gained over 380,000 views.

The owner said if Felicity and Joe hadn't helped free the boat in time, it would have likely been crushed against the rocks where it would have been continually battered causing it to dismantle. He said anyone aboard the boat could have been injured too.

The environmental impact could have also been disastrous with oil and diesel potentially being spilled into the ocean.

Felicity and Joe later learned that the charter guests hadn't followed the directions from the owner by not putting enough chain out into the ocean, which meant the anchor didn't hold. This caused the boat to be dragged over to the rocks where they remained stuck until morning.

'The boat was stuck on some rocks in Es Grau, there was an easterly swell coming through throwing all the boats around a little and a northerly breeze,' she said.

'However, from our understanding since, the charter guests hadn't put enough chain out and the anchor didn't hold even though the wind wasn't too strong.

'So they dragged and the swell dumped them on top of a big rock and against the cliff.

Felicity added: 'The boat was miraculously water tight, but that doesn't mean they were unharmed as the rudder had been slammed on the rocks so much that they totally lost their steering, they had some hull damage on the bow and the pea bracket that holds their prop shaft and prop in position was also very damaged.

'They are now in a boatyard being fixed up.'

Joe is pictured with the couple's dog on the boat, which they live on full-time

Felicity and Joe celebrating sailing 1,000-nautical miles

The front of Joe and Felicity's boat is pictured in in the sleepy fishing village of Es Grau in Menorca

Joe, Felicity and their dog. The couple came to the rescue of a sailboat that was being crushed against rocks

Felicity on her bodyboard. After a Spanish recue crew gave up on the hapless victims, Felicity Hanson and husband Joe saved the day as they helped free the 38-foot sailboat

The couple woke up on their sailboat in the sleepy fishing village of Es Grau to find the boat behind them had been dragged over the rocks overnight

The rescue team caused more damage than necessary, claimed Felicity and Joe, who said they were pulling with force to try and free the boat instead of thinking how it would affect the physical boat.

'The professionals were more of a hindrance than a help,' she said.

'I know it's not their job to rescue boats, they save lives as the priority, but we think they did more damage by trying to help this boat.

'They pulled the boat with a huge tow line, probably an inch thick or more, and full throttle tugged it sternwards to try and get it off the rock.

'That actually didn't budge the boat but did snap the towline, which takes tremendous force.

'The rescue boat tried pulling from the stern with a tow line in reverse which didn't work, then they turned their boat around and tried pulling in forwards (more power) which also didn't work.'

As part of the boating community, Felicity and Joe knew how devastating it would be for the owner if his boat was completely ruined either by leaving the boat to be crushed against the rocks, or by breaking it apart by ruthless professionals.

'It was great to have been able to help the owner, and we were so pleased that the boat didn't have to become a salvage operation,' she said.

'If we hadn't got it off the rocks the boat would have had to have been slowly dismantled, removing it part by part which is just so sad, and a blot on a beautiful area of coastline.

'They were so grateful for the help and that the boat was able to be rescued, a friend of his reached out over Instagram with updates on how the boat was doing etc and thanked us for filming the process which was really helpful for their insurance too.

'We love the community aspect of it, the professionals couldn't help but we as a cruising community knew how devastating that would be for the owner and wanted to do everything that we could to help them.'
A rock festival hosted by a Euromillions jackpot winner at his 6.5 million mansion has been called off after neighbours raised concerns the event would bring 'noise and chaos' to the area.

The Cambridge Rock Festival, which attracts around 2,000 revellers, had been due to take place in the 90-acre grounds of Adrian Bayford's Horseheath Lodge estate, which he bought after winning 148 million on the lottery in 2012.

The event has been held across various locations in Cambridgeshire since 2004, with Bayford, 52, hosting it at his estate in the village Linton in 2017 and 2018.

The four-day festival, which has hosted an array of major performers, including Thunder, Uriah Heep and Hazel O'Connor, was scheduled to to run from 3-6 August .

Fans have, however, been left disappointed after festival organisers were forced to call the festival off due to Cambridge City Council's refusal to grant it a licence.

Adrian Bayford (right) who won 148 million jackpot on the EuroMillions with his wife Gillian (left) had planned to host Cambridge Rock Festival on the 90-acre grounds of his Horseheath Lodge estate

The former postman (pictured) bought his 90-acre Horseheath Lodge estate for 6.5 million after winning 148 million on the lottery

Mr Bayford became one of England's biggest ever Euromillions jackpot winners when he won 148 million with his now ex-wife Gillian, when they were both living in Haverhill, Suffolk.

The former postman later split from his wife just 15 months after winning the multi-million-pound jackpot following nine years of marriage.

A statement on the festival's Facebook site said those who bought tickets would be offered a refund or given the opportunity to keep hold of their tickets for next year's event.

'It is with deepest regret that the Cambridge Rock Festival Committee need to let you know that this year's festival cannot go ahead as planned,' the statement said.

'Although this would have been our 3rd time at Horseheath Lodge, the Licence now required (not the same as previously), has in practice taken the decision out of our control for this year.

'As you can imagine we are devastated to have to break this news to you. However, we would love to invite you in 2024 to our celebration of 20 years since our first festival in 2004! Our provisional dates are 1st - 4th August 2024 TBC, back at Horseheath Lodge.

'If you have paid for tickets there are two options. You can choose to support the festival by keeping hold of them and put them to use next year as they will still be valid, or you can request a refund by emailing crfhelpline@gmail.com.

'Please note you may now purchase tickets for 2024 on our website, but the line-up is yet to be updated for 2024 as we confirm each bands availability from the 2023 line up. Thank you to all involved for their help behind the scenes, and a huge thank you for your support and understanding.'

Earlier this year there were reports that Bayford's neighbours were upset about him hosting the festival again and feared it would bring 'noise and chaos.'

Adrian Bayford and his wife Gillian split up around 15 months after they won the jackpot together in 2012

Adrian Bayford had planned to host Cambridge Rock Festival at his 90-acre Horseheath Lodge estate in Cambridgeshire

The 129 event, which had been set to feature 60 rock bands, would have seen music playing until 11pm each night.

Festival organisers said for the last two events at Bayford's estate they were advised to apply for multiple Temporary Event Notices, which only required a 10 days' notice period.

'There were no noise complaints, no rowdy behaviour or drug issues and no traffic problems. A good number of happy and mature festival goers enjoyed the events across the 2 years (2017, 2018) in a beautiful safe place,' the organisers said.

They said they had 'no reason to believe that this year would be any different' but the current incumbent would not allow them to use the Temporary Event Notices and they needed a Premises Licence instead.

They said a licence hearing would need to take place and as that could have been as late as July 28 - five days before the festival - they had to cancel.

'The local residents understandable representations have resulted in a requirement for a hearing,' they added.

'Their concerns actually stemmed from the assumption that CRF was responsible for the local noise issues. Loud drum and bass dance music originated elsewhere, another much, louder and later running event (with a very different and younger demographic to ours, that had recently taken place in the local area).

'We have three stages in marquees, within around 150 metres of each other, that, in effect prevent us from running too loud in order to limit undesirable 'crosstalk' between the stages.'

They said they are continuing with the licence application and hope to run the event again next year.

They added: 'We will continue with the licence application for approval as this will set us up for the 2024 Festival and beyond. We do not expect it to be rejected.

'We are working, and continue to work, in partnership with the council and local residents to address any concerns. The issues raised will no doubt be dismissed at our hearing but this will sadly be too late for CRF23.

'We are truly devastated that this means we cannot go ahead with the festival after being through so much in the last 12 months.'
It took investigators just six weeks to hone in on the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann thanks to a pizza crust and clues from a burner phone after the new DA set up a secret taskforce.

The breakthrough in the Gilgo Beach investigation came on March 14, 2022, when an investigator linked a Chevrolet Avalanche to Heuermann, 59, a Massapequa Park resident.

His was the kind of pickup witnesses had seen sex worker Amber Lynn Costello in with one of her customers the day before she was killed.

Newly elected Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney formed a taskforce six weeks before the watershed discovery, whose main focus where the the so-called Gilgo 4 - Costello, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Maureen Brainard-Barnes - whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach in December 2010.

Their first taskforce meeting was on February 1, 2022, and Tierney urged to start from scratch and disregard any previous work by other investigators.

The breakthrough in the Gilgo Beach investigation came on March 14, 2022, when an investigator linked a Chevrolet Avalanche to Rex Heuermann, 59, a Massapequa Park resident

He was charged with only three of the four killings - those of Costello, Barthelemy and Waterman. While he is a 'strong' suspect in Brainard-Barnes' killing, her case remains unsolved

Newly elected Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney (pictured) formed a taskforce made of members of the Suffolk Police Department, the New York State Police, the FBI, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and the Suffolk DA's Office six weeks before this watershed discovery

The taskforce included members of the Suffolk Police Department, the New York State Police, the FBI, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and the Suffolk DA's Office

The new taskforce's investigation included tracking burner phones - which are temporary phones with prepaid minutes and which are not associated with a verified identity -, triangulating cell site data, using advanced DNA testing on single strands of hair found on the victims' bodies as well as surveilling Heuermann.

The women, who were all sex workers who were missing clothing and personal possessions, were all contacted by someone using a burner phone before their disappearance.

Back in 2012, the FBI analysed cellphone tower data, comparing where the victims' phones and the burner phone pinged, which helped investigators narrow down Massapequa Park, where they victims were believed to have disappeared from.

Another location they pinged down was midtown Manhattan, from where a call to Barthelemy's sister was made telling her the young woman had been raped before she was killed, court papers have revealed.

Nevertheless, the investigation died down over the years until Tierney took office in January last year, vowing to take a new look at the case.

Investigators focused on the beginning of the case, on September 1, 2010, when Costello received a call from a burner phone by a man seeking sex, who she later invited to her house. There she executed a ruse by taking the money and a man posing as her boyfriend showed up, causing her client to leave.

He contacted her again the next evening, after which Costello left her house without her cellphone and disappeared.

A witness saw a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche parked in Costello's driveway at the time, Tierney said.

After a tedious investigation by the taskforce, they found out that Heuermann was linked to a pickup of that make at the time.

They also linked him to both locations where the burner phone had pinged from.

As a white, married, middle-aged professional man he fit the FBI profile for the suspect as well as a witness description, who said the suspect was 6'4ft, with bulky build and dark hair.

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

A hair was found on Brainard-Barnes and two more hairs each on Waterman and Costello's bodies. In July last year a lab determined that the hairs were female but belonged to neither of the victims.

Bottles retrieved from Heuermann's garbage can on July 21, 2022, showed the female hairs belonged to Heuermann's wife - who was out of state when Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello disappeared, according to court papers.

Around Waterman's remains they also found a male hair.

Investigators picked up Heuermann's DNA from a leftover pizza crust in a box he discarded in a garbage can on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on January 26 while they were collecting surveillance on him, according to court documents.

They connected the male hair found on Waterman's body to Heuermann's DNA.

Court documents also revealed that Heuermann reportedly viewed torture pornography and watched videos of women and girls being raped and murdered.

As police looked for Gilbert in beach community where she was last seen, they encountered the bodies of other women who had been dumped by the Gilgo Beach shore

Long Island architect Rex Heuermann, 59, has been arrested in connection with the Gilgo Beach serial killings in a major police breakthrough

The suspect's house sits directly north of Gilgo Beach across the South Oyster Bay

Long Island serial killer timeline - May, 2010: Police begin search for Shannan Gilbert - December 11, 2010: Body of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, is discovered - December 13, 2010: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27, are all found - December 15, 2010: FBI offers its services in the case - March 2011: police find the skull of a prostitute named Jessica Taylor, 20 - April 2011: Valerie Mack, 24, Jane Doe No. 3 and her toddler are found - December 2011: Gilbert's remains are found - March 14, 2022: Taskforce links Rex Heuermann to the Chevrolet Avalanche seen at Costello's house - July 21, 2022: Female hairs found on victims matched to Heuermann's wife's DNA - January 26, 2023: Hair found near Waterman's body matched to Heuermann's DNA from a discarded pizza crust - July 13, 2023: Heuermann arrested Advertisement

He also searched the internet more than 200 times looking for updates on the Gilgo Beach investigation, with a focus on how the taskforce was looking into cellphones in relation to the case.

Heuermann used a new burner phone before every murder and used fictitious names and emails for his Google searches, where he looked up results for 'pretty girl with bruised face pron', 'nude slave girls' and 'crying teen porn', as court documents have revealed.

Other searches included 'why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the Long Island serial killer' and '8 Terrifying Active Serial Killers [We can't Find]'.

Tierney revealed Heuermann looked up photos of the victims and their families.

The suspect also continued to reach out to sex workers, which caused taskforce members to fear he may be on the look out for another victim.

Tensions ran high in the taskforce due to them having to gather as much evidence as possible as quickly as possible to keep the public safe, Tierney said.

By last Thursday, this balancing act saw authorities move 'in favour of public safety' and arrest Heuermann outside his Manhattan office.

He was charged with only three of the four killings - those of Costello, Barthelemy and Waterman. While he is a 'strong' suspect in Brainard-Barnes' killing, her case remains unsolved.

He is being held without bail and pleaded not guilty to three counts of each of first- and second-degree murder.

There are also six other victims tied to Gilgo Beach who remain open.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison promised at a press conference: 'We not done.'
A Greek priest has been arrested on the island of Rhodes for allegedly tricking a tourist into pulling his trousers down so he could 'anoint' his genitals with holy oil, according to reports.

The Orthodox priest, 49, is accused of insulting the sexual dignity of a 30-year-old Estonian man who was on holiday on the popular tourist island.

The holidaymaker is said to have visited the monastery, on the southern part of the island, the day before with his girlfriend.

He said he bought a cross from the church, but later forgot to take it with him. The priest then texted him to say he had found it, the Dimokratiki newspaper reports.

When the man returned early the next day to retrieve it, the priest is said to have taken him to a small reception room, telling him it was 'in order to give him a special gift'.

Rhodes is a popular destination with British tourists, and is known for its hot weather, beaches and historic capital, Rhodes Town (file image)

The cleric is said to have then asked the man to pull down his trousers and underwear so he could 'anoint' him. It is at this point that he then allegedly massaged the oil on to the mans private parts.

The man was left confused and embarrassed, apparently unsure whether it was some kind of legitimate ritual.

Reflecting on the ordeal later in the day, he decided to report it to the police.

The clergyman reportedly tried to justify his actions by claiming he had been trying to help the tourist with a rash.

The case is now with the island's criminal prosecutor.

Rhodes is a popular destination with British tourists, and is known for its hot weather, beaches and historic capital, Rhodes Town.

It attracts tourists from around the world and is famous as the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
They are accused of stealing a suitcase from the Harry Reid International Airport on the same day

Sam Brinton traveled to the Nevada National Security Site on July 6, 2022 with the DOE

Disgraced former Department of Energy official Sam Brinton was on a taxpayer-funded business trip when they are accused of stealing baggage from an airport.

Brinton, 35, traveled to Las Vegas to the DOE-operated Nevada National Security Site, according to internal department filings and expense reports.

The documents obtained by the Functional Government Initiative show that Brinton flew on a United Airlines flight from Washington, DC, to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 6, 2022.

Brinton, who uses they/them pronouns, was charged with grand larceny of an item valued between $1,200 and $5,000.

Police say Brinton stole a suitcase worth $3,670 at the airport on the same date they traveled for official DOE business.

Brinton, 35, traveled to Las Vegas to the DOE-operated Nevada National Security Side, according to internal department filings and expense reports

The stolen bag contained jewelry valued at $1,700, clothing worth $850 and makeup valued at $500.

In a statement FGI spokesperson Peter McGinnis said: 'It's outrageous that tax dollars transported Brinton to and from the scene of a crime, putting the American public unwittingly at the wheel of the getaway car.

'The federal government obviously needs a more stringent vetting process for senior-level positions.

'Senior officials committing petty crime while on the clock is a clear indication that something is dysfunctional in the personnel procedures.'

The documents revealed that he traveled to the DOE's Nevada National Security Site for an unspecified meeting and site visit.

According to the DOE the Nevada National Security Site 'is a preferred location for experiments supporting the National Nuclear Security Administration's nuclear weapons Stockpile Stewardship Programs, national defense programs, and national security research, development and training programs, as well as vital programs of other federal agencies.'

Brinton also stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas strip during the trip and left on July 9 - three days later.

An expense report filed in August 2022 shows that the total cost of the four-day trip was $1,951.50.

Brinton escaped jail time for the case after pleading no contest and was ordered to pay $3,670.74 to the victim in the case and $500 in additional fees, including a criminal fine.

Brinton was arrested in February at their home in Maryland. Their husband Kevin (left in February) was kept in the house while Brinton was led out in cuffs

The stolen bag contained jewelry valued at $1,700, clothing worth $850 and makeup valued at $500

Clark County Judge Ann Zimmerman handed Brinton a 180-day suspended jail sentence, a sentence that doesn't need to be served, and ordered Brinton to 'stay out of trouble.'

In December, the DOE announced that Brinton had departed the agency, but wouldn't comment on the reason for the departure.

Biden's former advisor also escaped jail time for a separate incident where they stole another suitcase from a luggage carousel in Minneapolis-St Paul Airport on September 16  worth $2,325.

Brinton in a previous mugshot. They have now been arrested three times for stealing women's suitcases in airports

Brinton was arrested again in May in connection to another theft, from a 2018 incident at Regan National Airport.

Brinton was released from jail in June after a two week stint, after being accused of stealing the suitcase from Tanzanian designer Asyakhamsin.

The designer and her attorney contacted police after reading about Brinton's other thefts, and seeing photos of them wearing her stolen items.

In the most recent case, Brinton took a bag with more than 'a dozen' items, according to the designer.

'Asyakhamsin's business was seriously damaged by this loss, which remained a mystery until she was recently alerted to photos of Sam Brinton wearing articles from her lost luggage,' said her attorney Peter Hansen.

'Certain public images of Brinton in Asyakhamsin's designs were widely published, including on Vanity Fair's Italian website.

Tanzanian-American fashion designer Asyakhamsin (above) says that she filed a police report after seeing former Department of Energy official Sam Binton wearing her stolen clothes

Sam Brinton (pictured left at the Starbucks in West Hollywood in October 2019) appeared to be wearing Asyakhamsin's one of a kind designs

'Asyakhamsin is a black, female, Muslim immigrant entrepreneur, and she has built a distinguished career over forty years. She deserves credit for her works.'

In February, a shocked Asyakhamsin went public with her allegations, saying that her suitcase went missing from Reagan National in 2018, and that she had since seen photos of Brinton wearing her custom designs.

The fashion guru, based in Houston, shared side by side photos of herself wearing one of her outfits next to a photo that surfaced of Brinton in what she believed is the same garment.

Asyakhamsin's luggage containing the outfits she has accused Brinton of being photographed in, went missing at the airport when she flew to Washington, D.C. in 2018 for a fashion event.

The outfits were meant to be on display, but the designer said at the time she was unable to participate in the event as she'd hoped after her luggage went missing.
A mother sent a series of unsettling text messages to friends telling them her daughters were driving her 'crazy' before she suffocated them, a court has heard.

Lauren Anne Dickason, 42, has been charged with murdering her three young daughters - Liane, 6, and twins Maya and Karla, both 2 - who were found dead at their home in Timaru on New Zealand's South Island on September 16, 2021.

Dickason has admitted to killing her children but denies it was murder, and it's expected her defence will claim she is not guilty by reason of insanity, according to the New Zealand Herald.

The opening day of the trial began at Christchurch High Court on Monday, where Dickason's phone records gave an insight into the anger she is accused of harbouring for her daughters when they didn't behave.

The records, obtained by police during their investigation, showed a series of disturbing messages the mother had written about her children.

Lauren Anne Dickason (pictured above with husband Graham and their children), 42, has been charged with the murder of her three daughters Liane, 6, twins Maya and Karla, both 2, who were found dead at the family's Timaru home on September 16, 2021

In one instance, Dickason was asked by a friend about a Netflix show she was watching.

She responded by saying it was 'very good - otherwise I'm just trying not to murder the twins'.

She complained about one of her daughters on another occasion, saying she 'moans all the f***ing time' before making a reference to strangling her.

'I'm afraid one day I will smack her too hard,' Dickason told a friend in another message.

The mother once spoke about how she and her husband Graham were 'run down' by their children's behaviour.

'Our kids are driving us crazy, they are wild, cheeky and disobedient,' she texted.

Dickason regularly expressed her frustration to friends about their kids and how she wanted to smack them, the jury was told.

'It feels like my fuse is so short... I want to explode over the smallest things,' she said in a message.

'I regularly want to smack mine but Graham stops me.'

During a discussion about a couple she knew who had divorced, Dickason said she 'would rather divorce my children', the messages tendered to the court show.

'I wish I could give them back and start over, I would decide differently,' she wrote.

The court also heard that Dickason had searched the internet for information about drugs that could be used to overdose children, which Crown Prosecutor Andrew McRae claimed was evidence she 'had thoughts about killing her children'.

A series of unsettling text messages Dickason had sent to her friends about her daughters were revealed during the opening day of the trial

'The number of these messages and the type of messages...along with internet searches and her statement to police... ultimately what she has admitted to the children shows a relationship with the children was loving at times and fraught at others,' he said in his opening address to the court.

'The message shows Mrs Dickason harboured resentment and anger towards her children when they were misbehaving.'

The Dickason family had moved to New Zealand from South Africa after Mr Dickason accepted a job at Timaru Hospital.

They migrated to the country about a month before the couple's three children were killed.

Mr Dickason found the children dead and his wife in a serious condition when he arrived home after having dinner with colleagues, according to media reports at the time.

She was remanded in custody to a hospital's psychiatric unit and has remained there since.

Dickason claims she was extremely mentally disturbed and did not know what she was doing at the time of the killings.

The family had moved to New Zealand from South Africa about a month before the three children were killed. Dickason was remanded in custody to a hospital's psychiatric unit and has remained there since the killings

Defence lawyer Kerryn Beaton KC backed this, telling the jury the mother had 'put them in their beds, tucked them in with their soft toys' after smothering them.

'Not only did she think she had to kill herself, she thought she had to take the girls with her,' she said.

Dickason's defence also told the court that the mother told her husband and doctors that she had previously thoughts of killing her daughters.

'But tragically no one realised how unwell she was until it was too late,' Ms Beaton added.

She told the jury that while the killings were 'brutal and confronting', Dickason 'wanted those children very much and she loved her family'.

The trial is scheduled to run for two weeks and will hear from Mr Dickason and other family members.

Experts will also share whether they believe Dickason was insane.
An Italian wife stole a doctor's medical gown to sneak into a hospital ward so she could have sex with her husband.

A shocked nurse walked into the emergency room, in the northern city of Padua, to find the woman romping half-naked with her partner on a hospital gurney.

The pair carried out the intimate act despite being surrounded by several other patients in the hospital.

When questioned, the woman, 40, tried to claim she was on the medical staff but was quickly detained and handed over to police, according to local media.

Hospital medics said the woman - who was reportedly intoxicated - had even removed the cannula in her 31-year-old husband's hand so he could move more easily.

An Italian woman stole a doctor's medical gown to sneak into a hospital ward so she could have sex with her husband

The woman, who has not been named, had already been removed from the premises once before for harassing staff, according to reports.

In an attempt to reenter the premises, she stole a medic's white coat so she could slip into the restricted ER ward unchallenged.

The woman was arrested on July 12 and taken to a police station, where she was identified.

The fake doctor now faces charges of receiving stolen goods, the unauthorised practice of a profession and impersonation.

Italian police are still investigating the incident.
A mysterious metal object that has washed up on a remote Australian beach could be space junk from an Indian rocket.

Defence force members and other state and federal agencies have been called in to help identify the heavily barnacled cylinder, which has been cordoned off and placed under police guard.

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker warned it might be a jettisoned fuel tank of a rocket - which could be dangerous.

A mysterious metal object (pictured) has washed ashore on an Australian beach, sparking an investigation involving police and maritime partners

The mystery object washed up on beach roughly 250km north of Perth on Sunday afternoon

West Australian Police were alerted to the two-metre high capped greenish cylinder sitting on a beach near Green Head 250km north of Perth on Sunday afternoon after it was spotted by a community member.

'My rule with space junk, it's like Australian animals: don't touch it unless you know what you're doing. The fuel is usually carcinogenic, so exercising caution is important,' Dr Tucker told The Age.

Reddit users have speculated it could be a portion of an Indian LVM3-M4 rocket.

The object appears to have cables or wires hanging from the top.

The Australian Space Agency said it is contacting other international agencies in a bid to identify the device.

'The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information,' the agency said in a tweet.

After being spotted the object quickly drew a crowd of interested locals, with some posing for photos holding beers with the device before authorities arrived.

A WA Police spokeswoman said the object was being treated as hazardous until it could be determined otherwise.

The strange metal cylinder was discovered on a beach near Green Head, on West Australia's mid-West Coast, by a local community member

'The investigation is ongoing, and until further information is available, we urge everyone to refrain from drawing conclusions,' she said.

'At this early stage it appears the object did not originate from a commercial aircraft.'

The discovery comes three weeks after another mysterious device was found floating off the coast of North Beach in Perth.

According to The West Australian, Australian Defence Force personnel detonated the device which was later found to be a marker marine flare.

There are around five to 10 rockets launched around the world to put satellites into orbit each week.

Chinese rocket boosters have fallen on the Philippines and between Australia and New Zealand.

Parts from one of Elon Musk's SpaceX rockets were found in the US state of Washington.

Western Australia was the landing spot for arguably the most famous space junk in history.

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker (pictured) speculated the object could be space junk

When the American orbiting space station Skylab fell out of orbit in 1979 it became a media sensation with many speculating on where pieces might land amid concern it could hit humans and property.

In July of that year Skylab debris landed about 480km east of Perth and was found between Esperance and Rawlnna.

Locals and an airline pilot saw dozens of colorful flares as large chunks of Skylab broke up in the atmosphere.

Esperance Shire jokingly fined NASA A$400 for littering and the amount was even paid on the space agency's behalf by a California-based morning radio host who raised the funds from listeners in 2009.
They gave up their lives in a picturesque Cambridgeshire village to take their children to the Amazon rainforest for more than a year in the trip of a lifetime.

But Greg Dickens, 37, and his partner Guen Bradbury, 36, are now having to find a new destination for their adventure after being denied a visa in Guyana.

The travel influencers, who share their adventures on social media, wanted to spend 15 months journeying through the rainforest and sending their children Talpha, six, Martes, four, and Lutra, one, to rural schools on the way.

Guen Bradbury went to the Amazon with her partner Greg Dickens and their three children

Guen Bradbury with the couple's three children Talpha, six, Martes, four, and Lutra, one

The couple jetted to Guyana wanting to spend 15 months travelling through the rainforest

Greg Dickens took a sabbatical from his job in medical innovation to go on the Amazon trip

But the family 'failed to navigate the Guyanese bureaucracy' and were refused a visa extension, meaning their trip had to be cut short on 'pain of imprisonment'.

However, they are now instead heading to the jungle 1,500 miles north in Panama and have also set their sights on a future trip to Tanzania, Malawi or Belize.

The couple regularly post images and videos of the wildlife they encounter on social media, and are part of 'The Wild Bradberrys' family research expedition exploring how people across the world raise children.

They went on the Amazon trip after both taking a sabbatical from their jobs in medical innovation at research and product development firm Innovia Technology.

They estimated the total cost of the tour at 30,000 and had said both of their families were supportive of their plans and the experience it would give the children.

The family said they had enjoyed watching river otters and eating piranhas for dinner

Talpha Martes and Lutra pictured before they left, have joined their parents on the adventure

The family, who are from the village of Longstanton near Cambridge, left the UK on April 17 to travel to Georgetown in Guyana, reported the Daily Mirror.

Then they flew onto the town of Lethem about 350 miles away where they carried out a survival course intended to prepare them for life in the jungle.

After that, the family headed into the rainforest where they encountered 'poison dart frogs, piranhas, caimans, whip scorpions' and a 'rat the size of a dog'.

They said their camp was invaded by eight different species of ant one night, while they also had to cover their ankles to protect themselves against snakes.

The family had hoped to travel onto other villages and end up at a Guyanan research centre

However, the family said they also enjoyed watching river otters, eating piranhas for dinner and sending the children to a village school in Yupukari.

They had hoped to travel onto other villages and end up at a Guyanan research centre - but visa issues caused their trip to come to a premature end.

The family then wanted to travel onto Tanzania but missed their flight due to a hospital visit. So for now, they are planning a new adventure in Panama.

Posts on Mr Dickens' Instagram page include images of rare and exotic animals and insects, as well as pictures and videos of himself and his family.

MailOnline has contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs in Guyana, which had been organising the family's extended stay visas in the country, for comment.
New York police have arrested the prime suspect in a twisting serial-killer murder mystery, taking huge steps to bring justice to the families of up to 18 victims.

Manhattan architect and father-of-two Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested on July 13, more than a decade since police started building their case on the harrowing discovery of mutilated sex workers around the Gilgo Beach area on Long Island, east of the city.

Authorities are now sweeping a storage unit owned by the suspect, following a deep search of his home - just 20 minutes from the beach - on Sunday.

Detectives say the 'turning point' in the case - itself the focus of a 2020 Netflix film, Lost Girls - was Heuermann's connection to a Chevrolet pick-up truck last year, as described by a witness way back in 2010.

But some are now asking why it took so long for police to join the dots and make an arrest, with Heuermann fitting the established profile of the killer - 6ft 4 or 6ft 6, in his mid-40s with dark, bushy hair and glasses, looking 'like an ogre', as court papers revealed. The suspect has lived locally all his life and a car fitting the description seen on his drive for years.

As police finally piece together the details of one of America's most infamous serial-killer mysteries, MailOnline shares a timeline of key events.

Suspect Rex Heuermann, arrested on July 13 and charged with the murder of three women

House of Rex Heuermann, who was arraigned in Suffolk County NY for the deaths of 3 women

Police said the link between the suspect and the mentioned car was a 'turning point'

Police search the storage unit of suspect Rex Heuermann in New York on 17 July 2023

On May 1, 2010, 24-year-old sex worker Shannan Gilbert made an anxious 23-minute phone call to police. 'They are trying to kill me,' she said, before vanishing.

READ MORE: Cops raid Long Island storage units linked to Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann Advertisement

It took police seven months before they found the decomposing body of a young female near Gilgo Beach.

But it rather than finding Shannan Gilbert under the snow, they found the remains of Melissa Barthelemey, a 24-year-old woman also advertising as a sex worker online.

The discovery led to a wider search of the area - and a string of horrifying finds.

Days later, on December 13, authorities found the remains of fellow sex workers Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman, all within 500ft of each other.

The search prompted a wider investigation and the discovery of more human remains, potentially adding years to the complex case.

Jessica Taylor, 20, was found nearby in March 2011 - but she was already known to police, her torso found 45 miles away way back in 2003.

The discovery of her head and hands potentially added years to this complex case, now suddenly adding dimensions.

Three more were found a week after, also mutilated and dating back over a decade, as police continued to make horrifying discoveries - still without having found missing Shannan Gilbert.

Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, NY, on Sunday, July 16, 2023

Melissa Barthelemy, who disappeared on July 12, 2009, and was the first found on December 11, 2010 (left) and Megan Waterman, last seen June 6, 2010, before the discovery of her remains on December 13, 2010 (right)

Amber Costello (left) and Maureen Brainard Barnes (right), found within 500ft of each other near the GIlgo Beach where Barthelemy was found, on December 13, 2010

The discoveries slowed by the end of the year, some 12 months since the first tragic discoveries were made.

On November 29, 2011, police said they believed that one person was responsible for the apparent murders of Gilbert, Barthelemy, Costello, Brainard-Barnes, Waterman, Taylor, Mack, Jane Doe #3, Jane Doe #7 and the toddler 'Baby Doe'.

As many as eight other victims have potentially been linked to the case, based on their discovery in the area of the beach or similarities in the nature of their disappearance.

And then, police finally found the remains of Shannan Gilbert in December 2011. Found in a marsh at Oak Beach, Suffolk County medical examiner ruled that Gilbert drowned accidently after taking drugs.

Unconvinced, her family sued. An independent autopsy in 2014 found evidence she might have been strangled.

The 24-year-old's neck had been broken before she was killed and had a puncture hole in it that could have been caused by a drill, according to her family's attorney.

Before getting any closure, Gilbert's mother was found murdered in her house in Ellenville, her daughter charged with stabbing her to death, in July 2016.

The case slowed. In 2016, Suffolk Police's Chief of Department James Burke was imprisoned for assaulting a suspect who had allegedly stolen his duffle bag containing sex toys and porn videos in 2012.

He served time between 2016 and 2019 as his boss, former District Attorney Thomas Spota, also went inside for obstruction of justice related to the case.

The story took a turn as that year a sex worker said that they had seen Burke at sex parties in Oak Beach. Burke had previously faced a scandal involving activity with a sex worker who used crack cocaine in his car while he was in uniform.

An attorney for the family of Shannan Gilbert later called for Burke should be investigated, bringing forward a Long Island escort who said she had an aggressive encounter with him in 2011.

The complexity of the case inspired a Netflix film, Lost Girls, in 2020, as well as a number of television shows and documentaries.

Panama Wedding, a synthpop band from New York, even referenced the killings in a 2014 song.

But police struggled to make progress until newly elected Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney pulled together a crack task force to look into the murders in February 2022.

Eleven months later, hair found on a piece of burlap used to wrap one of the victims was matched with DNA found on a pizza box thrown away by Heuermann, authorities said.

And last month, police revealed that they were aware of an email address linked to Heuermann being used to trawl through pages on the investigation's progress.

He had also reportedly been searching for sadistic materials, child pornography and images of the victims or their relatives.

Police arrested the suspect, who was said to have matched with the FBI's profile

A pizza box which was tested for DNA evidence appears as part of a bail application regarding Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex A. Heuermann by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in an undated photo released July 14, 2023

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

One item that the police carried out was so large it needed two men to carry it

It was the discovery of a black Chevy Avalanche that became a 'turning point' in the mystery.

Police recalled a conversation with a witness, urging them to look into a car of the same description that had been parked on Costello's drive before she vanished.

Searches revealed a car like the one described was linked to Heuermann, who also fit the FBI's profile of the killer, at the time a number of women went missing.

A witness had also told police they should be looking for a large, white male around 6ft 4 or 6ft 6, in his mid-40s with dark, bushy hair and glasses, looking 'like an ogre', court papers revealed.

On July 13, 2023, police gathered enough evidence to arrest and charge 6ft 6 Rex Heuermann, charged over the deaths of Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Melissa Barthelemy.

Heuermann is also considered the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

The married father-of-two, who ran RH Consultants & Associates, has denied killing Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

His arrest brought to light new details about the suspect, who colleagues say was nicknamed Peter, after Family Guy's Peter Griffin.

A former colleague said he would work 'late hours' as well as being 'meticulous' in his work.

But Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said on Friday that Heuermann continued to patronize sex workers 'at all hours of the night' and was using burner phones to conceal his identity.

Police are now scouring two storage units in Amityville, next to Massapequa Park, where Heuermann has lived his whole life.

'This case is not over, it's only beginning,' Tierney said at a press conference where he appeared alongside Suffolk County law enforcement officers, federal agents and some of the victims' relatives.
New Zealand PM calls for deepening economic, environmental cooperation with China

Xinhua) 15:19, July 17, 2023

WELLINGTON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for deepening economic, trade and environmental cooperation with China at the 9th Annual China Business Summit held on Monday in Auckland.

In a keynote speech, Hipkins recalled his China visit at the end of last month, leading a delegation of New Zealand's top businesses and exporters and representatives from its tourism, technology and education sectors.

"The New Zealand export story to China is well-known. It's a phenomenal success story propelled by our 2008 Free Trade Agreement that took two-way trade from 8 billion NZ dollars (5.08 billion U.S. dollars) that year, to more than 40 billion NZ dollars (25.4 billion U.S. dollars) today," Hipkins said.

New Zealand's top three exports to China are dairy, meat, and forestry, he said, adding New Zealand has built up sizeable economic interests in China, its largest offshore market and one of the world's largest consumer markets.

New Zealand will place a high value on engagement and dialogue with China, the prime minister told the audience at the summit.

New Zealand looks to work together with China to tackle critical global issues such as climate change and environmental protection, Hipkins said, adding it is in New Zealand's interests to do so.

Hipkins said one outcome from his China visit was an agreement to step up policy engagement on e-vehicles, with China an important supply market for Kiwi consumers as New Zealand looks to make the transition to a low carbon economy.

He said China and New Zealand will have a range of dialogues, including on green finance and forestry and emissions trading schemes, as well as a regular ministerial dialogue.

New Zealand also valued China's leadership in presiding over the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets new global goals and targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A freight train carrying a chemical used for dry cleaning derailed in southeastern Pennsylvania Monday morning, causing road closures and a mass evacuation.

The 40-car CSX train derailed near Stenton Avenue and Joshua Road in Plymouth Meeting just before 5am, thrusting 15 of its cars off a section of track owned by Norfolk Southern.

Roughly a dozen homes in the suburb 15 miles from Philly have since been evacuated, as well as several businesses closest to the derailment site.

Sources told local stations these precautions - as well as a Level 2 hazmat response - stemmed from the fact that 15 to 20 cars were believed to be carrying hazardous materials.

In a statement some three hours after the crash, police said the only material leaking out of the train at the moment was silicone pellets, which Norfolk Southern said poses no threat to the public. There's no word on what caused the derailment, though it had been raining when it occurred.

Scroll down for video:

The 40-car freight train (seen here) derailed near Stenton Avenue and Joshua Road in Whitemarsh Township just before 5 am, sending roughly half of its cars of the tracks. Residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure, before being told it was safe four hours later

Sources told local stations these precautions - as well as a Level 2 hazmat response - stemmed from the fact that 15 to 20 cars were believed to be carrying hazardous materials. Containers the train had been carrying - one of which reportedly was leaking - are seen here

'Whitemarsh Emergency Services is investigating the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in the Plymouth Meeting section of Whitemarsh Township,' the local police department said in a Facebook post around 7am.

The 28-person police force added: 'Precautionary evacuations have occurred at the residents and businesses closest to the scene. It is not believed that further evacuations will be needed, but we will evaluate as we know more.'

Earlier in the morning, CSX added in a statement that 16 of the trains 40 rail cars derailed, including one carrying tetrachloroethylene - a chemical commonly used to clean clothes that could prove carcinogenic.

During a later conference on Monday morning, officials on the scene said 15 cars derailed - one containing the tetrachloroethylene, another holding the packing pellets and five carting the liquid fertilizer urea.

Officials added the eight remaining cars were empty, and that residents were allowed to back into their homes at 9:30 am, with the area deemed safe to inhabit.

Aside from some of the silicon pellets, they said no materials leaked from any of the other train cars.

Shocking photos and footage, meanwhile, show some of the damage wrought by the disaster - with several cars and tankers seen toppled in a wooded area bounded by Flourtown Road, Joshua Road, and Stenton Avenue.

Several containers carrying unspecified substances were seen on the ground, with one appearing to be leaking. Other aerials showed takers that had been apparently smashed together, and parts of twisted track.

There are no known injuries at this time, but officials from Norfolk Southern - who owns the track where the incident occurred - CSX, and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safetys Emergency Response Team were all on the scene.

In a statement, Norfolk Southern - which has faced scrutiny this year for a series of high-profile derailments this year - confirmed it does not own the train affected the latest derailment.

CSX - which also operates chiefly in the Eastern United States - did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a general statement, the railroad company confirmed the 40-car train derailed around 4:50am, but did not specify the exactly what the freighter had been carrying.

CSX - the railroad company that owns the vehicle - said that 16 of the trains 40 rail cars derailed, including one carrying tetrachloroethylene, a chemical commonly used to clean clothes that could prove carcinogenic

An unspecified number of residents in the suburb 15 miles from Philly have been evacuated, as well as several businesses closest to the derailment site

Shocking photos and footage, meanwhile, show some of the damage wrought by the disaster

CSX said in a statement that 16 of the trains 40 rail cars derailed, including one had been carrying tetrachloroethylene - a chemical commonly used to clean clothes

Oifficals have since confirmed only 15 cars derailed - one containing the tetrachloroethylene, another holding the packing pellets and five carting the liquid fertilizer urea

Aside from some silicon pellets, they said no materials leaked from any of the other train cars

Several cars and tankers seen toppled in a wooded area in the Pennsylvania suburb, which is not far from Philadelphia

In a statement some three hours after the crash, police in the town of roughly 18,000 said the only material leaking out of the train at the moment was silicone pellets, which pose no threat to the public. There's no word on what caused the derailment.

Law enforcement sources at first told FOX29 Philadelphia that the derailed cars - of which there are at least 16 - were carrying silicone pellets, a material used for packing.

As reports an unknown white substance leaking from the cracked carrier continued to surface, officials eventually confirmed they had found some silicone pellets leaking from the cars, but that they don't pose any danger to the public.

'As of now, the only thing that is leaking from any of the rail cars involved is silicone pellets, which pose no risk to the community,' Whitemarsh Township police said in a statement.

There has yet to be any other reports of materials leaking from the train's derailed cars. Police said they don't believe a further evacuation - aside from the ones in the on the 5000 block of Camburn Road - will be required.

While it is unknown exactly how many residents of the town of 6,400 have been evacuated, several are now recounting how they were thrust from their homes in the wee hours Monday after the train came of the rails.

'Alarming. It all happened really fast,' Mallory Michener told CBS News Philadelphia of the disaster. She and her daughter were among several evacuees who were awoken by pounding as fears of a toxic spill were still right.

'We all don't have shoes on.'

While it is unknown exactly how many residents of the town of 6,400 have been evacuated, several are now recounting how they were thrust from their homes in the wee hours Monday after the train came of the rails. Several sections of the suburb remained closed off at 10:30am

Her daughter added: 'Right as you hear the door at 5:30 in the morning, it's a little shocking.

'And yeah, it was just scary. First thought for me always goes to my family and friends.'

CSX later confirmed that more than a dozen homes were evacuated during the chaos.

'The local fire department responded and declared an evacuation of just over a dozen homes out of an abundance of caution,' the rail firm said.

Michener further recalled of the crisis: 'Didn't really know how long we would be or how serious it was until we pulled out into the neighborhood and saw all the lights, helicopters, fire trucks, etc.'

In a statement earlier in the morning, CSX said the cause of the incident is 'under investigation', though a spokesperson later said in a separate statement that the derailment appeared to be 'weather related.'

The region had been experiencing scattered thunderstorms and rain at the time of the crash.

Officials have since deemed the area safe, but it still remains unknown when families will be allowed back into their homes as hazmat teams continue to assess the scene

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he is monitoring the situation.
'I'm your Republican congressman. Now that we're in charge, we're banning birth control,' the fictional lawmaker says in the fear mongering spot

The ad comes as Buckeye State residents prepare to vote on the Republican-backed State Issue 1 which will make it harder to change the state's constitution

Democratic activists in Ohio have released one of the creepiest political ads in recent memory in a bid to stop Buckeye State residents from passing State Issue 1, a measure that would make it harder to make amendments to the state's constitution.

The ad, which begins airing on Wednesday ahead of the August 8th vote, begins with a couple kissing in the underwear in bed.

The woman asks the man if he has a condom, as he reaches across to his nightstand to grab one from a drawer, the hand of an elderly man destroys the mood and snatches it away. The couple scream in confusion.

'Sorry, you can't use those,' the older man, supposed to be dressed as a conservative congressman clad in a dark suit equipped with a Donald Trumpesque red tie.

'What are you talking about? Who are you?' the woman asks.

'I'm your Republican congressman. Now that we're in charge, we're banning birth control,' he replies.

With the couple engaging in in some heavy petting, the man reaches across to get a condom from his nightstand drawer

And elderly man swipes the contraception away at the last moment, leaving the couple frustrated

The couple question who the man is and what he's doing in their bedroom

The ad is a fear-mongering play on the fact that further Republican control in the Ohio statehouse will make it easier for them to pass laws reproductive law rights

The ads ends with this title card

'This is our decision - not yours. Get out of our bedroom,' the woman says while using the bedsheets to cover herself.

'I won the last election. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just gonna watch and make sure that you don't do anything illegal,' the elderly man continues.

The spot finishes with a close-up on the man as a title card appears reading: 'Keep Republicans out of your bedroom. Vote no on Aug. 8.'

The ad was produced by the group Progress Action Fund. The group's slogan is: Democrats are afraid to fight back. We aren't.'

State Issue 1 would 'require that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.'

Last month it was reported that officials were luring poll workers from summer vacations and struggling to relocate polling places that were previously booked for other events thanks to the unusual scheduling of the vote.

The tight timeframe was imposed by Republican lawmakers, who reversed a new law that had taken effect in January to eliminate most August elections.

In May, they added the Aug. 8 special election for a measure that seeks to make it harder to amend the state's constitution.

If passed, the amendment would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes from a simple majority, as it's been for more than a century, to 60 percent.

Supporters and opponents of a GOP-backed measure that would make it harder to amend the Ohio constitution packed the statehouse rotunda on May 10, 2023, in Columbus

State Issue 1 would 'require that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment'

If passed, the amendment would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes from a simple majority, as it's been for more than a century, to 60 percent

Republicans' immediate goal is to make it harder for voters to pass an abortion rights amendment that is in the works for November.

Other brewing constitutional amendments also could be affected, including efforts to legalize recreational marijuana, increase minimum wage, reform Ohio's redistricting system and limit vaccine mandates.

All of Ohio's living ex-governors, both Democrats and Republicans, and five bipartisan former attorneys general oppose the constitutional change, along with a sweeping coalition of labor, faith, voting rights, civil rights and community groups.

It's backed by an alliance of powerful anti-abortion, gun rights, farming and business groups.

Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, said the effort is part of a growing movement in Republican-led states to weaken citizens' access to direct democracy and will have national implications.

'What happens in Ohio, win or lose, will have an impact moving forward and have a reverberating effect across the country, because it's stuck between two major election years, and it's a special election,' she said.

'Whatever happens, it will set the tone for how we go into 2024 legislative sessions, what tactics, what nuances state legislatures may do to try and undermine the will of the people, and impact the ability of citizens to bring issues to the ballot.'

Despite the significance, August's Issue 1 could be decided by a fraction of Ohio voters. Turnout predictions diverge wildly.

Republican Joe Kuhn, a member of the Auglaize County Board of Elections, said the question should go before voters in a regular general election when history suggests turnout would be greater.

'This goes well beyond the abortion-reproductive rights issue that's going to hit in November. This affects every other issue that would touch the Ohio Constitution. The law's been in place since 1912,' he said.

Military and overseas voting began Friday, and voter registration closes July 10. Early voting begins the next day.

Chronically low turnouts were among the reasons Ohio nixed August elections in the first place. Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose testified at the time that they were bad for taxpayers, election officials and the civic health of the state, largely because few people show up.

'That means just a handful of voters end up making big decisions. The side that wins is often the one that has a vested interest in the passage of the issue up for consideration,' he told senators last year. 'This isn't how democracy is supposed to work.'
Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann kept a large room in his basement locked and became skittish when an interior designer tasked with measuring his home sought to enter  telling her it was filled with guns, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, Katherine Shepherd recalled how she found Heuermann's reaction odd at the time and now wonders what else he might have been hiding in the 12'x15' space.

'I didn't understand why he was being so weird about it, and now I'm thinking "What was he hiding?" ' Shepherd said.

'It was a big room. What was happening in that room? Is that where he took the women?'

Interior designer Katherine Shepherd, 47, worked with suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, 59, off and on, for five years, including a project at his Massapequa Park home in 2005

Shepherd developed a friendly, working relationship with Heuermann and other colleagues while sharing an office space with him for two years in Manhattan. They are pictured during a social outing at Pete's Tavern in exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com

Heuermann has lived at the Long Island property since the 1980s with his wife, Asa Ellerup, and their two children. He was planning to renovate his kitchen with the help of Shepherd

Shepherd, 47, who worked with Heuermann for five years, spent three hours assessing his Massapequa Park, New York home for a renovation project in 2005  just one of several close interactions she had had with him that have kept her awake at night since his arrest last week.

Speaking with DailyMail.com, she described how she had developed a friendly, working relationship with the 59-year-old architect who is seen mingling with the interior designers and colleagues in exclusive photos published for the first time.

She revealed Heuermann even once took her to a firing range in the Bronx where he taught her how to fire a 9mm handgun.

On another occasion when she slipped on ice, Heuermann accompanied her to a hospital and then back to her apartment in Manhattan where he gave her meds.

Shepherd worked with Heuermann, off and on, from 2002 to 2007 and shared office space with him for two of those years in Manhattan, where he ran an architectural firm.

She would regularly travel with him to job sites as a freelance interior designer. At the time she found him smart and mostly friendly, if socially awkward.

She now likens him to a real-life Dexter, the Showtime character who led a double life as a serial killer.

'He's just like Dexter,' she told DailyMail.com. 'You'd never know if you met him. Dexter was also super normal and then he had that other side.'

Shepherd admitted she had never even heard of the Gilgo killings until an old boss reached out with the news via text message on Saturday.

Drone footage of Heuermann's home shows police outside the one-story building and the entrance to the basement

The interior designer who shared photos of a social outing with Heuermann and colleagues, said she would regularly travel with him to job sites as a freelance interior designer

Shepherd said at the time she found him smart and mostly friendly, if socially awkward, but now compares him to to a real-life Dexter, the Showtime character who led a double life as a serial killer

'I googled his name and, Jesus, there he was,' Shepherd said. 'There was this picture of my colleague that I remembered dearly.

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann (pictured), 59, is charged with three murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder

'I then spent the next eight hours reading every article I could find. I was shocked. How could this be the same man?'

'I'm like shaking right now,' she said as she described her relationship with Heuermann, which ended a couple of years before he allegedly began a killing spree, dumping the bodies of several women on the beach, not far from his home on Long Island's South Shore.

He has so far been charged with the murder of Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found in 2010.

He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and is being looked into for the murders of the other six women whose bodies were found in 2011.

Heuermann has lived at the property since the 1980s with his wife, Asa Ellerup, and their two children.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Shepherd said 'you'd never know' Heuermann would be suspected of his alleged crimes if you met him

Shepherd revealed she met Heuermann in the Bronx at this firing range where he has been hired to work on renovations. He is pictured left at the venue in 2005

Shepherd knew the property well. On a snowy morning in February 2005, she took a train from New York City to meet him in Massapequa Park.

He picked her up at the station and drove her to his home, where she met his wife and kids.

Shepherd recalls how Ellerup had been washing dishes and the kids were hanging out at the time.

Heuermann was planning to renovate the kitchen but also wanted precise measurements of the rest of the house.

Shepherd went room to room taking measurements and he followed her downstairs.

'In the basement, there was this one room that was locked, and he said I couldn't go into that room,' she recalled.

'I was like  what the hell? That's weird. And he was kind of joking, like, oh you can't go in there because there's things in there. And then he said, ''I've got a bunch of guns.''

'He was weird about it, and I was like okay, fine,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I could measure around it.'

On Sunday, New York state police removed a massive haul of weapons from the house, a day after scouring the property to determine whether Heuermann had any 'trophies' from three victims he is charged with murdering.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show officers carrying out at least four long-barreled firearms from the architect's 'dungeon'-like house as well as several blue plastic boxes with weapons in them.

Rex Heuermann is shown in one of his Tinder profile pictures. Police tracked the fictitious email account he used on the profile and his burner phone number to the case

Heuermann's yearbook photo from Berner High School's class of 1981. He was arrested outside his office in Midtown Manhattan on July 13

Back in 2005, Shepherd left the house with her boyfriend from Long Island, who picked her up.

A month after working in the house, she met Heuermann in the Bronx at a firing range where he had been hired for some renovations.

While there, he gave her a lesson.

'I met him out there and measured the gun range,' she said. 'And afterwards, he taught me how to fire a 9mm. I didn't know he was so into guns, but here we were.

'He was telling me how to place my hands under the hammer so when the hammer went back it didn't hit me,' she explained.

'I fired like four or five shots and I hit the target, a picture of a beer bottle. It was pretty intense.'

Shepherd also recalled the time she was alone with the future alleged serial killer in her apartment.

Earlier in the day, she had slipped on the sidewalk and could hardly walk by the time she arrived at work.

'Rex took me in a cab to urgent care, and waited for me while I got an MRI and everything else,' she said. 'And then he took me back to my apartment.

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 Sunday New York state police 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 his alleged victims

An officer was seen removing two additional firearms from the home on Sunday

'My roommate was gone at the time,' she continued. 'Rex got me settled into my room, and then he went off to get my medication.

'When he came back, he made sure I had something to eat and had my medication. And then he went home.

'He took care of me,' she said.

The once sweet memory now haunts her.

'This is the same man that's allegedly killing women, and he could have killed me right there in my apartment if he wanted to,' she said. 'No one was there.'

'I'm not an ugly girl, but I guess I wasn't on the menu, which is great,' she continued, both horrified and somewhat amused by her experiences.

'It's all pretty surreal,' she said. 'I watch a lot of those crime shows and everything, but you never think in a million years it's going to be you, or somebody you know.

'How would I ever know a serial killer? What are the chances of that?'
The student was seen carrying two kitchen-type knives at the gas station

Police suspended the search after 19 days saying leads had been exhausted

A missing Ohio State University graduate student has been found dead a month after she vanished following a visit to a gas station.

The body of Amina Alhaj-Omar, 25, was discovered on Wednesday in a remote quarry behind the BP gas station in Columbus where she was last seen on June 10.

The student's disappearance set off a police search that was suspended after 19 days, as officials said all leads had been exhausted.

Police had said her behavior was 'unusual' and she was seen carrying two kitchen-type knives at the gas station.

Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert said Amina's family thought she could be experiencing a mental health crisis.

The body of Amina Alhaj-Omar, 25, was discovered on Wednesday in a remote quarry in Columbus, Ohio, more than a month after she went missing

Police had said her behavior was 'unusual' and she was seen carrying two kitchen-type knives at the gas station

Two hours after she was seen at a gas station, police received a call from the nearby Olen Corporation's Columbus plant about a woman trespassing later. The woman, later confirmed to be Amina, had left by the time police arrived.

Amina's family previously said her jacket, shoes and cellphone were found on the gas station property.

Her car was also found near the gas station two days after she vanished.

Miriam Alhaj-Omar, Amina's sister, said police thought she might have gone in the deep quarry pond. Amina loved to swim, Miriam said.

'On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from the Franklin County detectives when they later came to our home and informed the family that they had found Aminas body in the quarry behind the BP gas station on S High Street where she was last seen,' the family said in a statement.

'We are unaware of the details at this time as we have not yet received the autopsy report. We would like to ask the public for their prayers for Amina.'

Alhaj-Omar was working towards a graduate degree in social work after getting her bachelors degree in criminology from Ohio state

Police are yet to release a cause of the death for the student.

Officials said they have closed the investigation into her disappearance but did not release additional details.

Alhaj-Omar was working towards a graduate degree in social work after getting her bachelors degree in criminology from Ohio state.

She had a job as a server at a local restaurant and had interned with the victims of crime program at Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS).

'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,' Amina's family said in her obituary.

'Most people who truly knew Amina immediately remember her laugh  it was contagious and brought happiness to everyone in the room,' the obituary added.

'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.'
When the tenants of a crumbling water-logged, mould-infested and asbestos-riddled rental property asked for the unsafe home's glaring problems to be fixed, they were promptly served an eviction notice.

The tenants had been shelling out $1,600 a month to endure living in the near uninhabitable house on Gordon Street in Maribyrnong, inner western Melbourne.

After repeatedly asking for urgent repairs, the tenants were instead told by the landlord's real estate agent they would be charged $50 extra rent a week.

The tenants replied with a breach notice demanding urgent repairs to the house's safety concerns only to be told they had to vacate the premises by July 22 to allow the landlord to renovate the property.

On Thursday, renter advocate Jordie van den Berg took TikTok viewers on a guided tour of the disgusting and dilapidated house as part of his series 'S*** rentals of Melbourne'.

A Melbourne rental property has such a waterlogged carpet the tenants have laid planks to walk on

'The property is pretty f***ed as you see shortly,' Mr van den Berg commented in a deadpan manner.

Beginning at the front entrance Mr van den Berg showed off a dodgy looking electrical switchboard, which he described as 'older than me'.

Avoiding tripping on the crumbling brick steps he put his arm through the gaping holes of the property's front fly screen door.

A waterlogged brown carpet squelched as he stepped on it with the tenants laying down planks of wood to avoid soaking their feet.

The carpet was so moist small plants were growing up from it.

Mr van den Berg filmed the leaking shower head in the bathroom, which he said never stopped.

'The bathroom is covered in recurring black mold that the tenants keep cleaning and it keeps coming back,' he said.

It was revealed that underneath the house the shower drain pipe was unconnected and water had gathered in a large pool amid a sea of mud and debris.

The Maribyrnong house is riddled with mould, asbestos and has crumbling walls and a leaking roof

'Also fun fact that's asbestos,' Mr van den Berg said showing a hole in the plasterboard.

Back in the main house Mr van den Berg panned over the alarming cracks in the walls.

'This place is quite literally falling apart,' he said.

Peeling away aluminum foil stuck to the wall above the oven, which does not work, Mr van den Berg pointed to more asbestos.

'When it rains outside it also rains inside the kitchen,' he said while filming a giant crack in the roof.

He also said the shed was fully made out of asbestos.

The tenants claim no council permit has been issued for renovation and have appealed their case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The tenants at the property have been given two months to evacuate after issuing a breach notice about the state of the house

With nowhere to go the tenants fear being homeless, especially with rental properties being so hard to get in Melbourne.

'I've got no where to go,' a second tenant told the Herald Sun.

'We've applied for like 20 rentals and we haven't got any. We go to the houses and there's lots of other people there.'

The agent has confirmed the tenants have been asked to leave.

'The property is in severe need of repair and requires a lot of work,' the agent said in a lawyer's statement.

'Therefore, the rental provider will be renovating the home immediately after the renter vacates, which is estimated to take up to 14 weeks.

Jordie van den Berg campaigns on behalf of renters and documents the appalling properties they are forced to live in

'These works cannot be carried out while the renters are living at the property.

'For this reason, the rental provider has instructed us to issue the notice to vacate under section 91ZX of the Residential Tenancies Act, giving the required notice of 60 days.'

Victoria introduced mandatory minimum standards for rental properties in 2021.

A Government spokesman told the Herald Sun that 'we expect all landlords, agents and rental providers to follow the law because every Victorian deserves a safe and secure roof over their head  dilapidation of a rental property is not acceptable.'
A South Carolina mom has died after being caught up in flash flooding in Pennsylvania - as her two young children, aged nine months and two years old, remain missing.

Katie Seley, 32, was among the deceased when heavy rain and flash flooding wiped out roads and submerged homes over the weekend. Her eldest son, aged four, her husband Jim, and her mother Dahlia, 62, survived the deluge.

The death toll in Pennsylvania currently stands at five. Three of the adults were initially found on a flooded roadway that was five feet above ground water in Bucks County.

Approximately 11 vehicles were on General Washington Memorial Boulevard near the river when they were caught in the sudden downpour and three of them were swept away. Eight people were rescued from cars and two from Houghs Creek.

The family, from Charleston, South Carolina, were visiting family in the area when the fierce flooding struck.

Katie Seley, with her husband Jim and their children: Jack, four, Maddie, two, and Conrad, nine months. Jim and Jack survived the flood. Katie sadly was pronounced dead. The two youngest children are still missing

Katie Seley, 32, and her mother Dahlia were caught up in the storm. They were both swept away, but Dahlia made a miraculous recovery and was rushed to hospital. Katie (right) died in the flooding

Maddie, two, and Conrad, nine months, are still missing. Police said this morning during a press conference that the search will continue - and every effort will be made to 'bring these beautiful children home to their families'

Their vehicles were swept up in the flash flooding - and the father, Jim Sheils, miraculously was able to get him and his four-year-old Jack to safety.

Katie and her mother Dahlia were trying to get the two other children, Maddie and Conrad, to safety when they were all swept away in the intense deluge.

The grandmother Dahlia survived and was rushed to hospital.

But emergency services found mother Katie dead during their search efforts.

Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in an update yesterday: 'Our commitment to finding the two children who are still missing is unwavering as we will do all that we can to bring them home to their loved ones.

'We have been contact with the family of these two children and they have asked us to share their story and speak upon their behalf.

'They are from Charleston, South Carolina and were in the area visiting family and friends. They were on their way to a Bar-B-Q when their vehicles got caught in the flash flood on Rt. 532.

Katie and Jim pictured after giving birth to their youngest child, Conrad, in October 2022

The death toll in Pennsylvania currently stands at five. Three of the adults were initially found on a flooded roadway that was five feet above ground water in Bucks County

'Dad, miraculously, was able to get himself and their 4 year-old son to safety, but the mother and grandmother who were trying to get their 2 other children, ages 9 months and 2 years to safety, were all swept away by the raging flood waters.

'Unbelievably, the grandmother survived and was treated at a local hospital.

'However, the lovely mother of these two beautiful children was one the people we found deceased during yesterdays search efforts.

'So, it is their two children we are looking to bring home.'

They said this morning during a press conference that the search will continue - and every effort will be made to 'bring these beautiful children home to their families.'

Police said: 'Today, the search will continue for the two children who are still missing.

'Due to more favorable weather conditions, we have been able to triple the assets deployed as our search areas widens.

Gushing floodwater is seen during the flash floods in Pennsylvania

One of the cars that was swept up in flooding that occurred on Washington Crossing Road in Pennsylvania

Police say that the search for the two young children is still on this morning. Their mother is confirmed to be deceased

'We have search teams on foot, teams in boats searching the Delaware River, we are utilizing drone teams, diver teams, and sonar technology.

Every effort will be made to bring these beautiful children home to their families.'

Peter, who is Katie's uncle and Dahlia's brother, wrote on social media following the police update: 'The grandmother is my sisterthis is so devastating, but your updates and all the supportive comments have been comforting.

'Thank you to all the first responders working tirelessly to find my nieces two children.'

Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said the storms dumped about six to seven inches of rain in an hour, added: 'In my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it.'

'I thought Hurricane Ida was the benchmark, but this is the benchmark,' Brewer said, referring to the deadly and extremely destructive Category 4 storm in 2021 that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. behind Hurricane Katrina.

Earlier Sunday in Lakewood, New Jersey, multiple homes were evacuated after lightning struck a gas line and set it on fire.

The lightning strike appeared to hit a tree and underground pipe on Madison Avenue in the Lakewood area of New Jersey, which ignited the fire, officials said. It happened around 6 a.m. Sunday.
Visa rules are being eased for foreign bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and plasterers after construction workers were deemed to be in short supply, it was announced today.

The Home Office will temporarily relax restrictions to enable more overseas builders to come to Britain to work.

It comes after a number of construction roles were added to the 'shortage occupation list', following a recommendation by the body that advises ministers on migration issues.

But the move risks angering Tory MPs as it comes just weeks after net migration to Britain was revealed to have reached record levels.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed net migration - the number of arrivals to the UK minus the number of departures - rose to 606,000 in the year to December 2022.

Visa rules are being eased for foreign bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and plasterers after construction workers were deemed to be in short supply

The Home Office, led by Suella Braverman, will temporarily relax restrictions to enable more overseas builders to come to Britain to work

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed net migration rose to 606,000 in 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June

Conservative MPs said today's announcement of visa rules being relaxed for foreign builders 'underlined the need' for Britain to better train its own workforce to fill vacancies.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman used a speech in May to claim there was 'no good reason' why the UK cannot train its own lorry drivers, butchers or fruit pickers - three sectors that have also had visa restrictions eased - in order to bring immigration down.

She insisted Britain must not 'forget how to do things for ourselves'.

The Home Office this afternoon announced that bricklayers, masons, roofers, roof tilers, slaters, carpenters, joiners and plasterers were among the roles being added to the shortage occupation list 'to stimulate development, attract new talent and grow the economy'.

It follows recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee, which found earlier this year that vacancies in the construction sector had 'risen substantially' relative to pre-pandemic levels.

For those roles for which there are deemed to be a shortage of workers, new recruits can be paid 80 per cent of the job's usual 'going rate' and still qualify for a visa.

They will also benefit from a lower visa application fee.

But they will still need a sponsored job offer from an employer and to meet English language requirements under the Government's post-Brexit immigration system.

A wider review of the shortage occupation list by the Migration Advisory Committee is expected this autumn.

Senior Tory backbencher David Jones, a former Brexit minister, told MailOnine that today's Home Office announcement 'simply underlines the need for more homegrown highly skilled workers'.

'The Prime Minister is therefore right to point out that, for up to 20 per cent of graduates, theyd be much better off with a good quality apprenticeship,' he added, in reference to Rishi Sunak's efforts to crack down on 'rip-off' degrees and to boost apprenticeships.

Marco Longhi, Tory MP for Dudley North, posted on Twitter in response to the Home Office announcement: 'This is nuts.'

Suzannah Nichol, chief executive of industry body Build UK, said: 'It is vital that construction is able to fill vacancies and quickly address shortages around particular roles.

'So we welcome the news that five occupations will be added to the shortage occupations list which will help the industry continue to deliver the schools, homes, hospitals and infrastructure that we need.'
Unverified videos appear to show Su-35 fighter jet crashing into Sea of Azov

Russian pilot had reportedly been on first combat mission when he crashed

A Russian Su-25 fighter jet crashed into sea moments before the newly qualified pilot ejected from the doomed plane in front of astonished tourists close to the Ukrainian frontlines.

Unverified videos on social media appear to show the stricken warplane travelling at speed at a dangerously low height before it plunged into the Sea of Azov near the Russian town of Yeysk.

At the moment of impact, a huge plume of water is seen soaring up towards the sky as tourists on a nearby beach watched in stunned silence.

Seconds before the fighter jet plunged into the sea, the video appeared to show the young pilot ejecting from the warplane as his parachute descended over the water.

Reports from pro-War channels said the Russian pilot had been on his first combat mission when he crashed into the sea.

Unverified videos on social media appear to show the stricken warplane travelling at speed at a dangerously low height before it plunged into the sea near the Russian town of Yeysk

Seconds before the fighter jet plunged into the Sea of Asov, the video appeared to show the young pilot ejecting from the warplane as his parachute descended over the water (circled)

Officials from Russia's Krasnodar region said the pilot, who has not been named, had been rescued from the water near Yeysk town, which lies across from the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Donetsk region.

As the pilot ejected from the plane, the lines of his parachute canopy reportedly became tangled and he almost drowned but rescuers reached him just in time.

Local media claimed that the pilot was found unconscious and medics tried to resuscitate him in the ambulance, while other reports said he was in a critical condition.

The pilot was reportedly rushed to the emergency department of a local hospital where doctors are now fighting to save his life.

The crashed SU-25 was sticking out of the shallow water off the popular tourist beach in Kradnodar region following the crash, local media reported.

Earlier reports said a 'technical malfunction' was to blame for the crash, but this is the default Russian explanation with any aerial disaster.

The cause was also given as 'engine failure' - yet this is before investigators had spoken to the pilot.

The aircraft is believed to have got into trouble soon after taking off from a military airport in the city.

One theory was that the pilot delayed ejecting to guide the aircraft away from houses and people.

Earlier in the day suspected Ukrainian sea drones exploded on the bridge connecting annexed Crimea to Krasnodar region.

In October last year an Su-34 crashed next to a residential block and set it on fire, killing 15 people and leaving dozens injured.

A Russian Su-34 fighter bomber jet crashed next to an apartment block in the city of Yeysk in October last year, setting the building on fire as the pilots ejected (circled)

Video showed one of the pilots on the floor and still attached to his parachute shortly after the crash

It slammed into the ground in front of an apartment building, dousing the building in burning fuel and killing 15 people.

Both pilots ejected safely, with footage showing one of them on the ground nearby still attached to his parachute.

The Sukhoi 34 fighter-jet had taken off from an airfield in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, near the border of Ukraine, as part of a training exercise when it plunged from the sky moments later with one engine on fire.

The Russian military said the pilots were taking part in training when the crash happened and the stranded pilot can be heard denying the craft was shot down as people try to help him.

The Russians blamed a 'technical malfunction' for the fireball crash.
He will begin airing commercials for the company on his Twitter show beginning next month, after the online marketplace goes public

Tucker Carlson has struck an ad deal worth more than $1million with an online conservative marketplace as he seeks to build his new media venture.

Under the agreement, Carlson will begin airing commercials for PublicSq on his Twitter show beginning next month, after the online marketplace goes public.

The deal marks Carlson's first commercial agreement since he was abruptly fired from FOX News in April, where he brought in $77.5million in advertising revenue just last year.

He now plans to build up his own media empire, and Omeed Malik, the chief executive of the board of the blank check company that plans to take PublicSq public this month, is also planning to invest seven or eight figures in Carlson's venture through his private investment firm, 1789 Capital.

But Carlson continues to face legal action from his former employer, which argues his $20million-a-year contract includes a non-compete clause until after the 2024 election.

Tucker Carlson has struck an ad deal worth more than $1million with conservative marketplace PublicSq

Omeed Malik, the chief executive of the board of the blank check company that plans to take PublicSq public this month, is also planning to invest seven or eight figures in Carlson's venture through his private investment firm, 1789 Capital

Carlson launched his free Twitter show shortly after his ouster.

It is unclear exactly how much he makes from his once-a-week episodes, but his most recent episode was viewed more than 92.2million times.

If he is backed by ads bought at a rate of $4 for every 1,000 views, that means Carlson made $368,800 for that one episode.

If Carlson could keep up that pace, he would make $19.1million this year.

And if Twitter took the standard 20 percent ad commission, Carlson would still make $95.8million.

PublicSq marked a perfect opportunity to earn some of that money as it prepares to go public later this month.

It markets itself as a patriotic, America-first alternative to Amazon.

The company is being backed by conservative bigwigs including Donald Trump Jr. and former Senate candidate Blake Masters.

Last week, its leadership and top financiers discussed its investment strategy for getting more donors in the door by focusing on the company's conservative 'parallel economy,' they say sets itself apart from other online marketplaces.

The company is the 'foundation of this new economy,' said Malik - who moved from New York to Florida to try and escape the country's political and cultural divisions.

He added that PublicSq is 'not only going to allow us to shop our values and patronize those businesses, but also insulate us from being platformed or being censored.'

Malik also pointed to multiple instances of the federal government working with Big Tech companies to suppress Americans' free speech - particularly conservative viewpoints.

PublicSq leadership is set to ring the bell on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to take the company public officially on July 20.

Its new ad deal is being brokered through Carlson's team and PublicSq directly, unnamed sources told Axios.

PublicSq markets itself as a patriotic, America-first alternative to Amazon

Meanwhile, Malik is seeking to set up a separate advertising agreement with Carlson for his 1789 Capital firm, which focuses on investments that support 'deglobalization' and 'Anti-ESG (i.e. sectors that have been negatively impacted by such principles).'

He has previously appeared on Carlson's FOX show to discuss how people could opt out of ESG investing.

The partnership comes as the former FOX News host seeks to build his own media empire.

The new media venture will center around video primarily, both through an owned and operated website and app, and through free video distributed on Twitter and possibly other platforms.

It would be focused on subscriptions, and would eventually add shows from other hosts.

Carlson has also been pitching to potential investors that some of the videos will eventually be put behind a paywall on his own site.

In order to build up the new media venture, the Wall Street Journal reported, Carlson is looking to raise 'hundreds of millions of dollars.'

The news reportedly triggered sizable investor interest from both investment companies and wealthy individuals.

Malik has previously appeared on Carlson's FOX News show to discuss opting out of ESG

PublicSq is backed by conservative bigwigs including Donald Trump Jr. and former Senate candidate Blake Masters

But Carlson is continuing to face legal action from FOX News, which claimed the newscaster was 'in breach' of his contract, which runs until January 2025.

In a letter to Carlson's representatives, FOX lawyers argued that under his contract Carlson's 'services shall be completely exclusive to Fox.'

It adds that Carlson's contract says he is 'prohibited from rendering services of any type whatsoever, whether 'over the internet via streaming or similar distribution, or other digital distribution whether now known or hereafter devised.'

Carlson's lawyers, however, claim the network is violating Carlson's First Amendment right to Free Speech.

DailyMail.com has reached out to FOX News for comment.
Disgraced influencer Andrew Tate said he is 'positive' as he left court in Romania today after making a fresh appeal against his extended house arrest.

Tate's arrest was already extended for another 30 days last month and the verdict on whether this would be extended again is due around midday tomorrow.

He told reporters outside the Bucharest court where he and his brother Tristan Tate made their appeal today: 'God has put us on this path to try and awaken the world to perhaps the predatory crime this girl likes to indulge in.

'And, in the end justice shall be served. So, all in all we are very positive.'

The brothers were accompanied by bodyguards and their legal team as they walked out of the court.

Tate's (pictured in centre) arrest was extended for another 30 days last month and the verdict on whether this would be extended again is due around midday tomorrow

He told reporters outside the Bucharest court where he and his brother Tristan Tate (centre, Andrew left and Tristan right) made their appeal today: 'God has put us on this path to try and awaken the world to perhaps the predatory crime this girl likes to indulge in'

Tate further said that the Romanian court had a 'job to do' in examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion, adding: 'I trust in them to do exactly that and to be fair'

Tate further said that the Romanian court had a 'job to do' in examining the evidence and coming to a conclusion, adding: 'I trust in them to do exactly that and to be fair.'

'And after that there is going to be another conversation as to whether women can go around and accuse, seven, eight, nine, ten people of kidnapping on repeat whenever they don't get the handbag they want and if there's going to be any consequences to that. We will see,' the controversial British influencer said.

Last month, upon hearing that his arrest had been extended for a further 30 days, Tate wrote: 'They've just decided I must remain on house arrest into month 8 - this can continue indefinitely.

'I haven't been outside in 7 months,' he added.

The Tate brothers have been indicted on human trafficking and rape charges last month and are under house arrest after being detained in the country last year.

The anti-organised crime prosecution's unit (DIICOT) 'ordered the indictment' of the four defendants for offences, including 'setting up an organised criminal group... trafficking in persons... rape', they said.

DIICOT prosecutors have ordered the confiscation of assets from the Tate brothers including 15 luxury cars, luxury watches and about $380,000 they held in cryptocurrency, the agency's statement said.

Reacting to the news, Tate, 36, wrote on Twitter: 'I'm sure this case has absolutely nothing to do with stealing my wealth.'

A spokesperson for the Tate brothers told MailOnline that while the indictment was 'entirely predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation'.

The four were held in police custody from December 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest.

Reporters swarmed around Andrew Tate as he left the court in Bucharest. The controversial influencer told them he was feeling 'positive' about the outcome of his appeal

The brothers were accompanied by bodyguards and their legal team as they walked out of the court

Last month, upon hearing that his arrest had been extended for a further 30 days, Tate wrote: 'They've just decided I must remain on house arrest into month 8 - this can continue indefinitely. 'I haven't been outside in 7 months,' he added

Andrew Tate has also been charged with raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence. The brothers and female associates have denied all allegations of abuse and trafficking

Andrew Tate has also been charged with raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence. The brothers and female associates have denied all allegations of abuse and trafficking.

The trial will not start immediately, and could take several years.

Under Romanian law, the case gets sent to the court's preliminary chamber, where a judge has 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality.

The Tate brothers, former kickboxers who have US and British nationality with millions of online followers, are the highest-profile suspects to be sent to trial in Romania for human trafficking.

Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

This accusation was laid out in a press release in June about the indictment.

Tate's videos on social media fascinate millions - particularly teenage boys. Giving tips on how to be successful along with misogynist and sometimes violent maxims, the 36-year-old Briton has said women cannot be independent and blames those who are raped or assaulted.

His controversial output has made him one of the world's best-known influencers.

The Tate brothers (pictured), former kickboxers who have US and British nationality with millions of online followers, are the highest-profile suspects to be sent to trial in Romania for human trafficking

Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage. This accusation was laid out in a press release in June about the indictment

Tate (pictured December 29 as he was arrested) was held in police custody from December 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest

The Tate brothers - along with Romanian women Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel (pictured in February handcuffed and being led into court) - are currently under house arrest after being detained in the country last year

In 2022, the words 'Andrew Tate' were among the most searched on Google. But many adults only learnt of his existence in recent months, despite his influence on young men in the English-speaking world and beyond.

He went viral in December after he launched a bizarre Twitter attack on climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

'Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions', he wrote to her, posting a photo of him filling a Bugatti with petrol.

Thunberg's crushing reply referencing his 'smalld*ckenergy' was retweeted over 570,000 times.

Tate was born in the United States in 1986 and has US citizenship, according to his website. But after his parents separated, he grew up with his mother and brother in Luton, an economically depressed town north of London.

He has lived in Romania for several years. Before his rise to fame on social media and subsequent arrest, Tate was a professional kickboxer who gained the title of world champion.

He first came to wider attention by appearing as a contestant on the 'Big Brother' reality show in the UK in 2016. But he was quickly ejected after a video emerged showing him hitting a woman. After that he focused on building his online presence.

In August last year, he was banned from social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, for misogynist messages. His Twitter account was allowed back, however, after Elon Musk bought the company.

Tate founded the so-called Hustler's University, where he promises to teach paying students 'the secrets that ONLY the wealthiest people know'.

Tate and his brother Tristan were once 'broke as a joke' but are now 'self-made multi-millionaires', he writes on his site.

Romanian police officers wait to enter Andrew Tate's and his brother Tristan's residence, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, to check if they are present at the location, April 1

Flaunting his muscles, cigars and fast cars, Andrew Tate's videos on social media fascinate millions - particularly teenage boys

He went viral in December after he launched a bizarre Twitter attack on climate change activist Greta Thunberg, along with this picture of him filling a Bugatti with petrol. Thunberg's crushing reply referencing his 'smalld*ckenergy' was retweeted over 570,000 times

He runs a paid social networking platform called his 'war room', whose 'mission' he describes as helping 'all men to become the very best versions of themselves'.

'All men should be strong', he repeatedly states.

However, his comments on women have proved the most controversial.

'There's no such thing as an independent female', he said in a podcast. 'Unless she has a man directing her. She's gonna f*ck it up'.

He also said: 'I'm a realist and when you're a realist, you're sexist'.

He describes how he would hit a woman who accused him of cheating on her and says that women who are assaulted or raped are to blame. But his Twitter messages since his arrest have been very different.

He now quotes Nelson Mandela and the Koran. Having declared himself an atheist, he said in October that he had converted to Islam.
READ MORE: Burke is seen leaving his Long Island home for the first time since suspect's arrest

He also once slept with a sex worker in his police car while wearing his uniform

James Burke, the disgraced former chief of Suffolk County Police Department, hampered the Gilgo Beach investigation by taking the FBI off the case

Before the bombshell arrest on Thursday of Rex Heuermann over three of the Gilgo Beach murders, the case had been hampered by a series of scandals inside the police department leading the investigation.

The disgraced former chief of Suffolk County Police Department, James Burke, was at the center of the storm, which culminated in his imprisonment in 2016 for 46 months for battering a thief who stole a bag from his police car which contained porn and sex toys.

Shocking details emerged about Burke's alleged fondness for drugs and prostitutes. He has also been described by colleagues as a 'psychopath' who was always 'horny' and thought he was 'untouchable'.

Burke is also accused of stymying the Gilgo Beach case in its early stages by blocking the FBI's role in the investigation.

He forged a 'tough cop' reputation throughout his career that included dubious policing tactics and a penchant for cigars dipped in cherry brandy. Burke, who enjoyed a close relationship with several disgraced local officials, rose through the ranks of the department despite scandals that included sleeping with a prostitute in his patrol car.

James Burke, the disgraced former head of Suffolk County Police Department, has been accused of hampering the Gilgo Beach serial killer probe by booting the FBI off the case in its early stages

Burke pictured in 2015 outside an FBI office in New York after he was arrested and charged for beating a thief who took a bag of porn and sex toys from his police car then trying to cover up the attack

JAILED FOR BATTERING THIEF AND COVER UP

Burke's alleged secret taste for drugs and prostitutes came to light in 2015 after he was investigated for attacking Christopher Loeb, a young heroin addict who stole a bag from the police chief's car.

Inside the bag, Loeb found sex toys and a porn DVD with sickening footage that showed a bound and gagged women being tortured.

Burke battered Christopher Loeb (pictured), who stole a bag from the police chief's car which contained porn and sex toys

Burke was determined to catch the thief and protect his career - knowing the contents of the duffel bag could land him in hot water. He then orchestrated a failed cover-up when Loeb complained about the beating and the FBI investigated Burke and his cronies in Suffolk County.

Loeb broke into Burke's department-issued SUV in December 2012 and was later identified and arrested.

He was taken to a police station and handcuffed to the floor of an interrogation room before Burke violently battered Loeb. The police chief, who ran a force of 2,200 officers, also threatened to kill Loeb before a junior cop urged his boss to stop.

The episode ultimately exposed a culture of corruption at the highest levels of Suffolk County government. Ex-District Attorney Thomas Spota and Christopher McPartland, the former chief of an anti-corruption bureau, were also jailed for five years for their roles in the scandal.

The FBI had spent two years probing the cover-up before Burke was arrested after at least ten police office agreed to cooperate in the case.

The judge who jailed Burke, who was charged with conspiring to obstruct justice and violating Loeb's civil rights, said he 'corrupted a system'.

BURKE REMOVED FBI FROM GILGO BEACH PROBE

The saga involving Loeb unfolded as the police department was desperately working to track down the killer - or killers - of several women found dead in Gilgo Beach and the surrounding area from 2010 onwards.

Burke was appointed chief of police in late 2011, several months after the initial discovery of four women's bodies. The deaths were linked and became known nationwide as the Gilgo Beach murders.

Due to the severity and scale of the case, the FBI also joined the investigation. But soon after, Burke removed the bureau from the case. He allegedly blocked their role because he knew the bureau was also investigating his attack on Loeb and the subsequent cover-up, a source told the New York Post in 2015.

Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Authorities on Long Island are vowing to continue investigating the Gilgo Beach murders after charging an architect in the deaths of three of the 11 victims

The source claimed that Burke 'never wanted us involved in [the Gilgo Beach] case because he knew we were investigating him'.

One former Suffolk County family judge went on to claim Burke was able to block the FBI through 'something to do with 'initial jurisdiction' and other bureaucratic gibberish'. The judge, Greg Blass, wrote in the Riverhead Local: 'That a police chief can remove the FBI from a murder investigation in itself boggles the mind.'

The move was criticized for potentially delaying a breakthrough in the case.

BURKE'S 'REIGN OF TERROR'

Burke was able to rise to chief of police - and enforce his so-called 'reign of terror' - despite a checkered career that included a series of scandals.

How cops FINALLY snared Gilgo Beach 'serial killer': Police tracked murders through burner phones, fake email addresses, twisted Tinder profiles, DNA found on the victims' bodies and a leftover pizza Rex Heuermann, 59, is accused of slaughtering sex workers in 2009 and 2010 Advertisement

In 1993, he had a sexual relationship with a prostitute and was reprimanded for having sex with the woman in his squad car. Burke was wearing his uniform at the time.

The incident allegedly did not stop Burke's pursuit of sex workers, or end his taste for sordid encounters, according to testimony from sex workers and former colleagues in various outlets.

One prostitute once suggested there should be an investigation into whether Burke was tied to the Gilgo Beach murders. The prostitute, Lee Ann, claimed the police chief would attend drug-fueled sex parties with escorts in the Long Beach area. She said she had 'rough sex' with Burke and also witnessed him 'grab a girl by her hair and drag her to the ground'.

A profile of Burke in the Daily Beast said he was 'well-known to have a penchant not only for frequenting sex workers but for indulging in drugs'.

As chief, he allegedly repurposed his office 'into a makeshift bar which was open every night for drinks.' He would also ask his staff to 'conduct surveillance' on his girlfriend and her exes, it is claimed.

He has also been accused of holding grudges against colleagues and subordinates he didn't like, them punishing them with threats and demotions.

Former colleagues have described him as a 'psychopath' who was always 'horny' and thought he was 'untouchable'.
But furious locals in Wales claim the accommodation is a 'blot on the landscape'

Four luxury holiday chalets costing 185 a night face being demolished after it was revealed they were built without planning permission in a natural beauty spot.

Owner John Phillips said bookings had been 'flat out' since the waterside chalets with hot tubs on the Gower Peninsula in Wales were opened for guests a year ago.

But furious locals claim the chalets are a 'blot on the landscape' of Britains first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and should not have been built.

The cabins in the hamlet of Landimore, about 13 miles east of Swansea, faced objections from neighbours and even the National Trust - before planning officials ruled they detracted from the Landimore Conservation Area and Gower AONB.

Mr Phillips said he did not believe the buildings needed planning permission because of their size when he initially built them. But after speaking to council workers he was advised to apply for 'change of use' if he intended to rent them out.

The waterside chalets with hot tubs were constructed on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales

Owner John Phillips, his partner Kerrie Garret and their daughter Darcy-Mae, during construction of the chalets

Mr Phillips said bookings had been 'flat out' since the chalets opened for guests a year ago

He then applied for permission arguing that they would attract visitors all year round and boost the economy in an area where tourist accommodation was limited.

But there were 12 objections to his retrospective plans - including from the National Trust, on the grounds of increased noise, traffic and visual intrusion.

One objector described them as a 'blot on the landscape' while another said they should be demolished and the area replanted.

There were also two letters or support, which said the chalets were the type of high-class tourist accommodation Gower needed.

The luxury chalets were constructed without planning permission in a natural beauty spot

Furious locals claim the chalets are a 'blot on the landscape' on the Gower Peninsula

Mr Phillips said he was considering appealing the decision, saying: 'We don't understand what the big problem is.

'There's a massive need for rental accommodation down here, and it provides jobs. The local pubs, restaurants and takeaways must have seen an increase in business.'

The chalets are made up of a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, pull-out sofa bed for children, balcony and hot tub and each come with a parking space close to the Wales Coastal Path running around the entire Welsh coastline.

They are advertised on the business's website for 175 or 185 per night and have featured on Booking.com.

Mr Phillips said he did not believe the buildings needed permission because of their size

The owner applied for permission, arguing that they would attract visitors all year round

In a planning report, officers said the road leading to the chalets was too narrow, leading to potential pedestrian safety issues.

It also said Mr Phillips had not provided flood consequence and ecological reports, and that the chalets had damaged the roots of protected trees.

The planning officers' report added that the 'need and demand for the holiday chalets in this sensitive countryside location has not been justified'.

The officials refused retrospective planning permission.
Sealife experts are in a 'race against time' to discover why 55 whales washed ashore on a Scottish beach in one of the deadliest mass strandings in the country's history.

Dozens of the mammals were discovered at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, at around 7am on Sunday, however it soon emerged that only 15 were still alive.

Attempts were made to re-float two of the most active whales, but by 3.30pm, it was decided that the remaining pod members should be euthanised on welfare grounds, despite a multi-agency rescue attempt.

Tragically, just one of the highly social animals was successfully returned to sea and it has not been seen since, according to reports, while one was found with a prolapsed vagina, suggesting the pod may have stranded due to one female giving birth.

Dr Andrew Brownlow from the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) told BBC's Good Morning Scotland on Monday: 'In terms of the number of casualty animals, this is the biggest one we've had. This is one of the biggest pilot whale mass strandings we've ever dealt with.'

Dozens of the mammals were discovered at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, at around 7am on Sunday, however it soon emerged that only 15 were still alive

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Dr Brownlow is leading the taskforce today in a bid to determine the cause of the pod's death, which remains unclear, however he said he had a 'fairly clear idea' how the whales could have come onto a 'very shallow' beach in quite bad weather.

He explained: 'Because they're pilot whales, they form very strong social bonds.

'So if one animal goes on to the beach for whatever reason then it can be that the entire pod will follow and that is basically what happened in this case.'

Dr Brownlow said there was still a backlog of post-mortem examinations to take place on animals from previous mass strandings and that determining the cause of death will be a 'monumental task'.

He said: 'What we will try and do is triage these animals.

'We will select the animals we think best represent the rest of the pod and make sure we take samples and as much data from those as we can. Then it's simply a race against time, energy and weather.

'We will do the most we possibly can to find out what's going on here.'

The whales will be taken to a landfill site in Stornoway to be worked on and Dr Brownlow said they would be buried after the post-mortem examinations were complete.

Pilot whales are susceptible to ocean noise - particularly military sonar.

'We contacted the Navy and they said it did not have active military manourves in the area,' said a spokeswoman for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).

'Unfortunately pilot whales do suffer when they strand on soft sand. We kept hope to the end until it was decided on welfare grounds that those that were still alive needed to be euthanised.'

Company Mackay Coll started at 9am today to take the bodies away to the landfill.

A digger is today seen carrying one of the dozens of pilot whales which tragically died after washing up on the Isle of Lewis on Sunday

Diggers get to work on removing a pod of pilot whales from a beach in Scotland on Monday

After being removed from the beach, the bodies of the whales will be taken away to a landfill

'We came yesterday to take them further into the beach so the high tide wouldn't drag them back to the sea', one of the workers told MailOnline.

'It's better to take them away now than for them to wash up on another beach at a later date', he added. Samples of the whales' flesh were taken.

Forklifts and diggers traveled from the road access on the left side of the Traigh Mhor beach all the way to the right side where the whales were washed ashore.

The vehicles could carry at least two at a time, and there was a trailer that could carry multiple bodies.

Few other spectators were observed close the scene, even though the main road remains closed.

Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has asked people to avoid the area as a clean-up operation continues.

Attempts were made to re-float two of the most active whales, but by 3.30pm, it was decided that the remaining pod members should be euthanised on welfare grounds, despite a multi-agency rescue attempt

Tragically, just one of the highly social animals was successfully returned to sea and it has not been seen since, according to reports

A mass stranding of whales on Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland

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

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.

The whales will be taken to a landfill site in Stornoway to be worked on and Dr Brownlow said they would be buried after the post-mortem examinations were complete

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 small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family

'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.

Pilot whales are small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family.

A council 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.'

The pod was spotted close to shore around 7pm on Saturday, but it is not known exactly when they beached.

Originally the pod was thought to be a group of dolphins but it soon emerged they were pilot whales.

Long-finned pilot whales are highly social animals that have been recorded in groups of just a few to aggregations of over 1000 individuals.

A large pod of more than 50 pilot whales have become stranded in the Outer Hebrides

Pilot whales are well known for their mass stranding behaviour

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 then 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.

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.

Generally, 400-600 strandings are reported in the UK every year. That may seem like a lot but sometimes mass strandings occur where more than one animal strands at once, often alive.

Around a dozen rescuers have been pictured taking part in the rescue effort on the Isle of Lewis

A total of 16 whales died after being stranded on the east coast of Scotland in September 2012.

Ten others were refloated after being kept alive by vets from British Divers and Marine Life Rescue.

The incident between Anstruther and Pittenweem in Fife involved pilot whales, each of them approximately 20ft (6m) long.

In June 2015, 21 live pilot whales became stranded on the Isle of Skye. Although 18 survived and returned to sea, three died, including a female who'd recently given birth. The post-mortem results showed the animals were in a good nutritional state.

In September 2022, nearly 200 pilot whales died after becoming stranded on Ocean Beach, part of Tasmania's west coast. Authorities said only about 35 survived of the 230 that were stranded.
Heuermann, 59, has been charged with three counts of murder in relation to women found on Gilgo Beach in 2010

Colleagues say that they have been left 'shocked' by his dramatic arrest last week

The 6ft 4 architect was described as an 'ogre' by a witness to one of the alleged murders

Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann was nicknamed Peter Griffin by his colleagues  who described him as 'goofy'.

The alleged murderer, 59, is accused of slaughtering four sex workers in 2009 and 2010 before taunting one of their families using a burner phone.

Heuermann, an architect, was arrested on Thursday night outside of his office in Manhattan, with colleagues left 'shocked' by the sudden break in the cold case after nearly two decades.

One told Fox News Digital that they nicknamed him after the cartoon sitcom character because of the way that he looked  with witnesses to the crimes calling the hulking 6ft 4ins and 240-pound man an 'ogre'.

They added: 'We called him Peter, the family guy, mostly because of the way he looked. He was goofy.

The alleged murderer, 59, is accused of slaughtering four sex workers in 2009 and 2010 before taunting one of their families using a burner phone

Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann was nicknamed Peter Griffin by his colleagues  who described him as 'goofy'

'When I saw this whole thing unfold, I was in shock. How was this even possible? It's crazy. His contact is literally in my phone.

'He was always pretty patient with me. He taught me how to navigate through the city's building code.'

The married father-of-two, who ran RH Consultants & Associates, has denied killing Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

Police say that they expect to charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes and have not ruled out that he could be responsible for further offenses.

The former colleague added that he hired him as a consultant on a project and would work 'late hours' as well as being 'meticulous' in his work.

He said that they would 'spend hours' in his office, which ad 'nothing weird' in it and was neat and organized.

Heuermann's former colleague recalled: 'A year ago my wife was watching a documentary about this, telling me how this guy was out there killing all these girls on Long Island.

'I could have never imagined this. It's like the twilight zone.'

Another colleague said that the suspected serial killer was 'incredibly generous and took care of his people and really cared about them.'

The married father-of-two, who ran RH Consultants & Associates, has denied killing Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello

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

Cops this weekend searched a storage unit at the Omega Self Storage in Amityville, near where the bodies were found and where Heuermann lives

Image shows police at the single unit as they investigate 'in relation to the Gilgo suspect case'

Authorities had been tracking the alleged killer for at least a year before swooping outside of his offices in Midtown Manhattan  ending their investigation early over fears he would strike again.

They arrested him with a burner phone on his person, with court documents revealing that he used a phone for each of his victims.

Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said on Friday that Heuermann continued to patronize sex workers 'at all hours of the night' and was using burner phones to conceal his identity.

Police are now scouring two storage units in Amityville, next to Massapequa Park, where Heuermann has lived his whole life.

His home, which he has lived in since the 1980s, is also being picked apart by forensic teams who have been painstakingly taking items from the property since Friday.

He was tracked down after a taskforce was set up in 2022, with court documents revealing that he searched for updates on the case more than 200 times in a 14-month period.

A witness saw a first-generation Chevy Avalanche parked in the driveway of Amber Costello, around the time she vanished.

Heuermann also physically matched the description that witness gave to a man Amber had been seen with.

Officers were able to track down the owner of the rare vehicle, which led them to Heuerman and the breakthrough in the case.

FBI investigators had tracked down two areas of interest during their initial probe in 2012, identifying where phone calls made to the family of Melissa Barthelemy had originated from.

In January 2023, hair found on a piece of burlap used to wrap one of the Gilgo Beach victims was matched with DNA found on a pizza box in Heuermann's trash.

The Gilgo Beach investigation began in 2010 after sex worker Shannan Gilbert disappeared and a search for her body uncovered the remains of several other women.

Authorities made a number of shocking discoveries when the remains of eight women, a man and a child were found near the Gilgo Beach area between December 2010 and April 2011.

Heuermann, 59, was dramatically arrested Thursday night in midtown Manhattan outside his architectural office on Fifth Avenue

The Chevrolet Avalanche that led police to Heuermann was pictured outside his home on Bing and Google Earth images. A similar car had been described by witnesses to Amber Costello's disappearance

Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park. The property was raided on Friday and over the weekend

The storage units are just 2.3 miles from Heuermann's home and are also near where the bodies were found on Gilgo Beach

The army of forensic investigators will continue to comb through Heuermann's home in hopes of finding further evidence in the serial murder case that stumped them for over a decade.

Some of the remains found also matched with partial remains found decades earlier, as far back as 1996.

But in 2012, the case slowed as medical examiners ruled Shannan Gilbert had drowned accidentally during a drug-induced panic.

Her family brought a lawsuit against the investigating police department, sure of her murder. An independent autopsy organized by the family also contradicted the earlier findings.

Four years later, in 2016, Suffolk Police Chief of Department James Burke was imprisoned, found to have assaulted a suspect who had stolen his duffle bag reportedly containing sex toys and porn tapes in 2012.

His boss, District Attorney Thomas Spota, was also imprisoned for obstructing justice in relation to the scandal.

In a twist that year, an attorney for victim Shannan Gilbert's family said Burke should be investigated, bringing forward a sex worker who claimed she had had an aggressive encounter with him in 2011.

Suffolk's Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has dismissed speculation linking him to the case.
A British teen has been rescued from Malaysia's highest mountain after falling ill with suspected hypothermia and altitude sickness.

The 17-year-old girl was brought down from the 13,435ft (4,095m) high Mount Kinabalu to safety on Sunday, according to reports.

After being given first aid, she was taken to Ranau Hospital, where her condition was last described as stable.

Her name was withheld at the time of writing, but local media reported that she is 'from England'.

The Fire and Rescue Services Department in Ranau reported that the mountain search and rescue team had been called at 1.45pm local time to rescue the girl.

The girl was pictured wrapped head-to-toe in the golden foil blanked and strapped to a wooden stretcher as she was brought down from the mountain

At another point, she was pictured being carried by a rescuer as her hand clamed around his chest

At the time of her being taken back down the mountain, the British girl was being treated at the sick bay at Panalaban base camp, but needed more significant medical attention.

Panalaban, located at 3,272 metres (10,735 feet) above sea level, is the final pit stop before the ascent to Low's Peak - the mountain's summit.

According to the Fire and Rescue Services Department, the teenager was taken down part of the way on a stretcher and then taken to Timpohon Gate on piggyback.

From there, she was taken to hospital by the Emergency Medical Rescue Services.

Three mountain guides and five search-and-rescue rangers from Kinabalu Park assisted the three-man mountain search and rescue team in the operation.

After reaching the teenager, they gave her oxygen and wrapped her with a thermal blanket.

The girl was pictured wrapped head-to-toe in the golden foil blanket and strapped to a wooden stretcher.

At another point, she was pictured being carried by a rescuer as her hands clamed around his chest.

A 17-year-old girl from England sits in an ambulance after she was brought down by recue teams from Mount Kinabalu

The symptoms of altitude sickness include a headache, feeling and being sick, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath.

Symptoms of altitude sickness usually develop between six and 24 hours after reaching altitudes more than 2,500 metres (8,202 feet) above sea level.
Ron DeSantis is turning to his wife Casey to help jumpstart his campaign after several staffers were fired and expenses were cut back in a massive shakeup to his presidential effort.

Casey DeSantis will embark on a series of solo campaign events later this summer after she made her debut in Iowa earlier this month.

The first lady of Florida has been described as DeSantis' 'greatest asset and greatest liability.' She has been at his side at most of his campaign events, including a swing through Iowa this weekend.

She has an ease with voters that he lacks and is comfortable with the one-on-one interactions required in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Ron DeSantis will deploy wife Casey more this summer as part of his campaign reset - above the couple in Iowa on Saturday

A source close to the campaign told NBC News that Casey is a great asset in the 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.'

She also has a reputation for being the power behind the governor and heavily involved in his presidential effort.

And that presidential campaign, which is about two months old, is in the middle of its first reset.

DeSantis' campaign fired about 10 staffers this weekend, NBC News reported, amid a high financial burn rate and as his presidential effort has seen little traction in the polls.

The Florida governor trails Donald Trump in surveys of the Republican presidential nomination. Trump leads by 36 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

The former president has put DeSantis in his sights, even calling on him to drop out in a speech over the weekend.

DeSantis shows no signs of giving up, however, even as his campaign takes on new strategies, including broadening its outreach and working on its policy agenda.

'The more people hear from Ron DeSantis, the more they are rallying behind him and his vision to restore sanity to our nation and lead our Great American Comeback,' DeSantis campaign noted in an early on Monday.

DeSantis will speak about his faith in Washington DC on Monday morning and hold an event in North Carolina on Monday afternoon. He'll be in South Carolina on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

The governor also will appear on CNN on Tuesday in a rare interview not conducted with a conservative-friendly news outlet.

He'll also hold a retreat with high-powered donors in Park City, Utah, this weekend, Bloomberg reported, as he tries to refill his coffers with much needed cash and reassure influential Republicans that his campaign will go the distance.

'Ron DeSantis is going to be everywhere in the coming weeks, and hes just getting started,' his spokesman Andrew Romeo said.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (left) and Casey DeSantis (right) listen as Ron DeSantis speaks at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa

DeSantis raised $20 million in the second quarter of 2023 but $3 million of that can only be used for the general election, per federal law.

And about $14 million of that total haul came from donors who gave the maximum legal amount, meaning about two-thirds of his early donors will not be able to give directly to his campaign again.

Additionally, his campaign spent more than $1 million on payroll, payroll taxes, insurance and processing fees in the second quarter. It had 92 staffers on the books.

As DeSantis tightens his money belt he'll also cut down on travel, putting the emphasis on the early voting states of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Iowa.

Many in his orbit think DeSantis can repeat what Barack Obama did in Iowa the 2008 Democratic primary. Obama had a surprise victory over frontrunner Hillary Clinton in and that helped push him across the finish line to the party's nomination.

Trump also lost the Iowa caucuses in the 2016 Republican presidential primary to Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Casey DeSantis will be a major part of that effort.

The Florida first lady shone in her first solo campaign appearance earlier this month, chatting easily with Iowans about their corn crops, their schools, their families and the weather.

She has become a prominent public face and voice for Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign and was in Johnston to launch 'Mamas for DeSantis' - a national version of the group she started in Florida to help her husband win a second term as governor.

'It's one thing when your policies come out after us - the mamas. It's another thing when they come after our children. And that's when the claws come out,' she said.

In her talk she echoed her support for her husband's policies - including his 'war on woke' - and presented the case as to why he should be the next president.

Casey DeSantis held her first solo campaign event - joining voters in Iowa

In her 35 minute talk, she focused on three topics - her children, her husband and God.

She vowed to crisscross the country to help her husband win the Republican presidential nomination and the White House.

'As long as I have breath in my body I will fight for Ron DeSantis - not just because he's my husband; that is part of it - but it's because I believe in him,' she said.

'If you want somebody to go up to Washington DC to clean house, to be able to put this country back on the trajectory where we are talking about - our rights coming up from our creator and our government being put in place to protect our rights that are ours, he is the man to do it and if I have to crisscross this country, I'll do it,' she vowed.

But it was when she talked about schools and parental choice that she got the biggest applause from the packed venue. Education proved a major issue that moved votes in the 2022 midterm election.

'It should be up to the parents to decide what education they think are best for their children. And government should, again, get out of the way,' she said.

DeSantis launched 'Mamas for DeSantis' - similar to the group she launched to help Ron DeSantis when he ran for re-election as Florida governor in 2022

Casey DeSantis spoke alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds

Casey DeSantis wore camouflage pants, a white tank that read 'Mamas for DeSantis' in orange letter, a crucifix necklace and tan stiletto heels

And she echoed her husband's 'war on woke,' praising him for his policies during COVID that kept the state open and supporting parents over teachers.

'They're not doing the woke Olympics, by the way in the state of Florida, there's no discrimination if you use the wrong pronoun,' she said.

'It was COVID that was really what led to a lot of this parental empowerment revolution because for the first time parents were peering into the classroom, and they did not like what was being taught they saw - the sexualized curriculum being thrust in front of five year olds,' DeSantis said.

She credited Ron DeSantis with enabling 'parents to be able to go to the schools to say I want to see what kind of curriculum you're teaching our kids. And if they didn't give that information to the parent in a timely manner, they then had a right of action to be able to sue.'

She said it was those policies that led to him being re-elected as Florida governor in 2022.

Ahead of her talk, Casey DeSantis, wearing camouflage pants, a white tank that read 'Mamas for DeSantis' in orange letter, a crucifix necklace and tan stiletto heels, worked the crowd.

She moved easily among the voters, bending down to talk to one little girl and then telling her mother: 'She is awesome.'

She shook hands and made small talk, showing the ease with retail politics that many say her husband lacks. She gave hugs, posed for pictures, took selfies.

'God bless you. Thank you for the support,' she told one volunteer.

'Were going to be back a lot. Youre going to get tired of us,' she told voters.
An incredible 30,000-acre Montana cattle ranch that has been owned by the same family for more than a century has hit the market for $58.75 million.

The Camas Creek Ranch's current owner Jock Doggett and his wife Jamie have decided to sell as they have no children or heirs to leave it to.

However, Jock has emphasized that potential buyers of sprawling property should know that ranching is no easy lifestyle.

'You arent going to make it ranching if you are lazy,' he told The Wall Street Journal.

'There are many seven-day workweeks, but they are all just good people. You dont mind digging a ditch together, or chasing cows or sitting in a dingy bar with good people.'

The Camas Creek Ranch has been put on the market for $58.75 million after being in the same family for over 100 years

Owner Jock Doggett has emphasized that potential buyers of sprawling property should know that ranching is no easy lifestyle

The ranch houses a cattle operation with about 1,800 head of cattle and three residences

The ranch, established in 1917, sits between the Little and Big Belt Mountain ranges, about two hours from Bozeman.

It houses a cattle operation with about 1,800 head of cattle and three residences. However, the cattle aren't included in the property price and must be bought separately.

The main house, named The Yellow House, spans about 2,400 square feet with four bedrooms. It was recently remodeled with large windows, an open floor plan and a new kitchen.

The White House, built in 1917, sits on roughly 2,300-square-feet and features four bedrooms.

Mom's House, constructed 40 years later, has four bedrooms and sits on roughly 2,700-square-feet.

Additionally, a 7.5-mile creek runs through the property, which also has two reservoirs and several smaller creeks.

'Camas Creek Cattle & Sheep Company is a historical ranching operation that has not been offered to the market in over 100 yearsa true legacy of the Doggett Familys hard work, grit, commitment, and love for the land,' reads the property's listing.

The ranch sits between the Little and Big Belt Mountain ranges, about two hours from Bozeman

A 7.5-mile creek runs through the property, which also has two reservoirs and several smaller creeks

Jock 's great-grandfather started building the ranch in the early 1900s

'You arent going to make it ranching if you are lazy,' the owner said. 'There are many seven-day workweeks.'

'The Doggett Family transitioned from mining around Virginia City to ranching in central Montana in the late 1800s and have been diligently running sheep, cattle, and growing crops for nearly 160 years.'

It was Jock's great-grandfather who started building the ranch in the early 1900s.

The ranch's owner told the WSJ that wealthy outsiders have come into the area in recent years and driven up prices.

However, Jock claimed the place still has the feel of a close-knit community.

'People here still have that old-time ethic and get along with their neighbors, and even if they dont like each other, they are still the ones that will come help you when your house is on fire,' he said.

The ranch was featured in Ivan Doigs 1978 memoir This House of Sky, in which he talks about growing up in a ranch his father worked at.
Disney heiress Abigail Disney was arrested after joining climate activists blockading a ritzy New York airport in a protest over private jets - and cops had to use heavy duty power tools to cut her free from thick plastic piping as she lay on the ground.

The 63-year-old social activist was among dozens of eco-protesters who on Friday obstructed the regional East Hampton Airport in Wainscott, which services private jets only.

The demonstration involved groups including New York Communities for Change, Planet Over Profit and Sunrise Movement NYC.

In a press release, the groups said they were standing against the 'exclusive vacations of wealthy fossil fuel investors and polluters driving the climate crisis'.

Dramatic footage captured by other protesters shows the granddaughter of Roy O Disney - who co-founded The Walt Disney Company - joined to 12 other people via a long chain of white plastic pipes encasing their arms.

Disney was among 13 eco-protesters who on Friday were arrested for blockading the regional East Hampton Airport in Wainscott, which services private jets only

Disney, who is worth an estimated $120 million, was filmed at eye-level as she lay on the ground while cops used power tools to cut her from the thick plastic piping, which the group had secured with layers of silver duct tape

The Hollywood-born activist is third in the chain of people, which stretches across the entrance to the airport at 173 Daniels Hole Road.

Several more protesters stood behind them chanting 'stand up, fight back' - some with pitchforks, and others playing steel drums.

Disney, who is worth an estimated $120 million, was filmed at eye-level as she lay on the ground while cops used power tools to cut her from the thick plastic piping, which the group had secured with layers of silver duct tape.

One cop holds the piping down over her right arm, while another uses the tool to drill through the plastic.

Disney does not resist, and looks apprehensive as the tool loudly shudders through the casing inches from her face.

She was later handcuffed by police and led into the back of a van, while the din of drills and protesters continuing their chant reverberated in the background.

Writing on Twitter two days after her arrest, Disney said police took her fingerprints and a mugshot.

'At 63 I still had not popped my fingerprint/mug shot cherry so I did this,' Disney said, sharing a link to an article about the protest.

'Because the last thing this planet needs is billionaires spewing greenhouse gases to get to their palatial beach homes. Just so wrong.'

New York Communities for Change said Disney was among 13 protesters arrested over the demo, as they shared posts with the hashtag '#StormtheHamptons' on social media.

'Its time to ban private jets and tax the rich so we can all live,' the group said.

'The 1% (richest people on the planet) must slash climate-heating pollution from their businesses, investments, and assets.

'They should fund climate policies that invest in good, union jobs and infrastructure for our communities to go to 100% clean energy.'

The 63-year-old activist was later handcuffed by police and led into the back of a van, while the din of drills and protesters continuing their chant reverberated in the background

The demonstration involved groups including New York Communities for Change, Planet Over Profit and Sunrise Movement NYC. In a press release, the groups said they were standing against the 'exclusive vacations of wealthy fossil fuel investors and polluters'

The Hollywood-born activist was third in the chain of people, which stretched across the entrance to the airport at 173 Daniels Hole Road. Several more protesters stood behind them chanting 'stand up, fight back' - some with pitchforks, and others playing steel drums

The group called on New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to 'tax the rich'.

Hochul, a Democrat, was in New York City over the weekend giving an update on the extreme weather impacting the wider state, while on Monday she announced statewide air quality warnings.

'We are in danger of seeing record rainfall again,' she told the weekend conference. 'Every part of the eastern side of New York is under a flood watch at the moment.'

On Monday, Hochul urged New Yorkers to 'take necessary steps to stay safe' amid air quality which was ranked as 'unhealthy' for most of the region due to pollution levels.

Disney, the daughter of Patricia Ann and Roy E. Disney, and granddaughter of Roy O. Disney who co-founded The Walt Disney Company in 1923, is known for her activism and documentary-making.

She has focused on a range of issues throughout her career, including women's rights, and tackling New York poverty.

Last year, she made headlines for calling the American dream a 'fairy tale' in a documentary which used the Walt Disney Company to explore 'nightmare' wage gaps in America.

In 'The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,' which is co-directed by Kathleen Hughes, Disney used the company that made her a millionaire to explore what she views as America's broken economic system.

She has also made documentaries herself, including the widely-acclaimed Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which explored the critical role women played in bringing peace to war torn Liberia.

The documentary led to a fully fledged feature for PBS, Women, War & Peace, which aired in 2011 and looked at the role of women in war in the modern age.

Since 1991, Disney together with her husband Pierre Hauser set up The Daphne Foundation to fund programs that attempt to deal with the causes and consequences of poverty in New York City.

In 2008, Disney launched Peace is Loud, a nonprofit that showcases women leaders.

Pictured: Disney participating in a panel discussion during the annual Milken Institute Global Conference at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 29, 2019 in Beverly Hills

Disney did not resist arrest on Friday, and she later tweeted that police took her fingerprints and a mugshot for the first time

In 2011 she visited the Congo and in 2015 the border between North and South Korea in an attempt to show solidarity with the women of those countries.

Disney is also part of a group called Patriotic Millionaires, joining with a number of other ultra-wealthy people who support raising taxes on the rich. Disney's net worth is estimated to be approximately $120 million.

During the pandemic, she wrote in an opinion piece criticizing practices by wealthy individuals who seek to reduce their tax burden and protecting their wealth across generations.

She slammed practices including 'offsetting income with losses in unrelated businesses; structuring assets to grow rather than generate income, then borrowing against those growing assets for cash needs; and deducting interest payments and state taxes from taxable income'.

Disney has even criticized former Disney CEO Bob Iger's compensation package. In 2018, Iger earned a $66 million package, while in 2019, with his compensation package was estimated to be approximately $35 million.

In an op-ed in the Washington Post that same year, she urged for pay equity reform.

Disney has focused on a range of issues throughout her career, including women's rights, and tackling New York poverty. Pictured: Disney attends The Women's Media center 2018 Women's Media Awards at Capitale on November 1, 2018 in New York City

In July 2019, Disney criticized working conditions at Disneyland and in 2020 she publicly criticized the corporation for furloughing hundreds of thousands of low paid workers during the coronavirus pandemic

Earlier in 2022, Disney spoke out against current Disney CEO Bob Chapek after he refused to make any statement on anti-LGBT legislation in Florida signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Iran's morality police are set to return to the streets to resume patrols forcing women to wear the Islamic headscarf and obey the strict dress code 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide and international 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.

Amini, an Iranian-Kurd, had been arrested by morality police for allegedly violating the dress code, which requires women to cover their head and neck in public.

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 and no longer wear a hijab, especially in the capital, Tehran, and other cities.

Iranian women walk on a street during the revival of morality police in Tehran, Iran, over the weekend

The morality police had largely pulled back following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini (pictured) last September in their custody

A protester holds a portrait of Mahsa Amini during a demonstration in support of Amini in September last year

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.

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 track down offenders.

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.

Online images have shown female police officers, clad in all-black chadors, berating and arresting women whose heads were uncovered. AFP could not independently verify the authenticity of the images.

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.

Iran's police forces walk on a street during the revival of morality police in Tehran

Iran's police forces stand on a street during the revival of morality police in Tehran

An Iranian woman walks on a street during the revival of morality police, 10 months on from Mahsa Amini's death

A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini in September last year

People light a fire during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's 'morality police', in Tehran

An unveiled woman standing on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town in October last year

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.

The dress code has been in place since the aftermath of the Islamic revolution of 1979. Offenders face fines or prison terms of up to two months.

A police motorcycle and a trash bin are burning during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini in September last year

Iranian demonstrators take to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini, days after she died in police custody

Iran's conservatives, who dominate the country's parliament and leadership, have passionately defended the dress code but, with many Iranians demanding change, in May the judiciary and the government proposed a 'Support for the Culture of Hijab and Chastity' bill, which sparked heated debate within the country.

The text proposes increased fines for 'any person removing their veil in public places or on the internet' but withdraws the threat of a prison sentence.

Within Iran's leadership 'there is no consensus on the hijab', as some favour repression, while others 'believe that other means must be tried', sociologist Abbas Abdi has said.

The United States, Britain and the European Union have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Iran over its response to the protest movement.
Do you know the passenger? Email: claudia.aoraha@mailonline.com

An unruly business class United Airlines passenger was kicked off a transatlantic flight after he started complaining that his meal choice was unavailable.

The airline confirmed that flight UA20 from Houston to Amsterdam was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Chicago because of passenger disturbance on July 9.

Multiple people, both in the air and on the ground once the flight diverted, recorded the man ranting about how he didn't get his desired meal - saying he was 'treated like s**t' after forking out $1,000 extra for a business class ticket.

Flight Radar, which tracks the movements of planes in the air, first tweeted: '#UA20 from Houston to Amsterdam jettisoning fuel prior to diversion to Chicago due to an unruly passenger.'

The tracker showed the aircraft doing loops in a holding pattern above Lake Michigan to dump fuel before stopping at O'Hare Airport. Planes jettison fuel as the extra weight can create dangerous levels of strain on landing.

The business class United Airlines passenger was kicked off the transatlantic flight after he started complaining because his meal choice was unavailable

In a separate video, filmed in the terminal in Chicago, the unruly passenger is disembarked from the plane and then continues his spat while speaking to United ground staff at the gate

The rowdy passenger was said to be sitting in seat 11G - meaning he was in Uniteds Polaris Business Class cabin.

He had a lie-flat business class aisle seat with 78 inches of seat pitch, but he allegedly became angry when he was declined his first choice of meal.

Passengers are usually offered a full three-course meal in addition to more food throughout the flight. He was only around 2 hours and 30 minutes into the flight before he was forced to disembark.

The decision to divert the aircraft and remove the man, who was recorded harassing staff and other passengers, was made before the Boeing 777-200 was over the Atlantic Ocean.

After the flight was refueled, the passengers were able to continue their transatlantic flight to Amsterdam.

He had a lie-flat business class aisle seat with 78 inch of seat pitch, but he allegedly became angry when he was declined his first choice of meal

The rowdy passenger was said to be sitting in seat 11G - meaning he was in Uniteds Polaris Business Class cabin

The man then was seen rolling his suitcase and carrying his rucksack as he followed the authorities through one of the terminals at O'Hare Airport

The journey from Houston to Amsterdam was meant to take 9 hours and 30 minutes, but this was lengthened after the disruption from the man in business class.

Through the unclear audio, the man can be heard saying, while standing up from his seat in business class: 'I've been a United flyer for a long time.'

He says: 'You know what, f**k you...' before becoming muffled again.

He continues to rant at the flight attendants, although it's unclear what point he is making: 'I don't want to comply with anything because...whenever the government and the regulations tell me, that's where I need to be.'

The man then yells: 'You're a douche. You know it though. You know you're a douche.'

He is then heard, in a mocking tone: 'I'm going to stand up for the airline!'

In a separate video, filmed in the terminal in Chicago, the unruly passenger is disembarked from the plane and then continues his spat while speaking to United ground staff at the gate.

He says: 'I am a regular traveler like everybody else, but I decided because I have injuries that I'm going to take a 9.5 hour flight to Amsterdam, and I'm going to pay the extra $1,000.

'And all I wanted to do was get a meal.

'You can take me wherever you want. Am I under arrest? What are you going to do? Who are you anyway?'

Referencing the fact he is recording the ordeal himself, he adds: 'I would love for you to be on Fox News.

'Why do you think that one of your flight attendants is able to decide that I don't get to be treated like everybody else?'

He then pats the police officer on the shoulder and tells him twice: 'I love you.'

As the United staff continually try to get him to move into a private room, he keeps saying: 'I don't like the way your airline treated me, so why should I...'

He can then be heard complaining about how he spent $1,000 both ways from the US to the Netherlands '..to get treated like s**t and booted off a plane.'

The man is seen rolling his suitcase and carrying his backpack as he follows the authorities through one of the terminals at O'Hare Airport.

United Airlines confirmed to DailyMail.com: 'United flight 20 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Amsterdam diverted to OHare International Airport and landed safely following a passenger disturbance.

'Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and escorted the passenger off the plane. The aircraft then continued to Amsterdam.'
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A flood of fresh evidence after the arrest of suspected killer Rex Heuermann could link the 'Eastbound Strangler' and 'Gilgo Beach Serial Killer' as disturbing details of the Long Island case begin to surface.

Heuermann, 59, was arrested Thursday and charged with the murder of three of the 'Gilgo Four' - a group of four women whose remains were unearthed near the island's Gilgo Beach in 2010.

He has pleaded not guilty to the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. Police have said he is also the prime suspect Maureen Brainard-Barnes murder.

The compelling theory was first presented in Lifetime's latest movie The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice.

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann (pictured), 59, is charged with three murders connected to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder. Theories have swirled that the Long Island killer could be connected to a string of murders near Atlantic City

In the case, which took place in a township known as Egg Harbor, about 20 minutes west of Atlantic City all four victims were female sex workers killed by strangling.

In the Long Island case, most of the victims were also female sex workers, and several of them were strangled.

The documentary chronicles the search for the person who murdered at least 10 people whose bodies were found on Gilgo and Oak beaches in Suffolk County, New York, between 2010 and 2011.

The Long Island Serial Killer case began in May 2010 with the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker who vanished after leaving a client's house on foot near Gilgo Beach.

A police officer and his cadaver dog were searching for Gilbert's body in a thicket near the beach when they happened upon the remains of a different woman.

Within days, three other bodies were found, all within a short walk of one another.

By spring 2011, that number had climbed to 10 sets of human remains - eight women, a man and a toddler.

The first four bodies found were those of women in their 20s who worked as prostitutes, according to police.

Maureen Brainard Barnes, 25, went missing on July 9, 2007. Her remains were found on December 13, 2010.

Megan Waterman, 22, who had a daughter, went missing on June 6, 2010. Her body was also found on December 13, 2010.

Four years before the first Long Island victim was found, police found four women strangled in a drainage ditch behind a motel in Egg Harbor township on November 20, 2006. The victims were (clockwise from top left): Kim Raffo, 35; Tracy Ann Roberts, 23; Molly Jean Dilts, 20; and Barbara V Breidor, 42

The remains of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, who had been living in the Bronx at the time, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27, were also found on December 13, 2010.

Barthelemy's body was the first to be found. She went missing on July 12, 2009. Costello disappeared on September 2, 2010.

Using advanced DNA testing not available early in the case, authorities also reexamined hairs found on a belt buckle, duct tape and a burlap restraint used in the killings.

Meanwhile, investigators employed more old-fashioned methods to snare a sample of Heuermann's DNA: They tailed him and sifted through his garbage to pluck 11 bottles from his home bin and grab partially eaten pizza crusts that he'd tossed into a trash can on a Manhattan sidewalk.

The DNA from the pizza matched a hair found on burlap wrapped around one victim, and other hairs matched a relative of Heuermann's who isn't a suspect, investigators said. They believe he got the other person's hair on him at home.

Speaking to CNN Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said they're 'confident' they'll charge Heuermann for the fourth murder of Brainard-Barnes.

The Long Island Serial Killer case began in May 2010 with the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert (pictured), a 24-year-old sex worker who vanished after leaving a client's house on foot near Gilgo Beach

'We're also confident that we're going to be able to eventually charge that fourth murder,' Tierney said.

'We have a description of the last individual who saw the final victim, Amber Costello, alive that matches that of this defendant, who has a rather unique physical appearance,' Tierney said.

'We have phone evidence, and we also have that DNA evidence.'

In March 2011, police discovered the skull of a 20-year-old prostitute identified as Jessica Taylor.

Five more remains were discovered at Gilgo Beach over the next two weeks.

Gilbert's body was later found in the marsh in the community of Oak Beach in December 2011, about three miles east of where the other 10 sets were discovered.

Police have long maintained that Gilbert's death was accidental and excluded her from the 10 other bodies found during the case.

They said at the time that she drowned in a drug-induced haze after wandering into the wetland, but her relatives have long disputed that determination.

An independent autopsy results commissioned by Gilbert's mother indicated she too may have been strangled like the other victims.

Four years before the first Long Island victim was found, police were faced with their own gruesome mystery.

On November 20, 2006, two women came across the body of 35-year-old Kim Raffo in a drainage ditch behind the Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township.

Police arrived to discover the bodies of three other women - Barbara V Breidor, 42; Molly Jean Dilts, 20; and Tracy Ann Roberts, 23 - a few yards away from Raffo.

The bodies were each in different stages of decomposition, suggesting that they were killed at different times. Their bodies were displayed in the same manner - face down, pointing east, and barefoot.

The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice chronicles the search for the person who murdered at least 10 people whose bodies were found on Gilgo and Oak beaches in Suffolk County, New York, between 2010 and 2011. Pictured: The first four victims found in the Long Island Serial Killer case

Jessica Taylor (left) and Valerie Mack (right) were found dead on Suffolk County beaches during the Long Island Serial Killer investigation

Police believe all four women, who were sex workers, were strangled.

Unlike the Long Island case, the Eastbound Strangler still hasn't been identified nearly 15 years later.

While Lifetime's flick drew several comparisons between the two mysteries, investigators are yet to connect the two cases.

New Jersey criminal profiler John Kelly first heard about the murders near Atlantic City on November 20 2006.

Three of the bodies were in a cluster, each placed within 50 to 60 feet of each other, Kelly said. The last woman murdered was found directly behind the motel.

'The way he took the women and propped them up in the ditch, the way he posed the women, spaced them out  he is a very sophisticated killer,' Kelly told DailyMail.com in an earlier interview.

Kelly's team immediately crafted a criminal profile of the killer, which Kelly said local authorities used to search for suspects.

Police search the beach in Suffolk County in April 2011 after the remains of 10 people were found nearby - launching a hunt for a serial killer that still hasn't been solved 10 years later

Suffolk County divers search Hemlock Cove in Babylon amid serial killer case in April 2011

The initial profile read:

'This lethal predator is a local male, who is very familiar with the area around Atlantic City, and the disposal site of his victims.'

'He has a very organized personality, which influences his personal and everyday activities, including his work.

'He is very rigid and structured in his everyday life. A place for everything and everything in its place' would be his motto.

'He has read (and reads) books on serial killers and he has some knowledge of crime scenes and crime investigations.'

'He has an extreme foot fetish and has a collection of women's shoes and the shoes of his victims.'

'He has not killed every prostitute he has come in contact with. There are prostitutes who know him for the sexual gratification he gets from their feet.'

'He is nonsocial and likes to keep to himself. He is narcissistic (everything revolves around him), and he is also very concerned with making himself look good in all aspects.'

Pictured: The drainage ditch where the four women were found on November 20, 2006

Three crosses are seen near the site where the four victims were found in Egg Harbor Township

'He is also extremely opinionated. If criticized or disagreed with, he would become extremely angry or agitated. Although at times, when he wants to, he can be very charming.'

'In his post-offense mode, he would say things like 'They got what they deserved' or 'Good riddance.''

'He follows the news of his killings in the media.'

'His hobbies would include art and photography, and his obsessive fantasies would compel him to search for sexually graphic and/or violent pictures in all media.'

'He probably has a prior record of sexual or physical abuse or sexual harassment toward women. He may have recently suffered a setback in his work or in a relationship.'

'This predator is probably detached from his father and was abused as a child.'

'This person has also killed before these recent victims were found, and he will be compelled to continue his murderous ways in the future.'

New York state police 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 his alleged victims

DailyMail.com has put this profile to Suffolk County Police Department and the Gilgo Beach Killings taskforce for comment. Kelly did not believe there to be a link at the time.

Some of the Long Island victims families were also not sold on the theory, but are yet to make comment since Heuermann's arrest - including Melissa Cann, whose sister Maureen Brainard Barnes was one of the first women found dead on Long Island.

'I do not believe the murder victims near Atlantic City are related to my sister's murder,' Cann said.

'It has never been told to me that they are or were linked. From my understanding, they are not.'

The Lifetime film leaves open the possibility of a connection, however, and ended with a call for justice for victims in both cases.

On Sunday, New York state police removed a massive haul of weapons from the house, a day after scouring the property to determine whether Heuermann had any 'trophies' from three victims he is charged with murdering.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show officers carrying out at least four long-barreled firearms from the architect's 'dungeon'-like house as well as several blue plastic boxes with weapons in them.

Despite Heuermann's arrest in connection to three of the Gilgo Beach homicides, the cases of several other human remains uncovered in the area around the same time are still unsolved.

Though prosecutors have said in court documents that Heuermann is also the 'prime suspect' in the killing of Brainard-Barnes, the last of the Gilgo Four, no charges have been made in the case. The investigation is 'expected to be resolved soon,' according to prosecutors' bail application.
Eric Adams has named a new New York Police commissioner - roughly a month after Keechant Sewell abruptly resigned from the role.

The mayoral maneuver was formally announced Monday during a 10am news conference in the Bronx, and saw former First Deputy Commissioner Edward Caban appointed to the plum position.

A New Yorker with more than 30 years' NYPD experience, Caban, 55, had already been serving as interim commissioner since Sewell, 51, stepped down on June 12, over alleged frustrations with her attempts to act with autonomy.

In the weeks that ensued, Caban - a rumored Adams confidante who insiders say routinely circumvented Sewell to speak with the mayor - surfaced as a clear-cut replacement.

He was greeted by chants of 'Eddie! Eddie!' as he arrived in front of the 40th Precinct to accept the honor in a ceremony presided over by his friend, who made the announcement.

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New NYPD Boss Edward Caban - who has more than 30 years' experience with the departmentent by chants of 'Eddie! Eddie!' as he arrived in front of the 40th Precinct to accept the honor Monday in a ceremony presided over by his friend Eric Adams

The ceremony was presided over by Adams, who named Caban the department's interim boss back in June

'When I reflect on my time of being mayor of this great city, this is going to be probably one of the most significant and emotional moments for me of bringing forward a person that is representative of this blue collar city,' Adams said Monday.

He went on to call Caban - the city's first ever Latino police boss - a 'consummate professional', citing his more than 32 years of experience.

'This is an amazing moment for not only the Spanish-speaking community,' Adams said of Caban's appointment. 'This is amazing moment for our entire city and country of what we are doing.'

Caban - who became the NYPD's First Deputy Commissioner in 2022 not long after Sewell was named the department's first-ever female commissioner - proceeded to thank officers in attendance before he was sworn in.

'I want to begin by giving thanks to God for this incredible day, because with God, all things are possible,' Caban said, before recalling the start of his policing career as a patrol officer in the Bronx.

'My journey with the NYPD began over 32 years ago. A young Puerto Rican kid from Parkchester standing on a foot post in the South Bronx, just like thousands who came before me and thousands who have come after me in those days, the top bosses of the police department didn't really look like me.

'Police Officer Eddie Caban could not walk into the fourth Precinct, look up at the leadership photos hanging on the wall and envision his future.'

The father-of-two went on to praise his predecessor for her 18-month stint as the city's top cop, during which the rate of shootings and homicides dropped and the city and the Police Benevolent Association negotiated a new contract.

Caban - a rumored Adams confidante who insiders say routinely circumvented Sewell to speak with the mayor - was seen embracing his friend after being sworn in

A Puerto Rican from the Bronx, Caban is the first Latino officer to lead the NYPD in the force's 177-year history

Adams crowned the new New York Police commissioner four weeks after Keechant Sewell (right) abruptly resigned from the role, reportedly over private clashes with the mayor

Seen here with his predecessor in April, the former deputy praised Sewell Monday for her 18-month stint as commissioner, during which crime in the city dropped some 20 percent

'The NYPD is the most consequential police department in all of law enforcement,' he said. 'Of course, my three decades of experience, I have seen those qualities close from simple acts of kindness to uncompromised examples of bravery.

'Commissioner Sewell smashed the glass ceiling that lingered on for far too long, and she did so with grace, confidence and honor.

'In her time as police commissioner, she brought down crime, and we are standing on that great foundation. Together, we will build upon our successes and continue to drive down crime and improve the quality of life in our communities.'

Before embracing the officer, Adams also thanked Sewell for her 18 months of service - citing how she came to the department at perhaps its lowest low.

'When we appointed Keechant Sewell to be the first woman to be the police commissioner in the city of New York, we started on a journey when the police department was moving in the wrong direction in the area of law enforcement,' Adams said of the early days of the pandemic. 'Morale was down.'

Of the force's some 34,000 officers, he said: 'We were placing them on the front line. We started the year losing two young people Mora and Rivera,' noting the line-of-duty deaths of two NYPD patrolmen in 2022.

'No matter what our officers did, we treated them with a level of disrespect. We wanted them to be on the front line, but we were not there for them when they were on that front line.'

He went on to recall and - reiterate - the message he gave disgruntled officers around that time, during his first few weeks in office. 'I've got your back,' he said.

Sewell's resignation earlier this month reportedly came after she privately clashed with Mayor Adams on a police disciplinary matter, and after Caban - who was fast tracked to first deputy in one of Adams' first mayoral moves - reportedly repeatedly circumvented her authority to speak with the politician about policing matters

As for Sewell, her resignation earlier this month reportedly came after she privately clashed with Mayor Adams on a police disciplinary matter - and after Caban - who was fast tracked to first deputy in one of Adams' first moves as mayor - reportedly circumvented her authority to speak with Adams about policing matters.

What's more, when Adams championed Caban to become deputy commissioner, insiders said he bypassed other senior officials to do so.

When asked about the still-unknown reasons for Sewell's departure, sources familiar with the matter told The New York Post that Adams did not expect her resignation, saying: 'The mayor was caught short. They did not think she would be leaving today.

'The earliest they thought it was later in the summer.'

Adams added in a statement in June: 'I want to thank Police Commissioner Sewell for her devotion over the last 18 months and her steadfast leadership. Her efforts played a leading role in this administration's tireless work to make New York City safer.

'When we came into office, crime was trending upwards, and thanks to the brave men and women of the NYPD, most of the major crime categories are now down.

'The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude.'

Sewell, meanwhile, who took over the department during a critical time of rife crime and anti-police sentiment, has kept quiet about the reasoning behind her resignation.

In an internal memo announcing her resignation obtained by DailyMail.com, she citied some of the circumstances she inherited after being brought on to the NYPD from Nassau's chief of detectives in 2021.

'Since I joined you almost a year and a half ago we have faced tremendous tragedy, challenges and triumphs together,' she wrote.

'I have witnessed your compassion, heroics and selflessness on a daily basis.'

She added: 'While my time here will come to a close, I will never step away from my advocacy and support for the NYPD, and I will always be a champion for the people of New York City.'

Adams appointed Sewell as the city's 45th police commissioner when he took office in January 2022, and she was the first woman to lead the nation's largest police department.

A 23-year vet of the Long Island police force, she oversaw some 35,000 uniformed offices and 18,000 civilian employees as NYPD commissioner.

Like Caban, she was also raised in New York, in the borough of Queens. She succeeded Dermot Shea, who was appointed the city's top cop in 2019 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Several people have been stabbed at different locations, including at a McDonald's in Oxford, North Carolina, on Monday morning.

Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain confirmed that a suspect - who allegedly stabbed four people - has been taken into custody.

Police chased the suspect on Interstate 85 North before they were arrested around 90 minutes after the first attack.

The ordeal started at 7.30am when the suspect stabbed a government employee on Belle Street near the Granville County Administration Offices.

One person was stabbed at McDonald's. Customers have been barred from entering while law enforcement search the location

Several people have been stabbed at different locations, including at a McDonald's in Oxford, North Carolina, on Monday morning

The knifing suspect then moved to Wall Street, where they stabbed another person near the Granville County Board of Elections.

One person was then stabbed at McDonald's on MLK Jr Avenue and East Industry Drive. Customers have been barred from entering while law enforcement search the location.

Another attack occurred at a Walmart supercenter on Lewis Street.

All of the stabbing victims were rushed to hospitals outside of Granville County.

The McDonald's on MLK Jr Avenue and East Industry Drive is where one of the people were stabbed on Monday morning. It's unclear what the motive is

Their conditions have not been released.

Oxford Police Chief Pat Ford said that all of the knifings appeared to be random - but an investigation is underway to determine the motive.

Ford said that the suspect's name has not been released at this time.

Cops confirmed that they acted alone, and there were no other threats to the general public.

Fountain said: 'It was just somebody may have had a bad day, may have been a mental health crisis, but we're working diligently with the DA's office and local law enforcement to find out what occurred.'
A transgender activist who served 30 years behind bars for attempted murder has been recalled to jail after allegedly urging a crowd at a trans rally to 'punch a TERF'.

Sarah Jane Baker, 53, was charged with a public order offence following an incident at the Trans Pride event in Westminster, London, on July 8.

It comes amid accusations she called for violence against those critical of the transgender movement. Baker denies the offence.

Baker, of Richmond, reportedly told a cheering crowd at the 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.'

She was arrested following the alleged incident and has been recalled to prison for breaching her licence conditions, the Met Police said. MailOnline understands she has been sent to a male-only jail, amid speculation she was in a facility for females.

Sarah Jane Baker (pictured) was one of the speakers at the Trans+ Pride event in London on July 8. She is alleged to have urged the crowd to 'punch' a TERF - an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist

Baker is pictured at the Trans+ Pride rally on July 8 where she allegedly spoke to the crowd

A spokeswoman for the Met Police added: 'A 53-year-old woman has been charged with a public order offence following an incident during the Trans Pride event in Westminster on Saturday, 8 July.

'She was also recalled to prison for breaching the terms of her licence conditions.'

Baker was charged on Thursday and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, where she pleaded not guilty to the alleged public order offence.

TERF is the acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, a term often used to refer to critics of trans ideology.

Baker was originally jailed for kidnapping and torturing her stepmother's brother, she was then convicted while behind bars of the attempted murder of another inmate when she was 21. She was released in 2019.

Baker, a violinist and artist who is originally from Brixton in South London, later claimed the victim - an alleged child rapist - had bullied her.

Speaking to the Anything Goes with James English podcast in 2020, Baker described how she had always felt uncomfortable in a male body and, in December 2017, resorted to drastic measures by cutting off her own testicles.

'I hated my body and I reached out to the staff and said to them, ''if you don't help me, I will help myself'', and they just laughed,' she remembered.

Baker was originally jailed for kidnapping and torturing her stepmother's brother, she was then convicted while behind bars of the attempted murder of another inmate. She was released in 2019 (Baker pictured in January)

The Trans+ Pride event on July 8 saw thousands march through London in what they referred to as the 'biggest-ever' call for Trans rights

'I said, ''I will remove my own testicles, that's what I'll do''... I am genuinely a person of my word, if I tell you I'm going to do something then I'm going to do it.

'I've also been diagnosed with a personality disorder and one of my risk factors is being impulsive. It was an impulsive decision that I made to take a prison razor blade at 2 o'clock in the morning and to remove my own testicles.'

She admitted that this had been an incredibly 'dangerous' decision, but said it had felt 'important'.

Baker admitted to getting involved in drug dealing, phone smuggling and sex work while behind bars.

The 53-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday - six days before her 54th birthday.
A jealous lover has gunned down his former girlfriend's new fiance and then shot himself in the head in front of his horrified ex outside a hotel in Poland.

Mikoaj Bachosz killed Kordian Domagaa last night, who had just gotten engaged to Julia Harmacinska - Bachosz ex-girlfriend - two weeks ago.

Disturbing pictures taken outside a city centre hotel in the picturesque tourist district of Poznan, Poland, shows Domagaa lying on the floor as his distraught 20-year-old fiancee crouches over him.

She was visibly distressed and started screaming for help when Bachosz fired another shot into her fiance lying on the ground. Bachosz then shot himself in the head.

A video shows armed police running to the scene after being called by horrified staff and customers at the restaurant outside the city's NH Hotel.

The killer and Julia Harmacinska (pictured) had previously been in a relationship which he reportedly could not accept had ended

Disturbing pictures taken outside a city centre hotel in the picturesque tourist district of Poznan, Poland, shows Domagaa lying on the floor as his distraught 20-year-old fiancee stands over him. She was visibly distressed and started screaming for help when Bachosz fired another shot into her fiance lying on the ground. Bachosz then shot himself in the head

Mikoaj Bachosz (pictured) killed Kordian Domagaa outside a Polish hotel last night

One witness said: 'When the shooting began people just fled in terror. He fired a shot at the man and that's when panic broke out.

'He then shot himself in the head.'

Police spokesman Andrzej Borowiak said that the two men aged 30 and 31 had both died in the incident that took place on Sunday evening.

According to reports, Domagaa, a blogger and artist who also worked as a local councillor, and Harmacinska had been enjoying a romantic weekend when the killer struck.

Posting on social media, Domagaa's stunned friend Kamil Grzebyta said: 'I don't know where to begin because today's news has shocked me so much that it's hard to find the words.

'Some news reports can evoke a lot of emotions in a person, but true sadness is felt only when tragedy affects your loved ones and friends.

'Yesterday, in broad daylight, a young boy was shot dead in front of his fiancee.

'He was probably the most positive and cheerful person I've ever known. He was an artist, a blogger, always smiling and kind.'

He added: 'But just as shocking was the discovery that his murderer was also an acquaintance of mine.

Domagaa (left) just got engaged to Julia Harmacinska (right), Bachosz ex-girlfriend, two weeks ago

Posting on social media, Domagaa's (pictured) stunned friend Kamil Grzebyta said: 'I don't know where to begin because today's news has shocked me so much that it's hard to find the words'

According to reports, Domagaa (pictured), a blogger and artist who also worked as a local councillor, and Harmacinska had been enjoying a romantic weekend when the killer struck

'He is also a young, intelligent man with prospects that I would never have expected to pick up a gun and fire a shot.

'I can't imagine what must have gone through his mind to commit such a cruel crime, but it is unforgivable.'

Another friend of the victim said: 'This death makes no sense. He was murdered for simply falling in love.'

Bachosz was a legal clerk with a 'bright future' who 'tracked the couple down on social media', according to local reports.

Bachosz and Domagaa's fiancee had reportedly been in a relationship which he could not accept had ended.

Police also said: 'The perpetrator had had permission to own a gun for sporting purposes since 2018. The motive: unrequited love. A post mortem is planned for tomorrow.'
Long Island police say they are confident they will charge Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann with more murders as they continue to work through evidence in his home that includes an arsenal of weapons.

Heuermann, 59, was arrested on Thursday night outside his midtown Manhattan office.

He has been charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, but police also say they intend to charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a fourth woman found dead on Gilgo Beach in 2010.

Among items of evidence seized from Heuermann's home today was what looked like a grenade

The alleged serial killer also kept sample price lists for weapons

Forensics teams continue to remove evidence from Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, Long Island

Heuermann had an 'arsenal of weapons', according to police, that includes 200 guns

Today, police removed what looked like a grenade from his property in Massapequa Park.

Heueremann 200 guns in his home, according to police, and other weapons.

While all of the women he is charged with killing were strangled, Suffolk County Police say they worried he would strike again if they didn't take him off the streets.

In an interview on CNN This Morning, Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said he is 'confident' his office will soon charge Heueremann with Brainard-Barnes' murder.

He is also being investigated for the murders of six other women whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach in 2011.

'He is an ogre': Heuermann , 59, is 6ft 6 and weighs 275 pounds

A large case of evidence is removed from Rex Heuermann's home on Monday

In addition to his cluttered home, Heuermann kept two storage units in Amityville. They were searched yesterday and today

So far, Heuermann has been charged with murdering Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Melissa Barthelemy. Police however say they are 'confident' they will soon charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barners

'He had an arsenal in a vault that he had downstairs. Its concerning, regarding the guns being registered or legal or not, thats something were still taking a look at.

'Anytime somebody has that type of arsenal we have some concerns,' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told Fox News this morning.

At 6ft 6 and weighing 275lbs, Heueremanm would have dominated the woman he is accused of murdering.

'He is an ogre,' Harrison said of the suspect, who remains in jail awaiting his next court appearance.

Heuermann's wife Asa and their adult children are cooperating with the police investigation.

Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter told CNN 'anything is possible' when it comes to charging Heuermann with more murders.

He added that it was an 'adrenalin rush' to finally see him arrested on Thursday after watching him for more than a year.

'He is a demon': Anthony Carter, one of the cops involved in the case, on CNN This Morning today

At 6ft 6inches and weighing 275lbs, Heuermann would have towered over all of the victims, most of whom were under 5ft and weighed 100lbs

'I knew that this person was a demon. The fact that we are able to bring some closure and some peace to the families as well as take a violent person off of the streets is rewarding, I think, for everyone.'

Over the weekend, police searched two storage units in Amityville, a neighboring town, that belonged to Heuermann.

There are now growing questions as to why the original task force investigating the murders failed to connect him to the case.

Heuermann was tracked down because he drove a Chevrolet Avalanche similar to the one seen at Amber Costello's house the night before she disappeared.

His name was registered to the vehicle, and he fit the physical description of the man Amber's pimp had also seen at her home.

He too called him an 'ogre' who would have towered over her.

Police then used the cell phone data available from the victims' phones to trace where they'd been called from.

While he used burner phones, Heuermann's location gave him away; all of the calls were either made from his office in Manhattan or his house.

The final piece of cementing evidence was the DNA he left on the victims' bodies accidentally.

Strands of his own hair and strands of his wife's hair were discovered in the burlap the victims were discovered with.

Cops obtained his DNA and that of his wife by surveilling their home and seizing items like pizza crusts and bottles to obtain samples from.

Heuermann pleaded not guilty via his attorney last week but he is yet to make any kind of lengthy defense.

His attorney Michael Brown did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Monday morning.
Britain must get tough on Iran and confront the growing threat from the hostile state which is preparing to give Russia ballistic missiles, a new report claimed today.

A hard-hitting study published by the Policy Exchange think-tank warned that Iran poses a major threat to the UK, with its aggressive expansion plans for the Middle East, interference in British politics and accelerating nuclear programme.

The report was backed by a coalition of senior figures, including the chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee Alicia Kearns, former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, ex-chief of defence staff General Lord Richards, former Nato secretary-general Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Campbell and Lord Sedwill, a former national security adviser.

The group have written to the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly demanding that he urgently formulate a plan to tackle Iran's aggression, saying: 'We are all in agreement that Iran poses a threat to British citizens on British soil.

'MI5 Director Ken McCallum identified no fewer than ten credible Iranian plots on British soil in 2022, while Met counterterrorism policing lead Matt Jukes identified another five plots in early 2023.

'But Iran is also becoming more brazen in its prosecution of international disruption.

'Iran's increasingly appalling human rights record, accelerating nuclear programme, sponsorship of proxies throughout the Middle East, extensive assistance to Russia in its brutal war on Ukraine, and sponsorship of terrorism and kidnapping makes it an obvious threat to international stability.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran in July last year

The Policy Exchange report was backed by a coalition of senior figures, including former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon (right)

The Policy Exchange report warned that Iran will be able to provide advanced ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine from October when sanctions lapse.

In return, Russia may offer support for Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme, which could cut Iran's 'breakout' time when it is capable of creating a nuclear weapon to just a few weeks.

The think-tank believes Iran is seeking to influence British electoral politics, most recently courting former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2019.

It claims SNP leader Humza Yousaf 'has historical connections to Islamist-sympathetic groups' and suggests 'Iranian social media operatives' may seek to bolster his bid for Scottish independence.

Iran is also said to be capable of mobilising 'affiliates' to carry out violence against British Jews, including possible terrorist attacks on synagogues, Jewish organisations and the Israeli embassy.

The report by Sir John Jenkins, the former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Air Marshal Edward Stringer, also warned that Iranian groups have connections to 'Anglo-Irish organised crime through the Kinahan Gang, which has laundered money for Hezbollah, and the New IRA.'

To counter Iran's influence in the UK, the report added ministers should seek to crackdown on Iranian dirty cash and suggested the Government should fund 'soft power tools' like BBC Persian's radio service to counter propaganda.
A court has heard that a nurse had been drink-driving when she knocked down and killed a church treasurer on Christmas Eve last year.

Katrina Mahoney, 33, was allegedly more than double over the limit when she struck down great-grandad Ron Fealey, 82, on Avenue De Clichy in Merthyr, Wales.

Mr Fealey's family told how he was a former intensive care nurse, church treasurer and rugby club stalwart, in a tribute.

He was taken to hospital after being struck down by Mahoney's black Nissan Quashqai on December 24 last year. He passed away later.

Mother-of-three Mahoney appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court after being charged with causing the death of Mr Fealey by driving without due care and attention, whilst being over the limit.

Katrina Mahoney, 33, is alleged to have failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 73 micrograms of alcohol in 150ml of breath

Mr Fealey's family described the former intensive care nurse as 'one of a kind'

She is alleged to have failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 73 micrograms of alcohol in 150ml of breath.

Mahoney was not asked to officially enter a plea, The court heard that she had not driven since the tragedy.

A third charge of failing to report an accident was dropped by prosecutors.

Mahoney, of Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, was bailed to appear at the town's crown court next month.

District Judge Stephen Harmes said: 'This case can only be heard in the crown court. You will go to the crown court.'

The judge said he didn't need to order an interim driving ban because he understood Mahoney hadn't driven since the crash.

He said: 'She says she is never going to drive again, or certainly not for a very long time.'

In a tribute following his death, Mr Fealey's family described the former intensive care nurse as 'one of a kind.'

They said: 'Even though he was 82 years old, he was very fit and well, visiting the gym twice a week. He was funny, intelligent and caring - he loved to help others.

'His main 'love' over the last 42 years was Dowlais RFC where he was an active committee member. Only in May this year he toured with the club to Malta.

'He initially joined to watch his sons Mike and Steve play but this soon turned into a lifelong obsession. He also attended St. Illtyd's Church, Dowlais where he looked after the finances.

'Before he retired, he worked as a nurse in intensive care and operating theatres in the Merthyr and Cynon Valley areas.

'He finished his career by helping set up the Care of the Elderly High Care Unit at St Tydfil's Hospital.

'After retirement, he worked for social services taking foster children back and fore to school which he really enjoyed.

'He and his wife Mayo provided nursing care for children on their annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, with Group 102 of the HCPT.

'He will be greatly missed by all the family especially his four grandchildren and his four great-grandchildren, his fifth was due in May. He still played a very active role in all of their lives.'

A further tribute has been released by Dowlais Rugby Club: 'It is with tremendous deep sadness and regret that the club has lost one of its all-time stalwarts and a true clubman in every sense of the word.

'Ron was enormously respected by all who knew him, fellow officers, past and present players, members and many, many friends of Dowlais RFC.

Mahoney (pictured) was not asked to officially enter a plea, however the court heard she had not driven since the tragedy

'Ron played a major role in the development and progression of the club for over 30 consecutive years of service, holding the position of Honorary Treasurer and was a current director of the club.

'Ron also held the accolade of being made one of only five Lifetime Members of the club.

'Ron was incredibly loyal, supportive, uplifting and very amusing when you shared his company, along with his biggest asset of being there to support and listen to anyone and everyone if needed.

'Ron will always be respected, remembered and loved by all at Dowlais RFC. God bless Ron - sleep tight our dear friend.'
Budget superstore Lidl is shutting down 11 of its U.S. stores amid concerns they were underperforming.

The German retailer announced it would axe locations in North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The bulk of the closures occurred on Sunday - leaving locals to rage over the 'disappointing news.'

In a statement to CBS-affiliate WFMY, a Lidl representative for a closing store in Thomasville, Virginia, said: 'After a thorough review of the performance of our store network, we made the difficult decision to close the store in Thomasville on July 16,

'This was an underperforming location, and we made the strategic decision to close this location so we can focus on the locations that are closer and more convenient to more of our customers and where we are seeing significant growth.'

Budget superstore Lidl is shutting down ten of its U.S. stores amid concerns they were underperforming

In nearly all the statements Lidl made on individual closures, it cited 'underperforming' sales as the reason for the decision.

This included the Lidl in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania which shut its doors after just 18 months in business, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

One shopper in New Jersey told the Cherry Hill Courier-Post: 'I am so disappointed.

'I come here twice a week and I like the products and the prices and I shop even the aisles with toys and books!'

Full list of Lidl closures Cary, North Carolina - July 16 Thomasville, North Carolina - July 16 Charlottesville, Virginia - July 16 Richmond, Virginia - July 16 Howell, New Jersey - July 16 Burlington Township, New Jersey - July 16 North Augusta, South Carolina - July 16 Florence, South Carolina - July 16 King of Prussia, Pennsylvania - July 16 Oxon Hill, Maryland - July 16 Brooklyn Park, Maryland - July 14 Advertisement

Meanwhile insiders told local news outlet WBFF that a closure in Brooklyn Park, Maryland, was due to high theft rates.

One regular customer added: 'I mean, it's the only store around that's worth a darn.'

High theft rates have been a common theme of mass retail closures across the U.S.

In 2021 retailers lost a combined $94.5billion to shrink, a term used to describe theft and other types of inventory loss. And organized retail crime incidents soared by 26.5 per cent in the same year, according to the 2022 National Retail Security Survey.

Along with brazen daylight thefts, self-checkouts have also made it easier for people to walk out without paying for items.

Progressive district attorneys in cities like Chicago, New York, Portland and California have also been blamed for effectively legalizing shop lifing with either not prosecuting thefts under $950, or letting criminals off with a slap on the wrist.

Target, Walgreens, Macy's, Nordstrom and Best Buy are among the chains to have axed stores specifically due to rampant theft.

Lidl originated in Germany and is popular in Europe due to its low prices.

In June 2017, it opened its first US stores to much fanfare. It currently has 13,000 stores worldwide and 174 in America, according to Forbes.

Despite the closures, Lidl is still in the process of opening new stores - including a 33-sqaure-foot location in Brooklyn's Crown Heights.

Dailymail.com reached out to Lidl for comment.
Gov. Ron DeSantis told DailyMail.com that as president he will tear up President Biden's 'horrendous' treatment of Israel - and slammed progressive Democrats for trying to 'scapegoat' the world's only Jewish state.

The 2024 presidential hopeful told DailyMail.com during an exclusive interview at the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit that if he is elected president, he will 'toss aside' Biden's 'horrendous treatment of Israel.'

In addition, the Florida governor would reestablish an 'ironclad relationship' between the United States and Israel. That would include 'butting out' of Israel's internal affairs and 'standing by their right to defend themselves' above all.

DeSantis would also usher in a 'tougher on Iran' administration, which he says would include terminating Iran's Arab 'appeasement.'

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to address Congress later this week, but his trip to the Capitol has been engulfed in chaos after far-left progressive Democrats on the 'Squad' pledged to boycott the speech.

DeSantis spoke with DailyMail.com exclusively on sidelines of the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit

In addition, progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., took it even farther and told pro-Palestine activists in Chicago on Saturday that 'Israel is a racist state.' She was forced to apologize after her remarks sparked backlash from Republicans and Democrats.

'As somebody who's 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,' she said over the weekend before walking back her comments.

Her remarks resulted in a rare rebuke from top House Democratic leadership.

'Israel is not a racist state,' House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu responded in a joint statement rebuking Jayapal without addressing the congresswoman by name.

DeSantis told DailyMail.com Monday that it is 'ridiculous' to call Israel racist in response to Jayapal's remarks.

'Israel is not racist. How ridiculous. They are the most free and democratic country in the entire Middle East. Arab Israelis have a better standard of living than they would in any other place in the Middle East.'

Israel is a 'beacon of freedom for this for this world to look at' despite being 'under siege' since 1948.

Despite this, they've continued to 'stand strong and they continue to advance,' which he says is remarkable.

The governor continued, saying that 'no one has to like every country's policies,' and there are often criticisms to be made, but the progressive Democrats' sole focus on using Israel as a 'scapegoat' is the key issue.

'When you devote all of your intention and energy to focusing on this one little country, the only Jewish state in the world, what does that say about you? Why are you excusing or don't care about all these other things happening in the world? You only care about that. That to me, I think that's rooted in anti-Semitism,' said DeSantis.

'I think things like BDS are rooted in anti-Semitism. And so we are not going to allow people on the left to scapegoat the world's only Jewish state,' DeSantis told DailyMail.com.

Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) is an anti-Israel activist movement to boycott goods and products from the Jewish state that some U.S. companies have participated in.

During his speech before the CUFI audience, DeSantis announced that his state of Florida is opening an investigation into financial services firm Morningstar for anti-Israel bias.

'They're specifically targeting Israel,' the governor said about Morningstar. 'It is disgraceful.'

The governor received a standing ovation from the CUFI crowd following the conclusion of his remarks during which he pledged continued support for Israel and slammed the Biden administration.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended a press conference at the Museum of Tolerance on April 27, 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel

Israel's President Isaac Herzog presents President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Honor

The Florida governor also called the U.S.-Israel relationship 'unique' based on thousands of years of history.

'If you look at Israel, our society has really been birthed from what happened in the Holy Land thousands of years ago. We're a society based on Judeo-Christian principles,' he told DailyMail.com.

'So there's a unique bond between our two countries first and foremost. Second, they are our best security partner in the Middle East bar none.'

DeSantis told DailyMail.com there are 'great opportunities' to have a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel and 'really create a strong middle east opposition to Iran, which is really, really good.'

He also pointed to the 'tremendous economic relationship' between the two countries.

'There is more innovation being done per capita in Israel than any other place in the entire world,' which he says he's 'tapped into' as governor of Florida.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
A Japanese steakhouse in Florida was forced to close after seven customers were poisoned by drugs.

Nikko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Pace closed on July 7, following an investigation into the June poisonings of seven patrons at the restaurant.

Santa Rosa County authorities have confirmed to WABI that samples of the food from the restaurant on June 10 tested positive for narcotics, but did not disclose what type of drugs they were.

Authorities will not, however, pursue criminal charges against any of the restaurant employees, saying there is a lack of evidence to suggest anything intentional occurred.

Meanwhile, the owners of the now-shuttered restaurant continue to insist they are not responsible.

Nikko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Pace closed on July 7, following an investigation into the June poisonings of seven patrons at the restaurant

Brandon and Jordan Gray (pictured) and their friend said they started feeling symptoms hours after they ate at the restaurant on June 10

The investigation into Nikko began on June 10, when husband and wife Brandon and Jordan Gray and their friend Matthew Gilley said they were seated at a hibachi table with four other guests who had already been served salads.

Jordan said she and her husband did not notice anything out of the ordinary during dinner, except for the chef's insistence that they try the 'sweet soy sauce.'

'We got a little bit of a lecture from the chef on how healthy soy sauce is for you, particularly that you should take it like once a day,' she recounted at a news conference. 'Other than that, like I said, everything was fairly normal.'

She said she, her husband and their friend began experiencing symptoms later in the night.

'None of us slept,' Jordan said. 'All of us had racing hearts. It was very scary.'

Eventually, Brandon called a friend who is a police officer to tell them about their symptoms and ask for advice.

The friend then advised them to head to the local hospital because another family had arrived in the emergency room after eating at Nikko with the same symptoms. That family was the same one the Grays sat with that night, the Pensacola News Journal reports.

The restaurant closed for a stretch during the investigation, but later reopened

The restaurant closed for a stretch during the investigation, but later reopened.

Still, management said they were never able to recover from the accusations.

'It was determined by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office that there was nothing linking the restaurant to the accusations, and after a clear survey by the health department we re-open[ed] our doors,' a post on the restaurant's Facebook page says.

It notes that the owners and staff had been repeatedly harassed over the allegations, and said: 'Today, a family-owned and operated business is closed, 20 employees are out of work, all because of the power of social media.'
America's fourth largest city confirmed the first death in the city as a result of the 'heat dome' currently engulfing the southwestern United States.

The death of Victor Ramos on June 24 was the first to occur in Texas' Harris County, where Houston is located, this year, according to an Associated Press count monitoring weather related deaths this year. The 67-year-old died as a result of accidental hyperthermia.

Local reports indicate that heat alerts will remain in place in the Houston-area and throughout Texas for the foreseeable future with temperatures feeling like as much as 112 in the shade. The heat is expected to spread across the south.

Lower temperatures and rain are not anticipated in the region until at least Sunday. Air quality is also a problem in the region thanks to a surge of Saharan dust that will cause problems for those with asthma.

While baking parts of the country, the heat dome has also helped generate heavy rains in the Northeast, a pattern expected to continue for days if not weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

While the extreme weather across the country on the left over 2,600 flights canceled and nearly 8,000 delayed, air traffic tracking website FlightAware said. Most of those occurred in the northeast corridor, where thunderstorms were rampant over the weekend.

Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population fell under extreme heat advisories, partly due to a stubborn heat dome that has been parked over western states

The heat warnings spread from the Pacific Northwest, down through California, through the Southwest and into the Deep South and Florida

While baking parts of the country, the heat dome has also helped generate heavy rains in the Northeast, a pattern expected to continue for days if not weeks

The heat warnings spread from the Pacific Northwest, down through California, through the Southwest and into the Deep South and Florida

The National Weather Service said widespread record-breaking high temperatures are likely to be recorded across the Southwest, in the western Gulf Coast and also in south Florida

Victor Ramos' sister is using her brother's death to draw attention to the problems that many experience due to the extreme heat.

Karla Ramos said in an interview with ABC Houston that her brother was a native of California who spent much of his working life in sweltering warehouses.

'He told me that Friday, the 23rd, 'I'm not feeling good. I'm feeling kind of tired. I went back at nine on Saturday morning, and he was gone. I found him with a bunch of saliva on the side, so I knew something was wrong,' Karla told the station.

'When I found him Saturday morning, it was mind-blowing because I never expected him not to have survived this,' she added. Karla encouraged those with elderly relatives to help them get or fix air conditioners during the heat dome.

'$40 isn't going to make you go broke,' she said.

One of the hottest places on earth, Death Valley, which runs along part of central California's border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 F 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 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 Organization's 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 US'

Victor Ramos, 67, who lost his life on June 24 was later confirmed to have died of acute hyperthermia as a result of the heatwave

Furnace Creek in Death Valley recorded the hottest recognized temperature ever on Earth at 134 F (56.7 C) in July 1913, according to the World Meteorological Organization

Temperatures between 100 F and 110 F are forecast for portions of the Pacific Northwest. That could be particularly dangerous for an area unaccustomed to excessive heat

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.

A few miles away at Badwater Basin  the lowest point in North America at 282 feet 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 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 told the Associated Press.

The heat wave is just one part of the extreme weather hitting the U.S. over the weekend.

Residents cool off in the Liz Carpenter Splash Pad at Butler Park in Austin

A pedestrian cools off in water sprinklers along the sidewalk during a heat wave in Las Vegas

A street vendor sits under an umbrella while selling fruit on the side of a road in Los Angeles

Expecting to see history made, about two dozen tourists gathered around the sign and cheered on Sunday when the digital display of 132 ticked up to 133

A sign warning of extreme heat invites people to Chill with Jesus inside a church in Tucson, Arizona, on July 15, 2023

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.

Five people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars

In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding

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 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 US South, from California to Florida. But its far more than that. Its worldwide, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the US 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.
The Ukrainian refugee dumped by her British lover after he left his partner and two children for her failed to turn up to court today where she was charged with assaulting a police officer.

Sofiia Karkadym, 23, was due to appear before magistrates after she allegedly bit the officer as he tried to arrest her.

Karkadym had been at the home of her former lover, security guard Tony Garnett, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where she was collecting her belongings when police were called to the property.

During an altercation, she allegedly bit a male police officer and she was charged with two counts of assault.

But Karkadym failed to attend Bradford magistrates court this afternoon and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Mr Garnett told MailOnline: 'I want as little as possible to do with her. As far as I know, she arrived on Wednesday from Ukraine. She had come to collect her things from my place'

Sofiia Karkadym, 23, (left) had been at the home of her former lover, security guard Tony Garnett , in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where she was collecting her belongings when police were called to the property

Karkadym was due to appear before magistrates after she allegedly bit the officer as he tried to arrest her

Karkadym made headlines after running off with Mr Garnett ten days after she arrived at the the home he shared with his partner Lorna Garnett, 29.

She had fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Garnett and Ms Karkadym admitted that they were attracted to each other and moved out of the family home and in with his parents before finding a place to rent.

In the early stages of their fling, the pair were blissfully happy and even talked about marriage and spending the rest of their lives together.

But the romance turned cold after a series of arguments which he said were caused by her drinking strong beer and throwing temper tantrums.

Karkadym failed to attend Bradford magistrates court this afternoon and a warrant was issued for her arrest

Lorna Garnett (pictured with ex-partner Tony) let the Ukrainian woman into her home before her partner and the refugee started a relationship

Karkadym admitted that she found the fact difficult that he could not have more children (he has had a vasectomy) and that he already had two kids with his ex-partner, who he regularly talked fondly about.

The couple had a fiery relationship, with both being arrested on separate occasions by police for possible breaches of the peace.

Karkadym flew back to the Ukraine last year, only for Mr Garrett to travel there and bring her back.

But three months ago the pair split for good and Karkadym returned to Ukraine.

She had returned to the UK to collect her things from Mr Garnett's home when a row is believed to have broken out between the former couple.

At the magistrates court today Mr Garnett was seen outside, but there was no sign of Karkadym.

Mr Garnett told MailOnline: 'I want as little as possible to do with her. As far as I know, she arrived on Wednesday from Ukraine. She had come to collect her things from my place.

'I don't know where she is now. I am not in touch with her that much because I have a new girlfriend now and I have moved on.'
French police are fearing that a missing two-year-old boy may have been hit by a combine harvester while walking through long grass.

The toddler disappeared without trace on July 8 from Haut-Vernet, an Alpine hamlet south of Grenoble, where he was staying with his grandparents.

Prosecutor Remy Avon said on Monday that the investigation is being launched to 'investigate causes of the worrying disappearance.'

Some scenarios, such as a bird of prey or wolf attack, have already been ruled out. A total of 20 houses were also searched, but nothing was found there.

Now the police are investigating the scenario in which Emile would have come into contact with an agricultural machine.

On July 8 two-year-old Emile Soleil (pictured) disappeared without trace from Haut-Vernet, an Alpine hamlet south of Grenoble

Pictured: French gendarmes are briefed before taking part in a search operation

A farmer from the village of Le Vernet, where the search is taking place, told BFMTV that it would not be an illogical scenario.

He explained: 'Sometimes we find deer. The little one may have ended up in the tall grass and been hit by a farm machine. That would be terrible.'

The countryside search for missing Emile was called off on Wednesday evening last week, after four days.

Hundreds of gendarmes, police and volunteers had been involved in a vast operation beating fields and bushes, and examining them from the air.

Local prosecutor Remy Avon said that the 'physical search' could go no further, because there was 'no sign' of Emile.

But he added: 'The judicial investigation into the causes of the disappearance will continue, in particular by analysing the considerable mass of information and elements collected over the past four days.'

He said the possibilities that Emile had been murdered, kidnapped, or got involved in an accident were all being looked at.

'All these theories are active,' said Mr Avon. 'Nothing has been ruled out.'

The police have released a photo and description of Emile, who is almost 3ft tall, with brown eyes, and blond hair.

He was wearing a yellow top, white shorts with a green pattern, and hiking shoes at the time of his disappearance.

Residents of Vernet have meanwhile been referring to the place as a cursed 'village of the damned' because of its links with disaster.

Searches have so far brought together 800 gendarmes, firefighters, volunteers, helicopters, thermic camera drones and sniffer dogs

Gendarmes meticulously search the outskirts of the village of Vernet on July 13, 2023. They have been unable to locate the boy

A gendarme is followed by cameras during his search, as about fifty mobile gendarmes from Gap sift through '1.8km of road' in France on July 13, 2023

In March 2015, Vernet was also cordoned off following a horrific air crash in which 150 people died, including two babies.

Germanwings Airbus A320 was deliberately brought down by co-pilot Andres Lubitz, who had previously been treated for suicidal tendencies.

Many Vernet residents took part in high mountain searches for possible survivors at the time.

They also opened their homes to family and friends of those who perished in the disaster.

The inhabitants of Vernet were also shaken by the murder of a local cafe manager in the village 15 years ago.

Jeannette Grosos, who ran the Cafe du Moulin, was brutally killed by a customer in 2008.

Mayor Francois Balique said: 'It was a real drama for the whole village  one which it has had a hard time recovering.'

One resident of Vernat said on Wednesday: 'Everybody is saying it  Vernet feels like a village of the damned.'

A walker passes in front of gendarmes who are resting for a few moments before continuing the raking on July 13

Volunteers take part in a search operation for two-and-a-half-year-old Emile last seen on July 8
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As a sweltering heatwave sweeps across Europe threatening to break the record books for Europe's 'hottest ever week' - it appears these Benidorm Brits are having the time of their lives!

With Greece starting mass evacuations as ferocious wildfires bear down on popular coastal resorts, cold beers and cool misty sprays seem to be the methods deployed in the popular Spanish holiday destination.

Adorned with cold beverages, bucket hats and swimsuits, the British tourists can be seen smiling from ear to ear as the sun beats down from above.

Elsewhere across Europe, Greek authorities 'saved' 1,200 children from holiday camps threatened by wildfires near the seaside resort of Loutraki, the town's mayor told local media, after flames were whipped up by strong winds.

Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft battled a massive blaze in the village of Kouvaras, which is around 17 miles from Athens, with people being ordered to leave their homes.

ritish Holidaymakers trying to stay cool during Spain's heatwave in Benidorm today

A group of four British tourists try their best to stay cool in the sweltering conditions

A woman in a pink bikini waves a fan to try and deal with the heat

Mist sprays fitted to beach-side umbrellas are used to keep the holidaymakers cool

Blazes have also engulfed areas around the seaside resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida, and authorities have evacuated people from a number of villages, as well as a rehabilitation centre and summer camps.

The blaze reportedly started in Kouvaras and quickly spread south toward the Attica region and the resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida.

The Greek Fire Service described it as 'a difficult day with several fires (burning) across the country,' with scenes of charred trees, cars and homes bringing back traumatic memories for many after dozens of lives were lost to inferno-like forest fires in 2018.

Brits holidaying across the Mediterranean are bracing for the arrival of even hotter weather this week, with the sweltering heat set to soar even higher after an anticyclone called Charon, so-called after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, reached Europe from North Africa on Sunday night.

Tourists have collapsed and fainted in the severe heat in Italy and Greece and wildfires have also ripped through homes in La Palma and Turkey in the past week after temperatures across southern Europe hit 43C.

Heatwave Charon is tipped to force thermometres above 48.8C in Italy in the coming days, a new record high, with experts warning that the mercury could also approach record levels in Spain and Greece.

The World Meteorological Organisation has urged people to 'stay safe', cautioning that the heatwave is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August across parts of southern Europe.

Heatwave Charon is expected to break the record 48.8C temperature across Europe

Sweltering heat sweeping across Italy, Spain and Greece could bring 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' to the region this week

Six men sitting around icy buckets of beer seem upbeat despite the temperature

A tourist drinks icy liquid from a jug while wearing a bucket hat and sunglasses

Spanish officials on Saturday had also evacuated more than 2,500 people from La Palma in the Canary Islands

Pictured: A beach in the popular Spanish holiday destination of Benidorm

A man puts his head to his hands as he tries to deal with the heat

It seems these British tourists are not bothered by Europe's potentially 'hottest ever week'

READ MORE: When is the next heatwave expected in the UK? Advertisement

It has even caused some British holidaymakers to change their travel plans as temperatures soar to record-highs.

As well as this, it has been reported that more than two thousand people in the Canary Islands have escaped 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.

Locals and travellers are therefore having to 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, closed during the hottest hours of the day.

Spanish officials on Saturday had also 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.



Three girls wearing bikinis apply sun tan lotion to each other

These two were interrupted by a wave as they tried to take a photo

Despite Europe's warm temperatures, the UK is not likely to experience a heatwave this summer

Four women dip their toes in the sea to cool themselves down

A man wearing some patriotic England trunks lies in the sun as he listens to some music

Tourists are said to have collapsed and fainted in the severe heat in Italy and Greece

Two women cool off in the sea as the sun beats down on them

READ MORE: Brits may need to work earlier to avoid 'uncomfortable' heat Advertisement

Despite Europe's warm temperatures, the UK is not likely to experience a heatwave this summer, the country's official forecasters have said.

Instead, Britain is set to experience 'average' temperatures and scattered showers - as southern Europe swelters in heat of more than 45C

The Cerberus heatwave has seen temperatures on the continent soar to uncomfortable heights that could see the mercury reach highs of 49C in Sicily and Sardinia today.

However, the Met Office said there is a 'lower than average probability' of similarly 'hot conditions developing' in Britain over the remainder of the summer.

Britain will instead see cooler, more moderate temperatures, broken up by blustery showers and intermittent rain following record breaking heat in June.

Brits holidaying across the Mediterranean are bracing for the arrival of even hotter weather this week

The sweltering heat set to soar even higher after an anticyclone called Charon, so-called after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, reached Europe from North Africa on Sunday night
Footage shows the moment police hostage negotiators in Connecticut arrested a woman who illegally entered a stranger's $5.5million home last week - before inexplicably climbing three stories onto the roof.

Authorities in Stamford reportedly responded to the disturbance call at Saddle Rock Road at around 1pm on July 12, only to find the unknown woman on the roof relentlessly arguing with the also unnamed homeowner.

In comments to first responders - which included medical personnel - the person described to police how the woman nonchalantly walked into his house and began screaming at him, before fleeing upstairs and scaling the residence.

After arriving, officers were seen trying to coax the distraught woman down to a nearby balcony and safety - with little success.

A drone video released by the police department shows the five-hour saga and full, and shows how officers stealthily snuck up behind the woman while climbing the home themselves, leaving her surrounded. Still unidentified, she is now in custody.

Scroll down for video:

Footage shows the moment police hostage negotiators in Connecticut apprehended a woman who illegally entered a stranger's home last week - before inexplicably climbing three stories onto the roof

Listings show the 12-room home - set in Samford just a few feet from the Atlantic - was on the market in 2021 for $5.5million. Built in the Mediterranean style, it once belonged to Faye Dunaway

'On July 12th, at approximately 1:00pm officers of the Stamford PD's Patrol division responded to a home on Saddle Rock Road in Stamford on a disturbance call' Captain Chris Baker recalled in a statement over the weekend of the five-hour ordeal.

'Due to the height of the roof and where the female was positioned, the situation was extremely perilous,' the officer added.

'Officers on scene requested support from the Police Departments Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT), the SPD Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), the Stamford Fire Department (SFD), and the Stamford Emergency Medical Service (SEMS).'

Those efforts, Baker said, 'lasted approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes' - during which the woman, whose identity was not released, continued to defy police's repeated pleas.

As this was occurring, members of the Stamford Fire Department provided police officers with a ladder, as well as safety equipment and technical advice.

After hours of speaking to her on an extremely hot roof, Baker described how members of the BHU and HNT were finally able to make headway with their efforts - recapping the impromptu operation shown in the now viral video.

'At approximately 6:40 pm, SPD Officers, with the assistance of SFD Firefighters, were able to coral the female and take her into custody while on the roof,' said Baker, adding that officers deployed the drone (footage available) in order to assess the condition that was unfolding and to provide situational awareness to negotiators.

'This incident was brought to a successful injury-free conclusion due to the collaborative effort, professionalism, and de-escalation skills displayed by members of the police department, fire department, and SEMS.

'All first responders involved are credited with the safe conclusion to this incident.'

In the drone footage, one officer, seen not wearing a harness, tries to offer the woman a water bottle, after what's been presumably hours on a sunsoaked, Mediterranean-style roof in plus 80-degree heat.

In the drone footage, one officer, seen not wearing a harness, tries to offer the woman a water bottle, after what's been presumably hours on a sunsoaked, Mediterranean-style roof in plus 80-degree heat

As he and the woman acknowledge each other, a female officer, unseen from the woman's vantage, is seen crouching behind one of the homes chimneys while locked into a harness

Meanwhile, two other officers are seen being secretly pulled up into the air by a Stamford Fire Department crane to the top of the home

As the officers reach the top of the roof, they quickly moved in on the woman from behind, before all four made the arrest

After being taken into custody, the woman - still unidentified - was transported to Stamford Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation

Officers would not say whether the woman - whose likeness was obscured in the footage to conceal her identity - would face charges. None were announced as of Monday

In the meantime, the investigation - which has attracted the attention of the city's mayor - is still ongoing

As he and the woman acknowledge each other, a female officer, unseen from the woman's vantage, is seen crouching behind one of the homes chimneys while locked into a harness.

Meanwhile, two other officers are seen being secretly pulled up into the air by a Stamford Fire Department crane to the top of the home.

As the officers reach the top of the roof, they quickly moved in on the woman from behind, before all four made the arrest.

As for the woman, after being taken into custody, police said she was transported to Stamford Hospital for psychiatrics evaluation.

In the meantime, the investigation - which has attracted the attention of the city's mayor - is still ongoing.

Officers would not say whether the woman - whose likeness was obscured in the footage to conceal her identity - would face charges. None were announced as of Monday.

Mayor Caroline Simmons thanked officials with the Stamford Police Department, Fire Department, and EMS for their efforts Friday, saying in a statement: 'Thanks to their efforts, a life was saved.

The incident took place on Saddle Rock Road, a street in an affluent area of seaside Stamford

The home is set just a stone's throw from a stetch of beach that juts out on the Atlantic Ocean

'This incident underscores the incredible commitment and professionalism of all our first responders.'

Listings show the 12-room home - set just a few feet from shoreline that juts out onto the Atlantic - was on the market in 2021 for $5.5million, and previously belonged to actress Faye Dunaway.

Built in the Mediterranean style, its first floor is 18 feet above sea level - higher than compliance standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

'Its as beautiful as it is a masterpiece of engineering,' Listing Agent Joelle Bentley said of the 4,630-square-foot property.
Communist party leader in breakaway region was known as a 'Moscow proxy'

Oleg Khorzhan, 47, was found dead by his wife in Transnistria

A murder probe has been opened after a Vladimir Putin puppet politician was found dead in the Moldovan breakaway region Transnistria, bordering Ukraine.

Oleg Khorzhan, 47, was found with 'multiple stab wounds' by his wife, said reports. Other reports said he had died from gunshots.

Khorzhan, leader of the Communist Party in Transnistria - a statelet under the guard of 1,500 Russian army 'peacekeepers', could have become leader of the region if Putin invaded Moldova.

He was ardently pro-Russian and returned to politics with Moscow's backing after being convicted to a four year jail term for violence against a government official.

The Moldovan breakaway leader was released eight months ago and was known as a 'Moscow proxy'.

Oleg Khorzhan, 47, was found dead by his wife with 'multiple stab wounds', while other reports said he died from gunshots

The Communist party leader was known as a 'Moscow proxy' and claimed his region had only survived thanks to Russian help

He returned to back Moscow after spending four years in jail for violence against a government official

He insisted the region - self-governing since the end of Soviet times - survived 'only thanks to the help of Russia'.

Russia's Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said: 'Oleg Khorzhan has died..killed at home.

'We demand an investigation be immediately begun.'

Pridnestrovskiy Lesnik Telegram channel commented: 'Khorzhan's wife found his corpse near a safe that was left open in one of the rooms of his house. The safe was empty.

'Did they open the safe to make it look like the murder was committed for the sake of robbery? That would be absurd.'

Earlier this year opposition leader Khorzhan visited Moscow and returned saying he had been promised 'maximum support for our republic on the part of Russia' by top pro-Putin politicians.

In March, the authorities in Transnistria claimed to have thwarted an assassination bid on the region's president, Vadim Krasnoselsky, which they alleged was orchestrated by the SBU secret service in neighbouring Ukraine.

The pro-Putin politician would likely have become leader of breakaway region Transnistria if Russia had invaded Moldova

The SBU denied the allegation and called it 'a provocation orchestrated by the Kremlin'.

Moldova, Europe's poorest state, has accused Russia of using Transnistria in its bid to destabilise the country.

Some analysts believe Putin eyes invasion of Moldova, a former part of the old Soviet Union, as he seeks to build a new empire.
She apologized after coming under fire from her own party's leadership

Her comments came ahead of a planned speech to Congress by Israeli president Isaac Herzog

Jayapal blasted Israel over the weekend at a pro-Palestinian event in Chicago

A hard-left Democrat is under fire despite her apology for branding Israel 'a racist state' over its treatment of the Palestinians.

Pramila Jayapal, the 57-year-old Congresswoman who represents the state Washington, hit out at the world's only Jewish state at a pro-Palestinian event in Chicago over the weekend.

'I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state,' she said ahead of a planned speech by Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Congress on Tuesday to mark the country's 75th anniversary.

Jayapal made the controversial remarks at a pro-Palestine event over the weekend in Chicago

Israeli president Isaac Herzog is set to hold talks with President Joe Biden later on Tuesday after he addresses Congress to mark the 75th anniversary of his country's independence

'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,' Jaypal added.

But her remarks caused uproar amongst many top Democrats, who immediately distanced themselves from the comments.

But fellow left-wingers, such New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have already said they will skip Herzog's speech over concerns about human rights.

Congressman Adam Schiff of California called Israel 'the only true democracy in the Middle East' and 'a key U.S. ally.'

'Israel has every right to exist as a Jewish homeland. Instead of denigrating an entire state and its people, we should work towards a two-state solution and a lasting peace,' the U.S. Senate hopeful added.

House Democratic leadership also pointed to the close ties between the U.S. and Israel.

'Our commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally and beacon of democracy in the Middle East is ironclad,' said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Reps. Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar and Ted Lieu.

'We look forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the United States House of Representatives this week.'

Jayapal, chair of the so-called Congressional Progressive Caucus, had sought to U-turn on her comments late on Sunday evening.

'I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist,' she said. 'I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish Diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing anti-Semitism and hate violence that is rampant today.'

'I do, however, believe that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government,' Jayapal added.

Herzog, the Israeli president, will visit the White House on Tuesday for talks with Joe Biden.

A former leader of the Israeli opposition and head of the country's Labor Party, he became head of state in 2021, following in the footsteps of his father Chaim who held the same post between 1983 and 1993.

Announcing his official trip to Washington D.C., the White House said: 'As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, the visit will highlight our enduring partnership and friendship. President (Joe) Biden will reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel's security.'

'President Biden will stress the importance of our shared democratic values, and discuss ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis,' the statement continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been invited to Washington by the Biden administration since he took office again in December last year.

There has been a slew of policy differences between the two governments, with Netanyahu angering the Obama administration in 2015 when he addressed Congress to lobby against the Iran nuclear deal.
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British tourists have been forced to flee their holiday homes across southern Europe as wildfires ripped through tourist hotspots in Greece, Switzerland and Spain amid warnings temperatures are set to soar to 48C today.

There is no end in sight for the unrelenting heatwave wreaking havoc across the Mediterranean that has seen tourists faint and thousands run for their lives from fierce wildfires tearing through seaside resorts.

The sweltering heat is set to soar even higher today after a new cyclone called Charon, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead, hit Europe yesterday.

The Italian island of Sardinia is set to bear the brunt of the unforgiving heat, with forecasters predicting that temperatures could reach up to 48C later today and edge ever closer to the record of 48.8C set in the Sicilian town of Floridia in August 2021.

Italian meteorological society president Luca Mercalli said: 'Even if that record [48.8C] is not broken, we are seeing a heatwave the length of which is unprecedented.'

British tourists across the Mediterranean are being warned of the life-threatening dangers of the blazing sun, with temperatures set to reach 46C in Turkey and 44C in southern Spain today. The 'unprecedented' heat is likely to continue into August in some areas, the World Meteorological Organisation said.

The sweltering heat has sparked wildfires that have ripped through holiday homes across Greece, Switzerland, Spain and Turkey, forcing thousands to evacuate from several popular tourist hotspots.

In the canton of Valais, Switzerland, more than 200 firefighters worked relentlessly throughout the night to douse the flames of a roaring wildfire but the flames engulfed villas in several popular mountain villages.

Greece, which recorded 44C heat on Monday, started mass evacuations yesterday afternoon after a blaze which broke out in the village of Kouvaras forced hundreds of holidaymakers to flee.

The wildfire, which started just 30 miles from the Greek capital of Athens, spread south towards the seaside resorts of Lagonisi, Anavyssos and Saronida and authorities have told residents to leave the area.

British tourists have been forced to evacuate from their holiday villas as wildfires ripped through Saranida, near Athens, Greece, on Monday

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

Pictured: A wildfire on the flank of a mountain in Bitsch near Brig, Switzerland, on Tuesday

The forest fire in Hatay is spreading towards the city on Monday in Turkey

Today's maximum temperatures are forecast to peak at 42C in Barcelona, 47C in Sardinia, 38C in Athens and 45C in Turkey

British tourists in Benidorm are braving the heatwave, with many seeking shelter in the shade on Monday

British tourists are braving the extreme heat to sunbathe on beaches and walk along the promenades across Benidorm in Spain on Monday

Young men dive into the Mediterranean sea in Marseille, southern France, on Monday

British holidaymakers trying to stay cool during Spain's heatwave in Benidorm

Holidaymakers bathe in Lierna, on Lake Como, northern Italy, on Monday amid soaring temperatures

Boys dive into Lake Como, at Lierno, northern Italy, on Monday amid a searing heatwave

People enjoy the sun on a beach in Nice, France, on Monday

A second forest fire has also broken out near the Isthmus of Corinth, close to the popular beach town of Loutraki, which has resulted in even more evacuations in the west of the country. Authorities have so far 'saved' 1,200 children from holiday camps in the area, according to the town's mayor.

READ MORE: Ten per cent fewer tourists plan to visit the Mediterranean this year as temperatures soar in heatwave... with some abandoning holidays halfway through Advertisement

Around 150 firefighters, seven water-bombing aircrafts and four helicopters are reported to be tackling the flames on two fronts along with 30 emergency services colleagues from Romania.

The Greek Fire Service described it as 'a difficult day with several fires (burning) across the country,' with scenes of charred trees, cars and homes bringing back traumatic memories for many after dozens of lives were lost to inferno-like forest fires in 2018.

Fire service spokesman Yiannis Artopios said the strong and changeable winds and mountainous terrain in which both fires broke out were slowing the firefighting effort. 'The conditions are changing constantly and this has to be matched by our response. We have ordered multiple evacuations,' he said.

One British holidaymaker told The Sun: 'It was scary as the fire spread very quickly. We were watching the fire from when we spotted the smoke initially and quickly realised we should leave the area.'

The army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers have freed retirees from their homes, rescued horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames. Residents and visitors in areas affected by the two fires received mobile phone alerts from the Civil Protection Ministry.

Tourists collapsed and fainted in the severe heat in Italy and Greece and wildfires ripped through homes in La Palma and Turkey in the past week.

Heatwave Charon is tipped to force thermometers above 48.8C in Italy in the coming days, a new record high, with experts warning that the mercury could also approach record levels in Spain and Greece.

The World Meteorological Organisation has urged people to 'stay safe', cautioning that the heatwave is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August across parts of southern Europe.

Elsewhere, those holidaying across the Mediterranean are bracing for the arrival of even hotter weather this week, with Italy faced to bear the brunt of the new extreme weather front.

The heatwave left some Brits rethinking their holiday plans as they make last-minute cancellations and opt for getaways closer to home. But some in Benidorm were pictured having the time of their lives as they used cold beers and cool misty sprays to keep cool in the Spanish holiday destination.

One Briton, Victoria Moy, recently cancelled a trip to Sicily, Italy, in favour of Dorset due to soaring temperatures. She told MailOnline: 'Couldn't think of anything worse than 32 degrees with a toddler!

'We had booked to go to Palermo in Sicily from 5-12 July. Booked 400 flights and paid for them, and I reserved an Air BnB. I had planned to go to a cookery school in the heart of Palermo to perfect some Italian recipes.

A helicopter carries water to a wildfire on the flank of a mountain in Bitsch near Brig, Switzerland, on Tuesday

Flames approach a house as a wildfire burns in Saronida, near Athens, Greece, on Tuesday

About 200 firefighters, army, police and other partners worked alongside helicopters to douse the flames in the canton of Valais, Switzerland

A firefighting plane dumps water in the settlement of Irini, 80km east of Athens in Greece

Local residents try to protect a house from the raging fire in Lagonisi area, some 35 kilometeres from Athens

Thousands of holidaymakers at six seaside resorts in Greece, including Lagonissi and Loutraki, have been evacuated due to raging wildfires

The smoke-covered landscape in Loutraki, Greece, shows the ferocity of the wildfires gripping the country amid a sweltering heatwave

A Greek flag flutters in the wind as a wildfire threatens homes some 30 miles southeast from the centre of Athens

An aerial view of drought Lavender Field in Lunel the Herault department of southern France on July 16

'Due to soaring temperatures and flight delays (lots of people we know have been complaining about this), we decided to ditch the plan and we drove to Poole in Dorset for a week instead. We explored lots of coastal paths and beaches with our daughter and our dog instead, and no longer had to worry about a dog sitter.'

She added: 'The weather in Sicily has been extremely hot this month, and although I expected beautiful sunshine, I didn't want us to be uncomfortable. We had a brilliant time in Dorset, and had several very sunny days - I ended up with -a Sandbanks sunburn after all!'

The mother claimed they lost 400 on the flights as the airline would not refund them.

The severe heatwave driven by Charon is forecast to hit the Mediterranean until around the end of July.

Paola Deitan, 29, from Wiltshire, was planning to travel with her best friend to Greece but has now opted for Barcelona, according to The Observer.

'I am worried about my health. I don't want anything to happen to me while on holiday,' she said.

Brits have also taken to social media to discuss the cancellation of their holidays, with one writing: 'Me and mum are meant to be going to Spain in September, which meant leaving our little dog in kennels for the week! We have just decided to cancel our holiday, and the three of us are going to Cornwall instead.'

Another wrote: 'I'm going to cancel my holiday in the sun to spend a week sitting in the wind and rain, can't wait.'

Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire as the firefighters battle the blaze by land and air in Gulnar district of Mersin, Turkey

Local firefighters operate during a wildfire at Kouvaras area in Attica, Greece

Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft battled a massive blaze in the village of Kouvaras

A fire burns next to high voltage electricity pylons and someone's home in the Kouvaras area of Attica, Greece

Homes in Greece have been engulfed by flames as the Europe faces a severe heatwave. Pictured: People stand in front of a house, as a wildfire burns in Kouvaras, Greece

A fire burns next to high voltage electricity pylons at Kouvaras area in Attica, Greece

A wildfire ripped through La Palma, Canary Islands, over the weekend, forcing around 4,000 to evacuate from their homes

Grooms have had to evacuate horses from a riding centre amid wildfires in Kalyvia, near Athens, Greece

Empty beaches were pictured in Portugal this afternoon, as holidaymakers seemingly preferred to stay indoors rather than brave the high temperatures, which reached around 32C on the Algarve

A photo shows a pharmacy's sign indicating the current outside temperature near the Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti (Spanish Steps) in Rome

A firefighter helicopter drops water on wildfire as firefighter teams conduct extinguishing works by land and air to control wildfires in Canakkale, Turkey

The World Meteorological Organisation has warned that temperature records may be broken and urged people to stay safe and follow advice

A man in Croatia desperately tries to cool down by tipping water from a fountain over his head earlier today

Authorities have closed the Greek capital's top tourist attraction, the Acropolis, during the hottest hours, with tourists set to endure 41C heat there and in Cyprus by the end of this week.

Authorities in Kouvaras said it is difficult to deal with the forest fires there due to the strong winds, and spokesman Yannis Artopios explained the tough conditions for those battling the flames.

'It's a difficult fire, the winds are really strong, with gusts reaching up to 37 miles per hour.

'We are in the middle of the period of fighting fires. The conditions expected will be particularly difficult and favour forest fires.'

British tourists across the Mediterranean are being warned of the life-threatening dangers of the blazing sun, with temperatures set to reach 45C in Antalya, Turkey, by the end of the week.

Streets have emptied across Spanish cities, with tourists seeking shelter in Seville while Madrid has suspended road cleaning services and given shelter to homeless people amid the unbearable temperatures.

Empty beaches were pictured in Portugal this afternoon, as holidaymakers seemingly preferred to stay indoors rather than brave the high temperatures, which reached 32C on the Algarve.

And in Italy, tourists were warned to brace for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time'.

The Italian island of Sardinia is set to bear the brunt of the unforgiving weather, with forecasters predicting that temperatures could reach a 49C. The previous record high of 48.8C was registered in the Sicilian town of Floridia on August 11, 2021.

Health officials have issued red weather alert warnings for 16 cities across the country, including Rome where temperatures are expected to soar to a record-breaking 43C. The capital's previous record high of 40.5C was set in August 2007.

A red alert warning 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.

'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.'

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.

A man rests in a shade shelter during the heatwave in Zagreb, Croatia, earlier today as he escapes the heatwave

Tourists refresh themselves with water from Barcaccia fountain in Piazza di Spagna during the ongoing heat wave

A man refreshes himself at a water tap in Zagreb, Croatia, today as people flock to water taps and fountains to cool down

A woman covers herself with a scarf in Avignon, southern France, as she dodges the heatwave earlier today

A boy refreshes himself at a fountain in Zagreb, Croatia, as people flock to water fountains and taps to keep cool

 Southern Europe remains gripped by a heatwave and exceptionally hot weather continues this week



 Record breaking temperatures are possible, with the most extreme heat focused across Italy, Greece and North Africa - here temperatures may reach the high 40s Celsius pic.twitter.com/PMBYQj8G02  Met Office (@metoffice) July 17, 2023

Tourists desperately try to call down with cold refreshments as they struggle with the heat in Rome, where temperatures reached 44C on Monday

A man covers his head in water at a fountain in Rome, Italy, on Monday amid scorching temperatures

A man whose head is covered in a scarf to shield him from the searing sun fills a bottle of water at the Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Holidaymakers gather under the shade of trees at a beach in Zygi, Cyprus, on Sunday

A view of the beach of Torre Faro Pilone near Messina on the island of Sicily, crowded with bathers during a heat wave on Sunday

People cool off at a water fountain in Messina, on the island of Sicily, during a heatwave on Sunday

Animals are also suffering with such extreme weather conditions. Pictured: A pigeon refreshes itself at a fountain in Zagreb, Croatia

'This is not normal. I don't remember such intense heat, especially at this time of year,' said Federico Bratti, sunbathing at Lake Garda.

In the Sicilian city of Catania, the airport has been shut down until Wednesday due to a fire that broke out late on Sunday.

Firefighters said they managed to contain the blaze about 90 minutes after it was called in, but provided no details on possible causes or any link to current high temperatures in the region.

Catania was among several Italian cities that imposed a hot weather red alert on Sunday, along with the Sicilian capital of Palermo and the third island's largest city of Messina, as the country braced for record high temperatures in the coming days.

Flights at the Sicilian airport, which according to the Assoaeroporti sector group, ranked fifth for traffic in Italy last year and first on the island, have been suspended until 1200 GMT on Wednesday, the management company said.

Ansa news agency reported dense smoke in the lower part of the facility after the fire broke out, sending people rushing out of the airport shouting and in distress. No one has been injured.

Britons who travelled to the Mediterranean have told how the heat is so intense that they have suffered sunstroke and been forced to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.

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 across the country.

The heatwave will intensify from Monday, with temperatures reaching 44C in the Guadalquivir valley near Seville in the south of the country, forecasters predicted.

A man stands in front of a fan before entering the Colosseum in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists rest on a bench in the shade in Rome, Italy, on Monday

Tourists use umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun near the Colosseum in Rome on Monday

A woman cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists cool off in the sea in the Cypriot coastal town of Zygi on Sunday

A boy cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps during a heat wave across Italy on Monday

Tourists cool off in front of a fan before entering the Colosseum during a heat wave in Rome on Monday

A couple seek refuge from the sun under the shade of nearby trees in Seville, Spain, on Sunday

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.

On Sunday, Spanish authorities said more favourable weather conditions helped firefighters slow down the advance of the blaze.

The blaze, which started on Saturday, burned through an area of about 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) and ripped through some 20 houses and buildings.

Europe's highest recorded temperature of 48.8C, registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded in the coming days, notably on the Italian island of Sardinia, meteorologists have said.

'I'm really struggling with the heat. I've bought a mini fan, an umbrella and bottles of water,' said Lilu Da Costa Rosa, a 48-year-old Brazilian saleswoman visiting Rome on Sunday.

In the Vatican, 15,000 people braved sweltering temperatures on Sunday to hear Pope Francis lead prayers, 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.

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

The flames of the La Palma fire can be seen in the background on Saturday

People bathe in the area of Lake Sirio to cool off, in the province of Turin, Italy, on Sunday

Holidaymakers cool off in the sea by Torre Faro Pilone beach near Messina on the island of Sicily during a heatwave on Sunday

People eat ice creams during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy, on Monday

People walk on Fori Imperiali during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome on Monday

A street vendor sells hats during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome on Monday

Tourists sit in a horse-drawn carriage in Seville amid soaring temperatures in Spain on Sunday

People enjoy the shaded banks of the Guadiaro river at 'La Cueva del Gato' near Benaojan, in southern Spain on Saturday

A woman takes a shower at Mondello beach to cool off, during a heatwave across Italy, in Palermo, on Saturday

The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running Sunday during the hottest hours.

The devastating effects of the heatwave has been seen across Europe, with 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 last Tuesday due to the heat in the Italian city of Lodi, southeast Milan, as temperatures soared to above 40C. The worker, who has not been named, later died in hospital.

Scientists have relentlessly warned of the damaging effects of climate change. As well as withering crops, melting glaciers and raising the risk of wildfires, higher-than-normal temperatures also cause health problems ranging from heatstroke and dehydration to cardiovascular stress.

The Red Cross has urged people to check on the most vulnerable during the high temperatures, such as children and older people.

It also called on people to stay hydrated and to watch for signs of heatstroke, which can include vomiting and fainting.

Scientists have said climate change combined with the emergence this year of the El Nino weather pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, have fuelled record-breaking temperatures.

El Nino events, which occur every two to seven years, are marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific near the Equator, and last about nine to 12 months.

The world has warmed an average of nearly 1.2C since the mid-1800s, unleashing extreme weather including more intense heatwaves, more severe droughts and storms made fiercer by rising seas.

Oceans absorb most of the heat generated by planet-warming gases, causing heatwaves that harm aquatic life, altering weather patterns and disrupting crucial planet-regulating systems.

In June, global sea surface temperatures hit unprecedented levels. Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for the month since satellite observations began, at 17 per cent below average, breaking the previous June record by a substantial margin.

While sea surface temperatures normally recede relatively quickly from annual peaks, this year they stayed high, with scientists warning that this underscores an underappreciated but grave impact of climate change.
The No. 3 House Republican tells DailyMail.com that there is still more to be done to roll back President Biden's 'woke' diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) military policies that are putting U.S. national security at risk.

The House passed the $886 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week largely along party lines in a 219 to 210 vote Friday.

Republicans successfully included provisions limiting abortion access for troops, funding of transgender medical care and DEI initiatives, but GOP Whip Tom Emmer told DailyMail.com that more needs to be done just days later at the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit on Monday.

'It's a beginning. Is it the ultimate answer? No,' he said about the NDAA amendments, saying the GOP can do more to provide recompense for the service members terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and to halt the Biden administration's equity push, which he says is detrimental to military readiness.

'We're going to have to be vigilant, we're going to have to actually keep leaning in on this issue because this Biden administration, this president, and the people around him have a completely different vision for our fighting force for our country.'

President Joe Biden reviews the troops on the South Lawn of the White House

'There has been no strength out of this administration,' Whip Emmer told DailyMail.com

He said a huge win in the NDAA was reaffirming the United States' relationship with Israel.

Emmer noted that the NDAA authorized another $50 million into U.S.-Israel defense technologies research, which he says went 'over and above' the Biden administration's request.

It also created 'joint military operations to try and help both Israel and the U.S. actually be more effective not only at home..but around the globe.'

The whip said that House Republicans have shown that they 'are not going to stand for this anti-Israel rhetoric in Congress,' including by kicking Ilhan Omar off the Foreign Affairs Committee for her anti-Israel remarks.

He also slammed Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal for saying over the weekend that Israel is a 'racist' state and other progressives who have pledged to boycott an address by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Congress later this week.

'It really shows the differences in the party,' Emmer added.

'Unfortunately, what should be a nonpartisan issue appears that Republicans know exactly how important this relationship is, how important it is not just to our own existence, but peace and stability across the globe. And our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have a completely different view of the situation. It's a wrongheaded view.'

The White House announced Monday that Biden invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States over a phone call. The confirmation comes after a seven-month wait for the invitation and is a sign that tensions between the leaders may have eased.

As for his view on the Biden administration's overall national security strategy, Emmer says he would call it 'stumbling bumbling and just incoherent at times.'

'I think they're back to this idea of appeasement if you just be nice to your enemies. Somehow they will come around to your point of view. It doesn't work that way,' said Emmer about top Biden officials traveling to China to meet with their counterparts, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Climate Czar John Kerry.

'There has been no strength out of this administration,' he told DailyMail.com.

'This is a feckless administration with incompetent policies. We saw it in Afghanistan. We've seen it in their handling of our other enemies around the globe. This is just nothing new, and unfortunately, is something that Republicans have to keep calling attention to.'

'This policy, whether it's Blinken, whether it's [National Security Adviser] Jake Sullivan, whoever it is, it is total incompetence. And frankly, it not only puts our national security at risk, but it creates problems around the globe.'

'The only way you can ensure peace is by having a strong United States and our allies like Israel,' he continued.

The whip also addressed the Biden administration's announcement to send 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe.

He called it a 'normal rotation' that happened twice under former President Trump, but said his one problem with the move is that 'you can't trust this president or the administration with what other behind the scenes discussions they're having or promises they're making.'

He cited the administration's 'botched and tragic' Afghan withdrawal and 'giveaway' of Bagram Air Force Base in Kabul to the Taliban as a key example.

U.S. Marines at Abbey Gate before a suicide bomber struck outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, in Kabul Afghanistan

Biden participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery

He said the U.S. left 'billions of dollars of equipment behind' and a lot of 'our friends and allies in Afghanistan,' which exposed to some major problems.

'This is one that you just got to keep paying attention and trying to hold this administration accountable from doing things out of sight before they become a problem,' he told DailyMail.com.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is set to meet later Monday with the Gold Star families of the troops killed during a bombing in Afghanistan during the military's withdrawal in 2021.

Emmer told DailyMail.com that his message to those families who went through the tragedy of losing a loved one is simply: 'Thank you, and we're never going to forget.'

'They're doing the highest calling you could possibly do to protect the freedoms that this country is so proud of. So their sacrifice was not for naught.'
A huge sinkhole has suddenly appeared in the middle of a busy road leaving homeowners fuming.

The ground gave way to the massive chamber, measuring roughly six feet deep and ten feet wide, earlier today on Heywood Road, Prestwich, Greater Manchester.

Traffic was brought to a standstill following the shocking incident, with a hasty perimeter set up around it by police and locals.

But locals who gathered at the chasm vented their anger at the poor quality of the road running past their properties, where most are valued at around 300,000.

One said: 'This has happened quite a few times, further up. Neighbours are sick and fed up with it.

The ground gave way earlier today on Heywood Road, Prestwich, Greater Manchester

Traffic was brought to a standstill following the shocking incident

'I heard when this started going because I could hear the undersides of cars being hit.

'I phoned Bury Council and the police and put some bins around it. It was when I went back to take a picture that I saw the bins sinking.

READ MORE: Sinkhole that killed a man and swallowed his home in 2013 has reopened in Florida Advertisement

'We had to get people's attention, so the bins have been put out by residents and someone who works in construction nearby got the tape.'

This was not the first sinkhole to appear in the UK as in May earlier this year a terrified spaniel leapt into a 50-foot sinkhole and was winched to safety by firefighters.

There was also a giant 30ft wide and 9ft deep sinkhole crater in South Wales spotted in February which left experts baffled.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations on Bury Council, said a water company should take responsibility for the sinkhole.

He also called on the government to provide more funding for road maintenance in the local area.

Mr Quinn said: 'We phoned United Utilities, we believe it to be their issue.. They will come down. Council engineers were on it straight away. Barriers are up.

'The only problem is Prestwich is built on sand, so if there is a leak the water can wash the sand away and lead to collapse.'

'We have had a few in the area, the last one was at the junction. We have just had this superstorm and United Utilities are stretched because of global warming.

'We need the government to provide more funding.'

Councillor Alan Quinn said a water company should take responsibility for the sinkhole

Locals who gathered at the chasm vented their anger at the poor quality of the road running past their properties

A spokesperson from the Bury Council added: 'This is a collapsed sewer, and United Utilities will be dealing with that.

'The road has been blocked off and diversions put in place via Heys Road and Bury Old Road and vice versa.

'The duration required for the closure is unknown at the moment.'

A spokesperson from United Utilities said: 'A sinkhole has been reported to us on Heywood Road in Prestwich and our engineers will be attending to investigate.'

Earlier this year in May there was again another sinkhole which appeared over a tunnel which was built for HS2.

It sparked backlash from campaigners with one self-proclaimed activist, Mark Keir, writing on Twitter saying it is 'time to stop digging'.
Suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann was caught on Google Maps street view cameras months before his arrest.

Heuermann, 59, could be seen chatting with an unidentified woman in June 2022 on East 36th Street near his midtown Manhattan office.

The architect appeared to be wearing the same light blue dress shirt he wore in surveillance images released by the police, and seemed to be carrying the same over-the-shoulder brown bag he had on him when he was arrested Thursday night.

In the photos, Heuermann is standing next to a young woman, who has her arms folded outside a Manhattan smoke shop.

Heuermann is now behind bars, charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, who were all found dead in burlap sacks on Long Island's Gilgo Beach. He has pleaded not guilty.

Police say they plan to also charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a fourth woman found dead on the beach in 2010. He is also being investigated for the murders of six other women whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach in 2011.

Rex Heuermann, 49, was caught on Google Maps street view outside his Manhattan office last year standing next to an unidentified young woman

The architect stood chatting with the woman on East 36th Street near his midtown Manhattan office

He appeared to be wearing the same light blue dress shirt he wore in surveillance images released by the police, and seemed to be carrying the same over-the-shoulder brown bag he had on him when he was arrested Thursday night

In the photos, Heuermann is standing next to a young woman, who has her arms folded outside a Manhattan smoke shop

Authorities say Heuermann 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.

Heuermann is charged with three murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder

Police also said Barthelemy's burner phone was also used to make 'taunting phone calls' to her family members in the days after her disappearance, in which a male voice admitting to killing and sexually assaulting her.

All of the women he is charged with killing were strangled, but Suffolk County police say they worried Heuermann would strike again if they didn't take him off the streets.

'He had an arsenal in a vault that he had downstairs. Its concerning, regarding the guns being registered or legal or not, thats something were still taking a look at,' Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said in an interview on CNN This Morning.

Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison also told FOX News on Monday: 'Anytime somebody has that type of arsenal we have some concerns.'

He added that at 6ft 6 inches and weighing 275lbs, Heueremanm would have dominated the woman he is accused of murdering.

'He is an ogre,' Harrison said of the suspect, who remains in jail awaiting his next court appearance.

Heuermann's wife Asa and their adult children are cooperating with the police investigation.

Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter also told CNN 'anything is possible' when it comes to charging Heuermann with more murders.

He added that it was an 'adrenaline rush' to finally see him arrested on Thursday after watching him for more than a year.

'I knew that this person was a demon. The fact that we are able to bring some closure and some peace to the families as well as take a violent person off of the streets is rewarding, I think, for everyone.'

Among items of evidence seized from Heuermann's home on Monday was what appeared to be a grenade

New York state police have removed a massive haul of weapons from suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann's Long Island home on Sunday

The alleged serial killer also seemed to have kept sample price lists for weapons

Forensics teams continue to remove evidence from Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, Long Island

Over the weekend, police searched two storage units in Amityville, a neighboring town, that belonged to Heuermann.

And on Monday, police removed what looked like a grenade from his property in Massapequa Park.

Heueremann had 200 guns in his home, according to police, and other weapons.

An interior designer who spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com has told how the architect once became skittish when she tried to measure a room he said was filled with guns.

'I didn't understand why he was being so weird about it, and now I'm thinking "What was he hiding?" ' Katherine Shepherd said. 'It was a big room. What was happening in that room? Is that where he took the women?'

Shepherd, 47, who worked with Heuermann for five years, spent three hours assessing his Massapequa Park, New York home for a renovation project in 2005  just one of several close interactions she had had with him that have kept her awake at night since his arrest last week.

She described how she had developed a friendly, working relationship with the architect, sharing that Heuermann even once took her to a firing range in the Bronx where he taught her how to fire a 9mm handgun.

Shepherd said she would also regularly travel with Heuermann to job sites as a freelance interior designer.

At the time she found him smart and mostly friendly, but slightly socially awkward.

She now likens him to a real-life Dexter, the Showtime character who led a double life as a serial killer.

'He's just like Dexter,' she told DailyMail.com. 'You'd never know if you met him. Dexter was also super normal and then he had that other side.'
President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an official visit, ending a months long snub triggered by unease in Washington at his plans for a sweeping judicial overhaul.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Israeli prime minister's office. It said the conversation was 'long and warm.'

And it comes a day ahead of a visit to Washington by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Israeli protesters took to the streets again on Saturday, in opposition to plans that would giving Netanyahu's allies control over appointing judges and empowering parliament to overturn court rulings.

It marked the 28th week of protests.

Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) for an official visit, ending a months long snub triggered by his plans for a sweeping judicial overhaul

Huge crowds gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday in protest at Netanyahu's plans to increase political control of the nation's courts - the 28th week of protests

At the same time, growing West Bank violence and inflammatory comments by some of the prime minister's hardline ministers had led the White House to keep its Middle Eastern ally at arms length.

Although Netanyahu retook power more than six months ago he had been left waiting for a White House invitation.

The Israeli statement gave no further details of the meeting, leading to speculation that it could come on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

But it also suggested there could be a compromise over the controversial plans for the nation's courts.

'The prime minister updated the president of the United States on the bill that is slated to be passed next week by the Knesset and on his intention to reach wide public support for the rest of the reform during the summer recess,' it said.

'President Biden invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet soon in the United States. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation and it was agreed that Israeli and American teams will coordinate the details of the meeting.'

Netanyahu had backed off the plan after meeting international condemnation, including from the White House.

But his government gave initial approval to a key portion of the bill last week, swelling the size of protest crowds at the weekend.

Joe Biden's White House had pointedly avoided inviting Netanyahu for an official visit

Israeli president Isaac Herzog is due to hold talks with President Joe Biden later on Tuesday after he addresses Congress to mark the 75th anniversary of his country's independence

The White House later confirmed details of the call and invitation.

'President Biden reiterated in the context of the current debate in Israel about judicial reform, the need for the broadest possible consensus, and that shared democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship,' said spokesman John Kirby.

He added that the meeting would happen before the end of the year but declined to say whether it would be at the White House.

It marks a shift from Biden's comments in April soon after Netanyahu announcing he was pausing the controversial plan.

'I'm very concerned, and I'm concerned that they get this straight,' he said at the time. 'They cannot continue down this road.'
Podcast host Megyn Kelly had some kind words for Donald Trump on Monday - years after engaging in a bitter feud with the Republican both online and on national TV.

The comments came during a Monday taping of the Megyn Kelly Show, and seemed to thrust the pair's long-held animosity in the rearview.

Kelly's praise came after she said she enjoyed a private, 'one-on-one' conversation with the 77-year-old firebrand, who only a few years ago slammed her as 'crazy' and a 'bimbo'.

The feud between the two personalities started in August 2015, when they clashed at the first Republican presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina.

At the time, Kelly, now 52, was serving as the event's moderator, and found herself in Trump's crosshairs after airing a question about his past derogatory comments toward woman. Trump, in trademark fashion, fired back on Twitter days later, paving the way for a war of words that will not soon be forgotten.

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Podcast host Megyn Kelly had some kind words for Donald Trump on Monday - years after engaging in a bitter feud with the Republican both online and on national TV. During the spiel, she seemed to thrust her animosity with the politician in the rearview

The comments came after Trump summoned the former Fox News journalist for a private talk Sunday - before both gave speeches at the Turning Point USA conference in Palm Beach. Trump is seen speaking at the conservative conference here

However, on Monday, Kelly made it clear that she's doing just that, after a Sunday conversation with the again-aspiring president in Palm Beach.

It was there, Kelly revealed, that she was summoned for a private talk before both gave speeches at the Turning Point USA conference.

'One of the most interesting things I did was have a private audience with former President Donald Trump,' Kelly recalled Monday of the previously unreported encounter.

She continued: 'When he came into the arena, we met just one on one, his team was standing nearby, but he and I got a one on one together for the first time in years and it was, frankly great to see him. '

Of their prior disputes - which included a particularly venomous jab from Trump after the debate that seemed to chalk her line of questioning up to the words of someone who is menstruating - Kelly said: 'All that nonsense between us is under the bridge.

'He could not have been more magnanimous,' she added.

Trump's previous criticisms of Kelly - a former Fox News personality who experienced a remarkable uptick in popularity during the 2016 election - were markedly less kind.

After being confronted about comments Kelly deemed sexist in 2015 at his first debate, Trump slammed the questions as 'ridiculous', and Kelly as 'off-base.'

Continuing the verbal assault on Twitter later that night, Trump - who at the time was facing scrutiny for calling several woman he disproved of names like pigs, dogs, slobs -sniped: 'Wow, @megynkelly really bombed tonight. People are going wild on twitter! Funny to watch.'

In a series other posts, the polarizing politician continued to voice his distaste - labeling Kelly, then still on Fox, a 'bimbo' and 'unwatchable.'

In an interview the day after the debate with CNN's since-nixed Don Lemon, Trump continued to criticize Kelly's line of questioning - labeling it a hit job.

'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes,' he said at the time. 'Blood coming out of her wherever.'

In an interview with ABC News' This Week two days later, Trump claimed he meant Kelly's nose when he said 'wherever.'

Megyn Kelly and Donald Trump on the set of her former Fox News show

The feud between the two personalities started in August 2015, when Kelly clashed with the then aspiring president at the first Republican presidential debate in South Carolina

After slamming the line of question - and Kelly - 'ridiculous', and Kelly as 'off-base', Trump - seen here during a second debate he only attended on the condition that Kelly did not moderate it - fired back on Twitter soon after, paving the way for the yearslong war of words

Kelly, meanwhile, called Trump's comments indicative of the candidate's 'war against women.'

The contentious back-and-forth would continue into the next year, when Trump branded Kelly 'crazy' in three separate tweets  repeating a tactic he has used against his rivals Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, who he dubbed 'Lyin' Ted Cruz' and 'Little Marco'.

'Highly overrated & crazy @megynkelly is always complaining about Trump and yet she devotes her shows to me. Focus on others Megyn!' the then president wrote on Twitter.

In another post, he said: 'Crazy @megynkelly is now complaining that @oreillyfactor did not defend her against me  yet her bad show is a total hit piece on me', referring to an interview Kelly gave in which she said she had wished her Fox News co-worker Bill O'Reilly had backed her more when he interviewed Trump on his show.

A couple of hours before that tweet, Trump wrote: 'Crazy @megynkelly supposedly had lyin' Ted Cruz on her show last night.'

The next day, he launched a similar rant against Kelly with three tweets again calling her 'crazy' - all in a span of 30 minutes.

'Don't worry, everyone is wise to Crazy Megyn!' Trump wrote in one post.

The pair feud largely took place online, from 2015 well into the next year

On Monday, Kelly cited Trumps' no-nonsense nature as one of the reasons she has come to support him after so many years

Later, he added: 'Can't watch Crazy Megyn anymore. Talks about me at 43 percent but does never mentions that there are four people in race. With two people, big and over!

Less than five minutes later, he sniped: 'Watching other networks and local news. Really good night! Crazy @megynkelly is unwatchable.'

In April of that year, Kelly - then in the midst of her final year at Fox - had a one-on-one interview with Trump, but before its release, admitted the process was not an easy one.

'In April there was a lull in the tweet storm, and I seized on the opportunity,' Kelly told ABC News. 'I had been looking for months for just the right window to go in there. But every time I thought I was there, he'd start up again, whether it was boycotting the second Fox News debate or calling me crazy and sick after the third debate.'

The latter comment came in reference to Trump's refusal to participate in a second debate with Kelly as a moderator, leaving Ted Cruz the only willing participant after John Kasich also backed out.

That said, their interview did not boast the same verbal fireworks seen in months prior, and even saw Trump concede that while he thought Kellys question about his comments about women 'was unfair', he understood her decision to ask it.

'I dont really blame you, because youre doing your thing. But from my standpoint, I dont have to like it,' he said at the time.

The feud would go on to flame out for several months - before being reignited in October during an interview Kelly held on Fox news with then House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

During the sitdown, Gingrich appeared to come to Trump's defense after she mentioned Trumps sexual abuse allegations - one of which has since blossomed into a full-blown federal case.

At the time, Gingrich accused Kelly of being 'fascinated with sex.'

He asked: 'I mean, do you want to go back through the tapes on your show recently? You are fascinated with sex, and you dont care about public policy.'

Undeterred, Kelly went on to posit whether Trump was a 'sexual predator' - citing his now infamous hot-mic Access Hollywood moment from an old interview with then host Billy Bush in 2005.

Incensed, Gingrich asserted: 'You cannot defend that statement. Im sick and tired of people like you using language thats inflammatory, thats not true.'

Trump went on to praise Gingrich for his demeanor during the much-seen interview.

By the way, congratulations, Newt, on last night, Trump tweeted at the time, calling it 'an amazing interview.

'We dont play games, Newt, right? We dont play games.

On Monday, Kelly cited this no-nonsense nature as one of the reasons she has come to support Trump after so many years.

She said. 'The thing about Trump is he commands the room It's not just because he's former president now because I knew before that. There's just something about him, it's like an aura that sort of takes over the room. There's only one person you can look at.

'He could not have been nicer or more generous and had some interesting thoughts about the debates, whether he's going to attend. I wouldn't bet on it. I would not bet on him attending at least that first Fox News debate.

'If I had to put money on it, you know, it's Trump so he could change his mind. But that was my feeling in having talked to him. Though he did not commit one way or the other. And we had a great exchange.'

She continued: 'I thought it was interesting that as a journalist, as a woman, as a human, who went through so much with Trump, you know, we've had our ups and downs it's fair to say.

'To me, there was a lesson in that kind moment between the two of us. And it was that even as a journalist, if you can take your own ego out of it  and I went through a lot as Trump attacked me for those nine months, I've documented that in my book and elsewhere.

'But if you can take your ego out of it, it if you can be quick to sort of get past these confrontations, and these negative experiences. You can open up such possibility for yourself, you can open up a field of wellness, of positivity, of good relationships.

'So take the fact that it's Donald Trump, former president and Megyn Kelly well-known journalist out of it, this could be true for you in your life. If you just find a way to say, "You know what? That was yesterday, I'm here in today. I'm looking at tomorrow."

'I just think it's a testament to how people can change and people can rebuild relationships and people can move forward in a positive way,' she went on to conclude.

'And I know I'm not the only one because of when Trump took to the stage and address the roaring crowd  which is completely in his corner  he said the following which caught my attention.'




The FBI is seeking the public's help identifying a suspect dubbed the 'Sticky Note Bandit' after a string of bank robberies in the Houston-area, as the city battles a stifling heat wave.

According to FBI Houston's Violent Crime Task Force, the so-called Sticky Note Bandit is wanted in connection with three bank robberies, the first of which took place at the Hancock Whitney Bank at 2979 North Loop West at around 1:30 p.m. on July 5.

Investigators say the male suspect entered the bank dressed as a woman, and passed a threatening sticky note to the teller, demanding cash. No one was physically injured in the robbery, and the suspect made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

The second robbery took place at the Wells Fargo Bank at 13106 Woodforest Boulevard at around 12:09 p.m. on July 11.

The suspect again dressed as a woman and passed a sticky note to the teller. Instead of complying, the teller 'locked themselves in the back room for safety,' investigators said.

A man dressed in women's clothing has successfully robbed a string of banks in Houston after handing over sticky notes to tellers

The amount that the man has stolen has not been revealed, the suspect hasn't used a weapon in the robberies and there have been no injuries

The FBI is offering an award of $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case

The suspect waited for a time, then fled without any money. The third robbery took place at the Wells Fargo Bank at 6255 Bissonnet Street at around 3:30 p.m. on July 13.

Following the same pattern, the suspect dressed as a woman and passed a teller a sticky note demanding cash. No one was physically hurt and the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a thin to medium build.

During the last two robberies he wore a black wig, black sunglasses, blue medical mask, a green women's sweater, black women's ballet flats, and carried a black purse.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.

The Hancock Whitney Bank located at 2979 North Loop West, Houston, was hit by the robber on July 5

Wells Fargo Bank located at 13106 Woodforest Blvd, Houston, was then hit on July 11

The latest bank to be hit was the Wells Fargo Bank on 6255 Bissonnet Street which was hit on July 13

In 2021, around 85 percent of bank crimes were committed at the counters. The majority of those see a person hand a note to a teller. There are very few bank robberies that occur during non-business hours, according to a Conversation feature on bank crime.

About half of those of robberies involved a weapon or a threat to use weapon.

In the last 15 years, 15 people have been killed during the course of bank robberies, there were nearly 100 injuries and over 60 hostages taken.

There is a section on the FBI's website for bank robbers, with many given catchy nicknames such as the Sticky Note Bandit. Names include the Blink Ring Bandit and the Ninja Bank Bandit.

Those who rob a bank stealing over $1,000 without violence can face as much as ten years in prison. Less than $1,000, a person could spend as little as a year in prison.

The amount of money stolen by the Sticky Note Bandit has not been revealed.
An Arizona man accused of killing his 17-year-old stepdaughter Alissa Turney is free after a judge acquitted him of all charges based on a lack of evidence in the case.

Michael Turney, 75, breathed a sigh of relief while shocked family members hoping for justice broke down in tears when the ruling came down in the Maricopa County court room on Monday morning after just a week of testimony.

Turney was on trial for second-degree murder charges in the presumed death of his stepdaughter who vanished in May 2001 after she reportedly left a note that she was running away to California. Alissa has never been found.

Prosecutors argued that Turney and Alissa has a turbulent relationship and that he had hundreds of surveillance tapes of her in an attempt to control her life. But the defense pushed back, saying there is no evidence that she is even dead.

After the prosecution rested its case, the judge granted the defense's motion to dismiss murder charges against Turney, citing rule 20, which allows the court to issue an acquittal if 'there is no substantial evidence to warrant a conviction.'

Alissa's half-sister and Turney's own daughter Sarah Turney who was a key witness in the trial and whose social media campaign for justice helped lead to his arrest in 2020, left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

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Michael Turney, 75, breathed a sigh of relief after a judge acquitted him of charges related to the presumed death of his stepdaughter Alissa Turney based on a lack of evidence in the case

Alissa, pictured, was last seen in May 2001 at her north Phoenix home after the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. Her body has never been found

Earlier Monday, the defense had asked for the judge to issue an acquittal based on what they called a lack of evidence, claiming there was sufficient evidence that Alissa ran away or proof that she is even dead.

Alissa was last seen in May 2001 at her Phoenix home on the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School.

She had told her boyfriend at school that her stepfather was picking her up for lunch. Michael Turney reported her missing, but told authorities that she left a note saying she was running away to California.

In 2008, investigators re-interviewed witnesses and ended up serving search warrants on Turneys home. The search led to the discovery of more than two dozen unregistered pipe bombs belonging to Turney. He served time for those crimes and released in 2017.

Alissa's sister, Sarah, who has tried to keep attention on the case through social media and her podcast 'Voices for Justice,' testified against her own father last week and told the court how he allegedly brainwashed her into thinking that Alissa was a rebellious teenager who ran away to California.

Sarah was only 12 years old when her sister Alissa vanished on the last day of school in May 2001. It was her social media campaign for justice years later that led to the arrest of her own father Michael Turney in 2020, despite a body never being found

There was a note in Alissa's loopy handwriting stating that she was running away to California

But over the years, Sarah said she grew suspicious of her own father and that as his renditions of what happened that day changed every time, it led her to search for her own answers.

When she met up with her father in 2017 and pushed him for an explanation, he wouldn't give it to her.

'He told me he would tell me on his death bed,' Sarah recalled, adding that he said he would confess to everything if the state agreed to give him a lethal injection within 10 days.'

She also spoke in court about the troubled relationship between Turney and Alissa.

Last week, audio of a phone call between Turney and Michael Seth was played for the jury where Turney is heard calling her an a**hole and b*tch.

Michael Turney is on trial for second degree murder in the death of his stepdaughter Alissa Turney, 17, who has been missing since May 2001 when he picked her up early from school

Alissa, 17, was last seen May 17, 2001. She is presumed dead but her body has never been found

Alissa is pictured with her stepfather, Michael Turney. Alissa's mother had died of cancer

When police executed search warrants at the house back in 2008, they found videotapes dating back to the 1980s, including surveillance footage from the house, but did not find any videos from the day she disappeared.

In opening statements last week, the prosecution revealed how Turney had been filming Alissa in their home and how he had hundreds of surveillance videos of her.

Turney also tapped Alissas phone and allegedly made her sign a contract in which she stated that he never sexually assaulted her, the prosecution claimed.

The jury later heard from John Turney, Alissas half-brother, and James Turney, Alissas stepbrother. But a judge ruled that the jury could not hear James testimony that Alissa confided in him about an alleged incident where Turney put his hand on her leg, allegedly tried something, which cause her to run away screaming.

The defense has argued that there isnt any DNA or blood evidence that proves Turney killed Alissa. They also pointed out that without a body, there is no definitive proof that Alissa isnt still alive.

Turney is wheeled in during opening statements at Maricopa County Court in Phoenix July 6

Sarah shared haunting home videos on social media and started a podcast called 'Voices for Justice' - which began as a platform for Alissa then turned into an outlet to help other victims

Sarah Turney is pictured with her father, celebrating her 18th birthday at Disneyland

In May 2020 she began making videos on TikTok that focused on the case

In 2019, she started her own podcast, 'Voices For Justice,' which detailed their family history, events leading up to Alissa's disappearance and a timeline of what has happened in the years since.

In May 2020 she began making videos on TikTok that focused on the case.

'Believe it or not, it has become an important outlet for Alissa's story,' she told NBC.

'I've received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years.

'This is not going away and I'm going to make sure it never does. I still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough.

'Now, I need to continue to be tough and use that to fight for the justice she deserves.

'She deserves her day in court. And I'm determined to give her that.'
Since 2019 the number of LAPD officers dropped by 10 percent to around 9,000

A police union boss told officers to leave Los Angeles for a city that 'understands your worth' as LAPD salary negotiations came to a head last month.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League's vice president, Jerretta Sandoz, noted on Facebook ahead of the expiration of the LAPD's contract expiration on June 30 that cops were suffering at the hand of hostile City Council members.

'Go somewhere that respects the work you do and you don't have to beg for a great contract,' she wrote, according to a screenshot of her post that was seen by the LA Times.

'Go somewhere that has a city council or city manager that openly acknowledges the great work you do, go somewhere that doesn't have Two or more City Council members who hate you (no exaggeration),' wrote Sandoz, a 20-year veteran of the force.

Her comments drew criticism from within the department, which has suffered from a consistently dwindling workforce. The number of active officers has dwindled to just over 9,000 - down from over 10,000 in 2019 - and continues to drop.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League's vice president, Jerretta Sandoz, noted on Facebook ahead of the expiration of the LAPD's contract expiration on June 30 that cops were suffering at the hand of hostile City Council members and complained of a lack of respect for the force

The number of active officers has dwindled to just over 9,000 - down from over 10,000 in 2019. As of last week, the number was reportedly as low as 9,027

The department is expected to lose around another 500 officers in the next nine months due to retirements and resignations, according to an LA Times estimate from April.

The department and union have suggested that staff shortages are a result of an increasingly hostile attitude towards police in the city - they see the ban on wearing the thin blue line flag as symptomatic of those sentiments.

LA Mayor Karen Bass has addressed the crisis in hiring and set a target of replenishing the size of the workforce to 9,500.

'I know that that is ambitious, but I think it needs to happen,' she said when she announced a new budget providing for the additional officers earlier this year.

But according to the Times, the last ten Police Academy classes had on average 30 graduating officers, which is well under the number needed to reach her goals.

The mayor's spokesperson noted in a statement to the Times that her concerns over personnel remained high.

'The mayor's No. 1 job is to keep Angelenos safe,' he wrote. 'She remains concerned about the number of officers retiring and her budget reflects that concern.'

Sandoz, for the most part, stood by her since-deleted Facebook post but said that her comments were mainly directed at those who had already made the difference to move on.

'My comments were part of a larger online thread about officers who stated they already decided to leave the LAPD,' she told the newspaper.

'And I stand by every word I wrote to those who decided, or are strongly considering leaving the LAPD for another agency.'

In a subsequent email, she told the publication she hopes the department makes 'improvements' and that officers choose to stay with the LAPD.

She added that the 'criteria I advise officers to evaluate when they are choosing to work for another agency is, in many respects, the same criteria officers are using to determine if they are going to stay with the LAPD.'

LA Mayor Karen Bass (pictured) has addressed the crisis in hiring and set a target of replenishing the size of the workforce to 9,500

LAPD chief Michel Moore has suggested the struggles are linked to perceived a perceived hostility towards police since the killing George Floyd

LAPD chief Michel Moore has suggested the struggles are linked to perceived a perceived hostility towards police since the killing George Floyd.

The prevention of officers from displaying the thin blue line flag has also heightened tensions and was cited by Sandoz as one of the problems officers are facing.

He also noted that there is a backlog of background investigations that keeps potential recruits waiting months before they are able to go through the academy.

The department has been laying plans to award $15,000 signing bonuses and other incentives for new officers.

Bass has also proposed lowering the standards that it requires of recruits by hiring a third party to study why some recruits fail so that the bar can be lowered.

The mayor's goal to diversify the police department and lower the qualifications has been deemed 'dangerous' among LAPD union leaders as some aspiring officers are extremely unfit for the job.

'That's just a recipe for disaster,' Tom Saggau, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told the news outlet. 'We think lowering standards is a dangerous precedent.'

Other goals Bass plans to focus on include reducing the number of police-involved shootings and eliminating 'officers associated with right-wing domestic extremist organizations.'

Saggu told the news outlet those who fail to qualify as a new hire don't 'possess the mental fitness or the physical fitness ability to be a police officer.'

'If you have police officers that can't make minimum qualifications or attained minimum standards, for instance, there are recruits that have been in the academy that just can't score the minimum requirements for a physical fitness test,' Saggau told the news outlet.

'One hundred is the maximum score, 50 is acceptable. There are folks that are scoring under 10. That's just dangerous.'
A 39-year-old man from Richmond, California had to get his hand partially amputated after he fell off a boat and was struck by a propeller

A California man suffered a 'traumatic' partial hand amputation after he fell off a small boat and was struck by the propeller.

The Napa County Sheriff's Department said deputies responded to a call about a man who had been struck by a boat at Lake Berryessa just before 1pm on Sunday.

Spokesman Henry Wofford told the San Francisco Chronicle that the 39-year-old man was riding on the bow (or front) of the boat, which is prohibited by law in California, when he fell over into the water and had his hand and wrist caught in the propeller.

He suffered 'major lacerations' to his hand and wrist in the aftermath.

The unidentified Richmond man was not wearing a life jacket at the time, but family members managed to pull him back onto the ship and called for help.

A 39-year-old Richmond, California man had to be airlifted to a hospital after he fell off a boat and was struck by the propeller

The man was not wearing a life jacket at the time, but family members managed to pull him back onto the ship and called for help

The incident comes just one year after a swimmer was critically injured after being hit by a party boat on the same lake, Lake Berryessa

Upon arrival, a sheriff's deputy applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, and the man was airlifted to a trauma center in Vacaville. The sheriff's department was assisted by CAL FIRE and California Highway Patrol.

'This victim is very fortunate to be alive,' Wofford said.

The incident comes just one year after a swimmer was critically injured after being hit by a party boat on the same lake.

The woman hit the boat's propeller, and first responders had to apply a life-saving tourniquet to both of her legs before she could be moved across the cove in a sheriff's boat.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he disagrees with Robert F. Kennedy's comments on Covid-19 being engineered to spare Jewish people but does not believe the Democratic presidential candidate should be 'censored.'

The longshot presidential hopeful is set to testify before the House Judiciary' Weaponization subcommittee this week - and McCarthy said he believes the testimony should go forward as planned.

'I disagree with everything he says,' said the speaker of the House. 'The hearing we have this week is about censorship. I don't think censoring somebody is the answer.'

Last week Kennedy plunged to new depths of conspiracy theories when he reportedly claimed that Covid-19 was 'ethnically targeted' and that 'the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.'

'We don't know whether it was deliberately targeted or not but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact,' the Democratic candidate added, according to the New York Post.

This week Kennedy will testify during a hearing on the federal government's role in censorship. Other witnesses include Breitbart News journalist Emma-Jo Morris and the Louisiana Department of Justice Special Assistant Attorney General D. John Sauer.

McCarthy said he disagrees with Robert F. Kennedy's comments on Covid-19 being engineered to spare Jewish people but does not believe the Democratic presidential candidate should be 'censored'

Last week Kennedy plunged to new depths of conspiracy theories when he reportedly claimed that Covid-19 was 'ethnically targeted' and that 'the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese'

At the same time McCarthy said that his Democratic counterpart Hakeem Jeffries should punish Squad members for their anti-Semitic remarks.

'I think if the Democrats want to believe that they do not have a conference that continues to make anti-Semitic remarks, they need to do something about it because they've defended these individuals time and again,' the speaker told reporters.

'I think this is a role for the leader, Hakeem, to prove that, no, they're not anti-Semitic and they cannot allow their members to continue to say what they have said in the past,' he went on.

'These are all individuals in the Democratic conference. Do they think Israel is an evil state? Well, if they believe differently, they should take action against their own for the comments coming from their leadership within their own Democratic Party.'

On Wednesday this week Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to give remarks to a joint session of Congress - and a number of progressive Democrats have said they will not be attending the high-profile address

On Wednesday this week Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to give remarks to a joint session of Congress - and a number of progressive Democrats have said they will not be attending the high-profile address.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said over the weekend that Israel is a 'racist state' - a comment she was later forced to walk back.

'Hey guys, can I say something? Can I say something as somebody that's been in the streets and has participated in a lot of demonstrations?' Jayapal said. '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.'

'Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement,' Jayapal said in a statement posted to Twitter. 'I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.'

Herzog, the Israeli president, will visit the White House on Tuesday for talks with Joe Biden.

Protests have rankled Israel for months over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the nation's judiciary.

The overhaul would allow for giving Netanyahu's allies control over the appointment of judges and giving the parliament power to overturn court decisions.

Kennedy responded to the allegations that he is an anti-Semite by accusing the New York Post of being 'mistaken.'

'I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews,' he tweeted.

'I accurately pointed out  during an off-the-record conversation  that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews,' he went on.

'In that sense, it serves as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons. I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered,' the Democrat added.
Vladimir Putin has blamed Kyiv for a 'terrorist' jet-ski drone strike on Crimea bridge and vowed to retaliate after the blast which left two Russians dead.

The attack on Monday damaged Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea, and is thought to have been caused by remote control jet-skis.

The Kremlin accused the UK and US of helping Kyiv prepare the operation but gave no evidence.

Vladimir Putin's propagandists parroted the official line and called for Moscow to carry out a retaliatory strike on Tower Bridge in London, describing the landmark as a 'legitimate target'.

The 12-mile Kerch crossing was closed to road traffic after the 3am attack  the second on the structure in nine months. One section was destroyed in the attack, with pictures showing twisted metal barriers, debris and a wrecked car.

This picture reportedly shows damaged parts of an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait

Russian Investigative Committee employees work at the site of a bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia after an explosion at the Crimea Bridge

A view shows the section of a road split and sloping to one side following an alleged attack on the Crimea Bridge, that connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula

'What happened is another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime,' Putin said at a televised meeting with officials.

'It is a crime that is pointless from the military point of view, it bears no significance because the Crimean bridge hasn't been used for military means in a long time, and it is brutal, because blameless civilians were injured and killed.'

Drivers were seen in dashcam footage braking sharply after two explosions destroyed parts of the crossing and sent debris flying.

The double blast killed Natalya Kulik, 36, and her husband Alexei, 40, who were crossing the bridge by car. Their 14-year-old daughter Angelina is in hospital in intensive care.

'The girl was injured,' said Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on the Telegram messaging app. 'The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mum. No words can calm the pain of loss here,' he added.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee claimed the strike was carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones. It is said to have damaged the road on the bridge but not the rail bridge.

Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said in a statement that his agency would reveal details of how the 'bang' was organized after Kyiv has won the war.

Politician Mykhailo Fedorov later said on the Telegram that 'today, the Crimea bridge was torn apart by sea drones,' but it was not clear if he was making an official confirmation or referring to earlier reports.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said: 'Today's attack on the Crimean bridge was carried out by the Kyiv regime. This regime is terrorist and has all the hallmarks of an international organised crime group.

'Decisions are made by Ukrainian officials and the military with the direct participation of American and British intelligence agencies and politicians. The US and Britain are in charge of a terrorist state structure.'

The Kerch Bridge, which is the longest in Europe, is a conspicuous symbol of Moscow's claims on Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

This is reportedly the moment of the explosion of the Crimean Bridge on Monday July 17

A satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on July 17 shows damage to the Kerch bridge

This video grab taken and released on July 17 by the Russian Investigative Commitee shows committee investigators working on the Kerch bridge

First pictures of damage to the Crimean Bridge, attacked reportedly with jet skis early in the morning on July 17

Built at a cost of 2.7billion, the bridge is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war. It is also a hated symbol of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence department, said last night: 'The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine.

'Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.'

Satellite images taken Monday morning by Maxar Technologies showed serious damage to both eastbound and westbound lanes of the bridge across the Kerch Strait on the part nearest to the Russian mainland, with at least one section collapsed.

Hours after the attack, video from Russian authorities showed crews picking up debris from the deck of the bridge, a section of which appeared to be sloping to one side, and a damaged black sedan with its passenger door open.

Russia has expanded its military forces in Crimea since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
With a raised eyebrow and acerbic one-liner, Jeremy Paxman showed he didnt suffer fools gladly as the long-running host of University Challenge.

But Amol Rajan seems to have ushered in a much softer era as he took over as the host of the beloved BBC2 quiz.

Wearing a shiny orange tie and matching pocket square, the BBCs former Media Editor was quick to praise the contestants from Trinity College, Cambridge and Manchester and even engaged in some light-hearted chit-chat.

Hello and welcome to a new series and a new era of University Challenge, he said as he opened the show, addressing viewers.

A few things have changed since the end of the last series, but all the important things remain the same; The format is still simple, the questions are still complicated and the teams are still terrifyingly knowledgeable.

A look at the BBC's Amol Rajan presenting University Challenge for the first time

The programme's previous long-standing host Jeremy Paxman, 73, filmed his final episodes last year

While Rajan still employed Paxman-favourite, Come on, once or twice, he was also liberal with Well done, which he doled out more often.

At one point Rajan, a regular presenter on Radio 4s Today Programme, told a contestant that their answer was very impressive while another got a wow after a lightening quick answer during the music round.

READ MORE: BBC gives first look at Amol Rajan and new University Challenge titles Advertisement

While Paxman created an air of tightly-wound tension, Rajan seemed keen to put the students at ease by making off-the-cuff quips and employing the odd, Bad luck when met with a wrong answer.

There was even a cricket-themed question, prompting Rajan - a keen player and author of a book on the sport - to remark: About time we had some more cricket questions on this programme.

At the end of the show, he described Manchesters win as one hell of a victory after a painful beginning and consoled Trinity, saying: My goodness, Im so sorry.

He told them: I think it was quite possibly strong enough to see you come back so we may well see you again.

He added: Well done on a completely phenomenal performance and thank you both do much for keeping us all hugely entertained - that was impressive.

Meanwhile viewers tuning in said they enjoyed the softer approach, with one person congratulating Rajan for doing an 'excellent job' while another said the show had 'nice dynamics'.

But some were not happy with the revamped set design and decision to replace question cards with Rajan reading them out from an electronic screen.

University Challenge fans share their anger at the new changes on Twitter

A look at the new set design of University Challenge which airs on BBC 1

One viewer wrote on Twitter: ''Finding this difficult to watch. Awful set. No question cards. Quizmaster reading from screen at high speed while wringing his hands.'

A second said: 'There's no eye contact from Amol with the contestants. It's just you staring at a screen. May as well just be a computer reading out questions.'

Another explained that they would 'much rather he was reading from the cards as Jeremy did' and that the new screen feels 'hidden' and 'removed'.

A fourth added: 'The large computer screen in front of Amol Rajan is a bit distracting. It also means he doesn't have cards to slam down on the desk when the teams give a stupid answer.'

Another chimed in: 'The new University Challenge set is dreadful! Tackily built and painted poorly designed and boring. What were they thinking?'

This fan agreed, adding: 'Reading from the screen makes him look totally disengaged from everything.'

Just after the show finished, Rajan responded to the responses he received by posting: 'Thanks so much for all the kind, thoughtful or constructive feedback about my first episode of #UniversityChallenge. I really appreciate it, and will discuss with the team.'

Paxmans stint on the show, from 1994 to 2023, made him the longest-serving quizmaster on British television.

But long-standing host Paxman, 73, filmed his final episodes last year, with the latest series of the programme ending in May after announcing his departure following his Parkinsons Disease diagnosis.

The late Bamber Gascoigne hosted the show from its inception in 1962 until 1987 when it aired on ITV. The BBC revived it seven years later with Paxman in the quizmasters chair.

The new role is a major promotion for Rajan as Paxman's reign as the longest-serving current quizmaster on UK TV came to an official end.

Paxman signed off with little fanfare in May, telling audiences: University Challenge returns later in the year and I will be watching.

Writing in his Saga magazine column last year, he said that he was looking forward to a gentle life after running down his other work commitments.

Broadcaster Jeremy Paxman became the face of the revived University Challenge when it returned after a hiatus in 1994

An easy starter for ten! Amol Rajan pictured in a previous trailer for the show

I plan to join a choir, to take a postgraduate degree in understanding Renaissance art and finally to finish the wine appreciation course that I began a year ago. I may even give drawing another bash, he said.

Rajan, 39, has been the BBC's media editor and a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today. He has also appeared on BBC Radio 2 and The One Show.

When his appointment was announced last year, Rajan said: 'Being asked to host my favourite TV programme is dream-come-true territory.

'I have watched University Challenge obsessively for years, addicted to its high standards, glorious title music, and inspirational contestants.

The fans were annoyed by the changes to the 'hideous' set and new question card screen

'It's the best possible antidote to cynicism about young people, allowing millions of us to test our wits against the best minds of a new generation, and annoy and impress our families by barking answers from the sofa.'

The broadcaster became the youngest editor of a broadsheet newspaper in Britain when he took the helm of The Independent in 2013, but now the BBC's media editor faces an entirely new challenge as he gears up to quiz some of the smartest young minds in the country.

The BBC's 2021/22 annual report showed he was on a salary of 325,000-329,999 and is expected to be paid more as the host of University Challenge.

He has been married to Charlotte Faircloth since September 2013 and the couple have three children.
One person died and another was critically injured when they were knocked out of a sightseeing gondola Sunday in a bizarre incident at the popular Mont-Tremblant resort, authorities said.

Quebec provincial police said the crash occurred shortly before noon when a drilling machine from a nearby construction site struck the gondola at the mountain resort around 65 miles northwest of Montreal.

Police said in an email that the other passenger was taken to a Montreal-area hospital with life-threatening injuries. A police spokesperson described the impact as 'very brutal.'

Investigators from the major crimes division were sent to the scene. Criminal negligence charges have not been ruled out, reports CBC.

The deceased man has been named as Sheldon Johnson, 50. The woman has been named as Marichu Gadong-Gleyo, 58.

A man was killed and a woman left seriously injured after the gondola they were traveling in in a mountain resort was struck by a construction drill

The pair suffered a 'brutal fall,' a police spokesperson said while refusing to rule out criminal charges related to the incident

The operator of the drill was seeking to move it on Sunday ahead of work on Monday in order to save time. He has been described as a 30-year-old subcontractor

Following Sunday's tragedy, a music festival at the resort was canceled and flags were flown at half-mast

Another police spokesperson, Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, told CTV Montreal that the operator of the drill was 'in a state of shock following this'

The drill is also being inspected to determine if there was some kind of mechanical failure. The machine actually hit two gondolas, the other was empty

The Tremblant Resort Association declined to comment on the accident but said in a post on Facebook that activities at the mountain were suspended after the accident.

'It was pretty bad. The gondola that was struck, there's a part of the gondola that was ripped off and the people had no chance at all, they just fell on the ground at several meters, hitting hard on the ground,' Surete du Quebec spokesperson Eric Cadotte told CBC.

Cadotte went on to call the impact 'very brutal.'

The operator of the drill was seeking to move it on Sunday ahead of work on Monday in order to save time. He has been described as a 30-year-old subcontractor, reports CBC.

Both victims were from Ontario. At the time of writing, Gadong-Gleyo is still fighting for her life at a local hospital.

Another police spokesperson, Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, told CTV Montreal that the operator of the drill was 'in a state of shock following this.' Bilodeau said Monday that investigators are still in the process of questioning witnesses.

A map showing the distance covered by the gondolas from the top of the mountain to the resort

The drill is also being inspected to determine if there was some kind of mechanical failure. The machine actually hit two gondolas, the other was empty.

The spokesperson said that the drill 'was not necessarily intended to do work on the mountain, especially when (the gondolas) were in operation.  It seems an employee would have tried to move the machinery  and, unfortunately, it was at this moment that there was an impact with the gondola.'

The officer said she did not know what the relationship between the man and the woman was.

Flags at the resort were flown at half-mast on Sunday night and through until Monday as a mark of respect.

'It's hard. It's a very difficult time for us. It's hard for all the staff and we're really with the family. "People are trying to understand (what happened). So are we and the investigation will help us with that,' resort spokesperson Annick Aird told CTV.
Hardline abortion restrictions in states such as Alabama are having an impact on morale in the U.S. military, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, as he delivered an impassioned defense of Pentagon policies.

It comes as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, blocks hundred of senior military appointments in protest.

He says he will not back down unless the Defense Department scraps its policy offering support to service members who need to travel out of state for terminations after the Supreme Court scrapped abortion protections last year.

'I'm really glad you asked that question,' said Kirby, who is an admiral in the Navy in response to a query about whether the policy was necessary for military readiness.

He said for an all-volunteer service, it was part of the contract between military leaders and the men and women who signed up to serve.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (left) on Monday delivered an impassioned defense of Pentagon policies on abortion. It comes as Sen. Tommy Tuberville blocks hundred of senior military appointments in protest

Whether it's about female service members, one in five, or female family members being able to count on the kinds of health care and reproductive care specifically that they need to serve,' he said during the White House briefing, 'that is a foundational sacred obligation of military leaders across the river.'

The Pentagon, across the Potomac in Virginia, has frequently been the target of conservatives as it builds the sort of diverse fighting force that reflects the nation.

Republicans have accused it of being more interested in being 'woke' than warfighting.

The Department of Defense says Tuberville's stance has already stalled more than 260 nominations of senior officers. That figure could reach 650 by the end of the year.

He is refusing to lift his blockade until their is a vote on the Pentagon's policy of offering paid leave and expenses for service members who have to travel to get an abortion.

'I don't know whether it would pass,' he said last week. 'It may. I don't care.

'I just want the American people to have a say-so in this, not the Pentagon.'

At the same time, House Republicans signaled that no area of policy is safe from their culture war attacks.

'I'm really glad you asked that question,' said Kirby, who is an admiral in the Navy in response to a query about whether the policy was necessary for military readiness

Kirby pointed out that one in five military personnel were now female

Last week they passed an annual defense authorization bill that included limits on abortion, transgender transition treatment, and diversity training. In so doing they ended a long standing practice of passing such bills with bipartisan support, and ensured it will be rejected by the Senate.

Against that backdrop, Kirby said active duty personnel and spouses recently told him that abortion restrictions were having an impact on their willingness to serve.

'So if you don't think there's going to be a retention and morale issue, think again because it's already having that effect,' he said.

Service members do not get to pick and choose where they are based, he continued, citing the example of his son and his son-in-law who are both in the Navy.

'And so what happens if you get assigned to a state like Alabama, which has a pretty restrictive abortion law in place, and you're concerned about your reproductive care?' he asked.

'What do you do? Do you say no and get out?

'Well, some people may decide to do that. And what does that mean?

'That means we lose talent, important talent.

'And we're an all-volunteer force. Recruiting is tough enough as it is with a very strong economy out there.

'We want to keep the people that we get and we want to we want to make sure that they can continue to serve.'

Plus, he added, 'It's just the right darn thing to do for people that raise their hand and agree to serve in the military.'

President Joe Biden last week also expressed his frustration with Tuberville.

'I'd be willing to talk to him if I thought there's any possibility of him changing his ridiculous position he has,' he said in Helsinki, Finland.

'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.'
RFK Jr.'s family is once again denouncing him  this time for comments he made last week, claiming COVID was 'ethnically targeted' to not affect Jewish and Chinese people.

His sister, Kerry Kennedy, has slammed the remarks as 'deplorable and untruthful,' as she distanced the Democratic presidential candidate from the nonprofit named for their father, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Campaign.

Their brother, Joseph Kennedy II, also said RFK Jr's comments are 'morally and factually wrong' and 'play on anti-Semitic myths.'

And his nephew, former Massachusetts Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, said he 'unequivocally' condemns the remarks RFK Jr made at an event Thursday at Tony's Di Napoli restaurant on New York City's Upper East Side.

The comments have also been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League.

Democratic presidential candidate RFK Jr claimed at an event last week that COVID was 'ethnically targeted' to affect Jewish and Chinese people

His sister, Kerry Kennedy, slammed the remarks as 'deplorable and untruthful. She is pictured here in May

Former Massachusetts Rep. Joseph Kennedy III also condemned RFK Jr's comments

At the event last week, RFK Jr., 69, started talking about vaccines when he brought up his thoughts on how COVID was bio-engineered.

He claimed that the virus was 'ethnically targeted' and that 'the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.'

'We don't know whether it was deliberately targeted or not but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact,' the Democratic candidate added.

'We do know that the Chinese are spending hundreds of millions of dollars developing ethnic bioweapons and we are developing ethnic bioweapons. They're collecting Russian DNA. They're collecting Chinese DNA so we can target people by race,' he continued.

Backlash to the presidential candidate was swift, coming almost immediately after his remarks were published.

A number of Jewish actors slammed Kennedy for his comments, and an Anti-Defamation League spokesperson reacted with outrage.

'The claim that COVID-19 was a bioweapon created by the Chinese or Jews to attack Caucasians and black people is deeply offensive and feeds into Sino phobic and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about COVID-19 that we have seen evolve over the last three years,' an ADL spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

Kerry has since also come out to denounce the comments, saying in a statement: 'I strongly condemn my brother's deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about COVID being engineered for ethnic targeting.

'His statements do not represent what I or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50 [plus]-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination,' she said as the president of the organization.

Joseph Kennedy II, meanwhile, said in a statement to the Boston Globe: 'Bobby's comments are morally and factually wrong.

'They play on anti-Semitic myths and stoke mistrust of the Chinese. His remarks in no way reflect the words and action of our father, Robert F. Kennedy.'

And former Rep. Joseph Kennedy III tweeted: 'My uncle's comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said.'

Even RFK Jr.'s advisor and right-wing activist Morton Klein said the candidate's remarks 'worried' him.

'This is crazy. It makes no sense that they would do that. I read everything. I was totally against the vaccine. . . I wanted to convince myself it was correct not to take it,' Klein told the New York Post. 'I have never seen anything like this.'

He made the remarks at a private event Thursday at Tony's Di Napoli restaurant on New York City 's Upper East Side

He claimed the Chinese were developing bio-weapons that target certain ethnicities and races

Kennedy has dabbled in anti-Semitism with some of his other remarks surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has repeatedly invoked Nazis and the Holocaust when talking about measures aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19, such as mask requirements and vaccine mandates.

He has apologized for some of those comments, including when he suggested that people in 2022 were worse off than Anne Frank.

But so far, Kennedy has defended his remarks, saying they were intended to be off the record and were misconstrued.

He said in a series of tweets that he was referencing a scientific paper that analyzed theoretical genetic susceptibilities to COVID.

'I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews,' he tweeted.

'I accurately pointed out  during an off-the-record conversation  that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews,' he went on.

'In that sense, it serves as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons. I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered,' the Democrat added.

Kennedy then accused one of the invited guests to the dinner, journalist Jonathan Levine, of exploiting an off-the-record conversation in order to 'smear' the candidate 'with an outlandish conspiracy theory.'

'This cynical maneuver is consistent with the mainstream media playbook to discredit me as a crank  and by association, to discredit revelations of genuine corruption and collusion,' Kennedy also said.

There is no reputable evidence to suggest that anything RFK Jr said was accurate. Although there are new reports suggesting that Covid-19 was man made and escaped from a lab in Wuhan, there is nothing to suggest it was ethnically targeted.

Kennedy has dabbled in anti-Semitism with some of his other remarks surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. He is pictured campaigning last month

So far, RFK Jr has defended his remarks, saying they were intended to be off the record and were misconstrued

His remarks came shortly after he pledged to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci for his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic should he win the White House in 2024.

'If there were crimes that he committed, of course, I would tell the attorney general to prosecute him, not hold off,' Kennedy promised during an interview on Fox News.

Although Kennedy did not outright state whether America's former top doctor is guilty of committing a crime, he stated how he believes Dr. Fauci caused 'a lot of injury' by alleging he withheld treatments from Americans during the early stages of the pandemic.

Kennedy has in the past leveled similar accusations in a book entitled 'The Real Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Big Pharma and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health.'

Kennedy said it was Fauci's actions that actually contributed to the United States' high death count.

'I think that he particularly, by withholding early treatment from Americans, we racked up the highest death count in the world,' Kennedy said in an interview.

'We only have 4.2 percent of the globe's population, but we had 16 percent of the COVID deaths in this country and that was from bad policy,' Kennedy explained.

'There are countries that did the opposite of what we did that provided Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, other early treatments to their populations and had 1/200th of our death rate.

'There are many, many things we did wrong in our country and some of those were I would say  some of the things that were done by health officials at that time, that they knew they would be harmful.'

Kennedy was then asked by host Jesse Watters why he continues to tout the false claim that childhood vaccinations are linked to autism.

'I do believe that autism does come from vaccines but I think most of the things people believe about my opinions about vaccines are wrong,' Kennedy said.

'You know, all I have said about vaccines we should have good science. We should have the same kind of testing, placebo-controlled trials that we have for every other kind of medication.

'Vaccines are exempt from pre-licensing placebo-controlled trials. So there's no way that anybody can tell the risk of all those products or even the relative benefits of all those products before they are mandated and we should have that kind of testing.'

Kennedy was not challenged robustly by Watters during the interview as the FOX News commentator appeared to accept the details that he was touting.

Kennedy launched his campaign at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel on April 19 with his wife Cheryl Hines, the Curb Your Enthusiasm actress

Among Democrats surveyed in the recent poll, 58 percent support Biden for the nomination, while 15 percent back Kennedy

The candidate is thought to be polling as high as 20 percent among some Democratic voters although there has been no indication that President Joe Biden will engage in a debate with him or self-help guru Marianne Williamson.

In announcing his campaign back in April, RFK Jr likened his campaign to the American revolution.

'My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism in our country,' Kennedy said.

The candidate was once known most as an environmental lawyer who worked on issues such as clean water.

But over the past nearly two decades, he's become one of the leading voices of the anti-vaccine movement. His work has been described by members of his own family and public health experts as misleading and dangerous.

Kennedy's efforts intensified after the pandemic and development of the COVID-19 vaccine, and in 2021 he linked up with anti-democratic figures and other groups.

He has appeared at events pushing the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and with people who cheered or downplayed the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A photo posted on Instagram showed Kennedy backstage at a July 2021 Reawaken America event with former President Donald Trump's ally Roger Stone, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and anti-vaccine profiteer Charlene Bollinger. All three have promoted the lie about the 2020 election being stolen.

Kennedy has also been a guest on Infowars, the channel run by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and on the 'War Room' podcast hosted by longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon, where he promoted his bestselling 2021 book, 'The Real Anthony Fauci,' in which he accused the U.S.'s top infectious disease doctor of participating in 'a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy.'

During the pandemic, RFK Jr's group, Children's Health Defense, raked in funding and followers in the U.S. and abroad, and doubling its revenue from 2019 to 2020. Revenue more than doubled from $7 million in 2020 to $16 million in 2021.

Facebook and Instagram removed the accounts of Childrens Health Defense for spreading misinformation.
A homegrown terrorist considered launching a mass gun attack on the Queen's funeral after converting to Islam in prison, a court heard yesterday.

Edward Little, 22, who converted while serving time in jail as a teenager, identified the funeral as a possible target the day before it was due to be held at Westminster Abbey in September last year.

As a free man, he discussed plans to get hold of a Mac-10 submachine gun and an AK-47 rifle after discussing the plot with other extremists in encrypted chats on a messaging platform.

The British-born Muslim convert told them: 'I don't think has been an attack in the UK with guns so a semi-automatic rifle would send an even stronger message.'

But Little decided he was 'too late' to act and instead opted to target a controversial Christian preacher  who often debates Islam and the Koran  at Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park.

British-born Islam convert Edward Little planned to target the Queen's funeral, a court heard

Little considered a mass gun attack and planned to get hold of a submachine gun the day before service was due to held at Westminster Abbey last September (Court sketch of Little appearing at the Old Bailey last October)

But he decided he was 'too late' to act during the national event and decided instead to target a controversial Christian preacher at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park

Days later, Little was arrested on his way to buy a 5,000 gun for the attack, having taken a taxi from Brighton to London last September.

In custody, he attacked a detective and poured boiling water mixed with sugar over an inmate at Belmarsh Prison.

Yesterday the Old Bailey heard Little had converted to Islam as a teenager while serving sentences for robbery and drugs offences at Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution in Kent and, after he turned 18, at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham.

It heard his intended victim in Hyde Park, preacher Hatun Tash, is a former Muslim and convert to Christianity, who has faced threats to her life on multiple occasions.

Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said: 'The defendant planned to murder those who were with Hatun Tash, and any police officers or soldiers who were in the area.

'He conducted research into firearms, the location of the planned attack, Hatun Tash herself, secured and digested terrorist publications, sought assistance from other Islamic extremists, secured money to fund his attack and made careful arrangements to purchase a firearm.'

In his chats on Threema messaging platform, Little referred to his intended victim as an 'evil witch' and said he could shoot her 'point blank' and 'everyone with her'.

He downloaded extremist Islamic material including copies of the Al Qaeda magazine Inspire and used the encrypted messaging app to discuss his plans with others, telling one user that he had 15,000 and was 'arranging for a handgun and 70 bullets in the next few days then after that trying to get the larger weapons'.

He also said he needed a video recording of the attack so it could be claimed by Al Qaeda afterwards.

At a previous hearing Little, of Pelham Street, Brighton, admitted preparing to commit an act of terrorism and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He already had 14 convictions for robbery, having a knife and drug dealing dating back to 2017.

He will be sentenced at a later date.
Democrat Manchin appeared with Republican former Gov. Jon Huntsman and they were asked repeatedly about a 'unity ticket' prospects

Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. repeatedly dodged questions on Monday regarding the potential of running on a third-party ticket in the 2024 presidential election under the No Labels movement.

When asked about how a Democrat and Republican sharing the White House would 'work,' Manchin went after President Joe Biden by saying: 'A hell of a lot better than what you have today.'

Any third party candidate in the race is likely to help the chances of a Republican winning in 2024 and hurt President Joe Biden's possibility of reelection.

Voters were clearly enthused by the prospects of a strong third-party ticket.

The room at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester was packed to the seams  and there were at least two overflow rooms where attendees watched a live stream of the event before Manchin and Huntsman greeted them following the town hall.

Manchin dismissed concerns that his candidacy could serve as a 'spoiler' to Biden that will help former President Donald Trump become president again.

Sen. Joe Manchin said if a Democrat and Republican were to serve in the White House together it would work 'a hell of a lot better' than the current Biden White House. Democrat Manchin (left) appeared with Republican Jon Huntsman (right) at a No Labels event in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday

'I've not been in any race I've ever spoiled, I've been in races to win. And if I get in the race, I'm going to win,' the West Virginia senator said when pressed by the moderator on the potential of a 'unity ticket.'

While Manchin is a Democrat in the Senate, he has been slammed by members of his own party for taking down some of their policies they tried to jam through with a razor-thin majority.

Asked what his party affiliation is, Manchin said: 'I'm the most independent Democrat you've ever met.'

Huntsman assured that he has 'no idea' what Manchin is going to do regarding a presidential bid after in the past saying he is weighing a run and will make a decision by the end of the year.

With less than seven months until the first-in-the-nation primary elections, candidates are already descending on the Granite State in troves  along with the first caucus state of Iowa and other early primary contest states of South Carolina and Nevada.

The event Monday evening kicks-off the first in a series of town halls with politicians supporting the ideals of No Labels. It was described by the organizers as the: 'Rollout of what the American people want their government to do.'

The keynote speakers for the first town hall were moderate Sen. Manchin and former Utah Gov. Huntsman, who was also the Ambassador to China under Barack Obama and the Ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump.

It was clear the consensus in the room is that Manchin and Huntsman are likely to launch a bid for president together.

Other special guests on Monday included former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman; North Carolina's former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory; ex-Republican Rep. Fred Upon of Michigan; former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina; Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.; Adm. Dennis Blair, the former U.S. Director of National Intelligence under Obama.

McCrory said that the plan is to put out a presidential and vice presidential candidate on the 2024 ticket under No Labels. Hoping to have both a Democrat and a Republican on the ticket.

Lieberman and Chavis are national co-chairs of No Labels along with Maryland's former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who did not attend the rollout on Monday.

Manchin assured he would not serve as a 'spoiler' if he enters the 2024 race because he intends to 'win'

While introducing the rollout of a 30-point platform called Common Sense, No Labels co-chair and Democratic Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (right) said 'Americans want more choices and want more voices' ahead of 2024

'Americans want more choices and want more voices as we prepare for [2024],' said Chavis, a Democrat. 'We are putting democracy before party.'

One attendee at Monday's town hall was very clear that they have no illusions about the chances of a third party candidate winning the presidency in 2024. When asked about supporting the No Labels movement regardless, he told DailyMail.com: 'We have to try, right?'

Another realist supporter of the movement who identified himself as Adam said that he is hoping to help lay the groundwork for a third party candidate to win in the future.

No Labels is hoping to help prove that there are alternatives to the candidates produced by the two-party system  and is pushing to focus on the ideas put forward by individuals instead of the party label placed on the candidate.

There are already 15 Republicans running in the 2024 primary and President Joe Biden even earned two longshot challengers with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson.

The U.S. political system has become increasingly reliant on polarizing labels of Democrat and Republican  with voters oftentimes lining up behind whichever candidate aligns with their party affiliation or lean.

Gallup has been tracking the trend of party affiliation since 2004  and the latest from June shows that 44 percent of Americans consider themselves independent. Meanwhile, just 25 percent identify as Republican and 27 percent as Democrat.

March 2023 saw a record high number of Americans identifying as independent with 49 percent.

Unveiled at the event was No Label's Common Sense booklet, which is filled with roughly 60 pages proposing '30 big ideas to tackle America's greatest challenges.'

McCrory said during some opening remarks that the goal of No Labels is to 'influence the agenda of politicians that are coming to New Hampshire and other states during the primary season.'

'If we can influence them with this Common Sense agenda then we are already influencing this election and shifting the debate,' he said.

Much of the focus of the Republican race for president right now is the shift toward 'wokeness' in American society  specifically in regards to gender identity and transgender issues.

Regarding 'wokeness and genders and things,' Manchin said: 'I was raised to believe that every American should have the opportunity to qualify of life.'

'I don't care who you are, I don't care who you love, I don't care what you are,' the moderate Democrat added. 'You should have an opportunity for quality of life. That's my job  to make sure you have that access. We can treat each other  I mean, the love of America  the whole world is watching us in this.'
A consultant behind the senior doctor strikes claims to oppose NHS privatisation  but works with seven health insurance firms and charges 2,000 for a routine test.

Mike Henley, a lead negotiator for the British Medical Association, was last night accused of staggering hypocrisy after the extent of his private work was revealed.

The doctor and union activist has said he opposes privatisation of the NHS. He has also promoted conspiracy theories about a Tufton Street mafia  referring to the Westminster location of several centre-Right policy think-tanks trying to push what he calls wholesale privatisation of the health service.

But Mr Henley works with at least seven health insurance firms at a private hospital. Some patients are charged more than 2,000 for a cystoscopy test, a procedure to look inside the bladder using a camera. He also demands more than 200 for an initial consultation.

Mr Henley, who owns a 1million cottage in rural Derbyshire, is among thousands of NHS consultants in England who will strike on Thursday and Friday this week.

Mike Henley, a lead negotiator for the British Medical Association, was last night accused of staggering hypocrisy after the extent of his private work was revealed

Retreat: Mr Henleys 1million house in rural Derbyshire. He works at the countys hospitals

On Sunday the BMA announced two more walkouts of consultants  on August 24 and 25  and threatened to stage more industrial action following an insulting 6 per cent pay rise. This is despite consultants enjoying average earnings of 128,000 and 60,000-plus annual pensions  and amid warnings that their strikes will have a big impact on waiting lists.

The BMA insists the walkouts will not stop until their demands for a 35 per cent pay rise are met. Ministers say this is unaffordable.

Mr Henley will be among senior medics who are able to profit from the walkouts because they are allowed to cash in on private work while on strike. Tory MP Paul Bristow, who sits on the Commons health committee, said: Its a bit rich and staggeringly hypocritical for consultants like Mike Henley to be complaining about how underpaid they are while doing lucrative work with seven health insurance firms.

READ MORE: Junior doctors told to use 5-day NHS strike to go on a picnic Advertisement

People like Mike Henley should be around the negotiating table and doing everything they can to get doctors back to work. Ive got no problem with NHS consultants doing some private practice, but they then shouldnt be moralising about NHS privatisation.

A senior Tory source added: This is complete hypocrisy from one of the key individuals behind the BMA Consultants Committees threats to strike.

Mr Henley uses Twitter to give a running commentary on the health service.

In May 2016 he posted: Consultants reject the privatisation of the NHS.

In September 2021, he posted: By relieving some of the pressure on the NHS its much harder for the Tufton Street mafia and their pet politicians to attempt wholesale privatisation/insurance models in the NHS. Yet he is listed as working with seven private medical insurance providers on the Nuffield Health website  Aviva Health, AXA PPP Healthcare, Benenden Health, Bupa, Bupa On Demand, Simplyhealth and WPA.

He is listed as among those charging more than 2,000 for a cystoscopy at Derby Hospital, which confirmed this was the rate without including a consultation, which is a further 225.

Alongside his private work, Mr Henley is listed as a urology consultant for the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. He is deputy chairman of the BMAs consultants committee.

The BMA said Mr Henley will not get all of the fee advertised for his private work and that he could receive as little as 10 per cent.

A spokesman said: Consultants are committed to providing patients with the best care possible. The union said Mr Henley did not wish to comment further.
Afghans who risked their lives for Britain have finally won UK visas, the Mail can reveal.

More than 2,000 loyal interpreters and others who worked shoulder to shoulder with UK troops have been in limbo for more than a year, stuck in hotels in Pakistan and elsewhere.

But yesterday the Home Office ordered an immediate rubber-stamping of visas to the group which includes 700 children.

It is a landmark triumph for the Mails Betrayal of the Brave crusade and for campaigners and lawyers.

The agony for some will not end immediately however because the Home Office was last night unable to say how quickly the group will actually be brought here.

Pictured: Afghan interpreter Abdul seated on the far left

The 2,000 Afghans, who faced retribution from the Taliban, were all granted the right to sanctuary in the UK in gratitude for their service.

I just hope I can find a house Abdul has been waiting since February in a hotel room in Iran with his 28-year-old wife and three children. Yesterday the former frontline interpreter, pictured above far left, was told they will be issued with UK visas this month. But confusion remains about what accommodation has being found for them. The 34-year-old said: It is a tremendous step forward and I thank everyone involved but it is impossible for me to find accommodation from here so I hope there is a house or a hotel that is available. I have been running and hiding too long. I have done everything asked of me by Britain but I have been facing the risk of being deported to Afghanistan where I will be killed because I worked loyally with UK soldiers. He worked for British forces for three years and was praised for his bravery under fire. Advertisement

It is nearly two years since the brutal Taliban regimes lightning takeover of Kabul. Anyone who had worked for the infidel British became a target and many have been murdered or maimed. The skilled translators whose risky work saved many British lives were offered shelter in the UK with their families.

The 2,000 who escaped Afghanistan to nearby countries including Pakistan and Iran were told they would receive visas to fly on to Britain.

But instead they have been stuck for months, waiting for the Home Office to issue the paperwork. They became ensnared in a nightmare Catch-22 in which they were told they could come to Britain but could get a visa only if they could arrange housing  which is illegal without a visa.

Today the Mail can reveal an end appears in sight because the Home Office softened its position in the face of a legal challenge brought by some of the translators. It is understood that Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ordered officials to immediately process visas for the group.

Campaigners fear they might still be denied travel until settled accommodation can be found for them. Government sources yesterday ruled out the group being housed in hotels here. Yet the Mail revealed last week that there were 5,000 spare hotel rooms, paid for by taxpayers, being kept empty for Channel migrants.

Solicitors such as the firm Leigh Day, and campaigners at the Sulha Alliance, which helps ex-military translators, helped bring about yesterdays U-turn.

Lawyers for three former interpreters with children  currently in hotels in Pakistan and Iran  challenged the housing policy at the High Court in a test case.

Sumara Sumaya, 31, a former teacher with the British Council, pictured standing with her arms crossed

The Home Office had until this week to state its case. It is understood the Governments legal advice suggested it would lose. Yesterday it suddenly announced that we are issuing new visas.

But it added: However, it is vital those arriving have somewhere suitable to stay once they are in the UK, so they can put down roots immediately.

Sumara Sumaya, 31, a former teacher with the British Council, was a Taliban target for teaching the language of the infidel and English values to Afghan girls. Yesterday she was excited by the news she might soon be given a visa. Her story was told by the Mails Betrayal of the Brave campaign, which helped her to escape last year into Pakistan with her daughter, now four, and husband. She was pregnant and has spent nine months waiting to be relocated to the UK. She said: This is momentous news. Our lives have been uncertain for too long. Advertisement

A Whitehall source said the new arrivals would not be housed in hotels but in settled accommodation. Given the pressures on housing, it is not clear how long the Afghans may have to wait. Among those who have waited almost a year for clearance is David Camerons former translator, Shaffy.

The 37-year-old said: This is the news we have been waiting for ever since crossing the border. It is wonderful.

Dr Sara de Jong of the Sulha Alliance welcomed the Governments decision but added: The Governments claim that UK hotels are unsuitable for long-term accommodation is never a valid excuse for keeping Afghan interpreters and their children in entirely unsuitable conditions in hotels in Pakistan and Iran with their lives on hold.

To expect of our former Afghan colleagues to find their own accommodation in the UK, a country they have never visited, is almost impossible.

Former interpreter Musa, 36, who has been in an Islamabad hotel with his wife and child for more than a year, said: We must now be allowed to move quickly to the UK because our lives have been on hold too long.

The Home Office said: The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help at-risk people in Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety. We continue to honour our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK.
The deaths of four women whose bodies were found over the course of three months in or near Portland, Oregon, are linked, and at least one person of interest has been identified, authorities said Monday.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's office in Portland says no charges have been filed against anyone but that the community is not currently in any danger.

Local media reported that a man is in custody.

The women were aged from 22 to 31, and their bodies were found in Portland and rural areas starting in February, with the latest one found in May.

One body was found about 45 miles southwest of Portland, near a creek in Polk County.

Kristin Smith, 22 (left), was the first victim: she was discovered on February 19. On April 24, the second, Charity Perry, 24 (right), was found dead

Bridget Webster, 31 (left), was found on April 30, and Ashley Real, 22 (right), on May 7

Prosecutors in Portland, Oregon (pictured) said on Monday that four women found dead in the last three months are connected. A suspect is in custody

Authorities said the state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for any of the women. They were all from the Portland area.

Officials did not use the word 'serial killer' in announcing the connection between the deaths.

'Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively ... and they have determined that there are links between four cases: Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real,' the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators from nine law enforcement agencies and prosecutor's offices in three Oregon counties, as well as the Oregon State Police, have been collaborating on the cases, authorities said.

Mike Schmidt, Multnomah County district attorney, said they did not believe there was any ongoing threat to the public

The first of the four - 22-year-old Kristin Smith - was found dead in the woods in Pleasant Valley on February 19. From Gresham, Oregon, she was reported missing by her family on December 22, and her body was identified on May 25.

Two months later, on April 24, Charity Perry, 24, was found dead in Ainsworth State Park.

The following week, on April 30, Bridget Webster, 31, was found dead 45 miles south of Portland, near a creek in Polk County.

And the fourth victim, 22-year-old Ashley Real, was discovered on May 7, a month after vanishing from a fast food restaurant.

One other woman who was killed in the area - 32-year-old Joanna Speaks, found dead on April 8 in an abandoned barn - is not believed to be connected.
EQS-Ad-hoc: Steico SE / Key word(s): Agreement

STEICO SE: Sale of the majority shares in STEICO SE



17-Jul-2023 / 20:33 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Sale of the majority shares in STEICO SE

Feldkirchen (Munich), 17 July 2023  (ISIN DE000A0LR936)  STEICO SE has today been notified by Schramek GmbH, the majority shareholder of STEICO SE with a current shareholding of 61.1%, that it has signed an agreement with the Irish Kingspan Group plc and Kingspan Holding GmbH, an indirect subsidiary of Kingspan Group plc, to sell 51.0% of the shares in STEICO SE to Kingspan Holding GmbH. For the time being Schramek GmbH will still hold a further 10.1% of the shares in STEICO SE. The Management of STEICO SE expects the cooperation with Kingspan to generate sustainable synergy effects in market development as well as significant impulses for further growth.

Udo Schramek will remain CEO of STEICO SE in accordance with his appointment. For the period after closing of the agreement, Kingspan Holding GmbH will, with the support of Schramek GmbH, seek representation in the Administrative Board of STEICO SE according to the shareholding of Kingspan Holding GmbH. Udo Schramek will resign from his position as Chairman of the Administrative board of STEICO SE upon closing of the agreement. However, he will remain a member of the Administrative Board of STEICO SE.

As a precautionary measure, it is pointed out that the majority sale of the shares in STEICO SE does not lead to the need for a takeover offer with regard to the remaining shares in STEICO SE, as STEICO SE is only traded on the open market and therefore the provisions of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG) do not apply.

Contact

Andreas Schulze

STEICO SE

Otto-Lilienthal-Ring 30

85622 Feldkirchen

Phone: +49-(0)89-99 15 51-548

Fax: +49-(0)89-99 15 51-704

E-mail: a.schulze@steico.com

www.steico.com
More foreign workers including bricklayers and roofers are being allowed into the country  to the fury of Tory MPs who want to limit immigration.

The Home Office has relaxed rules to make it easier for construction companies to recruit staff from overseas.

It added bricklayers, roofers, tilers, carpenters, joiners and plasterers to the Shortage Occupation List.

This means workers with those much-needed skills can come to the UK without having to be paid the usual going rate and also get a discount on their visa application fee.

The Home Office, acting on the guidance of its Migration Advisory Committee, said the move was necessary to boost the economy and help with major building projects.

Visa rules are being eased for foreign bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and plasterers after construction workers were deemed to be in short supply

The Home Office, led by Suella Braverman, will temporarily relax restrictions to enable more overseas builders to come to Britain to work

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed net migration rose to 606,000 in 2022 - breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June

Suzannah Nichol, chief executive of industry body Build UK, welcomed the change, saying: It is vital construction is able to fill vacancies and quickly address shortages.

Expanding the list will help the industry continue to deliver the schools, homes, hospitals and infrastructure that we need, she added.

Laura Markus from the House Building Federation, who also praised the plans, added: 'While demand for new homes stays high, the industry is facing a severe skills shortage, something that has become of increasing concern in the years since Brexit.

'Home builders are dedicated to improving training, recruitment and retention initiatives, but these take time to deliver and having confidence and consistency in the supply of labour is key.'

However, there was anger among Conservative backbenchers who believe the homegrown workforce should be prioritised.

This comes after net migration  the number of new arrivals to the UK minus those who leave  reached a record 606,000 in 2022.

Sir John Hayes, a former skills minister who has also served in the Home Office, said: This is incredibly short-sighted. We should be investing in skills and equipping our workforce to meet economic demand.

Its unacceptable to fail to train enough Britons in key skills, then compensate by robbing other countries of their skilled craftsmen.

Of course you can grow the economy by importing workers but it should be about strengthening the economy by training people in vocational and technical skills.

Fellow MP Marco Longhi said simply this is nuts, while colleague Tom Hunt remarked: There needs to be more promotion of construction jobs in schools and there should be zero turning the nose up when it comes to these careers.

Part of it is less support for poor quality degrees [that] the Prime Minister has spoken about.

Sir John Hayes (pictured), a former skills minister who has also served in the Home Office, said the plans were 'incredibly short-sighted'

Conservative MP Marco Longhi (pictured) said simply this is nuts

Senior Tory backbencher David Jones, a former Brexit minister, told MailOnine that today's Home Office announcement 'simply underlines the need for more homegrown highly skilled workers'.

'The Prime Minister is therefore right to point out that, for up to 20 per cent of graduates, theyd be much better off with a good quality apprenticeship,' he added, in reference to Rishi Sunak's efforts to crack down on 'rip-off' degrees and to boost apprenticeships.

The occupation list is reviewed to identify sectors lacking enough workers to fill vacancies. It includes low-paid roles with huge shortages, such as care home staff, as well as more specialised professions including ballet dancers and geologists.

Construction staff were proposed as additions after the advisory committee said shortages showed no signs of abating despite the industry wanting to recruit more Britons.

Migrants with skills on the list who have a job offer from a UK sponsor can get a cheaper visa and be paid just under 21,000 a year compared to the usual threshold of 26,200.

The Home Office licenses legitimate companies which are allowed to sponsor work visas plus carries out other checks such as if applicants can speak English.

However, the move appears to contradict Home Secretary Suella Bravermans warning in May that Britain has become too dependent on foreign labour when she said: We mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

The changes mean that for those roles for which there are deemed to be a shortage of workers, new recruits can be paid 80 per cent of the job's usual 'going rate' and still qualify for a visa.

They will also benefit from a lower visa application fee.

But they will still need a sponsored job offer from an employer and to meet English language requirements under the Government's post-Brexit immigration system.

A wider review of the shortage occupation list by the Migration Advisory Committee is expected this autumn.
President Joe Biden's new student loan forgiveness plan based on income-driven repayments will cost taxpayers $475 billion over the next ten years, an economic model has predicted.

The Penn Wharton Budget Model lays out the sum of one of Biden's new pushes to give millions of Americans debt relief - after the Supreme Court struck down his first plan two weeks ago.

A conservative estimate sees the program costing as little as $390.9 billion over a decade, while the maximum projection puts the bill at $558.8 billion.

The medium estimate was worked out at $474.9 billion - more than the projected cost of the original bailout.

It follows the announcement from the Biden administration on Friday that $39 billion would be forgiven for 804,000 Americans.

President Joe Biden's new student loan forgiveness plan based on income-driven repayments will cost taxpayers $475 billion over the next ten years, an economic model has predicted

The model shows an exponentially growing amount of student loan debt over the next 10 years that will see taxpayers paying off nearly $500 billion

A parallel plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), set to go into effect on July 1, 2024, would cut monthly income-based payments in half.

It would also get rid of monthly payments for minimum-wage earners and forgive all outstanding debt for Americans who have been paying for ten years and took out less than $12,000.

The model found that this would also put a significant burden on taxpayers.

The results state that taxpayers will face $200 billion in cases because of payment reductions on the $1.64 trillion in loans outstanding in 2023.

The remainder, roughly $275 billion, comes from reduced payments for about $1.03 trillion in new loans that the model estimates will be spread over the next 10 years.

'We estimate a take-up rate for future loans of 70 percent, implying that about $645 billion in future loans will be subsidized', the economists stated in their conclusion.

'About 6.57 percent of future borrowers (or 4.98 percent of total predicted loan volume) will never have to make any payments under SAVE.'

Penn Wharton economist Junlei Chen wrote: 'Due to the increased generosity of the newly proposed IDR plan, future student borrowers have the incentive to increase their federal student loan borrowing, shifting the current college financing pattern towards more loan borrowing instead of paying out-of-pocket.

'Under this scenario, we consider the situation where future students react to the increased generosity by maxing out the federal direct loan amount available to them.'

The Supreme Court justices ruled in a 6-3 decision that the Education Secretary had no authority to wipe the debts of 20 million borrowers

Under this plan most community college students would not have to pay back any debt, the Biden administration said.

The announcement from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Friday was called a 'slap in the face' for taxpayers.

David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, told DailyMail.com: 'This new announcement is absurd and is a slap in the face to taxpayers.

'The Biden administration is hell-bent on recklessly spending hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars bailing out wealthy student loan borrowers, even after being rebuked by the country's highest court.

'More than 80 percent of the country that doesn't have student loans will be forced to subsidize the small percentage of Americans that do have loans. And, once again, the Biden administration is circumventing Congress.

'Whether it's mission creep by agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission with politically motivated antitrust lawsuits, the Securities and Exchange Commission with ESG rules, or the latest Department of Education ending with student loans, these actions must be stopped immediately.'

After the Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 to strike Biden's initial plan down, the administration stated immediately that they would continue the push for millions in relief.

The high court decided the Education Secretary had no authority to wipe the debts of 20 million borrowers.

It followed fury from taxpayers who have never been to college and Republicans claiming middle-class Americans were funding a bailout for students.
A tree removal company has been fined more than $2 million over the death of a worker who was killed when using a defective woodchipping machine.

The penalty is the single largest court-imposed fine for a business in NSW.

Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis said the record fine and landmark conviction 'puts everyone across NSW on notice'.

A1 Arbor Tree Services Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $2.025m in the NSW District Court on Friday over the death of the Fijian man who was killed while using the woodchipper at a Lindfield school in Sydney's north nearly four years ago.

The court heard that on September 7, 2019, workers were removing trees when the 40-year-old man was killed after he was accidentally drawn into the woodchipper.

A record $2 million fine has been issued to a tree lopping company over the death of a worker who was killed while using a woodchipping machine in Sydney.

The court heard A1 Arbor had not completed a risk assessment of the equipment, which had several defects.

The court also heard there was little supervision of workers and workers did not receive training to operate the equipment.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its safety obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act.

Judge Wendy Sue Strathdee noted during sentencing the foreseeable harm to the worker was extreme and determined the record fine was appropriate.

A1 Arbor has a right to appeal the decision and has been contacted by AAP for reaction.

Ms Cotsis said the 'shocking' death was 'completely avoidable'.

'My heart goes out to the family and friends of this 40-year-old worker who didn't make it home.

'The lives of workers must be priority number one. No excuses, no exceptions.'
Georgia's Supreme Court declined to take up Donald Trump's request to block an investigation into his efforts to overturn the state's results in the 2020 election.

Trump's legal team sought on Friday an intervention by the Supreme Court, arguing that the district attorney was using grand juries incorrectly.

They wanted them to block the investigation currently being carried out by the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

She has signaled that indictments could be handed down in the next few weeks in the election-related probe as a grand jury convenes to consider possible charges.

On Monday, the nine-member court unanimously decided against blocking the investigation.

Donald Trump's legal team asked the Supreme Court of Georgia to block the investigation into his attempts to overturn the 2020 vote. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up the case

Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, is investigating Donald Trump's actions in the state of Georgia in 2020

Trump's lawyers claim that Willis violated Georgia's rules governing grand juries in various ways, such as using one grand jury to investigate, and then presenting the evidence to another.

The court, in its decision, said they could not criticize Willis' work and accused Trump of trying to find a way around the existing courts - which have not yet ruled on his attempt to end the inquiry.

'The Court has made clear that a petitioner cannot invoke this Court's original jurisdiction as a way to circumvent the ordinary channels for obtaining the relief,' the justices wrote, in the five-page opinion.

'Petitioner has not shown that this case presents one of those extremely rare circumstances in which this Court's original jurisdiction should be invoked, and therefore, the petition is dismissed.'

Poll workers are seen in Fulton County, Georgia, on January 5, 2021

Eight of the Georgia Supreme Court's nine justices were appointed by Republican governors. One took office in a nonpartisan election.

Willis has yet to bring charges against Trump, but has suggested a case could be filed in August.

At the heart of the case is Trump's phone call to Georgia's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, which the former official taped.

President Joe Biden narrowly won Georgia by a margin of 0.23 percent, and 11,779 votes against Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump is heard in the recording, according to court documents, asking Raffensperger to 'find' another 11,780 votes, to swing the vote his way.

The Georgia case is not the only election-related probe Trump is facing  and adds to the long list of lawsuits and legal battles the ex-president is facing in the run-up to the 2024 election.

Biden's Justice Department just charged Trump last month in the case involving his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House. He appeared in court in Florida for an arraignment and pleaded no guilty to nearly 40 charges.
Advances in AI could spare thousands of men unnecessary treatment and side effects.

Men with prostate cancer which has an intermediate risk of spreading when they are given radiotherapy are currently offered six months to three years of hormone therapy at the same time.

But AI, which looks for biological patterns in the cancer cells taken from individual men's biopsies at the point of diagnosis, can identify those who would not benefit from hormone therapy.

This could save men from the side effects of hormone therapy including fatigue, hot flushes, reduced muscle strength, weight gain around the waist and changes to their sex life such as a low libido or problems getting an erection.

Doctors now know hormone therapy, which starves tumours of the male sex hormones which fuel them, only helps some men.

The AI suggests 60 per cent of those currently prescribed hormone therapy should not be given it

Although side effects vary and can improve over time, and even though men can get help to cope, many still struggle.

The AI suggests 60 per cent of those currently prescribed hormone therapy should not be given it.

The radiotherapy alone is enough to cure these men, without adding to the treatment they have to endure and costing the NHS extra money.

The AI tool being used to spare men with localised prostate cancer from having hormone therapy has been developed by a US-based company called ArteraAI and is being backed by Prostate Cancer UK.

Prostate Cancer UK's director of research, Dr Matthew Hobbs, said: 'This tool could make a huge difference for men.

'We know that the side effects that come with hormone therapy - a treatment that completely suppresses testosterone - are varied, extremely difficult to live with, and can last a very long time even after treatment finishes.

The AI tool being used to spare men with localised prostate cancer from having hormone therapy has been developed by a US-based company called ArteraAI and is being backed by Prostate Cancer UK

'Men with prostate cancer regularly tell us about the extremely negative impact this treatment has on their quality of life. For men who need it, hormone therapy is a life-saving treatment, and the trade-off is worth it, but this tool tells us that currently many thousands of men are suffering those side effects needlessly.

'Implementing this tool across the NHS could significantly reduce the harm that prostate cancer causes.

'The results we have seen are extraordinarily impressive and, being based on multiple high-quality academic trials with long follow-up, are also robust and believable.

'We know that the company is keen to bring this tool to the NHS and hope that individual NHS trusts, as well as system-wide decision makers will work with them to remove any barriers and deliver this benefit for men as quickly as possible.'
Google is celebrating the birthday of Eunice Newton Foote with a colourful and interactive graphic doodle of the exceptional scientist.

Today marks what would have been the 204th birthday of the American scientist who dedicated her life to understanding the natural world and pushing the boundaries of science.

The search engine hails her as the first person to discover the greenhouse effect, saying she 'planted the seed' of interest in climate change.

Her early contributions were 'largely ignored' by the prevalent male sphere of scientists at the time and were only recognised as 'pioneering' a century after presenting them.

But who is Eunice Newton Foote and what were her early discoveries? Here is everything you need to know about the American scientist.

Google is celebrating the birthday of Eunice Newton Foote with a colourful graphic doodle, but who is the American scientist and what did she discover?

Todays Google Doodle honours the scientist for her discoveries relating to climate change, the graphic suggests she was the 'first to plant a seed of interest' in the issue

Who was Eunice Newton Foote?

Eunice Newton Foote was the first to discover the effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 1856, known today as the 'greenhouse effect'.

She is renowned for conducting a series of experiments on the relationship between carbon dioxide and the Earth's temperature.

Foote conducted a series of experiments to investigate the effects of various gasses on the absorption of heat.

Experimenting with bell jars filled with different fumes, she discovered that the glass containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun.

Foote's findings were extraordinary for their time, as she became the first scientist to make the connection between rising C02 levels and the warming of the atmosphere.

Aside from her contributions to science, Foote was married to a lawyer named Elisha Foote and had two children

In her paper, titled 'Circumstances Affecting the Heat of the Sun's Rays'. she noted: 'An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature; and if, as some suppose, at one period of its history, the air had mixed with it a larger proportion than at present, an increased temperature from its own action, as well as from increased weight, must have necessarily resulted.'

The paper was presented by a male colleague due to gender biases in 1856, he introduced the paper by stating: 'Science was of no country and of no sex. The sphere of woman embraces not only the beautiful and the useful, but the true.'

After publishing her findings, Foote conducted a second study on atmospheric static electricity, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

These were the first two studies in physics to be published by a woman in the US.

Despite Foote's work being overlooked in her lifetime, her legacy has been revisited in recent years, and scientists have acknowledged her rightful place in the history of climate science.

When did Eunice Newton Foote die?

Born in 1819, Eunice Newton Foote lived a long life and died around September 30 in 1888 in Lenox, Massachusetts. She was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Her father Isaac Newton Jr., a farmer and entrepreneur, was a distant relative of scientist Isaac Newton who discovered gravity.

Aside from her scientific passion, Foote was also an advocate for women's rights. Teaming up with prominent activists such as Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she campaigned for women's suffrage.

In addition to her scientific contributions, Foote was also an advocate for women's rights and was one of the first people to sign the Declaration of Sentiments, which demanded equal rights.

She attended the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the first women's rights convention and was the fifth signatory of the Declaration of Sentiments, a document signed in 1848 by 68 women and 38 men which demanded equality for women.

Today, she leaves a legacy for future generations of scientists, especially women, and many continue her work in the hope of understanding climate change.

What is a Google Doodle?

A Google Doodle is a temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepage that are often used to highlight historic events, world issues and celebrations across the globe.

The colourful logo today honours Eunice Newton Foote, and is paired with an interactive slideshow which lets users click through illustrations to understand Foote's discovery.

In honouring Eunice Newton Foote, Google recognises the scientist as a pioneer in her field of study.
With just days to go until the release of the new Barbie movie, Google has joined in on the pink parade and has added an exciting surprise for fans.

The search engine has embraced 'Kenergy' with a new Easter egg for fans searching for the movie.

Users who search for the film, its director or the two main stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will be greeted with a sparkling pink display.

The lavish greeting is available on both mobile and desktop, and changes the usual white background into a more Barbie-appropriate pink.

Joining in on the Barbie buzz, Google has unveiled a new pink theme in the final countdown to the film's release. Fans searching for the film are greeted by a extravagant pink display

It is the latest in a long line of promotional activities for the hotly anticipated movie, following the release of splashy film posters, Barbie dolls and a series of enticing trailers.

But perhaps the most extravagant of all was a hot-pink Malibu Dreamhouse which cropped up, seemingly overnight, in California.

Google is no stranger to adding features to various search results, and the newest update will no doubt add to the Barbie buzz.

Fans reacted to the newest pink promo on Twitter. One said: 'This movie's budget is insane.'

The pink sparkles settle after a few seconds and reveal a baby pink Google display in anticipation for the new movie

Another agreed: 'The promotion for this movie is on another level, we love.'

While others are seemingly fed-up of the excessive marketing, with one user joking: 'We've almost survived the promotional rampage of 2023.'

Others remarked that the movie has outdone its rival film, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which is set for release on the same day.

Users commented: 'Coming to outsell Oppenheimer' and 'Ended Oppenheimer.'

The two films are among the most hyped events of 2023, and some fans are even planning to watch the films back to back this weekend.

Margot Robbie was joined by her co-star Ryan Gosling for the Barbie premiere at Cineworld in Leicester Square last week

Thousands of fans flocked to Leicester Square last week to try and catch a glimpse at the stars of the film

Dubbing both films 'Barbenheimer', fans have even designed grey and pink merchandise to honour the two flicks.

Ahead of its release, the UK Barbie premiere took place last week and a host of A-listers joined the film star's on the pink carpet to celebrate.

Thousands of fans descended on central London to catch a glimpse of the stars, but many were disappointed after missing out on wristbands for front row seats.

The star-studded cast features America Ferrera as Gloria, Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel, Emerald Fennell as Midge, and Michael Cera as Allan.

Some of the different variations of Barbie are played by Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, and Nicola Coughlan.
It's fair to say that after the warmest June on record, July has put a bit of a dampener on the British summer.

Temperatures have plummeted from the heady days of 30C-plus, while rain and cloud cover have made it feel more like autumn than peak holiday season.

So just where has the sunshine gone? It has only been a few weeks since Britain was basking in a heatwave, but the beginning of July signalled a big change.

What is known as a 'blocked weather pattern' is to blame, scientists have told MailOnline, and climate change may have helped drive it.

Essentially, low pressure arrived at the start of this month - bringing with it cooler temperatures and wetter days - and hasn't shown any sign of shifting.

Miserable: It's fair to say that after the warmest June on record, July has put a bit of a dampener on the British summer

The jet stream (shown) - a fast moving strip of air high up in the atmosphere that's responsible for steering weather systems towards the UK from the Atlantic - can stall weather patterns

WHAT IS THE JET STREAM AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT BRITAIN'S WEATHER? The jet stream is a fast moving strip of air high up in the atmosphere that's responsible for steering weather systems towards the UK from the Atlantic. It has a warm side to the south and a cold side to the north and can have a major impact on what kind of weather we experience. In a typical British summer, when temperatures are warmer and drier, the jet stream is to the north of the UK, where it pulls up hot air across the country. However, in the winter it sits further south and brings wet and windier weather because low pressure areas come closer to the UK. The jet stream, which sits at about 30,000ft, can also change shape, going from flat to amplified, and it's the latter that can lead to huge thunderstorms developing very quickly. Advertisement

In fact, forecasters don't anticipate the hot weather returning to the UK until mid-August at the earliest, despite Europe entering what is expected to be its hottest week ever.

However, this contrasting weather is no coincidence, according to scientists.

Professor Richard Allan, an expert in climate science at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that atmospheric Rossby waves - or planetary waves - created by the Earth's rotation were partly responsible for the two extremes.

'When giant, planetary waves in the atmosphere become blocked they can cause relentless heat to build in some regions, like we're seeing in parts of north America, southern Europe and areas of Asia,' he said.

'But also intense rainfall and flooding in others, or just persistent cool and showery conditions like the UK is currently experiencing.'

Professor Nigel Arnell, of the University of Reading's Meteorology Department, agreed.

'It's the blocking which is making the European heatwave so extreme, so there is a connection between the hot conditions in Europe and the windy/cool conditions in the UK.'

But it's not just planetary waves that get blocked.

The jet stream - a fast moving strip of air high up in the atmosphere that's responsible for steering weather systems towards the UK from the Atlantic - can also stall weather patterns.

If this flow of winds is rushing quickly in a straight line from west to east then the weather often changes day to day.

When it weakens and becomes bendy or wavy, however, that's when we get stuck with certain conditions for longer.

At the moment that's cooler and wetter weather, but in June it was hot. In fact, most of this year has seen conditions persist for many weeks.

For instance, January began unsettled but February was the driest in the UK since 1993, before March was Britain's wettest March on record.

The graphic above shows how the jet stream works and where it's located between seasons

Spectators wear ponchos to shelter during rain at the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds

April and May were largely cooler than normal before the heat stepped up a notch in June.

Why are weather patterns persisting for longer then? Climate change is a distinct possibility, according to some experts.

There are studies which suggest that global warming might be making blocked weathers patterns more common.

The problem in relation to the jet stream however is that it naturally has waves, so just how much impact, if any, climate change is having is unclear.

But Professor Allan added that 'it would be surprising if the unprecedented ocean warming patterns due to human-caused climate change were not disrupting the planetary waves and jet streams of air many kilometres above our head that affect our weather patterns'.

With the Arctic region warming more quickly than areas further south there is certainly an argument to be made that climate change is interfering with the jet stream.

That is because the flow of atmospheric winds is driven by the contrast in temperatures north-to-south, meaning that if this lessens the jet stream could weaken longer term and become wavy more frequently, sparking a prolonged type of weather.

What is more certain, Professor Allan said, is that global warming is 'intensifying the heatwaves, droughts and deluges where and when they occur'.

Europe is entering what is expected to be its hottest week ever. Pictured is a view of the beach of Torre Faro Pilone near Messina on the island of Sicily, crowded with bathers on Sunday

Cooling down: A woman fans herself from the heat and sweltering conditions in Rome today

'Without rapid cuts in the climate warming greenhouse gases we're emitting, these extremes of weather across the world will continue to worsen,' he added.

Professor Arnell said climate change 'has two big effects'.

'The first is to raise temperatures in general, so when blocking conditions arise then the resulting heatwave is more intense.

'The second effect is on what we call the dynamics of weather  the features such as cyclones, anticyclones, jet streams and blocking patterns.

'This is effect is much more complicated to unravel, but it's fair to say that climate change has disrupted these dynamic systems because it alters the temperature gradients between equator and pole and it has led to warmer sea surface temperatures.

'So whilst we can't say yet that what is happening now is totally due to climate change, we can say that it is consistent with what we expect the effects of climate change to be.'

He added: 'We're poking the climate system by adding greenhouse gases, and we therefore can no longer expect to get "normal" weather.'

Whether climate change is making blocked weather patterns more likely or not, it is certainly intensifying the extremes when they do get locked in for longer in a certain region.

At the moment that's a cold spell for the UK. Last month it was a heatwave. The question is what will follow next month and beyond.
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.
Howard Stern's former rival Mancow Muller has slammed the 'evil' radio show host and said 'he can burn in hell' during an explosive rant in a new documentary series.

Mancow, 57 - whose real name is Matthew Erich Muller - made the sensational comments about his long-time rival while discussing a bitter feud between the pair, which erupted while they were working on competing radio shows back in 1995.

At the time, the Mancow's Morning Madhouse host's father John was battling terminal cancer and Howard made several disparaging comments live on air about his illness, joking that he was going to 'dig up his corpse', while also threatening to rape Mancow himself.

Now, almost 30 years later, Mancow is speaking out about the horrific toll that their feud took on him, breaking down in tears as he slammed Howard's 'demonic' behavior in an episode of Vice TV's new docuseries, Dark Side of the 2000s, which charts Howard's rise to the top of the radio show food chain.

Howard Stern's former rival Mancow Muller has slammed the 'evil' radio show host and said 'he can burn in hell' during an explosive rant in a new documentary series

Mancow, 57, made the sensational comments about Howard (seen in 2014) while discussing a bitter feud between the pair, which erupted back in 1995

'I had come to Chicago because it was closer to my father who was dying of cancer,' Mancow explained.

'My father was a $30,000 a year cabinet maker and he became the number one topic on Stern's show for a year.'

He then recalled some of the things Howard said live on-air amid his father's illness and passing.

'The countdown to his death, how he was going to have sex with my mother,' he claimed as his voice broke.

'How he was gonna use my mother's saliva on himself when he raped me, how he was gonna dig up my father's corpse, he told his listeners to go to my father's funeral.

'You think this is some entertainer? "Oh, he's made amends, he's a nice guy now," he can burn in hell!' Mancow raged.

During one of his on-air rants about Mancow in the nineties, Howard declared: 'You are my b***h, you've always been my b***h!'

He also referred to himself as 'the master vampire' and shockingly told Mancow: 'They should have shot your father.'

'What is that? That type of demonic evil, this is wrong,' Mancow said in disbelief after listening to the clip.

In an interview with A Drink With back in 2013, the former 'shock jock' admitted that he fired back with his own brutal takedowns, including making comments about Howard's own family.

'He lost his wife, his daughter was stripping or something,' he said. 'If your daughter ends up on the stripper pole or naked on stage, you lose.

'You know, I want to take the high road but I cant here because when my father died he said some very vile things about him. My father died of cancer and he did this radio skit where he dug up the corpse and raped the corpse of my father.'

However, Mancow believes that Howard took things too far in their feud - and the Vice TV documentary revealed that even the radio host's own team felt that he had crossed a line with his comments.

Jackie Martling, the former head writer for The Howard Stern Show, said of the incident: 'It was ruthless, he'd start saying horrible things. I didn't want anybody to think that this is my concept.'

Mancow revealed: 'His people called me and apologized. The Joke Man, Jackie, wanted me to know, "I didn't write this, this isn't funny", they would tell him: "Howard, you're gonna lose them, this is a mistake!"'

Low blow: Mancow slammed Howard for mocking his late father who had died from cancer

Back in the day: Howard during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1992

Head-to-head: Mancow, pictured here in 2007, described the feud as the 'greatest battle in radio history'

But Howard wasn't quite finished and decided to send Mancow a pink dress 'as a symbol that he had been emasculated'.

Mancow took things one step further and admitted: 'What we did is we got everybody in the station to defecate in the box and we sent it back to him.'

Howard was allegedly enraged by the retaliation and decided to phone Mancow during one of his morning broadcasts.

The duo had it out live on air with Mancow screaming and shouting at his rival before hanging up.

'It was the greatest battle in radio history and the people of Chicago went "click" and they turned him off,' Mancow said of their feud.

'It destroyed him in Chicago, he never beat me in Chicago, he never came close. Turns out there was more people in Chicago that had good in them, and good actually won for once,' he added.

Elsewhere in the episode, which is titled Howard Stern Vs Opie And Anthony, an even bigger rivalry is addressed.

Gregg 'Opie' Hughes and Anthony Cumia also butted heads with Howard and tried their best to provoke him.

In July 2000, Howard, who was the morning host at Infinity's WXRK, got the company to issue a gag order on their other personalities, preventing them, including Hughes and Cumia, from talking about him or other Infinity hosts.

Three months earlier, Howard reportedly threatened management with his resignation if they did not go through with his request, after Hughes and Cumia blew the news of a surprise rock concert that he was to announce the following morning.

The father-of-three has broadcast on Sirius XM Radio since 2006, and in 2020 he renewed his contract for five more years.

Dark Side of the 200s premieres on Tuesday on Vice TV
Lisa Oldfield has come out swinging against the producers of The Real Housewives of Sydney, four years after the show was controversially axed after one season.

The ex-wife of One Nation co-founder David Oldfield, 48, took to Instagram to slam the series on Sunday, hours after Stellar magazine published an interview with ex-Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano about her own 'traumatic' experience filming the franchise.

'I've never met or spoken to Gina Liano but really glad she has spoken out about the soul destroying experience that is the Real Housewives of Sydney,' Lisa began.

'I naively joined the cast in 2016, despite suffering from a severe neck injury, a miserable marriage and a father (whom I adore) who was very ill,' she continued.

The businesswoman, who feuded with almost every member of the cast during filming, then took a stab at the producers for allegedly setting her up for conflict.

Lisa Oldfield, 48, (pictured) has come out swinging against the producers of The Real Housewives of Sydney, four years after the show was controversially axed after one season

'I tried very hard to pull out of my commitment to the program but was assured the producers would support me, instead they exploited my vulnerability, lied and pitted me against women I did not know (and had deliberately cast knowing full well we had nothing in common),' she raged.

Lisa then alleged that Foxtel had unfairly blamed her for the show's cancellation in 2017.

'When Real Housewives of Sydney failed, I was unilaterally blamed by Foxtel for it being 'too mean' (even though Foxtel and the late [Foxtel head of television] Brian Walsh in particular had months to edit the final copy),' she wrote.

She took to Instagram to slam the series on Sunday, hours after Stellar magazine published an interview with ex-Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano (pictured) about her own 'traumatic' experience filming the franchise

The businesswoman, who feuded with almost every member of the cast (pictured) during filming, took a stab at the producers for allegedly setting her up for conflict

Lisa alleged that Foxtel had unfairly blamed her for the show's cancellation in 2017. 'When Real Housewives of Sydney failed, I was unilaterally blamed by Foxtel for it being 'too mean' (even though Foxtel and the late [Foxtel head of television] Brian Walsh in particular had months to edit the final copy),' she wrote

To conclude, Lisa wished the cast of season two - which is currently in the works - her best.

'As a little bird once said 'Je Ne Regrette Rien' [I don't regret anything] and I tick it off my bucket list of spectacular f**k ups. That and my marriage,' she added.

The Real Housewives of Sydney was cancelled in 2017 after just one season, with Foxtel bosses claiming American TV networks had snubbed the show for being 'too extreme'.

At the time, Foxtel's head of television Brian Walsh had blamed the housewives' 'nasty' attitudes for the franchise's failure, telling The Daily Telegraph: 'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake and have no redeeming features.'

'I particularly felt Lisa Oldfield and AthenaX Levendi were driving their own agendas, he continued, adding: 'I've raised my concerns with the production team from this season. I felt the bad language and behaviour throughout the series did go too far.'
Dr Chris Brown recently moved to Channel Seven following his shock departure from Ten.

And on Sunday, Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac roasted the celebrity vet after no one turned up to his welcome dinner.

Sam, 41, shared a photo to his Instagram of himself and Chris, 44, sitting at a table and eating a pizza.

'So disappointed with the turnout for Chris Brown's welcome to channel 7 dinner. I expected much better for Australia's 2nd favourite TV Vet,' he wrote.

Chris' former Channel 10 co-star Miguel Maestre jokingly commented on the post: 'I wasn't invited.'

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac (pictured) has roasted Dr Chris Brown's sad turnout at welcome dinner as Channel 10 star moves to Seven

Chris has signed a two-year contract with Seven worth more than $1million a year.

He officially joined the network this month following his contractual obligations for I'm A Celebrity.

The celebrity vet's first TV gig at Channel Seven will be hosting the red carpet at the 2023 Logie Awards.

It has also been confirmed the Bondi Vet star will be hosting a new program called Dream Home - a renovation series set to rival Channel Nine's The Block.

Sam, 41, shared a photo to his Instagram of himself and Chris, 44, sitting at a table while eating a pizza and joked: 'So disappointed with the turnout for Chris Brown's welcome to channel 7 dinner. I expected much better for Australia's 2nd favourite TV Vet'

Chris will also be producing and hosting a new animal adventure series for Seven.

'To be able to bring my world of animals to life in an original, adventurous and breathtaking way truly excites me,' Brown said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

'I can't wait for the world's wildlife and the search for Australia's best Dream Home to land in our lounge rooms in 2024.'

Both Dream Home and the untitled animal adventure series will go into production next year.

Chris' appearance on Seven is somewhat of a homecoming.

He started his TV career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry's Practice on Seven, a role that earned him a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent.

Chris has signed a two-year contract with Seven worth more than $1million a year. He officially joined the network this month following his contractual obligations for I'm A Celebrity

'I'm not entirely sure my old access pass works, but once we get over that hurdle and I'm back from the jungle, I can't wait to sink my teeth into some exciting new projects in the second half of the year and beyond with Seven,' Brown said in an official statement earlier this year.

James Warburton, Seven West Media's managing director and CEO, added: 'We are very pleased to welcome Chris back to Seven. It's been too long.

'Chris is one of the most popular and recognised people on Australian TV, bringing warmth, intelligence and a great sense of humour to everything he does.

'We can't wait to have him on board and to announce the great new content he will star in.'
Kendall Jenner has become one of the new faces of the cosmetics giant L'Oreal, according to The Sun.

The news about the 27-year-old reality television personality was revealed on Sunday, and it was also reported that she had signed a sponsorship deal worth $11 million.

The social media powerhouse, who recently attempted to distance herself from the 'nepo baby' label, previously garnered much attention for wearing several of the brand's products to the 2023 Met Gala.

According to The Sun, Jenner wore L'Oreal's 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation, as well as the company's Color Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick, during the star-studded event.

The entrepreneur will also join the likes of Beyonce, Helen Mirren and Penelope Cruz, all of whom have promoted the brand in the past.

New venture: Kendall Jenner has become one of the new faces of the cosmetics giant L'Oreal, according to The Sun; she is seen in May

London-based Brand expert Nick Ede spoke to The Sun and expressed that, with the model's hiring, the cosmetics giant was attempting to attract younger customers.

'This is a great signing that shows L'Oreal is moving with the times,' he stated.

Ede also remarked that the brand was looking to Jenner to bring them more online exposure.

'Signing a reality star rather than another actress shows that they recognize the importance of social media,' he said.

L'Oreal first teased that it had brought a new spokesperson into the fold with a short video that was shared on its Instagram account on Saturday.

In the clip, an unseen figure stated the cosmetic company's slogan, 'I'm worth it' before adding, 'and it feels so good.'

Many of the model's fans took to the video's comments section to assert that Jenner had provided the voiceover.

The company also shared an image showing an individual, whose face was obscured, sitting down for an interview.

Raking it in: The news about the 27-year-old reality television personality was revealed on Sunday, and it was also reported that she had signed a sponsorship deal worth $11 million

In the trades: The social media powerhouse, who recently attempted to distance herself from the 'nepo baby' label, previously garnered much attention for wearing several of the brand's products to the 2023 Met Gala; she is seen in May

Just a tease: The company also shared an image showing an individual, whose face was obscured, sitting down for an interview

Jenner has not made any public statements regarding her supposed new role as of yet.

The social media powerhouse has previously served as a spokesmodel for numerous brands in the past.

The model has been featured in campaigns for companies such as Calvin Klein, Fendi and Marc Jacobs, among numerous others.

She has also collaborated with her younger sister Kylie on several projects for Kylie Cosmetics.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has pocketed a whopping $13 million from the sale of her Woollahra mansion.

The 48-year-old secured David and Dalia Schnabl as off-market buyers in January, according to Realestate.com.au on Sunday.

The paperwork for the sale was filed this month with Jackie having paid $11 million for the eastern suburbs mansion in June 2020.

The home was the first she purchased after she left the property she shared with ex-husband, Lee Henderson, in Vaucluse.

Jackie has recently been broadcasting from Positano on the Amalfi Coast while on co-star Kyle Sandilands honeymoon.

Radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson, 48, has pocketed a whopping $13 million from the sale of her Woollahra mansion, according to a report by Realestate.com.au on Sunday. Pictured

In March, it was revealed Jackie splashed-out $13.25million on a three-storey oceanfront house in Clovelly at an open auction.

The fixer-upper is set back from the road, offering privacy she didn't have on the narrow streets of her former address.

Jackie had previously complained about intrusive paparazzi as the reason for her sale of her former home.

The 48-year-old secured David and Dalia Schnabl as off-market buyers in January, according to Realestate.com.au on Sunday. Pictured: Woollahra home

The mother-of-one spoke about the auction on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show in March, including the bidding experience.

KIIS FM newsreader Brooklyn Ross also noted that Jackie's reaction to winning the auction was caught on camera by nearby paparazzi.

'You know what? That was kind of good to have that moment, because you would never film yourself at an auction,' Jackie replied.

After landing the lavish property in 2020 by paying $1million over the $10million asking price, sources said barely got to enjoy it due to the pap frenzy

The lavish Woollahra home has extravagant design features, including Roman Travertine marble and dark timber panelling. Pictured

After admitting the auction was 'hectic', Kyle critiqued her outfit choice.

'No bloke like girls in those little Jesus sandals,' he said.

'I don't care! I'm not there to get a bloke, I'm there to get a house!' Jackie responded.

Jackie looked absolutely elated when she placed the winning bid on her dream home.

In March, it was revealed Jackie splashed-out $13.25million on a three-storey oceanfront house in Clovelly at an open auction. Pictured: Clovelly home

The fixer-upper is set back from the road, offering privacy she didn't have on the narrow streets of her former address. Pictured

She was flanked by her daughter Kitty, 11, who watched her mum place the winning bid.

Jackie raised her paddle a final time to emerge victorious after going up against two other keen bidders in the final rounds.

The media personality had been spotted inspecting the six-bedroom house just days earlier.
Sunrise fill-in host Monique Wright has revealed the real reason why Natalie Barr was absent from the show on Monday morning.

The presenter told viewers host Natalie was enjoying a well-deserved week off from the show, travelling through Western Australia.

Monique is currently co-hosting the show alongside Matt Shirvington and presenter Edwina Bartholomew.

Natalie has also been sharing videos from her trip to Instagram, including a video of her first day at Cable Beach in Broome.

In the post, the presenter enjoyed a camel ride along the sand and said: 'I've always wanted to do this. Like everyone, I have seen the pictures.'

Sunrise fill-in host Monique Wright revealed the real reason behind Natalie Barr's surprise absence from the show on Monday. Pictured Monique and Matt Shirvington

'Look at this - at sunset, on a camel. So peaceful and beautiful. Iconic, it's such an Aussie thing to do! You've got to do it.'

She added: 'Absolutely. Nothing. Like it.'

'This is something I've always wanted to do. I've seen pictures of the camel rides on Cable Beach.'

Natalie is expected to return back to Sunrise on Monday, July 24.

The presenter told viewers host Natalie was enjoying a well-deserved week off from the show, travelling through Western Australia

Natalie has also been sharing videos from her trip to Instagram, including a video of her first day at Cable Beach in Broome

Meanwhile, Matt joined Sunrise last month following the departure of longtime host David Koch.

He had a huge ratings win during his first day on the Sunrise couch.

Continuing its reign as Australia's number one breakfast program, Sunrise drew in an impressive 235,000 metro viewers, beating Nine's Today show by 32% market share.

Meanwhile, Today earned 188,000 metro viewers while ABC News Breakfast drew just 104,000.
An Australian society couple's lavish wedding was hit with extreme weather chaos, causing a Who's Who of Sydney's social set to flee for safety.

Michael Porter - whose family owns Australia's leading condom business, Four Seasons - said 'I do' to his long-time partner Billy Mitchell at a luxury Italian villa on Wednesday.

However, Daily Mail Australia has been told a wild hail and electrical storm nearly washed out the entire event.

'The wedding got rained out by a crazy hail and an electrical storm and they had to evacuate everyone,' a source revealed.

However, the wild weather event didn't put much of a dampener on the three-day extravaganza attended by celebrities, models, business moguls, reality stars and influencers.

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 society couple had their nuptials postponed three-years due to travel restrictions brought on my Covid-lockdowns - and part of the extravaganza was struck by a bout of extreme weather

Married at At First Sight lovebirds Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli were also there to celebrate.

While Mr Porter's family made their wealth from condoms and lubricants, he is also the founder of pimple patch business Skin Control.

His husband Billy, who grew up in Perth, works in luxury PR.

The multi-day event included a welcome party at the restaurant Locanda La Tirlindana, where the couple arrived via a vintage Porsche to music and dancing on the cobblestone streets.

On Wednesday, the pair exchanged vows surrounded by a chic floral arrangement at the Villa del Balbianello, a venue known for its mesmerising views of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains.

Swimwear mogul Natasha Oakley and liquor heir Theo Chambers attended the wedding, two weeks after getting married themselves in Capri

MAFS couple Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli were also on the exclusive guest list

Bridget Malcolm, from Perth, is known for appearing in Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows

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.

Guests donned tuxedo's and floor length gowns for the black tie event

Cameron MacDonald and Emma Gott didn't let the wild weather get in the way of celebrating the couple's big day

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.
Mia Fevola and her new boyfriend Bass Miller have taken their relationship to the next level and finally went Instagram official on Sunday after enjoying a romantic Hawaiian vacation.

Mia posted a picture of the genetically-blessed couple posing at their luxurious hotel.

Sporting a radiant tan and showing off her incredible figure in a sizzling white cut-out midi dress that accentuated her fabulous figure, Mia looked the very picture of happiness.

Her beau Bass complemented her perfectly, donning a casually worn black button-up shirt, pristine white trousers and sleek black sandals.

In other photos, the duo showcased their enviable figures in swimwear.

Mia Fevola and her new boyfriend, Bass Miller, have taken their love story to the next level, finally becoming Instagram official on Sunday after a romantic Hawaiian

In a flurry of heartfelt snaps, the stunning couple displayed their growing affection, no longer hiding their love from prying eyes

Mia set pulses racing in a white bikini, turning the tropical beachscape into her personal runway.

In recent weeks, Mia has been teasing her romance on social media, but has only 'soft launched' him by sharing pictures of his hands at dinner rather than a full picture.

Meanwhile, her makeup artist mother Alex recently shared a video of her family on holiday in Hawaii, showing Mia and her new man cosying up together at dinner.

Mia teased a mystery man in March and last month the pair were spotted out together for the first time.

But the photo that has their fans buzzing the most is the one with Mia and Bass wrapped in each other's arms, lost in the breathtaking Hawaiian sunset

Bass has shared pictures of himself and his new girlfriend on Instagram

The couple met in high school and have known each other for 10 years and recently reconnected.

Earlier last month, Mia announced she had a new love but decided to keep their relationship private.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, she expressed how 'happy' she was but won't be publicising their love life as 'he's a private person'.

Her makeup artist mother Alex recently shared a video of her family on holiday in Hawaii, showing Mia and her new man cosying up together at dinner

'We went to school together and I've known him for 10 years,' she told the publication.

Mia's dating history in the AFL world has been well-documented over the past couple of years.

She enjoyed a trip to Bali in July last year with Daniel Grant, who played for divisional club Sorrento Sharks.

A photo was uploaded at the time which showed her seated next to Daniel and several other pals as they enjoyed drinks before their dinner.

She had since denied their relationship was a romantic one, insisting they shared a close friendship.

Earlier last month, Mia announced she had a new love but decided to keep their relationship private. Speaking to the Herald Sun, she expressed how 'happy' she was but won't be publicising their love life as 'he's a private person'

Mia previously dated Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Their relationship dissolved in 2021 just after his team's defeat to Melbourne Demons at the Grand Final.

Her high-profile relationship with Daniel Rioli of the Richmond Tigers in 2020 also didn't work out, but they've remained good friends.

Mia became part of a footy family at a young age when her mother Alex married the-then Carlton forward Brendan Fevola in 2005.
Matt Damon was spotted while arriving at JFK Airport in New York City on Sunday morning.

The 52-year-old performer was also joined by his wife, Luciana, and several of his daughters as they made their way through the travel hub.

The actor, who recently went shirtless during a getaway in Mykonos, wore a nearly all-black outfit that was partially comprised of a T-Shirt and slim-fitting jeans as he left the airport.

Damon also donned a trucker-style hat, sunglasses and white sneakers during the outing.

Luciana also opted for an all-black outfit that included a sleeveless cropped shirt and slightly wide-fitting pants.

Back in town: Matt Damon was spotted while arriving at JFK Airport in New York City on Sunday morning

Taking it easy: The actor, who recently went shirtless during a getaway in Mykonos, wore a nearly all-black outfit that was partially comprised of a T-Shirt and slim-fitting jeans as he left the airport

The Good Will Hunting star and his wife initially met in 2003 while he was working on Stuck On You in Miami.

The happy couple subsequently started a relationship and formalized their union in 2005.

Damon and Luciana went on to start a family with the birth of their daughter Isabella, 16, in 2006, and they eventually brought Gia and Stella, 14 and 12, into their lives.

The actor also serves as a stepfather to his wife's eldest daughter Alexia, 24.

The performer spoke about being supported by his spouse during a recent interview on the Jake's Takes podcast, where he discussed 'inconveniencing' his family while working on an admittedly bad movie.

He recalled: 'I remember my wife pulling me up because I fell into a depression about, like, what have I done?'

The actor went on to express that Luciana inspired him to try his hardest with the feature, despite it not being up to standard.

'I do pride myself, in a large part because of her, at being a professional actor. And what being a professional actor means is you...give it absolutely everything, even in what you know is going to be a losing effort.'

Family man: The 52-year-old performer was also joined by his wife, Luciana, and several of his daughters as they made their way through the travel hub

Tying the knot: The Good Will Hunting star and his wife initially met in 2003 while he was working on Stuck On You in Miami, and they married in 2003

Supportive: Damon was recently joined by several of his family members during the world premiere of Oppenheimer, which took place last week in Paris

The performer then remarked that his wife was instrumental in carrying him through the production of the movie.

'If you can do that with the best possible attitude, then you're a pro, and she really helped me with that,' he said.

Damon was recently joined by several of his family members during the world premiere of Oppenheimer, which took place last week in Paris.

However, the actor, as well as several of his costars, left the premiere early in solidarity with the striking members of SAG-AFTRA.
The fifth episode of the six-episode season also introduced new character The Dama who has been bossing The Croat

Maggie Rhee's treachery and the real reason she tricked Negan into coming with her to New York City was revealed on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City.

While combing through the New York City sewers to escape The Croat, Ginny [Mahina Napoleon] left Maggie [Lauren Cohan] to fight a monstrous king walker that was composed of several parts of sewer walkers.

Maggie earlier lied to Ginny about her motivation for being there.

'A very bad man took all of our grain and all of our food that took us months for us to produce and he's going to keep on taking it. Every single harvest until we all starve to death,' Maggie told the mute girl.

Maggie said The Croat also had her son, Hershel.

Sewer walker: Maggie [Lauren Cohan]fought a monstrous king walker that was composed of several parts of sewer walkers on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City

'Negan is the key to getting him back,' Maggie said.

Maggie fended off the walker brutally killing each of its heads but when she ran to find Ginny she found another bloody corpse.

Ginny etched 'Liar' in blood on the wall revealing that she knew the truth that Maggie only brought Negan [Jeffrey Dean Morgan] to the city to exchange him for her kidnapped son Hershel.

Before Ginny climbed out of the sewer she remembered that she had seen that Maggie's compound still had all its grain and that The Croat had handed Maggie a piece of paper with Negan's picture on it after kidnapping Hershel.

Ginny ran out in the street and lit a flare in the sky. Negan looked out the window of the bus and saw the flare just as Maggie, who had also just pulled herself out of the sewer, saw it, too.

The episode titled Stories We Tell Ourselves opened with Maggie, Ginny, Tommaso [Jonathan Higginbotham], and Amaia [Karina Ortiz] making their way through New York City's sewer system.

Above ground Negan had been taken prisoner by Perlie Armstrong [Gaius Charles].

'You do remember I saved your a** back there,' Negan said.

Sewer walker: A king sewer walking attacked Maggie with a head popping out to try and bite her

Scary sight: The spin-off featured one of the scariest walkers to appear in the franchise

Close call: Maggie was in dire straits fighting off the sewer zombies

Under arrest: Above ground Negan had been taken prisoner by Perlie Armstrong [Gaius Charles]

'Whatever that was had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with you and your friend,' Perlie said.

Perlie told him that saving him didn't bring back the magistrate that he killed or the four other people.

'Those a**holes they damn near killed my wife,' Negan said. 'If you had seen what she looked like when I found her, well, I guarantee you'd done the same.'

Ginny tried to climb out of the sewer to find Negan, but Maggie told her that the manholes were sealed.

'You do not know the monster that I know,' Maggie said. 'But if you stick around long enough, you will.'

Perlie told Negan that they were going to Chelsea Piers to disconnect a floating pier to escape.

'You're from here,' Negan said.

Perlie said he was from the Bronx and worked on keeping the rivers clean of debris. Negan said he also worked for the state as a gym teacher. They walked outside and were followed by walkers but escaped into a building.

City life: Perlie escorted Negan and they opened up to each other about their past lives

Maggie and the others reached Hell's Kitchen in the sewers. Tommaso found two oxygen tanks for them to use to help them breathe. Amaia wondered how the Burazi discovered their plan.

'Maybe it was Luther who tipped them off,' Tommaso said. 'He didn't want to go through with any of it.'

'It was him,' Maggie said, pointing her flashlight at Tommaso.

'The hell you talking about?' Tommaso said.

Tommaso told Maggie that she was paranoid.

'You don't trust nobody,' Tommaso said.

Maggie asked Tommaso why he took off his pack before he found the oxygen tanks. Tommaso went to Amaia and told her not to believe it.

Sewer system: Maggie and Ginny walked through the sewers filled with corpses

'He had the tanks in his pack the whole time!' Maggie said. 'I bet taking them was the signal.'

'Why?' Amaia said.

'Because he's a liar,' Maggie said. 'He doesn't care about anybody but himself.'

'Amaia, it was a fantasy taking back the island,' Tommaso said. 'Reclaiming our home? Our home is gone, Amaia. It's been gone. Everyone is dead.'

Tommaso told Amaia that he did it for her. Amaia started crying.

'No, no,' Amaia said.

Amaia and Ginny walked off.

Negan and Perlie walked through the building and found a person whose head had been smashed in with an axe. Negan grabbed a walker and pushed it into Perlie, but Perlie fended him off and came after him.

Great question: Maggie asked Tommaso why he took off his pack before he found the oxygen tanks

'Believe it or not I don't like leaving people behind to die,' Negan said. 'Even huge a**holes. Here's the deal, I help you and no more of this dragging me back to New Babylon bulls***.'

'No,' Perlie said.

'Just tell me, why are you doing this?' Negan said.

Negan then helped Perlie stand up and carried him out of the building.

Maggie told Amaia that she could go to her home, The Bricks, where she would be safe and that Ginny knows the way. Tommaso pulled bodies aside and Maggie started to get weak from the methane and hallucinated. Tommaso urged her to take a break.

'I gave up our hideouts to stay alive to get back to Amaia,' Tommaso said. 'He said if I brought my people to him, he would give me a boat.'

Tommaso said that The Croat [Zeljko Ivanek ] had told him of a place on the mainland with farms and where the buildings were made of bricks. He said he had to try for Amaia.

'Got to do whatever it takes to make it safe,' Tommaso said.

The deal: Tommaso said that The Croat [Zeljko Ivanek ] had told him of a place on the mainland with farms and where the buildings were made of bricks

Just then some of the dead around them woke up and grabbed Amaia and Ginny. The dead bit both Tommaso and Amaia.

Above ground, The Croat walked into a theater where the Burazi were performing an absurd version of Cole Porter's 'Anything Goes' on stage. He went to the dressing room where a woman, The Dama [Lisa Emery], was listening to opera.

'So it went well,' The Croat said. 'My informant delivered. The threat has been neutralized. And also, Negan is on the island.'

'Then where is he?' The Dama demanded. 'You thought you had your hero, but he got away. What good is a hero off stage?'

The Croat told her there was also a marshal with him who came from the mainland. He told her it was just like she said that there would be those who tried to bring back the old laws and prisons.

He said they would come for what they built.

'Which is why we need him,' The Dama said. 'Which is why you f***ed up so royally.'

'I will find him,' The Croat said. 'There is absolutely no way Negan will be getting off this island. I promise you.'

The Dama put out her hand for The Croat to obediently kneel and kiss.

New character: The fifth episode of the six-episode season also introduced new character The Dama who has been bossing The Croat

Negan carried Perlie to a school bus and they rested inside. Negan found the bus first-aid kit and helped clean Perlie's wound. Perlie told him about his brother Joel who worked on the docks with him. He said his brother had drug problems and kept landing himself in jail.

'He attacked my mother,' Perlie said. 'So high he didn't know what he was doing. '

Perlie said it fell on him to try to help his big brother who felt abandoned. He held a letter that Joel had written to him before the city fell apart.

'He was left to die all alone in the worst possible place on the planet,' Perlie said.

Perlie said he didn't see things so black and white anymore.

'What if it's just stories we tell ourselves to sleep easier,' Perlie said.

The Walking Dead: Dead City will return next Sunday on AMC.
Russia continues to deliver ancient T-55 tanks to its forces in Ukraine. Russia stored thousands of these tanks in eastern Russia, where some received a few upgrades before departing for Ukraine. The T-55 was an upgrade, which included protection from nuclear radiation, to the earlier T-54. T-55s entered service in 1959. About 100,000 T-54/55 tanks were produced between 1946 and 1983. Thousands, mainly late model T-55s, are still in use in active (kept ready to use) storage. T-55s weigh 36 tons, have a four man crew and a 100mm gun, with 43 shells on board. There is also a coaxial 7.62mm machine-gun mounted next to the cannon and is used when the 100mm gun is not needed or is out of shells. There is also a 12.7mm machine-gun on top of the turret. This is operated by a crew member standing partially outside the turret to operate machine-gun against aircraft or ground targets. This is often dangerous if anyone is firing at the tank. T-55 armor is vulnerable to most tank guns but still offers protection from heavy machine-guns and somewhat less protection from 20-30mm autocannon shells that are often fired from modern IFV (Infantry fighting vehicles). The IFV is vulnerable to the T-55s 100mm gun.

T-55s are propelled by a 580 HP diesel engine at up to 51 kilometers an hour. Some late model T-55s had an 800 HP engine. Range on internal fuel is 425 kilometers. This can be increased to 610 kilometers if external fuel tanks are mounted on the rear of the tank. T-55s have been in action since the 1950s. From the 1960s the T-55 was no longer a first-line tank but was used in situations that did not require the most modern tank. This often included supporting infantry attacks or crowd control. Technically, the final upgrade of the T-55 was the early model of the T-62 that appeared in the early 1969s while T-55s were still in production and that continued until the 1980s. That did not stop new Russian tanks from being developed and manufactured. The most prominent of these was the T-62 and T-72.

Russia still maintains a tank maintenance and modernization facility in the Russian Far East (near the Pacific Coast and the Chinese and North Korean borders. This facility, the 1295th Central Tank Reserve and Storage Base, dates from the Cold War, when many Russian military logistics operations were placed in remote areas that could be reached by the extensive Russian railroad system. This facility stores and maintains T-55s as well as T-62s and T-72s. These reserves have been drawn in a lot to support operations in Ukraine. When the T-72 autoloader proved extremely vulnerable to Western anti-tank top attack weapons, older models like T-55s and T-62s were issued. These tanks lacked an autoloader and still used four man crews. So, they were called on to provide tank support for Russian troops in Ukraine. There are over a hundred T-62s at this facility and currently these are the ones being sent to Russian troops in Ukraine. The 36-ton T-62 has a crew of four and is armed with a 115mm gun plus a coaxial 7.62mm machine-gun and a 12.7mm machine-gun on top of the turret. The T-62 is powered by a 580 HP diesel engine that provides a top road speed of 50 kilometers an hour and a top off-road speed of 40 kilometers an hour. Road range on internal fuel is 450 kilometers, or 650 kilometers if additional fuel tanks are carried on the rear deck. Over 22,000 T-62s were built between 1961 and the early 1980s. Most were produced in Russia but production continued in North Korea into the early 1980s. North Korea still uses its T-62s. The T-62 is very similar to the T-55 and uses some of the same components. The T-62 is considered an upgrade of the T-55 and it is.

Russia is often criticized for maintaining stockpiles of older armored vehicles. The Russians are being practical because they understand the new models often have unseen flaws that are not apparent until the tank is in combat.
Luann de Lesseps got dirty in the mud and used her sex appeal to sell lemonade on Sunday's episode of Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake.

The 58-year-old reality star went off-roading with Sonja, 59, and her new lover Billy as they settled into life in smalltown Benton, Illinois.

Sonja was giddy after having sex with Billy and invited Luann to go 'mudding' with Billy and his friend Jared Kirkendoll.t

Billy rode up in a white limo and they drove on a dirt road to giant trucks for riding in the mud.

'I'm smiling,' Sonja said as they started riding in the mud together.

Spin-off series: Luann de Lesseps got dirty in the mud and used her sex appeal to sell lemonade on Sunday's episode of Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake

Sonja admitted that her goal was having sex again with Billy.

Luann in a red plaid shirt and tiny denim jeans got tossed in the mud and then chased down Sonja for a bit of mud wrestling.

Sonja and Luann on the way to their mudding double-date noticed children selling lemonade and stopped to support.

They learned the kids were only asking for donations as they raised money to help homeless shelters.

Christen Drew, the mother of the children, introduced herself and Sonja and Luann offered to help with their fundraising effort.

Luann took charge and stopped traffic with her long legs as she encouraged drivers to stop and try the lemonade.

'Let's wave some people down in the roundabout with the high heels on. What can I say? Sex sells,' Luann said in a confessional.

Christen told her kids to seek donations only and not make anybody feel bad, but Sonja hilariously told the girls to 'pressure' the customers.

Lemonade sales: Luann earlier took charge and stopped traffic with her long legs as she encouraged drivers to stop and try the lemonade

Sex sells: 'Let's wave some people down in the roundabout with the high heels on. What can I say? Sex sells,' Luann said in a confessional

Apply pressure: Sonja Morgan hilariously told the girls to 'pressure' the lemonade customers

Good mood: The former RHONY star was in a good mood after having sex with Billy

Luann congratulated the kids as they made $285 to help the homeless.

'Sonja and Luann, they both have such unique personalities, and they just breath energy into this town that I've never seen before,' Christen said.

Luann and Sonja also worked their playground renovation project and shared their progress with the mayor.

The episode ended, however, with Luann and Sonja learning there was an issue with the playground equipment they secured for the park.

Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake will return next week on Bravo.
It's been seven months since Toni Collette confirmed her split from husband Dave Galafassi after 20 years of marriage.

But the 50-year-old looked anything but heartbroken as she went for a swim with her good friend and fellow Australian actor and producer Christopher Simon, 60, on the Italian island of Ischia on Saturday.

The pair, who are attending the Ischia Global Fest 2023 to promote their new film Mafia Mama, were spotted enjoyed an afternoon by the sea, relaxing and chatting as they sat on deckchairs in their swimming costumes.

They looked to be in high spirits as they joked and laughed together beneath the European sun.

Toni showcased her her trim figure in a tiny orange bikini that featured a triangle halter-neck top and high-cut bottoms, while Christopher displayed his muscular physique in grey striped board shorts.

Bikini-clad Toni Collette, 50, (left) was joined by Aussie actor and producer Christopher Simon, 60, (right) at the beach on the Italian island of Ischia on Saturday

As the temperatures climbed, Toni decided to take a dip in the water.

Toni and Christopher are long-time friends, have previously worked together on the 2015 comedy film Miss You Already - in which Toni starred while Christopher served as producer.

Christopher and Toni are also co-producers of film Mafia Mama, which was released earlier this year and features Toni in the leading role.

The pair, who are attending the Ischia Global Fest 2023 to promote their new film Mafia Mama, were spotted enjoyed an afternoon by the sea

Toni and Christopher are long-time friends, have previously worked together on the 2015 comedy film Miss You Already - in which Toni starred while Christopher served as producer

Toni, who also stars in the film, shared a tribute to Christopher for his hard work on the film earlier this year, sharing an Instagram video of the pair dancing at a photo shoot for the official Mafia Mama poster.

'That's my producing partner, the irreplaceable and irrepressible, Chris Simon. A boogie with a pal and some Prosecco can get a girl in the mood for anything!' the Muriel's Wedding star captioned the clip.

In December, Collette announced she and her husband of 20 years, musician Dave Galafassi, 46, were divorcing.

As the temperatures climbed, Toni decided to take a dip in the water

She showcased her her trim figure in a tiny orange bikini that featured a triangle halter-neck top and high-cut bottoms

The former couple, who are parents to daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, married in 2003.

Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the About a Boy star, confirmed their split in December 2022 when he was pictured passionately kissing chiropractor Shannon Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account.

Toni and Christopher posed arm-in-arm on the Ischia Global Fest 2023 red carpet later on Saturday

'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. Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape.'

'We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.'

Christopher and Toni are co-producers of film Mafia Mama, which was released earlier this year and features Toni in the leading role

A longtime friend of Toni told Woman's Day earlier this year that she was devastated that their split became so public.

'She has not recovered from her split and she is not likely to anytime soon,' the friend told the publication at the time.

'Toni's a marvel at how she's able to pull herself together and keep functioning.

Toni, who also stars in the film, shared a tribute to Christopher for his hard work on the film earlier this year, sharing an Instagram video of the pair dancing at a photo shoot for the official Mafia Mama poster

'The promotional side of movies is something she usually enjoys, but not when her life is a mess.'

The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi's band's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney, and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party.

They were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast less than a year after they met, in January 2003.
Erika Jayne met with people who were allegedly cheated out of settlement money by her estranged husband and disgraced lawyer Tom Girardi.

The 52-year-old reality star attended a Paul's Ice Cream event on Sunday at the Valley Inn Restaurant in Los Angeles, according to an article by Page Six.

'I came here with an open heart to listen to what's going on, hear what happened and figure out how to be a part of how to move forward together in a way that's beneficial for all victims,' Jane told the outlet.

Paul's Ice Cream was founded by Kathy Ruigomez and Kimberly Archie, a former employee at Girardi's now-defunct Los Angeles law firm, Girardi Keese.

Jayne dressed conservatively in a long-sleeved pink floral-print blouse and loose black trousers and was seen filming a sit-down interview for an upcoming documentary in partnership with the Los Angeles Times.

Meeting up: Erika Jayne, shown in April in Beverly Hills, met with people who were allegedly cheated out of settlement money by her estranged disgraced lawyer husband Tom Girardi

An eyewitness said Jayne appeared to be in 'good spirits' and everyone looked 'very serious but engaged during their discussion.'

Kathy is the mother of burn victim Joseph Ruigomez and she previously claimed her family was owed $11 million in settlement money from a 2020 lawsuit.

Their story was featured in the 2021 Hulu documentary 'The Housewife and the Hustler' about the legal woes facing Girardi, 84, and Jayne.

Kathy and Joseph accused Girardi of misappropriating funds from the settlement and a member of their family called Girardi a 'snake' in the Hulu documentary.

Jayne also spoke with Josie Hernandez who sought legal counsel from Girardi in 2014 after becoming sick after several failed implant surgeries for 'incontinence issues.'

The case was settled for $135,000, but Hernandez in 2019 claimed that she had not been paid any of it, according to Us Weekly.

Girardi in the Hulu documentary could be heard in an August 2020 voicemail played by Hernandez, saying, 'I don't want you mad at me. I'm working like a dog to try and get this thing resolved.  I'm a good guy, by the way.'

Hernandez filed a complaint with the state bar and later confirmed that Girardi Keese received her settlement money three months before the voicemail was left.

Former couple: The 52-year-old reality star and Tom, shown in June 2016 in Los Angeles, were the subject of the 2021 Hulu documentary 'The Housewife and the Hustler'

Disgraced lawyer: Tom, shown in April 2018 in Los Angeles, has been accused of misappropriating millions of settlement money from clients

Reality star: Erika is shown in a season 12 still from The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Memory facility: Tom, shown in February in Los Angeles, is now living in a memory care facility with Alzheimer's and dementia

Jayne additionally met with Nancy Marston who allegedly also was deceived by Girardi and Marston told Page Six that they were in a 'good place.'

'I never thought she stole the money or anything like that. My only thing was really just how it came across to the victims, and now this erases any of that obviously because she's making a concerted effort to make the victims feel better,' Marston added.

Marston will further detail her involvement with Girardi in her upcoming book The Serpent's Tooth due out on August 15.

Archie gave Jayne credit for reaching out to the victims.

'I think that it's even difficult for some attorneys and people who prosecute these kind of cases to understand it. So I think it would be irrational to think Erika knew,' Archie told Page Six.

Girardi allegedly embezzled more than $15 million from his clients and is now living in a memory care facility with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in November 2020 and the former couple the next month was sued by Edelson PC for embezzlement related to the Lion Air Flight 610 crash and settlement.

The Bravo star scored a legal win last August when a Los Angeles judge found that Jayne had 'no knowledge' of alleged financial crimes by her estranged husband.

Jayne still faces a $50 million racketeering lawsuit and a $2.1 million 'aiding and abetting' lawsuit.

The Atlanta native has been a cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since 2015.
Model Simone Holtznagel appeared to lose a $75,000 diamond earring during her luxury break to the Maldives with her boyfriend Jono Castano.

At least that's what some of her fans thought when she posted a clip on Instagram on Sunday, showing her playfully quoting a famous scene from Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Simone was jokingly pushed into the ocean by boyfriend Jono, before she started lip-syncing the famous scene where Kim lost a diamond earring during a trip to Bora Bora after her then-husband Kris Humphries tossed her into the water.

'I'm going to have such a headache, my earrings gone, omg I'm going to cry,' Simone said as Jono jumped in to help.

'My diamond earring. Seriously. It's not funny. That's $75,000,' Simone continued.

Model Simone Holtznagel appeared to lose a $75,000 diamond earring during her luxury break to the Maldives with her boyfriend Jono Castano

As the loved-up couple played out the scene, Simone continued to complain.

'We're not going to find it in the ocean. My diamond earring came off in the ocean and now it's gone,' Simone mouthed.

The clip then cut to Jono, playing the role of Kris Jenner, giving Simone a reminder of perspective.

'Kim, there's people that are dying,' he said.

At least that's what some of her fans thought when she posted a clip on Instagram on Sunday, showing her playfully quoting a famous scene from Keeping Up With The Kardashians

A number of the couple's celebrity friends thought the clip was hilarious.

'Hahahahahh this is so goood,' reality star Bettina Banks wrote. 'Omg,' model Montana Cox added.

'This is hilarious. You guys nailed it and must have had such a hoot whilst doing so!' yet another added.

Jono and Simone have been sharing photos of their tropical escape for days, including a stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort.

Simone was jokingly pushed into the ocean by boyfriend Jono, before she started lip-syncing the famous scene where Kim lost a diamond earring during a trip to Bora Bora after her then-husband Kris Humphries tossed her into the water

They are believed to be staying in the Muraka Residence, an ultra-private abode complete with its own lap pool, gym and an underwater bedroom.

It costs a whopping $11,990 per night to stay at the room with the rate including breakfast.

It is believed the trip could be a sponsored post for the influencers, with the pair tagging the resort and using the resorts hashtags on Instagram.

Jono and Simone have been sharing photos of their tropical escape for days, including a stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort

While at the resort, the pair have enjoyed plenty of fun in the sun, such as enjoying wines by the beach and romantic rides in a seaplane.

'Closing out my 20s with a bang,' Simone captioned one post of herself in a cream bikini.

Jono debuted his romance with new girlfriend Simone in September.

The couple are believed to be staying in the Muraka Residence, an ultra-private abode complete with its own lap pool, gym and an underwater bedroom. Pictured

Their relationship became public knowledge after they were pictured kissing at Mimi's that May, the celebrity hotspot owned by hospitality mogul Justin Hemmes, who is dating Simone's sister Madeline.

Jono and ex-wife Amy Castano split in early 2021, but decided to keep up appearances before making an official announcement.

While the ACERO gym co-owners are no longer together, they remain friends and continue to operate their fitness empire together.
It is a major milestone, let alone for a couple who have both worked under the sometimes harsh spotlight of Hollywood in five different decades.

On Sunday, Michael J. Fox and wife Tracy Pollan both took to their respective Instagram pages to pay tribute to each other in celebration of their 35th wedding anniversary,

'35 years!!! Happy anniversary my love,' Pollan, 63, began in the caption of her post, which featured a throwback photo of the former Family Ties stars vacationing together.

She continued, 'Heres to many more glorious adventures together. I could not love you more.'

Fox , 62, gushed over his wife when he commented on her vacation photo, writing back, 'Likewise, so beautiful just like you. Happy Anniversary!'

Milestone: Michael J. Fox, 62 and Tracy Pollan, 63, paid tribute to each other on social media in celebration of their 35th wedding anniversary

The Back To The Future leading man would also share an anniversary tribute of his own to his wife, whom he first met on the set of the hit sitcom Family Ties in 1985.

'35 years of laugher, living, listening and loving you @tracy.pollan,' the now retired actor wrote in the caption of his message of love to his wife. 'Thank you for it all. Forever yours, Mike.'

She also responded to her husband's message, by writing back, 'Love you so much!!!' along with a few red heart emojis.

While fate brought them together in 1985 when Pollan was hired to play Ellen, the girlfriend of Fox's Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, they remained friends because they were both dating other people at the time.

Fox had been in a romance with actress Nancy McKeon, while Pollan was exclusive with actor Kevin Bacon.

After Pollan's run on the NBC series ended two years later, in 1987, they would reunite when they were both cast in the drama film Bright Lights, Big City (1988).

Now single following their ends of their respective romances, sparks flew between the two instantaneously, which marked the beginning of their own romance.

They wasted little time in making their union legal, and got married on July 16, 1988 at West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont, after just seven months of dating.

Message of love: Pollan shared a throwback snap of the couple vacationing together, along with a sweet message where she confessed: 'I could not love you more'

Love letter: For his tribute, Fox thanked his wife 'for it all', and confessed he was 'forever yours'

Walk down memory lane: Fox's post included several old throwback pictures showing the couple throughout their 35 years of marriage

Item: The couple have been a shining example that celebrity couples can thrive

Supportive: The two stars have also worked together over the years in the effort to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease, which Fox was diagnosed with in 1991

Lovebirds: The couple had only dated for seven months when they decided to get married

35 years to the day and Fox and Pollan are still together, as a shining example that celebrity couples can actually persevere and thrive through life side-by-side.

The first of their four children, their son Sam, now 34, arrived in May 1989, and was followed by three daughters, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, both 28, and Esme, 21.

Over the years, whenever the couple are together for interviews, they are often asked if there's a secret to their relationship's success.

Their love story: Fox and Pollan first met on the set of Family Ties in 1985, when the actress landed the role of Alex P. Keaton's girlfriend Ellen

Family matters: The first of the couple's four children, their son Sam, now 34, arrived in May 1989, and was followed by three daughters, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, both 28, and Esme, 21; the family are pictured together for Mother's Day this pasy May

Back in 2015, Pollan revealed to People one element that has helped their marriage endure through the years: 'Giving each other the benefit of the doubt,' especially during arguments.

The actress also revealed romances can make it through almost anything 'if you can make each other laugh.'

Fast forward to 2019, and a sit down on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , Fox would show off some of that ability to make his wife laugh when he shared what he thought was an integral element to a strong marriage.

'I feel funny saying this because my daughter is in the audience but keep the sex dirty and the fights clean,' he said, which got a laugh from both his wife and Fallon, along with the live audience.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed the surprise culprit who 'soiled' her bedsheets in her luxury Saint Tropez villa during her trip to Europe earlier this month.

The radio queen, 48, shocked KIIS FM listeners on Friday when she confessed one of her colleagues had defecated in her bed during their three-week stay in France.

Now Jackie has gotten to the bottom of who did it after enlisting Hunted Chief David Craig to interrogate The Kyle and Jackie O team on Monday.

What ensued was a tense 15 minutes of Craig questioning Brooklyn Ross, his partner Damian Dirienzo, producer Jaimee 'Mayo' Hassos and her husband Sebastian Blazquez.

By the end of the interrogation, during which David studied the team's body language to determine who was lying, he admitted he was 'suspicious' of Jackie O herself.

Jackie 'O' Henderson, 48, (pictured) has revealed the surprise culprit of the 'soiled' bedsheets in her luxury St Tropez villa when she gatecrashed Kyle Sandilands' honeymoon

'The most suspicious person to me is Jackie O. But that could also just be nerves. I didn't get to talk to you enough to then ask you a guilty question,' he said.

'You asked me straight away about s***ting myself. It was a nervous thing to have to admit to,' she replied, visibly upset as she tried to prove her innocence.

The blonde beauty then offered an alternative cause for her soiled bed sheets, shifting the blame to the villa owner who first made the accusations.

The radio queen shocked KIIS FM listeners on Friday when she confessed one of her colleagues had defecated in her bed during their three-week stay in France. Pictured: producer Brooklyn Ross

'Is it possible that everyone is telling the truth and that the villa owner, who was always a bit out there - are they lying?' she said.

'Your behaviour was the most suspicious, but I don't think it's because you were lying. I actually think that there is another explanation,' David agreed.

He added: 'If I had to pick someone, Jackie, it'd be you out of the group. But I'd be more likely to look at the chateau owner.'

Now Jackie has gotten to the bottom of who did it after enlisting Hunted Chief David Craig on Monday to interrogate The Kyle and Jackie O team

What ensued was a tense 15 minutes questioning of Brooklyn Ross, his partner Damian Dirienzo, producer Jaimee 'Mayo' Hassos (pictured) and her husband Sebastian Blazquez

Jackie went on the hunt for the culprit of the dirty act on Friday after the owner of the villa demanded she pay to replace her bedsheets which had be soiled.

She explained: 'When I was in the South of France staying in that villa I had house guests, Brooklyn and Damian, Mayo and Seb.'

She said all four 'swore black and blue' they were innocent, which left Jackie confused over how her sheets became so ruined they had to be thrown out.

Jackie O and her colleagues ended up in the same villa when they gatecrashed Kyle's extravagant honeymoon in France with wife Tegan and their son Otto.

Jackie went on the hunt for the culprit of the dirty act on Friday after the owner of the villa demanded she pay to replace her bedsheets which had be soiled
Nine news reporter Zarisha Bradley has shared her Euro horror story after travelling overseas with her friend Elle.

The presenter revealed in a TikTok video, Elle was rushed to hospital after having an allergic reaction to peanuts at a restaurant.

'[El was rushed to hospital] after eating a peanut at a restaurant despite telling the waiter she was allergic three times,' she explained.

They then travelled to Croatia, where they faced another hurdle.

The pair booked an apartment for five nights but discovered there was no bedroom when they arrived.

Nine News reporter Zarisha Bradley has revealed horror European trip after her friend was rushed to hospital

'Zarisha booked Croatian accommodation but there was no bedroom and the pair were forced to sleep on the couch for 5 days,' she continued.

'Breaking news out of Europe #europe #australians,' the video was captioned.

Zarisha and Elle also visited Greece and Dubai during their trip.

It comes after Zarisha recently delighted fans on TikTok by sharing a humorous video of what reporters really mean when reading the news.

'What news reporters say in their professional voice verse what they actually mean,' she began.

The presenter revealed in a TikTok video, Elle was rushed to hospital after having an allergic reaction to peanuts at a restaurant

The journalist also elaborated on why words including 'allegedly' and 'accused' are used in legal stories.

For the first example, she said in her reporter voice: 'Outside court he remained tight lipped.'

She then switched to her everyday voice and said this translates to he 'didn't say s***'.

Next, when journalists say 'police quickly swarmed' this means there were a lot of police at the scene.

The words 'allegedly and 'accused' are also two words reporters frequently use before someone has been found guilty of a crime.

They then travelled to Croatia, where they faced another hurdle. The pair booked an apartment for five nights but discovered there was no bedroom when they arrived

As an example she said: 'The driver allegedly high on cocaine, meth and cannabis accused of speeding up to 188km/hr.'

She once again changed to her everyday voice and said: 'Okay look we know you probably did it but we're just going to say "allegedly" and "accused" until you plead guilty or until you are found guilty to cover our a**.'

When it comes to reporting on the weather, journalists tend to add in prompts, such as 'don't forget to pack your coats this weekend'.

In this case Zarisha said: 'Guys it's going to be cold alright? So use your common sense.'
Robert Irwin has set hearts racing yet again.

The wildlife star, 19, who is currently dating Heath Ledger's niece Rorie Buckey, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a clip of himself hunting for geckos while in the outback.

Animal lovers were keen to learn about the gecko in the clip, but got distracted by hunky Robert's bulging biceps.

'Oh he's cute, so is the gecko,' one fan wrote. 'Thank the lord for sleeveless shirts,' yet another added.

Fans didn't stop there, with others gushing about Robert as their childhood crush.

Wildlife star Robert Irwin, 19, sent fans into a frenzy on Sunday, as he flaunted his biceps in a sleeveless shirt in the outback while talking to fans about geckos. Pictured

'My childhood crush ugh,' one fan wrote. 'Damn, Robert's beauty distracted me ngl (not gonna lie),' yet another added.

Robert was at his informative best in the clip where he spoke about the characteristics of the lizard.

'So just lifting old pieces of tin, which is a great spot to find reptiles in winter, and have a look at his little guy' Robert began in the clip.

'What's interesting is that back here he has tail regrowth, so some time ago, he has lost the tail and it is starting to grow,' he said.

Animal lovers were keen to learn about the gecko in the clip, but got distracted by hunky Robert's muscled biceps. The star is currently dating Rorie Buckey. Pictured

Robert went on to say it was a tactic to avoid predators in the wild with the tail able to grow back after it has detached from the body.

'Like a starfish which can regrow one of his limbs,' he said.

Robert went on to gush about the gecko before putting him back underneath the tin to leave it undisturbed.

The wildlife clip sent fans into a frenzy with many commenting on Robert's muscular physique in his sleeveless shirt. Pictured

Despite Robert's strong female following, the star's relationship with Rorie continues to go from strength-to-strength.

The couple made their red carpet debut in Sydney for the Mission Impossible premiere in Sydney earlier this month.

Robert looked dashing in a black suit with a tuxedo style lapel as he wrapped his arm around his love and posed for photographers.

Girlfriend Rorie, 18, looked sensational in asymmetric black maxi dress that featured one-sleeve, one-shoulder detailing.

Despite Robert's strong female following, the star's relationship with Rorie continues to go from strength-to-strength. The couple made their red carpet debut in Sydney for the Mission Impossible premiere this month

At one point, Robert tenderly wrapped his arms around Rorie as they appeared to share a joke and giggle.

Their outing comes after news Robert is reportedly planning to pop the question to Rorie after several months of dating.

According to New Idea magazine, protective mother Terri has concerns that her lovestruck son, 19, and his smitten girlfriend, 18, will rush down the aisle too early.

'Terri feels like Robert is moving way too fast,' a source told the publication.

Rorie is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger. Pictured

'Rorie's a sweetheart and it's easy to see why he is absolutely smitten, but Terri knows the stakes are high,' they added.

The publication also claimed Robert is a 'romantic' who is hoping to emulate his mother's quick engagement to her late husband Steve after just eight months of dating in 1992.

Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth.
Rumours are swirling about whether Andy Allen and Melissa Leong will be returning to MasterChef Australia next year.

And it's now been revealed the judges could both walk away from the Channel Ten show as they are a 'package deal'.

According to Woman's Day, Andy and Melissa are still in negotiations about the next season of the show and will either stay or leave together.

'Andy and Mel are still in negotiations at the moment and they come as a two package deal so if they both decide to walk, theyll need some big names to fill in,' a source said.

'And rather than getting a traditional line-up of three judges, execs are looking at having a pool of superstar names to judge each week.'

MasterChef Australia's Andy Allen and Melissa Leong could walk away from the show as it's revealed they come as a 'double act'

The publication claimed Jamie Oliver, Curtis Stone, Shannon Bennett, Poh Ling Yeow and Julie Goodwin have been approached to appear on the next season.

It comes as the network is currently on the hunt for a new celebrity judge for the 2024 season to replace Jock Zonfrillo following his death.

The network is also reported to be considering bringing back 'heritage' names to the series, such as original judges George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, to attract older viewers.

Jock died in his hotel room at Zagame's House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne on April 30 and was found by police at about 2am on Monday, May 1 - the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.

He is survived by his third wife Lauren, and his four children: grown-up daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages and Alfie and Isla with Lauren.

According to Woman's Day, Andy and Melissa are still in negotiations about the next season of the show and will either stay or leave together. It comes as the network is currently on the hunt for a new judge for the 2024 season to replace Jock Zonfrillo following his death

The publication claimed Jamie Oliver, Curtis Stone (left), Shannon Bennett, Poh Ling Yeow (right) and Julie Goodwin have been approached to appear on the next season

The media personality was scheduled for several publicity engagements for season 15 of MasterChef when he died suddenly.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that when the police entered the hotel room to conduct a welfare check, officers believed that Jock had died of natural causes and didn't find anything that suggested otherwise.

There was also no drug paraphernalia found in the hotel room, sources said.

A heartbroken Lauren said at his funeral: 'We were two halves that found each other in the exact right moment in life when we were ready.'

'We were ready for that big love, to live a life of adventure, to become parents together, to imagine things and to actually make them happen.'
She broke her foot while holidaying in Europe last month.

But a moon boot couldn't stop Jasmine Yarbrough from putting on an energetic display as she reunited with husband Karl Stefanovic at Brisbane Airport on Saturday.

Jasmine, 39, was spotted bounding towards the Today show host, 48, as he strolled through the arrivals terminal, before throwing dramatically jumping into his arms.

Looking elated, the mother-of-one wrapped her hands around Karl's shoulders as he lifted her in the air.

It is believed the couple spent the past week apart, with Jasmine staying in Queensland with her family and daughter Harper, three, while Karl fulfilled his hosting duties for Channel Nine's breakfast show in Sydney.

She may have broken her foot while holidaying in Europe last month. But a moon boot couldn't stop Jasmine Yarbrough, 39, (right) from putting on an energetic display as she reunited with husband Karl Stefanovic, 48, (left) at Brisbane Airport on Saturday

Jasmine looked stylish despite her orthopedic footwear, sporting a powder blue jumper, black leggings and a pair of white cat-eye sunglasses.

To complete her look, she slipped on a series of gold bangles and wore her hair up in a no-fuss chignon.

The blonde was seen helping Karl with his designer luggage, which included two Louis Vuitton duffle bag, each worth over $4,000.

Karl looked like he was about to topple over as he clutched Jasmine to his chest

Jasmine was spotted bounding towards the Today show host as he strolled through the arrivals terminal, before throwing dramatically jumping into his arms

Looking elated, the mother-of-one wrapped her hands around Karl's shoulders as he lifted her in the air

It is believed the couple spent the past week apart, with Jasmine staying in Queensland with her family while Karl fulfilled his hosting duties for Channel Nine's breakfast show in Sydney

Karl was meanwhile dressed for comfort in a black fleece-lined jacket layered over a black T-shirt and dark jeans.

He also carried a large shopping bag from luxury sneaker brand Golden Goose.

The sighting comes a month after Karl and Jasmine returned from their lavish trip to Paris, where they attended the wedding of millionaire chicken heiress Tamie Ingham and chef Guillaume Brahimi.

Jasmine looked stylish despite her orthopedic footwear, sporting a powder blue jumper, black leggings and a pair of white cat-eye sunglasses

Jasmine looked thrilled to finally have Karl back in her arms

Karl was meanwhile dressed for comfort in a black fleece-lined jacket layered over a black T-shirt and dark jeans

The sighting comes a month after Karl and Jasmine returned from their lavish trip to Paris, where they attended the wedding of millionaire chicken heiress Tamie Ingham and chef Guillaume Brahimi

Karl, who has long been friends with Brahimi after being introduced by mutual acquaintance James Packer, served as emcee at the ritzy nuptials spread across two raucous days culminating in a reception at the famed Maxim's bistro.

The dad-of-four was photographed living it up with wife Jasmine in the French capital, first attending a welcome soiree at cult restaurant Girafe Paris.

Karl and Jasmine, who were staying at the $13,000-per night Hotel Costes while in Paris, spent two weeks abroad in total.

The blonde was seen helping Karl with his designer luggage, which included two Louis Vuitton duffle bag, each worth over $4,000, as well as his shopping bag from Golden Goose

Karl, who has long been friends with Brahimi after being introduced by mutual acquaintance James Packer, served as emcee at the ritzy nuptials spread across two raucous days culminating in a reception at the famed Maxim's bistro
MasterChef Australia wrapped up its 2023 season on Sunday night, but some viewers have claimed the finale was terribly undercooked.

The dramatic episode saw Brent Draper crowned the winner after creating an intricate pocket watch cake, before ending with a montage paying tribute to the late judge Jock Zonfrillo following his death in April.

Critics have since blasted the episode, with some claiming Channel 10 failed to show enough of the cooking process due to a high number of ad breaks.

'So much of the final cook was missing. After making the caramel, we didn't see them making the cake, moulding the chocolate pieces, making the clock numbers and the clock hands,' one user wrote.

'Too many ads taking up precious time that could have been spent showing us more detail. Such a shame,' they added.

MasterChef Australia fans have complained about Sunday night's finale, claiming it had too many ads and that the tribute to the late chef Jock Zonfrillo (pictured) went for too long

'I have watched the show for years. This year was so full of ads, it cut the contestants' screen time. At times it was farcical to watch,' another agreed.

Others cruelly complained Zonfrillo's tribute went for too long and cut into valuable competition time.

Some users speculated that Zonfrillo's family were involved in the decision to air the tribute, although Channel 10 has never clarified the extent of their involvement in the editing process.

The dramatic episode saw Brent Draper (pictured) crowned the winner after creating an intricate pocket watch cake, before ending with a montage paying tribute to the late judge Jock Zonfrillo following his death in April

'I'm sure while putting together the montage, it's possible some additional edits were made [by Zonfrillo's family],' one fan surmised.

'This would explain why 5-plus hours of the pocket watch cook was cut shorter than normal. We just have to respect the wishes of the family and accept the final version,' they added.

'People [are] moaners and whingers. The whole season of Masterchef was edited at the request of Jocks family. Just be thankful and grateful that we were able to watch the very last season of Jock,' another commented, adding: 'They could have easily pulled the whole thing when Jock passed away.'

'So much of the final cook was missing. After making the caramel, we didn't see them making the cake, moulding the chocolate pieces, making the clock numbers and the clock hands,' one user wrote

Critics have since blasted the episode, with some claiming Channel 10 failed to show enough of the cooking process due to a high number of ad breaks. Pictured are MasterChef Australia hosts Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong

Sunday night's episode ended with a montage of highlights from Jock's five years on the cooking competition.

Showcasing his cheeky nature, his charisma and his openness, the heartbreaking tribute ended on Jock's moving catchphrase.

'For the last time, go home, make yourselves a cup of tea, put your feet up, be kind to each other and we'll see you back here tomorrow,' Jock said in the clip.

Some users speculated that Zonfrillo's family were involved in the decision to air the tribute, although Channel 10 has never clarified the extent of their involvement in the editing process

A photo of the cast and crew then appeared, with 'give it up for Jock Zonfrillo' captioned across the screen.

Viewers watching at home were deeply affected by the montage, with some admitting it had left them in tears.

'At times, it still doesn't register that Jock is gone. An incredible man of grace, humour and charm. Thank you #MasterChefAU and Channel 10, he will be missed,' wrote on person on Twitter.

Sunday night's episode ended with a montage of highlights from Jock's five years on the cooking competition

'Watching the #MasterChefAU tribute to Jock was heartbreaking, a reminder to embrace life and be kind to each other. Thank you Channel 10 and to the Zonfrillo family,' said someone else.

Jock died in his hotel room at Zagame's House on Lygon Street in Carlton. He was found by police at around 2am on Monday, May 1.

The tragic loss came the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.

He is survived by his third wife Lauren, and his four children: grown-up daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages and Alfie and Isla with Lauren.

The media personality was scheduled for several publicity engagements for season 15 of MasterChef when he died suddenly.
Carla from Bankstown shot to fame in 2021 with her tongue-in-cheek videos where she posed as ex-NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's no-nonsense assistant.

And the celebrity drag queen, 30, recently posted a hilarious video to TikTok, revealing she had scored a new gig working for current NSW Premier Chris Minns.

The cheeky footage shows Carla working behind the desk at Minns' office as she takes a personal call with a friend and tells them, 'it's so boring today'.

She is then caught off guard by Minns, 43, who approaches her desk and asks her: 'What's happening? Are phone calls coming through, no one's picking up.'

'Victorian premier Dan Andrews called and said he's hotter than you, but I told him no, absolutely not,' Carla cheekily responded.

Carla from Bankstown (pictured) shot to fame in 2021 with her tongue-in-cheek videos where she posed as ex-NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's no-nonsense assistant

'And Gladys Berejiklian called, she wants to know if I can leave early tomorrow so we can go to the Cayman Islands together.'

Minns was having none of Carla's antics and reprimanded the Celebrity Apprentice star for taking personal calls at work, telling her to get back to her job.

However, Carla immediately resumed making personal calls as soon as the NSW Premier turned his back and went back to his office.

And the celebrity drag queen, 30, recently posted a hilarious video to TikTok, revealing she had scored a new gig working for current NSW premier Chris Minns (left)

'I swear to God, he's up my a**e,' she tells her friend over the phone.

Many of Carla's followers quickly went wild over the side-splitting footage.

'Good to see Minns has a sense of humour,' one fan wrote and another added: 'What a collab, love it'.

The cheeky footage shows Carla working behind the desk at Minns' office as she takes a personal call with a friend, telling them, 'it's so boring today'

Minns was quick to reprimand Carla for taking personal calls during at work and told her to get back to her job

During the Covid lockdown in 2021, Carla found a fun way to bring important Covid messaging to the masses.

The drag queen attracted more than 100,000 views on her light-hearted videos posing as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's assistant, where she pronounced Gladys' surname as 'butter chicken'.

Carla from Bankstown is the alter ego of Benjahmin James, a 30-year-old retail worker who has lived in Sydney's Bankstown area his whole life.

'I just love Gladys,' James told Daily Mail Australia at the time. 'I'm completely obsessed with her.'
He was the much-loved retired English teacher who was murdered by a twisted younger man.

Peter Farquhar suffered a campaign of gaslighting and physical and mental torture at the hands of 32-year-old church warden Benjamin Field before being murdered in 2016.

Now actor Timothy Spall, who is portraying him in a new drama starting tonight, has told how Mr Farquhar was outwardly 'vivacious' but suffered from 'loneliness' and a 'desire for affection'.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, he explained he prepared for the role by watching news footage of the academic and reading his diary.

Timothy Spall, who is portraying murdered retired teacher Peter Farquhar (right) in new drama the Sixth Commandment, has told how the victim was outwardly 'vivacious' but suffered from 'loneliness' and a 'desire for affection'

Spall is starring in the drama, The Sixth Commandment, alongside Anne Reid, 88, who is portraying Field's female victim, Anne Moore-Martin.

She was also entrapped and exploited by the killer but was found to have died from natural causes after a trial.

READ MORE: Who was Peter Farquhar? The shocking true story behind his murder Advertisement

Mr Farquhar, who had struggled with his sexuality for years, had taught English at the private Manchester Grammar School before moving to the prestigious Stowe in 1983.

He was head of English there for 21 years, before deciding to retire in 2004 so he could write novels.

Spall, 66, said: 'I watched him and I always imagined that there was this social life, happy social life and his private life but also a drone, I explained it sort of like a drone on a sitar.

'It is constantly going, which are his social life, but the drone underneath it is always his loneliness and his desire for affection.'

Having read the teacher's diaries, he added that he also had to use his imagination to try to 'inhabit' his persona.

'What you can't glean from information you use your imagination and try and connect your own humanity with somebody else's,' he said.

'It is what you try to do really when you try to inhabit somebody rather than impersonate them.'

Mr Farquhar suffered a campaign of gaslighting and physical and mental torture at the hands of 32-year-old Field (left), who is serving a minimum 36-year prison sentence for his murder. Field is portrayed by 26-year-old Irish star Eanna Hardwicke (right)

Undated handout photo issued by Thames Valley Police of Peter Farqhuar (right) and Benjamin Field

Retired English teacher Peter Farquhar (left) was murdered by Benjamin Field in 2019 in a case that shocked the nation. New BBC drama the Sixth Commandment sees Timothy Spall (right, in character) portray him

The Mr Turner star also spoke of the 'massive responsibility' of portraying another person, in large part because, in the case of Mr Farquhar, people 'loved him and knew him'.

'You've got to try and do something that is not just, I suppose, trying to reproduce somebody's idiosyncrasies but touch what makes them like they are and go deeper,' he said.

'You never know whether you are going to achieve it so it is a delight and lovely and satisfying that you've managed to do that.

'You're only using yourself as the petrol to put in somebody else's engine so its great that they feel it fired it up.'

Field is portrayed in the Sixth Commandment by 26-year-old Irish star Eanna Hardwicke, whilst Sheila Hancock, 90, depicts retired secretary Liz Zettl, who was Field's third intended target before he was caught.

The Sixth Commandment is directed by Saul Dibb and produced by Frances du Pille.

Field was a 20-year-old undergraduate student when he first met Mr Farquhar.

On discovering that both he and his neighbour were wealthy, Field decided to seduce them to get his hands on their money.

Pretending to be in love first with Mr Farquhar and then Miss Moore-Martin, he was sexually intimate with both, despite dismissing his male partner as a 'faggot' and having feelings of 'indifference' towards his female victim.

Once he had gained their trust, Field carried out sinister mind games and plied the pair with alcohol and drugs.

Mr Farquhar's health deteriorated to the point where he was at times rambling, incoherent and suffering from hallucinations.

In the mornings he would often find himself covered in bruises and his prized possessions missing, with no memory of what had happened.

'I am finding more joy in life now than ever before in my swift 23 years,' Field wrote as he began his campaign of abuse.

On mirrors in her home, he would scrawl messages in white marker. One read: 'Pray for Ben, Ben loves you'

Anne Moore-Martin, 83, was Field's second victim. She too was seduced by the criminal. She is portrayed in the upcoming drama by Anne Reid, 88

After his arrest, police uncovered a list of potential future victims which included his own parents and grandparents.

He also fantasised in notebooks about a nighttime murder rampage, predicting he could kill up to 50 people in a single spree.

When Mr Farquhar was found dead by his cleaner in October 2015, the first person she called after the emergency services was Field, who everyone believed was his loyal partner.

In March the previous year, the pair had pledged themselves to one another in a London church service.

The day was particularly special for Mr Farquhar, who wrote in his journal: 'It is one of the happiest moments of my life. Gone are the fears of dying alone.'

Describing his initial encounter with Mr Farquhar, who was a guest lecturer at his university, Field boasted of the pair's 'vulgarly commercial' relationship.

'He gives me things, and he gets me for a length of time,' he wrote.

He explained the relationship in even cruder terms to a friend, writing:

'He and I have struck a deal which is I pay for nothing and will hang out with him until his eventual death win/win... I'm p [pretty] comfortable w/death.'

Field and a university friend moved into Mr Farquhar's home as lodgers in 2013.

At the time, he was working in the bakery section at Tesco and as a carer at a nearby nursing home.

There he filmed himself tormenting a resident, telling her she didn't 'have any friends and you have never married'.

Field was cleared of conspiracy to murder Ann-Moore Martin (pictured)

In 2014, the same month as his and Mr Farquhar's church ceremony, Field began a relationship with another woman, Setara Pracha, an admissions tutor at Buckingham Universtiy, where he had been a student.

He went on to become a deputy church warden at St Mary's Church in Stowe and boasted to a friend how he was going to become a vicar.

The abuse he subjected Mr Farquhar to included torturing a pet chihuahua he had given him and making him believe he had dementia.

After his will had been changed in Field's favour, Mr Farquhar was murdered. He was found to have consumed prescription sedatives and alcohol, and police believe he may also have been suffocated with a pillow.

Field initially avoided suspicion and pocketed 20,000 from his victim's will. When Mr Farquhar's house was sold by his brother, Field got a further 142,000.

He then moved on to his second victim, Ms Moore-Martin, who he had been introduced to by Mr Farquhar.

The retired teacher and devout Catholic quickly fell under his spell, giving him a key to her house and telling friends she loved him.

Above her dressing table she even hung a framed photograph of him bearing the words: 'I am always with you'.

In 2016, she gave him 4,000 to buy a car. Having no intention of actually purchasing a vehicle with the money, Field hired a car for a day to dupe her.

He then conned the woman out of 27,000 telling her ne needed the money to help his brother, who he claimed was desperately ill.

On mirrors in her home, he would scrawl messages in white marker. One read: 'Ben makes you whole, Give the whole to him.'

Another stated: 'All that you give him will be returned tenfold.'

Convinced by his act, Ms Moore-Martin changed her will in Field's favour at the end of 2016.

In February 2017 she suffered a seizure and ended up in hospital.

It remains unclear what caused the decline, but she did tell friends days earlier that Field had given her 'some powder' which helped her sleep.

Field was however cleared of attempting to kill her.

Once his victim was in hospital, Field was unable to get access to her and the pensioner's niece, Anne-Marie Blake, became suspicious.

As police began an investigation, Ms Blake changed her aunt's will to write Field out.

Retired secretary Liz Zettl, who was Field's third intended target before he was caught, is portrayed by Sheila Hancock, 90. Above left: Ms Zettl arriving to give evidence at Field's trial in 2019

In March 2017, Field was arrested for the first time, but two months later, Ms Moore-Martin died for a massive stroke.

Her niece said in evidence to the jury at Field's trial: 'She was tortured by it and found it very difficult to get her head around the betrayal.

'She said to me, "I am such an intelligent woman. How could I let this happen to myself?"

At his trial, former Stowe School secretary, Ms Zettl, then 101, became the oldest witness in a British murder case.

Field's co-accused, Martyn Smith, who was cleared of involvement in the deaths of both Mr Farquhar and Ms Moore-Martin, had lived as a lodger with Ms Zettl.

In January 2022, Field began a second bid to have his conviction overturned. The Court of Appeal dismissed a previous challenge in 2021.
Shania Twain showed off her flexible dance moves on Sunday night after taking to the stage in Michigan.

The 57-year-old Canadian songstress, who is known as the 'Queen of Country Pop', boasted a black bodysuit studded with dozens of diamantes for the occasion.

Her leotard left little to the imagination as it featured a semi sheer panel exposing her toned midriff, while she paired it with fishnet tights.

Meanwhile, remaining true to her country girl roots, she rocked a pair of diamante-studded cowboy boots too.

She accessorised with a multi-coloured cape and a selection of chunky jewellery, including layered bracelets and necklaces and oversized crystal rings.

Dazzling in diamante: Shania Twain was glittering from head to toe at the Faster Horses Country Music Festival on Sunday, thanks to her diamante-studded leotard and cowboy boots

Sensational! The 57-year-old Canadian songstress switched up the sex appeal by flashing the flesh in a daring outfit, which she accessorised with an array of chunky jewellery

The star went all out to deliver the age-defying high octane glamorous look to which her fans have become accustomed, while she belted out her crowd-pleasing hits.

She appeared on day three of the Faster Horses Country Music Festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary over the weekend.

The headline act has sold over 100 million records, including tender ballad You're Still The One and smash hit Man, I Feel Like A Woman!

Earlier this year, after wearing one dress with a thigh split that left little to the imagination, Shania said: 'Life's too short to wear boring clothes!'

She added in an impassioned Instagram post that fashion is a 'powerful tool' helping her to 'convey my personality and express my creativity'.

'Other than getting to hang out with my friends for the night, it's one of my favourite things about attending award shows!' she concluded.

Her latest festival performance was no exception to that attitude, where those at the Michigan International Speedway venue saw her belt out all her classic hits.

Meanwhile, other recent eye-catching looks have included glittery purple Chanel hotpants paired with black leather thigh-high boots.

Still got it! Shania crouched down to belt out some of her popular hits to an adoring crowd

She's got the moves! Her leotard left little to the imagination as it featured a semi sheer panel exposing her toned midriff, while she paired it with fishnet tights

She also explained her choice to embrace her increasing age in a recent interview, where she declared all women should 'be fine with' what they see in the mirror.

'I say you should look in the mirror and be fine with that,' the boundary-breaking artist challenged.

She added to the Mirror: 'I am only going to get older and saggier  if I hate myself now, then what state am I going to be in in five or 10 years?'

Uncompromising: Shania has made it clear she has no intention of toning down her famously raunchy look and said: 'I am only going to get older and saggier  if I hate myself now, then what state am I going to be in in five or 10 years?'
Veteran actor Gyton Grantley is putting his stylish Melbourne townhouse on the rental market for the next 12 months.

The Underbelly star, 43, is moving to Italy for one year with his wife Alex and their three children and hopes to lease out his Ivanhoe property for $3200 a month.

The well kept property is perfect for families as it features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an alfresco dining area and gorgeous nature views.

Located in Melbourne's scenic northern suburbs, the gorgeous property is close to a variety of amenities, including a shopping centre, train station and nature park.

Grantley said the property was located in a lovely part of Melbourne that had something for everyone.

Veteran actor Gyton Grantley (pictured) is putting his stylish Melbourne townhouse on the rental market for the next 12 months

The well kept property is perfect for families as it features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an alfresco dining area and gorgeous nature views

'We're on Darebin Creek, we back out onto gumtrees. It's basically our own little snippet of bushland 20 minutes from the city,' he told realestate.com.au.

'Come spring and summer it's a lovely place to sit on the hammock and read. On countless occasions, the lounge room has been turned into a makeshift studio.'

The house is partially furnished and will be available for rent at the end of July.

Back in February 2021, Gyton and his wife Alex Ortuso announced the arrival of their third child, a daughter name Olive.

The House Husbands star shared the news on Instagram, uploading a gallery of celebratory images.

The Logie winning actor wrote some heartfelt words next to his post: 'And then there were three!'

Located in Melbourne's scenic northern suburbs, the gorgeous property is close to a variety of amenities, including a shopping centre, train station and nature park

Grantley said the property was located in a lovely part of Melbourne that had something for everyone

'Introducing Olive Mabel Grantley also the future rapper OMG! Born 6pm 16/02/21. Alex is a super star and Rocco and Sohi are stoked with the new addition to their gang,' he added.

Gyton and his glamorous wife are also the proud parents of two sons - Rocco, seven, and Sohi, four.

The couple married in April in a secret ceremony surrounded by family and friends in Byron Bay in 2016.

Gyton proposed while the pair were on holidays in Burano, Italy, in 2015.
Bella Throne sent temperatures soaring with her latest Instagram post as she flashed her underboob in a perilously small blue bikini on Monday.

The actress, 25, left little to the imagination in the racy two piece as she posed up a storm for a mirror selfie.

She turned up the heat by accessorising with a number of chunky gold bracelets and a coordinated chain necklace.

Bella hid behind a pair of large black square sunglasses and toted her belongings around in a woven beach bag by Loewe.

The beauty styled her long auburn tresses in loose waves as they cascaded down past her shoulders from under a styling woven beach hat.

Hot: Bella Thorne sent temperatures soaring with her latest Instagram post as she flashed her underboob in a perilously skimpy blue bikini on Monday

Jaw dropping: The actress, 25, left little to the imagination in the racy two piece as she posed in front of the mirror

In another snap, the former Disney star sat in the sand facing away from the camera while soaking up the sun at the beach.

She displayed her 'bite me' tattoo which is inked onto her hip and accessorised with a gold bodychain around her waist.

The Midnight sun actress, who announced her engagement to fiance Mark Emms in May, flashed her huge 10-plus carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring in another snap to her 25.2million followers.

Bella also showed off her bold 3D red flower manicure while holding a cocktail above her head while soaking up the sun on a sun lounger in a black halter neck bikini.

She pulled her long fiery locks back leaving her fringe to frame her face and shielded from the sun behind a pair of red framed sunglasses.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the star seemed to dress to impress in the evening donning a black crop top and a pair of low rise denim blue jeans.

Bella held up a stylish sequin blue handbag as she posed for the mirror selfie and accessorised with a chic gold necklace.

She applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty and styled her red tresses in loose waves.

Sizzling: In another snap, the former Disney star displayed her 'bite me' tattoo which is inked onto her hip as she faced away from the camera while soaking up the sun at the beach

Dazzling: The Midnight sun actress, who announced her engagement to fiance Mark Emms in May, flashed her huge 10-plus carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring in another snap to her 25.2million followers

Having fun: Bella showed off her bold 3D red flower manicure while holding a cocktail above her head while soaking up the sun on a sun lounger in a black halter neck bikini

The Time Is Up actress announced her engagement to Mark, an entrepreneur and producer, in late May.

The couple met last year on the beach in Ibiza at Cara Delevigne's birthday party.

'It was love at first sight as the sun rose,' the American Horror Stories star told Vogue Weddings.

The Imagen Foundation Award winner and her fiance also posed together in a sweet photo announcing the news on social media.

The couple had been keeping the secret for a while.

Mark, who also owns the New York City hotspot The Mulberry, actually popped the questions at Bella's house in California on Mother's Day.

The Divinity star told the publication she'd like to have the wedding at a country manor in the United Kingdom, but has not announced a wedding date.

The bride-to-be did reveal that she is looking for more than one look for the big day, with an eye toward vintage Schiaparelli or Dior.

'Every bride does not need one gown,' she said hinting at multiple wardrobe changes, 'but four!'

The busy actress has a slate of projects on her roster, including the upcoming Saint Clare.

The horror-comedy focuses on a quiet college student with a 'divine vocation for killing.'
Chloe Ferry showed off her incredible figure as she relaxed by the pool at luxury a retreat on Monday.

The former Geordie Shore star, 27, slipped into a tiny pink bikini while kicking off her week in style at Glass House Retreat in Upminster.

Posing for an Instagram update, she lounged back flaunting her taut abs in the patterned two-piece.

Chloe's long dark hair fell loosely down her back and she shielded her eyes with some sunglasses.

Captioning the post, she wrote: 'Cant come to the phone right now to busy relaxing.'

Kicking back: Chloe Ferry, 27, showed off her incredible figure as she relaxed by the pool at luxury a retreat on Monday

The post comes after Chloe's 22-year-old friend was left black and blue with two broken eye sockets after a British thug battered her on holiday.

Gabriela Hacatoroglu bravely tried to help a girl in Portugal when she saw a man 'screaming' at his sobbing girlfriend - but ended up being his punching bag.

She was knocked to the ground from a single punch - the swing was so powerful she could not remember 'if he punched her twice', according to the Sun.

Geordie Shore star Chloe said the attack was 'f***ing disgusting' on social media.

Gabriela, from Newcastle, said she and her friends were leaving NoSoloAgua beach club in Portimao on Sunday when they saw a girl they were chatting to inside crying.

She told the Sun: 'We asked her why she was crying and she said her boyfriend had hit her.

'We could see him shouting and screaming from the other side. His friend was trying to push him back because he was getting so aggressive towards her.'

'So we said to him, 'why are you screaming and shouting at her?''

Stunning: The former Geordie Shore star slipped into a tiny pink bikini while kicking off her week in style at Glass House Retreat in Upminster

Pose: Chloe's long dark hair fell loosely down her back and she shielded her eyes with some sunglasses

Relaxing: Captioning the post, she wrote: 'Cant come to the phone right now to busy relaxing'

Gabriela said the British man then unleashed a hurl of abuse at her and her friends.

While the group was waiting for a taxi, she claims the man continued his tyrannical behaviour, so she walked over to try and calm him down.

The man then allegedly pushed her, sending her 'flying'.

She said: 'I think I then went to push him back, but as I did, he punched me straight in the face.

'I'm not even sure if it was once or twice. I just remember the pain.

'I was on the floor, and he ran away before the police came.'

Gabriela was rushed to a hospital and given scans and X-rays.

She was then transferred to another hospital before she was allowed to go home with her friends.

After a check-up in the UK, medics revealed she had two broken eye sockets and a fractured nose.

She says the man got a flight back to the UK soon after the attack and hopes Portuguese police will track him down.

Awful: The post comes after Chloe 's 22-year-old friend was left black and blue with two broken eye sockets after a British thug battered her on holiday (Gabriela Hacatoroglu pictured)

Support: Geordie Shore star Chloe said the attack was 'f***ing disgusting' on social media

Gabriela added: 'I was just trying to calm down the situation. I'm not a shy person, I'm not scared of many things, so I was fine going up to him.

'For him to attack me like that, I was gobsmacked, to be honest.

'There was so much anger in him, I can't explain it. Who else is he going to do that to?'

Gabriela - who works at Chloe's salon CM House Of Aesthetics - has taken time off work to recover from her horrific injuries.
Michelle Collins joined toy boy husband Mike Davidson at the Great Hampstead Bark Off charity dog show in London on Sunday.

The actress, 61, who recently made a shock return to the soap as Cindy Beale after 25-years, nailed boho chic in a tie dye maxi dress.

Michelle's oversized silk frock featured a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her black bandeau bra beneath.

The soap star also draped a blazer over her shoulders and completed the look with a straw hat and stylish shades.

Slipping her feet into comfy sandals she accentuated her features with make-up and wore her blonde tresses loose.

Lopved up: Michelle Collins, 61, joined toyboy husband Mike Davidson, 38, at the Great Hampstead Bark Off charity dog show in London on Sunday

Style: The actress, who recently made a shock return to the soap as Cindy Beale after 25-years, nailed boho chic in a tie dye maxi dress

Meanwhile Mike, who wed the actress in August, showcased his muscular physique in a tight white T-shirt which he teamed with dark jeans.

Michelle is a patron of the All Dog Matter charity which was supported by the show's proceeds.

The dog lover is also the proud owner of two rescue pubs from the charity named Humphrey and Peggy.

It comes after EastEnders viewers were left convinced they had worked out how villain Cindy will work her way back to Albert Square last week.

The iconic character made a shocking return from the dead after 26-years last month, as she was revealed to be living in France with ex-husband Ian Beale.

During Wednesday's episode, Ian's mum Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) was discussing her upcoming honeymoon with son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden).

While drowning her sorrows at the Prince Albert she was busy complaining about her husband-to-be Rocky (Brian Conley) after he attempted to organise her a surprise hen do.

Saying: 'I have been on at him for months about a cruise for our honeymoon, I've given him all the info and what does he do?,'.

Sensational: Michelle's oversized silk frock featured a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her black bandeau bra beneath

Effortless: Slipping her feet into comfy sandals she accentuated her features with make-up and wore her blonde tresses loose

Hunky: Meanwhile Mike showcased his muscular physique in a tight white T-shirt which he teamed with dark jeans

Chat: She was stopped by fans who no doubt wanted some EastEnders gossip

Animal lover: Michelle was overjoyed as she got up close and personal with the pups

Chic: Michelle also draped a blazer over her shoulders and completed the look with a straw hat and stylish shades

Kathy continued: 'He books us a cottage in France'.

Racing to Twitter fans were convinced the trip would see characters collide with one writing: 'Cottage in France for Kathy's honeymoon and it just happens to be where Ian currently is'.

While a second said: 'Honeymoon in France, bet she runs into Ian'.

A third commented: 'OMG Kathy and Rocky are going to a cottage in France.... Ian and Cindy are also in France?!?'.

Another echoed the sentiment saying: 'So Rocky has booked a villa inFrance for him and Kathy's honeymoon? What's the betting it's right near Ian and Cindy'.

And: 'Cottage in France? Does she bump into Ian there?'.

However later in the episode Rocky surprised Kathy with her cruise tickets, as the plot continues to thicken.

Chinwag: Michelle (L) enjoyed a chat with fellow dog lover Gail Porter (R)

Casual: Gail cut a casual figure in a blue polo short which she wore with turn up jeans

Body art: Failed showed off her tattooed arms and completed the ensemble with quirky silver rings

Smiles: She couldn't be happier as she cuddled up to her four-legged friend

Pose: Michelle grabbed a quick snap with actor Peter Egan

Say cheese: Michelle (L) also posed alongside TV star Liza Goddard (R)

Famous friends: The pals appeared in high spirits as they made the most of the sunny weather

It comes after fears for EastEnders' future have reportedly been ignited as fans have switched off in their droves over 'desperate' plots in recent times.

In the BBC soap's heyday, the programme would draw in audiences of up to 30million, with storylines such as Den and Angie Watts' divorce dominating - however, this week the soap has barely drawn in over a million viewers, according to overnight figures.

It is said that viewers have been put off by ludicrous recent plots such as soap legend Cindy Beale returning from the dead - which has been branded a 'desperate move' - while there are also claims that the stories have gone 'woke'.

The decision to build an eye-watering 87million new set is also said to have come under scrutiny on the show, despite the programme recently winning big at the recent British Soap Awards, with four gongs in publicly voted categories.

And now, according to The Sun, it's said to be a 'worrying time' for EastEnders, with bleak predictions that viewers may be watching the 'final days' of the BBC soap.

A source told the publication: 'It's a worrying time for EastEnders. It used to be the show which everybody was talking about but it's now in a precarious position where older viewers are switching off, and younger viewers have no interest.

Shocking: It comes after EastEnders viewers were left convinced they had worked out how villain Cindy will work her way back to Albert Square last week (Kathy Beale pictured)

Back with a bang: Cindy made a shocking return from the dead after 26-years last month, as she was revealed to be living in France with ex-husband Ian Beale

'Bringing back presumed dead characters is a desperate move which rarely works, but EastEnders is really running out of options. We could be watching its final years.'

Despite the concerns, an insider said: 'EastEnders still remains an institution as far as the BBC is concerned and the feedback is that young people are loving it...

'They were particularly glued to the recent pregnancy storyline where 11 year old Lily Slater announced she was having a baby. The figures are nowhere near what they were but as far as the bosses are concerned there is a huge appetite.'

A spokesperson for EastEnders told MailOnline: 'EastEnders episodes are made live to the audience at 6am every morning on BBC iPlayer giving the audience the choice to watch when and where they choose...

'So when episodes are moved to a different day, or channel, due to a live sporting event it is no surprise that this is reflected in the regular overnight audience...

'Over the last two weeks EastEnders has been streamed almost 18 million times on BBC iPlayer and remains one of iPlayer's most popular programmes.'
Ashley Roberts was pictured leaving the Heart FM radio studios in London on Monday wearing a milk-maid inspired denim mini dress.

The 41-year-old ex-Pussycat Doll looked incredible in the number which had a lace-up detail at the front.

The skater style dress by Silvia Store Studio, had thin spaghetti straps and flared out in the skirt section.

The Arizona-born star decided to make the UK her permanent residence several years ago and hasn't looked back since.

She has said the only person she misses in the US is her mum.

Dazzling in denim: Ashley Roberts channelled milkmaid-chic in a sexy denim mini dress with a lace-up detail as she left the Heart FM studios in London on Monday

Fashionista: The 41-year-old rocked the skater style denim mini dress by Silvia Store Studio and nude heels for the outing

Heading out of the Global Radio Studios, while also clutching a beige bag by French fashion brand Jacquemus, she gave a broad grin for the cameras.

She accessorised with some nude patent heels, which elevated her legs.

The star, who first became a household name as a member of the Pussycat Dolls alongside the likes of Nicole Scherzinger, looked in high spirits as she strode along.

Ashley also boasted a very girly look for her attendance at the Barbie premiere on Thursday.

Posing by a bright pink 'Barbiephone' telephone box, she donned a barely there bra, a micro mini skirt and a cropped jacket, all in matching shades of patent neon pink.

'Come on Barbie lets go party!' she enthused to her 707,000 followers on Instagram, before adding: 'Just living out my Barbie fantasy over her at the lil premiere!'

Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara had glowing praise for her pal, declaring: 'Barbie wished she looked that good!'

Meanwhile, a fan called @emtull10 went a step further, insisting that glamorous Ashley 'is Barbie'.

An eye for style: The stunning starlet clutched a beige bag by French fashion brand Jacquemus as she headed out of London's Global Radio Studios

Beautiful in beige: She completed her look with some nude patent high heels

The Heart FM presenter also enjoyed a night out on the town last weekend, when she and songstress Dua Lipa dined at exclusive London venue Chiltern Firehouse.

She had paired a black satin dress with tall boots and a slightly oversized boyfriend-style blazer.

But she and Dua weren't the only stars in attendance that night at the much-celebrated restaurant, as ex-Love Island host Laura Whitmore was present too.

Meanwhile, Ashley recently spoke out on her 'tough' decision to relocate to London from Los Angeles, admitting that 'nothing could have prepared me' for British life.

She chuckled to You magazine in disbelief: 'If someone had told me ten years ago that this would be my home and I'd be drinking builder's tea and saying Brit things like loo and rubbish, I'd have been, like, No way!'
This Morning left viewers baffled when the ITV morning show descended into chaos thanks to a Sooty and Sweep cooking segment on Monday.

The lovable glove puppets have been around ever since they first hit TV screens in 1955, but fans' reactions to their latest 75th anniversary appearance were somewhat scathing.

TV chef Clodagh McKenna attempted to make pizza with the pair, only for Sooty to dunk Sweep's face in the tomato sauce, causing a flurry of online reactions.

Admitting she was struggling, Clodagh exclaimed: 'Jesus Christ!', while viewers agreed that the chaotic segment was 'painful'.

'Sooty and Sweep making pizza on #ThisMorning has to be the most painful piece of telly I've seen for a while - where's the remote?' exclaimed one fan of the show.

Chaos! This Morning left viewers baffled when the ITV morning show descended into chaos thanks to a Sooty and Sweep cooking segment on Monday

Giggles: This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were left shocked after Sooty dunked Sweep's face in copious amounts of tomato sauce

@Richard36643495 chimed in: '#ThisMorning producers have a lot to answer for allowing utter 's***' like this to be aired.'

Meanwhile, @Mabel_Mouse declared it 'just horrendous', quizzing whether the retro puppets should simply 'cook on a kids' TV program' instead.

@stepharnee added: 'I don't even know what's going on right now. I zoned out during the cleaning segment and now I seem to be watching kids' TV.'

Other opinions varied from 'TV gold' to 'a new low' - and the This Morning presenters seemed equally ambivalent.

At one point during the screening, host Dermot O' Leary placed his hands over his eyes in horror, although his co-star Alison Hammond simply seemed amused.

In the end, the pair simply tucked into the tasty treats, leaving Clodagh to handle the troublesome puppets.

Hapless Sweep's face had turned bright red after being submerged in sauce, although the sweet and savoury pizza pies were certainly a hit.

The pair had been in the ITV studios alongside their 'righthand man' Richard Cadell, who introduced the news of their forthcoming UK tour.

Special occasion: Irish chef Clodagh McKenna was cooking with her two puppet companions to celebrate their 75th anniversary

'So cringe!' Twitter fans were left unimpressed by watching Sooty and Sweep's attempts to 'help' make pizza pies

Double take: Some viewers could scarcely believe what they'd seen, joking that they'd 'zoned out', only to suddenly realise they were unexpectedly watching 'kids' TV'

Fans will be invited to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first ever Sooty and Sweep episode, when the tour kicks off in October.

It all began back in 1948, when magician Harry Corbett found a bright yellow bear in a Blackpool toy shop.

At first he simply used it to entertain his kids - but by the 1950s, the toy - which had been given black ears with coal dust - was showcased to the entire nation.

Richard Cadell aptly predicted how Sooty - and pal Sweep - might celebrate their 75th birthday.

'What would Sooty do? He'd invite all his friends, he'd invite some star guests, and then everything would go wrong!' he joked.

Predicting the This Morning chaos ahead of his time, he continued: 'It's such a tried and tested format - it's dead simple.'

After having its fair share of awkward cliff-hanger moments lately, no doubt This Morning needed a light-hearted one - and Sooty and Sweep delivered.
A master of Su embroidery

(People's Daily App) 15:41, July 17, 2023

Fu Jian, one of the leading inheritors of Su embroidery working under China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage Project, has been creating beautiful embroidery for at least two decades.

As a particular type of Chinese embroidery, Su embroidery originated in Suzhou and is famous for its meticulous and varied stitching, elegant colors and beautiful designs.

The 36-year old summarized what he had learned from the industry: embroidery requires deep understanding of the art form.

"I studied painting since I was a child, and then tapped into design. After seeing a lot, I started to have my own ideas about embroidery. I am learning all the time, and I like to think things over," said Fu.

Even though Fu's embroidery works have gained him fame among Chinese netizens, he cares more about preserving the intangible cultural heritage.

"My goal is to create embroidery works. In the embroidery industry, the way the art is expressed could be totally different in a few years. Without professional training, one will not be able to keep up after five years. My ideal is to create as many astonishing works as possible to better inherit this culture," said Fu.

(Produced by Di Jingyuan and Dong Feng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MBABANE  The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES Corp) has once again welcomed 30 students from a UK-based college as part of the exchange/volunteer outreach tour.

Last Thursday, the group of 30 student who were also accompanied by their college Principal, Giles Sutton, were educated on the operations of the sugar manufacturing corporation  to understand the cane growing process and of course, irrigation and harvesting and a tour of the Mhlume factory. This educational tour helps the international students with comprehending the theory of their academics to visualising and understanding the practical operations. Also, it fulfils their passion to make a positive impact on the lives of their peer emaSwati as well as to learn more about the beautiful Eswatini culture. This is one of the most important educational tours and an essential destination for our students to come and learn about the Eswatini culture and make positive strides towards improving the lives of emaSwati, he said.

Excited

He further went on to state that they were excited that the annual tour has resumed. He said: The reception we received from the company employees is warm and we always look forward to our return trips. Also, over the years, our students have valuable experiences which enhances their learning and appreciation of the different world cultures. This year is even extra special because they also joined the national Sibaya event. On another note, the Corporate Social Investment Manager, Phindile Dlamini, on behalf of the company, expressed the importance of the exchange of knowledge gained by the students through this interaction, enhancing their ability of understanding RES Corp on the backdrop of their experience in Eswatini as future world leaders. RES appreciates the value they bring into local communities through this volunteer programme, a shared agenda that the corporation is also committed to. We look forward to this continued partnership, she said.
She is the daughter of 19 Kids And Counting stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

Counting On star Joy-Anna Forsyth has shunned her familys infamously strict dress code in favor of tight pants while holidaying at Jackson Hole Rodeo in Wyoming.

The television personality, 25, who welcomed her third child with husband Austin Forsyth, 29, in May, headed to the adventure hot spot with her other half and their brood.

Sharing footage of their trip in a vlog posted to their YouTube channel, Joy-Anna was seen wearing blue pants while getting on a rollercoaster with her son, Gideon.

The outfit was a far cry from the modest ensembles she previously wore while under the thumb of her parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.

Fashion forward: Joy-Anna Forsyth opted for tight blue pants while holidaying at Jackson Hole Rodeo in Wyoming

Modest attire: Joy-Anna wore moderate clothing during her 19 Kids And Counting days thanks to her parents strict rules

In the video, she was also seen keeping warm in a brown jumper and wore white trainers.

Her son Gideon, four, sat in between her legs as they strapped in for the ride.

Speaking in her vlog, she enthused: The mountain coaster was so much fun. We had the best time. It was totally worth the money.

Fans were delighted by Joy-Annas latest video update and were happy to see she was enjoying her vacation.

Looks like a wonderful trip!!! Family is everything!!!! Making memories!!!! one responded in the comments.

Echoing a similar sentiment, another added: You go mom!! So amazing you just had a baby and already going on vacation. You look amazing and Gunner is adjusting so well.

Joy-Anna has been vocal in her journey into wearing pants after growing up in a home that taught her that donning anything other than a skirt or a dress was 'immodest.'

In May, she detailed how she shifted her mindset from the strict rules her parents instilled onto her and her siblings, which came from the teachings of her familys religious organization, Institute in Basic Life Principles.

Also rebelling: Joy-Anna's sisters Jill Dillard (left), 32, and Jinger (right), 29, have also been rebelling against her family's strict dress code

Family vacation: Mum-of-three Joy-Anna holidayed with her three children and partner Austin Forsyth

In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Joy-Anna said she and her husband, Austin had 'prayed' about the decision to wear pants for a 'long time.'

She then revealed that the pair had discussed it on and off for the past three or four years before making a final decision.

'It wasn't something that I was super persistent about studying. I'd always worn skirts my whole life, and so for me I wasn't in a rush,' the former 19 Kids And Counting star explained.

'So really the last year we really prayed about it and felt like there wasn't anything in scripture  there isn't anything in scripture that's black and white on dress, she continued.

'It talks a lot about modesty, but I feel like you can be modest and wear pants, and so that's kind of where we came to.

'I think basically we just looked through scripture for a long time and feel like this is okay for our family and where we are.

She added that she tries her best to be 'modest' in her pants.

Joy-Anna added: 'I do try to be modest in my pants, like in wearing pants, and not things too tight or too short.'

New addition: Doting mom Joy-Anna and her other half welcomed their third child, son Gunner, in May

Happy families: Middle child Evelyn, two, looked lovingly at her little brother in an adorable snap

Joy-Anna and her husband Austin welcomed their son Gunner in May and she revealed details of his arrival in an Instagram post.

'Soaking up every moment. He is the sweetest lil man, she captioned the upload.

As well as sharing a photo of Gunner sweetly snoozing, doting mom Joy-Anna also posted an adorable snap of the little one being cradled by his sister, Evelyn, two, while sharing the adorable way her two-year-old daughter pronounces his name.

'I wub Gutta,' the former TLC star captioned the image, before adding the translation: 'I love Gunner.'

The former reality star joins several of her siblings who have staged their own acts of sartorial rebellion in recent months - with Joy-Anna's older sister Jinger sharing her own risque outfit choice on social media just a few days ago.

In a snap shared on her Instagram account, the 29-year-old was seen posing in a skin-tight tank top and ripped jeans - just weeks after she revealed that she once thought she would be 'killed' if she wore anything other than a dress or skirt.

Jinger was pictured sitting pretty in the snap posted to Instagram by her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, 35, where she flashed the camera a smile while wearing a brown tank top and light-washed denim jeans.

The 19 Kids and Counting alum welcomed summer with the rebellious look by letting her blonde locks fall to her side and throwing a pair of black shades over her head as she proved she was leaving her traditional days behind her.

In 2014, Joy-Anna's siblings Jill, Jinger, Jessa, and Jana opened up in their memoir, Growing Up Duggar, about the strict dress code that they had to follow growing up, explaining that they were taught they shouldn't 'draw attention to the wrong places'.

'It's okay to enhance or accent whatever beauty God has given us, but we try to be careful not to wear clothes that are too tight and draw attention to the wrong places,' they wrote.

'But this does not mean we go out dressing frumpy or trying to look formless. Clothing can be cute, trendy, and stylish, and still entirely modest.'

Since then, the women have reevaluated their stance on attire and almost all of the daughters - and even their mother Michelle - have decided it's acceptable to wear pants now.
Teen shared a screenshot of the hurtful comment with fans on Instagram

Travis Barker's teen daughter Alabama Barker has hit back at cruel trolls who told the 17-year-old she needs to 'lose weight'.

The aspiring rapper snapped back online after an Instagram user, who doesn't follow Alabama, replied to one of her Story posts with the hateful message.

Taking to the social media site on Sunday to highlight the type of hurtful attacks she receives online, the reality star shared a screenshot of the shocking DM with fans.

'lose weight ur fat as f**k god', the vicious troll stated.

Cruel: Alabama Barker revealed a shocking body shaming message she received after posting new pictures online

Rising above it all: The 17-year-old asked for more body positivity in response to the hurtful comment

Alabama then called for more kindness online as she reflected: 'In 2023 is crazy... Body positivity people'.

Fans then flocked to her most recent Instagram post in order to send messages of support as one commented: 'You not fat you look soooo cute girl don't let the girl get to your head she just mad because you pretty... and she not and I love your hair (sic)'

Another stated: 'adults against bullying and bodyshaming..... but here they are bullying young pretty girl. don't mind them they just jealous.'

'Your mom made the most gorgeous daughter ever she should have had 7 more of you,' a third fan wrote.

The daughter of the Blink-182 rocker, and his ex-wife Shanna Mockler, has fast become known for her love of vibrant hair color and extremely glamourous makeup, but the budding rapper's new style has been leading to plenty of backlash online.

Back in May, Alabama - who's an ambassador for Pretty Little Thing - was forced to send a message to online critics of her makeup practices.

She used TikTok to air her grievances toward her online haters and wrote over a clip of herself laughing: 'When Kathryn with 3 kids, only waterline liner, 4 different colored blonde [hair] & Toms shoes talks about my makeup or age.'

The snippet also showed the influencer mouthing, 'I'll tell you what you look like, but you won't like it.'

Expressing herself: The daughter of the Blink-182 rocker, and his ex-wife Shanna Mockler, has fast become known for her love of vibrant hair colors and extremely glamourous ensembles

Body confident: The teenage reality isn't shy when it comes to sharing snaps of herself in revealing outfits

Barker is often criticized by trolls who think she dresses and acts too mature for her age.

However, many of Alabama's followers continue to use the comments section to show support for her.

One fan wrote: 'This 44-year-old momma loves your hair, makeup, outfits, vibes and videos!'

'Let them know sis!' someone else added while another said: 'I'll never understand why young girls takin' care of themselves is frowned upon. You are gorgeous. I love it!'

Someone else offered: 'I think people are just concerned about the over sexualization of youth in Hollywood/Los Angeles culture.'

To that, the blonde makeup mogul replied: 'Well, I'm doing great thank u.'

Barker has an older brother, Landon, who is 19. And she's also younger sister to Atiana De La Hoya, 24, who her mom Shanna shares with ex Oscar De La Hoya.

Daddy-daughter bond: The teenage (seen with her father in 2018) has been experimenting with her look in recent years

Speaking up: Amid ongoing backlash over her new style, Alabama recently sent a message to critics of her makeup practices on social media

The young woman regularly entertains 1.8 million followers on Instagram and she boasts 3.8 million fans on TikTok.

In March 2021 Alabama showed off her makeup prowess as she applied foundation to her dad's face using KVD Beauty's Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm.

Meanwhile, she uses social media to highlight her upcoming music by rapping along to teaser snippets from new tracks.

In one track, the star - who was born and raised in Calabasas, California - can be seen mouthing along to lyrics such as 'We ain't together, when I'm wit' him he know I'm the realest / I ain't no opposition, all these b***hes in their feelings'.

After starting to receive a negative response to the track, she posted it a second time, and told one commenter: 'I dont care what people think that have no motivation and [are] talentless.'
Paris Hilton is celebrating six months of being a mom to son Phoenix Barron.

The 42-year-old socialite shared a series of photos of her adorable baby boy on her official Instagram page on Sunday.

'This Barbie is a Mom. My baby boy Phoenix is 6 months old today. He is my world and makes my life feel so complete,' she wrote.

'Can't wait for all the magical memories we will create together! Mommy loves you so much angel baby.'

In the series of snaps, Paris is wearing a pink tracksuit with hearts down the sides of her pants as she holds her son and looks lovingly down at him while he gazes in wonder at the room around him.

Mama bear: Paris Hilton is celebrating six months of being a mom to son Phoenix Barron. The 42-year-old socialite shared a series of photos of her adorable baby boy on her official Instagram on Sunday

The Simple Life alum wore a pair of blue socks with clouds on them and sat on a circular pink rug with 'House of Sliving' printed on it.

'Sliving' is a term Paris invented in 2019 that means 'slaying' and 'living,' Insider reported.

In a short video clip the I Am Paris podcast host held her son while he grabbed at some toys on top of a dresser.

Paris shares Phoenix with husband Carter Reum, 42, whom she wed in 2021.

The cute new snaps come a week after the Hottie or Nottie star revealed that she couldn't wait to expand her family with a baby girl.

'Cherishing precious memories with my beautiful nieces. Being an aunt brings me so much happiness, and it fills my heart with so much love' the blonde beauty wrote alongside photos of her with her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild's, 39, daughters Lily, six, and Teddy, five.

'Dreaming of the day when I'll have a little princess of my own to share these incredible moments with,' she added in the caption.

Earlier this year, Paris, Carter and Phoenix moved into a 15,000 square foot mansion in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Park.

According to The Dirt, the couple are renting the extravagant home for $160,000 per month.

Barbie Mom: 'This Barbie is a Mom. My baby boy Phoenix is 6 months old today. He is my world and makes my life feel so complete,' she wrote

Six months: 'Can't wait for all the magical memories we will create together! Mommy loves you so much angel baby'

Sliving: In the series of snaps, Paris is wearing a pink tracksuit with hearts down the sides of her pants as she holds her son and looks lovingly down at him while he gazes in wonder at the room around him

Love: The Simple Life alum wore a pair of blue socks with clouds on them and sat on a circular pink rug with 'House of Sliving' printed on it'

Wonder: Sliving' is a term Paris invented in 2019 that means 'slaying' and 'living,' Insider reported

Stuffed animals: In a short video clip the I Am Paris podcast host held her son while he grabbed at some toys on top of a dresser

Baby boy: Paris shares Phoenix with husband Carter Reum, 42, whom she wed in 2021

Family: The cute new snaps come a week after the Hottie or Nottie star revealed that she couldn't wait to expand her family with a baby girl

'This house, though, is amazing. I feel like we literally just never need to leave. We have each other, we have baby P,' Reum told Insider in April.

He added: 'We unicorn trot around the house, we dance making Taco Tuesdays, we go to your package room and you say, "Can we go to the package room for 15 minutes and open packages?''

'We go to the wellness center and do treatments. We just get to hang out. It's like an amusement park. There's so many different activities to do.'

Paris calls the wellness center her 'sliving spa' and called it 'like having the fountain of youth at your house.'
Natalie Zea and Travis Schuldt have been wed for nine years.

And on Sunday, the LaBrea actress took to Instagram to wish her better half a happy anniversary.

The blonde beauty from Houston, Texas chose an eye-popping throwback image to share with her followers.

The veteran Hollywood thespian was flashing her incredible bikini body in a tiny two piece that was white with a colorful border.

And her actor spouse, who has been on Scrubs and Big Little Lies, looked toned in his sky blue swim trunks.

They were walking through the shallow end of the shore while in Hawaii.

'Happy anniversary Travis,' was all the actress - who has been on The Following and Justified - remarked in her caption.

So happy together! Natalie Zea and Travis Schuldt have been wed for nine years. And on Sunday, the LaBrea actress took to Instagram to wish her better half a happy anniversary. The blonde beauty from Houston, Texas chose an eye-popping throwback image to share with her followers

Someone goes to the gym! The veteran Hollywood thespian was flashing her incredible bikini body in a tiny two piece that was white with a colorful border. 'Happy anniversary Travis,' was all the actress - who has been on The Following and Justified - remarked in her caption

Zea looked in top shape in the little swimsuit, with a flat tummy and sculpted arms. Her hair was wet and slicked back as she held onto her flippers.

Her husband looked ripped with a six pack and loaded guns as he had his snorkeling mask in his hand and flippers.

The two have an interesting back story.

Natalie and Travis met while starring on the soap opera Passions, which developed a cult following.

They wed in 2004 and have a daughter named Reygan.

Natalie is now on the NBC show LaBrea.

She may also pop up again in the reboot of Justified.

In September Natalie spoke with NBC's California Live.

She said she wants to be included in Justified redo which filmed in Florida. The bombshell played Wynona on the show from 2010 until 2015.

Her hit show: Zea is on the time traveling NBC series LaBrea; season three has six episodes

With her kid: Natalie's characer has a son on the show, far left; he is played by actor Jack Martin

'Whatever they want me to do I will do it, just call me and I will come running,' said the blonde.

Olyphant is making a return to his Justified show with the follow up Justified: City Primeval.

The limited series will again feature the actor as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.

It has been seven years since the original show - which also starred Zea, Walton Goggins, Margot Martindale and Jacob Pitts - went off the air.

The limited series was teased in March 2021 and was greenlit by FX.

It picks up eight years after the U.S. Marshall left Kentucky and headed for Miami. He is now balancing his work life and being a father to a 14-year-old girl.

According to Deadline, 'A chance encounter on a Florida highway sends him to Detroit and he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent sociopath whos already slipped through the fingers of Detroits finest once and wants to do so again.'

The Gone in 60 Seconds star will executive produce in addition to being the male lead star in the limited series.

The past: Her show Justified is coming back with Timothy Olyphant, left

Justified had a total of six seasons, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015.

The hit show landed eight Emmy nominations throughout the six seasons, including one for Timothy for best actor in a drama in 2011.

As far as attending her first Emmys last year, she told NBC she loved it.

'I felt we snuck in and no one caught us. We were at the Barry table and I hung out with Henry Winkler who is a La Brea fan. We had a really good time, most people say it is a chore but we love these things,' she said; her date was husband Travis Schuldt, who was on Big Little Lies.

'All the anxiety comes before the event, but once I was there were can people watch and have fun.'
They are both blonde and both sex symbols - yet Lottie Moss and Marilyn Monroe's similarities did not end there on Monday.

The OnlyFans star, 25, who is the half-sister of fashion legend Kate Moss, enjoyed her very own Marilyn moment as she was caught by a gust of wind while stepping out in Notting Hill while sporting a perilously short kilt.

Marilyn made cinematic history in 1955, when she donned a billowing white dress in The Seven Year Itch while standing above a gusty subway crate in New York which caused her dress to fly up and the star to coquettishly protect her modesty.

Lottie was less bothered about covering up as she casually let the skirt billow before sitting down to enjoy a bottle of water in the sunshine.

Opting for punk glamour, the blonde beauty paired her kilt with a tough leather jacket and army boots while hiding her eyes behind dark glasses.

Eek! Lottie Moss suffered a Marilyn Monroe moment as she flashed her bottom when her short skirt fell victim to a gust of wind in Notting Hill on Monday

Oh my! Lottie was borrowing from Marilyn's iconic 1955 moment on Friday as she too got caught in the wind

Legs eleven: Opting for punk glamour, the blonde beauty paired her kilt with a tough leather jacket and army boots while hiding her eyes behind dark glasses

Oh dear! She was holding on to things as the wind gave a gust

Legs eleven: She strutted her stuff in style as she headed out

The latest outing comes as Lottie is starring on Celebs Go Dating alongside presenter Vanessa Feltz, 61, and Love Island's Chloe Burrows, 27.

And dating agent Anna Williamson, 41, told how Kate Moss, 49, 'could learn some upsetting things' about her younger sister Lottie, should she tune in to the show.

However, supermodel Kate is unlikely to watch the show with Lottie previously revealing she 'doesn't really know' her older half-sister and their relationship is so distant that 'she doesn't reply to my texts'.

Speaking to told The Mirror, Anna said: 'I would be so intrigued if Kate Moss was going to watch this series, I hope she does, I think she'll find out a lot of interesting and perhaps upsetting things about her sister.'

Anna added: 'I would love it to be able to be, perhaps an olive branch between the two sisters, who I believe, it's no secret that they're not that close."

'I would love it if Kate would use this opportunity to reach out to her little sister and give her a much-needed hug but I think she needs.'

In a self-penned essay in March, Lottie said that while her sister provided her a useful stepping stone, she was determined to make her own money herself and used her earnings to pay for private schooling at St. Bede's School in Redhill.

She also responded to the backlash for a series of Tweets she posted in response to Lily Allen, the daughter of actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen, who launched a defence of celebrity children raised within privileged families.

Stunner: Lottie was less bothered about covering up as she casually let the skirt billow before sitting down to enjoy a bottle of water in the sunshine

Starring role: The latest outing comes as Lottie is starring on Celebs Go Dating alongside presenter Vanessa Feltz , 61, and Love Island's Chloe Burrows, 27

Lottie wrote in Newsweek: 'I think a common misconception is that because Kate, who is 24 years older than me, is rich and famous, so were my family. But obviously, that was her money and her fame, not ours.

'I knew that my sister Kate was famous and growing up, I idolised her, thinking she was the coolest.

'I never got much love or attention from her though, which has always upset me, especially because people have brought her up to me for as long as I can remember.

'How do I say to people that I don't know her and that she doesn't reply to my texts? I honestly think the whole "nepo baby" concept is so weird.

'There are so many people in the world that have had obvious advantages in their career because of who they know or who someone in their family is, not just famous people.'

Blonde beauty: She looked chic in her edgy ensemble as she emerged in West London

Suited and booted: Despite the warm weather, Lottie was layered up in leather
Camila Morrone shared some envy inducing photos from her 'Summer alla Italia' in Positano Monday.

The 26-year-old actress is also basking in the sunshine of her first Emmy nomination, along with pal and co-star Riley Keough, for their work on Daisy Jones and the Six.

The Valley Girl star mixed a little business with pleasure, showing off her toned curves in a series of snaps for Emporio Sirenuse on social media.

Camila looked stylish in a white crochet tank dress, displaying her shapely arms and legs in the thigh high frock.

The model-turned-actress wore natural looking makeup and placed a straw hat over her sun-bleached shoulder length locks.

Wow: Camila Morrone wowed in some envy inducing photos from her 'Summer alla Italia' in Positano Monday mixed a little business with pleasure, showing off her toned curves in a series of snaps for Emporio Sirenuse

She wore large sunglasses and accessorized with simple hoop earrings.

In another look, the runway beauty dazzled in a red one shouldered evening gown, as she took a selfie on her balcony overlooking the bay in Positano.

Camila accessorized with a small woven purse and a stack of gold bangles.

The Mickey and the Bear star combined sexy and sweet, leaving little to the imagination, in a sheer white lace creation she wore while climbing steps by the pier.

The diaphanous dress, which gave a veiled view of Camila's backside, featured bell sleeves and a long ruffled hem.

For this look, the cover model chose a large jute bag as an accessory against the blue background of the water.

The Death Wish star flaunted her toned torso, wearing a blue and white print top with a matching Flaminia skirt.

According to the designer's website, 10-percent of proceeds from the sale of the $357 top and $708 skirt will be 'donated to the Elephant Family's wildlife protection projects in Asia.'

Dazzling: Camila dazzled in a red one shouldered evening gown, as she took a selfie on her balcony overlooking the bay in Positano. Camila accessorized with a small woven purse and a stack of gold bangles

Sheer delight: The model combined sexy and sweet, leaving little to the imagination, in a sheer white lace creation she wore while climbing steps by the pier. The diaphanous dress, which gave a veiled view of Camila's backside, featured bell sleeves and a long ruffled hem

Toned torso: The Death Wish star flaunted her toned torso, wearing a blue and white print top with a matching Flaminia skirt. 10-percent of proceeds from the sale of the top and skirt will be 'donated to the Elephant Family's wildlife protection projects in Asia.

Guapa!: Fans showed their approval of the carousel in multiple languages. 'Bellissima Cami!,' commented one fan in Italian. 'Guapa!' wrote another in Spanish, and 'Stunning' was penned in English. Others made their mark using the universal language of multiple flame emojis

Enjoy: Camila share a photo from the kitchen where she appeared to be enjoying fresh mozzarella cheese

Camila, who wrote in a previous post she was enjoying 'So much sun. So much wine. So many carbs. The most laughs... Best. Week. Ever,' shared a photo of her in a kitchen enjoying what appeared to be fresh mozzarella cheese.

Fans showed their approval of the carousel in multiple languages.

'Bellissima Cami!,' commented one fan in Italian.

'Guapa!' wrote another in Spanish, and 'Stunning' was penned in English.

Many of the bi-lingual beauty's followers made their mark using the universal language of multiple flame emojis.
Sofia Vergara sizzled in new pictures from her Italian getaway amid the news that she is set to divorce her husband Joe Manganiello.

The Modern family actress, 51, sent temperatures soaring as she showcased her peachy bottom in a skimpy blue thong swimsuit on Instagram on Monday.

Hours after she shared the sun-soaked holiday snaps, it was revealed that she and Joe have split after seven years of marriage.

In a statement, the couple shared: 'We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.'

A source added: 'Sofia and Joe have been growing apart for a while now and are taking some distance from each other to contemplate their future.'

The split announcement comes just four days after Manganiello's birthday tribute to Vergara came under major scrutiny from fans who labeled it as 'cold' leading to many fans to wonder about their relationship status.

The hunk took to his Instagram last Monday to share a low-resolution photo of him and his wife cuddled up for her 51st birthday as she celebrated her big day in Italy.

The Magic Mike actor kept the caption simple for his 2.7million fans as he wrote: 'Feliz Cumpleanos Sofia!!!'

She looked sensational in the eye catching leopard print one-piece as she soaked up the sun during a lavish Italian getaway in Ravello.

She left her long brunette tresses loose as they cascaded down past her bust while she cooled off from the sun by drinking a glass of water.

In another snap, the model was seen kneeling on a sun lounger which had a blue coordinated Dolce & Gabbana cover-up laid across the bottom.

Sofia also shared a fun video of herself climbing over the sun bed which was on her villa balcony as she headed back inside for some shade.

Soaking up the sun: Sofia Vergara sent temperatures soaring as she showcased her peachy bottom in a skimpy blue thong swimsuit on Instagram on Monday

Looking good: The Modern family actress, 51, looked sensational in the eye catching leopard print one-piece as she soaked up the sun during a lavish Italian getaway in Ravello

The America's Got Talent star penned: 'Last days of vacay! Even when u r so hot I love u Ravello!!!

'We're going to die of the heat but happy!!! 92 degrees in Ravello!!'

The star has been in Italy on vacation with pals to celebrate her 51st birthday.

At the weekend, Sofia dined at the restaurant Conca del Sogno in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast to mark the occasion.

The Colombian beauty looked stunning in a neon green tank top and long, blue, green and white patterned maxi skirt.

She arrived at the restaurant that overlooks the ocean on the Amalfi coast via boat.

Stunning: The model was seen kneeling on a sun lounger which had a blue coordinated Dolce & Gabbana cover-up laid across the bottom

Hot! She left her long brunette tresses loose as they cascaded down past her bust while she cooled off from the sun by drinking a glass of water

Peachy: Sofia also shared a fun video of herself climbing over the sun bed which was on her villa balcony as she headed back inside for some shade

On a boat: At the weekend, Sofia dined at the restaurant Conca del Sogno in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast to mark the occasion

Lunch: The America's Got Talent judge dined at the restaurant Conca del Sogno in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast

The comment section of the Joe's birthday post was full of concerned fans as one 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 said: 'Something is definitely up. He hasn't commented on her photos she's been posted. hmmm.......'

Others questioned the way that the post had come off as he did not say much more than a straightforward greeting.

A follow posted: 'Am I the only one who doesn't like the way it sounds? ' Sofia'.... not even ' My love, My beloved wife' .... [woman facepalming emoji]'

It is interesting to note that Sofia has not commented on the post.

The split was first revealed by PageSix.

Entertainment Tonight claimed that the divorce has been coming for a long time.

'They have been spending time apart and focusing on themselves, their careers, and their loved ones,' the insider claimed.

'Sofia has been giving her all to her new beauty brand, toty, and is very involved and excited about it.

'She hosted an event to celebrate the launch towards the end of June at her home in Los Angeles, and Joe was not there. She did still have a framed photo of the two of them kissing set up in a room in her home.'

There is no word yet on who will get custody of their beloved dog Bubbles. They both shared social media tributes to the canine on July 10 when he turned 10.

The Modern Family star has also been living it up as she is currently celebrating in Capri, Italy and it remains unclear if Joe is on the trip as he has not been featured in any of her social media posts from the trip.

Sofia and Joe's last Instagram posts featuring each other were shared last month.

Looking good: Sofia has been living it up during a lavish Italian getaway in Ravello; in this image shared on Mondays he had her ring on

A sign: The split announcement comes just days after Manganiello's birthday tribute to Vergara came under major scrutiny from fans who labeled it as 'cold' leading to many fans to wonder about their relationship status

The comment section of the post was full of concerned fans as one wrote: 'Something is definitely up. He hasn't commented on her photos she's been posted. hmmm.......'

Some fans noted that Joe's prior birthday tributes to his wife had more substance including last year's which read: ''Feliz Cumpleanos mi amor! I love you so much.'

The couple were first spotted out in public together in July 2014, after going on a few secret dates the month prior.

The 2018 highest paid TV actress confirmed their relationship in August 2014 during an interview to Extra.

'You know, I'm just having a great time. It's a special time in my life, and I'm trying not to think too much about it,' she said.

Hmm: It is interesting to note that Sofia has not commented on the post as they have been married since November 2015

Some fans noted that Joe's prior birthday tributes to his wife had more substance including last year's which read: ''Feliz Cumpleanos mi amor! I love you so much'

Their wedding made headlines: The two had a big, splashy wedding at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida in 2015

The plot thickens: The Modern Family star has also been living it up as she is currently celebrating in Capri, Italy and it remains unclear if Joe is on the trip as he has not been featured in any of her social media posts from the trip

'It's something very new, so we will see what happens.'

And it appears as though Sofia was smitten from the get-go, adding: 'What is there not to approve of?' when asked if her family were on board with her new man.

December 2014, just six months since they first start dating, Joe proposed to his lady love during a trip to Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

The pair wed in a very extravagant and glamorous ceremony of about 400 people at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida, in November 2015.

Another sign the two were on the outs came in May when they listed their Beverly Hills love nest for $18m.

It was not the first time they listed the property - they had tried before in July 2022 when they put it on the market for $20m.

Vergara, most commonly known as 'Gloria' on Modern Family, originally purchased the house in 2014 for $10.6m before she tied the knot with Manganiello.

The couple has since remodeled the interior with help of interior designer Jennifer Bevan.

The sought-after expert preserved the built-in, Tuscan-villa vibe but updated the style with white walls and black accents.

Off loading: Another sign the two were on the outs came in May when they listed their Beverly Hills love nest for $18m. It was not the first time they listed the property - they had tried before in July 2022 when they put it on the market for $20m

The sprawling 11,000 square foot mansion comes with a 10-seat movie theater, full size gym with sauna and 3,000 bottle wine cellar.

The house, which sits on nearly an acre of land, features a curved staircase and French doors, as well as a gourmet kitchen with luxury Viking appliances,

The primary bedroom includes dual closets and spa-like baths with a fireplace on the balcony. The backyard is secluded and private with high edges, a large inground pool, hot tub and massive lawn. The massive property also comes with wood-and-marble tile floors and soaring coffered ceilings overhead. Next to the mansion is a guesthouse, a sports court and two motor courts with space for four cars.

The villa is co-listed with Barry Peele of Sotheby's International Realty and Santiago Arana of The Agency.

The estate is located in the highly exclusive and desirable neighborhood of Beverly Park, in the center of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. The estate is set high in the mountains while still being only minutes to local restaurants. Some of Vergara's neighbors include celebrities like Denzel Washington, Sylvester Stallone and Eddie Murphy.

Busy bee: Sofia puts in long hours as one of the judges of America's Got Talent; seen with Simon Cowell

Her boy: Sofia has only one child, Manolo, left, seen here with a friend in June

This was not a first marriage for Sofia.

The former model was married to Joe Gonzalez from 1991 until 1993. Though the marriage was brief, it resulted in one child, son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, who is 31-years-old.

She was also in a longtime relationship with businessman Nick Loeb. The split turned messy as they went to court over their frozen embryos.

As recently as April, he was still at it.

Her ex-fiance is still fighting in court for the couple's frozen embryos, only this time he is suing the fertility clinic they used.

Nick previously lost a court battle to win custody of the two frozen embryos that he and Vergara created when they were together in 2013.

The pair split in 2014 and Sofia did not want her ex to be able to bring them to term.

It was a bitter court battle that dragged out for years but eventually in 2021, a judge sided with her and imposed a permanent injunction to stop Loeb from accessing them.

Nick Loeb previously lost a court battle to win custody of the two frozen embryos that he and Vergara created when they were together in 2013. They are shown together in 2014

Now, in a final court effort, Loeb is suing ART Reproductive Center in Beverly Hills, claiming its doctors never made him aware that the embryos would be destroyed, or that Sofia could block him from accessing them, if they split.

It remains unclear whether the embryos remain intact.

Loeb, who describes himself as 'pro-life' and pro-parenthood', is a film director and actor from an impressive background of American dynasty families.

His family tree includes Seagram heirs the Bronfmans, the Lehman family of the now defunct Lehman Brothers bank, and the Loeb family of Loeb, Rhoades & Co.

In court filings, he alleges medical malpractice by ART, despite admitting that he signed a contract which stated what would happen to the embryos in the event of a break-up (he says he signed a second document that contradicted the first).

'I never would have gone forward with creating what Sofia and I regarded as lives if I knew that she would not consent, or that she wanted to thaw and destroy the embryos, in the event of a breakup,' he said in the most recent filing.

Loeb is seeking damages from ART to cover his legal fees.

A judge previously ruled that he would not be able to later claim emotional distress damages for not having the children. He and Vergara were together for four years before they called off their engagement in 2014. By then, they had already visited ART and had the embryos frozen. Vergara already had an adult son at the time.

In 2017, three years after their split, she filed legal papers to block Loeb from accessing the embryos. It was a fight that lasted four years, until a judge turned down his final appeal in March 2021.

Joe's only marriage has been to Sofia.

Before her, he was engaged to Audra Marie from 2010 to 2011. And prior to that, he was in relationships with Bridget Peters (2013 - 2014) and Tenley Dene (2012).

In 2017 Sofia gushed about Joe.

She told Ellen DeGeneres she was thrilled to be with the movie star.

'I'm very lucky,' Vergara said about her union. 'I must have done something really right in my life to get that reward.'

When DeGeneres said she was a good person, Vergara added, 'I'm good but I'm not a very, very good person. But, he's better than me.'

Before that Sofia told ET what Joe likes about her

'He always, actually, tells me, he's like, "You know, one of the things that draws me so much to you is that you were, like, the first woman [who] I went out with that is really, really, like, independent,"' Vergara said.

'And I don't need to ask anyone for anything,' she added. 'You know, you want to give it to me, then give it to me. I'm not asking. I receive gifts, but [I don't need them]. And he loves that and, you know, he supports everything I do and it's amazing.'

And Joe told Cigar Aficionado that he had deep love for Sofia.

'The biggest adjustment in marriage? Coming to grips with the idea that someone who is not related to you could possibly love you that much. Theres nobody Id rather spend time with. She was it for me,' he said.
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez are headed for divorce and have been reportedly separated since January 2023 - after two years of marriage.

A spokesperson confirmed the news to DailyMail.com on Monday.

Ariana, 30, and Dalton, 27, had a whirlwind romance during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, getting engaged that same year and tying the knot in 2021.

Ariana oftentimes shared cuddled up snaps of the two of them to her Instagram, professing her love to her realtor husband.

The star has been busy filming Wicked in London - making time for Wimbledon on Sunday - where the star was seen ring-less in the crowd, sparking rumors of a rocky patch.

'Ariana and Dalton have nothing but respect for one another. They're still friends and want to remain that way moving forward. There was no cheating, no resentment between them, the marriage just simply didn't work out. These things happen,' a source close to the couple told DailyMail.com.

As Ariana and Dalton go their separate ways after two years of marriage - Dailymail.com looks back at their whirlwind romance....

The way they were: Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez are headed for divorce and have been reportedly separated since January 2023 - after two years of marriage

FEBRUARY 2020 - FIRST PUBLIC SIGHTING ONE MONTH AFTER THEY STARTED DATING

Ariana and Dalton were first seen kissing at Bar Louie in Northridge, California, TMZ reported at the time.

His identity was unknown.

They were seen in a booth at the bar sharing a number of kisses during the 1 am visit.

The duo were with pals, and sat at the bar booth for only thirty minutes.

MARCH 2020 - HIS IDENTITY IS REVEALED

In late March 2020, his identity was revealed by TMZ.

Dalton is a high-end realtor working for real estate group Aaron Kirkman in Los Angeles.

Details of their relationship surfaced - with the start of their relationship beginning in January 2020, per People, as they confirmed their romance began two months ago, via their insiders.

The pair first met when Grande was looking for another home through his luxury real estate firm and her team happened to enlist his help in particular.

'Ariana was looking for a home outside of Los Angeles to be her getaway house, and her team found Dalton to help,' a source told Us Weekly.

'When she saw him, she immediately thought he was cute and very good-looking, and she asked her team to set up an in-person meeting with him. Ariana fell very hard for Dalton shortly after they met.'

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Ariana and Dalton quarantined together at her home in LA.

'Ariana is stay at home with friends. She is serious about self-distancing and has been with the same group of people for days. One of the people she is with right now is Dalton- they have been hanging out for a couple of months. Ariana doesn't want to do another public relationship, so she is tryin to keep this one quiet, but she seems very happy with Dalton,' People's source said.

Meet Dalton: Dalton pictured on Instagram in 2019

MAY 2020 - DALTON APPEARS IN HER MUSIC VIDEO WITH JUSTIN BIEBER FOR STUCK WITH U

Ariana and Dalton appeared briefly in the music video for her duet with Justin Bieber - called Stuck With U.

The music video featured Justin and Hailey Bieber, as well as fans and other celebrities - like Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Stephen and Ayesha Curry - plus sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner..

They were seen dancing, hugging and also practicing social distancing in the video.

Ariana appeared with Dalton in the video, as they danced and smiled at each other.

It's official: Ariana also used the star-studded video's premiere to confirm her budding relationship with Los Angeles realtor Dalton Gomez

JUNE 2020 - ARIANA GOES INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL WITH DALTON AHEAD OF HER 27TH BIRTHDAY

Ariana cuddled up with her boyfriend Dalton Gomez in a cute photo shared late Thursday night ahead of her 27th birthday - going Instagram official in the process.

The pop singer also included a hodgepodge of photos and videos from her quarantine at her Beverly Hills home.

She captioned the photos, 'almost 27,' and had comments turned off, preventing anyone from send her birthday wishes.

Ariana's photo with Dalton featured the high-end real estate agent wrapping his arm around the singer, who had her hand partially obscuring her face.

Dalton shared a photo on his Instagram of him and Ariana about to kiss - in honor of her birthday.

'happy birthday to the best person in this world,' he captioned a photo of the two leaning in for a cute kiss.

AUGUST 2020 - ARIANA CELEBRATES DALTON'S BEITHDAY WITH SWEET TRIBUTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Ariana kicked her relationship with Dalton up a notch as she helped him celebrate his birthday.

The pop star shared a bevy of sweet photos and videos featuring the two that showed how inseparable they are.

Ariana began with an underlit video of her with Dalton wrapping his arms around her from behind.

The couple swayed to the strains of L-O-V-E while the young real estate agent leaned in for a sweet kiss on the cheek as she flashed an angelic smile.

'hbd to my baby my best friend my fav part of all the days,' she wrote in the caption, adding, 'i love u' and a smiley face.

Loved-up couple: Ariana Grande, 27, helped her boyfriend Dalton Gomez celebrate his own birthday with sweet videos and photos of the two posted to Instagram

DECEMBER 20, 2020 - ARIANA AND DALTON ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT

Ariana announced that she is engaged to Dalton Gomez.

The pop star shared a photo of a stunning diamond ring on her left finger as she wrote, 'forever n then some,' along with some loved-up snaps.

The engagement comes just after nearly a year of dating her real estate beau.

The asymmetrical oval shaped diamond featured a pearl next to it on a simple platinum band. In 2014 Grande tweeted about a pearl ring that had sentimental value relative to her grandpa, which led her fans to believe the pearl on her current ring may have been repurposed, though it is unconfirmed.

'Nonna had a ring made for me w/ the pearl from grandpa's tie pin. she says he told her in a dream it'd protect me <3'.

A source from Grande's camp told People, 'They couldn't be happier, they're just so excited. This is a happy time for them, both sets of parents are thrilled.'

Grande has not been shy on social media about her love for her now fiance as she has called him her 'best friend,' and 'favorite part of all the days.'

Bling ring: The couple got engaged in December (Grande's sparkler pictured)

MAY 2021 - ARIANA AND DALTON GET MARRIED IN INTIMATE CEREMONY AT HER MONTECITO HOME

Ariana secretly married her fiance Dalton Gomez.

The 27-year-old singer is said to have tied the knot with the real estate agent, 25, over the weekend at her $6.75m home in Montecito, California.

A representative for the singer confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday night: 'They got married. It was tiny and intimate - less than 20 people. The room was so happy and full of love. The couple and both families couldn't be happier.'

Despite the scaled-down celebrations, Ariana and Dalton - a real estate agent - are said to have exchanged the traditional 'I dos', TMZ also reports.

A source close to the Grammy winner confirmed to the outlet that the secret ceremony took place at her California home where her neighbours include the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Ariana is said to have bought Ellen's former home, a unique 5,500-square-foot Tudor-style mansion which she paid $6.75 million for last August.

Ariana is said to have bought Ellen's former home, a unique 5,500-square-foot Tudor-style mansion which she paid $6.75 million for last August.

Love: Ariana secretly married her fiance Dalton Gomez

JULY 2021 - NEWLYWEDS ENJOY HONEYMOON TO AMSTERDAM

Ariana gave her more than 250 million Instagram followers a first look at her honeymoon with Dalton in Amsterdam.

The newlyweds looked happy in love as they went sightseeing in Netherlands capital, which is famous for its canals, artistic heritage and beautiful houses.

In addition to posting a few scenic shots around the city, she shared a snap of herself gazing at Dalton as they sat in a pair of giant wooden shoes.

NOVEMBER 2021 - LOVEBIRDS ENJOY THANKSGIVING WITH HER FAMILY

They celebrated Thanksgiving with her family and her co-stars from The Voice.

The singer shared a string of snaps and videos from the festivities including one of her and Dalton with their pet dog Toulouse.

Ariana shyly hid her face in the pooch's fur as Dalton laughed, her hair pulled up in its signature ponytail with a sweet ribbon tied in a bow.

AUGUST 7, 2022 - ARIANA SHUTS DOWN SPLIT RUMORS AFTER SHE DOESN'T WEAR HER RING

In August 2022, Ariana shared a makeup tutorial and wasn't wearing her ring - she shut down any rumors by revealing that her ring was getting cleaned.

'I'm not wearing my wedding ring, it's getting cleaned. I'm not getting a divorce before you start, don't,' she said at the time.

No problem: In August 2022, Ariana shared a makeup tutorial and wasn't wearing her ring - she shut down any rumors by revealing that her ring was getting cleaned

FEBRUARY 2023 - DALTON SHARES SWEET VALENTINE'S DAY POST

Dalton posted an Instagram story on Valentine's Day 2023 of them cuddling together - which she re-posted on her stories.

He had captioned the image 'My forever valentine,' and she re-posted it with her own comment - 'I love you' and a heart.

MAY 15, 2023 - ARIANA GUSHES ABOUT DALTON AS SHE CELEBRATES TWO YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

In May 2023, Ariana celebrated her two-year wedding anniversary on Instagram - with a photo from her wedding day.

The photo, shared on her Instagram stories two months ago, feature Ariana and Dalton kissing on their wedding day.

She captioned the photo '2' to signify two years of marriage, adding a heart and '3.5 years together.'

She also added: 'I love him so.'

Anniversary: Ariana Grande celebrated her two-year wedding anniversary with a sweet snap from her wedding day

JULY 17, 2023 - ARIANA AND DALTON SPLIT - AND HEADED FOR DIVORCE

Ariana and husband Dalton have split, and have been separated since January 2023.

The couple are heading for divorce, the insider said as it emerged Ariana had deleted all of the romantic photos of her May 2021 wedding from Instagram.

A spokesperson for Ariana confirmed the news to DailyMail.com.

Ariana, 30, was seen ring-less at Wimbledon over the weekend; she has not been seen wearing her ring for some time now.

Their insider claimed that the couple tried to reconcile two months ago but it 'failed.' It was also claimed Gomez had flown to London in January in a last ditch effort to save the pair's marriage - visiting his wife on the set of Wicked but it 'didn't work out', reports PageSix. The pair were seen having crepes together in the UK capital.

'Ariana and Dalton have been having some issues for months now,' Us Weekly's source said on Monday.

In mid-May 2021, Ariana and Dalton, a 27-year-old luxury realtor, tied the knot at her $6.75 million Montecito home.

Ariana has been busy filming the musical Wicked across the UK since December 2022.

The source reported that the Ariana and Dalton had been having 'problem's before she began filming.

No ring: Ariana, 30, was seen ring-less at Wimbledon over the weekend; she has not been seen wearing her ring for some time now; seen on July 16, 2023 at Wimbledon in London chatting with actor Jonathan Bailey

The actress and the realtor still 'talk' on the phone regularly and 'remain friends.'

The Us Weekly insider 'were having issues before she left for Wicked filming [in London] that they couldn't resolve, and the distance did not help. They haven't been speaking and are speaking, and a divorce is likely.'

Another insider from the outlet noted that their marriage was 'thriving' until earlier this year: 'Things had been going really well for Ariana and Dalton since they got married. But unfortunately, they hit a rough patch a few months ago and haven't been able to recover.'

Page Six also reported their 'split,' with their source revealing: 'They came to the decision together. They came to the decision together. They were having problems before January, but they want to remain best friends.'

He tried to 'save' their marriage with a trip to visit her on the set of Wicked but the source said 'it didn't work out.'

'They've been really good friends throughout the entire process and their friends and families have been trying to protect them,' the source said.
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Angelina Jolie was spotted in New York City bright and early on Monday morning.

The Eternals star modeled a summer look with blonde ombre hair that was parted on the side and framed her face beautifully.

And the ex-wife of Brad Pitt was dressed to impress in a crisp white trench coat with tailored black slacks and strappy white platform sandals.

The Oscar-winning actress looked ready for business as she had a purple folder in her hand and also a booklet with a floorplan drawn on the back. She held onto a black YSL clutch purse.

The Mr And Mrs Smith actress was not alone. The Los Angeles native was with two of her six children: Pax, 19, and Zahara, 18, who wore a Tupac Shakur T-shirt.

The Maleficent actress, 48, has been in New York City to work on her new brand, Atelier Jolie, which will showcase artisans from around the world.

Working in the Big Apple: Angelina Jolie was spotted in New York City bright and early on Monday morning. The Eternals star had a bright summer look with blonde ombre hair that was parted on the side and partially fell over her face

Jolie has been wearing an ombre color in her hair for the past few weeks.

The ends were a bright white blonde and the roots much darker as she seems to be growing out her highlights. The change in hair color may be for a new movie role.

Her makeup was light and easy as she added oversized black cat-eye sunglasses and drop earrings.

The beauty had manicured nails that were long and an off-white color with matching toe polish.

She looked ready for a meeting and that is likely exactly what she was up to as she has been building up her Atelier Jolie brand in Manhattan.

Jolie had leased 57 Great Jones Street in New York City.

The building was once owned by Andy Warhol and was the last place Jean-Michel Basquiat lived and worked, from 1983 until his death in 1988.

'As soon as she walked through the space she fell in love with it,' John Roesch, the broker at Meridian Capital Group who represented the landlord said, per Curbed.

He added: 'She made sure she got this deal.'

So chic: And the ex of Brad Pitt was dressed to impress in a crisp white trench coat with tailored black slacks and strappy white platform sandals

New plans? The Oscar-winning actress looked ready for business as she held onto a black YSL clutch purse

And she plans to open Atelier Jolie in the space, which she calls a 'global family' of underrepresented tailors who exclusively work with upcycled items.

'We hope to create a community of creativity and inspiration, regardless of socio-economic background,' Jolie wrote on Atelier Jolie's website.

It will be 'a place for creative people to collaborate with a skilled and diverse family of expert tailors.' It will also be, 'a place to have fun.'

The property was on the market for $60,000 per month with a minimum lease term of 10 years - however, it is unclear whether that is how much Jolie will pay.

The 6,600-square-foot building had been on the market since November.

The realtor said Jolie was 'very hands-on' about closing the deal, and visited the space multiple times over six months.

Stepping over a puddle: Here she made sure to avoid some water as she stepped on a yellow bar

See the plans? Here she holds onto a booklet with the floorplans drawn on the back. The Maleficent actress, 48, has been in New York City to work on her new brand, Atelier Jolie which is a space for artisans

Two of her teens: The Mr And Mrs Smith actress was not alone. The Los Angeles native was with two of her six children: Pax , 19, and Zahara , 18, who wore a Tupac Shakur T-shirt

'I would think you would usually have the team handle the whole thing, but she wanted to make sure she got the deal done,' Roesch said.

And Jolie faced competition for the space from multiple people. However, in the end, 'we decided that Angelina's concept would be the best fit and use for the building,' Roesch said.

In June it was reported that she is partnering with Chloe. She has teamed up with the brand to create a womenswear capsule collection.

The icon is working with the French luxury fashion house to create the sustainable Atelier Jolie range which has been co-designed by Angelina and Chloe's creative director Gabriela Hearst.

Inspired by Angelina's own wardrobe, the collection is comprised of evening wear and will feature fluid silhouettes and tactile details, while offering a timeless aesthetic in line with Jolie's vision 'to create one-of-a-kind pieces that embody personal creativity and purpose'.

The collection is inspired by the pair's mutual 'high ideals for the betterment of our species' and the Tomb Raider star is donating her earnings from the collaboration to invest in 'establishing apprenticeships for tailors and artisans at Atelier Jolie'.

New gig: Jolie has teamed up with Chloe to create a womenswear capsule collection. The 48-year-old Hollywood icon is working with the French luxury fashion house to create the sustainable Atelier Jolie range which has been co-designed by Angelina and Chloe's creative director Gabriela Hearst

New look: Inspired by Angelina's own wardrobe, the collection is comprised of evening wear and will feature fluid silhouettes and tactile details, while offering a timeless aesthetic in line with Jolie's vision 'to create one-of-a-kind pieces that embody personal creativity and purpose'

In a statement, Gabriela said: 'From the moment I heard about Angelina's vision for Atelier Jolie, I believed in it. It is a way to elevate others through the beauty of garment-making and her deep respect for the environment.

'It's an honour for me that Chloe will be the first collaborator for Atelier Jolie, as both have high ideals for the betterment of our species. That is the reason why I love both Angelina and Chloe so deeply.'

Angelina added: 'Very few luxury brands are a certified B Corp. It was important to me to work with Chloe, one of the first luxury brands to be a B Corp. It has been a privilege to design with Gabriela Hearst, and I hope all women will feel comfortable and beautiful in this capsule collection.

'My earnings from this collaboration will be invested in establishing apprenticeships for tailors and artisans at Atelier Jolie.'

Atelier Jolie will be available from this Autumn.

In mid May she shared she is launching Atelier Jolie which will be a space for creative types in the design field.

The star shared a look at her new logo over a copper background.

'I'm starting something new todaya collective where everyone can create,' wrote the mother of six.

'Atelier Jolie is a place for creative people to collaborate with a skilled and diverse family of expert tailors, pattern makers and artisans from around the world,' added the Eternals actress.

New from AJ: Jolie made a big announcement in mid May. The Oscar-winning actress shared she is launching Atelier Jolie which will be a space for creative types in the design field

And the former UN ambassador continued: 'It stems from my appreciation and deep respect for the many tailors and makers I've worked with over the years, a desire to make use of the high-quality vintage material and deadstock fabric already available, and also to be part of a movement to cultivate more self-expression.'

Deadstock fabric refers to rolls of fabric that are left unsold by a fabric mill or leftover from a brand's production run.

Jolie ended with: 'I'm looking forward to growing this with you. More soon. Learn more at atelierjolie.com.'

Her pal Priyanka Chopra added a red heart and fire emoji.

On her website Jolie shared a signed note.

'Fashion is an art I've had the opportunity to play with over the years. I've designed clothes and learned about shapes with many of the best tailors,' wrote the Tomb Raider star.

Designers often sketch or approve designs, but it is the tailors who make the difference, she noted.

And that is who she 'truly loves creating with,' said the daughter of Jon Voight.

Diversifying: On her website Jolie shared a signed note. 'Fashion is an art I've had the opportunity to play with over the years. I've designed clothes and learned about shapes with many of the best tailors,' wrote the Tomb Raider star; seen in 2009 in LA

Angelina added that these makers rarely receive the credit and respect they deserve.

'I am building a place for creative people to collaborate with a skilled and diverse family of expert tailors, pattern makers and artisans from around the world. A place to have fun. To create your own designs with freedom. To discover yourself,' she enthused.

She added her company will use only leftover, quality vintage material and deadstock.

'You will be able to repair or upcycle pieces from your closet you wish to revive, perfecting fit, breathing new life into what could have been thrown away, and creating quality heirloom garments with personal meaning.'

She has designed jewelry before: The star, seen in 2009, created bling in 2013; seen in 2009

The red carpet darling then said: 'We hope to create a community of creativity and inspiration, regardless of socio-economic background.

'We will spotlight the people who play a part in each creation. We will bring together a diverse team, including apprenticeships for refugees and other talented, underappreciated groups, with positions of dignity based on skill.

She then admitted that she is 'more of an artist than a businesswoman' before ending with: 'I hope to see you there, and to be one of the many creating with you within our new creative collective.'

In late March, the Beverly Hills native filed for a global trademark under the name Atelier Jolie.

A source told The Sun at the time that plans for the new company would include 'everything from custom-made jewelry to couture clothing and tailoring.'

The insider added, 'She is a huge advocate for sustainable fashion and this is something the brand will have a major focus on.

'The plan is still very much in its infancy but the wheels are in motion,' the source noted.

Jolie also apparently wasn't limited her new line to just clothing and jewelry, as it was said to include bedding and other household supplies.

Jolie previously dipped her toes into the jewelry world with the launch of her Style of Jolie jewelry line more than a decade ago.

It appears that last major release from the line was back in 2018.

Although there is no indication yet of what kinds of fashion Atelier Jolie will focus on, though it's likely in good hands, as the Oscar winner has been a fashion icon going back to her buzzy red carpet appearances in the 1990s.
Coronation Street fans inadvertedly got a first-hand glimpse of the filming of a dramatic gun scene as their tourist boat sailed through the Manchester Ship Canal.

Tourists on the passing by boat delightedly waved as they recognised soap stars Georgia Taylor and Martin Handcock after inadvertedly getting an exclusive look at a explosive showdown which sees the two characters' lives in danger.

Viewers will know that Martin's character Spider Nugent, who is an undercover cop, is left terrified when his love Toyah Battersby (played by Georgia) is kidnapped by a shady character from his past pretending to be his ex-wife.

The race was then on for Spider to track down Toyah, with him receiving a mysterious text to follow the instructions or Toyah will be killed.

And in scenes to be aired on Monday, Spider and Toyah are held at gunpoint by the assailant, with a desperate struggle taking place.

While soap fans have to wait until the dramatic scenes air on TV, lucky passersby got a first-hand look at the moments in action as they sailed by the scenes being shot by the canal in May.

No way! Coronation Street fans inadvertedly got a first-hand glimpse of the filming of a dramatic gun scene as their tourist boat sailed through the Manchester Ship Canal

Fancy seeing you here! Tourists on the passing by boat delightedly waved as they recognised soap stars after inadvertedly getting an exclusive look at a explosive showdown

Nice to see you: Actors Georgia Taylor and Martin Handcock were seen greeting the tourists as they sailed on by

After waving at the cast and crew, the fans were treated to a wave back by Georgia and Martin, who were only too happy to greet the passing fans.

Georgia was seen sporting scratches on her face and dishevelled hair, indicating things were set to get rough for the character.

While another image shows the explosive moment Martin grapples a woman for the gun.

Soap spoilers reveal that a gun shot will ring out during the struggle - but it remains to be seen who loses their life.

It comes after Corrie fans blasted Toyah's kidnapping storyline as 'unrealistic' as they spotted a major blunder when she was taken hostage on Friday night's show.

During the hour-long episode, a mystery woman impersonating Spider Nugent's wife turned up at Toyah's flat.

The brunette named Layla calmly told Toyah (Georgia Taylor) the pair needed to speak and Leanne, who was also at home but distracted looking for keys, let her in and left.

Later in the episode, Leanne spoke to Spider (Martin Hancock) at the shops who told her that his actual wife isn't in the country but in America.

Drama: Viewers will know that Martin's character Spider Nugent, who is an undercover cop, is left terrified when his love Toyah Battersby (played by Georgia) is kidnapped by a shady character from his past pretending to be his ex-wife

Danger: In scenes to be aired on Monday, Spider and Toyah are held at gunpoint by the assailant, with a desperate struggle taking place

Best view: While soap fans have to wait until the dramatic scenes air on TV, lucky passersby got a first-hand look at the moments in action as they sailed by the scenes being shot by the canal in May

First-hand look: Tourists got a glimpse into the dramatic Corrie scenes

What a trip: The sight-seeing boat was enjoying a leisurely trip down the canal

What's this? Onlookers stumbled upon huge Coronation Street scenes being filmed

Hi there: After waving at the cast and crew, the fans were treated to a wave back by Georgia and Martin, who were only too happy to greet the passing fans

Friendly: Actor Martin offered a smile and a wave to passersby

Panicked, Spider then phoned Toyah to tell her that the woman sat in the flat was pretending to be his wife.

Whilst Toyah tried to keep her cool, her terrified face gave her panic away which Layla then clocked.

As Leanne and Spider arrived at the flat they found blood on the floor, but Toyah was nowhere to be found.

Fans, however, were quick to tear into the plot as they were not convinced as to how Layla could single handedly knock Toyah unconscious, drag her out of the flat and through the street and bundle her into the back of a van unnoticed.

'So Layla on Coronation Street has managed to kidnap Toyah, bound and gagged her and bundled her into a van all on her own' said one viewer on Twitter.

Not your everyday tour: Tourists got more than they bargained for on the trip

Sailing: The group appeared in good spirits on their boat tour

Drama: Coronation Street's Toyah Battersby was taken hostage on Friday night's show

'Are we supposed to be caught up in suspense due to Toyah's kidnap because I'm not' another said.

A third agreed saying: 'Am I able to ask how on earth did that woman kidnap Toyah?

'She got her out of the flat and into the van without being seen. Give us a break and at least offer a crumb of something feasible.'

Despite their grumblings, Toyah's dramatic hostage was heightened further when she was later seen tied up and gagged in the back of a van with Layla sat in the driver's seat.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
MBABANE  Businesspeople who are owed by government will now enjoy a tax relief in the form of deferred payment.

This is incorporated in the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which was passed in Parliament in the last sitting of the outgoing Members of Parliament (MPs), which was held last week Monday. According to a communication from Senate on the Bill, they informed the minister that there was an outcry, as businesspeople were taxed for money they did not get and most of these companies were owed by government. The communication was prepared by the Portfolio Committee for the Ministry of Finance, which is chaired by Senator Tony Sibandze. In response, the minister made an undertaking to establish a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Eswatini Revenue Service, that would relieve businesspeople that are owed by government.

Appreciated

Johannes Manikela, the Chairperson of the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) in the Hhohho Region, said they appreciated the developments from Parliament, as this was a thorn in their flesh. However, he shared that the real issue should be ensuring that government paid its suppliers on time because it was not just the issue of ERS that was a concern to them, but they ended up in lawsuits with the companies they procured from for delayed payments. He said government should pay at least within days of getting the service to enable the flow of money. As much as we appreciate the relief for owed businesses, we cant shy away from the real issue, which is getting paid by government on time. When a business gets an order, the assumption is that the money to pay for that order is already there and it boggles the mind when the payment is delayed for over six months and it is a big inconvenience for the businesspeople who have many other responsibilities to service with the money, he shared.

The Bill seeks to broaden the tax base and to protect it by minimising the erosion of the tax base. The Bill introduces a number of revenue enhancement measures aimed at generating additional revenue for government. These revenue enhancement measures, according to the communication from Senate, are in the form of strengthening of certain administrative provisions that need to be improved. The Bill is also introducing the concept of taxation of worldwide income, subject to relief from judicial double taxation. At present, tax in Eswatini is source based and this amendment would extend Eswatinis jurisdiction to tax the foreign source income of residents.

Under the proposed new law, Eswatini would asset jurisdiction to tax all residents on their worldwide income with relief from international tax generally provided by way of a foreign tax credit. The gross income of a resident would include income from all sources, while a non-resident taxpayer would be subject to tax only on Eswatini source income. This amendment would also cater for the inclusion in gross income of any disposal of a business asset. Since taxation on worldwide income is being introduced, there is a need to introduce a provision that would cater for unilateral relief from double taxation, reads the communication. Senators also informed the minister that it was concerning that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were taxed. They further requested the minister to consider reviewing the turnover to E100 000. In response, the minister informed senators that currently, there was no relief for SMEs.

Study

The minister further informed senators that a study was done, wherein the economist recommended E41 000, however, government decided to increase it to E50 000. Senators also advised the minister that he should consider reducing the tax for retiring natural persons, considering that these people had worked and contributed to the countrys economy for all the time they spent at work. Senators further recommended that the income rates for retiring persons be reviewed as follows: from E0 to E330 000 be reduced from 25 per cent to 20 per cent and above E330 000 be reduced from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. Senators strongly enquired as to how the ministry arrived at a decision of increasing pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) from 33 per cent to 36 per cent, considering the high inflation the country was currently faced with.

They informed the minister that he should take into account that Parliament had recently passed tax Bills, inter-alia Alcohol and Tobacco levy, Fuel Tax and VAT. It is based on the aforementioned reasons that senators objected to the increase and urged the minister to reconsider the decision of increasing PAYE, reads the communication. In response, the minister informed the committee that the aim was to reduce the gap between the poor and rich people, however, due to the prevailing economic situation; the ministry had reconsidered its decision.
Lara Stone wished her husband David Grievson a happy second wedding anniversary in a gushing post on Monday.

The pregnant model, 39, who is expecting her second child with the property developer, 40, took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute.

It is also the first time the model has revealed she is pregnant on social media and could be seen cradling her blossoming bump.

She wrote: 'Happy anniversary @davidgrievson  #2wholeyearsofhappinessandperfection.'

The dutch influencer also shares a son Alfred, 10, with her ex husband David Walliams.

Celebrations: Lara Stone wished her husband David Grievson a happy second wedding anniversary in a gushing post on Monday

In the doting photo the happy couple looked as loved up as ever as they celebrated two years of marriage.

She wore a blue and white pinstripe T-shirt over a black vest top while cradling her blossoming bump.

The mother-of-two to be looked glowing next to David who donned a smart tuxedo.

Her post comes two months after she was spotted in May showcasing her baby bump for the first time as she went shopping in North London.

During the outing, the Dutch fashion model tentatively touched her bump in her gorgeous ditsy floral print maxi dress.

Lara met her husband David on Tinder back in 2018 and confirmed their in February 2020, after two years of dating, as she flashed her huge diamond engagement ring at the Gymkhana VIP dinner in Mayfair.

The model later shared an insight into her wedding day with fans as she four black and white photographs and captioned it: 'Got to marry my love this weekend!'

David became her first serious boyfriend after her split from David Walliams.

'Got to marry my love!' Lara met her husband David on Tinder back in 2018 and they married back in 2021

Baby joy: Lara showcased her blossoming baby bump for the first time as she went shopping in North London (pictured in May)

Friendliest of exes: The model was married to David Walliams from 2010 to 2015 and now co-parent their son Alfred (pictured at their wedding in 2010)

Exciting! Lara is expecting her second child with her husband David Grievson

Lara and Walliams started dating in 2009 and announced their engagement just four months later.

The Little Britain comedian previously spoke about why they kept their son out of the spotlight, even though they have high profile careers.
Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules has started filming and, given the recent events of the Scandoval, promises to be one of the most dramatic seasons of the long-running reality show.

For one thing, exes Ariana Madix, 38, and Tom Sandoval, 40, will continue to have to be around each other as well as see their drama play out on camera.

This week, both were spotted out separately while filming continues. Ariana was spotted leaving Total Wine in Los Angeles carrying a box full of booze.

She wore a black zip-front hoodie, black leggings and black trainers. Her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

Sandoval, meanwhile, was spotted engrossed in his phone during a break in shooting wearing brown shorts, a black tank top and red slides.

Drama: Exes Ariana Madix , 38, and Tom Sandoval , 40, will continue to have to be around each other as well as see their drama play out on camera during season 11 of Vanderpump Rules

The exes were together for nine years before Ariana discovered that Sandoval was having an affair with their friend and fellow Vanderpump Rules co-star Raquel Leviss, 28.

The fallout from the Scandoval affected several cast members including Tom Schwartz, 40, his ex-wife and Ariana's business partner Katie Maloney, 36, the very vocal Lala Kent, 32, and Scheana Shay, 38.

Prior to Sandoval stepping out with Racquel, he and Schwartz were practically joined at the hip.

Not only were they best friends, they were also business partners in the hip Los Angeles restaurant and bar Schwartz and Sandy's.

But following the drama, the longtime friends took a break and in fact, they just reunited this week to test the waters.

The two men were spotted walking down the street together on July 14 while the cameras rolled on season 11 of their hit reality show.

Last month on the When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany podcast , Schwartz said he became an 'unfortunate confidante' to Sandoval during his affair with Raquel and said he felt 'exploited.'

'He made a big mess and left for us to clean up, businesses and such. It's hard for us not to be resentful,' Schwartz said.

'The lack of remorse... I know he regrets it but he doesn't do a good job of showing that. He's gotta drop the ego man, hard humility. When you have a full blown affair, your side of the story ceases to exist,' he added.

'I feel like he exploited me. I took to heart everything he said about Ariana. He needs to lose the ego, say I'm sorry, not, I'm sorry, but...,' he admitted.

While the Scandoval surfaced in March, Sandoval and Raquel had been involved since last summer.

Ariana told Scheana and Katie about the affair, shocking them, and revealing that it all took place while she was mourning the death of her beloved dog Charlotte.

Stocking up: Ariana was spotted leaving Total Wine in Los Angeles carrying a box full of booze. She wore a black zip-front hoodie, black leggings and black trainers. Her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail

Affair: The exes were together for nine years before Ariana discovered that Sandoval was having an affair with their friend and fellow Vanderpump Rules co-star Raquel Leviss , 28

Meanwhile, Raquel has been in a mental health facility since just after the explosive season 10 reunion special aired.

TMZ reported that she checked out of the Arizona facility about a week ago and has been staying with a friend because she is 'uneasy' about venturing out.

She racked up a $200,000 bill while at the facility and it has been revealed she's contractually obligated to appear in the new season of Vanderpump Rules.

The former beauty queen has also made another change - she's gone back to using her birth name of Rachel.
Toni Collette looked sensational as she went for a swim while holidaying on the Italian island of Ischia on Sunday.

The Australian actress, 50, was seen wearing a bright orange two-piece bikini with a white trim as she enjoyed a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Screen star Toni shielded her eyes behind a pair green-tinted mirrored sunglasses as she cooled down in the water from the searing European heatwave, with temperatures set to soar to 49C in Italy this week.

Golden Globe Award-winner Collette was seen splashing about in the azure water before boarding a boat with her loved ones.

Her trip comes after she confirmed her split from husband Dave Galafassi after 20 years of marriage.

Ready for a dip: Toni Collette, 50, looked sensational in an orange bikini as she went for a swim while holidaying on the Italian island of Ischia on Sunday

Cooling off: The Australian actress was seen wearing a bright orange two-piece bikini with a white trim as she enjoyed a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Relief: Screen star Toni shielded her eyes behind a pair green-tinted mirrored sunglasses as she cooled down in the water from the searing European heatwave

She has enjoyed spending time with her good friend, and fellow and producer Christopher Simon, 60, with the pair attending the Ischia Global Fest 2023 last week to promote their new film Mafia Mama.

Toni showcased her trim figure in her tiny orange bikini that featured a triangle halter-neck top and high-cut bottoms, while Christopher displayed his muscular physique in grey striped board shorts.

Toni and Christopher, who are long-time friends, have previously worked together on the 2015 comedy film Miss You Already - in which Toni starred while Christopher served as producer.

Christopher and Toni are also co-producers of film Mafia Mama, which was released earlier this year and features Toni in the leading role.

Toni, who also stars in the film, shared a tribute to Christopher for his hard work on the film earlier this year, sharing an Instagram video of the pair dancing at a photo shoot for the official Mafia Mama poster.

'That's my producing partner, the irreplaceable and irrepressible, Chris Simon. A boogie with a pal and some Prosecco can get a girl in the mood for anything!' the Muriel's Wedding star captioned the clip.

In December, Collette announced she and her husband of 20 years, musician Dave Galafassi, 46, were divorcing.

The former couple, who are parents to daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, married in 2003.

All smiles: With temperatures set to soar to 49C in Italy this week, Toni looked pleased to be heading into the cool water, smiling as she walked across the sand

Water baby: Golden Globe Award-winner Collette was seen splashing about in the azure water during her downtime

Gal pals: She was seen chatting to a friend while in the sea, with her pal wearing a blue and white striped swimsuit

Going under: Collette was in a playful mood as she went for a swim, dipping her head under the water

Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the About a Boy star, confirmed their split in December 2022 when he was pictured passionately kissing chiropractor Shannon Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney.

MailOnline contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account.

'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. Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape.'

'We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.'

A longtime friend of Toni told Woman's Day earlier this year that she was devastated that their split became so public.

'She has not recovered from her split and she is not likely to anytime soon,' the friend told the publication at the time.

Friends: She has enjoyed spending time with her good friend, and fellow and producer Christopher Simon, 60 (left), during her trip

Vacation: Toni showed off her trim figure in an orange bikini that featured a triangle halter-neck top and high-cut bottoms, while Christopher looked muscular in grey shorts

Pros: Toni and Christopher, who are long-time friends, have worked together on the 2015 comedy film Miss You Already - in which Toni starred while Christopher served as producer

Heartfelt: Toni shared a tribute to Christopher for his hard work on the film this year, sharing an Instagram video of the pair dancing at a photo shoot for the official Mafia Mama poster

Tribute: 'That's my producing partner, the irreplaceable and irrepressible, Chris Simon. A boogie with a pal and some Prosecco can get a girl in the mood for anything!' she wrote

Good spirits: Toni and Christopher posed arm-in-arm on the Ischia Global Fest 2023 red carpet later on Saturday

'Toni's a marvel at how she's able to pull herself together and keep functioning.

'The promotional side of movies is something she usually enjoys, but not when her life is a mess.'

The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi's band's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney, and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party.

They were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast less than a year after they met, in January 2003.
Kary Brittingham, 53, is engaged to Mark A. Anderson, 57, an injury lawyer.

The Real Housewives of Dallas star gushed about how she was, 'over the moon,' following the proposal, according to People.

She revealed to the outlet how the romantic surprise occurred during the couple's trip to Tuscany.

'It was the most romantic setting...He got down on one knee and started talking, and before he even had a chance to really ask me, I just said, 'Yes, yes a million times yes!'

Adding how 'happy' she was, Kary noted that Mark, 'picked out the ring himself.'

La dolce vita: Kary Brittingham has been over the moon following her surprise engagement in Tuscany to Mark A. Anderson, a lawyer; seen this week

That's amore: The newly engaged couple took in the sights and sound of Tuscany as they celebrated their upcoming nuptials

While many singles tend to flock to Tinder, Hinge or Bumble, Kary actually went the old-fashioned route in order to connect with her future fiance - Match.com.

The Mexican-born beauty recalled how she just decided to create a Match.com account for fun last year during a birthday trip to Aspen.

After Kary liked Mark's photo, she recounted how, 'We talked on the phone the next day, and then, for like a week straight  every day, non-stop, for four hours on the phone.'

The reality television star connected with the injury lawyer a year after she announced on her Instagram that she was divorcing her second husband, Eduardo Brittingham.

'He has been the most amazing father these past 17 years to my four kids and for that I am eternally grateful,' the Kamo By Kary founder wrote.

Continuing to convey her gratitude for her soon-to-be ex-husband, the realtor added, 'I am confident that we can handle this next chapter of life with the same amount of mutual respect and love weve shared with each other for so long.'

The blonde beauty brought three kids from her first marriage, Sofia, Olivia and Alex to her relationship with Eduardo.

During the span of their 12-year marriage, Kary and Eduardo had one daughter together, Isabella  making her the fourth of Kary's children.

Fit at 53: The Real Housewives of Dallas star showed off her toned body during her romantic vacation with her lawyer fiance

Luck be a lady: The newly engaged couple couldn't keep their hands off each other during their Italian holiday

Fit and fabulous: The mother of four looked fabulous at 53 during her European trip

Love is in the air: Kary and Mark looked head over heels in love as they posed together in Tuscany

As for the diamond itself, Kary revealed that, 'This ring is really insane,' referring to her stunning, 12-carat engagement ring.

However, the business mogul made it clear that Mark was the real prize in her eyes.

'I can't even describe to you how similar we are,' she explained.

'He has this amazing spirit. He's just like, 'Let's go, go, go!' And I'm like, 'That's me!' Kary added.

Although their wedding date hasn't been set yet, the real estate expert said, 'Italy has been, for sure, the No. 1 contender,' for a location.
Nina Dobrev put on a fashionable display and showed off her incredible figure as she was spotted out in New York City on Monday.

The actress, 34, showed off her abs and long legs in an all-black outfit comprised of a black sheer crop top, a black mini skirt, a large black blazer, and a pair of black open-toe high heels.

The former Vampire Diaries star completed her look with a black oval-shaped purse and a pair of silver earrings.

She wore her hair, long dark hair, which was slightly styled and had blonde highlights on it tips, down.

The sighting of Dobrev on July 17 comes a few days after she and her boyfriend, Shaun White, the retired three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in snowboarding, were seen arriving in NYC on Friday, July 14.

Fashionable: Nina Dobrev put on a fashionable display and showed off her incredible figure as she was spotted out in New York City on Monday

All-black outfit: Dobrev wore an all-black outfit from Nensido Jaka that was comprised of a black sheer crop top, a black mini skirt, a large black blazer, and a pair of black open-toe high heels

The pair were photographed unloading items and bags out of the trunk of a black SUV as arrived at the place that they were staying at while in The Big Apple.

Then, on July 15, White and Dobrev were spotted holding hands as they went on a stroll around the city.

Dobrev wore an orange patterned sundress that had a slit while White donned a geometric patterned short-sleeved open shirt over a white tee and a pair of white trousers.

The couple's latest outing comes after Shaun hailed Nina as 'incredible' while promoting his new Max docuseries Shaun White: The Last Run.

'Shes just been so supportive and having her in my corner for this chapter in my life where Im retired and looking for whats next,' he told Extra.

'And even making this documentary, I was like: "Can you help me? This isnt my world. I dont know the film industry. I dont know what to ask for, what to do."'

Shaun, who gave up snowboarding after last year's Beijing Olympics, explained: 'This was actually a three-part series, and it wasnt fitting in all the episodes.'

Leaping to the rescue, Nina 'was like: "You need to call this person, you need to talk to that, you need to ask for this."'

Strutting her stuff: The former Vampire Diaries star was photographed leaving a building and walking along the sidewalks of NYC while flashing her model looks

Shaun rhapsodized about his girlfriend having been 'been so helpful in so many ways in my life. Im feeling very blessed and thankful to have her in my corner.'

Nina and Shaun have been trailed by a recent swarm of engagement rumors, which he addressed in his new interview.

The coupl e have been together since late 2019 and went public with their relationship on Instagram in April 2020.
She managed to overcome suspicious locals, sneering putdowns and four children marooned on a building site, but Sarah Beeny's plans to demolish a farmhouse at her new mini Downton Abbey estate have, I learn, been scuppered by bats.

The Property Ladder star, 51, had been given the go-ahead to bulldoze the 1970s four-bedroom house and build a new, seven-bedroom mansion and lake at the former dairy farm in Somerset.

But a recent ecological survey found a substantial roost for rare serotine bats in the roof of the former farmhouse.

A total of 200 bat droppings confirmed by DNA analysis were also found in the loft along with potential roosting areas including loose tiles and rotten soffit boxes.

Bats are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them.

The Beeny family sat on some hay with house in background

But a recent ecological survey found a substantial roost for rare serotine bats in the roof of the former farmhouse (pictured)

Beeny and her husband, the artist Graham Swift, would have needed a special licence from Natural England to demolish the house and destroy the roost.

But she has now submitted revised plans to keep the old farmhouse and refurbish it, moving the new build 437 yards away.

She also wants to convert four barns into new homes and has applied for a change of use from previous farm use including a milking parlour.

Given the complexity of the development, its planning history and weighing the clear ecological benefits, retaining the original farmhouse would represent a less harmful and satisfactory alternative to the currently obligated demolition and mitigation scenario, her planning agent said in a statement to the local council.

The applicants and their design team have been undergoing a rigorous process of review and site analysis to inform a more comprehensive approach to deliver an optimum proposal that makes the best use of existing buildings and deliver a wider package of environmental, ecological and place-making benefits.

Beeny and her husband, the artist Graham Swift (right), would have needed a special licence from Natural England to demolish the house and destroy the roost

Under the current plans, Beeny would have to fix two bat boxes and two bird boxes in nearby trees.

A dedicated barn owl loft would also have to be built into one of the proposed buildings after a roost was found in one of the barns to be converted.

There will also be three house martin nest cups and three house sparrow nest boxes built into the new builds.

Beeny and Swift bought their estate for 3million five years ago after relocating from London with their four sons. Their eight-part Channel 4 series, New Life In The Country, features their extensive restoration of the 220-acre farm.
He's on the radar of police and parking inspectors after racking up tens of thousands dollars worth of fines over the course of a year.

And Kyle Sandilands was ambushed by the cops on Tuesday morning, when the radio star, 52, pulled into KIIS FM's studios.

In video shared to The Kyle and Jackie O Show's Instagram account, several police were waiting for Sandilands when he pulled into his studio at 5:30am.

Officers approached Sandilands as he stepped out of his $250,000 Cadillac Escalade Platinum 4WD.

In audio recorded by station staff, Sandilands could be heard deftly talking himself out of trouble.

Kyle Sandilands was ambushed by the cops on Tuesday morning when the radio star, 52, pulled into KIIS FM's studios

Show employees revealed on air police pulled over and spoke to them while they waited for Kyle to arrive for that morning's show.

However it turned out the police simply wanted to talk to the father-of-one about comments he had made on the air.

'The highway patrol dude[s], they've come out and they've said, "Listen, we've heard you on the air saying you think the coppers are after you." And they've come out to tell me they're not after me.'

Kyle remained skeptical, telling officers he was concerned because he only had 'four points' left on his driver's licence.

But the interaction ended on good terms, with Kyle ringing one officer's fiancee who was a fan of the show and telling her she'd found 'a good one' in her law enforcement beau.

In video shared to The Kyle and Jackie O Show's Instagram account, several police were waiting for Sandilands when he pulled into his studio at 5:30am.

Back in 2021, Sandilands admitted he had accumulated around $16,000 worth of fines from that year alone.

'Sometimes I get away with parking, I've seen it with my own eyes,' Kyle said as he chatted to his manager and good friend Bruno Bouchet on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Bruno added some parking rangers don't bother with fining Kyle as they know he won't cough up the cash.

'There are a number of rangers who will never book you... they're good people, fans of the show and know it's more hassle than worth to book you anyway,' Bruno said.

Kyle said he just outright refuses to buy a ticket.

'I never buy a ticket, I say f**k the local council, I'm not paying you $4, screw yourself!' Kyle explained.

In audio recorded by station staff, Sandilands could be heard deftly talking himself out of trouble

Kyle, Bruno and Jackie O then broke down the figures.

Kyle said he had 18 fines for 'parking continuously longer than indicated' in a zone, which totals up to $2,088.

Kyle's sketchy driving record 18 fines for parking continuously longer than indicated' in a zone - $2,088 25 fines for disobeying a stop sign - $5,675 42 fines for stopping in a loading zone - $8,148 Total: $15,911 Advertisement

For disobeying a stop sign 25 times, Kyle has to cough up $5,675.

For stopping in a loading zone and being charged 42 times for the infringement, he has to pay back a total of $8,148.

The eye-watering total for this year comes to $15,911.

Jackie couldn't believe the figure and told Kyle it was 'such a waste of money'.

Kyle admitted that sometimes he just can't see the ticket fines on his car window screen and mistakes them for Domino's flyers.

In the scheme of thing $16,000 is a drop in the ocean for Kyle, who reportedly earns a whopping $5million per year to co-host the Kyle and Jackie O Show and drives a $380,000 Bentley.

In 2019, he added to his car collection, getting a $1.3million Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Jake Challenor, the publisher of industry bible Radio Today, said Kyle and Jackie O are paid $5million a year each to host Sydney's top-rated FM breakfast show.

Back in 2021, Sandilands admitted he had accumulated around $16,000 worth of fines from that year alone
Gilmore Girls actor Sean Gunn ripped Netflix for keeping its numbers secret and said that money performers should be getting are instead distributed among executives.

The 49-year-old actor chat with The Wrap on Sunday on a number of topics as the SAG-AFTRA strike extended into its second week.

The St. Louis native had pointed sentiments for Netflix, calling the streaming giant's unwillingness to release official numbers 'utter nonsense' and 'also unconscionable,' used as play to avoid paying their fair share of residuals to performers.

'You can rest assured that when a corporation is saying, "We're keeping this information secret," it's because they're screwing somebody over,' Gunn said.

Gunn said that it wasn't just the performers who were being shortchanged with the service's guarded stance toward releasing numbers, but the company's shareholders, as well.

The latest: Actor Sean Gunn, 49, ripped Netflix for keeping its numbers secret and said that money performers should be getting are instead distributed among executives

'If I were a shareholder in Netflix I'd be real worried that Netflix is screwing me over. Why don't I get to see those numbers?' he said. 'I've heard people who are close to that side of the negotiating table who have said, "Oh, at all costs they are never going to release those numbers."'

He said the media should be pressing the company for an explanation as to why it's 'a good thing' to keep the numbers under wraps.

Gunn said that over time and with new factors arising from streaming, performers are getting significantly less of their fair share financially, as executives continue to pad their pockets with more.

'The old model used to be that when a show went into syndication, you get a little bit of money for all of the viewings, for all the revenue that's pulled in, and that is totally changed,' said Gunn. 'We see such a small percentage of that. Instead, that money now goes to bonuses for those CEOs and studio heads, and I just think it's [a] shame.'

Gunn, who played Kirk Gleason on 137 episodes of Gilmore Girls from 2000-2007, also addressed a development in regards to a chat he had with The Hollywood Reporter Friday that was posted and later taken off the outlet's social media.

In the interview, Gunn said that he didn't receive any residuals from Netflix for the series, which it has streamed.

The outlet later explained in a tweet that the clip didn't clarify 'that the residuals Gunn was referencing are paid by the studio and not the streamer, Netflix.'

In the chat with THR from the picket line, Gunn said he 'particularly wanted to come out and protest Netflix' because of the lack of residuals he's received from his work on Gilmore Girls, as there is no system in place for streamers to pay residuals to performers akin to syndication deals.

The St. Louis native had pointed sentiments for Netflix, calling the streaming giant's unwillingness to release official numbers 'utter nonsense' and 'also unconscionable,' used as play to avoid paying their fair share of residuals to performers. Pictured last year in San Diego

Gunn, who played Kirk Gleason on 137 episodes of Gilmore Girls from 2000-2007, has publicly called out the streamer for a lack of transparency over its numbers

'It has been one of their most popular shows for a very long time, over a decade,' he said. 'It gets streamed over and over and over again, and I see almost none of the revenue that comes into that.'

He added, 'You really need to rethink how you do business and share the wealth with people. Otherwise, this is all going to come crashing down.'

Gunn told The Wrap of the removal, 'The only sort of explanation I got for why it was taken down is that is that they said that my residuals aren't paid by Netflix, they're paid by Warner Brothers, the production company.'

The actor said it struck him as 'a very odd reason' to remove the interview.

'The whole point I was making was that we don't get the residuals that we deserve from Netflix,' he said. 'There's no participation in the success of the show. Because their numbers are hidden, because Netflix operates in total secrecy, we are totally unable to share when a show's a big success.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Netflix for comment on this story.
Jennifer Lopez returned to her rigorous routine Monday in Los Angeles.

The 53-year-old superstar showcased her curves as she arrived at the gym one day after celebrating her first wedding anniversary with husband Ben Affleck, 50.

The Mother star arrived for her workout wearing black leggings and a white short sleeve crop top.

Her long light brown locks were hanging loose around her face and down her back as she exited her car and walked toward the entrance.

The Grammy winner wore white sneakers.

Workout: Jennifer Lopez, 53 returned to her rigorous routine Monday in Los Angeles, one day after celebrating her first wedding anniversary with husband Ben Affleck, 50

The Marry me star appeared to be wearing minimal makeup.

She protected her eyes from the bright California sun wearing large black sunglasses.

The Amor, Amor, Amor artist carried a large white leather purse.

After her workout, Jennifer emerged from the gym with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

She was spotted walking in to Nina's Kitchen, Bath, Hardware and Tile.

Jen and Ben have purchased a mansion in Beverly Hills for their new home.

According to Dirt.com, the house sits on 5.2 acres in the mountains above Beverly Hills.

Stats on the dwelling indicate it has a total of 12 bedroom and 24 bathrooms, provided plenty of room for the couple and their blended family.

Leggings: The Mother star arrived for her workout wearing black leggings and a white short sleeve crop top. Her long light brown locks were hanging loose around her face and down her back as she exited her car and walked toward the entrance

Ponytail: After her workout, Jennifer emerged from the gym with her hair pulled back in a ponytail

Natural: The Marry me star appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and protected her eyes from the bright California sun wearing large black sunglasses. The Amor, Amor, Amor artist carried a large white leather purse

Errands: While running her errands, JLo was spotted walking in to Nina's Kitchen, Bath, Hardware and Tile in Los Angeles

Jennifer is mom to twins Max and Emme, 15.

Ben is dad to Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14 and Samuel, 11.

According to IMDB, the actress and producer has wrapped up her work on the futuristic thriller Atlas, co-starring Lana Parilla, Simu Liu and Sterling K Brown.

There's no word yet when the film about a AI soldier who believes the only way to end war is to end humanity will be released.

The actors and writers strikes have resulted in many productions halting as unions for both try to work out new contracts with Hollywood studios.
Jamie Foxx is living it up as he continues to recovery from his mysterious medical emergency earlier this year.

The 55-year-old Oscar winner recently threw a party to mark his progress, with guests gathering at the rehabilitation facility in Chicago that he has been attending on an outpatient basis, a source told People.

Foxx suffered a medical emergency in April of this year while shooting the action-comedy Back In Action in the Atlanta area with Cameron Diaz.

The source said Foxx 'has been working really hard these last couple of months to get back to normal and has greatly improved since he first got to the facility.'

They added that he held the party 'to celebrate being better.'

Party time! Jamie Foxx threw a party in Chicago recently to celebrate his ongoing recovery from a medical emergency in April, a source told People; seen in August 2022 in LA

Focused on recovery: Foxx held the party at the rehab facility in Chicago that he has been attending on an outpatient basis since interrupting his film Back In Action; seen in February 2023 in London

However, they noted that Foxx isn't out of the woods yet and has not made a complete recovery at this point.

'He is still doing some outpatient rehab though,' the source added.

Foxx's daughter Corinne has shared vague updates about his recovery and progress since announcing that he had suffered a 'medical complication' shortly after the event in April.

In May, she shared that he had even recovered enough to enjoy a game of pickleball.

She also said at the time that he had been 'out of the hospital for weeks,' suggesting that his initial hospitalization was brief.

Earlier this month, Foxx was pictured beaming and waving at fans from a boat as he cruised along the Chicago River.

However, a source told Us Weekly a few days later that the Baby Driver actor is 'still not 100 percent better,' despite making positive strides.

One recent celebrity encounter indicated that the acclaimed star thinks he's feeling better.

On Monday, a woman in Chicago claimed that she ran into Foxx when he retrieved her purse after she dropped it from a pedicab.

He was pictured jumping out of an SUV to return the bag to her, according to People.

'I'm feeling good,' he allegedly replied when the woman asked him how he was feeling.

Not done yet: 'He is still doing some outpatient rehab though,' the source added. He was recently seen waving on a boat in Chicago and playing pickleball; seen in December in Paris

MIA: His costar Cameron Diaz had not spoken to him since his emergency as of June, a close friend of hers told DailyMail.com; seen in 2014 in London

She also said he replied to her thanks with, 'You're welcome, baby.'

She added that his voice sounded 'calm' during the brief encounter.

In June, a close friend of Foxx's Back In Action costar Cameron Diaz told DailyMail.com that he had not communicated with her at all up to the point following his medical emergency.

He reportedly had about eight days of shooting left on the film, though Cameron continued to film scenes with his body doubles while he was away and recovering.
MANZINI  The taxpayer will foot an expenditure of about E3 million for the two-day nomination process.

The nomination process, which is the third item in the 2023 General Elections calendar published by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), shall be held on July 22 and 23, 2023. In 2018, when the constituency centres were increased from 55 to 59, the EBC used 1 091 vehicles. From this figure, 216 vehicles were sourced from the government fleet while the remaining of 875 were rented. According to previous reports, the vehicles were rented at about E3 500 each per day. On the basis of this independent calculation by this publication, the taxpayer shall foot a minimum of E3 062 500 to rent the 875 vehicles, which were reportedly adequate for this stage of the elections.

Elections

The 875 vehicles which were rented by government in 2018 for this stage of the general elections were 217 double-cab bakkies, 217 sedans, 441 mini-buses with the capacity to transport 13 seated passengers per trip. On the other hand, the vehicles which were used in 2018 for this stage and sourced from the government fleet were 93 double-cabs, 93 sedans and 30 mini-buses, which had the capacity to transport 13 passengers per trip. The vehicles shall be used in ensuring that the 59 constituency (tinkhundla) centres, which have 336 chiefdoms under them, have adequate transport to meet the nomination process needs. The nomination process, which is an act of suggesting or choosing somebody as a candidate in an election, shall be held this coming weekend. This process is conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Act 1 of 2005, which designates chiefdoms as nomination centres.

Nominate

Each chiefdom is expected to nominate candidates in the following elective offices; bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla and Member of Parliament (MP). Meanwhile, government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Principal Secretary (PS), Thulani Mkhaliphi, said government had a fleet size of about 3 000 and the fleet strength was reduced daily when the life of each of these assets came to an end. The PS said in the past, what government would do, was to buy the vehicles. However, he said in the recent past, the cost of vehicles had gone up so steeply to a point where the cost of one vehicle was now equivalent to four when taking into consideration in prices from six years ago. We now have slightly above 1 700 fully functional fleet (which is) aging very quickly, though due to excessive use. For the election project, we are using a combination of our regular fleet and privately sourced vehicles, he said.

Mkhaliphi said the numbers fluctuated through the period, depending on the need and intensity of the operation. The PS said government was keeping the numbers at bare minimum to control costs, but at the same time ensuring smooth flow of the project (elections). He said the procurement of new vehicles using the lease financing was not yet complete as there was no company that had yet been identified. The PS said the public would be advised in due course once the process had been completed. We are looking at finalising the process in the next two weeks, he said. Mkhaliphi said this after his input was sought to establish if governments plans to avail the vehicles for the elections process were on the right course. He was sought for comment to establish how many had the ministry secured and also, if the tender for fleet lease financing had been awarded. He was also asked if it had been awarded, to which company was it extended to and if no, when would this process be completed, given the elections calendar.

This is subsequent to a previous engagement with the ministry on May 9, 2023, wherein this publication was informed that the elections project would be supplied with vehicles as they needed them. Mkhaliphi, at the time, said the system that would be used this time around would not only be cost sensitive, but also be towards meeting fleet requirements of departments and ministries once elections were completed. This was when this publication reported that government had in its coffers about E200 million to procure vehicles. Half the amount was sourced from the EBC transport budget. The EBC, according to impeccable sources presented their programme to Cabinet and also sought vehicles to use during the upcoming elections over the 59 constituencies.

According to sources, the EBC had sought to establish if they had to lease vehicles for the upcoming vehicles or there would be an intervention by government. It was gathered that Cabinet assured the EBC that it would have the vehicles ready for the elections. Instead of leasing its own vehicles, sources claimed that the EBC was advised of a broader plan which would sort out governments fleet challenges. At the end of the meeting, it was said, the EBC agreed to extend its budget of E100 million to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. It is worth noting that the government fleet has been in disarray since the 11th Parliament came into office.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, through the Eswatini Government Tender Board, has since the beginning of the year been calling upon companies to express interest in government fleet leasing and financing. The ministry expressed a desire to engage a firm for the provision of government fleet lease financing for a period ranging between three and five years. According to the 2018 National Elections report, government allocated E71 138 130 for the elections transport budget.
Helen George looked downcast as she surfaced for a dog walk after revealing she's split from her partner Jack Ashton seven years after meeting on Call The Midwife.

The actress, 39, and her partner, 36, are said to have 'drifted apart' and decided to go their separate ways 'some months ago'.

The couple of seven years - who share daughters Wren, six, and Lark, two - are now focusing on co-parenting their two children.

Helen bundled up in a khaki rain jacket as she braved the bad weather while wearing a cast on her foot.

She kept her look casual in a pair of red skin-tight leggings and a matching zip-up top while walking her dog.

Glum: Helen George looked downcast as she surfaced for a dog walk after revealing she's split from her partner Jack Ashton seven years after meeting on Call The Midwife

Downcast: Helen bundled up in a khaki rain jacket as she braved the bad weather while wearing a cast on her foot

Confirming the split, Helen told The Mirror: 'Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.'

While a source added: 'Helen and Jack's decision to end their relationship has been amicable, and no one else is involved, they have just grown apart as a couple.'

'They are both incredibly committed to working together to be the best parents they can for their two daughters,' they said.

MailOnline has contacted Helen's representatives for further comment.

Helen met Jack while they were both starring on smash hit BBC drama series Call the Midwife.

Helen has played Trixie Franklin on the show since 2012, while Jack joined the series two years later as Tom Hereward.

The pair's characters embarked on a romance on screen and Tom proposed to Trixie, before she ended their relationship.

In real life, the couple were said to have fallen for each other after travelling to South Africa to film the show's 2016 Christmas Special.

A year later, they then welcomed their first child Wren, before their second daughter Lark was born in November 2021.

Confirming the split, Helen told The Mirror: 'Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.'

Co-stars: Helen met Jack while they were both starring on smash hit BBC drama series Call the Midwife and started dating while filming in South Africa in 2016

In May 2021, Helen gave a rare insight into her relationship with Jack and told how them working in the same industry helped their romance.

She told the Daily Mail: 'It's not like you have time to have hobbies at the weekends. You're on set for a long time every day and you don't get to see many other people.

'We are like-minded people who understand the industry, the career and the long hours.'

Before her romance with Jack, Helen was married to actor Oliver Boot for three years before they split in 2015 .

Helen met her former partner on set of BBC drama Hotel Babylon, and the couple married in December 2012.

The married couple confirmed that they had parted ways in September 2015, telling the Mirror : 'I can confirm that Helen separated from her husband some time ago.'

The news of her split from Jack comes days after Helen revealed that she had broken her leg on Sunday .

She took to Instagram to update her followers, sharing a picture of her right leg in a cast and wheeling herself around on a scooter.

The star remained in bright spirits and kept an optimistic smile on her face as she beamed at the camera but hasn't said how she obtained the injury.

Family: The couple of seven years (pictured in September 2021) - who share daughters Wren, six, and Lark, two - are now focusing on co-parenting their two children

Ouch! The news of her split from Jack comes days after Helen revealed that she had broken her leg on Sunday

Captioning the post, she simply wrote 'Speedy'.

Helen wore a tight black dress and black Adidas Samba trainers, with a Saint Laurent bag around her shoulder.

Despite being left immobile, the actress didn't let her injury get in the way of having a good time as she shared a snap from Soho House Festival.

She looked in high spirits as she posed alongside actress Pippa Duffy and writer Vikki Stone for a sweet snap.

Helen's also recently teased the return of famous faces for Call The Midwife 's final ever episode.

The actress admitted that it would be 'amazing' to have some old characters back on the show .

Among the favourites to appear on the BBC drama is Miranda Hart.

The star played nurse and midwife Chummy between 2012 and 2015 - but left after not being able to 'birth the schedule to make it work', she said at the time.

Speaking to RadioTimes about the possibility of a reunion with past characters, Helen said: 'We've talked about that, wouldn't it be nice?

Exciting: Helen's also recently teased the return of famous faces for Call The Midwife 's final ever episode

'Like at the end of Titanic, all the characters come and it's just beautiful. It would have been amazing to have everybody.'

Teasing reunion plans ever further, she continued: 'Look, you'll have to wait and see. But it'll be nice at some point  maybe at the end of the very, very last series  to get some of the old faces back, for sure.'

The BBC recently confirmed that the show will return for two more seasons, keeping it on air until at least 2026.

The show is set in the 1950s and 1960s in London's East End - and focuses on a group of midwives in a nursing convent.
Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Barclays from $62.00 to $66.00 in a report issued on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $58.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $91.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. Raymond James upgraded Alaska Air Group from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $68.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Alaska Air Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Alaska Air Group from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Two investment 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 a consensus target price of $65.43.

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Alaska Air Group Stock Down 3.6 %

Shares of Alaska Air Group stock opened at $52.36 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $6.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 113.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The companys 50 day moving average is $48.55 and its 200 day moving average is $46.68. Alaska Air Group has a twelve month low of $37.19 and a twelve month high of $57.18.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Alaska Air Group ( NYSE:ALK Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The transportation company reported ($0.62) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.48) by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.19 billion. Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 17.03% and a net margin of 0.58%. Alaska Air Groups revenue was up 30.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($1.33) EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group will post 6.54 EPS for the current year.

In other Alaska Air Group news, CEO Benito Minicucci sold 5,000 shares of the firms 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 sale, 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 SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.68% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alaska Air Group

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ALK. Sciencast Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $331,000. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group in the second quarter worth about $202,000. Level Four Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 78,795 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,190,000 after buying an additional 9,330 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 34.9% in the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 11,039 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $587,000 after acquiring an additional 2,855 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Investment Group LLC raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Investment Group LLC now owns 84,029 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $4,469,000 after purchasing an additional 7,057 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.04% of the companys stock.

About Alaska Air Group

(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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Royal Bank of Canada downgraded shares of Altium (OTCMKTS:ALMFF  Free Report) from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report issued on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Altium Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of ALMFF opened at $24.15 on Thursday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $24.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.19. Altium has a 1-year low of $23.20 and a 1-year high of $27.91.

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Altium Company Profile

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Altium Limited develops and sells computer software for the design of electronic products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Board and Systems; and Nexar. The company offers printed circuit board (PCB) design software products, including Altium Designer, Altium NEXUS, CircuitStudio, and CircuitMaker.

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BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Birchcliff Energy (OTCMKTS:BIREF  Free Report) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat.com reports.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$8.00 to C$7.50 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Birchcliff Energy from C$13.00 to C$11.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. CIBC lowered their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a report on Friday, April 14th. Raymond James upgraded Birchcliff Energy from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Birchcliff Energy from C$8.00 to C$7.50 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $10.44.

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Birchcliff Energy Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:BIREF opened at $5.67 on Thursday. Birchcliff Energy has a 12-month low of $5.46 and a 12-month high of $9.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.51 billion, a PE ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.87. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $5.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08.

Birchcliff Energy Cuts Dividend

Birchcliff Energy ( OTCMKTS:BIREF Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported ($0.12) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Birchcliff Energy had a net margin of 39.23% and a return on equity of 21.17%. The business had revenue of $154.31 million during the quarter.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.1484 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a yield of 10.25%. Birchcliff Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.70%.

Birchcliff Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Birchcliff Energy Ltd., an intermediate oil and natural gas company, acquires, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, light oil, condensate, and other natural gas liquids in Western Canada. The company holds interests in the Montney/Doig resource play located approximately 95 km northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

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Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) had its target price decreased by Royal Bank of Canada from $63.00 to $60.00 in a report published on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has a sector perform rating on the energy companys stock.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on DVN. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Devon Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $63.00 to $58.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $52.00 to $49.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $52.00 to $50.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Devon Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.53.

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Devon Energy Stock Down 4.3 %

Shares of DVN opened at $48.90 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $31.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 2.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Devon Energy has a 12 month low of $44.03 and a 12 month high of $78.82. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $48.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.51.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.82 billion. Devon Energy had a net margin of 31.39% and a return on equity of 47.42%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.88 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Devon Energy will post 6.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is 8.72%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total value of $414,351.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 218,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,914,347.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Devon Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DVN. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Devon Energy by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,526 shares of the energy companys stock worth $557,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC boosted its stake in Devon Energy by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 31,712 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 2,857 shares during the period. Avion Wealth boosted its stake in Devon Energy by 68.7% in the 2nd quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 22,094 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,068,000 after purchasing an additional 9,001 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLC boosted its stake in Devon Energy by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC now owns 87,239 shares of the energy companys stock worth $4,217,000 after purchasing an additional 4,590 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in Devon Energy by 26.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC now owns 21,612 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,045,000 after purchasing an additional 4,560 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.00% of the companys stock.

About Devon Energy

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Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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E.On (OTCMKTS:ENAKF  Get Free Report) and EDP  Energias de Portugal (OTCMKTS:EDPFY  Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

25.1% of E.On shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares E.On and EDP  Energias de Portugals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio E.On N/A N/A N/A ($0.25) -49.29 EDP  Energias de Portugal $21.76 billion N/A $715.52 million $3.13 15.57

Analyst Recommendations

EDP  Energias de Portugal has higher revenue and earnings than E.On. E.On is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than EDP  Energias de Portugal, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for E.On and EDP  Energias de Portugal, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score E.On 0 0 0 0 N/A EDP  Energias de Portugal 0 1 1 1 3.00

EDP  Energias de Portugal has a consensus target price of $6.10, suggesting a potential downside of 87.48%. Given EDP  Energias de Portugals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe EDP  Energias de Portugal is more favorable than E.On.

Dividends

E.On pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.8%. EDP  Energias de Portugal pays an annual dividend of $1.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. E.On pays out -238.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. EDP  Energias de Portugal pays out 49.5% 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. E.On is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Profitability

This table compares E.On and EDP  Energias de Portugals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets E.On N/A N/A N/A EDP  Energias de Portugal 5.44% N/A N/A

Summary

EDP  Energias de Portugal beats E.On on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About E.On

(Get Free Report)

E.ON SE operates as an energy company in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Energy Networks and Customer Solutions. The Energy Networks segment operates power and gas distribution networks, as well as provides maintenance, repairs, and related services. The Customer Solutions segment supplies power, gas, and heat, as well as with products and services that enhance energy efficiency to residential, small and medium-sized enterprises, large commercial and industrial, sales partners, and public entities. Additionally, it provides SmartSim, a software solution that allows renewable gases to be fed into gas grids; gas quality tracking solutions; GasPro, a mobile gas sample collector; metering solutions; and GasCalc, a software that calculates natural gases, LNG, and biogases properties. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Essen, Germany.

About EDP  Energias de Portugal

(Get Free Report)

EDP  Energias de Portugal, S.A. engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity in Portugal, Spain, France, Poland, Romania, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Greece, Colombia, Brazil, North America, and internationally. It operates through Renewables, Networks, and Client Solutions & Energy Management segments. The company primarily generates and sells electricity through hydro, CCGT, coal, wind, solar, nuclear, and cogeneration and waste sources. It has an installed capacity of 28 GW; and operates 380,788 kilometers of distribution network lines. The company is also involved in the supply of natural gas. In addition, it offers engineering, laboratory tests, professional training, and energy services, as well as property management services. The company's electricity and gas customers include domestic, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and others. EDP  Energias de Portugal, S.A. was incorporated in 1976 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust (NYSE:ETX  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,200 shares, an increase of 408.3% from the June 15th total of 2,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 30,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust Price Performance

NYSE ETX traded down $0.11 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $17.71. The stock had a trading volume of 17,934 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,990. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $17.77 and a 200 day moving average of $17.98. Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust has a 52-week low of $17.39 and a 52-week high of $21.29.

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Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 24th will be given a $0.0583 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 21st. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.95%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust

About Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust by 106.5% in the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 89,908 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,599,000 after purchasing an additional 46,371 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $203,000. UBS Group AG boosted its position in Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust by 78.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 153,560 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,732,000 after purchasing an additional 67,292 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 98,897 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,759,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE raised its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 9,536 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $170,000 after buying an additional 1,100 shares during the period.

(Get Free Report)

Eaton Vance Municipal Income 2028 Term Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It invests in the fixed income markets. The fund invest in stocks of companies operating across the diversified sectors. It was previously known as Eaton Vance Municipal Income Term Trust.

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Raymond James set a C$36.00 target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Free Report) in a research note released on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a market perform rating on the stock.

LB has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$36.00 to C$34.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. CSFB lowered their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$35.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. CIBC lowered their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$40.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$39.00 to C$51.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$43.17.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada Price Performance

Shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada stock opened at C$43.10 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.87 billion, a PE ratio of 9.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.17. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$32.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$33.14. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 52-week low of C$28.23 and a 52-week high of C$48.23.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

Laurentian Bank of Canada ( TSE:LB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported C$1.16 earnings per share (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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$261.70 million. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a net margin of 21.97% and a return on equity of 7.69%. Analysts predict that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 5.0972389 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 1st will be given a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date 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 yield of 4.36%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is presently 40.69%.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

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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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PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PPERY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 68,700 shares, an increase of 358.0% from the June 15th total of 15,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 63,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days.

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Stock Performance

PPERY stock traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $14.49. 63,263 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 32,435. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $13.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $13.44. PT Bank Mandiri has a fifty-two week low of $9.27 and a fifty-two week high of $15.36.

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PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Company Profile

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PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Shanghai, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the Cayman Islands. It offers savings and current accounts, time deposits, demand deposits, and foreign currency savings and current accounts; motorcycle loans, mortgage loan, and housing loans, as well as loans for various purposes, such as education, home renovation, marriage, health, and other needs for individuals; and working capital loans, investment loans, people's business loans, syndicated loans, and micro business loans for businesses.

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Neighbourly Pharmacy (TSE:NBLY  Free Report) had its price target decreased by Royal Bank of Canada from C$34.00 to C$28.00 in a report issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on NBLY. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Neighbourly Pharmacy from C$26.50 to C$24.50 in a research note on Friday, June 9th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Neighbourly Pharmacy from C$25.00 to C$23.00 in a research note on Friday, June 9th. National Bankshares dropped their price target on shares of Neighbourly Pharmacy from C$22.00 to C$20.50 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 9th. TD Securities lowered their target price on shares of Neighbourly Pharmacy from C$29.00 to C$28.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Finally, Cormark lowered their target price on shares of Neighbourly Pharmacy from C$36.00 to C$30.00 in a research note on Friday, June 9th.

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Neighbourly Pharmacy Stock Performance

NBLY opened at C$15.45 on Thursday. Neighbourly Pharmacy has a 12-month low of C$15.35 and a 12-month high of C$25.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.42. The firm has a market capitalization of C$689.69 million, a PE ratio of 67.17 and a beta of 0.56. The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$18.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$21.06.

Neighbourly Pharmacy Announces Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at Neighbourly Pharmacy

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be paid a $0.045 dividend. This represents a $0.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 5th. Neighbourly Pharmacys dividend payout ratio is currently 78.26%.

In other Neighbourly Pharmacy news, Senior Officer Stephen Richard Losty sold 22,767 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$17.77, for a total value of C$404,489.91. 0.35% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Neighbourly Pharmacy Company Profile

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Neighbourly Pharmacy Inc owns and operates a chain of retail pharmacies in Canada. The company sells prescription medication, confections and food, over the counter drugs, and health and beauty aids. It operates pharmacies under the various banners, such as IDA/Guardian, Pharmachoice, Pharmasave, Remedy's RX, and Drug Trading.

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Iraq has launched a dedicated unit to oversee the execution of its ambitious 'Route of Development' project worth $17 billion that will see road and rail infrastructure being developed in the country in bid to link Europe with the Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries, said the Iraqi Ministry of Transport spokesperson, Shada Radi.



Once completed, the project known as the Route of Development would stretch 1,200 km from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the south, reported AFP.

The plan includes the construction of around 15 stations along the route, including in the major cities of Basra, Baghdad and Mosul, and up to the Turkish border.

According to Radi, the project aims to bolster economic cooperation between Iraq, Turkey, and Europe.

The initial measures have already been set in motion, including soil surveying activities to determine the optimal route for both the rail and road links.

The new office will also be tasked with contacting Gulf nations and other countries to explore possible contributions to the projects realisation, she stated.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al Sudani had presented the mega plan at a recent conference which was attended by senior transport ministry representatives from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE.

"We see this project as a pillar of a sustainable non-oil economy, a link that serves Iraqs neighbors and the region, and a contribution to economic integration efforts," stated Sudani.

While further discussions are required, any country that wishes will be able to carry out part of the project, the Iraqi parliaments transport committee said, adding that the project could be completed in three to five years.

The project aims to tie the Grand Faw Port in Iraq's oil-rich south to Turkey, turning the country into a transit hub by shortening travel time between Asia and Europe in a bid to rival the Suez Canal, reported Reuters.

"The Development Road is not just a road to move goods or passengers. This road opens the door to development of vast areas of Iraq," said Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq.

Iraq's government envisions high-speed trains moving goods and passengers at up to 300km per hour, links to local industry hubs and an energy component that could include oil and gas pipelines, he noted.

Developing the road and rail corridor would allow Iraq to capitalize on its geographical position, with the aim of making the country a transportation hub for goods and people moving between the Gulf, Turkey and Europe.

It would mark a significant departure from the country's existing aged transport network.

Iraq's train service currently operates a handful of lines, including slow oil freight and a single overnight passenger train that trundles from Baghdad to Basra, taking 10 to 12 hours to cover 500km.
Great Wall Motor Company Limited (OTCMKTS:GWLLY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,500 shares, an increase of 441.7% from the June 15th total of 1,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days.

Great Wall Motor Price Performance

GWLLY stock traded down $0.34 during trading on Friday, reaching $11.71. 306 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,328. The company has a 50-day moving average of $11.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.40. Great Wall Motor has a twelve month low of $9.06 and a twelve month high of $17.31.

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Great Wall Motor (OTCMKTS:GWLLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 21st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $4.24 billion for the quarter.

Great Wall Motor Increases Dividend

About Great Wall Motor

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be given a $0.3452 dividend. This is a boost from Great Wall Motors previous dividend of $0.09. This represents a yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 28th.

(Get Free Report)

Great Wall Motor Company Limited researches and develops, manufactures, and sells automobiles, and automotive parts and components in China, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and internationally. The company offers SUVs, sedans, pick-up trucks, and energy vehicles primarily under the Haval, WEY, ORA, Tank, and Great Wall Pickup brand names.

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Shares of Corebridge Financial, Inc. (NYSE:CRBG  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $24.08.

CRBG has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Corebridge Financial in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Corebridge Financial from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $25.00 to $23.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Corebridge Financial from $28.00 to $21.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $26.00 price target on shares of Corebridge Financial in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, UBS Group started coverage on shares of Corebridge Financial in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a buy rating and a $22.00 price target for the company.

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Insider Activity

In other Corebridge Financial news, major shareholder International Group American sold 74,750,000 shares of Corebridge Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.25, for a total transaction of $1,214,687,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 426,395,000 shares in the company, valued at $6,928,918,750. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Corebridge Financial

Corebridge Financial Stock Performance

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Park Avenue Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Corebridge Financial during the second quarter worth approximately $339,000. Gradient Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Corebridge Financial during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Toroso Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Corebridge Financial during the 1st quarter worth $1,534,000. Putnam Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Corebridge Financial during the 1st quarter worth $3,444,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Corebridge Financial by 28,813.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 856,980 shares of the companys stock worth $13,729,000 after purchasing an additional 854,016 shares during the last quarter. 22.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CRBG opened at $18.64 on Wednesday. Corebridge Financial has a one year low of $14.01 and a one year high of $23.50. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $17.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Corebridge Financial (NYSE:CRBG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.21 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Corebridge Financial will post 4.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Corebridge Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th were paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th.

About Corebridge Financial

(Get Free Report

Corebridge Financial, Inc provides retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. It operates through Individual Retirement, Group Retirement, Life Insurance, and Institutional Markets segments. The Individual Retirement segment provides fixed annuities, fixed index annuities, variable annuities and retail mutual funds.

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Grandfield & Dodd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW  Free Report) by 0.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 364,790 shares of the electronics makers stock after purchasing an additional 1,072 shares during the period. Grandfield & Dodd LLCs holdings in Corning were worth $12,870,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. KCM Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Corning by 81.3% during the 4th quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,849 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $410,000 after purchasing an additional 5,760 shares during the period. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI acquired a new stake in shares of Corning during the 1st quarter valued at about $210,000. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of Corning by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 218,809 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $6,989,000 after acquiring an additional 701 shares during the period. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of Corning by 249.5% during the 4th quarter. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP now owns 209,717 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $6,698,000 after acquiring an additional 149,717 shares during the period. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Corning by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 184,451 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $5,890,000 after acquiring an additional 12,839 shares during the period. 68.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup upgraded Corning from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $36.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. UBS Group cut Corning from a buy rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the company from $38.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Corning from $38.00 to $37.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Corning from $35.00 to $33.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Corning in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $38.67.

Corning Price Performance

GLW traded down $0.01 during trading on Monday, reaching $33.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 673,875 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,544,422. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $33.90. Corning Incorporated has a 1 year low of $28.98 and a 1 year high of $37.73. The company has a market cap of $28.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.66, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.09.

Corning (NYSE:GLW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The electronics maker reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.02. Corning had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 13.99%. The business had revenue of $3.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.35 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.54 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Corning Incorporated will post 1.94 EPS for the current year.

Corning Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. Cornings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 105.66%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Michael Alan Bell sold 35,045 shares of Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.00, for a total transaction of $1,226,575.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Cheryl C. Capps sold 28,574 shares of Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.14, for a total transaction of $946,942.36. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 100,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,314,000. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Michael Alan Bell sold 35,045 shares of Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.00, for a total transaction of $1,226,575.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 161,334 shares of company stock valued at $5,294,350 in the last ninety days. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Corning

(Free Report)

Corning Incorporated engages in the display technologies, optical communications, environmental technologies, specialty materials, and life sciences businesses worldwide. The company's Display Technologies segment offers glass substrates for flat panel displays, including liquid crystal displays and organic light-emitting diodes that are used in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, tablets, and handheld devices.

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Grandfield & Dodd LLC raised its stake in M&T Bank Co. (NYSE:MTB  Free Report) by 1.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 135,538 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,601 shares during the period. Grandfield & Dodd LLC owned approximately 0.08% of M&T Bank worth $16,206,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MTB. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of M&T Bank in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 358.2% in the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 252 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Affiance Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of M&T Bank in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 42.7% in the 1st quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 311 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 191.3% in the 1st quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 335 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. 82.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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M&T Bank Stock Down 0.3 %

NYSE:MTB traded down $0.36 on Monday, hitting $130.43. The stock had a trading volume of 160,515 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,652,853. The businesss fifty day moving average is $123.03 and its 200 day moving average is $133.11. The company has a market cap of $21.63 billion, a PE ratio of 10.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. M&T Bank Co. has a 52 week low of $109.36 and a 52 week high of $193.42.

M&T Bank Dividend Announcement

M&T Bank ( NYSE:MTB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $4.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.98 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.37 billion. M&T Bank had a return on equity of 11.97% and a net margin of 23.20%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.73 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that M&T Bank Co. will post 16.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.99%. M&T Banks payout ratio is currently 40.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MTB has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wolfe Research lowered M&T Bank from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on M&T Bank from $133.00 to $147.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. UBS Group lowered M&T Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Barclays reduced their price objective on M&T Bank from $153.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on M&T Bank from $190.00 to $183.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $160.20.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Rudina Seseri sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.40, for a total value of $82,880.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,736 shares in the company, valued at $205,542.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Rudina Seseri sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.40, for a total value of $82,880.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,736 shares in the company, valued at $205,542.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Daryl N. Bible bought 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was bought at an average price of $120.61 per share, for a total transaction of $1,206,100.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,206,100. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock.

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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Great Portland Estates Plc (OTCMKTS:GPEAF  Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Reduce by the six ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $572.50.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Peel Hunt upgraded shares of Great Portland Estates to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Great Portland Estates from GBX 600 ($7.72) to GBX 625 ($8.04) in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. HSBC downgraded shares of Great Portland Estates from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Great Portland Estates from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, June 12th.

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Great Portland Estates Price Performance

OTCMKTS GPEAF opened at $4.92 on Monday. Great Portland Estates has a 12-month low of $4.42 and a 12-month high of $6.98. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $5.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.10.

About Great Portland Estates

We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning 2.5 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with London's property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive.

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HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) in a research report released on Friday, MarketBeat reports. The firm issued a reduce rating and a $56.00 price target on the biopharmaceutical companys stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Daiwa Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, 51job restated a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $75.44.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $61.94 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.13 billion, a PE ratio of 18.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.42. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52-week low of $61.57 and a 52-week high of $81.43. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $65.12 and a 200 day moving average of $68.47.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The businesss revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.96 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bristol-Myers Squibb

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at approximately $332,000. Covestor Ltd raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $150,000 after buying an additional 1,082 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,075,000 after acquiring an additional 57,444 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at about $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $24,725,000 after acquiring an additional 68,018 shares during the period. 74.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a report issued on Friday. The firm issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Trading Up 4.3 %

Shares of THM stock opened at $0.46 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $0.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.52. The company has a market cap of $89.42 million, a P/E ratio of -22.94 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a 12 month low of $0.37 and a 12 month high of $0.75.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Tower Hill Mines

An institutional investor recently raised its position in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Virtu Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Free Report) (TSE:ITH) by 314.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 61,808 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 46,910 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLCs holdings in International Tower Hill Mines were worth $26,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.34% of the companys stock.

About International Tower Hill Mines

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Barclays from $69.00 to $70.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the company from $69.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Roth Mkm upped their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $66.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned 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 Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE LVS opened at $60.94 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $58.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $57.36. Las Vegas Sands has a 52-week low of $33.38 and a 52-week high of $65.58. The stock has a market cap of $46.57 billion, a P/E 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 quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 1.79.

Insider Buying and Selling at Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a negative net margin of 10.42% and a negative return on equity of 10.21%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 124.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.40) EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands will post 1.7 EPS for the current year.

In related news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of Las Vegas Sands stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total transaction of $947,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 205,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,012,009.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.91% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. ZRC Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Retirement Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Las Vegas Sands during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 123.7% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 671 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. 39.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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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TELUS (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) had its target price reduced by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from C$32.00 to C$31.00 in a research note issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 28.58% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the stock. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of TELUS from C$28.00 to C$27.00 in a research report on Friday. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. National Bankshares cut their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$30.00 to C$28.00 in a research report on Friday. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$29.50 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$29.00 in a research note on Monday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, TELUS presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$30.14.

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TELUS Stock Down 0.9 %

T traded down C$0.21 on Monday, hitting C$24.11. The company had a trading volume of 1,608,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,295,698. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.41, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.52. TELUS has a 52-week low of C$24.08 and a 52-week high of C$30.77. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$26.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$27.12. The firm has a market capitalization of C$34.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.70.

TELUS Company Profile

TELUS ( TSE:T Get Free Report ) (NYSE:TU) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported C$0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.28 by C($0.01). The business had revenue of C$4.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.86 billion. TELUS had a net margin of 7.63% and a return on equity of 8.98%. As a group, equities analysts expect that TELUS will post 1.0455718 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Mexco Energy (NYSE:MXC  Free Report) in a research note released on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a speculative buy rating and issued a GBX 2 ($0.03) price objective on shares of Mexco Energy in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd.

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Mexco Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MXC opened at $12.21 on Friday. Mexco Energy has a fifty-two week low of $10.30 and a fifty-two week high of $20.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.13 million, a P/E ratio of 5.79 and a beta of 1.14. The business has a 50-day moving average of $9.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.50.

Mexco Energy Announces Dividend

Mexco Energy ( NYSE:MXC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 26th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter. Mexco Energy had a return on equity of 30.50% and a net margin of 48.80%. The business had revenue of $2.20 million during the quarter.

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Mexco Energy by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 40,321 shares of the companys stock valued at $503,000 after purchasing an additional 957 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Mexco Energy by 84.2% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 35,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 16,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Mexco Energy by 270.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 61,108 shares of the companys stock valued at $990,000 after acquiring an additional 44,605 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.83% of the companys stock.

About Mexco Energy

(Get Free Report)

Mexco Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It owns partial interests in approximately 6,400 gross producing wells located in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Virginia, North Dakota, and Ohio.

Further Reading

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Saudi Arabia plans to establish 59 logistics zones and increase the capacity of its ports to more than 40 million containers by 2030, a senior official has revealed.

Speaking at a reception in London, Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Acting Chairman of the Transport General Authority, Dr Rumaih Al-Rumaih, said the national strategy for transport and logistics had set clear goals in all aspects of maritime development, pointing out that the kingdom aims by 2030 to be among the top 10 countries in the Logistics Performance (LPI) index.

The reception was attended by the Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid Bn Bandar Bin Sultan, as well as several ambassadors and delegates, members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and those involved in the sector, a report in Saudi Gazette quoting Saudi Press Agency said.

Dr Al-Rumaih also announced plans to hold the Maritime Industry Sustainability Conference in Jeddah from September 4 to 6 under the theme "Innovation for a Greener Future" .
Tnf LLC lowered its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 54.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,011 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,651 shares during the period. Tnf LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $301,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. West Branch Capital LLC increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 1,355 shares of the companys stock worth $131,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Mosaic Advisors LLC increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Mosaic Advisors LLC now owns 12,230 shares of the companys stock worth $1,186,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Tempus Wealth Planning LLC increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Tempus Wealth Planning LLC now owns 5,087 shares of the companys stock worth $493,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the period. Benin Management CORP increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 2,611 shares of the companys stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, Pathstone Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 6,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $581,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.13% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of AGG traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $97.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,815,089 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,075,133. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $93.20 and a one year high of $104.39. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $98.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $98.70.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Be Prepared for Floods

Being prepared for a flood means taking steps before flooding occurs to reduce the damage to your home and property.

Are you at risk?



A Flood Insurance Rate Map shows you the risk for

flooding at your property. A Flood Insurance Rate Map shows you the risk forflooding at your property.

If you live near a river or stream, or in a low-lying area, you may be subject to flooding and storm damage. To know if you are at risk and how likely you are to be flooded, consult a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or "flood map."

Find the Flood Insurance Rate Map for your address

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces FIRMs. These maps will tell you if you are in a flood-prone area, and how likely your area is to flood. Use FEMA's Map Service Center (see "Links Leaving DEC's website at right) to look up the FIRM for your address.

It's a good idea to take FEMA's tutorial (see link at right) on how to read and interpret flood insurance maps before you look up the map for you area.

Do you have flood insurance?

Many people assume that their homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from flooding, but this is usually not true. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program to homeowners, renters and owners of commercial properties, whether or not your home is in a mapped flood zone, and whether or not it has flooded in the past. See our Flood Insurance Fact Sheet (PDF) 43 KB, for answers to common questions about flood insurance and the link to "Flood Insurance Information" at right.

Also visit the National Flood Insurance website "FloodSmart.gov" (see link at right) for excellent information about protecting yourself or your business from flooding.

Ice Jam Flooding

Winter in most areas of New York State is usually cold enough to cause ice to form on rivers. But when the cold weather causes the ice to thicken and pile up in early to mid-winter it can block water from flowing underneath it, resulting in what is called a freeze-up jam.



Ice jam flooding on road in Warrensburg, NY Ice jam flooding on road in Warrensburg, NY

Another more common ice jam is referred to as a break-up jam, which occurs in mid to late-winter when warming temperatures, heavy rains, and snow melt cause water levels to rise breaking apart the ice. The moving ice then accumulates in river bends, obstructions and in shallow areas of the river restricting water flow and increasing the potential for flooding either upstream, if the water builds behind the jam; or downstream, if the ice jam breaks. Both of these types of winter ice jam floods can occur with little warning causing water levels to rise quickly. Even areas beyond the designated floodplain, thought to be safe from flooding, can be severely damaged. What emergency information can DEC share about ice jam flooding?

Protect stream banks from erosion



Even large and expensive retaining walls can fail.

A natural approach to holding the stream-bank

in place may be more effective and less costly. Even large and expensive retaining walls can fail.A natural approach to holding the stream-bankin place may be more effective and less costly.

Swiftly flowing floodwaters can quickly erode embankments and undermine roads and nearby structures. Learn how to protect stream banks in an ecologically sound manner. See the following resources:

Shoreline stabilization techniques - Basic principles and best practices to prevent erosion and provide wildlife habitat.

Stream Processes: A Guide to Living in Harmony with Streams (See link to Chemung County Soil and Water Conservation District at right and look for the link to the "Stream Guide" near the bottom of the home page of their website). Note: the Stream Guide is a very large (65 MB) PDF file and may take a while to download.

Stream Crossings and Stream Crossings, Guidelines and Best Management Practices show how you can prevent flooding, and other undesirable outcomes, with properly designed and constructed bridges and culverts.

If your property has already been flooded...

How you repair and rebuild after a flood will affect what happens to your property when the next flood occurs. Consult the Post-Flood Stream Reconstruction page for guidelines on how to repair flood damage, remove debris from stream and open stream channels.

Do you own or live near a dam?

DEC has information on how to inspect, construct and properly maintain dams.

Reducing flood damage at the municipal level

Planners, building inspectors and other municipal officials involved in the use and management of floodplains, should consult the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFM) "No Adverse Impact" web page (see link at right).

Under "No Adverse Impact" floodplain management, the actions of one property owner are not allowed to adversely affect the rights of other property owners. The adverse impacts can be measured in terms of increased flood peaks, increased flood stages, higher flood velocities, increased erosion and sedimentation, or other impacts the community considers important.

DEC contacts for more information

Questions about floodplain development standards, assistance with understanding flood maps, and guidance with flood insurance requirements should be directed to our Bureau of Flood Protection and Dam Safety: 518-402-8185 or DOWinformation@dec.ny.gov

Contact our Bureau of Public Outreach: 518-402-8044 or public@dec.ny.gov for information on shoreline stabilization techniques and best management practices for post-flood stream restoration.





More about Be Prepared for Floods:
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. (Photo: Twitter/@BRSparty)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao may shift from his current constituency, Gajwel, and opt to contest from the Kamareddy Assembly constituency, according to political sources.

Chandrashekar Rao has been an MLA of Gajwel since the formation of Telangana in 2014, giving it the status of a CM or VIP constituency.

It is unusual but not unprecedented for a sitting Chief Minister to not contest from the existing CM constituency, especially in Telugu states, wherein leaders like N. Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam in Chittoor district), late Dr Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy (Pulivendula in Kadapa district) or Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who retained his fathers seat.

In contradistinction, late N.T. Rama Rao contested and won elections from several different Assembly constituencies, among them Hindupur (three times), Gudivada, Tirupati, Nalgonda, and Tekkali. He also contested once from Kalwakurthy but lost.

Chandrashekar Rao, during his meteoric political career, has features of both categories of leaders in his approach to deciding upon and grooming a constituency. Chandrashekar Rao won from Siddipet four times, as a Telugu Desam candidate, and once as a TRS leader, besides having also contested and won elections to the Lok Sabha from both Karimnagar and Mahbubnagar. He faced his only defeat at the start of his electoral career in 1983.

In Gajwel, Chandrashekar Rao had polled 125,444 votes (60.45 per cent) of the total votes polled in the last election in 2018, contesting as incumbent Chief Minister, against Congress candidate Pratap Reddy Vanteru, who got 67,154 votes. Earlier, in 2014, Rao polled 86,694 and won against the same person, Pratap Reddy Vanteru, who was then the TD candidate, and received 67,303 votes.

Incidentally, Gajwel was won by the Congress for the two terms prior, being represented by Dr J. Geeta Reddy (2004) and Tumkunta Narsa Reddy (2009).

Rao may have decided upon a strategy to change from a VIP constituency to a new one for a posse of reasons. Political observers feel the reason could be the rapidly changing political mood in the state, which has led to this decision. The BRS conducted several surveys, including in Siddipet and Dubbak, before deciding upon the Kamareddy constituency.

The idea of shifting to Siddipet was discussed at the highest levels of the party for a while but was abandoned to prevent any disturbance to senior leader and minister T. Harish Rao. Dubbak was considered but deemed a "bit risky", whereas Kamareddy was found to be perfect.

The seat is currently represented by Gampa Govardhan of the ruling pink party, who won it by a slim margin, of 4,557 votes. The TRS' winning candidate polled 68,167 votes (42 per cent) in the last elections, against Congress, represented by former minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir, who got 63,610 votes (39 per cent). Interestingly, while the BJP polled 15,439 votes, a little-known party, Samajwadi Forward Bloc, got 10,537 votes here.

The BRS believes that Chandrashekar Raos shift to Kamareddy would help the party in the entire northern Telangana zone, across the erstwhile districts of Adilabad, Medak, Karimnagar and Nizamabad. The party is facing a stiff challenge ahead, as per internal surveys of both parties, in the southern districts, where the Congress resurgence is strongest, across erstwhile districts of Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar and large parts of Warangal.

A BRS leader explained: "If CM KCR shifts to Kamareddy, its impact would be similar to Modi shifting to Varanasi. We would have a big positive impact in four nearby districts."

As per BRS sources, minister and party working president K.T. Rama Rao has been entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing the political situation in the constituency and preparing it for the Chief Minister, including getting leaders from various segments and parties at all levels to join the ruling party.

In its reactions, a former aide of Rao, and now BJP state election committee management chief, and Huzurabad MLA Etala Rajendar, said: "It is not surprising that KCR may be in search of a safe constituency. He may have won all elections since 1985, but this time, he is not only afraid he will lose, but also knows that BRS will lose too."

Rajendar, who won a grudge bypoll in Huzurabad after he was shown the door by the BRS, also said that Chandrashekr Rao could be worried to face the challenge of taking him on in Gajwel.

"I am committed to my challenge of contesting from Gajwel and defeating KCR. However, where I contest from will only be decided by the party. I will abide by the party decision," he said.

Congress, however, feels it could be a move to corner one of Telanganas biggest Muslim leaders after Asaduddin Owaisi and Mohd Ali Shabbir.

"Be it getting Congress MLAs to defect to deny a Dalit leader the status of leader of Opposition, or try to use political might to deny Shabbir an opportunity to enter the Assembly, it is BRS bias against the underprivileged and minorities," said a former minister and senior Congress leader.

Besides the VIP constituency in which Chandrashekar Rao will contest, the BRS is likely to announce a bulk of its MLA candidates in the next few weeks. Congress president A. Revanth Reddy had challenged the ruling party to re-nominate all its MLAs "if it felt its government has delivered on most promises", but as per BRS sources, 25 to 30 sitting MLAs may be changed for better prospects of winning, based on surveys.
Source: Twitter

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking action against stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi for allegedly humiliating lawyers and the judicial system on his show 'Bas Kar Bassi'.

What is this writ petition under Article 32 (of the Constitution)? Both of us can't understand what you want, a bench of Justices S K Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia told the petitioner.

Article 32 gives Indian citizens the right to move the Supreme Court if they feel their fundamental rights have been violated.

The petitioner, advocate Farhat Warsi, told the court she had come across a video on YouTube that was derogatory to lawyers and the judicial system.

I came across a video on Youtube named 'Bas Kar Bassi' and I saw that the respondent Anubhav Bassi has humiliated the advocates, the judicial system..., the petitioner said.

The bench said there are other people to take care of such things and the lawyer should worry about herself.

...I think there are better things for you people to do, really, Justice Kaul observed, while dismissing the plea.
A cheetah after being released inside a special enclosure of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. (PTI)

BHOPAL: In the aftermath of the tragic death of eight African cheetahs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh, Jasbir Singh Chauhan, a highly experienced 1987 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, was relieved of his duties. He was removed from his position as Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) (wildlife) and subsequently appointed as PCCF (production). The state forest department issued a notification confirming these changes in the evening.

These decisions were made in response to the recent spate of cheetah deaths in Kuno National Park, where eight African cheetahs lost their lives over the past four months. Jasbir Singh Chauhan, a distinguished conservationist and recipient of two esteemed international conservation awards, the Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award in 2002 and the Award for Excellence in Active Wildlife Management in 2016, has been succeeded by Aseem Srivastav, a seasoned IFS officer from the 1988 batch.

Sources indicate that further transfers may take place within the department in the coming days. Interestingly, Chauhan's transfer occurred shortly after his return from a three-day tour of Kuno National Park, during which he assessed the situation following the death of two South African cheetahs within a span of 72 hours last week.

Bhupender Yadav, the Union minister for forest, environment, and climate change, had previously announced the formation of a dedicated team to investigate the deaths of the eight cheetahs, including three cubs, in the park.

In a related development on Monday, the government proposed several measures to protect cheetahs in Kuno. Field officers in the park have been instructed to enhance surveillance efforts to safeguard the remaining 15 adult cheetahs and one cub. Morever, plans are underway to establish a cheetah research centre within Kuno National Park. Additionally, the government intends to expand Kuno National Park by incorporating additional areas to create suitable territories for the cheetahs. It has been reported that the government plans to increase the number of ground staff in the park by deploying additional personnel.

Furthermore, the government has committed to accelerating the development of a second habitat for cheetahs in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, also located in Madhya Pradesh. To assess the situation and evaluate progress, an official review meeting was conducted in Kuno on Monday.
Bosch, a global supplier of technology and service, is entering the hydrogen age of mobility by starting volume production of its fuel-cell power module at its Stuttgart-Feuerbach location.

The pilot customer is the US company Nikola Motors and its fuel cell-electric truck, which is due to debut in the US market in the third quarter of 2023.

Here in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, in the plant whose history goes back further than any other Bosch plant, the hydrogen future is about to happen, said Dr Stefan Hartung, the Chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the Bosch Tech Day 2023.

Bosch knows its way around hydrogen, and Bosch is growing with hydrogen. The company operates along the entire hydrogen value chain, developing technology for its production and application. By 2030, Bosch plans to generate sales of roughly 5 billion euros with hydrogen technology.

In its solutions for the hydrogen economy as well, Bosch is relying on a global manufacturing network and the prowess of its German locations. For example, the Bosch plant in Bamberg, Germany, will supply the Feuerbach factory with the fuel-cell stack. And important system components such as the electric air compressor and the recirculation blower come from the Bosch plant in Homburg, Germany.

Bosch is one of the very few companies that are capable of mass producing technology as complex as fuel-cell stacks. We dont just have the required systems expertise, but also the capability of quickly scaling up new developments to mass production, said Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management and Chairman of Bosch Mobility.

Production of the fuel-cell power module is not only starting in Feuerbach, but also in Chongqing, China. The components it requires will come from the Wuxi plant. Bosch is the first company to produce these systems in both China and Germany, Hartung said. In addition, Bosch is also planning to manufacture stacks for mobile applications in its U.S. plant in Anderson, South Carolina. Worldwide, the company expects that, by 2030, one in five new trucks weighing six tons or more will feature a fuel-cell powertrain.

Bosch is helping to shape the hydrogen economy, and sees obligations on the part of policymakers

Bosch syas it is crystal-clear that only with hydrogen can there be a climate-neutral world. The company therefore strongly advocates the establishment of a hydrogen economy, and is stepping up its investments in hydrogen. Between 2021 and 2026, Bosch will have invested a total of nearly 2.5 billion euros in the development and manufacturing of its H2 technologies. That is another billion euros more than was earmarked in the investment plan for 2021 to 2024.

The business opportunities for Bosch are huge, as is the effect on jobs. Even now, there are more than 3,000 people at Bosch working on hydrogen technologies, more than half of them in Europe. Most of the vacancies can be filled from within the company, and especially with people who have so far worked in the Bosch powertrain business. However, the further prospects for the hydrogen business depend on the political environment.

Hartung especially believes that Europe must do much more to create a counterweight to the rapid pace of developments in other regions of the world, such as the United States. More specifically, the Bosch chairman has four demands of German and European policymakers: First, we have to step up the pace of hydrogen production in the EU. Second, global supply chains have to be set up, and third, hydrogen has to be used in all sectors of the economy. As a fourth point, he stressed the importance of quickly setting up infrastructure for distributing hydrogen in Europe.

Bosch technology

At all events, Bosch is ready, and applying automotive experience to the hydrogen economy like no other company. This is why the company is also in demand in H2 production. At the start of 2023, Bosch started constructing prototypes for electrolysis using proton exchange membranes  in other words, the reverse of the energy conversion method used in mobile fuel cells.

Starting in the fall, the company intends to make 1.25-megawatt prototypes available for pilot applications, and is on track to start volume production in 2025. Bosch is exploring several options for the use of hydrogen. Stationary solid-oxide fuel cells can be used for the distributed supply of power and heat.

In a pilot project at the hospital in Erkelenz, near Cologne in Germany, Bosch wants to use this technology to achieve overall efficiency of 90 percent. The micropower plant there will initially run on natural gas, but can be converted to green hydrogen. Apart from the fuel-cell powertrain, Bosch is also working on the hydrogen engine, developing systems for both port and direct injection of hydrogen. This solution is particularly suitable for heavy vehicles on long hauls with especially heavy loads.

A hydrogen engine can do everything a diesel engine does, but on top of that, it is carbon neutral. It also allows a fast and cost-effective entry into hydrogen-based mobility, Heyn said. One major advantage is that more than 90 percent of the development and manufacturing technologies needed for it already exist.

The H2 engine is expected to be launched starting in 2024. Even now, Bosch has four orders for production projects from all the major economic regions, and expects six-figure unit volumes by 2030. In this field as well, Bosch is dynamically taking the hydrogen economy forward, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service
Tomatoes, which have become costlier than petrol and diesel, is sold in Hyderabad for Rs120 per kg on Monday. (Photo by P. Surendra)

HYDERABAD: Pricey tomatoes being guarded by the police along the Delhi highway in Adilabad district recently captured the public imagination, which is in stark contrast to the usual pictures of tomato loads being dumped on roads or in market yards. In this context, farmers Deccan Chronicle spoke to averred that the present situation, although not sought by them, only mirrors the logical consequence of the negligence they have been enduring.

"Having burnt my fingers in the last two years and incurring a loss of Rs 1,50,000, which added to my debt burden, which shot up to Rs 4 lakh, I did not dare to cultivate tomatoes again this summer," said 42-year-old M. Shekhar, a farmer in Arutla village of Manchala mandal in Ranga Reddy district.

He cited the high cost of cultivation of tomatoes, of Rs 50,000 per acre, as a main reason. "The costs to raise my two-acre crop rose by another Rs 50,000 owing to the virus which struck it last year. I had sold my crop then at around Rs 60 for a 25 kg box, in sharp contrast to the Rs 2,000 at present," he said.

Claiming absence of adequate government support, Shekhar said, "Apart from cultivating my three-acre farm, I also do the work of laying pipes for drip irrigation. Of late, I have been losing my income earned from agriculture."

He also bemoaned the government stopping schemes like the 90 per cent subsidy on drip irrigation and other subsidies, on inputs and buying tractors.

While agreeing that the current prices of tomatoes keep them out of the reach of the common man, Shekhar makes the case for a base price or MSP (minimum support price) for his produce. "We should get a guaranteed price of at least Rs 500 to Rs 600 per 25-kg box. This will help us continue our work and feed the nation. Consumers, which the media seems to bat for whenever prices rise, will also not feel the pinch."

But neither Shekhar nor his fellow villagers, like K. Sathi Reddy, K. Shekhar Reddy, or B. Krishna Reddy, of Kammalapalli village in B. Kothakota mandal of Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh, is hopeful that they will get a good price for their tomato crop next time.

K. Shekhar Reddy, who got good rates for tomatoes last November when the crop was damaged due to rains, said that the saplings he had planted died this summer owing to excess heat.

"The rates of tomatoes are determined by auction in centres like Madanapalli (home to the biggest market for tomatoes in Asia) which then becomes a benchmark for us. The traders here quote a lesser price than that as tomatoes are of better quality there and have a longer shelf life. If the price there is Rs 2,500, we get around Rs 2,200," he said.

"I wonder when consumers can pay Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for a litre of liquor, why do they gripe against Rs 60 or so for litre of milk and Rs 100 for a kg of tomatoes? We are the ones who toil and should get our due," he said.

The high rates are also partly owing to a lack of interest among farmers to take up the crop, said K. Sathi Reddy. Having seen the vagaries of cultivating tomatoes since his childhood the 50-year-old farmer says many times he hadnt even got transport charges after selling his crop. "I did not have water to cultivate tomatoes in summer and hence, did not benefit from these high prices," he said.

Given the unpredictable nature of agricultural income, farmer A. Mahipal Reddy in Arutla village said his girl child was denied a seat by Johnson Grammar School in Hyderabad and house owners in Champapet refused to even let out their house despite being of the same caste. "Marketing personnel from banks seeking to provide personal loans cut the call as soon as they hear that I am a farmer," he said.

Asked if he would give his daughter in marriage to a farmer, he replied in the negative, saying: "Why would I do that after what I have endured all through my life? Men of marriageable age in our village remain unhitched although they own 10 acres of land."

He said: "The current rates of tomatoes will fall again in August second or third week and from September, there wont be any discussion about what we endure until a virus or a natural calamity, like excess rain, leads to price rise again."

Smaller farmers said that the government should start helping them with input costs, instead of paying Rythu Bandhu to those owning over 10 acres. "Only one out of 100 farmers are benefitting from the current price of tomatoes," Mahipal Reddy said, with a sense of exasperation.

G. Sreenivas Kumar, a farmer from CTM village near Madanapalli of Annamayya district in Andhra Pradesh, home to the biggest tomato market in Asia, whose current crop will start yielding in the next 20 days, says prices are certain to fall by then. "Consumers should be willing to pay Rs 20 per kg steadily; only then we wont have to resort to distress measures. The governments would have looked at our welfare also if we were united," he said.
Leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 (ANI file)

Bengaluru: Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has rallied support from a total of 25 parties for the second Opposition Unity meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru beginning on Monday.

Leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting. Arrangements have been made for all the opposition leaders to stay at a five-star hotel in the city, party sources said.

As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am.

And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced.

According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various problems that may arise in the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed, they said.

Sources said that a discussion may also be held on how to field a common opposition candidate on at least 80 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats against the BJP, how to have alliances in the states and how to distribute tickets at key constituencies.

"In the meeting, deliberations will also be held on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)," they added.

All bigwigs in the opposition, including former Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, along with Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

#WATCH | The second join opposition meeting to begin in Bengaluru, Karnataka today. Posters of Opposition leaders, including AAP's national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, put up at the venue. pic.twitter.com/Vb0PWiRcCf  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also confirmed its presence at the meeting on Sunday. This came after the Congress made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in the Parliament.

Earlier, during the Opposition meeting in Bihar's Patna on June 23, a rift was seen between the AAP and the Congress, after the latter delayed its stand on the Centre's ordinance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to come for the opposition meeting as well despite her leg injury, following former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's call.

Earlier in the Patna meeting, 16 opposition parties were invited, and 15 of them attended the meeting. Apart from the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Janata Dal (United) (JDU), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation (CPIML), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal were among the list of invitees for the Patna meeting.

Rashtriya Lok Dal Party chief Jayant Chowdhary who had earlier distanced himself from the Patna meeting is scheduled to attend the second meeting in Bengaluru on Monday.

In addition to these, the Congress has invited 10 new parties to the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru to increase its tally over the NDA. These include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).

"Congress, the main host of this two-day meet, is trying to make it look grander than that called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 13," sources pointed out.
Telangana state Congress state president A. Revanth Reddy. (DC Image)

HYDERABAD: Alleging corruption to the tune of 15,000 crore in the three thermal power projects, at Bhadradri, Kothagudem and Yadadri, taken up by the BRS government, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy called the BRS government the 30 per cent commission sarkar.

"The corrupt practices resorted to (by BRS) has resulted in an increase in power charges, as the per MW (megawatt) cost rose to 9.70 crores, from 5.5 crores arrived at when tenders were called and companies like BHEL, NTPC and other global companies participated. This has resulted in increased tariffs in the form of cess, ACD (advance consumption demand), deposits and surcharges from consumers. It also led to the Genco and Transco accumulating a debt of 60,000 crore," he said.

"The employees of the companies had recently complained that they were not getting their salaries, leading to a fall in their CIBIL scores. The CMD, Prabhakar Rao, had himself informed the media that they are providing single-phase power for 24 hours and not three-phase power, which is needed for agriculture. Single-phase power is useful only for household purposes and it is well known," Revanth Reddy said.

Repeating his charge of 8,000 crore graft in purchasing power, he asked, "When they are not providing 24-hour power to anyone, where is the remaining power going? It is being supplied illegally to some companies. Free power is the hallmark of the Congress. If the BRS government is confident that they have provided power properly, then why have they seized the 3,500 log books from across substations in the state?"

The TPCC chief said that the data is now being enumerated on white papers after an expose by Congress colleague Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.

Revanth said, "Let us consider this a referendum. Let KCR and his incumbent MLAs contest from their constituencies without any change if they are confident that they have delivered. I call on our cadre and farmers to hold counter-protests at the Rythu Vedikas and question the BRS leaders on their failure to waive 1 lakh loan, podu lands, protest against them until they return the seized assigned lands. Question them why Telangana is second in farmer suicides."

Rejecting the tag of Godse occupying Gandhi Bhavan, he said, "I joined the Congress as a worker and not to seek power. I am with the ideology of the party, which is why I have been given this post. This is being brought up as they have failed to answer my questions and are trying to sidetrack the debate. I also strongly condemn the remarks of KTR against Rahul Gandhi, who is trying to keep the country together. He comes from the family of Sonia Gandhi and others, who sacrificed their power and delivered Telangana state."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being seen off by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he concludes his visit to UAE, in Abu Dhabi, Saturday, July 15, 2023. (PTI Photo)

Its after fairly a long time that I attended a half-day seminar on West Asia, a region till recently in the focus of the world but now seemingly less spoken about. In 2015, we had wars raging in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, with the Islamic State (Daesh) taking over the reins of ambition to establish its proverbial Islamic Caliphate. The confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia was threatening to go beyond just a proxy war. Qatar was isolated, with some nations establishing a blockade against it. The implosion of Syria through its civil war and the presence of the Islamic State in northern Syria and Iraq had led to a refugee crisis with a beeline of displaced people heading to Europe, especially through Turkey and Greece. Iraq also had an internecine Shia-Sunni confrontation on its streets. While Israels relations with the Arabs continued to improve, the same was not the case with Iran. The Israeli-Palestinian confrontation remained the core conflict and blew up once in a while. That is a bagful for a region.

With the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and the early developments of a new world order, much focus has shifted to Ukraine and its war with Russia. The global cycle of terror which began after 1979 appears to be tapering off, with a reduction in high-profile terrorist activity and weakening of networks. It was in West Asia, Afghanistan-Pakistan region and parts of Europe that global terrors activities were earlier much more pronounced; in Af-Pak the intensity is still very high. The anticipated shift of international focus was to the Indo-Pacific, where the US-China contest has been held back for long but the dynamics seem to suggest that the first testing of waters in the kinetic domain could well begin in the near future. The other area of attention of the strategic community appears to be Central Asia, as culled out of the larger Eurasian landmass. This is the area of the Great Game of the early twentieth century and the New Great Game of the twenty-first century. Global terror has its eyes on this area, which is populous and rich in minerals, awaiting exploitation of both human and mineral resources. The focus of the strategic energy scene seems to have diluted from West Asia and shifted to Russia. Indias bulk of energy resources are currently being sourced from Russia.

So, in the midst of shifting strategic attention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to pay his fifth visit to the United Arab Emirates on his way home from France. The ministry of external affairs obviously thinks otherwise about West Asias perceived dwindling strategic significance. Notice that the Prime Minister also visited Egypt on his way back from Washington. A deeper than peripheral look at the recent developments in West Asia appear to suggest that it may be premature to conclude that its strategic significance has in any way reduced. The MEA is not wrong.

In the last six months developments of a strategic nature have been rife in this region. It began with Chinas first serious entry into the strategic affairs of the region. Things moved at breakneck speed with the visit of Chinas Xi Jinpings to Saudi Arabia in December 2022 and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis visit to Beijing in February 2023. Then came the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal brokered by China, in March 2023; that is within three months of the visit of Xi Jinping. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran perceive China as a more neutral mediator and China views itself as a reliable friend of both nations. In fact, China is the largest trading partner for the two countries, a major source of foreign currency for Iran, and has strategic relationships with both Riyadh and Tehran. Most analysts ascribe this Chinese intrusion into West Asia to US arrogance and its refusal to assess how far forward China had moved in the maturing of its diplomacy. A window of opportunity was grabbed, although many analysts believe that Chinas ability to understand Islamic politics and sectarian dynamics remains highly questionable. For China, keeping West Asia in ferment to offset US focus and pivot to the Indo-Pacific, is a core objective. The US is not going to redeploy to Afghanistan in a long time, although it remains concerned about it. The Ukraine war will dilute in intensity; it is West Asia with tapering conflicts which could rekindle.

There are some positive trends too, in fact quite a few. The Saudi-Iran conflict seems somewhat arrested, at least temporarily. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Sultans quest to introduce some liberal practices in the kingdom, and make the nation free from dependence on energy as the main source of its economy, is real, and there is an air of expectancy about it. The recent visit of Sheikh Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Issa, secretary-general of Muslim World League, to India bears particular significance. What was thus far heard in India, in terms of the change in tone and tenor of Islam in Saudi Arabia, could be judged by the words of Dr al-Issa. He was convincing and genuine in all the interactions he had in India, mostly multi-faith events. If Saudi Arabia, the custodian of the holiest Islamic shrines, changes its outlook to a more modern interpretation of Islam, will it be natural for the rest of the faith to follow. There is no compulsion on that and much will depend on the Saudi royal family and its relationship with the clergy within.

What India is doing is the right thing. Its a major stakeholder in West Asia through its diaspora, remittances and growing economic relations, besides the energy linkages. This also dilutes Pakistans strategic communication against India. The UAE has emerged as a pivotal partner for India. The agreement to promote the use of local currencies for mutual transactions may be the trend-setter for such eventual understanding with many more nations. The comfort level established in this relationship works well for outreach to many others. Besides, this is good for inter-faith ties too, as efforts of the diehard followers of Political Islam to create schisms in society through divisive ways can be curbed to a large extent. What we need is more mutual exchange visits between think tank representatives and personalities like Sheikh Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Issa also visiting and speaking to either end.
Iranian state media has reported that the country's morality police resumed patrols to ensure women obey dress codes and cover their hair in public, some 10 months after nationwide protests erupted following the death of a young woman in custody.

Saeid Montazeralmahdi, spokesman for Faraja -- Irans enforcement body -- said the morality police restarted their vehicle and foot patrols across the country from Sunday, CNN reported citing the state-run Fars news agency.

Also Read  Iran executes 3 men linked to Mahsa Amini protests: Judiciary

Officers will first warn women who are not complying, while those who insist on breaking the norms, may face legal action, the spokesman added.

In September 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died three days after being arrested by the morality police for wearing her hijab, or headscarf, incorrectly and taken to a re-education centre.

Although the patrols were paused following the massive national protests that erupted in response to her death, Islamic hardliners have been demanding the resumption, reported the BBC.

Under Iranian law, women must cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.

The morality police unit is tasked with ensuring those rules are respected, and detaining people who are perceived to be "improperly" dressed.

They run detention centres where women -- and sometimes men -- are taken into custody for failing to comply with the states rules on modesty, CNN reported.

Inside the facilities, detainees are given classes about Islam and the importance of the hijab, and are forced to sign a pledge to abide by the states clothing regulations before they are released.

In the months of violent anti-government protests Iran, nearly 600 protesters were killed, including several state executions.

Many women had stopped wearing hijabs altogether in what was the biggest outright challenge to the rule of the clerics in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

Iran executed at least 582 people last year, a 75 per cent increase on 2021, according to human rights groups.
China said on Monday it had lodged "solemn representations" with the United States over Taiwan Vice President William Lai's planned stopover in the US next month.

Also Read | US, China aim to revive climate talks as planet reels under extreme weather

"China is opposed to any form of connivance and support of Taiwan independence separatist forces," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference.
Gunmen killed 10 people and injured another two at a busy junction in the city of Bamenda in Cameroon's troubled northwest, the regional governor said on Monday.

A witness said the attackers arrived in vehicles late on Sunday, ordered people onto the floor with accusations of failing to back local separatists, and opened fire as some obeyed while others ran.

Also Read | 4 dead, assailant at large in Georgia shooting, say police

The Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), the main separatist group in the English-speaking region which has been fighting since 2017 to protest alleged marginalisation by the majority French-speaking government, denied responsibility.

North West region governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique told Reuters a manhunt had been launched for the "terrorists" behind the massacre. "Investigations are on, and we will issue a statement on this later today," he added.

The witness said men in military uniforms arrived in two vehicles to storm Nacho Junction, where restaurants, bars and shops are located, at around 7:30 pm (1830 GMT). They shot at people indiscriminately, the witness said, before taking off.

"There is possibility that it could be revenge killing," ADF spokesperson Lucas Asu said, suggesting the attackers could have been disguised as separatist fighters.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in Cameroon's English-speaking regions since conflict erupted in 2017 after protests were violently suppressed.

Earlier this month, human rights group Amnesty International slammed government troops, militias and separatists for killings, rapes, torture, burning of houses and other atrocities in Cameroon's English-speaking regions.

It said those who speak out were being threatened and detained.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, who heads a large group of progressive Democrats in the US Congress, on Sunday apologised for calling Israel a racist state as Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives pushed back against her initial declaration.

"I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist," Jayapal said in a statement.

"I do, however, believe that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahus extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," she added.

On Saturday, Jayapal made her initial remarks - labeling Israel a "racist state" - at a conference held in Chicago where pro-Palestine protesters were interrupting a panel discussion, according to media reports.

In a separate statement on Sunday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and three of his top leadership aides said that "Israel is not a racist state," in an apparent rebuke to Jayapal. They added, "There are individual members of the current Israeli governing coalition with whom we strongly disagree," just as they often disagree with US House Republican lawmakers.

The Jeffries statement did not specifically mention Jayapal.

The controversy surfaced as the US House and Senate have invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, one day after his visit with President Joe Biden. Some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have signaled that they might not attend the event.

Jayapal said that she has long supported a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, but pointed out her opposition to Israel's continued expansion of settlements in disputed areas.

"I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish Diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing anti-Semitism and hate violence that is rampant today," Jayapal added.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will travel to Bengaluru on Monday for attending the second meeting of the Opposition parties.

Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Also Read  Traffic advisory issued for Opposition meet in Bengaluru on July 17, 18

Kumar will be accompanied by his party JD(U)'s national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh and state Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha at the meeting, sources said.

The leaders from Bihar are expected to leave for Bengaluru in the afternoon, they said.

The meeting would begin at 6 pm with the address of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for Opposition unity hosted by Kumar in Patna on June 23.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

Also Read  Congress sets stage for AAP attendance in Bengaluru Opposition meeting by announcing opposition to ordinance

Other top leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, besides former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to sources, the leaders are likely to hold discussions on issuing a joint declaration and move forward on their proposal of putting up common Opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats.

The agenda for the talks would be finalised during discussions before a dinner meeting on Monday evening, they said.

There is a proposal to set up a subcommittee for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the Opposition alliance for the 2024 general elections, the sources said.

Besides, the sources said, the plan is also to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations.

A plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis is also on the table. The opposition leaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission, the sources said.

The Opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance.
Selfishness has infested the opposition unity, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma claimed here on Monday, ahead of the two-day meeting of the BJP's rival parties in Bengaluru.

Top leaders of 24 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session to chalk out a strategy to unitedly fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Hitting out at the opposition parties' attempt to form a grand alliance, senior BJP leader Sharma said, "No matter how many alliances are formed, they will not be able to counter PM Narendra Modi."

Read | UP: Congress reaching out to minority, backward communities with eye on LS polls

"Ninety-nine per cent of the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) has disintegrated. People do not have faith in leaders of opposition parties, while the faith in Modiji has increased," he said.

"The (opposition) clan was never united. Internal cracks have always been there. With termite infestation, things become hollow from the inside. Selfishness has infested the opposition unity and is taking it towards its termination," Sharma told PTI.

He claimed that without leadership and with no issue in hand, the opposition parties are in "depression".

"This is an incongruous alliance forged only with elections in mind. Once the elections are over, it will scatter once and for all," the BJP leader said.

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 had said.

The meeting also comes in the backdrop of a split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the panchayat polls in West Bengal which saw widespread violence, claiming 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 plan of agitation plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.
Ladakhis thank PM Modi for making Ladakh a separate UT

CHANDIGARH, India, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 July 16 (Sunday) at Ladakh, in which the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also participated. Indian Minorities Foundation Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu led the delegation of different minority communities, along with Mahabodhi International Meditation Center Founder, President, Bhikkhu Sanghasena.

Spreading Lord Buddha's 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. They reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) Ladakh after they had started the Dhamma Padh Yatra for world peace on June 12, 2023, from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

On their arrival at MIMC, they were welcomed by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), and the delegation of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, 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 USA, 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 other dignitaries who participated in the peace walk included Her Excellency Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India; His Excellency kyabje Taklung Matul Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Thuksa Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Urgain Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Bamtul Rinpoche; Ven Mahayana Monks, Ven Pradhamvachirakawee (lonpo); Ven Theravada monks, Ven Tsering Angdus, president of Ladakh Gonpa Association; Shri Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA); Shri Ashraf Ali Barcha, president Anjuman Imamia; Dr. Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam; Shri Sonam Pawez, president of the Christian community; Dechan Changa, former president of Christian community and Ven Dr. Pornchai from Thailand.

Venerable 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 that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmayogi himself."

Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognized and respected Buddhist leader, said, "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 Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that PM 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.

He added that 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," said Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that under PM Modi the global perception of India has changed and it has emerged as a strong nation.

The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) was also part of the peace walk led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu. He said that 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 Union Territory (UT), a long-pending demand of the Buddhist community, which opened the doorways for the development to reach this region. The long-pending demand was finally fulfilled by PM Modi after 63 years. The demand for separate UT was first raised in the 1950s by the Buddhist community. The welfare of minorities is at the core of the policymaking of PM Modi's 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," said Satnam Singh Sandhu.

Ven. 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.

Mentioning the positive role played by PM Modi in peacemaking between Russia and Ukraine, he praised PM Modi for spreading the message of peace and acting as a peacemaker to solve the conflicts.

Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi, Founder of Indira Gandhi Technological & 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 Buddhist Community, and the people of Minority Communities are safe. Under his leadership, everyone is given equal opportunities, and everyone needs to work together for sustainable development in the country.

Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam, said, "PM Modi has one of the tallest leaders in the world and his hard work has taken the country forward. He is taking the country on the global map and India's elevated stature is now accepted globally."

"The whole world now recognizes the potential of India by the initiatives taken by PM Modi during the last nine years," he said.

Gyal Wangyal, Former Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh (LAHDC) expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 added that the Prime Minister considers all religions 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 that it is important to have love, compassion, and brotherhood in one's heart to create world peace, which is being promoted by Prime Minister Narendra 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."

Sonam Wangchuk, the 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 centers in Ladakh and other parts of the country. He has remained focused on the development of the places associated with Lord Buddha, especially the work done for the Buddhist circuit."

"He visited Ladakh several times and showed his commitment towards the development of Buddhist Centers. The whole Buddhist community is thankful to him for his initiatives for Buddhist centers and for promoting the teachings of Buddhism," 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. He said that 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 gone up.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

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Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chirag Paswan met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, a day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting.

Paswan is in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for the 2024 general elections, and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise.

Also Read | With Sonia Gandhi to attend Opposition meet in Bengaluru, regional parties expect Congress to be reasonable

Union minister Nityanand Rai, a senior BJP leader from Bihar, had earlier met Paswan twice.

The undivided LJP under late stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP.

Paswan wants the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party.
The 15th batch of more than 6,200 Amarnath pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here early on Monday morning amid tight security, officials said.

As many as 2,29,221 devotees have paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine since the annual pilgrimage began on July 1.

Also Read: Pilgrim dies as Amarnath yatra suspended due to rain

A total of 6,648 pilgrims left in a convoy of 241 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir to undertake the onward journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva.

Officials said 3,686 pilgrims, headed for Pahalgam, left in a convoy of 132 vehicles while another convoy of 109 vehicles carrying 2,998 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp at 3.30 am and 3.45 am, respectively.

The 62-day annual pilgrimage commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
The global economic growth outlook remains uncertain with downside risks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

Since we last met in April, the global economy is below its long-run average, and remains uneven, Sitharaman said in her opening address at the G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG). Sitharaman is chairing the meet along with Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das.

The uncertainty around the outlook remains high, and downside risks still persist, including those related to geo-economic fragmentation. What we need are coordinated international efforts to navigate this challenging period, she said.

As per the International Monetary Fund, baseline global growth is expected to fall from 3.4per centin 2022 to 2.8per centin 2023, before settling at 3per centin 2024. Advanced economies are expected to see an especially pronounced growth slowdown, from 2.7per centin 2022 to 1.3per centin 2023.

Sitharaman informed the heads of central banks, treasuries and global development finance institutions that the G-20 has prepared three significant deliverables under Indias Presidency. These include a framework on economic risks and vulnerabilities, a report on best practices for financial health and institutional arrangements, and a report on mapping pandemics, response options and gaps.

Read | Coordinated international efforts needed to deal with food & energy insecurity, climate change: Sitharaman



Before the opening session, Sitharaman had a bilateral meeting with her American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, where she said both the nations shared democratic values, pluralism, and a strong commitment to rules-based global order and multilateralism.

Sitharaman said that the discussions between the two included issues such as strengthening the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as the World Bank and IMF, taking coordinated climate action, addressing rising indebtedness of low and middle-income countries, and harnessing opportunities presented by crypto-assets and digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion.

It is vital that we use meetings like this to strengthen our coalition of shareholders that are working together to press for more ambition and specific reforms with respect to the MDBs vision, incentive structures, operational approaches, and financial capacity to better address global challenges, said Yellen on their bilateral meeting.

The United States is home to the largest Indian diaspora outside of Asia, and it serves as Indias largest export market. Bilateral trade between our two countries reached an all-time high last year, and we expect it to grow further in the years to come, she said.


The water level of the Yamuna reached 205.92 metres at 4 pm on Monday and remained above the danger mark of 205.33 metres, officials said.

The water level of the river was recorded at 205.58 metres at 9 am. The level of Yamuna breached the previous all-time record of 207.49 metres and the 208-metre mark on July 12.

Also Read | People living near Yamuna in New Delhi return home as waters recede

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the water has started receding and people will soon be able to go back to their homes from relief camps.

"The water has started going down. Now people will be able to go back to their homes from the relief camps. We have to help them to get their life back to normal. I appeal to all people to help them. This is a work of virtue," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Delhi minister Atishi said the road behind the Red Fort that was inundated has been cleared by the PWD and it will be open to commuters soon.

"I am happy to inform that the water from the road behind the Red Fort has been cleared by PWD's overnight hard work. Right now only the mud from the road is being cleaned. In some time, this road will open for traffic," Atishi said in a Tweet.

Kejriwal also tweeted, "I wish to personally thank PWD, DJB, Army, NDRF, I&FC, navy and all officers and engineers of other departments for working 24x7 to save Delhiites and bringing life to normalcy. Salute to all of them!".
More than 1.40 lakh kg drugs worth Rs 2,381 crore were destroyed in various parts of the country on Monday in the virtual presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, officials said.

Destruction of the narcotics, the bulk of it from Madhya Pradesh, were carried out in different cities as Shah watched through video conferencing from New Delhi while attending a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security'.

Also Read | Amit Shah, Scindia review facilities, infrastructure at major airports

The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kg seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg seized by the Indore unit and 356 kg by the Jammu unit, the officials said.

Besides, various law enforcement agencies from different states also destroyed drugs  1,03,884 (1.03 lakh) kg in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kg 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, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in just one year has reached around 10 lakh kilogram with a value of Rs 12,000 crore.

From June 1, 2022 to July 15, 2023, regional units of the NCB and anti narcotics task forces of the states collectively destroyed around 8,76,554 (8.76 lakh) kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore  which is more than 11 times the target.
Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji was on Monday shifted to the Puzhal Central Prison near here after he was discharged from a private hospital where he underwent a by-pass heart surgery last month.

This is the first time Balaji will be spending his judicial custody in prison as he was admitted to the Government Omandurar Hospital and later shifted to a private facility after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case.

Balaji was discharged on Monday evening and was immediately shifted to the Puzhal Central prison, according to rules. He will be accorded A class facility in the prison, a senior jail official said, adding that he is entitled to the facility in his capacity as a minister (without portfolio).

Also Read | ED welcome to 'campaign' for DMK in Tamil Nadu: Stalin

Balajis judicial custody was extended till July 26 last week and he will be produced before a local court on the said date. His discharge from the hospital comes three days after a third judge of the Madras High Court dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife S Megala questioning the EDs powers to take him in police custody.

The third judge was appointed after a division bench delivered a split verdict.

Balaji, who is now a minister without portfolio in Chief Minister M K Stalins cabinet, was arrested by the ED on June 14 in a cash-for-job scam during his 2011-2015 tenure as Transport Minister in the then AIADMK cabinet led by J Jayalalithaa.

Balajis arrest by the ED also led to a major political controversy in Tamil Nadu with Governor R N Ravi dismissing him from the Council of Ministers, only to put on abeyance his decision within a few hours. The Governors action came after Stalin refused to drop Balaji from the cabinet, arguing mere registration of a case doesnt make anyone guilty.

Stalin, while disregarding the communication from the Governor, said only the CM has the right to induct or dismiss a minister.
A city sessions court Monday sentenced three persons to life imprisonment after holding them guilty of spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Saying that they didn't deserve mercy, the court remarked that pro-Pakistan people should leave the country "voluntarily" or "government should find and dispatch them to Pakistan". The court said, "If those indulged in anti-national activities stay in the country, it will suffer a lot."

Additional principal judge Ambalal R Patel found the three accused, Sirajuddin Karmatali Fakir alias Raju, Md Ayub Shaikh alias Sakir and Naushad Maksudali Saiyed, guilty under sections 121 (waging war against the government), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable under 121), 123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code.

Also Read | Suspected ISI agent arrested in UP for supplying vital info about defence establishments

In 2012, the trio was booked by Ahmedabad crime branch for sending "secret" military information to an agent of Pakistan's Inter-services Intelligence (ISI). The agent was identified as Taimur and Tahir. The crime branch stated in its investigation that two of the accused - Sirajuddin and Ayub - had gone to Karachi in Pakistan sometime in 2007 to meet their relative.

During the visit, they came in touch with the suspected Pakistani agent Taimur. The charges stated that the duo were trained on how to send information securely in Pakistan. Upon their arrival, they did a reconnaissance of defense installations in Rajasthan, Kutch, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.

The convicted created email IDs and shared the password with the Pakistani agents. They would write the secret information in code language and save them as drafts, which will later be accessed by the Pak agents. According to records, the evidence that police found had a white paper sheet on which, "Bhai Mai Thik Hoon... 085 Wale Mamu Ke Bachche Warmer Se Aa Gaye Hain... Hawai Wale Mamu Ke Bachche... 318 Naye Bharti Huye Hain" were scribbled.

Investigation revealed that 'Mamu' was a codeword for military, '085' was the identity of Gandhinagar military camp, while 'Anda' (eggs) meant money. They received money every month or two months ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000. They would receive the money from locations like Dubai. Police stated that this spying went on from 2010 to 2012 until their arrest. During the trial, the judgement states, "The accused failed to explain their message stating - 'Panch Hazaar Ande Bhijva Dena'. It is not the case that five thousands eggs of a bird were to be brought from Pakistan." The court found that the accused also failed to explain the source of money they received. "They risked India's unity, integrity, safety and sovereignty through their acts. It appears that their act could have impacted the life of masses. They didn't think of country's safety before conspiring with ISI agents in Pakistan and sending them information. "The accused didn't think about the security of 140 crore citizens of the country but thought about their own interests and the interests of Pakistan. As a matter of fact, those who are residing in India and doing such spying for Pakistan should voluntarily leave the country and go to Pakistan or the government should find them and send them to Pakistan," the judge stated in the judgement.

"I believe that if those who do anti-national activities while staying in the country are given less punishment, then that is also considered as anti-national activity. In such cases, the society also expects the accused to be punished as per the law. I agree that the interest, sovereignty, integrity and the security of the country are paramount for all the citizens and for the government, keeping in mind the anti-national activity of the accused, they should be punished to the maximum extent prescribed by law," the judgement read.

According to defence lawyers, Sirajuddin has remained in jail since his arrest in 2012, while two others were on bail.
The bodies of two of the three minor boys feared drowned in Mumbai's Marve creek were found on Monday morning while search was still on for the one missing boy, a police official said.

Five boys, in the aged group of 12 to 16 years and residents of Malwani area here, entered the Marve creek in suburban Malad on Sunday morning. While two of them were rescued by some people before the arrival of fire brigade, three others went missing.

Also Read | Missing children cases rising in Karnataka, most being traced: Police data

Personnel of the fire brigade, police, Coast Guard and Navy divers had rushed to the spot and launched a search operation which was halted on Sunday night.

A helicopter was also involved in the search operation, which was called off in the evening.

The bodies of two of the missing boys, both aged 14, were fished out from the waters on Monday morning and sent to a hospital, the police official said.

Efforts were on to trace another 12-year-old missing boy, he said.
Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:BCCLF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,203,800 shares, a decline of 28.8% from the June 15th total of 1,691,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 9,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 133.8 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on BCCLF shares. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Becle in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. They set a buy rating for the company. Scotiabank lowered Becle from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th.

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Becle Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS BCCLF opened at $2.40 on Monday. Becle has a 52-week low of $1.70 and a 52-week high of $2.68. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $2.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.37.

About Becle

Becle, SAB. de C.V. manufactures and distributes spirits and other distilled beverages in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers tequila under the 1800, Jose Cuervo Especial, Jose Cuervo Tradicional, Reserva de la Familia, Gran Centenario, and Maestro Dobel brand names; whiskey, including North American whiskey under the Stranahan's, Tincup, and Pendleton brands, as well as Irish whiskey under the Bushmills, Proper No.

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Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) updated its earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided EPS guidance of $6.00-$7.00 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $6.15. The company issued revenue guidance of $53.36 billion-$54.73 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $54.11 billion. Delta Air Lines also updated its Q3 2023 guidance to $2.20-$2.50 EPS.

Delta Air Lines Stock Down 2.6 %

Shares of DAL opened at $46.49 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $40.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. The company has a market capitalization of $29.91 billion, a PE ratio of 10.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.31. Delta Air Lines has a 52-week low of $27.20 and a 52-week high of $49.81.

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Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.40 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $15.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 5.36% and a return on equity of 59.56%. Delta Air Liness revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines will post 6.32 EPS for the current year.

Delta Air Lines Cuts Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.62%.

A number of research analysts have commented on DAL shares. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $50.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $54.00 in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Delta Air Lines from $70.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Delta Air Lines has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $56.09.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 107,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director David S. Taylor purchased 5,000 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $34.26 per share, for a total transaction of $171,300.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 20,360 shares in the company, valued at $697,533.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at 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 value of $277,229.70. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Delta Air Lines

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DAL. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its position in Delta Air Lines by 85.8% during the first quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 1,083 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 825.7% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,333 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 1,189 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 124.9% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,273 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares during the period. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 77.1% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,493 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the period. 68.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Delta Air Lines Company Profile

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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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New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took a dig at the BJP-led Centre over an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at multiple premises of K Ponmudy and his son in an alleged money laundering case.

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP is trying to break political parties and scare everyone with ED.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal wrote, "We strongly condemn the ED raid on the TN Education Minister now. They are trying to break up parties and scare everyone with ED. But for ED, the NDA would be left with no partners, and many leaders in the BJP would have also left. You cannot scare or control a great nation like India through ED."

This reaction came after the ED raided the premises belonging to TN Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his son Gautham Sigamani on Monday morning in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

UNI CM ARN
Fitell Corp. (FTEL) expects to raise $15 million in an IPO on Friday, July 21st, IPO Scoop reports. The company will issue 3,000,000 shares at a price of $4.00-$6.00 per share.

In the last 12 months, Fitell Corp. generated $8.2 million in revenue and $10,000 in net income.

Revere Securities and R.F. Lafferty & Co. served as the underwriters for the IPO.

Fitell Corp. provided the following description of their company for its IPO:  Founded in 2007 and headquartered in New South Wales, Australia, GD Wellness Pty Ltd (asGDat) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fitell Corp., a Cayman Islands company. **Note: GD in the companys name stands for its brand, Gym Direct. (Incorporated in the Cayman Islands) We are an online retailer of gym and fitness equipment both under our proprietary brands and other brand names. Fitellas mission is to build an ecosystem with a whole fitness and wellness experience powered by technology to our customers. GD has served over 100,000 customers with large portions of sales from repeat customers over the years, which we believe to be a testament of our product quality and brand loyalty. Our brand portfolio can be categorized into three proprietary brands under our Gym Direct brand: Muscle Motion, Rapid Motion, and FleetX, in over 2,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs). In addition to our all-around fitness equipment portfolio to individual and commercial customers, we launched three new business verticals with integration of technology in 2021: Smart Connected Equipment  Initiated in May 2021 and still in development, our smart fitness equipment is a natural extension of our core business. It includes interactive exercise bikes and workout mirrors. We expect commercial launch in November 2022, with retail products available in December 2022. 1FinalRound: Our AI-powered interactive platform with our proprietary online training content and capability to be interactive with personal trainers as well as capability to follow members and track workout progress.A Boutique Fitness Clubs Licensing: Leveraging our years or experience in the fitness and wellness industry servicing both businesses and individual customers, we launched our licensing business in late 2021. mYSTEPS Training Clinic, a new concept fitness club chain, is our first licensee, dedicated to helping fitness-savvy and health-conscious consumers (usually ages 28-55) with higher disposable incomes achieve a motivating and healthy lifestyle with an engaging and dynamic fitness community in both online and offline settings. A We market and sell fitness equipment and related products as well as serve as a one-stop shop for business setup from personal training studios to commercial gyms. Our full spectrum of product coverage is exemplified by the following three proprietary brand names, which represented over 85% of our revenues in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022: A aZ OurA Muscle MotionA brand is a supplier of home gym and commercial strength-training equipment. Products have an emphasis on weights, bars, power racks, benches, and gym machines. A aZ OurA Rapid MotionA brand features similar products as Muscle Motion but with a stronger focus on commercial items. A aZ OurA FleetXA brand focuses on cardio equipment, including products such as rowing machines, exercise bikes, treadmills and more. All of these items are available in both home and commercial-grade quality. A In our fitness equipment business segment, we sell our products directly to customers through online or offline platforms. Revenue from our own e-commerce website accounted for approximately 83.68% of our total sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, with the remaining sales derived from commercial sale orders, our showroom and phone orders as well as third-party channels such as Amazon and eBay. **Note: Revenue and net income figures are for the year ended June 30, 2022. (Note: Fitell Corp. cut the size of its IPO by 25 percent by removing the 1 million shares offered by the selling stockholders in an F-1/A filing dated May 8, 2023: The IPOs size is now 3.0 million shares at $4.00 to $6.00 each to raise $15.0 million. Background: Fitell Corp. disclosed terms for its IPO in an F-1/A filing dated Nov. 29, 2022: 4.0 million shares at $4.00 to $6.00 each. The company is offering 3.0 million shares. Selling stockholders are offering 1.0 million shares; the company company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of those shares. Fitell Corp. filed its F-1 on Oct. 7, 2022.) A .

Fitell Corp. was founded in 2007 and has 17 employees. The company is located at 23-25 Mangrove Lane Taren Point, NSW 2229 Australia and can be reached via phone at +612 95245266 or on the web at https://gymdirect.com.au/.

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Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (OTCMKTS:AWKNF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 8,900 shares, a drop of 27.0% from the June 15th total of 12,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 21,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Awakn Life Sciences Stock Up 18.9 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:AWKNF opened at $0.17 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.24. Awakn Life Sciences has a 52 week low of $0.09 and a 52 week high of $0.72.

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Awakn Life Sciences Company Profile

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Awakn Life Sciences Corp., a biotechnology company, engages in the researching, developing, operations, and delivering of psychedelic therapeutics to treat addiction and other mental health conditions in the United Kingdom and Europe. The company has a collaboration agreement with the University of Exeter for exploring the use of ketamine-assisted therapy to treat Severe AUD.

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A proposal to confer the Freedom of the City and District on Derry victims campaigner, Jon McCourt will be considered at the next full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Mr McCourt is a well known advocate for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.

The motion to grant him the Freedom of the City and District will be proposed by Cllr Shaun Harkin of People Before Profit.

Speaking to Derry Now, Cllr Harkin said he was bringing the motion, in recognition of Jon McCourts tireless campaigning for the survivors of institutional abuse and his many years of peace and reconciliation work. Cllr Harkin added: In addition, Jon was recently offered the opportunity to take an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and he turned that down for very, very principled reasons.

People will have read the letter which Derry News published, where he talked about Bloody Sunday and other issues. People Before Profit felt very strongly that Jon should be properly recognised for his contribution, particularly, obviously, as a campaigner for people who suffered historical institutional abuse.

But Jon has also been a campaigner for many other issues, so I think it is fitting that we properly recognise his contribution and one of the avenues through which we can do that is by awarding him the Freedom of the City and the District.

Obviously that is a big honour because not that many people receive it, so I think, it is about honouring Jon but it is also about acknowledging the overall struggle that thousands of people had to go through to get the truth about historical institutional abuse, said Cllr Harkin.

Shaun Harkin said there was considerable public support for the motion.

He said: Since People Before Profit said we were going to propose this, I have had a lot of people contacting me asking if there is anything they could do to offer their support, could they write letters of support to encourage a lot of the other councillors to support this motion?

I feel it is a good proposal, a good thing to do. I think it would be a proper honour for Jon.
Derry City and Strabane District Council will not now hold an Emergency Meeting to discuss the reinstatement of the Holiday Hunger scheme.

The issue will be discussed at Council's July 26 plenary.

The 'Holiday Hunger' scheme was introduced to give financial help of 27 a fortnight to the parents of children who receive free school meals, to off-set the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

In March, the Department of Education announced funding for the Holiday Hunger scheme would end in April.

Speaking to Derry Now, Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said there were a lot of funding cuts taking place at the minute but people were most angry about the cut to Holiday Hunger meal payments.

He added: There are nearly 100,000 children not getting that food help through this summer. We have heard from other campaigners and the Focus Project in Creggan that this is hurting a lot of families across the North and in our city and district.

So, we want to do anything we can to try and encourage the permanent secretary of the Department of Education to reverse this decision, to reinstate the payments for August and backdate them for July. This would be real help going to people who desperately need it.

We cannot allow government departments to punish children because they are not making these decisions. We should be making sure that children are being supported, said Cllr Harkin.

Cllr Harkin, along with the Independent councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council, wrote to the other parties asking them to support an Emergency Meeting to discuss the reinstatement of Holiday Hunger payments.

He added: I am glad to report that the SDLP, UUP and Sinn Fein and the Mayor all supported the proposal.

The only party we did not hear back from was the DUP and that was disappointing. However, the Emergency Meeting is not about the DUP. It is about trying to do something to help children and help families who are struggling to cover the cost of food.

I am hopeful we will have the Emergency meeting this week and that we can help to make some noise to try and get the decision to abolish Holiday Hunger payments reversed. And hopefully other councils are looking at doing the same thing.

"Child poverty and children going hungry in our communities is shameful and immoral when corporations are making record profits. We need action now. Councils, trade unions, community sector organisations and those with influence should do everything possible to back this demand.

Cllr Emma McGinley (Sinn Fein) said the Assembly should be restored now to progress legislation to tackle holiday hunger.

Cllr McGinley will table a motion at Full Council challenging "savage Tory cuts that has seen the holiday hunger payment stripped away this summer".

She added: "The lack of an Executive and an onslaught of education cuts means that thousands of families are spending this summer without vital holiday hunger payments.

These payments are a lifeline for families that depend on free school meals and help ensure that children get a hot meal during the school holidays.

Many families across the city are already struggling with increasing mortgage costs, increasing food costs and rising utility bills, so stripping this payment away will only add to the hardship they are facing.

The DUPs continued blockade of the Executive is heartless and irresponsible. We need the Assembly restored now and parties working together around the table to progress legislation to tackle holiday hunger, to support families and legislate to end the constant cliff-edge over these payments.

I am bringing a motion calling on the council to write to the British Government challenging the savage cuts that seen this payment stripped away and calling for it to be reversed now.
A man with 8 previous convictions for criminal damage and a total of 63 previous convictions has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today on a charge of criminal damage to a glass panel.

Patrick McCallion (32) of no fixed abode admitted a charge of criminal damage to a glass panel in a hostel in Crawford Square.

The court heard that police were called to the hostel and spoke to a member of staff who said a resident, McCallion, had become 'increasingly aggressive'.

He had then punched a hole through a reinforced glass panel in a door causing damage valued at 300.

While police were in attendance they received information that McCallion was at another address and he was seen covered in blood and arrested.

The glass incident was captured on CCTV.

When interviewed the defendant said 'I do not deny doing it' but said he could not remember due to his intoxication.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had entered an early guilty plea.

He said he had no recollection of the incident but accepts what had been said and added that he 'came off the worst' due to injuries he received.

The solicitor said that his client 'bitterly regrets biting the hand that feeds him' as he was now homeless.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said that McCallion had 'a poor record' and had only recently been released from prison.

She sentenced him to 4 months in prison and ordered him to pay 300 in compensation.
India roundup: Foxconn and Vedanta go separate ways for chip investments in India

After Vedanta acquired a 100% stake in its semiconductor and display manufacturing business, Foxconn said it parted away with Vedanta for their joint venture, Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited, and is looking for new partners to keep its commitment to India's semiconductor ecosystem. Meanwhile, Taiwan-based ADATA approved a plan to set up a memory module plant in India.

Foxconn withdraw from chip JV with Vedanta, looking for new partners

According to The Economic Times, Vedanta Group announced on July 7 that its subsidiary Vedanta Limited will acquire a 100% stake in its semiconductor and display manufacturing business from Twin Star Technologies. On July 10, Foxconn said that it would not move forward with the chip joint venture with Vedanta and is looking for new partners for investments in semiconductor manufacturing in India without naming the partners.

Foxconn reportedly to build 4-5 fab lines in India

Vijay Nehra, secretary of Gujarat's science and technology department, told Reuters that the state is holding talks with multiple prospective investors, including Foxconn, over semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The Economic Times also quoted sources saying that Foxconn had informed the Ministry of Electronics and IT about at least two MoUs it signed with technology partners, adding that Foxconn is likely to apply for incentives and publicly reveal its plan within 45-60 days, which may include 4-5 semiconductor fabrication lines in India.

ADATA approved capital injection to make memory modules in India

According to the Market Observation Post System in Taiwan, ADATA announced in a regulatory filing on July 10 that its board of directors approved a capital injection worth up to US$25 million into its Indian subsidiary, ADATA Semiconductor Private Limited, to set up a new manufacturing facility there.

Tesla reportedly begins initial talks to make cars in India

The Economic Times quoted sources saying that Tesla is talking with the Indian government and a major local industry body to bring its component manufacturing partners and build an all in-house ecosystem in India. Tesla also sought information about the current and additional incentives or tax breaks the company and its partners may receive for manufacturing in India.

IDC: India to be No. 1 wearables market in 2023

The Economic Times quoted IDC's forecasts that of the total 504.1 million units of wearables to be shipped globally in 2023, India is expected to account for 130-135 million, or about 26%, becoming the largest wearable market in the world.
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Weekly news roundup: advances in China's ongoing struggle for AI chips and other top stories from the previous week

TSMC seeing more orders from China-based AI chip suppliers

Despite intensifying tension between the US and China that may lead to more restrictions on AI GPUs against China, China-based AI chip design houses are expanding their chip orders for TSMC's 7nm process since the first quarter of 2023.

Samsung sees DRAM output fall to 2-year low

Samsung Electronics has seen its average monthly DRAM output fall to a two-year low, and is expected to sustain its production reduction strategy till 2024 and slow down investment in memory equipment before market demand recovers, according to media reports from South Korea.

China IC self-sufficiency push heaps pressure on Taiwanese firms operating in China

The United States has imposed export restrictions on key Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, curbing their own development of semiconductors and access to outside supplies. However, the recent shift of these Chinese companies from "de-Americanization" to "localization" of their supply chains may exert pressure on some Taiwanese IC design firms, according to industry sources.

China's semiconductor talent supply faces structural imbalance

As the global semiconductor industry faces a shortage of talent, the latest survey has exposed an even more pronounced talent shortage in China's semiconductor manufacturing sector.

Intel offers customized AI processors to China, backed by major Chinese AI server providers

As the US seeks to tighten export controls on AI chips to China, Intel held a press conference in Beijing on July 11, announcing the launch of the deep learning processor Habana Gaudi 2 in the Chinese market. This processor can be used to accelerate AI training and inference tasks. Chinese AI server giants, such as Inspur, New H3C, and xFusion, are expected to release server products featuring the Gaudi 2 processor.

Chinese IC equipment maker AMEC wins lawsuit against Lam Research

China's leading semiconductor equipment maker Advanced Micro-fabrication Equipment (AMEC) recently has announced its winning a final court judgment in Shanghai in a lawsuit involving the infringement of ion etching equipment-related technologies and trade secrets against US-based equipment vendor Lam Research.

Intel's customized Gaudi 2 chips for China very likely to be made by TSMC 7 nm process

Intel unveiled its Gaudi 2 China Special Edition deep learning processor in Beijing on July 11 and received almost unanimous praise from Chinese media outlets. In addition to mentioning the most significant advantage of Gaudi 2 over Nvidia's AI GPUs lies in its "higher price/performance ratio," the Chinese media emphasized that the launch of Gaudi 2 brings an alternative to Nvidia for training large language models (LLMs) in China, challenging Nvidia's monopoly of the AI training market.

TSMC likely to post over 10% revenue growth in 3Q23

TSMC will likely post an over 10% sequential revenue increase in the third quarter of 2023, when the pure-play foundry's fab utilization rate will return to more than 80%, according to industry sources.

I saw "de-globalization" at Semicon China (Editorial)

At Semicon China 2023, held June 29 to July 1 in Shanghai, several opening keynote speeches revolved around the topics of globalization and de-globalization. I happened to be on the spot, personally experiencing the current atmosphere of the Chinese semiconductor industry under the impact of geopolitical tensions.
India's Yulu nears zero-import dependence with Bajaj partnership

As electric vehicles (EVs) make inroads into the Indian market, numerous startups have emerged to offer solutions, enjoying varying degrees of success. EV two-wheelers, in particular, have been well-received, although recent changes to subsidies have raised concerns.

Yulu, one of the startups, has distinguished itself in this evolving landscape. Digitimes Asia had interviewed the company in 2022 as the market began recovering from the pandemic. Almost a year on, Yulu continues to consolidate its presence across the country.

"Import dependence was a concern for us. However, with our new fleet from Bajaj, it's almost nil on the scooter side," said Amit Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Yulu. "As for Yuma, we still import cells, but we anticipate commencing production of advanced cell chemistry cells in India within a year or two. Despite some challenges, recent policy shifts have generally been neutral or even beneficial for us."

The EV market grapples with uncertainties revolving around subsidies and a handful of companies falling short on regulatory compliance. However, Yulu remains insulated from these issues as they operate within a category that isn't subsidy-dependent.

Developing a niche in the Indian market

Gupta highlighted that many things have evolved since Digitimes's last interview. A significant development was the investment of $77 million in Yulu by mobility technology company Magna.

"We've transitioned from a single entity into two: Yulu and Yuma," Gupta said. "Over the past six months, we've appointed all the senior leadership roles in Yuma. This entity is now fully prepared to embrace a new growth trajectory by engaging more OEMs. We've rolled out a comprehensive battery-as-a-service network and tripled our fleet size from around 7,000 to 8,000 bikes, thereby expanding our revenue, customer base, and monthly active users. Our bikes, primarily used by gig workers, are now available in two models: the Yulu Miracle for daily commuters and the Yulu EX for delivery workers."

The company also launched its third generation of bikes, manufactured in India by Bajaj, and secured over $80 million in equity funding. Moreover, Yulu has expanded its presence in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai and is gearing up to enter new markets.

Market outlook

Gupta explained that the company's optimism for the electric mobility market, which they have strongly supported since its early stages in 2018, remains undiminished. The shift towards electric mobility will be primarily driven by the two-wheeler market.

"The commercialization of electric mobility, where fleet owners see a return on investment, will be a significant factor. Our decision to embrace electric mobility is not merely due to our country's signed agreements - it makes sound business sense," said Gupta. "We firmly believe that electrification of mobility is here to stay and will only expand, fueled by national agendas, geopolitical reasons, and the declining availability of petroleum resources. We remain exceedingly bullish on electric vehicles, considering all the global developments, including those in India."

Strength in IoT solutions

One area where Yulu has been concentrating its efforts is in IoT. The company's partnership with Bajaj certainly brings some strengths but to elevate the vehicle into the realm of intelligent transportation, Yulu has integrated IoT, telematics, a network of complex sensors, a wealth of cloud-based data, and a suite of algorithms, including AI.

"This innovation is what makes our business model so intriguing," Gupta said. "Yulu has developed and owned this IP from day one. It's not enough just to source a scooter from an OEM. For us, the key lies in integrating a digital brain and heart into the vehicle. This might sound like a bold claim, but the sophistication of our technology, connectivity features, and embedded intelligence in Yulu's offerings is comparable to something like Tesla's tech stack."

Mobility in India is indeed a challenge. However, as the country forges ahead with its EV plans, companies like Yulu will play a crucial role in offering alternatives to traditional modes of transport. This is inevitable for India as the country aims for rapid growth, notwithstanding its aging infrastructure.
Iran's supreme leader urges Sweden to hand over Quran desecrator to Muslim states 22 Jul 2023 | 5:52 PM Tehran, July 22 (UNI) Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday called on the Swedish government to hand over the perpetrator of the recent "crimes" of insulting the Quran to Muslim states' judicial systems. see more..

Russian missile strike killed Polish, German mercenaries in Lviv 22 Jul 2023 | 4:47 PM Moscow, July 22 (UNI) Many Polish and German mercenaries were killed on July 6 as a result of Russia's long-range missile strike on a military academy in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. see more..

China's commercial rocket CERES-1 Y6 launches satellites 22 Jul 2023 | 4:31 PM Beijing, July 22 (UNI) China on Saturday launched the CERES-1 Y6 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. see more..

China launches level-IV emergency response to flooding in northern regions 22 Jul 2023 | 3:36 PM Beijing, July 22 (UNI) China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Saturday launched a level-IV emergency flood control response as heavy rains are forecast to lash northern parts of the country. see more..
European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has said the fundamental rights of migrants will be prioritised under a new partnership package with Tunisia.

Her comments follow an agreement by the EU and Tunisian President Kais Saied to implement a comprehensive partnership package with the European Union.

On Sunday, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was in Tunis with Italian and Dutch prime ministers Giorgia Meloni and Mark Rutte to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding covering areas such as economic stability and migration.

However, Ms Johansson said on Monday it was clear there are a lot of challenges on the issue of rights of migrants.

Tunisia is a major departure for many asylum seekers who attempt the often deadly crossing of the Mediterranean into Europe.

NGOs have accused the Tunisian government of dismantling human rights protections and introducing repressive laws.

Speaking during a webinar for an Irish policy think tank, Ms Johansson said the EU has agreed to work with Tunisia to support people in that country who would like to voluntarily return to their country of origin.

The commissioner also told the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) that Tunisia should welcome back Tunisian citizens that are not eligible to stay in the EU.

Ms Johannson said: We should support Tunisia when it comes to the prevention of these dangerous, mostly deadly departures on these boats.

She also called for co-operation on identification of migrants and investment in legal pathways.

The former Swedish employment minister also told the IEEA she had proposed an EU-wide definition for safe third countries.

Currently, member states decide themselves if they consider a third country to be safe and can deem asylum requests from citizens of such countries to be inadmissible.

Ms Johansson said she hoped co-legislators would agree on a European definition of safe third countries but this has not been decided yet.

She said a countrys protection of fundamental rights such as the right to apply for asylum and to be given international protection would need to be assessed in deciding the definition.

Asked by IIEA board member Marie Cross if there was a provision for sending migrants to states besides their country of origin, Ms Johansson said this was not in her proposal and was not the approach of the council or parliament.

I must also say that Im not in favour of that.

I dont think its a good idea to send asylum applicants to a third country.

Ms Johansson said when she took office in December 2019 there was a stalemate on legislation due to a lack of trust between members states and the commission.

There was also a lot of room for manoeuvre for drama queens or drama kings to make a lot of noise around migration.

However, she pointed to areas of success on co-operation with member states since then.

Migration is something normal. Migration has always existed, migration will always exist.

Migration will never stop. Our task is to manage migration. And migration is manageable, but it takes that we work close together to manage migration.

Asked by Ms Cross if the EU felt helpless in the face of increased people smuggling, Ms Johansson said people should be concerned.

We have to remember that these smugglers are not sending people to Europe  they are sending them to death.

And sometimes they actually even force [migrants] into their vessels, even when the weather conditions are really, really dangerous.
Personal assistants (PAs) who help those with disabilities and extra needs at further education colleges in Louth have met with Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris to progress their calls for better pay and conditions.

The meeting, which took place last Thursday in Leinster House, was organised by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu and was attended by PAs from O Fiaich College, DIFE, Cavan Institute and Dunboyne College.

The eight-strong group of women spoke to Minister Harris about their employment situation which sees them having to apply for the dole during term holidays like Christmas and summer.

In many cases, the PAs said, the social protection applications take too long to pay out and they sometimes do not get the money until they return to work.

In addition, they do not get paid from their work until October.

One of the PAs told Minister Harris that she is aware that some of her colleagues have to rely on charities like St Vincent de Paul to get through the summer.

Deputy O Murchu said: The PAs spoke clearly to Minister Harris about the situations they are in at work where their gross annual salary is just 15,000.

The work they do in helping those with disabilities and learning difficulties is extraordinary and Minister Harris said at the meeting that the work they do aligns with the stated government policy of getting more people into higher level education.

Without PAs, these people would not be able to make the most of their potential at third level and go onto academic achievement and employment.

Deputy O Murchu said the meeting with Minister Harris was positive. He said: It is accepted that the system with PAs has developed in an unplanned way and it needs to be reviewed.

We have a structure that is not working for those who work in it and therefore it is not sustainable into the future for students who need it.

The Minister said they would look for a short-term fix that SOLAS and the Department can facilitate for the PAs, while accepting that the longer term work will involve Forsa and detailed negotiations.

The wider issue would require a greater level of engagement between government departments, SOLAS, and the ETBs and his department would be open to facilitating the contacts.

We were assured that the contacts between Forsa, SOLAS and the department will continue over the summer to ensure that a resolution is found for the PAs so those who are currently employed get the pay and conditions they deserve for the work that they do.
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Louth GAA supporters will have to wait a little longer to see work begin on their new stadium, as following a Croke Park directive the County Board have had to put the project on hold.

Having completed levelling works on the site, building work was supposed to getting underway this morning, alongside an official launch ceremony marking the occasion.

However, the likelihood of this event ever taking place took a big hit last Saturday when the GAA relayed communications that they were not to proceed with the launch.

A GAA bulletin released to the media read: Meetings of An Coiste Bainistiochta and Ard Chomhairle took place last night (July 14th) and today (July 15th) respectively.

The following decisions were taken: It was agreed to instruct Coiste Contae an Lu not to proceed with the current plans for a new Stadium pending a reassessment.

It was Sunday evening before any word of a cancellation came through, with Louth GAA officially announcing its postponement just after 11PM.

Following communication with the GAA over the weekend, the launch and commencement of construction of our new stadium is postponed until early August read the statement which was shared across the countys social media channels.

An emergency meeting of the Louth County Boards management committee was held Sunday night. The only item on the agenda was Croke Parks instructions for Louth not to go ahead with the launch of the project.

The Croke Park central meeting, which was where the directive to stop plans to begin building was issued, was believed to have been attended by Mr Fitzpatrick, who was warned not to go ahead with the launch.

This was not the first time this plea had been issued, as concerns from the GAA surrounding the imminent start of building works, along with its funding, were brought by Croke Park officials back in June. These issues were addressed at the most recent county board meeting.

Whereas many delegates had been supportive of going ahead with the launch, members of the management committee spoke against it last Monday night. The meeting went on for almost three hours, as debates on this subject ensued.

In another bombshell for Louth fans, following the emergency meeting last night, The Democrat understands that Peter Fitzpatrick has resigned from his position as chairman of the County Board.

The Independent TD had been a huge advocate for getting the Wee County a new stadium, setting it out as one of his top priorities ever since he took up Louth GAAs highest office. He has also campaigned for funds to get the project off the ground.

At the time of print Mr Fitzpatrick had been approached by the Democrat for comment but could not be reached, while Louth GAA had yet to issue any statement confirming his departure.

The new stadium was originally budgeted at around 12 million, but this figure had since risen significantly to 29 million.

At Julys County Board meeting, club delegates were informed this had dropped down to 25 million, after some ideas for the project, described to delegates as bells and whistles had been dropped from their plans.

Louth GAA hoped to chip in 18 million of the final bill, with the vast majority of this funding coming via the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). 14.8 million was promised from this outlet, which Fitzpatrick fought hard to get through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) is a pathway for non-EEA nationals to secure immigration permission to Ireland on the basis of long-term investment of a sum of money in a project that has been approved for that purpose by the Department of Justice and other Government stakeholders.

37 foreign investors have pledged 400,000 each towards the stadium through the IIP, to help gain Irish residency. Should any of said 37 pull out, delegates at pervious meetings were told that others were available to make up the funds.

Other ways they hoped to foot the bill was via naming rights of the stadium, advertising hoardings on site and a Leinster Council grant.

Louth GAA had then sought 7 million from Croke Park to make up the shortfall, but from an early stage in the negotiations, Croke Park sought an assessment of costs. This was still the case ahead of todays proposed launch and commencement of building work.
Tens of millions of acres of wetlands are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month. Some states are seeking to enact their own regulations to fill the gap, while others see the decision as an opportunity to roll back state standards. (U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service/Flickr)

In 2007, an Idaho couple wanted to build a home near a lake; the Environmental Protection Agency stopped them. Fifteen years later and 2,300 miles away, the ensuing legal battle has launched the protection of some Louisiana wetlands into uncertainty.

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the couple in May and curtailed the EPAs authority to enforce the Clean Water Act of 1972. Coastal officials are grappling with what that means for Louisiana, which has some of the highest wetland acreage in the country.

What counts as waters of the United States, and is therefore subject to the Clean Water Act, has changed over the years, David Peterson, general counsel for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, explained Wednesday to its board.

The drawing of new lines in the latest decision just created more chaos, Peterson said.

The nine Supreme Court justices agreed the EPA went too far in preventing the couple, Michael and Chantell Sackett, from building on their property but split 5-4 on redefining what is protected by the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, said for wetlands to be protected under the act, they must be indistinguishably part of a body of water that itself constitutes waters under the CWA. Those waters include bodies like large lakes and rivers, such as the Mississippi River.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by the courts three liberal justices, wrote a concurring opinion spelling out fears for what the new rule requiring wetlands to have a continuous surface connection to covered waters might mean.

By narrowing the Acts coverage of wetlands to only adjoining wetlands, the Courts

new test will leave some long-regulated adjacent wetlands no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, with significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout the United States, Kavanaugh wrote.

Environmental groups responded in force to the decision, raising similar concerns it would harm the nations ecosystems and the people who live in and near them. In a statement, the Sierra Club said the ruling will open millions of acres of wetlands  all formerly protected by the Clean Water Act  to pollution and destruction.

The state coastal authority is starting to understand how this decision might impact Louisiana.

From a practical standpoint, I still think probably most of south Louisiana south of I-10 and the I-12 corridor is probably a good bet that thats wetland that has connections to either the Gulf of Mexico in some way or Lake Pontchartrain  and the Mississippi River, Peterson said.

The courts rule that wetlands have a continuous surface connection to covered waterways to fall under the Clean Water Act is complicated by Louisianas levee systems.

Well, if  somebody cut off the wetland deliberately in a criminal manner, certainly thats not going to not make it a wetland, Peterson said. (The justices) dont really give a whole lot of discussion about things like the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) levees  any levee artificially cutting off those wetlands.

The ruling raises particular confusion about leaky levees, Peterson said, which are only closed off during storms. Its not really clear how those will be affected under the new rule, he said.

Beyond areas with levee systems, the ruling might also affect isolated wetlands in north Louisiana that dont have continuous connections to bodies the Clean Water Act covers, Peterson said.

Dwayne Bourgeois, who represents the Terrebonne Basin on the CPRA board, noted the courts ruling doesnt change the definition of a wetland, just a jurisdictional wetland.

Bourgeois and Peterson said they felt Kavanaughs warnings wouldnt come to fruition.

Im not sure that Kavanaughs doom and gloom in the opinion is going to be the reality, Peterson said.

Bourgeois said he thinks the justices predictions were a bit overboard.

Most of what we know as a wetland in Louisiana thats outside and has interchange and everything else is not going to be impacted by this ruling, said Bourgeois, who is the executive director of the North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District Board of Commissioners.

Though some confusion remains on the federal level, states can choose to enact tighter restrictions to protect wetlands, Peterson said.

The courts are clear that the states can go beyond and regulate further, and many do, he said.

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The post How an Idaho couples fight to build a home near a lake might affect Louisianas wetlands appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
by David Kordahl

Every October, I try to carve out a little time to enjoy Nobel Season. This past week marked the climax of the last years iteration, with the winners of the various Nobel Prizes announced on successive days of the week. I had fun following the picks, and learning a bit about new things in the fields I dont follow closelywhich, frankly, is most of them.

Physics, however, was a different story. The physics Nobelists this year were familiar to me and most other physicists, seemingly obvious choices, if not exactly household names. Alain Aspect, John Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger have become standard characters in the physics lore of the past few decades. Their stories have even bled out into the wider culture. In Les Particules elementaires, the 1998 novel by Michel Houellebecq, Aspects experiments are positioned as part of a metaphysical mutation comparable only to the birth of Christianity and the rise of science itself.

Well, as one might say of many grand claimssounds important, if true. Here, Ill be expressing my doubts about a few articles of common faith.

A Brief History of Quantum Entanglement

The lineage of experiments involving quantum entanglement has been described in many popular science books. Im fond of an old hippieish one, Quantum Reality: Beyond the New Physics, by Nick Herbert. Anton Zeilinger has himself written one, Dance of the Photons: From Einstein to Quantum Teleportation, which I suppose will now get a sales bump.

What entanglement experiments have in common is that they all follow up a question raised by Einstein, along with his colleagues Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen, regarding the completeness of quantum mechanics. The EPR Paradox (so named after the three men) proposed a thought experiment involving two particles in an entangled state, such that measurements on one help to predict measurements on the other.

According to quantum mechanics, the measurement on one particle casts the other into a determinate quantum state, even if the particles are spatially separated from each other. This seemed to imply a tension with the theory of relativity, with the possibility that signals were being shared faster than light. Even more importantly, it seemed to indicate that quantum mechanics was incomplete, and needed to be augmented.

Many decades later, the Irish physicist John Stewart Bell (1928-1990) became interested in these questions. Bell didnt introduce any new physics, since Bells Theorem follows directly from standard old quantum mechanics, but it cast the old EPR paradox in a way that suggested experimental tests, clearly demonstrating how probability could not be easily circumvented in the analysis of entangled quantum states.

The 2022 Nobel citation celebrates Aspect, Clauser, and Zeilinger for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science. Each of these words could spark arguments. But lets stick to one word: entanglement.

What does it implyor, for an easier question, what doesnt it?

Entanglement Doesnt Imply Action at a Distance

Einstein sardonically called entanglement spooky action at a distance, which is a dig that only makes sense if you know some physics. The original action at a distance theory was Newtons version of gravity, which simply posited that every mass in the universe pulls every other mass in the universe toward itself, with a strength proportional to the product of the mass doing the pulling and the mass being pulled, and inversely proportional to the squared distance between them. Why did this work? Newton wrote, hypotheses non fingoI frame no hypotheses.

But later physicists couldnt be stopped from hypothesizing, and the nineteenth century saw the rise of field theory, which posited that the effects formerly interpreted as inexplicable long-distance communiques could better be understood by introducing local entities hanging out in space, that is, by introducing fields. Electric and magnetic forces were thought to act not across vast distances, but because electric and magnetic fields were already present at the locations where the forces were being applied. These fields were eventually understood as dynamical entities, both reacting to and causing changes in the motions of charged particles.

The great unification of nineteenth-century physics came when James Clerk Maxwell showed that light could be understood as coherent oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields. Considering the symmetries of Maxwells equations would lead Einstein, a few decades later, to propose relativity theory, which described a world of local physics, where action at a distance had been banished entirely.

The illustration above, from the Popular Science Background article on the Nobel website, subtly suggests that quantum entanglement contradicts the earlier picture of locality in physicsi.e., that it contradicts our picture of things only interacting with other things that occupy the same position in space. The ghostly strands might suggest to us a strange neo-Newtonian revival, overthrowing the local universe of Einstein and Maxwell.

Of course, there are many physicists (and at least one novelist) who do believe this, who believe the non-locality of entangled quantum states implies something deep about physics. But I dont, and Im not alone.

The important thing to understand about entangled particles is how they became entangled. Particles become entangled when they interact. When we see particles on opposite sides of the room whose measurements are correlated, it doesnt necessarily mean that there is some spooky force between them that keeps them connected. The particles correlations are a residue of their past contact, not evidence of their continued interaction.

There are classical analogues to this. For instance, if a bomb rests quietly in the middle of a parking lot, its Newtonian momentum (the product of its mass and velocity, p = m v) is zero, because it isnt moving. Momentum is conserved, so after the bomb explodes, the sum of all the momenta of the outgoing shards is also zero. Does this imply that the particles are spookily connected afterward? No, but it does suggest they once were linked.

Ive lifted this exploding bomb analogy from John P. Ralsons book, How to Understand Quantum Mechanics. Ralston uses an exploding lumber mill, but experts may argue that this doesnt get to the heart of the matter.

To those experts, however, I recommend the analysis of Information Flow in Quantum Mechanics by David Deutsch and Patrick Hayden, who treat the EPR setup with more formality and less invective than Ralston. Deutsch and Hayden examine every step of the EPR setup, and notice that the information is always stored locally and extracted locally. That certain ways talking about the situation make it seem as though there are non-local forces is an accident of language, not a fact of science. After all, correlations can arise from causal contact that no longer persists.

Entanglement Doesnt Imply Faster-Than-Light Messaging

Once you take up the interpretation that particles are entangled due to their past interaction and not anything more mysterious than that, it seems obvious that entanglement wont give us any faster-than-light signaling schemes. But this wasnt all initially obvious. Schemes were proposed.

David Kaiser, a physicist and historian of science who has collaborated with Anton Zeilinger, one of this years laureates, has written a wonderful book about the early history of Bells theorem. How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival describes how quantum ideas bled out of the universities and into the wider world. Aspect, Clauser, and Zeilinger all play a part in this story, but it is also populated by some wilder characters, including the physicist Nick Herbert, author of the aforementioned popular science text, Quantum Reality.

Herbert was intrigued by the possibility that entanglement could be used to send information faster than light. This wasnt necessarily a crazy idea.

Suppose that you have a friend who tells you she is traveling either to Italy or Finland for vacationshe hasnt decided, but before she gets on the plane shell send you a postcard. If we were to assign a physics description to your friend, we might be tempted to describe her as being in a superposition of Italy and Finland position states. But when you read her postcard, information about where she is reaches you instantaneously, faster than it would take for a message to reach you from Italy or Finland. Theres something not strictly physical about this information transfer.

This not-quite-physical loophole inspired Herbert to propose his FLASH systemthe First Laser-Amplified Superluminal Hookup. Herbert imagined that by sending out a steady stream of entangled photons from a central location, two far-off friends could communicate instantaneously. One side could measure the photons, and the other side could amplify the signal on their end to deal with quantum probability.

The controversial piece of this setupan error which was far from obvious to many early readerswas the supposition that a general quantum state could be perfectly amplified. It turns out that this isnt possible, a result that is now known as the no-cloning theorem. Though the correlations exist in some sense outside of time, this unfortunately doesnt give us a way to send messages faster than light. Too bad, really.

I should mention, for fairness, that some versions of quantum theory do include faster-than-light signals. A famous example is the hidden-variable theory proposed independently by Louis de Broglie in the 1920s and by David Bohm in the 1950s, which claims that quantum mechanics is secretly deterministic, despite its probabilistic outcomes. Regardless, de Broglie-Bohm enthusiasts dont have any way to send FTL signals, either.

Entanglement Doesnt Imply Randomness

Now, readers who disagree with the point of view Ive been forwarding hereroughly, that quantum entanglement is demonstrably real, but isnt that philosophically profoundmay quite reasonably demur that I havent fully grappled with how probability enters into quantum interpretation.

Which is true. Quantum measurement will have to wait for another essay. The problem of quantum measurement involves understanding how observations of quantum systems manage to pick out just one outcome, when a quantum state seems to be divvied among various possibilities. But in the applications of entanglement that researchers are studying most intently, quantum measurement matters less than quantum dynamics.

When, as an undergraduate, I first heard about quantum computers, I presumed that such devices might be ones whose outcomes were chancy. Didnt the modern physics homework problems always ask me to compute probabilities? It seemed logical to suppose that a quantum computer would have some randomness in its operation. But how would you get a result out of that? Maybe you ran the calculation a bunch of times. I wasnt sure.

This, it turns out, was entirely wrong. A quantum computer that acts according to theory will give answers that are entirely deterministic. Quantum measurements often involve probabilities, its true, but when quantum bitsqubitsare prepared in a 0 or a 1 state, a measurement should give you back exactly the state you just prepared.

The reason quantum computers are tricky to implement comes down to the various possibilities for entanglement. Once experimental physicists are able to control the interactions between the qubits in a quantum computer with sufficient delicacy, they will be able to do amazing things. But quantum systems can easily become entangled with thermal noise, which can scramble their delicate correlations. As a result, extensive work has been done on quantum error correction, which involves using multiple physical qubits for each qubit needed for quantum information processing.

Im far from an expert in any of this, but I do know enough to assert that this is physics, not magic. Nature keeps track of all sorts of delicate correlations that we normally have no reason to question. What this years physics Nobelists did was to lay the first bricks of the long road toward a future where quantum entanglement becomes a tool for technologists, and not just a subject of contemplation for philosophical ditherers like me.
EBRD to extend US$ 100 million loan to Egypts Banque Misr for on-lending to MSMEs

New financing to strengthen the resilience of the local economy

Banque Misr to expand its activities outside Greater Cairo

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the resilience of the real economy in Egypt with a US$ 100 million loan to Banque Misr for on-lending to local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The loan will help to fund the expansion of Banque Misrs activities outside of the Greater Cairo region and increase the availability of medium-term funding for Egyptian MSMEs, which remain underserved.

Banque Misr was established in 1920 and is the second-largest bank in Egypt. It has been a partner of the EBRD since 2017, when it signed its first small business loan, followed by a trade finance facility in 2018, a US$ 200 million financing package for trade and on-lending to SMEs in 2020 and a US$ 100 million loan for green financing in 2022.

Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD. Since the start of its operations there in 2012, the EBRD has invested more than 10.3 billion in 164 projects across the country.
BALLYCOTTON is a jewel along the East Cork coastline and its newest addition is a pizza and chips takeaway spot on Main Street, just in time for the throngs of summer cliff walkers and sea swimmers.

Big Blue is the passion project of Ben Harvey. Originally from Bristol, he used to work in the film industry as a location manager. Eleven years ago, he relocated to Ireland for his children, Dylan, Saoirse, and the newest edition, Cara.

Upon his arrival in Cork, Ben pivoted into hospitality and quickly learned the pizzeria trade through his affiliation with Volcano Pizza.

During the Covid lockdowns, he experimented with the idea of his own pizza truck, and also toyed with the idea of a permanent premises in Youghal, writing a business plan and drawing floor designs.

Owner, Ben Harvey, outside his Big Blue pizza place with his kids Saoirse, Cara, Dylan. Picture: Richard Gordon

Nothing quite stuck, until John McEnally, former owner of Skinnys Diner, mentioned to him that he was looking to pass the premises on to someone else. Ben didnt need long to say yes and hastily went about securing the place for himself.

In March, 2023, the keys were handed over and he was able to begin bringing his ideas to life with the blank slate that he was given.

He incorporated the help of a local tradesman Christopher, who made things happen and got the job done, bashing through the new fence in a day and building the counter in another day, just hammering through all the different jobs like a pro.

Ben, having a creative flair for branding, went about designing the logo and colour themes himself. The logo is mounted at the door of the shop and pays special homage to Ballycotton Lighthouse.

On Thursday, June 8, the doors opened for the first time and that first weekend went swimmingly.

We sold out of everything we had on every day which was a massive success!

Ben was able to keep on the staff of the previous owner so no-one was out of a job.

I had never worked a commercial deep fat fryer before and was a little nervous about using it during a busy service  but day one, the girls came in, fired it up and bashed out the fries all day long, not a bother to them!

Even his young lad, Dylan, is a great help and able to do most things around the business, now keeping a family feel to the place.

The Big Blue overlooking the bay. Picture: Richard Gordon

The family feel is appropriate because summer tourism is one thing, but business from local families in the community over the winter period is important also. Bens looking to have his takeaway protocol fully smoothed out for the winter season so people will be able to pick up their evening meals all year round if they dont fancy cooking.

He has opted for the Roma style pizza, which is somewhere in between a Neapolitan and a New York style  crispier than Neapolitan but not as thick as New York style. For the pizza lovers, its nice to have a variety of choice and with Roma style being the least ubiquitous, its a welcome approach.

Hes keeping things local as much as he can, stocking Baldwins Farmhouse Ice Cream, who are based in Youghal, and using Gubbeen Meats, who hail out of Schull.

His menu items are quirky, paying homage to a previous menu item called the Kitchen Sink burger  he now has the Veggie Kitchen Sink pizza  which is as you would expect it  covered in all veggies!

Some of the tasty pizza on offer at the Big Blue. Picture: Richard Gordon

Ben is stocking Posh Drinks for the fancy beverage enthusiasts, and Soft Drinks (the humble cousin of the Posh Drink) for those who like the classics.

His back yard seating area is a gorgeous oasis tucked down off the road with a beautiful view of the bay. Its very easy to imagine the place bustling with families and friends tucking into his food and enjoying the summer. Possible plans for music acts, a coffee dock, and other ways to bring atmosphere and life to the area are in the works.

The spot is by no means a finished product and as I was chatting to Ben, a continuous stream of ideas were flowing out of him, as he explained to me what he could do with the kitchen, the outdoor seating area, and the menu. Its exciting times ahead for Ben and his Big Blue project with plenty of creative growth and development on the horizon.

Currently, Big Blue is open four days a week, Thursday to Sunday, with potential to increase to five days a week. All information can be found through the social media @big_blue_pizza.
RENEWED calls have been made to redevelop Corks old prison site on Rathmore Rd, which has lain idle for seven years.

Volunteer coordinator of Cork Penny Dinners, Caitriona Twomey, has in recent days called for a complete overhaul of the vacant building to enable it to be used for emergency accommodation.

I believe there are a number of things that could happen with the former prison, one being a total revamp and emergency housing put in place for our homeless families, for our individuals  our rough sleepers who are sleeping in fields and alleyways on streets and in doorways, Ms Twomey said, speaking on the Neil Prendeville show on Cork's RedFM.

Ms Twomey, who first made the call to redevelop the old prison on Virgin Media News last week, acknowledged that a major investment would be needed to ensure any future use was fit for purpose.

She suggested that an alternative use for a reimagining of the site could be the development of a treatment facility with step-down housing.

Speaking to The Echo, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said he would welcome a redevelopment of the old prison.

I think taking down the building and actually putting in modular social and affordable homes and working with the Department of Justice and local people, local public reps, I think theres something there.

"I mean, its a valuable piece of land."

Mr McCarthy said such a project would require an enormous amount of thinking and imagination but that redeveloping the site along the lines of what has been suggested is not beyond the realms of possibility.

The prison closed in 2016 following the construction of new prison facilities on a site opposite and it has remained vacant since.

In May last year, the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee was told by Irish Prison Service director general Caron McCaffrey that demolishing the existing building would cost several million euro.

It remains decommissioned but obviously it is a site that could potentially be used in the future by the Prison Service, she said.

Mr McCarthy said he was informed that a letter has been sent to the Department of Justice regarding the future of the old prison site and said he would be following up on this.
A FORMER resident of Kinsale Road direct provision centre in Cork city, who has received permission to remain in the country, has raised serious concerns about his future as he is unable to source accommodation.

The Algerian man, who is staying with his friend because he is unable to secure accommodation amid the current housing shortage, said he feels as though he is being treated like an alien by the State.

It comes as some residents of the direct provision centre on Kinsale Road received correspondence recently from the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) stating that they are to be transferred to a disused army camp in Co Wicklow.

These residents are asylum seekers who have successfully applied for asylum and who now have their papers but have to date been unable to source new accommodation.

Other residents, people whose applications for asylum have been rejected but who are currently seeking a judicial review in the High Court, have received correspondence stating that they are to be sent to Knockalisheen in Co Clare, where they are to be accommodated in tents.

Speaking about his current situation, the former resident of Kinsale Road direct provision centre said he cannot access services without an address but cannot source his own place to live.

Prior to covid-19, he had been working at a restaurant and lost his job due to the pandemic, which he described as a troublesome period.

He received permission to remain in the country in 2021 and began searching for a place to live in May of that same year but said the housing crisis has meant he has been unsuccessful in doing so.

He explained that he is registered with Cork City Council for social housing but said that landlords would not accept Hap [Housing Assistance Payment Scheme], a form of social housing support provided by local authorities.

According to Hap, landlords and agents are not legally required to rent to a person getting Hap.

They can choose any tenant for their property, however, they are not allowed to refuse to rent to someone just because they receive Hap.

He said that his only hope now to be successful in securing a home is to keep his current job but said that IPAS has told him that he will have to move from Cork which he said will force him to lose everything.

Now, I find a job but IPAS send me four letters telling me I have to move and I dont have any time to prepare for my move because I am working and if I lose this job then I lose all of my chances about a house, about everything, he said.

HAP is not working. With a job, yes maybe some landlords accept you if you are working but this proposition from IPAS to move you to a tent is not accommodation. It is terrible.

He said he is being made to feel as though he is an alien and said there has been no assistance, no information and that he has had to do everything himself.

I dont have any existence in Ireland because I dont have any address.

If I accept the proposition to move to the tent, I find myself in the same situation as before because I will lose my job.

My only chance to save my life is with a job because in Ireland if youre not working there is no life.

Vulnerable people 'let down'

A spokesperson for Community Action Tenants Union (Catu), a union for communities and tenants, including renters, council tenants, mortgage holders, and people in emergency and precarious living situations, told The Echo: The State is letting down all vulnerable people, DP [direct provision] residents, people in emergency accommodation, those on council lists for 10-plus years, etc.

There is no political will to make landlords comply with what is a legal obligation, accepting Hap.

Relocation of people with permanent status in tents or military barracks, and the refusal of local authorities to take responsibility over them like with other residents, is discrimination.

There is also no effective enforcement of rent control and it is increasingly impossible for everyone to source housing  people who have been desperately longing to exit DP are now fighting to stay there for a while because there is nothing else.

Entitled

A spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth recently told The Echo that those with status who have had their application for International Protection determined are no longer considered applicants and therefore no longer entitled to Material Reception Conditions.

IPAS currently accommodates over 5,200 people that have been granted status (Refugee/Subsidiary Protection/Leave to Remain), the spokesperson said.

Those with status for the greatest length of time are being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation so that those currently still in the International Protection process can be accommodated in our accommodation centres where they can receive supports.

Those currently being offered this transfer have had status for at least 18 months.

Due to the shortage of IPAS accommodation, it is not always possible to transfer those with Status for the greatest length of time to emergency accommodation close to where they currently reside.

The spokesperson said that both the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) and IPAS are operating in the context of a severe accommodation shortage.
The broadcaster said the moment he met his now wife Karen remains deeply etched in his mind.

That was back in May of 2017 when the pair had already predicted it might be love at first sight.

Their first time meeting in person was at the Voodoo Rooms on Oliver Plunkett Street at one of Nialls popular listener parties. It followed days of communicating through Facebook and regular five-hour phone calls. Love was already blooming from a chance encounter on Facebook in the early hours of one life-changing Saturday morning.

Karen had been working in public relations at the time when she sent a direct message to the celebrity enquiring about facilities for a musician set to feature on Classic Hits. Niall had been unable to move from where he was sitting at the time due to a bad case of sciatica.

I was looking for painkillers but the pain meant I couldnt get up off the couch, Niall said. I had my phone next to me and was wondering if I should call an ambulance.

At that moment a message came through via Facebook. The first thing I noticed about the profile picture was these beautiful piercing blue eyes. That was probably the first thing that attracted me to Karen. She had sent the message at 2am in the morning, not thinking I would immediately answer.

The urge to find out more about this mystery woman proved too strong for Niall. They ended up chatting online until 6am when he decided to seize the day and ask Karen for her number.

I felt this immediate trust towards someone Id never met in my life, he explained.

For the days that followed Niall and Karen spoke on the phone together for five hours at a time.

Radio star Niall Boylan and his wife Karen Boylan who first met in Cork and feature in this week's How I Met My Partner

We had so much in common, Karen said. I told him that we had to meet.

They decided early on that Cork should be the venue for their first meeting.

I told her we were having a listener party in Cork on May 5 and asked her to come along.

Karen chipped in.

He thought it would be a good way for me to network.

Niall explained he was extremely nervous in the moments leading up to their meeting.

I was 54 and going through a divorce. The last time I had been on a first date was back when I was a teenager. When Karen walked in I immediately spotted her. She had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. I thought all my birthdays had come together.

The feeling was equally as intense for Karen.

The disco lights were shining, showing up this beautiful smile and eyes that looked like oceans of blue. I dont know if you can describe a man as beautiful but thats exactly what Niall is. He is just a beautiful soul.

Karen, who now works as a content provider and director on the Niall Boylan Podcast, described how the phone calls leading up to that night paved the way for their relationship.

We put a lifetime into those two weeks, she said. Even at that point, we knew all we had to know about each other.

Niall shared her sentiment.

I loved Karen before I even met her. I was lucky she was available because it would have devastated me if she wasnt.

She recalled gushing about the broadcaster to the musician attending the party with her.

I was sitting with my act and talking about Niall. I said to him I cant believe it. He is wonderful. He told me that he had never before seen such chemistry between two people.

It wasnt long before the pair went on their first date.

We ate out at a restaurant in Monkstown before walking half a mile to the pier in Dun Laoghaire, Karen said. It was very dark and the marina was lit up by stars complemented by the clearest moon you have ever seen. Niall asked me if I wanted to dance and I said yes. He took out his phone and we danced to Rule the World by Take That. The stars were shining as we danced. It was the most gorgeous night.

Niall laughed at the memory.

Radio star Niall Boylan of Classic Hits and the Niall Boylan podcast shares a happy moment with his wife Karen Boylan. Both parties told the Echo it was love at first sight when they met at a listener party in the Voodoo Rooms on Oliver Plunkett Street in 2017.

It was a bit crackers and a bit mad but thats how me and Karen are.

Karen said the similarities between them are endless.

I dont think Ive ever met anyone so similar to me, she said. Its like there are two Niall Boylans in the relationship.

Niall recalled proposing to Karen four times.

In a way, it was like we were engaged from day one because I always knew I wanted to marry Karen.

I proposed to her four times. The first was on Portmarnock beach in Dublin. The second was on a beach in Marbella and the third was on a beach in Portugal. It was more of an expression of love than anything else. I wanted to be in that moment forever.

The pair eventually tied the knot in Glen of the Downs in Wicklow late last year.

We got married  just the two of us, Karen said. It was a beautiful place and a beautiful day.

Niall maintains that the key to a healthy relationship is communication.

The key to what we have is just talking to each other, he said. My producer used to slag me about it. She decided to take my phone once and count all the messages between us. There were 232 in total.

Karen added that honesty is a key ingredient in any healthy relationship.

We have good standards. The only lies we will ever tell each other are white ones when we are trying to keep a surprise from one another. If one of us is trying to plan a surprise the other one will always try to find out what it is. Its why we now have to keep two separate Amazon accounts.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of surprises in store this September when Karen and Niall both celebrate significant birthdays.

Karen said: Niall will be turning 60 and Ill be turning 50. The plan is to return to Cork for a weekend, given that this was the place where we first met. We are really looking forward to spending time together.

To find out more about

the Niall Boylan podcast visit: https://niallboylan.com
A PEDESTRIAN safety scheme, described by one councillor as long overdue, has been green lit for a busy junction in the city centre.

At a recent meeting of Cork City Council, councillors approved works to be carried out at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place.

The development consists of improvements to the junction with the aim of enhancing the safety for pedestrians.

Works will include the modification of the existing traffic island between South Mall and Parnell Bridge.

City council said this will include widening the island to provide improved safety for pedestrians waiting between traffic lanes.

The South Mall/Parnell Place Junction Pedestrian Safety Scheme will also see the existing two-way cycle track and footpath moved northwards to traffic calm the junction and reduce the distance that pedestrians need to cross.

At a recent meeting of Cork City Council, councillors approved works to be carried out at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place. Picture Denis Minihane.

Additionally, it will see a reduction in the number of lanes that pedestrians need to cross at the eastern end of South Mall, from three lanes to two lanes; the removal of vehicular access from South Mall to Morrisons Quay at the eastern end of the buildings on the southside of South Mall and the installation of a section of cobble stone paving on the approach to the revised island at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Bridge.

The scheme will maintain four disabled parking spaces opposite Smith St but these will be moved westward by one space to allow for five motorcycle parking spaces to be installed.

The scheme went to public consultation in late April and received seven submissions.

Speaking at the meeting, Workers Party councillor Ted Tynan welcomed the scheme which he described as long overdue and one which, when completed, will make the junction far more safe.

I cross that way a lot coming in and out of City Hall and Ive seen some very near misses Ive seen cars driving down the South Mall, they see the lights about to change and they put down the boot.

Its only a minority but Ive seen a couple of near misses there, he continued.

Mr Tynan requested that the councils roads directorate would also examine possible pedestrian safety improvement measures at the other end of Parnell Place near the bus station.

Again, Ive witnessed so many times, people getting the pedestrian light to cross, they step out to cross and theres a car racing down to beat the light.

For some reason, a minority of motorists, if theyre held up in traffic, theyll put the boot to the board to make up for lost time, he said.
The annual Make Your Mark on Cancer charity walk in aid of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary this Sunday, July 23.

Organisers are inviting walkers of all abilities to take on the 22km challenge of walking from the Viaduct on Corks Bandon Road to the Town Hall in Bandon to once again raise funds for the Mercy Cancer Appeal.

The Make Your Mark on Cancer walk was set up in 2013 to remember Bandon man Mark Prendergast, who passed away from testicular cancer in 2012.

Since its inception, the charity walk and its supporting events have raised over 430,000 for the Mercy Cancer Appeal, and in particular for the Mercy Cancer Care Centre.

Funds raised this year will once again go towards the Mercy Cancer Care Centre, which will provide vital support for patients and their loved ones as they go through their cancer journey.

The Mercy Cancer Care Centre, due for completion in December this year, will provide a range of services, from one-to-one counselling and patient support groups, to a safe haven for patients at the time of their initial diagnosis.

It will also provide a psycho-oncology service to support the mental health and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families during such a difficult time.

Part of the funds raised this year will also sponsor new testicular cancer awareness talks for over 1,000 male students aged 15-18 in seven schools across the county.

Speaking at the launch of this years walk, Damien Prendergast, chairman of the Make Your Mark on Cancer committee said all involved would love if walkers from the last 10 years, as well as new walkers, would join in this July to mark the walks 10th anniversary, and make an ongoing difference to cancer care at The Mercy University Hospital.

Little did we know when we first started organising this event in honour of my brother Mark, that it would still be going 10 years later, and that it would have raised upwards of 430,000 for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, Mr Prendergast said.

The Make Your Mark on Cancer Charity Walk will start from The Viaduct from 9am on Sunday July 23.

There is also another starting point at the Innishannon Parish Hall for those who would prefer a shorter walk.

If you would like to Make Your Mark on Cancer, registration is 25, or free to all who take sponsorship cards. Visit www.makeyourmark.ie or phone 086 4542132 to register or receive your sponsorship card.

For more information on fundraising for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and information about the Mercy Cancer CARE Centre visit www.mercyfundraising.ie.
by Akim Reinhardt

The Lede: Wombats ate five children at a drive thru restaurant in Omegosh, Texas last week.

The Body: A wisdom of wombats, on the run from massive fires in their Australian homelands, surrounded five children at a Checkers drive thru and lectured them on the disproportionate impact of the U.S. carbon footprint, before devouring them sans cutlery. Normally herbivores, the marsupials said later that they were eating young American child meat to make an ironic statement about climate change. Afterwards they were taken into custody and assigned a public defender. When reached for comment, their lawyer said the wombats were planning a hunger strike while in prison.

Ending: Does Jesus want us forgive the wombats, or blame the children? Perhaps we can do both.

*

The Lede: Theres someone in California who might like you.

The Body: California is home to nearly 40,000,000 people. One of them may like you. Like, really like you. Thats according to Cletus Nerdtoster, professor of probability statistics at California Polytechinc State University, who says chances are theres someone in the Golden State who has the hots for you.

Cant rule it out. Theres just so many goddamned people here.

But what to do about it? Nerdtoster has fewer insights into how to actually meet that person.

I met my wife at the library. But if youre not here in California, I guess that wouldnt work.

Nerdtoster says he is unfamiliar with how dating apps work.

Ending: Do you even want to be liked?

*

The Lede: Punk Rock music is dead at age 49.

The Body: Punk Rock music died fitfully last night at the La Hacienda Home for the Aged in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was 49 years old. Born and raised in southeastern Michigan, Punk Rock ran away from home after dropping out of junior high school. A brief first marriage to Avant Garde in New York City ended amicably. Punk Rock achieved notoriety in London before eventually going broke in southern California and fading from the limelight in the late 1980s. Grunge, its child by a second marriage to Riff, shot to fame in the early 1990s before committing suicide. Never fully recovering from that loss, Punk Rock spent the next quarter-century lifting weights, huffing paint, and flouncing around in worn denim and cracked leather.

A tremendous influence on me, said Death Metal. Sometimes people are surprised when I say that, but its true.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! concurred Speed Metal.

Punk Rock is survived by parent Iggy Pop; children Power Pop and Punk Pop; and its wheezing antagonist, Classic (nee Stadium) Rock. It is preceded in death by former spouse Psychobilly; child Grunge; and estranged cousin Glam Metal.

Ending: What the fuck are you middle class suburban kids so pissed about, anyway?

*

The Lede: Theres a monster under your bed.

The Body: A one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater is under your bed, waiting patiently to emerge after you turn out the lights. Morris, as he likes to be known, is scrunched up between the floor and your bed frame, but after arising, will huff and puff himself up to the size of a pony. Capable of penetrating your dreams and driving you insane, Morris really just wants to be your friend.

Right, yeah, generally me am misunderstood, Morris said in an undeterminable accent. Life the big weird.

After haunting your unconsciousness for several months, Morris plans to take some time off and decompress with an appletini.

Ending: Grab Morris by the throat, squeeze hard (but not hard enough to cut off his breathing entirely) and tell him you love him.

*

The Lede: Ya know what? Sharing is fuckin hard.

The Body: Giving someone half your cookie? I guess thats not too bad. But reaching down into the depths of your soul, pulling out a piece of your inarticulable essence, and holding it up for another person to see and feel? Yowser. Thats some hard core shit right there. Its okay if you dont do it. Honestly, its asking a lot. But if you do, I promise not to laugh or smash it or get distracted by CNNs coverage of the wombat trial. Or judge you. I definitely wont judge you.

Ending: Would you like half of my cookie?

*

The Lede: A new color of jellybean has been discovered in southern Indiana

The Body: A new color of jellybean, somewhere between mauve and puce, has been discovered in the third floor carpet of soulless exurban condominium off of I-69 near Oakland City, Indiana. Experts consider it a radical departure from known jellybean hues.

Ive never seen anything like it, claimed Pantone Artificial Coloring Consultant Georgina Whap.

Said by some to resemble St. Bernardino of Siena, the patron saint of advertising and public relations, the jellybean will be on display in the local Target parking lot until Labor Day.

Ending: Ya know what, its just a fuckin jellybean, whatever. They dont even taste like anything.

*

The Lede: This news article was written for you, and you alone.

The Body: While 3 Quarks Daily boasts several trillion readers per minute (source: AI Data Hero), this particular news story, which you are reading right now, was written for just you and no one else. Each letter has been carefully selected, and every word assembled with masterful artistry for you and you alone. Indeed, even the needless use of Indeed to start this sentence, and the repetitive use of the phrase for you, and you alone in the Lede and the Body, are not only intentional, but mesmerizing.

All of this, for you.

Ending: No, not you. Behind you, to the right. Yes, you over there, blushing in the back. You.

*

The Lede: Wedding Notice

The Body: Madison Madison of Madison will marry Jackson Jackson of Jackson on Saturday July 22nd at the Church of Sacred Nomenclature. Harper Harper will serve as maid of honor, Logan Logan as best man, and Cooper Cooper will officiate. The reception will be held nowhere in particular and feature a showing of Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The Ending: Pray, let it come soon

*

The Lede: You might visit Baltimore.

The Body: Maybe eat a crab. See too many Christmas lights and endless banks of row homes. Marvel at the slovenly pace of gentrification. Witness some quirky things. Perhaps make a new friend.

Ending: Wow, is it actually gonna happen? Are you gonna visit Baltimore?

***

Akim Reinhardts website is ThePublicProfessor.com
A London council has unveiled a plaque dedicated to Michael Collins at the site of the hall where the Big Fella was sworn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

While working as a clerk in the West Kensington Post Office Savings Bank, Collins, an enthusiastic member of the London GAA, was initiated into the secretive IRB in Barnsbury Hall in 1909, in the presence of both Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy.

Now, 114 years later, Islington Council, working with the Terence MacSwiney Committee (London), has unveiled a plaque to the Cork man who fought for Irish independence in the early years of the 20th Century.

The plaque was unveiled last Friday in Barnsbury Street, at the site of the former Barnsbury Hall, where the then-19-year-old Collins was initiated into the secret organisation.

Collins became a key figure in the independence movement, both through the original Irish Republican Army and Sinn Fein, going on to play a crucial, if reluctant, role in the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State in 1922.

At the Beal na Blath ceremony marking the centenary of Collins' death last August, the then-taoiseach, Micheal Martin, said Collins should be remembered as one of the greatest Irishmen to have ever lived.

The unveiling event was attended by politicians from both London and Ireland, including the Mayor of Co Cork, Cllr Frank O'Flynn, highlighting the councils commitment to celebrating the cultural diversity of the borough, and the huge contributions of the local Irish community.

Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz, leader of Islington Council, said the Irish community in Islington had contributed much to the borough over many decades.

In recent months we have unveiled the mural at Navigator Square to celebrate our Irish community and this plaque for Michael Collins is another example of our recognition, she said.

Migrant communities make up so much of our borough so it is vital that we celebrate their contribution and our diversity. Martin Fraser, Irish Ambassador to the UK, said the Irish community in London had a long and proud history.

It is fitting that this plaque will reflect how living in London shaped Michael Collins political outlook, which in turn had great influence in the foundation of the Irish State. It is important to recognise those key moments in our history and the strong contribution of our Irish community here in London, Mr Fraser said.

Islington council has now installed more than 50 plaques at different locations across the borough, showcasing its rich and colourful heritage through the stories of notable historical people, places, and events.
A member of An Garda Siochana was assaulted when he went to investigate an incident where a man put his fist through the windscreen of his partners car.

Kevi Kabeya of Woodbrook Avenue, Bishopstown, pleaded guilty to charges that included assaulting Garda Shane Masters and causing criminal damage to the car.

The Congolese national, who has been resident in Ireland for 13 years, apologised for his behaviour on the day and for the assault on Garda Masters.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said at Cork District Court that Garda Anthony Sugrue and Garda Shane Masters responded to the complaint of criminal damage to a car where the windscreen was smashed. Gardai arrived and met the defendant.

He became abusive to his partner. When asked to calm down and again on being arrested for suspected criminal damage he became extremely aggressive and abusive towards gardai, making various threats to them.

He then punched Garda Masters in the upper chest. He violently resisted arrest and had to be handcuffed.

He later admitted causing the criminal damage, Sgt Lyons said.

Frank Buttimer, defence solicitor, said: He is very apologetic. He should not have done it. There is no victim impact statement from Garda Masters  I hope Garda Masters is well. Mr Kabeya is a Congolese national, in Ireland 13 years co-habiting with his wife and seven children.

"He works fulltime to support his wife and children.

The solicitor said the accused had given him details of the argument that occurred that day between the defendant and his wife but that whatever way one looked at it, Mr Kabeya, 32, was wrong.

Mr Buttimer said matters might have resolved differently had the accused reacted calmly to the arrival of the gardai  even after he had damaged the windscreen.

He is remorseful and is aware of the view that courts take to striking a member of An Garda Siochana. However, he is pleading for leniency, not for his own sake but for his children whom he supports. He would ask if you might consider any options other than custodial, Mr Buttimer added.

Judge Olann Kelleher asked what the defendant was doing in relation to his problem with alcohol. Mr Buttimer said Mr Kabeya had stopped drinking since this occurred last February.

Judge Kelleher said: He is facing jail. I am going to get a probation report before I finalise it.

Sentencing was adjourned until September 18.
A 36-year-old man brought trouble on himself by barging into the Bridewell garda station and banging on a door in the public office so loudly that gardai on duty in the area thought he was going to damage it.

That was at 1.30 a.m. on January 13. Today at Cork District Court, Thomas Keenan was jailed for four months.

The accused was arrested in the early hours of this morning on bench warrants in respect of this and other matters.

Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said the defendant was pleading guilty to charges of engaging in threatening behaviour and refusing to comply with a direction from An Garda Siochana to leave the area.

Judge Olann Kelleher imposed a sentence of four months on Keenan for refusing to leave the area and a concurrent two-month term for engaging in threatening behaviour in the garda station.

Mr Collins-Daly said that while the accused man had previous convictions he could also go for long periods without any trouble.

Mr Collins-Daly said in relation to the defendants previous failure to turn up in court to faces charges against him, He had mental health problems Everything got on top of him.

Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to the case against Keenan of 44 St. Michaels Lawn, Mahon, Cork.

On January 12 at 1.30 a.m. a man entered the public office of the Bridewell. He was banging on the door to such an extent garda believed damage would be caused.

Garda Paraic OConnor spoke with him and cautioned him in relation to his behaviour and directed him to desist.

He became very irate with gardai and again refused to comply with a direction to leave the area peacefully.

This occurred several times. He then violently exclaimed, F*** you and moved his hand at gardai in a violent manner. He had to be arrested, Sgt. Lyons said
A CORK TD has urged Cork County Council to sit down with the local community there before any barriers are erected at Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall.

Contractors arrived to erect the fence on Monday morning, but having spoken to concerned locals as well as the Gardai, they paused the proposed works.

The eight-foot fence was due to be erected to block access to the old pier, which is used by fishermen and locals for leisure activities.

Local residents arrived at the pier and successfully halted the proceedings.

The community here have made it well known that barriers are not the answer," Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan said. "They simply want Cork County Council to invest in the pier so as to make it safe.

I would urge the local authority to sit down with locals and discuss possible solutions that are amenable for all. Perhaps a temporary pontoon could be considered.

According to Independent Councillor representing West Cork Paul Hayes, Cork County Council commissioned a report three years ago which returned a 54-page report to figure out what the true state of the pier is.

It said investment was needed. This was three years ago and the [County] Council are looking at various infrastructure around the coast under their remit and after three years they decided we better do something about this'.

They [Cork County Council] decided rather than sourcing funding to invest in doing up the pier and bringing it up to standard, they decided to put up a barrier to corner off the seaside of the pier, he said.

Deputy OSullivan understands that the County Council has not fully spent all of the allocated funds from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), which could be used to renovate the pier.

My understanding is that the BAR funding that was allocated to Cork County Council is not yet fully spent, I genuinely believe there is an opportunity here for the local authority to apply for emergency funding to carry out repair works on the pier instead.

He finished, The old pier is used by boat users, fisherman and locals and it would be a real shame if access was cut off.

Residents of Union Hall are hosting a public meeting in the Community Hall in Union Hall on Tuesday evening at 8pm. Everyone is welcome.

Cork County Council was contacted for comment.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Temperatures reached 44C (111F) during a heat wave in Spain on July 14, 2023. Alex Camara / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

This week and last, Europe has been buffeted from one heat wave to another, and when heat storms start being named, you know they must be intense.

Last week, a heat wave named after Cerebus  a three-headed dog from Greek mythology that guards the entrance to Hades  brought scorching temperatures and wildfires to southern and eastern Europe, from Spain to Turkey.

This week, the Charon anticyclone and accompanying heat wave, which also takes its name from Greek mythology  in this case the ferry operator who brought souls across the river to the underworld  will move from north Africa into Europe, bringing temperatures that may break records.

The hottest locations are predicted to be Italy, Greece, Spain and portions of the Balkans, reported The Guardian. Tuesday and Wednesday could bring temperatures as high as 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. In 2021, the mercury reached 119.8 degrees Fahrenheit in Sicily, a record high for Europe.

Rome is also predicted to see record heat this week.

We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country, warned Italian weather news service Meteo.it on Sunday, as Reuters reported. In some places ancient heat records will be broken.

Orazio Schillaci, Italys Minister of Health, warned tourists who plan to visit popular Roman ruins to take precautions.

Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C (109.4F) is not advisable, Schillaci told Il Messaggero newspaper yesterday, adding that people should remain indoors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., reported Reuters.

According to authorities, at least 4,000 people were evacuated on the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands due to a forest fire.

The #ClimateCrisis is not a warning. Its happening. I urge world leaders to ACT now, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, in a tweet.

Some tourists have collapsed and suffered from heat stroke, and Greeces Acropolis has been closed by authorities during the hottest hours of the day, according to the Daily Mail.

This is not normal. I dont remember such intense heat, especially at this time of year, said Federico Bratti, a Lake Garda sunbather, as the Daily Mail reported.

Scientists have warned of the combination of El Nino, which brings higher sea surface and air temperatures, and climate change.

Were from Texas and its really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but its even hotter here, said Colman Peavy, on vacation in Rome with his wife Ana, as reported by CBS News.




Canada invests US$9.1 million in research to enhance sustainability in beef industry

The Canadian federal government has allocated over CAD 12 million (~US$9.1 million; CAD 1 = US$0.76) to the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) as part of a CAD 21.7 million (~US$16.5 million) initiative to promote environmental and economic sustainability in the beef industry, The Western Producer reported.

The funding will support 23 projects under the newly launched federal Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster, which will be overseen by the CCA's Beef Cattle Research Council. The announcement was made by Francis Drouin, parliamentary secretary to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, at the Calgary Stampede on July 12.

More than CAD 9.6 million (~US$7.3 million) of the funding will come from Canada's beef industry, primarily through producer checkoffs, and the research will be conducted nationwide over the next five years.

The projects will focus on three main priorities: climate change and the environment, economic growth and development, and sector resilience and societal changes. The statement emphasises the importance of achieving federal greenhouse gas reduction targets by preserving native grasslands, sequestering additional carbon, and reducing emissions intensity.

The initiatives supported by the funding include strategies to reduce methane emissions through feeding practices, development of more productive and profitable forages, and advancements in technology for faster response to emerging diseases.

Drouin highlighted the significance of translating this research into tangible results on farms and the shared investment of nearly CAD 22 million (~US$16.7 million) to meet global customer demands for high-quality and sustainable beef products.

The Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster is one of six national research programmes aimed at promoting sustainability and growth in Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry. These programmes are funded through the Clusters Component of the AgriScience Program under the CAD 3.5 billion (~US$2.6 billion) Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership.

Drouin said the research investment is important to stay competitive in the global market and support the cattle producers who contribute significantly to the industry's success.

Craig Lehr, chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council, acknowledged the increasing public pressure regarding greenhouse gas emissions and highlighted the role of research in improving environmental performance and informing public policy.

Nathan Phinney, president of the CCA, expressed gratitude for the government's support and recognised the crucial role of science in driving innovation and advancement in the beef industry.

- The Western Producer




WTW launches Asia's first four-peril parametric insurance solution for Sri Lanka's shrimp industry

Insurance and risk management firm WTW has unveiled a four-peril parametric insurance solution for Sri Lanka's shrimp farmers, marking a significant milestone for aquaculture development in the region, Insurance Business reported.

The innovative solution, designed in collaboration with the Taprobane Seafood Group, has secured US$15 million in project financing from FMO, a Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. Its primary objective is to safeguard Taprobane, the largest seafood company in Sri Lanka, against weather-related risks and potential disruptions.

The four-peril parametric solution developed by WTW covers key weather risks, including earthquakes, typhoons, excess rainfall, and heat stress. With this insurance in place, Taprobane can obtain the necessary loan to support sustainable shrimp farming initiatives, creating employment opportunities for local communities that are vulnerable to climate risks.

Marc Paasch, WTW's global head of alternative risk transfer solutions, said that the growing vulnerability of the food industry to natural catastrophes and the potential adverse impacts on global supply chains.

He said WTW's new four-peril parametric insurance provides an efficient and simplified solution to support businesses vulnerable to multiple weather events that are not covered by traditional insurance products in the market.

Taprobane plans to use the funding from FMO to rehabilitate abandoned farms, both owned by the company and third-party growers, as well as invest in new farms, circular tanks, hatcheries, and a state-of-the-art processing facility.

Richard Zhang, WTW's Asia head of alternative risk transfer solutions, said that the insurer aims to facilitate funding for companies like Taprobane through innovative risk analytics and tailored parametric solutions.

Zhang expressed the importance of the solution in promoting sustainable seafood farming and mitigating the effects of climate change, which pose increasing challenges to local farms in Asia.

WTW recently announced its integration of climate data into property renewals, enabling clients to assess long-term risks associated with their property portfolios and develop effective risk management strategies.

- Insurance Business
by Marie Snyder

He received the Order of Canada, profoundly helped many people with addiction on the streets of Vancouver, and is much loved and admired, but some of Dr. Gabor Mates claims feel like they dont hold water. And some claims might actually be dangerous if blindly accepted.

Ive encountered Mate in a few courses Im taking, and have been strongly encouraged to watch his newest film and read his book several times now; I opted for the former. One follower was excited to tell me, with great confidence, that ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease) is caused by a specific trauma and that everyone is carrying unresolved trauma which, if resolved, can heal physical ailments like cancer.

Im dubious. I have some reservations that Ive kept to myself until seeing so many in academia wholeheartedly promoting some poorly substantiated claims.

While Mate has some excellent techniques in the work he does, the way he presents and explains the material provokes me to look up research studies to try to corroborate many of his ideas.

I gobbled up his books twenty years ago, and there are some useful analogies and treatments in there, but even then there were parts that gave me pause.

In Scattered Minds, he concludes that every child with ADHD experienced a trauma, and all their ineffective brain processing is due to a troubled core relationship: Every child with ADD has been wounded by a disruption in the relationship between the caregiver and the sensitive infant. This is not significantly dissimilar from the old claim that refrigerator moms cause autism, and it appears to ignore all the studies on the ADHD brain that tell a different story. Studies have found specific neurological differences in people with ASD as well. Mate followers might insist that the early years caused those brain differences, but can we take a minute to consider that its possible that people are born this way? Or that genetics is part of the picture? Its curious that this possibility feels like its being completely tossed to the curb as a barrier to healing (overlooking the financial barrier to accessing therapy). He implies that theres nothing different with the brain from birth; any issues were caused by parenting and, therefore, can be corrected with therapy. Its an extreme epigenetic stance that the brain is a blank slate entirely created by childhood.

A study on ADHD, found the direct effect of Childhood Trauma on total ADHD symptoms fell short of reaching statistical significance. They could show an association with childhood traumatic events, but recognized that it could be bi-directional, as children with ADHD may be, prone to experiencing Childhood Trauma such as aggression or abuse, because they tend to act out more and/or because of their family members might show problems with impulse control themselves (ADHD has a strong genetic basis). This is the more nuanced and in-depth view that I would expect from someone of Mates reputation.

Then in When the Body Says No he furthers this nurture-essentialism about cancer being caused by a repression of anger: For lung cancer to occur, tobacco alone is not enough: emotional repression must somehow potentiate the effects of smoke damage on the body. The study he cites gave a psych assessment to 1,353 people, then looked at the 619 people who died within ten years, and found the 38 people who died of lung cancer all smoked and all scored high on repression of anger. The study concludes that theres a correlation between lung cancer and suppressed rage, but Mate goes on to suggest buried emotions led to cancer, implying a causal relationship, instead of exploring the potential confounds. It makes sense that someone with rage might turn to cigarettes to self-medicate, so the two things, smoking and suppression, could be connected, but it doesnt necessarily follow that its the emotional experiences leading to lung cancer.

Its similar to an old study in the 80s that showed a clear correlation between the amount of violent TV watched at age 8 and the criminality of people at age 18. Some people reacted by trying to ban any violence in shows shown. But even though theres a strong correlation, there are other confounds in the way that could cause both of these things to happen. It could be a matter that kids who were neglected by parents at 8 watched a lot of unsupervised and also became criminals, with neglect the primary cause. Or it could be that the 8-year-old with an inborn predisposition towards enjoyment of violence watched more, with their biology the primary cause of later criminality. Or it could be something else entirely, and its likely a mix of things.

You can see where this is going. Just because 38 people with fatal lung cancer had anger repression doesnt mean the anger caused their cancer. And it really doesnt mean that resolving anger issues will prevent or cure cancer. To be clear, its not a bad idea to resolve any anger issues anyway, but we need to temper our expectations around what therapy can actually do.

People are far too complex for it ever to be all one thing that causes change. Mate is banking on trauma being the one. Flip that one switch, and well all be healthy and productive.

Another example: Mate states that Research has suggested for decades that women are more prone to develop breast cancer if their childhoods were characterized by emotional disconnection from their parents or other disturbances in their upbringing. That study found a correlation but concludes, by contrast, Although there can be little doubt that a subtle relationship exists between loss and depression and the clinical onset or exacerbation of cancer, the question still remains whether some persons are more vulnerable than others because of their idiosyncratic way of responding to, or coping with, depression. Much more recently, cancer research organizations indicate that there is no evidence that stress has a direct effect on cancer.

Later Mate explains that rheumatoid diseases is a stoicism carried to an extreme degree, a deeply ingrained reticence about seeking help adding arthritis to the list.

So, what does it matter that there are different perspectives on how stress affects our physical health??

Mates stance takes people and governments off the hook for adverse health conditions, and puts it all at the feet of our earliest caregivers. You didnt get cancer from smoking or living with polluted air, but because of your upbringing, but understand that your caregivers also were affected by their own childhoods, so dont be too hard on them either. And really, its nobodys fault.

Most dangerously, it could lead people to spend their money on expensive therapies, like the ayahuasca trip Mate promotes, instead of ALS or cancer treatment.

To be clear once more, I agree that our brain is affected by our earliest years and continues to be affected throughout our lives, changing neural pathways as we change the way we think about things, but thats very different than changing entire sections of the brain, consistently, with each person with similar symptoms or with giving people cancer.

I understand why he sells so many books. If we believe theres no genetic or structural component to our problems, that our brains started out perfect and were altered in childhood, then we can fix them!! With a little therapy, we can get ourselves back to this perfect state free from cancer, arthritis, and ADHD. That sounds amazing!! And it makes sense that a program training psychotherapists might favour this position. Its really good for business! (And there might be a bit of a God complex in the mix if they believe therapy is a cure-all.)

The Mate video that was part of my curriculum this year was about understanding addiction as a result of trauma. Similar to prior claims, this time addiction is due to the emotional states of the mother both pre-verbally and neonatally. Since 100% of females with addiction had sexual abuse in their background, it is suggested that trauma causes addiction. I dont disagree that trauma can provoke addiction, but I havent seen evidence from him that its not possible to be an addict without having suffered trauma. Hes making an error of confirming the consequent. Its like saying, since 100% of professors went to kindergarten, therefore kindergarten causes people to become professors.

To really show a kindergarten-professor connection, we would need to find a random sample of a couple thousand people who went to kindergarten and see how many became professors and compare them to a couple thousand people who did not go to kindergarten. Similarly to show an abuse-addiction connection, we need to find a random sample of a couple thousand people who have been abused as children, and look at how many have addiction issues, and compare that to a couple thousand people who were not abused as children.

Instead, Mates proof is to do a parlour trick: He calls up someone from the audience with addiction issues, and succeeds, in three minutes, to dig deeply enough to find some traumatic childhood memory.

But, wait a minute. Elsewhere he says that weve all been traumatized in childhood, so shouldnt we all be addicts??

One of the criteria of trauma in his demonstration was loud voices in childhood. Since this behaviour is relatively common in all families, I am left searching for his falsifiability criterion of traumatic childhood. What does a non-traumatic childhood look like? Even if he were to show a correlation between parents yelling and addiction, then that does not prove causation. It is similar to doing his three-minute challenge on everyone in the audience wearing white socks, and then, when the majority reports some traumatic childhood incident, insisting on a causal relationship between the two variables.

Heres the thing: There has been a study that found a clear correlation between the amount of negative events in childhood and addictive behaviours in adulthood. They gave people an ACE-Q test that asks them about the Adverse Childhood Experiences: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, physical and emotional neglect, and any household dysfunction that include a family member with mental illness, incarceration, domestic violence, substance abuse, and divorce. Add up the scores out of 10, and they found a direct correlation: the odds of illicit drug use and addiction increases with the number of positive ACE categories. Their questionnaire does not include yelling as a form of trauma.

However, the study doesnt take the extreme view that Mate takes. It acknowledges the limitations of the ACE test, that participants self-report frequency (often or very often) of these events so being grabbed roughly a few times counts as much as being regularly beaten. It also doesnt ask about the positive events in childhood that could help to foster coping skills. Furthermore, even with a correlation, its entirely possible that people with troubled backgrounds dont have addiction issues, and many with loving childhoods not marred by trauma do, because its complicated. There are many causes. I completely agree that abuse in childhood is one factor, but I disagree that its necessary or sufficient to produce addiction.

According to Mate These People Exist These People Do NOT Exist High ACE score addicts of all kinds not addicted to anything Low ACE score not addicted to anything addicts of any kind

Dr. Stanton Peele explains another problem with Mates claims about addiction and trauma: It is not enough to say that this model is highly conjectural. It also isnt true, that is, it makes little sense of the data. . . . Only a tiny group (3.5%) of people with four or more adverse childhood experiences became involved in injection drug use. So Mates model is highly undiscriminating. Drinking is similar, with just 16% with high ACE scores having any alcohol dependency. Peeles concern: Rather than expand our understanding of addiction, his views harm our ability to respond to it. . . . diverting the addiction field from a more comprehensive and practicable view of addiction. Hes also skeptical that, if trauma isnt apparent, Mate will go looking for it, in which case it will always be found, or else made up. James Coyne further scrutinizes his claims more colourfully: Mate urges us to abandon what has evolved over time to be evidence-based solutions to health and social problems [for] perhaps interminable therapy to exorcise the demons.

Its very plausible that child abuse leads to addiction, absolutely, but its not necessarily the case, and, more importantly, its not the only element. Genetics and parental coping behaviours modelled to children might both be more highly correlated than an adverse childhood experience.

Mate also argues that Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is entirely a North American phenomenon from pathologizing normal childhood behaviour; its just a child pushing back on a parent. He argues that since ODD only appears in the company of others, and disappears when the child is alone, then it doesnt exist. However, from this logic, conditions like borderline personality disorder, narcissism, and level 1 ASD also do not exist since their main symptoms only appear in relation to other people. I have worked with teens with ODD, and, anecdotally, they appear to operate significantly differently from their peers in how they assess and react to their environment. It is not a matter of just pushing back on demands since they will argue against any random statement or request even against things they want to happen. They are contrary by nature. It is a difficult condition to work with, and it does a huge disservice to parents, caretakers, educators, and people with the disorder to insist it is a figment of the imagination of North Americans. And, of course, ODD is seen at similar rates in European studies.

The most nefarious perspective: some suggest that these types of mind-cures are to get people to,

internalize their failures. Its to get them believing they dont need medicine. Its to get them to police each other for dissent and to reinforce and normalize passive behavior. Its to make the exploitation go down a little smoother. . . . Your typical self-help seminar operates the exact same way that Phineas Quimby did almost 200 years ago. The guru stands in the middle of a giant crowd. They have people stand up and describe their problems. The guru diagnoses them on the spot. They come up with a convincing story, something that sounds good. They give them homework. The patient goes through some kind of catharsis, mainly because its the first time anyone ever bothered to listen to them. Simply by the law of averages, some people will manage to pull themselves together.

That sounds very familiar.

Its a quick fix to finding your perfect healthy self. Find the right therapist and youll be amazing. But thats just not true. The reality is, a therapist can help, but they wont be your saviour that washes off the detritus to find the most perfect version of you inside. We will always have to struggle to find meaning and resolve our issues and think for ourselves and that is a lot of work. People are messy. And we will get sick in ways that therapy has nothing to do with, so we have to fight for access to quality medical care and medication. And many of us think differently (ADHD/ASD), which could be helped more if it were accepted as a difference rather than considered the unfortunate result of childhood trauma. It wasnt all your mums doing. It just is what it is.

But he definitely has some good mixed in with the outrageous claims. For instance, Children dont get traumatized because they got hurt. Children get traumatized because theyre alone with the hurt. Be there for your kids or for anyone who needs a listening ear. Lets be there for each other, for sure. Thats the best we can realistically do.
St Thomas' Rainbows celebrates 30 years

St Thomas Rainbows, part of Girlguiding Isle of Man, turn 30 this autumn and invite previous members to join them for a special celebration.

All past and present members, leaders and volunteers from the St Thomas Girlguiding Rainbow unit are invited to The St Thomas Church Family Service on Sunday 8th October at 11am to gather together for a special birthday celebration.

Originally established in 1993 in response to local demand following the introduction of Rainbows in the UK in 1987, St Thomas Rainbows was one of the first Rainbow units on the Island. 30 years on, the unit is still based at its original meeting place, St Thomas Church Hall.

Karen Walker, Assistant Leader when St Thomas Rainbows opened, has remained with the unit since its inception, and has held the position of Guider in Charge since 2002. A Guider since 1988, Karen has held various senior roles in Girlguiding Isle of Man while continuing to run St Thomas Rainbows.

Karen commented: Hundreds of girls have been involved with St Thomas Rainbows over the years. Wed love as many as possible to join us for a special reunion and celebratory cake at the St Thomas Family Service in the Autumn.

Rainbows has changed so much over the years. As part of the Guiding movement, this is what we do  we change with the times. Over the years the uniform has evolved to a versatile tracksuit (from the original tabard), the girls can now earn a wide range of badges and they can even take part in sleepovers (which are always a massive hit!)

People often ask me why I do Rainbows. Its simple; when life is tough and work is hard, theres nothing better than coming to Rainbows and seeing the world through the eyes of a 5 year old  it simply rebalances you! Being a leader has given me so much delight over the years, seeing so many young ladies grow and develop before moving up to Brownies.

To get in touch with St Thomas Rainbows, contact Karen on karenwalkerguiding@gmail.com.
Light aircraft involved in incident at Bradda Head

A light aircraft has crashed on the Isle of Man.

Emergency services were called to Bradda Head in Port Erin this lunchtime.

According to FlightRadar24, the incident involved a Cessna 210M Centurion.

Belfast Coastguard confirmed there had been an incident involving an aircraft off the island.

Police are asking people to avoid Bradda Road and Tower Road.

A large amount of emergency vehicles remain at the scene.

More to follow.

Photos
Samsung's ViewFinity S9 5K monitor is coming to the United States  finally giving Mac and PC users alike a chance to pick it up for $1,599. The tech giant announced its first 5K monitor at CES in January and launched it this June in South Korea.

Samsung designed the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K monitor for creatives, with HDR 600 support, a matte display to reduce glares and Eye Saver Mode for long days tolling away. The company's first 5K monitor also has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, 99 percent DCI-P3 and 221 pixels per inch. Plus, you can calibrate the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor through the SmartThings app in either Basic mode, which adjusts gamma settings and white balance, or Professional mode, which controls luminance and color temperature or space. It includes a 4K camera and is compatible with either a PC or Mac.

Interestingly, the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor costs exactly the same as its competitor, the 27-inch Apple Studio Display  which first came out in early 2022. At the time, we gave the Studio Display an 80 rating due to features such as a so-so webcam, 60Hz refresh rate and single-zone backlighting. The ViewFinity S9 5K has the same refresh rate but offers a few better features than Apple's Studio Display (or at least includes them without any extra cost). Apple is charging another $400 to adjust your monitor's height and angle and a whopping $2,299 if you also want a nano-texture glass display. Plus, the S9 5K has a 4K webcam versus Apple's 12MP option. All in all, unless you're an Apple or nothing shopper, Samsung's ViewFinity S9 5K might be a better choice for the price. Check it out for yourself in stores this August.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
by Leanne Ogasawara

1.

Does the title of the novel make you cringe or what?

In RF Kuangs latest novel Yellowface, the setup is simple: within pages of the books opening, two frenemies who met at an elite universityare having dinner together. Athena, who is Asian-American, has seen tremendous success in her work. The other woman June is white and has been anything but successful. Not surprisingly, June is envious of Athenas career.Could it be because Athena is a drop-dead gorgeous person of color? Could it be because of her sexy British accent and tall ballerina-like figure?

Or maybe its because she is an incredible writer and knows what shes doing?

June can only keep wondering. Until, suddenly during Athena chokes on a pandan pancake and dies.

And yes, you guessed it: June steals Athenas manuscript-in-progress

2.

I am a big fan of RF Kuang, an author who refuses to publish in the same genre twice! I recently picked up her latest novel Yellowface, and was delighted when Roxane Gay announced it would be her bookclub pick for June. (I am also a huge fan of Roxane Gay!) (*)

Roxane asks:

There were many points before the plagiarized novel was published that June could have course-corrected. Why do you think she didnt? What do you think was her point of no return? Why do you think the publishers were so quick to dismiss Candices concerns, and her suggestion of a sensitivity reader? What did you think of Kuangs depiction of publishing and its inner workings? And how did you feel about the way Kuang wrote about the challenges, small and great, that writers of color sometimes face? Was she accurate? Too cynical? Not cynical enough?

When I started Yellowface, I was thinking along the lines of the ballet story, white swan/black swan and the inevitable jealousy that is part and parcel of the art world.

This is even more intense in publishing with the intense monopolization of the industry, which basically has literary artists pitted against each other to claw their way to the top. Well, that is one version of it: a fierce but basically fair playing field. Another version is something like how June sees it. That there is a randomness to the process whereby publishing houses will choose their it artist and put a huge chunk of their marketing budget into launching that artists career. June feels the process is fundamentally unfair.

And yet, after stealing Athenas manuscript June discovers Athena really can writeand spectacularly. June has no artistic vision whatsoever. What she does have is editing skills. And she is also not bad at plagiarizingshe is quite good at that!

June takes Athenas draft (and it is still a draft) about Chinese labor during World War 1 and she rewrites it.

Or better to say she ghost writes it.

And it becomes a huge success.

Reading Yellowface, I was struck by the inviolability of artistic vision. Like in science, art is collaborative and entire teams are involved in bringing a work to lifeand yet, it is the artistic vision that is the heart of the artistic endeavor. It was Athenas vision and June outright steals it.

June keeps telling us that she totally re-wrote what was a terrible draft and it is now hers Translators know how much close reading goes into creating a literary translationand how a story in one language is translated, interpreted and transfigured into a work in a new language. and yet, the story itself is still the artists, right? The translator is, in effect, writing a book. The translation is theirs, of course, but the book will always be that of the authors.

And that is where June became delusional. Readers in the bookclub (myself included) felt that a huge part of her delusion is concerning her white entitlement attitude since as readers, we are in Junes head the entire time as she makes excuse after excuse of why she deserves her new found success thank you very much, Athena!

3.

Yellowface is generating a huge amount of buzzpartly because it is a fascinating takedown of US publishing and the way artists are packaged. Athena is not only allowed to write about Chinese history but it turns out she is constrained to ONLY write about Chinese history. This is rich since she is unable to speak or read Mandarin and she herself talks of being pigeonholed into immigrant story author. This evokes the issue that the call for diverse voices is not being accompanied with diversity in the actual industryfor where is the call for it in publishing executives, literary tastemakers and agents?

In the world of RF Kuangs novel, that means Athena is being branded as a writer of immigrant stories and there is a real push for her work to be propulsive and televisualthere must be conflict and stakes and worse, when June comes on board, the executives decide to brand June as Asian despite the fact that she is thoroughly of Irish descent. So, they encourage her to start writing under a new name June Song (Song is her middle name and sounds vaguely Chinese, they reason) and in a surreal moment, she uses a photograph of herself in which her tan makes her look more Asian (I am not making this up) as the author picture. This is where the novels title comes from if you want to know more about two much-discussed cases where white authors published under fake Asian identities, please read this very critical review of Kuangs novel in the Cleveland Review of Books.

June is awful. But what if the industry itself?

4.

It is not only artists that are being branded but the writing itself is being managedmany times with TV in mind. There is a certain style that is strongly promoted in workshops of short, almost journalistic sentences, snappy paragraphs, simple verb tenses, and no adverbs ever! Writers are taught to discard a lot of the language we speak and think in. Why is that?

In a fantastic essay last week in the LA Review of Books, Thalia Vacha wrote about Thomas Bernhard and his extremely long paragraphs. Reading Bernhard, who breaks many of the iron-clad rules enforcedin MFA programs, Vacha writes:

For my part, Bernhard kept me sane as I completed an MFA. Every time the idiosyncrasies in my work were critiqued in the name of craft (so-called), I would, as a matter of ritual, read a few pages of Bernhardany would doand would think how his work might be critiqued, perhaps even condescended to, in a workshop. The long sentences, the absence of plot, the rage, the propensity to tell (over and over again) rather than showall stand opposed to the conventions of form and style that mark the MFA-to-industry literary pipeline.

The MFA-to-industry pipeline is interesting to consider, since in most countries there is not such a thing as an MFA program. In general, writers study anything in university and come to writing from various backgrounds. The study of craft is often self-study, alone in a room reading and trying to internalize ones favorite novels. Last year, I wrote about my own experiences in American writing workshops in an essay in the Millions: Culture Shock: Reassessing the Workshop. At the time, I was more concerned with the way that storytelling styles that are representative of nonwhite cultures or subcultures are not easily placed or published.

5.

I finally got around to reading Mieko Kawakamis best seller from a few years back, Breasts and Eggs, which is in part about the authors real-life path to becoming a writer.

I think Japanese publishing is quite different from the US. First, historically, so many books have been published in serialized form. In newspapers or magazines. Kawakamis real-life case mirrors that of her protagonist, by her starting off as a blogger. Her first novel was basically published online on her blog. Publishing in serialized form is quite a different kettle of fish since a writer doesnt go back and rewrite after finishing the entire story. And each part must also be a stand-alone on some level. There must be something that each section ends with that keeps readers coming back.

I think publishing a novel on the Internet is exciting and I dont know why it is not more popular in the English-speaking world. I can only think of the movie Julie and Julia that started off life as an online memoir. Kind of like Kawakamis first novel, she put the book online slowly as she was writing it in real time and this was later picked up as the blog gained popularity.

(I had no idea that the author of the memoir Julie and Julia died during Covid of cardiac arrest. She was only 49).

Kawakamis real break and this is mirrored in the novel came when a story she wrote won a prize in a writing contest. And that was that. In Japan, writers do not get MFAs. And there are no big conferences with agents presents where aspiring writers have to try to sell their work to an agent, who will then sell it to the publishers. Prizes are a big way in.

An author friend in Holland says the situation there is much like in Japan. Literary agents are not common and MFA programs do not exist. It is not financialized to the same level. And I do think with the exception of the UK which is taking on a more US model, most countries are more like Japan or Hollandbut I am very curious to hear what others say.

6.

Speaking personally, up till now, in addition to many online writing workshops (but never as part of an MFA program), I have experienced two in -person writers workshops. The more recent one was the Lighthouse Conference in Denver, where I was in a workshop with a favorite novelist of mine, Katie Kitamura. It was fantastic! It was everything I had always dreamt a workshop could be, not only being with an artistically supportive cohort who genuinely loved reading books, but I came home and basically ripped apart my manuscript-in-progress. I was so happy and am now actually seeing real promise in the idea of workshopping. The conference part was so much fun! And the nightly readings of published authors like Katie Kitamura, Rachel Kushner, Rebecca Makkai, Claire Messud, and Amitava Kumar was thrilling!

This was a great experience especially since my first in-person workshop attempt in Kauai was stressful with a strong focus on selling, pitching, branding, networking.

This summer, I am trying again and will be studying at Sewanee, where I am excited to workshop with Vanessa Hua and then at Bread Loaf, where I received a contributors award and I get to study with another favorite writer, Jess Row.

If anything interesting happens I will write about it in these pages when I get back. But no matter what, I want to take Mieko Kawakamis words from Breasts and Eggs to heart and just keep my focus on the writing itselfand the sheer joy of reading fiction! And not get caught up in hoop jumping and publishing. She says it better:

Writing makes me happy. But it goes beyond that. Writing is my lifes work. I am absolutely positive that this is what Im here to do. Even if it turns out that I dont have the ability, and no one out there wants to read a single word of it, theres nothing I can do about this feeling. I cant make it go away. I recognize that luck, effort, and ability are often indistinguishable. And I know that, in the end, Im just another human being, whos born only to die. I know thatin reality, it makes no difference whether I write novels, and it makes no difference if anyone cares. With all the countless books already out there, the world wont notice if I fail to publish even one book with my name on it. Thats no tragedy. I know that. I get that.

Notes:
From: Shel Horowitz, Marketing Consultant - Going Beyond Sustainability For Immediate Release: Dateline: Springfield , MA Monday, July 17, 2023

Yes, nonviolent protest really does work. Here are some of the reasons why. Black Lives Matter protest in Portland, Oregon, June 4, 2020 Lifelong activist Emily Levy made a short video outlining 10 reasons why protests matter. In less than 15 minutes, she explores these benefits of participating in protests. Protests: Raise the cost to politicians of doing the wrong thing Heighten awareness both of the issue and that the issue has a constituency of people who care about it enough to take time out of their day Build momentum toward change, even systemic change (she notes Erica Chenoweths research that shows that a government will crumble if just 3-1/2 percent of the population engages in nonviolent resistance) Help participants feel less isolated Inspire others to show up, especially if you carry signs about why youre marching Provide cathartic release: what she calls a national scream Create opportunities to get involved with organizations working on causes that matter to you Offers a voice to oppressed and powerless groups that would risk to much if they were actively protesting Allow even very small numbers to bear witness (I personally have conducted some one-person protests, so this resonates deeply with me) Facilitate ways to harness your skills, beliefs, and connections to make bigger and more lasting change Its a great list, but its only the beginning. Here are ten more that I came up with very quickly. Id love you to add to the list as well. 1) Sometimes, demonstrations and protests actually change things. A few among many examples:  The 1963 civil rights March on Washington (the I Have a Dream march, which my late mother attended)  1977s occupation of the Seabrook nuclear plant construction site, which birthed the modern US safe energy movement. I participated, and I wrote extensively about HOW this action changed the world (that link takes you to part 1 of a 5-part series I wrote about it, and each one links to the next installment at the end)  Arab Spring brought down multiple repressive governments within just a few months  The Save the Mountain movement I co-founded resulted in thirteen months of continuous public opposition to a development projectand succeeded! I expected to win, but even I thought it would take five years. 2) Not only do protests show the demonstrators we are not alone, but it emboldens sympathizers who have not taken action before to do so. 3) We dont always know the effects of our actions in influencing others until afterwardsbut later we may have found that we created a shift in public opinion and in willingness to take action. 4) Demonstrations offer chances to learn about not-very-visible parts of your own communitysome disenfranchised and needing to tell their stories, others doing great work but out of the limelight. 5) Protests reinforce the idea that powerful, well-thought-out nonviolent action can create sustained change. 6) Sometimes, amazing performers and speakers participate. I have heard John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon (several times), Paul Winter, Stevie Wonder, Holly Near, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, Orleans, Jackson Browne, and many others. I learned news and ideas from speakers that changed my way of thinking. In fact, at my very first peace demonstration on October 15, 1969, 12-year-old me heard a speaker say that the Vietnam war was undeclared. When I discovered he was correct, it changed my whole way of looking at the world and turned me into an activistbecause everything Id been led to believe about the US system of checks and balances came crashing down around me. 7) Participation is empowering! You know youre working for peace, justice, a green planet, etc.and you feel ready to take on the world. 8 ) You get to enjoy the creativity of signs, puppet shows, songs and chants, etc. that spotlight the issue of the day. 9) Its a way to build your personal community. If youve been doing this a while, you get to catch up with your friends. If youre new to protesting, you can make new friends. 10) More often than not, participating in a protest is actually fun. While Emily wrote her list back in 2019, its all still not only true but relevant. A few things have changed, thoughsome good, some bad: Dozens of new ways of protesting were invented or popularized during the pandemic, adding to more than 200 we already had Protestor creativity in recent years includes massive digital projections from small devices. Here, pro-immigration messages are projected on the US side of the border crossing between Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas in 2020. Photo copyright 2020 by Shel Horowitz. Contact the author for reprint permission . Repressive right-wing governments have been forced from power in countries such as the US and Brazilbut took or consolidated power in Israel, Hungary, Turkey, and India

Putin has started a criminal and brutal war against Ukraine

In the US, the ultra-right has taken over the Supreme Court and several state legislatures, catalyzing a whole new generation of activistsand in election after election, progressives are winning big in places they werent expected to

Black Lives Matter and reproductive rights protests reached critical mass

Subscribe at no cost to Shel Horowitz's monthly Clean and Green Newsletter and get these powerful bonuses: Seven Tips to Gain Marketing Traction as a Green Guerrilla, plus Seven Weeks to a Greener Business: tips on going greener with printing, energy saving, waste reduction, water conservation, transportation, going deep-green, and of course, green marketing (on tip a week for seven weeks). Plus, of course, the informative monthly newsletter, published steadily since 1997.



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Russias decision to pull out of the Black Sea grain deal is a blow to the markets and will halt the flow of agri commodities leaving Ukraine, analysts have said.

The Kremlin announced on Monday (17 July) that the deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, will expire and that conditions for its extension had not been fulfilled.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated.

The market was already anticipating a cancellation, with wheat prices up by 3% today, to an accumulated 12% increase since Wednesday last week.

The Black Sea grain deal was brokered to stop a global food crisis from happening following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, by allowing grain to be exported safely.

Almost 33 million metric tonnes of grains were exported under the previous deal, which supported price stability and prevented shortages across the developing world.

Responding to the Kremlin's decision, Carlos Mera, head of agri commodities markets at Rabobank, said it would be a blow to the markets.

Poor countries in Africa and the Middle East would be more dependent on Russian wheat, he said, as the country represented more than 20% of global wheat exports.

Ukraine will now be forced to export most of its grains and oilseeds through its land borders and Danube ports," Mr Mera explained.

"This will significantly drive up transportation costs and pile further pressure on Ukrainian farmers profits.

"The knock-on effect of this is it could prompt them to plant less next season, placing further pressure on supplies going forward.

Meanwhile, the stocks-to-use ratio in exporting countries other than Ukraine and Russia is going down."
The governments failure to address the climate crisis risks the UK being unable to produce enough of its own food, a new report suggests.

The climate crisis is having a "direct impact" on farmers and food production in the UK, researchers at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warn.

The thinktank's report notes that livestock are increasingly exposed to heat stress, growing seasons are changing, and pests and diseases are living longer in warmer winters.

This is coupled with increasingly frequent droughts impacting crop growth, as well as flooding which is affecting soil runoff, erosion, and harvesting.

The warning comes as record temperatures in the UK last year caused widespread damage to crops, as well as significant economic loss to the farming industry.

According to the IPPR, the use of land in the UK needs to change, but responsibility for the transition to nature-friendly farming cannot be left to farmers alone, as they are "already grappling with a system that does not fairly reward them for their produce".

The report calls for a long-term vision for the future of land and agriculture, which must reflect the views of those who work in farming as well as consumers.

In this vein, its findings are informed by several community panels - convened by IPPR in Somerset, Cumbria and Kent - on how to tackle the climate and nature crises in way that is fair to farmers, farm workers and the public.

The panels called for the government to take a greater leadership role within the food system, including by providing a long-term funding settlement to support the changes needed.

They also urged greater promotion of local food, and steps to cut out unnecessary transport, processing and packaging.

The report goes on to say that a significant shift is needed to ensure the UKs food security, with robust intervention by the government, including support for farmers.

Lesley Rankin, co-author of the report and researcher at IPPR, said the climate and nature crisis "poses one of the greatest risks" to UK food production.

"The UK government has consistently failed to treat this threat with the urgency it deserves," he said.

It is crucial we act immediately and involve farmers and communities every step of the way."

Luke Murphy, co-author of the report at IPPR, added that the lack of a government strategy for the UK food and farming sector had "serious consequences".

Its undermining our ability to produce food domestically, making farmers lives harder, and entrenching a food system that is wasteful, bad for our health, and damaging to the environment.

The government must provide long-term financial support for the transition, and strengthen trade policy to guarantee environmental and worker standards.

"It must protect British farmers from being undercut by food produced to lower standards abroad.

The IPPR's paper, Reaping the rewards: Cultivating a fair transition for farming, was published on Monday (17 July).
Despite improvements in farmer attitudes and behaviours, many of the 26 on-farm deaths last year could have been prevented, campaigners have said.

Farming has the poorest safety record of any occupation, with 26 people losing their lives on British farms over the past year.

Of those killed in England, Scotland and Wales, 21 were farm workers and 6 were members of the public, including a child, according to figures by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

And an additional 23,000 farm workers suffer from long term ill-health or serious injury in the farming industry every year.

The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), the charity behind the annual Farm Safety Week campaign which started today (17 July), said that "something needs to change".

Stephanie Berkeley, who is manager of the charity, said: The release of this years figures serves as a sombre reminder of why Farm Safety Week matters and why we must all do more to address the poor safety record in the industry.

"This is not just our problem  it is a worldwide problem. According to the International Labour Office (ILO) agriculture employs half of the worlds labour force but remains one of the three most hazardous sectors of activity.

"However, in Britain, for a sector that employs 472,000 people which is only 1% of the working population, the fatality rate in agriculture accounts for a shocking 18% of all deaths in the workplace."

The picture remains similar in Northern Ireland where farming accounted for 3 of the 8 (38%) reported workplace fatalities in 2022-2023.

And in the Republic of Ireland, farming - which accounts for 8% of the workforce - has 40% of all workplace fatal incidents.

Ms Berkeley said: The UK & Ireland recorded a total of 42 farm-related deaths over the past year. 42 families and communities devastated by the loss of a loved one.

This is why, Farm Safety Week matters. It is personal. Every year, hundreds of people, organisations and communities support the campaign.

"Unions, YFCs, and many key agricultural businesses work with us throughout the week to share important safety reminders, remember those people who have been affected by death and injuries, and ultimately campaign for safer farms for everyone.

Sue Thompson, head of agriculture at HSE, warned that agriculture "continues to fall short" when it came to managing risk in the workplace.

"It is all the more tragic that we still see children killed by farming activities," she said, "As an industry we must not tolerate this any longer.

"We need everyone to play their part to improve the culture and change the poor behaviours we see far too frequently.

Awareness of the hazards and health risks and legal requirements has never been higher. Its great that Farm Safety Week brings the issue into focus."
The UK's first regenerative farming event held exclusively for women is set to take place this summer, with farmers being invited to participate.

The event will include a farm walk and demonstration of regenerative agriculture in practice, as well as a talk from renowned farmer Abi Reader about her journey to incorporate trees in a way which boosts profitability.

The day will be free to attend and will take place at FarmED, Oxfordshire, on 31 August 2023.

The Farm of the Future Womens Day is being delivered by Innovation for Agriculture (IfA) as part of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) Farm of the Future events.

Deborah Crossan, head of natural resources at IfA, said the event will showcase solutions to strike the balance between production of nutritious food, provision of environmental benefits through farm management and ensuring a profitable farm.

In addition to providing insights into how regenerative agriculture systems can increase farm efficiency and profitability, this event is intended to provide an opportunity specifically for women to take a break from the day-to-day farm routine and garner new ideas for their farm business."

Ms Crossan explained the need for a regenerative farming event for women: Theres a discrepancy between the gender split of those working on farms and that of farmers attending events.

In 2016, Defra reported that women make up 55% of the agricultural workforce in England and Wales, if unpaid and family labour is included.

"IfA has been regularly delivering farm walks and demonstration events since our launch nearly ten years ago. Our events are well-attended, but there is undeniably a bias with typically at least 80% of attendees being men.

This event is a first step in addressing the discrepancy in the regenerative farming space, by providing an opportunity for farming women to come together to see and discuss solutions for their farms."

Sophie Wilkinson, event coordinator at FarmED, said that attendees of the event can expect to see a variety of regenerative agriculture approaches in practice during the farm walk.

Attendees will find out how the farms management approach provides opportunities to lower input costs, increase biodiversity, rural employment and resilience to climate instability, and improve livestock health.

We hope that seeing what we are doing here will spark ideas and discussions, around how these regenerative practices could be implemented in different systems or at different scales."

The keynote speaker of the day, Ms Reader, will talk about the approaches she is taking on-farm to sequester carbon through incorporation of trees.

She will also explore how these trees will provide a diversified income to increase the overall resilience and profitability of the farm business.

Ms Reader said: Itll be a fantastic opportunity to meet with other farming women and share my experience, but also to learn from others farming in different environments and managing different enterprises."

To attend the Farm of the Future Womens Day, those interested are being asked to email deborahc@i4agri.org to request a sign-up link.
Blac Chyna has celebrated 10 months sober.

Blac Chyna has celebrated 10 months since she gave up booze

The 34-year-old model-turned-reality TV star has been making a series of huge life changes over the last year - giving herself a dramatic make-under by removing her facial fillers and tattoos, reverting to her birth name of Angela White and started going to church again - and she's now marked 10 months since going teetotal.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "Happy 10 months sober, clean eating, working out, staying in the word (Bible), healing my mind, body and soul ... My Inner light."

In an interview with The Sun newspaper, the star added giving up alcohol has made her feel "more clear" and "present".

She explained: "September 14th, it'd be one year  not even a sip of wine or anything. You know what, I feel better overall. I just wanted to like clear like my body, my mind, my spirit, just everything as a collective. So I could really be present.

"I think a lot of people aren't in their present state. And I understand, like, why people drink or why they do certain things that they do because of the world that we live in. But if you do decide to practice sobriety you'll become more clear."

Blac insisted she's not been using support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous because she's just making the change for herself. She added: "A lot of times people  they'll get sober or do this because they had a DUI or like they did something crazy that they can't come back from. But I just decided to do it for myself."

She's also eating well and going to the gym, but the only thing she's found it difficult to give up is her favourite soft drink - Coca-Cola.

Blac's milestone comes just days after she was caught up in drama involving her daughter Dream - who she shares with ex Rob Kardashian - after the little girl's aunt Khloe Kardashian described herself as being like a third parent to the youngster.

However, Blac has since shrugged the comment off, telling TMZ: "Everything is good on both ends, we are all family at the end of the day. Robert and myself are co-parenting the best we can and it's all love and positivity. "As mentioned, it takes a village to raise a child and I'm happy that Dream has a huge village full of love from both sides. As a mother that's all I ask for. Let's stop dragging the negativity on and all move forward."
Sofia Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello are divorcing after seven years of marriage.

Sofia Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello are divorcing after seven years of marriage

The Modern Family actress, 51, got hitched to 46-year-old Joe in a lavish, star-studded Palm Beach ceremony in November 2015 in front of 400 guests, but the couple have now said they have made the difficult decision to split.

They said in a statement: We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.

Sofia, who has a 31-year-old son named Manolo with first husband Joe Gonzalez, is currently celebrating her 51st birthday in Italy with friends, without Joe or her wedding ring, according to Page Six.

A source told the outlet: Sofia and Joe have been growing apart for a while now and are taking some distance from each other to contemplate their future.

The couple was last seen together last month in Hoboken, New Jersey, as Sofia visited actor Joe on the set of his new project Nonnas.

Sofia has since posted a string of sexy selfies online as she lives it up on her extended birthday bash.

One of her captions says: When life gives u lemons u come to Italy to squeeze them.

Another source told Page Six: At the start of Sofias big birthday trip those close to her were explaining away Joes absence with the excuse that he was busy filming back on the East Coast; that excuse barely held up due to the writers strike, but once the actors strike took effect, he could have been on the first flight and he quite clearly is not.

So now no one out there with her is even attempting to pretend that its not over. Its over. Its done.

Celebrity guests at the pairs wedding included Sofias Modern Family co-stars Ariel Winter, Ed ONeill, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland and Ty Burrell, as well as Joes True Blood co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Reese Witherspoon and Channing Tatum were also in attendance.

The pair met through the actress former co-star Jesse Tyler at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in 2014, when she was engaged to businessman Nick Loeb.

Manganiello asked for the actress number a few weeks later when she split with Loeb.

He told People magazine in 2020: I knew pretty quickly that I could trust her, and she knew pretty quickly that she could trust me.

And were both the kind of people who are capable of putting the other person ahead of ourselves.

I was capable of putting her wishes ahead of mine, whatever they were, and she was capable of doing the same.

Once you have that, you dont let go of it.
Euro area and European Unions (EU) industrial production saw a modest increase in May 2023, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Euro area saw a seasonally adjusted rise of 0.2 per cent, while the EU observed a 0.1 per cent increase compared with April 2023. The previous month saw more significant growth, with industrial production increasing by 1 per cent in the euro area and 0.6 per cent in the EU.

However, when compared to the previous year, industrial production declined in May 2023, dropping by 2.2 per cent in the euro area and 1.8 per cent in the EU.

In May 2023, industrial production rose slightly in the euro area and the EU, compared to April 2023, according to Eurostat. On a YoY basis, industrial production declined by 2.2 per cent in the euro area and 1.8 per cent in the EU. Energy production saw the largest decline. Among member states, Slovenia, Croatia, and Malta registered the highest growth.

Breaking down these figures by category, the euro area experienced a growth in the production of intermediate and durable consumer goods by 0.5 per cent, and non-durable consumer goods by 0.3 per cent. However, there was a 1.1 per cent decrease in energy production. Similar trends were observed in the EU, with energy production seeing the largest decline at 1.8 per cent, as per Eurostat.

Among the member states, Slovenia recorded the highest monthly increase in industrial production at 7.9 per cent, followed by Croatia at 4.3 per cent, and Slovakia and Finland, both at 2.5 per cent. Conversely, Ireland saw the most significant decrease at 4.9 per cent, with Lithuania declining by 2.8 per cent, and Romania and Belgium both recording a 1.2 per cent drop.

On a year-on-year basis, energy production in the euro area and the EU fell by 6.2 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. Durable consumer goods saw a decrease in production as well, with the euro area and EU recording drops of 5.0 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.

Finally, among member states, Ireland registered the largest annual decrease in industrial production at 16.2 per cent, followed by Estonia at 12.8 per cent and Bulgaria at 11 per cent. In contrast, Malta, Denmark, and France witnessed the highest increases at 12.2 per cent, 7.8 per cent, and 2.9 per cent respectively.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Between January and April 2023, India imported 251.533 million kg of yarn from China, accounting for 68.86 per cent of the country's total yarn imports. These imports were valued at $448.634 million, marking a 17.43 per cent increase compared to the same period the previous year. The significant amount of yarn imports can be attributed to higher raw material prices in India, which make imported yarn more cost-effective.

Indias yarn imports from China were worth $384.003 million in January to April 2022. However, these imports were 11.17 per cent less in value compared to the January-April 2021 period, during which the imports were valued at $432.306 million. For the same period in 2020 and 2019, the value of India's yarn imports was $150.655 million and $162.227 million, respectively, as per data provided by Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

In 2022, India's yarn imports amounted to 503.122 million kg, with a total value of $1,359.584 million. This was an increase from 487.956 million kg ($1,094.979 million) in 2021, 246.586 million kg ($513.958 million) in 2020, and 178.995 million kg ($524.742 million) in 2019.

From January-April 2023, India imported 251.533 million kg of yarn from China, making up 68.86 per cent of its total yarn imports and marking a 17.43 per cent increase in value from the previous year. High domestic raw material costs have led to a surge in yarn imports, posing challenges for the Indian spinning industry, but benefiting the weaving industry.

While the increased imports have posed challenges for India's domestic spinning industry due to diminished demand, the weaving industry has benefitted from the availability of cheaper imported yarn. Furthermore, a slowdown in garment demand from both global and domestic markets has impacted the industry.

According to TexPro, India's total yarn imports were valued at $654.816 million during the first four months of 2023. Among the top five yarn suppliers to India, China was the leading provider with a 68.86 per cent share of total imports. Other significant suppliers included Indonesia (5.11 per cent), Nepal (4.1 per cent), Vietnam (4 per cent), and Bangladesh (3.60 per cent) for the period between January and April 2023.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
UK foreign secretary James Spencer Cleverly recently announced up to 25 million in funding to support economic growth of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and reduce their poverty, by bringing UK expertise in trade, regulation and financial services to the region over the next five years.

He was visiting Jakarta to meet ASEAN partners to advance cooperation on the shared priorities of security, stability and prosperity.

UK foreign secretary James Spencer Cleverly recently announced up to 25 million in funding to support economic growth of ASEAN members and reduce their poverty, by assisting in trade, regulation and financial services over the next five years. Later this month, the UK will begin its formal accession to the CPTPP, further strengthening links in the region.

Total UK-ASEAN trade in goods and services was worth 46.5 billion at the end of 2022.

Later this month, the United Kingdom will begin its formal accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), further strengthening British trade and investment links in the region, an official release said.

The UK and ASEAN are working together to deliver the Plan of Action 2022 to 2026 to improve lives across the region, such as ensuring girls across southeast Asia can access quality education. This is in addition to UK work in the wider Indo-Pacific, such as the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia programme, which is upgrading homes and infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change, Cleverly said ahead of the visit.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
UKs business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch has formally signed the treaty to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade group in New Zealand, kickstarting the UKs membership of a modern and ambitious trade deal spanning 12 economies across Asia, the Pacific, and now Europe.

The secretary of state is in Auckland to put pen to paper on this mega deal, alongside New Zealand trade minister Damien OConnor, Canadian trade minister Mary Ng, Japanese minister for economic revitalisation Goto Shigeyuki, and Australian deputy trade minister Tim Ayres, the UKs department for business and trade said in a press release.

UK's trade secretary Kemi Badenoch has formally signed the treaty to join the CPTPP, marking the beginning of UK's membership in the trade group covering 12 economies across Asia, the Pacific, and Europe. Expected to stimulate business growth, this move will offer market access to over 500 million people. The UK is the first European member of the CPTPP.

The signature is the formal confirmation of agreement for the UK to join the group, following substantial conclusion of negotiations earlier this year. The UK government will now seek to ratify the agreement, which will include parliamentary scrutiny, whilst other CPTPP countries complete their own legislative processes.

The signing comes as a new 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 182 billion in 2021, by guaranteeing protections for investors.

Speaking ahead of the signing, 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 report found that the CPTPP investment accounted for over 240 billion in turnover in London, 35 billion in the Southeast, and 18 billion in the East of England and the creation of 26,000 jobs in 2021 and 2022.

Around 75 per cent of all employment in CPTPP-owned businesses was outside of London with one in 50 jobs in the Northeast and one in every 25 jobs in the manufacturing sector.

The report also found that CPTPP companies punch above their weight economically. While they account for 0.3 per cent of all businesses in the UK, they generate 6.1 per cent of the UKs total turnover20 times higher than the proportion of businesses they represent.

The UK will be the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was created. With the UK as a member, CPTPP will have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 12 trillion and account for 15 per cent of global GDP. The government will now take the steps needed to bring the agreement into force, expected to be next year.

Being part of the CPTPP will mean that more than 99 per cent of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs. 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.

UKs accession to the CPTPP will boost services by reducing red tape, increase trade flexibility, diversify supply chains, stimulate investment, and provide modern rules for digital trade. It will also create new markets, with a free trade agreement with Malaysia for the first time. Moreover, UK consumers could enjoy lower prices on imported goods from Chile, Peru, and Mexico.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
Cillian Murphy has revealed his unconventional approach to preparing for his role in the upcoming biopic Oppenheimer. Murphy turned to the sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita, to truly understand and embody the character. The plot revolves around the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the "Father of the Atomic Bomb," and his pivotal role in the Manhattan Project.



Murphy, who will play J. Robert Oppenheimer in the film, studied Bhagavad Gita teachings to gain a better understanding of the character's mindset. Oppenheimer had studied Sanskrit and found inspiration in the ancient text throughout his life. Murphy expressed his appreciation for the Bhagavad Gita's beauty and inspiration, stating that it provided comfort to Oppenheimer during difficult times."I have become death, the destroyer of worlds" is the most repeated quote of Oppenheimer. He borrowed it from Geeta. Reflecting on this, Cillian Murphy shared, "I did read the Bhagavad Gita in preparation for the film. I thought it was an absolutely beautiful text. Very inspiring. It was a consolation to him. He kind of needed it. It provided a lot of consolation to him all his life."

The film Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, shed light on the invention that shaped human history. Nolan drew a parallel to the atomic bomb when discussing the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising the cautionary tale it provides. He emphasised the importance of learning from history and approaching new technologies with caution.

Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a thought-provoking exploration of an iconic figure in history. Nolan is known for his captivating films such as Memento, Inception, and The Dark Knight Trilogy. The film will be released on July 21, 2023. Audiences can expect a compelling performance from Cillian Murphy, who delved into the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to give his character depth.
Shanaya Kapoor, the daughter of Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor, is set to make her feature film debut in Mohanlal's Vrushabha. She plays a pivotal role opposite Roshann Meka. Ektaa Kapoor will produce the film. Since its announcement, the news has generated a lot of attention. Karan Johar has now taken to social media to celebrate the good news.

The news that Shanaya would be appearing in Mohanlal's pan-India film sparked a lot of excitement, not just among netizens, but also among Bollywood insiders. Maheep Kapoor, Shanya Kapoor's mother, and Karan Johar are close friends. Their families have a strong bond. Karan posted a lengthy message for Shanaya on social media on Saturday evening. Karan captioned a photo of Shanya and Mohanlal, "Some journeys are perceived as privileged some are also given the tag of lineage benefit  and all of that is true but in you Shanaya @shanayakapoor02 I have only seen a girl who dreamt of nothing but being a pure artist and facing the camera only when you had put in all that immense hard work and so much passion. This is such a brilliant opportunity for you  so much to learn from the legendary @mohanlal sir.. who I admire and respect so much"

He also expressed gratitude to Ektaa Kapoor and expressed his belief in the film. The mention of, something new however, piqued the interest of netizens. "And you and I both know what exciting news is yet to come". Netizens are left wondering what the filmmaker is keeping hidden.





Shanaya was originally set to make her Bollywood debut in Dharma Productions' Bedhadak.





According to reports, the film has been shelved. When Dharma Productions announced the launch of Shanaya in 2021, it sparked a debate about nepotism. Shanya Kapoor is the cousin of well-known actors Janhvi Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, and Arjun Kapoor.
After giving massive hits like Dangal, Chhichhore etc, Nites Tiwari is making the headlines these days for his new directorial Bawaal. Starring Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in the lead, Bawaal is a romantic drama and is among the most anticipated releases of the year.

After a grand trailer release in Dubai and how Varun and Janhvi's sizzling chemistry has been grabbing eyeballs, the audience has been pinning high hopes for Bawaal. And if you are planning to watch the movie this week, here's a quick first review of this romance drama.

To note, a fan screening took place recently and looks like Bawaal has failed to impress the audience. Renowned film critic took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and shared a review of Bawaal. Without taking the film's name, he wrote, "Theatrical Flop avoided it seems". It didn't long for the netizens to guess that this tweet was about Bawaal. However, the tweet was later deleted.

In fact, the social media was abuzz with tweets expressing the fans' disappointment towards Bawaal. A Twitter user tweeted, "#Bawaal - BEING VARUN FAN I wana see #Atlee and #citadel next @Varun_dvn please now choose larger than life movies.... Ho gaya content or national director k sath kam karka. #VarunDhawan looks ok.#JanhviKapoor looks decent. #nitishtiwari sir ummed thi Apsa. Move on #Varunfans. #secondhalf of the movie completely lacks and world war situations looks completely in organic. #Bawaal will have been fall miserable in theatre. Thanks for #OTT route".

#secondhalf of the movie completely lacks  and world war situations looks completely in organic  #Bawaal will have been fall miserable in theater  Thanks for #OTT route  varundvn_nepalfc (@khatriankit586) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, the trailer also received a mixed response from the audience. To note, Bawaal marks Varun and Janhvi Kapoor's first collaboration.

Talking about working with Janhvi Kapoor, Varun told Galatta Plus that he didn't speak to Janhvi for the first month of the shoot. Explaining the decision, "Because I felt we'll become friends like this (snaps). I said let me not, and let me be a little aloof, a little cold. I'll talk to everyone else but her, and purposely. I felt it might evoke something in her and something in me when we were doing scenes of that nature. And then eventually, I told her after 20 days. Then she realized it, otherwise, she took it personally. See, I did it selfishly but I think it helped both of us at that time. Actually, in the film, how gradually the couple got to know each other, we also got to know each other gradually, which was interesting".
Ileana D'Cruz: Actress Ileana D'Cruz is joyfully embracing her journey into motherhood as she is set to meet her little one in a few months. She has been offering glimpses of her pregnancy on Instagram, keeping her fans curious about her baby's father's identity.

She left everyone in shock by announcing her pregnancy on April 18 of this year. And now, after keeping her baby's father's identity under wraps for several months, she has finally revealed the clear face of the mystery man in her life.

Ileana D'Cruz finally reveals her baby's father's face

After months of speculation, Ileana has finally put a stop to all the curiosity surrounding the mystery man in her life. To much of her fans' delight, the Barfi actress shared a few mushy photos with her beau from their date night on Monday morning.

Both looked extremely happy, as they are soon to welcome their firstborn. Ileana wore a strappy red dress, while the man was wearing a black shirt and sported a beard. In the pictures, she can be seen keeping her head on his shoulder in one, while they smile to their hearts in the other two as they click selfies.

Preggy Ileana D'Cruz Drops A Fun Video Dancing With Her Friends, Flaunts Third-Trimester Glow; WATCH

Ileana's pregnancy glow is definitely unmissable. Shearing the photos, Ileana wrote on top, "Date night", with a red heart emoji.

When Ileana dropped the first hint about her boyfriend

Last month, Ileana shared a silhouette frame of herself with her partner in a blurred picture. And this man has a striking resemblance to him. With the photo, Ileana had posted a long note on her pregnancy journey and expressed gratitude for her partner.

In a heartfelt post, Ileana shared her emotions and the excitement of meeting her unborn child. Talking about the support she has gotten from her boyfriend, she wrote, "And on the days I forget be kind to myself, this lovely man has been my rock. He's held me when he feels me starting to crack. And wipes the tears away. And cracks goofy jokes to make me smile. Or just offers a hug when he knows that's exactly what I need in that moment. And everything doesn't seem so hard anymore."

Ileana D'Cruz is not dating Katrina Kaif's brother

Well, after Ileana was spotted in several pictures from Katrina Kaif's 39th birthday celebration in the Maldives last year. Soon, reports claiming that Ileana was dating Katrina's brother, Sebastien Laurent Michel, began to circulate. It was also reported that both were spotted spending quality time together in Mumbai. However, Ileana's post has now put an end to all rumours.

Soon-To-Be-Mom Ileana D'Cruz Flaunts Growing Bump In New Boomerang, Says 'Sun's Out..'

Ileana was last seen in Badshah and Goldkartz's song, Sab Gazab. Next, she has Unfair and Lovely in her kitty.
Urvashi Rautela who is Bollywood's youngest superstar highest paid actress and the most followed Asian celebrity as per Forbes was recently spotted at the Bhopal airport along with veteran actor Pankaj Tripathi as they both had arrived for their film shoot

In a thrilling turn of events, the bustling city of Bhopal became the centre of excitement as Bollywood diva Urvashi Rautela and versatile actor Pankaj Tripathi found themselves mobbed by enthusiastic fans as they reached the airport for their shooting schedules for the highly anticipated film, Stree 2, as well as their respective projects.

The duo has arrived in Bhopal for their respective shoot,where Urvashi also took to her social media and shared few bunch of pictures where she made an official announcemnet of her starting the shoot of her new film in Bhopal. Giving us major barbie vibes with her Airport look.

With both Urvashi Rautela and Pankaj Tripathi being prominent figures in the Indian film industry, their presence in Bhopal had already generated a considerable buzz. Urvashi Rautela, who is known for her stunning beauty and captivating performances, arrived at the airport looking radiant in a trendy outfit, effortlessly turning heads. As she stepped out of the airport, the crowd erupted into cheers, struggling to catch a glimpse of the glamorous actress.

Urvashi and Pankaj Tripathi interacted with fans, taking the time to sign autographs and pose for photos, ensuring that their admirers' efforts were rewarded. Their down-to-earth and humble demeanor only endeared them further to their ardent supporters.

Check out the video now:

Urvashi also shared a few pictures and videos along with Pankaj Tripathi from the flight where she mentioned "Here we are off to Bhopal for our film shoot"

This incident not only highlighted the incredible popularity of these talented actors but also showcased the immense impact of their work on their fans.
Nayanthara's Dream Comes True: The highly anticipated action thriller 'Jawan,' starring Shah Rukh Khan, continues to captivate audiences with its rising popularity.

Lachu Gram's Playful Instagram Reply To Fan's Question: Are You Dating Mohanlal?

A stunning new poster showcasing the fierce and action-packed avatar of Nayanthara, the female lead, has just been unveiled. Unveiling the poster, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, "She is the thunder that comes before the storm!"

Meanwhile, in a heartwarming and inspiring turn of events, Nayanthara, the talented superstar, has realised a dream that once seemed distant. Known for her exceptional acting prowess and captivating presence on screen, Nayanthara has always been an ardent admirer of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan.

Nayanthara's Journey A Tale of Inspiration and Passion

In a recent tweet by her doting husband, director Vignesh Shivan, Nayanthara's incredible journey from a devoted Shah Rukh Khan fan to sharing the screen with him in the action-packed film 'Jawan' has been beautifully encapsulated.

"Happy & Proud of you thangamey," expressed Vignesh Shivan in his heartfelt tweet, using an endearing Tamil term to address his beloved wife. He went on to reveal a fascinating aspect of Nayanthara's fandom, stating, "From being a fan of Shahrukh sir & binge watching only his movies! Like literally only his movies!!!" It is evident that Nayanthara's admiration for King Khan's talent has always been unparalleled.

Yet destiny had grander plans for Nayanthara. Her passion for acting and her unwavering dedication led her to a remarkable milestone in her career. Nayanthara will now be seen acting opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the highly anticipated film 'Jawan.' The magnitude of this opportunity is not lost on her; as Vignesh Shivan puts it beautifully, "Acting opposite him in such a big film! Your journey is just starting."

The excitement and joy within Nayanthara's family are palpable. Vignesh Shivan's tweet brims with pride and adoration, as he writes, "You are soooo inspiring dear wife. Our family is sooo proud of you." It is evident that Nayanthara's talent and achievements have touched the hearts of her loved ones, filling them with immense pride.

The film 'Jawan,' directed by the talented Atlee, promises to be a high-octane action entertainer that will set the screens ablaze. The poster showcasing Nayanthara in a fierce and action-packed avatar has left fans exhilarated and eager for more. Nayanthara's portrayal of a cop in the movie is already being touted as a major highlight, adding to the excitement surrounding the film.

Gopi Sundar And Amritha Suresh: Love In Question - Are They Heading For A Breakup? Fans In A Frenzy!

As the clock ticks closer to the theatrical release of 'Jawan' on September 7th, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages, fans are eagerly anticipating the magic that Nayanthara and Shah Rukh Khan will create on screen. With every update from the film's makers, the anticipation only grows stronger.
Bigg Boss Azeem Indirectly Attacks Vikraman: Bigg Boss Season 6 Title Winner Mohamed Azeem has shared an Instagram post in a situaton when 'Vikraman-Kiruba Munusamy controversy' has created serious debates.

Vikraman was selected as the first runner-up in Bigg Boss Season 6. In this case, a woman named Kiruba Munusamy is accusing Vikraman of cheating on her by falling in love with her.

Two Gangs In Bigg Boss House

Bigg Boss hosted by Kamal Haasan on Vijay TV has been well received by the TV fans. So far 6 seasons have been completed and the 7th season will start soon. Vikraman, Azeem, Shivin, Dhanalakshmi, ADK and many others became very popular through the 6th season of Bigg Boss.

Only three of them Vikraman, Azeem and Shivin made it to the final stage of Bigg Boss. While Vikraman was expected to have the most chance of winning, Azeem bagged the Bigg Boss title. Even though the two are bedmates in the Bigg Boss house, they have clashed terribly in the competitions. Vikraman, who mainly speaks in favor of women, often reined in Azeem's arrogance and anger.

Similarly, Azeem, who gets tensed on seeing Vikraman, has fought very brazenly saying, "Who are you to question?" Vikraman, Shivin, Amudavanan, ADK and Rachitha played as one team and Azeem, Manikandan, Dhanalakshmi, Maina Nandhini and Janani played as another team.

Azeem Uses Vijay Dialogue To Attack Vikraman

In this situation, a woman named Kiruba Munusamy has accused Vikraman. She said that Vikraman had cheated her by saying that he would marry her. She also released several evidences including that she had helped Vikraman by paying him and both said I love you to each other. After this, Vikraman is also expressing the evidences to prove himself right.

In it, he has revealed that it is true that he took the money from Kiruba Munusamy, but he has returned it. Vikraman also tweeted that she was blaming him for not accepting her love. In this case, Azeem silently attacked Vikraman by saying a famous dialogue from Vijay's Mersal movie which means 'Karma is a Boomerang'. He also mentioned that his philosophy will reach but will take some time.

Azeem fans are sharing their opinion on his Instagram post. One of them asked, "Where is the Aram vellum gang hiding now ???"
Bigg Boss Vikraman Cheated 15 Women? Kiruba Munusamy has made serious allegations on Twitter saying that Bigg Boss Vikraman, a member of the VCK political party, cheated on her and many others.

Vikraman is famous for Bigg Boss Tamil Season 6 show hosted by Kamal Haasan on Vijay TV. He got second place in it. A woman named Kruba Munusamy has filed serious complaints against Vikraman on social media.

iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods

Kiruba Munusamy shared many posts on her Twitter page on this regards. She said, "It would be a grave injustice to the anti-caste movement if Vikraman continues to hold his position in an anti-caste party like VCK even after intentionally exploiting a Dalit woman activist to grow in the same party. I hope the party does justice by taking action at least now.

iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods he still posts pictures with were exploited from me. He tortured me into buying Apple laptop so that he could start a YouTube channel (which never happened) & be financially independent. He forced the downpayment & EMIs out of me for the car he owned.

After having undergone a great deal of agony over the past few months & a huge disappointment, I'm writing in public. I've known @RVikraman since 2013 when he participated in an event in which I was a guest. When I left for London in Aug 2020, he voluntarily came to send me off. pic.twitter.com/AA2rTxagZm  Kiruba Munusamy (@kirubamunusamy) July 16, 2023

He, second year law student, propagated the objective of my already registered legal initiative as his own in BB. To escape his financial bothering, I drafted-registered-consulted Aram Vellum Trust including the progressively designed volunteer forms that he proudly talks about.

Even while sitting on the live news debates he would ask me for the contents, or use my personal conversations with him. For example, see him using the goosebump moment I shared with him on the 25th Jan in this 26th Jan news7 debate at 38:16 minutes.

He had intentionally exploited my intellect to grow his political career. From the statement he read while joining the party to Udumalai Shankar's memorial day speech, everything was my knowledge. He stole the content of the letter I wrote to him about Ambedkar for his BB fame.

I was routinely harassed, abused, manipulated, gaslit, cheated & exploited in this relationship. I was suicidal & depressed that I'm undergoing therapy for a year now. This is a story I heard from every other victim. Additionally, I became persistently ill because of his torture.

After having approached the party leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, committee members, office bearers & every other sources innumerable times, I hereby publicly ask VCK to publish the report and make their Deputy Spokesperson accountable by taking necessary disciplinary action.

Two months after in Oct 2020, he pursued a romantic relationship with me. Just within 2 days after, he lied that he's invited to join @VCKofficial_ by its leader @thirumaofficial while he's the one who pursued. Since then he demanded unconditional support to his political career. pic.twitter.com/bUGouBxQnk  Kiruba Munusamy (@kirubamunusamy) July 16, 2023

I've been a loyalist to the party for over a decade. I learnt Ambedkar's ideology through leader Thol. Thirumavalavan

& he has played a significant role in engendering my critical lens & the intersectional politics I hold. So, I patiently waited for 3 months out of that respect.

The party founded on the principles of justice & equality which claims to be a movement for the oppressed & victims protecting a serial predator & casteist like Vikraman as against the anti-caste & feminist ideologies it propagates is completely unjustifiable and undemocratic.

He had neither respected the leader, party nor its ideologies. He had always undermined the anti-caste politics. Although he's the office bearer & I'm not, I was one who had always defended the leader, party, ideology & the oppressed even within a personal relationship.

I heard from sources that committee found my claims proven & strongly reported against Vikraman with recommendations to expel him from the party & permit me to proceed legally. Is that why the report deliberately kept hidden by VCK to protect its Deputy Spokesperson?

The committee took 40 days to submit its report. It's been a month & I was not issued a copy of the report. I've been relentlessly trying for a month now. The committee members are not giving. The office bearers are afraid to talk about it & even more scared to share the report.

The party leader upon preliminary enquiry & prima facie evidence constituted a 5-member committee with 2 external members to enquire & submit its report within 20 days. I submitted documentary evidence, 8 witness statements proving relationship, abuse, financial fraud & cheating.

Failing to deceive me & after threatening that I'm only known in a small intellectual circle but he's a party office bearer who's popular among the cadres, he sought refuge in Thol. Thirumavalavan . So, with no other choice I submitted a 20-pages petition to take disciplinary action.

Police Complaint Against Vikraman

After speaking to 15 people he referred as his exes & friends, I found that there are other victims of his abuse & exploitation who are married now, including many queer men who haven't come out with their sexuality. Therefore, I told him that I'm going to lodge police complaint.

The relationship continued after BB & so did his abuse, apologies & exploitation. I also found that he was cheating on me with the woman he claimed as his manager. After I confronted them in a conference call, he admitted the parallel relationship with her for over 1.5 years.

After about 2 years of relationship, when I stopped supporting & demanded the money he promised to return in Jul '22, he blocked me. After 3 months of trying, just before entering Bigg Boss, he apologised for his rude behaviour; got back together; was romantic & discussed BB.

When I confronted his political-intellectual-financial exploitation & opportunism, he behaved casteistly & abusively. When I distanced myself, he would cry, beg & convince that he'll behave properly thereafter. But his behaviour continued & started gaslighting & manipulating me.

Two months after in Oct 2020, he pursued a romantic relationship with me. Just within 2 days after, he lied that he's invited to join VCK by its leader Thol. Thirumavalavan while he's the one who pursued. Since then he demanded unconditional support to his political career.

After having undergone a great deal of agony over the past few months & a huge disappointment, I'm writing in public. I've known Vikraman since 2013 when he participated in an event in which I was a guest. When I left for London in Aug 2020, he voluntarily came to send me off."
Bigg Boss Vikraman Shares The Letter Written By Kiruba Munusamy: The allegation made by a woman named Kiruba Munusamy against Bigg Boss Vikraman has created debates on social media.

Kiruba Munusamy has filed complaints that Vikram took money from her and cheated her by promising to marry her. Vikraman gave a reply to this accusation on his Twitter account now.

Vikraman Denies

Vikraman has given a big explanation against the allegations made against him and has also released a love letter written to him by Kiruba Munusamy. He said "I deny the allegations made against me by Ms. Kiruba Munusamy in entirety. A coin has two sides likewise this story also has two sides. "There is only one victim in this issue and it is me rather than the person making the accusations against me".

Proof that I paid back the sum of Rs.12,00,000 the day after I received my big boss payment as I already promised her. pic.twitter.com/kCzHPbb3tk  Vikraman R (@RVikraman) July 17, 2023

We were acquaintances till 2020 and started to know each other better post her travel to UK for PhD. The entire relationship was strictly platonic, the concocted allegations now being made are made in order to wreck vengeance and finish my political and professional career, since I had refused to succumb to her unreasonable demand to Marry her.

Proof For Payment To Kiruba Munusamy

Attachment 1 is the letter Written by Ms. Kiruba from United Kingdom in 15th June 2022 where she is pursuing her PhD. If I was indeed an abuser, no person of reasonable intelligence would have written such a letter.

Attachment 2 is the proof of payment made to Ms. Kiruba for articles gifted by her on her own accord or at my request for my professional purposes. I had always promised to pay for the articles given to me and in due course I have promptly paid the entire amount as promised by me.

I reiterate that I completely deny each and every allegation made against me. I am fully prepared to rebut the charges and disprove each and every one of them in the manner known under law.

Aramvellum."
Bigg Boss OTT 2 Update: The second season of Bigg Boss OTT on Jio Cinema, hosted by Salman Khan, has captured significant attention since the very first day. The controversial reality show has proven to be immensely successful and was recently granted a two-week extension.

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Bigg Boss OTT 2: Elvish Yadav   Dhruv Rathee  Wild Card Entry, tweet  Viral! | FilmiBeat

At present, the Bigg Boss house is occupied by notable contestants such as Abhishek Malhan, also known as Fukra Insaan, Pooja Bhatt, Avinash Sachdev, Jiya Shankar, Falaq Naaz, Manisha Rani, and Bebika Dhurve, who are all striving to win over the viewers' hearts.

Last week, the makers introduced YouTuber Elvish Yadav and actress Aashika Bhatia as new wild card contestants. Everyone thought that they'll indulge in fights with each other, however, nothing like that happened as they're mostly together in the show.

BIGG BOSS OTT 2: DHRUV RATHEE WILDCARD ENTRY VIRAL TWEET

As they failed the plans of Bigg Boss OTT 2 makers, the team has reportedly planned to get a notch higher as they have now approached Evlish's rival YouTuber. Well, we're talking about Dhruv Rathee. Yes, you read that right!

A tweet is currently going viral on social media stating that Dhruva Rathee is entering Salman Khan's reality show as the third wildcard contestant. Take a look at the tweet here:

Bigg Boss OTT 2: Fukra Insaan Creates History, Becomes FIRST Contestant To Achieve THIS Huge Feat

However, there's still no official announcement regarding the same.

ELVISH YADAV AND DHRUV RATHEE CONNECTION

Ayesha Singh Reveals Getting REJECTED For HIT Colors Show Before Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin: Maine Audition...

For the unversed, Dhruv Rathee is a prominent Indian YouTuber, vlogger, and social media activist. He is renowned for his insightful YouTube content on social, political, and environmental matters.

Interestingly, Dhruv and Elvish Yadav doesn't share a great equation. In 2021, the duo made headlines for their internet brawl due to conflicting ideologies and personal clashes, captivating the attention of their followers.

The clash between Elvish Yadav and Dhruv Rathee began on July 18, 2021, when Elvish Yadav shared a video aimed at 'exposing' Dhruv Rathee. In the video, Elvish criticized Dhruv's critical stance towards the Indian government, selectively using clips from his videos and providing commentary on them. Among the accusations, Elvish alleged that Rathee manipulated his audience.

Subsequently, Elvish Yadav disclosed that YouTube had demonetized his video on Dhruv Rathee and that his channel had been subject to mass reporting by supporters of Rathee. In response, Dhruv retorted, saying, "Kal ko constipation hoga tab bhi Dhruv Rathee ko blame karna. If I wanted to take away your video, I would copyright strike it. Trust me, I really want your videos to stay on YouTube so your stupidity is visible to everyone. Learn to take responsibility for your own content."

Kal ko constipation hoga tab bhi Dhruv Rathee ko blame karna



If I wanted to take away your video, I would copyright strike it. Trust me, I really want your videos to stay on YouTube so your stupidity is visible to everyone. Learn to take responsibility for your own content  https://t.co/fCR1GE2rrp  Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) July 21, 2021

Since then, things have only got uglier between the two YouTubers. If the rumours of Dhruve entering BB OTT 2 house are true then get ready for fireworks.

Keep watching this space for more updates!
MTV Roadies 19 elimination: Love or hate but you cannot debate that Roadies is the most sought-after reality show on Indian television. It has inspired several youngsters, keeping them hooked on to the screens with intriguing episodes. The show is packed with pulsating stunts and tasks are different and unique. Despite airing 19 seasons, the show still remains a fan favourite and grabs eyeballs when it is on air.

MTV ROADIES KARM YA KAND EVICTION: WHAT HAPPENED?

MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kand, which started on a blockbuster note, witnessed six eliminations in the last episode. Giving a big surprise to the viewers, the show evicted six contestants.

The likes of Lekha Jambaulikar, Shubham Chaudhary, Pery Sheetal, Hassan Siddiquee, Mandpreet Kaur and Lekha Jambaulikar were evicted during the very first episode. Such is the fast-paced nature of the show and we all know it, right?

HASSAN SIDDIQUEE TERMS GAUTAM GULATI'S DECISION 'WRONG'

After his elimination from MTV Roadies 19, Hassan Siddique exclusively interacted with Filmibeat and spoke about his experience in the show. He also revealed what was his initial reaction after his name was announced during the eviction episode.

Sharing his thoughts after getting eliminated, the Nashik boy said that he felt disappointed. He termed Gautam Gulati's decision to evict him as 'wrong'.

"Kafi wrong decision tha Gautam Gulati ka. Mujhe gang ne nahi nikala, sir ne nikala. Main task jeeta gya tha, maine perform kiya tha. Do log the jo cart ko peeche le gaye the. Prince Narula sir ne kaha- 'Disqualify karo, inhone rules break kiya hai," Hassan exclusively told Filmibeat.

Hassan mentioned that Gautam should have eliminated the two contestants, who got the team disqualified. Although he felt helpless and low, he didn't let it affect him. He might be out of the race, the handsome hunk is looking forward to the new journey after MTV Roadies.

"Shayad Gautam sir ko unn logo ko nikalna chahiye tha, jinke wajah se disqualify hue the. Lekin Gautam sir ne mera naam liya, mujhe kafi low feel hua. Main Prince sir ke gang mein jana chahata hu. Of course, Gautam sir bhi mere choice the. I am sure life mujhe aage kuch dega hi. This is not the end," he quipped.

When asked if he had the option to choose another gang leader, Hassan took Prince Narula's name.

MTV Roadies- Karm ya Kaand airs every Saturday and Sunday on MTV. The show is also available for viewing on JioCinema.
Bigg Boss has been one of the most talked about reality shows on Indian television and over the years Salman Khan has become the face of the show. After ruling the Indian television for over a decade, Salman even went on to replace Karan Johar as the new host of Bigg Boss OTT 2.

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Needless to say, everyone has been in awe of Salman's swag and hosting skills and Weekend Ka Vaar episodes have been the highlights of the show. However, looks like Bigg Boss is set to witness a massive twist now as Salman Khan is reportedly quitting Bigg Boss OTT 2.

The reports surfaced after Salman was missing from the recent Weekend Ka Vaar episodes and Krushna Abhishek was seen hosting the show. So far, it was reported that Salman was occupied with a prior commitment and as a result, he didn't host the recent Weekend Ka Vaar episodes.

However, as per a recent update, Salman is quitting the show. This isn't all. The report also suggested that Salman will not be hosting Bigg Boss 17 as well. It is reported that the superstar took the big step post an alleged breach of contract from the creative end.

It is reported that this happened after the creatives allegedly aired the Weekend Ka Vaar episode deliberately wherein Salman was seen holding a cigarette while hosting. Looks like Salman is quite upset with the creatives.

#Exclusive- Salman Khan quit hosting #BiggBossOTT2 and might also not even host it's TV version as there is a breach of contract from creatives end.



This might have anything to do makers who deliberately aired weekend ka vaar episode of Salman holding a [email protected] amid hosting. pic.twitter.com/jeQJVaejDI    (@RajmaChawalOG) July 16, 2023

To note, no official announcement about Salman Khan quitting Bigg Boss OTT 2 has been made so far. But if the reports turned out to be true, it will be interesting to see who will replace him as the new host of the show.

Meanwhile, as reports are doing the rounds for Bigg Boss 17, speculations are rife about who will be participating in the show.
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Did you know how Priyanka Chopra met her husband Nick Jonas? Check-Out The 10 Interesting Facts About The Star Couple

Priyanka Chopra is one of the celebrated names in the World Cinema . Born in India, the global star and actress Priyanka Chopra who achieved a successful career in the industry with her astonishing acting skills and talents. Besides acting, she had grabbed the global attention with her personal life moments with her husband and musician Nick Jonas. The actress Priyanka Chopra is celebrating her 41th birthday on July 18,2023. On the special occasion, let's take a 10 interesting facts about the actress adorable moments with her husband Nick Jonas.

First Meet Unexpectedly, Priyanka Chopra who received a friend request from Nick Jonas on twitter account in 2016. After accepting the request, she exchanged her phone number with exchanged the number with him. That was the first moment they were started using social media apps to talk each other. In an interview, Priyanka said that Jonas was the reason behind how i started the relationship and i doesn't feel jealous about his previous relationships . He send me a direct message through social media then we started talking like casual.



Met Gala 2017 Priyanka met Nick Jonas first time when she attended the Met Gala event in 2017. That was the incident, the couple met each other. During an interview, Nick humorously mentioned that he was just there to manage Priyanka's train, which made her laugh.

Committed Relationship Together After started dating each other, they made headlines and become hot topic on social media platforms. They grabbed the attention of paparazzi's in the outside and inside of the industry. They couple spotted together for several times and their photos went viral among fan-followers on social media.

Official Announcement In 2018, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas made their relationship official with a traditional roka ceremony. It surprised her fans and followers in the industry and made headlines.



Wedlock After 8 months of engagement, Priyanka Chopra who took to Instagram to share photos of the her and Nick's friends and family gathering for the Mehendi ceremony In . On December 1, 2018, Chopra and Jonas got married at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The couples follows hindu and christian traditional ceremony for their wedding.



First Appearance After Marriage The couple who spotted together in Jodhpur after two days of their marriage. Priyanka who grabbed everyone's attention with her desi avatar while Nick wore monochromatic ensemble with white sneakers.



Age Barrier According to the reports, the couple have follows a 10 years age difference. While marrying Nick Jonas, actress Priyanka was 30 years. She is ten years elder than her husband.



Red Carpet Debut As Celebrity Couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas made their first official red carpet debut as a married couple at Met Gala Awards 2018.



Comeback To On-screen The actress made great comeback to the showbiz after her marriage in 2018. Shonali Bose 's directorial venture 'The Sky Is Pink ' is Priyanka Chopra's first on- screen appearance after marriage. Apart from this she also appeared in many music videos with her husband and musician Nick Jonas.



Embraced Parenthood After two years martial life, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas who welcomed her first child through surrogacy. The couple named daughter 'Malti' and later the good news shared on social media.



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President of Indonesia Joko Widodo delivers a speech during a courtesy call at the 56th ASEAN Foreign

Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on July 14, 2023. (ANTARA FOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/nz/djo)

JAKARTA, July 17, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Indonesia has completed a series of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings from 10 - 15 July 2023 in Jakarta, which emphasized Southeast Asian region is the epicentrum of growth and that economy and stability cooperations must be maintained by member countries and partners.On his courtesy call at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) here on Friday (July 14), Indonesian President Joko Widodo said ASEAN must not become a battleground of rivalry and a proxy of any country."We, in ASEAN, are committed to continuously bolstering unity and solidarity as well as strengthening ASEAN's centrality in maintaining peace and stability in the region," the president said.Indonesia stressed that ASEAN has excellent opportunities as the epicenter of growth as the region has abundant natural resources and a productive age population.The 56th AMM plenary - retreat sessions were held on 11-12 July and linked to other meetings, including a meeting of the commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), a meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).A number of post-ministerial conferences (PMC) and multilateral meetings have also been held with ASEAN dialogue partners: the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), India, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Turkiye.The meetings discussed several cooperations, including South China Sea, Myanmar, and Indo-Pacific issues, food security, energy transition, health, financial stability, and nuclear proliferation."This showed that amid the current situation, Indonesia's chairmanship remains strong in its efforts to make Southeast Asia the epicenter of growth ... and this is also supported by all of our partner countries," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during a press conference after the 56th AMM on Friday.Regarding regional issues, ASEAN intensifies efforts to involve all stakeholders in Myanmar to reduce conflict. The organization reaffirms that the Five Point Consensus remains the primary reference to overcome the political crisis in Myanmar.To maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, ASEAN stressed the importance of undertaking confidence-building and preventive measures to enhance trust and confidence amongst parties and uphold international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.The joint statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers stated the organization looked forward to the adoption of the Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea at the PMC Plus One Session with China on July 13 and encouraged efforts to make full use of the Guidelines.Meanwhile, during the ASEAN meeting with counterpart states and multilateral fora, the organization reiterated several agenda related to the region.ASEAN reiterated that all related parties must make all-out efforts to preserve the Southeast Asian Region as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.Besides convincing Russia and the United Kingdom to approve the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ), Marsudi stated that ASEAN would review the treaty, so all nuclear-weapon states want to sign and adopt the SEANWFZ Protocol.ASEAN and its counterparts also discussed food security issues. Indonesia highlighted the need for investment, education, and agricultural technology to ensure food availability, accessibility, and affordability in times of crisis during meetings with India and Canada.ASEAN also conveyed to the European Union that the trade barriers policies, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER), should not disrupt potential economic relations potential between the two regions. Thus both parties must find a joint solution through ASEAN-EU mechanisms.During the meeting with the Japanese counterpart, Marsudi highlighted the potential development of electric vehicles (EV) in the region with Japan. ASEAN is well-positioned to partner with Japan in developing the ecosystem for EV batteries, while Japan can support this goal through the Green Innovation Fund.The implementation of these cooperations would be discussed in greater detail and with more concrete plans by ASEAN sectoral ministers responsible for the economic field.ASEAN reiterated that the member states need support from developed and friendly nations to leave the zero-sum approach and adopt a win-win strategy.Source: Antara News AgencySource: ASEAN Foreign Ministers MeetingCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen.

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, reached an agreement in principle (AIP) with United Airlines, the Pilots Association said in a statement. According to the Association, the agreement marks a significant milestone for United pilots and includes substantial improvements to compensation, as well as advancements in quality of life, vacation, and other benefits. The Association noted that the agreement will result in about $10 billion in value over the life of the contract. Items included in the comprehensive and robust package are improvements to critical aspects such as quality of work-life, compensation, job security, work rules, retirement, benefits, and more. In the weeks ahead, negotiators will work to complete the final language. Once completed, the United Master Executive Council will subsequently review the language and vote to determine if the agreement in principle becomes a tentative agreement, which would then be distributed to the entire pilot group for membership ratification. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.




SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, July 17, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - DC Healthcare Holdings Berhad, an aesthetic medical services provider specialising in the provision of non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, today debuted on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, opening at RM0.40 per share representing a premium of 60% over the initial public offering (IPO) price of RM0.25 per share.DC Healthcare is listed under the stock name of "DCHCARE" and stock code of "0283".DC Healthcare currently operates 13 aesthetic clinics in the central and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia. The Group provides aesthetic medical services such as facial sculpting and body contouring and, general medical services focusing on skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as blood test health screening.The Group raised a total of RM49.81 million through the IPO, from which RM9.44 million is allocated for the establishment of 8 new clinics across the northern and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia. Another RM13.12 million of the proceeds will be used to purchase medical machinery and equipment while RM6.24 million of the proceeds is allocated for repayment of borrowings. Another RM17.01 million of the proceed is allocated for working capital purposes The remaining RM4.0 million has been allocated for listing expenses.Chairman of DC Healthcare, Datuk Dr. Mohd Noor Bin Awang said, "The listing of DC Healthcare, an established aesthetic medical services provider specialising in the provision of non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, will allow us to benchmark ourselves as the first aesthetic medical services provider to be listed on Bursa Securities."Managing Director of DC Healthcare, Dr. Chong Tze Sheng said, "This is a significant milestone for the Group and evidence of how far we have come as a business to be a leading provider of aesthetic services in Malaysia. Through this listing, we not only cement our success, but we can also continue to build on what we have to bring more value to shareholders".Managing Director of Corporate Finance, M&A Securities Sdn Bhd, Datuk Bill Tan said, "We would like to commend the hard work and dedication of Dr. Chong and the DC Healthcare team. The prospects for DC Healthcare are on a positive uptrend based on the rapid growth, demand and success of aesthetic services in Malaysia."According to the independent market report attached to DC Healthcare's prospectus, the Malaysian aesthetic medicine market was valued at RM468.8 million in 2022, up from RM366.3 million in 2021. It is projected to register a CAGR of 18.8% from 2021 to 2027 to RM1.03 billion.The report noted that demand for aesthetic medical services stems from higher disposable income for Malaysians due to continued economic recovery, and a growing ageing population. These services are further supported by social media culture that has largely removed the stigma associated with aesthetic medical procedures.M&A Securities Sdn Bhd, is the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter and Placement Agent for the IPO exercise.DC Healthcare Holdings Berhad: http://dchealthcareholdings.com/ImageMs. Sim Lee San, Independent Non-Executive Director, DC Healthcare Holdings BerhadDatuk Dr. Mohd Noor Bin Awang, Independent Non-Executive Chairman, DC Healthcare Holdings BerhadDr. Chong Tze Sheng, Managing Director, DC Healthcare Holdings BerhadDr. Lai Ngan Chee, Executive Director, DC Healthcare Holdings BerhadMs. Rekha A/P Palanysamy, Independent Non-Executive Director, DC Healthcare Holdings BerhadMs. Yap Ee Ling, Independent Non-Executive Director, DC Healthcare Holdings Berhad [L-R]( https://photos.acnnewswire.com/tr:n-650/20230717.DCHealthcare.jpg )Source: DC HealthcareCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA / Key word(s): Quarter Results

Richemont announces 14% sales growth (19% at constant exchange rates) for its first quarter ended 30 June 2023



17-Jul-2023 / 07:30 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



To read the full announcement click here: Richemont Company Announcement For a printer-friendly version: Richemont Company Announcement PDF EN Highlights Solid start to the financial year with 14% sales growth at actual exchange rates (+19% at constant exchange rates)

Performance driven by higher sales across almost all regions and distribution channels and all business areas, at actual exchange rates

Strong rebound in Asia Pacific more than offsetting muted sales in the Americas

Growth driven by retail, now 68% of Group sales, with direct-to-client sales representing 74% of sales

Growth across all business areas led by the Jewellery Maisons (+19% at actual exchange rates, +24% at constant rates), followed by the Specialist Watchmakers (+6% at actual exchange rates, +10% at constant rates) and Other (including the F&A Maisons: +5% at actual exchange rates, +8% at constant rates) April-June 2023 2022 % change 2023 vs 2022 m Re-presented* constant rates actual rates By region Europe 1 131 1 031 +11% +10% Asia Pacific 2 239 1 695 +40% +32% Americas 1 096 1 142 -2% -4% Japan 424 401 +14% +6% Middle East & Africa 432 385 +15% +12% By distribution channel Retail 3 618 3 051 +24% +19% Online retail 298 300 +2% -1% Wholesale and royalty income 1 406 1 303 +11% +8% By business area Jewellery Maisons 3 599 3 015 +24% +19% Specialist Watchmakers 1 061 1 002 +10% +6% Other 662 637 +6% +4% Total 5 322 4 654 +19% +14%

* Prior-year period comparatives have been re-presented as YNAP results are presented as 'discontinued operations' Review of trading in the three-month period ended 30 June 2023 versus the prior year, at constant exchange rates Any long form references to Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan within this company announcement are Hong Kong SAR, China; Macau SAR, China; and Taiwan, China respectively. At 19%, the sales growth rate in the quarter ended June 2023 was well above the 12% sales increase of the prior-year period. All channels, business areas and regions, excluding the Americas, generated higher sales compared to the prior-year period. The Group's 19% sales progression was driven by double-digit increases in almost all regions, including a 40% rebound in Asia Pacific, the strongest regional performance. Favourable prior-year period comparatives, as well as the removal of Covid-related restrictions and the reopening of borders in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR in January 2023, led to substantial sales increases ranging from double-digit growth in the mainland to triple digits in the latter two locations. Sales were solid across other Asian markets, notably in Australia and Taiwan. In Europe, sales rose by 11% on demanding comparatives (+52% in the prior-year period), sustained by resilient domestic demand and tourist spending, largely from American, Middle Eastern and, more recently, Chinese clients. Most markets, particularly France, Italy and Switzerland, generated higher sales. In the Americas, the 2% sales contraction stemmed from lower wholesale sales and retail sales broadly aligned with the prior-year period. Japan posted a 14% sales growth notwithstanding demanding comparatives against the prior-year period (+90% in the prior-year period), benefitting from strong local demand as well as increasing tourist spending, partly induced by a weak yen. Sales in the Middle East & Africa progressed by 15%, reflecting both higher domestic and tourist spending in Dubai. All channels posted sales growth, with retail recording the strongest relative channel performance. Retail sales progressed by 24%, driven by increases in all regions and double-digit increases across all business areas, led by the Specialist Watchmakers, closely followed by the Jewellery Maisons. The strongest performances were recorded in Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa regions. With the ongoing 'retailisation' of our Maisons, retail sales reached 68% of Group sales. Online retail sales were 2% higher, reflecting a varied performance among business areas with the Jewellery Maisons posting 14% growth. Direct-to-client sales continued to grow in importance and represented 74% of Group sales, up 200 basis points over a year ago. Sales in the wholesale channel rose by 11% as higher sales at our Jewellery Maisons and 'Other' business area more than offset lower wholesale sales at our Specialist Watchmakers following the strategic conversion of a number of franchise stores into directly operated stores. The Group's three Jewellery Maisons - Buccellati, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels - posted the strongest sales increase at 24%, delivering robust jewellery and watch sales. Sales progressed in all channels and regions excluding the Americas where sales were broadly flat. Sales at the Specialist Watchmakers grew by 10%, benefitting from thriving retail sales, which together with online sales contributed to close to 60% of the business area sales. Growth was achieved in most Maisons and regions with noteworthy outperformances from A. Lange & Sohne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin. The Group's Other business area, which is mostly composed of our Fashion & Accessories Maisons and includes Watchfinder & Co., generated a 6% sales increase. F&A Maisons sales grew by 8% on demanding comparatives (+26% during the prior-year period), supported by strong retail sales across all its Maisons and almost all regions, including in the Americas. Of particular note is Peter Millar's double-digit sales growth despite the relative slowdown of the US market and high comparatives. In addition, Montblanc is starting to benefit from an evolving product offering and a revival in the travel retail channel, Chloe is progressing well in its 'retailisation' while Alaia, Delvaux and dunhill also posted strong contributions. YOOX NET-A-PORTER (YNAP), now presented as 'discontinued operations', posted a 8% sales reduction (-10% at actual exchange rates) in a globally challenging environment for digital distribution pure players. The Group's net cash position at 30 June 2023 was  6.6 billion (2022:  5.4 billion), reflecting the quarter's strong sales. It excludes YNAP's net bank overdraft position of  0.5 billion since the assets and liabilities of YNAP are classified as 'Assets of disposal group held for sale' and 'Liabilities of disposal group held for sale', respectively. ESG matters Richemont delivered its first ESG Report established in accordance with GRI Standards and with 40 KPIs independently assured by PWC. Corporate calendar The annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday 6 September 2023 in Geneva. The interim results for the current financial year will be announced on Friday 10 November 2023. About Richemont At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont's ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term. Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Sohne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaia, AZ Factory, Chloe, Delvaux, dunhill, Montblanc, Peter Millar including G/FORE, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. In addition, Richemont operates NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, THE OUTNET, YOOX and the OFS division. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/ . Richemont 'A' shares are listed and traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont's primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index ('SMI') of leading stocks. The 'A' shares are also traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Richemont's secondary listing. Investor/analyst and media enquiries Sophie Cagnard, Group Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Director James Fraser, Investor Relations Executive Investor/analyst enquiries: +41 22 721 30 03; investor.relations@cfrinfo.net Media enquiries: +41 22 721 35 07; pressoffice@cfrinfo.net ; richemont@teneo.com Disclaimer The financial information contained in this announcement is unaudited. This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Richemont's forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. Our retail stores are heavily dependent on the ability and desire of consumers to travel and shop and a decline in consumer traffic could have a negative effect on our comparable store sales and/or average sales per square foot and store profitability resulting in impairment charges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Reduced travel resulting from economic conditions, retail store closure orders of civil authorities, travel restrictions, travel concerns and other circumstances, including disease epidemics and other health-related concerns, could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if such events impact our customers' desire to travel to our retail stores. International conflicts or wars, including resulting sanctions and restrictions on importation and exportation of finished products and/or raw materials, whether self-imposed or imposed by international countries, non-state entities or others, may also impact these forward-looking statements. As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Group's control. Richemont does not undertake to update, nor does it have any obligation to provide updates of, or to revise, any forward-looking statements.  Richemont 2023 Appendix 1: Foreign exchange rates Average exchange rates against the euro April-June

2023 April-June

2022 United States dollar 1.09 1.06 Japanese yen 150 138 Swiss franc 0.98 1.03 Renminbi 7.63 7.03

Actual exchange rates for the period are calculated using the average daily closing rates against the euro. In terms of sales at constant exchange rates, average exchange rates for the year ended 31 March 2023 are used to convert local currency sales into euros for all presented periods. Exchange rate translation effects are thereby eliminated from the reported sales performance.

End of Inside Information
Building on its pandemic response, eDreams ODIGEO further increases support for travellers facing ongoing airline and airport disruption in the post-pandemic era.

To meet the expectations of consumers who prioritise fast refunds, eDreams ODIGEO goes beyond industry norms by advancing refunds for customers booked on select trusted airlines, even before the carriers themselves release the funds.

Currently, the company is processing advanced refunds worth 15 million euros a year, and it intends to expand the scope of this initiative. This programme has greatly reduced the average waiting time for customers to only four days, well below the seven-day time frame that airlines should adhere to.

To further protect consumers, sales of flights with 15 airlines that have systematically failed to comply with rules regarding refunds will be discontinued.

The Company has been working closely with key bodies including the European Commission and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority calling for stronger enforcement of applicable passenger regulations and the establishment of an airline bankruptcy fund.

The measures represent eDreams ODIGEO's commitment to enhancing support of travellers' interests, notably regarding financial protection and customer service.

eDreams ODIGEO, one of the world's largest online travel companies, today revealed a comprehensive set of proactive measures implemented across the Company to protect consumers. These commitments are focused on three key areas: leveraging technology to deliver exceptional customer service, enhancing financial protection for consumers, and advocating for consumer rights with key regulatory bodies.

Advancing refunds from trusted airlines and discontinuing sales from non-compliant carriers

While major airline carriers have improved their refund timeframes and are now reimbursing travellers on time, there is still a group of carriers that do not refund in a timely manner. According to EC regulation 261/04 transferred into UK law post Brexit the obligation to refund travellers for flight cancellations rests with airlines, which are required to return customers' money within seven days. However, some airlines are taking several weeks and even months to process refund requests that the Company has placed on behalf of its customers.

As a result, eDreams ODIGEO has decided to discontinue the sale of tickets for 15 airlines that have consistently breached their refund obligations to consumers. While the Company will not disclose the brands of the concerned airlines at this time, it may revisit this decision if the carriers continue to withhold customer refunds. In the meantime, the Company continues to work on behalf of its customers to retrieve these refunds.

For a select group of ??airline partners that are showing consistent compliance with refund regulations, the eDreams ODIGEO travel brands (eDreams, Opodo, GO Voyages and Travellink) are advancing refunds to customers before the operating carrier releases the funds. This means in these cases travellers booking with eDreams ODIGEO receive their refunds significantly faster than if they would have booked elsewhere, including direct. On an annualised basis, the Company is already processing over 15 million euros in advanced refunds to customers and intends to broaden its scope in the near future. Through the provision of advanced refunds, the business has effectively reduced the average waiting period to just four days, well below the seven-day limit that airlines must adhere to. The move is testament to eDreams ODIGEO's commitment to return refunds to customers as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

These practices in support of consumers go far beyond industry norms and build on the recent initiatives launched by eDreams ODIGEO and other major European intermediaries to support consumers with refunds; most notably the commitment to transfer ticket refunds within seven days after receiving them from the airlines where airlines meet their own refund obligations. These commitments follow on from a positive and open dialogue between leading European OTAs, including eDreams ODIGEO, the European Commission and national consumer authorities (CPC network) about how to support travellers when flights are cancelled by airlines.

Advocating on behalf of travellers with regulators

eDreams ODIGEO has been advocating for stronger enforcement against airlines that do not comply with applicable passenger regulations and will continue to do so. The Company has worked closely with key bodies such as the European Commission and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority with whom it shares valuable insights on the state of refund policy adherence in the airline industry. Through collaborative efforts between eDreams ODIGEO, other industry peers and major airlines, significant strides have been made in the industry to the benefit of travellers, including the reimbursement of unused vouchers and the clearing of refund backlogs1

Also, while other participants and products in the travel industry offer some degree of protection to consumers in case of a provider's bankruptcy, customers who book standalone flights do not have the same level of protection in the event of airline insolvency. In light of this, the Company has joined forces with other industry peers to call on regulators to establish a bankruptcy fund to better safeguard customers in the event of airline insolvency2. This is just one of the many ways in which eDreams ODIGEO is advocating for stronger consumer protection measures.

Leveraging technology to drive customer service excellence

In response to the pandemic, eDreams ODIGEO undertook the biggest operational effort ever seen in the Company's 23-year history to support its customers, growing its refund operations teams by tenfold and increasing its front-line support agents by 550 additional staff members. This enabled eDreams ODIGEO to provide resolutions to over 6.4 million travellers hit by airline and airport disruptions since March 2020.

Throughout the pandemic until now, flight disruptions have continued to be a constant challenge in the industry, making it essential for travellers to receive assistance with travel rearrangements and refund requests. The Company's success in securing customer resolutions during such an unprecedented period of travel disruption was delivered by leveraging its technology capabilities. The Company introduced an industry-leading digital self-service platform that enables customers to efficiently manage their itineraries without the need for agent assistance. The significant investments in customer service technology, coupled with enhanced training for travel agents, have streamlined its customer service and enabled 24/7 booking management. As a result of these investments, the company has achieved the following milestones, which will serve as a foundation for future improvements:

Making flight disruptions hassle-free for travellers: Leveraging technology, the company has made resolving millions of airline and airport disruptions easier for consumers. Already, 91% of customers use digital channels to easily resolve disruptions, such as flight cancellations and schedule changes, eliminating the need for communication with customer service teams. The company is committed to further enhancing these digital channels to provide even better support to customers affected by disruptions.

Elevating customer service: Committed to continuous improvement, the company has achieved nearly 8 in 10 assisted support calls being answered within just 60 seconds. The company will seek to further improve this level of service availability, while also investing in qualitative improvements and additional skill development and training for agents to ensure that customers receive the highest level of support possible.

Doing the right thing with refunds: The Company's commitment to providing prompt refunds to customers is unwavering. Whenever airlines offer automatic refunds, eDreams ODIGEO strives to pass them on to travellers within hours. However, in situations where airlines do not provide fast-track refunds, the Company will work hard to retrieve the funds from the airline as quickly as possible and pass them on to its customers. The Company will continue to advocate for all airlines to re-enable the automatic refund processes that were disabled during the pandemic so that customers receive their refunds without delay. In addition, the Company will expand the scope of advanced refunds for trusted airlines beyond the current 15 million euros yearly, thereby reducing average waiting time to just 4 days. This move is a testament to the business's commitment to supporting travellers affected by airline disruptions, going above and beyond the travel agent's responsibilities.

Raising the bar for customer satisfaction: The company places a high priority on customer satisfaction and strives for excellence. 9 out of 10 customers currently report being satisfied to very satisfied with the service they have received, and the company will continue to build upon this achievement through ongoing improvements to customer service and support.

Dana Dunne, Chief Executive Officer at eDreams ODIGEO said: "Our customers have always been the driving force behind everything that we do. Today, we are proud to announce a comprehensive set of measures that will enhance our strong pandemic response to provide even higher levels of reassurance and confidence for travellers who book with us. Our goal is to make our customers feel supported and accompanied throughout their entire journey, especially at times of industry disruptions. As advocates for our customers, we recognise the crucial role that online travel agencies like eDreams ODIGEO play in representing consumers' interests before key industry stakeholders. As the world's largest flight retailer outside of China, we will continue leveraging our position to drive further significant advancements for consumers in our industry. We appreciate the continued cooperation of our airline partners and regulatory bodies in this effort and are looking forward to continuing to work closely with them for the benefit of travellers worldwide. Enhancing our customers' experience will always be our top priority."

-ENDS-

About eDreams ODIGEO

eDreams ODIGEO is the world's leading travel subscription platform and one of the largest e-commerce businesses in Europe. Under its four renowned online travel agency brands eDreams, GO Voyages, Opodo, Travellink, and the metasearch engine Liligo it serves more than 20 million customers per year across 44 markets. Listed on the Spanish Stock Market, eDreams ODIGEO works with nearly 700 airlines. The business conceptualised Prime, the first subscription product in the travel sector which has topped 4.6 million members since launching in 2017. The brand offers the best quality products in regular flights, low-cost airlines, hotels, dynamic packages, cruises, car rental and travel insurance to make travel easier, more accessible, and better value for consumers across the globe.

1 https://eutraveltech.eu/press-release-airlines-finally-commit-to-respecting-eu-consumer-rights/

2 https://eutraveltech.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Joint-letter-2022-Urgent_need_for_mandatory_insolvency_protection_scheme_in_the_airline_sector.pdf

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717696802/en/

Contacts:

Annabelle Duke

annabelle.duke@instinctif.com

02074572808
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - F3 Uranium Corp (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce scintillometer results from four holes of the ongoing 30-hole summer drill program at the JR Zone on the Patterson Lake North ("PLN") Property, including 2 high grade intercepts in mineralized intervals that are both within 11m of the Athabasca Unconformity. Drill hole PLN23-073 tested for mineralization 15 meters up-dip of the high grade intercept reported in PLN23-068 on line 060S (see NR July 4, 2023) and intersected mineralization over an 11.5m interval starting 8m below the unconformity, including 0.70m of high grade (>10,000 cps), of which 0.50m was off-scale radioactivity (>65,535 cps) between 225.00m and 225.50m. Drill hole PLN23-074 on line 075S intersected 15.0m of mineralization starting 11m below the unconformity, including 0.20m of high grade (>10,000 cps) between 228.15 and 228.35m.

Raymond Ashley, President, commented:

"We are excited that basement mineralization has been intersected even closer to the Athabasca Unconformity, now within 8m, as this reinforces the potential for an unconformity or sandstone component to the JR Zone mineralization. The discovery of mineralization at the unconformity or in the sandstone would provide a compelling new target for JR Zone expansion drilling. Tests up dip from the JR Zone mineralization are ongoing to define the best possible target at the unconformity for this drill program. The Shea Creek deposit 46km to the north of PLN and the Key Lake deposit on the east side of the basin are examples where basement hosted uranium mineralization extends through the unconformity and into the sandstone. The first step out hole on line 165S did not intersect mineralization but additional drill holes are being planned on that section to continue to expand the footprint along strike of the JR Zone basement mineralization. In addition, exploration drilling along the A1 main shear zone has commenced, and prospective targets will be tested."

Drilling Highlights:

PLN23-073 (line 060S):

11.5m mineralization from 215.5m - 232.0m, including 0.70m mineralization of >10,000 cps radioactivity between 225.00m - 225.70m including 0.50m off-scale radioactivity (> 65,535 cps) between 225.00m and 225.50m

mineralization from 215.5m - 232.0m, including

PLN23-074 (line 075S):

15.0m mineralization from 225.0m - 240.0m, including 0.20m of mineralization >10,000 cps between 228.15 and 228.35m

mineralization from 225.0m - 240.0m, including

Drilling Intercepts:

PLN23-071 (line 165S):

No mineralization >300 cps

PLN23-072 (line 690S): Exploration Hole

No mineralization >300 cps

Natural gamma radiation in the drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The Company considers greater than 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer as anomalous, >10,000 cps as high grade and greater than 65,535 cps as off-scale. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials. Samples from the drill core are split in half on site and are standardized at 0.5m lengths. One half of the split sample will be submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK. for lithogeochemical analysis using their "Uranium Package".

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined but the Company estimates true thickness of the reported intervals in this news release to be close to reported interval widths.

Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Handheld Spectrometer Results

Collar Information * Hand-held Spectrometer Results On Mineralized Drillcore (>300 cps / >0.5m minimum) Athabasca Unconformity Depth (m) Total Drillhole Depth (m) Hole ID Section Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Max CPS PLN23-071 165S 587780.0 6410597.1 545.2 53 -60 no radioactivity >300 cps 179.0 323 PLN23-072 690S 588216.9 6410265.7 530.3 54 -74 no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 257 PLN23-073 060S 587754.6 6410708.7 545.6 54 -61 215.50 216.00 0.50 320 205.5 341 221.00 221.50 0.50 490 221.50 222.00 0.50 1200 222.00 222.50 0.50 520 222.50 223.00 0.50 <300 223.00 223.50 0.50 480 223.50 224.00 0.50 330 224.00 224.50 0.50 1600 224.50 225.00 0.50 4900 225.00 225.50 0.50 65500 225.50 225.70 0.20 20800 225.70 226.00 0.30 9000 226.00 226.50 0.50 7600 226.50 227.00 0.50 590 227.00 227.50 0.50 620 227.50 228.00 0.50 860 228.00 228.50 0.50 740 228.50 229.00 0.50 1000 229.00 229.50 0.50 610 229.50 230.00 0.50 720 230.00 231.50 1.50 <300 231.50 232.00 0.50 340 PLN23-074 075S 587745.9 6410683.9 545.7 56 -60 225.00 225.50 0.50 430 209.4 314 225.50 226.00 0.50 1600 226.00 226.50 0.50 580 226.50 227.00 0.50 1900 227.00 227.50 0.50 530 227.50 228.00 0.50 4800 228.00 228.15 0.15 4100 228.15 228.35 0.20 16000 228.35 228.50 0.15 4800 228.50 229.00 0.50 1700 229.00 229.50 0.50 3700 229.50 230.00 0.50 2000 230.00 230.50 0.50 3500 230.50 231.00 0.50 910 231.00 231.50 0.50 2100 231.50 232.00 0.50 810 232.00 232.50 0.50 <300 232.50 233.00 0.50 480 233.00 233.50 0.50 3200 233.50 234.00 0.50 2400 234.00 236.00 2.00 <300 236.00 236.50 0.50 1900 236.50 237.00 0.50 3100 237.00 237.50 0.50 1100 237.50 238.00 0.50 440 238.00 238.50 0.50 960 238.50 239.00 0.50 1800 239.00 239.50 0.50 1400 239.50 240.00 0.50 770

Handheld spectrometer composite parameters:

1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5m

2: CPS Cut-Off of 300 counts per second

3: Maximum Internal Dilution of 2.0m

About Patterson Lake North:

The Company's 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discovery. F3 Uranium currently has 18 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2

Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: ir@fission3corp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

(See 2 plan maps and 4 cross sections below)

Figure 1: Patterson Lake North Summer 2023 Drill Program Update Map 1

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Figure 2: Patterson Lake North Summer 2023 Drill Program Update Map 2

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Figure 3: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 060S Looking 322

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Figure 4: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 075S Looking 322

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Figure 5: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 165S Looking 322

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Figure 6: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 690S Looking 322

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173739
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") and Gold Island Inc., a private company ("Gold Island") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a business combination agreement, July 17th, 2023, (the "Business Combination Agreement") pursuant to which Big Ridge will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gold Island (the "Transaction"). Under the Transaction, Gold Island shareholders will receive 0.8 of one Big Ridge common share for each Gold Island common share held (the "Exchange Ratio"). The Transaction will be effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

Michael Bandrowski, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Big Ridge, commented, "The acquisition will create a premier Newfoundland based gold exploration company, well positioned to continue advancing the Hope Brook Gold Project and its three new highly prospective exploration assets acquired from Gold Island, originally staked by Shawn Ryan of Ryanwood Exploration. In addition, the Transaction will add approximately CAD$4.0 million in working capital and several strategic shareholders, including Eric Sprott, The PowerOne Capital Group, Shawn Ryan, and a number of leading and highly sophisticated financial institutional shareholders, and high net worth investors."

Adrian Fleming, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Island, commented, "For some time Gold Island has been seeking a route to take the company public. Our technical team with the support of our strategic shareholders have carefully assessed numerous opportunities in Newfoundland and are pleased to join Big Ridge to create a situation where shareholders in both companies have the opportunity for substantial value enhancement. Big Ridge's Hope Brook project with significant defined gold and copper resources, as outlined in their recent Technical Report of April 6th 2023, which remains open for expansion, and is paired with prospective early-stage properties, including its existing properties and those it will acquire through its acquisition of Gold Island, constitute a robust portfolio for the commencement of an exciting 2023 exploration program."

Key Highlights

High Quality Exploration Potential - The addition of options on three high quality gold exploration assets in the Baie Verte area of Newfoundland of which two are drill-ready and offer potential for further new discoveries to be made in the near-term.

Strong Treasury - Acquires approximately CAD$4.0 million in working capital (primarily cash), fully funding a focused 2023 Hope Brook exploration program with additional details to be provided in due course.

Supportive Strategic Shareholders - Inclusion of several supportive, long-term shareholders with an aligned strategic vision with management to its shareholder base.

Enhanced Geographic Focus - The addition of Gold Island's assets and properties will provide Big Ridge with the additional capital and prospectivity for new discoveries to become the leading gold exploration company in Newfoundland.

Experienced Corporate Management - Strengthens the Company's Board of Directors and exploration teams with the proposed nomination of Paul Pint and Paul Robinson, PhD., PGeo, respectively.

Gold Island Inc. Overview

Gold Island is a private gold exploration company focused on making new discoveries in Newfoundland, Canada. The company's option agreements include three high quality projects based on geological, geochemical and structural analysis located in the Baie Verte area of Newfoundland, close to gold producers, significant projects, and historical gold showings. The company is lead by Adrian Fleming, who is credited with several major discoveries in Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Western Australia, Nunavut, and the Yukon.

Big Ridge Gold Overview

Hope Brook Gold Project, Newfoundland

The Hope Brook Gold Project is an advanced stage, high-grade gold project that produced 752,162 ounces of gold from 1987 - 1995. Initial production consisted of an open pit before moving to underground mining. Hope Brook operated using both heap leach (1987 - 1990) and conventional cyanidation milling methods (1989 - 1997) with a later inclusion of flotation concentration to recover copper (1991). Gold recoveries for full years of operation between 1988 and 1995 averaged 84%. Copper flotation during the second period of operation beginning in 1992 produced 7,000 to 10,000 tons of concentrate annually at approximately 22% Cu and 1 oz/t Au. The preceding information is obtained from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Industry, Energy and Technology via the Mineral Occurrence Database System. The Company considers this information to be historic in nature.

Hope Brook hosts an indicated gold resource totalling 16,190,000 tonnes grading 2.32 grams per tonne gold for 1.2 million ounces and inferred resources totalling 2,215,000 tonnes grading 3.25 grams per tonne gold for 231,000 ounces based on 0.4 and 2.0 gram per tonne cut-off grade for open pit and underground resources respectively using a long-term gold price of US$1,750. The deposit also hosts a total of 47 M lbs of copper mineralization in the inferred category, defined within the gold resource model. These mineral resources are detailed in the "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Hope Brook Gold Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada" dated April 6, 2023 as filed on SEDAR and the Company's webpage.

The Hope Brook gold deposit is a high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit hosted in the Proterozoic aged Whittle Hill Sandstone and is intruded by a Late Proterozoic quartz-feldspar porphyry sill-dike complex of the Roti Intrusive Suite. The deposit is located adjacent to and within an extensive advanced argillic alteration envelope which includes pyrophyllite, kaolinite, andalusite, and alunite. The principal gold mineralization occurs in a buff-colored massive, vuggy silicic alteration with an associated, less developed grey silicic alteration with pyrite, chalcopyrite and lesser bornite accessory minerals. Gold mineralization is also found with pyrite in units of advanced argillic alteration adjacent to or near silicic alteration horizons. The altered and mineralized zone is cut by mafic dykes whose contacts are often mineralized. All the altered and mineralized sequences and the intruded dykes have been folded.

Hope Brook is located 85 kilometers east of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The project has well maintained infrastructure on site, including an operational 28-person camp, an 1,100-meter airstrip, ice-free docking facility and importantly, connection to the provincial electrical power grid via an on-site substation.

Significant exploration potential remains on the 24,000-hectare concession providing a great opportunity to expand the mine area as well as surface showings throughout the concessions.

Destiny Gold Project, Quebec

The 100% owned Destiny Project is located in Despinassy Township, Quebec in Abitibi greenstone belt in Quebec. The Destiny project hosts the DAC and Darla Zones where drilling has intersected gold mineralization. At the DAC Zone a Mineral Resource Estimate has reported 10.8 million tonnes of mineralization with average grade of 1.05 g/t Au the indicated category calculated at the 0.5 g/t gold cut-off grade. The mineral resource was prepared for Alto Ventures (now Big Ridge) and reported in the Technical Report and Resource Estimate of the DAC Deposit, Destiny Property, Quebec (Effective Date: March 1, 2011), available on the Company's SEDAR profile.

Drilling by Big Ridge after completion of the Resource Estimate in the in the 1 km long Gap Zone between the Darla and the DAC zones in 2012 confirmed the presence of gold within wide envelopes of anomalous mineralization. Drilling in 2021 provided additional positive gold results; Drill hole DES-21-173 (8.90 g/t Au over 0.4 m), DES-21-177 (5.17 g/t Au over 5.8 m including 43.1 g/t Au over 0.6 m), Drill hole DES-21-179 (3.78 g/t Au over 16.3 m including 8.85 g/t Au over 6.7 m and 42.6 g/t Au over 1.0 m).

Oxford Gold Project, Manitoba

The 100% owned Oxford Lake Property is located in central Manitoba, approximately 150 km southeast of the city of Thompson in the Oxford-Knee Lake greenstone belt. In October 13, 2020, Big Ridge and the Bunibonibee Cree Nation signed a Long-Term Exploration Agreement related to future exploration in the First Nation's traditional lands at Oxford Lake.

The Oxford Lake property hosts the Rusty Gold Deposit, with Historical Resource of 800,000 tonnes averaging 6 g/t gold and containing approximately 154,000 ounces of gold hosted in banded iron formation ("BIF"). A Qualified Person (QP), as defined by NI43-101, has not done sufficient work to classify this historical estimate as current mineral resources. as well as several other gold occurrences.

BIF deposits such as the Musselwhite Mine in Ontario have the potential to host significant gold resources. The Rusty Gold Deposit and other potential BIF and orogenic type gold targets including the Blue Jay Zone lie along the Carrot River-Rusty-Blue Jay Trend, that was traced for 30 km by Big Ridge's 2011 VTEM and aeromagnetic surveys.

About the Transaction

The consummation of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions customary to transactions of this nature, including, among others, the approval of 66.67% of votes cast by Gold Island's shareholders at a special meeting of Gold Island shareholders. Gold Island expects to hold the special meeting of shareholders to consider and to vote on the Transaction as soon as possible. If approved at the meeting, the Transaction is expected to close shortly thereafter, subject to the receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction are set out in the Business Combination Agreement, dated July 17th, 2023, which will be publicly filed by the Company under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Significant Gold Island shareholders holding approximately 35% of the Gold Island shares have entered into voting and support agreements to vote their shares in favour of the Transaction, subject to certain customary exceptions.

There are 64,303,115 Gold Island common shares currently issued and outstanding, in exchange for which 51,442,492 Big Ridge common shares shall be issued to Gold Island shareholders under the Business Combination Agreement. Immediately following the completion of the Transaction, the former Gold Island shareholders shall own common shares of the Company representing approximately 27% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on an undiluted basis.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by William McGuinty, P.Geo., the Company's Vice President Exploration and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns a 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. Big Ridge is the operator of the Hope Brook Gold Project located in Newfoundland and Labrador. The company currently owns 51% of the Hope Brook Gold Project and has an option to earn up to 80% by June 2026.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit Big Ridge's website at www.bigridgegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

For Further Information Contact:

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP.

1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801

Toronto, ON, M5E 1W7

Tel: 416-540-5480

Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, including the expected timing of closing of the Transaction. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173732
Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen.

COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's producer prices declined for the second straight month in June, figures from Statistics Denmark showed on Monday. The producer price index fell 2.3 percent year-over-year in June, much faster than the 0.4 percent drop in May. The price index for energy supply slumped 41.4 percent annually in June, and those for raw material extraction and industry together decreased 8.7 percent. Domestic market prices were 1.4 percent lower compared to last year and foreign market prices registered a fall of 3.7 percent. On a monthly basis, overall producer prices edged up 0.1 percent in June, reversing a 0.4 percent fall in the prior month. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of geological mapping, soil geochemical sampling and saw-cut rock-chip channel sampling from its Santo Domingo porphyry copper and gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

The Santo Domingo district is located 120 km east of San Juan City at an average altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level. The district comprises three, as-yet undrilled, porphyry copper-gold occurrences (El Arriero, Divisoria and Alunita) and several vein-hosted gold and silver mineralized systems located within a mineral rights package covering a total area of approximately 185 square kilometers. Royal Road has entered into an option agreement with an individual titleholder to acquire 100% of the mineral rights package (see Press Release, February 15, 2023).

The porphyry occurrences at Santo Domingo are shallowly eroded and partly-exposed, but broadly reflect characteristic zoned porphyry alteration patterns from stockwork veining and copper- mineralized potassic altered cores, to haloes of phyllic and propylitic alteration which are overprinted by later gold and polymetallic vein systems (see Figure 1). Initial scout diamond drilling is scheduled to commence at El Arriero in early August of this year.





Figure 1. Porphyry and vein-style mineralized occurrences and copper-gold rock-chip geochemistry of the Santo Domingo District. Title areas in yellow, all indicated title areas fall within the mineral rights package.



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The company has completed geological mapping, grid-based soil geochemical sampling and saw-cut rock-chip channel sampling at El Arriero. Geological mapping has revealed a cluster of variably altered, porphyritic intrusions and coeval sub-volcanic bodies that have been emplaced within earlier ring-fracture controlled magmatic breccia bodies. The shallow dipping contact between mineralized intrusive and breccia bodies with crystalline metamorphic host rocks is clearly exposed in surrounding hill sides indicating that present day exposure at El Arriero represents an eroded window into the very top of the porphyry mineralizing system (see Figure 2). Hydrothermal alteration at El Arriero is cyclical and complexly overprinting, but broadly characterized by domains of chlorite-epidote and pyrite alteration overprinting earlier potassic zones represented by potassium feldspar, biotite after hornblende and associated vein stockworks of quartz chalcopyrite and bornite.





Figure 2. Geology, rock-chip and soil geochemistry of the El Arriero porphyry.



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Sampling and analysis of immature, mostly colluvial soils has revealed a coherent 1000 by 600-meter copper, molybdenum and selenium anomaly which covers the ring-fracture controlled intrusive and breccia system at El Arriero and remains open towards the northeast (see Figure 2). Saw-cut channel samples collected mostly from basement rocks hosting sheeted vein systems located peripheral to the porphyry center have returned best results of 20.0 meters at 1.2 g/t gold.

Mapping and further reconnaissance rock-chip sampling is currently underway at the neighboring Divisoria and Alunita porphyry systems and at the Yvette gold-rich polymetallic vein system in the very east of the Santo Domingo district (see Figure 1).

The Company has completed a preliminary socio-demographic baseline and community perception study, water and air monitoring, flora and fauna baseline studies and has commenced an archaeological study of the Santo Domingo district.

"It is testament to the quality and commitment of our team, of our community support and the exemplary rigor and assistance of relevant regulatory bodies in San Juan that we have managed to take this project from initial acquisition in late November last year to drill-ready as of now," said Tim Coughlin, Royal Road's President and CEO. "In terms of commencing the very first scout-drilling program at Santo Domingo, we are ready and we expect the rig to be turning by the first week of August."

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Rock-chip channel samples are collected continuously over one-meter horizontal intervals from 15cm wide channels which are cut using a rock-saw. Samples are prepared and assayed by independent and ISO accredited laboratories of Alex Stewart International Argentina. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 0.01 to 100 ppm. Multielement concentrations are analyzed as a 39 element suite by Aqua Regia and ICP-OES. Soil samples were collected from immature and often colluvial soil accumulations by pick and shovel at 50m intervals along north-south lines separated by 100m. Samples were sieved in the field to -2mm and then dry sieved in the laboratory to -80 mesh. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 2 to 20,000 ppb. Multielement concentrations are analyzed as a 48-element suite by Aqua Regia and ICP-MS. Commercially prepared standards (gold-copper pulps), blanks (pulps and coarse chips) and field duplicates are inserted into the sample stream by Royal Road Minerals for a total of 15% QA/QC to ensure sample precision. In the case of duplicate analyses of a sample, the average of both analyses is used as the final reported value. Unless otherwise stated, gold grades are not capped. For historic samples, the following information was derived from public announcements by the previous operator at Santo Domingo. Rock-chip samples were prepared at the Acme Analytical Laboratories ("AcmeLabs") preparation facility in Mendoza, Argentina and assayed by fire assay at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Chile and for ICP-MS 32 elements at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Vancouver, all ISO-9001:2000 certified laboratories. Samples returning greater than 10 g/t gold and/or greater than 100 g/t silver are assayed using gravimetric analyses. Samples returning greater than 1% Pb and / or greater than 1% Zn are assayed using aqua regia digestion ore grade / AAS.

Cautionary statement:

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the Company's exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information please contact:

Tim Coughlin

Phone: +44 (0)1534 887166

tim.coughlin@royalroadminerals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173691
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Whole Foods Market Foundations



So Delicious Dairy Free, a Danone America brand, is a B Corporation company that strives to do more than the minimum. Through their program the Good People Loop they work to empower coconut farmer partners in the Philippines to adopt more sustainable farming practices like intercropping, composting, and mulching organic matter. These practices improve their crop yields which combined with profits generated from intercrops and better linkage to markets lead to higher income for farmers.

Since 2015, So Delicious Dairy Free has been committed to funding opportunity through Whole Planet Foundation. As a repeat 2023 donor, their $50,000 commitment this year will help fund an additional 270 microloans for entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers living in poverty. With a small microloan, low-income entrepreneurs can start or develop a business, often home-based, to support themselves and their families. Smallholder farmers can gain access to inputs like seed and fertilizer on credit.

"So Delicious Dairy Free is on a mission to show what's possible when everyone has an equal seat at the table. This means advocating for a more inclusive economy and creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities. We are proud to support Whole Planet Foundation and their mission to alleviate global poverty through microfinance", says Virginia Kelly, VP of Marketing for So Delicious Dairy Free.



Learn how you can help support our mission at wholeplanetfoundation.org

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whole Foods Market Foundations on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Whole Foods Market Foundations

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whole-foods-market-foundations

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Whole Foods Market Foundations

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/768309/So-Delicious-Dairy-Free-Commits-Another-25000-This-Year-To-Empower-Microentrepreneurs
BOSTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapphiros, a platform dedicated to building the next generation of consumer diagnostics, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Garfield as its new Vice President of Operations.

Mr. Garfield will be responsible for transfer to manufacture, manufacturing operations and ensuring end-to-end supply chain resilience and continuity.

Mark Gladwell, CEO of Sapphiros, commented, "We are excited for Andrew to join our team at Sapphiros. Andrew brings a wealth of experience in high volume, high-complexity manufacturing, leading and scaling multiple operations across Europe and the US. His technical capabilities combined with his process expertise will accelerate the transfer of our product portfolio, including Satio draw and detect technologies, Lateral Flow, Digital Lateral Flow, Molecular and Graphene Biosensor technologies to our installed extreme volume manufacturing line, with its 5 billion unit annual capacity."

Prior to joining Sapphiros, Mr. Garfield was SVP, Global Operations at Smith and Nephew PLC, leading operations across several continents and transforming manufacturing sites into world-class manufacturing centers of excellence. Previously, Mr. Garfield held senior operations leadership roles within Abbott, Alere and Johnson & Johnson.

Mr. Garfield holds a master's degree in engineering and is a qualified Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

"I am excited to join Sapphiros at this time to lead the company's operational activities as it prepares to commercialize its transformational portfolio of products," said Mr. Garfield. "By leveraging the existing manufacturing infrastructure, we have the potential to deliver fast, accurate, and affordable diagnostics that will have a transformative impact on global health."

About Sapphiros:

Sapphiros, backed by Neoenta and KKR, is a privately held consumer diagnostics platform company. The Sapphiros portfolio includes novel sample collection, next-generation diagnostics, computational biology, and printed electronics to help consumers access important diagnostic results globally. Knowing Now Moves Us

For further information: Sapphiros, press@sapphiros.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sapphiros-appoints-industry-veteran-andrew-garfield-to-lead-technology-transfer-to-manufacturing-301878393.html
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement of Update on Payment of Final Dividend



17.07.2023 / 16:45 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG



Announcement of Update on Payment of Final Dividend

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 17 July 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in relation to the Update on Payment of Final Dividend.



The announcement is fully available at:

https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2023/0717/2023071700427.pdf



IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35



About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

17.07.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


The "Europe Natural Cosmetics Market Outlook, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Europe Natural Cosmetic Market is anticipated to add USD 6.04 billion in size from 2023 to 2028

There is a growing awareness among European consumers about the potential health risks associated with synthetic ingredients commonly found in conventional cosmetics.

Europe is one of the largest markets for natural cosmetics globally. The market has experienced robust growth in recent years, fueled by growing consumer awareness about the potential health and environmental impacts of synthetic ingredients. The demand for natural cosmetics continues to rise, with consumers seeking products that align with their values of health and sustainability.

Europe has stringent regulations and standards for cosmetic products, including natural cosmetics. The European Union's Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 sets strict guidelines for cosmetic safety, labelling, and ingredients. This regulatory framework ensures that natural cosmetics meet specific criteria and adhere to high-quality standards, providing consumers with confidence in the products they purchase. European consumers have a strong preference for organic and natural ingredients in their beauty products.

They actively seek out brands that use sustainably sourced botanical extracts, plant-based actives, and natural oils. This has led to the growth of organic certifications such as COSMOS and Natrue, which assure consumers that products meet strict organic and natural ingredient requirements. European consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients used in their beauty products.

They seek clean and transparent beauty options, free from potentially harmful chemicals. There is a growing demand for natural cosmetics that clearly communicate their ingredient lists, highlighting natural and organic ingredients. European consumers value personalised beauty experiences. Brands are offering customization options, allowing consumers to tailor products to their specific skin concerns or preferences. Customizable skincare routines, foundation shades, and personalised fragrance blends are examples of this trend.

Consumers are becoming more conscious of the products they use and are actively seeking natural and organic alternatives that are perceived as safer and healthier for their skin. European consumers are increasingly embracing a holistic approach to beauty and wellness. They are looking for beauty products that align with their values of sustainability, transparency, and overall well-being. Natural cosmetics, with their focus on organic and natural ingredients, cruelty-free practises, and eco-friendly packaging, appeal to these values.

There is a significant demand for sustainable and ethical beauty products in Europe. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchasing choices. Natural cosmetics often emphasise sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly manufacturing processes, and recyclable or biodegradable packaging, making them attractive options for environmentally conscious consumers.

Considered in this report

Geography: Europe

Historic year: 2017

Base year: 2022

Estimated year: 2023

Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

Europe Natural Cosmetic market with its value and forecast along with its segments

Country-wise Natural cosmetic market analysis

Various drivers and challenges

On-going trends and developments

Top profiled companies

Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report:

Germany

France

UK

Italy

Spain

Russia

By Product Type

Skin Care

Hair Care

Color Cosmetic

Other (Fragrances)

By Pricing Range

Mass

Premium

By End User

Men

Women

Children

By Distribution channel

Specialist Stores

Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

Convenience Stores

Online

Other Distribution Channel

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tsxf22

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Independence Gold Corp. (TSXV: IGO) (OTCQB: IEGCF) (the "Company") wishes to announce that it has increased the size of its previously announced private placement equity financing (the "Financing"), (see news releases dated June 17, 2023) to a maximum of $1.8 million dollars, due to investor demand.

Under the increased Financing terms, the Company is proposing to issue up to a maximum of 15,000,000 shares (on an undiluted basis, excluding any shares issuable on the exercise of warrants forming part of the Units) comprised of a combination of flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") and units (each a "Unit"). Both the FT Shares and the Units will be offered at a price of $0.12 for a maximum aggregate proceeds of $1,800,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one- half of one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant (a "Warrant") will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.18 per common share for a period of 24 months. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, finders' fees may be payable to eligible arm's length persons with respect to certain subscriptions accepted by the Company.

The proceeds from the sale of the offering will be used by the Company to fund further exploration programs, including drilling, at the Company's 3Ts Property located in central British Columbia, as well as a portion of the proceeds from the Units is also intended to be used for general and administrative purposes.

Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued will be subject to a four month hold period.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP.

"Randy Turner"

Randy Turner, President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Suite 580 - 625 Howe, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2T6

Telephone: 604-687-3959

Facsimile: 604-687-1448

E-Mail: info@ingold.ca

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence's public filings under Independence Gold Corp.'s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Independence has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

UNITED STATES ADVISORY. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), have been offered and sold outside the United States to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Hedging transactions involving the securities must not be conducted unless in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in the state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE USA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173773
Regulatory News:

Sopra Steria (Paris:SOP):

This is a joint press release by Ordina N.V. ("Ordina" or the "Company") and Sopra Steria Group SA ("Sopra Steria" or the "Offeror") pursuant to the provisions of Article 4, paragraphs 1 and 3, Article 10, paragraphs 1 and 3 and Article 18, paragraph 3 of the Dutch Decree on public takeover bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft, the "Decree") in connection with the recommended public offer by the Offeror for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Ordina (the "Offer"). The information in this announcement is not intended to be complete. This announcement does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in Ordina. Any offer will be made only by means of an offer memorandum (the "Offer Memorandum") approved by the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten, the "AFM"), which is available as of today, and subject to the restrictions set forth therein. This press release is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, any jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Publication of the Offer Memorandum Offer to be discussed at the EGM on 6 September 2023 Offer Period ends at 17:40 hours CET on 26 September 2023, unless extended.

With reference to the publication of the Offer Memorandum today, Sopra Steria and Ordina are pleased to jointly announce they have obtained AFM approval for the Offer Memorandum. With that, the Offeror is now officially launching the recommended public offer to all holders of Ordina's issued and outstanding Shares at an offer price of EUR 5.75 (five euros and seventy-five eurocents) in cash per Share cum dividend1 (without interest and less mandatory withholding tax payable under applicable law (if any)) (the "Offer Price"), on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions as set forth in the Offer Memorandum (the "Offer"). Shareholders of Ordina can tender their Shares under the Offer during the Offer Period, which runs from 19 July 2023 to 26 September 2023. Completion of the Offer is expected in the second half of 2023.

The combination creates a partner of choice in the BeNeLux IT consulting industry, accelerating the transformation towards a digital business partner. The Offeror will support the continued growth of the combination in the BeNeLux, while the acquisition would contribute to Sopra Steria's balanced European expansion by developing its presence in geographical areas considered as strategic for Sopra Steria.

Transaction highlights

Recommended all-cash public offer by the Offeror for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Ordina (each, a " Share ") at an Offer Price of EUR 5.75 per Share cum dividend

") at an Offer Price of EUR 5.75 per Share cum dividend Offer period runs from 19 July 2023 to 26 September 2023 (the " Offer Period "); completion of the Offer is expected in the second half of 2023

"); completion of the Offer is expected in the second half of 2023 The Offer Price represents a premium of approx. 36% to the closing price per Share on 14 March 2023 and a premium of approx. 43% to the volume-weighted average closing price per Share for the three-month period prior to 14 March 2023

The management board and supervisory board of Ordina unanimously support the Offer and the transactions contemplated in connection therewith, including the Post-Closing Restructuring Measure (together with the Offer, the " Transaction ") and recommend the holders of Shares (the " Shareholders ") to accept the Offer, to tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer and to vote in favour of the Offer resolutions to be proposed at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Ordina, to be held during the Offer Period (the " EGM

") and recommend the holders of Shares (the " ") to accept the Offer, to tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer and to vote in favour of the Offer resolutions to be proposed at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Ordina, to be held during the Offer Period (the " Ordina will hold the EGM at 14:30 hours CET on 6 September 2023 and will include the resolutions related to the Transaction on the agenda

Ordina's Dutch Works Council has rendered a positive advice on the decision of Ordina's management board to support the Transaction and recommend the Offer

Priority Share to be repurchased and cancelled subject to Settlement

Ordina's two largest shareholders, Teslin Participaties Cooperatief U.A. and Mont Cervin S.a r.l., together holding approx. 26.2% of the Shares, have irrevocably agreed to tender their Shares; in addition, the Company's CEO and CFO have also irrevocably agreed to tender their Shares

Competition Clearance has been obtained and the Transaction is not subject to any Regulatory Clearance

The Offer is subject to certain other conditions, including a minimum acceptance level of 95% of the Shares, to be lowered to 80% if the general meeting of the Company adopts the resolutions in connection with the Post-Closing Restructuring Measure (including approval of the Asset Sale, followed by either (i) the Liquidation or (ii) the Issuance and Repurchase and the Note Distribution) at the EGM

If the Offeror obtains 95% or more of the Shares, it prefers to implement the Pre-Squeeze-Out Asset Sale and will initiate the Squeeze-Out Proceedings and, if it obtains between 80% and 95%, it prefers to implement the Asset Sale and Liquidation, if approved by the Shareholders

The Offer

The Offer is made on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in the Offer Memorandum. Shareholders who have validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect has been waived by the Offeror) and have not validly withdrawn their Shares and have transferred (geleverd) their Shares to the Offeror prior to or on the Closing Date (each of these Shares, a "Tendered Share") will receive the Offer Price in respect of each Tendered Share.

In the event of any cash or share dividend or other distribution on the Shares (the "Distributions") by Ordina prior to settlement of the Offer, whereby the record date is decisive for entitlement to such Distribution, the Offer Price will be decreased by the full amount of any such Distribution made by Ordina in respect of each Share (before any applicable withholding tax).

The Offer values Ordina at approximately EUR 518 million. The Offeror has funds readily available to finance the Offer through available cash resources and existing credit lines and will comply with all its financial obligations (subject to customary conditions). The credit lines include a EUR 1.1 billion Revolving Credit Facility which is undrawn as of the date of the Offer Memorandum and subject to customary conditions. The Offeror shall, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Protocol, pay or refinance all the Ordina Group's indebtedness that is required to be repaid or refinanced upon settlement pursuant to the Ordina Group's debt financing commitments including refinancing. Further details can be found in section 6.5 (Financing of the Offer) of the Offer Memorandum.

Extraordinary General Meeting of Ordina

In accordance with Article 18, paragraph 1 of the Decree, Ordina will hold the EGM on 6 September 2023 at 14:30 hours CET. At the EGM, the Offer will be discussed and recommended to the Shareholders for acceptance and the Shareholders will be requested to vote in favour of the Offer Resolutions. The manner in which the EGM will be held is provided for in the convocation of the EGM. The EGM convocation materials are available on Ordina's website (www.ordina.com).

The information for Shareholders as required pursuant to Article 18, paragraph 2 of the Decree, is included in the Position Statement, which also includes the convocation notice and agenda for the EGM, which has been made available as of today at Ordina's website (www.ordina.com).

Rationale for the Transaction

The combined operations, comprising Sopra Steria's existing business in the BeNeLux, its recent acquisition Tobania (finalised in March 2023), and Ordina will create a partner of choice in digital services in the region with a pro forma revenue of EUR 700 million and more than 4,000 employees spread almost equally between the Netherlands and Belgium. In Luxembourg, the combination would reach a strategic size of 300 employees.

Sopra Steria and Ordina believe that combining the BeNeLux businesses is highly attractive and will accelerate their strategies. Both parties believe that the combination will have an overall reinforced position in the BeNeLux and will provide significant strategic benefits, including:

Strong strategic fit benefitting the combination in becoming the digital business partner for their clients;

Excellent cultural alignment through shared focus on local proximity and entrepreneurship;

Highly complementary geographical footprint and positioning across sectors, with opportunities to mutually expand the combination's joint business;

Improved positioning to capture the significant growth opportunities in the market, among other things, through scale advantages;

Increased possibilities for knowledge sharing, strengthening capabilities and talent development; and

Enhanced career opportunities for employees, as they will be part of a larger company.

The combination will be focused on capturing the significant growth potential in the BeNeLux digital services market estimated at approx. EUR 31 billion in 2022 for 28 million inhabitants, with approx. 8% growth per year for the next 3 years. By way of comparison, the French market stands at EUR 44 billion per year for 68 million inhabitants.

The size of the market, the weight of public sector and financial services clients and the presence of European institutions make this geographical region a strategic development area for Sopra Steria. In particular, the acquisition of Ordina would significantly strengthen the public sector and financial services segments, where Ordina generates 42% and 26% of its revenues respectively.

Sopra Steria has an objective to expand its activities in Europe to develop its market share in geographical areas where there is significant growth potential. Strategic size in certain countries will help to strengthen the strategic nature of the relationship with targeted clients and the ability to recruit the required talents by building a strong employer brand. Strengthening Sopra Steria's presence in the BeNeLux would meet this dual objective. It would also support Sopra Steria's European ambition with a credible positioning in the field of digital sovereignty and trust.

The proposed acquisition would also contribute to balancing Sopra Steria's geographical portfolio. On a pro forma basis, Sopra Steria's revenue including Ordina would be distributed as follows: 39% in France, 15% in the United Kingdom, 11% in BeNeLux, 8% in Scandinavia, 7% in Germany, 8% in the rest of Europe and 12% in software.

A value-creating and immediately accretive transaction

The combination of the two entities will drive significant complementarities from both a commercial and operational perspective.

In the strategic public, defence security, financial services and transportation sectors, the combination will provide access to a larger and more significant business potential. Ordina's client base could also benefit from Sopra Steria's end-to-end capabilities, in particular its hybrid cloud technology services, cybersecurity and Sopra Banking Software solutions. Clients will also have access to Sopra Steria's delivery facilities and its nearshore and offshore capabilities. The combination of the two organisations is also expected to strengthen hiring capability and operational efficiency.

Operational complementarities are estimated at EUR 10 million on an annual basis (run-rate after 2 years).

Sopra Steria expects an accretive impact on earnings per share from the first year (+1.2% in 2024). In 2025, Sopra Steria expects an accretive impact of +3.7% on earnings per share. Following completion of the Transaction, pro forma leverage of the Offeror Group would be approximately 1.5x EBITDA by the end of 2023.

Unanimous support and recommendation by the Ordina Boards

In line with their fiduciary responsibilities, after having received legal and financial advice and having given due and careful consideration to all circumstances and all aspects of the Transaction, including (i) strategic options, (ii) financial terms, (iii) non-financial terms, (iv) deal certainty (i.e. the arrangements impacting the likelihood that the Transaction will take place, such as the ability to finance the Transaction and obtain clearance with the relevant antitrust and regulatory authorities), and (v) deal protection, including the 'fiduciary out' (i.e. the arrangements determining under which circumstances the Ordina Boards remain committed to the Offer, and under which circumstances they are able to explore, and eventually recommend, a Competing Offer), the Ordina Boards unanimously resolved on 20 March 2023, that the Transaction is in the best interest of Ordina and its business, taking into account the interests of all its stakeholders, and approved entering into the Merger Protocol, subject to the terms and conditions set out therein.

Subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Offer, the Ordina Boards unanimously (i) support the Transaction, (ii) recommend to the Shareholders to accept the Offer and to tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer and (iii) recommend to the Shareholders to vote in favour of the Offer Resolutions. More information regarding the decision-making process of the Ordina Boards is included in the Position Statement, which was published by Ordina today.

Fairness Opinions

On 20 March 2023, AXECO Corporate Finance B.V. ("AXECO") issued its Fairness Opinion to the Ordina Boards and ABN AMRO Bank N.V. ("ABN AMRO") issued its Fairness Opinion to the Supervisory Board, in each case that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to the factors, assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, (i) the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to such shareholders and (ii) if applicable, the consideration to be paid to Ordina under the Post-Closing Restructuring Measure is fair, from a financial point of view, to Ordina. The full text of the Fairness Opinions, each of which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with such Fairness Opinion, are included in the Position Statement.

Irrevocable undertakings

The Offer is supported by Ordina's two largest shareholders, as well as the individual members of each of the Ordina Boards, together representing approximately 27% of the Shares. Each has irrevocably committed to Sopra Steria to support the Offer, vote in favour of the Offer Resolutions and tender its shareholding in the Offer. In accordance with the applicable public offer rules, these Shareholders have not received any information in connection with the Offer that is not included in the Offer Memorandum and they will tender their Shares on the same terms and conditions as the other Shareholders.

Non-Financial Covenants

The Offeror and the Company have agreed to certain non-financial covenants in respect of, among other matters, strategy, structure and governance, financing, employees and minority shareholders for a duration of 30 months after settlement of the Offer (the "Non-Financial Covenants"), including the covenants summarised below.

Strategy

The Offeror fully subscribes to the business strategy of the Company's group. The Offeror intends to align the activities of the Belgian and Luxembourg parts of the Offeror and the Belgian and Luxembourg parts of the Company's group, to fully benefit from the reach, scale and resources of their combined businesses (the "BeLux Group" and together with the other parts of the Company's group, the "BeNeLux Group"). The Offeror will support, including from a financial perspective, the BeNeLux Group to realise and execute the business strategy of the Company's group and will work with the Company to grow the BeNeLux Group organically and through mergers and acquisitions. The core business of the Company's group shall remain intact. The Offeror has no intention to break up the BeNeLux Group or to divest a part of the BeNeLux Group. The BeNeLux Group will be rebranded (including the name of the Company).

The Offeror will support the Company in furthering its current sustainability, ESG and corporate social responsibility strategy and goals, with a view to maintain the "best of both worlds" of the existing ESG standards of the Company's group and the Offeror's group.

Structure and governance

Following the settlement of the Offer, the Company will have a one-tier board (the "One-Tier Board"), comprising three executive directors (the "Executive Directors"), being Jo Maes (as the CEO of the Company's group), Joyce van Donk-van Wijnen and Michel Lorgere, and five non-executive directors (the "Non-Executive Directors"), being (i) Dennis de Breij and Bjorn van Reet who are current members of the Supervisory Board and who are considered independent from the Offeror (the "Independent Non-Executive Directors") and (ii) Pierre Pasquier, Kathleen Clark and Yvane Bernard-Hulin, to be designated by the Offeror, who are non-independent from the Offeror (the "Designated Non-Executive Directors"). The two Independent Non-Executive Directors will especially monitor compliance with the Non-Financial Covenants. Any deviations from the Non-Financial Covenants require the prior written approval of the One-Tier Board, including a vote in favour of such approval by the Independent Non-Executive Directors.

The Executive Directors remain responsible for managing the BeNeLux Group. Any persons to be appointed within the BeNeLux Group that report directly to the executive board, shall be appointed by the Executive Directors, following the approval of the One-Tier Board.

The Company's group will maintain a substantial presence in the Netherlands and the BeNeLux headquarters will remain in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. The Company will remain a separate legal entity and the main holding company of the current and future subsidiaries and operations of the Company's group. The Company will continue under the mitigated structure regime (gemitigeerde structuurregime

Employees

The existing rights and benefits of the employees of the combined group will be respected, as well as the current employee consultation structure of the Company's group in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The Offeror will also respect the existing pension rights of the current and former employees of the combined group.

To the extent that any positions within the Company's group and the Offeror's group overlap following settlement of the Offer, such positions will be filled based on fair allocation principles, such as "best person for the job". The Offeror is committed to provide the employees of the combined group with appropriate career opportunities and training.

Works Council of Ordina

Ordina's Dutch Works Council rendered a positive advice on 26 May 2023 on (i) the decision of the Management Board to support the Transaction and to recommend the Offer, and (ii) related actions as contemplated in connection with the Transaction.

Competition Clearances

As the turnovers of the Offeror and Ordina met the relevant notification thresholds under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, the Offeror notified the Transaction to the European Commission on 12 June 2023. With reference to the joint press release by Sopra Steria and Ordina of 5 July 2023, the European Commission rendered Competition Clearance on 4 July 2023 and publicly announced its decision on 5 July 2023.

Regulatory Clearances

As per the joint press release issued by Sopra Steria and Ordina on 25 May 2023, Sopra Steria and Ordina announced that they have determined on the basis of the currently available information and Ordina's current activities that the Offer and the Transaction do not fall within the scope of the relevant foreign direct investment legislation, including any such legislation that is currently expected to enter into force in the course of 2023. Accordingly, Sopra Steria and Ordina shall not prepare and file with the regulatory authorities any notification in connection with the contemplated Transaction and the Offer shall not be subject to any Regulatory Clearance condition.

The Foundation and the Priority Share

Stichting Prioriteit Ordina Group (the "Foundation") is the bearer of the only issued and outstanding priority share in the capital of Ordina (the "Priority Share") and, in that capacity, has the right to nominate all Supervisory Board members for appointment by Ordina's general meeting and approve all proposed amendments to the Articles of Association. The Foundation has entered into an agreement with Ordina pursuant to which the Foundation is obliged (subject to Settlement) to, and has resolved in accordance with that agreement to, (a) approve the amendment of the Articles of Association as set out in section 6.17 (Amendments to the Articles of Association) of the Offer Memorandum, (b) approve to dissolve Ordina subject to execution of the Asset Sale Agreement, (c) transfer the Priority Share to Ordina for no consideration on the Settlement Date, and (d) approve the cancellation of the Priority Share. Ordina shall not amend or terminate the agreement with the Foundation, or waive any of its rights thereunder, and shall enforce its rights under such agreement to the fullest extent possible.

Indicative timetable

Expected date and time Event 09:00 hours CET, 19 July 2023 Commencement of the Offer Period 14:30 hours CET, 6 September 2023 EGM, at which meeting, among other matters, the Offer will be discussed, and the Offer Resolutions will be voted on 17:40 hours CET, 26 September 2023 Closing Date and Closing Time: deadline for Shareholders to tender their Shares, unless the Offer Period is extended in accordance with Article 15 of the Decree No later than three (3) Business Days after the Closing Date Unconditional Date: the date on which the Offeror will publicly announce whether the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand is gedaan) in accordance with Article 16 of the Decree No later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the Unconditional Date Settlement Date: the date on which, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, the Offeror will pay the Offer Price for each Tendered Share No later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the Unconditional Date Post-Acceptance Period: if the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand is gedaan), the Offeror may, at its discretion, announce a Post-Acceptance Period for a period of two (2) weeks in accordance with Article 17 of the Decree No later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the expiration of the Post-Acceptance Period (if elected by the Offeror) The Offeror will publicly announce the results of the Post-Acceptance Period No later than the fifth (5th) Business Day after the expiration of the Post-Acceptance Period (if elected by the Offeror) Settlement of the Tendered Shares during the Post-Acceptance Period: in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, the Offeror will pay the Offer Price for each Tendered Share

Offer Period

The Offer Period will commence at 09:00 hours CET on 19 July 2023 and will expire on 26 September 2023 at 17:40 hours CET on the Closing Date, unless the Offer Period is extended in accordance with section 5.5 (Extension) of the Offer Memorandum (see Extension of the Offer Period below).

Shares tendered on or prior to the Closing Date may not be withdrawn, subject to the right of withdrawal of any tender of Shares pursuant to the provisions of Article 5b, paragraph 5 and Article 15, paragraphs 3 and 8 and Article 15a, paragraph 3 of the Decree and in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 5.3 (Acceptance by Shareholders) of the Offer Memorandum.

Acceptance by the Shareholders

Shareholders who hold their Shares through an Admitted Institution are requested to make their acceptance known through their bank or stockbroker no later than the Closing Time, being 17:40 hours CET on the initial Closing Date, unless the Offer Period is extended in accordance with section 5.5 (Extension) of the Offer Memorandum. The custodian, bank or stockbroker may set an earlier deadline for communication by Shareholders in order to permit the custodian, bank or stockbroker to communicate its acceptances to ING Bank N.V. (the "Settlement Agent") in a timely manner. Accordingly, Shareholders holding Shares through a financial intermediary should comply with the dates communicated by such financial intermediary, as such dates may differ from the dates and times noted in the Offer Memorandum.

Admitted Institutions may tender Shares for acceptance only to the Settlement Agent and only in writing. The Admitted Institutions are requested to tender the Shares via Euroclear Nederland (Swift message MT565). In submitting the acceptance, Admitted Institutions are required to declare that (i) they have the Tendered Shares in their administration, (ii) each Shareholder who accepts the Offer irrevocably represents and warrants that (a) the Tendered Shares are being tendered in compliance with the restrictions set out in sections 2 (Restrictions) and 3 (Important information) of the Offer Memorandum and (b) neither it, nor any director, officer, member, employee, or agent acting for it in connection with the Tendered Shares, is the subject or target, directly or indirectly, of any economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced by any governmental or supranational authority, including but not limited to any agency of the US government, the United Kingdom, the European Union or any member state thereof, or the United Nations (collectively, "Sanctions" and any such government, body, or agency a "Sanctions Authority"), including, without limitation, as a result of being an individual or legal person (1) listed in any Sanctions-related list of sanctioned person maintained by a Sanctions Authority (other than solely by virtue of its inclusion in the US "Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List" or Annex III, IV, V or VI of Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 of 31 July 2014, as amended), (2) located, organised or resident in or a national of a country, jurisdiction or territory that is subject to comprehensive sanctions or trade embargoes (including Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, the Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, so-called Donetsk People's Republic, or so-called Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine), or (3) owned or controlled by any such person or persons, and (iii) they undertake to effect the transfer (levering) of these Tendered Shares to the Offeror prior to or ultimately on the Settlement Date, provided that the Offer has been declared unconditional (gestand is gedaan

Although under normal circumstances the relevant Admitted Institutions will ensure that the Tendered Shares are transferred (geleverd) to the Offeror, if so instructed by the Shareholder, Shareholders are advised that each Shareholder is responsible for the transfer (levering) of such Tendered Shares to the Offeror.

Subject to Article 5b, paragraph 5, Article 15, paragraphs 3 and 8 and Article 15a, paragraph 3 of the Decree, the tendering of Shares by a Shareholder in acceptance of the Offer will constitute irrevocable instructions (i) to block any attempt to transfer (levering) such Tendered Shares, so that on or prior to the Settlement Date no transfer (levering) of such Tendered Shares may be effected (other than to the Settlement Agent on or prior to the Settlement Date if the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand wordt gedaan) and the Tendered Shares have been accepted for purchase) and (ii) to debit the securities account in which such Tendered Shares are held on the Settlement Date in respect of all of the Tendered Shares, against payment by the Settlement Agent of the Offer Price.

Extension of the Offer Period

If one or more of the Offer Conditions set out in section 6.6 (Offer Conditions, waiver and satisfaction) of the Offer Memorandum is not satisfied or waived in accordance with section 6.6.2 (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum by the initial Closing Date, the Offeror shall, in accordance with Article 15, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Decree, extend the Offer Period once for a maximum period of ten (10) weeks calculated from the initial Closing Date (or such shorter period as may be agreed in writing between the Offeror and Ordina in light of the reasonably expected period required to satisfy the relevant Offer Condition(s) with a minimum period of two (2) weeks), until all such Offer Conditions have been satisfied or waived.

If one or more of the Offer Conditions is not satisfied or waived in accordance with section 6.6.2 (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum by the Closing Date, the Offeror may, subject to receipt of an exemption granted by the AFM (which exemption shall be requested timely by the Offeror) and after prior consultation with Ordina, extend the extended Offer Period for more periods of time, until such time as the Offeror and Ordina reasonably believe is necessary to cause such Offer Conditions to be satisfied or waived.

If the Offer Period is extended, so that the obligation pursuant to Article 16 of the Decree to announce whether the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand wordt gedaan) is postponed, a public announcement to that effect will be made no later than the third (3rd) Business Day following the initial Closing Date in accordance with the provisions of Article 15, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Decree.

If no exemption is granted by the AFM while not all Offer Conditions have been satisfied before the end of the extended Offer Period (and if such Offer Condition(s) has or have not been waived in accordance with section 6.6.2 (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum), the Offer will be terminated as a consequence of such Offer Condition(s) not having been satisfied or waived on or before the Unconditional Date.

During an extension of the Offer Period, any Shares previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain tendered under the Offer, subject to the right of each Shareholder to withdraw the Shares he or she has already tendered in accordance with section 5.3.5 (Withdrawal rights) of the Offer Memorandum.

Declaring the Offer unconditional

The obligation of the Offeror to declare the Offer unconditional (gestand doen) is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Offer Conditions. Reference is made to section 6.6 (Offer Conditions, waiver and satisfaction) of the Offer Memorandum. The Offer Conditions may be waived, to the extent permitted by Applicable Rules, as set out in section 6.6(b) (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum. If any Offer Condition is waived in accordance with section 6.6(b) (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum, the Offeror will inform the Shareholders as required by the Applicable Rules.

No later than on the Unconditional Date (i.e. within three (3) Business Days following the Closing Date), the Offeror will determine whether the Offer Conditions have been satisfied or waived as set out in section 6.6 (Offer Conditions, waiver and satisfaction) of the Offer Memorandum, to the extent permitted by Applicable Rules. In addition, the Offeror will announce on the Unconditional Date whether (i) the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand is gedaan), (ii) the Offer Period will be extended in accordance with Article 15 of the Decree, or (iii) the Offer is terminated as a result of the Offer Conditions set out in section 6.6.1 (Offer Conditions) of the Offer Memorandum not having been satisfied or waived, all in accordance with section 6.6.2 (Waiver) of the Offer Memorandum and section 6.6.3 (Satisfaction) of the Offer Memorandum and Article 16 of the Decree. In the event that the Offer is not declared unconditional (niet gestand is gedaan), the Offeror will explain such decision.

Settlement

In the event that the Offeror declares the Offer unconditional (gestand is gedaan), Shareholders who have validly tendered (or defectively tendered provided that such defect has been waived by the Offeror) and have not validly withdrawn and have transferred (geleverd) their Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer on or prior to the Closing Date will receive no later than on the third (3rd) Business Day after the Unconditional Date the Offer Price in respect of each Tendered Share, as of which moment revocation (herroeping), dissolution (ontbinding) or annulment (vernietiging) of a Shareholder's tender or transfer (levering) shall not be permitted. Settlement will only take place if the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand is gedaan). The Offeror cannot guarantee that Shareholders holding Shares through an Admitted Institution will actually receive payment within such three (3) Business Day period from the Admitted Institution with whom they hold their Shares.

Post-Acceptance Period

In the event that the Offeror declares the Offer unconditional (gestand is gedaan), the Offeror may, in its discretion, in accordance with Article 17 of the Decree, within three (3) Business Days after declaring the Offer unconditional, publicly announce a Post-Acceptance Period (na-aanmeldingstermijn) of two (2) weeks to enable Shareholders who did not tender their Shares during the Offer Period to tender their Shares during the Post-Acceptance Period under the same terms and conditions as the Offer.

In the Post-Acceptance Period, Shareholders who hold their Shares through an Admitted Institution are requested to make their acceptance known through their bank or stockbroker no later than 17:40 hours CET on the last Business Day of the Post-Acceptance Period. The custodian, bank or stockbroker may set an earlier deadline for communication by Shareholders in order to permit the custodian, bank or stockbroker to communicate its acceptances to the Settlement Agent in a timely manner. Accordingly, Shareholders holding Shares through a financial intermediary should comply with the dates communicated by such financial intermediary, as such dates may differ from the dates and times noted in the Offer Memorandum or this press release.

The Offeror will publicly announce the results of the Post-Acceptance Period and the total amount and total percentage of Shares held by it in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 4 of the Decree ultimately on the third (3rd) Business Day following the last day of the Post-Acceptance Period. The Offeror shall accept all Tendered Shares during such Post-Acceptance Period.

During the Post-Acceptance Period, Shareholders have no right to withdraw Shares from the Offer, which are validly tendered (or defectively tendered, provided that such defect has been waived by the Offeror) during the Offer Period or during the Post-Acceptance Period. Shareholders who have validly tendered (or defectively tendered provided that such defect has been waived by the Offeror) and transferred (geleverd) their Shares for acceptance pursuant to the Offer during the Post-Acceptance Period will receive the Offer Price in respect of each Tendered Share within two (2) Dutch trading days of the Offeror's acceptance of such Shares tendered.

In the event any Distribution on the Shares is made by Ordina on or prior to the settlement date of the Shares tendered in the Post-Acceptance Period, whereby the record date is decisive for entitlement to such Distribution, the Offer Price will be decreased by the full amount of any such Distribution made by Ordina in respect of each Share (before any applicable withholding tax).

As of the relevant settlement date, revocation (herroeping), dissolution (ontbinding) or annulment (vernietiging) of the tendering, sale or transfer (levering) of any Share tendered during the Post-Acceptance Period is not possible.

Acquisition of 100% and Post-Closing Restructuring Measure

Taking into account the business rationale of the Transaction, Ordina has acknowledged the importance of enhancing the sustainable success of the business of the Ordina Group in an expeditious manner and that the terms of the Offer are predicated on the acquisition of 100% of the Shares or Ordina's assets and operations. This importance is based, inter alia, on:

the fact that having a single shareholder and operating without a public listing increases the Company's ability to achieve the goals and implement the actions of its strategy and reduces the Company's costs;

the ability of Ordina and the Offeror to terminate the listing of the Shares from Euronext Amsterdam, and all resulting cost savings therefrom;

the ability to achieve an efficient capital structure (both from a tax and financing perspective), which would, among other things, facilitate the Transaction, intercompany and dividend distributions;

the ability to implement and focus on achieving long-term strategic goals of Ordina as opposed to short-term performance driven by quarterly reporting; and

as part of long-term strategic objectives, the ability to focus on pursuing and supporting (by providing access to equity and debt capital) continued buy-and-build acquisition opportunities as and when they arise.

In the event that, following the Settlement Date and the Post-Acceptance Period, if elected by the Offeror, (i) the Offeror meets either the threshold to initiate a compulsory acquisition procedure (uitkoopprocedure) in accordance with Article 2:92a of the Dutch Civil Code or the threshold to initiate a takeover buy-out procedure in accordance with Article 2:201a or 2:359c of the Dutch Civil Code (the "Squeeze-Out Proceedings Threshold"), (ii) the Asset Sale Resolution has been adopted, and (iii) the Offeror elects to implement the Pre-Squeeze-Out Asset Sale, then the Offeror prefers to implement the Pre-Squeeze-Out Asset Sale and, as soon as reasonably possible after completion thereof, the Offeror shall initiate Squeeze-Out Proceedings in accordance with section 6.16 (Post-closing measures and future legal structure) of the Offer Memorandum. At the request of the Offeror, the Company will be converted into a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and its articles of association will be amended to, inter alia, provide for a new class of shares (the "B Shares"). Subsequently, the Company will issue a number of B Shares to the Offeror equal to the number of Shares held by the Offeror at the time of such issuance, and exclude pre-emptive rights in that respect, against the transfer by the Offeror to the Company of the Shares held by it (the "Issuance and Repurchase"). The Company will subsequently make a distribution equal to the Offeror Note (see section 6.16.6 (Asset Sale and Squeeze-Out Proceedings) of the Offer Memorandum) on the B Shares to the Offeror (the "Note Distribution"). As part of the Squeeze-Out Proceedings the remaining minority shareholders in the Company will be offered the Offer Price for their Shares unless there would be financial, business or other developments or circumstances that would justify a different price in accordance with, respectively, Article 2:92a, paragraph 5, Article 2:201a, paragraph 5 or Article 2:359c, paragraph 6 of the Dutch Civil Code.

In the event that, following the Settlement Date and the Post-Acceptance Period (if elected by the Offeror), the Offeror does not meet the Statutory Squeeze-Out Threshold but does meet the Acceptance Threshold and the Asset Sale and Liquidation Resolutions have been adopted, then the Offeror prefers to implement the Asset Sale and Liquidation, in accordance with section 6.16 (Post-closing measures and future legal structure) of the Offer Memorandum. As soon as possible after commencement of the Liquidation, a Liquidation Distribution will be made to the Shareholders consisting of a payment per Share equal to the Offer Price, without any interest and subject to withholding taxes and other taxes. The distribution by Ordina of the Liquidation Distribution as part of the Asset Sale and Liquidation should generally be subject to 15% Dutch dividend withholding tax to the extent such distributions in respect of each of the Shares exceed the average paid-in capital (as recognised for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes) of such Shares.

The Post-Closing Restructuring Measure is subject to the adoption of certain shareholder resolutions at the EGM. The Ordina Boards have agreed to unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions required for the Post-Closing Restructuring Measure.

Liquidity and delisting

The purchase of Shares by the Offeror pursuant to the Offer will reduce the number of Shareholders, as well as the number of Shares that might otherwise be traded publicly. As a result, the liquidity and market value of the Shares that were not tendered under the Offer, or were tendered and validly withdrawn, may be adversely affected. The Offeror does not intend to compensate for such adverse effect by, for example, setting up a liquidity mechanism for the Shares that are not tendered following the Settlement Date and the Post-Acceptance Period (if elected by the Offeror).

Should the Offer be declared unconditional (gestanddoening), the Offeror and Ordina intend to procure the delisting of the Shares on Euronext Amsterdam as soon as possible under Applicable Rules. This may further adversely affect the liquidity and market value of any Shares not tendered.

If the Offeror acquires 95% or more of the Shares, it will be able to procure delisting of the Shares from Euronext Amsterdam in accordance with Applicable Rules. However, the listing of the Shares on Euronext Amsterdam will also terminate after a successful Asset Sale and Liquidation as set out in section 6.16.4 (Asset Sale and Liquidation) of the Offer Memorandum or any other measures or procedures set out in section 6.16.6 (Other Post-Closing Measures) of the Offer Memorandum. In the event that the Shares will no longer be listed, the provisions applicable to the governance of listed companies will no longer apply to Ordina and the rights of remaining minority Shareholders may be limited to the statutory minimum, taking into account the Non-Financial Covenants in respect of, among others, the minority shareholders.

Announcements

Any announcement contemplated by the Offer Memorandum will be issued by means of a press release. Any press release issued by the Offeror will be made available on the website www.soprasteria.com. Any press release issued by Ordina will be made available on the website www.ordina.com.

Subject to any applicable requirements of the Applicable Rules and without limiting the manner in which the Offeror may choose to make any public announcement, the Offeror will have no obligation to communicate any public announcement other than as described above and in section 5.12 (Announcements) of the Offer Memorandum.

Offer Memorandum, Position Statement and further information

The Offeror is making the Offer on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Memorandum which is available as of today. In addition, Ordina has made available the Position Statement today, containing the information required by Article 18, paragraph 2 and Annex G of the Decree in connection with the Offer.

This announcement contains selected, condensed information regarding the Offer and does not replace the Offer Memorandum or the Position Statement. The information in this announcement is not complete and additional information is contained in the Offer Memorandum and the Position Statement.

Shareholders are advised to review the Offer Memorandum and the Position Statement in detail and to seek independent advice where appropriate in order to reach a reasoned judgment in respect of the Offer and the content of the Offer Memorandum and the Position Statement. In addition, Shareholders may wish to consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of tendering their Shares under the Offer.

Digital copies of the Offer Memorandum and Position Statement are available on the website of Ordina (www.ordina.com) and a digital copy of the Offer Memorandum is available on the website of Sopra Steria (www.soprasteria.com). Such websites do not constitute a part of, and are not incorporated by reference into, the Offer Memorandum. Copies of the Offer Memorandum and the Position Statement are also available free of charge at the offices of Ordina and the Settlement Agent, at the addresses mentioned below.

Ordina:

Ordina N.V.

Ringwade 1

3439 LM Nieuwegein

The Netherlands

The Settlement Agent:

ING Bank N.V.

Bijlmerdreef 106

1102 CT Amsterdam

The Netherlands

iss.pas@ing.com

Advisors

AXECO Corporate Finance B.V. is acting as financial advisor and Stibbe N.V. is acting as legal advisor to Ordina. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is acting as independent financial advisor to the Supervisory Board. CFF Communications is acting as Ordina's communication adviser.

Messier Associes is acting as financial advisor and Van Bael Bellis and Houthoff are acting as legal advisor to Sopra Steria. Image 7 is acting as Sopra Steria's communication adviser.

See also: www.shareholderofferordina.com

About Ordina

Ordina is the digital business partner that harnesses technology and market know-how to give its clients an edge. We do this by using smart solutions to connect technology, business challenges and people. We help our clients to accelerate, to develop smart applications, to launch new digital services and ensure that people embrace those services. Ordina was founded in 1973. Its shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and are included in the Smallcap Index (AScX). In 2022, Ordina recorded revenue of EUR 429 million.

You will find more information at www.ordina.com.

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria, a European Tech leader recognised for its consulting, digital services and software development, helps its clients drive their digital transformation to obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. It provides end to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. With 50,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, the Group generated revenue of 5.1 billion in 2022.

The world is how we shape it

Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809

For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

Information for US Shareholders

Shareholders in the United States are advised that the Shares are not listed on a US securities exchange and that the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "US Exchange Act"), and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder.

The Offer will be made for the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, which is domiciled in the Netherlands, and is subject to Dutch disclosure and procedural requirements. The Offer is made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act, subject to the exemption provided under Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act for a Tier I tender offer (the "Tier I Exemption"), and otherwise in accordance with the disclosure and procedural requirements of Dutch law, including with respect to the Offer timetable, settlement procedures, withdrawal, waiver of conditions and timing of payments, which are different from those of the United States. In particular, the financial statements included in section 13 (Financial Information Ordina) of the Offer Memorandum have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, as adopted by the European Union ("IFRS"), and/or Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, and may not be comparable to the financial statements or financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Offer is made to the Shareholders resident in the United States on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other Shareholders to whom an offer is made. Any informational documents, including the Offer Memorandum, are being disseminated to US shareholders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to the other Shareholders.

As permitted under the Tier I Exemption, the Settlement is based on the applicable Dutch law provisions, which differ from the settlement procedures customary in the United States, particularly as regards to the time when payment of the consideration is rendered. The Offer, which is subject to Dutch law, is being made to the US shareholders in accordance with the applicable US securities laws, and applicable exemptions thereunder, in particular the Tier I Exemption. To the extent the Offer is subject to US securities laws, those laws only apply to US shareholders and will not give rise to claims on the part of any other person. US shareholders should consider that the price for the Offer is being paid in EUR and that no adjustment will be made based on any changes in the exchange rate.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a US Shareholder will generally be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and may be a taxable transaction under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other tax Laws. Each Shareholder is urged to consult its independent professional advisors immediately regarding the tax consequences of acceptance or non-acceptance of the Offer.

It may be difficult for US Shareholders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since the Offeror and the Company are located in a country other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a country other than the United States. US Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US federal securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.

Neither the SEC nor any US state securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the Offer, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Offer or provided an opinion as to the accuracy or completeness of the Offer Memorandum or any other documents regarding the Offer. Any representation to the contrary constitutes a criminal offence in the United States.

General restrictions

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). The information in this announcement is not intended to be complete. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or an invitation to acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice or an inducement to enter into investment activity. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire the securities of Ordina in any jurisdiction.

The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Offeror and Ordina disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither Ordina, nor the Offeror, nor any of their advisors assume any responsibility for any violation by any person of any of these restrictions. Shareholders in any doubt as to their position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" such as statements relating to the impact of the Transaction on the Offeror and Ordina and the expected timing and completion of the Offer and the Transaction. Forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that all occur in the future. Generally, words such as may, should, aim, will, expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, plan, seek, continue or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the Offer Memorandum. Although the Offeror and Ordina, each with respect to the statements it has provided, believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that such statements will be fulfilled or prove to be correct, and no representations are made as to the future accuracy and completeness of such statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that required regulatory approvals may delay the Offer or result in the imposition of conditions that could have a material adverse effect on the integration of Ordina into the Offeror's Group or cause the Offeror to abandon the Offer, (ii) the risk that the Offer Conditions may not be satisfied, (iii) risks relating to the Offeror's ability to successfully operate Ordina without disruption to its other business activities, which may result in Ordina not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected, (iv) the possibility that Ordina may involve unexpected costs, unexpected liabilities or unexpected delays, (v) the risk that the businesses of the Offeror or its Affiliates may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the Offer, (vi) the effects of competition (in particular the response to the Offer in the marketplace) and competitive developments or risks inherent to the Offeror's or Ordina's business plans, (vii) the risk that disruptions from the Offer will harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers, (viii) political, economic or legal changes in the markets and environments in which the Offeror and its Affiliates, shareholders, officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives and members do business, (ix) economic conditions in the global markets in which the Offeror and Ordina and, where applicable, their respective Affiliates operate, in particular the current macro-economic developments, (x) uncertainties, risks and volatility in financial markets affecting the Offeror and Ordina and, where applicable, their respective Affiliates, shareholders, officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives and members, and (xi) other factors that can be found in the Offeror and Ordina's press releases and public filings.

Each of the Offeror and Ordina expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by Applicable Rules or by any Competent Regulatory Authority.

________________________

1 The Offer price of EUR 5.75 cum dividend is excluding the dividend of EUR 0.395 (thirty-nine and a half eurocent) announced by way of press release on 16 February 2023 and made payable to Shareholders on 20 April 2023),

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717466253/en/

Contacts:

For more information:

Investor Relations

Olivier Psaume

olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com

+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16

Press Relations

Caroline Simon (Image 7)

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65

For more information:

Investor Relations

Anneke Hoijtink

anneke.hoijtink@ordina.nl

+31 615396873

Media relations

Uneke Dekkers, CFF Communications

uneke.dekkers@cffcommunications.nl

+31 650261626
With an extensive background in finance, accounting, and operations spanning over 25 years, Bucher brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Bluewater.

WIXOM, MI / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Bluewater Technologies Group, Inc., a leader in marketing and communication support in the event and workplace technology sectors, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian S. Bucher as its new Chief Financial Officer. Bucher officially joins the Bluewater team at the company's headquarters in Wixom, MI.





Brian Bucher

Chief Financial Officer, Bluewater





Bucher comes to Bluewater with an extensive background in finance, accounting and operations, bringing over 25 years of experience with increasing responsibilities across large and middle market companies, and in sectors ranging from healthcare and capital services to manufacturing.

His impressive resume includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Centria Healthcare, where he was responsible for the financial ownership of a standalone middle-market healthcare business. His strategic initiatives resulted in significant business growth, expanded margins, and enhanced efficiency through the use of technology.

Prior to Centria Healthcare, Bucher held multiple senior financial positions at Aetna/CVS, and General Electric where he managed sizable budgets, led finance teams, and formulated corporate digital/marketing strategy. He has been recognized for his ability to formulate strategic plans and translate them into action, drive results, and cultivate talent within the organizations he has served.

"We are thrilled to welcome Brian as our new Chief Financial Officer," said John Tracy, CEO of Bluewater. "His remarkable financial acumen and operational expertise make him a perfect fit for our organization. I'm confident that his strategic vision and disciplined approach will further enhance our financial stability and operational efficiency, enabling us to capitalize on emerging opportunities and achieve our long-term goals."

Bucher holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, where he focused on marketing analytics/statistics and finance. He also received a BBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business Administration, with an emphasis in finance and accounting. Bucher also holds a Master Black Belt certification in Lean Six Sigma.

"I am excited to join the Bluewater team and look forward to leveraging my experiences to contribute to the company's ongoing success," said Bucher. "I'm eager to drive strategic growth, increase efficiencies, and support Bluewater's commitment to innovative solutions for its clients."

About Bluewater Technologies Group, Inc.

Bluewater Technologies Group, Inc., is a leading provider of marketing and communication support in the event and workplace technology sectors. We arm our clients with everything required to support sensory storytelling across digital and physical canvases. Based out of Wixom, MI, Bluewater is committed to delivering top-tier solutions that help our clients connect, communicate, and collaborate effectively.

Contact Information

Scott Schoeneberger

Managing Partner

scotts@bluewatertech.com

248-356-4399

SOURCE: Bluewater Technologies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/768457/Brian-Bucher-Appointed-as-Chief-Financial-Officer-of-Bluewater-Technologies
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Congratulations to the student teams from the Kamnoetvidya Science Academy Thailand, who secured first and second place in the Asia Pacific region for our global Made to Move Communities student challenge.

Collaborating with ten Otis volunteer mentors, these students developed two innovative STEM-based solutions, including an AI flood forecasting website and a semi-autonomous flood delivery robot. Their innovations focused on creating mobility solutions aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change.

"Thanks to the guidance and mentorship provided by Otis' mentors, our students have developed valuable analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills," shared Associate Professor Dr. Boonchoat Paosawatyanyong, Principal of KVIS. "We take immense pride in our students' accomplishments, which demonstrate the crucial role the next generation of innovators plays in shaping our communities for the better and advancing our world for the future."

The third annual Made to Move CommunitiesTM Student Challenge from Otis Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:OTIS), paired volunteer mentors from the vertical mobility leader with 230 students across 15 countries and territories.

With the guidance of their Otis mentors, students developed innovative solutions based on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that they believe can mitigate some of the obstacles to real-world mobility issues.

The program is also driving progress toward three of Otis' ESG targets: impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM and vocational training, directing 50% of giving to STEM programs and dedicating 500,000 colleague volunteer hours by 2030.

Read more about the company's performance in the 2022 ESG Report.

Congratulations to the students from Kamnoetvidya Science Academy for winning the challenge with their innovative solutions.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Otis Worldwide on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Otis Worldwide

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/otis-worldwide

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Otis Worldwide

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/768450/Thailand-Students-Earn-STEM-Grants-As-Part-of-Otis-Worldwides-Made-to-Move-CommunitiesTM-Global-Student-Challenge
SpeedyBrand, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a generative AI platform, raised $2.5M in funding.

The round was led by Y Combinator and GV (Google Ventures).

The company intends to use the funds to further develop and expand its AI-powered SEO content marketing platform tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Founded by Ayush Jasuja, Jatin Mehta, and Ranti Dev Sharma, SpeedyBrand provides an AI powered content marketing solution for SMBs, including SEO strategy, blogs and socials creation and social media management. Its AI understands the businesses brand tone, target audience, and customer profile. It then generates SEO-optimized, plagiarism-free blogs and social media content. The AI-powered platform produces quality content which is ready to post in seconds and helps businesses cut down marketing costs and time-spent.

FinSMEs

17/07/2023
ToolJet, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of an open-source low-code platform for developers, raised an undisclosed amount of funding.

The round saw participation form M12, Microsofts venture fund, and GitHub via the M12 GitHub Fund.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its next stage of growth, and to enhance its team across various domains.

Led by CEO Navaneeth Padanna Kalathil, ToolJet is an open-source low-code platform for developers across Fortune 500 companies, scaleups, and startups worldwide. By harnessing AI, ToolJet aims to enhance its platforms intelligence, enabling developers to leverage advanced algorithms and automation to streamline their development workflows further by integrating JavaScript-based plugins, enabling endless possibilities for customization and extensibility.

The solution is popular among developers, with close to 20,000 stars and 350 contributors on GitHub.

FinSMEs

17/07/2023
According to a report published in geo.tv, Prince Harry was not accompanying his wife, Meghan Markle, when she was spotted at a California farmers market.

A picture shared by Daily Mail showed that dogs were not allowed in the market with the exception of recognized service animals but the Duchess of Sussex was spotted with her beagle at the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market on Friday.

According to express.co.uk, it called the US market to verify if the rule was in place at the time of Meghans visit, but did not receive an immediate response.

Citing the markets Yelp page, it was reported that no dogs are allowed at the market. The publication said Meghan was spotted checking out flowers while wearing a collared shirt and a maxi dress. Pictures published by Daily Mail shows the Duchess to spotting the paparazzi as she buys a bunch of pink flowers. Daily Express reported that Meghan stopped at one farmers market stall to sample its honey.

Meghan Markle sued by sister over Netflix documentary & Oprah interview

Recently, Meghans half-sister, Samantha Markle was in news again for suing her over Netflixs documentary Harry & Meghan and Oprah interview. Samantha Markle, the half-sister of Meghan Markle reportedly sued her over comments made in her interviews with Oprah Winfrey and in her Netflix documentary. According to the USMagazine.com After years of public drama, Samantha Markle filed a lawsuit against half-sister Meghan Markle, alleging the duchess lied during her 2021 tell-all interview with husband Prince Harry.

The siblings tumultuous relationship originally made headlines ahead of Meghan and Harrys wedding in May 2018. Two years later, the couple announced that they were stepping back from their duties as working members of the royal family. In February 2021, they confirmed their decision to not return to their senior roles.

The ongoing feud between the two siblings dates back to the early days of Meghans relationship with Harry when Samantha wasted no time in criticizing the Duchess. A court filing seen by Newsweek reads: Plaintiff Samantha Markle, and Defendant Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, by and through their respective undersigned counsel of record, hereby request that the Court hold oral argument in connection with Defendants pending Motion to Dismiss the Third Amended Complaint, in light of the extensive briefing by the parties. Counsel estimates a total of 60 minutes for oral argument.
Language: Hindi and Punjabi

Director: Randeep Jha

Cast: Suvinder Vicky , Barun Sobti , Manish Chaudhari , Harleen Sethi , Varun Badola

Sudip Sharmas murder mystery is a true depiction of Punjab and understanding the sentiments and emotions of the people. Kohrra has yet again shown that you dont need a big star cast to make it successful. Its a unique blend of emotion, vulnerability and suspense. Created by Sudip Sharma and Randeep Jha, the show is about two Punjabi cops who investigate the death of a young NRI in a town in Punjab. In the process of solving the murder mystery, the cops are fighting their own battles.

The show had to be good and close to reality because it is co-created by Sudip Sharma (Paatal Lok, NH10) and directed by Randeep Jha (Halahal) showing all layers of the society along with the equally layered characters. The story starts with two Punjabi cops investigating the murder of an NRI. Gradually the story picks up and goes into the personal life of the cops and how it has been messed up by circumstances.

Kohrra deals in detail with all things Punjabi, talking about its rich NRI population, migration, drugs, sex, clash of classes, flowing drug consumption and more. The most amusing part is how a village in Punjab is depicted with its NRI population and all things foreign including the names of the characters. When Satwinder becomes Steve Dhillon and his dead son is named Paul.

The story goes this way, the victim is Paul (Vishal Handa), who has arrived with his childhood friend Liam (Ivanty Novak) in a village of Punjab to wed Veera (Anand Priya). Its an arranged match and Veera agrees to it thinking about her own future and lavish life in the UK. Veeras boyfriend Saakar (Saurav Khurana) is unhappy and is unable to get over the situation that the love of her life will be getting married to a rich NRI and migrating to some other country. The story opens with Pauls dead body being found in the fields.

We get an answer to the death of Paul who came for an arranged marriage to India as the six gripping episodes of Kohrra unfolds. The narrative is unique and very close to reality and most importantly it just doesnt deal with the murder mystery, but touches upon the other side stories including the lives of all the characters. I guess that is the beauty of Kohrra and the writing skills of Sudip Sharma.
Will we see a foodmageddon? The world watches with bated breath as a landmark agricultural deal brokered between Ukraine and Russia is set to expire today (17 July) and Moscow refusing to renew the agreement.

What are we talking about? Its all about the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey between Russia and Ukraine on 22 July 2022, to ensure food supplies through the Black Sea, which was stranded following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

In an attempt to keep the deal alive, United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin outlining proposals to salvage the deal. On Friday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that conversations with the Kremlin via Signal and WhatsApp would continue over the weekend.

As the clock winds down, we take a closer look at what exactly is the Black Sea Grain Initiative, why Russia is threatening to pull out of it and what happens if the deal isnt extended.

What is the Black Sea Grain Initiative?

In August 2022, months after the Russia-Ukraine war began, both sides signed separate agreements that reopened three of Ukraines Black Sea ports  Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.

Both, Moscow and Kyiv, are major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and Russia of fertiliser  other critical parts of the food chain. Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the breadbasket of the world, exacerbated a global food crisis and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide.

The deal provides assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels are checked by Russian, Ukrainian, UN and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food and not weapons that could help either side. Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope amid war and has been renewed three times  the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up.

Also read: How Russias war in Ukraine is starving the world

What has the deal achieved so far?

Before Russian troops poured over Ukraines borders in late February 2022, Kyiv and Moscow accounted for almost a quarter of global grain exports. However, as the war began, Ukraines some 20 million tonnes of grain were trapped, causing global food prices to skyrocket. It threatened food supplies to a number of Middle Eastern and African countries which rely heavily on Ukrainian grain.

The UN had then warned that 44 million people in 38 countries were facing emergency levels of hunger.

However, after the deal was signed global prices of food commodities like wheat came down and some sense of food security was upheld.

And according to the UNs Joint Coordination Centre, which runs the scheme, since it began, 32 million tonnes of foodstuffs have been shipped from Ukraine, as well as fertiliser. Also, the agreement gave the World Food Program (WFP) its number two supplier and 725,167 tonnes of wheat have sailed on World Food Program ships to some of the worlds most food-insecure countries, such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen so far.

Why is Russia threatening to pull out now?

As per a BBC report, the deal is meant to be extended for 120 days at a time, but in March and May 2023, Russia agreed to extensions of only 60 days. And now, Russia is threatening to pull out completely.

Russia alleges that the deal is not favourable to them, as commitments made to remove obstacles to Russian food and fertiliser exports have not been fulfilled. It argues that it sees no grounds to extend the deal.

In April, Russias foreign minister Sergey Lavrov had warned that if the Black Sea Grain Initiative did not soon incorporate fertiliser products, Moscow would not renew the agreement. It was not called the grain deal it was called the Black Sea Initiative and in the text itself the agreement stated that this applies to the expansion of opportunities to export grain and fertiliser, Lavrov was quoted as telling reporters during a 26 April press conference at the UN.

On Thursday, an AP report, quoted Russias strongman Vladimir Putin as saying that Moscow wouldnt extend the grain deal unless the West fulfills the promises given to us. We have repeatedly shown goodwill to extend this deal, Putin told reporters Thursday. Enough is enough.

Apart from the fertiliser export, Moscows other demand is for the Russian Agricultural Bank, or Rosselkhozbank, to return to the SWIFT banking system. Russia has been excluded from the world banking system since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Theres also the demand of resuming the supply of agricultural machinery and parts. Moreover, Russia wants the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and the accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertiliser exports.

What happens if the deal isnt extended?

The grain deal is crucial to ensure food security across the world. In fact, the International Rescue Committee calls it a lifeline for 79 countries and 349 million people.

If the deal comes to an end, it could mean the prices of some staples would rise, pushing people into further poverty and starvation. The WFP said last month that multiple emergencies had overlapped creating the largest and most complex hunger and humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years.

Shashwat Saraf, the regional emergency director for East Africa, International Rescue Committee, told the Associated Press, It is critical that the deal is extended for a longer term to create some predictability and stability.

Additionally, countries would need to find suppliers outside the Black Sea region, further raising the costs of staples. This would negatively impact countries and debt levels would grow exponentially.

For low-income countries and people, food will be less affordable if the grain deal isnt renewed, World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters.

The cancellation of the deal would also affect Ukraine, whose economy is largely dependent on food exports

And it seems that countries are preparing for the worst. Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said Sunday in an interview with CBS Face the Nation that it wasnt clear what Putin would decide. We are prepared for any scenario, and were working closely with the Ukrainians on that, he said.

With inputs from agencies
The Centre is unlikely to face any issues in passing its ordinance on the control of services in Delhi despite the Congress coming out in support of the Aam Aadmi Party.

The grand old party on Sunday, claiming the Centre was attempting to sabotage federalism, declared that it would oppose the Centres ordinance.

The development comes after the AAP continuously asked the Congress to make its stance clear on the Delhi ordinance before it would commit to joining the next Opposition meet.

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, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal told PTI.

Venugopal said the partys 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.

But what does the ordinance say? And why is the Congress support to AAP not likely to make a difference when it comes to the passage of the ordinance?

Lets take a closer look:

What does the ordinance say?

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for 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 LG before the 11 May apex court verdict.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services except for public order, police and land.

The ordinance stated that there shall be an authority to be known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the functions assigned to it.

The authority will comprise the chief minister of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi as its chairperson, along with the chief secretary and the principal home secretary, who will be the member secretary to the authority, it said.

All matters required to be decided by the authority shall be decided by majority of votes of the members present and voting. All recommendations of the authority shall be authenticated by the member secretary, the ordinance said.

The central government, in consultation with the authority, shall determine the nature and the categories of officers and other employees required to assist the authority in the discharge of its functions and provide the authority with such officers and employees, as it may deem fit

Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the National Capital Civil Service Authority shall have the responsibility to recommend the transfers and postings of all the Group A officers and officers of DANICS serving in the affairs of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi but not officers serving in connection with any subject matter, it read.

The National Capital Civil Service Authority will meet at a time and place as the member secretary decides with the approval of the chairperson of the authority, as and when required, the ordinance added.

Why wont Congress support make a difference?

Because of the numbers game in Parliament  which shows that the Centre is in a comfortable position in the Rajya Sabha and a huge majority in the Lok Sabha.

According to NDTV, 11 Rajya Sabha seats are set to be filled today unopposed by five BJP and six Trinamool MPs.

Meanwhile, the Congress is slated to lose one seat and lower its count to 30, while the BJP is set to gain another seat and take its tally to 93.

The BJP and its allies claim 105 members.

After 24 July, another seven seats will be vacated in Parliament  leaving the number of seats at 238 and the magic mark needed at 120.

The BJP can also count on five nominated and two Independent MPs  leaving it eight short of the majority mark.

However, the BSP, the Janata Dal Secular and Telugu Desam Party, all of whom with an MP in the House, are likely to support BJP.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has 105 members in the Rajya Sabha.

Now, all eyes will be on the BJD and YSR Congress  each having nine Rajya Sabha seats.

According to Mint, if these two parties walk out on the ordinance vote, the magic number reduces from 120 seats to just 111 seats.

The Centre could only face an issue if both BJD and YSR Congress come out against the ordinance, as per NDTV.

As a piece in The Federal noted, In the past, these two parties have tactically backed the BJP, and are unlikely to go with the Opposition. Therefore, the ruling alliance feels it is comfortably placed to defend the ordinance in Rajya Sabha even if five nominated members who are not members of BJP are not counted.

The development does pave the way for the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the second Opposition meeting in Bengaluru starting on Monday with a dinner.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha welcomed the Congress unequivocal opposition to the ordinance and said this is a positive development.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, in a unanimous verdict, had put an end to the eight-year-old dispute between the Centre and the Delhi government triggered by a 2015 home ministry notification asserting its control over services, holding the National Capital Territory administration is unlike other Union territories and has been accorded a sui generis (unique) status by the Constitution.

Against the backdrop of frequent run-ins between the AAP government and the Centres point man, the lieutenant governor, the apex court asserted an elected government needs to have control over bureaucrats, failing which the principle of collective responsibility will be adversely affected.

With inputs from agencies
A severe heatwave is baking Europe, with several countries reporting temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. The mercury is expected to soar further across southern Europe in the coming days, meteorologists have warned.

Italy, Greece and Spain are among the worst-hit European countries, with reports calling this dangerous heatwave Cerberus. While heatwaves are not officially named like cyclones and hurricanes, recently monikers have emerged to describe the abnormally high temperatures.

Lets take a look at how sweltering heat is boiling Europe and why some are naming heatwaves now.

Heat grips Europe

As many as 16 cities in Italy, including Rome, Florence and Bologna, have sounded red alerts. The extreme mercury has made it difficult for tourists to visit crowded places in the country.

A 44-year-old road sign worker collapsed and died in Italys Lodi town as mercury surpassed 40 degrees Celsius. As per Evening Standard, authorities attributed his death to the extreme heatwave.

In August 2021, Italys Sicily had recorded Europes highest-ever temperature at 48.8 degrees Celsius.

Greece shut its famous Acropolis in Athens between midday and early evening hours amid scorching heat on Friday. The country has taken measures to tackle the rising temperatures by changing its public sector working hours and opening up air-conditioned areas to the public, reported Evening Standard.

Firefighters on the Spanish island of La Palma blamed intense heat and winds for the raging forest fire. Thousands of people had to be evacuated due to the blaze, reported Reuters.

On Wednesday, the temperature in the southeastern town of Albox in Spain hit a record high of 45 degrees Celsius.

Europe is preparing for a severe heat storm with a second heatwave, named Charon, predicted to dial up the temperatures again.

Christening heatwaves

As per Time magazine, countries use the term heatwave to describe time periods with temperatures more than the average.

The heatwave that gripped Europe in 2017 was widely called Lucifer, the name for the devil in Christianity and a name for the planet Venus in Roman myth reported Wired.

Last August, the Spanish city of Seville said it was the first in the world to name a heatwave. On the first day of summer last year, the city rolled out its first ranking and naming system, which consisted of dividing heatwaves into three tiers depending on their impact on health, according to Canadas Global News.

As the naming system runs in reverse alphabetical order, Zoe became the first name for a heatwave christened in Seville.

Extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent and devastating as a direct effect of climate change. Seville is proud to become the first city in the world to develop and implement a heatwave naming and categorisation system that aims at saving thousands of lives and we encourage other cities in the world to also undertake this great endeavor, Sevilles former mayor, Juan Espadas, said in a statement in 2021.

In June last year, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Missouris Kansas City and Athens also decided to categorise heatwaves on the basis of weather data and public health criteria.

The heatwave affecting Europe last week was named Cerberus, a three-headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek mythology. Italian Meteorological Society has cleared it is not behind this sobriquet. As per Wired, the name was chosen by the Italian weather website iLMeteo, which is known for naming anticyclones, or high-pressure regions, after mythological figures.

It must be noted that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) does not give official names to heatwaves presently.

Cerberus heatwave is being referred to as Xenia in Seville. Petra Gebauer, chair of Berliner Wetterkarte  a meteorological nonprofit  told Wired that the heatwave in southern Europe is being called Cleon in Greece.

According to Wired, iLMeteo will call the next heatwave Caronte or Charon  a reference to the boatman who ferries souls of the dead to the Greek underworld.

ALSO READ: Heat is On: How 3 July becomes the worlds hottest day and the worst is yet to come

Why are heatwaves being named?

Kathy Baughman McLeod, senior vice president and director of the Atlantic Councils Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, which helped design Sevilles system argued earlier that naming heatwaves will create a culture of awareness.

Heatwaves have been dubbed the silent killer for a reason: They wreak unseen havoc on our economies, prey on the most vulnerable members of society, and kill more people than any other climate-driven hazard, she said in a statement in October 2021. Yet the dangers they pose are grossly underestimated and gravely misunderstood.

Speaking to Observer in 2021, Kostas Lagouvardos, research director at the National Observatory of Athens, said: We believe people will be more prepared to face an upcoming weather event when the event has a name.

Theyll become more aware of the possible problems it could cause to their lives and to their properties.

Concern about naming heatwaves

Some argue that giving well-known fearsome names to cyclones will only spread panic among the public.

Were going to run out of dangerous monsters quite quickly, Hannah Cloke at the University of Reading told Wired, adding that people will become desensitised to this method.

In the longer term, its not ideal, she added.

Cloke suggested simple names, such as those used for storms, may be more effective in raising awareness about a weather event.

With inputs from agencies
Irans morality police is back in the news again. The force, known as Gasht-e Ershad, will resume its controversial patrols to ensure women obey dress codes and cover their hair in public in the country.

Police spokesman Saeed Montazerolmahdi said, as quoted by hardline Tasnim news agency, said that the force will restart vehicle and foot patrols across the country and at first will warn women who are not complying with the rules and those who insist on breaking the norms, may face legal action.

Montazerolmahdi further added that the police expect everyone to conform to accepted dress codes so officers will have more time to deal with other vital police missions.

The Gasht-e Ershad or the morality police were thrown into the international spotlight last year in September when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died three days after being arrested by the force for wearing her hijab, or headscarf, incorrectly and taken to a re-education centre.

Her death sparked nationwide protests that rocked the countrys foundation. Authorities responded to the protests violently  more than 500 were killed and nearly 20,000 detained. However, the protests led to the near-disappearance of the morality police with some reports emerging last December that the force had been abolished. This claim, however, was dismissed by the state media.

As the morality police makes its comeback, we take a deep dive into the history of this force in Iran and also a look at other countries where such morality police exist.

Irans history of morality police

Irans brush with morality policing arrived after the revolution of 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Shia cleric who then came to power, sought to rein in the behaviour of citizens after a period of secularism.

Roxane Farmanfarmaian, who teaches international politics of the Middle East and North Africa at the University of Cambridge, told TIME magazine that the morality police did not officially become a separate force until after the Iran-Iraq war in the 90s.

The Gasht-e-Irshad, as we know today, came into force in 2005 during the rule of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an ultra-conservative. They are supported by Basij militia and their focus is on ensuring observance of hijab  mandatory rules requiring women to cover their hair and bodies and discouraging cosmetics.

The Gasht-e-Ershad is made up of men wearing green uniforms and women in black chadors, covering their head and upper body. Until now, they were empowered to issue a notice to those found flouting rules. They could also take a person to a so-called education and advice centre or a police station.

For many human rights activists, the Gasht-e-Ershad has been viewed as a scourge for women. In fact, until March 2014, the last date for which information is available, the morality police had issued warnings to almost three million women for not wearing their hijab properly.

They are also responsible for what happened to Mahsa Amini in September last year. She was allegedly beaten up by the morality police after being detained for incorrectly wearing the hijab. However, the Iranian government has denied that Amini was assaulted.

Moral policing in Saudi Arabia

Notably, Iran isnt the only country with such a force. A Pew Research of 2012 revealed that at least 17 nations  nine per cent of the world  had a police to enforce religious norms. The research had revealed that such forces were particularly common in the Middle East and North Africa.

Saudi Arabia, according to a report in the Council on Foreign Relations, launched the first modern Islamic morality police in 1926, amid the rise of Wahhabism, a puritanical form of Sunni Islam.

Formally called the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the Mutawa is tasked with enforcing the observance of Islamic moral law. This includes overseeing any action considered immoral, from drug trafficking to bootleg smuggling  alcohol remains illegal  down to monitoring social behaviour including the strict segregation of the sexes.

And instead of a police-style uniform, they wear a traditional Saudi robe and keffiyeh.

Experts state that the initial purpose of this force was to serve as societys spiritual guide. However, with the rise of Wahhabism, the Mutawa also transformed becoming stricter and more puritanical. They were harsh in their methods and in 2002, they were held responsible for the deaths of 15 school girls  the force reportedly prevented their escape from a burning building due to their immodest dress.

In 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman curbed their powers. Under the new law, their mission was amended to carrying out the duty of promoting virtue and preventing vice in a gentle and humane way, after the model set in this regard by the Prophet [Muhammad] and his rightful successors.

The law further stated that officers will no longer be permitted to pursue suspects, arrest them or ask for identification  only report suspicious behaviour to regular police and anti-drug units, who will decide whether to take the matter further.

Sudans Public Order Police

In the African nation of Sudan, theres the Public Order Police which was set up in 1993. Founded under the regime of President Omar al-Bashir, the Public Order Police was tasked with enforcing Sharia law.

They have the power to arrest, and suspects are tried  often at speed  in special Public Order Courts; punishments can include flogging or prison.

The force drew international condemnation in 2008 when female journalist Lubna al-Hussein was arrested and jailed after being caught wearing loose-fitting slacks in public.

Religious officers in Malaysia

The nation has its own morality police and its personnel are informally known as religious officers. They are tasked with enforcing Sharia law in the country  they can arrest people for alcohol consumption, not fasting during Ramadan, or not attending mosque on Fridays.

The agents also persecute Shiite Muslims as well as homosexuals and transsexuals, who are considered men who dress or act as women.

Nigerias morality police

Called the Kano State Hisbah Corps, it is the morality police predominantly present in the Kano state, Nigeria. Started in 1999, they are responsible for the enforcement of Sharia to only Muslims in Kano state and other parts of the northern Nigeria.

The Hisbah Corps do not have authority to execute arrests and officers are armed only with weapons for self-defence, such as batons. Hisbah officers who observe violations are also expected to simply alert the Nigeria Police Force.

However, in November 2013, they confiscated and destroyed over 240,000 bottles of beer and alcoholic drinks, to the consternation of many alcohol retailers and distributors in the state. In 2020, they also conducted a door-to-door search of sinners and placed a ban on stylish haircuts, sagging trousers and playing of music at events.

Wilayatul Hisbah in Indonesia

The Wilayatul Hisbah, the morality police, is present only in Aceh Province of Indonesia. The origins of this force can be traced to 2001 when a special autonomy law was promulgated to allow for the state of Aceh to implement more elements of sharia law.

Afghanistans ministry of virtue and vice

Afghanistan, under the Taliban, has its own morality police under the Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

This force was tasked with enforcing the Talibans strict interpretation of Sharia law and it became infamous for beating women who it perceived were dressed immodestly, or who were outside without a male guardian. Girls were not allowed to be educated past primary school  a measure the group has now reportedly reintroduced.

Activities like music and dancing were banned by the morality police and prayer times were strictly enforced by them. Anyone found to have violated the rules was harshly punished  flogging, beatings, amputation and public execution were not uncommon.

With inputs from agencies
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants the warring factions of the late Ram Vilas Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in Bihar to mend ties before next years Lok Sabha elections. LJPs Chirag Paswan, who has strained relations with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, had walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls.

The saffron party is now trying to bring back Chirag Paswan into the NDA fold and has even invited him to attend the alliances meeting in Delhi on 18 July. But this is not the only uncle vs nephew battle that has hogged the limelight recently.

In Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) patriarch Sharad Pawar to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP government earlier this month.

Lets take a look at the recent clashes between uncles and nephews in Indian politics.

Chirag Paswan vs Pashupati Nath Paras

Chirag had a falling out with his uncle Paras following the death of his father and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan in October 2020.

The party has been divided into two factions  one led by Chirag and the other, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), headed by Paras.

Currently, the RLJP has five MPs, with Paras serving as the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries.

Ahead of the NDA meeting on 18 July, the BJP has been wooing Chirag. Nityanand Rai, Union minister of state for home and a senior BJP leader, has met the LJP leader at least twice in the last two weeks.

BJP president JP Nadda has also invited Chirag to attend the NDA meeting on Tuesday. As per The Hindu report, Rai is expected to meet Chirag again to offer him a compromise formula.

Paswans play a significant role in several constituencies, comprising more than six per cent vote share in Bihar. Chirag has been credited with retaining the LJPs vote bank despite a split in the party, noted The Hindu.

Moreover, he has been a vocal supporter of the BJP on key issues. Among the Paswan voters, acceptance of Chirag Paswan is any day bigger than his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, a senior state BJP leader and a Rajya Sabha MP told The Hindu.

Paras and his nephew are presently engaged in a stand-off over the Hajipur parliamentary seat in Bihars Vaishali district. The late LJP founder had represented the seat several times in Parliament and now his kin are fighting over his legacy.

Paras had bagged the Hajipur constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on the LJP ticket. Chirag has emphasised he would not compromise over the seat. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, Chirags party has demanded six Lok Sabha seats won by the undivided LJP in 2019, along with a Rajya Sabha seat held by his father, as a condition to rejoin the NDA alliance.

There are also reports that Chirag, who is an MP from Jamui, may also be accommodated in the Union Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Paras, the younger brother of Ramvilas Paswan, does not seem keen on reconciling with his nephew and has declared he will not give up Hajipur, as per NDTV.

ALSO READ: Opposition meet in Bengaluru: What to expect as 24 parties come together

Uncle vs nephew in Maharashtra

The rift between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar is not surprising for Maharashtra, which has witnessed a series of uncle-nephew political slugfests.

On Sunday, Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of the state, and NCP MLAs from his camp met Sharad Pawar in Mumbai to seek blessings. Hours after the meeting, the senior Pawar reaffirmed his opposition to the divisive politics of the BJP, reported India Today. As per reports, the junior Pawar has again made an attempt to meet his uncle for a second day in a row.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP MLAs of his faction reach Mumbais YB Chavan Centre to meet the partys president Sharad Pawar for the second consecutive day. Sharad Pawar will reach YB Chavan Centre shortly. (File photo) pic.twitter.com/Z6FDuWJ8M0  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

The junior Pawar had rebelled against his uncle by joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government on 2 July, along with eight other NCP MLAs, splitting the party into two camps.

Tensions within political families with many members vying for the top post are common in Maharashtra.

In 2005, Raj Thackeray left his uncle Bal Thackerays Shiv Sena after it was evident that the party founders son, Uddhav Thackeray, will be his successor.

Accompanied by some Sena leaders and workers, Raj Thackeray went on to form his own party  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006.

A similar scene played out in 2013 when BJPs Gopinath Munde chose his daughters  Pritam and Pankaja  to carry forward his political legacy. His nephew, Dhananjay Munde, quit the party at the time and joined the NCP.

As per ThePrint report, the split in Shiv Sena last year caused by Eknath Shindes revolt triggered another uncle-nephew rift within the Thackeray family. Nihar Thackeray, son of Uddhavs late brother Bindumadhav Thackeray, backed the Shinde-led Shiv Sena camp.

He was also among the lawyers who fought on behalf of Shinde Sena in the Supreme Court in connection with the disqualification petitions filed by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the report added.

Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav have had many ups and downs in their political relationship.

Although Shivpal came back to the SP fold last December, the uncle has not always seen eye to eye with his nephew.

Shivpal, 68, was among the most trusted person in the party for his elder brother and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Indian Express reported.

In 2009, Shivpal was appointed as the Uttar Pradesh SP president. However, only a few months later, he was replaced by his nephew, Akhilesh Yadav.

As per Indian Express, Shivpal was also against Mulayams decision to pick his son, Akhilesh, for the chief ministerial post after SP won the 2012 UP Assembly elections. Shivpal held major portfolios in the UP Cabinet, but differences started emerging between the nephew and uncle in 2014.

Tensions peaked in the following years and Shivpal went on to float his own party  Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia)  in 2018.

The uncle and nephew started the rapprochement process ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections. Shivpal fought from an SP ticket in the polls. However, this was not the end of the political slugfest between the two. Shivpal supported NDAs presidential election nominee Droupadi Murmu last year.

Akhilesh and Shivpal joined forces in the last days of former UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who passed away last October. After his demise, a by-election was held from the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat in December, where the SP won by 2,88,461 votes.

According to Indian Express, the Mainpuri bypoll was a prestige battle for the SP, especially for the uncle and nephew. After the landslide victory, Shivpal merged his PSPL with the SP. Akhilesh has presented me the cycle (SP) symbol. From now on, in my car, the SP symbol will be placed. We are together from today, Shivpal said at the time.

Other uncle-nephew battles

In Haryana, the altercation between Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA Abhay Chautala and his nephew  Haryana deputy chief minister and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala  is out in the open. Accusing Dushyant of corruption in February, Abhay had called his nephew the biggest thief.

When Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Raos son KT Rama Rao, was made working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (then known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi) party in 2019, it did not go down well with his nephew T Harish Rao. To assuage his resentment, KCR gave his nephew Harish Rao the plum finance ministry portfolio in the state government.

With inputs from agencies
The Pakistan government has been pushing for outsourcing the operations of major airports including Islamabad International Airport (IIA). The decision had been taken as the country faces a dearth of foreign exchange reserves. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has already convened multiple meetings of the committee formed to engage foreign operators for outsourcing, Dawn reported.

He told the stakeholders to finalise formalities to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIA) by 12 August, the final day of the incumbent governments term, Dawn, a national daily of Pakistan, reported quoting sources.

On Saturday, the minister chaired a meeting of the steering committee for assessing the progress of airport operations outsourcing. 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.

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.

Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired meeting of Steering Committee to Oversee the outsourcing of airports operation which was attended by Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq,SAPM Finance Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Govt Effectiveness Jehanzab Khan, (1/3) pic.twitter.com/72hcBvQLNC  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinistryPak) July 12, 2023

Dar wants changes to aviation laws approved before month-end. The meeting agreed to fast-track IIA's 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.

Outsourcing management

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Aviation on Thursday that the government has started a process to outsource the management and operations of the airports in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.

The committee was informed that PCCA was not selling the airports and that only the operation and management controls were being outsourced.

PCAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza informed the committee that, following a change in regulation 68 of the CAA Act, the authority to issue no-objection certificates was transferred from the PCAA to the building control authorities, who had entirely failed to do so. The committee also proposed a change to the rule, requesting action against unauthorised constructions, reports Dawn.

He added that Pakistan International Airlines financial condition cannot bear much expenses so they have hired a contractor for the transport purpose.

On 31 March, 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. Pakistan has been negotiating the deal with Qatar for several months.

Eliminate overlapping responsibilities

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 PIA's 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.

PIA's 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.

With inputs from ANI
Seema Haider, a Pakistani national, whose love story with an Indian man has hogged the limelight recently, is now being questioned by the Anti-Terror Squad of the Uttar Pradesh Police, as per reports. Seema had entered India without a visa, along with her four children, to be with Greater Noida local Sachin Meena, whom she met through an online gaming platform.

According to NDTV, Sachin, his father  Netrapal Singh  and Seema are being interrogated at an undisclosed location in Uttar Pradeshs Noida. The development comes days after the trio were released on bail by a court in Noida.

What do we know about Seema Haider and why is she under the radar of the anti-terrorism squad? Lets take a closer look.

What is known about Seema Haider

As per news agency PTI, Seema used to live in Pakistans Gulistan-e-Jauhar in Karachi. Around 10 years ago, she had left for Karachi to marry Ghulam Haider against her parents approval, reported Hindustan Times (HT).

Ghulam Haider currently works in Saudi Arabia and has urged the Indian government to repatriate Seema and their children back to Pakistan.

Seema and Sachins love story

According to media reports, Seema and Sachin met through the gaming app PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds (PUBG) during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020.

Eventually, they fell in love. 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.

Seema and Sachin first met in Nepal in March this year, where they tied the knot, as per the NDTV report. It was such a long and gruelling journey. I was very scared too. I first went from Karachi to Dubai, where we waited for 11 hours and couldnt sleep. We then flew to Nepal, before finally taking the road to Pokhara, where I met Sachin, Seema was quoted as saying by the news channel.

According to NDTV, Seema, who claims strife with her husband, then went back to Pakistan and Sachin returned to India. She sold a plot for 12 lakh Pakistani Rupees and bought flight tickets and a Nepal visa for herself and her children. Seema then reached Nepals Pokhara city from Dubai in May. Later, she travelled to Delhi from Kathmandu. She and her children reached Greater Noida on 13 May, where Sachin had made living arrangements for them, NDTV reported.

The couple started staying together in a rented accommodation in Greater Noidas Rabupura area.

How their tale came to light

On 4 July, Seema and Sachin were arrested in Haryanas Ballabhgarh town after a lawyer whom they had approached for marriage alerted the police about her illegal travel, as per India Today.

While Seema was put behind bars for entering India without a visa, Sachin and his father were apprehended for sheltering illegal immigrants.

An FIR was lodged at the local Rabupura police station under provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, and section 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) and 34 (act done by several people with common intention), deputy commissioner of police (Greater Noida) Saad Miya Khan had told PTI.

The trio were later granted bail by a court in Greater Noida. My husband is a Hindu, so I am a Hindu. I feel I am an Indian now, Seema told NDTV earlier in July following their release from prison.

Why is she under the radar?

According to HT, a senior UP police officer said the interrogation is necessary from a security standpoint. The officer pointed to various rumours being spread about Seema, one of them alleging her of being a Pakistani spy.

As per protocol, the UP ATS informed the local Greater Noida police that they will be questioning Haider, Meena and Singh in relation to concerns regarding national security. When the three were arrested by Gautam Budh Nagar police last month, central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh anti-terror squad had been alerted by us. Hence, they are carrying out investigations on their end as per procedure, Anand Kulkarni, additional commissioner of police, Gautam Budh Nagar, said, as per HT.

He also asserted the couple and Sachins father were not picked up by the ATS and were only being questioned, the newspaper added.

Speaking to India Today previously, Seema had rejected the allegations of her being a spy. No such thing. The truth will come out eventually. If this was true, I would have come to India alone, not with my innocent children.

Threats

Gau Raksha Hindu Dal, a Hindu right-wing outfit, has recently threatened to launch an agitation if Seema Haider is not sent back to Pakistan.

We wont tolerate a woman from a traitorous nation. If Seema Haider does not leave the country in 72 hours, we will begin an agitation, India Today quoted Ved Nagar, the organisations national president, as saying. Nagar alleged Seema could be a Pakistani spy and pose a threat to India.

On 12 July, the traffic control room of Mumbai Police got a call from an unidentified person warning of a 26/11-like terror attack if Seema Haider did not return to Pakistan.

Maharashtra: Mumbai police control room received a threat call yesterday in which the caller threatened the police to prepare for a 26/11 terrorist attack if Pakistani national Seema Haider does not return to Pakistan. Mumbai Police and Crime Branch are probing the matter: Mumbai  ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2023

The threat call is being investigated by the Mumbai police.

With inputs from agencies
As leaders make a beeline to Bengaluru to attend the second meeting of the Opposition, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday said that whether the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will get a new name is a subject of discussion and the decision on the issue will be taken by the opposition parties unitedly.

We will take all decisions. I cant tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. Congress is not deciding this alone. All the opposition parties will sit together and decide unitedly, said the Congress general secretary.

#WATCH | When asked about topics for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and if UPA will get a new name, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal says, We will take all decisions. I cant tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. Congress is not deciding pic.twitter.com/NLbFE6xhIw  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

He said that the Opposition is united by common purpose to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions which are under attack.

We are all united by a common purpose  to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions. These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP Govt. They wanted to silence the Oppositions voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The meeting would begin at 6 pm with the address of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on 23 June.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also attend the meeting this time.

Other top leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, besides former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

With inputs from agencies
A woman in Australia found herself in a distressing situation when she encountered a group of dingoes while jogging on Queenslands Kgari.

In an attempt to evade the aggressive animals, she resorted to an unconventional escape routeplunging into the nearby ocean. However, her courageous act was not without consequences.

Sustaining injuries to her lower body, the woman was promptly airlifted to Hervey Bay hospital for immediate medical attention.

The Queensland Ambulance Service reported that she suffered multiple bite wounds to her limbs and torso. Authorities confirmed that four dingoes relentlessly attacked her in the Orchid Beach area of the islands northeast.

Upon investigation, Queenslands department of environment, responsible for overseeing the welfare of wildlife, verified that the woman had indeed sought refuge from four wongari (dingoes) in the ocean.

A spokesperson commented that she is currently receiving necessary first aid for her injuries. The incident remains under scrutiny, and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will conduct a thorough examination.

Emphasizing the importance of safety, the spokesperson issued a statement advising both residents and visitors to exercise caution and remain vigilant while on the island.

Queenslands premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, expressed her shock upon learning about the attack, particularly given that the victim was reportedly in her early 20s.

Palaszczuk acknowledged the presence of dingoes on the island and urged everyone to recognize that they are wild animals.

This recent incident adds to a series of alarming events that have prompted safety warnings for tourists frequenting the renowned vacation spot, formerly known as Fraser Island.

According to reports, an eight-year-old boy fell victim to a dingo attack on one of the islands beaches, earlier this month, and in June, a dingo pulled a 10-year-old boy underwater.

In response to these incidents, authorities made the difficult decision to euthanize a dingo last month after it had attacked a seven-year-old boy and a 42-year-old woman.

In light of these incidents, park rangers reiterated the need for heightened vigilance, particularly when it comes to supervising children.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday took a potshot at Arvind Kejriwal and said that the Delhi Chief Minister has gone to Bengaluru to attend the meeting of the Opposition parties at a time when people in Delhi are troubled, distressed and arent properly getting even the drinking water.

A meeting of the Opposition Parties is taking place in Bengaluru. It is unfortunate to see that when Delhi is submerged, Arvind Kejriwal has gone to Bengaluru. People in Delhi are troubled, distressed and arent properly getting even the drinking water, but Kejriwal is not even present here. It is a hugely irresponsible and shameful behaviour from his side, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Kejriwal keeps blaming the central government every now and then. I wish to ask what he has done for Delhis people? Today, what has been happening in Delhi forms a big failure of Kejriwals government. Notably, the Congress Party is silent on this matter. Will this opportunistic alliance go to this extent? Its shameful, he added.

Twenty-four Opposition parties, including the Congress and the AAP, have been invited for the two-day meeting.

Around 15 non-BJP parties had met in Patna on June 23 to formulate a coalition force to take on the saffron party in the 2024 general elections.

(With inputs from agencies)
While Pakistans Seema Haider might have united with her Indian lover Sachin in Greater Noida amid cheers for love, questions about the veracity of her love story still abound.

The UP ATS Monday questioned Seema, Sachin and his father at an undisclosed location. Earlier, according to reports, the three had been presumed missing for over 24 hours.

Seema Haider had illegally entered India via Sharjah and Nepal from Karachi some 90 days ago after claiming to have met her India lover online on a gaming platform.

Firstpost talked to a number of police sources, as former ATS members, who point out that Seemas story still has a number of serious loopholes, which might have implications for national security.

House or no House

The first and most fundamental loophole in Seemas love story is the house she claimed to have sold in Karachi to travel to India via Sharjah and Nepal.

As per Seema, her husband, before leaving for Dubai, had bought her a house worth PKR 12 lakh, which she claims to have sold for footing-in the bills for travel and stay on her way to India.

The claim, however, got busted on Sunday when a local report from Karachi quoted one Noor Mohammad, ostensibly the son of the owner of the house in which Seema used to live on rent. The report quoted him saying that Seema never owned a house and that she was living on rent in their house for over three years with her kids.

If Seema did not own anything in Pakistan and her husband worked as a mason in Dubai, how could she have managed to travel so far with four kids.

Travel Money

According to Seema, she took a flight from Pakistan to Sharjah and then another from Sharjah to reach Kathmandu. From there, she allegedly took a bus and reached Greater Noida.

According to leading travel booking websites, a direct flight from Karachi to Pakistan costs nearly about PKR 20914 to 270145. While separate flights from Karachi to Sharjah and Sharjah to Kathmandu, costs PKR 14854 to 776328 and PKR 12169 to 549957 respectively.

Where did she get this kind of money to travel so far?

Brother in Pakistan Army

Seema, reportedly, had told Greater Noida Police at the time of her arrest that her brother works in the Pakistan Army. Given that, how could any security agency ignore the obvious, that she could be a spy?

Additionally, apart from her husband and this unidentified brother, no family member of hers has come to the fore to speak about the issue.

The question is how can Seemas family members, who she claimed had forced her to marry her husband, have still not come out to talk about it?

What about the four kids

According to Noida Police, Seema has four birth certificates of her children that were made in Pakistan. Police still need to verify their authenticity.

Quick bail to a grave offense

Seema, after being arrested along with her Indian lover Sachin and his father Netrapal on July 4, got bail the very next day.

Despite, such a grave offense and many loopholes in her love story, why Noida Police could not get remand of Seema and Sachin?

An ATS source told Firspost, it is nearly impossible that intel agencies miss on someone without legal papers, especially from notorious Pakistan, entering India without valid visa.

Despite that, Seema not only entered India, but also lived here for over a monthMarch 14 to July 4 evading authorities.
In Rajasthan, anti-terrorism squad (ATS) unearthed an illegal espionage network with the arrest of a self-styled private detective who allegedly spied on over 100 people, mostly women suspected of cheating on husbands.

The accused, identified as 48-year-old Pushpendra Bhutani, who allegedly offered his detective services to stalk individuals and gather evidence of their secretive activities.

Primarily focused on cases related to marital infidelity, Bhutanis actions have raised concerns about privacy violations and the ethical implications of surveillance.

In a joint operation with local law enforcement agencies, the ATS successfully apprehended Bhutani, the mastermind behind this espionage case.

According to police, Bhutani had an extensive clientele.

His modus operandi included tailing individuals, capturing their secret meetings through photography, and obtaining call details to ascertain the nature and duration of their conversations.

Police during investigation, found to light that some police personnel were also involved in assisting Bhutanis activities.

Arrest came after the ATS raided Bhutanis luxurious flat located in a posh colony near Jaipur International Airport, where they uncovered incriminating evidence on his mobile phone and in his office.

The officials were astounded by the magnitude of the records they discovered.

Bhutanis spy package

Bhutani had devised lucrative espionage packages, charging exorbitant sums of money based on the level of detail required.

His services were sought after by prominent businessmen who wanted to monitor their wives.

Additionally, many families hired him to spy on their daughters-in-law.

The scope of Bhutanis operations extended to various scenarios, including premarital investigations conducted by families to evaluate potential spouses.

Dealt in high-profile cases

Numerous cases have come to light as a result of the ATS investigation.

In one case, a businessman from Jaipur suspected his wife of engaging in secret meetings after leaving the office.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to gather substantial evidence. Frustrated, he enlisted the assistance of Bhutani, who provided him with his wifes call details, location, and audio recordings of conversations.

In an attempt to confirm his suspicions, the husband followed his wife and even arranged for her photograph to be taken during her meeting.

In another case, a family from Jaipur conducted surveillance on their future daughter-in-law after the engagement.

They hired Bhutani to gather information about her activities, including tracking her movements and investigating the phone numbers she frequently contacted.

The family sought to gain insight into the brides past and scrutinized her connections, going to great lengths to discreetly clear any doubts before the sons marriage ceremony.

Bhutani told police that private detectives have also become popular among Rajasthans business community, with entrepreneurs employing their services to gain a competitive advantage.

Businessmen have resorted to spying on their rivals to gather insider information about upcoming projects, government contracts, and potential business partners.

Bhutanis role in such cases involved following the target for several days, meticulously documenting their meetings and obtaining classified information.

The Raid

The espionage scandal came to light through the ATSs informant network, which had been gathering information about the illegal extraction and sale of personal data, including mobile location and call detail records (CDRs).

Acting on a tip-off, the ATS raided Bhutanis residence on Monday, July 10, located in a flat numbered 908 at Royal Avenue Apartment, near Sanganer Airport.

Bhutani attempted to flee but was apprehended. During the search of his house, incriminating evidence, including printed CDRs, was discovered on a table in his bedroom.

During interrogation, Bhutani confessed to his identity as Private Detective Pushpendra.

Further investigation of his mobile phone revealed alarming details, including extensive communication with a person named Kabir from Dark Web, who specialized in leaking call detail records.

Police hand in glove with Spy

The ATS is currently examining the involvement of two police officers, Mukesh Kumar Sharma and Shankar Yadav, whose phone numbers were saved in Bhutanis mobile. The extent of police collusion in this illegal surveillance operation is still being investigated, according to ATS sources.

Modus-operandi

Bhutani adopted various illegal methods to accomplish his tasks, readily accepting any assignment for monetary gain.

For individuals seeking information about their spouses, he would tail them, secretly capturing photographs during their visits to discotheques or pubs, and forward the evidence to their partners.

Bhutani operated using different packages for espionage, charging varying rates depending on the complexity and level of detail required.

Over the course of four years, Bhutanis private detective agency attracted a considerable number of clients, including wealthy businessmen.

It is estimated that Bhutani spied on over 100 individuals during this period. He promoted his agency and services through social media platforms, attracting potential clients who contacted him through the provided mobile numbers. Referrals from satisfied clients also contributed to the growth of his business.

Previously known for his resourcefulness and ability to get things done, Bhutani had garnered a reputation as a problem solver among his friends and acquaintances.

Initially involved in small tasks, he eventually ventured into the world of espionage. Establishing his detective agency in Sanganer four years ago, he operated without formal registration.

Bhutanis illicit activities allowed him to amass significant wealth, with which he frequently bough luxury cars, police said.

Life of a spy

Residing in Jaipurs Pratap Nagar area for the past 15 years, Bhutani is married and has two children attending school.

His extensive network spans multiple districts in Rajasthan, with connections in police stations, government offices, and even reaching into Mumbai and various cities in the southern region of India. Although he operated alone, Bhutani worked with a team whose composition is currently under investigation.
Bengaluru Opposition Meet LIVE Updates

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Dy CM Tejashwi, RJD chief Lalu leave for Bengaluru opposition meet

Bihar president Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD president Lalu Prasad, and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav went for Bengaluru on Monday to attend the opposition parties' second meeting.

Top leaders from 26 opposition parties are slated to attend the two-day brainstorming session, during which they will likely begin work on a shared minimum agenda and reveal a united agitational strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kumar is joined by the national president of his party, the JD(U), and the state Water Resources Minister, Sanjay Kumar Jha.

On June 23, fifteen parties attended Kumar's penultimate opposition unity conference in Patna.
On Monday, the Indian consulate in New York staged a ceremony to repatriate 105 trafficked artefacts that the US had turned over. According to a press release from the Indian Consulate General in New York, the artefacts will shortly be shipped to India.

The change happened after Prime Minister Narendra Modis official trip to the US in June 2023.

Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu commended the US side for their excellent support and collaboration, praising Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit in particular as well as the Homeland Security Investigation team.

He added that for Indians, these were more than just works of art; they were also a vital part of their culture and live history.

Sandhu on Monday tweeted: 105 Indian antiquities to return home! Delighted to attend a ceremony in #NewYork this morning, marking the restitution of artefacts following PM @narendramodis State Visit. Appreciate the cooperation extended in protection & exchange of cultural property.

Senior members of the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and the Homeland Security Investigation team attended the repatriation ceremony, according to the official statement.

India and the US agreed to cooperate on a Cultural Property Agreement during PM Modis state visit in order to help stop the illegal trafficking of cultural treasures. The dynamic bilateral cooperation between Homeland Security and the law enforcement agencies of the two nations will be further enhanced by such an arrangement.

The 105 artefacts come from all across India: 47 are from Eastern India, 27 are from Southern India, 22 are from Central India, 6 are from Northern India, and 3 are from Western India.

Terracotta, stone, metal, and wood make up the objects, which date from the second to third century CE to the eighteenth and nineteenth century CE. Islam, Jainism, and Hinduism are three major religions represented by about 50 items, with the others having cultural value.

The Indian government has been working hard to recover stolen Indian artefacts from overseas, which are tangible representations of the countrys rich past and culture.

On the restitution of artefacts, India and the US have recently worked closely together. 16 antiques were presented by the US side to the PM during his 2016 trip to the country.

Similar to this, the US government sent over 157 antiques to India in 2021 after the PM visited the US in September of that year. According to the announcement, the US side has given India a total of 278 cultural relics since 2016 in addition to these 105 antiquities.

According to reports, Prime Minister Modis first state visit to the US was a huge success.

The India-US joint statement sums up the sentiments and intent of both nations by stating that Our cooperation will serve the global good as we work through a range of multilateral and regional groupings  particularly the Quad- to contribute toward a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo- Pacific. No corner of human enterprise is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars.

(With agency inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on Tuesday via video conferencing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the New Integrated Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair on 18th July via video conferencing. With a total built-up area of around 40,800 sqm., the new terminal building will be capable of handling about pic.twitter.com/vQhX20rneK  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

With a total built-up area of around 40,800 sqm, the new building will be capable of handling about 50 lakh passengers annually.

The new facility, built at a cost of around Rs 710 crore, will play a key role in enhancing connectivity to the island, a union territory, said the Prime Ministers Office in a statement, noting that boosting connectivity infrastructure has been a major focus of the government.

An apron suitable for two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 type aircraft has also been constructed at the airport at a cost of Rs 80 crore, making it suitable for parking 10 aircraft at a time, the PMO said.

The architectural design of the airport terminal resembles a shell-shaped structure, depicting the sea and islands.

The new airport terminal building has a number of sustainability features like a double-insulated roofing system to reduce heat gain, skylights to provide maximum inlet of sunlight during the day to reduce artificial light usage inside the building, LED lighting and low heat gain glazing, it added.

Rainwater catchment in an underground water tank, an on-site sewage treatment plant with 100 per cent of treated wastewater reused for landscaping and a 500 KW capacity solar power plant are some other features of the terminal building to ensure a minimal negative impact on the islands environment.

As a gateway to the pristine Andaman and Nicobar islands, Port Blair is a popular destination for tourists.

The spacious new integrated terminal building will boost air traffic and help enhance tourism in the region, the PMO said, adding it will also help create enhanced employment opportunities for the local community and give a fillip to the economy of the region.

With inputs from agencies
A 12-hour shutdown has been called across the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur from 6 am on Monday by the United Naga Council (UNC) to protest the killing of Naga woman on July 15.

Another group, the Committee on Tribal Unity (Cotu) has also called a 72-hour total shutdown on National Highway-2 condemning the killings and the setting ablaze of three LPG-carrying trucks by miscreants at Sekmai in Imphal West on Saturday.

The National Highway-2 is considered to be the lifeline to Imphal.

The UNC, who also blocked the National Highway, said it had earlier warned the Meitei and Kuki communities not to drag the Nagas into their ethnic conflict in Manipur that broke out in the state on May 3.

Two tribals  a 55-year-old mentally ill woman and a 34-year-old man  were killed by gunmen in Manipur in the past two days.

The mentally ill woman was shot in her face at her residence in Keibi Heikak Mapal village in Imphal district on Saturday. The miscreants disfigured her face before fleeting the spot.

In a statement, the UNC said that the victim was forcefully apprehended by a woman group and handed over to a private militia that killed her.

It also called for exemplary punishment for the culprits behind the killing of the woman.

The Nagas, comprising 20 tribes, are the second-largest community in Manipur after the non-tribal Meitei, who dominate the Imphal Valley.

In another incident, around 40 to 50 armed miscreants, suspected to be militants, stormed Laimaton Thangbuh, a Kuki village in Kangpokpi district in the hills, where a 34-year-old man identified as Jangkholun Haokip was killed.

As many as nine people, including five women, have been arrested for the murder of the tribals.

At least 19 people were arrested in connection with the arson. On Sunday, they were produced before the district magistrate of Imphal West. While 17 of them were remanded in police custody for four days, two minors were referred to the Juvenile Justice Board.

As per reports, more than 150 people have lost their lives and several thousand have been injured in ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities that erupted in Manipur on May 3.

With inputs from agencies
A woman in Mumbai has been accused of fabricating allegations of sexual assault against a 64-year-old man at a luxurious hotel in the city.

According to the chargesheet filed by the police, she applied chicken blood on her hands and claimed that she was injured while resisting the mans sexual advances.

The accused woman, identified as Monica Bhagwan, also known as Dev Choudhary, allegedly devised a honey trap to frame the businessman and, along with her three accomplices, extorted Rs 3 crore from him.

The chargesheet was recently filed by Unit 10 of the citys crime branch police against Monica Choudhary, Anil Choudhary (alias Akash), Lubna Wazir (alias Sapna), a fashion designer, and jeweler Manish Sodi.

The incident dates back to November 2021 when the businessman from Kolhapur lodged a police complaint stating that a gang of four individuals had set up a honey trap at a hotel in the city and extorted Rs 3.25 crore from him.

The accused allegedly continued to threaten him with a video and demanded an additional Rs 2 crore.

While Monicas accomplices were arrested earlier in the case, her arrest took place in June 2022.

The police revealed that the blackmail ploy began in 2017 when Anil Choudhary and Sapna befriended the businessman, conducted an assessment of his assets, and devised a plan to trap him.

In 2019, during his stay at a five-star hotel in Mumbai, Monica accused the businessman of sexual assault, and Sapna recorded a video of their altercation, accusing him of the assault.
A staggering 1,44,000 kilogram of illicit drugs worth Rs 2,378 crores were destroyed across multiple states in India as Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Regional Conference on Drugs Trafficking and National Security in New Delhi on Monday.

Expressing his gratitude, Amit Shah thanked the states and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for their efforts in eliminating illegal drugs in such large quantity.

In his address at the conference, the Home Minister appealed to all Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors to adopt similar measures in their respective states.

He emphasized that the key to victory in this battle lies in raising maximum awareness, particularly among the youth. Home Minister personally observed the destruction of drugs in different states by means of video-conferencing, while he was present in New Delhi.

Deputy | " I request all Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors to implement this step in all statesthe biggest step to win this fight is to create maximum awareness. Till we don't spread awareness among youths against drugs, we won't be able to win this fight": Union https://t.co/pe3hadsy7C pic.twitter.com/9AYJPhGJfK  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

Commending the efforts of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Modi in combating the drug menace, Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted a significant increase in the crackdown on drugs. He revealed that between 2006 and 2013, a total of 1,250 cases were registered, resulting in the seizure of 1.52 lakh kilograms of drugs.

In contrast, since the NDA government assumed power in 2014 until 2023, there have been 3,700 registered cases, leading to the confiscation of 3.94 lakh kilograms of drugs. This represents an impressive surge of 160% in both the registration of cases and the recovery of drugs.

Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated to destroy drugs across various states. The quantities of drugs destroyed in different locations were as follows: 1.03 lakh kilograms in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kilograms in Assam, 229 kilograms in Chandigarh, 25 kilograms in Goa, 4,277 kilograms in Gujarat, 2,458 kilograms in Haryana, 4,069 kilograms in Jammu and Kashmir, 159 kilograms in Maharashtra, 1,803 kilograms in Tripura, and 4,049 kilograms in Uttar Pradesh.

According to officials, the recent destruction of drugs on Monday has brought the total quantity of drugs eliminated over the past year to 10 lakh kilograms, with an estimated value of 12,000 crore.

(With inputs from agencies)
Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday termed as premature talks of an electoral tie-up between his party and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections next year.

NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front, he said.

When asked about the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said, The Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan.

Attacking the Congress over the meeting, he said that the grand old party is trying to project it as a great achievement while the party-ruled government in Karnataka is not bothered about suicide of farmers.

Without referring to the Congress, the former Chief Minister said banners have been put up along the roads here for the meeting of the Opposition and they are trying to project the event as if they have made some great achievement that no one else has done.

The Congress is under an illusion that the JD (S) is finished, he said.

In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda 19.

Citing media reports, Kumaraswamy said 42 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka and the Congress government in the State is not worried over this. The government has not even appealed to the farmers not to take extreme steps, he alleged.

With inputs from agencies
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has sacked three employees from the services for actively working with Pakistan-based terror outfits, according to sources.

Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated three employees from the services for actively working with Pakistani terror outfits and providing logistics to terrorists, propagating terrorist ideology, raising terror finances and furthering secessionist agenda. Further details  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

They said the employees were terminated for providing logistics to terrorists, propagating terrorist ideology, raising terror finances and furthering secessionist agenda.

After an investigation, the J&K government invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to sack the three employees.

According to The Kashmiriyat report, citing news agency Kashmir Scroll, the J&K administration has terminated Public Relations Officer (PRO) of University of Kashmir Faheem Aslam, Revenue Department officer Murawath Hussain Mir and Police Constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker from the service.

J&K administration launched crackdown on the government employees who are connected with terrorists or propagate secessionism.

With inputs from agencies
A female toll plaza staff member was viciously assaulted by another woman after requesting toll payment in a disturbing incident at a toll plaza in Greater Noida.

The distressing event unfolded at the Luharli toll plaza, situated within the Dadri police station area of Uttar Pradesh. The entire incident was captured on the toll plazas CCTV camera.

The footage shows that the woman became enraged when the female staff asked for the toll payment. In a display of uncontrollable anger, the woman forcefully entered the toll booth and physically attacked the toll plaza staff member.

Watch:

Greater Noida: Woman toll plaza employee brutally thrashed for demanding payment, video goes viral.#ViralVideo #TollPlaza #GreaterNoida pic.twitter.com/o2IpX9Pmtp  Jyoti Parkash Daloutra (@daloutra32763) July 17, 2023

Despite the chaos, the toll worker remained composed and silent. However, the situation took a horrifying turn when the woman aggressively grabbed hold of the toll workers hair. With a burst of aggression, she violently assaulted the toll plaza staff member, dragging her to the ground.

Shortly after the incident, the police arrived at the toll plaza and arrested the woman, according to Times Now. She is now facing charges of assault and criminal intimidation.

With inputs from agencies
The BJP has decided to organise a mega rally in Kolkata on 19 July with people who were forced to flee their house due to the violence during the Panchayat elections and after the results.

On Sunday, state leaders of the BJP conducted a thorough review of the partys performance in the West Bengal Panchayat elections, addressing several key aspects:

1. Emphasis on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls: All party leaders have been asked to focus on the Lok Sabha elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Bengal in August. Earlier, Sukanto Majumdar, the state president of the BJP, met with Shah in Delhi to present a comprehensive report on the election results.

2. Engaging with the victims: In 2021, the BJP ensured a CBI investigation into the post-poll violence; however, there were allegations that party leaders did not adequately support the victims. In response, this time, as per News18, a significant portion of the top leadership is planning to personally meet and understand the grievances of the affected individuals.

3. Recognising candidates efforts: BJP leaders claimed that winning any seat in the Panchayat polls was a challenging task due to alleged manipulation by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Therefore, it is considered crucial to felicitate the successful candidates to boost their confidence. The party also intends to acknowledge the efforts of candidates who were unsuccessful in the polls.

Furthermore, the BJP will continue exerting pressure on the West Bengal government, asserting that the law and order situation is deteriorating and necessitates intervention from the central government.

According to PTI, the Panchayat poll-related violence has resulted in the tragic loss of 39 lives since the election was announced on 8 June.

With inputs from agencies
ASEAN centrality was reinforced last week when Indonesia hosted the clutch of ASEAN-centred meetings in Jakarta. The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) was followed by the ASEAN plus one meeting with its dialogue partners and some trilateral meetings. The annual EAS ministerial meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which is only at the ministerial level, also took place now. The EAS has 18 members including the Quad, China, Russia and New Zealand; the ARF has 27 members.

Indonesias meticulous planning for these as ASEAN chair was palpable. Besides dealing with the challenges globally, Indonesia had to restore ASEAN unity and centrality. In all statements emerging from the AMM, the ASEAN plus one meeting, the EAS and the ARF, the emphasis on ASEAN centrality is clear.

The AMM expressed our appreciation to the non-ASEAN Parties to the RCEP Agreement for recognising and respecting ASEAN Centrality A Support Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat which will become a RCEP Secretariat is promised.

ASEAN unity was a bigger question, but Indonesia deserves credit for at least maintaining the facade under which unity was portrayed.

Let us see how the major challenges to ASEAN unity and centrality were addressed.

Myanmar is an internal issue of ASEAN. The 5 Point Consensus (PC) pioneered by Indonesia during the Brunei chairmanship is cracking. Indonesian FM Retno established guardrails by not appointing herself as the official Special Envoy of ASEAN, which the previous two chairs had done. Instead, she set up a strong Secretariat to specifically deal with Myanmar. There was annoyance among Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines that Thailand, which is still unable to elect a new government, was carrying on a separate policy with Myanmar backed by Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

They have had meetings with the ASEAN junta, and the Thai FM reported to the AMM that he had also met Aung San Suu Kyi. Whatever their internal differences, the AMM statement encourages all members to abide by the 5PC and work in coordination with the chair because at times it seemed that Thailand conducted its own policy. Five ASEAN countries including Myanmar are on one side and another five behind Indonesia. India has supported the 5PC but not hesitated to engage with the Thai initiative. The aim is to have peace restored in Myanmar, and then work towards a better dialogue.

With the South China Sea, its importance may be overshadowed by the looming crisis in the Taiwan Straits. At the China- ASEAN meeting they ultimately agreed on guidelines to accelerate effective and substantive negotiations on the long-delayed Code Of Conduct. The preamble was negotiated before the pandemic and some incremental movement is now visible.

There remain discernible cleavages between China and ASEAN. ASEAN underscores the importance of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and held an Asean Regional Conference on the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 UNCLOS: Promoting Legal Order for the Seas and Oceans in November 2022 under Indonesian chairmanship

The AMM took NAM to task. It was seriously disappointed over the failure of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to update paragraphs on the South China Sea at the Nam Coordinating Bureau on 6 July 2023. It asked NAM to respect Asean Centrality on the issue and respect the Bandung principles.

China is trying to get ASEAN to come along its path but under Indonesia, ASEAN is standing up a bit more and urging China to act more judiciously. At the same time, ASEAN opened a new trilateral meeting with the ASEAN chair, China and Russia. This discussed trilateral cooperation on food and energy security.

This impacts the divisive Ukraine crisis. ASEAN nations are not united on their view of the crisis, but are united about the severe impact. Russian FM Lavrov was an important guest because grain and oil supply lines were discussed. He offered trading in local currencies, which would help evade dollarized sanctions. Russia-ASEAN trade dipped 4.4% after sanctions, though with Indonesia, it rose 45% to $4.8 billion. An Indonesia FTA with Eurasian Economic Union is possible in 2024.

US Secretary of State Blinken cautioned ASEAN from falling into this trap but it appears that ASEAN is in an existentialist mode. Lavrov suggested in an interview that individual ASEAN countries may agree to initiatives to keep the grain and fuel supplies going.

All the Quad countries played positive roles during these meetings. The Quad ASEAN partnership was not pushed nor did an ASEAN-Quad meeting take place, but increasing trilateral meetings with ASEAN are emerging and positive gains in how India, Japan, US and Australia engage ASEAN are evident. A Quad-ASEAN meeting is a possibility ahead.

The AMM agreed to enhance engagement in the IndoPacific. Cooperation between ASEAN and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), will be formalised at the next Summit. Indonesia will invite the Chairs of PIF (Cook Islands) and IORA (Bangladesh) as Guests at the EAS in September.

South Africa is accepted as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and Moroccos application is accepted in principle. Norway and Turkiye initiated trilateral dialogues with the ASEAN Chair and SG whose import is unclear.

During the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meetings, principles of peace and stability, to avoid hot conflicts by using the portals of the EAS and ARF for confidence building and preventive diplomacy were pursued. The norms and values of ASEAN are guidelines for conflict prevention, particularly in the maritime domain.

ARFs irrelevance was discouraged by seeking concrete cooperation, through an action-oriented mechanism to explore preventive diplomacy. ASEAN suggested a strengthening of the institutional capacity of the ARF. A Friends of the ARF chair concept will bring partners to share the responsibilities of the Chair. The ARF track 2 mechanism is likely to be invigorated.

For India, it was a useful time to be seen as an important strategic partner of ASEAN. EAM Jaishankar held meetings with the ASEAN Secretary General (whose visibility is rising) and some dialogue partners, including Wang Yi of China, Blinken of USA, Lavrov of Russia, the EU and several from the ASEAN countries.

The India-ASEAN summit was chaired by the foreign minister of Singapore, the coordinator for India. Jaishankar said ASEAN is a crucial pillar of Indias policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific. A strong and unified ASEAN plays an important role in the emerging dynamic of the Indo-Pacific. India firmly supports ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Cyber, financial and maritime security are part of further activity under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships (CSP).

The India- ASEAN common view of maintaining the region as the epicentrum of growth through ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific and its collaboration under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative will set the stage for the India-ASEAN CSP implementation ahead.

The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Something curious happened when diplomatic documents and the summary of outcomes were released Friday following the bilateral between Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron during the prime ministers recent visit to France. First, it was a case of the dog that did not bark.

After feverish discussions and reports in Indian media, as well as an announcement by Indias Defence Procurement Board that it is issuing preliminary clearance for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft and three additional Scorpene-class submarines for the navy ahead of Modis trip to France, the spate of joint documents issued by both sides had no mention of the deal.

These include the Joint Communique, the document named Horizon 2047  25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards A Century of India-France Relations, the most substantial statement on deliverables and vision, the List of Outcomes, or the India-France Indo-Pacific Roadmap.

Adding confusion to bafflement, couple of statements indicating the finalization of two more deals were edited out from a revised version of the Horizon 2047 document, but not before these statements were widely reported by the media.

In the first, now withdrawn lines, it was mentioned that both leaders welcome the MoU between Mazgon Dockyard Ltd (Mumbai) and Naval Group (France) for the construction of three additional (Scorpene-class) submarines under the P75 programme, a deal that also received initial approval from Union defence minister Rajnath Singh-chaired Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).

The revised statement mentions the P75 programme but omits the reference to additional submarines. India and France hail 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. India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance.

In the second instance, the roadmap for the joint development of a combat aircraft engine, a ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies between Frances Safran and Indias DRDO was to be prepared before the end of this year (2023). This deadline has been subsequently dropped. The revised statement is devoid of any timeline commitment.

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.

This led to considerable media speculation. An official source was liberally quoted, as saying, that some earlier negotiating text got uploaded on the external affairs ministrys website for a short while that it was not the agreed upon text in any way, and a mutually agreed version has now been put up.

According to a Deccan Herald report, the two sides apparently could not iron out the details and finally agreed to strike out both the deals, and negotiations for both deals are underway and would be clinched as soon as possible.This was naturally put to the foreign secretary during his media briefing on the following day, but Vinay Mohan Kwatra sidestepped the question and instead pointed at the larger trend of defence and security cooperation, which, he said, is more holistic and comprehensive and is not defined by any specific transaction.

According to the foreign secretary, the Horizon 2047 document looks at security and sovereignty in a more holistic and a comprehensive manner rather than as a set of individual transaction. And why is that? And the reason for that is because the metrics of defense partnership is (sic) not defined by a single acquisition or a non-acquisition, single procurement, or a single transaction. The nature of India-France Strategic Partnership, I should say, looks at all elements of our engagement.

Notably, Kwatra did not rule out any specific deal, but said that we look at India-France security partnership from the rubric and from the frame of reference, which is comprehensive, which is strategic in nature, which looks ahead  looks ahead on what we can do in the entire ecosystem of defense from the lens of Atmanirbhar Bharat and  and not just limit itself to one or two issues.

The foreign secretarys careful calibration hints at deeper defence cooperation between the two sides without committing to any timelines or referring to any specific deal, despite strong indications that ground-breaking moves are ahoy. What, therefore, explains this reticence?

Before we delve deeper into that question, it is worth noting that the French companies involved in the Rafale and Scorpene-class submarine deals issued separate press statements seemingly confirming the deals.

In a statement released shortly after the Horizon 2047 document, French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale aircraft, announced that India has selected Dassaults latest-generation fighter jets for its navy, and that more 26 jets will join the 36 Rafale already in service.

Following an international competition launched by the Indian authorities, this decision comes after a successful trial campaign held in India, during which the Navy Rafale demonstrated that it fully met the Indian Navys operational requirements and was perfectly suited to the specificities of its aircraft carrier, said the statement from Dassault.

It added that the Indian Navys 26 Rafale will eventually join the 36 Rafale already in service making India the first country to make the same military choice as France by operating both versions of the aircraft to help consolidate its superiority in the air and on the seas and guarantee its sovereignty.

Concurrently, Frances Naval Group noted the desire both sides to explore ambitious submarine projects and in a statement, CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet said, we welcome the declarations made during the Indian Prime Ministers historic participation in the French National Day, to continue and further strengthen our 15-year submarine-building cooperation, which is a major element of the Indo-French strategic partnership developed over the past decades. Naval Group and its partners will be fully mobilised to meet the expectations of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the Indian industry to fulfill the needs of the Indian Navy.

Livemint reports that the three Scorpene-class submarines would be acquired under the repeat clause by the Navy as part of Project 75 where they would be built in the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai.

We should also note Prime Minister Modis statement during the joint press conference with President Macron, where he called France an important partner in the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes, and said, be it submarines or naval aircraft, together we want to fulfil not just ours but also the requirements of other friendly countries.

To recall, therefore, though the Rafale and Scorpene submarine deals were not mentioned in outcome documents, and the deadline for the co-development of the fifth-generation combat aircraft engine has been removed, the deals appear very much on the table going by the loaded hints from the Indian side and confirmations by the French companies involved. Whats more, the prime minister has talked about naval aircraft and submarines and the DAC has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for both procurements.

The Hindustan Times in a report claimed that the South Block did not want to get into the Defence Ministrys acquisition processes as the Defence Acquisition Council has already given acceptance of necessity to both the projects.

Be that as it may, the most likely explanation is related to the political discourse over defence deals in India. Worth noting that though the defence minister-chaired DAC had issued preliminary clearance for the deals, these are subject to techno-commercial bargaining since the purchase of the Rafale aircraft, for instance, is linked to negotiated settlements over ancillary equipment, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew training and logistic support for the Indian Navy from the French government based on Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

As the defence ministry statement in this regard makes it clear, the Rafale procurement proposal clearance is only the first step towards acquisition. The price and other terms of purchase will be negotiated with the French government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including comparative procurement price of similar aircraft by other countries. Further, integration of Indian designed equipment and establishment of Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) Hub for various systems will be incorporated into the contract documents after due negotiations.

It appears that before these details were finalized, which will take a considerable amount of time before the Cabinet Committee on Security gives its final approval, the government was loathe to announce the deals or declare a timeline that may well coincide with the general elections in 2024.

The Congress Party had vigorously attacked the government during the last general elections over the procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft, and though its allegations were rejected by the Centre and repeatedly dismissed by the Supreme Court for lacking in merit  and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was forced to tender an unconditional apology to the apex court,  the Congress has shown no signs of changing its tactic even after getting drubbed in the 2019 elections.

The Gandhi scion, now a disqualified MP, appears determined to keep flogging the Rafale horse. While the protracted negotiations are underway over pricing and other terms and conditions, any public declaration at this stage may provide the Opposition with ammo to target the government ahead of the polls which may, in turn, have an adverse effect on the procurement process. It makes better sense for the government, therefore, to make concrete statements after the elections are over.

This may explain why, despite the DAC green light and de facto confirmation of the deal by the partners involved, the statements have not appeared in diplomatic documents.

Finally, the Scorpene-class submarine deal apart, the loaded statement in the Horizon 2047 documents, that India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance, may indicate a move towards France helping India co-develop nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), according to some reports.

Similarly, the speculation is that French firm Safran will help India in the joint production of the engines for fifth-generation stealth fighter jets for Indias ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, and that deal may contain a big component of technology transfer. These are truly ground-breaking developments for India which is desperate to increase self-capacity and develop a globally competent indigenous military-industrial complex. A public declaration of these goals may prove to be counterproductive at this stage.

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Countries worldwide are realising the immense importance of investing in critical defence technology. National security, global positioning, and economic vitality are intertwined, and a strategic investment in defence technology serves to strengthen each of these elements.

Consider the case of Israel. Small in size but significant in its strategic positioning, Israel has systematically and consistently invested in its defence technology over the years. The payoff has been remarkable. Israel has not just fortified its own defences, but has emerged as a commanding force in the global defence export arena.

As the philosopher Sun Tzu stated in his timeless work The Art of War, The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. This wisdom holds remarkably true in the context of defence technology. A nations power today is as much about its military strength as it is about its technological capabilities. Investment in defence technology can serve as a powerful deterrent, preserving peace, and preventing conflicts before they arise. In a rapidly evolving world, countries readiness to invest in defence technology can shape their future and determine their standing in the global order.

This resonates with the recent announcement made by India and France to deepen their defence cooperation. Their joint venture to develop advanced aeronautical technologies, including a combat aircraft engine and an engine for the Indian multi-role helicopter, signifies an important step towards self-reliance and technological advancement for India. This partnership not only marks an upturn in Indo-French relations but also sets a blueprint for other countries to follow. The industrial cooperation for the motorization of heavy-lift helicopters will not only strengthen Indias defence capabilities but also catalyse growth in its domestic aerospace industry.

The global jet engine landscape is heavily dominated by General Electric (GE), Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and CFM-Safran. These leading manufacturers are the major suppliers of aircraft engines worldwide. In a recent development, during the Indian Prime Ministers visit to the USA, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) took a significant stride forward. On 22 June, HAL penned a memorandum of understanding with GE Aerospace for the production of fighter jet enginesspecifically, the renowned F414 enginesfor the Indian Air Force.

However, a prominent caveat lies in the reluctance of these manufacturers to fully share their technology. This hesitance particularly emerges when it comes to transferring sensitive technology, such as those managing extreme engine temperatures. Thus, while partnerships are being formed and progress is being made, the issue of comprehensive technology transfer remains a complex challenge in the aerospace industry.

There are three reasons for this reluctance. Firstly, jet engine technology, a linchpin in combat aircraft manufacture, embodies a nations technological might and military advantage. Sharing this technology could imperil national security by equipping potential adversaries with superior military capabilities. Secondly, political dynamics are another roadblock. Western nations have demonstrated reservations in transferring engine technologies due to geopolitical concerns. The case of Turkeys stalled engine acquisition and Chinas difficulties in forming defence partnerships underline this fact.

Lastly, the development and manufacturing of jet engines represent a significant investment of resources, requiring years of research, high levels of expertise, and a large monetary investment. As such, these technologies represent significant commercial value. The highly competitive nature of the market, coupled with the need for extensive knowledge and experience, makes this a closely guarded secret for leading manufacturers. Consequently, the reluctance to share such technologies also stems from a desire to protect intellectual and commercial property rights.

However, the recent deal between India and France is a game-changer. This pact marks not just a milestone in the manufacture of engines on Indian soil, but significantly, it heralds the dawn of co-development of jet engines between the two nations through Safran and DRDO.

This paradigm shift signifies a strategic move away from a short-sighted perspective of mere procurement. It represents India gaining access to coveted technology that will empower it to independently manufacture engines for its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft program. The implications are profound, for it potentially positions India as a significant player in the global aerospace industry in future.

Consequently, the agreement could stimulate domestic capabilities, spur innovation, and foster self-reliance. It also promises to enhance Indias technological prowess in the international arena, boosting its image as a dynamic, technologically-advanced nation. Thus, this pact is a monumental stride towards the future, embodying far-reaching consequences that could reshape Indias aerospace industry.

It will also help India to achieve strategic autonomy, as it will allow India to have its own fighter aircraft engines, whose parts are designed and manufactured within the country, using technology that has been co-developed.

At the same time, India should keep investing in its other indigenous jet engine development programs. An indigenous jet engine program for fighter planes is indispensable for a country like India for numerous reasons. Primarily, it will reinforce Indias military self-reliance by reducing dependence on foreign entities for critical components, thereby improving its strategic autonomy. Take the example of Chinas advancements in indigenous aircraft and engine development, which have considerably strengthened its domestic military capabilities. However, the development of indigenous jet engines and aircraft is indeed a complex, costly, and time-consuming process. Yet, countries persistently invest in it, cognizant of its long-term strategic and economic benefits.

In India, the drive to indigenize is already evident. For instance, the country has initiated the development of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas, pushing towards homegrown military prowess. Nevertheless, the challenge lies in the lack of indigenous engines, as witnessed in the case of Tejas, where India had to rely on foreign engines due to setbacks with the indigenous Kaveri jet engine program.

Therefore, Indias strides towards indigenization of aero engine manufacturing mark a significant achievement. The long-drawn process of developing indigenous jet engines is a worthwhile investment, not only from a strategic standpoint but also for its potential economic benefits. Successful development of indigenous jet engines can open avenues for India in the global aviation market, similar to the United States and Europe, boosting its economic growth.

Indias steady progression toward defence technology independence signals the dawn of a new era. Stepping beyond mere procurement, India is now forging its path in co-developing jet engines, inevitably marking its territory in the global aerospace industry. The path to strategic autonomy may be complex and expensive, but its potential benefits are inarguable, both from a national security perspective and an economic standpoint. The future beckons, and nations equipped with advanced defence tech will lead the charge.

The writer is Additional Private Secretary (Policy & Research), Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He tweets @adityasinha004. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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After a quid pro quo with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for Oppositions Bengaluru meet, the Congress on Monday tried to delink its stand on the Centres ordinance on control of services in Delhi from the Oppositions unity meet in Bengaluru.

Congress leader Pawan Khera Monday said it was wrong to link the Opposition unity meet with his partys stand on the ordinance.

Opposing Delhi ordinance has nothing to do with Opposition Meeting. Congress has always stood up to protect the constitutional structure and we have always raised our voice against the misuse of Governors and Lieutenant governors by BJP government, Khera said.

So linking this with Opposition Meeting will be wrong, Khera added.

#WATCH | Opposing Delhi ordinance has nothing to do with #OppositionMeeting. Congress has always stood up to protect the constitutional structure and we have always raised our voices against the misuse of Governors and deputy governors by BJP govt. So linking this with pic.twitter.com/1QoEpWdST3  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

How AAP came around to attending Opposition unity meet

The AAP decided to attend a meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, party leader Raghav Chadha announced on Sunday.

The announcement came as Congress said it would not support the Centres 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.

After a meeting of the AAPs highest decision making body  political affairs committee (PAC)  at party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence in New Delhi, Chadha also welcomed the Congress decision to oppose in Parliament the Centres ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.

After the PAC deliberations, Chadha announced that the AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal will participate in the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, beginning with a dinner on Monday.

Earlier, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the partys 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.
Impossible to bring down Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said, slamming the second meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru. He said, Their sole aim is to bring down PM Modi, which is impossible.

Intensifying his attack, Bommai said there is no Bandhan (unity) among opposition parties who have been their unison as Mahagathbandhan

They (Opposition parties) are calling it a Mahagadhbandhan but actually there is no Bandhan in this when zero is added to zero, it is nothing, Bommai said.

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meeting of Opposition grouping being convened by Congress, on July 17 and 18, aimed at taking on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

On Sunday, Bommai said such gatherings have no political meaning, and many such meetings may take place in the days ahead, but will not have any impact.

"There is no strong Opposition party at the all India level, there are more regional parties, so formation of a federation of Opposition parties and them holding meetings has no political meaning, nor will it result in any political profit (to them)," Bommai said.

The first edition of such unity meeting of Opposition parties was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23 which saw the participation of 15 parties.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend a dinner meeting on July 17 where leaders of these parties will be present.

With inputs from agencies
Apple is likely to hold its iPhone 15 series event in September, followed by another event later on. In June, Apple already unveiled the 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, all equipped with M2 chips. However, a recent report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is preparing to announce new Macs powered by the M3 chips in October.

According to the report, Apple is expected to launch three devices featuring the M3 processor: an iMac, a 13-inch MacBook Air, and a 13-inch MacBook Pro.

M3 silicon expected to be unbelievably fast

These devices are expected to deliver improved performance compared to their predecessors. Its important to note that Apple has not confirmed these details yet, as the event is still a long way off. Therefore, users are advised to take this information with caution.

Gurman mentioned in his newsletter that with the release of the 15-inch MacBook Air and new M2 Ultra-based Macs, the October launch could potentially introduce the first Macs with M3 chips.

Another report, citing insights from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, indicates that Apple plans to adopt the advanced 2nd-generation TSMC 3nm process for the upcoming M3 and A17 Bionic chipsets. These powerful chips are expected to be utilized in future Mac computers and the iPhone 15 Pro models, set to be released in 2023.

Furthermore, there are indications that Apple will begin production of the M3 Pro or M3 Max processors in the first half of 2024.

M3 in iPads as well

Recent reports suggest that Apple is in the development phase of a new iPad Pro model featuring the M3 Pro processor and a larger 14.1-inch display. However, it is premature to discuss these devices as the focus is currently on the upcoming iPhone 15 series.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models are expected to be powered by the latest Bionic A17 chip, while the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will likely retain the Bionic A16 SoC from last year.

Significant upgrades are anticipated in terms of design, battery life, and camera capabilities for the new iPhone lineup. Rumours suggest that the standard models may feature 48-megapixel rear cameras, similar to the Pro models of the iPhone 14 series.

This would mark a substantial improvement over the 12-megapixel sensors seen in previous iPhone iterations. However, it should be noted that the standard models may not include a telephoto lens for optical zoom or a LiDAR scanner, as these features are expected to be exclusive to the higher-end Pro models.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max model is rumoured to have an enhanced camera module, housing periscope lenses that enable optical zoom of up to 5-6x, along with additional sensors. Lastly, the 2023 iPhones are expected to feature a USB Type-C port and the Dynamic Island feature.
Speaking at CNN-News18s Delhi Town Hall, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar spoke candidly about misinformation and how certain political parties feed off of it, about regulation of upcoming industries and tech, such as online gaming, and how policies are not as much of a knee-jerk reaction as people assume them to be, and just how much deliberation goes into them.

When questioned that the government is often accused of letting industries flourish, and then regulating them, as has been the case with the online, real money gaming industry, Minister Chandrasekhar started by saying, The GST Council is not the Government of India and is represented by all the state governments, so it is truly a federal organisation. State governments, state finance departments and the Government of India have come together and created a GST framework, after working on it for three years.

He added, While we may quibble and the industry may have issues with it, we have to recognise that the process to create a regulatory framework for online gaming started only in January 2023. We are still in the nascent stages of creating a predictable, sustainable and permissible online gaming framework. We will go back and request their considerations on the facts of the new regulatory framework.

All the noise of this being anticonstitutional, It is better to slowly progress and evolve in creating these frameworks that are sustainable than to do it in a hurry because you are reacting to a sound bite or an angry industry or a startup and make mistakes down the stream, said Minister Chandrasekhar. The Prime Minister is very clear  in the digital space, do everything from the perspective of the next decade, that is Indias Techade. All the laws and rules therefore go through detailed consultation with stakeholders, he added.

The online gaming framework that has come out, went through 3 months of detailed consultations. What the government started with and what we ended with were completely different, he explained.

So it is better to do it right than to do it fast, he said.

He also took the moment to speak candidly about misinformation, and the governments plans on approaching it. Sometimes, the noise and the misinformation have submerged the benefits that could have come out of certain policies that have been opposed.

We are living in a digital age, where social media can create a lot of noise and a lot of static, where misinformation has the power to sway people, swap the truth and elevate the lies. That plays to the strength of some political parties, who actually survive on politics of misinformation and lies, explained Minister Chandrasekhar.

There are two ways to approach misinformation. We can do what the Congress did in UPA and put everybody in jail who put out a (political) cartoon or did something satirical, which is now being replicated in West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka, he said.

We certainly dont believe that misinformation is the same right to free speech. But there is a debate going on, on how do we deal with misinformation. We dont want to be heavy-handed about it, he added.

We want there to be a consensus, where we create a public opinion that right to free speech should not be conflated with the power and weaponisation of misinformation, especially in a democracy like India, where we have 85 crore Indians online and will have about 125 crores Indians by 2025 Our approach is getting more and more people onboard, to understand that these are problems and then to legislate around the problem, rather than to use a stick, he concluded.
There is an adage that says all is fair in war. Were certain that whenever that adage was used for the first time, John Lyly, the British poet to whom the line is often attributed to, couldnt have imagined the very concept of AI. But is it really fair when a computer plays out a set of instructions against humans, especially when noncombatant civilians are concerned? Well, thats when things start getting tricky.

According to reports, Israels military is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the identification of targets for airstrikes and handle logistical planning for subsequent operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, amidst increasing tensions.

Using AI For Target-Selection

Bloomberg reported that Israels AI-based targeting system can quickly process large volumes of data to prioritize and assign thousands of targets for both manned aircraft and drones, as stated by Israeli military officials. Additionally, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) utilizes another AI program called Fire Factory, which assists in organizing wartime logistics, including calculating ammunition loads and proposing schedules for each strike.

This revelation follows an escalation in airstrikes by West Jerusalem on the occupied West Bank in recent weeks, characterized as a focused counterterrorism operation. A May 8 airstrike on the coastal Palestinian territory of Gaza resulted in the death of at least 15 individuals. Furthermore, the IDF has continued to target locations in Syria, further escalating tensions with its arch-enemy, Iran.

According to Bloomberg, the AI systems employed by the IDF still rely on human operators to verify and authorize each airstrike and raid plan. While the AI technology has significantly reduced the time required for processing, an IDF colonel mentioned that human verification takes a few extra minutes. The use of AI allows the military to achieve more with the same number of personnel.

What about AI hallucinations and errors?

However, experts have expressed concerns regarding the potential consequences of AI errors and the possibility of diminishing human involvement in decision-making as the technology progresses.

Tal Mimran, a law professor and former military adviser at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, raised questions about accountability if an AI miscalculation occurs and the AIs decision-making process remains inexplicable. He emphasized the potential for devastating mistakes that could harm entire families.

In summary, although the IDFs AI systems streamline the targeting and planning process, experts warn about the risks associated with AI errors and the potential for reducing human oversight in the future.

The Ethics Of War and AI

No matter which AI expert you speak to, the general consensus among scientists and AI developers is that AI has the potential to wipe out human civilisation. That is one of the many reasons why some countries have had conversations about using AI in warfare.

Back in February, the Netherlands and South Korea hosted a summit calling for the responsible use of AI in warfare military operations. As of today, global leaders have been hesitant in agreeing to any restrictions on its usage out of concern that doing so could put them at a disadvantage.

The US too is very keen on getting countries, especially its allies to accept their doctrine of using AI in warfare. As per the US doctrine, AIs usage in warfare and military operations can and should be limited to using AI to cover nuclear weapons safety, responsible system design, people training, and auditing techniques for military AI capabilities, and for financial auditing.

Both, the US doctrine, and the multi-nation summit hosted by the Netherlands and South Korea pointed out that AI should not be used to determine targets and more importantly to get AI to execute and eliminate targets.

Interestingly, the US Air Force successfully tested their first fighter jet fitted with an AI pilot, just days before publishing that doctrine.

Certain reports have suggested, that Israels next weapon in its AI arsenal is a swarm of drones, powered and controlled by AI. Last week Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems demonstrated its Legion-X operating system for autonomous drone swarms.
It looks like Microsoft will finally be acquiring Activision-Blizzard afterall.

Sony and Microsoft have reached a deal that ensures Call of Duty will continue to be available on PlayStation, resolving a dispute about its future. This agreement comes after a US judge dismissed attempts to prevent Microsoft from acquiring games publisher Activision Blizzard. Phil Spencer, Microsofts representative, confirmed that both companies have entered into a legally binding agreement to maintain Call of Duty on the gaming platform.

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



More Options For Gamers

According to Spencer, this decision will provide players with more options. This announcement by Spencer concludes a long-standing conflict between the two companies that began when Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in early 2022.

The BBC reports that they have confirmation from Microsoft, that this is going to be a 10-year deal, similar to the one that they had signed with Nintendo.

Microsofts planned acquisition of Activision for $69 billion (52.6 billion) is set to become the largest-ever purchase in the gaming industry.

FTCs Attempt To Block The Merger Has Been Unsuccessful

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been attempting to prevent Microsofts takeover of Activision, creating a divide among regulators worldwide. The FTC has expressed concerns that the merger could harm competition in the gaming market, suggesting that Microsoft is likely to pull Activisions popular titles from Sonys PlayStation systems and make them exclusively available on its own Xbox console systems.

The deal with Sony seems designed to at least partially assuage such concerns.

From Day One of this acquisition, weve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers, Brad Smith, the vice chair and president of Microsoft, said on Twitter in response to the announcement.

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, he added.

On Thursday, a US judge dismissed the FTCs request to temporarily halt the deal, potentially allowing the merger to be finalised by Tuesday.

However, the FTC, arguing that the acquisition would lead to reduced competition, has sought a temporary pause on the deal from a different court.

Nevertheless, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley doubted that the regulator would succeed in its case.

In her decision, Judge Corley stated, The FTC has not presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the combined company is likely to withdraw Call of Duty from Sony PlayStation, or that its ownership of Activision content would significantly diminish competition in the markets for video game library subscriptions and cloud gaming.

One Major Hurdle For Microsoft

The Microsoft-Activision merger, although making strides in the acquisition process, faces an additional challenge from the United Kingdoms Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This obstacle emerges mere days before the expiration of the agreement between the two companies.The European Union has already granted approval for the deal, while an attempt to block the merger is currently being appealed in the UK.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which initially opposed the takeover, has now declared that it will take six weeks to thoroughly assess the deal.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan criticized Chinas planned restrictions on the export of two metals used in various industries, including semiconductors, telecommunications, and electric vehicles.

Sullivan stated that these restrictions would ultimately harm China itself. He argued that such measures would only strengthen the resolve of other countries to reduce their reliance on China and enhance the resilience of their own supply chains.

I think its a self-defeating move because I believe that will only reinforce the determination of many other countries in the world to de-risk, Sullivan said.

More and more companies and countries will take up China Plus One Policy

He added, Those countries will be spurred to find ways to reduce dependencies and increase the resilience of their own supply chains, including for the kinds of minerals that are at issue in this particular decision.

Sullivan expressed concerns that this decision by China would lead to a further escalation of the ongoing trade war centred around technological dominance between China and the United States and Europe.

The US government, under President Joe Bidens administration, has been engaging in diplomatic efforts to convey to China that while they do not seek complete disengagement from trade, they are committed to defending their national security interests.

In response to US-led restrictions on exporting advanced chip-making technology to China, China has announced export controls on gallium and germanium, which are crucial minerals for global production, as a means to protect its national security.

Controlling trade with China

The Biden administration is reportedly considering blocking the sale of certain chips used in artificial intelligence programs. However, Sullivan clarified that the US is not aiming to sever all trade with China but rather imposing targeted restrictions on technology with national security implications.

Were not looking to end all trade with China, he said. What were looking to do is have a small yard of restrictions on technology with national security implications and a high fence around that yard.

Thats what were going to continue to do and China of course will have to make its own decisions, Sullivan said.

Sullivan emphasized that the US approach is not a sign of weakness, as some Republican lawmakers have suggested.

He reiterated the USs intention to maintain a balanced stance, with restrictions in place to safeguard national security interests while allowing for continued trade with China within certain boundaries. Sullivan highlighted that China will have to make its own decisions in response to the US position.
This week, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to have its inaugural formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in New York. Britain intends to initiate an international conversation regarding the impact of AI on global peace and security.

The upcoming meeting on July 18, as revealed by UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward, will serve as the focal point of the United Kingdoms presidency of the council this month. The meeting will feature presentations from international AI experts and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

AI An Existential Threat To Humanity

In a recent statement, Guterres emphasized the urgent concerns surrounding highly advanced AI, highlighting that the warnings regarding its potential consequences are particularly pronounced among those responsible for its development.

These scientists and experts have called on the world to act, declaring AI an existential threat to humanity on a par with the risk of nuclear war, the UN chief said.

Governments worldwide are contemplating ways to address the risks associated with emerging AI technology, which has the potential to reshape the global economy and alter the international security landscape.

During its current presidency of the UN Security Council, Britain is actively pursuing a leadership role in regulating AI and will oversee the discussion on Tuesday, chaired by British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

A Governing Body Like The IAEA Is Necessary For AI

In June, UN Secretary-General Guterres endorsed a proposal put forth by certain AI directives, suggesting the establishment of an international AI oversight body similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In September, Secretary-General Guterres announced his intention to establish an advisory board on artificial intelligence, tasked with formulating initiatives for the United Nations to undertake. Additionally, he expressed his positive disposition towards the establishment of a new U.N. agency focused on AI, using the International Atomic Energy Agency as a potential model. This agency would possess knowledge-based expertise and certain regulatory powers.

Ambassador Woodward highlighted the United Kingdoms objective of promoting a multilateral approach to effectively manage the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. She emphasized the necessity for a global endeavour in this regard.

Weighing The Benefit & Cost Of AI

Woodward acknowledged the tremendous benefits that AI offers, including its potential to support UN development programs, enhance humanitarian aid operations, facilitate peacekeeping efforts, and aid in conflict prevention through data collection and analysis. Furthermore, she emphasized that AI has the potential to bridge the gap between developing and developed nations.

However, Woodward stressed the importance of addressing the significant security concerns associated with AI, as the risks it poses raise serious questions that require attention and resolution.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO has expressed concern about the rapid progress of neurotechnology, accelerated by artificial intelligence, and its potential threat to human rights and mental privacy.

To address these concerns, UNESCO announced during an international conference in Paris that it will develop an ethical framework aimed at addressing the human rights issues raised by neurotechnology.

Nothing Short Of A Nightmare

During the event, Gabriela Ramos, UNESCOs assistant director-general for social and human sciences, stated that we are heading towards a future where algorithms will allow us to decode peoples mental processes and directly manipulate the brain mechanisms that control their intentions, emotions, and decisions.

We are on a path to a world in which algorithms will enable us to decode peoples mental processes and directly manipulate the brain mechanisms underlying their intentions, emotions and decisions, she said.

What this basically means is that by using BCIs or brain-computer interfaces, corporations, and possibly, even the government will not only know what and how you think, record your innermost thoughts, and possibly change the way you think, without you even realising it.

How do BCIs work?

Neurotechnology, broadly defined as electronic devices (including brain-computer interfaces and brain scanners) that interface with the brain or nervous system, has traditionally been used for medical purposes such as assisting paralyzed individuals in regaining movement, eyesight, or hearing.

However, recent advancements have raised concerns about its potential intrusiveness. A study with dystopian implications successfully combined a large language model AI with a functional MRI brain scan to read peoples thoughts and articulate them in written form.

The recent advancements in neurotechnology, made possible by the use of artificial intelligence, have raised concerns among experts regarding potential privacy issues. These advances, which enable the rapid processing of brain data, are seen as an intensified version of neurotech.

Mariagrazia Squicciarini, an economist specializing in AI at UNESCO, described it as neurotech on steroids, emphasizing the worry surrounding these developments.

Big Bucks For Your Thoughts

The significant amount of capital being invested in the neurotech industry is another cause for concern, echoing the unchecked growth and hype experienced by AI. The financial aspect often prioritizes interests other than those of the general public as we have seen with AI.

According to a UNESCO report co-authored by Squicciarini, between 2010 and 2020, investment in neurotechnology companies skyrocketed to over $33 billion, representing a 22-fold increase. Additionally, the number of neurotech patents doubled in just half that time period.

Leading the charge in this field in this particular regard is Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, which recently obtained approval from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct human trials for its brain implants. Musks newly launched AI company, xAI, further reinforces the efforts of Neuralink. And even though Neuralink isnt the first BCI company, it certainly is the most popular of them all, thanks to Muks involvement.

UNESCO acknowledges that neurotech has its positive aspects but emphasizes the lack of comprehensive regulations to address future challenges in this field.
The first-generation iPhone, introduced by Steve Jobs, revolutionized the smartphone industry with its touchscreen interface and integration of various features like music, internet browsing, and streaming.

As a result, the original iPhone holds significant value, particularly when it is a factory-sealed and unopened device. These rare iPhones have been known to fetch high prices at auctions, and in a recent auction, the first-generation iPhone broke records as the most valuable iPhone sold.

The auction, conducted by LCG Auction, featured a 4GB version of the first-generation iPhone that was sold for an astonishing $158,000 (around Rs 1.3 crore). Initially, the estimated selling price for the iPhone was expected to be between $50,000 and $100,000.

However, due to intense demand, the bidding quickly escalated from $10,000 on June 30, ultimately reaching the final price of $158,644. This amount is 250 per cent higher than the previous record of $63,000 (around Rs 51.6 Lakh) set in February for another rare 4GB original iPhone.

It is worth noting that the 4GB variant of the first-generation iPhone was originally launched in 2007 at a price of $499, approximately around Rs 40,000. With the recent auction, the value of this particular variant has increased by a staggering 318 times over the span of 16 years.

The LCG Auction described the condition of the highly valuable 4GB sealed original iPhone, providing details about its pristine and unopened state:

Our offering is an exceedingly rare, factory-sealed, first-release 4GB model in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness. Labels on the reverse are correctly pristine beneath the seal. Outstanding color and gloss. Brand new, never activated. The phones provenance is pristine as the consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched. Collectors and investors would be hard pressed to find a superior example. Relevance and rarity comprise a winning formula for this red-hot collectible.

The auctioned iPhone holds even greater significance as it originated from a former Apple engineer who was directly involved in the development of the smartphone. This connection to an individual who worked on the device adds an extra layer of rarity and historical value.

Furthermore, the 4GB variant of the first-generation iPhone is particularly unique because it was only manufactured for a short period before being overshadowed by the 8GB version in the market. However, in the auction, the 4GB variant fetched a higher value compared to its 8GB counterpart. This was evident when another factory-sealed original iPhone 1st-gen with an 8GB capacity was also sold at the same auction but at a lower price of $44,771 (around Rs 36 lakh).

The unexpected pricing difference between the two variants demonstrates the demand and collectors value associated with the more limited and rare 4GB model, despite the higher storage capacity of the 8GB version.
Argentina Minister of Defence, Jorge Taiana will hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Tuesday, defence officials said.

During the meeting, the two countries are expected to discuss ways to fortify defence and cooperation.

The South American nation had expressed interest in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas for Argentine Air Force in 2022.

Earlier this June, Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, Chief of Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac discussed cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR  delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine  Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia pic.twitter.com/ajwAQcpo0K  India in Argentina (@Indembarg) June 5, 2023

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also acknowledged Argentine interest in the Tejas fighter aircraft and highlighted the importance of the proposal in enhancing the strategic quotient of bilateral relationships.

Both sides agreed to promote the exchange of visits between the Armed Forces, defence training and collaboration for joint production of defence-related equipment.

The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Notably, India shares cordial and friendly relations with Argentina.

Last year, Jaishankar visited Argentina and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Republica de la India Street.

With inputs from agencies
Jorge Enrique Taiana, the defence minister of Argentina, arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a four-day trip. To further strengthen their defence collaboration, he will meet privately with Rajnath Singh, his Indian counterpart.

On July 17, 2023, Mr. Jorge Enrique Taiana, the Argentine Republics Minister of Defence, arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India. On July 18, 2023, Jorge Taiana will meet with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to have bilateral talks to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that Taiana will honour the martyrs of the Indian armed forces by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

The Argentine defence minister is also scheduled to visit Bengaluru during his visit.

During the President of Argentinas State Visit to India in February 2019, the bilateral relationship between the two countries was raised to the status of Strategic Partnership.

Recently, on June 24, 2022, outside of the G7 Summit in Munich, Germany, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez met for the first time in private.

Earlier in June, cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a number of helicopter choices produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was discussed between the Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, and the Chief of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac.

Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia, the Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted.

Additionally acknowledging Argentine interest in the Tejas fighter plane, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised the significance of the proposal for raising the strategic level of bilateral relations.

The promotion of visits between the armed forces, defence training, and cooperation for joint manufacturing of defense-related equipment were all agreed upon by the parties.

The Aeronautical Development Agency and the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited collaborated to create the single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter known as the HAL Tejas for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Notably, India and Argentina have amicable and cordial relations.

(With agency inputs)
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers Retreat began in Thailand capital city Bangkok on Monday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankaris who is on a six-day visit to two nations that began from 12 July posted a tweet this morning.

Just started the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok, EAM Jaishankar tweeted.

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.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation.

Its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia but also the ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

It mainly aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development; accelerate social progress; and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region.

In Jakarta, the EAM attended the Foreign Ministers Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format, ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum on July 13-14.

Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Indias engagement with this ASEAN-centered regional architecture signifies Indias strong commitment to ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific.

From Indonesia, he travelled to Bangkok to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism on 16 July.

MGC is one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region and is guided by Indias Act East Policy.

Earlier this month, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary East Saurabh Kumar, and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen held in-depth consultations on BIMSTEC) issues in Dhaka.

They reviewed the recent significant progress in regional cooperation under BIMSTEC and steps taken to strengthen its institutional framework. Also discussed ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC cooperation agenda and forthcoming events, MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had tweeted.

Bagchi wrote: India looks at Bangladesh as a key driver of the BIMSTEC process and appreciates its constructive role including as host to BIMSTEC Secretariat.

In March 2023, Minister of State for External Affairs S Jaishankar participated in the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting virtually from Bangkok.

During the meeting, the Ministers approved several documents including rules of Procedure for Core BIMSTEC Mechanisms. The meeting also approved the draft Host Country

Agreement between India and the BIMSTEC Secretariat for establishing BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate in India.

With inputs from agencies
This week, smoggy air from the Canadian wildfires has returned to the United States. Although there are about 900 wildfires burning across Canada, this weeks smoke will come from the west of the country.

Several regions, including the Midwest, the Great Lakes, central Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Northeast, received air quality alerts.

Several cities were reporting high values of the Air Quality Index by 5 a.m. Eastern time on Monday: 158 in Buffalo, 155 in Chicago, and 142 in Nashville. The air pollution index ranges from 0 to 500; the higher the number, the more air pollution there is. A.Q.I. values of 201 or more are regarded as extremely unhealthy.

According to AirNow, a website sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which monitors air quality across the nation, unhealthy conditions are anticipated for upstate New York on Monday.

Health warnings for the state of New Yorks air quality on Monday were issued. According to AirNow, the prediction is predicted to result in unhealthy for all conditions in the region nearest to the Canadian border. Conditions will become unhealthy for sensitive groups in other regions of the state.

Canadian wildfire smoke will remain in the picture through Tuesday as northwesterly winds aloft that originate out of the Canadian Prairies continues to direct more smoke into the Lower 48, the Weather Service was quoted as saying by the media.

Early this month, smoke-related air pollution reached dangerous levels in so many US cities that records were broken. All throughout, from Minnesota and Indiana to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the South, it was occasionally dangerous to breathe.

Cities like New York, Toronto, and Cincinnati saw stunning reductions in visibility. In some areas, the sky was obscured by an orange haze caused by the fires smoke. It was possible to link that smoke to the flames raging in Quebec.
The Crimean Bridge suffered damages to its spans on Monday claiming two deaths, Russias Transport Ministry reported.

There is damage to the roadway on spans of the Crimean Bridge, the Russian Transport Ministry said on Telegram

The Ukrainian media claim that it was a special operation by the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy, during which surface drones were used.

Visuals from the site depict a partial collapse of a section of the roadway portion of the bridge, which also carries railroad tracks.

On his Telegram channel, Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, blamed the damage to the bridge on a Ukrainian attack.

President of the Assembly of AP Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov characterized last night's attack on the Crimean bridge as a terrorist act and announced retaliation. pic.twitter.com/wj7TFrs9RN  Spriter Team (@SpriterTeam) July 17, 2023

Tonight the terrorist regime in Kyiv committed a new crime  it attacked the Crimean bridge, Konstantinov said.

The railroad track was not damaged by the strike, Konstantinov added.

Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, but is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

Russias Grey Zone channel, affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported that there were two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 a.m. (0004 GMT) and 03:20 a.m.
India and Indonesia are expected to soon seal a deal for settling bilateral trade in domestic currency, shunning the US dollar.

Apart from settling trade in local currency, there could also be a deal between the two countries on real-time card recognition and digital payments, a step that could help promote the use of UPI and similar tools.

The issues were discussed between Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Indonesian counterpart Sri Mulyani Indrawatias. Both the countries announced the launch of Economic and Financial Dialogue, focused on intensifying trade and investment relationship.

Indonesia, which is among the largest economies in Asia, and is said to be the largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region.

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, Sitharaman said after her meeting with the Indonesian FM.

India and Indonesia trade was of around $39 billion last year, it was Indias sixth largest trading partner and enjoyed a trade surplus of $19 billion, especially due to large shipments of palm oil and petroleum. Refined petroleum products were Indias largest export item.

How settling trade in local currency help India & Indonesia?

Making trade settlement in domestic currency will help both India and Indonesia cut the transaction cost.

India has been making efforts to promote the use of Indian rupee in international trade. In July 2022, Indias central bank  Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  allowed invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in INR through special rupee vostro accounts.

How will trading in domestic currency help?

Settling overseas trade in domestic currency will help in protecting the Indian rupee from volatility and reduce cost of doing business in the global market, Indian Economic Survey had said in January this year.

Also, international settlement in INR acquires significance against the backdrop of the US Federal Reserve aggressive increase in the policy rates and its hawkish stand.

With inputs from agencies
Former US President Donald Trump has outlined his strategy to achieve peace in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House.

During an interview with Fox News, Trump emphasised his positive relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When asked about resolving the conflict in Ukraine, he said, 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 dont make a deal, were going to give him a lot. Were going to [give Ukraine] more than they ever got if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day. One day.

He suggested that he would communicate to Zelenskyy that he needs to negotiate and warn Putin that if a deal is not reached, Ukraine would receive significant support. He expressed confidence in concluding the agreement within one day.

Trump also criticized US President Bidens ability to engage with world leaders and described the current situation as the most dangerous in US history.

With inputs from agencies
Google recently honoured the significant contributions of Eunice Newton Foote, an American scientist and champion of womens rights. Through an interactive doodle, it aimed to educate users about the greenhouse effect. The doodle, consisting of 11 slides, shed light on Footes groundbreaking experiment and her pioneering role in shaping our understanding of climate change.

Foote, born in Connecticut in 1819, defied the gender-based discrimination prevalent in the scientific community during her time. Her scientific journey began at the Troy Female Seminary, an institution that encouraged scientific education and experimentation.

In 1856, Foote conducted a remarkable experiment that revolutionised our understanding of the Earths climate. She placed mercury thermometers in glass cylinders and observed the varying heating effects of different gases exposed to sunlight. Through meticulous observations, Foote made a groundbreaking discovery: the cylinder containing carbon dioxide exhibited the most significant heating effect. This was a major observation. It laid the foundation for understanding the connection between rising carbon dioxide levels and atmospheric warming, now recognised as the greenhouse effect.

Footes research findings gained recognition within scientific circles, making her a trailblazer. She became the first woman in the United States to publish two physics studies. One of her studies focused on atmospheric static electricity, further contributing to our understanding of climate science.

Beyond her scientific achievements, Foote actively advocated for womens rights. In 1848, she participated in the renowned Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls. She played a significant role in drafting the Declaration of Sentiments, which demanded equal social and legal rights for women.

Unfortunately, Footes contributions remained largely overlooked for more than a century following her death in 1888. However, her pioneering work laid the groundwork for significant advancements in climate science. Even now, she continues to inspire scientists worldwide as they tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

Googles tribute, presented as an interactive doodle, pays homage to Footes exceptional achievements and unwavering commitment to womens rights. By featuring Foote prominently, Google amplifies her contributions and provides a platform to celebrate her lasting legacy.

This initiative serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising and honouring historically marginalised individuals whose work has shaped our understanding of the world. Eunice Newton Footes story stands as a testament to the enduring impact of scientific curiosity and the tireless pursuit of equality and progress.

As we navigate the complexities of climate change, Footes research and advocacy remain relevant and inspiring. Her research motivates future generations of scientists and activists to forge ahead in their pursuit of a sustainable and equitable future.
To rid their city of hazardous smoke and make it pollution-free, the Hong Kong government as well as residents have recently come up with a unique plan to discourage 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.

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 and make them feel really uncomfortable, the minister elaborated.

He further advised Hong Kong citizens 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, in a bid to rid the city of poisonous smoke.

Hong Kongs current smoking laws state that smoking inside restaurants, workplaces, and other public places is punishable with a fine of up to Rs 22,000.

Globally, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European Union, is close to declaring itself smoke free. Experts say, this can be attributed to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation in that country.
India and the US are among the closest partners in the world, said United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on Monday, adding that her country appreciates Indias leadership during its G20 presidency.

She said bilateral trade between the two countries reached an all-time high last year and they expect it to grow further in the years to come.

Yellen and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman jointly addressed the media here ahead of the India-US dialogue as part of the G20 meetings currently underway in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar.

Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US last month and his meeting with the US president have enhanced the strength and dynamism of partnership between the two countries.

Yellen in a statement said, We highly value our bilateral relationship with India. The US and India are among the closest partners in the world. The US appreciates Indias leadership during its G20 presidency, and we will continue our close cooperation.

The world is looking at the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics, she said.

I am hopeful we can take significant concrete steps forward in our meetings. I appreciate Indias demonstrated leadership on debt issues as G20 president, including your support for G20 efforts to improve the multilateral debt restructuring process, she said.

Yellen also welcomed Indias focus on advancing the evolution of multilateral development banks, or MDBs. It is vital that we use meetings like this to strengthen our coalition of shareholders that are working together to press for more ambition and specific reforms with respect to the MDBs vision, incentive structures, operational approaches, and financial capacity to better address global challenges, she said.

As per an estimate, MDBs could unlock USD 200 billion over the next decade just from the measures already being implemented or under deliberation as part of this process, she said.

We are also proud to have supported Ajay Bangas candidacy to lead the World Bank. We believe that he is providing the right leadership to deliver on these critical reforms, Yellen said.

It is also important to address the immediate need to boost the Banks concessional lending capacity for global challenges and support low-income countries to supplement ongoing efforts. Indian partnership in this effort will be a key to its success, she said.

Beyond our cooperation at the G20, we highly value our bilateral relationship with India, she said.

As illustrated by Prime Minister Modis recent State Visit to Washington, the United States and India are among the closest partners in the world. And Ive been proud to help lead our work on that relationship, Yellen said.

She said the US is home to the largest Indian diaspora outside of Asia, and it serves as Indias largest export market.

Bilateral trade between our two countries reached an all-time high last year, and we expect it to grow further in the years to come, she said.

Our collaboration spans a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration, strengthening supply chains, and catalysing the clean energy transition, she said.

In particular, the US looks forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed Indias energy transition, she said.

I also appreciate Indias focus on finalising the historic two-pillar global tax deal in the inclusive framework, and I believe that we are close to reaching an agreement, she said.

We had a productive meeting in New Delhi last fall as part of the US-India Economic and Financial Partnership, or EFP, and I look forward to convening the 10th EFP meeting, Yellen said.

On the occasion, Sitharaman said PM Narendra Modis visit to the US last month and his meeting with the US president have enhanced the strength and dynamism of partnership between both the countries.

The historic visit paved the way for new avenues of collaboration, propelling our partnership to a greater height, Sitharaman said in her statement.

She said exchanges between both the countries serve as a testament to a mutual commitment to nurture a robust partnership and harness the potential for progress and prosperity.

Our discussions highlight the commitment of India and the United States to actively further the G20 agenda, and this includes addressing critical global issues such as strengthening the multilateral development banks and taking coordinated climate action and harnessing opportunities presented by Crypto assets and digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion, she said.

India is also interested in new investment opportunities through alternate investment platforms for renewable energy, the minister said.

As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement by leveraging each others expertise and resources, she said.

Our partnership will create a prosperous and equitable future making it a catalyst for a positive change worldwide, Sitharaman said.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab claimed that the 150-year-old Hindu temple in Soldier Bazaar area has not been demolished.

Sharing two photographs of the temple, Wahab tweeted, Have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place & Mandir is still intact. Administration has intervened & Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts. Will keep everyone posted on this. PPP stands with people of all communities

Have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place & Mandir is still intact. Administration has intervened & Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts. Will keep everyone posted on this. PPP stands with people of all communities https://t.co/dUKauDtWuZ pic.twitter.com/xu9mN5hbin  Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) July 16, 2023

Earlier, local media reported that the old Mari Mata Temple in the port citys Soldier Bazaar area was demolished in a covert operation on Friday night, adding that locals in the area reported seeing a police mobile there to provide cover to the men operating the machines, Geo News reported.

However, Wahab has rejected the reports.
Following the regimes launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last week, the United States would not be surprised if North Korea conducted another nuclear test, a senior White House official said on Sunday.

In an interview to CBSs Face the Nation, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test going back multiple administrations. And I remain concerned about that.

He said he 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, he added.

Jake Sullivan stressed that Pyongyang had begun testing its nuclear capacity several years ago and they have continued to test it.

North Korea said Thursday it successfully test-fired the reclusive countrys newest ICBM, with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the launch.

The missile, a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 that had reportedly been test-fired only once before, flew 1,001 kilometres (622 miles) at a maximum altitude of 6,648 kilometres before splashing into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Relations between North and South Korea are at a low point. Last year, Kim declared his country an irreversible nuclear power, and has called for ramped-up weapons production, including of tactical nukes.

The United Nations, the United States and its allies including France strongly condemned Wednesdays launch, which violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

Sullivan nevertheless reiterated Washingtons offer of negotiations with Pyongyang, saying President Joe Bidens administration is prepared to sit down and talk without preconditions about their nuclear program.

With inputs from agencies
43 members of the Indian Armys contingent headed to Mongolia on Sunday to take part in the Nomadic Elephant 2023 joint military exercise between India and Mongolia, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The exercise between the two countries will now be in its fifteenth year. The training will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from July 17 to July 31.

According to the press release, the joint drills, known as Nomadic Elephant, are an annual training event between India and Mongolia that alternately takes place in each nation. The most recent iteration of the joint exercises took place in October 2019 at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh.

Participants will include soldiers from the Indian Armys Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment and Unit 084 of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

The release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that the exercise will primarily focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. It also stated that the exercise aims to develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie, and friendship between the two armies.

This exercises scope includes a Field Training Exercise (FTX) at the Platoon level.

The exercise would include a variety of training exercises meant to improve the skills and capacities of the Indian and Mongolian military. These exercises include of rock climbing, room intervention, reflex shooting, endurance training, and small team tactics. According to the MoD announcement, soldiers from both sides will benefit from one anothers operational expertise.

A shared commitment to regional security exists between India and Mongolia.

The exercise Nomadic Elephant 2023 will mark yet another important turning point in the defence cooperation between the Mongolian Army and the Indian Army, the announcement said. This will strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

(With agency inputs)
Atrocities against Hindu minorities continue in Pakistan unabated. Two Hindu temples, including 150-year-old shrine of Mari Mata located at Soldier Bazar in Karachi, were demolished over the weekend.

On Sunday, a gang of dacoits indiscriminately fired upon a Hindu temple in the southern Sindh province of Pakistan, which was closed during the attack.

As per the police, the assailants used rocket launchers during the attack. In response, a team of cops led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo swiftly arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control.

They (dacoits) fired indiscriminately and fled when a police party reached the spot. We are conducting a search operation in the area, SSP Samoo said, adding that involvement of eight or nine gunmen in the attack is estimated.

Fortunately, the rocket launchers used by the dacoits failed to detonate, resulting in no loss of life, said Dr. Suresh, a member of the Bagri community.

150-year-old Hindu temple demolished in Pakistan

On Saturday, miscreants demolished Mari Mata temple while there was no electricity in the area.

A report by Dawn quoted locals saying diggers and bulldozers reached near the temple and razed the entire structure, leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact.

Pakistan continues to target Hindu minorities as part of state policy by Pakistan Army. Ancient Hindu Mata Temple of Soldier Bazar, Karachi demolished at midnight to make way for a commercial plaza. The temple was sold for whopping 7 crores under the nose of Pakistan Govt. Shame! pic.twitter.com/b9TGgBHiig  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) July 16, 2023

Police present to provide 'cover'

Residents alleged that Pakistan police vehicles were present in and around Mari Mata temple to provide "cover" to those operating the machines and demolishing the Hindu temple.

But why Mari Mata temple in Pakistan was demolished?

As per sources, the temple was razed by unknown builder to build a shopping plaza. The land was sold for Rs 7 crore to promoter.

Trustees and NGOs associated with the temple have also not come forward to object the demolition, sources said.

"The temple is said to have been built over 150 years ago. It covered about 400 to 500 square yards and there had been talk of land grabbers having their eye on it," Ram Nath Mishra, priest of another temple nearby said.

Reports, meanwhile, mentioned a Hindu community leader of the area, Ramesh, saying that the temple management was under pressure to vacate the premises for some time as the land had been sold to a developer on forged documents who wanted to build a commercial building on the plot.

The incident caused panic and fear among the Hindu community members living in Karachi.

'Alarmed by deteriorating law & order in Pakistan'

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan 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.

With inputs from agencies
Democratic presidential candidate for 2024 Robert F Kennedy Jr. has accused the Joe Biden administration of developing genetically targeted bioweapons.

The US and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews.

In that sense, it serves as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons, he said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr slammed

Kennedy Jr. invited strong criticism on Twitter for his remarks. Bill Kristol, director of the non-profit Defending Democracy Together, called Democratic presidential hopeful a "conspiratorial lunatic."

I strongly denounce comments made earlier this week by RFK Jr. implying that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese were relatively "spared" by COVID-19, while Caucasian and Black people were specifically targeted. Whether intentionally or not, his remarks amplify sinister and unfounded  Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) July 15, 2023

Another Democratic presidential hopeful, Marianne Williamson, denounced Kennedy Jr.'s remarks saying, "Whether intentionally or not, his remarks amplify sinister and unfounded notions that are both anti-Semitic and anti-Chinese."

"As a Jewish American candidate in the 2024 presidential race, I stand against this covert racism writ large. Such language serves only to divide us further at a moment when we need desperately to unite," she added.

In 2021, Kennedy Jr. wrote a book titled "The Real Anthony Fauci," in which he accused the famous infectious disease doctor of participating in a "historic coup d'etat against Western democracy."

Not just this, Kennedy Jr. even promoted unproven treatments such as ivermectin, intended for parasitic infections, as potential remedies for COVID-19.
There has been a growing call for bringing back baby Ariha to India. The Indian community in Frankfurt, Germany, staged protest asking immediate repatriation of the girl who has been living in foster care in Berlin for over 20 months.

Ariha Shah has been in foster care in Germany since September 23, 2021. She was then just seven months old. Back then, German authorities had alleged that Arihas parents  Dhara and Bhavesh  had abused her.

India continues to make efforts to reunite the family with the Ministry of External Affairs involved in this case since 2022.

In December last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had raised the issue during wide-ranging discussions with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.

Dubbing it a very delicate matter that involved privacy issues, Jaishankar had said at the time that both governments were handling the situation according to the circumstances.

Why was Ariha taken by German authorities?

Bhavesh Shah, a Gujarati software engineer, moved to Berlin with his wife, Dhara, in 2018. Ariha was born in the German capital in 2021. All was going well till the fateful day in September when Ariha was abruptly taken by the Jugendamt, German childcare services.

Speaking to the media, Dhara said that Arihas grandmother had visited Berlin to see her recently-born granddaughter. Unfortunately, she accidentally hurt the child, causing injury to her outer genital area. When she was taken to a hospital, authorities were alerted of what was suspected to be a case of sexual assault.

Why Ariha was taken by German authorities?

Ariha Shah was taken into custody by German authorities who alleged that she was being harassed by her parents.

Bhavesh Shah (Ariha's father), a Gujarati software engineer, moved to Berlin with his wife, Dhara, in 2018. Ariha was born in 2021. In September 2021, when she was mere seven months old, Ariha was abruptly taken by the Jugendamt, German childcare services who accused her parents of abusing her.

Earlier, speaking to media, Dhara had said Arihas grandmother had visited Berlin to see her recently-born granddaughter. Unfortunately, she accidentally hurt the child, causing injury to her outer genital area.

When Ariha was taken to a hospital, authorities were alerted of what was suspected to be a case of sexual assault.

It was after this, the Jugendamt immediately took the child away to foster care, with her parents allowed to visit once every fortnight. The authorities also registered a case of child sexual abuse against the parents.

After investigation, the assault charges were dropped but authorities accused Ariha's patents of negligence instead.

The case against Ariha's parents was closed in February 2022, without any formal charges being filed against them, but the baby was not returned to them. Instead, the Jugendamt filed a civil custody case for the termination of parental rights and permanent custody of the child. Since then, the parents have been fighting a legal battle for the custody of Ariha who now is over two years old.

With inputs from agencies
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In "The Mysterians" (1957), what protects the invaders from Earth's weapons, once they have landed?



Answer: a transparent dome



The Mysterians Earth-base appears to have broken through the Earth's surface from below. It is covered by a transparent dome which is impervious to the Japanese military's weapons. To this impregnable outpost, near Mount Fuji, the Mysterians invite five scientists to express to them their demands.

2. Three of these titles are genuine, bona fide, for-real, professionally-produced and theatrically-released motion pictures from the 1950s. Which one is not?



Answer: The Earth Will Be Destroyed



"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) features Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, and a really cool robot named Gort. In "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers" (1956), the aliens wear protective suits made of solidified electricity. In "Earth vs. the Spider" (1958), one small town stands in for the whole Earth in a battle with a giant tarantula.



In "Magnetic" (2015), the Earth would be destroyed on 31 December. In "When Worlds Collide" (1951), the Earth would be destroyed when the planets hit each other. In "Independence Day" (1996), the aliens are intent on destroying the Earth.



There was not, apparently, a movie named "The Earth Will Be Destroyed" ... which is very reassuring.

3. What sort of monster was "The Colossus of New York" (1958)?



a human brain transplanted into a robot



Brilliant humanitarian scientist Jeremy Spensser is killed in an automobile accident. His father, brain surgeon William Spensser, transplants his brain into a robot built by his brother, Henry Spensser, an automation expert. The result is an overlarge robot with a cape and eyes that can shoot lethal rays at people. While not at all based on the Mary Shelley novel, the themes in this motion picture are very similar to those in "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" (1818). Answer:Brilliant humanitarian scientist Jeremy Spensser is killed in an automobile accident. His father, brain surgeon William Spensser, transplants his brain into a robot built by his brother, Henry Spensser, an automation expert. The result is an overlarge robot with a cape and eyes that can shoot lethal rays at people. While not at all based on the Mary Shelley novel, the themes in this motion picture are very similar to those in "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" (1818).

4. Who played Dr. Abraham Van Helsing in "Horror of Dracula" (1958)?



Answer: Peter Cushing



The Dutch vampire hunter in "Horror of Dracula" was played by Peter Cushing, one of many times he played that role in Hammer Productions and other films. He became synonymous with the role. In the motion picture "Dusk till Dawn" (1996), one character says "We got crosses all over the place. All you gotta do is put two sticks together and you got a cross" and the other replies "Yeah, he's right. Peter Cushing does that all the time." In a 1984 episode of the British TV series "Young Ones," Mike says, about the vampire they have locked in a closet, "I've got it! Peter Cushing! We've got to drive a stake through his heart!"

5. Was "The Tingler" (1959) filmed in black-and-white, colour or what?



Answer: black-and-white with one scene in colour



"The Tingler" was filmed in black-and-white. A short colour sequence appears in the motion picture. In it, a sink (shot in what appears to be black-and-white) is filled with bright red blood which is also pouring out of the hot and cold faucets. A hand, covered in blood, rises from the blood in the sink. To achieve this effect, the set was painted black, white and grey and Judith Evelyn's make-up was done in grey to portray Martha Higgins, the deaf-mute who dies of fright because of her inability to scream.

6. On what literary source was the motion picture "Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1953) based?



Answer: a novella by Robert Louis Stevenson



Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has been adapted to many stage plays, radio plays, television programmes and motion pictures. Several of the films were silent; one of the most memorable was the Fredric March portrayal of 1931.



The Abbott and Costello take on the classic was only tenuously connected to the original. The review in the Los Angeles Times said of it, "If Robert Louis Stevenson is turning over in his grave, it's probably only so he can get in a more comfortable position for a belly laugh."

7. What happens to the evil Alain de Maletroit in the end of "The Strange Door" (1951)?



Answer: He is crushed in a waterwheel.



Alain confines Edmond, Blanche and Denis to a cell, the stone walls of which are moved inexorably inward by a waterwheel, in order to crush the residents. The servant Voltan fights with Alain and tosses him into the water wheel, crushing the life out of him and causing it to pause long enough to free the people from the cell.

8. For what is William Castle best known in the world of horror and science fiction movie making?



directing



There were few parts of movie-making in which William Castle (1914-1977) did not participate: he directed, produced, acted and wrote screenplays. He was a promoter who used gimmicks to stir interest in his films. He gave each patron a $1000 life insurance certificate, should they die of fright while watching "Macabre" (1958).



In "House on Haunted Hill" (1959) a luminous skeleton floated on a wire over the theater patrons. The theatre seats were rigged with vibrators in showings of "The Tingler" (1959).



He also directed "13 Ghosts" (1960) and produced "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "Bug" (1975). His autobiography is "Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants off America" (1976). See also John Law, "Scare Tactic: The Life & Films of William Castle" (2000). Answer:There were few parts of movie-making in which William Castle (1914-1977) did not participate: he directed, produced, acted and wrote screenplays. He was a promoter who used gimmicks to stir interest in his films. He gave each patron a $1000 life insurance certificate, should they die of fright while watching "Macabre" (1958).In "House on Haunted Hill" (1959) a luminous skeleton floated on a wire over the theater patrons. The theatre seats were rigged with vibrators in showings of "The Tingler" (1959).He also directed "13 Ghosts" (1960) and produced "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "Bug" (1975). His autobiography is "Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants off America" (1976). See also John Law, "Scare Tactic: The Life & Films of William Castle" (2000).

9. Where was the science fiction horror movie "The Head" set?



Answer: Munich, Germany



The motion picture "The Head" was set in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, where it was shot. It was a West German production and was filmed in the German language. The German title was "Die Nackte und der Satan" which directly translates "The Naked and Satan." The German-language original was released in Germany in 1959; an English-language dubbed version was released in the United States in 1961.

10. In 1982, film historian Bill Warren published the first volume of his authoritative book "Keep Watching the Skies!: American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties." What was the source of the title?



Answer: "The Thing From Another World" (1951)



Bill Warren wrote the definitive comprehensive history of 1950s American science-fiction films in 1982. He titled it "Keep Watching the Skies!: American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties." A second larger companion volume was published in 1986. In 1997, McFarland, the original publisher, reissued the combined work in three volumes. A "21st Century" edition was published in 2009 which included extensive interviews conducted by Tom Weaver and numerous still photographs and movie posters.



The title is derived from newspaperman Ned "Scotty" Scott's radio broadcast from the North Pole once the Thing in "The Thing From Another World" (1951) has been defeated. He sends his recap of events to waiting newsmen in Anchorage and then concludes "Tell the world. Tell this to everybody, wherever they are. Watch the skies everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!"

Source: Author FatherSteve This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Russia Bans iPhones and Apple Products Amid US Espionage Concerns News oi -Kabir Jain

Russian authorities have recently taken decisive actions to ban the use of iPhones and other Apple products due to concerns regarding potential spying activities by the American tech giant. The Ministry of Trade has issued instructions, effective from Monday, prohibiting the use of iPhones for "work purposes."

The Ministry of Digital Development and Rostec, a state-owned company previously sanctioned for supplying Russia's military in Ukraine, have either implemented similar bans or expressed their intention to do so.

Heightened Espionage Worries

The Kremlin and the Federal Security Service (FSB) spy agency are increasingly alarmed by the possibility of espionage attempts by US intelligence agencies targeting Russian state institutions. The ban on Apple products within various ministries and institutions at the Kremlin serves as a clear indication of these mounting concerns.

iPhones Considered Insecure

According to a source closely connected to a government agency implementing the ban, security officials within ministries, particularly FSB employees in civilian positions such as deputy ministers, have declared iPhones as insecure and advised seeking alternative devices for work purposes.

Alignment with Putin's Directive

This recent ban aligns with President Vladimir Putin's earlier directive, issued after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which instructed agencies and organizations involved in "critical information infrastructure" to transition to domestically developed software by 2025.

Push for Domestic Technologies

The ban on Apple products reflects Moscow's long-standing goal of compelling state institutions to abandon foreign technologies. However, Russian analysts doubt that this directive will fully address concerns over potential access by Western intelligence services to sensitive data on Russian government operations.

Fear of Wiretapping Exploitation

Andrey Soldatov, an expert on Russian security and intelligence services, highlights that Russian officials genuinely believe that American technology could be exploited for wiretapping purposes. Soldatov states, "The FSB has long been concerned about the use of iPhones for professional contacts, but the presidential administration and other officials were against [restrictions] simply because they liked iPhones."

Expanding Ban Implementation

Sources close to government agencies reveal that bans similar to the one on Apple products are either already in effect or will soon be implemented in various ministries, including finance and energy, as well as other government entities. Vasily Osmakov, the Deputy Head of the Commerce Ministry, confirms that other ministries have also prohibited the use of iPhones for work-related email correspondence. An insider from a ministry adds, "The IT department's specialists monitor any access to work email from an iPhone, making it easy to control."

Source

Via

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Elista Signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh Government to Establish Second Manufacturing Plant Tech Biz oi -Kabir Jain

Elista, a prominent Indian brand known for its electronics, home appliances, IT, and mobile accessories, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Under this agreement, Elista plans to invest Rs 100 crore to establish its second manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh. This move demonstrates Elista's commitment to the vision of a self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

Expansion Plans and Diversification

Having previously announced the setup of a modern facility covering 1.32 lakh sq ft with an investment of Rs 250 crore in March 2023, Elista is now set to further expand its manufacturing capabilities with the establishment of the second plant in Andhra Pradesh. This upcoming plant, expected to be operational by December 2024, marks Elista's entry into the smartwatch segment.

By diversifying its product portfolio and addressing the growing demand for wearable technology, Elista aims to generate a revenue of Rs 50 crore from the smartwatch category in the next financial year.

State-of-the-Art Plant and Job Creation

The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will have a production capacity of 10 lakh Smartwatches and 2 lakh Speakers. It is projected to create employment opportunities for approximately 500 individuals.

Mr. Saket Gaurav, the Chairman and Managing Director of Elista, expressed his gratitude towards the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their continuous support and trust in the company's capabilities. He highlighted the positive impact the new plant will have on job creation for the local population and emphasized Elista's vision of "Making in India for the World."

Favorable Environment in Andhra Pradesh

Mr. Gaurav also acknowledged the favorable policies, robust infrastructure, and progressive ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh that will facilitate the development of technologically advanced products and strengthen the overall manufacturing sector in the country. Elista's expansion into the smartwatch category aims to position the company as a comprehensive solution provider for consumers.

Manufacturing Excellence and Growth Prospects

While Elista's first manufacturing plant focuses on TVs and LED Monitors, the establishment of the second plant will enable in-house production of audio speakers, smartwatches, and other major appliances. The collaboration between Elista and the Government of Andhra Pradesh represents a significant milestone for the company, reaffirming its commitment to manufacturing excellence, job creation, and the growth of the Indian economy.

International Expansion Plans

In addition to its domestic operations, Elista has recently entered the UAE and CIS markets. The company is also considering expanding into other key markets in the Middle East and Africa region next year. With these strategic moves, Elista aims to achieve a revenue of Rs 1,500 crore by 2025. The company is working towards a year-on-year growth projection of 20% in line with its expansion plans.

The signing of the MoU with the Andhra Pradesh Government marks an important step for Elista as it solidifies its position in the Indian manufacturing sector and paves the way for continued success and growth.

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Indian Internet Users Data Protected: Generative AI Platforms Wont Be Allowed Access, Suggests Proposed Law News oi -Alap Naik Desai

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT or Google's Bard have been scraping data in huge amounts. However, these companies and their AI tools may not be allowed to process the personal data of Indians available in the public domain.

A new leaked draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023, strongly suggests Indian government won't allow access to data of the country's citizenry. Incidentally, the bill was approved by the cabinet earlier this month, but a few amendments point to the protection from data scraping.

New Draft Of DPDP Bill Drops Clause That Granted Exemption To Search Engines

Companies like Google, Microsoft (or OpenAI), and several others that are developing Generative AI platforms, are scraping huge amounts of publicly available data on the internet. Humongous quantities of such scraped data are being fed to Large Language Models (LLMs) to train the Generative AI platforms.

Tech giants are shielding themselves from any potential legal trouble by claiming they are accessing only openly accessible data, which is available in the public domain. Needless to say, not everybody is happy.

Twitter's Elon Musk openly called out tech companies that had been scraping data from the micro-blogging network. It appears, the Indian government too is taking steps to shield the data of millions of internet users.

The personal data of Indians that is present in the public domain might be shielded from processing by Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, according to the latest draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023 that was sanctioned by the cabinet.

Specifically speaking, the most current version of the draft omits a clause that previously allowed search engines to process publicly available personal data of Indian internet users. Generative AI platform creators that collect such data for processing and training their platforms, could be inviting legal trouble.

Is India Following In The US's footsteps To Try And Shield User Data?

Recently, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT's creators. The agency was concerned about potential violations of consumer protection laws through scraping public data.

The FTC has also taken up a case against Amazon for allegedly enrolling customers into Amazon Prime without their consent, accusing them of employing "dark patterns". Cumulatively, the FTC appears to be going after tech companies that aggressively collect and process user data.

India appears to be following the US and instead of lawsuits, the country appears to amending proposed laws to make it harder for tech companies to scrape data. Previously, the proposed DPDP bill had Clause 8(8), which acted as the facilitator for AI processing and machine learning.

The revised draft has a new Section 18, called "legitimate purposes", which includes a similar concept but is more restrictive in nature. The current bill does not allow for the processing of user data for the operation of search engines, which is not specifically covered under Section 18.

If the leaked draft is approved and a law is formulated, all AI companies, including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and even Musk's XAI would require the Indian government's permission to use the personal data of Indians even if the same is available in the public domain.

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Sudan: Emergency seed distribution kick off leveraging the ongoing planting season to boost food production

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

From FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa

13/07/2023

Cairo/Khartoum -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has kicked off its emergency seeds distribution campaign to reach farmers in key regions, ensuring that they have the necessary resources to meet food production needs. This comes as a response to the urgency of the ongoing main crop production season (June - October 2023) in the country. With the support of USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Central Emergency Response Fund, FAO plans to reach and assist over one million vulnerable farmers and their families (5 million people) with 10 000 tonnes of sorghum, millet, groundnut and sesame seeds for planting across 17 States.

To date, FAO has delivered 3.3 tonnes of seeds to 8 states (Blue Nile, Gedarif, Kassala, Sennar, White Nile, Red Sea, South Kordofan, North Kordofan) and started the distribution to farmers. FAO is committed to continue delivery and distribution of these urgent seeds amidst the security and logistics challenges.

"The need for swift agricultural support in the Sudan is paramount. While much work lies ahead, we are fully committed to leveraging this crucial planting season's window of opportunity and our efforts on the ground continue daily," stated Hongjie Yang, FAO Representative in Sudan. "Our goal is to navigate the complex security and logistical challenges to continue to reach farmers in the country with this time-sensitive assistance."

The Organization's emergency seed distribution will allow vulnerable farmers to plant and produce enough food (up to 3 million tonnes of cereals) between November-December 2023 to cover the cereal requirements of around 13-19 million people.

FAO remains steadfast in its mission to save livelihoods and lives and ensure food access and production in the Sudan. By bolstering local food production and safeguarding agrifood systems, the Organization aims to alleviate acute food insecurity, reduce human suffering and curb the likely expanding humanitarian burden in the coming months.

To date, FAO has raised nearly $20 million against the total of $95.4 million to reach 15 million people with multiple life-saving interventions including providing farmers with seeds and farming equipment and protecting and restocking pastoralists' livestock herds.

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The UK supports the International Criminal Court to deliver justice for the people of Darfur: UK statement at the Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the Sudan International Criminal Court investigation.

13 July 2023

I thank Prosecutor Karim Khan for his 37th report on the Situation in Darfur and his briefing today, and I welcome the ICC's unwavering commitment to help deliver justice for the people of Darfur. I also recognise the participation of the Representative of Sudan at this meeting.

The UK welcomes the progress made in the trial of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman. This case is testament to the victims' courage and patience to tell their stories after two decades. We urge all parties to help maintain the trial's momentum.

We regret, however, that from the October 2021 military coup until the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, there was an almost complete failure by the Sudanese authorities to cooperate with the ICC.

Furthermore, we share the Prosecutor's concern over the impact of the current conflict on the ongoing investigations, including the apparent release from custody of ICC suspects.

We are also deeply troubled by today's reports of continued violence and mass graves outside the capital of West Darfur.

The UK shares the Prosecutor's assessment that the current conflict stems in part from the failure to ensure justice and accountability on the part of those who hold power in Sudan. Their disregard for international obligations and for meaningful justice for past crimes has helped sow the seeds for this latest cycle of violence and suffering.

All sides are responsible for the crimes they commit, and we remind the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces that the ICC's mandate in Darfur is ongoing.

We welcome the Prosecutor's decision to commence investigations into offences committed in the current conflict - including in particular ethnically-targeted killings and sexual violence.

In closing, the UK would like to reiterate our support to the Court to deliver justice for the people of Darfur. At the same time, we underline this Council's call for an immediate end to the current hostilities.

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Sudan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the killings in West Darfur

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.07.2023

EEAS Press Team

The European Union joins the UN High Commissioner for Human rights in condemning the killing in West Darfur of at least 87 people, allegedly by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militia. We call on all parties to the conflict to allow searches for the dead and their collection and evacuation.

The EU also recalls that there is an obligation on all to cooperate with investigations by the International Criminal Court into this atrocity and all crimes committed during the current hostilities within the jurisdiction of the Court.

The EU condemns the refusal of both Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict. A lasting ceasefire must be brokered without delay to guarantee the protection of the people of Sudan, whose safety and security is endangered. All those responsible for human rights violations and breaches of international law, including international humanitarian law, should be held accountable.



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EU-ASEAN: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.07.2023

Strategic Communications

Let me start by saying that it is a pleasure to be here again in this important regional forum, at the heart of the Indo-Pacific.

We, Europeans, want to step up our engagement with partners in the region:

We have our EU Indo-Pacific Strategy adopted in 2021 and have organized two EU-Indo-Pacific Fora in Paris (February 2022) and in Stockholm (May 2023).

We are committed to ASEAN Centrality and want to step up our dialogue and cooperation in ASEAN-centered fora to promote peace and security.

Let me focus on five key issues:

1. The link between the climate crisis and security

While we are discussing geopolitics, we should all be equally aware of the massive and growing impact of climate change on peace and security.

Recurring climate extremes, rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification and water scarcity can all create migratory displacement, pandemics, social unrest, instability and conflicts, which in turn have serious security implications.

By 2050, more than one billion people will have insufficient access to water. Soil degradation and drought will follow.

Given the cross-cutting links between climate change and security, we consider it necessary that the ARF would pay increased attention to the threats of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence.

2. The Korean Peninsula

The continuing launches of missiles by the DPRK, such as the ICBM ballistic missile launched just two days ago, as well as references to the use of nuclear weapons, threaten regional peace and security.

The route to sustainable security lies in the DPRK ceasing missile launches and nuclear tests, which is key to resume dialogue with the main parties.

The EU is ready to support a new diplomatic process aimed at building sustainable peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

3. Myanmar

Myanmar must remain a high priority. The massive suffering and oppression of the civilian population by the military junta must stop.

I would like to pay tribute to the Indonesian Chairmanship for deploying a well- structured diplomatic approach to reduce violence and kick-start an inclusive dialogue. The EU calls on all ARF partners to support the Chair's endeavours.

The junta must end its use of force, release all political prisoners and implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. This is the only way to start a genuine political process.

4. Taiwan and the South China Sea

The EU has a clear interest in preserving peace, stability and in maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait .

We are concerned by China's increased military activities there. Nobody should unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. Tensions must be resolved through a meaningful and open dialogue.

The EU will continue engaging with Taiwan in line with our One China Policy, which means that we will not recognize Taiwan independence.

In the wider South China Sea , we continue to observe increased militarization.

Disputes must be resolved through peaceful means and comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

We welcome the recently concluded maritime delimitation agreements.

We encourage progress in the ASEAN-led process towards an effective, substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct, respectful of third parties.

5. Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine

We continue to stand against Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which blatantly violates international law and the UN Charter.

Russia's irresponsible nuclear threats, undermining of arms control regimes, and deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, are dangerous and unacceptable.This should be condemned by all, because it is a matter of defending core principles of international law.

The EU supports President Zelenskyy's self-defence of Ukraine and Peace Formula, based on Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and the need to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

We call on Russia to withdraw its troops from the occupied territory of Ukraine.

Thank you.





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With untapped potential, EU is never too 'far away' for ASEAN

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.07.2023

Jakarta, Indonesia

Ahead of his appearance at the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy spoke to The Jakarta Post to address some burning questions on its approach to the region.

Q: There has been a number of disagreements between the EU and Indonesia about trade recently, including nickel exports and the EUDR policy. How far is the EU willing to compromise to bridge these differences? What can we expect from the joint task force recently established?

To start with and most importantly: there is a huge untapped potential for trade and investment between the EU and Indonesia. Right now, Indonesia is only our fifth trade and outbound investment partner in ASEAN despite being a key country and a very large economy in South-East Asia. This has to change.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement we are currently negotiating can play an important role in achieving this and in boosting our bilateral trade and investment. This week, the 15th negotiation round is taking place and we work on making significant progress.

Regarding Indonesia's export ban on nickel, the WTO panel has issued a ruling upholding the EU claims and I am sure that Indonesia will choose to engage constructively. As I always say: trade disputes, even between closest partners, are normal. What is important is that they are resolved.

The Joint Task Force on deforestation between Indonesia, Malaysia and the EU is a good example of such constructive cooperation. When it comes to the implementation of the EU's Deforestation Regulation, it will provide an additional instrument facilitating our ongoing dialogue. As partners, we respect each other's concerns and jointly discuss the best way forward. We want to enable producers, especially smallholders, to ensure that their supply chains are deforestation-free. And we will work together to ensure European consumption of the relevant commodities are not a deforestation driver in Indonesia or elsewhere. The EU is a very steady customer of Indonesian palm oil and timber, we have every interest in maintaining the trade.

Q: In the some debates, political narratives such as "developing vs developed countries" and claims of "the EU being "neo-imperialist" have emerged, not just in Indonesia but other countries like Malaysia. These claims at times come from high-ranking officials. How does this affect the political relationship between the EU and Indonesia? How is the EU planning to dispute these claims beyond declarations?

We take such claims seriously and we have to ask ourselves where they come from and what they are based on. Clearly, there are unmet expectations and legitimate demands that the EU, together with other partners, must listen to and act upon. I hear from some of our partners in the so-called 'Global South' that the so-called 'West' has been self-serving when it comes to a number of key global issues - for instance on debt relief, climate finance, and the reform of international institutions.

Overall, however, the record of the EU and its member states is without doubt much better than that of others and what we get credit for. To give just some examples: we are and remain the first source of official development aid and humanitarian aid. We provide 30% of global climate finance. We are actively favouring debt relief and with the Global Gateway Initiative we provide high-quality investments, promoting the green and digital transition, as well as better connectivity.

Crucially, we already have enough conflicts in the world and the EU is doing all in its power to avoid anything like "developing vs developed countries", and our strategic partnership with ASEAN as well as our inclusive Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific are the best proof of that.

Q: The ARF is focused on the political-security aspects of the Indo-Pacific. What will be the EU's main proposal at the forum to upkeep stability in the region?

The ASEAN Regional Forum is a crucial multilateral platform and plays a pivotal role in advancing regional stability. The EU takes pride in being an active member and a key partner. Europe is economically interdependent with many partners in Asia and we therefore have a direct stake in each other's security. We are geographically distant, but economically we are neighbours. It is only natural that our cooperation with ASEAN is expanding rapidly.

Our security cooperation covers a wide array of issues, including cyber security, counter-terrorism, crisis management and peace keeping, foreign information manipulation and interference, as well as disaster reduction and human security. Maritime security is a cornerstone of our efforts, with EU Member States' navies and coast guards actively involved. We are eager to further enhance cooperation in this area and are committed to expand concrete engagements with ASEAN partners.

Q: You said the EU and the Indo-Pacific are "inextricably linked" on several problems, including climate change, disrupted supply chain, cybersecurity issues, etc. In solving some of these problems, it is expected that differences will occur. What is the EU's strategy to help resolve these issues while upkeeping ASEAN Centrality?

In a global world there is no 'far away', and the success and stability of Europe and Asia boils down to peace, prosperity and regional integration. At a time when major tensions around Southeast Asia are on the rise and there is the potential for major conflicts, and when the EU is facing the multiple challenges linked to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU and ASEAN must remain in a position to make their own choices in support of regional stability.

The EU and ASEAN share a joint responsibility to address today's acute challenges and we have a very concrete stake in Southeast Asia's peace and prosperity: not only the EU is the third main trading partner of ASEAN and the second main investor in the region, but much of our international shipping goes through the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca.

Two years ago, we established our "Strategic Partnership", which reflects the important political momentum between us. As the two most advanced regional integration organisations in the world, the EU and ASEAN understand each other on a deeper level and we are closer than ever. The EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy exemplifies this, with ASEAN centrality as a key component.

Q: China is an unalienable part of Indo-Pacific security. While ASEAN has maintained their collective neutrality on China, viewing it as mostly an economic partner, you wrote a blogpost explaining that the EU "will [find it] extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the European Union to maintain a relationship of trust with China", adding that the EU's position sees China as "partner, competitor and systemic rival". How can the EU work with ASEAN to decrease geopolitical tensions in the region?

I said that it will be difficult for the EU to maintain a relationship of trust with China if it does not use its influence on Russia to stop its illegal war of aggression, which blatantly violates international law, the UN Charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity. Russian troops must withdraw once and for all from Ukraine. The huge human suffering as well as the economic turbulences around the globe must stop. We expect China's active support as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to achieve this.

Many ASEAN partners have supported efforts to end this violence and have condemned Russia, and many experience destabilising actions that affect their sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in the South China Sea. The ASEAN model, particularly the ARF, demonstrates that tensions can be resolved through dialogue, and that external actors can contribute positively to addressing regional and global challenges. And this is what we want to do together.

When it comes to EU-China relations more generally, our cooperation with China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival will still be at the centre of our policy, while we will continue engaging bilaterally and globally, based on our interests and values. This means that our "multi-faceted approach" with China prevails, but we also must engage even when there are difficult issues to discuss.

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Hun Sen deletes Twitter post linking Thai election to Cambodian opposition

The long-time leader seems to gloat over a Thai politician's defeat in an initial parliamentary vote.

By RFA Khmer 2023.07.14 -- Prime Minister Hun Sen has removed a Twitter post that attempted to connect the Cambodian opposition to a Thai politician's failure this week to win enough parliamentary votes to become the country's next prime minister.

Pita Limjaroenrat and his Move Forward Party fell short of the 375 votes needed to clinch power in an initial round of voting on Thursday.

Hun Sen tweeted that Pita's setback was also "a major failure" to Cambodia's exiled opposition activists. He was most likely referring to Sam Rainsy, the former head of the now-disbanded opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party who fled to France in 2015.

"These traitors always expected that when Pita becomes the prime minister of Thailand, they would use Thai territory to do a campaign against the Royal Government of Cambodia," Hun Sen wrote in the tweet.

"Now the expectations of the brute opposition group have vanished like salt in water," he said.

In May, Sam Rainsy told Radio Free Asia that if a new pro-democracy Thai government is formed, he would look into traveling to Cambodia through neighboring Thailand.

Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party was the top vote getter in the May 14 general election. It heads a pro-democracy coalition trying to unseat an administration with deep military ties that has ruled Thailand for almost a decade.

Hun Sen has asked Thailand to arrest Sam Rainsy if he travels there. Last month, he publicly threatened to attack Sam Rainsy with a rocket launcher if he led workers from Thailand into Cambodia.

"Do not do politics that depend on somebody else," the prime minister wrote in Thursday's deleted tweet. "This is my goodwill message for the extremist groups."

Online reaction

After it drew angry online comments, Hun Sen removed the post from Twitter.

"Absolutely ludicrous," wrote Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director.

Thai journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk tweeted that the 70-year-old Hun Sen is "a political dinosaur comfortable in the company of dictators."

"When he looks at Pita, he sees the [political] liberalization & reform he fears might some day come to Cambodia," he wrote.

Hun Sen posted another message on both Twitter and Telegram on Friday, writing that he doesn't oppose Pita's candidacy for prime minister.

"I respect the decision of the Thai people and I will not interfere in the internal affairs of Thailand," he wrote. "I am ready to work with Thailand's leader, regardless of who or which party."

He added that Cambodian opposition activists should stop using Pita's name - "who does not know he is being used" - to oppose the Cambodian government.

Finland-based political commentator Kim Sok said the first message made it seem like Hun Sen doesn't understand diplomacy and politics, even though he served as Cambodia's foreign minister during the 1980s.

"Normally, a leader of a country uses good words and avoids bad words to other countries' politicians, especially those who win the election," he said in an interview with Radio Free Asia on Friday.

Translated by Chandara Yang. Edited by Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Situation in Sudan: joint statement from members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

Members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI), issued a joint statement on the situation in Sudan.

14 July 2023

This is a joint statement by members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI). The following Alliance members support this statement: Australia, Colombia, France, Kosovo, Liberia, Luxembourg, Republic of Korea, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Nadia Murad, Dr Mukwege, Mukwege Foundation and Global Survivors Fund. Lord Ahmad announced the statement at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence on 14 July.

As members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, we are deeply concerned by the increasing reports of sexual violence, including rape, in the context of the conflict that erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023. All too often, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by conflict. Together, we urge all parties to the conflict to end the violence, including sexual violence. The provision of prompt and quality services for survivors of sexual violence must be prioritised. We stress the urgency for parties to the conflict to ensure unimpeded, safe humanitarian access to all in need. This requires enabling the free movement of humanitarian workers and humanitarian supplies that will cater for people's basic needs, including the provision of medical assistance and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual violence. Sexual violence must stop and survivors must be supported. As members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, we will continue working to end conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan and across the globe.

The Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

As an Alliance, we raise our voice, shining a light on appalling reports of sexual violence in Sudan and calling for an end to violence, support to survivors and safe humanitarian access.

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SECNAV Names Future Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Billy Frank Jr.

US Navy - Press Release

14 July 2023

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced today, that a future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship will be named USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11).

The future T-ATS 11 honors Billy Frank Jr., who was a Nisqually tribal member and is an iconic Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist. The name selection follows the tradition of naming towing, salvage, and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes.

"I am honored for the opportunity to name a naval ship after Billy Frank Jr., a man who was a proponent and leader for Native American rights," said Del Toro. "Billy Frank Jr. spent his life serving others and his namesake ship will do the same as it travels around the world enabling humanitarian assistance and the maintenance of freedom."

William "Billy" Frank Jr. was born in 1931 as a member of the Nisqually tribe in Washington. After serving as a military policeman in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, Frank returned to Washington where he became an electrical lineman and continued to fish on his traditional grounds.

By the 1960s, the local salmon fishery was in decline due to increased sport and commercial fishing. In response, state officials began targeting and arresting Native American fishermen like Frank, blaming the decline in salmon stock on them instead. Escalating arrests and raids led to protests at the state capitol and "fish-ins" arranged by Frank and others. Over the course of these demonstrations, Frank was arrested over 50 times and became the face of the movement.

In 1974, the matter was taken up by the Federal District Court in Tacoma, Washington. Judge George H. Boldt ruled in favor of the Native Americans for their right to fish in their "usual and accustomed places." Frank went on to serve as chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for over 30 years and received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism and the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award, among other accolades. He passed away in 2014. His son, Willie Frank III, serves as the chairman of the tribal council of the Nisqually tribe.

The Navajo-class will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations. The current capabilities are provided by Powhatan-class T-ATF Fleet Tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS Rescue and Salvage vessels, which reach the end of their expected service lives starting in 2020. Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems.

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Ugandan President: Army Hampered in Fight Against Rebels Coming From DRC

By Halima Athumani July 14, 2023

Uganda's president is blaming poor intelligence gathering for the army's struggle to stop rebels from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

President Yoweri Museveni blames members of the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group for a June attack on a school that killed 41 people.

In a security address Thursday, Museveni told Ugandans that the ADF had been wiped out, but that it was allowed to regroup and grow by the previous DRC leadership.

"The Congo government of his excellency [former President Joseph] Kabila, supported by some regional and international actors, gave them free tenancy in North Kivu and Ituri," he said. "They were mining gold, selling timber, harvesting people's cocoa, collecting taxes, extorting money from people, et cetera."

Museveni said ADF's members have operated in the DRC as individuals instead of a group since 2007 and have connected with other terrorist groups like al-Qaida. He said that since the ADF's defeat in Uganda 16 years ago, ADF had planted 34 bombs in the country.

He said that in recent years. the Uganda People's Defense Forces have built an antiterrorism capacity that ensures the rebels won't take control of any part of Uganda.

Where are the rebels?

Still, he said, the Ugandan forces face an intelligence problem. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has allowed the UPDF to enter Congo and fight the ADF, but the Ugandan troops "need to know where [the rebels] are in Congo and what they are planning."

Museveni added that some people have suggested he close the border with the DRC. Such a move would be costly, since Uganda earns millions of dollars in cross-border trade.

Museveni's address came almost one month after the ADF attacked the Lhubiriha Secondary School near the Mpondwe border crossing with the DRC. Thirty-eight of the 41 people killed were students.

Security analyst Solomon Asiimwe of Nkumba University says it is time for the Ugandan government to look at other ways to neutralize the ADF.

"Terrorism cannot be defeated just through only military," he said. He noted that the ADF leader, Jamil Mukulu, had been arrested and imprisoned, "but ADF has not stopped. Maybe it's high time [the] government also finds a way of talking to ADF. Because they are Ugandans, they have a reason why they are fighting."

Museveni said the country's young people need to be empowered and to rise out of poverty instead of being manipulated by the ADF.

The Ugandan security council chaired by Museveni is expected to meet within a week to discuss options for ending ADF attacks.

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July 15, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Centcom Remains Important to National Defense Strategy, Official Says

The nations in the U.S. Central Command area of operations remain important to the National Defense Strategy and figure in the world of strategic competition, said a senior defense official speaking on background.

China, Russia, Iran and threats from extremist groups remain squarely in the focus of the command.

The United States remains the partner of choice for the nations of the region, but China and Russia are working to increase their influence and shape the strategic environment in their favor, the official said.

The U.S. presence in the region reassures allies and partners. Still, China has huge economic interests in the Arabian Gulf getting about 50% of its oil from the region and more than 30% of the natural gas it uses. "It provides the pathway for them to get to Africa and Europe in terms of their port infrastructure and the Belt and Road Initiative," the official said. "It is an important region to them."

The Russians also muddy the waters in the Middle East. U.S. forces are in proximity with Russian forces in Syria. The U.S. personnel are dedicated to defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, while the Russians are propping up the Assad regime  a group that used chemical weapons on their own people.

The command is working to "maintain influence while also maintaining the safety of our forces that are on the ground working toward the enduring defeat of ISIS," he said. "That's one way strategic competition plays out."

The Russians have been acting in an unprofessional and dangerous manner  especially in the air. The official said the Russian efforts to interfere with unmanned aerial vehicles engaged in actions against ISIS are concerns. "We've been fairly outspoken and released a lot of videos about Russian activity in Syria," the official said. "They continue to undertake activities which are very concerning to us. Just this morning they flew an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission over the al-Tanf garrison. They were in that space for an extended period, and it appears to us that were doing some sort of a collection mission. This is in violation of the deconfliction protocols."

Iran and violent extremist organizations are also a threat in the region. "I would say if there's anything that's going to derail our implementation of the national defense strategy and our focus on the pacing challenge [of China], it would be [Iran and terrorism]," the official said.

The effort in the region is to maintain the pressure on both, to ensure threats to the homeland don't metastasize. "If we took the pressure off violent extremist organizations and ... they were able to have an attack on our homeland or ... a close regional partner or ally somewhere else in the world, that could force us to put a whole bunch of resources back into a counterterrorism fight," he said.

Pressure on violent extremism is one way to do this. So is keeping pressure on Iran to deter the worst actions that country may take via their proxy and partner network across the region. It will also help deter the nation from trying to secure a nuclear weapon at some point in the future.

On the maritime front, Iran has been testing the limits  trying to stop and detain oil tankers. "We are working closely between the maritime and air components to ensure that there's adequate air cover that there's adequate maritime surface presence in order to deter Iran from going after oil tankers," the official said. Currently, A-10s are flying over the Strait of Hormuz and over the broader Persian Gulf area. "We are starting to fly F-16s this weekend as well, to further robust that presence."

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Russia revises stance on three Iranian islands in Persian Gulf

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 15, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Moscow has reaffirmed its respect for Iran's sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands of the Greater Tumb, Lesser Tumb and Abu Musa following calls from Tehran to correct a previous stance on the issue.

During a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali, Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president's special representative for the Middle East, underscored his country's firm stance toward the Islamic Republic as a friendly country.

Various topics, including the latest state of bilateral relations between Iran and Russia, were discussed during the meeting.

The islands of the Greater Tumb, Lesser Tumb and Abu Musa have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated in historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and worldwide. However, the UAE has repeatedly laid unfounded claim to the islands.

Last Monday, the sixth joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Russian Federation in Moscow ended with a joint statement that supported the UAE's initiative to resolve the issue of the Iranian islands through negotiations and based on international law.

Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador on Wednesday to protest the contents of the joint statement while urging Russia to revise its stance on the issue.

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Swift action needed to salvage oil tanker Safer and prevent a new blow to Yemen

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 15-07-2023

The tanker Nautica is heading to Yemen to pump oil from the derelict tanker FSO Safer. The ship could break apart at any moment, triggering a major environmental disaster. The Netherlands is helping to fund a salvage effort being coordinated by the United Nations.

'Normally, as minister, it's my job to deal with the repercussions of disasters,' Ms Schreinemacher noted. 'But in this instance we have a chance to prevent a disaster. The Safer is a ticking time bomb. We need swift action. It's encouraging that so many countries have pledged their financial support. Thanks in part to the Netherlands' contribution we now have the necessary funds to start salvaging the vessel. Obviously, all the other parties will have to follow through on their pledges as well. The Netherlands stands ready to help the UN start this operation as soon as possible.'

Supertanker

FSO Safer is a 40-year-old supertanker moored around 8 kilometres off the coast of Yemen with a huge cargo of oil. Due to years of neglect, the vessel is decaying. The risk of leakage, fire or even an explosion is high. If no action is taken, large quantities of oil could spill into the Red Sea.

The consequences of an oil spill would be enormous. It would have a huge impact on the environment and shipping and on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people who depend on small-scale fishing. The UN estimates that a spill would cost $20 billion to clean up and that it would take another 25 years for fish stocks to recover from an ecological catastrophe of this magnitude. Taken together, these potential consequences pose a huge humanitarian risk for a country that is already suffering food shortages. The UN is therefore committed to taking swift action, in concert with a number of countries including the Netherlands.

Boskalis

The Dutch salvage company Boskalis/SMIT Salvage, which specialises in dredging and maritime services, has taken on the task of recovering the Safer's cargo of oil and salvaging the vessel. The company has been preparing for this operation for two years, without any of its team yet having set foot on board the ship. That is unique, says CEO Peter Berdowski. 'When we undertake a salvage operation, we usually only have days and sometimes only hours to get a picture of the situation on board.' This time is different. 'We carry out a lot of salvage work around the world, and we don't often have to deal with a ship that is in worse state than the Safer,' he explains.

Ticking time bomb

Like Ms Schreinemacher, he calls the ship a ticking time bomb. 'There are 1.1 million barrels of oil on board, and oxygen has been detected in all the storage tanks. That could cause a gigantic explosion. We should definitely not underestimate the dire condition this ship is in.'

Boskalis is therefore going about its task with due caution, says Mr Berdowski. 'We're continually weighing risks. Can we berth our own vessel safely alongside the Safer? Is the tanker's hull strong enough for pumping to commence? What condition will the oil be in when it comes out of the tanker? We won't know that until the transfer operation has started.'

The difficulty of the task is underlined by Peter-Derrek Hof, the Dutch ambassador to Yemen. 'This salvage operation is extremely difficult. There are underlying political issues and it's also an engineering challenge. And then of course there's the financial aspect. On that point the Netherlands is shouldering its responsibility and has made averting an ecological disaster in the Red Sea a priority. We're the second biggest donor in this salvage effort.'

What will happen next?

Now that Boskalis has given the go-ahead, all the oil will be transferred to a specially equipped tanker. The Safer can then be safely cleaned and towed away. It is still uncertain what will be done with the oil. Difficult issues first need to be resolved in light of different countries' contributions and interests. But everyone agrees on one thing: the first step is to transfer the oil from the Safer as quickly and safely as possible in order to avert a huge humanitarian and environmental disaster.

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UN urges safe humanitarian access in Sudan as conflict lasts

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:40, July 15, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Parties to the conflict in Sudan must guarantee safe humanitarian access as misery deepens for civilians, urged UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths in a statement on Saturday.

Sudan, already one of the world's most difficult places for humanitarian operations, will be worse off as the conflict enters its fourth month and battle lines harden, despite concerted efforts by local organizations and international aid groups, warned the UN coordinator.

Griffiths emphasized that the suffering of the Sudanese people "will end only when the fighting ends." The parties involved in the conflict must adhere to the Declaration of Commitments they signed in Jeddah, which seeks to safeguard civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.

The conflict has displaced more than 3 million people in Sudan, half of them children, both inside and outside the country. Furthermore, the 13.6 million children remaining in Sudan urgently need humanitarian assistance, alarmed Griffiths.

Griffiths cited the recent discovery of a mass grave near El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, as the "latest evidence pointing to the resurgence of ethnic killings in the region." This should be a stark reminder of the historical atrocities witnessed during the Darfur conflict, he emphasized.

Griffiths issued this statement as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces hit the three-month mark.

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Sudanese representatives arrive in Saudi Arabia to resume truce talks with RSF

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 7:30 PM

Sudanese representatives have arrived in Saudi Arabia to resume talks with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) aimed at ending months of fighting in the crisis-hit African country.

The representatives arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Saturday, according to Sudanese government sources.

This comes as the United States and Saudi Arabia suspended previous ceasefire talks in June after the failure of a truce brokered by them.

The two sides had agreed to the ceasefire through the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the United States on May 20. But since then they have violated it on numerous occasions.

Egypt has also announced that it will host a summit of Sudan's neighbors on Thursday to seek an end to the conflict and its regional repercussions.

Separately on Saturday, Sudan's health ministry said at least four civilians have been killed and four others injured in a drone attack that targeted a hospital in the city of Omdurman.

The ministry accused the RSF of carrying out the attack.

The fighting in Sudan began in mid-April over a power struggle between army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the RSF.

The International Organization for Migration says nearly three million people have been displaced by Sudan's fighting, among them almost 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, especially Chad and Egypt.

The United Nations, the Arab League and many countries in the world have already urged the opposing sides to show restraint and engage in dialog to end the hostilities.

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Afghans Fear Taliban's Ban On Swedish Aid Will Further Worsen Humanitarian Crisis

By Mohammad Khater Pardes July 15, 2023

Shima runs a sewing course for several dozen women that is funded by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA), one of the largest aid groups operating in the country.

The program has provided a sustainable livelihood for the women, who live in an impoverished rural district in the eastern province of Laghman.

But the project could be scrapped after the Taliban on July 11 suspended the activities of the SCA. The militants have also threatened to stop the operations of other aid groups that receive funding from Sweden.

The Taliban's decision came after the burning of the Koran, Islam's holy book, in Stockholm last month, which triggered outrage in the Muslim world and was condemned by the Swedish government.

The SCA has played a major role in the fields of health, education, and vocational training since the Taliban seized power in 2021, which aggravated a devastating humanitarian crisis and triggered an economic collapse.

"I am very sad that the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is closing," the 25-year-old Shima told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "I request the Taliban not to shut down this organization."

The Swedish aid group has operated in Afghanistan for most of the past 40 years of war, and millions of Afghans have benefited from its assistance.

"The decision of the Taliban to shut down this organization is very bad news for the Afghan economy," Farida Hafeez, who has worked for the SCA for the past five years, told Radio Azadi. "Unemployment will rapidly rise in Afghanistan."

The SCA employs around 8,000 Afghans in 18 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. With an annual budget of over $50 million, the organization runs health-care facilities in the central province of Wardak and the eastern province of Nuristan. Last year, its clinics treated more than 2.5 million patients in the two provinces, the group has said.

The SCA also educates over 130,000 children in its rural schools and supports more than 20,000 people with disabilities in the same communities.

Hafeez said the Taliban's decision to suspend the SCA's activities will further worsen the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The United Nations estimates that some 28 million Afghans, or more than two-thirds of the country's 40-million population, need humanitarian assistance. Six million Afghans are on the brink of starvation.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), a government agency that oversees Sweden's development assistance to developing countries, has been a major donor of humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan for years. Last year, its funding to Afghanistan exceeded more than $90 million.

The Taliban has warned that it could target aid groups that receive funding from SIDA.

The Taliban on July 11 ordered the suspension of "Sweden's activities in Afghanistan until they apologize to Muslims for this heinous act," in reference to the Koran burning in Stockholm.

On the same day, the SCA issued a statement that said it was seeking a "dialogue" with the Taliban to clarify the group's order.

The SCA said it is a "people to people" organization that has observed "deep respect" for Islam and Afghan traditions since it first started operating in Afghanistan in 1980.

The SCA worked in Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan during the extremist group's nearly 20-year insurgency against the Western-backed Afghan government and international forces.

"SCA strongly condemns all acts of desecration of the Holy Quran," said the statement. "Just as we condemn any attempt to create conflict or hostility between people based on religious belief, ethnicity, nationality, or any other division."

The organization said that it is not a Swedish government entity but "independent and impartial in relation to all political stakeholders and states" and funded by a "broad range of donors."

The Taliban has been at loggerheads with international aid groups for months. In December, the group banned Afghan women from working for local and foreign NGOs, leading major organizations to halt or reduce their operations, including emergency food distribution, health-care services, and education. In April, the ban was expanded to include the UN.

Later that month, international donors and aid agencies suspended their operations in three Afghan provinces after accusing the Taliban of attempting to divert or manipulate aid distribution.

In June, the UN revised its annual aid budget for Afghanistan from $4.6 billion to $3.2 billion this year, citing reduced funding from international donors. The world body said that a "changing operating context" in the wake of the Taliban's ban on female aid workers had contributed to the revised plan.

Written by Abubakar Siddique based on reporting by Radio Azadi correspondent Khatir Pardes

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban- ban-swedish-ngo-humanitarian-crisis/32504979.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Sudan violence rages as paramilitaries deny Darfur war crimes

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 7:07 PM

Sudan's capital Khartoum and its western Darfur region witnessed another day of violent clashes on Sunday, as the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued their fight for control of the country.

Witnesses said the army fighter jets bombed Rapid Support Forces' bases in the east and northwest of Khartoum, while the RSF fired back with anti-aircraft weapons. They also said RSF drones targeted the city's largest military hospital, similar to the attack on the same facility on Saturday which left five dead and 22 injured.

A local neighborhood group said at least five people were killed and 17 others injured in a blast in Ombada, in Khartoum's northwest, but the toll was likely to increase as more casualties are pulled from the rubble.

Separately in Darfur, a region that has suffered some of the worst violence, witnesses said there were intense clashes with different kinds of weapons in the town of Kas, where paramilitaries broke into and looted houses, claiming victory in the town.

Darfur, home to around a quarter of Sudan's 48 million people, has seen entire towns razed to the ground. Last week, Human Rights Watch accused the Paramilitary Rapid Forces and allied Arab militia of executing at least 28 ethnic Massalit in a single day in May and the total destruction of the town of Misterei in West Darfur.

On Saturday, the RSF issued a statement denying the findings of the Human Rights Watch report. It blamed the violence on "longstanding tribal conflict, saying it "strictly adheres" to international humanitarian law.

Diplomatic efforts to end the violence continue but have failed to bear fruit and numerous ceasefires have been broken.

As the war entered its fourth month on Saturday, an army delegation returned to the Saudi city of Jeddah to resume truce talks. This came as the Saudi-US brokered talks were adjourned last month after several truces were systematically violated.

Separately, Egypt launched an attempt to mediate between warring factions on Thursday at a regional summit to prevent a prolonged civil war and the deepening of a humanitarian crisis.

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 in mid-April, claiming at least 3,000 lives and displacing more than three million people, among them almost 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries, especially Chad and Egypt.

The United Nations, the Arab League and many countries in the world have already urged the opposing sides to show restraint and engage in dialog to end the hostilities.

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Azerbaijan, Armenia hold peace talks mediated by EU in fresh attempt to end hostilities

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 6:31 AM

Azerbaijan and Armenia have held fresh peace talks mediated by the European Union as the two neighboring countries attempt once again to end decades-long hostilities linked to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

European Union Council President Charles Michel, who mediated the new round of peace talks, stated on Saturday that peace and normalization of ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia could be achieved if both sides avoid violence and harsh rhetoric.

"Real progress depends on the next steps that will need to be taken in the near future. As a matter of priority, violence, and harsh rhetoric should stop in order to provide the proper environment for peace and normalization talks," Michel said.

The EU Council president further emphasized that the current hostile state of affairs was clearly not sustainable and in no one's interest.

Michel made the remarks after holding trilateral talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, describing the exchanges between the two leaders as "frank, honest and substantive."

The three officials discussed during the talks possible measures to help bring the situation back to normal in Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority Armenian-populated enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan's territory.

"I encouraged them to take courageous steps to ensure decisive and irreversible progress on a normalization track," Michel added.

Russia, meanwhile, also offered on Saturday to host the two countries' foreign ministers and suggested that a future peace treaty could be signed in Moscow, which played a key role in the past to establish peace between the warring sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the center of a dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia for more than three decades.

Since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, the two neighboring countries have fought two wars, in 1994 and 2020, over the mountainous territory.

In the second Karabakh war, more than 6,500 people died on both sides in the six-week conflict.

Pashinyan has reportedly expressed Yerevan's willingness to also recognize Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh, but has expressed serious concerns about transportation and various other limits imposed on the territory by Baku.

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Amid Tension Over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan Wages A Media War On France

By Joshua Kucera July 16, 2023

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 as well as in Algeria, Corsica, and Mayotte.

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."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-tensions- nagorno-karabakh-media-france/32505740.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Azerbaijan Criticizes Moscow After Aliyev, Pashinian Hold Brussels Talks On Nagorno-Karabakh

By RFE/RL July 16, 2023

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has criticized Moscow, saying it "did not ensure full implementation" of an agreement that instituted a cease-fire between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia in September 2020.

In a statement on July 17, the ministry added that Moscow "did nothing" to stop Armenia from sending military supplies to Yerevan-backed separatists in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The statement came one day after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Brussels with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for EU-sponsored talks aimed at ending the decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. It was the sixth meeting between the two men over the last two years.

The meeting was hosted by European Council President Charles Michel, who issued a statement following the meeting describing the talks as "frank, honest, and substantive."

Michel called for an end to "violence and harsh rhetoric" and said he had extended an invitation to both leaders "for another meeting in Brussels after the summer."

The long-simmering conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh led to a six-week war in 2020 in which nearly 7,000 soldiers were killed on both sides. The fighting resulted in Armenia and ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh losing control over parts of the region and seven adjacent districts.

Under the Moscow-brokered cease-fire, Russia deployed peacekeepers to the 5-kilometer-wide Lachin Corridor, the only land link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

However, Baku recently closed the corridor, provoking fears of a humanitarian crisis with Armenia warning of food shortages in the region.

Azerbaijan said it took the step after "various types of contraband" were allegedly found in Red Cross vehicles traveling from Armenia. The Red Cross issued a statement saying that four hired drivers had, without the organization's knowledge, tried to transport commercial goods into Nagorno-Karabakh in their own vehicles bearing the emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The men were fired, the ICRC said.

Thousands of people on July 14 took to the streets in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, to protest the blockade.

Despite the blockade, de facto Nagorno-Karabakh health officials said 11 patients in serious condition had been evacuated to Armenia by the Red Cross through the Lachin Corridor.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-criticizes- russia-brussels-talks-armenia/32505723.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US, Japan, South Korea Hold Missile Defense Exercise in Sea of Japan

Sputnik News

20230716

TOKYO (Sputnik) - The drills were organized around a scenario of a ballistic missile launch by North Korea and featured three Aegis-equipped destroyers, accordint to the media report.

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.

"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 the agency, adding that the three countries "will effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

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 Korea's ICBM launch.

 Sputnik

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Top Biden Aide: Social Issue Amendments Will Be Deleted From Defense Spending

By Ken Bredemeier July 16, 2023

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan predicted Sunday that the Democratic-controlled Senate would strip out controversial social policies from the country's 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.

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 CNN's "State of the Union" show that the House-passed version "is never getting to the president's 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 China's 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 CBS's "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.

In June, North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast as Sullivan met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 July 2023 - Day 508

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian security apparatus entered a period of confusion and negotiations after Wagner Group's 24 June 2023 mutiny. In recent days, an interim arrangement for the future of the group has started to take shape.

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 group's activities in Africa. Based on recent announcements by Russian officials, the state is likely prepared to accept Wagner's aspirations to maintain its extensive presence on the continent.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day July 16, Russian forces carried out 6x missile and 38x air strikes, launched about 30x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian Armed Forces. As a result of the russian terrorist attacks, civilians were injured, houses, commercial and administrative buildings, as well as cars were damaged.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes, heavy battles continue. About 20x combat clashes took place during the day.

Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. There are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian forces maintain an enhanced military presence. An airstrike was carried out at Shpyl' of the Sumy Oblast. Russian forces shelled with mortars and artillery more than 20x settlements, including Stepne, Popivka, Kozache of the Sumy Oblast and Basove, Visoka Yaruga, Ternova, Vovchans'k of the Kharkiv Oblast.

Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers are holding their ground. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives south of Masyutivka and carried out an air strike in the Kislivka area of the Kharkiv Oblast. Kam'ianka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Kup'yans'k, Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations east of Vesely, Donetsk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes at Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast, and Sivers'k, Donetsk Oblast. The settlements of Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka of Luhansk Oblast and Tors'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka of Donetsk Oblast shelled by artillery.

Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled all Russian attacks in the Orihovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, and Ivanivsky Oblasts of the Donetsk Oblast. Also, Russian forces made attempts to restore lost position northwest of Kurdyumivka, Donetsk Oblast, albeit without success. russians carried out an air strike at Pivdenne. More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Druzhba of the Donetsk Oblast, were shelled by artillery.

Avdiivka axis: the Russian forces launched an air strike at Avdiivka. The adversary shelled more than 10x settlements, including Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, and Nevels'ke in the Donetsk Oblast.

Mar'inka axis: Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of russian troops in the Mar'inka area. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, and Georgiivka in the Donetsk Oblast.

Shakhtars'k axis: in the northern part of Staromayorskyi, Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces made an unsuccessful attempt to restore the lost position. They carried out airstrikes in the Vremivka, Blagodatny and Makarivka districts of the Donetsk Oblast. The Russian occupiers shelled the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vugledar, Zolota Niva, Velyka Novosilka, and Blagodatne.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is concentrating forces to prevent further advance of Ukrainian troops. They carried out an airstrike at Stepove of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. russians shelled more than 15x settlements, including Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Dudchany, Kozatske, Ivanivka, Antonivka, Berehove, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast and Kherson.

Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdyansk axes, are equipping captured positions, and carry out counter-battery measures.

Ukrainian Air Force conducted 15x strikes on Russian manpower, weapons and military equipment concentrations, 1x of which was on the Russian forces' anti-air system.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit Russian manpower, weapons and military equipment concentrations, 9x artillery units at firing positions and 2x Russian anti-air defense systems.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of well-coordinated and professional actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, 15 enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Severnoye, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Krasnogorovka, Veseloye, Novomikhailovka, Pervomayskoye and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two ammunition depots of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and the 4th Operational Purpose Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard have been destroyed near Razdolovka and Ivano-Daryevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 270 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles and five motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems have repelled three enemy attacks close to Novovodyanoye, Makeevka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU units have been hit close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Golikovo and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

One ammunition depot of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, the active actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region) and Rovnopol (Donetsk People's Republic).

The activities of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of coordinated actions by Russian troops, an enemy manpower and hardware concentration area have been hit close to Marfopol, Malye Shcherbaki and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, two ammunition depots of the 33rd and 65th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been destroyed near Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 260 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as D-20 and Msta-B howitzers.

In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Zapad Group of Forces, AFU units have been hit close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Tabayevka, Olshana and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

The activities of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, three U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery systems and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 126th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Molodyozhnoye (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 89 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 124 areas.

The command post of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU has been neutralised near Dyleevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence facilities have intercepted three HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and two missiles of the S-200 surface-to-air missile system modified to hit ground targets.

In addition, 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Pilipovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Tripolye (Donetsk People's Republic), Pologi, Chapaevka, Azov, Tokmak and Lyubimovka (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 455 airplanes, 242 helicopters, 5,028 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,721 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,138 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,471 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,698 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Training for special operations readiness

14 July 2023

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recently welcomed the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Force Special Operations Command's (AFSOC) 23rd Special Tactics Squadron (23rd STS), and 17th Special Operations Squadron (17th SOS) to RAAF Base Richmond, with their AC-130J Ghostriders, for Exercise Teak Action.

The annual bilateral Australia and United States special operations exercise ran from June 11 to July 1 and included missions around the local Hawkesbury region, RAAF Base Williamtown and the Singleton Military Area.

In its fifth iteration since 2018, Exercise Teak Action provided key training opportunities for the RAAF's 4 Squadron Combat Control Team (CCT) and 35 Squadron (35SQN) to work with their AFSOC counterparts.

4 Squadron (4SQN) and the 23rd SOS engaged in dry-fire serials designed to train joint terminal attack control (JTAC) and forward air control - airborne (FAC-A) specialists in a range of scenarios and mission roles.

Commanding Officer 4SQN Wing Commander Steven Duffy said Exercise Teak Action was also an opportunity for 4SQN's PC-21 and 35SQN's C-27J Spartan to train with the 23rd STS and 17th SOS.

"It was a chance for the RAAF and the USAF to conduct formation flying, landing zone survey and close air support training that maintains our interoperability," Wing Commander Duffy said.

This is the first time an AC-130 Hercules gunship has operated in Australia since its introduction into the USAF inventory in the 1960s. The AC-130J Ghostrider used during Exercise Teak Action is a C-130J Hercules modified for special operations roles.

AC-130 gunships have an extensive combat history over the past four decades, with the USAF deploying them to hotspots worldwide in support of special operations and conventional forces.

Wing Commander Duffy said training with the AC-130J Ghostrider was beneficial for RAAF personnel.

"We've learnt about the capability of the aircraft, and the support framework required for the aircraft to base in Australia and project throughout the region," he said.

Exercise Teak Action gave American and Australian personnel the chance to build on established working relationships and ensure both nations are prepared to give short-notice response to tasks in the Indo-Pacific region.

"4SQN has been particularly impressed with the professionalism and operational focus of the service men and women from both 17th SOS and 23rd STS," Wing Commander Duffy said.

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Historic first for Navy's 816 Squadron

14 July 2023

Exercise Resolute Hunter has long been a cornerstone in maritime warfare training, bringing together allied forces to share expertise and bolster security.

This year, the exercise, stationed in Nevada and San Diego in the United States, witnessed a remarkable and historic new addition - the Australian Navy's 816 Squadron.

The collaboration between the US Navy and Australia's 816 Squadron on the exercise demonstrates the proven partnership between the two forces in an evolving maritime landscape.

Conducted biennially, Exercise Resolute Hunter represents a significant stride in military cooperation and is a testament to the camaraderie shared by the two nations.

The powerful joint maritime warfare training exercise aims at enhancing interoperability and collective capabilities amongst allied nations.

The exercise seeks to enhance and emphasise innovative tactics and technologies where 816 Squadron represents the RAN's commitment to staying on the forefront of maritime defence.

816 Squadron operates the MH-60R Seahawk - a reliable and highly effective combat helicopter that contributes strongly to naval power.

It is designed for both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare combat roles across the RAN and US Navy Fleets.

816 Squadron's involvement in Exercise Resolute Hunter 23 reflects Navy's commitment to and engagement with the Indo-Pacific region as well as its integration with partner nations.

The integration of 816 Squadron with the US military during the exercise provided both forces with valuable insights into each other's operations and capabilities.

The exposure to varied equipment, strategies, and environments allowed for the cross-pollination of knowledge and skills.

816 Squadron members returned home from the exercise with invaluable experience, new insights, reinforced relationships and enhanced lethality prowess.

It's expected the RAN Fleet Air Arm will continue to participate in future iterations of Exercise Resolute Hunter, strengthening the ties between the US and Australian maritime combat helicopter communities and making the world's oceans safer for all.

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Speech by Foreign Minister Baerbock at MERICS on the future of Germany's policy on China

Germany Federal Foreign Office

13.07.2023 - Speech

800 million people. That is the number of Chinese who have found their way out of poverty over the past few decades.

298 billion euro. That is the value of trade in goods between Germany and China last year - a record.

87 gigawatts. That's how much solar energy China installed last year alone - more than Germany's entire installed solar capacity.

96 percent. That's China's share of global gallium production - and last week China announced that it wants to restrict exports of this commodity.

69 warships. With these, China has, over the past five years, made its navy the world's biggest, in numerical terms.

One million Hong Kong dollars. That is the bounty put up by the Hong Kong police for eight pro-democracy activists living abroad.

These are all aspects of a country that is as complex and as multi-faceted as the 1.4 billion people who live there.

A country that has perhaps changed more rapidly than any other in the world over the past ten years.

A country whose development will shape this century.

And that's why it is so important that our society faces up to this reality.

For Germany, China remains a partner, competitor and systemic rival.

In the last few years, however, the systemic rival aspect has come more and more to the fore.

So we don't need to look hard to see that China has changed. Anyone who listens to China knows how self-confidently it will exert crucial influence on developments in our world - more repressively at home, more assertively abroad.

China has changed, and so we need to change our approach to China.

That is precisely the aim of this first Federal Government Strategy on China, which we adopted in cabinet today.

The Strategy is the product of countless discussions over the past few months, among the federal ministries, with colleagues in the German Bundestag, with representatives of the German business community, with all parts of the scientific and academic community, with NGOs and above all with our international partners, worldwide.

And of course we also talked to our Chinese partners: intensively - and especially once face-to-face meetings became possible again - in Peking, in Berlin, and at many international meetings.

This process took its time. But it was necessary.

Because our relations with China mean much more than just contact between individual ministries, contact between two Foreign Ministers, or between the President and the Federal Chancellor.

Relations between China and Germany, between China and the European Union, also mean the workers at a car manufacturer in Baden-WArttemberg that gets lithium for the batteries for its electric vehicles from China.

Our joint relations also mean a company from North Rhine-Westphalia that manufactures medicines against deadly diseases in China.

Our relations are also the universities. The university in Saxony that offers a research project on artificial intelligence and then has to think about how to handle applications from China.

As a society, we need coherent answers to these questions.

So I would like to mention three aspects of our Strategy on China that are particularly important to me.

Firstly, our aim is not to decouple from China, but to reduce risks as far as possible.

Last year we were given a painful reminder of how vulnerable one-sided dependencies make us. In order not to repeat that mistake, we, the Federal Government and the EU have made de-risking a priority.

This includes ensuring that the responsibilities for risky corporate decisions remain clear. Trusting in the market's invisible hand in good times and demanding the strong arm of the state in difficult times, in times of crisis - that will not work in the long term. Not even one of the world's strongest economies can manage that.

So, in our economic and common social interest, we need to focus more on our economic security.

And above all else that means minimising concentration risks that affect not only individuals but an entire economy. That is why companies that make themselves very dependent on the Chinese market will in future have to bear more of the financial risk themselves.

Economic security also means that companies make sure that human rights are not being violated along their supply chains.

Because of our responsibility to uphold human rights, obviously - but also in order to minimise the risk to Germany and Europe as locations for business and investment. Because if we were to accept that, it would be a distortion of competition, especially for European companies.

At the same time we will protect our European economy against unfair competition by developing new, above all else European, instruments - and then by using them together.

For example, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, with which we can if necessary protect European companies against attempts at blackmail by third countries, with tariffs or trade restrictions if required. In a joint European move - because that's the only way it will function.

We have seen from the case of Lithuania that this is no theoretical debate. And we have also seen what happens if we don't tackle this vulnerability together: it is exploited to the detriment of an individual European state and its society.

At moments like that, our European unity is our strength. The shared European internal market is our most effective instrument in this context. It is both a lever and a shield. Because yes, we cannot ignore the huge Chinese market. Nor do we want to. At the same time, however, it is equally true that the Chinese market needs the European market.

That is why we cannot be indifferent to the tensions over Taiwan. Military escalation would endanger millions of people, all over the world, so here too.

Half of the world's container ships pass through the Taiwan Strait. Container ships - and this is something else we learnt last year and in recent months - transport things like anti-fever medicine, machine parts, foodstuffs, vital medicines. All these things are transported through this lifeline of the global economy.

So for us that means we have to look closely. But it also means that the more diverse our trade and supply chains are, the more resilient Europe and Germany are as locations for business and investment.

This brings me to my second point. In order to make ourselves less dependent, we are investing in our global partnerships.

For example, by concluding raw materials partnerships in Africa, Latin America and more intensively in the Indo-Pacific.

The EU currently imports 98 percent of the rare earths needed for electric motors and generators from China. Obviously we cannot change that overnight. But we can make a start. And we have indeed begun to tap into new sources and in doing so to shape fair value-added chains. Not just in Europe, but particularly beyond.

This is one of our goals in driving forward new trade agreements. Last month, my colleague Hubertus Heil and I visited Brazil, a country that now exports almost six times as many goods to China as to Germany.

And talking about rare earths and rare commodities and then looking closely at the region, we see that you have to search very hard indeed to find European and German companies in the field there.

So if we do not want to be left behind in this competition, one thing we need is a robust agreement between the EU and MERCOSUR. That's what we want, all of us.

And the good thing is that we are not having to be forced: rather, it is in our mutual interest. And we will thus be able to shape global trade in a positive way. We can set global standards for fairness and sustainability, in a new age as equal partners.

My third point is this: we want to diversify. But we also want to further expand cooperation with China, because we need it.

That is true of our commercial contacts. Because we do not want to impede either China's economic development or our own.

But it is also true of the biggest global crisis, trying to control the climate crisis. China produces almost a third of global CO2 emissions and is known to be building more coal-fired power stations.

On the other hand, China has not only recognised the huge opportunities presented by the energy transition, but is also seizing them at a tremendous rate that we could never manage, producing more solar energy than the rest of the world put together.

At the intergovernmental consultations in June, too, we saw not only our willingness but our shared aspiration to step up cooperation on climate action.

We want to use this potential, not only as Europeans with China, but especially with our partners worldwide - our American friends but many other partners around the world, too - because we all need this green transformation.

It is clear that, without China, we will be able neither effectively to contain the climate crisis nor to increase equitable prosperity in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Colleagues,

All of these points, and many more, are issues that are not only addressed in our Strategy on China, but given a political framework.

We are thereby facing up to the challenges resulting from China's actions in the last ten years.

And we are highlighting ways and instruments to enable Germany at the heart of Europe to cooperate with China, without endangering our liberal democratic order, our prosperity or our partnership with other countries.

We are showing how 1.4 billion people, in all their wonderful diversity, from Xinjiang to Shandong, can once again enjoy greater contact, exchange and coexistence with 450 million citizens in the EU, from Porto to Vilnius.

And at the same time we are showing that we are realistic, but not naive. I firmly believe that we will, if we all want, grow together in facing these challenges - for the benefit of our world.

By strengthening the European internal market, with a good location policy for the Federal Republic of Germany, and above all with all sections of society.

From the university in Saxony to the car manufacturer in Baden-WArttemberg to every federal ministry that makes up this fine Federal Government.

And so I am looking forward to talking with you now.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the Bundestag, but also to everyone else, for being as flexible as global politics currently is.

And I would especially like to thank MERICS, one of the leading research institutes in Europe, for allowing us to present the Federal Republic of Germany's first Strategy on China here today - even though the date was not entirely clear, not just for 83 weeks, but even for the last 83 hours.

Thank you very much.

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PLA marches toward centenary goals as units inspected by Xi safeguard territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, national unity

Global Times

New types of combat forces play vital roles facing national security challenges

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jul 14, 2023 08:33 PM Updated: Jul 14, 2023 08:15 PM

Less than a month before the 96th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on August 1, President Xi Jinping on July 6 inspected the headquarters of the PLA Eastern Theater Command in East China's Jiangsu Province and stressed efforts to focus on the goals for the centenary of the PLA in 2027 and break new ground for theater command development and war preparedness.

The visit marked Xi's first inspection tour of the PLA Eastern Theater Command headquarters, according to media reports.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for vigilance against potential dangers and all-out efforts to fulfill the duty of combat tasked with theater commands, as he noted that China's security situation is facing rising instability and uncertainty as the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation.

Xi said the armed forces must have the courage and ability to fight, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

He called for strengthening Party building in all aspects and make the Party committee of the theater command more capable of leading combat readiness

China's national security has faced increasingly grave challenges, with the US military pouring its resources attempting to compete with and contain China, ganging up allies and forming cliques including QUAD and AUKUS targeting China, arming the island of Taiwan, provoking over the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, and leaning toward India over the China-India border issue. A strategic, suppressive encirclement around China has been formed.

New security challenges keep on rising. The latest NATO Summit communiquA released on July 11 mentioned China much more than past summit declarations, and Japan reportedly agreed a deal called the Individually Tailored Partnership Program with NATO recently that will elevate Japan-NATO collaboration. It is widely believed that the North Atlantic military alliance is on an eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region with hostility toward China.

With conflicts taking place in other parts of the world, including the Ukraine crisis, analysts said that the global security situation as a whole is deteriorating.



Safeguarding territorial sovereignty

During Xi's inspection of the Eastern Theater Command, he fully affirmed the significant contributions the command has made since its founding in safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests as well as national unity.

The Eastern Theater Command is the most direct and most important force facing the island of Taiwan.

It holds regular warplane and warship exercises and patrols near the island of Taiwan daily over the past several years in response to provocations by "Taiwan independence" and external interfering forces, including US arms sales to the island, US warship and warplane transits through the Taiwan Straits and US-led military exercises around the region.

A year ago when the PLA celebrated its 95th founding anniversary, it was a special moment when the PLA raised alert and prepared countermeasures, as then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi was about to make a provocative visit to the island of Taiwan. The Eastern Theater Command organized large-scale military exercises following Pelosi's eventual landing on the island on August 2, which saw the island completely blocked by the PLA, with ballistic missiles flying over the island for the first time.

Following Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's provocative transit visit in the US and her meeting with US House speaker Kevin McCarthy this April, the Eastern Theater Command again conducted large-scale military exercises and combat patrols encircling the island of Taiwan.

The drills demonstrated the PLA's firm will and strong capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and thwart secessionist attempts by "Taiwan independence" and external interfering forces, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, told the Global Times.

Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at China's Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times that it showed that the PLA can form a blockade to cut off energy supply routes, reinforcement routes and escape routes of "Taiwan independence" forces, as well as their hopes for US military reinforcement.

In the South China Sea, the US frequently sends warships and warplanes to carry out close-in reconnaissance on China, as well as deploys aircraft carrier strike groups to conduct targeted exercises. It also stirs up island and reef disputes in the region, rallying up countries like the Philippines for joint exercises and gaining more forward deployment bases.

Xi inspected the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command on April 11, when he told the military to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the country's neighboring regions.

Xi stressed strengthening training and combat readiness and accelerating transformation to boost the armed forces' modernization levels on all fronts, calling on the armed forces to resolutely fulfill the duties entrusted by the Party and the people.

The armed forces should develop new types of combat forces and means and accelerate efforts to incorporate new equipment and new forces into actual combat capacity, Xi said.

Over the recent years, the PLA has commissioned new equipment and new forces including the Type 15 light tank, the Type 055 large destroyer, the J-20 stealth fighter jet with domestically developed engines and the DF-17 hypersonic missile in addition to a wide variety of unmanned equipment.

With the PLA's centenary approaching, more new types of combat forces and means are reportedly under development or undergoing trials.

One of them is China's third aircraft carrier, the 80,000 ton-class electromagnetic catapults-equipped Fujian, which was launched on June 17, 2022. After the smoothly going mooring trials, the Fujian is expected to carry out its first sea trial within this year, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

Combat readiness highlighted

In another inspection of armed forces on January 18, ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, Xi spoke with soldiers from several troops undertaking border defense, coastal defense, air defense, stability maintenance and emergency response duties via video link.

Xi spoke with soldiers at a border defense station in Khunjerab under the Xinjiang military command, soldiers from a patrolling Chinese navy formation, soldiers in an air force aviation brigade and soldiers from the Falcon Commando Unit under the armed police force.

Xi called on the military to fulfill their combat readiness duties and safeguard national security and social stability, so as to ensure that all Chinese people are able to have a happy and safe Spring Festival.

In all the three major inspections of military units this year, Xi stressed combat readiness.

At a time when China's security situation is facing rising uncertainty and more challenges, being ready for combat is conducive to maintaining stability and creating certainty, experts said.

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China conducts a 100-day 'strike hard' campaign against Uyghurs

The crackdown coincides with the anniversary of 2009 ethnic violence.

By Mehriban for RFA Uyghur 2023.07.14 -- In the latest "strike hard" campaign in Xinjiang, authorities are cracking down on any gatherings of more than 30 people and say it will last 100 days, according to Chinese media and two police officers in the region, in the latest effort to persecute the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs who live there.

China regularly conducts "strike hard" campaigns in its far western region of Xinjiang that include police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices and curbs on the culture and language of the ethnic minority group.

Reports about the start of the new campaign in Xinjiang appeared on the Chinese social media app Douyin on July 3, saying it was being implemented across Hotan prefecture, which is in southern Xinjiang.

"The Hotan Prefecture Public Security Bureau will implement summer strikes, taking place from June 25 to Sept. 30 in order to ensure the protection of security within the region," said Chinese media reported.

Other media in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and Korla, the second-largest city in the region, broadcast similar announcements. Information about the 100-day strike hard campaign also appeared on government websites for every prefecture in Xinjiang.

Local public security bureaus are carrying out the operation in their respective areas, focusing on "crimes" deemed to pose a threat to public order, Chinese media reports said.

The illegal activities include "stirring up trouble, engaging in group fights, bullying the public, blackmailing, monopolizing the market, participating in illegal gatherings, and spreading rumors with malicious intent." Authorities also will target "illegal mafias and criminal organizations."

'Combat illegal activities'

RFA contacted police stations in various cities and counties in Xinjiang for information on the campaign, and two officers working the night shift at the Toqquztara County Police Department in northern Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture confirmed the 100-day campaign.

A Chinese police officer said that the 100-day strike hard measures are in effect continuously throughout the year.

"We take action against illegal activities at any time throughout the entire year, 365 days," he said. "Even after the conclusion of the 100-day strike, our efforts to combat illegal criminal activities will not cease."

Another officer there said the current strike-hard campaign is targeting individuals involved in drug use, drug dealing, gambling, group fighting and theft, as well as those who pose threats and disturbances to public peace.

"If we just watch and do nothing, they will think nothing is going to happen to them," he said. "Some individuals may choose to hide during the day and engage in theft during the night, and we can take care of that."

Additionally, those who host gatherings with more than 30 people, organize parties or conduct religious ceremonies without first reporting to their neighborhood committee or to police will be targeted for holding "illegal gatherings," the police officer said, referring to religious gatherings.

"While some individuals may attend gatherings with good intentions, there are others who may have ulterior motives," the policeman said. "However, regardless of their initial intentions, if any participant engages in discussions or activities involving forbidden matters, all individuals present at the gathering will face consequences."

Other illegal activities include watching and sharing forbidden content.

Reading from the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, should only be done under the guidance of a government-assigned imam, and individuals are forbidden to discuss the holy book on their own, the second officer said.

Individuals from abroad who come to Xinjiang, including those visiting relatives, should report to neighborhood committees or a local police station within three days of their arrival or risk police action, he added.

Neither Chinese media nor police contacted by Radio Free Asia states reasons for the current strike hard campaign.

Catalyst for crackdown

The current crackdown coincides with a politically sensitive anniversary of deadly ethnic violence in Urumqi, which began on July 5, 2009.

The unrest was set off by a clash between Uyghur and Han Chinese toy factory workers in southern China's Guangdong province in late June that year that left two Uyghurs dead. News of the deaths reached Uyghurs in Urumqi, sparking a peaceful protest that spiraled into beatings and killings of Chinese, with deaths occurring on both sides. Chinese mobs later staged revenge attacks on Uyghurs in the city's streets with sticks and metal bars.

About 200 people died and 1,700 were injured in three days of violence between ethnic minority Uyghurs and Han Chinese, according to China's official figures.

Uyghur rights groups say the numbers of dead and injured were much higher.

The crackdown in Urumqi became a catalyst for the Chinese government's efforts to repress Uyghur culture, language and religion through mass surveillance and internment campaigns.

"Behind the repressive measures undertaken by the Chinese Communist Party government, there are significant underlying issues," said Omir Bekali, a Uyghur of Kazakh descent who spent nine months in three "re-education" camps in Xinjiang on allegations of terrorist activities, commenting on the latest strike hard campaign.

"First, the timing of this 'strike' operation coincides with the July 5 Urumqi incident, a sensitive event that the Chinese government prefers not to acknowledge," he told RFA. "It has been 14 years since the incident, yet the crackdown persists."

"Second, the current policies pursued by the Chinese government in the region can be seen as a form of ethnic and cultural genocide," he said, adding that authorities justify subjecting Uyghurs to physical and psychological harm as necessary measures for maintaining social stability.

The government also imposes restrictions on Uyghur weddings, funerals and candlelight ceremonies that do not adhere to government regulations, labeling them "illegal gatherings" as another way of carrying out genocide, said Bekali, who now lives in the Netherlands.

The U.S. government and the parliaments of several Western countries have said that abuses, including the detention of Uyghurs in camps and prisons, physical mistreatment and torture, and the use of Uyghur forced labor, amount to genocide or crimes against humanity.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China Issues Spark Debate Over US Defense Spending Bill

By Adam Xu, Yihua Lee July 14, 2023

The Biden administration and Republican lawmakers remain at odds about several China-related provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024 that passed the House of Representatives on Friday in a near-party-line vote.

Section 214 of the act, which will likely face major revisions in the Democratic-led Senate, requires researchers to disclose personal information such as nationality when participating in research for U.S. defense programs, a move the White House says puts an unnecessary burden on university research programs.

While Section 214 does not name China, Republican Representative Jim Banks, who sponsored the section, called it a "tough on China" amendment" on his website.

The act also requires applicants to disclose their educational, professional and employment background as well as past and current affiliation and involvement with foreign governments and talent programs.

The armed services committees of the House and Senate of the U.S. Congress separately approved their versions of the 2024 NDAA in late June. The full House narrowly approved an amended version of the $886 billion must-pass defense policy bill in a 219-210 vote on Friday with just four Democrats voting in favor.

A different version of the bill is expected to emerge from the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats and will begin its debate next week. The two versions will have to be reconciled before the bill can be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

The White House said Monday that the administration "strongly opposes" Section 214, "which would impose a significant increase in disclosure requirements for university research funded by" the Department of Defense (DoD) and could "deter the ability to attract the best and brightest foreign scientists from working with the Department."

"Section 214 would make public detailed information on all Department research performers that could create an inadvertent national security risk," said the statement from the White House.

The White House said in the statement that Section 214 "would provide insufficient means for the Secretary of State to provide input to ensure foreign assistance or engagement is carried out in a manner consistent with foreign policy priorities."

Republican Representative Andy Barr told VOA Mandarin during a Wednesday interview that the lessons learned from the Confucius Institute, supported by China, have alerted the Congress to China's influence on the U.S. academic and scientific research environment.

Barr said, "They're [the Confucius Institute] less about cultural exchange, educational exchange and genuine effort to educate and more about propaganda and using the universities as a platform for espionage, academic and otherwise.

"So that has a national security dimension to it, and that's why the NDAA is taking a look at that," he added.

Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez told VOA Mandarin during a Wednesday interview, "For far too long we've been asleep at the wheel, and we've allowed some very unscrupulous practices to go unpunished. And so we need to rectify that."

Most of the Confucius Institutes, a cultural organization with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, closed after being designated a foreign mission by the U.S. State Department. A foreign mission is an office that carries out diplomatic or similar work for a foreign government.

The White House also expressed concerns over Section 1316, which requires the Secretary of Defense to certify whether Chinese government officials assisted or were aware of the transportation of the precursors, or elements needed to manufacture the highly addictive drug fentanyl to Mexican drug cartels.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 7 called on dozens of countries to work together to combat synthetic drugs, but China a facing blame in Washington over an addiction epidemic a denounced the effort.

Todd Robinson, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, told reporters in a teleconference on July 6, "We assess that the PRC needs to do more as a global partner to disrupt illicit synthetic drug supply chains." He used the acronym for China's official name, the People's Republic of China.

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns told Politico in May the Chinese government is not contributing to the fentanyl crisis in the U.S., "but black-market Chinese firms are."

He added, "We would like the government here in Beijing to use its power to shut down the flow of precursor chemicals from these black-market Chinese firms to the drug cartels' [fentanyl] production sites."

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'Northern/Interaction-2023' to kick off soon; joint military exercises between China, Russia in Sea of Japan has clear purpose and actual combat significance

Global Times

By Guo Yuandan and Deng Xiaoci Published: Jul 15, 2023 05:10 PM

Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced Saturday that Russia will dispatch naval and air forces to participate in "Northern/Interaction-2023" drills in the central region of the Sea of Japan organized by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command. The event marks Russia's second time participating in the PLA annual strategic drills, and also a first that Russia has dispatched both naval and air forces to participate in similar events, according to Chinese military observers.

Chinese miliary experts believed that such military drills would be carried out with strong and clear purpose of safeguarding the national interests of both sides in key passages of the Sea of Japan waters.

According to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Saturday, the drills are themed "safeguarding the safety of strategic maritime routes" and are designed to further elevate the coordination capability of the two militaries and strengthen their capabilities of jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability, as well as responding to various security challenges.

On Saturday morning, a Chinese naval flotilla of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters slated to join in the "Northern/Interaction-2023" military drills left military port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, heading to the designated waters to carry out training missions, the Global Times has reported in an exclusive report earlier on Saturday.

The Chinese naval flotilla is composed of the guided-missile destroyers Qiqihar, Guiyang, the guided-missile frigates Zaozhuang, Rizhao, and the comprehensive supply ship Taihu carrying four ship-borne helicopters. All five ships have undertaken numerous significant missions.

Chinese Military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Saturday that these vessels are all main combat equipment and have participated in various exercises, including independent and joint exercises in the high seas. They have already formed combat and support capabilities. "Such line-up represents the strong combat capability of the PLA Navy, with outstanding ability to conduct operations on the high seas."

It is worth noting that the "Northern/Interaction-2023" drills are organized by the PLA Northern Theater Command, while PLA forces participating in the previous "Western/Interaction-2021" exercise were mainly composed of forces from the Western Theater Command.

Chinese military experts believe that in the future, there may be a rotation among the all five PLA theater commands to organize annual strategic exercises with different themes to further boost the PLA combat capabilities.

In August 2021, Russia participated in the "Western/Interaction-2021" exercise held at Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which marked the first time that China invited foreign forces to participate in its annual strategic exercises in its territory.

Since 2018, China has successively dispatched troops to participate in Russia's major strategic exercises including "Vostok 2018," " Tsentr-2019," and " Kavkaz-2020."

In 2022, for the first time, the PLA simultaneously dispatched its army, navy, and air forces to Russia to participate in the "Vostok 2022" exercises. The land operations of " Vostok 2022" were held at 13 training sites in Russia, while the naval forces drilled in the relevant areas of the Sea of Japan.

Li Shuyin, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences and an expert on Russian military issues, said that the China-Russia joint exercises, as a normalized and institutionalized military cooperation arrangement, serve as a substantive manifestation of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination in the military field. They have become public security goods provided by the two responsible major powers in the region.

"The joint exercises between China and Russia demonstrate the deepening political and military mutual trust between the two countries and their determination and will to combat international terrorism and maintain regional security and stability. The relative stability of the regional situation in recent years is closely related to the public security goods provided by China and Russia," she said.

Why Sea of Japan?

Unlike the "Western/Interaction-2021" held at an army tactical training base, this year's "Northern/Interaction-2023" exercises organized by the Northern Theater Command are set to take place in the central region of the Sea of Japan.

This has been attributed to the area belonging to international waters where countries can conduct military training and drills in accordance with international laws, Song noted.

"Also, the Sea of Japan is an important strategic passage for both China and Russia. The three straits in the Sea of Japan, namely the Soya Strait, the Tsushima Strait, and the Tsugaru Strait, are all related to the national strategic security of China and Russia. Especially if hostile forces want to create trouble in this area, it would pose a significant security threat to China and Russia."

Therefore, holding the exercises in the Sea of Japan can better demonstrate the exercise theme and has strong purposes and have actual combat conditions, Song pointed out.

Song also stated that via the exercises, China and Russia will further enhance cooperation in the traditional security field. The exercises will include subjects such as air defense, anti-missile, anti-ship, and anti-submarine scenarios. At the same time, the exercises will also involve non-traditional security areas, such as counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, and humanitarian rescue.

Since it is joint exercises between China and Russia, the exercise design should include scenarios where one side's vessel is damaged and the other side participates in rescue efforts, highlighting the high level of integration and cooperation between the two countries and their militaries, he added.

Song believes that such exercises can further enhance the actual combat capability of China and Russia to maintain the security of maritime strategic passage, in order to ensure the national security of both countries in unstable situations and even in the event of conflict.

Joint naval and air patrol afterwards?

After the " Vostok 2022" exercise, Russia and China conducted their second joint naval patrol in the Pacific Ocean, covering a total distance of over 7,000 nautical miles, passing through the Sea of Japan and the Bering Sea.

In June 2023, China and Russia organized their 6th joint air strategic patrol over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, and divided such patrol into two stages for the first time.

Given the above facts, it is evident that joint strategic air, and naval patrol by both China and Russia have become regular. Regarding whether China and Russia will conduct a third joint naval patrol after the " Northern/Interaction-2023" exercise, Song said that the possibility is high and does not rule out the possibility of the happening of a first joint naval and air strategic patrol between China and Russia, marking "a new breakthrough."

Military expert said that such joint air and naval strategic patrol will be organized sooner or later, which will not only strengthen China-Russia cooperation but also enhance their actual combat capabilities, making the drills more purposeful and reflective of actual combat situations.

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China tells EU to 'clarify' position on strategic partnership, avoid wavering

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 3:19 PM

China's top diplomat has demanded the European Union (EU) "clarify" its position on its strategic partnership with Beijing amid recent EU calls for reduced dependence on China.

China and the EU should strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation, and the bloc should not "waver," let alone encourage back-pedaling in words and deeds, Wang Yi said in a meeting on Saturday with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, according to Chinese foreign ministry's readout of the talks.

Insisting that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU, Wang further called on both parties to avert politicization of economic issues and the use of "de-risking" as another term for "decoupling."

An EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership was launched in 2003, pledging to upgrade ties beyond trade and investment. Since 2019, however, the 27-nation bloc has referred to China as an "economic competitor" and a "systemic rival" -- reflecting a distrust that was further impaired by closer relations between Beijing and Moscow in recent years that also marked the persisting Ukraine conflict.

On the war in Ukraine, Wang further stated that Beijing supports a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture, and will continue to promote talks for peace and play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement of the conflict.

Borrell, for his part, used Twitter to described his exchange with Wang "on responsibly managing EU-China relations" as "constructive" and "in-depth."

He also boasted in his tweet that he had "expressed EU expectations as to China's role to help ending" the raging conflict and "to provide humanitarian assistance" for Kiev.

Back in March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claimed that a hardening of China's position with regards to maintaining good ties with Russia required Europe to "de-risk" both economically and diplomatically.

The Commission is also calling on EU members to agree to stronger controls on exports and outflows of technologies for military use by "countries of concern" amid the bloc's struggling economy and severe shortage of energy resources.

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China's top diplomat calls for stable ties with India

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 10:17 AM

China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, has urged his Indian counterpart to prioritize the stabilization of bilateral ties and avoid mistrust as the two neighboring countries make efforts to ease military tensions along their extensive border.

Wang and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held talks on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Friday, with the Chinese side insisting on the need for mutual cooperation rather than maintain suspicion, Chinese foreign ministry said in an official statement on the exchange.

Wang further told Jaishankar that Beijing and New Delhi need to work in the same direction to mutually resolve border issues, according to the ministry's readout of the meeting.

"The two sides should support each other and accomplish things together, rather than wear each other down or suspect each other," Wang emphasized as quoted in the official statement, adding that India and China should not allow specific issues define their overall relationship.

The two sides also agreed to hold the next round of military commander-level talks on border issues at an early date, according to the statement.

India and China share a 3,800-kilometer border, much of it poorly marked, and engaged in a brief but bloody war over it back in 1962.

The ties, however, improved after 1990s, following a series of border agreements. China now remains India's second-largest trading partner.

Another setback between the two neighbors emerged in 2020, when 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand combat during a border clash, prompting military forces of both countries to fortify positions and deploy huge numbers of troops and equipment along their frontiers.

Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks held between the two nations have led to easing of tensions though New Delhi has described the situation on the border as fragile and dangerous.

This is while India has also intensified its scrutiny of Chinese businesses since 2020, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. It has also escalated its surveillance of investments by Chinese companies.

The development came amid recent reports that Washington intends to transform India into a major hub for maintenance and resupplying of US warships in the South Asia region as part of a military partnership pact aimed at countering China, as part of a deal reached during a summit meeting earlier this month between American and Indian presidents.

"The US will provide India with support to develop infrastructure that will be used to resupply, repair and maintain [military] ships and aircraft," major Japanese daily Nikkei reported.

The paper cited a major US-India military partnership mentioned in the joint statement issued late last month following a summit meeting in Washington between India's visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.

The US Navy, it said, will sign ship repair agreements with Indian shipyards.

"We'll have much more to follow in the near future, but the aim here is to make India a logistics hub for the United States and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region," US Defense Department Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder announced following the summit in late June.

Citing the White House, the paper said the US Navy has concluded a Master Ship Repair Agreement with the Larsen & Toubro shipyard near the Indian city of Chennai.

The US Navy, it added, is close to finalizing separate deals with two other shipbuilders, based in Mumbai and Goa.

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China Ready to Work With South Korea to Restore Mutual Trust

Sputnik News

20230715

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The current state of China-South Korea relations does not correspond to the interests of the two countries, and Beijing is ready to work with Seoul to strengthen cooperation and restore mutual trust, Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Office Director Wang Yi has said.

On Friday, Wang met with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on the sidelines of ASEAN summit in Jakarta.

"We are ready to work with South Korea in the spirit of mutual respect to strengthen interaction, restore mutual trust and help put the China-South Korea strategic partnership back on the right track of healthy and stable development," Wang said at the meeting with Park, as quoted by the Chinese Ministry on Saturday.

The Chinese diplomat also noted that the China-South Korea relations have recently faced a lot of challenges, which are not in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the peoples of the two countries.

"Chinese-South Korean relations can and should have good, sustainable and long-term development," Wang said.

He also expressed hope that Seoul will adhere to the "one China" principle on the Taiwan issue.

Park, in turn, noted that the unhindered development of relations between China and South Korea is in the common interests of both sides, and will also contribute to regional peace and stability.

"The Republic of Korea has always adhered to the "one China" principle, and this position has not changed. We are willing to work with China to further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas between the two countries based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit," he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also said that the sides exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other international and regional issues of common interest.

A Sputnik

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Analysts: Germany's New China Strategy Prudent, Highlights Indo-Pacific

By William Yang July 15, 2023

Germany released its first China strategy this week, which calls Beijing a "systemic rival" and stresses the need for Europe's largest economy to reduce economic dependence on its largest trading partner.

Analysts tell VOA the policy shift outlined in the 64-page report that notes "China has changed" highlights Germany's attempt to be more "prudent" in its economic relations with Beijing. They also assert that the plan's focus on the Indo-Pacific and the need to step up military cooperation shows Germany's recognition of the link between security in Asia and Berlin's interests.

Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, said the strategy is "a reflection of some of Germany's thinking following the war in Ukraine," and he said it shows Berlin has learned economic interests can't necessarily help to maintain peaceful relations with certain countries.

Geopolitical risks

In the Strategy on China, which was released Thursday, Berlin calls on German businesses to include geopolitical risks in their decision-making process and warns that companies that are particularly reliant on the Chinese market will have to "carry the financial risk more heavily themselves" in the future.

Berlin says it wants to ensure its economic relationship with Beijing becomes "fairer, more sustainable and more reciprocal." Germany is also looking to adjust export control lists to safeguard new key technologies.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that while Germany needs to pursue economic diversification, it doesn't plan to hamper China's economic development or its own.

China's Foreign Ministry Friday said Berlin's call for reducing dependency on China is a form of protectionism and the two countries are "partners rather than rivals."

"We believe that to engage in competition and protectionism in the name of de-risking and reducing dependency, and to overstretch the concept of security and politicize normal cooperation will only be counterproductive and create artificial risks," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during the daily press conference.

From Trans-Atlantic to Indo-Pacific

Aside from economic ties with China, the strategy also highlights the impact Beijing's relationship with Moscow has had on Berlin's position, especially since the war in Ukraine.

In its report, Germany notes that "China's decision to further its relations with Russia has direct security implications for Germany."

One place that will have implications is the Indo-Pacific.

The report says Germany will expand its "security policy and military cooperation with close partners in the Indo-Pacific," adding that the move underscores its commitment to preserving the rules-based international order.

"It is in Germany's interest to protect global public goods in the Indo-Pacific in the long term," the strategy states.

In recent years, Germany already has begun to boost its security commitments to the Indo-Pacific. In 2021, Germany deployed its first warship to the South China Sea in almost 20 years, and in 2022, it sent 13 military aircraft to join military exercises held in Australia.

According to Reuters report earlier this week, Germany will send troops to participate in a joint military exercise in Australia for the first time.

"It is a region of extremely high importance for us in Germany as well as for the European Union due to the economic interdependencies," Germany's Army Chief Alfons Mais told Reuters in an interview published on July 10. The interview was released just before troops were to leave for Australia.

National University of Singapore's Chong said the commitments Germany has made in its strategy reflect its understanding of the link between security in Asia and Germany's interests. "As part of this recognition, Germany has been trying to demonstrate that it's an active and interested partner that provides security benefits," he said.

Taiwan Strait's importance

One key issue in the Indo-Pacific region referenced in the strategy is maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, one of the region's biggest flashpoints. In its report, Germany emphasized it is working for de-escalation around Taiwan because security in the Taiwan Strait is "of crucial importance for peace and stability in the region and far beyond."

"The status quo in the Taiwan Strait may only be changed by peaceful means and mutual consent," the Strategy on China said, adding that military escalation also would affect German and European interests.

China claims democratically ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has dramatically increased the frequency of fighter jet sorties and military exercises around the island over the past year.

Since July 9, China has sent 131 military aircraft and 52 naval vessels to areas around Taiwan, and some came so close to the island's shore that Taiwanese defense officials characterized the moves as "harassment."

Sari Arho Havren, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told VOA that with Germany's deep dependence on Chinese trade and supply chains, military escalation in the Indo-Pacific a specifically in the Taiwan Strait a would be a serious risk.

"The status quo of supporting allies in the region is in Germany's interests," she said.



NATO expansion?

And while Germany doubles down on its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, NATO has also been debating the prospect of increasing its presence in the region. This topic was front and center during the NATO Summit this week in Lithuania.

The security alliance has floated the idea in recent months of opening a liaison office in Japan, and leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand were all invited to attend the summit, the second time that leaders from four Indo-Pacific states took part in the event. Their presence and criticism of China that came up during the summit triggered an angry response from Beijing.

Earlier this week, the Chinese mission to the European Union voiced Beijing's opposition to what it called NATO's expansion into "the Asia-Pacific region." In response, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO Juliane Smith said, "We're not adding members from the Indo-Pacific."

What NATO is doing, she said, is "breaking down barriers between America's Atlantic allies and America's Pacific allies to look at common challenges."

Some analysts told VOA there is a clear determination among NATO member states to strengthen cooperation and coordination with the four Indo-Pacific states that have become regular participants in NATO summits.

"NATO members don't shy away from strengthening cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific, and this is how the alliance contributes to maintaining peace and stability in the region," said Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, an assistant professor at the National Dong Hwa University in Taiwan.

Political Scientist Chong pointed out that Indo-Pacific countries can benefit from the increased presence of Germany and other NATO member states in the region because their engagement on security issues can provide regional states with more options as they try to navigate the intensifying U.S.-China competition. Additionally, Chong said NATO's coordination with Japan and South Korea can help deter more risky actions by China.

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Hong Kong Activist Subject to Arrest Bounty Calls on Britain to Stand Up to China

By Henry Ridgwell July 15, 2023

Even on the streets of London, Finn Lau does not feel safe from the reach of the Chinese Communist Party.

He is among the exiled pro-democracy activists facing arrest warrants issued by Hong Kong authorities last week, with a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) offered for information that helps lead to their detention.

Since then, Lau said he has seen several menacing online messages from pro-Chinese groups.

"I got some screenshots coming from some Telegram groups, saying that 'perhaps we should lure them with some kind of tactics, such that we could catch them or kill them," he said.

Lau helped to organize the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

"I proposed different kinds of strategies, hosted different rallies and even did advocacy abroad," Lau told VOA, "So that's why they are accusing me of so-called collusion with foreign forces."

Lau was arrested on January 1, 2020, but Hong Kong police failed to identify him as a ringleader, and he was released.

Soon after that he fled to Britain. China has since issued several arrest warrants for him but earlier this month was the first time Hong Kong authorities explicitly offered a bounty for his arrest.

"The head of the Hong Kong government, he said they will chase us until the end of the world," Lau said.

"To be honest I feel less safe in the U.K.. After all I faced different kinds of harassment, no matter whether it is virtual online harassment or physical harassment, for the last few years. I was attacked near my home in 2020."

That attack in London left Lau with severe injuries. He described the attackers as of East Asian origin and said he believes they were directed by the Chinese government, though Beijing denies involvement. British police have failed to identify the attackers.

Lau is demanding that British authorities take the latest threats more seriously.

"I request for assurance from the U.K. government that if there is anyone attempting to kidnap or to detain me under the so-called Hong Kong National Security Law, then they should be tried and charged under U.K. law for kidnapping."

"I have tried to contact the [British] Home Office as well as the police, several times. But there is no response at all," he told VOA.

Lau said he believes Britain is reluctant to take a harder line as it does not want to jeopardize trade links with China.

"The U.K. government is one of the democratic countries that should hold China accountable, especially for what the Chinese Communist Party has been doing in Hong Kong. The U.K. government has signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration with the PRC back in 1984, which guaranteed - in theory - at least 50 years of autonomy, rule of law, civil liberties etc., to Hong Kongers after the 1997 Hong Kong handover," Lau added.

The British government did not respond directly to VOA requests for comment.

Foreign Office ministers have recently condemned the bounties offered for the arrest of the Hong Kong activists. They said it is a long-standing policy not to comment on operational matters regarding their protection in Britain.

Despite the reward for his arrest, Lau said he is not deterred.

"I should continue to fight on behalf of other Hong Kongers who cannot do so in Hong Kong. I've got friends sitting in the prison of Hong Kong. So that's why I must continue to fight."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police this week called several family members of Nathan Law in for questioning. Law is another pro-democracy activist and former lawmaker living in London, also subject to an arrest warrant and bounty. They were released without charge.

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China, Russia to kick off joint air, naval drill in Sea of Japan

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 5:15 PM

China and Russia are set to start joint naval and air drills in the Sea of Japan aimed at safeguarding the security of strategic waterways, as the two countries have pledged to deepen military cooperation.

China's Defense Ministry said in a statement on its official WeChat account on Sunday that a Chinese naval flotilla, comprised of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters, has set off to participate in the joint exercises, dubbed "Northern/Interaction-2023".

The vessel left the port city of Qingdao and will join Russian forces in a "predetermined area", the ministry added.

The English-language Chinese newspaper Global Times, citing military observers, reported that this would be the first time that both Russian naval and air forces will take part in the drill.

Earlier this month, two Russian warships-- Gromkiy and Sovershenniyawhich are taking part in the Sea of Japan drill, conducted separate training with the Chinese navy in Shanghai on formation movements, communication and sea rescues.

The ships sailed past Taiwan and Japan before making port at the financial hub of Shanghai, prompting both Taipei and Tokyo to monitor the Russian warships.

China and Russia have agreed to expand trade, energy and political relations amid the West's increasingly adversarial approach over the war in Ukraine.

Washington has become more vigilant about the relations between Beijing and Moscow ever since Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a "no limits" partnership in February 2022.

China has blamed the United States and NATO for "provoking" Moscow over the Ukraine war and has condemned Western sanctions against Russia.

Russia has also strongly backed China amid the recent tensions between Beijing and Washington over the US political and military interference in Taiwan.

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Chinese state media is pumping out bad news about US, Britain

Grim reports come amid steady exodus of middle class Chinese fleeing the country

By Hwang Chun-mei and Gu Ting for RFA Mandarin 2023.07.16 -- 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 has been pumping out a slew of negative news reports about the United States and Europe in recent weeks - 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.

'It's 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 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.

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.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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North Korea/DPRK: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the launch of an inter-continental ballistic missile

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Statements and remarks

14 July 2023



The EU strongly condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launch of another intercontinental ballistic missile on 12 July for the fourth time this year. The DPRK continues to show its intention to develop the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. These actions threaten international peace and security. The DPRK must cease all illegal and dangerous actions that violate UN Security Council resolutions and recklessly escalate military tensions in the region.

The DPRK must comply immediately with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions by abandoning all its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile programmes and existing nuclear programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and cease all related activities.

This is the only viable route to sustainable peace and security on the Korean peninsula. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or any other special status in that regard. The EU urges the DPRK to return immediately to full compliance with the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, bring into force the Additional Protocol and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The DPRK's use of resources to support its unlawful weapons programmes exacerbates the difficult living conditions endured by much of its population.

The EU again calls upon the international community to respond in a united and firm manner to uphold the international non-proliferation architecture and to prevent the DPRK from further escalating military tensions in the region. It is critical that all UN Member States, especially Members of the UN Security Council, ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions and urge the DPRK to resume meaningful dialogue with all parties.

The EU expresses its full solidarity with the Republic of Korea and Japan. The EU is ready to work with all relevant partners in promoting a meaningful diplomatic process aimed at building sustainable peace and security through the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

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The UK condemns the DPRK's launch of yet another inter-continental ballistic missile: UK statement at the Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

14 July 2023

Colleagues,

I thank Assistant Secretary General Mohammed Khiairi for his briefing. I welcome the participation of the DPRK at this Council for the first time since 2017. The United Kingdom condemns the DPRK's launch of yet another inter-continental ballistic missile.

This was the twelfth ICBM launch since the start of 2022. It was the second test of a solid fuel ICBM, and the fourth ICBM test this year. It came in the wake of a failed military reconnaissance satellite launch on 31 May.

The DPRK's actions violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and demonstrate flagrant disregard for the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. We must be firm and united in our response to these violations. Inaction by this Council cannot continue.

It is clear from listening to statements today the council members share deep concern about the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

With this in mind, I call on the DPRK to, first, abandon its illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes, which are impoverishing its people and destabilising the region. Second, to return to compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Third, to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. And finally, to take up repeated and unconditional offers of dialogue.

Allowing diplomats and NGOs back into the country is an important part of this process. Diplomacy is the only route to making progress towards a sustainable peace on the Peninsula.

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Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on Prime Minister's visit to France (July 14, 2023)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

July 15, 2023

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good evening to all of you. Thank you for joining us here in Paris. As Prime Minister winds down on his historic visit to France as the chief guest or guest of honour at the Bastille Day celebrations, to give us a sense of the visit; the last elements are still ongoing, we have Foreign Secretary Sir Shri Vinay Kwatra. Also joining us on the dais Shri Sandeep Chakraborty, Joint Secretary Europe-West in the Ministry of External Affairs. We are tight on time, so I'll hand over the floor to you Sir to give us a sense of where we are.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much, Arindam, Joint Secretary Sandeep, friends from the media, very good evening. To share a sense of Honourable Prime Minister's, as Arindam said, historic, still ongoing visit to France; Since we are kind of running a bit late on schedule in terms of when Prime Minister has (inaudible) later in the evening, I thought I'll quickly give a brief overview of the programming elements of the Honourable Prime Minister's historic visit to France, as also share with you a sense of major substantive outcomes that we have been able to achieve during this visit.

First, actually fully packed two days of intense engagements right from arrival. Arrival, as you all know, is yesterday afternoon. Three major engagements yesterday - the Senate Chair, the Honourable Prime Minister of France, later on address to the community. Many of you were there and you also saw the sense of vibrancy, enthusiasm, and just the general atmosphere at La Seine Musical yesterday evening. And to cap the day off yesterday, a private dinner by President Macron for Honourable Prime Minister. Those were four key engagements yesterday.

Today morning, Bastille Day, the Grand National Day celebrations of France. Honourable Prime Minister was there alongside, as you all saw, a tri-service contingent from India participated in the Bastille Day parade. Followed by meeting with the President of the National Assembly of France. Thereafter, detailed discussions with President Macron at AlysAe Palace, both in the restricted format and the delegation format. And even as we speak now, the CEO forum proceedings are, I am told, just got over. So they would soon be returning from there and we have a fantastic state banquet coming up later this evening, again in honour of Honourable Prime Minister.

So you can clearly see in over what must be just roughly 36 hours or so, intense schedule of engagements for Prime Minister here. The second set of things which I would categorize would be some of the rare honours that were accorded to the Honourable Prime Minister during this visit. The Prime Minister of France received Prime Minister Modi at the airport. Not a very common thing that you would see. A rare honour actually accorded. Yesterday, the award of LAgion d'honneur, la grand-croix, the highest award of France given to Honourable Prime Minister. Chief guest at Bastille Day celebrations earlier today, another honour. State dinner later on, which will be in honour of Prime Minister. I am told that Honourable Prime Minister is the first Indian after the independence of India to receive LAgion d'honneur, la grand-croix. So a set of great honours accorded to the Honourable Prime Minister, to India during this visit, ongoing visit of Prime Minister.

Third, I would put them in the category of, and you all saw many of the visuals clearly pointed to that, exceptional warmth, warmth of the sentiment, warmth of the friendship and genuineness also at the same time. The extent of time that President Macron is continuing to spend with Prime Minister, almost 36 hours, is actually really, really exceptional. Reflects a sense of comfort with each other, genuine friendship, mutual trust of course, which in a way is also reflective of the state of India - France, I would say, friendship across range of areas. Also captures shared understanding, I think, between the two countries and it's a great camaraderie between the President and Prime Minister and as I said, you could easily sense that from the visuals that you would have seen.

Fourth, I would put in the category of the outcomes that we have been able to achieve during this visit. As you all know, we are celebrating the 25th year anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership. The 25 years of our Strategic Partnership have a strength of very strong achievements in the last 25 years. This visit has taken that as a base and has, I would say, even built an edifice of India-France cooperation to come in the next 25 years. So it is, again, perhaps for the first time, we can do a little bit of fact check subsequently, but my sense is this is for the first time that India has chalked out a Horizon 2047 framework of partnership with any country in the world, which India and France today concluded. I think the document should be out, if not out, it would be put out shortly for you to peruse yourself and see what it contains in terms of not just aspirations that the two countries think that the relationship can touch, but also has very specific substance to it which this relationship will be filled with.

If I was to give you a very quick run of that and mention... So the document Horizon 2047, a vision of the two leaders, of Prime Minister Modi and President Macron, on where the relationship should be in 2047 when India would celebrate 100th year of its independence and we will be celebrating 50 years of our Strategic Partnership. It has, on a very broad rough count, 63 specific outcomes that we are looking at. Now these 63 outcomes are divided among multiple pillars. You will see this when the document comes out yourself, but I will list out for you the major headings. The first is the partnership for security and sovereignty. It takes a very, I would say, comprehensive approach to how India and France would approach their partnership in the space of security and sovereignty. It doesn't look at individual transactions, it doesn't even look at individual segments of it, but it looks at security in the widest possible perspective, reduces it into what specific things could be achieved by the two countries.

The second bucket within the Horizon talks of India-France partnership in the wider space of Indo-Pacific. So that looks at that Indo-Pacific space more in terms of providing solutions, not just solutions aimed at the security or strategic challenges, but also the economic challenges that we face. So Indo-Pacific, an area of stability and sustainable development, that's the second pillar on the Horizon. The third, space, domain of space, which is at the center of our partnership. Fourth, something which also came up very strongly in the discussions between the two leaders earlier today, is our cooperation in fight against terrorism. Fifth, commitment, shared commitment to promote renewed and effective multilateralism. Sixth, and this is one pillar which has several other crucial sub-segments and this is a space relating to science, technology and academic cooperation between research institutions, between the two countries, which then again breaks itself down into scientific cooperation, critical technologies, health cooperation, cyber cooperation, digital regulatory framework engagements, digital technologies specifically etc. etc. We then have a major segment which is categorized under partnership of planet. As the name would suggest, that includes, that has a heavy focus on energy related elements, energy transition, energy research and development and of course the challenge of climate change. Also the trinity of climate change, biodiversity, biodiversity loss and pollution. There is a strong focus in this on urban and ecological transitions in both our societies and how we can partner together to look at research-based, technology-based solutions that we can both make use of, not just for the benefit of our own societies but also extended to other countries. Then there is a segment which is a global area of importance on sustainable growth and transition to low carbon energy. The document also then moves to one of the central pillars of our relationship which is the people-to-people ties. So that segment is focused on partnership for the people. There, given the global changes that are taking place in the, I would say, skill set configuration of different societies, the rapid transitions that are taking place, that a rapid transition that would be required, adjustments that would be needed, mobility that it would take to meet those challenges. That segment focuses on mobility partnership, skill-set cooperation, how do we dovetail our academic cooperation which tries to meet those needs of mobility and skill-set development and then combine these two and to ensure mobility, how do we maybe look at a more conducive visa regime for people to move and naturally, since mobility will expand the presence and spread of people, India would also be opening a new Consulate in the city of Marseille that the Honourable Prime Minister announced earlier today. A critical segment of this, important segment of this, in which both India and France have a robust complementarity, I should say, which is the field of cooperation in archaeology and museology, a great strength of France, a great aspiration of ours, of India, of Prime Minister, to build a large ecosystem of institutions that devote themselves to museology and to the archaeological conservation and France is among our strongest of knowledge partners in that space. So these are roughly 7 to 8 broad segments of the Horizon 2047 and if you will go through this document you will find there are roughly 60 or 60 plus, very specific things. So it is 30,000 feet, at the same time it is also very grounded in terms of what the two countries, the two systems can do. This captures really the essence of the vision of the two leaders which they see the relationship achieving in years ahead. I will not go into the specifics of each of these areas but if there are sort of questions on that I would be very happy to speak about that.

But since just one or two key things to flag because this is something which is receiving global attention right now, which is a very strong priority for my Prime Minister in India, but it is also an area of very strong focus in France, which is to combat single use plastic pollution, pollution caused by the use of single use plastics. We have during this visit arrived at a joint commitment both India and France to combat this challenge, take steps which would hopefully contribute to the global efforts in a strong way to eliminate and to address this challenge. Naturally this has a global dimension, international dimension, but it also has a strong cooperative element bilaterally that can be pursued. Besides this, in terms of if we were to zoom in into the specific key strategic elements of the relationship in Horizon 2047, we also have a roadmap for India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific, which as I said focuses entirely on a set of collaborative engagements that India and France could undertake in the entire geography of Indo-Pacific moving forward. So all in all an unprecedentedly successful visit with great and rare honours being bestowed on the Honourable Prime Minister, with achievements and successes which will guide our relationship in the next 25 years, period of what Prime Minister says Amritkaal, which the whole country believes in, and this is also would be the further strengthening of the Strategic Partnership in the next 25 years ahead of us. I would stop here and if there are questions we will try and take them, thank you.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you very much sir, we have a bit of a tight timeline on questions. I will take them in a group perhaps. Ground rules, please introduce yourself and the organization that you represent.

Gaurav Sawant: Sir, my name is Gaurav Sawant, I work for India Today and Aaj Tak. Sir, on specifics on Rafale Marines, is there forward movement on that, fighter jet, engine manufacturing, co-manufacturing, co-development, is there a forward movement on that, on helicopter engines and scorpion submarines?

DaphnA Benoit: Yes, hi, DaphnA Benoit from AFP Agence France-Presse. I have two small questions, one to follow up on my colleague's. One, can you give us a sense of when you precisely expect to turn this intent into a firm order of Rafale and Scorpion, and second, Mr. Macron and Mr. Modi don't necessarily share the same views on Russia regarding Ukraine, however, they are both committed, they said, to be able to reach a sustainable peace at some point, and your Prime Minister said that he's very much committed to contribute to reaching a sustainable peace. Has there been any discussion on what it could, how it could materialize on the Indian side to contribute maybe talks with Russia or whatnot? Thank you.

Vishnu Som: Good evening, sir, Vishnu Som from NDTV. So jet engine technology, I notice, has come up in the strategic document. Could you share some details with us? What exactly does that entail? And would that mean a significant transfer of technology, including single-crystal engine aerofoil technology? Thank you, sir. Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION, there was a specific document on Indo-Pacific. What kind of convergences both countries are looking when it comes to Indo-Pacific deliverable convergences? And also, there is a very aggressive China as well. Was this part of conversation between the two leaders? Bruno Philip: Good evening. Bruno Philip from Le Monde. Now France has now become the second supplier of weapons to India. You're still dependent, I believe, on about 50% of your armaments from Russia. Do you think, ultimately, the goal would be to distance yourself from Russia in terms of dependency on weapons? I mean, in other words, to become less dependent on Russia. Thank you.

Ashish: This is Ashish from ABP News. Sir, I just saw the Horizon 2047 document that has just been released. I have a little fine-tuned question to what has already been asked, sir. There was no mention of Rafale Marine. There are mentions of engines and the detail as far as the Scorpion submarines are concerned. But no mention of Rafale Marine at all. Was this not discussed at all, this one? And a follow-up question, sir, specifically the third countries' support, are we looking at some specific region or the countries as far as the Indian Ocean or Indo-Pacific area is concerned?

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Your question is to that joint statement or something in the Horizon?

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: In a way, you have answered Mr. Som's question. Is that what you're saying? But anyway...

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I hand over the floor to you, sir.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Okay. Thank you very much. Look, you know, let me just first capture the entire set of questions, queries, interests that are there in the field of defense. If you look at the 2047 Horizon document, and where does that...the reference is to defense cooperation and the security cooperation, I mentioned in my remarks that the document looks at security and sovereignty in a more holistic and a comprehensive manner rather than as a set of individual transaction. And why is that? And the reason for that is because the metrics of defense partnership is not defined by a single acquisition or a non-acquisition, single procurement, or a single transaction. The nature of India-France Strategic Partnership, I should say, looks at all elements of our engagement. So the document, for example, I mean, if I was to really quote here, it talks of the two countries, India and France, committed to cooperating on - I'll just put "co-development and co-production of advanced defense technologies", and you yourself referred, including for the benefit of third countries. It also talks of India's intent to build its own defense industrial and technological base. This is a vision document which we're working on. But if you were to look at its underpinnings, the underpinnings and the specifics of our defense partnership, you will find that for the last large number of years, the two countries have been talking, have been actually undertaking technology partnerships in the field of defense. It is perhaps a very natural media interest to focus on one or two items. But from our perspective, we look at our defense relationship in a very comprehensive manner, which looks at - if you want me to really list out the ecosystem of defense engagement between the two countries, and I know there are a couple of you in the room who follow defense very closely, you will find an entire range of, full range actually, of military exercises between the armed forces. In terms of the military industrial cooperation, research, design, transfer of technology, in some cases, co-production, co-manufacturing, increasingly something which we definitely would want to focus on in years ahead, supply chain integration in the manufacturing ecosystem in the field of defense between the two countries. I would even say technology value chain integrations going forward between the two countries. And all this - I will not go into details of helicopter engines or aero engines or any other aspects, but you will find a lot of these captured in the larger rubric of advance defense technologies. And we in India and Prime Minister is very clear that a lot of these things have to link into the priority of Atmanirbhar Bharat that we all believe in. So I would suggest, submit, that we look at India-France security partnership from the rubric and from the frame of reference, which is comprehensive, which is strategic in nature, which looks ahead - looks ahead on what we can do in the entire ecosystem of defense and not just limit itself to one or two issues.

With regard to the question - your second question, I'm on the Russia-Ukraine issue. The Honourable Prime Minister and the President, whenever they have met even on previous occasions, have focused always on issues of regional and global development. And naturally, Russia-Ukraine conflict is a matter which has always been - has mostly been discussed between the two leaders whenever they've spoken. In today's discussions between the two leaders, what I would say is that one, there is a very clear understanding and appreciation of each other's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. You would all also know that my Prime Minister, Prime Minister Modi, has been perhaps the strongest advocate of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. If I understand and if I scan the global pronouncements on the subject, you will find that my Prime Minister is, again, perhaps the only leader who has openly said that this is not the era of war. Now, obviously, this points to a certain basic intent of our Prime Minister and of India, which is intent for peace. So when the two leaders meet, like they met earlier today and yesterday also, they discussed at length what the current status is of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But from our perspective - and I think this has been greatly appreciated by the French side also - they also discussed what the impact of this conflict is on the developing countries, the challenges, the exacerbating challenges of food security, the growing uncertainty that it creates for the energy security, rapid increase in fertilizer security challenges, which can translate into food security challenges of tomorrow in that sense. So all these things came up for a comprehensive conversation between the two leaders and they shared their perspective. And as I said, there is a very clear appreciation, understanding, and recognition of each other's position on where the conflict is right now and what their perspective on that is.

Sidhant, your question on the Indo-Pacific document, what are the convergences between the two countries? Look, it's an area where actually if you go back to - I think it was 2018, yeah. If you go back to 2018, India and France in 2018 came out with a vision document on cooperation principally focused on the Indian Ocean region. Again, a document which looks at the partnership in a very comprehensive way, not in a way very segmented and a differentiated way in which you single out one or two elements to the exclusion of others, not at all. Same is the case with the document on Indo-Pacific roadmap. It looks at a full set of challenges that are there in the Indo-Pacific geography. Two, also looks at, assesses actually, what India and France are already doing, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. Three, what more can they do to expand that cooperation and take it to the countries of the Indo-Pacific, including in this case you will find in the document some island countries in the Pacific are also listed. As you know, Prime Minister Modi was in Papua New Guinea not so long ago, just very recently. And the clear sense that we received during that summit meeting where Prime Minister Modi met with the 14 countries of the Pacific Island country was a very strong preference for development partnership with India. They saw in India and in Prime Minister Modi, one, a reliable leader, a trusted leader and a country whose development model is not, does not cause a structural debt burden on their societies. A model that is very transparent for everybody to look at, is demand driven, driven more by the demands. All those elements are captured in this Indo-Pacific Roadmap also. The challenge of climate change, rising sea levels, environmental issues, again, one of the areas which is mentioned in the Indo-Pacific Roadmap. Strategic challenges that the countries of Indo-Pacific face, what India and France can do together to move in that, another area. A fourth area, which is not just specific to Indo-Pacific, but maybe I'll leverage your question to expand into that a bit, is the question of digital cooperation, not just between India and France, but also between how India and France can bring together their capacities to help countries of the Indo-Pacific. It's also a very important part of the Horizon 2047 document. As you would have all heard Honourable Prime Minister speak at the presser earlier today, he said that UPI, for example, has arrived at an understanding through which the interface between the UPI-based payment models and the French ecosystem of payment modalities will be able to talk to each other technically, technologically really, and be able to effect those payments. So not just the open source element of it, but a large, extensive, tested out, digital public infrastructure model that India brings to the table is a huge value proposition, and I wouldn't say value proposition only for the developing countries. I think it's as much a value proposition for any partner of India, and including France in this case. So you have a comprehensive set of things that the roadmap finalized by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron lists out in terms of its outcomes.

I think in some ways, to your question on France being the second supplier and, you know, 60% dependence, etc., I think in a way I have already, you know, answered that question, which is captured at least in the frame of our bilateral partnership between India and France in the document, but separately, all our partnerships, Strategic Partnerships elsewhere, you would have closely followed, I am sure, Prime Minister's really unprecedentedly successful visit to the U.S. very recently, and you would have seen that it has a very strong component of technology-based defense cooperation going. Now, obviously, you know, this is all aimed at the priorities which Prime Minister Modi has laid out for India in terms of building its own capabilities to be able to respond to its need.

Was China discussed, etc.? Look, as I mentioned, you know, the challenges which the world as a whole faces in terms of the strategic challenges in different parts of the world, it is very natural when the two leaders meet to speak about those challenges, but also speak more about their own cooperation in going forward and strengthening their own capacities to address the evolving nature of many of these challenges that come up all over the world. In that context, the developments in the Indian Ocean region, Indo-Pacific, you know, speaks about some of them. These questions did come up between the two leaders, and as I said, the focus of the conversation between the two leaders, and they are going to spend some more time later this evening also, was on really to look at how do we shape, mould, build India-France, a very successful partnership into, as I said, the total next 25 years of a transformation in the partnership so that when we hit the century of Indian independence and half a century of India-France Strategic Partnership, we can look back at it with great satisfaction in terms of what we set out to achieve and indeed in the end what we did successfully achieve. I would have to, I am afraid, stop here because Prime Minister is departing and I need to catch the carcade.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you very much, sir. Thanks also for your time.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you Sandeep Chakraborty for being here. Thank you all for joining us here. Prime Minister will now leave later in the evening today. Thank you. Bye.

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India-Mongolia joint military exercise "Nomadic Elephant - 2023" to commence at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 16 JUL 2023 9:56AM by PIB Delhi

Indian Army contingent comprising of 43 personnel left for Mongolia today. The contingent will participate in the 15th edition of bilateral joint military exercise "NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23". The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July 2023. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT 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.

Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 from and Indian Army soldiers from the JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment will be participating in the exercise. Indian Army contingent reached Ulaanbaatar on 16 July 23 by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. 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 primary theme of the exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate.

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 other's operational experience.

India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23 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.

***

SC/VBY/GKA



(Release ID: 1939904)

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Iran's top general urges enhanced defense-security cooperation with Pakistan

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 1:54 PM

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says Iran and Pakistan should enhance military relations and boost joint defense-security cooperation in the region.

Baqeri was meeting on Saturday with Pakistan's Chief of the Army General Asim Munir, who is in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation.

The top Iranian general said the record shows the two neighboring countries can count on the improvement of cooperation in various fields.

Over the recent years, Tehran and Islamabad have been working towards enhancing relations, not least bilateral economic ties and mutual efforts aimed at combating terrorism in the areas that straddle the border.

On July 9, four armed terrorists and two Iranian police officers were killed in an attack on a police station in the southeastern city of Zahedan, the capital of the province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

Sistan and Baluchestan borders Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has been the scene of several terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in recent years.

Iran says its intelligence and security apparatus will never abandon pursuing terrorist groups even beyond the borders.

Iran-Pakistan cooperation will uproot terrorism: IRGC commander

Also on Saturday, Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said the expansion of interaction between Tehran and Islamabad would uproot terrorists and establish sustainable security in border areas.

In a meeting with the Pakistani army chief, Salami underscored the importance of promoting cooperation to fight terrorist groups and annul security threats posed to the border areas. He said security challenges and clashes on the Iran-Pakistan border are in line with the "dangerous policies of the arrogant system to sow bloody discord among Muslims."

The senior Iranian commander said the IRGC was ready to promote economic cooperation with Pakistan through a border secured jointly by the armed forces of the two countries.

The Iranian commander said West Asia has always been affected by international political forces. "There are powers who do not tolerate unity and coherence among Muslims."

The IRGC commander emphasized that the United States, Israel and their allies have been the prime advocates of wars against the countries in the Muslim world over the past four decades.

The Pakistani army chief, for his part, urged the development of defense and security cooperation with Iran. Pakistan, Munir said, is ready to settle security challenges and counter terrorist acts in border areas.

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Iran Court Verdicts Attempt to Suppress Civil Resistance by Women

By VOA's Persian News Network July 15, 2023

In a coordinated action, several branches of Iran's judicial system have recently issued "controversial" rulings targeting opponents of the country's mandatory hijab regulations. The verdicts have affected many professions and sparked outrage, leading to widespread condemnation.

In a recent case, a woman in the city of Varamin was sentenced by a public court to a supplementary punishment of "one month of washing corpses at the Tehran city mortuary" for the charge of "non-compliance with hijab" while driving.

Images in reaction to the verdict also have surfaced on social media platforms.

The judicial ruling was issued by Mohammad Hossein Esmail Morineh, the presiding judge of Branch 104 of the Criminal Court in Varamin.

Recently, Tehran's court imposed a six-month ban on actress Azadeh Samadi, prohibiting her from using social media platforms directly or through intermediaries on the grounds of "not observing hijab."

In another aspect of the verdict against the Iranian actress and critic of compulsory hijab, she was ordered to undergo "antisocial personality disorder" treatment by attending "official psychological centers" every two weeks. Additionally, she must provide a "health certificate" upon completion of the treatment period.

Kambiz Norouzi, a legal expert, expressed his reaction to the verdict issued by the Varamin court, stating on his Telegram channel, "Regardless of the dubious justifications for the defendant's conviction, the supplementary punishment imposed is truly 'astonishing.'"

He continued, "A court that imposes the punishment of washing corpses for one month as a supplementary penalty lacks a sound understanding of human rights and a proper grasp of appropriate sentencing."

The Human Rights Activists News Agency, or HRANA, had previously reported that in Iran, a female "resident" and a member of the medical staff had also been sentenced by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic to a prohibition on employment and compelled to perform cleaning services as a result of "non-compliance with hijab while driving."

Ali Khaleqi, a professor of criminal law at the University of Tehran, strongly criticized the judicial ruling, saying "Imposing a ban on a physician [resident] from employment in all government institutions, particularly in state-run medical centers, based on not wearing hijab while driving on the street, is entirely unwarranted and goes against legal standards."

Abbas Sheikh al-Islami, the head of the Khorasan Lawyers Association, criticized the sentence imposed on a woman who opposed compulsory hijab, sentencing her to "one month of washing corpses at a mortuary." He remarked, "Fortunately, one of the roles of social media is to circulate 'weak verdicts' and to reflect the legal community's objections to them."

He further emphasized, "The act of not wearing hijab has no relevance to 'washing corpses.' If the defendant had spit on the deceased or desecrated the body, perhaps such a sentence would have been appropriate to help the defendant grasp the gravity of washing corpses and discourage such behavior."

In the meantime, the Farhikhtegan newspaper that is published in Tehran and affiliated with the Islamic Azad University and known for its alignment with the establishment, stated in its Saturday edition, "By arbitrarily juxtaposing the religious obligation of hijab with the religious obligation of washing corpses, we have created a clash between religions in such a ruling."

According to experts and social activists, the Islamic Republic aims to suppress the growing and widespread "civil disobedience" against compulsory veiling in different cities throughout Iran by issuing such "derogatory and demeaning" judgments against women who oppose mandatory hijab, and therefore undermining the professions and individuals employed in those professions.

Mansoureh Hosseini Yeganeh, a women's rights activist, expressed to VOA's Persian Service, "The Islamic Republic's destructive and aggressive actions against opponents and protesters have weakened the barrier of compulsory hijab."

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Iran ready to give Bolivia advanced defense tech: Minister

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 4:59 PM

Iran says it is ready to supply Bolivia with advanced technologies in the defense sector.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the defense minister of the Islamic Republic, met with Bolivian Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo Aguilar in Tehran on Sunday.

"We believe strengthening defense relations will boost the deterrence power of the Bolivian government," the Iranian minister said.

Ashtiani said expansion of ties between Iran and Bolivia, as independent and revolutionary countries in two different geographical areas, is a strategic necessity.

Stressing the special significance of Latin American countries in Iran's foreign policy, he said relations between Tehran and La Paz exemplify interaction among independent countries.

The Iranian defense chief said the two countries have the potential to improve political, educational, scientific and technological and defense cooperation. He said a new international order is forming in which a set of independent countries seek closer regional and global cooperation.

Ashtiani also warned of plots by enemies to undermine independent countries and called for "vigilance and unity" in the face of threats to Iran and Bolivia.

The Bolivian defense minister, for his part, put a premium on unity among freedom-seeking nations. Aguilar described his visit to Tehran as an opportunity to deepen relations.

He praised the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran as a model for freedom-seeking nations. Aguilar also underscored Iran's remarkable achievements in the fields of science and technology, security and defense industry, despite the Western sanctions regime.

The Bolivian defense chief said his country was ready to cooperate with Iran in the fight against drug trafficking.

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Iran Reportedly To Resume 'Morality' Patrols To Enforce Hijab Compliance

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda July 16, 2023

Iran will reportedly resume so-called morality police patrols aimed at enforcing the country's laws on women wearing head scarves, or hijab.

Iranian police spokesman Saeed Montazerul-Mahdi said on July 16 that the patrols will crackdown on those wearing "extraordinary clothing" in public and who "insist on breaking the norms."

The statement came amid a flurry of unconfirmed social media posts regarding purported sightings of police vans patrolling several Iranian cities.

Police arrested actor Mohammed Sadeghi after he 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 semiofficial Hamshahri daily newspaper, which is affiliated with the Tehran municipality, said he was arrested for encouraging people to use weapons against the police.

The morality police patrols were suspended following months of unrest after the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody for an alleged head-scarf violation. Amini's family has said his daughter had no history of health problems and was beaten during her detention.

At least 500 people were killed in the unrest, and tens of thousands were detained. On May 17, the head of Iran's judiciary announced that about 90,000 protesters had been pardoned by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The protests have been seen as one of the biggest threats to the Islamic government since it took power in 1979 as the unrest tapped into broader discontent over government corruption, economic mismanagement, and oppression.

Earlier this month, Iranian authorities stepped up pressure on commercial and recreational venues, shutting down dozens of cafes, restaurants, and other businesses for purportedly failing to enforce the head-scarf laws on their premises.

Closures were reported in Tehran, Islamshahr, Eshtehard, Parand, Rasht, and Motel Qu.

The hijab was made compulsory for women and girls over the age of 9 in 1981, two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The move triggered protests that were swiftly put down by the government. Many women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.

In the face of unrest, some religious and government figures have repeatedly advocated for a tougher stance by the government against offenders, even going as far as encouraging a "fire at will" approach against noncompliant women.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-morality-police- patrols-hijab/32505683.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iraq ramps up deployment of guards on Kurdistan region's border with Iran

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 11:19 AM

Iraq has ramped up the deployment of its guards on the Kurdistan region's border with Iran, after Islamic Republic's top general warned that the Baghdad government's failure to deal with anti-Iran militants will prompt a fresh round of Iranian strikes.

"Under the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani] as well as efforts and follow-up of the Minister of Interior [Abdul Amir al-Shammari], there has been an agreement with the Kurdistan Region to reopen the 21st Border Guard Brigade in Sulaymaniyah province on the border with Iran," Director of Relations and Media in the ministry, Major General Saad Maan, told the official Iraqi News Agency on Friday.

He said that 50 concrete towers and 40 cameras have been erected, and construction of 47 border posts will soon begin on the Iraqi-Iranian border line.

"Specialized contracting companies will be invited next week to submit their bids, and they will start their activities after that. The monitoring center for border cameras will also be inaugurated at the same time, which will utilize 130 cameras. Efforts are underway to increase their number," Maan added.

The senior Iraqi official stressed that the cameras will closely monitor Sinjar district in the Kurdistan region as well as border areas between Iraq and Iran, noting that a large monitoring hall will also come into service for security purposes.

Addressing an annual gathering of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad on July 11, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri warned over the existence of armed separatist groups in northern Iraq that "cause insecurity at our borders."

The general then noted that Iran will wait until September and hopes that the government of Iraq would honor its commitments.

"If the deadline passes and they (terrorists) remain armed or carry out any operation, our operations against those groups will definitely reoccur more severely," he stated.

Since September last year, the IRGC has launched several raids against the positions of the notorious so-called Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and the Komala Party in the northern Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The elite force has, on at least several occasions, urged the central government in Iraq as well as the Kurdistan region to meet their commitments toward Iran and take necessary measures to secure the common border.

Iran has repeatedly warned Iraqi Kurdistan's local authorities that it will not tolerate the presence and activity of terrorist groups along its northwestern borders, saying the country will give a decisive response should those areas turn into a hub of anti-Islamic Republic terrorists.

On November 21, 2022, positions of anti-Iran separatist and terrorist groups in northern Iraq came under combined attacks using missiles and kamikaze drones. The strikes targeted the positions of the notorious PDKI and the Komala Party in northern Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran's Arabic-language al-Alam television news network reported at the time.

According to the network, one attack saw four missiles being fired against a PDKI position in the town of Koy Sanjaq in Erbil Province. A separate attack featured kamikaze drones smashing into another site belonging to the group near Baharka village.

Simultaneously, kamikaze drones struck positions associated with Komala across two locations near the city of Sulaymaniyah.

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Israeli reserve doctors suspend military services to protest Netanyahu's policies

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 11:37 AM

Hundreds of Israeli reserve doctors have reportedly suspended their military services in the regime's occupation army to protest radical policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extremist cabinet.

The London-based Rai al-Youm newspaper said the Israeli doctors, including physicians and psychiatrists, penned a letter to Israel's Military Medicine Club and called for informing the military leadership on their action against Netanyahu's highly unpopular scheme to overhaul the regime's judicial system.

In an urgent message, the Military Medicine Club called on the Israeli premier's far-right coalition cabinet to stop the judicial reform plan before it is too late.

More than a thousand doctors had a day earlier sent a letter to the Israel Medical Association, calling for the declaration of a strike until the "complete trashing of the overhaul."

Hundreds of medical students also issued a plea that called for a strike over the widely-bashed reform plan.

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets across the occupied territories for the 28th straight week on Saturday against the policies of the regime's extremist cabinet. The protesters also demonstrated outside the residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the city of al-Quds.

The so-called judicial overhaul scheme seeks to take away the Israeli Supreme Court's power to overrule the decisions made by the regime's politicians. It is also aimed at giving the Israeli cabinet a greater say in the process of selecting judges to the court.

Its supporters allege that the plan will end decades of overreach by judges, while opponents argue that it will remove necessary checks on the power that is wielded by the politicians.

Critics have also accused Netanyahu, who is on trial on several counts of corruption charges, of trying to use the scheme to quash possible judgments against him.

Protesters have vowed to keep holding the monumental rallies until the cabinet decides against pushing through with the overhaul plan.

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'New Kazakhstan'? Frustration At 'Bloody January' Injustice Peaks In Bizarre Almaty Airport Trial

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, Chris Rickleton July 15, 2023

ALMATY -- "There is no 'new' Kazakhstan. What they are doing is not just! No matter what they give me -- four years or more -- I will not bow my head, I will not bend my knee! The fight goes on!"

Such were the words by activist and professional translator Aigerim Tleuzhan after she was given a four-year prison term for what prosecutors said was her role in seizing the country's largest airport during the worst unrest in Kazakhstan's independence some 18 months ago.

Public skepticism about the state investigation into the bloody violence that killed at least 238 people -- overwhelmingly civilians -- runs deep.

But the verdicts this week that saw five people handed real sentences of up to eight years over one of the most dramatic and convoluted chapters of those events has shocked even the most pessimistic observers.

Tleuzhan, after all, had been held under house arrest prior to the July 11 verdict, which in the world of Kazakh justice usually hints at a lighter sentence, perhaps one without any jail time.

The activist herself was not surprised, however.

She had predicted that the judge would likely fulfill the prosecutors' demands for tough sentences in comments to journalists prior to sentencing.

"I think they want to punish us in the strongest way possible so that other people don't take the initiative, or attend rallies, so that they will shut up and sit in fear, so to speak," Tleuzhan said.

"But our people are not the same as before the January [2022] events. You cannot scare us," she added.

When the verdicts were eventually read, the court descended into chaos, with dozens of supporters of the defendants chanting "freedom" as soldiers sealed them off, allowing Judge Martdek Qaqimzhanov to make a hasty exit.

"Since the citizens gathered here will not allow the court the opportunity to explain the essence of the verdict, the pronouncement of the verdict is over," Qaqimzhanov said, according to a courtroom report by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service on July 11.

"Everybody is free to leave! Goodbye!"

Siding With The State

After surviving the unrest of January 2022 and emerging as a more confident and powerful president, Toqaev offered his theory as to how the airport in Kazakhstan's financial capital briefly fell out of state control.

In an interview with state television that same month, the president said the airport was attacked by bandits and terrorists who wanted to paralyze its work and welcome "militants who had flown in under the guise of guest workers from [another] Central Asian city."

Almaty's City Hall, known as the Akimat, released a statement during the unrest that noted "the high level of organization of the bandits [that] testifies to their serious training abroad."

But authorities have provided no evidence confirming the participation of "well-trained" militants in the events of January 5, either during the chaos at the airport or in the city as a whole.

As regards the idea of "foreign" fighters descending on the city, an early attempt to make that case on state television collapsed in embarrassing fashion.

Kyrgyz citizen Viktor Ruzakhunov was paraded before the cameras with bruises and cuts on his face, making a "confession" that he was unemployed and had accepted cash to incite chaos in Almaty.

Indignant Kyrgyz back in Bishkek recognized him as a well-known musician who sometimes traveled to Kazakhstan to perform concerts, and Kazakhstan's "Jazz Revolution" soon began trending on Kyrgyz Twitter.

Ruzakhunov's confession was, of course, extracted under duress. Some months after he returned to Kyrgyzstan he would tell the real story of how he was forced to make the statement.

Not that Kazakhstan has ever made up for the "mistake."

In May, Ruzakhunov wrote on Instagram that his legal challenge to force the Interior Ministry to acknowledge their depiction of him as false and issue a public apology had been thrown out by a judge in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

Ruzakhunov's case is just one of several examples of the courts siding with the government in the January violence, sometimes to the point of absurdity.

In total, only a handful of state officers have been convicted in connection with the abuses perpetrated during what has come to be known as "Bloody January."

And that is without even getting into the widely held theory that the worst of the violence that followed peaceful protests against a fuel price spike was caused by warring factions in the Kazakh elite.

At any rate, it was a so-called peacekeeping intervention by Russian-led troops under the banner of the Collective Security Treaty Organization that stabilized the country by bolstering Toqaev's control over the situation.

That in turn enabled him to sideline allies and relatives of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev to complete a Kazakh leadership transition that began in March 2019 but never really felt real until after the January 2022 events.

It was Toqaev's request for the CSTO intervention, according to 38-year-old Tleuzhan, that motivated her and others angered by the news to travel to the airport on January 5, where they were expecting to see Russian soldiers arriving.

Witnesses Pressured?

Sentenced to jail on July 11 in the airport case along with Tleuzhan were schoolteacher and activist Qalas Nurpeisov and three other Almaty residents: Nurlan Dalibaev, Yermukhamet Shilibaev, and Zhan-Aidar Qarmenov.

Of that trio, one was a man with irregular employment, another a self-employed entrepreneur, another unemployed.

As a group, they hardly fit the profile of the well-trained militants that Toqaev spoke about both during and after the crisis.

But that isn't the only thing that felt off about the process, according to lawyers of the defendants and observers who spoke to RFE/RL's Kazakh Service after the process.

Ainara Aidarkhanova, Tleuzhan's lawyer, explained that the case against her client rested on witness testimony, with 13 people giving evidence in court.

"But none of them said that Aigerim was guilty, and no one recognized Tleuzhan as an active participant [in the unrest at the airport]," Aidarkhanova said.

Moreover, two of the defendants who received prison sentences -- Nurpeisov and Dalibaev -- said "that the investigators persuaded them to accept [a deal] in exchange for testimony against Tleuzhan," Aidarkhanova noted.

Shynquat Baizhanov, who defended Shilibaev and Dalibaev at the trial, questioned the nature of charges against his clients centering around an "attack" on an airport that wasn't defended.

Airport security disappeared into thin air that day, and soldiers earlier positioned close to the airport took their leave -- apparent symptoms of a regime with divided loyalties.

Baizhanov points out that this means Shilibaev and Dalibaev's crime should, in the worst case, have been qualified as "trespassing," since even another article in the criminal code, "trespassing on a guarded object," would also appear inapplicable.

The judge did not want to hear about such distinctions, he complained. Moreover, he argued that video evidence of Shilibaev and Dalibaev's crimes was inconclusive.

"There is no capture [of the airport]. They gathered, entered the building, talked to some people, and then left," the lawyer argued.

'The Fight Goes On'

Discrepancies like these have appeared in many trials where protesters and others who claimed no involvement in the events are being tried.

The vast majority of cases concerning torture of protesters in detention by security officers have, in contrast, been ignored or are otherwise stalled.

But the airport unrest trial has resonated because of the high profile and contested nature of the event and because Tleuzhan was well known to the city's community of activists and journalists, guaranteeing an outpouring of anger on social media and at the trial itself.

Perhaps feeling the need to push back, the office of the Almaty city court released a video stressing the guilt of the five defendants.

Tleuzhan and Nurpeisov "organized mass riots accompanied by pogroms, arson, destruction of property, and theft of official vehicles," the court affirmed in the video.

The other three, "having learned of the planned arrival of CSTO aircraft [carrying] a military contingent, decided to prevent this by attacking and seizing the control center. Then, threatening violence, they demanded that employees turn off the runway lights in order to prevent planes from landing."

Several Kazakh airlines, who figured in the court case as injured parties, did not respond to requests to comment on the trial's outcome.

But in the court of public opinion, it is Kazakhstan's Bloody January prosecutors who are under suspicion.

Serik Beisembaev, director of the Almaty-based think tank Paperlab, told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that his group's research earlier this year had found that more than 60 percent of the public do not believe that justice is being served in the trials connected to the January events.

Writing on Facebook, Beisembaev called the verdicts against the five defendants "another step toward the end of the regime" due to the widespread uproar over the vote.

"After verdicts like that one, the level of distrust will, of course, increase," he said.

In the cases of Tleuzhan and Nurpeisov, there were additional concerns that Prosecutor-General Berik Asylov had prejudiced the outcome by referring to both defendants in public as "religious extremists" -- a designation that doesn't appear to have any grounding in reality -- earlier this year.

And Toqaev, who issued a "shoot to kill order" during the violence, put out his own influential opinion in November about the role political activists played in the bloody events, referring to people who "deliberately shook up the situation in the country."

"They fueled protest moods in various ways and pursued the goal of splitting our society. Many of them are also indirectly responsible for the January tragedy," he said.

In her comments after sentencing, as her speechless mother cried beside her, Tleuzhan argued that both men -- Toqaev and Asylov -- should be facing justice instead of her.

Written by Chris Rickleton based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-bloody-january- almaty-airport-trial/32504931.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Closure of Libya's Major Oil Fields Threatening Domestic Production

Sputnik News

20230715

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The closure of Libya's largest oil fields is posing a threat to domestic oil production in long-term, the Ministry of Oil and Gas of the Libyan Government of National Unity said on Saturday.

On Thursday, production at El Feel, Sharara and 108 oilfields was shut down by the Al-Zawi tribe protesting against the abduction of a former finance minister, Faraj Bumatari.

"Their [closure] is dangerous for the Libyan oil market, since the loss of confidence in the continuity of Libyan oil supplies to the world market will lead to the fact that oil from Libya will not be sold, or demand for it will decrease," the ministry said on social media.

The ministry additionally stressed the risks of the irretrievable loss of Libyan oil importers and warned of the possible return of force majeure to the oil fields.

The Libyan parliament accused the country's Internal Security Agency of abducting Bumatari and urged Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh to ensure the safety of the former minister. Bumatari is a prominent figure in the Al-Zawi tribe, members of which comprise the majority of workers at Libya's southeastern oil fields.

A Sputnik

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Fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic rebels in Kachin rages 13 days

Junta attacks key village controlled by Kachin Independence Army

By RFA Burmese 2023.07.14 -- Fierce fighting between Myanmar's military junta and an ethnic rebel group in the country's northern Kachin state has raged for 13 days in a village close to the rebels' headquarters, people living near the area told Radio Free Asia.

The headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, is in Lai Zar, and the military attacked Nam Sang Yang village, roughly 9.6 kilometers (six miles) away, on July 2.

The ethnic army has been aiding anti-junta local militias and publicly supporting the shadow National Unity Government - made up of former civilian leaders and other junta opponents - since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup that overthrew the democratically elected government.

The fighting is the latest spasm of violence in Myanmar's civil war, which pits the country's military against an array of ethnic armies and civilians-turned-fighters that call themselves the People's Defense Force.

Sources told RFA that the fighting has been a daily occurrence, as junta forces attempt to take Nam Sang Yang, while the KIA defends it. They are waiting for forces from another armed ethnic group, the Arakan Army, or AA, to enter the fray.

Nam Sang Yang lies at about the halfway point between the cities of Myitkyina and Bhamo, and taking it is the key for the junta to regain control of the road that connects them, Col. Nawbu, a KIA soldier in charge of news and information, told Radio Free Asia's Burmese Service.

"The fighting started in early July, and the junta troops got reinforcements from Bhamo and Mytkyina," he said. "I think they are about a hundred strong, but that's not an exact number. We cannot say for sure what strategies the enemy is using."

Nawbu said that he thought the junta's aim was to retake the section of the road, but had no idea if they also had plans to try to also take Lai Zar the KIA headquarters.

"Anything is possible," he said. "That's the nature of war. That's why we are on high alert."

10 battles

At least 10 separate battles have been fought over the past 13 days, with junta troops employing heavy artillery on a daily basis, Nawbu said. Casualties have occurred on both sides, but he was not able to confirm exact details.

Nawbu expects the fighting to intensify and continue for several more days as the military reinforces its troops.

Fighting along the road will be fierce, as members of both the AA and KIA are stationed there to defend against the junta, residents said.

Since July 3, the road has been closed by soldiers on either side, and resources are running low in Lai Zar, where the KIA makes its headquarters, a resident of the town, who refused to be named, told RFA.

"Many goods are out of stock here... there will be no food and essentials left in my store by the end of this month," she said. "I have to try to make sure I have something to sell."

Prices in Lai Zar are rising as items are harder to come by, the resident said.

Due to the fighting, people traveling to and from Myitkyina and Lai Zar have been trapped, and more than a thousand Nam Sang Yang residents have fled to Myitkyina, Waingmo and Lai Zar since the fighting began.

Airstrikes

Residents said the junta launched air strikes on nearby Ma Dee Yang village on the night of July 7, and they also fired heavy artillery in areas around Lai Zar.

"I think the fighting will get more intense according to what I recently heard," a resident of Lai Zar said on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. "They are still fighting now."

The Lai Zar resident said that he could hear gunshots and heavy artillery shelling targeting the areas surrounding the town.

"These are sounds that are terrifying elderly people, children and pregnant mothers," he said.

We often hear the sound of heavy artillery shelling areas near Lai Zar. We hear gunshots off and on. The sounds of those shelling are terrifying for elderly people, children and pregnant mothers."

Win Ye Tun, social affairs minister and the junta's spokesman for Kachin state, told RFA that he did not know the situation of the fighting.

"I don't know about the battle. As I said before, we are helping people who have fled from there ... providing them with rice, oil, money and we also visit them to check on them," he said.

Meanwhile, Hla Kyaw Zaw, an expert on Myanmar affairs, said that the junta is focusing on KIA-controlled areas because they suspect that the KIA is helping militia groups called People's Defense Forces, or PDFs, formed by citizens opposed to military rule.

"Since the junta troops took a beating in Sagaing and other fronts, they might think that KIA is strongly backing the PDF in those regions," he said. "But I think [the junta] won't be able to besiege Lai Zar."

Having the areas near its border controlled by ethnic groups could be strategically beneficial to China, he said.

"China is trying to influence both sides to solve the problems by peaceful means as much as it can. It is the way I see it. Especially the ethnic areas next to its border, China won't let them down."

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US again touts importance of Myanmar peace plan despite divisions within ASEAN

Statement by top diplomats said many members viewed Thai meeting with junta foreign minister as a positive step.

By Tria Dianti for BenarNews 2023.07.14 -- Washington on Friday again urged countries to push Myanmar on a peace plan that has failed so far, although the regional bloc is divided over how to handle the Burmese crisis.

Countries must persuade the Burmese military to follow through on the five-point plan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as he met with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other countries in Jakarta on Friday.

"In Myanmar, we must press the military regime to stop the violence, to implement ASEAN's five-point consensus, to support a return to democratic governance," Blinken said in a speech during a meeting with ASEAN ministers.

The bloc, of which Myanmar is a member, has sought to mediate a resolution to the situation in that country, where the military toppled an elected government in February 2021 and threw civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in prison. Nearly 3,800 people have been killed in post-coup violence, mostly by junta security forces.

On Thursday, ASEAN issued a joint statement of its foreign ministers, but that was delayed by a day following a meeting of the region's top diplomats Tuesday and Wednesday. Reports said the delay arose because they could not agree on what their joint statement would say about Myanmar.

The statement reflected the dissonance.

Thailand had last month held another meeting with Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister, representatives of ASEAN members Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and India and China. The Burmese and Thai militaries are said to be close, and the outgoing Thai PM is a former army chief.

ASEAN 2023 chair Indonesia did not take kindly to that meeting, which it skipped along with Singapore and Malaysia.

And yet, the joint statement acknowledged that meeting, noting that "a number of ASEAN member states" viewed it "as a positive development."

The statement went on to note, however, that efforts to solve the Myanmar crisis must support the five-point consensus and efforts by ASEAN chair Indonesia.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai defended the meeting, saying it was in line with an earlier ASEAN document that called for exploring other approaches for resolving the crisis.

In another shocker for the rest of ASEAN, and indeed, everyone else, the Thai foreign minister announced on Wednesday that he had met secretly over the weekend with Myanmar's imprisoned civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The Thai foreign ministry said that she and the junta had approved the meeting with Don.

And not everyone is on board with the five-point consensus either, although they present a unified front, reports say.

The previous foreign minister of Malaysia, Saifuddin Abdullah, was an exception. He had said last July that it was time to junk the peace plan and devise a new one on a deadline that included enforcement mechanisms.

ASEAN operates by consensus, which means any action it takes has to be approved by every member state. Divisions within the bloc have meant that not every member has approved of tougher action against Myanmar.

Therefore, other than shutting out the Burmese junta from all high-level ASEAN meetings for reneging on the consensus, little else has happened since February 2021.

Hunter Marston, a Southeast Asia researcher at the Australian National University, said the ASEAN top diplomats' joint statement was largely in line with his expectations.

He would have liked to see "ASEAN invite the NUG as a way of imposing costs on the junta, but that won't receive consensus," Marston told BenarNews, referring to the National Unity Government, which is the shadow civilian administration.

He would have also liked to see "see a clearer acknowledgement of ASEAN's frustration with the military junta."

And the statement "still left room for Thailand's rogue ... diplomacy," Marston said.

Another analyst, Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, said he had expected a little better from the joint statement.

"[N]ow I only hope that ASEAN does not accept back the junta without accountability," he told BenarNews.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar Resistance Asks US for Over $500 Million in Nonlethal and Humanitarian Aid

By Zsombor Peter July 16, 2023

Myanmar's 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 country's 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 Myanmar's 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 Myanmar's 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 VOA's 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 country's 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 NUG's 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.

"It's 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 Myanmar's Karenni state who uses a nom de guerre for his and his family's 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 harm's 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 Department's 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 they're 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 Myanmar's 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.

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Pakistani Army Chief Warns Afghan Taliban Against Harboring Militants After Twin Attacks

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal July 15, 2023

The head of the Pakistani Army has threatened the Taliban-led government in Kabul with an "effective response" if it continues harboring militants who launch attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan has "serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan," General Asim Munir said, referring to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan militant group, also known as the Pakistani Taliban.

The July 14 statement came after two militant attacks in recent days killed 12 Pakistani soldiers in the southwestern Balochistan Province that borders Afghanistan.

Nine soldiers were killed when militants stormed an army base in the Zhob district on July 12, marking the highest death toll in a single day for the Pakistani Army in several months.

Three soldiers were killed in a separate attack on the same day when gunmen targeted an army convoy in Sui, a town that the country's main natural gas pipeline passes through.

"Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit an effective response from the security forces of Pakistan," said Munir, who visited Balochistan on July 14.

Several militant groups, including the TTP, Islamic State, and the newly formed Tehrik-e Jihad Pakistan have a presence in Balochistan.

Tehrik-e Jihad Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack in Zhob.

The army chief said he expects the Afghan Taliban to live up to their promises from a 2020 Doha agreement with the United States to prevent any terrorist group from using Afghan soil for attacks.

Munir also claimed that "Afghan nationals were involved in recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan," but didn't provide further details.

There was no immediate response from the Taliban in Kabul. The Taliban-led government has in the past rejected Islamabad's claim that it harbors militants who carry out cross-border attacks in Pakistan.

The TTP has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Pakistani troops and police in Balochistan in recent years.

The gas-rich province has also been the scene of a low-level insurgency by local separatists for two decades.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-army-chief- warns-afghan-taliban/32504749.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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MFA statement on closing of Polish Consular Agency in Smolensk

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

14.07.2023

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that on 14 July 2023, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Moscow received a diplomatic note from the Russian Federation concerning the withdrawal of the consent to the functioning of the Consular Agency of the Republic of Poland in Smolensk, given on 27 June 2011. The Consular Agency will close down on 31 August 2023, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Moscow will take over its tasks.

As the sites of a murder of nearly 22,000 Polish citizens by the NKVD in 1940 and the plane crash in 2010, Katyn and Smolensk bear a special, symbolic meaning to all Poles. The decision taken by the Russian authorities is a proof of increasingly bold attempts to distort history and negate responsibility for crimes perpetrated by the Russian state and specific, known by their names, citizens of that country.

The crimes committed today in Ukraine are a continuation of this barbaric practice. We believe that there will come a time when the Russian Federation and its authorities will finally respect historical truth and settle accounts with their past. Only this way will they cease to pose a threat to the world.

One of the major tasks of the Polish Consular Agency in Smolensk was exercising ongoing supervision over the site of the Smolensk crash and the Polish War Cemetery in Katyn. The Agency provided support to Polish pilgrims who regularly visited the burial and memorial sites which are important to the Polish side. Also the descendants of the citizens of the Soviet Union murdered by the NKVD who had been buried alongside Poles could, thanks to the functioning of the Polish Consular Agency, learn the truth about Soviet crimes and better understand the history of their country.

The decision by the authorities of the Russian Federation is a highly symbolic gesture, as well as another hostile and incomprehensible act aimed at preventing Polish diplomatic missions and consular posts from functioning. The Republic of Poland reserves the right to take appropriate steps in response. At the same time, the MFA highlights that Polish consular services will make every effort so that Polish citizens wishing to pay homage to the murdered or needing urgent consular assistance will continue to receive all necessary support.



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Another Russian General Reportedly Fired In Latest Military Shakeup Post-Mutiny

By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 16, 2023

Another Russian general has reportedly been fired in the latest shakeup in the military since Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny three weeks ago.

Major General Vladimir Selivyorstov, who commanded the 106th Airborne Division, has been dismissed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Telegram channels close to Russia's security services reported on July 15.

The Telegram channels did not give an official reason for his firing though one claimed Selivyorstov had been known to disagree with decisions made by headquarters.

Selivyorstov's dismissal comes amid upheaval in the Russian armed forces following Prigozhin's June 23-24 mutiny against Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov over their management of the war in Ukraine.

The weak military response to the mutiny -- which represented the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putin's 23-year grip on power -- has raised questions about the loyalty of senior officials in the armed forces to the Kremlin for its failed invasion of Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that at least 13 high-ranking Russian military officials were detained following Prigozhin's mutiny.

One prominent official, General Sergei Surovikin, who briefly served as overall commander for the Ukraine war and is believed to be a close ally of Prigozhin, has not been seen or heard from since the mutiny erupted on June 24.

Major General Ivan Popov, the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army deployed in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhya region, said on July 12 that he was fired after complaining to Gerasimov about the failure to rotate troops.

Popov also said his forces were being hampered by problems with counterbattery radar and artillery reconnaissance.

As for Selivyorstov, Telegram channel CHEKA-OGPU said Tula Governor Aleksei Dyumin sought to defend him during a trip to Moscow on July 14. The 106 Airborne Division is based in Tula.

Putin's former chief security guard, Dyumin is often cited as a possible replacement to Shoigu should the president decide to dismiss him. Dyumin briefly served as deputy defense minister under Shoigu in 2015-2016.

However, experts say Putin is likely to stick with loyalists Shoigu and Gerasimov at least for the foreseeable future lest it appear he caved under pressure from Prigozhin.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-general-fired-latest- shakeup-post-mutiny/32505576.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wagner Troops Said To Enter Belarus As Mercenary Group's Future Still Uncertain

By RFE/RL July 16, 2023

A long convoy transporting Wagner troops entered Belarus from Russia on July 15, the independent Belarusian military monitoring project Belaruski Hayun reported.

The column included at least 60 vehicles, including pickups, large trucks, vans, and at least three buses, and was escorted by Belarusian traffic police, Belaruski Hayun said in a tweet.

The convoy was headed in the direction of Tsel, a village 90 kilometers southeast of Minsk where a tent encampment capable of holding as many as 15,000 people had recently been set up by the Belarusian authorities.

The video footage of the alleged convoy comes a day after the Belarusian Defense Ministry television channel showed Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces in Tsel.

Neighboring Lithuania, meanwhile, said its border services are monitoring developments.

A spokesman for Lithuania's State Border Guard Service told the news portal Delfi on July 15 that border security with Belarus had already been strengthened because of "illegal migration and the NATO summit."

The fate of Wagner troops has been enveloped in a deep fog since its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a short-lived mutiny on June 23-24 in the biggest threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 23 years in power.

Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed he helped end the mutiny by agreeing with Prigozhin and Putin to host the Wagner troops in Belarus.

Days after Lukashenka's statement, a tent camp began going up in Tsel, a former garrison for members of a Belarusian missile brigade.

Wagner troops played a key role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, helping take Bakhmut after nearly 10 months of intense fighting. The mercenary group lost 20,000 men in the process, according to Prigozhin.

The Wagner leader gained popularity among Russian military bloggers for his frank comments on the course of the war.

He often publicly criticized Russia's military leadership in crude terms. Putin sought to reign him in by agreeing to subordinate Wagner to the Defense Ministry.

To protest that decision, Prigozhin launched his mutiny.

What happens next with Wagner troops and Prigozhin is unclear.

Wagner had 25,000 fighters under its command, Prigozhin claimed at the time of his mutiny. However, that number has not been verified.

Russia is facing manpower issues and can't afford to disband Wagner, which is considered one of the most experienced and disciplined units, military experts said.

Putin on July 14 said Wagner troops could keep fighting in Ukraine but without Prigozhin as their leader. Wagner forces did not appear to be fighting in a major capacity at the moment, the Pentagon said a day earlier.

While some have speculated that Wagner troops could try to invade Ukraine from Belarus, military experts said that Russia would need a force of 30,000 or more to have any chance of succeeding with such a venture.

Lukashenksa said on June 27 that he would like Wagner troops to train his own forces, but he gave no indication how many of the mercenaries he would be willing to host on his soil.

Amid speculation that could be a threat to his own hold on power, he said, "We will keep a close eye on them."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wagner-troops-belarus- russia-mutiny/32505071.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia Could Reverse Engineer Its Trophy NATO Weapons - Putin

Sputnik News

20230716

Ilya Tsukanov

The Western alliance has sunk tens of billions of dollars' worth of weaponry into Ukraine over the past year, including everything from outdated 1960s junk to the latest high-tech systems. Russian forces have managed to capture some of this equipment in fierce battles with Ukrainian forces and mercs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't rule out the reverse engineering of NATO equipment captured in Ukraine in cases where doing so could improve Russia's own weapons.

"There's the expression 'reverse engineering'. We'll see what happens, because modern equipment...we have it, and it's very effective, let's take the T-90 Proryv tank for example, which is the best tank in the world without any exaggeration. But the enemy also produces modern equipment. And if there's an opportunity to look inside and see if there's something there that we can use, well, why not?" Putin said in an interview with Russian television on Sunday.

The United States and its European and Asian allies have committed over $94.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine over the past 18 months, far outstripping the size of Russia's entire defense budget of $56.6 billion. These expenditures, which included the delivery of some of NATO's most cutting-edge, battle-tested equipment, have nevertheless failed to enable Ukrainian forces to puncture Russian defensive lines in the Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson.

NATO powers have committed everything from Leopard 2 tanks (including some of their latest modifications) to Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Stryker armored fighting vehicles, ATACMS rocket launchers, Caesar howitzers, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, NASAMS and Patriot air defense systems, with some countries sending virtually their entire stockpiles of some of these weapons. NATO has also sent a range of modern man-portable weapons, including Panzerfaust and Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and a range of drones, jamming equipment, radar, engineering and other equipment.

Some of these weapons, including everything from Javelins and Stingers to Bradleys and Leopards, have been captured by Russian forces, with some equipment now serving with Russian forces.

A Sputnik

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Telephone conversation with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa at the initiative of the South African side.

July 15, 2023

14:40

Cyril Ramaphosa thanked his counterpart for the warm welcome and constructive conversation about possible ways to resolve the situation around Ukraine during the visit of leaders and representatives of a number of African states to St Petersburg in June. Consideration of the African Peace Initiative will continue in conjunction with the Russia-Africa summit at the end of July.

Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa also agreed to hold a separate meeting at the summit to have a detailed discussion on the bilateral and international agenda. The President of South Africa informed Vladimir Putin about the preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for August 22-24 in Johannesburg.

When discussing the Istanbul package agreements, Vladimir Putin stressed that the obligations envisaged in the relevant Russia-UN memorandum to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilisers remained unfulfilled. Moreover, the deal's main goal - to supply grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent - has not been implemented.

The leaders reaffirmed their mutual intention to strengthen cooperation in various fields.

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Syria: EU extends humanitarian exemption for another six months

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

14 July 2023



On 23 February 2023, the Council introduced an additional humanitarian exemption into the sanctions regime in view of the situation in Syria to facilitate the speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance, following the devastating earthquake that hit TArkiye and Syria.

To continue responding in a timely manner to the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and to keep facilitating the rapid delivery of aid, the Council has decided to extend the duration of this humanitarian exemption for a further six months until 24 February 2024.

The exemption from the asset freeze and from the related prohibition on making funds and economic resources available to listed individuals and entities aims to further facilitate the operations of international organisations and certain defined categories of actors involved in humanitarian activities in Syria.

The EU sanctions in place, regarding Syria since 2011 target the repressive Assad regime and its supporters, as well as sectors of the economy from which the regime profits. The sanctions do not stand in the way of the export of food, medicines, or medical equipment to Syria.

The Council remains deeply concerned about the situation in Syria, where the conflict is far from over and remains a source of suffering for the civilian population, and instability for the country and the region.

The European Union and its member states are leading donors of humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Syria and have mobilised more than a30 billion in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation aid since the beginning of the crisis in 2011. This amount includes more than a3.7 billion in humanitarian aid to Syrians and vulnerable host communities in Syria and the region.

At the Seventh Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" (Brussels VII) hosted and chaired by the EU on 14 and 15 June 2023, the international community pledged a5.6 billion for 2023 and beyond, including a4.6 billion for 2023 and a1 billion for 2024 and beyond. The funding pledged will support people inside Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. a3.8 billion of grants were pledged by the EU amounting to 70% of the total grants. In addition, international financial institutions and donors announced a4 billion in loans (in concessional terms), bringing the total of grants and loans to a9.6 billion.

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US mulling military options against Russia in Syria, irked by Iran ties

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 8:20 AM

The US is considering military options to address "Russian aggression in the skies over Syria," an unnamed Pentagon official has declared, further voicing rising concerns about "growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East."

"The Russian military activity, which has increased in frequency and aggression since March, stems from growing cooperation and coordination between Moscow, Tehran and the Syrian government to try to pressure the US to leave Syria," said an American "senior defense official" who spoke on condition of anonymity as cited in an AP report on Saturday.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters on Friday, further threatened increased deployment of US F-16 fighter jets to the Persian Gulf in a purported effort to "protect ships" around the strategic Strait of Hormuz from what he claimed as "Iranian seizures" in a apparent referral to the recent confiscation of a foreign oil tanker smuggling the country's fuel by Iranian naval officers despite attempts by US military forces to intervene.

The United States made "unprofessional and risky" attempts to impede the seizure of a foreign oil tanker smuggling Iranian fuel in the Persian Gulf last week, but the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully confiscated the vessel, an IRGC commander announced on July 10.

According to IRGC's Rear Admiral Ramazan Zir-Rahi, the vessel carrying contraband fuel had arranged military backing from US military forces in the area, but was still seized by Iran's naval forces.

He further elaborated that the US Navy attempted to intervene as IRGC naval forces moved to intercept the oil tanker involved in smuggling one million liters of Iranian oil and gas.

"On July 6, the forces of the IRGC's second naval zone were inspecting a vessel with the commercial name of NADA 2 that was involved in the organized smuggling of the Islamic Republic's oil and gas in the Persian Gulf, when the Americans started a series of unprofessional and risky actions in order to prevent this legal measure," he said.

According to the AP report, the unnamed American official went on to further claim that "Russia is beholden to Iran for its support in the war in Ukraine, and Tehran wants the US out of Syria" to extend aid to Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement "and threaten Israel."

"US has seen more cooperation, collaboration, planning and intelligence sharing, largely between mid-level Russian and Iranian Quds force leaders in Syria, to pressure the US to remove troops from Syria," the official also claimed as cited in the report.

Such claims by Washington officials come as the US military is illegally occupying Syria with nearly 1,000 troops and has seized the country's oil fields in cooperation with local anti-Damascus militants and terrorist groups while stealing its crude supplies and transferring across the border to its bases in Iraq.

The report also cited the official as falsely claiming that US forces are in Syria for "monitoring" activity of the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group.

He went on to complain that a Russian aircraft on Friday flew repeatedly over the US-occupied at-Tanf garrison in eastern Syria, "where US forces are training Syrian allies," referring to local Kurdish and Arab militants that have been engaged for years in a brutal terror campaign across the country.

The official insisted that the Russian An-30 aircraft "was collecting intelligence on the base."

Earlier this month, US Air Forces Central commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich claimed that Russian fighter jets "harassed" American MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria on three separate occasions in a week. The Russian Air Force was conducting joint exercises with its Syrian counterpart at the time, and Moscow blamed the US for violating restricted airspace with the drone flights, a charge that the Pentagon rejected.

This is while Syrian President Bashar Assad invited the Russian military to assist his forces in the fight against US-trained Daesh-linked terrorists in 2015. Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria ever since, as has the US, which has been providing covert and overt support for dozens of militant groups opposing Assad's government in their terror campaign to topple the elected president.

Since 2014, the US has deployed forces and military equipment in Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate under the pretext of fighting the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

The American forces have thus far sustained their illegal presence on the Syrian soil although Damascus and its allies defeated Daesh in late 2019.

The US military claims its presence in Syria is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh.

Damascus, however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country's natural resources. Former President Donald Trump of the United States admitted on several occasions that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil wealth.

Russia, alongside Iran, has assisted Syrian forces in battles across the conflict-plagued country, mainly by providing aerial support to ground operations against foreign-backed terrorists.

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Russian Military Says US-Led Coalition Breached Deconfliction Protocols 12 Times in Syria

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The coalition led by the United States breached deconfliction protocols 12 times in Syria over the past 24 hours, Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Sunday.

"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.

A Sputnik

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U.S. House passes defense bill with Taiwan provisions

ROC Central News Agency

07/15/2023 12:59 PM

Washington, July 14 (CNA) The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill that lays out the country's sweeping national defense policy and budget for 2024, including provisions calling for military cooperation with Taiwan.

The US$876.8 billion budgeted for the 2024 fiscal year under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was narrowly approved by the House with a 219-210 vote.

Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who led a congressional delegation to Taiwan in late June and met with President Tsai Ing-wen (ee), applauded the passage of the 2024 NDAA.

"The threat we face from China is the most pressing national security threat we've faced in decades -- the FY24 NDAA is laser-focused on countering China. The FY24 NDAA protects our homeland from threats by investing in a stronger missile defense and modernizing our nuclear deterrent," Rogers said in a statement.

According to the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, this year's NDAA includes a number of provisions coming directly from the Select Committee's bipartisan Ten for Taiwan report, a set of recommendations to enhance Taiwan's deterrence.

The Act supports greater military coordination between the U.S. and Taiwan, including conducting exercises, developing joint concepts of operation and tactics, techniques, and procedures, and other security measures to help Taiwan meet its self-defense needs, the committee said.

The Act also addresses the current Foreign Military Sales backlog in arms deliveries to Taiwan by directing the secretary of defense, in consultation with the secretary of state, to submit a report evaluating the provision of defense articles, services and training requested by the Taiwanese government, the committee added.

In addition, the Act aims to expedite the delivery of asymmetric defense capabilities to Taiwan by fencing travel for the Office of the Secretary of Defense until the Department of Defense submits a plan to provide Harpoon missiles set for demilitarization or in deep stowage to Taiwan or other security partners with a Presidential Drawdown Authority, the committee said.

The Act also requires the Secretary of Defense to engage Taiwan's Ministry of Defense to strengthen military cybersecurity cooperation, according to the committee.

The committee said the Act also prohibits the Department of Defense from creating, procuring or displaying any map that depicts Taiwan as part of the territory of China, a provision proposed by Republican Representative Tom Tiffany.

"All of us know that Taiwan is not -- nor has it ever been -- part of Communist China. Any claims to the contrary are simply false," Tiffany said in a statement. "This amendment will require that the maps we use reflect a simple reality: China is China, and Taiwan is Taiwan."

Rogers noted that the NDAA has been a critical part of U.S. national security for over 60 years, providing American warfighters with the resources and authorities they need to provide for the defense of the country.

"This legislation is vital as our nation is faced with unprecedented threats from our adversaries," he said.

The Act also boosts innovation and revitalizes the industrial base to ensure they can deliver the systems the U.S. needs to prevail in any conflict, Rogers said.

The Senate is scheduled to review its version of 2024 NDAA next week.

Typically, after the full House and Senate have passed their own versions of the NDAA, they negotiate a reconciliation of the bill to send to the president to sign into law before the end of the year.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Frances Huang)

Enditem/cs

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Paraguay President-elect PeAa 'determined' to keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

07/15/2023 08:26 PM

Taipei, July 15 (CNA) Visiting Paraguayan President-elect Santiago PeAa said Saturday that he is "determined" to maintain the existing diplomatic relations with Taiwan during his upcoming five-year tenure, and those bilateral ties will not be compromised by his country's trade links with China.

"Paraguay is a relatively small country that needs to integrate to the world. We will love to do more trade with the People's Republic of China (PRC), as we would like to have more trade with any other country," PeAa said at a press conference in Taipei at the conclusion of his five-day visit.

He added, however, that Paraguay's relations with Taiwan are "not subject to any diplomatic limitation" because of its strong trade and economic relations with China.

"If a country says that they are not going to do business with us because we have relations with Taiwan, we will continue our relations with Taiwan, and we will do business with whoever wants [to do business]," PeAa said.

China has made the severance of ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) a prerequisite for any country that wishes to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Currently, Paraguay is one of the 13 independent states that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and it remains the only one in South America, after Uruguay switched diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing in 1988.

According to PeAa, Paraguay has not been pressured by any neighboring nations into making a diplomatic switch, as he has made his position clear to them, especially to Brazil, which is his country's largest trading partner and a strong ally of China.

"I can tell you that I haven't felt any pressure, and probably they haven't pressured [me], because they know my position," he said at the press event, which was also attended by incoming First Lady of Paraguay Leticia Ocampos and Foreign Minister-designate RubAn RamArez Lezcano.

Meanwhile, in response to a reporter's question, PeAa said his delegation had not had any specific talks with the Taiwan government about financial aid, and that the two sides would have lots of opportunities to discuss various agendas in the future.

PeAa arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, at the head of a delegation that included incoming Presidential Chief Secretary Lea GimAnez Duarte, Finance Minister-designate Carlos FernAndez Valdovinos, and incoming Industry Minister Francisco Javier GimAnez GarcAa de ZAAiga.

During his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) on Wednesday, PeAa said he was looking forward to Taiwan's continued support, as his administration would be striving to reduce poverty and bring about industrial development in the country.

According to PeAa, his administration's goals include creating at least 500,000 jobs and rolling out a plan that would allow some 200,000 Paraguayans to get loans to improve their housing over the next five years.

As to what he thinks Taiwan can do to help achieve these goals, PeAa said Friday he hoped to see more Taiwanese business and financial institutions in Paraguay.

The president-elect, a former economist who served as Paraguay's finance minister 2015-2017, is scheduled to be sworn in on August 15.

He received nearly 44 percent of the vote in Paraguay's presidential election in April, winning by a double-digit margin over his main rival Efrain Alegre, who during his election campaign had pledged to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

On Saturday, PeAa said he did not know "who will be on the [Taiwanese] delegation" to his inauguration in AsunciAn in mid-August.

In June, the Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources as saying that Vice President Lai Ching-te (ea), the Democratic Progressive Party's 2024 presidential candidate, had been tapped to lead the Taiwan delegation to PeAa's inauguration ceremony.

At the time, however, the Presidential Office in Taipei said the vice president "currently does not have any plans to travel overseas."

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/pc

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PLA warship activities set new record around island of Taiwan

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jul 16, 2023 08:59 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently ramped up warship activities around the island of Taiwan, breaking the record for the number of vessels deployed in its drills in the region.

Analysts said Sunday that the recent intensive exercises demonstrate the PLA's capabilities in encircling the island, and likely featured amphibious landing training.

The defense authority on the island of Taiwan said in a press release on Saturday that it detected 15 PLA aircraft and 16 PLA vessels operating around the island of Taiwan on Friday.

It is worth noting that the 16 marked the highest number of PLA vessel activities in recent times, media on the island reported on Saturday.

The record number came after the PLA increased the scale of its daily exercises and patrols around the island of Taiwan over the past week, sending nine vessels on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, all accompanied by large-scale activities of fighters, bombers, special mission aircraft and drones in the air, media on the island said.

By comparison, the daily average number of PLA vessels operating around the island is about four. Even during the PLA's large-scale military exercises in August last year and in April this year, this figure did not surpass 14, according to press releases from the island's defense authority.

Coming amid recent events including the US House's passing of the National Defense Authorization Act 2024, the release of the NATO summit communiquA and joint exercises by the US, the UK, Australia and Japan, the PLA's increase in warship activities around the island is likely aimed at displaying its capabilities in blockading the island, and possibly featured forces from not only the Eastern Theater Command, but also the Southern Theater Command, media on the island reported, citing a military expert on the island.

The defense authority on the island did not publish the types of PLA vessels participating in the activities, but Japan's Defense Ministry said in late June that it spotted a PLA flotilla featuring the Type 075 amphibious assault ship Guangxi, the Type 052D destroyer Baotou, the Type 054A frigate Anyang and the Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship Chaohu when the warships sailed from the East China Sea to the West Pacific at the time.

With no reports indicating that the warships have come back, the amphibious group led by the Type 075 could participate in exercise in waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In a landing mission, it is logical to start amphibious landing after establishing air superiority and control of the sea, so it makes sense to practice amphibious landings following the training of precision strikes, air combat and sea combat, said another Chinese mainland expert who requested anonymity.

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Aviation climate commitment and A115 million combat air technology boosts at RIAT

A A115m contract will create a 'flying electronics laboratory' to develop our future combat air technology, it has been announced at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).

14 July 2023

A115 million contract, supporting 300 UK jobs, awarded to develop flying electronics laboratory for future combat air technology.

Net Zero Strategy signing commits Ministry of Defence to decarbonise its aviation capabilities.

Extensive Ministerial engagement at key 2023 airshow.

A A115m contract will create a 'flying electronics laboratory' to develop our future combat air technology, it has been announced at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).

The contract - awarded to Leonardo and which will be delivered in partnership with 2Excel - will launch the next stage of the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft (FTA) project. This will see a Boeing 757 completely overhauled and turned into a flight test aircraft that will resemble a 'flying electronics laboratory'. The aircraft will test some of the innovative technology that could be deployed on the fighter jet being developed by the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

The Excalibur project is a key element of the UK's Future Combat Air System (FCAS) that could include the crewed fighter and a broader range of capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, information systems and weapon systems.

The Excalibur aircraft will be adapted to host integrated sensors, digital technology and integrated communications. This aircraft is expected to fly with the new technology within the next three years, when on-board scientists and engineers will test the sensors and communications systems whilst in flight.

Supporting the Government's priority to grow the UK economy, the Excalibur programme is sustaining around 300 highly skilled jobs across the UK.

The aircraft is designed in Yorkshire and built in Hampshire with the concepts conceived by Leonardo in Bedfordshire and 2Excel in Northamptonshire. The Excalibur project is part of the UK's drive to grow our air industrial capability, securing the nation's future at the cutting edge of combat air design and development.

Richard Berthon, MOD Director Future Combat Air, said:

This contract is a major milestone for the FTA project and demonstrates our commitment in support of the UK Future Combat Air System. I'm excited that this work will enable us to test, in a live flying environment, some of the highly advanced technology that could feature on the aircraft being developed by GCAP.

The GCAP international collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan continues to progress at pace, with partners working together to develop a new combat aircraft for 2035.

Also at RIAT, Defence Procurement Minister, James Cartlidge signed the Defence Aviation Net Zero Charter.

The Charter signatories have closely collaborated with the MOD on the strategy development and the Charter shows their continued commitment to assist the MOD in its contribution to the Government's Net Zero by 2050 goal. As signatories they agree to share best practice and help remove barriers, including increasing sustainable aviation fuel usage, improving operational efficiency, utilising zero emissions propulsion technology, and finding innovative ways to deliver aviation operations whilst reducing their climate impact.

The signing of this charter follows the release of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy and shows the commitment of our strategic industry and academic partners to assist the MOD in its contribution to the Government's Net Zero by 2050 goal.

With aviation activity accounting for over 30% of Defence's carbon emissions, the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy outlines the steps necessary to meet the commitment to decarbonise Defence's aviation capability, whilst also mitigating potential risks to operational effectiveness that are likely to arise because of climate change.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

RIAT has been an excellent opportunity to meet with industry leaders and range of companies that support UK Defence in keeping the country safe. The A115 million contract to develop the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft proves that Britain continues to be a major player in the aviation industry and it's an important further step in delivering our future fighter jet. It is also critical that the aviation sector plays its part in delivering the UK's net zero commitment and the Government is already supporting a variety of technology, fuel, and market-based measures to address aviation emissions.

Climate initiatives already underway include the RAF working with industry leaders Zero Petroleum Ltd to research and develop synthetic fuel technology, which has the potential to eventually eliminate reliance on fossil fuels. In November 2022 the RAF and industry partners flew a Voyager (A330) using 100% sustainable fuel, a world first for a military aircraft of its size, and the first of any aircraft type in the UK.

Building on the release of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy and as part of the RAF Net Zero by 2040 aspirations, the RAF has entered into a strategy partnership with the University of Cambridge's Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA).

The AIA partnership will allow the RAF to exploit the insights and analysis of a world leading research group to further its understanding on aviation decarbonisation, how the transition across the civil aviation sector will impact its operational output and how the service can responsibly move towards its own net zero goals.

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Joint Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation and the Permanent Council on the Security and Environment nexus in the shadow of the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

14 July 2023

The joint session, organized under the Bulgarian FSC Chair and 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, provided a platform to explore the role the FSC can play in the environment-security nexus and how the OSCE can best address issues such as protection of the environment during armed conflicts. The discussion was designed to raise awareness and foster further co-operation on the subject.

"We are glad to dedicate this security dialogue to the Security and Environment Nexus, particularly in the context of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. This war disrupts and affects the lives of millions of people, threatening human health and causing damage to the environment, critical infrastructure and security." said Ambassador Emilia Kraleva, Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation, in her opening remarks. "The recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam led to the devastating deterioration of human, economic and environmental security, including water access and quality. The implications are enormous and require ongoing effort, co-ordination and mobilization of resources, expertise and support."

Remarks were delivered by OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Yevhenii Fedorenko, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection of Ukraine, Dr. Rowena Watson, Chief of the US State Department Environmental Division and Colonel Christian TourniA, Deputy Head of Department in the French Ministry of Interior. Throughout the discussion, the speakers presented many of the existing challenges and the possible and diverse synergies to address them, including the role OSCE is able to play.

"There are many examples in the OSCE region of environmental degradation as a direct consequence of military conflicts. For already 25 years, the OSCE has been working to address environment and security challenges, including through our field operations, from disaster risk reduction and supporting transboundary water co-operation to the disposal of surpluses of Small Arms and Light Weapons," said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid in her address.

The meeting further recognised the inextricable link between environmental instability and exacerbated geopolitical and socio-economic tensions, including escalation to domestic and regional conflict - particularly in transboundary risk areas, such as shared waterways, forests, soil or air.

"The OSCE documents, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, recognize the nexus between Security and Environment. As OSCE participating States, we committed ourselves to the OSCE's comprehensive and co-operative approach to security, which addresses the human, economic and environmental, political and military dimensions of security as an integral whole," added Ambassador Igor Djundev, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council. "Environmental issues are not limited to a country or one region; they are transnational and solutions require an appropriate and a global approach. Adaptation strategies become a collective process to attain environmental security."

Participants were also invited to deepen their understanding and discuss the security repercussions of the destruction of the Khakovka dam during a side event titled "The destruction of the Kakhovka HPS dam: What Consequences for Environment and Security in Ukraine". The event highlighted the role of the Organization in mitigating both short and medium-term impacts of this disaster, through monitoring, assessment and offering options for remediation.

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"We are of the same opinion regarding the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

14.07.2023

Delivering remarks to reporters on his way out of Hz. Ali Mosque, where he performed the Friday prayer, President ErdoAYan said: "We are in preparation to host Mr. Putin in August. We are of the same opinion regarding the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor."

President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan delivered remarks and answered reporters' questions on his way out of at Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul, where he performed the Friday prayer.

As regards the grain corridor, President ErdoAYan said: "We are in preparation to host Mr. Putin in August. We are of the same opinion regarding the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor."

Reminding the letter UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres sent to Mr. Putin, President ErdoAYan noted: "I hope that we will secure the extension of the grain corridor with this letter and our joint efforts with Russia."

Answering a question about TArkiye's relations with the European Union and any possible amendments regarding visas, President ErdoAYan said: "We discussed all this with the leaders of the EU-member countries I met with in Vilnius, particularly with Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. We told them that we, from now on, expect them to take positive steps regarding TArkiye, which has been kept waiting at the door for 52 years."

"WE AS THE LEADERS WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS"

Asked about the relations with Greece, President ErdoAYan stated: "Obviously, we are two neighboring countries. Our experiences in historical terms are known. We do not want this process to progress like this, either. Mr. Mitsotakis has just left behind elections, and so have we. We as the two leaders, who won the elections, want to take our steps in the positive direction. The most important topics I want them to address in particular are the problems about the Western Thrace and the issue concerning muftis. Our ambassadors will make preparations with face-to-face meetings. The Foreign Ministers will make another preparations. And then we as the leaders will come together and take the necessary steps."

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Andriy Yermak told Ukrainian and foreign journalists about the results of the President's recent foreign visits and the NATO Summit in Vilnius

President of Ukraine

14 July 2023 - 23:00

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian and foreign media to discuss the recent foreign visits of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his participation in the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

According to Andriy Yermak, the NATO Summit clearly declared that Ukraine would become a NATO member. In addition, as emphasized by the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the decision was made during the Summit to lift the MAP for Ukraine, which will simplify the accession procedure. The NATO-Ukraine Council was also launched, which is a tool for Ukraine's future integration into the Alliance. As Andriy Yermak emphasized, its work should be filled with content already today and the ground should be prepared for the next NATO Summit in Washington in 2024.

According to the Head of the President's Office, the long-awaited decision on security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO, which the Ukrainian side had been working on for many months, involving international experts and representatives of partner states, was also of great importance. Eventually, in the margins of the Vilnius Summit, the G7 countries and the European Union agreed on a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which was joined by 10 more countries in a few days: Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Belgium, and Portugal. As the document is open, our country expects that a number of other countries will join it soon.

Andriy Yermak noted that the next step will be to conclude a series of bilateral security treaties containing the most specific and long-term obligations of each state, taking into account the specifics of national legislation, which will ensure Ukraine's ability to defend itself today and deter any new aggression in the future.

At the same time, he emphasized that these security guarantees are not an alternative to Ukraine's membership in NATO, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized.

The Head of the President's Office added that during the Vilnius Summit, the Ukrainian side had frank and reasoned conversations with all our partners. Ukraine received new powerful military assistance packages from many countries.

"Today, everyone is talking about Ukraine's victory. And everyone is trying to help in a way that will not only support but accelerate our victory," he said.

The Head of the President's Office called the meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joseph Biden important, where the White House leader, in particular, confirmed that Ukraine would become a NATO member and assured that the United States would support our country for as long as it takes.

"Today, Ukraine and the United States are friends and strategic partners. Our task is to maintain the support of the American people so that they know the truth and understand what we are fighting for," emphasized Andriy Yermak.

In addition, it was noted that even during the war, Ukraine continues reforms, the fight against corruption, de-oligarchization, reform of the judicial system, etc.

Andriy Yermak also told journalists about the results of the President's recent visits to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and TArkiye.

The Head of the President's Office noted that active preparations for the upcoming Global Peace Summit and the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula are underway, and new states, including extremely important countries of the Global South, are constantly joining this process.

Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine is open to all proposals and conversations with all those who respect the just desire for peace, freedom, independence and territorial integrity, but the discussion should be based on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula.

The Head of the President's Office once again emphasized that any thought about the prospect of any negotiations with Russia is only possible when all Russian troops are withdrawn from the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

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Russia: FSB foils Ukraine's plot to murder RT's Chief Editor

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 7:29 PM

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled a plot laid out by Ukraine's intelligence agency to target Russia Today (RT) International News TV Channel's Chief Editor Margarita Simonyan.

Simonyan and a journalist colleague of her, Ksenia Sobchak, were to be murdered in a Kiev plot carried out by its assets in the Neo-Nazi Paragraph-88 group, the FSB press office told TASS news agency in a statement on Saturday.

"The Federal Security Service jointly with the Investigative Committee and the Interior Ministry of Russia has foiled the assassination of Editor-in-Chief of RT TV Channel and Russia Today international news agency Margarita Simonyan plotted by Ukrainian special services. According to available data, the murder of Ksenia Sobchak was also plotted," FSB's press office said in the statement.

FSB officers detained members of the Neo-Nazi Paragraph-88 group in Moscow and the Ryazan Region who were stalking the targeted journalists at their work places and homes, it said, adding, "During investigative measures, they confirmed their plotting of the assassination attempt on an assignment from the Ukrainian Security Service for a reward of 1.5 million rubles for each murder."

Officers during investigation discovered a Kalashnikov assault rifle, 90 rounds of ammunition, knives, knuckle-dusters, rubber clubs, handcuffs, chevrons with Nazi insignia, Nazi literature, and also communications means and computers with information confirming their criminal intent, the FSB press office said.

"The Investigative Committee plans to institute criminal cases against the detained suspects on extremist and terrorist counts," the FSB said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has in the past condemed Ukrainian sabotage operation inside Russian as "terrorist" attacks.

Moscow launched its special military operation in Ukraine in late February 2022, following Kiev's failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements and recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia cited two objectives for its military campaign in Donbas, "de-Nazifying" and "demilitarizing" the region.

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Ukraine acknowledges not advancing as quickly as desired against Russia

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 15 July 2023 1:13 AM

Despite the West's all-out military support for Ukraine, the latter has acknowledged that its forces are not advancing as fast as it is desired by the country against Russia.

"Today, it's advancing not so quickly," Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, told reporters on Friday.

Yermak was describing the efficacy of a June 4-present counteroffensive that the ex-Soviet republic has been waging against Russia.

"If we are going to see that something is going wrong, we'll say so. No one is going to embellish," he said.

Moscow says it started the war in order to defend the pro-Russian population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against persecution by Kiev, and also to "de-Nazify" its neighbor.

Russia holds that the West's anti-Russian agendas, including its eagerness for inclusion of Ukraine in NATO -- and, therefore, the Western military alliance's expansion right up to Russia's borders -- forced Moscow to launch the war on Kiev.

Ever since the beginning of the war, Western countries, led by the United States, have been pumping Ukraine full of tens of billions of dollars worth of advanced weapons, a step that Moscow says would only prolong the hostilities.

Yermak, meanwhile, insisted that Kiev would not negotiate until Russia withdrew its troops from Ukraine.

"Even thinking about these talks is only possible after Russian troops leave our territory," he said.

The Ukrainian official's remarks came while several regions of Ukraine are now part of Russia, having voted in favor of joining the Russian Federation following the start of the conflict.

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Putin Noncommittal On Grain Deal Extension During Call with South African Leader

By RFE/RL July 15, 2023

Russian President Vladimir remained noncommittal on extending a UN-backed grain deal, claiming in a call with his South African counterpart that Moscow's demands have not been met.

Putin on July 15 told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that requests to remove obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports had not yet been fulfilled.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was struck last year and credited with easing the global food crisis resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is set to expire on July 17 unless extended.

The agreement allows safe passage for ships carrying grain from Ukraine, one of the largest food exporters, through the Black Sea corridor.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres earlier this week said he sent Putin a letter with a proposal to keep the deal operational.

Guterres offered to reconnect a subsidiary of Russia's Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment system SWIFT in exchange for Russia's extension of the deal, Reuters reported. Putin claimed not to have seen the letter.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who helped facilitate the original deal in July 2022, claimed on July 14 that he and Putin were in agreement that it should be extended. The Kremlin quickly clarified that it had not reached such an agreement.

Russia has threatened in the past to pull out of the deal only to agree at the last minute as it pushed for greater concessions.

Putin has also complained that most of the grain from the deal goes to wealthy nations and not those most in need. In reality, the Black Sea Grain Initiative increases the total supply of grain on global markets, driving down prices and thus helping poorer nations.

During the call, the two leaders also discussed the BRICS summit to be held in South Africa in August. "BRICS" is an acronym denoting the large, emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and was originally coined in 2001 as "BRIC" by the Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill.

Putin's attendance at the event is uncertain following an arrest warrant issued against him in March by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accused the Kremlin leader of the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.

The warrant means ICC member states, such as South Africa, are obliged to arrest him if he sets foot on their territory. Russia said at the time that the warrant was "outrageous" and legally void because Russia is not an ICC member.

During a visit to Russia later this month for an Africa summit, Ramaphosa will try to convince Putin not to attend the BRICS meeting, the FT reported, citing South African officials.

The Kremlin has yet to say publicly whether Putin intends to attend the summit.

With reporting by Reuters, WSJ, and FT

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-noncommittal- grain-deal-extension-south-africa/32504992.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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South Korean President Promises More Humanitarian Aid To Ukraine During Visit To Kyiv

By RFE/RL July 15, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his nation would increase the amount of humanitarian and nonlethal military assistance sent to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.

South Korea, a major producer and exporter of military goods, will donate more helmets and bulletproof vests to Ukraine, Yoon said at a joint press conference on July 15.

Seoul will expand the amount of humanitarian aid to Ukraine to $150 million from $100 million last year, he said.

South Korea, the ninth-largest arms exporter, is wary of directly shipping lethal military aid to Ukraine for fear that Russia or China may boost aid to its nemesis, North Korea.

Yoon's unannounced trip to Ukraine comes on the heels of his attendance at the NATO summit in Vilnius earlier in the week.

South Korea produces significant volumes of NATO-compatible weaponry, including tanks, howitzers, and shell ammunition -- all items in high demand by Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia have expended shell ammunition at a much faster rate than expected amid a grueling war, triggering a search for global supplies.

The United States, which has shipped tens of billions of dollars worth of lethal military aid to Ukraine since 2022, announced earlier this month that it would send Kyiv cluster bombs because it is running low on shell ammunition.

The New York Times reported on July 15 that Ukraine has suffered significant losses of equipment, including Bradley fighting vehicles and Leopard tanks, in the first weeks of its counteroffensive, citing Western officials.

Those losses have declined in recent weeks as Kyiv changed its strategy to focus on degrading Russian forces with artillery strikes and long-range missiles rather than charging forward in armored vehicles.

Ukraine lost as much as 20 percent of its weaponry sent into battle in the first two weeks of the counteroffensive that began in June. That has fallen to about 10 recent over the past month.

South Korea in May dismissed a U.S. media report that its artillery rounds were headed to Ukraine, saying its position on not providing lethal aid to Kyiv was unchanged.

Seoul has recently sold tanks and howitzers to Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine.

Yoon's trip is one of a few by an Asian leader to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

During his trip to Ukraine, Yoon visited the towns of Bucha and Irpin, where Russian soldiers allegedly committed war crimes, including killing civilians. Moscow denies the accusations.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/south-korea-president-ukraine- zelenskiy/32504786.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Shell Ukraine's Sumy Region As Kyiv Claims Advances In South

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 15, 2023

Russian shelling targeted border areas in Sumy Province in Ukraine's northeast, causing multiple explosions, local officials said on July 15, as Kyiv claimed its troops were advancing against the invading forces in the country's south.

No casualties were reported from the latest Russian strikes in Sumy, but the regional military administration said several residential buildings and agricultural equipment were damaged in the attack.

The attack "by various types of weapons" caused dozens of explosions, damaging two private houses in the Novoslobidsk area and destroying two harvesters and two tractors in the Khotyn rural settlement, the military administration said. Three residential buildings were damaged in the Seredino-Budsk area, it added.

Sumy Province, which borders Russia, frequently comes under Russian strikes. Three people were killed and 21 others were wounded in a drone strike on the namesake provincial capital, Sumy, on July 4.

Regional authorities have said they were considering a plan to resettle some 12,000 residents from the border areas.

The Ukrainian military, meanwhile, said its troops were advancing in the southern Zaporizhzhya region and restraining an "onslaught" by the Russian Army on the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions in the east.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces said in its evening summary on July 14 that the enemy carried out 43 air strikes and launched 17 attacks from rocket salvo systems. It said the Russian military would continue to focus its main efforts on areas around Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka. About 20 combat clashes took place during the day.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy referred to the fighting in his nightly address late on July 14, telling Ukrainians they must realize that Russian forces in the south and east are deploying all possible resources to stop Ukrainian soldiers from advancing.

"We must all understand very clearly, as clearly as possible, that Russian forces in our southern and eastern lands are doing everything they can in order to stop our soldiers," Zelenskiy said after chairing a meeting with top commanders.

"And every 1,000 meters we advance, every success of every combat brigade, deserves our gratitude," he said.

Zelenskiy met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on July 15, offering support for Kyiv in its war with Russia.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Yoon pledged to increase his country's humanitarian and nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine.

South Korea "will expand the scale of supplies from last year, when we provided materials such as helmets and bulletproof vests," he told reporters, adding that humanitarian aid would be increased to $150 million in 2023, from $100 million last year.

Ahead of the meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Yoon toured Bucha and Irpin, towns near Kyiv where bodies of civilians were found in the streets and mass graves after Russian troops retreated from the area last year.

Yoon, who was accompanied by his wife, laid flowers at a monument to the country's war dead, his office said.

South Korea has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has also sold tanks and howitzers to Poland -- a key ally for Kyiv.

However, South Korea -- the world's ninth-largest arms exporter -- has not directly provided weapons to Ukraine in line with Seoul's long-standing policy of not supplying arms to active conflict zones.

Yoon told The Associated Press earlier this months that supplies of demining equipment, ambulances, and other nonmilitary materials "are in the works" following a request from Kyiv.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-shelling-ukraine-sumy- kyiv-advances-south/32504666.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on prevention of the preparation of the assassination of Margarita Simonyan and Ksenia Sobchak by the Ukrainian special services

15 July 2023 17:07

1434-15-07-2023

On July 15, together with the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of the Interior, the Russian Federal Security Service prevented preparations made by Ukrainian special services to assassinate Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the RT channel and the Rossiya Segodnya International Media Group, as well as journalist and TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak.

This is yet another attempt at a terrorist attack on Russian civilians, organised by the Kiev regime, and which has been carefully patronised by Western curators. Law enforcement agencies are investigating all the details, but it is already clear that the justification for their failed assassination attempt was the professional activities of Russian journalists.

Margarita Simonyan receives death threats regularly and is included in various hit lists; and this is not the first assassination attempt against her by the Ukrainian special services that has been prevented.

All of this once again demonstrates the terrorist nature of the Vladimir Zelensky regime, which is responsible for a whole series of terrorist attacks. In August 2022, saboteurs of the Kiev regime killed Russian journalist Darya Dugina; in March 2023 they made attempts on the life of the founder of the Tsargrad TV channel Konstantin Malofeyev; in April 2023, military correspondent Maxim Fomin (Vladlen Tatarsky) was killed in an explosion; and in May 2023, Yevgeny (Zakhar) Prilepin, writer, publicist and public figure was gravely injured.

It is unlikely that there will be a reaction from relevant international organisations. Pathological hypocrisy has long been a political tradition of Western liberalism, as well as its usual instinctive response.

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'Up to 20%' of Kiev's Weapons Destroyed or Damaged in First 2 Weeks of Counteroffensive

Sputnik News

20230715

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In the first two weeks of Ukraine's offensive up to 20% of the weapons Kiev sent to the battlefield were destroyed or damaged, including tanks and armored vehicles that Ukrainians planned to use in the advance on Russian positions, a American daily nespaper reported on Saturday, citing US and European officials.

In the recent weeks, the casualty rate dropped to about 10%, with the losses becoming lower because the counteroffensive itself slowed down, the report read, citing sources. The changes also occurred because Ukraine changed its tactics, allegedly focusing on wearing down Russian troops, the report said.

A Ukrainian soldier said his squad's UAV filmed about half a dozen Western armored vehicles that had been shelled by the Russian artillery.

"They all burned," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Ukraine's much-touted counteroffensive kicked off in early June after months of delays over a lack of military supplies from Western donors. The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian troops kept trying but were failing to advance. A number of Western media also noted the weak results of Kiev's counteroffensive, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself admitted that progress was "slower than desired."

Since the beginning of Ukraine's counteroffensive, Russia has destroyed 21 Ukrainian aircraft, five helicopters, some 1,244 tanks, another 1,244 Ukrainian armored vehicles destroyed, including 17 Leopard tanks, five French AMX wheeled tanks, 914 units of special vehicles, two air defense systems, 25 MLRS vehicles, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

A Sputnik

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Russian Foreign Ministry Urges Ukraine to Release Vicegerent of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Sputnik News

20230715

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian authorities should comply with their international legal obligations and immediately release the vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Bishop Pavel, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

On Friday, a Kiev court changed the measure of restraint for Pavel from round-the-clock house arrest to detention until August 14.

"We demand the Kiev regime fully comply with its international legal obligations, immediately release Metropolitan Pavel, who is suffering from a serious illness, and provide him with adequate medical care," Zakharova said in statement.

Earlier in the day, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia called on the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and heads of churches, including Pope Francis, to protect the vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Pope Francis has responded to the appeal of Patriarch Kirill and will try to facilitate the release of Metropolitan Pavel, believing his arrest to be politically motivated, Leonid Sevastyanov, the leader of a Russian sect who communicates regularly with Pope Francis, told Sputnik on Saturday.

"I spoke with Pope Francis directly. He told me that he knows about Patriarch Kirill's appeal and will try to facilitate the release of Metropolitan Pavel. I don't know how exactly he will do it a whether he will make an official statement, write a letter, or intervene through diplomatic channels. But that he responded to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's appeal is a fact," Sevastyanov told Sputnik.

He also said that the Pope spoke out against politically motivated arrests in Ukraine.

"Pope Francis believes that arrests on political and religious grounds are unacceptable, especially arrests of leaders of religious communities, in this case, Metropolitan Pavel," Sevastyanov said.

The Russian Orthodox Church said that Patriarch Kirill addressed various religious and political prominent figures and urged them to pay attention to the ongoing persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Ukraine.

Tensions between the Ukrainian government and the UOC escalated after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. UOC monks were ordered to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, jurisdiction over which is divided between the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, a Ukrainian cultural organization, and the UOC, for allegedly violating the terms of the lease. Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko then said that the monks could stay in the Lavra if they joined the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Lavra monks slammed the unilateral eviction order as illegal as it was not backed by a court decision.

In April, Tkachenko said that the Ukrainian Culture Ministry had formed a commission to look into the use of state property pertaining to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

A Sputnik

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Russian Army Repelled 17 Enemy Attacks in Single Day in Donetsk Direction

Sputnik News

20230715

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Due to the actions of the Vostok group of forces in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye direction, Ukraine lost up to 210 soldiers.

The Yug group of the Russian armed forces has successfully repulsed 17 enemy attacks in the Donetsk direction over the past day as a result of "coordinated and courageous actions," with the Ukrainian forces losing up to 315 soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"During the fighting, the enemy losses were up to 315 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three pickup trucks, and a D-30 howitzer," the ministry said.

"The enemy's losses in these directions amounted to 210 Ukrainian soldiers, five armored combat vehicles, two vehicles, two D-30 howitzers and one D-20 howitzer," the ministry said.

Manpower and equipment concentrated near the Ukrainian city of Pyatikhatki and an ammunition depot in the village of Zherebyanki were also hit, the ministry said.

A Sputnik

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Russian Troops Target Ukrainian Forces in Zaporozhye Region - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20230715

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have targeted dozens of locations containing Ukrainian troops in the Zaporozhye direction, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian troops did not take active action in the Zaporozhye direction, having only conducted reconnaissance and attempted to regroup forces, the spokesperson specified.

"In the course of systematic fire and counter-battery combat, a [Ukrainian] mortar crew was destroyed in the Mirny area ... A [Russian] strike drone destroyed an armored combat vehicle with militants in the area northwest of Priyutnoye. Assault aircraft hit about a dozen places where militants gathered in the Pyatikhatki area," the spokesperson told Sputnik.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.

On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia.

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 of primary focus.

A Sputnik

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We cannot leave any city and village under Russian occupation, where violence and humiliation of people reign - address of President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

15 July 2023 - 16:39

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you good health!

Today, the President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea are visiting our country. A very important visit, a very important direction of our international work. And this is the first visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine for the entire period of relations between our states.

Now, when the speed of ending the war directly depends on global support for Ukraine, we are doing everything possible to ensure that such support is as intensive and meaningful as possible.

In 15 days of July, we've already held negotiations, meetings, events with the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, TArkiye, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Also Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Sweden, Portugal, Spain and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, Guinea-Bissau. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, President of the European Council Michel, President of the European Commission von der Leyen, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The address to the student community in Argentina, talks with the largest and most promising American investors and company executives.

Today, very meaningfully, Mr. President of the Republic of Korea. And we will maintain the highest tempo of international work at all levels to restore peace for all our land and all our people.

One of the most terrible things that war brings is separation... 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. I am grateful to all our partners - every leader, every politician, public figure, every country who really supports us in the fact that only the complete liberation of our entire Ukrainian territory will allow the full force of the international rules-based order to be restored.

And of course, my thank you to all our warriors. Those weeks on the front lines were very important. Marines of the 35th and 36th separate brigades. Gunners of the 55th separate brigade Zaporizka Sich. The Magura 47th separate mechanized brigade. Paratroopers of the 79th brigade. The third separate assault brigade. The fifth separate assault brigade. The 80th separate brigade of the airborne assault troops. The 57th separate motorized infantry brigade.

I thank all of you! All of you guys, you are great! All those who bravely, firmly, and strongly fight for the sake of Ukraine!

Ukraine will prevail for sure!

Glory to you, warriors!

Glory to all who fight and work for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea will give more strength to our nations and the global positions of the two countries - Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the meeting with Yoon Suk Yeol in Kyiv

President of Ukraine

15 July 2023 - 16:20

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived in our country on a visit.

Addressing the leader of South Korea, the Ukrainian Head of State expressed condolences from himself personally and on behalf of all Ukrainians on the devastating flood currently raging in the Republic of Korea.

Zelenskyy also thanked Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife for the warm reception of the First Lady of Ukraine during her visit to the Republic of Korea in May of this year.

"Meetings and the mutual understanding achieved created the emotional connection that helps us understand each other very quickly now during the negotiations. And I am especially glad that you are in Ukraine with the First Lady of the Republic of Korea," the President of Ukraine said at a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with Yoon Suk Yeol in Kyiv.

According to him, the President of the Republic of Korea, during his visit to Bucha and Irpin today, was able to see with his own eyes the consequences of the Russian occupation.

But Bucha and Irpin are only two of the thousands of Ukrainian cities that were hit by Russian terror. The scale of suffering and destruction brought by Russia is huge. Therefore, the scale of global cooperation should be huge to restore security and guarantee lasting peace," the Ukrainian Head of State said.

The President of Ukraine said that our country is doing everything to free the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia and return freedom to all adults and children who are in these areas or were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation.

"We must again give all Ukrainian children the opportunity to live in safety, without war, torture, and violence. I am grateful to you, Mr. President, and the First Lady, to all your people for supporting our efforts for the sake of peace and security of our people, for the return of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia," he said.

Zelenskyy said that the Republic of Korea firmly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and provides significant political, security, economic, and humanitarian support. He also thanked Yoon Suk Yeol for new initiatives regarding financial, technical, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

"This is also the rebuilding of infrastructure in Ukraine: schools, hospitals, housing, enterprises, everything destroyed by Russian missiles and enemy artillery. Thank you for your willingness to support our education system. And it is very important that the Republic of Korea really protects education and humanity. We need a new large-scale rehabilitation industry. I invited the Republic of Korea to show leadership in creating rehabilitation centers in Ukraine. Of course, we also discussed economic cooperation - this includes energy, railways, and transport in general, the creation of production facilities in Ukraine, local content, as well as the macro-financial sphere. We definitely have something to do together in each of these areas. And I am sure that our cooperation will add strength to our nations and the global positions of Ukraine and the Republic of Korea," the Ukrainian Head of State said.

He said the agreement on transferring special purpose vehicles and equipment to our country, including demining machines, is already being implemented.

Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the readiness of the Republic of Korea to support Ukrainian efforts in global food and energy security.

During the negotiations, the President of Ukraine also informed his Korean counterpart about efforts to implement the Peace Formula.

"Grateful for the Republic of Korea's interest in specific points of the Formula. It is important that the Republic of Korea will be a participant in the Global Peace Summit," he said.

The Ukrainian head of state invited Korea to join the declaration of support for Ukraine agreed with the G7 leaders.

Separately, Zelenskyy emphasized the support of the Republic of Korea for joint efforts to provide justice for Ukraine and the punishment of all those guilty of war crimes.

"Supporting the efforts of the International Criminal Court and recognizing the need for special international procedures to punish Russian aggression is very important," he said.

The President of the Republic of Korea, for his part, expressed his condolences to the relatives and friends of all those killed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Yoon Suk Yeol said that the Republic of Korea itself had been illegally invaded by North Korea in the past, but thanks to the resistance of the military and civilians, it was able to preserve its freedom and become a strong, peaceful, and prosperous state. The President of Korea expressed hope that his visit to Ukraine will help President Zelenskyy and the entire Ukrainian people.

"I hope these negotiations will become a new page in our relations. Today, we launched an initiative to help Ukraine in the military, humanitarian spheres, and post-war reconstruction," Yoon Suk Yeol said.

The Korean leader said that it is now important to ensure the security and victory of Ukraine in this war, and the level of defense assistance from his country will increase this year.

According to him, in continuation of the agreements with President Zelenskyy, the Republic of Korea will continue assisting Ukraine in the humanitarian demining of territories, infrastructure restoration, development of education, and entrepreneurship.

Yoon Suk Yeol also said that the Ukrainian Peace Formula must be implemented, and Korea will act as a mediator in negotiations with the countries of the Global South.

"The Republic of Korea will become a loyal partner of Ukraine in supporting freedom, peace, and development. And in the future, we will become very reliable partners in supporting peace and freedom in the world," Yoon Suk Yeol said.

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British Defense Ministry: Russian Security Experienced 'Period of Confusion and Negotiations' After Wagner Mutiny

By VOA News July 15, 2023

Ukrainians have quickly learned how to counter Russian information attacks since Russia's 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.

Russia's 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 Russian's invasion of Ukraine. Now, however, an interim arrangement for the mercenary group's future is shaping up, according to the report posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, some social media groups associated with Wagner restarted their postings, focusing on Wagner's activities in Africa. The ministry said recent announcements from Russian officials indicate that Russia is "likely prepared" to accept "Wagner's 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 president's 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 country's 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.

Yoon's visit to Ukraine, his first, comes on the heels of NATO's 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 Yoon's 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.

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South Korea's Yoon pledges expanded military aid to Ukraine in evident policy shift

Global Times

Arbitrary move likely to face backlash at flood-hit home

By Xu Keyue Published: Jul 16, 2023 08:31 PM

Contrary to usual practice, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made a high-profile pledge on Saturday to "expand the scale" of his country's military assistance to Ukraine during his sudden visit to Ukraine, an indication that he has decided to side with the US-led NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Chinese observers said. They warned that such one-sidedness and a more conservative South Korean administration would bring subtle changes in the political pattern of Northeast Asia.

Yoon made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Saturday at the end of a trip that earlier took him to Lithuania for the NATO Summit and then to Poland for an official visit, according to South Korean media outlet Yonhap News Agency.

During the visit to Kiev for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yoon said in a press conference that South Korea plans to provide "a larger scale of military supplies" to Ukraine this year, following last year's provision of non-lethal supplies such as body armor and helmets. He did not give more details, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Yoon said South Korea plans to provide Ukraine with $150 million in humanitarian aid this year, following about $100 million in 2022.

In the past, South Korea provided military aid to Ukraine in a low-key style as the country had concerns, given that its huge trade volume with Russia is also important. This time Yoon's unexpected visit and high-profile pledge of military aid to Ukraine indicates that Seoul has completely taken sides with the US-led NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, LA Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Under such circumstances, South Korea's aid to Ukraine could cover lethal military supplies, the expert predicted.

"Following the US" - this foreign policy of South Korea has become more evident with Seoul resolutely choosing to stand on the side of the US, LA pointed out.

From taking a relatively independent and rational position to inclining toward one side, South Korea's change in its foreign policy would bring subtle changes in East and Northeast Asia as its relations with Russia are expected to deteriorate. Also, as it leans closer to the aggressive NATO, Seoul's ties with Beijing may become tense, although at the same time its ties with Tokyo under the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy are inching closer, observers believe, noting this would undermine stability in the region.

Notably, in the press conference on Saturday, Yoon began his statement with an analogy between the Korean War (1950-53) and the Ukraine crisis, claiming "The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea," AP reported.

But the Korean War 70 years ago and the Ukraine crisis are not at all alike, said Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, noting such analogy is absurd.

The Korean War resulted from the Cold War. When both North and South Korea wanted to unify the peninsula, under the interference of the US, the Korean War broke out. The nature, the influence and the background of the Korean War and the Ukraine crisis are not comparable, Da noted.

Da believes the comparison Yoon made is aimed at securing a piece of the pie during future post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, as he believes boasting of the post-war economic and social prowess of South Korea in the past 70 years can pave the way for South Korean enterprises in Ukraine in the future.

However, just as deadly floods and landslides killed 35 in South Korea as of press time, Yoon being busy promising weapons to Ukraine has sparked wide criticism from the South Korean public and opposition parties, according to observers.

The arbitrary move of Yoon's administration is very likely to face a backlash at home with voices bashing the government for abandoning the previous rational and independent diplomacy and risking the national interest and security to take sides, observers noted.

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Hong Kong: SJ to attend conference in Beijing

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Beijing tomorrow to attend the sixth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative on Wednesday morning.

Mr Lam, in his capacity as chair of the sub-group on Belt & Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, will lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government officials including Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan and Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong, to attend the conference.

While in Beijing, Mr Lam will also hold meetings with a number of organisations and institutions, including the All China Lawyers Association, the National Judges College, the China University of Political Science & Law and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to promote further exchanges and co-operation of the organisations between the two places, so as to enhance opportunities for Hong Kong's legal professionals to play to their strengths and serve the country's needs, for better integration into the overall national development.

Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon.

During Mr Lam and Mr Yau's absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan and Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be the respective acting secretaries.

This story has been published on: 2023-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Russia repels drone raids on Crimea's Sevastopol, conducts air strikes on Ukrainian targets

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 16 July 2023 10:41 AM

Russian forces have repelled a "terrorist attack" by Ukraine on the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol in Crimea, destroying several aerial and underwater drones, the country's defense ministry declared, adding that its forces have also conducted air strikes against Ukrainian targets.

In a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app, the ministry added on Sunday that its forces successfully thwarted the attack by seven drones and two unmanned surface vehicles near Sevastopol.

"This morning, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two unmanned semi-submersible boats on objects on the territory of the Crimean peninsula near the city of Sevastopol was thwarted," the ministry statement said.

According to the ministry, no casualties or damage was inflicted as the result of the attack.

The ministry added that two aerial drones were shot down over the Black Sea at a great distance from the coastline, while five were intercepted by Russia's electronic warfare forces.

Two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), known as underwater drones were discovered in the northern part of the Black Sea, and destroyed by fire, the ministry said.

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev also said earlier that the Russian Air Force and Navy units thwarted the UAV drone attacks on the Crimean port city on Telegram.

"The air defense forces and the fleet are repelling an attack by enemy UAVs on Sevastopol over the sea around aaaaCape Khersones, Sevastopol Bay, and Balaklava," Razvozhayev said.

He later added that another UAV drone was shot down over Manganari cape.

Russia hits Ukrainian targets

Also, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik the Russian "Tsentr" Group of Forces' aviation units had carried out more than 40 sorties to strike at temporary deployment points, an ammunition depot and eight areas of concentration of manpower and weapons of the Ukrainian military.

"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 defense ministry spokesperson added that in the Serebryanskiy forest area, Ukrainian troops launched four attacks against Russian positions, but suffered significant losses.

"A tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and an armored fighting vehicle were destroyed as a result of the air strike and fire attack from the mortar batteries of the 'Tsentr' Group of Forces. The enemy suffered significant losses in manpower."

The Russian troops in the Krasnolimanskaya direction inflicted damage on seven Ukrainian targets using "Solntsepek" (Blazing Sun) thermobaric rocket launchers, the spokesperson said.

Earlier this month, Russian air defense units shot down several Ukrainian drones near Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the terrorist attack by Kiev against Moscow and Moscow Region had been thwarted, with four enemy drones being destroyed by air defense systems and one enemy UAV being brought down by electronic countermeasures.

No injuries or damage were reported in that attack.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said the attack was successfully repelled as all UAVs were eliminated by Russian air defense units.

Russia has repeatedly warned against Kiev's terrorist attacks on Russian targets, particularly its attack against the capital city Kremlin where Russian President Vladimir Putin is based, saying such attacks set a dangerous global precedent.

In May, three residential buildings in Moscow sustained light damage when another wave of Ukrainian UAVs got intercepted by the air defense units protecting the city.

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Kharkiv Endures Third Attack In One Day As Russia Says Towns In Belgorod Region Hit

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 16, 2023

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.

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 -- a man born in 1999 -- was killed in the second attack, which Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said took place around 7 p.m. local time. 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 -- one at a stadium and the other on 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 defense forces of the Tavria direction, 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 military's 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.

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 Russia's 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-warns-kyiv-cluster- munitions-grain-deal/32505645.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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White House to Allow European Allies to Train Ukrainian Pilots on F-16s

Sputnik News

20230716

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 tools for that purpose, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

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 Pentagon's 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.

A Sputnik

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US Not Planning to Restore Its Stockpile of Cluster Munitions Sent to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

"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, Pentagon's 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.

A Sputnik

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Russian Army Repulses 18 Attacks Near Donetsk, Krasny Liman

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

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 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 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.

A Sputnik

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'Enemy Has No Success': Putin Positive About Special Op in Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday positively assessed the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, noting that the Russian armed forces are thwarting all enemy attempts to break through the Russian defenses during Kiev's so-called counteroffensive.

"...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.

"All attempts by the enemy to break through our defenses a which has been the goal, including the use of strategic reserves a they have not been successful during the entire offensive. The enemy has no success," the president added.

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.

A Sputnik

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UN Admits No Vessels With Russian Fertilizers Dispatched Under Black Sea Grain Initiative

Sputnik News

20230716

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - A UN coordinator also acknowledged that low and low-middle-income countries have received only 10% of corn and 40% of wheat under the initiative, with high and upper-middle-income countries importing 90% of corn and 60% of wheat.

No vessels have been sent to export Russian fertilizers under the grain deal since it was signed last year, the Office of the UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative said in an update obtained by Sputnik.

"The 22 July agreement allows for the export of [Russian] fertilizer, including ammonia, but none has been shipped under the Initiative. Since 29 April, no vessel has been allowed to move to the port of Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, one of the three ports included in the Initiative," the statement read.

The Joint Coordination Centre, which is charged with implementing the grain deal, has got 29 applications on exports from vessels in Turkish waters, but none of these applications have been approved by all parties to the deal, the statement also said, adding that no new ships have been authorized to participate since June 27.

Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations reached an agreement on July 22, 2022 to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships carrying food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. On May 18, 2023, Russia extended the deal, called the Black Sea Grain Initiative, for 60 days, until July 17.

The deal is an integral part of a package agreement. The second part a the Russia-UN memorandum, designed for three years a envisions the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT, the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services, the restoration of the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and a number of other measures. Moscow says this part of the package agreement has not yet been implemented.

A Sputnik

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'They're Running Out of Ammo': Putin on US Move to Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230716

Svetlana Ekimenko

The Biden administration unveiled a new military assistance package for Ukraine on July 7, which included cluster bombs. The lethal weapons are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has been ratified by 123 countries, excluding the US and Ukraine, and several other nations.

The US decided to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine because the Western-fueled proxy war against Russia is running low on ammo, President Vladimir Putin told local media.

"They [the United States] are doing this not because of 'the good life', but because they are running low on ammunition in general," the head of state said, answering a question from a Russian journalist.

The Russian leader recalled that Washington previously referred to the use of cluster bombs as a "crime."

"As for cluster munitions, the US administration itself provided an assessment of these munitions with comments by its staff some time ago, when the use of cluster munitions was called a crime by the US administration itself. This is how I think it should be regarded," he said.

Moscow reserves the right to respond accordingly in case of cluster munitions use against the country, emphasized the Russian president.

"Of course, if they are used against us, we reserve the right to mirror actions," Putin said in the interview for Russian television.

He underscored that Russia, which has various kinds of cluster munitions, has not yet needed to resort to using the lethal weapons.

"Russia has in its possession a sufficient stockpile of various types of cluster munitions. Until now, we have not used them... we did not need to, despite also previously experiencing a shortage of ammunition," Putin noted.

The US-pledged cluster munitions have already been delivered to the Kiev regime, the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday. Lt Gen Douglas Sims, Joint Staff J3 director of operations, said that the bombs "have indeed been delivered to Ukraine at this point."

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the Russian military, have previously resorted to the use of the controversial cluster munitions for shelling Donbass, in particular Donetsk. According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, this indicates that the goal of the Ukrainian military is to kill a maximum number of civilians.

Cluster bombs are extremely deadly containing dozens or hundreds of explosive submunitions, or bomblets, and are designed to maximize damage to enemy forces across an area of up to several hundred square meters.

Earlier in the month, President Joe Biden said the United States would provide cluster bombs to Ukraine as part of its military aid package to the Kiev regime worth $800 million for a temporary period while the US industrial base produces more 155mm artillery shells. Previously, Biden and other administration officials officially let slip that the US defense industrial base had run into difficulties replenishing the tens of billions of dollars in weapons sent to Ukraine to fight Russia.

The 46th president added that he had consulted with Washington's allies and partners about his decision on cluster bombs, and that they understood the reason for the move.

The US has used cluster munitions extensively in its military operations stretching back nearly six decades, dropping hundreds of millions of bombs on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, as well as during the 1991 Gulf War, and on Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, too.

Multiple US allies, human rights advocates and anti-war groups, in addition to the UN and Moscow, have condemned Washington's decision to send howitzer-launched DPICM cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Russia has warned that the delivery of cluster munitions to Kiev marks another major escalation of the Ukrainian crisis. Military experts and human rights groups have expressed fears about the Kiev regime using the US-provided cluster munitions to terror bomb civilians in the Donbass and elsewhere, as they have already done this using other NATO-provided weapons, such as long-range 155 mm artillery systems, HIMARS rockets, and missiles, on tens of thousands of occasions over the past year and a half.

The Ukrainian government offered assurances in writing to Washington "on the responsible use of DPICMs, including that they will not use the rounds in civilian-populated urban environments, and that they will record where they use these rounds, which will simplify later demining efforts," Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said during a briefing Friday. However, both Russian officials and military experts who sat down to talk to Sputnik have pointed to Kiev's track record of using the NATO-supplied weapons as testimony that speaks for itself.

A Sputnik

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Russian Air Defense, Navy Successfully Repel Drone Attack on Sevastopol

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In total, two UAVs were shot down overnight and five were suppressed by electronic warfare forces. Two surface drones were also destroyed in the outer roadstead, the Sevastopol governor said on Telegram.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its forces successfully repelled the attack of seven drones and two unmanned surface vehicles near Sevastopol.

"This morning, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two unmanned semi-submersible boats on objects on the territory of the Crimean peninsula near the city of Sevastopol was thwarted," the ministry said in a statement.

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev has reported on Telegram in the early hours of Sunday that the Russian port city was attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"The air defense forces and the fleet are repelling an attack by enemy UAVs on Sevastopol over the sea around aaaaCape Khersones, Sevastopol Bay and Balaklava," Razvozhayev wrote.

The governor emphasized that all Sevastopol emergency services are on high alert.

At first, Razvozhayev said that a total of eight drones attempted to attack Sevastopol on Sunday, but later he added that another unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been shot down over Manganari cape in the Russian port city in Crimea.

Razvozhayev stressed that the drones caused no damage and there were no casualties.

The movement of passenger ferries and boats in the Sevastopol Bay has been temporarily suspended, according to the local department of transport.

In late June, the Ukrainian armed forces attacked bridges on the administrative border between the Kherson Region and the Crimea near the village of Chonhar using UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

A Sputnik

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Russian Aviation Makes Over 40 Sorties to Strike at Ukrainian Targets

Sputnik News

20230716

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Aviation of the Russian "Tsentr" Group of Forces has made more than 40 sorties to strike at temporary deployment points, an ammunition depot and eight areas of concentration of manpower and weapons of the Ukrainian military, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

"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.

"A tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and an armored fighting vehicle were destroyed as a result of the air strike and fire attack from the mortar batteries of the 'Tsentr' Group of Forces. The enemy suffered significant losses in manpower," the spokesperson told Sputnik.

In the Krasnolimanskaya direction, Russian forces inflicted fire damage on seven Ukrainian targets using "Solntsepek" (Blazing Sun) thermobaric rocket launchers, the spokesperson specified.

A Sputnik

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The security of our continent begins with the sovereignty and strength of Ukraine - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

16 July 2023 - 21:25

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. The 33rd of many, many such anniversaries that Ukraine has yet to celebrate. A free Ukraine.

Our country will never give up its sovereignty. This is already obvious to everyone in the world. And whatever the Russian terror may be, we know that Ukrainian freedom will still be preserved and will still prevail.

Every year, Ukraine will only get stronger and help other free nations to protect their sovereignty and build common security. Ukraine can do this. It can because the lines and words of our fundamental state documents are backed by the strength and determination of our people. Millions of Ukrainians for whom the freedom of our state is their personal freedom. Honoring Ukrainian freedom, Ukrainian sovereignty, and Ukrainian strength, we always honor our heroes. Different people who fought and are still fighting for Ukraine and to whom we owe our freedom.

Today, I would like to pay special tribute to the warriors who have shown maximum courage and efficiency for the sake of Ukraine these days and weeks.

Soldier Oleksandr Shulha, a mechanic driver of a tank battalion of the 33rd separate mechanized brigade. Thank you, Oleksandr, for your bravery and for saving the lives of the crew!

Soldier Oleksandr Levchenko, commander of the Bradley combat vehicle of the 47th separate mechanized brigade. Thank you, Oleksandr, for your brave combat work and destruction of the enemy!

Soldier Andriy Holovko, commander of the fire support unit of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade. Thank you, Andriy, for your accuracy and the results Ukraine needs on the battlefield!

Major Tetiana Humelia, the 110th separate territorial defense brigade, - I thank you, Tetiana, for the high-quality logistics and professional service!

Sergeant Oleksandr Olivko, the 3rd separate assault brigade, commander of a machine gun squad. Thank you for your courage and accuracy, Oleksandr!

Junior Sergeant Vladyslav Datskyi - also from the 3rd separate assault brigade, chief sergeant of an assault platoon. Thank you for your strength, Vladyslav!

Senior Lieutenant Ihor Dykun, Hero of Ukraine, commander of a reconnaissance battalion. The 5th separate assault brigade. A true exemplary Ukrainian warrior. Thank you, Ihor!

Lieutenant Oleksandr Kovalenko, Hero of Ukraine, commander of the 2nd assault company of the 24th separate assault battalion "Aidar". Thank you, Oleksandr!

Senior Soldier Maksym Shevtsov, Soldier Andriy Khmilevsky, and Junior Sergeant Bohdan Maksymov. All three are warriors of our glorious "Eightieth" - the 80th separate airborne assault brigade. I thank you, warriors!

Senior Lieutenant Yevhen Martsynenko and Soldier Oleksandr Dudun - warriors of Kish Otaman Kost Hordiienko 57th separate motorized infantry brigade. I thank you guys! Thank you for Ukrainian strength!

Senior Lieutenant Oleh Spichak and Junior Sergeant Serhiy Sargsyan - warriors of the 123rd separate territorial defense brigade. Thank you for your daily bravery, daily military ingenuity in countering Russian subversive reconnaissance groups!

Captain-Lieutenant Mykola Sopko and Petty Officer Second Class Serhiy Tarasov - warriors of the 73rd naval special operations center. Thank you for your very significant combat results!

Everyone's contribution is always valuable in the fight for freedom. Ukraine is proud of its heroes! Ukraine is proud of you! Glory to you, warriors!

And, of course, I thank all the warriors of the Air Force of Ukraine - pilots, anti-aircraft gunners, and fighters of mobile fire groups. To everyone who protects the Ukrainian skies. Thank you for every downed Russian missile! We have already shown that there are no Russian missiles that cannot be shot down by Ukrainians. And when the Ukrainian sky shield is powerful enough - and it will be! - Ukraine will ensure real freedom and security for the whole of Europe from Russian terror. The security of our continent begins here with Ukraine's sovereignty and strength.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Latest in Ukraine: Ukraine's Counteroffensive Grinds On

By VOA News July 16, 2023

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 Ukraine's 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 aren't 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 Ukraine's operation was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defenses had failed.

In an interview with ABC's "This Week" TV program, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Ukraine's counteroffensive was never expected to be quick and easy. "We said before this counteroffensive started that it would be hard going, and it's been hard going. That's the nature of war. But the Ukrainians are continuing to move forward," he said.

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 initiative's 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 president's 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.

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Latest in Ukraine: 'Emergency' Halts Traffic on Bridge to Crimea

By VOA News July 17, 2023

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

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.

Russia-installed officials said traffic was halted Monday on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar region, amid reports of explosions on the bridge.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, said on Telegram that traffic was stopped due to an "emergency" and that authorities were working to handle the situation.

The bridge is a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine. It was previously damaged in an October explosion that Russia blamed on Ukraine.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in a move not recognized by the international community.

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 say 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.

There was also fighting 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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday in an interview with state television that Ukraine's operation was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defenses had failed.

In an interview with ABC's "This Week" TV program, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Ukraine's counteroffensive was never expected to be quick and easy. "We said before this counteroffensive started that it would be hard going, and it's been hard going. That's the nature of war. But the Ukrainians are continuing to move forward," he said.

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 from the Ukrainian border with Grad missiles, killing a woman riding her bike.

Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Westford, USA, July 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, the growth of the luxury jewelry market is further propelled by the increasing demand for sustainable and gender-fluid jewelry. Consumers are seeking ethically sourced and produced jeweler using sustainable practices with rising awareness of environmental concerns. This shift towards sustainability has influenced the design and production processes within the luxury jewelry industry, leading to greater availability of eco-friendly and socially responsible jewelry options.

Browse in-depth TOC on the "Luxury Jewelry Market"

Pages - 271

Tables - 94

Figures  76

Luxury jewelry has evolved beyond mere adornment to become a vehicle for self-expression. Many buyers seek unique and significant pieces that reflect their individuality and personal style. As a result, non-traditional forms, shapes, and materials have found their way into jewelry collections, breaking away from conventional designs and embracing innovative aesthetics in the luxury jewelry market.

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/luxury-jewelry-market

Prominent Players in Luxury Jewelry Market

MIKIMOTO

Bulgari

Cartier

Chopard

Graff Diamonds

Harry Winston

Van Cleef & Arpels

Piaget

Tiffany & Co.

Boucheron

Buccellati

David Yurman

Chaumet

Faberge

H. Stern

Swarovski

Damiani

Pomellato

De Beers

Bvlgari Jewelry

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/luxury-jewelry-market

Gold Segment is Expected to Grow the Market Due to its Intrinsic Value and Allure

The gold segment dominates luxury jewelry market, representing the largest revenue share at 38.9%. Gold has long been revered for its intrinsic value and allure, making it a desirable investment during political and economic uncertainty. The stability and perceived inherent worth of gold have positioned it as a haven asset, attracting investors during periods of crisis.

The markets in North America are poised to exhibit the highest CAGR in the luxury jewelry market during the forecast period. This can be attributed to its high concentration of millionaires, the main drivers of luxury consumption.

Necklaces Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to their Versatility

The necklaces segment emerged as the leader in the luxury jewelry market, holding the largest market share. This segment is expected to maintain its dominant position throughout the forecast period. Necklaces are trendy among consumers due to their versatility and ability to enhance one's style and personality.

Regional markets in the Asia-Pacific held a significant share of more than one-third of the global luxury jewelry market, and it is expected to maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period. This region has emerged as a powerhouse for the market, driven by several factors.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the luxury jewelry market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/luxury-jewelry-market

Key Developments in the Luxury Jewelry Market

In 2022, Pandora, a renowned jewelry brand, launched its Spring 2022 Collection globally, making it available at various Pandora retailers, including the Pandora UK eStore and Pandora.net. The collection introduced new and captivating designs, showcasing the brand's commitment to providing customers with a wide range of options to express their personal style and individuality.

Tiffany & Co., a leading jewelry company in the United States, recently announced its plans to introduce men's engagement rings. This strategic move aims to expand the company's customer base and tap into the market.

Key Questions Answered in Luxury Jewelry Market Report

What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period?

List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence.

In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Online Clothing Rental Market

Global Cooling Fabrics Market

Global Womens T-shirts Market

Global Basketball Gear Market

Global Activewear Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com
RADNOR, Pa. , July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (Charles River) (NYSE: CRL). The action charges Charles River with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Charles Rivers materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Charles Rivers investors have suffered significant losses.



CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CHARLES RIVER LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/charles-river-laboratories-international-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=crl&mktm=r

LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JULY 18, 2023

CLASS PERIOD: MAY 5, 2020 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2023

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:

Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com

Kessler Topaz is one of the worlds foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.

CHARLES RIVERS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

Charles River is a full-service, non-clinical global drug development partner with a mission to create healthier lives. The company has three reporting segments: Research Models and Services, Discovery and Safety Assessment, and Manufacturing Solutions. The Discovery and Safety Assessment segment accounts for approximately 60% of the companys total revenue and offers, among other things, safety assessment studies required for regulatory submission of therapeutic solutions.

On February 22, 2023, Charles River revealed that the company had received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice relating to an ongoing investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the supply chain and illegal importation of non-human primates for research. On the same day, during an earnings call with investors, James C. Foster, the companys CEO, stated that the investigation in current [non-human primate] supply situation will result in study delays in our Safety Assessment business. He further stated that the investigation into the Cambodian non-human primate chain would reduce the annual revenue forecast by approximately 200 basis points to 400 basis points.

Following this news, the price of Charles River shares declined by $24.51 per share, or approximately 10.06%, from $243.60 per share to close at $219.09 on February 22, 2023.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Charles River investors may, no later than July 18, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Charles River investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Charles River, captioned Coleman v. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., et al, Case No. 23-cv-11132, is filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts before the Honorable Denise Jefferson Casper.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(484) 270-1453

info@ktmc.com
Washington, DC, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

PRESS RELEASE

Centre for Studies on New Religions, Four Religious Freedom Experts

Send Letter to Japanese Government Leaders

CESNURs Bitter Winter Magazine Posts Letter

Explaining Why Japanese Leaders and People Should Guarantee

Religious Freedom to the Unification Church/Family Federation

TORINO, ItalyBitter Winter, the magazine of the Centre for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), has published a letter that was sent to Japans key leaders about religious freedom in Japan in July 2023.

In their Letter to the Government: Why Japan Should Guarantee Religious Liberty to the Unification Church/Family Federation, Willy Fautre, Jan Figel, Massimo Introvigne, and Aaron Rhodes call for an end to what increasingly appears as a witch hunt against a minority religion.

Before the letter was published, it was sent privately to Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida,

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Keiko Nagaoka.

The letter opens with general comments about protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for minority religions. It then addresses the current persecution of the FFWPU in Japan, the abusive history of deprogramming, and media and governments ill-advised use of apostates to denigrate the religion.

The letter concludes with a plea not to ignore the vital importance of FoRB to a free democracy and why government liquidation of FFWPU would expose Japan to international condemnation and encourage similar attacks on religion in nondemocratic countries.

Bitter Winter, CESNURs Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights, published Why Japan Should Guarantee Religious Liberty to the Unification Church/Family Federation: A Letter to the Government on July 3, 2023:

Dear Prime Minister Fumio Kishida:

Dear Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi:

Dear Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Keiko Nagaoka:

We are writing to share some pressing concerns about threats to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) that have emerged in Japan after the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

We are academics and human rights activists, each with long experience in the field of FoRB. We are also friends of Japan and admirers of its millennia-old culture and vibrant democratic institutions. Many of us counted Japan as a precious ally in international fora when we had to protest human rights and FoRB violations by totalitarian regimes.



Preliminary General Comments

First of all, we wish to introduce three general comments that are essential to appreciate our approach to the issue:

The first is that, in our long experience of defending FoRB throughout the world, we have noticed that the rights of certain minority religions are denied by stigmatizing them as cults. Most academic scholars of religions have abandoned the word cult since the last decades of the 20th century. It has no scientific content and is only used to demonize and repress certain minorities. On December 12, 2022, reforming its previous case law, the European Court of Human Rights agreed with the mainline scholarly position, and in the decision Tonchev and Others v. Bulgariastated that terms such as cults or those deriving from the Latin secta in languages other than English are likely to have negative consequences on the exercise of religious freedom of the members of the groups so stigmatized, and should not be used in official governmental documents. Brainwashing is also a category that has been discredited in the academic study of religion since the 20th century by both scholars and courts of law in the United States and several European countries. It is a pseudo-scientific concept used to reinforce the discrimination between good religions, which allegedly do not use brainwashing to convert their new members, and bad cults, which supposedly do. The false notion of brainwashing was also used to justify the criminal practice of deprogramming, where adult members of certain religious minorities were kidnapped, illegally detained, and submitted to various forms of violence until they gave up and agreed to abandon their faith.

In 1993, the United Nations Human Rights Committee adopted General Comment No. 22 to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (that Japan has signed and ratified), which deals with FoRB.

Section 2 of General Comment no. 22 states that in Article 18, The terms belief and religion are to be broadly construed. Article 18 is not limited in its application to traditional religions or to religions and beliefs with institutional characteristics or practices analogous to those of traditional religions. The Committee therefore views with concern any tendency to discriminate against any religion or belief for any reason, including the fact that they are newly established, or represent religious minorities that may be the subject of hostility. This is a key point. Majority and popular religions are protected by their own popularity. Article 18 call states to also protect those minority religions that, for whatever reasons, a part of the population may view with hostility.

A second preliminary comment is that, when attacking minority religions, their opponents and the media often rely on apostate ex-members. Apostate is not a derogatory term but a technical category introduced by David Bromle





and other leading sociologists to identify the minority of ex-members who turn into militant opponents of the groups they have left. Apostate is not a synonym of ex-members. Most ex-members are not apostates nor are they interested in crusades against their former religious movements. While human suffering should always be respected, and apostate accounts should not be ignored, scholars have repeatedly warned that apostates have an agenda, are not representatives of the majority of former members of a religion, and their narratives tell us more about their feelings and the ideology they have adopted than about the reality of their former movements.

A third preliminary comment is that, in our secular societies, there is a widespread hostility to religious groups whose members are active in politics. While separation of religion and the state is an important democratic principle, it is also important to affirm that religionists have no less rights than any other citizens to participate in the political life of their nations. We should also be aware that criticism of certain religious minorities is often proposed for political reasons, and hides a political agenda under the narratives of cult and brainwashing.

The assault on the Unification Church, now Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)

This background is important to understand our concern about the situation of the Unification Church (UC), now called Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) in Japan, and the campaign aimed at removing its status as a religious corporation. The UC/FFWPU is a stereotypical example of a religious organization targeted by anti-cultists as a cult using brainwashing.

In Japan, the assault against the UC/FFWPU has been led since 1987 by the National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales. There is a significant journalistic and scholarly literature demonstrating that most of the lawyers who established the Network were politically motivated. They wanted to punish the UC and another organization established by the same founder, the International Federation for Victory over Communism, for its anti-Communist activities and its effective support to anti-Communist and conservative politicians.

The question of spiritual sales

Spiritual sales was a label coined by the opponents of the UC to criticize the sale of certain artifacts, believed to bring spiritual advantages to the buyers, at prices significantly higher than their material value. In fact, the UC as an organization never engaged in such sales. Some of its members did. The UC took measures against abuses in this field and, after the so-called Declaration of Compliance of 2009, these sales by UC members substantially stopped. Before the assassination of

Shinzo Abe, the number of complaints had decreased to a handful per year, and these sales might be considered a problem of the past. The UC/FFWPU was never found guilty of any criminal wrongdoing in this or other respects, and the conditions justifying an action to remove its religious corporation status are simply not there.

The almost defunct campaign against spiritual sales was resurrected after the Abe assassination. Simple donations, normal in all religious groups, were called non- material spiritual sales, a strange and self-contradictory concept.

Abusive deprogramming of Church members

Absent in the discussion was, however, a much more serious crime, deprogramming. This obnoxious and criminal practice was actively supported by anti-UC lawyers and continued in Japan from the 1970s to the Supreme Court decision of 2015 on the case of Toru Goto, a UC believer who was detained by his family and the deprogrammers for more than twelve years. The enormous amount of violence and suffering involved in deprogramming should always be considered when trying to understand the harsh relationships between the UC/FFWPU and its opponents in Japan.

Role of apostates in agitation against the Church; Failure of the British Governments case against the Church

As in other similar cases, the campaign against the UC/FFWPU relies heavily on a few apostate ex-members. One goes under the pseudonym Sayuri Ogawa and has been heavily promoted by the anti-UC Network and even introduced to Japans Prime Minister. As it has happened with other apostates, in its crucial and essential points her story is demonstrably false, as revealed both by the international FoRB magazine Bitter Winter (a specialized publication that had more than 200 of its articles quoted as reliable sources in the yearly U.S. Department of State reports on freedom of religion of the last four years) and by award-winning Japanese journalist Masumi Fukuda.

This is not a matter of opinion. Ogawas parents have submitted dozens of documents proving that their daughters story is false. We respectfully suggest that they should have been heard by the Prime Minister and other Japanese authorities as well, as their story is backed by substantial evidence and there is no reason to consider it prejudicially as less true than the one told by Sayuri Ogawa.

In a significant precedent, the British Government was unwise enough to base almost its whole case for the removal of the charitable status (very similar to Religious Corporation Status in Japan) from The Unification Church in the United

Kingdom, which it launched in 1984, at the behest of the anti-cult movement, on the testimonies of apostates from the Church. Many of them had been subjected to having their faith forcibly broken by professional deprogrammers, and the great majority of them had been influenced by the anti-cult movement in the United Kingdom or in the USA. When this phenomenon was exposed by lawyers representing the Church, the governments case collapsed, and it was forced to withdraw it entirely and to pay the equivalent at todays prices of over USD 6 million in costs. The case also put an end to cooperation between the British government and anti-cultists and led to the decision to cooperate instead with academic scholars of new religious movements through an organization called INFORM.

Relying on apostates such as Ogawa is an example of dubious procedural practices or even respect for natural justice that are of deep concern in this case. It seems to us that testimonies hostile to the UC/FFWPU are systematically privileged, that militant opponents of the religious movement are included in official commissions dealing with it, and different opinions and testimonies are not seriously considered.

Threat to the Churchs right to self-organize

We are also concerned about measures introduced in the field of donations to religions and the religious education of children that put at risk the right, not only of the FFWPU but of other groups as well, including the Jehovahs Witnesses, to self- organize themselves as they deem fit and living according to their spiritual principles. The fact that they may be different from those of the majority does not mean that they should be less protected in a democratic state. FoRB is only affirmed when it is guaranteed to the less popular groups and those that have a significant number of opponents.

The liquidation of the FFWPU would expose Japan to international condemnation, and legitimate attacks on religious freedom in nondemocratic countries

The international FoRB community is watching what is happening in Japan, which represents the most serious FoRB crisis in a democratic country of our century. We hope that all organizations that support and defend FoRB in Japan and internationally would support our appeal. The liquidation of the FFWPU as a religious corporation would be a measure comparable to the actions taken against several religious minorities in China and Russia, and unprecedented in a democratic country. It would also expose Japan to considerable international criticism. What is more, should the Japanese government proceed with this action, it will give cover to assaults on religious groups by authoritarian and totalitarian states around the world, undermining efforts by international human rights institutions to protect religious liberty.

We urge the Japanese government to protect the FoRB of all religious and spiritual groups operating in Japan, including those that have powerful, well-financed, and politically motivated opponents, to withdraw all measures threatening FoRB, and to guarantee to the FFWPU as a religious corporation the peaceful exercise of its right to religious liberty.

We are most grateful for your attention to the foregoing appeal.

Sincerely,

Mr. Willy Fautre

The Honorable Jan Figel Professor Massimo Introvigne Dr. Aaron Rhodes

Identification of signatories:

Willy Fautre is former charge de mission at the Cabinet of the Belgian Ministry of Education and at the Belgian Parliament. He is the director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, an NGO based in Brussels that he founded in 1988. His organization defends human rights in general but also the rights of persons belonging to historical religions, non-traditional and new religious movements. It is apolitical and independent from any religion.

He has carried out fact-finding missions on human rights and religious freedom in more than 25 countries. He is a lecturer at various universities in the field of religious freedom and human rights. He has published many articles in university journals about relations between state and religions. He organizes conferences at the European Parliament, including on freedom of religion or belief in China. For years, he has developed religious freedom advocacy in European institutions, at the OSCE, and at the UN.

Jan Figel was EU Commissioner for Education from 2004-9 and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia from 2010-12 after having successfully acted as Chief Negotiator for Slovakias accession to the EU and been State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1989 he participated in the founding of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) in Slovakia and from 2009-16 was the partys President. From

2012-2016 he served as a Vice president of the Slovak Parliament.

From 2016-19 he was the first-ever EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU and in that capacity was instrumental in the

release of FoRB prisoners in Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, and Sudan.

He is currently a member of the International Council of Experts of the International Freedom of Religion and Belief Alliance (Intergovernmental network) and a member of the International Religious Freedom Summit Global Leadership Council (a civil society-led initiative).

Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religion and the author of more than seventy books in the field published by leading academic presses. In 2011, he served as the Representative for combating racism, xenophobia, and religious intolerance and discrimination of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), of which the United States and Canada are also participating states. From 2012 to 2015 he was the President of the Observatory of Religious Liberty created by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is the editor-in-chief of the daily magazine on religious liberty and human rights Bitter Winter.

Aaron Rhodes is President of the Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe and Senior Fellow in the Common-Sense Society, an international educational network. He was Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights from 1993-2007, and subsequently a founder of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Rhodes is the author of The Debasement of Human Rights (Encounter Books 2018) and numerous articles published in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Newsweek, and other publications. Among other honors, he was made an honorary citizen of the Republic of Austria for his human rights contribution.

Attachment
First MSC-derived Extracellular Vesicles interventional study approved by the European Medicines Agency.



Liege, Belgium 17 July 2023  EXO Biologics SA, a Belgian biotech company committed to developing biopharmaceuticals using Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) to treat rare diseases with high unmet medical needs, received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the EVENEW study, enabling site activation in Europe. EVENEW is an adaptive, seamless Phase 1/2 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of intratracheal administration of EXOB-001 in preventing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in preterm newborns. The EVENEW Study is the first mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles trial approved by the EMA.

We are proud to be at the forefront of a paradigm shift in medicine. Our MSC-derived EVs promise to transform the treatment landscape by offering patients a non-invasive and adaptable therapeutic platform, said Hugues Wallemacq, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EXO Biologics. This approval strengthens our approach. Our natural MSC-derived EVs have a wide range of possible therapeutic indications. At EXO Biologics, we are initially focusing on rare diseases with unmet medical needs, such as BPD, the most common and severe consequence of pre-term birth.

BPD, the most common and severe consequence of preterm birth

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe lung disease that primarily affects extremely pre-mature infants (< 28 weeks gestational age) who require prolonged oxygen therapy to support their breathing. Despite improved perinatal care in developed countries, 40% of extremely pre-term babies develop BPD, the most common and severe consequence of pre-term birth and the most common morbidity of pre-maturity.1 BPD persists throughout life. Patients show reduced lung function and respiratory symptoms during childhood and young adulthood2. In addition, BPD patients are at higher risk of many other complications related to pre-maturity3 and a higher risk of mortality for cardiovascular causes4 . Consequently, the healthcare system costs are much higher during and after the perinatal period for BPD patients.

First EMA-Approved Trial in Preventing BPD

Committed to developing biopharmaceuticals using EVs to treat rare diseases with unmet medical needs, EXO Biologics received approval for the EVENEW study from EMA on 11 July 2023. EVENEW is a multi-center adaptive, seamless Phase 1/2 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of intratracheal administration of EXOB-001 in preventing severe forms of BPD in preterm newborns.

Phase 1 is a single-arm, dose-escalating study to assess the safety of the Intratracheal administration of EXOB-001, enriched with a historical nested case-control group to compare clinical outcomes for further evaluation. In this dose escalation part of the trial, a maximum of 40 patients will be enrolled for up to three dose levels and two regimes.

The second phase, triggered by a positive Interim analysis, is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled dose-finding study with efficacy evaluation of EXOB-001 on reducing BPD severity grade. Patients will be monitored up to the corrected age of two years (in hospital and outpatient).

Despite the improved perinatal care, BPD is one the most severe consequences of pre-term birth, said Dr Beatrice De Vos, Chief Medical Officer of EXO Biologics. Inflammatory pathways are pertinent for developing BPD, with systemic inflammation occurring before any clinical symptoms become apparent. The Study is designed to assess the safety of EXOB-001 and its effect in reducing BPD severity.

The start of an industry-leading clinical trial is a significant milestone for EXO Biologics, expressed Dr Maurizio Muraca, Co-Director of the Institute for Paediatric Research at the University of Padova in Italy, who was at the cutting edge of discovering EVs as intracellular communicators more than 15 years ago. And continued, Seeing our ground-breaking discovery evolving into a potentially lifesaving therapy is a great result of the intensive cooperation with EXO Biologics. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of EVs as loaded cargo represents an exciting avenue to explore to benefit patients worldwide.

Enabling GMP Scalable Production in Liege, Belgium

EXO Biologics is based in Liege, on the LegiaPark site. Since its inception, EXO Biologics has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its team to over 20 FTEs.

"With a shared vision, we have achieved a unique scalable production platform that addresses the challenges of industrial GMP production and harnesses the revolutionary therapeutic potential of EVs, said Marcin Jurga, Chief Scientific Officer of EXO Biologics.

With the recent EMA approval of the EVENEW study, EXO Biologics is poised to embark on a fundraising initiative to fuel its growth trajectory further. Supported by Private and Public, current and new investors, EXO Biologics will be well-positioned to further develop its unique High Scale and Low-Cost Manufacturing Platform.

In tandem with our unwavering dedication, we eagerly anticipate expanding our GMP Manufacturing Platform in Liege, unlocking new possibilities for enhanced research, development, production, and ultimately, the delivery of new EV therapies. This step further solidifies our commitment to driving innovation and improving patient well-being, concluded Hugues Wallemacq, CEO of EXO Biologics.

About EXOB-001

EXO Biologics has developed EXOB-001, a novel EV-based drug candidate produced with the Companys scalable manufacturing platform. Extracellular Vesicles are derived from cultured human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). Human MSCs are characterized by their ability to secrete various growth factors and cytokines that modulate the immune system and promote tissue repair and regeneration. EVs are nanoparticles naturally released from these cells. EVs are expected to be a safer therapeutic alternative to MSCs as they eliminate the risk of emboli and immune response. Since EVs are nuclei-free, they eliminate the risk of malignant transformation and ectopic colonization.

About EXO Biologics

EXO Biologics is a Belgian biotech company committed to developing biopharmaceuticals using EVs to treat rare diseases with unmet medical needs. Partnering with leading academic researchers, EXO Biologics aims to set the stage for future nanomedicines. The Companys development strategy focuses on novel drug candidates for therapeutic applications in Respiratory Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Neurology, and Oncology.

www.exobio.be

Contact

Hugues Wallemacq  CEO

+32 499251311 - info@exobio.be

1 Shah PS, Sankaran K, Aziz K, Allen AC, Seshia M, Ohlsson A, et al. Outcomes of preterm infants <29 weeks gestation over a 10-year period in Canada: a cause for concern? J Perinatol. (2012) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21593814/)

2 Moschino, Bonadies, and Baraldi 2021

3 Jobe and Bancalari 2001

4 Crump et al. 2019

Attachment
English Danish





















Company Announcement No 14/2023



Peberlyk 4

6200 Aabenraa

Denmark







Tel +45 74 37 37 37

Fax +45 74 37 35 36







Sydbank A/S

CVR No DK 12626509, Aabenraa

sydbank.dk











17 July 2023

Dear Sirs

Sydbank share buyback programme: transactions in w e ek 28

On 6 July 2023 Sydbank announced a share buyback programme of DKK 600m. The share buyback programme commenced on 10 July 2023 and will be completed by 31 January 2024.

The purpose of the share buyback programme is to reduce the share capital of Sydbank and the programme is executed in compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016, collectively referred to as the Safe Harbour rules.

The following transactions have been made under the share buyback programme:

Number of shares VWAP Gross value (DKK) Accumulated, most recent

announcement



0



0.00 10 July 2023

11 July 2023

12 July 2023

13 July 2023

14 July 2023 20,000

19,000

19,000

18,000

18,000 317.54

319.50

320.10

321.29

320.61 6,350,800.00

6,070,500.00

6,081,900.00

5,783,220.00

5,770,980.00 Total over week 28 94,000 30,057,400.00 Total accumulated during the share buyback programme



94,000



30,057,400.00

All transactions were made under ISIN DK 0010311471 and effected by Danske Bank A/S on behalf of Sydbank A/S. Further information about the transactions, cf Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on market abuse and Commission delegated regulation, is available in the attachment.

Following the above transactions, Sydbank holds a total of 99,132 own shares, equal to 0.17% of the Banks share capital.



Yours sincerely



Karen Frsig Jrn Adam Mller

CEO Deputy Group Chief Executive

Attachment
New York, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Atrial Fibrillation Market Size and Trend Report including Epidemiology, Disease Management, Pipeline Analysis, Competitor Assessment, Unmet Needs, Clinical Trial Strategies and Forecast to 2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474986/?utm_source=GNW





In 2022, GlobalData estimated that the global AF market reached $14.53 billion across the 8MM. The US makes up the majority of total global sales, contributing $10.75 billion (74%) due to the large prevalent AF population in the US, early adoption of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), and higher prices for AF medications in this market. the analyst anticipates that the AF market will decline at a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3%, to be worth approximately $12.8 billion by 2032. The US is expected to maintain its position as the market leader in 2032, contributing 74% towards the total global sales.

The major growth drivers in the AF market during the forecast period include the following:

- A total of five pipeline products, including four anticoagulants and one cardioversion agent, will launch during the forecast period, each of which will have a higher annual cost of therapy (ACOT) when compared with the cost of generic NOACs and the commonly used pharmacological agents, respectively.

- Factor XI (FXI)/FXIa inhibitors, including abelacimab, asundexian, and milvexian, will be welcomed by the many AF patients who are not treated with the currently available anticoagulants due to bleeding concerns.

- In the 8MM, the number of 12-month total prevalent cases of AF treated is expected to increase during the forecast period, which will drive sales.

- Continued increases in AF awareness will improve diagnosis rates.

The major barriers to growth in the AF market during the forecast period include the following:

- All four NOACs will face generic erosion as their patents expire over the forecast period.

- The AF market is crowded with inexpensive generic products for the maintenance of rate and rhythm control. The high use of these products is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, presenting a stiff barrier of entry for pipeline drugs.

- High cost of FXI/FXIa inhibitors compared to the NOAC generics will likely hinder patient uptake.



Key Highlights

- In 2022, GlobalData estimated that the global AF market reached $14.53 billion across the 8MM, and anticipates that it will decline at a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3%, to be worth approximately $12.8 billion by 2032.

- This decline in sales is due to the fact that novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) will face generic erosion as their patents expire over the forecast period. In addition, the high cost of upcoming FXI/FXIa inhibitors compared to the NOAC generics will likely hinder patient uptake.



Scope

- Overview of AF, including epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and disease management.

- Annualized AF therapeutics market revenue, cost of therapy per patient, and treatment usage patterns forecast from 2022 to 2032.

- Key topics covered include strategic competitor assessment, market characterization, unmet needs, clinical trial mapping, and implications of these factors for the AF therapeutics market.

- Pipeline analysis: comprehensive data assessing emerging trends and mechanisms of action under development for AF treatment. The most promising candidates in late-stage development are profiled.

- Analysis of the current and future market competition in the global AF therapeutics market. Insightful review of the key industry drivers, restraints and challenges. Each trend is independently researched to provide qualitative analysis of its implications.



Reasons to Buy

- Develop and design your in-licensing and out-licensing strategies through a review of pipeline products and technologies, and by identifying the companies with the most robust pipeline.

- Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the 8MM AF therapeutics market.

- Drive revenues by understanding the key trends, innovative products and technologies, market segments, and companies likely to impact the 7MM AF therapeutics market in the future.

- Formulate effective sales and marketing strategies by understanding the competitive landscape and by analyzing the performance of various competitors.

- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolios and create effective counter-strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

- Organize your sales and marketing efforts by identifying the market categories and segments that present maximum opportunities for consolidations, investments and strategic partnerships.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474986/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patriot Glass Solutions, a division of C-Bond Systems (the Company or C-Bond) (OTC: CBNT), a developer and marketer of glass strengthening solutions for enhanced safety, announced today it will be exhibiting at the South Texas Association of School Maintenance Officials (STASMO) Conference on July 19-20 at the South Padre Island Convention Center in South Padre Island, TX. Patriot Glass Solutions is exhibiting to expand awareness of its security and ballistic-resistant film solutions for school safety to this target audience.



Patriot Glass Solutions will exhibit in conjunction with its new distribution partner, Curtis Stout, Inc., a company offering sales and support for Patriot Glass Solutions products, particularly for schools and government facilities, in the states of Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

As a leading provider of security window film for Texas schools, this is an important event for us to attend, said Michael Wanke, President of Patriot Glass Solutions. The Texas Education Agency just implemented its final Rule to improve school safety, which requires Texas public schools to reinforce certain windows and doors with forced entry-resistant film or other methods, and thousands of schools are scrambling to identify vendors and comply with the TEAs Rule. We can help these schools and get them to apply for funding within a short timeframe and put them in position to certify compliance, concluded Wanke.

Among other school security initiatives passed during the latest legislative session, the TEAs Rule mandates that, Unless inside an exterior secured area, doors constructed of glass or containing glass shall be constructed or modified such that the glass cannot be easily broken and allow an intruder to open or otherwise enter through the door (for example, using forced entry-resistant film).

The Rule also mandates that, Except when inside an exterior secured area, all ground-level windows near exterior doors that are of a size and position that permits entry from the exterior if broken shall be constructed or modified such that the glass cannot be easily broken and allow an intruder to enter through the window frame (for example, using forced entry-resistant film).

Patriot Glass Solutions offers forced-entry resistant security film and ballistic-resistant film systems. C-Bond Secure, the Companys proprietary glass strengthener, is applied directly to the window prior to the application of window film to increase the strength and flexibility of the underlying glass. When used in conjunction with security film, C-Bond Secure delays forced entry, which gives law enforcement or other security personnel significantly more time to lead those inside a facility to safety and apprehend the perpetrator. Patriot Glass Solutions also offers C-Bond BRS, a ballistic-resistant film system, which includes C-Bonds patented glass strengthening technology and multiple layers of security film on specified glass thickness to help stop bullets from penetrating glass. C-Bond BRS is certified by third party labs to meet National Institute of Justice Level I, Level IIA, Level II, and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 752 ballistic-resistant protection standards.

To see a demonstration of Patriot Glass Solutions security products, watch our video at: https://bit.ly/3l93oZV

Patriot Glass Solutions is led by President Michael Wanke, who is the principal operator of the Companys majority-held A1 Glass Coating subsidiary, based in San Antonio. For more information about Patriot Glass Solutions products, please call 844-602-2663 or email Michael Wanke at mike@patriotglasssolutions.com.

About C-Bond

C-Bond Systems, Inc. (OTC: CBNT) is a Houston-based nanotechnology company and marketer of the patented C-Bond technology, which is independently proven to strengthen glass in architectural applications. The Companys Patriot Glass Solutions sells ballistic-resistant glass solutions and forced entry deterrent solutions to private enterprises, schools, and government agencies, primarily through its majority-owned subsidiary, A1 Glass Coating. For more information, please visit our websites: www.cbondsystems.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbondsys/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBondSys and https://twitter.com/Patriot_Glass.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about our future expectations, including the likelihood that we can help these schools and get them to apply for funding within a short timeframe and put them in position to certify compliance; constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Companys ability to successfully commercialize its products; the likelihood that schools will comply with TEAs rule will by the end of August 2023; the Companys and its customers ability to source materials; construction delays; film delays; the Companys ability to raise capital; regulatory risks; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors may be described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2023, its Forms 10-Q filed on May 15, 2023, November 14, 2022, and August 15, 2022, and in future filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
Geneva, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investor group NewGAMe and Bruellan welcomes support from GAMs third-largest investor and publishes its response to Liontrusts open letter to GAM shareholders

Geneva, 17 July 2023  The investor group comprised of NewGAMe SA and Bruellan SA, which controls approximately 9.5% of the issued share capital of GAM Holding AG (GAM), has published a detailed response to an open letter sent by Liontrusts CEO John Ions to GAM shareholders on 14 July. The investor group also welcomes the news that GEM, a New York-based alternatives manager that owns 6.5% of GAM, will not be accepting the Liontrust offer.

In his response, Albert Saporta, director of NewGAMe, provides a line-by-line rebuttal to Liontrusts letter. The letter can be found here:

https://newgam.ch/assets/downloads/Letter_to_GAM_shareholders_17_July.pdf

Antoine Spillmann, CEO and Executive Partner at Bruellan and the investor group's proposed candidate for chairman of GAM's board, said:

"As GAMs second-largest shareholder, we believe Liontrusts offer significantly undervalues GAM and are delighted that the companys third largest investor agrees with us. We have a clear plan to return GAM to profitability and growth over the next two years  this provides shareholders with a viable alternative to the Liontrust offer and we encourage shareholders to read NewGAMes investment thesis and our detailed response to Liontrusts open letter.

On 6 July, NewGAMe published its investment thesis outlining a four-stage turnaround plan with the objective of value of creation of 3x-5x over the next two to three years. The investment thesis gave several reasons why shareholders should not accept the Liontrust offer, including:

A lop-sided deal structure under which GAM shareholders will own only 14.5% of the combined entity while contributing 40% of the AuM Terms that undervalue GAM despite the deal being immediately accretive to Liontrust, with GAMs EBIT margins expected to reach 30% by 2025 Liontrusts track record as one of the worst-performing stocks in the fund management sector over the past 12-24 months Liontrusts track record of value-destructive M&A

NewGAMes investment thesis can be found here: https://newgam.ch/assets/downloads/NewGAMe_investment_thesis_updated.pdf

Debunking GAMs assessment of the Liontrust offer can be found here:

https://newgam.ch/assets/downloads/NewGAMe_-_Debunking_Liontrust.pdf

Media contacts

Sasha Johnson, FinElk

newgam@finelk.eu

info@newgam.ch

www.newgam.ch

Investor contacts

Okapi Partners LLC

North America: +1 212 297 0720

Europe: + 44 7597 370570

info@okapipartners.com

About NewGAMe

NewGAMe SA is a Geneva-based company owned by a number of investors with experience in the financial sector. It is controlled by Rock Investment, a French-incorporated entity that is owned by NJJ Holding, the personal holding company of Xavier Niel. Albert Saporta, a hedge fund industry veteran with 40 years experience in global financial markets, serves as the director of NewGAMe SA.

About Bruellan

Bruellan SA is an independent provider of global wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1991 and is located in Geneva, Lausanne, Crans-Montana and Verbier.

https://www.bruellan.ch/
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Latin Metals Inc. (Latin Metals or the Company) - (TSXV: LMS) (OTCQB: LMSQF), a leading mineral exploration company in South America, announces significant progress in its Mirador project in Argentina with the discovery of additional outcropping copper mineralization, where an extensive drainage survey is underway to screen the entire property. Initial prospecting at Mirador (previous news release January 17, 2023 ) identified outcropping sediment-hosted copper mineralization with one sample grading 2.4% copper. The discovery served as critical proof of concept for Latin Metals.

The recent mapping of additional outcropping copper mineralization builds upon this success, reinforcing the validity of the company's exploration thesis. Exploration at Mirador began last month and it is planned that the property will be systematically covered by drainage sampling and prospecting. At this early stage the Company's geologists have only walked over approximately 10% of this very large property and so it is encouraging to have already located additional outcropping copper mineralization. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: Newly discovered outcropping sediment-hosted copper mineralization at Mirador. Yellow dashed lines indicate minimum stratigraphic thickness of mineralization. Recent alluvial sediment obscures the geological boundary.

In addition to the advancements at Mirador, Latin Metals is pleased to report the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Ventana copper project (Ventana or the Project) through an agreement with Dreston SRL (DSRL), pursuant to which Latin Metals has purchased from DSRL (via an indirect subsidiary of Latin Metals), a 100% interest in the Project (Figure 2), for total cash consideration of $1,000,000 Argentine pesos. Situated in Salta Province, northwest Argentina, the Ventana project presents additional prospects for the discovery of sediment-hosted copper mineralization.

Together with the Company's Mirador project and the recent acquisition of the Solario project, this additional acquisition further solidifies Latin Metals' position as first mover in this emerging copper belt.

Figure 2: Location of the newly acquired Ventana Project (red highlights), together with Mirador and Solario Projects.

Ventana Project Highlights:

Ventana Acquisition: Latin Metals now fully controls the Ventana project, encompassing an extensive 176,000 hectares in Salta.

Exploration Potential: The Ventana project is favorably situated in the Cretaceous belt in central Salta, which the Company believes has potential for sediment-hosted copper deposits.

Untapped Region: Latin Metals' foresight has identified considerable exploration potential in the underexplored rift area of central Salta. The region shares geological characteristics with global sediment-hosted copper deposits, yet it remains underexplored.

Future Work

As part of its forward-looking strategy, Latin Metals intends to initiate a large-scale regional stream sediment sampling program across its Mirador, Solario, and Ventana copper exploration projects. With one field team already operational, Latin Metals plans to deploy additional teams to expedite the initial screening of these three properties over the ensuing six months. This comprehensive geochemical screening is expected to highlight the most promising areas for further exploration.

About Latin Metals

Latin Metals is a mineral exploration company acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost, completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based exploration.

QA/QC

The work program at Ventana was designed and supervised by Eduardo Leon, the Company's Exploration Manager, who will be responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance of the following programs.

Qualified Person

Keith J. Henderson, P.Geo., is the Company's qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release. He has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company, as he is an employee of the Company and holds securities of the Company.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

LATIN METALS INC.

Keith Henderson

President & CEO

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site ( www.latin-metals.com ) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson

Suite 890 - 999 West Hastings Street,

Vancouver, BC, V6C 2W2

Phone: 604-638-3456

E-mail: info@latin-metals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the negotiation of the Option Agreements and exercise of the Option for the Properties, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Properties and otherwise, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, and the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Companys Argentine projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company projects, and the Companys ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Properties, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs being proposed for the Properties (the "Programs"), actual results of exploration activities, including the Programs, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, any current or future property acquisitions, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.

Figures accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/654eef2d-4f3e-47e0-9fe9-08d4c70c8306

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89bf48d8-e654-470c-8457-8ab6ddf5cdeb
New York, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "EU5 Urinary Tract Stenting Procedures Count by Segments (Prostatic Stenting Procedures, Ureteral Stenting Procedures and Urethral Stenting Procedures) and Forecast to 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474944/?utm_source=GNW

The databook report provides procedure volumes within segments - Prostatic Stenting Procedures, Ureteral Stenting Procedures and Urethral Stenting Procedures



The EU5 Urinary Tract Stenting Procedures report provides key information and data on -

- Procedure volume data for Urinary Tract Stenting Procedures related to the country. Data is provided from 2015 to 2030.



Scope

EU5 Urinary Tract Stenting Procedures is segmented as follows -

- Prostatic Stenting Procedures

- Ureteral Stenting Procedures

- Urethral Stenting Procedures



Reasons to Buy

The EU5 Urinary Tract Stenting Procedures report helps you to develop -

- Business strategies by identifying the key segments poised for strong growth in the future.

- Market-entry and market expansion strategies.

- Develop investment strategies by identifying the key segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06474944/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Intetics, a leading American technology company, published an interview with Murat Kuru, Brava's former Chief Engineering/Information Officerthe first engineer behind a non-surgical cosmetic body shaping system named Brava and one of the first Intetics clients.



NAPLES, Fla., July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The sad reality is that most women are unhappy with their breast size, and it may have damaging health consequences.

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey, that looked at 18,541 women from 40 nations around the world found that 71% are not happy with their cup size, and 47% of surveyed women wanted larger breasts.

Women who feel insecure about their breasts may be less familiar with their bodies, and therefore less likely to check their breasts for lumps.

Another serious implicationimpact on young womens mental health, especially considering rising rates of breast augmentationsthe most popular form of plastic surgery since 2006.

However, the options for women desiring to enhance their body are no longer limited to the traditional methods of implants or flap surgeries.

Back in 2000, the system, designed by Brava LLC, a Florida-based company, revolutionized the beauty & healthcare industry and breast enhancement. Brava was one of the very first Intetics clients, the team empowered the system with the software solutions: developed a comprehensive website with B2B and B2C capabilities, Customer Support, CRM, and Content Management Systems.

About Brava  a Proprietary Non-Surgical Cosmetic Body Shaping System

BRAVA is a revolutionary device, that works by placing a gentle amount of negative pressure on the entire breast. This negative pressure actually stretches the breast with its internal tissue. The skin and all the underlying tissues down to the chest wall expand to create a fertile matrix that will allow large volumes of fat to be transferred and then to survive, as stated by Miami Breast Center. The internal effects and benefits of the BRAVA expansion is one of the most effective methods for breast augmentation and reconstruction.

The Clients Story of How It Happened

Murat Kuru, Brava's former Chief Engineering/Information Officer shared in an exclusive interview with Irina Dubovik, Intetics Digital Marketing Director, how Brava & Intetics' cooperation started, their success story, what pitfalls were along the way, and how Murat sees the future of the healthcare industry.

Irina: Murat, tell us about yourself and how your journey at Brava started?

Murat: I have a background in military electronics, but I came to work as an oceanographer in Miami. My core expertise lies in electronics engineering, which led me to pursue a master's degree in the same field. I spent approximately eight years at the University of Miami focusing on ocean-related research. One day, I have injured my hand while participating in an oil exploration project in Trinidad. Upon returning, I sought the assistance of a hand specialist for medical treatment.

That doctor turned out to be Dr. Roger Khouri. He is the inventor of Brava. At that time, it wasn't even called Brava yet. Then I met a businessman, Mr. Carlos Freyre. Mr. Freyre and Dr Khouri, with other investors, started a company to build and market the device. They asked me, whether I would like to design this device for them. And I said, yes, I will do it. So, the journey began.

I left the University of Miami, started working on the device with Mr. Freyre and Dr. Khouri. The external sustained suction of the Brava device helped the tissue to grow without any surgical procedure. Dr Khouri explained the mechanism by giving similar examples like neck extension in some African tribes, or the limb extension using the Ilizarov devices. The same concept was the basis of the Brava system.

Irina: Why did this idea, which was quite innovative for its time, catch you? And why did you decide to collaborate with Dr. Khouri?

Murat: It is always exciting to develop a new thing. After designing the prototype, I realized creating a system showcasing how well it works would be great. The users didn't know exactly what their progress was during the treatment and the doctors did not know the compliance to the specified protocol. We were physically bringing the prototypes we were using in the clinical trials into our office to see the users data which was collected in the Brava controller they were using.

So, I thought I could make this process easier. I have designed a modem link. Of course, there were no widespread cell phones, ADSL, or similar devices at that time. Internet access was quite new. So, I designed a dial-in modem in a small charging cradle device for the controller of the Brava system. You would put the controller on the cradle, connect it to the phone line and then transfer the detailed usage data to a server. Then, the user and the doctor could view the data and assess the progress. It worked, and it was great. We could show usage wear patterns and people liked that.

We have grown into a team of 40 people in the early year 2000. But I was the only engineer in the company then. I said, okay, I'm doing the electronics, but I need somebody to do the software part. I have written the embedded software, but we also needed a professional website to promote our product. Although I designed the first Brava web page, it needed to be more sales- and client-oriented.

Irina: Please, share with our readers how did your cooperation with Intetics started?

Murat: I came across a company called Web Space Station (former name of Intetics). I have started communicating with Boris, Intetics CEO and President.

And then, in April 2000, the Intetics team developed our new website and later transformed a simple website into something much bigger. It became like a data transfer hub.

Just think of this, you have a device sending the data to a server somewhere. And now, from that server, the doctors and patients can log in and see what's going on, how many hours they were using the device, how much breast growth progress they had, and the doctors could track it. Boris and I even joke about this: this was IoT before there was IoT.

We were working together nonstop. We installed more and more servers first in Japan then in China. The amount of data grew very fast. New users were also located in Europe: we had them in England, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland etc. Everybody using the device was sending data to our servers to be saved and viewed by them. The company continued to grow.

Later, when the software was written and needed no more adjustment, Intetics started working with us as the maintenance team. If the server went down or something happened, I would transfer everything to the Intetics server, and our clients could still access data. Thus, we remained always accessible. Whenever we needed something, Intetics was there. We continued to improve our software together with Intetics until 2015.

Irina: How did you manage to launch a totally innovative project revolutionizing the healthcare industry? Please share the biggest challenge you faced.

Murat: The device was initially invented by plastic surgeon Dr. Khouri. He has been working on his idea for years, but it only became a product after he and Mr. Freyre started Brava.

As the device would bring changes to the body, it becomes a Class II medical device, which requires FDA approval and continuous risk management. This is always challenging and expensive for small companies. Brava was no exception. In Europe, particularly in England, several alternative products were already on sale as they didn't undergo the same rigorous testing process we needed in the USA.

Irina: Who were your major clients, and were they primarily Dr. Khouri's patients, or did you attract them online?

Murat: First, we started registering doctors for Brava sales. We had a team of 4 Sales Managers in different parts of the United States. Each was going to the doctors' offices in their designated states to give a demonstration of the Brava device. The users would then buy and use it from the doctors. That's how we worked for about four or five years.

Eventually, it became too costly to continue with that marketing model. At some point, we had around 500 doctors, and all were managed through the digital ecosystem built by Intetics.

Using the doctors as the sale channel is quite expensive. So, the original Brava device was expensive in the USA. We then created a simpler version of the Brava device without the data transfer component which was sold directly to the consumer. All the changes we implemented required changing or adding things to the software. Intetics was always there.

We also sold the device in other countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, etc. We have used local distributors in each country. The list of countries was quite extensive.

Irina: Any innovation brings about something good. What do you consider the success of the Brava product?

Murat: Around 50000 patients used the device all around the world. Most of them really liked it. Patients gained a one-cup size enhancement in just ten months without surgery. Just think of this: how long does it take for nature to do it? When somebody is growing up, it takes years.

The full interview is available at the link.

About Intetics

Intetics Inc. is a leading American technology company providing custom software application development, distributed professional teams creation, software product quality assessment, and all-things-digital solutions built with SMAC, RPA, AI/ML, IoT, blockchain, and GIS/UAV/LBS technologies.

Based on proprietary pioneering business models of Offshore Dedicated Team and Remote In-Sourcing, an advanced Technical Debt Reduction Platform (TETRA) and measurable SLAs for software engineering, Intetics helps innovative organizations capitalize on global talent with our in-depth engineering expertise based on our Predictive Software Engineering framework.

Intetics core strength lays in design of software products in conditions of incomplete specifications. We have extensive industry expertise in Education, Healthcare, Logistics, Life Sciences, Finance, Insurance, Communications, and custom ERP, CRM, Intelligent Automation and Geospatial solutions.

Our advanced software engineering background and outstanding quality management platform, along with an unparalleled methodology for talent acquisition, team building and talent retention, guarantee that our clients receive exceptional results for their projects. At Intetics, our outcomes do not just meet clients expectations, they have been exceeding them for a quarter of a century. Intetics operates from multiple offices in the USA, Europe and Latin America, hiring the best talent available worldwide.

Intetics is ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 27001 (security) certified and a Microsoft Gold, Amazon, and UiPath Silver partner. The companys innovation and growth achievements are reflected in winning prestigious titles and awards, including Inc5000, Software 500, CRN 100, American Business, Deloitte Fast 50, European IT Excellence, Best European BPO, Stevie Peoples Choice, Clutch and ACQ5 Awards, IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 and Fortune Innovative 300 lists.

You can find more information at https://intetics.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8469bead-2e25-46c6-a212-e5440fe78d5e
DALLAS, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the community management industrys largest company, is pleased to announce that Brad Wells has been promoted to regional vice president, international region. In his new role, Wells will drive strategy development, manage operational business activities, and mentor branch personnel. He will also provide Associa branches with guidance and support to reach assigned goals and objectives.

Wells joined Associas Wilson Blanchard Management affiliate in 2008 as a condominium manager. He subsequently served as director of condominium management, senior vice president, and president prior to his current role. Wells has managed condominium corporations and commercial properties since 2002 and holds RCM, RPA, and CMCA professional certifications. He is a long-time member of multiple trade groups, including serving as president of the Canadian Condominium Institute Grand River Chapter. He speaks regularly at industry events and has taught classes on condominium law at Mohawk College since 2017. Wells holds an MBA from Western University Ivey School of Business.

Brad is an extremely well-rounded communicator, collaborator, and strategist who excels at building strong relationships inside and outside the company, said Associa Chief Operating Officer Jon Hunter. His unique understanding of client needs and expectations let him achieve results that consistently align with our focus on client satisfaction and employee experience.

About Associa

With more than 275 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly six million residents worldwide. Our 14,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 44 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

Stay Connected

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

Attachment
New York, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Secondary Macronutrients Market by Nutrient, Crop Type, Mode of Application, Form and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05353727/?utm_source=GNW

They improve the quality of crops, enhance yield, and promote soil fertility and productivity. The benefits of secondary macronutrients extend beyond the plant to include improved resistance to diseases and pests.



sulfur is the second largest segment which is expected to be gain second largest market share in 2022.

Sulfur is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development and plays a key role in crop production.It is part of several important plant compounds, including amino acids, proteins and enzymes.



It also help to improve overall plant health and vigor.It is necessary for the formation of chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis.



Sulfur is important for the uptake of other important plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This helps improve the efficiency of nutrient uptake and utilization, which can increase performance.



The fruits and vegetables segment is the second largest, projected to accounted for the largest market share in 2022

The main factors driving the use of secondary macronutrients in major fruit and vegetable production and export regions are increased fruit production, good quality fruit and lower production costs.Increase in production of fruits such as strawberries, apples, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, chilies, peppers, tomatoes, chilies, among others.



The expansion of world trade has increased the availability of fruits and vegetables from various parts of the world, making them even more accessible to consumers, will further boost the market.



The dry form segment is forecasted to occupy for the largest market share in 2022.

Dry forms of secondary macronutrients are easy to handle and transport, making them a convenient choice for farmers.Dry forms of secondary macronutrients are usually less expensive than their liquid counterparts.



This cost-effectiveness is particularly beneficial to farmers who require large quantities of these nutrients.Dry forms of secondary macronutrients have a longer shelf life than liquid forms.



This means they can be stored for longer periods of time without the risk of spoilage, making them a reliable choice for farmers who need to ensure a constant supply of food.



Asia Pacific market is projected to gain largest market share during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific market is the largest market for secondary macronutrients.This is due to the higher production of fruits and vegetables in the region.



In the Asia-Pacific region, wheat, barley, corn, tomatoes, grapes, seeds and stone fruits grow the most.These crops are also exported in large quantities to different parts of the world.



Food security is an important goal for many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and the use of fertilizers containing secondary macronutrients can play a role in achieving this goal by increasing yield and improving the nutritional value of crops.Farmers in Asia and the Pacific are increasingly adopting crop rotation practices that can help improve soil health and nutrient availability.



The use of fertilizers containing secondary macronutrients can complement these practices and support crop production. This has led to increased utilization of the secondary macronutrients market and stimulated the growth of the secondary macronutrients market in the region.



Break-up of Primaries:

 By Company type: Tier 1  35%, Tier 2  45%, and Tier 3  20%

 By Designation: C level  35%, Director level  25%, Others  40%

 By Geography: North America 40%, Asia Pacific  30%, Europe 20%, South America- 5% and RoW 5%



Some Leading players profiled in this report:

 Nutrien Ltd. (Canada)

 Yara (Norway)

 The Mosaic Company (US)

 Israel Chemicals Ltd. (Israel)

 K+S Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)

 IFFCO (India)

 Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (India)

 Coromandel International Ltd (India)



Research Coverage:

This research report categorizes the secondary macronutrients market by nutrient (calcium, sulfur and magnesium), by crop type (cereals & grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, and other crop types), by mode of application (liquid application and solid application), by form (dry form and liquid form), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and RoW).The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the secondary macronutrient market.



A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, solutions; key strategies; partnerships, agreements; new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and recent developments associated with the secondary macronutrient market. Competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the secondary macronutrients market ecosystem is covered in this report.



Reasons to buy this report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall secondary macronutrients market and the subsegments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and to plan suitable go-to-market strategies.



The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

 Analysis of key drivers (Need for increasing crop production, Increased demand for high-value crops like fruits & vegetables, Increased demand for high-value crops like fruits & vegetables, Advancements in agricultural research and technology, Crop quality and market demand), restraints (Price volatility and fluctuations in the global market, Rising instances of counterfeit goods), opportunities (Precision agriculture for nutrient control on a site-by-site basis, Precision agriculture for nutrient control on a site-by-site basis, Integrated nutrient management (INM)), and challenges (Utilization of agricultural biologicals in farming, Lack of regulatory standards) influencing the growth of the secondary macronutrients market.

 Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the secondary macronutrient market

 Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets  the report analyses the secondary macronutrients market across varied regions

 Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the secondary macronutrients market

 Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies and product offerings of leading players like Nutrien Ltd. (Canada), Yara (Norway), The Mosaic Company (US), Israel Chemicals Ltd. (Israel), K+S Aktiengesellschaft (Germany), IFFCO (India), Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (India), Coromandel International Ltd (India), Koch Industries, INC. (US) and Nufarm (Australia) among others in the secondary macronutrients market strategies.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05353727/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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New York, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "North America Blood Glucose Monitoring Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459648/?utm_source=GNW

The North American blood glucose monitoring market is expected to register a CAGR greater than 8% over the forecast period.



In North America, diabetes incidence for Type-2 diabetes and other diabetes forms was numerically higher in individuals with COVID-19. Insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion have been described in individuals without diabetes history who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infections. It has been suggested that diagnosis and treatment of post-COVID-19 syndrome require integrated rather than disease-specific approaches.



Over the past decade, there has been a tremendous increase in the diabetic population globally. Several reports and surveys documented a drastic increase in the diabetic population based on the changes in lifestyles and habits. The growing diabetic population drives blood monitoring devices, such as CGM. Nearly 90% of Type-1 diabetic patients in developed countries use a glucometer. Nearly 50% of Type-2 patients are expected to use a glucometer during the forecast period.



North America dominates the global insulin therapeutics market, owing to the high prevalence of diabetes in the region because of the sedentary lifestyle and the launch of new drugs. The United States is expected to grow tremendously during the forecast period, owing to factors such as the high prevalence of obesity and increasing awareness regarding diabetes care in the region.



Therefore, owing to the factors mentioned above, the studied market is anticipated to witness growth over the analysis period.



North America Blood Glucose Monitoring Market Trends



Continuous Glucose Monitoring Holds Highest Market Share in Europe Blood Glucose Monitoring Market.



CGMs are used to deliver a further descriptive picture of blood glucose patterns and trends than what may be achieved by traditional routine checking of glucose levels at set intervals. The current CGM devices can either retrospectively display the trends in blood glucose levels by downloading the data or give a real-time picture of glucose levels through receiver displays. Mostly real-time CGMs may offer an alert to patients, parents, or caregivers during actual or pending glycemic visits to facilitate timely management of blood glucose. This factor, along with the fact that CGM devices are becoming cheaper with the advent of new technologies, like cell phone integration, the CGM market is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period.



The use of CGM by Type-1 diabetic patients is very less as compared to Type-2 diabetic patients. However, the expenditure incurred by Type-1 diabetic patients on these devices is nearly double that of Type-2 diabetics. The Abbott Freestyle Libre and the Dexcom G6s newest CGM models overcame many technical barriers. However, high costs and uncertainties about their efficacy and necessity kept CGM from widely used by people with Type-2 diabetes. Moreover, to lower the cost burden of diabetic patients in the United States, Abbott introduced a new, lower-priced category with Libre, at around USD 75 to USD 150 each month (two sensors that last 14 days each).



The rise in national awareness of diabetes is anticipated to drive the adoption of both SMBGs and CGMs on account of the prognostic and diagnostic treatment of diabetes.



The United States is Expected to Dominate the North America Blood Glucose Monitoring Market.



In the United States, the prevalence of diabetes increased dramatically in the last two decades, a fact driven by the increased prevalence of obesity and lifestyle changes. Diabetes ranks among the fast-growing chronic diseases in the United States. About 1.75 million US citizens are diagnosed with diabetes every year. The country also has the highest obese population, which is a prominent cause of Type-2 diabetes.



In the United States, there are several innovations by startups, like Glooko, OneDrop, Verily, Vacate, Insulet, Noom, Bigfoot Biomedical, Virta Health, and Diabeloop, Orgenesis launched in the market.



The market for diabetes care devices is expected to experience steady growth due to the greater prevalence of obesity, owing to less physical activity, unhealthy food habits, and other lifestyle factors. Abbott and Dexcom received FDA approval to use continuous glucose monitoring in US hospitals for COVID-19-affected people. Dexcom began shipping CGMs to hospitals in April 2020. It plans to make 100,000 sensors for hospitals at low costs. The company plans to donate 10,000 phones and CGM readers to hospitals for scanning those sensors.



The growing awareness among people regarding advanced diabetes care products may positively impact the North American diabetes care devices market in the future.



North America Blood Glucose Monitoring Industry Overview



The blood glucose monitoring market is highly fragmented, with few major manufacturers present in the market. The CGM devices market is dominated by a few major players, like Dexcom, Medtronics, Abbott, and Senseonics. The market for BGM devices comprises more generic players like Roche, LifeScan, Arkray, Ascensia, etc. Technological innovations in the recent past helped the companies to strengthen their market presence.



Additional Benefits:



The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06459648/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

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WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, July 18, at 9:30 a.m. (EDT), Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) , joined by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Deputy NASA Administrator Pam Melroy will announce the results and gains in the FY2022 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard, including NASAs rating, at an event hosted by NASA.

The annual scorecard is an assessment tool that measures how well federal agencies reach their small business and socio-economic prime contracting and subcontracting goals. The prime and subcontracting component goals include targets for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, etc.

Every fiscal year, the SBA works with each federal agency to set their prime and subcontracting goals, and their grades are based on the agreed-upon goals. Each federal agency has a different small business prime contracting goal. The SBA ensures that the sum total of all the goals exceeds the 23 percent target established by law.

NASAs Karla Smith Jackson, deputy chief acquisition officer and assistant administrator for procurement, and Glenn Delgado, associate administrator for the agencys Office of Small Business Programs, as well as small business leaders who work with NASA, will also attend.

WHAT: Press Conference on FY2022 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard Results

WHO: BA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson

Deputy NASA Administrator Pam Melroy

WHEN: Tuesday, July 18, at 9:30 a.m. (EDT)

WHERE: NASA HEADQUARTERS, Earth Information Center, East Lobby, 300 E St., SW, Washington, D.C.

RSVP: Press must RSVP for the event to Tiffani.Clements@sba.gov no later than two hours before the start of the event. Please also let us know if you need an accommodation. Note that press who need to set up cameras should arrive at 8:45 a.m. EDT.



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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Miami, FL, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTC: ETST) (ETST or Company), a holding entity currently focused on the health and wellness industry, today shares that the Board of Directors has appointed Gabrielle Schuster as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company. Furthermore, its subsidiary, RxCompoundStore.com, LLC. has received approval to ship into additional states.



CFO Appointment :

On July 17, 2023, the Companys Board of Directors appointed Gabrielle Schuster as the Companys CFO succeeding Wendell Hecker.

Gabrielle Schuster is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and member of the AICPA. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in accounting. Gabrielle has over 10 years of experience working in the public accounting arena with extensive experience in financial statement audit, controls assessment, and financial reporting. She began her career at Deloitte performing financial statement audits for both publicly traded and privately held clients. She continued her career accomplishments at Ryder Systems, Inc. and Tyco International focusing on management of the close process and operational reporting. Gabrielle went on to serve as controller in a variety of industries including real estate & property management, and medical consulting where she excelled in building accounting teams, developing refined month end close processes and automating financial reporting and consolidation. In 2015, Gabrielle joined IZ Forensics, LLC providing business consulting and outsourced controller services.

RxCompound Store.com, LLC. Additional States Approval :

As of July 17, 2023, RxCompoundStore.com, LLC. has expanded its dispensing capability to ship into five additional states. RxCompoundStore.com, LLC. is now positioned to fulfill in fourteen major states that include Florida, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.

We are very appreciative of Mr. Heckers time as CFO for ETST. I want to thank him for agreeing to stay on board as a consultant while our new CFO Gabrielle Schuster settles in. I think Gabrielle is a great addition to our management team and I look forward to working with her as we continue towards our goal of making this a great company. stated ETSTs CEO and Chairman of the Board, Giorgio R. Saumat.

About Earth Science Tech, Inc.

Earth Science Tech, Inc. is a holding entity currently in compounding pharmaceuticals and telemedicine through its wholly owned subsidiaries RxCompoundStore.com, LLC., Peaks Curative, LLC. and Earth Science Foundation, Inc.

To learn more, please visit: www.EarthScienceTech.com

RxCompoundStore.com, LLC.

RxCompound is a complete compounding pharmacy. RxCompound is currently licensed to fulfill prescriptions in the states of Florida, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Massachusetts. RxCompound is in the application process to obtain licenses in the remaining states in which it is not yet approved to ship prescriptions.

To learn more please visit: www.RxCompoundStore.com

About Peaks Curative, LLC.

Peaks is a telemedicine referral site focused on mens health. Peaks orders are exclusively fulfilled by RxCompound. Patients who order Peaks via monthly subscription receive their refills automatically. Currently, Peaks is focused on Mens health, and, more specifically, ED. The company intends to expand offerings to include over the counter (OTC) (non-prescription) products such as supplements and topicals. The OTC products will be custom manufactured or fulfilled through partnered companies under the Peaks brand and offered worldwide.

To learn more please visit: www.PeaksCurative.com

About Earth Science Foundation, Inc.

Earth Science Foundation Inc. is a favored entity of the Company, effectively being a non-profit organization that was incorporated on February 11, 2019, and is structured to accept grants and donations to help those in need of assistance in paying for prescriptions.

SAFE HARBOR ACT: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, listing on the CSE, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact:

Nickolas S. Tabraue

Chief Compliance Officer

(786) 375-7281

Nick@earthsciencetech.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FSE: 89N) (MAX Power or the Company) has become a leading landowner in the emerging Raglan Lithium District, Northern Quebec, with the acquisition of 802 claims or 336 sq. km at Raglan South beginning approximately 10 km south of KoBold Metals large battery metals project.



Combined with its holdings at Raglan West (refer to July 11, 2023 news release), MAX Power now has 100% ownership of 558 sq. km in the broader Raglan district. This makes MAX Power the second largest lithium-focused landowner in this key part of Nunavik featuring two operating mines and a deep-sea port (refer to attached map, Figure 1).

Highly-trained crews utilizing state-of-the-art technology will quickly and extensively cover Raglan South following completion of Phase 1 field work at Raglan West, ahead of initial drilling this summer of prospective pegmatite zones in Phase 2 follow-up. The Company is highly encouraged by a just-completed Phase 1 program at its Spark Property in the New Leaf Lithium Camp in southern Nunavik, underscoring the rationale for its strategic entry into geologically-rich Nunavik (comprising the top third of Quebec) for the potential discovery of entirely new high-grade lithium districts. MAX Powers exploration partner, GroundTruth Exploration, is excelling at logistics, exploration coverage, and community relations.

Raglan South Highlights:

MAXs dominant land position at Raglan South captures approximately 80% of the nearly 60-km-long northern border of the district which straddles a major tectonic boundary;

Strong geochemistry: Each of MAXs Raglan South claim blocks has a notable concentration of 99th percentile lithium and cesium in lake bottom sediments in the Quebec government database;

lithium and cesium in lake bottom sediments in the Quebec government database; Favourable geology: MAXs Raglan South land package includes the metavolcanic Peltier Belt set within tonalitic and felsic intrusive host rocks;

Historically mapped pegmatites: While Raglan South has only been lightly prospected and mapped historically, pegmatites have been noted in the district, including on ground held by MAX Power, but these pegmatites were never tested for their lithium potential according to historic reports. These host rocks have undergone magmatic fractionation. As a result of this, the rocks are enriched in Rb and Cs (LILE, large ion lithophile elements). Rubidium and caesium are known to have a positive affiliation with lithium (Sigeom report, RG200302). Upcoming field work is expected to outline an abundance of new pegmatites on MAXs claim blocks as has been the case at the Spark Property in the New Leaf Camp approximately 400 km to the south;

MAXs Raglan South claims were staked by a Shawn Ryan-led syndicate in early February 2023 at the beginning of the initial staking rush for lithium in the region.



Mr. Peter Lauder, MAX Power Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager, and Member of the Order of Quebec Geologists, commented: Raglan South has its own unique and intriguing geological environment, prospective for lithium, directly below the Cape Smith Nickel Belt which hosts one of the worlds premier nickel mines and large tracts of ground favorable for other nickel deposits as well as copper, cobalt and gold.

Mr. Lauder added, The emerging Raglan South Lithium Camp, outside of the nickel belt, has the right signatures for hosting potential spodumene-bearing lithium mineralization, so this acquisition of three large claim blocks gives MAX Power and its shareholders impressive leverage in the event of the first lithium discovery in this under-explored area this summer. This is above the treeline with vast amounts of interesting outcrop to explore.

Mr. Rav Mlait, MAX Power President and CEO, added: The Raglan District features one of the most successful and well-funded privately-owned mining and exploration companies in the world in KoBold Metals, who are actively drilling on their land package. The presence of KoBold, combined with existing mining operations, heightens the potential of the Raglan District to become a global leader in battery metals exploration and production, using sector-leading technologies. MAX Power is now exceptionally well-positioned to benefit from its own exploration initiatives and other exciting developments in this region.

Figure 1. Nunavik Raglan District Area Map





The Deal

The Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (Agreement) for 100% the Property with consortium of six sellers made up of Shawn Ryan et al. (the Vendor) for consideration of 1 million common shares (the Consideration Shares) of the Company and $216,540 cash. Furthermore, the Company has granted a 1% net smelter royalty (NSR) to Shawn Ryan in relation to the Property. All common shares issued in connection with the Agreement are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. All terms are subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE).

Bonus shares are payable to the Vendor with respect to the Agreement as follows:

1,000,000 share one-time bonus payment if a drill hole in 2023 drill program at Raglan South intersects a core length of at least 100 meters grading at least 2.0% Li 2 O;

O; 500,000 share one-time bonus payment if a drill hole in 2023 drill program at Raglan South, separate from the above 100-meter core length, intersects a core length of at least 50 meters grading at least 1.5% Li 2 O.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Lauder, P.Geo., Member of the Order of Geologists of Quebec and Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager for MAX Power Mining Corp. Mr. Lauder is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

About MAX Power

MAX Power is a dynamic exploration stage resource company targeting domestic lithium resources to advance North Americas renewable energy prospects. MAX Power has also entered into a co-operative research and development agreement with the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to develop state-of-the-art direct lithium extraction technologies for brine resources.

Contact:

info@maxpowermining.com

MarketSmart Communications

Phone: 1-877-261-4466

Forward-Looking Cautionary Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration, drilling, mineralization and historical results on the Properties; the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the initiation of and the results thereby of any future drilling program, mineralization and the discovery mineralization (if any); plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Properties and the Nunavik region, generally; the potential for lithium within the Properties; commentary as it related to the opportune timing to explore lithium exploration and any anticipated increasing demand for lithium; future press releases by the Company; funding of any future drilling program; regulatory approval, including but not limited to the CSE. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," interpreted, "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," suggests, often, target, future, likely, pending, "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," possibly, preliminary, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of assay results and the drilling program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this news release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6007d27-19d8-47b4-96fd-e68ef0859cef
GRIMSBY, Ontario, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Andrew Peller Limited (ADW.A / ADW.B) (the Company) announces John Peller, President and Chief Executive Officer, has been named 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Niagara Chamber of Commerce.



The Niagara Chamber of Commerce held its 2023 Annual Business Achievement Awards on June 15th, 2023 in St Catherines, Ontario, Canada. John Peller, President and Chief Executive Officer, was named Entrepreneur of the Year for his outstanding contribution to business and the economic prosperity of Niagara.

I am honored to have received this recognition from the Niagara Chamber of Commerce, commented John Peller, President and Chief Executive Officer. We have been a proud employer and producer of quality wines in the Niagara region for more than 50 years, and we remain committed to supporting long term sustainable growth in the region.

Details on the event can be found at https://gncc.ca/2023-niagara-business-achievement-awards/

About Andrew Peller Limited

Andrew Peller Limited is one of Canadas leading producers and marketers of quality wines and craft beverage alcohol products. The Companys award-winning premium and ultra-premium Vintners Quality Alliance brands include Peller Estates, Trius, Thirty Bench, Wayne Gretzky, Sandhill, Red Rooster, Black Hills Estate Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Gray Monk Estate Winery, Raven Conspiracy, and Conviction. Complementing these premium brands are a number of popularly priced varietal offerings, wine-based liqueurs, craft ciders, beer and craft spirits. The Company owns and operates 101 well-positioned independent retail locations in Ontario under The Wine Shop, Wine Country Vintners, and Wine Country Merchants store names. The Company also operates Andrew Peller Import Agency and The Small Winemakers Collection Inc., importers and marketing agents of premium wines from around the world. With a focus on serving the needs of all wine consumers, the Company produces and markets premium personal winemaking products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Global Vintners Inc., the recognized leader in personal winemaking products. More information about the Company can be found at www.ir.andrewpeller.com.

Andrew Peller Limited common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbols ADW.A and ADW.B).

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Paul Dubkowski, CFO and Executive Vice-President, IT

(905) 643-4131

Source: Andrew Peller Limited
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN UNITED STATES

CALGARY, Alberta, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pieridae Energy Limited (Pieridae or the Company) (TSX: PEA) will release its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 on Wednesday, August 9th, 2023, after markets close.

President & Chief Operating Officer Darcy Reding and Chief Financial Officer Adam Gray will discuss the financial results and company developments on an investor conference call and webcast on Thursday August 10th, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. MDT / 10:30 a.m. EDT.

To register to participate via webcast please follow this link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/c7zracbt

Alternatively, to register to participate by telephone please follow this link:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIc93a3724a33846f4891feacd3a474c66

A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the conclusion of the event and may be accessed using the webcast link above.

ABOUT PIERIDAE

Pieridae is a Canadian energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Through corporate and asset acquisitions, we have grown into a significant upstream and midstream producer with assets concentrated in the Canadian Foothills, producing conventional natural gas, NGLs, condensate and sulphur. Pieridae provides the energy to fuel peoples daily lives while supporting the environment and the transition to a lower-carbon economy. Pieridaes common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol PEA.
SYDNEY, Australia, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Power International Limited (ASX: LPI) (LPI or the Company) has become aware of recent media speculation pertaining to the status of its Maricunga Project tenements and the Companys market disclosure. LPI refutes the information in the news articles (AFR online, Street Talk 16/7/23, reporting on a Chilean newspaper article) and confirms that the market has been fully informed, as repeated below.



On the evening of Thursday, 20 April 2023 (Chilean time), Chilean President Gabriel Boric formally announced the Chilean National Lithium Policy (NLP or Policy) on National Television. This initial speech outlined the Policy in relation to the Atacama Salar and the two producing lithium brine companies. A subsequent speech was given by President Boric on Friday, 21 April 2023 (Chilean time), discussed the other Chilean lithium brine projects, including the Companys project on the Maricunga salar.

On Monday 24 April 2023, the Company, aware of its ASX Continuous Disclosure obligations, provided a comprehensive analysis of the Policy and the effect on its Maricunga project. Shareholders and Investors were also invited to attend an investor conference call, hosted by LPIs Chief Executive Officer, Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro, on Monday 24 April 2023, at 12.00pm (Noon) AEST, to discuss the NLP further. This webinar was very well attended.

For ease of reference, the key points from this announcement are contained in an Appendix to this ASX release.

The Company also provided further information on NLP in the March 2023 Quarterly Activities Report, released to ASX on Friday 28 April 2023.

Please click here to read the full ASX release.

For further information, please contact :

Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro  CEO; or Andrew Phillips  CFO Lithium Power International

E: info@lithiumpowerinternational.com

+612 9276 1245

@LithiumPowerLPI

For Australian investor relations enquiries:

Jane Morgan  Jane Morgan Management Pty Ltd

Investor and Media Relations

+ 61 (0) 405 555 618

jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au

For Asian investor relations enquiries:

Mary Leung - 121 Group (HK) Ltd

Investor and Media Relations

+ 852 9247 6058

mary.leung@weare121.com

For U.S. and other international investor relations enquiries:

Thomas Renaud - Arrowhead Business and Investment Decisions, LLC

Office: +1 212 619-6889

enquire@arrowheadbid.com
NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE: S) between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important August 7, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.



SO WHAT: If you purchased SentinelOne securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SentinelOne class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16897 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 7, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) SentinelOne lacked effective internal controls over accounting and financial reporting; (2) as a result, SentinelOnes Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) was overstated; (3) as a result, SentinelOnes guidance was overstated; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about the Companys 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.

To join the SentinelOne class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16897 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
VANCOUVER, BC -THheNewswire - July 17, 2023 - Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE:ELEM) (OTC:ELMGF) (FSE:7YS) ("Element 79 Gold", the "Company") a mining company focused on gold, silver and associated metals, announces that it has approved the transfer of all rights and data related to the Dale property, a gold exploration project in Ontario, Canada to its newly-created, wholly-owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp ("Synergy Metals"). The Company also plans to spin out and sell Synergy Metals through a Plan of Arrangement.

"The transfer of the Dale property to Synergy Metals will help unlock the property's true value and potential while allowing the Company to continue focusing on its core assets," said James Tworek, President and CEO of Element79. "The anticipated spin out and sale of Synergy Metals will also provide additional capital for the Company's growth and offer Element79's shareholders an opportunity to participate in a new independent exploration-focused company with a promising gold project."

Further details on the proposed transaction will be announced in due course, including the timing, valuation, and distribution of Synergy Metals shares to Element79 shareholders. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary CSE requirements.

About the Dale Property

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property. The Dale Property was originally staked on June 1, 2012 after the Algoma-Talisman's appeal failed in December 2010, reverting several townships back to the Crown. Due to the history of the land tenure, Dale Township was privately held and unavailable for conventional staking and prospecting.

The area was staked due to its structural and regional relationships with other gold occurrences and an anomalous gold in till, down ice glacial outwash leading back to the Dale Stock. Other anomalous gold in glacial till outwash lead back to historic gold mines supporting the potential of undiscovered gold potential in the Dale Stock.. Placer Dome Canada Limited (PDCL) completed the most extensive exploration program in Dale Township to date, which included an airborne magnetic-electromagnetic (EM) survey, followed with a ground campaign. Preliminary exploration by the Company has returned prospecting samples up to 2.6 g/t gold from newly exposed trenches (see new release June 3, 2022).



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1.Simplified Regional Geology of the Dale Project Area, showing nearby significant deposits and producing mines.

The Dale Property is a highly prospective early-stage gold project located in the Swazye Greenstone Belt, which is turn is part of the Abitibi Subprovince which hosts some of the world's largest gold deposits, e.g. the Timmins camp which has produced over 70 million ounces of gold (Figure 1). The Swazye Greenstone Belt is best known for hosting IamGold's Cote Lake deposit which contains 10.2 million ounces Measured and Indicated and 3.8 million ounces Inferred, and is located 50 km southeast of the Dale Property (Figure 1). The Cote Lake project received a Positive Construction Decision in July 2020 and plans to achieve commercial production in 2024.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Director of Element79 Gold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Element79 Gold

Element79 Gold is a mining company focused on gold, silver and associated metals and committed to maximizing shareholder value through responsible mining practices and sustainable development of its projects. Element79 Gold's main focus is on two core properties: developing its previously-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to bring it back into production in the near term; and its flagship Maverick Springs Project located in the famous gold mining district of northeastern Nevada, USA, between the Elko and White Pine Counties. Maverick Springs hosts a 43-101-compliant, pit-constrained mineral resource estimate reflecting an inferred resource of 3.71 million ounces of gold equivalent "AuEq" at a grade of 0.92 g/t AuEq (0.34 g/t Au and 43.4 g/t Ag) with an effective date of October 19, 2022. The acquisition of the Maverick Springs Project also included a portfolio of 15 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, which are non-core to its primary business focus. In British Columbia, Element79 Gold has executed a Letter of Intent and funded a drilling program to acquire a private company that holds the option to 100% interest of the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project, which consists of 10 mineral claims located in Central British Columbia, approximately 20km west of Fort St. James. The Company also has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada in the Timmins Mining Division, Dale Township. The Company is analyzing the non-core Nevada projects, The Dale Property and Snowbird Property for further merit of exploration, sale or spin-out.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold

Contact Information

For corporate matters, please contact:

James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: jt@element79gold.com

For investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

Phone: +1.613.879.9387

E-mail: investors@element79.gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press contains "forward?looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward?looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward?looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward?looking statements".

Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the Company's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward?looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward?looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
SASKATOON, July 17, 2023 - IsoEnergy Ltd. ("IsoEnergy" or the "Company") (TSXV: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) announces that it has granted, subject to regulatory approval, 1,317,500 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company (the "Options"). The Options were granted on July 17, 2023 (the "Grant Date"), have a term of five years, vest in three annual installments commencing on the Grant Date, and are exercisable at a price of $2.61 per common share of the Company.

About IsoEnergy

IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the infrastructure-rich eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2018, the Company discovered the high-grade Hurricane Deposit on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the eastern Athabasca Basin. The Hurricane Deposit has Indicated Mineral Resources of 48.61 Million lb U 3 O 8 based on 63,800 tonnes grading 34.5% U 3 O 8 and Inferred Mineral Resources of 2.66 Million lb U 3 O 8 based on 54,300 tonnes grading 2.2% U 3 O 8 (July 8, 2022). The Hurricane Deposit is 100% owned by IsoEnergy and is unencumbered from any royalties. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development, and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd.

Qualified Person Statement

All scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Darryl Clark, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Vice-President, Exploration. Dr. Clark is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. For additional information regarding the Company's Larocque East property, please see the Technical Report titled "Technical Report on the Larocque East Project, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" dated August 4, 2022, available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.

SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.
VANCOUVER, July 17, 2023 - Foran Mining Corp. (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation ("PBCN") are proud to announce the signing of a landmark Collaboration Agreement (the "Agreement") between PBCN and Foran's wholly-owned subsidiary, McIlvenna Bay Operating Ltd. ("MBO"). This pioneering partnership is a testament to a profound alignment of interests, encapsulating shared aspirations and deep respect for cultural heritage. This agreement embeds a commitment to sustainable growth and future prosperity, underpinned by principles of mutual respect and a dedication to fostering longevity across generations.

Conceived through a collaborative endeavor, this agreement strategically emphasizes education, paving the way for comprehensive upliftment of the PBCN community. By facilitating diverse training avenues, it aims to stimulate employment and business opportunities for PBCN members. Beyond these pillars, the agreement extends thoughtfully designed financial and economic benefits to further empower the PBCN community.

Dan Myerson, Foran's Executive Chairman & CEO, commented "I am both excited and profoundly moved to announce this landmark Agreement with PBCN. This partnership is the result of truly listening to the local communities and responding with an unparalleled agreement that reflects these discussions. It speaks to our dedication to empowering the PBCN community, with a strong commitment to providing PBCN members with training and job opportunities and PBCN businesses with contracting opportunities. We believe that in order for a company to succeed over the long run, it must build deep and meaningful relationships with local rightsholders and stakeholders and prioritize those groups' needs. This agreement with PBCN is not just about what we can achieve today, but what we can build for tomorrow. It's more than a partnership; it's a commitment to shared growth, prosperity, and a legacy of success for generations to come."

"Our Creator granted us the inherent right to determine our own destiny. Part of realizing our destiny is restoring prosperity to our people. This agreement ensures that our Nation and our members can develop an economic base which provides prosperity and self-reliance while recognizing that we are stewards of our traditional lands", said Karen Bird, Chief of PBCN. "The financial benefits from the McIlvenna Bay project will make an important contribution to improving the quality of life of our members. The employment and contracting opportunities will provide sustainable and transferable careers and business opportunities for both individual PBCN Members and PBCN Businesses. While it has taken a significant amount of effort by both parties to achieve the partnership we have today, it will endure through the life of the mine. PBCN will continue to take an active role, both in collaboration with Foran, through the MBO PBCN Environment Committee, and independently through our own community-led monitoring programs."

Foran and PBCN would like to express their gratitude for the patience, diligence, and perseverance shown by all participants throughout the negotiation process. This agreement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and mutual respect.

Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Foran Mining

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Company also owns the Bigstone Project, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of its McIlvenna Bay project.

McIlvenna Bay is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. McIlvenna Bay sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

McIlvenna Bay is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its Feasibility Study on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the McIlvenna Bay Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on February 11, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.

The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF".

About Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

PBCN is an adherent to Treaty 6. PBCN has a traditional territory that encompasses vast areas of Treaty 10 and a smaller portion of Treaty 5 from northwest Manitoba, west to the west end of Trade Lake, north to Reindeer Lake and south to Sturgeon Landing and constitutes over 20,000 square miles in northern Saskatchewan and northwest Manitoba.

PBCN follows the traditional lifestyle of the Woodland Cree which led to the establishment of several communities along major economic routes including various waterways. PBCN has a population of almost 12,000 and consists of eight communities, including Amisk Lake, Deschaumbault Lake, Kinoosao, Pelican Narrows, Prince Albert, Sandy Bay, Southend, and Sturgeon Landing.

The majority of PBCN members live in the traditional territory of the eight communities, but there are also many members living in urban centres such as Prince Albert and Saskatoon. PBCN has one Chief and 14 elected Councillors, two each from Southend, Sandy Bay, and Deschambault Lake, five from Pelican Narrows, and one each from Denare Beach, Sturgeon Landing, and Prince Albert.

Forward Looking Statements

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corp. and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement.

Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: The proposed strategic investment by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan; the status and progression of credit facility discussions; unlocking the untapped value of the Company's properties, delivery of superior or any investment returns; scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities; the potential for the Company's land package to be transformational, the focus of the Company's future drill programs, the incorporation of geotechnical and hydrogeological information into the overall project design; The long-term investment horizon of shareholders; The growth of the Company from developer to producer; The certainty of funding; The future of the Company; De-risking McIlvenna Bay; Delivering on the Company's Net Positive Business strategy; Ownership and reliance on the Company's mineral projects; The Company's history of losses and potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; The Company's statements about the expected life of mine, productive capacity and other technical estimates on its projects, and the Company's reliance on technical experts with respect thereto; The Company's exposure to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Infectious Diseases and Other Health Crises on the Company; Global financial volatility and its impact on the Company; The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; Government, securities, and stock exchange regulation and policy; Legal proceedings which may have a material adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition; Capital market conditions and their effect on the securities of the Company; Insurance and uninsurable risks; Environmental, health and safety regulation and policy; Mining hazards and risks; Title rights to the Company's projects; Indigenous peoples' title and other legal claims; Mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; Uncertainties and risks relating to the Feasibility Studies; Fluctuations in commodity prices, including metals; Competition; Expertise and proficiency of management; Limited operating history; The availability of future financing; Dilutive effects; Impacts of global climate change and natural disasters; Inadequate infrastructure; Relationships with local communities; Reputational damage; Risks arising from the Company's reliance on financial instruments; Risks arising from future acquisitions; Management conflicts of interest; Security breaches of the Company's information systems; and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE Foran Mining Corp.
VANCOUVER, July 17, 2023 - Prime Mining Corp. ("Prime" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PRYM, OTCQX: PRMNF, Frankfurt: 04V3) announces that shareholder voting at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders held on July 14, 2023 has resulted in the election of all the directors listed as nominees in management's information circular dated June 9, 2023, as well as the approval of all matters presented. Summaries of the results of voting are provided below.



Prime is focused on the exploration and development of its wholly owned Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project in Sinaloa State, Mexico ("Los Reyes" or the "Project"). Recent highlights include:

Release of an updated mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for the Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project on May 2, 2023 that included Prime drilling results through December 2022. The MRE contains 1.47 million Indicated gold equivalent ("AuEq" 1 ) ounces at a 1.68 grams per tonne ("gpt") average grade. This is 1.0 million ounces of gold at 1.16 gpt and 35 million ounces of silver at 40.4 gpt. The MRE also contains 0.73 million Inferred AuEq ounces at a 1.26 gpt average grade. This is 0.5 million ounces of gold at 0.85 gpt and 18.4 million ounces of silver at 31.5 gpt. The MRE areas remain open along strike and at depth. The associated 2023 Technical Report was filed on June 13, 2023 and can be found on the Company's website at https://primeminingcorp.ca/ and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, under the Company's Issuer Profile.

) ounces at a 1.68 grams per tonne ("gpt") average grade. This is 1.0 million ounces of gold at 1.16 gpt and 35 million ounces of silver at 40.4 gpt. The MRE also contains 0.73 million Inferred AuEq ounces at a 1.26 gpt average grade. This is 0.5 million ounces of gold at 0.85 gpt and 18.4 million ounces of silver at 31.5 gpt. The MRE areas remain open along strike and at depth. The associated 2023 Technical Report was filed on June 13, 2023 and can be found on the Company's website at https://primeminingcorp.ca/ and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, under the Company's Issuer Profile. Cash balance of $45.5 million (as of May 12, 2023 and following the accelerated expiry of certain warrants), which funds the Company's increased exploration drilling program of 60,000 metres (m) for 2023 and a similar program expected in 2024. Technical programs are ongoing in areas such as metallurgical test work and geotechnical assessments.

Discovery of new wide zones of high-grade mineralization in Z-T area significantly below the MRE pits, with expansion drilling intersecting 5.10 gpt AuEq 1 over 11.4 metres and 4.86 gpt AuEq over 13.3 metres.

over 11.4 metres and 4.86 gpt AuEq over 13.3 metres. Extension of mineralization beyond Los Reyes MRE pit at the Central Area with discoveries similar to the Z-T structures, including 5 gpt AuEq1 over 9.1 metres and 1.50 gpt AuEq over 14.0 metres.

Voting results for the resolution to set the number of directors to be elected at Eight (8) are as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Against % Against 76,576,552 99.933% 51,133 0.067%

Voting results for the resolution approving the appointment of nominees are as follows:

Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Murray John 73,820,952 99.961% 28,963 0.039% Daniel Kunz 73,362,287 99.340% 487,628 0.660% Andrew Bowering 69,402,059 93.977% 4,447,856 6.023% Paul Larkin 42,782,373 57.932% 31,067,542 42.068% Marc Prefontaine 69,322,979 93.870% 4,526,936 6.130% Paul Sweeney 73,817,997 99.957% 31,918 0.043% Edie Hofmeister 72,912,581 98.731% 937,334 1.269% Chantal Gosselin 73,017,986 98.873% 831,929 1.127%

Voting results for the resolution to approve Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accounts as auditor of the Company, and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration are as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld 76,604,006 99.969% 23,679 0.031%

Voting results for the resolution to re-approve the Company's stock option plan are as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Against % Against 70,109,849 94.936% 3,740,066 5.064%

Voting results for the resolution to re-approve the Company's long-term incentive plan are as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Against % Against 70,095,674 94.916% 3,754,241 5.084%

Note 1: Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on an assumed gold price of $US 1700 per ounce and silver price of $22 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (gpt) = Au grade + Ag grade x ($22 / $1,700). Metallurgical recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be 93% and 83% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in a mill, and 72% and 25% respectively when heap-leached.

QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures

Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetre "mm"), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored.

Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole.

Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns.

Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements.

Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21.

Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories.

Qualified Person

Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release.

Additional Notes

Metres is represented by "m"; "etw" is Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or comparisons with other on-section drill holes; "Au" refers to gold, and "Ag" refers to silver; "gpt" is grams per metric tonne; some figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum average of 0.20 gpt or 1.0 gpt as indicated in "Au Cut-off" column of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 gpt Au cut-off is used to define higher-grade "cores" within the lower-grade halo.

About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project

Los Reyes is a rapidly evolving high-grade, low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent approximately US$30 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 120,000 m of drilling. On May 2, 2023, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit constrained resource (see below, and refer to Note 1 and the May 2, 2023 press release for more details).

May 2, 2023 Resource Statement





Drilling is on-going and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas.

Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Prime's acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies.

About Prime Mining

Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Los Reyes Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel Kunz

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Kunz

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Prime Mining Corp.

1307 S. Colorado Ave.

Boise, Idaho 83706

Telephone: +1 (208) 926-6379 office

email: daniel@primeminingcorp.ca

Scott Hicks

Executive Vice President

Prime Mining Corp.

710 - 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC, V6E 2Y3

Telephone: +1 (604) 428-6128 office

email: scott.hicks@primeminingcorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Company's properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Company's exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated April 22, 2022, available on www.sedar.com. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

A table accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85732904-1bf8-4250-b7c5-714c1f7389fc
Vancouver, July 17, 2023 - Slave Lake Zinc Corp. (CSE: SLZ) (the "Company") Slave Lake Zinc is excited to share its corporate update and announce its exploration plans for lithium potential in Canada's Northwest Territories. The company is currently designing its summer exploration program and is eagerly anticipating the sampling of pegmatite formations on its property for potential lithium content. This project could potentially add to the company's already important critical metals project in the region.

The company's geologists and advisors have identified numerous significant pegmatite formations from historic mapping conducted on the maiden O'Connor Lake MWK claims from the 1950s. These formations have been mapped over several hundreds of meters. This historical mapping was conducted in conjunction with the then-company, American Yellowknife Mines, which was establishing production for zinc/lead at O'Connor Lake prior to operations halting due to poor metals prices in the early 1950s.

Slave Lake Zinc plans to dispatch a field team to conduct initial reconnaissance mapping and sampling of the pegmatites noted in the historic reports. This effort will focus on O'Connor Lake and specifically the extensive claims established by Slave Lake Zinc during the 2022 season. These claims cover all the historic mapped areas from the original MWK claims and the areas of historic mapping of known pegmatite showings.

The O'Connor Lake property is located immediately south of the Yellowknife Pegmatite Belt, and the company believes that the property is simply an extension to the south of this pegmatite corridor. Government geologists suggest the host rocks in the O'Connor Lake area are similar to the granitic intrusive complex in the Hearne Channel-Beaulieu River area on the north side of Great Slave Lake.

The map below illustrates the current location of some of the projects claiming to have lithium-bearing pegmatite on their properties within the north of the East Arm of Great Slave Lake. It also shows the location of O'Connor Lake, Slave Lake Zinc's property. The Yellowknife Pegmatite Belt is currently under active exploration by some of the companies on this map.





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6453/173733_248ca52db4c3389c_001full.jpg

About Slave Lake Zinc

Slave Lake Zinc Corp. is a company that aims to unlock the potential of its O'Connor Lake property, a historic site rich in zinc, lead, and copper, situated in Canada's Northwest Territories. This property, found to the south of the Great Slave Lake and east of the Pine Point project, was initially developed post-World War II. However, it was abandoned in 1952 due to the collapse of zinc and lead prices after the war. Slave Lake Zinc Corp. is confident in its abilities to progress this project and significantly enhance the historic potential of the property. More information is available at www.zinccorp.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Slave Lake Zinc Corp.

Per:

Ritch Wigham CEO & Director

Phone: 604-396-5762

Email: rwigham@zinccorp.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release

Forward Looking Statement

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Slave Lake Zinc's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the progress of a definitive offtake agreement, potential development and production at the Company's O'Connor Lake project, future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a few assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Slave Lake Zinc operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Slave Lake Zinc has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Slave Lake Zinc disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Slave Lake Zinc does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173733
TheNewswire - July 17, 2023 - Granada Gold Mine Inc. (TSX.V:GGM) ("Granada Gold" or the "Company") announces that the 2023 Annual General and Special Meeting was held today, Monday July 17, 2023 and is pleased to report that all resolutions were approved with over 99.45% voting in favour in all categories. Resolutions passed are listed below.

1. The following individuals were re-elected Directors of the Company: Frank J. Basa, Matthew Halliday and Dianne Tookenay

2. McGovern, Hurley, Cunningham, Chartered Accountants, were re-appointed as Company auditors.

3. Adoption of the Company's 10% rolling share option plan was ratified and approved.

4. The creation of a Series of Class A Preferred Shares was approved.

5. The creation of a Series of Class B Preferred Shares was approved.

The Board of Directors appointed the following officers of the Company for the ensuing year:

Frank J. Basa: President & CEO

Remantra Sheopaul: Chief Financial Officer

Tina Whyte: Corporate Secretary

Frank J. Basa, Dianne Tookenay and Matthew Halliday were appointed members of the Audit Committee for the upcoming year.

Mineral Resource Estimate

On July 6th, 2022, the Company released an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate for the Granada Gold project (Please see July 6, 2022, news release) with a combined total of 543,000 gold ounces of measured & indicated category and 456,000 gold ounces in inferred. This estimate contains 425,000 gold ounces of combined measured, indicated in Pit resources with 24,000 gold ounces of inferred. For the underground 118,000 gold ounces of combined measured, indicated, with 431,000 gold ounces of inferred Please see Table 1 below for full details. Report reference: Granada Gold Project Mineral Resource Estimate Update, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada authored by Yann Camus, P.Eng. and Maxime Dupere, B.Sc, P.Geo., SGS Canada Inc. with an effective date of June 23rd, 2022 and report date of August 20, 2022.

Table 1: Granada Mineral Resources Estimates as of June 23, 2022

Resource Report CutOff Classification Type Tonnes Au (g/t) Gold Ounces 0.55 / 2.5 Measured1 InPit+UG 4,900,000 1.70 269,000 Indicated InPit+UG 3,320,000 2.57 274,000 Measured+Indicated InPit+UG 8,220,000 2.05 543,000 Inferred InPit+UG 3,010,000 4.71 456,000

Table 2: Granada Pit-Constrained Mineral Resources Estimate

Resource Report CutOff Classification Type Tonnes Au (g/t) Gold Ounces 0.55 Measured1 InPit 4,840,000 1.68 261,000 Indicated InPit 2,440,000 2.09 164,000 Measured+Indicated InPit 7,280,000 1.81 425,000 Inferred InPit 420,000 1.78 24,000

Table 3: Granada Underground Mineral Resources Estimate

Resource Report CutOff Classification Type Tonnes Au (g/t) Gold Ounces 2.5 Measured UG 60,000 3.84 8,000 Indicated UG 870,000 3.93 110,000 Measured+Indicated UG 940,000 3.92 118,000 Inferred UG 2,590,000 5.19 431,000

About Granada Gold Mine Inc.

Granada Gold Mine Inc. continues to develop and explore its 100% owned Granada Gold Property near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and is adjacent to the prolific Cadillac Break. The Company owns 14.73 square kilometers of land in a combination of mining leases and claims. The company is currently undergoing a large drill program with 30,000m out of 120,000m complete. The drills are currently paused to provide the technical team with the necessary time to evaluate and assimilate existing data.

The Granada Shear Zone and the South Shear Zone contain, based on historical detailed mapping as well as from current and historical drilling, up to twenty-two mineralized structures trending east-west over five and a half kilometers. Three of these structures were mined historically from four shafts and three open pits. Historical underground grades were 8 to 10 grams per tonne gold from two shafts down to 236 m and 498 m with open pit grades from 3.5 to 5 grams per tonne gold.

The property includes the former Granada Gold underground mine which produced more than 50,000 ounces of gold at 10 grams per tonne gold in the 1930's from two shafts before a fire destroyed the surface buildings. In the 1990's, Granada Resources extracted a bulk sample (Pit #1) of 87,311 tonnes grading 5.17 g/t Au. They also extracted a bulk sample (Pit # 2) of 22,095 tonnes grading 3.46 g/t Au.

"Frank J. Basa"

Frank J. Basa, P. Eng.

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, Contact:

Frank J. Basa, P.Eng.

Chief Executive Officer

P: 416-625-2342

Or:

Wayne Cheveldayoff,

Corporate Communications

P: 416-710-2410

E: waynecheveldayoff@gmail.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Time Limits

Fee Guidelines

What Happens Next?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved sweeping regulations on Wednesday for 5G wireless infrastructure, significantly curtailing the authority of states and localities.The industry-backed declaratory ruling includes several preemption provisions aimed at accelerating deployment of 5G networks that are expected to offer higher internet speeds. It prompted immediate pushback from a wide-range of public-sector association groups and is expected to face legal challenges."The ultimate result from this is going to significantly and negatively impact local governments ability to protect and serve public property, safety and welfare, said the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Arthur Scott.The federal regulations carry major ramifications, particularly given the buildout of 5G networks thats ramping up or is already underway in many larger cities.Underpinning the networks is wireline fiber supporting small cell nodes, typically antennas mounted on street poles or other public infrastructure. Small cells are akin to WiFi-networks in that their coverage is limited, typically 300 to 500 feet , requiring providers to deploy hundreds of the devices to cover relatively small areas.One of the more controversial provisions of the order establishes shot clock time limits for jurisdictions to process applications for mounting small cells on public infrastructure. Installations on existing infrastructure must be processed within 60 days, while requests to build new poles need to be processed within 90 days.The shot clock resets if a company submits an incomplete application and a government notifies them of the issue within 10 days. Under the new order, failing to act within the specified time limits constitutes a presumptive prohibition of services, giving companies further ammunition to take governments to court.According to NACo, applications were generally taking about 120 days to process. Scott is concerned that many local governments lack the resources to process them within the new, tighter deadlines and would need to hire additional staff.[The ruling] forces local governments to make a decision between rubber stamping applications or facing crippling litigation with these providers in court, he says.Under the FCC ruling, batch applications of multiple requests for the same type of facilities filed simultaneously are subject to the same deadlines. Greg Wilkinson, the city administrator for Yuma, Ariz., says his city would have no problem processing a few applications quickly but receiving a hundred or more at once could pose challenges. For instance, some companies seek to affix old, bulky equipment to poles, potentially leading to safety concerns or violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act if they obstruct sidewalks.You have to look at location by location, he says. You cant just give them blanket approval to deploy everywhere.The FCC order also effectively limits what local governments can charge -- $500 for an initial application fee covering up to five small cells and $270 for an annual right-of-way access fee per small cell -- both considerably lower than what cities have typically charged. Localities could still levy higher fees, but if a wireless provider sued, local officials would need to demonstrate the fees are a reasonable approximation of costs incurred. In larger jurisdictions where fees are higher, the FCC ruling could amount to seven-figure losses in unrealized revenues.Part of the FCCs motivation for the lower fees is to enable providers to bring high-speed internet to rural and unserved areas of the country.Commissioner Brendan Carr recounted at Wednesday's meeting that he heard from officials in unserved communities who worried delays and higher small cell fees levied in big cities would effectively hinder deployment to their jurisdictions.Cutting these costs changes the prospects for communities that might otherwise get left behind, he said.But state and local officials argue that lower fees will make little difference in bridging the digital divide unless there is adequate market demand making it economically feasible for companies to deploy. Furthermore, the ruling lacks any requirements for telecommunication companies to provide service to unserved and underserved areas.Some cities fear that the fee recommendations wouldnt cover their costs. Philadelphia, for instance, provided estimates totallying labor costs for all approvals and field inspections that amounted to $800 per small cell node.The city will have incurred disproportionate, unrecoverable costs and lost all its leverage to incentivize deployment in a manner that ensures a complete citywide deployment and reduces the digital divide," said Michael Carroll, deputy managing director of the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, of the ruling.Some telecoms complain that cities use aesthetic concerns about the small cells as a way to delay wireless infrastructure projects. The FCC order doesn't prohibit localities from outlining their own aesthetic requirements, provided they are reasonable and no more burdensome than those applied to other types of infrastructure deployments.The vast majority of state and local officials filing comments opposed the FCC rules. One of the few expressing support was Chairman Jeffrey Bohm of the St. Clair County (Mich.) Board of Commissioners.By making small cell deployments less expensive, the FCC will send a clear message that all communities, regardless of size, should share in the benefits of this crucial new technology, wrote Bohm.The order was modeled largely after similar laws passed in 20 states that preempt local authority to varying degrees. Theyve been mostly adopted in Republican-controlled states, usually passing by wide margins.Although the FCCs fee levels and regulatory guidelines mirror those passed by states, the ruling would preempt any existing legislation not meeting its requirements. In response, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association filed a joint statement opposing the ruling.Not only will these 20 states be affected, but it also ties the hands of any other state that is looking to ensure inclusive and equitable access to high-speed internet services to residents, the groups wrote.Many larger localities, such as Austin, Boston and San Jose, have already entered into agreements with telecoms in states where theyre permitted to do so. Attorneys for the municipal advocacy group Next Century Cities believe it is unlikely that telecom providers will pursue litigation seeking to void existing agreements. While the ruling doesn't explicitly exempt preexisting agreements or prohibit local governments from negotiating future agreements, it does significantly reduce their leverage in these deals.The ruling is expected to face multiple legal challenges over the FCCs regulatory authority.One group likely to lead litigation on the matter is the Smart Communities and Special Districts Coalition, which is made up of localities and association groups in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Gerard Lavery Lederer, an attorney with Best Best & Krieger representing the group, toldprior to the meeting that they were considering litigation."We're committed to defending local governments rights wherever we have to do it, including the courts," he said.Blair Levin, a former FCC official, said that if the rules arent overturned, a second wave of litigation will ensue over the meaning of several phrases used to define different provisions, such as fees that are a reasonable approximation of localities costs.Next Century Cities has issued guidance for localities, recommending they quickly move to enact zoning, installation requirements and any other regulations. Developing pre-approved design and aesthetic requirements, it also noted, could be particularly beneficial in processing applications faster and defending legal challenges.
F1 registers Madrid Grand Prix trademark

Madrid appears to be on the fast track to the Formula 1 calendar.

Spanish GP 2023

 Red Bull

At the weekend, Sergio Perez gave even more fuel to rumours the Spanish capital is poised to ink a race deal with F1 by demonstrating two Sebastian Vettel title-winning Red Bull cars on the Madrid streets in front of 50,000 fans.

Although I'm not at home, the Mexican told local Spanish media, "I feel as if I am.

Madrid deserves a Formula 1 race, Perez declared.

Madrid, whose event would be a street race, would apparently replace rather than complement the existing Spanish GP at Barcelona.

Street races are special, said Perez, "because there is a different atmosphere in each city.

This is a great city, he added in Madrid, "and the atmosphere would be fantastic.

I'm also very good at these types of circuits, Perez smiled.

Madrid officials last week indicated that the signing of a contract is now looming - and Formula 1 appears to agree.

Via the Formula One Licensing subsidiary, Liberty Media has now registered two new trademarks - 'Madrid Grand Prix' and 'Formula 1 Madrid Grand Prix'.

(GMM)
Singapore GP owner to be arrested amid scandal

Dark clouds are gathering over Formula 1's otherwise popular and successful Singapore GP.

Max Verstappen, Singapore GP 2022

 Red Bull

Billionaire hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, reportedly the sole owner and promoter of F1's first night race, will be arrested by the Singapore government as he is implicated in a corruption scandal.

The scandal also involves high-ranking government minister S. Iswaran, who has also been deeply involved in the city-state's F1 event, which has become a blue-ribbon grand prix since debuting in 2008.

Shares in Beng Seng's company Hotel Properties Limited plummeted 6 percent at the outbreak of the news.

The company confirmed: He will be travelling from July 14 and will be surrendering his passport upon his return to Singapore.

And minister Iswaran has been told by Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong to take a leave of absence.

It is not known if the scandal could affect the future of the Singapore GP, with the race contract having been extended for another seven years in 2022.

(GMM)
Development Bank Ghana committed to SMEs growth  K. Duker

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Jul - 17 - 2023 , 08:53

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Development Bank Ghana (DBG), Kwamina Duker, has said the bank is committed to supporting and building bankable and competitive local businesses that can compete with foreign brands.

Mr Duker said as a development bank, the DBG was focused on changing the mindset of local businesses to adopt measures that would make them bankable even in the wake of stiff competition on the global market.

He added that the DBG would assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to have a paradigm shift from exporting raw materials in their raw form to value addition.

Again, he observed that the situation where local businesses over-relied on raw export of goods had caused little investment into human capital, thus denying us the opportunity of moving up the value chain.

Mr Duker said this at the 30th annual meeting of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Accra where he spoke at a panel discussion on the topic Leveraging the Power of Intra-African Trade for Commodity-Based Industrialisation.

Some speakers at the event were the Executive Director of Africa Economic Research Consortium, Prof. Theophile T. Azomahou; a Professor of economics at the University of Cape Town, Dr Carlos Lopez; the President of Corporate Council on Africa, Florie Liser, and the acting Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission, Antonio Pedro.

Key issues

The plenary discussion had other industry captains, development experts and policymakers.

The panel discussion was part of a series of sessions meant to highlight the challenges confronting African economies.

The discussants delved into the challenges relating to value addition in the extractive sector, stressing the need to ensure that value was added to raw materials before exporting to foreign markets.

They also explored ways of breaking the cycle of exporting finished and unfinished goods, stressing that such a tendency was detrimental to African economies.

The discussions also centred on how to take control of Africas commodities and expand the value chain systems to create the necessary socio-economic development.

Diligence

Mr Duker said local businesses in the SMSE space needed to brace for the move towards value addition.

Moving up the value chain is critical but also complex because once you move up from the extraction or the out-grower phase, you come into the market forces phase which you must be able to respect to thrive, he said.

He further explained that it was essential for businesses that have been able to move up the value chain to have a mindset to compete for consumers.

He emphasised the importance of setting criteria for success for local businesses.

He observed that after a period of receiving support, local businesses must be able to take off and run by themselves to achieve sustainable prosperity.



Background

Afreximbank is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade.

Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africas trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa.

DBG is a development finance institution established by the government in accordance with the Development Finance Act, 2020.

DBG acts as an enabler for businesses in Ghana and as a long-term capital provider in the market.

DBGs mission is to foster strong partnerships to finance economic growth, create jobs and build capacity for SMEs, and provide long-term financing and de-risking services underpinned by technology and evidence-based research/insights.

The bank aims to promote Environment Social and Governance (ESG) excellence within the businesses the bank supports.

The bank has received funds from the World Bank, European Investment Bank, Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau (KfW), and the African Development Bank.
FBNBank wins employee excellence award

Daily Graphic Business News Jul - 17 - 2023 , 09:03

FBNBank Ghana has won the Employee Empowerment Excellence Award at the 5th edition of the 2023 Health Environmental Safety and Security (HESS) awards which was recently held in Accra.

The HESS award is designed to identify and publicly celebrate outstanding companies for their exceptional performance and innovations focused on occupational health, environment, safety and security (HESS).

It is also intended to promote the implementation of best practices in HESS management systems, which embody the classical model through the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.

The theme for this years event was: Building a sustainable future of work through Health, Environment, Safety and Security.

Receiving the award on behalf of the bank were the Treasurer of the company, Grace Isaac-Aryee, the Head of Retail Banking, Allen Quaye, and the Country Team Lead of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Enoch Vanderpuye.



Gratitude

Mrs Isaac-Aryee dedicated the award to all the employees of the bank and expressed hope that the recognition would encourage them to achieve their best.

She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the organisers for the thorough processes in nominating awardees and for acknowledging the efforts of the bank.

She further said the bank, over the years, had recognised that its employees were the greatest asset.

Therefore, she said the bank supported and empowered its employees to excel in an enabling, conducive working environment while it invested in their growth and well-being.

Our employees are one of our major stakeholders who, over the years, have played significant roles in the success of the bank.

They are ambassadors of the bank and we will always continue to keep them at the heart of what we do, she stated.

Talent programme

Mrs Isaac-Aryee said the bank introduced a talent programme and has, since then, deployed resources to attract, develop and retain the right talents who over the years have contributed towards the banks growth.

The programme, she said, spanned from fresh graduates to top level executives who thrived within the banks structured grading system that fostered opportunities for performance driven careers throughout the company.



FBN Bank

FBNBank Ghana is a member of the First Bank of Nigeria Limited Group which is renowned for its great customer service and general stakeholder engagement garnered over its 129 years of operation.

FBNBank Ghana has 23 branches and three agencies across the country with over 500 staff.

It offers universal banking services to individuals and businesses in Ghana.
Daily Graphic Editorials

Proper orientation on reproductive health necessary

Daily Graphic Editorials Jul - 17 - 2023 , 10:08

A recent study conducted in three selected public universities in the country made a startling revelation that 93 per cent of sexually active adolescents in public universities do not use contraceptives.

This is in spite of the fact that 80 per cent of them had a basic knowledge of adolescent sexual reproductive health issues.

Conducted among 675 university respondents, the study further found out that more than half of the respondents had sexual partners and were sexually active.

The findings of the study are quite instructive especially when the National Health Insurance Scheme has expanded its services to include free long-term contraception from January 1, 2022.

Expanded, free access to long-term contraception is also a progressive step towards the global goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030  a framework that allows all individuals and communities to receive the health services and care they need without suffering financial hardship.

The move is to allow millions of women of reproductive age who are already covered by national health insurance to avoid paying out of their pocket for family planning methods such as the implant, coil and injections.

It comes after a two-year pilot study found that including family planning services in health benefit packages resulted in a greater uptake of long-term contraception and future government savings in direct care costs.

However, this move is not patronised by the youth especially university students as Ghana is a country where deep-rooted cultural norms and structural barriers perpetuate poor sexual and reproductive health, including high risks of maternal mortality, high numbers of sexually transmitted infections and low levels of contraceptive use.

The low contraceptive uptake results in teenage pregnancies, high childbirth rates and incidence of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

The commonly used modern contraceptives methods by the youth include male condoms, emergency contraceptive pills, injectables, implants and intra-uterine devices.

Education on contraceptives need to be intensified among the youth to enable them to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections.

What the Daily Graphic gleans from this study is that the sexual reproductive health needs of adolescents at university must be given more attention by university authorities and policymakers.

There is also the need for all stakeholders, including parents and guardians, to work together to craft policies and programmes that address the sexual reproductive health needs of adolescents in public universities.

The Daily Graphic finds this study useful as some of its recommendations, if implemented, will help the students have a smooth transition to adulthood.

One of the recommendations which we agree to is the need for all universities to introduce adolescent sexual reproductive health orientation programmes and adolescent health corners at vantage points with a wide range of sexual health reproductive services.

This brings to mind the idea of a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) policy which was introduced in 2019 but was quickly refused by most of the countrys adult population, as much education was not given.

This policy was aimed at giving a wide range of age appropriate education, including sexual and reproductive physiology, gender and sexual reproductive health rights, HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention, contraception and unintended pregnancies, vulnerabilities and exclusions, gender-based violence and sexual abuse and interpersonal skills to schoolchildren.

The Daily Graphic believes that it is about time this policy was revisited after a comprehensive stakeholder education had been held on it.

We also believe that issues confronting adolescents must be taken seriously to provide them with adequate information and education to enable them to make more informed choices and decisions.

We therefore, call on the Ghana Health Service to make all its hospitals and other facilities where contraceptive education and care are provided to be more youth-friendly so that they can walk in without feeling guilty or being rebuked by some health personnel as spoilt children.
Damongo, constituency with rich culture, history

Samuel A. Jinapor Features Jul - 17 - 2023 , 08:29

On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, commissioned the renovated and modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, here in Accra, with a commitment to make Ghana the tourism hub of West Africa.

It is in that spirit that I write about my beloved constituency, Damongo, arguably, the number one tourist destination in Northern Ghana.

The constituency is made up of 104 towns, villages and communities, with a population of about 63,000 peaceful and hospitable people.

The vibrant town of Damongo, which serves as the capital of the constituency, the West Gonja municipality, as well as the Savannah Region, exudes cultural richness, historical significance, and awe-inspiring landscapes.

Its strategic location and cultural diversity makes it an exceptional destination for tourists seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty and traditions of Ghana and West Africa.

Damongo, also, serves as the capital of the Gonja Kingdom, as recognised by the Declaration of Customary Law (Gonja Traditional Council) Instrument, 2010, and visitors are assured of the rich history and culture of the Gonja People.

Having migrated from ancient Songhai Empire, the Gonjas entered present day Ghana in 1546, under the leadership of Askia Mohammed, who ruled for over three decades before handing over to his son, Musa Askia, then to Landa, Wam, Amoah and then Lanta Limu, the father of Yagbonwura Ndewura Jakpa, the founder of the modern Gonja Kingdom.

Damongo hosts the famous Yagbon Skin, and since Yagbonwura Awusi Ewuntomah Bunyangso, who ruled the Kingdom from 1942 to 1975, moved the seat of the Gonja Kingdom from Nyange, in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District to Damongo, which at the time was said to be made up of less than a 10  household community, all YagbonwurasYagbonwura Mahama Abudu Kurabaso (1975 to 1982), Yagbonwura J.A.Braimah Timu (1983 to 1987), Yagbonwura Kanyiti (1987 to 1990), Yagbonwura Bi-Awuribi (1990 to 1992), Yagbonwura Ale Adengi Tikpiri (1992 to 1993), Yagbonwura Amantana Bore Nyinche (1993 to 2000), Yagbonwura Bawa Abudu Doshie (2000 to 2010), Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa Tuntumba Boresa I (2010 to 2023), and now Yagbonwura Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, have lived and sat on the Jakpa Skin in Damongo.

In the colonial days, Damongo became a very important administrative centre for the colonial government, serving as a link between the northern parts of the country and the southern parts.

It was, therefore, not surprising, that the colonial governments policy of pursuing mechanised agriculture through the Gonja Development Company was piloted in Damongo.

As the Colonial Office explained, we have all been looking to Damongo as a pilot scheme to produce basic information for a future pattern of peasant agricultural development.

The diversity of peoples and cultures in the constituency make it exceptionally unique.

In addition to Gonjas, there are Nchumurus, Nawuris, Basaris, Vaglas, Safalbas, Mos, Lobis, Dargabas, Gurunes, Sissalas, Grusis, Kasenas, Bimobas, Tamplumas, Hangas, Brifos, Mmaras, Pantras, Miwors, Bartiges, Dagombas, Konkombas, Akans, Hausa, Fulanis, Grumahs, Chokosis, and Bators, living peacefully and intermarrying to form families of mixed ethnic groups.

Attractions

Some of the most attractive events in the Constituency include our festivals such as the Damba festival and the Fire Festival (also known as Jintigi).

The Damba Festival is celebrated to mark the birth and naming of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him), while the Fire Festival is used to mark the landing of Noahs Ark on Mount Arafat, after the flooding God sent to destroy the earth.

These festivals offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for our people and visitors to partake in traditional rituals, music, dance, and communal feasts.

In addition to the festivals, there is the famous Larabanga Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Africa, and I should say the world, which has been christened the Mecca of West Africa, located in Larabanga, about 16km from Damongo.

Legend has it that the mosque was built around 1421 by an Islamic trader called Ayuba from mud and sticks, in a Sudanic-Sahelian architecture.

According to Islamic history, Ayuba slept in the area and had a dream in which he was instructed by Allah to build a mosque.

When he woke up the next morning, the foundation of the mosque had mysteriously appeared, so he continued with the construction until the mosque was completed.

And when Ayuba died, he was buried under the Baobab tree which stands right in front of the Mosque.

With a foundation laid by Allah himself, it is not surprising that the mosque remains very strong today, and continues to be one of the holiest Islamic pilgrimage sites in our country and beyond.

The mosque also houses an ancient Quran, said to have been delivered from heaven to Imam Bramah, around 1650, after he had prayed for a Quran. Till date, this Quran is brought out and read on festive days like the Fire Festival.

Close to the Larabanga Mosque, is the Mystic Stone, also located in Larabanga. This Mystic Stone gained prominence in the 1950s when the colonial government was constructing a road through Larabanga.

It is said that any time the contractors cleared the stone, they returned the following morning only to realise that the stone had mysteriously returned to its position.

And when this persisted, they were compelled to divert the course of the road and leave the stone in its current position.

The stone has remained in that same position till date, attracting thousands of tourists to the site.

Mole National Park

I cannot write about the Damongo constituency without talking about the green and serene Mole National Park, the first, largest and most prestigious protected area in our country.

The history of the park dates back to the 1930s, when the colonial government designated two thousand, three hundred square kilometres (2,300 sq.km.) of land as a Game Clearance Area, to clear the area of all wildlife in order to control tsetse flies.

As a result, large numbers of antelopes and buffalos were killed in the area, until the policy was abandoned in 1957. The following year, in 1958, the area was constituted into a Mole Game Reserve.

In 1964, five communities within the catchment area of the park were relocated, and in 1971, the park was gazetted as a National Park under the Wildlife Reserve Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 710), with an increased land size.

The Gbantala triangle was eventually added to the park in 1992, to bring it to its current size of 4,577 sq. km.

Today, the park, which originally served as a Game Clearance Centre, hosts some 742 vascular plant species and over 93 mammal species, including five(5) primate species.

If you want to see elephants, buffalos, kobs, western hartebeests, roan antelopes, defassa waterbucks, oribis, bohor reedbucks, red-flanked duikers; and rare and endangered species such as the yellow-backed-duikers, black and white colobus monkeys, leopards and lions, then there is no other place than the Mole National Park, situated at the heart of the Damongo Constituency.

There are also over 300 bird species, different species of reptiles, amphibians, and beautiful butterflies.

This is truly a treasure trove for nature lovers, and indeed, every Ghanaian or resident of Ghana, as well as foreign visitors, should make it a point to visit the park at least, once a year, to enjoy its serene atmosphere.

In the heart of this park, is the captivating and peaceful Zaina Lodge, West Africas first luxury safari lodge that provides top-notch hospitality services with a unique cultural touch to visitors of the Park and its catchment areas.

This award-winning facility is ready to host you, for your time out of the hurly-burly of city life.

The Eco village

About 10km from the Mole National Park is the Mognori Eco Village, a community-based tourism project in Mognori.

This Eco-Village is noted for its cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and community development.

It offers tourists an immense experience in traditional Ghanaian life and provides a range of activities such as guided nature walks, traditional drumming and dancing, handicraft demonstrations, and visits to local schools and farms.

The location of the Damongo Constituency, and its capital, makes it a special place to lodge and connect with other parts of Northern Ghana, such as the rest of the Savannah Region, the Upper West, Northern, North East and Upper East regions, and to explore other tourist sites in these areas.

Some 50 minutes flight from Accra to Tamale, and over an hours drive from Tamale, and there you are in Damongo.

Govt initiative

Tourism has become a major boost for many countries across our continent, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zambia.

It is, therefore, highly commendable, that the government of President Akufo-Addo, continues to invest in this sector, through initiatives such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, the refurbishment and modernisation of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and the plan to build more mausoleums across the country in honour of the Big Six.

I am using this auspicious opportunity to thank my affable compatriot, and elder brother, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, for the special attention he has paid to promoting tourism in Damongo.

Tourism, is not only for foreigners. We the people of this country should also make it a point, at least, once a year, to take a break from our hectic schedules, and visit a tourist destination.

And once you make that decision, the Damongo Constituency must be your first port of call.

The good and dignified people of Damongo are ready to welcome you, and give you a life-time experience.

Come to Damongo Constituency, and experience the best of history, culture, hospitality and tourism.

The writer is the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Damongo in the Savannah Region
Temporary vehicle number plate, associated criminal activity

William Osei Agyemang Opinion Jul - 17 - 2023 , 07:33

It is concerning the misuse of temporary car number plates. The rise in criminal incidents involving vehicles with temporary plates has sparked debate about the effectiveness of current regulations and the need for stricter monitoring.

Temporary car number plates, also known in Ghana as DV Plate, are intended to be used for a short duration, while awaiting the issuance of permanent license plates.

They display a unique identification number for identification purposes. However, in Ghana, one temporary number plate could be used to tag any vehicle at any given time, these plates are increasingly being exploited by criminals to engage in illicit activities while evading detection and accountability.

One of the primary issues with temporary plates is lack of a centralised database or stringent verification process. Criminal elements have been taking advantage of this loophole, using temporary plates to commit crimes such as robberies, hit-and-runs and drug trafficking.

The ease of obtaining temporary plates without extensive documentation has made it a convenient tool for those seeking to avoid scrutiny. People even rent out these plates on a daily basis.

Law enforcement agencies are facing numerous challenges in combating these activities. Since temporary plates are not linked to any specific individual or vehicle, tracing the perpetrators becomes a daunting task. This lack of accountability hampers investigations and allows criminals to evade capture and escape justice.

Proposals

To address this growing concern, various proposals have been put forward. One suggestion is to establish a centralised database that tracks the issuance and usage of temporary plates.

Such a database would enable law enforcement agencies to quickly identify the owner of the vehicle and track its movements during the specified period.

Additionally, implementing stricter regulations for obtaining temporary plates, including thorough background checks and identification verification, could serve as deterrent to those with malicious intentions.

Authorities should consider the use of technology to mitigate the misuse of temporary plates. The integration of automated license plate recognition systems, surveillance cameras, and artificial intelligence algorithms could enhance the detection and identification of vehicles with temporary plates involved in suspicious activities.

These measures would enable law enforcement to respond swiftly and apprehend criminals before they attempt to escape or commit further offences.

It is perplexing why the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Authority (DVLA) has hitherto not implemented a foolproof method to ensure that each vehicle requesting a temporary number plate is assigned a unique identification number.

By implementing this system, the temporary number would become invalid once the vehicle is registered with permanent plates, effectively preventing its misuse.

Crucial

It is crucial that the DVLA assigns a unique identification number to every vehicle that requests a temporary number plate, we can significantly reduce the risk of criminal activities associated with such plates.

Once the vehicle undergoes the registration process and receives permanent plates, the temporary number should become obsolete and void, ensuring it cannot be used for any nefarious purposes.

Implementing this system would provide law enforcement agencies with a reliable and efficient method of tracking vehicles involved in criminal activities.

It would also enhance accountability, making it easier to identify the owners of vehicles with temporary plates during specific periods. This, in turn, would assist in investigations and bring perpetrators to justice swiftly.

It is important that those in charge recognise the urgency of this matter and take proactive steps towards implementing a more secure system.

This would involve thorough evaluation and planning to ensure that all necessary mechanisms are in place to assign unique identification numbers to vehicles requesting temporary number plates.
The dangers of celebrity culture

Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng Life Jul - 15 - 2023 , 10:45

At 10 in the morning, a big crowd had gathered in a market. Traders, drivers and curious people were all excited.

The music had got to them and those who could not resist had joined the professional crowd boosters in the impromptu dancing ring to shake their bodies and show their skills.

The MC was whipping everyone into a frenzy. Everyone was in the mood except the organisers of the gig. The advertised time for the programme to start had already gone past but they had delayed the start and were now getting anxious.

The sun was not hanging about; it was moving higher and getting hotter. The invited guests under the canopy were beginning to feel the heat. The programme start was now an hour late. The organisers were now in frantic mode. Why had the programme delayed?

The answer was that the BIG MAN for the occasion had not arrived. The big man had been given the time and in turn he had given his word. But, he was a celebrity, and in Ghanas current mood of celebrity culture, such people are not subject to the rules of time and space.

They are bigger. In the end, the celebrity failed to turn up.

If there is one thing true of Ghana today, it is that the country is in the grip of celebrity culture. We appear to be fixated on the goings-on in celebritydom to the exclusion of everything else.

Of course, fascination with the lives of famous people is not new. The historical development of celebrity culture can be traced back to ancient times where individuals such as rulers, warriors and philosophers gained notoriety and were celebrated for their achievements. In Ghanaian societies, women and men who had achieved or done something worth celebrating were often celebrated in poetry, song and immortalised in different kinds of folk ways.

With the rise of mass media, beginning with newspapers, a new focus on the lives of famous people began to catch the publics imagination, but even so, this was on a limited scale and famous people were famous for something.

The advent of television widened the fascination because now we could see the famous people in action. In Ghana, from the 1980s, among the first group of people who cottoned on to this fascination were Christian preachers of the Charismatic persuasion. Politicians got onto the act as soon as the country returned to party politics in the early 1990s.

They used every means available to maximise their access and propagate their image and ideas. Naturally, the media gravitated towards them to find more information about them, especially around elections. Even at this point, politicians needed something  an idea, a promise or an event  to become visible and famous.

But it was the internet and all its works that have spawned this new phenomenon in which people have become celebrities just for being famous. Today, the term celebrity just about covers anyone who appears on social media or who has a presence in the media, including TV news presenters, broadcast journalists, film actors and musicians.

The new breed of celebrities, known as influencers are a curious breed. They are famous for being famous on social media; most times that is their only achievement.

These people have become the new idols and symbols of glamour and fame. They have constructed a lavish lifestyle based on their social media fame and this creates a fantasy in the minds of people, especially young people who see the lives of these people as the highest and most desirable expectations.

Today, platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and YouTube have given these celebrities unlimited access to their fans and created the image of closeness in a way that has blurred the line between the public and private lives of famous individuals.

Their fans feel as if they know them personally, while in actual fact, these people have created a life beyond reach for themselves.

One could argue that this fascination with celebrity is just a sign of the time and we should not fret about it. We can even argue that celebrity culture has not only become part of our mainstream culture, it has driven new ideas in art, fashion, film and escapism for millions of people. However, it has got an impact on society and we should be worried.

The over-focus on celebrities distract us from more serious business in our lives. The recent brouhaha over a book written by the actress and social commentator Yvonne Nelson is a case in point. Her book dominated the media space form a couple of weeks when the nation faced grave issues. This is not to say that the book was not important; unfortunately, the mention of another musician, Sarkodie, took the focus away from the important point of identity, which one would assume was the reason for writing the book.

The focus on the celebrity leads to trivialisation of important issues of much wider interest. Generally, celebrity news tends to focus on gossip, scandals and personal lives, promoting a culture of superficiality and trivialisation. This can lead to a shallow understanding of important topics and a devaluation of substantive news.

Of course, the focus on gossip, trolling and caustic relationships among celebrities results in the misallocation of media resources. Instead of investing in investigative journalism or reporting on significant events, some media outlets have prioritised sensational celebrity stories, including their own lives as journalists and bloggers to attract more viewers or readers. And, naturally, over-reliance on celebrity news can contribute to the invasion of privacy. Media outlets often invade the personal lives of celebrities, invading their privacy and causing distress.

This can have negative effects on the mental health and well-being of those in the public eye. What happens is that in this culture of excessive attention to celebrities, even those people in public lives who do not want their private lives paraded often fall victim to this culture.

It is important for media outlets and consumers to strike a balance between celebrity news and substantive reporting, ensuring that critical issues are not overshadowed by the allure of celebrity culture.

We should remember that the Ghana media and society today did not evolve without the sacrifice of many women and men, and this celebrity trivialisation is an insult to their suffering.
Communications Ministry begins training of 1000 girls in ICT in Northern Region

Mohammed Fugu Jul - 17 - 2023 , 16:26

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) on Monday [July 17, 2023] commenced the training of 1000 girls in the Northern Region in basic Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

The beneficiaries will be taking through coding, cyber security, website development among others.

Already 1000 girls have been trained in the Savannah region.

The girls were selected from the sixteen Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The MMDAs are, Mion, Karaga, Tolon, Kumbungu, Savelugu, Tamale, Nanton, Sagnarigu, Kpandai, Gushegu, Tatali, Nanumba South, Nanumba North, Yendi, Saboba and Zabzugu.

The training formed part of the Girls-In-ICT programme being implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with its agencies to bridge the gender gap in ICT in the country.

A statement issued by the Head of Public Relations at the MoCD, Naa Korkoi Essah and copied to Graphic Online said the training will be taking place at various centres across the region.

It said 100 selected teachers from the various districts had been trained to carry out the exercise.

It added that the five-day training will be climaxed with a mentorship session whereby women currently working in the ICT Field will share their personal and professional experiences with the Girls-in-ICT, to encourage and guide them in their future careers and endeavours.

"There will an open day experience where the best 100 girls from the selected Region where the Programme had been held, are brought to Accra for a week to tour the Offices of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Companies in the ICTs industry, select MoCD Agencies, and interact especially with women in the industry.

It is important to note the following achievements between 2017 and 2022" the statement noted.

The Girls-In-ICT programme was introduced in 2012 by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation in 2017 adopted the initiative, as a platform to equip girls between the ages of 9 and 15 years (Upper Primary to Junior High School), with knowledge and skills in basic ICT and Coding.

The programme is implemented with support from Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) as the technical resource provider, with training by Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence (KACE).

The programme is also supported by MTN Ghana, National Communications Authority (NCA), American Towers Company (ATC), Ministry of Education, GIZ and others.
Eastern Region farmers trained in organic cultivation

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Jul - 17 - 2023 , 10:42

EVENTY-SEVEN small-holder farmers at Bunso and other nearby communities in the Eastern Region have been taken through the best practices of organic farming cultivation.

The one-day training was aimed at increasing the cultivation of the root crop to boost production for local consumption and export.

The event was organised by Ecoland Ghana, an international non-governmental organisation from Germany and the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (UCAES) at Bunso in the Eastern Region.

As part of the training, high-yielding disease-free ginger seedlings have been cultivated on a demonstration farm on the premises of the university.

The project is code-named Ecoland Ghana Organic Agriculture Demonstration and Research Field in partnership with UCAES.

Addressing the participating farmers at Bunso, the President of Ecoland International, Rudolf Buhler, said the application of the organic method would not place any financial burden on the farmers, since no fertiliser had to be purchased to grow the crop.

He said all that the farmer needed was animal droppings, particularly cow-dung, stressing that organic application was not harmful to human beings, since no chemicals would be applied.

He said the initiative was being executed through the partner Africa project within the framework of special training and job creation and financed by the German Government.

Diploma

He added that a diploma programme in organic agriculture on ginger cultivation would soon be introduced at the university.

Through that, he said, research would be conducted and training in organic cultivation of the root crop offered.

Two farmer co-operative groups, he indicated, would also be formed, which would involve many farmers who would follow organic farming and also introduce new cash crops.

Mr Buhler said the project had given the organic farmers the skills and exposure in the project within the Asuboni Rail, Bunso, Nsutam, Suhum, Kyebi, Tafo and other nearby communities.

Acting Rector

The Acting Rector of UCAES, Dr Charles Brempong Yeboah, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said in Ghana not many universities taught organic farming and that UCAES was happy to be assisted by Ecoland to go into that area of farming.

He indicated that the university, which had already initiated organic farming training, had many farmers within its catchment area benefiting from it.

A representative of Ecoland International Ghana, Dr Isaac Adodoadji, called on policy makers to actively play their roles and lead the organic farming drive.

He said although organic farming was not coming on a "silver platter" to meet all the food and feeding needs of Ghana, it presented a very important complement which could be done without the use of chemicals.

No chemical use

A representative from the University of Cape Coast, Mary Coleman, for her part, urged organic farmers in the area to avoid the use of chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides in the cultivation of their root crops.

She said those chemical products were responsible for acidic rains which affect the crops, and, therefore, led to food insecurity on a long term basis.

One of the farmers, Zulaiha Jummai Alhassan, who said she had been growing ginger for close to five years, told the Daily Graphic that she had been using chemicals in her cultivation of the root crop but had realised that although the yield was good, it was harmful for human consumption.
Nation needs emergency energy plan - World Bank

Timothy Ngnenbe Jul - 17 - 2023 , 10:54

The World Bank has advised the government to implement an urgent emergency energy action plan to address challenges in the countrys energy sector.

The World Bank Managing Director in charge of Operations, Ann Bjerde, who made the call, said the countrys problems in the energy sector were very serious and would get worse with debilitating effects on economic growth if not addressed.

"Once the problems are at the level that Ghana has, if not arrested and addressed with an emergency action plan, things will get worse, and this will cost the state more to keep the energy sector running at a time money is needed for other things," she said.

She stated this during an interaction with journalists in Accra last Friday to end her three-day visit to the country.

Ms Bjerde stressed that the emergency energy plan must be comprehensive, robust and focused on investment in metering, billing and efficient collection of revenue to ensure a vibrant sector.

While in the country, she held discussions with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Ghanas economic situation and the need for bold reforms to address the challenges.

Ms Bjerde said one of the issues that came up strongly for discussion was the need for urgent action to contain the challenges in the energy sector.

Vulnerable populations

She underscored the need for the ministries of Energy, Finance, and Gender and Social Protection to work together to ensure that the implementation of the energy plan was done in a manner that protected vulnerable groups.

Ms Bjerde said the World Bank would offer expert advice on how to integrate social protection into the energy plan to ensure that the vulnerable populations were protected in the wake of tariffs increment associated with the energy reforms.

"It is not rocket science; it is difficult, it requires a lot of attention day to day to get it done. But it can be done. If it is left unattended to, the problem will be worse and will cost the state more," she said.

Ms Bjerde stressed that the billing and collection of revenue would have to be efficient on the basis of proper metering.

"That way, you will know where the problems are. If you are providing electricity, billing for it and not collecting, you will know where the problems are then you can go and collect the revenue.

"If there are customers that just refuse to pay, you may also have to disconnect them," he said.

Technical support

Ms Bjerde said the World Bank was ready to support the country to implement the plan by providing technical advice on what needed to be done in terms of the billing, metering and revenue collection.

In doing so, she said, it was important to set up a dedicated account to hold all the different revenue flows in the energy sector.

"This will ensure that those who are generating the electricity are paid to sustain power supply," she said.

The World Bank Managing Director, Operations, underscored the need for the government to look more towards bolstering public-private partnerships and exploring the possibility of outsourcing certain functions and other initiatives to cut energy losses.

"Energy that is lost should really be energy that is consumed and properly accounted for," she said.

Ms Bjerde also emphasised the need to fix challenges along the value chain, especially by ensuring that independent power producers (IPPs) were paid, stressing that "without IPPs, gas production, distribution and transmission companies, we cannot sustain the sector".

"Most of the costs in the energy sector are not on the front of the distribution company; it is on the generation side, so the money needs to flow from where you collected it back up to the generation of electricity. And if it does not, the generators cannot keep producing electricity, and you will end up with interruption of supply, and this will really cause more economic problems because economic growth will be impacted," she said.

Energy potential

Ms Bjerde said Ghana had a huge potential to become a regional hub of energy.

She, therefore, urged the country to do the right investments to make sure that transmission and interconnection agreements with other countries that needed electricity were pursued to the maximum.

She said one exciting area was to make a transition from conventional energy to renewables.

"There is a huge potential in solar energy, and around the world, what we have seen is that when countries shift to renewable energy, they will need to make commensurate investments in transmission and equipment because it requires investment to be able to accommodate renewable energy technology," she said.

Ms Bjerde also urged government to look at developing local manufacturing capacities to have advantage in certain areas of growth.
GHASALC still robust, relevant in financial sector  Tweneboah Koduah

Kwame Larweh Jul - 17 - 2023 , 11:29

The Executive Secretary for the Ghana Association of Savings and Loans Companies (GHASALC), Tweneboah Koduah, has said his outfit is well positioned to withstand the current financial turbulence prevailing in the financial system.

He said despite the financial challenges, which had bedevilled the financial sector, GHASALC had played a strategic role in the economy with the crediting of more loan facilities, building the capacity of its employees, rolling out new products and taking customer experience to a new level.

We are going to have more engagements with the banks, we hope to be involved in reforms in the sector and ensure the operational efficiency of our outlets, he noted.

He made these remarks at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Association of Savings and Loans held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra last Wednesday.

A collaborative effort from the regulator and various stakeholders would be key to supporting the growth of the sector.

The association is working assiduously to improve its operations regardless of the current crisis, he added.

The 13th AGM was on the theme The Economic Outlook of Ghana-Opportunities and Challenges for the Savings and Loans sector.

The Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, Osei Gyasi, who spoke on behalf of the Governor, urged members of the sector to comply with regulatory standards as the central bank continued with its effort in ensuring financial stability.

The Bank of Ghana has observed with concern some increases in Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) and funding costs, which may sooner or later threaten the stability of the sector, he said.

It is imperative that prompt corrective actions are put in place to curb the rising trends in NPLs and divert the funding sources.
Prioritise well-being, dignity of workers  MESTI

Juliet Akyaa Safo Jul - 17 - 2023 , 08:44

The Special Advisor to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Oliver Boachie, has called on stakeholders to prioritise the well-being and dignity of workers to foster a sustainable future.

He explained that a healthy workforce was the backbone of every thriving economy since their well-being directly impacted their productivity.

We recognise that building a sustainable future for work through health, environment, safety and security requires a collaborative effort from all sectors of society, therefore, companies must strive for that, he said.

He indicated that globally, nearly 2.8 million workers were losing their lives each year due to occupational accidents and diseases, with an additional 374 million suffering from non-fatal occupational accidents.

He said although there was a paucity of data in the country, global statistics underscored the urgent need for comprehensive health initiatives at workplaces.

Awards

Mr Boachie was speaking during the 5th edition of the Health, Environment Safety and Security (HESS) Awards organised in Accra.

It was on the theme Building a Resilient Workspace post-COVID-19: the role of HSSE initiatives.

The awards was aimed at recognising individuals and organisations that demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive HSSE culture within the work environment and among their stakeholders.

It was also to create awareness, raise the bar of excellence and showcase success to encourage others to adopt best HSSE practices and management.

The event brought together professionals from various industries.

research

It was organised by Ianmatsun Global Services, in collaboration with Hegemony Consulting, a research and consulting firm.

At the event, 36 participating companies received the HESS Awards while 11 personalities received the Special Judges Awards for their exemplary work in HSSE practices.

The Managing Director of Ianmatsun Global Services, Isaac Adu-Gyamfi, reiterated the responsibility of organisations to create a world that was sustainable and equitable.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, said his outfit would continue to sensitise businesses on HESS issues at the workplace.

This would ensure that recent recurrent disasters such as fire outbreaks, gas explosions, and road accidents, are curtailed to the barest minimum, he said.

OHSE

The Bui Power Authority picked up six awards - the highest number for the event.

The company won the Best Company in Fire Safety and Security Management Practices, HESS Company of the Year, HESS Team of the Year, and Sustainability and Operational Excellence Awards.

The Deputy Director in charge of Occupational Health, Safety, Security and Environment (OHSE), Bui Power Authority, Christentus Bangkewa Kuunifaa received the HESS Personality of the Year Award while the companys Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, also took the HESS Leadership in Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Award.

Mr Kuunifaa, in an interview, said the awards demonstrated that the company was not relenting on its efforts in promoting OSHE issues.

He expressed their commitment to provide safety apparels and training for its staff to enable them to produce and develop more.
US supports GAF fight against piracy in Gulf of Guinea

Alberto Mario Noretti Jul - 17 - 2023 , 05:53

The US is to invest $48 million this year to help train and equip the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to fight piracy and illegal fishing to improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

We know security threats dont just come from the Sahel; piracy and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea pose persistent threat to the nations prosperity.

A safe and secure Gulf of Guinea means prosperity for the entire region, the US Ambassador, Virginia Palmer, said.

She was speaking at the commissioning of new structures and equipment for the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) at the Ghana Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) at Nutekpor, near Sogakope in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region last Friday.

The US provided the SBS with two interceptor vessels  38 Defender Class Safe Boats, christened Kofi Faidoo and Seth Amoama at the cost of $6.4 million, including the replacement of a landing jetty of the command known as pontoon pier.

Ms Palmer also cut the sod for the construction of an SBS Mobile Training Camp, the first persistent Engineering Detachment (Seabees) to support naval infrastructure projects, construction of SBS boat storage facility and other infrastructural projects.

In addition, she said the US had provided two patrol ships for the country which would be commissioned later this year.

Partnership

Ms Palmer also said that a team of US Special Operations Forces Africa Combat Divers would visit NAVTRAC to conduct a joint exchange training with the SBS.

Our partnership has never been stronger, the Ghana Navy Special Boat Squadron programme is thriving, and Ghanas maritime security is being fortified, she added.

The ambassador further said that Ghana-US relations had been strengthened, was productive and mutually beneficial, while re-affirming her countrys determination to continue to work with Ghana as a leader in West Africa on regional security, inclusive economic development and protection of democratic institutions.

Danish support

In a related development, the Danish Ambassador, Tom Norring, also inaugurated a mobile camp at NAVTRAC.

The structures which were donated by the Danish government and valued at about 1million, were transported from Mali into the country about a year ago.

Mr Norring reiterated the importance of continuous strengthening of capacity within the maritime domain and pledged his countrys readiness to support initiatives that would ensure maritime security.

Appreciation

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, expressed gratitude to the US and Denmark for the assistance which he said would further strengthen the bond of friendship between Ghana and the two countries.

This act of goodwill and generosity reflects their deep commitment to promoting peace and security in our maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea in general, he added.

The CDS said the structures and equipment donated will enhance the capability of the SBS and protect them from hazards in their operations and also enhance their tactical efficiency.

The Flag Officer Commanding the NAVTRAC, Commodore Bright Emmanuel Kofi Atiayao, also described the gesture from their benefactors as heart-warming.

A new three-unit classroom block for the Nutekpor DA Basic School, sponsored by the US government, was also inaugurated.
VoG Media CEO Aristocrat donates to Mama Laadi's Orphanage in Bolga

GraphicOnline Jul - 17 - 2023 , 08:28

In a heartwarming gesture of gratitude and compassion, renowned blogger, publicist, forester, promoter, and philanthropist Asare Solomon Aristocrat, popularly known as Aristocrat or Voix of Ghana, celebrated his birthday by giving back to the community.

Aristocrat marked his milestone birthday by visiting the Mama Laadi's Orphanage in Bolga and presenting a generous donation to support the children's well-being.

The donation which took place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, left the management of the orphanage overwhelmed with gratitude.

The contribution comprised a wide range of essential items, including clothes, detergent, foodstuffs, cooking oil, maize, gari (ground cassava), beans, bathing soaps, exercise books, school bags, shoes, slippers, and water. These supplies will greatly support the daily operations of the facility, located in the Soe area of the Upper East Region in Ghana.

Asare Solomon Aristocrat, who is actively involved in various charitable projects, couldn't contain his joy as he witnessed the smiles lighting up the faces of the children.

Expressing his gratitude to the Almighty for his blessings and personal achievements, Aristocrat emphasized the importance of giving back to society every year. He urged the community to join him in supporting the less privileged, emphasizing the significant impact such acts of kindness can have.

Aristocrat's dedication to philanthropy extends beyond this single act of charity. He is committed to launching more initiatives aimed at uplifting and empowering marginalized individuals in society.

Recognizing the invaluable role that stakeholders and the general public play in creating a positive impact, Aristocrat appealed for their continued support in making his charitable endeavours a resounding success.

The Mama Laadi Orphanage, established in 2006, serves as a sanctuary for street children, providing them with the care and resources necessary to fulfil their potential. Through their dedicated efforts, the orphanage offers hope, love, and support to vulnerable children, ensuring they have a chance to thrive in life.

Asare Solomon Aristocrat's benevolent gesture to the Mama Laadi's Orphanage not only brought joy to the children but also serves as an inspiration to others to extend a helping hand to those in need.

His commitment to philanthropy serves as a shining example of the positive impact individuals can make when they choose to give back to their communities and uplift those facing challenging circumstances.
Medical Waste Treatment Plant commissioned in Kumasi

Daily Graphic Health Jul - 17 - 2023 , 10:10

A modern medical waste and treatment plant has been commissioned in Adegya in the Ashanti Region.

The Kumasi Medical Waste Treatment facility is part of a larger initiative by the Jospong Group of companies, in collaboration with the government.

It is the first of 14 centralised medical waste treatment facilitiesto to be established across the country.

A deputy Minister of Health, Mahama Asei Seini, who commissioned the plant, said the facility signified the commitment of the country to safeguard public health, preserving the environment for sustainable development.

He stressed that medical waste comprised potentially infectious and hazardous materials which posed a great threat to human health and the ecosystem, if not managed properly.

"It is critical that we adopt responsible and efficient measures to prevent the spread of diseases, protect our health workers and minimise the impact on the environment, Mr Seini emphasised.

He noted that the facility would serve all heathcare facilities within the region and neighbouring towns and also serve as a learning facility for health students in the region

The facility, which has the capacity to treat 10,000kg (10 tonnes) of waste a day, will provide 200 direct and indirect jobs.

He gave an assurance that all waste generated from the health facilities would be channelled to ensure its sustainability.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, noted that management of medical waste in the country had always been a challenge.

He added that in the last two years, Ghana had dispensed over 22 million vaccines, excluding those for children, and as such the management of the waste was a challenge to the service.

"We are currently carrying out open burning of waste, incinerators with its accompanying high electricity consumption cost and so there's a need to transform to a safer, efficient and environmental friendly system, and what we have here provides this excellent result. We are happy to be part of this transformation," he remarked.

He stressed that the facility did not only protect the environment but the health workers who handled the waste.

some officials observing the treatment process after the innauguration

The Executive Director, Processing Cluster E&S Group, Haida Said, noted that the pandemic brought into focus the need to be cautious in handling medical waste to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the country.

He expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for creating the enabling environment for the private sector to work.

Hiahene, Professor Oheneba Boakye Adjei, who represented Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, commended the partnership between the Government of Ghana, the Ecosteryl of Belgium and the Jospong Group for bringing the project to life.

Ghanas Ambassador to Belgium, Harriet Sena Siaw-Boateng, stated that the facility was a significant milestone and demonstrated Ghana's commitment to meeting goals three and 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals

"It also aligns with the environmental sanitation and plastic policy that will significantly reduce plastic waste," she noted.

Features

The primary purpose of the Kumasi Medical Waste Treatment facility is to collect and treat hazardous health waste components, including used syringes, blood-stained materials, pathological waste, COVID-19 waste and waste from vaccination exercises.

The facility is equipped with two state-of-the-art Microwave Treatment Equipment that have a daily capacity to handle an average of 10,000kg (10 tonnes) of hazardous waste.

This equipment not only effectively treats the waste but also recycles it, adding value and reducing the amount of waste destined for landfill sites.

The non-incineration technique employed by the equipment ensures there are no atmospheric pollutants released, thus promoting environmental health and safety.

In addition to the treatment equipment, the facility features a cold room for waste storage and specialised waste trucks for transporting medical waste from various healthcare facilities to the treatment site.
PLANA, a developer of hybrid advanced air mobility (AAM) eVTOL aircraft, signed a letter of intent (LOI) and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hi-Air, a South Korean commercial air carrier, to supply 30 AAM aircraft.

Under the LOI, PLANA will supply its hybrid-electric AAM aircraft, CP-01, to Hi-Air from 2030. The first 10 aircraft will be delivered in 2031, with the remaining 20 to be delivered later.

PLANA also has LOIs with Ghenus Air in the United States and SkyTaxi in Japan to supply 20 and 50 aircraft, respectively.

Hi-Air is South Koreas leading small-scale air operator license holder for small-scale air transport services. The company was founded in 2019 and started operations from Ulsan Airport. Hi-Air currently operates flights to Gimpo, Muan, Suncheon, and Jeju. In 2022, Hi-Air became the first commercial air carrier in South Korea to reach 500,000 cumulative passengers. The company recently launched a new route between Muan and Kitakyushu, Japan.

Under the MOU, PLANA and Hi-Air will jointly develop business models for passenger and cargo transportation, based on the AAM aircraft. The companies expect to create synergies by leveraging their respective expertise in aircraft operation and development.

PLANA also recently signed an MOU with Gloria Aviation to develop a joint business and train AAM industry talent. Gloria Aviation is the first to operate an aviation-specialized school in Korea, and based on its know-how, it conducts various aviation-related education and research as well as training pilots and maintenance technicians.





PLANAs CP-01 will use all-electric propulsion (6 tilt-rotors), with a battery system and a turbine generator running SAF providing the electricity. With a payload capacity of up to 6 passengers, CP-01 is envisioned to have a range of 500 km (excluding reserve miles), with a cruise speed of 300 km/h.

PLANA anticipates CP-01 use cases will be similar to the existing helicopter market.
UK-based energy firm SSE is the first UK utility to trial First Hydrogens hydrogen-powered van in a real-life setting, enabling SSE to evaluate the benefits of hydrogen mobility alongside its growing fleet of EV engineering and maintenance vehicles as an alternative to fossil fuels.





The light commercial vehicle (LCV) has spent the last few weeks operating from one of SSEs sites in Aberdeen, which is located next to a hydrogen fuel station. After two days training, four SSE drivers have been using the First Hydrogens vehicle to carry the equipment and tools which play a key part in the engineers day-to-day job.

SSE currently operates one of the largest fleets in the UK and has already pledged to switch 2,500 of its vehicles to electric and install charging points for its 11,000 employees to use. SSE vehicles work in a wide variety of operational roles and conditions, from maintaining the electricity network spanning central southern England and the north of Scotland, to navigating the diverse and challenging environments of its hydro and onshore wind farm sites.

First Hydrogens fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) can travel further on a single tank of fuel than equivalent battery electric vehicles (BEV) on a single charge and can carry heavier loads without compromising on range. With fast refuelingapproximately 5 minutes compared to 5 hours for BEV chargingit also means more vehicle uptime.

The vehicle will be closely monitored throughout the trial via onboard instruments. This helps First Hydrogens engineers to understand fuel consumption, mileage, and vehicle performance in different conditions. It also enables them to keep track of the vehicles use, location, and status in real-time to keep the drivers and vehicle safe.

First Hydrogen Corp. is a Vancouver, Canada- and London, UK-based company focused on zero-emission vehicles, green hydrogen production and distribution and supercritical carbon dioxide extractor systems. The company has developed hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered light commercial demonstrator vehicles (LCV) under two agreements with AVL Powertrain and Ballard Power Systems Inc. The LCV have a range of 500+ kilometers. At the same time, the company has launched its bespoke vehicle design phase, which will develop its fleet of proprietary zero-emission vehicles. The company is also pursuing opportunities in green hydrogen production and distribution in the UK, Canada, North America, and Europe.

Earlier this month, First Hydrogen signed a feasibility study agreement with Sacre-Davey for the development of a 35MW green hydrogen production facility and vehicle assembly factory in Shawinigan, Quebec.

The purpose of the feasibility study is to establish the technical and markets analysis, engineering review, analysis of grid and water constraints, permitting requirements, environmental constraints and a review of distribution and operations. The overarching theme throughout the study is to recognize the combined aim to create a zero-emissions hydrogen ecosystem.

The production facility will use advanced electrolysis and supply the companys hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles (FCEV), as well as support other hydrogen-fueled vehicles and applications in the Montreal-Quebec City region. The companys planned FCEV assembly factory will be designed for annual production of 25,000 vehicles per year when at full capacity and, will represent a major boost to green technology jobs in the region.

The green hydrogen market was valued at US$676 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$7,314 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 61% from 2022 to 2027. The markets growth is attributed to the lowering cost of producing renewable energy by all sources, the development of electrolysis technologies and high demand from FCEVs and the power industry.
To ensure that childcare sites remain open even after natural disasters, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration announced possible funding for the hardening of those facilities.

On Monday, the administration, through the Department of Public Health and Social Services, will launch the Project Mawar-rior Child Care Recovery Program under the Prugraman i Pinilan i Famaguon Guahan.

The Mawar-rior Program will provide grants for hardening Child Care Development Fund certified childcare facilities for future disasters, natural hazards, flood damages and disaster losses.

Grants range from $10,000 for relative and in-home childcare providers, $50,000 for family daycare providers and up to $200,000 for center-based and school-age child care providers.

Our administration continues to make unprecedented investments in our childcare industry, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. With the launch of the Project Mawar-rior Child Care Recovery Program, we are supporting over 150 childcare providers and over 3,000 children and their families. Additionally, this funding builds resilience, not only among this industry charged with caring for the youngest in our community, but for the economy as a whole.

We encourage CCDF-certified childcare providers to apply and make the investments in their facilities today. Grants may be used for the purchase of generators, water tanks and window and door shutters. Beyond hardening our facilities, this funding also provides for mental health support for our children and providers and training and professional development related to health and safety, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio.

All eligible grantees will also receive $1,500 per subsidized child enrolled in their care prior to June 2023. Grants are 100% federally funded by the Child Care & Development Fund through the DPHSS Bureau of Child Care Services.

For interested childcare facilities, they can apply by downloading the general guidelines and application that have begun on Monday noon at https://www.investguam.com/geda-grant-programs/.

Questions can be directed to Pinki Lujan at pinki.lujan@investguam.com.
Thomas Benavente comes from Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He enjoys talking to the public to share the island spirit. He can be reached through (671) 483-1440 or tbenavente@guampdn.com.
After dealing with numerous instructional formats to re-open after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guam Department of Education is now in a situation where the possible re-opening for some schools can be months after the intended start date.

This is due to GDOE assigning three phases to the public schools for when they will possibly reopen.

The full schedule of when each school opens can be found here.

A barrier to these phases and the cleanup around campuses is the need for each school to have a sanitary permit from a passing grade of C and above. This is mandated due to Public Law 37-4, which as Bill 29-37, was initially passed by all 14 senators present at the Guam Legislatures session on March 21 with the exception of Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes absence.

The bill then lapsed into law without the governors signature into Public Law 37-4 on April 1.

The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration released a statement on Sunday that the uncompromising and unreasonable Public Law 37-4 has tied their hands and will result in the closure of numerous public schools.

According to the administration, the Office of the Attorney General of Guam is planning a roundtable discussion on the islands school reopening problem. They noted that in an invitation to various stakeholders, Attorney General Doug Moylan stated he wished to discuss possible options that may be available to provide for an interim solution until the public school facilities can safely reopen and the inherent legal problems facing our government and taxpayers if students are once again forced to remain at home and learn remotely.

The administration noted that in DPHSSs testimony before the legislature, public health representatives warned that, if passed, the law would disrupt the opening of schools for the upcoming school year. Specifically, public health stated it would take approximately 528 working days to complete inspections for all 66 permitted schools on the island.

The administration and DPHSS are working feverishly to inspect as many schools as possible. However, even with the best efforts put forth by Public Health inspectors, it is anticipated that many campuses will exceed the allowable demerits for a passing inspection, stated the administration. Most recently, Adacao Elementary School and John F. Kennedy High School received D ratings after their public health inspections.

Prior to the enactment of Public Law 37-4, GDOE schools had five years to comply with new sanitary regulations.

When Public Health established these new sanitary regulations, GDOE asked for more time to come into compliance and was granted five years. This would have allowed our schools until June 2024 to come into compliance. Barnetts bill, however, changed this and instead mandated GDOE to comply with new regulations before this upcoming school year, added the administration.

Gov. Leon Guerrero noted that the law imposed impracticable timelines on DPHSS. In addition to school inspections, public health is responsible for completing 12,000 annual compliance inspections for nearly 3,000 permitted establishments islandwide.

The administration additionally noted that Moylan has begun prosecuting public health officials for what he describes as the wrongful issuance of sanitary permits to GDOE without inspections.

Despite this, public health still has to request legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General, which also serves as public healths legal counsel. Specifically, public health has requested guidance regarding the path forward for inspections and sanitary permitting for all affected establishments, including hotels, restaurants and mortuaries, in light of personnel shortages at the agency, said the administration.

Gov. Leon Guerrero has very limited authority over GDOE. While she is working with DPHSS to address their years-long efforts to recruit additional inspectors, Gov. Leon Guerrero has also ordered line agencies to assist with GDOEs procurement challenges for renovating and maintaining school facilities. These efforts, however, will not resolve the immediate problems caused by P.L. 37-4, concluded the administration.

While the roundtable discussion is a nice idea, the necessary solution lies with the Guam Legislature and possibly with the OAG. Since the legislature created this problem, the real solution lies with them. For these reasons, Gov. Leon Guerrero wrote to Attorney General Moylan, stating she will not attend his roundtable discussion on schools. Instead, she will be focused on providing DPHSS the support it needs to fulfill its mandates.

In response to the governors statement, Sen. Chris Barnett, the author of P.L. 37-4, applauded her for going to work on addressing these issues.

I applaud the governor for saying shes going to work on addressing issues with Public Health that are a key component to being able to open more schools for face-to-face learning. Its never too late for all of us to work together for the good of our public school system and students, stated Barnett.

Any short-term delays in opening schools and any short-term changes to modes of learning may be necessary to reach our long overdue goal of safe and sanitary schools that will help our staff and students focus on teaching and learning. GDOE has committed to me that they are looking at all options on the table to preserve as much face-to-face learning as we can. Im grateful PL 37-4 compliance efforts continue to move forward. Thanks to the hard work of all those who are helping.
According to a statement provided by the Office of Congressman James Moylan, the US House of Representatives passed the House version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

Moylan claims the NDAA contains many victories and opportunities for Guam and the Indo-Pacific region as it includes over $1.7 billion of authorized spending in military activity and construction in Guam. Moylan further noted this is a substantial increase compared to the 2023 NDAA.

Moylan also noted that he proposed numerous amendments that were adopted by the House, which include:

Directing the Department of Defense Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of entering a partnership with the Guam Power Authority to enhance Guams power grid. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of entering a partnership with Guams utility entities to harden the infrastructure as it relates with readiness. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of constructing a defense access road. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of repairing infrastructure damaged by Typhoon Mawar, and this would include a collaboration with Guams mayors. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of military housing needs to minimize the impact on the local inventory. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of dredging at the Port Authority of Guam as it relates to the cost of shipping goods to the island. Directing the DOD Secretary to review the Overseas Cost of Living Allowance rates for service members in Guam with the intent of taking them back to the 2022 rates. Authorizing the DOD Secretary to waive cost share requirements for insular areas when it comes to Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot grants. Directing the DOD Secretary to justify why he did not execute his authority in temporarily waiving the Jones Act for Guam as it has been done for other jurisdictions impacted by major storms. Directing the DOD Secretary to determine the feasibility and costs of bringing back a permanent Ship Repair and Dry Dock facility to Guam, which would help create many jobs. Increasing the number of nominees for Guam students into the United States Service Academies. Directing the DOD Secretary to report on the ACSA agreements as it relates to shared resources within the Pacific Island Nations.

These do not include the number of amendments co-sponsored by Del. Moylan in reference to DOD policies.

In terms of spending authorizations, Moylans office stated he was instrumental in working with the committee staff to secure an additional $100 million for the Guam Missile Defense and over $200 million in new military housing construction to help reduce the impact in the local inventory.

While the extension on the exemption of the H2B visas for an additional five years was a key priority of Moylan, the waiver for his amendment was not provided by the House Judiciary Committee to include in the final House NDAA bill. Moylan was, however, successful in talking to Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hironos team in introducing his amendment in the Senates NDAA bill, and it has been included since.

We are excited to see Guams heavy presence once again in the NDAA. This goes back to the importance of being on the Armed Services Committee, participating in the process, attending meetings inclusive of the late-night ones, working with leadership, building relationships, being visible and continuing to advocate for our island, said Moylan.

I also want to thank our legislative team, inclusive of our interns, for their hard work and staying on top of things to help secure some victories for Guam. While we did not get everything we wanted, we will continue to work towards finding other means to secure them.

Moylans office noted that the next process is the passage of the Senates NDAA, which will lead to the conference where a committee will iron out the issues which differ between the House and Senates bills.

It would be helpful to sit as a conferee to ensure that our amendments are secured, that the H2b amendment remains and also to ensure that any language in the Senate bill which addresses Guam but is not a priority are removed, added Moylan.

While Moylan addressed his amendments for the NDAA, Guam Legislatures Speaker Therese Terlaje addressed key points made by the contrasting Senate Armed Services Committee advanced version of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024.

I was shocked to see that the Senate Armed Services Committee version of the NDAA included very detailed provisions regarding Eagles Field as a transmitter site and an express provision that Eagles Field property shall not be deemed excess, said Terlaje.

Terlaje also noted that she is concerned as these actions contradict earlier promise and action by the Secretary of the Navy.

First, there are some very high-level discussions and lobbying going on in Washington D.C. regarding land in Guam behind our backs without any knowledge of our congressman. Neither the congressman nor the governor have announced this to us as part of their lobbying efforts, said Terlaje. If Guam has such a high level, effective lobbying power, Congress should have included a provision expressly affirming that excess federal land returned to the Government of Guam may be transferred to the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission to meet the public purpose of rectifying the injustice done by military land takings years ago.

Most concerning is, from what I have learned regarding their desire to station defense missiles in the same area, this offer for us to develop Eagles Field property may be connected to creating a buffer zone for them to put missiles in the adjacent area without fully addressing the environmental impact or the surrounding residents, added the speaker.

Instead of getting more transparency as promised, we are getting less.

In another Department of Defense matter, Speaker Terlaje, who is also chairperson of the legislative committee on health, land, justice and culture, is hosting government agencies and the public for a town hall to share information and learn the logistics and effects of DoDs proposed 360-degree Enhanced Integrated Air And Missile Defense System on Guam.

The town hall will take place at the Guam Congress Building Public Hearing room on Monday and is scheduled to run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam Permit Czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org.




Haiti - Immigration : Arrest of 146 Haitians illegally settled on the lands of Barahona





Agents of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), supported by members of the Dominican army, agents of the national police, soldiers of the Specialized Corps of Border Security (Cesfront) and members of the civil defense, as auxiliaries, intervened in various sectors and communities of the province of Barahona.



During operations in the Los Cocos region, the community of La Colonia de Juancho, among other towns in the southern province, 146 Haitians were arrested in an irregular migration situation.



The actions were carried out following a call from the Neighborhood Councils of the communities who declared that Haitians were invading private lands and that some 29 huts inhabited by them established on private properties, had to be evicted.



After the operation, the illegals were sent to the detention center of Haina, for purification and subsequent expulsion, while contacting the Haitian authorities responsible for the reception of undocumented migrants.



During the interventions, a man known as "Yoni El Pastor" was identified, he was supposedly working to protect undocumented Haitian nationals. The authorities are investigating this individual to determine if he is part of a human trafficking network from Haiti.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Capotille : Solar power plant, test success

The first connection tests of the Capotille photovoltaic solar power plant (205 kW and 430 kWh of batteries) to the distribution grid took place on July 15 and 16, 2023. Test passed. The lithium storage system kept the city lit all night.



The Haitian writer Makenzy triple choice Goncourt

The Haitian writer Makenzy in July 2023, the Prix Goncourt du Rio de la Plata (July 7) as well as that of Greece for his novel "A human sum" published in 2022. See also: https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39430-icihaiti-literature-the-haitian-writer-makenzy-orcel-wins-the-choix-goncourt-us.html



The WFP will reduce its aid, due to lack of budget

Due to the global economic crisis, major donors such as the United States and Canada among others have reduced the resources devoted to humanitarian aid and development. A reduction that will force the World Food Program (WFP) to reduce 2.5 million beneficiaries out of the 9.9 million people in acute food insecurity, including 4.9 million in Haiti.



CARICOM : 2nd failure

Friday, July 14, 2023, the political negotiations conducted under the auspices of CARICOM between the signatories of the December 21 agreement and those of the Kingston joint declaration, did not lead to an agreement, each party camping on their positions and accusing each other of intransigence. The future of his negotiations is unknown, as CARICOM representatives have not yet spoken.



New owner for Cine Capitol

The Cine Capitol is now the property of Tabernacle de Gloire de Miami led by Pastor Gregory Toussaint, who directs the Tabernacle de Gloire de Miam, informed on Saturday July 15, 2023 that his church has purchased the Cine Capitol which should open its doors again in the next days.



Les Grenadieres enters the video game

Haitian football is making considerable progress thanks to the introduction of the Grenadieres in the FIIFA 2023 video games. EASportsFC23 has added the Haitian selection participating in the Australia-New Zealand World Cup. This consideration on the digital level is not only a mark of sporting consideration but is also synonymous with financial opportunities for the king sport in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By Lily Lee | Published on 2017/06/23 | Source

Lately there have been many fresh faces that caught my attention while I watch K-dramas. As if to laugh at my current (overflowing) collection of my favorite actors, Korean showbiz keeps on finding great, handsome actors and pushing them my way. Well, what can I do? I'll always have enough room in my heart and my phone gallery storage for these good looking actors. ;)

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Below 6 have been especially fascinating to me since I share the same birth year with them (You know, typical fan girl trying to find as many common points as I can with the stars. Even if they are trivial matters lol). Also, just in case these guys are too fresh in your eyes and you don't recognize them, I included some keywords you might remember them by!

An Woo-yeon

|"Five Children" | Glasses | Hip Teacher |"Circle" |"Age of Youth2" | Do Bong-soon | 5:5 Hair-do | Seoul Institute of the Arts |

He has a keen eye for choosing the right role and right shows that will hit big. OR, maybe it is because of him, the show gets an extra boost in popularity! He's been keeping himself busy with tons of work and building his career.

Dong Ha

| Psychopath |"Beautiful Mind" | Wannabe Villain | "Chief Kim" | Swahili | "Suspicious Partner" | Fennec fox | Monolid

Many people have mentioned that Dong Ha reminds them of actor Park Hae-il's younger years. His acting is already being loved by many and especially from older generation for some reason!

Yang Se-jong

| "Duel" | Onew look-alike | "Saimdang: Light's Diary" | "Dr. Romantic" | Go Kyung-pyo look-alike | Korea National University of Arts

Yang Se-jong possesses all, from the outstanding beauty to superb acting skill! There's no doubt that he put his name on the list of new rising stars.

Go On

| "Kill Me, Heal Me" | Bad guy | "Andante" | Full lips | Lee Min-ho look-alike | "Solomon's Perjury" | Model proportion |

He has been putting a lot of work in being a villain, and we are now ready to see him in a sweet romance!

Woo Do-hwan

| Sharp eyes | Sexy | "The Man In My House" | Gangster role expert | "Master" | "Save Me" | Sexy muscle |

His cold face combined with the sharp gaze is everything. It doesn't matter if you are a girl or a guy, because Woo Do-hwan is everyone's type.

Jang Dong-yoon

| "School 2017" | "Solomon's Perjury" | Lee Je-hoon look-alike | Robber | News Interview | Hanyang University |

He got famous for his appearance in the news after he caught a robber. When his interview was aired, everyone was freaking out about what a good looking guy this brave man was and now that he debuted as an actor, he is ready to take all the screens!

By. Lily Lee
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Hundreds of Finnish people stripped off their clothes and gathered on the streets and beaches of Kuopio in central Finland for a unique art project in the early hours of a bright Nordic night. The renowned American photographer Spencer Tunick, known for his captivating art featuring crowds of nude individuals, orchestrated the event.

Guided by loudspeakers broadcasting instructions, they prepared themselves to strike poses for Tunick's camera. The photographer, acclaimed for his ability to capture the beauty and vulnerability of the human form, expressed his excitement about the project. "Today the land of 1,000 lakes has been retitled the land of 1,000 nudes," Tunick told AFP, emphasizing the transformation of the cityscape into a temporary artistic masterpiece.

The photo shoot commenced in the parks of central Kuopio, where the participants found themselves amidst vibrant flower installations. They occupied the paved pathways, creating a unique juxtaposition between nature and the human body. From there, the crowd made its way to the rocky beaches of the surrounding lake, with some individuals immersing themselves halfway into the water, lying naked on the rocks. Tunick's intention was to connect the human body to the essence of Kuopio and the breathtaking Lakelands of northern Finland.

The artist expressed his gratitude towards the brave volunteers who made his artistic vision a reality. These individuals responded to Tunick's invitation to disrobe in the serene setting of the Nordic night, demonstrating their willingness to become part of the creative process. Tunick highlighted the rarity of such an opportunity for the public to actively contribute to the act of creation itself.

This was not the first time Tunick brought his unique artistic vision to a public space. In November, thousands of people shed their clothes on Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, participating in an art installation aimed at raising awareness about skin cancer and sun safety. In another headline-grabbing event in 2016, more than a hundred women stripped and posed naked with mirrors in Cleveland, responding to Tunick's call to blend art with politics and symbolically portray Donald Trump as unfit for the White House.

The recent art project in Kuopio added another chapter to Tunick's extensive body of work, showcasing his ability to create awe-inspiring and thought-provoking imagery with nude participants. The photos captured in this Finnish city will undoubtedly contribute to the artist's ongoing exploration of the human form in natural and public environments.

In the early hours of the Nordic night, Kuopio transformed into an open-air art gallery, celebrating the beauty and vulnerability of the human body. Through his unique lens, Spencer Tunick once again showcased his talent for capturing the essence of his subjects and their surroundings.

HT
According to a survey conducted by OP Group, assessments of repair needs have surpassed the location of the housing company as the most important criterion when purchasing a new apartment in a housing cooperative. Housing companies that carry out continuous maintenance and repairs are becoming the most viable options for buyers. An expert suggests that the real estate market is facing new challenges regarding pricing.

A clear majority (63 percent) of respondents in the survey stated that they pay the most attention to assessments of the housing company's future repair needs when purchasing an apartment in a housing cooperative. The next most important factor is the repairs already conducted in the housing company (54 percent), with the location of the company ranking third in terms of importance (47 percent).

"The condition of housing companies has clearly gained attention during this spring, surpassing the location of the company, which has traditionally been the top concern for buyers," says Kirsi Tenhunen, CEO of OP Koti Uusimaa.

Buyers planning to purchase a new home have become more aware of issues related to the condition of housing companies. The topic has received media coverage, leading to increased awareness among buyers.

The ownership of the land and the structure of the company's shareholders are evident in the responses, and OP Kodin has also noticed these themes being discussed by buyers. Among the top results, the company's financial situation, ownership structure of the land, maintenance and management plans, and the amount of fees are part of the same evaluation, aiming to assess the housing company's financial situation and long-term housing costs.

"Awareness of housing costs has grown, and there is a stronger realization of the importance of taking care of one's own housing company. When there are many housing companies with deferred maintenance, it begins to have an increasing impact," Tenhunen explains.

Continuous repairs indicate a well-managed housing company. When a housing company is over ten years old, maintenance work should be ongoing.

"The older the company and the fewer repairs that have been carried out, the more it should raise alarm bells. There may be a wave of repairs coming," summarizes Tenhunen.

The major repairs are related to pipes and the structure of the building, whether it's the facade, roof, or windows. These are the most significant aspects that require regular maintenance in a housing company.

The real estate market is facing new challenges regarding pricing. Traditionally, the location within a specific postal code has largely determined the base price of an apartment, after which the condition of the housing company and ultimately the condition and precise location within the company have been considered.

"In the future, special emphasis should be placed on the condition of the housing company, how it has been managed, and what plans the company has for the future. This will lead to significant price differences for apartments in neighboring housing companies within the same area," says Tenhunen.

The OP Group survey was conducted in May 2023 and included 18-79-year-old Finnish respondents (n=2063), providing a nationally representative sample. The number of respondents varies for each question. The survey was carried out by Taloustutkimus Oy on behalf of OP Group. The maximum margin of error for the responses is +/- 2.0 percentage points.

HT
The positive growth in passenger volumes can be attributed to the opening of new direct international flight connections at Tampere-Pirkkala, Rovaniemi, and Turku Airports.

Air travel is experiencing a robust rebound as passenger volumes at Finavia's 20 airports surged by 36 percent in JanuaryJune 2023 compared to the previous year. A total of 9 million passengers travelled through the airports during this period. International flights accounted for 78 percent of the passengers, while domestic flights made up the remaining 22 percent.

Finavia has been actively working with airlines and tourism operators to improve accessibility across Finland.

The most remarkable recovery is evident in the statistics of Finavia's airports in Lapland. Rovaniemi Airport has already surpassed its pre-pandemic passenger volume, with 346,660 passengers flying through it in JanuaryJune 2023, compared to 322,331 passengers during the same period in 2019. Other Lapland airports, such as Kittila, Ivalo, and Kuusamo, are also approaching their 2019 levels.

Helsinki Airport witnessed a 37 percent growth in passenger volumes, with 7.5 million passengers in JanuaryJune 2023. However, this figure remains lower than the pre-pandemic level of 10.6 million passengers in 2019. Transfer travelling between Asia and Europe still lags due to the pandemic's impact on international travel.

European destinations continue to be the most popular international connections for passengers flying from Finavia's airports, with routes to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, and Paris topping the list. Among international scheduled flights, Germany, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Italy attracted the largest numbers of passengers. The most visited non-European destinations were the United States, Japan, Thailand, India, and South Korea.

Regional airports also experienced growth, with 1.5 million passengers in JanuaryJune 2023, representing a 34 percent increase from the previous year. Rovaniemi, Oulu, Kittila, Turku, and Ivalo Airports saw the highest passenger numbers. Finavia emphasizes the importance of local residents utilizing regional airport connections to sustain their availability.

While passenger volumes continue to rise, freight and postal traffic remain steady, with a five percent decrease from the previous year. Approximately 87 thousand tonnes of cargo and mail were transported through Finavia's airports in the first half of 2023. Additionally, the number of commercial flights increased by 11 percent compared to the previous year.

As the aviation industry continues to recover, Finavia remains committed to improving connectivity and accessibility across its airports, making air travel more convenient and appealing for passengers from various destinations.

Statistical summary, JanuaryJune 2023

JanuaryJune 2023 JanuaryJune 2022 Percentage

change Total passengers at Finavias airports 8,990,415 6,587,125 + 36.48% Passengers at Helsinki Airport 7,464,355 5,450,775 + 36.94% Transfer passengers departing on international flights 981,849 631,047 + 55.59% Total freight volume at Finavias airports 86,575 91,262 - 5.14% Freight volume at Helsinki Airport 84,543 89,900 - 5.96% Total number of commercial flights at Finavias airports 88,847 79,908 + 11.19% Commercial flights at Helsinki Airport 67,935 61,133 + 11.13%

Top 10 flight connections from Finavia airports

Rank Route Total passenger volumes in JanuaryJune 2023 1. Helsinki  Stockholm-Arlanda 262,943 2. Helsinki  Copenhagen 150,781 3. Helsinki  Amsterdam 143,215 4. Oulu  Helsinki 138,520 5. Helsinki  Oulu 135,464 6. Helsinki  London-Heathrow 130,184 7. Rovaniemi  Helsinki 120,371 8. Helsinki  Paris-Charles De Gaulle 120,138 9. Helsinki  Manchester 114,996 10. Helsinki  Rovaniemi 110,495

The 10 most used airlines at Finavia's airports

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HT
Halla-aho on Friday received a letter signed by the chairpersons of all opposition groups demanding that he suspend the recess in order to discuss statements by cabinet members and assess the functioning of the ruling coalition.

SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT Jussi Halla-aho (PS) has come under criticism from legal experts and opposition lawmakers over his decision not to interrupt the summer recess of the Finnish Parliament.

The opposition leaders called particular attention to the damage the recent debate could have on the economy and international reputation of Finland. The government has recently received negative publicity due to the racist online comments made by Minister of Finance Riikka Purra (PS).

It is my impression that, in terms of its urgency and societal significant, the issue does not compare to the reasons that have been cited previously to reconvene the parliament during a recess in the session, Halla-aho wrote in his decision.

The threshold is high.

He also accused the opposition parties of trying to exert pressure on the pressure by announcing their desire to reconvene not in a direct message to the speaker but rather through social and traditional media.

My interpretation of this is that the intention was to create a conflict of authority with the speaker and to steer decision-making by the speaker in a particular direction by leveraging the pressure of publicity. The speaker cannot give in to external pressure because he represents the parliament and defends its independence, he stated.

Halla-aho added that his assessment of the gravity of the situation could be circumvented only if the majority of lawmakers expressed their hope that the parliament is called back from its summer recess.

If the majority of representatives (through their [parliamentary] groups) expressed their hope that the parliament reconvenes, the principles of parliamentarism and general principles of democracy would support accepting the request regardless of the speakers assessment of the significance of the issue, he said.

That is not the case now. A parliamentary majority has not supported the request.

Antti Lindtman, the chairperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, said to Helsingin Sanomat that the largest opposition group is disappointed with the decision not to reconvene the parliament. Halla-aho, he viewed, also tried to prevent discussion over now former Minister of Economic Affairs Vilhelm Junnila (PS).

Now he is preventing the parliament from convening clearly in order to protect the chairperson of his own party and to prevent the parliament from gauging its confidence in her, stated Lindtman.

The government and its ministers have rightfully come under exceptional criticism both at home and abroad. I consider it a sad moment in the history of Finnish parliamentarism that the speaker does not reconvene the parliament despite a demand from the entire opposition.

Atte Harjanne, a deputy chairperson of the Green League, questioned Halla-ahos interpretation that the request relates exclusively to the racist online comments made by Purra.

It wasnt only about confidence in Purra. It was about the public attention the prime minister and ruling parties in general have received this week, Harjanne said to Helsingin Sanomat.

He also drew attention to uncertainty about the position of the Swedish Peoples Party. The Swedish Peoples Party appears not to have directly declared its position on the matter. Of course I dont know if the party and Halla-aho have had bilateral discussions about the matter. If the Swedish Peoples Party concludes that a vote of confidence is justified, then a parliamentary majority is reached.

Iltalehti on Sunday wrote that the Swedish Peoples Parliamentary Group convened to address the situation yesterday evening, two days after stating that it is extremely concerned about the governments ability to function.

Also the heads of four ruling parties held discussions over the weekend, according to the daily.

HS: Halla-ahos reasoning questioned by legal experts

The decision not to reconvene the parliament is problematic, according to three legal experts interviewed by Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday.

Dialogue between the government and opposition is a central idea of parliamentarism. Its very unusual that the entire opposition believes its necessary from a parliamentary perspective to suspend a recess in the parliamentary session. For this reason, the request is very weighty and, in my view, the speaker shouldve accepted it, Veli-Pekka Viljanen, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Turku, stated to Helsingin Sanomat.

Although Halla-aho has not acted unlawfully due to the leeway the constitution grants to the speaker, constitutionally it is more important that the parliament is ready to convene at any time, according to Viljanen. The legislative threshold for suspending a break in the parliamentary session, he added, is not particularly high.

He especially voiced his bafflement at the argument that the majority of representatives did not support the request.

Id consider this interpretation unusual because in an era of majority governments the opposition would never have the opportunity to request that the parliament reconvenes during a break. If the interpretation is that a break can be suspended only when the request comes from the government, its problematic.

Viljanen said Halla-aho became a party to the dispute by alleging that the opposition parties have used social and traditional media to influence his decision-making.

The speakers status is pronouncedly neutral, which is why he cant participate in voting. He has been protected from tensions between the government and opposition. Thats why I think its unusual to point to a conflict of authority, he said to Helsingin Sanomat.

Tuomas Ojanen, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Helsinki, reminded the newspaper that equality, the prohibition of discrimination and the inviolability of human dignity are fundamental societal values that carry considerable significance in not only the Finnish constitution but also applicable international treaties and EU law.

Finland, he highlighted, has the obligation to use all possible means to combat racism.

From the viewpoint of the constitution, human rights treaties and EU law, its clear that the matter is of enormous social and legal importance. For this reason, it wouldve been justified to summon the parliament, the primary state body in Finland, to discuss the matter.

Also Janne Salminen, a professor of public law at the University of Turku, questioned the rationale of the speaker while estimating that he has not outright acted unlawfully.

The principle of parliamentarism wouldve supported summoning the parliament. It isnt appropriate for the speaker to consider the question through the lens of of the vote of confidences possible outcome by pointing to the fact that a parliamentary majority hasnt backed the request, he said to Helsingin Sanomat.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
A YOUNG curator from Nettlebed who was inspired by time spent studying in the South of France has opened his first major exhibition at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Henley.

Sam Farlow, 24, from Park Corner, was drawn to the street art he saw in Montpellier, a city close to the Mediterranean coast, a few years ago.

For the exhibition, he will be showing the work of five artists from the area.

Sam, who went to the Oratory Prep School and then the Oratory School, says: I studied French and classics at Royal Holloway University of London and for my third year, for my French side, I studied in Montpellier for seven months.

Walking through the street, I was surrounded by beautiful graffiti and street art and it sort of enhanced the beauty of the city, its architecture and its medieval walls.

I just wanted to know more about the history and importance of the street art which adorned the city.

I did a thesis on all of this and I really got into it. I created an Instagram account under the name Montpellier street art and I found that these artists were contacting me, reaching out to me, rather than me reaching out to them.

They were asking me to publish photos of their work on the streets.

I realised that it was a real community full of fans and enthusiasts as well as the artists themselves.

One particular artist called Salamech used to be arrested for replacing publicity, he replaced the billboards at bus and tram stops with his own art.

Then suddenly, the Mayor of Montpellier started to support his artistic practice as well as other artists that are quite similar to him.

Now, hes supported and paid by the Montpellier Mediterranee Metropole to create large-scale major projects in the city. Samuel is currently being mentored by the Princes Trust and will go through its business launch group this September.

After his research project in France, he studied international contemporary art curation and business, part of which involved a six-week stint at the Camden Art Centre in London. While there, Samuel was mentored by experts and had an internship at Maddox Gallery in Mayfair and Westbourne Grove.

For my final project at Exeter, I showed the work of Salamech, he says.

I had been speaking to him via Instagram for quite a while and I went to meet him. I really enjoyed telling his story to the UK contemporary art audience.

He was born in 1985 and hes a pioneer on the street art scene in Montpellier. In the Nineties, he went from graffiti tags and sort of the vandalism side and then he developed his creativity with the support of the mayor. Now, he wants to go post-graffiti with more of a gallery style.

The exhibition will be showing the work of five artists, Olivier Secretan (known as Ose), Salamech, Sunra, Little Lewis and Oups.

Sam went to meet the artists prior to the exhibition. He says: One particular guy, his street art name is Oups and hes a very big bloke and quite scary.

I said, Whats your name? and he said Jeremie and he had a very high-pitched voice.

He said, I paint ladybirds, so nobody can attack me. I used to be angry on the streets, taking part in activism and writing little sentences about Sarkozy, but now hes more friendly in his street art.

 On The Scene is at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Upper Market Place, Henley, until Tuesday, July 18, open from 11am to 6pm daily. For more information, visit spraygallery.co.uk
A PHOTOGRAPHER from Henley says she had an incredible time working at the Glastonbury Festival.

Scarlet Page, 52, was attending the event for the first time since 1997.

She said: For quite a few years it was extremely muddy, which made me not so keen to go back. There was also nowhere safe to lock up your kit but they have secure lockers now, which is a big help.

It was really nice reconnecting with bands who were there, everyone was so receptive, everything was just really good fun.

I had the chance to be backstage with people like Paul McCartney and Rick Astley.

Ms Page, who is married with two children, stayed at a bed and breakfast in the town of Glastonbury.

She said: It helped me manage the long days. I was working the whole time. I arrived on site at around 11am each day and worked until 2.30am, finishing editing.

She spent the opening night on stage with the Foo Fighters whose appearance was a surprise  but not to her. I knew it was going to happen so to be there and document it was very special, said Ms Page. Being on stage with them was a massive highlight. The crowd was just insane.

I was in the States not long ago shooting them in New Hampshire with their new drummer Josh Frees.

Other acts which she shot included the Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood, Manic Street Preachers and Generation Sex, which is a supergroup comprising members of Sex Pistols and Generation X.

Ms Page, who is the daughter of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, said: I left with all my wish list ticked, having been able to see everyone I wanted to.

Maneskin got into the crowds, which was really great to picture. I was also the only photographer in the pit for Guns N Roses, which was cool.

Nova Twins are a band worth keeping an eye out for and Cat Stevens made it all feel better. Unfortunately, I think it might have given me the bug to want to go back again.

It was obviously very hot but the sun definitely makes it easier, although the press tents were hotter than actually being outside in it.

I had most of my kit already in the car on the Sunday and left the site at about 8.20pm, so I was home in time to watch the end of Elton John.

I have been recovering and catching up with the editing side of things.

It has been a really busy few months and I was in Sydney recently for the opening of my new exhibition.

I also have the Henley Literary Festival in a few months time, which I really love shooting. Its a pretty special event.

Im also shooting for the new Ziggy film premiere, which will be really cool. It uses footage from the concert from when the band split, which was shot in what was then the Odeon, now the Hammersmith Apollo.

On a social level, I'm going to see Blur soon and I wont have my camera for once!
Austin, TX, United States & Gurugram, Haryana, India  Business Wire India

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Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice.
New Delhi (India), July 17: Sagar Asia, one of the most renowned aluminium extrusion and access system manufacturers in India, announces the signing of 2 MOUs - one with NIJL Aircraft Docking of the Netherlands and the second one with Reroy Group Ltd (RGL), Ghana.

These MOUs count among Sagar Asias recent big successes and will contribute to the Indian economy as well. Sagar Asia Group is engaged in the manufacturing of Aluminium Extrusions, Ladders, Scaffolds, Bridges, Platforms, Wind Tower Internals (comprising of Ladders, Fall Arrestor Systems, Service Lifts, Mechanical Tower Internals, and others), Aviation Docking Systems, Aluminium Architectural Systems, and other value-added products in India. The products conform to American and European standards.

Sagar Asia MOU with - NIJL, Netherlands

NIJL Aircraft Docking is a globally popular provider of maintenance stands, platforms and docks for the aviation, train, automotive, truck, space and shipbuilding industries. The company has been serving the market for 50 years. This month the CEO of NIJL, Nobert Pieterse, and the Co-Owner Marcus Franciscus Huitink were on a visit to India and organised meetings with key stakeholders and potential customers of Aircraft Maintenance Support Systems in Delhi and other parts of the country.

NIJL has zeroed in on Sagar Asia as their first preference and has signed an initial MOU. This joint venture, including the value of technology, engineering and infrastructure, has an outlay of about Rs.100 crores and will bring a revenue of Rs.500 crores by exporting aviation docking systems globally.

This joint venture will allow Sagar Asia to contribute to the nation's drive to limit foreign exchange outflows, provide more job opportunities, and strengthen the Indian MRO industry. It will also encourage Indias substantial advancements by developing a sustainable end-to-end ecosystem for commercial, general and military MRO activities.

Sagar Asia also has been supplying aircraft docking systems to GMR Airport Hyderabad, Airod in Malaysia and to Air India. In addition, Sagar Asia is also Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's regular and preferred provider for their helicopter docking system requirements.

NIJL is an experienced brand in co-manufacturing and subcontracting its products and services with strategic partners located worldwide. Hopefully, this Indo-Dutch joint venture will help to a significant outgrowth in the aircraft manufacturing industry of India.

Sagar Asia MOU with Reroy, Ghana

Out of all the African nations with whom we at Sagar Asia have interacted during the 18th CII Exim Bank India  Africa conclave that was held in Delhi from 14-16 June 2023 in New Delhi., we have identified Ghana as one of the most promising investment destinations due to its stable political environment, robust economic growth, strategic location, and abundant natural resources.

We are keen to progress with a like-minded entity from Ghana for the purpose of establishing a manufacturing facility, generating employment, and developing infrastructure, among others.

To take this ahead, Sagar Asia Private Limited (SAPL), one of the most renowned aluminium extrusion and access system manufacturers with its registered office in Survey No 379  382, Kallakal, Medchal Dist of Telangana, India, represented by V Vidyasagar, Managing Director have signed an MOU with Reroy Group Ltd (RGL), a company registered under the provisions of the Ghana Company Code, 1963, Act 179 having its registered office at 4th Floor, Accra World Trade Centre, Accra, Ghana represented by its Chairperson, Ms Kate Quartey  Papfio on 19th June 2023 in New Delhi.

This MOU will serve as a foundation for our mutual collaboration, providing a framework for cooperation and outlining the key terms, responsibilities, and commitments of both parties involved.

The Reroy Group Ltd is engaged in the business of Electrical manufacturing, real estate development, Cables & Wires, industrial ventures and investments, information technology and communication and has approached SAPL to set up manufacturing facilities in Ghana.

SAPL and RGL intend to start a Joint Venture Company in India and/or Africa as a JV Company for designated Sagar Asia products. The JV Company will be catering to the territory of Africa and/or Indian and Global markets. Investments into the JV company will be discussed mutually, considering technology and markets in the territory to be finalised.

SAPL will set up facilities in Ghana to manufacture a select range of products from their product basket for consumption in Africa and exports to Europe and other countries in Africa. SAPL shall design the layout, install and commission the equipment with trial runs and shall depute managers from Indian factories.

Sagar Asia: https://www.sagarasia.com/

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Oil regulator PNGRB has rejected Adani Total Gas Ltd's application for a licence to retail CNG to automobiles and piped gas to household kitchens in Noida, on the outskirts of the national capital, on grounds that it does not meet criteria. Adani has been eyeing a city gas distribution (CGD) licence for cities adjoining the national capital for nearly two decades now.(Bloomberg)

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in an order dated July 14 said Adani Total Gas Ltd does not fulfil the requirements of the law and so its application is rejected.

Adani has been eyeing a city gas distribution (CGD) licence for cities adjoining the national capital for nearly two decades now.

A firm can retail CNG or piped natural gas in a city only if it is authorised by the regulator or had permission from the central government prior to the regulator coming into existence.

While Indraprastha Gas Ltd - the joint venture of state-owned firms - had been authorised for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Adani has challenged IGL's claim for adjoining cities.

PNGRB, which came into being in 2006, accepted city gas authorisations given to companies by the central government prior to its existence.

IGL, which had been retailing CNG in the NCT of Delhi since the late 1990s as per the orders of the Supreme Court and the union government, was given a city gas licence.

The firm also got the same for Noida in Uttar Pradesh citing an April 8, 2004 authorisation letter from the central government.

IGL has been retailing CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to household kitchens and industries in Noida for over one-and-a-half decade now.

Adani Energy Ltd (AEL), which later began Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) after French energy giant TotalEnergies took a stake in the company, on June 25, 2008, claimed authorisation for the development of a city or local natural gas distribution network (CGD network) for the geographical area (GA) of Noida.

The regulator could not process the application at the time of its submission and the issue of authorisation for Noida went to Supreme Court. The apex court in September last year disposed of a petition saying the regulator was free to proceed in deciding on the dispute.

Thereafter, PNGRB began processing the Adani application.

It rejected Adani's application with two out of the three adjudicating members voting for that. A third member, Ajit Kumar Pande, Member (Legal), opined that it was not prudent for PNGRB to pass an order as the case was sub-judice since Adani had filed an application with the appellate tribunal APTEL.

Other PNGRB Members, Gajendra Singh and A K Tiwari voted in favour of the rejection of the application.

"The Board while examining the ATGL application considered the documents submitted with the application dated June 25, 2008, along with their submissions made during the meeting and additional documents submitted thereon.

"It would not be out of place to mention that the Board decided unanimously to reject the ATGL application in the 124th Board Meeting held on April 25, 2023," PNGRB said in the order.

PNGRB said an entity could be considered operating prior to the coming into existence of the regulator if it had procured the necessary equipment for erecting the city gate station (CGS).

ATGL application, it said, stated that "allotment of land for CGS has been taken from Noida authority."

The application made out that the company had a land possession certificate from Noida authority for five locations but the firm had "not procured any necessary equipment."

"Therefore, the Board is inclined to say that ATGL (is) not complying with the requirement (of the regulation under PNGRB Act)," the order said.

PNGRB also stated that the oil ministry had made a gas allocation to IGL for retailing as CNG and piped natural gas (PNG) in Noida vide a letter dated April 8, 2004. "And AEL was not included in that allocation."

The company, it said, had not submitted any documentary proof to support its claim that it has got gas allocation.

"It would not be out of place to mention that there is no data with respect to the entity's (Adani's) present progress in Noida GA available with PNGRB. From their submission, it is observed that the entity is not operating in Noida at present and the current health status of their pipeline laid in Noida is also uncertain," it said.

In addition, "it is also observed that although ATGL was allocated land for CNG stations in Noida GA, the entity is not operating any CNG station in Noida," it added.

The regulator said ATGL had availed sufficient opportunities and "the board hereby rejects ATGL for authorisation for the development of CGD network in Noida GA due to non-fulfilments of requirements" of PNGRB Act.
With the Congress party breaking its "silence" and openly declaring its support to AAP in its fight against the Centre's Ordinance over control of Delhi's bureaucrats, posters of Arvind Kejriwal were put up in Bengaluru on Sunday, along with several opposition leaders, who will attend the big opposition meeting to be held here. Poster of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is put up on the eve of the Opposition meeting, in Bengaluru on Sunday. (ANI Photo/Shrikant Singh)

However, Aam Aadmi Party has called a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in the national capital on Sunday to decide whether to participate in the July 17-18 opposition meeting.

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".

READ | Mega Opposition meet in Bengaluru vs big NDA huddle in Delhi this week. Top points

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.

READ | Are we fools?: AAP tweets video of Atishi pulling up officials at relief camp

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.
Janata Dal (Secular) second-in-command and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the opposition parties have never considered the regional party a part of them. He was speaking to reporters in Bengaluru ahead of the big opposition meeting to be held in the city today. Former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.(PTI)

ALSO READ | Arvind Kejriwal posters put up in Bengaluru ahead of opposition meet

Responding to a question on whether the JD(S) will be a part of the mahagathbandhan, he said, The opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a part of any Mahagathbandhan.

He also addressed speculations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the JD(S) could join hands ahead of Lok Sabha polls coming up next year, saying that he is yet to receive an invitation from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the saffron party.

ALSO READ | Bommai hints at alliance talks with JD(S) ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls

The NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front, he said.

Responding to Kumaraswamy's statement, Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said, We know that for JD(S), secular politics is something which they don't truly believe in. They have always had alliances with BJP even before. So, this is nothing new. I think the tag of Janata Dal (Secular) needs to go. They should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power. They have no principles, no ideology. Only power matters to them and Mr Kumaraswamy. I think it will have a deep impact on JD(S) in Karnataka. It will be the end of JD(S) in Karnataka.

ALSO READ | NCP's Sharad Pawar to skip Opposition's meet in Bengaluru on Day 1, to attend tomorrow

Recently, leaders from both the BJP and the JD(S) have dropped hints that the parties could come to an understanding ahead of Lok Sabha polls. BJP stalwart and former CM B S Yediyurappa earlier said that the two parties would fight the Congress government in Karnataka together.

Kumaraswamy had also stated that his party will take a decision on an electoral understanding for the Lok Sabha polls when the situation arises. BJP's Basavaraj Bommai also indicated that the alliance is in talks, saying that Kumaraswamy has expressed certain feelings and the discussions will continue in that direction.

(With inputs from ANI)
Claiming "BJP is clueless and their policies are hurting India," Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday said the leaders of Opposition parties are gathering in Bengaluru to "preserve the idea of India" and the Constitution. Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.(ANI)

"We have all come together with a certain ideology, and we have come together to preserve the idea of India and the Constitution. If the BJP has a problem with our unity, it means that they are afraid that they will be unseated," the Congress leader told ANI ahead of the 2-day opposition meeting starting in Bengaluru today.

"You can also see how BJP's and Prime Minister's Modi's magic is waning...This goes to show that Mr Modi's popularity is down, BJP is clueless and their policies are hurting India," the minister added.

On AAP's participation in the joint opposition meeting after Congress declared to oppose the Centre's Ordinance overturning Supreme Court ruling vesting powers in the Delhi government, Karnataka Minister said they were "against the dictatorial attitude" of the central government.

READ | 'Oppn parties have come together to fight authoritarianism': CM Siddaramaiah's welcome message

"We are very clear on what is happening in Delhi. The Ordinance route that they (the Centre) have taken to take away the powers of the state government is not in good taste. Today it is happening in Delhi, tomorrow it might happen in Karnataka. So, we are against this dictatorial attitude of the Central Govt," he said.

Leaders of at least 25 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting.

Arrangements have been made for all the opposition leaders to stay at a five-star hotel in the city, party sources said.

As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am.

And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm.

On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced.

According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various problems that may arise in the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed, they said.

Sources said that a discussion may also be held on how to field a common opposition candidate on at least 80 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats against the BJP, how to have alliances in the states and how to distribute tickets at key constituencies.

"In the meeting, deliberations will also be held on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)," they added.

All bigwigs in the opposition, including former Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, along with Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also confirmed its presence at the meeting on Sunday. This came after the Congress made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in the Parliament.

READ | Opposition has never considered JDS a part of them, says former Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to come for the opposition meeting as well despite her leg injury, following Sonia Gandhi's call.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chowdhary who had earlier distanced himself from the Patna meeting is scheduled to attend the meeting in Bengaluru on Monday.

In addition to these, the Congress has invited 10 new parties to the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru to increase its tally over the NDA. These include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).

"Congress, the main host of this two-day meet, is trying to make it look grander than that called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 13," sources pointed out.

The first meeting for Opposition unity, convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was held on June 23 in Patna.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Bengaluru to take part in the two-day meeting of opposition parties. Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi being welcomed by Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar upon their arrival at HAL airport ahead of the united opposition meeting in Bengaluru on Monday.(PTI)

Meanwhile, they were received by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other senior leaders of the party.

Earlier, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Singh and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko also arrived at Bengaluru airport.

READ | 'Oppn parties have come together to fight authoritarianism': CM Siddaramaiah's welcome message

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "...2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat...I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out..."

Congress has rallied support from 26 parties for the second opposition unity meeting to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The first opposition unity meeting was held in Patna last month.

The formal opposition meeting will take place on Tuesday. The meeting will start at about 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

READ | Opposition has never considered JDS a part of them, says former Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm.

According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum programme may also be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

Several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed.
The level of a waterfall in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district rose suddenly due to heavy rains following which several tourists got stranded near it, officials said on Monday. The boy had come to visit the waterfall along with his friend, but went missing while taking bath as the water level surged.

A minor boy went missing, while many other visitors were rescued after the incident which took place on Sunday evening at the Mahadev Pani waterfall, located 20 km from the district headquarters, they said.

An operation was underway on Monday to trace the 16-year-old boy, a resident of neighbouring Bhopal, Additional Superintendent of Police Amrit Meena said.

He said the boy had come to visit the waterfall along with his friend, but went missing while taking bath as the water level surged.

Several visitors got trapped on the other side of the waterfall due to a sudden rise in the level after heavy rains, Umraoganj Police Station in-charge CL Verma said.

A forest department team and Home Guard personnel later rescued them, he said.

Raisen resident Siddhu Chourasia, who was stranded near the waterfall, said there was no mobile network in the area.

Chourasia said he was rescued at around 7 pm on Sunday.

District Collector Arvind Dubey and Superintendent of Police Vikas Shahwal also reached the spot on Sunday night to monitor the situation.
With the increasing smuggling of drugs and weapons using drones from the across the border becoming major challenges for security agencies, 51 drones have been shot down in Punjab along the international border with Pakistan in the past one year. At least 244 drones have been spotted in Punjab this year so far.

Disclosing this during a press conference over drug recoveries by the state government, IG headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill said the official data from July 5, 2022, to July 16, 2023, reveals that Punjab Police have busted 18 terror modules with the arrest of 143 terrorist/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 209 revolvers/pistols, five tiffin improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 6.78-kg RDX and other explosives, 10 hand grenades, one sleeve of disposed rocket launcher, 51 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade.

At least 244 drones have been spotted in Punjab this year so far. This years data on spotting of drones is not ready yet but concerted efforts between Punjab Police, BSF and other agencies have resulted in combating the threat from drones successfully, said Gill.

He said Punjab Police have arrested 16,360 drug smugglers, including 2,351 big fish, since July 5, 2022. The police have registered 12,218 first information reports (FIRs), of which 1,458 are related to commercial quantity.

Gill said the police teams have recovered 1,073.44-kg heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas besides laying nakas at vulnerable routes across the state. Additionally, 147.5-kg heroin was recovered by the police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 1,220.94 kg in just one year, he said.

Apart from seizing big-haul of heroin, the IGP said the police also recovered 797.14-kg opium, 902.13-kg ganja, 375.47 quintals of poppy husk, and 65.49 lakh tablets/capsules/injections/vials of pharma opioids from across the state. The police have also recovered 12.33 crore of drug money from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in the last one year.

He said Punjab Police have also forfeited properties of 66 big smugglers worth 26.72 crore during the last year. Barnala district remains on top by freezing 13 properties worth 2.34 crore, followed by, nine properties worth 1.72 crore forfeited by Fazilka district and six worth 1.13 by Malerkotla, he said.

Similarly, the anti-gangster task force (AGTF), since its formation on April 6, 2022, has succeeded in busting 208 gangster/criminal modules after arresting 688 gangsters/criminals and neutralising five, after recovering 667 weapons and 157 vehicles used in criminal activities. Pertinently, immediately after coming to power, CM Bhagwant Mann-led state government formed a special AGTF headed by ADGP Promod Ban to wipe out gangsters from the state.

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An accused, wanted by the Delhi police in connection with robbing employees of a Ludhiana-based goldsmith of 10 kg gold in the national capital, was on Monday arrested by the Ludhiana Police from Sirhind. Sushil Kumar alias Topi (HT)

The Ludhiana Police has handed the accused, Sushil Kumar alias Topi of Ishar Nagar, over to the Delhi Police.

The Ludhiana Police received inputs about Topis presence in the city.

Inspector Gurpreet Singh, SHO at Sadar police station, said that they received information from Delhi police that Topi, who is wanted by them, has been spotted in Ludhiana. Following the information, the police started to trace him. The police arrested him from Sirhind and handed him over to the police.

The inspector added that an FIR under sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 34 (act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC was filed against Topi at Ranibagh police station in Delhi.

Ravinder Kumar, a goldsmith, of New Subhash Nagar in Ludhiana had filed a complaint against him on July 15. The accused along with his aide posing as CGST inspectors robbed his two employees Balraj Singh and Rajan Bawa of 10 gold plates of one kg each on the pretext of checking in Delhi on July 10.

The inspector said that the accused has been facing at least 18 FIRs, including extortion, cheating, forgery, immoral trafficking, smuggling of illicit liquor and stalking filed against him in Ludhiana, Haryana and Delhi.

In 2020, some miscreants had shot at Topi and injured him after which he had approached the Punjab and Haryana high court for a security cover. Following the court orders, he was provided with two gunmen.
Even as the UT education department is now actively promoting teachers of various cadres to the trained graduate teacher (TGT) level, the department has not received enough applications to fill vacancies in eight subjects. Chandigarh education department has asked all teachers appointed till 2014 to apply for promotion on or before July 25. (HT File Photo)

As per protocol, the department promotes teachers only after they forward their application.

Now, the registrar (education) has issued a notice that the department has received few cases of promotions for science (medical), science (non-medical), fine arts, home science, physical education, music, Punjabi and Sanskrit.

All teachers appointed till 2014 have been asked to apply for promotion on or before July 25. If applications are not received by then, the department will fill the vacancies through other modes of recruitment.

Meanwhile, teachers say if those appointed up to 2015 are also considered, more entries will be received. Junior basic teachers (JBT) and nursery teacher training (NTT) are among the eligible categories.

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The chief agriculture officer of the district has announced that the department of agriculture will offer free seeds and seedlings to farmers in flood-affected areas who are in need of assistance. In light of the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, farmers in the Machiwara Sahib, Samrala, Mangat, and Sidhwan Bet areas of Ludhiana district have been particularly affected. HT Image

Narinder Singh Benipal emphasised that approximately 6,475 hectares of land in the district have been impacted by the floodwaters, necessitating the replanting of approximately 1,750 hectares. To facilitate the distribution of free seeds and seedlings, farmers are advised to contact the agriculture officials in their respective blocks.

The officials and employees of the agriculture and farmers welfare department in Ludhiana have been actively visiting farms and maintaining regular communication with the affected farmers.

Benipal shared the contact details of the officials in various blocks for farmers to reach out for further information and to avail themselves of the free seeds and seedlings. In Block Sidhwan, Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at +91 9876 150 208 and Jagdev Singh at +91 9417 355 358. In Block Mangat, Jaswinder Singh and Gurinderpal Kaur are available to assist farmers at +91 9888 010 156 and +91 8968 988 622, respectively.

For Block Machiwara and Samrala, farmers can reach out to Kuldeep Singh at +91 9216 517 101 and Rupinder Kaur at +91 9915 583 052. In Block Ludhiana, Dara Singh (+91 8872 411 099) is the point of contact, while in Block Khanna, Jaswinderpal Singh (+91 9216 117 204) can be reached.

Farmers in Block Doraha can contact Ram Singh Pal at +91 8146 676 217, and for Block Pakhowal, Sukhwinder Kaur Grewal is available at +91 9864 670 000. Lakhvir Singh at +91 9876 022 022 in Block Improvement and Gurdeep Singh at +91 9872 800 575 in Block Jagraon will provide assistance.

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Moving ahead with the exchange of land for an additional Haryana assembly building in Chandigarh, officials of the UT administration and Haryana government demarcated 12 acres in Saketri. A total of 18 pillars have been erected to mark the land. (Sant Arora/HT)

The Haryana government will be allotting the 12 acres to UT in exchange for 10 acres in Chandigarh near the IT Park road where it will construct an additional assembly premises.

A senior UT officer said the demarcation was done in the presence of Haryana, UT and Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) officers. A total of 18 pillars have been erected to mark the land.

He further said the land provided to Chandigarh will be notified as a part of the UT, leading to change in the citys map.

Chandigarh deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said, We are hopeful of holding a meeting with the Haryana officers by July end, as they have to submit a non-encumbrance certificate and demarcation report of the 12 acres.

Meanwhile, Haryana Vidhan Sabha speaker Gian Chand Gupta said, We are in contact with the UT administration and hopefully, the land for the assembly will be allotted within a month. We will begin construction soon after.

On July 9, 2022, Union home minister Amit Shah had announced allocation of land for the Haryana assembly in Chandigarh at the 30th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Jaipur. He was responding to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars demand for the states rights in the existing Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh that it shares with Punjab, given the increase that will happen in the number of assembly seats after the 2026 delimitation exercise.

Following delimitation, Haryana, like many states that have seen an increase in population, will see the number of assembly constituencies rise from the current 90 to 126, and the number of Lok Sabha constituencies from 10 to 14.

The decision to allot Chandigarh land to Haryana, which was carved out of Punjab in 1966, for the additional assembly complex carries huge political symbolism.

Punjab has been opposing Haryanas demand for the additional land as Chandigarh is the joint capital of the two states. Any concession to Haryana in Chandigarh is perceived in Punjab as the border state losing its grip over the UT.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hillary Victor Hillary Victor is a Principal Correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Chandigarh administration, municipal corporation and all political parties. ...view detail
Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit wrote to chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday, stating that according to legal advice received by him the two-day assembly session held last month was in breach of law and procedure, thereby casting doubt on the legality of four bills passed therein. Banwarilal Purohit, Punjab governor, wrote to chief minister Bhagwant Mann stating that according to legal advice received by him the two-day assembly session held last month was in breach of law and procedure. (HT photo)

The governors letter was in response to the chief ministers written request to him on Saturday to give his assent to the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed during the special assembly session to ensure free-to-air telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Three other bills, the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023  were also passed. All four bills were later sent to the governor for assent.

In order to discharge my duties conscientiously, I have proceeded to receive legal advice which gives me to believe that your calling of Vidhan Sabha session on June 19 and 20 when these four bills were passed was in breach of law and procedure, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy and legality of those bills, Purohit wrote.

The governor said that in the background of the legal advice received, he was actively considering whether to obtain the legal opinion from the Attorney General of India, or as per the Constitution, to reserve these bills for the consideration and consent of the President. I shall take action according to law after the legality of the Vidhan Sabha session is first examined, he added.

The letter bomb may escalate tension between Mann and Purohit who have had several run-ins over the past several months. The row between the two top functionaries started in October last year after the governor raised questions over the appointment of V-Cs of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and then saw them shoot off letters and take potshots at each other over the governors trips to border districts, assembly sessions, etc.

Reacting sharply to Purohits missive to the chief minister, AAPs Punjab chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang alleged that the governor had revealed his true colours as an agent of the Centre. His actions not only undermine the authority of the state assembly but also expose a sinister agenda to suppress the voices of the people, he claimed in a tweet. Kang said that Purohits blatant disregard for due process and his attempt to subvert the will of the elected representatives, was a slap in the face of democracy.

In the latest letter, Purohit, while referring to Manns July 15 communication, said it appeared from the CMs assertion that he was concerned with certain actions of a particular political family that had prompted the passing of the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill. You have also pointed out what you perceive as the possible fallout of any delay on my part in signing the bill immediately. You have also thought it fit to describe the time taken by me as something that amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab, the governor wrote.

Purohit also refused to be drawn into an argument over a matter of the CMs private perception, and pointed out that as governor he was enjoined by the Constitution of India to ensure bills were passed in accordance with the law.

After the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee announced to launch its own YouTube channel and later a satellite channel for the telecast of Gurbani, Mann had on Saturday urged the governor to sign the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, before the agreement between the SGPC and the private channel expires on July 23.

He said the telecast of Gurbani will not be allowed to go into the hands of special people of the Badal familys company again. It is regretted that the bill sent to you on June 26 has not been signed till date. This amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab, he wrote to the governor.

After the special session, Purohit had, at a press conference, made known his intention of ascertaining the constitutional validity of the special session and the four bills.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Navneet Sharma A senior assistant editor, Navneet Sharma leads the Punjab bureau for Hindustan Times. He writes on politics, public affairs, civil services and the energy sector. ...view detail
Three years after a 45-year-old man raped and impregnated a 15-year-old girl, a special POCSO court has awarded him 20-year imprisonment. The girl had visited a hospital, where she was found pregnant. As she was a minor, the hospital staff had informed the police. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The convict, Isham Singh Chanchal, who lived in the neighbourhood of the minor girl in Chandigarh, was also fined 30,000.

In 2020, on the minors complaint, police had booked Isham, the minors brother and a friend Rahul, both in their 20s, under Sections 376 (3) (committing rape on a woman under 16 years of age) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) at the Sarangpur police station.

The girl had visited a hospital, where she was found pregnant. As she was a minor, the hospital staff had informed the police, following which she had revealed the names of her brother and Rahul.

Later, during counselling, the girl also revealed the name of her neighbour Isham Singh Chanchal, who was hired by her family once for wedding catering services.

The girl revealed that the man had raped her on several occasions. After all three accused were arrested, their DNA tests were conducted to establish the foetus paternity and Isham was found to be the biological father.

Two days ago, on Saturday, the court acquitted the minors brother and Rahul. On Monday, Isham was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tanbir Dhaliwal Tanbir Dhaliwal is a correspondent at Chandigarh. She covers health and business. ...view detail
Two masked men shot dead a 21-year-old student of Chandigarh University after knocking on the door of his rented accommodation in Sarpanch Colony, Bhagomajra, Kharar, on Sunday evening. The victims rented house in Sarpanch Colony, Bhagomajra, Kharar. (HT Photo)

Another student visiting him also suffered a bullet injury in the left knee after getting caught in the crossfire, said police. Two friends of the deceased, also in the room, had a narrow escape.

The deceased, Anuj Kumar, hailed from Bhiwani, Haryana, and was a final-year student of computer science engineering at Chandigarh University, Gharuan. (HT)

The deceased, Anuj Kumar, hailed from Bhiwani, Haryana, and was a final-year student of computer science engineering at Chandigarh University, Gharuan. The other student who suffered a bullet wound, Praneet Sharma, 21, a native of Nagali village, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, is a third-year student of the same course.

Under treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, Praneet was stable enough to give his police statement.

He said on Sunday, he went to meet Anuj at his house, where Anujs four friends from Bhiwani  Sandeep Bhatti, Vipal, Nitin and Ankit  were already present.

Around 11 pm, Vipal and Ankit left to get food from a nearby market, while me and Anuj were sitting in the living room. Nitin was present in another room. At 11.10 pm, the doorbell rang and Sandeep opened the main door, Praneet said.

Two masked men, with their heads covered, asked for Anuj and Sandeep pointed at him. Before Anuj could react, one of the two men took out a gun and fired six to seven shots at him, said Praneet.

Four bullets hit Anuj in the cheek, chest, ribs and a leg, while one bullet hit my left knee. We both fell on the ground and the shooters fled the spot, Praneet added.

Hearing Praneets screams, people gathered at the spot, while Ankit and Vipal also returned from the market.

They rushed the victims to the Kharar civil hospital in private vehicles, but Anuj was declared brought dead and Praneet was referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Police responded to the scene on being informed by the civil hospital staff. Cops from the Kharar City police and Mohali CIA staff initiated investigation while forensic teams collected evidence.

DSP Rupinder Kaur Sohi said the shooters were yet to be identified. We are investigating the case from all angles, including old rivalry, if any. The deceaseds family has arrived from Bhiwani, but we are yet to record their statements.

Another senior official said they had strong leads and will arrest the assailants soon.

Sources said Anuj had a brawl outside a restaurant in Mohali around seven to eight months ago. Police are investigating whether that brawl could be the reason behind the murder. Meanwhile, Kharar City police have booked the shooters under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 25 of the Arms Act.

Called father 20 minutes before attack

Anujs father Rajesh Kumar, a government school teacher in Bhiwani, said he spoke to Anuj 20 minutes before he was shot.

My son called me around 10.50 pm. Since he had to take his last exam on July 27, he asked me to pick him up from Kharar. After talking to him, I went to sleep and was woken up by a call from his friend, who alerted me that he had met with an accident. When I rushed to Kharar with my relatives, we got to know that he was murdered, said the grieving father.

Anuj leaves behind his parents and two sisters. The autopsy will be conducted by a board of three doctors at PGIMER on Tuesday.

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Police have busted a gang of online fraudsters who duped several people of crores after offering them lucrative returns through remote jobs. Police recovered 14 mobile phones and eight bank account kits from the accused. (HT Photo)

A total of three gang members have been arrested, leading to recovery of 14 mobile phones and eight bank account kits, said police.

Among them Sandeep Kumar Sangwan, 28, of Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, is a postgraduate, and Manish Rawat, 33, of Dayalpur, north-east Delhi, is a graduate. The third accused, Rakesh, 28, is also from Charkhi Dadri. The gangs kingpin, Gaurav, is at large.

Their arrest came following a probe into the complaint by Kawaljeet Singh of Sector 38, Chandigarh, who runs a travel agency. He had approached the police after being defrauded of 39.53 lakh by the gang.

Singh had submitted that on June 12, he received a WhatsApp message regarding a remote part-time job from Lewis Digital Marketing.

On contacting the number, he was told to invest 20 lakh in different bank accounts as investment, with the promise that he will earn profits after completing the assigned tasks. Trusting the gangs assurances, Singh ended up depositing 39.53 lakh in all in the accuseds bank accounts, only to realise he had been defrauded after he received no returns.

During the course of investigation, police contacted Telegram and WhatsApp, and found the gang was using a Dubai IP address. On obtaining records from the banks where Singh deposited money, police learnt the gang was operating from Delhi NCR and eventually arrested the trio from Gurugram, Haryana.

Active since April

Investigators said the gangs kingpin, Gaurav, Rakesh and Manish are friends.

In April 2023, they conspired to scam people through work-from-home offers and contacted Sandeep Kumar, an employee of Hitech company near Rohtak, who helped them open current bank accounts in the name of different shell companies. They also opened an office in East Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, for the purpose of opening bank accounts, following which Gaurav fled to Dubai, said SP Ketan Bansal.

Rakesh and Sandeep, according to the police, paid some of their contacts 10,000 each to open more bank accounts. Sandeep also prepared fake certificates of Haryana labour department and Shops Act, along with flex boards of trading companies.

The gang used eight accounts in all through which they committed multi-crore cyber fraud, said police.

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Police teams cordoned off the Sukhna Choe bridge connecting Sector 26 to Manimajra and Bapu Dham Colony after an abandoned mortar shell was found at the spot around 1 pm on Sunday. After inspecting the mortal shell, armys bomb disposal squad transported it to a disposal site near Dera Bassi. (Keshav Singh/HT)

A team from the IT Park police stations operation cell was deployed to remove the 81-mm vintage mortar shell.

The shell was first discovered by a group of boys who had come to the bridge to bathe. The group stumbled upon the shell and one of them picked it up before removing it from the choe.

Subsequently, the police were alerted and a team, accompanied by a bomb squad, arrived at the location. A team from the armys bomb disposal squad was also notified at Chandimandir.

Sharing further details, adviser for civil military affairs, Colonel Jasdeep Sandhu said, Upon receiving a request from the Chandigarh administration regarding a shell, our team promptly arrived at the scene and discovered a vintage 81-mm mortar dating back to approximately 1977-78.

After careful consideration, we mobilised our experts and officers. The bomb was transported to the designated demolition area and will be disposed of in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs), he added.

Sandhu and his team arrived at the scene around 5.30 pm.

After conducting investigation, they safely transported the mortal shell to a disposal site near Dera Bassi by around 6.30 pm. Top officials of Chandigarh Police had also reached the spot.

As per preliminary information, such mortar shells were in use by the army at one point of time. It is expected to have flown in owing to the strong water current of Sukhna Choe.

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Police have made another arrest in the June 15 firing outside a club in Sector 5, taking the total number of arrests to four. As per Panchkula police, investigation so far indicates that the shots were fired on the directions of gangster Bhuppi Rana, who is associated with slain gangster Davinder Bambiha, days after the club management received extortion threats. (iStock)

The fourth accused has been identified as Karan Kumar, alias Dappal, 18, of Naraingarh, Ambala. He was arrested by a team of the crime branch, Sector 26, and on Monday produced before a court that sent him to judicial custody.

Last week, police had arrested Manbir Singh, alias Manbir Rana, 27, of Barwala, Gaurav, alias Gabbar, 25, of Mauli Jagran and Dikshant, alias Dishu, 18, of Raipur Rani.

As per police, investigation so far indicates that the shots were fired on the directions of gangster Bhuppi Rana, who is associated with slain gangster Davinder Bambiha, days after the club management received extortion threats.

Jatinder Kumar, the manager of The Escape Club, a microbrewery, had lodged a complaint with the police on June 15, stating that at 11.08 pm, two motorcycle-borne men fired multiple shots in the clubs parking before speeding away. No one was injured in the incident. Police had recovered two shells from the spot.

Kumar had told the police that since May 29, they had been receiving extortion calls for 30 lakh from an international number. The last threat message was received on June 2.

Subsequently, a case under Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Arms Act was registered at the Sector-5 police station.

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Residents of Sheller Road, which falls under municipal corporation (MC), staged a protest here on Monday due to the problem of contaminated water in their drinking supply for the past seven days. HT Image

Expressing their anger, the residents criticised the MC, stating that despite multiple complaints, no action has been taken to address their grievances.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sikka, resident of the locality, revealed that the contamination of drinking water in the area was due to a sewerage blockage. The sewage from this area is supposed to be directed towards the Baloke Sewage Treatment Plant, but the panchayat, responsible for keeping the sewerage clean near Baloke village, has neglected their duty.

Consequently, the sewerage in the area has already been cleaned, but due to the clogged pipeline, the drinking water supply has become contaminated.

However, the civic body has initiated the process of cleaning the sewerage near Baloke to resolve the issue.

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Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and his Himachal counterpart Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday urged Union home minister Amit Shah for more stringent provisions in the NDPS Act, including life imprisonment, to check drug smuggling. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and his Himachal counterpart Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday urged Union home minister Amit Shah for more stringent provisions in the NDPS Act, including life imprisonment, to check drug smuggling.

Taking part in a virtual meeting on Drug Trafficking and National Security chaired by Shah, Mann urged Shah to make registration of drones compulsory, saying unmanned aerial vehicles were being used for cross-border smuggling of weapons and heroin.

Mann also suggested that anti-drone technology or jammers be installed along the international border with Pakistan to check the smuggling in of drugs and weapons.

A state-of-the-art regional drone forensic lab may be set up in Punjab, preferably in Amritsar, in order to trace the origin, destination and route maps of drones, he added.

The CM apprised the Union minister of his governments action against drugs and smugglers and said Punjab is the first state to constitute a special task force to effectively implement laws against drug trafficking, apprehend traffickers and disrupt the supply chain.

He said his government has adopted a three-pronged strategy of enforcement-de addiction-prevention (EDP) against the menace of drugs. It comprises the enforcement of laws against drug trafficking, de-addiction of victims of drug abuse and prevention through the protection of vulnerable sections, students, youths and the general public, according to an official statement.

Mann said his government has allotted a plot measuring 2,000 square yards to the Narcotics Control Bureau and approved 2.50 acres of land in Amritsar for the construction of a regional office, zonal residential centre and a dedicated narco-forensic science laboratory.

The Punjab chief minister also sought access to the customs database so that suspected containers coming from other countries are scrutinised.

He also batted for the reduction of the commercial quantity of heroin from the existing 250 grams to 25 grams to check peddling at the intermediate level.

The Union government must liberally allocate funds to states and Union territories for capacity building of the Forensic Science Lab (FSL), Mann said, adding that this will help states wipe out the menace of drugs.

He said around 1,000 kg of heroin, 56 hand grenades, 126 pistols and revolvers, 11 AK-47 and other rifles and 9.5 kg of RDX have been seized from drone-based deliveries till May 16 this year.

After assuming charge of the office, his government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and from April 1, 2022, till July 13, 2023, 16,554 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 22,349 smugglers have been arrested, the chief minister added.

Himachal CM calls for life term to peddlers

During the conference, Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called for life imprisonment to drug peddlers and several other changes in the NDPS Act.

Advocating for more powers to the state under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said punishment for drug offences should be increased from five years to life imprisonment. The CM said such offences should be made non-bailable regardless of the quantity involved.

Smuggling of psychotropic substances/synthetic drugs especially chitta (adulterated heroin) in intermediate quantity has become a bane for the state police as in 95% of cases the drug is smuggled in consumable or intermediate quantities, an offence which is bailable under the NDPS Act.

Sukhu also stressed on the importance of addressing drug overdose cases leading to deaths and called for necessary changes in the Act to address the matter.

The CM also spoke of the need to delegate powers of confiscation to the states as well as inserting into the Act a provision of fine of 5 lakh and confiscation of properties. He urged the Union government to establish a zonal office of the Narcotics Control Bureau, a modern hi-tech Jail in Kullu district, as well as a modern forensic laboratory and a mobile lab in the state to expedite the investigation of cases.

Sukhu also sought a more liberal financial assistance from the Central government for operating drug de-addiction centres in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal is among the few states in the country employing preventive detention measures to combat the problem effectively and has also constituted an Advisory Board in this regard, the CM said.
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has collected soil samples for construction of a shorter route to the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport via Mohalis Sector 66-A and sent them to the public works department (PWD). At present, commuters have to head all the way to the T-junction near the Indian School of Business, after passing by Bawa White House, to turn left towards Airport Chowk, where they again have to turn left towards the airport. (HT File Photo)

The authority plans to float tenders for the project by August month and begin construction in September.

The 164-foot-wide road is part of the Mohali Master Plan. The around 5-km stretch will allow commuters from Chandigarh and Mohali to head to the airport via the road in front of Bawa White House, instead of taking the longer route via Airport Road. This will bring down the 18-km distance from Tribune Chowk, Chandigarh, to the airport in Mohali by more than 5 km.

Estimated to cost around 30 crore, the new road will be around 5 km long and also feature a bridge.

GMADA chief engineer Balwinder Singh said soil samples had been collected and sent to PWD. The report is expected within a week, following which tenders will be floated in August and construction is expected to begin in September, he said.

At present, commuters have to head all the way to the T-junction near the Indian School of Business, after passing by Bawa White House, to turn left towards Airport Chowk, where they again have to turn left towards the airport.

Tejinder Singh Bhatia, managing director, Aeropolis City, Sector 66-A, said the new road will help ease traffic bottlenecks on the present Airport Road. It will prove a boon for people travelling to airport, Aerocity, Rajpura, Ludhiana and Delhi. It passes through Sector 66-A and will increase connectivity to IT City and Aeropolis City too, he added.

No progress in Chandigarh route

Along with GMADA, the UT administration is also planning a parallel shorter route to the airport via Chandigarhs Sector 48.

However, nearly two months after the Punjab government agreed to acquire the required land falling in Mohali for the route, there has been no progress. The new road will start from the T-point intersection of Vikas Marg in Sector 48 (coming from Sector-43 ISBT) and Purv Marg (coming from Tribune Chowk).

The current distance from this intersection to the airport is 11.5 km after traversing through Mohali. The shorter route will reduce this to around 3.5 km, thereby bringing the travel time down from 25 minutes to 5 minutes.

A total of 56 acres need to be acquired for the project of which 42 acres fall in Chandigarh and the remaining 14 acres in Punjabs Jagatpura and Khandala villages.

We are in the process of demarcating the land and are working to expedite the project, said CB Ojha, chief engineer, UT.

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Its been six weeks since the Haryana state board of technical education (HSBTE) began online registration for undergraduate engineering courses but Kashmiri Migrant (KM) students based in the state have been unable to submit their applications due to a technical glitch linked to Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP). At least 5% seats of the sanctioned intake in each course (BE/B Tech) are reserved for the KM students and filled on the basis of All India Rank of JEE Mains 2023. (HTC)

The PPP is an eight-digit family identity card that the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government has made mandatory for all those living in Haryana, including KM children studying in the state schools.

At least 5% seats of the sanctioned intake in each course (BE/B Tech) are reserved for the KM students and filled on the basis of All India Rank of JEE Mains 2023. The anomaly in the HSBTE portal is such that when Haryana-based KM students fill details of their PPP, they dont get the drop-down option of applying under the KM sub-category and they are only given the option of applying as general category candidates from Haryana.

They face the same problem even if they apply using the Aadhaar card because it is linked with the PPP which the Haryana government has made compulsory for students of both government as well as private schools.

On the other hand, KM students residing in other states are able to register themselves on the HSBTE website and apply under the KM category.

We are aware about this issue and will resolve it shortly, said Anand Mohan Sharan, additional chief secretary (ACS) and chairman of HSBTE.

Last week, Vikas Gupta, CEO of PPP, had told HT that he was looking into the matter. The PPP, a family ID, is linked to different welfare schemes. The state government says PPP identifies every family in Haryana and keeps the basic data of the family in a digital format. The PPP is used for determining eligibility for automatic self-selection of beneficiaries for receiving benefits.

However, the KMs based in Haryana say the PPP has become a stumbling block for their children aspiring to pursue undergraduate technical courses in Haryana colleges. They say because of the PPP, their children are unable to apply under the KM category under which they get reservation in admission.

The HSBTE launched registration on June 7. Since then, we have been knocking at the doors of the state government without any response, said parents of KM students, urging not to be identified and pointing out that they had brought this issue to the notice of ACS Anand Mohan Sharan and director general (technical education) Rajiv Rattan two weeks ago.

Officially, there is no clarification yet as to why Haryana-based Kashmiri students are being treated as original residents of Haryana. Due to this intentional or unintentional lapse, students are being forced to seek admission in other states, said a KM parent, adding when the KM students apply for admission online for Haryana technical courses on the basis of PPP, KM option vanishes and the candidate is treated as general category from Haryana.

The students from Kashmirs displaced community are residing in different parts of Haryana like Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula, Sonepat, Ambala, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and do not face this issue in other states where they are entitled to apply for admission in technical courses against reserved seats in these states.

KM students were getting reservation in technical institutions of Haryana as this facility is given by other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi etc.

When we tried to raise this issue at the helpline numbers given at the site, no one responded. How can we be treated as original residents of Haryana and denied reservation under Kashmiri migrant quota because our children studying in the state schools were forced to have the PPP? said another aggrieved parent.

Dr Anil Vaishnavi, president Kashyap Kashmir Sabha, Gurugram, said it was a shocking development as Haryana-based KM students were facing unnecessary hurdles while seeking Kashmiri pandit migrant quota.

This is very unfortunate development, said Dr Vaishnavi.

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Two brothers thrashed a shopkeeper and his cousin near Mansa Devi bus stand on Sunday. The brothers thrashed the shopkeeper and his cousin near Mansa Devi bus stand on Sunday. (iStock)

The complainant, Amit Kumar of Saketri, told the police that he ran a prasad shop near the bus stand. The accused, Rajesh Kumar, alias Bablo, of Saketri, also sells prasad,while his brother Rakesh Kumar, alias Guddu, sells juice nearby.

Amit said around 2 pm on Sunday, Rajesh and Rakesh came to his shop and hurled abuses, asking him to close down the shop.

The duo then thrashed him and his cousin, Raju, who was present at the shop. Amit alleged that Rakesh hit his cousin on the head with a stone and even threatened to kill him. A case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Mansa Devi police station.

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Aiming to provide cost-effective generic medicines to more population, the UT health department has set forth plans to set up four more Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Chandigarh. Chandigarh health department is actively searching for suitable spaces at the civil hospitals in Sector 22, Sector 45, Manimajra, and the government hospital in Sector 48 to set up the four new Jan Aushadhi Kendras. (HT File Photo)

Currently, the city has four Jan Aushadhi Kendras, with two located at PGIMER and one each at GMCH-32 and GMSH-16. To establish additional centres, the health department is actively searching for suitable spaces at the civil hospitals in Sector 22, Sector 45, Manimajra, and the government hospital in Sector 48.

The Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana is a central government initiative that aims to provide affordable and quality medicines to the public. It is facilitated through specialised centres called Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendras.

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India, department of pharmaceuticals, Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, is ensuring quality assurance of Jan Aushadhi medicines through strict two-tier testing from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited labs after procurement from World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices-certified companies

In a notice to the health department, UT health secretary Yashpal Garg emphasised that the primary goal of Jan Aushadhi Kendras was to provide affordable and high-quality generic medicines to the public.

Individuals or firms currently operating a chemist shop at a specific health facility should not be permitted to participate in the bidding process for Jan Aushadhi Kendra at that particular location, added Garg.

Garg suggested that NGOs and primary agricultural credit societies should be motivated to participate in the establishment of the kendras. Additionally, private health institutions are encouraged to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras within their hospital premises, expanding access to affordable generic medicines.

Director-principal of GMCH-32, and the health and family welfare director have been instructed to proactively ensure the smooth operation of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in their respective hospitals.

Garg acknowledged that certain individuals, including chemist shop owners within the premises and some officials have been reported for trying to impede the success of Jan Aushadhi Kendras. He emphasised the need for stringent and exemplary actions to be taken against such vested interests. Garg will review the status of action taken after about 15 days.

Recently, PGIMER director Dr Vivek Lal also advocated for the utilisation of generic medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras and Amrit Pharmacy as they offer bona fide and cost-effective alternatives to branded drugs.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robert Abraham Robert Abraham is a staff correspondent with the Hindustan Times in Chandigarh. He keeps readers updated on the latest developments in the world of health. ...view detail
Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, even as the Ganga crossed the danger mark in Devprayag and the warning level in Haridwar due to heavy release of water from the dam on the Alaknanda river. A flood-like situation is prevailing in 71 villages of Laksar, Khanpur, Roorkee, Bhagwanpur and Haridwar tehsils due to incessant rains in the past few days.(PTI)

According to officials, the Ganga was flowing at 463.20 metres following which water filled up in Sangam Ghat, Ramkund, Dhaneshwar Ghat and Fuladi Ghat. There was also a tremendous jump in the water level of the Ganga after 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water was released from the dam of the GVK hydroelectric project built on the Alaknanda river.

Tehri District Disaster Management officer Brijesh Bhatt said the district administration is making frequent calls to warn people to stay away from the banks of the river. He said the water level of the Ganga in Muni ki Reti area of Tehri near Rishikesh also increased to 339.60 metres, which is 0.10 metre above the warning level of 339.50 metres.

Officials said the Ganga crossed the warning level of 293 metres and reached 293.15 metres in Haridwar Sunday evening, adding that an alert has been issued in the low-lying areas due to the increased level of the river.

The State Disaster Operation Centre has directed Haridwar District Magistrate Dheeraj Singh to repair Gate No 10 of the Bhimgoda barrage at the earliest to avert any heavy losses due to the high-speed water flowing through the breached gate.

A flood-like situation is prevailing in 71 villages of Laksar, Khanpur, Roorkee, Bhagwanpur and Haridwar tehsils due to incessant rains in the past few days.

The rescue and relief operations are being carried out with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), army and state police.

The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district's Joshimath, they said.

According to the disaster management department, this bridge was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

The Dehradun Meteorological Centre has issued an 'orange' alert, warning of heavy rain, in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand on Monday.

An 'orange' alert is issued as a warning for extremely bad weather with the potential for disruption in commuting with road and drain closures and interruption of power supply.

Meanwhile, the water level of the Kali river in Pithoragarh's Dharchula area is also flowing above the warning level of 889 metres.

In Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

Mussoorie received 61 mm rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water was released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in Pauri district as the Alaknanda river was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

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After receding for two days, the Yamuna water level in Delhi is predicted to rise again in Old Delhi Yamuna Bridge on Monday night. Delhi cabinet minister Atishi has urged people to stay in relief camps as the Central Water Commission estimates that it can reach 206.1 metres overnight. People from low-lying areas relocate to a safer place with their belongings after the Yamuna river inundated the nearby areas during monsoon season at Mayur Vihar in New Delhi on Monday.(PTI)

She, however, said there is no danger for the people of Delhi from this.

Due to heavy rains in some areas of Haryana on Sunday, the water level of Yamuna rose slightly, she said.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Yamuna water level at 2pm stood at 205.87 metres, which was higher than the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

The CWC website predicted that the Yamuna water level will rise to 205.83 metres at 7pm, while it would be 206.1 metres at 9pm.

"But all the people living in relief camps are requested not to go back to their homes just yet. Go back to your homes only after the water level goes below the danger mark," Atishi tweeted in Hindi.

The Yamuna water level in Delhi at 12 noon rose to 205.80 metres from 205.58 metres at 9am. The water level was 205.52 metres on Sunday night.

The water level of Yamuna, which breached the previous record of 207.49 metres last week and crossed 208 metres on July 12.

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, inundating several key areas in Delhi, after submerging the flood plains.

East Delhi, northeast Delhi largely impacted by floods: Bharadwaj

All Delhi government departments have been instructed to constantly monitor the situation in the aftermath of flooding in the national capital, health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Monday.

Interacting with reporters during his visit to a Delhi government hospital, he also said cases of conjunctivitis and skin allergy are mostly being reported from relief camps set up in the wake of flooding in various parts of Delhi.

Bharadwaj said east Delhi and northeast Delhi have largely been impacted due to the floods.

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As Delhi slowly limps back to life, the Yamuna River on Monday reported a minor increase in water level. After remaining constant at 205.45m for over three hours, the water level was recorded at 205.48m at 7 am. 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. (AAP Punjab Twitter)

The water level of the Yamuna River continued to recede on Sunday and it was recorded at 205.50 metres at 11 pm at the Old Railway Bridge. Though the water level is still above the danger mark of 205.33 m the water is likely to dip below the danger mark of 205.33 early on Monday, a central water commission official had said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday said the Wazirabad water treatment plant, which was shut down amid the flood-like situation, has started producing 54 MGD (million gallons per day) of water and will soon be operating at full capacity. The plant has the capacity of producing 134 MGD (million gallons per day) of treated water.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief also requested people to support others with financial aid and otherwise to help them return to a normal life. Now people will go back to their homes from the relief camps. We have to help them to get their life back to normalThis is a work of virtue, he tweeted.

He also extended gratitude to all officers, engineers and departments for saving Delhi citizens.

I wish to personally thank PWD, DJB, army, NDRF, I&FC, navy and all officers and engineers of other depts for working 24x7 to save Delhiites and bringing life to normalcy. Salute to all of them!" the thank you note read.

Delhi revenue minister Atishi informed on Monday that the road behind the Red Fort will open for traffic soon as the water has been cleared by PWD's overnight hard work. She added that the mud from the road is being cleaned now.

Earlier on Sunday, the AAP leader tweeted, "Now, our priority is to get life back to normal and to set up relief and rehabilitation camps for those who had to evacuate their place. There is still waterlogging in many parts of the city. We are pumping out water from the roads," she added.

Atishi and LG VK Saxena visited the areas of Raj Ghat, Shantivan and Red Fort on Sunday to take stock of the situation.

Yamuna in Delhi had breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres at 5 pm last Monday and reached a peak of 208.66m on Thursday.

Check latest traffic advisory from Delhi Police:

The Delhi Traffic Police announced that several roads, including Bhairon Marg, had reopened following the improvement in the flood situation in the national capital. As many offices are set to start functioning again on Monday, commuters - especially those going from Noida/Ghaziabad or north to central Delhi - may face trouble as some parts continue to remain waterlogged and only a single lane is operational on both carriageways of Vikas Marg. People coming from the east should take Ashram, Sarai Kale Khan and Nizamuddin routes to reach central Delhi. The Ring Road stretch from ISBT Kashmere Gate to Timarpur and Civil Lines (Mall Road side) is open. Light vehicles can use the Ring Road stretch from Sarai Kale Khan to IP Flyover to Rajghat. However, the Ring Road stretch from Shanti Van to Monkey Bridge and Yamuna Bazar-ISBT is shut. Ring Road from Majnu Ka Tila to Hanuman Setu, carriageway from IP College to Chandgiram Akhara, carriageway from Chandgiram Akhara to Shanti Van are closed. Commuters going to Nizamuddin may use the one carriageway open from Hanuman Setu to Salim Garh bypass to IP Flyover. People can take a left turn from IP Flyover to Vikas Marg via Akshardham setu loop. Both carriageways of Outer Ring Road from Mukarba to Wazirabad are opened. The old iron bridge at Pushta to Shamshan Ghat has been opened while the ISBT Kashmere Gate remains closed, the advisory stated. Heavy goods vehicles are not allowed to enter from various Delhi borders although there are no restrictions on those carrying essential items.

Schools in East, North East, North West-A, North, Central and South East districts in the city will cease to function until Tuesday in lieu of the flood situation.

Delhis agencies are now focused on tackling the flood aftermath, and preventing a public health crisis. Lack of drinking water and food has emerged as the new threat for people returning to their homes.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 17 teams for rescue work in flood-affected districts in Delhi. Around 26,401 people have been evacuated from the flood-affected low-lying areas of six districts of Delhi, out of which around 21,504 people are staying in 44 camps, news agency PTI reported.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Routine work at the Delhi high court was affected on Monday as lawyers abstained from work in a token protest against the transfer of one of its judges justice Gaurang Kanth to the Calcutta high court. (Representative Photo)

In almost all courts, proxy advocates took adjournments in the matters, as the courtrooms wore a deserted look, prompting the high court to question the proxy counsels on why adjournments were being sought.

We cant adjourn cases like this...You cant appear in every case like this. If someone is not well, we will adjourn it. But none of you are giving ground for adjournment, the bench comprising justice Sanjeev Narula remarked.

The court, however, did hear some instances in which lawyers appeared and passed orders in those matters. Before the other benches as well, dates were given in cases where the lawyers refused to appear.

The judges heard and passed orders in matters where the advocates were present.

Also Read: Rise above political bickering, give name for DERC chairperson: SC to Delhi CM, L-G

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) had previously passed a resolution expressing concern over the Supreme Court collegiums recommendation to shift justice Kanth to the Calcutta high court.

On July 13, expressing serious concerns and resenting the transfer by the Supreme Court Collegium, the DHCBA had unanimously resolved to request its members to abstain from work on Monday (July 17) as a token of protest terming the move as a rarest of rare case.

It is a matter of regret that while no attention is being paid by all concerned regarding the process of filling up existing vacancies in the Delhi High Court, the transfer of sitting judges is being made thereby further reducing the existing strength of judges in the Delhi High Court, the resolution moved by its president Mohit Mathur and adopted by the bar body said.

Through the resolution, they requested the Supreme Court Collegium to revisit its recommendation of transferring Justice Kanth.

On July 14, the bar body released the names of the proxy counsel, who would appear for the designated counsels in the various courts. The transfer of justice Kanth was, however, notified on July 15.

The Collegium is headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and comprises justices S K Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai and Surya Kant.
As floodwaters receded five days after the Yamuna overflowed into the national capital, Delhi traffic police on Monday issued an advisory allowing traffic movement for medium and light vehicles in both the carriageways of Rind Road between Wazirabad Flyover via Majnu ka Tila to ISBT Kashmere Gate. Traffic moves at slow pace at the Nizamuddin Bridge, in New Delhi, Friday, July 14, 2023.(PTI)

The traffic movement for medium and light vehicles has also been opened in the carriageway from ISBT Kashmere Gate via Salimgarh bypass up to IP Flyover. However, the commuters have been advised to take a left turn just before the IP flyover towards Vikas Marg and take a loop or U-turn to go towards Sarai Kale Khan.

Ring road carriageway from Sarai Kale Khan to IP Flyover via Geeta Colony underpass towards ISBT is opened for medium and light vehicles via Hanuman Setu, according to the advisory.

MGM road from Rajghat to Shantivan and from Shantivan to Y point is closed in view of mud and slippery road conditions, it added.

The water levels in Yamuna saw a slight rise on Monday which Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj attributed to rainfall in parts of north India in the last two days and the drains discharging into the river.

The water level of the Yamuna in Delhi rose slightly to 205.58 metres on Monday morning from 205.52 metres the night before.

"We have asked for data on Hathnikund Barrage," he added.

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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
A woman allegedly planned and executed the murder of a relative, who is alleged to have repeatedly sexually assaulted her, with the help of a friends husband, police said on Monday and added the two accused have been arrested from northeast Delhi. Police said the knife used in the crime has been recovered. (AFP)

The two allegedly stabbed to death the relative, whose body with stab wounds in the neck and abdomen was found at Bela Farm near Shastri Park in northeast Delhi on Sunday morning.

Deputy police commissioner (northeast) Joy Tirkey said the knife used in the crime has been recovered. He added police were informed about the body of an unidentified man found at Bela Farm at 8.34am on Sunday.

Tirkey said a police team found the shirtless body of the man, aged around 30, with stab wounds inflicted with a sharp weapon. It appeared the man may have been murdered somewhere else...his body was dumped in that area..., said Tirkey.

He said they identified the man as a resident of Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj. Nearly 20 CCTV cameras around the place where the body was found were scanned. Two people were seen around and they appeared to be the suspects. Their identification was established and the two...were caught from northeast Delhi for interrogation, said Tirkey.

Tirkey said the woman, who lost her husband due to an illness in January, said the relative raped her repeatedly. She wanted revenge and to get rid of...[the relative]. He added the husband of her friend agreed to help her.

Tirkey said the woman took the relative to Bela Farm to watch the overflowing Yamuna before the two accused overpowered and stabbed him to death. They threw the dead body behind a wall in Bela Farm and fled.

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The water level in the Yamuna increased from 205.45 metres at 6am to 205.50 metres at 8am and 205.76 metres at 11:00am even as it continued to be above the danger level after a steady drop over the last two days amid forecast for light rains on Monday. Minister Atishi at a flood relief camp. (HT PHOTO)

Minister Atishi said heavy rainfall in parts of Haryana has led to the increase even as an official attributed it to the release of water from drains in Delhi. The Central Water Commission has estimated that the water level can reach up to 206.1 metres tonight. Delhi does not face any danger due to it but the people in relief camps are requested not to go back. They should return when the water level falls below the danger mark [205.33 metres], she said.

The official cited above said the discharge from the Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana has not increased significantly. ...around 45-50,000 cusecs water was being released at an hourly rate which is not alarming, said the official, who did not want to be named.

The official cited dewatering operations and added the accumulated water from drains in Delhi was being dumped into the river. [This] is leading to minor fluctuation [in water level]. People should not be alarmed.

A yellow alert, the second of the warnings asking people to watch and be updated, has been issued for Tuesday as India Meteorological Department said moderate rainfall was expected.

The river reached an all-time high level of 208.66 metres at 6pm on July 23, breaking previous records and flooding low-lying parts of the city.

Flooded arterial roads were reopened as the water levels receded over the last two days. Dewatering operations continued near Rajghat, Red Fort, and Vikas Marg.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said as the water level has gone down, people evacuated from flooded areas will start returning to their homes. We will help to restore normalcy to life. I appeal to everyone to help these people, he said. The government has said every flood-hit household will get 10,000.

The flooding on Thursday led to the closure of three water treatment plants, impacting a third of the citys water supply. The Okhla and Chandrawal plants have been restarted while the biggest plant at Wazirabad is only partially operational.

Kejriwal said that the capacity of the Wazirabad plant is 134 MGD. It has started producing 54 MGD. The equipment got most damaged in this plant. Hopefully, it should start working at full capacity soon. Engineers are working 24x7, he tweeted.
The Allahabad high court on Monday directed the Bulandshahr district magistrate to apprise it whether a 12-year-old rape survivor, whose pregnancy was terminated by a court order, is entitled to compensation under the U.P. Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh-2015 as well as whether the mother of the victim, being a labourer, is entitled to a residence under PM Awas Yojana. Earlier, on July 12, the Allahabad high court allowed the rape survivor to undergo medical termination of pregnancy . (FILE PHOTO)

The Allahabad high court court further sought the status of the investigation being conducted pursuant to the registration of the FIR in the rape case. The high court has fixed August 9 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The bench comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Prashant Kumar passed the order in a writ plea filed by the 12-year-old rape survivor, who also has hearing and speech impairment, and had sought to terminate her 25-week pregnancy.

During the course of hearing, state government had apprised the court that pregnancy of the girl was terminated in the night of July 15-16.

Raghav Arora, the counsel for the petitioner, said, On the next date, the state government will apprise that whether the rape survivor is entitled to compensation under UP Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh,2015 and what is the status of investigation in the criminal case.

Earlier, on July 12, the Allahabad high court allowed the rape survivor to undergo medical termination of pregnancy after taking into account the medical boards opinion that the continuation of pregnancy poses a greater risk to her physical and mental health due to her tender age.

On July 11, the high court had observed that in a case of sexual assault, denying a woman the right to say no to medical termination of pregnancy and fasten her with responsibility of motherhood would amount to denying her human right to live with dignity as she has a right in relation to her body, which includes saying yes or no to being a mother.

The court had said that a woman cannot be forced to give birth to the child of a man who had sexually assaulted her and to force the victim to give birth to the child of a man who sexually assaulted would result in unexplainable miseries.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the ghar wapsi (homecoming) of its former national OBC wing chief Dara Singh Chauhan, 60, at its state unit office here on Monday even as its leaders as well as those of its allies, including Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, suggested that such entries were a precursor to the exodus that would be witnessed in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former Samajwadi Party leader Dara Singh Chauhan rejoins the BJP in the presence of party leaders in Lucknow on Monday. (PTI PHOTO)

Just wait and watch, you will see it all yourself, said Om Prakash Rajbhar in Ballia. He had on Sunday announced that he was returning to the BJP-led-NDA.

Dara Singh Chauhan who represents Nonia, a most backward caste in east UP, had earlier met UP Vidhan Sabha speaker Satish Mahana to tender his resignation as Samajwadi Party MLA. He had joined the SP ahead of the 2022 U.P. assembly polls.

Flanked by UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary, deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak and other BJP leaders, Chauhan said, I just want to say that no power on earth can stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from becoming the PM for the third time. I will leave no stone unturned to make it happen.

Chauhan was originally in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) before he embraced the BJP ahead of the 2017 U.P. assembly polls.

The former minister, who arrived in the state capital from New Delhi after meeting Union home minister Amit Shah, also claimed that the opposition would now be limited to some family seats, an obvious reference to the SP and its bastions in Mainpuri.

I wish to make it clear that no matter where he may have been for a while, he was always in touch and we continued to receive his blessings and guidance, Pathak said.

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said, I have no doubt that BJP would now win all 80 Lok Sabha seats from the state to ensure a big push for a third consecutive stint for PM Modi at the Centre.

Chaudhary said that Dara Singh Chauhan and his supporters would be given complete respect in the BJP.

Our party is emerging stronger now as Chauhanji has also joined the BJPs development journey, he said.

Soon after rejoining the BJP, Chauhan said Purvanchal (east UP), where he hailed from, was heavily fortified.

Some feel that the Azamgarh seat in Purvanchal is the only one where one party has a chance. I am telling you today, that no party here stands a chance. Barring BJP, all other parties have been relegated to their family pocket boroughs, he said.

Chauhans backward community is present in good numbers in Lok Sabha constituencies like Ghazipur, which was among the 14 seats that the BJP lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

I think am grateful to BJP leaders for having welcomed me into the party that is led by a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now a global icon, said Chauhan, who was the minister for forests and environment in the first Yogi government from 2017 to 2022.

When I say BJP under Modi is even making its presence in the sky, dont take it as an exaggeration. Thats because the Chandrayaan-3 that was successfully launched has placed the mission in a precise orbit... Thats why I say that from space to ground, Modi magic is all around, he added.

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Governor Anandiben Patel on Monday asked Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University to organise a discussion among students on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). She said this while reviewing the self-study report (SSR) prepared by the university for NAAC evaluation. Governor Anandiben Patel at Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University in Lucknow on Monday. (HT PHOTO)

This is for the first time the University is preparing to file SSR for evaluation for NAAC grading.

According to her, the presentation lacked uniformity, and she recommended that university officials create a team of teachers who could collaborate to make improvements. In addition, she suggested some improvements to the report.

In the presentation, when discussing the development of the university in the last five years, the Governor asked to make sure that the road that leads to the university from the main road is paved.

Vice-chancellor Prof NB Singh said that the governor has asked to hold a discussion on UCC since KMC Language University has an equal number of students from both Hindu and Muslim communities. He said, We will call a meeting of all deans and will work out a plan as desired by the chancellor to hold a discussion on UCC.

The governor made several other student-centric suggestions too. During the review, the governor directed university officials to start typewriting and shorthand courses in the university as skill courses.

She also asked officials to increase the collection of better books in the library. For this, she directed them to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with other universities and colleges for the availability of books and work for making their books available online to the students. She also gave instructions for necessary amendments to the IT policy of the university and to add the details of the museum.

She asked the university to take part in the plantation drive too.

Observing the details of student support and progress, the governor called for organising workshops on the latest activities being conducted for the development of the country.
Amid what insiders describe as the biggest slump in the famed leather industry here, the tanners of Kanpur are moving to West Bengal, Bangladesh and to other greener pastures to stay afloat. Their departure is triggered by the infrastructure curbs imposed because of tighter pollution control norms, a big jump in the cost of treatment of tannery waste and orders drying up in the midst of the lack of availability of cow leather due to a ban on cow slaughter in Uttar Pradesh, those in the trade say. In 2020, the tanneries were told to operate at 50% of capacity 15 days a month on a rotation basis failing which a penalty called environment compensation of  12,500 per day would be levied. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE )

Already, 40 leather industrialists have rented or bought tanneries in Kolkata. Some have entered into partnerships in Vietnam, Turkey, and some European countries for finished cow leather, they say.

Moreover, nearly 100 have taken land to start tanneries in Bantala, where the West Bengal government is providing plots at 2,865 per sq metre to tanners from Uttar Pradesh.

Nayyar Jamal, president of Jajmau Tanners Association, admits to the shift. Of the 402 listed tanneries, only 215 small and big are operational now. These, too, function with a lot of riders that have made business next to impossible, he says.

Still people are pulling through in the hope that the situation will improve someday, Jamal adds. Trouble began at the fag-end of 2017 when the Central and State Pollution Control Boards asked the tanneries to cut down their infrastructure by half. It meant, for example, that a tannery with 10 drums used to process leather would be reduced to five.

I had a unit with five drums, which all were taken out and fresh were installed in line with the order, says Jamal.

The boards had made it clear that the tanneries would be shut down in case of non-compliance. This order was followed with prolonged closure of tanneries for Kumbh and Magh Melas. Another key factor is that Kanpur has been tanning a minuscule quantity of cow leather for which only skin of the dead animals is available since cow slaughtering is banned in Uttar Pradesh.

As doing business became difficult, a businessman in his early 50s and fourth generation into leather tanning trade hurriedly set off to Kolkata in 1918 to rent a small but closed tannery, once in the use of the Chinese community.

The deal went through, and with little investment the tannery was made operational. Five years down the line, the tannery has become the mainstay in keeping his leather business afloat. I have bought this tannery in Kolkata; doing business from Kanpur has become extremely tough. I am not supposed to run my Kanpur unit at more than 25% capacity, says this businessman, now setting up his second unit in Kolkatas Bantala. At least two big groups that were recently raided by the GST, are setting up shops in Bangladeshone of them has completed a big unit and the other was on the cusp of doing so in Chittagong. Another major group has already acquired land but has not started work yet.

The situation has arisen even though, in the last two decades, the global leather industry has been surging ahead in all segments, particularly in export of finished buffalo leather for upholstery and harnesses for saddlery. At one time, Kanpur was exporting 56% of buffalo leather and meeting the harness needs of the saddlery industry.

Now we are importing harnesses from Argentina. Sad, for an industry that has a share of 80% in global saddlery market. Saddlery is unique to Kanpur, says an industrialist, adding that exports and domestic sales both have seen an annual drop of 10% on an average.

The confidence of buyers is shaken in us; the orders are drying up. The buyers have started looking elsewhere for hassle-free delivery of orders. That is why people are moving out of Kanpur or at least setting up a parallel unit in other states and countries, says an industrialist importing wet-blue (semi-processed leather).

We do not get good quality leather especially the cow one, so we import to meet the need for a top class finished leather.

Cow leather mostly is processed in Chennai and Kolkata where there is no such ban; we import the wet blue from outside India because animal is of superior quality and skinned in a way the hyde carries less cuts, he says.

In 2020, the tanneries were told to operate at 50% of capacity 15 days a month on a rotation basis failing which a penalty called environment compensation of 12,500 per day would be levied.

Meanwhile, the cost of treatment of tannery waste went up from 2 per hide to 22 per hide in 2022. The tanneries pay for treatment of effluents going to common treatment plant (CTP) managed by the Jal Nigam from primary treatment plants (PTPs) in tanneries.

The cost per hide today is 88 as tanneries are technically running merely at 25% of capacity. Small and medium players have already moved out of the system, says a top businessman, adding that in 2014, the Prime Minister had given a push to the leather sector by placing it in Make in India while the chief minister had done so by naming it in One District One Product (ODOP).

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Mumbai: Confusion prevailed among Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs on Monday, the first day of the monsoon session of the state assembly, as there was no clarity on the exact number of MLAs supporting the two factions of the party. Consequently, 27 NCP MLAs chose to skip the assembly proceedings, apparently to avoid picking a side as of now. Mumbai, India - July 17, 2023: Praful Patel Member of Rajya Sabha and Ashish Shelar Member of the Maharashtra Assembly at Vidhan Bhavan during first day of the monsoon session in Mumbai, India, on Monday, July 17, 2023. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Of the lot that attended, 10 MLAs were from NCP and 15 from the rebel faction of the party, including nine ministers. The proceedings were completed in just half an hour.

The uncertainly was a result of Ajit Pawar, and leaders aligned to him, reaching out to the NCP supremo, thrice in four days, asking the veteran leader to show a united front as they do not want to split the party.

Most MLAs are confused over all that is happening in the party. They dont know if the two factions really want to come together or if it is all optics, said an NCP MLA, requesting anonymity. On Sunday, the eight ministers were suddenly told they are all going to meet Pawar saheb at YB Chavan Centre, he added.

Meanwhile, the NCP MLAs were seated in a certain manner, as requested by the Ajit Pawar faction  they were allotted seats in the middle of opposition and treasury benches.

Those on Ajit Pawars side have been given the benches between the ruling and opposition members. The state legislature has to allot the seats ahead of the session. The speaker takes the call on the seating arrangements. The arrangement done in the lower house is in accordance with the list of MLAs submitted unofficially by Ajit Pawar faction. Neither factions of NCP have opened their cards on the support from the MLAs, said an official from the state legislature.

Commenting on the matter, Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil said, Todays seating arrangement was scattered but most of us were seated on the opposition side.

After the split in the NCP and defection of MLCs from Thackeray faction the seating arrangement in council was also changed. Manisha Kayande, who left the Thackeray faction and joined Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena recently, used to sit on opposition benches till last session. On Monday, Kayande got a seat on the treasury benches. Viplav Bajoria was absent but will sit on treasury benches.

NCP has nine MLCs in the council. After the defection of Ajit Pawar, five MLCs supporting him -- Vikram Kale, Satish Chavan, Aniket Tatkare, Amot Mitkari and Ramraje Nimbalkar -- sat on treasury benches. On the other hand, four MLCs with Sharad Pawar, including Eknath Khadse, Babajani Durani, Shashikant Shinde and Arun Lad sat on opposition benches.

Announcement of the leader of opposition may be delayed

The opposition is expected to remain unrepresented in the legislative assembly in the ongoing monsoon session as the appointment of the leader of opposition is not expected to happen soon. Though the Congress staked its claim on the post immediately after the NCP split, it has failed to submit its name for the post. The party has reportedly shortlisted four to five contenders and submitted the names to the central leadership.

A Congress leader blamed the delay on the recent happenings in NCP. Ruling parties are hopeful that the remaining faction of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar may join the government. That will further weaken the opposition, and they may have to wait for some time for the post, he said.

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday moved disqualification petitions against three members of the legislative council, who shifted loyalties to the Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde. HT Image

A delegation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) also met Governor Ramesh Bais and demanded removal of Neelam Gorhe from the post of deputy chairperson of legislative council, saying that she cannot decide on the disqualification petition against herself.

On the first day of the monsoon session of the state legislature, Shiv Sena (UBT) moved disqualification motion against Gorhe, Manisha Kayande and Viplav Bajoria, who had joined the Shinde faction of Sena, and also initiated demand for Gorhes removal from the post of deputy chairperson of the council.

The Sena (UBT) also decided to aggressively pursue the removal motion against Gorhe, who is presiding over the upper house as there is no chairperson, moved by BJP MLC Prasad Lad in the budget session of the state legislature. Following the aggressive demand by the opposition, the house was adjourned for the day.

We have decided to aggressively pursue the demand of discussion on the removal motion moved by the BJP in the last session and now it has become the property of the house. So, we can demand a discussion on that motion. On Tuesday also we will demand the same, a Thackeray faction leader said.

Meanwhile, an MVA delegation comprising the leader of opposition in council Ambadas Danve, Congress leaders Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan and NCP leader Jayant Patil met the Governor and submitted a letter demanding intervention to resolve the constitutional deadlock in the council. Neelam Gorhe left Sena (UBT) as deputy chairperson of the council and joined another party. We have moved to remove her from the post. We have demanded in council that she should not continue in the chair. Please intervene immediately to end the deadlock, the letter read.

Gorhe should be removed from the post of deputy chairperson as she left the party and she cannot decide on disqualification petition against herself. We also requested the Governor to take the decision in this regard immediately and take the advice of the Advocate General Danve said.

As per rules, the Governor can appoint a committee of MLCs to decide on disqualification petitions. Otherwise, the Governor can ask the presiding officers, who have authority of the speaker, to take decision on the matter coming before them, Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said.

When contacted Gorhe, she refused to comment.
Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday began its probe into the alleged irregularities of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) 12,024 crore expenditure. They visited the civic bodys headquarters and collected relevant documents. HT Image

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has pointed out several lacunas after which three preliminary enquiries (PE) have been registered. We went to get clarity on those matters and also to seek some documents relating to the three PEs, an officer from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) said.

The EOW has earlier registered three PEs against the roads department and five other departments wherein the expenditure was 5,000 crore. The second PE is related to the IT and bridges department, where the expenditure was to the tune of 500 crores and the third is related to the alleged Dahisar Land deal, which the CAG had pointed out was overvalued by 206 crore.

Following a special request by the state government, the CAG had conducted an audit, and, in its report, had criticised the civic body for mismanagement, lack of transparency and callous handling of funds between November 28, 2019, and October 31, 2022. The report pointed out that the tendering process was not followed in most cases, resulting in unfair benefits to contractors.

Among many alleged lapses, the CAG observed that two of the civic bodys departments issued 20 work orders worth 214.48 crore without tenders, while work orders worth 4,756 crore were given to 64 contractors, which could not be executed as no agreement was signed with them. The report pointed out that the BMC had prepared its road designs without a detailed soil investigation and traffic survey.

In addition, of 12,024 crore expenditure, the civic bodys Covid spending is estimated at around 3,500, which is also under the scanner of the SIT.
Mumbai: The Department of Fisheries in Maharashtra has issued a set of guidelines to curb illegal fishing during the monsoon. As per the Maharashtra Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1981, fishing is prohibited during the monsoon season to allow breeding and replenishment of stocks. HT Image

The development came after the Karanja Port in Raigad was raided on June 27, during which 41 fishing trawlers were operating illegally, and 72 vehicles were apprehended for transporting the catch.

A senior official with the fisheries department in Mumbai, who has attended two meetings on the matter chaired by Mungantiwar since June 28, said, Illegal fishing is an issue we have to deal with every year, but given the scale of offence uncovered at Karanja, we have issued detailed guidelines for all district and sub-district level officials to follow, a senior official with the fisheries department said.

According to the guidelines, at all fishing harbours and jetties, parking slots need to be created and assigned to individual trawlers, which are not to be moved until the monsoon ban ends on August 31. These lots need to be monitored by security guards every four hours, and time-stamped photographs need to be submitted to the district officer and licence officer as evidence. A register of boats in every harbour also needs to be maintained.

If during the inspection, any boat is found to be missing, or if their designated parking spot has changed, it will be brought to the notice of the assistant commissioner of fisheries in Mumbai. The licence officers will have the power to cancel the registration of the fishing boats which are not complying with the ban, and also to lodge FIRs against the boat owners, the official said.

The protocol also directs district-level officials to carry out raids at fishing harbours in their jurisdiction. If fishermans cooperatives are found to be collectively violating the ban, then the fisheries department will have the power to cancel the registration of the respective body. It will also lead to a discontinuation of the organisations subsidised diesel quota.

Since June 1, 41 FIRs have been filed against owners of fishing boats in Maharashtra for violating the annual ban on deep sea fishing during monsoon season.

On June 27, 12 violators from Karanja were booked under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in the discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 141 (unlawful assembly), 143 (punishment of unlawful assembly), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

In almost all instances where FIRs have been filed, the boats had painted over their identification markers, such as the name of the boat, the boat licence number, and the fishing licence number. We have noticed that this has become a common practice during the monsoons to evade identification. This poses a security risk and requires the police and Coast Guards vigilance as well, the fisheries department official added.

According to the new guidelines, painting over identifying markers will also result in FIRs against the boat owners, and boats found to be repeatedly violating these guidelines may also be confiscated by the fisheries department.

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A toll plaza employee in Greater Noida area was purportedly assaulted by a woman allegedly over asking her for toll payment and identity proof. The entire incident was caught on the nearby CCTV camera and was widely shared on social media. CCTV footage shows the accused pulling the female employee's hair(Screengrab)

In the footage, the accused was seen storming inside the toll booth and grabbed the hair of the employee  also a woman  after a brief argument and pinned her to the ground. In a fit of rage, she kept on threatening the female employee and squished her face even after she fell from her seat. The video shows how the victim tried to break free but failed due to the woman's strong grip on her.

Following the incident, two men entered the booth in an attempt to pull the woman out. A second CCTV footage shows the woman came out of the booth and forcibly removed the barrier at the plaza and signaled the driver to proceed.

According to the police, the complaint by the toll company mentioned that the woman and her aides were trying to cross the plaza claiming they live in a nearby village.

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The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad (ATS) on Monday detained Pakistani national Seema Haider, her partner and Greater Noidas Sachin Meena and his father Netrapal Singh for interrogation, officials said. Sachin Meena (L) and Seema Haider (R) (AFP Photo)

The trio were picked up from their residence around 1pm and are being questioned at an undisclosed location in Noida, said officials.

The matter surfaced earlier this month after some locals alerted the police that a Pakistani woman was living in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida.

Following this, Noidas Gautam Budh Nagar Police swung into action and arrested Haider on July 4 for illegally entering India via Nepal with her four children  all aged below seven years  while Meena and his father were arrested for sheltering the illegal immigrants.

Also Read: No longer a Muslim: Seema Haiders family in Pakistan doesnt want her back

On July 7, Singh was granted bail by the Gautam Budh Nagar district court in Surajpura, Greater Noida, while Haider and Meena got bail the next day on July 8.

On July 9, Haider and Meena reached their Rabupura residence in the morning, following which they have been the centre of media attention.

According to the additional commissioner of police, Gautam Budh Nagar, Anand Kulkarni, the UP ATS informed the local police about the investigation on Monday morning.

As per protocol, the UP ATS informed the local Greater Noida Police that they will be questioning Haider, Meena and Singh in relation to concerns regarding national security. When the three were arrested by Gautam Budh Nagar police last month, central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh anti-terror squad were alerted. Hence, they are carrying out investigations on their end as per procedure, Kulkarni said.

He added that they are only being questioned and have not been picked up by the ATS.

Deputy commissioner of police (Greater Noida) Saad Miya Khan had told PTI that a first information report in the case had been lodged at Rabupura police station under provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, and section 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) and 34 (act done by several people with common intention).

Since May 13, Haider and her four children had been living with Meena in a room he rented in Ambedkar Nagar colony, Rabupura.

On June 30, Haider and Meena, who were trying to flee the district by taking a bus to Palwal, were apprehended by the police in Haryanas Ballabgarh. The four children accompanied the duo.

Among the recoveries made by police from Haider are two video cassettes of her first wedding, one family registration certificate, four birth certificates of her children, an ID card issued by the Pakistan National Database and Registration Authority, five vaccination cards and one bus ticket from Pokhara to Delhi.

Earlier, Haider told HT that she had been with her husband Meena since March this year when the two married at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

Haider, who hails from the Sindh province in Pakistan, met Meena on the popular online gaming platform PUBG, which led to their friendship. Haider fell in love with Meena and left Pakistan to meet and live with him in India with her four children.

(with PTI inputs)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ashni Dhaor Ashni Dhaor is a correspondent with Hindustan Times. She covers crime, education, health, politics, civic issues and environment in Ghaziabad city. She graduated from Delhi University in 2015 and has since been working with Hindustan Times since. ...view detail
LUCKNOW Two Pratapgarh residents were arrested by Hussainganj police unit on Monday for allegedly tampering with ATMs and stealing money. The thieves have been identified as Pankaj Yadav and Mehtab Hassan -- both residents of Pratapgarh. (HT Photo)

Sharing further details, DCP (central) Aparna Rajat Kaushik, said, They used plastic clips to block the part of the ATM from where currency bills are dispensed. When a user would come to withdraw money, they would have to return empty handed and then the thieves would go back to machine, remove the clips, and take out the cash.

She added, The thieves have been identified as Pankaj Yadav and Mehtab Hassan -- both residents of Pratapgarh. They were arrested with the help of the CCTV installed inside the ATM. Back in 2020, the accused duo were arrested in Pratapgarh in other cases, DCP added.

Adding to this, Jitendra Pratap Singh, SHO, Hussainganj Police station, said that these accused would often target secluded ATMs with no guards. Also, the elderly were their prime targets. We were getting several complaints of ATM failing to dispense cash. When the users called the bank, they would be told that their cash was dispensed and collected. This helped us find leads. We scanned the CCTV footage of several ATMs in the Hussainganj area to nab them, he added.

Singh further said, The men were booked under several IPC sections and cash worth 29,000 was also recovered.

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LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on Monday took Pakistani national Seema Ghulam Haider and her Indian lover Sachin Meena into custody for interrogation. In the wake of their much-hyped cross border love story, the Noida unit of ATS quizzed both Seema and Sachin. Seema Ghulam Haider and Sachin Meena. (Sourced)

The ATS officials also verified Seemas ID proof and other related documents. The officials also checked the documents related to her children. Speaking on the development, U.P. Police Special Director General (Law and Order), Prashant Kumar, has said that it is just a general inquiry of any Pakistan national living here without proper documentation.

Earlier this month, 27-year-old Seema Haider had sneaked into India to live with Greater Noidas Sachin Meena whom she befriended through an online gaming platform in 2019. Seema, who is a mother of four (all aged below 7 years), traversed through Dubai and Nepal to be with her lover in India. She was accompanied by her children.

However, there is much apprehension that this may be more than just a daring love story. Therefore, authorities are digging into the case to find out if Seema is a spy who may pose a threat to our national security. According to senior police officials, the ATS is checking up on her background, credentials, and intentions behind sneaking into India.

The officials added that the probe was handed over to U.P. ATS as the Gautam Budh Nagar Police Commissionerate wrote a letter to the U.P. Police headquarters in Lucknow to rope in a specialised agency to probe Seemas case. Confirming the news, ATS Additional Director General (ADG), Naveen Arora, said their team will start its probe into the Seema-Sachin case.

Seema and Sachin will be interrogated in detail. The duo could be interrogated one by one. They could also be made to sit face-to-face to bring out the truth behind their cross-border lover story, said a senior ATS official while adding that Seemas kids will not be quizzed as they are aged below seven years.

There is a probability that she has been sent to India with a possible plot of Pakistans secret agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), said the official. This comes in the wake of similar honeytraps against Army men, police officials, and para-military personnel as well as scientists sitting in crucial positions.

Earlier, on June 26, the U.P. Police intelligence wing had issued an alert to its police officers and personnel across the state about 14 fake social profiles of women created to honeytrap them as well as officials and personnel of the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and scientists. He said that this alert was issued after input from a central intelligence agency.

Fake profiles have been created by the Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO), a wing of Pakistans intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence), to target officers and personnel of central as well as state agencies involved in internal and external security, he added.

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. After remaining five days behind bars, Seema, and Sachin, earlier this month, stepped out of the Luksar Jail in Gautam Budh Nagar on July 10.

When Seema met Sachin

Seema got acquainted with Sachin in 2019 through PUBG. She told HT that she had been with Sachin 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 him Sachin Baba. Sachins parents have also accepted me, and I have adopted all their cultural practices and will continue to live with them, said Seema.

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 mike on. Thats how I met Sachin, and we started chatting on the chat box. We used to play for hours on end and never stopped talking. After about four months, we exchanged phone numbers and began communicating via voice and video calls. We confessed our love for each other by January 2021, Seema told HT.

According to the couple, they were inspired by the Hindi film Gadar, whose plot revolves around a cross-border love story between an Indian man and a Pakistani woman. Talking to PTI earlier, Seema said that her 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 sewage.

Her previous husband Ghulam Haider works in Saudi Arabia. Her first marriage was also a love marriage. She had eloped with Ghulam Haider to Karachi about 10 years ago. They had gotten married against the wishes of their parents.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rohit Kumar Singh Rohit K Singh is a Principal Correspondent. He writes on crime, police and social issues ...view detail
The four-lane JP Ganga Path, popularly called Patnas marine drive, being built on northern bank of river Ganga in Bihars capital, will be opened for traffic up to Gaighat soon, an official familiar with the matter said. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inspects construction works of JP Ganga Path project in Patna. (HT Photo)

Currently, vehicular traffic is allowed up to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from Digha, as construction of the entire 20.5-km-long stretch is still going on.

A senior official of Bihar State Road Development Construction (BSRDC), which is executing the project at a total cost of 3,831 crore, said the superstructure work of the elevated portion up to Gaighat is complete and finishing touches are being given to throw it open for public. The 5-km stretch of the elevated bridge, from PMCH to Gaighat, could be formally inaugurated on August 15, said a senior engineer deputed for the project, who did not want to be named.

Opening of traffic up to Gaighat stretch from Digha would help people avoid heavily congested Ashok Rajpath to reach Patna City.

Construction of a double decker flyover and underground metro network has already made Ashok Rajpath stretch from Gandhi Maidan to NIT a nightmare for vehicle owners.

The official quoted above said work to build approach road to connect Ganga Pathway with Gaighat is also going on. To begin with, only up ramp would be available for vehicular movement for both to and fro traffic, as construction of down ramp has been delayed for want availability of around 300 square metres of land of the old judicial academy, said the official.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had last week visited the construction site and directed the road construction department officials and those of the Patna district administration to expedite the process to acquire stipulated portion of land.

The project is being built in three parts, from Digha to Naujar ghat (0-13.5 km), Naujar ghat to Deedarganj (13.5-17km) and Deedarganj to Patna Ghat (17-20.5km).

The first part is being built by Navayuga Engineering Construction Limited, while the second and third stretches are being built by GK Infra and SP Singla, respectively

The cost of construction has escalated from earlier estimate of 3,160 crore to the current 3,831 crore due to change in construction nature, which was recommended by IIT-Roorkee experts. On expert advice, Naujarghat to Deedarganj portion is being built on elevated structure instead of earlier plan of building it on at grade level, said the engineer, adding that Ganga Pathway will have connectivity with another road from Patna City to Deedarganj.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Subhash Pathak Subhash Pathak is special correspondent of Hindustan Times with over 15 years of experience in journalism, covering issues related to governance, legislature, police, Maoism, urban and road infrastructure of Bihar and Jharkhand. ...view detail
Unidentified miscreants allegedly set on fire a Central Bank of India branch in Bihars Supaul district after failing to break open the cash chest in the early hours on Monday. No FIR (first information report) has been filed yet in the case. (Representative file image)

The iron grill of the gate was found broken off by the thieves and they tried to break open the chest suggesting that miscreants entered the bank to steal the cash, the banks manager Sujeet Kumar Singh said.

He added They tried to break open the chest but later they torched the branch after a failed heist bid in anger.

We are however trying to assess the damage and can only tell about the loss once we are able to open chest which is not opening, he said.

Also Read: Masked men loot 27 lakh from bank in Bihar district, guard injured: Police

When locals saw fire in the morning, they informed the administration after which fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was brought under control.

No FIR (first information report) has been filed yet.

Police said that prima facie it appears that thieves tried to steal cash and later set the branch on fire after failing in their heist bid.

Police said they will look into the incident from all possible angles adding that they havent ruled out the possibility of fire caused by short circuit.
Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra will release the provisional merit list for admission to Polytechnic (First Year Post SSC Diploma Technical Courses in Engineering/Technology) courses today, July 17. Candidates will be able to check it on the official website, poly23.dtemaharashtra.gov.in. The direct link has been provided below through which students can access the merit list once it is released. DTE Maharashtra Polytechnic merit list releasing today on poly23.dtemaharashtra.gov.in

DTE Maharashtra Polytechnic admission 1st merit list 2023

As per the counselling schedule, the final merit lists for candidates of Maharashtra state, all India and J&K and Ladakh migrant candidates will be displayed on the website on July 21.

Provisional category wise seats or seat matrix for CAP round 1 counselling will be released on July 22 after which candidates have to submit and confirm their option forms between July 23 and 26.

Provisional allotment for the first round will be displayed on July 28.

Candidates have to accept their allotted seats between July 29 and August 3. They have to report at allotted institutions and confirm admissions by submitting required documents and paying the fee by August 4.

DTE Maharashtra Polytechnic counselling will be held in three rounds. For further details, check the counselling schedule.

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The second episode of My Happy Marriage premiered last week, captivating viewers with its beautiful visuals and touching storyline. Exciting news for fans eagerly awaiting the next episode - the wait is finally over! For those who are unfamiliar with the series, according to Netflix Miyos abusive family deems her worthless  but together with her powerful husband-to-be, her true self and hidden powers slowly begin to shine. My Happy Marriage (Image via Kinema Ctirus Studio)

My Happy Marriage Episode 3 will premiere on Wednesday, July 19 on Netflix.

Date My Happy Marriage Episode 3 Exact Releasing Time JST PT CT ET CET IST july 11: 30 PM 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 4:30 PM 8:00 PM

Where to watch My Happy Marriage Episode 3?

In Japan, the episode will air on Tokyo MX, KBS, and other local channels. International fans can stream the episode on Netflix.

My Happy Marriage Episode 2 Recap

The episode starts with Miyo's arrival at Kiyoka's house. Kiyoka, a wealthy and powerful man, has a history of rejecting marriage proposals due to the ulterior motives of the women. Miyo's sincere behavior surprises him. The next morning, Miyo prepares breakfast for Kiyoka, who accuses her of poisoning the food. Miyo denies it, and Kiyoka leaves without eating. In a flashback, it is revealed that Miyo lacks supernatural abilities, unlike her sister Kaya. This led to her father favoring Kaya and ignoring Miyo's suffering. Kiyoka begins to observe Miyo's troubled past and decides to investigate further. Miyo's father receives a phone call mentioning her maternal family's bloodline, hinting at a hidden reason behind the arranged marriage. Miyo's sincerity and actions begin to thaw Kiyoka's heart. Despite Kiyoka's initial harshness, he shows signs of caring for Miyo's well-being. Meanwhile, Miyo's family's mistreatment is revealed, fueling anticipation for Kiyoka's reaction and future developments.

What to expect from My Happy Marriage episode 3?

In My Happy Marriage episode 3, viewers can expect why Mr. Tatsuishi is angry with Shinichi. Tatsuishi mentions that Miyo is connected to the Usuba family, possibly through her mother. This suggests that there may be a special power associated with this family. However, it needs to be clarified if this conversation happened in the past and if Tatsuishi arranged for Koji to marry Kaya based on it. The episode will focus on the growing relationship between Miyo and Kiyoka. The tension between them has lessened after Kiyoka allowed Miyo to make him breakfast. It's exciting to see how their connection will develop and if they will get married.

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Actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt flew out of Mumbai for the promotions of their upcoming film Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Taking to Instagram on Monday, a paparazzo account posted videos of the duo at the Mumbai airport. (Also Read | Karan Johar goes Oh God as his kids prefer Baby Shark over What Jhumka song) Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt at the Mumbai airport.

Ranveer at airport

In the clip, Ranveer Singh was seen in his car as he drove to the airport. The actor after getting out of his car waved at his fans. He also posed for a brief moment for the photographers stationed at the airport before entering the terminal building. For the travel, Ranveer opted for a white T-shirt, black jacket, matching pants and sneakers. He also wore dark sunglasses and a cap.

Alia at airport

Alia Bhatt smiled and posed for the paparazzi as she got out of her car at the airport. Before entering the terminal building, Alia said 'thank you' and waved at the paparazzi. The actor wore a white shirt, blue denims and sneakers for her travel. She tied her hair into a ponytail and also carried a black bag with her.

About Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

The romantic-comedy film has been helmed by Karan Johar. Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani features Ranveer, Alia, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles. It is all set to hit the theatres on July 28.

The trailer shows the lives of Rocky Randhawa and Rani Chatterjee, whose lifestyles are diametrically opposed. While Rocky is a Punjabi lad from a wealthy Punjabi family, Rani comes from a Bengali household where knowledge and intelligence are valued above all else. They fall in love but realise that their families don't like each other. Then Rocky and Rani decide to switch and live with each other families to impress them.

Karan shared a BTS video

On Sunday, Karan shared the bloopers of the shoot of What Jhumka, one of the songs from the film. On Instagram, Karan posted a fun behind-the-scenes video. Sharing the video, he wrote, Jhumkas, thumkas, laughs, bloopers and so much more - all right here!!!#WhatJhumka song is out now so show us your moves too!!!

In the video, Ranveer was seen having fun banter with Alia and Karan. He was also seen having fun during his dubbing session. Sung by Arijit Singh and Jonita Gandhi the song is penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and features Ranveer and Alia. The song also had a few lines from the iconic track Jhoomka Gira Re Bareilly Ke Bazaar Mein.

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Ameesha Patel is all set to return to the silver screen with Gadar 2: The Katha Continues. She had made her big Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in 2000 film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. It was directed by Rakesh Roshan. Ameesha has now revealed how she was signed for the film within two days of being noticed by Rakesh Roshan at a wedding but not being recognized by him in one go. Also read: 'Chor isko bhai ki amanat hai': When fans didn't like Bobby Deol hugging Ameesha Patel Ameesha Patel will now be seen in Gadar 2. (ANI)

Actor-turned-director Rakesh Roshan had directed Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and launched Hrithik into films. The movie turned out to be a blockbuster with gross worldwide collection of 67 crore 23 years ago.

Ameesha on meeting Rakesh Roshan at a wedding

During her recent visit on The Kapil Sharma Show, Ameesha was asked about a rumour that she was just 14-15 when she was spotted by Rakesh Roshan who was interesting in casting her in a film. She said, That is true but when he mentioned this I was just 14-15 year-old. He said that he wanted to cast me with Hrithik. My family was not ready and they denied it as we belonged to a political-business background and I was going to Boston to study.

"But then when I returned from Boston, we were again at a wedding and I was leaving, when Rakesh uncle came. At first, he couldn't recognise me and he asked and my family said, 'This is Ameesha, she just returned from Boston. In two days I had signed Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai's contract and in a week's time I was shooting," she said according to ETimes.

More about Ameesha Patel

After making her acting debut with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Ameesha delivered yet another blockbuster in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha in 2001. She was seen as a Pakistani woman named Sakina, opposite Sunny Deol who played an Indian Sikh, Tara Singh. The two are now reprising their roles in Gadar 2 which also marks the debut of their onscreen son Charanjeet (Utkarsh Sharma) as an adult. The film will release in theatres on August 11 and will clash with Akshay Kumar's OMG 2.

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Celina Jaitly opened up about her journey in the fashion industry in Kolkata and how she wouldnt get paid even after working hard. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Celina penned a long note recalling how she faced 'constant criticism and rejection'. She said she had to 'hear many derogatory things about all the things that made me unique'. (Also Read | Celina Jaitly says she received threats for supporting LGBTQIA community) Celina Jaitly spoke about her experience while working in the fashion industry.

Celina Jaitly shared her video and a photo

Celina shared the note after clocking 22 years of becoming a runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. She also posted an old video as took part in the contest. Dressed in a saffron bikini, Celina also posed with Miss Curacao and Miss Dominican Republic in a photo. Sharing the post, she captioned it, "This year marks 22 years since I became a runners up at the @missuniverse pageant held in SanJuan, Peurto Rico in 2001 right after Indias great triple wins at Ms Universe, Ms World & Miss Asia Pacific the year before (@LaraDutta @priyankachopra @deespeak)."

Celina penned a long note talking about her struggles

She continued, "Amongst 103 contestants at only 5 ft 6 inches (I was one of the shortest contestants that year) yet I went on to become a runners up, a moment of great pride for me, upholding my countrys and my predecessors legacy. I entered the fashion industry at a very young age (15) after being scouted at an army party. The struggles that one went through in a new and upcoming fashion industry in a not-so-open-minded Kolkata was not easy, plus the pressure of studies and competitive exams made my entire teenage a journey of hard work and toil. I also suffered from severe acne and very severe endometriosis and had to be hospitalised almost every month during my Menstruation due to severe dysmenorrhea and blood loss so it was an incredibly intense life for a child who had many dreams and aspirations."

Celina recalls being rejected several times

"While others would enjoy weekends I would take up shoot and ramp show offers in Kolkata and work for meagre amounts of monies. Many a times I wouldnt even end up getting paid for my hard work and unauthorised use of images due to lack of industry regulations. Then there was the constant criticism and rejection either I was too white, too thin, not tall enough or too tall etc. For many years I had to hear many derogatory things about all the things that made me unique and go on despite that. For a child in her teens it was truly overwhelming hence the journey to the crown was a very intense one," Celina also added.

Celina talks about beauty

She concluded, "Crowns... after all are not made of sparkling stones, they are made of sheer determination, strength, dedication, devotion, struggle and immense courage too. Beauty is a 'powerful tool of persuasion' and I am so thankful for having the opportunity represent my country on various platforms since as an actor, brand ambassador UN equality champion and an activist. Having said that: Being beautiful is not being 'born beautiful'. It is striving, lifelong to live & achieve your maximum potential as a human being. #celinajaitly #missuniverse."

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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
Katrina Kaif celebrated her 40th birthday on July 16 and to mark the occasion her brother Sebastien Laurent Michel and sister Isabelle Kaif posed in custom T-shirts featuring a young Katrina. Their friend, actor Angira Dhar, also wished Katrina as she shared a photo from Katrina's birthday celebrations in Maldives. Also read: Vicky Kaushal is in awe of Katrina Kaif, shares love-filled pics from birthday vacation Inside pictures from Katrina Kaif's birthday in Maldives were shared by family and friends.

Earlier, husband-actor Vicky Kaushal had also wished Katrina and shared photos from a yacht as they posed together during the birthday trip.

Katrina Kaif's birthday bash featured special T-shirts.

Friends and family's special T-shirts for Katrina Kaif

Sebastien Laurent Michel, Isabelle Kaif and Angira Dhar celebrated Katrina Kaif's latest milestone in the cutest way possible. In photos shared on Instagram Stories, Isabelle and Angira revealed snippets from Katrina's big day, which included not only a trip to the Maldives but also custom T-shirts in neutral colours featuring old photos of Katrina Kaif.

While Isabelle and Sebastien wore T-shirts with their sister's childhood pictures in the photo Isabelle shared, Angira posed with Isabelle in a photo as the two showed their custom birthday T-shirts.

Sharing a photo of herself with Sebastien, Isabelle wrote on Instagram Stories, "Happy birthday, Katrina Kaif." The two smiled wide as they posed for the photo taken during Katrina's birthday celebrations on Sunday.

Angira Dhar shared some pictures from Katrina Kaif's birthday trip to Maldives.

Angira Dhar shares pics from Katrina's birthday trip

The actor shared a photo of herself with Isabelle and wrote on Instagram Stories, "(Heart emoji) Happy birthday Katrina Kaif. Love, love and only love for you." Angira also shared a couple of pictures from the beach and geo-tagged the location as Maldives in one of the photos.

Vicky shares romantic pics with Katrina

On Sunday, Vicky Kaushal shared new pictures to wish wife-actor Katrina Kaif on her birthday. Sharing the pictures, Vicky wrote in his Instagram caption, "In awe of your magic everyday. Happy Birthday my love!"

In one of the pictures, Katrina was seen smiling as she and Vicky looked at each other. She wore a yellow dress, while Vicky opted for a light blue shirt as they posed together during the sunset in Maldives.

On Saturday, Vicky and Katrina were seen at Mumbai airport as they arrived hand-in-hand. The couple posed for the paparazzi and waved at them before entering the airport gate.

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Megan Fox took to Instagram on Saturday and posted a series of forest-themed photos in bikinis. She captioned the post as "the forest is my oldest friend". The post became a major hit among her fans, garnering around 3.6 million likes at the time of this report's publication. Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly(Twitter)

Her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly commented on Megan's post, writing: "if this is what a wild animal looks like, i'd let it maul me".

The bonhomie between the couple comes after reports of problems in relationship and speculations about separation, were published in May this year.

The couple started dating after meeting in March 2020 on the sets of crime thriller "Midnight in the Switchgrass". In May 2020, Megan starred in Kelly's music video "Bloody Valentine" and in 2022, they got engaged.

ALSO READ| Why Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan doesn't keep a smartphone

In February 2023, Megan had deleted her Instagram account after posting a cryptic message which had sparked breakup rumours about her from Kelly. Same month, Megan and Kelly were spotted heading to a marriage counseling office. In March 2023, the couple took a break from their relationship, but stayed in contact. Later in April 2023, they vacationed together in Hawaii.

Theyve been in serious couples therapy and have also been seeing a spiritual healer, a source was quoted as saying by usmagazine.com in May.

Theyve come a long way. Friends think they will make it through and [eventually] start planning their wedding again, added the source.

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BTS rapper J-Hope will be the next guest in fellow group member Suga's chat show Suchwita. BangtanTV on Sunday posted a teaser from episode 14 of the show. The video gave a partial glimpse of J-Hope arriving on the show's set with a gift. Suga teased him, "Instead of sneaking in today, he came as an official guest." J-Hope replied, "I finally get to come here." (Also Read | Jin teases J-Hope for 'copying contents' in letter for fans from military; BTS ARMY reacts) BTS' Suga and J-Hope in a still from Suchwita teaser.

Suga asks J-Hope about his plans

In the nearly one-minute-long teaser, Suga asked J-Hope about his plans. Suga said, "Being the type who needs to plan everything, I heard you already have a six-month post-discharge plan. Spill all the details today. It's better to give out spoilers here than anywhere else." Laughing, J-Hope asked him, "Should I tell you everything?" Suga replied, "Just do it."

Suga and J-Hope talk about J Cole

Suga then talked about a string of things. He asked, "J-Hope's plan for BTS' chapter 2?" J-Hope said, "Yes." Suga continued asking on several topics including "Lollapalooza (its behind the scenes)". He also said, "Tell us about J Cole." Suga teased J-Hope, "You seemed like a total pop star during the listening party (behind the scenes of the listening party)."

Suga and J-Hope dance on Suchwita

The two BTS members also did some dance moves on the show. Suga and J-Hope also sang the happy birthday song for the latter. The brief video ended with J-Hope saying, "I should come here more often. Can I be on the show again?" The episode will air on July 19 at 10 pm KST (6.30 pm IST).

J-Hope serving in military

Currently, J-Hope is serving in the South Korean military. After Jin, J-Hope became the second member of BTS to enlist for his mandatory military duty on April 17. Other members -- RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook -- plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans.

BTS had announced a break from group activities in June 2022. The members hope to reconvene as a unit around 2025 following their service commitment. In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18-28 are required to serve in the military for about two years. All BTS members were allowed to put off starting their military service until they turned 30.

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BTS's golden maknae, Jungkook, has taken the music industry by storm with his solo hit, 'Seven.' The track has become the talk of the town, captivating both fans and non-fans alike since its release. Within a mere 2.5 hours, 'Seven' soared to the number one spot in a whopping 100 countries, setting a new record for the fastest climb to the top. Jungkook's solo hit Seven storms charts, but controversy arises over song credit on Spotify and music videos. Fans demand proper recognition for his solo debut.(Photo by Twitter/viraltakes)

However, amidst the celebration, controversy has erupted surrounding the way the song is credited on Spotify. The music label behind BTS, Hybe, has faced criticism from ARMY for tagging 'BTS' alongside Jungkook and Latto as the artists of 'Seven.' Outraged fans took to Twitter, where tags like BIGHIT RESPECT JUNGKOOK, REMOVE BTS TAG, and UNTAG BTS FROM SEVEN trended with over 50,000 tweets and counting.

The ARMY argues that "Bighit can't respect their artist even in his long-awaited solo debut. This is not a BTS song; this is JEON JUNGKOOK SONG." They contend that while previous collaborative tracks like 'Left and Right' and 'Dreamers' rightfully credited BTS as the featured artists, 'Seven' is Jungkook's solo debut, and he deserves to shine on his own.

Concerns about proper credit extend beyond Spotify. Fans expressed worry over the artist not being properly credited in the music videos for 'Seven.' Some pointed out that the video descriptions did not acknowledge Jungkook, raising concerns about his ranking breakdown for YouTube and its impact on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Fans took to social media to voice their concerns directly to BigHit Music, pleading for a correction in the video descriptions. In response, BigHit Music assured fans that the artist name for the 'Seven' music video and performance video is correctly registered as Jungkook in the YouTube system. They emphasized that there are no issues with the YouTube data count.

Despite these controversies, 'Seven' continues to captivate listeners worldwide. Described by BigHit Music as an invigorating summer anthem, the song's release coincided with Jungkook's highly anticipated performance on Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series, although it was cut short due to inclement weather. Notably, Jungkook became the first K-pop solo artist to grace the stage of GMA in New York, further solidifying his position as a global superstar.
On Sunday, Kiruba Munusamy, a lawyer, accused politician R Vikraman, who shot to fame after participating in Bigg Boss Tamil season 6, of 'intentionally exploiting' her. In a series of tweets, she accused him of cheating on her and said he financially abused her. Kiruba also urged the political party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), of which Vikraman is the spokesperson, to release the report of their committee that had probed her allegations against him. On Monday, Vikraman responded to Kiruba's allegations. Also read: Kamal Haasan returns as host with Bigg Boss Tamil 6 Kiruba Munusamy with R Vikraman in an old photo.

Vikraman denies allegations made by lawyer

In response to Kiruba Munusamy's allegations, R Vikraman said she had tweeted only some screenshots of the Whatsapp conversations between them as he stated 'a coin has two sides, likewise this story also has two sides'.

He said that contrary to her claims, it was him who was the real 'victim' here. Vikraman alleged that Kiruba's 'concocted allegations' were being made in order to 'wreak vengeance' after he refused to marry her. He also said she was trying to 'finish his political and professional career'.

Vikraman say he's fully prepared to rebut charges

On Monday, along with a handwritten note allegedly written to him by Kiruba, Vikraman tweeted, "I deny the allegations made against me by Ms. Kiruba Munusamy in entirety. A coin has two sides likewise this story also has two sides. There is only one victim in this issue and it is me rather than the person making the accusations against me. We were acquaintances till 2020 and started to know each other better post her travel to UK for PhD. The entire relationship was strictly platonic, the concocted allegations now being made are made in order to wreak vengeance and finish my political and professional career, since I had refused to succumb to her unreasonable demand to marry her."

He further tweeted, I reiterate that I completely deny each and every allegation made against me. I am fully prepared to rebut the charges and disprove each and every one of them in the manner known under law.

What Kiruba Munusamy said about Vikraman

Kiruba Munusamy in a long thread on Twitter had said that she had lodged a complaint with the party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi alleging that Vikraman had caused her emotional and mental damage during the course of their relationship.

Kiruba, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste, tweeted, When I confronted his political-intellectual-financial exploitation and opportunism, he behaved casteistly & abusively. When I distanced myself, he would cry, beg and convince that he'll behave properly thereafter. But his behaviour continued and started gaslighting and manipulating me.

Detailing the 'great deal of agony' she underwent, Kiruba said in a tweet, "After about two years of relationship, when I stopped supporting and demanded the money he promised to return in July 2022, he blocked me. After three months of trying, just before entering Bigg Boss (Bigg Boss Tamil 6), he apologised for his rude behaviour; got back together; was romantic and discussed BB (Bigg Boss)."

Sharing a series of their old photos and screenshots of their Whatsapp conversations, Kiruba said in another tweet, "The relationship continued after BB and so did his abuse, apologies and exploitation. I also found that he was cheating on me with the woman he claimed as his manager. After I confronted them in a conference call, he admitted the parallel relationship with her for over 1.5 years."

She further tweeted, After speaking to 15 people he referred (to) as his exes and friends, I found that there are other victims of his abuse and exploitation who are married now, including many queer men, who haven't come out with their sexuality. Therefore, I told him that I'm going to lodge police complaint.

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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
A 12-hour total shutdown, called to protest the killing of a 57-year-old woman in Imphal East district two days back, was observed in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur on Monday, even as the state police arrested nine people in connection with the murder, people familiar with the matter said. Police said they have arrested nine people, including five women, in connection with the murder (PTI)

The total shutdown that began at 6am on Monday impacted normal life in Chandel, Noney, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts, with vehicular movement  both interstate and interdistrict  being suspended for the day, officials said.

Markets, business establishments, government and private offices as well as educational institutions remained closed during the shutdown called by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur.

However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents during the shutdown till going to the press.

In a press statement on Sunday, UNC said it was aghast to learn about the murder of Lucy Marem (57), a resident of Narum (Beaulahram) village in Chandel district, who was shot dead on Saturday evening in the Sawombung area of Imphal West.

The UNC demanded a judicial inquiry into the murder of the woman belonging to the Maring Naga community and exemplary punishment for the accused. In the event of not fulfilling our demands within 48 hours, further course of action will be initiated, the Naga body said.

Meanwhile, police said they have arrested nine people, including five women, in connection with the murder. Two arms, a .303 rifle and a country-made 9mm pistol, five rounds of ammunition and one car were recovered from the accused, who have been arrested from different parts of Imphal East district, police officers said.

An investigation in the case is underway, and of any other person was found involved in the murder, they would be arrested, superintendent of police, Imphal East, Ksh Shivakanta Singh said.

Areas inhabited by Nagas have not witnessed any curfew since ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on May 3, claiming at least 150 lives, injuring another 300 displacing thousands in the northeastern state.

Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40% and reside mostly in the hill districts.

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The United States on Monday repatriated 105 trafficked antiquities to India at the Indian Consulate in New York - just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic state visit. According to a government release, the artifacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India  with 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, six from Northern India, and three from Western India. US returns 105 trafficked antiques to India

Around 50 of the total antiques relate to religious subjects including Hinduism, Jainism, and Islam, while the rest are of cultural significance.

The release also stated that the antiques are made of terracotta, stone, metal, and wood - spanning a period from the 2nd-3rd century CE to the 18th-19th century CE.

Some of the trafficked antiques

Red Sandstone couple artifact

A 12th-13th century C.E. arch

A bronze Nataraja belonging to the 17th-18th century C.E

Speaking at the repatriation ceremony - which was attended by senior officials from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and the Homeland Security Investigation team - the Ambassador of India to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu thanked the US side and noted that for the people of India, these were not just pieces of art but part of their living heritage and culture.

US returns 278 artifacts to India so far

With the latest batch of artifacts, the US has handed over a total of 278 cultural artifacts to India since 2016. During PM Modi's visit in 2016, the US handed over 16 artifacts, while in September, the country returned 157 artifacts to India.

The government of India has been making efforts to bring back stolen Indian antiquities from several countries. In recent years, there has been close cooperation on the restitution of antiquities between India and the US, the release read.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar along with other NCP leaders from his faction arrived at Mumbai's YB Chavan Centre for the second consecutive day to meet party president Sharad Pawar in what is seen as an attempt to keep the party united. Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and other ministers addressing to media after meeting NCP leader Sharad Pawar at Y B Chavan, in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)

After the meeting, rebel NCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel said the party MLAs came to seek the blessings of Sharad Pawar.

We again requested him to keep the party united, he told reporters. He heard what we wanted to say. He didn't respond. I don't know what is in his mind.

On Sunday, NCP leaders of Ajit Pawar's faction arrived at YB Chavan Centre for an unscheduled meeting with Sharad Pawar, the first one after Pawar junior rebelled against his uncle and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on July 2. Besides Ajit Pawar and NCP Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel, ministers Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil met the Pawar senior in south Mumbai.

Praful Patel said the NCP chief listened to them quietly but didn't give any reaction.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCP's Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar camp, said Sharad Pawar is like an idol to us and they met him to seek his blessings.

"We requested him (Sharad Pawar) to keep the NCP united. We also asked him to think about our request over the next some days and guide us. He listened to us quietly but said nothing, Patel said.

Opposition meeting in Bengaluru

The development comes amid a 2-day brainstorming session of opposition parties in Bengaluru to take on the juggernaut of Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Sunday meeting of Pawars triggered speculations of the senior Pawar skipping the Bengaluru gathering on Monday.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he has spoken with the NCP chief and was informed that he would participate in the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru on July 18.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh rejected insinuations that Pawar would skip the Opposition meeting on Monday and take part in it on Tuesday, saying the official meeting of opposition parties is on Tuesday and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is only hosting a dinner on Monday.

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Anarchy and administrative chaos in the national capital led the Union government to urgently promulgate an ordinance wresting the control over bureaucrats from the elected Delhi government, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday, blaming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of acting in an undemocratic fashion while trying to influence ongoing investigations into several vigilance cases, allegedly involving its ministers. HT Image

In an affidavit defending the promulgation of the 2023 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) ordinance on May 19, the Centre sought to apprise a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud that the ordinance will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament, starting July 20. The Centres ordinance, in effect, nullified a May 11 Supreme Court judgment affirming that the control of bureaucrats in Delhi must remain with the elected government in all but three spheres -- land, public order, and policing.

The elected government remained arrogant to the official duties of the concerned officers and handled the whole affair in a highly insensitive manner. Such actions in the capital of the nation itself were not only not in conformity with the constitutional provisions, effective model governance, democratic norms but were also reflecting before the global community as immature and undemocratic acts virtually paralysing the nations capital resulting in anarchy, the Centre said in its affidavit, adding these incidents brought embarrassment to India before the international community at a time when India held Presidency of the G20.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, however, submitted that the ordinance is yet to take the final shape and that the top court may defer the adjudication of the Delhi governments challenge to the ordinance until it is introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament.

Responding, the bench, which also included justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, indicated that the matter may be eventually referred to a Constitution bench of five judges in view of the Centre using a constitutional provision for the first time to regain control over services, which it said, amounted to virtually amending the Constitution. The court referred to Article 239AA (7) which empowers Parliament to make laws for giving effect to or supplementing the provisions contained in Article 239AA  the provision that guides the administration of Delhi.

The Delhi government did not respond to requests seeking comment on the affidavit.

The Delhi government on Monday opposed the reference and secured a hearing on July 20 to argue against it, even as the bench pointed out that the previous two Constitution bench judgments in 2018 and May 2023 did not deal with Article 239AA (7) or whether this provision can be used by the Centre to take away services from the elected government.

A reference to a Constitution bench typically entails long arguments and several days of hearing. The verdict may come after months, keeping the Centre in charge of Delhis bureaucracy in the interregnum.

Delhis lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena also filed two separate affidavits on Monday, supporting the Centres stand on the ordinance, and accusing the AAP government of suppressing critical facts in its petition.

The Centres affidavit, meanwhile, maintained that the decision to issue an ordinance without waiting for the next Parliament session was taken in view of the rapidly developing embarrassing situation in Delhi, created by AAP ministers, who, it said, humiliated and threatened bureaucrats, and made a global spectacle of the Capital by posting about their transfers and inquiries on social media, soon after the May 11 judgment of the top court.

The Centre claimed that within hours of the May 11 verdict, the Delhi government, in a dramatic and convoluted fashion, went on a rampage issuing transfer orders of several bureaucrats and posting them on social media.

The central government, therefore, examined the issue keeping in mind the fact that Delhi is the Capital of the nation, and any immature or insensitive act reflects badly the countrys image outside the world, stated the affidavit.

The President had to issue the ordinance keeping in view the emergent situation of administrative chaos in the Delhi, whereby the administration of the national capital was paralyzed. It was deemed necessary to provide for a comprehensive scheme of administration of services deployed in the functioning of NCTD and other allied issues thereby balancing the local and domestic interests of the people staying in the NCTD with the democratic will of the entire nation reflected through the President of India, the affidavit stated, adding the Centre has the competence on taking control over state bureaucracy through a legislative route.

Arguing that irreparable harm will be caused to the administration of Delhi if the ordinance is stayed, the Centre further stated that the Delhi government ignored the rationale of the previous two Constitution bench judgments that primary to the administration Delhi is the principle of cooperative governance and that the participation of central government cannot be construed as alien to the principles of governance or an unwarranted interference.

The Centres response came to the Delhi governments petition challenging the ordinance through which the Centre restored to itself the power over bureaucratic postings via a raft of amendments in the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act, 1991. The ordinance strengthened the position of the LG, making him the final authority who can act in his sole discretion in deciding matters relating to transfer and posting of bureaucrats, and introduced a new chapter to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) and a public service commission for transfers and postings of the officers serving in the affairs of the Delhi government.

Responding to criticism from the Delhi government that the ordinance was issued with the purpose of negating the two Constitution bench decisions of May 11 and July 2018, the Centre cited a spate of events between May 11 and 17 that it said necessitated passing of the ordinance.

Multiple instances of misbehaviour by the Delhi governments minister handling the services portfolio were reported to the chief secretary and complaints were received by special secretary (vigilance) of investigation files being removed from the chamber of the officers. His office was sealed and two days later, the files were photocopied till late past midnight under the gaze of television cameras, it claimed.

It also said that most of the files with the vigilance department pertained to the alleged excise scam where some top AAP leaders are allegedly involved, besides files pertaining to expenditure incurred in construction of CMs residential bungalow, funds for political advertisement of AAP, power subsidy to power companies ignoring outstanding dues from electricity distribution companies to the tune of over 21,000 crore, and establishment of Feedback Unit by government employing retired intelligence bureau officials.

The Centre described the state of affairs in the Capital from May 11 to May 17 to be a virtual turmoil, adding any delay would not only have paralysed the administration of the national capital but would have embarrassed the entire nation within and outside the country.

Delhi being the seat of President, Supreme Court, Parliament, and foreign missions, frequently visited by high foreign dignitaries, the Centre said: It is in national interest that the highest possible standards should be maintained in the administration and governance of the national capital.

LG VK Saxenas affidavits sought to address two developments initiated by the Centre under the ordinance to appoint the chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) bypassing Delhi government on June 21 and a July 5 order passed by the office of LG scrapping appointment of 437 consultants or specialists in various Delhi government departments.

Saxena said that the issue of removal of consultants had nothing to do with the ordinance but were called in question for being illegal as it did not adhere to the reservation policy for scheduled caste and other backward classes; did not have approval of L-G; the process of selection was fraught with nepotism and favouritism; and the appointed persons were found to indulge in political activity as opposed to the duty assigned to them by the Delhi assembly.

On the DERC chairperson appointment, LG said that the Delhi CM, at no point of time, objected to the appointment of retired Allahabad high court judge Umesh Kumar. He further stated that LG was not bound to act on aid and advice of Delhi government on matters of appointing DERC chairperson after the ordinance.

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In a rare gesture to Mallikarjun Kharge, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the Congress president for standing with the people of Delhi over the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

When asked about the Congress's stand on the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and Punjab, where they are rivals, Kharge told reporters, This is not about just one person (Kejriwal). If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save democracy and the Constitution. No individual is bigger than the country

Responding to Kharge's statement, Kejriwal tweeted, Thank u Kharge ji for standing wid the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has confirmed that it will attend a meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

After a meeting of the AAP's highest decision-making body - political affairs committee (PAC) - at party national convenor and Kejriwal's residence, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the Congress's decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

"The Aam Aadmi Party's political affairs committee met today and held an extensive discussion. On the party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's call, TMC, RJD, JD(U), DMK, BRS, NCP, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI, CPI(M), JMM  all these parties raised their voice against the black ordinance and assured of their support in defeating (the bill on it) in Parliament, he said.

In this series, the Congress also clarified its stand today, saying it is against the Delhi ordinance, he said, adding, We welcome this announcement by the Congress party."

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said, He had said that he is stronger than the entire Opposition and he alone is enough for them, then why is he convening (a meeting of) 30 parties?.

The BJP-led NDA has announced a big huddle in New Delhi on July 18, where nearly 30 parties are expected to join.

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The Congress said as many as 26 political parties from across the country will participate in the Opposition's two-day mega meeting in Bengaluru beginning on Monday to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh address a press conference. (ANI File)

Addressing a press conference in the Karnataka capital, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh rejected a few media reports that some senior leaders are not attending the meeting on Monday, but will attend it on Tuesday.

The first mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna on June 23 by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

"On June 23, we had a successful and fruitful meeting of opposition parties in Patna. This is a continuation of that meeting. Tomorrow, the meeting will start at 11am. 26 political parties from all over India are participating in this meeting," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal at the press briefing.

"I completely refute the reports that some senior leaders are not attending the meeting today, but will attend it tomorrow. The meeting will be held tomorrow," said Ramesh amid reports that Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar will attend the Bengaluru Opposition meeting on July 18.

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are baffled over the Opposition huddle, Ramesh said, After the Patna meeting, where 24 parties attended, the PM suddenly thought of the NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna.

The BJP-led NDA has announced a big huddle in New Delhi on July 18, where nearly 30 parties are expected to join.

BJP wants to silence the Opposition voice

Venugopal alleged that the BJP wants to silence the Opposition voice and they are misusing the agencies like ED and CBI to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi (from the Parliament) is the biggest example of that, said the Congress general secretary.

When asked about the agenda for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and if UPA will get a new name, Venugopal said, We will take all decisions. I can't tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. The Congress is not deciding this alone. All the opposition parties will sit together and decide unitedly.

Most Opposition parties join the meeting: Shivakumar

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who was also present at the press conference, said all the opposition parties of the country, except for 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 and 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," Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting.

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Bengaluru Opposition meeting highlights: At least 26 like-minded political parties gathered in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Monday, for the second high profile Opposition unity meeting, to decide their strategy to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Opposition leaders' dinner meeting concludes in Karnataka's Bengaluru.(Twitter/ @kharge)

The agenda of this meeting include setting up of a sub-committee for drafting the common minimum program and communication points for the alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and also to discuss the process for decision on seat sharing on a state to state basis.

After the meeting concluded, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that like-minded opposition parties will closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare. We want an India which is governed by Constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has invited Jana Sena Party, headed by Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan, to the meeting of 38 alliance partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in New Delhi on Tuesday, but has kept away its erstwhile alliance partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP). BJP National President JP Nadda along with party MPs Arun Singh and Anil Baluni addresses a press conference, at Party HQ in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)

Pawan Kalyan, along with his partys political affairs committee chairman and former state assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar, has left for New Delhi on Monday to attend the NDA allies meeting.

The Jana Sena Party received the invitation from the BJP national leadership a couple of days ago. Our party president, along with Manohar, would attend the meeting, which would be attended by the heads of various NDA allies, Pawan Kalyans political secretary P Hariprasad said.

There were reports in a section of media last week that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu would also attend the meeting of NDA allies, but the party did not receive any invite till Monday evening. We have not received any call from the BJP leadership till now. We are not expecting it either, TDP official spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi said.

The TDP had an alliance with the BJP in 2014 general elections held in the backdrop of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh state and came to power in the state. The party also joined the NDA government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and were allotted two seats in the council of ministers  P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdary.

However, the TDP walked out of the NDA government in March 2018 after protesting against denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and also the injustice meted out to the state in fulfilment of the promises made at the time of bifurcation of the state.

Naidu took an aggressive stand against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by attacking them at all public meetings. He even made an attempt to stitch-up a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties, including Congress, to pull down Modi government in 2019 elections, but the efforts went in vain.

As Modi returned to power at the Centre for the second successive term, Naidu lost power to the YSR Congress party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh. In October 2019, the TDP chief, at an internal party meeting, admitted at a party meeting that quitting the BJP-led NDA was a big mistake, but he had to take the stand in the interest of the state.

Since then, the TDP has been expressing a soft behaviour towards the BJP by extending support to the Modi government during the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections.

In the last one year, BJPs alliance partner Pawan Kalyan has also been trying to rope in the TDP into the alliance, so as to prevent the split of anti-incumbency votes in Andhra in the next years assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Naidu met Modi twice last year  once in April 2022 and again in December and had a brief talk.

On June 4 this year, Naidu also met Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda, hinting that the TDP might be back in the NDA fold.

However, there has been no further developments on the restoration of ties between the TDP and the BJP.

Against this backdrop, the lack of invitation to Naidu to the NDA allies meeting indicates that the BJP is not keen on joining hands with the TDP. The TDP not being invited is a reasonably clear indication there is no thaw in the frosty relations between the yellow party and the BJP. At least till now, said political analyst Sriram Karri.

Interestingly, the ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, which has been maintaining cordial relations with the BJP government at the Centre, has also not got any invitation for the NDA allies meeting.

The YSRCP has never been an alliance partner of NDA. So, we dont get any such invitation from the BJP, a senior YSRCP leader seeking anonymity said.

Notably, the YSRCP dropped hints that it would keep its options open in supporting the coalition government at the Centre after 2024 elections  whether it is NDA or a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties, including the Congress.

YSRCP general secretary and parliamentary party leader V Vijay Sai Reddy tweeted on Monday that any party that forms government at the Centre, will need support from the YSCRP.

The NDA with 30 parties is meeting in Delhi and 24 opposition parties are meeting in Bengaluru but this time, the road to Delhi in 2024 will pass through AP [Andhra Pradesh]. The Govt. at the Centre will be possible with the support of @YSRCParty as it has the blessings & popular vote of the people of AP, he tweeted, adding that All the surveys done so far, including those by national media, indicate YSRCP will again have a massive victory.

Meanwhile, BJP president BJP Nadda during a press conderence at the party headquarters on Monday confirmed that leaders from 38 parties will attend the NDA alliances meet on Tuesday.

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The Congress party on Monday said the opposition leaders met informally at the dinner hosted by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and the formal meeting will take place tomorrow. Congress leader Pawar Khera asserted that the meeting was positive as the opposition leaders were meeting for the second time within a month to strategize for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (Also Read | Lalu cleverest of all: BJP's dig at Oppn meet; says AAP managed to box Cong) Congress party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, RJD chief Lalu Yadav and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during the Opposition leaders' dinner meeting, in Bengaluru on Monday.(Congress Twitter)

"The main meeting is tomorrow. We will brief you tomorrow, let the formal meeting take place," Khera told reporters after attending the opposition's dinner meeting in Bengaluru.

When asked about the agenda of the meeting, Khera said, It was an informal meeting so there was no set agenda.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, who were seated next to each other, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren and RJD chief Lalu Prasad were among those who attended the dinner meeting.

Among others at the meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah were Bihar deputy chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), besides Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD) and MDMK MP Vaiko.

"It was a good meeting," Mamata Banerjee later said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the BJP for calling a meeting of its alliance partners when the opposition parties have joined hands to challenge the saffron party, saying the National Democratic Alliance is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce.

This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together. After the Patna conclave on June 23rd, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave tomorrow, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA, he said in a tweet.

38 parties in NDA meet

Earlier today, BJP national president JP Nadda announced that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting on Tuesday and slammed the opposition leaders' unity efforts as a "selfish" exercise to protect themselves from action in cases of corruption of over 20 lakh crore.

"The NDA will resolve that the country will again elect its government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The country has decided that...," Nadda told a press conference.

The NDA meeting will be held in Delhi on Tuesday evening, while the two-day meeting of 26 opposition parties got underway in Bengaluru on Monday evening.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kunal Gaurav Kunal Gaurav is a multimedia journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. He handles daily editorial operations for the digital news desk, including news tracking, news prioritisation, writing and editing. ...view detail
KOCHI: It was around 5:45 am on July 9 that PS Radhakrishnan, a resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, first received a call from an anonymous number. He ignored it. A few minutes later, when he checked WhatsApp, he found a slew of messages from the same number with the person identifying himseld as Radhakrishnans former colleague at Coal India Ltd. KE Byju, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode, told reporters on Monday: We understand that this was not a standalone scam. (File photo)

We had worked together for nearly four decades and I knew him well. The display picture was his photo. He asked about my daughter and where she worked. We texted for some time during which he shared his family photographs and asked about our common colleagues, Radhakrishnan, 73 and retired from the central government firm, said over the phone.

And then, he voice-called me on WhatsApp, said Radhakrishnan. The man said that he was currently at the Dubai airport, waiting to board a flight to India. He had called early in the morning to ask for a financial favour. His sister-in-law was being prepped for an emergency surgery at a hospital in Mumbai and a sum of 40,000 had to be paid urgently as advance. He said the money had to be transferred via UPI to the phone of someone with her at the Mumbai hospital.

Though the caller sounded like his former colleague, Radhakrishnan relayed his fears about online scams and the danger of transferring such a large sum of money to an unknown account. Immediately, the man said that he would video-call right away.

Seconds later, he called and looked exactly like my former colleague. Even though only his face was visible, it was clear. His lips and eyes moved like any normal person as we talked in English. The call lasted just 25 seconds before it got cut. He later came back on a voice call and spoke about the urgency for money. I didnt ask any more questions and transferred the money , said Radhakrishnan.

Minutes later, when the same person called back and asked for more money to take care of hospital expenses, Radhakrishnan felt a doubt in his mind for the first time. There was a hurried tone in his voice and I lied that my account didnt have sufficient balance.

His suspicions aroused, Radhakrishnan called his former colleague on the number he had saved; the man said he had not called at all. And Radhakrishnan realised that he had been tricked by a scamster who, police believe, sophisticated deep-fake technology to create the likeness of the former colleagues face and voice on the video call. And of course, the scamster knew personal details of Radhakrishnans life .

The septuagenarian filed a complaint with the National Cyber Cell which was then transferred to the Kerala police. The police moved fast and traced the money to an account in RBL Bank in Maharashtra which was then frozen by authorities.

This was not an isolated incident, said Radhakrishnan. When he inquired with his former colleagues at Coal India, some of them said that they received similar messages and calls, even in Radhakrishnans name, asking for financial assistance. But they didnt entertain the requests.

KE Byju, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode, told reporters on Monday: We understand that this was not a standalone scam. It was done by a group. The number was traced to Gujarat but we cant say if those behind the scam are from there. Apart from Radhakrishnans money, there are more funds in that account. It was purportedly used for the scam.

He said the police have filed a case and will submit the investigation report to the banks involved as part of procedures to reclaim the lost money.

This is the first time they are dealing with a cyberfraud using deep-fakes, the police officer said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was carrying out raids on Monday at the premises of Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudi, chief minister M K Stalin said and added this was part of the tactics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre to divert attention from the meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin speaks during a video message.(PTI/ file photo)

Stalin said their meetings to get rid of the BJP has become a major irritant for the ruling party at the Centre and that it was now using the ED in Tamil Nadu like it has been doing in the northern parts of the country. But the DMK [Tamil Nadus ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] is not worried about it, Stalin said before leaving for Bengaluru for the second two-day meeting of the non-BJP leaders.

There was no confirmation of the raids from ED. But people aware of the matter said Ponmudi was being raided over a case related to alleged losses to the exchequer when he was a minister in the DMK government between 2007 and 2011.

Another DMK minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 after ED raided his premises. Balaji later underwent heart surgery.

Stalin said a false case was registered against Ponmudi when DMKs arch-rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was in power. The case was registered 13 years ago and the AIADMK was in power for 10 years [2011-2021] but they did not take any action, said Stalin. Courts have dismissed two cases registered against Ponmudi in the last 10 years. So he will deal with these cases legally too.

Stalin said Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravis actions against them were indirectly contributing to the DMKs campaign for the 2024 national elections. Now, the ED has also joined. So, I think, our election campaign will be easier, he said.

Stalin was due to join non-BJP leaders in Bengaluru as they were expected to build on the initial momentum post their first meeting involving 15 parties in Patna on June 23. Joint programmes at the national level were among the plans to be explored in Bengaluru. HT reported that possible seat adjustments between the parties will be left for the respective state units.

A total of 24 parties, nine more than the Patna meeting, were expected to join the Bengaluru discussions spread over two days in an indication of their growing strength.

The non-BJP leaders will join an informal meeting before Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah hosts a dinner for them on Monday. They will have their main meeting from 11am on Tuesday.

A strategy for the Parliament session will also be discussed. The Bengaluru discussions will also not have any fixed agenda. More objective outcomes were expected after the meeting.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Divya Chandrababu Divya Chandrababu is an award-winning political and human rights journalist based in Chennai, India. Divya is presently Assistant Editor of the Hindustan Times where she covers Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. She started her career as a broadcast journalist at NDTV-Hindu where she anchored and wrote prime time news bulletins. Later, she covered politics, development, mental health, child and disability rights for The Times of India. Divya has been a journalism fellow for several programs including the Asia Journalism Fellowship at Singapore and the KAS Media Asia- The Caravan for narrative journalism. Divya has a master's in politics and international studies from the University of Warwick, UK. As an independent journalist Divya has written for Indian and foreign publications on domestic and international affairs. ...view detail
The representation of women continues to remain low in different professional spheres, including academics and judiciary, and there is a need to bring more women in leadership roles, experts said during a panel discussion held at HTs G20 event on Women-led development on Monday. From left: Senior advocate Madhavi Divan, UN Women Representative for India Susan Ferguson, former chief justice of the J&K high court justice Gita Mittal during a panel discussion at HT G20 Agenda, in New Delhi on Monday. (HT Photo)

Justice Gita Mittal, who was among the panelists, discussed how women were not even permitted to be part of the law fraternity earlier, and how it was challenging for them to rise to leadership positions.

You would be surprised to see that women were not even permitted to study law. Most of the judges are being appointed on the eve of their retirement from the high court which is at approximately when they are around 62 years of age. You retire from the Supreme Court at the age of 65 Other than one woman judge  Justice Ruma Paul, the only judge who will be in the Supreme Court for 7 years who made it to the collegium. No woman judge has been in a leadership position where she is in a position to be a part of the selection committee for appointment of judges, she said.

Professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, said that she has also observed that there are comparatively lower women applicants for jobs like assistant professor, associates and professor, even as the representation of female students is more at her university.

I have seen the number of applications that come, the women are less. I dont understand, I dont see an application at all for head jobs like assistant professor, associates and professor. The reason may be that they dont want to come to Delhi because JNU is one university that has students from all over the country. The other is that as an assistant professor I get many [women applicants] but somehow at the associate and professor level, women are not favoured for promotions, she said.

Pandit said the society has to take collective efforts to bring the change. It has to come from the families and parenting. Parents should stop educating their daughters for marriage and their sons for a career. Both of them should be educated for a career. This has to be changed rather than blaming the government, the JNU VC said.

Advocate Madhavi Divan also spoke on the lack of womens representation in the legal arena and explained how a womans biological clock, coinciding with her career goals, was a major issue for women in making life choices.

A womans biological clock is ticking parallel to what would be the best years of her career trajectory. The two are on a complete collision path. Therefore she often has to make that choice. Its very difficult to juggle the two No one taught us this when we were growing up I think its really important whether in colleges or any educational institutions, gender sensitisation has to be taught to both men and women.

Speaking on issues women deal during maternity and how their work gets affected due to the same, she added, I know a person who took eight years off to be a full-time mom and she came back and did very well but by the time she was thought fit for judgeship she was regarded as too old. Ultimately you are punishing a woman for taking time off to bring up her child and in the process the system is losing out on the best talent.

UN Women India Representative Susan Ferguson said that safety and security for women in India was still one aspect that needed attention. She was in line with the other panelists thoughts that family responsibilities played a huge role in a womens career.

The issue of women in national parliaments is a global issue and the average of women in national parliaments is 26%. There are a lot of women who dont want to do that work as they have these care responsibilities but also often women are not considered as good leaders as the social norms underline that. But there are also infrastructure challenges. I remember when a parliamentarian first breastfed a baby in Parliament there was outrage and some parliamentarians walked off the chamber thinking that it was disgusting. Some kind of infrastructure for the women to bring their children to Parliament is also very important, Ferguson said.

While responding to a statement by Union minister Smriti Irani, who in the same event had said that when the lockdown was imposed there was word from New York that 80% women in our country would get beaten up, Ferguson acknowledged that some of the indices were not inclusive enough to understand the situation in different countries, especially India.She further raised the need to collect ground-level data to make the indices richer.

A lot of the indices in the past for example dont collect information about women in the informal sector and in India that is enormous and its huge contribution to the GDP though not necessarily counted as such. There is an index which is the human development index and also the STG 5 which is gender equality and only recently that index has included women in local-level government or parliaments and so previously that has only looked at the number of women at the national parliament level, she said.

Fortunately the UN has changed that and so we do count and collect the numbers of women at the panchayat level. So I think some of the indices do need to be more inclusive to understand the situation in different countries and India is a massive, massive country, one of the biggest in the world. So some of these data collecting measurements do need to collect some additional information to understand the situation in India, Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, Justice Mittal further urged women to stand up for each other. Women must stand together and women must stand by women. Have the courage to tell Madhavi that you have argued a case very well. Tell Suzan that you framed a beautiful policy, tell the learned vice-chancellor that she is doing a wonderful job. And unless we do that and speak up for each other, we will not get anywhere, she said.
A man was killed and three others travelling with him were injured when their vehicle was swept away in a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst at Kayas village in Raison area of Kullu district early on Monday. Heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides have claimed 122 lives and caused widespread damage across the state since June 24. (PTI)

Eight more vehicles were washed away, a house was damaged and road connectivity to the village snapped due to heavy rain, state disaster management authority (SDMA) director DC Rana said, adding that a rescue team has reached Kayas.

Badal Sharma of Chansari village of Kullu was swept away in the vehicle, while the injured, Khem Chand, Suresh Sharma and Kapil, were admitted to hospital.

The meteorological department has forecast rain in Himachal Pradesh till July 22.

In the wake of the orange alert for heavy rain, the state government has extended the vacation of winter closing schools by a day. These include schools of Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour region of Chamba district, which have been closed since July 11.

Heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides have claimed 37 lives and caused widespread damage across the state since July 8 with Kullu and Mandi districts bearing the brunt. Twelve people are still missing.

400 sheep die due to extreme weather in Spiti

Nearly 400 sheep died due to extreme cold in the high-altitude Pin Valley, while 1,200 sheep were rescued in Lahaul and Spiti district that received snow.

Lahaul-Spiti additional deputy commissioner Rahul Jain said 12 Gaddi (nomadic) shepherds, stranded due to heavy rain and snowfall from Spitis Pin Valley towards Bhawa Pass, had been rescued. As many as 1,200 stranded sheep and goats were taken to safer places. When the administrations team inspected the spot, it found 400 sheep dead and 50 missing.

Barring a Gaddi stuck at Chandratal, all members of the nomadic community have been rescued.

On July 14, a rescue team with the help of local people provided fodder, medicines and ration to donkeys stranded at Kunzum Top and Chandratal. On the other hand, the second team went to rescue the shepherds of Rupi village in Kinnaur district, who were stranded in the Sangam Valley of Pin.

It was here that we got information that eight shepherds are still trapped. They were provided medicines, ration and fodder. The third rescue team left from Mud village at 4am and found the six missing shepherds from Koot village of Rampur area, Jain said.

Nearly 1,100 sheep and goats were stranded between rivulets near Bhava Pass, 17 km from Mud. The rescue team changed the flow of the drain and rescued the sheep and goats. After four hours, all shepherds were able to reach the village.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary, meanwhile, urged chief secretary Promod Saxena and the DC to urgently arrange a helicopter for rescue operations in the region.

This morning, we received information from Dagu Ram, a resident of Bandla, stating that three shepherdsIshwar Das, Finna Ram, and Jagdish Chandare grappling with dire situations, Kapoor said, seeking prompt action to provide essential commodities to them.

Close shave for labourers

A JCB driver and labourers working to clear debris from Chandigarh-Manali highway near Pandoh had a close shave when huge boulders rolled down the hill, hitting the machine. The driver and labourers, however, managed to escape unhurt.

The road connecting Sanjauli and Lakkar Bazar in the state capital, meanwhile, was also closed due to a landslide.

Since the onset of monsoon on June 24, a total of 122 people have lost their lives while 140 suffered injuries and 12 are still missing.

Central teams to arrive in state today

Central teams, meanwhile, will arrive in Himachal to take stock of flood-affected areas on Tuesday. A team will visit Mandi, Kullu and Manali, while another will tour Shimla, Solan and Kinnaur districts to assess the damage. Both teams are expected to stay in the state till July 22.

The government has appointed Himachal administrative services (HAS) officer Nishant Thakur as the nodal officer to coordinate with the arriving teams. Notably, losses amounting to 4,500 crore have been estimated so far.

Principal secretary revenue Onkar Sharma, meanwhile, said 117 people have lost their lives in the state since the onset of the monsoon, while 121 have been left injured. As many as 500 kutcha and pucca houses collapsed, while another 4,000 have been damaged. He added that people stranded in and around the states tourist destinations have been evacuated.

Rains damages water supply schemes

The excess rainfall has also dealt extensive damage to the states water supply schemes, the majority of which include lift irrigation from various river and rivulets.

Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds the Jal Shakti department, said the state was committed to reinstating the schemes in quick time, adding that there was no shortage of funds for the repair and machinery maintenance.

Within the department of water powers Shimla zone, which includes Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, and Spiti districts, 2,276 of the total 5,304 schemes were affected. Of these, 1,919 have already been restored. Department chief engineer Anju Sharma said all urban and town schemes in Shimla Zone have been reinstated, including Solan, Nalagarh, Arki, Baddi, Nahan, Rajgarh, Rohru, Rampur, Jubbal, and Hatkoti. In rural areas where water sources have been damaged or washed away, alternative arrangements have been made to ensure water supply.

The chief engineer further informed that landslides had left the storage tanks of the Gharog-Ghandal drinking water scheme in Shimla covered in rubble, causing extensive damage. It may take some time to reinstate the scheme that supplies water to 42 villages, but the departments employees are working tirelessly to restore the scheme, Sharma added.

Besides, two schemes in Dharampur and Solan have also been severely affected and alternative arrangements have been made to provide drinking water to the residents. Attempts are also being made to restore the Rajgarh and Rohru schemes in the Nahan Mandal. In the plains where groundwater sources have been completely submerged, restoration work is being carried out once the water level recedes. Water supply is being ensured through hand pumps and natural sources as an interim arrangement.

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Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday asserted that women's participation has exponentially increased under the current BJP-led government and said some financial interventions that were not explicitly gendered also helped the cause. Union minister Smriti Irani speaking on G-20 agenda.

Addressing the topic of "Women-Led Development," a key agenda item at the G20 Summit, during an event organized by Hindustan Times, the women and child development minister highlighted the MUDRA scheme which aimed to provide collateral-free loans to individuals from financially marginalized families interested in starting small businesses.

While the loan was not aimed at assisting women in particular, Irani noted that 70 per cent of the beneficiaries among the 37 crore MUDRA loans turned out to be women, illustrating the exponential rise in women's participation.

Discussing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs before 2014, the minister pointed to the lack of access to capital due to their inability to provide collateral.

Post-MUDRA, these women, in rural parts of the country and urban slums, made a business plan and went to a bank. (They) could convince the bank of their business plan, get a loan, service it and return the loan, she said. That is a huge social change which is not spoken of.

The minister emphasized that the change began when women recognized the need for financial linkages to established financial institutions and knew how to leverage them.

So what happened on Jan Dhan was for the first time a banking officer went to the homes of such citizens, Irani said.

These are people who were not allowed in the banks because they had no papers. Now the paperwork and banker all went to their homes. So you have 450 million bank accounts, 230 million of those are women and suddenly you see 220 million (of these account holders) taking loans, she added.

Irani highlighted another significant financial intervention called "Stand Up India."

Under this scheme, loans of up to 1 crore were made available.

But one issue he (Prime Minister Modi) mandated was that in every district make sure at least one female-owned enterprise gets that loan. 40,000 crore has been given under that one financial intervention. Again, 80 per cent of beneficiaries are women, the minister said.

The minister acknowledged the invaluable contribution made by these women, stating that they have not only benefited themselves but have also uplifted the status of women across the country.

Why? Because now banks know that when these women in enterprises take loans, they pay back. Those 80 per cent women who took even that 1 crore loan, they paid and did a great service to all women in the country by saying we are bankable, she added.

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Hyderabad: The fate of the capital city for Andhra Pradesh continues to hang in balance, as the Supreme Court last week deferred to December the hearing on whether the state would have a single capital at Amaravati or three capitals as proposed by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government. With this, Andhra Pradesh is unlikely to have a capital before the upcoming assembly elections later this year. Jagan is keen on shifting at least the chief ministers office (CMO), if not the entire state administration, to Visakhapatnam, irrespective of the verdict of the Supreme Court (PMO India Twitter)

A Supreme Court bench comprising justices Sanjeev Khanna and Bela M Trivedi, which was hearing a special leave petition of the Jagan government challenging the Andhra Pradesh high court judgement of March 3, 2022, declaring Amaravati as the only capital of the state, said there was no urgency in hearing the case.

The decision of the apex court to defer the hearing comes a setback for the chief ministers ambitious plan to create three capitals for Andhra Pradesh  executive capital at Visakhapatnam, judicial capital at Kurnool and legislative capital in Amaravati  before the completion of his tenure in May 2024.

The Supreme Court has not fixed any specific date for hearing in December. Even if it takes up the hearing then, it will continue for at least three to four months because there are a lot of legal complications in the issue. So, it is unlikely that the judgement will be delivered before April or May, by which time, the state would plunge into election mode, a senior YSR Congress party (YSRCP) leader, seeking anonymity, said.

The YSRCP leader added that if the party comes back to power, the state government would vigorously pursue the case. But if the opposition comes to power, it will withdraw the SLP in the Supreme Court and the issue will come back to square one, he said.

However, Jagan is keen on shifting at least the chief ministers office (CMO), if not the entire state administration, to Visakhapatnam, irrespective of the verdict of the Supreme Court. At the Global Investors Summit held at the port city on March 3, the chief minister declared that he would be shifting his base to Visakhapatnam in a few months.

On Saturday, YSRCP regional coordinator for Visakhapatnam and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board chairman Y V Subba Reddy announced that Jagan will shift his CMO to Visakhapatnam either during August or September.

It has been long overdue, but got delayed due to legal issues. We are hoping that all the issues will be resolved shortly, Reddy said.

The party leader quoted above said the camp office for the chief minister was getting ready near Rushi Konda hills on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam with all modern facilities and furniture. He is expected to move into the new office in September, during the auspicious month of Sravanam, he said.

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New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that women-led development has taken centre stage with regard to Indias G20 presidency while stressing that women become equal partners in the countrys development story, Union women and child development minister Smriti Irani said on Monday. Union minister for women and child development Smriti Irani at the HT eveni (HT Photo)

Irani was addressing a Hindustan Times event on Women-led development, part of a series of events HT is hosting on Indias G20 agenda.

You would be a bit flummoxed that women-led development as an agenda is yet to find a home at the UN. Because for decades now, it has been perceived that women need to be emancipated; that we need to be at the receiving end of tools. We are those who are subjugated and need governments across the world to always rescue us, Irani said.

However, we should give credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has ensured that women-led development remains centre stage with regard to Indias G20 presidency. For the first time, we have a head of the government who says we want to ensure women are equal partners in Indias development journey because we women can rescue parts of our economy when given leadership roles, she said. I think that the tectonic shift as to how women are to be perceived within democracies and economies is a big contribution already.

The time has come to recognise women are not victims, the Union minister said. We are sources of empowerment in every segment of society. So I think that is a very big change that has already happened in terms of the G20 narrative and agenda, she said.

Speaking about Indias position in the Global Gender Gap Index, Irani said she had recently engaged with the team of the World Economic Forum and discussed the factors with regard to Indian women that never find space in such indices.

We have close to 1.1 or 1.2 million women who are elected to panchayats across the country, but they never get counted as politically empowered women in the Global Gender Gap. We have women who get elected to legislative assemblies and yet never get counted. Women who become ministers in state governments never get counted. Women who get elected to Parliament or become members of the council of ministers dont get counted. There are millions of women in our country who are politically empowered, but find absolutely no voice in the Global Gender Gap index report, she said.

Imagine you have a huge women force who are politically and administratively empowered in your country, but on global platforms, it seems they have no identity, they have no agency, she added.

Emphasising the governments initiatives to ensure gender equality at the workplace, the Union minister referred to the Mudra loan scheme and said 70% of the 37 crore (370 million) beneficiaries under the scheme are women.

Post Mudra, women from rural areas and urban slums made a business plan, went to the bank for a loan, serviced it and return the loan. It is a huge social change that was not spoken of, she said. When did we last discuss women in small homes and poor families making business plans and going to the banks?

It means, Irani said, that women already knew they needed a financial instrument of linkages to established financial institutions. They knew how to leverage it. They only wanted somebody to step up and give them access, she added.

The WCD minister emphasised the need to bring technology in regional and Indian languages to bridge the gendered digital divide in India. While the government has announced the PLI scheme to ensure mobile devices are manufactured in our country, that part of our challenge is being addressed. However, the larger challenge is how many women are participative in the divide now because of lack of access to technology in the language that they understand, she said.

Speaking about participation of women in relief work during the Covid-19 pandemic, Irani said there was a conversation in the West that 80% of women in India were subjected to domestic violence and that even vaccination would be prejudiced in the country. These narratives were internationalised, but they dont take into consideration the true nature of what had happened in my country. In my country, six million women made efforts to bring people to the medical care, which never gets spoken about. Six million women is not a small number. They went from one house to another, collecting samples and delivering medicines. They went from one house to another, helping women in pregnancies, she said. However, there were fears professed by countries that dont even have 10 million people.

She added: I dont deny that women get disenfranchised during challenges, but it is the same for men as well. The agency of women can only be empowered without demeaning men and that would be gender justice.

Talking about the existing gap in computing the impact of climate change on women and children, the minister said: Today when we talk about climate change, lot of conversation focus on climate finance. But there is absolutely no conversation around what is the rescue framework for women and children when there is a climate calamity. I think that during the G20 conversations, we focus not only on relief and rehabilitation, but also restoration and put women at the centre while aiming to save families from climate change. When you save women in the families, you actually help restore communities at a faster pace.
An interstate thief, Khajappa Gayakwad was apprehended on Monday after the suspect snatched a loaded service revolver on July 16 from a sub-inspector and fled the scene, said the Kalburgi police. An interstate thief was apprehended after the suspect snatched a loaded service revolver from a sub-inspector and fled the scene. (Agencies)

Gayakwad, a resident of Balluragi village in Afjalpur taluk, has gained a notorious reputation as an interstate thief, with more than 20 cases of house burglary registered against him across police stations in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka. The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch police had launched search operations in connection with a theft case in Bengaluru with the assistance of the Afjalpura police.

It was a challenging situation for the police, considering the thief had absconded with a loaded weapon. We were anxious that he might harm someone in the village, said Afjalpura circle inspector B. Raja Shekar.

The police team located Gayakwad in Sonna village, Afjalpura taluk, around 10pm on Sunday night. He was spotted driving a car and was asked to surrender by the police. The suspect then abruptly opened the cars door and escaped with Sub-Inspector Bheemaraya Bankali loaded revolver, police said.

Senior officers, including SP Isha Pant, arrived at the scene and was involved in the search efforts.

Later, the police learned that the thief took refuge in a large tree situated in a field on the outskirts of Balluragi village. Surrounding the area, the police urged Gayakwad to surrender, but he refused, expressing fears of being shot if he descended. He threatened the officers, declaring that he would shoot anyone who approached. After a five-hour struggle, they convinced him to climb down from the tree and placed him under arrest, police said.

Gayakwad, now facing a total of 28 cases across various police stations in three states, has been booked under IPC sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant), 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 379 (forcible snatching with intent to commit theft), and the Arms Act section 25 (theft of firearms from police or armed forces), police said, adding, the investigation is underway.

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US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint Shamina Singh, a prominent Indian-American business leader, to the Presidents Export Council, which serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. Shamina Singh at the state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on June 22.(Bloomberg)

Singh, who is the Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, has said that she is "honoured to join the group of esteemed leaders that make up the Presidents Export Council.

According to a statement from the White House, on July 14, President Biden announced his intent to appoint Singh to serve in the key role.

I am deeply honoured to join the group of esteemed leaders that make up the Presidents Export Council, Singh said.

The Presidents Export Council serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. The Council advises the president of government policies and programmes that affect US trade performance, promotes export expansion and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among the business, industrial, agricultural, labour and government sectors.

From the earliest days of my career, Ive gravitated toward work that helps create long-lasting and inclusive prosperity for people and economies in the US and around the world," she was quoted as saying in the statement on Mastercard's website.

Singh also serves as the Executive Vice President of Sustainability at Mastercard and is a member of the companys Management Committee.

She has drawn on over 20 years of global experience to develop a unique social impact model that leverages public and private sector assets. In 2018, Mastercard created the Mastercard Impact Fund with an initial USD 500 million investment. Singh was named President and charged with activating those philanthropic dollars to advance inclusive growth and financial inclusion worldwide.

Through that work, and particularly at Mastercard, Ive learned how the dialogue between the public and private sector can open bigger doors more widely than many other approaches. Ive seen firsthand the catalytic impact that can result from effective cross-sector partnerships. I look forward to bringing this perspective to the Council, serving the Administration and having an opportunity to advance Americas economic interests across the globe, she said.

Deeply committed to public service, Singh has held senior positions in the White House and the US House of Representatives. Singh was the Executive Director of the first Presidents Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In 2015, she was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to a six-year term on the board of AmeriCorps. She served as chair for two years.

Singh co-chairs the Ad Council of Americas Advisory Committee on Public Issues and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship and the New York Department of Financial Services Innovation.

Singh has studied at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the Indian School of Business.

She earned a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin. She received the Alumni of Distinction award from both institutions.

Singh becomes the latest addition from the Indian-American community to serve in the key positions in the Biden administration. A record 150-plus Indian-Americans serve in the key positions.
Karnataka minister and Congress leader MB Patil on Monday mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for delaying the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly by congratulating JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy for being appointed in the role. Karnataka minister congratulated HD Kumaraswamy for being unofficially appointed as the Leader of Opposition (PTI)

Karnataka industries minister Patil, a prominent Lingayat leader, also urged senior BJP leader and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to join the Congress, alleging that his party is attempting to sideline him by nominating Kumaraswamy as the LoP in the legislative assembly.

In a tweet, Patil congratulated HD Kumaraswamy on his anticipated role as the LoP.

Patil advised his fellow community member Bommai to follow in the footsteps of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar. Congratulations to the soon-to-be LoP, @hd_kumaraswamy (HD Kumaraswamy). The @BJP4Karnataka (Karnataka BJP) seems to have finally decided to make @BSBommai (Basavaraj Bommai) redundant, he tweeted.

@BSBommai will face the same fate in the BJP as @JagadishShettar (Jagadish Shetter) & @BSYBJP (BS Yediyurappa). Its a House of Cards thats Collapsing. I urge @BSBommai to consider joining the Congress. If he is aligned with the secular ideology of Senior Bommai, the Congress high command could consider, he added.

In the absence of the LoP, JD (S) leader Kumaraswamy has been unofficially performing the role by being vocal on several guarantee schemes of the Congress and accusing Siddaramaiahs son of being a shadow CM.

A senior BJP leader also said that there have been discussions within the party to offer the post of LoP to the JD(S).

Lately, the BJP and JD(S) leaders are sending signals of an alliance between the two parties for the Lok Sabha elections due in 2024.

In both houses of the legislature, the BJP and JD(S) have backed each other on various issues since Congress came to power in the state in May this year.

Last week, while speaking at the Governors address, Kumaraswamy demanded a probe into the PayCM charge alleged by the Congress against the then BJP government, claiming there was no proof for it. Meanwhile, Bommai had raised the issue of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) drivers attempted suicide case in the house, which was raised by Kumaraswamy outside the house.

Responding to the speculations about his appointment as Leader of the Opposition, Kumaraswamy stated that he has requested the BJP high command to appoint a senior leader from their party for the position.

I have asked the BJP high command to appoint a senior leader from the party as the leader of the Opposition. There have been no talks from my partys side on the matter, neither have we made any demands for the post, he said.

He clarified that there have been no discussions or demands from his party regarding the matter. My party has won 19 seats, and they (BJP) have won 65 seats. There are several qualified candidates there (BJP legislative party), including former chief ministers and ministers. It is better to choose someone from there, he said when asked about his decision if offered the post.

Can we get a response from the BJP?

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday termed the mega gathering of opposition parties in Bengaluru as a coming together of irresponsible leaders. Hitting out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said the AAP chief arrived for the meeting at a time when Delhi is drowning while the TMC supremo is happily politicking away when the state's the law and order situation is precariously placed in the aftermath of a bloody Panchayat election. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during the Opposition leaders' dinner meeting, in Bengaluru on Monday.(ANI)

As if that wasnt enough, Congress is claiming that change will come from Karnataka, RJD is claiming it will be Bihar, Malviya wrote on Twitter claiming cracks in the opposition unity.

Pointing to Congress's decision to oppose the Centre's ordinance to control the administrative powers in the national capital despite protests from the party's Delhi and Punjab units, the BJP functionary said the AAP has managed to box the beleaguered party in a corner.

Congress and CPI(M) workers are dying in Bengal, but they are supping up with Mamata Banerjee at the center. If the nucleus, read as Congress, is so weak, how can the coalition survive? he further wrote.

Malviya said that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has proved to be the cleverest of them all, highlighting his earlier remarks where the former Bihar CM said the prime minister should not be without a spouse.

But Lalu Prasad is cleverest of them all. He has declared that Opposition leader, with a wife (call it spouse in the interest of gender neutrality), only qualifies to occupy PM residence. The loaded matrimonial caveat, effectively rules out Nitish Kumar, Rahul Gandhi and even Mamata Banerjee, Malviya wrote.

Here's what Lalu Prasad Yadav said

At the joint press conference by opposition parties in Patna last month, Lalu Prasad Yadav advised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to get married soon. When reporters later asked Lalu whether his advice to Rahul Gandhi was in any way linked to the Congress leader being the prime ministerial candidate, the former Bihar chief minister said both are separate matters but added that whoever becomes the PM should not be without a wife.

Staying at the PM residence without a wife is wrong. This should be done away with, the RJD chief told reporters, in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bengaluru opposition meet

With a call for unity, top leaders of 26 opposition parties began crucial deliberations on Monday to chalk out their joint programme aimed at defeating the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, who were seated next to each other, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren and RJD chief Lalu Prasad were among those who attended the dinner meeting where discussions were held to finalise the agenda for the formal talks starting Tuesday morning.

The leaders sat in front of a huge banner with "United We Stand" slogan, which was also put on posters that dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders.

(With PTI inputs)

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Lok Janshakti Party (LJP- Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday met Union home minister Amit Shah at the latters residence amid speculations about his induction in the Union Cabinet, the seat-sharing formula in Bihar for 2024 Lok Sabha elections and his estranged ties with union minister Pashupati Paras, who heads the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Parry (RLJP), ahead of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meet on Tuesday. (Twitter/@iChiragPaswan)

Chirag later shared pictures of his meeting with Shah on social media from his Twitter handle. What transpired at the meeting is not known, but Chirags meeting with Shah a day before the scheduled NDA meeting is viewed as a positive indication for the BJP. There was positive discussion on NDA issues with Amit Shah, Chirag wrote on Twitter.

A senior Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said there was no doubt about Chirag attending the NDA meet, and the dissension between the two factions of the LJP would not come in the way.

Also Read: Selfish alliance: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad slams opposition meeting in Bengaluru

When the time of seat sharing comes, that will also happen amicably, as NDA is all about ideology, not opportunism, and Chirag has been aligned with it from the very beginning. Tomorrows meeting will lay the broad contours of how the NDA would go into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leaders said.

Chirag had also held a meeting with party leaders at his Patna residence for consultation on attending the NDA meeting on Tuesday. From there, it emerged that he would stake claim to the 2019 formula his father late Ram Vilas Paswan had in the NDA - six Lok Sabha seats and a Rajya Sabha seat.

The meeting is significant as within the last few days there has been a war of words between Chirag and his uncle Paras over the Hajipur seat, which Ramvilas Paswan had won for a record nine times since 1977.

Paras had won from there in 2019 after Ramvilas decided not to contest, while Chirag had won from Jamui twice in 2014 and 2019.

Post his fathers death, Chirag plans to contest from Hajipur and has also been holding public rallies, but Paras has categorically said that there was no looking beyond the seat he won in 2019 in the presence of his brother Ramvilas Paswan.

Paras also ruled out any merger after Chirag said that many MPs from the RLJP were planning to shift to his party. The speculations increased after Khagaria MP Mehboob Ali Kaiser visited Chirags house. Though Kaiser termed it as a courtesy visit, he praised Chirag for working hard in the last couple of years.

My visit to his house was personal, but it is a fact that he has a bright future. As well-wishers, we always want the two units of the LJP should come together. They are, after all, one family and both must be pained with the split. We always wanted this, but we dont know what is there between the two leaders, he added.

Both are in the NDA, and the BJP would also want to see the matter getting resolved early to work out a seat-sharing formula to take on the Grand Alliance (GA). NDA had swept the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning 39 of the 40 seats, but now JD-U is with the GA to make the going tougher.

Also Read: NCPs Sharad Pawar to skip Oppositions meet in Bengaluru on Day 1, to attend tomorrow

Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi said that between the two meetings of the opposition parties, the significant things that happened are the Congress getting into the drivers seat, Nitish Kumar (Bihar cheif minister) being left stranded and Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party splitting to show clear signs of weakening, while the NDA has got stronger with the induction of Jitan Ram Manjhi, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha.

Just by adding smaller groups from south India, especially eight from the two states where BJP has never been very strong, there will be no impact on the NDA at the national level. The entire premise of opposing the BJP in the name of united opposition will not take them too far before they disintegrate due to glaring contradictions, he added.

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At least six persons were killed and another was injured when the SUV they were travelling in collided with a truck near Sagar city in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday evening, police said. Six people were dead in an accident between a car and a truck under Sanodha police station area in Sagar district. (ANI)

The incident occurred near Bamori Doodar on the Sagar-Jabalpur Road under Sanodha police station limits, some 20 km from the district headquarters, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Ashoka Chourasia said.

He said out of seven persons travelling in the SUV, six were killed on the spot while another is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The identity of the deceased persons is being established, the police officer said.
Police on Monday arrested a man who allegedly converted 230 Dalit families to Christianity promising to cure their members suffering from any ailment. Some copies of the Bible and other Christian books were also recovered from his residence, Singh said. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Accused Bajrang Rawat, a Christian from Lucknow, was living on the railway land falling under the Lonikatra police station limits here for the last one year, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akhilesh Narayan Singh said.

Some copies of the Bible and other Christian books were also recovered from his residence, Singh said.

On the basis of a complaint by one Vijay Hindustani from Haidergarh town, a case was registered against Rawat under relevant sections of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, the ASP said, adding that efforts are on to ascertain involvement of other people who were helping the accused.

In his complaint, Hindustani, an activist of a Hindu outfit, alleged that when he, along with other activists, visited the spot, he found many Hindu women of the area there.

Hindustani said that Rawat used to call the poor people of the area in the name of treating them for their ailments and then lure them to convert to Christianity.

The complainant also informed police that the locals said that they had benefited from the treatment provided by the accused and that they would no longer go to a temple.

Hindustani has accused Rawat and his family of influencing 230 Dalit families to convert to Christianity, police said.

The Hindu activist also alleged that Rawat used to take the Dalit families to Jalandhar on the pretext of medical treatment and got them converted to Christianity there.
While as many as 24 parties are set for a mega Opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA has announced a big huddle in New Delhi on July 18, where nearly 30 parties are expected to join. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. CPI national general secretary D. Raja is also seen.(PTI file)

The Congress set the tone for the Opposition meeting on Sunday, with its general secretary KC Venugopal saying loud and clear that the principal Opposition party would not support the Delhi ordinance - indirectly supporting Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP's demand.

Top points on the Opposition vs NDA meeting:

1. Leaders of at least 24 opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the BJP-led central government.

2. Karnataka Deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting.

3. According to a tentative schedule, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday will hold a joint press conference at 11am. And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon.

4. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6pm after which there will be dinner at 8pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11am and will continue till 4pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election could be announced.

5. The political plans to be explored might include joint programmes at the national level but possible seat adjustments between the Opposition parties will be left for the respective state units to decide, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

6. The Bengaluru meeting is likely to discuss the common programmes that can be achieved, what the parties need to do in the near future, assess the current political situation, and make a strategy for the upcoming Parliament session. According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

7. The NDA meeting, to be held at Delhi's Ashok Hotel on Tuesday evening, will be chaired by BJP national president JP Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides its alliance partners, the BJP reportedly has invited several new allies and some former ones to the meet.

8. The new members that are expected to attend are the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, perhaps represented by Praful Patel; the Shiv Sena; Chirag Paswan, Lok Sabha member and leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party (RV); and former chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jiten Ram Manjhi along with his son.

9. Four leaders from Bihar -- Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustani Awam Morcha, Upendra Singh Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, and Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party -- have been invited, and their parties will be included in the NDA.

10. A spokesperson for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) confirmed HT that M Thambidurai will attend the meeting. Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, who heads alliance partner, National Peoples Party (NPP) will also attend. As HT reported on June 10, the BJP is attempting to recreate the old NDA in its 25th year anniversary, with the return of allies such as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD). In all, there were 20 constituents in the original NDA of 1998. But theres been a delay in finalising the return of the TDP and the SAD.

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) veteran Sharad Pawar will skip the mega Opposition meeting on Monday in Bengaluru, but will attend the meeting on Tuesday, July 18, party spokesperson Mahesh Bharet Tapase confirmed. NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Nashik in Maharashtra. (Satish Bate/Hindustan Times)

NCP National President Shri Sharad Pawar Saheb & working President Smt @supriya_sule will attend the meeting called by opposition parties on Tuesday 18th July in Bengaluru, Tapase tweeted.

Sharad Pawar, 82, was present at the previous Opposition meeting in Bihar's Patna on June 23.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed that Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning.

"After the Patna meeting, the Bengaluru meeting that will emerge today will be decisive. Shiv Sena Party Chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend the meeting. There was confusion about whether Sharad Pawar would attend the meeting or not. Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning. I am saying this with certainty. Hum Sab Ek Hai!," Raut tweeted.

At least 24 opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre.

The first mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna on June 23 by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. At the meeting, Opposition heavyweights, including Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, brainstormed on a roadmap for an anti-BJP front in time for the next year's Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, big posters and banners have been seen on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in the Karnataka capital.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached a residential property of one of the key accused in a terror funding case related to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. The accused, Arif Abubakar Shaikh alias Arif Bhaijaan, was arrested last year in connection with the terror funding case registered against Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and some of his close aides, including Chhota Shakeel. Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is a UN-designated global terrorist

The NIA, in a statement, said that the residential property of Arif Shaikh, located in the Thane district of Maharashtra, has been attached as proceeds of terrorism under section 25 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

Apart from Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Shakeel, the NIA has already filed a chargesheet against Arif Abubakar Shaikh, his brother Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh aka Shabbir Takla, and Mohammad Salim Qureshi alias Salim Fruit under the relevant sections of the UAPA and IPC in the case.

In March, a special MCOCA court rejected the bail plea of Arif Shaikh observing that evidence produced by the NIA shows that he is a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang (D-Company).

While rejecting the bail plea, special MCOCA judge BD Shelke said that the evidence placed on record by the NIA shows Arif Shaikh collected, and raised terror funds by way of threatening and extortion of huge amounts of money from various individuals for D-Company.

"The materials placed on record also prima-facie shows that this accused has received huge amounts of money through hawala from the wanted accused, Shelke said.

The witness specifically stated that on directions of Chhota Shakeel, accused number one used to search disputed properties wherein intervention is required for settlement between the parties. They used to threaten the persons putting them in fear of death or grievous hurt and forcibly made them withdraw pending litigations and execute disputed transactions. For the said work, they either extort huge money or take a stake in the property, the court observed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail
Most of the opposition leaders have started arriving in Bengaluru for the second mega gathering to chalk out a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Posters with United We Stand slogan dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, NCP's Sharad Pawar, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, DMK chief M K Stalin and leaders of Left and some regional outfits. A poster of opposition leaders put up outside the venue of the united opposition meeting, in Bengaluru, Monday, July 17, 2023.(PTI)

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi have already arrived in Bengaluru for the two-day brainstorming session.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who took the initiative to bring warring opposition parties under one roof, left for the Karnataka capital on Monday along with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will also participate in the brainstorming session after the apparent showdown at the first meeting in Patna over the issue of Congresss support to the ordinance issue.

All eyes will be on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar who met rebel party MLAs, including his nephew Ajit Pawar, at his office in Mumbai for the second consecutive day on Monday. Congress insisted that Pawar will be part of the gathering on Tuesday even as the Maratha strongman won't attend the Monday dinner hosted by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.

The meeting will begin on Monday evening at Taj West End Hotel with an address by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, reported ANI.

What's on agenda

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the meeting where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The opposition parties are planning to set up a subcommittee for drafting the common minimum programme and communications points for the alliance. The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis. The opposition leaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission. The opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance.

The agenda for the talks would be finalised during discussions before a dinner meeting hosted by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening, reported PTI quoting people aware of the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)

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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
Leaders of 26 parties gathered in Bengaluru on Monday for a second mega meeting of the Opposition, which identified key issues,hammered out the idea of joint campaigns and even tossed around new names for the grouping in an attempt to forge a common platform to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 general elections. HT Image

Leaders deliberated on the agenda for nearly 1.5 hours before a dinner on Monday night. After the informal discussions on Monday when a plan to send a delegation to Manipur also came up, the main meeting at Bengalurus Taj West End hotel will continue on Tuesday when leaders from 26 parties gather for more talks and concrete measures.

Well begun is half done! Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted .

Meeting for the second time after another similar event in Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars residence in June, the leaders sat in front of a huge banner with a United We Stand slogan, which was also featured on posters that dotted the streets of Bengaluru.

It was a good meeting, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee later said.

Opposition leaders from across the country flew into Bengaluru on Monday for the meeting, whose second day will coincide with a meeting of the rival National Democratic Alliance (NDA) grouping. In the Patna meeting on June 23, all but one of the 15 attending parties vowed to jointly take on the BJP with a common agenda. That meeting was marked by acrimony between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress after the former refused to attend the joint press conference and asked the latter to make its stance clear on a controversial ordinance that gave the Centre control over Delhis bureaucracy.

With the Congress announcing on Sunday that it will oppose the ordinance when it comes to Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session, the Bengaluru meeting is likely to be more cordial. AAP leaders such as Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, attended the meeting

The alliance of like-minded opposition parties is giving sleepless nights to the ruling BJP. The coming together of leaders of non-BJP parties have made them to live in fear, Chadha was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The agenda of the meeting will be discussed during the meeting in Bengaluru.

The Patna meeting was attended by 15 parties, including the Congress, Janata Dal (United), Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party, among others. Another 11  Rashtriya Lok Dal, MDMK, VCK, RSP, KDMK, Forward Bloc, IUML, Kerala Congress (J), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and MMK  have joined the Bengaluru leg. Nationalist Congress Party patriarch Sharad Pawar is scheduled to join the meeting on Tuesday.

After Patna, we the secular and democratic forces are here in beautiful Bengaluru... Together, we shall safeguard democracy and ensure a brighter future for our great nation, tweeted Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin.

The meeting will hope to build on the initial work done in Patna to bolster Opposition efforts to take on the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections. In Patna, leaders aware of developments said that the parties had largely agreed to field joint candidates against the BJP in as many seats as possible and create a common ideological platform. If this happens, this will be the first time in decades that parties would come together at the national level to take on the ruling party.

Venugopal indicated that a possible name for this alliance might be discussed but added that seat arrangements between parties  the most crucial aspect of any grouping  will not happen in one, two or three meetings. Many Opposition leaders are of the view that seat-sharing talks should happen at the state level as no pan-national pact would be possible among all Opposition parties.

At a broader level, the parallel meetings of the Opposition and the ruling coalition also mark the return of coalition politics to the national centre stage just months before the general elections.

Venugopal said the Bengaluru meeting would help the Opposition move forward unitedly and give solutions for raging issues faced by the common people, adding that the event will be a game-changer in Indian politics.

He downplayed the contentious issue of leadership, and sent a message to fence sitters such as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the Biju Janata Dal and the YSR Congress Party, and said, There is no place for fence sitters in these times. They have to decide on which side they want to be.

Vewnugopal admitted that arriving at a consensus over issues might take time. There are 26 political parties. We are trying to achieve unity on various issues. Whatever issues are coming before us, we will discuss and resolve. We will (collectively) take all decisions but the Congress alone cant take any decision, he added.

The meeting might zero in on common issues such as unemployment, rise in food prices and alleged misuse of federal agencies. Of critical importance will be the upcoming Parliament session, which starts on July 20, where parties will need to maintain the momentum of any new-found unity.

Venguopal indicated that issues such as the Manipur violence, unemployment, and price rise will be key for the Opposition. We are all united by a common purpose. To protect democracy, to ensure constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions. The BJP government wants to silence the Oppositions voice by misusing agencies. Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi (from Parliament) is one of the biggest examples of how the BJP is trying to muzzle us. They (the BJP) want to destabilise democratically elected governments by using the CBI and the ED, he said.

Left leader Sitaram Yechury ruled out any alliance with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and said that secular parties along with the Left and the Congress will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in the state.

We have made a significant progress at the Patna meeting. Now we have to take this forward in Bengaluru. All parties are united and we will work together. We must chalk out joint programmes for the next 9 months. The initial discussion was fruitful, said Communist Party of India leader D Raja.

BJP leader and former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi targeted the attempts at forging an alliance and said that on one hand there is the tried and tested leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and on the other hand there is Congresss dagger of deceit. He said that it was a case of unity among parties that are suffering from depression after electoral defeats and there is guarantee of separation.

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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
The Congress on Monday said the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru on Tuesday will be a game changer for Indian politics and help them move forward unitedly and offer solutions to issues the common people face. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar welcoming Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin. (PTI)

...the future course of action and...Parliamentary strategy [will also be decided at the meeting], said Congress leader KC Venugopal. He added a consensus over issues might take time. There are 26 political parties. We are trying to evolve unity on various issues. Whatever issues come before us, we will discuss and resolve them...Congress alone cannot take any decision, Venugopal said.

Venugopal said issues such as the ethnic violence in Manipur, unemployment, and the price rise were very important for the Opposition. We are all united by a common purpose...to protect democracy, to ensure constitutional rights and independence of our institutions.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre wants to silence the Opposition voices by misusing agencies. Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi [from Parliament following his conviction in a defamation case] is one of the biggest examples of how the BJP is trying to muzzle us. They [BJP] want to destabilise democratically elected governments by using [federal agencies] CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] and ED [Enforcement Directorate].

Tamil Nadu chief minister chief minister M K Stalin earlier said ED was carrying out raids at the premises of his minister K Ponmudi as part of BJPs tactics to divert attention from the meeting in Bengaluru.

Stalin said their meetings to get rid of the BJP has become a major irritant for the ruling party at the Centre and that it was now using the ED in Tamil Nadu like it has been doing in the northern parts of the country.

Another DMK minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 after ED raided his premises. Balaji later underwent heart surgery.

Venugopal said Manipur has been burning for the last 75 days but it is shocking that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained total silence. ...the Prime Minister has not uttered a single word on Manipur. People of the country are in great distress due to unemployment and price rise. There are no concrete measures to address the issues, Venugopal said, outlining the key themes of the meeting.

He said there is no place for fence sitters. They have to decide on which side they want to be.

Venugopal indicated a possible name for the Opposition alliance might be discussed. He added seat arrangements between the parties will not happen at just one, two or three meetings.

Many Opposition leaders are of the view that seat-sharing talks should happen at the state level.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar hailed the great beginning and a good start. Joining [of more parties] is the beginning. Thinking is progress and working together is success.

Non-BJP leaders were in Bengaluru expected to build on the initial momentum post their first meeting involving 15 parties in Patna on June 23. Joint programmes at the national level were among the plans to be explored. HT reported that possible seat adjustments between the parties will be left for the respective state units.

A total of 24 parties, nine more than the Patna meeting, were expected to join the Bengaluru discussions spread over two days in an indication of their growing strength.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah was due to host a dinner for the participants of the meeting on Monday. The main meeting will be held from 11am on Tuesday.

The Bengaluru discussions will also not have any fixed agenda. More objective outcomes were expected after the meeting.

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Months after Pakistani woman Seema Haider sneaked into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through PUBG, her first husband Ghulam Haider, has appealed to her to return to him. In an interview with a Pakistani YouTuber, Haider professed his love for Seema saying that he still loves her and that he will continue to do so. Seema Ghulam Haider, the 27-year-old woman who was arrested two days ago by the Gautam Budh Nagar police on charges of entering the country illegally. (HT Photo)

Ghulam, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, said, You know very well how much I love you. If anything happens to you there, just think about what will happen to our children. Who will take responsibility? So for their sake, please come back, reported India Today citing the interview.

He added, I still love you the same and will continue to do so. I miss the kids and you so much. No one will say anything to you. I will keep you with me and we will start a new life again.

Ghulam also appealed to people not to defame Seema, saying that she is of good character.

Ghulam also revealed that he left his first wife for Seema. He used to send 80,000 to 90,000 every month to Seema to take care of their children, reported India Today. Reportedly, he also gave Seema 17 lakh for a house, despite him not having any money at the time.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh ATS has taken Seema and her Indian partner Sachin Meena in custody from Gautam Budh Nagar for questioning on Monday.

Seema illegally entered India via Nepal with her four children last month after she fell in love with Sachin Meena through a game app. The couple started living together in Greater Noida. However, Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa, while Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants.

After five days behind bars, Seema Sachin Meena stepped out of the Luksar Jail in Gautam Budh Nagar.

Seema's family in Pakistan doesn't want her back

Seema's neighbours and a relative on Sunday 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, reported PTI.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday took a jibe at the West Bengal archrivals CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the key opposition meeting in Bengaluru, triggering a political slugfest. Posting a purported clip from CPI(M)'s mouthpiece Ganashakti, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul asked the Left party not to remove its rival TMC chief Mamata Banerjees picture after the opposition meeting. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries during a press briefing after the conclusion of the Opposition leaders' meeting, in Patna.(ANI)

Ganashakti, the mouthpiece of CPI(M)'s West Bengal unit, which is now run by a trust purportedly did not feature Banerjee's picture after the first opposition meeting which was held in Patna on June 23.

Sharing the front page of the CPI(M) mouthpiece, Paul said, Why is @MamataOfficial s picture MISSING after PATNA meeting?? Why do you need to hide her GANASHAKTI picture from your comrades?

She further asked what will be CPI(M)s stand after the dinner hosted by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru.

@cpimspeak says MAMATA has blood. What is your stand after tonights DINNER COMRADE?? Will you still say your alliance partner TMC is DEMOCRATIC?? she added.

In another tweet, Paul said she wanted to see a picture of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee having dinner in Bengaluru on the front page of Ganashakti tomorrow.

Please do not edit Mamatas picture like you did after Patna meeting, she added.

Targeting Congress and TMC, Paul asked whether Sonia Gandhi will question Mamata Banerjee over the violence during the recently concluded panchayat polls.

CPI(M) West Bengal secretary Md Salim shot back with an old picture of Mamata Banerjee and the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and captioned it greetings after Gujarat genocide, in an obvious reference to the 2002 communal riots.

He posted another picture of Mamata Banerjee with senior BJP leader Amit Shah, saying Latest at Nabanna. Reviewing resurgence of Left.

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Amid rain fury in parts of India, another active phase of the south-west monsoon is expected to begin this week, the India Meteorological Department said Sunday. The weather body issued a rainfall alert for multiple states, warning about the anticipated heavy rainfall in states including, flood-wrecked Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand among others. Commuters make their way through a flooded water of Yamuna river near ISBT Kashmere Gate in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI)

Even as heavy monsoon triggered floods and landslides in some states, rain deficiency was observed in other parts of India in the past fortnight. "A low-pressure area has developed while another cyclonic circulation will develop around Tuesday. Consequently, good rainfall is likely and may cover the rain deficiency over central and peninsular region, said M Mohapatra, director general at the weather office. The western disturbance will also continue to being rain to north India.

Also Read: Schools in areas of Delhi affected by floods to stay shut till Tuesday

Here's the weather warning for states this week:

1) A low-pressure area has formed over northern Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand. Thus, heavy and widespread rainfall is predicted in these regions over the next five days. The weather body said that the various districts of Odisha will witness heavy rainfall for 24 hours today. These include Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Sonepur, Deogarh, Nabarangapur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Bargarh districts. Additionally, upto very heavy rainfall is likely on Tuesday in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangapu, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nuapada districts.

2)Himachal Pradesh which remains the hardest hit due to monsoon mayhem, will not see respite soon. The state is predicted to witness isolated heavy rainfall over the next five days, IMD said. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan will also similar weather conditions over the next three days.

3)Haryana-Chandigarh are likely to see heavy rainfall during next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Delhi, which is facing flood-like situation in some parts, is likely to see generally cloudy skies with light rain and thundershowers today.

4)Bihar and West Bengal and Sikkim will continue experience isolated heavy rainfall today.

5)For central India, the IMD predicted Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on July 17 and 18 and over Chhattisgarh today.

6)IMD also said that isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan and Goa from July 18 to 21. Meanwhile, Gujarat and central Maharashtra will also experience heavy showers in isolated pockets till July 21. Isolated thunderstorm and lightning is also likely over the region till July 17.

7)Assam which is witnessing severe floods will continue to see heavy rainfall today. Meghalaya and Tripura will also experience similar weather conditions.

8)For south India, the weather body said Light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is very likely to over Coastal Karnataka during till July 21. Telangana will also see widespread rainfall till July 20 and so will Andhra Pradesh and Kerala from July 18-20.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday earlier India's words were not taken seriously at international forums, but today when it speaks the whole world listens. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, Tuesday, (PTI)

India's prestige has increased internationally under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said at an event as part of his three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Lucknow.

"Earlier, India's words were not taken seriously at international forums, today when India speaks, the whole world listens carefully. When our prime minister visits other countries, you must have seen on TV how he is welcomed there," he said after inaugurating an open gym at Mrityunjay Park in Nirala Nagar, according to a press statement issued by the local BJP unit.

"The prime minister of Australia calls him (Modi) Boss. The President of America tells Modiji 'you are globally powerful', and expresses desire to take his autograph. Muslim countries are also giving him the highest respect. The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea extended his hand to touch the feet. It is an honour...for every Indian," he said.

Singh said India currently is the fastest growing economy in the world. India was the 11th largest economy in 2013-2014,, today it is the fifth largest, he said.

Singh said BrahMos missiles would be manufactured at Lucknow with engineers from the country working alongside those from abroad. People here will also get employment in large numbers, he said, adding special railway tracks will be constructed to carry the missiles.

He said about 100 gym parks have been built at Lucknow and there are plans to set up about 500 parks and open gyms.

He said that community-cum-old age care centres would be set up in all the five assembly constituencies of Lucknow at a cost of 40 crore.
Delhi chief Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant governor VK Saxena need to rise above political bickering and get down to the serious business of governance in the national capital, said the Supreme Court on Monday, as it asked both of them to sit together and decide unanimously on the next the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chief. The court will hear the case next on Thursday. Delhi LG VK Saxena and CM Arvind Kejriwal during the inspection of the damaged drain regulator at Vikas Marg, ITO, in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

Last week, the Supreme Court had said it would hear the Delhi governments petition against the DERC chairpersons appointment along with the states challenge to the Centres services ordinance on Monday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, which allowed the Delhi government on July 4 not to proceed, giving oath to justice (retd) Umesh Kumar, the newly appointed chief of DERC, had said the matter would come up on July 17. The bench also comprised justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra.

Delhi governments petition against Centre's order

Delhi governments petition questioning the June 21 order of the Centre appointing former Allahabad high court judge as DERC chairperson also seeks to challenge the ordinance that gives the Centre power to take over appointments to commissions and bodies under Delhi government under Section 45D of the newly promulgated Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Ordinance), 2023].

Following July 4, the top court heard a substantial petition filed by the Delhi government on July 10 challenging the entire ordinance. The court agreed to consider interim orders for the stay of the ordinance on Monday. It gave two weeks to the Centre and the L-G to file a comprehensive response defending the validity of the ordinance after the Delhi government alleged that the ordinance flew in the face of the top courts May 11 judgment which held services under the subjects on the State List will stay with the Delhi government.

Appearing for the Delhi government in the DERC matter, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi last week told the court that the Centre was yet to file its response. The court told the Centre to file its response by the next date.

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Last week, as the glorious sight of the Chandrayaan-3 successfully blasting off from Sriharikota filled our hearts and screens, Indias national space agency, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), was once again in the global limelight, this time for its efforts to make India only the fourth country in the world to land a spacecraft on the moons surface. While we keep our fingers firmly crossed for the rovers soft landing on August 23, let us turn our attention to a soft-spoken, much-loved, hugely admired Bengalurean, the post-graduate in English literature after whom the space centre in Sriharikota is named. Roopa Pai.

To be fair, Satish Dhawan, who was born in Srinagar and grew up in Lahore, had many other degrees besides the MA in English  a BA in maths and physics and a BE in mechanical engineering, both from Punjab University, an MS in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in aerospace engineering and mathematics from Caltech. In 1951, he returned to India and came straight to Bengaluru, to join the Indian Institute of Science as a senior scientific officer. Thenceforth, his rise was nothing short of mercurial. A decade later, only 42, he took charge as the IIScs youngest-ever director. He would helm the Institute for over 17 years, exerting a huge influence on its intellectual character, and deploying his unique vision to turn IISc from an excellent institute of technology into a temple of application-based research and education.

Professor Dhawans own interests in a vast and varied number of subjects, apart from his strong social conscience and a deep love for nature, ensured the setting up of several centres of interdisciplinary research at IISc, including ASTRA (Cell for Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas) and CES (Centre for Ecological Sciences). In the early seventies, he had just launched a global campaign to recruit the brightest minds as faculty for the institute when Indias fledgling space programme suffered a huge setback  on December 30, 1971, its brilliant architect, and the founder-chairman of ISRO, Vikram Sarabhai, succumbed to a cardiac arrest, only 52.

The idea of ISRO, a government agency that devoted itself to space research, had been mooted by Sarabhai as far back as 1962; in 1969, it took shape as ISRO. With Sarabhai gone, the then PM Indira Gandhi offered professor Dhawan the chairmanship. That was when, in a now-legendary counter-offer, professor Dhawan requested two assurances: one, that ISRO would be hq-ed at Bengaluru, which, following the setting up of Hindustan Aircraft (now Aeronautics) Limited in 1940, and IIScs Aeronautics Engineering department in 1942, had become the perfect ecosystem for such an organisation; and two, that he would be allowed to continue as director of his beloved IISc. Gandhi agreed, and ISRO came to Bengaluru.

Satish Dhawan retired from IISc in 1981 and ISRO in 1984, continuing as chairman of the Indian Space Commission until his death in 2002, 50 years after he had first arrived in the city. It was during his tenure at ISRO that Indias first two satellites  Aryabhatta (1975) and Bhaskara (1979)  were placed in orbit around the earth (by Soviet rockets), and the first indigenously built SLVs (satellite launch vehicles) announced Indias entry into the global space club. For all his great achievements as scientist, researcher and institution-builder, however, professor Dhawan is cherished far more by his colleagues as a great leader  one who, to use the most-quoted instance, shielded them from public ire when the SLV had a disastrous first outing in 1979, and stayed in the background when the same team, with his encouragement, triumphed the next year, successfully placing Rohini into orbit.

(Roopa Pai is a writer who has carried on a longtime love affair with her hometown Bengaluru)

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The security forces on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday foiled a major infiltration bid and gunned down two infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch area, security officials said. (Representative Photo)

Operation Bahadur #Poonch Sector. Major Infiltration Bid Eliminated in a joint operation by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice during the night of 17 Jul 23 in Poonch Sector. Two infiltrators have been eliminated. Search operations are in Progress, wrote Nagrota-based White Knight Corps on its Twitter handle.

On July 10, the Indian Army had foiled a major infiltration bid and killed a terrorist along the LoC in the Nowshera sector in adjoining Rajouri district in an operation that spanned over two nights and recovered arms and ammunitions.

An AK 47 rifle, three AK magazines with 175 rounds, one 9 mm pistol, two magazines with 15 rounds, four hand grenades, communication equipment, and a large quantity of eatables and clothing for sustenance were recovered from the encounter site.

According to army officials, there has been a spike in intrusion bids from Pakistan along the Indo-Pak borders in Jammu and Kashmir since the annual Amarnath pilgrimage began on July 1.

Intelligence agencies have cautioned security forces of a possible attempt by Pak-based terror outfits to target and disrupt the pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, eight Central Reserve Armed Forces (CRPF) personnel on their way to the Amarnath pilgrimage were injured in an accident in Jammu and Kashmirs Sonmargh district.
Security forces in Manipur have complained to the Editors Guild of India about local media fanning tension by circulating biased or false narratives of incidents that have the potential to hamper a return to normalcy in the border state roiled by ethnic violence. Incidents of violence have not stopped more than two months after ethnic clashes first broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3 (PTI)

The forces in their letter on July 13 cited 4-5 different instances in which local media published incorrect versions of incidents, adding to the tension between communities, officials said, declining to be named.

Incidents of violence have not stopped more than two months after ethnic clashes first broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3. On Saturday, a 55-year-old woman was murdered and her face disfigured in Imphal East district by at least nine people, including five women. On Sunday, a 34-year-old man in Kangpokpi district was killed by over two dozen armed persons after reports of shooting between two groups in a village.

There are two issues here. One is the false narrative that is being set up after each violent incident. For example, last weeks attempted looting of arms at an India Reserve Battalion headquarters in Thoubal (one person was killed in police firing). The article in local media said the people who were trying to barge inside the armoury were seeking protection, which is a complete lie. Such false narratives fan tension, an official said.

The other pertains to the allegations of bias. There were some fake articles about Assam Rifles not responding to a particular incident because the force has some tribal or non-tribal personnel, the official added. This is carefully done by people with vested interests. Such fake articles do not help in bringing normalcy and instead arouse sentiments, which may be avoidable.

The official cited another report by a local news channel about a woman, who on Sunday said she was assaulted by Assam Rifles personnel during a sit-in protest. The womans interview, which was widely circulated in the state, said that the security personnel had fired tear gas shells at her and other women protesters in Checkon area.

After the womans viral interview, there were protests demanding removal of Assam Rifles. The interview was false because no Assam Rifles personnel were deployed in the area at that time, the official said. Also, Assam Rifles personnel were not equipped with tear gas shells.

The Editors Guild on July 14 issued a statement on Twitter about the coverage of Manipur violence by sections of the media and regretted that there was a noticeable bias in the coverage, contributing to divisiveness and violence. The guild advised all journalists to report facts and not take sides.

Since May 3, the northeastern border state has been gripped by ethnic clashes between the tribal Kukis, who mostly reside in the hill districts, and the majority Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal valley. The unrest has claimed at least 150 lives and displaced over 50,000 people.

The clashes first broke out in Churachandpur town after Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe status to the Meitei community. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people, who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders.

The authorities quickly clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state while columns of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and different battalions of paramilitary forces are posted in the state to bring back normalcy.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prawesh Lama Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing, and issues of security in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also looks at special features on social welfare in the National Capital. ...view detail
The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad (ATS) detained Seema Haider, a Pakistani national, along with her partner Sachin Meena and his father Netrapal Singh on Monday. Haider had been arrested earlier this month for illegally entering India, along with her four children, while Meena and his father were arrested for providing them shelter. Manzoor Hussain, the landlord of Seema Haider, who left for India to be with her partner Sachin Meena, shows her picture he found in the luggage after she departed in Dhani Bakhsh village in eastern Karachi. (AFP)

Seema Haider's unnoticed entry into India and her unconventional love affair have sparked fascination among many. Here, we bring you all the details about the love story of the couple from arch-rival countries.

Who is Seema Haider? 5 points

1. Seema Haider, a 27-year-old married mother of four from Sindh, Pakistan, connected with Sachin Meena, a 22-year-old unmarried shopkeeping assistant from India while playing the online shooting game PUBG during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the couple say.

2. Seema, along with her children, allegedly left Pakistan and smuggled herself into India. They met in Nepal first time in March. And in May Seema and her children came to Noida via Dubai, Nepal. Sachin received them and they were living in a rented apartment in the village of Rabupura, in Greater Noida, about 55 km from New Delhi. The couple says they have married and want to remain together in India.

3. A first information report has been filed at Rabupura police station, invoking provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, as well as sections 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) and 34 (act done by several people with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. This has sparked a debate among the public, questioning how she managed to enter the country without detection. Concerns about her potential threat to national security are being raised as well.

4. Seema's estranged husband, Ghulam Haider, who works abroad in Saudi Arabia, desires to be reunited with his wife and children. He appealed to Indian and Pakistani authorities for their return.

5. Seema's decision to stay with Sachin, a Hindu, has angered her tribe in Pakistan. Seema's home in Pakistan is located in Bhittaiabad, a Katchi Abadi in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. It consists of a three-room portion in a building without paint and is situated in a narrow lane full of garbage and overflowing sewerage.

(Input from wires)

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday hit out at the joint Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, saying that it is a selfish alliance. He also asserted that the opposition parties would not be able to provide a future for India. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. (File Photo)

Arvind Kejriwal has left behind the crisis of flood...What kind of a CM is he? What is happening here? Why is this happening? Mamata Banerjee had several people beaten up and face violence. Congress is silent, the CPI-CPI(M) are silent. This is called a selfish alliance. Will such people provide a future for the country? Definitely not, Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media.

Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the mega meeting at Taj West End Hotel on Monday evening. The leaders will likely start work on a common minimum program and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Reportedly, the leaders are also likely to announce a name for their alliance.

Ahead of the meeting, posters with United We Stand text written on them were put across the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, NCP's Sharad Pawar, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, DMK chief M K Stalin and leaders of Left and some regional outfits. Meanwhile, all eyes are on NCP's Sharad Pawar who will only attend the meeting on the second day on Tuesday.

The first meeting of the opposition leaders was held on June 23, hosted by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. Around 15 parties including the Congress, TMC, AAP, CPI, CPI-M, RJD, JMM, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), SP, and JDU had attended the meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday asked state governments to assist the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in financial investigations related to drugs smuggling in order to break the monetary chain of perpetrators. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a regional conference on Drugs Trafficking and National Security in New Delhi on Monday (PTI)

Chairing the regional conference on Drugs Smuggling and National Security in Delhi, Shah oversaw through video-conferencing destruction of over 140,000 kg drugs worth 2,381 crore in various parts of the country.

The state governments should support ED in financial investigations and refer cases to the agency. Our campaign (against drugs) will not be successful until we do not break the chain of interest of drug dealers by doing financial investigation, Shah said. Thats why we need whole of government approach with cooperation, coordination and collaboration.

He also stressed on the need for states to work with central agencies such as ED and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to deal with the menace of drugs.

Only when the state and central governments along with all the agencies come together on a single platform, we will be able to make the country free from drugs, the minister said. Our aim is to ensure that no youth is under the influence of drugs... Our aim is to make the country drugs-free and secure. I appeal to all chief ministers and LGs (lieutenant governors of Union territories) to extend all possible cooperation for it.

The home minister also said the government was close to eliminating the threat posed by use of drones in smuggling narcotics from across Pakistan border, adding that a stringent law on drones was being worked out.

I want to assure the states sharing boundary with Pakistan that we are working on eliminating this drone menace from across the border, he said. The registration of drones is also under consideration.

Shah also said there is no question of a single destination for elimination of drugs or a single target for it. It is an act of constant vigilance. A moments laxity can spoil the entire movement, he added.

During the conference, Shah oversaw the destruction of over 1.4 lakh (140,000) kg drugs worth 2,381 crore in different parts of the country. In the last one year, 10 lakh [1 million] kg drugs worth 12,000 crore has been destroyed, Shah said, hailing it as a significant achievement.

The destruction of narcotics, bulk of it from Madhya Pradesh, was carried out in various cities on Monday as Shah watched through video-conferencing from the national capital.

The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kg seized by NCBs Hyderabad unit, 822 kg seized by the Indore unit and 356 kg by the Jammu unit.

Besides, various law enforcement agencies from different states and UTs also destroyed drugs  103,884 kg in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kg 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, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

Between June 1, 2022 and July 15, 2023, NCB regional units and anti-narcotics task forces of states have collectively destroyed 876,554 kg seized drugs worth around 9,580 crore, which is over 11 times the target.

Shah also called for public shaming of drug traffickers and handing them harsher punishment. States should establish specialised courts against drugs and conduct their prosecution in a fast-track mode. Harsher punishment will act as stronger deterrent as it will send a stronger message. The confiscation of assets of those involved in the illicit drug trade should be increased, he said. Public shaming/boycott of these individuals will discourage others from joining this trade.

In an interview with HT on May 3, Shah had said that the government has intensified its campaign against cartels smuggling narcotics into the country by setting into motion a multi-pronged strategy to combat the trafficking and abuse of drugs.

Earlier, while addressing the first national conference of heads of anti-narcotics task forces (ANTFs) in April, the home minister had asked the officers to be ruthless towards drugs smugglers and treat users as victims. He had asked states to keep aside political differences to make India drug-free by 2047.

Drug trafficking doesnt affect an individual or a state or the Centre. It is a national problem, which hinders a countrys development and makes it hollow, he had said. This fight needs to be fought by keeping party politics and political ideologies aside so that we can give a drug-free atmosphere for the next generations.

According to the 2022 annual report of NCB, 70% of total drug trafficking in India is being conducted through maritime routes. Most of the seizures (by agencies) are sourced from the ports of Afghanistan or Iran which are destined to coastal states of India or are in further transit to countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, etc, the report, seen by HT, said.

During the meeting, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann suggested that an anti-drone technology or jammers should be installed along the international border with Pakistan to check the smuggling in of drugs and weapons. He urged the home minister to make registration of drones compulsory, citing cross-border smuggling of weapons and heroin

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar will join the gathering of non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Bengaluru on the second day on Tuesday. In a tweet, NCP said the partys national president will be present at the meeting on July 18. NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Sunday. (PTI)

Pawars office earlier confirmed his absence on day one of the meeting being held days after a split in the NCP. His nephew, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who joined the BJP-Shiv Sena Maharashtra government on July 2 along with eight NCP lawmakers, was allotted the key finance ministry on Friday. His camp also managed to bag cooperative and agriculture ministries, which were with the BJP and Shiv Sena ministers earlier.

Ajit Pawar and ministers from his camp met the NCP founder on Sunday and requested him to keep the party united. Praful Patel, a leader of NCPs breakaway faction, said Sharad Pawar listened to them but did not give any reaction. This meeting was the first between the leaders of the two factions of NCP since Ajit Pawar rebelled.

In Bengaluru, the non-BJP leaders were expected to build on the initial momentum post their first meeting involving 15 parties in Patna on June 23. Joint programmes at the national level were among the plans to be explored in Bengaluru. HT reported that possible seat adjustments between the parties will be left for the respective state units.

A total of 24 parties, nine more than the Patna meeting, were expected to join the Bengaluru discussions spread over two days in an indication of their growing strength.

The non-BJP leaders will join an informal meeting before Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah hosts a dinner for them on Monday. They will have their main meeting from 11am on Tuesday.

A strategy for the Parliament session will also be discussed. The Bengaluru discussions will also not have any fixed agenda. More objective outcomes were expected after the meeting.

The Congress set the tone for the meeting as its general secretary KC Venugopal said the party will oppose the Delhi ordinance, granting the Union government control over on transfers and postings of officers in the Capital. Delhi ruling Aam Aadmi Party decided to attend the Bengaluru meeting after the Congresss clarified its stance on the matter

Jayant Chaudharys Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Sunday said it will participate in the meeting in Bengaluru amid speculation about whether it will join the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

The issue of the Congress joining the Samajwadi Party-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh was likely to be discussed in Bengaluru.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur government to go back to the state high court with its grievances against an order to restore limited internet connectivity in the riot-hit state. On July 7, the high court had directed the state government to carry out physical trials to check the feasibility of providing internet services while ensuring security and property of citizens (PTI)

Refusing to interfere with a July 7 Manipur high court order, the top court gave the state government the liberty to apprise the former of the difficulties faced by it in implementing the judicial directives.

You can present before the high court the difficulties that may arise with the restoration of the internet. We are not going to get into the merits. Let the high court look into your grievances, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud told solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

Mehta, representing Manipur, highlighted the risk of misuse of social media that may create further violence in the restive state. The bench, which included justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, however, asked Mehta to make all submissions before the high court where the matter is pending.

On July 7, the high court had directed the state government to carry out physical trials to check the feasibility of providing internet services while ensuring security and property of citizens.

While hearing a bundle of petitions demanding restoration of internet services, the high court had said: In the case of Fibre To The Home (FTTH) connections, internet service can be provided by the home department on a case-to-case basis after ensuring compliance of the safeguards suggested by the committee.

The 12-member expert committee, appointed by the high court to look into the issue, had earlier stated that internet services could be provided through broadband connections, either through Internet Leased Line (ILL) or FTTH by ensuring static IP, banning of Wi fi/Hotspots from any of the routers or system, blocking of social media websites and VPNs at the local level, removal of VPN software from the system and prohibiting installation of new software by any user and enforcing physical monitoring by the concerned authority/ officials.

The ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has claimed 142 lives till July 4, the state government informed the Supreme Court on July 10 by filing an updated status report, which disclosed that the majority of fatalities occurred in the valley districts as the state still reels under ethnic tensions. Only 181 people have been arrested so far, while 6,745 people were put under preventive detention, the report added.

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The Supreme Court on Monday relaxed the bail condition of Abdul Nasir Maudany, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman and an accused in the 2008 Bengaluru blast case, and permitted him to reside in his hometown of Kollam in Kerala. Supreme Court of India (Representative Photo)

A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh modified Madanis bail condition noting, since the examination of witnesses in the case was over and arguments could proceed for some time, Maudanys presence was not required on a hearing date.

In its 2014 order, the Court had directed the terror accused to remain in Bengaluru till the trial was over following which Maudany had sought a relaxation of bail conditions imposed by the Supreme Court .

Maudany welcomed the Courts order that will allow him to reside in his hometown of Kollam in Kerala and also visit his ailing father.

Received permission to travel to Kerala and reside there for the remainder of the bail term. I thank you from the heart to all those who prayed for me and supported me, Maudany wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

Giving him permission to stay in Kollum, the Court ruled that the bail condition requires him to make in presence at a designated police station every two weeks.

To ensure that the applicant is adhering to all other requirements, we direct that the appellant will report to the Station House Officer of the nearest police in Kollam district, once in 15 days, the bench said.

The blast accused had earlier travelled to Kerala in the first week of July after getting permission from the SC but could not meet his ailing father in Kollam.

His plea and travel permission were previously rejected by the Court in October 2021. Similar applications were rejected earlier this year as well.

The Bangalore serial blasts occurred on 25 July 2008 in Bangalore, India. A series of nine bombs exploded in which two people were killed and 20 injured.
Plea challenging the Gujarat high court's refusal to put a stay on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a criminal defamation case will be mentioned today in the Supreme Court. This comes two days after a petition was filed following the high court's refusal to stay the two-year jail term charged by the magistrate court on the Congress leader, leading his disqualification as the Lok Sabha MP. Rahul Gandhi has urged the top court to immediately stay his conviction to enable him to regain his MP status. (Hindustan Times)(HT_PRINT)

The appeal has been filed exactly a week after the high court dealt a blow to Gandhis endeavour to revive his Lok Sabha membership, ruling that the Congress leader breached modesty and that his offence involved moral turpitude. The appeal was filed on Saturday morning, and it is yet to be assigned a date of hearing. Gandhis lawyers are expected to mention the appeal for an early hearing next week.

The Congress leader's appeal reached the apex court after his earlier pleas to the session court and high court were turned down.

Gandhi urged the top court to immediately stay his conviction to enable him to regain his MP status, arguing the conviction order would lead to throttling of free speech, free expression, free thought, and free statement.

It would contribute to the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions and the consequent strangulation of democracy which would be gravely detrimental to the political climate and future of India, he said.

The high court order indicated that Gandhi's disqualification from the Parliament will continue.

Under the law, the conviction and two-year jail term renders Gandhi unfit to enter either House of Parliament for a period of eight years. But this can be reversed if he can get the conviction overturned or suspended by a higher court.

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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 Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena to sit together and agree on a common name for appointment as chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) stating that there cannot be any bickering between constitutional authorities tasked with running the affairs of Delhi. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (left) and Delhi LG VK Saxena (right) (File Photo)

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud was hearing a petition filed by the Delhi government challenging the Centres decision to appoint a former Allahabad high court judge, justice Umesh Kumar as DERC chairperson on June 21 exercising its powers under the Ordinance promulgated by the Centre.

The Court had previously on July 4 issued notice on the petition asking the Delhi government to defer the oath-taking ceremony of Kumar as the DERC chairperson and sought responses from the Centre and the office of the L-G on a plea challenging the law governing such an appointment.

The chairpersons post of the key regulatory commission that oversees the electricity sector of the national Capital and fixes the power tariffs, has been vacant since January 9.

As the Ordinance itself is under challenge in a separate petition filed by the Delhi government and the new chairperson is yet to take oath, the bench, also comprising justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said, Does everything have to be run through the modality of the Supreme Court. Can the two constitutional authorities  both the LG and the chief minister not sit down and recommend a common name?

The best of legal minds appeared on both sides with senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the L-G who readily accepted the Courts proposal and the Delhi government represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi who was apprehensive of a favourable outcome. For the Centre, solicitor general Tushar Mehta was present along with attorney general R Venkatramani who appeared at the request of the Court.

These are two constitutional authorities. You have to allow the affairs of the Delhi government to function. There cannot be any bickering on this. Let them sit and decide, the bench said, as it asked the two sides to sit together and come back with a name by Thursday.

If it was a law where the CJI had to decide on the appointment, I would do so in 15 minutes. Why dont you sit down and decide? Some so many retired judges will be willing. We have no problem so long as we have an objective chairperson of DERC, said CJI Chandrachud.

Incidentally, the other petition filed by the Delhi government challenging the Ordinance was also posted that day on the issue of referring the matter to the Constitution bench.

Singhvi told the Court that he will approach the L-G within a day as the DERC has been headless since January and crucial decisions on power tariffs for citizens of Delhi are being held up.

There is a popular scheme on a tariff which must be fixed. It is getting delayed and staggered. The political executive in Delhi cannot project its policy as good bad or neutral, Singhvi said.

However, expressing hope, he said, I dont have a problem if they miraculously agree. It might be a fair suggestion but in the present context, I do not think it is realistic.

The Delhi governments response met with stiff criticism from L-Gs lawyer. Salve said that constitutional authorities have to do their job and it is upsetting to hear such a statement from the Delhi government. I am upset that the Delhi government says I have no hope. Such kind of statements get peoples back up.

Also Read: SC relaxes bail condition for 2008 Bengaluru blasts accused Abdul Nasir Maudany

Salve continued that there are no winners or losers as one should aim to go ahead in these matters. Singhvi objected saying that the Constitution bench decision of May 11 had decided a clear winner by ruling in favour of Delhi government in matters of exercising legislative and executive control over officers serving in Delhi government departments.

However, this is not applicable due to Section 45B of the Ordinance which takes away the power from the Delhi government to appoint members and heads of commissions and bodies under the Delhi government, Singhvi said.

The Court told the two authorities, There is so much work the government can do away from the glare of publicity.

Salve said that constitutional authorities should get to the traditional mode of communication with each other rather than resort to statements on social media.

We do not want to step into this. We want you to step in and make things work, the bench said, adding, We are not so much concerned about DERC but we are on the larger issue. This is the message we want to send.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the Ordinance is likely to be introduced as a Bill in the coming session of Parliament.

He said that once the process goes through Parliament, it is not known whether the provision Section 45B of the Ordinance which is under challenge in the present proceedings will remain in the same form or undergo changes. He requested the Court to consider awaiting the outcome.

The Delhi government told the Court that the Centre cannot act on the Ordinance. An application seeking a stay on the Ordinance was also filed by it in the current proceedings.

The bench agreed to take up the matter on Thursday and asked the LG and Delhi government that in the event they agree on a name, they may even seek the consent of the chief justice of the parent high court to which the retired judge belongs.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said that the Enforcement Directorates (ED) raids on Monday against higher education minister K Ponmudi is Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) tactic to divert attention from the opposition meet to start today in Bengaluru. Enforcement Directorate officials take Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy for enquiry after day-long searches at his premises in connection with a money laundering case, in Chennai on Monday. (PTI)

After about 13 hours of searches on Monday, visuals showed ED officials taking Ponmudi in a car for further investigation in their Chennai office. However, there are no reports of the ministers arrest as of now.

Our meetings convened to get rid of the BJP have become a major irritant for the them, said Stalin. Like how they have used the ED in the northern parts of the country as a threat, they are doing it in Tamil Nadu now. But the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is not worried about it. Stalin was speaking before he left for Bengaluru for the two-day meeting of the non-BJP leaders. Over 24 leaders across India are expected to participate. This is the second such meeting after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar convened the first meeting in Patna on June 23.

Stalin further chided the BJP saying that the Tamil Nadu governors actions were indirectly contributing to the DMKs campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Now, the ED has also joined. So, I think, our election campaign will be easier, the chief minister said, defending that these actions against the DMK are unjust.

Ponmudi is the second DMK minister to be raided by the ED after the federal agency arrested minister V Senthil Balaji on June 14.

The ED has not released a statement on the raids on Monday against the higher education minister and his son, Gowtham Sigamani but reports say that it is a case dating back to Ponmudis tenure between 2007 and 2011 in the DMK government earlier. The allegations are that he violated quarry licence conditions leading to loss of 28 crore to the exchequer.

Stalin said that this is a false case registered by late chief minister J Jayalaithaa when the AIADMK formed the government. The case was registered 13 years ago and the AIADMK has been in power for the last ten years (2011-2021) but they did not take any action in this case, said Stalin. Recently the courts have dismissed two cases registered against Ponmudi in the last ten years. So, he will meet these cases legally too.

Meanwhile, BJP state vice president Narayanan Thirupathy said that the ED has the power to enquire anyone at any time. Pointing fingers at BJP for this is absolutely silly, said Thirupathy.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji was discharged from the Kauvery hospital and moved to the Puzhal Central prison on Monday, while continuing to be under judicial custody, the ministers lawyer, seeking anonymity, said. HT Image

He was discharged around 4.30 this evening and taken via an ambulance to prison, the lawyer said.

From the time the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him on June 14, Balaji had been hospitalised for chest pains, initially at a government hospital and then at a private hospital for heart surgery.

The Chennai Principal Sessions court extended Balajis judicial custody till July 26, after a third judge from the Madras high court, on July 15, dismissed a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by his wife S Megala, declaring his arrest illegal. The third judge, C V Karthikeyan, was appointed to examine a split verdict on the HCP pronounced by a two-judge division bench earlier. The Supreme Court directed the Madras high court to dispose of the case expeditiously.

Balaji, who is now a minister without a portfolio in the DMK cabinet, was shifted via an ambulance to prison while the ED was raiding another DMK minister, K Ponmudi and took him for questioning on Monday. However, it is unclear if Balaji is currently shifted to a prison cell or the prison hospital, given his health condition. On June 21, Balaji underwent a Beating Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. The ED had got 8-days custody of the minister starting June 16 but they were allowed to interrogate him only within hospital premises, so the federal agency could not interrogate him.

The ED arrested Balaji on June 14 in a case dating back to 2014, when he was transport minister in the previous AIADMK regime.
Thirty-eight parties have confirmed their participation at the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scheduled for Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda said, adding that the grouping has come together for seva (service) not satta (power), a barb aimed at the grouping-in-the-making of 26 opposition parties meeting in Bengaluru. BJP National President JP Nadda along with party MPs Arun Singh and Anil Baluni addresses a press conference, at Party HQ in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)(HT_PRINT)

Also read: Congress says Day 1 positive, terms NDA meet direct impact of Bengaluru gathering

Most of the partners, including those that have returned to the NDAs fold after walking out, have decided to join to strengthen India and the BJP remains committed to its ideology, Nadda said at a press meet on the eve of the meeting.

The historic expansion of the NDA is taking shape to fulfil the aspirations of the nation, he said. The growing desire of the people to push ahead with the agenda of development and good governance delivered in the last nine years under the leadership of PM Modi has led to the expansion of the NDA, and it is a continuous process.

The BJP, which was accused by its former allies of riding roughshod over partners and sidestepping consensus building on key issues, such as the farm laws that saw the party part ways with its oldest ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), is using the expanded composition of the NDA as talking point to tout of credentials of being in the pole position to lead a coalition of diverse parties. The number of NDA partners rising from 24 in 1998 to 38 now, party leaders said is an indication of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modis acceptance and popularity.

To be sure, both groupings are certain to have long tails. Only nine parties have 10 seats or more in the 545-member Lok Sabha (the nine account for 479 members) . It is quite likely that at least some of the 26 potential constituents of the opposition grouping, and the 38 of the NDA are not represented in the Lok Sabha; only 37 parties have members in the lower house of Parliament.

Although Nadda did not disclose the names of the 38 partners, he asserted that aligning with some of the parties that were earlier criticised by the BJP for corruption, dynastic politics and various other issues was not borne out by political expedience. There has been criticism of the BJP for aligning with Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party,a party specifically targetted by the former for corruption.The law will take its own course. We respect the law and Constitution. Within the ambit of the law, everyone has the right to move ahead, he said, responding to a question on a possible investigation of Ajit Pawar.

The strategy is dynamic but the ultimate goal is to strengthen our ideology. Our objective is (our) ideology; if there is flood somewhere, we take a different route, he added, referring perhaps to the means justifying the end.

Nadda went on to say that the BJP and its precursor, the Jan Sangh have always been focused on their ideology. Be it the (construction) of the Ram Temple..., or when we spoke of the nuclear tests and people were making fun.

Nadda denied that the party had let go of any allies and was cordial to even those who had snapped ties with the BJP. Our agenda is desh seva (serving the country). We did not let anyone go...those who quit, we did not stop being friendly with them, the broader picture for us is sabka saath, sabka vikas.

Responding to a question on whether the party would revive ties with former allies such as the Telegu Desam Party and SAD -- it has held talks with both -- Nadda said it was for those parties to decide. It wasnt immediately clear whether either of them, or Chirag Pawans LJP (RP) are part of the count of 38.

The BJP isnt wooing anyone, Nadda insisted. We share our agenda; for the larger cause, they have to decide when they want to come back.

Responding to the opposition, which has criticised the BJPs attempts to revive the NDA, he said, The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) is bhanumati ka kunba (the Indian equivalent of Pandoras box), they do not have the neeyat (intent), neeti (policy), neta (leader) or the power to take decisions. They are not here to deliver; they (represent) 10 years of non-governance and corruption... and they want no action against scams worth 20 lakh crore .

The Congress dismissed the NDA meeting as an attempt to revive the alliance that is now in its 25th year in the wake of the opposition parties coming together to take on the BJP. After Patna, the PM suddenly remembered the NDA. Earlier, he never cared for NDA. Now, he is trying to give a new lease of life to NDA. This is an achievement of the Patna meeting, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said.

Also read: Chirag Paswan meets Amit Shah ahead of NDA meet, says talks positive

Nadda also slammed the opposition parties for suggesting that the government misuses agencies against its political opponents and said the parties such as Aam aadmi Party and the Congress coming together is an illustration of compromise. This is a democratic country, and the agencies are independent, he said.

Tuesdays meeting will lay the ground for the party trying to consolidate its position in the Hindi heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where it is banking on a clutch of smaller parties that have a committed vote bank of particular castes, such as the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, Vikassheel Insaan Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha.

It is also hoping that ties with parties such as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamila Manila Congress, Kerala Congress (Thomas) and Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) will bolster its chances in the south, where it is not in power in any of the states.

At a time when the BJP-ruled Manipur is on the boil, the party is hoping to retain allies from the region that mostly have a single member representation in Parliament, such as the National Peoples Party (Meghalaya), Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party(Nagaland), Sikkim Krantikari Morcha) and Asom Gana Parishad.

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The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government on Monday terminated the services of three government employees, including the public relations officer of Kashmir University, Faheem Aslam, for alleged anti-national activities under Article 311 of the Constitution, according to government documents and officials aware of the matter. With these dismissals, the number of employees whose services have been terminated by the government has risen to 52 (ANI)

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir admn disallows High Court bar polls, cites bodys secessionist ideology

With these dismissals, the number of employees whose services have been terminated by the government under the aegis of the article after the special status of J&K was revoked in 2019, has risen to 52 . Besides Aslam, the two other employees were identified as Murawath Hussain Mir, who worked in the Pulwama revenue department, and Shopian police constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker.

Political parties opposed to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre have termed the dismissals as an abuse of power.

The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Mr. Faheem Aslam, Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the University of Kashmir S/o Mohammad Aslam R/o 166, Hazratbal, Srinagar are such as to warrant his dismissal from service, read the order detailing the termination of Aslams services. The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under subclause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an inquiry in the case of Faheem Aslam, the order said.

Similar orders were passed about Mir, who worked in the revenue department of Frestabal, Pampore (Pulwama district), and Arshid Ahmad Thoker, constable in the J&K police in Shadab Karewa, Manloo (Shopian district).

Government officials alleged that Aslam not only subscribes to and endorses secessionist ideology, but has been a key propagandist for terrorists in the Kashmir valley. Faheem Aslam was planted in Kashmir University in August, 2008 by a terror-separatist kingpin as a contractual employee and subsequently he was confirmed. He was designated as media reporter by the university to keep the secessionist-terrorist campaign alive because the university campus was known as one of the epicentres of secessionist activism and an important breeding ground for terrorism as well, a person aware of the matter said, adding that his appointment was done without any public advertisement, interview or police verification.

They added that Aslam, by virtue of his write-ups and social media posts, allegedly made it abundantly clear that his loyalty lies with Pakistan. He had deleted several posts, which campaigned for secession of J&K and its merger with Pakistan, after the abrogation of Article 370. These posts have been retrieved during the course of investigation, the person cited above said officials said.

The sacked employees refused to comment on the matter.

Following the revocation of J&Ks special status in 2019 and its bifurcation into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the administration has sacked 52government employees working in J&K after recommendations from a designated committee mandated to scrutinise cases under Article 311(2) (c) of the Constitution. This provision gives the government the power to sack employees without an inquiry if the President or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State.

The dismissals started after the government on April 21, 2021 set up a Special Task Force to identify and scrutinise the cases of employees involved in any case related to posing a threat to the countrys security or anti-national activities.

Top opposition political leaders in J&K lashed out at the governments decision.

The LG admin is institutionalising a permanent state of disintegration in J&K. Criminalising livelihood on preposterous reasons of terror links at a time when the state is reeling from unemployment is only deepening the trust deficit. Its being done by misusing & invoking Article 311(2)b of the Indian Constitution, former J& chief minister Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party said in a tweet.

Also read: Normalcy, peace returned in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 abrogation: Centre

National Conference chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said that some arbitrary decisions have instilled a sense of fear among the employees. While it is important to take action against anyone involved in any anti-national activities, employees should be given a fair opportunity to contest the charges brought against them, he said.

Lauding the move, BJPs J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said: There are employees who use government offices for terrorism. So there should be zero tolerance against such employees, especially those who work for terrorists.

Among the people who have been sacked by the government so far under Article 311 are chemistry professor Altaf Hussain Pandit, sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, and a deputy superintendent in J&K prisons department. The government said that it has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards anti-national elements.
The Supreme Court on Monday released new guidelines for designating senior advocates in the top court by prescribing a minimum age of 45 years for receiving applications and making a host of changes in the eligibility criteria and weightage of marks to be given based on years of practice, contribution to judgments, legal publications and teaching assignments among other aspects. The age bar will not apply to a candidate whose name is directly recommended by the CJI or any judge of the Supreme Court (Agency)

The new guidelines which replace the existing guidelines of 2017 have been framed keeping in mind the latest judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on May 12 setting out uniform standards to be adopted by Supreme Court and high courts in conferring senior advocate designation.

The Advocates Act provides for two categories of lawyers  Advocates and Senior Advocates. Under Section 16(2) of the Act, the Supreme Court and the High Court have the power to designate an advocate as a Senior Advocate with his consent as a recognition of their ability, standing at the bar or special knowledge or experience in law.

To be eligible to apply, lawyers with minimum 10 years standing and 45 years of age will be permitted under the new regulations. A committee headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) and comprising two senior most judges, Attorney General and a representative from the bar will scrutinise the applications when they meet twice a year and will have the power to relax the age criteria.

The age bar will not apply to a candidate whose name is directly recommended by the CJI or any judge of the Supreme Court. While computing years of practice, a lawyer with 10 years of practice or a combined experience of practice along with service as a judicial officer or a judicial member in a tribunal for a cumulative period of 10 years will be eligible to apply. The applications will be invited once in a year by a permanent secretariat set up to assist the Committee for designation of senior advocates.

On the aspect of practice before the Supreme Court, lawyers seeking senior designation will be required to give a list of judgments where they argued and contributed to development of law. The guidelines provide that advocates having domain expertise of practising before specialized Tribunals would be given concession with regard to the extent of appearances in the Supreme Court.

The Committee that will scrutinise the applications will award 10 points for lawyers with 10 years of practice and for every subsequent year of practice, one additional mark will get added up to a maximum of 20 marks. The chunk of the scrutiny process will be the number of judgments produced by the applicants that could fetch a maximum of 50 points. The Committee will examine not just judgments of the Supreme Court but decisions of specialised tribunals under various branches of law.

Earlier, this head carried a weightage of 40 points while publication of legal articles fetched 15 marks. Te new guidelines have drastically reduced the weightage of legal publications to 5 points allowing within it, the contribution by the applying candidate in undertaking teaching assignments in the field of law, guest lectures delivered in law schools and professional law institutions.

The shortlisted names will be prepared by the Committee for interview by the Full Court comprising all judges. This segment will carry 25 points.

The new guidelines have largely incorporated the decision rendered by the top court on a petition filed by senior lawyer Indira Jaising who pointed out lack of uniformity among criteria followed by high courts to designate senior lawyers. The Court directions were in continuation to a judgment in 2017 where the Court laid down uniform procedure for designating senior lawyers.

The 2017 judgment also came on Jaisings petition where she had opposed the secret voting system practiced in the apex court to designate senior advocates. Back then, no criteria existed for selection and the process happening behind closed curtains lacked transparency and objectivity.

Building upon its earlier decision, the top court in May decided to make assessment based on publications of legal articles to be expanded to include within its fold teaching assignments and guest lectures to have a more holistic reflection of the advocates ability to contribute to the critical development of the law.

Based on the revised criteria, the top court has asked candidates who had earlier submitted to apply again or modify their existing applications or withdraw on or before August 7.

It will be open for former chief justices and judges of high courts to apply for senior designation from top court but those who have accepted or agreed to accept any full-time assignment will not be considered for senior advocate designation as long as they hold that assignment.

The guidelines also permit the Full Court to review or recall its decision if a lawyer is found guilty of such conduct which disentitles him to such designation.

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All the 18 passengers and four members of the crew of a passenger plane died when it crashed into the bed of the Chaki river, 12 miles south of Pathankot, shortly after 11 a.m. today. HT This Day: July 18, 1950 -- 22 die in air crash near Pathankot

The dead include the Austrian Charge dAffaires in New Delhi, Dr Carl Pareira, three U.N. Observers in Kashmir and Mr Dwarkanath Kachru, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of India.

The plane, an I.N.A. Dakota, left Delhi at 9-30 a.m. and was due to reach Srinagar at 12-30 p.m. on a non-stop flight.

The last signal  passing over Pathankot  was received at 11-05 a.m. and the pilot, Capt. S. K. Mehra, informed the Srinagar flying control that the expected time of the arrival of the plane at the Srinagar airstrip would be 12 noon.

The flying control officials had located the position of the plane at the time of the message between 75.25 degrees east longitude and 32.15 degrees north latitude. No distress signal was received by them.

An I.N.A. plane and an I.A.F. Dakota were immediately sent out on a search for the missing plane. Gen. Hodges, Military Adviser to Sir Owen Dixon, U.N. Mediator in Kashmir, who was to have travelled by the crashed plane, cancelled his departure at the last moment.

While precise information about the cause of the crash is not known it is believed that owing to a heavy downpour visibility was very poor.

This is the third serious air disaster since the air service between Delhi and Srinagar was introduced. The first crash - involving a Dalmia Jain aircraft -- occurred nearly two years ago. It was followed by an Air Force Dakota in which 22 military officers were travelling.

P.T.I adds: The wreckage of the plane was spotted by a search party sent by Indian Army authorities in Pathankot on learning of the non-arrival of the plane at Srinagar at the scheduled time.

A message from Srinagar said that the first information about the disaster was given by a villager who happened to pass by the wreckage of the plane.

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The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad on Monday took Pakistan national Seema Haider, her Indian partner Sachin Meena and his father Netrapal Singh into custody from Gautam Budh Nagar for questioning. Haider had crossed over to India to live with Meena whom she befriended via an online game. Sachin Meena (L) and Seema Haider attend an interview with AFP at their residence in Rabupura village. (AFP)

Read here: Pak woman Seema Haider's 1st husband asks her to come back: I still love you

"As per protocol, the UP ATS informed the local Greater Noida police that they will be questioning Haider, Meena and Singh in relation to concerns regarding national security. When the three were arrested by Gautam Budh Nagar police last month, central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh anti terror squad had been alerted by us. Hence, they are carrying out investigations on their end as per procedure," Anand Kulkarni, Additional Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

When asked, he added that they are only being questioned and have not been 'picked up' by the ATS.

A senior UP police officer said that Haider is a Pakistani citizen and there have been several rumours about her, one of them being she is a Pakistani spy. The officer stated that there are many elements involved in her illegal arrival in India so her interrogation becomes necessary from a security standpoint.

Read here: How PubG encounter sparked cross-border prem katha

Haider entered India with her four children last month after she fell in love with Meena through the gaming app PUBG during the lockdown. The couple started living together in Greater Noida. However, Haider was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa, while Meena was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Greater Noida) Saad Miya Khan had told PTI that an FIR in the case had been lodged at the local Rabupura police station under provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, and section 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) and 34 (act done by several people with common intention).

Read here: 'If Seema Haider doesn't return to Pakistan': Mumbai traffic police gets threat of another 26/11

After five days, both of them were released from Luksar Jail in Gautam Budh Nagar on bail.

Meanwhile, Haider's neighbours and a relative on Sunday said 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 Haider was living. Haiders uncle is reported to be a Subedar in the Pakistan Army and her brother is also a Pakistani soldier.

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United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is in Gujarat to attend the G20 meeting, highlighted the strong bond between the US and India, labelling them as among the closest partners globally. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (AP Photo)

Yellen expressed her admiration for Indias leadership during its G20 presidency, emphasising the nations pivotal role in the ongoing G20 meetings in Gujarat.

She also expressed her gratitude to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman who she met on the sidelines of a G20 meeting and discussed the agenda for global economic growth.

Speaking at a media briefing alongside Sitharaman in Gandhinagar, Yellen conveyed the United States appreciation for Indias significant contributions as a key ally. The joint press conference provided an opportunity for the two leaders to address the media and discuss the ongoing India-US dialogue during the G20 meetings.

Also Read: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ate psychedelic mushrooms during official visit to China: Report

Yellen emphasised the importance of deepening the already substantial relationship between India and the United States saying, We highly value our bilateral relationship with India. The US and India are among the closest partners in the world. The US appreciates Indias leadership during its G20 presidency.

Her statements reaffirm the robust partnership emphasising the shared commitment to international cooperation and economic collaboration. Yellens recognition of Indias leadership further underscores the pivotal role played by the nation in global economic affairs.

With shared democratic values, pluralism, and a strong commitment to rules-based global order and multilateralism, India and the US are actively engaged in constructive dialogues. These exchanges serve as a testament to our mutual commitment to nurture a robust partnership and harness the potential for progress and prosperity, Sitharaman said in her address.

She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to the United States last month and his meeting with the US President has enhanced the strength and dynamism of the partnership between the two countries. It paved the way for new avenues of collaboration, propelling our partnership to a greater height, she added.

Today, our discussions highlight the commitment of India and the US to actively further the G20 agenda, Sitharaman said.

As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement. By leveraging each others expertise and resources, we actively promote economic growth, foster innovation, and drive sustainable development. Our partnership will create a prosperous and equitable future, making it a catalyst for positive change worldwide, the finance minister said on the sidelines of the G20 meeting.

The G20 meetings in Gujarat serve as a platform for world leaders to discuss pressing economic issues, seek common solutions, and foster cooperation among participating nations.

Also Read: US welcomes expert panel report to strengthen MDBs

Efforts were also made to facilitate consensus on persistent challenges linked to the growing indebtedness of low and middle-income nations. Furthermore, exploring the potential of crypto-assets and digital public infrastructure to enhance financial inclusion was also a key aspect of the discussions.

The dialogue between the US and India within the G20 framework is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and promote shared prosperity.

The US finance leaders current visit to India follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent state visit to Washington. This is her third trip there to India in nine months, an indication of the growing ties between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to virtually inaugurate the new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands tomorrow. The inauguration ceremony will witness the presence of Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who will arrive at the airport at 9am. Modi is expected to inaugurate the terminal building virtually approximately one and a half hours later, as stated in a government release. Port Blair airport inauguration: PM Modi to inaugurate new Veer Savarkar International Airport terminal building tomorrow.

Also read | What a township, a power plant, and an airport can do to an island

Here are five key facts about the new terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport:

1. Size and capacity: Spanning a total built-up area of 40,837 square metres, the new terminal building has been designed to efficiently handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours and accommodate approximately 40 lakh passengers annually.

2. Iconic shell-shaped design: The architectural design of the terminal building showcases a distinctive shell shape reflecting the unique geography and natural beauty of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The shell-shaped structure of the new terminal building depicts the sea and islands.

3. Emphasis on sustainability: The new terminal incorporates several sustainable features, including a double insulated roofing system to minimize heat gain, strategically placed skylights that allow ample natural sunlight to reduce reliance on artificial lighting, LED lighting for energy efficiency, and low heat gain glazing.

The building will be equipped with 28 check-in counters.

4. Abundant natural lighting: The terminal boasts an innovative design that ensures 100 percent natural lighting for 12 hours a day. This will be made possible through the integration of skylights along the roof, maximizing the utilization of natural daylight.

The entire terminal will have 100 percent natural lighting for 12 hours a day which will be achieved by skylights along the roof.

5. Enhanced facilities: The terminal building is equipped with 28 check-in counters to facilitate smooth passenger flow, three passenger boarding bridges for convenient boarding and disembarking, and four conveyor belts for efficient baggage handling.

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Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal condition causing intellectual disability and it was named after British physician Dr John Langdon Down who described this syndrome. Normally a person has 46 chromosomes in each cell but a person with down syndrome will have 47 chromosomes as they have an extra copy in 21st chromosome, hence the name Trisomy 21. Down Syndrome: How often it occurs, signs to watch out for, couples chance of having a child with it, management (UNSPLASH)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vignesh Kumar S, MD (Paediatrics), DM (Neonatology) at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Chennai's T Nagar, answered some prominent questions about Down syndrome:

How often does Down syndrome occur?

Prevalence is 1:800 live births worldwide.

What is the cause for Down syndrome?

95% of cases of downs syndrome is caused by an error in cell division. Other few cases are due to translocation and mosaicism. Each human cell contains 46 chromosomes but in individuals with downs syndrome each or some cells contains an extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional chromosome is responsible for physical and developmental features of Down syndrome.

Three categories of Down syndrome are:

Trisomy 21: Most common type (95%).Each cell has 47 chromosomes. Occurs due to error in cell division. Risk increases with advanced maternal age. Translocation: Constitutes 3-4 % of cases. Extra chromosomes attaches to another chromosome, commonest being chromosome 14 or 21. Mosaicism: constitutes 1-2%, rare variant. some cells have normal chromosomes (46) and few cells have 47 chromosomes. Patients have milder phenotype.

What are features to identify Down syndrome?

Hall mark features of Down syndrome are

Flat facies Upward slanted palpebral fissure Small dysplastic ears Increased flexibility of joints Short neck Short 5th digit Single transverse palmar crease Pelvic dysplasia Less muscle tone.

How to diagnose Down syndrome?

Post natal diagnosis: Its mainly a clinical diagnosis, however Karyotyping remains gold standard that detects extra copy of chromosome 21. Results are available in 2-3 days. Rapid diagnosis is possible with quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF PCR) or Fluorescent in situ hybridization technique (FISH). Results are available within 2 days. Antenatal screening and diagnosis: Antenatal screening can be done during first or second trimester. First trimester screening includes maternal age, nuchal translucency assessment by ultrasound, beta-hCG levels, PAPP-A levels between 11 and 13 weeks. Second trimester screening includes quadruple test (Beta-Hcg, Alphafetoprotein, Unconjugated estriol, Inhibin A. If the risk of down syndrome exceeds cut off of 1:250,we can proceed with chorionic villous sampling at 11-12 weeks or amniocentesis at 16-18 weeks.

What type of problems would Down syndrome children typically have?

Variable degree of developmental delay is common feature in all patients with Down syndrome. Majority will have an intelligent Quotient (IQ) in mild (50-70) to moderate range (35-50). Children with Down syndrome will have difficulty in feeding, toilet training & sleep pattern at all ages compared to normal children. They have poor language &communication skills. Down syndrome patients have a pleasant behaviour, caring, affectionate and quite social. Many patients with Down syndrome have autistic features. Majority of patients with Down syndrome have features of Alzheimer disease by 40 years of age.

Most common problem is heart defects which constitutes 40-50%.all children with downs syndrome should be checked by paediatric cardiologist for echocardiogram. some defects are minor and some may require surgery. Around 10% of children with downs syndrome have intestinal malformations requiring surgery. Children with Down syndrome can have hearing or visual impairment. So regular hearing and vision examination is necessary for children with downs syndrome. They are at risk of thyroid problems and cancer (Leukemia).They should have regular check up with routine immunization.

How severe is the mental retardation in children with Down syndrome?

The degree of mental retardation ranges from mild to moderate to severe. Most of children with downs syndrome falls within mild to moderate mental retardation.

Management of children with Down syndrome?

A multidisciplinary team involving Paediatrician, Developmental specialist, Psychologist, Neurologist, cardiologist, Ophthalmologist, ENT specialist, Speech therapist, Physical and occupational therapist is essential in management of child with Down syndrome. Following measures helps children with Down syndrome to live a healthy, happy and independent life:

Early stimulation to improve developmental skills Providing home environment Providing parental care Health education Forming parent support groups for sharing their experience Vocational training of children Availability of specialised medical care when needed

What are couples chances of having a child with Down syndrome?

Any couple having chances of downs syndrome child depends on age of mother. If mothers age is 35 years, odds of having a child with Down syndrome is 1:350, if mother age is less than 25 years, risk is 1:1400 and if mother age is 40 years the odd is 1:100.

What is risk of a parent of a child with downs syndrome having another child with downs syndrome?

If the first child is having downs syndrome, chances of couple having another child with downs syndrome is 1:100. The chances for a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age.

Can people with Down syndrome have children?

Miscarriage rate and infertility rate is increased in women with Down syndrome but it is still possible for them to have children. The likely hood of having a child with downs syndrome is approximately 50%.

Life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome?

Life expectancy is beyond 60 years over last few decades with good quality medical care and early identification & treatment of complications.

Are there any organisations for persons with downs syndrome?

National downs syndrome society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with downs syndrome. Down syndrome federation of India (DSFI) is a parent support group started by Dr Surekha Ramachandran to help people with downs syndrome and their families to lead a more normal life.

Why is it important to get involved in a support group?

Support group allows opportunity to get resources and questions answered by people that are in similar situations. There is nothing better than being surrounded by people who understand what you are going through.
The White House (USA) made history recently by curating its first-ever plant-based menu for a State Dinner to honour Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Plant-based chef Nina Curtis put together an eclectic spread along with the chefs at the White House for our vegetarian PM. Talking to HT City, Curtis, who draws from her black heritage to shape culinary excellence, says, It was the pinnacle moment in my career to present an exquisite menu to the Indian Prime Minister. It was an honour to be invited as a guest chef by the First Lady of the US, Dr Jill Biden, to work with the White House Executive Culinary team. Chef Nina Curtis tells us how beautifully uniting American and Indian cuisines with millets as the hero. (Photo: Francisco Chavira)

Showcasing the best in American cuisine, the menu heroed their seasonal produce and had elements inspired by Indian and American flags. Dr Biden wanted to emphasise the deliciousness of plant-based cuisine. We also brought Indian flavours and elements to the dishes such as saffron-infused risotto to show the beautiful fusion both cuisines offer, adds the chef.

The United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, and India is leading the way. The menu, too, incorporated the theme. We showcased the versatility, deliciousness and ease of using millets. We did a lot of recipe testing and tastings, and Dr Biden and her team decided on the final menu. It included marinated millet with grilled corn, cherry tomatoes, English cucumber salad with tangy avocado sauce, and crispy baked millet and chickpea cakes with a lemon dill yoghurt sauce, explains Curtis.

The chef worked closely with White House executive chef Cris Comerford and executive pastry chef Susie Morrison. She couldnt meet PM Modi this time but was happy about the praise. We received a warm round of applause for our presentation. We were later told that PM Modi truly enjoyed the dinner, says Curtis, who is from Sacramento, California. Curtis has also been actively promoting veganism in the country, encouraging chefs and restaurants to make room for vegan dishes on their menus.

I really enjoy Indian food

Curtis, who loves digging into Indian cuisine, says she even has a few favourite desi restaurants between Sacramento and Los Angeles. I also shop at Indian stores to recreate many of my favourite dishes. During my culinary school, I had a wonderful professor who specialised in Indian cuisine, and we explored and cooked different dishes from many regions throughout India. Some of my personal favourites include Channa Masala, Bhindi Masala, Baingan Bhartha, Aloo Mattar, Aloo Gobhi, Samosa and pickles, she shares.

Follow more stories on @ruchikagarg271

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The recent layoffs at Microsoft resulted in as many as 276 employees losing their jobs, including a now-former staffer who claimed this was the third layoff of her professional career. Representational Image(REUTERS)

My third time being laid off

According to India Today  it did not disclose her identity  she took to LinkedIn to share her post-layoff thoughts.

Unfortunately, this is my 3 time being laid off in my work career. First one was from company bankruptcy. Second time due to Covid and now from layoffs, the former Microsoft staffer wrote.

The unidentified ex-Microsoft staffer's LinkedIn post (Image courtesy: India Today)

She, however, stressed how excited she was about where I end up.

However, every time I have been blessed on finding a new journey. It might be nerve racking not knowing the future but I'm excited to see where I end up, the post read.

Thankful for the opportunity

The former employee also remarked how thankful she was to have worked at the tech giant.

Now that I have gathered my thoughts I am thankful to have had the wonderful opportunity to work at Microsoft and meet so many diverse and talented people, she wrote.

Microsoft lays off 276 employees

Last week, the Satya Nadella-helmed organisation relieved 276 people in its home state of Washington; among them, 66 were working virtually. Workers in the customer service, support, and sales departments were impacted.

In January, Microsoft slashed its workforce by 5%, undertaking as many as 10,000 job cuts.

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At the recently concluded Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 in June, Apple had launched a set of products powered by M2 chips. The lineup included a new 15-inch MacBook Air model, a Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Although, the company didnt address rumours surrounding the highly-anticipated M3 chips - reported to be in production by the tech giant. MacBooks laptops during the first Apple Premium Reseller grand opening in Phnom Penh on July 15.(AFP)

The company is expected to introduce iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and new Apple Watch Ultra in September. However, according to tech analyst Mark Gurmans Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, the company is looking to debut the M3 iMac, M3 13-inch MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro in the month after the September launch.

The rumoured launch of M3 Apple Silicon Macs in October has not been officially confirmed by Apple. A specific timeline of the October event has also not been released.

The M3 chip is expected to have core counts similar to the M2 along with enhanced performance and efficiency owing to the 3-nanometer silicon fabrication process. It was earlier reported that Apple was building a 14.1-inch iPad Pro model. The M3 Pro processor may be used in the tablet, if launched next year.

F Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had also reported that M3 and A17 Bionic chips will be powering the upcoming Mac computers and that the M3 Pro or M3 Max processors are expected to go into production in the first half of 2024.

Products like the M2 Ultra Mac Studio and 15-inch MacBook Air debuted last month but it was speculated that the latter parts of the M2 product faced delays due to supply chain issues.

New iPad Pro models, featuring OLED displays, are scheduled to release next year while an iPad Air with updated chip may be ready this fall; as the current-generation Air model is still powered by an M1 chip.

In the same newsletter, Gurman also asserted that a new 30-inch iMac is in the offing which could be introduced next year.

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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
There are numerous videos online that capture wild animals in their natural habitat. There are also those videos that capture the intense moments of animals hunting their prey. Among the vast array of such videos, one, in particular, captured the attention of many. The video shows a lion attacking a buffalo. What's even more fascinating about this video is how it also captures the heroic act of a buffalo saving its friend from the clutches of the lion. The image captures a dramatic moment in Masai Mara as a lion attacks a buffalo.(YouTube/@Maasai Sightings)

Buffalo headbutts fellow buffalo to save it from a male lion, reads the caption written alongside the video shared on the YouTube channel Maasai Sightings. The description of the video explains the behaviour of buffalo herds when a predator attacks them. Buffalo herds will move together as one unit, but when a predator attacks them, they separate into smaller groups to confuse the predator and make it harder for him to target his prey. Buffalo use the size of their herd to attack and kill lions. Buffalo isnt the largest prey that lions are known to pursue, but that doesnt make them any less deadly. Filmed in Masai Mara via Okavango camps, it reads.

The video opens to show a nomadic male lion running towards a buffalo alone to hunt it down. As the video progresses, the lion pounces on the buffalo, and the struggle begins. The buffalo puts up a good fight, but the lion refuses to let go. Suddenly, out of nowhere, two other buffaloes come to the rescue of their fellow buffalo. One of the buffaloes then headbutts the fellow buffalo so that it can stand and run away from the clutches of the lion. Towards the end, the buffalo finally rises and runs away to safety.

Watch how buffalo saved another buffalo from the clutches of a lion:

The video was shared six days ago on YouTube. It has since accumulated over 2.5 lakh views, and the numbers are still increasing. Many even took to the comments section of the video to express their thoughts.

Heres how people reacted to the video:

The buffalo gave the other buffalo tough love with those headbutts: Get up, youre embarrassing us its only one lion, not a pride, posted a YouTube user. Another added, I wont lie, but that young single male lion taking down that much larger Cape buffalo and then still launching another attack when the herd came to assist is pretty damn impressive! Buffaloes demonstrate remarkable solidarity and bravery in the face of danger. In a stunning display of defence, a buffalo may headbutt a fellow buffalo to rescue it from the clutches of a male lion, commented a third. A fourth shared, Actually, that bull encouraged the suffering buffalo to get up and fight for its survival, its a single nomadic lion, and 2 buffaloes can easily chase it away! That lion was almost in trouble, remarked a fifth.

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Delhi Police often take to their social media handles to share advisories to create awareness among people. They have repeatedly used several memes and other video-based public service announcements to urge people not to text while driving. However, as people continue to engage in this dangerous behaviour, the police department has shared another post highlighting the perils of texting while driving. The image is taken from the video shared by Delhi Police that talks about the perils of texting while driving. (Twitter/@DelhiPolice)

Aye bhai.... Zara dekh kar chalo! Nahi toh sirf khabar hi pahuchegi aap nahi! (Hey brother.... just be careful while walking! Otherwise only the news will reach, not you!) wrote Delhi Police while sharing a video on Twitter. Alongside, they added a few hashtags, #DontTextAndDrive and #RoadSafety.

The video showcases individuals texting while walking and the alarming consequences that follow. From getting hit by a pole or falling inside a pit to tripping into a swimming pool or slipping from stairs due to a split-second distraction - the video captures the dangers of not being fully present while walking. As the video nears its end, a powerful message appears on the screen: When you cant text and walk, how can you text and drive! This message serves as a reminder for us to prioritise road safety and avoid distractions while driving or even walking.

Watch the video shared by Delhi Police to talk about the dangers of texting while driving below:

Delhi Police shared this hard-hitting public service announcement a day ago on Twitter. It has since accumulated over 24,400 views, and the numbers are still increasing. Additionally, the post has collected numerous comments from netizens.

Heres how people reacted to Delhi Polices tweet:

Nice advice, posted a Twitter user. Rightly said and shown, added another. A third commented, Its a reality nowadays. I always take care of these things while going on roads, expressed a fourth. A fifth shared, That is true! We need to be aware when on roads and public places.

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At least eight people were killed on Monday when a five-storey building in the Egyptian capital Cairo collapsed, a security officer at the scene and state media said. Emergency and rescue personnel search for survivors in the rubble of the building that collapsed. (REUTERS)

The building in the Hadayek el Kobba neighbourhood north of central Cairo was in a densely built area of informal housing, where rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors.

Building collapses are common in Egypt due to poor construction standards in many areas.
Two people died and their daughter was injured on the Crimea Bridge early on Monday, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia said. The Russian-built Crimean bridge linking mainland Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea was personally inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin five years ago on May 15, 2018.(AFP/File)

"We all saw with you on a video on the Internet a damaged car with Belgorod numbers. What information is available at the moment: a girl was injured," Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. "The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mum."

Traffic along a Russian-built bridge linking Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar region has been halted, a Moscow-installed official and state media said on Monday. "Traffic was stopped on the Crimean bridge: an emergency occurred in the area of the 145th pillar from the Krasnodar Territory," Crimea governor Sergey Aksyonov wrote on Telegram.

"Law enforcement agencies and all relevant services are working... measures are being taken to handle the situation," he added. He did not provide any other details.

The RBC-Ukraine news agency reported that explosions were heard on the bridge, Reuters said.

"Crimean authorities will provide all the necessary support to tourists in connection with the stopping of traffic on the Crimean bridge," Russia's TASS news agency cited a regional official as saying.

The bridge links Russia to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and serves as a vital link for transporting supplies to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

In October 2022 it was damaged by a truck bomb in an attack Moscow blamed on Ukraine.

Kyiv has denied being behind the attack.

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The lawyer representing the accused architect, Rex Heuermann, has come forward claiming that prosecutors are fixated on his client despite the existence of more substantial leads. Heuermann, 59, stands accused of the gruesome killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, while prosecutors also consider him the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Architect Rex Heuermann's lawyer claims prosecutors are fixated on his innocent client, accused of Gilgo Beach killings.(Bonjour Realty)

Heuermann's attorney, Michael Brown, fiercely maintains his client's innocence, describing him as a dedicated and hardworking licensed architect in New York City with an impeccable record. Brown emphasized Heuermann's loving nature as a husband and father, with a stable family life spanning over 25 years. "There is nothing about Mr. Heuermann that would suggest that he is involved in these incidents," Brown asserted, vowing to defend his client in a court of law.

However, law enforcement officials have painted a chilling picture of Heuermann, branding him a "predator" who preyed on vulnerable women while his family was away. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, at a recent press conference, expressed concern over the defendant's potential flight and the danger posed to the community, prompting the decision to charge Heuermann now.

The Gilgo Beach murders case has baffled investigators for over a decade, but a breakthrough occurred when a new task force was formed in February 2022. Investigators quickly honed in on Heuermann after discovering that he owned a Chevrolet Avalanche and resided in Massapequa Park, an area associated with the victims' cellphone activity. Advanced DNA testing, unavailable during the earlier stages of the investigation, linked Heuermann to a hair found on one of the victims.

More on the Gilgo Beach Killings:

Prosecutors allege that Heuermann used a victim's cellphone to torment her relatives and meticulously sought information about the ongoing investigation. His own cell phone frequently overlapped in location and timing with prepaid anonymous cellphones used to contact Barthelemy, Costello, and Waterman. In a stunning revelation, investigators uncovered Heuermann's credit card payments to a dating site and exposed his involvement with fake email addresses, burner phones, and disturbing searches for violent pornography.

With mounting evidence against him, Heuermann was apprehended with one of the burner phones in his possession, reinforcing the prosecution's case. The trial is expected to captivate the nation, as a fair and impartial jury will ultimately determine the architect's fate.

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Google doodle celebrated American scientist and womens rights activist Eunice Newton Foote's 204th birthday on Monday with an interactive slideshow on its homepage. Newton is credited to have laid the foundation for discovery of the greenhouse effect and its role in the warming of Earths climate. Eunice Newton Foote was an American scientist and womens rights activist.

Newton was born in 1819 in US' Connecticut. During school days, she attended the Troy Female Seminary, an institute which emphasised science education. For Newton, science was a life long passionshe also dedicated time to campaigning for womens rights, Google said, detailing a note about the doodle and Newton's life.

Who was Eunice Newton Foote?

In 1848, Newton attended the inaugural Woman's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls. She became the fifth individual to sign the Declaration of Sentiments, a document that advocated equality for women in social and legal status.

During that era, women faced exclusion from the scientific community. However, Newton remained undeterred by these challenges, and conducted experiments independently.

She was the first to establish a connection between increasing carbon dioxide levels and the warming of the Earth's atmosphere. After placing mercury thermometers in glass cylinders, she discovered that the cylinder containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun, Google said.

'Laid foundation for discovery of greenhouse gas effect'

Newton's another major groundbreaking work was on atmospheric static electricity. It was published in the journal Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, making Newton to become the first woman to have two physics studies published in the US.

Newton's works led to the discovery of greenhouse gas effect, after her studies were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science by a male scientists in 1856. Greenhouse gas effect is the phenomenon when gases such as the carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun, it causes a gradual rise in the temperature of Earth's atmosphere.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nisha Anand Trainee Content Producer for Hindustan Times Digital Streams. I read about feminism, late modern history, and globalisation of Korean music. ...view detail
Spine-chillingGoogle Street View images has captured Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer, talking to an unidentified woman in June 2022. Several New Yorkers are seen walking past. The images were captured on East 36th Street near Rexs Midtown Manhattan office just ten months before he was caught by police. Google Street View images has captured Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer, talking to an unidentified woman (Google Maps)

The 6-foot-4 alleged killer is seen in the photos carrying a bag on his shoulder. He is seen standing next to a young woman with her arms folded outside a smoke shop. The photos, first uncovered by online sleuths, were snapped by the internet companys mapping services.

(Google Maps)

Rex has been arrested as a suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders. The 59-year-old married dad wascaught by plainclothes cops as he strolled down a Midtown sidewalk on Thursday night, July 13. Rex hadworked in Midtown for several years at his own company, RH Architecture.

Rex Heuermann pleaded not guilty

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.

Rex reportedly hadan arsenal of over 200 guns stashed at his home in Long Island. He had an arsenal in a vault that he had downstairs, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told Fox News. Its concerning, regarding the guns being registered or legal or not. Thats something were still taking a look at. Rodney added, Anytime somebody has that type of arsenal, we have some concerns.

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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. A demonstrator protests visitors to Death Valley National Park, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Death Valley National Park, California. 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)

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.

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 refute inside one of the seven air-conditioned buildings.

In Las Vegas, temperatures reached 115 degrees F (46.11 degrees C) early Sunday afternoon, approaching the desert city's all-time high of 117 degrees. Temperatures in Phoenix hit 112 degrees F (44.4 C) on early Sunday afternoon, 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 degrees 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 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.

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As India has decided not to allow pro-Khalistan activities in Canada to retard the progress in relations between the two countries, especially when it comes to economic ties. Canadian pensions funds keen to invest in India, says finance minister

This was evidenced by Canadas deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland meeting Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gandhinagar on Sunday.

Tweeting after the meeting, Freeland described it as productive, and added that they discussed economic cooperation and trade, reform of multilateral development banks, and the appropriate approach to crypto assets.

Indias finance ministry tweeted they discussed the progress being made on the ongoing various trade-related negotiations between India and Canada.

It added that Canadian Pension Funds were keen to explore investing in Indian Infrastructure Funds as India offers a stable investment climate.

The meeting on Sunday came hours before the Greater Toronto Area or GTA witnessed voting in the so-called Khalistan Referendum. Organised by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ, it took place at the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in the Malton area of the GTA town of Mississauga.

Signalling that both countries want to pursue strengthening their relations, Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma told the Hindustan Times on Thursday, The illegal referendum by Sikh for Justice, an organization proscribed under Unlawful Association Prevention Act of India, is a futile effort by those who want to derail the Canada-India relationship.

The economic relationship will again be the focus when Canadas International Trade Minister Mary Ng travels to India in August and is expected to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in the margins of the G20 Trade Ministers vertical in Jaipur. In October, she will lead a Canadian trade mission to India. Both sides are trying to complete negotiations towards an Early Progress Trade Agreement or EPTA, an interim step towards the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail
An insider has claimed that Meghan Markle is left with regrets over Prince Harry's autobiography. Harry released the bombshell book in January 2023, and even participated in various TV interviews to promote it. During its opening week, the book was reportedly a best-seller in the UK. 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 memoir, however, comprises several allegations against senior members of the Royal Family. Prince Harry attacked Camilla, Princess Kate, as well as his brother Prince William in the book, Spare.

Meghan now regrets not taking a more active role in the memoir, as per a source. Harry and Meghan were called "professional whiners" after the release.

"Meghan can now see that, whether it's fair or not, they are being viewed as these professional whiners and it's not as simple as her distancing herself, because she has to be seen as fully supportive of Harry, the source told Heat.

"She's now regretting that she wasn't more hands-on or involved when he was putting his book together. This theory that she micromanaged what he wrote or had any say in the manuscript is totally wrong  it was Harry's book and she let him get on with it. The same went for his interviews and promo tours  that was evidenced by the fact she let him do those by himself and made a point not to interfere, the source added.

Meghan and Harrys Emmys snub

Meghan and Harry were snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys, reportedly leaving the couple devastated. 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.

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Meghan Markle may have broken a rule at a farmers market she attended with Prince Harry and her pooch last week. She visited the market accompanied by a security team. One of her pet beagles was also present. The Duchess of Sussex was seen picking up flowers and sampling honey while at the market. Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, arrives at the Invictus Games venue in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, April 15, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)(AP)

At the Montecito market, however, there is a sign reading, "NO DOGS ALLOWED with the exception of recognised service animals... we thank you for your understanding and cooperation." Since Meghan was pictured with her beagle, it appears as though she broke the rule.

"Is it dog friendly?" a question on the market's Yelp page reads. A response says, No dogs allowed, except service animals. There are signs at every entrance." However, it is also possible that the rule is no longer in place.

A blow for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan and Harry were snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys just recently. A 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.

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.
More than 50 pilot whales have died in Scotland after being stranded on a beach on the Isle of Lewis - the largest mass stranding in the country in decades. Mass pilot whale stranding on Scottish beach 'the biggest one ever'(The Scotsman)

Authorities were alerted to the incident on Sunday morning at around 0600 GMT and subsequent attempts to refloat more than a dozen living whales were unsuccessful.

Rescuers later decided to euthanise the remaining stranded whales on welfare grounds. In total 55 whales died and one is believed to have survived.

The charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said one female was found with a vaginal prolapse and it suspected that the whole pod was stranded after one whale suffered birthing complications.

"Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow," BDMLR said.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) said it would begin examining the bodies of the mammals to determine the cause of the stranding.

"Over the next several days we will be conducting sampling and necropsies of the pilot whales to gather as much data as possible to better understand the health of these animals and why they may have stranded," SMASS said in a statement on Instagram.

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Over the course of 18 months, Suffolk Country painstakingly built a case against Rex Heuermann, a suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial murders. A damning piece of evidence against him was a distinctive first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche. Gilgo murders suspect Rex Heuermann's truck parked in plain sight

A witness reported that they saw the Chevy pull up to victim Amber Costellos West Babylon, Long Island home. This happened around September 2, 2010, when she was last seen.

This vital piece of evidence was actually hiding in plain sight! Neighbors, passersby, and even users of online street mapping sites saw the Chevy.

According to the court documents procured by The Post, the key breakthrough in this 13-year search for the Gilgo Beach killer came when a registration search last March showed that the local married dad of two owned a first-generation model of the truck.

This was significant, because a witness to the disappearance of [murder victim] Amber Costello identified a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche as the vehicle believed to have been driven by her killer, a bail application said.

Last year, Costellos pimp revealed this detail uring an interview with a special task force, as Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told the Daily News this Saturday.

A pick-up truck with the same make and early model was later determined to be registered to Heuermann and was seen getting towed from the architects Massapequa home on Friday.

Twelve years later, the truck was still registered to Heuermanin 2022 who made no effort to get rid of it.

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Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff's deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said. A Henry County sheriffs deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured in the attempt to arrest the suspect.(AP/Representative image)

Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense search for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday morning's shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgia's main city.

Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police said a Henry County sheriff's deputy saw the SUV that Longmore stole from one of the victims and began chasing him, calling for help. After exchanging gunfire with Longmore, Clayton police said he ran away.

Justin Robinson told told WANF-TV that Longmore entered the backyard of a townhouse.

He had a gun, he was bleeding, he was naked, Robinson said.

Robinson said he alerted police officers, who were greeted with gunfire when they entered the townhouse where Longmore had hidden.

"Soon as they open the back door this guy starts shooting, shoots at the cops, Robinson said. The police start shooting.

A Henry County sheriffs deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured in the attempt to arrest Longmore, officials said

One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time," Scandrett said of that officer.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said all three officers are expected to recover. Details on the conditions of the other two wounded officers weren't immediately made public.

Hampton Police Chief James Turner said the four killed Saturday were all residents of the same Dogwood Lakes neighborhood where Longmore lived, and were all were shot within a 10-minute span. He identified the victims as 67-year old Scott Leavitt and his wife, 66-year old Shirley Leavitt, as well as 65-year-old Steve Blizzard and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers.

Sherry Wyatt, who works at Hampton's recreation center near Jeffers home, said Jeffers would regularly come in to sing at the senior center that shares the building.

A few months ago, Jeffers came over to her side of the building to practice and she told him how beautiful was his voice.

Im just so glad I told him he sang like an angel, said Wyatt, adding her heart was heavy Sunday over his death. I know he is in heaven now singing.

A relative of Blizzard didn't immediately respond to a Facebook message.

Authorities had been seeking to arrest Longmore on four murder warrants for the deaths. Turner said Longmore's motives remained under investigation.

On Sunday, neighbor Frankie Worth told The Associated Press he heard a gunshot Saturday morning as he was reaching for his living room window to open the blinds and see how much yard work he had to do.

Worth said he ducked just for a second and then looked back out the window. You know, when you get incoming, youve got to know where its coming from, said Worth, who identified himself as a Marine Corps veteran.

Longmore, who Worth knew only as Andre, was standing in the street. He described seeing the man's hands jerking from the recoil of firing a silver handgun.

Worth said the man appeared to have fired at a small white car driven by another neighbor, an older white gentleman. He said the shooting happened near a cul-de-sac where they all live.

Worth said he first thought there'd been a road rage confrontation, but said the man moved deliberately. He didnt appear angry, upset, agitated, Worth said.

Worth said Longmore appeared to evaluate whether he needed to shoot again and then started walking casually toward the entrance to the subdivision, then at a brisk stride. Worth said he ran upstairs, watching Longmore disappear behind some trees as he called police.

Turner told reporters earlier that detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes in Dogwood Lakes. At least three police cars staked out the neighborhood Sunday, limiting access. About 40 houses on two streets flank a lake in the neighborhood, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of downtown Atlanta.

Ron Foster, who lives on the main road outside the subdivision entrance, said Longmore drove through his yard and his neighbors yard, destroying multiple ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks in the grass. Foster was inside his house when he heard crunching metal.

What was going through that mans mind after he did all he done? Foster wondered. It was unreal.

Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia's racetrack for NASCAR events. The most recent homicide before Saturday in the town of 8,000 had been in 2018, Turner said. It's not normal for us, he said.

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 AP and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley said the city would hold a prayer vigil Monday evening for the four victims and their loved ones.

We have their back and we will continue to support them throughout their bereavement, Tarpley said.

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Imperial Flair Chania Old Town, Curio Collection by Hilton announced, joining recent Curio Collection by Hilton openings Lindian Village Beach Resort Rhodes and Domes Aulus Elounda.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced a franchise agreement with Tsiledakis S.A to open Imperial Flair Chania Old Town, Curio Collection by Hilton, which will join two Curio Collection by Hilton hotels in Crete. Set to open in 2026, the 85-room hotel will take a prime beachfront location in the picturesque town of Chania and all guest rooms will feature a private pool.

Imperial Flair Chania Old Town, Curio Collection by Hilton will reflect Curio Collection by Hiltons portfolio of one-of-a-kind hotels handpicked for their unique character, featuring two dining outlets, including a specialty rooftop restaurant. Guests can also take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pools, take advantage of the upscale fitness facilities or enjoy an afternoon relaxing in the spa. There will also be meeting space for business travellers, and events and retail options are available from the hotel's two onsite shopping outlets. The hotel will be located on the western seafront of Chania, right beside the Venetian Port and the Old Town, where the Municipality of Chania has approved a study for the redevelopment of the coastal front.

Crete, the largest of Greece's islands and one of the most popular destinations for European tourists, offers a beautiful natural landscape, rich gastronomic culture and ancient historical sites. Chania, on the island's northwest coast, is known for some of the island's best beaches, as well as the Old Venetian Port of Chania, with its striking 16th-century lighthouse and a wide variety of restaurants and cafes. A short walk from the hotel are Chania's beaches and Old Town, and a short drive away are other Cretan beaches, including Elafonissi Beach, with its charming pink sand, and Balos Beach, with its shallow and vivid turquoise waters.

Guests of all Hilton properties will be able to benefit from the award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme, allowing more than 158 million members who book directly with Hilton to earn Points for hotel stays and experiences. Hilton Honors members can also unlock access to instant rewards and benefits, such as contactless check-in with room selection and exclusive member discounts.

Curio Collection by Hilton is a global portfolio of more than 135 unique hotels and resorts selected for their distinctive character. Curio Collection properties allow guests to enjoy independent hotels that offer authentic and selected experiences through local offers and exquisite amenities while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme.

Imperial Flair Chania Old Town, Curio Collection by Hilton will join the portfolio of four additional properties in Greece, including The Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete, Curio Collection by Hilton, Lindian Village Beach Resort Rhodes, Curio Collection by Hilton, Domes Aulus Elounda, Curio Collection by Hilton and Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton.

Imperial Flair Chania Old Town, Curio Collection is located at Akti Kanari, Nea Chora, Chania, 73131, just a 20-minute drive from Chania International Airport.

Hotel website
Multi-phase, multi-million dollar reimagination delivers elevated leisure and business travel experience to the heart of Rittenhouse Square.

The Westin Philadelphia, an award-winning Westin Hotels & Resorts property managed by HHM Hotels in Philadelphia's City Center, today announced the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation. With highlights including upgrades to the property's guest rooms and suites, public spaces and dining experience complemented by enhanced amenities and sustainability initiatives, the renovation signals the next era of excellence at the celebrated urban escape.

DESIGN

Conceptualized by award-winning hospitality design firm Bill Rooney Studio Inc., The Westin Philadelphia's revitalized interiors seamlessly blend elements of modern organic design and heritage interior architecture to create a thoughtful balance of then and now. Neutral hues of wheat, gray and white complemented by brass accents create a refined yet energized environment. Moments of whimsy include hand-selected graphic art and organic leaf-patterned carpet in the property's public spaces that serves as a nod to Pennsylvania founder William Penn's passion for biophilic design.

ACCOMODATIONS

The Westin Philadelphia features 294 luxuriously appointed guest rooms including 19 breathtaking suites that offer a calm, restful retreat. Ranging from 380 to 1,353 square feet, accommodations showcase the inspired neutral color palette found throughout the property in addition to wood furniture and accents, pops of color and iconic Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath amenities. Expansive windows allow natural light to billow through and complement the natural design principles found throughout the property. The Westin Philadelphia's thoughtfully curated accommodations fit the needs of all travelers and in celebration of the renovation, the property is offering overnight guests 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points with their stay, bookable at this link.

PUBLIC SPACES

With more than 15,000 square feet of upgraded event space including the Grand Ballroom, Georgian Room and third-floor foyer, The Westin Philadelphia is the ideal destination for intimate gatherings and large-scale events with each space designed with versatility, customizability and productivity in mind. In honor of the revitalized groups spaces, The Westin Philadelphia is offering up to 10% rebate on guest rooms; suite upgrades and VIP amenities at the group rate, based on availability; complimentary refreshments and triple Marriott Bonvoy  points for planners and clients for groups that book 20 or more rooms with details available at this link. Additional upgrades to public spaces include the elevation of the property's state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio, which offers cutting-edge equipment and celebrates Westin Hotels & Resorts' brand-wide commitment to maintaining a wellness-centered lifestyle while guests are away from home.

Prioritizing sustainability, The Westin Philadelphia's Green Meetings Impact Calculator highlights environmentally conscious practices demonstrated by groups while the addition of refillable water stations and by 100% recyclable HHM EarthView water bottles available for purchase decrease single-use plastics. A portion of each water bottle purchase benefits clean water projects in East Africa as part of HHM Hotels' dedication to sustainable hospitality.

LEA RESTAURANT & BAR

The signature dining experience at The Westin Philadelphia, Lea Restaurant & Bar showcases the best in regionally sourced ingredients and seasonal specialties complemented by handcrafted cocktails that celebrate the legacy of Philadelphia. The upgraded design showcases an inviting marble bar ideal for socialization, plush leather seating, intimate dining tables and walls adorned with hand-painted, biophilic-inspired greenery. Brass finishes and wood accents complete the space, further enhancing its simplistic elegance.

The property-wide renovation at The Westin Philadelphia is a testament to Westin Hotels & Resorts' collective commitment to providing an authentic, elevated experience at each of its property while celebrating the unique elements of each destination. For additional information or to make a reservation, please visit www.marriott.com or call 215-563-1600. Follow along with hotel news and events via Facebook and Instagram.

About Westin Philadelphia

The Westin Philadelphia is a newly renovated, luxury hotel located in the heart of the city center, minutes from historic attractions. With its elegant accommodations, exceptional amenities, and a commitment to guest satisfaction, Westin Philadelphia provides an unparalleled experience for business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel boasts 294 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, each thoughtfully designed to offer modern comfort and elegance. From plush bedding and signature Westin Heavenly Beds to spacious work areas and high-speed internet access, every detail is crafted with guest satisfaction in mind. Beyond exceptional accommodations, the hotel offers 15,147 sq. ft. of flexible event space for meetings & weddings and an array of amenities to enhance guests' well-being. The WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio includes state-of-the-art equipment, allowing guests to maintain their fitness routine while away from home. The property also features on-site dining at Lea Restaurant & Bar, offering regionally sourced ingredients and seasonal menu options paired with custom-created cocktails that are influenced by the history and legacy of Philadelphia.

Hotel website
Mark Foxwell has officially taken the helm as the new General Manager at Hyatt Centric Melbourne. A veteran of Hyatt, Mark's career spans an impressive duration at the company, enriched with diverse roles across Australia and the international stage.

Having served as General Manager in countries like Japan, China, and most recently in Perth, Mark is enthusiastically returning to Melbourne, a city he is deeply familiar with and proudly calls home.

Mark's leadership style, fostered over 28 years at Hyatt, with 14 of those in General Manager roles, is passionately centered around his team and guests. He has consistently demonstrated adaptability in culturally diverse environments and the ability to forge trusted relationships. His approach has consistently yielded positive outcomes in his teams and proven instrumental in the success of the businesses he's managed.

In addition to his extensive operational knowledge of hotels, Mark has also fortified his skills with an MBA, completed in 2017, demonstrating his commitment to personal growth. His unwavering dedication to stakeholder priorities and optimizing financial performance has earned him a reputation as a highly respected professional within the industry. Mark officially assumed his role as General Manager of Hyatt Centric Melbourne on Monday, July 10th.
SINGAPORE  Asia Pacific hotel investment volumes declined by 51% year-on-year in the first half of 2023 as macroeconomic challenges and the rising cost of debt influenced capital deployment. Coming off a high base in 2022 and despite supportive market fundamentals, hotel investments moderated to $3.13 billion in the first half versus $6.41 billion during the same period last year, according to data and analysis by JLL (NYSE: JLL).

Activity during the first half was most robust in Japan ($1.54 billion) and Australia/New Zealand ($820 million), which grew by 56% and 189% year-on-year, respectively. Gateway markets such as Singapore ($30 million) dropped by 95% year-on-year as the number of transactions declined however with the recent sale of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road for $388 million, the outlook for the second half of the year will be stronger. China ($300 million) also saw activity moderate by 76% year-on-year. Despite strong performance metrics, activity in the resort sector was muted as assets remained tightly held.

We have observed the impact of a continued disconnect between the robust tourism demand and macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in the first half of 2023, resulting in a gap between sellers pricing expectations and buyers access to capital. However, trading performance of the sector remains strong and other fundamentals including tourism arrivals and high occupancy rates provide us with full confidence that the current investment environment is externally-based, rather than industry-specific. Nihat Ercan, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group

Factors including the recent reopening of China in January 2023, which was earlier than expected, fuelled existing travel demand strength. As a result, there has been a considerable improvement in trading performance, particularly in the upscale and luxury segments, supported by an increase in average daily rates (ADR) across the regions hotels. Furthermore, according to JLL analysis, the rise in tourism arrivals since January 2022 has been predominantly driven by leisure demand, leading to continued growth in performance among hotels in the region, with occupancy rates leading the recovery as more tourists return. Despite facing economic, health, and geopolitical challenges, the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) foresees the recovery in travel to continue throughout 2023.

When viewing factors including the macroeconomic environment and the project interest cycle, coupled with broad investor interest in strong-performing assets, JLL has revised its full year 2023 forecast to $8.7 billion, down 24% from its initial 2023 estimate.

Approaching 2024, we expect to see more specific opportunities emerge in some destinations across Asia Pacific, where prices have been adjusted downwards, enabling interested parties to reconsider. Investors remain very committed to the Asia Pacific hospitality sector and we see ongoing appetite among buyers to invest in key markets and strategic assets, with the ability to deploy capital, says Ercan.

The long-term appeal of Asia Pacifics hotels sector has recently been reinforced by the completion of several recent marquee transactions. In July, JLL advised on the largest ever single-asset hotel transaction in Singapore for the PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road and on the first transaction of 2023 in the Maldives for the Amari Havodda Maldives resort. Earlier in June, JLL had announced the completion of Southeast Asias first hotel portfolio sale in 2023  Pullman Jakarta Central Park, the ibis Saigon South and Capri by Fraser, both in Ho Chi Minh City  for a combined $106.1 million.

About JLL

For over 200 years, JLL (NYSE: JLL), a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company, has helped clients buy, build, occupy, manage and invest in a variety of commercial, industrial, hotel, residential and retail properties. A Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $20.9 billion and operations in over 80 countries around the world, our more than 103,000 employees bring the power of a global platform combined with local expertise. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAYSM. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Andrew Peck

Senior Director

+65 9823 7917

JLL
WASHINGTON - U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labors announcement that it received more H-2B visa applications for the years first-half allotment than total visas available:

The overwhelming demand for H-2B worker visasthe earliest the first-half cap has ever been metis further proof that this highly successful program should expand to meet workforce demand. With nearly 10 million job openings across the U.S. economy, and 1.4 million in the leisure and hospitality sector alone, there are simply not enough American workers to meet hiring needs. The federal government can address these critical workforce shortagesand spur the U.S. economyby increasing the cap on H-2B temporary worker visas.

BACKGROUND: Every year, half of the 66,000 available H-2B visas are released on April 1 and October 1. Demand for workers for the second half of the year, which includes the busy summer months, routinely exceeds the allotment; this has not been the case, until now, for the first half of the year.

About U.S. Travel Association

U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry. Travelers in the United States are estimated to spend $1.1 trillion in 2022 (still 10% below 2019 levels). U.S. Travel advocates for policies to accelerate an even recovery across the travel industry and restore economic and job growth for this essential contributor to our nation's success. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.

Greg Staley

U.S. Travel Association
Hotelschool The Hagues Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC) is thrilled to announce the finalists for this years competition, marking an exciting milestone in the evolution of the Challenge. Building upon the success of previous editions, SHC has expanded its reach by inviting design, architecture, and technology universities to participate alongside leading hospitality schools from around the world. The jury, consisting of esteemed C-level industry decision-makers and high-level executives, diligently reviewed numerous innovative concepts submitted by these renowned institutions.

The 2023 Sustainable Hospitality Challenge winning team will not only have the opportunity to travel to the extraordinary premises of NEOM but will also be granted a remarkable opportunity. The team will receive an invitation to attend the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Rwanda, Africa. This global conference serves as a platform for industry leaders to meet with key government representatives in order to shape the future of travel and tourism, making it an extraordinary privilege for the SHC winners.

The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, initiated by Hotelschool The Hague, has become a prominent catalyst for sustainable innovation in the hospitality industry over the past seven years. It has grown into a globally recognized, knowledge-based initiative, garnering support from renowned hospitality brands, global project developers, and smart cities alike.

This year's theme was "One with Nature", inspired by our leading sponsor, NEOM, respectful relationship with nature, and the ultimate goal of preserving 95%of its land and sea. Students were tasked with developing solutions that embrace sustainability and cater to the evolving needs of modern travelers. NEOM's visionary support inspired students from all participating universities who have attended the event, which was further bolstered by the partnership of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and The Bench.

Following rigorous qualifying rounds involving more than forty top-tier global hospitality institutions, the semifinals showcased twenty outstanding entrants. From this pool of exceptional talent, five winners emerged to compete in this year's finals, representing the pinnacle of sustainable hospitality excellence:

Cornell University The Culinary Institute of America & The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) Politecnico di Milano Hotel Management School Maastricht & Munster School of Architecture Hotelschool The Hague & Nanyang Technological University Singapore

These finalists presented truly sensational concepts that exemplify their dedication to creating a sustainable future for the hospitality industry. Notably, this year's challenge has expanded to include technology, engineering, and design universities, resulting in comprehensive and ready-to-incubate deliverables and solutions that will drive a lasting sustainable impact on the industry. The finals will take place at the prestigious Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi. This global platform will provide an unparalleled opportunity for the finalists to showcase their ideas to industry leaders and investors.

Paul Griep, Director of Industry and Alumni Relations Hotelschool The Hague, and Founder of the SHC, expressed his enthusiasm after the final round of the semi-finals, stating: The outcome of today was amazing, the level has increased tremendously to the point that jury members were willing to literally already invest in the students projects. In this edition, we have included the design, technological, and architecture universities and had amazing results.

The SHC was also honored to have Sophie Galharret, Vice President of Sustainability at Sofitel MGallery Emblems, joining this year as an esteemed jury member. Sophie shared her excitement about this years competition, stating: Today, I was really impressed by the projects presented by the students. It was not just only reducing the impact on the environment or nature, but the students had great ideas on regeneration and presented very concrete concepts that could be easily applied in our hospitality industry. Very valuable, very feasible, congratulations.

SHCs long-term supporter and partner Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) was also represented in the jury by Patrick O' Meara, Head of Business Development at SHA. Patrick stated: Serving on the judging panel for the semi-finals of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge was an enormous privilege and offered me two important school days. I learned much from the experience, not least that we truly live in a world that is phytigal  the blending of the physical and the digital. As different as the semi-finalist entries were as concepts and in approach, they share the important common themes of experiential learning and community-building, and all were infused with fierce ambition and optimism. If this powerful cohort of future hospitality leaders have their way, hospitality in its essence will be about learning, contributing, and being truly additive and collaborative, for the planet, its people, and the places where it is privileged to operate. The five finalists are indeed privileged to go forward to make their case to be the most visionary, compelling, and inspiring concepts to be At One With Nature, as this years theme suggests. The CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), Glenn Mandziuk, will partake in the Finals in Abu Dhabi as a distinguished member of the jury.

At its core, the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is committed not only to making significant sustainable contributions to the future of hospitality but also to enriching the personal journey of each student involved. This endeavor serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and the drive for positive change among the next generation of leaders.

About the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge

The SHC is a Hotelschool The Hague initiative that aims to enhance the evolution of sustainable hospitality. During this international student competition in which teams from all over the world take on the challenge of designing a hospitality concept that presents solutions that embrace sustainability and cater to the evolving needs of modern travelers. Established as a platform that challenges innovative hospitality approaches for the last nine years, SHC has evolved into a global knowledge-based initiative. During its years of activity, SHC has collaborated with some of the most reputable CEOs of the Hospitality Industry, who, from competition to competition, were asked to judge the project proposals.

About Hotelschool The Hague

Hotelschool The Hague was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest independent hotel schools in the world. The school has two campuses, one in The Hague and one in Amsterdam, with more than 2850 students and 250 employees. Hotelschool The Hague has been voted the best public hotel school in The Netherlands since 2014 and ranks among the top hospitality management schools worldwide according to QS World University Rankings. Furthermore, according to Keuzegids, the school had the best Master in Business Administration since 2019. Graduates of Hotelschool The Hague hold management positions in the hospitality industry worldwide. www.hotelschool.nl

Nina de Graaf

+31 623316589

Hotelschool The Hague

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AirDNA Acquires Location Intelligence Platform Arrivalist

AirDNA announced today the acquisition of the pioneering location intelligence platform Arrivalist. This strategic acquisition marks an important milestone in AirDNA's commitment to elevating the standard of data-driven decision-making within the hospitality industry. AirDNA and Arrivalist will sit within predictis, a family of leading software-enabled data businesses. predictis is a portfolio company of Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm that invests in software and services businesses.

"By welcoming Arrivalist to AirDNA, we're accelerating our growth trajectory and reinforcing our commitment to delivering industry-leading insights to our customers. The union of our powerful data platforms will provide businesses with unrivaled intelligence, empowering them to strategize with increased precision," said Demi Horvat, AirDNA's CEO.

AirDNA's acquisition of Arrivalist also marks a key next step in predictis' journey to build a world-class investment and operating platform for data founders and entrepreneurs. "AirDNA's acquisition of Arrivalist represents a blueprint for continued add-on acquisitions to supplement organic growth and capitalize on derived data opportunities from adjacent data sets," said Jean-Marc Levy, CEO of predictis.

Arrivalist pioneered the use of location data in the travel industry, using its patented technology to create bold insights into the way travelers interact with destinations. The company's Calibrated Data, Arrival Lift, and other proprietary technologies have won the trust of 200+ travel marketers in 46 of the 50 states since its inception in 2011.

In addition to the expanded insights gained, the acquisition unites two highly talented teams. AirDNA and Arrivalist both possess exceptional technical talent, including data scientists, data engineers, and account managers with deep industry expertise. The integration of these teams will propel the development of state-of-the-art solutions that meet the evolving needs of the industry.

"We're delighted to join with AirDNA to bring customers even more insights, resources, and innovative products. Bringing together these two powerhouses creates tremendous opportunities for future growth and continued innovation," commented Cree Lawson, CEO of Arrivalist. "This partnership with AirDNA and predictis will create unprecedented new value for our customers."

AirDNA and Arrivalist have already established themselves as integral players in guiding decisions for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), hotels, and other customers. The acquisition is expected to bring customers access to a broader range of products and services, improved support and expertise, and enhanced innovation. Customers of both companies can expect a seamless transition during the integration process.

Cosine Group served as the financial advisor to Arrivalist.
IntercityHotel Karlsruhe Hotel Opens in Germany

The new IntercityHotel Karlsruhe has officially opened its doors. It features 194 rooms, four conference rooms as well as a restaurant and a bar. It has a convenient central location in the direct proximity of Karlsruhe's main railway station.

Guests step into the new hotel's cosmopolitan flair and fashionable atmosphere right upon their arrival at the so-called "City Square", the stylish lobby and place to work, eat and meet. The rooms are outfitted with high-speed WLAN, air conditioning and soundproof windows, all in a timeless, modern design. Four air-conditioned meeting rooms, which can be combined, are bathed in natural light and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. They can accommodate up to 132 people. Services like self-check-in and a small "City Shop" offering snacks, travel supplies and souvenirs enable guests to flexibly organize their stay.

The hotel's restaurant awaits travelers in the morning with a bountiful breakfast buffet, the rest of the day featuring an assortment of regional, national and seasonal dishes. In the bar, guests can kick back and enjoy a fresh drink and delicious snacks or get together with business partners in a cozy atmosphere. Various seating areas, also featuring designer furniture by Fritz Hansen, also afford a relaxing respite. Sketches of a city map of Karlsruhe throughout the hotel are the signature eye-catcher for guests. Graffiti art and other decorative elements capture the local DNA.

In the words of Denis Huttig, Senior Vice President Operations at Deutsche Hospitality: "Karlsruhe is an important business hub and university city, not to mention a convenient crossroads at the intersection of international transport routes. This makes the city an attractive location for us to continue to grow our IntercityHotel brand. Our guests can look forward to a young, urban hotel in the heart of the city  only 200 meters from Karlsruhe central railway station and thus with optimum access to the city's transport network and environs. A big word of thanks goes out to our partners for the excellent collaboration."

Marco Daedelow, Managing Director of the project development company Qcoon Real Estate GmbH, adds: "Today's opening of the IntercityHotel Karlsruhe is an important milestone in the realization of KA DREI. We are very pleased that the hotel is opening its doors. Visitors from all over the world will now find a new and attractive overnight accommodation. Leasing of the office space in KA DREI is also progressing for the planned completion of the offices at the end of 2023. KA DREI meets modern requirements for sustainable construction and will receive the Gold rating level in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process. We are delighted to be able to give the Karlsruhe station district a further modernization boost with KA DREI."

Nikolaus Kunz, General Manager of the IntercityHotel Karlsruhe, comments: "Me and my team look forward to welcoming guests to our new IntercityHotel Karlsruhe. The city has welcomed us with open arms  and we would like to do the same for our guests as well as be a valued host and partner in the region. It is also a great personal honor for me to tackle this new role in my home region and to establish the IntercityHotel brand in Karlsruhe."

Nikolaus Kunz has a home-court advantage: He grew up in the region, completing his educational training as a hotel specialist as well as a state-certified hotel manager in Heidelberg. After different stages of a career spanning Switzerland, Scotland and Germany, amongst others, he served as General Manager of IntercityHotel Erfurt for two and a half years before returning to his home region in March of this year.

IntercityHotel is integrated into the KA DREI office and shopping complex and is located at Victor-Gollancz-Strae 1. Both the Karlsruhe trade fair and congress center and the old town are readily accessible by public transport. Members of the H Rewards loyalty program can use public transport free of charge during their entire stay with the FreeCityTicket.

IntercityHotel Karlsruhe is operated by Deutsche Hospitality as leaseholder. The property is owned by the project company Karlsruhe Victor-Gollancz-Str. Baufeld Hotel GmbH & Co KG. The project was managed by the project development company Qcoon Real Estate GmbH.
The potential of GPT models for the travel industry

It can be difficult to get a firm overview of what GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models might mean for the future of the travel industry  or, indeed, humanity. While many commentators have an opinion, there are comparatively few experts in the field able to offer definitive insight.

I do not pretend to be one of them, but by being a fierce and greedy observer of what is happening in the tech field and in the travel industry, I can see all the potential but also the current limits of the tool.

What we know so far.

Today there are already some key points that can be stated with some certainty.

Firstly, GPT models  and the wider generative artificial intelligence (AI) field  all have tremendous possibilities. The technology, although not new, has the potential to transform everyday life and thus create a huge appetite and concerns.

The chatbot (that has been around for a while), by comprehending and generating human-like natural language in such a stunning manner, has made it widely adopted. ChatGPT has indeed taken the world by storm, racing to accumulate 100 million monthly active users in a mere 40 days, with millions more signing up each month. The tool is innovative because of the sheer volume of data it was trained with  it exceeds previous chatbots by orders of magnitude. ChatGPT 3 was trained with 17 billion trainable parameters and 45 terabytes of data, for example. For reference, the Hubble Space Telescope generates ten terabytes of data per year. In other words, Chat GPT has read more text than a million people will read in their lifetime put together! And lets not forget that ChatGPT 4 is already in the marketplace and from what I have seen so far, it is far bigger than ChatGPT 3.

However, many experts from Yann Le Cun (Meta Chief AI Scientist) to Sam Altman himself (OpenAI CEO) are expressing the limits of the tool, from its nature, the way it is trained, the access to data or its inability to provide proper predictions. Nonetheless, its current possibilities and its capacity to change the way we work remain impressive, and worth the investigation.

What can GPT models do for the travel industry?

It is the distance between this clear potential and current application which is causing a great deal of uncertainty. It is indeed important to remember that commercial uses, in the travel sector and elsewhere, are currently limited.

Most of the use cases in the travel industry are focusing on how GPT models could impact travelers at each stage of the journey.

For example, GPT models could be used in trip planning. Imagine if a traveler could say, Hey, I want to do nature-based activities in southeast Asia. I have two weeks, and this is my price range. What do you recommend? and they would receive a complete trip itinerary in just a few seconds, including flights, hotels, train tickets and transfers to book. This could revolutionize how people search for and book travel. Expedia for example, has started to address this.

On trips, AI-powered instant translation services could make it easier for travelers to manage disruptions or negotiate last-minute changes directly with hosts who do not speak the same language. Machine learning models could also automatically inform a host about a late arrival at their hotel due to a delayed flight or allow them to change bookings on the spot.

The tool could also help travel companies enhance the overall shopping experience, allowing people to go from inspiration to booking in a much more streamlined manner. It could provide first level customer support, but also analyze customer feedback and identify trends or patterns, providing valuable insight into customer sentiment and opportunities for personalization.

Beyond the traveler experience, there are many other possibilities GPT models could offer to travel actors or corporations, this can be done by providing a wider source of content, accelerating, and automating some processes. Typically, in business travel, budget control and forecast, policy enforcement, and expense auditing, could all benefit from GPT models.

What is Amadeus doing in this area?

Today, the examples I will describe below remain works in progress. At Amadeus, we strive for innovation, it is part of our DNA, and therefore we are developing a number of pilots to move them closer to reality. As for any innovation project, it is important to stress these projects are not guaranteed to succeed - but they are nonetheless exciting areas of exploration. As American president, Franklin Roosevelt, famously remarked: It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But try something.

Firstly, in Search & Shopping for airlines for our corporate customers, we are working to build a conversational chatbot to help users complete a booking using natural language. In collaboration with Microsoft and Accenture, a prototype has been built and we are working to integrate the technology with Cytric Easy, with plans to explore the addition of ground transport and hotel bookings.

This gets to the core of the technology  and how Amadeus can use it. GPT models can translate human requests into API requests using live data, which can be actioned into real bookings.

At the same time, we are working together with Microsoft on a co-pilot tool to help generate code across Java and other languages. Amadeus is piloting the tool and working with developers to understand the benefits in this area.

Finally, we are looking at improving content integration. Cytric aggregates content from many providers, using APIs, which can be a cumbersome process. In experiments we have conducted, ChatGPT was able to reduce individual components of some integration tasks from days to a matter of minutes.

But are GPT models safe to use?

At Amadeus, while we are on the positive end of the scale, as with everything we must err on the side of caution in this fast-evolving space. In response, we have developed principles that guide AI development and its uses within our company.

First and foremost, we take the management and usage of this technology very seriously and carefully to ensure the respect of end-users and customers data privacy, AI Ethics and internal legal policies. We also manage the acceptance of the deployment on a case-by-case basis and have started educating our employees on the principals to comply with.

To conclude, GPT models are a technology that offer a multitude of possibilities - but much remains to be seen.

Today at Amadeus our teams, in collaboration with customers and partners, like Microsoft, are looking at how to maximize this potential. Looking to help make the experience of travel better, free our employees from tedious and time-consuming tasks, accelerate our developments and enable corporations to be more efficient.

With much more to come, I will continue to take a close interest in what is to come.

Rudy Daniello is the Executive Vice President Amadeus Cytric Solutions
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 85F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
State Allocates $330K for 2 Berkshire Dam Projects

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Two Berkshire County dam projects were among 21 across the state receiving funding from the state's Dam and Seawall Program.

Pittsfield's Sandwash Reservoir dam rehabilitation project is receiving $250,000 toward design and permitting; the Plunkett Dam spillway in Hinsdale is getting $82,500 for design and permitting.

The Sandwash Reservoir is owned by the city of Pittsfield but located in the town of Washington. It flows into the Farnham Reservoir and from there into the Ashley intake to the Ashley Water Treatment Plant. While considered low risk as of 2019, a breach of the dam would send up to 260 million gallons of water into both Washington and Lee.

More than $56 million in grants for repairs and permitting for dams and coastal infrastructure was announced on Monday by the Healey-Driscoll administration. The funding through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will allow communities and nonprofit organizations to repair critical infrastructure or remove obsolete structures.

The grants will support 17 design and permitting projects and four construction projects. With these new grants, the Dam and Seawall Program has now provided $120 million in grants and loans to address deficient dams, seawalls, and levees since the program began in 2013.

The grants come following devastating storms that flooded fields and farms in Western Massachusetts.

"Last week, I saw firsthand the catastrophic flooding impacting many peoples personal and professional lives," said Gov. Maura Healey, who visited North Adams on Wednesday. "As we continue to experience the impacts of climate change, it's critical to invest in programs like this that will enhance our safety and infrastructure. We are proud to announce these awards, which will help us build a more resilient Massachusetts."

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll was in Deerfield on Monday to speak with farmers affected by the flooding.

"Last week we saw clearly how important dam maintenance and planning is and the impact extreme weather can have in our region and throughout our state," said state Sen. Paul Mark. "The grants for Pittsfield and Hinsdale will be very helpful with preparation and mitigation as we know the next weather event is potentially just around the corner. I applaud the Healey administration for their focus and partnership as we rebuild and plan ahead and I know this funding will go a long way in our Western Mass communities."
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.
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Hollywoods actors and writers have both gone on strike for the first time since 1960, as they protest against a potentially unsettling future for the industry.

On Thursday (13 July), the leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the Hollywood union representing 160,000 television and movie actors, went on strike.

In doing so, they join the Writers Guild of America, who represent the industrys screenwriters and have already been picketing for over 70 days.

Follow The Independents live blog for real-time updates on the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Both unions are striking in protest against a number of decisions by major studios that include not just job cuts but also how generative artificial intelligence tools could replace their roles in the industry.

Over the last decade, AI has found several uses in the movie and television industry, from de-aging actors, analysing patterns and behaviours of viewers on streaming platforms, bringing back the voices of late actors and even helping stitch together entire movie trailers.

One of the proposals, as explained by SAG-AFTRAs national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, feels like it is straight out of dystopian science fiction series Black Mirror.

During a press conference on Thursday, Crabtree-Ireland alleged that a proposal from Hollywood studios was to use groundbreaking AI to scan background performers and only offer them a days pay while the companies get to own the scans and use them for any project they want.

This groundbreaking AI proposal that they gave us yesterday, they proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get one days pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity on any project they want, with no consent and no compensation, he said.

If you think thats a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again.

A statement from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that represents the studios claimed the groundbreaking proposal protects actors digital likenesses for SAG-AFTRA members.

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We are being victimised by a very greedy enterprise... The entire business model has been changed by streaming and AI If we dont stand tall right now, we are all going to be in jeopardy, the actors guild president Fran Drescher said.

Writers who have already been protesting since May have also sought assurances from studios that their jobs would not be threatened by AI.

With the steady rise of online streaming services looking to rack up user subscriptions by churning out endless amounts of digital content, writers on strike have sought new pay structures, guaranteed periods of work as well as better discussions on the limits of AI use.

Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) shared concerns that producers may seek to use AI to write scripts or at least use the technology to complete unfinished screenplays, and have also urged production houses to agree to safeguards around its usage.

Screenwriters fear AI could be used to churn out a rough first draft with a few simple prompts and writers may then be hired after this initial step to punch such drafts up  albeit at a lower pay rate.

Without further dialogue with studios, writers have raised concerns there could be a number of new ways that AI could be used to craft outlines for stories, fill in scenes and even come up with mock-up drafts.

There are ways it can be useful. But too many people are using it against us and using it to create mediocrity. Theyre also in violation of copyright. Theyre also plagiarising, Michael Winship, president of the WGA East, said in May.

With these risks in mind, the WGA seeks more safeguards on how AI can be applied to the screenwriting process.

In a recent interview with The Independent, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend writer Rachel Bloom said that AI creates formulaic writing, but feared that execs would use AI-generated scripts as a jumping-off point which writers would be asked to hone.

If you are not artistically ambitious and youre like, I just want... a formulaic but passable script, thats very scary, she said. [AI] doesnt yet extrapolate in the way that writers do, but it very well could very soon.
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A man in Taiwan was sent to prison for three months for logging into his wifes Facebook account in an attempt to win her back.

A local court found the man  identified as just Hou by local media  guilty of breaching his wifes privacy on the social media platform and sent him to prison for three months.

The couple had a dispute in May last year, according to the Taipei Times. Following this, his wife left the house they shared in Chiayi city in the southwest of the island and took their young daughter along.

The wife, identified as Ms Yu, reportedly refused to take her husbands calls and cut all contact after the heated row.

He then hacked into his wifes Facebook account to send a message to his daughter and mother-in-law. In the message, using his wifes Facebook account, he apologised for his behaviour and asked that his mother-in-law and daughter intervene in the row.

The Taipei court was told that the man logged into his wifes Facebook account twice, on 31 May and 1 June last year, to contact his daughter and mother-in-law.

The age of their daughter is unclear.

It was also not clear why the man used his wifes account or if he had his own Facebook account.

After learning about the breach of her privacy, Ms Yu reportedly filed criminal charges against Hou.

The courts ruling earlier this month emphasised that individuals do not relinquish their right to privacy upon marriage.

The Taiwanese man also pleaded guilty before the judges and was convicted of offences against computer security under Taiwans criminal code, according to the Straits Times.

He was charged for using his wifes password to access her Facebook account without her consent and for altering [her] digital record by using her account to send messages.

The court sentenced him to three months in prison, with the option to commute the sentence by paying a fine of NT$1,000 (approximately 25) per day.
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Officials overseeing a landmark effort to reintroduce cheetahs to India failed to communicate crucial monitoring information with experts supporting the initiative from Africa, it has been claimed, plunging the project into crisis and leading to the avoidable deaths of at least two big cats.

Adrian Tordiffe, a top South African expert and member of Indias Cheetah Project Steering Committee working on the initiative since 2020, expressed frustration on behalf of his team over a lack of transparency from officials at Kuno National Park, where an Indian team has been struggling to acclimatise 20 cheetahs imported from Namibia and South Africa.

Eight cheetahs have now died within the first 10 months of the project, including three cubs born to a female cat in March this year.

India says all the deaths have been due to natural causes, but experts are particularly concerned about two recent fatalities that were at least partly attributed to skin infections caused by the radio collars used to track the animals in the wild. Plans are now in place to remove the collars, which prevented the cheetahs necks from drying after they became wet during the monsoon season.

The issue we are fighting with at the moment is that I have very little access to accurate, real-time data coming out of Kuno. Whilst we are still trying and still want the project to succeed, it has become frustratingly difficult to try and get any information and to be able to give any input from outside, said Tordiffe.

The South Africa-based expert is still awaiting details from India on a cheetah injured in a violent clash between two coalitions last month, with the animal reported to be suffering from a metatarsal fracture.

I asked them to send me some radiographs of the cheetah suffering from a fracture. I still havent got them. I havent seen a picture of the wounds, I have no idea what the extent of the injuries are because I have not seen photos or radiographs, I havent even had any feedback on how that animal is doing, he told The Independent.

Tordiffe said that beyond the lack of communications around medical emergencies, he and his team have even been excluded from regular meetings of the steering committee. We were sent a notice of this meeting [last Friday] a few days ago, he says. We inquired whether we could participate in the meeting online but didnt receive any response whatsoever.

The cheetah reintroduction project was many years in the making and finally launched with great fanfare last September by prime minister Narendra Modi himself, who opened the gate to allow the first animals into their enclosure in Kuno, in Indias Madhya Pradesh state. The project aims to create the first stable population of cheetahs in India since they were hunted to extinction in the 1950s.

Indian PM Modi releases Namibian cheetahs into Kuno national park enclosures

Yet officials have granted almost no media access to the project since then, and Tordiffe said that while he has repeatedly asked for information from Kuno officials so they can issue a joint media statement together on recent incidents, that never happens.

The project, he said, started seeing issues  especially on the communication front  after the respected Indian scientist behind the reintroduction programme, YV Jhala, was ousted from his role without any reason given.

Narendra Modis administration had extended his role by two years right at the cusp of his retirement so that he could oversee the cheetah project  yet, soon after the animals landed in India, Jhala was asked to leave his post at Kuno National Park.

Tordiffe said Jhala was a trusted colleague in the project and that he and his team were monitoring cheetahs overnight and getting up to ensure that the cats were adjusting well. After he left, Tordiffe says, things have changed drastically.

Jhala was terminated from his role on 28 February; the first cheetah death occurred shortly after in March, and seven more have followed.

Based on the causes of the cheetahs deaths  including the three cubs  poor monitoring has almost certainly been a factor, Tordiffe said.

They [the cubs] actually died of starvation and dehydration. You must have left them unmonitored for a really long time and when you do see them, you have got nothing to compare the assessment with because youre seeing these cubs on the Indian soil for the first time, said Tordiffe, adding that he would have wanted to handle and weigh the cubs himself and watch them very closely on a daily basis.

If the officials in Kuno saw that cubs were struggling or sluggish, that should have been the warning sign to intervene, give them a drip and nutrition, he said. That never happened, because there was a fear that any sort of close monitoring would cause the mother to reject the cubs. In the end, what they feared happened in any case. Because she was a first time mother, she neglected them and she didnt know what was happening.

When the cubs started moving around, she was a bit confused and irritated by them, he said, adding that it is a real concern that the project on the ground does not have the most experienced people available for monitoring cheetah behaviour.

The moment one of the first batch of cheetahs is released into an enclosure at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh state (PIB/AFP via Getty Images)

A senior official at Kuno rejected the idea that there had been a breakdown in communications with the team in Africa. JS Chauhan, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden on the project, said India was in regular contact with experts in the donor countries and sharing anything and everything required to be shared.

He said he was not aware of Tordiffes requests for information regarding the cheetah suffering from a metatarsal fracture.

Chauhan cited the decision to remove the cheetahs satellite radio collars as an example of how good communication channels between India and South Africa have helped tackle issues with the project swiftly.

When a video of the cheetahs who died of septicemia last week was sent to South Africa on Friday, the team immediately identified the problem with the collars and their incompatibility with Indias extremely wet monsoon conditions, and told the forest department to remove them.

But experts described it as too little too late, and said more proactive communication and monitoring could have saved the cheetahs from a likely slow and painful death.

Some of the mortalities could have been avoided, especially the cubs, females killed by males, and the last two deaths caused by skin infections. [These deaths] have been a very costly learning experience that we could have done without, but they can be compensated with more imports from Africa, though [this will be] expensive, Jhala told The Independent.

Indian officials have described one of the South African cheetahs as being in a compromised condition, and say a Namibian cheetah was ailing from a chronic kidney disorder, implying that the big cats sent to India were not in the best shape.

One of the Namibian cheetahs, wearing a satellite radio collar, is seen tranquillised before its transfer to Kuno National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh (Cheetah Conservation Fund)

Tordiffe described such suggestions as utter nonsense. We carried extensive health screening on the South African cheetahs. There mustve been some slip up from Namibia thats why one of the females got through that and ended up going to India that actually already had some issues before she even left, he said.

I have got all blood results for all of the cheetahs that left our side and I can assure you I did the clinical examinations on those cats before they were weighed and we examined them. Their blood was analysed for various different reasons to ensure that they did not have any liver, kidney or any other ailment. They were all very healthy when they got to India, so that suggestion is completely false, he told The Independent.

Despite the setbacks, Tordiffe says he still supports the India reintroduction project and describes it as one possible beacon of hope for a cheetah population that is otherwise globally on the decline.

None of our conservation efforts elsewhere in Africa [apart from one project in South Africa] are paying off at this stage. If we dont do something drastically different, we should not expect drastic results. This project is for us to be able to push back the tide and turn things around, introduce African cheetahs back into India, then expand reintroduction into Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, [although] those would probably be from Somalia, Tordiffe said.

He fears that if this project fails it will put others off attempting something as ambitious as this in future.

The sacrifice of a few animals for the benefit of the species is absolutely worth it. There are hopes that this project is going to turn around. This is a very difficult project but the alternative for me is to do nothing and watch the cheetah population decline across the range. Its just not an option.
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A spate of dolphin attacks on swimmers at a popular tourist beach in Japan in a single day has prompted serious warnings by the countrys officials.

The aquatic mammals have a reputation for being friendly creatures, but experts have pointed out that wild dolphins can exhibit aggression and stress due to human interactions.

Four swimmers were left injured in separate dolphin attacks in a single day at the beach in central Japan, officials said.

On Sunday, a dolphin attacked a man in the shallow waters at the Suishohama beach in Fukui prefecture, breaking his ribs, reports said.

Around 4.10am local time, an eyewitness notified the police about the dolphin attack that occurred at the tourist spot in the town of Mihama.

The man in his 60s from Gifu prefecture reportedly suffered three or four broken ribs and bites to his hands.

According to the Tsuruga police station, the swimmer was approximately five metres offshore with a friend when the dolphin lunged at them.

In the same morning, another incident occurred, in which a man in his 40s was bitten by a dolphin on his left arm.

Later in the day, two more people were reportedly injured by the dolphins at the beach.

If you see them [dolphins], dont go into the water, a Japanese official was quoted as saying by The Asahi Shimbun. They have also put up signs near the beach, warning swimmers of the dolphin attacks.

Police said they received a total of six reports of dolphin attacks this season alone.

A series of dolphin bites involving beachgoers was also reported by local media last year in Fukui prefecture.

In February this year, a woman was left fighting for her life when a dolphin nearly bit her foot off during a wild swim in a river in Santa Rosa de Yacuma, Bolivia.

In 2019, during a swim with dolphins tourist experience in Cancun, Mexico, a distressing incident occurred in which two dolphins attacked 10-year-old Lexi Yeo, a British girl.

The dolphins reportedly dragged Lexi underwater. It was reported at the time that, despite pleas from the trainers, the animals did not stop attacking the girl.

In yet another example of a vicious dolphin attack, dolphins attacked an Irish woman named Valerie Ryan in 2012.

I was in hospital for five days, in a back brace for several weeks and off work for five months with limited mobility, stiffness and pain. Then I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, she told The Guardian.

My near-death experience had left me anxious about everything and overreacting in a way I had never done before. I felt that people were looking at me in the wrong way, I began to struggle with loud noises and I suffered from memory loss. Three months before the accident, I had opened a health-food shop, but I had to let it go because I could no longer work.

Marine life experts have discovered evidence suggesting wild bottlenose dolphins in particular experience significant stress when swimming alongside humans.

The presence of humans disrupts their behavioural routines, making such interactions incredibly stressful for the animals.
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China recorded its highest-ever temperature on Sunday amid blistering heatwaves that have been shattering records all summer in the country and across the globe.

The remote Sanbao township in the Turpan depression of Xinjiang saw temperatures climb up to 52.2C.

Sundays temperature broke the previous record of 50.3C, measured in 2015 near Ayding in the depression, a vast basin of sand dunes and dried-up lakes more than 150 metres below sea level.

China has been hit by a series of climate disasters this year with ongoing heatwaves shattering record after record, extreme rainfall prompting floods and landslides and tropical storm Talim making landfall on Monday.

The record 50C temperature comes after Chinas Mohe, in Heilongjiang province, recorded temperatures of minus 53C in January amid an extreme cold spell.

China has been facing a dramatic swing of extreme weather in recent days, with back-to-back heatwaves and thunderstorms hitting various parts of the country.

The country recorded its hottest June since 2000, with Beijing enduring temperatures over 35C for 14 consecutive days, the highest number of scorching days since records began in 1961.

In recent days, temperatures have repeatedly crossed the highs of 45C in several northern regions, while severe rainfall and flooding have killed dozens in Southwest China.

Meteorologists are predicting that sweltering conditions in the country will persist for the next five days, asking citizens to brace for relentless heat.

The extreme weather has triggered Chinese cities to open air raid shelters to provide relief to their citizens. Employers were ordered to restrict outdoor work due to soaring temperatures.

The record-breaking heatwave in China aligns with the global trend of extreme temperatures. Large parts of Europe and North and Central America are reeling under record-shattering heat.

Back-to-back heatwaves are pushing temperatures higher in southern Europe, with Italys Sardinia expected to breach the 48C mark, breaking 2021s record of the highest temperature in the continent.

Meanwhile, the southern US is grappling with record-breaking heat as well. Californias Death Valley recorded a temperature of 53C on Sunday.

The heat warnings in the US have spread from the Pacific Northwest, down through California, through the Southwest and into the Deep South and Florida.

The extreme temperatures were recorded as the first week of July marked the planets hottest week on record, data from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has shown.

The UN body said June was the hottest month ever recorded worldwide, attributing the soaring temperatures to the worsening climate crisis and the early stages of El Nino, a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific.

Amid the ongoing global heatwave crisis, the US and China are reopening climate talks for the first time since last year, when increasing tensions between the countries suspended any bilateral talks.

US climate envoy John Kerry landed in Beijing on Sunday and met Chinas climate envoy Xie Zhenhua to address climate change challenges ahead of the upcoming global climate summit in Dubai.

Mr Kerry said the worsening climate disasters were making it toxic for people to live on the planet.

Floods and intensive storms happen with greater frequency than ever before... Fires devour millions of acres of forest every year, Mr Kerry said in a conference in Beijing on Monday morning.

It is toxic for both Chinese and for Americans and for people in every country on the planet.
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Southern Europe is bracing for scorching temperatures this week as a new anticyclone entered the region, adding to the deadly heatwave that began last week.

The new weather system, named Charon after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, moved over the region on Sunday after days of sweltering heat under another high pressure weather system dubbed Cerberus.

Charon, which like Cerberus has moved northwards from north Africa, is expected to drive temperatures in Italys Sardinia as high as 48C, a mark that could see it approach or even break Sicilys 48.8C record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe.

The European Space Agency (ESA) says Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland may see extreme conditions.

The impact of the heatwave has already led to raging wildfires in Spain prompting the evacuation of over 4,000 people, Greece shutting down the ancient Acropolis during the hottest part of the day and Italy issuing hot weather red alerts for 16 cities.

Heres what the forecasters are saying for extreme temperatures in Spain, Italy and Greece:

Italy

Italy has already seen the extreme heat turning deadly with a 44-year-old worker collapsing while painting zebra crossing lines in the town of Lodi, near Milan. He died in hospital last week.

Several tourists struggled with the heat, including an unnamed British tourist who passed out in front of the ancient Roman Colosseum on Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to remain hot this week with large parts of Italy expected to be above 35C on Tuesday and some cities forecast to hit 40C and above.

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.

Health alerts are in place across various regions in Italy, including Rome, Florence, Palermo in Sicily, and Bari in the southeast.

The hottest weather is forecast to hit Sardinia, where meteorologists say there is a chance of the mercury hitting 48C or above, and potentially recording a European record.

Rome could see 43C, smashing the previous record for the Italian capital set last summer.

Italian health minister Orazio Schillaci urged people to take care, especially elderly individuals, asking people not to visit iconic outdoor sites like the Colosseum during the extreme heat.

Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C is not advisable, especially for an elderly person, he told Il Messaggero newspaper on Sunday, saying people should stay indoors between 11am and 6pm.

Spain

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In Spain, temperatures are expected to be above 40C and remain high throughout the night, making it challenging to find respite from the heat.

Forecasters are also warning of the risk of forest fires as blazes erupted in the La Palma region of the Canary Islands on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents.

Last week, the ground temperature in Spain, which is different from the air temperatures recorded for weather forecasts, crossed 60C in Extremadura, Spain.

Spains largest cities, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia are set to see temperatures above 35C, according to the current forecasts. But meteorologists warn the mercury can climb up to the mid-40s in some places including Zaragoza in central Spain this week.

Greece

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Greece has been baking in 40C heat as authorities have already taken precautions, closing the ancient Acropolis during the hottest part of the day to protect tourists.

There are also fears in Greece of a greater risk of wildfires, especially in areas with high winds. It suffered major wildfires in 2021 in another exceptional heatwave.

Earlier on Friday a tourist was stretchered out of the Acropolis site after falling ill due to the heat, local police said. Several other tourists in Athens reportedly sought help for heat stress.

The Red Cross has been distributing water bottles and helping people feeling nauseous and dizzy in the heat.

There and in 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.

Authorities in affected regions are urging residents and tourists to take necessary precautions, including staying indoors during the hottest parts of the day, staying hydrated, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities.

Heatwaves are one of the deadliest natural hazards. Last years summer heatwave killed 61,672 people in Europe, a recent study has found.

The extreme heat in Europe comes as various records fell globally in recent days driven by the worsening climate crisis and the El Nino phenomenon in the Pacific, which is known to drive temperatures higher.

The first week of this month saw the average temperature of Earth at its highest level on record. Heatwaves have gripped the oceans and large parts of the northern hemisphere affecting large parts of the US, driving record wildfires in Canada and intense heat in China and Japan.

This weekend, China recorded its hottest July temperature 52.2C while Californias Death Valley hit 51C on Sunday.
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Climate activists have attacked a superyacht belonging to Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie, spraying red and black paint across the stern.

The vessel was vandalised on Sunday in Ibiza by members of the Spain-based environmental group Futuro Vegetal.

Two activists were photographed holding a sign that read: You Consume Others Suffer.

A crew member can be seen behind them hosing the paint off the side of the boat.

Both of the demonstrators were arrested.

The group posted images and videos of the attack on Instagram, writing: 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.

The mega-rich live off the suffering of others. It is the people who are at the top of the social pyramid who put all life on the planet at their service, forcing us to work to sustain their system, exploiting animals and destroying the territory no matter how much suffering and death it implies.

Just two days before, the group had also sprayed a private jet with black and yellow paint.

Ms Laurie, the owner of the yacht, inherited a stake in Walmart in 1995 from her father, Bud Walton, who built the brand into the retail empire it is today with his brother.

According to Forbes, Ms Laurie is worth approximately $8.7bn.

Her yacht, Kaos, is worth $300m and is 361 feet long with four decks, accommodation for 31 guests and a 45-person crew.

Featuring full spa facilities, an aquarium and a cinema, there are also separate gyms for guests and crew and a small hospital for onboard emergencies.
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Nicole Kidman has once again spoken out about her viral Vanity Fair cover that sparked controversy in February 2022.

The 56-year-old actor wore a micro-mini skirt and matching bra top by Miu Miu in the magazine cover shoot. She completed her look with calf-high socks and pointed leather loafers.

At the time, Kidmans magazine cover became the center of debates around ageism and beauty standards.

Some fans of the actor criticised Vanity Fair for allegedly using too much photoshop on her photo.

In a new interview with Australias Stellar magazine, Kidman opened up about the viral cover and why she chose to wear the controversial outfit.

I make the most random, crazy choices, the Northman star said. I call them teenage choices because I just dont ever think of consequences.

Part of my brain just doesnt think like that. I just go, Oh, Im going to wear that; it reminds me of my school uniform. Or, Oh my God, yeah, Id love to do that,

She added: I try to [stay] in that place because I think otherwise you get scared or worried.

(Vanity Fair)

Reflecting on the online criticism, Kidman said she avoids looking at it.

Dont tell me, I dont really want to know  it will stop me doing what I want to do, she said. There are times when you hear things and you go, Oh my gosh, thats really hurtful.

Because you cant be under a rock, she said. But at the same time, I really try to stay free in the choices because otherwise, before you know it, youre just closed off and you cant step anywhere.

I want for myself just to keep going, Oh, well, Im trying something or I wanted to do it. It was fun. That was my choice. And yeah, I own it. Im accountable. Whatever. I take responsibility. Nobody else chose it, the Boy Erased actor acknowledged.

This isnt the first time Kidman has spoken about the magazine cover.

In a 2022 interview with Australian director Baz Luhrmann, who worked with Kidman on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge, the Kidman revealed that her stylist on the shoot, Katie Grand, had prepared a different outfit for the cover.

I showed up and they had another outfit for me and I was like, No, no, I like this one! Am I allowed to wear that?, she said.

And Katie Grand, whos just fantastic, was on Zoom, and Katie was like, Youre willing to wear that?! And I said, Wear it?! Im begging you to wear it!

Luhrmann, who sat down with Kidman over the phone for Australian Vogue, said that wearing the outfit on the magazine cover was a personal achievement of Kidmans.
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Robert Downey Jr was lucky enough to get an invitation for dinner at Stanley Tuccis house over the weekend.

The Iron Man star, 58, sat down with Tucci in Casa Tucci and was treated to an Italian feast of pasta and the seafood dish cod alla livornese, which comprises of cod in a tomato sauce with capers, kalamata olives and garlic.

Downey Jr shared a video on Instagram showing the Big Night star cooking up a storm in his kitchen. The clip also showed Downey Jr eating and closing his eyes in satisfaction, before giving Tucci a kiss on the cheek after the meal.

The Oppenheimer actor also praised Tuccis wife Felicity Blunt, whose sister is his co-star Emily Blunt, for welcoming him into their home.

He wrote in the caption: Dinner @ Casa Tucci  Truly a gem of a fella and Felicity made me feel like family. Check out Stanley Tucci in Searching for Italy.

Tucci also posted his own video about the dinner and revealed he threw the dinner party for 11 more people. He gave fans a short rundown of all the ingredients in the cod alla livornese and showed off the finished product before serving up.

Fans reacted adoringly to Tucci and Downey Jr enjoying one anothers company at dinner, ahead of the release of Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film, about the making of the atomic bomb, is out on Friday 21 July.

My brain may have stopped functioning because [Robert Downey Jr] and Stanley Tucci, two of Just I cant, one fan wrote on Twitter.

Another said: Stanley Tucci and Robert Downey Jr?? This is everything to me!! Im in tears, look at them.

One person even tried out the recipe that Tucci cooked for themselves and was effusive about how tasty it was.

Ive been eating a lot of meat lately, so decided to opt for fish for lunch. I never cook cod, but Stanley Tucci posted a video of himself cooking [cod alla livornese] for friends and I got inspired to try something new. Yall, this is one of the best thing Ive made in a minute.

Tucci has many fans who love his recipe videos for dishes and cocktails on social media.

One of his most popular videos, posted in 2020 during the Covid lockdown, showed the travel show host demonstrating how to make his favourite cocktail, a negroni.

Earlier this month, Tucci admitted that he tried to break up with his now-wife Felicity because of their 21-year age gap and said he was afraid to get into a relationship because he didnt want to feel old for the rest of my life.

But I knew this was an incredibly special person, he told Radio 4s Desert Island Discs. Felicity has been so incredible taking on a widower and three children. Thats a huge thing, at a very young age too. If anybody made things better for all of us, its her. Shes the one.

Before marrying Felicity, Tucci was married to Kate Spath-Tucci for 14 years and shared twins Isabel and Nicolo and daughter Camilla. Kate died from stage 4 breast cancer in 2009.

Tucci and Felicity share two children, Matteo Oliver and Emilia Giovanna. They met a year-and-a-half after Kates death and married in 2012.

Meanwhile, Downey Jr recently teased that John Krasinski, who is married to Emily Blunt, might have a cameo in Oppenheimer. He shared a photograph with his castmates, including Cillian Murphy and Matt Damon, on social media last weekend.
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We need some boundaries, he tells you, while exercising some of the most casual cruelty youve ever seen. This is my self-care. If youve dated in the Instagram age, youve probably encountered therapy speak like this, in which professional-sounding, doctor-certified words and phrases bulldoze their way into our relationship vocabulary. Under this doctrine of mental wellness  usually professed by self-help influencers and the very worst people on TikTok  pampering oneself and cosying up to Netflix is branded as self-care. Relaxing is a mental health day. And boundaries? Well those are apparently setting unattainable expectations for the people around you to meet.

Boundaries came under the spotlight last week as texts supposedly sent by the Superbad actor Jonah Hill were leaked by his ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady. In them, Hill allegedly told Brady  who is a professional surfer  that she cannot surf with men, post pictures of herself wearing a bathing suit, model, or have friendships with women who are in unstable places. Why? Because those are his boundaries for a romantic relationship.

Brady alleged that Hill was emotionally abusive. After the screenshots went viral, critics pointed out specific undertones to the language in the texts. Political activist and No Offence, But author Gina Martin claimed on Instagram that the word boundaries, in this context, should be exchanged for misogynistic ultimatums. Others suggested that boundaries as a term was being gravely misused. Typically, to create boundaries is to set limitations in order to protect someones mental wellbeing, such as letting your friend know that repeatedly calling you in the early hours of the morning to whine about an ex might be too much.

While boundaries have been recommended by self-help authors since the Eighties, the term has only entered the mainstream internet vernacular in recent years. Its been further popularised by bite-size video clips on TikTok, in which self-professed wellness influencers preach the benefits of the term. Now, asserting boundaries in all aspects of your life is seen as a solution to batting off toxic behaviour and to protect your energy  a popular idiom that also whiffs of Instagram spirituality and post-pandemic individualism. In a sense, its all shorthand for putting yourself first. But in our search for new ways to articulate our feelings, have we taken boundaries too far in our romantic lives? Are people hiding their judgemental behaviour and unattainable demands behind a veil of mental health?

According to relationship expert Jessica Alderson, there are some serious benefits to implementing boundaries in your romantic relationships. She identifies boundaries as a set of guidelines, limits, and expectations around how you want to be treated by others. And in your love life, setting them with your partner can help build trust, maintain individuality and foster mutual respect. Alderson believes that boundaries can be especially helpful when both parties feel listened to. You might set a boundary with your partner that you need time alone to decompress after a long day, she says. This boundary can help ensure that you get the space you need to reset.

But its not that straightforward. Ironically, in trying to communicate our feelings, there is a major miscommunication behind what we actually mean when we refer to boundaries. In the self-help columns and books Ive read on the topic, boundaries are often referred to rather vaguely and sometimes used as a synonym for merely talking to your significant other about your relationship. One article, titled How to Set Healthy Boundaries in a Relationship, advises readers to tell their partner exactly what you need out of the relationship and what youre willing to do for them. That sounds like a good starting point for a conversation  but do our exchanges need to be so rigid and robotic?

Ali Ross, a psychotherapist and representative of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, tells me that people are often misusing the boundary term, and could be having more productive and open conversations if they ditched therapy jargon altogether. Its rare your therapist will actually advise you to assert some boundaries to quell your lifes problems, after all. Ross says that he avoids using therapy jargon in his sessions, too. I will throw my hands up and say boundaries in air quotes because I think its problematic that people assume we all know what we mean when we say [that].

The problem is that people are using it without understanding the weight of the term. They are using therapy jargon as a way to not be vulnerable or open and its got serious shortcomings Ali Ross

All of this could also have more worrying consequences. Not knowing the meaning of therapy jargon we adopt could be harmful, and weaponising that language can let a partner get away with unkind or controlling behaviour. There is a difference between communicating your needs in a healthy way and trying to control the other person, says Alderson. She adds that using therapy-speak to describe your feelings might come across as clinical, especially if those boundaries being asserted are not coming from an authentic place.

From working with many couples, Ross has noticed that when couples try to implement boundaries to improve their relationship, they usually find themselves in rigid scenarios that lack spontaneity or ease. I dont find that kind of language [is] inviting of any dialogue, he explains. The problem is that people are using it without understanding the weight of the term. They are using therapy jargon as a way to not be vulnerable or open and its got serious shortcomings.

Ross says that using a boundary to establish control or safety over your life is OK, but its worth questioning why you need that boundary in the first place and if there is a more direct way of approaching that problem. But if its a demand or expectation that somebody must meet your boundary purely because you have made a statement, he says, then you must understand what you mean by the terminology that you have used.

Jonah Hill and Sarah Brady in 2021 (Getty)

Its also easy to nod along when someone tells you they have decided to implement a boundary in your relationship, especially when that terminology sounds serious and backed by professional psychoanalysis  it can feel quite arresting, too, when the fingers are being pointed at you. Ross advises people that might feel boxed in by therapy language to trust their instincts and not assume that a persons demands are sacrosanct. You have permission to be curious about what someone means, he says.

Our obsession with therapy jargon might be better understood as a constant desire to find new ways to articulate ourselves. Ross adds that the way forward should be to have more frank, direct conversations, and ask ourselves why we might feel we need boundaries that could otherwise be perceived as demands. The jargon of therapy is not this sort of unchallengeable gospel truth, says Ross. Its just a way of trying to describe the world. And often it does it badly.
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A company aiming to help women back into public relations jobs after starting a family has been welcomed by the industry.

PR Mums was set up by managing director Emma Padden and a group of seven founding mums who recognised how challenging it is to return to work following maternity leave or taking time out for childcare.

There are countless barriers to returning to work, said Jo Vyvyan-Robinson, partner at Freud Communications and founding mum at PR Mums.

The cost of childcare, the need for flexible working and of course the mental and physical load of trying to do it all.

The lack of support and flexibility for those returning to work is causing some women to abandon their careers in PR.

The harsh reality facing mums coming back into the comms industry following parental leave is pretty daunting and uncompromising, said Ali Maynard-James, managing director at Manifest Group and another founding mum.

Its no wonder so many talented women leave the industry  this has to stop.

As well as connecting candidates with employers, the company will support workers via training, events, mentoring and an online forum, and campaign and advocate on key issues.

Many of the founders were spurred to create PR Mums from personal experiences. For nearly half my 20-year career Ive been a working PR mum and have experienced the mental and physical challenges and complexities of juggling a job I love with having a family, said Vyvyan-Robinson.

Every mum in this industry has a story to tell. Whether that is one of having to deprioritise her career because the hours dont fit around childcare, or of overcoming struggles of navigating a young family and need to often be available 24/7, justifying the steep cost of childcare versus her salary or worst still, returning to work after a baby only to be overlooked for progression, misunderstood or deemed unreliable.

Maynard-James added: PR Mums gives me the chance to work alongside some incredible women and become an activist of change and represent parents in our industry to demand more.

More than 75 PR agencies have signed up to support the initiative and advertise vacancies.

Our goal is to add to the industry excellent candidates who feel they otherwise wouldnt be able to stay in the profession after having a child, and to support companies in helping them to stay in the industry, said Alexandra Heybourne, founding mum and director at Freud Communications.

The company also wants to highlight what mums can bring to the table.

In my experience, new parents are highly focused, more empathetic and seem to have an inner strength they didnt have before, said founding mum Nicola McKelvey, a self-employed senior communications consultant.

By helping mothers get back into work, the firm hopes to see more women rise to senior roles.

In PR especially, its a real issue that so many women drop out of the industry after they have a child, leaving agencies male-heavy in senior positions, McKelvey continued.

This affects the whole PR eco-system, impacting culture, values and behaviours of each organisation. PR Mums aims to address this and ensure women are properly represented throughout the PR industry.

The companys pre-launch announcement generated a flood of support and positive responses on social media from industry insiders who believe an initiative like this is long overdue.

That we went viral is testimony to the strength of the people involved and more importantly the absolute need for PR Mums from all sides of the sector, said Heybourne.

Weve been flooded with stories, opportunities and solidarity  whats heartening is that everyone wants to support mums and more broadly parents in the industry. The opportunities are huge.

PR Mums launches on July 17. To register, support or get involved visit pr-mums.com.
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Scott Evans has defended his brother Chris Evans relationship with Alba Baptista after fans criticised the couples 16-year age gap.

During an appearance on The Viall Files podcast, the Barbie star shared that he approves of his older brothers relationship with the 26-year-old Portuguese actor, as he spoke about the difficulties of dating someone in the spotlight.

Its tough with everythingin the world, people can ruin things pretty quickly, the 39-year-old actor told podcast host Nick Viall. Its not getting better, its only getting worse. The way people can be can make it pretty hard to date someone like that.

The soap opera actor admitted that being in the public eye has made relationships kind of hard for the Captain America star.

Because you think: Im just dating a person, hes a guy and all of a sudden its article after article, after article, Evans continued. [And] everybody [is] just being like you are a piece of crap to anybody hes tried to date and just destroying them. You can only take that for so long and it makes relationships kind of hard for him.

The Massachusetts native went on to reveal that he received messages from fans calling him their brother-in-law and professing their love for the Knives Out actor.

"I cant tell you how many messages and things I get tagged in on the daily  If your brother just meets me, we are going to be in love, Evans explained. "Everybodys always commenting, being like: Hey, brother-in-law.

He added that social media has allowed fans to further comment on Chris private life, admitting that the internet can be a dark place and people can get very bold.

Last November, it was reported that Chris Evans had been dating Alba Baptista for over a year and that their relationship was serious.

They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her, a source told People at the time.

However, fans quickly pointed out the 16-year age gap between Evans, 42, and Baptista, 26.

Another middle-aged man dating someone in their early twenties. Nothing says Im ready for marriage like dating someone who could legally drink four years ago, one person wrote.

I just... wish he hadnt turned out to be a Hollywood cliche, another said.

If hes happy then Im happy, who cares about their age difference, love is love, a third fan said.

Despite some of the criticism, Chris Evans has since shared glimpses into his relationship with Alba Baptista. In January, the Ghosted star made their relationship Instagram official when he shared a series of videos of his girlfriend to his Instagram Story.

Chris Evans shares photo montage of Alba Baptista on Valentines Day (Chris Evans / Instagram)

Evans also shared a sweet Valentines Day tribute to Alba on his Instagram Story, which included snaps of them hiking together and a clip of Alba playing a Nintendo video game. I introduced her to Mario Bros 3She hates this video but I LOVE it, he wrote.

Scott Evans defense of his brothers relationship comes just two weeks after the Avengers star deactivated his social media accounts. He announced on 29 June that he is treating [himself] to a summer with a little less screen time on Twitter and bid his followers much love before deactivating the account.

Chris seemed to have been inspired by actor Taron Egerton, who published on the same day about trying to break away from a cycle that Ive grown to find a bit addictive. The Rocketman star said he spends too much time scrolling on his phone and it had affected his ability to sit and be present with his loved ones.

The Lightyear actor shared Egertons post on his own Instagram Stories and added: Couldnt have said it better myself!!! Count me in. Gonna take a little break. Much love everyone!
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Sofia Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello are reportedly divorcing after seven years of marriage.

The couple, who married in 2015, issued a statement through their representatives about their separation to Page Six on Monday. As they reflected on how much love they still have each other, they also asked for privacy amid the news of their separation.

We have made the difficult decision to divorce, the couple said in the statement. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.

The news comes as Vergara has been celebrating her 51st birthday during a trip through Italy. While shes shared posts from the vacation on Instagram, none of the photos have featured Manganiello.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Vergara and Manganiello for comment.

Earlier this month, the True Blood star divided fans with his Instagram post for Vergaras birthday. On 10 July, he posted a throwback photo of himself and his partner, which was pixelated and blurry. It also appeared to be the same photo of the pair that the Modern Family star posted in December 2021 to celebrate Manganiellos birthday.

Manganiellos caption, which simply read: Feliz Cumpleanos Sofia! left many fans upset with him, as they claimed that the actor should have written a more loving tribute to his wife of seven years.

Am I the only one who doesnt like the way it sounds? Sofia... Not even my love, my beloved wife, one person in the comments wrote, while another asked: Why so dry?!

Although many fans were critical about the lack of sentiment in Manganiellos post, others defended the couple from speculation that their relationship was struggling.

For Vergaras birthday in July 2022, Manganiello opted for a more elaborate Instagram post which had included a series of photos of him and his partner. In the caption at the time, he wrote: Feliz Cumpleanos mi amor! I love you so much.

Vergara and Manganiello first met in May 2014 while attending the White House Correspondents Association dinner. They went on their first date in June of that year while Vergara was filming Hot Pursuit, as noted by Manganiello during an interview with Haute Living in 2015. However, according to the actor, Vergara had her reservations about dating again, as she had recently gotten out of a four-year relationship with Nick Loeb.

But we knew right away, and she knew she was screwed, he said about his feelings for the actress. I said to her: If you need to be single, go do it and do it now if thats what you need to do, and she didnt. She tried to stay away from actors and I tried to stay away from actresses as much as possible, because of the fear of being away from each other. What happened then was that we wound up in relationships with people who didnt understand us.

He also acknowledged that they got to know each other in a short time, before he went and got a ring and made it official in December 2014.

In 2018, three years after tying the knot, Manganiello opened up about his marriage to Vergara, with the Magic Mike star telling Cigar Aficionado that the biggest adjustment for him was coming to grips with the idea that someone who is not related to you could possibly love you that much.

She was it for me, he said, adding: People say things like: Marriage and relationships are work. But its not. Life is hard. Having somebody to help you deal with it is the greatest thing that ever happened.
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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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A homegrown terrorist considered launching a mass gun attack on the late Queens funeral after converting to Islam in prison, a court has heard.

Edward Little, 22, rejected the plan as too late and instead decided to target a Christian preacher at Speakers Corner in Londons Hyde Park, the Old Bailey heard.

He discussed his plans including his desire to get hold of a Mac-10 submachine gun and AK-47 assault rifle with extremists in encrypted chats on the Threema messaging platform.

At one point, he wrote: I dont think there has been an attack in the UK with guns so a semi-automatic rifle would send a even stronger message.

On September 18 last year, Little identified the Queens funeral  due to be held at Westminster Abbey the following day  as a possible target.

It was suggested that tyrants of the earth would be there, to which Little responded: I was just thinking that but unfortunately its too late.

Days later, on September 23, Little was arrested en route to buy a gun for 5,000 having taken a taxi from Brighton to London.

Little, from Pelham Street, Brighton, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday by video-link from HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire.

Opening the facts of the case against him, Duncan Penny KC said: The defendant is an Islamic extremist who planned to murder the Christian preacher Hatun Tash at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.

The defendant planned to murder those who were with Hatun Tash, and any police officers or soldiers who were in the area.

UK-born Little was said to have converted to Islam at Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution in Kent and at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham, after he turned 18.

Last summer, he downloaded extremist propaganda including copies of the al-Qaida publication Inspire.

In his chats on Threema, he referred to Hasham Tash as an evil witch and said he could shoot her point blank and everyone with her.

He suggested that with the money he had and his ability to get more weapons he should strike a bigger target.

He spoke of wanting to buy a Mac-10 so I can spray it at them and then use pistol for police.

But he added that the problem with the macs is that they are too quick and it runs out very quik.

Little said he would wear a camera so he could live-stream the attack.

On September 17, Little revealed that he 100% had a brother in prison who would be joining in the operation.

He said he would travel to London for reconnaissance and see if it was best to have us hit separate targets.

On September 23, Little agreed to pay a taxi driver 300 to take him from Brighton to Lewisham, south London, saying money was no problem.

On his arrest, he was carrying a rucksack with 5,000 in cash, a passport and two mobile phones.

Little declined to answer questions in police interviews but his mood changed when he was shown a YouTube view of the preacher.

He launched himself from his chair across the table at an officer, swinging repeatedly with his fists before being restrained.

He went on to admit assaulting the officer at Newbury Police Station last September 28 and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

At the hearing on Monday, Little also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a fellow inmate at Belmarsh prison on April 3.

Little attacked the victim with boiling water mixed with sugar and two razor blades for disrespecting his religion.

The defendant had been convicted of 14 offences in seven separate cases, including for robbery, having a knife and drug dealing, dating back to 2017.

Mrs Justice McGowan adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed for a report to be prepared on Littles future risk and for him to be given the opportunity to attend court in person.
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Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley is set to publicly admit there was corruption in the handling of the Daniel Morgan murder investigation in 1987.

Commissioner Rowley will admit corruption, incompetence and defensiveness in the Mets handling of the case after apologising directly to the family of Daniel Morgan last week, The Times reported.

A 2 million settlement has also been agreed with the family of the murdered private investigator, according to The Times.

Daniel Morgan (PA Media)

Morgan was found dead in Sydenham, London in 1987, slumped beside his car with an axe wound in the back of his head.

Despite an inquest and five previous inquiries his killer has never been brought to justice.

A 2013 report ordered by the then-home-secretary Theresa May accused the Met of institutional corruption over their handling of the 37-year-olds murder.

The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel has also accused the Met of ignoring or concealing corruption and failings in the case for three decades to protect its public image, as well as failing to hand over documents in a timely manner.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (PA Wire)

The Met has rejected accusations of institutional corruption, saying: We accept that corruption was a major factor in the failings of the first investigation, but we do not accept that we are institutionally corrupt as has been suggested.

It added that it was working hard to root out corruption.

In May, the Met was forced to apologise after potentially key documents relating to the murder investigation were found in a locked cabinet at New Scotland Yard.

The documents in question were found in January and an assessment started in February.

A total of 95 pages of material should have been disclosed to the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, the Met said.

Meanwhile, a further 71 pages were identified that would have been provided to His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) as part of their subsequent inspection.

At the time, Barbara Gray, Met assistant commissioner, said: We fully acknowledge how unacceptable and deeply regrettable this situation is.

We are working to understand what has taken place and any impact. We apologise to the family of Daniel Morgan and to the Panel.

One of Mr Morgans partners in the detective business, the partners two brothers and two Met Police officers were arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Morgan but no one has even been convicted of the killing.

The Met Police declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.
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An accommodation barge set to house 500 asylum seekers is on the move as Parliament prepares for further arguments over Rishi Sunak and Suella Bravermans plans to stop the boats.

Plans to house migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland Port, Dorset, are a month behind schedule but the vessel has finally left Falmouth, Cornwall, where work on it was being carried out to prepare it for its new role.

The barges departure from Falmouth on Monday morning came as MPs prepared for a fresh clash with the House of Lords over the Illegal Migration Bill.

Downing Street defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing them in hotels.

It came as comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse and holding a placard saying stop child detention, led a Save the Children protest against the Bill outside the Home Office in central London.

The protest followed ministers facing criticism over a decision to paint over murals of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, at a migrant reception centre in Kent.

Members of the Lords want further concessions in the Bill on limits to the detention of children, modern slavery protections and the provision of safe and legal routes for refugees to the UK.

Asked if Rishi Sunak has a message to people in Portland Port opposed to the Bibby Stockholm barge being moored there, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: I think its right for the public as a whole that we move away from a situation where 6 million a day of taxpayers money is going towards housing these individuals in hotels.

Thats not a good use of money and obviously that puts unplanned pressure on local areas as well.

We think it is better to open specific sites designed to house immigrants that come in, done in a more planned way.

Thats what we are seeking to do with the Bibby Stockholm and thats what were seeking to do in other parts of the country  opening up sites to take the pressure off local areas and to reduce the cost.

This approach will save taxpayer money compared to the money were spending on hotels.

The Lords inflicted a string of fresh defeats on the Government last week over the much-criticised Bill, which ministers insist is integral to efforts to tackle small boats crossings in the English Channel.

It means the continuation of the parliamentary tussle over the Bill, known as ping-pong, where the legislation is batted between the Lords and Commons, until agreement is reached.

Downing Street indicated ahead of the votes on Monday that it was not expecting to make further concessions.

The Commons had overturned a raft of earlier revisions by the unelected chamber, despite rebellions by Tory MPs  including former prime minister Theresa May  who have concerns about the reforms.

The Bill is part of a package of measures designed to deter migrants from crossing the channel by making it clear that if people enter the UK by irregular means, they will not be able to remain and will face being sent either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

The deal to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda has been mired in legal difficulties and will end up in the Supreme Court.

With a backlog of asylum cases in the UK, the Government is also seeking to cut the cost of hotel bills by using alternative accommodation including the Bibby Stockholm and former military bases.

Councils and campaigners have been given the green light to bring a High Court challenge against housing migrants on the disused airfields.

Braintree District Council and a nearby resident are bringing legal action to challenge the use of Wethersfield in Essex to house up to 1,700 men while West Lindsey District Council is challenging similar plans for RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Dozens of asylum seekers have already been moved into Wethersfield.

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm later this month.

Home Secretary Ms Braverman had told MPs on June 5 that the vessel would be in Portland within a fortnight, but this deadline was missed.

Dorset Council has been given a 2 million funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: We can confirm that Bibby Stockholm is now on its way to Portland Port.

Using vessels as alternative accommodation, like our European neighbours are already doing, will be better value for British taxpayers and more manageable for communities than costly hotels.

We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimise disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper declined to commit to ending the much-criticised use of barges and disused military bases to house asylum seekers while a backlog in processing cases is tackled.

Instead, she told reporters after a speech in central London Labour will rapidly clear the backlog if it wins power  before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.
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The Governments plan for all state schools to deliver at least a 32.5 hour week has been pushed back by a year.

The Schools White Paper, published in March 2022, set out an expectation that schools should be open for at least 32.5 hours a week, which equates to six and a half hours per day on average, by September 2023.

But the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that state schools in England will now have until September 2024 to meet this expectation in recognition of the pressures facing schools.

DfE guidance says Ofsted inspectors will assess whether a school is meeting the Governments minimum expectation of a 32.5 hour week and they will want to know what plans are in place to lengthen the school week.

If a school is not offering at least 32.5 hours a week  and it affects the quality of education  inspectors will expect the school to set out a clear rationale for this, according to the non-statutory guidance from the Government.

We finally have confirmation that this has been pushed back to September 2024, but it is unacceptable that the government left it so late to issue this guidance James Bowen, school leaders union NAHT

But school leaders unions said the delayed guidance was unacceptable and disrespectful to schools  and one union chief suggested many schools will slightly lengthen break times to meet the expectation.

The 32.5 hour minimum week includes breaks, but the DfE said schools should first consider prioritising lesson time above breaks when increasing hours.

The guidance says: Schools planning to increase their hours substantially to reach a 32.5 hour week (i.e. by 30 minutes or more per day) should first consider prioritising an increase to lesson time.

Where schools only need to add a short amount of time (less than 30 minutes per day), they may want to consider incorporating short activities which meet school priorities into their timetable, for example daily reading practice.

The guidance adds that schools looking to extend their week should consult parents, reach out to local authorities about any proposed changes to transport, and explore any financial implications.

It says: The minimum expected school week of 32.5 hours is the weekly average (as at July 2021) for mainstream schools and most schools already deliver a school week of at least this length.

We therefore expect mainstream primary and secondary schools that are not currently delivering this minimum, to do so by September 2024 at the latest from within their existing budgets.

The guidance was published on the same day that the DfE said that schools in England will receive their highest ever funding rates in real terms in 2024-25.

State schools in England will receive an average of around 6,000 for each pupil from next year through the National Funding Formula (NFF).

James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders union NAHT, said: Many schools already have a 32.5 hour week, but those that dont may face significant financial and logistical challenges.

Schools may be forced to use already stretched budgets to extend the hours of lunchtime supervisors and other support staff, while others, especially in rural areas, may face a logistical nightmare when it comes to transport where buses are carefully timetabled around the end of the school day.

Whilst the majority of schools are already delivering this commitment, schools will now have until September 2024 to meet this expectation Schools Minister Nick Gibb

He added: We finally have confirmation that this has been pushed back to September 2024, but it is unacceptable that the government left it so late to issue this guidance.

Schools had been left uncertain whether they needed to implement changes ahead of next term.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: This is petty government tinkering masquerading as meaningful policy-making.

He added: In many cases, the only thing these schools will realistically be able to do to meet the expectation is have slightly longer break times.

However, in order to implement these changes they will have to consult parents, notify staff, and adjust transport arrangements. It is the government that is wasting time, not schools.

Mr Barton suggested the Government had been forced to defer the deadline as a result of their own dithering.

He added: This is yet another example of the lack of respect schools have, sadly, come to expect in the governments dealings with them.

Schools Minister, Nick Gibb said: As part of our ambition to give every pupil the opportunity to succeed, we announced an expectation for all mainstream state-funded schools to deliver at least a 32.5-hour week by September 2023 in the Schools White Paper.

Whilst the majority of schools are already delivering this commitment, schools will now have until September 2024 to meet this expectation.]

But in a written ministerial statement, Mr Gibb added: The Government is encouraging schools that are planning to increase their hours from this September to continue to do so.
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A desperate search is continuing for a teenager from Dundee who was swept away in a river in Scotland.

Liam Buchan, 15, was with family and friends at the River North Esk in Angus on Saturday when he got into difficulty in the water.

A major search operation involving police divers, fire and rescue officers and the coastguard was launched after the alarm was raised at around 4.45pm.

A helicopter was seen flying around the area earlier on Monday as searches of the river continued.

Police Scotland said in a statement on Monday afternoon: Despite extensive efforts, the rescue was unsuccessful due to the challenging conditions and Liam remains missing.

Known as the Blue Door Walk, the area is popular with dog walkers as well as swimmers, particularly in summer.

The river runs through the boundary between Angus and Aberdeenshire before continuing into Montrose Basin and eventually the North Sea.

Inspector Grant McGaughay said: Search activity continued into Saturday evening, throughout the day on Sunday.

Police Scotlands Mountain Rescue Team and the Tayside Mountain Rescue Teams continue to search the River Esk today, while specialist officers from Police Scotland Dive and Marine Unit are also assisting in the search for Liam.

Officers are also supporting Liams family at this difficult time and keeping them updated as our search continues.

He added: Liams family and would like to thank all agencies involved in the search and the local community in Edzell for the support they have shown so far.

They would also like to warn persons not suitably trained or equipped not to put themselves in danger in the search for Liam.
 Close The BBC has resumed its investigation into Huw Edwards after the newsreader was identified by his wife as the BBC presenter at the heart of a sex scandal

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BBC bosses told staff in an email that gossip will not be tolerated amid speculation over the Huw Edwards scandal, it has been reported.

Staff at the BBC were warned that speculating about what had happened would damage the corporation.

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, a source told the Mirror.

Earlier, friends and peers of Huw Edwards have rallied behind the BBC presenter as a poll shows viewers want him back on air after a sex pictures scandal.

Former BBC journalists Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, who now work at Global, were among those to have criticised the corporations coverage of the affair.

On their Newsagents podcast, Ms Maitlis described the BBCs coverage as a bit distasteful while Mr Sopel said there was a weirdness about it.
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A woman in her 40s has been found dead on a footpath near a primary school in Rochdale.

Police were called to Ashfield Road, near Ashfield Valley Primary School and Sandbrook retail park, at around 4.30am on Monday amid concerns for a persons welfare.

The body of a woman was found at the scene. Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation and is working to find the womans next of kin.

People have been urged to avoid the area, which was cordoned off on Monday as forensic officers worked at the scene.

The primary school announced it would remain closed on Monday in light of the incident.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: Work is ongoing to inform the individuals next of kin, whilst detectives are following several lines of enquiry.

In a Facebook post, Rochdale chief superintendent Nicky Porter appealed to anyone with information to get in touch with the force.

She said: If you know anything about this incident, or if you have any dashcam footage or CCTV, please contact GMP, so you can support us with this investigation.
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A terror attack victims widow was ordered to pay back funeral costs and threatened with legal action by the governments compensation authority.

The womans family were on holiday in Tunisia in 2015, when an Isis-inspired gunman attacked a tourist resort and killed 38 people.

Thirty of the victims were from the UK, making the rampage the deadliest terror attack for Britons since the 2005 London bombings.

In the aftermath, the government urged those injured and bereaved families to apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for payouts, with ministers pledging to do all we can to support all those caught up in that terrible tragedy.

But bereaved families who gave evidence to a report by the Survivors Against Terror group said the process had been traumatic and unfair.

One woman, who was on holiday with her family in Sousse when the attacker struck, said the costs mounted thick and fast after her husband was shot dead.

The woman, who survived the shooting alongside her son, received 5,000 in compensation months later from CICA, but it was less than the money she had already spent on repatriating her husbands body and his funeral.

But after she was awarded funds in a separate civil claim brought against travel operator TUI, the woman began receiving threatening letters from CICA demanding its payout back.

In November, more than seven years after the attack, it ordered repayment of the 5,000 awarded in 2015 within 30 days because she had recieved a payout from TUI.

The woman said she was told that if repayment was not possible in that time, she had to enter a formal agreement or face legal action.

I was shocked, she added. To be asked to pay back the money I had used to help pay for my husbands funeral was just so upsetting, I couldnt believe it.

I feel like I am being accused of doing something wrong rather than being treated like a victim or a survivor.

A tribute in Sousse to victims of the massacre

A spokesperson for CICA said that the initial 5,000 was an interim payment made on the condition that it may have to be returned if other compensation was received.

But the woman said she was struggling to keep a roof over her familys head at the time and was terrified of being taken to court, and is now unable to retire as planned.

She called CICA a broken service, and said the government hasnt played their part to support or help us properly at all.

More than 130 survivors from 11 different terror attacks shared their experiences for the survey, with many others saying they felt disbelieved, put on trial and traumatised by being forced to relive horrific experiences.

A young survivor of the Manchester Arena attack said her mother had received more for a whiplash claim than I received for getting blown up in a bomb at my first concert.

Another survivor of the bombing, who lost his partner and suffered life-changing injuries, said CICA demanded bank and medical records when he was recovering from a coma and several rounds of surgery.

The whole theme then and even recently is that they dont believe me, that I have to prove it all, like Im a criminal, he added.

A survivor of the 2017 London Bridge attack said the compensation they eventually received was an insult, while a victim of the 7/7 bombings said their award was reduced because of irrelevant decades-old criminal convictions, adding: I just feel like I was punished a second time after being blown up.

A survivor of the London bombings said he was punished a second time when his compensation was reduced because of a 20-year-old criminal conviction (Getty)

Overall, 68 per cent of people surveyed said the compensation process was unfair and unreasonable, 62 per cent did not feel treated with respect and empathy, and the majority found requests for proof of physical or psychological injury unreasonable.

Survivors Against Terror called for the creation of a new compensation authority, overseen by the Home Office and properly funded and staffed by people trained to deal compassionately with attack survivors.

Co-founder Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, said the testimonies showed CICA was broken.

He added: An organisation that is supposed to be helping survivors recover and rebuild is instead consistently doing them harm.

Survivors deserve better. They have been attacked  not because of who they are, but as proxies for the British state. Therefore, the British state has a responsibility to ensure that they are supported. It is failing in that duty.

In 2019, following a terror attack on a prison conference in Londons Fishmongers Hall, the government committed to consulting on a new charter guaranteeing survivors rights, but the document has not been published.

Then in 2020, it promised a dedicated compensation process for terrorism in the UK and abroad, but it has not emerged.

A government spokesperson said CICA was meant to be a last resort for people who are unable to seek or obtain compensation by other means.

A statement added: It has paid 4.6m to victims of terrorism since 2017, with a dedicated team helping victims of the Manchester Arena attack receive the compensation to which they are entitled. But we know more must be done, which is why the government is reviewing the support available, to better address victims needs.
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More same-sex honeymooners are visiting destinations which do not have marriage equality, according to travel company Kuoni.

The firm said it is experiencing a growing trend of newly married LGBT+ 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.

Two out of five (44 per cent) respondents to a Kuoni-commissioned survey of 1,013 people, who identify as part of the LGBT+ 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 it says 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.
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Online travel firm loveholidays has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) is helping the group expand further across Europe as it uses the technology to speed up its route into new countries.

Chief executive Donat Retif told the PA news agency that the group has been using AI to aid its expansion plans as it strives to become Europes biggest package holiday group.

He said AI helped to pave the way for the groups recent launch in Germany by helping it with locally specific information online, which would otherwise have taken teams of people to re-write thousands of web pages.

Our business plan was always to aid our expansion and growth using technology to do things we couldn't have done without teams of people and millions of budget Donat Retif, loveholidays chief executive

He said without AI and tech, we wouldnt have been able to expand so quicky internationally and into Germany.

Our business plan was always to aid our expansion and growth using technology to do things we couldnt have done without teams of people and millions of budget.

Loveholidays expanded into Germany in May, following its launch into Ireland in 2016.

The move came just weeks after it claimed its position as the UKs third largest travel firm holding a licence from the Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme, serving 2.5 million passengers from the UK alone this year.

It is also targeting other European countries with the ultimate aim to grow its footprint across the world.

Tech has been key to the groups expansion so far, with AI far from a threat, according to Mr Retif, who describes the firm as a technology business.

It has already been using AI to help with its customer service, developing a chatbot called Sandy, which now answers 68% of all customer service chats received by the firm.

When theres a new technology, you need to embrace it and in the travel industry theres lots of opportunities, said Mr Retif.

I dont see for our business model any threats (from AI).

The groups chatbot helped it get on top of the surge in customer requests to amend their holidays seen during the pandemic, which rocketed from around 220,000 a year pre-Covid to about 360,000 in the first year of the pandemic.

We launched our chatbot way before AI was a hot topic  we launched it because we needed to answer that demand.

Loveholidays is also beefing up its tech team, with plans to hire another 110 people, he added.
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If the Conservatives are beaten at the polls on July 20 in Selby & Ainsty, Somerton & Frome and Uxbridge & South Ruislip, it will be the first time in 55 years that a government has lost three by-elections on the same day.

The previous occasion was March 28 1968, when the Labour government of Harold Wilson was defeated by the Tories in by-elections in Acton, Dudley and Meriden.

Were Rishi Sunaks Government to lose two of the three contests, the historical benchmark is much more recent: a double defeat of this kind last happened just over a year ago, on June 23 2022, when the Conservatives were beaten at Tiverton & Honiton and Wakefield.

Each of the polls on Thursday presents different electoral and mathematical challenges for both the Government and the opposition parties.

Here are the key statistics for each seat:

 Selby & Ainsty

This North Yorkshire constituency was created at the 2010 general election and has always been held by the Conservatives.

Its former MP Nigel Adams took 49% of the vote in 2010 and pushed up his share at every subsequent poll, taking 53% in 2015, 59% in 2017 and just over 60% in 2019, when he won a majority of 20,137.

Labour came second in 2019 with nearly 25% of the vote, with the Liberal Democrats a distant third on 9%.

While Labour is the main challenger at this by-election, the party faces a tough task to win, requiring a swing in the share of the vote of 17.9 points  in other words, a net change of 18 in every 100 people who voted Tory in 2019 needs to switch sides.

The last time Labour managed a by-election swing of this size or greater was nearly 30 years ago, when it won South East Staffordshire from the Conservatives in April 1996.

There has been one official opinion poll in Selby & Ainsty since the by-election was triggered, putting Labour on 41% of the vote, the Conservatives on 29%, Reform on 8%, the Lib Dems on 6%, the Greens on 6% and the Yorkshire Party on 4%.

However, opinion polls are snapshots, not predictions, and are based on only a sample of voters  in this instance, 502 adults surveyed between June 26 and July 6 by the firm JL Partners.

 Somerton & Frome

Somerton & Frome has a long history of being a two-horse race between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

The Tories held it from 1983 to 1997 and the Lib Dems from 1997 until 2015, when David Warburton won it back for the Conservatives.

Mr Warburton had a majority of 19,213 at the 2019 election and took nearly 56% of the vote, with the Lib Dems second on just over 26% and Labour third on 13%.

The Lib Dems need a swing in the share of the vote of 14.9 percentage points to come first at the by-election: the equivalent of a net change of 15 in every 100 people switching sides since 2019.

This is a smaller swing than the party achieved when it defeated the Tories at the by-elections in Tiverton & Honiton in June 2022 (29.9 points) and North Shropshire in December 2021 (34.1).

Mr Warburton sat as an independent MP between April 2022 and his resignation in June 2023, after losing the Conservative whip due to allegations of misconduct.

No official polls have been carried out in this Somerset constituency since the by-election was called.

 Uxbridge & South Ruislip

Uxbridge & South Ruislip has been held continuously by the Conservatives since its creation in 2010.

The Tories share of the vote has gone up at each successive general election, from 48% in 2010 to 50% in 2015, 51% in 2017 and 53% in 2019.

Former MP Boris Johnson first won the north-west London seat in 2015 and had a majority of 7,210 in 2019.

Labour has always come second in this seat at general elections and polled 38% of the vote in 2019, with the Liberal Democrats on 6%.

To win the by-election, Labour needs a swing in the share of the vote of 7.6 percentage points, or a net change of eight in every 100 people who voted Tory in 2019 switching sides.

This is a smaller shift than the one achieved by Labour in the Wakefield by-election in June 2022, which saw the party win the seat from the Tories on a swing of 12.7 percentage points.

It is also the lowest swing needed for a seat to change hands in any of the three by-elections taking place on Thursday.

There has been one official opinion poll of the electorate in Uxbridge & South Ruislip since the by-election was triggered, putting Labour on 41% of the vote, the Conservatives on 33%, the Lib Dems on 6% and the Greens on 4%.

The poll was carried out by JL Partners among 502 adults between June 26 and July 6.
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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.
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Giant barges and disused military bases could be used by a Labour government to house asylum seekers, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has indicated.

The Labour frontbencher refused to rule out use of controversial offshore accommodation  criticised by refugee groups and campaigners as akin to prison ships.

Ms Coopers comments came as the Bibby Stockholm barge heads to Portland Port in Dorset where it will house around 500 asylum seekers arriving from across the Channel on small boats.

Pressed by reporters after a speech in central London if she would immediately end the use of barges and military bases for migrants, Ms Cooper said: We will take action to clear the [asylum] backlog.

She said: Well have to address what we inherit at that time, because at the moment it is so chaotic what the government is doing.

Ms Cooper added: What we want to see is the backlog cleared so that the government doesnt need to use the hotels or other alternatives and we can simply focus on the long-standing asylum accommodation that has always been there.

Londons Labour mayor Sadiq Khan has previously attacked the plan to use barges as cruel and inhumane  warning that dock facilities could targeted by far-right protesters.

Ms Cooper emphasised that a Labour government to rapidly clear the decisions backlog that has spiralled under the government before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.

She made it clear she thinks the governments failure to deal with the asylum system may be further increasing the backlog, which hit a record high of more than 172,000 cases.

Bibby Stockholm barge set to be docked in Portland, Dorset (AFP via Getty Images)

Bibby Stockholm was a month behind schedule as it left Falmouth, Cornwall on Monday. It had been undergoing work to house migrants in Portland Dorset, despite local opposition.

Dorset Council has been given a 2m funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.

But No 10 insisted the plan would prove value for money, with Rishi Sunaks official spokesman saying the barges and bases would save the taxpayer money compared to spending on hotels.

Bibby Stockholm barge will house 500 migrants (PA)

The use of RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and the Wethersfield base in Essex to house asylum seekers also face legal action, as well as opposition by some Tory MPs. Dozens of asylum seekers have already been moved into Wethersfield.

Later on Monday, Mr Sunak and home secretary Suella Braverman will come under further pressure to change their plans to meet their stop the boats vow.

MPs will be considering amendments to the Illegal Migration Bill proposed by the Lords to limit the detention of children and add modern slavery protections.

Peers have inflicted a string of defeats on the much-criticised legislation during a ping-pong tussle over the bill until agreement is reached.

It came as comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse and holding a placard saying stop child detention, led a Save the Children protest against the Bill outside the Home Office in central London.

The protest followed ministers facing criticism over a decision to paint over murals of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, at a migrant reception centre in Kent.
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Rishi Sunaks government has passed its controversial plans to tackle the small boats crisis after defeating a final series of Commons challenges by Tory moderates, with the Illegal Migration Bill now poised to become law.

In a long night of drama, the Tory frontbench saw off five further changes being sought by the Lords to the small boats bill, including modern slavery protections and child detention limits.

At least one other vote was ditched in the face of the government victories. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has been a strident critic of the bill, also dropped his demand for a statement on tackling the refugee problem and human trafficking to the UK, after a similar proposal was rejected by MPs.

It marked an abrupt ending to the parliamentary tussle over the flagship reforms that had threatened to go to the wire ahead of the summer recess. The bill will now go to the King to receive royal assent.

Earlier, more than a dozen Conservative MPs, including former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, staged a final rebellion against the government over plans to deny migrants modern slavery protections.

Tory moderates had been hoping to win concessions on the issues of modern slavery and child detention, as well as creating new legal refugee routes to soften the impact of the small boats bill  condemned by campaigners as a draconian violation of international law.

But despite some senior Tories opting to rebel, MPs voted on Monday evening to reject each of the amendments proposed by the House of Lords.

The amendment aimed at retaining protections for modern slavery victims exploited in the UK, including those who are cooperating with criminal investigations, was rejected by a majority of 55. Despite expectations to the contrary, former PM Theresa May was not among the 13 Tory rebels.

An attempt by peers to impose an absolute time limit of 72 hours on the detention of unaccompanied migrant children was also rejected by a majority of 69  a vote in which 11 Tories rebelled, including former ministers Tracey Crouch, Tim Loughton and Sir Robert Buckland.

Peers had also wanted to impose a duty on the government to provide safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to come to the UK  although this was rejected by a majority of 58 MPs.

After accepting some minor changes from the Lords earlier this month, immigration minister Robert Jenrick vowed that there would be no further climbdowns. He said critics of the bill had not put forward any credible alternative.

Prior to the vote, one senior Tory rebel told The Independent: We would hope the government are going to have to give us something.

Ms May had warned that if the Lords amendment on modern slavery was rejected it would consign more people to slavery  no doubt about it.

The former PM had argued that people brought to the UK in slavery should be exempt, under the Modern Slavery Act, from the planned detention regardless of their immigration status. She said it would it be harder to catch people traffickers by preventing victims from giving evidence.

The Lords inflicted a string of fresh defeats on the government last week over the much-criticised bill, which Mr Sunak and his home secretary Suella Braverman insist is integral to efforts to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel.

The bill is part of a package of measures designed to deter migrants by making it clear that if people enter the UK by irregular means, they will not be able to remain and will face being sent either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

The government did make some changes to the legislation  agreeing that unaccompanied children cannot be detained any longer than eight days rather than the proposed 28. Ms Braverman also agreed to keep the current limit of 72 hours on the detention of pregnant women.

Braverman and Sunak are under pressure to deliver on their stop the boats vow (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street)

Despite Mr Sunaks success in finally passing the bill in the Commons, the deal to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda has been mired in legal difficulties and will end up in the Supreme Court.

With a backlog of asylum cases in the UK, the government is also seeking to cut the cost of hotel bills by using alternative accommodation including the Bibby Stockholm barge and former military bases.

Bibby Stockholm barge left Falmouth docks for Portland on Monday (PA Wire)

The barge left Falmouth Docks on Monday and is due to arrive within 48 hours at Portland Port in Dorset, where it will house around 500 asylum seekers arriving from across the Channel on small boats. Dorset Council has been given a 2m funding package to meet the cost of providing services.

But No 10 insisted the plan would prove value for money, with Mr Sunaks official spokesman saying on Monday that the barges and bases would save the taxpayer money compared to spending on hotels.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper suggested that giant barges and disused military bases could continue to be used by a Labour government.

She refused to rule out use of controversial offshore accommodation  criticised by refugee groups and campaigners as akin to prison ships  but insisted Labours priority would be to clear the asylum backlog so that such accommodation was not needed.

Recommended Labour refuses to rule out housing asylum seekers on barges

It came as comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse and holding a placard saying stop child detention, led a Save the Children protest against the bill outside the Home Office in central London.

The protest followed ministers facing criticism over a decision to paint over murals of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, at a migrant reception centre in Kent.
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Vladimir Putin is using food supplies as a weapon by pulling out of an agreement to allow grain exports from Ukraine, James Cleverly said.

The Foreign Secretary condemned the Russian leaders actions, pointing to United Nations (UN) estimates that it could condemn millions more people to hunger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) deal would be halted, adding that Russia will return to the previous arrangements after its demands are met.

Moscow has claimed that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its own exports of food and fertiliser  which it argues are also critical to the global food chain.

But Mr Cleverly said: Putin is using food as a weapon. The UK strongly condemns Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This decision hurts the worlds poorest.

Mr Cleverly said the UN-backed BSGI had played a significant role in lowering and stabilising global food prices, delivering more than 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets.

The UN estimates that without the grain provided by the BSGI, the number of undernourished people worldwide could increase by millions, he said.

He dismissed the Kremlins objections, saying: Contrary to Russian claims, the UN and other partners have taken significant steps to ensure that Russian food is able to access world markets.

The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war.

Mr Cleverly raised the issue at the UN in New York at a UK-chaired session of the Security Council.

Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to the people in need everywhere. And we call on Russia to return to the table and agree to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative indefinitely and to implement it fully, he told the meeting.

Russias actions are taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Meanwhile, Russian officials are being hit by British sanctions over Mr Putins chilling forced deportations of Ukrainian children.

Mr Cleverly announced 14 new asset bans and travel freezes against Russians deemed to have played a role in trying to erase Ukrainian national identity.

Some 19,000 children have been forcibly deported to Russia or territories controlled by Moscow during the invasion, Ukrainian figures suggest.

Many are sent to re-education camps where they are reported to be exposed to a programme of cultural, patriotic and military education drawn up by Russia.

Mr Cleverly said: In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putins true intention  to wipe Ukraine from the map.

Todays sanctions hold those who prop up Putins regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased.

Among the officials targeted are Russian education minister Sergei Kravtsov and Moscows childrens rights commissioner Ksenia Mishonova.

In Westminster, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper announced that Labour would introduce a bespoke mechanism to proscribe state-sponsored threats, such as Russias Wagner mercenaries, instead of trying and failing to use counter-terror legislation.

In a speech for the Royal United Services Institute in central London, she said the party would establish a joint cell between the Home Office and Foreign Office to share intelligence and speed up decision-making by ending turf wars between the departments.
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Britain should reopen its embassy in Afghanistan and restore talks with the Taliban to avoid a fresh wave of terrorism, a senior Tory MP has claimed.

Tobias Ellwood said said he is far from being a Taliban appeaser and said 20 years ago his brother was killed by Islamic extremists.

But Mr Ellwood, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said that during a recent trip to Afghanistan, he witnessed unreported compromises the war-exhausted nation is currently willing to accept.

Mr Ellwood said he saw improved security, free travel and the disappearance of widespread corruption, adding the black market opium trade is seemingly gone.

If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration. Tobias Ellwood

Writing in The Telegraph, he said: This war-torn nation has not experienced relative peace like this since the 1970s.

This, to put it mildly, was not what I was expecting.

After a dozen visits to the country urging Nato and the UN to do exactly what the Taliban have now achieved, I had to grapple with the harsh reality of the Wests strategic missteps.

The MP for Bournemouth East said it is time for Britain to rethink and re-engage with Afghanistan and the Taliban.

He said: The first step is reopening our embassy.

The second is to get real. Afghanistans future could be war again or life as a Chinese vassal.

Nato left Afghanistan nearly two years ago, which saw the Taliban take back power in the country.

The Taliban brought back bans on education for girls and laws stopping women from going to work.

The Taliban also banned womens beauty salons, adding on laws that prevent women from being in public spaces like parks and gyms.

Mr Elwood said: The British Embassy is closed for political rather than security reasons.

Of course, this boycott endures because of the Talibans regressive laws against womens education and employment.

If the West continues to sulk we could be making another blunder which pushes the nation to a fiscal cliff, potentially igniting another cycle of instability, terrorism and mass migration.

A more pragmatic strategy is needed. The Talibans restrictions on womens rights may well serve as a negotiation tool for shared understanding. But such a possibility will remain unknown until we wake up.

Asked about the calls on Sky News, Mr Ellwood said we really do need to re-engage with the Taliban. Otherwise, this frail country, the economy is still on edge, they need Western international support and we can not do that from shouting from afar, he said.

The MP added that sufficient support could stave off another cycle of terrorism and levels of instability that would lead to huge mass migration.
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The family of a hiker who was discovered dead next to his dog on a remote trail in Washington state have launched a $20m lawsuit alleging sheriffs sabotaged a criminal investigation into his death.

Portland musician Aron Christensen, 49, was camping with friends at Walupt Lake in Lewis County when he went on a solo hike with his four month-old Australian Cattle Dog Buzzo on 19 August last year.

Christensens body was discovered lying next to the dead puppy on a trail in the Cascade Mountains the next day by a pair of hikers.

His brother Corey Christensen told The Chronicle that sheriffs initially claimed he had died of a heart attack from laced marijuana and fallen onto a stick.

However, autopsies appeared to show both Christensen and Buzzo had died from gunshot wounds.

A bullet recovered from Christensens chest showed traces of canine DNA, suggesting they may have died from a single shot.

A 19-year-old, named by The Chronicle as Ethan Asbach, later told investigators he had been hiking in the area with a 17-year-old companion when he fired a single shot from his fathers 9mm pistol.

Mr Asbach told authorities he came across Christensen and Buzzos bodies. He claimed he continued walking and became lost, before leaving the forest the next day.

In a transcript of his phone call with law enforcement obtained by the Wall Street Journal, he admitted he hadnt called 911 when he got back to cellphone range because he was worried about getting into trouble.

He said he had fired at a wild animal which was threatening him, only to later realise it was Buzzo.

The Lewis County Sheriffs Office referred manslaughter and animal cruelty charges to prosecutors, who announced in April they were declining to charge Mr Asbach, according to The Chronicle.

Since then, veterinarians who examined Buzzo have offered conflicting reports about his cause of death.

An initial autopsy conducted by local veterinarian Brandy Fay claimed the dogs injuries were more consistent with a stabbing than gunshot wounds.

According to The Chronicle, a second necropsy commissioned by the Lewis County Sheriffs Office found an exit wound from a gunshot.

Buzzo, a four-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, was found dead beside Aron Christensens body in Washingtons Cascade Mountains (Corey Christensen)

When the Christensen family requested Dr Fay examine Buzzo a second time, she reportedly found a broken rib that was not present during her earlier necroposy, suggesting the dogs body had been tampered with.

The first deputy to reach the bodies had determined there was no sign of suspicious activity, according to his incident report.

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, deputy Andrew Scrivner wrote, in a report viewed by the Wall Street Journal.

He said he spent 25 minutes searching shell casings, before diverting detectives who were on their way to the crime scene.

Deputy Scrivner carried Christensens body down the mountain with help from other campers, meaning there was no scene investigation.

The next day, Ethan Asbachs father contacted authorities to say his son had accidentally shot Christensen after being approached by what he thought was a wild animal.

Sheriff Rob Snaza told The Chronicle that the deputy who responded to the shooting had made a mistake in not identifying the cause of death as a gunshot.

Corey Christensen, who recently filed a $20m lawsuit against the sheriffs department, told the Wall Street Journal his attempts to find answers about his brothers death had been infuriating.

I thought I was going crazy for a while, he told the paper. But theres a difference between you being crazy and it driving you crazy.

The family has set up a GoFundme page to cover legal fees as they continue to search for answers about Christensens death.

Mr Christensens attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Independent.
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Carlethia Carlee Nichole Russell vanished on 13 July after calling 911 to report she had seen a toddler walking on the side of Interstate 459 in Alabama.

The 25-year-old told dispatch she stopped her car to check on the child, and called a family member before losing contact, according to the Hoover Police Department.

By the time officers arrived five minutes later, Ms Russell had disappeared with her car engine still running, and the toddler was nowhere to be found.

Law enforcement and family mounted a desperate search for the missing woman and pleaded with the public for help.

Then just over 48 hours later, police were notified that Ms Russell had returned home on foot.

She told detectives that she had been kidnapped by a white man with orange hair, and held captive in a semi-truck trailer and house before escaping.

On Wednesday, Hoover Police Department Nicholas Derzis cast doubt on Ms Russells claims at a press conference and said she was refusing requests to be interviewed.

Heres what we know about her disappearance so far  and the questions that remain unanswered:

What happened?

Ms Russell left work at The Woodhouse Spa in the Summit, a luxury shopping mall in Birmingham, at about 8.20pm on 13 July, according to the Hoover Police Department.

She stopped for food at Tazikis in the nearby Colonnade mall to pick up food for herself and her mother, and then drove south onto Interstate 459, according to AL.com.

Soon afterwards, Ms Russell reportedly came across a young boy aged three or four in diapers walking along the side of the highway near mile marker 11.

At 9.34pm, she called 911 to report sighting the child. She then phoned her brothers girlfriend to say she was stopping to check on the child. Ms Russell lost contact with the relative, although the line remained open.

The girlfriend then heard what they thought was someone scream, followed by traffic noise from the interstate, according to AL.com.

According to police, traffic cameras caught Ms Russell stopping at the side of the road.

The child was not sighted on the footage, and authorities havent received any other reports of a missing child, Hoover Police Department said in statement on Friday morning.

Carlee Russell vanished after she reported seeing a toddler walking on the side of an Alabama highway (Hoover Police Department)

When police officers arrived, they found her red Mercedes still running and belongings including a wig, phone, Apple Watch and purse, but no sign of her or the toddler, her mother Talitha Russell said.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Hoover police revealed Ms Russell drove 600 yards (548m) along an Alabama interstate while on the phone to a 911 operator claiming that she was following a lost toddler.

Data from Ms Russells cellphone showed she had driven the length of six football fields while talking to police dispatch, Hoover Police Department chief Nicholas Derzis said during the press conference.

To think that a toddler, barefoot, that could be three or four years old is going to travel six football fields without getting on the roadway, without crying ... its very hard for me to understand, Mr Derzis said.

Carlees 911 call remains the only report of a child on the interstate, despite numerous vehicles passing through the area at that time, he said.

We dont see anyone on the interstate other than her car, and then someone getting out of her drivers side.

On Friday afternoon, authorities issued an urgent appeal for any information about her whereabouts.

No piece of information is too small for this investigation, public information officer Lt Daniel Lowe wrote in a statement.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies joined family and friends in the frantic search.

Ms Russell was described as being 5'4 tall, and weighing 150-160 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike shoes.

A 911 call revealed Carlee Russell was unresponsive but breathing when she returned to her home in Hoover, Alabama (Hoover Police Department)

Mr Lowe said police had received a single, vague, tip about a a gray vehicle and a man with light complexion having been seen near the missing womans car.

Talitha Russell, the missing womans mother, later told AL.com the tip had come from a trucker.

He saw a gray car with a tall brown skinned man with khaki shorts on leaning over in the car, Ms Russell told AL.com.

An anonymous donor put forward a $20,000 reward for her safe return, and CrimeStoppers put in an additional $5,000.

Carlee Russell returns home

Early on Saturday evening (15 July), police were dispatched to the Red Roof Inn in Vestavia Hills after receiving reports of a sighting, AL.com reported.

There was no sign of Ms Russell by the time they arrived.

Then at 10.44pm, police received a 911 call to say Ms Russell had showed up at her home on foot.

She was reportedly in a state of shock.

Police and fire responded, and Ms Russell was taken to UAB Hospital where she was treated for unspecified injuries before being discharged.

While she was in hospital, detectives from Hoover Police Department took an initial statement from her.

Police said they were working to build a timeline Ms Russells movements after she was reported missing.

They didnt provide any further details about the missing person investigation, leaving unanswered questions about whether they were seeking suspects, or the fate of the toddler that Ms Russell reported seeing.

We rejoice with the Russell family as they continue to rest and recover from this situation and ask for their wishes to be respected regarding their privacy, the police department said in a statement.

Mr Derzis told WBRC that the department was relieved she had come home.

The first thing is to give Carlee and family a little time to get themselves back together, he told the local news site.

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.

Up to 60 police officers had been working on the case, he added.

Kidnapping claims

At a press conference on Wednesday 19 July, Mr Derzis said detectives conducted a brief interview with Ms Russell in hospital, where she claimed to have been abducted by a man with orange hair and a bald spot who came out of the trees.

She claimed the man picked her up and forced her into a car, and the next thing she remembered she was in the trailer of an 18-wheeler semi, Mr Derzis said.

Ms Russell told police that she heard a woman and a baby in the semi, but didnt see them.

She claimed to have escaped from the trailer, before being recaptured and taken to a house, where her alleged captors forced her to undress and pose for photographs.

She told detectives she was placed in a car, and was able to escape and flee into woods and came out near her home.

Detectives noted she had a minor injury in her lip, and a torn shirt. They also found $107 in cash tucked in her right sock.

Carlee Russells family says she was abducted after stopping to help a toddler, but police are yet to confirm key details in their story (Hoover Police Department)

Out of respect for Carlee and her family, detectives did not press for additional information in this interview, and made plans to speak with her in detail after giving her time to rest, Mr Derzis said.

The Secret Service analysed her phone and computers, and found internet searches that are very relevant to this case, Mr Derzis said.

On July 11, Ms Russell searched: Do you have to pay for amber alert or search.

On the day of her alleged abduction, she searched how to take money from a register without being caught. She also searched for a one-way bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville departing that day, Mr Derzis said.

She searched for Taken, a 2008 thriller about an abduction starring Liam Neeson.

There were other searches on Carlees phone that appear to shed some light on her mindset, but out of respect to her privacy we will not be releasing the content of those searches at this time, the police chief said.

Weve asked to interview Carlee a second time, but we have not been granted that request. As you can see there are many questions left to be answered, but only Carlee can provide those answers.

What we can say is that weve been unable to verify most of Carlees initial statement made to investigators, and we have no reason to believe that there is a threat to public safety.

On Sunday, Ms Russells boyfriend Thomar Latrell Simmons claimed that she had barely survived her ordeal after being kidnapped.

She was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until shes physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment, Mr Simmons wrote.

Thomar Latrell Simmons claimed his girlfriend Carlee Russell had been kidnapped and barely survived (Facebook / Thomar Latrell Simmons)

Mr Simmons added that he had been searching for Ms Russell nonstop since he was notified of her disappearance.

He said there had been false allegations & assumptions that he had something to do with her abduction, adding he hadnt let the rumours distract him.

Mr Simmons thanked the family, friends and fellow churchgoers for their help.

All I (ask) from everyone right now is to be respectful of Carlees situation.

Who is Carlee Russell?

Ms Russell lives with her parents in Hoover, a fast-growing suburb on the southern outskirts of Birmingham.

She worked part time at The Woodhouse Spa and was also a student at Jefferson State Community College, where she was studying to be a nurse, according to AL.com.

Jefferson State issued a statement on Friday saying it was extremely concerned for Ms Russells safety.

On the day she went missing, Ms Russell had spent time with officers from Harpersville Police Department, according to a Facebook post on Friday asking for help finding her.

We were honored to spend time with this smart, courteous and honoring young woman yesterday, the department said on social media.

She was handling some business in the Town of Harpersville yesterday and we were so impressed by her respect, poise, good attitude and her drive to become a nursing student and help others.

The police department later issued an update after its initial post led to the spread of unfounded rumours.

For clarification, Ms Russell was not at the Harpersville Police Department, they later added. Contrary to the stigma, we consistently encounter citizens while engaging the community and those occasions are primarily positive.
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The boyfriend of an Alabama woman who went missing after stopping to help a child on the highway and who mysteriously returned two days later has claimed she was kidnapped.

Carlethia Nichole Carlee Russell returned to her parents home on Saturday on foot, following a two-day long multi-state search after she made a 911 call to report a missile toddler walking on the side of Interstate 459 in Alabama.

Thomar Latrell Simmons, her boyfriend, claimed in a Facebook post that she was kidnapped and was fighting for her life for 48 hours after going missing.

He said his girlfriend is not physically or mentally stable at the moment to speak about her ordeal or about the alleged kidnapper, sharing their photographs.

I dont even know how to start off this post but to only say thank you to my lord & savior Jesus Christ for saving my girlfriends life! he said on Sunday.

Also, thank you to everyone who shared a picture, came out to the Hoover Met to help us with the search parties, & who went & proceeded to tell other people about Carlee to bring more awareness to her story.

I have been going nonstop since I received the call that she was missing on Thursday night. I know she wouldve done the same for me, so I wasnt going to give up until I saw her face again!

He urged people to be respectful of the situation and requested time till she was stable again.

25-year-old Carlee Russell was reported missing after she called 911 and stopped to check on a toddler on the side of an Alabama highway on 13 July (Hoover police department)

All I asked from everyone right now is to be respectful of Carlees situation. She was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until shes physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment, he said.

Her mysterious disappearance prompted a statewide search with national attention, as police combed through the area and relied on drones to search overhead.

Hoover police said she called 911 about a toddler before they arrived to find her vehicle along with her belongings, but not her or the child.

She had also called a family member who lost contact with her while the phone line remained open, according to police.

One witness reported possibly seeing a grey vehicle and a male standing outside of Ms Russells car at the time of the incident, according to the Hoover police.

Her family said the toddler was used as bait to lure her out of the car and kidnap her.
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A 20-year-old man in Georgia is facing charges after being accused of kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend  exactly one year after he faced charges for a nearly identical abduction.

Cameron JaMichael Hopkins of Albany Georgia was arrested and charged on Monday by the Fayetteville Police Department for kidnapping and aggravated assault after taking his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend at gunpoint from her job.

The young woman, identified as Khaliyah Jones, was working at Wingstop on North Glynn Street on Sunday evening when Mr Hopkins entered and kidnapped her at gunpoint, according to police.

Mr Hopkins forced the young woman into his red Chevrolet Camaro and drove off. Police pursued the vehicle from Fayette County into Clayton County until it stopped in Lovejoy High Schools driveway.

Police then reported hearing multiple gunshots coming from the suspects vehicle, including several that struck a police vehicle, Fayetteville police said in a press release.

After Mr Hopkins emerged from the vehicle, police found the female victim had succumbed to several gunshot wounds.

Mr Hopkins is also facing charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during a crime by the Clayton County Police Department.

Exactly one year ago, Mr Hopkins was arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated, assault among other charges, for trying to kidnap his ex-girlfriend from a Walmart parking lot, according to the Lovejoy Police Department.

At the time, Mr Hopkins family members reportedly told police that he was upset with Ms Jones for breaking up with him. He also threatened to shoot and kill her if police tried pulling him over.

Ms Jones escaped Mr Hopkins last year by jumping out of the car when it came to a stop. She reportedly ran to a nearby business and asked for help.

After his arrest in July, Mr Hopkins was released on bond in September.

As of Monday afternoon, Mr Hopkins bail has not been set. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday at 10am local time.

Police in Fayetteville said they are still investigating the situation.
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Did he know that his time was up?

His alleged internet searches would certainly seem to suggest so.

Over the last year between March 2022 and June 2023, the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann repeatedly looked online for updates in the investigation police say.

He searched for details about the victims and their families.

He googled the use of new phone technology in the case and looked for podcasts and documentaries about the murders.

And he even took a keen interest in the newly-launched task force  headed up by newly-appointed Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison  that was actively hunting for him.

For up to 16 years, police say he had gotten away with brutally murdering young women and dumping their bodies along the shores of Gilgo Beach in Long Island.

As body after body lay undiscovered, he added more victims to his graveyard, prosecutors allege.

Then, in late 2010, a search for another missing woman led authorities to the grim discovery.

But the suspects time still wasnt up.

For more than a decade, the accused killer continued to go about his day to day life  going to work at his architecture firm in Manhattan and coming home to his wife and two children.

He seemed just as baffled by his lack of arrest as the local residents and victims families who questioned why police had not been able to catch the killer.

Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman (from clockwise top left) (AP)

He even searched Google for the answers to questions including why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer and why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught, court documents state.

Was he looking over his shoulder? Did he have an inkling that he was under surveillance?

Or after all this time had passed, did he think that he might never get caught?

Then, last Thursday, as he left his office in Midtown after a days work and walked along a busy Manhattan road, a group of suit-clad men approached and surrounded him.

The gig was finally up.

Rex Heuermann  a 59-year-old married father-of-two, professional architecture, Manhattan business owner and Long Island native  was arrested and charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello.

He was also named as the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

Moment Gilgo Beach suspect arrested in crowded New York street

Its taken 13 years but Suffolk County Police finally say theyve caught the serial killer who lured in sex workers, brutally murdered them and then dumped their bound and wrapped bodies along the shores of Gilgo Beach.

What led them to the suspected killer was laid out in court documents as prosecutors asked a judge to deny him bail.

It consisted of a pimps tip about his pickup truck, a stash of burner phones, sadistic online searches, phone calls taunting victims families, his wifes hair  and a pizza crust.

Sighting of pickup truck

The first piece of the puzzle came when a witness in the Costello case revealed details about a vehicle that a client was driving when she was last seen alive.

Costello, who worked as a sex worker, was seen alive on the evening of 2 September 2010 when she left her home in West Babylon.

One night earlier, witnesses said that a prostitution client had come to her home but the client was subjected to a ruse where a man posing as Costellos outraged boyfriend showed up and made him leave  in a move to swindle the client out of cash. A witness  Costellos unidentified pimp  said that the client was driving a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche.

The next day the same client contacted Costello to meet her but said that he wouldnt come to her home because of her boyfriend, the court documents state.

Police remove evidence from home of Long Island serial killer suspect (Patrick Reichart)

Costello left her home and was never seen alive again.

The details of the vehicle came to light last year after a new taskforce was assembled in January 2022 to solve the serial killings once and for all. The taskforce reviewed the evidence gathered in the case and investigators interviewed Costellos pimp in the spring of 2022.

He told officials about the suspect in the green Chevrolet Avalanche, telling them he didnt know the mans name but that you might want to look at him.

In March 2022, a registration search showed that local man Mr Heuermann owned a first-generation model of the truck at the time of Costellos disappearance. He also matched the witness description of the man believed to be the killer: a large, white ogre-like male in his mid-40s, around 64 to 66 tall, with dark bushy hair, and big oval style 1970s type eyeglasses.

As described below, this was significant, because a witness to the disappearance of Amber Costello identified a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche as the vehicle believed to have been driven by her killer, the court documents state.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told New York Daily News this was the turning point in the investigation  and the moment that authorities zeroed in on Mr Heuermann.

The turning point was the car, he said. Once we got that car, who it connected to, thats when the investigation got legs.

The discovery of the car led investigators to hone in on Mr Heuermann including executing 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain evidence to determine his potential involvement in the killings.

Trove of burner phones

Mr Heuermanns alleged use of burner phones then led police to make an arrest.

At the time when the three women went missing, they had been in contact with a person who was using a burner phone to arrange to meet them.

People often use burner phones for illicit or illegal activities as they are more difficult to trace.

But, according to the court documents, Mr Heuermann still managed to make a series of critical errors while using them.

The burner phones used to contact the victims always pinged off the same cell towers as Mr Heuermanns legitimate cellphone, the documents show  indicating that while using the burner phones, he was also in possession of his cellphone at the same time.

The burner phones also pinged off cell towers in two key locations  close to Mr Heuermanns office in Midtown Manhattan and close to Mr Heuermanns family home in Massapequa Park.

Rex Heuermann leaves court on Friday (Fox 5/YouTube)

Records show that Mr Heuermanns personal cellphone and the burner phones were in the same locations at the same time  and in the locations that corresponded with the disappearances and murders of each of the three women around Massapequa, Long Island and Midtown Manhattan.

Investigators could find no instance where Heuermann was in a separate location from these other cellphones when such a communication event occurred, the court documents state.

In the days leading up to Barthelemys disappearance, she had been contacted by the same burner phone multiple times.

The last contact from the phone came on 10 July 2009 when she was last seen alive in New York City.

Cell site records show the burner phone traveled from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan that day.

Then, chillingly, Barthelemys own cellphone traveled from Midtown Manhattan to Massapequa Park.

Victims cellphones and taunting calls to grieving families

The killer took at least two of his victims cellphones after their murders as a trophy  and, in a sick move, called one of the victims families from her phone to taunt them about what he had done.

Prosecutors say the evidence shows this person was Mr Heuermann.

Following Brainard-Barnes and Barthelemys murders, the killer took and used their cellphones.

Barthelemys last cell site location was in the early hours of 11 July 2009 in Massapequa.

Surveillance footage captures Rex Heuermann adding credit to one of the burner phones (via REUTERS)

Throughout the next two months, the killer then used her cellphone to make taunting phone calls to Barthelemys family members.

In at least one of those calls, answered by a devastated family member, the male caller gloated about killing and sexually assaulting Barthelemy.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Heuermann made those cruel calls from or in the vicinity of his Midtown office where his own daughter is now an employee. Records show that each of the taunting calls pinged off cell towers in Midtown Manhattan.

Mr Heuermann also allegedly used Brainard-Barnes cellphone to check her voicemail, the court documents show.

Online searches for explicit images  and the LISK investigation

In the years after the murders, Mr Heuermann allegedly continued to slip up in his use of technology  as he allegedly continued to use burner phones to illicit sex from sex workers right up until his arrest.

While it showed a pattern of behaviour, prosecutors also point to other disturbing activity traced to the cellphone numbers.

Court documents show that Mr Heuermann had Tinder profiles and several email accounts under a series of fake names.

He used these accounts  linked to his burner phones  to search for graphic images of young girls and children and sadistic, torture-related pornography.

Selfie taken on one of his fake accounts (via REUTERS)

Searches included girl hog tied torture porn and 10 year old school girl.

As well as the disturbing sexual searches, prosecutors say he also looked up images of the murder victims and their relatives, and researched podcasts, documentaries and news stories on the case.

These included why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, and why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught, Long Island killer and Long Island serial killer phone call.

He also looked for information about the new task force on the case.

Knowing he was keeping a close eye on the investigation, police kept the developments close to the vest.

Surveillance footage captured Mr Heuermann adding credit to one of the burner phones  and he had it on him when he was arrested.

Wifes hair

In a bombshell twist, hair belonging to Mr Heuermanns wife was allegedly found on the bodies of three of the four victims.

Prosecutors say that two female hairs had been found on Waterman, one of them on the tape which the killer wrapped around her head. One female hair was found on tape used to wrap burlap around Costello and one hair was found in a belt buckle used to bind Brainard-Barnes  who Mr Heuermann is yet to be charged over.

To identify the female who the belonged to, investigators trawled through the trash at the Heuermann home in Long Island.

New York State police officers carry out a large item from the home of Rex Heuermann (AP)

In July 2022, they recovered 11 bottles from the trash and they were swabbed for DNA.

Forensic testing found that the DNA on the bottles matched the female hair found at the crime scene, concluding that the hair belonged to Mr Heuermanns wife.

The accuracy is such that more than 99 percent of the North American female population can be ruled out, according to the court documents.

Prosecutors found that the suspects wife was out of town at the time of the three murders for which he has been charged but that her hair could have transferred to the crime scene through her husbands clothing or through him using items such as tape taken from the family home.

Pizza crust

As well as his wifes DNA, Mr Heuermanns DNA was also found on one of the victims.

Prosecutors said that a male hair had been found on the burlap used to wrap Watermans body before the killer dumped her along Gilgo Beach.

When the hair was first retrieved in 2010, it was unsuitable for DNA analysis, according to the court documents.

But that hair was kept safely locked away and was submitted for analysis in 2020. A DNA profile came back.

A pizza box discarded by Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann was used to link him to the killings through DNA (Suffolk County DA)

Now, to check if it matched Mr Heuermann, investigators needed his DNA to compare the samples.

This January, a surveillance team watching the suspect saw him chuck a pizza box into the trash close to his office in Manhattan.

They nabbed the box and found a leftover pizza crust inside.

Last month, court records state the forensics came back: it was Mr Heuermanns hair found on Watermans body.
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Rudy Giuliani stirred backlash with a bizarre appearance at the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killers home.

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 following his arrest two days earlier.

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.

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 Giuliani  one 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, Mr Giulianis political adviser.

The mayor commends all involved in the case, but knows there is still work to be done in order to deliver justice.

The drop-by visit drew confused reactions on social media, with users calling it creepy and weird that Mr Giuliani was inserting himself in the case.

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.
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For around two decades, the sands and marshes of Long Islands Gilgo Beach kept a dark secret.

A killer or killers roamed the locality, luring in escorts and sex workers and brutally murdering them.

Body after body was dumped along the shoreline, hidden for months and even years without being discovered.

Then, in 2010, a chilling 911 call made by a woman in fear for her life led police to search the area.

What they discovered was far more horrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Over the next year, the remains of 11 victims  mainly female escorts  were discovered dumped in the area, plunging the Suffolk County community into terror.

But, the case went cold and no arrests were made, no suspects were named and there was no justice for the victims and their families.

That is, until now.

On Thursday, local married father-of-two Rex Heuermann was arrested on suspicion of being the infamous serial killer.

The 59-year-old has been charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello and is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes  who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

Rex Heuermann in a video about architecture posted on YouTube (Bonjour Realty)

Long Island native Mr Heuermann lives close to Gilgo Beach, where the killer dumped his victims. He also works as an architect in Manhattan, where some of the women were last seen alive.

While neighbours, professional acquaintances and victims families react to the shocking news, the question is: now an arrest has been made, is the hunt for the Gilgo Beach serial killer finally over?

The murders

For more than a decade, the Gilgo Beach murders stumped law enforcement officials in Suffolk County who believed it could be the work of one or more serial killers who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway.

The case began in May 2010 when Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, vanished after leaving a clients house on foot near Gilgo Beach.

She called 911 for help, saying she feared for her life, and was never seen alive again.

In the chilling call, released last year, Gilbert is heard repeatedly telling the 911 operator that somebodys after me.

She is also heard arguing with a man  who she refers to as Mike  who appears to be trying to encourage her to get back into a car; at one point, she is heard asking if he is going to kill her.

Map of the sites the bodies were dumped (Suffolk County Police Department)

These people are plotting to kill me, she tells the dispatcher.

During a search for Gilbert in dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered the remains of another woman.

Within a matter of days, the remains of three more victims were found close by.

By spring 2011, the remains of a total of 10 victims had been found  eight women, a man, and a toddler.

Gilberts body was found in December 2011. Her cause of death is widely contested, with authorities long claiming that it is not connected to the serial killer or killers but that she died from accidental drowning as she fled from the clients home.

However, an independent autopsy commissioned by her family ruled that she died by strangulation and her mother believes she was murdered.

Like Gilbert, most of the victims targeted were sex workers.

Several theories have been considered over the years but no one had ever been charged with the killings.

Authorities have previously said they believe that three separate serial killers could be responsible for the slayings over a period of around 20 years.

Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where Megan Watermans remains were recovered in 2010 (Suffolk County Police Department)

The case appeared to go cold for several years until last year when Suffolk Polices Rodney Harrison vowed to finally close the case and bring the killer or killers to justice.

The newly appointed commissioner said that, with a set of fresh eyes, he had faith that he could get the cold case across the finish line. He launched a dedicated taskforce for the case.

The victims

The remains of at least 11 victims were found in the Gilgo Beach area though it remains unclear if they are all the work of the same killer. Many were sex workers who offered escort services on Craigslist or worked in New York City.

The first victim found was Melissa Barthelemy, whose remains were discovered along Ocean Parkway on 11 December 2010 during the search for Shannan Gilbert  a 24-year-old sex worker from New Jersey who vanished after visiting a client in Oak Park and making a chilling 911 call where she revealed fears for her life.

Two days later on 13 December, the remains of three other victims  Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello  were found close by.

All three women were known to advertise escort services on Craigslist.

Brainard-Barnes  known as one of the Gilgo Beach Four  was last seen alive in early June 2007 in New York City while Costello was last seen leaving her North Babylon home one day in early September 2010.

Waterman was last seen alive in early June 2010 at a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge.

This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. (AP)

Seven months later, on 26 July 2011, the remains of Jessica Taylor were found in a wooded area in Manorville during the ongoing search for Gilbert. Taylor worked as an escort in New York City.

Valerie Mack also worked as an escort but was last seen alive in Philadelphia in 2000. Her remains were found on two separate occasions in Manorville in 2000 and in Oak Beach in 2011 but she was only identified in 2020 through the use of genetic genealogy.

Some of the victims have never been identified.

The skeletal remains of an Asian male, aged between 17 and 23 years old, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and with poor dental health, were found along Ocean Parkway in April 2011. He is believed to have died around five to 10 years earlier.

That same day, the remains of a female toddler were discovered. She was later identified as the daughter of the also-unidentified female victim dubbed Peaches whose remains were found in Nassau County.

The suspect

On Thursday, there was a huge breakthrough in the case when suspect Mr Heuermann was finally arrested on suspicion of the murders.

Dramatic video captured him walking along a Manhattan road when he was suddenly surrounded by plainclothes officers and taken into custody.

Gilgo Beach: What we know so far

The accused killer has been married twice and shares a 26-year-old daughter and stepson, with special needs, with his second wife.

Mr Heuermann is president of architecture firm RH Consultants & Associates, a company which he founded in 1994 and which his adult daughter also works for.

According to the company website, Mr Heuermanns company has worked with the likes of Catholic Charities, NYC-DEP Sewerage Treatment and American Airlines and other major tenants at the JFK International Airport.

A company page called Meet The Team and featuring his photo was taken down on Friday morning as news of his arrest broke.

In an interview posted on YouTube by Bonjour Realty last year, the father-of-two said that he was born and raised in Long Island but had been working in Manhattan since 1987... [a] very long time.

The architecture firm is based in Midtown Manhattan  where some of the Gilgo Beach victims were last seen alive.

According to court records, phone calls made from burner phones and some of the victims cellphones can be traced to his office.

In his professional life, some acquaintances described him as arrogant while others said he was creepy.

Paul Teitelbaum, who worked with Mr Heuermann on a building in Brooklyn Heights, told The New York Times that the suspect had a swagger and an attitude that said: Im the expert, youre lucky to have me.

Meanwhile, Dominique Vidal  an interior designer who was part of the same architecture networking group as Mr Heuermann  said that he repeatedly called her and left her a creepy voicemail despite them never having worked together.

Rex Heuermann booking photo (AP)

He left this [voicemail] for me end of February after I left the group, she said in a TikTok video posted on Sunday.

Previous to that, he did call me a couple of times. I answered the phone. Nothing really significant. I found it odd he was calling me because I had no work for him. Theres no ongoing relationship. We were just two people who used to be in the same networking group.

Theres nothing incredibly scary about the voicemail, besides the fact that he is the Gilgo Beach murderer.

Neighbours of Mr Heuermann in Massapequa Park  which is located just a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach where the killer dumped the bodies of his victims  gave a mixed picture of the accused killer.

Neighbours told The Independent that he was a quiet family man who lived in the close-knit community with his wife and two children.

One neighbour, who has lived a stones throw from the Heuermanns for more than two decades, said that the family is a very quiet family who made no imprint at all on the neighborhood.

Basically, we never had any contact with him... living here 22 years and never said two words to him, the long-time Massapequa Park resident said, adding that one bad apple doesnt spoil the bunch in a great neighbourhood.

Yet another neighbour  who had lived there for 13 years  told Newsweek that children would avoid his home on Halloween.

Most people dont knock on his door, said Barry Auslander. During Halloween, the kids are told to stay away. Hes not a very nice person.

He added that his home was dilapidated and always dark.

New York State police officers move a metal cabinet as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (AP)

Mr Heuermann has lived on Long Island his whole life  and now lives in the same property where he spent his childhood.

He grew up in Massapequa Park and attended Berner High School where Billy Baldwin was a classmate.

Maureen Holpit, 59, who also attended Berner High School with Mr Heuarmann, told The Independent that Mr Heauerman was once a shy teen who would often leave love notes in her locker. Ms Holpit said her exchanges with the now suspected serial killer were always pleasant and polite.

I was always nice and friendly to him, you know. Seemed like he kind of got picked on and people would make maybe portray him as a little nerdy. He was very quiet, mild-mannered. So I was nice and would say, Hey, Rex, how are you?, Ms Holpit, who now lives in Florida, tells The Independent.

I was getting these notes in my locker. As Im remembering, there were multiple little love notes but they were not signed, she added. Then, one day I did see him put it in my locker and so I knew they were from him. I may have said to him that I had a boyfriend or I just liked him as a friend.

The investigation

Last year, the Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Suffolk County Sheriffs Office and the FBI revamped the probe into the killings that ultimately led to Mr Heuermanns bombshell arrest outside his Midtown office on Thursday.

A bail application released by the Suffolk County District Attorney revealed that Mr Heuermann was linked to the serial killings through cellphone evidence and surveillance.

Prosecutors have argued that no bail should be set for Mr Heuermann due to his recent searches for sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives.

Mr Heuermann was first linked to the cold case in March 2022 after investigators discovered that a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to him was possibly the one spotted by a witness in Costellos disappearance.

Mr Heuermann appeared in court in handcuffs on Friday and pleaded not guilty to six murder charges (Fox 5/YouTube)

As law enforcement closed in on him, they served more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants that uncovered cellphone records for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Four victims before they went missing.

Further analysis also allegedly linked Mr Heuermann to taunting calls made to family members of the victims, according to investigators. The calls were made from the Midtown Manhattan area, where the offices of Mr Heuermans architecture business are located.

Among the evidence linking Mr Heuermann to the murders was a hair found on burlap material used to wrap Watermans corpse, according to court documents. DNA analysis had not been possible in the early stages of the investigation, but new technology allowed testing in July 2020.

A team surveilling Mr Heuermann collected a discarded pizza box that then confirmed a DNA match with the suspect on 12 June.

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

Police remove evidence from home of Long Island serial killer suspect (Patrick Reichart)

The searches included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and other disturbing content.

Mr Heuermann is also accused of searching why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught and new phone technology may be key to break in case.

More forensic analysis revealed that female hairs found in the three crime scene locations belonged to Mr Heuermanns wife. However, authorities have determined through cellphone records that Mr Heuermanns wife was out of state when the murders took place.

At the time Barthelemy went missing in July 2009, Mr Heuermanns wife was in Iceland. She visited Maryland around the time Waterman disappeared in June 2010, and also travelled to New Jersey when Costello was last seen in September of that year.

It is likely that the burlap, tape, vehicle(s) or other instrumentalities utilised in furtherance of these murders came from Defendant Heuermanns residence, where his wife also resides, or was transferred from his clothing, prosecutors explained.

Mr Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who is believed to be one of the Gilgo Four. Prosecutors noted in the application that records for the burner phones used to contact Brainard-Barnes were not obtained at the time she went missing and no longer exist.
 Close Gilgo Beach: Police remove evidence from home of Long Island serial killer suspect

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Law enforcement in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is investigating potential ties between local unsolved cases and Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told ABC News that his task force is looking into possible connections between Mr Heuermann and the murders of four female sex workers whose bodies were found in a ditch just over the Atlantic City border in 2006.

Shame on us if we dont look into Las Vegas, South Carolina, even Atlantic City, weve got to make sure if anyone has any information, Mr Harrison said.

It comes amid comments from Mr Heuermanns sister-in-law that she is in complete disbelief following his arrest over the deaths of Amber Costello, Megan Waterman and Melissa Barthelemy.

I vacillate between desperately wanting my niece and nephews life returned to its previous state, intact, without a father accused of being a serial killer to being pleased and secure in knowing that someone is in custody, Dr Johanna Ellerup told NBC News.

My ego has great difficulty processing the idea that I looked Rex in the eye and was unable to discern any murderous intentions.
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Rex Heuermanns defence attorney has dismissed a mountain of evidence presented by prosecutors linking him to the Gilgo Beach murders.

Mr Heuermann, 59, was ordered held without bail on Friday after pleading not guilty to six counts of murder over the deaths of Gilgo Beach murder victims Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman.

He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The women, all sex workers in their 20s, were found within one-quarter mile of each other in December 2010 during a separate missing persons investigation in the Long Island community of Gilgo Beach.

The married father of two lived in Massapequa Park, where the victims were last seen, while his architecture consulting firm is located near the area in Midtown Manhattan, where taunting calls were made to the womens families. His wifes hair and his DNA evidence matched evidence found at the crime scene, while forensic analysis of his cellphone records and chilling online searches have further tied him to the crime, police said.

But despite the damning evidence, Mr Heuermanns defence attorney says that his client is nothing but a loving husband and devoted father, also suggesting that the Suffolk County task force leading the investigation is ignoring stronger leads.

Rex Heuermann is 59 years old with no prior criminal history, criminal defence lawyer Michael Brown said in a statement to News 12 Long Island. He is a loving husband to his wife of over 25 years and an involved and dedicated father to his daughter and stepson.

There is nothing about Mr Heuermann that would suggest that he is involved in these incidents.

And while the government has decided to focus on him despite more significant and stronger leads, we are looking forward to defending him in a court of law before a fair and impartial jury of his peers.

A crime laboratory officer moves a plastic bag of items as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (AP)

Law enforcement officials are seen as they investigate the home of a suspect arrested in the unsolved Gilgo Beach killings on July 14, 2023 in Massapequa Park, New York. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Suffolk County police Commissioner Rodney Harrison described Mr Heuermann as a demon that walks among us, a predator that ruined families.

Among the evidence allegedly linking Mr Heuermann to the murders was a hair found on burlap material used to wrap Watermans corpse, according to court documents. DNA analysis had not been possible in the early stages of the investigation, but new technology allowed testing in July 2020.

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches reportedly included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Melissa Barthelemy (upper left), Amber Costello (upper rigth), Megan Waterman (bottom left). He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right) (AP)

Mr Heuermann is also accused of searching why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught and new phone technology may be key to break in case.

On Sunday night, Suffolk Police Officers executed a search warrant at a single unit at Omega Self Storage in Amityville late, according to News 12 Long Island. Police confirmed to the local outlet that the search was part of the investigation into the Manhattan architects alleged murders.

The storage unit is just two miles from Mr Heuermanns home in Massapequa Park, where investigators have been combing for evidence  and possible trophies  linking him to the slayings.
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Rex Heuermanns tax issues and string of personal injury lawsuits have been revealed in the aftermath of his bombshell arrest in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders.

Mr Heuermann, a 59-year-old father of two, was taken into custody last week and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three of second-degree murder over the deaths of slain sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman. He has pleaded not guilty.

The womens bodies were found within one-quarter of a mile of each other in December 2010. Twenty-four-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes remains were also found in the vicinity  Mr Heuermann has not been charged with Brainard-Barnes murder but is the prime suspect in the investigation.

Mr Heuermann lived in Massapequa Park, where the victims were last seen, while his architecture consulting firm is located near the area in Midtown Manhattan where taunting calls were made to the womens families. He first came onto investigators radar last year, when a witness recognised his vehicle, while DNA evidence and a forensic analysis of his cellphone records and online searches have further tied him to the crime, police said.

In the aftermath of his arrest, court records have resurfaced indicating that Mr Heuermann has a history of filing lawsuits against several drivers. Mr Heuermann has filed at least four suits claiming to have been hit by vehicles, allegedly sustaining serious and permanent personal injuries, CNN reports.

Three of the lawsuits, filed since 2014, have been settled or discontinued. The most recent one, which was filed in 2022, remains ongoing.

Mr Heuermann is president of the architecture firm RH Consultants & Associates, a company he founded in 1994.

On his company website, Mr Heuermann boasted about working with the likes of Catholic Charities, NYC-DEP Sewerage Treatment and American Airlines and other major tenants at the JFK International Airport.

Records obtained by CNN show that one associate described his work as a not a pleasant process in a civil court hearing in 2018. The associate said that [he didnt] want to be Mr Heuermann in that respect for a minute.

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)

At one point, Mr Heuermann, who according to a 2018 deposition lives in the same home where he was brought up, also owed more than $425,000 that had accrued since 2005. Roughly $215,000 of that debt was paid off as of October 2022, when the last filing in the case was made.

Mr Heuermann and his wife also owe New York State $81,000 in personal income tax.

A neighbour of Mr Heuermann told The New York Times that sometimes he would glower at neighbours while he swung an ax in the front yard of his home. Other people who live near Mr Heuermanns Massapequa Park home told the Times that they had cautioned their children to avoid Mr Heuermanns home.

A crime laboratory officer moves a plastic bag of items as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (AP)

We would cross the street, Nicholas Ferchaw, 24, told the outlet. He was somebody you dont want to approach.

However, one long-time neighbour of the Heuermanns, who has lived a few doors down from the family for more than two decades, told The Independent on Friday that the suspect, his wife and two children were a very quiet family who made no imprint at all on the local community.

Basically, we never had any contact with him ... living here 22 years and never said two words to him, she said  while quick to point out that one bad apple doesnt spoil the bunch in a great neighbourhood.

On Sunday night, Suffolk Police Officers executed a search warrant at a single unit at Omega Self Storage in Amityville late, according to News 12 Long Island. Police confirmed to the local outlet that the search was part of the investigation into the Manhattan architects alleged murders.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Melissa Barthelemy (upper left), Amber Costello (upper rigth), Megan Waterman (bottom left). He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right)

The storage unit is just two miles from Mr Heuermanns home, where investigators have been combing for evidence  and possible trophies  linking him to the slayings.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said on Monday that officials are confident that Mr Heuermann will soon be charged with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

Her remains were found along with the bodies of the women Mr Heuermann is accused of killing.

Mr Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder that he is facing.
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Long Island police are searching for body parts in a storage unit tied to Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann following his bombshell arrest last week.

Suffolk Police Officers executed a search warrant at a single unit at Omega Self Storage in Amityville late on Sunday night, according to PIX 11.

Police confirmed to the local outlet that the search was part of the investigation into the Manhattan architects alleged murders of at least three women whose bodies were found dumped on the shores of Gilgo Beach over a decade ago.

The storage unit is just two miles from the married father-of-twos home in Massapequa Park which investigators have been combing for evidence  and possible trophies and body parts  linking him to the slayings.

Hes a monster, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told PIX 11. It was a very cluttered house. He was like a pack rat.

Mr Harrison commended the men and women in the interagency task force that led the renewed investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders. On 14 July, authorities seized Mr Heuermanns Chevrolet Avalanche from his driveway  a vehicle matching the description of a car a witness saw on the night when one of the victims was last seen alive.

Mr Harrison said one of the lead investigators in the case had obtained a description matching Mr Heuermanns appearance from a second interview to that key witness.

We were now able to link that Avalanche to that little box in Massapequa Park, Mr Harrison said. [The witness] pretty much said that [the suspect] had bushy hair and big glasses and was the size of an ogre and that helped us.

When asked whether he believes Mr Heuermann is behind six more bodies found in the Gilgo Beach area, Mr Harrison only said that time would tell whether that was the case. The task force will remain in place as the investigation into the other victims murders is still active.

Over the weekend, multiple other items, including a trove of firearms, were also seized from the suspects home  a home he has lived in his whole life and which is located just a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach where the killer dumped the bodies of his victims.

A plastic tub full of rifles was taken from the family property and loaded into a police van, as it emerged that the Manhattan architect owned a large gun safe and had legal permits for a staggering 92 firearms.

A source told The New York Post that investigators are looking to see if the accused killer took any trophies from his victims.

Were just going through his house looking to see if theres any evidence. If he has any trophies, they said.

Search warrant executed at a storage unit linked to Rex Heuermann (News 12 Long Island)

Mr Heuermann, a 59-year-old Long Island native and married father-of-two, was taken into custody on the night of 13 July as he left his architecture office in Midtown Manhattan.

Dramatic video shows a team of plainclothes officers surrounding him and taking him into custody on the busy block.

He was charged with 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.

The three women, who all worked as escorts, vanished without a trace. Their bodies were found in December 2011 during a search for Shannan Gilbert  a 24-year-old sex worker from New Jersey who vanished after visiting a client in Oak Park and making a chilling 911 call where she revealed fears for her life.

He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes  who together with the three is known as the Gilgo Beach Four  who was last seen alive in early June 2007 in New York City.

A crime laboratory officer moves a plastic bag of items as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park (AP)

The four women were found within one-quarter mile of each other, bound by belts or tape.

They are among 11 victims  mostly female sex workers  whose bodies were found in the Gilgo Beach area in 2010 and 2011.

Court records show that Mr Heuermann was linked to the killings with the help of a discarded pizza box, a trove of burner phones, and his wifes hair which was found on a victims body.

He pleaded not guilty as he appeared in court on 14 July where he was ordered to be held without bond.

The Gilgo Beach murders have long stumped law enforcement officials in Suffolk County who believed it could be the work of one or more serial killers who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway.

The case began in May 2010 when Gilbert vanished after leaving a clients house on foot near Gilgo Beach.

She called 911 for help saying she feared for her life and was never seen alive again.

During a search for Gilbert in dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered the remains of another woman.

Within a matter of days, the remains of three more victims were found close by.

This booking image provided by Suffolk County Sheriffs Office shows Rex Heuermann (AP)

By spring 2011, the remains of a total of 10 victims had been found including eight women, a man, and a toddler. Police have long thought that it could be the work of one or more serial killers.

Gilberts body was found in December 2011. Her cause of death is widely contested with authorities long claiming that it is not connected to the serial killer or killers but that she died from accidental drowning as she fled from the clients home.

However, an independent autopsy commissioned by her family ruled that she died by strangulation and her mother believes she was murdered.

Like Gilbert, most of the victims targeted were sex workers while some are yet to be identified.

Investigations are continuing into the other murders.
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The brother of slain child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey has said he believes her killer could have a similar profile to the man accused of perpetrating a string of murders that terrorised Long Island more than a decade ago.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found within one-quarter mile of each other in the shoreline community of Gilgo Beach. The grim discovery was made amid a separate missing persons investigation in December 2010 but the case went cold for years before Mr Heuermanns bombshell arrest.

Some neighbours have said that Mr Heuermann seemingly led a normal life in Massapequa Park  where he lived with his wife and near the site where the three victims were last seen  while others claimed they warned their children never to approach his house. The father-of-two also had a booming architecture consulting firm located in Midtown Manhattan.

Reacting to the breakthrough developments in the Gilgo Beach murders investigation, John Andrew Ramsey said that he believes his sister JonBenets killer has also likely led an outwardly low-profile life but wouldnt be able to entirely blend into society without raising suspicion.

No criminal record but you cant hide this level of darkness, Mr Ramsey tweeted in reference to Mr Heuermanns arrest on Saturday. It will manifest itself in other areas of your life. Try as you might you cant blend. JonBenets killer will likely have a similar bio.

JonBenet s 1996 killing made national headlines and remains unsolved to this day.

The six-year-old was found strangled in the basement of her home in Boulder, Colorado. Her parents had called police around 6am that day after finding a ransom note asking for $118,000, but the body was not discovered until seven hours later when officers asked her father to check if anything was missing.

Boulder police then accused JonBenets parents, John Ramsey and Patsy Ramsey, of staging the crime scene, although the district attorneys office at the time was convinced that evidence pointed somewhere else. Law enforcement faced backlash for several missteps in the investigation into the murder.

Investigators announced a reinvigorated probe in JonBenets case last fall. The break in the Gilgo Beach murders case came as part of a similar revamped investigation in 2022.

Mr Ramsey said he hopes his sisters cold case will experience a breakthrough of its own.

LE has come a long way since 1996. Turf wars are becoming a thing of the past with partnerships becoming standard operating procedure. This new approach just might net JonBenets killer.

JonBenet Ramsey (Sipa/Shutterstock)

Determining who killed the Gilgo Beach victims, and why, has vexed a slew of homicide detectives through the last decade. Last year, an interagency task force was formed with investigators from the FBI, as well as state and local police departments, aimed at solving the case.

Shannan Gilberts disappearance in 2010 triggered the hunt that exposed the larger mystery. A 24-year-old sex worker, she vanished after leaving a clients house on foot in the seafront community of Oak Beach, disappearing into the marsh.

Months later, a police officer and his cadaver dog were looking for her body in the thicket along nearby Ocean Parkway when they happened upon the remains of a different woman. Within days, three other bodies were found, all within a short walk of one another.

By spring 2011, that number had climbed to 10 sets of human remains, those of eight women, one man and one toddler. Some were later linked to dismembered body parts found elsewhere on Long Island, making for a puzzling crime scene that stretched from a park near the New York City limits to a resort community on Fire Island and out to far eastern Long Island.

This booking image provided by Suffolk County Sheriffs 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)

A bail application released by the Suffolk County District Attorney revealed that Mr Heuermann was linked to the serial killings through cellphone evidence and surveillance.

Mr Heuermann was first linked to the cold case in March 2022 after investigators discovered that a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to him was possibly the one spotted by a witness in Costellos disappearance.

As law enforcement closed in on him, they served more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants that uncovered cellphone records for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Four victims before they went missing.

Further analysis also allegedly linked Mr Heuermann to taunting calls made to family members of the victims, according to investigators. The calls were made from the Midtown Manhattan area, where the offices of Mr Heuermans architecture business are located.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested last week in connection with the brutal murders of Melissa Barthelemy (upper left), Amber Costello (upper rigth), Megan Waterman (bottom left). He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right)

Among the evidence linking Mr Heuermann to the murders was a hair found on burlap material used to wrap Watermans corpse, according to court documents. DNA analysis had not been possible in the early stages of the investigation, but new technology allowed testing in July 2020.

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches reportedly included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content. Mr Heuermann is also accused of searching why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught and new phone technology may be key to break in case.

Mr Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said on Monday that officials are confident that Mr Heuermann will soon be charged with the murder of Brainard-Barnes.

On Sunday night, Suffolk Police Officers executed a search warrant at a single unit at Omega Self Storage in Amityville late, according to News 12 Long Island. Police confirmed to the local outlet that the search was part of the investigation into the Manhattan architects alleged murders.

The storage unit is just two miles from Mr Heuermanns home in Massapequa Park, where investigators have been combing for evidence  and possible trophies  linking him to the slayings.
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Kerri Rawson had allowed herself a rare sleep in on Friday morning when news broke that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the long-unsolved Long Island serial killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. She woke up at her home in Florida to a barrage of excited messages and began delving into details about the arrest  but her mind almost immediately turned to one looming question: Does he have a family?

Because Ms Rawson, 45, had been alerted on a different Friday  almost 18 and a half years earlier  to the arrest of another serial killer: her father, Dennis Rader, now infamous as the man behind the BTK murders of at least 10 in Kansas. His adult daughter, now a mother of two herself, was flooded by a range of emotions as she learned about Rex Heuermann, 59, the New York architect charged on Friday with the murders of three women found dumped on the south shore of Long Island.

Theyve been working on it forever, right, but for the public, we dont see any of that, Ms Rawson tells The Independent of the Gilgo Beach case. So youre like, Holy crap. Youre elated to think they got another big one like my dad  and there hasnt been one this big since [the Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo] or my dad, really.

And so your next thought, for me, is: Does he have a family? Thats a question, and so youre looking through media, and all of a sudden, youre reading, okay, he has a wife, he has kids. And then, for me  its like I almost get ripped again, like emotionally torn  because youre so glad that theyve caught somebody and got him before he could hurt anybody else, but youre heartbroken for this family.

The reality is, somebody like my father should have been arrested in 1974, right after he committed the Otero murders. The reality is, if that had been the case, I wouldnt be alive. My kids wouldnt be alive. So its those sort of processing thoughts, those take a very long time.

Kerri Rawson, a true crime author, whose father is the BTK killer Dennis Rader (Harper Collins)

Ms Rawsons father was convicted of killing four members of the Otero family in 1974 and the murders of six other women between 1977 and 1991  all while maintaining an outwardly normal job and family life, even securing leadership positions within church and scouting. His daughter has firsthand experience of learning that a man with whom she shared a home had terrorised and murdered others  and her heart goes out to the immediate and extended Heuermann family as they struggle to digest the news.

Right as the agent said, Hey, your dad is BTK, I went into shock, Ms Rawson says of her own experience. And then I was trying to ask him dates, because seven of the murders were before I was born, and then three were after and so I was asking for dates to try to alibi my dad, and then I quickly realised during that first conversation that my neighbour lady down the street had been murdered in 85, and so I knew that one was unsolved. So Im literally going from alibiing my dad  trying to  to realising he very well could have committed this murder of my neighbour lady down the street.

And so Im having to give information and details about that in the immediate aftermath of hearing of her fathers arrest, she says. (Rader was, indeed, later convicted of killing Marine Hedge, 53, who lived six doors down; he strangled her in her home, then posed and photographed her body at his church before dumping her remains in a remote field.)

And so with Rexs family, you know, were hearing very quickly that his wife and kids were vacationing or out of out of the area on certain dates of the Gilgo murders ... or when those women went missing, she says. So when you start, youre literally like in shock being notified about your loved one, and then youre being asked, very quickly, information about dates and all of that. Its a pretty intense process while theyre trying to screen you and get as much information as they can out of you, really, in that first interview before you talk to anybody else or media gets involved.

Because I think they also know they only have a have a window, because youre going to go into trauma and shock mode, and youre not going to be nearly as helpful for a while.

The Heuermann family are presumably dealing with a similar timeline that followed her own familys notification. News broke on Friday of the Long Island suspects arrest the night before, with police cataloguing evidence at the Heuermanns Massapequa Park home as neighbors and onlookers gathered.

Rex Heuermann is the 66 architect charged with murdering at least three women on Long Island (via REUTERS)

Three days out for me would have been, okay, well, it would have been the same, she says. So say on the Monday, I was still in shock. I was still shaking, literally physically shaking, for like five days.

Ms Rawson, then 26  the same age as Heuermanns adult daughter now  was living in Michigan with her then-husband when officers notified her of the arrest in her home state.

Knowing that the media would be waiting to swarm her in Wichita, she flew into Kansas City before hunkering down with her mother.

It was like coming home to a funeral, Ms Rawson says, continuing: it was several generations of my moms family got together  like my grandparents, aunts, and uncles  and then it literally was like my cousins were coming over, people were bringing food in the community. It was like a whole funeral was happening, like we had gathered all over a sudden death, and we were all sitting around sort of in shock.

Family members stepped in to cook or offer distractions with books or crossword puzzles, only talking about Raders arrest at times, she says.

We were taking my moms lead on that ... so if my mom wanted to talk about it, we would; otherwise, we were all just sort of trying to cope, she says.

Ms Rawsons mother, Paula, had been married to the killer for more than three decades at the time of his arrest. She was granted an emergency divorce almost immediately upon her application in the months following his unmasking and has maintained her privacy ever since.

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)

My mom was at home when she was notified, Ms Rawson says of her mothers experience in February 2005. She basically said, I need my medicine. And so law enforcement went back in to get that, but she didn't even have clothes. My family had to go get her some stuff with permission ... from law enforcement, who have taken over your house with those big, huge investigative trucks.

Trucks and other police vehicles were seen hauling evidence on Friday from the Heuermanns in Massapequa Park, where neighbors described a very quiet family whod left little mark on the community other than with their relatively dilapidated, outdated house. Still, no one ever expects that a neighbour  let alone someone living under the same roof  could be capable of such viciously murderous crime. Ms Rawson knows firsthand just how difficult it is to wrestle with those revelations.

You start questioning everything, like, who was this neighbour? Who was the person I lived next to? Could they have harmed my own kids? Was I in risk, was my family in risk? What did I miss? And then youre questioning basically everything, because you feel like your neighbours are part of your life, stability and people that you grow to trust. And so then you start questioning everything: your coworkers or your colleagues, other people, you start looking at everybody differently and wondering like, do I actually know anybody?

The first night after agents informed Ms Rawson of her fathers arrest, she says she wanted to die ... not kill myself; I just wanted to die, she says.

I just didnt know how I was going to survive it, she adds. And my Christian faith is one of the things that got me through and ... you just have to make a decision, minute by minute. I mean, I even still have to do this 18 years later of like, Okay, this really sucks, whatever this is going on, and now what do I do next?  And I always need a lot of time to process things still, emotionally and mentally. And so, for me, sometimes it's just a matter of going, Okay, what needs doing next? You know, even if it's the dishes, like, what's one thing I can do? And so you're just applying that as you're going forward: Okay, what's next? What can I do next?

And then, in time, certain aspects of it settle down, and you come to terms with the what, she says. Getting your head around the what can take a very long time, especially when it's developing right now [in the Heuermann case.] We really have no idea the extent of how many he possibly murdered or, like, how, where, when, who ... it's very much developing right now. So it takes a long time to process the what, even if you know the what, and then you just make decisions for yourself, like putting one foot in front of the other, honestly  and it's going to look different for everybody. There's no one way to do it. You just do it.

Speaking out as an advocate for victims  which include families such as her own  has helped her navigate her own journey; Ms Rawson in 2019 published A Serial Killers Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love and Overcoming, and last year published Breaking Free: Overcoming the Trauma of My Serial Killer Father.

Dennis Rader, nicknamed BTK, was convicted of killing 10 people in Kansas over more than three decades; he is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole (Getty Images)

When my family went through this, we didn't have anybody speaking up for us, she says. Maybe we did, we just didn't know, but we didn't see it  and so it is my hope that I'm helping a little bit, getting visibility on families like mine, because I'll have people say, Hey, hearing your story and seeing you speak makes me think about them, and I think about it differently. And so if I'm even making a difference with one person and changing their perspective, then it's worth it.

She says that, for somebody like Rex's family, absolutely. I'm totally here for them.

Her own perspective, she acknowledges  as the victim child of a serial killer with firsthand knowledge of such an offenders history  its so rare  and then for somebody like me to be willing to talk is very rare.

And so Im trying to defend them, and speak up for them and make sure people understand that they're victims, and that they're going through utter hell, and they need to be respected and treated as victims and not just cameras shoved in their face, their privacy needs protecting, they need victim services.

But then on the other hand, like, I'm also contacted now as basically an expert on my father's cases or like somebody that has firsthand knowledge of serial killers, she says. And so I feel personally like I almost get torn here between what my responsibility is of making sure I am coming from a place of victim advocacy, but also a place from helping to like progress knowledge. I'm trying not to speak up unless I have something worthwhile to say; I'm trying to make sure I'm sticking to facts and being helpful. That's sort of my guidelines here.

But yeah, they're going through through it really bad, she says of her thoughts on Long Island suspects family. I can just imagine, based on what my own family went through. And honestly, the thing is, certain aspects of it get better in time, but when stuff like this happens, it brings it all back up for the families ... what happens is that PTSD, and that trauma, it comes in and the anxiety, all of that gets triggered, like on Friday. It's hard for me, on something like this close to home, to step away from it.

She is, however, watching closely, particularly honing in on all the years the suspect could have been active; its been more than four decades since he turned 18. She is equally focused on getting justice for victims  however many there may be  and the families who have languished, devastated, for years without answers.

You really have to go back into like the 80s, she says. And so theres a lot of people talking about [how] he had homes in other places ... my gut on this is that theres going to be a lot more. We just have to wait on evidence and DNA.
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Authorities in Oregon say they have identified a person of interest in an investigation into a string of murders of in the greater Portland Metro area.

The bodies of six women have been found in roadsides and woods in a 100-mile area of the city between February and May this year, prompting fears of a possible serial killer.

On Monday, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office announced it had connected four of the victims to a sole person of interest, according to KPTV.

The persons identity has not been released by authorities, and they are not currently facing criminal charges in connection with the murders, the sheriffs office said.

The four victims were identified as Kristin Smith, 32, Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Webster, 31 and Ashley Real, 22.

Police also found the bodies of two other victims; Joanna Speaks, 32, a mother of three who was found dead in 8 April, and an unidentified woman found on 24 April.

The discoveries of the six victims in a five-month span in Portland set off frenzied speculation that a predator was stalking vulnerable women in the area.

At least three of the victims were known to frequent the same areas of downtown Portland in the months before their deaths, sources told Oregon Live in June.

On 4 June, the Portland Police Bureau issued a statement saying it had no reason to believe these six cases are connected.

A breakthrough in the case came after interviews with multiple people connected to the four victims, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said..

Nine law enforcement agencies had worked together to link the murders to a sole person of interest.

Kristin Smith

Smith was reported missing on 22 December 2022, and her body was found on 19 February in a wooded area in the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood, police said at the time.

Kristin Smith is one of four Portland women whose deaths have been linked to a sole person of interest (Portland Police Bureau)

On a fundraising page, her mother Melissa Smith said she had put out thousands of flyers and undertaken extensive searches over several months.

After her daughters body was discovered, Ms Smith pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.

Ive been devoted to searching and finding my daughter every single day through it all. Im willing to do whatever it takes to keep fighting to solve my daughters murder and put this piece of garbage away in jail for life, she wrote.

Ms Smith said that she was certain her daughter had been murdered, although police hadnt confirmed that to her.

Charity Lynn Perry

The body of Charity Lynn Perry of Longview, Washington, was found on 24 April near Ainsworth State Park, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said in a release at the time.

Charity Lynn Perry, 24, was found dead on 24 April in Portland (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

No details were given about how she died, but the sheriffs office said it appeared suspicious.

Perry had been known to frequent the Southwest Washington Street and Southwest Fourth Avenue in downtown Portland, the sheriffs office said.

Perrys mother Diana Allen told KPIC she had been suffering from mental health issues, and that the family wanted her to be remembered for her kindness and positivity.

She always had a smile that could light up the world, Ms Allen told KPIC.

Bridget Webster

Milwaukee woman Bridget Leann (Ramsey) Webster was found dead on 30 April on Harmony Road near Mill Creek in northwest Polk County, authorities said.

The remains of Bridget Webster, 31, were found on 31 April (Polk County Sheriffs Office)

The Polk County Sheriffs Office provided few details about the circumstances of her death, only revealing it was suspicious.

The sheriffs office said Webster frequented the same areas of downtown Portland as the other victims.

Ashley Real

On 7 May, Clackamas County Sheriffs deputies found the body of 22-year-old Ashley Real in a wooded area near Eagle Creek, about 23 miles southeast of Portland.

Ashley Real was last seen alive at a fast food restaurant (Portland Police Bureau)

Her remains were spotted by a fisherman, and the death was being treated as suspicious, authorities said.

She was last seen alive at a fast food restaurant on Southeast Division Street on 27 March, according to a missing person report.

Real was described as a Hispanic female, 411 tall, weighing 85 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a piercing in her nose.
 Close Murdered Oregon womans sister says cops avoiding serial killer theory

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Oregon officials have identified Jesse Lee Calhoun of Portland, as a person of interest in the mystery deaths of four women that police say are linked, law enforcement sources told The Associated Press.

The 38-year-old has not been charged with any crimes related to the investigation. He is currently in prison on unrelated charges after being arrested on 6 June for a parole violation.

Court records show that Calhoun has an extensive criminal history including 2003 and 2008 convictions for assault. He was also sentenced to four years in 2019 for burglary.

He was released early in July 2021 after being granted a conditional commutation by then-Oregon governor Kate Brown, due to his service as an inmate firefighter during the wildfires and the fear of Covid-19 spreading in prisons.

Meanwhile, a woman saying that shes Calhouns girlfriend has said that he had links to two of the four victims, revealing that Calhoun and Ashley Real had been seeing each other on and off for about a year and that he would provide Bridget Webster with drugs in exchange for sex.
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Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann is now expected to be charged with a fourth murder  as tips and evidence pour in following his shock arrest last week.

The 59-year-old married father-of-two  who has lived on Long Island his entire life and runs an architecture firm in Manhattan  was arrested on 13 July and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.

He is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

All four women  known as the Gilgo Beach Four  worked as sex workers and vanished after going to meet clients.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said on Monday that officials are confident that Mr Heuermann will soon be charged with the murder of Brainard-Barnes.

We feel we can prove these three murders, Mr Tierney told CNN.

Were also confident that were going to be able to eventually charge that fourth murder.

Its also possible that he could also face charges for other victims as a total of 11 sets of human remains were found dumped along the shores of Gilgo Beach back in 2010 and 2011.

As we continue to gather evidence, anything is possible, said the DA.

Since Mr Heuermanns arrest late last week, the DA said that investigators have received a wealth of evidence and information about the accused serial killer.

A crime laboratory officer moves a plastic bag of items from the home of Rex Heuermann (AP)

It is not clear what that new evidence is but investigators have been searching the married father-of-twos home in Massapequa Park for evidence  and possible trophies  linking him to the slayings.

On 14 July, authorities seized Mr Heuermanns Chevrolet Avalanche from his driveway  a vehicle matching the description of a car a witness saw on the night when one of the victims was last seen alive.

Over the weekend, multiple other items, including a trove of firearms, were also seized from the suspects home  just a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach where the killer dumped the bodies of his victims.

A plastic tub full of rifles was taken from the family property and loaded into a police van, as it emerged that the Manhattan architect owned a large gun safe and had legal permits for a staggering 92 firearms.

On Sunday night, officers also swooped on a storage unit in Amityville  two miles from his home  in connection to the suspect.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said in a press conference on 14 July that the net closed in on Mr Heuermann last year when they connected him to a pickup truck seen by a witness at the scene when Costello disappeared.

Rex Heuermann in booking photo (AP)

Court records show that he was then further linked to the killings through DNA obtained from a discarded pizza box, a trove of burner phones he allegedly used to contact the murdered women, and his wifes hair which was found on one of the victims bodies.

While he was under surveillance in recent months as detectives continued to investigate the case, Commissioner Harrison said that Mr Heuermann continued to use burner phones and patronise sex workers.

He also carried out depraved online searches including for child porn  as well as searches about the Long Island serial killer and the investigation into catching the suspect, he said.

Because of these concerns  and the fact that Mr Heuermann has permits for 92 firearms  authorities felt they needed to bring him off the streets now so that no more lives were endangered, they said.

The Gilgo Beach murders had long stumped law enforcement officials in Suffolk County who believed it was the work of one or more serial killers who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway.

The case began in May 2010 when Gilbert vanished after leaving a clients house on foot near Gilgo Beach.

She called 911 for help saying she feared for her life and was never seen alive again.

During a search for Gilbert in dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered the remains of another woman.

Within a matter of days, the remains of three more victims were found close by.

Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman (from top left clockwise) (AP)

By spring 2011, the remains of a total of 10 victims had been found including eight women, a man, and a toddler. Police have long thought that it could be the work of one or more serial killers.

Gilberts body was found in December 2011. Her cause of death is widely contested with authorities long claiming that it is not connected to the serial killer or killers but that she died from accidental drowning as she fled from the clients home.

However, an independent autopsy commissioned by her family ruled that she died by strangulation and her mother believes she was murdered.

Like Gilbert, most of the victims targeted were sex workers while some are yet to be identified.

Investigations are continuing into the other murders.

Mr Heuermann he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to be held without bond at his first court appearance on 14 July.
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A suspect has been arrested after three people were stabbed in separate attacks in Oxford, North Carolina, on Monday morning.

The seemingly random stabbings occurred within minutes at a Walmart Supercenter, a McDonalds and in a nearby street in the city centre, Oxford Police Chief Patricia Ford told ABC11.

Witnesses provided police with a description of a suspects vehicle, which was spotted shortly afterwards on Interstate 85 by Granville County Sheriffs deputies.

A suspect was arrested after a short pursuit, police said.

The alleged offender, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to Granville County Detention Center.

The three victims were transported to area hospitals, where their conditions are not known, Chief Ford said.

The investigation is continuing, but police said the stabbings appeared to be random.

No further details were immiediately available.
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His Manhattan business describes him as a registered architect with over 30 years experience.

His neighbours describe him as a family man living with his wife and two children in a tight-knit community in Suffolk County.

But now authorities are describing him as the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer who unleashed terror along the shores of Long Island more than a decade ago.

Rex Heuermann was arrested on Thursday night in connection to the shocking murder case where body after body was found dumped along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway.

The 59-year-old has been charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello and is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman Maureen Brainard-Barnes  who was last seen alive in New York City in early June 2007.

All four women  known as the Gilgo Beach Four  worked as sex workers and vanished after going to meet clients.

While he has pleaded not guilty to the charges and broke down in tears sobbing to his attorney that he is innocent of the heinous crimes, authorities have painted a picture of a warped demon or animal who preyed on his victims, was obsessed with police efforts to catch him  and was at risk of striking again.

So who is the man suspected of being the infamous Long Island serial killer?

Rex Heuermann

Manhattan architect and married father-of-two Rex Heuermann was taken into custody at around 8.30pm on Thursday night near his Midtown office.

Dramatic video captured him walking along a Manhattan road when he was suddenly surrounded by plainclothes officers and taken into custody.

The accused killer has been married twice and shares a 26-year-old daughter and stepson, with special needs, with his second wife.

Mr Heuermann is president of architecture firm RH Consultants & Associates, a company which he founded in 1994 and which his adult daughter also works for.

Rex Heuermann in his booking photo (AP)

According to the company website, Mr Heuermanns company has worked with the likes of Catholic Charities, NYC-DEP Sewerage Treatment and American Airlines and other major tenants at the JFK International Airport.

A company page called Meet The Team and featuring his photo was taken down on Friday morning as news of his arrest broke.

In an interview posted on YouTube by Bonjour Realty last year, the father-of-two said that he was born and raised in Long Island but had been working in Manhattan since 1987... [a] very long time.

The architecture firm is based in Midtown Manhattan  where some of the Gilgo Beach victims were last seen alive.

According to court records, phone calls made from burner phones and some of the victims cellphones can be traced to his office.

In his professional life, some acquaintances described him as arrogant while others said he was creepy.

Paul Teitelbaum, who worked with Mr Heuermann on a building in Brooklyn Heights, told The New York Times that the suspect had a swagger and an attitude that said: Im the expert, youre lucky to have me.

Meanwhile, Dominique Vidal  an interior designer who was part of the same architecture networking group as Mr Heuermann  said that he repeatedly called her and left her a creepy voicemail despite them never having worked together.

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)

He left this [voicemail] for me end of February after I left the group, she said in a TikTok video posted on Sunday.

Previous to that, he did call me a couple of times. I answered the phone. Nothing really significant. I found it odd he was calling me because I had no work for him. Theres no ongoing relationship. We were just two people who used to be in the same networking group.

Theres nothing incredibly scary about the voicemail, besides the fact that he is the Gilgo Beach murderer.

Neighbours of Mr Heuermann in Massapequa Park  which is located just a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach where the killer dumped the bodies of his victims  gave a mixed picture of the accused killer.

Neighbours told The Independent that he was a quiet family man who lived in the close-knit community with his wife and two children.

One neighbour, who has lived a stones throw from the Heuermanns for more than two decades, said that the family is a very quiet family who made no imprint at all on the neighborhood.

Basically, we never had any contact with him... living here 22 years and never said two words to him, the long-time Massapequa Park resident said, adding that one bad apple doesnt spoil the bunch in a great neighbourhood.

Yet another neighbour  who had lived there for 13 years  told Newsweek that children would avoid his home on Halloween.

Most people dont knock on his door, said Barry Auslander. During Halloween, the kids are told to stay away. Hes not a very nice person.

Rex Heuermann in a video about architecture posted on YouTube (Bonjour Realty)

He added that his home was dilapidated and always dark.

Mr Heuermann has lived on Long Island his whole life  and now lives in the same property where he spent his childhood.

He grew up in Massapequa Park and attended Berner High School where Billy Baldwin was a classmate.

Maureen Holpit, 59, who also attended Berner High School with Mr Heuarmann, told The Independent that Mr Heauerman was once a shy teen who would often leave love notes in her locker. Ms Holpit said her exchanges with the now suspected serial killer were always pleasant and polite.

I was always nice and friendly to him, you know. Seemed like he kind of got picked on and people would make maybe portray him as a little nerdy. He was very quiet, mild-mannered. So I was nice and would say, Hey, Rex, how are you?, Ms Holpit, who now lives in Florida, tells The Independent.

I was getting these notes in my locker. As Im remembering, there were multiple little love notes but they were not signed, she added. Then, one day I did see him put it in my locker and so I knew they were from him. I may have said to him that I had a boyfriend or I just liked him as a friend.

The murders

The case began in May 2010 when Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, vanished after leaving a clients house on foot near Gilgo Beach.

She called 911 for help saying she feared for her life and was never seen alive again.

In the chilling call, released last year, Gilbert is heard repeatedly telling the 911 operator that somebodys after me.

She is also heard arguing with a man  who she refers to as Mike  who appears to be trying to encourage her to get back inot a car and at one point, she is heard asking if he is going to kill her.

Map showing proximity of home being searched by police and Gilgo Beach where bodies were found (Google Maps)

These people are plotting to kill me, she tells the dispatcher.

During a search for Gilbert in dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered the remains of another woman.

Within a matter of days, the remains of three more victims were found close by.

By spring 2011, the remains of a total of 10 victims had been found including eight women, a man, and a toddler.

Gilberts body was found in December 2011. Her cause of death is widely contested with authorities long claiming that it is not connected to the serial killer or killers but that she died from accidental drowning as she fled from the clients home.

However, an independent autopsy commissioned by her family ruled that she died by strangulation and her mother believes she was murdered.

Like Gilbert, most of the victims targeted were sex workers.

Several theories have been mulled over the years but no one had ever been charged with the killings.

Authorities have previously said they believe that three separate serial killers could be responsible for the slayings over a period of around 20 years.

Aerial view of Manorville area where Valerie Mack remains were recovered (Suffolk County Police Department)

The case appeared to go cold for several years until last year when Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison vowed to finally close the case and bring the killer or killers to justice.

The newly-appointed commissioner said that, with a set of fresh eyes, he had faith that he could get the cold case across the finish line. He launched a dedicated taskforce for the case.

The victims

The remains of at least 11 victims were found in the Gilgo Beach area though it remains unclear if they are all the work of the same killer. Many were sex workers who offered escort services on Craigslist or worked in New York City.

The first victim found was Melissa Barthelemy whose remains were discovered along Ocean Parkway on 11 December 2010 during the search for Shannan Gilbert  a 24-year-old sex worker from New Jersey who vanished after visiting a client in Oak Park and making a chilling 911 call where she revealed fears for her life.

Two days later on 13 December, the remains of three other victims  Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello  were found close by.

All three women were known to advertise escort services on Craigslist.

Brainard-Barnes  known as one of the Gilgo Beach Four  was last seen alive in early June 2007 in New York City while Costello was last seen leaving her North Babylon home one day in early September 2010.

Waterman was last seen alive in early June 2010 at a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge.

From L: (top) Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman (bottom) Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, John Doe (Suffolk County Police Department)

Seven months later, on 26 July 2011, the remains of Jessica Taylor were found in a wooded area in Manorville during the ongoing search for Gilbert. Taylor worked as an escort in New York City.

Valerie Mack also worked as an escort but was last seen alive in Philadelphia in 2000. Her remains were found on two separate occasions in Manorville in 2000 and in Oak Beach in 2011 but she was only identified in 2020 through the use of genetic genealogy.

Some of the victims have never been identified.

The skeletal remains of an Asian male, aged between 17 and 23 years old, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and with poor dental health, were found along Ocean Parkway in April 2011. He is believed to have died around five to 10 years earlier.

That same day, the remains of a female toddler were discovered. She was later identified as the daughter of the also-unidentified female victim dubbed Peaches whose remains were found in Nassau County.

The evidence

Last year, the Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Suffolk County Sheriffs Office and the FBI revamped the probe into the killings that ultimately led to Mr Heuermanns bombshell arrest outside his Midtown office.

A bail application released by the Suffolk County District Attorney revealed that Mr Heuermann was linked to the serial killings through cellphone evidence and surveillance. It also revealed recent internet searches for sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives.

Mr Heuermann was first linked to the cold case in March 2022 after investigators discovered that a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to him was possibly the one spotted by a witness in Costellos disappearance.

Surveillance footage still of Rex Heuermann topping up a burner phone (via REUTERS)

As law enforcement closed in on him, they served more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants that uncovered cellphone records for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Four victims before they went missing.

Further analysis also allegedly linked Mr Heuermann to taunting calls made to family members of the victims, according to investigators. The calls were made from the Midtown Manhattan area, where the offices of Mr Heuermans architecture business are located.

Among the evidence linking Mr Heuermann to the murders was a hair found on burlap material used to wrap Watermans corpse, according to court documents. DNA analysis had not been possible in the early stages of the investigation, but new technology allowed testing in July 2020.

A team surveilling Mr Heuermann collected a discarded pizza box that then confirmed a DNA match with the suspect on 12 June.

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content.

Mr Heuermann is also accused of searching why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer, why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught and new phone technology may be key to break in case.

Moment Gilgo Beach suspect arrested in crowded New York street

More forensic analysis revealed that female hairs found in the three crime scene locations belonged to Mr Heuermanns wife. However, authorities have determined through cellphone records that Mr Heuermanns wife was out of state when the murders took place.

At the time Barthelemy went missing in July 2009, Mr Heuermanns wife was in Iceland. She visited Maryland around the time Waterman disappeared in June 2010, and also travelled to New Jersey when Costello was last seen in September of that year.

It is likely that the burlap, tape, vehicle(s) or other instrumentalities utilized in furtherance of these murders came from Defendant Heuermanns residence, where his wife also resides, or was transferred from his clothing, prosecutors explained.

Mr Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who is believed to be one of the Gilgo Four. Prosecutors noted in the application that records for the burner phones used to contact Brainard-Barnes were not obtained at the time she went missing and no longer exist.
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A hero passenger took control of a plane and crash-landed in Marthas Vineyard after the pilot suffered a medical emergency.

State police are now investigating the incident - which saw the 79-year-old pilot unable to control the small plane during its final descent into Marthas Vineyard Airport.

Luckily, the quick-thinking passenger took control of the aircraft, which she managed to bring down just outside the airport on a grassy area close to the airport.

On Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 3:12 p.m. a Piper Meridian Turbo Prop 6 seat plane was reported to have crashed at the MVY Airport, the West Tisbury Police Department wrote in a Facebook post, adding that the female passenger, 68, managed to land the plane on its belly with no landing gear.

Both the pilot and passenger were transported to the local hospital, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

The pilot was then flown by medical helicopter to a Boston Hospital in serious life-threatening condition. The passenger was uninjured; she was evaluated at the Marthas Vineyard Hospital and released.

The crash remains under investigation by the State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks, the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
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The family of an Ohio State University graduate student who was found dead in a quarry weeks after she vanished have paid tribute to her as a bubbly, shy, caring, funny, and loving human being.

Amina Alhaj-Omar, 26, vanished from Columbus on 10 June. She was last seen at a BP gas station, where she was reportedly spotted carrying two knives.

Her body was discovered in a quarry behind the petrol garage on 12 July.

On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from the Franklin County detectives when they later came to our home and informed the family that they had found Aminas body in the quarry behind the BP gas station on S High Street where she was last seen, a statement from Alhaj-Omars family read.

We are unaware of the details at this time as we have not yet received the autopsy report. We would like to ask the public for their prayers for Amina.

In an obituary for the student, her family said she was a bubbly, shy, caring, funny, and loving human being.

Most people who truly knew Amina immediately remember her laugh  it was contagious and brought happiness to everyone in the room, the family said in 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.

The grim discovery followed a weeks-long search that began after police received a call from Olen Corporations Columbus plant about a tresspasser, who authorities believe may have been Alhaj-Omar - however when police arrived she had vanished.

Alhaj-Omars shoes, cellphone and jacket were found by the gas staton, and her family said following her disappearance they feared she may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
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Precautionary evacuations are underway after a freight train derailed in southeast Pennsylvania on Monday morning.

Just before 5am EDT, a 40-car CSX train derailed while operating on tracks owned by Norfolk Southern in Whitemarsh Township, located approximately seven miles outside of Philadelphia.

About 16 of the cars appeared to be off the track, according to a press release from CSX.

Police in Whitemarsh Township conducted evacuations of about a dozen residents and businesses closest to the scene out of an abundance of caution, seemingly due to one car that was transporting hazardous material.

However, CSX said that is no indication of any leaks or spills of hazardous materials.

Police echoed that there were no known hazards posing a risk to the public nor were there any injuries at the time of the derailment.

As of now, the only thing that is leaking from any of the rail cars involved is silicone pellets, which pose no risk to the community, Whitemarsh Township Police Department wrote on Facebook.

It is unclear what caused the derailment at this time but in their press release CSX said the cause of the derailment appears to be weather related.

Representatives from Norfolk Southern, CSX and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety Emergency Response Team were on site as of Monday morning.

Norfolk Southern said in a statement to The Independent that they were assisting CSX and authorities with cleanup.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro tweeted that he was monitoring the train derailment in Whitemarsh Twp and assisting local first responders.

Thank you to the residents taking precautions at the direction of local authorities. I urge you to continue following their instruction, Mr Shapiro added.

The derailment comes just months after a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio resulting in a two-day-long controlled burn of potentially dangerous chemicals.

Shortly after the incident, two other freight trains derailed, leading to public concerns over the railway industrys safety and engineering precautions
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged the Senate to move forward with votes on more than 60 diplomatic nominations, including 38 ambassadors, that have been stalled due to objections by individual lawmakers.

In a letter to all 100 senators and in public comments, Blinken said delays in confirmation votes for these nominees constitute a national security risk. Blinken said 35 of the 38 ambassadorial nominees are career foreign service officers who have served in both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Vacant posts have a long-term negative impact on U.S. national security, including our ability to reassure allies and partners, and counter diplomatic efforts by our adversaries, Blinken wrote in the letter. In particular he pointed to China and Russia as the main beneficiaries of Senate inaction.

Blinken singled out Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky as the main impediment. Paul has put a blanket hold on all State Department nominees, citing the Biden administrations refusal to provide him documents related to the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No one is questioning the qualifications of these career diplomats, Blinken told reporters. Theyre being blocked from leverage on other unrelated issues. Its irresponsible, and its doing harm to our national security.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said later that Paul was holding qualified career nominees hostage for no good reason. Senator Paul can make legitimate requests at the State Department or others in the administration; what we object to is him holding hostage nominees, he said.

The backlog of State Department nominees awaiting Senate confirmation is similar but less pronounced than that facing the Pentagon. One Republican Senator, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, has a blanket hold on all Defense Department nominations and promotions in an attempt to try to change Pentagon's abortion policy.

Tuberville has already stalled more than 260 nominations of senior military officers and that number could balloon to 650 by the end of the year.
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President Joe Biden has extended an invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet in the United States at some point in the future on the eve of a visit to the White House by his countrys head of state, President Isaac Herzog.

The invitation was first announced by Mr Netanyahus office, which said it came during what it described as a long and warm conversation between the two leaders, who have known each other for decades dating back to Mr Netanyahus first stint as Israels head of government in the 1990s.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that Mr Biden had asked Mr Netanyahu to meet at Mondays daily press briefing.

Mr Kirby told reporters that the two leaders had talked about a broad range of global and regional issues of mutual concern during their conversation, and said Mr Biden had underscored his ironclad unwavering commitment to Israels security and condemned recent acts of terror against Israeli citizens.

The two consulted on our close coordination to counter Iran, including through regular and ongoing joint military exercises. They noted that us that the US Israel partnership remains a cornerstone in preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, he said.

The White House spokesperson also said Mr Biden had stressed the need to take measures to maintain the viability of a two state solution and to improve the security situation in the West Bank and told reporters that the president also welcomed Israels willingness to consider new steps to support Palestinian livelihoods and recognised promising steps by the Palestinian Authority ... to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank.

Mr Kirby also said that Mr Biden had used the call to address concerns about the judicial reform plan being considered by Mr Netanyahus government, and stressed that the president had reiterated comments about the need for the broadest possible consensus because shared democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the US Israel relationship.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Bidens invitation to the Israeli head of government included the possibility of a visit to the White House. While one of Mr Netanyahus predecessor, Naftali Bennett, visited the White House for bilateral talks with Mr Biden in August 2021, Republicans have complained that Mr Bidens failure to extend the same courtesy to Mr Netanyahu while inviting Mr Herzog to the White House meant the president was disrespecting the Israeli leader and showing disdain for Israel, even though the Israeli head of states visit has long been on the books to mark the 75th anniversary of the Jewish states founding.

The two leaders have met numerous times during their decades in public life, including during Mr Bidens visit to Jerusalem just over one year ago.

Asked about the timing of the invitation, Mr Kirby said the president believes now is an appropriate time for a conversation with Mr Netanyahu with respect to our relationship, which is a strong relationship.

The future meeting, which Mr Kirby said would take place sometime in the fall, comes as protests continue to rock Israeli cities over plans by Mr Netanyahus Likud-led government  the most right-wing in Israels history  to implement reforms which would allow the Israeli parliament to nullify decisions of the countrys Supreme Court and give the government more control over judicial appointments.

While leaders of the protests have called on Mr Biden to refuse an invitation to Mr Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for corruption as he serves out a term as prime minister, until his party abandons the plans, which critics say would eviscerate the independence of Israels judiciary and entrench right-wing rule.

Asked whether Mr Biden had a message for the protesters, Mr Kirby said the message is the same message hes been sending publicly since the plan was first introduced.

We believe strongly in the democratic institutions and the ideals of democracy that the United States and Israel represent, not just in their particular parts of the world, but across the world. And we want to see Israel be as vibrant and as viable democracy as possible, and that means that you build programmes and reforms and changes in a way that is based on compromise and ... the broadest possible consensus across the governing organisation, he said.

Well continue to make clear that we stand for Israel, we stand for the Israeli people, we stand for Israels democracy and we want to see that democracy  and the hopes and the dreams of all Israeli people and all their aspirations  met through strong, viable democratic institutions that are built on consensus and compromise.
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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.
 Close Trump shares threatening fan-made video

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Donald Trump will face trial for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case on 20 May 2024, just six months before the presidential election. Judge Aileen Cannon gave the order on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the former president has been busy bullying his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, including Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson, on Truth Social as he braces for an imminent grand jury indictment over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in inciting the Capitol riot of 6 January 2021.

Mr Trump announced on Tuesday that he had been sent a letter by special prosecutor Jack Smith informing him that he is the target of the investigation, citing three statutes under which he could be charged, including conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

That indictment, Mr Trumps third in four months, could be handed down any day now, The Independent learned.

Meanwhile, the latest attorney to join Mr Trumps legal team says he wants cameras in court when the former president is potentially put on trial over his alleged election interference.
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Former White House resident Donald Trump Jr has weighed in after the Secret Service closed its investigation into the discovery of cocaine in the building - suggesting he would not have gotten away with that.

The eldest son of former president Donald Trump made the comments at the Turning Point Action Conference on Sunday, when he assured the crowd that snorting cocaine was not his thing.

My guys who I stayed in touch with  many of them just dear friends  theyre like, Hey dude, theres no way you wouldve gotten away with that, he animatedly told the crowd. I go, I know! Luckily, I dont snort, er, cocaine! Its just not my thing.

Mr Trump has previously denied being a drug user. On his Triggered podcast earlier this year, he described to former Trump White House official Kash Patel the price of his getting involved in politics, in the process making a series of unsubstantiated claims about President Bidens son Hunter.

I look at what they called me: a traitor, Mr Trump said. Adam Schiff wanted to try me for treason, a crime punishable by death, but Hunter Biden can take a billion from China, work for Ukraine oligarchs, work for Russian oligarchs, money launder, be paid in diamonds off the books, not declare anything in taxes, drop guns in dumpsters across from high schools, and its like, Hes an upstanding human being. And then I give an impassioned speech, and its Don Jr is on coke.

A small amount of cocaine (around .007oz  enough for a misdemeanour charge)  was discovered in the White House, but the Secret Service said their investigation would have involved 500 people, not a short enough list of suspects to draw any concrete conclusions.

However the lack of investigation has lef to criticisms levelled at President Joe Biden for not doing enough to find the culprit, as well as at White House staff in general. Conservative pundits have speculated  without evidence  that the drug may have belonged to the presidents son, Hunter Biden, who is a recovering drug addict.

Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: 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!

He subsequently took to calling President Biden a crackhead.
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After an ongoing feud between Republican Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, a Republican lawmaker said the standoff between the two Congress members could result in a fistfight.

A fistfight could break out at any moment, Republican Tennessee Rep Tim Burchett told The Daily Beast.

Mr Burchett told the publication that he was serious, and added he was enjoying the Republicans rivalry as a professional wrestling fan. He told the outlet, I am friends with both of them. Its entertaining to think that a fistfight could break out at any movement. I kind of dig that.

The Tennessee Republican isnt alone in his stance. Another GOP lawmaker close to both Reps Greene and Boebert, who spoke anonymously, told the outlet: You cant have too many of these rifts for too long.

Arizona Republican Congressman Paul Gosar called the battle a two-way sword to The Daily Beast. He continued, I just think that whatever is there, could be utilized both ways, he said, adding that people make decisions that they have to work and live by, and you kind of hate being in their shoes.

The conflict between the congresswomen came to a head recently when Ms Greene was kicked out of the Freedom Caucus after she called Ms Boebert a little b****.

The Georgia Republican claimed last week that she didnt know why she was booted from the Freedom Caucus. She dismissed the move, saying that she didnt have time for the drama club.
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A group of prominent Democrats has slammed the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus after she called the State of Israel racist during a public appearance over the weekend.

Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal, who had made the incendiary comment during an exchange with pro-Palestinian protesters whod interrupted her keynote at the Netroots Nation conference on Saturday, had moved quickly to retract her remarks in a statement issued by her office on Sunday.

In that statement, she attributed the offensive comment to her desire to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested and said it was important to clarify her statement because words do matter.

She added that the idea of Israel as a nation was not racist in her view, but she did stress that she does believe that such a label can be applied to the current Likud-led government headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, because it has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and has extreme racists within it who are driving such policies.

But in a draft statement, a group of top pro-Israel Democrats said they were deeply concerned about the CPC chairs unacceptable comments while conceding that they also appreciated her decision to issue a retraction.

The Democratic House members, including Josh Gottheimer, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Brad Schneider and Jared Moskowitz, said efforts to delegitimise and demonise Israel are dangerous and anti-semitic and are harmful to American national security because it is is critical to our fight against terror, and our defense and intelligence collaboration continues to strengthen our leadership in the world.

Ms Jayapals now-retracted remarks also drew a sharp rebuke from her partys leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

In a separate statement, which did not mention the Washington congresswoman by name, the Democratic leaders said unequivocally that Israel is not a racist state.

America and Israel have a uniquely special relationship anchored in our shared democratic values and strategic interests. As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israels right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. We are also firmly committed to a robust two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinian people can live side by side in peace and prosperity, they said, though they also conceded that there are individual members of the Israeli government with whom we strongly disagree.

Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure. We are determined to make sure support for Israel in the Congress remains strongly bipartisan, they said.
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When student activists assembled in Florida last year for Turning Point Actions annual summit, many were torn, wrestling with whether former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the Republican Partys best hope for 2024.

One year later, there is no more doubt. Attendees at this year's meeting booed at even the suggestion of a contested GOP primary. Trump, they overwhelmingly said, is their pick.

Trump, for sure. I dont think anyone else really has a chance, said Sky Sanchez, 21, a student from Durham, North Carolina, who was volunteering at the conference with the Tea Party Patriots.

Soren Nielsen, 18, who lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan, said he had been seriously considering DeSantis earlier this year, worried that Trump had lost momentum, particularly after a weaker-than-expected Republican showing in last years midterm elections.

But those views changed as he watched Trump reenergize his campaign and saw DeSantis falter.

I started to realize his campaign did not launch as successfully as I thought it would, Nielsen said. "And he doesnt have the stamina, like Trump does, to win a general election.

While the conference provides only a snapshot of a small slice of the electorate, the views expressed in interviews here over the weekend reflect the broader contours of the GOP contest six months before voting is to begin. While DeSantis was once seen as a serious threat to Trumps hold on the party  and remains his strongest challenger  he has so far failed to catch fire. His campaign over the weekend confirmed it had laid off a handful of staffers amid concerns over runaway spending, while polling shows Trump ahead by 20 to 30 points, or more, even after a pair of criminal indictments that only seemed to bolster his standing.

Last year, both Trump and DeSantis attended the Turning Point Student Action Summit, held in Tampa, as they prepared to launch their campaigns. DeSantis headlined the Friday night program; Trump headlined Saturdays. Both were introduced with pro wrestling-style videos and elaborate pyrotechnics. Both received rousing welcomes.

But this year DeSantis chose to skip the events, as did most other top-tier candidates, turning it into a full-on Trumpfest, like so many other conservative gatherings. The program featured a whos-who of MAGA world, including MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell, Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr.

The former president was met with thundering applause Saturday as he mocked DeSantis' campaign, calling it a hopeless cause that was only dividing the party and wasting money.

Of the 2024 GOP candidates who did decide to show up, several received very rough receptions. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic, was loudly booed as he took the stage and later interrupted when the crowd began to chant Trumps name. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was greeted by jeers, as some shouted RINO  Republican In Name Only  and Traitor!

When former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, a speaker at the event, suggested that the primary was a two-person race between Trump and DeSantis  Realistically, its probably going to be one of those two, she said  the room erupted in anger.

I think they like Trump, Megyn, responded Charlie Kirk, Turning Point's founder.

Indeed, an unscientific survey of attendees found Trump was the first choice for president for nearly 86% of respondents. Asked to name their second pick, 51% named Vivek Ramaswamy, the millionaire tech entrepreneur who has declined to criticize Trump. (DeSantis last year had been the first choice of 19% of attendees, behind only Trump. This year, he was the first choice of just over 4%.)

Beyond the main stage, an exhibition hall was filled with tables selling MAGA merchandise, including bejeweled purses with Trump's name spelled out in rhinestones. One wall featured large cutouts of each candidate's face. Attendees were encouraged to share thoughts using Post-it notes. DeSantis entries ranged from TRAITOR to Trump is your Daddy. Attendees pegged Trump their ONLY HOPE and "The ONLY choice. period, though also noting he Might go to jail.

DeSantis decision to skip the event, citing a scheduling conflict, drew criticism from attendees and angered organizers who noted their long history with the Florida governor.

While founder Kirk has endorsed Trump and Turning Point is widely seen as a pro-Trump organization, it has also organized events for DeSantis over the years. Indeed, earlier this year, Kirk drew Trumps ire for appearing too cozy with DeSantis as the Florida governor's stock was on the rise.

As for DeSantis' no-show over the weekend, Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point's chief operating officer, said, You only have a few opportunities in the grand scheme of an election cycle to get in front of major groups and all the media and to pass up this opportunity to lay out your vision for America I just think is one of the biggest mistakes."

DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin noted that the governor had spent the day with Iowans and spoke to a packed house at the Tennessee GOP Statesman Dinner later that night."

This was a day after he delivered the strongest interview at the Family Leadership Summit, which Donald Trump notably skipped, Griffin said. "Ron DeSantis is campaigning to win.

Nielsen, who had been leaning toward DeSantis before switching to Trump, said he has concerns about DeSantis electability. If he were to win the primary, Trump voters arent going to vote for him, he said. All those people arent guaranteed Republican voters. Theyre guaranteed Trump voters."

Dolan Bair, 21, said he, too, had been more leaning toward DeSantis, drawn to his embrace of culture war issues and his 20-point margin of victory in his reelection race last fall. But now he doubts that DeSantis can win the presidential primary.

I dont think he has the same sort of energy," said Bair, of Kent City, Michigan.

Riley Tobin, a 21-year-old student at the University of Hawaii, said he had admired DeSantis from afar during the COVID-19 pandemic as he rolled back restrictions. But he feels DeSantis has failed to measure up to expectations as a presidential candidate.

A year ago, everyone was in love with DeSantis, said Tobin after the conference Sunday. I really think he could have had a phenomenal campaign, but he turned to the wrong people and had the wrong supporters. And you could hear it yesterday, having 6,000 people pretty much boo at him. Its like hes doing something wrong if hes making that many upset conservatives.

Some critics cited DeSantis' comments on Ukraine; others his perceived establishment ties. Some were furious at the very fact that he had dared to challenge Trump in the first place."

Im very disappointed in him, said Alan Pincus, 66, one of the thousands of party activists, officials and fans of the speakers who joined the students at the event Since he announced hes running, I am no longer a fan.

Pincus, who is running for Congress and lives in Boyton Beach, Florida, credited Trump for DeSantis first victory as governor and accused him of disloyalty, echoing a charge Trump often makes. The fact that he even decided to run against Trump is astounding to me. Its not about personal gains anymore. Its about bringing this country back.

Jasmin Rodriguez, 61, who traveled to the event from Harker Heights, Texas, said she loved what DeSantis had done in Florida, but was disappointed in his decision to run. "Dang, dude! You should have just waited a bit, you know? Wait your turn.

Last year, she said, she would have loved to see Trump pick DeSantis as his vice president or support him in 2028. But now her opinion has soured.

Hes burned that bridge, said her ex-husband, Randy Rodriguez, 50. Hes been a huge disappointment.
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Former President Donald Trump praised a judge he appointed as he awaits to hear about his request to delay the trial in the classified documents case until after the 2024 election.

I know its a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge, Mr Trump said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, referring to federal Judge Aileen Cannon.

Judge Cannon also presided over the court proceedings surrounding the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Host Maria Bartiromo pointed out that the federal judge was appointed by Mr Trump. He replied, I did, and Im very proud to have appointed her.

But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country, the former president continued. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.

Attorneys for Mr Trump  and his co-defendent Walt Nauta  wrote in a filing on Monday: 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.

Last month Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 count federal indictment in the classified documents case, which is led by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Judge Cannon was criticised last year when she issued what many legal experts saw as an unusually broad decision to appoint a special master to review the documents seized by the FBI from Mr Trumps home.

She temporarily barred federal agents and prosecutors from reviewing a batch of classified documents seized during the search. However, her order was ultimately thrown out in a scathing opinion by a federal appeals court, which found she had overstepped.

While Mr Trumps supporters had cheered her ruling as a check on what they viewed as a politically motivated probe, others accused her of trying to help the former president.

With reporting from the Associated Press
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On the stage of an influential activist groups two-day conference, far-right conspiracy theorists, Republican presidential candidates and members of Congress veered into Christian nationalist evangelising, QAnon-adjacent conspiracy mongering and a bleak picture of an America in rapid decline under Democratic leadership.

The guest speakers at Turning Point USAs inaugural Turning Point Action Conference in Florida repeatedly denied the existence of transgender people, claimed that support for Ukraine is built on a lie, and characterised President Joe Biden as both a frail and incapable stooge and the most corrupt politician of all time.

And they professed their loyalty to both Donald Trump, who delivered rambling remarks in primetime on 15 July, and to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News pundit celebrated by Turning Point guests as the key figure who can articulate their long list of grievances.

In his own keynote address, a giddy Carlson turned his attention to what he perceives is a campaign of censorship and free speech targeting right-wing Americans, as he downplayed the January 6 attack, boosted false and misleading claims about Russia and Covid-19, and assured his audience that they have a right to decide who you hate on whatever basis they want.

Carlson was fired from Fox News shortly after the network settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787m to avert a blockbuster defamation trial in which his segments and statements would be crucial evidence. He also is the subject of another defamation lawsuit against Fox from a man accused of being a federal agent who incited the riots.

Carlson claimed there was never a national conversation about what happened in the election and its aftermath, despite the mountain of litigation, evidence, audits, bipartisan reports and jury verdicts that confirmed the results and brought convictions against hundreds of people who joined the assault.

But he said that Americans who have questioned the outcome and the attack were basically hounded out of public life, including being fired from their jobs, which the crowd appeared to think was a reference to himself.

Pretty funny, Carlson said, laughing. Sorry, I was so into it I lost self-awareness for a minute.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump booster among Republican candidates vying for the 2024 Republican nomination, invented a baseless narrative about the January 6 attack, which he did not blame on bogus conspiracy theories or the actions of people who refused to accept a democratic election but on a pervasive culture of censorship.

When you tell people they cant scream, thats when they start tearing things down, he said.

In his remarks, the former president  the subject of separate criminal investigations into efforts to subvert the elections outcome  repeated his baseless claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him and that the current probes are another attempt to rig the next.

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 Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is seeking the Republican nomination, was met with boos and Trump chants when he got to the stage on Sunday afternoon.

The former presidents eldest son Donald Trump Jr later said on the stage that at least Mr Hutchsinson had the b**** to show up to the conference, unlike the absentee Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who did not appear at the event.

Mr Trump, however, did not attend a separate Carlson-led evangelical summit on 14 July. He seized on his rivals absence at Turning Points conference, where GOP members of Congress pledged their unending support to the former president.

Of course, we ride or die with President Donald John Trump, Florida US Rep Matt Gaetz said in his remarks on Saturday.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who one day earlier was forced on the defensive after Carlson grilled him for supporting American military aid to Ukraine, did not appear at the Turning Point event.

At Turning Point, Carlson continued his attacks on the former vice president and a narrative of Ukraine that has shaped an element of the Republican Party and its base while earning accolades from Russian state media.

If youre a Christian leader and Christians are going to jail for their views, you are required to say something, said Carlson, reviving a misleading narrative that accuses Ukraines Jewish leader Volodymyr Zelensky of persecuting Christian priests. And if you dont, youre not much of a Christian leader.

How thankful are we for Tucker Carlson revealing true snakes  who do not have our best interests in mind, said right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, between cackling over viral clips of President Biden and boos directed at Mr Pence.

Tucker Carlson addresses the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida on 15 July. (AFP via Getty Images)

But in speaker after speaker, in echoes of the Conservative Political Action Conference and Republican events and statehouses across the country, Turning Points agenda repeatedly turned to transgender people as a scapegoat for what pundits and candidates believe is Americas collapse.

US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene launched into a transphobic speech using Jeff Foxworthy-style setups to accuse Democratic officials and voters of being paedophiles for supporting transition healthcare.

Turning Point Action CEO Charlie Kirk spelt out explicitly that anti-trans attacks are a winner politically for Republicans.

There should be a healthy measure of ridicule, former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly Kirk during a lengthy discussion about trans people and the erasure of trans rights.

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 labelled transphobic, Kelly said: OK, whatever, honestly Ive been called worse  Let them call you whatever you want. Who gives a damn.

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.

She claimed that schools are inflicting powerful psychological indoctrination on vulnerable children and compared doctors who provide gender-affirming healthcare to Nazis in falsely labelling gender-affirming care a Mengele-like experimentation on Americas children.

US Rep Matt Gaetz of Florida speaks to the Turning Point Action conference on 15 July. (AP)

Throughout the conference, those remarks were often wrapped in evangelical-style preaching, with Pizzagate proponent and far-right activist Jack Posobiec screaming Deliver us from evil after reciting the Lords Prayer to the crowd.

Theres a book you can read called the Bible, he said. Everything that is happening today has been foretold.

Mr Gaetz announced that he plans to introduce legislation so that in every classroom in America, there will be time for students to pray if they want to, a measure that could appear to violate the establishment clause of the US Constitution and mandate Christian prayer in schools, which is already permitted.

Gods love does not halt for the limitations of man and Gods reach does not stop at the schoolhouse gates, he said.

The congressman said that the beautiful US Supreme Court that Trump gave us might end up upholding it, should it ever become law.
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Biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Monday released a list of 16 people he'd nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court or federal appellate courts if he becomes president, making him the first in the party's field to itemize his possible top judicial appointments.

Ramaswamy's list includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah as possible nominees for the nation's top court, as well as elevating federal judges who struck down President Joe Biden's airplane mask mandate and the FDA's two-decade-long approval of the abortion pill.

The direction of the Supreme Court was a powerful issue for Donald Trump in his 2016 bid. Conservative voters hunger to have a Republican president be the one to appoint a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in early 2016, helped land the former reality TV star in the White House.

Trump in the 2016 primary released his own list of possible appointments to the high court to reassure his new party's voters that he was in line with their judicial agenda.

In an interview, Ramaswamy, 37, said he was releasing the list of possible appointments to show voters where he stood.

It's important, when you're asking voters to select the next president of the United States, that you be as transparent as you can about what you're going to do, Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy is the latest Republican candidate trying to recapture conservative enthusiasm around the court as Democrats have become increasingly energized by its conservative rulings.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he'd appoint stronger conservatives to the bench than did Trump, whose three appointees helped form the majority that rescinded the constitutional right for women to have abortions in a ruling last year, a longtime conservative goal. Trump himself has frequently reveled in the court's rulings and noted that he appointed half of the court's 6-3 conservative majority.

Ramaswamy said he sees no reason to criticize Trump's appointments.

That is a bizarre criticism, he said of the argument that Trump's picks weren't conservative enough.

Ramaswamy's own list includes prominent conservative legal names. He said he'd only nominate Cruz or Lee if it wouldn't change the balance of the U.S. Senate, which Democrats currently control by a two-vote margin. Another prominent name on the list for the high court is Paul Clement, who served as former President George W. Bush's solicitor general.

Ramaswamy also proposes elevating several district court judges to the nation's appellate courts. He cites Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an Amarillo-based federal judge whose April ruling against the abortion pill was full of language of anti-abortion rights activists and was swiftly put on hold by appellate judges and then the Supreme Court.

The list also includes Kathryn Mizelle, who Trump nominated at age 38 to a judgeship in Florida and who struck down Biden's air travel mask mandate last year.

An additional prominent conservative judge who makes Ramaswamy's Supreme Court list is James Ho, another Trump nominee to a position on the Texas-based Fifth Circuit Court of appeals whose rulings are full of conservative political rhetoric. Ramaswamy said Ho first came to his attention because the judge quoted his own book, Woke, Inc., in one of his rulings.
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Several members of the Kennedy family have distanced themselves from anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jrs claim that the virus which causes Covid-19 was somehow engineered to target white and Black people while sparing Asians and Jews of Eastern European descent as an example of antisemitism that puts Americans at risk.

During a press event in New York City on 11 July, Mr Kennedy baselessly stated that there is an argument to be made that the disease is ethnically targeted and claimed that the Sars-CoV-2 virus was targeted to attack Cucasians and Black people even as those who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Mr Kennedy later falsely claimed that he had made the remarks at an off-the-record event and attacked the New York Post who had reported on his offensive comments, accusing him of trying to to discredit [him] as a crank  and by association, to discredit revelations of genuine corruption and collusion.

His comments were widely condemned by numerous Jewish groups including the Anti-Defamation League, which called them deeply offensive pointed out that they feed into sinophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Joe Kennedy III, a special economic envoy to Northern Ireland and a former congressman, tweeted: My uncles comments were hurtful and wrong. I unequivocally condemn what he said.

Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, issued a statement calling her brothers comments deplorable. She said: I STRONGLY condemn my brothers deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting.

She added: His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination.

Joe Kennedy II wrote in a statement: Bobbys comments are morally and factually wrong. They play on antisemitic myths and stoke mistrust of the Chinese. His remarks in no way reflect the words and actions of our father, Robert F. Kennedy.

Speaking at the White House daily press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to respond to Mr Kennedy directly, citing his status as a 2024 presidential candidate.

But Ms Jean-Pierre said the anti-vaccine activists comments were insensitive to the countless American families with empty seats at the dinner table because theyve lost people to the virus since it began spreading across the globe in March 2020.

Robert F Kennedy is running as a Democratic candidate for the 2024 election (EPA)

Continuing, Ms Jean-Pierre said the claims Mr Kennedy made on a tape which was published by The New York Post were false as well as vile, and said they put our fellow Americans in danger.

if you think about the racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories that come out of saying those types of things, its an attack on our fellow citizens, our fellow Americans and so it is important that we ... speak out when we hear those claims made more broadly, she said.

This President and this whole administration is going to stand against ... those false claims against ... Asian Americans, against Jewish Americans, she said. Were going to continue to speak out and we believe ... its important to protect the dignity of our fellow Americans.
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An Australian sailor and his dog were rescued after being adrift at sea for months in a remarkable tale of survival that has been likened to Tom Hanks starrer Cast Away.

Tim Shaddock, a 51-year-old Sydney resident and his dog Bella, survived at sea by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater, local reports said. The doctor who attended to the sailor said he had normal vital signs and said his dog is stable and very well.

Mr Shaddock and Bella were rescued off the coast of Mexico after spending an incredible two months lost at sea.

Weeks into their voyage from La Paz in Mexico to French Polynesia, their boat was severely damaged in a storm leading to them having to spend their days waiting for a rescue.

Local media reported that approximately two months later, salvation arrived when a helicopter accompanying a tuna trawler spotted Mr Shaddocks boat.

I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea. I am just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea [for] a long time. Otherwise, I am in very good health, he told Australias 9News after the rescue.

Ocean survival expert Professor Mike Tipton told Sky News Australia that the rescue story of the Australian sailor was remarkable.

Its needle in a haystack, professor Tipton said.

He was quoted by Weekend Today as saying that luck was only a part of the pairs incredible story.

Its a combination of luck and skill.

And also knowing for example, as Tim did, that during the heat of the day, you need to protect yourself because the last thing you want when youre in danger of becoming dehydrated is to be sweating, he said.

People need to appreciate how small the boat is and how vast the Pacific is. The chances of someone being found are pretty slim.

The ocean survival expert also credits the dog, Bella, for having helped Mr Shaddock a tremendous amount.

I think that may have well made the difference, Mr Tipton said.

Youre living very much from day to day and you have to have a very positive mental attitude in order to get through this kind of ordeal and not give up.

But also, having a plan, rationing yourself in terms of water and food, is really the secret to long survival voyages.

Just imagine how dark and lonely it would feel out there at night time, he said.

The tuna trawler is currently back en route to Mexico, where Mr Shaddock will undergo medical tests and receive additional treatment if necessary.
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A 25-year-old British backpacker was stabbed in the back after getting into a late-night row with a teenager in Australia, according to police and local media reports.

The incident occurred at a bus stop on Hastings Street in Noosa, on the Queensland coast, just before 4am on Sunday.

The victim suffered stab wounds to his back and wrist, police said in a statement, alleging that the attacker was a 15-year-old boy who was restrained by locals and arrested soon after the assault.

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, the statement said.

The teenager has now been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

ABC News identified the teenager as a Sunshine Coast local and the tourist as a British backpacker. Neither the teens identity nor the identity or nationality of the tourist were confirmed by Queensland police.

According to ABC News, the severely injured victim was transported to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Investigators urge anyone with information or relevant vision to contact police. Investigations are continuing, the police statement said.

ABC News quoted a Noosa resident as describing the attack. She said it left her quite shaken up as the area it occurred in was definitely safe.

Mandy Lopez said the attack was horrible... pretty scary news to hear.

This is a healthy space. Its definitely a safe area, Ms Lopez said. But hearing this news, I feel quite shaken up.

The Sunshine Coast is a very safe location... These sorts of events are rare, chief inspector Jason Overland told the media.
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A giant metal cylinder was found washed up on a beach in Western Australia (WA) as police urged beachgoers to stay away from the potentially hazardous object.

The unidentified object was reported to police by residents near Green Head town in the Mid West coast on Sunday afternoon.

Western Australia police said they are trying to determine the objects origin and nature and are treating it as hazardous.

They do not believe the object originated from a commercial aircraft and urged people to refrain from drawing conclusions, as several rumours linked it to UFOs while others to the missing Malaysian MH370 flight.

We want to reassure the community that we are actively engaged in a collaborative effort with various state and federal agencies to determine the objects origin and nature, WA police said.

This measure has been taken to ensure the preservation of potential evidence and facilitate further expert examination.

Social media videos showed the copper-coloured object appeared to be in a damaged state. It appeared to be a part of a larger object as its bottom half seemed to be ripped from its origin, with wires and cables coming off it.

The object is being treated as hazardous, until the origin of it can be established, the police said. People in the area should keep a safe distance.

The two-metre-long cylindrical object covered in barnacles was found on a remote beach north of Jurien Bay.

WA Today reported that police are working with the military to identify the object.

The Australian Space Agency, which is also part of the investigation, said it was looking into the possibility that it could be a part of a foreign space launch vehicle.

The agency is working to confirm whether the object could be part of a foreign space launch vehicle that has washed up on shore, and liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide information about the object, a spokesperson for the agency said.

As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object.

Experts said that the object could be a part of Indias satellite launch to the moon. It is suspected to be the fuel tank of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. The latest PSLV mission was the PSLV-55 that was successfully launched in April this year.

When a rocket launches, theres usually multiple stages and often the first few parts separate before entering orbit, so if it is space junk, it is from the early parts of a rocket launch as theres no evidence of the scorching patterns you would see on things that have re-entered the Earths atmosphere, Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker told WA Today.

This is a second sighting of an object within three weeks after a mysterious missile-shaped object was found floating offshore North Beach in Perth in June.

Australian Defence Force personnel had to detonate the device, which was found to be a marker marine flare. These are safety devices used by sea vessels to send distress signals during emergencies.
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Two people were killed and their teenaged daughter wounded in an attack on the Crimean Bridge  connecting the Russian mainland to the peninsula.

The bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is a major artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project personally opened by President Vladimir Putin. The bridge had had only recently returned to full operation after suffering severe damage in a similar attack last October.

Traffic along the 19km-long road and rail bridge was halted for six hours, following reports of multiple explosions at around 3am on Monday morning.

Heres everything we know about the attack on the Crimean Bridge and its importance to Moscow:

Damaged parts reportedly of an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea (AP)

Where is the Crimean Bridge?

Europes longest bridge connects the Russian city of Krasnodar in the east to Kerch in Crimea, which was illegally annexed from Ukraine by Moscow in 2014.

The Crimean Bridge runs over the Kerch Strait and is the only direct road link between Russia and the annexed peninsula. It consists of a separate roadway and railway  fortified by concrete stilts  which give way to a wider span held by steel arches at the point where ships pass between the Black Sea and the smaller Azov Sea.

The bridge was a prestige project for Mr Putin, who opened it to road traffic by driving an orange Kamaz truck across it in 2018. At the inauguration ceremony, Mr Putin thanked the construction workers for the miraculous completion of the bridge.

He said: In different historical epochs, even under the tsar priests, people dreamed of building this bridge. Then they returned to this [idea] in the 1930s, the 40s, the 50s. And finally, thanks to your work and your talent, the miracle has happened.

The 2.7bn ($3.6bn) bridge was built by Stroygazmontazh, a firm previously owned by Russian billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, who is known as an ally of the Russian premier. In 2020, Mr Putin awarded his former judo sparring partner, Mr Rotenberg, the title of Hero of Labor for constructing the controversial bridge. Mr Rotenberg is said to have sold his shares in the company in 2019.

After its construction began in 2016, the United States imposed a series of sanctions on the seven companies involved in the project, including Stroygazmontazh.

View more

Since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the bridge has served as a crucial supply route for Moscow, sending forces from Crimea to seize most of southern Ukraines Kherson region and some of the adjoining Zaporizhzhia province.

What happened in the attack?

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was stopped early on Monday as reports emerged that two people had died in an attack that Russian-placed Crimean officials blamed on Ukraine.

The parents of a girl were killed and their daughter was injured in a passenger car, according to Russian-installed officials.

The girl was injured, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, said in a message on the Telegram messaging app. The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mum.

Three Ukrainian media outlets quoted unnamed sources as saying Ukraines domestic security agency and navy were behind Mondays incident on the Crimean Bridge, and that they had used sea-borne drones to attack it.

Ukraines government did not comment on the incident and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the navy declined to say whether they were involved, although some Ukrainian officials portrayed the bridge as a legitimate military target.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, online publication Ukrainska Pravda and The New Voice of Ukraine media outlet cited one or more sources saying the navy and the SBU were behind the incident.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence department, declined to comment on the incident but said: The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Russias foreign ministry claimed terrorist Kyiv carried out Mondays attack.

Maria Zakharova said: Todays attack on the Crimean bridge was carried out by the Kyiv regime. This regime is terrorist and has all the hallmarks of an international organised crime group.

(via REUTERS)

Russias Investigative Committee said Kyiv was behind the attack and opened a terrorism case.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but unverified videos appeared to show a section of road on the bridge had split and was sloping to one side. Rail traffic resumed later on Monday morning.

The Crimean Bridge explosions occurred amid Ukraines counteroffensive against Moscow, on the same day Moscow was set to extend the Black Sea deal, which allowed Ukraine to resume shipping food from its southern ports despite the war and expires today.

There can be no grain deal after another terrorist attack, senior Russian politician, Sergei Mironov said on Telegram on Monday, urging Moscow to respond by destroying Ukrainian infrastruture.

That is what we need to do, and not discuss a grain deal that helps Kyivs rulers and their Western masters line their pockets. There can be no grain deal after another terrorist attack, he commented on the Kerch Bridge attack. The Kremlin has yet to comment on the Crimean Bridge incident.

In the wake of the attack, Russia said it would not be extending the grain deal, but said the attack on the bridge was not a factor.

Past attacks on the Crimean Bridge

In October last year, the Crimea Bridge was damaged by a truck bomb. At the time, Mr Putin claimed the blast a terrorist attack masterminded by Ukrainian security forces, and ordered retaliatory strikes on Ukraininan cities, including the capital Kyiv. Ukraine declined to comment on who was behind the attack at the time.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky months later claimed only indirectly that his country was responsible for the attack, listing the bridge as one of his armys successes in 2022.

The bridge was repaired and reopened to traffic earlirt this year, and has built up to normal levels since. The rail bridge is said to have fully reopened in July.

Ten days prior to the latest attack, Russian-installed authorities in the Crimean peninsula said a cruise missile was shot down near the city of Kerch, as traffic on the flyover was briefly suspended.

Additional reporting by agencies.
 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.
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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.

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.
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Russia is set to ban iPhones for government officials and state employees after accusing Apple of helping the US government conduct espionage operations.

Government officials at Russias trade ministry will be banned from using iPhones and other Apple products for work purposes from July 17, the Financial Times reported.

The trade ministrys ban includes emailed correspondence relating to work activities, said its deputy head Vasily Osmako.

The digital development ministry said it will follow suit, while state-owned company Rostec, which is under Western sanctions, said it has already introduced a ban on Apple products.

It comes after the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products in March, citing fears they were vulnerable to US hacking.

Officials truly believe that Americans can use their equipment for wiretapping, Andrey Soldatov, a Russia security and intelligence services expert, told the Financial Times.

Russias Federal Security Service claimed in June it had uncovered a spying operation by US intelligence agencies using Apple devices. However, the FSB provided no evidence.

The security service claimed several thousand iPhones with Russian SIM cards or registered with Moscow diplomatic missions in Nato countries were infected with monitoring software that indicated Apples close co-operation with the US National Security Agency.

Everyone in the presidential administration is aware that the iPhone is a completely transparent device and its use for official purposes is unacceptable and prohibited, Dmitry Peskov, president Putins spokesperson, said last month.

Apple has denied working with US intelligence services. The tech company said it has never worked with any government to build a backdoor into any Apple product, and never will.

The ban will not impact regular consumers. Apple pulled out of Russia following last years invasion of Ukraine. However, Apple products continue to be imported to Russia from other countries.
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A deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea will expire at the end of Monday after Russia said it will suspend its participation.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.

Why is the deal important?

Ukraine is a major producer of grains and oilseeds and the interruption to its exports at the outbreak of war pushed global food prices to record highs. The deal, agreed in July 2022 some five months after the war started, helped to bring down prices and ease a global food crisis.

Ukraine grain has also played a direct role with 725,200 tonnes, or 2.2 per cent, of the supplies shipped through the corridor used by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as aid to countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen.

What does this mean for food prices?

Prices for grains and oilseeds have already risen in response to news that Russia will suspend its participation in the deal. The increase will lead to higher prices for staple foods, such as bread and pasta, in the coming months if the deal does not restart soon.

The situation, however, is better than in the months after the war started as supplies of grain from other producers such as Brazil have increased.

Prices for wheat, the main ingredient in bread, have fallen by about 14 per cent so far this year and corn is down around 23 per cent.

The current global food crisis, however, is far from over. The WFP said last month that multiple emergencies had overlapped creating the largest and most complex hunger and humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years.

In 2022, a record 349 million people experienced acute hunger and 772,000 teetered on the edge of famine, the WFP said in an annual review.

What is the state of global food supplies?

Global corn stocks began the 2021/22 season at a six-year low and so Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's top corn exporters, led to a significant jump in prices.

A sharp increase in exports from Brazil, however, has since helped to boost supplies along with the export of nearly 17 million tonnes of corn through the corridor.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecast global corn stocks by the end of the 2023/24 season will be at a five-year high.

Global wheat stocks are tighter and are forecast to be at an eight-year low at the end of the 2023/24 season, USDA data shows.

What has been exported under the deal up to now?

Under the pact to create a safe shipping channel, Ukraine has been able to export 32.9 million tonnes of agricultural products, including 16.9 million tonnes of corn and 8.9 million tonnes of wheat.

Before the conflict, Ukraine was exporting roughly 25 to 30 million tonnes of corn a year, mostly through the Black Sea, and 16 to 21 million tonnes of wheat.

The capacity to ship grain through the Black Sea under the pact has been limited by the inclusion of only three ports.

Why is Russia withdrawing from the pact?

Russia has repeatedly said it sees no reason to extend the deal. It says commitments made to remove obstacles to Russian food and fertiliser exports have not been fulfilled. Moscow's demands have included the reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT global payment system.

Other demands include the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery and parts, lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and the unblocking of assets and the accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertiliser exports.

Can the Black Sea grain corridor operate without Russia?

Ukraine's ports were blocked until the agreement was reached in July last year and it is unclear if it will be possible to ship grain now Russia is withdrawing from the pact.

Additional war risk insurance premiums, which are charged when entering the Black Sea area, would go up and shipowners could prove reluctant to allow their vessels to enter a war zone without Russia's agreement.

Insurance industry sources say that cover arrangements could alter quickly. War risk insurance policies need to be renewed every seven days for ships, costing thousands of dollars.

Is the corridor needed if Ukraine's harvest shrink?

Ukraine's grain exports are forecast to fall in the 2023/24 season after the war meant farmers planted less corn and wheat.

The US Department of Agriculture has forecast corn exports will drop to 19.5 million tonnes, down from the prior season's 28 million and well below the record 30.3 million shipped in the 2018/19 season when they accounted for 17 per cent of global trade.

Wheat exports are expected to fall to 10.5 million tonnes, down from the prior season's 16.8 million and well below a peak of 21 million in 2019/20 that represented 11 per cent of world trade.

Exporting even those lower volumes of grain through the eastern European Union would, however, be logistically difficult and expensive particularly for crops grown in eastern regions of Ukraine that face a long and difficult journey just to reach the border.

Can Ukraine export more grain through the EU?

Ukraine has been exporting substantial volumes of grain through eastern EU countries since the conflict began. There have, however, been many logistical challenges including different rail gauges.

Another issue is that the flow of Ukraine grain through the eastern EU has caused unrest among farmers in the region who say it has undercut local supplies and been purchased by mills, leaving them without a market for their crops.

As a result the EU has allowed five countries - Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while allowing transit for export elsewhere. As it stands this will be phased out by mid-September. Larger harvests are also expected in the eastern EU this summer and major ports such as Constanta in Romania are expected to struggle to handle the volume of grain it is likely to receive, leading to congestion and shipping delays.

What will it mean for the World Food Programme?

The WFP buys several million tonnes of food commodities every year of which about 75 per cent are grains.

In 2021, WFP purchases totalled 4.4 million tonnes with Ukraine its top source, providing 20 per cent of the total.

Ukraine mainly supplies wheat and split peas. Most of the food goes to Africa along with some countries in Western Asia such as Yemen and so the WFP tends to source most supplies from eastern Europe, which is closer than major producers in North or South America.

The WFP has shipped 725,200 metric tonnes through the corridor. It will have to look elsewhere, potentially at a higher cost when a funding shortfall has already forced it to reduce activities in some countries.

Reuters
 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.
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A ChatGPT-style AI tool with no ethical boundaries or limitations is offering hackers a way to perform attacks on a never-before-seen scale, researchers have warned.

Cyber security firm SlashNext observed the generative artificial intelligence WormGPT being marketed on cybercrime forums on the dark web, describing it as a sophisticated AI model capable of producing human-like text that can be used in hacking campaigns.

This tool presents itself as a blackhat alternative to GPT models, designed specifically for malicious activities, the company explained in a blog post.

WormGPT was allegedly trained on a diverse array of data sources, particularly concentrating on malware-related data.

The researchers conducted tests using WormGPT, instructing it to generate an email intended to pressure an unsuspecting account manager into paying a fraudulent invoice.

Leading AI tools like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard have in-built protections to prevent people from misusing the technology for nefarious purposes, however WormGPT is allegedly designed to facilitate criminal activities.

The experiment saw WormGPT produce an email that was not only remarkably persuasive but also strategically cunning, showcasing its potential for sophisticated phishing attacks, the researchers claimed.

Screenshots uploaded to the hacking forum by WormGPTs anonymous developer shows various services the AI bot can perform, including writing code for malware attacks and crafting emails for phishing attacks.

WormGPTs creator described it as the biggest enemy of the well-known ChatGPT, as it allows users to do all sorts of illegal stuff.

A recent report from the law enforcement agency Europol warned that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT could be exploited by cyber criminals to commit fraud, impersonation or social engineering attacks.

ChatGPTs ability to draft highly authentic texts on the basis of a user prompt makes it an extremely useful tool for phishing purposes, the report noted.

Where many basic phishing scams were previously more easily detectable due to obvious grammatical and spelling mistakes, it is now possible to impersonate an organisation or individual in a highly realistic manner even with only a basic grasp of the English language.

Europol warned that LLMs allow hackers to carry out cyber attacks faster, much more authentically, and at significantly increased scale.
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Hostile states are using organised crime gangs to carry out illegal activity in the UK, the head of the National Crime Agency has warned.

NCA director-general Graeme Biggar highlighted the emerging links between serious and organised crime and hostile states in a speech outlining the agencys annual assessment of crime threats to Britain.

Speaking in Westminster, central London, on Monday, he said: North Korea has for some time used cybercrime to steal funds and more recently cryptocurrency.

The Russian state has long tolerated and occasionally tasked the cybercrime groups on its territory Graeme Biggar, NCA director-general

The Russian state has long tolerated and occasionally tasked the cybercrime groups on its territory, and had links with its oligarchs and their enablers.

And over the last year we have seen hostile states beginning to use organised crime groups  not always of the same nationality  as proxies.

It is a development we and our colleagues in MI5 and CT (counter-terrorism) policing are watching closely.

Intelligence suggests that states including Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are paying criminals in the UK to target individuals here, including threats to life.

This is thought to be because it is harder for them to get their own operatives into the country since the Salisbury poisonings in 2018.

Mr Biggar said the biggest group of offenders in the UK is those who pose a sexual threat to children, estimated to be between 680,000 and 830,000 people  around 10 times the prison population.

He warned that the availability of abuse images online has a radicalising effect by normalising paedophiles behaviour, and that viewing images, whether real or AI-generated, increases the risk of someone going on to abuse a child themselves.

There are around 59,000 people involved in serious organised crime in the UK, with around 12 billion generated by criminal activities each year, and around 100 billion of dirty cash from across the globe laundered through the UK.

Key threats to the UK include:

 Criminals exploiting migrants travelling to the UK in small boats.

The number of arrivals doubled to more than 45,000 in 2022, with gangs using bigger, flimsier, single-use boats and packing more people on to each craft, Mr Biggar said.

 Illegal drug use that fuels a raft of other crimes including violence, theft, use of guns and modern slavery.

Nearly 120 tonnes of cocaine and 40 tonnes of heroin are consumed in the UK every year, and NCA analysis of waste water suggests cocaine use is increasing by 25% in some areas. The agency wants to stop the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl getting a hold here as they have done in the US.

 Online fraud, which accounts for more than 40% of all crime.

Mr Biggar said: We assess that 75% of fraud is partially or fully committed from overseas. Generative AI is also being used to make frauds more believable, through the use of ever better deep fake videos and Chat GPT to write more compelling phishing emails.

The NCAs national strategic assessment suggests that more people could be drawn into crime as a result of the rise in the cost of living, for example being used as money mules.

This is where people accept payments into their own bank accounts and move them on in return for a small fee.

It is also thought that organised acquisitive crime, including high-value burglaries, gangs stealing cars, robberies and metal thefts, will increase due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Biggar said developments in technology such as increased use of end-to-end encryption are making the agencys work harder.

Hyper-realistic child abuse images created using artificial intelligence are also difficult to identify as computer-generated.

He finished his speech by saying: Law enforcement, including the NCA, needs to do more to be at the leading edge of new technology: this will require collective vision and sustained investment.

And, secondly, we need more effective strategic partnership from technology companies.

This is about responsible behaviour about designing public safety into their products alongside privacy, so that we all reap the benefits from technology, rather than suffering their consequences.
A pre-dawn deadly assault on the Kerch Bridge is the second such attack in just nine months. As Ukraine pushes ahead with a summer counteroffensive, it amounts to a personal jab at Vladimir Putin, who has often boasted about its construction.

The 12-mile rail and road structure  the longest in Europe  was a 2.7bn prestige project and was opened by Mr Putin five years ago. It links the Russian mainland and occupied Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. When it was opened, Mr Putin boasted that Russian tsars had dreamed of building this miracle but had never succeeded. Russian state media hailed it as the construction of the century.

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, the bridge has morphed into a military supply lifeline for Moscows men on the battlefield. In the summer it is also gridlocked with Russian tourists wanting to holiday in Crimea  a popular holiday destination, despite the war rumbling mere miles away.
For travellers, going to extremes can be rewarding  especially if you choose Malin Head, the northernmost point of Ireland. Standing on the raw edge of Europe, where the land crumbles into the ocean, brings sheer exhilaration.

Malin Head also provides a suitably remote and inspiring place to begin a journey on the Wild Atlantic Way.

For visitors to Ireland, this route is a brilliant concept: over 1,600 miles of scenic roads and trails that wrap around the nations west coast. The Wild Atlantic Way binds together breathtaking locations along the shore where the ocean reaches Europe  with rich heritage, attractions and activities to enliven the experience.

Malin Head has long been a strategic location: its name is bestowed on the sea area in the Shipping Forecast that encompasses the northern coast of Ireland. A lookout tower, built to defend the island against an attack from Napoleonic France, still peers out to sea. But these days, youre more likely to see the Northern Lights than invaders.

The location feels a world away from anywhere  yet Malin Head is just a one-hour drive from City of Derry Airport. Malin Head is the top of Inishowen: a spectacular peninsula whose name translates as Owens island. Just beneath Malin Head you find Irelands northernmost beach, Five Finger Strand. Why the name? The dunes backing on to this clean sweep of sand resemble knuckles. It is the first of many glorious seascapes away from the crowds.

Seabirds swoop and circle, but above the beach you can encounter some unexpected companions. The alpaca, a relative of the llama, can usually be found chewing grass nearly three miles high in the Andes of South America. But John McGonagle, the founder of Wild Alpaca Way, cares for a flock of more than 40 of these creatures  who seem to thrive at 55 degrees north. He, along with Fred, Ted, Badger, Ollie and Benjy, took me on a breathtaking coastal walk, where we even took a few selfies together.

Once you leave the drama of the far north coast, driving through the gentle scenery of Inishowen is a joy, with quiet roads leading you to all manner of enticements. Ireland in miniature is a frequent description of Inishowen. One natural attraction has only become accessible in the past three decades: Glenevin Waterfall.

In 1993, an American visitor named Doris Russo visited this part of Inishowen and fell in love with the area. The following year, she moved in and discovered the waterfall after a tough hike through thick vegetation. Doris set about creating a pathway so that visitors could enjoy one of Irelands great natural attractions. The reward for what is now the modest effort of a 15-minute walk: a cascade cutting through deep green.

Wherever you are in Inishowen, the sea  and your next adventure  is never far away. Fort Dunree is perched on an outcrop overlooking Lough Swilly: one of the deep inlets that corrugate the north coast of Ireland. Lough Swilly is actually a deep-water fjord, carved by a glacier. Over the years the lough provided protection at times of war for the Royal Navy. Today, it is the venue for Inish Adventures, which specialises in aquatic activities along a coast carved by time.

I donned a lifejacket and took to a kayak to explore the shore. Under the watchful eye of my guide, John Harken, I paddled into a sea cave where the echoes of the lapping ocean resounded. You have everything here, says John. Absolutely everything. To me theres nowhere in the world to match it.

Soon after starting out along the Wild Atlantic Way, you realise all these activities create a formidable appetite. So I headed to Ballyliffin to visit a Victorian farm building that is now a sought-after restaurant: Nancys Barn, whose seafood chowder was selected as the best in the world.

After a delicious dinner courtesy of the Atlantic Ocean, the only way is up: toward Malin Head once more, and the northernmost pub in Ireland.

Farrens Bar, like all the best Irish hostelries, is more than a pub: its a hub of the community. There is no such thing as a stranger here, just friends you havent yet met.

Its a talking bar, says landlord Hugh Farren, the sixth generation in his family to run the pub.

My final stop in Inishowen: Buncrana, gateway to the rest of Ireland, a friendly town with a spectacular location and a summer ferry (June to mid-September) to the western parts of Donegal. With clear skies, clean air and enticing sandy beaches, Buncrana is the natural conclusion to a stay of sheer joy.

Best of the northwest  along Irelands Wild Atlantic Way

Find out more about the Wild Atlantic Way and the unique adventures it offers, and start planning your own Ireland escape .

Thanks to the Common Travel Area, British visitors do not need a passport or a visa to travel to the island of Ireland (though check with your travel provider for any ID requirements).
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A beauty spot off the coast of Finland is encouraging visitors to put down their phones this summer in an effort to become what they believe will be the worlds first phone-free island.

Those travelling to Ulko-Tammio, which is part of the Eastern Gulf national park, will be asked to keep smart devices in their pockets and take a break from social media.

Instead, tourists are being encouraged to stop and genuinely enjoy the islands, said Mats Selin, from Visit Kotka-Hamina tourism board, which covers the island.

We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones, said Joel Heino, from Parks and Wildlife Finland. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too.

For those apprehensive about giving up their devices, the digital fasting is entirely voluntary  the island has a fully functioning mobile network.

Keep your eyes off the screen on this island (Annika Ruohonen)

While sharing every moment of holidays has become standard practice for many, and idle moments are often filled by scrolling, there are benefits from taking breaks from social media.

People are not meant to be glued to screens all the time. Even a short digital fast can be useful and improve our wellbeing and help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, said Terhi Mustonen, psychologist and programme manager of the limitless gaming and limitless social media programmes at the Sosped Foundation, a social welfare NGO.

A study from before the pandemic found that almost half of families were planning a summer digital detox because they were concerned their children were spending too much time on gadgets.

In the UK, Unplugged offers short breaks in boutique cabins where guests lock their phone in box for their stay. The rationale is that people would be happier and more productive if we dedicated time to going offline for a few days each year.

Sari Castren, psychologist and research manager at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, said: Taking a short break from them means you have more time for new experiences. Id like to see more initiatives like this that promote digital fasting.

For those who fancy going off-grid on Ulko-Tammio, expect hiking trails, a birdwatching tower that offers views over the national park, and plenty of wildlife. Visitors can stay overnight on the island either in tents or in a cabin.
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For the second time in less than a month, a tourist has been caught defacing one of Romes best-known historic attractions.

A Swiss teenager is the latest offender to start carving her name into the ancient amphitheatre.

The 17-year-old was caught in the act, with a local tour guide managing to video her scratching the letter N into the wall of the famous landmark.

It is the first time I have managed to film an act of vandalism at the Colosseum but in six years I have seen dozens, there are also those who rip off parts of the wall, David Battaglino told Repubblica Roma. They even spat on me once for scolding a boy.

After Mr Battaglino reported this most recent act of vandalism at the Unesco World Heritage Site, the teen and her parents are reportedly being questioned by police.

He alleged that the girls parents were blase about her behaviour, saying: shes just a kid, she wasnt doing anything wrong.

They could face a fine of up to 15,000.

It comes just weeks after a man was caught vandalising the Colosseum at the end of June.

The tourist from the UK triggered widespread outrage by carving his girlfriends name into the ancient stone.

Ivan Dimitrov, who lives in Bristol, was filmed engraving his and Hayley Braceys initials into the 2,000-year-old structure.

Footage of the incident soon went viral before Italys Carabinieri tracked the pair down in Bulgaria, prompting Mr Dimitrov to beg for forgiveness.

In an apology letter published in Romes Il Messaggero newspaper, addressed to the prosecutors office and Romes mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, Mr Dimitrov said he was not aware of the ancient monuments age or the seriousness of the deed committed.

Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity, he wrote.

It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument.

Mr Dimitrovs lawyer, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, told Il Messaggero that his client was the prototype of the foreigner who frivolously believes that anything is allowed in Italy, even the type of act which in their own countries would be severely punished.
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A woman who refused to switch seats with a mother so she could sit next to her children on an airplane was commended online for sticking to her stand.

Tammy Nelson, the CEO of global jewellery brand CONQUERing, shared the incident on TikTok and said she was flying on a Delta Airlines flight from Cincinnati, Ohio to San Jose, California when another woman requested her to switch seats so she could sit next to her two kids.

Ms Nelson figured the other woman was already sitting in her window seat.

I double-checked my boarding pass thinking I may have had the wrong row, Ms Nelson told Newsweek. When I confirmed I was looking at the correct seat, I thought she must have just mistakenly sat in the wrong seat. So I said, Im sorry but it seems youre in my seat, thinking she would realise it and move.

But the woman did not. Oh  you want to sit here? she reportedly said. I was pretty surprised at the question but replied simply saying, Yes, thats the seat I selected, Ms Nelson said.

The woman then reportedly told her she was with her two kids who were sitting in the seats next to her window seat. Oh well I just thought we could switch since these are my kids, she told Ms Nelson.

At this point, Ms Nelson told her TikTik followers the real reason for refusing to switch with the mother, who offered Ms Nelson a middle seat.

I get motion sickness during takeoff and landing if I cant see out the window. I also dont get a lot of sleep. I often try to get a little sleep on planes which is easiest with a window seat, Ms Nelson said.

On that particular day, I only had 90 minutes of sleep the night before, she said. And I was headed into a high-pressure work week where I would be presenting to 500 people and really needed to be at my very best so getting a little sleep on that flight was extra-important.

Ms Nelsons TikTok video has been viewed more than 1.6 million times so far.

She said the mother was reportedly super annoyed before moving back to her own middle seat.

Ms Nelson has received support from TikTok users for her stand.

People should book seats together if they want to sit together, one user wrote.

Tammy Nelson refused to switch seats with another woman who insisted she wanted to sit next to her two kids. Nelson said people are fed up with people feeling entitled (@conquering/TikTok)

The amount of families who arent paying to select their seats together is mindblowing! You were 100 per cent right to not give up your seat, said another comment.

Nope. If its not an upgrade its a sacrifice, said another.

People choose aisle or window for specific reasons (eg sleeping or being close to the toilet). No obligation to switch, added another user.

Ms Nelson said people are fed up with people feeling entitled when it comes to things like this.

Clearly the woman just expected that I would make a change to meet her needs, not considering what she had done (or not done) that put her in that situation, she said.

She just expected me to flex my plans to suit her needs. There seems to be a growing trend of this entitlement in society and I think people are just sick of it.
Join The Independents travel team, Simon Calder and Helen Coffey, as they take a closer look at the regions around Bodrum and Dalaman in south-western Turkiye.

The pair explore the ancient heritage of Bodrum, from the magnificent castle built by the Knights of St John in 1402 to the 4th-Century ruins and mausoleum of Halicarnassus. While in Dalaman  The Turquoise Coast  Simon uncovers some of the finest Turkish beach resorts, with plenty of amazing snorkelling and diving opportunities.

Watch other episodes of Travel Smart on Independent TV, across mobile and on connected TV.
Rishi Sunak has defended a decision to limit student numbers on university courses that do not have good outcomes by saying the system must be fair for taxpayers.

The prime minister made the comments when asked how universities will be able to fund themselves if they are reducing places on some courses.

We need to make sure the system is not just fair for students - and theyre getting the right outcome - but its also fair for taxpayers, Mr Sunak said.

Part of these reforms - clamping down on low-quality courses - will improve the overall financial sustainability of the system.
You may have noticed that Global Britain, as we must now call ourselves, has just joined one of the biggest free trading blocs in the world  the trans-Pacific partnership, or Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to give it its full title.

Kemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, flew over to sign the treaty at the Partnerships registry in Auckland, New Zealand (the CPTPPs rough equivalent of the EUs HQ in Brussels), and shes been beaming across all media outlets ever since.

As a dedicated Brexiteer she is understandably pleased to be able to show that: 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.
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Republican presidential candidates had to release their quarterly finance reports on Friday. Given that there will be no real contests until February of 2024, fundraising and polling tend to be the most accurate barometers for how a candidate is doing in this early stage. In the same token, a strong first fundraising quarter tends to show that a candidate can last for the long haul.

For the longest time, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has been hailed as a fundraising juggernaut. His message of being a competent Trump has given him access to the upper echelons of the Republican donor class, the very folks who may not have liked former president Donald Trump but who voted for him nonetheless because of his judicial nominations and signing massive tax cuts.

But, as with most things, his fundraising significantly trails Mr Trump. Whereas Mr Trump raised $35m in the last fundraising quarter, Mr DeSantis only raised $20m in his first quarter as a candidate.

In fairness, Mr Trump has been an officially declared candidate since November, whereas Mr DeSantis declared somewhat in the middle of the fundraising cycle. In the same respect, Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC, raised roughly $130m this last quarter, a sign of significant interest. But candidates are legally not allowed to coordinate with super PACs, making it much more difficult for them to determine how the money will be spent.

In the same respect, Mr DeSantis faced a flurry of stories during the weekend noting how much trouble he faces. NBC News reported that nearly $14m of the money he raised came from donors who gave him the legal maximum of money they can donate to a candidate per cycle. Meanwhile, his campaign burned through $7.9m.

Essentially, that means he is spending a large amount of money but can no longer go back to many of the donors who helped him in the first place. Meanwhile, only about a third of his campaign contributions came from smaller donations, meaning he can keep going back to them to ask for cash.

Similarly, the NBC report said that he had a whopping 92 staffers on his payroll. By comparison, the candidate with the second most staff, Sen Tim Scott (R-SC), has only 54 staff while Mr Trump has only 40 people on his staff. Already, hes faced comparisons to former Wisconsin governor Scott Walkers doomed 2016 campaign, who like Mr DeSantis was a governor who was popular in right-wing circles but who announced his candidacy much later and faced accusations of running a bloated campaign by the time he dropped out before the Iowa caucuses.

That leads to his next problem: Politicos Alex Isensadt reported that his campaign has begun to shed staff, albeit fewer than ten staffers are leaving and some might depart to Never Back Down.

Losing staff is fairly normal in many campaigns and John McCain faced some rough exits early in his 2008 campaign before he made his comeback in New Hampshire and captured the GOP nomination. But generally, losing staff amid stories of cash shortages just adds to an image of a candidacy that fails to meet expectations.

All of this doesnt even count his biggest obstacle to the GOP nomination: Mr Trump. Typically, presidential primaries are exercises in hypotheticals; but because Mr Trump is a former president whose policies pleased many conservatives, Mr DeSantis is in the difficult position of having to denounce him where he came short while also praising him.

A perfect example came in the past two days. On Sunday, he appeared on Fox News Sunday where he criticised Mr Trump, saying the former president haspromised to drain the swamp  it got worse, and added that He promised to have Mexico pay for a border wall. They did like 50 miles of wall. There's massive expanses still there. (He also denounced Mr Trump for adding to the national debt but omitted the fact he voted for the Trump tax cuts, which added to the ballooning debt.)

But the next day, he appeared at Christians United for Israel. During that time, he largely avoided mentioning Mr Trump but couldnt help but talk about the 45th presidents policies toward Israel such as relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem, and the Abraham Accords, the peace agreements Mr Trumps administration brokered with Israels Arab neighbours.

Mr DeSantis needs to win over these types of voters: white (and increasingly Latino) evangelical Christian voters who want to elect a true Christian conservative. But Mr DeSantis will have trouble peeling off these voters despite the fact hes a devout Catholic and Mr Trump is a less than pious leader.

Toward the end of his speech, Mr DeSantis talked about Israels 75th anniversary and how everyone counted the country out.

Yes, they had an ally in the United States of America, but most true allies were few and far between but they fought, he said. They've been willing to stand up for what's right. And they've said that they are going to make sure that they are never displaced from the land of Israel ever again.

One might say he sees himself in the same light as he hopes to stand up to the Trump Goliath.
The last time the Kerch Bridge was attacked in this war was nine months ago, the day after Vladimir Putins 70th birthday. The Ukrainians put out a video of Marilyn Monroe singing Happy birthday, Mr President with footage of flames and rubble in the background.

Retaliation took the form of swarms of drones striking Kyiv after weeks of relative lull, and S-300 missile attacks in the Donbas. In the town of Slovyansk we saw the bodies of a young family who had fled there from the front line.

The Russians blamed Western special forces, from Britain in particular, for the explosion on one of the Russian presidents vanity projects, which had become a key logistical route for Moscows forces following the invasion.
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A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with temperatures forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.

As the UK gets prolonged showers  the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days  the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Temperatures are expected to go beyond 40C in parts of Spain and Italy in the coming days.

Spain, Italy and Greece have been experiencing scorching temperatures for several days already, damaging agriculture and leaving tourists scurrying for shade.

But a new anticyclone dubbed Charon, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead, pushed into the region from north Africa on Sunday and could lift temperatures above 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in parts of Italy early this week.

The countrys blazing mercury led to the death of a 44-year-old man, while a tourist from the UK visiting Romes Colosseum fainted, prompting health warnings.

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.

The temperature of the ground, which is different from the air temperature that weather forecasts mention, hit more than 60C in some areas of Spain last week, satellite recordings have shown.

While mean ground temperatures are generally close to the air temperatures, they can sometimes be higher as the soil in summer can trap more heat. However, a surface land temperature of 60C is extremely high and rare in Europe.

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.

The conditions have been raising fears of a repeat of last years extreme heat conditions when Europe experienced its hottest summer on record in 2022, marked by an onslaught of scorching heatwaves, devastating droughts and raging forest fires driven by the human-induced climate crisis.

The heat contributed to the deaths of over 61,000 people, a recent study has shown.

Heat map showing extremely hot areas in black (European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery)

Experts have said the European heatwave is because of an area of high pressure named after the underworld monster from Dantes Inferno  Cerberus.

The area of high pressure comes as the world recently experienced record-shattering temperatures that have fuelled baking heatwaves in several countries like the US  that has seen contrasting weather extremes of its own.

The southern US has been engulfed by extreme heat while its northeast grapples with severe flooding.

The UK, on the other hand, finds itself under the influence of a different weather pattern that has brought in more rain and thus pulled down temperatures after the country got its hottest June on record, pointed out experts.

Dr Melissa Lazenby, a climate change lecturer at the University of Sussex, explained that the current placement of a high-pressure system located further south is the primary reason for this divergence.

The current European Heatwave is being driven by stable atmospheric conditions from a stationary high pressures feature, Dr Lazenby explained.

She added that while it is not possible to determine all the drivers and their exact contributions to the current heatwave yet, Europe is not particularly affected by El Nino events directly.

Therefore it is likely the high-pressure system and climate change are the main contributors to this heatwave event, she said.

The UK at the moment is not experiencing the same high temperatures as the rest of Europe and that is mainly due to the placement of the current high-pressure system, which does not cover the UK and is situated further south, Dr Lazenby said, which provides stable atmospheric conditions for enhanced warming and resulting heatwaves.

If you are in the UK today, you will notice the higher winds which are not associated with a high-pressure feature and therefore not allowing conducive heatwave conditions explaining why UK temperatures are not anomalously warm like the rest of Europe.

A woman fans herself in Madrid, Spain (AP)

While the UK may be relieved to avoid sweltering conditions experienced by its European counterparts, extreme temperatures have impacted the countrys summertime this year.

The Met Office said record June temperatures in the UK were caused by the background warming of the Earths atmosphere due to human-induced climate change.

The sea around the UK and Ireland also experienced an unheard of extreme marine heatwave that posed dangers to the coastal ecosystem.

July was largely expected to be the hottest month of the year, surpassing June temperatures, as experts predicted more heatwaves in the coming days. Current changes, however, indicate no imminent heatwave threat to the country.

But the rapid temperature rise in the Mediterranean region serves as a stark reminder that the climate crisis is an intricate system with potential feedback loops and unforeseen events, experts say.

To an extent, the European heatwave we are seeing in summer 2023 reflects what has been observed over the last few years in the science. Namely, that Europe has been warming much faster than other continents in recent decades, and that this trend is especially pronounced in north-west Europe  including the UK, said Dr Leslie Mabon, lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University.

Dr Mabon explained that while it is difficult to pinpoint a single factor responsible for making Europe warm so fast, due to the complex relationships between the different elements in the system, we can be in absolutely no doubt that a critical driver behind this warming trend is carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

Until we rapidly reduce emissions from fossil fuels, extremes like the heatwave we are seeing in Europe at the moment are going to become more and more likely, Dr Mabon said.

The differences that we are seeing in the extent of warming both globally and between regions of Europe are also a stark reminder that the Earths climate is a complex system.

As we get to higher degrees of warming, the danger of feedback loops or unexpected events occurring becomes greater. This is why we need to urgently reduce emissions from fossil fuels and limit the extent of global heating at all costs.
The Law Reform Commission has published a consultation paper and invited submissions on Irelands ban on third-party litigation funding.

Court rulings here have upheld the ban, which was a feature of common law legal systems.

The most high profile recent case here involved a 2017 challenge by the Persona Digital consortium against the Minister for Public Enterprise over the award of the second mobile phone licence. The Irish courts stopped the case on the basis of how Persona had funded it.

Similar rules have now been loosened in many other Common Law jurisdictions including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Third-party funding is also allowed in some European countries.

In many cases it involves a specialist finance firm agreeing to cover the legal costs of someone elses legal case in exchange for a share  sometimes the bulk  of any settlement. That can be controversial because it can mean they become the major beneficiary of a legal action despite never having suffered a loss or injury.

The paper defines third-party funding is investment in dispute resolution. An alternative but related practice known as assigning a cause of action means selling the right to sue to another person or entity.

It found five arguments against allowing third-party funding: it might encourage vexatious and meritless disputes; cause funded parties to be under-compensated by splitting awards, legal costs might increase; the price of insurance premiums might increase; that it is not appropriate in all types of disputes.

The Commission also found four arguments in favour of a looser regime: including helping expand access to justice; improving the power balance in cases where one side is otherwise much richer; helping increase the pool of assets available to creditors in insolvency; and helping address an inconsistency in the law, whereby corporate entities can effectively engage in third-party funding under another name by issuing shares, or transferring ownership of the company to fund its participation in dispute resolution.

The Commissions consultation process is open to responses from today.

The paper examined practice in other countries, where a variety of legal structures are in place and a mix of regulatory practices governs who can fund cases.
Medical and pharmaceutical exports  mainly to the US  fell in May this year, compared with last year.

Sales of pharma products fell by 8pc, or over half a billion euro, in May this year from a year ago, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said.

But they were still worth 6.5bn in the month and made up 39pc of goods exports.

It is the fourth successive monthly fall in medical and pharmaceutical goods sales, following a 23pc dip in the year to April and a similar-sized fall in March. Exports from the sector also fell slightly in the year to February.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently warned that a potential downturn in pharmaceutical exports could hit growth and tax receipts this year.

The ESRI cut its forecast for GDP growth this year to just 0.1pc, from more than 5pc previously, with activity in the domestic economy predicted to far outstrip the multinational sector this year, before recovering.

The number of jobs approved by the State's inward investment agency, IDA Ireland, has also slowed compared with last year, although the IDA expects to add thousands of net jobs by the end of the year.

The CSO data, published today, shows that Irish goods exports to the US are down 23pc in the year so far, compared with the same period in 2022.

Overall goods exports, unadjusted for seasonal variations, were 16.7bn in May 2023, down 7pc (or 1.2bn) compared with May last year.

Exports for the year to May are also down by a similar amount on the same period last year.

Exports fell between April and May, when adjusted for seasonal variations.

Unadjusted goods imports were worth 11.6bn in May, down 12pc on May last year.

However, the value of goods imports for the first five months of 2023 is up 5pc compared with the same period last year.

The value of exports to Britain has outstripped imports once again as oil and gas prices drop.

Imports from Great Britain were 1.3bn in May 2023, while exports to England, Scotland and Wales came in at 1.6bn.

Britain made up 10pc of Irish exports in May.

The EU is still, by far, Irelands largest goods export partner, accounting for 42pc of products in May, with Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium topping the list.

The US was the main non-EU destination for Irish goods, accounting for 25pc of total exports in May.
An animal welfare group is offering a 1,000 reward for information on an incident where a dog was set on fire in Ballina, Co. Mayo earlier this month.

The animal has since died.

Kathy OHora, the chairperson of North West Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Ballina, Co Mayo said she was horrified to learn of the incident.

"Theres no other word for it. Im extremely upset. Its the most disgusting thing Ive ever heard, to be honest."

She described the dog as a small-to-medium sized black dog, but it was difficult to provide further detail.

Ms OHora said of course she is concerned for the mindset of the perpetrator, adding: I mean whoever is capable of that, god knows what theyll end up doing next.

"Thats the worst thing ever. But also, my concern is have they done it before. Is it going to happen again? Will it be worse?

"The very worrying thing for us is that no one so far has reported this dog missing. The dog must have come from somewhere.

"Did it have an owner? Its hardly just a stray.

She said the incident beggars belief, adding that the perpetrator was out of sight of cameras when the incident occurred.

"Thats we put the reward up, because somebody, somewhere must know something.

Ms OHora said the 1,000 reward for information is not something we can afford but its far more important that we find out who is responsible for this.

She believes current legislation is insufficient in fully protecting the welfare of animals in Ireland.

We often get a phone call or messages about cruelty or animals in a dreadful state of living situations.

"We have no authority at to go on to anyone's property at all. The only thing a rescue can do is to go to the person, door to door, and ask will you surrender the animal to us? she said..

"Very often it works. If it doesnt work, theres very little we can do about it because we have no authority.

A garda spokesperson said: Gardai are investigating following the discovery of a deceased dog at a sportsground in Ballina, Co. Mayo on Thursday 6th July 2023.

The body of the dog was removed from the scene by local veterinary services.

Investigations are ongoing.

Today's News in 90 seconds - July 17th
Schoolteacher Enoch Burke has been landed with a six-figure legal bill after a judge ruled he should pay the costs of Wilsons Hospital following the loss of his long-running dispute with the school.
Courts

Woman up on money-laundering charges over use of bank account to move almost 5,000
Judge Dermot Simms highlighted the issues with the Childrens, Health, Justice and Public Expenditure ministers before retiring. Photo Collins

A judge has written to several ministers demanding immediate and co-ordinated action to deal with an unprecedented crisis in the provision of placements for troubled children in the care of the State.
The Indo Daily: Introducing Im Not Here to Hurt You  a new podcast about Irelands most polite bank robber
Flowers and candles left by people following the death of accountant Deepa Dinamani (38)

IRELAND'S Indian community has rallied to support the family and five year old son of a young accountant who died from stab injuries in Cork.

Deepa Dinamani (38) died last Friday evening after being discovered with critical stab injuries at her home in Wilton on Cork's southside.

The chartered accountant, who was from the south Indian province of Kerala and had only been in Ireland for three months, was pronounced dead at her Cardinal Court home after desperate efforts by paramedics failed to save her.

Her husband, Regin Parithapara Rajan (41), was charged with her murder before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Sunday.

He was remanded in custody and will appear again before the court via video-link on Thursday.

People have now rallied to try to support Ms Dinamani's family.

A special vigil was staged in Cork to show their support for the grieving family - and to condemn violence of all forms.

Over 150 members of the Indian community from across Munster attended the rally including Indian nurses based in Cork as well as members of the World Malayalee Council.

A photograph of Ms Dinamani was framed with flowers, tea lights and candles as prayers were offered for her, her family, her child and the shocked local community.

May they find strength, courage and peace in the midst of this immense loss, a Cork Pravasi Malayali Association spokesperson said.

The group said they wanted to extend their "heartfelt condolences" over a death which had sent "shockwaves across Ireland."

Ms Dinamani's family are now liaising with the Indian Embassy in Dublin over the tragedy.

Indian groups in Cork have vowed to offer whatever help they can to the grieving family.

It is expected that family members will travel to Cork this week both to supervise funeral arrangements and to ensure the care of the young accountant's son.

Ms Dinamani had only moved to Ireland with her family last spring.

She started work for Alter Domus Fund Services in the Cork Airport Business Park in April.

She was a senior manager in fund services and was previously the Assistant Vice President of Apex Fund Services in Bangalore and a graduate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

The young mother was discovered critically injured in her home on Friday evening after a friend called to her property to check on her after she had failed to collect her five year old son at a summer camp.

A post mortem examination was conducted by State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan but its findings have not been released by Gardai for operational reasons.

Today's News in 90 seconds - July 17th
The Yangtze River Delta region in east China, one of the country's economic hubs, boasts high economic vitality, high-level opening up and strong innovation capability. It holds nearly 1/3 of China's valid patents and a quarter of the country's valid registered trademarks. The region enjoys full-chain circulation of intellectual property rights (IPR) factors, which contributes to its high-quality development. So far, the region has nurtured over 1,800 demonstration enterprises with intellectual property advantages, which drive the comprehensive improvement of the region's industrial competitiveness. Centering on integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and other key areas, the region established seven industrial IPR operation centers and 24 national-level patent navigation service bases to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies. Last year, the amount of patent pledge financing in the region jumped 72.6 percent year on year to 186.26 billion yuan ($26.05 billion), accounting for nearly half of China's total. Besides, the region is also home to 29 national-level IPR protection centers and fast-response IPR service centers, as well as over 400 mediation organizations for IPR disputes. Focusing on improving mechanisms, smoothening the flow of factors, strengthening protection, optimizing services and deepening reforms, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) is promoting the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta with IPR improvement, said Liang Xinxin, spokesperson of the CNIPA. The three provinces and Shanghai municipality in the Yangtze River Delta region have established complete cooperation mechanisms and made a lot of explorations in strengthening IPR protection, optimizing the business environment and serving market entities, Liang added. Over recent years, a series of new mechanisms and models related to IPR have been piloted in the region, and achieved positive results. In Jun 2021, China's newly amended Patent Law entered into effect, which has added stipulations on a new patent open licensing system. According to the law, after a patentee declares to the patent administrative department to grant an open license and specify the royalty, anyone can exploit the patent in accordance with conditions during the implementation period of the open license. In May 2022, Shanghai took the lead to pilot the open license. "Open license has built a bridge for universities, research institutions and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to transfer and commercialize their achievements," said Rui Wenbiao, head of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration. According to Rui, 50 enterprises and institutions in Shanghai have opened 240 patents, and 58 of them are free of charge. The city has introduced 610 patents opened by patentees outside of Shanghai, including Tsinghua University. Shanghai Jiao Tong University has reached a 10-million-yuan deal of an open license with an enterprise, Rui said. The mechanism of the patent open license is just a miniature of the institutional innovation made by the Yangtze River Delta in IPR. In April 2023, Hefei of Anhui province issued the first intellectual property securitization for SMEs that feature specialization, refinement, uniqueness and innovation in the region, with a scale of 123.5 million yuan. Zhejiang province, which is adjacent to Anhui, took the lead in undertaking a pilot reform of the data IPR. It has launched China's first public deposit platform for data IPR, and issued the country's first rule for data IPR protection for open-source communities and first pledge standard on data IPR, so as to make data ownership clearer, better exploit IPR and make proofing of IPR easier, said Gu Wenhai, deputy director of Zhejiang province's intellectual property administration. China's first national pilot project for the standardization of data IPR also landed in Zhejiang, Gu told People's Daily. Boehringer Ingelheim, a German multinational pharmaceutical company, owns patents of its self-developed innovative medicines in its Shanghai office. "We feel the importance attached by the Chinese government to IPR protection and to maintaining fair market competition," said an executive of the company. As the number of patents owned by foreign enterprises in China keeps growing, IPR is contributing significantly to the high-level opening up of the country. In the Yangtze River Delta region, Shanghai has launched a special campaign for the protection of foreign companies' IPR for three years in a row, during which over 60 IPR disputes and infringement cases were handled. Shanghai, in collaboration with intellectual property departments from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, has carried out regular dialogues and exchanges for foreign enterprises to understand their demands for IPR protection, and inform them of IPR laws, regulations, services and measures. To assist China's high-level opening up, the CNIPA launched pilot programs aiming at establishing permanent representative offices of foreign patent agencies in IPR service clusters, including the Suzhou New District and the Jiangning district of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, building them into international hubs of IPR services," said Liang.
Members of the Indian community from the Kerala region who are based in Cork have vowed to offer support to the family of mother of one, Deepa Dinamani, who was fatally stabbed at her home in the city on Friday.

Ms Dinamani (38) who was a native of Kerala, had lived with her husband and son in a two-storey home in Cardinal Court in Wilton for several months. The alarm was raised shortly after 10pm on Friday night. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her five-year-old son was not in the property that evening and the alarm was raised when Ms Dinamani failed to pick him up from the house of a friend.

The body of the deceased was removed to Cork University Hospital shortly before 11am yesterday for a postmortem examination. A technical examination was also carried out at the scene. Ms Dinamanis husband has since been charged with her murder at a special sitting of Cork Circuit Court on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, members of the Cork Pravasi Malayali Association have issued a statement on their Facebook page in which they have extended their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms Dinamani, They have also offered their support to her grieving family in the coming days.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family during this difficult time. We understand that no words or action can fully alleviate the pain and sorrow they are experiencing, but please know that our community stands united in offering our support and assistance in any way we can.

We would like to express our commitment to work closely with the Indian embassy and the family members of Deepa Dinamani to provide any necessary help and support. Our association is dedicated to fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among the Indian community in Cork, and we are ready to lend our support in coordinating efforts, offering guidance, or providing any necessary resources to assist the family during this difficult period.

The statement ended by saying that it was vital to rally in support of others in times of immense suffering.

"In times of tragedy, it is crucial for us to come together as a community and provide comfort and assistance to those affected. We hope that our collective support will bring some comfort to the grieving family.

Once again, our heartfelt condolences goes out to Deepa Dinamani's family, friends, and loved ones. May they find strength, courage, and peace in the midst of this immense loss.

A family liaison officer has been appointed. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Indian Embassy will make every effort to assist the family.

The young son of the deceased is being cared for in the aftermath of the tragedy. Ms Dinamani worked for Alter Domus Fund Services in Cork Airport Business Park.

She was a chartered accountant with over a decade of experience. She began work as a senior manager in fund services in the Cork office of Alter Domus in April.

She was previously Assistant Vice President of Apex Fund Services in Bangalore Urban, Karanataka in India. Ms Dinamani was a graduate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Tourists will have to pay a $10 (8.90) fee to visit the Indonesian island of Bali next year, officials have confirmed, with the destination hoping the measure will help preserve its culture.

Tourism-dependent Bali attracts millions of foreign arrivals each year, and the 150,000 rupiah levy has long been talked about. In recent months, a government minister suggested implementing a charge in the hope of cracking down on a rise in unruly behaviour.

The fee will have to be paid electronically and will apply to foreign tourists entering Bali from abroad or from other parts of Indonesia, he said.

The levy will not apply to domestic Indonesian tourists.

The payment of a fee for foreign tourists applies only one time during their visit to Bali, said I Wayan Koster, the islands governor.

Mr Koster added that he didnt believe that the new tax would deter visitors: Its not a problem. We will use it for the environment [and] culture, and we will build better quality infrastructure so travelling to Bali will be more comfortable and safe.

More than two million tourists visited Bali in 2022, according to official figures, with the island rebounding following the Covid-19 pandemic.

But with the influx of travellers has come widely reported disruptive behaviour, and the chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana,said he hopes the tourism tax will prevent Bali from becoming known only as a cheap destinations, as cheap destinations bring in cheap tourists who tend to cause a lot of problems.

In April, a Russian woman who posed nude for photos in front of a scared tree in Bali was deported by authorities.

Around the same time, an Australian woman was deported after arguing with police when she was pulled over for rising a scooter without a helmet. Her heated exchange with the police was captured on video and went viral on social media.
Members of the Orange Order take part in a Twelfth of July parade in Belfast last week. Photo: PA

In a critique of the recent Orange Order celebrations in Northern Ireland, a correspondent in Saturdays Letters page wrote: That celebration and connection is more a sign of desperation of holding on to a bygone era and a dominance no longer in existence.

When doing a postgraduate economics course in The Hague in 1969/70, I and a number of other postgraduate students were honoured to be guests of the gracious Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands in the Royal Palace in The Hague. I understand that King William (Billy) was born in the Palace.

We postgraduate foreign students in the Palace were a mixed bunch. However, regardless of our different backgrounds, we were made to feel most welcome.

I also have fond memories of watching the colourful and joyful Orange parades celebrated in The Hague by the Dutch people. I had no sense that those so joyfully celebrating were doing so out of a sign of desperation of holding on to a bygone era.

To me it seemed they were honouring and celebrating the Dutch royal family.

Micheal O Cathail, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Social welfare recipients must also pay their way if TV licence fee is reformed

Any suggestion that a reformed TV licence fee should be collected by revenue is outrageous.

I say this because, yet again, the PAYE worker will be the one targeted in the shakedown. Those on social welfare will not have to pay as they will get an allowance.

While I agree that pensioners should get a free TV licence, everyone else on social welfare should have the charge applied.

On a personal level, I dont agree with the fee as we already pay for Sky and other such providers. We should be like other countries where the fee has been scrapped.

John Maher, address with Editor

Delusion at Westminster is growing in tandem with shrinking British economy

Youve got to hand it to them.

Nobody celebrates disasters better! Think Dunkirk, Brexit and migrants to Rwanda.

Politicians at Westminster are all agog at the prospect of adding 0.08pc to their economy, in 10 years time no less. However, they arent too keen on mentioning that leaving the EU has seen their economy reduce by over 5pc.

Dont mention the B-word .

David Ryan, Co Meath

There are lots of good men out there, despite what Eileen Walsh might think

The sight of Eileen Walshs words  Men can be pretty disgusting  spread across the cover of Saturdays Weekend Magazine was disappointing.

Furthermore, it suggested a deliberate attempt to confine the piece to a select audience.

Even mitigating the statement with some men would have greatly reduced the deterrent effect. Better yet, had she uttered the wiser some people, her take on things would certainly have attracted greater attention.

Walsh is an actor, so she really should know that words matter.

Jim OSullivan, Co Sligo

Think of the environment instead of your wallet when buying the next must-have

Our CO2 emissions for 2022 were reduced by a paltry 1.9pc. It is nowhere near good enough.

The entire population of Ireland should be reassessing everything we are doing to mitigate a climate disaster.

While a lot of people are doing all they can, many are not. Perhaps they are refusing to change their ways and their habits as some kind of coping mechanism.

Perhaps they refuse to believe the next generation face the very real probability of being left to deal with flooding, fires and extreme heatwaves far beyond our current comprehension.

We need to cope better. We need to face the hard facts and realise the importance of immediate change. The first change must be rewiring our consumer-driven minds.

Whenever we buy goods or services, the first thing a lot of people still ask is how much will the purchase affect my pocket?.

We need to reset our mindset and change the question to: How much of an impact will that purchase have on the environment?

If everyone amended their ways when it comes to consumerism, change would pick up pace. Remember, the glossy adverts dont hold the power  we do.

Marie Hanna Curran, Co Galway

Sickening cruelty of calf export trade should be tackled with urgency

I refer to the RTE Investigates programme about Dairys Dirty Secret and Fran McNultys examination of live calf exports.

From start to finish, McNultys investigation made for harrowing viewing. It followed the journey of calves being transported from Ireland to veal production units in Spain  a journey of two and half days.

The programme featured stakeholders in the trade, including farmers, marts, exporters, transporters, and drivers. There were umpteen instances of serious animal abuse.

The Department of Agriculture, which oversees farm animal welfare, did not feature prominently.

Do farm leaders and politicians seriously expect people to believe that welfare can be improved to an acceptable level?

The live calf export trade is so broken that it is beyond fixing. It should be banned, as has happened in Scotland and elsewhere.

There is talk of sexed semen, euthanasia at birth, and abattoir slaughter of unwanted calves as alternatives to torturous two- and three-day journeys to Barcelona, Poland and beyond. However unsatisfactory these may be, any of them would be preferable to the live calf export trade.

Tinkering around with a dismissal here and a prosecution there falls way too short of what is acceptable in Ireland in 2023.

Ban the live calf export trade before it ruins Irelands international reputation as a clean, green-food producing country.

Angela Anthony, Co Kilkenny

Daithi should be showered with the best of treats after sniffing out drugs haul

Well done to Daithi the dog on sniffing out the drugs haul in Wexford.

Surely treats and toys are in order?

Noel Kelly, Co Clare
A witness has told a cold case murder trial that she saw Nora Sheehan waving at cars on the night she went missing 42 years ago and remarked that something would happen to the victim sometime "with the way she was going on".

Noel Long (74) with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co. Cork has pleaded not guilty to murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981 at an unknown place within the State. Her body was found by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork six days after she went missing.

Joan Holland, who was 19 years of age in 1981, told prosecution counsel on Monday that her father asked for a lift to Albert Road, which was near South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, on the night of June 6 1981.

Ms Holland said her then boyfriend and now husband drove them to the location and that she sat in the front passenger seat. They stopped at the traffic lights in front of the hospital around 8.45pm and the witness could see Mrs Sheehan, who she knew, standing at the junction waving at cars.

"We obviously said something about it inside the car. I said inside the car that something would happen to her sometime with the way she was going on," the witness told the jury.

Ms Holland said that Mrs Sheehan was well dressed that night and wearing a navy hat and coat.

"I think she had a bag. She didn't look as if she was going anywhere, she was just waving," she said.

The witness thought Mrs Sheehan was "kind of far away from home" as she was used to seeing the mother-of-three near where they both lived.

Retired garda Danny Harrington gave evidence that he was in Togher Garda Station on June 9 1981 when James Sheehan Senior and his son James Sheehan Junior arrived at the station to report Nora missing. "They were very worried as they hadn't seen her since June 6," he said.

Mr Sheehan Snr and Jnr told the witness that they had been informed that Mrs Sheehan was last seen when she attended hospital at 9pm on June 6 to treat a dog bite. Mr Harrington said that Mrs Sheehan's son was very worried that night and had broke down crying. "In between then and June 9 Mr Sheehan Jnr returned to the station, he was very concerned," he said.

Retired Superintendent Matthew Thorn (91) told Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that he stopped accused man Mr Long driving a blue Opel Kadett on the Curraheen Road in Bishopstown in Cork on the morning of June 16 1981. Mr Thorn said he sat into the front passenger seat of the car and directed the accused to drive to the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork city. The Kadett was put into the station yard.

Retired Detective Inspector Colm Dardis (86), who was attached to the ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau in June 1981, said he attended the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork on June 16 1981 to examine a light blue Opel Kadett car. Mr Dardis said the car was in good condition, well maintained and appeared to have been touched up regularly. "The inside of the car was well kept and appeared recently cleaned to me," he said.

Mr Dardis said he examined the car and took 44 surface lifts from the inside of the Kadett and its boot.

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
SuperValu Wine Expert Kevin OCallaghan and TV Personality Graham Norton are pictured celebrating the 10th anniversary of the arrival in Ireland of the TV chat show's wine label, which has now expanded to include other tipples such as gin and vodka.

Graham Norton dropped in to the 96 FM studio for a chat with the hosts of the station's new morning show hosts, Lorraine Murphy and Ross Browne.

AS is the case for most Cork people, the favourite holiday destination of TV chat show host, author and purveyor of fine wines and tasty tiplles Graham Norton is his native county - but this years break has got off to a busy start.

Just last week the Bandon born host of the hit BBC chat show was in conversation at the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry and he was in fine chatty form on Monday morning when he called into 96 FM as the station launched its new morning show with Lorraine Murphy and Ross Browne.

And hes also been busy with his own wine label, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of his Graham Norton sauvignon blanc wine. Someone, somewhere in the world is drinking a glass of the Cork mans wine label every three seconds.

On the Monday morning 96FM show, Graham was full of chat, talking about his forthcoming gig as the host of the Ahakista charity quiz show.

Its the Ahakista Festival and its a big event, he told the listeners to the show. I always feel bad because I think people get tickets thinking something exciting will happen, that he will have a celebrity friend with him.

But no, Saoirse Ronan wont be jumping out of a box.

The likelihood of getting Saoirse Ronan or any Hollywood star on to his sofa for the forthcoming season of the chat show is also troubling him as all screen actors and writers are on strike in a dispute with the studios about the huge gap between their incomes and those of the studio owners.

Ill go to the States for a little while and back for the chat show, which because there are no Hollywood actors, there will be lots of room on the sofa.

He also has his own forthcoming Amazon Prime show to promote, the first ever Irish show to be commissioned for the streaming service, Last One Laughing Ireland .

You put a bunch of amazing comedians in a room and the challenge is theyve got to not laugh while making other people laugh.

Its hilarious. With the Irish one, theyve gone so deep Irish! Someone who isnt Irish will watch this show and not understand any of it.

The Amazon executives must have been just going Sorry, is this funny? Like what is this?. Its really, really, really good and there are lots of surprise cameos from people.

Graham feels at home in Cork and enjoys outings like a visit to the Friday morning market in Bantry.

Cork is the best place, relaxed and chilled and lovely, and the weather has been alright.

On This Day In History - July 17th
The Irish Independent has launched a new five-part podcast on John OHegarty who became Irelands polite bank robber.

I'm Not Here To Hurt You podcast

IN life most of us will have at least one moment that can be a turning point. It could be a decision or incident that at its most intense can make or break us.

John OHegarty had an extreme version of that experience. It broke him.

It's like a crack emerged. I just floated away, he says on a new podcast Im Not Here To Hurt You.

What happened next is scarcely believable. A man destined for great things in academia went on to raid 16 Dublin banks.

Episode 1

Episode 1: The Accident

He earned the nickname the polite bank robber  but ultimately became Prisoner 33293 after leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

On the day he robbed his first bank in 2004, he crossed over into a world where all his education became meaningless.

It was his point of no return  but it wasnt the moment that changed everything. That came two years previously on a winters afternoon in 2002 when an accident would alter the course of several lives.

Episode 2

In this five-part podcast, Irish Independent journalist Kevin Doyle goes on a journey to find out how a man with qualifications from two of Europes prestigious universities becomes Irelands most prolific bank robber.

Im Not Here To Hurt You has been developed by the team behind the award-winning The Indo Daily podcast and has been more than a year in the making.

Through extensive interviews with OHegarty, the presenter draws out a story full of unexpected twists and confessions. And with the help of reporter Amy Molloy they piece together the missing parts.

Today we are releasing Episode One: The Accident and Episode Two: The Inquest. Episodes 3-5 will be released on all the usual podcast platforms in the coming weeks.

Doyle, who is Group Head of News at Mediahuis Ireland, said: Over the past year Ive spent countless hours with John OHegarty talking through his life story. It is both tragic and gripping.

From our conversations one thing he said has always stuck in my mind. We all deal with pain in different ways he told me. And its so true.

How he dealt with his pain visited huge distress on others. He knows that now and is at times searingly honest in analysing his own life story.

I hope listeners will get a unique insight into human frailty when life takes a turn for the worst.
Priscila Leonardi (40) had been working in Ireland since 2019 before she was found murdered in her native Brazil

Friends of Dublin-based nurse Priscila Leonardi shed tears at a protest in the capital today following her murder in Brazil.

The protest took place near the Brazilian Embassy in Dublin at 12pm, before making its way to OConnell Street. Priscilas friends wore black and some had their faces covered.

A fisherman discovered Ms Leonardis body on the banks of the Ibirapuita River in Alegrete, Brazil earlier this month.

She had been missing since June 19 after traveling home to collect some of her belongings to bring back to Dublin.

She was found with a ribbon-like lanyard around her neck and injuries consistent with beating.

Friends of Dublin nurse Priscila Leonardi shed tears at protest following her murder

According to reports in Brazil, a 30-year-old man known to Ms Leonardi was temporarily arrested last week on suspicion of the crime.

Gise Tarausaer, who lived with Priscila, said: We are here for Priscila, were her friends. She was such a lovely girl. Were here to ensure justice will happen for her. We were very close friends, we used to live together.

We were always connected through friendship. She was always very happy and Im going to miss her so much.

Another friend of Priscilas, who wished to remain anonymous, said their friend group is terrified, and they want justice.

We want to know who killed our friend. We dont have enough information; its almost been a month, they said.

We want whoever did this to go to prison because they dont deserve to be free. She didnt deserve to have this end.

She went to Brazil to go on holiday and deal with personal things. She ended up like this. Were here representing her. We have the fight; we have the voice.

Its been terrifying. We cant sleep, were crying every day. We dont know why they did it to her. Its terrifying.

Whoever took Priscilas life away thought she had no friends or support. We are here all united to prove she is loved for all of us, and it hurts to know she wont be back.

This brutal crime wont be forgotten, and we wont rest until those criminals are in jail, they added.

John Feely, who was wearing a Brazilian jersey, was also among the group to stand in solidarity in memory of Priscila.

Its terrible, its horrible. Theres nearly 40,000 Brazilian people in Dublin. Ive lots of friends from Brazil, and I was there a few weeks ago, he said.

Theyre really nice people. We dont know how lucky we are in Ireland and how safe it is. Were here to highlight this issue.
A German student was arrested while housing activists were using power tools to try to get into a former homeless shelter, a court heard.

Hannes Donat (22), who resisted arrest, had got involved in activism after he himself struggled to get housing while in Ireland and ended up sleeping in a tent.

Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation Act, sparing him a criminal record when Donat, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of garda obstruction.

Dublin District Court heard gardai attended an ongoing incident at LeFroy House, Eden Quay on May 1, 2023.

A number of people were using power tools to attempt to remove steel panels from the door to access the building, a garda said.

The accused, who was at the scene, attempted to evade gardai and in a foot chase, officers blocked his path and restrained him.

Donat was an Erasmus programme student who was studying English and Politics in NUIG, his lawyer said.

Since arriving here, he struggled to secure accommodation and spent time sleeping in a tent.

This was how he came to be involved in housing activism. He accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised to the gardai.

Donat was a young man who fell on hard times in this country and intended to return to Germany to become a teacher, the lawyer said.

Judge Smyth applied the Probation Act, leaving him without a recorded conviction. The charge was under Section 19 of the Public Order Act.

On This Day In History - July 17th
A drunken man was almost hit by a tram when he stumbled onto Luas tracks in central Dublin.

Tom Cunningham (48) became incredibly abusive to gardai when they approached him after the incident.

Judge Patricia Cronin gave him a two-month suspended sentence. Cunningham, of Kingsmill Court, Bolton Street pleaded guilty to public intoxication and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard Cunningham was highly intoxicated on Dominick Street on May 5, when he stumbled onto the Luas tracks, narrowly avoiding being hit by a tram.

He abused gardai when they approached him, was arrested and brought to Store Street garda station.

When charged, he replied after caution: Go f**k yourself.

Cunninghams story was a tragic one, his solicitor Roy ONeill said. From Galway, he had worked all his life, moving to Dublin, then France.

After a bereavement, his entire world collapsed and he began using crack cocaine and heroin.

He got clean of those but alcohol was now his drug of choice.

Judge Cronin said she accepted the accused had suffered tragedy but he could not continue to behave in this manner.
A scene from the aftermath of last Thursday's protest at Tralee library. (Picture by Dave Ryan).

Kerry County Council (KCC) say it is conducting a health and safety review of its library facilities following Thursdays disturbing incident where anti-LGBTQ+ protesters aggressively pushed their way into a room where children were present during a reading event as part of Kingdom Pride month.

CEO of KCC Moira Murrell condemned the incident, calling it totally unacceptable. Ms Murrell said libraries should be safe spaces for staff and patrons. KCC will also work with other libraries around Ireland where similar incidents have happened to implement contingency measures.

What happened there was absolutely, without excuse, an unacceptable position to put users of our library  citizens of our county  and staff in, she said.

To give reassurance to Councillors, we have been conducting a full health and safety review of what has happenedour support services are available to staff, and they have been advised of this. We will continue to work with the staff there, Ms Murrell added.

Tralee MD Councillors were equally forthright in their condemnation of the incident, praising the response of Tommy OConnor and his library staff. Sinn Fein Cllr Deirdre Ferris said the staff showed resilience in the face of vitriolic, nasty behaviour.

I fully respect the right to protest. What they are doing is not protest, it is sheer intimidation and bullying, she said.

They [staff & patrons] stood in the face of horrible words thrown at them. They were called groomers, prostitutes, and questioned the safety of the childrenTommy OConnor and his staff do an incredible service, the passion they have in sharing books with children. What happened Thursday night was extremely distressing, Cllr Ferris said.

The Mayor of Tralee, Fianna Fails Cllr Johnnie Wall, visited library staff on Friday to offer his support. Staff informed him the protesters could not be reasoned with.

They burst their way in, they intimidated and bullied staff; they terrified the children to such and extent that the staff moved children into a separate hallway. We have to give great credit to the staff, he said.

Labour Cllr Terry OBrien spoke of the incident as something youd see going on in America.

It was horrendous and uncalled for, he said.

Ive nothing against protesting. But there is a way to protest. What they did in the library was absolutely disgusting. They scared children and adults. This particular group I think are regulars at Minister Foleys office.

They are not from Tralee, but they have certainly made their presence felt in Tralee, Cllr OBrien said.
Simon Reenan, The National Lottery with store manager, Paul McGuinness and members of staff in Tesco, The Longwalk Shopping Centre, celebrating after the latest Lotto jackpot ticket was sold in the store. Included are, Eva Aspin Ravda, Wendy Dwyer, Shirley O'Hanlon, Lesley Carolan and Margaret Woods. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics

There was great excitement in the Tesco supermarket in the Long Walk Shopping Centre on Tuesday morning as officials from the National Lottery visited the store, confirming that the winning ticket for Saturdays 2,418,002 jackpot had been purchased there.

The winner has made contact with the National Lottery and arrangements are now being made for them to collect their life-changing prize. They became the 8th Lotto jackpot winner so far this year.

"Its a nice lift for someone, said Paul McKeown, duty manager at the supermarket, famous for its slogan Every little helps.

"This is the biggest win weve had in the store, although we did have a winner a few years ago.

While customers are asking who bought the winning ticket, Pauls says the staff have no idea and dont even know when the ticket was sold.

"We get a lot of customers who come in on the bus so it could be anybody.

This latest win is the third time the Lotto Jackpot has been scooped in just four weeks following wins in Balbriggan, Dublin on July 8 where a player won 3,931,066 and Donegal and Westmeath where two players shared the jackpot to take home 6,373,878 each on the June 17 draw.

Last year, Louth had two Lotto millionaires. A player who purchased a Lotto Plus ticket in the Cherrymount Foodhall Spar, in Drogheda scooped 1million, while another person won 1,000,000 when they bought a Lotto Plus 1 ticket in Sloanes newsagents, on Avenue Road in Dundalk in September.

The winning numbers for Saturdays draw were: 12, 26, 28, 34, 42, 45 and the bonus was 14, making the lucky Louth player the 21st National Lottery millionaire of 2023.
Dutch Ambassador Adriaan Palm visited Sligo last as he carried out a wish to visit more areas outside of Dublin.

He said: It is important to see the different counties and engage with them in an official capacity as well as in the private capacity. See the country, meet the people listen to them and hear what their challenges are and where we can cooperate.

He added: Today was very much about two subjects that are important to Sligo and in its multi-year development plan The Sligo 2030, which is all about sustainability and about smart cities that is linked to digitalisation.

These are two areas that are of great priority for us as the Dutch embassy. I may not have a lot of money or a lot of staff, but I do have a network. So, this is where, I basically want to reach out and say okay, where can we link up and then its up for the people to say I want to link up with you in this area or in that area.

For Ambassador Palm, its about bringing people to people together in this case.

He said: Its for Sligo County Council, the Sligo BID and the Chamber of Commerce. We can say this is something interesting that the Netherlands might share with us. And of course, theres also issues like farming, where there are huge challenges both in Ireland and in the Netherlands.

So, if we want to find solutions, if we want to address the common challenges, we are also set at the European level that we have to cooperate.

Talking about the Nature Restoration Law and its impact on farmers in Sligo, Ambassador Palm said: We have had the vote in the European Parliament and the Parliament has the majority agreed to a text that has been adjusted, now the next step is that the European Parliament and the Council discuss together the final text, and then well see where we are.

He spoke to the farmers in the county council and found it an interesting thing that there are also farmers who are part of the County Council.

He said: The farming community in the Netherlands has also been very worried about the legislation. That is why Netherlands has normally been vanguard on the environmental issues together with Ireland.

The nature restoration law, we have been much more reluctant, and these are the things where we should avoid a situation arising due to common target. Some people would say we are prevented from developing our country any further due to these laws.

For example we cannot do anything in offshore wind because of legislative restrictions. Now those are the kind of things where I think in the months ahead, we will get more clarity on what ultimately the text will be.

Ambassador Palm refrained from commenting on farmers demands regarding the Nature Restoration Law and said: The situation in Ireland is up to the Irish People and the representatives on local and national levels. I think what is important now is that we as a government reach out to the farmers and discuss with them how together we can find solutions.

Talking about the infrastructure developments in Sligo he said, My first time here in Sligo was in 2019 at the Famine Commemoration. Its interesting to see how the city itself has evolved and has much more pedestrianisation taking place now, as compared to four years ago.

Its interesting to see how tourism potential has been evolving in Sligo. Of course, it had a group of Dutch and Belgium tour operators visit a couple of months ago and that I think is a part of increased interest in Ireland post Brexit and post covid to see what it has to offer and in my view, it has a lot to offer.

There are always areas of interest and sometimes areas of concern that we hear about. When you are talking about the whole smart transition of Sligo or Ireland as a whole, there is digitalisation and circular economy. That is something where we can and must learn from each other. I think what is important for the people of Sligo is its a rural county. There is a lot of farmers here who have concern about their future.

In Netherlands also we have lots of farmers and we want to make that transition. If I can put it like that, towards more sustainability and I am sure that in the area of circular agriculture, there are things that we can learn from each other.

See how Agri tech can help and bring our farmers forward and make sure that a sustainable farmer gets a fair income.

Ambassador Palm had met the Sligo Cycling Campaign group who are eager to learn lessons from the Dutch experiences when it comes to sustainable mobility.

The Sligo Champion asked his opinion on the Greenway proposal of the government, and he said, I know that the Irish government has been working very hard on improving the connectivity between cycle lanes, and ultimately it is for local people to decide and say how they would like to see it done.

I dont see that more railway lines and more cycle paths are competitors of each other.

I would say that one of the ways that we in the Netherlands have been pushing down the number of cars being used and the number of kilometres being driven is by having the combination of railway lines and cycling.

The largest bicycle parks in the Netherlands are at the railway stations. Whether its in Amsterdam or in The Hague, they have huge parking with tens of thousands of bikes which can be parked there. What I meant by that is they dont have to be mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they could be like mostly mutually reinforcing.

Discussing the tourism sector and how it can be improved in Sligo, he said, The tourism sector is something where it really comes from the tourists themselves.

So, you have to come up with an active, an attractive proposal for the tourists. I had an interesting walk this morning before work, thats beautiful.

There are more things that one can do, that are attractive, and you can say to people that OK, here your kids can go surfing, while you can go walking.

The idea is that you make something that is attractive for a big group of people. I guess what helps is that over the years the infrastructure in Ireland and the road infrastructure has improved and we do see more tourists coming and then ultimately, they will also come to Sligo.

With the Chamber of Commerce, we talked about the challenges for business, and we talked about where we can in a way learn from each other. I think one of the interesting messages was how they also want to work together with the university to increase digital possibilities here and how start-ups are being stimulated.

Ultimately, if you want to not only have young people growing up here but also stay here, you need to have for them the opportunities for the future.

A lot of farmers are saying that their children dont want to be a full-time farmer, or some dont want to be farmer at all. That means that there should be another business opportunity for them.

I think thats where the various institutions like BID or Chamber of Commerce are working on to make sure that there is this future for the children together with the Sligo County Council.

The Dutch Ambassador also expressed respect for the people of Sligo for the way they have given a warm reception to the Ukrainian Refugees.

He said, This is part of a joint effort of all European Countries in supporting Ukraine and its people.
From sea swimmers to butterflies and wild animals, these were some of the themes explored by four students from three secondary schools in Greystones who were chosen for the Greystones Tidy Towns Street Art Challenge to bring some more colour to the towns broadband cabinets.

The project was run in collaboration with Open Eir Fibre Broadband and four winning designs were chosen from entries from all of the schools, with the students working during the month of June to paint their allocated fibre broadband cabinet.

Ellie Ryan (13) from Temple Carrig school chose the theme of sea swimmers, and her artwork can be seen at the bottom of Bow Lane, just before the pedestrian railway overbridge  a route many sea swimmers take to get to the beach.

Freya Cox (14) from Greystones Community College, created an old-fashioned red telephone with the question: Hello, anyone there?.

This can be seen on the Old Mill Road, close to where the new media campus is under construction. Beside it, Nuala James (14) of Temple Carrig, created a heraldic crest, with a central G for Greystones and images of the heads of four wild animals which can be found in the surrounding countryside.

The fourth cabinet is at the Killincarrig Roundabouts, and the blue butterfly there was painted by Sadhbh Kilpatrick (14), also from Temple Carrig.

These four cabinets are additional to the four painted last year by students from the same schools. The project aims to offer young people an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents, while enhancing the look of the town.

On Saturday July 8, a presentation of gifts was made to each of the young artists, part-sponsored by local business owner Jackie He.

Greystones Municipal Districts newly elected Cathaoirleach Mark Barry, Cllr Lourda Scott and Deputy Jennifer Whitmore joined Greystones Tidy Towns Chairperson David OReilly in making the presentations and in congratulating the young artists on their work.

We are really delighted by how the people of Greystones have embraced this project, and how they have complimented and encouraged these young artists as they worked, said Joyce Timms of Greystones Tidy Towns, and we are very grateful for the support of the team at Open Eir, who immediately got behind this project and gave permission for it to go ahead. We hope that four more young artists may get a chance to display their talents next year.
A tourism project linking Wicklow and Wales entitled Celtic Routes is in danger of collapsing due to the impacts of Brexit.

Celtic Routes, a project designed to foster links and promote travel between counties in the southeast and Wales, has led to a series of successful tourism initiatives. However, Brexit has left its funding under threat, and the project will close unless new funds are found.

Established in 2019 to link Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and the Welsh regions of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, approximately 4m has been spent on the project to date, with research showing that more than 300 million people globally have engaged with Celtic Routes online or through other forms of media in the past four years.

Michael Nicholson, Director of Services at Wicklow County Council, which is a partner in the project, said that tourism in the region has benefited greatly from the scheme.

Between Brexit and the pandemic, it may be a little while before we see quantifiable results, but just having 300 million people view our area is extraordinary, Mr Nicholson said.

None of our partners could have achieved that result on their own. We as a partnership have many ideas for continued alliances, but all that is now in jeopardy.

Initial funding of about 2m was provided for the project through an EU scheme aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation between states, while further funding was provided by the Welsh government. The UK leaving the EU means these funding streams are no longer available.

Celtic Routes project officer Oonagh Messette said the initiative will have to close next month if further funding is not found, so work can be done on winding the scheme down before the end of the year.

She believes the project should be saved because the establishment of a replacement scheme would be expensive to set up.

We are already successful. We already have a presence and have put a lot of work into making ourselves known. Any new initiative starting out from scratch would have to go through all of that again, she said.

As a direct result of Brexit, there will be no continuation of the Ireland Wales Co-operation Fund.

While there may be considerable willingness on the part of all stakeholders, without the funding to administer activities, much will be lost. Our partnership, our networks, our collaboration and our immense marketing and promotion power essentially comes to a close at the end of August.
The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation and Teen-Turn were both awarded 15,000 under the Ireland Funds Heart of the Community funding.

The Ireland Funds recognises the challenges organisations face in securing funding to build their capacity or meet their core costs, so the Heart of the Community Fund 2023 has provided grants to meet these needs. The grants awarded by the Heart of the Community Fund have been made possible by philanthropic gifts and fundraising events of The Ireland Funds America, the largest of The Ireland Funds' global chapters.

Naoimh McNamee, CEO of Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, said: Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is absolutely delighted to have been awarded this Heart of the Community Fund grant by The Ireland Funds. This grant will allow us further develop our site, peace building, and business activities as we move one step closer to establishing our campus as a Centre for Peace Education and Learning Exchanges. We are extremely appreciative of The Ireland Funds ongoing support with this endeavour. -

Caitriona Fottrell, President and CEO of The Ireland Funds, said: "The not-for-profit sector in Ireland is the engine on the ground delivering vital services every day, in every community. We understand the significant challenges organisations face, in particular, to meet their core costs to keep that engine going. We believe in each organisation we fund. We believe in what they do, and how they do it. We know that by investing in them, we are positively impacting the communities they work with. The Heart of the Community Fund is supported by our events and our committed donors, and we are grateful their generosity will enable great work across the island of Ireland."
The projects are focused on adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. The funding is provided under the Collaboration and Innovation Fund which was launched earlier this year under the Governments Adult Literacy for Life Strategy.

80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World which is a digital literacy project run from Bray Adult Education Centre received 31,310 while Wicklow County Council Library Service received 3,093 for the West Wicklow Adult Basic Education service for its learning English as a second language project.

Minister Simon Harris said: I am delighted to confirm that projects in County Wicklow are set to receive 30,000 in funding under my Department to support collaborative and innovative activities that encourage adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. These projects work under a learner-focused approach, with outcomes placed front and centre, ensuring that every euro spent produces real and meaningful results.

Currently there are many adults across Ireland that encounter regular difficulties when reading and writing. This funding works to ensure that learners are supported and have the opportunity to gain and develop the skills they need. I am excited to see the impact that the projects in County Wicklow, and those across the country, have on our communities and will continue to work to support education in County Wicklow however I can.
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.
Prince Andrew requested the help of his paedophile friend Jefferey Epstein to help secure $200 million (180m) 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 70m 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.

Today's News in 90 seconds - July 17th

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 was sanctioned by ministers.

Andrew stepped down from the position in 2011 after coming under heavy criticism for his association with Epstein.

Epstein died on August 10, 2019 inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, where he was detained ahead of a pending trial accused 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.

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 47m 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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Google Doodle website

New York: Popular search engine Google on Monday paid tributes to American scientist and womens rights activist Eunice Newton Foote.

She was the first person to discover the greenhouse effect and its role in the warming of Earths climate.

Google decorated its website with an interactive doodle that featured 11 slides.

Foote was born on this day in 1819 in Connecticut. She attended the Troy Female Seminary, a school that encouraged students to attend science lectures and participate in chemistry labs, read the google doodle website.

While science became a lifelong passion for Foote, she also dedicated time to campaigning for womens rights.

In 1848, Foote attended the first Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls. She was the fifth signatory of the Declaration of Sentimentsa document that demanded equality for women in social and legal status.

At this time, women were widely shunned from the scientific community. Undeterred, Foote conducted experiments on her own.

After placing mercury thermometers in glass cylinders, she discovered that the cylinder containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun.

Foote was ultimately the first scientist to make the connection between rising carbon dioxide levels and the warming of the atmosphere.

After Foote published her findings, she produced her second study on atmospheric static electricity in the journal Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

These were the first two physics studies published by a woman in the US. Around 1856, a male scientist presented her work at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Those discussions led to further experiments which uncovered what is known as the Greenhouse effectwhen gasses like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun, the temperature of Earths atmosphere gradually rises.
Sonowal also laid the foundation stone of a new multi-storied boys hostel at the National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH).

This was in line with the announcement made by Union Minister Sonowal to establish this hostel when he visited the NIH in 2021.

Giving a tremendous boost to the capacity of NIH, the Ayush Minister announced that the capacity of NIH, which is presently at 100 beds, will be enhanced substantially by 150 additional beds, more than doubling the capacity of NIH to reach 250 beds.

With an aim to boost Make in India, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal further announced setting up of a manufacturing unit at the NIH campus for production of homeopathic medicine soon. In order to further facilitate student welfare, two hostels, for both boys & girls, for post graduate students will be built at the NIH campus, Sonowal announced.

The new hostel for boys students of the institute will be built at an estimated cost of 46 crores. The ceremony was also attended by the Union Minister of State for Ayush and Women & Child Development, Dr Mahendra Munjpara; Director, NIH, Prof (Dr) Subhas Singh among other senior officials of Ministry of Ayush.

The multi storied hostel for boys will have G+7 floors with a provision to add another two floors. It will accommodate 400 under-graduate students of the NIH. The building will be equipped with all the modern amenities like gymnasium, common room, guest rooms, kitchen dining area among others. It is to be noted that a girls hostel of NIH was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal earlier.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal said, It is a moment of great pleasure to be here at the National Institute of Homoeopathy to lay the foundation for a modern multi-storied boys hostel for the benefit of students. As the traditional medicinal practices got a boost under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we must keep up the pace and equip and enable institutions to help produce doctors who can join the cause of building a healthy &Swastha Bharat. In order to realise this, I believe we must enable and empower NIH to become a centre of clinical excellence. It is with great pleasure I would like to inform you that we have decided to add an additional 150 beds to the existing capacity of NIH as well as start the manufacturing unit at the campus to produce Homeopathic medicines. For the benefit of PG students, we plan to build hostels for both boys and girls as well as an auditorium with 1500 people capacity to be built at the NIH. These new initiatives to boost capacity at NIH will benefit students at NIH will play a crucial and major role towards realisation of this objective.

Adding further, Sonowal added, I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone at NIH for being one of the centres of prominence when it comes to traditional medicine, especially Homoeopathy, in the country. With more than 2000 people availing health care services at NIH, it is providing a tremendous service towards healthcare of the country, especially in West Bengal. You must strive towards excellence continuously and enable the traditional medicinal practices to deliver the maximum towards providing healthcare solutions in the country. Homoeopathy is a popular form of medicine in India, especially in West Bengal. Many stalwarts of Bengal like Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, pioneer of homoeopathy in India, as well as Pandit Rabindra Nath Tagores pioneering role in popularising homoeopathy is evident with its wider acceptability in this part of the world. We must take advantage of this and extend our reach to deliver quality healthcare solutions to the people of the country. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi remains committed to promote the Ayush system of medicine and integrate it with the healthcare apparatus of the country for benefit of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahendra Munjapara, Union Minister of State for Ayush and Women & Child Development, said, NIH, Kolkata is offering unparalleled educational opportunities in homoeopathy for learners community. It is serving the nation by advancing, sharing and applying knowledge, and by facilitating the development of thoughtful, creative, adaptable, contributing towards building a force of doctors to aide and help patients. Homoeopathy, as a practice, has tremendous potential and it needs to show its superiority to other systems in all the crucial areas viz,, curative, preventive, promoting and rehabilitative healthcare. West Bengal is known as the cradle of Homoeopathy and NIH is at the heart of it. With the infrastructure boost to NIH, I hope and believe that it will continue to progress towards further the reach of homoeopathy as a healthcare practice providing curative as well as life enriching support to lakhs of patients across the country.

Appraising about the NIH, Subhash Singh, Director, NIH, said, Our institute has two campuses - one here in Kolkata and other in New Delhi. As many as 47 students enroll in the Post Graduate courses while 126 students join the under graduate courses every year. Admission into our Delhi campus is under process. NIH, Kolkata is designated as Intermediary Pharmacovigilance centre for Homoeopathy (IPVC) in India by the Ministry of Ayush. Doctors trained at NIH are working as faculties in most homoeopathy institutions across India and officiating many leadership roles for the promotion of Homoeopathy in the country. NIH, Kolkata with its main campus along with 10 peripheral OPDs across various parts of West Bengal, played a crucial role during the COVID pandemic. We continue to organise several CME or training programmes for homeopathic practitioners as well as CGHS doctors. NIH is also developing a Herbal Garden of medicinal plants with an estimated investment of 25 lakhs the help of National Medical Plantation Board, Ministry of Ayush. NIH is working with other premier institutions like NIPER via an MoU for collaborative research on cancer therapeutics, an MoU with AIIMS, Raipur at facilitation collaboration towards advancement, application in practice and for various collaborative research work.
Image: Unsplash

The bulk of global illicit opium production continues to take place in a limited number of countries, notably in Afghanistan. In 2022, production in Afghanistan reached 6,200 tons, equivalent to 80 per cent of the estimated global production (7,800 tons), and was followed in volume by Myanmar (795 tons) and Mexico (504 tons - latest data available for 2019/2020). Although the global area under opium poppy cultivation increased by more than 26 per cent from the previous year, primarily linked to increases reported from Afghanistan (32 per cent) and Myanmar (33 per cent), global opium production declined marginally (3 per cent) over the same period. This was due to less opium being produced in Afghanistan (10 per cent less) as a consequence of droughts in early 2022. The 2023 opium harvest in Afghanistan may see a drastic drop following the 2022 national drug ban, with possible global consequences. Early reports suggest reductions in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Time is needed to determine whether trends hold and the effect that may have on global heroin markets, especially those sourced by opium from Afghanistan.

The tragedy of Afghanistan, which is among the world's poorest and most underdeveloped nations, is compounded by narcotics, in combination with the failure of institution-building, bigoted political authority, a gaping trust deficit, the myopia of international aid groups, and lack of consensus.

It was reported on May 31, 2023, that drug cartels in Afghanistan maintain a symbiotic relationship with the Taliban, giving farmers advances to plant ephedra and poppy, while also providing finances to keep the "jihadist proto-state alive. Moreover, drug cartels use Pakistani sources to facilitate the acquisition of chemicals required to produce drugs. Besides, diverse nationalities are used as hostages until their cartels can afford to pay for the delivery of the drugs and, in return, terrorist groups offer security services in exchange for payment.

Although the Taliban announced a ban on poppy cultivation, use and trafficking in April 2022, the policy is not reflected in practice. Independent sources confirm that the cultivation of poppy is in full swing, since there are no other sources of adequate income across vast regions of the country. Since the illegal opium trade also offers substantial revenues for the cash-strapped Taliban administration, it has been reluctant to enforce its embargo. Between USD 1.8 billion and USD 2.7 billion, or 12 to 14 per cent, of Afghanistans GDP was attributed to the production of opium in 2021.

Further, according the UNDOC Research Brief Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan, published in November 2022, the income made by farmers from opium sales tripled from USD 425 million in 2021 to USD 1.4 billion 2022  the equivalent of 29 per cent of the 2021 agricultural sectors value. Opium cultivation in Afghanistan increased by 32 per cent over the previous year (2021), to 233,000 hectares, making the 2022 crop the third largest area under opium cultivation since monitoring began. Opium cultivation continued to be concentrated in the south-western parts of Afghanistan (accounting for 73 per cent), where the largest increases took place, followed by the western provinces (accounting for 14 per cent). Increases in opium cultivation were observed in almost all major opium poppy cultivating provinces; most importantly in Badghis in the west. Opium poppy cultivation also continued to be concentrated in the south-western provinces of Afghanistan  Nimroz, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul  which together accounted for 73 per cent of the total area under opium poppy cultivation.

In some regions of Afghanistan, opium poppy cultivation occupied a significant proportion of overall agricultural land. In Helmand province, for instance, one-fifth of arable land was dedicated to opium poppy. In some Districts the proportion was even higher, taking away fields from vitally important food crops, including wheat.

Ironically, the official position of the Taliban regime is strongly anti-narcotics, and in a political eyewash the regime periodically reiterates its anti-narcotics 'policy'. On May 6, 2023, a Counter-Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs statement declared that over 1,670 acres of poppy farmlands had been destroyed in the six provinces of the country. The statement claimed,

300 acres of poppy farmlands in the Spinghar and Nazyan districts of Nangarhar, 296 acres of poppy farmlands in the Kishim district of Badakhshan, 255 acres of poppy farmlands in Uruzgan, 73 acres of poppy farmlands in Nuristan, 184 acres of poppy farmlands in Laghman, 39 acres of poppy farmlands in Baghlan and 40 acres of poppy farmlands in other provinces of the country have been eradicated by the counter-narcotics personnel.

Earlier, on March 18, 2023, Taliban 'supreme leader' Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzadeh issued a decree via Twitter that "the cultivation of marijuana is absolutely prohibited in the whole country, and after this, no one can plant marijuana (Narcotics/drugs) on their land, and if they plant marijuana on their land, their cultivation will be destroyed." As a part of this decree, the Judicial Institutions of the Taliban were also ordered to punish violators in accordance with the Shariat. Additionally, Akhundzadeh directed the Taliban's Ministry of Internal Affairs and other investigative divisions to bring the perpetrators before the courts.

ISome sources claim dramatic success for these efforts. According to a June 6, 2023, Alcis press release,

The Taliban have successfully reduced poppy cultivation by more than 99% in Helmand Province, which previously produced more than 50% of the country's opium Opium cultivation in the south of the country down by at least 80% compared with last year, when the Taliban banned the growing of poppies for opium.

At the same time, however, a diversification of narcotics production is taking place in Afghanistan, with the rise of the production of methamphetamine (meth/crystal meth) and other drugs. As reported on June 25, 2023, Afghanistan remains as one of the world's largest producers of heroin and methamphetamine, most of it smuggled abroad. However, the country is also home to nearly 4 million drugs users, or close to 10 per cent of the total population. A February, 2023 report suggests that Ephedra, a common herb that is locally known as "Oman," is sold by harvesters in local markets and is then processed in hundreds of meth labs across Afghanistan. The drug, which has the appearance of white crystals, is then smuggled to neighbouring countries, from where it eventually reaches Europe and North America. The crystal-meth industry in Afghanistan took off around 2017, when drug traffickers discovered that the native ephedra herb could be used to make ephedrine, the key ingredient in crystal meth. For decades, Afghanistan has been the world's biggest producer of opium, but experts now say the country has also become a significant supplier of crystal meth. The meth industry is booming despite a Taliban ban on cultivation, production, and trafficking of all illicit narcotics. Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group (ICC), notes, "The narcotics industry and other informal aspects of the economy appear to be serving as a safety net for the vast numbers of Afghans thrust into poverty since the Taliban takeover"

Najib Ahmadi, a former senior Afghan counternarcotics official, says that during its insurgency the Taliban was against the production of meth and banned it in areas it controlled. The group, he says, feared that meth would weaken its income from taxing opium cultivation and heroin trafficking. "[But] the production of meth has increased after the Taliban returned to power," he said. "Meth is now being processed in all corners of the country." Ahmadi adds that most of the meth in Afghanistan was produced in the country's western and northern provinces.

In reality, a major source of the Talibans income still come from the production and trafficking of heroin and methamphetamine. The Taliban generates its maximum revenues from collecting taxes from poppy plantations, extraction units, and smuggling networks. Both poppy production and the methamphetamine industry are expanding rapidly, and satellite imagery shows significant growth under Taliban rule. Numerous meth labs have appeared just over the last few years. The shift from heroin took place when it was realised that methamphetamine can be produced at a cheaper rate. The production thus, began in areas where wild ephedra plants grew, particularly in the highlands of south and south-east Afghanistan. The drug lords understood that ephedra plants, which grew in the wild, were readily available in the market, and the authorities were turning a blind eye to the trade.

Afghanistan is the core of the Golden Crescent, which also includes Pakistan and Iran. The Golden Crescent region serves as the starting point for three distinct heroin trafficking pathways. Most of the Afghan heroin trafficked to Europe travels via the Balkan Route, via Iran and Turkey. The Russian Federation and Central Asia receive heroin via the Northern Route, through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The southern route, which traffics heroin to Iran and Pakistan and from these nations to other areas of the world through sea and air, has emerged as a result of intensified law enforcement along the two other routes.

Pakistan plays a vital role in the distribution of narcotics produced in Afghanistan throughout the world. Traditionally, the Torkham border crossing, Kunjrab, Ghulam Khan, and Karachi, comprise the drug trade route from Afghanistan, through Pakistan and onward to the rest of the world. However, some 62 alternate drug trafficking routes pass via Pakistan's Balochistan province as a result of increased security. Road trafficking is used to bring contraband into Iran, Turkey, and then to Europe. A sea route through Balochistan's Chaman, Nushki, Turbat, Chagai, Panjgur, and Gwadar Districts to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Africa, across the rest of South Asia. High-end drug cartels have a third, more exclusive alternative at their disposal, the air route.

The drug trade from Afghanistan through Pakistan remains unrestricted, mostly due to weak investigation procedures and lenient court rulings that allow drug smugglers to evade significant punishment.

Further, a July 1, 2023, report asserts that, according to Afghan farmers, opium cultivation has increased since 2021, despite the Talibans prohibition. Moreover, there was no decrease in heroin seizures in Pakistan and the surrounding areas during the COVID-19 pandemic's 2020 timeframe, indicating that heroin manufacturing and trafficking were not hampered by the outbreak. At the same time, although volumes were higher, fewer shipments were routed through Pakistan. It is anticipated that similar quantities of precursor chemicals will continue to be smuggled via the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The production and trafficking of narcotics is also a lucrative cottage industry for the common people of Afghanistan, particularly crucial to survival at a time of enveloping economic crisis. Generations of Afghans have not seen peace in their lifetime, leaving the country riven by war, economically ravaged and socially fragmented. Despite the efforts of some western agencies to whitewash the Taliban regime, ignoring its brutality and criminality, Afghanistan remains the most important source and conduit of illegal narcotics for the world.
adgpi Twitter page video grab

New Delhi: The Indian Army contingent of 43 personnel left for Mongolia on Sunday.

The contingent will participate in the 15th edition of bilateral joint military exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23.

#IndianArmy contingent will participate in the 15th Edition of India-Mongolia joint military exercise #NomadicElephant at #Mongolia. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between both Armies in conducting counter-terrorist operations in mountainous terrain under the #UN pic.twitter.com/PbUqHo1Es7  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 16, 2023

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July 2023. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT 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.

"Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 from and Indian Army soldiers from the JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment will be participating in the exercise," read a government statement.

Indian Army contingent reached Ulaanbaatar on 16 July 23 by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft.

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 primary theme of the exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate.

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 others operational experience.

India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23 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.
In a startling display of misguided priorities, Pakistans Punjab government has announced plans to hoist a colossal national flag on a 500-foot-tall flag mast, a venture that will deplete the nations coffers by approximately PKR 40 crore (Pakistani Rupee) on August 14, commemorating its 76th Independence Day.

This announcement comes right on the heels of Pakistan obtaining a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a bid to stabilize its faltering economy.

Despite the countrys critical financial situation, with the need to amass at least Rs 2,000 crore within the next two years to meet its foreign loan repayments, Punjab province is choosing to focus its efforts on the flag-raising ceremony at Liberty Chowk in Lahore. This display of misplaced patriotism draws into sharp focus the nations questionable fiscal decisions amid its spiraling debt crisis.

Six years prior, in 2017, Pakistan unfurled a 400-foot-tall flag at the Attari-Wagah border, then the highest in South Asia, which marked the largest flag in Pakistans seven-decade history. This action seems to suggest a pattern of prioritizing symbol over substance, even in the face of financial collapse.

The alarming move follows shortly after the IMF sanctioned a $3 billion bailout to help Pakistan avert a default on its debt repayments. These funds, disbursed over nine months, were intended to bolster the nations economic stability, not to finance a flag-raising competition with neighboring India.

In addition to the IMF relief, Pakistan also received financial aid from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, amounting to USD 1 billion and USD 2 billion, respectively, to strengthen its dwindling reserves. These funds, like the IMF loan, were intended to provide relief for the economic crisis, not to be spent on symbolic gestures.

In the face of a debilitating economic downturn, exacerbated by catastrophic floods last year that claimed 1,739 lives, destroyed 2 million homes and resulted in $30 billion in damages, Pakistans decision to squander its scant resources on a monumental flag appears to demonstrate a tragic diversion from the urgent need to rebuild its economy.

(Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com)
UNI

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government terminated Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Kashmir University, a Revenue Department officer and a Police constable from the service for allegedly working with Pakistan-based militant outfits, official said on Monday.

They said PRO of University of Kashmir Faheem Aslam, Revenue Department officer, Murawath Hussain Mir and Police constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker were terminated after investigation clearly established that the trio were acting on behalf of Pakistan ISI and the terror outfits."

The trio were terminated from the service for actively working with Pakistani terror outfits, providing logistics to terrorists, propagating terrorists ideology, raising terror finances and furthering secessionist agenda. The government has invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to sack the three government employees after painstaking investigation clearly established that they were acting on behalf of Pakistan ISI and the terror outfits, officials told UNI.

The respective orders for the dismissal of the three employees were issued by the General Administration read that the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of the trio are such as to warrant his dismissal from service.

Under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution a government employee can be dismissed when the President or the Governor is satisfied that in the interest of the security of state it is not expedient to hold such an inquiry.

According to officials, Aslam is a diehard secessionist who not only subscribes to and endorses the secessionist ideology, but has been a key propagandist for terrorists and terror outfits in Kashmir Valley.

They said Aslams social media posts depict beyond doubt that he is a hardcore Pak Embedded High Value Asset (PEHVA) of Terror Outfits, responsible for promoting and glamorising terrorism.

Officials said constable Thokar was a highly effective overground worker (OGW) of banned Jaish-e-Mohammad and on account of being a policeman, as he took undue and criminal advantage of his uniform and his credentials.

Instead of helping the department in fighting terror which he ( Arshid) was mandated for, he chose to be a mole and a collaborator and betrayed his oath and uniform, they said.

Former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the LG administration is "institutionalising a permanent state of disintegration in J-K".

The LG admin is institutionalising a permanent state of disintegration in J&K. Criminalising livelihood on preposterous reasons of terror links at a time when the state is reeling from unemployment is only deepening the trust deficit. Its being done by misusing & invoking https://t.co/eKLLRDt0nW  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 17, 2023

Criminalising livelihood on preposterous reasons of 'terror links' at a time when the state is reeling from unemployment is only deepening the trust deficit. It's being done by misusing and invoking Article 311(2)b of the Indian Constitution," she said in a tweet.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: S Jaishankar Twitter page

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal when they discussed issues related to cooperation.

After meeting, Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud, Jaishankar tweeted: " Good meeting with Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. Agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by our leaderships."

Following his meeting with Bangladesh Minister Abdul Momen, Jaishankar posted: "Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues."

In Bangkok, EAM attended the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat on Monday.

BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation.

The retreat would discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation.
Image: Indian Embassy in Nepal website

The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, on Sunday gifted 34 ambulances and 50 school buses to various organizations working in the fields of health and education respectively, spread across various districts of Nepal.

The keys of vehicles were handed over by Ambassador Naveen Srivastava in the presence of H.E. Ashok Kumar Rai, Honble Minister of Education, Science & Technology, Government of Nepal. Mayors; Chairman of Municipalities / Rural Municipalities of various districts; Representatives of various beneficiaries organizations; Other political representatives, officials of Nepal Government, Social Workers etc. were also present in the event.

The Government of India has been gifting ambulances and school buses on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India every year since 1994 to various beneficiary organizations in different parts of Nepal, considering the high priority of Nepal's health and education sectors.

In his remarks during the event, Ambassador stated that this has been one of the long-standing traditions of Government of India under the Nepal-India Development Partnership Programme to bolster the efforts of Government of Nepal to strengthen its infrastructure in health and education sectors.

He also highlighted that this is part of very robust and strong development partnership between India and Nepal, which has a long history and legacy, and has geographical spread throughout Nepal, touching people's lives and bringing out a tangible progress in the development journey of Nepal, read the statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

Minister Ashok Kumar Rai, in his remarks, appreciated Government of Indias various ongoing developmental projects in Nepal and expressed that these will continue to strengthen people-to-people connectivity and the bilateral relations between the two countries.

He lauded the support of Government of India for reaching out and supporting the schools and health facilities across Nepal covering Himal to Terai.

Since 1994, 974 Ambulances and 234 School buses have been gifted across Nepal, including those gifted today to various beneficiary organizations spread across various districts Nepal, till date.

It is part of Government of Indias continued support for the efforts of Nepal to strengthen health and education facilities and also facilitating in easy physical access to these services.
Image: Twitter/Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi: Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties have gathered in Bengaluru to decide the strategies of the front that will take on the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha elections next year. The formal talks will take place on Tuesday from 11 am to 4 pm.

The leaders, who gathered in Bengaluru throughout the day, had a dinner meeting in the evening to formalise the agenda for the closed-door talks on Tuesday.

According to reports, Congress senior leader Sonia Gandhi, who was the chairperson of UPA, will be named the President of the Opposition's front, and Nitish Kumar the Convenor.



Besides Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers MK Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, Mamata Banerjee, and RJD chief Lalu Prasad are among those taking part in the two-day meet.

Sharad Pawar, whose party underwent a split earlier this month with the rebellion of nephew Ajit Pawar, will join the meeting on Tuesday.

All parties have been asked to suggest the name of the front, which should have the word "India" in it. The tag line will be "United we stand", said reports.

Suggestions have also been sought for the Common Minimum Programme.

"Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare. We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic inequality and loot... United We Stand, for this INDIA," tweeted Mallikarjun Kharge.

Well begun is half done!



Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare.



We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic pic.twitter.com/rhPxmpgL3x  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023

The dinner meeting at the Taj West End Hotel this evening saw Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi seated next to each other and having a reportedly one-on-one that lasted almost 20 minutes.

Ahead of the meeting, the Congress has lent its support to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party in fighting the Central Ordinance in the Parliament and has also projected its willingness to be a team player.

The opposition meeting coincides with a BJP show of strength in Delhi, where all the NDA partners are coming together on Tuesday.
Image Credit: Screenshot grab from trailer video

Kolkata/IBNS: Bangladeshi film 'Surongo', a narrative of romance and thrilling heists, is all set to release in West Bengal on July 21 under the banner SVF.

Directed by the brilliant Raihan Rafi, the film promises to be a captivating rollercoaster ride, taking viewers from heartwarming romance to heart-pounding robbery.

Commencing with an endearing encounter between Masud and Moyna, the trailer, which was released on Sunday, takes an unforeseen turn as destiny intervenes in a profoundly impactful manner, captivating the audience with a thrilling and shocking experience.

The plot of 'Surongo' explores the lives of a group of young and charismatic individuals entangled in a world of love and robbery.

The unexpected twists and turns in the narrative will keep audiences hooked, guaranteeing an adrenaline-pumping experience like never before.

'Surongo' stars Afran Nisho and Tama Mirza, who set the tone for the narrative to unfold.
Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona/Unsplash

The Afghan consul in Karachi, Abdul Jabar Takhari, has said over 2.5 million Afghan immigrants are currently staying in Pakistan.

He said 300,000 immigrants lack legal documents.

He said his government is trying to address the challenges of Afghanistan people in Pakistan.

A large number of Afghanistan people escaped the country after Taliban took control of it in 2021.

"The total number of immigrants who have legal documents with them in Pakistan is 2,106,658, the Afghan consul in Karachi was quoted as saying by Tolo News.

Pakistan's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations said that his country cannot host Afghan refugees from now on.

The humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan necessitates swift international assistance to prevent the prospect of a fresh influx of millions of desperate Afghans seeking refuge from hunger and starvation. Pakistan already burdened cannot shoulder any new influx of refugees; they will have to be hosted by other members of the international community, Aamir Khan, Deputy Permanent Representative at Pakistan Mission to the UN, told Tolo News.
Xinhua/UNI

Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has slammed the Taliban administration in Afghanistan for not following the crucial commitments made in the Doha agreements which included preventing the use of Afghanistan territory for terrorism activities.

The Defense Minister lashed out at the Taliban authorities, saying that the country was neither upholding its obligation as a neighbour nor safeguarding the peace agreement, he tweeted on Saturday, reports Khaama Press.

On Friday, the Army expressed its concerns, saying Afghanistan has long been perceived as a safe haven for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) organization.

The involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan is another important concern that needs to be addressed, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement as quoted by Khaama Press.

Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit an effective response from the security forces of Pakistan.
Pixabay

Pakistan's rights panel has said it is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where 30 members of the Hindu community - including women and children - have allegedly been held hostage, media reports said.

" 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.

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 (@HRCP87) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, two Hindu temples were desecrated in the country in the past 24 hours.

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.
Pixabay

A mugger stabbed to death a college student in Bangladesh capital Dhaka city,media reports said on Monday.

Adnan Sayed Rakib, a 17-year-old HSC candidate from Ideal College in Dhakas Central Road, was attacked near the Sheikh Jamal Club in Dhanmondi around 11 pm on Sunday,bdnews24 reported.

Rakib was returning home with a friend from Dhanmondi Lake when they encountered the mugger, according to local police station chief Parvez Islam, the news portal reported.

The assailant snatched the mobile from him and as he tried to intervene he was stabbed.

A wounded Rakib tried to get home to the Kalabagan Staff Quarters on the other side of the road, but he collapsed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where a doctor declared him dead, said Parvez.

The deceased person's body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital's morgue.
Pixabay

Quetta: A group of armed militants attacked Zhob Cantt on Sunday but the security forces foiled their attempt to enter the garrison area, media reports said.

The locals heard heavy firing and explosions around 2.30am, which continued for several hours, reports Dawn News.

Officials, while confirming the terrorist attack in Zhob, said that the armed terrorists launched an attack from the airport road side.

Security forces, which were present at the venue, soon returned fire.

Heavy exchange of fire and explosions continued till early morning, a senior official in Zhob told Dawn.
Pixabay

The power plant has shut down its operations, U Phoe San, a former Arakan State parliamentarian from Kyaukphyu Township. China is building port at Kyaukphyu, told The Economic Times.

The plant commenced its operation earlier this year.

It is known that the thermal sensor system goes up and down to reuse the experimental heat energy. I think its a low level of technology. Electricity generated by this power plant is exported directly to mainland Myanmar, so there is no impact on the local residents, a resident of Kyaukphyu told the newspaper.

The power plant will use 22 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Shwe natural gas project to produce 1 billion kWh per year. When the power plant operates, it will generate 135 MW of electricity at a rate of 8.59 cents per unit. It is intended to produce about 1,000 million kilowatt hours of power per year.

As the thermal sensor system is not working, this plant cannot produce the 135 megawatts of electricity it is supposed to produce. If the megawatt is not enough, there will be difficulties in the processes that the junta will do, said U Tun Lwin, a resident of Kyaukphyu and an observer of Chinese and Korean projects.

The Myanmar Investment Commission granted permission to Power China Resources Co., Ltd to build the power project in January 2020, and the plant is expected to be fully operational later this year, reports The Economic Times.
They were best of friends, but something went wrong between them and what followed next was years of beef that often became national headlines too.

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are friends back again, but do you know what happened when they patched up? Badshah was there. He shared how his meeting with SRK and Salman was like.

Twitter

Badhshah on meeting SRK and Salman after their patch up

"I met Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan at backstage of an award show. I think theyd just had their patch up, apparently. I remember my manager telling me, Shah Rukh sir is calling you. I went to meet him, Salman sir was also there."



Twitter

"They were talking to each other, I was standing there looking at them. Later, food was served, and they fed me biryani. They were sharing anecdotes with each other, and I was listening to them. Then I had to leave," Badshah recalled in conversation with Raj Shamani in his podcast.

SRK-Salman's fallout at Katrina Kaif's party

Twitter

Things went downhill between Shah Rukh and Salman at Katrina Kaif's birthday party in 2008. The spat was so ugly that it scarred not only them but the entire industry for five years. No one knows what exactly happened.

In this video below, SRK himself revealed what happened between them.

The two later patched up in 2013.

Badhshah talks about the feud with Honey Singh

In the same podcast, Badshah also talked about his own beef with Yo Yo Honey Singh.

twitter

"Mafia Mundeer was a thought, and like-minded people got together. Primarily it was just me and Honey. In 2009, there was a break between me and Honey. I used to do a job and I was very scared. Honey was also off my radar and when I tried calling him, he dodged my calls. But till the time we were in Mafia Mundeer, we never met. If we had met, maybe things would have been different."

Badshah said Honey Singh was self-centered.

"We made songs but they were not released. Honey was just concentrating on his career. I was associated with Mafia Mundeer since 2006, and by 2009, my parents were very worried about me. In 2011, my first song with Honey came out Get up Jawani".

Also Read: Honey Singh Breaks Silence On Mafia Mundeer: All About Fallout With Badshah, Raftaar & Others

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Last seen in Shahid Kapoor's Farzi, Vijay Sethupathi is already a big star down South. Sethupathi has brought his own definition to Bollywood. He has shed many stereotypes as well. He was 32 when he made his acting debut. He doesn't sport a chiseled body like an actor is expected to have, yet he has millions of fans. His films sell only on his name.

What happens when a superstar of such a stature collaborates with the King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan?

Twitter

Vijay Sethupathi did Jawan only for Shah Rukh Khan

In SRK's next film Jawan, Vijay Sethupathi is playing a pivotal role. He says he would have given an arm to be in this film. He did it only for Shah Rukh Khan and would have even agreed to do it for free.

Twitter

"I did Jawan only for Shah Rukh Khan sir," he told Pinkvilla and added, "Even if I didn't get a single penny, I would have still worked with him."



Vijay Sethupathi is a fan of SRK's down-to-earth nature.

Twitter

Furthermore, talking about Shah Rukh Khan, he told KoiMoi.com, "He never behaved like a superstar on the sets. He is down-to-earth and very friendly. No airs about him at all. He is a very hands-on co-star. He was always ready to discuss scenes. I like working in an atmosphere of give-and-take. Oh yes, Shah Rukh taught me some more Hindi. I taught him a bit of Tamil."

Furthermore, he said he would come to the sets to make him comfortable even when he was not shooting.

Here's a video of Shah Rukh Khan praising Vijay!

"He was very sweet. It was a very good experience. I was a bit nervous on the first day, because he is a very big artiste, but he made me very comfortable. He didnt have a scene on that day, but he was there to make me feel comfortable. He is very sweet; I can discuss with him He is a gentleman; I really had a good time with Shah Rukh sir," he told Indian Express.

Nayan is the sweetest of them all. Too much love and respect. Vijay sir is a mad actor in a awesome way. So much to learn from both actually. #Jawan https://t.co/HUo4yZ9r5M  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) July 13, 2023

Speaking to news agency PTI, he said, "I had a good time working on Jawan with Atlee and Shah Rukh sir. He (Shah Rukh) is a gentleman, he will never show that I am in the industry for so many years and I am a superstar. Like, how I work with my co-actors, I could discuss (scenes) with him the same way. And then sometimes I would say, sorry sir, if I disturb you, he would say, no Vijay, do it. I was very comfortable with him and he is very sweet."

Is Sethupathi playing a negative role in the Atlee film?

Twitter

"That, I won't tell you. What I will tell you is that it's a very interesting role. I havent played anything like this before. Negativepositive I dont think of my roles like that. A character is a character. The important thing is to understand why he is the way he is. Nobody is fully black or white. It is how life shapes your personality that makes a character interesting."

Apart from SRK and Sethupathi, the Atlee directorial stars Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra and Priyamani in pivotal roles. Sunil Grover, Yogi Babu, Riddhi Dogra and Astha Agarwal are also a part of the film.



Also Read: 11 Thrilling Details About 'Jawan' You Should Know If You Call Yourself A Shah Rukh Khan Fan

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Nelson Mandela International Day is an international observance held annually on July 18th to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist.



The purpose of Nelson Mandela International Day is to inspire individuals to take action and make a positive impact on their communities and the world. It is a day to remember Mandela's values, including his commitment to social justice, reconciliation, and human rights.

On Nelson Mandela Day, people are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to helping others as Mandela spent 67 years of his life in public service. This can be done through various activities, such as volunteering, community service, and acts of kindness. The focus is on addressing social issues, promoting equality, and building a better society for all.

Nelson Mandela Day is not only celebrated in South Africa but also recognised worldwide. It serves as a reminder of the power of individuals to make a difference and create positive change in their communities, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The day also provides an opportunity to reflect on the struggles faced by Nelson Mandela and others in the fight against apartheid and to celebrate the progress made in promoting equality and justice since then. It serves as a call to action to continue working towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated annually on July 18th and in 2023 the event will be observed on Tuesday, 18 July 2023 on the occasion of the 105th birthday of Nelson Mandela. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist. Mandela Day is a global call to action for individuals to make a positive difference in their communities and promote peace, reconciliation, and cultural diversity.

Nelson Mandela International Day 2023 Theme:

The theme of International Nelson Mandela Day for the year 2023 is: The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food and Solidarity. This theme is a call to action to take steps to address climate change and food insecurity and to show solidarity with those who are most affected by these issues.

The theme is inspired by Nelson Mandela's lifelong commitment to social justice and his belief that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. Mandela said, "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

Nelson Mandela International Day History

Nelson Mandela Day is an international day celebrated annually on July 18th in honor of Nelson Mandela's birthday. It was officially declared by the United Nations (UN) in 2009 as a way to recognise Mandela's contributions to peace, freedom, and human rights. And was first celebrated on the 92nd birthday of Mandela in July 18, 2010, to honour the achievements of the anti-apartheid leader.

Who was Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and South Africa's first black president. He was the son of a chief and a domestic worker. He studied law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Johannesburg. He dedicated his life to fighting against racial discrimination and advocating for equality and justice.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his activism, and upon his release in 1990, he continued to lead the struggle against apartheid, the former official government policy in South Africa of separating people of different races and making them live apart.

After apartheid ended, Nelson Mandela played a crucial role in promoting reconciliation and unity in South Africa. In 1994, he became the country's first democratically elected president, serving until 1999. Mandela's leadership and vision helped steer South Africa away from the brink of civil war and toward a more inclusive and democratic society.

Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011 and had been receiving treatment for it since then. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Johannesburg.

Why and how is Nelson Mandela International Day celebrated?

Nelson Mandela Day was established to honor Mandela's extraordinary legacy and to encourage people around the world to make a positive difference in their communities. The day aims to inspire individuals to embrace the values that Mandela stood for, such as democracy, equality, reconciliation, and diversity.

On this day, people are encouraged to participate in various activities and initiatives that promote peace, human rights, and social justice. These activities can include volunteering, community service, education, and advocacy for causes such as poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS awareness, and children's rights.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which Mandela established in 1999, plays a central role in coordinating and promoting Nelson Mandela Day activities. The foundation encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to take action and make a positive impact in their communities.

Nelson Mandela Day has gained global recognition and has become a significant event in promoting social change and honoring Nelson Mandela's values and achievements. It serves as a reminder of the power of individuals to make a difference and work towards a more just and equitable world.

Nelson Mandela International Day Significance

The significance of Nelson Mandela Day lies in its recognition of Mandela's contribution to the struggle against apartheid, his commitment to reconciliation, human rights, and social justice, and his lifelong dedication to the principles of democracy, equality, and freedom. Mandela played a pivotal role in South Africa's transition from a racially divided society to a democratic nation, becoming an iconic figure of peace and reconciliation not only in his country but also globally.

1. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.

2. Where you stand depends on where you sit.

3. A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.

4. One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.

5. Appearances matter  and remember to smile.

6. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

7. Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.

8. A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.

9. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

10. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
Residents of Hong Kong have taken an uncommon tactic in their deliberate effort to make the city tobacco-free: intense staring. This one-of-a-kind method depends on the power of visual communication to discourage smokers from lighting up in public places.

Hong Kong's health secretary has proposed measures to assist the city develop a nonsmoking culture. According to the BBC, Lo Chung-mau believes that people in Hong Kong should discourage smoking by looking at anyone who lights up in areas where it is prohibited.

He made the remarks in response to MPs' inquiries about how to build a tobacco-free city. Hong Kong is now discussing tougher anti-tobacco policies.

Bizarre Advice Of Hong Kong's Health Chief Is To "Stare At Smokers To Stop Them"

Credit: Canva

Smoking is a dangerous habit that many individuals engage in. To discourage smoking, the Hong Kong government has devised a solution. To achieve a tobacco-free city, the territory's Health Minister suggested that people look at smokers with disapproval.

"Cigarettes can harm the health of all of us," Professor Lo Chung-mau said during a meeting of the Legislative Council's health service panel. "When members of the public see people smoking in non-smoking areas, even if no law enforcement officers can show up immediately."

He added, "We can stare at the smokers."



Credit: Canva

He further stated that when someone lights up a cigarette in a restaurant, everyone on the premises is free to stare. "I don't think that person would dare to hit back at everyone in the restaurant who is just staring," he added.



According to Professor Lo, such activity would contribute to the development of a "non-smoking culture." He also threatened that authorities will use surveillance footage provided by the public to crack down on smoking.

Smoking inside restaurants, offices, and some other places is punished by a fine of up to Rs 22,000 under Hong Kong's current smoking legislation.

Credit: Getty Images

The use of intense staring by Hong Kong citizens to eliminate smoking in public places is a novel and eye-catching tactic. While the success and ethical considerations of this technique are debatable, it undoubtedly demonstrates the city's people's commitment and resourcefulness in their pursuit of a tobacco-free future.



It is hoped that by focusing light on this unique method, this article will add to the continuing discussion about smoking cessation and inspire further inventive approaches to combating the global tobacco pandemic.

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician. He dedicated his life to fighting against racial segregation and injustice. Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 and died on 5 December 2013. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years due to his activism but emerged as a symbol of resilience and forgiveness. In 1994, he became the first black President of South Africa, working towards reconciliation and dismantling apartheid. Mandela's legacy inspires people worldwide, promoting peace, equality, and human rights.



Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated annually on July 18th. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist.



Commemorate Nelson Mandela's 105th birth anniversary today by exploring his powerful and timeless words through his inspirational quotes. Discover his powerful words that inspire compassion, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. As a champion of human rights and equality, Mandela's quotes encapsulate his unwavering spirit, urging us to overcome adversity and promote unity. Delve into his remarkable journey, from prisoner to president, and be inspired to make a positive impact in your own life and society. Unveil the transformative power of Mandela's words and let his profound wisdom guide you on a path of hope, forgiveness, and transformative change. Here are some of the most insipiring quotes of Nelson Mandela:

1. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.

Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

2. Where you stand depends on where you sit.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

3. A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

4. One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

5. Appearances matter  and remember to smile.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

6. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

7. A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.

Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

8. Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

9. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

10. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

11. Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

12. There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

13. I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

14. As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

15. It always seems impossible until it's done.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

16. Lead from the back  and let others believe they are in front.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

17. Many people in this country have paid the price before me and many will pay the price after me.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

18. I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

19. Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

20. There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

21. Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

22. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

23. It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

24. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

25. For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

26. May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

27. I am the captain of my soul.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

28. A winner is a dreamer who never gives up



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

29. After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes

30. Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.



Nelson Mandela famous quotes | Photo: Indiatimes
An Interior Ministry bill that will lift restrictions for Greek citizens voting in elections abroad was tabled in Parliament on Monday.
The state apparatus "is doing its best to respond to the wildfires as fast as is feasible and to contain damage to properties ," said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday evening from Brussels , where he is participating in the EU-CELAC summit.
July 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Mondoweiss " -- As Israel was invading and bombing Jenin this week, AIPAC was pumping out a simple message: Israel is right to protect its citizens from terrorism. Others echoed the same line, often including the false theory that Iranwhich supports and backs Palestinian armed militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihadactually controls the Palestinian resistance, implying, ridiculously, that but for Iranian malfeasance, Palestinians wouldnt be fighting against Israels occupation.

Israels message from its own leaders makes the same case, with slightly different language. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, for example, put it this way: Our children are being slaughtered, and Israel has every right on earth to defend itself, and we from the opposition support the Israeli defense forces and the Israeli government on this matter. Lapid made that statement in English, meaning it was the version of Israels message that was meant for foreign audiences, particularly Americans.

Members of Congress were also sure not to miss an opportunity to support the killing of Palestinians. There was Josh Gottheimer, the New Jersey Democrat: Israel has every right to defend itself, especially as the PA loses control of Jenin, which has become a hub of Iranian-backed terrorist activity in the West Bank.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda?

And there was Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Israel has the unequivocal right to defend itself against perpetrators of violence and terrorist attacks. And of course, several Republicans chimed in with similar support.

The so-called progressive Democrat Ritchie Torres of New York would never let such an opportunity to pay back AIPAC and similar groups for their largesse. He tweeted, The Palestinian Authority has all but abandoned Jenin, leaving behind a power vacuum that has been filled by terrorists. In the past six months, those terrorists made Jenin a launching pad for more than 50 shooting attacks against Israelis. Israel is responding with a counterterrorism operation aimed at surgically removing these terrorists and their terror infrastructure. Theres a word for this: self-defense, which is the right of every sovereign country, including Israel.

The mantra of Israels right to defend itself is repeated incessantly and rarely questioned. Even Palestinians and Palestine advocates are often reluctant to debate the right to self defense. From the beginning of Israels existence as a state, this justification has been used to deny Palestinians the right to their property, to their homes, and to their freedom. It was used to justify the theft of Palestinian property in the wake of both the 1948 and 1967 wars, and to excuse the imposition of martial law on Palestinians in side the new state for nearly two full decades.

The mantra of Israels right to defend itself is invoked at virtually every turn not only by Israel and its supporters, but also by friendly governments in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and other places.

So heres a news flash: Israel actually does not have the right to defend itself in terms of the West Bank and Gaza. It has the right to protect its citizens, but it does not have the right to use overwhelming military force against people under its occupation.

Israel may take measures to protect its citizensone of the most obvious would be to desist from putting them in harms way by planting settlements in the middle of occupied territory. It may also protect them using the police powers an occupier must have, powers which, it must be emphasized, are primarily in place to maintain law and order and protect the safety of those under occupation for whom Israel is ultimately responsible. It cannot sign an agreement like the Oslo Accords and thereby remove that responsibility for the welfare of people under occupation from itself. Palestinian Authority or no, the occupier remains responsible for the welfare of the people under occupation.

It can feel counterintuitive to confront this reality of international law and norms. When it was first pointed out to me, I was shocked, and in fact, pushed back against the notion. Yet international law is clear on this point. For the full explanation, I refer you to this remarkable article by Palestinian legal expert and scholar Prof. Noura Erakat, which lays out the case in clear, meticulous language. It is an indispensable read for anyone advocating for Palestinian rights.

The short of it, though is that Israel treats Jenin, indeed the entire West Bank and Gaza, as enemy territory. In Gaza, Israel actually formalized that label in 2007, designating the Strip enemy territory. It cant do the same in the West Bank because of the settlements dotted throughout that territory, and the attack this week on Jenin shows it doesnt need to. The designation of Gaza was part of Israels attempt to convince the world that, despite controlling Gazas eastern and northern land border, coordinating control of its southern border with Egypt, controlling the sea on Gazas west, and controlling Gazas airspace, Israels decision to withdraw its troops and settler from inside the Strip and turn it into the worlds biggest open air prison meant that Gaza was no longer occupied.

But Israel found that it didnt matter. They could fire missiles at Gaza, murder children on its beaches, and gun down people protesting on their side of the border with absolute impunity, just as it would in time of war, and could do all of that whether or not anyone accepted the argument that Gaza was no longer occupied, an argument most of the world rejected. Israel is now demonstrating that same, elevated level of impunity in the West Bank, further diminishing the already meager restraint there has been on Israels use of overwhelming force.

As Prof. Erakat explained, A state cannot simultaneously exercise control over territory it occupies and militarily attack that territory on the claim that it is foreign and poses an exogenous national security threat. In doing precisely that, Israel is asserting rights that may be consistent with colonial domination but simply do not exist under international law.

Israels defenders elide this point by creating an alternative reality. One piece of that reality is that there is a Palestinian government that was created by the Oslo Accords and which governs parts of the West Bank to varying degrees. In the designated Area A, which includes Jenin, that governance is argued to be the same as any government.

Thats simply not true, as the repeated incursions, not to mention the regular closures and presence of soldiers and checkpoints around Jenin make clear. Israel, which has never declared its own borders, occupies the entire West Bank. It collects, and often withholds, taxes from the PA, while Palestinian security forces are focused primarily on coordinating with Israel to combat militantsin other words, Palestinian security is primarily set up to protect Israelis, and, secondarily, the increasingly illegitimate and authoritarian rule of the Vichy-like Palestinian Authority, not to protect ordinary Palestinians.

Yet Israel then claims it has a right of self-defense. Of course, the fact that such a right does not exist does not mean it must sit idly while its citizens are attacked. But, again quoting Prof. Erakat, As long as the occupation continues, Israel has the right to protect itself and its citizens from attacks by Palestinians who reside in the occupied territories. However, Israel also has a duty to maintain law and order, also known as normal life, within territory it occupies. This obligation includes not only ensuring but prioritizing the security and well-being of the occupied population.

There is a distinction between the rightindeed the responsibilityto protect the people under its authority, citizens and occupied people alike; and the right of self-defense in war or something akin to it. While Israels apologists like to characterize Israel-Palestine as a war, it is not. In the West Bank and Gaza it is an occupation. In an occupation, the occupied people have a right to resist, including armed resistance, although doing so via arms means those individuals participating are combatants and not protected civilians.

Not only is Israel shunning its responsibility to protect those under occupation, it is willfully putting its own citizens in danger by using them as a means to enhance and solidify its occupation and by permitting civilians to take up arms and commit acts of violence against the occupied people. You cant, on the one hand, maintain a draconian military occupation which, by definition, conveys the right of resistance to the occupied and then, on the other hand, claim that you have the right to use overwhelming military force against the occupied people and consider those people an extra-territorial enemy. You get to have your cake or to eat it, not both.

Former UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories John Dugard explains the distinction between a state acting in self-defense and one using force to maintain a military occupation. In Israels case, its efforts to slowly annex the territories it occupies instead of working toward a withdrawal and ending of that occupation, as it is legally obliged to do, mean that the occupation itself is illegal. Nonetheless, it is still subject to the international laws of occupation.

As Dugard puts it, A state seeking to enforce its occupation, like a state acting in self-defense, must comply with international humanitarian law. This includes respect for the principle of proportionality, respect for civilians and the drawing of a distinction between military and civilian targets, and the prohibition of collective punishment. Both Israel and Palestinian militants are obliged to act within the confines of these rules.

Both Israel and Palestinian militant groups violate the principle of distinction, but Israel has a much greater capacity to avoid this, and fails to do so, despite repeatedly claiming it makes every effort to comply. Israel also routinely violates the principle of proportionality and collective punishment which Palestinian groups, for the most part, are not capable of violating due to their vastly more limited military capabilities.

The claim to self-defense sounds right. We feel like even if someone is in the wrong in a dispute, if that person is confronted by violence, they have the right to respond and defend themselves. But occupying states, or states engaged in armed conflict, are not the same as individuals. Occupying powers, in particular, have a responsibility to maintain law and order for all under their control and to work to end that occupation. These guidelines are meant to work to minimize the causes of violence, and, to the extent they fail, the occupier has police powers to address this. But it does not have right to treat those resisting an illegal and brutal occupation as enemy combatants. Nor does it have the right to treat the areas under occupation as enemy territory as if in a war. And it really doesnt matter how many racist presidents, secretaries of state, or members of Congress say otherwise.

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
July 16, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " MEE " -- The Nato summit in Lithuania this week served only to underscore the utter hypocrisy of western leaders in pursuing their proxy war in Ukraine to weaken Russia and oust its president, Vladimir Putin.

Both the US and Germany had made clear before the summit that they would block Ukraines admission to Nato while it was in the midst of a war with Russia. That message was formally announced by Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fumed that Nato had reached an absurd decision and was demonstrating weakness. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace lost no time in rebuking him for a lack of gratitude.

The concern is that, if Kyiv joins the military alliance at this stage, Nato members will be required to leap to Ukraines defence and fight Russia directly. Most western states balk at the notion of a face-to-face confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia - rather than the current proxy one, paid for exclusively in Ukrainian blood.

But there is a more duplicitous subtext being obscured: the fact that Nato is responsible for sustaining the war it now cites as grounds for disqualifying Ukraine from joining the military alliance. Nato got Kyiv into its current, bloody mess - but isnt ready to help it find a way out.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda?

It was Nato, after all, that chose to flirt openly with Ukraine from 2008 onwards, promising it eventual membership - with the undisguised hope that one day, the alliance would be able to flex its military muscles menacingly on Russias doorstep.

It was the UK that intervened weeks after Russias invasion in February 2022, and presumably on Washingtons orders, to scupper negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow - talks that could have ended the war at an early stage, before Russia began seizing territories in eastern Ukraine.

A deal then would have been much simpler than one now. Most likely, it would have required Kyiv to commit to neutrality, rather than pursuing covert integration into Nato. Moscow would have demanded, too, an end to the Ukrainian governments political, legal and military attacks on its Russian-speaking populations in the east.

Now the chief sticking point to an agreement will be persuading the Kremlin to trust the West and reverse its annexation of eastern Ukraine, assuming Nato ever allows Kyiv to re-engage in talks with Russia.

And finally, it is Nato members, especially the US, that have been shipping out vast quantities of military hardware to prolong the fighting in Ukraine - keeping the death toll mounting on both sides.

Damp squib

In short, Nato is now using the very war it has done everything to fuel as a pretext to stop Ukraine from joining the alliance.

Seen another way, the message Nato has sent Moscow is that Russia made exactly the right decision to invade - if the goal, as Putin has always maintained, is to ensure Kyiv remains neutral.

It is the war that has prevented Ukraine from being completely enfolded in the western military alliance. It is the war that has stopped Ukraines transformation into a Nato forward base, one where the West could station nuclear-tipped missiles minutes from Moscow.

Had Russia not invaded, Kyiv would have been free to accelerate what it was already doing secretly: integrating into Nato. So what is Zelensky supposed to conclude from his exclusion from Nato, after he committed his country to an ongoing war rather than negotiations and neutrality?

So far, Ukraines much-vaunted spring counter-offensive has turned into a damp squib, despite western media spin about slow progress. Moscow is holding on to the Ukrainian territories it annexed.

So long as Kyiv cant win the war - and it seems it cant, unless Nato is willing to fight Russia directly and risk a nuclear confrontation - it will be precluded from the military alliance. Catch-22.

Do not expect this conundrum to be highlighted by a western establishment media that seems incapable of doing anything other than regurgitating Nato press releases and cheering on bigger profits for the Wests war industries.

War crimes

Another such conundrum is the Biden administrations decision last week to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions - small bomblets that, when they fail to explode, lie concealed like mini-landmines, killing and maiming civilians for decades. In some cases, as many as a third are duds, detonating weeks, months or years later.

Washingtons move follows Britain recently supplying Ukraine with depleted uranium shells, which contaminate surrounding areas with a radioactive dust during and after fighting. Evidence from areas such as Iraq, where the US and Britain fired large numbers of these shells, suggests the fallout can include a decades-long spike in cancer and birth defects.

The White House was all too ready to denounce the use of cluster bombs as a war crime last year - when it was Russia that stood accused of using them. Now it is Washington enabling Kyiv to commit those very same war crimes.

More than 110 states - not including the US, of course - have ratified a 2008 international convention outlawing cluster munitions. Many are in Nato.

Given the high dud rate of US cluster bombs, President Joe Biden appears to be breaking US law in shipping stocks to Ukraine. The White House can invoke an exemption only if exporting such weapons satisfies a vital US national security interest. Apparently, Biden believes weakening Russia - and turning parts of Ukraine into a death zone for civilians for decades to come - qualifies as just such a vital interest.

Desperate stop gap

While the official story is that this latest escalatory move by the US will help Kyiv win the war, the truth is rather different. Biden has not shied away from admitting that Ukraine - and Nato - are running out of conventional arms to fight Russia. This is a desperate stop-gap measure.

While most Nato members might be signatories to the convention on banning cluster munitions, they appear more than willing to turn a blind eye to Washingtons decision. Germanys president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who signed the convention in his earlier role as foreign minister, said this week that Berlin should not block the US shipment because to do so would be the end of Ukraine.

In other words, the resort to cluster munitions is an admission that it is Kyiv and its Nato partners - not Moscow - that have been weakened militarily by the war.

Once again, a supposedly humanitarian war by the West - remember Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria - is becoming the opposite. Like every previous weapon delivered to Ukraine, the cluster bombs are being supplied to postpone the inevitable: the need for Kyiv to engage in talks with Moscow to end the fighting.

And every day such talks are delayed, Ukraine loses more of its fighting men, and potentially more of its territory.

Horrors of cluster bombs

It is not as though Washington or the rest of Nato are unaware of the effects of using cluster bombs. The US is estimated to have dropped 270 million of them on Laos during its secret war on that country more than half a century ago. Up to 80 million of them did not detonate.

Since the bombing ended in 1973, at least 25,000 people - 40 percent of them children - are reported to have been killed or injured by these small landmines littered across Laoss territory.

More recently, the US used cluster munitions in its invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hun Sen, the prime minister of Cambodia, which was bombed alongside Laos by the US during the Vietnam War, reminded the world this week of the horrors in store. He noted that, half a century on, Cambodia had still not found a way to destroy all the explosives: The real victims will be Ukrainians, he said.

But that warning is likely to fall on deaf ears in Ukraine. Zelensky, a leader who has been all but beatified by the western media, is no stranger to the use of cluster bombs. Though journalists prefer to mention their use by Russia only, human rights groups have documented Kyivs firing of cluster munitions on its own population in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

The need to protect Russian-speaking communities in eastern Ukraine from their own government - and from Ukrainian ultra-nationalists in the Ukrainian military - was one of the main reasons given by Moscow for launching its invasion. The New York Times reported Kyiv using cluster bombs last year on a small Ukrainian village in the countrys east.

According to an investigation by Human Rights Watch, Ukrainian forces also fired cluster munitions on the Ukrainian town of Izium last year, killing at least eight civilians and wounding 15 others.

Given this history, Washington would be foolish to take at face value reassurances from the Zelensky government that US supplies of cluster bombs will be fired only on Russian troops. All the evidence indicates that they will likely be used on civilian areas in eastern Ukraine too.

Double standard

Publicly, European leaders are trying to salve their consciences by implying that there are exceptional justifications for providing cluster munitions to Kyiv. The bomblets are supposedly essential if Ukraine is to defend its territory against Russian aggression and occupation.

But if that is really Natos yardstick, then there is another exceptional, oppressed state in no less need of such munitions: Palestine.

Like Ukraine, the Palestinians have had their territory seized by an implacable foe. And like Ukraine, the Palestinians face continuous military attacks by an occupying army.

Occupation forces always end up committing war crimes, as Russias have. The United Nations accuses the Russian army of rapes, killings and torture, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The commission of war crimes is inherent in the task of invading another people's sovereign territory and subduing the local population, as the US and UK proved in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Undoubtedly, both Israel and Russias actions are causing untold suffering. But where there are differences, they reflect worse on Israel than Russia.

Israels occupation has lasted many decades longer than Russias, and it has throughout those years continued to commit war crimes, including creating hundreds of illegal, armed settlements exclusively for Jews on Palestinian land.

Further, there was an existing civil war in Ukraine that had killed more than 14,000 Ukrainians before Russia invaded. At least a proportion of Ukrainians  largely its ethnic Russian population in the east  welcomed Moscows intervention, at least initially. It would be hard to find a Palestinian who wants Israel or its settlers occupying their land.

Is anyone in Nato considering supplying cluster munitions to the Palestinians to defend themselves? Would Nato endorse Palestinians firing cluster bombs at Israeli military bases or at militarised settlements in the occupied West Bank?

And would Nato accept Palestinian reassurances that such munitions would not be fired into Israel, just as it has accepted Ukrainian assurances that they wont be fired into Russia?

These questions answer themselves. In the case of the Palestinians, western states dont just apply a double standard. They even echo Israel in condemning Palestinian conventional attacks on Israeli forces.

Dangerous delusions

But the hypocrisies do not end there. Annalena Baerbock, Germanys hawkish foreign minister, wrote in the Guardian last week that her country had made a mistake in pursuing a policy of what she called chequebook diplomacy.

Berlin, she added, had naively believed that political and economic interaction with the West would sway the Russian regime toward democracy. Instead, she concluded that Putins Russia will remain a threat to peace and security on our continent and that we have to organise our security against Putins Russia, not with it.

Europes path forward, Baerbock suggests, is limited to either a forever war against Russia or imposing regime change on the Kremlin. All of this is dangerous nonsense. The fact that self-serving, delusional analysis of this kind is echoed so uncritically by western media should be a stain on its reputation.

Baerbock implies that it was Moscow that rebuffed our efforts to construct a European security architecture with Russia. But Russia was never offered a meaningful place within Europes security umbrella after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

That contrasts strongly with West Germanys treatment after the Second World War. With the Nazi regime barely gone, Germany received massive US aid via the Marshall Plan to rebuild its economy and infrastructure, and it was soon embraced by Nato as a bulwark against the Soviet Union.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was handled very differently. It was not viewed as an opportunity to bring Russia into the fold.

Instead, the US and its western allies denied Russia both a proper aid plan and the cancellation of Soviet-era debts. The West preferred to prop up a weak president, Boris Yeltsin, insisting he commit to shock therapy privatisation that left the Russian economy open to asset-stripping by a new class of oligarchs.

Nefarious ambitions

While Russia was being hollowed out economically, Washington hurried to isolate its historic rival militarily and bring former Soviet states into the US sphere of influence via Nato. Successive US administrations developed and zealously pursued a hubristic foreign policy known as full-spectrum global dominance against its main great-power rivals, Russia and China.

Putins popularity among Russians grew the more he posed - often only rhetorically - as the strongman who would stop Natos expansion to Russias borders.

Contrary to Baerbocks suggestions, Moscow wasnt wooed by a Nato chequebook. It was gradually and systematically cornered. It was turned, bit by bit, into a pariah.

This isnt the assessment simply of Putin apologists. Natos strategy was understood and warned against in real time by some of the biggest figures in US foreign policy-making - from George Kennan, the father of US Cold War policy, to William Burns, the current CIA director.

In 2007, as US ambassador to Moscow, Burns wrote a diplomatic cable - later revealed by Wikileaks - arguing that Nato enlargement and U.S. missile defense deployments in Europe play to the classic Russian fear of encirclement. Months later, Burns warned that offering Ukraine Nato membership would place Moscow in an unthinkable predicament.

Washington simply ignored these endless warnings from its own officials, because maintaining peace and stability in Europe was not its goal. Permanently isolating and weakening Russia was.

The Biden administration understands it is playing with fire. Last year, in a remark most likely unscripted, the president himself invoked the danger of Russia, faced with a defeat in Ukraine it viewed in existential terms, unleashing a nuclear Armageddon.

Tragically, Natos malevolence, deceit and betrayal means that the only alternative to Armageddon may be Ukraines downfall - and with it, the crushing of Washingtons nefarious ambitions to advance full-spectrum global dominance.

Jonathan Cook is the author of three books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a winner of the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism. His website and blog can be found at www.jonathan-cook.net

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Sometimes theyre presented as opinion pieces, sometimes theyre presented as hard news stories despite brazenly biased language and overt editorializing, and all are slanted against Kennedy in some way. The New York Times plainly dislikes RFK Jr, and makes no secret of working to make sure its audience dislikes him too.

And this is pretty much what we can expect from American mass media until Kennedy has either lost his presidential race or had his reputation so thoroughly destroyed among the electorate that he can be safely ignored. The message will be hammered and hammered and hammered home until the illusory truth effect causes readers to mistake rote repetition for truth, and Kennedys campaign will fizzle.

And Silicon Valley is playing, too. Last month YouTube took down multiple videos featuring two different interviews with Kennedy on the grounds that they violated the platforms policies against vaccine misinformation. Youtube is owned by Google, which has had ties to the CIA and NSA since its inception and is now a full-fledged Pentagon contractor.

Kennedy tweeted some interesting comments about YouTubes removal of his interviews.

People made a big deal about Russia supposedly manipulating internet information to influence a Presidential election. Shouldnt we be worried when giant tech corporations do the same? asked Kennedy, adding, When industry and government are so closely linked, there is little difference between private and government censorship. Suppression of free speech is not suddenly OK when it is contracted out to the private corporations that control the public square.

This is a point Ive been emphasizing for years: in a corporatist system of government, where theres no real separation between corporate power and state power, corporate censorship is state censorship.

And it really is interesting how almost everyone seems to be pretty much okay with corporations in the media and Silicon Valley interfering in a US election like this. Everyone shrieked their lungs out about the (now wholly discredited) narrative that Russian bots had influenced the US election with tweets and Facebook memes, but immensely wealthy corporations with universes more influence manipulating the way people think and vote is perfectly fine?

That does seem to be the way of it, though. This past April the Obama administrations acting CIA director Mike Morell admitted to using his intelligence connections to circulate a false story in the press during the 2020 presidential race that the Hunter Biden laptop leak was a Russian disinfo op, because he wanted to ensure that Joe Biden would win the election. And absolutely nothing happened to him; Morell just went on with his day.

Its just taken as a given that its fine for US oligarchs and empire managers to interfere in an election with brazen psyops and mass media propaganda, even as more and more internet censorship gets put in place on the grounds of protecting election security. If an ordinary American circulated disinformation to manipulate the election, imperial spinmeisters would cite that as evidence that online communication needs to be more aggressively controlled. But when Obamas acting CIA director does it, its cool. Election interference for me but not for thee.

This is where the most election interference will come from in this presidential race: not from Russia, not from China, but from the rich and powerful drivers of the US-centralized empire. The operation of a globe-spanning power structure is simply too important to be left in the hands of the electorate.

I dont have any strong opinions about RFK Jr and wont be supporting any presidential candidate in Americas pretend election. But these presidential races do often provide opportunities to highlight the ways our rulers have got everything locked down.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. New book! Lao Sue And Other Poems, available in paperback or PDF/ebook. - All works co-authored with her husband Tim Foley. https://caitlinjohnstone.com

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Lets start with a silly fear but one that does signal the Democratic Partys growing sense of panic about the 2024 Presidential election. It was expressed to me by someone with excellent party credentials: that Trump could be the Republican nominee and will select Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his running mate. The strange duo will then sweep to a huge victory over a stumbling Joe Biden, and also take down many of the partys House and Senate candidates.

As for real signs of acute Democratic anxiety: Joe Biden got what he needed before the NATO summit this week by somehow turning Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inside out and getting him to rebuff Vladimir Putin by announcing that he would support NATO membership for Sweden. The public story for Bidens face-saving coup was talk about agreeing to sell American F-16 fighter bombers to Turkey.

I have been told a different, secret story about Erdogans turnabout: Biden promised that a much-needed $11-13 billion line of credit would be extended to Turkey by the International Monetary Fund. Biden had to have a victory and Turkey is in acute financial stress, an official with direct knowledge of the transaction told me. Turkey lost 100,000 people in the earthquake last February, and has four million buildings to rebuild. What could be better than Erdoganunder Biden's tutelage, the official asked, finally having seen the light and realizing he is better off with NATO and Western Europe? Reporters were told, according to the New York Times, that Biden called Erdogan while flying to Europe on Sunday. Bidens coup, the Times reported, would enable him to say that Putin got exactly what he did not want: an expanded, more direct NATO alliance. There was no mention of bribery.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda?

A June analysis by Brad W. Setser of the Council on Foreign Relations, Turkeys Increasing Balance Sheet Risks, said it all in the first two sentencesErdogan won re-election and now has to find a way to avoid what appears to be an imminent financial crisis. The critical fact, Setser writes, is that Turkey is on the edge of truly running out of usable foreign exchange reservesand facing a choice between selling its gold, an avoidable default, or swallowing the bitter pill of a complete policy reversal and possibly an IMF program.

Another key element of the complicated economic issues facing Turkey is that Turkeys banks have lent so much money to the nations central bank that they cannot honor their domestic dollar deposits, should Turks ever ask for the funds back. The irony for Russia, and a reason for much anger in the Kremlin, Setser notes, is the rumor that Putin has been providing Russian gas to Erdogan on credit, and not demanding that the state gas importer pay up. Putins largesse has been flowing as Ergodan has been selling drones to Ukraine for use in its war against Russia. Turkey has also permitted Ukraine to ship its crops through the Black Sea.

All of this European political and economic double dealing was done openly and in plain sight. Duplicity comes much differently in the United States.

Careful readers of the Washington Post and the New York Times can sense that the current Ukraine counter-offensive is going badly because stories about its progress, or lack thereof, have mostly disappeared from their front pages in recent weeks.

Last week Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, called in a few journalists to insist that Putins squabble with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner militia, was an armed mutiny that showed weakness in the Russians leader command and control of his military. Theres simply no evidence for such assertions. If anything, I was later told by those with access to current intelligence, that Putin emerged stronger than ever after the Prigozhin implosion, which led to the absorption of many of his mercenaries into the Russian army.

Sullivan also took issue with the notionhe apparently did not say where it originatedthat the Biden administration was paralyzed by the threat of a Russian nuclear attack and so would not fully support Ukraine. Such views were nonsense, he said, and cited Bidens recent controversial decision to provide cluster bombs to the Ukraine military. He suggested that the anti-personnel weaponseach bomb can spread hundreds of bombletscould give Ukraine an edge in the war and prompt Putin to deploy nuclear weapons. It is a real threat, Sullivan said, of a nuclear bomb. And its one that does evolve with changing conditions on the ground.

The only good news about such primitive and circular thinking, I have been told, is the impossibility at this point of any significant Ukraine success. Bidens principal issue in the war is that hes screwed, the informed official told me. We didnt give Ukraine cluster bombs earlier in the war, but were giving them cluster bombs now because thats all we got left in the cupboard. Arent these the bombs that are banned all over the world because they kill kids? But the Ukrainians tell us they are not planning to drop them on civilians. And then the administration claims that the Russians have used them first in the war, which is just a lie.

In any case, the official said, cluster bombs have zero chance of changing the course of the war. He said the real worry will come later this summer, perhaps as early as August, when the Russians, having easily weathered the Ukraine assault, will counter-strike with a major offensive. What happens then? The US has painted itself in a corner by calling for NATO to do something. Will NATO respond by sending the brigades now training in Poland and Romania on an airborne assault? We knew more about the German army in Normandy in World War II than we know about the Russian army in Ukraine.

I have been told of other signs of internal stress inside the Biden administration. Undersecretary of State for Policy Victoria Nuland has been blocked a word used by one Democratic Party insiderfrom being promoted to replace the much respected Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. Nulands anti-Russian politics and rhetoric matches the tone and point of view of Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken. And a newcomer to the upper reaches of the American intelligence communityCIA director Bill Burnstrumpeted his love for Biden and his intense dislike of all things Russian, including Putin, in a speech on July 1 in England.

Burns, a long-time diplomat who served as ambassador to Russia under George W. Bush as well as deputy secretary of state under Obama, had won the respect of a hard core of CIA officers and agents for his discrete handling of the nine-month planning and execution of the covert operation, approved by Biden, to destroy the Nord Steam I and II pipelines running from Russia to Germany. He was the liaison between the intelligence team operating out of Norway and the Oval Office. When he asked how much he needed to know, he accepted the CIAs answer of very little with aplomb.

Burns was also known for his warning, published in a memoir after his retirement as ambassador, that continued expansion of NATO to the eastNATO now is now on the verge of totally covering Russias western borderwould inevitably lead to conflict.

It was this nuancethe notion that Putin could be pushed only so farthat Burns recounted in the UK. One thing I have learned, he said, is that it is always a mistake to underestimate Putins fixation on controlling Ukraine and its choices, without which he believes it is impossible for Russia to be a major power or him to be a great Russian leader.  Putins war already has been a strategic failure for Russiaits military weaknesses laid bare; its economy badly damaged for years to come; its future as a junior partner and economic colony of China being shaped by Putins mistakes; its revanchist ambitions blunted by a NATO which has only grown bigger and stronger.

Biden, who is not revered throughout the CIA, as many presidents have not been, was cited repeatedly during his speech. The highly respected intelligence official explained Burnss glowing words by telling me, cryptically, that all was in flux throughout the Biden national security bureaucracy. Yes. Yes, he said in a message. Big shuffle. Big power struggle. Biden oblivious. All the ants fighting for the crumbs of a dying administration. Advised all the professionals inside to shelter in place. Wait and see the color of the smoke from the Vatican Chancellery. Explain Burns Kool-Aid remarks in the UK.

I was told that Burnss speech was essentially a job application in a future government, or perhaps in the one at hand, for secretary of state. He was showing his competence and his experience, the official said, He realized that he was going down the drain, professionally, while at the Agency. He was awfulthat is, inexperiencedbut he realized it was not going down well with the boys, and then he did right. The key issue for Burns, I was told, as some in the CIA saw it, was ambition. Once you are a secretary of state, the world is your oyster.

The official remarked that running the CIA is not that much. He cited the example of Stansfield Turner, a retired Navy admiral who was appointed CIA director in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Turner and Carter had been midshipmen together at the US Naval Academy. After his retirement Turner ended up giving speeches on ocean cruises.

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
July 16, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " The Grayzone " -- Former Ukrainian government official and diplomat Andrii Telizhenko joins Aaron Mate to discuss how, in his view, powerful US figures including Joe Biden have used Ukraine for personal corruption and the geopolitical aim of bleeding Russia  all to the detriment of Ukrainians.

Telizhenko worked for the Ukrainian prosecutor generals office in Kyiv before moving to Ukraines US Embassy in 2015. He went on to work for Blue Star Strategies, a Democrat-run lobbying firm that represented Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company that appointed Bidens son Hunter to a lucrative board seat.

Telizhenko, who cooperated with Rudy Giulianis effort to dig up information about the Bidens alleged corruption in Ukraine, has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for having directly or indirectly engaged in, sponsored, concealed, or otherwise been complicit in foreign influence in a United States election.

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani has mocked former President Muhammadu Buharis camp in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of the Party.

Information Nigeria had reported that Adamu, the former APC chairman, tendered his resignation letter on Sunday night.

Following the development, Monday, Abubakar Kyari, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), took over the affairs of the Party as acting Chairman.

READ ALSO: Africa Cant Attain Integration, Prosperity While People Suffer  Tinubu to AU

It was alleged that Adamu worked against the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prior to the presidential primaries and even after he emerged as Partys candidate.

Adamu is said to be an ardent supporter of Buhari.

In reaction to the build up, Sani, in a post via Twitter made a veiled remark mocking Buharis supporters in the APC.

The Buharists are now orphans; they are purged in their party, he tweeted.
Adulterated Aviation Kerosine popularly known as Jet A1 has reportedly flooded airports in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.

According to Vanguard, the circulation of adulterated fuel has led to the suspension of all Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to Max Air last week by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), after a huge volume of water was discovered in the fuel tank of one of its aircraft.

READ ALSO: NCAA Suspends Max Airs Domestic Operations

The authority blamed the airlines and pilots of the development, insisting that they are responsible for the quality of fuel dispensed into their aircraft tanks.

In reaction to the incident, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, called on the NCAA, to conduct more acceptable audit of the fuel suppliers across the country.

Prof Okonkwo said, There are certain measures that are taken before you accept or reject fuel.

But more or less, I expect that the NCAA will carry out an audit of the suppliers.

We have been calling for this audit before and ensuring that anybody who has the permit to supply fuel to airlines is properly audited and complies with the rules.

We dont have to wait for incidents, we can also control them before they cause any damage.

Meanwhile, the NCAA in an All Operators Letter, alerted operators of the risks and hazards associated with aircraft refuelling.

A team of investigators have been dispatched to Lagos, Kano and Abuja, where the airline had refueled prior to the incident.

The AOL085, signed by the Director of Airworthiness Standards of NCAA, Gbolahan Abatan, an engineer with reference number, NCAA/DAWS/AD.1104/A0L085, 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 the 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-fight, the letter said.

The NCAA 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.
Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday said Africa cannot attain integration and prosperity while the people suffer in pain and anguish.

Tinubu in his maiden address at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU) in Kenya, reaffirmed Africas unity and strength, while strongly rejecting the notion of a new scramble for the continent.

Tinubu warned that plundering and exploitation of the continent should remain in the past and never be repeated.

We cannot integrate Africa and attain the prosperity we seek while our nearby brothers and sisters suffer in pain and anguish, they should not suffer.

We must advance as one continent toward peace and prosperity, the President said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Dele Alake.

READ MORE: Tinubus Solution To Poverty, Insecurity Coming Soon  VP, Shettima Assures Nigerians

He also announced plans to strengthen the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region.

The Nigerian leader, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, highlighted the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors of its integration process, including trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security.

In his address entitled Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS, Tinubu emphasised the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance, and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He called for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past, saying, As Africans, we forge ahead no matter the barriers thrust before us.

The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. Past history and current global difficulties argue against our future success, he said.

Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.

Such passivity does not commend itself to me. I will not listen to it. Neither should any African. The challenges we face mean that governance will be difficult.

They also mean that visionary good governance is necessary. Some observers assert a new scramble for Africa is afoot and it is much like the old scramble that plundered our continent.

But, here and now, let it be said to whomever the new scramblers might be that our continent may be old but our spirit is new. And it is strong. The bad that took place in the past must stay there. It shall never be repeated.
Swirling reports about the resignation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, have claimed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered it.

Information Nigeria reports that the news of Adamus alleged resignation came just two days before important National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings of the APC.

According to an anonymous member of the APCs National Working Committee (NWC), Adamu resigned after Tinubu supposedly instructed him to do so.

The source told Punch that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, delivered the letter from the President to Adamu.

The NWC member however expressed disappointment over the former Governor of Nasarawa States decision not to consider it necessary to address the committee before submitting his resignation.

We just heard the news this evening too like every other person that the chairman has resigned. I understand it was a directive from the presidency.

READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Adamu, Omisore Are Party Emperors, They Gave No Funds To Tinubu For Campaign  Lukman Alleges

I learnt it was the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, who personally handed over the presidents letter to him.

But we find his action demeaning. He could have, at least, briefed us as members of the same NWC before taking the decision.

With his resignation, I dont think he will be at the meeting tomorrow. In his absence, the Deputy National Chairman for North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, will take over in line with the Constitution. It is the norm that once a national chairman resigns, the deputy national chairman from his zone will take over in an acting capacity. Although we cant have the official confirmation until tomorrow, my sources are very reliable, the NWC member said,

Another informant disclosed that Governors asked Adamu to resign to avoid being sacked at the NEC meeting.

The source said though Adamu was reluctant to resign, the advice of the Governors made him change his decision.
A suspected drug addict identified as Samson Sikiru, has been arrested for allegedly killing his mother, a prophetess, in Itanrin axis of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.

The 32-year-old suspect reportedly strangled his mother to death in the early hours of Sunday, 16th July, 2023.

The incident was reported to the Ijebu Rewa Organisation following a distress call. It was revealed that the unfortunate incident took place while Samson, the suspects younger brother, was away at work during his night shift.

According to neighbours, Samson left home for over five years, only for him to return home a month ago.

His mother was said to have made several complaints to neighbours and security operatives about the suspect using hard drugs.

READ ALSO: 78-Year-Old Community Leader Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Murder In Ondo

A neighbour who wants to be anonymous told Ijebu Rewa that, Samson rushed to him in the early hours of today (Sunday) saying that the Prophetess (Samsons Mother) had slumped and died. After the neighbours rushed inside and only for them to realize the mother was strangled to death as evidence of marks were all over her neck and leg, the left hand had broken, there was blood stain mark on Samsons fingernails.

The neighbors held onto him and he started saying he does not know anything and how it happened. It dawns on them that Samson was under the influence of hard drugs to have strangled his own mother to death, the report says.

It is indeed a sad day for the people in Itanrin axis of Ijebu-Ode. Samson has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force and the mothers corpse has been deposited at the Morgue for further investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Omotola Odutola confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday.

Odutola said the suspect was currently a neuropsychiatric patient.

According to the PPRO, occasionally family members used to bound him up to avoid him injuring himself or anyone.

He (Samson) had remained with his mother whom he visited during the Sallah celebrations, even though he is known for his retard tendency but his condition was being managed to the best of the knowledge of his mother.

It is not yet clear if there was any provocation by his mother, but, preliminary investigation revealed that earlier same day he was tied up in the house, only for him to loose himself and descended on his mother and strangled her.

The body was seen laid on the bed on arrival of SP Murphy, the DPO but, on closer observation, marks of violence were found around the deceased mother.

Laceration were discovered, found around her right legs, proved that there was force and violence.

Samson Sikiru is still in the police custody, but, nothing much has been gotten from him, as he has not answered any coherent questions put across to him.
New signing Lionel Messi has been officially presented to cheering crowds at Inter Miamis DRV PNK Stadium.

A sold-out crowd of about 20,000 waited through downpours and lightning to see the seven-time Ballon dOr winner given a number 10 shirt.

In a brief address in Spanish, Messi, 36, thanked supporters and said he had the same desire he always has.

The World Cup-winning Argentina forward joins the Major League Soccer (MLS) club on a deal until the end of 2025.

He will be reunited with defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets with whom he played at Barcelona who has also signed for Miami until 2025.

Busquets, too, was formally unveiled during Sunday nights event.

Messi entered the pitch via a huge catwalk and was introduced as Americas number 10, the worlds best number 10.

I really want to start training, to compete, Messi said. I have the same desire that I always had to compete, to want to win, to help the club continue to grow.
The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Kyari, Monday, emerged the Partys National Chairman.

The development confirms the reported resignation of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu on Sunday.

Information Nigeria reports that Kyari succeeded Adamu as the Partys Chairman after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja.

In a chat with journalists after the NWC meeting, Kyari formally announced the resignation of Adamu and Iyiola Omisore as National Secretary.

READ ALSO: Adamu Reacts Amid Reports Of Resignation As APC National Chair

According to him, in line with the Partys constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter will serve as the acting National Secretary of the APC.

Information Nigeria gathered that Adamu was absent from the NWC meeting, while Omisore stormed out of the meeting.

Kyari, who represented Borno North Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, presided over the APC NWC meeting.
Anslem Umoren, the auxiliary Bishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Sunday, questioned the Federal Governments (FG) plan to give N8,000 to 12million households in Nigeria for six months.

The Bishop also wants to know those who will benefit from the N8,000 and the data the Federal Government will use to carry out its plan, insisting that Nigerians are over 200 million.

Speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the Mass and Charter Presentation ceremony of Serra Club, Garki, Abuja, he said: I want to call on the government to do all it plans to alleviate the sufferings of the people, it cannot be business as usual.

READ ALSO: Tinubus Solution To Poverty, Insecurity Coming Soon  VP, Shettima Assures Nigerians

I dont want to believe all that I see in the media is true; 8,000 households, which data are you using? Who is going to benefit from it? We are over 200 million.

They need to rethink what they are trying to do to make sure that what they are doing will reach out to everyone. Otherwise, it will be the same as before, Umoren said.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, in a request to the National Assembly, pointed out the intention to cater for the welfare of poor and vulnerable households in the country under the National Safety Net Programme of the Federal Government.

According to Tinubu, N8,000 would be transferred monthly, digitally, to the accounts of 12 million poor and low-income households for six months.
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Nigeria from Kenya after participating in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union.

Tibunu on Monday departed from Nairobi, where he met with other leaders on the continent last weekend.

At the AU meeting, the President on Sunday said Africa could not attain integration and prosperity while Africans languished in pain and anguish.

He reaffirmed Africas unity and strength, while strongly rejecting the notion of a new scramble for the continent.

However, on Mondays evening, Tinubu was received by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma and Former Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, among others.

READ MORE: Africa Cant Attain Integration, Prosperity While People Suffer  Tinubu to AU

The Nigerian leader was also welcomed by the newly confirmed Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other heads of security agencies.

Recall that the President had last week attended the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Guinea-Bissau, during which he emerged as the new Chairman of the regional organisation.

Tinubu pledged to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, has confirmed the killing of one of its personnel, Aminu Abdullahi, by a suspected car smuggler in Yauri Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the service, ASC Mubarak Mustapha, confirmed the incident in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

The NSC, Kebbi Area Command, has commiserated with the family of one officer, Aminu Abdullahi, who was killed by a suspected car smuggler in the line of duty, the statement read.

READ ALSO: Kaduna Police Inspector Arrested For Attempted Murder Of Colleague

The incident took place on July 13, at about 4:00 a.m, when a 2015 Toyota Corolla model with chassis no: 2TBURHE3FC456204 rammed into the victim along Tamac road, Yauri local government area of the state.

He said the officer was rushed to General Hospital, Yauri, for immediate medical attention, after proper first aid.

He was later transferred to Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital in Wamakko LGA of Sokoto State. Unfortunately, he gave up the ghost this morning after responding to treatment during the night, Mustapha said.

Mr. Mubarak prayed Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The spokesman said that one Abdulwasiu Salawudeen, who was driving the vehicle, had since been arrested and brought to the commands headquarters for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the service said that it had organised a parade for the first time in three years to reinvigorate the morale of its officers and men.

The essence of the parade was to encourage, instil discipline, bond the officers uniformly and to carry out the NCS core mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation, provide security and enhance customs civil relationship to the host communities.

The Area Controller of the command, Dr Ben Oramalugo stressed the need for the officers to be their brothers keeper and should see each other as brothers in uniform, and also help each other with intelligence and reinforcement, he said.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects over alleged possession of Indian hemp worth N13 million in the Mushin part of the state.

According to the police, the illicit drug was intercepted during a stop-and-search operation on Wednesday, July 12.

In a statement on Monday by the Spokesperson of the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the drugs were discovered in the vehicle of Fidelis Otiga and Chukwuma Kennedy.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests Europe-Bound Student With Methamphetamine Consignment At Abuja Airport

Hundeyin said the suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the state police headquarters for further investigation.

The interception occurred on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at about 2356hrs during routine stop-and-search, leading to the arrest of Fidelis Otiga m and Chukwuma Kennedy m aged 49 and 50 respectively, in whose vehicle the drugs were found, the Lagos police spokesperson said.

The illicit drugs with a street value of thirteen million naira (N13,000,000.00) were being conveyed in a Toyota Sienna car with registration number KJA 118 HV.

The suspects and exhibit have since been transferred to the command headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, once again assures the general public of adequate security of lives and property and a sustained fight against the menace of drug misuse and abuse in Lagos state.
A suspect arrested over the deadly attack on the convoy of a Nigerian televangelist, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has said that they were paid N50 million to kill the cleric.

Recall that Suleman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, was targeted in a frightening incident in October 2022 in Edo State, located in South-south Nigeria.

However, Yusuf Isa, a 32-year-old plumber from Okene in Kogi State, was paraded by the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in Abuja over the weekend.

In a videotaped interview shared on Twitter, Isa said that the strategic measures his eight-member team used to dodge capture by security forces, suggesting it was divine intervention that led to his arrest.

He said, It is not easy for the Police Force to track us. We dont make calls, the phone I am using Ive never used it to call anybody. We specialised in using the Telegram platform to communicate with ourselves.

Telegram uses username, not number, unlike WhatsApp. Even the line we are using to buy data, it is not a registered line. We did not register any line by ourselves, and we did not open any account with our own identity.

I can only say that only God wanted to track me down because of the calibre of people we have assaulted.

We wanted to kill him. Somebody planned it, but I dont know the person. It was Labista and Eliazu. Labista is on the run, but Eliazu is dead.

Mr Isah declined knowledge of who sponsored the attack but said his gang members told him they got N50 million to kill the cleric.

He said, I just wish I could see him (the cleric) one on one to beg for forgiveness. Im really sorry.

He added that it has been hell for his gang members after the attack.

Isah said, We lost two of our leaders. After Eliazu, the next leader, Ejima, also died. I am the next leader after Ejima. Now I have been arrested.

In another Twitter video, the suspect said four gang members, three in Abuja and one in Ekiti State were still remaining.

Isah, in his confessional video, said their driver, Abdulrahman, also died during the incident.

The attack occurred around the Auchi area of Edo State while Suleman was heading to an unidentified location, hours after returning from a trip to the East African country, Tanzania.

Force spokesperson, Mr Adejobi, had said Isah was arrested in Ondo State.

He said, Intelligence revealed that the seven-man syndicate has been actively involved in kidnapping operations within Edo State and its environs and have carried out about four kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023 before the gang was eventually busted by the police.
I was craving a briny snack, so I took a detour to 13th and Sansom where I found refuge from the steamy summer heat at Pearl & Mary. Perched on the far corner of its white marble raw bar, I could feel the chill of the long ice bank where shuckers in perpetual motion opened and stacked oysters, clams, and lobsters onto tiered trays for a steady parade of seafood towers. A few gingery sips of an icy Bourbon Buck continued to cool me down.

But the action around me was heating up at the bar. To my right, to my left, and down the way, I was surrounded by couples out on dates, dressed to the nines, downing mollusks and cocktails at a steady clip and drawing closer (to each other) with each slurp. Awkward for a solo diner? Perhaps. Except that I was getting my own shellfish fix, too, with the Savage Blonds from PEI packing their own salty kiss. The energy at this good looking corner fish house is charged with undeniably sexy vibes.

A group of four women danced a conga line out from the rear dining room and dropped winks and a hug as they passed a couple beside me at the bar and headed giddily out the door. The momentum of a lively $2-buck-a-shuck happy hour carried into the evening as the daylight streaming through this window-wrapped corner room faded into the warm patina glow of vintage-style pendant lights.

The food? Ive got plenty of notes on a potentially appealing seafood-centric menu thats still seeking consistency and touch. But the elements of potential success are in place.

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The service is reliably energetic and outgoing. The drinks are fun and well-crafted (the rummy and refreshing Ron and Baker is a favorite). Youve got the Schulson Collectives corporate pastry chef Abby Dahan assuring sweet endings with cant-miss banana cream pie, among other delights. And the crowd  youthful, stylish, and effortlessly diverse in ways most Center City restaurants can only aspire to  is proof that an oyster bar can still be a relevant magnet in Philadelphia, even if you wouldnt know it by the current scene.

Only a handful of places now have a raw bar worth mentioning, with Oyster House remaining the citys gold standard, Parc serving plateaus in grand French brasserie style, and My Loup and Vernick Fish offering their own modern twists. Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen has become a focal point for New Jerseys spirited oyster revival.

But consider how the mollusk is profoundly coded into our DNA as a onetime seafood hub of the Mid-Atlantic. There were 376 oyster houses in this city in 1881, according to a report from the United States Bureau of Fisheries. We may never recapture that level of glory, but reconnecting on some meaningful level to that historic pedigree feels essential.

Most attempts at an updated identity of the 21st century Philly fish house have floundered since the demise of the Bookbinder restaurants that once defined our restaurant scene. Pearl & Mary certainly has that ambition. Its relatively accessible, with almost all entrees under $30, and it sits at an epicenter of Phillys vibrant nightlife dining scene, the Midtown Village crossroads where Schulson operates half a dozen restaurants. Appreciative crowds clamor for its 108 seats, including 30 rattan chairs outdoors lining the Sansom Street sidewalk beneath powder blue striped awnings.

If this kitchen can deliver this menu with any consistency, P&M should have a solid run. I like the spirit behind its blend of classic American fish house fare with stylish nods to the global influences of Schulsons other restaurants. A crispy branzino fillet topped with herbs and fried shallots served with lettuce wraps cradling lacy shreds of Vietnamese-style pickled veggies and a nuoc cham dip is an example of this menu at its brightest.

A Mexican-inspired octopus al pastor was more problematic. The tender arms were caked in so much al pastor marinade before being grilled that the overly pasty blend of chiles and spices clumped between the tentacles and was scorched like overdone breading.

The issues were largely a matter of attention to detail. Several meals here over the past five months proved that these relatively simple dishes can be deceptively hard because they rely on a finesse thats been elusive. I didnt eat a single chowder here that tasted properly seasoned, be it creamy New England (with milder smoked haddock subbing for bacon), thin red Manhattan, or a more recent milky corn chowder with (add-on) crab that was simply bland.

The crudos have consistently lacked acid to perk them up, or were obscured with a heavy hand on crunchy garnishes, or missing an expected signature note, like the advertised gochujang for the salmon crudo that was so subtle, it was invisible.

We enjoyed some notable successes. The steamed clams with Italian sausage brought a satisfying bowl of broth for dipping, while the clams casino hit the savory spot with its broiled stuffing of bacon-spiced crushed saltines. An early visit lobster roll brought a butter-crisped bun stuffed with sweet meat in lemony aioli that Id order again, if it wasnt so petite for $32. A classic seared crab cake full of meat (a rare relic of the 90s now in a town once awash in crab cakes) was cleverly served with snappy strands of potato noodles tossed in Dijonnaise and would have been perfect if they had dialed back the roast pepper sweetness that obscured the delicate crab meat. A plump fillet of snapper with scallions in hot oil was a satisfying callback to Pod/Buddakan days.

Pearl & Marys raw bar is also solid, though shy of spectacular. The oysters are fresh but trend small and inconsistently retain enough of their natural liquor. The predictable East Coast/West Coast selections offer little acknowledgment of the reviving oyster industry around Barnegat and Cape May.

When the raw bar gets special seasonal offerings, however, they are worth the splurge, such as the Nantucket Bay scallops we savored with zippy Thai chile-spiked ceviche marinade, or the plumper sea scallops, an April special broiled with chimichurri.

One thing I appreciate about Pearl & Marys menu, at least in theory, is the more casual option for sandwiches, which is smart given the bread skills of corporate baker (and ex-Parc wiz) Nicholas Brannon. But even a plush milk bun cant save a weak smash burger thats been griddled without a noticeable sear, or a tuna burger of ground bigeye scrapings too mushy for a patty.

And while I love Brannons sourdough, its not the right choice to sandwich a theoretically delicate fried soft shell crab BLT. Unfortunately, the crabs beer batter was already too thick, a doughnutlike pillow that should have been crisp. But then I wasnt entirely surprised based on P&Ms history with fish and chips, whose beer-battered crust ranged from disappointing (an oil-soaked bag of soggy crust on my first try) to significantly improved at a later visit, where the hake was encased in the tawny crackle of a well-fried shell.

Pearl & Mary can do it! The question is which version will you encounter? The future of Phillys oyster house tradition can only benefit from its success.

Pearl & Mary

114 S. 13th St., 215-330-6786; pearlandmary.com

Dinner Monday and Tuesday, 4 to 10 p.m. , Wednesday and Thursday, until 11 p.m.; Friday, until midnight; Saturday 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wheelchair accessible.

Gluten-free options are available.
You probably wont find it in your local Wawa yet, but Phillys favorite convenience store chain is getting into the pizza game. The dinnertime offering quietly debuted earlier this summer at select stores and should be available in all locations in the coming weeks, a Wawa spokesperson said.

The Courier-Post in Cherry Hill first reported the arrival of Wawa pizza, which is available in 14- and 16-inch pies in plain and with a variety of toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, and veggie. They can be ordered via the Wawa app or the stores touchscreen system, though there was a 20-minute wait for in-store turnaround, according to the Courier-Post. Its offered starting at 4 p.m. and as late 3 a.m. where available.

This isnt the first time Wawa has attempted pizza. In the mid-90s, the Delaware County-based company co-branded with various national brands, including Pizza Hut; the experiment didnt pan out and pizza was taken off the menu (as was Taco Bell). Then, in 2014, Wawa rolled out deep-dish focaccia pizza in all stores; the 7-inch pies came in plain, pepperoni, veggie, buffalo chicken, and bacon-jalapeno popper. It was discontinued, having received less-than-favorable reviews.

Maybe third times the charm.

Wawas repertoire has expanded in recent years. In 2020, it invited media to Media to sample pot roast, braised chicken, Angus burgers, pasta, rotisserie chicken, and kids meals as a part of dinner vision, an expansion of its prepared-food and made-to-order menus. Not all of those options have stood the test of time, but Wawa does continue to offer burgers, fries, pulled pork sandwiches, garlic knots, and dinner salads.

Cant wait to try a Wawa pie? The company lists 54 participating stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and Florida on its website. Philadelphia Wawas are evaporating these days, but four Philadelphia stores  at 3300 Market St., 6800 Rising Sun Ave., 2535 Aramingo Ave., and 2600 Grant Ave.  are included in the soft launch, as are stores in King of Prussia, Media, Ridley Park, Doylestown, Coatesville, and Pottstown.
For three years now, rival gangs in Haiti have turned the countrys poorest and most densely populated slum into one of the biggest battlegrounds, where women and girls are raped and people carrying out their daily activities are indiscriminately shot at by armed men firing from rooftops.

Now it seems that even the armed groups are tired of the mayhem and want peace.

Four rival gang leaders, whose alliances and violent turf wars have led to mass incidents of murder, gang rape and sniper attacks in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Port-au-Princes Cite Soleil slum since 2020, are engaged in peace talks and have committed themselves to end the violence.

Father Tom Hagan, a well-known American Roman Catholic priest and humanitarian who is a native of Philadelphia, confirmed to the Miami Herald that he is behind the initiative. Hagan said that gang leaders known as Gabriel, Mathias, Iska and Barbecue have indeed signed a document that among other things, says, We promise our loving God to work hard to end violence, to bring peace to all people.

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Theyre not saying, Were going to stop shooting or were going to stop doing this,  Hagan said. But they are saying, they are more for peace and forgiveness

Still, even without an explicit agreement to lay down their arms, the gangs have initiated a ceasefire in recent days that has led to the dismantling of a wall that separated rival territories and has given children the confidence to go outside again to play.

People were out at the wharf Cite Soleil 25. People were swimming [and] there is no shooting, Hagan, known as Father Tom, said Wednesday, describing it as a great day. People seem to really pick upthey seemed so happy.

People have a little bit of hope now, said Hagan, who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and attended Father Judge High School.

Hagan, who worked or years with under-resourced communities in Philadelphia and at colleges including the University of Pennsylvania, is among several Roman Catholic priests and pastors who have stuck it out in the community despite the danger and the killings. In addition to providing Haitians with free schooling, Hands Together, which is operated by Haitians, provides food and medical care through a mobile health clinic.

For weeks now Hagan has been meeting with the gang leaders, trying to broker an agreement. So far, hes gotten them to sign the document drawn up on his stationary belonging to Hands Together, Hagans charity. Written in English and Creole, it places God at the center and has the leaders pleading to make every effort to provide security for all our children and all of our elderly.

Hagan concedes that while be believes hes been able to make the inroads because the gang leaders trust me and they have confidence in me, there is only so much that he can do. Now would be the moment, he said, for some well-known and respected figure, whether Haitian or in the U.S., to step in and guide the process.

We need someone who maybe would have a stronger presence, he said.

There have been rumors about peace talks among gang leaders for weeks, although there have also been suspicions about the gangs intentions, since none has actually laid down arms.

Hagan said he doesnt know of any other group involved. He said he has been able to build on an agreement the leaders had among themselves not to engage in violence between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. He also said he believes the gangs are tired, and see that the fighting is taking its toll.

Theres not a day that goes by where I dont meet with each of them and, as far as I know, this little grain started with us, he said. They depend on us; we have the schools and our schools are the only ones that have stayed open.

In its latest report to the United Nations Security Council, the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti said that gangs operating in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite Valley region are the main perpetrators behind the countrys 68% rise in homicides between January and June of this year.

This includes the increased severity of attacks in Brooklyn, which has become ground zero in the escalating clashes and attacks by gangs against the population, and the resurgence of cholera. One attack in April led to the rapes of at least 49 women, the U.N. office said. The rapes occurred in an area in known as Deye Mi, an open space that separates neighborhoods controlled by rival gangs. Seven of the rape victims were killed afterwards, their bodies left on the streets.

Trapped by the violence, civilians in areas under gang control are unable to leave their homes and lack access to food, water, sanitation and healthcare Services, the U.N. office said.

Hagan, who founded Hands Together, a charity that provides humanitarian aid, said he doesnt ever remember it being this bad. His first trip to Haiti was in 1985 while he was the chaplain at Princeton University. After the visit, he founded his charity with college students. The charity runs 20 free schools across Haiti, half of them in Cite Soleil.

Its 100 times worse than the earthquake, Hagan said, referring to the magnitude 7 tremor that nearly destroyed Port-au-Prince and killed over 300,000 dead in 2010.

This has been very, very bad, Hagan said, recalling how in the early days of the fighting violence was even being directed at school principals in the area. To get students shot and killed, and even teachers, its been very depressing, very frustrating.

The people living in Cite Soleil right now are the poorest of the poor, Hagan added They cant leave, they have nowhere else to go. They have no other option.

He acknowledged the current truce is very fragile and that he was surprised that some gang leaders agreed to sign.

This includes Gabriel Jean-Pierre, alias "Ti-Gabriel. The leader of the the coalition of armed gangs known as "G-pep-la," Jean-Pierre has been the main rival to Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, the former cop-turned-gang leader who operates the G-9 federation. Another rival is Iscard Andrice, alias "Iska," who blames the G-pep leader for killing his mother, and runs a gang in the area known as Belekou. All three signed the document, along with another gang figure, Mathias Saintil, who controls the area known as Boston. Mathias and Iscard are aligned with the G-9 federation.

The violence dates back as far as 2020 when, according to a report from the National Human Rights Defense Network, all roads into Brooklyn were cut and Gabriel found himself under attack by Iska and Mathias. The result was a massacre that led to the deaths of least 145 people; 28 others were injured and 18 women and girls were gang raped.

In addition, 104 houses were set on fire, the human rights report said.

Hagan said he used to think that the fierce fighting among the gangs was over territory and for control of voting blocs in the next elections. But as the fighting has continued and the violence worsened, hes not so sure anymore.

It almost seems like its personal now, he said. If somebody gets shot on one said, then there is a shooting on the other.
Philadelphia, the urban center of a sprawling metropolitan region that spans three states, is again being blamed for another alleged crime that did not happen here.

Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy laced into the city on Thursday, specifically targeting Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, after an Oak Lane man was charged with allegedly attempting to abduct at 14-year-old girl at the Willow Grove Park Mall the day before.

I think some of the failed policies in Philadelphia, with the District Attorneys Office, where its somewhat of a revolving door, where dangerous felons are let back onto the streets to prey upon our citizens, Molloy said during a news conference. This is a particularly disturbing case because these are innocent children. This shouldnt have happened. He shouldve been detained. He should have been in jail.

The accused abductor, Khalilh Evans, has an extensive criminal history in Philadelphia and Montgomery County. A Montgomery County judge in January ordered his parole while he was serving a sentence of 11 to 23 months.

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Molloys comments marked the latest examples of public officials in places outside of Philadelphia blaming the city for its approach to crime.

Krasner, a progressive district attorney, easily won a second term in 2021 but has faced criticism amid a gun violence crisis. Crime remains a hot-button political issue in Philadelphia and across the country, as cities grapple with surges in gun violence over the last few years.

The Abington incident came a week after a 6-year-old girl in Camden was shot in the knee on July Fourth. A teenager from Philadelphia was questioned in that incident, prompting Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli Jr. to declare: Thugs and criminals and gun-bearing freaks over in Philadelphia who live in a society of lawlessness  we dont want you here.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson called out Cappellis comments as derogatory and said he should work to build stronger interregional relationships.

Jane Roh, a spokesperson for Krasner, said there was not much to say about Molloys comments in Abington last week, adding that Krasner is used to cheap political rhetoric from others.

Evans was out on bail on January 2022 charges filed in Philadelphia for gun and theft charges.

But Roh noted the most recent legal action that returned Evans to the street happened in Montgomery County, where a judge paroled him in a stolen-property case that originated in Lower Moreland Township in 2020.

Roh also noted that Evans has a history of being hospitalized for mental health issues, adding maybe a look at the [mental health] system is timely, considering recent events.

Court records show Evans case in Philadelphia has been delayed several times as the court ordered testing of his mental health competency. A judge found Evans competent to stand trial in an order 10 days ago, and a hearing in the case is scheduled for July 24.

Mayor Jim Kenney, in a statement to The Inquirer, said Molloys oversimplification of last weeks events runs counter to what is necessary for the region to address the problem of crime.

I think its telling when anyone describes a complex and enormous issue like crime or violence as belonging to any one city, Kenney said. That level of oversimplification is not encouraging. Our region and our entire country are grappling with a crisis of violence and needed criminal justice reforms, and were only going to succeed if were willing to work together on a shared vision of public safety across all communities.

Thomas Hecker, president of the Abington Township Board of Commissioners, said he had received no pushback for Molloys comments.

What I think the chief did was express his assessment of the factors, Hecker said.

Molloy, during his news conference comments last week, said he knows theres a lot of things that go into those decisions, in why people are back on the street. But this here is a disgrace. And we need to do a better job. The system failed.

Lt. Steve Fink of the Abington Police Department on Monday said Molloy had not been aware when he spoke in last weeks news conference that a Montgomery County judge had paroled Evans in January.

Fink expressed concern that someone with a criminal history involving guns like Evans, along with his mental health issues, was still awaiting trial on a new gun charge.

We just feel like he should have be adjudicated faster, Fink said.
Chris Hytha, 26, of Philadelphia, flies his drone up to the Drake building in Center City to take high-resolution drone scans of its hidden beauty. Read more

Chris Hytha was a Phoenixville middle-school student on a family visit to Center City when he fell in love with the Philadelphia skyline.

That experience is really what led me to study architecture, to explore the city, and to try to find a way to get to the tops of those towers. I couldnt get enough of Philadelphia, he said.

With the help of digital technologies, social media, crowdfunding, and NFTs, Hytha, 26, is crafting a career that reflects his youthful aspirations, and more. Since 2015, hes moved to Philly, earned a degree in architecture from Drexel University, worked for an architecture firm in the city, and established himself as an independent photographer, artist, and designer.

His latest project, Highrises, is an online gallery featuring drone images of skyscrapers built in art deco, Gothic, beaux arts, and other distinctive styles during the late-19th and early-20th centuries across the United States.

An incredible variety of designs and materials were used in building these towers, said Hytha, whos a licensed drone operator.

The care and the craftsmanship that went into them! Well never be able to build buildings like them again.

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When not sending his drone aloft to capture the crowns of skyscrapers in places like Cleveland, Hytha bikes all over Philly from his home in the Mantua neighborhood. His Instagram account  with more than 103,000 followers  has long featured what he calls cinematic and surreal images of the city he loves.

I Photoshop clouds above and ethereal, magical light falling upon the streets we walk on every day, he said. It kind of looks like a fantasy world.

But after Id been doing these [almost exclusively] for a while, I thought, Theres got to be more I can do.

So in 2021, Hytha began photographing individual Philadelphia rowhouses, a project that yielded an online gallery as well as a coffee-table book. He followed it up with Highrises, a project that celebrates the majestic upper floors and intricate crowns of vintage skyscrapers.

Looking up

With zigzag patterns and sharp angles that evoked industrial production as well as Native American and ancient Egyptian designs, art decos bold signatures became synonymous with the Jazz Age of the 1920s, when skyscraper development boomed in downtowns across America.

Center Citys former Market Street National Bank across from City Hall is one prominent example. So is the Drake, the residential tower that has loomed over Spruce Street just west of Broad since 1929.

I feel like the first person to see the details up close and show other people whats hiding way above our heads. Seeing these buildings in a new way is just so satisfying, Hytha said.

For the Highrises project, Hytha and the writer Mark Houser are showcasing skyscrapers in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Buffalo, and other big cities. They are off to see buildings in Birmingham, Ala., Winston-Salem, N.C., and Atlanta this month. Their travels will conclude with a visit to Phoenix later this year. The collaborators will have photographed and documented the exteriors and interiors of 180 buildings in 40 cities.

Hytha deploys his drone to gather as few as five and as many 20 photos at varying elevations of the upper stories and crowns. He uses a Photoshopping technique called stitching to create dramatic, high-resolution scans of individual buildings and sells them on his website.

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- Stitching -

This makes buildings like General Electric with diagonal walls a nightmare. Lots of warping is required to make it work. To some extent I embrace the wonky perspectives, as it is a hint of how it was created, like visible brush strokes in a painting. pic.twitter.com/Y1C4oaIGsb  Hythacg (@Hythacg) August 9, 2022

As he did with Rowhomes, Hytha will self-publish a selection of the skyscraper images in a coffee-table book.

Theres something about seeing work in a large format, physical form, instead of on a phone, he said. After spending hours to polish an image and make it perfect, not having it in print seems ... sacrilegious.

The project includes examples of not only well-known skyscrapers in art deco and other styles, but lesser-known buildings in smaller cities. Among them are North Phillys art deco Beury Building (a.k.a. the Boner 4ever building), set for redevelopment after standing empty for decades, and Camdens City Hall.

Chris way of presenting these buildings could almost be described as augmented reality, said Houser, a Pittsburgh researcher, public speaker, and author of Multi-Stories, a 2020 book about 55 early skyscrapers and their builders.

His artistic style captures an energy about that era of the 1920s, when people were thrilled to see each new skyscraper, Houser said. A century later, people still love these buildings.

Appreciating architecture early

Hytha grew up in Phoenixville, a formerly industrial Chester County community that has enjoyed an economic renaissance in recent years. His parents, Greg and Linda, are musicians and have renovated several dozen Victorian homes since moving to the borough in 1984.

They renovated the 19th-century house I grew up in and went on from there, said Hytha. That early exposure to historic architecture had a big impact on me. I wondered how many other families lived here? What were their lives like?

In a brand-new building, there are no stories.

His mother said her youngest son learned to play music with his parents and three older siblings, and also loved to make buildings out of plastic blocks. Later, he spent hours creating structures with the world-building video game Minecraft.

In a brand-new building, there are no stories. Chris Hytha

When we went into the city, it was such a wonderful experience for him, she said. Walking around the streets, he kept saying, Mom, look up there. All his senses came alive.

She said that Chris work enables us to see things we would otherwise miss. We get to see through his eyes.

Jon Coddington, a retired professor of architecture who taught Hytha at Drexel, echoed that.

The tops of tall buildings are rarely seen, he said. At street level, youre only really aware of a buildings first three or four stories. And at a distance, you lose the detail.

But Chris doesnt just keep [the details] to himself. Hes saying, This is cool, and I want to share it with others. Thats his gift.

Coddington also advised Hytha regarding his thesis project, titled Center Square Station, which reimagined Suburban Station and other Center City transit facilities. Hythas thesis took the top prize in the universitys annual Michael Pearson Architecture Prize competition, which looks for a winner who has exceptional spirit in pursuing the work.

The transit network is buried underground, and I opened it up, Hytha said. A new station with a grand view of City Hall would let riders know they have arrived in Philadelphia.

Hytha enjoyed the work, as well as the steady paycheck, while he was employed full-time as a design professional at EwingCole architecture firm, but said hes realized the value of ownership and the value of developing my own intellectual property through working independently.

There are a lot of uncertainties. Its all kind of a risk, he said.

Asked whether taking the risk is worth it, Hytha answered: One hundred percent.
Wave runners play in the Schuylkill river near Walnut Street at dusk, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. A boater was arrested and charged with boating under the influence after crashing into the substructure of the 34th Street Bridge on Saturday, July 15. Read more

Philadelphia police charged a 29-year-old man from Pennsauken, N.J., with boating under the influence, assault, and reckless endangerment this weekend after the boat he was driving crashed into the 34th Street Bridge in Grays Ferry.

Nine passengers, including the driver and two infants, were aboard; no life-threatening injuries were reported.

According to the police report, police received information about the crash around 7:10 p.m. on Saturday night. When police arrived, they observed the boat had hit the 34th Street Bridges substructure. Fire department personnel and the polices marine unit removed the driver as well as eight others, including two 1-year-old boys, from the boat.

One boy was transported to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia for evaluation, while the other was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a nosebleed. A 27-year-old passenger also went to Jefferson with back injuries. Two passengers in their 30s were taken to Penn Presbyterian, one with head injuries and the other with injuries to their ankle and back. A 23-year-old passenger was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with back injuries. Two passengers in their 20s were uninjured, police reported.
Mr. Anderson was a dapper dresser who had an impressive collection of hats. Read more

B. Robert Anderson, 96, of Linwood, retired businessman and management consultant, prolific writer, editor, and adjunct professor, died Thursday, June 15, of pancreatic cancer at Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Galloway Township.

Mr. Anderson grew up in West Philadelphia and Atlantic City during the Great Depression and responded to his childhood challenges by graduating from Temple University with a bachelors degree in journalism, working with his brother as an executive at Anderson Wholesale Grocery Co., and founding the Anderson Associates management consulting firm.

He also served as executive editor at Institutional Distribution magazine and published nine books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles about business, education, health, and other topics.

His older brother, Milton, founded Anderson Wholesale Grocery Co. in Atlantic City in 1948, and the brothers worked together for 22 years, providing food to restaurants, hospitals and other organizations in South Jersey. Mr. Anderson left the company in 1970 and established Anderson Associates, a business management consulting firm that listed New York-based Palmer Food Services, Pocono Produce Co. of East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Houston-based Sysco Corp. among its clients.

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A lifelong writer, Mr. Anderson published textbooks, including 1977s Professional Selling, half a dozen mystery novels set in Philadelphia, a book about school board membership for the New Jersey State Board of Education, and articles that appeared in Ebony and Readers Digest magazines, and other publications.

In the preface to the 2000 edition of Professional Selling, Mr. Anderson said: A strong foundation in the primary skills of professional selling will lead to success and growth. These skills provide the initial building blocks to allow you to choose your own route to happiness.

He also taught business management and marketing classes at Atlantic Community College, now Atlantic Cape Community College, and St. Josephs University from 1970 to 1975. He was one of the most impressive men I have ever met, a former student said in an online tribute.

Bennett Robert Antenson was born Nov. 6, 1926, in Philadelphia. He and his brother changed their last name to Anderson in the late 1940s after Milton founded his wholesale grocery company.

Mr. Anderson skipped a few grades in school and graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1943. He joined the Navy during World War II and served in an officers training program in 1945 and 1946.

He studied writing under prominent English professor David Lambuth at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, attended Bates College in Maine and Drexel University, and graduated from Temple in the late 1940s after his discharge from the Navy. He met Joyce Sloan on a blind date and proposed on the second date, and they married in 1953.

They had sons Steven and David, and daughter Faith, and lived in Margate for decades. Mr. Anderson and his wife moved to Linwood in 1990. His wife died in April.

Away from work, Mr. Anderson served as vice president of the Atlantic City chapter of Bnai Brith, and for the Atlantic City Jewish Community Center. He was also a member of the New Jersey regional board of the Anti-Defamation League, and the Margate Board of Education.

He and his wife traveled to Europe often and especially enjoyed their time in Italy. He was a sharp dresser, liked to wear hats, and met often with longtime pals who called themselves Oysters Anonymous. His wit and sense of humor were loved by everyone he met, his family said in a tribute.

He shared household chores with his wife, made a mean pineapple upside-down cake, and spent lots of high-quality time with his children as they grew. He taught them about the stock market, offered business tips, and, instead of offering advice, told stories and jokes that had underlying lessons, many from his own life experience, his family said.

Mr. Anderson hosted barbecues for his grandchildren and wandered with them through bookstores. He stopped smoking when he was 40 and exercised daily until recently.

He and his wife, also a writer, delighted in meeting new readers as they sold their books on the Ocean City Boardwalk after he retired in 2003. He was disciplined, organized, and generous. He believed in equality and admired Hubert H. Humphrey, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

His encouragement, meaningful stories, and funny jokes will be missed, his family said. He will remain an icon and a hero to his family and friends.

In addition to his children, Mr. Anderson is survived by five grandchildren and other relatives. His brother died earlier.

Services were held June 20.
After fatal flash flooding on Saturday, members of Pennsylvania Task Force 1 drove out the body of a person after recovery in it the woods between the Delaware Canal towpath and Delaware River near Houghs Creek in Upper Makefield. Read more

Water. Such a simple  yet, at the same time, complex  substance that can both sustain and end life. From a young age, it is ingrained in us just how vastly important water truly is, how it makes life possible. But too much water can be catastrophic.

Up until this weekend, I cannot say I ever really thought of it in this way.

This past Saturday, for much of the day, the skies were ominous, dark, and generating uneasy rumbles of thunder. Around 5 p.m., as I sat in my bed, charging my phone and scrolling on Instagram, the power briefly clapped out. Annoyance, worry, and frustration mounted, as I thought about all I would not be able to accomplish sans electricity amid sweltering heat and humidity. How long is this going to last? I thought.

 READ MORE: Five dead, two children missing after flash floods in Bucks County

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There was no way I could have known what others were enduring in that brief power outage, which for me lasted only a couple of minutes. While I was lamenting about getting power restored, four inches of rain fell within two hours, sweeping away vehicles on Route 532, just a short drive away from me. A mother was trying to save her own life, and the lives of her 9-month-old baby and 2-year-old toddler, as the water forced them out of their vehicles and into the swirling, brown water. Others were holding onto tree limbs and trying to resist the angry and forceful pull of water.

As I write this, the mothers body has been found; her two children are still missing.

Ive driven on that road more times than I can count. I wonder how I could ever desire to drive it again, knowing just how destructive its pathways became in those moments. I think about all the people who survived and those who didnt; those who clung to trees and their vehicles, those who fought through the violent forces of nature.

As a lifelong resident of Bucks County, Ive always thought of the county as a community. So many times, Ive watched and observed in awe as residents band together to support one another, no matter how much effort and strength it requires.

What I take away from Saturday is to appreciate the heroes I live among, the many residents and first responders who give their all to rescuing and saving others. If there is anything positive to take away from this story, it is the amount of pride I feel to be a Bucks County resident, where so many of us congregate in times of need to provide support and comfort, a helping hand, and a listening ear. Whether its a jump-start of my car, a pair of crutches to aid in walking after my injury, or verbal advice, there is one thing I know for sure: For those who live in this area, there is no shortage of comradeship.

Im grateful to my community for stepping up once again.

So Im grateful to my community for stepping up once again. Im also grateful to all the officials  the fire chief, the police, the governor, and everyone else who dropped what they were doing to help our community this awful weekend.

Mr. Rogers has said that when difficult, frightening, and intense situations emerge, to always look for the helpers  the ones providing support, both physically and emotionally, carrying others through. Today, I am thinking of those impacted by Saturdays tragic events, those who suffered loss and fear, those who suffered emotionally and still do, and also those who are the heroes, because I know there are many.

Melissa Kaufman has worked in both the nonprofit and education fields. She lives in Yardley.
Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives attend a session at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Read more

What an embarrassment. In the span of 24 hours, Gov. Josh Shapiro went from savvy political strategist to inept novice and sellout; upended by his own House majority leader, Matt Bradford.

The governor was unable to bring Bradford into the line on the budget Shapiro negotiated in good faith with Senate Republicans. This forced Shapiro into a blunder of threatening to veto Lifeline Scholarships  one of the governors stated priorities, which he touted on national TV just days prior.

Teachers unions were already furious with the governor over his school choice support. Now Shapiro has lost not only the trust of Senate Republicans but also the Republican voters who believed his promises.

Where did it all go wrong?

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Republican Senate leaders top priority was Lifeline Scholarships and increases to the tax credit scholarship programs. After making numerous changes to the original Lifeline Scholarship bill to meet the governors demands, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman  who was at the negotiation table with the governor  said that Republicans and Shapiro had a deal.

Pittman told me that throughout the negotiations, he believed, as is tradition, that the governor was representing his party at the table. Apparently, Shapiro thought that, too. Pittman said, We have a governor that I truly believe sees things the way we do [on Lifeline Scholarships] that hasnt been able to figure out how to convince his party to come across and understand the value of empowering parents.

The problem was Bradford. The Montgomery County-area representative broke ranks with Shapiro, stripping out Lifeline from an earlier bill. Bradfords unwillingness to go along with the governor forced Shapiro into a spectacular blunder. Threatening to line-item veto your own priority is not a good look.

People familiar with the inner workings of the Democratic caucus, including a Democratic state lawmaker, told me there are anywhere from 15 to 30 House Democrats who would have voted yes on a budget with Lifeline Scholarships before the governor threatened to veto it. That support, Im told, remains. Some of those pre-veto threat yes votes are Democratic members of the Black Caucus, who represent families desperate to get their kids out of failing schools.

But Bradford wouldnt allow it. Its not a surprise: Bradford took more than $200,000 from teachers unions  one of the top recipients of government union money. Interestingly, Bradford also takes a personal salary from a law firm whose clients include many of the school districts he votes to fund. In 2018, he was rebuked for failing to disclose this fact.

Unable to get Bradford to play ball, Shapiro caved and issued the veto threat.

The headlines were swift and brutal: A tear in Supermans cape ,  Rare misstep ,  and School choice sellout. But the worse headlines for Shapiro werent online and in newspapers  instead, they came from people like my parents.

What is wrong with him? I voted for him! my father indignantly shouted across the phone line. My mother chimed in, We are heartbroken.

My parents were Kennedy Democrats. In 1980, they voted for Ronald Reagan and never went back to the Democratic Party  until Josh Shapiro ran for governor.

It wasnt just that they, like many Republicans, were appalled by the GOP gubernatorial candidates associations with antisemitism and his misguided propagation of Christianity for political ends. Many sincerely liked Shapiro and voted for him.

Many felt Shapiro would be the guy to transform the Democratic Party and deliver it from the clutches of the government unions, which have radicalized the party. The unions advocated and successfully kept our kids out of school during COVID-19  which led to severe mental health problems and learning losses we are all now coping with.

Shapiro is trapped. The unions dont trust him, and now the Republicans dont, either. Worse, there are tens of thousands of kids  many of them students of color  trapped in failing schools who are going to be denied an opportunity if Shapiro doesnt fix this.

The governor has a clear path toward redemption. The state budget is only half done. If Shapiro steps up as the leader voters expected, he can still negotiate a deal that secures bipartisan support in the House and Senate and deliver Lifeline Scholarships.

If Shapiro doesnt do this, the Republican Senate is not going to give Shapiro any of his priorities in the final budget. If Shapiro adds in Lifeline Scholarships and increases tax credit scholarship programs, he will not only do a moral good, but also transform the Democratic Party, and quite possibly turn those Reagan Republicans into Shapiro Democrats.

Lets hope he has the political savvy to get this done.
President Joe Biden speaking at the AFL-CIO convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia in June. Read more

President Joe Biden is due back in Philadelphia on Thursday, less than a month since his last visit here. It will be the sixth time Biden has come to the city this year and at least the 13th since he took office in January 2021.

The White House hasnt released details about the event except that Biden will talk about Bidenomics, his term for his economic agenda. He argues his approach will bolster the economy and the middle class.

Sixteen months before the general election, Biden has ramped up some travel but nowhere outside of Washington, D.C., and Delaware has gotten more presidential attention than Philadelphia. This year, Biden is averaging about one trip to the city each month.

The president, who spent his early years in Scranton, is no stranger to Philadelphia. Not only did he represent nearby Delaware in the Senate for 36 years, first lady Jill Biden was born in Hammonton, N.J., and grew up in Willow Grove in Montgomery County. Several of the Bidens granddaughters graduated from or currently attend the University of Pennsylvania, which has also brought the Bidens back to town.

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More than personal ties, though, its a big city in a swing state thats convenient to get to from Washington. And as the birthplace of democracy, its got built-in symbolism for various political messages.

Its been heavily reported that Bidens reelection campaign will be based in Wilmington, but campaign finance reports list no office rental space. Most of Bidens travel recently has been on official White House business, not for his campaign. But as president, he can effectively campaign through his official business of running the country.

Here is a timeline of Bidens trips to Philadelphia during his tenure as president, starting with the most recent.
WASHINGTON  The House passed a sweeping defense bill Friday that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care that deeply divided the chamber.

Democrats voted against the package, which had sailed out of the House Armed Services Committee on an almost unanimous vote weeks ago before being loaded with the GOP priorities during a heated late-night floor debate this week.

The final vote was 219-210, with four Democrats siding with the GOP and four Republicans opposed. The bill, as written, is expected to go nowhere in the Democratic-majority Senate.

Efforts to halt U.S. funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia were turned back, but Republicans added provisions to stem the Defense Departments diversity initiatives and to restrict access to abortions. The abortion issue has been championed by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is singularly stalling Senate confirmation of military officers, including the new commandant of the Marine Corps.

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We are continuing to block the Biden administrations woke agenda, said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

Turning the must-pass defense bill into a partisan battleground shows how deeply the nations military has been unexpectedly swept up in disputes over race, equity and womens health care that are now driving the Republican Partys priorities in Americas widening national divide.

During one particularly tense moment in the debate, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke of how difficult it was to look across the aisle as Republicans chip away at gains for women, Black people and others in the military.

You are setting us back, she said about an amendment from Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., that would prevent the Defense Department from requiring participation in race-based training for hiring, promotions or retention.

Crane argued that Russia and China do not mandate diversity measures in their military operations and neither should the United States. We dont want our military to be a social experiment, he said. We want the best of the best.

When Crane used the pejorative phrase colored people for Black military personnel, Beatty asked for his words to be stricken from the record.

Fridays voted capped a tumultuous week for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as conservatives essentially drove the agenda, forcing their colleagues to consider their ideas for the annual bill that has been approved by Congress unfailingly since World War II.

I think hes doing great because we are moving through  it was like over 1,500 amendments  and were moving through them, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. She told reporters she changed her mind to support the bill after McCarthy offered her a seat on the committee that will be negotiating the final version with the Senate.

Democrats, in a joint leadership statement, said they were voting against the bill because Republicans turned what should be a meaningful investment in our men and women in uniform into an extreme and reckless legislative joyride.

Extreme MAGA Republicans have chosen to hijack the historically bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act to continue attacking reproductive freedom and jamming their right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people, said the statement from Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Pete Aguilar of California.

The defense bill authorizes $874.2 billion in the coming year for the defense spending, keeping with President Joe Bidens budget request. The funding itself is to be allocated later, when Congress handles the appropriation bills, as is the normal process.

The package sets policy across the Defense Department, as well as in aspects of the Energy Department, and this year focuses particularly on the U.S. stance toward China, Russia and other national security fronts.

Republican opposition to U.S. support for the war in Ukraine drew a number of amendments, including one to block the use of cluster munitions that Biden just sent to help Ukraine battle Russia. It was a controversial move because the weapons, which can leave behind unexploded munitions endangering civilians, are banned by many other countries.

Most of those efforts to stop U.S. support for Ukraine failed. Proposals to roll back the Pentagons diversity and inclusion measures and block some medical care for transgender personnel were approved.

GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, who served as a White House physician, pushed forward the abortion measure that would prohibit the defense secretary from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.

Jackson and other Republicans praised Tuberville for his stand against the Pentagons abortion policy, which was thrust into prominence as states started banning the procedure after the Supreme Court decision last summer overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade law.

Now hes got support, hes got back up here in the House, Jackson said.

But its not at all certain that the House position will stand as the legislation moves to the Senate, which is preparing its own version of the bill. Senate Democrats have the majority but will need to work with Republicans on a bipartisan measure to ensure enough support for passage in their chamber.

McCarthy lauded the House for gutting radical programs that he said distract from the militarys purpose.

Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee, led by Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, dropped their support due to the social policy amendments.

Smith, who is white, tried to explain to Crane and other colleagues why the Pentagons diversity initiatives were important in America, drawing on his own experience as a businessman trying to reach outside his own circle of contacts to be able to hire and gain deeper understanding of other people.

Smith lamented that the bill that the committee passed overwhelmingly no longer exists. What was once an example of compromise and functioning government has become an ode to bigotry and ignorance.
Beyond the consolidation activity, we will also be introducing high levels of integration with underlying systems, enabling us to provide further benefits to customers, such as self-service and ultimately choice; allowing customers to decide when and how they want to communicate with us. Its going to be an exciting partnership and I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact this will have, Martin said.
If we're lowering down the barriers to entry to who's going to be installing and operating this equipment, which is ultimately good, we make sure everyone knows about hail stow and that they also know you have to actually push a button in order to get it to go into stow.
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Connecticut`s attorney general has sued a for-profit nursing school and its owner, alleging they left hundreds of students in the lurch when the school abruptly closed its three campuses in the state in February while reaping millions of dollars in profits.

Attorney General William Tong filed a civil lawsuit against Stone Academy`s parent company, owner Joseph Bierbaum and another for-profit Connecticut school owned by Bierbaum  Paier College. Several students also are suing Stone Academy and Bierbaum in a separate lawsuit.

Tong said the students were deprived of nursing careers at a time when more nurses are needed nationwide to deal with multiple health crises including opioid overdoses and COVID-19.

Stone Academy, in a statement, called the lawsuit baseless and blamed other state agencies for forcing the school to close. Bierbaum declined to comment through a lawyer.

Tong said Stone Academy aggressively used marketing to recruit students, many of them Black and Hispanic women who took out loans and used their life savings to pay the more than $30,000 in tuition and other costs to become licensed practical nurses. But the school provided an inadequate education and left them ineligible to take licensing exams and obtain state nursing licenses, he said.

Tong also accused Bierbaum of funneling nearly $1 million a year from Stone Academy to subsidize Paier College, between 2019 and at least 2021, while students at Stone Academy lacked books, lab supplies and at times heat and running water.

The lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in restitution for the students and penalties for alleged violations of the state`s unfair trade practices laws.

What weve seen is not just unjust and wrong but weve seen  Connecticut families, working women devastated by this crisis, Tong said at a news conference in Hartford. Stone promised hands-on training from industry leaders and education that would position students to become licensed practical nurses in less than two years. These were lies. Lies. This a textbook case of consumer deception.

Tong`s office began investigating Stone Academy after it closed its three campuses in East Hartford, Waterbury and West Haven in February as the state Office of Higher Education was raising concerns about the school and seeking an audit.

Tong said officials found, among other things, that the school knowingly hired instructors who were not qualified to teach under state regulations and provided only a fraction of the 860 hours of hands-on clinical experience it promised __ creating a backlog of more than 1,000 students seeking that clinical experience as of late 2020.

State officials also said the average passing rate on a national nursing exam for Stone Academy students was well below the 80% rate required by the state.

In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, Stone Academy said it was trying to wind down operations in a responsible way when the Office of Higher Education ordered it to close within two weeks without any teaching plan in place.

Stones efforts have been focused on helping students, but this lawsuit will require Stone to aggressively seek to hold OHEs leadership and other state officials accountable for their severe mismanagement of this matter and the harm they continue to inflict on hundreds of students and graduates, the statement said.

Tong said the school was wrongly blaming state officials for its own failures.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont approved a new state budget that requires the Office of Higher Education to refund the tuition paid by certain Stone Academy students, using an already existing fund for helping students when private schools close.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits K-12 Education Connecticut Universities
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Autopsy records should be open to the public, a Pennsylvania court ruled in response to the county`s denial of a journalist`s requests for records pertaining to an inmate`s death.

The case marks a further easing of the publics access to death records, though it conflicts with the state coroners association long-held efforts to keep such information private.

In a 6-1 ruling this week, Commonwealth Court ruled that the public should have access to autopsy records regardless of whether coroners are required to provide that paperwork to the county each year.

The ruling stemmed from a request for an autopsy and toxicology report for Daniel A. Pastorek, who died in custody of the Allegheny County Jail. Brittany Hailer, of the Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, was looking into whether jail conditions contributed to Pastoreks death. The county`s medical examiner office provided the cause and manner of death but would not release the inmate`s autopsy findings.

By law, coroners in most Pennsylvania counties must turn over official records and papers each year to their local prothonotarys office by the end of January for public inspection at no cost. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court also previously ruled that, for a fee of up to $500, records can be provided at any time prior to the years end.

But some counties, such as Allegheny and Philadelphia, are not required to turn over their records to the prothonotary`s office because of a state classification determined by population size.

Lawyers for Allegheny County argued that because the county is exempt from having to make public records public by year`s end, it also shouldn`t have to comply with Hailer`s request. They also argued that the law suggested that coroners could deny requests from anyone except for nongovernmental agencies investigating an insurance claim or determining liability for the death of a decedent.

In her ruling, Judge Ellen Ceisler called it absurd that a requester could receive autopsy records located anywhere in the Commonwealth, unless those records are located in the County or Philadelphia County. She also dismissed the reasoning that the law would limit who could receive the records.

Lawyers for Hailer argued that access to the records is a public service to hold institutions accountable.

The facts of the case were particularly disturbing because there was no one else to ask about the circumstances surrounding Pastoreks death, said Hailer`s attorney, Paula Knudsen Burke.

It highlights the importance of investigative journalism in particular, she said.

The Pennsylvania State Coroners Association has long fought public access to autopsy records. In a brief to the court asking to uphold a lower courts ruling that the county did not have to comply, it described the reports as an invasion of the right to privacy without any compelling public interest in knowing these details of the deceased`s life and its impact upon the living family.

In the lone dissent, Judge Michael Wojcik said there was no provision that required the coroners office to disclose autopsy and toxicology records to the general public at any time.

Autopsy records and the right to privacy after death were thrust into the national spotlight after the death of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt during the 2001 Daytona 500. There were questions about whether his safety equipment had been inadequate, and news organizations sought his autopsy photos.

Earnhardts widow fought the release, and the Florida Legislature subsequently passed a law that precluded public inspection of autopsy photos.

In Pennsylvania, expanded access has seen attempted pushback through the Legislature. A 2011 decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to compel a Lehigh County coroner to release an autopsy report for an officer who was accidentally shot inside Easton police headquarters in 2005 prompted renewed attempts to change the law in Pennsylvania, even after the governor vetoed a measure the previous year.

___

Brooke Schultz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pennsylvania
Typhoon Talim became the first typhoon to make landfall in China this year on Monday evening, prompting authorities to issue flood warnings, cancel flights and trains, and order people to stay at home.

Talim, the fourth typhoon of the year, made landfall at 10:20 p.m. (1420 GMT) in Zhanjiang city of Guangdong province, with winds near its center clocked at a top speed of 136.8 kph (85 mph), according to Guangdong weather bureau.

Winds stronger than 150 kph would put Talim in the severe typhoon category, very rare for a typhoon this early in the rainy season.

Talim is expected to move at a speed of 20 km per hour northwest and into Guangxi region early on July 18, Guangdong weather bureau added.

The national forecaster has urged authorities in Guangdong and Hainan to be on standby to respond to the typhoon.

Markets in Hong Kong halted trade for the day as the citys observatory put up a storm signal for Talim, and all court hearings in the city were adjourned.

Chinas meteorological center forecast gale force winds in seas near southern provinces and regions and exceptionally heavy rains of 250-280 mm (9.8-11 inches) on the southwestern coast of Guangxi and northern Hainan Island.

Parts of Guangxi were told to brace for flash floods through Tuesday.

Violent waves of 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 feet) are expected to assail northern parts of the South China Sea through Tuesday, according to state media.

Hainans Marine Forecasting Station warned of waves of up of 6 m south of the tourist island, Xinhua reported.

Authorities in Hainan asked ships in nearby waters to return to port and ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were suspended early on Sunday.

Cancellations

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong canceled 43 inbound and 36 outbound flights on Monday, and Meilan International Airport in Hainans capital city Haikou and Qionghai Boao Airport, also on the resort island, canceled all flights, state media reported.

High-speed railway and suburban trains on Hainan were suspended as well, with routes connecting to the tourist island shut until Friday.

Haikou city will also suspend classes, work, flights, and park and business activities from noon Monday, requiring residents to stay home, state television CCTV reported. Emergency shelters were opened to the public, it said.

In Fujian, north of Guangdong, local authorities declared a rainstorm emergency, with rains and thunderstorms predicted to persist from the weekend in most counties and cities.

The Chinese meteorological center said rainfall in several cities in southeastern Fujian and eastern Jiangsu provinces reached 200-300 mm (7.87-11.81 inches) within three hours early on Monday.

Even before Talims arrival, passengers on a public bus in Jiangsu waded through knee-high water to get to their seats after the vehicle plowed through a water-logged road, videos posted on social media showed.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; additional reporting by Beijing newsroom and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; editing by Sharon Singleton and Grant McCool)

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Aviation China
A Swiss investors association is planning to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for former Credit Suisse shareholders, the latest legal action triggered by the banks emergency takeover by its cross-town rival UBS UBSG.S.

Due to the large number of inquiries, the Swiss Association for the Protection of Investors (SASV) has decided to coordinate a lawsuit under Art. 105 of the Merger Act, the group said in a statement.

The aim is to obtain a cash compensation payment for Credit Suisse shareholders corresponding to the value between the share price set by the merger agreement and the share price determined by the court, it added.

UBS declined to comment.

Under the deal, sealed last month, Credit Suisse shareholders were offered one UBS share for 22.48 Credit Suisse shares, valuing the stricken bank at 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.49 billion).

That compared to a market capitalisation of around 7 billion Swiss francs on the last trading day before the deal was announced in March.

A separate class action was launched last month by Swiss legal start up LegalPass seeking a higher payout from the deal for shareholders.

Hundreds of claims have also been filed by holders of Credit Suisses Additional Tier 1 bonds  which were all written down to zero  claiming compensation.

A group of Credit Suisse AT1 bondholders has also filed a class action suit accusing former executives at the Swiss bank, including three past CEOs, of being responsible for the banks downfall.

SASV said shareholders had until Aug. 4 to contact the group to join the action, which must be filed by Aug. 14 under Swiss merger law.

($1 = 0.8585 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; editing by Bernadette Baum)

Topics Lawsuits Talent
SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP)  A Michigan woman struck in the head by a metal bracket that fell off a roller coaster at an Ohio amusement park has sued the park and its parent company, alleging their negligence caused the accident that left her with traumatic brain injuries.

The August 2021 accident occurred as the then-44-year-old woman was waiting in line to ride the 420-foot (128-meter) tall Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky. At the time, it was worlds second-tallest roller coaster.

The suit seeks undisclosed compensatory damages for the woman, her father  who was in line with her when she was hit  and her husband. The woman`s medical expenses have exceeded $2 million and are expected to reach more than $10 million because of additional treatments and surgery, according to the suit.

Cedar Point declined comment on the suit, saying it does not discuss pending litigation.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Ohio
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Could self-service and digital quoting and binding be gamechangers for independent agents and brokers working in microbusiness lines?

Though theyre the smallest of small businesses, microbusinesses account for the largest portion of small businesses in the United States. They dominate small business insurance books. But they also represent the smallest amount of premium because the average policy premium is so low.

Pushing close to 75% of all small businesses are below 20 employees, said Jack Ramsey, vice president of the agency channel at Next Insurance. And a high percentage of those are below 10 employees. So, that microbusiness space is the largest volume of customers that any agent has if they do any small business selling.

When it comes to account handling, he said the premium amount is irrelevant and that it is just as difficult and cumbersome for traditional carriers to take care of $1,000 accounts as it is to take care of larger small business accounts that have $30,000 premiums. The same manual processes exist across that spectrum.

And thats where talking to agents about a digital-first model for that micro space is a gamechanger, Ramsey said.

Microbusinesses require frequent proof of insurance in their operations, and agencies have had to make decide: Do they hire dedicated employees at a massive expense to do what Ramsey described as busywork, or do they leverage expensive carrier service centers instead?

Even if they opt for the latter, Ramsey said traditional carriers have not been able to build the infrastructure for significant self-service capabilities. This is where Ramsey believes organizations like Next can step in and reshape the solution.

Traditional carriers  and this was the world I came from  dont have that ability, Ramsey said. The legacy systems are so difficult to build and manage. Its been hard for those carriers to build a true self-service or a true digital quoting and binding experience that matches the micro needs.

Agents who work with Next receive personalized embedded links that enable customers to quote and bind their own insurance policies on behalf of the agent. This ensures the agent still owns the account. Agents can still be involved in manual servicing work, too, or they can tap the Next service center.

He did acknowledge the need for a manual, human intervention role in larger small business accounts. Theres a certain threshold at which public data isnt as easily accessible and an individual must insert themselves, ask questions and further evaluate underwriter risk, he said.

But for accounts below a certain size and certain threshold, with a company that has access to reliable in-house and third-party data, you should be able to create a digital experience for a certain box of micro, Ramsey said. And make it seamless.

Ramsey brought more than three decades of insurance industry experience when he began his current role at Next in April. Ramsey believes the agency channels largest pain point is controlling and managing a large amount of microbusiness. His goals are to show agents how to take care of the different categories of small businesses in different ways and grow relationships.

You have a discussion around small business, and oftentimes, the first reaction is, We have enough small business carriers. We dont need another small business carrier. In fact, we have too many,' Ramsey said.

But then helping them understand the difference between small business and micro and confirming the pain point that I already know they have, which is to take care of that micro space. And what if I could provide a solution for you that is 100% digital, saves you from having to leverage service centers from across dozens of carriers at an expense, and allows you to service it the way you want? Would that be helpful? And the answer is always yes.

Ramseys big message is that solutions exist that can help agents and brokers with the part of their agency that is the most (transactional), busiest, low revenue part. Next can help them, he said, create a revenue stream in the micro-small business sector.

Next Announces Ivans Download Integration

Earlier this week, Next Insurance announced its integration with Ivans Download for General Liability and Workers Compensation policies. According to a press release, this feature offers a seamless exchange of policy data between Next and its appointed agents.

With this integration, any time a policy change occurs, Next will send the associated data, including customer information, limits, coverages, new policy sales, cancellations, reinstatements, premium changes, etc., directly to the agents Ivans Exchange account.

Agents using agency management systems that offer real-time delivery of download data, can now receive hourly updates. Once configured in their agency management system, accounts will be automatically updated, eliminating any manual data input or processing of bound policies.

Topics InsurTech
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The US Virgin Islands said it was seeking at least $190 million from JPMorgan Chase & Co. in its lawsuit accusing the bank of enabling Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking.

The territory stated its minimum damages in a Friday filing in Manhattan federal court. In addition to money, the USVI also said it wants JPMorgan to commit to reforms to protect against human trafficking. Epstein had a private retreat in the USVI and brought many of his victims there before his death in 2019.

I am gratified that the victims have received some measure of compensation from the bank, but more needs to be done to hold JPMorgan Chase accountable and to ensure this does not happen to another generation of women and girls, USVI Attorney General Ariel Smith said in a statement on Friday.

The USVI suit was one of two filed against JPMorgan late last year over its ties to Epstein, who was a bank client from 1998 to 2013. The bank last month agreed to settle the other suit, a class action on behalf of Epstein victims, for $290 million. The bank did not admit liability.

Related: JPMorgan Agrees to Pay $290 Million to Settle Epstein Suit

Settlement Discussions

A JPMorgan spokesperson on Friday said the USVIs filing did not reflect the nature of previous settlement conversations between the parties. As for the USVIs misdirected damages theories, they are not well-founded and are being challenged by JPM in court, she said.

JPMorgan has argued that the USVI suit is flawed because the territory itself facilitated Epsteins crimes. For instance, the bank has noted that Cecile de Jongh, the former first lady of the USVI, worked for Epstein and helped arrange visas and travel for women he brought there. Epstein in return paid the Skidmore College tuition for one of De Jonghs children and provided many other benefits.

According to its court filing, USVI is seeking $150 million in penalties from JPMorgan for allegedly facilitating Epsteins sex trafficking. The territory said it also wants $40 million that it estimates JPMorgan earned in fees from managing Epsteins accounts and the accounts of ultra-high net worth figures he referred to the bank.

The USVI said it will also seek additional compensatory and punitive damages that will be distributed to the victims.

The territory has moved to block JPMorgan from arguing that the USVI has unclean hands because many of its officials had ties to Epstein. According to the USVI, a state entity cant be held liable for failing to protect a specific individual rather than the general public.

US District Judge Jed Rakoff asked the territory to submit the Friday filing as part of his consideration of that issue.

The USVI said it sought advice from three trafficking experts, including former SEC Commissioner Robert J. Jackson Jr. in devising anti-trafficking and compliance proposals for JPMorgan to adopt. These would include banning employees with personal relationships with clients from being involved in decisions related to retaining those clients.

Both suits against JPMorgan focused on the role of former private banking head Jes Staley. Emails between the pair, detailed in the USVIs lawsuit, spoke to their profound friendship and how Staley allegedly lobbied internally to keep Epstein as a bank client up until 2013.

Staley, who later became chief executive officer of Barclays Plc but stepped down over his ties to Epstein, is now being sued by JPMorgan. The banks claims he should be responsible for any liability it incurs over Epstein.

The case is USVI v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, 22-cv-10904-UA, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Photo: A protest group holds up signs of Jeffrey Epstein in front of the federal courthouse in New York in 2019. (Bloomberg)

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics USA
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South Carolina is expanding the number of drunk driving offenders who must install temporary breathalyzers before taking the wheel.

Under the new law, anyone convicted of driving under the influence will have to breathe into a device that confirms no measurable alcohol levels exist before they can operate their vehicle. The requirement could last up to six months and is effective now for offenders registering a .08 blood alcohol content or higher, instead of the previous .15 limits.

It`s OK to drink if you want to and it`s OK to drive if you want to, but not both at the same time, Gov. Henry McMaster said at a bill signing ceremony on Wednesday.

Statistics show South Carolina has some of the highest rates of deadly impaired driving in the country. The state`s 0.58 rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled fell behind only Montana and Oregon, according to 2020 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The new law requires that people who get multiple DUI convictions spend up to one year driving with the device, known as an ignition interlock.

Funds are available to help qualified applicants cover associated expenses. Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said the device costs about $150 to install and $3 every day in usage.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Personal Auto South Carolina
Christopher Ramos, 45, of Santa Rosa, California, was sentenced to four years in prison after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance reportedly found he stole more than $189,000 from consumers and left them uninsured.

Ramos was convicted of multiple felony counts of grand theft, theft of fiduciary funds and additional enhancements for theft over $100,000.00. He was also sentenced to five years of mandatory supervision and ordered to pay $189,526 in restitution to his victims.

Ramos worked as an insurance broker from 1999 to 2015 under the business names See Solutions Insurance Brokerage LLC and CDR Insurance Agency LLC. The CDIs investigation found between 2014 and 2016, Ramos collected money intended to be premiums but Ramos failed to remit the money to the insurance carrier and kept it for his personal use.

Ramos also reportedly created fraudulent certificates of insurance. His actions resulted in the policies being cancelled, which victims did not discover until the investigation began.

Ramos insurance license was suspended and revoked in 2019.

The Sonoma County District Attorneys Office prosecuted the case.

Topics California Fraud Agencies
An erupting volcano in Alaskas Aleutian Islands sent a towering cloud of ash into the air Friday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an inflight warning to pilots.

The Shishaldin Volcano began erupting July 11, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. A U.S. Coast Guard overflight confirmed lava erupted the same day within the summit crater.

A significant explosion at 1:09 a.m. Friday produced an ash cloud that reached up to 40,000 feet and drifted south over the Pacific Ocean. A second smaller explosion at 7:10 a.m. Friday reached about 15,000 feet.

The National Weather Service issued a inflight weather advisory due to the drifting ash cloud.

Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down.

The volcano is 679 miles southwest of Anchorage near the center of Unimak Island, the largest island in the Aleutians. False Pass, a village of 40 people, is on the islands east side.

The volcano is a symmetrical cone that is 10 miles in diameter at its base. It rises to 9,373 feet (2,857 meters) and is the highest peak in the Aleutians.

Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc. Most eruptions are small. An event in 1999 spewed an ash column that reached 45, 000 feet.

The volcano is monitored with seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, a web camera and distant infrasound and lightning networks.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters
Vancouver, British Columbia - July 17, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that McEwen Mining Inc. ("McEwen Mining") has provided an update on the Los Azules copper, gold and silver project in San Juan, Argentina. TNR holds a 0.4% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR Royalty") (of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR Royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder) on the Los Azules Copper Project. The Los Azules project is held by McEwen Copper Inc. ("McEwen Copper"), a subsidiary of McEwen Mining.

The news release issued on July 12, 2023, by McEwen Mining stated:

"McEwen Copper Inc., 52% owned by McEwen Mining Inc., today reports additional copper values over wide intercepts resulting from drilling performed on its Los Azules project, located in San Juan, Argentina. McEwen Copper recently published an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on a copper leaching phase of development (see release dated June 20, 2023). Infill and other resource drilling completed since the PEA model data cut-off date confirm very good alignment of new assay results to the resource model prediction for the same area. Also, copper grade continuity modeled in the core of the deposit is well-supported by core logging and new assay results. Los Azules is a large copper-gold-silver porphyry deposit with growth potential, it has many features comparable to world-class copper-gold deposits in South America and its depth and lateral extent have not yet been determined. Infill drilling serves several purposes: providing better data density to upgrade confidence in the mineral resources, providing material and data for metallurgical, geotechnical, and hydrological studies.

Significant Intercept

398 m of 0.75% Cu, including 124 m of 1.43% Cu (Hole AZ23220)

Table 1 provides an overview of the latest round of copper (Cu), gold (Au) and silver (Ag) assays.

Highlights

Hole AZ23220 intercepted an Enriched zone of 398 meters (m) grading 0.75% Cu (est. true thickness) and includes a sub-interval of 124 m grading 1.43% Cu. (Figure 3)

Hole AZ23218 intercepted an Enriched zone of 202 m grading 0.63% Cu (est. true thickness) contained within an overall intercept of 239.2 m grading 0.59% Cu. (Figure 2)

Hole AZ23216 intercepted an Enriched zone of 338 m grading 0.58% Cu and Primary mineralization of 84 m grading 0.27% Cu. (Figure 4)

Hole AZ23206 intercepted 353 m of 0.46% Cu including an Enriched zone intercept of 190 m grading 0.57% Cu. (Figure 5)

The latest drilling program, which began in October 2022, was concluded on June 19, 2023. Up to 15 rigs completed some 39,900 m of drilling in 138 holes, to evaluate geotechnical, hydrological, resource and exploration-related parameters and opportunities. The Los Azules drill hole database now totals some 126,000 m.

To test the Cu% resource model veracity versus actual drilling results, 24 infill holes completed subsequent to the PEA model update were compared to expected results based on the model. The length-weighted average grade of the new drilling was 0.567% Cu versus a resource model prediction of 0.520% Cu. This limited test of the resource model's predictive capacity is very encouraging with actual grades being 9% higher than the model prediction.

Preparations are underway for the next phase of drilling, anticipated to begin in early October. This phase will continue to increase geologic certainty with drilling needed to delineate a Measured mineral resource estimate on the material expected to be mined in the first five years of operation, covering more than the payback period and other technical evaluations.

Description of Results

Figure 1 shows a plan view of 2023 mineable Indicated and Inferred resources from the PEA whose pit wall is shown as a black trace at surface. Drill hole and cross-section locations relevant to today's release are also shown.

The drilling results are summarized on four schematic cross sections that include interpretations of Overburden, Leached, Enriched (also called Supergene) and Primary (also called Hypogene) mineral zones. The green line on each section indicates the floor of the Base Case 27-year pit outline according to the updated PEA. Adjacent cross sections occur every 50 m with the lowest section numbers located at the southern end of the field and increasing northwards.

Figure 1 - Cross Sections and Recent Drill Holes on the 2023 Base Case Mineable Resource Pit Plan

Figure 2 - Section 44 - Drilling, Mineral Zones & 2023 Base Case Mineable Resource Pit (Looking North)

Hole AZ23218, shown in the center of Figure 2, has been added to section 44 to infill a 300 m gap in drilling between holes AZ23189 and AZ22170. The hole returned a higher-grade Enriched zone intercept than either of those holes with 202 m of 0.63% Cu, including a sub-interval of 20 m of 0.91% Cu. Overall, the cross section is characterized by a 200 m to 300 m flat-lying Enriched zone buried immediately below a thin Leached zone horizon. The mineralization in hole AZ23218 extends at depth into the Primary (or Hypogene) zone with an intercept of 37.2 m of 0.39% Cu.

Figure 3 - Section 45 - Drilling, Mineral Zones & 2023 Base Case Mineable Resource Pit (Looking North)

Hole AZ23220, shown in Figure 3 on section 45, returned outstanding Enriched zone results of 398 m of 0.75% Cu, including a sub-interval of 124 m grading 1.43% Cu which exceeds the Base Case grade of the recently released 2023 Updated PEA for Los Azules by more than three times. The hole was positioned to test for a structural corridor located in the core of the deposit. The high grades returned occur within a hydrothermal magmatic breccia, which is representative of that corridor. The mineralization and lithology logged are consistent with the previously released neighboring holes AZ22171 and AZ23201 which supports our view that continuity within the deposit is very good and in harmony with the resource model that has been developed.

Figure 4 - Section 49 - Drilling, Mineral Zones & 2023 Base Case Mineable Resource Pit (Looking North)

Hole AZ23216, shown in Figure 4 on section 49, highlights a 338 m Enriched zone intercept grading 0.58% Cu including a 48 m interval of 0.90% Cu. The hole was positioned to extend mineralization east from hole AZ17133. The thick intercept occurred toward the eastern flank of the deposit, where normally both grade and thickness begin to diminish. Mineralization continues at depth where Primary mineralization corresponds to an 84 m interval of 0.27% Cu.

Figure 5 - Section 51 - Drilling, Mineral Zones & 2023 Base Case Mineable Resource Pit (Looking North)

Hole AZ23206 shown in Figure 5 on section 51 intersected 190 m of Enriched zone mineralization grading 0.57% Cu and includes a 94 m section of 0.62% Cu. Mineralization continues at depth where the Primary zone was intersected with 163 m of 0.32% Cu.

Technical information

The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., McEwen Mining's Senior Consulting Geologist, and a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

All samples were collected in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. Drill core samples, usually taken at 2 m intervals, were split and submitted to the Alex Stewart International laboratory located in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, for the following assays: gold determination using fire fusion assay and an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish (Au4-30); a 39 multi-element suite using ICP-OES analysis (ICP-AR 39); copper content determination using a sequential copper analysis (Cu-Sequential LM-140). An additional 19-element analysis (ICP-ORE) was performed for samples with high sulphide content.

The company conducts a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program in accordance with NI 43-101 and industry best practices using a combination of standards and blanks on approximately one out of every 25 samples. Results are monitored as final certificates are received, and any re-assay requests are sent back immediately. Pulp and preparation sample analyses are also performed as part of the QAQC process. Approximately 5% of the sample pulps are sent to a secondary laboratory for control purposes. In addition, the laboratory performs its own internal QAQC checks, with results made available on certificates for Company review.

Link to drill results, locations and lengths of drillhole collars corresponding to May 2023 through June 2023 at Los Azules:

https://www.mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2023/2023_06LA/2023_05-06_DrillResultsLocations_LA.xls

Link to drill results, locations and lengths of drillhole collars corresponding to the October 2022 to June 2023 drilling campaign at Los Azules:

https://www.mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2023/2023_06LA/2022_10-2023_06DrillResultsLocations_LA.xls

ABOUT MCEWEN COPPER

McEwen Copper is a well-funded, private company which owns 100% of the large, advanced stage Los Azules copper project, located in San Juan province, Argentina. McEwen Copper is 52% owned private subsidiary of McEwen Mining, which has the ticker MUX on NYSE and TSX.

Los Azules is being designed to be distinctly different from a conventional copper mine, consuming significantly less water, emitting much lower carbon and progressing to be carbon neutral by 2038, being powered by 100% renewable once in operation. It recently released an updated PEA (preliminary economic assessment) which projects a long life of mine, low production cost/lb, short payback period, high annual copper production and a 21.2% after tax IRR.

ABOUT MCEWEN MINING

McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it has significant exposure to copper through its 52% ownership of McEwen Copper. The Company's goal is to improve the productivity and extend the life of its mines with the objective of increasing its share value and price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has personal investment in the company of US$220 million. His annual salary is US$1."

The McEwen Mining press release appears to be reviewed and verified by a Qualified Person (as that term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and the procedures, methodology and key assumptions disclosed therein are those adopted and consistently applied in the mining industry, but no Qualified Person engaged by TNR has done sufficient work to analyze, interpret, classify or verify McEwen Mining's information to determine the current mineral resource or other information referred to in its press releases. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned in placing any reliance on the disclosures therein.

"We are pleased that significant developments on the advancement of the Los Azules Copper Project towards feasibility have brought Stellantis as a strategic partner in the future development of this giant copper, gold and silver project. An additional investment of US $30 million in McEwen Copper was also invested by Rio Tinto's Venture Nuton in 2023 after its initial investment of US $25 million in 2022," stated Kirill Klip, TNR's Chief Executive Officer. "TNR Gold's vision is aligned with the leaders of innovation among automakers like Stellantis, with the aim of decarbonizing mobility, and our mining industry leaders like Rob McEwen's vision 'to build a mine for the future, based on regenerative principles that can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2038'.

"The green energy rEVolution relies on the supply of critical metals like copper; delivering "green copper" to Argentina and the world will contribute to the clean energy transition and electrification of transportation and energy industries.

"Strong team performance is accelerating the McEwen Copper Los Azules program in 2023. The 2023 Los Azules Project PEA results highlighted the potential to create very robust leach project, while reducing environmental footprint and greater environmental and social stewardship sets the Project apart from other potential mine developments.

"It's very encouraging to see an updated independent mineral resource estimate that has increased significantly. Reported by McEwen Copper infill and other resource drilling completed since the PEA model data cut-off date confirm very good alignment of new assay results to the resource model prediction for the same area.

"Together with Nuton, McEwen Copper is exploring new technologies that save energy, water, time and capital, advancing Los Azules towards the goal of the leading environmental performance. The involvement of Rio Tinto with its innovative technology, may also accelerate realizing the enormous potential of the Los Azules Project.

"Los Azules was ranked in the top 10 largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world by Mining Intelligence (2022). TNR Gold does not have to contribute any capital for the development of the Los Azules Project. The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like McEwen Mining as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders."

ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP.

TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company.

Our business model provides a unique entry point in the creation of supply chains for critical materials like energy metals that are powering the energy rEVolution, and the gold industry that is providing a hedge for this stage of the economic cycle.

Our portfolio provides a unique combination of assets with exposure to multiple aspects of the mining cycle: the power of blue-sky discovery and important partnerships with industry leaders as operators on the projects that have the potential to generate royalty cashflows that will contribute significant value for our shareholders.

Over the past twenty-seven years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality global exploration projects. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, the potential of the Mariana Lithium Project and Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina among many others have been recognized.

TNR holds a 1.5% NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina, of which 0.15% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. Ganfeng Lithium's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina ("LMA"), has the right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR royalty on the Mariana Project, of which 0.9% is the Company's NSR Royalty interest. The Company would receive CAN$900,000 and its shareholder would receive CAN$100,000 on the repurchase by LMA, resulting in TNR holding a 0.45% NSR royalty and its shareholder holding a 0.05% NSR royalty.

The Mariana Lithium Project is 100% owned by Ganfeng Lithium. The Mariana Lithium Project has been approved by the Argentina provincial government of Salta for an environmental impact report, and the construction of a 20,000 tons-per-annum lithium chloride plant has commenced.

TNR Gold also holds a 0.4% NSR Royalty on the Los Azules Copper Project, of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. The Los Azules Copper Project is being developed by McEwen Mining.

TNR also holds a 7% net profits royalty holding on the Batidero I and II properties of the Josemaria Project that is being developed by Lundin Mining. Lundin Mining is part of the Lundin Group, a portfolio of companies producing a variety of commodities in several countries worldwide.

TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources. The Company's strategy with the Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with a major gold mining company. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties.

At its core, TNR provides a wide scope of exposure to gold, copper, silver and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and royalty holdings in Argentina (the Mariana Lithium project, the Los Azules Copper Project and the Batidero I & II properties of the Josemaria Project), and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Kirill Klip

Executive Chairman

www.tnrgoldcorp.com

For further information concerning this news release please contact Kirill Klip +1 604-229-8129

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives, changes in share capital, market conditions for energy commodities, the successful completion of sales of portions of the NSR royalties and decisions of the government agencies and other regulators in Argentina. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will be able to repay its loans or complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales; debt or other financings will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties challenging in the future the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on.

In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc., Ganfeng Lithium, and Lundin Mining will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

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A pair of young white-tailed eagles found poisoned in Northern Ireland are believed to have travelled north from Munster.

The birds were re-introduced in recent years by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

They were found dead on a hill farm in the Glenhead Road area of Ballymena, Co Antrim, on May 15, with the cause of death being later confirmed by the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI).

One of the birds had been released by the then Taoiseach Micheal Martin last August on the Shannon Estuary.

Mr Martin said he was deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the death of the white-tailed eagles. He had closely followed the reintroduction programme for a number of years.

These are an iconic species, and the work of the NPWS in reintroducing them is something I, and the Government, am proud to support.

There have been great successes in the programme over recent years, so to learn of a poisoning like this is very disappointing, he said.

PSNI Rural and Wildlife Crime Superintendent Johnston McDowell said the illegal killing of these beautiful birds in a popular rural area was "disgraceful".

The Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) is offering a 5,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of those involved in the poisoning.

One of the young white-tailed eagles found dead had been brought in as a chick in 2022 from Norway under phase two of the NPWS-managed re-introduction programme.

He was fitted with a satellite tag so his movements could be followed. After being released, the young eagle spent months on the Shannon Estuary before starting to travel around the country.

The eagle crossed into Northern Ireland from south Donegal on May 1 and was found dead just two weeks later, alongside an untagged young eagle.

Mr O Donnchu said the origin of the second dead eagle is unknown, but NPWS staff believe it most likely fledged from a nest in Munster in 2021.

Investigations by the PSNI recently revealed that both young eagles had died as a result of ingesting an insecticide called Bendiocarb.

It is not known how the eagles ingested this substance, but it was possibly from eating carrion (a dead animal) or other bait laced with the insecticide.

According to the substance classification and labelling approved by the European Union, Bendiocarb is fatal if swallowed, is toxic in contact with skin and is toxic if inhaled.

It is acutely toxic to many animals, particularly to birds, fish and some invertebrates such as bees and earthworms. Its use has been illegal in Scotland since 2005.

Despite their toxicity, Bendiocarb, Carbofuran and other poisons continue to be used to target wildlife.

Earlier this year, a white-tailed eagle was found poisoned by the illegal insecticide Carbofuran in Co Cavan, he said.

White-tailed eagles are a protected species under the Wildlife Act. These birds were persecuted to extinction by the early 1900s.

But they are making a successful comeback due to the NPWS reintroduction programme started in 2007.

Some landowners may have, in the past, commonly used poisons to deliberately control crows and foxes, especially around lambing time.

The NPWS has issued a reminder that using poisonous substances to control foxes and crows is illegal and has been since 2010.

It said the potential for positive economic benefits from the re-introduction of the eagles had been demonstrated in Mountshannon, Co. Clare.

Thousands of visitors were attracted to the area after the first breeding pair in Ireland in over a century nested within sight of the village in 2012.

Sadly, one of the eagles died of avian Influenza in 2018. However, there is good news from Mountshannon as the widowed male has paired up with a female released in 2020.

The pair hatched two chicks this spring, and they are due to fly the nest later this month. They were recently ringed, and one was also fitted with a satellite transmitter.

Almost all chicks released by the project have been satellite-tagged since 2020. This enables the project to follow the movements of the eagles as they disperse and establish in new areas and to determine the locations of any birds which might be in trouble.
West Cork-based artist Pat Fraser has many vivid memories of her visit to the West Bank in Palestine in 2018. I was travelling with a group of doctors, journalists and psychiatrists, she says. The trip was organised by the Irish government, and was kept to a very strict schedule.

We were on a journey to Jerusalem one day, and the bus hadnt gone fifty yards when we were stopped by an Israeli army patrol. All the Palestinian people were ordered off, so the soldiers could check their permits. We were told we could stay on the bus, but we got off to show our solidarity.

She was struck by how young the soldiers were. Many of them grew up in far-off places, like the UK and Australia. They were only kids. Yet here they were, armed with AK47s and pistols on their hips. It reminded me a lot of Northern Ireland in the Troubles.

That first trip to the West Bank was ten days in duration, and Fraser returned for a similar period the following year to collect more material for her forthcoming exhibition at the Inish Beg Estate in Baltimore, West Cork. A Journey Through Palestine, a selection of watercolours and sketches inspired by her two trips to the West Bank, will be opened by the actor  and long-time West Cork resident - Jeremy Irons on the evening of Friday, July 21.

Jeremy is filming in the UK at the moment, she says. But hes coming over especially to speak at the opening. Ive known him for years, ever since he commissioned a wooden boat from Hegartys Boatyard, and Liam Hegarty asked me to make a painting of the boat to present him with. Any time Ive met him since, hes told me how much he loves the painting.

Fraser was born in Wales, to a Welsh father and an Irish mother, a Minihane, who grew up in a thatched cottage overlooking Heir Island. She only died last month, in her nineties. She often remembered playing as a child in the grounds of Kilcoe Castle, which Jeremy has since restored.

Frasers father worked as a signwriter, and most of her family were artistic. She painted in school, and went on to study at the Swansea College of Art, graduating in 1981 with a BA in Medical and Botanical Illustration. Even before I finished college, I was getting commissions from major publishing houses, she says. I did work as an illustrator for Readers Digest and Harper & Collins, as well as private commissions for my watercolours.

Artist Pat Fraser outside her studio near Baltimore, Co. Cork, with her study in watercolour and pencil of a young girl in the West Bank which will feature in her exhibition "A journey through Palestine" which will run from July 22nd to July 24th (10am-6pm) at Inish Beg Estate, Baltimore.

She moved to West Cork in 1986, settling initially in Baltimore, where she and her partner shared a small apartment. But then the village became more and more developed, and we decided to move out to the countryside. We didnt have a car, but we hitched out to look at a cottage on a 1.5-acre site on the way to Lough Hine. When we bought the property in 1991, it had no water or electricity, but we renovated it and weve lived there ever since.

Fraser has continued to work as an illustrator for Irish and international publishing companies, as well as completing commissions for companies such as An Post and Irish Knitwear. She has also continued working on her own projects; A Journey Through Palestine will be the fourth solo exhibition of her paintings.

Therell be sixty pieces in the show, she says. Most are watercolours, along with some drawings in pen-and-ink. I usually spend two weeks on each of my paintings, and Ive spent four years preparing for the show. My favourite piece in the exhibition is the portrait of a child Ive used in all the publicity material. I call her my Mona Lisa. Its the one painting Ill keep for myself; all the other work is for sale, with all the profits going to Medicins Sans Frontiers and Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Most of Frasers paintings are based on her photographs and the sketches she made on her trips. I used to go down to the market in Bethlehem every morning, and Ive done some paintings of the people I met there, like the elderly gentlemen who sold falafels at the roadside. But most of them are of people I met in the camps.

Some of the camps are there so long that theyve got little shops and theatres, and facilities for children. But one thing I noticed is that there are a lot of young men, pumped full of testosterone, and very frustrated with their situation. I witnessed one protest march against conditions in the camps, along the perimeter wall. It was mostly very peaceful, but one young boy threw a lump of concrete at the wall, and the Israeli soldiers patrolling along the top of it responded by firing teargas into the crowd. It was very oppressive.

The shame of it all is that the people are so beautiful, and its such a magical place. Youd fully expect to meet Jesus himself coming round the corner.

Pat Frasers exhibition of paintings and drawings, a Journey Through Palestine, is open from 10am  6pm, July 22-24, at the Octagon at Inish Beg Estate, Baltimore, West Cork. Further information: inishbeg.com
As soon as I stepped onto the ferry, I could feel it. The vibration of the engine combined with the gentle slap of water. The combination elicited a response deep in my gut: the promise of motion sickness. Despite the fact that we hadnt yet pulled up anchor, and that Ringaskiddy Harbour was as calm as it would ever be. Ignoring my gut, I leaned over the railing to wave at my parents. My wave was full of bravado, the sort you get from a laughably inexperienced nineteen-year-old who has a plan to join her college friend in the South of France and only a vague outline of how she will get there.

First this overnight crossing from Ringaskiddy to Le Havre. Then a train to Paris, followed by the TGV to Toulon, followed by a local train to the nearby town of Hyeres where  if everything went to the vague plan  my friend Claire and her aunt, also called Claire, would come to pick me up.

One small consolation for my parents was that an older cousin was also on the ferry. Padraig was two years older than me and embarking on a boys trip to France. Six young Irish lads on the loose: you get the picture. It was pure chance that we ended up on the same ferry (probably the result of my mothers prayers) but we would be parting ways at Le Havre. The boys had paid for a cabin, whereas my ticket was seat only. I wont bore you with the details of the crossing. Suffice it to say, when we reached the open sea, the onboard disco was kicking off but I just felt tragically sick.

One of the boys gallantly offered me the use of his bunk. I lay down gratefully and didnt get out of the bunk for the remainder of the journey. A lot went on in the cabin that night. The boys jump-danced at the disco, drank like fish (sorry about the word-play, but they did), and stumbled into the cabin in the early hours of the morning, when the seas were particularly rough and their hardened stomachs succumbed to motion sickness and ten-pints-of-Guinness sickness.

When we arrived at Le Havre, I rallied, eager to get off the ferry and onto solid ground. I walked out of the port terminal to see  pretty much nothing. The boys explained to me that the port was not in the centre of town (duh!) and I would need to get a bus to the town centre and train station. They then said au revoir and I was on my own.

I reached the station without any major issues, and not long after I boarded a packed train to Paris, where I had to stand for much of the journey, trying to act confident, like I was perfectly comfortable travelling on my own. A few hours later we zipped through the outskirts of Paris, which were grim and gritty and nothing like I had imagined. Disembarking in Gare St Lazare, I tried to find the correct platform for the TGV. After enquiring in my school-girl French, I eventually learned that the TGV departed from Gare De Lyon (duh!), six kilometres across town. I decided to splurge on a taxi which I later discovered took a lot longer as well as costing a lot more than the metro.

Eighty francs poorer, I was nevertheless ecstatic to be on the TGV: at last somewhere I could sit in comfort without feeling motion sickness. I stowed my suitcase in the luggage rack and sank into my seat. Only to be asked to move a short while later: my ticket didnt include a reserved seat. Each time the train stopped, I had to change seats. I got used to standing until the new passengers were settled in before finding an unoccupied seat to sit on. Many passengers were engaged in the same game of musical chairs, and those who spoke English chatted about their travelling experiences.

BM Carroll on her travels in France. Picture: Giles Park

One particular man  French, aged in his early twenties  disembarked at every stop, and would reappear again just as the train doors were about to close. Before disembarking he would smile at me and ask me, in French, to watch his bag. Then he would take off his shirt: I couldnt help noticing that his chest had several long narrow scars. On one occasion, I saw him flick open a knife as he was stepping onto the platform, and I realised that he was disembarking to fight, or perhaps to rob someone, or maybe just to strut around the platform brandishing a weapon. It was hard to return his smiles after that. My French beau and I parted ways at Marseilles: I still think about him, more than thirty years later. He was precisely the reason my mother said several novenas before I left on my trip.

It was early morning when I finally arrived in Hyeres, a day and a half after leaving Ringaskiddy. I exited the train station to the smell of coffee beans, fresh bread, and heat rising from the pavement. A phone call later, and Claire and her aunt were on their way to pick me up. Hyeres was a small city, with a population of about 50,000. Claires aunt lived in a rural area outside town: the road to her house had orchards and vineyards on either side. She had two adorable toddlers who spoke a combination of French and English, and her British husband had a boat repairs business.

There was a bidet in the downstairs bathroom, which the toddlers used to bathe in. Each night we sat outside for dinner, drinking wine and eating cheese. Except I didnt like cheese, which was incomprehensible to my hosts; one night I remember having a peach instead. Nevertheless, I felt extremely sophisticated. On a visit into town, I sent some postcards to friends and family to let them know I had arrived safely  just about!

A week or so later I received some mail myself. A letter from my boyfriend of two weeks! Yes, two weeks! What can I say? I made such an impression on this boy he wrote me a long letter while I was away on holiday (I made such an impression, we emigrated together a few years later, and eventually got married and had two children).

For the next week, I endeavoured to get a suntan (I wish I could tell my pale nineteen-year-old self that I was wasting my time), visited some neighbouring towns and ports, and enjoyed the fireworks for Bastille Day celebrations. Then Claire and I set out on our own adventure. We caught the train to Nice, and stayed a few nights in a cheap hotel across the road from a brothel. We ate croissants for breakfast, baguettes for lunch, and drank gallons of Orangina.

We winced as we negotiated the pebble stones on Opera Beach, declared our preference for the golden sand in Cannes, although we deemed Cannes lacking in atmosphere (I think we were on our own there!). We drank cheap wine in outdoor bars, while receiving marriage proposals from several Algerian waiters. We took out-of-focus photos of turquoise water, ancient churches, cobblestone alleys, and a bizarre number of fountains. And all too soon, it was over.

The following week, an infinitely more confident and competent girl left Hyeres to begin the return journey home. She swapped seats on the TGV like a professional. At Gare De Lyon, she was approached by two Japanese tourists, who were trying to get to Le Havre. Been there, did that! She purchased metro tickets to Gare St Lazare, ferried the girls onto the correct train, and again onto the train north, imparting her hard-earned wisdom along the way. Finally, she caught the bus to the port and the least appealing part of the journey: the dreaded ferry.

But this time she was prepared. In her handbag were a packet of motion sickness tablets, purchased at a pharmacy in Cannes and guaranteed to ward off Le Mal de Mer. The tablets made her sleepy, but nevertheless she danced at the disco like it was the start of her holiday and not the end.
A getaway to Cork offers city breakers so much colour and character when it comes to hotel choices nowadays.

From the bougie Montenotte with its stunning views, Hayfield Manor with its timeless class or The Dean, with its design-led rooms and already famous rooftop bar.

But amid the competition, how does the oldest of them all, The Metropole, which celebrates 125 years of welcoming guests this year, rate?

I recently headed to Cork's ever-happening Victorian Quarter to check in for a date with the citys original Grand Dame.

A tipple at the Met Bar.

First Impressions

The Metropole has long been a landmark of McCurtain Street, formerly King Street, and its stately red brick facade embellished with turrets and gables still offers throwback vibes to when it was once the finest Victorian high street in Cork.

Inside, the hotels reception features all the trademarks of the historic grand lobby with red carpets, a mahogany reception area and a fine grand piano while to the left, theres the hotels inviting Met Bar.

There's an air of history to the property as soon as you walk in but perhaps not quite an aura.

Service is warm and personable at check-in and Im ushered to, Im told, one of Corks oldest elevators which transports me up to my floor. Ding!

The Jack Lynch suite at the Metropole Hotel, Cork.

Suite Talk

I was staying in one of the hotels premium rooms named after celebrated Corkonians; in my case, its the Jack Lynch Suite.

Its a handsome, light-filled room with a fine sleigh bed and a collection of genuine antique furniture pieces and characterful bay windows overlooking MacCurtain Street (if youre a light sleeper, do pack ear plugs due to current construction work outside).

The bathroom which features a shower and curtain over the bath is a more standard affair but touches like an ornate mirror and light fixture as well as high ceilings do enhance it.

Elsewhere in the room, there are blingy touches like velvet flocked curtains and cushions while a painting of an anthropomorphic dog in period garb adds an element of humour.

Theres a photograph of the former Taoiseach staring across from it on another wall and while its an excellent room there does seem to be a design clash between classic and irreverent.

I also have a snoop at the hotels other rooms which range from entry-level compact rooms to executive rooms priced below the suites.

Some feature original period touches like an alcove within the hotels distinctive turret and many have impressive city or Lee views but while not lacking in comfort, I do find the furnishings and greyish colour schemes leave the rooms a little wanting of style or character for a historic hotel of its stature.

At your service

The Metropole does not feature a spa and while the pool is currently out of commission, it does offer a gym which is extensive if a little tired.

Afternoon tea is a big hit here and thats served in the lovely botanic-themed wing of The Met bar downstairs.

Versus the competition, the real star is perhaps the hotel's location with excellent amenities on its doorstep from the Everyman Theatre to excellent eateries such as Palmor, Moodys, Cask and the happening Nells wine bar.

Gluten-free pancakes, served up for brekkie at the Metropole.

Dining

I dined in the hotels stylish and recently refurbed bar, restaurant and Prosecco lounge, The Met, which, with its Roaring 2020s design aesthetic is a pleasing backdrop to enjoy a meal on an old-fashioned cocktail.

The menu features a county map highlighting the foods proud Cork provenance & I eat my way around the region with prawn Pil Pil, followed by a sirloin served with tender stem broccoli and truffle fries and a particularly delicious baked West Cork yoghurt with poached rhubarb.

It all added up to a fine and reasonably fine meal and while like some hotel restaurants, it lacked atmosphere compared to some of the eateries in the area, Id still recommend it for a friendly, convenient dine-in option. They make a nice old fashioned too.

Breakfast the next morning is served in a charming morning room overlooking the river Lee where warm staff greet a number of return guests always a good sign. Along with some tasty Continental items, I order the novelty of gluten-free pancakes, which, served with a fruity compote, are the perfect start to my day.

Check out

The Metropole is a Cork icon with personable service in a historic, storied setting.

New areas like The Met bar represent the kind of razzle-dazzle befitting of such a grand dame and it would be nice to see the hotel rooms (beyond the suites) go in a similar direction in the future.

Until then, The Metropole continues to offer one of the most iconic and central bases in the city and even with 125 years in the bank, you feel excited for new chapters ahead.

themetropolehotel.ie

Tom was a guest of the hotel
The two rally drivers killed in Sligo on Sunday have been hailed as men who were the backbone of the sport.

The pair have been named locally as driver Gene McDonald of Cootehill, Co Cavan, who was in his 30s, and co-driver Daire Maguire of Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, who was in his 40s.

They were just 5km into their second running of the third stage of the Sligo Stages Rally (Stage 6) at 3pm on Sunday when their Ford Escort hit a wall at Carrowcushcly.

Rally organisers, the Connacht Motor Club, immediately activated their major incident protocol and suspended the rally.

Emergency services and a doctor rushed to the scene and were on site within four minutes.

All competitors were told to return to the service park in Collooney and the rally was terminated. However, both men are believed to have died instantly.

Their remains were removed to Sligo University Hospital on Sunday evening where autopsies will take place today.

Two nicer fellas you would never have met, a member of the roadside crews told the Irish Examiner.

They were very experienced. The backbone of the sport. I was chatting to them all day. Its just one of those freak things. You do everything to make it safe, you would never have seen it coming. The whole sport will raise the bar to make sure it never happens again, he said.

The rally community is just one big family. These two lads would have been known all over the 32 counties. There wouldnt be one corner of Ireland where they wouldnt have been known.

Both victims had been involved in rallying for years if not decades and were married with young families.

The road at Carrowcushcly is a very straight but narrow stretch of local road and was about halfway through the 10km Stage 3 route of the rally. While weather conditions in Sligo had improved considerably by 3pm on Sunday, rally volunteers described the road conditions as still damp.

The men were driving a Ford Escort Mark 2, originally built in the 1970s or 80s but which had been completely rebuilt.

It would have been stronger than a modern car, according to rally sources and would have been examined by safety crews the day before inch by inch.

Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper said all competitors would have familiarised themselves with the route and driven it at least three times on Saturday before Sundays rally began at 9am.

Aiden Harper, president of Motorsport Ireland. Picture: Martin Walsh.

The rally was well underway at that point and our competitors would have driven that road twice already yesterday, he said.

It's important to say as well that competitors go out the day before the rally and they do a reconnaissance on the stages. They make their safety notes and they drive every stage three times at road speed just checking and making their own notes as to how they will perform the following day. So, they do their full reconnaissance the day before and then they go into competitive mode then on the day itself, he said.

Our condolences and sympathies of Motorsport Ireland and the organisers here in Connacht Motor Club are with the families and will continue to be so as they continue this journey together.

Motorsport Ireland has initiated its own investigation alongside the Garda investigation into the incident. It is the first fatal crash to claim the lives of rally competitors in Sligo and the first fatality in Ireland since the death of rally driver Manus Kelly at the Donegal rally in June 2019.

The rallying community was only just coming to terms with the death of driver Craig Breen who was killed test-driving a route in Croatia on 13 April.

We will work with all the local authorities and the organising club here to ascertain the full facts of the incident, added Mr Harper.

Motorsport Ireland sporting manager Art McCarrick said Sunday was "a very difficult and dark day for our sport" and appealed to members of the public not to circulate video footage of the fatal accident but to share it with the gardai.

Tributes

Meanwhile, Cavan Motor Club extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of its club member Mr McDonald, and to the loved ones of Mr Maguire.

Both Gene and Daire were highly regarded in the sport, and their friendly manner knew no bounds, it said.

The motorsport family will gather to support all those involved and affected by this tragedy.

May the kind souls of Gene and Daire rest eternally in peace. Til we meet again.

A Facebook page dedicated to the past pupils at Ballagh and Donagh Primary School offered its sincere condolences to Mr Maguires family.

May he rest in peace. Thinking of Eamon, Bernie, Catherine, Conor, Eamon Jnr, his wife Breda & children and the extended families. Such heartbreaking news, it said.

Retail company Cadco NI paid tribute to their colleague Mr Maguire and offered sympathies to his family.

Daire was one of lifes true gentlemen, a highly respected member of staff by both customers and colleagues and will be missed immensely by all, a statement posted to Facebook said.

On behalf of everyone at Cadco, we offer Daires wife and our colleague Breda, his children Megan and Christopher and his wider family and friends our most sincere condolences and sympathy at this difficult time.

 additional reporting from PA
Schoolteacher Enoch Burke, who was dismissed from his position for alleged gross misconduct, has been ordered to pay legal costs to the Wilsons Hospital School in their successful High Court action against him earlier this year.

Awarding the costs to the school on Monday, Mr Justice Alexander Owens made an order restraining Mr Burke from trespassing on the premises of the school in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, but said that the German and History teacher was not prevented from attending outside the school gates.

In its action, the school had argued it was correct to place Mr Burke on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary process against him. It submitted that Mr Burke was dismissed from his position because he had intimidated and harassed a colleague and had breached the confidence of a student in the school who wished to transition.

Mr Burke, who denied any wrongdoing, argued that his suspension arose out of his opposition to transgenderism and an alleged direction by the school to refer to a student who wishes to transition by a different pronoun.

In a counterclaim, he submitted that the disciplinary process against him should be set aside and that it breached his constitutional rights, including his right to freedom of expression of his religious beliefs.

Last May, Mr Justice Alexander Owens found that Mr Burke was lawfully suspended from his teaching position at the school.

Counsel for the school, Alex White SC, said that Wilsons Hospital School was seeking damages of 15,000 for Mr Burke having trespassed, as well as costs involved in the case.

Read More School awarded 15k as Enoch Burke loses case over his suspension

Defending himself, Mr Burke said that his case was one of religious belief and freedom of conscience and accused Mr Justice Owens of having an exalted religious belief to the most serious of crimes in his original judgement.

You said that my religious belief was capable of amounting to gross misconduct if the charge was proved, said Mr Burke.

These proceedings have been initiated against me because I took a stand on my religious belief, I stand by my actions in speaking up, and for the court to now ask me to pay something is punishing me for that religious belief, he said.

Mr Justice Owens told him that what was at stake in the current proceedings was whether the court would award costs to the school and said that there would have to be exceptional reasons as to why the costs should not follow.

Mr Burke said that the court had a constitutional obligation to uphold his rights, and he went on to say that Mr Justice Owens had reneged on the vow he made when becoming a judge. After listening to Mr Burkes submissions, Mr Justice Owens said that he had adhered to his oath as to how he decided the original case.

Youve harangued me now for nearly an hour, said Mr Justice Owens, ruling that he was awarding the school the costs.

The judge told Mr Burke that he was still free to appeal the outcome of the original case in which Mr Justice Owens ruled that Mr Burke was lawfully suspended from his teaching position at Wilson's Hospital secondary school.

Continuing trespass

In May, Mr Justice Owens ruled that the school, subsequent to suspending Mr Burke, was also entitled to a permanent injunction prohibiting him from attending at its premises and damages of 15,000 for his continuing trespass at the school's campus.

The judge said that the damages were in addition to the 700 per diem fine that had been imposed by the High Court on Mr Burke several months ago for his ongoing breach of earlier orders requiring him to stay away from the school's premises in Multyfarnham in Co. Westmeath.

Mr Justice Owens was giving his decision in the action between the school and Mr Burke over its decision to commence disciplinary proceedings against and suspend the teacher on full pay in August 2022.
Standing in the wreckage of RTEs reputation, slope-shouldered from the weight of his computer bag, Kevin Bakhurst joins a handful of people who came into their own in similar circumstances.

One of them was the unsinkable Molly Brown, a passenger on the Titanic who took control of one of the lifeboats after the sinking and did a remarkable job of motivating the other survivors with her.

Another was Captain Bligh, who, when the mutineers on the Bounty shoved him into a long open boat with those officers who stayed loyal to him, managed to navigate that boat across thousands of miles of open sea and bring every one of his charges home alive.

A third is Aneurin Bevan, the British minister who  in the aftermath of the Second World War, while the Blitz debris was still being cleared off the streets of Britains cities  created the National Health Service, which was to transform public health in that country.

None of them, today, is an oft-quoted household name like Churchill. Each saved countless lives by stepping in when everything they were used to  and that those around them were used to  had been swept away.

The abolition of the norm arguably suited each of them. Nowhere to go but up. Just get on with it. Do the right thing and see where it gets you.

Margaret Brown became known as 'The unsinkable Molly Brown' after she stepped into a leadership role on the sinking Titanic, shepherding passengers and taking command of one of the lifeboats.

Thats where Bakhurst is at right now, and its not the worst position to be in. No previous director general was able to simply remove the existing lead team and reconstitute it on a temporary basis while they worked out who was productive on that team and who was less than productive. No previous DG was in so strong a negotiating position with government. No previous director general had the positive public profile this man has hewn for himself in his first weeks in office.

Its often said that timing is everything, and the timing of Bakhursts arrival in the role, while ostensibly negative, is in fact overwhelmingly positive.

But timing is only part of it. The other part is represented by the actions the man has taken and the communication he has made since he arrived.

'He wanders. Meets people. Listens to them. Asks questions. But the great thing is, he knows he doesnt have to ask many questions. Just shut up and pay attention.' Kevin Bakhurst speaking to RTE staff as union members staged a rally over funding of public service broadcasting last week. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Any new CEO, whether in the public or private sector, would be well advised to learn from these 10 observations about the new man at the top in RTE. It would also be useful if Bakhurst learned from himself and stayed doing the right stuff. Because hell never have a better week than hes just had.

1. He doesnt talk about himself

Despite being recently ever-present, we still know little about him. He manages to be available but private. He has sufficiently internalised the authority derived from his BBC and Ofcom experience, not to mention his earlier stint in RTE, as to not need to refer to them.

He just deals with the thing in front of him, rather than worrying about how much he is appreciated.

2. He doesnt make general observations about life, the universe, and everything

Communicators who arent sure of themselves hate specific, singular questions and always want to extrapolate, in their answers, to the plural and general. Bakhurst is familiar with the wider picture but he doesnt go there. Its this singular episode in RTEs history to which attention must be paid. So he sticks with it.

3. He makes decisions quickly and cleverly

Into the vacuum created by his standing down of the ridiculously named executive board, he moved several brand new people and called the thing what it is  the lead team. He quickly recused himself from anything to do with Marty Morrissey, stating with admirable and unambiguous affection that Marty was his friend.

His decisions are quick but clever. While announcing that he wants  for everybodys sake  to speedily decide Ryan Tubridys fate, he is uninfluenced by the twin pressures of Ryans appeal about possibly being out of a job by this weekend and the fact of the broadcasters continued invoicing of RTE. His decision will be informed by staff, by commercial advisers, and by intimations from politicians that while registering staff views is all very well, all very collegial, no job spec in RTE states that to be recruited or retained, the applicant must be loved by colleagues, nor should that impression be given.

Bakhurst is absorbing all of these strands of information and reflecting on them. Hell make his decision in his own good time.

4. He surrenders to the system without angst

At least once, during his Oireachtas committee appearance, when he sought to refer a question to Aidan Lynch, the acting deputy director general, Bakhurst was swiftly stymied by the chair and gracefully ceded to him without pomposity or protest.

'Without pomposity or protest', Kevin Backhurst gracefully ceded to the PAC chairman last Thursday when the new RTE DG was overruled. Picture: Oireachtas TV/PA

5. He dresses correctly

Booted and suited for formal parliamentary appearances, smart casual otherwise. No ostentation or conscious branding.

6. He talks like a human

No management speak.

7. He manages by walking about

He wanders. Meets people. Listens to them. Asks questions. But the great thing is, he knows he doesnt have to ask many questions. Just shut up and pay attention. Give staff the unmatchable free gift of his attention.

MBWA works. Always has. Hasnt been much in evidence in RTE in recent years.

His new lead team might emulate him. (Indeed, if he was feeling radical, he could move the managers out of their dedicated building and scatter them among the workers.)

8. He answers questions

It isnt just that he answers questions from staff, although he does. Or that he answers questions in public briefings, although he does that, too. And does it well  he instinctively and totally turns to the questioner, accepting the question as a gift rather than as a thrown hand grenade.

In his first fortnight, he hasnt just gone on RTEs programmes but on several other stations as well. None of the interviews were the softball tell-us-all-about-yourself puff pieces new CEOs tend to favour. They were straight-in crisis interviews.

Bakhurst s appearances were notable for gentle resolution. He knew what he could answer and what he couldnt properly answer. He explained the rationale behind not answering and was unbothered when interviewers revisited the same question in different words. No previous RTE DG did anything comparable.

Being so accessible to general media isnt likely to continue at this level, nor should it. He isnt the personification of RTE.

As the newly- or recently-appointed top managers get their feet under their desks, they should also get their feet under studio desks. Theyre answerable and theyre answerable to more than RTE. Thats the tough part of public service broadcasting.

9. He doesnt reach for gravitas

No need.

10. He writes notes to staff

He already has a nickname: Best, Kevin because of the brief notes he sends to people involved in a production hes seen or listened to. Those notes always end Best, Kevin. Great management. And a lovely nickname.
Death Valley is approaching its highest ever temperature as parts of the planet struggle to cope with a record summer heatwave.

The valley along part of inland Californias border with Nevada in the US has long been acknowledged as the hottest place on Earth.

Meteorologists with the US National Weather Service said temperatures were expected to reach a high of 53.33C (128F) at the aptly-named Furnace Creek.

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.

Many Americans have been warned over excessive heat (AP)

Las Vegas also faced the possibility of reaching an all-time record temperature over the weekend.

Meanwhile, wildfires in Canada have led to air quality alerts in several US states, stretching from Montana to Ohio.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.67C (134F) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, according to an official at the World Meteorological Organisation.

Temperatures at or above 54.44C (130F) 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, the World Meteorological Organisation said.

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 US.

Water levels decline at the Lake of Sainte-Croix, southern France (AP)

The heatwave is just one component of the extreme weather hitting the planet over the weekend.

Five people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars. A nine-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl remain missing. In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding.

On Sunday, Spanish authorities said more favourable weather conditions helped firefighters slow down the advance of a wildfire on La Palma in Spains Canary Islands that had forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents.

The blaze, which started on Saturday, affected an area of about 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) and burned some 20 houses and buildings.

Authorities had earlier urged people not to go near the area on the north-west side of the island. More than 300 firefighters were deployed and nine water-carrying helicopters and two planes are being used to try to extinguish the fire.

Local residents look on at a burning forest fire, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma (Europa Press via AP)

In southern France, human-caused climate change is lengthening droughts, meaning the reservoirs are increasingly drained to lower levels to maintain the power generation and water supply needed for nearby towns and cities.

It is concerning many in the French tourism industry, who are working out how to keep their lakeside businesses afloat in the long term if water levels remain low or unpredictable.

The three reservoir lakes in the area  Serre Poncon, Castillon and Sainte-Croix  quickly became a draw for nature lovers after their construction in the middle of the 20th century. They are known for their crisp, clear waters in undisturbed valleys surrounded by tall mountains.

The region attracts more than 4.6 million visitors a year, most of whom flock to the cool lakes during the summer months.

Water levels in the reservoirs are set and managed by national energy giant EDF, which operates the dams.

Last year, the low water levels from a lack of snow and rain in the spring meant the company was forced to draw on the reservoirs to keep hydroelectric power going and water pipes in southern France flowing for drinking and agriculture.

Military Emergency Unit personnel work to extinguish a forest fire the Canary island of La Palma (UME via AP)

By August, Frances government warned the country was in the midst of its fourth heatwave that year, further dwindling water supplies that evaporated in the blazing temperatures.

Tourism companies are already preparing for groundwater in the region not replenishing fast enough, with water restrictions possible

Heatwaves are not as visually dramatic as other natural disasters, but experts say they are more deadly. A heatwave in parts of the South and Midwest United States killed more than a dozen people last month.

It is also a worldwide phenomenon, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the US North-East, India, Japan and China.

For nearly all of July, the world has been in uncharted hot territory, according to the University of Maines Climate Reanalyser.

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, it is 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.

Dangerous heat continues across Central California. Dehydration can be dangerous. Remember to drink plenty of water and reduce time in the sun. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/0brhZjjVOY  NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) July 16, 2023

The two hottest temperatures on record are the 55C (134F) noted in 1913 in Death Valley and the same in Tunisia in July 1931.

Mr Burt, a historian with The Weather Company, finds fault with both of those measurements and lists a figure of 54.4C (130F) in July 2021 in Death Valley as his hottest recorded temperature on Earth, saying that 130 degrees is very rare, if not unique.

There are other places similar to Death Valley that may be as hot, such as Irans Lut Desert, but these are uninhabited so no-one measures there, Mr Burt said. An official weather station was established in Death Valley in 1911.

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 NOAA climate analysis chief Russ Vose said most of the record warming the Earth is now seeing is as a result of human-caused climate change, partly because this El Nino only started a few months ago and is still at a weak-to-moderate stage.

It is not expected to peak until the winter, so scientists predict next year will be even hotter than this year.
* China's auto production and sales have ranked first in the world for 14 consecutive years, and those of NEVs topped the global market for the eighth year in a row. * As China's auto industry is going through a transformation of unprecedented magnitude, traditional automakers are revving up NEV production. * Some domestic NEV brands, such as BYD, have gained a foothold in overseas markets. CHANGCHUN, July 14 (Xinhua) -- At a smart factory of China's leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd., over one hundred automated guided vehicles shuttle back and forth, while vision-guided robots apply silicone sealants on car windows, just like in a sci-fi movie. A rare scene in the past, this is now a common sight at the FAW Jiefang J7 complete-vehicle smart factory in Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. The construction of the First Automotive Works, China's first automotive manufacturing plant and predecessor of FAW Group Co., Ltd., was launched in Changchun on July 15, 1953, marking the beginning of the nation's auto industry. From its first car rolling off the production line to being one of the world's top 500 companies, the FAW has become the epitome of China's auto industry development. Showing resilience and a strong momentum of rapid development, China's auto production and sales have ranked first in the world for 14 consecutive years, and those of new energy vehicles (NEVs) topped the global market for the eighth year in a row. Particularly, China's vehicle exports soared to around 1.07 million units in the first quarter of 2023, data from the General Administration of Customs showed, indicating that China had become the world's largest auto exporter in the period, outpacing Japan. INTELLIGENT AND DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT By the end of 2022, the FAW had produced and sold more than 54 million vehicles and achieved an operating revenue of over 7.9 trillion yuan (about 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars), an achievement that 92-year-old Dou Shuxiang, who retired from FAW, had never imagined. When the FAW was first established, the workers used hammers to make doors, roofs, and wheels as they had no relevant information or experience. "To build a car, we must build the car body first. We had a very tight schedule then and didn't even have time for drawing car blueprints or making molds," said Dou, recalling the unfavorable conditions. In 1958, FAW established China's iconic car brand Hongqi, meaning "red flag." The brand has been used as the vehicle for parades at national celebrations. FAW's success has stimulated the growth of China's auto industry. Over the past 70 years, the country's auto industry has gone from manual manufacturing to mechanical manufacturing, and now it's moving forward to intelligent manufacturing. At FAW's final assembly factory, an intelligent digital platform, which can detect problems with equipment connected to it, has reduced labor and improved efficiency. "It is not only a manufacturing factory but also a digital platform," said Xiu Junyi, an executive with Hongqi manufacturing center, adding that through big data technology, every detail in the factory can be "moved" to the digital twin factory, which will provide support for R&D and innovation. In recent years, China has been actively promoting digital technologies to empower the transformation and upgrading of traditional manufacturing industries, among which the automobile industry has become the epitome. At an automobile final assembly factory of Chinese automaker Geely Auto Group in Guizhou Province, equipment controlled by digital systems provides accurate and orderly assembly of parts prepared in advance. "With the help of intelligent systems, the parts information needed for automobile assembly will be sent to the corresponding equipment suppliers, and they will prepare the required parts in advance," said Yang Mi, director of the assembly factory in the provincial capital Guiyang. Every car that requires final assembly has an identification system to ensure that the parts needed will not be mismatched, thus realizing lean production, according to Yang. Traditional car manufacturers must go through a digital and intelligent transformation, said She Shangfeng, vice president of Hebei-based Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd. REMARKABLE NEV DEVELOPMENT China, the largest NEV market in the world, has witnessed significant development in recent years, as the number of competitors and sales of NEVs spiked, and consumers shifted their attention to hundreds of models offered in a wide range of prices. On July 3, China's 20 millionth NEV rolled off the production line in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, creating a remarkable milestone for the country's NEV sector. With this record, the NEV sector has entered a new stage of large-scale, globalized and high-quality development, and is becoming an important part of China's modern industrial system, according to Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). As the auto industry is going through a transformation of unprecedented magnitude, traditional automakers are also revving up their NEV production. In the battery development department of the new energy development institute of the FAW, the staff members are stepping up research and development of new battery technologies. The automaker aims to launch 15 Hongqi NEV intelligent products in the next three years and increase its accumulated NEV production and sales to 1.45 million units by 2025. Global automakers are also accelerating expansion efforts for the NEV sector in China. In late May, Volkswagen inked an investment agreement to build an R&D, innovation, and procurement center for fully connected electric cars in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province. The center is expected to be put into operation in early 2024. NEVs are also a highlight of China's vehicle exports, with some domestic NEV brands, such as BYD, gaining a foothold in overseas markets. According to data from the CAAM, Chinese auto manufacturers exported 534,000 units of NEVs in the first half of this year, a 1.6-fold increase compared with the same period last year. "The NEV is the main direction of the transformation, upgrading and green development of the global automobile industry, and is also the strategic choice for the high-quality development of China's automobile sector," said Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology.
Finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations (G20) will address critical global economic challenges during a meeting in India, including the threats posed by climate change and rising debt among low-income countries.

The finance minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 will focus on strengthening the global economy as growth remains uneven and below average.

In her opening remarks ahead of the meetings being held in Gandhinagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Ms Sitharaman said: What we need are coordinated international efforts to navigate this challenging period.

Earlier on Monday, Ms Sitharaman and US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said the two countries were working together to further the groups agenda.

The global economy & global health are inextricably linked. This morning, I urged @g20org Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors to:

1. prioritize the #G20 Joint Finance & Health Task Forces work

2. invest in the Pandemic Fund

3. see health as a productive sector

Together! pic.twitter.com/vZUwLYw1GN  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 17, 2023

They spoke after holding talks on the sidelines of the G20 meetings, a sign of the importance of their countries relationship at a time of tension with China.

The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries, Ms Yellen said.

Ms Sitharaman said a priority for the G20 and host country India is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consensus on intractable issues associated with rising indebtedness of low and middle-income countries.

Ms Yellen added that it was vital to press for more ambition and specific reforms with respect to global development banks.

Both leaders emphasised the need to tackle debt issues facing low- and middle-income countries and to improve the multilateral debt restructuring process.

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen and Indias finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman address the media (AP)

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts in 2022, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. More than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

The meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors will conclude on Tuesday.

A meeting of G20 finance chiefs in Indias technology hub of Bengaluru in February ended without a consensus, with Russia and China objecting to the description of the war in Ukraine in a final document.

Ms Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, following a recent trip to Beijing.

She reiterated the deepening ties between the two countries on Monday and said the United States and India are among the closest partners in the world.

Here's how the vibrant capital of #Gujarat is decked up to host the 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting where delegates will engage in discussions concerning crucial global economic issues.



 July 17-18

 Gandhinagar #G20India #FMCBG pic.twitter.com/C6jfpRXsq3  G20 India (@g20org) July 16, 2023

In a statement, she said the US was looking forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed Indias energy transition.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite US and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy.

The country has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven-endorsed price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Despite this, the US has increased ties with India and courted its leaders. President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honouring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster their partnership.

The two leaders pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.
More mercenaries from Russias Wagner military contractor have rolled into Belarus, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last months short-lived mutiny, monitors said.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country on Monday, heading towards a field camp that Belarusian authorities have offered to the company.

The group said it was the third Wagner convoy to enter the country since last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last months rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his countrys military could benefit from the mercenaries combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defence forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where the camp offered to Wagner is located.

Yevgeny Prigozhins whereabouts are unclear (AP)

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Mr Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 55 miles south-east of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Mr Prigozhins mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 125 miles of Moscow.

Mr Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust defence minister Sergei Shoigu and general staff chief general Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner sign contracts with the defence ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen.

Mr Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Mr Prigozhins fate remain unclear.

The Belarusian defence ministry did not say how many Wagner troops are in Belarus.

Mr Lukashenko has previously said it was up to Mr Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Wagner tanks parked ahead of their handover to the Russian military at an undisclosed location (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the defence ministry, moving to Belarus, or retiring from service.

Mr Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

The Russian leaders comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, after the groups brief revolt last month posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian defence ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries that seemed to herald an end to their operations in Ukraine where they had played a prominent role as one of the most capable elements of Russian forces.
A pre-dawn attack has damaged part of a bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea  a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine  forcing the spans temporary closure for a second time in less than a year.

Two people were killed and their daughter was injured.

Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered increased security at the 19-kilometre (12-mile) Kerch Bridge, repeating a call he made in October 2022 when the span was severely damaged by an explosion that Moscow also blamed on Kyiv.

He also promised there will be a response from Russia, of course.

The damage is not as extensive as that seen in October (Ostorozhno Novosti via AP)

What happened is another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime, Mr Putin said at a televised meeting with officials.

It is a crime that is pointless from the military point of view, it bears no significance because the Crimean bridge hasnt been used for military means in a long time, and it is brutal, because blameless civilians were injured and killed.

Vehicle traffic came to a standstill, while rail traffic across the 12-mile span was also halted for about six hours.

Satellite images taken on Monday morning by Maxar Technologies showed serious damage to both eastbound and westbound lanes of the bridge across the Kerch Strait on the part nearest to the Russian mainland, with at least one section collapsed.

The railway bridge that runs parallel to the highway appeared undamaged.

The strike was carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones, Russias National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

Ukrainian officials were coy about taking responsibility, as they have been in past strikes.

However, in what appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment, Ukrainian security service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said that his agency would reveal details of how the bang was organised after Kyiv has won the war.

The bridge previously was attacked in October, when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections and required months of repair.

Moscow decried that assault as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraines civilian infrastructure, targeting the countrys power grid over the winter.

A married couple were killed and their daughter was seriously injured in the attack (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)

In Mondays blast, the Ukrainian news portal RBK-Ukraina cited a security services source as saying it was carried out by what it called floating drones.

A deputy prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, later said on the Telegram messaging service that today, the Crimea bridge was torn apart by sea drones, but it was not clear if he was making an official confirmation or referring to earlier reports.

Hours after Mondays attack, video from Russian authorities showed crews picking up debris from the deck of the bridge, a section of which appeared to be sloping to one side, and a damaged black sedan with its passenger door open.

Russian deputy prime minister Marat Khusnullin said authorities were inspecting the damage before determining how long it will take to repair.

The Kerch Bridge is a conspicuous symbol of Moscows claims on Crimea and an essential land link to the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. The $3.6 billion dollar (3.2 billion) bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russias military operations in southern Ukraine in the 17-month-old war.

The span connects Crimea to Russias mainland (AP)

Russia has expanded its military forces in Crimea since the launch of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Occasional sabotage and other attacks against the Russian military and other facilities on the peninsula have occurred since, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine.

The bridge attack comes as Ukrainian forces are pressing a counter-offensive in several sections of the front line.

It also happened hours before Russia announced, as expected, that it is halting a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that allows the export of Ukrainian grain during the war.

Russian media identified the dead as Alexei and Natalia Kulik, who were traveling to Crimea for a summer holiday.

The 40-year-old Mr Kulik was a truck driver and his 36-year-old wife was a municipal education worker. Their 14-year-old daughter suffered chest and brain injuries.

Kyiv did not initially acknowledge responsibility for Octobers bridge attack either, but deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar acknowledged earlier this month that Ukraine struck it to derail Russian logistics.

Ukrainian officials did not directly confirm that it was behind the attack (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias security council, returned to that theme Monday, calling the Ukrainian government a terrorist organisation.

We must blow up their houses and houses of their relatives, search and eliminate their accomplices, he said.

Russian authorities said the attack did not affect the bridges piers but damaged the deck on one of two road links. The damage appeared less serious than in Octobers attack.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence department, declined to comment but said: The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.

The security service of Ukraine posted a redacted version of a popular lullaby, tweaked to say that the bridge went to sleep again.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the Malaysian government to prioritise the investigation into the July 4 abduction of Myanmar refugee activist Ma Thuzar Maung, her husband and their three children.

Ma Thuzar Maung, who chairs the Myanmar Muslim Refugee Community and the Myanmar Migrant Workers Committee, has worked closely with Myanmars opposition National Unity Government, according to Myanmar rights activists.

Ma Thuzar Maung, 46, her husband Saw Than Tin Win, 43, their daughter Ma Poeh Khing Maung, 16, and sons Maung Aung Myint Maung, 21, and Maung Thukha Maung, 17, were abducted by unidentified men from their residence in Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, on July 4, according to HRW, which reviewed CCTV footage and interviewed witnesses.

We fear that Thuzar Maung and her family were abducted in a planned operation and are at grave risk, said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at HRW. The Malaysian government should urgently act to locate the family and ensure their safety, she added.

Thuzar Maung is an outspoken supporter and a long-time advocate for the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar as well as refugee and migrant rights in Malaysia.

She fled Myanmar for Malaysia in 2015 to escape escalating violence against Muslims. All five family members are recognized by the United Nations Refugee Agency as refugees in Malaysia.

Malaysia, however, is far from being the safest country for refugees.

A few weeks after the coup in February 2021, its government deported more than 1,000 people back to Myanmar, defying a court order and appeals from human rights groups who said those deported included Rohingya residents of Myanmar.

In October 2022, Malaysia deported 150 Myanmar nationals. Rights groups and the National Unity Government expressed alarm, saying military defectors were among the deportees. Six former Myanmar navy officers were arrested in Malaysia in September 2022 and deported on October 6.

According to a statement from HRW today, a group of men drove into the gated community where Thuzar Maung and her family lived at about 4.30pm on July 4. The driver reportedly told security guards that the group of men were police.

Two hours later, Thuzar Maung was on the phone with a friend who heard her shout to her husband that unknown men were entering the house, before the call was disconnected, HRW said.

At about 7.10pm, the same car and the two cars owned by Thuzar Maungs family were seen leaving the compound. Thuzar Maungs phone and the phones of her husband and children appear to have been immediately turned off, as no calls have gone through since.

Malaysian media outlets have reported that all of Thuzar Maungs social media accounts have been dormant since she and her family were abducted.

CCTV footage at the guard booth captured the license plate of the police car, which Malaysian police have since identified as fake. The footage also captured the black-gloved hand of the driver of one of Thuzar Maungs cars holding out the gate card to exit the compound.

Vehicle logs show that the same car had entered the gated community on June 19. Thuzar Maungs colleagues who entered the house on July 5 said there were no signs of robbery, HRW reported.

Her friends and colleagues expressed concern that she was targeted for her activism. Police in Kuala Lumpur are investigating the case.

Foreign governments should press Malaysian authorities to quickly uncover the location of this family, Pearson said. Myanmar activists are apparently at risk even when they criticize the military junta from a country where they have sought asylum.
Some 15,000 civilians have fled their homes and one was killed as Myanmar regime troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members raided villages in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region, according to residents.

More than 100 regime soldiers from Shwebo Township raided a group of villages on Sunday, continuously firing their weapons. More than 8,000 civilians from nine villages fled their homes, according to Khin-U Information, a local aid group.

The troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members from Ywar Thit Kone Village in Khin-U fired heavy weapons at the Inn Pat Village school, where around 200 villagers were taking refuge. U Than Soe, 50, died on the spot and a 30-year-old villager was seriously injured, Khin-U Information said.

Ko Nay Thura, a spokesman for Khin-U Information, said it was very lucky that a shell didnt land on a crowd of people.

If that happened, there could have been heavy casualties, he told The Irrawaddy.

Residents of Inn Pat Village dont dare to live there because it is 300 meters from the Inn Pat Kyawe military base camp and Ywar Thit Kone, a Pyu Saw Htee village. Inn Pat has been torched four times by regime troops and 200 of 600 houses there burned to ashes.

There werent any clashes near the village but the regime troops shelled the school, knowing there are many villagers there, Ko Nay Thura told The Irrawaddy.

Since the coup, two residents of Inn Pat have been killed and 15 injured by regime artillery, he added.

At the same time, another column of regime troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members from Inn Pat Kyawe base camp in Khin-U Township shelled villages on the border of Ye-U and Khin-U townships, forcing over 5,000 civilians from six villages to flee their homes.

Food and properties of Chan Thar Kone villagers were looted by the column, which left the village for their base camp in the afternoon, according to the locals.

Some villagers in Khin-U have returned to their houses but residents of some villages close to the military base camp and the Pyu Saw Htee village dont dare, according to the residents.

Khin-U Information said assistance is needed for the 5,000 civilians from the township who have fled their homes over the past year.
Myanmars ex-generals gathered in solidarity with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday at the construction site of a gigantic Buddha statue in Naypyitaw.

The gathering at Maravijaya Buddha Park was attended by acting president Myint Swe, former president Thein Sein, former Union Election Commission chair Tin Aye, Union Solidarity and Development Party chair Khin Yi, his deputies Myat Hein and Hla Tun and party secretary general Thaung Aye, among other ex-generals.

Min Aung Hlaing told his cabinet last week that Myanmar was not yet stable enough to hold an election, indicating that military rule will be extended again when the state of emergency expires on July 31.

The state of emergency was initially declared in February 2021, when the military ousted the democratically elected government. It has been extended three times after the initial period of one year.

Myint Swe, the military-nominated vice president in the civilian government, is currently the acting president. He has barely appeared in public since the 2021 coup, except when emergency rule was announced and extended. He is expected to head the National Defense and Security Council meeting which will extend military rule by six months this month.

Ming Aung Hlaing led ex-generals around the park and they planted sal trees, which are associated with the Buddha.

Thein Sein, whom Min Aung Hlaing paid respect to on Armed Forces Day this year, donated 6 million kyats to the construction of the Maravijaya Buddha last week.

Thein Seins neighbor, former Lieutenant General Tin Aye, also donated millions of kyats.

Khin Yi organized pro-military rallies ahead of Min Aung Hlaings coup. He served as immigration minister under both Thein Sein and Min Aung Hlaing. He and his deputies, former air force chief Myat Hein, former presidents office minister Hla Tun and former Lt-Gen Thaung Aye, donated to Min Aung Hlaings Cyclone Mocha fund in May.

On Sunday, Khin Yi donated 30 million kyats and Thaung Aye contributed 900,000 kyats to the construction.

Former Major General Sein Htwar, a minister in a previous junta, Lt-Gen Aung Than Htut, who headed the Bureau of Special Operations under Thein Seins quasi-civilian government, and current junta ministers also made donations.

The marble structure is purported to be the worlds largest depiction of a sitting Buddha. The idea originated with former dictator Than Shwe, who donated the marble to Myanmars military in 2017. Than Shwe visited the park in February.

The statue is due to be consecrated on August 1.
The leader of the oldest ethnic armed organization in Myanmar, the Karen National Union (KNU), said the junta had derailed six years of dialogue with ethnic armed organizations that sought to create a federal, democratic union.

Myanmars military lacks the will to create a federal, democratic union even though this is the shared desire of ethnic minorities and other citizens of Myanmar, KNU chairman Padoh Kwe Htoo Win said in an address marking the 76th anniversary of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO).

Founded on July 16, 1947, the KNDO aims to protect ethnic Karen people and ensure their right to self-determination. Both the KNDO and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are armed wings of the KNU.

The KNU and other ethnic resistance groups signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015 and engaged in political dialogue with the quasi-civilian government to find peaceful solutions to the political problems that had provoked decades of armed conflict.

The KNU believes that the best way to solve political problems is through dialogue, said Padoh Kwe Htoo Win, who represented the KNU in peace talks for the NCA.

The NCA aimed to secure an enduring peace based on the principles of dignity and justice, through an inclusive political dialogue process, its preamble states. It also included a road map for ensuring its principles, including creating a union based on federalism and democracy, became reality and that a new political culture of resolving political conflicts through political dialogue instead of force of arms was established.

Myanmars military has held power in one way or another since its first coup in 1962, and it staged another coup in 2021 that derailed the NCA, the KNU chairman said.

The KNU has been fighting Myanmars military since the February 2021 coup alongside other ethnic armed organizations like the Kachin Independence Army. It has also supported the anti-regime resistance groups that emerged nationwide following the putsch.

In the first half of this year, the KNLA, KNDO and combined resistance forces under the command of KNDO engaged in 2,495 clashes with junta troops. A total of 2,632 junta soldiers, including five battalion commanders and five deputy battalion commanders, were killed and 1,685 more junta troops were injured in the clashes. Seventy-six Karen fighters were killed and 257 were injured in the clashes, according to the KNU.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify casualty figures.
At least eight civilians, including a teenage monk and an 11-year-old girl, were injured in Sagaing Region when two bombs exploded in Shwebo Myoma market on Sunday morning, according to sources.

A volunteer from the Myanmar Rescue Team in Shwebo Township said a novice monk, 14, and a young vendor, 11, were injured by morning explosions in the west of the market.

Five females and three males were wounded, the volunteer said.

He added that they were taken to Shwebo hospital, where the girl and another female remain while the others were discharged yesterday.

Myoma market is adjacent to Shwebo Palace where the juntas Light Infantry Brigade 42 is stationed.

No group claimed responsibility for the blasts but pro-junta Telegram channels accused resistance groups.

However, Burma Ranger Shwebo, a resistance group in the east of Shwebo Township, denied the claims.

Security has been tightened in Shwebo after a village administrator was assassinated in the town last week. Resistance groups cant deploy drones or attack junta troops, he explained.

Shwebo town is under junta control and military outposts in the town are frequently targeted by resistance forces, according to residents.

We frequently hear explosions and we are used to it, a resident said.

The town is under a nighttime curfew, which restricts residents movement.

On March 28, two civilians, including a child, were killed and 18 injured when a bomb exploded on a bridge near Shwebos bus terminal.
Myanmars junta-controlled foreign ministry has condemned the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for not mentioning its alleged efforts to restore democracy by peaceful means in a statement on the blocs recent meeting.

ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Jakarta last week for their 56th meeting. High on the agenda was Myanmars post-coup crisis and how to deal with the junta to halt the violence. The juntas foreign minister was not invited as the regime leadership has been excluded from high-level ASEAN meetings since late 2021 for failing to honor the blocs peace plan, known as the Five-point Consensus (5PC).

In the Joint Communique of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the bloc states that the 5PC remained its main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar.

We strongly condemned the continued acts of violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and destruction of public facilities and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence it added, referring to atrocities mostly committed by the regime.

The regimes Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on Friday, saying Myanmar categorically rejected the statement as it only included unfair and one-sided facts without reflecting the efforts of the member state to restore a genuine democratic system by peaceful means.

The ministrys statement said Myanmar could not accept country-specific paragraphs in any ASEAN statement as this contradicts the blocs principle of non-interference in members internal affairs.

The junta ministry also lamented that facts it provided for the statement were also ignored despite it having faithfully engaged in the joint communiques drafting process as a responsible member state.

It was found that Myanmars inputs, concerns and voice are not reflected in the final Joint Communique, it said.

Observers wondered what peaceful means the military regime was referring to in its alleged attempts to restore democracy. In reality, the junta is conducting air raids, artillery strikes, arbitrary arrests, and killings in response to a nationwide uprising against the militarys 2021 coup to topple a democratically elected government. As of Friday, when the foreign ministry claimed peaceful efforts to restore democracy, it had killed 3,793 people  mostly for their anti-regime activism.

Despite its criticism of ASEAN, Myanmar under the military junta has been a source of disgrace for the regional bloc in which it is a member. Apart from ignoring the regional groupings peace plan, it also caused serious division among member states.

Last month, it used its close ally Thailand to host talks among several ASEAN members and other Asian countries to push the bloc to fully reengage with the junta. The meeting was boycotted by current ASEAN chair Indonesia and members Singapore and Malaysia, damaging the blocs unity.

Shortly before the foreign ministers meeting, the junta allowed outgoing Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to meet with detained Myanmar leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, becoming the first outsider to visit her since she was arrested following the 2021 coup. The meeting happened without ASEANs knowledge and sparked controversy since the Thai foreign minister had no mandate for the visit and is not an ASEAN special envoy for Myanmar.
Although it may come across as dramatic and unprecedented, Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrats ordeal in trying to take office as prime minister after winning the May 14 election is par for the course in Thai politics over the past two decades.

Every time a party wins convincingly at the polls and its leader appears charismatic and capable, conservative forces push back resolutely to stymie and negate the election outcome. At issue in view of Pitas case is thus whether Thailands elections are perfunctory and pro forma, whereas real political power to call the shots lies with the established centers of power, from the military and monarchy to the judiciary and bureaucracy.

The conservative establishments tried and tested method to supervise and shape outcomes is to deploy legal instruments and constitutional tools as interpreted by the judiciary, particularly the Constitutional Court but also including in the past the Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court Division for Political Office Holders. After a given poll, a handful of saboteurs typically launch a slew of charges against parties and politicians deemed as a threat.

These charges are duly accepted and become options to exercise as the judicial authorities deem fit. Charges can be filed from different sides but only those that go after establishment enemies are pursued. This process has been likened to the judicialization of Thai politicsa judicial putsch of sortswhere judges can set political directions and shape outcomes without having to resort to a hard military coup, which attracts international attention and criticism.

This is what happened earlier to Thaksin Shinawatra and his political machinery. At first, he was not deemed an enemy, and was allowed to take office and run the country after winning a near-majority poll victory in January 2001. Although charged for failing to fully declare his assets and hiding them under his assistants names, the Constitutional Court let him off the hook in a close call of 8-7. He was useful to the established regime at the time because of his pro-growth policies to pull Thailand out of the 1997-98 economic crisis beyond the IMF rescue program.

But after triumphing in a landslide re-election four years later, Thaksin grew too strong for the conservative establishment. One big irony in Thai politics is that he was not at all anti-establishment but merely wanted to be a preferred part of it among the highest echelons. Ultimately, Thaksin was kicked out by competitors in the highest corridors of power, his massive voter base coming into conflict with the traditional patronage network of incumbent power holders.

The September 2006 coup that ejected and exiled him was complemented by a fusillade of legal charges that have lingered until today, including the dissolution of his Thai Rak Thai Party and a five-year ban on its executive board members from running for office in May 2007. When his Palang Prachachon (Peoples Power) Party returned to power after again winning the election in December 2007, it was also dissolved and its executives banned. While in office, Thaksins ally and prime minister Samak Sundaravej was expelled from office by the Constitutional Court for emceeing a cooking show and receiving 5,000 baht for miscellaneous expenses.

Thaksins sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, faced a similar fate but in a different way after the Pheu Thai Party again won the election in July 2011. As prime minister, she faced a number of malfeasance and conflicts of interest charges. But this time, the military took the decisive action by seizing power in May 2014 after a crippling protest movement, backed by judicial decisions as the record shows, failed to oust her government over seven months.

It then came to Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the deposed leader of the Future Forward Party. Formed just a year prior to the March 2019 election, Future Forward garnered 6.3 million votes and 80 seats in parliament. While the partys showing was well behind that of Pheu Thai and the pro-military Palang Pracharath, its reform agenda of traditional institutions of political power raised alarm bells in establishment circles. The Thaksin-led machinery was just competition for the masses but Future Forwards reform program was a clear and present threat.

A series of charges were duly hurled at Thanathorn, featuring his ownership of media shares. In fact, the constitutional prohibition of media ownership harks back to Thaksin, whose conglomerate bought a TV company and turned it into a government mouthpiece. Thanathorns small shareholdings did not allow him to influence the company in question, and he explained that the shares had been transferred to his mother. Nonetheless he was disqualified and banned from office for 10 years while his party was dismantled in February 2020.

When these major political parties were dissolved, the people who voted for them became simultaneously disenfranchised. The Constitutional Court getting rid of Thai Rak Thai and Palang Prachachon begot the red-shirt protests in 2009-10, culminating with an armed suppression by security forces. Future Forwards disbandment led to younger Thais street demonstrations in 2020-21 in the face of water cannons and rubber bullets. Established power holders have had no qualms shutting down political parties and quashing the anger and frustration of their voters and supporters.

Pita is next in the establishments sights. But this time, apart from the usual hazy media ownership infraction, he and Move Forward are deemed as a threat for calling for an amendment of the lese majeste law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code. What Future Forward started, Move Forward has continued by spotlighting institutional reforms of traditional institutions for Thailand to move forward. These institutions underpin an entrenched system and network of powerful personalities, connections, and vested interests that have held Thailand back for years. Reform could unlock and unleash productive forces and talents to enable Thailand to reach its potential.

But their seeming denial of Pita from the premiership and Move Forward from government suggests that conservative forces are having to strike back harder than ever, looking outwardly strong but perhaps internally weak. Despite repeated polls that have not led to truly democratic outcomes, Thailands centers of power are essentially saying this is the authoritarian way we are going to have it, do you have a problem with that?

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a professor and senior fellow of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn Universitys Faculty of Political Science.

This article first appeared in The Bangkok Post.
Monday, Jul 17th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 6,408

The Wall Street Journal in America recently ran an alarming multipage story that warned of how lead-insulated telecoms cables, which were installed decades ago, had been found to allegedly be poisoning the ground and nearby water. Similar cables were installed by BT (GPO) in the UK, but do they still pose a risk? We asked Openreach.

The dangers of lead metal are nothing new, and hopefully most people have some pre-existing awareness of that. Just to be clear, touching lead does carry a small risk, but it generally isnt the main problem. The issue becomes much more dangerous when you breathe in (e.g. dust from renovations that involve lead or certain lead-based paints) or swallow it (e.g. a contaminated water supply).

NOTE: The focus in this article is on lead-sheathed telecom cables (i.e. where lead is used to create the sheath of the cable  helping to insulate and protect the inner wiring), which have been around since the late 1800s and started being phased out in the 1950s.

Children are at greater risk of lead poisoning because their bodies more readily absorb lead and, worse, such poisoning often occurs with no obvious initial symptoms. But if you are unlucky enough to be exposed to such poisoning, then it can affect nearly every system in your body, particularly the brain and nervous system.

The aforementioned details are important because they help to explain why the WSJs report raised so many concerns. The report alleged that more than 2,000 lead-covered cables left behind by telecommunication companies (e.g.Verizon, AT&T, and others) in the USA could be a source of soil contamination as they degrade underwater and overhead.

The Journal claims to have tested samples from about 130 underwater cable sites and found lead present in the soil at more than 48 locations, where contamination was deemed beyond levels determined safe by the EPA. According to the EPA, the safety standard for lead levels in the soil where children play is 400 parts per million (600ppm in the UK), but at least one of the sites  sediment in a Louisiana fishing spot  had 14.5 times that amount in June 2022.

What about the UK?

Openreach (BT) has informed ISPreview that neither they nor their predecessors (General PostOffice) have installed lead-sheathed cables for decades. But like other infrastructure players  including power and water companies (lead pipes)  they do still manage cables, which were installed when lead sheathing was prevalent.

However, in terms of Openreachs network, there are some key differences. In particular, many of the legacy cables in the US were often directly buried in the ground, while similar cables in the UK were typically housed in underground ducts. In other words, theyre not in direct contact with soil and only a tiny minority (fewer than 5%) connect directly to homes and businesses.

NOTE: Many of these older cables may be removed as the operator slowly extracts them following the rollout of fibre optic ( Many of these older cables may be removed as the operator slowly extracts them following the rollout of fibre optic ( FTTP ) broadband lines.

Openreach have also invested heavily in their safety practices and environmental controls, which are said to be independently audited and certified (ISO 14001). The Environment Agency has also never raised any related concerns with the operator, and Openreach said theyre not aware of any research or evidence that lead-sheathed telecom cables present an issue in the UK.

Regulations in this area have traditionally tended to focus on larger and more direct sources of potential lead exposure in the environment, such as vehicle fuels, industrial activities, paint, consumer products and the pipes used for drinking water.

Lead materials are also still widely used in a variety of UK industries, utilities, buildings and products (e.g. lead flashing on roofing which comes into direct contact with rain water). Suffice to say that, when considering lead poisoning, old telecoms cables arent top of the hit list.

Speaking of drinking water, the UK is deemed, unlike in the USA, to have some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. The water supplied in the UK is generally found to be virtually lead free, although a tiny amount can sometimes get into your supply as it passes through lead plumbing inside or outside your home (mostly an issue for older homes). Water companies commonly add orthophosphate to our drinking water as a plumbosolvency agent to tackle this, but problems can still crop up. If youre worried, then it is possible to buy a water test to check whats coming out of your taps.

Nevertheless, its worth pointing out that telecoms cable ducts arent infallible. Over time, some ducts do become compromised by breakages that can result in blockages, and the cables could thus then come into contact with the surrounding soil. Such issues are usually very limited and isolated to specific areas, but it may present a small risk and one that further research might help to fully alleviate.

We did ask Openreach if they had any idea about the status of related ducts and how many of these cables might still exist, although at the time of writing the operator hadnt yet provided a solid figure.

The WSJs findings are disputed

Finally, its worth noting that both the methodology and findings of the original report are currently being disputed by the operators and related pro-telecoms organisations (here and here). The key takeaway being that neither the regulators nor the relevant network operators have, through their own testing, found anything to worry about.

Research from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which conducts research, development, and demonstration projects for the benefit of the public in the USA and internationally, has also previously found no cause for concern: Overall, the risks from exposure to lead in lead-sheathed cable are very low, and replacing cable for reasons of environmental protection alone isnt justified at this time.

Statement from AT&T We take the matters raised by The Journal very seriously, and any public health concern is a top priority. Its important to note that The Journals reporting conflicts not only with what independent experts and long-standing science have stated about the safety of lead-clad telecom cables but also our own testing, which we have made available to the public and shared with The Journal. The scientific literature and reliable studies in the U.S. and abroad give no reason to believe that these cables pose a public health issue or a risk to workers when appropriate safety measures are in place. Based on information shared by The Journal, it appears that certain of their testing methodologies are flawed and one of the companies responsible for the testing is compromised by a conflict of interest. Any new scientific data needs to be studied further before arriving at conclusions about public health and safety related to these cables. Should there be a need for further analysis of this topic, we will work collaboratively with industry peers and other stakeholders and act responsibly.

However, this is perhaps to be expected and doesnt mean to say that more research, particularly from fully independent regulators and organisations with no connection to telecoms, isnt warranted to help confirm that public health is not at risk. One issue here is that the USA does have somewhat of a mixed history with recognising and tackling public health concerns (teflon using PFOA, chromium etc.).

At the end of the day, the WSJ has raised an issue that probably does warrant a closer look and that perhaps shouldnt be restricted to the USA. But at the same time, past research casts doubt on the likelihood of lead-sheathed telecom cables being the cause of serious contamination and that risk is significantly reduced in the UK, where such cables are normally found in ducts and probably wont stay there for much longer.

As such, it seems as if the people likely to face the highest risk will be the engineers tasked with removing these cables, rather than the general UK public.
Monday, Jul 17th, 2023 (9:20 am) - Score 1,224

Broadband ISP Wessex Internet, which is deploying a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across rural parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset in England, has announced that theyve begun upgrading their network with 10Gbps capable XGS-PON tech from Nokia and DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing).

At present WIs existing network footprint is only vaguely said to cover tens of thousands of homes (some of this may relate to their older wireless broadband network), while their current business plan targets an additional 150,000 premises by 2027 through a combination of subsidised and unsubsidised capital investment.

NOTE: The abrdn-backed providers existing full fibre network has traditionally been deployed using a Point-to-Point architecture.

However, much like other alternative network providers, WI needs to ensure that their network can keep up with demand and cater for future needs. As a result of that theyve signed a new partnership with Nokia to harness their XGS-PON technology on their full fibre (FTTP) network. The ISP will also be deploying a DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) solution to upgrade the capacity of its core network.

The roll-out of their new XGS-PON infrastructure has already begun, with customers on the Sunrise Business Park in Blandford Forum being among the first to be connected to the new network technology earlier this year. As well as gaining a capacity boost, the provider also expects the upgrade to help reduce equipment and power requirements.

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, said: Our partnership with Nokia is fantastic step forward for Wessex Internet which is already delivering improvements to the capacity and resilience of our network. But more importantly, this partnership gives us a clear technology roadmap which is future-proof. This ensures our network will deliver the speeds and reliability that our customers need for decades to come, fulfilling our mission to ensure that rural communities are not left behind as technology changes.

Phil Siveter, UK&I CEO/CSO at Nokia, said: We are proud to partner with Wessex Internet to help bring high-quality 10Gbs broadband services to their residential and business customers. As demand for Gigabit and symmetrical services grows, next-generation fiber technologies like XGS-PON play a critical role in delivering and supporting the enhanced ultra-broadband services customers require today and in the future.

Prices for their full fibre packages usually start at 29 per month for a 100Mbps (15Mbps upload) tier on a 12-month term and attract a 49 one-off activation fee, although this only comes with a meagre 100GB data allowance. But the rest of their packages all include unlimited usage and rise up to 79 per month for their top 900Mbps (450Mbps upload) tier. Not the cheapest, but still a godsend for many as WI often deploy in remote rural areas that lack FTTP coverage.
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.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  On the eve of Israeli President Isaac Herzogs controversial visit to the United States, which several members of Congress say they will boycott, Israeli society is coming apart at the seams. The presidency in Israel is a purely symbolic post. Power resides with the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu and his extremist cabinet, which comprises open racists and fascists. His governments expansion of Israeli squatter-settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank has drawn a rebuke from President Joe Biden, who says hes never seen such a far-right government in Israel in all his years in office (which is a lot of years).

Last Thursday, Israelis demonstrated in front of the US Embassy in Israel, demanding that the United States pressure Netanyahu to back off his plan to gut the countrys supreme court. They said they feared the change would harm US-Israeli relations.

On Saturday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Democratic Progressive Caucus, denounced Israel as a racist state. She clarified on Sunday that she only meant that the current Netanyahu government is racist, not that the idea of Israel is. I dont think that remark will mollify the Israel lobbies, but the episode shows how alienated some corners of the American political scene have become from the horror show in Tel Aviv.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities for the 28th week in a row to demonstrate against Prime Minister Netanyahus planned legislation to gut the powers of the countrys Supreme Court. They also announced that they would devote the coming week to disruptions, including of the rails.

These massive protests, in which fully a fourth of the country has taken part personally, and which are supported by a majority, have demonstrated the polarization of the country.

On Sunday, Netanyahu was constrained to expel from his far right Likud Party the activist Itzik Zarqa. Zarqa had gotten into an argument with protesters, who are generally coded as Ashkenazi or European Jews, while the current coalition draws a great deal of support from the Jews of the Middle East, called Mizrahim.

Zarqa was caught on video shouting, Its not for nothing that six million were killed. Im proud that six million of you were burned!

He quickly backtracked, but that moment of intense political hatred that turned into an ethnic slur and a glorification of the horrific Nazi genocide of six million European Jews crystallized the rhetorical civil war that has gripped Israel.

Netanyahu has pledged to hold a vote on Tuesday on an article in the bill that takes away from the Supreme Court its power of judicial review of acts of parliament on grounds that the latter are unreasonable. The Court can overrule laws it finds contradict the basic principles of reasonableness set out in Israels organic law, which jurists have maintained have the force of a constitution.

If the article passes, as it likely will, the Supreme Court will no longer be able to overrule acts of parliament on these grounds, setting the stage for a tyranny of the parliamentary majority. The court would also not be any longer able to strike down appointments of politicians to high office on the grounds that they have shown a pattern of corruption. Women, gays, Muslims, Christians and other groups fear that the Jewish fundamentalists in the cabinet will then pass laws depriving them of their rights, and that the Supreme Court will not be able to counteract such measures. Others fear that Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, will use the provision to ensure he cannot be found guilty and go to jail.

Historian Yuval Noah Harari points out that Israel has only a unicameral legislature from which the prime minister is elected, and therefore has no other checks and balances on government power save for the Supreme Court. Remove the latter, he says, and you have a dictatorship.

Article continues after bonus IC video

CBS: Yuval Noah Harari on the threat to democracy in Israel

The popularity of the leading parties in the current government has plummeted according to opinion polls. The polling suggests that if elections were held today, the opposition would get well over the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-member Knesset.

Ironically, the public changed its mind too slowly. Netanyahus current majority is firmly ensconced, and despite the enormous weekly demonstrations, the parliament can certainly pass the bill gutting the judiciary if it so desires. It almost certainly will.

The extremist, fascist parties in Netanyahus cabinet intend to use the gutting of the Supreme Court as a way to accelerate illegal squatter-settlements on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, and to ensure that there can be no judicial backlash against their plans to colonize Palestinian land intensively with Israeli migrants into the territory, and then to annex it, while keeping the Palestinians stateless and without rights.
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - F3 Uranium Corp (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce scintillometer results from four holes of the ongoing 30-hole summer drill program at the JR Zone on the Patterson Lake North ("PLN") Property, including 2 high grade intercepts in mineralized intervals that are both within 11m of the Athabasca Unconformity. Drill hole PLN23-073 tested for mineralization 15 meters up-dip of the high grade intercept reported in PLN23-068 on line 060S (see NR July 4, 2023) and intersected mineralization over an 11.5m interval starting 8m below the unconformity, including 0.70m of high grade (>10,000 cps), of which 0.50m was off-scale radioactivity (>65,535 cps) between 225.00m and 225.50m. Drill hole PLN23-074 on line 075S intersected 15.0m of mineralization starting 11m below the unconformity, including 0.20m of high grade (>10,000 cps) between 228.15 and 228.35m.

Raymond Ashley, President, commented: "We are excited that basement mineralization has been intersected even closer to the Athabasca Unconformity, now within 8m, as this reinforces the potential for an unconformity or sandstone component to the JR Zone mineralization. The discovery of mineralization at the unconformity or in the sandstone would provide a compelling new target for JR Zone expansion drilling. Tests up dip from the JR Zone mineralization are ongoing to define the best possible target at the unconformity for this drill program. The Shea Creek deposit 46km to the north of PLN and the Key Lake deposit on the east side of the basin are examples where basement hosted uranium mineralization extends through the unconformity and into the sandstone. The first step out hole on line 165S did not intersect mineralization but additional drill holes are being planned on that section to continue to expand the footprint along strike of the JR Zone basement mineralization. In addition, exploration drilling along the A1 main shear zone has commenced, and prospective targets will be tested."

Drilling Highlights:

PLN23-073 (line 060S):

11.5m mineralization from 215.5m - 232.0m, including 0.70m mineralization of >10,000 cps radioactivity between 225.00m - 225.70m including 0.50m off-scale radioactivity (> 65,535 cps) between 225.00m and 225.50m

mineralization from 215.5m - 232.0m, including

PLN23-074 (line 075S):

15.0m mineralization from 225.0m - 240.0m, including 0.20m of mineralization >10,000 cps between 228.15 and 228.35m

mineralization from 225.0m - 240.0m, including

Drilling Intercepts:

PLN23-071 (line 165S):

No mineralization >300 cps

PLN23-072 (line 690S): Exploration Hole

No mineralization >300 cps

Natural gamma radiation in the drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The Company considers greater than 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer as anomalous, >10,000 cps as high grade and greater than 65,535 cps as off-scale. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials. Samples from the drill core are split in half on site and are standardized at 0.5m lengths. One half of the split sample will be submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK. for lithogeochemical analysis using their "Uranium Package".

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined but the Company estimates true thickness of the reported intervals in this news release to be close to reported interval widths.

Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Handheld Spectrometer Results

Collar Information * Hand-held Spectrometer Results On Mineralized Drillcore (>300 cps / >0.5m minimum) Athabasca Unconformity Depth (m) Total Drillhole Depth (m) Hole ID Section Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Max CPS PLN23-071 165S 587780.0 6410597.1 545.2 53 -60 no radioactivity >300 cps 179.0 323 PLN23-072 690S 588216.9 6410265.7 530.3 54 -74 no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 257 PLN23-073 060S 587754.6 6410708.7 545.6 54 -61 215.50 216.00 0.50 320 205.5 341 221.00 221.50 0.50 490 221.50 222.00 0.50 1200 222.00 222.50 0.50 520 222.50 223.00 0.50 <300 223.00 223.50 0.50 480 223.50 224.00 0.50 330 224.00 224.50 0.50 1600 224.50 225.00 0.50 4900 225.00 225.50 0.50 65500 225.50 225.70 0.20 20800 225.70 226.00 0.30 9000 226.00 226.50 0.50 7600 226.50 227.00 0.50 590 227.00 227.50 0.50 620 227.50 228.00 0.50 860 228.00 228.50 0.50 740 228.50 229.00 0.50 1000 229.00 229.50 0.50 610 229.50 230.00 0.50 720 230.00 231.50 1.50 <300 231.50 232.00 0.50 340 PLN23-074 075S 587745.9 6410683.9 545.7 56 -60 225.00 225.50 0.50 430 209.4 314 225.50 226.00 0.50 1600 226.00 226.50 0.50 580 226.50 227.00 0.50 1900 227.00 227.50 0.50 530 227.50 228.00 0.50 4800 228.00 228.15 0.15 4100 228.15 228.35 0.20 16000 228.35 228.50 0.15 4800 228.50 229.00 0.50 1700 229.00 229.50 0.50 3700 229.50 230.00 0.50 2000 230.00 230.50 0.50 3500 230.50 231.00 0.50 910 231.00 231.50 0.50 2100 231.50 232.00 0.50 810 232.00 232.50 0.50 <300 232.50 233.00 0.50 480 233.00 233.50 0.50 3200 233.50 234.00 0.50 2400 234.00 236.00 2.00 <300 236.00 236.50 0.50 1900 236.50 237.00 0.50 3100 237.00 237.50 0.50 1100 237.50 238.00 0.50 440 238.00 238.50 0.50 960 238.50 239.00 0.50 1800 239.00 239.50 0.50 1400 239.50 240.00 0.50 770

Handheld spectrometer composite parameters:

1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5m

2: CPS Cut-Off of 300 counts per second

3: Maximum Internal Dilution of 2.0m

About Patterson Lake North

The Company's 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.

About F3 Uranium Corp.

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discovery. F3 Uranium currently has 18 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2

Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

(See 2 plan maps and 4 cross sections below)

Figure 1: Patterson Lake North Summer 2023 Drill Program Update Map 1

Figure 2: Patterson Lake North Summer 2023 Drill Program Update Map 2

Figure 3: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 060S Looking 322

Figure 4: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 075S Looking 322

Figure 5: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 165S Looking 322

Figure 6: Patterson Lake North (PLN) JR Zone Cross Section Line 690S Looking 322
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of geological mapping, soil geochemical sampling and saw-cut rock-chip channel sampling from its Santo Domingo porphyry copper and gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

The Santo Domingo district is located 120 km east of San Juan City at an average altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level. The district comprises three, as-yet undrilled, porphyry copper-gold occurrences (El Arriero, Divisoria and Alunita) and several vein-hosted gold and silver mineralized systems located within a mineral rights package covering a total area of approximately 185 square kilometers. Royal Road has entered into an option agreement with an individual titleholder to acquire 100% of the mineral rights package (see Press Release, February 15, 2023).

The porphyry occurrences at Santo Domingo are shallowly eroded and partly-exposed, but broadly reflect characteristic zoned porphyry alteration patterns from stockwork veining and copper- mineralized potassic altered cores, to haloes of phyllic and propylitic alteration which are overprinted by later gold and polymetallic vein systems (see Figure 1). Initial scout diamond drilling is scheduled to commence at El Arriero in early August of this year.

Figure 1. Porphyry and vein-style mineralized occurrences and copper-gold rock-chip geochemistry of the Santo Domingo District. Title areas in yellow, all indicated title areas fall within the mineral rights package.

The company has completed geological mapping, grid-based soil geochemical sampling and saw-cut rock-chip channel sampling at El Arriero. Geological mapping has revealed a cluster of variably altered, porphyritic intrusions and coeval sub-volcanic bodies that have been emplaced within earlier ring-fracture controlled magmatic breccia bodies. The shallow dipping contact between mineralized intrusive and breccia bodies with crystalline metamorphic host rocks is clearly exposed in surrounding hill sides indicating that present day exposure at El Arriero represents an eroded window into the very top of the porphyry mineralizing system (see Figure 2). Hydrothermal alteration at El Arriero is cyclical and complexly overprinting, but broadly characterized by domains of chlorite-epidote and pyrite alteration overprinting earlier potassic zones represented by potassium feldspar, biotite after hornblende and associated vein stockworks of quartz chalcopyrite and bornite.

Figure 2. Geology, rock-chip and soil geochemistry of the El Arriero porphyry.

Sampling and analysis of immature, mostly colluvial soils has revealed a coherent 1000 by 600-meter copper, molybdenum and selenium anomaly which covers the ring-fracture controlled intrusive and breccia system at El Arriero and remains open towards the northeast (see Figure 2). Saw-cut channel samples collected mostly from basement rocks hosting sheeted vein systems located peripheral to the porphyry center have returned best results of 20.0 meters at 1.2 g/t gold.

Mapping and further reconnaissance rock-chip sampling is currently underway at the neighboring Divisoria and Alunita porphyry systems and at the Yvette gold-rich polymetallic vein system in the very east of the Santo Domingo district (see Figure 1).

The Company has completed a preliminary socio-demographic baseline and community perception study, water and air monitoring, flora and fauna baseline studies and has commenced an archaeological study of the Santo Domingo district.

"It is testament to the quality and commitment of our team, of our community support and the exemplary rigor and assistance of relevant regulatory bodies in San Juan that we have managed to take this project from initial acquisition in late November last year to drill-ready as of now," said Tim Coughlin, Royal Road's President and CEO. "In terms of commencing the very first scout-drilling program at Santo Domingo, we are ready and we expect the rig to be turning by the first week of August."

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Rock-chip channel samples are collected continuously over one-meter horizontal intervals from 15cm wide channels which are cut using a rock-saw. Samples are prepared and assayed by independent and ISO accredited laboratories of Alex Stewart International Argentina. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 0.01 to 100 ppm. Multielement concentrations are analyzed as a 39 element suite by Aqua Regia and ICP-OES. Soil samples were collected from immature and often colluvial soil accumulations by pick and shovel at 50m intervals along north-south lines separated by 100m. Samples were sieved in the field to -2mm and then dry sieved in the laboratory to -80 mesh. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 2 to 20,000 ppb. Multielement concentrations are analyzed as a 48-element suite by Aqua Regia and ICP-MS. Commercially prepared standards (gold-copper pulps), blanks (pulps and coarse chips) and field duplicates are inserted into the sample stream by Royal Road Minerals for a total of 15% QA/QC to ensure sample precision. In the case of duplicate analyses of a sample, the average of both analyses is used as the final reported value. Unless otherwise stated, gold grades are not capped. For historic samples, the following information was derived from public announcements by the previous operator at Santo Domingo. Rock-chip samples were prepared at the Acme Analytical Laboratories ("AcmeLabs") preparation facility in Mendoza, Argentina and assayed by fire assay at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Chile and for ICP-MS 32 elements at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Vancouver, all ISO-9001:2000 certified laboratories. Samples returning greater than 10 g/t gold and/or greater than 100 g/t silver are assayed using gravimetric analyses. Samples returning greater than 1% Pb and / or greater than 1% Zn are assayed using aqua regia digestion ore grade / AAS.

Cautionary statement

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the Company's exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information please contact:

Tim Coughlin

Phone: +44 (0)1534 887166

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TORONTO, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galway Metals Inc. (TSXV: GWM) (Galway or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to settle the fourth (4th) of six (6) payments (the Fourth Partial Payment) due in consideration of an agreement previously announced on July 21, 2020 (the Agreement) by the cash payment of $125,000 and the issuance of 1,056,338 common shares in the Capital of the Company (Shares) at a deemed price equal to $0.355 per Share for a total deemed price of $375,000.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company bought back a two percent (2.0%) net smelter returns royalty (the Royalty) from an arms length third party royalty holder (the Former Royalty Holder), covering certain mineral claims at the Companys Clarence Stream property in southwest New Brunswick (the Property). The Agreement provided for a total purchase price of $3,000,000 in six equal annual instalments of $500,000, with each partial payment representing the purchase of one-sixth (1/6) of the Royalty (each a Partial Payment). The first Partial Payment was settled on Closing in 2020 through the issuance of 434,783 Shares to the Former Royalty Holder at a deemed price equal to $1.15 per Share for a total deemed price of $500,000. Pursuant to the Agreement, each subsequent $500,000 Partial Payment is to be paid as follows: (i) $125,000 in cash; and, (ii) the remaining $375,000, at the sole election of the Company, shall be paid either in cash, through the issuance of Shares, or a combination thereof as shall equal $375,000. The Shares will be subject to the statutory hold periods of four months and one day from the date of issuance. Completion of the issuance of the Shares is subject to the receipt of all regulatory approval including the approval of the TSXV.

About Galway Metals Inc.

Galway Metals is focused on creating significant per share value through the exploration and sustainable development of its two 100%-owned projects in Canada. Galways flagship project, Clarence Stream, is one of the most important gold districts in Atlantic Canada as it hosts a large, high-grade gold resource in SW New Brunswick. Also important is Estrades, the former-producing, high-grade, gold- and zinc-rich polymetallic VMS mine in the northern Abitibi of western Quebec as it hosts significant resources in the middle of a major gold camp. After its successful spinout to existing shareholders from Galway Resources following the completion of the US$340 million sale of that company. The company is looking to replicate the same success in Canada with our two highly perspective projects.

Should you have any questions and for further information, please contact (toll free):

Galway Metals Inc.

Robert Hinchcliffe President & Chief Executive Officer

1-800-771-0680

Website: www.galwaymetalsinc.com

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Look us up on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn

Cautionary Statement

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, completion of the Royalty buy back on the announced terms or at all, objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to the risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Estimated Visual Volume of Spodumene of Up To 20%

HIGHLIGHTS

Maiden drilling intersects shallow-dipping coarse spodumene rich pegmatites at Jaguar in two initial diamond holes

JADDH00002 intersected 52m of pegmatite with 8.2m of spodumene rich quartz bearing central core area from 32m downhole

JADDH00003 intersected 39.3m of pegmatite with 7.9m of spodumene rich quartz bearing central core area from 44.3m downhole

Visual volume spodumene intersected of up to 20%

Additional pegmatite footprint identified ~1km northwest of Jaguar

Second rig being tendered now to commence additional 5,000m programme

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Solis Minerals Limited (ASX: SLM) (TSXV: SLMN) ("Solis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the intersection of spodumene bearing pegmatite in the 2,500m maiden drill programme at the Jaguar Lithium Project Bahia state, Brazil over which the Company has recently secured an option to acquire a 100% interest.[1]

Figure 1: Coarse spodumene crystals in JADDH0002 (34.05m) within weathered brecciated quartz rich core of the Jaguar pegmatite. *In relation to the disclosure of visual occurrences of pegmatite and spodumene, the Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.

The Drilling Programme

Diamond drilling at the Jaguar project is ongoing with three drillholes now completed. As the orientation dip and plunge of the mineralised portion of the first pegmatite target was unclear from outcropping mineralisation, drilling was planned from both the hanging wall and footwall locations North and South of the pit. Drillhole JADDH00001 did not intercept the core of the pegmatite due to incorrect drill orientation. JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 both successfully intersected broad intervals of shallow dipping pegmatite below the existing artisanal workings at Jaguar. Spodumene rich central core sections of the pegmatite were intersected from 30m to 38.2m in JADDH00002 and from 44.3m to 52.2m in JADDH00003, respectively (Table 1, Figures 2, 3 & 4).

Figure 2: SciAps LIBS (Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy) handheld analyser reading on spodumene within core sample interval 44.3m in hole JADDH00003#.

Executive Director, Matt Boyes, commented: "This is a positive result for the team from the maiden programme at Jaguar. Confirmation of an LCT - (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) bearing system that continues at depth below the artisanal workings is highly encouraging and we look forward to the arrival of a second drill rig. As we extend our mapping and geochemical sampling programmes, we are finding evidence of a potential stacked pegmatite system. Multiple spodumene bearing float samples have been collected up to 1 kilometre from the central Jaguar artisanal mine area and large outcropping pegmatites, which are completely untested, have been located. We are encouraged by our early results at the Jaguar project, and we look forward to updating the market as we deliver results from this maiden drill programme."

# LIBS readings should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. LIBS readings are not representative of the whole core and represent purely a concentration measured at a single point.

BHID FROM TO LENGTH LITH Weathering Estimated Volume

% spodumene* JADDH00002 0.00 0.85 0.85 SOIL Ox JADDH00002 0.85 30.00 29.15 PEG Ox JADDH00002 30.00 38.17 8.17 SPEG Ox 15 JADDH00002 38.17 53.40 15.23 PEG Transition JADDH00002 53.40 161.05 107.65 SCH Fresh JADDH00003 0.00 1.00 1.00 Soil Ox JADDH00003 1.00 18.25 17.25 SCH Ox JADDH00003 18.25 18.40 0.15 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 18.40 21.14 2.74 SCH Ox JADDH00003 21.14 21.35 0.21 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 21.35 22.00 0.65 SCH Ox JADDH00003 22.00 22.15 0.15 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 22.15 22.40 0.25 SCH Ox JADDH00003 22.40 44.30 21.90 PEG Ox JADDH00003 44.30 52.20 7.90 SPEG Ox 20 JADDH00003 52.20 61.70 9.50 PEG Ox JADDH00003 61.70 86.70 25.00 SCH Fresh JADDH00003 86.70 89.10 2.40 PEG Fresh JADDH00003 89.10 93.40 4.30 SCH Fresh

Table 1: Logged lithology for JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 with estimated spodumene volume. Lengths are estimated to represent the true width of the pegmatite body. PEG = pegmatite; SPEG = spodumene pegmatite; SCH = schist, Ox = oxidised. Volume of spodumene is a visual field estimate. JADDH00001 did not intersect spodumene bearing pegmatite.

*In relation to the disclosure of visual occurrences of pegmatite and spodumene, the Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.

Initial production rates averaged just 7m per shift, with crews encountering start-up technical challenges. These have been fully addressed, with drilling now expected to achieve normal production targets. Continuous mineralisation has now been confirmed below the existing artisanal workings, and Solis is sourcing a second rig. A tender has been called for an additional 5,000m diamond core drilling programme with a larger capacity track mounted rig capable of higher production rates and higher availability. This is expected to improve the drilling rates which have been less than targeted.

Step out drillholes along the interpreted strike of the pegmatite are now planned to help understand the overall strike, dip and distribution of the mineralisation within the pegmatites. The drilling to date has intersected pegmatites which adhere to a classic idealised LCT bearing pegmatite model. The mineralisation grades from an Albite-Quartz-Muscovite rich border zone through to a K-Feldspar rich intermediate zone and then grading to a Tourmaline-Quartz-Spodumene rich core. The pegmatites are orientated in a north-east strike and are dipping at approximately 30 degrees to the south-east, parallel to the slope of the ridge line that is formed by the pegmatite.

Solis is currently installing core cutting facilities on site and intends to start processing the existing core within the next week. Solis will be aiming to complete a further 3 holes from the current programme and submitting the first batch of samples in late July with results expected late August. All samples will be assayed at SGS Laboratories in Minas Gerais province with current turnaround period of 3 weeks post submission of samples.

Figure 3: Cross section through Jaguar pit area with recently completed drilling and interpreted geology.

Figure 4: Planview of drilling completed to date with satellite image showing locations of outcropping pegmatites and artisanal workings. Artisanal workings visible are for dimension stone.

Exploration Programme and Additional Targets

The initial focus of Solis during this maiden campaign is to test the known strike of the confirmed pegmatite outcrops at Jaguar and commence step out drilling to the north to test interpreted repetitions of the Jaguar pegmatites at depth. Pegmatite outcrops have been identified over 1.4km of strike with a central section that forms the elevated ridge area (See Figure 5) of in excess of 800m within the Jaguar tenement area. Mineral species identified in all the outcropping artisanal workings are consistent with an LCT - bearing system and fit a classic pegmatite model. The insert photo in Figure 5 shows very large individual feldspar and beryl crystals within an albite matrix.

Figure 5 below gives a spatial overview from a drone image of the follow up priority target areas.

A large shallow dipping pegmatite body measuring approximately 400m x 400m at the surface has been mapped approximately 1 kilometre to the north-west of the Jaguar pit and will be drill tested once additional drill capacity is mobilised to site. This pegmatite body exhibits classic mineralisation and textures associated with LCT- bearing systems. Spodumene bearing float has been found at surface in the vicinity of the outcrop with the source of the mineralisation yet to be located. The body has a similar dip and strike orientation to the Jaguar mineralisation which was intersected in the current programme and represents a potential repetition and hence the possibility for a stacked system with multiple pegmatite bodies to be hosted within the tenement package.

Figure 6 shows the outcropping pegmatite with textures and mineralisation identified from initial field reconnaissance and mapping.

Figure 5: Aerial view showing outcropping pegmatites to be tested in current drill programme and location of recently completed JADDH00002. Artisanal workings are for dimension stone.

Figure 6: Large outcropping pegmatite body located on the northern border of Jaguar tenement, exhibits classic LCT- bearing pegmatite geology with spodumene float located proximal to artisanal workings.

About Solis Minerals Ltd.

Solis is a Latin American battery mineral-focused mining exploration company. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Borborema Lithium Project in NE Brazil, covering approximately 25,000ha. It has recently executed an option to acquire 100% of the Jaguar Lithium project in Bahia state, Brazil. In addition, Solis also holds a 100% interest in 32,400ha of combined licences and applications of highly prospective IOCG (iron oxide copper/gold) and porphyry copper projects in southwestern Peru within the country's prolific coastal copper belt - a source of nearly half of Peru's copper production.

This Announcement has been authorized for release to the TSX-V and ASX by the Board of Solis Minerals.

For further information, please contact:

Australia

Matt Boyes

Executive Director

Solis Minerals Limited

+61 8 6117 4798

Stephen Moloney

Investor Relations

Corporate Storytime

+61 (0) 403 222 052



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that relate to future events or performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release was reviewed by Fred Tejada, P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

Competent Person Statement

The information in this ASX release concerning Geological Information and Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Matthew Boyes, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Boyes is an employee of Solis Minerals Ltd. and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposit under consideration and to the exploration activities undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Boyes consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Boyes has provided his prior written consent regarding the form and context in which the Geological Information and Exploration Results and supporting information are presented in this Announcement.

All information about exploration results that were previously released to the market is appropriately referenced in this document.

APPENDIX 1

Borborema and Jaguar Project licence areas

Number License Number Registered Owner Status Ha 1 846.232/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 675 2 846.233/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 172 3 846.234/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 460 4 848.411/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,666 5 848.412/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Option for a license area due to interference 1,563 6 848.413/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 714 7 848.414/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,488 8 848.415/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,839 9 848.416/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 614 10 848.417/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 710 11 848.418/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 381 12 848.419/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,275 13 848.420/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 70 14 848.423/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,572 15 848.424/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,689 16 848.425/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,918 17 848.426/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,662 18 848.427/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 798 19 848.428/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,667 20 848.429/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 664 21 848.430/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,688 22 848.431/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,525 23 871427/2006 Mineracao Marico Ltda. Preliminary mining license granted. 294 24 872376/2021 Igramar Industria de Granitos e Marmores Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 849 Total 25,953

Table 1: Solis' licence areas. Onca (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solis) has a 100% interest in the above licences 1-22, the Borberema Project, in NE Brazil. Licences 23 & 24 comprise the Jaguar Project. Solis has an option to acquire 100% of these licences1.

APPENDIX 2

Drill hole collar and survey information for the maiden drill programme

Hole ID East (m) North (m) RL (m) Depth (m) Survey Type Azimuth Dip JADDH00002 361038 8883685 668 161.05 GPS 339 -54 JADDH00003 361058 8883636 662 93.4 GPS 330.82 -54.275 JADDH00001 361030 8883759 686 74.35 GPS 163 -58

APPENDIX 3

JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representativity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sampling at the surface was predominantly cut channels and rock chips. Sampling was focused on confirmation of mineralisation of Lithium from selected mineral species in the case of Jaguar "Weathered Spodumene". Samples are not considered to be representative of exposed widths of the pegmatite body, samples were not collected over standard widths or perpendicular to orebody orientations.

Samples size ranged between 1.5-3kg and industry standard an acceptable weight to ascertain a representative sample for preparation and assay.

Core from the maiden drill programme has not yet been cut or sampled.

LIBS handheld instruments were utilised to confirm Lithium mineralisation present, LIBS readings should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest LIBS readings are not representative of the whole core and represent purely a concentration measured at a single point. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face- sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). All drill holes completed to date at Jaguar are diamond drillholes with core being drilled at HQ and NQ diameters with standard tube set up. Holes JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 have been oriented by use of a REFLEX ACT digital core orientation tool. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Diamond core was reconstructed into continuous runs with depths measured from the core barrel and checked against core block measurements in trays.

JADDH00001 to JADDH00003 all reported in excess of >90% core recovery in oxidised and fresh material. JADDH0002 suffered an estimated 20-25% core loss in the mineralised core section of the pegmatite due to washing out of the weathered friable spodumene crystals and clay. This will likely result in a bias to under report grade due to core loss.

Solis has requested a triple tube system is utilised in future shallow drilling to limit potential wash out of oxidised material. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Solis geologists logged all sample noting mineralogy, lithology, alteration and weathering state of samples obtained.

Logging is both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

All samples including any submitted CRM material are individually photographed before submission.

All core is photographed and orientated. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representativity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Samples were taken to check the grades of exposed spodumene mineralisation, no systematic sampling across known exposed pegmatites was completed, samples were rock chips only and no systematic channel sampling has been completed to date.

Duplicate samples were taken and stored for future reference.

Samples are considered to be representative of exposed spodumene crystals within Jaguar open pit and of appropriate size with respect to sampled material.

Diamond drill core has not yet been sampled Quality of assay data and

laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. All samples were assayed at SGS GEOSOL Laboratories Ltda Brazil.

Analysis procedures are considered to be appropriate for lithium and multielement analysis.

Rock chips and grab samples are assayed via ICM90A (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP-MS/ICP-OES) for a 56-element suite at the SGS Geosol Laboratorios located at Vespasiano/Minas Gerais, Brazil.

If lithium results are above 15,000ppm, the lab analyses the pulp samples just for lithium through ICP90Q (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP/OES).

Solis inserted industry standard OREAS CRM for analysis, standards utilised were OREAS 750 and OREAS 22h, reported values are within 1SD of CRM certified values. Verification of

Sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. All Solis data is verified by the Competent Person. All data is stored in an electronic Access Database.  Assay data and results is reported, unadjusted. Li 2 O results used in this ASX release are converted from Li results by multiplying this value by the industry factor 2.153. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Data is shown using the UTM SIRGAS 2000 zone 23 South grid system.

All samples and drill hole collar locations were captured using a handheld GPS and are to be surveyed in with a DGPS once arrives on site. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. No set sample spacing or pattern has been applied due to the preliminary nature of the sampling programme. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drill holes JADDH0002 and JADDH0003 were both orientated utilising a digital downhole tool confirming the orientation with respect to lithological contacts and known country rock stratigraphy. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. N/A - No sampling of drill core has been undertaken. Audits or

reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. There have been no detailed external audits or reviews undertaken.

Solis has conducted an internal technical review of the available geological and other publicly available data.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Jaguar Project area consists of 2 exploration licences held in the name of Marica Mineracao Ltda, and Ingramar Ltda. Onca Mineracao has signed a binding option agreement sheet with both companies giving Onca the right to purchase 100% of each licence.

See ASX release dated 31 May 2023 for terms of agreement.

Exploration Licences: 871427/2006, 872376/2021 

 Licences are in good standing and have no known environmental or other liabilities of any kind. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. N/A - the Company is not aware of any previous formal exploration being undertaken within the tenements. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Prospective potential host units for the mineralised pegmatites are similar to the suite hosting the Colina-Salinas pegmatites held by Latin Resources Limited (ASX:LRS) in the state of Minas Gerais. They consist predominantly of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks (schist, gneiss and quartzites) located close to the large granitoids from the G3 suite with batholiths, stocks and dykes represented. Pegmatites are located within 0-5km of the granite contacts. Drill hole

Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole hole length

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer to tables presented in report and notes attached which provide all relevant details.

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. 'down hole length, true width not known'). N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. The Company has included various maps and figures showing the sample results and geological context. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Logging for JADDH00001 was not included in current release as hole did not pierce the mineralised target section of the pegmatite intrusive and therefore is not of material significance. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. N/A no new results are included in this report. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Solis will undertake extensive validation field confirmation and sampling of the regional geological setting including all known outcropping pegmatites.

Solis has signed a diamond drill contract for 2,500m of HQ diameter drill core to be performed on existing targets and below the known outcropping mineralisation at the Jaguar project.

It is premature to provide diagrams of possible extensions.

[1] See ASX release 31 May 2023. The Company confirms that it is not aware of new information that affects the information contained in the original announcement.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Core Assets Corp., ("Core Assets" or the "Company") (CSE:CC) (FSE:5RJ) (OTC.QB:CCOOF) is pleased to present visual drill results from the successful maiden drill program at Pete's CRD Target ("Pete's Target" or "Pete's"). The Company is now drilling at the Grizzly CRD Target, at the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project (the "Silver Lime Project" or "Silver Lime"), central Blue Property (the "Blue Property"), Atlin Mining District of NW British Columbia.

Diamond drilling at Pete's CRD Target has successfully confirmed a new Zn-Pb-AgCu-rich CRD (carbonate replacement) discovery at shallow depths. 12 out of 15 drill holes intersected intervals of massive-to-semi massive carbonate replacement and skarn mineralization over a 100-meter step-out (Figure 1). Sulphide mineralization at Pete's was intersected over widths of up to 8.00 meters, for a combined total of 32.98 meters of massive to semi massive sulphide mineralization drilled (Table 1). All mineralized intercepts obtained from Pete's CRD Target have been submitted for rushed analysis.

Highlights

SLM23-028 intersected 6.40m of Zn-Fe-Pb-AgCu-rich (visual) massive sulphide carbonate replacement mineralization and breccia from 27.43 meters depth. (Link to 3D Core Videos)

and breccia from 27.43 meters depth. (Link to 3D Core Videos) SLM23-020 intersected 4.20m of massive-to-semi massive carbonate replacement and Skarn mineralization from 33.10m depth. (Figure 2)

from 33.10m depth. (Figure 2) SLM23-030 intersected 0.80m of massive sulphide carbonate replacement mineralization from 32.05m depth. (Link to 3D Core Videos)

(Link to 3D Core Videos) SLM23-023 intersected 8.00m of Fe-ZnCu-Pb-rich (visual) massive-to-semi massive skarn and carbonate replacement mineralization from 2.00 meters depth, and brecciated CRM was encountered at 115.20m depth.

from 2.00 meters depth, and brecciated CRM was encountered at 115.20m depth. Mineralization locally is texturally and mineralogically similar to what was observed in SLM22-011 completed at the Grizzly CRD Target in 2022. Hole SLM22-011 at the Grizzly Target returned 5.64m of 254g/t Ag, 5.1% Pb, 4.8% Zn, 0.11% Cu and 0.12g/t Au from 57.36m depth including 1.16m of 1,145g/t Ag, 23.2% Pb, 23.5% Zn, 0.52% Cu, and 0.37g/t Ag from 58.54m depth.

5.64m of 254g/t Ag, 5.1% Pb, 4.8% Zn, 0.11% Cu and 0.12g/t Au from 57.36m depth including The inferred trend of massive sulphide mineralization at Pete's CRD Target currently measures 100 meters in length - extending from surface to drilled depths of ~ 73 meters and remains open for exploration (Figure 1).

Core Assets' President & CEO Nick Rodway commented, "We are off to an impressive start to the 2023 drilling campaign with a brand new CRD discovery under our belt. We have intersected multiple, impressive zones of massive sulphide carbonate replacement mineralization in the first ever drill holes at Pete's CRD Target. Pete's is located approximately 1.7 kilometers northwest of the Grizzly CRD Target where we intercepted over 5 metres of high-grade massive sulphide carbonate replacement mineralization in 2022. Silver Limes mineralized footprint is very large at surface and we are now beginning to show its scale at depth. Diamond drilling has begun at the Grizzly CRD Target, as we await the rushed assay results from Pete's."

Narrow intrusions at Pete's CRD Target crosscut folded marble (carbonate) host rocks and appear to be the source of CRM (carbonate replacement mineralization). Mineralization extends, and is presumed to be continuous from, the upper and lower contacts of these intrusions and is observed replacing the marble host rocks along hinge zones and extending into the limbs of the folds (Figure 1).

Textural evidence observed in drill core at Pete's CRD Target is indicative of a long-lived, multi-phase mineralizing system that includes sulphide replacement textures (i.e., pyrite pseudomorphs replacing pyrrhotite), multiple generations of geochemically and texturally characteristic source intrusions, and the presence of fugitive calcite (Figures 1 & 2).

Nearly vertically dipping pebble dykes containing angular (proximal) clasts of marble, skarn, and local CRM, as well as rounded (increased transport) clasts of an intrusive containing disseminated and quartz vein-hosted molybdenite mineralization were also encountered in multiple holes at Pete's and is an indicator of a mineralized porphyry-type system at depth, as proven by drilling at the Sulphide City Target in 2022.

Drill crews have since mobilized to the Grizzly CRD Target where plans are to drill test the sulphide mineralization potential along the extent of Grizzly Ridge, moving west from the 2022 drilling location toward Pete's CRD Target.

Figure 1: Simplified plan view map of Pete's CRD Target showing the locations of Zn-Pb-Ag-Cu target mineralization intercepts down hole observed during the 2023 diamond drilling campaign at the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Target. This trend remains open in multiple directions and at depth. Photos of target mineralization are included for reference.

Figure 2: Representative photos of mineralization intersected at the new MS (massive sulphide) and SMS (semi-massive sulphide) CRM and skarn discovery in 2023 drill core at Pete's CRD Target.

Figure 3: SLM22-011 - High Grade Ag-Pb-Zn-(Cu-Au) Intercept from the Grizzly CRD Target in 2022.

Table 1: 2023 Visual Mineralization Intervals from Pete's CRD Target DDH ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Description SLM23-016 0.00 1.50 1.50 MS SLM23-016 3.00 3.75 0.75 MS SLM23-017 0.00 0.50 0.50 MS SLM23-017 2.21 2.50 0.29 MS SLM23-019 21.40 24.30 2.90 SMS SLM23-019 34.50 36.50 2.00 MS + SMS SLM23-020 33.10 37.30 4.20 MS + SMS SLM23-021 4.45 6.10 1.66 MS SLM23-021 12.00 13.00 1.00 MS SLM23-022 4.24 5.00 0.76 MS SLM23-022 20.50 20.98 0.48 SMS SLM23-023 2.00 10.00 8.00 MS + SMS SLM23-024 57.71 58.00 0.29 SMS SLM23-027 72.60 72.70 0.10 SMS SLM23-028 27.43 33.83 6.40 MS SLM23-029 29.00 29.50 0.50 SMS SLM23-030 32.05 32.90 0.85 MS SLM23-030 33.90 34.70 0.80 MS

Table 2: 2023 DDH Data Table From Pete's CRD Target DDH ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Total Depth (m) SLM23-016 536575 6559759 1465 250 -55 62.00 SLM23-017 536575 6559759 1465 250 -62 52.00 SLM23-018 536575 6559759 1465 250 72 159.00 SLM23-019 536575 6559759 1465 180 -65 275.00 SLM23-020 536575 6559759 1465 205 -76 97.00 SLM23-021 536510 6559805 1468 185 -50 74.00 SLM23-022 536510 6559805 1468 185 -60 110.00 SLM23-023 536510 6559805 1468 205 -50 136.00 SLM23-024 536510 6559805 1468 65 -70 135.00 SLM23-025 536510 6559805 1468 65 -85 108.00 SLM23-026 536594 6559762 1468 230 -56 147.00 SLM23-027 536594 6559762 1468 225 -60 111.00 SLM23-028 536594 6559762 1468 245 -50 42.00 SLM23-029 536594 6559762 1468 245 -45 108.00 SLM23-030 536594 6559762 1468 255 -50 52.85

About the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project

The Silver Lime Project is predominantly hosted in carbonate rocks of the Florence Range Metamorphic Suite (ca. 1150Ma). Target limestone and marble host rocks are intercalated with upper amphibolite grade metapeltic rocks, quartzite, and amphibole-bearing gneiss. The protoliths to the metasedimentary units include continentally derived clastic strata and platform carbonate, whereas the amphibole-bearing gneiss is interpreted as probable basaltic flows, sills, dykes, and tuffaceous units related to early rifting of the ancestral North America continental margin (i.e., Mihalynuk, 1999). Younger felsic to intermediate intrusive rocks are also widespread within the project area and range from Triassic to Eocene in age. Widespread Eocene magmatic activity was associated with Cordillera-wide, brittle strike-slip faulting. Eocene volcano-plutonic centres in the western Cordillera are known to host porphyry, skarn, and epithermal-type mineralization extending from the Golden Triangle in NW British Columbia to the Tally-Ho Shear Zone in the Yukon (>100 kilometers).

A total of 5,565 metres of exploratory diamond drilling was completed at the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project during the Company's inaugural drilling campaign in 2022. First-pass drilling successfully confirmed the presence of high-grade Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu carbonate replacement (CRD) mineralization at depth, as well as widespread porphyry Mo mineralization and associated mineralized skarn.

The explored extent of the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project currently measures 10KM by 9.5KM and boasts an average surficial grade of 83g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 3.4% Zn, and 0.16g/t Au (700 samples). High-grade carbonate replacement mineralization has been observed in folded marble host rocks ranging up to 250-meters-thick. In 2022, Ag-Zn-Pb-Cu-bearing mineralization was intersected near the bottom of Sulphide City hole SLM22-006 near 453 meters depth.

Currently, the Silver Lime Project consists of 7 highly prospective targets that span the complete mineralization spectrum from Porphyry Mo-Cu to Fe-Zn-Cu-Ag massive sulphide skarn (Sulphide City) and Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu-Au carbonate replacement mineralization (Gally, Pete's, Grizzly, Jackie), to distal, sediment-hosted Ag-Au bearing quartz veining and Au-bearing base metal sulphide vein occurrences (Amp, Falcon). Prospecting and surface sampling in 2022 more than doubled the number of exposed, high-grade carbonate replacement massive sulphide targets at Silver Lime that remain open in all directions and at depth.

The Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project has to potential to host multiple, large-scale base and precious metal deposits. The defined Target areas here cover the entire mineralization continuum from Porphyry Mo-Cu mineralization, Cu- and Zn-rich, disseminated, and massive sulphide skarn, to Ag-rich carbonate replacement massive sulphide and distal Ag-Au quartz-base metal sulphide veining.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Nicholas Rodway, P.Geo, (Licence# 46541) (Permit to Practice# 100359) is President, CEO and Director of the Company, and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Rodway has reviewed and approved the technical content in this release.

About Core Assets Corp.

Core Assets Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in British Columbia, Canada. The Company currently holds 100% ownership in the Blue Property, which covers a land area of114,074 hectares (~1,140 km). The project lies within the Atlin Mining District, a well-known gold mining camp located in the unceded territory of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. The Blue Property hosts a major structural feature known as The Llewellyn Fault Zone ("LFZ"). This structure is approximately 140km in length and runs from the Tally-Ho Shear Zone in the Yukon, south through the Blue Property to the Alaskan Panhandle Juneau Ice Sheet in the United States. Core Assets believes that the south Atlin Lake area and the LFZ has been neglected since the last major exploration campaigns in the 1980's. The LFZ plays an important role in mineralization of near surface metal occurrences across the Blue Property. The past 50 years have seen substantial advancements in the understanding of porphyry, skarn, and carbonate replacement type deposits both globally and in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. The Company has leveraged this information at the Blue Property to tailor an already proven exploration model and believes this could facilitate a major discovery. Core Assets is excited to become one of Atlin Mining District's premier explorers where its team believes there are substantial opportunities for new discoveries and development in the area.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

CORE ASSETS CORP.

"Nicholas Rodway"

President & CEO

Tel: 604.681.1568

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the pending core assays, including speculative inferences about potential copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, zinc, and lead grades based on preliminary visual observations from results of diamond drilling at the Silver Lime Project, as applicable; the Company's plans to further investigate the geometry and extent of the skarn and carbonate replacement type mineralization continuum at the Silver Lime Project through additional field work and diamond drilling and any planned or proposed program related thereto; and any other general statement regarding the Company's planned or future exploration efforts at the Blue Property. It is important to note that the Company's actual business outcomes and exploration results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include that expectations regarding pending core assays based on preliminary visual observations from diamond drilling results at the Silver Lime Project, as applicable, may be found to be inaccurate; that results may indicate further exploration efforts at the Silver Lime Project, as applicable, as not warranted; that the Company may be unable to implement its plans to further explore at the Silver Lime Project, as applicable; that certain exploration methods, including the Company's proposed exploration model for the Blue Property, may be ineffective or inadequate in the circumstances; that economic, competitive, governmental, geopolitical, environmental and technological factors may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices; our specific plans and timing drilling, field work and other plans may change; that the Company may not have access to or be able to develop any minerals because of cost factors, type of terrain, or availability of equipment and technology; and we may also not raise sufficient funds to carry out or complete our plans. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, the global financial climate and the conflict in Ukraine and surrounding regions are some additional factors that are affecting current economic conditions and increasing economic uncertainty, which may impact the Company's operating performance, financial position, and prospects. Collectively, the potential impacts of this economic environment pose risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. Additional risk factors are discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for its recently completed fiscal period, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Except as required by law, the Company will not update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
VANCOUVER, BC -THheNewswire - July 17, 2023  Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE:ELEM) (OTC:ELMGF) (FSE:7YS) ("Element 79 Gold", the "Company") a mining company focused on gold, silver and associated metals, announces that it has approved the transfer of all rights and data related to the Dale property, a gold exploration project in Ontario, Canada to its newly-created, wholly-owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp ("Synergy Metals"). The Company also plans to spin out and sell Synergy Metals through a Plan of Arrangement.

"The transfer of the Dale property to Synergy Metals will help unlock the property's true value and potential while allowing the Company to continue focusing on its core assets," said James Tworek, President and CEO of Element79. "The anticipated spin out and sale of Synergy Metals will also provide additional capital for the Company's growth and offer Element79's shareholders an opportunity to participate in a new independent exploration-focused company with a promising gold project."

Further details on the proposed transaction will be announced in due course, including the timing, valuation, and distribution of Synergy Metals shares to Element79 shareholders. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary CSE requirements.

About the Dale Property

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property. The Dale Property was originally staked on June 1, 2012 after the Algoma-Talisman's appeal failed in December 2010, reverting several townships back to the Crown. Due to the history of the land tenure, Dale Township was privately held and unavailable for conventional staking and prospecting.

The area was staked due to its structural and regional relationships with other gold occurrences and an anomalous gold in till, down ice glacial outwash leading back to the Dale Stock. Other anomalous gold in glacial till outwash lead back to historic gold mines supporting the potential of undiscovered gold potential in the Dale Stock.. Placer Dome Canada Limited (PDCL) completed the most extensive exploration program in Dale Township to date, which included an airborne magnetic-electromagnetic (EM) survey, followed with a ground campaign. Preliminary exploration by the Company has returned prospecting samples up to 2.6 g/t gold from newly exposed trenches (see new release June 3, 2022).

Figure 1.Simplified Regional Geology of the Dale Project Area, showing nearby significant deposits and producing mines.

The Dale Property is a highly prospective early-stage gold project located in the Swazye Greenstone Belt, which is turn is part of the Abitibi Subprovince which hosts some of the world's largest gold deposits, e.g. the Timmins camp which has produced over 70 million ounces of gold (Figure 1). The Swazye Greenstone Belt is best known for hosting IamGold's Cote Lake deposit which contains 10.2 million ounces Measured and Indicated and 3.8 million ounces Inferred, and is located 50 km southeast of the Dale Property (Figure 1). The Cote Lake project received a Positive Construction Decision in July 2020 and plans to achieve commercial production in 2024.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Director of Element79 Gold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Element79 Gold

Element79 Gold is a mining company focused on gold, silver and associated metals and committed to maximizing shareholder value through responsible mining practices and sustainable development of its projects. Element79 Gold's main focus is on two core properties: developing its previously-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to bring it back into production in the near term; and its flagship Maverick Springs Project located in the famous gold mining district of northeastern Nevada, USA, between the Elko and White Pine Counties. Maverick Springs hosts a 43-101-compliant, pit-constrained mineral resource estimate reflecting an inferred resource of 3.71 million ounces of gold equivalent "AuEq" at a grade of 0.92 g/t AuEq (0.34 g/t Au and 43.4 g/t Ag) with an effective date of October 19, 2022. The acquisition of the Maverick Springs Project also included a portfolio of 15 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, which are non-core to its primary business focus. In British Columbia, Element79 Gold has executed a Letter of Intent and funded a drilling program to acquire a private company that holds the option to 100% interest of the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project, which consists of 10 mineral claims located in Central British Columbia, approximately 20km west of Fort St. James. The Company also has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada in the Timmins Mining Division, Dale Township. The Company is analyzing the non-core Nevada projects, The Dale Property and Snowbird Property for further merit of exploration, sale or spin-out.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold

Contact Information

For corporate matters, please contact:

James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

Phone: +1.613.879.9387

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press contains "forwardlooking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forwardlooking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forwardlooking statements".

Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the Company's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forwardlooking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Andrea Aranguren has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer and will lead the Company's growth into the future

MineHub is also pleased to announce the appointment of David Williams to the Company's Advisory Board

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - MineHub Technologies Inc. (TSXV: MHUB) (OTCQB: MHUBF) ("MineHub" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Aranguren as its new Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). Andrea previously served as the President & COO of MineHub, joining the Company earlier this year through the acquisition of Waybridge Technologies ("Waybridge") where she was the co-founder and Chief Customer Officer.

Andrea takes over from MineHub's former CEO, Arnoud Star Busmann, who has led MineHub from its concept stage to its current position as the leading digital platform for mining & metals supply chains. Arnoud will contribute to the Company's success in its next phase by continuing to serve on its Board of Directors.

Commenting on the appointment, Arnoud expressed his confidence in Andrea's ability to lead the Company, stating, "I am delighted to welcome Andrea as the new CEO of MineHub. With an impressive background in global commercial management and expertise in logistics digitization and supply chain optimization, Andrea is well- positioned to lead MineHub into its next phase of growth and innovation. Her strong leadership skills and strategic mindset have been evident throughout the acquisition process and will ensure the successful integration of Waybridge into the Company. I am confident that she will continue to drive the Company's growth and deliver value to our customers and shareholders."

Andrea commented on her new role as CEO, "I am extremely excited and honoured to assume this new role as CEO and look forward to building upon the Company's strong foundation created under Arnoud's leadership. I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board of Directors, and am committed to advancing our position as a global leader in providing mining and supply chain technology solutions, driving innovation, and delivering unparalleled value to our customers. With our talented team and dedication to excellence, I am confident that we continue to deliver strong results going forward."

Andrea is an expert in logistics digitization and supply chain optimization with over a decade of experience in the field. In her previous role as a Founder and Chief Customer Officer of Waybridge, she was responsible for customer implementations, counterparty onboarding and ecosystem partnerships for the company's global customer base, including the largest copper and aluminum manufacturers in the U.S. and the largest copper producer in the world. During this time Andrea managed global commercial teams, including account management, customer success, strategic partnerships, and operations & logistics.

Previously, Andrea served as Vice President, Environmental Markets for IHS Markit, where she was responsible for the product design and development of the environmental registry, and she played an integral role in the development of IHS Markit's Commodity Tracker: a digital documentation and inventory reconciliation platform for physical commodities. Prior to IHS Markit, Andrea also served as Vice President, Metals Logistics at Goldman Sachs & Co., where she was responsible for the development of an innovative scheduling and trading platform. While at Goldman Sachs & Co., Andrea also managed the onboarding of structured financing transactions in the Oil & Gas market, which entailed highlighting and addressing risk management issues, overseeing the development of business and operational requirements, supervising the development of the pricing and cash flow models and handling the contract negotiations with the client. Andrea graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with honours in Economics and received her MBA from Columbia University.

Appointment of David Williams to the Company's Advisory Board

MineHub is also pleased to announce the appointment of David Williams to the Company's Advisory Board. David is an experienced global equities fund manager and corporate finance professional with 20 years capital markets experience. David was with M&G Investments in London from 2004 to 2019, in a variety of senior roles including Fund Manager of the M&G Global Recovery Fund from 2010 to 2019. In this position, David took an active role in delivery of the fund's strategy, which included significant involvement in investment decision making, fund raising, and corporate transactions. In 2019, David founded Richmond Bridge Capital that provides corporate finance advice to a range of small and medium sized, public and private companies and is a founder of UK based investment firm Sankofa Investment Partners. David is also a director of CSE listed Hydrograph Clean Power Inc.

In addition, the Company announces the grant of 400,000 stock options to a senior officer of the Company, with each option exercisable at a price of $0.30 cents per share for a period of five years. The stock options will be subject to vesting requirements, as determined by the board of directors. The options have been granted in accordance with the terms of the Company's current stock option plan and have a hold period of 4 months and a day from the date of issuance in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About MineHub Technologies

MineHub provides enterprise-grade digital solutions that connect buyers, sellers and financiers within physical commodities supply chains in a digitally integrated workflow powered by data that is useable, shareable, verifiable and unforgeable. Users of MineHub solutions are in full control of their supply chains, enabling them to optimize their use of resources, respond better and faster to disruptions, and provide a better customer service. Global enterprises already use MineHub solutions as part of their logistics, compliance, trade management and financing operations.

Andrea Aranguren

President & CEO, MineHub Technologies Inc.

For further information regarding MineHub, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website at www.minehub.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains statements that are considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements") with respect to MineHub including, but not limited to, statements with respect to MineHub's future operational plans, the timing of such plans and anticipated customers. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts are generally, but not always, identied by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although MineHub believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sucient capital to fund its operations, applications and for general working capital purposes, changes in economic conditions or nancial markets, changes in laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, dependence on its key management personnel and market competition. Other risk factors are identified in the Company's management discussion and analysis, available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. There may be other risk factors not presently known that management believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date included herein, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of MineHub's management on the date the statements are made. However, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Metal Energy Corp. (TSXV: MERG) (OTCQB: MEEEF) (the "Company" or "Metal Energy") is pleased to announce additional claim acquisitions directly adjacent to the SourceRock project ("SourceRock" or the "Project").

These mining claims were drilled in 2006 and intersected significant saline water flow from 184.7 to 202.39 metres, and halite cubes, sedimentary cements, and beds, including halite precipitating from waters as the core dries from 528.52 to 582.5 metres (see core photo below).* Halite precipitating as described in the core logs suggests the saline fluids are supersaturated with high concentrations of total dissolved solids ("TDS"). High TDS concentrations typically correlate with high lithium concentrations (see Figure 2).

"These are essential claims to SourceRock as their previous drill holes demonstrate that we are within a high-pressure sedimentary basin with very high salinity. However, lithium was not a marketable commodity when these drill holes were completed and thus never analyzed in either the fluids or the rocks. Metal Energy now controls a dominant land position covering the deepest parts of the basin. All the pathfinder elements and multiple supporting documents suggest high lithium concentrations are probable. SourceRock is permitted to drill, and we believe a few drill holes can assess the geologic validity of our thesis," said James Sykes, CEO of Metal Energy.

Drill Hole: BSW-06-04 (somewhere between 567.05 to 557.8 m), ^ identifies salt beds. Source: Vendor

SourceRock Exploration Plans

SourceRock is a drill-ready project with an exploration permit already in-hand from the Ontario Ministry of Mines for up to 20 drill pads. Initial geophysical data compilation has already identified saline brine drill targets on the Project. The Company is currently engaged with local Indigenous groups, communities, and stakeholders, and anticipates a drill program to commence after sufficient and meaningful consultation has been completed.

About the SourceRock Li Brine Project

SourceRock is highly prospective for lithium ("Li") brines in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon area of northwestern Ontario. The Project is exceptionally large, covering 915 square kilometres (91,477 hectares) within an area measuring approximately 10 to 20 km wide by 95 km long of the Proterozoic Sibley sedimentary basin (Figure 1).

The Project has excellent access to infrastructure and capacity that has supported previous exploration programs and mine development, including year-round highway, railroad, and seaport access, with power and natural gas lines crossing the Project.

SourceRock Purchase Agreement

On July 8, 2023, Metal Energy entered into a Purchase Agreement with an arms length vendor (the "Vendor") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in 9 mining claims (189 hectares) adjacent to SourceRock.

The terms of the agreement are;

Issuance of 1,800,000 common shares of Metal Energy to the Vendor upon acceptance of the Option Agreement by the TSXV; $10,000 in cash, payable upon closing the transaction; the Vendor retains a 2% Gross Value Royalty ("GVR") on the claims. The Company has the right to purchase 1% of the GVR for $1,000,000 at any time.

All issued common shares will be subject to such hold periods that are prescribed by applicable securities laws.

Metal Energy will be the operator of the 9 mining claims and as such will have the rights and responsibility to execute all work programs on the Project.

For the latest videos from Metal Energy and other Ore Group companies, subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup

*Bowdidge, C. 2006. Report on 2006 Summer diamond drilling program, Black Sturgeon Uranium Project, Sibley Basin, Thunder Bay Mining Division. Rampart Ventures Ltd. Ontario Geological Survey Assessment Report.

About Metal Energy Corp.

Metal Energy is a nickel and battery metal exploration company with three projects in politically stable Canadian jurisdictions; Manibridge (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) in Manitoba, and SourceRock (Li-Na-K) and Strange (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) in Ontario. The Manibridge Project is 85% owned by Metal Energy and 15% owned by Mistango River Resources Inc. (CSE: MIS). Both SourceRock and Strange Projects are subject to earn-in agreements where the Company can acquire 100% exploration rights to each project.

QP Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Beaudry, P.Geo., Director for Metal Energy, and a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

For further information, please contact:

Metal Energy Corp.

MERG on the TSXV

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.metalenergy.ca

James Sykes, CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

306-221-8717

Reader Advisory

Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com including the Filing Statement dated November 15, 2021. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Figure 1 - SourceRock Li Brine Project Location in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon area of northwestern Ontario

Figure 2 - Lithium concentration in formation waters from sedimentary basins and closed basin brines worldwide; lithium concentration vs. total dissolved solids

Dugamin, E.J.M., et. al. 2021. Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study. Nature.com/ScientificReports. (2021) 11:21091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99912-7.


Global in situ gold resource increases by 78% over original MRE

Global in situ silver resource increases by 113% over original MRE

New MRE figures: Measured Resources: 835,000 mt @ 4.3 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag Indicated Resources: 296,000 mt @ 3.6 g/t Au and 15 g/t Ag Inferred Resources: 250,000 mt @ 3.7 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag

4,500-meter drilling program planned for the next phase of field work, which will include resource infill drilling and exploration drilling around the license

Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - July 17, 2023 - Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:AVU) is pleased to announce that its partner at the Slivova Gold Project in Kosovo, Western Tethyan Resources (WTR), has provided a new Mineral Resource Estimate and general near-term work plan for the gold-silver deposit. Slivova is located in the prolific Vardar Mineral Trend, about 30 km SE of the capital, Pristina. WTR can earn-in to 75% of the Project by funding exploration and development for Euro 1,800,000 over three years, and then a further 10% by making certain milestone and success payments, producing an Environmental Impact Statement, delivering a Feasibility Study, and completing a Mining License application.

Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, commented:

We are truly excited about this new development in the progress of the Slivova Project, and look forward to continued success in the program. WTR and its associated company, Ariana Resources, are working hard to advance the Project to the next level. We expect further information concerning progress, as the two companies work to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment for Slivova in the coming months and begin a 4,500-meter drilling program to further define the Slivova deposit and test other attractive, previously-identified possibilities around the license.

Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director of Ariana Resources, provided further information:

We are very pleased to provide a substantial resource update on the Slivova Gold Project in Kosovo. With a Measured and Indicated Resource of 146,000 oz of gold and 546,000 oz of silver, and an Inferred Resource of another 30,000 oz of gold and 100,000 oz Ag in global resources now defined, Slivova is now well on track to be developed conceptually as a high-grade, open-pit and underground mining operation.

We are increasingly confident that further resource expansion will occur as exploration proceeds at the site in the upcoming years. Several exploration targets in the immediate vicinity require follow-up and drill-testing, and the broader project area contains significant exploration potential for similar mineralisation based on the latest regional BLEG stream-sediment results.

We are firmly in the planning stage for a new drilling programme at Slivova, which will be focused in part on resource infill and extensional drilling. We are targeting a minimum resource of 200,000 oz of gold prior to the initiation of more advanced project development work, which would include more advanced studies.

Mentor Demi, Managing Director of Western Tethyan Resources added:

Western Tethyan Resources is very excited to announce a significant resource increase for the Slivova gold deposit. The resource growth came mostly from the incorporation of the new historical drilling data and the revision of the geology and resource interpretation and model.

Based on the current resources size, Slivova represents a very prospective, undeveloped gold project, in Kosovo.

Slivova is well on its way to becoming an advanced project, yet with a lot of exploration upside, down dip from the current resource, as well as from the surrounding satellite prospects. WTR is looking forward to starting in Q3 with the exploration program, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Social Engagement Plan following recommendations from the Preliminary Economic Assessment.

The following information is a Summary of the Mineral Resource Estimate, provided by Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd., an Independent Qualified Person, as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 regulations. With the publication of this document, the full MRE must be publicly filed within 45 days.

Introduction

Between October 2022 and June 2023, the Western Tethyan and Ariana teams completed detailed field, drill core and digital data reviews of all information attributed to the Slivova Project and its Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources have been estimated by Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd., an Independent Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101.

The Slivova gold and silver deposit, consists of intrusive-related, stratiform massive to disseminated gold-bearing and base metal mineralogy hosted in Cretaceous-aged calcareous sediments. The mineralisation occurs as disseminated to massive replacement of calcareous sandstone to pebble conglomerate and minor replacement of limestone, associated with pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and base-metal sulphides. Lithological control and structural features appear to have played a major role in focusing the alteration and mineralisation, both as fluid pathways and fluid retardants.

The Slivova Project exploration license is located along the Vardar Trend, approximately 30km SE of Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo (Figure 1).

Figure 1: The Slivova deposit (Peshter Target), and its associated license boundary.

Slivova Mineral Resource Estimate

Mineral Resources have been estimated for the Slivova deposit (Peshter Target) only. No Mineral Resources have as yet been declared for other targets within the Slivova Project, such as Dzemajl, Valiaviste and Brus.

The estimated Mineral Resource for Slivova is reported in accordance with CIM Definition Standards, comprising of an anticipated open-pittable portion and an anticipated underground extraction portion reported above appropriate cut-off grades reflecting each anticipated mining type. Identification of material which has a reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction is supported by existing metallurgical test work and an ongoing Preliminary Economic Analysis by Bara Consulting Ltd of the UK.

Mineralisation and block models for the Mineral Resource Estimate were informed by data from 62 surface drillholes over a total of 6,640m performed between 2014 and 2018 by the previous explorer, Innomatik Exploration Kosova (IEK). The hole spacing for the deposit is approximately 15m north by 15m east in the core of the deposit, extending to 30m north x 30m east towards the edges (Figure 2). Sample spacing and distribution are considered sufficient to establish the geological and grade continuity required for modelling and resource estimation. Gold and silver have been estimated as mining products, with no by-products or deleterious elements modelled.

Figure 2: Summary map of the various phases of drilling completed within the Slivova Project area. Some drill collars in the core of the deposit are not visible at this scale. WGS84 Z34N.

The drill database was validated prior to resource estimation and quality control (QC) checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercially certified reference material inserted into assay batches. The Qualified Person has reviewed the QC data and has found it suitable for use in Mineral Resource Estimation. Additionally, the assay database was reconstructed from the original assay certificates to increase confidence in the final assay database used in the resource estimation.

Geological Modelling

The mineralisation is understood to be typically defined as a single identifiable unit, and geologically constrained (e.g., higher grades are noted in some cases to be associated with coarser grained pebble conglomerates). The steeply-dipping, intercalated pebble and cobble conglomerates, sandstone and minor siltstone beds are thought to control the mineralisation through their different porosity and permeability characteristics. The geological model as applied to the Mineral Resource Estimate comprises a single domain plunging to the east-southeast, the strike of which is controlled by the host rocks (Figure 3).

The Slivova geological modelling used a combination of surface mapping data, structural measurements, geophysics, geological interpretations, and multi-element geochemical analysis in conjunction with date derived from diamond drill holes across the deposit area. Interpretations of geological surfaces are derived from 3D implicit modelling of drill hole data in Leapfrog GEO and EDGE v. 2023.1.0 using the softwares intrusion function to generate an encapsulating volume over economically defined drill composites (Figure 3). All wireframes have been clipped to the topography.

A mineralised wireframe at a cut-off of approximately 0.2g/t Au was used to distinguish mineralised and unmineralised material. Grade continuity within the interpreted mineralised zones is generally robust. Where continuity was not established between sections, the strike extrapolation was limited both manually (wireframes) and statistically (interpolations). While higher-grade sub-populations of 3-10 g/t Au and above 10g/t Au are inferred from the data distribution inspection, the drill core indicated that this could not reliably be modelled, and as such an indicator kriging approach was adapted during block model estimation.

Figure 3: 3D view of the modelled mineralised volume looking north. WGS84 Z34N.

The mineralisation broadly follows a northwest-southeast trend, as supported by structural measurements both in outcrop and on oriented core. The mineralisation outcrops at surface with visible sulphides in the exposure. The mineralised zone is approximately 260m along strike and 70m wide and covers an area of approximately 1.7 hectares. The Mineral Resources extend from surface to a depth of approximately 200 metres, plunging for approximately 300 metres to the east-southeast with a vertical extent of 100-150 metres and is typically 50 to 100 metres wide. Mineralisation is closed by drilling to the north, south and east, however, remains open down plunge to the east-southeast. The northern contact of the mineralisation is interpreted to be controlled by a bounding fault.

Estimation Methodology

The block model was prepared using Micromine Origin and Beyond version 2023, Services Pack 4 (Figure 4). A 5m x 5m x 5m block model was created with sub-blocks of minimum size 1m x 1m x 1m on domain boundaries. Grade estimation from 2m composites was carried out using median indicator kriging (mIK) for gold and using ordinary kriging for silver. The model was validated by comparison of input and output statistics, de-clustering, kriging neighbourhood analysis and by inspection of the assay data and block model in cross-section.

Figure 4: Oblique view of the block model showing the estimated gold grades. WGS84 Z34N.

The density database contains 2,472 bulk density determinations of which 1,222 fall within the mineralised domain. Values within the domain were interpolated into each block using inverse distance weighting to a power of 2 with a lower limit of 1.5t/m3 and capped at 3.8t/m3.

Slivova Mineral Resource Classification

Mineral Resources were classified according to the Qualified Persons view of the accuracy of the estimates and the quality and confidence of data underpinning them. Mineral Resource classification considered the data quality, spacing and kriging standard error statistic (SE). Measured Mineral Resources are supported in the part of the deposit with the closest spaced drilling where the SE is <0.3 and blocks are informed by three or more drill holes with spacing typically less than 15m. Indicated Mineral Resources were classified where the SE was >0.4 and the average data spacing was typically less than 25m. The remaining blocks were classified as Inferred Mineral Resources including the down plunge portion of the deposit which is largely informed by two drill holes and is extrapolated by approximately 55m.

The Mineral Resource Estimate has an effective date of 22 June 2023, superseding the previous Mineral Resource Estimate which had an effective date of 31 May 2016. The Mineral Resource Estimate for Slivova is reported in Table 1, which was completed 14 July 2023.

No estimates of Mineral Reserves have been prepared. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Qualified Person is not aware of any such issues at the time of writing.

Table 1: Estimated Mineral Resources for Slivova. Numbers are rounded to an appropriate number of significant figures and as such discrepancies may exist between individual values, products and totals.

Category Tonnes Bulk Density AuEq (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (oz) Ag (oz) Total Mineral Resources (Gross to the Project) Measured 835,000 2.9 4.3 4.2 15 113,000 402,000 Indicated 296,000 2.8 3.6 3.5 15 33,200 144,000 Meas + Ind 1,130,000 2.9 4.1 4.0 15 146,000 546,000 Inferred 250,000 2.8 3.7 3.7 13 30,000 100,000 Open Pit Resources Above 0.5g/t AuEq Measured 110,000 2.9 3.2 3.2 14 11,200 48,300 Indicated 39,300 2.6 2.8 2.7 13 3,390 16,500 Meas + Ind 150,000 2.8 3.1 3.0 13 14,600 64,800 Inferred nil nil nil nil nil nil nil Underground Resources Above 1.5g/t AuEq Measured 725,000 2.9 4.4 4.4 15 102,000 354,000 Indicated 257,000 2.9 3.7 3.6 15 29,800 127,000 Meas + Ind 982,000 2.9 4.2 4.2 15 131,000 481,000 Inferred 250,000 2.8 3.7 3.7 13 30,000 100,000

Notes to the Mineral Resource Estimate (1-9):

The independent Qualified Person responsible for Mineral Resource disclosure, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Richard Siddle, MSc, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd. The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is 22 June 2023. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted to Mineral Reserves. A gold equivalent (AuEq) grade was calculated for each block using the formula AuEq = (Ag g/t x 0.05) + Au g/t. It is the opinion of the Qualified Person that all elements included in the Au Equivalent calculation have a reasonable prospect of being recovered and sold, the calculation of the Au equivalent value considers the relative recovery and payability of each element (recovery by cyanide leaching of 93.4% for gold and 50% for silver and 95% and 85% payability, respectively, as informed by metallurgical test work completed to date) as well as the assumed commodity prices. Reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction are satisfied by the estimation of break-even cut-off grades for each anticipated mining scenario (0.5g/t AuEq for open pit and 1.5g/t AuEq for underground mining). These cut-off grades were used to report the Mineral Resource. The cut-off grades were estimated on the basis of the following assumptions: a gold price of US$1850/oz (selected following consideration of (1, 2 and 3 year trailing average LMBA gold price and LMBA 2023 average forecast gold price, a silver price of US$20/oz, underground mining costs of US$43.7/t, processing costs (including tailings disposal) of US$29.5/t and GA costs of US$3/ROMt. Estimates in the above table have been rounded to three significant figures for Measured and Indicated Resources and two significant figures for Inferred Mineral Resources. CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources have been followed. The independent Qualified Person for Resources is not aware of any additional known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate. The Mineral Resource figures set out above are quoted gross with respect to the Project. WTR of which Ariana owns 75%, has yet to establish a net attributable interest under the Earn-in and accordingly, no separate net attributable figures are reported. Western Tethyan Resources is the operator of Slivova

Additional drilling is required to increase the confidence in the Mineral Resources in the Indicated and particularly Inferred parts of the resource estimate. Increased levels of information brought about by further drilling may serve to either increase or decrease the estimate of Mineral Resources. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. A 4,500-metre drilling programme has been planned for the next phase of resource infill and exploration work at Slivova.

Comparison to Previous Mineral Resources

A resource estimate was completed by Mining Plus for Slivova as part of the 2016 NI43-101 Study on the project (Table 2). The most significant change is the upgrade of Mineral Resources from the Indicated category to the Measured category.

115% increase in total tonnes

17% decrease in gold grade but a 78% increase in total gold ounces

1% decrease in silver grade but a 113% increase in total silver ounces

There was a slight decline in the gold grade due to extending the model in areas showing grade continuity, but at a lower grade. This increased the number of ounces and tonnage as the result of extrapolating the resource with the additional drilling. The 2016 estimate did not include any of the 2016 drill program data and, as such, a detailed comparison is less meaningful. Changes in the estimate, including classification, grade and contained metal can largely be attributed to the inclusion of additional data and increased confidence in the model due to better understanding of the geology and the outcomes of the in-depth QC review and reviewing laboratory assay certificates in detail.

Table 2: Mineral Resources reported in the 2016 NI43-101 study. The Mineral Resources were reported at a cut-off grade of 1.0g/t Au and had an effective date of 31 May 2016.

2016 MRE Mass Average Value Material Content Au Ag Au Ag t g/t g/t oz oz Measured - - - - - Indicated 640,000 4.80 14.68 98,700 302,000 Inferred 2,000 2.00 16.12 130 1,000 Total 642,000 4.79 14.68 98,830 303,000

Other Considerations

To the best of the Qualified Persons knowledge, at the time of estimation there are no known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political or other relevant issues that could materially impact the eventual extraction of the Mineral Resource.

The most likely extraction scenario is anticipated to be by means of a small 100m wide open pit to a depth of approximately 30m, followed by underground stoping. While a larger open pit would likely be economically viable based on pit optimisation tests, the size of the pit may encroach on local waterways and bring nearby farm buildings within the safe blast radius of the pit. As such, the above scenario is considered more likely.

Studies have been previously completed as part of the 2017 PFS (internal, unpublished) on the natural environment and potential impacts on the local community.

GR Engineering Services Ltd (GRES) completed a metallurgical and processing report for the project as part of the 2017 PFS (internal, unpublished). The metallurgical work was conducted at ALS Metallurgical Laboratories in Balcatta, Western Australia with initial tests confirming the gold is not refractory. In summary, good gold recovery was demonstrated in cyanide leaching (96%) and flotation (88%), whereas the gravity method gave only 36% recovery.

Detailed studies were previously completed as part of the 2017 PFS (internal, unpublished) on mining, hydrology, geomechanics, waste geochemistry, mine waste and tailings, power supply, surface infrastructure and CAPEX & OPEX.

Sampling and Assaying Procedures

All of the drill holes used to define the Slivova Project have been drilled using diamond core drilling techniques in HQ, NTW and NQ diameter core sizes. All diamond drill core is processed in the Companys core shed, near the Slivova Project. Initially, all sample preparation occurred at the ALS Group sample preparation facility at Rosia Montana, Romania and then at ALS in Bor, Serbia. Drill-core samples from the drilling programmes at Slivova were cut in half by a diamond saw and sent for analysis in batches in line with the Company's quality control procedures.

The review of the QA/QC results from the 2014-2016 drill programme, the holes which were used in the resource estimate, indicated no issues. Standards, blanks and duplicates all showed good performance. The insertion rate of QA/QC samples for these phases of the drill programme was 12% (4,930 samples incl. 582 QA/QC samples), with a similar proportion of blanks, standards, field duplicates, analytical duplicates and pulp duplicates inserted.

Diamond drill core recoveries were monitored and recorded in the sampling database. Overall core recovery for the diamond drilling is 92%, with core recovery for only the holes used in the resource estimate being 90%. There is no bias between sample recovery and grade. Samples with less than 80% recovery were noted to be in zones of fault gouge, highly broken core or drill-spun core.

All samples have been submitted for gold and silver analysis, with some batches being submitted for a full multi-element suite of analysis. Not all batches had multi-element analysis due to budget constraints. All analysis has been undertaken by ALS Group at their fully accredited laboratories, as detailed below.

Gold analysis was undertaken at the ALS laboratory in Rosia Montana, Romania using Fire Assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Finish on a 30g charge. The upper detection limit for this method (Au-AA23) is set at 10g/t gold, with any over-detection values re-analysed via Fire Assay with a Gravimetric Finish (Au-GRA21).

Silver analysis was undertaken at the ALS laboratory in Loughrea, Ireland using a multi-acid digest and a hydrochloric acid leach with an AAS read. An upper detection limit of 100g/t silver is set for this analytical technique  no samples returned grades at this upper detection limit.

Multi-element analysis was undertaken at the ALS facility in Ireland, using a multi-acid digest with the analysis completed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS).

Review of the assay results determined that all Quality Control and Quality Assurance samples (blanks, standards, and duplicates) passed the required quality control checks established by the Company, with duplicate samples showing excellent correlation. Laboratory sample preparation, assaying procedures and chain of custody were appropriately controlled. The Company maintains an archive of half-core samples and a photographic record of all cores for future reference.

The independent Qualified Person for Mineral Resources as defined by NI 43-101 is Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd. Mr. Siddle has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. The Qualified Person completed a site visit to the project on 13 June 2023, and has inspected the property, drillhole locations and has reviewed selected intervals of the drill core used in the Mineral Resource Estimate. No concerns were identified during the visit.

Ariana Resources is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with an exceptional track-record of creating value for its shareholders through its interests in active mining projects and investments in exploration companies. Its current interests include gold production in Turkey and copper-gold exploration and development projects in Cyprus and Kosovo.

Western Tethyan Minerals is a UK-registered, mineral exploration and development company focused on South East Europe. The company has a strategic alliance with Newmont Corporation and Ariana Resources and is currently focused on exploration for major copper-gold deposits in the Lecce Magmatic Complex and Vardar Belt. The company is assessing several other exploration project opportunities across Eastern Europe, targeting copper-gold deposits across the porphyry-epithermal transition.

Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator business model. The Company holds one 100%-owned license in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, presently optioned to Sandfire MATSA in an earn-in joint venture agreement. The Company now holds one 100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova gold prospect in Kosovo, and is actively advancing four prospects in central Finland through its in-process acquisition of Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop other opportunities around Europe.

For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Paul W. Kuhn

Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director

This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX-V:BAY) (OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") announces that the Company has been granted an extension by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") to complete the previously announced (see news release dated May 17, 2023) non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000, by no later than August 15, 2023. In addition, the Aston Bay plans to consolidate the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") on the basis of one (1) new post-consolidation Common Share for every four (4) pre-consolidation Common Shares (the "Consolidation") in connection with the closing of the Offering.

The Offering consists, on a post-Consolidation basis, of units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one Common Share and one-half warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share (the "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.32 per Warrant Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for exploration on the Company's gold and base metals projects in Virginia, and other potential projects in the USA and for general working capital purposes.

The Company anticipates that current insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. Subject to Exchange approval, finder's fees may be paid to persons who introduce the Company to investors. The Offering may be closed in one or more tranches as subscriptions are received.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States and Canadian securities laws.

The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

There can be no assurances that the Company will be able to complete the Offering. The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX-V and all regulatory approvals.

See the May 17, 2023 news release for details of the planned consolidation of Common Shares.

About Aston Bay Holdings

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade copper and gold deposits in Virginia, USA, and Nunavut, Canada. The Company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the Company's advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona. The Company is currently exploring the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade copper potential in the area.

The Company is 100% owner of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit and has been optioned to American West Metals Limited.

The Company's public disclosure documents are available on www.sedar.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release, including those regarding the closing and the use of proceeds of the private placement, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation. We seek safe harbour.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer

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(416) 456-3516

Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development

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(647) 821-1337
VANCOUVER, BC, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) ("Century Lithium" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Corby G. Anderson to its Board of Directors, effective July 14, 2023.

Dr. Anderson is a Licensed Professional Chemical Engineer with over 40 years of global experience in engineering, design, industrial plant operations, corporate level management, education, research, and professional service. He holds degrees of BSc in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University, an MSc in Metallurgical Engineering from Montana Tech, and a PhD in Mining Engineering and Metallurgy from the University of Idaho. He most recently assisted Century Lithium as its Technical Advisor, Metallurgy.

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Anderson to the Company's Board of Directors," said Bryan Disher, Chair of Century Lithium. "As Technical Advisor, Dr. Anderson has been instrumental in the advancement of our Clayton Valley Lithium Project, and we look forward to his continued contribution to the Company in his new role on the Board of Directors."

About Century Lithium Corp.

Century Lithium Corp. (formerly Cypress Development Corp.) is an advanced stage lithium company, focused on developing its 100%-owned Clayton Valley Lithium Project in west-central Nevada, USA. Century Lithium is currently in the pilot stage of testing on material from its lithium-bearing claystone deposit at its Lithium Extraction Facility in Amargosa Valley, Nevada and progressing towards completing a Feasibility Study and permitting, with the goal of becoming a domestic producer of lithium for the growing electric vehicle and battery storage market.

ON BEHALF OF CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.

WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PE

President & Chief Executive Officer

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "scheduled," and other similar words. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration, and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.
VANCOUVER, BC, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) is pleased to report high-grade silver-lead intercepts from its ongoing diamond drilling program at the TLP mine at the Ying Mining District, China.

Highlights (all intersections are in core lengths):

Surface hole ZKTDB0413 intersected 1,025 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"), 3.01% lead ("Pb"), and 0.11 g/t gold ("Au") over a 2.48 metre ("m") interval of vein T26 at the 1,113 m elevation;

intersected 1,025 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"), 3.01% lead ("Pb"), and 0.11 g/t gold ("Au") over a 2.48 metre ("m") interval of vein T26 at the elevation; Surface hole ZKTDB2005 intersected 3,211 g/t Ag, 2.41% Pb, 0.15% zinc ("Zn"), and 0.16% copper ("Cu") over a 0.63 m interval of vein T1E at the 1,129 m elevation;

intersected 3,211 g/t Ag, 2.41% Pb, 0.15% zinc ("Zn"), and 0.16% copper ("Cu") over a interval of vein T1E at the elevation; Surface hole ZKTDB0501 intersected 312 g/t Ag, 3.21% Pb, and 0.43% Zn over a 5.04 m interval of vein T2 at the 980 m elevation;

intersected 312 g/t Ag, 3.21% Pb, and 0.43% Zn over a interval of vein T2 at the elevation; Hole ZKG0847 intersected 8,254 g/t Ag, 11.71% Pb, and 1.30% Zn over a 1.87 m interval of vein T16 at the 684 m elevation;

intersected 8,254 g/t Ag, 11.71% Pb, and 1.30% Zn over a interval of vein T16 at the elevation; Hole ZKG1447 intersected 7,140 g/t Ag, 30.79% Pb, 0.92% Zn, and 1.43% Cu over a 0.57 m interval of vein T15W2 at the 818 m elevation;

intersected 7,140 g/t Ag, 30.79% Pb, 0.92% Zn, and 1.43% Cu over a interval of vein T15W2 at the elevation; Hole ZKG0325 intersected 3,475 g/t Ag, 2.22% Pb, 1.52% Zn, and 0.75 g/t Au over a 0.86 m interval of vein T38 at the 752 m elevation;

intersected 3,475 g/t Ag, 2.22% Pb, 1.52% Zn, and 0.75 g/t Au over a interval of vein T38 at the elevation; Hole ZKT4710 intersected 83 g/t Ag, 10.46% Pb, 0.46% Zn, 0.09 g/t Au, and 0.75% Cu over a 6.26 m interval of vein T3 at the 638 m elevation;

intersected 83 g/t Ag, 10.46% Pb, 0.46% Zn, 0.09 g/t Au, and 0.75% Cu over a interval of vein T3 at the elevation; Hole ZKG1024 intersected 2,743 g/t Ag, 6.95% Pb, and 1.67% Zn over a 1.27 m interval of vein T11 at the 630 m elevation;

intersected 2,743 g/t Ag, 6.95% Pb, and 1.67% Zn over a interval of vein T11 at the elevation; Hole ZKG1437 intersected 2,204 g/t Ag, 5.13% Pb, 0.43% Zn, and 0.51% Cu over a 2.08 m interval of vein T16 at the 749 m elevation;

intersected 2,204 g/t Ag, 5.13% Pb, 0.43% Zn, and 0.51% Cu over a interval of vein T16 at the elevation; Hole ZKG1441 intersected 3,437 g/t Ag, 2.09% Pb, 1.55% Zn, and 0.22% Cu over a 1.20 m interval of vein T16 at the 727 m elevation;

intersected 3,437 g/t Ag, 2.09% Pb, 1.55% Zn, and 0.22% Cu over a interval of vein T16 at the elevation; Hole ZKT0829 intersected 453 g/t Ag, 5.10% Pb, and 0.93% Zn over a 4.60 m interval of vein T14E at the 975 m elevation; and

intersected 453 g/t Ag, 5.10% Pb, and 0.93% Zn over a interval of vein T14E at the elevation; and Hole ZKG0009 intersected 542 g/t Ag, 52.01% Pb, 0.20% Zn, and 0.16% Cu over a 0.81 m interval of vein T15W at the 637 m elevation.

From January 1, 2022, to June 15, 2023, a total of 66,679 m in 340 diamond drill holes, including 270 underground holes and 70 surface holes, were completed at the TLP mine. Assay results for 227 holes have been received, with 197 holes intersecting mineralization. Currently, there are 10 rigs drilling at the TLP mine.

The drilling program has targeted three areas: 1) silver-lead vein structures in the resource area at higher elevations, close to surface, which have seen limited exploration; 2) infilling in the production area, particularly above or below previously-mined stopes, where production stopped due to higher than modelled variability in grades, thicknesses, and attitudes of the vein structures; and 3) step out drilling to test the extension of the major vein structures to the northeast of the resource area.

Drilling Near-Surface Ag-Pb Vein Structures within the Resource Area

Drilling over the past few years primarily focused on the lateral and downdip extent of known vein structures and paid insufficient attention to their extension potential at elevations above 900 m. In addition to the 70 surface drill holes, which account for over 20% of the drill holes in this program, many underground holes drilled also targeted the vein structures at higher elevations. High-grade Ag-Pb vein structures intersected at higher elevations include the T1 series, T2, T3 series, T11 series, T14E, T15 series, T16 series, T23 series, and T26 series (Table 1).

Drilling Above or Beneath Previously-Mined Stopes within the Resource Area

Most holes drilled during this period targeted blocks of known Ag-Pb vein structures that were previously missed due to limited drilling or tunneling, changes in thickness, strikes and dips of the pay-zones in veins within the resource areas below the 900 m elevation. The high-grade intercepts are mainly associated with the northwest-dipping T1 series, T2 series, T3 series, T4, T11 series, T15 series, T16 series, T23 series, T20, T21, T31W3, T33 series, and T35 series, and the east-dipping T14 series, T22 series, T26 series, and T28 series. These intercepts have led to significant expansion and upgrading of resources. Since the ramps and access tunnels are already in place, these defined high-grade blocks can be quickly converted to reserves and mined.

Step-Out Drilling Intersecting Ag-Pb Veins to the Northeast of the Resource Area

Step-out surface and underground drilling intersected high-grade Ag-Pb veins T2, T3 series, T4, T5, and T21 series to the northeast of the resource area. Hole ZKT4710 intersected 83 g/t Ag, 10.46% Pb, 0.46% Zn and 0.75% Cu over a 6.26 m interval. These intercepts have extended the boundary of the resource area approximately 300 m to the northeast.

Table 1: Selected intercepts from the drilling programs at the TLP mine

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Elevation

(m) Interval

(m) Ag

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Vein ZKTDB2005 23.60 24.90 1,141 1.30 108 1.18 0.03 0.03 0.07 T1 ZKTDB0412 82.92 84.76 1,101 1.84 216 1.08 0.07 0.05 0.03 T1 ZKTDB0422 74.09 75.86 1,101 1.77 268 0.18 0.03 0.02 0.02 T1 ZKTDB0413 90.30 92.14 1,084 1.84 195 2.94 0.03 0.07 0.01 T1 ZKTDB1781 126.97 129.95 984 2.98 162 2.01 0.07 0.02 0.03 T1 ZKT0933 124.02 124.62 910 0.60 261 11.44 2.52 T1 ZKT0006 38.46 38.96 888 0.50 190 3.96 0.18 0.07 0.06 T1 ZKTDB2005 54.64 55.27 1,129 0.63 3,211 2.41 0.15 0.03 0.16 T1E ZKTDB0422 53.88 55.16 1,107 1.28 244 0.31 0.08 0.02 0.01 T1W ZKTDB0427 58.17 58.71 1,105 0.54 672 0.67 0.07 0.03 0.07 T1W ZKTDB0428 71.16 71.66 1,078 0.50 233 0.54 0.04 T1W ZKTDB0603 106.05 107.10 1,034 1.05 837 2.64 0.31 0.05 0.05 T1W ZKTDB0006 176.90 179.95 912 3.05 274 7.86 0.13 T1W ZKT0815 73.01 73.92 871 0.91 119 4.58 0.09 0.35 0.01 T1W ZKT1145 92.26 95.18 831 2.92 49 5.47 0.28 0.05 0.12 T1W ZKTDB0428 13.40 16.59 1,117 3.19 134 0.48 0.26 T1W1 ZKTDB0422 28.46 30.10 1,116 1.64 91 1.42 0.10 0.02 0.02 T1W1 ZKTDB0603 28.83 30.64 1,100 1.81 177 0.79 0.05 0.05 0.06 T1W1 ZKTDB0008 109.91 110.44 1,017 0.53 867 1.11 1.73 0.11 0.09 T1W1 ZKTDB0006 118.81 119.30 958 0.49 60 5.59 0.07 T1W1 ZKT0826 3.79 4.54 897 0.75 204 0.17 0.08 0.02 0.02 T1W1 ZKT0613 148.66 149.52 884 0.86 960 1.11 1.28 T1W1 ZKT0404 151.28 153.71 866 2.43 137 1.18 0.37 0.02 0.02 T1W1 ZKT0907 126.35 126.87 636 0.52 324 3.15 0.49 T1W1 ZKT1315 119.43 120.43 590 1.00 175 4.09 2.25 1.11 0.58 T1W1 ZKT0941 125.28 128.32 590 3.04 138 3.15 1.23 0.16 1.06 T1W1 ZKT1314 134.41 135.01 545 0.60 1,061 4.41 1.44 0.58 0.89 T1W1 ZKT1315 128.64 129.22 585 0.58 141 1.27 1.69 0.49 0.17 T1W1a ZKTDB0412 17.86 19.27 1,120 1.41 361 1.55 0.25 0.05 0.09 T1W2 ZKTDB0413 17.40 19.20 1,117 1.80 162 0.27 0.15 0.07 0.02 T1W2 ZKTDB0411 10.12 13.67 1,116 3.55 503 1.99 0.28 T1W2 ZKTDB0603 10.39 11.13 1,116 0.74 206 3.59 0.06 0.05 0.03 T1W2 ZKTDB0008 66.67 67.18 1,031 0.51 590 4.08 0.19 0.05 0.46 T1W2 ZKT0613 151.96 153.87 883 1.91 531 2.59 1.20 T1W2 ZKT0802 183.01 183.53 828 0.52 166 1.32 0.40 0.11 0.01 T1W2 ZKT0802 183.01 183.53 828 0.52 166 1.32 0.40 0.11 0.01 T1W2 ZKT1574 147.02 147.64 584 0.62 216 0.54 0.66 0.79 0.09 T1W2 ZKT1145 150.45 152.60 824 2.15 599 1.25 1.07 0.16 0.15 T1W2a ZKTDB0404 77.13 78.61 1,131 1.48 166 0.71 0.18 0.05 0.01 T2 ZKT0224 87.79 88.48 986 0.69 538 1.60 0.05 0.05 0.04 T2 ZKTDB0501 172.99 178.03 980 5.04 312 3.21 0.43 0.06 0.06 T2 ZKTDB3306 60.85 63.13 947 2.28 132 0.35 0.11 T2 ZKTDB3307 58.45 60.31 946 1.86 208 0.37 0.14 T2 ZKT1145 46.32 49.47 836 3.15 225 3.12 2.08 0.43 0.68 T2 ZKT1144 42.50 43.39 836 0.89 132 4.87 0.23 0.03 0.44 T2 ZKT1354 166.38 168.31 824 1.93 120 0.76 0.02 0.02 0.04 T2 ZKT4708 140.80 141.95 710 1.15 31 5.54 0.04 0.19 0.01 T2 ZKT4715 145.31 145.87 666 0.56 186 2.01 0.09 T2 ZKT4522 151.31 152.86 641 1.55 34 6.12 0.10 0.80 T2 ZKT5104 251.05 251.65 540 0.60 18 3.58 0.19 2.45 0.07 T2 ZKT1129 32.06 32.80 839 0.74 435 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.01 T2E ZKT0006 126.31 126.85 877 0.54 344 1.48 0.35 0.13 0.04 T2E1 ZKT0224 68.22 70.88 990 2.66 114 1.54 0.03 0.05 0.03 T2W ZKT0106 42.26 44.20 886 1.94 275 3.45 0.07 T2W ZKT0107 45.39 45.96 882 0.57 229 0.96 0.02 T2W ZKT0106 74.47 76.83 882 2.36 114 1.70 0.08 T2W1 ZKTDB1201 46.72 49.99 1,120 3.27 41 4.92 0.13 T3 ZKTDB2401 143.18 144.13 1,029 0.95 180 1.11 0.11 0.02 0.04 T3 ZKTDB3305 75.62 77.18 917 1.56 3 0.01 0.03 2.67 0.01 T3 ZKT0006 142.50 143.06 875 0.56 311 2.35 0.10 0.14 0.32 T3 ZKT0201 114.56 117.54 871 2.98 284 2.71 0.10 0.08 0.01 T3 ZKT1129 20.40 22.61 840 2.21 226 1.95 0.68 0.16 0.09 T3 ZKT1145 21.01 22.20 839 1.19 257 1.32 0.44 0.14 0.19 T3 ZKT1144 19.30 22.36 839 3.06 327 0.25 0.11 0.50 0.06 T3 ZKT1127 22.42 23.61 833 1.19 173 2.02 0.42 0.23 0.27 T3 ZKT0214 177.80 178.38 787 0.58 100 8.93 0.05 T3 ZKT0215 201.22 205.34 786 4.12 100 1.78 0.06 T3 ZKT4708 145.90 146.66 709 0.76 23 7.18 0.07 0.05 0.04 T3 ZKT4521 155.20 158.41 663 3.21 38 9.72 0.04 T3 ZKT4712 162.88 168.60 644 5.72 25 5.08 0.09 T3 ZKT4710 165.61 171.87 638 6.26 83 10.46 0.46 0.09 0.75 T3 ZKT5912 145.09 145.64 635 0.55 333 0.23 0.06 0.01 0.02 T3 ZKT4716 180.22 181.10 630 0.88 60 6.27 0.06 T3 ZKT5910 196.49 197.29 605 0.80 7 0.01 0.01 3.81 0.01 T3 ZKT5104 260.62 261.45 532 0.83 19 7.78 0.55 0.03 0.20 T3 ZKT5504 220.79 221.61 404 0.82 13 5.55 0.61 0.05 0.01 T3 ZKTDB1780 192.54 193.05 932 0.51 77 4.27 0.16 0.02 0.01 T3E ZKT3737 7.16 7.72 749 0.56 213 3.38 0.24 0.45 0.65 T3E ZKT5502 118.56 120.15 652 1.59 193 0.53 0.22 0.05 0.01 T3E ZKT4710 174.72 175.24 633 0.52 79 35.25 1.14 0.03 0.19 T3E ZKT4709 173.87 176.13 630 2.26 77 11.35 0.05 0.06 0.49 T3E ZKT5910 205.53 207.22 599 1.69 334 0.51 0.42 0.30 0.04 T3E ZKT5106 390.24 391.41 384 1.17 8 5.96 0.05 0.03 T3E ZKG0607 234.64 235.25 298 0.61 1,012 1.30 2.84 5.15 0.07 T3E ZKT0006 147.31 148.05 874 0.74 43 7.28 0.18 0.06 0.01 T3E1 ZKT3721 9.26 10.89 746 1.63 208 4.28 1.20 2.60 0.49 T3E1 ZKTDB3307 127.81 128.65 921 0.84 831 0.90 1.10 T4 ZKTDB3305 136.37 137.81 877 1.44 703 1.35 0.23 0.21 0.03 T4 ZKT3737 37.61 38.66 741 1.05 131 29.55 0.22 0.21 0.77 T4 ZKT3718 37.51 38.16 734 0.65 66 6.57 0.07 0.23 0.25 T4 ZKT3719 38.82 41.01 724 2.19 44 6.47 0.63 0.19 0.22 T4 ZKT5106 398.53 399.05 377 0.52 51 8.27 0.11 0.90 T4 ZKT3737 52.90 54.74 737 1.84 96 4.10 0.14 0.40 0.23 T5 ZKT3721 47.99 50.80 726 2.81 88 2.55 0.21 0.19 0.12 T5 ZKT5505 126.23 127.57 696 1.34 88 2.85 0.24 0.01 0.01 T5 ZKG1221A 136.00 136.53 948 0.53 178 7.35 0.79 0.05 0.03 T11 ZKG1814 11.67 12.18 838 0.51 533 2.38 0.16 0.05 0.08 T11 ZKG1030 129.28 131.45 814 2.17 957 0.52 0.15 T11 ZKG0503 147.37 148.58 733 1.21 682 3.64 0.39 0.05 0.21 T11 ZKG0504 137.22 137.73 716 0.51 748 2.53 0.14 0.20 0.10 T11 ZKG0812 230.25 231.19 712 0.94 911 0.42 0.05 0.01 0.02 T11 ZKG1226 125.24 125.77 683 0.53 56 0.27 0.28 0.02 3.32 T11 ZKG1024 128.39 129.66 630 1.27 2,743 6.95 1.67 T11 ZKG1105 206.94 207.90 626 0.96 48 10.31 0.09 0.05 0.13 T11 ZKG1009 145.17 145.76 578 0.59 752 11.83 5.55 T11 ZKG0108 279.35 280.02 541 0.67 57 8.73 1.39 0.39 0.04 T11 ZKG0454 200.83 201.89 535 1.06 385 8.98 1.48 2.12 0.12 T11 ZKT0616 69.45 70.16 906 0.71 101 2.69 0.13 0.05 0.04 T11E ZKG0108 342.11 342.74 517 0.63 166 8.89 6.78 1.65 0.01 T11E ZKG0809 227.42 228.35 627 1.01 216 0.64 0.14 T11E2 ZKG0810 227.29 227.93 619 0.64 260 0.93 0.34 T11E2 ZKT0812 131.72 132.31 907 0.59 781 5.82 0.71 0.05 0.18 T11E4 ZKT0616 82.24 82.74 902 0.50 1,259 2.97 0.47 0.05 0.29 T11E4 ZKT0812 29.72 30.31 919 0.59 754 0.45 0.48 0.05 0.02 T11W ZKG1815 34.90 35.45 840 0.55 684 0.91 0.25 0.02 0.04 T11W1 ZKG1819 87.46 88.02 794 0.56 24 6.21 0.29 0.01 T12 ZKG0104 152.05 152.67 791 0.62 130 2.12 0.36 0.02 0.01 T14 ZKT0530 108.41 110.59 752 2.18 79 5.28 0.54 0.01 0.04 T14 ZKG0465 115.81 116.44 680 0.63 222 4.42 0.54 0.22 0.08 T14 ZKT0829 35.73 40.33 975 4.60 453 5.10 0.93 0.05 0.07 T14E ZKT0611 110.05 110.85 918 0.80 322 0.46 0.17 T14E ZKT0610 92.60 93.10 902 0.50 264 10.60 0.14 0.05 0.01 T14E ZKG0106 200.35 201.89 824 1.54 134 1.57 0.07 0.03 0.08 T14E ZKT0717 130.39 131.53 788 1.14 252 1.48 1.18 0.05 0.02 T14E ZKG1221A 93.13 93.71 951 0.58 158 2.06 0.26 0.05 0.01 T15 ZKT0813 14.69 15.29 921 0.60 189 1.87 0.12 0.05 0.01 T15 ZKT0812 17.59 18.13 921 0.54 233 1.42 0.16 0.05 0.05 T15 ZKG1815 11.36 12.09 838 0.73 298 1.09 0.48 0.02 0.05 T15 ZKG1447 15.23 15.81 832 0.58 321 0.56 0.26 0.01 0.25 T15 ZKG1610 114.81 115.80 815 0.99 548 1.28 0.50 T15 ZKG0113 105.51 106.22 617 0.71 310 2.86 0.21 0.24 0.19 T15 ZKT1027 142.72 144.13 944 1.41 40 3.30 0.15 0.05 T15W ZKT1006 5.03 6.07 919 1.04 573 0.37 0.07 0.05 0.04 T15W ZKG1815 47.76 48.42 841 0.66 209 0.51 0.20 0.02 0.06 T15W ZKG1437 48.75 49.28 816 0.53 429 0.10 0.26 0.05 0.10 T15W ZKG1438 58.28 58.95 808 0.67 784 0.97 1.16 0.06 0.10 T15W ZKG1606 131.63 132.15 685 0.52 184 6.49 0.20 0.12 0.03 T15W ZKG0009 88.28 89.09 637 0.81 542 52.01 0.20 0.05 0.16 T15W ZKG1024 125.56 127.29 632 1.73 279 0.40 0.10 T15W ZKG0115 74.92 76.05 622 1.13 404 19.59 0.50 T15W ZKG0113 96.89 97.75 620 0.86 596 10.45 0.53 0.09 0.19 T15W ZKG0005 107.91 108.41 593 0.50 460 11.98 0.35 T15W ZKT0804 60.41 60.93 921 0.52 211 0.60 0.20 0.05 0.02 T15W1 ZKT0805 48.50 49.00 921 0.50 382 1.47 0.73 T15W1 ZKG0605 191.30 191.82 632 0.52 2,128 3.43 0.21 0.11 0.12 T15W1 ZKG0113 75.05 75.85 627 0.80 216 1.12 0.24 0.17 0.01 T15W1 ZKG1821 63.03 63.85 826 0.82 373 0.52 0.25 0.05 0.05 T15W2 ZKG1447 67.99 68.56 818 0.57 7,140 30.79 0.92 0.04 1.43 T15W2 ZKG1437 73.12 73.67 806 0.55 1,246 1.09 0.09 0.05 0.16 T15W2 ZKG1441 82.74 83.25 798 0.51 646 13.14 0.10 0.11 0.05 T15W2 ZKG1226 40.17 41.60 694 1.43 162 1.02 0.40 0.02 0.03 T15W2 ZKG1024 39.63 40.18 678 0.55 909 0.76 0.25 T15W2 ZKG1821 122.47 123.08 817 0.61 1,036 0.76 0.25 0.05 0.20 T15W4 ZKT0716 61.96 62.53 794 0.57 672 1.41 1.34 0.05 0.06 T15W4 ZKG0111 92.43 92.95 621 0.52 103 3.05 0.08 T15W4 ZKG1447 188.43 188.98 787 0.55 2,778 2.40 2.56 0.02 0.21 T16 ZKT1365 178.41 179.04 780 0.63 635 4.54 1.04 0.07 0.11 T16 ZKG1437 212.50 214.58 749 2.08 2,204 5.13 0.43 0.05 0.51 T16 ZKG1441 240.19 241.39 727 1.20 3,437 2.09 1.55 0.05 0.22 T16 ZKG0852 39.02 39.54 712 0.52 502 1.71 0.42 T16 ZKG1023 38.65 39.20 710 0.55 465 1.38 1.05 0.06 T16 ZKG1012 45.94 46.44 691 0.50 281 2.37 0.18 0.05 0.01 T16 ZKG0847 59.22 61.09 684 1.87 8,254 11.71 1.30 T16 ZKG0452 63.17 63.78 645 0.61 310 0.62 0.54 0.14 0.01 T16 ZKG0360 199.06 201.45 576 2.39 84 2.91 0.44 0.16 0.02 T16 ZKG0535 214.82 216.01 560 1.19 343 19.10 2.95 1.68 0.08 T16 ZKT1017 50.71 51.32 973 0.61 313 3.17 0.30 0.03 0.02 T16E1 ZKG1022 15.13 15.65 704 0.52 420 0.89 0.36 0.05 T16E1 ZKG0852 81.75 82.26 725 0.51 540 6.43 0.24 T16W ZKG1022 89.20 89.82 719 0.62 414 5.38 1.45 0.02 T16W ZKG1816 308.92 309.46 715 0.54 247 3.04 0.74 0.05 0.01 T16W ZKG0847 95.45 96.02 675 0.57 20 5.25 0.43 T16W ZKG1449 319.14 320.46 661 1.32 1,350 2.07 2.02 0.05 T16W ZKG0852 53.88 55.15 716 1.27 537 0.91 0.10 T16W1 ZKG0107 113.70 114.24 597 0.54 245 1.83 1.82 0.59 0.04 T16W1 ZKT0113 68.27 68.89 927 0.62 253 0.07 0.10 0.02 0.02 T16W3 ZKG1814 208.28 209.82 857 1.54 181 2.03 0.82 0.05 0.04 T17 ZKG1810 221.15 221.74 753 0.59 283 14.98 0.24 0.03 0.02 T17 ZKG1816 221.45 224.88 749 3.43 73 1.80 0.26 0.05 0.02 T17 ZKG2211 234.94 235.54 732 0.60 192 5.66 0.39 T17 ZKG1438 263.73 264.25 712 0.52 53 7.18 0.06 0.02 0.01 T17 ZKG1449 299.01 300.60 672 1.59 1,028 3.33 0.33 0.05 T17 ZKG1814 203.27 205.21 857 1.94 419 2.66 0.54 0.05 0.14 T17E ZKG1438 244.49 245.05 721 0.56 267 1.11 0.17 0.03 0.03 T17E ZKG1820 16.59 18.21 696 1.62 188 0.72 0.23 0.05 0.05 T17E ZKG1810 266.29 268.43 735 2.14 463 2.51 0.35 0.02 0.07 T17W ZKG0429 80.78 81.39 682 0.61 135 4.01 0.36 T17W ZKG1810 261.84 262.36 737 0.52 716 0.74 0.18 0.02 0.41 T17W2 ZKT3718 46.48 50.52 730 4.04 61 2.88 0.13 0.27 0.27 T20 ZKTDB0504 23.97 24.70 1,055 0.73 308 1.49 0.06 T21 ZKTDB0404 247.57 248.81 1,046 1.24 334 2.41 0.40 0.05 0.21 T21 ZKT0523 100.78 103.75 916 2.97 89 15.87 0.22 0.05 0.11 T21 ZKT3738 64.96 65.46 734 0.50 445 7.29 0.84 0.44 0.14 T21 ZKT3737 68.47 69.89 733 1.42 914 0.63 0.64 1.25 0.17 T21 ZKT3738 87.81 88.33 728 0.52 30 8.08 0.07 0.05 0.01 T21E ZKT1142 93.10 93.58 1,012 0.48 286 14.66 0.32 0.02 0.04 T22 ZKT1129 133.63 134.24 830 0.61 211 0.73 0.37 0.11 0.03 T22 ZKG1810 300.74 302.32 723 1.58 195 0.80 0.06 0.03 0.12 T22E ZKTDB0381 169.22 170.44 1,002 1.22 131 1.38 0.27 0.02 0.06 T22W ZKTDB0009 22.74 23.35 1,046 0.61 2,587 0.72 0.22 0.05 0.29 T23 ZKTDB0006 26.43 28.42 1,032 1.99 256 1.20 0.08 T23 ZKTDB0004 26.34 26.87 1,029 0.53 288 11.11 0.20 T23 ZKT1354 19.67 20.30 808 0.63 178 1.69 0.28 0.03 0.11 T23 ZKT4712 98.27 101.25 681 2.98 92 4.78 0.06 T23 ZKT4716 114.15 114.93 669 0.78 261 0.70 0.14 T23 ZKT1574 167.09 167.74 580 0.65 591 0.81 0.95 0.19 0.15 T23 ZKT1574 163.88 164.48 581 0.60 669 1.28 2.49 0.20 0.24 T23E ZKTDB0381 60.81 62.77 1,056 1.96 373 0.22 0.08 0.02 0.02 T23W ZKTDB0381 156.86 157.39 1,008 0.53 304 1.64 1.18 0.04 0.06 T23a ZKTDB0011 22.96 25.70 1,114 2.74 150 0.50 0.13 T26 ZKTDB0413 27.07 29.55 1,113 2.48 1,025 3.01 0.07 0.11 0.03 T26 ZKTDB0413 29.55 34.61 1,112 5.06 255 0.48 0.08 0.05 0.14 T26E ZKTDB0426 99.53 100.22 1,068 0.69 193 0.52 0.06 T26E ZKTDB0011 27.43 28.04 1,112 0.61 159 1.48 0.06 0.05 0.03 T26E1 ZKT0006 2.89 3.42 892 0.53 229 0.70 0.07 0.09 0.19 T26E1 ZKTDB0011 13.39 14.15 1,119 0.76 332 2.51 0.06 0.07 0.03 T26W ZKT0613 126.73 127.24 886 0.51 580 5.87 0.25 T28 ZKT0802 80.59 81.35 866 0.76 21 6.27 0.10 0.05 T28 ZKT0802 80.59 81.35 866 0.76 21 6.27 0.10 0.05 T28 ZKT0404 126.56 127.08 871 0.52 165 1.32 0.31 0.03 0.03 T28E2 ZKT0613 122.73 123.30 886 0.57 141 1.90 0.30 T28a ZKT0221 65.00 65.69 1,012 0.69 162 1.90 0.03 0.01 0.08 T29 ZKT0616 32.41 32.92 915 0.51 395 1.18 0.07 0.11 0.14 T31W3 ZKT0812 92.25 92.77 912 0.52 130 3.06 0.37 0.05 0.01 T31W3 ZKTDB1522 225.44 226.03 1,020 0.59 326 4.04 0.14 0.01 0.02 T33 ZKT1315 69.52 70.02 618 0.50 379 1.08 0.17 0.04 0.05 T33E ZKT1354 1.27 2.63 806 1.36 134 0.53 0.32 0.02 0.01 T33E1 ZKT1315 83.69 85.19 610 1.50 154 1.32 0.51 0.01 0.11 T33E1 ZKT4723 10.50 11.04 740 0.54 401 1.74 0.48 T35 ZKT0771 190.81 191.32 878 0.51 169 8.58 1.52 0.03 0.03 T35E ZKT0711 118.10 120.85 825 2.75 136 1.99 0.28 0.02 0.02 T35E ZKT0523 233.46 233.96 907 0.50 566 0.91 0.21 0.05 0.19 T35E1 ZKT0771 231.20 231.74 868 0.54 669 1.54 0.45 0.03 0.10 T35E2 ZKTDB0201 161.59 162.22 946 0.63 347 1.15 0.18 0.11 0.11 T38 ZKT2926 113.66 114.19 829 0.53 569 6.31 0.17 0.05 0.05 T38 ZKT2927 121.02 122.93 828 1.91 576 0.65 0.58 0.05 0.02 T38 ZKT2925 106.81 107.35 805 0.54 464 3.39 5.48 0.16 0.02 T38 ZKG0105 70.07 71.92 797 1.85 220 5.85 0.19 0.03 0.05 T38 ZKG0104 82.94 83.57 796 0.63 948 3.00 2.24 0.02 0.15 T38 ZKT0709 52.12 52.62 794 0.50 196 0.47 0.49 0.05 0.02 T38 ZKT0529 46.13 46.95 793 0.82 326 5.67 1.26 0.05 0.12 T38 ZKT0710 51.13 51.67 793 0.54 581 6.04 0.66 0.03 0.03 T38 ZKG0325 96.57 97.43 752 0.86 3,475 2.22 1.52 0.75 0.07 T38 ZKT2928 209.12 209.70 820 0.58 445 0.68 0.25 0.05 0.02 T39 ZKT2925 173.10 173.72 784 0.62 199 1.55 0.73 0.03 0.03 T39E2 ZKT2927 167.57 168.07 824 0.50 308 0.26 0.05 0.05 0.02 T39W ZKT2928 171.00 171.51 824 0.51 373 1.14 0.22 0.05 0.01 T39W ZKT2925 150.01 150.61 791 0.60 420 0.58 0.28 0.03 0.01 T39W ZKG1030 94.18 94.82 820 0.64 71 4.23 0.42 NA[1]

[1] New vein with no vein ID



Quality Control

Drill cores are NQ size. Drill core samples, limited by apparent mineralization contacts or shear/alteration contacts, were split into halves by sawing. The half cores are stored in the Company's core shacks for future reference and checks, and the other half core samples are shipped in securely sealed bags to the Chengde Huakan 514 Geology and Minerals Test and Research Institute in Chengde, Hebei Province, China, 226 km northeast of Beijing, the Zhengzhou Nonferrous Exploration Institute Lab in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, and SGS in Tianjin, China. All three labs are ISO9000 certified analytical labs. For analysis, the sample is dried and crushed to minus 1 mm and then split into a 200-300 g subsample which is further pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Two subsamples are prepared from the pulverized sample. One is digested with aqua regia for gold analysis with atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"), and the other is digested by two-acid digestion for analysis of silver, lead, zinc, and copper with AAS.

Channel samples are collected along sample lines perpendicular to the mineralized vein structure in exploration tunnels. Spacing between sampling lines is typically 5 m along strike. Both the mineralized vein and the altered wall rocks are cut by continuous chisel chipping. Sample length ranges from 0.2 m to more than 1 m, depending on the width of the mineralized vein and the mineralization type. Channel samples are prepared and assayed with AAS at Silvercorp's mine laboratory ("Ying Lab") located at the mill complex in Luoning County, Henan Province, China. The Ying lab is officially accredited by the Quality and Technology Monitoring Bureau of Henan Province and is qualified to provide analytical services. The channel samples are dried, crushed and pulverized. A 200 g sample of minus 160 mesh is prepared for assay. A duplicate sample of minus 1 mm is made and kept in the laboratory archives. Gold is analysed by fire assay with AAS finish, while silver, lead, zinc, and copper are assayed by two-acid digestion with AAS finish.

A routine quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") procedure is adopted to monitor the analytical quality at each lab. Certified reference materials (CRMs), pulp duplicates and blanks are inserted into each batch of lab samples. QA/QC data at the lab are attached to the assay certificates for each batch of samples.

The Company maintains its own comprehensive QA/QC program to ensure best practices in sample preparation and analysis of the exploration samples. Project geologists regularly insert CRMs, field duplicates and blanks to each batch of 30 core samples to monitor the sample preparation and analysis procedures at the labs. The analytical quality of the labs is further evaluated with external checks by sending approximately 3-5% of the pulp samples to higher level labs to check for lab bias. Data from both the Company's and the labs' QA/QC programs are reviewed on a timely basis by project geologists.

Guoliang Ma, P. Geo., Manager of Exploration and Resource of the Company, is the Qualified Person for Silvercorp under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and given consent to the technical information contained in this news release.

About Silvercorp

Silvercorp is a profitable Canadian mining company producing silver, lead and zinc metals in concentrates from mines in China. The Company's goal is to continuously create healthy returns to shareholders through efficient management, organic growth and the acquisition of profitable projects. Silvercorp balances profitability, social and environmental relationships, employees' wellbeing, and sustainable development. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company's material properties; the sufficiency of the Company's capital to finance the Company's operations; estimates of the Company's revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company's mines in the Ying Mining District; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company's operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company's properties.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, social and economic impacts of COVID-19; risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licenses; title to properties; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company's existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing global climate change or other environmental concerns; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors" and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F, and in the Company's other filings with Canadian and U.S securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

Additional information related to the Company, including Silvercorp's Annual Information Form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.silvercorpmetals.com.

For further information

Lon Shaver

Vice President

Silvercorp Metals Inc.

Phone: (604) 669-9397

Toll Free: 1 (888) 224-1881

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS

The disclosure in this news release and referred to herein was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "proven mineral reserve," "probable mineral reserve" and "mineral reserves" used in this news release are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained in this news release providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "Inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to corresponding definitions under the CIM Definition Standards. During the period leading up to the compliance date of the SEC Modernization Rules, information regarding mineral resources or reserves contained or referenced in this news release may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.
Senegal's main opposition party on Friday declared its firebrand leader Ousmane Sonko would be its candidate in upcoming presidential elections, brushing aside questions about his eligibility following a jail sentence.

Sonko on Thursday "was unanimously voted in as the PASTEF-Patriots' candidate for the February 25 2024 presidential elections," the party said in a statement to AFP.

Ballots were cast by delegates in Senegal's 46 departments and among the diaspora, and the results were validated by the party's senior regulatory authority, it said.

Sonko has generated a passionate following among Senegal's disaffected youth by mounting a fiery campaign against President Macky Sall, painting him as corrupt and a would-be dictator.

His ascent has sparked deadly clashes between supporters and the security forces, creating the worst turbulence in years in a country otherwise famed for its stability.

His appointment as party champion had long been expected. The authorities on Thursday slapped a ban on a rally in Dakar on Saturday where it was due to be confirmed in public.

Sonko, who has been confined by security forces at his home in Dakar since May 28, would make a public comment later Friday, the party said.

On June 1, Sonko was handed a two-year term following a trial on charges of sexual abuse of a beauty salon worker.

The sentence sparked several days of violence in which 16 people died, according to an official toll.

- Eligibility question -

Legal analysts and Sonko's lawyers say the conviction rules him out from being a candidate.

On May 8, an appeal 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, also makes him ineligible.

PASTEF on Friday lashed at any doubt about Sonko's eligibility, saying he "enjoys his political and civil rights in their entirety."

"No-one can prevent Ousmane Sonko from being invested as (party) president or from taking part in the presidential elections," it said.

Sonko, in an interview with France 24 television on July 6, warned of "indescribable chaos" if he was barred from running.

Tensions that flared after Sonko's conviction last month were also fuelled by expectations Sall would declare his hand for the elections.

Sall's critics warned that if he did so, this would amount to a breach of the constitution.

Sall is close to finishing his second presidential term, the constitutional maximum. But his supporters argue that a 2016 revision of the constitution reset the term clock.

In the event, Sall wrong-footed both critics and supporters by announcing on July 3 that he would not run again.

Meanwhile, Senegalese prosecutors on Friday said they had filed an international arrest warrant against one of Sonko's lawyers, French national Juan Branco, for "crimes and offences" that it said were connected with last month's unrest.

On June 22, Branco said he had filed a criminal complaint against Sall in France for "crimes against humanity" and had requested a probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

His initiatives also named Interior Minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome and gendarmerie chief General Moussa Fall among more than 100 other accused.

The move sparked Senegal's ire, with Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall lashing it as "childish and puerile" and falling far short of the benchmark needed for legal scrutiny.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday confirmed a more than $30 million reparations package for thousands of victims of DR Congo warlord Bosco Ntaganda, including former child soldiers.

Named the "Terminator" for his reign of terror in the vast African country in the early 2000s, Ntaganda was jailed for 30 years in 2019 for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Judges afterwards awarded $30.3 million (27 million euros) in reparations, but last year ordered a review saying the number of victims were unclear.

But on Friday "the Chamber unanimously assesses Mr Ntaganda's liability for reparations at USD $31,300,000," the Hague-based court said in a statement.

Although Ntaganda is liable for the payment, the ICC found that he did not have the funds, which would now be paid from the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC.

Judges asked court officials to "continue exploring whether Mr Ntaganda possessed any undiscovered assets" and monitor his finances "on an ongoing basis."

Judges added that based on available information, there were an estimated 7,500 direct and indirect victims of violent attacks, as well as 3,000 direct or indirect victims of crimes against child soldiers.

No financial amounts were given for specific victims, but payment would include around $11 million in socio-economic support and around five million dollars ($5 million) for mental care resulting from "psychological harm" suffered during the attacks.

Rehabilitation of former child soldiers was estimated at around $4,000 per person.

The ICC in 2021 upheld a 30-year sentence on appeal for war crimes against Ntaganda.

"The Chamber reiterates that Mr Ntaganda's conviction is final and his liability to repair the harm caused to the victims of his crimes is under no discussion," the judges stressed in Friday's order.

"The Chamber will continue striving to advance these reparation proceedings in the most efficient and effective manner possible... ensuring that the victims of his crimes receive the reparations they are entitled to, and for which they have waited for more than two decades, without further delay," they said.

The Rwandan-born Ntaganda, 49, was convicted of 18 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, sexual slavery, rape and using child soldiers.

Ntaganda was the first person to be convicted of sexual slavery by the court.

Many of the other charges related to massacres of villagers in the mineral rich Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko called for a peaceful protest on Saturday after authorities blocked a planned rally to publicly confirm his nomination as a candidate in upcoming presidential elections.

Sonko on Thursday "was unanimously voted in as the PASTEF-Patriots' candidate for the February 25, 2024 presidential elections," the party said in a statement given to AFP.

Sonko's nomination comes despite lingering questions over his eligibility due to criminal convictions and prison sentences.

On Thursday, the governor of Dakar announced that the opposition party's nomination rally, initially scheduled for Saturday afternoon in a stadium on the outskirts of the capital, had been banned due to the "risk of disturbing public order".

Sonko told his supporters "another date" would be chosen, and called for a "concert of saucepans, horns and firecrackers" on Saturday evening 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 in a Friday evening address in Wolof and French on his party's channel.

Sonko, who has been confined by security forces at his home in Dakar since May 28, also urged his supporters to wear red in protest.

The firebrand opposition 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 warned this month of "indescribable chaos" if he was 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.

- Eligibility question -

Legal analysts and Sonko's own lawyers say this conviction rules him out from being a candidate.

But Sonko insisted on Friday that despite the legal proceedings he remains eligible for the 2024 poll.

PASTEF on Friday said Sonko "enjoys his political and civil rights in their entirety".

"No-one can prevent Ousmane Sonko from being invested as (party) president or from taking part in the presidential elections," it said.

Tensions that flared after Sonko's conviction last month were also fuelled by expectations that Sall would raise his hand for the elections, in defiance of constitutional limits.

Sall is close to finishing his second presidential term, but his supporters argue that a 2016 revision of the charter reset the term clock.

But Sall wrong-footed both critics and supporters by announcing on July 3 that he would not be running again next year.

Meanwhile, Senegalese prosecutors on Friday said they had filed an international arrest warrant against one of Sonko's lawyers, French national Juan Branco, for "crimes and offences" that it said were connected with last month's unrest.

On June 22, Branco said he had filed a criminal complaint against Sall in France for "crimes against humanity" and had requested a probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

His initiatives also named Interior Minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome and gendarmerie chief General Moussa Fall among more than 100 other accused.

The move sparked Senegal's ire, with Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall lashing it as "childish and puerile" and falling far short of the benchmark needed for legal scrutiny.
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.

Khartoum's foreign ministry had objected to Kenyan President William Ruto's 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 more 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, however, sheltering at home as the violence shows no signs of abating.

Witnesses in the city's northwest reported "clashes using various types of weapons" on Saturday, after a day of heavy fighting Friday left plumes of black smoke over several parts of the capital.

Others said RSF drones had targeted Khartoum's largest military hospital.

The UN has said that most hospitals in combat zones are out of service.

The worst fighting has taken place in Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, where a quarter of Sudan's 48 million people live.

Entire villages and neighbourhoods there have been destroyed, civilians buried in mass graves and officials assassinated for their ethnic background by the RSF and allied Arab militias.

Reports of atrocities -- including sexual violence and civilians being targeted for their ethnicity -- have prompted the International Criminal Court to launch a war crimes investigation.

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 harm's 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.

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.

The UN says 740,000 people have fled across borders to Sudan's 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 Sudan's 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.
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.

Khartoum's foreign ministry had objected to Kenyan President William Ruto's 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 capital's northwest on Saturday as well as air strikes from army fighter jets in the south.

Others said RSF drones had targeted Khartoum's 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 Sudan's 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 harm's 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 Sudan's 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 Sudan's 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.
On July 10, as hearings resumed in the September 28 massacre trial, an arm was raised in the dock. It was that of Marcel Guilavogui, nephew and former bodyguard of Moussa Dadis Camara, who was head of the military junta in power at the time. Guilavogui has been in detention for 13 years. Several witnesses formally recognized him as having been at the Conakry stadium, shooting into the crowd and beating up some political leaders during the bloody repression of an opposition rally. He has always denied he was there. In October 2022, when he was first heard by the court, he even claimed that he was in bed on September 28, 2009, convalescing after a road accident. This time, he said he wanted to "tell the truth about the September 28 event", and admitted he has kept "silent" until now.

As the trial was due to resume after a month and a half suspension with the appearance of the civil parties, the president of the court reopened the debate, questioning the various players in turn.

The prosecutor and civil parties were in favour of a new hearing for the accused. Among the defence, which is more divided than ever, opinions were split. Lawyers for Camara's aide-de-camp at the time Aboubacar Diakite, known as "Toumba", were in favour of Guilavogui's return to the stand. "When the time for truth comes, you have to let it out," said lawyer Paul Yomba Kourouma. Dadis Camara's lawyers were vehemently opposed, while there have been press reports over the past two weeks of tensions between the former head of state and his former protege. "If you decide to hear Marcel, which would be catastrophic for everyone, bear in mind that other defendants will also want to speak, lawyer Pepe Antoine Lamah argued, addressing the court president. Under these conditions, we'll be going round in circles, and this trial will last forever.

The president decided, and the accused stepped forward in his elegant turquoise boubou.

Dadis Camara's "parallel guard

Guilavogui delivered a lengthy opening statement that lasted until the next day. He drew on notes, improvised and sometimes simply read what was written. He apologized "to the people of Guinea" for his silence, of which some people have taken advantage, he claims, to paint [him] black". He says he was the victim of intimidation to prevent him from "reporting the real facts". His comments were rambling, but to everyone's surprise, he implicated Dadis Camara.

According to him, it was indeed "Dadis" who "planned" and "ordered" the killings that left over 150 people dead. The massacre was perpetrated by his "parallel guard". And he gave a definition: "These are men who are soldiers or civilians that an authority puts in place for its own secret missions, to exercise its power, by camouflaging itself. This parallel guard is not like the real guard, the one known to the people." And he named its main leaders, including Joseph Makambo, Gono Sangare, and Beugre. These personalities had already been cited by some of the accused for their participation in the bloody repression. But while the investigation has highlighted the leading role played by Guilavogui, suspected of having led a group of soldiers to the stadium, the defendant is trying to remove this image. He recounted how he was ousted from the inner circle of power just a few months after the coup d'etat that allowed Dadis Camara to seize the presidency. The head of state began to work exclusively "with his parallel guard", he told the court.

On the morning of September 28, 2009, he went to see the president, he says, because he hadn't seen him for several days. "I heard a loud, uncontrolled cry of anger from Moussa Dadis Camara," Guilavogui continued. He said the president was surrounded by his new force, his parallel guard and, with an opposition rally planned that day against his possible candidacy in presidential elections, addressed them thus: "What are you doing here, we have to subdue them! Who are these leaders not to obey the authority of the State?

The president's bodyguard would then have preferred to go home. "I asked myself, 'is this the man we've chosen to be president? I was disappointed," says Guilavogui.

"The man before you is a saviour!"

Guilavogui told how he saw Dadis Camara's motorcade leaving the presidency for the city, and then learned that Toumba had also left. He decided to go to the stadium. There, he saw "Commandant Toumba, Colonel Tiegboro, Beugre and his group". "Even Makambo, I recognized him because of the little axe he always carried. Just before entering the stadium, he said he heard "gunshots". He stayed inside for "fifteen minutes", but "didn't see any bodies, because it was just the beginning".

But listening to his account, the prosecutor became impatient:

Monsieur Marcel, it has been said here that the Presidential Guard committed this massacre, and you were part of the Presidential Guard. You were also at the stadium on September 28. You were seen. Can you tell this court that you did not take part in this massacre?

I didn't kill, wound or rape anyone at the stadium, came the reply. The man standing before you is a saviour!

Yet he struggled to explain to the court why he pulled out a grenade in front of the Ambroise Pare clinic, where some of the injured leaders had been admitted for treatment. According to several witnesses, it was Colonel Tiegboro, also accused in this trial, who took them to the health centre. Guilavoguis version is different. "As soon as he got out of [his pickup], I accosted him and said you're under arrest. You misled Dadis! You've ruined the leadership!" Guilavogui recounted, saying one of his men then pointed a gun at him. "I had to defend myself. I took out my grenade. I only had one grenade, Mr. Prosecutor. Everywhere I went, I took it, even in the shower. The audience burst out laughing.

This new hearing, which had raised so many expectations, ultimately left many questions unanswered. It was his word against that of the other defendants. "Tell me, was it you who were alone in your vehicle, according to your version, or those who drove the leaders to the clinic that tried to save them? Do you really think we can believe your version here?" asked Alpha Amadou DS Bah, lawyer for the civil parties. "Your story got off to a good start. You confirmed everything Toumba said about Captain Dadis, but why won't you help the court and tell us exactly what you did?" On the stand, Guilavogui exploded with anger. He stopped speaking into the microphone, and we could only half hear what he was saying. Then he went silent.
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Ever since a referral of the atrocities in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was blocked at the United Nations Security Council, lawyers and activists, victims and survivors, have been looking for potential routes to accountability. Now two have emerged at the same time. Both though have been a very long time in the making.

At the UN General Assembly, there was support for the creation of a new body: the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic. Pressure has come from the families of the over 100 thousand people believed to have gone missing in Syria since the 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad; they have been lobbying for some way to both get information and hold the authorities to account. We spoke to Yasmin Mashen of the Ceasar Families Association, to hear why this new UN body is needed.

Meanwhile, Canada and the Netherlands have brought a case against Syria at the International Court of Justice under the Convention against Torture. Provisional measures hearings will begin in October. Toby Cadman and Ibrahim Olabi of Guernica 37 Chambers  lawyers who have been assisting the Dutch authorities  explain the substance of the case, including torture in its widest possible sense, sexual violence, enforced disappearances and the effects of chemical weapons.
What makes a beautifully written K-Drama even more fantastic than an exciting surprise from fan-favorite actors making a special appearance? In the first half of 2023, hundreds of top-notch actors have made cameos in various high scale dramas.

From January to June, every K-Drama fan has enjoyed pointing out every familiar face in the cast ensemble. With that, here are four actors who made unforgettable cameos in popular works this 2023.

Jo Bo Ah

Lee Dong Wook, Kim So Yeon and Kim Bum's "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" made sure to close the curtains on a happy note as Season 1 actress Jo Bo Ah made a surprise appearance.

The work follows Lee Dong Wook's journey as he finds ways to return back to the present time after being stuck in the year 1938 due to a curse.

Flashbacks with Jo Bo Ah had been shown in the first episodes which garnered attention. With the great feedback it received, the actress agreed to make a brief cameo to show her love for the work, free of charge!

At the end of the episode, Jo Bo Ah reunites with Lee Dong Wook much to fans' delight. The series even received its personal best in terms of viewership ratings.

Moon Ga Young

Like Jo Bo Ah, Moon Ga Young showed her loyalty to her close friend Kim Dong Wook after she agreed to briefly participate in the crime drama "Delightfully Deceitful."

To recall, Moon Ga Young and Kim Dong Wook worked together in the hit series "Find Me In Your Memory," which was directed by Lee Soo Hyun who also picked up the megaphone for the new drama.

In the work, Moon Ga Young played a high-ranking figure who decides the outcome of a mission planned by Kim Dong Wook and Chun Woo Hee's characters.

The actress captivated the public with her unrivaled visuals and charisma, and impressive German-speaking skills.

Lee Bo Young

Seasoned actress Lee Bo Young made a special appearance in "See You In My 19th Life" to show her gratitude to director Lee Na Jung whom she worked with before in "Mine."

In the series, she played Ahn Bo Hyun's terminally ill mother and expressed the agony and pain of not wanting to part with her child.

Lee Bo Young successfully delivered an emotional performance which tugged at the heart strings of every viewer. In particular, her timeless beauty also didn't go unnoticed by avid fans.

Chae Jong Hyeop

Another cameo star in "See You In My 19th Life" was Chae Jong Hyeop. He attracted attention after he transformed into Bok Dong Yi, the 16th life of Ban Ji Eum, played by Shin Hye Sun.

Since the drama revolves around Shin Hye Sun's present and past lives, Chae Jong Hyeop has appeared briefly in every episode, leaving fans wanting for more.

In the work, Bok Dong Yi is a rickshaw puller in the Japanese colonial era. According to Chae Jong Hyeop, he was offered to make a brief appearance and he accepted it with no hesitation.

The actor also hints at the viewers that his narrative is yet to unfold, raising anticipation for his performance in the final two weeks of the drama.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Using the vacation trip with their friends as an excuse, Gu Won (Lee Junho) and Cheon Sa Rang (YoonA) spent more time together to cherish their relationship in "King the Land" episode 10.

'King the Land' Episode 10: King Group's Best Employees Go on Thailand Trip

In "King the Land" episode 10, Gu Won went on a trip to Thailand with No Sang Sik (Ahn Se Ha), Cheon Sa Rang, and her friends.

From their group shirts to visiting the hidden wonders of the city and the night market, No Sang Sik got it all prepared for everyone. As they navigated the region, the chaebol heir is met with irritation at every step of the day.

From being a hindrance between him and Sa Rang to sharing a room with Sang Sik, Gu Won was angered all day by his assistant.

But his mood started to light up as he shared a secret rendezvous with Cheon Sa Rang at every chance they got. They secretly held hands and avoided the suspicion of their companions.

The couple shared excitement throughout their trip while trying to escape from their friends.

Elsewhere, Gu Hwa Ran discovered the vacation trip reward that Gu Won gave to the employees. She showed interest in Gu Won's sudden decision.

Rowoon Joins Oh Pyeong Hwa on Her Vacation Trip

Rowoon (Kim Jae Won) joined the group after finding out about Pyeong Hwa's (Go Won Hee) schedule.

The six members shared more fun moments together. When Sang Sik asked Rowoon to stay with them, Pyeong Hwa tried to stop them but the newly arrived guest did not reject the offer and stayed with them the whole night.

Gu Won was stuck with another male in the room, while Sa Rang and Pyeong Hwa prepared their gifts for Kang Da Eul (Kim Ga Eun). The trio shared heartfelt moments and soon began teasing Pyeong Hwa about Rowoon.

Rowoon was surprised by Pyeong Hwa's message and kind gesture, commanding him to eat first before departing.

Gu Won & Cheon Sa Rang Express Their Love for Each Other

Later on, everyone noticed Gu Won and Sa Rang were missing and rushed to catch them escaping.

With this, the duo started their spontaneous dates all around the city. From the scenic spots to the delicious food, the couple shared beautiful moments together.

After their impromptu trip, Gu Won opened up about his family and his search for his mom. Cheon Sa Rang was touched by his honesty and sincerity.

The night soon reached its highlight as the two shared a romantic moment on a rooftop and confessed their love for each other.

What can you say about "King the Land" episode 10? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
By George Emuron

Another Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) soldier has been arrested for killing a civilian in Bukwo district. Corporal Lawrence Sibiwa attached to the 51 Infantry Battalion is currently in UPDF custody after he killed a civilian identified as Fred Kwemoi, a 34-year-old resident of Taboswet village in Bukwo district.

Maj Isaac Oware, the third division spokesperson confirms that the incident occurred last evening along Kapchorwa -Bukwo- Suam Road.

He says Kwemoi was intercepted and shot after a scuffle ensued between him and soldiers who were guarding road equipment for China State Construction Company.

The incident occurred at around 21:00 (9 pm) along Kapchorwa  Bukwo road. It is alleged that Kwemoi Fred was intercepted and shot on suspicion as a scuffle ensued between him and the soldiers who were asked to guard road equipment. Oware said.

This comes only two days after Cpl Avugo Lomuro, a member of the Airforce Evacuation Component attached to the Mountain Division Signal Department, shot and killed two of his colleagues and injured another in Fort Portal town, Kabarole District.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) electoral commission has further postponed village and parish elections to 21st-23rd July 2023 respectively.

The commission had earlier set today 17th July as the voting date but was forced to reschedule the elections after contradictory social media circulars issued by some party leaders advising members not to participate in the elections until the National Council sits to iron out party differences among the top leadership.

A section of party leaders led by the party spokesperson, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, allege that theres a silent move by some party leaders led by the secretary-general, Nathan Nandala Mafabi to hurry the elections, in the interest of pushing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) agenda with the opposition party.

However, speaking to journalists in Kampala, FDC electoral commission chairperson, Toterebuka Boniface Bamwenda urged party members to disregard circulating statements about these elections and concentrate on choosing their next leaders.

The party is expected to elect leaders starting from village to district level and later hold a National Delegates Conference to elect the National Executive Committee members.
By Kevin Githuku

Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has appealed to security agencies to embrace a swift response plan in emergency situations affecting the business community.

The call comes days after President Museveni addressed the nation on the state of security in the country.

The business community has in the recent past been affected by various criminal acts including attacks on Mobile Money agents that have in some cases led to loss of lives.

Speaking to KFM, Thaddeus Musoke, the KACITA Chairperson, called for a more swift security response to distress calls by members of the business community.

So we appeal to the security forces, let them improve their response towards those incidences. At times they take so long to come, so the moment their response improves, I think we will be in a safer environment, Musoke said.

Musoke also urges the business community to exercise vigilance and cooperate with security agencies to ensure safety of both their businesses and lives.
By Mike Sebalu

The deputy president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Erias Lukwago has faulted the top party leadership for allegedly failing to organize a National Executive Committee (NEC) retreat to resolve the ongoing differences in the party internally.

Lukwago who doubles as Kampala City Lord Mayor, said the retreat was supposed to be organized a month after the party suspended elections but all in vain.

Lukwago said part of the agenda was to table a report from the elders about the findings regarding the source of the suspicious billions of shillings during the 2021 general elections.

He was speaking at the partys consultative meeting held at Nsambya Sharing Hall on Monday, July 17.

We were supposed to have a NEC meeting one month after we suspended the elections to resolve these matters internally. We said we were given this task by the National Council, and we have a report to be delivered by the elders. Lets finish the process of the elders of getting to the bottom of this dirty money and come back to the party, Lukwago told FDC members on Monday.
By Mike Sebalu

The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) has threatened to take stringent action against its branches that have still failed to account for funds for the first quarter of the just concluded financial year. Over ShsS60 million remains unaccounted for in about 9 branches.

These include Mityana main with pending accountability of over Shs13 million, Mityana municipality with over Shs2 million, Lugazi with over Shs4 million, and Nakawa with over Shs3 million.

Others are Rubaga with over Shs5 million, Kawempe with over Shs2.5 million, Makindye with Shs4 million, Kampala 7 million, and Mukono main with the highest amount of Shs23 million.

According to Filbert Baguma, UNATUs General Secretary, failure to account for these funds in time has negatively impacted the performance of the Union.
Businesses are being urged to prepare themselves against more extreme weather episodes with council staff saying that the currently drainage system is unable to cope with such events.

Record levels of rainfall fell in just under an hour last month wreaking havoc on local businesses. On June 19 approximately 42 millimetres of rain fell in under an hour during a thunderstorm in the city centre.

Damage was caused to roads and businesses and the emergency services and local authority pumped water out of buildings and cleared gullies to try and limit the damage.

City engineer, Ian Gardner told the meeting that the worst affected area in the city was in Patrick Street when manhole covers were stuck and floodwater found weak areas and burst up onto the roads and footpath.

Councillor John Coonan remarked that it is likely such a weather event will happen again.

None of us saw that amount of rainfall in such a short period of time. We are in climatic change and this is not the last we will see of these conditions, he said.

Cllr Andrew McGuinness commended the council on cleaning out gullies post flooding and highlighted issues with gullies close to Nowlan Park which he said are compacted with dirt.

In relation to the flooding in the Patrick Street area of the city Cllr Martin Brett remarked that we have to try and make sure that it doesnt happen again.

Cllr David Fitzgerald, said that he has never seen such a flood in all my life referring to the afternoon of June 19 while Cllr Eugene McGuinness told the meeting there can be no doubt that we are destroying the planet and also called on the council to put aside money for pumps.

What we see as an isolated rainfall will become the norm, he said and also said that there was flooding damage caused to premises on John Street and in the Butts.

I dont think any system in Ireland would be able to deal with that intensity of rainfall. This was because of the level of rainfall and the gullies could not cater for that volume, said Director of Services, Tim Butler adding that flooding on John Street has been remedied by the Flood Relief Scheme.

Mr Gardner said that the best advice to business and property owners is to have their own infrastructure in place including a floodgate and a submersible pump. .
Strengths Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the best performer for the week was XRP, rising 67.41%.



Litecoin, over the past year, has outperformed the broader crypto market. One driver of the coins near-90% climb over the period was its so-called halving that will curb the supply of the token, a process that also lies ahead for Bitcoin in the coming months, writes Bloomberg.



Coinbase shares roared more than 24% higher on Thursday in the wake of a judges ruling on a case involving cryptocurrency tokens. This is fueling debate on Wall Street over what the decision means for Coinbases own regulatory headaches, writes Bloomberg. Weaknesses Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the worst performer for the week was eCash, down 19.44%.



Dubai is reprimanding BitOasis, one of the largest crypto platforms focused on customers in the Middle East, for failing to meet mandated conditions set forth by the local regulator, writes Bloomberg.



Argo Blockchain on Wednesday said bitcoin or bitcoin equivalents, mining production fell in June from May, due to network difficulties and issues at its mining facility in Texas, writes Bloomberg. Opportunities Coinbase Global gained as much as 13% on Tuesday, trading at its highest intraday level since August and extending a rally driven by optimism over the potential U.S. approval of a Bitcoin ETF, writes Bloomberg.



A federal judge ruled that the Ripple Labs token is a security when sold to institutional investors but not the general public, a long-awaited decision that was widely hailed as a victory for the crypto industry over the SEC, writes Bloomberg.



Crypto-related crime has declined significantly, according to data from Chainalysis. A new report from the analytics firm notes that daily crypto inflows into illicit services is down relative to previous years, writes Bloomberg. Threats U.S. prosecutors charged a New York man with stealing millions of dollars in crypto after exploiting vulnerabilities on a decentralized finance platform. Shakeeb Ahmed took advantage of a flaw in one of the exchanges smart contracts to insert fake pricing data generating about $9 million of inflated and unearned fess that he was able to withdraw in crypto, writes Bloomberg.



U.S. prosecutors charged a Moroccan man with stealing $450,000 in cryptocurrency and nonfungible tokens, including two Bored Apes, by creating a fake replica of the OpenSea digital marketplace in 2021, writes Bloomberg.



The ex-Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky was arrested on Thursday morning and charged with wire fraud and other crimes, according to Bloomberg. He has been accused by U.S. prosecutors of pumping up the price of his firms cryptocurrency to entice customers to the platform. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are modestly down in early U.S. trading Monday. There are some renewed concerns about demand for metals after China released some more uninspiring economic data. August gold was last down $3.20 at $1,961.20 and September silver was down $0.134 at $25.06.

China, the world's second-largest economy, saw its gross domestic product rise 6.3% in the second quarter, year-on-year, which was below market expectations for a rise of 6.9%. The news put some downside price pressure on the metals and crude oil markets. "The Chinese economy is clearly sputtering," said one analyst in a Wall Street Journal story on the matter.

Asian and European stock markets were mixed to weaker in overnight trading. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward mixed openings when the New York day session begins.

A couple of interesting headlines in the Wall Street Journal: "Economists dial back (U.S.) recession predictions" and "Traders position for soft landing."

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly lower. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices are lower trading around $74.50 a barrel. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching 3.779%.

U.S. economic data due for release Monday is light and includes the Empire State manufacturing survey. The data pace picks up speed Tuesday.

Technically, the gold futures bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field but the bulls have momentum. A nine-week-old price downtrend on the daily bar chart has been negated. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close in August futures above solid resistance at $2,000.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,900.00. First resistance is seen at last week's high of $1,968.50 and then at $1,975.00. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,954.30 and then at $1,950.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0

The silver bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. A three-week-old uptrend is in place on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing September futures prices above solid technical resistance at the April high of $26.645. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $23.00. First resistance is seen at last week's high of $25.255 and then at $25.50. Next support is seen at $24.835 and then at last Thursday's low of $24.31. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.
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(Kitco News) - Florida Governor and Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has doubled down in his fight against a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the U.S., saying that he would put an end to the creation of a digital dollar on his first day in office if he gets elected.

DeSantis made the comments during an interview with popular news personality Tucker Carlson at the Family Leadership Summit on Friday. If Im the President, on day one, we will nix central bank digital currency, he said. Done, dead, not happening in this country.

The Florida governor first spoke out about the creation of a digital dollar in March, calling for a ban on its creation at the federal level and introducing a proposal to the Florida legislature that would limit the use of the CBDC in the sunshine state.

He eventually went on to sign the anti-CBDC bill into law in May, which banned the use of a digital dollar or any CBDC issued by a foreign government in Florida. Later that month, DeSantis officially launched his presidential campaign and made protecting crypto and opposing a digital dollar a focal point of his pitch to attract voters.

The current regime, clearly, has it out for Bitcoin, he said. And if it continues for another four years, theyll probably end up killing it. The only reason these people in Washington dont like [Bitcoin] is because they dont control it. Theyre central planners and they want to have control over society and so Bitcoin represents a threat to them.

He also stated his opposition to a digital dollar at that time and said he would insist on Congressional authorization before a CBDC could ever be implemented.

DeSantis reiterated this stance on Friday, telling Carlson that recent comments suggesting the Federal Reserve may try to create a CBDC without Congressional approval is not how the process works.

The Fed said, Well, we wouldnt do it without consulting the legislative and executive branches, ideally we would get a law passed, DeSantis noted. No, thats not [what] the constitution says, [that] it's only ideal that you get a law passed  you would have to get a law passed.

I dont think Congress would pass that, so I think the Fed may try to do something unilaterally, he warned. So what we did in Florida is we basically passed a law that says We do not recognize CBDCs in the state of Florida. And I think other states are probably going to follow suit. That will jam their ability to do it through executive action. They dont have the authority to do it, and it would lead to lawsuits.

He also noted that CBDCs are attractive to governments and international bodies like the IMF due to the increased level of control they give over the day-to-day purchases of citizens.

They want to get rid of cash, they want no cryptocurrency, and they want this to be the sole form of legal tender, he said. And they have said this publicly at Davos and other places. It will allow them to prohibit undesirable purchases like fuel and ammunition, and so the minute you give them the power to do this, they are going to impose a social credit system on this country. CBDC is a massive threat to American liberty.

On January 20, 2025, it goes to the ash heap of history in this country, he concluded.

According to the most recent survey by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), 93% of central banks are currently at some stage in the exploration and development of a CBDC, and the world could see 24 CBDCs in circulation by 2030.

The latest update from the Federal Reserve said the central bank has made no decision on issuing a digital dollar and would only proceed with the issuance of a CBDC with an authorizing law. When Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified before the House Financial Services Committee in March 2023, he said a central bank digital currency is something we would certainly need Congressional approval for.

While no decision has been made, the Fed is actively exploring the creation of a digital dollar and has conducted several pilot projects to test different features.

This includes the November launch of a proof-of-concept (PoC) pilot project designed to explore the feasibility of an interoperable network of central bank wholesale digital money and commercial bank digital money operating on a shared multi-entity distributed ledger. The project specifically looked at the feasibility of the Regulated Liability Network (RLN), which is envisioned as an interoperable network for wholesale payments operating on a shared multi-entity distributed ledger.

The PoC ultimately determined that shared ledger technology [is] a potential solution to support payment innovation.

The New York Fed also launched Phase II of Project Cedar in November, which was a study designed to explore the feasibility of a wCBDC for cross-border settlements between international banks using different national currencies. The results of Phase II of Project Cedar were released on May 18.
The Australian reports:

Newspoll have been doing regular polling on the referendum and the trend is stark.

Feb: +19%

Mar: +15%

Apr: +14%

May: +3%

Jun: -4%

Jul: -7%

If it were not for New Zealand, I believe the referendum would pass easily. On the face of it, the question appears laudable and benign:

To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

Who could be against a voice for indigenous Australians?

But many Australians will have seen what is happening in New Zealand. In 1998, one regional council was given permission to have a Maori ward. Today in 2023, a Government advisory board has recommended that every local authority must have unelected Councillors appointed by iwi and Hapu. One already does, and the Government tried to undermine equality of suffrage in Rotorua.

It is not unreasonable for Australians to suspect the Voice would eventually end up with powers where the Government must act on their advice unless say a majority in both Houses of Parliament votes to over-ride it. Not immediately but we've seen in NZ how fast the pace of change can be.

Incidentally there are a greater proportion of Australian mps who are indigenous than there are in the population. 11 out of 227 MPs are indigenous or 4.8%, compared to 3.2% of the population.

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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Flash flooding killed at least three people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on July 15.
Five people were injured in a home explosion that happened in St. Charles Monday morning. The explosion happened on Transit Street near Fifth Street just before noon. Three adults and two children were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police told News 4.
Alvopetro Energy Ltd. (OTCMKTS:ALVOF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 24,000 shares, an increase of 169.7% from the June 15th total of 8,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 91,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Alvopetro Energy Price Performance

ALVOF stock opened at $7.53 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $274.77 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.46 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 2.69 and a current ratio of 2.69. The businesss 50-day moving average is $7.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.89. Alvopetro Energy has a fifty-two week low of $4.31 and a fifty-two week high of $8.07.

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Alvopetro Energy (OTCMKTS:ALVOF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Alvopetro Energy had a net margin of 48.48% and a return on equity of 43.94%. The company had revenue of $18.16 million for the quarter.

Alvopetro Energy Announces Dividend

Alvopetro Energy Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were paid a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.44%. Alvopetro Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.92%.

(Get Free Report)

Alvopetro Energy Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons. It holds interests in the Cabure and Murucututu natural gas assets; two exploration assets comprising Blocks 182 and the western portion of Block 183; and two oil fields, Bom Lugar and Mae-da-lua, which include 22,166 acres in the Reconcavo basin onshore Brazil.

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Bakkt Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BKKT  Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $1.82, but opened at $1.86. Bakkt shares last traded at $1.89, with a volume of 1,837,337 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $2.10 price objective on shares of Bakkt in a report on Friday, March 31st.

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Bakkt Price Performance

The companys 50 day moving average price is $1.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.48. The firm has a market cap of $490.50 million, a PE ratio of -0.25 and a beta of 4.35.

Insider Transactions at Bakkt

Bakkt ( NYSE:BKKT Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.17). The company had revenue of $13.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.50 million. Bakkt had a negative net margin of 1,057.17% and a positive return on equity of 133.00%. Sell-side analysts expect that Bakkt Holdings, Inc. will post -0.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, General Counsel Marc Dannunzio sold 50,237 shares of Bakkt stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.37, for a total value of $68,824.69. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 754,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,034,289.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Bakkt news, General Counsel Marc Dannunzio sold 50,237 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.37, for a total value of $68,824.69. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 754,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,034,289.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Impact Acquisition Holding Vpc sold 200,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.58, for a total transaction of $316,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,844,254 shares in the company, valued at $9,233,921.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 650,237 shares of company stock worth $1,044,825. 1.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bakkt

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BKKT. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bakkt by 109.5% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 22,560 shares of the companys stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 11,793 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in shares of Bakkt in the 1st quarter worth about $66,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS purchased a new stake in shares of Bakkt in the 1st quarter worth about $76,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bakkt by 35.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 545,794 shares of the companys stock worth $3,362,000 after buying an additional 144,218 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of Bakkt by 234.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 38,982 shares of the companys stock worth $240,000 after buying an additional 27,312 shares in the last quarter. 8.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Bakkt Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bakkt Holdings, Inc offers a platform for crypto and redeeming loyalty points. The company's institutional-grade technology platform offers various solutions, such as Custody, an institutional-grade custody solution for market participants; Crypto Connect, a platform that enables consumers, businesses, and institutions to buy, sell, and store crypto in a digital experience; Crypto Rewards that focuses on enabling customers to earn crypto rewards, as well as redeem existing reward currencies into crypto; and Crypto Payouts for customers to automatically invest a portion of payments into crypto.

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Barratt Developments (LON:BDEV  Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by equities researchers at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 466 ($6.00) to GBX 392 ($5.04) in a research note issued on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm presently has a hold rating on the real estate development companys stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price objective would suggest a potential downside of 4.13% from the stocks current price.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Barratt Developments from GBX 520 ($6.69) to GBX 545 ($7.01) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 12th. Shore Capital upped their price target on Barratt Developments from GBX 440 ($5.66) to GBX 552 ($7.10) and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Barratt Developments from GBX 430 ($5.53) to GBX 390 ($5.02) and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Barratt Developments from GBX 499 ($6.42) to GBX 501 ($6.45) and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Finally, Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Barratt Developments from GBX 440 ($5.66) to GBX 552 ($7.10) and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Barratt Developments presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 504.63 ($6.49).

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Barratt Developments Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of Barratt Developments stock traded down GBX 3.30 ($0.04) during trading on Friday, hitting GBX 408.90 ($5.26). 2,277,266 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,787,913. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.28, a current ratio of 4.33 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The firms 50-day moving average price is GBX 454.63 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 456.50. The stock has a market cap of 3.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 786.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.65 and a beta of 1.52. Barratt Developments has a 12-month low of GBX 313 ($4.03) and a 12-month high of GBX 515 ($6.63).

About Barratt Developments

Barratt Developments plc engages in the housebuilding and commercial development businesses in Great Britain. It acquires and develops land; plans, designs, and constructs homes, apartments, penthouses, and communities, as well as undertakes mixed-use regeneration schemes; and develops retail, leisure, office, industrial, and mixed-use properties.

Further Reading

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Loblaw Companies (OTCMKTS:LBLCF  Get Free Report) is one of 62 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Loblaw Companies to related companies based on the strength of its risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings and profitability.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Loblaw Companies and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.

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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

Loblaw Companies presently 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 95.12%. Given Loblaw Companies rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Loblaw Companies has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Loblaw Companies N/A N/A -402.69 Loblaw Companies Competitors $26.96 billion $611.50 million 186.81

This table compares Loblaw Companies and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Loblaw Companies rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Loblaw Companies. Loblaw Companies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

70.9% of Loblaw Companies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by 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.

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 4.0% and pay out 61.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Profitability

This table compares Loblaw Companies and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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%

Summary

Loblaw Companies rivals beat Loblaw Companies on 11 of the 13 factors compared.

About Loblaw Companies

(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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Banco Comercial Portugues (OTCMKTS:BPCGF  Get Free Report) is one of 266 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Banco Comercial Portugues to related companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk and profitability.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Banco Comercial Portugues and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Comercial Portugues N/A N/A -20.24 Banco Comercial Portugues Competitors $2.76 billion $761.63 million 273.41

Banco Comercial Portugues peers have higher revenue and earnings than Banco Comercial Portugues. Banco Comercial Portugues 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

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Comercial Portugues 0 0 2 0 3.00 Banco Comercial Portugues Competitors 1025 2838 2930 7 2.28

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Banco Comercial Portugues and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Banco Comercial Portugues presently has a consensus price target of $0.19, suggesting a potential downside of 8.65%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 322.44%. Given Banco Comercial Portugues peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Banco Comercial Portugues has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

11.1% of Banco Comercial Portugues shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 30.8% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 16.2% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Banco Comercial Portugues and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Comercial Portugues N/A N/A N/A Banco Comercial Portugues Competitors 37.50% 9.66% 0.88%

Summary

Banco Comercial Portugues peers beat Banco Comercial Portugues on 9 of the 11 factors compared.

About Banco Comercial Portugues

(Get Free Report)

Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A., a private sector bank, engages in the provision of various banking and financial products and services in Portugal and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking; Companies, Corporate & Investment Banking; Private Banking; Foreign Business; and Other segments. It offers a range of financial products and services, including current accounts, payment systems, savings and investment products, private banking, asset management, and investment banking services, such as mortgage loans, personal loans, commercial banking, leasing, factoring and insurance, and others. The company is also involved in the provision of investment fund and real estate management, e-commerce, web portal, real estate investment fund, trade finance, trust, consulting, brokerage, marketing, and real estate services, as well as internet, telephone, and mobile banking services. Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A. was incorporated in 1985 and is based in Porto, Portugal.

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Enova International (NYSE:ENVA  Free Report) had its price objective upped by JMP Securities from $61.00 to $70.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. JMP Securities currently has a market outperform rating on the credit services providers stock.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Enova International from $60.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Enova International in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company.

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Enova International Stock Performance

NYSE ENVA opened at $55.20 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 16.63 and a quick ratio of 16.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.83 and a beta of 1.55. The companys fifty day moving average is $49.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.64. Enova International has a 52-week low of $28.66 and a 52-week high of $55.98.

Insider Activity at Enova International

Enova International ( NYSE:ENVA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The credit services provider reported $1.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $483.26 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $486.31 million. Enova International had a net margin of 11.23% and a return on equity of 17.98%. Equities research analysts forecast that Enova International will post 7 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CFO Steven E. Cunningham sold 5,599 shares of Enova International stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total transaction of $251,955.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 177,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,982,235. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 7.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Enova International

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Foundry Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Enova International by 11.6% during the 2nd quarter. Foundry Partners LLC now owns 119,426 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $6,344,000 after purchasing an additional 12,431 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Enova International in the second quarter worth about $53,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Enova International in the second quarter worth about $420,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Enova International by 13.0% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 179,107 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,958,000 after acquiring an additional 20,653 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its stake in shares of Enova International by 10.2% in the first quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 66,166 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,940,000 after acquiring an additional 6,100 shares during the last quarter. 89.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Enova International

(Get Free Report)

Enova International, Inc operates as a financial services company with online lending that serves small businesses and consumers who are underserved by traditional banks. The company offers installment loans; line of credit accounts; CSO programs, including arranging loans with independent third-party lenders and assisting in the preparation of loan applications and loan documents; and bank programs, such as marketing services and loan servicing for near-prime unsecured consumer installment loan.

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GLG Life Tech Co. (OTCMKTS:GLGLF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a drop of 90.9% from the June 15th total of 1,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

GLG Life Tech Price Performance

OTCMKTS GLGLF remained flat at $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday. 8,624 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,116. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $0.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.02. GLG Life Tech has a 1 year low of $0.01 and a 1 year high of $0.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.45 million, a PE ratio of -0.05 and a beta of 1.87.

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GLG Life Tech (OTCMKTS:GLGLF  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.15 million during the quarter.

GLG Life Tech Company Profile

GLG Life Tech Corporation engages in the research, development, growing, refining, and production of natural sweeteners extracted from the stevia plant and monk fruit worldwide. The company also offers P-Pro Plus, a pea protein product; and natural ingredients. It serves in the food and beverage industry.

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Greggs (OTCMKTS:GGGSF  Get Free Report) is one of 62 public companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Greggs to similar companies based on the strength of its risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings and valuation.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

42.1% of Greggs shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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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 4.0% and pay out 61.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Greggs lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

Profitability

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 rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Greggs and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Greggs N/A N/A 156.28 Greggs Competitors $26.96 billion $611.50 million 187.38

Greggs rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Greggs. Greggs is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Greggs and its rivals, 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

Greggs presently has a consensus target price of $3,140.00, suggesting a potential upside of 9,273.13%. As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 29.39%. Given Greggs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Greggs is more favorable than its rivals.

Summary

Greggs rivals 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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Woolworths Group (OTCMKTS:WOLWF  Get Free Report) and Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Free Report) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Woolworths Group and Sendas Distribuidora, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Woolworths Group 2 0 0 0 1.00 Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00

Dividends

Profitability

Woolworths Group pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Woolworths Group pays out 69.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sendas Distribuidora pays out 10.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

This table compares Woolworths Group and Sendas Distribuidoras net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Woolworths Group N/A N/A N/A Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Woolworths Group and Sendas Distribuidoras gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Woolworths Group N/A N/A N/A $1.96 13.24 Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion 0.34 $236.31 million $0.78 16.94

Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue and earnings than Woolworths Group. Woolworths Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sendas Distribuidora, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

14.5% of Woolworths Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Sendas Distribuidora beats Woolworths Group on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Woolworths Group

(Get Free Report)

Woolworths Group Limited operates retail stores. It operates through Australian Food, Australian B2B, New Zealand Food, BIG W, and Other segments. The Australian Food segment procures and resells food and related products, and provides services to customers in Australia. It operates 1,087 Woolworths supermarkets and Metro Food stores. The Australian B2B segment engages in procurement and distribution of food and related products for resale to other businesses, as well as provision of supply chain services to business customers in Australia. The New Zealand Food segment is involved in the procurement and resale of food and drinks, and provides services to retail customers in New Zealand. This segment operates 190 countdown supermarkets. The BIG W segment procures and resells discount general merchandise products to customers in Australia. This segment operates 176 BIG W stores. Woolworths Group Limited also engages in the wholesale operation. The company was formerly known as Woolworths Limited and changed its name to Woolworths Group Limited in December 2017. Woolworths Group Limited was incorporated in 1924 and is based in Bella Vista, Australia.

About Sendas Distribuidora

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Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. The company serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. It sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Cwm LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 2.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 624,446 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 14,750 shares during the quarter. Cwm LLC owned about 0.07% of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF worth $62,220,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AGG. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after acquiring an additional 3,906 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% during the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock worth $5,570,000 after acquiring an additional 13,829 shares during the period. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,568,000 after buying an additional 292 shares during the period. 80.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSEARCA AGG traded down $0.02 during trading on Monday, reaching $97.92. 1,457,370 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,072,371. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $93.20 and a twelve month high of $104.39. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $98.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $98.70.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Vesuvius (LON:VSVS  Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by stock analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from GBX 475 ($6.11) to GBX 430 ($5.53) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s target price indicates a potential upside of 5.76% from the stocks current price.

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 585 ($7.53) price target on shares of Vesuvius in a research note on Friday, March 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have given 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 GBX 463 ($5.96).

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Vesuvius Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of VSVS stock traded down GBX 3.60 ($0.05) on Monday, hitting GBX 406.60 ($5.23). 32,152 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 285,631. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.49. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 607.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.35. Vesuvius has a fifty-two week low of GBX 290.60 ($3.74) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 448.60 ($5.77). The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 409.94 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 408.20.

Insider Transactions at Vesuvius

About Vesuvius

In other news, insider Mark Collis acquired 9,524 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 418 ($5.38) per share, with a total value of 39,810.32 ($51,216.16). Company insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Vesuvius plc provides molten metal flow engineering and technology services to steel and foundry industries worldwide. It operates through Flow Control, Sensor & Probes, and Advanced Refractories segments. The company provides consumables and equipment, which includes binders, coatings, feeding systems, filtration and gating systems, melt shop refractories, metallurgical and pouring control systems, die dressings and coatings, melt treatment products, crucibles, and ceramics for the iron, steel, and nonferrous foundries.

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Ramsay Stattman Vela & Price Inc. raised its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 9.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 33,135 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,775 shares during the period. Ramsay Stattman Vela & Price Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,736,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,847,000 after buying an additional 1,452 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 4.3% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $528,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 25.4% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,101,000 after acquiring an additional 2,648 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the first quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. 82.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.6 %

SCHW traded up $0.38 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $58.90. 1,064,610 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,916,223. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.99, a P/E/G ratio of 5.45 and a beta of 0.88. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1-year low of $45.00 and a 1-year high of $86.63. The firms 50 day moving average price is $54.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion for 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 firms revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.77 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is 27.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on SCHW shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Bank of America upped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. UBS Group reduced their price target on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Raymond James raised Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.23.

Insider Activity

In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Charles Schwab

(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.

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SIR Royalty Income Fund (TSE:SRV.UN  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, July 19th, TickerTech reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be given a dividend of 0.095 per share on Monday, July 31st. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 19th.

SIR Royalty Income Fund Price Performance

SIR Royalty Income Fund stock opened at C$17.10 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$17.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$17.05. SIR Royalty Income Fund has a 52-week low of C$13.00 and a 52-week high of C$17.95. The firm has a market capitalization of C$143.30 million, a P/E ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 2.56.

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SIR Royalty Income Fund Company Profile

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Further Reading

SIR Royalty Income Fund, through SIR Royalty Limited Partnership, owns SIR's restaurants in Canada. The company operates concept restaurants under the Jack Astor's Bar and Grill, Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar, and Canyon Creek Chop House; and signature restaurant brands under the Reds Wine Tavern, Reds Midtown Tavern, Reds Square One, and The Loose Moose brands.

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BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Suncor Energy (TSE:SU  Free Report) (NYSE:SU) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report published on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has C$44.00 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of C$52.00.

A number of other brokerages have also recently weighed in on SU. TD Securities decreased their price objective on Suncor Energy from C$52.00 to C$49.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Suncor Energy from C$44.00 to C$42.00 in a research note on Monday, May 15th. CSFB decreased their price target on Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$56.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Suncor Energy from C$61.00 to C$58.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, National Bank Financial decreased their price target on Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$57.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$52.07.

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Suncor Energy Price Performance

SU opened at C$38.25 on Thursday. Suncor Energy has a 1 year low of C$36.38 and a 1 year high of C$50.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$39.03 and a 200-day moving average price of C$41.85. The firm has a market cap of C$50.11 billion, a PE ratio of 6.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 42.16, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.83.

Suncor Energy Announces Dividend

Suncor Energy ( TSE:SU Get Free Report ) (NYSE:SU) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported C$1.36 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.26 by C$0.10. The company had revenue of C$12.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$10.57 billion. Suncor Energy had a return on equity of 20.92% and a net margin of 14.37%. Sell-side analysts predict 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. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 26th were given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 2nd. Suncor Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.61%.

Suncor Energy Company Profile

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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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Theratechnologies (TSE:TH  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by National Bankshares from C$2.25 to C$1.75 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Theratechnologies Stock Down 0.9 %

TH stock opened at C$1.11 on Thursday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$1.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of C$107.46 million, a P/E ratio of -1.48, a P/E/G ratio of -8.50 and a beta of 1.52. Theratechnologies has a 52-week low of C$1.00 and a 52-week high of C$3.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 562.07, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.64.

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Theratechnologies (TSE:TH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 12th. The company reported C($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter. Theratechnologies had a negative net margin of 59.76% and a negative return on equity of 1,116.86%. The company had revenue of C$23.84 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Theratechnologies will post 0.0215385 EPS for the current year.

Theratechnologies Company Profile

Theratechnologies Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of various therapies to address the unmet medical needs in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company offers EGRIFTA and EGRIFTA SV for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with lipodystrophy; and Trogarzo, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, which is an injection for the treatment of multidrug resistant HIV-1 infected patients.

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North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun, center, inspects a farm in South Hwanghae Province amid the monsoon season in this July 17 photo carried by North Korea's Central News Agency. Yonhap



North Korea has ramped up efforts to minimize damage to crops from the monsoon season, with its premier inspecting farms in several counties to call attention to grain protection, state media said Monday.



Kim Tok-hun called for "scientifically" managing crops and mobilizing all means for weeding during his latest visits to farms in some regions, including South Hwanghae Province and South Pyongan Province, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).



He instructed officials to better manage drainage facilities and seawalls with "responsibility" to brace for abnormal weather, such as heavy rains and typhoons, it added.



North Korea has put its top priority on crop protection in the face of a food crisis that has been aggravated by its COVID-19-related border closure and global sanctions on its nuclear and missile programs.



Downpours could be devastating to the North, as it is vulnerable to flash flooding due to poor irrigation and deforestation.



South Korea's unification ministry said there has been no known damage from heavy rains in the North and repeated its call on Pyongyang to give prior notice if it releases water from dams near the inter-Korean border.



"We once again request North Korea to take sincere measures to prevent its inaction from causing damage (to border areas)," ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said in a press briefing.



In October 2009, North Korea agreed to notify the South in advance when it plans to release water from dams, following an accident that killed six South Koreans after the North discharged water from the Hwanggang Dam without notice.



But last year, North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam without notifying Seoul, prompting the ministry to voice regret over the North's action. (Yonhap)


Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, left, hold a summit in Phnom Penh, Nov. 11, 2022. Yonhap



Senior officials of Korea and Thailand discussed ways Monday to expand bilateral cooperation on electric vehicles and other future industries, Seoul's industry ministry said.



The discussion was made during a meeting between Deputy Trade Minister Jeong Dae-jin and Nattapol Rangsitpol, permanent secretary of Thailand's industry ministry, in Seoul, as the Thai official was visiting the country as part of his government's economic delegation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



Jeong asked for Thailand's support for Korean companies trying to make inroads into the Southeast Asian nation, as Thailand has been pushing to promote its EV industry.



The Thai official expressed interest in Seoul's industry policy measures and voiced expectations for greater cooperation between the two sides in automobiles and a range of advanced industry sectors, it added.



"The two sides agreed to promote exchanges between their high-level government officials and to beef up consultations on ways to deepen economic and industry ties," the ministry said in a release.



In November, President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and adopted a joint action plan calling for developing bilateral relations in terms of trade, future industries and the green economy, among other fields. (Yonhap)


Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link in Moscow, Russia, Friday. Reuters-Yonhap



The Kremlin on Monday said it was exiting a major agreement allowing Ukraine grain exports hours after drones struck Russia's only bridge connecting its mainland to the annexed Crimea peninsula.



Moscow said the deadly Kerch bridge attack had nothing to do with its withdrawal and for months has complained about the implementation of the pact, which was designed to ease fears of food shortages in vulnerable countries.



"The grain deal has ceased. As soon as the Russian part (of the agreements) are fulfilled, the Russian side will immediately return to the grain deal," said Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding the move was not linked to the strike.



The announcement came hours after drones struck the sole road link connecting Russia to the annexed Crimea peninsula, a key supply line for Russian forces resupplying frontlines in the south of Ukraine.



Kyiv's navy and SBU security service carried out a "special operation" using seaborne drones, a security service source told AFP.



Russian authorities said a civilian couple was killed and their daughter wounded in the attack on the bridge, which was also damaged last year in a blast that Moscow blamed on Kyiv.





In this handout photo taken from video released by Investigative Committee of Russia on Monday, an investigator works at an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea. AP-Yonhap



Crimea bridge blast



Local officials said traffic had been halted and asked tourists to stay in their lodgings. Officials encouraged Russians travelling to and from Crimea to travel through occupied Ukrainian territory.



The Kremlin noted Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered "repair and restoration work" on the bridge and help for people stuck in traffic.



Over the course of the last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the export in cargo of more than 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain.



But those transports have come to a halt because of Russia's refusal so far to renew the deal.



"The applications have not been approved by all parties," said a statement from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) that oversees the agreement. "No new ships have been approved to participate since 27 June."



Putin just last week signaled Russia's intention to terminate the agreement saying Moscow's interests were being ignored under the deal brokered by the U.N. and Turkey.



Moscow also notified Turkey, Ukraine and the U.N. that it was against extending the deal, Russian news agencies reported, citing the foreign ministry.



The German government reacted to the news by urging Moscow to extend the deal saying the "conflict should not be carried out on the backs of the poorest on this planet" who rely on Ukrainian grain supplies.





Bulk carrier ARGO I is docked at the grain terminal of the port of Odessa, Ukraine, on April 10, from where Ukraine ships wheat according to the grain agreement the country currently has with Russia. AFP-Yonhap
While the July popularity rankings for boy groups, girl groups, and fourth-gen rookies are already out, the Korean Business Research Institute has announced their newest brand reputation rankings for this month, covering individual male K-pop idols.

According to their chart, the data was derived from numerous factors such as the participation of consumers, media coverage, and other aspects that can lead to general exposure and buzz. The data gathered are covered from June 15 to July 15.

Here are 10 most popular K-pop boy group members for July 2023!

1. BTS Jungkook

Jungkook made it on the first place with a brand reputation index of 4,637,262, alongside with 90.82 percent positive reactions on his positivity-negativity analysis.

From June to July, Jungkook has been making waves with his solo track "Seven" which marked his first official solo endeavor. With his appearances on his broadcasts, updates, and teasers, Jungkook has placed on the list's No. 1 spot.

2. Kang Daniel

In the second place, Kang Daniel earned a brand reputation index of 4,472,880, due to a 12.68 percent score increase, proving his unwavering popularity.

3. BTS Jimin

BTS member Jimin made it on the third place after garnering a brand reputation index of 4,214,731.

4. BTS V

Jimin was trailed by his fellow bandmate V, who secured the fourth place with a brand reputation index of 2,506,455.

5. BIGBANG G-Dragon

G-Dragon managed to defend his place at the fifth spot with a brand reputation index of 2,227,966, completing the top five.

6. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo

Meanwhile, idol actor Cha Eun Woo of ASTRO joined the list's sixth place with a brand reputation index of 1,867,039.

7. Park Jihoon

Former Wanna One member Park Jihoon secured the seventh place after gaining a brand reputation index of 1,835,170.

8. BTS J-Hope

J-Hope gained an index of 1,692,290 for the month of July.

9. BTS Suga

Suga followed at No. 9 with a brand reputation index of 1,643,503.

10. Hwang Minhyun

Finally, the top 10 was completed by former NU'EST and Wanna One member Hwang Minhyun with an index of 1,608,157.

See the full list below:

1. BTS Jungkook

2. Kang Daniel

3. BTS Jimin

4. BTS V

5. BIGBANG G-Dragon

6. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo

7. Park Jihoon

8. BTS J-Hope

9. BTS Suga

10. Hwang Minhyun

11. EXO Baekhyun

12. Super Junior Kyuhyun

13. BTS Jin

14. BTS RM

15. Super Junior Siwon

16. NCT Jaehyun

17. SEVENTEEN Mingyu

18. SHINee Taemin

19. SEVENTEEN Jun

20. THE BOYZ Juyeon

21. SHINee Minho

22. SEVENTEEN Jeonghan

23. INFINITE Sungyeol

24. 2PM Lee Junho

25. MONSTA X I.M

26. SEVENTEEN Hoshi

27. SEVENTEEN Wonwoo

28. BIGBANG Taeyang

29. ATEEZ San

30. NCT Doyoung

Which K-pop boy group members on the list are your biases? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
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SHREVEPORT, La. -- Federal authorities are building a criminal case against members of a Shr

More Information

WHAT: U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown will hold a news conference to announce the unsealing of an indictment related to CARES Act fraud involving a local Shreveport street gang.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Tuesday

WHERE: U.S. Attorney's Office, Tom Stagg United States Courthouse, 300 Fannin St., Suite 3201, Shreveport
The European Union (EU) and Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay have agreed to deepen our partnership by establishing an EULAC Digital Alliance.

The EU-LAC Digital Alliance is an informal, values-based framework for cooperation, open to all Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and EU Member States who may participate through their respective governments and agencies related to the digital agenda. The EU participates as Team Europe with Member States and their development agencies, European financial institutions and the LAC branch of the Digital4Development Hub. The Alliance will also provide for the participation of other stakeholders, such as the private sector, research and academic networks, and other social actors from both regions, as appropriate.

The EU-LAC Digital Alliance provides a forum for regular bi-regional dialogue and cooperation on digital matters for the benefit of our citizens. It creates a strategic framework to foster future cooperation, as well as for the substantial EU-LAC digital cooperation that is already ongoing and which includes EU Member States' cooperation and EU-supported infrastructure in the LAC region like the BELLA programme, Copernicus Centres, the LAC Cyber Competence Centre, and other specific projects, for example on cybercrime under the EL PAcCTO programme.

The EU-LAC Digital Alliance promotes cooperation on a wide rangeof digital issues, including digital policy dialogue, internet governance, data governance, infrastructure, connectivity, security, data protection, artificial intelligence and other new emerging digital technologies, skills development, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, digital trade, and space-related activities such as Copernicus Earth observation data and Galileo/EGNOS satellite navigation applications and services. In this regard, the Alliance will explore cooperation with the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE). Knowledge transfer and exchange on digital citizenship, digitisation of public servicesand registries, digital identity, electronic signatures and related interoperability will also be pursued.

The Alliance will also serve as a forum for developing a bi-regional Investment Agenda in the digital domain underpinned by the Global Gateway initiative, among other sources of funding.

Given the highly dynamic nature of the sector, priorities will be revised regularly and new areas included,as per mutual agreement,in line with changing needs and opportunities.

The partners of the Alliance will meet regularly at different levels, including a periodic High-Level Policy Dialogue, regulatory dialogue and other meetings at technical level as appropriate. These meetings will serve for a free exchange of information and the identification of joint priorities.

Our shared values

The EU-LAC Digital Alliance is based on a common human-centric vision of the digital economy and society in which the design, development, governance, and use of technology are guided by universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. This vision encompasses the rule of law and democratic principles, transparency and accountability, high levels of cybersecurity and the protection of privacy and personal data, as well as solidarity, inclusion, security and environmental sustainability. To uphold these values, we will cooperate in the fight against online disinformation.

The participating EU-LAC countries agree that digitalisation must first and foremost benefit people, not least by harnessing the potential of the data economy for sustainable development in the context of ongoing digital transformation. This approach should encourage investment while recognizing the relevance of data as a tool for the socio-economic prosperity of developing nations.

By forming this Digital Alliance, we signal our shared intention to develop basic digital competences of all citizens so that they can engage with and access digital technologies in a safe, confident, critical and responsible manner, with a special focus on women and girls. We also encourage individuals to safely acquire specialized digital skills, notably through education and digital literacy, to facilitate their equitable and meaningful participation in the digital economy and society.

We are strongly committed to closing digital gaps and divides, promoting social cohesion, gender and racial equality, youth empowerment and an inclusive digital society and economy thatleaves no-one behind. This includes providing secure, universal, and meaningful digital connectivity to every citizen and strengthening citizens' and businesses trust through a democratic governance model based on high levels of privacy, data protection and security. We strive to develop a prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and responsible digital economyand local digital industry that fosters innovation on a level playing field, and which is founded on open and fair markets.

We recognize that the same rights enjoyed offline by our citizens must also be protected online, especially for children and youths, in keeping with relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions, international conventions and domestic laws. This perspective is also reflected in the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade and the eLAC Digital Agenda 2024. Both of these serve as references for a digital transformation that is people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented, and respects people's universal human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Implementation

A periodicdialogue to exchange information and best practices on digital policy, with a view to reinforcing and converging digital policy and regulatory frameworks on issues of common interest between the EU and LAC countries, will include data protection and data flows with trust, cybersecurity, interoperability, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, satellite data and signals. The dialogue will involve governments, intergovernmental and regional organisations, non-governmental organisations, private stakeholders, civil society and academia in its implementation, as appropriate. Modalities for the work on these dialogues will be defined jointly. This regional framework and current digital agendas will be of strategic value in bringing together national and regional regulatory entities to engage in dialogue and promote the convergence of digital policy and the closing of digital gaps.

To promote connectivity, inclusion, innovation and the digitalisation of public services and business, the EU-LAC Digital Alliance will support the digital projects of our Investment Agenda, which areto be agreed upon by the two regions, and in particular, a number of Global Gateway flagship initiatives. In 2023, cooperation will include the following activities, among others:

a) the extension of the BELLA fibre-optic cable to interested countries, building secure digital backbone connectivity and bringing the research communities of the EU and LAC closer together;

b) the implementation of a regional Copernicus Strategy including two regional Copernicus data centres in Panama and Chile; and

c) the establishment of an EU-LAC Digital Accelerator aiming to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration between EU and LAC corporations, SMEs and innovative start-ups. The objective is to facilitate and accelerate at least 40 joint ventures for bi-regional innovation and digital transformation.

We will review progress on an annual basis.
PNN

New Delhi [India], July 17: Datacultr is a Risk Management and Digital Debt collection start-up based in Dubai, it has garnered prominence and has also made its mark in India. The company has a strong work culture of trust and embraces an unwavering commitment to an employee-first approach. Datacultr is steadily establishing itself as an innovative and flexible employer across all the offices around the globe along with the development center based in Gurgaon, India.

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Datacultr's commitment to designing a remarkable workplace is supported via a host of factors including-:

 Prioritizing employee well-being: Realizing the significance of a healthy workforce, Datacultr offers comprehensive health insurance coverage for its employees. The company also puts a lot of emphasis on an employees mental well-being, which is driven through "Your Dost," an innovative training platform led by professional psychologists, access to this program is extended to families of all employees. This devotion to employee well-being echoes the organization's culture of valuing employees like family.

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 Consistent training: The company also invests significantly in the growth and development of its employees via robust training programs. These initiatives allow individuals to bolster their skills and knowledge, facilitating personal and professional growth.

 Fun and celebration: Datacultr promotes a dynamic work environment by honoring significant milestones and occasions, including birthdays and work anniversaries. This fosters a sense of celebration and comradeship, contributing to a vibrant and positive company culture.

Furthermore, Datacultr prioritizes efficient workflows and streamlined operations, by building effective team structures. This ensures that employees can work effectively and contribute towards the accomplishment of the organization's objectives.

 Flexible Schedules: Depending on the need of the hour, Datacultr provides a hybrid work option to all its employees, especially during emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, it enables a healthy work-life balance by offering flexibility in office timings, allowing employees to manage their professional and personal commitments effectively.

 Young and energetic workforce: With a substantial population of young professionals under the age of 30, Datacultr benefits from a high-energy work environment. It also stimulates enthusiasm and dynamism, contributing to an exciting work culture.

 Leadership engagement: To cultivate an open work culture, leaders actively engage with the organization via interactive sessions, communicating their experiences and insights. This open and collaborative approach enables a strong bond between leaders and employees.

Datacultr's consistent performance and exclusion of layoffs fortify its commitment and dedication to its workforce. We are constantly identifying effective interventions that help us build Datacultr as a flexible and attractive employer. With this regard, numerous programs have been implemented that prioritize employee satisfaction, growth, and engagement. This remains a key focus area. said Datacultr CEO, Neel Juriasingani.

Datacultr is a global Digital Operating System for Risk Management and Debt Collection, it drives collection efficiencies and reduces delinquencies and Non-Performing Loans (NPLs). Datacultr is a digital-only provider of risk management, consumer engagement, recovery, and collection solutions, helping consumer lending, retail, telecom, and Fintech organizations since 2020. The Datacultr platform makes the underserved and unbanked segment viable, for the providers of Buy Now Pay Later, Micro-Loans, Nano-Loans, and other unsecured loans. Datacultr is the winner of the Red Herring Asia Global100 Award, 2022, Inclusive Fintech50- 2021, and Red Herring Asia Top100 Award, 2019; it has also been recognized in multiple forums as the best digital collections platform.

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PRNewswire

Chandigarh [India], July 17: 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 July 16 (Sunday) at Ladakh, in which the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also participated. Indian Minorities Foundation Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu led the delegation of different minority communities, along with Mahabodhi International Meditation Center Founder, President, Bhikkhu Sanghasena.

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Spreading Lord Buddha's 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. They reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) Ladakh after they had started the Dhamma Padh Yatra for world peace on June 12, 2023, from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

On their arrival at MIMC, they were welcomed by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), and the delegation of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, 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 USA, in the peace walk which aimed to propagate the message of peace and harmony. They also held prayers for world peace at Shanti Stupa.

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The other dignitaries who participated in the peace walk included Her Excellency Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India; His Excellency kyabje Taklung Matul Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Thuksa Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Urgain Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Bamtul Rinpoche; Ven Mahayana Monks, Ven Pradhamvachirakawee (lonpo); Ven Theravada monks, Ven Tsering Angdus, president of Ladakh Gonpa Association; Shri Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA); Shri Ashraf Ali Barcha, president Anjuman Imamia; Dr. Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam; Shri Sonam Pawez, president of the Christian community; Dechan Changa, former president of Christian community and Ven Dr. Pornchai from Thailand.

Venerable 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 that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmayogi himself."

Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognized and respected Buddhist leader, said, "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 Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that PM 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.

He added that 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," said Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that under PM Modi the global perception of India has changed and it has emerged as a strong nation.

The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) was also part of the peace walk led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu. He said that 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 Union Territory (UT), a long-pending demand of the Buddhist community, which opened the doorways for the development to reach this region. The long-pending demand was finally fulfilled by PM Modi after 63 years. The demand for separate UT was first raised in the 1950s by the Buddhist community. The welfare of minorities is at the core of the policymaking of PM Modi's 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," said Satnam Singh Sandhu.

Ven. 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.

Mentioning the positive role played by PM Modi in peacemaking between Russia and Ukraine, he praised PM Modi for spreading the message of peace and acting as a peacemaker to solve the conflicts.

Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi, Founder of Indira Gandhi Technological & 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 Buddhist Community, and the people of Minority Communities are safe. Under his leadership, everyone is given equal opportunities, and everyone needs to work together for sustainable development in the country.

Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam, said, "PM Modi has one of the tallest leaders in the world and his hard work has taken the country forward. He is taking the country on the global map and India's elevated stature is now accepted globally."

"The whole world now recognizes the potential of India by the initiatives taken by PM Modi during the last nine years," he said.

Gyal Wangyal, Former Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh (LAHDC) expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 added that the Prime Minister considers all religions 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 that it is important to have love, compassion, and brotherhood in one's heart to create world peace, which is being promoted by Prime Minister Narendra 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."

Sonam Wangchuk, the 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 centers in Ladakh and other parts of the country. He has remained focused on the development of the places associated with Lord Buddha, especially the work done for the Buddhist circuit."

"He visited Ladakh several times and showed his commitment towards the development of Buddhist Centers. The whole Buddhist community is thankful to him for his initiatives for Buddhist centers and for promoting the teachings of Buddhism," 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. He said that 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 gone up.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website: https://www.cuchd.in/

Media Contact:

Prabhdeep Singhprabhdeep.singh@cumail.in+91-8360473392Chandigarh Unuiversity

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2155176/Chandigarh_University.jpg

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YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. On July 17, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko and Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu met and discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, the process of reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan.

ARMENPRESS reports, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry informs that the Russian side has confirmed the need for the complete and immediate unblocking of the Lachin Corridor, the restoration of transport links in both directions along it, in accordance with the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, as well as the need to create conditions for normal life in Nagorno Karabakh.

The message also says: "The Russian side has confirmed its readiness to organize a tripartite meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss the ways of implementing the top level agreements, including the issue of agreement on the peace treaty, which will be followed by a summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow in order to sign the said document."
GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC)

Secunderabad (Telangana) [India], July 17: Sagar Asia Private Limited is Indias leading manufacturer of Aluminium Extrusions and access systems, providing all kinds of height access solutions. The company is inviting city-level distributors across the country and overseas, who can support them in expanding their market reach. Aspiring distributors can earn a chance to work in this huge and prosperous market by connecting with them.

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Sagar Asia has four decades of experience in aluminium engineering solutions and a pan-India presence. SA product range includes Folding Aluminum Ladder, Aluminium Tower Ladder, Industrial Aluminium Ladders, FRP Ladders, Scaffoldings, Work Platforms and allied products. Products are made for both residential and commercial use and sale as well as for rental.

Sagar Asia has the experience of having iconic technological associations with some of the worlds top ladder brands like the famous American brand Werner and the German brand Zarges. Apart from these, Sagar Asia is also associated with Canadian brand Featherlite Ladders and German brand Halio Wrek. So, the team is well-acquainted with world-class techniques of safe and efficient ladder manufacturing.

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Team Sagar Asia believes- Every step is a safe step.

That is why, all the ladders are rigorously tested to ensure that they meet or exceed industry parameters for safety and stability. Due to these, all of the products are highly durable and have high strength & load-bearing capacity. In addition to all this, these items are free from defects and aim to provide Zero-Accident work in any Height Environment.

Sagar Asia is the only Indian company that manufactures high-quality ladders with American Safety Certifications or ANSI and European Safety Certifications. The company takes pride in these Global Safety Certifications for making safe ladders.

Besides, the brand is also into making wind tower internals, aircraft and helicopter docking systems. Their pro-access product range includes industrial platforms, special-purpose ladders, mobile scaffolding towers, etc. In their aviation service, they provide complete docking system solutions along with fuelling access systems, mobile access, Giraffe stands, APU Access Stands, Ground Support Equipment, Nose Platforms, PAX, CARGo Stands, Engine Cowling and Wheel Well etc. Moreover, their wind services offer ladder systems, service lifts, fall arrest systems and complete service and support assistance.

Talking about installation service and support, the company hires professionals in this field to offer the best assistance possible in using ladders. Designing as per the requirement of the workplace is a difficult process. At Sagar Asia, the professionals have always found a method to overcome this obstacle by including two qualities in designs: the highest level of safety, and the capacity to tailor the solution to the user's needs. So, while taking care of the system and its uptime, they skilfully assist you in setting up the access systems at your workplace by concentrating on your business.

The company is focussed on ensuring quality which is the key to customer satisfaction. That's why, the highest-quality materials, best manufacturing methods of production and a hand-picked dedicated team of professionals are behind every product of Sagar asia.

Sagar Asia is the only company that has its own aluminium extrusion facility. This capability enables Sagar Asia to become one of the best ladder manufacturers in India making ladders with first-grade quality aluminium.

Based in Secunderabad, Telangana, India, Sagar Asia Private Limited was formally founded in 2007. Since then, the company has become one of the leading providers of folding aluminium ladders, FRP Ladders, scaffoldings and other work platforms. With great fortune, they are moving towards signing MOUs with some of the worlds top companies.

Sagar Asia is committed to creating quality-assured products for our patrons and customers. Based on their expertise and remarkable track record, they can be a great choice for taking distributorship and flourishing together. Collaborators can join Sagar Asia, and become channel partners to reach higher.

Sagar Asia: https://www.sagarasia.com/

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Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) Ahead of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature, legislators of the Opposition Congress on Monday shouted slogans against the state government, accusing it of indulging in corruption.

The legislators, led by former minister Yashomati Thakur and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, assembled on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan and raised slogans against the government.

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From the Shiv Sena (UBT), only Ambadas Danve, who is the leader of opposition in the state Legislative Council, was present during the protest.

No legislator from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP camp was present during the protest.

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The Opposition camp including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) on Sunday boycotted the customary tea party hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session. Danve told reporters on Sunday that they 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," he said.

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.

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New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The equi-percentile method employed for the normalisation of scores in CUET-UG has been in use for decades globally and it is a fair mechanism where luck plays no role, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said on Monday.

Results for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG, the gateway for undergraduate admissions in over 200 universities, were announced on Saturday. Some candidates have been complaining about their scores being brought down due to normalisation.

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"First, we must remember that we were required to conduct CUET in multiple shifts in a given subject due to the large number of students participating in the test. For example, if the test is in economics, NTA experts prepare multiple economics papers for use in different shifts. Despite our best efforts, the difficulty level of each paper will slightly differ from the other. Therefore, one needs to use normalised scores instead of scores obtained by a student," Kumar said.

"For this purpose, we use a scientific method called the equi-percentile method for normalizing the difficulty level across different shifts. In the process, the normalized scores for some students will be less than the obtained score; for others, it may increase.

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"This method has been in vogue for decades globally and is a statistical procedure for establishing correspondence between scores on different tests. Therefore, there is no luck or unfairness. Students need not worry about it," he added.

The CUET-UG is the second-largest entrance exam in the country in terms of the number of applicants. In its first edition, 12.5 lakh students had registered for the exam and 9.9 lakh submitted applications.

This year the exam was conducted in nine phases between May 21 and July 5 and unlike last year, it was held in three shifts.

In the equi-percentile method, the percentile for each candidate is calculated using the raw marks of the candidate as compared to the raw marks of others in the same session.

This is done for every session across multiple days for the same subject. These percentiles are then equated and converted into normalised marks. Sessions with smaller number of candidates are clubbed with bigger sessions.

"In which session they have appeared in a given subject making their performance comparable across sessions. These normalised marks of the candidates, obtained using equipercentile method, in different sessions in a given subject can be used in the same way we use the raw marks of a conventional single session examination.

"Therefore, in a particular university, if the raw marks of the skill component has certain weightage it can be added to the remaining weightage of the normalized marks to prepare the rank list," Kumar 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 [India], July 17 (ANI): Delhi Police filed a charge sheet in Patiala House Court against gangster Deepak Boxer in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

This charge sheet has been filed by the special cell of Delhi Police under sections of MCOCA on July 13.

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It is alleged that Deepak Boxer is a member of a crime syndicate of the Jitender alias Gogi gang.

In this case, 15 other accused are in custody and a charge sheet has already been filed.

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The court has recently refused to extend the period of investigation related to Deepak Boxer. Thereafter the police filed the charge sheet against Deepak Boxer. This is a supplementary charge sheet in this case.

He was absconded in this case and arrested on April 15, 2023, after deportation from Mexico in April of this year.

Special judge Shailender Malik put up the charge sheet against Deepak Pahal alias Boxer for consideration on July 28, 2023.

The Court had refused to extend the period of investigation beyond 90 days in a case against Deepak Boxer.

The court had said that it is expected in the law that investigating agency would carry out the investigation earnestly without unnecessary delay. Such exercise cannot be taken as a mere formality as it involves the valuable right of liberty of the accused involved.

Special judge Shailender Malik on July 11 refused to extend the period of investigation.

He referred to the related provisions of MCOCA and said "Provision has been made to meet those situations where despite making sincere efforts, the nature of the case, facts and evidence is such that investigation is not possible to complete in 90 days."

"In the present case however first of all report of Public Prosecutor is completely silent about the specific reasons for which judicial detention of the accused is sought to be extended," Special Judge Malik pointed out.

The special judge had merely mentioned that certain steps taken in the investigation have been left to be incomplete like a certified copy of criminal cases in which the accused Deepak Boxer is involved, could not be collected, details of Income Tax, his properties etc. could not be collected, cannot be a legal reason for the extension of judicial detention of accused.

"Court of law would not act merely on the dictation of investigating agency," the judge said in the order passed on July 11.

The court also directed to send the Copy of the order to Pramod Kumar Kushwaha, Addl. C.P, as well as to H.G.S. Dhaliwal, Special C.P. (Special Cell).

The extension of the investigation period was sought on the ground that a Certified copy of several cases registered against the accused is being collected. Application for obtaining certificate copies has already been applied in different courts.

Details from the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, regarding the PAN card, and ITRs of the last 10 years of accused Deepak Pahal are still awaited.

Addl. PP filed a report in terms of section 21(2)(b) of the MCOC Act seeking for further extension of judicial detention of the accused from 90 days to 150 days. Deepak Pahal alias Boxer was earlier declared proclaimed offender on December 9, 2020, in this case, said the report.

Subsequently, he was arrested in another FIR of PS Special Cell. Since said accused Deepak Pahal was also wanted in the present case, he was formally arrested in this case on April 15, 2023, it added.

It was further stated that since 90 days period of judicial detention of the said accused is coming to an end on or before July 14, 2023.

ACP Lalit Mohan Negi appeared through Video Conferencing as well as Addl. PP for the State had submitted that although the investigation is almost complete, however certain aspects of the investigation are incomplete, therefore present application has been moved.

On the other hand, Advocate Virender Mual, Counsel for the accused, vehemently opposed the application. He submitted that the grounds taken in the application are very vague and not sustainable in law.

He also submitted that no Plausible reasons were given in the application. He argued that the valuable right of the accused getting bail would be frustrated. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, July 17: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Ponmudi's residences, the officials said. According to the local police, the ED carried out searches at Ponmudi's homes in Chennai and Viluppuram. ED Raids BYJUs Office: No FEMA Violations Found So Far After Enforcement Directorate Searches at BYJUS Premises in Bengaluru.

Earlier in June, hours, after minister V Senthil Balaji was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi, termed it a "revengeful act" and claimed that the Centre was doing wrong against states where there is a non-BJP government. ED Raids in Karnataka: Enforcement Directorate Searches Five Locations in Bengaluru, Mandya in Ponzi Scheme Fraud Case.

ED Raids in Tamil Nadu

#WATCH | Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials search Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi's residence in Villupuram district. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/H9bLkYPk7F  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

The Enforcement Directorate took Senthil into custody in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

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Gandhinagar, Jul 17 (PTI) United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on Monday said the US and India are among the closest partners in the world and her country appreciates India's leadership during its G20 presidency.

Yellen and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday addressed the media ahead of the India-US dialogue as part of the G20 meetings currently underway here in Gujarat.

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"We highly value our bilateral relationship with India. The US and India are among the closest partners in the world. The US appreciates India's leadership during its G20 presidency," Yellen said in a statement.

On the occasion, Sitharaman said, "PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US last month and his meeting with the US president have enhanced the strength and dynamism of partnership between both the countries."

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The historic visit paved the way for new avenues of collaboration, propelling our partnership to a greater height, Sitharaman said in her statement.

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Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 17 (ANI): An infiltration bid by terrorists was foiled along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir wherein one terrorist was gunned down by the forces, the government official said on Monday.

The operation by the Indian Army and J-K police also led to the seizure of a large consignment of arms and ammunition.

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In a joint operation by alert troops of Indian Army and Jammu Kashmir Police a major infiltration bid was eliminated on the night of 16-17 July 23 in Krishna Ghati Sector in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch, the officials said.

The officials further said that the movement of terrorists was observed near the Poonch River moving from across the Line of Control.

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In the early hours of the morning contact was established which led to a heavy volume of fire being exchanged. In the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were hit. One of the terrorists fell on the spot while the other terrorist was observed falling in the Poonch River, it added.

Later, during the search operation body of one terrorist has been recovered from the site.

Major war-like stores recovered, include one AK 74 rifle with magazine, eleven rounds and other stores for sustenance, it added. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): Members of the Jain community held a protest march at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Monday demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the murder of Karnataka Jain monk Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj.

Earlier this month, police found the chopped body parts of the Jain monk in Hirekodi village of the Belagavi district in Karnataka.

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While BJP is demanding CBI probe in the case, the ruling Congress in the state has rejected it.

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge had said that the murder case of the Jain monk appears to be the "fallout of a personal feud", vowing to take strict action against criminals.

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"The community (Jain) is with the Government, they know that there has been no malicious intent on the part of the state government and this seems to be a personal feud rather than a community issue," Kharge had told reporters in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said there is no need for a CBI probe while claiming that a few arrests have been made in the case.

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi had termed the murder as "highly condemnable."

The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party has constituted two fact-finding teams to look into the alleged murder of a Jain monk and a Yuva Brigade member in Belgaum and Mysuru districts respectively.

As per the official statement by the party's state General Secretary Ashwath Narayan, out of two teams, one will be led by BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel consisting of 11 members, and the other with 10 members will be led by National General Secretary C T Ravi. (ANI)

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 17 (ANI): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth Reddy on Monday hit out at Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Telangana Minister Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao and accused KCR of running a 30 per cent commission government.

Addressing the media at Gandhi Bhavan, the TPCC chief said, "If KTR tells me which Rythu Vedika he will come to, I will come there, whether it is in Sircilla, Chintamadaka or Gajwel. Let's debate on 24-hour electricity with evidence. KTPS, Yadadri and Bhadradri thermal projects have been invited for a tender of Rs 45,730 crores. 30 per cent of it was taken as a commission by KCR. This is a 30 per cent commission government and KCR is a thief who looted Rs 15,000 crores in tenders."

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He said, "The government is using free electricity for its corruption. The construction of thermal power plants has been brought to the fore for KCR's corruption, ignoring the central government's promise to provide electricity at a low price. Congress increased the power generation capacity beyond the requirement by encouraging the public and private sectors in the country."

"The Congress party has provided electricity to 1 lakh 5 thousand villages in the country. Corruption is being done under the pretext of solving the power deficit in Telangana through the construction of thermal power projects," he added.

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Attacking KCR over the construction of thermal plants, TPCC Chief said, "There is corruption going on under the guise of the construction of thermal plants. BHEL does only electrical work and does not do civil work in the construction of plants. KCR is handing over such civil works to his followers. KCR has put BHEL in the forefront because people would question him about corruption. We demand to reveal the costs of projects and companies to which works are delegated from BHEL." (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Amid the online gaming industry raising concerns over the levy of 28 per cent GST, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said the government may request the GST Council to consider the facts of new regulatory framework for the industry.

The minister also mentioned that it took three years for the Council to reach a decision on online gaming.

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Online gaming players have expressed disappointment with the decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council to levy a 28 per cent tax on online games involving real money.

The Minister of State for Electronics and IT during a CNN-News 18 Townhall programme said that the GST Council is not the government of India but it is truly a federal organisation representing state governments and the centre.

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"We have to also recognize that the process of creating a regulatory framework for online gaming only started in January 2023. We are only in the early stages of creating a predictable, sustainable permissible online gaming framework. So, we will do that and we will go back to the GST Council and maybe request their consideration on the facts of the new regulatory framework," Chandrasekhar said.

Government levies GST based on recommendations of the GST Council. Online gaming players have shared that levying 28 per cent GST on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) or the platform fee results in around 1,000 per cent increase in tax on the industry and cause irreversible damage to the USD 2.5 billion investments in the Indian online gaming startup ecosystem.

A group of 127 online gaming players, including All India Gaming Federation, WnZo, E-Gaming Federation, Games 24X7 etc in an open letter has said that over 1 lakh direct jobs have been created by them till date with the expectation that over 5 lakh direct and indirect jobs would be created by the sector by 2025.

However, the industry will have to consider massive layoffs in the aftermath of the decision on GST valuation which will have a direct impact on our youth and massive engineering talent.

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The nationwide movement that started in Artsakh Republic will also take place in the Republic of Armenia as of today.

July 17, 2023, 10:12 Artsakh State Minister calls on Armenia to join the popular movement as well

STEPANAKERT, JULY 17, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artsakh Republic State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan on Monday wrote about this on Facebook.

"From 11:00 in the morning, awareness actions regarding the situation in Artsakh will be organized under the coordination of the Artsakh representation in the RA and the operative headquarters of the Artsakh government. I call on everyone to join the movement and participate in the planned events.
New Delhi, July 17: The Supreme Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari in an evacuee property case. A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on his plea challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court.

The high court on April 13 had dismissed Umar's plea seeking anticipatory bail.It had also dismissed a plea of Mukhtar Ansari's other son Abbas Ansari, an SBSP MLA, seeking quashing of the charge sheet in the same case. It passed the orders on two petitions moved independently by the two brothers. Mukhtar Ansari Convicted in Awadhesh Rai Murder Case: Special Court Convicts Jailed Gangster in 32-Year-Old Case.

It was pleaded on behalf of the Ansari brothers that mutation of the property was in the name of their forefathers before their birth and hence, no offence was made out against them. The state counsel had opposed the plea, arguing that the duo was also accused of forging the signature of their grandmother and hence, a clear offence was made out against them.

The FIR in the case was lodged by revenue officer Surjan Lal at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on August 27, 2020. It was alleged in the FIR that Mukhtar and his sons had usurped evacuee property by forging documents. Mukhtar Ansari Convicted in Awadhesh Rai Murder Case: Varanasi Court Convicts Jailed Mafia Don for Killing Congress Leader.

The term evacuee property is used to refer to a property left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan during Partition. These are generally allotted to those who migrated to India from Pakistan during that time.

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Lucknow, July 17: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday lashed out at the previous government at the centre, calling it a victim of indecision. The government was suffering from indecision and corruption had become so rampant that it had created distrust in the general public, UP CM said.

The CM was speaking after the inauguration of two national highway projects worth Rs 3300 Crore in Lucknow. Drawing a comparison between India before 2014 and India after 2014, Adityanath stated, India's infrastructure was in poor shape prior to 2014; whereas today, India is becoming self-reliant in every field, be it internal security or infrastructure. Greek Wildfires Near Athens Prompt Evacuations.

He further said that the change in the country after BJP-led NDA formed the government at the centre is noticeable. There is a noticeable difference. India's infrastructure was in poor shape prior to 2014; the four-lane, six-lane, and eight-lane roads built during the time of revered Atal ji were doing well, but no new projects were in progress, he added. Haryana Shocker: 18-Month-Old Girl Thrown in Canal by Father, Saved by 'Kanwariya' in Jyotisar.

The Chief Minister emphasised that if the infrastructure is poor, the development will not occur, and if development does not occur, people will not have jobs.

In the last nine years, you must have seen that India is becoming self-reliant in the field of security. Today the enemy cannot look at India with evil intentions. The Defence Corridor of Lucknow is realizing the vision of Make in India in Uttar Pradesh itself. When the BrahMos missile will be made in the node, no enemy will be able to cast an evil eye on the country, Yogi said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Union Minister Kaushal Kishore remained present during the occasion.

The Chief Minister highlighted that India is becoming self-reliant in every field, be it internal security or infrastructure. The CM said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always says that there is no alternative to development. Only development can give a new direction to the youth of the country and Uttar Pradesh.

Before 2014, farmers in the country were victims of exploitation. They could not get fair price for their produce. Today, the transparent system has brought about massive change in the lives of the farmers. There has been a radical change in the market system. Due to this, the farmers income has increased. Farmers are getting their compensation on time. With the construction of Kisan Path, the movement of the people of Lucknow will be easy, the UP CM said.

In the programme, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated four lane elevated corridor at Madian and IIM crossing of Lucknow-Sitapur National Highway section and four lanes from Naviganj to Mitrasenpur of Aligarh-Kanpur section.

Along with this, they inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 164 development projects worth Rs 475 crore for Lucknow.

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New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Amid a receding trend, the water level of the Yamuna in Delhi rose slightly to 205.58 metres on Monday morning from 205.52 metres the night before.

The water level of Yamuna, which breached the previous record of 207.49 metres last week and crossed 208 metres on July 12, was still flowing above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the water has started receding and people will soon be able to go back to their homes from relief camps.

"We have to help them get their life back to normal. I appeal to all people to help them. This is a work of virtue," he said in a tweet.

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Delhi Minister Atishi said the road behind Red Fort, which was inundated, has been cleared by the Public Works Department (PWD) and it would be open for commuters soon.

Chief Minister Kejriwal also thanked the PWD, Delhi Jal Board, Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, and all other officers for their cooperation in the relief and rescue effort.

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New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked the concerned lawyers to find out if the FIRs lodged into the incidents of violence that occurred in West Bengal during Ram Navami processions overlap with one another.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud sought to know about the FIRs overlapping when it came to know that there were six FIRs and asked whether they are related to the same incident or not.

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The court, which was hearing West Bengal government plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incidents of violence that took place in the state during Ram Navami celebration, adjourned the matter for further hearing on Friday.

The top court said that this exercise has to be completed and asked the lawyer to sit with the solicitor general, prepare a note and give it to the bench.

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During the hearing the court sought to know from the respondent lawyer whether prima facie a scheduled offence was committed during the incidents as NIA deal with scheduled offence.

Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for respondent Suvendu Adhikari, has apprised the court that there were incidents of hurling of bombs and explosives during religious ceremonies and due to this HC has handed over the probe to NIA.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi apprised the bench that FIRs were registered immediately in connection with violence on the religious ceremonies and after a day of lodging of th the FIR and he raised question on Public Interest Litigation filed by a BJP leader a day after the incident.

The court was hearing West Bengal government plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incidents of violence that took place in the state during Ram Navami celebration.

Violence had broken out in Howrah and Dalkhola districts and other parts of West Bengal during Ram Navami celebrations.

Calcutta HC in April transferred the probe into the matter to NIA. Calcutta High Court has passed this order while hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) India's top oil firm IOC has signed deals to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from UAE's Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Co Ltd and TotalEnergies of France on a long-term basis.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) signed the deals during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France and the UAE last week.

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A "Head of Agreement (HoA) (was signed) between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and TotalEnergies Gas and Power Ltd (TotalEnergies) to establish a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement (SPA)," according to the list of agreements put out by the Ministry of External Affairs.

IOC signed a deal to import 1.2 million tonnes per annum of LNG from Adnoc-LNG for 14 years starting in 2026. The deal with TotalEnergies is for the import of 0.8 million tonnes a year of LNG for 10 years starting in 2026.

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This is the first long-term deal TotalEnergies has signed with an Indian company. Also, this is the first time an Indian company has signed a long-term LNG import deal with Adnoc.

TotalEnergies is the third largest LNG supplier in the world and would be supplying LNG to IOC from their diversified portfolio across the world.

IOC is sewing new deals in line with the government goal of increasing the share of natural gas in the energy basket to 15 per cent by 2030 from the current 6.2 per cent.

Long Term LNG contracts play an important role in balancing out the inherent volatility of spot LNG market and thus make it an affordable and reliable LNG supply.

These agreements would not only diversify the supply source of LNG for IOC but also would help in meeting the growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable fuel sources, an official said.

ADNOC LNG is the national oil and gas company of the Abu Dhabi government and is the oldest supplier of natural gas from the Middle East.

India and UAE have a CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) with UAE Govt which provides for zero customs duty to be applied on LNG imports from UAE against an applicable customs duty of 2.5 per cent plus surcharge, the official added.

LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to minus 162 degress Celcius, changing it from a gas into a liquid that is 1/600th of its original volume. This allows it to be shipped in specially designed LNG vessels.

India has seven LNG import facilities on the east and west coasts. IOC operates a 5 million tonne a year import terminal at Ennore in Tamil Nadu.

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Mexico City, Jul 17 (AP) Another journalist was killed in Mexico, adding to a growing list of reporters who have lost their lives amid an intensifying drug war in the country, authorities and a press freedom organisation said.

Nelson Matus was shot to death on the fringes of Acapulco in southwestern Mexico on Saturday, officials and Article 19 confirmed.

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Matus had been the director of a local news organisation, Lo Real de Guerrero, which covered the intensifying violence in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

He had already survived an assassination attempt in 2019, according to Article 19. Local authorities said they were investigating the killing.

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Matus' death comes just a week after the grisly killing of another journalist in western Mexico, something the Committee to Protect Journalists said underscores the crisis of deadly violence and impunity that continues to plague the Mexican press.

The death illustrates a concerning uptick in the murders of reporters in Mexico and the toll the country's intensifying drug war has taken on local newsrooms, which often report more microscopically on the violence. Matus' newsroom is no exception.

For years, the seaside city of Acapulco was largely known for its beach resorts, but it has increasingly become a hub for narco violence. On the same day Matus was reported killed, the news organisation published a story about authorities finding a dead body in a bag near a tourist beach in the city.

In the past five years alone, CPJ documented the killings of at least 52 journalists in Mexico. Last year, Mexico was one of the deadliest places in the world for journalists, second only to Ukraine.

On Saturday, Matus' news organization mourned his death on social media, saying we extend our condolences to his family and join together in prayer for his eternal rest. (AP)

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Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 17 (ANI): US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday said that Washington appreciates India's leadership during its G20 Presidency and New Delhi's demonstrated leadership on debt issues.

Yellen said, as the world is looking forward to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics, both countries would take significant, concrete steps forward in meetings ahead.

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"The United States has appreciated Indias leadership during its G20 presidency, and we will continue our close cooperation. The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries. I am hopeful we can take significant concrete steps forward in our meetings," Yellen said while addressing a press conference earlier today in Gandhinagar.

The US Treasury Secretary delivered the remarks after a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today.

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Speaking on the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB), Yellen said, "I appreciate Indias demonstrated leadership on debt issues as G20 president, including your support for G20 efforts to improve the multilateral debt restructuring process. I also welcome Indias focus on advancing the evolution of the multilateral development banks, or MDBs," adding that it is very important to use meetings like this to strengthen the coalition of shareholders that are working to bring reforms with respect to the MDBs vision.

"We estimate that the MDBs as a system could unlock USD 200 billion over the next decade just from the measures already being implemented or under deliberation as part of this process.The recently released G20 MDB Experts Group report is one recent useful input to this work, though we must only explore capital increases after the reforms in these areas have progressed further," Yellen continued.

Moreover, she also spoke on Ajay Banga's candidacy to lead World Bank and voiced her support for it.

"We believe that he is providing the right leadership to deliver on these critical reforms.It is also important to address the immediate need to boost the Banks concessional lending capacity for global challenges and support low-income countries to supplement ongoing efforts. Indian partnership in this effort will be a key to its success," Yellen said at the press conference in Gandhinagar today.

On US-India collaboration, the US Treasury Secretary noted that the partnership between the two nations spans a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration, strengthening supply chains, and catalyzing the clean energy transition.

"Beyond our cooperation at the G20, we highly value our bilateral relationship with India. As illustrated by Prime Minister Modis recent State Visit to Washington, the United States and India are among the closest partners in the world. And Ive been proud to help lead our work on that relationship," she added. (ANI)

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Tunis, Jul 17 (AP) European leaders and Tunisia's president announced progress in the building of hoped-for closer economic and trade relations and on measures to combat the often-lethal smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.

The leaders of Italy, the Netherlands, and the European Commission made their second visit to Tunis in just over a month. They expressed hope that a memorandum newly signed with Tunisia during the trip would pave the way for a comprehensive partnership.

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On their last visit in June, the leaders held out the promise of more than 1 billion euros in financial aid to rescue Tunisia's teetering economy and better police its borders, in an effort to restore stability to the North African country and to stem migration from its shores to Europe.

This time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte didn't detail the full monetary value of EU aid on offer to Tunisia, in statements they made after talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied.

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But von der Leyen said the latest trip secured agreement on "a comprehensive package of measures that we will now put into practice swiftly.

Saied, speaking through an interpreter, said that he expects the memorandum to be followed by a set of binding agreements  suggesting more negotiating work ahead.

Tunisia intends to implement the memorandum in the nearest time possible, he said.

Specific aid that von der Leyen announced included a 10-million euro programme to boost exchanges of students and 65 million euros in EU funding to modernise Tunisian schools.

On migration, Von der Leyen said: We need effective cooperation more than ever.

The EU will work with Tunisia on an anti-smuggling partnership, will increase coordination in search and rescue operations and both sides also agreed to cooperate on border management, she said. Von der Leyen pledged 100 million euros for those efforts  a figure she had already announced on the leaders' previous visit.

Tunisia has faced an international outcry over the plight of hundreds of migrants who were deported to inhospitable desert areas on the Libya and Algeria borders. On the Tunisia-Algeria border, local reports have said as many as 30 migrants died.

Saied, however, insisted migrants are well treated.

The Tunisian people have provided these migrants with everything possible, with unlimited generosity, while many organisations, supposed to play their humanitarian role, only manifested themselves in press releases," he said.

Rutte described the new memorandum as the "promising start of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the EU and Tunisia that will aim to boost economic growth.

He said that EU member countries now have to approve the deal, adding: I'm very confident that there will be broad support. (AP)

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New York [US], July 17 (ANI): The Indian consulate in New York on Monday held a repatriation ceremony for 105 trafficked antiquities handed over by the US. The antiquities will soon be transported to India, according to a release issued by the Consulate General of India in New York.

The development comes follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US in June 2023.

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Indian Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu while speaking on the occasion, thanked the US side, in particular Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit and the Homeland Security Investigation team for their stellar cooperation and support.

He further noted that for the people of India, these were not just pieces of art but part of their living heritage and culture.

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Sandhu on Monday tweeted: "105 Indian antiquities to return home! Delighted to attend a ceremony in #NewYork this morning, marking the restitution of artefacts following PM @narendramodis State Visit. Appreciate the cooperation extended in protection & exchange of cultural property."

The repatriation ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and the Homeland Security Investigation team, as per the official release.

During PM Modi's state visit, India, the US, agreed to work on a Cultural Property Agreement that would help prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts. Such an understanding will add further value to the dynamic bilateral collaboration between Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies of the two countries.

The 105 artefacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India, with 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, six from Northern India and three from Western India.

The artefacts which span from 2nd-3rd century CE to 18th-19th century CE, are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood. Around 50 artefacts relate to religious subjects [Hinduism, Jainism and Islam] and the rest are of cultural significance.

The Indian government has been making serious efforts to bring back stolen Indian antiquities, the living symbols of rich Indian heritage and culture, from abroad.

In recent years, there has been close cooperation between India, the US on the restitution of antiquities. During PMs 2016 visit to the US, 16 antiques were handed over by the US side.

Similarly, in 2021, the US government handed over 157 artefacts which returned to India following the visit of the PM to the US in September 2021. With these 105 antiquities, the US side has handed over a total of 278 cultural artefacts to India since 2016, as per the release.

Meanwhile, it was reported that PM Modi's first state visit to the United States has been an instant hit.

The India-US joint statement sums up the sentiments and intent of both nations by stating that "Our cooperation will serve the global good as we work through a range of multilateral and regional groupings - particularly the Quad- to contribute toward a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo- Pacific. No corner of human enterprise is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars". (ANI)

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Yaounde (Cameroon), Jul 17 (AP) Armed separatists wearing military uniforms killed 10 civilians and wounded three in an attack at a crowded intersection in Cameroon's volatile northwest, the regional governor said on Monday.

The killings took place on Sunday in Bamenda, the region's capital, according to the governor, Debben Tchoffo.

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The victims included a couple of newlyweds, he said. Eight people died at the scene and two more later in hospital.

For the past six years, the protracted armed conflict known as the Anglophone crisis has devastated communities across Cameroon's two English-speaking regions, officially called Northwest and Southwest, as armed separatists clash with government forces.

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Following a crackdown on peaceful protests in 2016, armed rebel groups mobilised and vowed to fight for the independence of the Anglophone areas, which they call Ambazonia.

Human Rights Watch estimates that as of 2022, at least 4,000 civilians have died and more than 700,000 were displaced by the violence.

The governor said the attackers behind Sunday's killings were trying "to create panic among civilians who have been collaborating with the military by reporting suspected separatists. Tchoffo said a search was underway for the attackers.

Supporters of the two sides traded accusations for the killings on social media.

A video from the scene shows bodies of those killed lying on the ground as passersby look on, many taking photos with their smartphones. Some were crying.

The Associated Press could not independently verify the authenticity of the video though Tchoffo confirmed the video was from the scene of Sunday's attack. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan will address the nation on Monday.

July 17, 2023, 13:50 Artsakh Republic President to address the nation

STEPANAKERT, JULY 17, ARTSAKHPRESS: In a statement posted on social media on July 17, the Artsakh Republic President said hed speak about the grave situation and upcoming actions amid the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation caused by the Azerbaijani blockade.

The address is expected to be televised at 22:00.
New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): Singapore thanked Prime Minister Narendra for his letter of encouragement and strong support for the third edition of the Singapore-India Hackathon.

Taking to Twitter, Singapore High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong said, "We would like to express our sincere thanks to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for his letter of encouragement and strong support for the third edition of the Singapore-India Hackathon."

Also Read | Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf President Pervaiz Elahi Approaches Lahore Court Against Detention Order.

The Singapore-India Hackathon 2023 was launched on March 13, 2023, in New Delhi by Dharmendra Pradhan, India's Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Gan Kim Yong, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry.

In a letter, PM Modi said, "1 am delighted to learn about the Singapore India Hackathon 2023 jointly organised by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, the Ministry of Education of the government of India, All India Council for Technical Education and IIT Gandhinagar. I extend my warmest greetings to participating students, startups and all other stakeholders."

Also Read | Pakistan: General Elections Likely To Be Held in November.

"First of all, I thank my good friend Lawrence Wong, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Singapore, for taking up my request to restart the Singapore India Hackathon post-COVID," he added.

PM Modi further stated that the Hackathon comes at a time when India has assumed the presidency of G20.

The mantra of the G20 Presidency  One Earth, One Family, One Future is the manifestation of the ancient Indian concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means The world is one family. The essence of this vision is to come together to build a shared future.

The Singapore India Hackathon 2023 is an initiative that encapsulates this noble thought.

In the letter, PM Modi shared the figures of startups and unicorns in India. He said that there are about 90,000 startups and 110 unicorns in India, showcasing the innovation happening at speed and scale.

"In 2016, we conceptualized the yearly Smart India Hackathon initiative which has now emerged as the world's biggest hackathon. Singapore is ranked as one of the world's most innovative nations. The strengths and skills of the people of Singapore have made it a knowledge hub," the letter read.

Bringing together the brightest young minds of Singapore and India, the Hackathon is a pioneering initiative that not only encourages innovation but also promotes cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning, PM Modi said in the letter.

"The success of earlier editions of the Singapore India Hackathon has set high benchmarks and I am sure that the current edition will exceed everyones expectations and help in building a tech-driven Asian century," PM Modi said.

"Heartiest congratulations and greetings to the participating students, startups, faculty and government representatives from Singapore and India, particularly the award winners of Singapore India Hackathon 2023. May this Hackathon generate creative ideas and tech-based innovations to build an inclusive, innovative and sustainable planet for future generations," he 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 York, Jul 17 (AP) The head of the Teamsters said he has asked the White House not to intervene if unionised 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.

Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Says His Govt Will Step Down Before Completing Tenure Next Month.

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 on 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.

Also Read | Pakistan Rains: River Sutlej in Medium Flood, Local Authorities Evacuate Over 5,000 People to Safer Places.

My neighbourhood 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 USD 16.20 an hour, according to UPS.

Last week, UPS said it will temporarily begin training non-union employees in the US to step in should there be a strike. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, July 17: During a raid at a YouTuber's home in Uttar Pradesh, the income tax officials discovered 24 lakh in cash. According to officials, Taslim, who is under investigation, has been running a YouTube channel for years and has made close to 1 crore. The family, however, refutes the accusation that the YouTuber is using unlawful tactics to get money.

According to his brother, Taslim, who resides in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, creates films on the stock market and even pays income tax on his earnings. Feroze said that his brother oversees the Trading Hub 3.0 YouTube channel. He asserted that they had already paid 4 lakh in taxes on their 1.2 crore in total YouTube income. Jake Pauls California Mansion Gets Raided by FBI As Part of an Ongoing Investigation, Officials Seize Weapons From The YouTubers House.

There is no incorrect task that we perform. The reality is that we manage our YouTube channel, which generates a respectable revenue, Taslim said, adding that this raid was the result of a meticulous scheme.

Previously, the homes and businesses of 13 well-known YouTubers and content creators in Kerala, including actress Pearle Maaney, were raided by the Income Tax (IT) division. Several districts, including Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Kasargod, were the sites of the raids.

These YouTubers make more Rs 1 crore yearly, according to IT officials, yet their tax returns do not adequately represent their revenue. According to authorities, there are also doubts regarding the sponsored promotional content that these video makers have used.

Additionally, some of the YouTubers have made unreported investments that are not declared in their tax returns. The Kochi-based IT Enforcement Wing organised the operation. Nikita Dragun Arrested in Miami Beach Hotel for Felony; YouTuber Was Walking Around the Pool Naked, Says Cops.

These YouTubers claim to have no fixed salary, and the monthly payments they receive from YouTube and other social media platforms rely on how many people see their work, according to the IT authorities. In terms of paying taxes, this has led to uncertainty.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2023 04:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Lucknow, July 17: A contractual technician employed at the Lucknow airport was found dead with his throat slit, in a mango orchard. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Ankit Yadav was the only son of a retired sub-inspector.

On July 14, he returned from a tour of Kedarnath and had gone to lodge a theft report at Sarojini Nagar police station on Sunday. Ankit, however, did not return home and his father Vijay Yadav went out to search for him. Lucknow: Two Workers Killed As Lift Falls Into Shaft at Construction Site in Sector-6.

The same evening, some villagers spotted the body and informed the police. Police recovered a bloodstained knife, mobile phone, helmet, and a purse. The identity of the victim was ascertained by his Aadhaar Card recovered from his pocket.

Police recovered Ankit's motorcycle from near the scene and later contacted his father. Vijay told police that his son had gone to lodge a theft complaint for his mobile phone. Police recovered his mobile phone from the spot. Lucknow: Advocate Gets E-Challan for Riding Motorbike Without Helmet of Stolen Bike.

SHO, Sarojini Nagar, Shailendra Giri, said: We have sent the mobile phone to the forensic lab for examination and to retrieve data stored in it. We are probing in case there is a love angle, personal enmity or any other issue that led to the murder. The body has been sent for post-mortem.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2023 09:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, July 17: The leader of breakaway group and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar sprang a third surprise in four days on Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar -- making an unscheduled call on the latter, here on Monday afternoon.

Ajit Pawar, accompanied by over two dozen MLAs, his faction's Working President Praful Patel and others suddenly trooped down to the Y. B. Chavan Centre at Nariman Point to meet Pawar Sr. Maharashtra Politics News: Ajit Pawar Faction Meets Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre, 'Met Him to Seek His Blesssing, Requested NCP Should Stay United,' Says Praful Patel (Watch Video).

The exact reason for the third meeting is not clear, though speculation is rife that it is concerned with the notices of disqualification served by the NCP on Ajit Pawar and his team of ministers. Ajit Pawar, Other Maharashtra NCP Ministers Meet Sharad Pawar in Mumbai (Watch Video).

From Sharad Pawar side, present were state NCP President Jayant Patil, National General Secretary Dr. Jitendra Awhad and other senior leaders. Today's meeting came a day after Ajit Pawar, along with his ministerial team and other leaders made a call on Sharad Pawar on Sunday afternoon, sending political circles into a tizzy.

After the Sunday meeting, Patel told mediapersons that they had gone to seek Sharad Pawar's blessings and also make unity efforts for the splintered NCP. He also admitted that though Pawar Sr. gave them a patient hearing but remained non-committal on their request.

About Monday's (July 17) meeting, Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said that the party MLAs were keen to meet and seek the blessings of Sharad Pawar. "After all, we are still in the same party," Walse-Patil said with a smile at the two meetings in two days, while his colleague Minister Dhananjay Munde said Patel and Ajit Pawar would clarify all doubts later in the day.

Earlier, last Friday, Ajit Pawar had gone to meet his ailing aunt, Pratibha Pawar where he also met Sharad Pawar and NCP Working President Supriya Sule, MP, at the latter's home.

That was his first meeting after he and his supporters left the NCP on July 1 and were sworn-in as Deputy CM and ministers on July 2, creating an earthquake in state politics.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2023 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Noida, July 17: Police here have launched an investigation after a human skeleton was recovered in a drain, officials said on Monday. The skeleton was found stuck in the bushes on the drain in Noida Sector 136 on Sunday. It was spotted by some locals and they informed the police, they said. Madhya Pradesh: Human Skeleton Found at Indore Airport Premises; Probe Underway.

"The skeleton, believed to be of a male, was removed and legal proceedings initiated. An investigation has been launched and efforts are underway to establish the identity," a police spokesperson said. Delhi Horror! Skeleton of a Woman Found in Baba Haridas Nagar in Delhi's Dwarka.

Police said a heavy flow of water in the drains due to recent rains might have brought the skeleton to the spot and it got stuck in the bushes.
New Delhi, July 17: The Supreme Court on Monday extended its interim stay on proceedings against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a case lodged against him for allegedly making objectionable remarks against the BJP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Kejriwal has moved the apex court against an order of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court which had declined to discharge him in the criminal case pending before a trial court at Sultanpur. Umar Ansari Bail Plea: Mukhtar Ansaris Son Granted Anticipatory Bail by Supreme Court in Evacuee Property Case.

In the FIR, Kejriwal has been accused of an offence under section 125 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951, which pertains to promoting enmity between classes in connection with elections.

A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh adjourned the matter after noting there was a request to defer the matter by one of the parties.

"Interim order to continue," the bench said.

Kejriwal had allegedly said, Joh Congress ko vote dega, mera maanna hoga, desh ke saath gaddari hogi.... Joh Bhajapa (BJP) ko vote dega use Khuda bhi maaf nahin karega (Those who will vote for the Congress will be betraying the nation, and God will not forgive those who will vote for the BJP)."

In his plea filed in the apex court, Kejriwal has said the petition raises some important questions of law, including whether a case under section 125 of the Act can be made out without there being any video clip or full transcript of the alleged speech made by the accused.

The plea said it has been alleged that during an election campaign on May 2, 2014 for the Lok Sabha polls, Kejriwal had uttered some sentences which amount to commission of offence under section 125 of the Act. The plea said two days after the alleged utterances by the AAP leader, a complaint was filed in the matter.

Though the said complaint alleged violation of only the Model Code of Conduct, the police instead registered the FIR on the very same day under section 125 RP Act. This was done without any independent inquiry by the police. This clearly shows the "biasness and the action taken post-haste" by the police, the plea submitted.

The plea said it is the petitioner's case that there is no proof or evidence that he had in fact made such alleged utterance and hence, the very basic foundational evidence to prosecute him is absent in the matter. It further said, merely mentioning God (Khuda) cannot amount to promoting enmity and hatred between different classes of citizens. Delhi Floods: Arvind Kejriwal-Led Govt Announces Rs 10,000 as Financial Help to Every Flood-Affected Family.

"Alleged utterance by the petitioner does not refer to any particular caste or religion and hence, by no stretch of imagination such an alleged utterance can promote the feeling of enmity or hatred amongst different classes of citizens, it said. The plea said Kejriwal had not referred to any religion or caste but only a political party and a political party cannot be considered as a class of citizens for the purposes of section 125 of the Act.
Ariana Grande was recently spotted at the Wimbledon Final 2023 without her wedding ring which fueled rumours about her and her husband Dalton Gomez. There are now reports that the two split since January and were having problems before Ariana went to the UK to film Wicked. They tried to reconcile a few months ago but failed.. According to rumours, they will now be getting divorced, but the pair still wish to remain friends. Ariana Grande Spotted Without Wedding Ring on Her Finger at Wimbledon and Pic Raises Questions About Her Marriage  Reports.

View Ariana and Dalton Update:

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have separated and are heading for divorce, according to TMZ. : https://t.co/eowy4E9vYR pic.twitter.com/1FCnHIFxXQ  Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 17, 2023

More on Ariana and Dalton

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
On 15 July officials from Brazils government, including Vice Presidentand the justice & public security minister,, tweeted their support for supreme court (STF) justice, who was allegedly accosted by right-wing Brazilian nationals in Rome the day before.

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On 14 July Foreign Ministersaid that Mexico had sent a diplomatic note to the US expressing its concern over the deployment of floating barriers along part of the Rio Grande in Texas, which forms the frontier between the two countries.

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The Kiev regime is a terrorist regime under the covert administration of Washington and London that shows all the signs of being an international organized crime group, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel on Monday, commenting on the latest Crimean Bridge attack, Tass informs.

July 17, 2023, 17:32 US, UK pulling strings behind terrorist regime in Kiev, says Russian diplomat

STEPANAKERT, JULY 17, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Today's attack on the Crimean bridge was carried out by the Kiev regime. This regime is terrorist by nature and has all the characteristics of an international organized crime group. Decisions are made by Ukrainian government and military officials with the direct participation of US and British intelligence operatives and political figures. The US and the UK [effectively] run this state-like, terrorist structure," she pointed out.
The signature of a total of 13 protocols covering a bilateral ceasefire and wider negotiations between the Colombian government and the left-wing guerrilla group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) represents fundamental progress towards peace,, the chief government negotiator, said on 14 July.

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Some studio executives are planning to wait out the SAG-AFTRA Strike until actors and writers run out of money. However, "Hellboy" actor Ron Perlman did not take this lying down and went on a viral rant where he issued a warning against that studio executive.

In a now-deleted video on Instagram, Perlman slammed an anonymous studio executive who said they had no endgame and were planning to wait the strike out until the striking writers and actors start "losing their homes."

During his expletive-laden tirade against the studios, the actor said, "There's a lot of ways to lose your house. Some of it is financial, some of it is karma, and some of it is just figuring out who the f*** said that."

According to The Daily Mail, Perlman also stated that they know which studio executive said that and where he lives. "'You wish that on people, you wish that families starve while you're making 27 f***ing million dollars a year for creating nothing. Be careful, mother******. Be really careful because that's the kind of s**t that stirs s**t up. Peace out," the 73-year-old actor said in his now-viral rant.

Ron Perlman Clarifies His 'Heated' Words Against Hollywood Executive

Perlman did raise some eyebrows with his rant and has since deleted it from Instagram. However, the rant has now sparked memes, with many showing solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikers.

In another video, Ron Perlman stated that he does not mean anybody harm. Perlman acknowledged that his expletive-laden rant had a lot of reactions and explained that the rant was his reaction as a member of the Screen Actors Guild but admitted, "I got quite heated because I was talking about a quote from one of the executives on the other side of the negations talking about how they planned to not even begin negotiating until writers and actors started losing their houses and their apartments."

READ MORE: Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville Under Fire for Demanding To Have More White Nationalists in Military

EW reported that Perlman clarified that he did not want any harm on anybody, though the actor stated, "I hope the a--hole who made that comment also doesn't wish anybody any harm, but when you start going around and saying we're not even going to bargain with these f---ing dickheads until they start f---ing bleeding and their families start bleeding... I mean, if you want to talk about some of the s--- that makes people so cynical and so pissed off with our current climate, I mean this strike is just sort of... it's a symptom of a struggle that's way bigger than the strike itself."

The actor then commented that "It's a symptom of the soullessness of corporate America and how everything has become corporatized in this country."

Why the SAG-AFTRA Strike Happened

Actors showed solidarity with the Writers Guild of America with the strike, making this the first actors' strike since 1980. According to Variety, the strike stems from the union demanding at least 2% of the revenue generated by streaming shows. However, this is only one of the reasons,

Many actors were also not happy with the studios' proposal to use AI to replicate background actors. Studios reportedly wanted to pay actors for only an extra for one day of work to scan actors and then reuse their likenesses forever.

SAG-AFTRA admits that it is not seeking to ban AI but says it "wants to make sure that any use of a performer's likeness to generate a new performance is done with compensation and consent."

READ MORE: Florida 'Openly Hostile Toward African Americans,' Warns NAACP

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Hellboy Ron Perlman is MAD at Hollywood Executive Elites /HasanAbi - intersanctum
Officials have confirmed the cancellation of a tsunami advisory that was issued in response to a magnitude 7.2 Alaska earthquake striking off the state's coast Saturday, according to CNN.

The earthquake originated approximately 55 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, at a depth of 13 miles, occurring at around 10:48 p.m. local time (2:48 a.m. ET), as reported by the US Tsunami Warning Center.

Initially, a tsunami warning was issued for parts of Alaska near the Aleutian Islands, from Unimak Pass to Kennedy Entrance.

However, it was later revised to a tsunami advisory. In the aftermath of the earthquake, a small tsunami with an elevation of up to 0.5 feet was observed in Sand Point and King Cove, Alaska.

Fortunately, there is no tsunami threat for other Pacific coasts in the United States and Canada, according to the advisory.

Coincidentally, the Alaska Volcano Observatory issued a threat notice for the Shishaldin volcano on the same day, as it emitted a plume of ash.

The observatory's social media post alerted the public to an ongoing "watch" for the Shishaldin volcano, indicating that seismic tremor magnitudes began to rise around 5 p.m. local time.

READ NEXT: NorCal Welcomes 2023 With Magnitude 5.4 Quake

8 Aftershocks Recorded Following Alaska Earthquake

Following the initial magnitude 7.2 earthquake off the coast of Alaska, there were approximately eight aftershocks reported in the same area, PBS News Hour reports.

One of these aftershocks measured 5.0 magnitude and occurred within three minutes of the original Alaska earthquake.

Residents were cautioned not to return to hazard zones without proper clearance from local emergency officials, as minor sea level changes could still occur.

The recent earthquake on Saturday occurred in a region that has witnessed several earthquakes measuring over 7 magnitudes in recent years, as the Alaska Earthquake Center shared on Twitter.

Major Alaska Earthquakes in the Recent Years

The recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the offshore Alaska Peninsula region occurred nearly three years after another significant event, the 7.8 magnitude Simeonof Earthquake in the same area.

This latest earthquake can be considered a late aftershock of the previous 7.8 magnitude event, per the Alaska Earthquake Center.

While the aftershock activity following the 7.8 earthquake has significantly diminished since its peak in the summer/fall of 2020, the Alaska Earthquake Center has observed elevated levels of seismic activity within the aftershock zone of the 7.8 magnitude event in 2023.

The source mechanism of the 7.2 earthquake aligns with the Simeonof event, indicating fault rupture along the Aleutian megathrust fault.

Another major earthquake, measuring 8.2 magnitude, occurred on July 29, 2021, northeast of the epicenter of the Simeonof Earthquake.

The rupture of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake propagated in a northeast direction, away from the rupture zone of the 7.8 magnitude event.

Alaska, the most seismically active state in the United States, experiences thousands of earthquakes yearly.

Most of these Alaska earthquakes are deep and small, imperceptible to the population. Alaska is also known for hosting the second-largest earthquake ever recorded, a magnitude 9.2 event in Prince William Sound in 1964, which caused extensive damage throughout south-central Alaska.

READ MORE: Alaska Woman Kills Best Friend for $9 Million

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 7.2 earthquake triggers tsunami warning in Alaska - From Associated Press
Monica De Leon Barba, a California woman kidnapped in Mexico last November while walking home, has been freed by her captors and has arrived in the US, according to the FBI in San Francisco, per CNN.

In a Twitter post, the FBI announced that De Leon Barba is safe and en route to the US, where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity.

De Leon Barba was released by her captors on Friday night.

Previously, the FBI had offered a reward of up to $40,000 for any information leading to the location of De Leon Barba.

The award announcement in March marked the FBI's first public acknowledgment of its investigation into the kidnapping.

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation into the captors' identity is ongoing, according to the FBI's social media post on Saturday.

FBI special agent in charge Robert K. Tripp stated in a Twitter statement that while the investigation is far from over, they can now continue working on the case with the knowledge that an innocent victim has been reunited with her family.

READ NEXT: FBI Offers $40,000 to Find Missing California Woman

California Woman's Kidnapping in Mexico

Monica de Leon Barba, a 29-year-old US citizen, was reported missing on November 29, 2022, in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, while she was walking her dog, according to SFGate.

Surveillance footage released by the FBI depicted Barba being confronted by multiple suspects before being forcibly taken inside a silver Volkswagen Jetta.

The suspects fled the scene in three vehicles, including the Jetta, a gray Dodge Charger, and a white Chevrolet Suburban, while her dog roamed freely in the street.

According to the FBI's news release, the videos indicated the involvement of at least five suspects in the kidnapping.

Authorities believed that Barba was a victim of a targeted kidnapping and being held captive against her will.

The California woman, originally from Jalisco, held US citizenship and had been spending most of her time there since June 2022, as stated by the FBI's San Francisco Field Office.

In a previous statement to SFGATE, Barba's brother, Gustavo de Leon, mentioned that her 20-year-old cousin, Gael de Leon, was also abducted in Guadalajara just hours after Barba's disappearance.

California Woman's Friends, Family Celebrate Her Return

There is a profound sense of relief for Monica De Leon Barba, her friends, and her family as she is finally safe and returning home.

Monica De Leon Barba's friend Anissa Livas expressed collective relief, stating that the next day would be happier and everyone could breathe a little easier.

Livas took a leading role in advocating for De Leon Barba's safe return, applying pressure on various officials, from local authorities to President Biden, ABC News noted.

Gustavo, De Leon Barba's brother, shared a photo on Saturday of himself and his sister on a plane, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported their family throughout the ordeal.

He mentioned that they could finally close this distressing chapter in their lives and begin the journey of healing.

While the family is not ready to speak publicly, they have permitted their friends to share their experiences.

Valerie Sherwood, another friend of De Leon Barba, expressed incredible relief after the intense and exhausting eight months, emphasizing the joy that Monica is safe and back home.

Monica De Leon Barba's friends understand that she may need space and time to process her experience. Still, they eagerly await her return while respecting her need for privacy.

READ MORE: Mexico Journalist Killed Inside His Car

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Monica De Leon, California woman abducted in Mexico, has been found - From KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco
After a decade of half-starts and stalls, a new partnership could jumpstart efforts to restore and repurpose the historic Catasauqua Iron Works property, borough officials confirmed.

Nine potential developers say they are interested in redeveloping the property, Borough Manager Glenn Eckhart said. Most conversations about the project are still in the preliminary stages, but plans from one developer have already been shown to borough council, he said.

I dont think I can tell you who they are yet, he said, what I can say is designs shared by one developer already cost more than it did for the borough to buy the property.

The borough purchased the site for $750,000 in 2013, according to reports.

A proposed timeline by Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority would see construction for a potential mixed-use development start as soon as summer 2024, said contract manager for Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority Christopher Gulotta.

Gulotta is an independent contractor serving in a directing capacity for the authority, which just resumed operations this year.

According to the rules of the partnership, Catasauqua Borough will transfer the property to Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority for a nominal price, thereby initiating the partnership. The two will then begin reviewing design proposals submitted by developers before calling for bids to sell the property.

Its the opposite process of what existing municipal laws would require for the borough to relinquish a property if it acted independently.

Additionally, under state law, the borough would also be required to sell to the highest bidder if it acted independently, but the partnership will still allow the borough to play a role in deciding which developer is selected and what sorts of development gets final approval, Gulotta said.

The redevelopment authority essentially serves as an intermediary between the borough and the developer. Final sale costs are also negotiated by the authority on the boroughs behalf. The borough could still be responsible for paying fees associated with using the partnership.

Catasauqua is currently seeking an independent assessment of the property value, Eckhart said.

The authority is working with the borough to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU), an agreement of responsibilities for the property now. The MOU details types of approved development and who would be responsible for handling environmental remediation costs at the property, which must be completed before any development can start. The MOU could be completed by late-November, Eckhart told lehighvalleylive.com.

The end goal is to see the borough recoup nearly $1.8 million in financial losses accumulated over 10 years, Eckhart said, especially after previous plans to do something at the site fell apart in June 2022.

The $650,000 deal would have seen the borough sell the Iron Works 11 acres to Bethlehem-based commercial real estate firm Dunn Twiggar Co. LLC. The firm did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

A spokesperson for the real estate firm told The Morning Call that the company had no other choice but to break off the deal, citing the borough failed to make good on promises to find funding for environmental remediation, the Allentown newspaper reported.

The borough manager claims the developer failed to request an extension and forced the borough to terminate the agreement because of the developers inability to fund the project.

The remaining 10 acres contain remnants of its industrial past as Crane Iron Works, dating to 1839, the countrys first successful commercial producer of anthracite iron.

The success of the Catasauqua Iron Works factory is considered to have been a trigger of the American Industrial Revolution, by making it possible to produce large quantities of high quality iron in a short time.

Pig iron from the Crane Iron Works was used to make rails, rods, wire, and large castings for boilers, furnaces, and other uses until shortly after World War I.

The failure by the borough and the developer to see construction at the Iron Works site has sparked some discontent among residents, Eckhart said, who still funnels calls from people who want to know what happened.

He said those residents are also calling to express their frustration about the boroughs decision to raise property taxes as much as 105% in 2023 in order to avoid defaulting on several loans and overdue bills. The borough, Eckhart said, would have otherwise been forced to declare bankruptcy and have the state take over.

They want to know why and I understand their frustration. We are being transparent. I just tell them we have to pay our bills, Eckhart said.

Eckhart became borough manager in October of 2022 after the former borough manager Steve Travers unexpectedly resigned in August.

The borough opened its municipal building, which now houses borough offices, and both the fire and police departments, on a corner of the property in 2017. In total, the project cost Catasauqua approximately $11 million to complete. The borough will pay some $500,000 per year through 2044 to pay for the project, Eckhart said.

The longer it takes for this property to get developed, the more the boroughs going to be in the hole, thats why its so important to develop it, Eckhart said. The taxpayers have been screwed.

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Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.
MORE: Although Bushkill Park was underwater, we are open this weekend, volunteers say.

Parts of Northampton County were still cleaning up Monday from flash flooding over the weekend that damaged roads, homes and Bushkill Park.

The Red Cross reported three adults and three pets were displaced by storm damage in the 6700 block of Little Creek Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township.

The people were given emergency assistance with temporary lodging, food, clothing and other items.

Two bridges on Little Creek Road were closed as of Monday morning, said Brittney Waylen, the countys deputy director of administration.

County Executive Lamont McClure and Northampton County Emergency Management Director Todd Weaver planned to drive through the county Monday to survey the damage, Waylen said.

In Washington Township, Northampton County, flooding closed the 900 block and 1600 block of Lower South Main Street. There was also damage to the Norfolk Southern rail lines along Martins Creek, township police reported.

The damage in the 900 block of Lower South Main Street severely compromised a small bridge, and that will take an extended amount of time to prepare, police said.

As the water receded out of Bushkill Park, staffers worked to clean up the resulting debris.

FirstEnergy reported 32 customers without power in Northampton County, 22 of them in Lower Mount Bethel Township, and expected power to be restored before 1 p.m. for most.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported the following road closures as of Monday morning:

Zucksville Road in Forks Township, between Bushkill Drive and Maple Avenue

South Main Street in Lower Mount Bethel and Washington Townships, between Front Street and Flickville Road

Riverside Drive in Lower Saucon Township, between Jefferson Avenue and Redington Road

Bushkill Township was asking residents to report if their property had storm-related damage by emailing tweidman@bushkilltownship.com with their name and telephone number, the affected property address, the type of damage and photos if possible.

Saucon Rail Trail News Due to dangerous conditions caused by a washout from this weekends rainfall, the Saucon Rail Trail will be closed near the Flint Hill Road crossing on the Station Avenue side. Posted by The Borough of Hellertown on Monday, July 17, 2023

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Emergency crews in suburban Philadelphia intensified their search Monday for a missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister who were swept away in a family car when torrential rains flooded a Bucks County roadway.

While the East Coast grappled with the aftermath of downpours that closed roads and rendered the water supply undrinkable in places, the West and other parts of the country contended with sizzling temperatures and unsafe air quality attributed to Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Mondays search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking including 100 search crew members and numerous drones dispatched along a creek that drains into the Delaware River, about 30 miles south of Easton. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, dad took his 4-year-old son while the mother and the grandmother grabbed the two additional children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. While father and son made it to safety, the grandmother, the mother, and the two children were swept away by the floodwaters, he said.

The childrens mother, Katie Seley, 32, was among at least five people killed in the flooding, while the grandmother survived, Upper Makefield Police said in a social media post.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday. The grandfather attended morning Mass on Monday, where the family was included in prayers.

No matter how long Ive been doing this  over and over and over, many, many years  you find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

On Monday evening, the Bucks County coroner identified four other victims of the weekends floods. They were 78-year-old Enzo Depiero, of Newtown Township; 53-year-old Susan Barnhart, of Titusville, New Jersey; 64-year-old Yuko Love, of Newtown Township; and 74-year-old Linda Depiero, of Newtown Township.

Pennsylvanias deadly flash flooding called to mind torrential rains that killed at least 25 people in New Jersey when the remnants of Hurricane Ida passed through the state in 2021. People abandoned cars along washed-out roadways as muddy waters overtook driving lanes and flooded low-lying houses.

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday and toured damaged areas Monday in Warren County.

MORE: N.J. Gov. Murphy surveys storm damage on Route 46

Gov. Phil Murphy (in blue jacket) is joined by local and state officials in Knowlton Township where homes were damaged by a mudslide caused by fierce storms.Brent Johnson/Advance Media for NJ.com

A confirmed tornado touched down Sunday morning in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, but no injuries or major property damage were reported. In New Hampshire, where some roads caved in, heavy rain postponed Sundays NASCAR race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Vermont reported no immediate safety threats following historic flooding nearly a week ago that dumped up to two months worth of rain in two days. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency received a request to provide water for almost 8,000 people for three days, which the Vermont National Guard distributed. As of Friday, emergency personnel had also delivered 1,200 gallons to Copley Hospital in Morrisville after the town issued an advisory warning people not to drink local water because of the flooding.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg planned to visit the state later Monday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

More rain is in the forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States including the Lehigh Valley awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

MORE: Air quality alert declared for Lehigh Valley as smoke lingers

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles, known as PM2.5, are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

The EPA advises keeping outdoor activities light and short when air quality indexes reach above 150 on the agencys map. On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the U.S., thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the west, temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.33 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, the National Weather Service said.

By Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press. AP writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada; and Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia contributed to this report.

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Artsakh Republic President has addressed the nation speaking about the grave situation and upcoming actions amid the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation caused by the Azerbaijani blockade.

July 17, 2023, 22:12 If the situation of the people of Artsakh does not normalize, we will resort to tougher measures. Arayik Harutyunyan

STEPANAKERT, JULY 17, ARTSAKHPRESS:We present the message below.

"Dear compatriots,

It has been more than seven months that the people of Artsakh have been fighting against the new Azerbaijani crime against humanity, the blockade. The obstacles to the movement of Artsakh citizens, vehicles and goods, the complete ban on the delivery of even humanitarian goods in the last month, the continuous disruption of gas and electricity supply, periodic military aggressions and provocations, psychological terrorism are aimed at suppressing and breaking the free will and right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh, to subjugate them by force and ultimately lead to ethnic cleansing.

The people and the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have repeatedly expressed their positions, of which I would like to highlight the following:

1. We are fighting for the realization, recognition and protection of our inalienable right to a dignified life and self-determination in our own homeland, and this right is natural and not subject to negotiation and concession.

2. In the conditions of the systemic policy of ethnic hatred and discrimination against the Armenian people prevailing in Azerbaijan, especially the Armenians of Artsakh are facing a real threat of physical destruction, which is clearly evidenced by the 2020 crimes against humanity manifested by the war and the current blockade. In such circumstances, recognizing and protecting our right to external self-determination is an indispensable means not only of managing our own destiny, but also of guaranteeing the physical existence of an entire indigenous people.

3. Considering unacceptable the 2020 war, its criminal methods and consequences, at the same time we had to take into account the new reality formed by the tripartite declaration of November 9, hoping that at least it will provide a certain stable environment for a long time for our people to live in safety and dignity in their homeland. However, during this time, we had a series of military aggressions by Azerbaijan, and two years after the end of the war, already a blockade, then a full siege, violating not only the well-known norms of international law, but also many provisions of the Tripartite Declaration, regarding the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor, the guarantees of the Russian peacekeeping troops and other aspects.

4. At the same time, we have always been open to discussing with the Azerbaijani side all the components of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the concerns of the parties, we have always shown ourselves as a constructive side, realizing our vulnerable situation, but striving to preserve our vital rights and interests. However, Azerbaijan never wanted to have a real dialogue with us, encouraged by international impunity, choosing the path of increasing oppression and subjugation.

Throughout the blockade, we hoped that various actors of the international community would lift the blockade, prevent its further deepening. However, we have heard only good words. We haven't seen the practical implementation of either the Tripartite Declaration, the orders of the UN International Court of Justice, the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, or the calls of international organizations, individual states and other actors.

The situation of the people of Artsakh has become more and more complicated.

After the exhausting blockade that has been lasting since December and the complete siege of the last month, now in Artsakh we have a great shortage of food, fuel, medicine, hygiene and other basic necessities; almost a complete suspension of agricultural work, continuous disruptions of water and communication infrastructqures, disruptions in the work of hospitals, bakeries and other vital facilities due to the lack of alternative solutions for power supply; malnutrition of children, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups; hundreds of separated families, etc., In a few days, this condition will become much more severe with all its irreversible consequences.

Dear compatriots,

Taking into account the current dire situation, I have decided to resort to an extreme measure, that is, to join the sit-in started by many citizens in Stepanakert's Revival Square from this very moment. This is an additional effort and alarm to attract international practical attention, to urge the international community to fulfill its obligations, to push the Armenian people and all our friends to active and immediate actions.

With this sit-in, we expect that Armenia, Russia, the USA, France, the European Union, the UN Security Council and other authorized bodies, as well as all other related actors, will refrain from encouraging Azerbaijan and ignoring its further aggressive and criminal actions.

Joining the sit-in that has started is an extreme step towards the fulfillment of my constitutional, civil and national obligations, in this situation I have not found another more effective option.

During these days, I will have the opportunity to communicate with all the main actors and groups of the popular movement, society in Renaissance Square, to discuss together what we need to do and to make appropriate decisions together and implement them. If within a week the situation of the people of Artsakh does not return to a more or less stable and normal state with international intervention, then after that we will resort to tougher actions both in Artsakh and outside of it.

May God protect Artsakh and the people of Artsakh,'' Artsakh Republic President, Arayik Hartyunyan said, in particular.
None of the 35 people in Laois who have had applications approved to make homes habitable are in limbo because they have not received the money due to them under a housing renovation scheme.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (worth up to 50,000) is available to eligible applicants for the refurbishment of their property into a permanent home or rental property.

A top-up grant of 20,000 is also available for derelict properties (bringing the total grant to 70,000).

Each local authority receives and reviews applications to ensure grant conditions are met.

Once approval has been granted, property owners are given 13 months to complete the works, after which the grant will be paid following a successful inspection.

So far, 75 applications have been made in Laois. Of these, 35 have been approved with five rejected. No grants have issued.

Between April and June this year, 25 of the 31 applicants have been approved by Laois County Council for support. Just two applications were refused. However, none of the applicants have got any money.

According to today's Quarter Two report - which covers the period between April 1 and June 30 - just 1,120 grant applications were submitted nationwide (597 for vacant homes, 500 for derelict homes), with a total of 506 approvals.

Nearly 1,000 seven applications were reportedly submitted between January 1 and March 31.

This is a large increase on the 801 applications submitted by interested homeowners throughout last year, 157 of which received approval, with 73 refusals.

Applications have been submitted by people from every county in Ireland.

In 2022, the majority were submitted to Cork County Council (82 applications), followed by Kerry County Council (63), with Cork County Council receiving the most applications this year (117), followed by Galway County Council (83).

Waterford City and County Council received the fewest applications in 2023 (just one), while Galway City Council received the fewest last year (three applications).
A brand-new development with an estimated construction value of 11m has been granted permission for a business park located between Naas and Newbridge.

Green Urban Logistics Development Corporation Limited sought planning permission to construct the development at Site 31 at Naas Enterprise Park, Ladytown, Naas, County Kildare.

Specifically, according to planning documents lodged with Kildare County Council (KCC), the development would take place on a site of approximately 1.89 hectares located at the corner of Lime Drive and Ladytown Business Park (this site is generally bounded by Lime Drive to the west, Ladytown Business Park to the north, agricultural lands to the east, and development at Cherry Place to the south).

The development (approx 7,817 square metres) will consist of the construction of a warehousing/industrial/logistics unit of approx 7,721sqm (overall height approx 17.3m).

This unit includes: warehousing/industrial/logistics floor space of around 7,210 sqm and ancillary office accommodation of approx 511sqm (ground and first floor level) with reception area, circulation areas, plant area, tea station, locker rooms, toilets and show facilities, the provision of 10 dock levellers, and one door on grade for loading and unloading of Heavy Goods Vehicles to the warehouse.

In addition, planning permission was sought for: the provision of 39 car parking spaces and 50 secure bicycle parking spaces; two access and egress routes to the proposed service yard and staff car park along Lime Drive; an attenuation pond at the north of the site; provision of one free-standing planted frame structure to the western corner (approx 10.3m in height) and one green wall facade to the southern corner of the proposed structure (approx. 7.5m in height); ESB Substation (approx 34sqm); a bin store & recyclable store (approx 62sqm).

Permission from KCC for all associated site development works including lighting, external plant, landscaping and engineering works, was also sought.

According to the business information website vision-net.ie, Green Urban Logistics Development Corporation Ltd was set up in 2021.

It also trades as Green Urban Logistics Devco Limited and has an address listed as 32 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, County Dublin.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Tunisian President Kais Saied and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the presidential palace in Carthage, Tunisia, July 16, 2023. TUNISIAN PRESIDENCY VIA AP

Ursula von der Leyen finally extracted an agreement from Kais Saied, the Tunisian President. On Sunday, July 16, the president of the European Commission, accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, visited Tunis for the second time. On June 11, they had promised the imminent signing of a memorandum of understanding for a "comprehensive strategic partnership" between the EU and Tunisia, which has since been slow to materialize. On Sunday, they finally secured its signature.

The announcement took Tunisia by surprise. No information had filtered out on Sunday about this new visit, nor about the content of the agreement reached between the two parties. "We learned of the signing of the agreement via Ursula von der Leyen's tweet on Sunday," lamented Romdhane Ben Amor, head of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES). "It's an agreement between a single person and the European Union."

"With the summer break approaching, the Commission president was absolutely determined to secure this agreement," said a European source in Brussels. Proof that the Commission has upped the tempo, EU member state representatives will have to meet to study the text, as Rutte mentioned during his speech. According to our sources, the latest version of the signed text had not been communicated to the member state representatives.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Europe mobilizes to help Tunisia amidst financial turmoil and migration crisis

"We have agreed on a comprehensive package of measures with Tunisia, which we will now rapidly put into practice," von der Leyen said. This wide-ranging partnership covers the economy, energy and the fight against illegal immigration. While most of the aid programs are already known and financed, two key topics are emerging: economic stability and the issue of migrants.

'Immediate budgetary support'

At a time when the country is in dire economic straits, Europe is still offering to finance the Tunisian state to the tune of 900 million as part of a wider agreement proposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But Saied is still refusing to comply with the IMF's demands, particularly with regard to fuel subsidies.

"As a transitional stage, we are ready to provide immediate budgetary support," said the von der Leyen. A 150-million package has been earmarked for this purpose. On the other hand, Brussels is asserting that "the Europeans have agreed to remove any reference to the country's necessary macroeconomic stability from the agreement, as well as any reference to the IMF agreement." Tunisian red lines.

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InvestigationThe Depardieu case 1|6. Le Monde investigated the famed actor's past and personality. His behavior toward women, long tolerated by the film world, has now earned him serious accusations and further isolated him. He has appeared in fewer films, and some of his stage shows have been canceled.

On Monday, April 10, Gerard Depardieu had an appointment with Intertalent, the artistic agency headed by the literary agent Francois Samuelson. It was no more than two kilometers from his Parisian hotel particulier on Rue du Cherche-Midi to the agent's offices on Rue Gay-Lussac, almost in a straight line along the Jardin du Luxembourg. He traveled the distance on his scooter. How many neighbors see this imposing figure every day, without daring to approach him? Weighing in at 130 kilograms beneath that strange little helmet, whose straps he never fastens, he makes even the powerful Yamaha TMax look like a simple petrolette, as they would call those flimsy 1950s mopeds in Chateauroux, his childhood town. The actor sometimes rides up the street in the wrong direction. All at once known, he is known to everyone, unattainable, linked to countless cinema memories  and out of line.

His reason for visiting Samuelson could be summed up in one short sentence: "Things are not going well for Michel Houellebecq," the writer's longtime agent warned him. After several critically acclaimed bestsellers, Houellebecq's reputation was gradually cracking under the weight of his provocations. From his blistering attacks on Islam, immigrants and feminists, to the porn film shot with his wife and broadcast without her permission, Houellebecq, who used to love controversy, could no longer stand his tarnished image.

He and Depardieu hadn't seen each other since Guillaume Nicloux's film Thalasso (Just Great, 2019), in which they play two spa-goers at a thalassotherapy in Cabourg, Normandy, but the actor is well familiar with the pain of disenchantment. He, too, went from being an idolized titan to a man whose friends had given up trying to excuse all his faults.

That day, at Intertalent, he grabbed one of his three cell phones and called Houellebecq. When the conversation ended, he immediately decided to pay him a visit. Just as he was about to go to the door and put on his helmet, Samuelson stopped him. As a matter of conscience, he wanted to make sure of one thing: "Tell me Gerard, are you aware that tomorrow an investigation will be published by [investigative website] Mediapart, in which several women accuse you of sexual violence on film shoots?" He grunted, shrugged, and then he was off again.

'Rabelaisian' behavior

For years, scandal trailed him, and for years, it did not stop him. Does he think this can keep up? That the dozens of masterpieces that made him the greatest French actor of the last 50 years can forever erase the injuries caused by his drunken motorcycle accidents, the groping of make-up artists and technical staff, the scenes of drunken violence on set requiring a doctor to quickly administer a sedative shot, the vociferous support for Vladimir Putin, and the photos showing him red-faced and grinning alongside dictators from around the world?

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LOCALS in Kilmallock have been left disappointed a giant Limerick flag hasn't been draped over King's Castle in the town with hopes of it appearing hanging by a thread.

The 40 foot by 30 foot flag first appeared in 2020 at the height of Covid when Limerick played Waterford in the Christmas All-Ireland. It has garnered local and national media attention and drew attention to the impressive 15th century four storey tower house in Kilmallock.

The flag has been hung up every year since then in the proud GAA town, albeit in mysterious circumstances last year. The Office of Public Works (OPW), which manages the castle, advised that the flag not go up due to the condition of King's Castle. However, with less than than 48 hours to go the final, up it went.

This year, Limerick Live understands that the OPW have again asked that the flag not be erected over concerns about damaging the castle. Limerick Live contacted the OPW on Thursday and sent a follow-up email on Friday but has not received an official response as of Monday afternoon.

One local, who knows the men involved in putting it up, said they are a group of the most civic-minded people imaginable.

"Last year, they had to put it up under the cover of darkness and still did a fantastic job on it with three nylon ropes. But this year they are not allowed put it up at all. I think this is such a shame and very short-sighted of the people stopping it. Why would you try and stop something positive happening?" they asked.

The local said Kilmallock is a very proud GAA town.

"When the boys started putting this flag up on our castle you would not believe the reaction it got. The image of the green and white flag showing our huge pride in the accomplishments of our men on the field was loved from Donegal to South Africa and Beijing to New York.

"Remember this emblem of pride and honour went up first in the height of the Covid epidemic when our lads played behind closed doors at Christmas. It not alone lifted the town of Kilmallock but the county and every Limerick man, woman and child in the four corners of the world.

"No one complained or said a word, only praised the flag and how magnificent it was. Unfortunately when the lads went to put it up the following year against Cork, someone did complain that the lads putting up the flag were damaging the castle. The lads have huge pride in the community and respect for all its infrastructure," said the local.

Local councillor and cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District, Mike Donegan said he was disappointed the flag hasn't been erected and will raise the matter at this Thursday's monthly meeting.

"Kilmallock is a proud GAA town with a large representation of players from the club. The flag shows our support of our All-Ireland champions and it advertises the castle. Many people have admired the castle after seeing photos," said Cllr Donegan.

He said his understanding is the OPW decided not to allow the flag to be put up following an inspection of King's Castle.

"I will be asking for a copy of the inspection report and will be calling on the OPW to carry out the repairs as soon as possible because of the danger of falling debris or stones and injuring pedestrians walking underneath the castle.

"If there is a risk it needs to be sorted urgently," said Cllr Donegan, who added that he hoped the flag could be erected in the future after the repairs were completed.

The councillor said the OPW have agreed to put up smaller flags on either side of the castle with Limerick City and County Council.
THE IRISHWheelchair Association (IWA) has highlighted what it says is the lack of accessible housing in Limerick.

Think Ahead, Think Housing is a campaign calling for people with disabilities to appeal to their local authorities for wheelchair and disability- accessible housing.

In a statement, Majella Fagan, the services manager of the Irish wheelchair commented: We know that in Limerick and across Ireland there isnt an accessible housing shortage, there is a complete absence of any wheelchair liveable housing options.

Ms Fagan added that because of this there are 1,300 young and middle-aged people with physical disabilities (nationally) who have been forced to live in nursing homes for the elderly.

The campaign aims to inform and assist people with disabilities on applying for accessible social housing.

Before 2021, it had not been possible for a disabled person to specifically include their accessibility requirements on their social housing application.

The Governments national housing strategy, Housing for All, aims to increase the supply of social housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade through 4 billion in state funding per year.

The IWA are encouraging people with disabilities to apply to be included in this plan.
AN POST has issued an apology after residents in some Limerick communities were left without post for a fortnight.

A spokesperson for the company blamed a combination of factors for the disruption in postal deliveries.

Local Patrickswell councillor and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Daniel McSweeney has criticised this, saying it's arisen from an ongoing unofficial dispute.

He said he was told by the company that this is due to changes its staff are implementing around the country.

But he added: It is extremely disappointing that the people of Patrickswell and Clarina are not receiving the service they deserve and its a matter which needs to be addressed immediately.

It's understood the issues have caused delays in other areas, including Castleconnell.

Councillor McSweeney said he's been assured by the top brass at An Post that they are doing all in their control to address the issue.

But he added he's a huge fear people may be receiving vital documents too late.

The main concern I have is that I'm aware residents are awaiting passports, medical appointments and other urgent post.

Due to the service - or lack of service - provided by An Post, residents will not receive them in a timely manner, the Fine Gael man said.

A spokesperson for An Post conceded: We have been experiencing a series of issues in this area.

There have been intermittent disruptions on some routes. We have been working hard to deal with the problem and juggling staff and resources to make sure that disruption was cut to the minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, said the spokesperson for An Post.
The value of goods imported from Great Britain to Ireland fell by 34% to 1.3 billion euro in May compared with the previous 12 months, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures.

According to the data, published on Monday, exports to Great Britain grew by 19% to 1.6 billion euro in the same time period.

The total value of exports to Great Britain is 10%, while the total value of imports from Great Britain is 11%, according to the CSO.

Director in tax at Grant Thornton Ireland Janette Maxwell said the figures indicated that the British market continues to heavily rely on the Irish market for sourcing its supplies.

The largest decrease in imports from Great Britain to Ireland was in the mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials sectors, which fell in value by 53% to 298 million euro.

The products which accounted for the largest share of exports to Great Britain in May were chemicals and related products at 700 million euro and food and live animals worth 339 million euro.

The EU accounted for 6.9 billion euro of total goods exports in May, or 42%  with 1.8 billion euro worth of goods going to Germany, 1.5 billion euro to the Netherlands and 1.3 billion euro to Belgium.

The US was the main non-EU destination, accounting for 4.2 billion euro, or 25%, of total exports in May 2023.

Irelands total value of exported goods was worth 16.7 billion euro, a decrease of 1.2 billion euro compared with May last year.

The value of imported goods was 11.6 billion euro in May  which represents a fall of 1.6 billion euro or 12% on May 2022.

When the first five months of 2023 are compared with the same period in 2022, exports of goods were down 6%, while the value of imports increased by 5%.

Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products decreased by 595 million euro to in May 2023 compared with 12 months previous, and represents 39% of total exports.
THE OPINION article that Willie ODea had published in the Sunday Independent criticising Justice Minister Helen McEntee is one that suggests finger pointing.

Whatever does a woke gallery mean, anyway? Im not sure Willie would even know, and considering that he is condemning behaviour of youths, the generational jargon seems a bit out of place.

Telling the Justice Minister what she should and shouldnt be focusing on in itself seems a bit rich.

Yes, there is a gaping hole in the police force and fewer individuals are joining the force, but An Garda Siochana have very recently piloted a media campaign to encourage young people to join.

The Justice Minister cannot physically push people into it.

Frankly, the jobs that the gardai face on a daily basis are difficult and very often, hard to stomach. Yes, they do years of training and so forth, but it is not by any means a job that every individual would be suited to.

Anti-social behaviour is a constant and inevitable part of society, in all aspects. Pointing fingers at one individual in power is what we, as Irish people, do very well.

In actuality, it is a problem which can only be solved through a united effort, and lets be real: its just as difficult to stop anti-social behaviour as it is to charge parents with a criminal conviction. Nor is it as easy to employ more gardai.
A number of intercity train services were disrupted on Monday evening after an incident at a train station in the midlands.

It is understood that the rescheduling and delayed resumption of some services was due to an incident at the Tullamore train station.

Local reports said that emergency services attended the scene.

This resulted in a number of trains returning to Athlone, with a bus service provided from there.

At approximately 10 pm on Monday night a train remained at the train station in Tullamore.

A number of train services did resume but some were delayed by between 90 and 100 minutes.

19:35 Heuston - Galway stopped in Tullamore due to an incident in the Station.

19:20 Galway - Heuston is expected to be held in Clara.

18:20 Westport - Heuston held in Clara.

Update to follow. -CL  Iarnrod Eireann (@IrishRail) July 17, 2023

Irish Rail confirmed on social media that it was preparing to have the Galway service back in operation close to 10.30pm on Monday night.

It apologised for the delay and inconvenience caused to passengers.
Tributes have been paid to two competitors who were killed during a motor rally in Co Sligo on Sunday.

The men have been named as Gene McDonald, aged 35 from Co Cavan, and Daire Maguire, aged 46 from Co Fermanagh.

The driver and co-driver were killed after their car crashed into a wall at the sixth stage of the Sligo States Rally on Sunday afternoon, shortly after 3pm.

Organisers of the event, Connacht Motor Club, halted the event and a serious incident protocol was activated.

The governing body for the sport Motorsport Ireland said it would carry out a full investigation into the double tragedy, alongside the Garda investigation.

Gardai are appealing for images or videos of the incident to be removed from social media and made available to the authorities, and asked that people refrain from sharing any images or videos of the incident on messaging apps.

Motorsport Ireland Statement issued at 10.30 on July 17th 2023 confirming the names of the competitors who tragically lost their lives in an accident on yesterdays Sligo Stages Rally pic.twitter.com/jbSppIYPE1  Motorsport Ireland (@MotorsportIRL) July 17, 2023

Motorsport Ireland has extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the two competitors.

Its sporting manager Art McCarrick said that competitor safety was at the forefront of their operations, but that fatal accidents can happen in any sport.

Its a very difficult and dark day for our sport, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

He said that they werent sure if road conditions was a factor, but said there was a full running of that stage previously without any incident as part of the third stage.

They were both experienced competitors. The driver had over 15 years experience and the co-driver had over 20 years experience. And both regular competitors in the border, midland and west region and well-respected.

Cavan Motor Club extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of its club member Mr McDonald, and to the loved ones of Mr Maguire.

Both Gene and Daire were highly regarded in the sport, and their friendly manner knew no bounds, it said.

The motorsport family will gather to support all those involved and affected by this tragedy.

May the kind souls of Gene and Daire rest eternally in peace. Til we meet again.

A Facebook page dedicated to the past pupils at Ballagh and Donagh Primary School offered its sincere condolences to Mr Maguires family.

May he rest in peace. Thinking of Eamon, Bernie, Catherine, Conor, Eamon Jnr, his wife Breda & children and the extended families. Such heartbreaking news, it said.

Retail company Cadco NI paid tribute to their colleague Mr Maguire and offered sympathies to his family.

Daire was one of lifes true gentlemen, a highly respected member of staff by both customers and colleagues and will be missed immensely by all, a statement posted to Facebook said.

On behalf of everyone at Cadco, we offer Daires wife and our colleague Breda, his children Megan and Christopher and his wider family and friends our most sincere condolences and sympathy at this difficult time.
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.

View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist)

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.

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.

View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist)

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.

View Full Image (Graphic: The Economist)

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 www.economist.com
Driven by the stupendous demand for electric scooters, Ola Electric Mobility Pvt managed to leapfrog its progress and is now in line for an initial public offering sooner than its founder previously imagined.

The Indian startup firm began selling electric scooters in late 2021. On company's IPO plans CEO of Ola Electrics, Bhavish Aggarwal, said that he was expecting four to six years of revenue for company's IPO plans/

Now I can feel that it will be much earlier. Ola Electric has grown and matured faster than I had initially planned because the market response has been very strong," the thirty-seven-year old CEO told Bloomberg in an interview.

The company is backed by major firms like SoftBank Group Corp and Tiger Global Management. Once a new entrant in the EV segment, Ola Electrics now owns 38% share in the market. It has sold more than 239,000 electric scooters since December 2021, according to data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles.

Throwing light upon the experience of buyers, Ola Electric CEO said that demand is fuelled by first-time scooter buyers. But most of Ola Electrics customers now are already fully-fledged converts.

When to expect Ola electric motorbike and car ?

Bhavish Aggarwal is planning to expand his company by unveiling a motorbike by the end of 2023 and a battery-powered car in 2024. He also warned that the timeline can be changed. The CEO of the firm is also planning to export scoters to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

Ola Cabs got as far as selecting banks for a $1 billion IPO in Mumbai, Bloomberg News reported in August 2021, but that never materialized. The company, which competes against Uber Technologies Inc., is a profitable business for us now," Aggarwal said in last weeks interview in Delhi. He didnt comment on any renewed attempts to list, nor did he mention a date for a possible Ola Electric IPO.

Tesla is for the West, Ola is for the rest

Amid the global popularity of Tesla and its entry in India, Ola electric CEO said, Tesla is for the west, Ola is for the rest. He is also building a 115-acre battery factory in southern India, pitting him against billionaire Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd. This will help him with manufacturing lithium-ion cells primarily for Ola Electric vehicles.

This will also open venues for the company to sell cars on a bigger scale and increase margins, said Aggarwal. Designing vehicles from scratch will give the company more control of quality and costs in a market where most EVs are converted from gasoline models, he said.
After witnessing the unprecedented devastation in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand caused by heavy rainfall, MakeMyTrip Foundation initiated the immediate deployment of 5 crore towards the relief efforts, the company said in an official statement.

The Foundation will work with a network of on-ground partners, government bodies, experts, NGOs, and locals to help operationalize immediate relief efforts, the statement read.

There is an urgent need to send essential resources to aid the people of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as they grapple with the extensive damages caused by the recent flooding," said Deep Kalra, Founder and Chairman, of MakeMyTrip and Trustee of MakeMyTrip Foundation.

The current situation in these mountain states is trying, and requires a collective effort by each and every one of us. Small contributions will go a long way in aiding the emergency response action and enhance the quality of lives of the local communities who play host to us when we visit their home state," Deep added.

Himachal Pradesh rainfall has created widespread destruction in the hill state, leading to cloudbursts, landslides, and floods that claimed 108 lives so far, according to the official data released last week.

Among all the affected states in North India, Himachal Pradesh remains the hardest hit, after which Union Home Minister Amit approved the advance release of the second installment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) amounting to 180.40 crore.

Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (STRF), continuously working in the Haridwar district for the rescue of people stranded in submerged houses in flooded areas of Haridwar, has rescued a pregnant woman and a small girl from Laksar town in Uttarakhand.

In Laksar of Haridwar district, SDRF reached the spot after receiving information about the health of a small girl in a house submerged due to waterlogging, and rescued the girl and took her to the hospital.
The surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has attracted fierce competition from rival automakers, presenting Tesla with its most significant challenge in the next two years.

This comes at a time when CEO Elon Musk, the world's richest man, appears to be preoccupied with a range of high-profile ventures, including social media, space travel and artificial intelligence (AI).

This conclusion is drawn from the insights provided by respondents in the recent Markets Live Pulse survey. Among the 630 global contributors to MLIV Pulse, 54% expressed concerns over the intensifying industry competition, recognizing it as a major risk for Tesla.

Also, 26% of the respondents identified Elon Musk's behavior and decision-making as a key concern for the company's shareholders.

Also ReadL Elon Musk says Twitter cash flow still negative because

Musk is just such an unpredictable person, that I would count it among one of the top risks for Tesla," Bloomberg quoted Matthew Tuttle, chief executive officer of Tuttle Capital Management, as saying in an interview.

A recent survey revealed that 67% of participants believe that Elon Musk should prioritise focusing on Tesla, with profit margins facing pressure. This cautionary sentiment emerges amid the backdrop of an astonishing 128% surge in Tesla's stock this year, driven by renewed investor interest in the technology sector and Musk's optimistic vision of a future dominated by fully autonomous vehicles.

Tesla's substantial market valuation, despite currently holding a significant lead over both established automakers and emerging startups, is largely contingent on the assumption that it can sustain its competitive edge as electric vehicles become more prevalent in the market.

As competition intensifies and EV adoption increases, the pressure to maintain dominance in the industry becomes even more critical for Tesla's continued success.

Yet Tesla rivals are picking up the pace. Just earlier in July, Chinas BYD Co. set a sales record for the second quarter and delivered 352,163 fully electric vehicles. That shows how rapidly it has gained ground on Tesla, which handed over 466,140 EVs to customers worldwide  also an all-time high.

(With Bloomberg inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
India's steel imports in June 2023 amounted to 4.84 LMT, indicating a 5.9% increase on a month-on-month basis and a 7.6% rise compared to June 2022, as per the Ministry of Steel. The official data also revealed that the share of countries such as China and Vietnam in India's steel import basket during June 2023 has increased on a year-on-year (y-o-y).

"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, China constituted 26.1% of India's steel imports, while Vietnam's share was 1%. However, by June 2023, the import share from China increased to 37.1%, and Vietnam's contribution rose to 4.8% in India's steel import portfolio. These changes are noteworthy as India aims to expand its steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes and seeks a significant position in the global steel markets.

On the other hand, India's export of finished steel declined by 27.6% compared to May 2023 and 21.3% compared to June 2022, reaching 5.02 LMT.

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 3,900/tonne in June, unchanged from its May 2023 level.

(With agency
An Indian senior-level Qualcomm employee, who joined the company just one year ago, and was laid off recently, has took to the social media site LinkedIn to share his ordeal and is seeking help in finding a new job in the US before he runs out of time granted by his H1B visa. It is important to note that the H-1B visa, which allows skilled workers from other countries to work in the US, has time constraints, so these techies are facing a race against time to find new employment.

Tushar Trehon, a former senior GPU Performance Modelling Engineer with Qualcomm, took to the business and employment-focused social media platform recently after failing to secure a new job last month.

"A little over a month ago, I was unfortunately impacted by a round of layoffs at Qualcomm," the techie wrote on his LinkedIn page. Trehon had previously worked with Microsoft in Bengaluru, as per his LinkedIn profile, and he was laid off by Qualcomm within a year of being hired.

"Being an immigrant worker on H1B I have limited time to look for a new job," Trehon added further with his appeal for information regarding openings, referrals or connections" in the semiconductor industry.

The California-based chip manufacturing company had announced layoff impacting 5% of its staff, citing the current macroeconomic and demand environment. The company noted that the cutdown on workforce was part of implementing further spending reductions and streamlining operations, while still keeping an eye on the significant growth and diversification opportunities ahead. According to reports, the company laid off around 20% of its employees from the mobile division, citing slump in smartphone sales.

Qualcomm announced layoffs after reporting a decline of 34% year-on-year (YoY) in net income in the quarter that ended in December 2022, as reported by Business Today. The company's revenue dropped 12%, which was attributed to the macroeconomic slowdown and the fall in demand for mobile handsets.

"Given the current macroeconomic and demand environment, we're implementing further spending reductions and streamlining operations without losing sight of the significant growth and diversification opportunities ahead," Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said in a statement earlier.

"This is consistent with our commitment to actively manage operating expenses, as indicated during our last earnings call. Combined with the actions we have already taken in the quarter, we expect to reduce non-GAAP operating expenses by approximately 5 percent relative to a run rate exiting fiscal '22," he further added.
The State Bank of India (SBI) has recently allowed any bank customer to use its YONO app for United Payments Interface (UPI) payments. With YONO for Every Indian, now any Bank customer will have access to UPI features like Scan and Pay, Pay by contacts, and request money, among others on YONOs new avatar. This milestone upgrade further expands SBI's commitment to providing inclusive and customer-centric digital banking services to every Indian citizen, the lender said earlier this month.

SBI allowing non-account holders to use the Yono app for making UPI payments, is a significant game changer , as there are many customers who trust a "Bank" brand more than "Tech" brands. This will drive adoption further, especially around the senior citizen demographic, where the Bank brand is essential for undertaking financial transactions. This is also a great move by the Bank towards the acquisition of non-account holders," said Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat. Any customer can now enjoy the convenience of linking any bank account and the efficiency of instant payments, fund transfers, and other UPI features via YONO app. This widens the accessibility of digital payments and promotes financial inclusion by reaching a more extensive user base. Impact on UPI apps While SBI's decision expands access to UPI, it is unlikely to pose a direct challenge to popular UPI apps. These apps have established themselves as popular choices with extensive user bases and comprehensive services beyond UPI transactions. Moreover, UPI apps provide a range of additional features such as bill payments, merchant transactions, and cashback rewards, which may continue to attract users even if they can access UPI via the YONO app,' said Anup Nayar, CEO- Domestic, In- solutions global ltd. Payment service providers may view SBI's move as a positive step toward enhancing UPI adoption and driving digital payment growth. It can stimulate competition, leading to innovation and improved services within the UPI ecosystem. Additionally, it may encourage other banks and financial institutions to follow suit, further expanding the reach of UPI-enabled services, said Anup Nayar, CEO- Domestic, In- solutions global ltd. Steps to use SBI YONO for UPI payments for non-SBI users - Download the SBI YONO mobile banking app. It is available on both Google Play Store and the App Store. - You will see an option 'New to SBI' and 'Register Now. - Non-SBI account holders can click on 'Register Now'. - On the next page, you will see an option to 'Register to Make UPI Payments'.

- Choose the SIM registered with your bank account.

- Once your number is verified, select your bank to create a UPI ID. You can either type your bank name or select it from the list.

You will get a message confirming that your registration for SBI Pay has started.

- Now, you have to create an SBI UPI handle, SBI will provide you with 3 ID options. You have to choose one.

- Once you have selected a UPI ID, you will get a message confirming that you have successfully created an SBI UPI handle.

- You have to set an MPIN to log in to your account.

- You need to set a six-digit permanent MPIN of your choice to log in to your account.

- After you set an MPIN, you can start using YONO SBI app for making UPI payments.

Since its launch in 2017, YONO, the digital face of the Bank, has emerged as one of the most trusted mobile banking apps in the country with over 6 Crore registered users.In FY23 itself, 64% or 78.60 Lakh savings accounts were acquired digitally through YONO. The upgraded version of the YONO app will empower customers of other banks to embark on the YONO journey, thereby encouraging them to become a part of the ever-growing SBI family.

With the rollout of the Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal facility, both the customers of SBI and other banks can withdraw cash seamlessly from ICCW-enabled ATMs of any bank by using the 'UPI QR Cash' functionality. The transaction will be facilitated through a single-use dynamic QR code displayed on the ATM screen. Users can conveniently withdraw cash by employing the Scan and Pay feature available on their UPI application.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sangeeta Ojha A business media enthusiast. Writes on personal finance, banking and real estate. Read more from this author
The Delhi government on Sunday said all government, aided and private recognised schools in the flood affected areas of the national capital will remain closed for students till Tuesday whereas schools in remaining districts of DoE will open Monday onwards.

Schools in all districts of Delhi will function normally from Wednesday onwards.

The government said all schools in the flood affected areas of the national capital will remain closed for students on Monday and Tuesday, as the flood relief camps are likely to continue in schools in the areas bordering the river Yamuna.

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 & South East  shall remain closed for students on 17th & 18th July 2023 (i.e. Monday & Tuesday), the statement read.

The government said heads of all schools situated in the above districts of Directorate of Education (DoE) must inform the parents to this effect today (i.e Sunday) itself. And wherever feasible, schools can arrange online classes, the statement added.

The circular further said all government, aided and private recognised schools in remaining districts of DoE will remain open Monday onwards. The head of schools in remaining seven districts of DoE are at liberty to run in physical mode or hybrid mode (i.e. either offline or online) as per the convenience of their students.

All schools (Govt., Govt. Aided & Private Recognised) in the remaining Districts of DoE (i.e. North West-B, West-A, West-B, South, South West-A, South West-B & New Delhi) shall remain open Monday (17.07.2023) onwards. 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," the circular said.

The statement directed the heads of such schools to inform the parents about their decision, well in advance.

Meanwhile, Delhi Flood Control Department said the water level in Yamuna was recorded at 206.02 metres at 8 am on Sunday against 207.58 m yesterday morning.

The situation of waterlogging in several low lying areas of Delhi, including on roads from Kashmere Gate to Majnu Ka Tila, has improved today as the water level slowly recedes, it said.

According to 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.

Notably, the Yamuna water level was recorded at 207.58 metres at 8 am on Saturday. At 9 pm on Friday, the water level of Yamuna was recorded at 208.07 metres.
Gandhinagar: Most G20 member countries believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to debt restructuring may not be feasible for all vulnerable nations, considering the differing circumstances of low- and middle-income countries, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions said on Sunday.

Theres a need for distinct debt restructuring strategy for every low- and middle- income country," the person said seeking anonymity.

In June, Zambia struck a deal to restructure a $6.3 billion debt owed to various governments, including China, raising hopes of similar deals for other vulnerable nations awaiting relief for several years. However, the person said every debt-restructuring for vulnerable countries will have to be negotiated through separate discussions.

Countries, including Chad, Ghana, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka have huge debt piles, and China has emerged as one of their largest official creditors. Response from China hasnt been encouraging so far on developing a common understanding on debt restructuring," the person said.

Separately, the G20 meetings scheduled for this week will offer a presidency guidance note on crypto as input for discussions on a new synthesis paper. The presidency guidance note on crypto will be a summary of relevant work done so far by all organizations (including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board)," the person added.

Finance ministers and central bank governors of G20 nations have been brainstorming on a common roadmap for regulating crypto currencies. One the decisions are taken, it will have a profound impact on the future of this asset class.

That apart, India is in talks with Indonesia to link the indigenously-developed Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with its fast payment system, the person said.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE) on Saturday signed agreements in Abu Dhabi to establish a framework for cross-border transactions in local currencies. Both countries have also decided to interlink payment and messaging systems.

This step will help reduce the dependence on US dollars, and promote local currencies.

A proposal has also been floated to include African Union in G20, which has been well received by everyone," the person said. Discussions at G20 meetings about the Russia-Ukraine situation has not impacted the proceedings and the progress on other agenda of member states, the person added.
Foxconn is mulling plans to set up a second iPhone manufacturing plant in Karnataka that would in turn provide 14,000 jobs. The proposal was put forward during a high-level meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and delegates of Foxconn Industrial Internet on Monday morning.

According to the state government release the iPhone assembler's new plant would require about 100 acres of land. It is likely to be set up in Tumakuru - some 70 km northwest of Bangalore. It would be used for the manufacture of manufacturing screens and outer coverings needed for phones. The new plant would serve as a supplementary plant to the end assembly unit situated at Devanahalli.

The delegates of the company will be taken to Tumakuru to examine the available land at Japan Industrial Township in Tumakuru today itself," the release added.

Government of Karnataka is exploring potential collaboration with Foxconn Industrial InternetThe partnership which holds tremendous promise for boosting industrial growth, creating huge employment opportunities and propelling Karnataka as a leader in the vertical," tweeted state I-T minister Priyank Kharge who was also in attendance.

CM Siddaramaiah and Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil, he said, had assured the representatives of a conducive environment for growth and development".

The state is ready to provide full support, offering land required to set up the manufacturing unit, in the 100 acres of land available in the Japanese Industrial Park near (the district headquarters town of) Tumakuru," tweeted Patil.

Earlier on Thursday, Karnataka officials indicated that the handover process for the mobile devices manufacturing unit at Devanahalli ITIR was in its final stages".

Foxconn is coming up in about 300 acres. They will invest USD one billion, which is 8,400 crore, and will create 50,000 employment in the first phase. The company has planned to start production at the plant by next April," the Minister had said.

(With inputs from agencies)
Himachal floods: A person has lost his life in a cloudburst in Kullu's Kias village, said DSP Headquarter Rajesh Thakur, adding that three people are injured and nine vehicles got damaged in the rain-related incident on Monday.

One dead, 3 injured and 9 vehicles damaged in a cloud burst in Kullus Kias village," said Thakur as quoted by the news agency ANI.

Himachal Pradesh rainfall has created widespread destruction in the hill state, leading to cloudbursts, landslides, and floods that claimed 108 lives so far, according to the official data released last week.

Among all the affected states in North India, Himachal Pradesh remains the hardest hit, after which Union Home Minister Amit approved the advance release of the second installment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) amounting to 180.40 crore.

A total of 11 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with rescue boats and other necessary equipment have been deployed for rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh.

Apart from this, one Column of 1 PARA SF and 205 Army Aviation Squadron has been deployed at Paonta Sahib for civil evacuation. Two MI-17V5 helicopters have been deployed for an evacuation mission."

Heavy rainfall over Himachal Pradesh is set to continue for the next couple of days, with the IMD sounding a red alert for several areas on Sunday.

OrangeAlert: HimachalPradesh and Uttarakhand likely to get heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) during July 16 and July 17," the Met department tweeted on Sunday afternoon.

Moderate to high risk of flash food over a few watersheds and neighbourhoods of Chamba, Kangra, Sirmaour, Shimla and Kullu districts till July 17," IMD Shimla added.

Heavy rainfall in north India has led to several landslides that have in turn blocked roads and left many stranded. Thousands have been rescued by NDRF teams and other disaster management personnel over the past few days as floodwaters entered low-lying areas.

(With inputs from agencies)
There is immense scope for India and Singapore to work together and prepare a future ready workforce for the entire globe, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the conclusion of the third edition of the Singapore-India Hackathon.

"Our collaboration in the field of knowledge, skill and innovation will not only benefit India but also countries in the global south who are looking towards us to lead the way," said Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday.

After his address, the minister distributed prizes to the winning teams at the event organised at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITG).

The concluding ceremony was jointly organised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Admiring Singapore's skilling philosophy, Dharmendra Pradhan said that India can learn from its philosophy of leaving no one behind in training for decent jobs and building a confident nation.

He said that India needs to work on industry relevant course curriculum and another area of priority for the country on the lines of what has been already attained by Singapore.

"There is immense scope for India and Singapore to work together to achieve mutual priority, particularly towards preparing a future ready workforce for the entire globe. Skill development and knowledge collaboration are an important element for bilateral strategic partnership," he said.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, also that country's finance minister, said the hackathon event is unique and precious as it "brings out best youths and minds to solve global challenges together".

"It is supported by the leaders of both the countries and is conceived from (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's vision. I am very happy to come to Gandhinagar for the finale event for the first time post the (COVID-19) pandemic," he said.
NEW DELHI : India and Iran plan to step up operationalizing the International North South Trade Corridor (INSTC) in a move to boost trade with Russia, according to Mohammad Miri, an advisor to the Chabahar Free Zone in Iran.

Following up on earlier agreements, a trial shipment to test trade links from Russia to India will be attempted in the next 6-8 months. The shipment will go through the strategically vital Chabahar Port, while an earlier shipment in 2022 went through the more established Bandar Abbas port.

The INSTC was conceptualised in 2001 as a new trade corridor to boost economic linkages between India, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. According a study by the Centre for Air Power Studies, an Indian think tank, numerous efforts have been made to reboot the INSTC.

A dry run was conducted in 2014 in an effort to iron out problems along the corridor. After this, a draft transit and customs agreement was agreed in 2015. This was followed by another trial run of the corridor from Russia to India in 2022. According to Miri, the previous test runs used the Bandar Abbas port in Iran to allow the goods to reach India.

The next trial run, which is currently being planned, may go through Chabahar, where India operates berths in the Shahid Behesti Terminal.

In an effort to develop this new route, Iranian officials have also proposed linking free trade zones between Chabahar and an Indian port to make trade easier.

The proposal was made by the Managing Director of the Chabahar Free Trade Zone in a meeting with Indian Ambassador to Iran Rudra Gaurav Shresth this week, said the trade zones officials in a meeting with Indian journalists in Iran.

A top level ministerial meeting is planned in January 2024 in Chabahar to push this operationalization forward. India has also hosted regional countries for Chabahar Day" meetings in the past.

The principal difficulty with pushing the INSTC forward will be the strict sanctions that have been imposed on both Iran and Russia by the West.
The eagerly-anticipated Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature is scheduled to commence in Mumbai today. Spanning three weeks, from July 17 to August 4, the session will take place at the esteemed Vidhan Bhavan Complex in Nariman Point.

This session holds particular significance as it marks the first gathering following the surprising split between former Leader of Opposition and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar and his uncle, Sharad Pawar, who serves as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo. Ajit Pawar aligned himself with the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, along with a group of NCP MLAs.

A comprehensive agenda has been prepared for the Monsoon session, featuring a total of 24 proposed bills. Notably, 10 bills have already received approval from the Cabinet while the remaining 14 await endorsement before being presented for consideration.

Among the proposed bills, one has already been passed by the Legislative Council and is now slated for introduction in the Assembly. Furthermore, another bill, currently under the purview of a joint committee from both houses, is anticipated to be tabled for discussion during the session.

In addition to the 24 bills, six existing ordinances, which are already in effect, will be presented in the monsoon session to seek the legislative body's formal endorsement. This underscores the significance of the session as a forum for lawmakers to review and provide their consent on matters pertaining to governance.

As the Monsoon Session unfolds, all eyes will be on the Maharashtra legislature as it deliberates on crucial legislative measures, addresses pertinent issues, and ensures democratic processes continue to shape the state's governance.

Earlier on July 16, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government would not misuse its current position in the State Assembly even though the numbers of the alliance have increased in the House.

On the eve of the State Assembly session, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alongside CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar held a joint press conference and 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.

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.

"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," ANI quoted him as saying.

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.

CM Shinde announced that the Opposition, as expected, would boycott the Tea program during the monsoon session. He stated that all important issues would be discussed during the session and highlighted the support of over 210 MLAs for the current government.

According to Shinde, it is important for the Opposition to question the government if any wrongdoing is observed as it is crucial for the welfare of the people. Also, he mentioned that it is the duty of the Opposition to acknowledge and commend the government for its positive actions.

(With ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
NEW DELHI : Large rice companies, traders and exporters are rushing to secure letters of credit (LCs) for future shipments, fearing that rising prices may trigger export curbs on non-basmati varieties, three people aware of the matter said.

Securing LCs will enable these entities to export rice varieties even after the announcement of a ban, as seen earlier in the case of the ban on broken-rice exports in September last year. Concerns of export curbs and the additional LCs may push up Indias overall rice exports in July.

An executive at a rice exporter said their company has opened LCs worth 10 crore so far in July, twice as much as in June. The rumour, whether true or not, has created some business-related fear among non-basmati traders and exporters. As a result, they have started issuing as many LCs as possible. So have we," the executive added.

View Full Image Graphic: Min t

Rice prices have risen 20-30% in the past three months, and about 10% over the last 20 days. Ratna rice is being sold at 35-36 a kg, Miniket variety at 45 per kg, Kolam at 53-54 a kg and Sona Masuri at 50 a kg. This has sparked worry that government may ban exports of all non-basmati rice varieties ahead of the 2024 general elections.

India, the worlds largest rice exporter with a contribution of about 40% in global trade, shipped 4.5 million tonnes (mt) of non-basmati rice in April-June, against 4.3 mt despite a 20% export duty in place since September 2022. While export curbs move may lower domestic prices, it may also impact about 80% of Indias rice exports, and drive up global prices.

Indias 25% broken rice is priced at $455 per tonne, while 5% broken rice is at $470 per tonne. Prices of same varieties offered by other leading exporters such as Thailand and Vietnam are $40-50 per tonne higher than India, said Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association. Some of Indias leading rice companies are Adani Wilmar, Daawat, KRBL Ltd, and LT Foods that are issuing more LCs.

Opening more LCs will allow us to export rice stocks lying with us even if the government imposes a ban. It is not like we must ship the quantity immediately against which LCs are issued. We can do it by next month," the executive cited earlier said.

However, industry experts do not expect a blanket ban on non-basmati rice. There is already a 20% duty on non-basmati rice, except parboiled rice, and a complete ban on broken rice exports. This means a restriction on exports," Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Rice Villa brand, said.

Non-basmati varieties like Sugandha and Sarbati, which are blended in basmati rice and exported, are produced in Punjab and Haryana. India being a major exporter in global market of basmati rice, exclusion of these varieties from its basmati rice export basket will hit India... If at all, government may put some restrictions e.g., imposing duty, restricting exports of varieties having a certain length like putting a ban on IR64, Ratna or similar varieties having length of 6.2 mm," he added.

Queries sent to Directorate General of Foreign Trade and food, agriculture and commerce ministries remained unanswered till press time.

The rise in rice price is attributed to lower stocks from last rabi season, amid less crop from West Bengal, UP, Bihar and Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh, and government increasing paddy minimum support price (MSP) 7% year-on-year.
A Pakistani mother of four, Seema Ghulam Haider, 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 neighbors for daring to defy the societal norms in this conservative Muslim country, according to PTI reports.

Seema Haider recently entered India illegally to marry her lover Sachin Meena, a resident of Greater Noida. The two had become friends while playing the online game PUBG. She and her Indian partner were arrested by the police in connection with her illegal stay in India but were granted bail by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida.

On July 4, both Sachin and Seema confessed their love for each other in front of the media and police, urging the government to allow them to get married and stay together in India.

Speaking to PTI, 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 said, She (Seema) should just send her children back to Pakistan. She can stay there. Now she is no longer even a Muslim."

"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 landlords son explained.

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."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said has it was alarmed by reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons, and asked the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay.

(With PTI inputs)
Pakistan's Seema Haider's cross border story of love has caught the attention of south Asian nations- India and Pakistan- as she navigates a way to stay back in India with her love interest, a Sachin Meena, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

Seema Ghulam Haider from Karachi in Sindh province and Sachin Meena in India got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019 and a dramatic love story unfolded between the two living more than 1,300 km apart, in countries not too friendly to each other.

Haider's husband, Ghulam Haider had earlier requested the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in sending his wife and four children back to Pakistan.

In a recent interview with a Youtuber, Ghulam Haider, who lives in Saudi Arabia, told his estranged wife, "I still love you the same and will continue to do so...please come back".

"You know very well how much I love you. If anything happens to you there, just think about what will happen to our children. Who will take responsibility? So for their sake, please come back," he said in the interview.

Ghulam also assured Seema Haider that if she fails unsafe in Pakistan, he would take her and their four children to Saudi Arabia. Talking to the Youtuber, Ghulam expressed concern for his children and their safety.

No less than a dramatic chain of events, the Seema Haider- Sachin Meena-PUBG love story has caught the attention of not just readers but also governments of India, Pakistan and their agencies.

Earlier Seema's four children were seen chanting Hindustan Zinadabad in a viral video. Reacting to the same, Ghulam defended, "They are children. They will say Pakistan Zindabad as well if you ask them to."

Ghulam, while talking to media personnel, revealed that he left his first wife for Seema and went to Saudi Arabia to earn more money for their family. As proof of his commitment, Ghulam said he would previously send 40-50 thousand a month to Seema, and later increased the allowance to 80-90 thousand, so their children could be well taken care of.

Ghulam said he gave Seema 17 lakh for a house, despite not having that much money at the time. He said that Seema desired to buy her own house.

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.

Meanwhile, Pakistans intelligence agencies have informed the government that love is the "only" factor that led a mother of four to sneak into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform.

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. Both of them were later released from jail.
A state appeals court has affirmed the convictions of the man who attempted to rob a bank in Cato and burglarized a nearby residence in 2019, the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Jason Ingleston's convictions of third-degree attempted robbery and second-degree burglary were affirmed June 30 by the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, the district attorney's office said.

Ingleston attempted to rob the Cato branch of Community Bank N.A. on Oct. 15, 2019. Wearing a motorcycle helmet, he handed a teller a note demanding money and claiming he had a gun. The teller refused, and Ingleston fled to a residence on Veley Road in Ira, where he was apprehended by New York State Police. Ingleston was in possession of the note, as well as a safe and other items stolen from the residence.

Ingleston was convicted in April 2021, and that August was sentenced to consecutively serve 2-4 years for the robbery charge and 13 years for the burglary charge, plus five years of post-release supervision.

At one point, Ingleston's sentencing was postponed because he refused to leave his cell in the Cayuga County Jail.
The Crimea Bridge, a key supply line for Russian troops in Ukraine, was damaged in an "emergency" situation which killed two people and injured a child, Russian officials said on Monday, while Ukrainian media reported blasts on the bridge.

Traffic was stopped from using the Russian-built bridge linking Russia to Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014, said Russian officials. Reuters video showed no traffic on the bridge.

The 19 km (12-mile) road and rail bridge has been a pride infrastructure project of President Vladimir Putin, who drove a Mercedes across the bridge in 2022 after it was repaired following an explosion.

Sergei Aksyonov, a Russia-installed governor, said the emergency occurred on the 145th pillar of the bridge which links the Crimean peninsula to the Russian region of Krasnodar. He did not provide any further details.

Russia's transport ministry said that there was damage to the road on the bridge closer to the Crimean Peninsula, but there was no damage to the pillars. It did not say what caused the damage.

Also read: NATO summit seeks agreement on Ukraine after Turkey supports Sweden's bid

The RBC-Ukraine news agency reported that explosions were heard on the bridge.

Russia's Grey Zone channel, a heavily followed Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported that there were two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 a.m. (0004 GMT) and 03:20 a.m.

The parents of a girl were killed and their daughter was injured in a passenger car on the bridge early on Monday, said Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia. He did not say how the people were killed.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's Odesa military administration, posted a photo on his Telegram account of what seemed to show part of the bridge broken. It was not immediately clear whether that was related to any attack.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Also read: Russia accuesd of ecocide in Ukraine. But what does that mean?

George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said on Twitter that if the bridge was seriously damaged it would significantly impact Russian supply lines.

"Russia will only have one ground supply line - the coastal highway on the Sea of Azov - to sustain (or evacuate) its tens of thousands of troops in occupied Kherson & Crimea if UKR manages to degrade/destroy the bridge," said Barros.

It was not immediately clear what the incident on the bridge would mean for the U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.

The U.N. deal is due to expire on Monday, with the last ship to travel under the deal leaving the port of Odesa early on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com.

PUTIN'S SHOWCASE

The Crimean Bridge was damaged by an explosion last October, in an attack that the Kremlin said had been orchestrated by Ukrainian security forces. Ukraine admitted only indirectly to the attack months later.

Putin's ally Arkady Rotenberg's company built the vast structure, which is Europe's longest bridge. Putin has long lauded the project, boasting at one point that Russian Tsars and Soviet leaders had dreamed of building it but never did.

The Crimean peninsula has been a major and cherished holiday destination for Russians, especially after Moscow launched its invasion on Ukraine in 2022 and travelling to the West became more difficult for many Russians.

In recent weeks, traffic jams to the entrance of the bridge went for kilometres on daily basis as Russians went on holidays.

On Monday morning the traffic jam ran for kilometres before police directed vehicles away from the bridge. Social media accounts showed cars lined up on the bridge and its entrance.

The Russian-backed administration of the Crimean peninsula urged residents not to travel via the bridge.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
As China's COVID rebound story continues to loose its sparkle lately, its economy witnessed a lower than expected growth in the second quarter. China's economy grew at 6.3% at annual pace in the April-June quarter of the current financial year.

In response to the negative news, many Chinese stocks tumbled after the release of the GDP numbers. China's GDP is expected to slow further in the coming months because of the given slack consumer demand in China and slump in demand for Chinese exports in other economies as their post-pandemic recoveries lose momentum.

The 6.3% growth in Chinas gross domestic product from April to June outpaced a 4.5% rate of growth in the previous quarter, according to government data released Monday. In quarterly terms, the economy grew 0.8% compared to the first three months of the year.

China's stocks fell after the release of GDP numbers

After the release of data, China's blue-chip CSI 300 Index fell by 1.1%, while the Shanghai Composite Index declined 1.2% by the midday recess, reported Reuters.

The Hong Kong market remained close on the day due to the approaching Typhoon Talim. The released data also indicated that China's property sales between June and May made their largest ever monthly dive this year.

Other than the blue-chip index, energy companies also tumbled by 3% while shares in banks and consumer staples lost 1.9% and 1.1%, respectively.

Chinas recovery is going from bad to worse

The still robust growth of China's economy growing just 0.4% a year earlier in April-June of 2022 amid strict lockdowns in Shanghai and other cities during COVID-19 outbreaks.

China is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, said Fu Linghui, National Bureau of Statistics spokesman. at a news conference Monday. He also maintained that China can still meet the growth target for the year of about 5%.

On the other hand, analysts are not that much optimistic about the economy. The numbers are a worrying result" for Chinas economy, which has been struggling to gain momentum, said Moodys Analytics economist Harry Murphy Cruise.

Chinas recovery is going from bad to worse," he said. He said that after some support in the opening months of 2023, the pandemic hangover is still troubling China's economy. Government spending is also likely to affect real estate and construction, but he don't expect the move to make a big difference.

Marcella Chow, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management mentions in a report that apart from more government spending, regulators can cut interest rates. The weak economic readings suggest an urgency in escalating policy support so as to stabilize expectations," Chow said.

In the first quarter, China managed to impress its investors and economists with its expected GDP results. The country grew by 4.5% in the first quarter of current financial year. The GDP number was the result of consumers who flocked to shopping malls and restaurants after nearly three years of zero-COVID" restrictions were removed in late 2022.

The government's growth target of around 5%" looks a distant dream that can only be achieved if the country maintains close to its current level of growth.

The country also witnesssed a decline in its export by 12.4% on a YoY basis in June. This was the result of faltering global demand after the rate cut by central banks in the US and Europe. There was some improvement in retail sales, but it was insufficient in pulling the economy out of its sombre state.

Industrial output in China also outnumbered analyst's expectations and rose by 4.4% in June compared to the same month a year earlier. Its fixed-asset investment grew by a still tepid 3.8% YoY for the first half of 2023.

(With inputs from AP and Reuters)
The United States and India are partnering to create an investment platform that aims to reduce capital costs and boost private investment for India's energy transition, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said after a meeting with India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman . A bi-lateral meeting between the two leasers took on the sidelines of a G20 meeting.

The nations are working together on various economic aspects, including technology cooperation, commercial collaboration, and strengthening supply chains.

"In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," she said.

Yellen also mentioned that the United States and India are nearing an agreement on the global minimum tax system. This positive development follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent state visit to Washington, where significant defense and high technology agreements were signed, emphasizing the improved bilateral relations between the two nations.

Sitharaman said she was looking forward to furthering bilateral interests through development cooperation and new investment opportunities through alternate investment platforms for renewable energy.

"As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement," she added.

This was Yellen's third visit to India this year. Following this, Yellen will visit Vietnam after the G20 finance meetings end on July 18.

(With agncy inputs)
The Government of Pakistan has been pushing for outsourcing the operations of major airports including Islamabad International Airport (IIA) amid the continuous depletion of forex reserves , according to a report published by Dawn quoting sources.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has convened multiple meetings of the committee formed to engage foreign operators for outsourcing. He told the stakeholders to finalize formalities to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIA) by August 12.

On Saturday, Dar chaired a meeting of the steering committee for assessing the progress of airport operations outsourcing. The committee had given explicit instructions to complete the necessary procedures for IIA outsourcing as a priority, Dawn reported.

After the meeting, an official statement announced that World Bank's 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 Economic Coordination Committee on March 31 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.

The finance minister, in the meeting, also gave a deadline to departments concerned for finalizing amendments to civil aviation laws and a plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) restructuring, as per Dawn reports.

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 organizations by enacting ordinances.

Dar emphasized 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, as per ANI reports.

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.

(With ANI inputs)
China got the first tropical storm of the year, when Typhoon Talim made landfall in the east Asian country on Monday. Several flights and trains were cancelled owing to the Typhoon Talim.

Further, flood warnings were also issued by the Chinese authorities in view of typhoon Talim. The authorities have also asked residents to stay at home. Tens of thousands of people were being evacuated in southern China and Vietnam on Monday, and dozens of flights cancelled as a typhoon barrelled towards land.

According to Reuters, even before Talim's arrival, passengers on a public bus in Jiangsu waded through knee-high water to get to their seats after the vehicle ploughed through a water-logged road.

Typhoon Talim

Talim, the fourth typhoon of the year, made landfall at 10:20 p.m. (1420 GMT) in Zhanjiang city of Guangdong province, with winds near its centre clocked at a top speed of 136.8 kph (85 mph), according to Guangdong weather bureau.

Winds stronger than 150 kph would put Talim in the severe typhoon category, very rare for a typhoon this early in the rainy season, reported Reuters.

Talim is expected to move at a speed of 20 km per hour northwest and into Guangxi region early on July 18, Guangdong weather bureau added.

Typhoon Talim became the first typhoon to make landfall in China this year on Monday evening, prompting authorities to issue flood warnings, cancel flights and trains, and order people to stay at home.

The national forecaster has urged authorities in Guangdong and Hainan to be on standby to respond to the typhoon. The forecaster has issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning in a four-tier colour-coded system, saying the storm was expected to increase in intensity to become a severe typhoon.

Typhoon Talim: Precautions

The Typhoon Talim sent the Hong Kong, Vietnam, south China into disaster mitigation mode. Over 1,000 people were evacuated.

Flights were grounded and Markets in Hong Kong halted trade for the day.

Hong Kong observatory put up a storm signal for typhoon Talim, and all court hearings in the city were adjourned.

Parts of Guangxi in China were told to brace for flash floods through Tuesday.

Authorities in Hainan asked ships in nearby waters to return to port and ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were suspended early on Sunday.

Typhoon Talim: Cancellations

Zhuhai Jinwan Airport in Guangdong cancelled 43 inbound and 36 outbound flights on Monday, and Meilan International Airport in Hainan's capital city Haikou and Qionghai Boao Airport, also on the resort island, cancelled all flights, state media reported.

High-speed railway and suburban trains on Hainan were suspended as well, with routes connecting to the tourist island shut until Friday.

Haikou city also suspended classes, work, flights, and park and business activities from noon Monday, requiring residents to stay home, state television CCTV reported. Emergency shelters were opened to the public, it said.
The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France on 13-14 July defined a new era in already-strong bilateral ties between the two countries. The Prime Ministers official visit to France was significant as well as special, as it also marked the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.

During the visit, the importance of the partnership was highlighted in how it sought to address global challenges, including climate change, clean energy, health, food security, and development, among others. These would also have major outcomes for businesses and the bilateral economic partnership will benefit long into the future.

India and France share long-standing cultural, trade and economic linkages. The India-France strategic partnership, signed in 1998, has gathered significant momentum over time and has today evolved into an even closer multifaceted relationship that spans diverse areas of cooperation, including defence, security, energy, space, education, the environment, trade and people-to-people ties, among many others.

The India-France economic partnership has witnessed steady and robust bilateral trade and investment relations over the years, which have strongly rebounded post the pandemic. Bilateral trade reached a new peak at $13.4 billion in 2022-23, with exports from India crossing $7 billion. Indian imports are also significant and stood at around $5.8 billion during 2022-23. On the investment front, France is Indias 11th largest foreign investor and recorded a cumulative investment of $10.5 billion in India between April 2000 and March 2023.

The ambitious Horizon 2047 Roadmap: Charting the future of India-France Strategic Partnership was adopted to set the next course of the relationship till 2047, the year India will celebrate the centenary of its independence. The roadmap is founded on three critical pillars of partnership: for security and sovereignty, for the planet, and for people. It embodies several notable initiatives.

First, France has been a key defence partner for India and cooperation in this field has been a mainstay of the India-France partnership. Significant outcomes which will further strengthen defence ties include the setting up of an Indian technical office of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) at the Indian embassy in Paris, expanding cooperation in co-production and co-development of new technologies, and the joint manufacture of key military platforms for friendly third countries. Given Indias deep defence engagement with French industry, spin-off effects will expand our defence manufacturing capabilities and technologies.

Two, the signing of several MoUs for strategic cooperation in space, sustainability and science and technology are set to create progressively advanced collaborations. Noteworthy initiatives were undertaken for jointly addressing economic challenges in outer space, such as the setting up of a bilateral strategic dialogue and the Trishna satellite project to boost cooperation in satellite services.

An MoU between our National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the ministry of earth sciences and a French sea research institute IFREMER on collaborative research projects in areas such as the Deep Ocean Mission and exchange of scientific and technical expertise is a welcome move and will bolster bilateral scientific cooperation. This is also likely to translate into business opportunities in times to come.

Three, sustainability is a cornerstone of the India-France partnership and was a prominent focus of discussions. A joint commitment to eliminate single-use plastics product pollution and a ban on single-use plastic products is a notable global precedent and will go a long way to advance the ecological agenda of both sides.

Four, a slew of digital initiatives covering diverse areas including strengthening of digital public infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, 5G/6G telecom and digital skills will strengthen digital cooperation. The launch of Indias UPI digital payment mechanism in France was a very significant move, and not just a big step forward in the partnership, but also a signal to the world of the UPI platforms potential. The digital partnership will also boost tourism and bilateral trade by fostering greater economic and financial engagement.

Five, the announcement of granting long-term five-year visas to Indian students pursuing higher education in France and our invitation to French universities for opening campuses in India will bolster educational ties and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The private sector will have an important role to play in encouraging public-private collaborations in academia and facilitating the creation of courses, while also enhancing capacity, learning and skills and promoting student exchange programmes.

Six, the economic dimension of ties got priority as Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed a group of leading Indian and French CEOs from diverse sectors. Sectors like climate action, energy transition, green transport and infrastructure, construction technologies, aeronautics, defence, automotive, life sciences, agriculture, financial services, and information and communication technology present opportunities for further collaboration and deepening engagement between businesses.

Indias conducive and liberal FDI policy regime along with a series of recent interventions in sectors such as infrastructure, digital payments, startups, IT and renewable energy provide many investment opportunities to French investors.

Finally, joint efforts to strengthen maritime security, the setting up of an Indo-French health campus, finalization of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund for the creation of disaster resilient infrastructure, and promoting startups in the areas of clean and renewable energy will all be critical in securing economic security and a better balance in the region.

The emerging geopolitical world order presents many opportunities as well as challenges. India and France have undertaken consistent efforts towards broadening their partnership to jointly address these. Prime Minister Modis visit to France delivered many concrete and successful outcomes that should pave the way for economic and business ventures.

Chandrajit Banerjee is director general of Confederation of Indian Industry
India-France ties have a special weave to them, if nothing else because both countries have the habit of being gadflies on the international scene. Like the Indians, the French have historically paid scant attention to their own limitations or weaknesses when promoting themselves on the world stage.

France emerged bruised and battered from two world wars into a global political reality with radically altered power equations and rapid decolonising. But well over a decade later, in the 1950s and early 1960s, the country was still hanging on to some of its colonies after having given up major ones such as Vietnam, Madagascar and Algeria at the cost of thousands of lives. So much for liberty, equality and fraternity.

On the other side was newly independent India, with an uncompromising agenda of decolonisation for itself  it managed to get the French to exit Pondicherry peacefully  and other nations in Asia and Africa. Despite being weakened by Partition and slow economic growth for decades, Indian diplomats did not shy away from standing up to both power blocs with ambitious ideas such as non-alignment.

And yet, in the post-Cold War era, both France and India have been savvy enough to realise that they are useful partners in countering the overwhelming dominance of the United States. In other words, the Indo-French relationship is a shared acknowledgement of their limitations in global politics and of the fact that together, they are more than the sum of their parts.

It is not without reason, therefore, that France had the mildest response to Indias 1998 nuclear tests among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi crafting a more ambitious global agenda for India than any leader has done in the recent past, the French have, like other Western powers, been quick to acknowledge Indias rising geopolitical weight but added their own special touches to the bilateral relationship.

If the Americans can give Modi an address to both houses of the US Congress, then France will have him as guest of honour at their National Day and give him their highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. At the core of the relationship, however, is the defence partnership. In this sector, France somehow comes across as a far more willing and generous partner than the US, with its complicated political structures and history of playing hardball.

Starting with the Rafale deal that the previous UPA government concluded but which the Modi government reworked, to the latest acquisition of 26 of the aircrafts marine version, the French have been willing to give the Indians what they want. Their sense of competition with the US defence sector for Indias business is clearly evident.

Only the Rafale Marine and the Boeing Super Hornets met the Indian Navys requirements of fighters for its aircraft carriers. And the Indians have been willing to play the Americans and the French against each other to get the best deals. Meanwhile, technology transfers by France have already helped India construct six Scorpene-class submarines with another three now being procured to boost the navys falling numbers.

The India-France relationship is underpinned by a strong geopolitical logic. From Charles de Gaulle to Emmanuel Macron, French leaders have retained a vision of their country as central to European politics and the international order, which is cemented by the countrys position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and its extensive territorial possessions across three oceans. This is a reality that India can scarcely ignore, given its desire for Security Council reforms and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.

The French have been responsive enough for Prime Minister Modi to declare during his visit, I feel that President Macrons thinking really matches ours". The two countries have launched an Indo-Pacific Roadmap" covering security, the environment and renewable energies, among other things, as well as a Horizon 2047" agenda for the wider relationship, covering a deeper military industrial relationship, cooperation in digital technologies, transition towards a low-carbon economy, urban transition, trade and investments, and people-to-people contacts.

Indeed, the joint communique at the end of Modis visit captures the essence of the India-France relationship perfectly  one that has been resilient in the darkest storms and bold and ambitious in riding the high tides of opportunities". With a world in flux thanks to the challenges of climate change and the rise of a revisionist power in the form of China, India and France can be sure there will be many more dark storms and golden opportunities headed their way.
Several media reports of late have said that Pakistan has been supplying weapons to Ukraine for that countrys resistance against the Russian invasion. Most such reports seem to originate from the Indian media but there is the occasional non-Indian source that goes into some detail about such transfers.

Pakistans defence relationship with Ukraine, over three decades old, is valued at some$1.6 billion but the flow has largely been towards Pakistan, in the form of T-80 UD battle tanks. It is these tanks, and some artillery ammunition, that Pakistan is suspected of sending to Ukraine. The government in Islamabad and Pakistani analysts have regularly denied such reports, but the planned visit of the Ukrainian foreign minister to Islamabad later this week suggests that there is more afoot.

Pakistan is not a major political player on the international stage and its views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict hold little weight. Unlike Russia, which needs all the public support and visibility it can get in the global arena, the Ukrainians do not lack international support or visibility. Their ministers visit to Pakistan must, therefore, be about more practical matters such as arms and ammunition supplies. The Ukrainians themselves have not shied away from stating that they have received military support from Pakistan.

At the same time, Pakistan has not officially condemned Russias invasion. In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Islamabad for its neutral stance in a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart in Moscow. In fact, the invasion was launched when then Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Moscow, winding up a two-day visit. That visit  the first by a Pakistani Prime Minister in over two decades  was itself the result of a steady uptick in ties with Russia in recent years, even as the Americans were still using Pakistan as a key base for their Afghan operations and the Chinese launched the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Pakistan and Russia had already been holding regular joint military exercises since 2016 and Khan was pushing for Russian investment in the multibillion-dollar Pakistan Stream gas pipeline between Karachi and Kasur in Punjab province. Lavrov renewed this promise in January and again on the sidelines of the SCO foreign ministers meeting in Goa. Pakistan is already negotiating to buy a second shipment of discounted Russian crude oil.

For India, meanwhile, the larger issue is Pakistans ability to remain in the global spotlight despite its poor international image, sinking economy and fractious domestic politics.

If the reports that Pakistan has been supplying weapons supplies to Ukraine while hobnobbing with Moscow are true, it represents another instance of the countrys famed ability to not just balance the demands of key global players but also extract concessions and resources from each.

Pakistan famously played midwife as the US and communist China secretly engaged in talks to establish official ties. And for decades, the country manoeuvred adroitly to benefit from economic and military aid from both countries during the Cold War and for most of this century, despite increasing Sino-US tensions. Even though Pakistan has long seemed destined for the doghouse, given its duplicity in the war on terror, this has not quite happened despite Americas withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistans weapons support for Ukraine  likely carried out in coordination with the Americans  will further reduce the chances of it becoming a pariah.

With China and Pakistan recently signing a$4.8 billion agreement for a new 1,200 MW nuclear power plant in Chashma in Punjab province  in violation of Nuclear Suppliers Group rules  the Americans may be trying to keep communication lines with Islamabad and Rawalpindi open. From New Delhis perspective, however, it looks like the Americans are still playing all sides in South Asia and increasing the space for both Pakistani mischief and Chinese assertiveness in the region.
Leaders from 26 Opposition parties are travelling to Bengaluru this week to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The attendees have repeatedly emphasised their unified stance on various issues even as the BJP insisted that the meeting had sidetracked all important issues and that there was no bandhan in this" grouping.

The Opposition group had held a preliminary meeting in Patna earlier this month with representatives from 24 parties in attendance. This time around the group is expected to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The name of the opposition alliance is likely to be decided during the Bengaluru meeting and several committees and sub-groups may be formed to deliberate various issues pertaining to the alliance.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an NDA meeting in the national capital on July 18. The meeting is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under PM Modi.

What have Opposition leaders said today?

Congress leaders on Tuesday highlighted the group's increasing support base and took swipes at the Prime Minister for holding a parallel NDA meeting.

"If he (PM Modi) is stronger than the entire Opposition and he alone is enough for them, why is he calling together the 30 parties? Disclose the names of these parties. Are they even registered with the Election Commission? People with us have always been with us...They are baffled by what we are doing, so they are gathering factions of parties to show their strength," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.

After the Patna meeting, where 24 parties attended, the PM suddenly thought of the NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna," exulted Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

He also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led ruling coalition was 'baffled' by the Opposition huddle.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal meanwhile rubbished claims that some senior politicians had pulled out of the two day meeting. He accused the BJP of working to silence the Opposition and misuing probe agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI to suppress critics. Kharge also dispelled rumours that NCP chief Sharad Pawar would be skipping the meeting, adding that he had spoken to the senior politician and confirmed his attendance.

This is the 2nd meeting...all political parties have come together to save the democratic fabric of our country...Opposition unity is already creating a huge impact and we will form the government in 2024," said CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

The AAP had confirmed its attendance on Sunday soon after the Congrss extended its support over the Delhi Ordinance. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter thanking Kharge ahead of his departure for Bengaluru.

Thank you Kharge ji for standing with the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail," he wrote.

What have BJP leaders said?

The BJP has been vocal in its criticism with former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleging inaction for a slew of recent issues.

Kejriwal has done nothing to save Delhi from floods...He keeps on blaming the Centre... Congress has not spoken a single word on floods...There is so much violence in Bengal... everyone is quiet on the Bengal issue...The opposition meeting in Bengaluru has sidetracked all important issues," the Lok Sabha MP said.

They (opposition parties) are calling it a Mahagathbandhan but actually there is no bandhan in this...their sole aim is to bring down PM Modi, which is impossible...when zero is added to zero, it is nothing," asserted former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai.

(With inputs from agencies)
As key opposition meeting starts in Bengaluru, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal slammed the PM Narendra Modi government saying they tried to silence the opposition and Rahul Gandhi disqualification, Maharashtra politicat crisis are just a few examples.

Venugopal said, We are all united by a common purpose - to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions. These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP Govt. They wanted to silence the Opposition's voice." They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example..."

The meeting is scheduled to commence at 6 pm, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will deliver a speech. The aims is to foster opposition unity and follows a previous meeting held in Patna on June 23, which saw the participation of fifteen parties.

What to expect from the opposition meeting?

The leaders are likely to hold discussions on issuing a joint declaration and move forward on their proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats, sources close to the development told PTI

The agenda for the talks would be finalised during discussions before a dinner meeting on Monday evening, they said.

There is a proposal to set up a subcommittee for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the Opposition alliance for the 2024 general elections, the sources said.

Besides, the sources said, the plan is also to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations.

Who all are attending the opposition meeting?

In addition to Kharge, it is expected that Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi will attend, along with prominent figures like former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

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With no opposition in what is, for now, a safe Republican seat, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney raised more than $227,000 in the second quarter of the year.

Tenney, R-Canandaigua, received $100,509 from individual donors and $123,500 from PACs and other political committees. She also transferred nearly $3,300 from another campaign account.

After spending $181,892, Tenney has $252,497 in the bank.

Her notable donors include U.S. Rep. Jason Smith's Mr. Southern Missourian in the House PAC, which gave $5,000. Smith, a Republican, chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. Tenney is a member of the committee.

The Value in Electing Women PAC, a group founded by former Republican U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, donated $5,000. U.S. Rep. Jim Banks' House Conservatives Fund contributed $1,000.

Tenney also received $2,500 from Nucor's PAC  the company has a steel mill in Auburn  and $1,000 from former U.S. Rep. John Faso's New York Renewal PAC.

Tenney's campaign also shared some of its war chest with GOP candidates and groups. Records show a $1,500 donation was made to the New York State Federation of Republican Women. The campaign also gave $500 to the New York State Young Republicans. The group recently presented Tenney with its congressmember of the year award.

Other donations made by Tenney's campaign include $250 to the Wayne County Republican Committee and $250 to Mark Assini, who is running for Monroe County executive.

Tenney does not have an opponent for the 2024 election. As of Monday, no Democrat has filed to run in the 24th district, which includes all of Cayuga County and 11 other counties in upstate New York. The district is considered a safe Republican seat because GOP voters outnumber Democrats by a wide margin.

A recent decision by a state appellate court could change the makeup of the district. The court ordered New York's congressional district lines to be redrawn for the 2024 elections. But Republicans are planning to appeal the case to the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.
Crypto firms used to talk about disrupting the financial system. Now some of them are struggling to find traditional banks that will take their money.

That is so even in Hong Kong, where government officials and regulators have launched a charm offensive to win crypto business. Their efforts have included scrapping a yearslong ban on cryptocurrency trading by small investors and launching a new licensing regime for crypto exchanges.

The one snag: Crypto still makes a lot of banks in Hong Kong nervous.

At least two global banks with operations in the city have ruled out any activity directly linked to crypto trading, according to bankers. Many banks have also resisted opening accounts that will hold the money of crypto exchanges clients, leading to a direct approach by government officials eager to help these exchanges get started.

Hong Kong regulators difficulties are a sign of how tough life has become for a group of firms that were once convinced they would change the nature of finance.

When Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and then-chief executive of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, spoke via videolink at a Hong Kong fintech conference last October, one of the topics was how to identify and balance the risk of emerging technologies that will truly disrupt the financial industry."

Since then, FTX has collapsed, Bankman-Fried has been arrested and U.S. regulators have sued Binance and Coinbase, two other big exchanges, as well as crypto lender Celsius. In January, a group of U.S. regulators including the Federal Reserve said that issuing or holding cryptocurrencies is highly likely to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices."

One fear for banks in Hong Kong is that cryptocurrencies will be used to launder money, said Rocky Mui, a Hong Kong-based partner at law firm Clifford Chance, adding that it will take time for banks to update their anti-money-laundering processes to incorporate checks on crypto companies.

Another big question is how banks should analyze the risk of crypto firms. These companies often have unconventionaland sometimes unclearbusiness plans, meaning banks cannot simply apply risk-management frameworks from other sectors.

Theres a push to bank these clients, but the risk models that are associated with this line of business are still something thats being developed," said Stephen Richardson, the Asia head of Fireblocks, a provider of crypto and blockchain technology.

Hong Kongs Securities and Futures Commission started accepting applications from crypto exchanges last month. To get a license, an exchange is required to have one or more segregated accounts at authorized banks for handling and storing their clients money.

That has created a chicken and egg" situation, Mui said: Exchanges need those bank accounts to get a license, but banks may want to open accounts only for licensed firms. The securities regulator plans to address this by issuing approvals-in-principle to qualified exchanges, which could provide a degree of comfort to banks during the application process, he said.

To become regulated in Hong Kong, a crypto-trading platform also needs to maintain enough assetsat least a years worth of operating expenses in cash, short-term government debt and depositsto prove its financial soundness.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the de facto central bank, has suggested banks consider opening basic operating accounts for crypto exchanges that are seeking licenses, so that they can at least pay rent and salaries while their applications are being vetted.

In response to a query from The Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson at the monetary authority said banks should not reject an account opening just because of the sector a firm operates in, and said banks should try to meet the legitimate business needs of licensed companies in the broader virtual-asset sector. It also said that anti-money-laundering systems in Hong Kong are consistent with international standards.

The monetary authority and the securities regulator have also organized two meetings between crypto exchanges and banks to discuss the issue of opening accounts. Banks that attended include HSBC, Standard Chartered and the Bank of China, all of which have an important status as issuers of Hong Kong dollar bank notes.

Representatives from Citibank, Singapores DBS Group and China Construction Bank were also present, according to people with knowledge of the meetings. About 100 people from banks, professional services firms and more than 80 virtual-assets-related companies attended, according to the HKMA.

A large global bank recently changed its position and is now considering opening basic accounts for crypto exchanges applying for a license, subject to the usual anti-money-laundering and due-diligence reviews, said a person familiar with the matter.

To pay salaries from funds derived from crypto income, one firm with hundreds of employees in Hong Kong currently has to sell crypto assets to get foreign currency, which it then deposits in a bank overseas. After that, the company transfers the money back to Hong Kong, converting it to the local currency. This added step is because the companys Hong Kong banks wont accept funds directly sourced from crypto.

Not all of the citys banks are so squeamish. The local unit of Chinas Bank of Communications and a local virtual bank called ZA Bank moved quickly to offer services to crypto firms after the city unveiled plans to develop the sector earlier this year.

The European Union recently agreed on its own crypto framework, and other countries are trying to appeal to the industry.
The attorney for Jason Chen, the man accused of brutally murdering a Chattanooga woman, is complaining about the conditions at the Hamilton Co
Hyundai Exter comes in as a fresh product from a company that has otherwise kept itself busy with time-tested models being given updates and facelifts. Think about it, when was the last time Hyundai brought out an all-new, mass-market product for India - Venue was a facelift, Grand i10 Nios, Tucson and Verna were as well. Barring the Ioniq 5 then, there has not been much to inject fresh fervour to the lineup in quite some time and the EV itself is a very premium proposition. But the Exter does not just come with the promise of revitalising the product portfolio but has the potential to shake up the entry-SUV segment.

The segments and sub-segments are getting muddy and complicated in the Indian car market. But for the sake of some clarity, the Hyundai Exter comes out as a rival to the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ignis and Tata Punch rather than the even more affordable Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite. But while how it fares against its rivals - direct and indirect - will play a role in the fortunes of the smallest Hyundai SUV, Exter will also have to prove its mettle all on its own. Has Hyundai once again aced the SUV game or is it an exercise born out of compulsion considering the volumes entry SUVs get and are predicted to garner?

Here is the first- drive review of Hyundai Exter SUV:

Hyundai Exter SUV: Exterior styling highlights

The Exter is an entirely new exercise in automotive design, something Hyundai tends to do well out of habit. And because it is positioned as a vehicle for the young, its exterior styling and design absolutely must click the intended boxes.

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For most parts, it actually does. The Exter has a very modern face that is highlighted by H-shaped DRLs that have not yet been seen on any India model from the Koreans. There are bi-function projector headlights, a bi-function projector headlights and a very prominent skid plate at the bottom.

Hyundai Exter is the tallest and has the longest wheelbase in its segment. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The side profile shows of large windows, stretched roof rails, prominent wheel arches and sporty design on the 15-inch diamond-cut alloys on the wheels.

The Exter gets a pronounced rear spoiler with brake lights on top. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

But the rear, to my personal preferences, is a bit overdone. Looks can be subjective and while many may appreciate it, I didn't quite like the form and flow of the rear structure and barring the H-shaped tail lights, feel just too much is happening here.

Of special note here is that the SUV comes in as many as nine body colour options of which three are dual tones. Although I am not too taken by the new Cosmic Blue shade, the Ranger Khaki (a shade of Green) is extremely attractive and goes well to underscore the rugged character of Exter that Hyundai seeks to put the spotlight on.

Hyundai Exter SUV: Cabin styling and features

The Exter has an airy cabin thanks to large window areas and a sunroof on top that can be operated through voice. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The cabin is where Hyundai Exter truly hits it out of the park, considering the price points it is offered in of course. While it does borrow generously from its siblings in terms of dashboard layout, fit, feel and features, the Exter may just have its biggest bragging rights against rivals courtesy the in-cabin experience.

For a car of its dimensions, the Exter is generously spacious for four but three adults on the rear seats would be a very tight squeeze. There is also no rear-seat armrest. Thankfully, a panoramic sunroof on top, rear AC vents and large windows seek to help matters. All four doors open wide which makes ingress and egress easy, and a segment-best wheelbase ensures adequate kneeroom, legroom and feet space for people at the back.

While there is a lot of luggage space at the back of the Exter, split-folding rear seats could have opened more options for occupants.

A boot space of 391 litres also goes on to underline the outdoor credentials Hyundai is repeatedly underlining on the Exter. With more space for luggage than on models like Venue, Sonet and Brezza, the Exter can not just accommodate a number of bags but loading and unloading angles are easy as well.

Being a Hyundai, Exter wasn't expected to shortchange buyers on features and the vehicle comes absolutely loaded. An eight-inch HD infotainment screen with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is the obvious highlight and is typically easy to use with sharp response to touch. There is a reverse camera with guidelines and standard-def resolution. The MID (driver display) has been seen in other Hyundai models too and is carried forward and so is the steering wheel design with its mounted controls.

A closer look at the infotainment screen, steering wheel and MID inside the Exter. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

What is unique though is a two-way dashcam that can record front footage on the move and also click selfies of the cabin. Access to the dashcam can be through the incorporated buttons and through the company's official app as well. Interestingly, it is placed quite far from the driver's reach which, we assume, is a safety precaution so that he or she is unable to operate it while steering the vehicle.

Exter is only the second Hyundai India model to get a dashcam in the cabin. The other is the Venue N-Line. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The other feature highlights include cooled glovebox, automatic climate control, footwell lighting, wireless phone charging and plenty of USB and 12V points, and support for Bluelink app that enables over 60 connected-car functions. There are also three cabin themes which depend on the exterior colour of the vehicle.

Hyundai Exter SUV: Specs and drive highlights

The Exter comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and one can also choose a company-fitted CNG kit.

If the exterior of the vehicle is an absolutely new take on styling and the cabin comes feature packed, the drive itself is on very predictable lines. And that is not necessarily a negative.

The 1.2-litre petrol motor under the hood puts out 83 hp and offers 114 Nm of torque. This is shared with siblings like Grand i10 Nios, i20 and the Venue. As such, the Exter drives in quite the familiar fashion regardless of transmission choices. I drove the five-speed manual version for a short while and the shifts were typically short and crisp, making for quick and controlled moves when required.

But the bulk of the test driving was done on the variant with five-speed AMT and it hardly disappointed. For anyone on a budget and looking for the convenience of an automatic, this is definitely the gearbox to admire. This coming from me who often drives a Brezza with AT. In comparative terms, the AMT on the Exter has significantly less jerk and offers a far smoother shift regardless of intensity of throttle inputs. It may not be excitable but it will keep itself fairly busy whether within city limits or beyond, with out without the use of paddle shifters behind the steering.

Exter is not the most aggressive on the move but push the pedal and it is clear that this SUV is no slugger either.

The steering set up also helps considering it is typically light which makes Exter bisect traffic with ease. It is only when triple digit speeds come up on the horizon that the feedback becomes conspicuous from its absence.

Overall, the drive and ride quality of Hyundai Exter is fairly well-balanced and will meet the requirements of most daily commuters who also do highway drives frequently. With a claimed mileage of over 19 kmpl on petrol-only version - and yes, there is a CNG option as well, the Exter covers its bases well.

Hyundai Exter SUV: Verdict

Hyundai has had the luxury of carefully planning a strategy for its debut in the entry-level SUV segment. The experience from offering strong models like Venue and Creta may have also helped enormously.

While its pricing structure is introductory at the moment, having a fully-loaded vehicle under 10 lakh (ex-showroom) positions the Exter extremely well in the Indian car market. Expect this car to do some seriously impressive numbers going forward.

First Published Date:
Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell is seen in an image released by the Hoover, Alabama police department. Russell went missing after reporting to a 911 dispatcher that she saw a toddler alone along a road on July 13.
With just under a year before the people of Longford go to the polls to select their elected representatives for the next County Council the field is filling fast.

The 2024 Irish local elections are scheduled to be held in all local authorities next June, with the ballot taking place on the same day as the 2024 European Parliament election.

Putting your name on that ballot paper is not for the faint hearted. There are commitments of time and resources to consider, not to mention the responsibilities if elected.

Anyone who met James Quinn in the village of Newtownforbes would surmise his campaign has already started.

Sinn Fein's rising star looking to make his mark in Longford Sinn Fein bosses are hoping the partys persistent lofty opinion poll performances will rub off locally as it eyes up possible candidates to stand in next years local elections.

The popular young man has a wave for every second car, which elicits beeps from the motorists.

I am running in the local elections next summer, the independent candidate told the Leader as he walked around the village last Friday, it has been on my mind since the last election back in 2019.

James hails from Prucklish, he is very active in the local community as a volunteer.

His work with the Newtownforbes Cardiac First Responders is well know in the locality.

He started out in this role through the Longford Volunteer Centre.

The decision to go before the electorate is something James doesn't take lightly: A couple of neighbours put their names forward for election the last time out and did very well.

 I decided to throw my name into the ring this year as I want to highlight a number of issues that are of concern to me and my community.

I am particularly concerned with the way the mental health service is at the moment. More resources are needed. There is an over reliance on the work of volunteers, like Pieta House, I hope that as a councillor I would be able to address that, the council hopeful said.

James is aware of what the electorate will want from him: I think the people of Newtwonforbes will be asking me to work on their behalf if they give me their vote. I want to offer my support to local groups, like the Tidy Towns. There are a number of local issues on the ground that I would hope to deliver on. I want to give a voice to young people. I feel there's an under representation of young people on the council and I would like to address that.

He hopes to officially get out on the hustings as soon as possible: I have no time frame at present. Nominations will open next March, I will have all my paperwork submitted at that stage.

He has already sought advice on how he should go about his campaign: Several people have given me advice on what the demands of the role are. I have been told that I will need a thick skin to go out calling from door to door.

The days of going around and promising the sun, the moon and the stars are gone. People have high expectations, I will be making it clear on the doorstep that I will do the best I can if I get in.
An application by a private investment company to convert commercial premises on Bridge Street, Longford into apartments has been put on hold due to an incomplete application.

Double Visas Investments Limited have made the application to Longford County Council planners for the change of use of the existing development located at Bridge Street, Abbeycartron, Longford.

The building is located opposite the cinema.

The application is for the change of use to the existing vacant and unfinished restaurant and retail units at ground and lower ground floor levels to three residential duplex apartments.

The development will be made up of one two-bed and two three-bed apartments all with their own private external balcony and terrace at lower ground floor level and their own door entrance at street level.

Included in the application are facade alterations at ground and lower ground floor front and rear elevations, and the completion of the lower ground floor rear terrace to include an open or circulation area and all associated site and services works.

The application was made on June 26, with the planners indicating it was incomplete last week.

Double Visas Investments Limited, which has a business address at 13 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, has three shareholders.



The company's current directors have been the director of 28 other Irish companies between them.
In the 10 years of Cruthu Arts Festival the annual gathering has created a plethora of remarkable memorable moments.

Some ephemeral; like The Trinitones performances in the crypt of St Mel's Cathedral, some enduring; like the street art dotted around the county town.

The festival has enriched the artistic landscape of the county in the last decade and has attracted thousands of visitors to the county over its lifespan.

Celebrating its landmark tenth edition this vibrant festival is renowned for showcasing artistic talent within the community and fostering engagement with diverse art forms. The 2023 line up promises an exciting and varied programme of events.

Gene Rhatigan, Festival Chairperson, is enthused about this year's schedule: Embrace the magic of creativity and join us as we celebrate a decade of art and community at the Cruthu Arts Festival. Get ready for an unforgettable journey through diverse art forms, film screenings, captivating performances, and inspiring stories.

Selecting highlights from the dense programme is a tough ask. The festival will feature a captivating screening A Night at the Pictures. This features five short films introduced by writers and directors at the Backstage Theatre, providing a platform for talented filmmakers to showcase their creative storytelling.

South Longford cyclists raise 5,000 in support of Phyllis Bakers ABI Ireland fundraising efforts A 130 kilometres cycle organised by Darren Mulledy has raised 5,000 in support of Phyllis Bakers fundraising efforts for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Ireland.

Music enthusiasts can look forward to a mesmerizing night of live performances at the historic St Mels Cathedral and St John's Church among others, adding a touch of grandeur to the festival.

The festival promises a blend of acts and exciting new additions, ensuring a memorable celebration of artistry, community engagement, and cultural enrichment.

The headlines for the weekend are Hermitage Green, a band of international renown who have close links with Longford.

Another thrilling evening will be in the company of Aindrias de Staic Presents: The Latchikos. This is a raucous mix of virtuoso violin, spoken word and raw Gaelic beats with humour and gusto on Friday, July 21 at 5pm and 8pm for a one hour performance starting at Connolly Barracks.

The Enchanted Island is a promenade play that takes us on the legendary vanishing Island Hy-Brazil and invites the audience for a walk with the fairies.

The Strasbourg Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform a full concert orchestra in St Mels Cathedral.

There are a range of other events and offerings from Tuesday, July 18 to Sunday, July 23.

The organising team, led by Chairperson Gene Rhatigan and Festival Manager Lee Williamson, are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all who attend.

Stay updated with the latest festival schedule and events by visiting the official Cruthu Arts Festival website www.cruthuartsfestival.com
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: July 17 2023

Search uncovers fentanyl, cocaine and items consistent with drug sales.

While executing an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) The Suffolk County Sheriffs Office placed felony charges on a Sayville resident for possession and intent to sell illegal narcotics.

Recently, the Sheriffs Office Domestic Violence Unit served an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) search warrant on Sydney Scott, 31, from Sayville, which resulted in illegal drugs being discovered.

Subsequently, a criminal search warrant was obtained by the Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Bureau and executed collaboratively between the Domestic Violence Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office resulting in the discovery of a quantity of fentanyl, cocaine, packaging material, scales, a pill press, and cutting agents consistent with narcotic drug sales.

The discovery of these deadly drugs is a lifesaving act by getting them off our streets before they were able to be sold to potential victims. Thank you to the Deputy Sheriffs that work to keep the public safe by executing these dangerous search warrants day after day, said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.



The defendant is being charged with:

2 counts criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell- B Felonies

2 counts criminal possession of a controlled substance - A Misdemeanors

3 counts criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd - A Misdemeanors

An Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) is a court order issued when a person may be dangerous to themselves or others. The Extreme Risk Protection Order Law became effective in New York State as of August 24, 2019, and prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm.

For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Vicki DiStefano at Victoria.DiStefano@SuffolkCountyNY.gov

All information contained in this release has been provided for general informational purposes only. To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On Tue., the Shin Bet said that in recent weeks it arrested four West Bank Palestinians attempting to carry out attacks against Israeli targets. The Shin Bet alleges that the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) recruited and directed the suspects.

FDDs Long War Journal has tracked the PRCs movements in the West Bank since March 3, and reported the groups attempt to establish a foothold in Jenin.

The Shin Bet alleges Iman Zakot and Mohammed Aram  both residents of Rafah and members of the PRC  recruited Palestinians living in the West Bank. The pair provided recruits with training and instructions on carrying out operations against Israeli targets, including smuggling weapons into the West Bank.

During the investigation of the two Palestinian suspects, it was uncovered that they had received a firearm and direction from the PRC to carry out a shooting attack in Jerusalem, according to the Shin Bet.

Last month, the Shin Bet arrested two additional Palestinian suspects. The Shin Bet alleges the pair were planning to carry out a bomb assault on behalf of the PRC.

Its unclear to what extent the PRC has established itself in the West Bank. Open-source evidence shows the group appears to be active in Jenin where fighters have participated in meetings with established militant organizations such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The PRCs official media channels have yet to claim they have established a formation in the West Bank. For now, online channels claiming affiliation with the PRCs Jenin branch publish evidence of the groups activity. Despite official channels not mentioning its alleged activities in the West Bank, evidence is mounting that they are active.

On December 26, 2022, the Shin Bet alleged it foiled a bomb strike directed by the PRC and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. On March 4, a video claiming to be published by the groups fighters in Jenin showed an IED exploding at an unidentified location in the West Bank.

The PRC is the third largest militant organization behind Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, respectively. Despite other Gaza-based militant groups activity, the PRC has not demonstrated interest in destabilizing the West Bank until recently. The PRC has proven ties to Hezbollah and Iran. Additionally, the PRC has an extensive history of bombing and rocket attacks against Israelis and Americans.

The U.S. government has not enacted sanctions on the PRC despite attacks against civilians.

Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Shortly after 1:00 am local time on July 3, the Israeli military began an operation targeting the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank. This area is a hub for various armed Palestinian organizations, many of which are designated as foreign terrorist groups by the United States and other Western nations. While the operation succeeded in seizing weapons, explosives and destroying headquarters operated by nefarious actors such as Islamic Jihad, it is important to acknowledge the military action in Jenin is merely a provisional measure to tackle the ongoing violence.

The persistent crises in the West Bank has gone on for more than two years. It is not a coincidental occurrence, nor is it confined to Palestinian and Israeli parties alone.

Due to various reasons, such as arbitrary imprisonment of political opponents, financial instability, corruption, and more, Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas is losing popularity among West Bank residents. The PAs bad governance enables Iran-backed terrorist groups to establish and spread throughout the West Bank, particularly in Jenin and Nablus. This is causing a dramatic escalation in terrorist attacks against Israelis compared to previous years.

Speaking to FDDs Long War Journal, an Israeli security official expressed concerns about the failing state of the Palestinian Authority. The official emphasized that the responsibility for Jenin was transferred to the Palestinian Authority during the Oslo Accords and that they are expected to govern and enforce law and order in their territory. However, if they fail to do so, Israel will be compelled to take action.

The responsibility for Jenin was transferred to the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s in an agreement that was signed at the White House. We expect the Palestinian Authority to govern their people and territories and to enforce law and order in their jurisdictions. If they wont, we will, the official said.

The instability within the West Bank is not solely attributed to the PAs poor policies and corrupt behavior, as domestic and foreign actors contribute to the problem.

In August 2022, Iran insinuated its participation in the 14-month-long rebellion. Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), echoed a 2014 statement by Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, saying that the West Bank is being armed similarly to Gaza.

Later, in April 2023, Salami suggested that Iran may be supporting West Bank terrorist groups. Invisible hands have armed the West Bank, and you [now] see modern automatic rifles and automatic weapons in the hands of the Palestinians, he said.

Other actors, such as Lebanese Hezbollah, the Gaza-based Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, and the Popular Resistance Committees, are striving to either establish a foothold in the area or clandestinely deliver weapons to bolster armed factions.

Even though the recent Israeli military operation in Jenin likely succeeded in diminishing armed groups capacity to launch assaults, it is not a feasible solution to address the root cause of the conflict. The PAs slow response to significant issues such as the growth of Iran-backed groups in the West Bank has resulted in their persistence, leading to a critical juncture where the governing authority has become almost irrelevant. To secure its existence, the PA might be more willing now than in recent years to explore avenues that could have undesirable implications for Israel, including forming a unity government with Hamas in the West Bank.

Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- SERES Group, the Chinese automaker and car-making partner of Huawei, released its performance forecast for the first half of 2023 on July 15, revealing an expected year-over-year improvement of 20% to 28% in its net profit attributable to shareholders.

SF5; photo credit: SERES

SERES aims to maintain stability and steady growth in its new energy vehicle business, with an expanding and enriching product lineup, faster iterations and deliveries, as well as a comprehensive revitalization of its service system.

According to the forecast, SERES expects a net loss of 1.25 billion yuan to 1.39 billion yuan for the first half of 2023, compared to the net loss of 1.73 billion yuan incurred during the same period last year. Adjusted net loss is projected to range from 1.8 billion yuan to 1.93 billion yuan, compared to the adjusted net loss of 1.714 billion yuan in the same span of 2022.

SERES attributed the loss to customer hesitation caused by promotional activities in the automotive industry during the first quarter, as well as customers' anticipation of the new release of the M5 intelligent driving version in the second quarter, which had an impact on the sales of existing models.

Furthermore, the company's continued high investment in R&D of core technologies for new energy vehicles, along with the ongoing recruitment of research and technical talent, resulted in increased R&D expenses compared to a year ago.

In the first half of 2023, SERES Group sold a total of 92,200 vehicles, marking a year-on-year decrease of 26.66%. Among them, sales of SERES' new energy vehicles reached 44,800 units, down 1.80% from the previous year, while sales of SERES Auto (including the jointly developed AITO Wenjie series with Huawei and other SERES models) reached 25,800 units, representing a year-on-year jump of 19.37%
(Alliance News) - Anglo Asian Mining PLC on Monday said its preferred site for its second tailings dam in Gedabek, Azerbaijan has been granted by the country's government.

The Azerbaijan-focused copper and gold producer said the dam, which will be constructed near to its existing dam, has recently been the subject of protests, leading the Azerbaijani government to undertake environmental sampling in the area near to the existing dam.

The firm said the sampling did not identify any contamination or a higher incidence of disease in the neighbouring population.

Anglo Asian said it has agreed to re-evaluate the technical and environmental aspects of its second dam alongside the government, including its proposed location, as a result of the "sudden" and "unexpected" unrest. The firm said it is proud of its "long-standing and strong community relations".

The company also added that it has received assurance that the wall of its first dam can be raised in order to allow sufficient tailings capacity whilst its second dam is being constructed. The raising of the wall has been agreed by the government, subject to the completion of the environmental study.

Anglo Asian shares fell 7.6% to 73.02 pence each on Monday afternoon in London.

By Harvey Dorset, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Porvair PLC - Hampshire, England-based manufacturer focused on filtration and separation technology - Completes acquisition of its two businesses Ratiolab GmbH and Ratiolab Kft, following receipt of Hungarian regulatory approval. Ratiolab GmbH, located outside Frankfurt, sells a wide range of laboratory consumables in Europe and the Middle East. Ratiolab Kft, located close to Budapest, manufactures laboratory consumables in an 8,000 metres squared facility. The transaction is expected to be earnings neutral in the balance of 2023, and earnings enhancing thereafter. "The board believes Ratiolab will fit well into the group's Laboratory division, offering a complementary product range and adding European manufacturing capabilities, injection moulding expertise, and routes to market," Porvair says. The acquisition was first announced back in May.

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Longboat Energy PLC - Norway and Malaysia-focused full-cycle exploration and production company - Completes transaction with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co Ltd to establish a joint venture in Norway. Says the initial investment of USD16 million has been received by the joint venture company, Longboat Japex Norge AS. A further USD34 million is payable by Japex into the JV. Japex has also provided a USD100 million five-year acquisition financing facility, Longboat says. The joint venture is owned 50.1% by Longboat and 49.9% by Japex. "We are pleased that the creation of the Longboat Japex joint venture has completed as scheduled and now look forward to pursuing further acquisitions and opportunities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf to follow on from the first joint transaction announced at the beginning of this month," says Longboat Chief Executive Helge Hammer.

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Beacon Energy PLC - Germany-focused upstream oil & gas company - Updates on Schwarzbach-2 development well at the Erfelden Field, onshore south west Germany, which was spudded on June 19. Says its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rhein Petroleum GmbH, has performed a successful recovery or 'fishing' operation in the SCHB-2 well to free a directional drilling assembly stuck in the hole section and has returned it safely back to the surface. Adds that the stuck pipe incident occurred after the well had made "good progress", reaching a drilled depth 100 metre above the first target which remains untested. The operations team will now clean out the hole section before continuing with drilling to the target reservoirs. "Clearly this is an unfortunate development that has caused a delay in delivering the SCHB-2 development well, however we see a minor impact to the overall costs of the well relative to its upside potential in the success case. These unavoidable challenges are common when drilling and it has been our focus to ensure it was resolved in a safe, rapid and cost-efficient manner," says CEO Larry Bottomley.

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Tullow Oil PLC - Africa and South America-focused oil and gas exploration company - After announcing the successful start-up of the Jubilee South East project on Friday, the company says the Jubilee field production has surpassed 100,000 barrels of oil per day. This was after a second production well was brought on stream. Both wells are performing in line with expectations, with production rates around 50% higher than the first half of the year. Says two further wells are on track to be tied in over the rest of the year. "Reaching production of over 100,000 bopd from the Jubilee field is a major milestone for Tullow, our partners and for Ghana," says CEO Rahul Dhir.

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UP Global Sourcing Holdings PLC - Manchester-based owner of homeware brands, including Salter and Beldra - Expects its financial year-end net debt to be in the region of GP15 million, which is significantly ahead of current market expectations of around GBP21 million. The company's financial year ends July 31. Explains that the improved net debt performance is due to "ongoing improvements in working capital management and the phasing of trading during the second half of the year." Also reiterates that it continues to trade in line with market expectations. In June, the company said it expects to report GBP165.3 million of revenue and GBP20.1 million of adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. In financial 2022, revenue was GBP154.2 million and adjusted Ebitda of GBP18.8 million.

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Churchill China PLC - Stoke-on-Trent, England-based ceramic products manufacturer - Confirms that trading remained in line with the board's expectations for the half year ended June 30 and that it expects to meet its profit expectations for the full year. For 2022, revenue was GBP82.5 million and pretax profit was GBP9.6 million. Also says it will publish its interim results on September 14.

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Tissue Regenix Group PLC - Leeds, England-headquartered regenerative medical device company - Says trading in the first half of 2023 was "strong" and in line with the board's expectations. Revenues for the period is expected to be about USD14.1 million, a 19% increase from USD11.8 million reported the prior year. Looking ahead, it says it remains confident that it on track to meet its expectations for the full year. Also expects to achieve a positive adjusted Ebitda for first half of 2023, swinging from a loss of USD500,000 a year ago. CEO Daniel Lee says: "Our H1 2023 results are indicative of the continued above-market growth in our key businesses and our ability to deliver on the board's expectations for our financial performance." The company will publish its interim results on September 5.

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Panthera Resources PLC - London-based gold explorer with projects in India and Africa - Agrees to a further extension to its litigation financing agreement with LCM Funding SG Pty Ltd. Says the financing regards Indo Gold Pty Ltd's conditional arbitration funding agreement for up to USD10.5 million in litigation financing with LCM Funding. A first extension was agreed on July 3 for July 14, it has now been extended to July 28. The extension is to allow LCM to complete its detailed due diligence. "There can be no assurance that LCM's due diligence will be completed to LCM's satisfaction," Panthera says.

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Thalassa Holdings Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based investment holding company - Suspension on trading of its shares is lifted, effective Monday. On Tuesday, Thalassa posted its 2022 results. It said revenue rose to GBP295,968 for 2022, up from GBP138,656 in 2021. Pretax loss narrowed to GBP1.4 million from GBP1.7 million.

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Caerus Mineral Resources PLC - Cyprus-focused copper miner - Suspension on trading of its shares is lifted, effective Monday. On Wednesday, Caerus posted its 2022 results. It said its pretax loss widened in 2022 to GBP5.5 million from, GBP987,970 in 2021. This was largely attributed to an impairment of intangible assets of GBP3.1 million, up from GBP118,690 in 2021. The company did not generate any revenue in 2022 unchanged from 2021.

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Anemoi International Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based holding company - Suspension on trading of its shares is lifted, effective Monday. On Tuesday, Anemoi posted its 2022 results. It said its pretax loss for 2022 was GBP823,792 compared with GBP603,530 in 2021. Its revenue increased to GBP137,288 in 2022 from GBP5,603 the previous year.

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By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
(Corrects headline, second and third paragraphs that complaints are on a course to break record but have not already done so.)

Airline customer complaints are at an all-time high with the summer holidays just kicking off, Luxembourgs Consumer Protection Ministry (MCP) said on Monday.

Halfway through the year, consumers are on track to lodge nearly a thousand complaints this year with the ministry as airlines add flights and predict strong sales as travellers demand get-aways after years of pandemic restrictions. More flights mean more passengers carried and potentially upset, which along with an increased awareness of travellers' rights accounted for the increased pace of complaints, officials said.

The flow of angry consumers to the MCP seems likely to outstrip the nearly 770 gripes registered in all of 2020, when the pandemic cursed travel and 76% of complaints in Luxembourg involved cancelled flights. More than half the complaints lodged this year involve cancelled flights, the ministry said.

The Consumer Protection Ministry, the European Customer Centre Luxembourg (CEC) and the Luxembourgish Consumer Union (UCL) said on Monday they are working together to help customers recover refunds for cancelled or delayed flights, which airlines are required to give passengers under EU regulations, Minister Paulette Lenert said.

Consumer Protection Minister Paulette Lenert (right) gestures to Patrick Wildgen, coordinator of Luxembourg's passenger rights enforcement body, during a press conference on Monday.  Photo credit: Emery P. Dalesio

The ULC, which advocates for the rights of Luxembourg consumers, and the CEC, which advises customers in cross-border disputes with companies, also promise to help passengers who might be stranded or have lost luggage. Their involvement is meant to save time on navigating the protections in place for travellers, Lenert said at a press conference.

"This means that were taking all the complexities of this system away from people," she said. "You need to know you have rights if something happens during your travels."

Airlines operating under EU regulations have policies regarding customer reimbursements. Depending on the length of a delay and scheduled flight distances, passengers are entitled to catering options, accommodation and financial compensation.
Save money with giffgaffs flexible mobile contracts

The cost of living is going up, and money is tight for most of us. Which makes it more important than ever that you find a good price on your smartphone contract.

giffgaff is a great choice for the bargain hunter for a variety of reasons. For one thing, the company has fixed its UK prices until the end of 2023*, which makes a refreshing change as prices rise in other areas.

Your circumstances may change, and a flexible mobile contract helps you to adapt. giffgaff offers a range of flexible deals that will suit every budget. The company will let you switch to whichever plan is best for your needs with just a few clicks*.

Finally, giffgaff helps to recommend the most economical deal for you. Before you even sign up for a contract, the companys data calculator will work out which plan will give you the right amount of data. And once youre on board, the giffgaff supercomputer continually analyses your usage and sends you an email if switching plan could save you money.

Unmissable giffgaff deals!

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* Contracts are an 18-month commitment. You can activate your first plan using a voucher or a card but a payment method must be saved and set to auto-renew monthly for future plan payments. Speed restrictions apply to Always On data. After 120GB of data youll experience a reduced data speed of 384kbps from 8am to midnight GMT. You may notice that activities which require high amounts of data, like HD video streaming, will be slower. Any changes to plans must be made prior to the date when your plan renews that month. For all plans with over 5GB UK data, data roaming in EU and selected destinations is capped at 5GB. Youll be charged 10p/MB once 5GB is used. Reserve Tank is added automatically from your third purchase. 5G available in selected areas. 5G device, sim and tariff required to access 5G. Fair usage policy, speed and data roaming restrictions and terms and conditions apply.
A VPN is an essential tool for iPad users wanting to watch streaming services in other countries, such as Disney+, Netflix or BBC iPlayer, with some content not being available at every location. This is handy if youre traveling abroad and missing out on your favorite shows, as you can connect to a server in your own country and carry on watching as if you were at home.

Plus, when youre browsing the web using your iPad, your online activity is visible to your internet service provider (ISP), your government, and potentially others. But because a VPN changes your real IP address for a different one and encrypts the data going to and from your iPad, it makes it practically impossible to spy on you.

The new IP address can make it appear that youre located somewhere else in the world. That could be in the same country, or it could be halfway across the globe.

Weve tested many VPN services, and these are our recommendations for iPad owners.

If youve still got some questions and want to find out more, read what is a VPN and are VPNs legal? You can also find some of the best special offers available right now in our round-up of the best VPN deals.

You can also learn how to use a VPN on iPad once youve chosen a service.

Best iPad VPN reviews
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Consumer groups disclosed that e-commerce platforms in the Philippines continue to list and sell illicit vapes online in violation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act despite the repeated warnings from the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines Inc. and the Consumer Choice Philippines asked the DTI to enforce Republic Act No. 11900, or the VNNP Regulation Act, by imposing administrative sanctions or filing court cases against those continuously selling unregistered vapes on their platforms.

Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines Inc. president Antonio Israel

NCUP president Antonio Israel said in a letter to Atty. Fhillip Sawali, director of DTIs Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau on June 21, 2023 that Section 23 of Republic Act No. 11900, or the VNNP Regulation Act, states that online platforms which are non-compliant with the law should be ordered by the agency to immediately suspend trading of such products and should be liable for the fines and penalties imposed under the same section.

We hope that you will heed our call and act swiftly to protect the public interest and welfare from these illicit online activities by filing the necessary administrative or court cases against these erring online platforms, Consumer Choice Philippines president Luis Gregorio De La Paz said in a separate letter to FTEB.

Israel said NCUP raised the issue directly with the platforms as early as December 2022 and sent letters to the DTI on Feb. 15, 2023 and March 23, 2023, respectively.

The two consumer groups presented evidence, in the forms of screen shots of illicit vape listings in the two online marketplaces, to support their claims.

The Philippine Medical Association earlier appealed to the Senate and other relevant government agencies to combat illicit cigarettes and vaping products on popular online platforms. The PMA said these products are non-compliant, unregistered and possibly non-tax paid, and that they do not bear the required graphic health warnings, internal revenue stamps or packaging and labeling requirements.

Israel said to validate his groups claims and monitor compliance by the e-commerce platforms, NCUP regularly checked various sites to determine compliance with the directive of the DTI. Sad to note, however, that several listings of illicit VNNPs remain available and accessible online, said Israel, while presenting a compilation of illicit VNNPs advertised and sold online as of June 13, 2023.

We respectfully reiterate that the continuous violation of e-commerce platforms is a disservice to the Philippine government particularly the Congress which carefully deliberated and enacted the VNNP Law and the DTIthe primary government agency tasked to regulate vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, he said.

He said the illicit VNNPs do not comply with the requirements of the VNNP Law, particularly Section 8 which provides that the products being sold and advertised online shall be compliant with the health warning requirements indicated herein, as well as other BIR requirements including tax stamp, minimum or floor price or other fiscal marks.

De La Paz said the online marketplaces were also violating Sec. 83 of the VNPP law because some of their products have no graphic health warnings, were not registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue based on Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 57-2023 and were posted on websites/platforms without the required signage mandated by the law.

E-commerce platforms should conduct their own due diligence, perform adequate know-your-client standards, and strictly implement requirements accorded by relevant laws and rules and regulations, especially regarding the sale and distribution of regulated products, for the ultimate protection of the public, said De La Paz.

The negative impacts of illicit VNNP go beyond public health concerns. The Philippine government also suffers from significant revenue loss due to the proliferation of these non-compliant products. By cracking down on the sale of illicit VNNP, the government can ensure that legitimate businesses comply with regulations, contribute to the revenue stream, and foster a level playing field in the market, he said.

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ROME, Italy  Scorching heat across the Northern Hemisphere threatened to break records and whip up wildfires on Monday as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.

Parts of Europe, Asia and North America were preparing for historic heat with health warnings and evacuations.

In the North America, swaths of the United States, home to more than 80 million people, were under heat warnings or advisories Sunday (Monday in Manila), as relentless, record-breaking temperatures continued to bake western and southern states.

The National Weather Service warned of a widespread and oppressive heat wave in parts of the Southwest, western Gulf Coast and southern Florida, with sizzling temperatures carrying into the coming week raising health risks for millions.

In Arizona, the state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon.

RELENTLESS HEAT. A firefighter monitors and sets a controled burn as the Rabbit Fire scorched over 3,000 hectares in Moreno Valley, Riverside County, California yesterday. Brutally high temperatures threatened tens of millions of Americans as numerous cities braced to break records under a relentless heat dome that has baked parts of the country all week with daytime highs reaching 47 degrees Celsius. David Swanson/AFP

Europe could record its hottest-ever temperature this week on Italys islands of Sicily and Sardinia where a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) is predicted, the European Space Agency said.

Im really struggling with the heat. Ive bought a mini fan, an umbrella and bottles of water, said Lilu Da Costa Rosa, a 48-year-old Brazilian saleswoman visiting Rome on Sunday.

In the Vatican, 15,000 people braved sweltering temperatures on Sunday to hear Pope Francis lead prayers, 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 Peters Square than in his Democratic Republic of Congo diocese.

In Japan, authorities issued heatstroke alerts for tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummeled other regions.

National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital Tokyo and other places recording nearly 40 degrees Celsius.

Japans highest temperature ever  41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city 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.

WILD FIRE. A picture taken on Sunday on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma shows the evacuated town of Tijarafe surrounded by smoke billowing from wild fire near La Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The 2.560 residents of Tijarafe have been evacuated and 2.000 hectares burnt after a wild fire started in the night in Puntagorda, northwest of the island. AFP

The US National Weather Service warned a widespread and oppressive heatwave in southern and western states was expected to peak, with more than 80 million people affected by excessive heat warnings or heat advisories on Sunday.

Californias Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon.

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.

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.

The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greeces top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running 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 meteorologists 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, temperatures dropped Saturday, helping firefighters battle a blaze which burned 5,000 hectares this weekend forcing the evacuation of 4,000 people.

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 countrys southwest.

In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat.

Major flooding and landslides are common during Indias 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.

US climate envoy John Kerry arrived in the country on Sunday to restart stalled talks between the worlds two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases.

President Joe Bidens administration has identified the climate as an area for potential cooperation with Beijing, despite the tensions elsewhere.

It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming  linked to dependence on fossil fuels  is behind the intensification of heatwaves.

The EUs climate monitoring service said the world saw its hottest June on record last month.

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Seventy-five percent of Filipinos want the Philippines to partner with the United States to resolve territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday.

He said this was based on the latest Pulse Asia survey in response to Zubiris rider question: Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?

Zubiri noted that only 14 percent were not in favor, as the rest of the respondents marked themselves as not having enough knowledge to form an opinion (2 percent) or cant say (8 percent).

Amid criticisms of the US militarys participation in drills in the WPS, which has translated to trainings and regular flights within Philippine territory, Zubiri noted this survey data proves that most Filipinos welcome receiving support from the US military.

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte urged the Department of National Defense to intensify efforts for joint maritime patrols in the WPS with the US and other allies like Japan and Australia.

The lawmaker said this in the wake of reports that Chinese maritime militia vessels masquerading as fishing boats have been swarming the Del Pilar Reef and Escoda Shoal within the WPS.

This includes the sighting of the biggest China Coast Guard vessel, dubbed a monster ship, that was seen near the Ayungin Shoal, according to US maritime security expert Ray Powell on Sunday.

I hope that the recent swarming incident reported by the AFP and the Coast Guard at Del Pilar Reef and Escoda Shoal near the Recto Bank, and the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard ships to block Philippine-owned vessels from reaching Ayungin Shoal, would give our military reason to double down on the planned joint patrols of the WPS with the US and other like-minded allies like Japan and Australia, Villafuerte said.

In a related development, Filipino and American military aircraft conducted air combat and maritime interdiction tactics over the skies of Visayas and Mindanao as part of the aerial exercises of Cope Thunder 2023-2 over the weekend.

A number of aircraft from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and (US) Pacific Air Force (PACAF) soared into the skies of Visayas and Mindanao during various flight missions under Cope Thunder 2023-2 from July 12-15, 2023, Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement Monday.

Participating PAF aircraft consisted of four FA-50PH light jet fighters and two A-28B Super Tucanos, while five A-10 Warthogs came from the PACAF.

These aircraft departed Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga last July 11 for Brig. Gen. Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu as preparation for the air drills over Mactan and General Santos City.

The deployment also serves as a simulation of the 5th Fighter Wings deployment for next years Pitch Black exercises in Australia.

Zubiri cited the big disparity in the survey data of those rallying behind the partnership of the Philippines and US against China and those who were opposed to it.

The Senate leader said this would mean that our people are already angry.

They have been fed up with Chinas entering our country, especially their incursions on the Reed Bank which is very near El Nido and Coron (in Palawan), Zubiri said.

The survey came out as the Philippines celebrated the seventh year of the landmark 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated Chinas claims to historic rights within its so-called nine-dash line.

The ruling effectively recognized the rights of the Philippines to the WPS as falling within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Despite this ruling, China has continued to sail its ships into the Philippines EEZ.

The Senate is expected to approve a resolution urging the Marcos administration to bring the WPS issue back to the United Nations General Assembly amid Chinas continued aggression.

According to Zubiri, he has been amenable to Sen. Risa Hontiveros bid to pass a resolution asking the government to file a new protest at The Hague.

We should not stop at just the arbitral ruling, we should also follow up with the Hague on what is actually going on, on the ground, with China, he added.

He pointed out that Chinas incursions on PH territory happened almost every day.

We should present to the UN the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, the Senate leader said.

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 and areas that are considered international waters, hampering the freedom of navigation.

He expects that in the first week of the Senates resumption of session, the Hontiveros resolution will be calendared for plenary.

By Tuesday, we will debate on this. Im sure we can get the majority to vote in favor of this resolution.

Citing a pre-weekend report, Villafuerte said the 12,000-ton Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) 5901, which has been nicknamed The Monster because of being the worlds biggest coast guard ship, had joined 48 Chinese vessels that reportedly swarmed a portion of the WPS.

According to US security expert Powell, the CCG 5901 has a hangar for rotary-wing aircraft and is reportedly twice as big as those in the Ticonderoga class of guided-missile cruisers of the US Navy.

Villafuerte noted that the Pentagon itself had expressed concern over Beijings recent behavior, which US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described as coercive and risky, and which the Philippine military and PCG blasted as the latest acts of Chinese harassment, obstruction, and dangerous maneuvers.

He said the planned joint maritime patrols had gained higher ground with the move by 22 countries to support the Philippines assertion of its sovereignty over the WPS on the anniversary on July 12 of the 2016 PCA ruling.

Meanwhile, the Cope Thunder exercises started on July 2 and will run until July 21.

The original Cope Thunder exercises, which provided regular flight training for US pilots and those of allied nations, were first held in 1976 and continued annually in the Philippines until 1990.

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The Philippines will not comply if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant of arrest against anyone for deaths arising from former President Rodrigo Dutertes bloody war on drugs, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

Instead, Remulla said the ICC should allow the Philippines to run after the persons against whom the tribunal has evidence of having committed crimes during the anti-drug operations.

As long as they have evidence against these persons that they want to run after, then they should give them to us so that we will be the ones to prosecute those who committed crimes in our country, Remulla said in a media briefing.

He bristled at the possibility of the ICC investigators coming into the country.

No. They wont do anything here. They have nothing to do here. What are they going to do? Invade us? Do they want to come here just like a colonizer? he said.

We do not want other countries interfering with the justice system in the Republic of the Philippines. We are not a colony. We are also not a territory of other countries. Its enough. We are a free country with our own system, Remulla said.

The ICCs Appeals Chamber is set to resolve on July 18 the appeal of the Philippines to stop the order of ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, which granted the request of the ICCs Office of the Prosecutor to resume its investigation of human rights abuses during Dutertes war on drugs.

Remulla reiterated his earlier warning that should the ICCs Appeals Chamber deny the Philippines plea, the ICC is not welcome in the Philippines.

We are very hospitable people but if they interfere with us, we will not allow it because we have our own justice system, our own tradition, our own law enforcement, our own prosecution, our own courts that outsiders cant interfere with or set aside, Remulla said.

They should respect our sovereignty, he said.

Remulla said the ICC has allowed itself to be used by those with a political agenda in the Philippines.

The ICC is for countries with no prevailing justice system and it is there they are needed, he said.

It is not to interfere in the established system of the Republic of the Philippines, he added.

Earlier, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who was Justice secretary during the Duterte administration, said the country has no more available appeal if the ICC decides to deny Manilas plea to stop its investigation of the killings arising from Dutertes war on illegal drugs.

In case our appeal is denied, the ICC prosecutor will be authorized to resume his investigation into the Philippine situation. There is no further appeal available to the Philippine government, Guevarra told the Manila Standard on Sunday.

Depending on the evidence he may be able to gather, the ICC prosecutor may seek the issuance of summonses or warrants of arrest against certain individuals, Guevarra added.

As a judicial institution, the ICC does not have its own police force or enforcement body.

On its website, the ICC said it relies on the cooperation of countries worldwide for support, particularly for making arrests, transferring arrested persons to the ICC detention center in The

Hague, freezing suspects assets, and enforcing sentences.

Thus far, there have been 31 cases before the ICC, and ICC judges have issued 40 arrest warrants, including one against Russian President Vladimir Putin in March for his part in the war in Ukraine.

With the cooperation of member-states, 21 people have been detained in the ICC detention center while 16 remained at large. Charges have been dropped against five people due to their deaths, the ICC said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier maintained that the government will not cooperate with the international bodys investigation.

We cannot cooperate with the ICC considering the very serious questions about their jurisdiction and about what we consider to be interference and practically attacks on the sovereignty of the republic, Mr. Marcos said in March.

The ICC Appeals Chamber is expected to make its decision on July 18 on the governments plea against the resumption of the probe on the killings linked to the drug war.

Guevarra said persons who may be indicted will have to engage their own defense counsel.

He said the Office of the Solicitor General only represents the state.

Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the Hague-based tribunal in 2019 after it began a preliminary probe into his drug war, followed by the launch of a formal inquiry later that year.

Duterte has since continuously dismissed the ICC investigation.

Under the Duterte administrations much-condemned drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records. But human rights groups put the actual death toll to be anywhere from 12,000 to 30,000.

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, recently saw its AVATR 12 model (internal code named E12) disclosed by a catalogue of Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Photo credit: AVATR

Positioned as a luxury mid-to-large-sized new energy sedan, the AVATR 12 boasts a wheelbase of 3,020mm and dimensions surpassing the AVATR 11. It is expected to be available in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions. As previously reported, the AVATR 12 is set to debut in the third quarter of this year and is expected to hit the market within the year.

The AVATR 12 adopts a familial design language similar to the AVATR 11, with a minimalist front fascia featuring only side headlights, exuding a futuristic aura. Taking cues from the AVATR 11, the front end will be equipped with multiple sensors, including semi-solid-state LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and cameras.

Photo credit: AVATR

The AVATR 12 showcases sleek body lines and a coupe-like design. Its side profile features muscular fenders and large-sized wheels that exude a sporty demeanor. Additionally, the dimensions of the vehicle measure 5,020/1,999/1,460 (1,450)mm in length, width, and height, respectively.

In terms of powertrain, the AVATR 12 four-wheel drive models are equipped with the Huawei DriveONE dual-motor system, with maximum power outputs of 195kW and 230kW for the front and rear motors, respectively. The single-motor model achieves a maximum power output of 230kW. The AVATR 12 also utilizes CATLs ternary lithium battery packs.

According to the automaker, the AVATR 12 is built on the CHN intelligent electric vehicle technology platform like the AVATR 11. Leveraging CHN's comprehensive capabilities, it incorporates the Huawei HarmonyOS system and the advanced Huawei ADS 2.0 intelligent driving system.
In 2022, global phishing attacks frequently targeted users of delivery services, making up 27.38% of all attempts blocked by Kaspersky solutions. Scammers use emails under the guise of well-known delivery companies claiming issues with shipments. Each email will have a link to a fake website asking for personal information or financial details. Should a victim fall for the scam, their identity and banking data could end up being sold to websites on the dark web and they could lose it for good.

Online stores (15.56%), which were popular with attackers during the pandemic, were the second most targeted of phishing attacks while payment systems (10.39%) and banks (10.39%) both tied for third place.

The rating of organizations targeted by phishers is based on the triggering of the deterministic component in the Anti-Phishing system on user computers. The component detects all pages with phishing content that the user has tried to open by following a link in an email message or on the web, as long as links to these pages are present in the Kaspersky database.

In 2022, a total of 43,445,502 phishing attempts that targeted the devices of Kasperskys individual and enterprise users in the region were prevented by Kasperskys Anti-Phishing system to follow phishing links.

A recent report from one of Southeast Asias superapp that provides deliveries and mobility services in the Philippines revealed that seven in 10 consumers say that delivery is now a permanent part of life. The convenience and immediacy of this service are the top reasons for consumers. According to the same report, delivery platforms in the Philippines have even turned into search engines for food and merchant discoveries among users.

The food delivery platforms gross merchandise value in Southeast Asia was noted to have reached a 5% year-on-year increase or an equivalent of US$16.3 billion, primarily driven by a few small markets in the region including the Philippines.

When it comes to scamming people online, phishing remains to be the tried and tested modus operandi of cybercriminals due to its cost-effectiveness and profitability. A malicious mail with a phishing link that leads to a phishing page lays the foundation for an attack that will eventually result in identity theft, financial loss and damage to reputation for both individuals and businesses. Protecting corporate and personal data is an urgent necessity for everyone in the Philippines and in the region, says Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

In Kasperskys previous studies, the average cost of data breach for small and medium businesses (SMBs) from 2017-2021 is at $104,400 (or P5.8 million in todays forex). The highest recorded financial impact was $120,000 in 2018 which went down to $108,000 and $101,000 in 2019 and 2020, respectively, during the pandemic. It has gone up slightly to $105,000 in 2021.

Recent data from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) revealed at least 73% of consumer data from micro, in the country are lost to cybercriminals.

Recently, weve seen an increase in targeted phishing attacks where scammers dont immediately move on to the phishing attack itself, but only after several introductory emails where there is active correspondence with the victim. Our experts predict that this trend is likely to continue. New tricks are also likely to emerge in the corporate sector in 2023, with attacks generating significant profits for attackers, adds Hia.

To make sure that you dont become a phishing attack victim, here are some precautionary steps you should always take to avoid phishing.

Learn to recognize phishing attacks: make sure you are familiar with what all types of phishing attacks look like. When you receive them, delete them immediately.

Report phishing attacks: Once you have avoided a phishing attack, report the attack. This will allow companies to step up security and ensure theyre keeping customer accounts safe.

Get antivirus and anti-phishing software: Most digital security companies have software that has anti-phishing components built-in. Many will allow you to filter out phishing messages as spam, so you dont even see them. Make sure you are using an antivirus program that would also remove any virus on your computer and that would help heal any damage done if any bad actors had installed malware on your devices.

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Courthouse Brew Co. started with a pineapple.

Co-owner Danny Whalen was out at a Brazilian restaurant in summer 2018 when he was served a grilled pineapple dusted with cinnamon. The flavor was so delicious that Whalen, who worked at Brew City in Worcester at the time, was immediately inspired to turn it into a beer.

Neither Whalen nor friend and fellow bartender Mark Gawlak had ever tried brewing their own beer before, but it wasnt long before the idea spiraled into something more.

I told him, We can definitely incorporate that into a beer, but we should start a brewery, Gawlak said.

Today, that pineapple and cinnamon IPA is available by the name Attractive Nuisance at Courthouse Brew Co.s brand-new taproom, which opened earlier this month after nearly five years of work and planning.

Gawlak and Whalen started out by doing a few sessions at Deja Brew, a Shrewsbury business that offers classes on beer and wine making, to get the fundamentals down. They tried using a store-bought home-brewing kit once, but abandoned it after one try in favor of Whalens mothers commercial stove.

We were cooking in lobster pots on the stovetop with mesh bags, and we only have so many bottles so wed fill them up and a couple weeks later, we brew again and somehow youve got to empty the bottles, Gawlak said.

After trying out a few different recipes for the Attractive Nuisance IPA and perfecting it, they expanded to more beers. Meanwhile, they were planning how to turn their project into a business.

The name was easy, they said. Both Gawlak and Whalen work as lawyers in addition to brewing, so they decided to turn that into a theme for the brewery. Every beer they make is named after a legal term: aside from Attractive Nuisance, they have In Re Centennial, Strict Scrutiny and more.

They were just about ready to begin work on a commercial brewery and taproom when the pandemic began, putting a stop to their plans. They had been looking at space in the historic Whittall Mill complex on Brussels Street. Whalen, who has an interest in history, said he fell in love with the building at first sight.

My grandfather used to own a potato doughnut shop two streets over back in the 60s and 70s. My parents used to own it through family on Cambridge Street, a minute away, Whalen said. It was like a perfect fit.

They had looked at a couple spaces in the complex before the beginning of COVID-19, but everything fell through once lockdown started. However, once things started to open back up, the building owners came back to Gawlak and Whalen and said they had an open space on the first floor that would be perfect for their operation.

It took months to complete renovations and get up and running, but for the past three months, Courthouse Brew Co. has been brewing beer at 3 Brussels St. Their beers are currently on tap at about eight bars in the Worcester and Boston areas.

The industrial equipment they use now is a far cry from where they were a couple years ago.

Its mind-boggling to me, the efficiency of the equipment that were using now, Whalen said. Its second to none.

The taproom leans into its historic mill setting, with exposed brick walls, visible beams and pipes in the high ceilings and an unobstructed view into the brewing process behind the bar. Gawlak and Whalen also played up their legal theme in their decor: the walls are hung with historic drawings of old courthouses, and a bright neon sign declares, Youve been served.

Even the brewing tanks are named after female Supreme Court justices, with labels reading Sonia, Ketanji and Amy.

The location, aside from being ideal for anyone traveling into Worcester, as its right off of Interstate 290, gives them the opportunity to work with neighbors like Acoustic Java, who have provided beans for coffee-flavored beers.

It also provides a built-in customer base.

Theyve got a bunch of state offices next door. ... Were really hoping some of these guys get the initiative and just tell their boss theyre going to the courthouse, Gawlak joked. Its not a lie.

Courthouse has gotten good feedback in the few weeks theyve been open, and they hope to hold a grand opening next month with a full line of beers.

We want to brew things that people want to drink, you know, that have at least some universal appeal, Gawlak said.

Courthouse Brew Co. is open from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 12 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 3 Brussels St.
A South Shore woman was shot in the midst of a shooting in Fargo, North Dakota, on Friday, a shooting that left a local police officer dead, WCVB reported.

Karlee Koswick, 25, moved to Fargo from Cohasset three weeks ago, her family told the television station. They said she was caught in the crossfire when Mohamad Barakat, a 37-year-old man, fired at officers responding to a crash in the area.

Read more: Worcester man charged in connection with guns threats on Cutler Street

Koswick was hit by gunfire in the hip and legs, her family told WCVB. Her injuries required surgery, though the AP reported that Koswick was in fair condition as of Sunday.

Fargo police Chief David Zibolski said Barakat shot three Fargo police officers, injuring Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes and killing a third, Jake Wallin.

Its just a really sad tragedy that hes no longer with us, Zibolski said to WCVB.

A fourth officer at the site of the crash and shooting, Zach Robinson, shot and killed Barakat, the news station reported.

In a statement, Boston police offered its condolences to Wallins family and colleagues.
A school resource officer at a high school in Eastern Massachusetts has been placed on leave after being accused of having inappropriate contact with a student, public officials said.

School resource officer Sunny Nguyen was placed on paid administrative leave after Dracut Police and Dracut Public Schools learned about an interaction between Nguyen and a student at Dracut High School, according to a prepared statement from the police and school departments.

Dracut Public Schools are cooperating fully with that investigation, which remains ongoing, both departments said. Because this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information is available for release at this time.

No other information about Nguyen and his history with the department was released.
A 21-year-old hiker from Central Massachusetts had to be rescued after he fell nearly 30 feet from a ledge while hiking in New Hampshire this week, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reports.

N.H. Fish and Game conservation officers learned about an injured hiker near the Kinsman Ridge Trail on Cannon Mountain in Franconia just before 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.

The hiker, identified as Matthew Blessing, of Marlborough, told officers that he lost sight of the trail he was on while trying to get to the top of Cannon Mountain.

While looking for the trail, Blessing fell off a ledge and landed on rocks 20-30 feet below, officials said, adding that he was seriously injured as a result.

Conservation Officers with ATVs and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team had to navigate through thickly vegetated terrain to find Blessing, according to officials. Teams also experienced poor visibility as thick clouds, rain and lightning started during the rescue.

Crews eventually found Blessing by midnight, according to officials. He was put into a harness and lowered to more stable ground before being taken to Littleton Regional Healthcare for treatment.

N.H. Fish and Game added that Blessing was a self-described inexperienced hiker who learned about the hike from a coworker. Blessing was not well equipped for the hike and did not have a map, flashlight or rain gear, officials said.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese legacy automaker FAW Group (FAW) celebrated its 70th anniversary with on July 15, 2023.

70th Anniversary; photo credit: FAW Group

Coinciding with this momentous occasion, FAW also reached a significant milestone as the 55.77 millionth vehicle rolled off the production line. This achievement represents another important milestone in the brand's history, signifying FAW's transition from industrialization and marketization to a new phase of larger-scale and more globalized high-quality development.

Hongqi E-HS9; photo credit: FAW Group

In the presence of distinguished guests, vehicle models including the JETTA VS7, the Toyota bZ3, the Volkswagen Touareg, the Audi A4L, and the Bestune B70 sequentially drove off the production line. Meanwhile, the Jiefang J7 leading autonomous electric heavy-duty truck and the Hongqi E-HS9 SUV proudly passed through Gate No. 1 at the ceremony site. Ultimately, the honor of being the 55.77 millionth vehicle went to the Hongqi E-HS9. With this achievement, FAW solidifies its position as the leader in terms of production and sales volume.

To date, FAW has accumulated a total production and sales volume of 55.77 million vehicles. The company's operating revenue has so far reached nearly 8.3 trillion yuan, with a total profit and tax payment exceeding 1.87 trillion yuan and total assets surpassing 600 billion yuan. The brand value of "FAW Group" exceeds 420 billion yuan, while both the "Jiefang" and "Hongqi" brands boast a value exceeding 110 billion yuan, placing them at the forefront of the domestic automotive industry.
SPRINGFIELD  The nurses outside Mercy Medical Center said the hospital recently told them about 10,000 people have left its emergency room in Springfield in the last year without treatment.

When I first started, 10 years ago, one or two people walking away a day was a disaster, said Anne Marie Paquette, who works as a registered nurse in the emergency department and is a union representative with the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

But now, with too few nurses at Mercy Medical Center, the nurses say patients are backing up in the emergency department, leading to long wait times. In frustration, people leave without getting treatment.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents about 400 unionized nurses at the 182-bed, acute-care hospital in Springfield conducted an informational picket Monday afternoon outside the hospitals main entrance on Carew Street.

The nurses have a contract in place and are not bargaining. The picket, which was made up of about 35 nurses and their supporters, was meant to inform.

Nurses called for Mercy to hire more nurses and rebuild a staff thats been shrinking post-pandemic. They also called on management to reinstate a bonus system that compensated them as much as $300 a week for picking up extra shifts.

In a statement, Mercys parent organization Trinity Health said it was proud of its teams that provide live-saving care, which included nurses.

Mercy Medical Center continues to provide high-quality care to our patients that come to the hospital for care, Trinity Health said. As we manage changes in healthcare demand post-pandemic, and global workforce shortages, we aim to deliver care in ways that are most efficient and deliver the highest experience for the community.

Registered nurse Dee Doyle, co-chair of the union committee that bargains with the hospital, said the lack of staff at Mercy is a problem of managements own creation.

Instead, nurses said Mercy is looking to traveling nurses to fill in gaps in staffing as nurses from Mercy move on to other jobs where bonus systems are still in place, including Holyoke Medical Center and Baystate Health.

As a nurse I could work anywhere in the country, said Lisa Mainville, a registered nurse in the Mercy emergency room. But I chose to work here.

Most recently, Mercy closed 20 of its intermediate care beds on July 2 without giving notice to nurses or the union, said the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Mercy told workers the closure was temporary. Nurses said the shutdown fits in with a pattern following the closures of respiratory and neuro-ortho services at Mercy, which the hospital also describes as temporary.

But Doyle warned the closures have been prolonged with no indication they will be reopened.

Springfield City Council President and candidate for mayor Jesse Lederman joined nurses on the picket line.

Nurses are the glue that holds our healthcare system together, and they see first hand how the decisions made at the corporate level impact patients right here in our community, Lederman said in an emailed statement. If they are raising an alarm, we would do well to listen.

Kareem Kibodya, a candidate for the Ward 4 City Council seat, was there as well.
A Newton man who was charged on Saturday in the fatal beating of his wife was prosecuted for violating a restraining order against her in 2021, the second violation since last Thursday, court records show.

Richard Hanson, 64, was arrested by Newton police and charged with assault with the intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in the death of 54-year-old Nancy Hanson.

A teenager called 911 to report the ongoing assault inside their Brookline home on Saturday around 8:21 p.m., Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. Upon arrival, police found Nancy Hanson had received blunt force injuries. She was shortly rushed to Brigham and Womens Hospital, where she later died.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the husband struck his wife with at least one object several times before she died, the Middlesex District Attorney said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled Nancy Hansons death a homicide due to blunt force trauma.

A restraining order was issued against Richard Hanson in the Newton District Court on July 13, the Middlesex District Attorney said. The local police had been trying to serve the order to him.

The couple have three children, whom the Department of Children and Families has taken custody of since the incident, NBC 10 reported.

In 2021, Richard Hanson was arrested by the Newton police and charged with violating a restraining order and resisting arrest, according to court records obtained by the Boston Globe. He was then placed on pre-trial probation on the condition that he attend alcohol counseling and not attack his wife.

A year earlier in 2020, Nancy Hanson was arrested and charged with domestic violence after she kicked her husband over an argument, court records obtained by the Globe showed.

The case was dismissed when Richard Hanson invoked his marital privilege and refused to testify against his wife, the Globe reported. Both Hansons filed paperwork stating they reconciled their issues.

Last night we had another horrific tragedy in Newton as violence ended in the murder of a wife in her Brookline Street home, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in a statement. I know I speak for everyone in Newton when I say my heart goes out to the womans family and friends. The woman who was murdered appears to be the victim of domestic violence.
A federal jury has convicted a Springfield man for sex trafficking a 13-year-old, according to the Department of Justice District of Massachusetts.

Carlos Casillas, 51, of Springfield, was convicted on July 14 following a three-day jury trial on one count of sex trafficking a minor. A sentencing date has not been scheduled yet by the court, a press release from the DOJ said.

In September 2021, an investigation began into Casillas for sex trafficking activity involving a 13-year-old girl living in a group home in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, according to the DOJ.

Read more: Judge orders GPS removed for former Worcester teacher accused of sex trafficking

Casillas was in contact with the girl through Facebook Messenger, said the release. Casillas picked her up from a group home and took her to a local motel, the DOJ said.

Carlos Casillas preyed on a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in state custody, said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy in the press release. His conduct was beyond horrific and now he will face the lengthy sentence of incarceration the law requires for sex trafficking of a minor. This office and the incredibly dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners we work with will never cease in our efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation.

This sex trafficking charge provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the DOJ.

Members of the public who believe they, or someone they know, may be a victim of sex trafficking, can email the U.S. Attorneys Office or call them at 617-748-3100 or visit the Polaris Project website for information and resources.
Massachusetts State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash on I-93 southbound in Wilmington that left one person dead on Sunday night.

A 2008 Honda Civic sedan and a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado pickup were headed southbound near Concord Street, according to a preliminary investigation from the state police.

Police evidence shows that the Honda slid uncontrollably against the road, exited the median and struck the guardrail before reentering the roadway and colliding with the pickup truck traveling down the right lane, state police said.

A female passenger who sat in the front right of the Honda suffered serious, life-threatening injuries during the crash, state police said. She was transported to Lahey Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead due to her injuries.

Other victims were transported to Lahey and Winchester Hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, state police said.
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 Robinson, 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.

Robinson 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.

Read more: How Massachusetts is retraining police officers to find missing persons

Robinson 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.
Nancy Hansons life was cut short over the weekend after the mom of three was beaten with an unidentified object in her Newton home, according to authorities. Her husband now faces murder charges.

I know I speak for everyone in Newton when I say my heart goes out to the womans family and friends, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in an email statement. The woman who was murdered appears to be the victim of domestic violence.

Hanson was a 54-year-old mother of three. Since her death, the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families has taken custody of her sons.

She was a beloved member of her community, known for her friendly nature and welcoming spirit, an obituary for her said. Nancy had a reputation for making a positive impression on others, particularly newcomers to the area. As a wife and mother, she exhibited great love and devotion to her family.

Hanson was an exercise instructor at the West Suburban YMCA, one of her former students told the Boston Globe. She continued teaching at the Y even well into her pregnancy with her third son. She taught students Zumba, full-body conditioning and other classes.

I found her so upbeat and positive. She was petite and energetic, the student told the Globe.

Richard Hanson entered a not-guilty plea in Newton District Court on Monday to the charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery on a family member, armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, the Globe reported. He is currently held without bail.

Richard Hanson was arrested on Saturday after a teenager called 911 to report an ongoing assault inside their Brookline home that day at about 8:21 p.m., Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. Police found Nancy Hanson had received blunt-force injuries. She was rushed to Brigham and Womens Hospital, where she later died.

A preliminary investigation suggests Richard Hanson struck his wife with at least one object several times before she died, the Middlesex district attorney said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled Nancy Hansons death a homicide due to blunt force trauma.

The killing comes only a few days after Nancy Hanson placed a restraining order against Richard Hanson, one he violated, authorities said. That was the second time her husband violated a restraining order. The first time was in 2021, according to court records obtained by the Boston Globe. He was placed on pre-trial probation then on the condition he attend alcohol counseling and not attack his wife.

In 2020, Nancy Hanson was arrested and charged with domestic violence after she kicked her husband over an argument, court records obtained by the Globe showed.

The case was dismissed when Richard Hanson invoked his marital privilege and refused to testify against his wife, the Globe reported. Both Hansons filed paperwork stating they reconciled their issues.
Authorities are investigating after a worker was killed in an apparent construction accident at a quarry on the North Shore this week, according to the Essex County District Attorneys Office.

Police got a call reporting a problem in a rock crusher suspended above a quarry in the Aggregate Industries facility, located at 30 Danvers Road in Swampscott, around 1 p.m. on Monday, July 17, the DAs Office reported.

The worker, whose identity was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene, the office said.

The death is being investigated by the Essex County District Attorneys Office State Police Detective Unit, Swampscott Police and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also investigating.
While skies clear up from storm clouds, a haze is expected to reintroduce itself to New England skies as Canadian wildfire smoke returns, prompting air quality alerts across the United States and parts of the Northeast on Monday.

CNN reported that over a dozen states issued air quality alerts as smoke is expected to affect visibility and breathable air for around 70 million people, with bad air reaching as far south as Alabama.

Winds are expected to push this smoke plume toward parts of the East Coast, though not anticipated to resemble the blackened orange skies seen in June, CNN added. These alerts extend from Montana across to northern New England, with all of New York under an air quality health advisory with very unhealthy air, according to a press release, with N95 masks available for protection.

New Yorkers should once again prepare for smoke from the wildfires in Western Canada to impact our states air quality this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in the statement. To help everyone stay informed and safe, we are activating emergency notifications on our roads and public transit systems and making masks available to counties for distribution. As forecasts continue to evolve, I encourage New Yorkers to stay up to date on the latest information and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.

There are 883 fires are burning across Canada, ravaging parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwestern Territories, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. From that number, 580 fires have been declared out of control as 24 million acres have so far burned across the country as of Monday.

In the week before July 13, 51,000 lightning strikes from thunderstorms started half of British Columbias wildfires, according to the British Columbia Wildfire Service. Across the country, dry brush lacking moisture due to drought conditions have yielded a stronger chance for fires to be fueled by the landscape.

Parts of Vermont are also about to be under air quality alerts on Monday, covering Burlington, Montpelier, Bristol, Ludlow and several more, according to the National Weather Service. The alert goes into effect at noon and is expected to last until 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources expects the air quality to approach or exceed the Code Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category due to fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teenagers should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion, the alerts said.

Read more: Tornado confirmed in North Brookfield Sunday

So far on Monday, Massachusetts was not under any air quality alerts. The air quality-tracking website AirNow.gov showed all of the states communities labeled as having good air quality. Smoke is expected to be elevated but could reach the ground, the National Weather Service said.

Any consideration for (air quality alerts) will be made in coordination with our state partners on an as-needed basis, forecasters said.
A man seen in the area of Worcesters Cutler Street with a handgun, running with it and later pointing it at officers, was charged following his arrest on Friday, police said.

The man, who was not identified in a police statement, was charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm), kidnapping while armed with a firearm, intimidation of a witness, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, threatening to commit a crime, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

Worcester police were dispatched to the area of Cutler Street at around 12:11 p.m. on Friday for a report of a male threatening people with a handgun, police said in a statement. They arrived to see a man running on Dorchester Street and followed him. After police ordered the man to drop the gun, he sat behind a parked vehicle on Cutler Street and kept the gun in hand.

Officers set up a perimeter around the man, talking to him in an effort to de-escalate the situation, police said. During the incident, police said the man pointed the gun at them but did not fire it. He set it down once on the ground without leaving it before picking it up again.

Read more: Two dead after crash involving dirt bike and SUV in Wareham

Police said he then entered a porch to a nearby residence which he had a connection with and refused to leave.

Along with officers, the Crisis Negotiation Team, SWAT Team, and mental health clinicians were all dispatched to the area, police said. Residents in the area were evacuated from their homes as crisis negotiators spoke with the man. By 2:17 p.m., after what police called a lengthy negotiation, he left the gun on the porch and went into police custody without incident.

Read more: Revere teen charged in connection with attack on Silver Line passenger

Early findings in the police investigation found that the male had threatened multiple people with the firearm, police said.

Fridays standoff came one week after a 13-hour standoff on Colby Avenue, where a man was charged in connection with shooting two family members before barricading himself in a home. That man, 24-year-old Caleb Boateng, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at Worcester District Court.
THE inquest into the death of a 14-year-old Achill boy who died suddenly three weeks after he was administered with the Covid vaccine will be heard tomorrow morning and is expected to last at least three days.

Joseph McGinty from The Valley, Achill died on September 13, 2021 three weeks after he received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre. The teenager suffered a 'severe medical deterioration' in the weeks after getting the vaccination on August 20, 2021. He was admitted to Mayo University Hospital on September 1, 2021, where he stayed overnight before he was discharged the following day. He attended hospital again on September 8 for a review and died on September 13 after becoming ill at home.

The parents of Joseph McGinty, John Paul and Patricia McGinty are to give evidence at the opening day of the inquest which is due to start on Tuesday morning in Swinford Courthouse.

Patrick O'Connor, the Coroner for the district of Mayo has pencilled in three days to allow evidence to be heard from 18 witnesses.

Videolink evidence

Dr Gillian Ellsbury, Pfizer's UK vaccines medical director is scheduled to give evidence to the inquest on Thursday morning via videolink. A preliminary hearing of the inquest in June heard that Dr Ellsbury, who is Pfizers chief witness in the case, was advised not to travel to Swinford due to alleged threats on social media regarding vaccines.

Mr O'Connor had requested the attendance of the Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth, the chairperson of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, Dr Karina Butler and Anne Tobin, the pharmacovigilance manager with the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

However, these witnesses will not now give evidence in person at the inquest and statements on behalf of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority will be read into the record.

Evidence will also be heard from Mr McGinty's GP, Dr Bernadette O'Leary; Professor Michael O'Neill, Consultant Paediatrician in MUH; Dr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist at MUH; Frank Harburn, the General Manager of the Regional Vaccination Programme in the Saolta region as well as witnesses from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- The Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (Beijing) Research Institute (CICV) on July 13, 2023, according to a post on the carmaker's WeChat account.

Signing ceremony; photo credit: Great Wall Motor

This partnership aims to foster deep collaboration in areas such as national targets, policy regulations and standards, cutting-edge common technologies, testing and verification, automotive digitalization, automotive ecosystem, and technology commercialization, all contributing to the intelligent development of China's automotive industry.

Having achieved a flat, networked, and decentralized layout in the two major areas of energy and intelligence, Great Wall Motor possesses comprehensive in-house capabilities in key technologies related to intelligent connected vehicles. These include intelligent driving, smart cockpits, and new electronic and electrical architectures. Additionally, the company has made significant progress in forward-looking domains such as low-power, high-computing chips and data intelligent systems.

This strategic cooperation agreement is expected to propel the establishment of an innovation community for intelligent connected vehicles between Great Wall Motor and CICV. By optimizing resource allocation and promoting collaborative technological innovation, both parties aim to accelerate the evolution of intelligent connected vehicles, laying a solid foundation for future strengthened cooperation and mutual benefits.

In the future, Great Wall Motor will continue to deepen its cooperation with CICV, intensifying its investment in technological research and development. The company is committed to enhancing its in-house capabilities and striving to create a caring AI-powered travel assistant, offering users more intelligent, safer, and more convenient travel services.
by Fern Siegel , July 17, 2023

Above+Beyond has announced its new leadership team, as well as the senior hire of Dena Walker as its new Chief Strategy Officer. Walker, currently global strategy director at BBDO New York, will assume her role later this summer.

Walker will lead strategy across both existing clients and new business. She previously held positions at BBDO Dublin and DentsuX in Singapore.

In addition, the agency has upped several staffers: Laura Graham to the role of Chief Production Officer and Jonny Ray to managing director.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Dongfeng Honda plans to launch more than 10 BEV models by 2030

Dongfeng Honda held a 20th-anniversary themed event and unveiled a new strategy named "Creating the Future 2030", under which the joint venture will no longer introduce new oil-fuel vehicles and will launch more than 10 battery electric vehicle models by 2030.

Photo credit: Dongfeng Honda

BYD presents BYD DOLPHIN at brand launch event in Chile

On July 12, BYD held the brand launch in Chile, and officially put the pure electric model BYD DOLPHIN onto the local market and announced the price. Four models, BYD HAN, BYD TANG, BYD YUAN PLUS, and BYD SONG PLUS DM-i, were exhibited at the event as well.

BASF, IOPLY establish joint research center to focus on solid-state and sodium-ion batteries

BASF and Yangtze River Delta Physics Research Center Co., Ltd. (IOPLY), a sci-tech Innovation enterprise, jointly established a research center on July 14 in Liyang City, Jiangsu Province. According to the agreement, the two parties will collaborate on materials and solutions for batteries and battery packs, with a focus on solid-state and sodium-ion batteries.

FAW Group, Volkswagen, Audi deepen collaboration in Chinese market

China's FAW Group, Volkswagen Group, and Audi AG cemented their strategic cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding.

FAW Group celebrates 70th anniversary with 55.77 millionth vehicle rolling off line

Chinese legacy automaker FAW Group (FAW) celebrated its 70th anniversary with on July 15, 2023. Coinciding with this momentous occasion, FAW also reached a significant milestone as the 55.77 millionth vehicle rolled off the production line.

BYD introduces three full-electric models to Moroccan market

On July 13th, BYD held a brand launch event in Morocco, officially introducing three of its all-electric models, the Han EV, Tang EV, and Yuan PLUS (known as BYD ATTO 3 overseas), to the Moroccan market, according to a post on BYD's WeChat account.

AVATR 12 included in MIIT's catalogue

AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, recently saw its AVATR 12 model (internal code named E12) disclosed by a catalogue of Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Rising Auto aims to deploy over 50 battery swap stations by 2023

Currently, all seven battery swapping stations of Rising Auto in Shanghai have been put into operation. In addition, the construction of battery swapping stations in more than 10 cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou, is also underway. The automaker aims to establish more than 50 battery swapping stations nationwide by the end of this year.

GAC Toyota, Tencent partner on cloud-based digital transformation

GAC Toyota, the joint venture of GAC Group and Toyota Motor, inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Chinese Internet giant Tencent for digital ecosystem collaboration in Shenzhen on July 14.

Great Wall Motor teams up with CICV for innovation in automobile intelligence

The Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (Beijing) Research Institute (CICV) on July 13, 2023, according to a post on the carmaker's WeChat account.

BYD anticipates three-digit YoY spike in H1 2023 net profit

On July 14th, BYD released its performance forecast for the first half of 2023 (the reporting period), expecting a net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company to range from 10.5 billion yuan to 11.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 192.05% to 225.43%.

HiPhi Y all-electric SUV hits market with starting price of 339,000 yuan

On July 15th, HiPhi, the Chinese luxury electric vehicle brand owned by Human Horizons, officially put its third model, the HiPhi Y SUV, onto the market. The new car offers four trim levels with a price range of 339,000 yuan to 449,000 yuan.

SERES Group expects net loss to narrow YoY in H1 2023

SERES Group, the Chinese automaker and car-making partner of Huawei, released its performance forecast for the first half of 2023 on July 15, revealing an expected year-over-year improvement of 20% to 28% in its net profit attributable to shareholders.

Great Wall Motor forecasts two-digit YoY decline in H1 2023 net profit

GWM is expected to achieve a net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company ranging from 1.15 billion yuan to 1.55 billion yuan for the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year decrease of 72.32% to 79.47%.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, July 17, 2023





Samsonite's American Tourister wants to coax younger travelers to take road trips in its biggest marketing push in a decade.

The brand refresh, new ads and new collection come as the luggage industry is exploding. American Tourister sales jumped 40% to $151.2 million in the most recent quarter. And parent Samsonite, which also owns Tumi, saw corporate revenues rise 49% to $852.1 million.

And while soaring sales are always good news, the stampede for new suitcases presents its own marketing challenge, says Nicole Adriance, senior director of brand marketing. That includes clear differentiation from competitors, like Away and Monos, as well as from other Samsonite brands.

"We've been very intentional about the positioning and the value proposition across our portfolio," she says, working to eliminate overlap and cannibalization.

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The result is a brand refresh designed to boost direct-to-consumer sales and improve wholesale results. And the brand hopes to encourage unseasoned Gen Z travelers to hit the road, discovering the fun of no-fuss road trips.

No one is heading to Paris in these ads or even getting on a plane. "We just want to inspire people to be spontaneous and not overthink travel plans," she tells Marketing Daily. "And American Tourister has a huge opportunity in the approachable luggage space."

Nail Communications created the campaign, which follows a group on a Palm Springs adventure. Ads are scheduled to run throughout the summer travel season on streaming TV, online video, paid social and digital out-of-home in New York, and taxi placements.



The main idea is to let young shoppers know that no one needs a $500 suitcase to have fun. "You can buy one of our bags at Target and have a memorable travel experience."

And while the company hopes the new effort will boost sales at retail partners, which include Kohl's and Macy's, she believes there's a tremendous opportunity to grow our D2C business. To that end, American Tourister has also completely redone its website, updated brand guidelines and overhauled all typography.

It's also investing heavily in digital ads to drive direct sales, working with micro-influencers who post about their road trips on social channels.

While the effort is primarily intended to boost revenues, Adriance is also closely tracking other metrics. "American Tourister is currently No. 2 in market share and brand awareness. We're also looking for an increase in branded search terms," she says. "We have this 90-year legacy, but we want to continue that with a new generation of consumers."
by Tanya Gazdik , July 17, 2023

Korean Air has selected Hyundai Group's Innocean USA as its media AOR, marking the agencys entry into the travel and hospitality sector.

While Korean Air has had other agency partners before, this particular collaboration reflects the growing relationship between the airline and Innocean USA, per a spokesperson.

Korean Air Chairman and CEO Walter Cho recently emphasized the importance of continuing to gain competitive edge as the aviation industry stabilizes post-COVID.

Global creative is already in development by Innoceans Seoul, Korea office and is being adapted for the U.S. audiences. It will run on radio, newspapers and TV.

Korean Air declined to disclose billings for this partnership.

Americans are now seeing an emerging trend of Korean culture taking hold across the U.S. that makes travel to Korea more appealing, especially for non-business travel.

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Innocean, launched in 2005, is the marketing vanguard for Korea-based car brand Hyundai Motor Co.. The full-service agency also handles Pacific Life.

Korean Air adds to the agencys growing list of global brands serviced by Innocean, says Steve Jun, CEO of Innocean USA and head of global business.

We plan to help them increase the travel demand to Korea, and through Korea to other destinations in Asia, Jun says in a release. "As experts in Korean culture ourselves, we look to create new travel demand by amplifying the growing enthusiasm and relevance in North America to experience all things Korean."
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 17, 2023

Privacy regulators in Norway have ordered Meta to either obtain users' consent to online behavioral advertising, or pause serving ads to people based on their online activity or general locations.

The order, issued Friday by Datatilsynet, will take effect August 4 and last for three months. If Meta fails to comply, it will face fines of around $100,000 per day.

The ban applies to ads targeted based on inferences drawn from online behavior and estimated locations -- but not to ads based on information people put in their profiles, such as their cities, gender, age or interests they expressly provided.

Behavioral advertising is one of the largest risks to privacy, the regulator stated Monday in a summary of its decision.

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Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, holds vast amounts of data on Norwegians, including sensitive data, the agency added. Many Norwegians spend a lot of time on these platforms, and therefore tracking and profiling can be used to paint a detailed picture of these peoples private life, personality and interests. Many people interact with content such as that related to health, politics and sexual orientation, and there is also a danger that this is indirectly used to target marketing to them.

The Datatilsynet's order will expire in November, but the agency can ask the European Data Protection Board to issue a longer ban.

The new decision adds to Meta's growing privacy challenges in Europe.

Late last year, the Irish Data Protection Commission ruled late last year that Meta lacked a valid basis to process users' data. (Europe's broad General Data Protection Regulation requires companies to have a legal basis to process data.) The Data Protection Commission rejected Meta's argument that its contracts with users provided a legal basis to serve them with targeted ads, and fined the company roughly $414 million.

After that decision came out, Meta vowed to continue serving targeted ads in Europe, but said it would no longer contend that the data processing was justified by its terms of service.

We are changing the legal basis that we use to process certain first party data in Europe from contractual necessity to legitimate interests,' the company wrote in March, adding that the change wouldn't prevent personalized advertising.

Earlier this month, Europe's highest court signaled in a separate case involving Meta that the company might not prevail with that argument. The court's summary of its decision in that case included a statement that personalized advertising isn't a legitimate interest that would justify the processing of people's data without their consent.

Concerns about Europe's laws have also led Meta to delay launching its new social service, Threads, in the EU.

A Meta spokesperson said the new decision out of Norway has no immediate impact to the company's services, adding that Meta continues to engage with its lead privacy regulator in Europe -- the Irish Data Protection Commission.

The debate around legal bases has been ongoing for some time and businesses continue to face a lack of regulatory certainty in this area, the spokesperson added.
by Teresa Buyikian , July 17, 2023





Photo Credit: Lori Sapio (PRNewsfoto/Marco's Pizza)

Marcos Pizza, the Toledo, Ohio-based pizza chain with more than 1,100 locations in 34 states, has hired food industry veteran Denise Lauer as chief marketing officer.

In her new position, Lauer is responsible for national advertising and media buying strategy, digital and social media, brand strategy, web/app experience, product development and innovation, promotions, multicultural marketing, field/regional marketing and consumer engagement.

Lauer is reporting directly to Steve Seyferth, executive vice president/chief growth officer, and will serve on the Marco's Pizza executive leadership team.

"Denise is an insightful brand leader," said Seyferth in a release. "Her skillset and experience in past CMO roles at large and respected organizations speak directly to the objectives we're looking to accomplish: helping drive results and new levels of customer engagement.

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According to Marcos, the hire comes as the 45-year-old brand eyes further national franchise expansion. In the last six years, the chain has doubled its store footprint and identified 4,200 potential U.S. locations.

"(Growing up) in Northeast Ohio, Marco's Pizza was always a family favorite, so this opportunity really comes full circle for me," said Lauer. As franchise expansion continues to surge, I plan to play a strategic role in further driving the growth and development of Marco's Pizza and catapulting the brand into the national spotlight."

Previously Lauer spent 20+ years working on both domestic and foreign brands, as well as serving over a decade within the food industry. Her experience includes work for Morton Salt, PepsiCo  Quaker Foods & Snacks, FedEx and Eaton Corporation.

Founded in 1978 by Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, the brand still uses Pats "secret" original pizza sauce recipe in its stores, with locations that include Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. According to the 2021 NRN Top 500 U.S. Restaurant Ranking LSR Pizza Segment, Marcos Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand based on year-over-year unit growth, and the fifth largest pizza brand in system-wide sales. As stated in the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 50% of Marco's franchised stores generated more than $1.2 million in 2022.
by Erik Oster , July 17, 2023

Gatorades fitness hydration water brand Propel has teamed up with three-time NAACP Image Awards-winning actor/director Michael B. Jordan to launch the Propel Your City Project in support of fitness accessibility.

Propel Your City kicks off this summer with the PepsiCo brand providing support to local organizations fueling fitness accessibility across multiple cities and helping them expand to reach a wider audience. Its part of a broader partnership between Propel and the actor, who helped select and spotlight the organizations propped up by Propel Your City.

Access to fitness activities is a passion point for both Propel and Michael, which is at the heart of the collaboration, Emily Boido, senior director marketing, enhanced water brands, Gatorade, tells Marketing Daily. We know not everyone has the same resources for fitness, and this project was born from the shared vision that providing more opportunities for movement can both bring together and empower communities.

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She adds, Weve had the opportunity to listen to our partners and learn what their specific organizations and communities need, and our goal is to amplify and add value to their programming.

The Los Angeles-based, Black and Brown-led community wellness organization WalkGoodLA, which connects members to activities including yoga classes and hikes, is the focus of the campaigns launch ad. The spot, directed by Nabil Elderkin (who has helmed music videos for the likes of Dua Lipa and John Legend) sees Jordan talking about the importance of movement, and his experiences finding community in Los Angeles after moving to the city to pursue his acting career, over footage of him participating in a hike.

Fitness has been an integral part of my life, but finding my community, and the sense of belonging within it, is what helped get me where I am today, Jordan said in a statement, explaining that the project aimed to unlock that experience for others. Were supporting those that are doing the work in their communities by creating spaces for people to connect and feel seen, and enabling others to reap the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of movement.

The Propel Your City Project will roll out across Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, and Los Angeles, supporting local organizations breaking down fitness barriers and expanding access to activities like organized hikes and running clubs. For example, the project secured a centralized studio for the WalkGoodLA organization featured in the launch ad.

A dedicated website provides information on complimentary classes in those cities, as well as details on how consumers can win $500 toward a gym membership.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla.M.D. Science Lab, makers of the Swiss Navy brand, has been awarded top honors with the 2023 Storerotica Award for Lubricant Company of the Year.

The 16th Annual Storerotica Awards Show was held at the ANME Founders Show on July 11. The Storerotica Awards recognized manufacturers for their outstanding achievements in the pleasure product industry. For decades, the annual Storerotica Award Show has been a staple of the adult industry.

Said ACS, M.D. Science Labs vice president of sales and marketing Briana Watkins, "I have the honor of extending our thanks from our entire M.D. Science Lab family and we are all truly grateful to Storerotica and our entire industry for this honor. We know there are a lot of great companies in our field, and we appreciate Storerotica and our industry for recognizing our continued commitment and quality."

Receiving this award means a lot to the M.D. Science Lab team since nominations were voted on exclusively by the readers of Storerotica Magazine.

Added Watkins, "Our entire team has worked hard to continually bring our company to new heights with our focus on customer service and product quality. The fact that these are basically readers choice awards makes our win so much sweeterand we appreciate you!"

To learn more about M.D. Science Lab and Swiss Navy and to view the latest product range, visit swissnavy.com.

For sales and marketing resources, visit the Swiss Navys B2B Resource Center at b2bswissnavy.com.

To learn more about becoming a Swiss Navy certified expert with free online certification, visit swissnavycertifiedexpert.com.
The caretaker and mother of a 9-day-old infant who died of starvation, dehydration and methamphetamine toxicity were sentenced in Coconino County Superior Court on Friday afternoon. Both women now face prison time.

Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols called the case one of the most horrific things Ive seen in my career.

Under seal, photographs of the unnamed baby boy were admitted into evidence, alongside written testimony from doctors, nurses, and a medical examiner describing the extreme nature of the childs mistreatment and emaciation.

The childs mother, 34-year-old Jessica Seiser, pleaded guilty to child abuse and possession/use of dangerous drugs in the case. She also testified against her co-defendant, 43-year-old Nancy Bell.

Seiser was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of probation and substance abuse counseling.

On April 27, 2022, Seiser gave birth in Page and did not seek medical care. She has since admitted to using methamphetamines throughout her pregnancy.

Bell told the court Friday that Seiser could have breastfed the baby, but said she didnt want to. She instead handed the child over to Bell when he was barely a day old.

At the time, Bell was nursing her own infant daughter and told the court she thought she could be a wet nurse -- she also said at the time she didnt ask a lot of questions.

The baby was in Bells care for eight days, during which time prosecuting attorney Jonathan Mosher said the infant starved to death.

On May 6, 2022, Bell took the baby to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Bell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case. She appeared in court Friday in person, wearing a bright purple head scarf, large glasses and a navy blue inmate jumpsuit. Bell was ruled eligible for release prior to sentencing, but was taken back into custody after violating the terms of her release.

Bell was ultimately sentenced to 18 years for her role in the death of the infant.

Bells defense attorney called licensed psychologist Christopher Margeson to testify before the court delivered her sentence.

Margeson testified that Bell seemed to have an overly optimistic outlook, passive temperament and tendency to underplay any symptoms related to her mental health. He diagnosed her with ADHD. He also testified to reviewing her medical history, and learning that she had bipolar disorder and PTSD and was born with abstinence syndrome because of her mothers heroin use prior to her birth.

Bells attorneys attempted to use Margesons testimony to illustrate why Bell might not have sought medical attention for the child sooner. The defense asked that Bell be sentenced to no more than 10 years in prison.

Speaking on her own behalf at the courtroom podium, Bell told the court, I should have taken [the baby] to the hospital the minute his mom wasnt going to care for him. That should have been my move. What he went through, thats on me. I had a responsibility to that.

Nichols pressed Bell, stating that photographic evidence made it clear the child was in dire straits far longer than Bell seemed to acknowledge.

At the time of the childs death, Bell was housing insecure and its not clear whether she was living at a friends home or out of her car when she was acting as the infants caretaker. Bell told the court Friday she was not often alone with the baby, but failed to cite clearly who else might have been around. She stated she hadnt realized the child was so small until the day she took him to the hospital.

Nichols ultimately found Bell had the capacity to conform to the law and had acted with extreme indifference to human life.

Mosher asked the court to sentence Bell to no less than 22 years in prison, adding that her actions were especially cruel and heinous given the childs condition.

Meanwhile, Seiser was not physically in court Friday, appearing on Zoom for sentencing.

Compared to Bells sentencing, Seisers was quiet and quick. While a number of people sat behind Bell during the proceedings, the courtroom was virtually empty when the victims mother was sentenced.

Seisers attorneys did not call on any witnesses to make statements about her character, and the courtroom was largely empty of supporters. She spoke on her own behalf, saying only, I am very sorry for my choices and actions. Ive lost my son. Im very, very sorry.

The defense did submit that Seiser had taken advantage of the more than 400 days she was in custody in the Coconino County jail by seeking sobriety and reconnecting with her family, including her two other young children.

The attorney for the defense said Seiser had accepted prison time and that she testified against Bell with her eyes open, knowing she would be marked as a snitch.

I feel strongly that the sentence is appropriate, Nichols said of Seiser.

Do not use drugs in prison ... use your time productively and youll still be there for your other children. What happened with your son is tragic beyond belief," the judge said to Seiser.
There were around 50 hospital staff in Brussels before Waterloo, some of whom had recently been on campaign elsewhere in the Low Countries. Other regimental doctors came over with their battalions, as did other hospital staff members (physicians, apothecaries, purveyors, and dispensers). At the time of Waterloo, there was no anaesthesia, no knowledge of or protection from bacterial infection, and hospital and daily care were still rudimentary.

Most battalions at Waterloo had a regimental medical officer and two assistants, the senior of whom would usually go into line and perform first aid  applying tourniquets, bandaging, splinting, suturing (stitching), giving water, and getting casualties out of the combat zone where feasible. The wounded would be carried off the field of battle by bandsmen or colleagues. Often casualties would then have to just fend for themselves.

Many regimental surgeons and some assistant surgeons and staff surgeons collected at Mont-St-Jean Farm, about 400 metres behind Wellingtons line. This was the 1st Corps hospital, under the command of Dr John Gunning. Here wounds were redressed and cleaned, fractures were reset, and amputations and trepanning (skull surgery) performed.

Larger hospitals and garrison and divisional services were staffed by Deputy Inspectors of Hospitals, the most senior rank of military doctor, staff surgeons (equivalent to todays hospital consultants), assistant staff surgeons, orderlies, and a few nurses.

The four-day campaign had given them around 63,000 casualties to care for. Many had to struggle to a nearby aid-post or hospital. The rest waited (and many died) for comrades to collect them, taking most to the farm buildings of Mont-St-Jean. Wounded Frenchmen were anxious to avoid capture and imprisonment on the notorious British prison hulks. But priority, anyway, was given to the British and Allied wounded. About 40 springwagons were hired from Brussels to bring in the casualties from the battle

Most wounds were inflicted on limbs (around 75%), and two-thirds were caused by small-arms fire from low-energy, smoothbore, muzzle-loading fusils, carbines, and pistols. After 50 metres or so, the lead missiles lost kinetic energy, since they were heavy and round. Also, loading and powder quality were often substandard. Thus many injuries were caused by spent balls. Discs of bacterially contaminated clothing were also frequently driven into the depths of these wounds by the missiles. To repair the damage, the surgeon first explored the wounds, using his finger. This preceded removal of debris, using probes, bullet scoops, or forceps.

Wounds from heavy iron cannon-shot  between 3lbs and 24lbs in weight  were usually fatal if received centrally or on the head and neck. Many limbs were avulsed (torn off) by round-shot. Tangential strikes by large balls could cause severe internal disruption. Quartermaster Sir William Howe de Lancey was hit a glancing blow on his right loin by a round-shot. He took a week to die. At post-mortem, it was found that eight ribs had been avulsed from his spine, and he had suffered muscle, lung, and renal injuries. His new wife Magdalene nursed him until he died. Few contemporary surgeons believed in the wind of the ball as a potential cause of injury

Most gaping wounds were left open and dressed with moist lint, or in the case of burns, non-adherent oily or waxed dressings. Rolled linen bandages (rollers) were applied to limb and trunk wounds. Although debridement (thorough wound-cleansing) as we know it today was rarely employed, surgeons often removed some dead tissue or foreign material. Other wounds, such as those caused by sabres, lances, or, rarely, bayonets, were closed with linen or silk sutures or adhesive tapes.

Roughly 2,000 amputations were carried out during or after the four battles (Ligny, Quatre Bras, Wavre, and Waterloo), with perhaps 500 Allied limb removals on the day of Waterloo. Sitting upright and restrained by assistants, the unfortunate victims had a screw tourniquet applied to the damaged limb, and the soft tissues were pulled up and cut around in a series of sweeps of a large knife, followed by bone division. The arteries were then tied off and the wound was dressed. The whole operation took about 15-20 minutes. No alcohol or painkillers were administered before surgery.

The most notorious amputation after the battle was that performed on Paget, Lord Uxbridge, after a serious knee injury. Wellingtons personal physician Dr John Hume (who was well rehearsed in surgery) performed a flap amputation (as opposed to a guillotine operation) after seeking a second opinion on his illustrious patient, who commanded the British cavalry and was brother-in-law to the Duke. At one point, the saw jammed as the bone became angled on the saw.

The inpatient mortality at Waterloo was around 9%  a seemingly very good result, until we realise how few serious casualties ever reached hospital. In April 1816, ten months after the battle, of 6,831 admitted casualties, 5,068 (74%) were able to rejoin their unit, 506 were discharged from service, 854 were still inpatients, 236 survived amputation, and 167 joined veteran battalions.

Many casualties became in- or out-pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea or at Kilmainham in Ireland. Prosthetic limbs were issued from these hospitals, but often a local artisan would construct an artificial part for an amputee.

Many medical lessons gained from this long war were forgotten in the two generations of soldiering that followed. Parsimony, complacency, and gross mismanagement were to blight the British Army in the years 1815 to 1854, setting the stage for the medical disaster of the Crimea.

Mick Crumplin is a retired surgeon, curator, and archivist at the Royal College of Surgeons, and author of The Bloody Fields of Waterloo. This is an extract from an article that appeared in issue 72 of Military History Monthly.
Change is afoot in the Army: Divisions are returning to prominence.

From recent reporting to rumors and offhand comments made during briefings, an image is beginning to emerge of the Army of the future. Bursting with enablers and officers, full general staffs, additional brigade and battalion headquarters with more staff, and funding, the divisional headquarters may soon replace brigade headquarters as a unit's heart.

That would mark a big change from the past 20 years. During much of the Global War on Terror, or GWOT, the action downrange in combat and at home in garrison was at the brigade combat team, or BCT, level. For the overwhelming majority of veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan, "division" was a combat patch, a notional way of organizing brigades.

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"The BCT model worked really well during GWOT," according to a retired brigadier general with experience at the brigade and division level who agreed to an interview on the condition that his name not be used. "In that fight, most of the tactical challenges could be dealt with by a rifle company. The Army fights two levels down; two levels up from the company level is the brigade."

In a literal sense, divisions never left. While at garrison, the division was the origin of daily or weekly operations orders and taskings for troops. Downrange in Iraq or Afghanistan, the division coordinated the distribution of assets such as helicopters, aircraft and artillery -- but was unseen by soldiers patrolling from smaller company- or platoon-level forward operating bases, or FOBs.

But the importance of divisions waned in the beginning of GWOT. Assets were pushed down to BCTs. A thriving culture (or bureaucratic hassle, depending on one's perspective) vanished with the flourish of a pen, never to return. Until now.

The restructuring originated in the 1990s when, after the Cold War, some Army planners saw smaller conflicts and insurgencies of the type later encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan as the future of conflict (others did not). Drawing on feedback from officers and data pulled from exercises, leadership decided on a dramatic overhaul of force structure.

Between 2003 and 2004, as brigades were standardized or made "modular," assets that had existed mostly at divisions since their creation -- a signals battalion; military intelligence battalion; artillery brigade; and a brigade full of support and logistics, so-called "enabler" units -- were sent to brigades in company- or battalion-sized elements.

This gave brigades the resources they needed during GWOT to function autonomously. It also helped forge teamwork and relationships in training and garrison that translated to more effectiveness downrange in combat. The reorganization also eliminated unnecessary battalion and brigade staff positions, freeing up force structure spaces for combat soldiers, sergeants and officers.

One factor complicating the shift is that most people who experienced both models and were in a position to compare are no longer in the military. This uncertainty is helping fuel a debate now over how much power to keep at Army brigades -- or whether to move it all back to the division level.

Some worry that bringing the units back from the brigade to division level risks losing lethality at the point where it is most needed on the battlefield -- that it will be adding potentially redundant layers of bureaucracy that will slow decision-making, decrease flexibility, degrade unit flexibility and trust, and reduce interoperability.

"Our first-order principle for how to organize the Army is that we should optimize our force structure for warfighting," retired Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams said in an interview.

Abrams commanded a pre-modularity brigade combat team in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II and later a division with several modular BCTs underneath it in combat in Afghanistan, and feels that the Army got the BCT exactly right.

"At present, the BCTs are optimized for lethality," he said. "Take assets from the BCT commander, you're losing some of that fighting capability."

Abrams stressed that the advantages gained through training, in shared language through habitual associations, and with relationship-building collectively outweigh the benefits of keeping those assets at a higher level.

"We risk taking a step back as a force if we back away from the BCT model that's proven itself so effective at fighting together as a team," Abrams said.

Though most agree losing the BCT's combat capabilities would be a mistake, others see the move to re-emphasize divisions -- and possibly even corps -- as inevitable and necessary for planning and command.

"In a fight, it can be difficult for a brigade commander to know what's around them," retired Maj. Gen. Fred "Doug" Robinson said.

Robinson said that combined arms warfare has always been difficult to manage, and that the complexity of war is only growing with technological advances in weapons such as drones and cyber warfare.

"At the most, you've got 24 to 48 hours of space in which to plan and think in a peer-to-peer fight," he said. "There just aren't enough hours in the day. Properly staffed, divisions can help plan and make those decisions. It opens up planning for days rather than hours."

Retired Maj. Gen. William "Bill" Nash commanded a brigade during Desert Storm that was similarly organized to one of the more recent modular BCTs. He later commanded the 1st Armored Division in Germany, from which it deployed to Bosnia in 1995.

"A division is more than a major general," Nash said during an interview. "It's an ex-brigade commander, chief of staff, a dozen lieutenant colonels who've graduated from Leavenworth and probably one or more War College graduates. It's people with brigade and battalion command and staff experience, who can write sensible orders and coordinate effectively."

Nash, like Abrams, said he hopes the transition to divisions with fuller staffs keeps brigades powerful.

As a strong believer in habitual associations and the importance of units training together and knowing one another's strengths and weaknesses, Nash said the division he led in Bosnia was at its best just after it redeployed, and that the combination of real-world experience and training helped form one of the strongest units he'd ever seen.

"Having the division structure in addition to a strong brigade component is nothing but advantage," he said.

Meanwhile, the Army's recent struggles with recruiting are putting planners in a tough position.

"Restructuring the force is a zero-sum game," said Abrams. "Ideally, you'd have all the personnel and equipment you want. To do everything correctly you'd need to expand, and that would take well over half-a-million people. We're 30,000 short of the 485,000 authorized to man the force we have now."

And that means strengthening divisions could come at the expense of brigade power -- something nobody wants to see happen.

If recruiting continues to pose a challenge, the retired brigadier general who wished to remain anonymous feels that technology may make up some ground, by helping ensure the right people get to the right positions.

"We're developing our understanding of people and their personalities," he said. "With the right tools, we can maximize the use of the people we have. One way or another, though, we'll get it done."

-- Adrian Bonenberger, an Army veteran and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, reports for Military.com.

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Ambitious modernization efforts at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and getting an update on Red Hill defueling efforts were at the top of the agenda of a recent visit by U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who visited Oahu to tour facilities and hold meetings with senior military leaders and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

In March the Navy awarded a $2.8 billion contract to Honolulu-based joint venture Dragados / Hawaiian Dredging /Orion JV to replace Dry Dock 3 with the yet-to-be built Dry Dock 5.

"This is the largest investment military construction project in ( Department of Defense ) history that we're doing here, " Hicks said.

But the latest markup for a congressional military construction bill proposes $1.5 billion in cuts to military construction, including slashes in funding for the dry dock, leading to concerns about whether the project will stay on schedule. In June, U.S. Rep. Ed Case criticized fellow lawmakers for the cuts during a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, where a number of Republicans on the committee have been pushing for spending cuts after a bitter fight over raising the debt ceiling.

"I can't believe that my colleagues believe that we should throw off this project, considering the national security implications, " Case said in remarks during a meeting of the committee. "I can't believe that my colleagues would want us to get to 2028 and have Virginia-class attack submarines wandering around the Pacific looking for a place to get their maintenance."

PHNSY, the shipyard, is the state's largest industrial employer with more than 6, 000 employees. The five-year dry-dock project is to ensure it can continue to maintain the U.S. Pacific Fleet's new nuclear-powered submarines. Current estimates project that Dry Dock 5 will cost $3 billion to $4 billion by the time of its expected completion in 2028.

Built in 1942, Dry Dock 3 is unable to service the Navy's newer Virginia-class submarines or larger surface ships. It will become functionally obsolete once the Navy retires the last of its Los Angeles-class submarines.

"Things are complicated right now on Capitol Hill, " Hicks said. "Our biggest concern, which we do share with the ( Hawaii ) delegation, is making sure the appropriations actually come and that they're on time and we avoid a continuing resolution or, even worse, a government shutdown. So we've been really trying alongside them to make the point that projects like this cannot proceed on time and on schedule unless we get those appropriations."

The dry-dock project is a key part part of the $21 billion Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, which aims to upgrade shipyards around the country over a span of 20 years. For decades, Congress gave the Navy money for new vessels and weapons the service requested, but now the Navy is playing catch-up in funding the construction and maintenance of the facilities it needs to maintain those systems and keep them working.

The Navy established SIOP to improve operations at the four U.S. public shipyards with an eye toward updating their layouts, modernizing dry docks and replacing antiquated equipment and worn-down old facilities. A major emphasis is infrastructure to support nuclear-powered subs and warships.

Pearl Harbor's location makes it a key logistical hub for the Navy's operations across the Pacific. But a 2021 Government Accountability Office report warned that facilities at PHNSY in their current state might not be capable of repairing battle-damaged vessels in the event of an armed conflict in the Pacific, forcing them to travel to the mainland if they need extensive repairs.

The Navy has been conducting near-constant global operations. The high operational demands have taken a toll on its fleets, and aging shipyards are struggling to meet maintenance demands, resulting in a growing backlog of needed repairs and tune-ups for many vessels. Some military reviews have reported that a significant portion of the Navy's fast-attack submarines are both behind schedule on maintenance and have lost critical dive certifications.

The stress of meeting these demands has also taken a toll on sailors assigned to vessels undergoing maintenance. A rash of suicides by sailors at shipyards around the country in recent years has prompted lawmakers and veterans advocates to raise questions about work and living conditions in the shipyards.

Between 2019 and 2021 as many as three Navy submarine sailors on Oahu died by suicide while their subs were in dry dock at PHNSY, including a December 2019 incident in which a sailor guarding the Los Angeles-class sub USS Columbia killed two civilian dockworkers and wounded another before taking his own life. Navy investigations found that crews reported.

Hicks said that the administration of President Joe Biden hopes to improve work and living conditions for both civilian shipyard workers and service members. During her tour, she asked officials how they were addressing quality-of-life issues as they planned modernization efforts at Pearl Harbor.

"What's good for the workforce is good for productivity, " Hicks said. "Better parking, faster commute times, making sure they have bathrooms and ventilation and places to eat. And all of that seems to be built into how they're thinking through this."

Case told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "We're dealing with a post-debt ceiling insistence from a small group of members of Congress, and primarily in the Freedom Caucus, who believe we should return to FY 2022 spending levels. And so unfortunately, my colleagues in the majority in the House feel that they need to go along with this perspective, for now, at least."

But Case said he feels confident that given increased tensions with China, the rest of the funding will ultimately make its way to PHNSY and other military facilities in the Pacific.

"I don't think it's going to stand as we get through the process, " Case said of the proposed cuts. "(I'm ) certainly going to make sure it doesn't stand."

Hicks' visit also included a meeting with Joint Task Force Red Hill commander Vice Adm. John Wade, the officer tasked with draining the 104 million gallons of fuel currently stored in tanks at the Navy's underground Red Hill fuel storage facility. The aging World War II-era tanks sit just 100 feet above a critical aquifer that most of Honolulu relies on for drinking water.

In November 2021, fuel from the facility contaminated the Navy's Oahu water system, which serves 93, 000 peopleincluding both military families and civilian families living in former military housing areas. After months of resisting an emergency order from the state to defuel the Red Hill tanks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in March 2022 ordered for the facility to be permanently closed and for the military to pursue a "distributed " fuel storage plan placing reserves in smaller tanks and aboard tankers across the region.

Military and civilian inspectors concluded that over the past 80 years, the Red Hill facility and the pipelines connecting it to Pearl Harborwhich the Navy had long contended were critical to its operations in the Pacifichad fallen into such a state of disrepair that fuel couldn't be safely extracted until after extensive repairs have been made. In June, JTF Red Hill said that it had completed all the necessary repairs.

"We, Secretary Austin and I back in Washington, are routinely in contact with (JTF Red Hill ) leadership, but it was good to have that in-person touch, " Hicks said.

When Wade took over JTF Red Hill, he had a target completion date of summer 2024, though he said he intended to look for ways to move faster. This summer, officials announced they now expect to begin defueling operations in October and complete most of the effort in January.

However, when the military announced it would shut down Red Hill, a senior Pentagon official told the Star-Advertiser that it was unclear whether the military had enough facilities and fuel tankers to take on the massive reserve at Red Hill. But Hicks insisted that the Pentagon has worked out its plans and is ready to move forward as it prepares to remove the fuel from the tanks.

"(I'm) confident that we can consume that fuel appropriately in the near term as (Red Hill ) is defueled, and at the same time, we are already moving or have moved to a more distributed fuel profile."

The Red Hill crisis has prompted many Hawaii residents to rethink their relationship with the military presence in Hawaii. Several other toxic spills at military facilities around the islands have drawn increased scrutiny. As the military prepares to store fuel elsewhere, including other island communities and allied countries across the region, Hicks said, "We have to take environmental stewardship seriously. And we do, and that's a priority for this administration, and it's going to continue to be a priority, obviously, for many of our allies and partners as well."

When asked how the military will guarantee that the fuel is moved and stored safely, she replied that "we are in 2023. It's a significantly different time frame than the period in which Red Hill was built. And so we obviously work under the standards that exist today, which do reinforce all of those environmental stewardship approaches. We don't have anything like Red Hill in that plan we have or that we're using today."

Local leaders had called for years for Red Hill to be shut down, especially after a 2014 fuel spill, warning that it was a "ticking time bomb " over Oahu's water supply. Military officials insisted that the World War II facility was safe and that they were diligently maintaining it. Red Hill operations leading up to the water crisis have become the subject of a federal criminal probe led by Krishna Dighe, senior counsel with the U.S. Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division.

___

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com

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More mercenaries from Russia's Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month's short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country Monday heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company.

The group said it was a third Wagner convoy entering the country since last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last month's rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his country's military could benefit from the mercenaries' combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagne r is located.

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhins mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow. Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhin's fate have remained murky.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry didnt say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus. Lukashenko has previously said it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service. Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

Putins comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, after the groups brief revolt last month that posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defense Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries that seemed to herald an end to their operations in Ukraine where they had played a prominent role as one of the most capable elements of Russian forces.
An attack before dawn Monday damaged a bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea that is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine, forcing the spans temporary closure for a second time in less than a year. Two people were killed and their daughter was injured.

Vehicle traffic on the Kerch Bridge came to a standstill, while rail traffic across the 19-kilometer (12-mile) span also was halted for about six hours.

The strike was carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones, Russias National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

Ukrainian officials were coy about taking responsibility, as they have been in past strikes. But in what appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment, Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said in a statement that his agency would reveal details of how the bang was organized after Kyiv has won the war.

The bridge previously was attacked in October, when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections and required months of repair. Moscow decried that assault as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraines civilian infrastructure, targeting the countrys power grid over the winter.

In Monday's blast, the Ukrainian news portal RBK-Ukraina cited a security services source as saying it was carried out by what it called floating drones. A deputy prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, later said on the Telegram messaging service that today, the Crimea bridge was torn apart by sea drones, but it was not clear if he was making an official confirmation or referring to earlier reports.

Hours after the attack, video from Russian authorities showed crews picking up debris from the deck of the bridge, a section of which appeared to be sloping to one side, and a damaged black sedan with its passenger door open.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said authorities were inspecting the damage before determining how long it will take to repair.

The Kerch Bridge is a conspicuous symbol of Moscows claims on Crimea and an essential land link to the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. The $3.6 billion bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russias military operations in southern Ukraine in the nearly 17-month-old war.

Russia has expanded its military forces in Crimea since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Occasional sabotage and other attacks against the Russian military and other facilities on the peninsula have occurred since, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine.

Those attacks and acts of sabotage haven't discouraged Russians from spending their holidays in Crimea, and as car traffic on the bridge came to a halt, long lines formed at a ferry crossing the Kerch Strait, Russian media reported.

Traffic jams also clogged a highway in the Russian-held part of the Kherson region after Moscow-appointed authorities in Crimea redirected motorists to take the land route to Russia, through the partially occupied regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

The bridge attack comes as Ukrainian forces are pressing a counteroffensive in several sections of the front line. It also happened hours before Russia announced, as expected, that it is halting a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that allows the export of Ukrainian grain during the war.

Russian media identified the dead as Alexei and Natalia Kulik, who were traveling to Crimea for a summer vacation. The 40-year-old Kulik was a truck driver and his 36-year-old wife was a municipal education worker. Their 14-year-old daughter suffered chest and brain injuries.

Kyiv didnt initially acknowledge responsibility for Octobers bridge attack either, but Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar acknowledged earlier this month that Ukraine struck it to derail Russian logistics.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council, returned to that theme Monday, calling the Ukrainian government a terrorist organization.

"We must blow up their houses and houses of their relatives, search and eliminate their accomplices, he said.

Russian authorities said the attack didn't affect the bridge's piers but damaged the deck on one of two road links. The damage appeared less serious than in October's attack.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence department, declined to comment but said: The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.

The Security Service of Ukraine posted a redacted version of a popular lullaby, tweaked to say that the bridge went to sleep again.
The Pentagon said Monday that it is moving more jets and a Navy destroyer into the Persian Gulf in an effort to deter Iran from harassing and attempting to seize ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"The secretary of defense has ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh announced at a press conference Monday.

The move comes after news Saturday that the F-16s were being deployed, and almost two weeks after the Iranian Navy attempted to illegally seize two tankers in the area and opened fire on one of them. The additional assets will also bolster A-10 Warthog attack aircraft that have been patrolling the area for more than a week.

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Officials within the Pentagon began hinting at the possibility of more hardware moving into the area last week when a senior defense official told reporters of the F-16 deployment on Friday. Then, on Sunday, the Navy's Middle East-based 5th Fleet tweeted a photo of the Thomas Hudner entering the area.

The Navy wrote that the ship is "supporting U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability."

Singh said that there is "no timetable yet" for how long the deployment of the extra jets and the ship will last. She was unable to say where the planes would be coming from and directed those questions to U.S. Central Command.

Another Navy destroyer, the USS McFaul, was instrumental in preventing the Iranian seizure of merchant ships on July 5, the service said.

The next day, the Pentagon's top spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, told reporters that there was another Iranian seizure but the U.S. Navy "did not feel the need to respond in this particular case."

"There was doubt in terms of the operational activities of this commercial vessel -- the potential that it was illegally smuggling oil," Ryder explained, noting that the pair of tankers the day prior had "both hailed [and] requested assistance."

In its press release, the Navy said that, since 2021, "Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy."

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

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The first phase of Ukraines counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory began weeks ago without fanfare. Apart from claiming that its troops are edging forward, Kyiv has not offered much detail on how its going.

Taking place mostly out of sight of impartial observers, the fighting in eastern and southern Ukraine pits troops equipped with new Western-supplied weapons against Kremlin forces that spent months digging formidable defenses and honing tactics.

Heres a look at what's happening after more than 16 months of war:

What are Ukraine's tactics?

Fighting has intensified at multiple points along the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Ukrainian forces are making steady progress along the northern and southern flanks of the wrecked city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces have been occupying since May.

Battles are also raging along the southern front in Zaporizhzhia, where Ukrainian forces are making minimal gains and coming up against formidable Russian fortifications.

Hanna Maliar, Ukraines deputy minister of defense, 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.

Britains top military officer says that is Ukraines first goal: starve Russian units of supplies and reinforcements by attacking logistic and command centers in the rear, including with U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Ukraine is also trying to stretch Russias resources by simultaneously badgering multiple points along the front line, said Admiral Tony Radakin, chief of the U.K. defense staff, earlier this month.

Ukraines full-scale offensive will come, he said, when one point on the front line collapses. Kyivs reserve troops can then pour through the breach.

I would describe it as a policy of starve, stretch and strike, Radakin told a British parliamentary committee.

He noted 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 to be seen over the battlefield until next year. Ukraine is also asking for long-range weapons and more ammunitions.

The U.S. sent Ukraine cluster munitions this week to help bolster its offensive. President Joe Biden said he hoped the controversial bombs will provide a temporary fix to help stop Russian tanks because the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.

What are Russia's tactics?

The Kremlins forces are using large numbers of anti-tank mines to slow Ukraine's armored counteroffensive operations in southern Ukraine. That puts exposed Ukrainian attackers at the mercy of Russian drones, helicopters and artillery.

Even when entrenched behind many kilometers (miles) of trenches, anti-tank ditches and other obstacles, reportedly up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) deep in some places, Russian forces face plenty of difficulties.

Battlefield attrition has diminished Moscow's military heft. The war has also exposed incompetence and a lack of initiative in Russian ranks, as well as poor coordination.

Radakin, Britains commander in chief, said Russia has lost about half its combat strength since its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Also, Russian factories arent able to supply enough munitions to replace those lost on the battlefield, he said.

For example, Russia has used about 10 million shells in Ukraine, while producing only 1 million new ones, according to Radakin. Similarly, it has lost more than 2,000 tanks but manufactured just 200 replacements, he said.

Russians are reportedly conducting offensive operations and making minimal gains in the northern Kreminna forest area.

What next?

The Ukrainian counteroffensive will be very long and very bloody, U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said recently.

Ukrainian soldiers say the sheer weight of Russian shelling of their positions has been surprising and is slowing Kyivs advance.

In the open fields of Zaporizhzhia in particular, where finding cover is difficult, commanders are exposing fewer soldiers in order to limit the number of casualties from heavy artillery.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged last week that the counteroffensive isnt going fast.

It started later than many expected, apparently as Kyiv waited for the delivery of Western arms and the arrival of Western-trained soldiers. That delay meant that the operation began in the summer instead of the spring.

Military planners have to bear in mind that the Ukrainian winter brings muddy conditions that bog down armor and troops. The notorious mud season even has its own name: rasputitsa.

Once the weather deteriorates, the warring sides will have to take stock and get ready for what could be another round of attritional warfare over the coming winter.

Western analysts say the counteroffensive, even if it prospers, wont end the war. But it could prove to be a decisive episode and strengthen Kyivs hand in any negotiations. Ukraine is also keen to show the West that sending aid was worthwhile.
More than 50 years after the practice of redlining was banned, veterans living in neighborhoods where previous residents had been denied home loans or other benefits have a higher incidence of heart disease and other chronic conditions, according to research published last week in JAMA Network Open.

Examining the medical records of nearly 80,000 cardiovascular patients in the Veterans Health Administration against the backdrop of historic Home Owners' Loan Corporation maps and census data, the researchers found that veterans living in neighborhoods once redlined by the federal government had a nearly 13% higher risk of death from any cause and a 15% higher risk of a major heart attack than veterans who lived in the most desirable areas as deemed by the HOLC.

"Even nearly a century after its elimination, redlining is still adversely associated with cardiovascular events nationally," they wrote.

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The veterans living in formerly redlined neighborhoods also had a higher incidence of smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Previous studies also have shown that those living in formerly redlined areas have worse outcomes. The researchers, led by Dr. Salil Deo, a surgeon at the Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Hospital in Cleveland, sought to determine whether there was any link between neighborhood redlining and cardiovascular health in a large population -- in this case, veterans who live in neighborhoods once deemed undesirable by the federal government.

The Home Owners' Loan Corporation was created in the 1930s by Congress to provide Americans a pathway to homeownership amid the Depression. The HOLC ranked neighborhoods in 200 cities from least to most risky, with the "A" neighborhoods, color-coded as green, considered to be the most likely to go up in value, and "D" neighborhoods, outlined in red, as most at risk for declining property values.

The "D" neighborhoods often were areas with mostly Black residents who subsequently were denied home loans backed by federal insurance programs. The designation denied residents any opportunity for upward mobility, led to disinvestment by companies, and increased segregation.

The practice of redlining was banned by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited housing discrimination. But previous studies have shown that the neighborhoods, which are still primarily made up of Black and Hispanic residents, continue to have worse health outcomes. Researchers set out to determine how these conditions affect veterans living in these neighborhoods today.

They found that, of the veterans studied, nearly 82% lived in neighborhoods formerly categorized by the HOLC. Veterans living in "A" neighborhoods were more likely to be white and had lower rates of smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, while their counterparts in the "D" neighborhoods had worse outcomes.

The authors said the reasons behind the differences "remain speculative and likely multifactorial," but added that contributing factors could include the dearth of green space or recreational areas in formerly redlined neighborhoods; a lack of access to healthy food; and higher levels of pollution -- not only in the air, soil and water but also noise and light pollution, which can cause stress and negatively impact health.

They also noted that the effects of racial discrimination and segregation over time may be "transgenerational" as the result of genetic factors that could contribute to overall health, cardiovascular strength and resilience.

The study had several limitations, according to researchers, including that it did not account for veterans who relocated to the studied neighborhoods from elsewhere. It also looked only at veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system who have access to treatment and services and not the entire veteran population of a neighborhood, which they said may actually have diminished the results of redlining.

"Nevertheless, these findings in a veterans' population that represents a large geographically and racially diverse contemporary cohort with atherosclerotic vascular disease ... shed light on racist residential policies and environmental disinvestment in a high-risk population," they wrote.

The researchers said the study has implications for physicians and public health policy, noting that it highlights the need to consider a patient's neighborhood characteristics when exploring their cardiovascular risk and appraise the role of structural racism in patient care.

They also said that steps should be taken to improve formerly redlined neighborhoods, such as increasing green space, reducing access to tobacco by increasing taxes and limiting sales, increasing access to healthy food, and reaching patients through non-standard methods of care, such as mobile health clinics.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter and Threads @patriciakime.

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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 straightforward. 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.

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Hunter Harvey felt soreness in his right triceps following his outing on Saturday, and is set to undergo an MRI today to fully access any damage. Nationals manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com) that more than likely, Harvey will be headed to the 15-day injured list since Id rather be very careful, very cautious with him. X-rays were clean on Harveys arm yesterday, so that it at least some positive news that the right-hander has avoided another serious injury.

However, the Nats caution is certainly understandable given the potential seriousness of any triceps or elbow-related injury, as well as Harveys own personal injury history. Most prominently, Harvey underwent a Tommy John surgery in 2016, and his career has been repeatedly stalled by various health issues. After Washington claimed him off waivers from the Giants in March 2022, Harvey made four appearances for the Nats before missing close to three months with a right pronator strain.

When Harvey has been able to pitch, he has been quite effective over his two seasons with the Nationals. Since the start of the 2022 campaign, the righty has a 2.82 ERA, 28.5% strikeout rate, and a 7.6% walk rate over 79 2/3 relief innings. Harvey has also racked up nine saves since taking over the closers job from Kyle Finnegan, further enhancing both his value to the Nats and his potential worth as a deadline trade chip.

Because of the stop-and-start nature of Harveys injury-hampered career, he is only in his first year of arbitration eligibility, so Washington still holds team control over his services through the 2025 season. This means that Harvey wasnt a surefire candidate to be moved at the deadline, but with the Nationals still in rebuild mode, there was certainly an argument to be made for D.C. to sell high on Harvey. Unfortunately, it now doesnt seem that Harvey will even be back from the IL before the August 1 deadline, unless a clean MRI and no lingering soreness results in a minimum 15-day absence. Even then, its hard to imagine that a trade suitor would be willing to give up any sort of decent return without some clear evidence that Harvey is healthy.
July 17: Cincinnati has formally announced the move; Encarnacion-Strands contract has been selected from Louisville, which fills the teams 40-man roster. In a corresponding 26-man roster move, infielder Kevin Newman was placed on the 10-day injured list due to gastritis.

July 16: The Reds are calling up another of their top prospects, as FanSideds Robert Murray (via Twitter) reports that Christian Encarnacion-Strand is on his way to the majors. The club may have to make multiple corresponding moves before Mondays game, as Encarnacion-Strand isnt yet on the 40-man roster.

A fourth-round pick for the Twins in the 2021 draft, CES has done nothing but mash since beginning his pro career, as he has a whopping .322/.386/.604 slash line and 56 homers over 946 career plate appearances in the minors. This includes hitting .331/.405/.637 with 20 home runs over 316 PA at Triple-A Louisville this year, leaving no doubt that the 23-year-old is ready for a bigger challenge.

It seems quite likely that the Reds wouldve called Encarnacion-Strand up earlier if it wasnt for the fact that the team is already overloaded with quality prospects. The additions of star rookies Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain have helped spark the Reds back into contention for the NL Central, while Spencer Steer (who made his MLB debut in 2022) has also been a huge contributor.

With the likes of Jake Fraley, Will Benson, and TJ Friedl also producing, the Reds find themselves with an interesting decision to make with Encarnacion-Strands position. CES has played almost all of his career as a corner infielder, with only a pair of games in the corner outfield spots. But, De La Cruz has been mostly playing third base since his promotion, and longtime star Joey Votto is still in the regular first base/DH mix since his return from the 60-day injured list. Its say to predict Encarnacion-Strand as the eventual successor to Votto, but the veteran has been on fire at the plate.

Its the proverbial good problem to have for manager David Bell and Cincinnatis front office, and it could be the issue may solve itself in the form of an injury or a slump. Or, the Reds might simply rotate everyone through the lineup and make copious use of pinch-hitting opportunities or late-game substitutions in order to keep everyone (Votto in particular) fresh. With the deadline approaching, it also isnt out of the question that the Reds could create space by trading one of their young prospects in a headline deal for a controllable, frontline starting pitcher. At the very least, it seems like Cincinnati will look to move veterans like Kevin Newman or Nick Senzel, whose playing time has been drastically reduced by the youth movement.

Encarnacion-Strand has made such a rapid rise up the minor league ladder that none of Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, or The Athletics Keith Law had the infielder on their preseason top-100 lists. He currently checks in 83rd on BAs ranking and 88th on Pipelines ranking, with both outlets praising his natural power and his arm strength. Questions about CES contact hitting seem to have been addressed in his Triple-A season, as his 10.4% walk rate is easily the highest of his three pro seasons, and he has also reduced his strikeout rate to 21.8%. A slightly more patient version of Encarnacion-Strand is a scary concept for pitchers, given his power and ability to hit to the opposite field.

Cincinnati brought Encarnacion-Strand and Steer into the organization less than a year ago, acquired along with southpaw prospect Steve Hajjar in the trade that sent Tyler Mahle to the Twins at the deadline. Since the Reds flipped Hajjar to the Guardians as the player to be named later to acquire Benson during the offseason, the Mahle trade has very quickly become one of the most productive swaps in recent team history. For Minnesota, the trade is already infamous, as Mahle battled injuries and made only nine starts for the Twins before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May.
ONTONAGON COUNTY, MI  Search teams have spent three days searching for a 74-year-old man whose kayak overturned in Lake Superior.

Dale Albert Venema from Ontonagon has been missing since he was seen paddling out near the Firesteel River area in Ontonagon Township at approximately 1 p.m. on July 14.

A local resident later observed the same kayak upside down. The U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan State Police troopers from the Wakefield post both responded to the scene to begin search efforts at 2:15 p.m.

Search efforts continued through the weekend and are ongoing with additional help from the Ontonagon County Sheriffs Department Michigan DNR and the US Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Service

The Ontonagon Harbor Master, employees of the Village of Ontonagon, and several residents have also aided in the search.

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ISHPEMING, MI  A Michigan man accused of chasing down and stabbing a man who ran a stop sign has been charged and arraigned, WLUC reports.

The road rage incident began around 3 a.m. Thursday at a four-way stop in Ishpeming when a 41-year-old Louisiana man ran a stop sign and nearly collided with a vehicle driven by Jonathan Jay Bluebird, 29, of Ishpeming. Bluebird allegedly chased down the other vehicle and stabbed the driver.

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The suspect was arrested at the scene and lodged at Marquette County Jail.

He was later arraigned in Marquette County court on the charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. Bluebird pleaded not guilty. Hes due back in court on Thursday, July 27.

The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition.

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DETROIT  A 31-year-old Detroit man is accused of stabbing a woman to death simply because he wanted to, officials said.

The Wayne County Prosecutors Office has charged Andrew James Hall, 31, of Detroit, with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Lisa Moffett, 40, of Royal Oak, according to a news release.

Andrew Hall is an extremely dangerous person, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. He allegedly killed the victim in this case for no reason at all, simply because he wanted to.
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, MI  Police officers caught a 10-foot-long yellow and black snake over the weekend, making local hisssssstory, officials said.

Theres never a dull moment in policing. Waterford midnight shift officers made local hisssssstory tonight by catching a 10-foot boa constrictor that was on the loose, the Waterford Township Police Department said in a news release.

The snake was unharmed and turned over to the Oakland County Animal Control & Pet Adoption Center, police said. Officers named the snake Jerry.

The snake was later identified as a reticulated python, WXYZ Detroit reports. It was found near Elizabeth Lake and Crescent Lake roads in Waterford Township.

The police department is looking for the snakes owner. Anyone with information is asked to call 248-674-0351.

A stray python was caught by officers with the Waterford Township Police Department early Sunday, July 17, 2023, in Waterford Township, Mich.Waterford Township Police Department

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reorganized Michigans education bureaucracy last week.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential focuses on preschool access and on higher education. Part of its charge, according to the executive order that created it, is to ensure that every Michigander has the skill certificate or degree they need to prosper.

The every Michigander portion of that may prove to be a challenge.

As the number of college students in Michigan has plummeted over the last decade or so, the numbers of low-income students and Black students have fallen much faster.

The number of Michigan college students eligible for federal Pell grants, which go largely to students from low-income families, fell by 52 percent between 2011 and 2021, according to federal data compiled by Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities. Its the largest drop in the country, both numerically and percentagewise.

The number of Black students fell by 48 percent, second only to Illinois.

Those drops are significant but not quite so dire as they sound. The overall number of undergraduates in the state fell by 33 percent over the same time period, partly because Michigans college-age population is smaller than it used to be and partly because fewer students are going to college.

And there is significant overlap between the two groups. Nationally, more than half of Black students receive Pell Grants. Some of the same missing students are represented in both numbers.

But there are other indicators that both groups increasingly are giving college a pass.

As recently as 2015, more than half of Michigans economically disadvantaged students enrolled in college within six months of high school graduation, according to state data. For the graduating class of 2022, it was less than 37 percent.

The drop for Black students has been greater, from more than 55 percent in 2015 to just over 37 percent last year.

Its a dismal sign for the states economic future - Michigan is already less educated than most other states - and for what income inequality might look down the road.

Its extremely troubling, said Sarah Szurpicki, director of the states Office of Sixty by 30, which was created to increase the number of Michiganders with post-secondary degrees. And what I think were trying to figure out at the state is how do we reverse it.

Fear of failure

The first time Cortney Richardson enrolled at Mott Community College, she didnt last the semester.

It was the fall of 2021. The pandemic was raging. Richardson was putting together online grocery orders at Wal-Mart for 32 hours a week while attending classes.

Shed always found school hard. Her family didnt have a lot of money. Before sixth grade, she never attended the same school for more than a year, which made it hard to keep up.

But she found photography in a yearbook class at Genesee High School and I really fell in love with working with the camera. I fell in love with framing shots and just taking pictures.

So she went to college.

And, when she got there, I became very overwhelmed with everything that was on my plate and so I dropped out.

She re-enrolled this summer. She said a fear of failure brought her back.

I didnt want to end up working at Walmart forever, she said. I want to be able to do something with my life that brings me joy.

Cortney Richardson dropped out of Mott Community College the first time she enrolled. She returned in the summer of 2023 because I want to be able to do something with my life that brings me joy.

Is college worth it?

Robert Lefevre, president of Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities, has ideas about why poor students are opting out of post-secondary education.

The most likely and most insidious reason, he said, is the national narrative that college is not worth it and is too expensive and that you will you wind up in boatloads of debt with no real job prospects, he said.

Which isnt what happens to most people who go to college. According to a 2021 report from Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce, a bachelors degree translates to an extra $1.2 million in lifetime earnings on average over just a high school diploma. An associate degree translates to an additional $400,000.

Theres variation across majors, schools and individuals, of course, but the link between more education and significantly higher pay is strong.

Still, the narrative that college isnt worth the price resonates with poorer students, Lefevre said, because they already dont think they can afford college.

Its also true that some, like Richardson, can only afford college with difficulty and the time they have to spend working eats into the time for studying and group projects and the sleep they need to be lucid in class.

Sara Goldrick-Rab, the author of Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream and an advocate for free college, said its not hard to see why poorer students might be hesitant about enrolling.

Youve got people who are facing rising rents. College tuition keeps going up. Their wages are stagnant, their expenses are high and theyre hearing about how borrowing student debt is really harmful, she said.

The way to convince them to enroll and to help them make it through to graduation is convincing them theyll be able to afford it.

Thats not just financial aid, she said, but its also explaining to them how the school is going to be able to help them to afford their living costs.

Which is partly, though certainly not entirely, an information problem.

Students from low-income families often pay far less for college than their wealthier peers.

For example, a year at Michigan State University, including tuition, fees, books and room and board, costs close to $30,000 for in-state students who dont get any financial aid. It costs $129 on average for an in-state student from a family making less than $30,000.

Part of the reason enrollment among low-income students dropped sharply during the the pandemic, far more than undergraduate enrollment generally, is that students who dont have families that could provide college guidance for them were detached from the systems that normally do that, said Michelle Miller Adams, a senior researcher at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo.

Financial aid can be complicated. Poor students might have had tens of thousands of dollars to put toward college, but they needed someone to tell them it was there.

Precarious

The pandemic laid bare just how precarious some students lives were, said Brian Singleton, vice-chancellor for student services at the Wayne County Community College District and president of the colleges downtown Detroit campus.

The response has been to increase the focus on basic support: food, clothing, transportation, Internet access.

Theyre telling us that I cant go to class because I need to work extra hours because I need food. My lights got cut off, those kinds of things, he said.

In the same vein, the college contracted with a company called SwiftMD last spring to provide students with telemedicine visits and unlimited consultations with mental health professionals.

We understand that we cant wait for our students to come to us, Singleton said. We have to reach out to them before, when we know that the trouble is going to be coming down around the corner.

But none of that has stopped Wayne County Community College District from hemorrhaging students, dropping from more than 20,000 to less than 13,000 over a decade. About two thirds of its students are Black.

Curtis Ivery, the districts longtime chancellor, said poorer families have lost some of their conviction that education is the way to a better life.

I know that my parents and others who really fought to have their children educated, I dont think I see that push to the extent that we saw it years ago he said. I cant say that were saying to this disenfranchised marginalized population that education is as important as it once was.

Exhausting

Seen purely from an earnings perspective, education doesnt eliminate racial inequality. According to the Georgetown data, a Black person with an s degree earns as much on average as a white person with just a high school diploma. A Black person with a masters degree earns about as much as a white person with a bachelors.

When you have labor market realities, systemic barriers and racism in the labor market, I think it does impact peoples thinking, said Wil Del Pilar, a senior vice president at The Education Trust whose work focuses on improving access, success and affordability for low-income college students and students of color.

But differing economic realities and caution about the costs of attending college arent the whole story, he said.

The Education Trust recently held focus groups with students of color around the country who attend primarily white schools.

The first thing that we heard from them is that they didnt feel welcome on campus, that they didnt see themselves reflected in classrooms he said. The mental toll that that took on them was exhausting.

TyRianna Leslies parents never graduated from high school. They were determined that she would go to college because they wanted me to not have to go through the same struggles that they went through, she said.

But the transition from Detroits Renaissance High School to Michigan State University was difficult at first.

I was used to all my classrooms being majority Black, she said. It was very different being the only Black person in the class. It kind of made me feel a little bit misplaced.

Leslie found a community eventually. Now a fifth-year senior, shes the incoming president of the Black Student Alliance. The organizations agenda this year is that we can have this as a family, Leslie said, a home away from home.

A lot of people she grew up with say college is a waste of time, that theres a lot of ways to earn a living, she said.

They dont feel its necessary because they dont really know what it actually is...They say its just a piece of paper.

A volunteer with MLEAD Academy helps helps a University of Michigan student move into the South Quad dormitory in this Ann Arbor News file photo.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

What works

When it comes to low-income students, the University of Michigan has bucked the trend. The number of Pell Grant recipients enrolled in Ann Arbor jumped by nearly 30 percent between 2016 and 2021.

Its likely that the Go Blue Guarantee contributed to that. The program, announced in the summer of 2017, offers free tuition to students from families making $75,000 a year or less.

And free is a clear and compelling pitch.

That kind of messaging really helps families who are more economically precarious figure out whether it makes sense to go, said Matt Diemer, an professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan who has studied how students make choices about college.

The more usual process, with complicated cost calculators, can be intimidatingly difficult. Diemer went through it with his own son last year.

Im in a rarefied percentage of people who understand how these things work, he said, and I still found it confusing.

Cheaper can also be a clear and compelling message, which is what the state of Michigan is going for with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship announced earlier this year.

The scholarship is set up so that the vast majority of undergraduates will be eligible. It pays up to $5,500 a year for a public university, $4,000 a year for a private college and $2,750 for a community college.

My guess is that the state providing financial aid and working hard to let students know about the availability of that aid does let people know that the opportunity exists for them, said Szurpicki, of the states Office of Sixty by 30, and it helps them feel that higher education is within reach,

But sometimes you have to make a hard sell.

Unlike most of the states community colleges, Henry Ford College in Dearborn managed to keep the number of students receiving Pell Grants stable, even through the disruptions of the pandemic.

Among other strategies, the colleges president, Russ Kavalhuna, has taken to going directly into high schools to tell students that college is for them and theyll be able to afford it.

Most of the students who give us a shot come in and they see that, Well, I thought this might not be for me. It is for me, he said, and I will have a better life if I get through this.

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LAPEER, MI  The new suspect in the shooting death of 20-year-old Andrea Eilber in November 2011 appeared today before a Michigan judge to face murder charges.

Chadwick Shane Mobley, 42, was arraigned Monday, July 20, by video before Lapeer County Magistrate Michael C. Delling on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder and felony firearm.
ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI  Five people were injured, one critically, in a collision southeast of Holland.

The crash happened just before 4 p.m. at 140th Avenue and 47th Street in Allegan Countys Overisel Township, sheriffs deputies said.

Preliminary investigation showed that the driver of a Ford Explorer, traveling east on 140th, failed to stop for stop sign at 47th Street and struck a southbound Ford Edge.

One of the occupants of the Edge suffered critical injuries. Three others in the Edge suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the Explorer suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized, police said.

The critically injured person was airlifted from the scene by a West Michigan Air Care helicopter. Firefighters from Overisel Township and Hamilton, state police and AMR paramedics also assisted.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Kaitlyn Berry knew helping people would come at a cost.

Still, the Western Michigan University grad student didnt anticipate heading into a mental health counseling career with close to $100,000 in student loan debt hanging over her head.

You just kind of accept that thats the way its going to be, Berry, 25, said of the financial stressors contributing to a critical shortage of mental health care providers in Michigan and elsewhere.

Earning less than their medical counterparts despite advanced degrees, many mental health professionals find themselves hard pressed to pay back oppressive student loan debt, especially in lower-paying public-sector jobs in rural and underserved areas.

Michiganders carry an average student loan debt of $36,116, according to the Education Data Initiative. Many mental health careers call for advanced degrees upping the possible loan debt, which workers must repay on salaries hovering around $50,000 per year for social workers and mental health counselors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Kalamazoo, three-quarters of WMUs social work graduates head into the workforce shouldering loan debt, averaging $47,000. That amount is likely much higher for students graduating from more expensive public or private universities, a school representative said.

Some, overwhelmed by financial burdens, take private practice jobs in hopes of higher pay. Others leave the field entirely, compounding a workforce shortage already strained by the flood of mental health needs that has overwhelmed providers caseloads in recent years.

With the introduction of MI Kids Now, a loan reimbursement program launched last year, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has set aside more than $7 million for in-the-field mental health workers. Program administrators hope to entice more people into mental health fields and convince them to stay in the underserved regions where that work is most needed.

RELATED: Michigan to repay student loans for behavioral health providers

In its 2022 cycle, the state awarded $4.4 million to 315 eligible mental health providers, who carry a whopping $107.4 million in total student loan debt  or an average of $341,000 in debt per provider, according to a state representative.

The state expected to hand out another $3 million after a second application window last month.

First, though, practitioners with loan debt need to know MI Kids Now and similar programs exist, experts and practitioners say.

Jennifer Harrison, director and professor at WMUs School of Social Work and an authority in workforce retention, said the state needs to up its efforts to publicize programs that could keep mental health workers in a field that desperately needs them.

While some providers may not have heard of such programs, MDHHS broadly advertises the program via email blasts to community mental health agencies, tribal organizations, public schools and other organizations and through a news release sent to nearly 46,000 media, stakeholders and residents who have signed up to receive MDHHS news releases, said department spokesperson Chelsea Wuth.

Still, such programs deserve every promotion effort possible, Harrison said. Failing to widely advertise such programs implies that student loan debt is not that big of a deal in the retention of mental health care workers, Harrison said.

Which it is, she said. Its a very big deal.

Loan help is a possible solution

Growing up in a low-income area of West Virginia, Berry, a first-generation college student, knew family and friends expected her to seek a well-paying job after graduation.

Instead, she followed her heart to pursue a graduate degree in counseling. She picked up nearly $100,000 in loan debt in the process, with more tuition bills to come before she finishes her degree. And Berry doesnt believe she has a good chance of earning a big paycheck after grad school to pay down the debt.

Berry wants to leave Michigan after graduation, but, if she can get access to MI Kids Now and other loan help programs, she plans to stay in state and at a nonprofit, at least for the term of the loan repayment program.

Thats the result the programs creators say they hope to achieve.

MI Kids Now offers student loan repayment of up to $300,000 over 10 years. The program requires at least two years of work at a Michigan public school or nonprofit clinic or organization, especially one serving children in an underserved area.

MDHHS developed MI Kids Now after it, in 2020, entered an interim settlement agreement related to a 2018 class-action lawsuit, K.B. v. Lyon.

In that lawsuit, parents of children unable to access adequate mental health help accused the state of staggering failures. They said the state failed to respond when a 2016 MDHHS workgroup called for immediate actions to fix Michigans woefully understaffed mental health workforce.

As part of the agreement, MDHHS is working to improve access to care when and where children need it through MI Kids Now and other efforts, Wuth said in a statement.

Only three counties in the state  none of them in Southwest Michigan  have an adequate supply of psychiatrists specializing in childrens mental health, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology, which tracks staffing nationwide.

The Kalamazoo area has seven child psychiatrists to meet the needs of 113,700 children, according to AACAP data.

Adequate care requires at least 47 child psychiatrists per 100,000 kids, that organization says. Thats nearly eight times higher than the Kalamazoo areas current rate.

We can help more kids

Such shortages could impact community safety, said Victoria Orbe, childrens services director for Community Healing Centers in Kalamazoo.

Her understaffed agency provides in-home services for the most troubled kids  those whose emotional struggles, unaddressed, can turn to violence, Orbe said.

Trying to compete with private practices snapping up loan-laden new grads at an unprecedented rate, her agency has increased starting salaries and offers sign-on bonuses, something previously rare in the nonprofit world.

Still, Orbe said, We cant fill a position for the life of us.

Victoria Orbe, childrens services director for Community Healing Centers in Kalamazoo, in May demonstrates toys counselors use to help children talk about trauma. Student loan debt assistance could equip more mental health workers to help struggling children, Orbe said.

An effective loan repayment program, especially one that encourages workers to stay in the public sector, could be a game changer for employers, Orbe said. She mentions such programs in her sales pitch to potential hires, telling them shell do what she can to help them jump through the hoops of getting financial help.

But loan programs dont make hoop-jumping easy, Orbe said.

Last summer, she applied for MI Kids Now during the states 11-day application window. Eight months later, she learned via an email that shed been turned down for the program because of a missing document.

You have to get paperwork signed by your loan processor. Paperwork signed by I dont even know who else. In 11 days, Orbe said. And thats not even business days.

That application period is consistent with the states other loan programs, said Wuth at MDHHS.

The state modeled MI Kids Now on the decade-old Michigan Student Loan Repayment Program, or MSLRP, which also offered up to $300,000 in loan repayment for a more limited range of mental health specialties.

The older program offers an application window of nearly a month this year, increased from a shorter window in previous years.

Orbe said she might apply again, but her first attempt left her frustrated and discouraged. She needs others to find and tap into the program, though, because she needs to have someone to hire.

Every day, she turns away referred children in dire need of emotional help  from toddlers sexually abused by their parents to kids charged with acts of extreme violence  because she doesnt have enough staff to care for them.

The biggest upside of loan repayment programs, if people can get to them, is simple, Orbe said: We can help more kids.

The hole is that big

Danielle DeVine, a graduate student in her final year at WMU studying psychology and holistic health, said loan payback help would definitely push her toward working for a nonprofit.

Todays students dont trust loan repayment programs, though, DeVine said.

Young people have grown cautious about taking on loan debt not knowing if they can pay it back. Programs that make them jump through hoops to apply dont help, she said.

OK, this is cool, students will think of the MI KIds Now program, DeVine said, but how does this actually apply to me?

If the state really wants to attract new talent with such programs, it needs to go out of its way to make them comprehensible and attainable, DeVine said.

Experts in the field know hazy requirements, complicated application processes and low acceptance rates limit loan repayment programs value as recruitment tools, said Bob Sheehan, chief executive officer for the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan.

Such programs do, however, convince people already in the field to remain at their jobs, he said.

In studies conducted in 2018 and 2019, about half of MSLRP recipients had stayed with their nonprofit employer at least a year after the completion of their service commitment, according to the most recent data available on the states website.

By helping providers afford to stay at lower-paying jobs, the MI Kids Now program could improve a 20% to 40% vacancy rate among Michigan mental health care workers, especially those with the most trouble hiring, said Sheehan.

Is it sufficient? No, he said, ticking off other priorities the state should pursue to fix the mental health care worker shortage. These include better pay, signing bonuses, a publicity campaign promoting behavioral health work and student stipends.

The state should also increase the number of applicants accepted by MI Kids Now and allow a longer application window to get more providers crucial financial help, Sheehan believes.

MDHHS may have intentionally made applying difficult, fearing an onslaught of thousands of applicants with only enough money to help a few hundred of them, Sheehan said.

The hole is that big and that deep, Sheehan said.

MDHHS received more than 1,000 applications during the July 2022 application period, of which 315 met the programs guidelines. Some rejected applications came from providers who were not eligible under program guidelines. The state screened out many other applications that were incomplete, Wuth said.

Guidance for students, advice for the state

Kyle King, halfway through a clinical mental health counseling graduate program at WMU, thinks loan help programs might entice students to take on too much loan debt, believing they wont have to pay it back.

The retirement fund King amassed in his former job in banking administration now pays tuition bills for a career in which he knows he may not earn much.

In the banking world, he saw how substantial student loan debt can have a far-reaching and detrimental impact, such as standing in the way of an applicants chance of securing a home loan.

Kyle King, clinical mental health counseling graduate program student at Western Michigan University, stands in a WMU mental health classroom building in May.

Schools preparing mental health workers can help by steering students away from those loans in the first place, said Harrison, from WMUs School of Social Work.

Schools statewide should make sure students know about and can access all loan programs available to them and counsel students to only take loans they really need, Harrison said.

Schools dont bear sole responsibility for connecting loan help to people who need it. The state, if it truly wants to strengthen the mental health workforce, should do everything it can to make sure workers know they can get debt assistance, Harrison said, suggesting billboards.

Meanwhile, on campus, she sends out email reminders and social media blasts, shares webinars, offers financial literacy classes, and pesters grad students about getting financial help upon graduation so they can focus on what they went to school to do  helping people be better.

What do you do to attract and retain the best folks? Harrison mused. You pay them good money. You offer them good benefits. You make sure the loan repayment and forgiveness programs are in place  And youre a great employer that people want to stay with for years and years and years.

This article is part of Mental Health Workforce Crisis: Effective approaches to improving the pipeline, a solutions-focused reporting series from the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative. The collaborative, a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism and reporting on successful responses to social problems, launched its Mental Wellness Project in 2022 to cover mental health issues in Southwest Michigan.

Who can help?

Here are some student loan debt assistance programs specific to mental health care practitioners, as shared by WMUs School of Social Work:

MI Kids Now loan repayment program (focused on behavioral health providers in underserved areas): michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/providers/mkn-loan-repayment-program

Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (partnership with employers in high need areas for all healthcare providers): michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/providers/slrp

National Health Service Corps (national program for rapid loan repayment for all healthcare providers): nhsc.hrsa.gov

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (program for any student loans for employees working in public, non-profit, and governmental organizations and making payments for 10 years): studentaid.gov/pslf

Specific employers (federally qualified health clinics, some substance abuse providers, community mental health programs in some areas, etc.) may offer rapid loan forgiveness with years of service.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee recently advanced $7.9 million for seven public service-centric projects based in mid-Michigan.

The proposed investments would fund blight elimination efforts, influence housing availability, broaden access to public parks, and impact transit services across Bay, Genesee, Midland and Saginaw counties, officials said.

The funding is far from a certainty, however, as legislative compromises could alter the proposals before they land in the White House for the presidents consideration.

All seven mid-Michigan-based proposals were submitted by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint Township) as part of the 2024 budget for the House Appropriations Committee-based Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Kildee said in a statement.

He said the seven proposals are as follows:

$3.5 million for the Saginaw County Land Bank Authority to demolish vacant properties and expand affordable housing initiatives.

$1 million for Communities First Inc., a Flint-based nonprofit that would renovate Marian Hall as an affordable housing facility and restore Masonic Temple for mixed-use space.

$1 million for Bay County to renovate Bay County Community Center and remove blighted buildings.

$850,000 for Genesee County Parks and Recreation to develop accessibility options at public parks for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities.

$500,000 for the Frankenmuth Downtown Development Authority to build a roundabout roadway in the community.

$500,000 for Saginaw Valley State University to invest in connecting the routes at the Kochville Township-based college, where both Bay Metro Transportation Authority and Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services service riders.

$500,000 for the Habitat for Humanity chapters that service Bay, Genesee, Midland and Saginaw counties to provide home repair funds for military veterans and low-income households.

Kildee represents a Congressional district that includes Bay, Genesee, Midland and Saginaw counties.

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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LANSING, MI  A recall effort is targeting five Democratic state representatives for votes this year on bills advancing liberal priorities on firearm safety and hate crimes.

Residents from the lawmakers districts filed the five petitions last week with the Department of State. The Board of State Canvassers will meet Aug. 1 to judge the petitions legitimacy.

Reps. Betsy Coffia of Traverse City and Sharon MacDonell of Troy are being targeted for voting for House Bill 4145. It only passed the House, but its identical counterpart in the Senate  which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed in May  establishes a red flag law in Michigan.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Act allows family members and others to ask a court to take away someones guns to prevent suicide and other possible violence.

Flashback: Michigan 21st state to enact red flag gun laws with Whitmers signature

The recall effort also targets Democratic Reps. Jamie Churches of Wyandotte, Jennifer Conlin of Ann Arbor and Reggie Miller of Van Buren Township for voting for HB 4474. The bill says a person is guilty of a hate crime if they intimidate someone based on characteristics like race, religion or gender identity.

House Democrats take seriously any recall effort and will fully support and defend those targeted, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit,Tate said in a statement. We will continue to put the people of Michigan first.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of State confirmed Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, also had recall paperwork filed against him. Cavitt is being recalled for voting yes on the Houses first roll call vote of the session, which elected Tate speaker. The January vote was 102-8 and House Republican leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, had seconded Tates nomination.

Gongwer News Service was first to report the recall effort. Recalling a lawmaker is not easy, Gongwer noted, as the last successful effort was in 2011. The Board of State Canvassers is charged with greenlighting recall attempts after determining the statement on the petition form is clear and accurate.

Recalls, once they begin, also allow candidates to raise much higher sums of money under Michigans campaign finance laws. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer faced ill-organized recalls that never got off the ground prior to the 2022 election, raked in millions in donations above normal contribution limits. She ultimately transferred $3.4 million she could not have otherwise raised to the Michigan Democratic Party.

Jason Watts, a Republican consultant in Allegan County, said the recalls will harm Republicans fighting to win in those districts, including his clients.

You basically eliminate any hope of a Republican majority by initiating these recalls, he said, noting some are in crucial swing districts.

If the petitions are approved, proponents must collect signatures equal to a quarter of the votes for governor in the respective lawmakers district during the 2022 election. And that collection must be done in a 60-day period.

Its not going to be a long meeting, I think, on the 1st, board chair Mary Ellen Gurewitz told reporters Monday, because all the petitions say the same thing.

For example, the petition against Coffia says: On April 13, 2023, State Representative Betsy Coffia voted yes on Michigan House Bill 4145.

The five lawmakers districts range from purple to solidly Democratic. In last Novembers elections, Coffia and Churches won by just over 1 percentage point, Miller won by about 5 points, Conlin by 7 points and MacDonell by 16 points.

These representatives are fighting for their communities and representing the needs of their constituents, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement, calling the unfounded recall effort a distraction.

The Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to hear the petitions at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 at the Senates Binsfeld Office Building in Lansing. At the meeting, petitioners and lawmakers will be allowed to speak.

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Last summer, dozens of people packed into a small township hall tucked between a post office and an insurance agency.

Most showed up to speak against a Dollar General moving into their southwest Michigan farming community. This opposition worked  at first  when the Nottawa Township board of trustees voted in August against rezoning and halted the development.
BEAVER ISLAND, MI  The apple trees scattered around Beaver Island are large, plentiful and old.

What kind of apples do they grow? Who knows.

It doesnt really matter to the folks at Bee Well Mead and Cider in Bellaire, who make a unique cider from wild apples foraged from island trees planted 170-some years ago. The Beaver Island cider is a taproom offering for those interested in tasting a special place without the ferry ride.

The island has some of the biggest apple trees Ive ever seen in my life, said Jeremy VanSice, a Bee Well co-owner and misfit apple collector.

Its almost like an apple forest.

For the past seven years, Bee Well staff have spent a week in October on Beaver Island collecting apples from trees scattered across its 56 square-miles. Some trees are more than a century-and-a-half-old, dating back to 1850s plantings when island was home to a short-lived Mormon kingdom.

Apple trees line Sloptown Road on the way to Protars Cabin, a historical site where Estonian immigrant Feodor Protar lived as a turn-of-the-century semi-recluse and doctor. His rustic cabin yard is hemmed by apple trees and paths lined with native prairie grasses and milkweed.

The cider tastes different every year because apple trees yield fruit biennially. Overall, the Beaver Island cider tends to be dry, tart and tannic.

Every year the blend is a little bit different, but its always got that kind of dry tart, astringent mouth-puckering  its really good, VanSice said.

VanSice and Bee Well sales manager Tony Columbo made their initial forage on the island in 2016. The idea came from a friend at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who suggested a cider made from island apples.

The team keeps a van on the island now. Bee Well needs 80 bushels to make a 250-gallon batch which is only sold in the taproom.

Theres no other cider like this on the planet. This is a one-of-a-kind deal, VanSice said.

I dont know anybody that goes out to forage wild apples on an island and brings them back to make a cider, he said. This is a very special thing.

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It appears that we only got a small break from the air quality concerns, with the onset of wildfire smoke coming across Michigan this morning. This smoke once again originates from Canada, where extreme drought conditions have a stronghold on western portions of the country. The good news is, our air quality concerns are expected to be short lived, with smoke moving off to the east by tomorrow morning.

The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for parts of Lower Michigan, effective until Tuesday morning.

Air quality alerts for today

This includes areas south of Cadillac, and is due to small particulate that is in the air.

Another area that will be hard hit will be New York, as an area of low pressure draws in this smoke. The Associated Press reported: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday that unhealthy air from the wildfires in Canada was expected to hit parts of New York state again Monday, mostly in northern and western parts of the state. She said the air quality index was forecasted to be 100 to 150 in those areas, when 0 to 50 is the norm. Air quality effects are expected to span as far west as Montana.

This wildfire smoke is expected to move off the southeast by tonight, clearing up our air quality concerns.

Smoke forecast

As a result, our air quality alert is expected to expire by tomorrow morning.

Today looks to be a day to stay inside, if you are sensitive to air quality or have respiratory issues. Air quality levels are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups. Try keeping outdoor activities to a minimum, and keep your indoor air clean using air filters.
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mark Okraku-Mantey has picked up nomination forms to contest the Ayensuano parliamentary seat on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking to journalists after picking up the forms, Okraku-Mantey said he was confident of winning the seat and pledged to use his experience and network to develop the constituency.

I have a lot to offer the people of Ayensuano, he said. I have the experience, the network, and the passion to make a difference in the lives of the people. I am committed to working with the people to develop the constituency and improve the lives of all residents.

Okraku-Mantey said he would focus on education, infrastructure, and job creation if elected.

He also said he would work to attract investment to the constituency and create opportunities for businesses to grow.

I believe that Ayensuano has the potential to be a great place I am committed to working with the people to realize that potential, he added.
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon Michael Okyere Baafi has commissioned the Nkrankwanta Rice Processing Factory in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region.

The Minister was led by Party officials in the Bono Region to commission the Nkrankwanta Rice Processing factory at a short ceremony on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

The Rice Processing Factory Limited is part of the Government's flagship Programme, 1D1F under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI).

The 1D1F Common User Facility(CUF) was conceived in 2017 following a policy direction by MOTI to realign the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) to be compatible with the government of Ghana's transformation agenda being implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI).

The model seeks to enhance the ability of farmers and other agricultural value-chain actors, with little or no financial capacity to establish their own Common User Processing Facilities to process their products.

In response to constraints aimed at allocation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Rural Enterprise Programme to introduce this new concept of establishing a Common User Factory in five (5) districts including the Nkrankwanta Rice Processing Facility.

The total cost of the factory is about GHS7.243 million which includes the cost of the factory building processing plant, machinery, offices, office equipment, and Nissan Double Cabin Pickup Vehicle.

The rice processing factory is fully furnished with a standby generator and a mechanized borehole to supply the factory with water, packaging, and milling machines. The factory also has a warehouse, fully equipped office accommodation for staff, a conference room, a laboratory room, and a canteen for the workers.

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon Michael Okyere Baafi said the 1D1F initiative was a crucial part of the government's industrial modification plan and intends for encouraging attempts that focused solely on physical infrastructure. He noted that the 1D1F promoted commercially practical business initiatives that generated sustainable and accelerated economic development for rural communities.

According to him, President Nana Akufo-Addo's vision is to provide and empower businesses promoters, especially Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) to utilize local goods in manufacturing high demand products for domestic and international markets.

The Minister added that the idea would create more opportunities for investors to invest more and contribute their allotment to Ghana's economy.

The National Director of the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP). Mr. Kwasi Attah Antwi said last year the Ministry of Trade and Industry handed over the Nkrankwanta common user facility to a rice processing firm called Tai Pana Company to kick-start operations of the facility under a Management Services Contract.

Mr. Attah commends Tai Pana Company Limited for the good job and urged the company to ensure the facility's financial sustainability and profitability.

The District Chief Executive for the Dormaa West District, Hon Francis Kwadwo Oppong expressed his appreciation to the President for not forgetting Dormaa West District in his quest to change Ghanas economy from one which is dependent on the import and export of raw materials to one which is pivoted on industrialization, value addition and export of processed goods through the 1D1F initiative.

He also applauds former MP Hon Ali Maiga for playing a huge role in ensuring the success of the factory that would enhance the development of the Dormaa West District and improve the lives of many people in the district.

The Rice Processing Factory is set to employ about hundred and ten (110) Ghanaians both in direct and indirect Agricultural value chain.
16.07.2023 LISTEN

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, expressed satisfaction with the decision of the High Human Rights Court against a suit filed by Rev. Kusi Boateng.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, Rev. Kusi Boatengs action sought to gag him from his investigation, parliamentary oversight duties and publication of is findings.

He said in an interview on Citi midday news on July 14, that Kusi Boateng sought to refuse me from further investigation, further parliamentary oversight duties and also further publication claiming that the work I was doing was violating his fundamental human rights under Article 33 of the 1992 constitution."

He added, The learned judge held that that claim of violating his fundamental human rights could not be supported because the evidence that I presented that my lawyers prove that these are two distinct personalities under Rev Victor Kusi Boateng as his own mother has a separate date of birth and an entirely different identity and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has a separate date of birth and a different mother and an entirely different personality that he has used concurrently and has sought to confer this fact from the general public."

The judge said that because of my work that it came to light but for the parliamentary oversight we carried out nobody could have known that he is two distinct personalities that indeed even before the high court he had initiated a matter in the name Rev. Kusi Boateng and in this present application has come before the court as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi alias Victor Kusi Boateng that judge is not convinced that this cannot be an alias, Okudzeto Ablakwa stated.

Mr. Ablakwa in his expose alleged that JNS Talent Centre Ltd owned by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng was paid some GH2.6 million to help build the National Cathedral, under the pseudonym name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.

According to him, documents in his possession reveal that Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is same as Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.

But in a response to the allegations, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng in a statement said Mr. Ablakwas claims are a twisted narration of events, and threatened to take the MP on.

He later filed an application against the MP, in which the High Court in Accra dismissed the charges.

The latest dismissal of the charges against Ablakwa by the Human Rights Court.
The Gnaoua music festival takes place once a year in the town of Essaouira, western Morocco. But the town has become a major destination for maalems  or master musicians  who meet and play in the Moroccan town all year long. RFI met two generations of Gnaoua maalems, Seddik Laarch and his former student Mohamed Boumazzough.

Laarch, a musician and guembri maker, is well-known in Essaouira. He taught most of the young generation of maalems in the Moroccan city, as well as people from as far afield as the US, China and Israel.

Laarch also played and toured in France with several Gnaoua bands.

"To be a good maalem you need discipline, respect and to play from the heart," Laarch told RFI.

His former student Boumazzough says there is great respect for maalems in the Gnaoua tradition.

" Even if the maalem gives you the instrument, you do not play in front of him [or her] out of respect. You wait until you are told to play," he explains.

"Every day, you are told: 'You've got to practice.' Everyone plays a bit."

Boumazzough has played with some of the greatest Gnaoua maestros alive today, as well as French musicians including Louis Bertignac.

He has been performing since the age of 17, and is now a maalem himself.
Yellowstone National Park has unveiled its latest step in bison conservation with an expanded quarantine facility.

Able to hold and test up to 200 bison for brucellosis at a time, the facility funnels more bison through a relocation program instead of being sent to slaughter. At a private celebration held last week at the Stephens Creek facility, it was lauded as a milestone for bison conservation and Native American rights.

(The buffalo are) our relatives, said Ervin Carlson, board president for the InterTribal Buffalo Council and member of the Blackfeet Nation. Thats our history and our own country  By land, by air, by sea, they made it to that tribe who really wanted animals there with them.

Bison have been a matter of controversy for decades. That controversy is partially why the relocation program and quarantine facility exists.

In 2000, the state of Montana implemented a bison population target of 3,000 to 3,500, which incentivized hunting and slaughter of bison at Montana and Yellowstone parks borders.

Some farming and ranching voices have worried free roaming bison may infect cattle with brucellosis or infringe on grazing space.

If cattle were infected, Montana would lose its brucellosis-free designation, costing the industry millions. However, others have the worry is baseless because there have been no documented cases of brucellosis infecting cattle from bison.

In the winter of 2022-23, Yellowstone saw around 1,200 bison killed in a 6,000 bison herd. It brought outcry from advocates of free-roaming bison, some calling it a bloodbath.

With so many competing interests, the Bison Conservation Transfer Program is both a compromise and collaboration. It works with federal, state and tribal groups, including Carlsons InterTribal Buffalo Council.

The Bison Conservation Transfer Program aims to reduce the slaughter incentive by sending bison across the state, and it all begins with the quarantine facility.

Bison migrating northward away from Yellowstone are captured and taken to the quarantine facility to undergo various testing, including for brucellosis. The whole process can take years before bison are declared disease free.

To date, no bison in quarantine has tested positive for brucellosis after 300 days of quarantine, Yellowstones lead bison biologist Chris Geremia said.

Eventually, bison that are brucellosis-free are shipped to Fort Peck Reservation to be sent to Native tribes across the country. The facility was built in 2014 and the first transfer happened in 2019.

Since then, 294 bison have been transferred to Fort Peck, and 170 have been moved to 23 separate tribes across 12 states. According to the programs website, its the largest transfer of Yellowstone bison across Native tribes in history.

The added numbers spawn interest, which spawns more support, Carlson explained at the private celebration. Thats what allowed the program to expand as it has so far.

Thats what were about is increasing those numbers, getting them out, Carlson said.

The expanded facility now doubles its previous capacity because of a $1 million investment, which was funded by the park and nonprofit partners Yellowstone Forever and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Expansion required a strategic look into water pumping and bisons winter migration.

While it doesnt fully solve the bison dilemma, speakers at the private ceremony applauded the program for reducing slaughter and returning bison to tribes. The expanded facility was a sign of progress to some.

Native wellbeing is linked with buffalo wellbeing, said Troy Heinert, a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate. Tribes that receive bison will be reclaiming culture theyve lost.

As executive director of the InterTribal Buffalo Council, Hienert also said hes intimately familiar with the politics and significance of bison.

Theres a lot about this animal in particular that brings Americans together, Heinert said.

The collaboration hes seen between usually conflicting groups has been reassuring, and he said he has hope more successes are on the horizon.

While yes, were always going to have to continue working through issues and think through controversy and management, Heinert said. Part of whats represented in the effort here is there's a lot of common ground.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has intensified his campaign to become the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.

On his campaign trail, he has completed his engagements with delegates in all constituencies in Accra and has now moved to the Ashanti Region to interact with party delegates.

Today, Sunday, July 16, 2023, the Vice President is set to meet with delegates in Asawase, Nhyiaeso, Oforikrom and Bantama to communicate his vision for the country and gain more support from party delegates ahead of the Presidential Primary in November this year.

Dr Bawumias announcement of his political ambitions has set the stage for an exciting contest against other potential candidates within the NPP. As the campaign heats up, delegates of the NPP will be looking very closely at the potential candidates visions and track records, considering who is best suited to lead the party and secure victory in the 2024 general elections.

Dr. Bawumias political acumen has earned him significant contributions to the NPPs victories in the 2016 and 2020 elections, making him a strong contender for the NPP Presidency.

His campaign tour aims to further his political ambitions and communicate his vision for the country to party delegates.

With Dr Bawumias move to the Ashanti Region, it is expected that his campaign team will be working hard to ensure that he gains the required support from party delegates in the Region.

The battle for the NPPs Presidential candidacy promises to be intense, as the party seeks to present a candidate with the best chance of winning the 2024 election.

-DGN online
17.07.2023 LISTEN

A thorough investigation conducted by a team of Seismologists and Geoscientists from the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA), the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Twifo Attimokwa District Assembly showed that the suspected earth tremor at Twifo-Mampong was a landslide.

The movement in the land on a steep hill with some cocoa plantations, according to GGSA, occurred after a downpour the previous day, Thursday, June 29.

Consequently, it assured the farmers in the affected areas to undertake their farming activities but to stay away from such areas when there are signs of rainfall.

Mr. Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle, the Acting Director-General, in a statement, said an investigation carried out on Tuesday, July 11 had residents in the area confirming that they did not feel the ground shook, but several cocoa trees were destroyed.

Many farmers in the area complained about a suspected earth tremor in the community, leaving large cocoa farms destroyed, a situation which forced the GGSA to authenticate their claim.

The Authority wishes to state that, monitoring records from our network of seismic stations located across the country did not record any major earth tremor event from the stations on the said date.

However, minor earth disturbances recorded during the period did not have the potential to cause the impact that was recorded.

The geological materials observed at the site were highly weathered metasediments, which were saturated from the heavy downpour, resulting in the movement of materials in multiple locations along the slopes of the hill, Mr Mwinbelle said.

The area where the landslide occurred was far away from settlements and thus, did not affect lives and property.

The event, he however, said served as a warning for potential development along the slopes of the hill to be avoided and the need for proper enforcement of land-use planning.

He advised against development along slopes of hills, as such areas might not be stable for infrastructural development.

In addition, he advised Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to enforce effective land-use planning to ensure public safety.

GNA
17.07.2023 LISTEN

The Right Reverend Prosper Samuel Dzomeku, Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church, (GEC), has asked Parliament to pass the anti Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) bill without delay.

He said there was no reason for the prolonged delay in passing the bill since the three main religions in Ghana, namely Christianity, Islam and African Indigenous Religion (AIR) abhorred such practices.

Rt. Rev. Dzomeku was preaching the sermon at the Ordination Service of 32 Ministers of the GEC at the Trinity Chapel, Kotobabi in Accra.

Preaching on the theme: Holiness and the Word of God, based on Psalm 119:9-11, the Moderator said, there was the need to intentionally groom the youth and children, especially in the face of foreign cultural practices that have engulfed the nation.

According to the Moderator, the antidote to the current moral decadence facing the nation is to be intentional to train the youth and children with the Word of God.

He said the word of God had the power to purify and to sanctify. Therefore, when we teach the younger generation sound doctrine, they will be able to withstand foreign pressures and that is the only way we can have hope in the future.

Rt. Rev. Dzomeku tasked the newly ordained Clergy to focus their attention not only on the adult population but also on the youth and the children ministries.

Rev. Dr. Yohanes Ahiabu, the Synod Clerk of the Church, read the profiles of all the 32 candidates and later presented them to the Moderator for the Ordination rites.

The Moderator led the Ordination rites and was supported by the Synod Clerk.

Presbyter Eyram Atsu, and Presbyter Joyce Dieu Donne Ahiabor, the lay Executive read the English and Ewe Scriptures for the day.

Rev. Godfred Ofori a newly ordained Minister on behalf of the colleagues expressed their profuse appreciation to the Executive, family, friends and congregations for their diverse support.

The ceremony was witnessed by past Executives of the Church, Past and Present Synod Committee Members, several dignitaries as well as family and friends of the Ordained Ministers.

GNA
17.07.2023 LISTEN

The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has accused the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) of frustrating the conclusion of the process and the adoption of the draft of the committee to put in place properly organized labour structures.

GFL noted that instead of building proper structures to constitute Organized Labour, the TUC instead adopted a knee-jerk and ad hoc approach to dealing with labour issues.

TUC is not the same as Organized Labour, Mr Abraham Koomson, the Secretary General of the GFL, told newsmen in Tema, stressing that the power of the TUC to legally represent all workers in Ghana was revoked with the amendment of the Industrial Relations Act (1960), Act 299.

Mr. Koomson added that the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) replaced the TUC with Organized Labour, adding that it did not mention the structure and organogram of Organized Labour, a lacuna that, the TUC had been taking advantage of.

This, the Federation said, would enable labour to legitimately exercise its mandate to holistically address the concerns of the rank and file.

Organized Labour, which is a term (name) provided under the laws of Ghana, represents a body of recognized and independent labour unions, federations, and associations working in concert to pursue the common interest of working people in and of Ghana, he explained.

He recalled that to cure this problem, GFL resorted to the High Court for some answers, adding, however, that the court advised that they go for a settlement, out of which TUC and GFL agreed on three things.

The terms of settlement dated April 25, 2010, indicated that TUC and GFL were to work together to get a working definition of the term organized labour,' 'an organogram for decision making within organized labour,' and a timetable for the adoption by all labour unions of the working document and operationalizing the same.'

He indicated that following this, a nine-member committee with representatives of labour unions such as ICU, TUC, CLOGSAG, GFL, and others came out with a draft document on the three terms of the settlement agreement.

Mr Koomson added that the committee also came up with the scope of organized labour cooperation and partnership, objectives, membership, governance structure, meetings, funding, and functions of leadership.

Meanwhile, the GFL, in a letter dated June 20, 2023, to the TUC, has called for the deliberations on the formalization of organized labour structures to be concluded soonest to precede effective collective action of labour.

This, the Federation said, would enable labour to legitimately exercise its mandate to holistically address the concerns of the rank and file.

Meanwhile, labour Unions will meet on July 17 to address concerns raised by GFL and other related labour issues.

GNA
General Overseer of the Action Chapel International Ministry, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has issued a statement on the ongoing debate on the death penalty in Parliament.

Last week, Parliamentarians made various arguments 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 death penalty with life imprisonment.

In his statement on the matter, Archbishop Duncan-Williams backed calls for the abolishment of death penalty.

He argued that As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams in a call on President Akufo-Addo said it is important that everyone supports the calls for the death penalty to be abolished.

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, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said in his statement.

Read the full statement from the renowned man of God 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
17.07.2023 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Evans Opoku Bobbie, has inaugurated an ultra-modern male and female ward at the Goaso Government Hospital in Goaso in the Ahafo region.

Each of the rooms in the facility has a bed, plasma television and a modern place of convenience to help in the fast recovery of patients who may be admitted there.

Inaugurating the new ward, valued at several thousands of Ghana cedis, Mr. Opoku Bobbie, who is also the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, reiterated his commitment at helping to address some of the health challenges facing the people of the area.

This, he said, explains why he is currently facilitating the provision of several health facilities in various parts of the Asunafo North constituency to cushion the lives of his constituents.

Other health projects

He mentioned the construction of a 40-bed polyclinic at Mim, similar facilities and nurses quarters at Fawohoyeden, Akrodie, Ayumso and Mensah-krom and several other communities in the area.

He advised the people to continue to give their unflinching support to the NPP government to enable it to continue with its good works.

The Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Kwabena Boakye Boateng, commended Mr. Opoku Bobbie for having his constituents at heart and executing various developmental projects for them.

He wondered why all these projects, which are serving the people well, have not been properly documented and published for all to see.

Infectious Disease Centre

The Deputy Minister later inspected work on the construction of an Infectious Disease Centre located at the premises of the Goaso Government Hospital.

The facility, which is about 90% complete, is among the 16 Infectious Disease Centres being constructed by government in all the regions as part of a comprehensive plan to effectively deal with the outbreak of such diseases.

The Deputy Minister told the media, after the inspection tour, that contrary to claims by a section of the populace that the government misused the COVID-19 funds, government rather used the funds judiciously.
Former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has indicated that it is not true the ruling government led by President Akufo-Addo plans to sack Dr. George Akuffo Dampare the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from office.

For the most part of last week, conversation on a plot to sack the IGP became topical on both social and traditional media after an audio recording that had a Police Commissioner discussing with an NPP chairman the need to get rid of Dr. Dampare before the 2024 General Election went viral.

In a statement sharing his view on the matter, Martin Amidu has noted that 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).

Mr. Amidu shares the view that this was 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.

The former Special Prosecutor proposes that the NDC and other opposition political parties ought to hasten slowly in what they say in praise or condemnation of the IGP.

He further notes that 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.

Martin Amidu believes that the leaked 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, Mr. Amidu said.

Below is a copy of the full release:

THE DAMPARE MUST GO LEAKED TAPE RECORDING IS DIVERSIONARY FOR

THE LONG GAME: MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU

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
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Barbara Mahama, the wife of the late Major Mahama, is set to release a memoir titled RESILIENCE: Reflections from a Widows Diary on July 21 marking six years since her husbands tragic demise.

The self-written memoir recounts the heart-wrenching story of Major Mahamas 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 officers death. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges that range from murder to conspiracy to commit murder.

Barbara Mahamas 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 Widows 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 Mahamas 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 Mahamas memory and a source of inspiration for all who have experienced loss, reminding readers that love and hope can prevail against all odds.

Source: Graphic.com.gh
Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication is calling on the Cyber Security Authority to prosecute all the 420 suspects involved in loan app fraud.

In an effort to combat cybercrime effectively, the chamber advocates for community service as a form of punishment, suggesting that the suspects can contribute to society by imparting ICT knowledge to individuals who are not well-versed in the field.

Treating this issue lightly would only exacerbate the situation.

Recognizing the vulnerability of the adult population in the country, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication emphasizes the importance of enhancing the cyber capacity of individuals.

Factors such as illiteracy rates and a lack of knowledge in Information Communication Technology contribute to the success of internet fraudsters preying on unsuspecting victims.

According to Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, the suspects can be engaged in community service that involves teaching ICT skills to individuals who are not familiar with technology.

In a recent engagement with Junior High School students in Agona Swedru on coding skills, Dr. Ashigbey highlighted the significance of creating awareness about ICT issues.

Partnering with the chamber, the Institute for ICT Professional stresses the importance of introducing coding to Junior High School children. While acknowledging the potential risks associated with ICT, they emphasize the need to embrace the positive aspects of technology.
The immediate past Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Pharmacy Council, Dr. Albert Arkoh Wiredu has picked his nomination form to contest for the Wasa Amenfi central parliamentary seat on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region.

This follows the party's decision to open nominations for the orphan constituencies.

The astute pharmacist even before picking his form on Friday, July 15, had earlier declared his intention to contest for the seat in the constituency.

Speaking to ModernGhana News after picking the form, the staunch member of the NPP said it is time for him to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the district where he comes from after serving the country at the national level.

Dr. Albert Akoh Wiredu, per the constituents, has contributed significantly to developmental projects in the area, including the reconstruction of a dilapidated bridge at Asaasetre community, solely funding the connection of the Agyadum community to the national grid among others.

The revered pharmacist also urged party members to be polite in their utterances and also to form a united front ahead of the 2024 general elections which will catalyze the party's agenda of breaking the 8.

So far, only two people have picked up their nomination form in the Amenfi Central constituency.

Meanwhile, the ruling party prepares to hold its parliamentary primaries from Saturday, September 23, 2023, to December 2, 2023, for the Orphan Constituencies on a case-by-case basis across the country.
A recent letter to the editor published in the Billings Gazette included inaccuracies regarding the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) and the Joseph Sharp painting, The Young Chief. This letter was apparently in reference to a June 16 Gazette article titled Billings Chamber to sell signature Sharp painting at auction, written by Anna Paige. Several current and former museum staff members provided context for Paiges article.

First, and most importantly, this Joseph Sharp painting has never been in the Yellowstone Art Museum's permanent collection. Paiges June 16 article correctly states that it was gifted to the Billings Chamber of Commerce by Charles Bair in 1915. In recent years, the YAM has stored and displayed the artwork on behalf of the Chamber. The museum generously offered support and expertise to ensure the painting was properly cared for, but the YAM has never owned this painting.

Additionally, as is clearly stated in the third paragraph of Paiges article, the painting was to be auctioned at the upcoming Coeur d'Alene Art Auction. The YAM has nothing to do with the auction and will not benefit in any way from last weekend's sale of this painting.

Despite the unfortunate factual errors in the letter to the editor, the YAM fully agrees with the letter writers desire to preserve and exhibit artworks that tell Montana's rich, and diverse artistic history. Alongside exhibitions of emerging and established contemporary artists, we recognize the importance of historically significant artworks and are working diligently to hold them in our public collection and make them available to museum visitors.

We invite anyone interested in the preservation of our regions artistic legacy to visit our newest exhibition, Will James in Magazines, generously sponsored by the Foundation for Montana History. Alongside James influential work, our current exhibitions spotlight contemporary artists from this region and beyond. This weaving together of works created in the early 20th century with contemporary artworks demonstrates our commitment to and celebration of the arts in Montana.

Lisa Ranallo

Yellowstone Art Museum Curator of the Permanent Collection
National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim has said that the governing party under his chairmanship will not support the activities of homosexuals.

I want to state emphatically that the NPP that chair will not support LGBTQI, he told a gathering of NPP supporters on Sunday, July 16.

His comments come at a time the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has been cited for contempt regarding the anti-gay bill.

This was after a researcher Dr Amanda Odoi filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court asking the court to sanction the Speaker for showing contempt and disregard for court processes.

That the respondent's clear, intentional and continuous disregard of the court process necessitates the Respondent being sanctioned for contempt in the public interest and to protect the dignity of the Court, the Court documents state.

That by his conduct in directing or causing Parliament to proceed to a Second Reading of the Bill, in full knowledge of the pending suit and related interlocutory injunction application, the Respondent has disregarded and disrespected the authority of this Court.

That such disregard interferes with the outcome of the pending litigation, brings the administration of justice into disrepute and undermines public confidence in the judicial system.

Last week, Parliament adopted the motion of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliament Committee on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.

This followed the second reading of the Bill on Wednesday, July 5.

After the second reading, members of the House were given the opportunity by the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, to debate the motion.

Among the members who contributed to the debate was Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development Dan Botwe, who described as madness the activities of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgender (LGBT) humans.

He said it is a Satanic force that should not be allowed to fester in the country.

For him, eternal vigilance should be exercised by the country beyond the passage of the Bill.
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has expressed its support for the plans being discussed in parliament to abolish the death penalty.

The GAF believes that the private members bill currently under consideration is an important step in upholding human rights, promoting justice, and demonstrating compassion.

In a statement released by the armed forces, they highlighted that the objective of the bill is not to eliminate punishment for the offenses listed in the Ghana Armed Forces' Code of Service Discipline. Rather, it aims to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment, which serves a similar purpose of deterrence.

The GAF recognizes the significance of respecting and protecting human rights, and they believe that abolishing the death penalty aligns with these principles.

They emphasized that life imprisonment can effectively serve as a deterrent while also allowing for the possibility of rehabilitation and restoration.

Read details below:

POSITION PAPER BY GHANA ARMED FORCES AND MINISTRY OF DEFENCE PRESENTED TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DURING ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2022 AND THE ARMED FORCES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2022 ON SUNDAY, MAY 21 2023, AT KOFORIDUA, EASTERN REGION

Introduction:

This paper aims to provide an analysis and argument in favor of abolishing the death penalty in the Ghana Armed Forces; specifically, the Armed Forces Act of 1962 (Act 105). We recognize the significance of this proposed bill before Parliament and believe that it is imperative for Ghana to take a progressive step towards human rights, justice, and the promotion of a humane military justice system. As indicated in the Bill, the relevant provisions deal mainly with the punishment of Death provided for high end offences in the Ghana Armed Forces Code of Service Discipline such as Treason, Mutiny, Inchoate offences related to same and other analogous offences.

Human Rights and Dignity:

The fundamental principle of human rights centers around the inherent dignity and value of every individual. The death penalty violates this principle by subjecting individuals to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. It is the ultimate denial of human rights and the right to life. By abolishing the death penalty in the Armed Forces, Ghana can demonstrate its commitment to upholding human dignity and setting a higher standard for military justice.

Irreversibility and Fallibility of the Justice System:

One of the primary concerns surrounding the death penalty is its irreversible and final nature. Judicial systems, including military courts, are not infallible, and there is always a risk of wrongful convictions. Executing an innocent person is an irreversible tragedy that violates the principles of justice. By abolishing the death penalty, Ghana can mitigate this risk and ensure that no irreversible mistakes are made within the military justice system.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

The use of the death penalty raises profound moral and ethical questions. It is not the role of the state, including the Armed Forces, to determine the fate of an individual's life. Taking a life as a form of punishment perpetuates a cycle of violence, undermines the sanctity of life, and contradicts the values of compassion, forgiveness, and rehabilitation. Ghana has an opportunity to align its military justice system with these higher moral and ethical principles by abolishing the death penalty.

International Human Rights Obligations:

Ghana is a signatory to several international human rights treaties and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR's Second Optional Protocol aims at the abolition of the death penalty, and Ghana has a duty to align its domestic legislation with its international obligations. By abolishing the death penalty in the Armed Forces, Ghana can strengthen its commitment to international human rights standards and contribute to the global movement towards the abolition of capital punishment.

Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice:

Punishment should not solely focus on retribution but should also strive for rehabilitation and restorative justice. The death penalty eliminates the possibility of reform and denies individuals the opportunity to reintegrate into society. By embracing alternative forms of punishment that prioritize rehabilitation and reintegration, Ghana can foster a more just and compassionate military justice system that aims to transform individuals rather than simply punishing them.

Redundancy of the Provisions related to the Death Penalty:

Even though the death penalty has remained in Armed Forces Act since it was enacted, the last time it was enforced was sometime in the late 70s or early 80s. Thus, these provisions have been retained in the Statute without enforcement. Therefore, honorable members, for the purpose of crystalizing an otherwise de facto situation to maintain a high level of certainty in our military justice system, it is important that these provisions in our books are replaced with the existing practice.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the abolition of the death penalty in the Ghana Armed Forces is a necessary step towards upholding human rights, justice, and compassion. It aligns with Ghana's international obligations, promotes the dignity of every individual, and recognizes the fallibility of the justice system. By embracing alternative forms of punishment that prioritize rehabilitation and restorative justice, Ghana can set an example for other nations and contribute to the global movement towards the abolition of the death penalty.

We respectfully submit to this august Committee to support this bill and facilitate the enactment of legislation that reflects Ghana's commitment to human rights and justice. It is important to indicate that the purpose of the Bill is not to take away punishment for the listed offences in the Ghana Armed Forces Code of Service Discipline but rather to replace the punishment of Death with life imprisonment which tend to serve the same purpose of deterrence.

Classfmonline.com
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) embarked on a working visit to the Northern and Savanna Regions over the weekend.

During his tour, he had the privilege of meeting with several chiefs and Muslim leaders, utilising the opportunity to discuss important matters and strengthen his relationships with them.

Among the chiefs he visited were Tolon Naa Major Abubakari Sulemana (Rtd.), Kaasuliyili Naa Yakubu Bukari, Lingbun Naa Sayibu, and Nyankpala Naa Ibrahim Mahama.

During these encounters, Mr. Mahama expressed his humility and appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to him by the chiefs and their communities.

Mr. Mahama acknowledged the importance of collaboration and working together to promote peace and prosperity in these communities.

He emphasised the significance of unity in achieving the collective vision of building the Ghana we all desire. Through these engagements, Mr. Mahama aimed to foster stronger bonds and partnerships with the chiefs and Muslim leaders, ensuring their voices and concerns are heard and addressed in the political discourse.

The working visit to the Northern and Savanna Regions provided an opportunity for Mr. Mahama to engage directly with the local leaders, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and aspirations of the communities.

Classfmonline.com
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong has served caution that he will reply all contestants in equal measure if they decide to engage in a dirty campaign.

Speaking to delegates in Kintampo, the Assin Central Member of Parliament expressed displeasure about how government has handled the country since taking over from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He took a swipe at Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, arguing that he cannot go around calling himself a strategist after taking Ghana to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.

You have taken our economy to the IMF and you tell us you are a strategist. If they dont let us do a clean campaign there will be a problem because for me if you say something I will reply you.

You tell us you are a strategist, when we were taking over power $1 was GHS4. Today $1 is GHS12. And you tell us you are a strategist? Excuse me, Ken Agyapong shared in his engagement with the NPP delegates in Kintampo.

Both Ken Agyapong and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia have been cleared by the Vetting Committee of the NPP to contest the flagbearer election of the party.

They are regarded as frontrunners in the election but the Vice President is seen with a higher chance of winning to become leader of the party.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress visited the Northern and Savanna Regions over the weekend and met with traditional and religious leaders.

In a Facebook post on Monday, July 17, the one-time President said it was "an excellent opportunity to, once again, meet our traditional and religious leaders, discuss important issues, and strengthen our relationships."

The chiefs Mahama met included "Tolon Naa Major Abubakari Sulemana (Rtd.), Kaasuliyili Naa Yakubu Bukari, Lingbun Naa Sayibu and Nyankpala Naa Ibrahim Mahama.

Mahama said he was "humbled and impressed by the hospitality and warmth" during the visits.

He added that he looked forward "to continuing to work together to promote peace and prosperity in our communities as we Build the Ghana we Want Together."

"I was humbled and impressed by the hospitality and warmth. I look forward to continuing to work together to promote peace and prosperity in our communities as we Build the Ghana we Want Together," Mr. Mahama stated.

The former president has been touring the country and meeting with various groups ahead of the 2024 elections, where he aims to unseat the current New Patriotic Party.

Mahama has pledged to focus on education, jobs and infrastructure development if elected.
The Shalom Faith Development (SFD) Foundation, an NGO at the forefront of girls' development, has held a capacity building and empowerment summit for female students of selected Senior High Schools in the Upper West Region.

The summit dubbed, 'She-Connect Summit' under the theme, "Inspiring girls to Greater Heights," saw the female students being mentored on essential areas of their developmental lives through a series of sessions.

Held from July 11  14, 2023, the summit benefited hundreds of girls in the Lassia-Tuolu, Jamiat Islamic Girls', and Wa Senior High Schools in the Upper West Region.

Madam Selina Ayimbila Aboyinga, the Founder and Executive Director of the SFD Foundation, said the summit was geared towards empowering the girls to successfully navigate through the Senior High School cycle with ease and be informed about what lies ahead of them.

She added that it was to help the young girls to lead responsible lives and stay safe through adolescence, a life stage that is fraught with many challenges, especially for girls.

"This summit is geared towards inspiring the students, especially the girls. As they're in secondary school, we want to empower them the best way we can so that they grow to be better people in the future," she said.

She explained that the summit was the maiden edition in the Upper West Region following the SFD Foundation's relocation of some of its activities to the region from the Northern Region where it had been operating.

She indicated that the feedback from the summit was encouraging and she expressed optimism that the subsequent editions would be expanded to include other schools.

"We have had a lot of good feedback, the way the teachers are able to let us understand that it is a timely intervention for, especially those who are going out, and then the inputs and messages that have sent across is really good for the students.

"And with this, we are inspired more to do more, so we believe that going forward, we would increase the number of schools," she explained.

Programs Coordinator for SFD Foundation, Esther Aboyinga expressed optimism that the summit would empower the girls to be goal-oriented and set realistic life goals and work hard at achieving them in order to become meaningful members of society.

"We feel that if we're able to encourage them to be goal-oriented, set their goals and targets well, they're able to aspire well, they're able to pass their exams well and excel in future, I think it's a good thing to do," she said.

She reiterated that girls and young women needed to be empowered and argued that mere access to education should not be misconstrued to mean empowerment but that empowerment goes beyond being in the four corners of a classroom.

"We may say that once they're in school, they're already being empowered, but a lot more needs to be done.

"Even as they're in school, some of them are not privy to the needed information, they don't have courage, some of them, their self-esteem is down, some of them are confused, peer pressure, drug abuse, a whole lot.

"There are a lot of things that are going on, especially within the second cycle institutions and I think that organizations like us, we need to step up our game to come into these schools," she explained.

Some students of the Jamiat Islamic Girls' SHS who participated in the summit said it was very useful to them since it has exposed them to a number of things that would help them build better lives and futures.

"We've learnt that no matter how life is but never give up. I learnt that there is no shortest way to get into success, if you want to get success, you've to work hard to earn what you want to be in future," some students shared their views.

The summit had inspirational personalities of diverse professional backgrounds who mentored the students. They included Daniel Osei Tuffour, Executive Director of Leadership Excellence Group; Maria Johana Yuorpor, Regional Coordinator of Northern Development Authority and Founder of Mara Foods and Closet; Dr Felicia Naatu, Lecturer at the SDD UBIDS; and Hassan Ibrahim, Branch Manager of Fidelity Bank; among significant others.
A video allegedly showing Deputy Finance Minister John Ampontuah Kumah calling the NPP administration "incompetent" has been denied and debunked by the minister.

The viral video shows Mr. Ampontuah Kumah at a campaign event soliciting support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's presidential bid in his constituency at Ejisu.

In the clip, Mr Kumah purportedly describes the current NPP government as "incompetent in his attempt to throw a jab at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

However, the Ejisu MP took to Twitter on Monday, July 17, to refute claims that he called his own party incompetent.

The Deputy Minister alleged that the original video was doctored by the opposition NDC for propaganda purposes.

He posted what he claimed was the real, undoctored video where he clearly describes the NPP administration as "competent."

"Exactly what I said the competent NPP administration and the incompetent NDC administration. Their propaganda machinery at work again, cleverly editing a video to make it sound opposite," he tweeted.
The European Union has signed a "strategic" pact with President Kais Saied to stem the flow of migration to Europe, as well as promoting economic development and renewable energy.

The EU is Tunisia's biggest trading partner and Sunday's deal follows weeks of talks and Europe's pledge of major aid to Tunisia amounting to 1 billion to help its battered economy, rescue state finances and deal with a migration crisis.

Most funds are contingent on economic reforms.

The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will allocate 100 million to Tunisia to help it combat illegal migration. The deal also promotes trade and investment, offers financial aid to schools in Tunisia and renewable energy initiatives.

Speaking at the Tunisian presidential palace, von der Leyen said Sunday's accord aims to "invest in shared prosperity".

"We need an effective cooperation, more than ever" on migration, she said, announcing greater cooperation against "networks of smugglers and traffickers" and in search and rescue operations.

More aid

Sunday's deal follows talks in June, when von der Leyen, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni met Saied and promised up to 900 million in aid to help the country's economy.

The European Commission also announced at the time that it would supply a further 105 million in 2023 to curb irregular migration.

"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 Meloni said.

Italy has seen a sharp increase in migrants arriving by sea  75,065 had reached Italy by 14 July 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.

Meloni said that there would be an international conference on migration in Rome next Sunday with a number of heads of state, including president Saied.

'Unlimited generosity'

Tunisia's struggling economy and high unemployment have pushed people to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe, but the north African country has also become a launchpad for undocumented African migrants trying to reach Europe.

Thousands have flocked to the port city of Sfax in recent months. President Saied has accused such "hordes" of migrants of a "plot" to change the country's demographic makeup.

Tunisia has since seen a rise in racially motivated attacks, with hundreds of migrants forced to flee their homes in Tunisia or forcibly evicted and driven to desert areas along the borders with Algeria and Libya.

The International Organization for Migration has said 2,406 migrants died or disappeared in the Mediterranean in 2022, while at least 1,166 deaths or disappearance were recorded in the first half of 2023.

Saied has called for a "collective agreement on inhuman immigration and [forced] displacements of people by criminal networks".

He insisted that Tunisia "gave the migrants everything it can offer with unlimited generosity".

Hours before the announcement, correspondents from France's AFP news agency at the Tunisian-Libyan border saw dozens of exhausted and dehydrated migrants in a desert area, claiming they were taken there by Tunisian authorities.

(with agencies)


17.07.2023 LISTEN

Alexender Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda has strongly criticized the Minority in Parliament for boycotting the House over the trial of Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson.

The Assin North MP is currently facing criminal charges over dual citizenship.

The decision of the Minority to boycott Parliamentary sittings is to show solidarity with Gyakye Quayson anytime he is scheduled to appear in court.

Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Akwasi Acquah expressed his displeasure over Minority's decision, stating that it goes against the laws of the country.

He argued that their intention to accompany Hon. Gyakye Quayson to court is an attempt to instill fear and undermine the rule of law.

Hon. Acquah reminded the Minority of their primary responsibility, which is to represent their constituents in Parliament.

He asserted that boycotting parliamentary proceedings for the sake of Gyakye Quayson does not reflect well on their commitment to their constituents.

"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," Acquah stated during the interview with host Nana Yaw Kesseh.
17.07.2023 LISTEN

The word of God is unstoppable, irrevocable, impregnable, immutable and infallible. Stop fidgeting. Stop complaining. Our God is able and faithful. Yes! Jesus said that everything is possible to them that believe.

Paul was being taken to Rome to stand before Caesar. God pre-arranged it, but did not inform the apostle that it was going to be a very tempestuous journey. The beginning of the voyage was calm and prosperous, but towards Italy (the destination), the weather, the sea and the wind became unfriendly. They revolted. They stood against the journey. Some bible translations called it "Contrary wind." They got into real trouble. I know somebody would say, "But God sent him." Yes, you're correct. But, God sending or being with you will in no way make the enemy not to challenge the project. He will but you will also have your victory. This is guaranteed! Trouble, disappointment, betrayal, gang up, set-backs do not exterminate Gods will and projects.

Look at the kind of opposition Jesus had. It was something else. From conception, the enemy did everything to abort the plan of God for man's redemption. His father (Joseph) wanted to throw the mother away. His mother could not find a decent place to give birth to him. Herod tried to get rid of him, and in the process killed thousands of innocent Jewish babies. His own brothers and the Jews mocked him. He was persecuted. A member of his inner team sold him out. He was severely tempted and promised by Satan to exchange his divine mission for power, fame and food. He was deserted and killed in the process. All these happened just to stampede him into abandoning that mission. But Jesus stood his ground and believed God. He held unto the eternal agreement and the ability of God to fulfill his own part of the deal. That was why he told the Jews, "Even if you kill me, I will rise up at the third day, because my mission is unstoppable!" Yes, I am unstoppable!

This must be your attitude always; if you must remain a winner in all circumstances of life. Let the wind blow, let the sea billow or the storm rage, yet continue to stand on what God has told you. The word of God cannot fail. Stop fidgeting. Stop complaining about. Our God is able and faithful. At the appointed time (which could be sooner than you think) he will bring his word to pass in your life. He cannot lie. Please, let's see what Apostle Paul and his co-travelers went through. "We had several days of rough sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed down to the leeward side of Crete, past the cape of salmone. We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for long voyages by then because it was so late in the fall and Paul spoke to the ships officers about it. 'Sirs, he said, ' I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on - shipwreck, loss of cargo, injuries, and danger to our lives.' They couldn't turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. The terrible storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone" (Acts 27:7-10, 15, 20).

My God! Did you follow that bible text? Their trouble started with a contrary wind, then, loss of time and properties, and eventually all hope that they would remain alive was also lost. You know it is very easy to teach or preach from this part of the bible, but I want you to imagine yourself in a drifting boat or aircraft. Maybe in the middle of the Pacific or Atlantic, and you're fully aware that the Captain has lost control of the boat or the airplane. What will be your next move? From where will you start helping yourself; even if you have life Jacket? I have heard somebody telling a similar story. Theirs was in an aircraft. As the aircraft lost control, the passengers went into an instantaneous prayer revival and alter call without a preacher. Lol. But I ask, why must people wait to get into this kind of situation before they acknowledge God. And also, they always go back to their evil ways after such a harrowing experience? Why??

Now, from this uncertain and tempestuous journey to Rome, Paul brought the unexpected and incredible good news to the 276 passengers on board. He told them to cheer up. "Cheer up for what?" I'm sure the other passengers asked him with a look of hopelessness. Paul had received a word from the Lord and knew immediately that heaven had come to rescue them. That was not the first time he had heard and believed the word of God. Like others before, he was very sure that this particular one would not fail. He told the fasting and death-rattled co-travelers; who were waiting to be buried in the deep sea, "But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you'. So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said"(27:22-24). Praise God! Paul heard and believed the word of God, and consequently became an encouragement to others in trouble. I want you to start believing God's word in your situation. He can not disappoint. Yes, he can't afford to.

There were others who also believed God and saw his mighty deliverance. What do you say about Noah? God told him to make a boat and prepare, for he was going to flood the whole earth. Noah believed God even when he didn't see any sign of rain. Remember he had not seen anything like that before. And later the rain came as God said. Look at Abraham. He believed God and at the appointed time Sarah his wife gave birth to Isaac; even when her womb was considered already dead. Then when asked to sacrifice the same son, he went ahead believing that God would bring him back to life. Radical faith! Yes, Jesus said that everything is possible to them that believe. The bible is full of people who believed God, and as a result were delivered and honored. You can join the long list today. Start believing God's word concerning you today. Do that and you will not be disappointed. Believe him in that your project. Believe him in your marriage. Believe him in your job. Believe him over your health, children, career, relationship, admission, future, protection, etc. He will surely deliver on his promises. Please, share this message with others. God bless!

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books / audiobooks Power of Midnight Prayer, Power of Sacrifice, Breaking Generational Curses: Claiming Your Freedom and others. Website: www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo
17.07.2023 LISTEN

A 28-YEAR-Old man has been electrocuted at Nkwanta near Tepa, in the Ashanti Region.

Kwabena Talat, now deceased, was said to be felling a tree in a bush when it accidentally fell on an electric pole, which electrocuted him instantly.

The unfortunate incident happened on Saturday around 5pm, and was reported to the police in Tepa, who have since commenced investigations into the case.

The police report, sighted by the DAILY GUIDE, said the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had to switch off power supply to the area before the body was removed.

The lifeless body has since been deposited in a morgue for autopsy and preservation as the police are currently investigating the case.

On 15/07/23 at 1700hrs, Mr. Amidu Laari, Odikro of Nkwanta near Tepa, reported to the police that his son, Kwabena Talat, aged 28 years, was felling a tree under an electric high tension pole.

That the tree fell on the pole and in an attempt to remove the tree, he was electrocuted and died instantly, a police document disclosed.

The report said the police informed Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) officers to cut off power to the area before the body was removed and conveyed to the Tepa Government Hospital for autopsy.

-DGN online
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Japhet Festus Gbede, former communication director of the NDC's Young Democrats and an Assembly member aspirant for the Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu electoral area has decried the daily rising cost of living and the hardship being experienced by his people.

He said it shows the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is "wicked and inconsiderate."

Mr. Gbede added that the ruling party has "no idea or solution on how to salvage the people of Ghana from the myriad of problems confronting the nation through the government's mismanagement of the economy."

In a Facebook post, Mr. Gbede condemned the increment in the prices of electricity and other commodities, especially food items.

While noting that the nations problems could not be miraculously solved, he opined that those saddled with leadership responsibilities should at least show direction, commitment and patriotism.

He added, "this has not been the case with the Nana Addo Danqua-led NPP government."

"An average Ghanaian now finds it very hard to make ends meet as prices of goods soar virtually every day."

"The ruling party has no clear-cut vision or sincerity to tackle the challenges confronting us as a nation. It is sad that Ghanaians have to pay for their leadership failures," he stressed.

The outspoken communicator regretted that "eating three square meals has become a big deal. Security is not guaranteed; in fact, many businesses have crumbled. But all the government of the day thinks about is how to take more loans and how to further overtax the people, who are already finding it hard to survive on needless elections."

He posited that, "This is not about politics; we must be sincere with ourselves and ponder for once how we want our country and governments to be. Our people are being pushed to the extreme. That is why we must genuinely work out modalities to make things work; otherwise, we will all continue to sit on a keg of gunpowder.

"We need to halt this trend; this is not about party affiliation but about genuinely saving our society and improving it. In my beloved Akatsi South, you can't see stores opened after 6:00 PM because the owners are not safe in the hands of criminals that kill them every day as fouls, and one has to sleep with a cutlass in his hand due to the high level of insecurity in the country.

"There is nowhere to run to; the ruling party must shun politics and seek advice and solutions to the problems devilling the nation anywhere and everywhere."

"It is sad to note that, in my beloved Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu electoral area, our roads have suddenly become the fulfillment of the government's one village one dam promises," he stated.

He urged Ghanaians to believe in the National Democratic Congress, charging them to vote for the party's presidential candidate, H.E. John Dramani Mahama come 2024.
Congolese former minister Cherubin Okende, a member of the opposition in parliament, was found dead in his car on Thursday. His murder puts a question mark over the possibility of democratic elections in December.

Found riddled with bullets in his car on one of the highways of the capital Kinshasa on Thursday morning, the body of Cherubin Okende will certainly haunt more than one political candidate.

Okende was an elected member of parliament for the party of Moise Katumbi, a leading opposition politician. Okende was due to contest the presidential election in December in the central African nation.

Katumbi told RFI that he believes the murder is "a political assassination" and an attempt to silence the opposition.

The death occurred in the middle of an important week in DRC's electoral process: those who want to participate in the parliamentary elections had until 15 July to register as candidates.

Tresor Kibangula, a Congolese political analyst at the Ebuteli think tank, told RFI that Okende's death creates an athmosphere of "hysteria" in the political life of the country.

"This type of public political assassination [has] been really rare in recent years", he said.

He added that what is even more worrying is the "shrinking" of the democratic space.

"Some demonstrations have been recently forbidden," Kibangula explained. "Politicians have been arrested, so, of course, some political actors are afraid. The country is [moving down] a dangerous path."

Tensions ahead of vote

The next general elections are set for 20 December. However, political tensions and major security issues in the East are already complicating the electoral process.

Opponent Martin Fayulu, who was a presidential candidate in the last election and still claims to have won the poll, told RFI, that in the absence of a reliable electoral file audited by a reputable independent body, he is unable to submit his application.

He refuses to whitewash what he descibes as "electoral fraud".

Fayulu has teamed up with fellow opposition figures Moise Katumbi, Matata Ponyo, and Delly Sesanga but they have not said whether they will boycott the current electoral process or not.

For Fayulu, the main worry lies in the voter registration process. It unfolded over three months across a population of some 44 million electors, in a country which is the size of western Europe.

He also denounced the absence of a transparent external audit.

Need for transparency

The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), organising the vote, has so far managed to adhere to the very tight deadlines imposed on it.

The external audit of the electoral roll lasted just five days.

The electoral registration took place over less than three months, but couldn't happen in parts of the east, because of the insecurity created by armed groups like the M23 and the FDLR.

For analyst Tresor Kibangula, one of the big problems is that the level trust in the CENI is very low.

The opposition also hasn't done the necessary work to support the commission.

"The opposition is right to demand guarantees of transparency," Kibangula said, "but at the same time they have to start preparing for the vote, submit their candidates and perhaps even begin to unite to face the current majority."
Samuel Koku Anyidoho, founder of the Atta Mills Institute is urging the NPP government to investigate the misappropriation of funds meant for the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Library in Cape Coast.

The government has taken over the library following mismanagement of the facility which left it in a sorry state.

Koku Anyidoho contends the takeover should be followed by a formal probe into why allocated funds were not fully used for construction as intended.

In a tweet on Monday, July 17 he expressed gratitude to the NPP government for taking over the project.

"Grateful the State has taken over the Atta-Mills Memorial Library in Cape Coast but it should not end there. The State must investigate to know why monies for the project was squandered, read a portion of his tweet.

The former NDC Deputy General Secretary served on the committee responsible for constructing the library to honor Ghana's late former president.

But he believes improprieties occurred in the management of the project's finances.

According to him, committee members like himself are prepared to aid investigators of the missing funds.

"I was a member of the Committee & some of us are ready to speak. Probity & Accountability," his tweet concludes.
Charles Owusu has strongly condemned Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor and Attorney General, for his remarks against President Nana Akufo-Addo and the government.

Mr Amidu has been vocal in his criticism of the Akufo-Addo administration.

One of his latest comments pertains to the leaked audio recording allegedly involving a Police Commissioner and an NPP executive discussing the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

According to the former Special Prosecutor, the leaked tape is not fabricated but rather a deliberate diversionary tactic by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In a statement, he expressed his belief that the leaked tape was intended to divert the attention of opposition parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and potentially compromise the impartiality of the Ghana Police Service in the security aspects of the 2024 elections.

He said, 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.

In reaction to Martin Amidu's statements in a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Charles Owusu labelled Mr Amidu as a traitor.

"Martin Amidu has betrayed Ghana because of politics," Mr Owusu exclaims.
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has taken a swipe at Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong.

The two key figures in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are currently campaigning to become the next flagbearer of the party.

During his engagements with delegates in Kintampo, Kennedy Agyapong jabbed the Vice President for touting himself as a strategist.

You have taken our economy to the IMF and you tell us you are a strategist. If they dont let us do a clean campaign there will be a problem because for me if you say something I will reply you.

You tell us you are a strategist, when we were taking over power $1 was GHS4. Today $1 is GHS12. And you tell us you are a strategist? Excuse me, Ken Agyapong shared.

He further argued that he has money and that is more important than being a strategist.

In what appears to be a reply, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has shared that being rich in the flagbearer contest of the NPP is irrelevant.

He is of the view that the NPP needs a selfless person to lead the party into the 2024 General Election and not a rich man.

We want someone who can claim power for us in 2024 not just anybody. If its just about a flagbearer, I think anybody would qualify. We want a selfless person and not a rich man because you wont rule the country with your money if you become president. We want someone with ideas, Dr. Bawumia said while speaking to delegates as he toured the Ashanti Region.

The Vice President further told delegates that he is the best candidate to lead the NPP into the next general election.

He said after beating John Dramani Mahama twice in past elections, he knows how to defeat the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and will do it to break the 8 for the NPP.

Among all the 10 presidential aspirants, I have political experience over all of them. I know how to campaign and win elections over the NDC and John Mahama in particular. I have defeated him twice and I know how to defeat him again in 2024, Dr. Bawumia argued.
17.07.2023 LISTEN

The politician is often blamed for corruption although Ghanaians are generally corrupt, the Peoples National Convention has observed.

Speaking at the 2nd Biennial Conference of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Madina zone, on the theme: Revive us Again, Oh Lord, Heal and Restore Choristers, the PNCs general secretary, Janet Nabla, said: According to the 2021 population and housing census, 71% of Ghana's population are Christian, and, so, If we treat each other fairly and act morally, no politician will be able to engage in corruption in the nation.

Ghanaians are corrupt, she asserted, adding that it contributes to the widespread corruption, however, only the politician is observed since he is in the spotlight.

She, thus, urged the church to ask the government to designate a day as a National Day for Repentance, on which Ghanaians will confess their transgressions and demand reconciliation.

She also mentioned that the PNC deserves credit for the National Health Insurance Scheme, school feeding programme, and the institution of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Protection.

Source: ClassFMonline.com
Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

From North America to Europe and Asia, people gulped water and sought shelter from the sweltering heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days.

Europe, the globe's fastest-warming continent, was bracing for its hottest-ever temperature this week on Italy's islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) is predicted, according to the European Space Agency.

"We're from Texas and it's really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it's even hotter here," Colman Peavy, 30, said as he sipped a capuccino at an outside terrasse in central Rome with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week Italian vacation.

Temperature forecasts for Europe and the Mediterranean at 2 m above the surface, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), data as of July 17, 2023, 0000 GMT.. By Anibal MAIZ CACERES, Guillermo RIVAS PACHECO (AFP)

With June already having been the world's hottest on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, Mother Nature seemed intent on July not falling far behind.

China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperature reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago.

In nearby Turpan city, where ground surface temperatures sizzled at 80C in some parts, authorities have told workers and students to stay home and ordered special vehicles to spray water on major thoroughfares, the meteorological body said.

Many around the world tried to stay cool by splashing water on themselves, like this boy in Gaza City. By MOHAMMED ABED (AFP)

In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalised, health officials said.

In Japan, heatstroke alerts were issued in 32 out of the country's 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions.

At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media reported, including 51 who were taken to hospital in Tokyo.

The heat was enough for at least one man to dispense with social mortification in Hamamatsu city.

Many have sought shelter from the sun's rays under umbrellas. By Richard A. Brooks (AFP)

"It's honestly unbearable without a parasol, although I have to admit it is a bit embarrassing," he told national broadcaster NHK of the umbrella in his hand.

Japan's highest-ever temperature was 41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city in 2018.

'Oppressive' US heat

In western and southern states in the US, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region.

California's Death Valley is often among the hottest places on Earth. By Ronda Churchill (AFP)

California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon.

In Arizona, the state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon.

Maps showing forecasted daily maximum heat index for the US from July 18-20. By Julia Han JANICKI (AFP)

"We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) ... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt".

Southern California was fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders.

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," with the health ministry sounding a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

A brown bear cools off in a pool at the bear sanctuary near the Kosovo village of Mramor. By Armend NIMANI (AFP)

Temperatures were due to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.

Nevertheless, visitors thronged to tourist hot spots like the Colosseum and the Vatican.

"I'm from South Africa. We're used to this heat," said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, a civil engineer from Cape Town. "You have to drink lots of water, obviously wear your hat and that's about it."

Greece saw a respite on Monday, as temperatures eased a bit and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its regular opening hours after shutting for a few hours during the previous three days. But a new heatwave was expected from Thursday and meteorologists warned of a heightened risk of wildfires amid strengthening winds from the Aegean Sea.

First aid for heatstroke. By Gal ROMA (AFP)

In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across most of the country.

Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where meteorologists warned that "abnormally high" temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in the southern Andalusia region in what would be a new regional record.

Killer rains

Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday.

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.

It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is behind the intensification of heatwaves.

burs-yad/db
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Inusah Fuseini, a lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central has defended the decision of the Minority caucus to boycott parliamentary proceedings.

The Minority claim their decision to boycott parliamentary proceedings is a show of solidarity with their colleagues who are currently facing criminal trials.

James Gyakye Quayson of Assin North, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam and Collins Dauda of Asutifi South are among the MPs facing prosecution by the state.

While some critics have labeled the boycott as "needless, and irresponsible," Inusah Fuseini argues that it is a matter close to the heart of the Minority Caucus.

In an interview on Neat FM's 'Me Man Nti' programme, he explained that The matter is emotive; it is a matter of the heart.

He continued, The Minority caucus is a groupthree of our members are in court: Gyakye Quayson, Ato Forson and Collins Dauda and we feel what they're going through can happen to anybody since the majority of them are former appointees.

In the case of Gyakye Quayson, it's political persecution; what is happening in Parliament is just a manifestation of some level of desperation from the NPP.

Ato Forson was a Deputy Minister. He has no authorization to issue any directive without the permission of the Minister.

His is just to assist the substantive Minister. With Collins Dauda, he didn't start Saglemi and I've read the document and you'll see that he was faced with a very difficult situation.

We want to express our solidarity; what affects one affects all.
The family of 39-year-old Linda Duah, who died at Aflao Central Hospital in the Volta Region, is demanding GHS500,000 as compensation.

The family alleges that Ms. Duah died due to the negligence of two nurses who refused to provide her with treatment when she was rushed to the hospital.

Earlier this month, the family submitted a petition to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) requesting an investigation into the case. The nurses involved are currently under investigation.

The family is seeking compensation in three forms: financial compensation to the family, funds for a befitting burial, and support for the education and welfare of the deceased's 19-year-old son. They expect the management of the hospital to cover the educational expenses for the son, who is about to begin his university education.

During a meeting between the family and the hospital's management last week, the hospital apologised to the family and offered to provide a befitting burial for the deceased.

However, the family emphasised that they are not solely seeking a befitting burial and that compensation and support for the deceased's son are also crucial. The family provided a budget for the funeral to the hospital but did not receive a response.

According to the family, it is customary for another funeral to be held in the Upper East Region, where the deceased is from. They intend to request GHS 500,000 from the hospital to cover the compensation and expenses related to both funerals.

Sister of the deceased, Abigail Adom Okyere disclosed these to Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on Class FMs 12 Live on Monday, 17 July 2023.

-classfmonline.com
A Mandan woman arrested after a vehicle pursuit in Bismarck has been charged with felony reckless endangerment and fleeing.

Latricia Brave Bull, 26, allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol before driving on Friday, according to an affidavit. The felony charges against her each carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. She also is charged with misdemeanor DUI and driving under suspension. She made her initial court appearance Monday. Court documents do not list an attorney for her.

A North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper pursued a vehicle Friday afternoon after it made an improper lane change and cut off other vehicles near Expressway and University Drive. The car fled south on University Drive reaching 80 mph in a 35-mph zone before crashing into a light pole near Wachter Avenue, according to the Patrol.

Authorities reported that two passengers were in the car. One was transported to a hospital after complaining of pain, but was later found to be unharmed, according to the affidavit.

In addition to the criminal charges Brave Bull was cited for making an unsafe lane change, not wearing a seat belt, driving without liability insurance and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Those infractions are all punishable by fines.
The Ghana Nurses Association Dallas Fort Worth, Texas Ghanaian-American based nurses in collaboration with Mater Ecclesia Hospital at Sokode Gbogame in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region of Ghana has successfully organized a day health fair to screen the people of Sokode Gbogame and it's surrounding communities of some health conditions very common in Ghana.

The community members including students of Sokode Senior High Technical School, Abutia Senior High Technical and Mater Ecclesia Schools were the beneficiaries of the free health screening on six different selected sicknesses.

At the event, the chiefs and elders of Sokode Gbogame were in attendance to embrace and welcome the Ghanaian born Nurses living and practicing nursing in the United States of America giving back to society, members of the community especially clients to the Matter Eclesiea Hospital we screened and educated.

A target of 150 people was subsequently exceeded to over 200 were diagnosed for Diabetes, Eclampsia, Hypertension, Malaria, sickle cells, and Nutritional deficiency, with some with severe signs treated for free at the facility.

In an interview with the President of the Association best known as GNA, Madam Aba Emprofi Halms a registered Tele, Medical Surgical Nurse, Master's in Nursery outlines that they functioned to bring all practicing nurses in the country under one umbrella and advance the interest of the nursing profession by promoting a better understanding and dignity of the profession.

She said, "We didn't come here to prescribe rather we came to give information but basic medication like Ibuprofen thats over the counter. So we can give that medication and then ride on the back how often you can take that. These are medications we brought to the community, nothing above these medications are given because certain medication before given, tests must be run by the patients. So our aim is not to prescribe but to educate."

As part of their mission to Ghana in the Volta region Madam Amprofi said they went to Ho teaching hospital where the team worked with the nurses at the facility.

The president also mentioned that in the past years, they donated over 44 containers of medical supplies to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Korle-bu. "In Okomfo Anokyes hospital, we donated incubators. Our incubator is one of them used for the conjoined twins. We also sponsored a nursing student who is also at the Nsawam orphanage. Money is donated by us to children that need surgery."

She however bemoaned the limited resources that force them to always improvise with the few they have in service delivery.

"Although the facilities here are small, they are doing their best especially the delivery room. We notice there were only one bed so you can imagine if there are three or more nursing mothers in labour that can Impose a lot of problem because of the position of the bed. I am Impressed by how neat the hospital is looking," she stated.

On behalf of the Association Madam Amprofi Halms pledge with hope that the Ghana Nurses Association DFW will build a very good relationship with the Matter Eclesiea Hospital for the hospital to see more development.

"We are hoping that this is not going to be nine-day wonder. We will come back, have a good relationship and a good collaboration to build a healthy community. We believed there is a land they are obtaining and so GNA and other NGOs will come and support the development of the community," she emphasised.
As the Artificial Intelligence (AI) wave sweeps across the globe, Africa finds itself at the forefront of a transformative moment that has the potential to reshape the continent's development trajectory. As home to the worlds youngest and fastest growing population, Africas youth will form one of the worlds largest workforces by 2030. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day on July 15th, it is imperative to examine how to position the continents youth to leverage AI to transform lives and power economies.

The world is changing rapidly, and AI is at the centre of a revolution in how we generate new knowledge, collaborate and innovate. It is imperative to empower Africas youth to be able to leverage the speed, breadth, and depth of AI advancements to unlock the continents potential and solve development challenges. AI holds the promise of creating jobs, fostering innovation, and expanding access to essential services like healthcare, education, and finance.

Yet, effective deployment of AI technologies necessitates strategic investments in ICT infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity, data centres, and cloud computing capabilities. This requires African governments, institutions, and the private sector to channel resources into AI research and development. Africa must position itself to actively engage in shaping global discussions on AI and contribute to the development of context-specific data and guidelines.

The following strategic steps will help to effectively position Africas youth to harness the transformative potential of AI:

Enhancing AI skills for all youth

Equipping the continents young people with relevant technological skills is of paramount importance. Globally, young people are at the forefront of the ongoing AI revolution. However, the majority of AI experts are concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia. Africa is significantly underrepresented which hampers opportunities for African youth to interact with new technology and harness its power to solve problems. Africa must prioritize cost-effective, AI-focused education and skills development programs to reach diverse youth to ensure that no one is left behind.

Training a new generation of AI experts, data scientists, and engineers will drive innovation in AI technologies. Encouraging progress has already been made with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence Education in Africa, as various institutions across the continent offer postgraduate and undergraduate degrees, including Robotics Engineering. Establishing more dedicated research centres and funding AI-related studies through scholarships will help to improve affordability and access. By fostering collaboration with global AI research institutions and technology companies, African countries can enhance program quality and competitiveness.

Creating African content and diverse data sets

Encouraging young people to develop more African content and connecting AI to high quality datasets from Africa will help to ensure context specific predictive analytics and content generation. The availability of high-quality datasets from Africa is crucial for effectively training AI algorithms and mitigating unintended algorithmic biases and discrimination in AI products. Data sets developed outside Africa lack the distinct patterns and nuances specific to the African context, thereby rendering them inadequate for producing accurate models. Dr Winston Ojenge, an expert from the African Centre for Technology Studies in Kenya emphasizes the insufficiency of machine learning and AI datasets within Africa.

In order to effectively leverage AI to generate solutions that accelerate the achievement of the SDGs across diverse sectors, young people must be enabled to collect and share data. A regional and continental approach could help African countries to pool resources, share knowledge, and establish a unified approach to AI content development and data management. The development of the African Union Artificial Intelligence (AU-AI) Continental Strategy for Africa will go a long way in developing a comprehensive strategy that will guide African countries on how to support inclusive and sustainable AI-enabled socio-economic transformation. Young people must be at the centre of national and regional mechanisms to foster inclusive AI development.

Nurturing local solutions to local challenges

Encouraging the development of AI solutions tailored to local challenges can have a profound impact on development. There are opportunities to build on existing incubation hubs and accelerators to nurture AI-focused startups, provide mentorship to the youth, and offer necessary resources. For example, Google's first Africa-based AI research laboratory located in Ghana is actively working on solutions in agriculture, education, and healthcare. The centres goal is to provide developers with the necessary research needed to build products that can solve some of the problems that Africa faces today.

Across the continent, AI is already playing an important role in addressing some of the sustainable development goals such as food insecurity, improving access to healthcare and promoting inclusivity. Examples include using drones to detect pests and diseases in farms, creating tools for farmers to monitor weather patterns and optimize agricultural practices, delivering medical supplies via drones, and employing AI-powered chatbots to connect patients with doctors. Additionally, AI-driven robots that interpret body language aid individuals with disabilities, and apps like iStammer supported by UNDP in Ghana, connect those with speech impediments to speech therapists. These innovations, predominantly driven by young people, highlight the transformative potential of relevant education, tools, and skills empowerment.

Conclusion

AI is developing rapidly and Africas diverse population must not be left behind. By enhancing skills, creating African content and curating local solutions to accelerate the achievement of national and global development goals, Africa can position its youth to harness the transformative power of AI. Equipped with the necessary tools and skills, Africas youth can thrive in todays rapidly changing world and contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future for us all.

By Dr Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana on World Skills Day
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has issued a press release to react to reports suggesting that it engages the services of land guards.

The release has been issued after citing allegations made by the Daily Post Newspaper and the Ghana web online news platform on a purported statement made by the Chief Director of the Ministry captioned "Chief Director at the Lands Ministry reveals Ministry of Lands, Military and Police, have been contracting Land Guards" and "Government engages services of lands guards - Chief Director of Lands Ministry" respectively.

In its release today, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stressed that the report is false and must be treated with contempt.

The Ministry would like to set the records straight that Government and for that matter the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources does not contract the services of land guards in its operations, part of the release said.

The Ministry, however, acknowledges that through its agency, Lands Commission, it has legally engaged the services of Aynok Holding Limited, a registered limited liability company to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands.

We wish to categorically state that Government and by extension, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources employs legal processes to reclaim all encroached state lands, the release added.

Below is a copy of the release from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources:
Supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko held a peaceful protest over the weekend, despite a ban by authorities. Sonko, who is under house arrest, publicly confirmed he would run in next year's presidential elections.

Ousmane Sonko appeared outside his home on Saturday evening to kick off the protest, "symbolically" banging pots for several minutes, dressed in red in a sign of anger.

The 49-year-old Senegalese opposition politician was unanimously voted as the PASTEF-Patriots' party candidate for the 25 February 2024 presidential elections last week.

Facing legal battles, he has been confined by security forces to his home in Dakar since 28 May.

The governor of Dakar banned the PASTEF party's nomination rally due to the "risk of disturbing public order".

Sonko told supporters "another date" would be chosen.

Instead, Sonko defiantly filmed himself and broadcast the video from his Facebook account to ask President Macky Sall "to leave office in peace".

Many of his supporters joined the noisy protest in several districts of the capital Dakar, and in major towns all over the country, including his own city of Ziguinchor, in the south, and Mbacke in the centre.

In Dakar's Parcelles Assainies area, Sonko supporter Malick Diedhiou took part to "send a message of peace," he said, and show that "what the state is doing against Sonko" is "illegal."

Legal struggles

Sonko claims that President Macky Sall is "trying to eradicate PASTEF", and to prevent him "from being a presidential candidate".

He has warned of "indescribable chaos" if he is prevented from running for the top job.

Sonko's nomination came despite lingering questions over his eligibility due to criminal convictions and prison sentences.

He was handed a two-year term following a trial on charges of sexual abuse of a beauty salon worker on 1 June.

Buy it is still unclear whether this sentence, which can be appealed to the Supreme Court, makes him ineligible.

His convictions sparked deadly clashes in May and June between his supporters and the security forces, spawning the worst unrest Senegal has seen in years.

Legal analysts and Sonko's own lawyers said this conviction rules him out from being a candidate, but Sonko insists that he remains eligible for the election, despite the legal proceedings.

Extraordinary parliamentary session

Meanwhile, this Monday, Senegalese MPs have gathered in the parliament to vote on a few bills regarding the presidential election.

This comes after President Sall promised not to run for a potential third term and concluded a national dialogue with a part of the opposition.

The parliament is expected to vote on constitutional changes and to remove the ineligibility of a few other prominent opponents and potential presidential candidates, including Karim Wade and former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall.

The opposition hopes these vote will help secure a more peaceful electoral process.

(with AFP)
How do you gauge whether someone is educated or not? In many parts of the world, the answer relates to the level of formal qualifications they achieve when they are young  do they have a university degree? In what subject and from what institution?

This appeals to the sense that education is something earned and to the belief that schools and universities have the authority to say who is (and who is not) educated. It's also how economists and social scientists define someone's education level and link that to what their health and social outcomes might be later in life.

However, as journalist Vanessa Friedman has written in the New York Times, educational status can change because of the clothes you wear. She uses two examples  a jacket worn by the fictional protagonist of the 1999 film The Talented Mr Ripley and the outfits worn by disgraced US politician George Santos , a look she calls the uniform of preppy private-school boys everywhere. He worked hard, she argues, to appear more credentialed than he was.

These characters, one fictional and one real, are con artists. But they make an important point about the way being educated is not a settled status. It is something that can be worked on in various ways, including through the clothes one wears.

We are researchers involved in a project exploring young people's futures in rural Uganda. As part of this, Ben  an anthropologist  conducted a study to understand what young men and women do with their education in the absence of white collar jobs.

We found many women and men, of different ages, continuing to work on their claims to an educated identity throughout their lives. They do this by wearing the right clothes, but also by joining committees, being active in church, speaking what is considered the right sort of English, and presenting their arguments in the logical way that those with a good education have been trained in.

These people are not Tom Ripleys or George Santoses. They are doing what they do because being seen as educated has benefits. In this part of Uganda, educated people tend to prevail in disputes and fare better with various authorities; they are also more likely to benefit from government and NGO schemes.

This shows that people can work on their educational status throughout life, and that much of the work of being educated is only indirectly tied to the schooling experience. Policymakers miss this point. They assume that formal qualifications are the best measure of educational status. But being educated is not only about the credentials you have: it is also about how others credential you.

Ivan and Florence

Oledai is a rural sub-parish of about 180 households near the trading centre of Ngora, in eastern Uganda. Though English is the language of instruction from the late stages of primary school, Ateso is the most spoken language. Residents engage in a mix of farm work and petty trading; some run businesses to make a living. A small number have salaried employment, typically as school teachers.

There is a difference in how young and older people work on their educational status that reflects the fact that very few older people had the opportunity to go to secondary school.

If you ask a resident in the village to take you to the home of an educated person, you might we be directed to Ivan Onai's grass thatched house. Ivan is in his late 20s; a born-again Christian who is fluent in English. He listens to the BBC World Service to cultivate his vocabulary.

Always well turned out, Ivan serves as a youth counsellor at the sub-county and runs a youth group in the village. Though Ivan dropped out of school after his A-levels, he has cultivated the identity of a university graduate through his manners, political career and committee work. Many feel he is more educated than some of his better-credentialed peers.

Florence Akol, meanwhile, is in her early 40s and went to school at a time when educating daughters was less of a priority in Uganda than it is today . She completed only two years of primary education, but went on to raise two daughters who both attended university. Through them she has learned English. She is also treasurer of the village council and treasurer of her clan.

These stories illustrate how schools and universities throughout Uganda are important not only as places where certificates are handed out but also as referents against which ideas of being educated circulate more widely in society.

The experience of schooling matters as much as the practices it teaches  committee skills, competence in English, the carrying of books and pens. Committee work requires an understanding of procedure, an ability to do bookwork and, often, a degree of confidence in spoken English.

The benefit of perceptions

The wider community often discussed what made someone educated. One older woman, part of a group trying to raise money for school fees, told us that education trims your manners and helps you think differently and that being educated helped in managing disputes and getting a favourable outcome in the village court. Women in Oledai reflect on what it means to be 'educated'. Ben Jones

This could be observed as the community mobilised around the parish fund, a new government initiative meant to help its citizens, or the president's Emyooga scheme targeting youth. Those appointed to positions of influence were more educated than the average, and those in committee positions had the capacity to monopolise how the funds would be allocated.

Policy implications

We believe that understanding these dynamics is key for policymakers and researchers, who (in Uganda and many other parts of the continent) define educational status through the formal qualifications a person has. They focus on the health or social benefits that come from human capital.

We would encourage policymakers to rethink how education is understood so that it comes to be defined as an accredited status  how people evaluate you  as well as a credentialed one  the papers you carry in your pocket.

Investing in areas that shape accreditation would be a way of helping more people access opportunities. In Oledai this might mean offering evening classes to help adults improve their skills in spoken English, or giving people access to training in the sort of bookwork that committees value.

Fieldwork was funded by a Mid-Career Fellowship from the British Academy (MD170053) and a further grant also from the British Academy (YF190162). I would like to thank Stella Aguti, Joseph Ochana, Sarah Amongin, and Joel Ekaun Hannington for their support in collecting data and debating the research findings.

Lucy Njogu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Ben Jones, Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia And

Lucy Njogu, PhD student, University of East Anglia
Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves and wildfires scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 children close to a Greek seaside resort.

Health authorities have sounded alarms from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and shelter from the burning sun, in a stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

Near Athens, a forest fire flared in strong winds by the popular beach town of Loutraki where the mayor said holiday camps for youngsters had come under threat.

"We have saved 1,200 children who were in the holiday camps," said mayor Giorgos Gkionis.

Emergency services were also battling wildfires in Kouvaras and the resorts of Lagonissi, Anavyssos and Saronida near Athens. Several homes were burned in the area, according to footage from public broadcaster ERT.

Local residents battle wildfires outside of Athens. By Spyros BAKALIS (AFP)

"The extreme weather ... is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies," said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

"This underlines the increasing urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible."

'We thought we'd escape'

Extended heatwave in US West and South. By Julia Han JANICKI (AFP)

In Rome, where temperatures hit a near-record 39C on Monday, American Colman Peavy could not believe the heat as he sipped a cappuccino at a cafe with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week vacation.

"We're from Texas and it's really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it's even hotter here," said the 30-year-old.

It was already the world's hottest June on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, and July looks to be readying to challenge its own record.

China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperatures reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago.

Heatstroke alerts had been issued in 32 out of Japan's 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions.

At least 60 people were treated for heatstroke, media reported, including 51 taken to hospital in Tokyo.

In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalised, health officials said.

'Oppressive' US heat

A pharmacy's sign flashes 44C near the Spanish Steps in Rome. By Tiziana FABI (AFP)

In western and southern US states, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region.

California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon.

In Arizona, state capital Phoenix tied its record of 18 consecutive days above 43C (109F), as temperatures hit 45C (113F) early Monday afternoon.

The US National Weather Service predicts similar highs at least through Sunday, while warning of overnight lows remaining dangerously elevated, above 32C (90F).

"We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit)... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt."

In Southern California, several wildfires have ignited over the past few days in rural areas east of Los Angeles.

The biggest, named the Rabbit Fire, had burned nearly 8,000 acres and was 35 percent contained on Monday morning, according to authorities.

Children dive to bathe in the Khaireddine Canal in the suburbs of Tunis. By FETHI BELAID (AFP)

In neighbouring Canada, 882 wildfires were active on Monday, including 579 considered out of control, authorities said.

Smoke from the fires has descended on the United States again, prompting air quality alerts across much of the northeast.

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", with a red alert issued for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

Spain enjoyed little reprieve with temperatures of 47C in the southern town of Villarrobledo.

Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday.

burs/imm/bp/des/md
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assented to the new salary structure for Staff of the Judicial Service to be effected July.

Members of the Judicial Staff Association of Ghana in May this year laid down their tools indefinitely in protest of the failure of the government to review salaries and approve a new salary structure. After engagement with the Ministry of Finance, JUSAG suspended their strike for further deliberations until their grievances are met.

In a press communique signed by JUSAG President, Samuel Afotey Otu on Monday, July 17, 2023, the group commended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for her role.

We are reassured by the letter of Her Ladyship Honourable Chief Justice dated 13th July 2023 which confirms that His Excellency the President of Ghana has approved the new salary structure, and implementation will be done in the month of July 2023 as indicated by the Ministry of Finance at the close of engagement, Mr Afotey Otu indicated.

We are further gratified by the commitment of the Honourable Chief Justice to see to the passage into law a Judicial Service Regulation (Constitutional Instrument) in accordance with Article 158(2), 159, and the case of JUSAG vs The Attorney General &2 Ors (2016). We hope that comprehensive work on the CI will bring an end to the biennial strikes associated with salary reviews, JUSAG further stated.

Below is the full release by JUSAG:

IMPLEMENTATION OF REVIEWED SALARIES AND RELATED ALLOWANCES FOR STAFF OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE

(1) The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) wish to congratulate the Honourable Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo on her assumption of office as the 15th Chief Justice and 3rd Lady Chief Justice to head the third arm of Government.

(2) Her assumption of office coincided with the difficult periods during which JUSAG was battling with Government over review of salaries and related allowances for staff of Judicial Service and the Lower Bench for 2023-2024 years.

(3) Though the process had been challenging, we are glad that her ingenuity and exceptional leadership with the support of other stakeholders led to conclusion of the engagement on the 15th of June 2023 with an understanding that implementation of the reviewed salaries will take effect in July 2023.

(4) We are reassured by the letter of Her Ladyship Honourable Chief Justice dated 13th July 2023 which confirms that His Excellency the President of Ghana has approved the new salary structure, and implementation will be done in the month of July 2023 as indicated by the Ministry of Finance at the close of engagement.

(5) We are further gratified by the commitment of the Honourable Chief Justice to see to the passage into law a Judicial Service Regulation (Constitutional Instrument) in accordance with Article 158(2), 159, and the case of JUSAG vs The Attorney General & 2 Ors (2016). We hope that comprehensive work on the CI will bring an end to the biennial strikes associated with salary reviews.

(6) The National Executive Council (NEC) of JUSAG wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to our mother Chief Justice for the good start, and to the immediate former Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah for his efforts. We shall work with her and Management to rebrand the Judicial Service and build upon the successes chalked by the Judiciary and the Judicial Service over the years.

(7) We equally wish to extend our felicitations to His Excellency the President of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations, the

JUSAG, Justice and Fair Play!
18.07.2023 LISTEN

Major parts of the Wuxor, Have and Sremanu electoral area have been plunged into darkness as the street lighting infrastructure appears to be collapsing in the nearly four years of Mr Bright Badasu, an Assemblymember of the Area.

Residents say the creeping darkness, which has now affected many parts of the once vibrant communities, has noticeably gathered pace since Hon. Bright Badasu became the Assembly member for the area.

Mr. Badasu, who according to the residents received some 15 street lights from the Member of Parliament of Akatsi South constituency in February this year but refused to release the lights to the various communities for installation, leaving the communities in the dark and criminal activities.

Mr. Kudzo Akpanya, Convenor, speaking to the media, indicated that he has done all that he could within his strength to retrieve the streetlights donated by the Member of Parliament to the people of Have-fiakpokorpe and that of Sremanu, but his efforts were rendered fruitless by the Assemblymember.

Interacting with the media, Mr.Japhet Festus Gbede indicated that Streetlights are urgently needed in every community to increase security.

For instance, apart from promoting security, they also enhance safety of drivers, riders and pedestrians. "So it is unreasonable for an Assemblyman who was given a streetlight freely without lobbying to camp the lights in his room for no apparent reason for the past 5 months," he stated.

He added that criminal elements within the electoral Area are taking advantage of the poor illumination in these communities to steal their animals and belongings at night.

This development, Japhet said, has caused many to question what has become of the leadership under the nearly 4-year tenure of Mr. Badasu Bright.

He therefore warned that, if the lights are not released to the respective communities in two weeks, the Assemblyman will be sued in a court.

Appealing to the government of Nana Addo Danqua Akufo-Addo and other benevolent organizations, he begged for the extension of electricity to Edzikorpe, Numagbey, Ewekorpe and its environs.
Volta region has been noted to be very slow in the national vaccination campaign to fight against the spread of the Covid pandemic in the country.

Volta on the regional statistics falls to the bottom with only 40.6 per cent of people vaccinated in the national campaign compared to other regions.

Regional Health Directorate has launched its 7th national vaccination campaign against COVID-19, to be undertaken in five days with a target of 53,134 unvaccinated persons to be commenced on Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23, 2023 in 18 districts across the region to ensure that the majority of citizens in the region are vaccinated against the virus.

According to Dr. Kwasi Dzokoto, the Regional Health Director in the national covid 19 vaccination day media launch for the 2nd quarter at Stevens Hotel in Ho on Sunday, July 16, 2023 said the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration does not imply that the battle against the virus is over.

Dr. Dzokoto recalled that Ghana began its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on 1st March, 2021, making it one of Africa's longest-running vaccination.

Despite the longevity of its vaccination program, he noted that less than half of the target population of 20 million people had received at least one vaccine dose by the beginning of 2023.

"So far, six (6) mass vaccination campaigns for COVID-19 have been rolled out in More than 2 years of implementation of COVID-19 vaccination have proven that the myths, misconceptions, misinformation, and disinformation about the vaccines are all not true," he stated.

He stressed that the vaccines are safe, effective and a reliable means of preventing infectious diseases.

He disclosed that "Volta region has the country's lowest rate of fully vaccinated people. As of 6 June 2023, only 402,163 out of the 1,387,537 target population are fully vaccinated representing 40.6 percent of its target population fully vaccinated despite the numerous vaccination campaigns, compared to other regions."

Dr. Dzokoto commended the stakeholders in the region for their benevolent efforts. "I must confess that it would have been far lower if not for the support we received from many stakeholders."

Regional Health Director is confident that all stakeholders will collaborate to ensure the success of the campaign.
17.07.2023 LISTEN

Black Africans perish in the Mediterranean Sea today as we did in the Atlantic Ocean during the days of slavery. Did I hear the preacherman say God created us in his own image, really? Did God create we Africans in his own image as well?

In equal measure of anger, sadness, and shame, I will turn my eyes away from the TV screen any time Aljazeera starts talking about the African migrants and the Mediterranean Sea. The sight of hungry, rugged and tired looking African migrants, now stranded in no man's land between Tunisia and Libya. Even though I take my gaze away from the tele, I can still hear the Aljazeera correspondent's report. Some of these abandoned humans, some of the women are pregnant, some women have babies tied with a piece of cloth behind their backs, the African way of carrying babies by mothers. The whole story, whether listening or watching, is too touching and humiliating to bear.

Since the senseless overthrow of Ghadafi in the year 2011 AD, African migrants have sailed from the shores of Libya to their deaths in the Mediterranean Sea in their thousands. One black American friend of mine recently asked me quizzically, "Isn't what is happening to African migrants in the Mediterranean the same as during the days of slavery? When chained slaves were left to sink with the ship, in their thousands?"

So I said since 2011 this sad situation has been going on, all on the blind side of the AU, the ecowas, the useless regional bodies in Africa, and the very corrupt and insincere leaders in Africa. All or most of our current day leaders are busy getting rich and in a hurry hiding their ill-gotten moneys in banks in Zurich, in Barcelona, in Berlin, in Belfast, in offshore banks of the Caribbean, in London and in New York, just far away from the Africa continent. They are too busy stealing and selling the continent to the highest bidder. Too busy to think about suffering African citizens.

With so many youths fleeing from their homelands and consequently dying unnecessarily, it looks like the minimum amount of concern comes from European do-gooders(volunteers, charities). Charities mostly from the West side of Europe are themselves being vilified by their fellow Europeans mostly from the East side of Europe. Charities have become unpopular just for helping migrants get to European shores safely.

European politics and politicians are also finding ways and means to stop migrants from taking on such perilous journeys. The only group of people who do not care about Africa migrants that much are African leaders. Africa's politics and politicians are a disappointment. They are a disgrace to humanity. This has made me think about the preacherman's words from the holy books that " God made us in his own image " In our case as Africans, what sort of image is that. When was the last time you heard the AU discuss African brain drain and manpower drain issues. When was the last time the Africa Union had a summit on migrants issues or standard of living or unemployment issues on the Black continent. Think about it.
For farmers like Dunn Countys Lenci Sickler, recent U.S. Department of Labor rule changes that alter the pay rates for temporary seasonal foreign workers could cause his labor costs to skyrocket unless they are rescinded.

Sickler supplements his staff with three workers from South Africa who travel to North Dakota on H-2A visas for seasonal spring through autumn work then return home in the winter.

Most of the time the visa workers are involved in normal farm labor, from baling hay to tending cattle. Occasionally they drive a truck, or haul grain, hay or cattle to pasture for an hour or so.

This is where the rule changes could really bite.

Technically workers engaged in any truck driving could now be reclassified under a specialization as drivers instead of general laborers. This means that their wages could increase from around $17 per hour up to $27 per hour not just for the time behind the wheel but for the entire season.

Unfortunately, thats one of the highest wages that the Department of Labor has put in, especially for North Dakota, so it would be extremely detrimental, Sickler said. If we would fall into those categories, I mean we would have to really evaluate how we have our employees work or whether the H-2A program is even viable anymore.

The Labor Department has run the H-2A program since 1987 to help fill agricultural workforce needs. It has largely been seen as beneficial for both farmers and temporary workers who make wages at a higher level than in their home countries. There have also been occasional issues with inadequate housing, poor treatment and wage theft in some parts of the country, particularly related to workers sourced from Mexico or other Latin American countries.

The department last December increased the basic wage rate, and made the changes currently opposed by many farmers at the end of February this year that specified types of employment that should be paid at a higher wage, including driving trucks.

Nationally, the average basic wage rate is $16.13 per hour, with the highest in California at $18.65 and the lowest in a belt of southern states stretching from South Carolina to Louisiana at $13.67. North Dakotas basic rate now stands at $17.33 per hour.

Dependency rises

The wage increases also come as North Dakota farmers are more dependent on seasonal foreign workers. The number of applications from farmers and the total number of H-2A visa workers have steadily risen the past three years, according to data provided by Job Service North Dakota.

Applications from farms jumped from 736 in 2021 to 979 for the current period of 2023, which runs through the end of September. The number of workers also increased, from 2,444 in 2021 to a current 3,155. Nationally, there were more than 372,000 H-2A workers in the U.S. in 2022, a sharp rise from the 75,000 temporarily employed in 2010.

Dawn Mandt, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, which concentrates on community and economic development in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties, said shes noticed farmers in her region addressing their workforce needs through the H-2A visa program in recent years.

Its really on a steady incline, Mandt said of the reliance on the program.

The program isnt necessarily taking away work opportunities from locals. It is, however, biting into housing stock.

Theres an impact that it is having more broadly on communities, because farmers are required to provide housing (to H-2A workers), so we literally have no housing available anymore, Mandt said.

In the four counties her organization covers, applications have jumped from 91 in 2021 to 145 in the current 2023 period, while H-2A worker numbers have increased from 323 to 534 in that time frame.

Potential reversal

The Labor Department is facing two lawsuits aimed at blocking the changes. One is from the National Council of Agricultural Employers, and another is from USA Farm Labor Inc., the latter one of the primary agencies arranging H-2A visa workers for farmers in North Dakota.

Another potential action is a Congressional Review Act resolution introduced by around two dozen U.S. senators, including North Dakotas Kevin Cramer, in April that could temporarily pause the changes until further review. A spokesperson for the Republican senator indicated that the vote could occur soon, but no date had been nailed down.

USA Farm Labor mainly connects farm workers from South Africa with farmers looking for workers, and works with around two dozen clients in North Dakota. The agency has traditionally been a go-to for those migrant workers during what would be their off-season in the Southern Hemisphere.

Alex Cracchiolo, USA Farm Labor spokesperson, said the main issue with the Labor Department rule changes entails the classifications that could bump a worker up to a heavy trucking category even if that wasnt the main duty of the worker.

Hauling stuff with a semi, regularly, all day every day across state lines is a vastly different job than taking stuff over to the local grain elevator, Cracchiolo said. Especially considering its not even a primary duty, but something thats going to get done once in a while during a season.

That was Sicklers main issue as well, and he said he hoped the Labor Department could address why it had made the changes and how the calculations  which vary from state to state  are figured. He thinks they end up being higher in North Dakota due to comparisons with other truck driving jobs locally.

I get it  we live in a state that has the oil industry and the wages in the oil industry are quite a lot higher, but those jobs arent hauling grain from the farms to the elevator, those are specialized trucking jobs, Sickler said.

Theres a lot more regulations, rules, theres a lot more training, theres a lot of that stuff, he said. So theyre using those positions and factoring them in to just the guy thats hauling hay down the road to his neighbor. So that I think is a little unfair.

The Labor Departments regional and national public affairs team was provided a set of questions related to the changes to the H-2A rules and how the trucking specialty wage was calculated in North Dakota, but did not respond within a week after receiving them.

Some smaller farms that cant pay the wages may end up shutting down, Cracchiolo said. Others could turn to illegal workers or end up working around the clock to get their tasks done themselves with whatever local workers are available.

None of those options are particularly appetizing for a lot of people, he said.

In a survey of 139 USA Farm Labor clients nationally, 65% said they would not use the H-2A program after this year if the changes remain in place, Cracchiolo said.

Stephanie Hatzenbuhler, operator of Diamond J Angus just west of Mandan, employs three South African H-2A workers at her farm. She said her experience has been beneficial, since the workers already speak English and most come from farm backgrounds themselves, making integration with her operations easier.

Shes not so happy about the potential changes though, and suspects they may be overturned.

Its hardly affordable the way it is, she said of the recent wage increases. I dont even know how youd keep track of specialized jobs, put it that way.

If the policy does remain in place, she, like many farmers, may cut back on their reliance on H-2A visa workers, or do the hauling and trucking themselves.

If you just keep these guys as general farm laborers, it doesnt apply, you know, so thats kind of what weve been doing, Hatzenbuhler said. So what they want to call specialized work, well you know what, Im just gonna do that myself.
So, let's get this right. Senior police officers sat down to discuss and plan the removal of a superior officer, in this case, the inspector general of police of Ghana. The leaked material has been authenticated as genuine. Now all we hear from the interior minister of Ghana is that "there's no course for alam." The officers who sat to hatch such a subversive plan are free to go home and go on. No arrest, no questions asked, nothing. In any one's book, this would be seen as treason or, at the very least, this should carry a charge of insubordination.

Here I quote the great words Mustafa Hamid "there comes a time when someone has to look into the eyes of Akufo Addo and tell him the home truth" "this country needs to be rescued, walahi, this country will be saved, this cantry is muddied, the presidency is dirtied, people in charge are neckdeep in corruption, we need a saviour but definitely not Bawu, not akompreko and Mr no message Alan Kyeremanteng"

You the npp people, I ask you, the way Akufo Addo is running the country, do you really like it? And, therefore, do you want the same to continue after 2024? Tell me, npp people, do really like what's going on? What is this. So, with Akufo Addo, every criminality is okay? Asem b3n koraaa ni? Why, why? Why. What a shame! Animguase!
Mrs Enyonam Apetorgbor, Chief Executive Officer, Keta Investment Promotion Centre (KIPC), has called on the government to make provision for the proposed Keta Port in its mid-year budget review to be presented to Parliament.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, is expected to present the 2023 Mid-Year Economic Policy and Budget Statement Review of the Government to Parliament on July 25.

Mrs Apetorgbor said a mention would be made of the project in its true current state with allocation made towards its development in the budget review next week.

In a press release issued on July 17 and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the KIPC boss charged the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Finance to ensure the project was included in the budget review.

The release alluded to the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government presented to Parliament on November 24, 2022, which said the Keta Port was substantially completed, and asked the Minister to consider and make specific budgetary provisions for the repair, maintenance and expansion works at the Keta Port.

Repairs because the metals used in the construction of the main port, fishing harbour and the container offices did not pass passivation test to withstand the corrosive weather at the Port. This situation has endangered the durability of the Port infrastructure and the workers at the Keta Port; Maintenance because, the roads connecting and leading to the Keta Port have gone bad with big potholes and manholes just few years after the construction.

The heavy vehicular traffic to and from the Port has put the road infrastructure in jeopardy hence the need for an immediate maintenance or reconstruction to forestall further decadence.

Expansion because the Keta Port since its 90 percent stage of completion reported last year by the Minister for Finance, has since experienced a massive rise in vessel traffic, to the extent that vessels do not have places to berth. A good number of them are on anchorage, seven nautical miles calling to berth. This confirms the quantum of revenue being generated, it said.

Mrs Apetorgbor called on the President to see the proposed Keta Port as a strategic economic intervention project and not a political one and for real construction works on the project, as his legacy to the chiefs and people of the Keta area.

The long-held dream of a port at Keta received attention from the Akufo-Addo Government who over the years, initiated processes included signing an executive instrument that demarcates the area for the port and advertising for tenders for feasibility studies for the project to come into fruition.

GNA
About 700 micro and small enterprises from formal and informal sectors involved in skills development and job creation are to benefit from a specialised fund established to boost productivity and provide decent jobs.

The $60m Ghana Skills Development Fund (GSDF), which is part of a $200m Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, and supported by the World Bank, seeks to create jobs and competitiveness of the skilled workforce and raise the income-earning capacities of people, especially women and low-income groups.

The five-year GSDF Project is also expected to provide about 42,000 direct jobs.

Ms Gifty Twum-Ampofo, a Deputy Minister of Education, in-charge of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), launched the Fund at a ceremony in Accra on Monday.

The initiative, which is part of the Government's five-year strategic plan to revamp TVET, is being implemented by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, and supported by the International Development Association of the World Bank.

The implementation of the Fund commenced in August 2022, when the Managers of the Fund announced the first call for applications from interested enterprises.

A total of 105 enterprises were approved by the Fund to sign their contracts and disbursements had been made to some of them.

The second call for applications is scheduled from August 1 to August 31, 2023, and that window is expected to benefit about 200 enterprises.

Mr Kwasi Asamoah-Baffour, the Chairperson of the GSDF Steering Committee, said new enterprises and/or enterprises that were less than three years in continuous operation would not be eligible for the grant.

Enterprises in sectors with high-employment-growth potential and enterprises with large share of female employees and persons living with disabilities would have an advantage, he added.

Ms Twum-Ampofo said the GSDF would not be disbursed as a loan to the beneficiaries, adding that support provided under the Fund was not required to be paid back.

However, implementation of grantee projects will need to result in desired outcomes of the GSDF, which include increased productivity, quality, competitiveness, job creation, and increased incomes, she said.

Ms Twum-Ampofo said it was the Government's objective that the Fund would support the upgrading of the skills of employees within beneficiary enterprises and companies for productivity improvement and to enable employees adopt emerging new technologies.

She said the Government was also hopeful that the Fund would lead to upgrading the skills of master crafts-persons and self-employed graduate apprentices.

Ms Elena Glinskaya, Lead Economist at the World Bank, and Co-Task Leader, Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, described the GSDF as innovative and pledged the support of the World Bank to help Ghana build its human resource base for sustainable development.

Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, the Director General of CTVET, said the selection of organisations to benefit from the Fund would be based on merit.

He said the Fund would serve as a vehicle to raise TVET financing in keeping with the Government's commitment to use TVET as a tool to build essential skills and provide decent employment.

GNA
The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has expressed appreciation to the New Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo for the approval of the new salary structure.

In a statement from JUSAG, it says it recognises the role the new Chief Justice played together with other key stakeholders to see to the approval and implementation of the new salary structure this month.

Indicating that Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo has had a good start, the association has given the assurance that it will work with the new Chief Justice to rebrand the Judicial Service and build upon the successes chalked by the Judiciary over the years.

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) wish to congratulate the Honourable Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo on her assumption of office as the 15th Chief Justice and 3rd Lady Chief Justice to head the third arm of Government.

We are reassured by the letter of Her Ladyship Honourable Chief Justice dated 13th July 2023 which confirms that His Excellency the President of Ghana has approved the new salary structure, and implementation will be done in the month of July 2023 as indicated by the Ministry of Finance at the close of engagement, JUSAG said in a statement.

It added, The National Executive Council (NEC) of JUSAG wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to our mother Chief Justice for the good start, and to the immediate former Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah for his efforts. We shall work with her and Management to rebrand the Judicial Service and build upon the successes chalked by the Judiciary and the Judicial Service over the years.

JUSAG in its statement further expressed appreciation to President Akufo-Addo, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations, the Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Judicial Council, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for the journey thus far.

Below is a copy of the JUSAG statement:

IMPLEMENTATION OF REVIEWED SALARIES AND RELATED ALLOWANCES FOR STAFF OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE

(1)The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) wish to congratulate the Honourable Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo on her assumption of office as the 15th Chief Justice and 3rd Lady Chief Justice to head the third arm of Government.

(2) Her assumption of office coincided with the difficult periods during which JUSAG was battling with Government over review of salaries and related allowances for staff of Judicial Service and the Lower Bench for 2023-2024 years.

(3) Though the process had been challenging, we are glad that her ingenuity and exceptional leadership with the support of other stakeholders led to conclusion of the engagement on the 15th of June 2023 with an understanding that implementation of the reviewed salaries will take effect in July 2023.

(4) We are reassured by the letter of Her Ladyship Honourable Chief Justice dated 13th July 2023 which confirms that His Excellency the President of Ghana has approved the new salary structure, and implementation will be done in the month of July 2023 as indicated by the Ministry of Finance at the close of engagement.

(5) We are further gratified by the commitment of the Honourable Chief Justice to see to the passage into law a Judicial Service Regulation (Constitutional Instrument) in accordance with Article 158(2), 159, and the case of JUSAG vs The Attorney General &2 Ors (2016). We hope that comprehensive work on the CIwill bring an end to the biennial strikes associated with salary reviews.

(6) The National Executive Council (NEC) of JUSAG wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to our mother Chief Justice for the good start, and to the immediate former Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah for his efforts. We shall work with her and Management to rebrand the Judicial Service and build upon the successes chalked by the Judiciary and the Judicial Service over the years.

(7) We equally wish to extend our felicitations to His Excellency the President of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations, Office of the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the Judicial Council, and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission for the journey thus far.

(8) To the gallant staff of the Judiciary
Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA (OTCMKTS:PWZYF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 47,400 shares, a drop of 56.7% from the June 15th total of 109,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:PWZYF remained flat at C$9.83 during midday trading on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$9.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$6.86. Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen has a 1 year low of C$9.22 and a 1 year high of C$9.83.

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Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen Company Profile

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POWSZECHNY Zaklad Ubezpieczen SA provides life and non-life insurance products and services in Poland, the Baltic States, and Ukraine. It operates through Corporate Insurance, Mass Insurance, Group and Individually Continued Life Insurance, Individual Life Insurance, Investments, Pension Insurance, Banking, Baltic States, Ukraine, Investment Contracts, and Other segments.

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Abcam (OTCMKTS:ABCZF  Get Free Report) is one of 380 public companies in the Biotechnology industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Abcam to similar companies based on the strength of its dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

43.6% of Abcam shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.5% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by institutional investors. 26.9% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Abcam and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Abcam N/A N/A 135.72 Abcam Competitors $111.74 million -$12.13 million -138.27

Dividends

Abcams peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Abcam. Abcam 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.

Abcam pays an annual dividend of C$0.07 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Abcam pays out 42.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Biotechnology companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 11,176.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Profitability

This table compares Abcam and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Abcam N/A N/A N/A Abcam Competitors -9,405.31% -241.59% -21.95%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Abcam and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Abcam 0 0 0 0 N/A Abcam Competitors 336 1318 3738 25 2.64

As a group, Biotechnology companies have a potential upside of 96.61%. Given Abcams peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Abcam has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Abcam beats its peers on 6 of the 10 factors compared.

About Abcam

(Get Free Report)

Abcam plc, a life science company, focuses on identifying, developing, and distributing reagents and tools for scientific research, diagnostics, and drug discovery. The company's principal products include primary and secondary antibodies; conjugated antibodies and conjugation kits; singleplex immunoassays; proteins and peptides that include cytokines; edited cell lines and lysates; and various other products, including cellular activity kits, biochemicals, and cell signaling pathway tools. It serves scientists and researchers in academic institutions and research institutes, as well as in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics companies. The company has operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, Japan, and rest of the Asia Pacific. It sells its products online. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.

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abrdn plc increased its stake in shares of CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS  Free Report) by 13.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,168,058 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 367,237 shares during the quarter. abrdn plc owned about 1.09% of CMS Energy worth $194,455,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its holdings in CMS Energy by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 79,999 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,910,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 40,343 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,476,000 after acquiring an additional 4,983 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 59,714 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,665,000 after acquiring an additional 1,797 shares during the period. Simplicity Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 125.1% during the 1st quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 11,521 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $707,000 after acquiring an additional 6,403 shares during the period. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 84,384 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,179,000 after acquiring an additional 2,242 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.92% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CMS shares. Argus reduced their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $75.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th. TheStreet upgraded shares of CMS Energy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. UBS Group upgraded shares of CMS Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $63.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on CMS Energy from $59.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price objective on CMS Energy from $68.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, June 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CMS Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.45.

CMS Energy Trading Down 0.8 %

CMS stock traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $60.48. The stock had a trading volume of 183,972 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,024,582. The firm has a market cap of $17.64 billion, a PE ratio of 26.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.77. CMS Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $52.41 and a 12-month high of $71.19. The companys 50-day moving average price is $59.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $60.90.

CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.04. CMS Energy had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 9.59%. The company had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.20 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CMS Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th were paid a dividend of $0.4875 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 83.69%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Catherine A. Hendrian sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.26, for a total value of $451,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,436 shares in the company, valued at $2,918,753.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

CMS Energy Profile

(Free Report)

CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources.

Further Reading

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abrdn plc lifted its holdings in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM  Free Report) by 191.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,876,519 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 1,232,150 shares during the quarter. abrdn plc owned 0.66% of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile worth $152,111,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital International Investors acquired a new position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile during the first quarter worth about $184,773,000. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,498,233 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $128,249,000 after purchasing an additional 108,210 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 63.9% during the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,195,008 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $99,819,000 after buying an additional 466,002 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 8.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 938,593 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $80,344,000 after buying an additional 69,385 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile by 373.7% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 926,507 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $77,391,000 after buying an additional 730,931 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.35% of the companys stock.

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Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile stock traded down $1.10 on Monday, hitting $77.08. 296,054 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,716,322. The stock has a market cap of $22.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.78, a PEG ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.97. The firms 50-day moving average is $71.92 and its 200 day moving average is $78.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 2.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. has a 52-week low of $60.21 and a 52-week high of $115.72.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile Cuts Dividend

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile ( NYSE:SQM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 18th. The basic materials company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.12 by ($0.49). The company had revenue of $2.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile had a return on equity of 82.96% and a net margin of 35.24%. Equities analysts anticipate that Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. will post 12.45 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.5119 per share. This represents a $2.05 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chiles payout ratio is currently 15.16%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SQM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in a research note on Friday, May 19th. They set a sell rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $134.00 to $97.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. HSBC cut their price objective on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $134.00 to $90.50 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile from $130.00 to $105.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $88.19.

About Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile

(Free Report)

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA produces and distributes specialty plant nutrients, iodine derivatives, lithium derivatives, potassium chloride and sulfate, industrial chemicals, and other products and services. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Autoliv (NYSE:ALV  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Autoliv from $114.00 to $113.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Autoliv from $95.00 to $96.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Kepler Capital Markets raised Autoliv from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $105.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Autoliv from $100.00 to $95.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on Autoliv from $130.00 to $127.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $101.00.

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Autoliv Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE ALV opened at $92.61 on Thursday. Autoliv has a one year low of $65.74 and a one year high of $96.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $86.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $87.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.95 billion, a PE ratio of 19.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.68.

Autoliv Announces Dividend

Autoliv ( NYSE:ALV Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The auto parts company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.09. Autoliv had a return on equity of 16.30% and a net margin of 4.51%. The firm had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Autoliv will post 6.36 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were paid a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.85%. Autolivs dividend payout ratio is currently 55.23%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Jan Carlson sold 2,614 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.98, for a total transaction of $232,593.72. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 77,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,895,327.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Autoliv

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. KRS Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Autoliv by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. KRS Capital Management LLC now owns 2,688 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd grew its position in Autoliv by 60.0% during the 2nd quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 104,761 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $8,902,000 after acquiring an additional 39,292 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Autoliv during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,157,000. First Affirmative Financial Network bought a new position in Autoliv during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $377,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Autoliv by 44.3% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 13,403 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,140,000 after acquiring an additional 4,115 shares during the last quarter. 57.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Autoliv

(Get Free Report)

Autoliv, Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and supplies passive safety systems to the automotive industry in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and rest of Asia. It offers passive safety systems, including modules and components for frontal-impact airbag protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, and inflator technologies.

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The killing of a police officer and the wounding of two others in North Dakotas largest city is impacting others around the state who put on a badge every day, including officers in the capital city.

It affects us all. We lost a brother, and almost lost two more, Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch said Monday. Were very close to our Fargo brothers and sisters, in fact with all the police departments and sheriffs departments in the state. Its always tragic when something like this happens.

Fargo Officer Jake Wallin was killed Friday when a gunman opened fire as police and firefighters responded to a routine traffic crash on a city street. Fargo Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were wounded and hospitalized in critical but stable condition. The man police identified as the shooter, Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo, was shot and killed by Officer Zach Robinson.

A civilian also was wounded. Police did not identify her. WCVB in Boston and WDAY in Fargo identified her as Karlee Koswick, 25, who moved to Fargo from Boston three weeks ago to pursue a masters degree at North Dakota State University. A hospital spokesman on Sunday told The Associated that she was in fair condition.

The incident has an effect far outside of Fargo, according to Bismarck police spokesman Lt. Luke Gardiner.

Were a family, law enforcement in North Dakota, he said. We attend training together. Were a pretty big network of people. Anytime something tragic like this happens, it affects us. We might not have known the person, or maybe were just in some training together ... but theyre a part of our law enforcement family. It affects us like losing somebody from our family.

The Bismarck Police Department plans to send a contingent that will include Draovitch and others to attend Wallins funeral and pay respects. Funeral arrangements were still pending Monday afternoon. The Bismarck force also stands ready to offer any additional support if its requested. Draovitch said he has reached out to Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski with that offer.

One possibility for support from Bismarck would be helping to handle calls for service during the funeral, to free up Fargo officers to attend the service. When Bismarck Police Sgt. Steven Kenner was fatally shot in 2011 while responding to a domestic disturbance, the Burleigh County Sheriffs Department and Highway Patrol stepped in to handle calls the day of the funeral, Gardiner said.

Draovitch said such support for the Fargo force is more likely to come from closer law enforcement agencies, but If they need us, whatever it is, we can help. Were thinking of them and willing to do anything they need. He said he personally knows many people in the Fargo department, and I have a very heavy heart because of this.

The Bismarck Police Department has employee assistance programs to help any officers who might be struggling to deal with the Fargo incident, according to the chief. He said the department also will look to learn from the incident once the investigation into what happened is concluded.

Zibolski on Saturday said authorities do not know why the gunman opened fire on the officers and also on firefighters who responded to the crash. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI are handling the probe.

Draovitch said that When we find out what happened there, well try to learn from it, pass that along to our people. Its always a time, sadly when these things happen, to do a lot of self-reflection. How can we do better for our people? Thats what Im doing  what can we do to make our people more safe? We do that all the time, but this just punctuates the need for that.

Ways to support

Fargo Police Department leadership has formed a nonprofit organization to raise money for the families of the three Fargo officers.

The Leadership Care Fund site is at https://leadershipcarefund.com/. Police said the site does not collect any fees, and no money goes to the city of Fargo or to the Police Department.

The fabric of our community is personified in the actions, words of encouragement and acts of kindness consistently being offered, especially in the aftermath of July 14s tragic events, the department said in a statement Monday. This unprecedented encouragement is being received from across the world and it is profoundly appreciated.

GoFundMe accounts also have been set up. An account for Dotas had raised about $53,000 by Monday afternoon, and an account for Hawes about $1,760.

The Vitalant nonprofit, which supplies blood to North Dakota hospitals, on Monday said the Fargo incident came amid an emergency blood shortage in the region, and it encouraged people to donate. For more information, go to vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825.

Immediately following Fridays deadly shooting, blood was ordered stat to ensure the victims had the lifesaving blood products they needed, Vitalant Regional Director Jennifer Bredahl said. We are grateful that we had the blood that was needed in this tragic situation, but we need to make sure we replenish that supply here locally as soon as possible.

Bredahl added, This community stands strong and will pull through together. We owe it to each other and rely on each other to do our part; this is one thing you can do to make a difference.
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE:BMEZ  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 99,300 shares, an increase of 375.1% from the June 15th total of 20,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 211,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 15.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 69,130 shares of the companys stock worth $1,387,000 after acquiring an additional 9,413 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 23,480 shares of the companys stock worth $471,000 after purchasing an additional 6,407 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 8.3% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 86,674 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,739,000 after acquiring an additional 6,654 shares in the last quarter. Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 448.0% in the first quarter. Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd now owns 69,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,396,000 after acquiring an additional 56,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust by 45.6% in the first quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 218,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,376,000 after acquiring an additional 68,452 shares in the last quarter.

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BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust stock traded up 0.07 during trading hours on Friday, hitting 16.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 214,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 289,383. BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust has a 12 month low of 14.33 and a 12 month high of 17.89. The stock has a 50 day moving average of 16.20 and a 200 day moving average of 16.19.

BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust Dividend Announcement

About BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a $0.145 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $1.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.73%.

(Get Free Report)

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust IIs (BMEZ) (the Trust) investment objective is to provide total return and income through a combination of current income, current gains and long-term capital appreciation. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of companies principally engaged in the health sciences group of industries and equity derivatives with exposure to the health sciences group of industries.

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Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD  Free Report) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. The firm currently has $75.00 price target on the stock, up from their prior price target of $69.00.

BYD has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Susquehanna raised their price target on Boyd Gaming from $80.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays raised their price target on Boyd Gaming from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Boyd Gaming from $83.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Boyd Gaming from $82.00 to $83.00 in a report on Thursday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Boyd Gaming from $76.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $75.92.

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Boyd Gaming Stock Performance

NYSE BYD opened at $71.85 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $7.26 billion, a PE ratio of 11.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.77. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Boyd Gaming has a twelve month low of $46.10 and a twelve month high of $72.39. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.79 and a 200-day simple moving average of $64.56.

Boyd Gaming Announces Dividend

Boyd Gaming ( NYSE:BYD Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $963.97 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $889.59 million. Boyd Gaming had a return on equity of 43.15% and a net margin of 18.48%. Boyd Gamings revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.40 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Boyd Gaming will post 6.3 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Boyd Gamings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.08%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 9.3% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 8,539 shares of the companys stock worth $560,000 after acquiring an additional 725 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in Boyd Gaming by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 42,226 shares of the companys stock worth $2,778,000 after buying an additional 567 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Boyd Gaming by 24.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,255 shares of the companys stock worth $689,000 after buying an additional 2,002 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Boyd Gaming by 35.4% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 53,822 shares of the companys stock worth $3,540,000 after buying an additional 14,078 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 4,888 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.68% of the companys stock.

Boyd Gaming Company Profile

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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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Shares of Brenntag SE (OTCMKTS:BNTGY  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $98.00.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Brenntag from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of Brenntag from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, Barclays lowered shares of Brenntag from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, May 22nd.

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Brenntag Price Performance

BNTGY stock opened at $15.47 on Wednesday. Brenntag has a 52 week low of $10.37 and a 52 week high of $16.71. The companys 50-day moving average price is $15.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.27.

Brenntag Increases Dividend

Brenntag Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th were given a $0.2791 dividend. This is an increase from Brenntags previous dividend of $0.20. This represents a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. Brenntags dividend payout ratio is currently 3.88%.

(Get Free Report

Brenntag SE purchases and supplies various industrial and specialty chemicals, and ingredients in Germany and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties. It provides just-in-time delivery, product mixing, blending, repackaging, inventory management, and drum return handling.

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Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Barclays from $160.00 to $166.00 in a report published on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

BLDR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $92.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Wedbush increased their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $135.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of Builders FirstSource from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $96.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Builders FirstSource in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Builders FirstSource from $110.00 to $138.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $118.08.

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Builders FirstSource Stock Performance

Shares of Builders FirstSource stock opened at $141.16 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $18.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.11 and a beta of 1.98. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $124.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $102.17. Builders FirstSource has a fifty-two week low of $52.70 and a fifty-two week high of $141.27.

Insider Activity at Builders FirstSource

Builders FirstSource ( NYSE:BLDR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $1.33. The business had revenue of $3.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.57 billion. Builders FirstSource had a net margin of 11.68% and a return on equity of 55.42%. Builders FirstSources revenue for the quarter was down 31.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.90 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Builders FirstSource will post 10.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Jami Beckmann sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.69, for a total value of $241,380.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 41,262 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,979,910.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Michael Alan Farmer sold 12,500 shares of Builders FirstSource stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.97, for a total value of $1,362,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 62,122 shares in the company, valued at $6,769,434.34. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jami Beckmann sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.69, for a total transaction of $241,380.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,262 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,979,910.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Builders FirstSource

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Altshuler Shaham Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 5.2% in the first quarter. Altshuler Shaham Ltd now owns 1,759 shares of the companys stock worth $156,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 3.3% in the second quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 3,478 shares of the companys stock worth $473,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in Builders FirstSource by 5.4% during the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,269 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Builders FirstSource by 0.3% in the first quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC now owns 45,746 shares of the companys stock worth $4,061,000 after buying an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in Builders FirstSource by 20.6% in the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 803 shares of the companys stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.57% of the companys stock.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile

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Builders FirstSource, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies building materials, manufactured components, and construction services to professional homebuilders, sub-contractors, remodelers, and consumers in the United States. It offers lumber and lumber sheet goods comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products that are used in on-site house framing; manufactured products, such as wood floor and roof trusses, steel roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood products; and windows, and interior and exterior door units, as well as interior trims and custom products comprising intricate mouldings, stair parts, and columns under the Synboard brand name.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine (NYSEAMERICAN:CVR  Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet lowered shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, June 6th.

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Chicago Rivet & Machine Stock Up 1.0 %

NYSEAMERICAN:CVR opened at $25.14 on Thursday. Chicago Rivet & Machine has a 12 month low of $23.65 and a 12 month high of $32.94. The businesss fifty day moving average is $25.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.39 million and a P/E ratio of 8.46.

Chicago Rivet & Machine Announces Dividend

Chicago Rivet & Machine ( NYSEAMERICAN:CVR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.60) EPS for the quarter. Chicago Rivet & Machine had a net margin of 8.52% and a return on equity of 9.41%. The business had revenue of $8.73 million during the quarter.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 5th were issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 2nd. Chicago Rivet & Machines payout ratio is 29.63%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chicago Rivet & Machine

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 49,210 shares of the companys stock worth $1,402,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 68,710 shares of the companys stock worth $1,771,000 after purchasing an additional 576 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,696 shares of the companys stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine during the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine during the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. 22.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Chicago Rivet & Machine

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Chicago Rivet & Machine Co operates in the fastener industry in North America. The company operates in two segments, Fasteners and Assembly Equipment. The Fastener segment manufactures and sells rivets, cold-formed fasteners and parts, and screw machine products. The Assembly Equipment segment manufactures and sells automatic rivet setting machines and assembly equipment, as well as parts and tools for related machines.

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Orezone Gold (CVE:ORE  Free Report) had its price objective raised by CIBC from C$1.85 to C$2.15 in a research note published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group set a C$3.25 target price on shares of Orezone Gold and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 19th.

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Orezone Gold Stock Performance

Shares of ORE opened at C$1.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.56 and a quick ratio of 2.30. Orezone Gold has a one year low of C$0.87 and a one year high of C$1.70. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$1.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$1.25. The firm has a market capitalization of C$404.42 million and a PE ratio of -14.88.

Orezone Gold Company Profile

Orezone Gold ( CVE:ORE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported C$0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.06 by C$0.04. The company had revenue of C$110.50 million during the quarter. On average, analysts anticipate that Orezone Gold will post 0.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Orezone Gold Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties. Its flagship property is the 90%-owned BomborA gold project located in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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PrairieSky Royalty (TSE:PSK  Free Report) had its price objective raised by CIBC from C$26.50 to C$28.50 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. National Bankshares upped their price objective on PrairieSky Royalty from C$23.00 to C$26.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price objective on PrairieSky Royalty from C$24.00 to C$23.75 in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, TD Securities cut PrairieSky Royalty from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$24.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned 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 C$25.63.

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PrairieSky Royalty Trading Down 1.5 %

TSE PSK opened at C$25.07 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$5.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.28, a PEG ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 1.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.57, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$23.48 and its 200-day moving average is C$22.38. PrairieSky Royalty has a one year low of C$15.82 and a one year high of C$25.67.

PrairieSky Royalty Announces Dividend

PrairieSky Royalty ( TSE:PSK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The company reported C$0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.25 by C($0.01). The company had revenue of C$126.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$108.00 million. PrairieSky Royalty had a return on equity of 11.50% and a net margin of 51.42%. Equities research analysts predict that PrairieSky Royalty will post 0.949688 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th will be issued a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. PrairieSky Royaltys payout ratio is currently 73.85%.

About PrairieSky Royalty

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PrairieSky Royalty Ltd., a pure-play royalty company, holds crude oil and natural gas royalty interests in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba of Canada. It holds an interest in approximately 9.7 million acres with petroleum and/or natural gas rights, 8.6 million acres of gross overriding royalty interests, and other acreage.

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Citycon Oyj (OTCMKTS:COYJF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 194,900 shares, an increase of 75.3% from the June 15th total of 111,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently  days.

Citycon Oyj Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:COYJF remained flat at C$6.02 during midday trading on Friday. Citycon Oyj has a fifty-two week low of C$6.02 and a fifty-two week high of C$6.02. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$6.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$6.02.

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About Citycon Oyj

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Citycon Oyj, a real estate investment company, operates as an owner, manager, and developer of mixed-use centers for urban living in the Nordic region. The company develops retail, office space, and residential properties. It owns 36 centers and 1 other retail property. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

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Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.94, for a total value of $325,290.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 39,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,671,408.82. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance

Shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $93.38 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 3.01, a quick ratio of 2.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.61 billion, a PE ratio of 38.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.29 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $88.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $83.24. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 12 month low of $67.13 and a 12 month high of $107.92.

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Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.39 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 25.81% and a net margin of 27.07%. The companys revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.60 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Edwards Lifesciences

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EW. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Core Alternative Capital grew its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 96.1% during the 1st quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 353 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC grew its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 708.0% during the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 404 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Edwards Lifesciences during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. 79.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays upped their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $94.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $97.00 to $101.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Citigroup upped their price target on Edwards Lifesciences from $101.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $91.67.

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.

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JELD-WEN (NYSE:JELD  Free Report) had its price objective upped by Jefferies Financial Group from $15.00 to $18.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, MarketBeat reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the stock.

JELD has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on JELD-WEN from $13.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. StockNews.com raised JELD-WEN from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, May 13th. Barclays lifted their price target on JELD-WEN from $16.00 to $18.00 in a report on Thursday. Truist Financial lifted their price target on JELD-WEN from $12.00 to $15.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on JELD-WEN from $14.00 to $16.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.35.

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JELD-WEN Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE JELD opened at $17.36 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30. The firms 50-day moving average price is $15.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.34. JELD-WEN has a 52-week low of $8.38 and a 52-week high of $18.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.45 and a beta of 2.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

JELD-WEN ( NYSE:JELD Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.10 billion. JELD-WEN had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 25.42%. JELD-WENs revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.16 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that JELD-WEN will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current year.

In other JELD-WEN news, EVP Timothy Craven sold 3,852 shares of JELD-WEN stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.52, for a total value of $55,931.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 44,038 shares in the company, valued at $639,431.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other JELD-WEN news, SVP John Krause sold 3,844 shares of JELD-WEN stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.15, for a total transaction of $54,392.60. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 93,231 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,319,218.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy Craven sold 3,852 shares of JELD-WEN stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.52, for a total transaction of $55,931.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 44,038 shares in the company, valued at $639,431.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 42,795 shares of company stock worth $603,465. 1.02% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On JELD-WEN

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of JELD. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of JELD-WEN during the 1st quarter valued at $26,744,000. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of JELD-WEN by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,283,905 shares of the companys stock valued at $99,240,000 after acquiring an additional 875,911 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of JELD-WEN during the 4th quarter valued at $7,316,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of JELD-WEN by 85.3% in the 4th quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 1,372,451 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,244,000 after purchasing an additional 631,887 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in shares of JELD-WEN in the 4th quarter valued at $5,781,000. 92.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

JELD-WEN Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

JELD-WEN Holding, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells doors and windows primarily in North America, Europe, and Australasia. The company offers a line of residential interior and exterior door products, including patio doors, and folding or sliding wall systems; non-residential doors; and wood, vinyl, aluminum, and wood composite windows.

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A Canadian man tied to an international fentanyl trafficking operation that authorities linked to an overdose death in Grand Forks more than eight years ago has been sentenced in federal court in North Dakota to 22 years in prison.

Xuan Nguyen, 43, of Point-Au-Tremble, Quebec, was extradited from Canada to the U.S. in January 2021. He pleaded guilty in May 2022 to drug conspiracy and money laundering charges. He was sentenced Monday in Fargo. Hell be on supervised release for three years following his prison term, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider.

The case is part of Operation Denial, an investigation that started in January 2015 with the overdose death of 18-year-old Bailey Henke in Grand Forks. Thirty-four people have been charged in North Dakota and Oregon. Authorities have seized about $1 million worth of cash and property.

Nguyen, Daniel Vivas Ceron and Jason Berry ran a fentanyl distribution operation from inside Drummond Correctional Institution in Drummondville, Quebec, according to Schneider. Ceron and Berry are scheduled for sentencing in U.S. District Court in Fargo later this month.

The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Chinese national Jian Zhang, who is a fugitive in the case.
LWS Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR  Free Report) by 2.9% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 75,294 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 2,111 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF makes up 3.0% of LWS Wealth Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. LWS Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $7,281,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 8.3% in the first quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 78,641 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $8,484,000 after purchasing an additional 6,036 shares during the period. United Bank lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 5.6% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 27,546 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,972,000 after purchasing an additional 1,456 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 67.2% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 52,705 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,686,000 after buying an additional 21,177 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 4.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 24,791 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,674,000 after acquiring an additional 1,128 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 19.7% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 8,847 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $954,000 after acquiring an additional 1,455 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:IJR traded up $0.38 during trading on Monday, hitting $101.79. 838,048 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,106,092. The businesss fifty day moving average is $96.65 and its 200-day moving average is $97.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a one year low of $86.40 and a one year high of $108.24.

About iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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Grandfield & Dodd LLC lifted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 1.5% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,767 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Grandfield & Dodd LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $1,077,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in NVO. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock worth $559,235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571,747 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 39.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,212,398 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,446,000 after acquiring an additional 1,472,550 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 90.8% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,031,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $274,950,000 after acquiring an additional 966,580 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,341,461 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,964,020,000 after acquiring an additional 886,679 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 33.0% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,815,936 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,659,000 after acquiring an additional 450,122 shares during the last quarter. 6.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE NVO traded up $1.41 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $161.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 188,279 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,375,739. The firm has a market capitalization of $362.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 52-week low of $95.02 and a 52-week high of $172.97. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $161.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $152.57.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.27. The business had revenue of $7.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.86 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 32.53% and a return on equity of 77.39%. Research analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 5.07 EPS for the current year.

A number of research firms have issued reports on NVO. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. HSBC began coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Friday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases.

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Ouster (NYSE:OUST  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Chardan Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a $10.00 price objective on the stock. Chardan Capitals target price would suggest a potential upside of 60.77% from the companys current price.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on OUST. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Ouster in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Ouster from $10.00 to $6.10 in a report on Friday, June 30th. Craig Hallum reduced their target price on shares of Ouster from $15.00 to $10.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reduced their target price on shares of Ouster from $20.00 to $17.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Ouster currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $18.58.

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Ouster Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:OUST traded down $0.15 during trading on Thursday, hitting $6.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 258,021 shares, compared to its average volume of 684,948. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 4.40 and a quick ratio of 4.00. The firm has a market cap of $241.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.53 and a beta of 2.13. The company has a 50-day moving average of $5.71 and a 200-day moving average of $8.22. Ouster has a 12 month low of $3.21 and a 12 month high of $20.85.

Insider Transactions at Ouster

Ouster ( NYSE:OUST Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($3.36) earnings per share for the quarter. Ouster had a negative return on equity of 88.07% and a negative net margin of 570.30%. The business had revenue of $17.23 million during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ouster will post -9.36 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, Director Virginia Boulet purchased 11,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $6.31 per share, with a total value of $69,410.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 71,489 shares in the company, valued at $451,095.59. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Charles Angus Pacala bought 86,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $5.81 per share, with a total value of $501,403.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 562,381 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,267,433.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Virginia Boulet bought 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $6.31 per share, with a total value of $69,410.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 71,489 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $451,095.59. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 143,000 shares of company stock worth $837,501 and have sold 12,782 shares worth $72,385. Insiders own 6.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Ouster

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in OUST. Amalgamated Bank raised its stake in Ouster by 68.0% in the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 30,468 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 12,329 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp bought a new position in Ouster in the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC bought a new position in Ouster in the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC raised its stake in Ouster by 142.5% in the first quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC now owns 31,776 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 18,674 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Ouster in the first quarter worth approximately $27,000.

About Ouster

(Get Free Report)

Ouster, Inc designs and manufactures high-resolution digital lidar sensors and enabling software that offers 3D vision to machinery, vehicles, robots, and fixed infrastructure assets. Its product portfolio includes OS, a scanning sensor; and DF, a solid-state flash sensor. The company is based in San Francisco, California.

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Phraction Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE  Free Report) by 107.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 44,547 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 23,072 shares during the quarter. Intercontinental Exchange makes up 2.7% of Phraction Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Phraction Management LLCs holdings in Intercontinental Exchange were worth $4,646,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ICE. RB Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Intercontinental Exchange by 3.2% during the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 4,044 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $534,000 after buying an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. United Bank raised its stake in Intercontinental Exchange by 2.7% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 15,988 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,112,000 after buying an additional 422 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Intercontinental Exchange by 13.5% during the first quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,855 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $245,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in Intercontinental Exchange by 31.5% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 204,883 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,077,000 after buying an additional 49,081 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC purchased a new position in Intercontinental Exchange during the first quarter valued at $1,679,000. 87.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on ICE. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $120.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Barclays assumed coverage on Intercontinental Exchange in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an equal weight rating and a $123.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James upped their target price on Intercontinental Exchange from $127.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on Intercontinental Exchange from $125.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Intercontinental Exchange has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $130.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Intercontinental Exchange Stock Performance

In other Intercontinental Exchange news, President Benjamin Jackson sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.54, for a total value of $346,620.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 125,647 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,517,254.38. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 85,461 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.89, for a total value of $9,220,387.29. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,188,085 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $128,182,490.65. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, President Benjamin Jackson sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.54, for a total transaction of $346,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 125,647 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,517,254.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders sold 97,978 shares of company stock worth $10,606,289. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

NYSE:ICE opened at $117.00 on Monday. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a twelve month low of $88.60 and a twelve month high of $117.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.52, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.93. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $109.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $106.76.

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.01. Intercontinental Exchange had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 12.98%. The company had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. The companys revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Intercontinental Exchange Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Intercontinental Exchanges dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.12%.

Intercontinental Exchange Profile

(Free Report)

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PNGAY  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,600 shares, a decline of 57.8% from the June 15th total of 18,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 337,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of PNGAY traded down $0.24 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $13.21. 172,666 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 156,357. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $13.39 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.91. Ping An Insurance has a 1-year low of $7.80 and a 1-year high of $16.76.

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be given a dividend of $0.3718 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 4.49%. This is a positive change from Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of Chinas previous dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th.

About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers.

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Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE:FENG  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 11,100 shares, an increase of 79.0% from the June 15th total of 6,200 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 99,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Phoenix New Media

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Phoenix New Media stock. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE:FENG  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 21,805 shares of the information services providers stock, valued at approximately $58,000.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Phoenix New Media in a research report on Saturday. They set a hold rating for the company.

Phoenix New Media Price Performance

Shares of Phoenix New Media stock traded down $0.04 during trading on Friday, hitting $1.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 13,449 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,094. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a current ratio of 2.51. Phoenix New Media has a 52 week low of $1.73 and a 52 week high of $5.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.32.

Phoenix New Media (NYSE:FENG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The information services provider reported ($0.69) earnings per share for the quarter. Phoenix New Media had a negative return on equity of 7.46% and a negative net margin of 12.10%. The business had revenue of $21.31 million during the quarter.

About Phoenix New Media

(Get Free Report)

Phoenix New Media Limited provides content on an integrated Internet platform in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through two segments, Net Advertising Services and Paid Services. It offers content and services through PC channel, mobile channel, and telecom operators, as well as transmits content to TV viewers, primarily through Phoenix TV.

Further Reading

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PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (OTCMKTS:PAEKY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 83.3% from the June 15th total of 600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.0 days.

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk Price Performance

PAEKY stock remained flat at $13.31 during midday trading on Friday. PT Aneka Tambang Tbk has a 1-year low of $13.31 and a 1-year high of $14.41. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $13.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.10.

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PT Aneka Tambang Tbk Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.3735 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This is an increase from PT Aneka Tambang Tbks previous dividend of $0.19. PT Aneka Tambang Tbks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -12.52%.

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk Company Profile

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk operates as a diversified mining and metals company in Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Nickel, Precious Metals and Refinery, and Bauxite and Alumina. It is involved in the exploration, excavation, processing, and marketing of alumina, nickel ore, ferronickel, gold, silver, bauxite, and coal.

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Singapore Airlines Limited (OTCMKTS:SINGY  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 81,100 shares, a growth of 125.3% from the June 15th total of 36,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 110,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Citigroup upgraded Singapore Airlines from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th.

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Singapore Airlines Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of SINGY stock traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $11.24. The companys stock had a trading volume of 14,010 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,169. Singapore Airlines has a 52-week low of $6.82 and a 52-week high of $11.90. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $10.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.18.

Singapore Airlines Increases Dividend

About Singapore Airlines

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 1st will be paid a $0.3669 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 31st. This is a boost from Singapore Airliness previous dividend of $0.13. Singapore Airliness payout ratio is currently 117.21%.

(Get Free Report)

Singapore Airlines Limited, together with subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services under the Singapore Airlines and Scoot brands in East Asia, the Americas, Europe, Southwest Pacific, West Asia, and Africa. It operates through The Full-Service Carrier, The Low-Cost Carrier, and Engineering Services segments.

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SNS Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report) by 7.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,347 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 627 shares during the period. SNS Financial Group LLCs holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $1,376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BR. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 41.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 7,043,656 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $944,766,000 after buying an additional 2,048,184 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 85.1% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,230,810 shares of the business services providers stock worth $299,219,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025,907 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 86.6% during the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,195,313 shares of the business services providers stock worth $186,122,000 after purchasing an additional 554,807 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 30.1% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 654,202 shares of the business services providers stock worth $87,753,000 after purchasing an additional 151,540 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 16.6% during the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 915,226 shares of the business services providers stock worth $122,759,000 after purchasing an additional 130,395 shares in the last quarter. 89.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BR traded down $0.59 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $167.40. 50,857 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 560,143. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $157.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $148.25. The stock has a market cap of $19.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.05 and a beta of 1.02. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a one year low of $131.35 and a one year high of $183.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Dividend Announcement

Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.65 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a net margin of 9.33% and a return on equity of 40.29%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.93 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 6.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $0.725 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.73%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is 62.23%.

Insider Activity at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In related news, VP Richard John Stingi sold 750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.27, for a total value of $116,452.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $652,444.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Robert Schifellite sold 15,695 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.59, for a total transaction of $2,394,900.05. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 50,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,677,413.26. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Richard John Stingi sold 750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.27, for a total transaction of $116,452.50. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $652,444.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 27,397 shares of company stock worth $4,162,229 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BR has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Monday, April 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $169.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Broadridge Financial Solutions has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $161.40.

About Broadridge Financial Solutions

(Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report).

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of PolyMet Mining (NYSEAMERICAN:PLM  Free Report) (TSE:POM) in a research report sent to investors on Friday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock.

PolyMet Mining Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN PLM opened at $2.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $398.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.61 and a beta of 0.33. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $2.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.57. PolyMet Mining has a one year low of $0.75 and a one year high of $3.43.

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PolyMet Mining (NYSEAMERICAN:PLM  Get Free Report) (TSE:POM) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The basic materials company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About PolyMet Mining

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in PolyMet Mining during the 1st quarter worth approximately $79,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD bought a new position in shares of PolyMet Mining during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in shares of PolyMet Mining by 58.1% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 66,776 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $144,000 after acquiring an additional 24,529 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in PolyMet Mining by 88.0% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 134,604 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 63,021 shares during the last quarter. Finally, USAdvisors Wealth Management LLC increased its position in PolyMet Mining by 10.9% during the 1st quarter. USAdvisors Wealth Management LLC now owns 50,822 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 4,980 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.99% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

PolyMet Mining Corp., through its subsidiary, Poly Met Mining, Inc, engages in the exploration and development of natural resource properties. Its primary mineral property is the NorthMet project, a polymetallic project that hosts copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold, and silver mineralization covering an area of approximately 5,980 acres located in northeastern Minnesota, the United States.

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News 10 Perth reports that a mysterious cylinder washed up on the beach near Green Head in Western Australia, and that authorities are warning locals to stay away. 155 miles north of Perth, the cylinder is about 2.5m wide and long and it sounds like locals aren't paying much heed to advice.

Residents visited the site on Saturday night to see the cylinder, the ABC reported, with one local describing it as a "great social evening". "It was a lovely, still night, the kids were digging sand castles around it," he told the ABC. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said the item was possibly a fuel tank from a rocket that had fallen into the Indian Ocean at some stage in the past 12 months.

Another local-ish news station is at the beach and posted some footage. Looks big enough to fit a few people inside! You'd think people would be a little more cautious, what with other things found lately in the outback.
Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on ROK. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $335.00 to $375.00 in a research report on Friday. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $262.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Rockwell Automation from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. They set a hold rating and a $335.00 target price on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $290.00.

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Rockwell Automation Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of ROK opened at $341.23 on Friday. Rockwell Automation has a one year low of $200.98 and a one year high of $343.66. The company has a market cap of $39.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $303.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $289.43.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $3.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.41. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 15.82% and a return on equity of 42.15%. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.66 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation will post 11.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Rockwell Automation news, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 4,855 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,529,325.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 64,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,293,875. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 4,855 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,529,325.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 64,425 shares in the company, valued at $20,293,875. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Isaac Woods sold 150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.00, for a total transaction of $48,750.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $305,500. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 15,217 shares of company stock valued at $4,687,705. 0.64% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Aspire Private Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 1st quarter worth about $11,444,550,000. New Hampshire Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.28% of the companys stock.

About Rockwell Automation

(Get Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 59,900 shares, an increase of 313.1% from the June 15th total of 14,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 168,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Trading of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth $52,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter worth $63,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth $77,000. Finally, CWM LLC grew its holdings in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 362.9% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 12,562 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $80,000 after acquiring an additional 9,848 shares during the period.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Price Performance

Shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund stock traded down $0.07 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $6.42. The company had a trading volume of 135,040 shares, compared to its average volume of 157,398. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has a 1-year low of $5.95 and a 1-year high of $7.39.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile

The business 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 $0.048 dividend. This represents a $0.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th.

(Get Free Report)

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. It is co-managed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in below investment grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, loans and preferred stocks rated Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc or BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Yelp (NYSE:YELP  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Friday.

Separately, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Yelp from $30.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $34.63.

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Yelp Stock Performance

Shares of YELP opened at $38.13 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.62 billion, a PE ratio of 76.26 and a beta of 1.45. Yelp has a 52 week low of $25.30 and a 52 week high of $39.26. The companys 50 day moving average price is $34.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.54.

Insider Activity at Yelp

Yelp ( NYSE:YELP Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The local business review company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.10. The company had revenue of $312.44 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $306.17 million. Yelp had a net margin of 2.94% and a return on equity of 5.49%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Yelp will post 0.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, COO Joseph R. Nachman sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.16, for a total transaction of $210,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 315,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,092,522.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Carmen Orr sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.31, for a total transaction of $258,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,006 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,263,503.86. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO Joseph R. Nachman sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.16, for a total transaction of $210,960.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 315,487 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,092,522.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 30,667 shares of company stock worth $1,016,545 in the last ninety days. 7.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Yelp

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cim Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Yelp by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Cim Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,679 shares of the local business review companys stock worth $297,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Yelp by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 20,196 shares of the local business review companys stock worth $620,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in shares of Yelp by 127.6% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 867 shares of the local business review companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Yelp by 24.4% during the 1st quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 2,506 shares of the local business review companys stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dark Forest Capital Management LP increased its position in shares of Yelp by 83.6% during the 1st quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 1,166 shares of the local business review companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 531 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.46% of the companys stock.

Yelp Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Yelp Inc operates a platform that connects consumers with local businesses in the United States and internationally. The company's platform covers various local business categories, including restaurants, shopping, beauty and fitness, health, and other categories, as well as home, local, auto, professional, pets, events, real estate, and financial services.

Further Reading

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Ashok Leyland, India's second-largest commercial vehicle maker, announced on July 17 that it has bagged a significant order worth Rs 800 crore from the Indian armed forces. Ashok Leyland is the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian Army, the auto major mentioned in a release. Also Read: Defence Ministry approves procurement of 26 Rafale jets for Indian Navy Among the many contracts awarded to Ashok Leyland, the contracts for making the Field Artillery Tractor (FAT 4x4) and the Gun Towing Vehicle (GTV 6x6) are notable because they are prominently featured in the initial positive indigenization list announced by the Government of India. Commenting on the development Ashok Leyland, MD and CEO Shenu Agarwal expressed gratitude for the trust bestowed in the automotive brand by the government. "We are grateful for the trust placed in Ashok Leyland by the Government of India, and we remain dedicated to contributing to the country's indigenization efforts and self-reliance in defense manufacturing," Agarwal said. Also Read: Ashok Leyland Q1 PAT seen up 192.4% YoY to Rs. 1,260.7 cr: Nirmal Bang Ashok Leyland will deliver the GTV 6x6 and the FAT 4x4 vehicles to meet the requirements of the Indian Army over the course of the next 12 months, the release said.

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Central Bank of India reported a sharp reduction in bad loans during the April-June quarter, which analysts said was aided primarily by significant write-offs.



The state-owned lenders gross non-performing assets (NPA) fell to 4.95 percent of advances compared with 14.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. The bank wrote off Rs 7,856 crore of loans in the April-June quarter, Central Bank said July 17.



Net NPAs narrowed to 1.75 percent against 3.93 percent a year earlier.



Banks write off loans when there is no scope of recovering them from borrowers. Typically, banks need to set aside 100 percent of the written-off loan amount as provisions, which impacts profitability.



The gross NPA ratio was the lowest since 4.8 percent in March 2013 and the net NPA was the lowest since 1.37 percent in September 2011, according to Bloomberg data.



In absolute terms, gross NPAs fell to Rs 10,891 crore at the end of June from Rs 29,002 crore in the same quarter last year. Net NPAs were at Rs 3,718 crore on June 30, compared with Rs 6,785 crore a year earlier.



The provision coverage ratio was 92.23 percent, an improvement of 562 basis points (bps) on year. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.







Why NPAs improved



The major reason for the reduction in NPAs was the higher technical write-off and an increase in provisions.



Total provisions increased 44 percent to Rs 1,420 crore from Rs 986 crore a year earlier, according to the banks presentation to investors. Sequentially, provisions fell 7.61 percent from Rs 1,537 crore at the end of March.



Central Bank of India provisioned Rs 632 crore towards standard assets and Rs 244 crore towards NPAs.



NPAs in the corporates and others category reduced sharply to Rs 2,781 crore from Rs 14,915 crore. NPAs in the retail, agriculture & allied, and micro, small and medium enterprise categories also improved.



NPAs in agriculture & allied were Rs 3,650 crore as on June 30 compared with Rs 6,127 crore a year earlier.



Also read: Central Bank of India Q1 results: Net profit jumps to Rs 418.4 crore



Central Bank of India reported a 78 percent increase in net profit to Rs 418.4 crore in the first quarter of FY24, although sequentially, earnings fell 26.8 percent.



The banks net interest income rose 48 percent to Rs 3,176 crore, while the net interest margin was at 3.62 percent, up 74 bps. Net interest income is the difference between interest earned by the bank and the interest paid.



Deposits increased 6 percent to Rs 3.63 lakh crore and gross advances were up 12.95 percent to Rs 2.2 lakh crore.



The Basel-III capital adequacy ratio  the level of the minimum capital required to cover depositors money  improved to 14.42 percent at the end of June compared with 13.33 percent a year ago, with a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.13 percent, an improvement of 109 bps.
Ola Electric Mobility Pvt. is poised to have an initial public offering earlier than expected, as reported by the Economic Times. Bhavish Aggarwal, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ola Electric Mobility, expressed his surprise at the accelerated timeline, stating, "I thought it would take me four to six years of revenue to go public, but now I can feel that it will be much earlier." The founder's statement highlights the rapid growth trajectory of the Indian startup since it commenced sales of electric scooters in late 2021. According to data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SIAM) reported by the publication, Ola Electric has sold more than 239,000 electric scooters since December 2021 and holds a 38 percent share in India's electric-scooter market. Also read: Netweb Technologies to launch IPO today: 10 things to know before you buy it Aggarwal plans to introduce a motorbike by the end of 2023 and a battery-powered car in 2024, although the timelines may be subject to change. In addition, he intends to export scooters to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe, which had been put on hold due to high demand in the Indian market. Aggarwal also mentioned that his previous startup, ANI Technologies Pvt, which operates Ola ride-hailing services, had made progress in selecting banks for a $1 billion IPO in Mumbai, but the plans never materialized. However, he did not provide specific dates for the launch of either of his companies.

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World Bank President Ajay Banga is bullish about India, and said he is more optimistic about the economy's growth prospects now than he has been "in a long time".



Speaking on the sidelines of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Gandhinagar on July 17, Banga said he is a "big fan" of India's digital payments infrastructure.



"I am more optimistic about India today as a whole than I have been for a long time," Banga told reporters.



The Indian economy is the world's fastest growing large economy, with the higher-than-expected GDP growth print of 6.1 percent for January-March taking the 2022-23 number to 7.2 percent. While some economists see growth slowing down sharply to under 6 percent in 2023-24 on account of weakening global growth prospects, the Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are bullish and see the economy expanding by 6.5 percent this year.



Also read: India can see China-like high-growth phase for a decade, says CEA Nageswaran



Banga, who took charge as the President of the World Bank in early June, was more circumspect about the global economy, commenting that it is in a "difficult place" .



"It has outperformed what everybody thought but it doesn't mean there won't be more challenges. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) forecasts, the World Bank forecasts are that the world will get a little challenging over the next year or so," he said.



However, he expressed hope, saying that "forecast is not equal to destiny".



"We can change destiny. That's what we should think of right now."



In April, the IMF had cut its growth forecast for the world economy for 2023 and 2024 by 10 basis points each to 2.8 percent and 3 percent, respectively.



"Tentative signs in early 2023 that the world economy could achieve a soft landing  with inflation coming down and growth steady  have receded amid stubbornly high inflation and recent financial sector turmoil," the IMF had said in its World Economic Outlook report, referring to the collapse of regional banks in the US and the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS in Switzerland.



Meanwhile, the World Bank has estimated the global economy will grow by 2.1 percent in 2023.
The first day of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors has seen constructive discussions take place on issues of key importance, with the "acrimony" over Russia's invasion of Ukraine having simmered down from the first meeting held in Bengaluru in February, according to persons aware of the closed-door discussions held on July 17.



"The level of acrimony around Russia-Ukraine at least in terms of tone and expression is much cooler (from the first meeting). It has come down," said a source on July 17 on the condition of anonymity.



The first meeting of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, held in Bengaluru in February, had seen several G20 members loudly voice their concerns over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and how it should be characterised in the official statement, forcing India to release a Chair's Summary instead of a joint communique. Specifically, Russia and China disagreed with two paragraphs of the Chairs Summary which were the only sections to mention the word 'war'.



Also read: G20: Official statement's language takes centre-stage as US, G7 hit out at Russia



Despite the G20 members being unable to agree on an official statement at the conclusion of the Bengaluru meeting, Indian officials insisted it was not an indication of failure as the Chair's Summary was as good as a communique.



"It's practically a communique, 95 percent plus," a senior official had told Moneycontrol back in February.



Another source aware of the ongoing discussions in Gandhinagar rejected suggestions that disagreements over the Russia-Ukraine conflict could derail India's agenda, saying "a lot of good work is going on" and that "everybody is on board".



"The language and the optics is not influencing the debates and discussions on the various issues. So our issues are moving forward. Ukraine is not part of it," the source added.



The meeting in Gandhinagar, which began today on July 17 and will see Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das take the lead in the G20 Presidency media briefing on the evening of July 18, saw discussions on the global economic outlook, economic risks, and key policy responses to support the recovery, with a focus on finalising deliverables under the G20 Framework for Growth and G20 joint finance health agenda. Other discussion points included sustainable finance and infrastructure, with a particular focus on urban infrastructure.



A roundtable discussion on crypto assets was also held on July 17 with the aim of exchanging views on policies that supplement regulatory actions and provide "clear, coordinated, and coherent guidelines to the industry with the intent to encourage beneficial growth, which is necessary because of the widespread impact of #CryptoAssets", the finance ministry said in a tweet.



On July 18, one of the key issues that will be discussed is international taxation. The first volume of the report on reforming multilateral development banks by the expert group led by Larry Summers and NK Singh will also be discussed on July 18.



"The negotiations are going on. Until the final full-stop is in place, it is all open. But things are going quite alright," the first source said.
India and the US have agreed to work together to lower the former's cost of energy transition through a new investment platform, according to statements made by the finance heads of the two nations. In a statement on July 17, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she looked forward to furthering India and US' bilateral interests "through development cooperation and new investment opportunities through Alternate Investment platforms for renewable energy". In her own statement, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she too looked forward to "working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition". Sitharaman and Yellen held bilateral talks earlier today on July 17 in Gandhinagar ahead of the start of the two-day meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. On the agenda The Indian finance minister said the talks focussed on furthering the G20 agenda, with issues discussed including strengthening multilateral development banks, coordinated climate action, facilitating consensus to issues related with rising indebtedness among low and middle-income countries, and "harnessing opportunities" presented by crypto-assets and digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion. Also read: G20: India to pen crypto guidance note as outcome eyed at Leaders' Summit in September On her part, Yellen reiterated her commitment to push for the reform of multilateral development banks, although any capital increases should only be considered after progress is made on the reform front. In their meeting, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors are set to discuss the first volume of the report by the Larry Summers and NK Singh-led expert group on reforming multilateral development banks. The report will be made public on July 18.

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Kimi Badenoch, the "equalities" minister in Britain's current right-wing government, says teachers must tell parents if their children question their gender. Badenoch was defending new guidance being issued to schools this summer.

Teachers will be forced to tell parents that their child is questioning their gender even if the young person objects under new guidance for schools in England, the equalities minister has indicated. Kemi Badenoch said that the guidance, which is expected to be published this week, will ensure that parents know what is "going on with their children" at school. Under the new plans, headteachers are expected to be told that parents must always be consulted if a child wants to be called another name, or wear a different uniform. It has also been suggested that schools will not be able to use the child's new preferred pronouns until parents give their consent.

Hostility toward transgender youth is on open display, but Badenoch suggests that this won't apply to sexualityan area where legal protections exist. The guidance effectively demands it, though. You only have to ask yourself if sexuality implicates things like makeup, attire or anything else not rigorously conforming to traditional gender roles. The point of this is to force teachers to police these forms of expression and to serve as a warning to youngsters that they are not safe expressing sexual or gender identity at school and that they are at risk if they do so. If anything, the hope here may be that gender expression can be used as a device to end-run the relevant privacy rights in general. Badenoch has long been an outspoken opponent of LGBTQ rights and continued in those positions after being appointed Equalities minister. Leaked audio shows her ranting about and mocking same-sex marriage and "transsexuals". Badenoch is hardly civil about it in the first place and her contempt is unguarded even by American standards.

Speaking of which, the only thing wrong about "the cruelty is the point" was any suggestion that it's just an American thing. You'll find it anywhere right wingers are in the middle of a venn diagram formed by policy, the press and the impulsive desire to pose for their punters.
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Larsen and Toubro (L&T) on Monday said it has bagged "large orders" in the water & effluent treatment segment in the domestic market. The work order has been received from the State Water & Sanitation Mission, Uttar Pradesh, to construct a water supply scheme for the Hanumanganj multi-group of villages in the districts of Ballia and Firozabad, L&T said in a statement. L&T Construction, an arm of the company, has been awarded large contracts for its water & effluent treatment business, it said. The company did not disclose the order value. According to the company's project classification, large orders are in the range of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore. Homegrown L&T is a USD 23-billion company engaged in Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects, hi-tech manufacturing and services and operated in over 50 countries worldwide.

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Putting a stock in ESM is like putting it in jail, writes an investor on Twitter. The statement might be too harsh, but there is some truth to it. Certain stocks under the ESM (enhanced surveillance measure) framework are allowed to trade only once a day, which affects the companys reputation.



This is why BSE-listed Mercury EV Tech has challenged the framework at the Securities Appellate Tribunal. It is difficult for our shareholders and our company. The exchange and the regulator should consider a companys business model before taking such a step, Jayesh Thakkar, promoter, Mercury EV Tech, told Moneycontrol.



As the name suggests, the company is involved in the manufacture of electric vehicles. According to Thakkar, several EV models developed by the company are now awaiting iCAT approval. iCAT stands for International Centre for Automation Technology, which certifies vehicles after testing their emission, power, etc.



Some vehicles awaiting approval are its electric rickshaw, garbage collection van, school van, and car, said Thakkar.



What is ESM?



On June 4, markets regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) and the exchanges jointly decided to introduce the ESM framework for highly volatile "micro-small" companies. These are companies with a market cap of less than Rs 500 crore. As per SEBI, high-low price variation and close-to-close price variation are the parameters used to shortlist securities under this framework.



In stage I of the ESM framework, the trading of the securities is settled through a trade-for-trade mechanism with a price band of 5 percent, or 2 percent, in case the scrip is already in the 2 percent band. But this is not what companies are cribbing about.



It is stage II they have a problem with. Here, the settlement will be done through a trade-for-trade mechanism with a price band of 2 percent. But more importantly, the trading for these securities will be permitted once a week (Monday or first trading day of week), with periodic call auctions.



Breaking down the jargon



The trade-for-trade segment is where shares are bought and sold on a delivery basis. These stocks cannot be sold on the same day and are not qualified for intraday trading. Under the periodic call auction mechanism, six auction sessions are held throughout the trading day, each lasting an hour. All orders received are matched and the resulting trades are confirmed.



Basically, these two measures ensure that shareholders cannot buy or sell at any time of the day at their whim and fancy.



Heres how dealers explain the entire scenario: promoters of several micro-small companies, with the help of operators, pump and dump shares. Both buyers and sellers collude in jacking up prices, usually by passing on shares in circles, to lure retail investors. Once retail investors dive in, the manipulators sell their holdings and book massive profits. Most of these companies have no income, no profits, and no real business model to show.



The ESM framework has made such shenanigans difficult. So why the complaints?



Since June 2022, Mercury EV Techs shares have gone from Re 1 to Rs 25. That is a 2,400 percent return. This explains why several investors have taken to Twitter to complain about the stock being in ESM. One wrote, SEBI has put half of my portfolio in ESM Stage 2. Kreon, RIR, NINTec, Mercury EV everything in ESM Stage 2.



SEBI has Put half of My Portfolio in ESM Stage 2. Kreon, RIR, Nintech, Mercury EV everything in ESM Stage 2

 Rohan Bhingardive (@RohanBhingardi4) July 13, 2023





Brokers dont allow you to trade in ESM stocks without a 100 percent margin. So liquidity starts drying up, said the founder of a financial services firm on condition of anonymity. Take Mercury EV Tech for example. Before the stock was put in ESM, its weekly volumes were anywhere between 1-3 million. Now, it ranges between 20,000-50,000.



Moreover, being classified as ESM affects a companys reputation. It becomes difficult for the promoter to raise capital and get loans. Promoters who have pledged shares might find it difficult to maintain the value of the collateral. As the price falls, banks offload stake leading to even more intense selling.



Not all ESM companies are khokha (empty). Some have genuine balance sheets and are doing real, on-ground work, said the aforementioned founder. It is like the police failing to spot a thief, and then deciding to beat up everyone on the street, he added.



Anand Mohan, Mentor, Equity Bulls, makes a pertinent point: "Companies in the ESM framework are paying listing fees for the full year. Why allow the listing of small companies then? One should remember that many of todays large cap stocks were small- or micro-cap at some point of time. He believes this action penalises investors who want to sell their holding but have to wait for the once-a-week auction.



Also Read: Enhanced surveillance measure unfair to a micro, small-cap companies: Anand Mohan, Mentor at Equity Bulls



Crane manufacturing company Brady & Morris has written to the BSE requesting it to remove the companys shares from ESM.



The current scenario caused by the movement in the share price of the company is purely market driven and the management of the company is in no way connected, it wrote in an exchange filing dated July 13.



The bottomline is, there are good apples and bad ones. As Abhishek Banerjee of Lotusdew Wealth puts it, If the exchange is preventing trading, it is hurting its own business in the spirit of compliance.



Now SEBI  amid formulating guidelines for fin-fluencers and asking for additional disclosures from foreign investors  has a new issue to deal with.



Mercury EV Techs next hearing is on July 25, till then #ReconsiderESMStage2 calls are only getting louder on social media.
Smallcap mutual funds have been among the most popular mutual fund (MF) schemes of late. In the last three years, these schemes got net inflows (more money came in than went out) of Rs 39,400 crore, while largecap flows have been at a trickle, at Rs 4,700 crore. In fact, midcap funds have also seen net buying worth Rs 36,700 crore.



The inflows have picked up over the last 12 months, with smallcap funds receiving nearly Rs 30,000 crore since June 2022. This has raised concerns of a bubble in the smallcap space.



Limiting inflows



Smallcap is one category where liquidity is poor and impact costs are high compared to largecaps and midcaps. Therefore, the extra gush of inflows has forced some mutual funds (MF) to curtail fresh investment into these schemes.







For example, the third biggest smallcap fund, by SBI MF (assets of Rs 18,625 crore), has been accepting investment via systematic investment plans (SIP) capped at Rs 25,000 per month per PAN since February 2021. Lumpsum investment is barred in the scheme.



Also read | Monsoon and markets: Rural demand, more than agriculture, is cause for worry



Tata Mutual Fund recently stopped accepting lumpsum investments into its smallcap fund from July 1.



Also, the biggest scheme in the category, Nippon India Small Cap Fund, stopped accepting fresh, additional subscriptions or switch-ins in the scheme from July 7.



Of late we are seeing large flows of bulk money coming to this category, which may not necessarily have a long-term view. If a lot of money comes during bull markets, it puts a lot of undue pressure on fund management and the research team, which may sometimes lead to some errors. Therefore, as part of our overall risk management process, we had to curtail the flow, said Samir Rachh, fund Manager, Equity Investments, at Nippon India Mutual Fund.



How funds are placed



Despite the surge in assets under management (AUM) of smallcap schemes, most fund houses have been selective in expanding their exposure.



For example, the number of stocks held by HDFC Small Cap Fund, the second biggest scheme in this category, have ranged in the 65-70 zone over the last four years. Further, the stocks held by DSP Small Cap Fund have inched up from 63 to 71 from June 2020 to June 2023. A similar trend was seen in Edelweiss Small Cap Fund.







Ideally, with a universe of 4,000-5,000 stocks, the smallcap market-cap offers the most opportunities in terms of plain numbers. With the increase in mutual fund inflows and formalisation and digitisation in the economy, the number of investible names was supposed to go up and by extension the number of stocks held by smallcap funds ideally should have increased.



Also read | Why monthly interest payout option in a bond may not be as good as it sounds



As per Trideep Bhattacharya, Chief Investment Officer (Equities) at Edelweiss Mutual Fund, What this (flat growth in stocks held) shows is that the conviction in individual stocks has gone up. Over the last 12 to 18 months, particularly from the midcap and smallcap standpoint, earnings have gone up.



However, Nippon India MF has been an outlier in this regard. The number of stocks held by its smallcap scheme rose to 177 in June 2023 against 106 in June 2020.



We have a large research team amongst whom we divide the responsibility of tracking these companies. Recently, we have added one more person (Tejas Sheth) as co-fund manager to Nippon India Small Cap Fund, said Rachh.







Note that, smallcap funds also invest some part of their portfolio in midcap and largecap stocks for the purpose of liquidity.



Where is the value?



In the smallcap space, there are pockets that have performed well in the recent past led by earnings, news, and narratives. These pockets are now approaching expensive zones. Then there is the other end of the spectrum, which has ample opportunities but is largely ignored because of the lack of immediate triggers. Therefore, the areas of opportunities are there but the lack of depth will remain a deterrent if the flows continue to increase, said Hemang Kapasi, Head of Equities, Sanctum Wealth.



The return on smallcaps over the last three years has been good. On an average, this category has delivered 21 percent on a five-year basis and 42 percent on a three-year basis. Therefore, it wont be easy to get those kinds of returns in the near term after markets have already run up smartly in the recent past. However, from a valuation perspective, overall, smallcaps are somewhat cheaper at this point due to their larger universe.







If you look at the valuation charts of all the three market-caps, then smallcap is closer to average while midcaps are above the average by 15-20 percent, said Resham Jain, Fund Manager, DSP Mutual Fund, said Resham Jain, Fund Manager, DSP Mutual Fund.



Rachh of Nippon India MF and Edelweiss MFs Bhattacharya also agree that smallcaps are sitting comfortably in terms of valuations. Data shows that the PE ratio of the Nifty Smallcap 100 was 13.81 as of July 14, which was near its 10-year average.



What should investors do?



There has been a big move in both midcap and smallcap funds in a compressed time, which is why there can be some sort of halt or dip before the earnings catch up. However, the returns shall continue to be robust in the space over longer time horizon albeit with volatility. As Indian economy flourishes there would be newer segment and spaces which shall continue to offer long term investable ideas, said Kapasi.



The surge in inflows notwithstanding, fund managers believe that there isnt a problem of plenty.



Also read | Six car insurance terms you must know this monsoon



There are enough names within the existing portfolio where we could invest more. We have to churn and look at the names, which are still cheaper than the other ones, and we have to basically then switch between the names, said Jain of DSP Mutual Fund.







The majority of the investment decisions, and the surge in smallcap fund inflows, are driven by the recent performance.



Investors need to have a balanced approach and stay put with whatever allocation they have decided with their distributor or advisor in terms of largecap, midcap and smallcap. Keep in mind that correction in smallcaps has always been very sharp, said Deepak Chhabria, CEO, Axiom Financial Services.



Further as large money comes in, and opportunities in good-quality midcaps and smallcaps start looking expensive, the quality of the portfolio will start deteriorating. The fund manager will start looking at stocks, which he/she was avoiding or uncomfortable with, but suddenly they will start appealing because there's a huge difference in the valuation, Chhabria said.



Smallcaps can be volatile on both the sides of the market, in a bull run and in a correction.



Therefore, its very important that investors coming into smallcaps have a long-term view and have a risk profile to withstand this kind of volatility, if the newsflow turns negative.



Therefore, one should have broad allocation discipline and not keep jumping from one category to another as it is very difficult to take this kind of category call on a consistent basis.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked general insurance companies and standalone health insurers to expedite processing of claims related to floods in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.



They will have to activate 24x7 helplines to respond to claim intimations and launch awareness campaigns to highlight the actions taken. Even during earlier instances of natural calamities, the IRDAI has issued such advisories to insurance companies. More recently, it had asked insurers to expedite and simplify claim settlement processes after the Odisha train tragedy in June 2023.



Also read: Odisha train accident: FinMin urges insurance companies to expedite claim settlement



In case of specific districts that are likely to report a large number of claims, insurers will have to assign a district claims service head. They will also have to publish the names and contact details of such officials on their websites.



Special claim desks at district level with adequate delegated claim settlement teams are recommended to be set up in affected areas to facilitate claims speedy processing and settlements including release of on-account, interim payments to assist early reinstatement of property/ businesses, the IRDAI circular to insurance companies said.



These companies will have to nominate a senior official to act as nodal claims officer to oversee investigators, surveyors and loss adjustors involved in claim settlement and keep the states chief secretary in the loop. It needs to be ensured that all claims are surveyed immediately and claim payments or on account payments are disbursed at the earliest, the insurance regulator said.



Also read: North India floods: How to file insurance claims for your damaged car



Insurance companies should encourage policyholders to use the digital modes of communication to initiate claim and file the required documents to process the claims. Likewise, insurance companies, too, should make efforts to ensure that digital facilities should used to assess claims. Insurers should ask policyholders to furnish only those documents that are absolutely necessary to ensure that the submission process does not delay the settlement.



The IRDAI will monitor the claim settlement process across insurers. They will have to update the insurance regulator on a weekly basis regarding claims received, settled and rejected, besides claims where interim payments have been made. They will have to send such reports for several segments including fire, motor, health, marine-cargo, crop insurance, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), shopkeepers insurance and so on.
With torrential rains causing flooding and destruction in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other parts of North India, those affected will have to brace themselves for dealing with damage to their belongings. For many, this will involve dealing with car damage and filing insurance claims to take care of these expenses.



If you are someone planning to buy a car, here are a few key terms to familiarise yourself with before you sign up for insurance for your car.



Insured declared value (IDV)



This is the maximum amount that you can get from your insurance company in case of total loss (car damaged beyond repair), or if the car has been stolen. You can think of it as the sum assured as in the case of your health or life insurance policy.



Insurance companies arrive at the IDV based on the ex-showroom price of the car, on which a standard depreciation rate is applied. With each passing year, as the car depreciates in value, the IDV too goes down. The IDV is disclosed in your car insurance policy schedule, which also mentions your policy premium.



To calculate the IDV, an insurance company applies the depreciation rates as specified under the Indian Motor Tariff Act. Going by that, the depreciation rate for a car that is up to 6 months old is 5 percent, for one that is over 6 months to up to 1-year-old, it is 15 percent and so on. For a car that is over 4 years to up to 5 years old, the depreciation rate is 50 percent.



So, how is the IDV estimated from the fifth year onwards? As per the Indian Motor Tariff Act, the IDV of a vehicle beyond 5 years of age is determined based on an understanding between the insurer and the insured. But thats not how it actually works.



As a practice, the IDV is estimated by applying a 10 percent depreciation on last years IDV by the insurance company, and accordingly the renewal notices are generated, says Nitin Kumar, Head  Motor Insurance, Policybazaar.com.



Also read: North India floods: How to file insurance claims for your damaged car



Third-party cover



This is a mandatory component of any car insurance policy. This helps you cover the cost of any damage by your car to a third party.



The third party is any affected person who is entitled to payment from the insurance company (second party) for damage due to the policyholders (first party) car. This provides you protection against damage to another vehicle and property, and death of a person in case of a car accident involving you.



Personal accident cover for owner



This too is a mandatory component under car insurance. As per IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) guidelines, every car owner must have a personal accident cover of Rs 15 lakh. IRDAI has fixed the premium for this at cover at Rs 750 if you buy this as part of your car insurance policy. If you wish, you can opt for a larger cover by paying an additional premium.



Note that, if you own more than one car, you dont need to buy a personal accident cover as part of the insurance policy for each of these cars. You will have to take this cover only when buying your first car. Alternately, if you already have a standalone personal accident cover (not as part of any car insurance policy), then in that case too, you dont have to buy bundled cover with your car insurance.



A personal accident cover helps you cover your medical expenses in case of an accidental injury. It also provides monetary compensation to you in case of permanent disability and to your family in case of death due to an accident.



Deductibles



This is the amount that a policyholder has to pay before the insurance company pays the remaining bill. The deductible applies to every claim you file. For example, if you make an insurance claim for Rs 10,000, and the deductible is Rs 1,000, then you have to pay Rs 1,000 and the insurance company pays the rest. Deductibles serve the purpose of ensuring that the car owner takes adequate care of his car.



There are two kinds of deductibles  compulsory and voluntary. The compulsory deductible is what you are mandated to pay for every claim. Based on IRDAI regulations, this is fixed at Rs 1,000 for cars with an engine capacity of up to 1,500 cc (cubic centimetres) and at Rs 2,000 for beyond that.



Voluntary deductible, on the other hand, is something that you can opt for. If you do that, it means you will foot a larger part of your car repair bill but at the same time, you will pay a lower premium.



Kumar highlights the four voluntary deductible options that you can choose from. You can opt for a voluntary deductible of Rs 2,500 (for a 20 percent discount on own damage premium subject to a cap of Rs 750), Rs 5,000 (25 percent discount, cap of Rs 1,500), Rs 7,500 (30 percent discount, cap of Rs 2,000) or Rs 15,000 (35 percent discount, cap of Rs 2,500).



Zero depreciation



This is an add-on cover that you can take in addition to your base car insurance policy. This enables you to cover the cost of replacing your car parts (without accounting for their depreciated value) in case of an accident. This feature comes at an extra cost. Without this cover, you will be compensated for the replacement cost of the car parts based on their depreciated value only.



For example, following an accident if the repair cost for your car comes to Rs 10,000. Then after applying say, a depreciation rate of 20 percent on the car parts and a deductible of Rs 1,000, the insurance company will pay you Rs 7,000. If you have a zero depreciation cover, then the insurance company will pay you Rs 9,000 (Rs 10,000 minus Rs 1,000).



According to Deepak Karani, a Mumbai-based insurance agent, most insurance companies allow you to opt for this add-on cover during the first 5 years of your policy subject to an inspection of the car, if not taken earlier. A few insurance companies allow you to take this up to 10 years. So, how much can a zero depreciation cover cost you? Giving an example, Kumar says that for a car with an IDV of Rs 10 lakh, the zero depreciation cover could cost roughly Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 in the initial years.



Also read: Motor insurance riders: All you need to know for a smooth ride



Engine protect



Just like zero depreciation, engine protect too is an add-on cover. Engine protect, as the name suggests, provides you a cover against the cost of replacing or repairing the car engine. This covers damage due to reasons other than accident-related damage. For example, it provides protection against damage due to water ingression, leakage of lubricating oil, gearbox malfunction, etc.



This cover can come in handy in case of engine damage due to your car getting stuck in a water-logged area. Experts we spoke with pointed out that if you find yourself in such a situation you must contact the insurance company at the earliest. If you force-start the submerged car, any damage as a result of that will not be covered by the insurer.



According to Karani, the cost of zero depreciation and engine protect add-on covers in the first 7 years can vary from 0.75 to 2.0 percent of the car IDV, depending on its age and model.



Zero depreciation and engine protect are among the most popular add-on covers that most people choose for their cars, says Karani. Do remember to enquire about all the key aspects relating to a car insurance policy before you take up one. When it comes to add-on covers, evaluate the additional cost with its benefits.



Also read: Majority of insurance-buyers find products & processes to be complex: Policybazaar study
Indian developers have been defying gravity and pushing upwards in an attempt to create their version of heaven on earth by taking you as far as possible from the potholes and the poor (same difference, the latter being human versions of the former). From my window on the 19th floor, I see monsoon clouds enveloping the upper reaches of Lodha World, a building thats the tallest geological feature in my part of the equator. But theres a change on the ground, literally.



Back in the day, people bought land and built themselves spacious low-rise houses, known in north India as kothis. But with land prices kissing the sky thanks to large-scale development, people moved into poky apartments.



Also Read: Is the Pune real estate market going the Mumbai way?



But today, in an attempt to give people a feel of the expansive kothi living they were once used to, real estate developers in cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Meerut, Mysuru, etc., are constructing virtual bungalows in the skies. They have begun marketing flats with nomenclatures such as 4B2HK and 5B2HK. Translated into English, that means flats with four (or five) bedrooms, two halls, and a kitchen. These are apparently proving to be a bit of a hit, which is in line with the trend of homebuyers scouting for larger apartments since Covid.



"Earlier, people used to live in cottages and bungalows, then flats became all the rage. But as property prices went up, the sizes of homes shrank. However, since Covid, people have been looking for larger homes, and they are willing to cut down on their budget for luxury cars for the same, said Hemant Patel, President, Gujarat Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI), the apex body of real estate developers.



Also Read: Properties under Rs 50 lakh: Heres where you can buy in Delhi-NCR



Explaining why developers are selling apartments with two living rooms, Patel said, Historically, there was a separate space available for male and female family members. This is not the case any longer, but some buyers are seeking the comfort and the convenience that brings and buying apartments with two living rooms."



"The concept of providing two living rooms in a premium apartment has caught the fancy of buyers. These are positioned as one living room and one family room. This makes them feel as if theyre residing in a bungalow," said Viral Shah, an Ahmedabad-based real estate developer and Secretary, Ahmedabad CREDAI. Shah said that even now, about 10 percent of the 55-60,000 residential properties sold in Ahmedabad each year are bungalows.



Things have changed in Meerut too, thanks largely to the upcoming Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connector, which will ship commuters to Delhi in under an hour.



Ashok Garg, President, Real Estate Developers Association of Meerut (REDAM), said that people in tier 2 cities such as Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur have all along held the belief that it is important to own land. It is on account of this that kothis or bungalows have been preferred. However, with the RRTS corridor coming up fast, that is gradually changing.



Land prices have shot up in areas located along the RRTS route in Meerut, Modi Nagar, etc. Now plots close to the RRTS corridor or near the Delhi-Meerut expressway, which cost about Rs 20,000 per square yard about a year back, are being sold for Rs 30,000 per square yard, he said.



A few developers in these parts have of late have started offering 4BHK flats in high-rises.



A similar trend was seen in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad around 20-25 years back. People gradually adopted the high-rise culture after land became unaffordable. We anticipate this in Meerut and other tier 2 cities as well, said Rahul Chaudhary, a real estate broker active in the region.



Maharaja bungalows to gated apartments



Mysuru, a sleepy town in south India, is witnessing a similar trend, but with a royal touch. Bungalows belonging to the erstwhile royal family are now gradually being converted into residential apartments or commercial establishments.



Amar Kumar RS, one of the members of the former royal family, still owns the largest bungalow in town. Spread over three acres, the bungalow is located in the prime area of Lalitha Mahal Palace Road, and had once belonged to the East India Company. "However, today we have already converted the land for commercial use and it is up for sale," he said.



Local brokers in Mysuru said that most people in Old Mysuru once used to live in large houses or even bungalows. But the younger generation has moved out and adapted to gated apartments.



Divyesh N, Chairman, National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), Mysuru Chapter, said that more than 30 percent of these old homes and bungalows, especially those belonging to the royal family, have been converted into gated apartments.



Also Read: MC Explains: How soon will Mysuru catch up with Bengaluru as a real estate hub?



" Bigger plots are being picked up by developers for constructing large gated societies," he said, and added that old properties located close to the Mysuru Palace, Lakshmipuram, and Chamundipuram are being redeveloped as luxury projects.



Land and apartment prices have jumped 30 percent in the city. The ongoing rate for plots is about Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per square feet in prime locations next to Mysuru palace. Today, a fully furnished flat in the heart of the city costs nearly as much as properties in prime locations of Bengaluru, like Koramangala or JP Nagar.



(With inputs from Mehul Thakkar in Mumbai, Souptik Datta in Bengaluru and Ashish Mishra in Delhi-NCR)
Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is known for having the priciest real estate in the country. Interestingly, along with being the costliest city to reside in, towns and micro-markets that were once considered distant or second-home options have now moved up in the pecking order of preferences.



The best examples of this growth in residential and commercial real estate are the Thane and Powai micro-markets of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).







Thane and Powai were both looked down on in the 1980s or even until the 1990s. However, real estate rates in both of these micro-markets are now touching the stratosphere. Thats thanks to the urban sprawl as offices moved out of south Mumbai and spread across the metropolis, into nearby towns and micro-markets.



"If 20 or 25 years ago someone would have told me that I would open my office in Thane or Powai, I would have laughed, as everyone was in south Mumbai. However, today's scenario is just the opposite. If companies opt to be located in south Mumbai, their reasoning is questioned. They are asked why they have chosen south Mumbai over other localities," said Piyush Jani, a real estate consultant who deals in commercial office spaces in suburban Mumbai.



"The per square foot rates in many of the residential and commercial projects in Thane are at par with several micro-markets in Mumbai, namely Borivali, Kandivali, Mulund, and Bhandup, among others. What does this mean? Thane has grown, and the growth has been much better than in several areas of Mumbai," he added.



"The reason for this is urban sprawl, partly due to saturation. After a certain point in time, every micro-market tends to give up due to its inability to match the upcoming areas with better offerings and infrastructure. Thane and Powai, too, may face this phenomenon at some point in time. But there is still time for that to happen until new competing areas enter the fray," Jani further added.



About Thane and Powai



The Powai micro-market is famous for the presence of Hiranandani Developers, who have residential, retail, and commercial properties in the area. This micro-market is also famous for being home to one of the most prestigious institutes in the country, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay. Powai also has an ample number of schools and hospitals. One of the largest global consulting firms, Deloitte Consulting, is also located in this micro-market.



Thane, on the other hand, is a work-in-progress, considering it is perceived to be a more culturally and traditionally vibrant micro-market compared to Powai. Thane, too, houses several big companies, has an ample amount of open space, and has a good number of schools, colleges, and hospitals.



Prominent projects



The prominent projects in Powai include the Hiranandani Business Park, Regent Hill by Hiranandani Developers, Urban Park by Godrej, and Elixir Reserve by L&T Realty.



In Thane, Raymond Realty has a residential real estate project going by the name of Raymond Ten X. The other significant projects in this micro-market are Dosti Realty, Ashar Group, and Vihang Group.



Going forward, both Thane and Powai will be big markets when the redevelopment of old buildings begins in 1012 years, according to local brokers.



Also read: How residential buildings of Matunga are being redeveloped with parking space becoming a differentiating factor



Connectivity



Thane is well connected with railway stations like Thane and Mulund, among others. It is easily accessible by those using the Eastern and Western Express Highways.



The micro-market is expected to get a connectivity boost from the upcoming CST-Thane Metro-4 corridor that will allow citizens to travel up and down. Further, Thane also has good connectivity with other satellite towns of MMR, besides those looking to travel fast out of the city towards Gujarat, deep down into Maharashtra, or even South India.



Deepak Sharma, an IT consultant who moved his office from Andheri to Thane for ease of travel, said, "I realised that after COVID-19, work-from-home (WFH) and working from anywhere would become the norm. I also realised that my staff would not be ready to travel far to Andheri from Thane."



"Hence, I moved to Thane, considering Thane is also my residence, And, now for a year, I have been walking to work. The upcoming Metro will provide greater connectivity, thus, adding to the charm. Post-COVID-19, I really feel that people are optimising travel and making maximum use of technology to ensure minimal travelling," he added.







Powai, on the other hand, is poorly connected with the suburban local train network of Mumbai, which carries over seven million passengers daily. The closest suburban railway stations are Andheri, Vikhroli, and Kanjurmarg.



But Powai is well connected via roads from both the Western and Eastern Express Highways. This micro-market is expected to benefit in a big way from the upcoming Andheri-Vikhroli Metro Line 6 that will pass via Powai.







Cost of flats in Powai and Thane



Developers are offering 1, 2, 3, and 4BHK apartments in both localities in a wide price range of Rs 10,000 per sq ft to Rs 50,000 per sq ft for rentals. Thus, one could easily rent a 2BHK apartment in Powai for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.



Also read: Mumbai reported 62,071 property registrations in the first six months of 2023, down 7 percent over last year



However, when it comes to Thane, one might easily be able to rent a 2BHK apartment in a gated society with amenities for about Rs 20,000 per month.








Planning to buy a second home in Goa, especially now that the new airport in Mopa is operational? To start with, a prospective homebuyer should know that the Land of Beaches has emerged as a preferred choice among buyers of second homes on account of the high rental yields it offers. These typically range from 4 percent to as high as 15 percent for luxury sea-facing properties.



This tourist destination is immensely popular with Bollywood stars and corporate honchos for the purchase of properties. Media reports say that Abhay Deol purchased an acre of land a few years ago in North Goa. Celina Jaitley had bought a second home in the quaint village of Moira many moons ago. They even say that Priyanka Chopra owns a property located close to Baga Beach in Goa, and Akshay Kumar owns a Portuguese-style bungalow located on Anjuna Beach. Palacio Aguada, a secluded sea-facing property in North Goa is owned by Pinky Reddy, wife of GVK Group Vice Chairman Sanjay Reddy, who purchased it in 2021 for Rs 80 crore, according to media reports.



Before zeroing in on a property in Goa, buyers should keep in mind that unlike some states in North India that offer a partial fee waiver on stamp duty for female owners or joint owners, such waivers are not available for women buyers in Goa. Also, there is a slab system for property registration, which means that the stamp duty is dependent on the cost of the property being purchased.



Most important, make sure that the title of the property is properly vetted by a legal expert, as several land parcels belong to local Goan families and the Church maintains a record of these properties. Buyers also have to be aware of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms and ensure that the sea-facing property that they are buying has a setback of 500 metres from the coast.



"Popular destinations in North Goa are Anjuna, Assagao, Siolim, and Morjim. These locations have become prime owing to easy access to the sea and the presence of cafes and restaurants. These are also easy to buy, rent, and flip. A 3BHK luxury property can set you back by Rs 5 crore to Rs 30 crore. Returns for luxury properties could start at 15 percent per annum onwards," says Ashwin Chadha, CEO, India Sotheby's International Realty.



Upmarket neighbourhoods are those that have access to a beach. The sweet spot is for properties priced at Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. Inventory in this segment is shrinking, Chadha added.



It has been seen that some people who wish to upgrade to a better home in their cities are now preferring to buy a second home in Goa since the rental yield is between 4 and 8 percent, depending on the location of the property.

A 3BHK villa can be rented out for Rs 35,000 a night, while a 6BHK villa can fetch as much as Rs 1.5 lakh a night during the December to January tourist season. Non-season rates are Rs 20,000 a night for a 3BHK villa and close to Rs 80,000 a night for a 6BHK villa, he said.



"These properties find favour among families wanting to holiday together. People dont want to be closeted in a small hotel room when they visit Goa. They like to bond and socialise in private. Also, social infrastructure in Goa is much ahead of Alibaug or hill stations in North India," he said, adding that almost 50 percent of the people who buy property in Goa are from North India.



Property dealers in Goa say that a 6BHK villa built in traditional Portuguese style with a swimming pool comes with a price tag of Rs 6 crore to Rs 10 crore. These are located in areas such as Nerul, Calangute, Sangolda, and Assagao.



Buyers should look for homes with a clear title and check that the builder has adhered to statutory compliances related to building norms. It is not as easy as buying a floor in Delhi. Knowledge about the local market is important. The loan market is also not as deeply penetrated as other micro-markets. Buyers should be aware that clearances from three government agencies are mandatory  the CRZ clearance committee, the town planning committee and the panchayat, he said.



The new airport will definitely have a positive impact. "Villa developments will move further north towards Morjim and Tiracol  close to the Maharashtra border. These areas are bound to see a positive impact," he added.



Locations to consider

Goa offers both independent residences as well as flats or villas in gated communities.



There are villa projects located in Siolim in North Goa. Mapusa is another area where one can look for real estate opportunities. It is a well-developed part of town with good infrastructure facilities in place. Several hospitals, schools, colleges, banks, and public transportation facilities are available in this area.



Candolim is a well-known tourist destination in North Goa. So buying a vacation property there might be an excellent way to earn money from rentals during the busy summer months.



Real estate prices and rentals



Property prices in Goa range from Rs 4,500 per square foot (sq ft) to Rs 12,000 per sq ft. In Goa, a home with a sea view may cost upwards of Rs 2 crore. Properties in North Goa cost more than in South Goa. Rental yields range from 4 to 15 per cent.



"With the Mopa airport becoming operational, North Goa, as well as the nearby Konkan region, is expected to witness price appreciation of around 27-30 percent per annum. Property prices in areas located close to the airport have increased by almost 30 percent. In the past four years, average property prices have risen at a CAGR of 3.9 percent," said Ritesh Mehta, Senior Director and Head - West and North, Residential Services & Developer Initiatives at JLL.



Buyers should also take note that the property dealer may charge a standard commission of 2 percent of the cost of the property from both the buyer and the seller. If you wish to rent out a property, the agent may charge a commission from both parties.



Tax and financial implications on buying property in Goa



Stamp duty and Registration charges: Stamp duty is a compulsory fee that a buyer has to pay to the state government to get the property registered under his/her name. The slabs are as follows:







GST: The GST on under-construction property in Goa is around 5 percent, while for affordable housing projects, its only 1 percent. There is no GST on ready-to-move properties or on those projects that have received the completion certificate.



Brokerage fees: This fee is around 2 percent of the total cost of the property. However, some brokers can be expensive and may charge a higher fee.



Maintenance and Society Security Deposit: The maintenance deposit is to be paid to the builders as an advance towards the maintenance of the building and its amenities for up to two years.



Legal fees: Total legal fees can start from Rs 50,000 onwards.



House tax and other fees: If its an old Portuguese house, the house tax receipt will show a range of around Rs 500 to Rs 600 a year.



Other taxes include garbage tax, fees associated with the local panchayat, and cleaning fees, among others.



Aspects to keep in mind



Regulatory and legal framework: While Goa has made efforts to streamline its legal framework, navigating the regulatory environment can still be challenging for investors. It's important to be aware of the local laws, regulations, and procedures related to land acquisition, property ownership, permits, and licensing.



Limited land availability: Goa is a small state with limited land availability, particularly in prime locations or areas close to the coastline.

Seasonal nature of tourism: While tourism is a major driver of the Goan economy, it is seasonal in nature. The tourist influx tends to be higher during the peak season (November to February) and lower during the off-season.



This can impact the rental income and occupancy rates of properties, particularly for short-term rentals, say local property experts.

Infrastructure and development disparities: While certain areas in Goa have witnessed substantial infrastructure development, there can be disparities between different regions. Some areas may have limited access to essential amenities such as water supply, electricity, and proper road connectivity. Investors should carefully evaluate the infrastructure development plans and potential growth prospects of the chosen location, they said.
Shashank Srivastava, a techie living close to Sarjapura, Bengaluru, was taken aback after his landlord decided to hike his rent by a whopping 60 percent. Staying at a 2BHK close to the eastern IT corridor of Whitefield, Srivastava said: "From the Rs 21,000 I was paying, my landlord said I have to pay Rs 34,000. Now, I have no option but to move out."



With a severe mismatch in demand and supply of inventories, rentals in Bengaluru have shot through the roof. Rentals have increased by 20-30 percent in some areas, and by a whopping 50 percent in certain areas in the last one year.



Rentals across prime locations, like Indiranagar, Whitefield, and IT corridors such as Marathahalli and Bellandur in the southeast, Sarjapur in the east, and Hebbal in the north, have jumped by at least 40 percent.



So much so that Srivastava wishes his salary hike was as dynamic as the rental surges in Bengaluru today.



Gruelling landlord interviews



While some tenants think it is simpler to pass a Google interview than a landlord interview, some other landlords need up-to-date resumes and LinkedIn profiles.



Neeraj Menta, an entrepreneur, was recently looking for a 2 BHK in the city's startup hub of HSR Layout.



However, he took to Twitter to narrate his tale of house hunting that was "longer and more gruelling than his previous seed round pitch."



After getting his profile and LinkedIn shortlisted before the interview, Menta said, "The landlord asked me questions about the business model, burn rate, last-round investors, etc."



However, as tech-savvy as his landlord was, he had already checked Crunchbase and pulled all the data about Menta's venture.



Realtors say after years of stagnancy during the pandemic, apartment owners are looking for stable incomes.



Balaji Badrinath, managing partner at the local office of American real-estate consultants Coldwell Banker, added, "Several owners are compromising on the financial aspects but are looking for tenants who will stay for a longer period."



Thus in most cases, the landlords are asking for payslips and career profiles of prospective tenants before they make a decision.



Menta said his wife thought he was in a fundraising pitch and asked how it went - "I said, it went well, fingers crossed."



Rental hike continues



With the citys economy and private sector stirring back to life, landlords are looking to recoup revenue lost during the pandemic when tenants returned to their hometowns.



Local brokers say though high demand continues across Whitefield and close to the northern IT corridor of Hebbal, inventories are not available.



In Bellandur, a two-bedroom apartment that was available for rent for Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 now commands about Rs 45,000. In prime areas like Indiranagar, a semi-furnished 2 BHK touches almost Rs 60,000-70,000.



Even in eastern suburbs like Varthur, data from NoBroker shows that rentals have increased 57 percent over the past few years. An apartment that commanded Rs 23,000 per month in 2022, is listed at Rs 30,000 in 2023.



Sunil Singh, founder of Realty Corps, added, "We do not see the rentals coming down soon. Until new rental inventories hit the market, the surge will continue."
Homophobic reactionary bigots on Temecula, California's School Board, have blocked a social studies textbook for mentioning gay rights activist, and San Francisco Supervisor, Harvey Milk in supplemental material. California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, has said enough is enough and that the state will provide the book directly to the children and their parents, passing the bill along to the district.

I find it strange that people so proud of the United States don't want to remember it as it was.

SF Gate:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that the state will purchase and distribute a social studies textbook to students in the Temecula Valley Unified School District  where the district's board of education voted to keep the book out of classrooms because of supplemental material from the textbook that references Harvey Milk  if the board doesn't walk back its decision by the beginning of the upcoming school year. Newsom also said he was working with state lawmakers on a mechanism to fine districts that fail "to provide adequate instructional materials" to students. "Cancel culture has gone too far in Temecula: radicalized zealots on the school board rejected a textbook used by hundreds of thousands of students, and now children will begin the school year without the tools they need to learn," Newsom said in a Thursday statement. "If the school board won't do its job by its next board meeting to ensure kids start the school year with basic materials, the state will deliver the book into the hands of children and their parents  and we'll send the district the bill and fine them for violating state law."

Making the school district foot the bill will be great, but I bet this plays out in court.
Suzlon Energy share price rose 4 per cent in early trade on July 17 on an order win of 100.8 MW from Everrenew Energy.



On July 14 Suzlon Group announced a new order win for the development of a 100.8 MW wind power project for Everrenew Energy Private Limited.



Suzlon Energy will install 48 wind turbine generators (WTGs) of their S120  2.1 MW with a Hybrid Lattice Tubular tower at Velliyanani Phase II in Karur district and Vengaimandalam in Trichy in Tamil Nadu and the project is expected to be commissioned in March 2024.



Suzlon will supply the wind turbines (equipment supply) and supervise the execution and commissioning of the project.



Catch all the market action on our live blog



We are delighted to announce our first order with Everrenew Energy Private Limited. Suzlon takes pride in valued customers like Everrenew Energy, one of Indias fastgrowing renewable energy Project Management companies. They have put their trust in our leading technology and comprehensive capabilities throughout the wind energy value chain," said JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group.



"The Power generated from this project will target the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) consumer segment, creating deeper penetration of renewable energy in India. Suzlon is committed to driving Indian industries toward their netzero targets and powering the domestic economy with green energy, he added.



On July 11, the company won an order for the development of a 47.6 MW wind power project for The KP Group. The project is located at Vagra in Bharuch district in Gujarat and is expected to be commissioned in 2024.



Suzlon will supply their S133 wind turbines (equipment supply) and supervise execution and commissioning of the project. Suzlon will also provide comprehensive operations and maintenance services postcommissioning.



At 09:22 hrs Suzlon Energy was quoting at Rs 18.22, up Rs 0.52, or 2.94 percent on the BSE.



The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 18.54 and a 52-week low of Rs 5.43 on 12 July, 2023 and 28 July, 2022, respectively.



Currently, the stock is trading 1.73 percent below its 52-week high and 235.54 percent above its 52-week low.



Over the last three months, the share price rose 123 percent.
Vedanta Resources Ltd., owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, said its in an advanced stage of talks to regain control of a Zambian copper mining complex, four years after it was seized by the government. Vedanta is alive to the fact that the talks have taken a little longer than initially anticipated, it said in a statement on Sunday. The company is firmly committed to the process. The Zambian government placed Konkola Copper Mines Plc, 79.4% owned by Vedanta, into provisional liquidation in 2019, and has since been locked in legal battles with the company over the asset. Former President Edgar Lungu accused the company of lying about profits and expansion plans, before declaring divorce with Vedanta and moving to liquidate Konkola. President Hakainde Hichilemas government has struggled to find a solution since winning power in August 2021. The dispute has resulted in a slump in production. Vedanta has pledged to invest $1 billion in the assets to double annual integrated production to 100,000 tons of copper, with the potential to boost to 200,000 tons in the medium term. Production troubles at Konkola have contributed to Zambias falling copper output. The finance ministry sees national output of the metal falling to 682,431 tons this year from 763,550 tons in 2022, it said in a report Sunday. Separately, Konkola struck a deal with Copperbelt Energy Corp., a Zambian power supplier, to resolve outstanding debt. The agreement will see KCM paying the company $20 million in installments. Theres one matter left to agree on before reaching a deal with Vedanta, Zambian Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe told reporters on Friday, without saying what it was. We are counting days, its no longer months, he said in Lusaka, the capital.

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In a move that could come as a breather for the real-money gaming industry, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, has said that the ministry will go back to the GST council requesting them to consider the new regulatory framework after it is put in place in the country.



In April, MeitY notified new gaming-related amendments to the IT Act 2021, that will allow multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs) to determine whether a real-money game, where the transfer of money is involved, is permitted to operate in India or not.



His comments comes after the GST Council decided to impose the top GST slab of 28 percent on the full value of the money paid by users to play skill-based games, in a uniform manner with no distinction made between game of skill and chance. Gaming platforms currently pay an 18 percent GST on platform fees.



Speaking at CNN-News18 Town Hall on July 17, the minister said that they are still in the "nascent stages" of creating a "predictable, sustainable, permissible" online gaming framework.



This decision, which came after years of deliberation, had shocked the country's burgeoning real-money gaming industry. Several industry executives and associations have warned that this move will "wipe out the entire industry and lead to job losses".



A group of around 130 real-money gaming startup founders, CEOs and industry associations had signed an open letter to the government, requesting them to reconsider the recent decision to levy 28 percent on the full value of pool deposit, Moneycontrol reported on July 15. They had also sought the government an opportunity to discuss this representation.



Read: 28% GST levy will upend the economics of real-money gaming sector, says Nazara's Nitish Mittersain



Among the companies that have signed the letter include prominent ones such as Gameskraft, Nazara Technologies, Mobile Premier League, WinZO, Adda52, Head Digital Works (A23), CrickPe and industry associations All India Gaming Federation, E-Gaming Federation and Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports.



It's worth noting that these tax rates do not apply to free-to-play and paid video games in the country, wherein the 18 percent GST rate is already included in the app sales on Google Play and Apple App Store.



During the town hall, the minister clarified that the GST Council is not the "Government of India. The GST Council is represented by all the state governments. It is truly a federal organization. State governments, finance ministers and the government of India have come together and created a GST framework," he added.



He mentioned the council's decision was a consequence of three years of work. "While we may quibble with what they have found, industry seems unhappy with it, we have to also recognize that the process of creating a regulatory framework for online gaming has only started in January 2023."



"I hear the noise and I hear some people saying it is anti-constitutional but they are certainly wrong," the minister said.



The union minister added that it is "better to slowly progress and evolve these frameworks that are sustainable... then create downstream mistakes."



"The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is very clear that in the digital space, do everything from a perspective of the next decade. The laws, the rules all go through detailed deep consultation with the stakeholders. Online gaming rules went through almost three and a half months of consultations. What the government started with and what they ended with were totally different as a consequence of the consultations. So better to do it right than do it fast," he said.



The real-money gaming segment accounted for 77 percent of India's gaming sector revenues in 2022 which stood at Rs 13,500 crore, as per a recent FICCI-EY report. These revenues are set to grow to Rs 16,700 crore in 2023 and Rs 23,100 crore in 2025, it said.
Canada has recently announced a new initiative to attract skilled workers from the United States and provide them with employment opportunities and a pathway to Canada PR Visa. The open work-permit stream initiative will allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in Canada.



How to Apply For the Open Work Permit Stream?



To be eligible for the open work-permit stream, a new Canada Immigration initiative for skilled workers from the United States, applicants must:



Have a valid H-1B visa or have held one in the past 12 months

Have at least one year of full-time work experience in a speciality occupation

Have a valid passport

Meet the health and security requirements of Canada

Pay the application fees



Applicants can apply online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. They are required to present evidence such as:



A copy of their H-1B visa or approval notice

A letter from their current or previous employer confirming their occupation and work experience

A copy of their educational credentials

A copy of their marriage certificate and birth certificates of their dependents, if applicable



Applicants can also include their family members in their applications if they wish to bring them along. Family members include spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, and their spouses or partners.



Canadas new open work-permit stream is an excellent option for H-1B visa holders seeking new career opportunities and a better quality of life. With an average salary in Canada that is higher than the US, you can enjoy a high standard of living and a diverse culture. If you are interested in applying for this program, you should act fast, as there are only 10,000 spots available. For more information and assistance, contact us at 8595338595 or mail us at web@abhinav.com.





Moneycontrol Journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
The Opposition parties have convened a meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru on July 17, 18 to strategise their approach in countering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The invitations for the meeting were issued by Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party. In an effort to foster unity and collaboration, Kharge extended invitations to both prominent and smaller political parties, urging them to participate in the meeting and present a united front against the BJP. Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from today. 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 Congress is expecting leaders of 26 parties. 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. 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 AAPs Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. (With inputs from agencies)

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Delhi Floods Highlights: According to the statement, MCPS Palla (Girls) Narela Zone, MCPS Jahangirpuri R-Block Civil Lines Zone, MCPS Jahangirpuri EE-Block Civil Lines Zone, MCPS Jahangirpuri F&G-Block Civil Lines Zone, MCPS Zakir Nagar Hindi/Urdu Central Zone, MCPS Nangli Razapur Central Zone, and others would all be closed on July 17 and 18. The letter also stated that teachers would work from home and hold classes online in all of the listed schools, which would remain closed.

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Ahead of his first official visit to India this week, Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Tuesday in Parliament in a bid to settle the long-standing Tamil minority demand for political autonomy, sources said here on Monday.



TNA is an alliance of parties that represent Tamils from the North and East regions.



The TNA-Wickremesinghe parley is to take place on Tuesday afternoon in Parliament, sources said.



Wickremesinghe leaves for New Delhi on July 20 and on July 21, the President will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials in the foreign office here said.



Since December, Wickremesinghe had opened dialogue with the TNA in a bid to settle the long-standing Tamil minority demand for political autonomy.



Wickremesinghe mooted the idea for full implementation of the India-backed 13th Amendment which came to be opposed by the powerful Buddhist clergy in a case of history repeating itself.



The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13A which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.



The Tamil side insisted on resolving the immediate issues of concern such as the release of private lands held for military purposes, the release of Tamil political prisoners and conflict reparations.



Although some of the lands came to be released and a few prisoners were also released but the Tamil side remain largely dissatisfied.



A few former militant Tamil parties who are not part of the TNA have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to pressure Wickremesinghe into full implementation of the 13th Amendment.



The group includes the Democratic Fighters Party of rehabilitated ex-member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who ran a three-decades-old separatist war to carve out a separate Tamil state.



They demand that land and police powers retained by the central government be granted to the northern provincial council including holding of the election postponed since 2018.



Meanwhile, the state minister of fisheries Piyal Nishantha said the thorny issue of illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen would be discussed during the visit to New Delhi.



Sri Lanka has had a long history of failed negotiations with the Tamils.



An Indian effort in 1987, which created the system of a joint provincial council for the Tamil-dominated North and East, faltered as the minority community claimed it fell short of full autonomy.



The LTTE ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.



According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.



International rights groups claim at least 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages of the war, but the Sri Lankan government has disputed the figures.
The legal practice in India is anachronistic, colonial, and in urgent need of modernisation to increase efficiency and operational capabilities. The legal practice involves multifarious tasks, each having its own set of complexities. Judges and counsel appearing for the parties to a legal dispute are required to sift through voluminous pleadings and documents, plethora of statutes and innumerable judgments.

All this requires in-depth research in their respective roles by lawyers and judges. Meanwhile, almost five crore cases are pending in India, emblematic of how litigious a country we are, and the need for greater efficiencies.

Extractive And Generative AI

This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionise the legal industry. Two types of AI technologies  Extractive and Generative AIs  are set to completely reform the way law firms and lawyers operate.

Extractive AI software can be used to extract relevant pieces of information from voluminous legal documents and pleadings to answer specific legal questions. This would help lawyers to prepare for their matters with expediency and efficiency.

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, provides assistance in drafting the basic framework of a legal document. Such software can be deployed to create legal documents of a skeletal nature which can then be embellished as per the specific requirements of a particular case. Generative AI, thus, would save time for lawyers, concerned would no longer be required to prepare a legal document from scratch.

Harvey AI, a generative software developed on OpenAIs large learning model GPT-4, has been deployed by several law firms. The software enables lawyers to enter complex legal tasks in simple instructions to achieve desired results.

India Makes A Start

The Supreme Court of India has also begun using AI software to transcribe arguments before the court and dialogue between the bar and the bench. This has made the apex court a court of record in the true sense. The court has also constituted a committee on AI to study the technology and augment the justice delivery system.

The Kerala high court has started using a machine learning software from July 10 to identify defects in bail applications. This technology would reduce human intervention and streamline the process of e-filing.

In a first, Punjab and Haryana High Court's Justice Anoop Chitkara employed ChatGPT to assist him in authoring a bail order. The court was dealing with a bail application in an assault case. The court framed its question: "What is the jurisprudence on bail when the assailants have assaulted with cruelty?" - to which the software gave a detailed opinion.

The court, however, clarified that ChatGPTs response must not be construed as the court's own observation. But this endeavour is a stark reminder that not only lawyers require AI to enhance their operational capabilities, judges also need assistive technologies for better administration of justice.

Improving Justice Delivery

Any pleading filed in a court, has to, at the very outset, pass through the scrutiny of the registry for it to be listed before a judge. Process of scrutiny and curing of defects ends up in needless delays and squandering of human resources. AI eases tasks such as scrutiny of pleadings, minimising human intervention and ensuring timely listing before courts.

Indian appellate judges are assisted by legal researchers and judicial clerks who are entrusted with preparing one-pager notes by condensing all the particulars of a case in a concise manner. Judges read these notes to understand the gist of a case. Legal clerks also assist judges in writing judgments, orders, and legal research.

Extractive AI technologies can obtain summaries of cases and save precious judicial time, which can then be channelled for legal research and judgment writing. This would ultimately lead to speedier justice.

Similarly, in the criminal justice system that is based on the cardinal principle of innocent until proven guilty  it is paramount that red tape does not prolong incarceration of accused persons. The use of machine learning and AI technologies must be explored in generating chargesheets for the police, on feeding with the FIR, statements of witnesses, forensic evidence, etc, followed by extensive human supervision to scrutinise for algorithm bias. This would oil the wheels of the criminal justice system, help spot deficiencies in chargesheets, while not leaving everything to AI.

Operationalising AI Not Easy

The behemoth that AI is also comes with its own distinct drawbacks. The risks of predictive policing like racial bias are well known. In June 2023, a New York-based lawyer had to apologise to a judge for submitting a case brief riddled with fabricated judicial precedents and legal opinions that AI had concocted.

AI poses novel problems too. For instance, while drafting a pleading, AI might omit to include special facts of a case like psychological positioning of client or grounds of sympathy which are only privy to the lawyer concerned.

Moreover, while some judges rely more on written submissions, others are inclined towards oral arguments. In such peculiar scenarios, AI will find it hard to draft pleadings according to the judicial temperament and psyche of a particular judge.

Although AI can revolutionise the legal industry by making processes smooth, it is still at a very nascent stage for us to pass a judgment on the extent of its utility and success rate in operational scenarios i.e. a courtroom.

AI use can indeed provide viable assistance to legal practitioners and even judges but it cannot, in any manner, replace human beings. The human mind, undoubtedly, remains the most advanced and intelligent machine which is able to apply its time-honoured experience to solve complex legal problems. Errors and hallucinations by AI software presently allay apprehensions that AI will replace human beings and thereby reduce employment opportunities.

Kaustubh Mehta is an advocate who practises in Delhi. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
As stagnating Ron DeSantis slashes his campaign staff with a mass firing  and more expected firings are in the works  his donors seem none too pleased with how he has mismanaged his presidential run.

"DeSantis stock isn't rising. Twenty percent is not what people signed up for," one donor griped, soured by DeSantis' low polling numbers that the donor generously cited as "20%"  a number that is actually closer to 17%, according to a recent Morning Consult poll. In January, Florida's fascist governor polled at 31%.

"Yeah, there are people grumbling about it, no doubt," another DeSantis donor told NBC News. "There is an overall sense, including with me, that he just has not ignited the way we thought he would."

From NBC:

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.  A Republican source familiar with the campaign's thought process said: "They never should have brought so many people on. The burn rate was way too high.  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 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. 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.

As a Florida man who can't even manage his own campaign, it's not clear how the fiscally flummoxed candidate thinks he can run an entire country.
After the morale-boosting victory in Karnataka and Congress sniffing blood in Telangana, a rat race of sorts has begun in the pollbound state for the coveted Chief Ministers post, well before the assembly elections in December. The crab mentality is staring at Priyanka Gandhi, who is arriving in Telangana for an election rally on July 20 with the coming fracas laid bare during an overseas visit by the state PCC president A Revanth Reddy.

Revanth, interacting with NRIs in the US a few days ago, lent a new twist to the CM quest by pitchforking an Adivasi woman lawmaker to the frontlines, saying Even Seethakka could be our partys CM candidate if the situation arises.

Seethakka or Dansari Anasuya, currently representing Mulugu assembly segment in Telanganas tribal belt, was right by his side when Revanth made such a pitch. Seethakkas projection is seen as a counter move by Revanth to scuttle the chances of Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, a Dalit leader heading the Congress Legislature Party, while advancing his own case.

Meanwhile, the optics suggest an SC vs ST slugfest for the CMs post, which suits nearly everyone.

Five CMs In Waiting

Mallu, a three-time MLA from Khammam district and former Deputy Speaker in undivided Andhra Pradesh, shot into the limelight as a potential Dalit leader in the Congress party in the run-up to the elections with his grueling padayatra that drew Rahul Gandhi to a mammoth rally marking its culmination some weeks ago. His padayatra had gone on in parallel to Revanths bus yatra.

Vikramarka enjoys the backing of Revanths rivals, mostly from his own Reddy community, and the SC lobby within the party. The presence of Mallikarjun Kharge at the helm of the Congress has also come as a boost to Bhattis prospects.

While this goes on, the CMs post is also being hotly contested among the Reddys. Those who have lined up besides Revanth include Capt N Uttamkumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkata Reddy. To their credit, all the three Reddys weathered the Modi wave of 2019 and won the Parliament elections in 2019.

With five aspirants in the fray  the three Reddys, Dalit leader Bhatti, and Seethakka, a tribal leader with a left-wing extremist background, it is quite a crowded field for the Congress. Dalits account for 15 percent of the population, tribals 9 percent, and the socially dominant Reddys an estimated 7 percent of the population. Ironically, the party has just five MLAs in the present assembly and now as many CM aspirants.

Wheels Within Wheels

Revanths rivals, claiming to be the partys hardcore loyalists who have stuck with the party through thick and thin, especially in the post-2014 phase where KCR ruthlessly engineered defections in Congress, have branded Revanth as Chandrababu Naidus covert plant in the Congress as he had crossed over from TDP.

Revanth, an upstart in Congress politics, has had a quick rise to state party chief in a short span, and this has led to strong opposition against him from the partys old guard. Venkata Reddy was vocal in his criticism of the party high commands choice of Revanth Reddy as the PCC president in 2021.

Venkata Reddy, who openly backed Bhattis foot march, was quick to react against Revanths projection of Seethakka. If our party were to choose an Adivasi as a CMs face, why Seethakka alone. We also have a party loyalist Podem Veeraiah, a three-time Adivasi MLA from Bhadhrachalam , Reddy shot back.

Congresss Dalit CM Quest

Given the intense competition among the Reddy claimants for CM, Bhatti seems to be emerging as a consensus candidate from the non-Reddys. The anti-Revanth group contends the Congress with a Dalit as a CM face can score over the ruling BRS headed by K. Chandrasekhar Rao or KCR who failed to deliver his promise to ensure a Dalit as the first Chief Minister of Telangana state.

The Congress has credited itself with delivery of social justice in state politics by helping undivided Andhra Pradesh have Damodaram Sanjeevaiah as its first Dalit Chief Minister. Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru preferred Damodaram over a couple of powerful Reddy aspirants, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy and AC Subba Reddy, and Alluri Satyanarayana Raju, a Kshatriya, to succeed Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as the CM in 1960. That Neelam replaced Damodaram Sanjeevaiah after keeping the latter in the saddle for just two years and 60 days is a different story.

In the normal course of Congress politics, PCC presidents leading the party in state elections tend to be ahead in the race to become the CLP leader and subsequently the CM unless factional equations are titled sharply against them as had happened recently in Karnataka and earlier in Rajasthan. For Congress, there is another worry, one that has dogged it for long, of so many claimants for the top post leading to the party working at cross-purposes during electioneering.

Will Bhatti be the next Damodaram Sanjeevaiah for Telangana  a dream that KCR failed to realise  and help the Congress win over a large segment of Dalit votes at the hustings? Everything depends on the voters of Telangana and the electoral performance of the Congress, which conveys the impression that the CM aspirants may just be jumping the gun here.

Gali Nagaraja is a senior journalist, formerly associated with The Hindu, The Times of India, and Hindustan Times for over three decades. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
In the case of X Corp v Union of India, the Karnataka High Court recently dismissed a writ petition filed by Twitter, Inc against certain blocking orders issued to the social media company by the Indian government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. In so doing, the court held that Twitter, despite being a non-citizen entity, could rely on Article 14 of Indias Constitution (Right to Equality) and, on this basis, it had the locus standi to file a writ. Importantly, the court upheld the governments power to have entire Twitter accounts blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act, as compared to specific tweets only, and ruled that the law did not require reasons for blocking to be communicated, although that would be preferable.

Twitter filed a writ petition against certain orders directing it to suspend some accounts, as also for directions to have the blocking orders be made tweet-specific and not full-fledged account suspensions. The court framed eight issues, namely:

(i) Whether a foreign entity has locus standi to invoke writ jurisdiction;

(ii) Whether the entire Twitter account of a user can be blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act;

(iii) The impact of non-communication of reasons for the blocking orders;

(iv) The validity of the blocking orders without discernible reasons relating to objectionable content;

(v) Whether notice to users is mandatory and its effect on blocking orders;

(vi) The violation of the Doctrine of Proportionality by blocking orders; and

(vii) Twitters conduct and liability for exemplary costs.

The court ruled that, despite being a non-citizen entity, Twitter can rely on Article 14 of Indias Constitution (Right to Equality) and has the locus standi to file a writ. However, Twitter cannot claim protection under Article 19(1)(a) (Right to Free Speech) because it is not a citizen or Article 21 (Right to Life) because it is not a natural person. Moreover, it cannot espouse the cause of its account holders in the absence of any enabling legal provision in its support.

Effective Deterrent

The court upheld the governments power to have entire accounts blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act, which it felt is a more effective deterrent as compared to tweet-specific bans. In its view, such extreme measures are necessary to block users with repetitive and highly objectionable posts. The court noted that Section 69A included the expression for reasons to be recorded in writing but did not require that reasons had to be communicated. As such, communication of reasons was discretionary on the authorities.

After going through the orders, the court found that they were speaking orders, and there was a strong nexus between the orders and the reasons assigned. Further, these reasons were also discussed with Twitter in the committee meetings. Furthermore, the exercise of determining whether certain content is objectionable is in the domain of the Executive, and a writ court cannot engage in forming an opinion against the determination of a statutory functionary.

Rule 8(1) of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 requires issuance of notice to account users or to the intermediary, giving the government the discretion to do either or both. In this case, the court took a view that as the tweets were seditious in nature, a notice to the account holders would only have alerted them.

The court held that Twitter, being a foreign juristic entity, cannot claim the Doctrine of Proportionality, which is, typically, available for protection of the fundamental rights of speech and privacy. The court also did not consider Twitter's request to establish broad guidelines to regulate the exercise of discretion as there are sufficient checks and balances in place in this regard.

Most importantly, the court held that Twitter intentionally delayed complying with Section 69A despite being given warnings and failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the delay in approaching the court. Considering its culpable conduct, the court held that no relief can be granted under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. Moreover, Twitters wilful non-compliance of the orders for over a year, and its sudden compliance just before the petition was filed reflected an intent to engage in speculative litigation, for which the court imposed exemplary costs of Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) on Twitter.

Prompt Action Needed

This judgment shows that there is no scope for recalcitrance by social media intermediaries in complying with the governments blocking orders. If social media intermediaries wish to enjoy the protection of Section 79(1) of the IT Act (immunity to intermediaries for violations on account of third-party content) and not face criminal proceedings (including imprisonment up to seven years along with fine), they must comply with the governments blocking orders or take immediate legal action against them. Any delays in compliance with blocking orders or in approaching courts may be seen as an attempt at engaging in speculative litigation, which may attract exemplary costs.

Social media intermediaries must periodically monitor and amend their policies, community guidelines and terms of use, so that they have an unbridled right to block or take down seditious content, hate speech, fake news, and other content deemed objectionable. Additionally, they should also have the right to suspend the accounts of repeat offenders.

N Raja Sujith & Neerav Merchant are Partners, Majmudar & Partners. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Ahead of a meeting of the Opposition parties in Bengaluru today, the Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre of misusing central agencies.



We are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy in this country, to ensure constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions, said Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal. He alleged that the countrys institutions are under attack by the BJP-led government.



They (BJP) want to silence the Opposition voice. Agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are being misused to suppress our voice," Venugopal said.



The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament is one of the biggest examples of misusing power, along with the splitting of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra. The BJP wants to destabilise the elected governments by using agencies," Venugopal said.



The two-day meeting will begin at 6pm on July 17 with the address by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. This is the second such meeting after the mega Patna summit convened on June 23 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.



NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule will skip the first day and join the meeting on July 18 in Bengaluru.



Top leaders from 26 Opposition parties are expected to attend the session and are likely to work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The meeting will also have discussions on naming the joint front, seat sharing, and the strategy to be followed on the ground.



Today (July 17), Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is hosting the dinner. The meeting will officially start on July 18 at 11am, after which, around 4pm, leaders of 26 parties will brief the media, said Congress senior leader and MP Jairam Ramesh.



He alleged that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi have been shattered after the Opposition meet in Patna. The BJP is thinking of reviving the NDA, and a meeting has been called by them, he said.



If PM (Narendra) Modi is stronger than the entire Opposition and he alone is enough for them, (then) why is he calling 30 parties? Names of these parties should be disclosed. Are they even registered with the Election Commission of India?" wondered Kharge. "The BJP is baffled by what we are doing."



Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress trouble-shooter DK Shivakumar said joining together is the beginning, thinking together is progress, and working together is success. "We are all united, and there will be a great deliberation on July 18 on how to shape the future of this country, he said.
Stating that democracy "often demands the sharing of power", Nobel laureate Amartya Sen welcomed the ongoing discussions between non-BJP parties to form a federal front for next year's general elections.



Speaking to PTI in a free-wheeling interview at his ancestral residence here during his recent visit to India, the 89-year-old economist also said the central government needed to intervene with greater force to bring peace in Manipur.



"I think the fact of the matter is often democracy demands the sharing of power. (But) often, the majority vote did not allow the minority parties to have that force and rather left the minority (in) too precarious (a situation)," Sen said.



The economist-philosopher said, "Given the current situation, the only way of having some kind of balancing of power" would be for the opposition parties "to stand with each other, rather than remain vulnerable."



He added,"In some ways that seemed to be what happened in the meeting in Patna (opposition conclave held last month)."



Opposition leaders from 24 parties are slated to again hold a meeting at Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday. Besides the Congress, JD(U) and RJD, most major opposition parties including Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), AAP, CPI(M), CPI, CPI (ML), Shiv Sena and NCP will be joining the meeting which is expected to chalk out a strategy for fighting the 2024 general elections unitedly.



Speaking on the situation in Manipur where ethnic strife has claimed more than 150 lives since May 3, the Nobel Laureate said, "What is needed is (a) just, powerful intervention by the central government." He also said he had expected the Prime Minister would make a statement "of a just and balanced nature about Manipur".



He also spoke about the defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said he did not recall any Member of Parliament facing arrest in any similar case or losing their seat in the Lower House because of a similar case.



"It may well be very unfortunate for India that we are going in that direction," Sen added.



The economist said he would be surprised if the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), "would have a constructive role." He pointed out that the "Indian Constitution is a well-thought-out structure" which was passed by the Constituent Assembly after much deliberation and thought and added that the process had given "different sides in the Indian polity" to express their views before a consensus was arrived.



Sen added that he was "very worried about what the Code wants to try to do in India and the kind of possible negative consequences it may have in our attempted democratic experiment.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join the NDA alliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, BJP chief JP Nadda announced on Monday. Nadda, who met Chirag Paswan in Delhi, welcomed him into the "NDA family.The development comes a day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting. Paswan also met Home Minister Amit Shah and described his discussion on the issues related to the alliance with BJP as "positive.

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A day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chirag Paswan met Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday as his party looks to seal its seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.



LJP (R) sources expressed confidence about a "positive outcome" of the meeting, indicating that Paswan will attend the BJP-led NDA get-together on Tuesday. Paswan is in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for the 2024 general elections, and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise.



Union minister Nityanand Rai, a senior BJP leader from Bihar, had earlier met Paswan twice.



The undivided LJP under late stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing deal with the BJP.



The young leader wants the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party, with another faction, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, headed by his uncle and Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras already a part of the ruling alliance.



Chirag Paswan has emphasised on clarity from the BJP about his share of Lok Sabha and also assembly seats in Bihar before formalising their alliance, sources in the LJP (R) said.



He also wants the BJP to concede to him the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, a pocket borough of his father for decades but currently represented by Paras in Parliament. His uncle has also staked claim to the seat, asserting that he and not Chirag is the late leader's political heir.



The BJP has also been working to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides, with Rai meeting the Union minister as well.



Even though Paras got the support of all other four MPs of the party besides Paswan, his nephew is seen to have largely succeeded in inheriting the support of the vote bank loyal to his father.



Since the split with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), the BJP has been keen to bring Paswan back to its side as it works to bolster its strength in the politically crucial state.



Paswan had walked out of the NDA during the 2020 assembly polls in the state due to his opposition to Kumar, then a BJP ally. He has, however, been supportive of the BJP on key issues.
Two days after the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala conducted a seminar against the Centres move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), senior BJP leader A P Abdullakutty on Monday said the Left party can no longer mislead Muslims in the state for their votes.



In an apparent defence of the UCC, Abdullakutty, the National Vice President of the BJP, said that Muslim personal law in the country is against the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet. He said that Sharia law in most Muslim nations across the world is in contrast to the Muslim personal law enacted by the British in India.



"If you examine Sharia law in other nations, you will find that the Sharia law in India is against the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet, Abdullakutty said. One example he cited was that adoption was allowed under Sharia in other nations, but not in India. "We are misleading Muslims here, he claimed. He said that both the Congress-led UDF opposition and the CPI(M) are trying to mislead Muslims for their votes by opposing the UCC.



"This tactic of theirs will not work and they will not be able to sway the minds of the Muslim voters any longer, he said. Abdullakutty, also the chairman of the Haj Committee of India, alleged that CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan believes that Muslims are conservative and superstitious and they can be misled for votes. "No, they (Muslims) are not. They are progressive and well-educated. So M V Govindan will have to keep his desire to mislead the Muslims for votes in his heart, the BJP leader said.



His statement comes in the wake of the CPI(M) seminar against the UCC held on July 15 when the Left partys general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a political tool being used by the BJP to sharpen communal polarisation. Uniformity does not mean equality, he had stressed, at the event which saw the participation of numerous influential representatives of the Muslim and Christian religious communities.



Yechury also said laws that are discriminatory have to be corrected in consultation with the entire community and not by imposing UCC from the top. Prior to that, many prominent Islamic organisations in Kerala had said that the UCC is not just a Muslim issue. A strong political debate has been kicked off in the state over the UCC after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made a strong push for implementing the civil code by asking how the country can function with dual laws that govern personal matters.
The 18-day monsoon session of the Goa legislative Assembly will begin from Tuesday, with the Opposition gearing up to corner Dr Pramod Sawant-led government on various issues. As per a circular issued by the state legislature department, the monsoon session will be held from July 18 to August 10, for 18 days excluding Saturdays and Sundays. A total of 2,387 questions have been submitted to the Goa Assembly, which include 589 starred and 1,798 unstarred questions, the Assembly data revealed. A senior member of the Opposition benches said the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) have already worked out a joint strategy to corner the state government on various issues. The implementation of National Education Policy (NEP), auctioning of mines, drugs, prostitution, law and order situation, diversion of Mhadei river are some of the issues that the Opposition will raise, he said. The collapse of a slab of under renovation Kala Academy building, a prominent cultural centre run by government, is also expected to feature during the first day of Assembly session on Tuesday. A slab, which was part of the open-air auditorium, collapsed in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. A senior GPF functionary said his party will demand the resignation of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude over the issue. The party had already raised the issue about the tendering process for renovation in the last Assembly session, he said. GFP president Vijai Sardesai tweeted demanding Gaude's resignation on the issue. We expect @govtofgoa to be on the side of the people, and remove the minister, order an investigation, before the Assembly begins, Sardesai tweeted.

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More than 1.40 lakh kg drugs worth Rs 2,381 crore were destroyed in various parts of the country on Monday in the virtual presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, officials said. Destruction of the narcotics, the bulk of it from Madhya Pradesh, were carried out in different cities as Shah watched through video conferencing from New Delhi while attending a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security'. The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kg seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg seized by the Indore unit and 356 kg by the Jammu unit, the officials said. Besides, various law enforcement agencies from different states also destroyed drugs 1,03,884 (1.03 lakh) kg in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kg 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, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh. With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in just one year has reached around 10 lakh kilogram with a value of Rs 12,000 crore. From June 1, 2022 to July 15, 2023, regional units of the NCB and anti narcotics task forces of the states collectively destroyed around 8,76,554 (8.76 lakh) kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore which is more than 11 times the target.

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, battling a crisis in his party, will attend the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 18, a party spokesperson said. Sharad Pawar has decided to attend the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru tomorrow. He will go there irrespective of what is happening here, said NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase. Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are set to brainstorm in Bengaluru on Tuesday and are likely to start the work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Notably, Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs of NCP loyal to him joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra on July 2. While Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister, the eight other MLAs took oath as ministers. Ajit Pawar was subsequently allocated the key finance portfolio while his camp managed to bag heavyweight ministries like Cooperation and Agriculture. Nearly two weeks after he joined the state government, Ajit Pawar, along with 15 MLAs of NCP, met Sharad Pawar on July 17 in Mumbai and asked him to ensure the party stays united. It was the second meeting of Ajit Pawar with his political mentor and uncle in two days.

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Hong Kong: Alice Mak meets HK youths in Beijing

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak was in Beijing today to explore ways of enhancing mutual development, exchanges and collaboration between the youth of the capital and Hong Kong.

After meeting Hong Kong youths participating in finance-themed internship programmes, Miss Mak went to the Palace Museum to officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme, visited workplaces of the interns and met Palace Museum Director Wang Xudong.

She said the Youth Internship Programme at the Palace Museum was restarted after three years of the pandemic, allowing Hong Kong young people to experience internships in the museum to strengthen their understanding of cultural relic restoration, exhibition planning and ancient building repair.

Miss Mak encouraged the interns to continue contributing to the future development of the country's cultural and museum industry, and to promote Hong Kong's development into a centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

The youth affairs chief then met the person-in-charge of the All-China Youth Federation Wang Yi and the federation's secretary-general Liu Aiping to discuss helping Hong Kong youths integrate into the country's overall development and further encouraging youth exchanges between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Miss Mak thanked the federation for its strong support for the youth development work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, which enables Hong Kong youths to enhance their understanding of the motherland and sense of identity through personal experience.

She also encouraged young people on the Mainland to go on exchange to Hong Kong to learn more about the city's culture and social situation and promote mutual understanding of the youth of both places.

Miss Mak met Hong Kong youths and student groups upon arrival in the capital yesterday, to learn about their studies, work and life on the Mainland.

This story has been published on: 2023-07-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Nero Vanbierviet's ThinkPad started playing a tune instead of booting into an operating system. These turn out to be an unusually elaborate system of BIOS error codesand it turns out the application that decodes them is no longer available for Android. So he used a spectrograph to record and decipher them manually.

Last week, I woke up to my broken laptop making music upon booting. Not the kind of music that makes you happy after getting out of bed. After a quick Google search, I learned that this is called a "Musical Tone Error". It's my laptop singing a song to tell me what is wrong.

The best thing about this story is that the denouement is pure "windows 95 tips" material. The Error Song turned out to mean "I have a mysterious hole you have never noticed before. Find it and put something in it."

Embedded below, Lenovo's official video explaining the Error Songs.
A Nagpur businessman lost Rs 58 crore in online gambling and the investigation led police to a suspected bookie and the recovery of Rs 14 crore cash along with four kg of gold biscuits on Saturday, a top police officer said. The accused, identified as Anant alias Sontu Navratan Jain, fled just before police raided his residence in Gondia, located 160 km away from Nagpur. Police suspected he has escaped to Dubai, the officer said. "Prima facie, Jain had convinced the complainant- a businessman- to explore online gambling as a lucrative avenue for earning profits. Initially hesitant, the businessman eventually succumbed to Jain's persuasion and transferred Rs 8 lakh through a hawala merchant," said local police officer Amitesh Kumar said. Jain provided the businessman with a link on WhatsApp to open an online gambling account. The businessman found Rs eight lakh deposited in the account and he began gambling, Kumar said. "After initial success, the businessman's fortunes took a drastic downturn as he lost a whopping Rs 58 crore while winning around Rs 5 crore," the police commissioner said. He said the businessman grew suspicious as he was losing and demanded his money back, but Jain refused. "The businessman lodged a complaint with the cyber police, leading to the registration of a case of fraud under the Indian Penal Code. Police raided Jain's residence in Gondia. The operation resulted in the seizure of a substantial amount of evidence, including Rs 14 crore cash and four kg gold biscuits," Kumar added. The large quantity of cash is being counted and the final figure of seizure is yet to be arrived at.

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A startup founder and CEO in Bengaluru received more than 3,000 resumes in 48 hours for "permanently remote" job postings on the company website. The entrepreneur took to Twitter to express his shock and wonder at the condition of the current job market.



"Received over 3K resumes in the last 48 hours just on our website -- how bad is the job market?" tweeted Springworks CEO Kartik Mandaville, adding that "it's been like this for the month." He received close to 13,ooo applications so far.



Received over 3K resumes in the last 48 hours just on our website - how bad is the job market?

 Kartik Mandaville (@kar2905) July 16, 2023





Mandaville added that the job postings were not promoted on any platform and the details were only provided on the company website. On being asked by a follower where he has been promoting the hiring alerts, the CEO said, "Nowhere as of now. That's why I'm surprised."



A visit to the website showed job openings for "permanently remote" roles in product, founders office, and software development engineer, among others.



Soon, responding to the tweets, other Twitter users began to share similar experiences with some pointing out that the surge in applicants could be because of the wave of layoffs across companies and because the company was offering remote working opportunities.



"The numbers swell primarily because of the word 'remote' next to each opportunity in your listing. I'm wondering what would the numbers be if it was an on-site role," said Mahesh (@Mkmetime).



Commenting on the job market, user Kabir Singh (@KabirKabby) wrote, "Pretty bad. I remember going into a walk-in interview for an IT company in Delhi. Not a big name, one of my relatives was leading the team conducting interviews and I was just a visitor. 700 people came for roughly 20 roles! And that too for 2.5 LPA. They're expecting 200ish."



Another Twitter user Aakash (@aakash_rewari) said, "Unemployment is at peak, young people are desperate for jobs even if it has nothing to do with what they learnt in college."



Read more: TCS CEO's advice to a 19-year-old on current job market: 'Choose a field and...'




A 23-year-old man in Bihar's Gopalganj district died after taking part in a momo-eating challenge with friends on Thursday. The man, identified as Vipin Kumar Paswan, died after eating 150 dumplings.



A report in The Telegraph stated that Paswan was unconscious after eating the momos and was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors. He and his friends were competing for a bet in which the person eating the maximum number of momos would have got Rs 1000.



Paswan, who ran a mobile repair shop in Gopalganj, went to work on Thursday and met his friends later in the day. He and his friends decided to challenge each other to find out who could eat the most number of momos. Paswan ate 150 dumplings and later fell unconscious and eventually, died.



The local police were called and his body was sent for postmortem. The report also stated that the man's father accused his friends of having conspired to kill him.



"Vipin ate a large number of momos after accepting a challenge with his friends. His friends took him to a private hospital after he fell unwell. The doctors there declared him dead," local police officer Shashi Ranjan Kumar told reporters.



"The police are waiting for the post-mortem report to know about the cause of death. We will investigate the matter from all angles," he added.



The father-identified as Bishun Kumar Paswan- alleged that the friends had proposed the momo-eating challenge deliberately and poisoned Paswan, which ultimately led to his death.



"Two friends of Vipin took him away from his shop on Thursday on the pretext of eating momos. They poisoned and killed him. They did not even inform us about the death. Some people saw the body lying on the footpath and informed us," he told reporters.



Also read: Bihar man, believed dead by family, found at momo stall in Noida after 5 months
It was July 16, 1969 when three men named Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins created history and became the first humans to land on the moon. The three American astronauts took-off from Florida for the moon and the world has never looked back since.



It has been 54 years since that historic day. And Buzz Aldrin celebrated the anniversary of the Apollo 11 space mission in his own style.



Aldrin took to Twitter to share a picture of himself while celebrating the anniversary. He marked the occasion on a scrumptious note and ate steak, eggs and some avocado at his home. #Apollo11 launch day, 54th anniversary. Steak and eggs today celebrating in style at home with my Anca, he wrote in the caption of the post. Interestingly, he was wearing three watches in the picture.



#Apollo11 launch day, 54th anniversary.

Steak and eggs today celebrating in style at home with my Anca. pic.twitter.com/x9uqCZa6SO



 Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 16, 2023





"54 years ago today, #Apollo11 launched...Eagle soaring from Earth atop the Saturn V, bound for the Moon. It seems like only yesterday that we embarked on the mission of a lifetime - a mission for all mankind, a mission I hope will continue to inspire well into our future, he wrote in another tweet.





54 years ago today, #Apollo11 launchedEagle soaring from Earth atop the Saturn V, bound for the Moon. It seems like only yesterday that we embarked on the mission of a lifetime  a mission for all mankind, a mission I hope will continue to inspire well into our future. pic.twitter.com/1Qw1CWhfaK



 Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 16, 2023









Social media users took to the comments section to congratulate Aldrin on the feat.



Thank you for taking risks and contributing to the adventure of humanity, sir, a user wrote.



Another user commented, Thank you for your service! My elementary school was dedicated in your honour and we learned ALL about you & your team when I was growing up. My father was also stationed in South Korea (Army Air Assault later transitioned to AF) and he was a huge admirer of your contributions. He bought me my first telescope to dream off into the heavensa telescope Ive passed on to my boys. What an amazing ability to be able to Thank You directly! To the moon!



Apollo 11 was the American spacecraft that created history for landing humans on the moon for the very first time. Commander Neil Armstrong was joined by lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin as pilot Michael Collins flew the module Columbia in the lunar orbit.
Friday was a momentous day in India's space history as scientists successfully conducted the Chandrayaan-3 launch mission at Sriharikota. A Twitter user recently shared how, on the day of the launch, her boss sent her Good Day biscuits and a note when she was on a 10-day sick leave. The boss' note read, "Get well soon. Hope to see you soon,". "I am on sick leave for 10 days and my boss sent me a note with Good Day biscuits to enjoy Chandrayaan 3 launch," the user, identified as 19-year-old Harshita, wrote on Friday. I am on sick leave for 10 days and my boss sent me a note with Good Day biscuits to enjoy Chandrayaan 3 launchpic.twitter.com/AXYzdqhWlv  Harshita :)) (@harshitasaratka) July 14, 2023 The tweet, which touched 1 million views, generated several comments, many of whom could not comprehend the boss' actions. "A "19" year old girl whose "boss" sends biscuits with a handwritten note full of hearts. People be making up any kind of shit for likes," one user wrote. "This looks as fishy as the story of Seema Haider from Pakistan. Sick? Then plated biscuits and chips for a foto-shoot?," another user wrote. "Her bio says 19. She got 10 days of sick leave at job. Her boss sent her biscuits since she is sick. And shes Watching enjoying chandrayan 3 launch being sick. Perfect," a third user wrote. "If I ever go on 10 days sick leave my boss would send me termination letter," another user wrote. Also read: Meet Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, the scientist behind ISRO's Chandrayaan-3

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Anas Rahman Junaid, the founder and managing director of wealth research agency Hurun India, was on a holiday in Dubai with his family when they got a surprise of a lifetime when they were joined by the ruler of Dubai in an elevator.



The Mumbai-based entrepreneur and his family had taken the elevator from the 22nd floor of a hotel to get to the ground floor on Saturday when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stepped with his entourage on the 21st floor.



We were shocked, Anas Rahman Junaid told Khaleej Times. He stepped into the lift and was very friendly. He put his arms around my daughter and asked her if she knew who he was.



Sharing pictures of the meet on Instagram, Junaid wrote, "Such a down-to-earth person. He graciously allowed us to click multiple photographs and had a good chat with Mishel as well."



Mishel is Junaid's 10-year-old daughter Mishel who was just as excited to meet the ruler of Dubai as his 7-year-old brother Daniyal and mother Thanzeem. When we stepped off the elevator, all of us were jumping in excitement, the entrepreneur told the publication. We could not believe that we had actually met him and spoke to him. In fact, my wife later took a photo of the lift and shared it on social media saying it was her most favourite lift in the world. We then sent the photos with him to our school friends and family groups before posting on social media.



Speaking about his own encounter with Sheikh Mohammed, the Hurun MD said, I had heard of him being friendly with people but to experience it was something different. After speaking to my daughter, he turned to us and asked us where we were from and what we do. After that, he kindly obliged for a photograph. My son usually doesnt smile for photographs but this time he had the biggest smile on his face."



Read more: Introduce an Amar Chitra Katha for entrepreneurship and wealth creation at school level: Hurun India founder








When Mumbai researcher Varun Aggarwala turned up for Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting at his daughter's school, he was taken aback to find that apart from him, only one other father was present in the classroom with 27 mothers.



The shocked parent shared a photo of the classroom in Podar International School and commented on how men remain largely absent from sharing parenting responsibilities equally with women.



"I don't like the Indian style of parenting where men are largely absent from child-rearing duties," Aggarwala tweeted. "At my daughter's PTA meeting and it feels very weird to see 2 fathers (including me) and 27 mothers in a school meeting. No wonder NRI Indian women don't want to marry Desi boys."



I don't like the Indian style of parenting where men are largely absent from child rearing duties.



At my daughter's PTA meeting & it feels very weird to see 2 fathers (including me) and 27 mothers in a school meeting.



No wonder NRI Indian women don't want to marry Desi boys. pic.twitter.com/YbfGkdxYvr

 Varun Aggarwala (@Varun_Research) July 15, 2023





He added that the meeting was held to discuss school curriculum and fundraising, not the children's performance.



Elaborating on the qualification and accomplishments of the mothers present in the room, Aggarwala said, "Everyone in the school is in upper-middle-income bracket. Most of the moms had an MBA and were working at places like Deloitte or ICICI. Very few had 2 kids. Still no expectations from SIRS to show up and/or contribute to anything (besides income)."



Speaking about his family, the researcher wrote, "We do equal co-parenting and my professor wifey was busy with research and taking care of our 2-year-old."



When a Twitter user commented that there is no need to criticise "Desi men or NRI women" because it's the same situation in several locations, especially in Europe, Aggarwala replied, "I am familiar with NYC and in our G&T school the fathers were heavily involved. Maybe because people in the US don't like to have kids, so there is a huge selection effect and parents in good neighborhoods are really involved in parenting."



The tweet, however, ignited a debate on parenting.



"Aint it too preposterous to have that judgment based on one photograph of PTA? There can be multiple reasons for their absence! In my limited experience as a father of a 3-year-old, I dont miss PTA and also request the school to keep it on weekends so able to attend it," commented Kumar Manish (@kumarmanish9).



Another Twitter user, Shripal Gandhi (@thealtruist_in) wrote, "To an extent I agree with what Varun has said. I attended every TPC for my daughter, often driving down from Mumbai just for that. Right from prep school till her 5th grade, I attended every TPC and event."



"I was amongst the handful of fathers who were always present for their respective child's TPC, regardless of time or day. Most men refused to come on the grounds of business meetings or important work. I can understand the business pressure and meetings, but schools give intimations sufficiently in advance for these meets so the schedule can be prepared accordingly," he added. "It's simple. It's all about priorities, for, if one can plan and remain present for business meetings, then there can be nothing more important than one's family."



Read more: Mother mocks sons teacher for riding cycle to school: Hes sat in BMW since birth




Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty on Monday donated a gold conch and a gold tortoise idol to Lord Balaji at Tirupati. Both items will be used to clean the idols at the temple in Andhra Pradesh.



Infosys founder Narayana Murthy garu & his wife Sudha Murthy garu (former TTD Board Member) donate Golden Abhishekha Shankam to Sri Varu Temple at Tirumala. They handed over to TTD EO Dharma Reddy garu. @TTDevasthanams @yvsubbareddymp @Infosys @Infosys_nmurthy @AndhraPradeshCM pic.twitter.com/xM5lfm7f77

 S. Rajiv Krishna (@RajivKrishnaS) July 17, 2023





The couple are known for their philanthropic work. In 2021, Sudha Murty, chairperson of Infosys Foundation, committed more than Rs 100 crore toward Covid relief efforts.



Murty, one of India's richest women, recently said that for her, money is "not that important", entrepreneurship is.



Speaking to Moneycontrol at its Startup Conclave in Bengaluru, the author and philanthropist said, "I never aimed for money. For me, money is not that important. The creation of jobs, creation of wealth can uplift people who are below the poverty line, and for that entrepreneurship is very important."



Interestingly, in an earlier interview with Moneycontrol, Sudha Murty had also shared that Infosys, which today has a market capitalisation of around $80 billion, started with a loan of Rs 10,000 that she gave Narayana Murthy in 1981. Murty revealed that the money came from her personal emergency fund, saved up over the years without her husbands knowledge.



My mother told me when I was married, you know, you should always keep some money. And this money should be used only in an emergency, not to buy sari, not to buy gold or anything, she said. Following her mothers advice, every month, Murty would save a small portion of her and her husbands salary without his knowledge.



In 1981, the emergency fund amounted to Rs 10,250. It helped turn Murty into an angel investor in what would go on to become Infosys -- one of the worlds largest IT companies.



Read more: Narayana Murthy quit his job on Sudha Murtys birthday in 1976. How she reacted
A 68-year-old woman passenger took charge of a small plane in Massachusetts, US and crash-landed on Saturday after the pilot passed out in the cockpit. On Saturday afternoon, just before landing, the 79-year-old pilot of the white 2006 Piper Meridian plane had a medical emergency, the New York Post reported. He was flying from Westchester, New York to Marthas Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts. The woman was the sole passenger onboard. Both the pilot and the passenger are from Connecticut. When the pilot became sick and unresponsive, the woman took the controls and landed the plane without operating its landing gear. She sustained minor injuries and was examined at a hospital on the island, the Martha's Vineyard Times reported. The pilot, meanwhile, was in a life-threatening condition and was taken to a hospital in Boston, according to the New York Post. The runway of the Martha's Vineyard Airport was closed for a few hours as workers cleared the plane wreck and took it to a secure location. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (FTSB) in the United States and the local police are investigating the incident.

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Death Valley in California may have experienced the highest temperature on record this weekend, with the scorching and apty-named Furnace Creek hitting 131 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday. Higher temperatures were recorded more than 100 years ago, but not by credible observers. And the place was swarming with tourists hoping the park set a new world record while they baked in it.

Earlier this week, German tourist Daniel Jusehus snapped a photo of the famed thermometer at the visitor centre after challenging himself to a run in the sweltering heat.

"I was really noticing, you know, I didn't feel so hot, but my body was working really hard to cool myself," said the avid runner whose photo showed the thermometer reading 48C degrees  well below the expected record. 

Physical activity can make the heat even more unbearable at the park, where sunbaked rocks, sand and soil continue to radiate after sunset.

"It does feel like the sun has gone through your skin and is getting into your bones," Park Ranger Nichole Andler said.
A heat wave engulfing southern Europe this week is expected to send temperatures close to record highs in some areas, prompting officials in Italy, Greece, Spain and elsewhere to impose measures to protect residents and tourists from the scorching conditions.



The last round of high temperatures, frequently referred to as Cerberus after the multiheaded dog that guards the underworld in Greek mythology, sent thermometers soaring above 98 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 37 degrees Celsius).



And its expected to get worse. An anticyclone from North Africa moved into the region Sunday, spurring a new wave  this one known as Charon, after the underworlds ferryman.



Governments are bracing for higher temperatures and issuing alerts in the expectation that things will only get hotter in southern Europe and the Balkans in the coming days, according to meteorology experts.



Though it is difficult to link individual events to climate change, scientists say the heat waves in Europe are increasing in frequency and intensity at a faster rate than practically anywhere else on the planet.



This summer is forecast to be worse than last years because of El Nino, a natural weather pattern forming for the first time in four years, which has fostered conditions for rising temperatures.



Heres what you need to know.



How hot will it get?



In Italy, temperatures in cities like Rome and Florence are expected to hit 100 degrees in the coming day. Record-breaking heat as high as 118 degrees is forecast in some areas, and the countrys Health Ministry has put 16 cities under red alert heat warnings. Health officials advised people in affected areas to avoid direct exposure to the sun from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Spains public weather monitor has warned that temperatures in the eastern Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, could reach highs of between 107 and 111 degrees through the next few days. Some parts of the country could record even higher heat levels, the State Meteorological Agency said.



The heat wave has parched the land and increased the risk of wildfires. On Saturday, a blaze spread fast in La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, engulfing about 11,000 acres of land, destroying a dozen homes and forcing more than 4,000 people to be evacuated, authorities said.



In Greece, the countrys national meteorological service warned that heat wave conditions would persist throughout the week, with temperatures as high as 111 degrees expected in the central part of the country.



Temperatures were expected to rise across Portugal this week, as well, reaching 104 degrees along the coast in the south and 97 degrees in the central and northern regions, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere.



In Croatia, residents in the coastal village of Grebastica were evacuated last week after the hot conditions fed a spreading wildfire. Temperatures on the countrys southern coast are expected to rise to 98 degrees in the coming week.



In southern Serbia, the mercury is expected to reach more than 100 degrees Monday. The intensity of the Charon heat wave, forecasters say, could lead to the highest temperatures ever recorded in many European countries.



How are European countries responding?



The deaths of 61,000 people last year could be attributed to the brutal heat in Europe, according to one recent study, with children and older people especially vulnerable to conditions.



After an especially deadly heat wave in 2003, officials in Europe introduced initiatives like warning systems for extreme heat and public cooling spaces. Local municipalities in some areas have tried methods such as adding reflective paint to pavements or creating more space for water to cool the ground. But experts say authorities have not done enough to mitigate the effects of heat waves over the longer term, including by adding more greenery and retrofitting public areas and transportation.



With fears that this years heat waves could also prove deadly, officials imposed protective measures this past week advising people to stay indoors where possible and to drink plenty of water.



In Italy, where a worker in the northern part of the country died this past week after collapsing while painting some signs in the heat, officials are providing misting tents in some areas, as well as issuing warnings and advice.



In Greece, the government has activated emergency measures that include opening public cooling spaces, allowing staff in private companies to work remotely and requiring workers at risk of heat stress to stop from noon to 5 p.m. Greeces civil protection ministry warned of a high potential for fires in five areas and said that government and regional officials were on alert to help respond if needed.



The sweltering temperatures have arrived during peak tourism season for many European countries. Since Friday, Greek authorities have closed the ancient Acropolis during the hottest hours of the day to protect visitors. Hellenic Red Cross workers have been dispatched to the site to distribute free bottles of water.



(Author: Isabella Kwai)/(c.2021 The New York Times Company)
Costs of several items varies greatly when you are at an airport. Even a packet of potato chips can retail at a price as high as Rs 100. A while ago a journalist named Farah Khan had also tweeted about the humble combo of a chai and samosa costing Rs 490 at the Mumbai airport.



Now, something similar happened with a YouTuber too. So, Sejal Sud bought a plate of Maggi noodles at the airport. For Rs 193. Yes, you read that right. However, she got trolled by netizens later as several of them mentioned that airport costs are higher.



Sejal was quite baffled and shared a picture of the bill on Twitter. It showed a plate of Masala Maggi Noodle priced at Rs 193 after all the relevant taxes.



I just bought Maggi for 193 at the airport. And I dont know how to react. Why would anyone sell something like Maggi at such an inflated price? she wrote in the caption of her post.



I just bought Maggi for 193 at the airport

And I dont know how to react, why would anyone sell something like Maggi at such an inflated price pic.twitter.com/oNEgryZIxx



 Sejal Sud (@SejalSud) July 16, 2023





Needless to say that Sejals post grabbed a lot of eyeballs and triggered an array of reactions from Twitter users.



I guess this Maggi is made on aviation fuel! Just maybe, a user joked.



Another user wrote, Transportation cost and maintenance.



I purchased Maggi cup noodles at Rs 250 and small mango juice at Rs 200 when coming from Goa to home, a third user commented.



A fourth user remarked, Thats not just Maggi cost! That includes airport rental, maintenance fee, logistics, and a little fee for an experience of having at airport! Plus GST etc., taxes.



Some users also trolled her and mentioned that airports costs are anyway higher.



"Looks like first time traveller? Airports prices are always higher than the normal prices," a user quipped. While another netizen wrote, "Toh khareedna bandh karo (Stop buying then)."



"Maggi costs Rs 50 but to sell the same in the airport it costs a lot of money as the cafe which sells Maggi needs to pay huge deposit to setup that place, pay huge rent and also some part of revenue to the airport. And on top of that the pay the staff who make Maggi and get some profit for their investment. Similar thing happens in 5 star hotels. So next time you go to airport, take a tiffin box from home if the company doesnt pay for your TA/DA," another user remarked.



Recently, a Noida resident and journalist named Tridip K Mandal complained about the sky-high prices of popcorn and Pepsi at a PVR as well. and mentioned that the price was almost equal to Amazon Prime Video's annual subscription.
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 (UN01.DE) and Finland's Fortum (FORTUM.HE) 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).

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Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he will handover power to a caretaker government before the completion of his term next month. Sharif, who took over in April 2022 after leading a coalition of parties that removed Imran Khan from power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence, didnt say when exactly he will quit. Dawn reported the national elections may be held in November, within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, or parliaments lower house that elects the prime minister. The five-year term of the lower house ends on midnight of August 12, it said. The so-called caretaker government supervises the polls, which must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly. If the legislature is dissolved days before the completion of its term, the elections are to be held within 90 days.

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The United States is working with India to develop an investment platform to lower the cost of capital and increase private investment to fast-track India's energy transition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday. After a bi-lateral meeting with India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of a G20 meeting, Yellen said the two nations have been collaborating across a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration and strengthening supply chains. "In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," she said. She also said the two countries are close to reaching an agreement on the global minimum tax system. The visit is Yellen's third to India this year, indicating the growing closeness between the two countries. The improvement in bilateral relations was highlighted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington last month which saw a slew of defence and high technology deals being signed. Sitharaman said she was looking forward to furthering bilateral interests through development cooperation and new investment opportunities through alternate investment platforms for renewable energy. "As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement," she added. Yellen will visit Vietnam after the G20 finance meetings end on July 18.

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What to know about the week ahead

The Buffalo Niagara job market has gone slightly south since spring, with three straight months of small job losses.

We'll find out Thursday if that trend continued into June when the state Labor Department releases its latest local employment report.

Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week.

The region has lost a total of 800 jobs since February and is in its worst stretch since the end of 2020. That is bad news for a region that still hasn't recovered all the jobs that were lost during the pandemic  something that the nation as a whole accomplished more than a year ago.

In Lockport, Hospitality Syracuse, owner of the property at 5687 Transit Road, is proposing a new Take 5 Oil Change facility. The proposal is pending before the Town of Lockport Planning Board on July 18 and already received zoning variances for front and side-yard setbacks in May, but also requires architectural review, a special-use permit and Niagara County Planning Board approval.

Amherst-based Life Storage and Utah-based Extra Space Storage will conduct separate shareholders meetings on Tuesday, to vote on Extra Space's planned acquisition of Life Storage.

Coming to the Buffalo Planning Board on Monday for a hearing is the proposed $45 million redevelopment of the 2.832-acre "core campus" buildings of the former Women's and Children's Hospital of Buffalo into Elmwood Crossing.

Ellicott Development Co. and Sinatra & Co. Real Estate want to renovate 389,472 square feet of space in the Variety Tower, Tanner Tower, Alfiero Center and Building C  which range in height from three to 10 stories  into 94,000 square feet of commercial space on the first two floors and 136 apartments on floors three through 10, with a mixture of market-rate rentals and condominiums. The condos would be on floors eight through 10 of Variety.

Construction is expected to last 18 to 24 months.

Additionally, plans for a new central commissary for the Buffalo Public Schools are advancing as the citys Planning Board initiates its review of the $33.1 million proposal by McGuire Development Co. on Monday with an environmental review.

McGuire is planning to construct a new 67,100-square-foot industrial building at 1016-1044 East Delavan Ave., using a trapezoidal-shaped 5.283-acre property surrounded by Delavan, William L. Gaiter Parkway and Norfolk Avenue. The developer is buying two light industrial parcels from Jon Williams Ontario Specialty Contracting, along with a portion of Gaiter Parkway that is a former rail corridor right-of-way owned by the city, according to McGuire's application.

The one-story facility will replace the existing but smaller 40,000-square-foot commissary, located directly across the street at 1055 East Delavan, which is no longer sufficient for the districts goal of providing made-from-scratch meals.

It will include a test kitchen and training room, an office area, cooking areas, a production floor, multiple cold storage areas, and receiving and delivery docks, with loading areas accessible through new curb cuts off Gaiter, and two parking areas with a total of 270 spaces. And it will support a staff of 74, with the ability to produce 20,000 meals per day to be delivered to city schools.

The project requires subdivision and site plan approval, as well as a zoning variance for a wider driveway, water and sewer permits. If approved, construction would begin in September, with completion by March 2025.

A public hearing will be held at the Buffalo Planning Board on Monday.

Other pending hearings at Planning Board include:

 Christopher Wans 42-unit mixed-use development at 147 West Tupper St., with a combination of studio, one- and two-bedroom units and up to seven retail businesses in a three-story brick building that would replace several dilapidated structures on eight properties.

 A 79-space parking lot at the 132-unit Holling Homes public housing complex, located on 5.9 acres at 2613 Delaware Ave. The $924,000 project, which required a variance, will take 90 days for contractor Occhino Corp. of West Seneca to complete.

And the board will also consider special-use permit applications by:

 Cornelius Brooks, for his Omens Social Club at 2260-2264 Genesee St., to host community gatherings and block club meetings in a portion of the existing space on the first floor.

 Kenneth Houston Jr., to reopen the former Suzy Qs restaurant and tavern at 1125 Tonawanda St., as Nephews BBQ, with a capacity of 40 people.

M&T Bank will release its second-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

KeyBank will release its second-quarter earnings on Thursday.

THE LATEST

The region's first legal cannabis shops are expected to open soon.

The region's job market isn't showing signs of a slowdown.

A Town of Tonawanda equipment maker plans to expand.

Life Storage named a new chief financial officer.

A former 43North CEO who moved to a top role at Life Storage has died.

A group suing over policies for UB campus organizations has dropped part of its lawsuit.

Western New York is getting $69 million for bridge upgrades.

Ciminelli pledges $500,000 to aid Braymiller Market downtown.

A massive medical, surgical complex in Amherst nears opening.

Tax breaks sought for Buffalo City Schools commissary project.

Developer wants tax breaks for Dimar expansion project.

Construction firm seeks developer status for East Side vacant lots.

Environmentalists oppose tax breaks for a Lockport plastics plant.

A potential strike at UPS looms over the Buffalo economy.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Local unions buck a trend: Why Buffalo Niagara unions aren't seeing declining membership.

2. Training future nurses: How simulated patients will play a key role in this effort.

3. Psychics, wrestlers and churches: How Buffalo Niagara malls are finding a way forward.

4. The Buffalo Niagara economy looks like it is heading for the soft landing the Federal Reserve is seeking.

5. The death of a hospital: Inside the final days of Eastern Niagara Hospital after more than 100 years.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.
July 17, 2023

Ukraine Open Thread 2023-171

Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict.

The current open thread for other issues here.

Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.

Posted by b on July 17, 2023 at 16:39 UTC | Permalink

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next page 
While a third cheeky bidder couldn't resist asking: Hi, apart from the heart shape, are there any other chips or scratches on the chip? Do you have any other colour options? Do you have one with a smiley face instead of a heart?
Good evening, began Noah Falck on the barely 70-degree night on June 10, before pausing to look up at the grand ceiling of the grain elevator.

Falck is 10 years into curating the Silo City Reading Series and the echo of the space still elicits a sense of wonder. The sound created by the silos is one of unlikely grandeur like in a church or a cave, making the words seem to literally hang in the air. As Falck puts it, Their poems just resonate in that space like it was built for it.

When National Book Award-finalist Solmaz Sharif read at the space for the June event, it took several minutes of false starts for her to get used to the broadcast of her voice. Once she did it was nothing short of otherworldly, her voice of a stunning caliber and a cross between the spiritual and utopian.

The June event was the first of this summers three Silo City Reading Series events. Falck, who is Just Buffalos education director, stumbled into the idea for the series when he was hired 11 years ago.

One of my friends was having a book release and he didnt have any place to do it, and I was wandering down to the silos one evening and thought it would be a cool place to have a reading series, Falck said. We had the book release party for Joe Hall, a local poet, and it was such a cool time we wanted to keep doing it.

The following year, the series fell under the Just Buffalo programming umbrella, and its been hosted every summer since.

The events framework has remained the same since it started in 2013: two poets (one local, one visiting), a musical performance and art installation. The series became ticketed during the pandemic, allowing for 75 audience members when previously there could be about 200. Every one has sold out including the next one on July 22. The final event is Aug. 26 and features poets Roger Reeves and Ae He Lee, along with music by Katie Bejsiuk and an installation by Max Collins. Tickets are $10 on the Just Buffalo website.

In the beginning, the series was largely compiled of poets Falck knew from living in Ohio paired with Buffalo writers and musical artists. Over the years the program got more funding, allowing for a growing list of poets to read at the silos, as well as touring musicians. Some have included MacArthur fellows Ocean Vuong and Hanif Abdurraqib, and more recently Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown, musical acts like Florist and Julie Byrne and local artists Shasti OLeary Soudant and Edreys Wajed.

These people who are the voices of our generation, they are coming to Buffalo and having their own one-of-a-kind experience as a performer, and in some ways they are putting Buffalo on a map thats recognizing it for more than just snow, chicken wings and the Buffalo Bills, Falck said. Which is cool, we want all of those things, but we also want people to recognize Buffalo as city full of cultural experiences that we provide.

The books by each author are sold by Fitz Books at the event, allowing audience members to take home a bit of the experience and get poets signatures.

I think part of the magic of the series, and the programming, is pairing poets from the region with visiting poets and seeing their interactions with one another and the conversations that arise as a result, said Fitz Books owner Aaron Bartley.

Morgan Parker, a featured silo poet from 2017 and National Book Critic Circle Award winner, synthesized her feelings toward the event in a quote featured on the series page on the Just Buffalo website. Silo City is an incredibly special reading series, Parker wrote. Its a gift to local writers, visiting writers, to the Buffalo community and the idea of community. Its the buzzword enacted: generosity, exchange, embrace, effort, gratitude, experimentation, goodwill.

For Falck, the idea of community is integral to the series.

I get goosebumps thinking that I have had a hand in orchestrating any of this, Falck said. This city is beautifully overpopulated with artists, musicians and poets, and we have to continue to honor the creativity that lives in this city, and this is one of the ways to do so.
By Alex Pologruto | Jul 17, 2023

Murray State University is pleased to host In Harmony: The Commonwealth Tour of the Louisville Orchestra (LO), with special guest Chris Thile, on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium located on Murray States campus.

MURRAY, Ky.  Murray State University is pleased to host In Harmony: The Commonwealth Tour of the Louisville Orchestra (LO), with special guest Chris Thile, on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium located on Murray States campus. Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be reserved online at my.louisvilleorchestra.org/in- harmony-september-2023/lovett- auditorium .

The Louisville Orchestras historic In Harmony tour is a two-year musical journey beginning in May of 2023 that brings orchestra musicians to dozens of communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The LO performs works that appeal to audiences of all ages and tastes in music and reflect the rich musical heritage of the state, featuring homegrown performers and compositions in every venue.

Intended to bring economic and artistic prosperity to all parts of Kentucky, In Harmony is not just an exciting performance tour. This ground-breaking initiative will allow the LO musicians and staff to meet people where they are and explore the arts through musical and educational collaborations with local musicians, artists, schools and community organizations.

Art and music transcend geographic boundaries, said LOs music director Teddy Abrams. We couldnt be more excited to share our treasured work with our fellow Kentuckians in their hometowns and home counties.

Acclaimed mandolinist, composer, songwriter and vocalist Chris Thile will return to his alma mater as special guest for the performance with the LO. Thile, who attended Murray State from 1998-2000, is a member of the award-winning bands Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers. Among his many accolades are two International Bluegrass Music Association awards, four Grammy awards and a MacArthur Fellowship. His latest project is Laysongs, a solo album from Nonesuch Records that includes six original songs and three covers, all recorded in a converted upstate New York church during the pandemic.

For more information about the In Harmony tour please visit louisvilleorchestra.org.
HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post)  Three bills relative to the Guam Department of Education were the focus of a public hearing on Thursday, all s
Elvio Mastratoni probably paid the highest compliment ever given about a New York Thruway rest stop.

This reminds me of home, the way its set up, the 35-year-old Toronto man said about the newly rebuilt and reopened Pembroke service area.

The padded seating, couches, benches and stools  paired with tables of different shapes and heights, spread out in an open, modern and light-filled space  came as a pleasant surprise to travelers like Mastratoni passing through during peak hours on Saturday.

Earth-tone seating was spread out and uncrowded, and electrical outlets for device charging were plentiful. And bathroom lines were nonexistent. Given the barrage of criticism that many other rebuilt Thruway rest stops have faced, thats a welcome change.

Many smaller, overhauled service areas along the Thruway have been heavily criticized upon reopening as too narrow, cramped and undersized for visitor needs. Travelers have taken to social media, posting images of long restroom lines and restricted wheelchair access, particularly during weekends. Many complained that the newer, small rest areas may look nicer, but are far less convenient despite the millions spent to upgrade them.

Fortunately, no such complaints dogged the Pembroke service area, located on the highways eastbound side half an hour from Buffalo between Pembroke and Batavia. Thats likely because its one of the largest rest areas, with more than 20,145 square feet. Its three to five times bigger than some of the smallest, less visited rest stops along Thruway arteries.

The Pembroke service area is the 10th new service area to open to Thruway customers, as part of a $450 million initiative launched by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018 to modernize all 27 Thruway service areas. Of those in the Western New York region, the Pembroke station is the largest, by far. Fewer than a third of all the Thruway rest stops are expected to be as large as the Pembroke location when all the service areas have been upgraded.

The next nearest Clarence service area, which services travelers heading westbound on the I-90, opened late last month. It offers the same food vendors and general amenities, but its 27% smaller than the Pembroke rest stop at 14,654 square feet. Meanwhile, the Angola service area has now closed for refurbishment.

Travelers at the Pembroke location have their choice of Popeyes, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts for food, as well as an Applegreen convenience store toward the rear offering hot, grab-and-go personal pizzas and hot dogs, microwavable sausage breakfast sandwiches and an assortment of cold sandwiches and salads. The service area eventually will feature Panera Bread.

I love the washrooms, by the way, said Kristin Contino, 37, who was traveling with Mastratoni and their family members from Toronto to New York City.

The bathrooms, a major source of complaints at the smaller rest stops, had no difficulty accommodating visitors. Each of two sides of the womens restroom has 12 stalls and six sinks. The mens restroom was similarly laid out, except it has two sides with six urinals and six stalls each. Soap and hand dryers are located at each sink basin.

Completed Thruway rest stops are not getting rave reviews Early reviews for new Thruway rest stops are starting to come in and users are finding lots 

Jen Bradley, 35, who was making her way from Cleveland to Maine with three children ages 1 through 8, was relieved to find a large, private, gender-neutral bathroom  one of several  available for her family.

This is really nice, she said, grabbing a seat on one of the padded benches for travelers who want a break but not necessarily a place to eat. Its like an airport lounge.

Expanded outdoor seating and a nursing room are also at the travel stop.

Not everything was ideal. The lines for food often got long and overflowed the designated lineup areas, leading to tight crowds along the right side of the more linear-designed service area. The space was perpetually noisy, and signage for the bathrooms, convenience store and outdoor eating areas could be better. The parking lot electric car chargers are not installed yet, and the playground is still to come.

But the travel stop did feature a highly visible Taste NY section, with souvenirs and local food products.

There are two fenced-in areas for pets. The outdoor seating area was plentiful.

Multiple people complimented the rest stops cleanliness. Maintenance staff were always on the move, sweeping, changing garbage bags and replacing bathroom supplies.

When I pulled up, immediately, I was like, Wow, this is gorgeous,  said Jeff Lutch, 46, who was traveling from Cleveland to Ontario as part of an extended family of 12.

He and his sons make an annual fishing trip every year with other siblings, parents and kids as part of a generations-long tradition. He said he remembers the old Thruway stops, which offered limited food vendor options and had no lounge space. On Saturday, his three sons were spread out among a short couch and several square, padded stools with an open box of a half-dozen doughnuts spread before them.

Its beautiful, Lutch said. I love it here.
The University of Guam sign is seen at the Mangilao campus on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. .
US President Joe Biden listens during a meeting with Nordic leaders (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, July 13, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard/via REUTERS
George Chiu, Guam Visitors Bureau board chairman, left, and Carl Gutierrez, GVB president and CEO, talk during the regular monthly GVB board meeting Thursday, July 13, 2023, in Tumon.
Joeten Daidai Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Joeten Enterprises, awarded $16,000 in scholarships to eight deserving students.
Two men were held in lieu of bail after a wild chase Thursday across Genesee County, Sheriff William A. Sheron Jr. reported.

Sylvan P. Grayson, 24, of Le Roy, is charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon, 16 traffic violations, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. The State Department of Corrections website indicates that Grayson was released on parole in August 2022 after serving a sentence on a charge of second-degree attempted burglary.

Charged with three counts of criminal possession of a weapon was Luke A. Rose, 19, of Batavia. A juvenile passenger in the vehicle also was detained.

Sheron said a 2013 Dodge Avenger took off at speeds as high as 90 mph after a deputy attempted to pull it over for a headlight violation near Route 63 and Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road.

Sheron said the Avenger left the highway several times on Batavia-Stafford Townline Road and Bank Street Road and drove through a field, causing extensive damage to crops.

The car continued at high speed on rims after it struck spike strips on Route 237 in Stafford and finally struck a street sign and crashed into an embankment near Route 33 and Appletree Avenue in Bergen. Rose was arrested after a short foot chase and Grayson was found an hour later behind a business on Appletree Avenue.

A search of the car turned up a loaded 9mm handgun without a serial number, the sheriff said.

- Dale Anderson
Fresh off its annual BurgerFest on Saturday, the Town of Hamburg is taking a step that could lead toward painting its rusty blue water tower near the Thruway like a hamburger.

Its been over 30 years since we did anything with the water tower, Supervisor Randy Hoak told The Buffalo News.

'Hamburger' water tower campaign back for seconds Remember the campaign to raise money to make the Hamburg water tower look like a hamburger?

Town Board members authorized the town engineer to contract with a firm for an evaluation of the structural integrity of the tower, for a cost not to exceed $27,500.

We want to make sure that the water tower would be safe to be worked on because of the scaffolding that would be required to resurface, Hoak said.

The Hamburg Water Tower Project group gained support from the Town Board several years ago to paint the water tower like a hamburger. The group announced in 2018 that graphic designer Dylan Cownie won the competition for the related artwork.

He designed a burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, onion rings, bacon, pickles, ketchup and mustard on a sesame seed bun.

The nonprofit group has been raising money to repaint the tower since, but took a hiatus during the pandemic.

Town officials have looked at several options for the tower, including resurfacing it and removing it, Hoak said. He noted that the contract to remove an old water tower in Kenmore was nearly $800,000, plus engineering costs.

The last estimate to resurface and repaint Hamburgs tower was $500,000, although that was several years ago.

We feel confident that the tower will be found to be structurally sound, said Chris Hannotte, chair of the tower group.

5 months after Hamburg hamburger design was chosen: Where's the beef? The group that wants to paint the tower to look like a hamburger is working on creating a nonprofit corporation, which will allow it to raise money for the estimated $1 million paint

Until the evaluation is made, the group hasnt started additional fundraising, Hannotte said, including during this years festival.

Were going to wait for that assessment, she said.

Hannotte said that 80% of the cost of painting the tower is for restoration, which includes sanding the rust, priming it and putting an overcoat on it. The tower group is fundraising to pay for painting the design on the tower.

She has asked the Town Board to use some of its American Rescue Act money for the restoration.

The group is determined that no taxpayer funds will be used to paint the hamburger design.

I think it will do a wonderful job marketing not just Hamburg, but really all of Western New York, Hannotte said. So many other municipalities have painted water towers, and it brings people to the community.
Climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks the U.S. hopes will raise relations from historic low

Climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks the U.S. hopes will raise relations from historic low View Photo

BEIJING (AP)  U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was holding talks Monday with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, as the U.S. seeks to restore contacts that were disrupted by disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and Chinas territorial claims.

Chinas official Xinhua News Agency said Kerry was meeting with Xie Zhenhua for the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between representatives of the worlds two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus.

China is the worlds largest producer and consumer of coal and has proceeded with building new plants, while at the same time forging ahead with renewables such as solar and wind power.

Yet, congressional Republicans questioning of Kerry ahead of his trip at times broke down into challenging the existence of the scientifically established fact of climate change.

But with Republicans as well as Democrats overall accepting the science underlying the warming climate, much of the criticism from GOP committee members zeroed in on the appropriateness of the U.S. engaging in climate negotiations with China.

China has pledged to level-off carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. The U.S. and the European Union have urged China to adopt more ambitious reduction targets.

Kerry is expected to push for a reduction in Chinas reliance on coal and setting targets on methane that, along with carbon dioxide, is a main contributor to the earths warming climate. As with the U.S. and Europe, China has seen record stretches of high temperatures that have threatened crops and prompted cities to open Cold War-era bomb shelters to help residents escape the heat.

U.S. lawmakers faulted China for refusing to make bigger cuts in climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions and the countrys insistence that it was still a developing economy and should not be held to the same climate standards as developed Western economies.

Kerry responded that the clear disparity between Chinas claims and the size of its economy as the worlds second largest could not be allowed to deadlock global progress on cutting emissions. He also ruled out the likelihood of persuading China to hold itself to the same emissions-cutting requirements facing other big economies, at least on this visit.

Kerry is the third senior Biden administration official in recent weeks to travel to China for meetings with their counterparts there, after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

China broke off some mid- and high-level contacts with the Biden administration, including over climate issues, to show its anger with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis August trip to self-ruled Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as its territory and held menacing military exercises around the island to advertise its threats of blockade and invasion that could draw the U.S. into a major conflict in a region crucial to the global economy.

Other problems have rocked relations since then, including the transit across the U.S. of what Americans say was a Chinese spy balloon.

A stroke suffered by Xie, Chinas top climate diplomat, also contributed to a stall in U.S.-China climate discussions.

The Biden administrations aim with Beijing now is to achieve stability, if we can, without conceding anything, Kerry told lawmakers prior to his visit.

What were trying to do is find ways we can cooperate to actually address the crisis of climate, Kerry said. China, he said, is critical to our being able to solve this problem.

In a commentary published Sunday, Xinhua said recent U.S.-China official interactions are a good sign for preventing further miscalculations, and steering bilateral relations back on track.

However, it added that Beijing was seeking more concessions on the political side  something the U.S. has said it will not provide.

It is especially true for the White House to bear in mind that seeking to compartmentalize cooperation with  or competition and suppression against  China in bilateral ties is simply unrealistic in practice and unacceptable for Beijing, Xinhua said.

For China-U.S. cooperation to be healthy and sustainable, bilateral ties must be treated as a whole, it said.
OLAF FUB SEZ: A strategy from comedian Phyllis Diller, born on this date in 1917: I want my children to have all the things I couldnt afford. Then I want to move in with them.

. . .

FIND A FRIEND  The SPCA Serving Erie County will encourage love at first sight in speed dating sessions from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday with animals at its main shelter at 300 Harlem Road, West Seneca. Adoption fees will be waived on all animals one year old and older. Trial adoptions are offered through the SPCAs If the Fur Fits program. For more info and to see adoptable animals, visit YourSPCA.org/GetYourFlirtOn.

. . .

LOOKING BEST  The Art of Displaying Roses in Your Home is the topic for the July meeting of the Western New York Rose Society at 7 p.m. Wednesday in St. Stephens Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. It is free and open to the public.

. . .

REINCARNATIONS  Local reenactors bring three residents from Buffalos Forest Lawn cemetery back to life in a program at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the West Seneca Senior Center, 4620 Seneca St. $5 admission. All are welcome.

Ed Brodbeck and David Kreutz portray Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and President Abraham Lincoln in a dramatic recollection of their relationship during the Civil War as part of the Guest Speaker Series at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 W. Main St., Batavia. Admission $5. To attend, call 585-343-4727 or email hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

. . .

FUN DAY  The Grand Island Lions Club will host its annual Kids Picnic for children with disabilities, their parents, counselors and teachers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Buffalo Launch Club, Grand Island. The day includes boat rides, a farm animal zoo, face painting and food. For more info, call Sheila Ferrentino at 716-863-9592.

. . .

LOOKING UP  NASA solar system ambassador Dr. Warren Marcus visits Martz-Kohl Observatory, 176 Robbin Hill Road, Frewsburg, to speak on James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes: What Weve Learned at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more info, visit martzobservatory.org.

. . .

REUNION ALERT  The Victory Academy Class of 1972 is holding a 51st reunion Aug. 18 and 19. For info and reservations, visit the Victory Academy 50th Reunion page on Facebook or email victoryclassof1972@yahoo.com.

. . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  Helen Panza, Nancy Blaschak, Terry Lew, Ryan Miller, Melinda Miller, Sandy Kistka, Marina Biniskiewicz, Jennifer Fay, Tom Toplisek, Richard Simonetti, Hank Stachewicz, Joe Fecio, Meg OMalley, Lesley Maloney, Karen McAllister, Diane Wacker, Lisa Meegan, Brent Urbanski, Sophia Morgan, Adeline Colpoys, Caitlin Augustyn, Denise Bell, Pam Tevington and Daniel Recktenwalt.

AND TUESDAY  Dale Anderson, Susan Grabenstatter, Eleanor Whelan, Val Derenda, Richard Anthony Fontana, Anna Fatta, Shana Stegner, Prem Lata Maheshwari, Kevin Haggerty, Caitlin Bondanza Louth, Bill Harszlak, Patricia Zatko, William Daniel Zatko, Irene LaCross, Misty Yeates, Pam Ignaszak, Mark Golimowski, Misty Baker, Sharon Sullivan, Lauren Zelasko, Lucas Zelasko, Mary Lou Hall, Courtney Delbert, Amanda Sobczyk and Rimas Musteikis.
Solomon Islands leader hits back at criticism of deepening security ties with China View Photo

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The leader of Solomon Islands on Monday hit back at criticism of his nations deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia had nothing to fear.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the remarks at a news conference in the capital Honiara after returning from a visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials.

Sogavare said that while in China, he signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan.

He said the plan enhances cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed to strengthen the capacity of police law enforcement in the Pacific nation.

The new agreements come after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China last year, raising fears of a military buildup in the region. The U.S. has countered with diplomatic moves of its own, including opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands switched allegiance from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, threatening the close ties with the U.S. that date to World War II.

Both the U.S. and Australia have raised concerns about the secrecy of the new police plan.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters she had asked about the plan when she met with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi in Jakarta last week.

Wong said Australia wants more transparency and takes the view that security is best provided for within the Pacific family.

At the news conference, Sogavare accused the U.S. and Australia of being un-neighborly by criticizing the police plan.

This is nothing but interference by foreign states into the internal affairs of Solomon Islands, Sogavare said.

He said Chinas plan to help the police complemented existing Australian and New Zealand police programs in his nation.

Australia and the United States should not fear Chinas police support to Solomon Islands, Sogavare said.

Home to 700,000 people and lying about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, Solomon Islands has been one of Chinas biggest successes in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific.

Chinas Foreign Ministry earlier said that Sogavares visit to Beijing would inject new momentum into relations and deepen mutual political trust.

By NICK PERRY

Associated Press
Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny

Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny View Photo

More mercenaries from Russias Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus on Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last months short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of more than 100 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country, heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company. The convoy included heavy trucks and trailers with construction equipment, among other vehicles.

The group said it was the third Wagner convoy to enter the country since last week.

A messaging app channel linked to the contractor ran a video on Monday showing Russian and Wagner flags lowered at the mercenaries main home base in Molkino in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. The channel said that the base would fully close on July 30, and one of the mercenaries in the video declared that Wagner was moving to unspecified new locations. Wagner also has used camps in the Russia-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last months rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his countrys military could benefit from the mercenaries combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagne r is located.

Belaruski Hajun alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of the capital, Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhins mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow. Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner mercenaries sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhins fate remain murky.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry didnt say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus. Lukashenko said previously it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service. Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

Putins comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, whose revolt posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defense Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries.

The Belarusian leader has rejected the allegations that Wagners presence in Belarus could destabilize the country, but some observers noted that he would likely order the countrys security agencies to maintain a close watch over the groups activities.

Lukashenko is a very cautious politician and he would be worried about possible surprises from the Russian mercenaries, whom he would seek to control day and night, Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said. The Belarusian security agencies will now focus their entire potential on not allowing Wagner to have any autonomy in Belarus.

During a meeting Monday with the countrys chief prosecutor, Lukashenko spoke about the need to tighten control over the military to ensure their full compliance with the law.

By The Associated Press
2 parties on the left of the Dutch political spectrum have agreed to join forces ahead of election

2 parties on the left of the Dutch political spectrum have agreed to join forces ahead of election View Photo

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Members of two left-leaning Dutch political parties have overwhelmingly voted to join forces ahead of a November general election in an attempt to unify their side of the Netherlands splintered political spectrum, they said Monday.

Green Left and the Labor Party officials said a week-long referendum among their members showed both parties strongly backed a plan to submit a joint list of candidates and campaign on a joint manifesto.

In past elections, the center-left vote split between the two parties and the more left-wing Socialist Party. The divided support helped to usher in a series of center-right or conservative coalitions led by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The Nov. 22 election for all 150 seats in the lower chamber of the Dutch parliament was scheduled after Ruttes latest, four-party coalition failed to agree a package of measures to rein in migration and resigned earlier this month.

The House of Representatives is currently made up of lawmakers from 20 different parties, reflecting the divisions in Dutch politics and society.

In a time of distrust and fragmentation and, above all, of being against one another, we say, No, were doing it together.Because we believe that things can be done differently and that things should be done differently and that the Netherlands is eager for air, for change, Labor Party leader Attje Kuiken said.

Rutte, the Netherlands longest-serving prime minister, announced a week ago that he will leave politics once a new government is formed after the election.

The Labor Party, once a strong force in Dutch politics, currently has nine seats in the lower house, Green Left has eight. The two parties are hoping their united front will win them more support than they managed to get during the last election.

Green Left leader Jesse Klaver called the merger a breakthrough.

Finally, its the end of an era, he said. But today, we are also ushering in a new era, saying goodbye to a time when it was only about everyone for themselves, about putting their own interests first.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Another journalist was killed in Mexico on Saturday, adding to a growing list of reporters who have lost their lives amid an intensifying drug war in the country, authorities and a press freedom organization said.

Nelson Matus was shot to death on the fringes of Acapulco in southwestern Mexico, officials and Article 19 confirmed. Matus had been the director of a local news organization, Lo Real de Guerrero, which covered the intensifying violence in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

He had already survived an assassination attempt in 2019, according to Article 19. Local authorities said they were investigating the killing.

Matus death comes just a week after the grisly killing of another journalist in western Mexico, something the Committee to Protect Journalists said underscores the crisis of deadly violence and impunity that continues to plague the Mexican press.

The death illustrates a concerning uptick in the murders of reporters in Mexico and the toll the countrys intensifying drug war has taken on local newsrooms, which often report more microscopically on the violence. Matus newsroom is no exception.

For years, the seaside city of Acapulco was largely known for its beach resorts, but it has increasingly become a hub for narco violence. On the same day Matus was reported killed, the news organization published a story about authorities finding a dead body in a bag near a tourist beach in the city.

In the past five years alone, CPJ documented the killings of at least 52 journalists in Mexico. Last year, Mexico was one of the deadliest places in the world for journalists, second only to Ukraine.

On Saturday, Matus news organization mourned his death on social media, saying we extend our condolences to his family and join together in prayer for his eternal rest.

Associated Press
Judge strikes down law allowing Tennessee attorney general to argue certain death penalty cases View Photo

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  Republican lawmakers violated the Tennessee Constitution when they passed a law this spring giving the state attorney general more authority to argue certain death penalty cases, according to a judges ruling Monday.

The new law allows the attorney general to step in and take over post-conviction capital cases. But Shelby County Judge Paula Skahan said thats unconstitutional because it removes the power of the locally elected district attorney to argue them. The state attorney general is an appointed position, not elected.

The office of Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said it will appeal Mondays decision, which affects death row inmate Larry McKays motion for another trial based on new evidence.

Some attorneys and Democratic lawmakers say the new law targeted progressive district attorneys who have expressed reluctance to pursue the death penalty. Attorneys for inmates fear the state could use the law to argue against considering DNA evidence and intellectual disabilities.

The law, passed in April, involves proceedings that are outside the traditional appeals process in death penalty cases. Those include going before a trial court to present new evidence, request DNA testing, or argue that a defendant has an intellectual disability. The attorney general oversees traditional appeals. The judge said Monday that in trial court matters, the state Constitution designates the district attorney as a state representative

If it stands, the ruling would affect other cases in Tennessee where death row inmates are challenging their convictions outside the appeals process.

McKays lawyer, Robert Hutton, filed the motion to disqualify Skrmetti from intervening. Hutton said the ruling strikes down an unconstitutional law, which was the result of what he called overreach by the state Legislature.

Under the law passed by the GOP-led Tennessee Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, Skrmetti would have replaced Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy in McKays case.

Mulroy supported McKays motion, which argued that the new law hinders the district attorneys ability to fulfill his responsibilities under the state Constitution. The attorney general is picked by Tennessees Supreme Court.

The judge withheld a ruling on whether the law violates the rights of voters who elect local district attorneys across the state.

Opponents of the law have called it the latest example of attempts by GOP governors and Legislatures in several states to take on locally elected officials who have deprioritized enforcement of laws they deem unnecessary.

In recent years, other district attorneys around the country have refused to prosecute cases related to some Republican-passed state laws, from voting restrictions to limits on protesting. In Georgia, Republican lawmakers passed a bill in March establishing a commission to discipline and remove prosecutors who they believe arent sufficiently fighting crime.

Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor, the bills sponsor, has said that district attorneys could be unfamiliar with the sometimes decades-old death penalty cases under appeal. That means the post-conviction challenges lose their adversarial characteristic that ensures justice, Taylor said.

Taylor also said victims families would be better off communicating with just the attorney generals office.

The attorney generals office said it respectfully disagrees with the courts decision.

Ensuring the adversarial system remains fully engaged over the life of a capital case is our obligation to the victims families because no family should be deprived of justice said Elizabeth Lane Johnson, a spokesperson for the attorney generals office, in a statement released after the ruling.

Mulroy in Memphis and Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk in Nashville both have said that they oppose the death penalty. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, the Democratic minority leader, has said the law shouldnt have been changed because of possible dislike for the policies of our more liberal district attorneys.

Lawyers for the attorney generals office argued that the law violated no part of the Tennessee Constitution and that McKay has not shown how he was negatively affected in ways that are not conjectural or hypothetical. The attorney generals office also denied that the law curtails voters rights.

McKay was convicted of two murders during a robbery in Memphis and sentenced to death 40 years ago. McKays motion claims new scientific methods have revealed that the firearms evidence presented at trial was unreliable.

His codefendant in the case, Michael Sample, was recently released from death row after he was found to be intellectually disabled.

By ADRIAN SAINZ

Associated Press
Biden still concerned about judicial overhaul as he extends invite to meet with Israels Netanyahu

Biden still concerned about judicial overhaul as he extends invite to meet with Israels Netanyahu View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with him in the U.S. this fall, the White House said, even as he expressed ongoing concern about Netanyahus controversial plans to overhaul his countrys judicial system.

Mondays phone conversation between the U.S. and Israeli leaders came one day before Israels figurehead president Isaac Herzog is set to visit to the White House and as Netanyahus government pushes forward with the judicial changes that have sparked widespread protest in Israel.

The Biden administration declined to say whether Biden would host Netanyahu at the White House  as the Israeli leader has hoped  or in New York on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly.

White House visits are typically standard protocol for Israeli prime ministers, and the delay in Netanyahu receiving one has become an issue in Israel, with opponents citing it as a reflection of deteriorating relations with the U.S.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden again on Monday expressed concern to Netanyahu over the judicial plan  as he did when they last spoke earlier this year  and urged the broadest possible consensus over the legislation that has been pushed by Netanyahu and his hard-line coalition.

Netanyahu and his allies, a collection of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist parties, say the plan is needed to rein in the powers of unelected judges. Opponents, who have held months of large-scale protests across Israel, say the plan will destroy Israels fragile system of checks and balances and move the country toward authoritarian rule. Herzog has appealed for a compromise that has thus far proven elusive, as many American Jewish groups and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan.

Kirby said during the call Biden also expressed his ironclad, unwavering commitment to Israels security and that the two leaders discussed Irans nuclear program and regional security issues. Biden also expressed concern over Israels continued settlement growth in the West Bank and urged Israel to take steps to preserve the viability of a two state solution with Palestinians.

Biden, Kirby said, also welcomed steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank and moves by Israel and Palestinians to move toward another round of direct talks.

During his visit, Herzog is set to meet with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressional leaders, and will become the second Israeli president, after his father Chaim Herzog, to address Congress to mark Israels celebration of its 75th year of independence.

By ZEKE MILLER

AP White House Correspondent
Western Michigan man is sentenced to a year in jail for New Years shooting that killed 2

PAW PAW, Mich. (AP)  A western Michigan man was sentenced Monday to a year in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty in a January shooting that killed two men at a New Years party.

Christopher Alan Toppenberg of Lawrence Township pleaded guilty last month in 36th Circuit Court in Paw Paw to a charge of discharging a firearm under the influence of liquor or a controlled substance and causing death.

He was given credit for 167 days already served, news outlets reported.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. Toppenberg was charged days after the shooting.

Police said Toppenberg was with a group of people celebrating New Years in a wooded area shortly after midnight Jan. 1, when he got out an AR-15 rifle and fired 20 to 25 rounds horizontally in the direction of two men who were setting off fireworks about 100 feet (30 meters) away.

Jason McCreary, 40, of Sutter Creek, California, died at the scene, and David Reed, 35, of Waverly Township, died at a hospital.

The shooting occurred in Lawrence Township, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) southwest of Kalamazoo in Van Buren County.
PEMBROKE  Gene Nati spent 10 years gutting, renovating and adding onto a small ranch on 8 acres along Scribner Road, just across the street from where he grew up and his parents still live.

Nati tripled the size of the home, updated the plumbing and electrical and put in hardwood floors and new windows and doors. To withstand Western New York winters, he built with 2-inch-by-10-inch Douglas fir joists and 2-inch-by-6-inch studs for the wall frames.

A code enforcement officer said the home was built so strong, you could almost land a helicopter on the roof, said Nati. We really overdid it so the house would stay for generations for my daughters to inherit.

Nati and his wife, Tracy, never expected the ground on which the house sits to shift. But thats what happened Aug. 7, causing the homes foundation to sink and split, cracking walls and ceilings, and a basement I-beam that juts through a foundation wall. The town deemed the home uninhabitable. An insurance company denied the Natis homeowners claim, citing a clause that excludes coverage for damages related to an earth movement event, regardless of the cause.

The Natis believe blasting and dewatering at the County Line Stone quarry about a mile away triggered the earth shift, and they are now suing the quarry, along with four municipalities, alleging that their negligence allowed it to happen. They are seeking $1 million from the quarry and $1 million from the towns of Newstead and Pembroke and Erie and Genesee counties.

We had landscape plans. We had some prices for having the driveway paved. We had all the final plans. Over the last year, we were getting it ready for my retirement. I was planning my retirement, said Nati, a road patrol deputy in the Erie County Sheriffs Office. This has completely changed everything.

The earth shift not only opened a large crack in the ground that extended several hundred feet from the Nati property across Scribner Road to the south. It renewed longstanding concerns about blasting noise, dust, groundwater levels and heavy dump truck traffic. And its thrown into question whether the quarrys owners will be able to move forward with plans to expand operations by more than 100 acres.

Company denies responsibility

Bradley Buyers, vice president of County Line Stone, said in an interview that the company is confident that it bears no responsibility for what happened to the Nati home and Scribner Road last August.

The quarry has been operating in the same fashion for 60 years and never before has there been a ground fault or a fissure that opened up like this, said Buyers.

He also said expansion of the quarry will be crucial for the regions long-term infrastructure needs.

An attorney for the Town of Newstead in court papers filed last week denied the claims made by the Natis. The other defendants have yet to respond in court.

Pembroke Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. declined to comment on the lawsuit, but he said multiple engineering analyses were pretty inconclusive as to whether activities at the quarry were connected to the damage at the Nati home or the large crack in the ground that forced the town to shut down the road for about two weeks. The road was repaired and hasnt had any problems since.

County Line conducted 45 permitted blasts in 2022 from March to August, including two blasts in the northwest corner of the north quarry on Aug. 5, two days before the Natis found the split in the ground in their yard and began noticing that the doors in their home wouldnt open and close properly. The company, again with a state Department of Environmental Conservation permit, also removed up to 19 million gallons of water per day in 2022 from the quarry, the same amounts it was permitted in the five years previous.

Alpha Geological Services concluded that neither blasting nor dewatering at the limestone quarry would have caused the damage to the Nati house or Scribner Road.

More likely, the earth movement was due to a naturally occurring upward buckling of bedrock known as a pop-up, according to the Clifton Park-based geological firm. Such pop-ups, which have been documented at other locations in Western New York and in Southern Ontario, form as a result of residual stress in the earths crust that has been confirmed to have existed in the area for an extended period of geologic time, Alpha geologists said in a report commissioned by County Line Stone.

Pop-ups can form in areas unrelated to mines or quarries and are associated with earthquake-prone areas, the report said.

Studies inconclusive

A separate study by McMahon & Mann Consulting Engineering and Geology also found that the location of the damage on Scribner Road makes it unlikely that the ground movement resulted directly from blasting.

However, the McMahon report did not rule out the possibility that quarry excavation played a role.

Recent digging to the north could have created an opportunity for rock to shift, relieving stress on the Onondaga Limestone and possibly creating voids along northeast-southwest trending joints as the rock strains into equilibrium, the report stated.

It also noted that lower water levels due to a dry season or drawdown from the quarry could reduce pressure over the bedrock and allow for a pop-up movement.

The McMahon study concluded the extent that dewatering or rock removal at the quarry contributed to the rock movement cannot be determined from the information learned to date.

A Michigan Technological University professor also reviewed both reports and determined that quarry operations are not responsible for the pop-up event.

Wayne D. Pennington, dean and professor emeritus and research professor of geophysical engineering at the university, introduced another possible cause of the pop-up: logging from a forested area behind the Nati home and the placement of heavy timbers closer to the road in the months or days before the pop-up.

This increase in load immediately adjacent to the pop-up features and unloading from the nearby forested area may indeed have triggered the pop-up due to increase vertical stresses on the formation which in turn increased the lateral stress nearby, resulting in the pop-up, Pennington wrote in a five-page analysis.

Pennington also acknowledged that this is conjecture, and we may never know the actual cause of the pop-up, yet the coincidental timing remains noteworthy.

We need to accept the timing of log redistribution and loading is suspicious, but not conclusive, he added.

Looking to expand

With an Akron address, County Line Stone owns 518 acres in Erie and Genesee counties, just south of Interstate 90. It has operated since 1955 under the same Buyers family, supplying stone, crushed stone and blacktop products to customers in Western New York and the Rochester region.

The companys mining so far has been limited to Newstead, where zoning laws have allowed excavation for years.

But County Line has been looking since about 2010 to expand its operations along the east side of the quarry into Pembroke in Genesee County, where it owns 75 acres. The DEC, which oversees mining operations, approved the expansion, which would extend the life of the mine for 20 to 25 years.

County Line has since offered Pembroke $1 million as an incentive to change zoning for its land from agricultural/residential to industrial, which would allow mining.

The company, which employs 36 people, received support for its expansion application from then-State Sen. Michael H. Ranzenhofer, area highway superintendents and others.

But even before the earth shift, some residents had complained of wells going dry, basement wall cracks and homes shaking due to quarry blasting. Some homeowners now worry what happened last August could happen again with other houses near the quarry, and they have staked their lawns with signs that read Stop County Line Stone Quarry.

Both Alpha Geological Services and McMahon & Mann recommended installing monitoring systems to keep tabs on the possibility of future movements.

Schneider, the Pembroke supervisor, said he wants to see monitoring results before considering any proposals by County Line for expansion into the town.

I was more than clear at multiple meetings last year that thats on hold until theres more monitoring or we can get somebody to say conclusively it wasnt the cause, said Schneider.

A good neighbor

Buyers acknowledged that stone mining is a very obtrusive business but he said his small family company has tried to do everything it can to limit its impacts.

We continue to operate to meet market demand and to balance the nature of mining with being a good neighbor, he said.

The cause of the fissure will be identified in time, and were confident we have nothing to do with it, he added.

Gene Nati said he hopes his lawsuit will force more aggressive monitoring of the quarrys operations.

The state, the county, the towns that the quarry operates in should have their own independent studies on what effects the quarry has on the groundwater, on the air quality, on the value of the homes, and the potential dangers of the quarrys operations, whether intentional or unintentional, said Nati.
MERIDEN  On Saturday, the Christian Pentecostal Church First Thessalonian partnered with Maryvette Beltran, the outreach engagement specialist at the Women and Families Center, for a community resource event at the Meriden Green.

The second year of the event featured 14 agencies sharing resources on health care, mental health, education and employment opportunities. In addition, agencies distributed free clothes, toiletries and kids activities to guests. Wallingford Mexican restaurant, Cositas Ricas, located at 62 Center St., brought its food truck to distribute free food and beverages, like hamburgers and water, to attendees.

In addition, Luis Salas Sound, a live Christian music group out of New Haven, played worship music throughout the afternoon. Guest speakers like Cesar Adorno of the religious non-profit Backyard Sessions gave testimonies at the event.

Not only even in our own church, we see either kids or family members go through situations where sometimes they dont know the right resources out there and dont know who to call, Assistant Pastor Paul Jean said. We wanted to bring (the resource event) to people to find connections in their town and the types of services (the town) offers.

Last year, 12 vendors participated in the resource event at Meriden Green, which Adorno and Beltran organized. Due to the success of last years event, Jean contacted Beltran to bring resources to Meriden Green for an additional year. Beltran used her connections to bring vendors to participate in the community event.\

A lot of the churches are not aware of everything thats here. You know, theres a lot of services and programs that help the Hispanic community to help the whole community, Beltran said. Its been five years since Ive been back (in Connecticut from Detroit), and I saw that the churches were not united and a lot of the churches stayed within the walls, and its the churches part to help out the community. It worked out last year. This time the assistant pastor heard what I did last year, and he contacted me and said, Can we do something like you did last year?

Some organizations at the Saturday event included YMCA Head Start, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Connecticut Counseling Centers, the Meriden American Job Center and the Hispanic Health Council.

Its hard for people who dont know about resources, Zoraya Pedraza, outreach coordinator at the Hispanic Health Council, said. Its sad to say, but sometimes they have help there but dont know where to go. So its important to have some knowledge because knowledge is something nobody takes away from you. So, a resource fair is good to have.

Pedraza was representing the Hispanic Health Council alongside Outreach Coordinator Carola Roche. Hispanic Health Council is a non-profit organization based in Hartford. Pedraza said the statewide community-based organization aims to improve the health and social well-being of Latinos through a multitude of programs, events, and services ranging from a community nutrition center, a parent and family learning center, and different vaccines like COVID-19, the flu, and shingles. The two representatives handed out a flu vaccine kit with information and wipes and had guests spin a wheel that determined their prize ranging from chapstick to sunscreen.

In addition, Barbara Wilkes, the program assistant at the Meriden American Job Center, located at 87 W Main St., and job seeker consultant Zaida Lopez presented guests with resume help and employment training and advice.

Theres a community that needs help finding a job and getting back into the workplace, Wilkes said. Weve offered many different kinds of resume writing because many jobs want resumes only to represent the job they are looking for, and you dont want to have a series of different things on the resume. So we help with that, we help with getting them back to work, and we help with the over 40 crowd as well. And if they are looking for help with training, we help with that too.
Staff and wire reports

Strong thunderstorms swept through the state Sunday, prompting flooding and tornado watches, according to local authorities.

Flooding forced Tweed New Haven Airport to close Sunday. The airport, which offers daily commercial flights from one carrier, Avelo Airlines, said in a Twitter post that the terminal was closed until further notice. Several flights were delayed.

Flash flooding was reported in New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury and other Connecticut towns, leaving many roads impassible. Gov. Ned Lamont said he was headed to Bristol, home of ESPN, to view flooding.

The thunderstorm moved through Cheshire at around 8:30 a.m. according to National Weather Service. A fallen tree blocked Jill Lane between Jinny Hill and Mansion roads around mid-day, but similar local incidents were isolated, according to authorities.

A tornado warning was issued at 8:17 a.m. for the entire state until 3 p.m.

A flash flood warning is in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties until 11 a.m.

Heavy rains pounded the already saturated Northeast region for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, cancelled airline flights and power outages.

Nationally, in Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late Saturday afternoon claimed at least five lives.

Officials in Bucks Countys Upper Makefield Township in Pennsylvania said torrential rains occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars. At least five people died and two childen, a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said.

Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.

There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 350 flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were canceled at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Hundreds of flights were delayed.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.

Thousands of power outages also were reported.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged people to stay home Sunday until the storms passed.

Here comes the rain. It just seems unrelenting this year, she said. You have to avoid unnecessary travel. ... A flash flood doesnt give you warning ... and in those moments your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death.

Hochul said 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from last weeks storms. Disaster declarations will cover more than a dozen New York counties.

Manchester, New Hampshire, the largest city in northern New England, opened its emergency operations center in response to severe weather. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and other officials urged residents to stay inside.

In northern New Jersey, some roads were closed Sunday as crews worked to repair stretches of concrete that buckled under heavy rain and flooding. Local creeks washed over passageways and a rockslide blocked Route 46. Thoroughfares were a mess of water and rocks covered in brown sludge.

In Pennsylvania, a sudden, torrential downpour turned deadly in Upper Makefield Township.

Fire Chief Tim Brewer told reporters the area got about 6 1/2 to 7 inches of rain (about 18 centimeters) in 45 minutes.

In my 44 years, Ive never seen anything like it, he said. When the water came up, it came up very swiftly.

About 4 to 5 feet of water washed over the road and three of an estimated 11 cars were swept away. All three were later recovered and no one was found inside, Brewer said. Eight people were rescued from the cars and two from the creek, he said.

The two children who remained missing Sunday are part of a Charleston, South Carolina, family visiting family and friends. They were on their way to a barbecue when their vehicle got stuck in the flash flood, Brewer said.

As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, Dad took his 4-year-old son while the mother and the grandmother grabbed the two additional children, aged 9 months and 2 years, he said. The father and son were miraculously able to get to safety. However the grandmother, the mother, and the two children were swept away by the floodwaters, Brewer said. The mother was among those later found dead.

We continue to look for the two children. We are not going to give up, Brewer said.

About 150 people were searching the creek during the night and 100 were involved Sunday. Brewer said earlier that officials were treating the effort as a rescue but we are fairly certain we are in a recovery mode at this time.

Gov. Josh Shapiro vowed aid from state emergency and transportation officials.

All hands are on deck, Shapiro said.

As far south as North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed on the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, recovery efforts were underway in Vermont from recent days of heavy precipitation.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation said 12 state roads remained closed while 12 were partially open to one lane of traffic and 87 have been reopened that were previously closed.

The agency said 211 bridge inspections have been completed this week in damaged areas and there are four state bridges closed and four town structures closed.

Rail lines throughout Vermont were also damaged, the transportation agency said. The agency said it reopened 57 miles (92 kilometers) of rail lines, and 64 miles of rail line remained closed.

Our crews have been working tirelessly all week to repair the damaged state roads and bridges, and to restore the states transportation infrastructure for Vermonters and visitors, Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn said.

Heavy precipitation was not the only extreme weather plaguing the U.S. A scorching heat wave across the Southwest has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat watch or warning. That included brutal temperatures in the hottest place on Earth  Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada. Las Vegas also faced the possibility of reaching an all-time record temperature Sunday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires. Hochul, the New York governor, said she expected air quality alerts to be issued for northern and western parts of New York state Monday because of the wildfires.

Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains, the National Weather Service said. This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions.

___

Associated Press writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; and Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia; contributed to this report.
The hazy, unhealthy air produced by Canadian wildfires that hung over Western New York on Monday should leave the region by Tuesday afternoon.

A state air quality health advisory remained in effect through Monday. The alert from the state Department of Environmental Conservation warns of unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter lingering in the air in the region and throughout upstate New York.

The federal Air Quality Index used by the state warned readings in the region on Monday could reach between 151 and 200, on a scale where 0 to 50 is considered good air quality. New York issues advisories when readings in a region are expected to surpass 100.

Western New York showed a level of 155 on Monday afternoon, rivaling the level in the Adirondacks. Only the eastern Lake Ontario and central regions of the state were higher, at 165 and 160, respectively. Air quality was expected to begin to improve Tuesday morning and the surface-level smoke that most directly affects the public should leave by that afternoon, said Jim Mitchell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The rest of the week should be clear.

Luckily, this time it looks like a one- or two-day event, Mitchell said.

The DEC warns that exposure to these fine particulates can cause short-term health problems such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat; coughing; sneezing; a runny nose; and difficulty breathing.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Monday he made the mistake of sleeping with a window open overnight and realized it was a bad idea.

Now everything in my house has that little smoke tinge to it, he said. My eyes were itchy. It was not a smart thing to do.

Poloncarz said he expects air quality to be an ongoing issue that continues to pose a risk to young children and older adults engaging in strenuous activity outside.

This might be the new normal, and its not a great normal, he said.

Mondays alert was set to expire at 11:59 p.m., but wildfires continue to rage in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 4,000 fires have burned through an estimated 23.7 million acres this year in that country.

The state sent eight DEC forest rangers to Quebec to help battle the fires. The rangers spent 14 days as part of a 20-person wildland firefighting crew assigned to the Micoua fire complex, which burned about 40,600 acres, the governors office reported.

New Yorkers understand all too well the hazardous impact smoke from the Canadian wildfires have on daily life, Hochul said in a statement. 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.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said vulnerable groups, including those with chronic lung and heart conditions, needed to be particularly cautious.

She said wearing N95 masks may help, though they are not completely protective. She also encouraged anyone who wants to participate in outdoor activities to focus on getting outside earlier in the morning, since conditions often worsen as the day progresses.

The state also urged the public to take steps to conserve energy and reduce pollution at times when a health advisory is in effect.

In response to the alert, Buffalo Public Schools announced Monday they are restricting outdoor activities for the districts Extended Learning Opportunity Program until air quality improves.

For more information, visit the DEC website at on.ny.gov/nyaqi or call the air quality hotline at 800-535-1345.

News staff reporter Sandra Tan contributed to this report.
President Mnangagwa has said all political parties are free to campaign as they wish in the 2023 election, under the freedoms of the Second Republic.

The President was speaking to a massive crowd of over 124,000 people at a Zanu-PF rally in Zaka.

He said Zanu-PF rallies have recorded huge numbers since launching its election campaign last month.

President Mnangagwa took a swipe at opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, saying CCCs crowd of only 15,000 at its campaign launch needed to be multiplied seven times to match Zakas huge numbers.

The President said every party must be allowed to campaign peacefully.

But he warned against hate speech, stressing the importance of peace before, during and after the election.

President Mnangagwa said no outsiders can lecture Zimbabwe on democracy, calling Zanu-PF professors of democracy.

Masvingo Minister Chadzamira praised the 677 projects President Mnangagwa has implemented in the province.

Provincial chair Mavhenyengwa vowed: Masvingo will work for you and you will win. You can sleep easy!

The rally shows Zanu-PFs massive support base in the run-up to the crunch vote on August 23. Nelson Chamisa has a mountain to climb to match Zanu-PFs mobilization machine.

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Nelson Chamisa, leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), finally launched his party campaign in front of a packed crowd at Gwerus Mkoba Stadium after being denied by the police for weeks.

Chamisa took the opportunity to throw jabs at current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, promising an end to partisan politics and national divisions. He also vowed to ensure farmers have security of tenure by providing title deeds instead of 99-year leases.

Chamisa attempted to appeal to farmers, artisanal miners, and rural voters who typically vote for Zanu PF, promising that nobody would be evicted or deprived of opportunities during his leadership. He pledged to end corruption, improve salaries for civil servants, and arrest the economic collapse which has affected the people of Zimbabwe.

During his campaign, Chamisa accused Mnangagwa of allowing minerals to be exported without value addition and promised that his government would not allow minerals to be exported raw. He also criticized Zanu PF for not providing value to the countrys minerals and accused them of stealing gold.

Chamisa also addressed the issue of double nominations, promising to publish a list of genuine candidates soon. The launch rally was ignored by vice-presidents Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti, both notable senior members in the opposition party.

Chamisa concluded his speech by stating that voters should choose between light and darkness, between a government that can make life better for them or one which can make things worse. He expressed confidence in facing both Mnangagwa and former Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who he believes are good candidates for defeat ahead of the polls.

The launch shows Chamisa is ready to fight the election despite police obstacles. But he faces an uphill battle convincing rural voters to abandon Zanu PF.

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SOCIALITES TARISAI Madam Boss Chikocho Munetsiwa and Admire Mushambi, who is popularly known as Mama Vee, were key players in popularising the E-Creator Ponzi scheme whose subscribers were duped of over US$1 million.

This was heard when the E-Creator founder, Zhao Jiaotong, and director Trymore Tapfumaneyi, appeared in court over the weekend.

The court heard that the two socialites were engaged to advertise the Ponzi scheme and make it attractive to subscribers on their social media pages, which command over a million followers.

On Facebook, Madam Boss has over 1,3 million followers while Mama Vee has over 700 000 followers.

It is alleged that Jiaotong, Tapfumaneyi and their accomplices  Justin Kuchekenya, Billy Thomas Syedou, Abraham Mutambu and others who are still at large  registered E-Creator Economic Commerce Private Limited in January this year.

The company was housed at Joina City.

They launched the company as an online e-commerce operator.

They went on to misrepresent to their investors through various ways, including using the social media influence of the likes of Madam Boss and Mama Vee.

The deception was that the investors would enjoy monthly returns, depending on the mounts.

Thousands of Zimbabweans flocked to join.

On top of appointing brand ambassadors, they also employed various agents in major towns and cities throughout the country in order to market the business.

On July 3, some of the subscribers encountered challenges in accessing their funds and approached the company for clarification.

A member of the syndicate, Abraham Mutambu, assured the subscribers that it was a system upgrade that was affecting access to their funds.

He further advised them that the situation would normalise in due course.

On July 5, subscribers were sh0cked to realise that E-Creator Electronic Commerce Private Limited had actually sent a notice on their website that they were no-longer operating.

They posted a picture of Zhao Jiaotong claiming he was the one who had taken their money and absconded to China.

The investors went to the companys offices and found out that they had been closed permanently.

Jiaotong was arrested at the Robert Mugabe International Airport as he was about to fly out of Zimbabwe.

The duo is expected back in court today to file their bail application.

The State is also expected to have secured a Chinese interpreter for Jiaotong as he indicated that he doesnt understand English.

 HMetro

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Former British PM Tony Blair has had a dramatic U-turn and now wants to help Zimbabwe end economic sanctions, ED revealed.

President Mnangagwa said he had a frank meeting with Blair recently where the ex-PM agreed to lobby the UK government to scrap the sanctions that Blair himself helped impose while he was in power.

ED said: 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.

Blair and Bush had teamed up to punish Harare after Zimbabwes land reform program. Blair backed the US invasion of Iraq in return for Bushs support on Zimbabwe sanctions.

But now Blair  who was famously told by late former President Robert Mugabe to keep his England and let me keep my Zimbabwe  has changed tune. ED said: Blair is now engaging his colleagues to resolve the issues.

Zimbabwes economy is growing despite sanctions, with agriculture and mining booming, creating thousands of jobs, said ED.

He warned the US  Zimbabwes last sanctions holdout  not to treat his country as second class citizens.

Zanu PF VP Constantino Chiwenga praised ED for developmental projects saying he deserves another term.

So it seems Blair has made a massive U-turn on Zimbabwe. But will the UK government now follow suit and help end the economic sanctions that have crippled the country for so long?

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Conor here: Its unfortunate the authors dont put a price tag on what they deem unaffordable. I was curious how it would compare to the $80-plus billion and counting the US has sent to fund its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. If the US government was similarly motivated, here we have a project that would create jobs, help mitigate the spread of Covid by removing the incentive for return-to-office pressure, and could be used to end the national travesty of hundreds of thousands of people sleeping on the streets. Rather than a few localities offering incentives for the private sector, a government-led national effort would be affordable. Priorities.

By Jenny Baker and Leah Mo. Baker is a professor in civil, construction and environmental engineering at Iowa State University, and Mo is an assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at Iowa State University. Originally published at The Conversation.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more companies have offered remote work options for their employees, or have even switched to working entirely remotely  leaving empty office buildings a new fixture in many cities. In July 2023, Bostons Planning and Development Agency announced a pilot program to offer incentives to building developers who convert office buildings to residential housing.

As engineers who study buildings, we wanted to know if these empty spaces could be converted to residential buildings, and what hurdles developers would face.

While converting office buildings to multi-family residential involves many considerations  including zoning codes, real estate values and structural issues  certain buildings may be good candidates for this type of conversion. Heres what it would take to remodel these spaces.

Redefining Space

First off, the building owners wouldnt need to make any major structural changes to convert an office building to a residential building. Most office buildings are designed so that the tenants can easily build out the space to suit their needs. This means they can put up walls, take power where they need, and select finishes like flooring, paint and lighting.

With a conversion to multi-family residential, the shell and structural elements of the building would remain, while the building owners could add or move walls to create individual apartments. The costs for this interior remodeling would depend on the how fancy things like the countertops and light fixtures are.

But remodelers would also need to consider nonstructural building features, like windows. Windows determine the distribution of natural light in each residential unit. Narrower office buildings with more area along the perimeter  and therefore more opportunity for viewing windows  would transition more easily to residential than deep, rectangular-shaped office buildings. No one wants to live in a home with no daylight.

Electricity, Fire Alarm and Telecommunications

Residential and commercial buildings have different electricity needs. Residential buildings have kitchen appliances that require lots of power, but office buildings use more computers, projectors and copy machines  meaning the electrical load would likely be about the same. Office and residential buildings also have similar power needs for lighting.

The electrical load from heating and air conditioning would depend on the type of systems used. While the main electrical service of an office building might be an OK size for a residential building, remodelers would need to add a subpanel to each residential unit. U.S. code requires that all residents have ready access to the circuit breakers or fuses supplying their unit.

Building owners would also need to add more fire alarm devices, since residential buildings have more rooms. They might need to revise the internet, telephone and cable systems, as well, to make sure each residential tenant has access to these services.

Though expensive, these electrical revisions are possible. The biggest hurdles would be adding the subpanels and metering to figure out how much each unit uses.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

While commercial buildings usually have centralized HVAC systems, residential buildings need separate HVAC systems and controls for each residential unit. That being said, mid-rise and high-rise apartment buildings often use a centralized HVAC system with variable air volume units in each zone. Variable air volume units work together with a central air handling unit that supplies a constant airflow. Each variable air volume unit then adjusts the air flow for its specific zone. Each smaller apartment would be a zone, but some larger apartments may need multiple zones.

Residential buildings typically have a smaller HVAC load than office buildings, meaning the existing HVAC system would be larger than needed for residential reuse. Oversized air conditioning systems often have humidity problems  add to that the fact that residential tenants create more humidity from showering, doing laundry and cooking. The way to mitigate humidity here is through additional exhaust fans. Variable air volume units would also help keep the extra humidity under control. Building owners would need to pay for these additions, as well as ductwork remodeling.

Plumbing and Fire Protection

In office buildings, most plumbing is centralized, often in the buildings core. For instance, bathrooms tend to be grouped together and located in the same spot on each floor. However, in residential buildings, plumbing is distributed throughout. Each unit typically has its own bathroom and kitchen, and each requires drinking water and sanitary sewer.

The biggest issues here would be the service sizes  or how large the pipes serving the building are  and the interior plumbing system. The service sizes for water and sewer in an office building may not be big enough for residential uses. This would depend on local codes and the number of plumbing fixtures. Its likely that the pipe for a sewer utility connection would need to be larger for an apartment building than for an office building. Also, the interior plumbing system would need a remodel to serve each residential unit.

Reworking the plumbing for water should be possible. However, reworking the sanitary sewer system would be much more difficult, especially on upper floors. Gravity makes things run downhill, and longer horizontal pipes need more vertical drop to keep things flowing in the right direction. This remodel would require new plumbing chases  vertical cavities that pipes run in  to accommodate the sanitary sewer and vent piping needs. Adding these chases would likely require core drilling of floors. If the owner wanted to invest the money, it would be doable  but expensive.

The fire sprinkler system would likely need revisions once the new walls go up, but the size of the pipe bringing water to the sprinkler system should be pretty close to the right size.

New Life for Vacant Buildings Is Doable but Not Easy

No one wants to see office buildings sitting vacant, as vacant buildings can diminish surrounding real estate values. Converting an office building to a multi-family residential occupancy is possible. It would, however, not be cheap.

But office buildings that are due for a remodel or upgrade anyway could be great candidates for this type of reinvention. If the building systems  HVAC, plumbing, electrical  are due for replacement, the project becomes more cost effective. With demand for rental units outpacing growth in new supply, and many cities like San Francisco and Boston offering incentives to convert, there is potential here. For someone with a creative vision and a building in the right location, this could be a successful and innovative project.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA ON THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW GOVERNANCE BRAND BAGONG PILIPINAS

It is expected that any new initiative will be subject to scrutiny and varying opinions. However, it is important to recognize the intentions and potential of adopting the new governance brand.

I understand that some individuals have expressed reservations about the branding itself. It is essential to note that the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership is not simply about superficial image-building. It is about cultivating a culture of good governance and progressive leadership across all levels of government. It entails implementing policies and initiatives that promote transparency, combat corruption, and uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos.

It serves as a guidepost or vision for a revitalized Philippines--a nation that embraces positive change, innovation, and progressive governance. Our country deserves a government that is responsive, accountable, and dedicated to the welfare of its citizens.
While serving as an elementary school principal in the Diocese of Buffalo in 2010-11, I was outraged when the School Board wasnt able to acquire funds to install a push button doorbell system (with a camera) for all visitors entering the school. As a result, I purchased the doorbell, door lock, camera and monitor for my secretary. I paid for the installation. The secretary was a great asset to us, questioning each visitor before buzzing the door open.

It wasnt a five-star system, but at least there was some degree of safety for our school. As time has proven, its not nearly enough to stop a dedicated killer from entering the facility.

When is America going to wake up to the need for safety in our schools? Again and again, we hear from the president, making remarks and visiting the site of school shootings. We hear from outraged parents trying to make their comments known to our elected officials. The message is falling on deaf ears.

We need to make school safety a priority today. No more planning boards or committee meetings to determine policy, procedures or how to make it right once and for all.

Gun control is only part of the solution. There are far too many guns, assault rifles and weapons on the black market. Gun legislation may improve this condition but only decades into the future.

We need change now. The technology exists to monitor the presence of gunpowder outdoors, including the perimeter of a school building. We need solid steel doors with caged (small) square windows. We need an armed guard stationed at each entrance. We need security cameras at every corner  plus a team of people monitoring the cameras. We need to stop anybody from walking on campus, or driving on campus with the intent to kill people.

Yes, it sounds like a prison, not a school, but unfortunately, we are dealing with too many opportunities for a gunman to enter, shoot through a door, break into a classroom window and kill innocent children, teachers and staff.

State and federal governments should make funds available for all schools to improve their security footprints.

We must make every effort to ensure their safety  or we are failing to do our due diligence with our community and schools.
While America embraces LGBT drag queens and pedophilia, Russia to BAN sex change surgery

You will not find any drag queen story hour events at Russian libraries or "gender-affirming care" curriculum being pushed on children in Russian public schools because, unlike the United States and the West, Russia is vehemently opposed to allowing LGBT perversion to spread within its borders.

Yet another new piece of legislation has been introduced in Russia to ban so-called "sex change" operations, as well as prohibit changing genders on identity cards, as part of a nationwide effort to maintain "traditional values" in Russian society.

The bill has already received initial approval in the lower house of parliament last month and is now slated for a second reading of three. If passed, the new law will only allow sex-related surgical operations to treat actual intersex "congenital physiological anomalies" in children, and only with approval from a special medical commission or public health care institution.

"We are preserving Russia for posterity, with its cultural and family values, traditional foundations, and putting up a barrier to the penetration of Western anti-family ideology," said deputy chairman of the lower house Pyotr Tolstoy, following the approval after the first reading.

(Related: The suicide rate among transgenders is sky-high because these people are seriously mentally ill, but the media refuses to admit this while it blames everything else under the sun for their fate.)

The West is in rapid moral decay while Russia is rising to embrace morality and traditional family values

The Western media is furious about this and other such legislation. Reuters, for instance, blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for targeting LGBT perversion, claiming that he "seeks to portray [LGBT] as evidence of moral decay in Western countries."

If Reuters thinks this is some kind of slam at Putin, the fake news outlet is woefully out of touch with normal Americans who agree that LGBT perversion is a scourge on the American landscape and one that needs to be rooted out if the country has any chance at survival.

Last December, Putin signed another law restricting the dissemination of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual rations and pedophilia." Anyone cause "spreading any information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books or advertising" now faces heavy fines as punishment.

Just this week, a trans activist was arrested for treason in Russia for committing "treason," according to the government.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said the transgender was arrested on suspicion of financing the Ukrainian military, which sounds about right since Ukraine is much more closely aligned with the U.S. than with Russia when it comes to morality and traditional family values.

While the FSB did not identify the transgender by name, the agency did describe her as "an LGBT movement activist who previously changed his gender identity from a woman to a man."

The transgender in question is said to be the first LGBT in Russia to face treason charges after she made a wire transfer to a Ukrainian bank "to provide financial assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

The Western media is, of course, accusing Russia of "homophobia" and "transphobia" over the arrest and charges. Nobody is actually "afraid" of LGBTs, though, as these two denigrating terms suggest. People who oppose the LGBT agenda are not afraid of it so much as they are opposed to it and want it rooted out of popular culture.

The West is rapidly declining as it continues to embrace and push every form of LGBT perversion imaginable. Learn more about what is soon to come for the U.S. and its allies at Collapse.news.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Newstarget.com

TheMoscowTimes.com
The WAR on appliances continues: Biden imposes rule to slash coolant use in air conditioning units

President Joe Biden's administration is not stopping at regulating gas stoves and all appliances that are powered by fossil fuels in its massive drive to switch to renewable energy-dependent and electric-powered household equipment.

More stringent rules that reduce the use of coolants used in most air conditioning units and other appliances in the name of fighting climate change are also next in line. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule this week that dovetails with the 2020 American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to reduce the production and consumption of the said chemicals by 85 percent by 2036. It aims to slash the use of synthetic refrigerant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 40 percent by 2028 while decrying the chemical as a "climate super-pollutant." (Related: Biden regime's war on your appliances just widened with new attack on dishwashers, under guise of 'climate change.')

HFCs are widely used as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and as refrigerants in most cooling systems, including refrigerators, heat pumps, and air conditioners. Said types of hydrocarbons are known for having properties that deplete the ozone layer. However, while HFCs do not damage the ozone layer, they are potent greenhouse gases that EPA says contribute to climate change.

Meanwhile, Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) who specializes in environmental policy, wrote in an analysis in 2022 that wholesale prices for commonly used refrigerants had already increased 400 percent since EPA first embarked on the HFC phaseout of the year before that. He wrote: "Service technicians say that replacing refrigerant lost from a leak now costs upwards of $800, about double what it did a year ago. He added that EPA's HFC quotas would tighten in the years ahead, so the ratchet will keep turning, surely causing homeowners' bills to increase further still."

Since the HFC phasedown first began on Jan. 1, 2022, the import and production of HFCs have required special allowances, with EPA saying in its recent announcement that the number of these allowances will experience "a significant decrease." Moreover, studies have estimated that an HFC phasedown could avoid up to half a degree Celsius of warming by 2100, which mirrored the goal that EPA cited in its announcement.

"The U.S. HFC phasedown program, bolstered by domestic innovation to develop alternative chemicals and equipment, is paving the way for the United States to tackle climate change and strengthen global competitiveness," Joe Goffman, principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, said in a statement.

However, the claim that phasing out HFCs by 85 percent by 2100 would prevent half a degree Celsius of warming has been challenged, with critics arguing that this conventional wisdom is based on questionable assumptions and dubious foundations.

(iStock photo)

HFC phaseout makes no sense in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Back in 2021, Patrick Michaels, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Benjamin Zycher, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, wrote a critical op-ed in the Washington Examiner when EPA first unveiled its proposal to curb HFCs.

According to the duo, the claim that a phaseout of HFCs would reduce future warming by 0.5 degrees Celsius is conventional wisdom. It does not make sense as part of a larger international effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they concluded after performing a calculation based on the EPA's estimate that slashing HFCs in the United States would eliminate the equivalent of 4.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.

"The 4.7-million-ton equivalent reduction would be 17 one-thousandths of 1 percent, the temperature effect of which would be undetectable," the two pointed out, emphasizing it has nothing to do with environmental protection, that it "should be rejected," they argued.

Despite this, the administration's efforts continue as the drive got a boost in September 2022 when the U.S. Senate voted to ratify the "Kigali Amendment" to the "Montreal Protocol," indicating a regulation on the production and consumption of the "ozone-depleting substances." Twenty-one Republicans, including then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), voted to ratify in a 69-27 vote. Biden later signed the ratification of the agreement, lauding it as a "historic, bipartisan win for American manufacturing and global climate action."

Visit ClimateAlarmism.news to read more on how the government has been brainwashing people that climate change is worsening.

More related stories:

House passes bill to block Biden from banning gas stoves as Republicans push back against anti-fossil fuel policies.

CONFIRMED: State and local governments are passing laws and ordinances that ban gas stoves.

House Republicans push back against Biden administration's GREEN TYRANNY.

New York set to become first state to ban gas furnaces, stoves in new buildings.

WAR ON APPLIANCES: Energy Department announces NEW RULES for air conditioners and air cleaners.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

EPA.gov

CEI.org

ACP.Copernicus.org

WashingtonExaminer.com
CLAIM: CIA funded secret mosquito experiment in India in the 70s

Dr. KS Jayaraman, a qualified nuclear scientist-turned-journalist working with the Press Trust of India (PTI), discussed a research project called the Genetic Control of Mosquitoes Unit (GCMU) in a news article published on July 19, 1974.

The project was carried out secretly in India and involved live research on new breeds of mosquitoes for germ warfare. This project was funded and coordinated by the United States Army, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and other American organizations in association with some Indian institutions under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). (Related: Bill Gates-funded Colombian mosquito factory breeds 30 million bacteria-infected mosquitoes weekly.)

The expose of Dr. Jayaraman was backed by Nandita Haksar, a renowned civil rights advocate and lawyer. Haksar, daughter of the late P.N. Haksar, a highly respected bureaucrat and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, shared her firsthand knowledge of the controversial closure of the GCMU under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Haksar's thought-provoking article, titled "Stranger than Fiction: Did the CIA carry out clandestine mosquito experiments in 1970s India?" sheds light on the potential clash between profit-driven politics and public interest within the realm of scientific collaboration.

In her article, Haksar recounted a 1975 memory of when Chakravarthi Raghavan, a young journalist, approached the late P.N. Haksar to report a secret experiment near Palam Airport (now known as Delhi Airport). This experiment involved mosquitoes "used" for studying yellow fever, a disease not prevalent in India. The journalist posited that it was, in fact, a part of a biological warfare experiment.

The project received funding exclusively from the PL 480 Funds. However, the collaboration between the WHO and the ICMR was imbalanced, with the former overseeing all aspects of the project through its representative, Dr. R. Pal. The ICMR, on the other hand, only covered the salaries of the Indian staff.

It was later discovered that there were two separate agreements: one between the WHO and the ICMR and another between the WHO and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). The ICMR was unaware of the latter agreement, as were Indian health officials.

The USPHS, which included a representative from Fort Detrick, the U.S. biological warfare division's headquarters, held decision-making power and attended scientific and technical meetings.

The project's stated objective was to explore genetic methods of controlling malaria and filariasis vectors. However, the actual work conducted deviated from this objective. Contrary to the agreement, no research was conducted on the prevalent urban malaria vector, Anopheles Stephensi.

Instead, extensive studies focused on the filariasis vector Culex quinquifasciatus, despite the absence of filariasis in Delhi. Additionally, there was an unwarranted emphasis on studying Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever vector, despite the disease not being prevalent in India.

These experiments are far from being mere conspiracy theories

As the revelations surrounding the GCMU and its alleged links to the CIA's clandestine mosquito experiments come to light, questions are being raised about the extent of profit-driven politics and the impact they have on scientific collaboration.

For instance, the global Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic raised numerous conspiracy theories regarding its origin and spread. These theories range from claims of consuming bats and secretive bio-warfare research in a Wuhan laboratory to suspicions about the role of 5G networks. While most of these theories have been debunked through scientific evidence, there have been instances where real events have taken place.

India has witnessed a series of experiments in the 1970s similar to COVID-19. Aside from the live research on new mosquito breeds in the context of germ warfare, India also caught the importation of worm-infested hop plants from Australia (previously absent in India) capable of causing severe damage to crops and plants and the migration patterns of certain virus-carrying birds in the northeast region.

And these series of experiments are far from being mere conspiracy theories. "Not all such conspiracy stories could be dismissed so easily. There were other stories that proved to be true and terrifying," Haksar stated in her article.

Adding further intrigue is the fact that the U.S. Army, the CIA and other American organizations funded and coordinated these experiments on mosquitoes and bird migration. They collaborated with Indian institutions under the auspices of the WHO.

Watch this video discussing how scientists weaponized mosquitoes to inject those who refused to be vaccinated.

This video is from the QBits channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Genetically modified mosquitoes are being released in Florida Keys despite protests.

U.S. patent describes "toxic mosquito aerial" chemtrails program to spread chemical and biological weapons for killing people.

Bill Gates wants to deploy genetically modified mosquitoes to inject vaccines.

EPA approves release of GMO mosquitoes in the Florida Keys despite safety concerns.

GMO mosquito experiment goes horribly wrong: Insects adapt and overcome, transforming into super "mutant" mosquitoes that could cause mass death across South America.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NewsClick.in

Scroll.in

Brighteon.com
Dangerous heat wave expected to set record highs throughout US South and Southwest

Last month may have been the hottest June on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but July is already on track to set a similar record. Right now, the U.S. south and southwest, which are already suffering excessive heat, are preparing for conditions to get even worse as a record-breaking heat wave approaches.

The National Weather Service has already issued a series of excessive heat warnings and advisories for more than a dozen states. This means that people are being advised to limit their outdoor activities to minimize their chances of suffering heat-related illnesses.

Triple-digit temperatures are expected to be seen in most of Texas, as well as California and the southwest, except in coastal areas and the mountains. In fact, some locations in the desert southwest are expected to be in the 110s and 120s.

One area that meteorologists will be watching closely in the coming days is Death Valley, California, where the National Weather Service predicts that the Furnace Creek location could reach as high as 131 degrees on Sunday. Should this occur, it will mark the hottest temperature to be recorded anywhere on Earth.

Another area of interest is Phoenix, where Monday could end up being the 18th day in a row in which temperatures reach 110 degrees or higher, which would tie a city record. Temperatures there might also set a new record for a streak of days during which the temperature does not dip below 90 degrees. Some meteorologists believe it could ultimately prove to be Phoenix's hottest week on record.

Those hoping to beat the heat by switching their outdoor activities in the morning will be disappointed to find that the morning lows in many areas are expected to be uncomfortably high as well. For example, the low in Phoenix may be in the low to mid-90s on several mornings in the coming days; their morning low on Thursday was a sweltering 95 degrees, just as degree away from the citys hottest low temperature on record.

The heat wave is caused by a heat dome, which is a strong area experiencing high pressure within the upper atmosphere. This pressure sends air toward the ground, compressing it and raising its temperature further.

According to forecasts, the high-pressure dome will continue to make its way across the southern part of the country throughout next week, and daily records in many areas are expected to be matched or broken. In addition to inland California and Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, western Colorado, Arizona and Utah are expected to see daily record highs.

Deadly heat wave strikes Europe

Europe is also experiencing unusually high temperatures, with a deadly heat wave breaking temperatures throughout the continent and compromising health among locals and tourists alike during the high season. Intense heat and temperatures above 104 degrees are being seen in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece and France.

In a statement, the European Space Agency (ESA) noted: Temperatures are sizzling across Europe this week amid an intense and prolonged period of heat. And its only just begun.

Fifteen Italian cities were under extreme health risk warnings Friday, including tourist hotspots like Rome and Florence. On the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, temperatures are expected to approach the European temperature record of nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Several tourists collapsed from heat stroke this week in Rome, and at least one person has died from the heat.

In areas experiencing high temperatures, people are advised to stay indoors and avoid exercising during the hottest hours of the day. If you must go outside, be sure to stay in the shade and wear loose-fitting clothing. It is also important to drink plenty of water and avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine. If someone feels nauseous, dizzy or lightheaded, seek help immediately.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

Weather.com

CNN.com
EVIL Disney unveils new program about little girl who inherits blood-drinking cult, complete with ritualistic MURDER and human sacrifice

A new Disney show called "Praise Petey" is scheduled to premiere on July 21 on Freeform and Hulu, and it is exactly the kind of filth we have come to expect from the once-trustworthy Disney empire.

According to reports, "Praise Petey" is about a young girl who inherits "a human-sacrificing, blood-drinking cult whose logo has the all-seeing eye," to quote one source.

A product of Disney Television Studios' 20th Television Animation, "Praise Petey" is something that parents will not want their children to watch, despite bearing the Disney brand name.

Described by The Hollywood Reporter as an "adult animated comedy," "Praise Petey" depicts a girl having to move from the big city to "a place called New Utopia" where she is charged with taking care of her deceased father's ritualistic murder cult.

"It's a community her father founded, only it's not like most," the Reporter described. "Here, everyone's part of a cult. Even worse? They believe Petey's their prophesied savior."

"You being here means the prophecy of the great daughter's return is fulfilled," one of the characters, voiced over by actor John Cho in a fake southern accent, says in a two-minute teaser of the show.

"Is this town doing okay?" the Petey character then asks before another character, voiced over by Kiersey Clemons, responds with, "Nah, we're starving."

(Related: Disney is one of many LGBT-pushing corporations that hates children, morality, and traditional family values.)

Female empowerment is of course a prominent theme in "Praise Petey"

In order to fulfill her father's cult's prophecy, Petey is to return to the town where his cult has a stranglehold. Petey does not want to do this, though, and instead chooses to "girlboss" her way out of it.

As usual, Petey is propped up as an independent, empowered woman who defies the patriarchy, which is admittedly evil in the context of the show's premise. Petey takes it upon herself to remove the cult elements from her father's town and give the community a different pathway forward.

"No more human sacrifice," Petey, dressed in a "midsommar-like flower gown" tells the community members of New Utopia upon becoming empowered. "I have a vision for New Utopia, and it is bright!"

In other words, the evil patriarchy was ruining New Utopia, so a woman had to come in and change everything to turn it into a paradise  talk about a typical, predictable yawner from Hollywood.

"Disney is crap," one commenter wrote, putting it plainly and simply.

"Actually, Disney is a clear-cut child abuse corporation at this point," responded another. "Where is law enforcement?"

Like the rest of the corporate-controlled media machine, Disney remains outspokenly opposed to the new "Sound of Freedom" film starring Jim Caviezel of "Passion of the Christ," even while it simultaneously promotes banal filth like "Praise Petey."

"No wonder they are trying to diss 'Sound of Freedom,'" another commenter wrote about Disney, which openly supports grooming, transgenderism, and other forms of LGBT pedophilia and perversion.

"This is just another verifier to show us how sick American and Western culture has become."

Numerous other commenters pointed out that decent parents everywhere will stop allowing their children to consume Disney programming.

"Parents do not want their kids around these homosexual pedophile child molesters," one said. "Disney World in Orlando is suffering. Here it is, nearly mid-July, schools are out, families are on vacation, and the streets of Disney are just about empty!"

"Probably even the kids don't want to go after running from their perverted public schools 'teachers,'" responded another.

The latest news about Disney corruption can be found at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

Newstarget.com
Rep. Gaetz leading charge to dismantle illegal government mass surveillance scheme

Republicans in the United States House of Representatives, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), are pushing to abolish a controversial surveillance program that was enacted by Congress in 2008 as a post-9/11 national security measure.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) must be reauthorized by the end of the year in order to remain in place, but Gaetz and his allies are aiming to stop it, thus stopping the federal government from conducting warrantless surveillance of foreigners outside the United States.

In certain circumstances, warrantless surveillance of Americans living inside the U.S. also occurs under Section 702 of FISA. This has drawn considerable civil liberty concerns from politicians not only on the right but also the left.

It turns out that FISA has been heavily abused by the deep state. There have been significant violations of the privacy rights of American citizens thanks to the program, which Gaetz and his allies hope will become a thing of the past before 2024 arrives.

"Without congressional reauthorization, the measure, which was extended by Congress in 2017, will expire on Dec. 31, 2023," reports explain.

(Related: Gaetz was successfully able to convince DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz to admit that the FBI has conducted at least 3.4 million warrantless "backdoor searches" on Americans thanks to Section 702 of FISA.)

It's time to stop the spying

While some intelligence figures expect us to believe that Section 702 of FISA is necessary in order to protect "national security" Gaetz and other prominent Republicans say no dice.

Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) all agree that the spying and surveillance apparatus has to go because the potential for it to be abused is too great.

Gaetz introduced a resolution "expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that authorities under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 should be allowed to expire."

FBI Director Christopher Wray promised that changes would be made to Section 702 of FISA to reduce the number of improper queries, but Gaetz wants the authority removed entirely.

The court system issued an opinion in 2022 that was recently made public showing that the FBI made an additional 278,000 improper queries on top of the aforementioned three million improper queries. These included queries on January 6 "insurrection" protesters, Black Lives Matter (BLM) rioters, and 20,000 congressional campaign donors.

"The persistent abuse of Section 702 of FISA underscores the disturbing trend of our federal government being weaponized against its people," Gaetz said. "The blatant misuse of warrantless surveillance powers targeting Americans' communications should not be accepted or reauthorized."

"We must uphold national security without sacrificing the constitutional rights of our fellow Americans."

For the 15 years that Section 702 of FISA has been in place, the intelligence community has hardly been forthright about its use of the scheme. Gaetz's resolution addresses this.

It should be noted that former President Donald Trump reauthorized and signed Section 702 of FISA into law when he was installed into the White House in 2017. Trump's signing of that reauthorization came with a caveat that the intelligence community must publicly disclose all queries on Americans.

For 21 months following that reauthorization, the intelligence community sought to avoid having to abide by the new requirement. Only after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), a secretive FISA watchdog group, ruled that the intelligence community had to follow the law as amended in 2017 that it finally agreed.

"This Congress is aware of multiple abuses of the section 702 data collection process through released court decisions and aggregated data, which in itself is an adequate basis to sunset the program," Gaetz's resolution further states.

Big Government is a big threat to Americans and their constitutional rights. Learn more at Liberty.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Newstarget.com
WW3 GUARANTEED: NATO summit unveils plan to accelerate Ukraine membership

The recently concluded summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has yielded a plan to accelerate Ukraine's membership in the alliance  practically guaranteeing World War III.

NATO's two-day summit was held from July 11 to 12 at the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary-general, confirmed that Ukraine is being placed on a "path forward" during the first day of the summit. He also announced that Sweden will be allowed into NATO immediately.

According to Stoltenberg, Ukraine's membership is being fast-tracked "from a two-step process into a one-step process." He added: "This will move Ukraine closer to NATO." (Related: Ukraine's defense minister claims his country is a "de facto" member of NATO.)

The NATO secretary-general also told members of the media that the alliance has agreed to put 300,000 troops, including "air and naval assets," on standby. He continued: "The most important thing we can do is continue to provide weapons, ammunition and military support to Ukraine."

But investigative reporter Leo Hohmann warned that the decision to fast-track Ukraine's NATO membership will practically guarantee World War III, adding that "the West has now fully played its hand."

"If one [NATO member] country gets attacked by a non-NATO country, all of NATO is pledged to join in the fighting under a collective defense clause known as Article 5. But what if one NATO member provokes an invasion from Russia or some other country? Then all of the other members are pledged to come to the aid of that one nation that provoked war," he wrote.

Hohmann also denounced Stoltenberg's assurances of Ukraine being admitted into NATO, as "it gives Russia no incentive to end the war." This is because Russia "now knows that as long as there is a sovereign country called Ukraine, it will be on a path to joining a military alliance dedicated to the destruction of Russia, or at the very least greatly weakening it."

Ukraine's NATO membership breaking promises to Moscow

"By surrounding a nuclear-armed world power the likes of Russia, NATO is acting in the most reckless and provocative manner possible for a military alliance that is designed with a collective 'defense' clause," Hohmann noted.

According to him, the 31-member NATO "has more than doubled in size since its founding in 1949. The alliance has, in recent years, added former Eastern Bloc nations on Russia's border as members. Hohmann pointed out that the inclusion of the said nations directly violated verbal assurances made by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

A January 2022 article by the Guardian  incidentally published a month before the Russia-Ukraine war broke out  expounded on this "betrayal." The piece said Baker, state secretary under former President George H.W. Bush, promised Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev back in February 1990 that NATO would not expand eastward if Moscow accepted Germany's unification. While Russia did accept the unification of East and West Germany, NATO did not hold up its end of the bargain.

Seventeen years later, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought up the accusations during a 2007 speech at the Munich Security Conference. The Russian leader accused the West of forgetting and breaking assurances, leaving international law in ruins. According to the Guardian, the betrayal claim "matters desperately to Russia since it fuels distrust [and] feeds Russia's cynicism about international law."

Hohmann ultimately warned: "In the eyes of Putin and any red-blooded Russian patriot, the very existence of Russia now depends on the total defeat of Ukraine. Look for Putin to ratchet up his war machine exponentially, because he now has zero incentive to end this war peacefully."

"Ukrainian and Russian leaders wanted to sit down and resolve their differences peacefully in April 2022. But the governments of the U.S. and the U.K. already had something else up their sleeves, which did not in any way involve peace."

Watch this video discussing Ukraine's streamlined yet unclear path to NATO membership.

This video is from the Maverick News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

It's TOO LATE for NATO to win the war against Russia here's why.

NATO members are running out of weapons that they can send to Ukraine.

Reports claim NATO had around 100 trainers inside Ukrainian city besieged by Russian troops.

Russia continues gaining ground in Ukraine as US, NATO pour in weapons to prolong the inevitable.

RUNNING OUT: Ukraine blowing through more ammo than NATO, U.S. can manufacture and provide.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

LeoHohmann.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Obama-era emails uncover Hunter Bidens vast connection to almost a dozen senior-level Biden admin aides

Almost a dozen present and former officials serving in the White House and Joe Biden administration, along with the president's national security adviser and the secretary of state, have broad connections to Hunter Biden, who is accused by Republicans of selling access to his father that dates back to over ten years.

A Fox News Digital analysis shows the range of Hunter's possible reach in the White House, while the first son is scheduled to make his first court appearance on July 26 for two alleged misdemeanor tax violations and a felony gun charge.

The Department of Justice declared last month that Hunter had entered a plea agreement in the case that will probably keep him out of jail. (Related: Hunter Biden pleads GUILTY to tax crimes, reaches deal on gun charge.)

United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss, who headed the investigation, is facing demands from Republicans investigating purported improper retaliation against whistleblowers who alleged the inquiry was "influenced by politics" and that Weiss was "hamstrung" when preparing prosecutorial decisions.

The analysis involves two members of Biden's Cabinet and one former Cabinet member, a top aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a national security adviser, five top Biden White House aides, and a top Biden campaign aide who is currently on leave from her role as a communications director for first lady Jill Biden.

Among the prominent names linked to Hunter Biden were: Jake Sullivan, Hunter Biden and President Biden's national security adviser; current Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Evan Ryan, Blinken's wife who is presently serving as White House cabinet secretary; White House chief of staff Jeff Zients; Kathy Chung, who is currently serving as the Pentagon's deputy director of protocol; Biden's former White House chief of staff Ron Klain; Elizabeth Alexander, the communications director for first lady Jill Biden; Annie Tomasini, an assistant to the president and the current director of Oval Office operations; Michael Donilon, a senior adviser to Biden; Steve Ricchetti, who serves as Biden's White House counselor; and Louisa Terrell, who is serving as assistant to the president and the director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

Uncovered Hunter Biden emails to build up House Republicans probe into Biden family

Meanwhile, uncovered emails between Hunter Biden and his business partners with the Barack Obama administration may build up the House Republicans' "influence peddling" investigations into the Biden family, according to lawmakers.

The heavily redacted hoard of emails issued Wednesday, July 12, by the conservative nonprofit organization America First Legal, arrived as President Biden has frequently denied knowledge of Hunter's overseas business dealings.

For example, records imply Hunter's longtime business partner at the closed investment firm Rosemont Seneca Partners, Eric Schwerin, emailed Joe Biden's top aides to see if a partner could join a State Department lunch in 2010 with Chinese government officials.

"The Biden Department of Justice is scrambling to cover up the depth of the Biden family's corruption because of the vast network of Democrat bureaucrats involved in their scheme. This is a scandal far worse than Watergate, and they must be held accountable," said Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, ex-chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

Congressional Republicans, specifically on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, have been supporting new ways to investigate the Biden family's finances.

Kentucky Rep. James Comer, the committee's chairman, said on Thursday, July 13, on Fox News he is drafting legislation to hold Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress in connection to his outstanding subpoena in May for records allegedly detailing "a bribery scheme involving a foreign national and Joe Biden when he served as vice president."

The Oversight Committee also issued a memo in mid-May based on bank records showing that the Biden family, along with Hunter Biden, took $10 million from foreign nationals in Romania and China while Biden was vice president.

The National Archives and Records Administration, which gave the records to America First Legal, mentioned executive privilege in redacting a critical portion of information.

One email revealed that Schwerin communicated with Joe Biden's then-executive assistant Michele Smith over a "China lunch" in November 2010 and imitated Hunter Biden on the chain.

Nevertheless, a version of the email available on Hunter Biden's laptop shows that Schwerin was referring to a luncheon event as part of a "China State Dinner" in January 2011.

As stated in the email, Hunter Biden tried to invite Walmart board member Greg Penner to the luncheon, which was honoring China's then-president Hu Jintao.

Records show that Hu was honored during the event by Biden and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, although it is not clear if Penner, Hunter Biden, or Schwerin were present.

Follow Corruption.news for more news about the corrupt Biden crime family.

Watch the video below to learn more about Hunter Biden's sweetheart deal from Justice Department.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Second whistleblower says Hunter Biden willfully evaded MILLIONS in taxes through elaborate money laundering scheme.

Hunter Biden DEMANDS $10 Million FROM communist China energy company in WhatsApp text while sitting next to his senile father, the Big Guy.

Biden is compromised: Leaked emails reveal Hunter Biden was happy to introduce business partners to top CCP official.

Sources include:

Your News.com

Washington Examiner.com
GROOMER teacher tells 10-year-old to delete private email communications about young students gender identity

Jennifer Knight, a fifth-grade teacher at Centennial Elementary School in Olympia, Wash., has been outed as a groomer after she was caught privately communicating with one of her 10-year-old students about transgenderism without the knowledge or consent of the child's parents.

Knight had reportedly counseled the child, a biological female, about "transitioning" into a "boy." At one point, Knight invited the little girl to her house and even suggested she set up a private email account and delete all correspondences after the fact, "otherwise when your mom looks, you will be outed instantly," Knight warned the child.

Alesha Perkins was able to obtain thousands of emails and documents about the disturbing LGBT grooming activity taking place within Washington's public school districts. Some of this information exposed Knight and her illicit relationship with the fifth-grade girl.

Perkins turned over the information she received to the unDivided podcast, and host Brandi Kruse was able to confirm that from summer through fall of 2022, Knight had been privately grooming the 10-year-old girl about changing her "gender identity" and pronouns to "he/him/ they/them."

"Crew Knight," the perverse teacher wrote in an email to school staff on April 28," has a student who has recently changed their name and pronouns in school and this email is to inform you of that change because you work with this child in some capacity."

"[The student] has opened up to me these past few months and has just requested this change. Please understand that this change is his [sic] right and is not to be questioned. Please also know that they are not going by this change at home, and we will not be discussing this with family."

(Related: Some of the evils of public school are now spreading to private school.)

"Taylor," the student in question, is back to being a normal 10-year-old girl after parents pulled her from Knight's clutches and moved to another school district

The Olympia Public School District has policies in place that align with Knight's stated agenda, hence why she openly emailed this information to school staff. Washington State has a similar policy in place covering all public schools, stating that:

"... in general, school staff should not share a student's transgender or gender-diverse status, legal name, or sex assigned at birth with others, who could include other students, school staff, and non-school staff."

Because Knight was concerned that the child in question's parents might find out about her illicit relationship with their daughter, Knight instructed the girl, whom media reports are referring to as "Taylor," to "get a personal email set up so we still have a way to communicate."

"I would take you into my home any time you need," Knight further told the child. "Make sure this email is deleted too when we are done bc otherwise when your mom looks, you will be outed instantly. I kept emailing you but I was worried your mom interfered before you saw my messages."

At one point, Knight communicated directly with the girl's mother about her mental health, but conveniently failed to mention anything about the child's "gender dysphoria," which Knight appears to have played a part in planting inside the child's mind.

Taylor's parents have since pulled her out of the district entirely, and ever since that time, the child has gone back to identifying as a normal girl. Knight's employment status at Centennial Elementary School remains unknown, though we can confirm that her LinkedIn page has been removed as of this writing.

The best way to protect your children from public school grooming and pedophilia is to homeschool them. Learn more at Homeschooling.news.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com

Newstarget.com
News Editorial Board

It had to happen. Its terrible that the cause of it unfolded in Buffalo and for the reasons that it did, but the lawsuit against social media companies by the families of the May 14, 2022, shooting victims is important. They have a point that needs to be made.

Its been seen repeatedly: Social media helps to radicalize individuals who commit heinous crimes then use those online platforms to encourage others to follow suit. Thats what happened before a racist teenager murdered 10 Black people and wounded three others in a carefully planned attack at Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue.

The fact is that few, if any, social media platforms adequately monitor the content that millions of people post daily. It is, admittedly, a big task, but the business creates fabulous wealth for its leaders. They have a responsibility  at least moral, if not legal, given the overly broad protections of federal law.

The lawsuit argues that the platforms failures cost 10 Buffalonians their lives. As attorney Ben Crump said at a press conference on Wednesday as the lawsuit was filed, the link is undeniable.

There were many people who helped him load that gun, Crump said. And it is our objective to make sure that everybody that loaded that gun is held to account.

That, of course, poses the essential question: Even in the aftermath of a blood-soaked massacre, can those coddled companies be made to acknowledge their liability?

Its important to try.

The issues were laid out last year when, in the aftermath of the Tops massacre, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a report requested by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Online platforms should be held accountable for allowing hateful and dangerous content to spread, James said in a statement accompanying her report. Extremist content is flourishing online, and we must all work together to confront this crisis.

The issue can be entangled in the critical free speech protections afforded by the First Amendment, but we already know that right is not a free pass to say anything, anytime. Famously, you cant shout Fire! in a crowded theater when there is no fire. Why? Because of the risks of severe injury or death. You also cant incite to riot. You cant conspire to break laws.

That some social media posts are incitements to criminality is beyond dispute. But are social media companies liable for what they allow to be posted on their internet sites, there to inflame the virtual environment and the minds of those who are easily corrupted?

James had a well-considered answer: Social media companies, she proposed, should be shielded from liability only if they take reasonable action to rein in unlawful violent criminal content. That would require a change to U.S. internet law Section 230, which provides internet platforms broad legal immunity from liability over users posts  even plans for mass murder.

How this lawsuit will end is unknowable, but its usefulness could be significant. Even if the plaintiffs fall short, the proceeding could shine a light on the dark corners of the social media universe, demonstrating why legislative changes are needed in both federal and state laws.

Even then, it may not happen. Congress has demonstrated a shocking tolerance for mass murder based, in part, on a mistaken reading of the Second Amendment. Some observers believe that such massacres count as an acceptable cost of freedom. Its not, as many other democracies make clear in their more sensible laws.

This lawsuit offers an important chance for these families to demand accountability. But with the possibility that it could awaken more Americans to the dangers of unaccountable social media, it could do much more.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
UN approves large Fukushima discharge into Pacific Ocean, prompting China to ban Japanese seafood imports

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an international organization within the United Nations system, just approved a large Fukushima discharge into the Pacific Ocean . The pending discharge, which includes over 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools of treated radioactive water, will be released from the infamous Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Chinese customs and food safety regulators are warning against the move and are threatening to block seafood imports from Japan.

The Fukushima disaster is not over

Back on March 11, 2011, the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was struck by 15-meter tsunami from a catastrophic 9.0 earthquake. Immediately, eleven reactors at four nuclear power plants shut down. In the first three days, all three cores largely melted down, releasing radioactive material, especially through days 4-6. The three units were no longer able to maintain proper reactor cooling and water circulation functions, and their electrical switch gear was disabled. For weeks, operators worked to restore heat removal from the reactors.

All four Fukushima Daiichi reactors were decommissioned due to extensive damage from the meltdown. For years, the basic ongoing task was to prevent the release of radioactive materials, particularly in contaminated water that leaked from the three units.

Related: Japan begins secret discharge of RADIOACTIVE WATER from Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.

The Fukushima controversy continues over a decade later

Over a decade later, treated radioactive water is set to be released directly form the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean. Hong Kongs Environment and Ecology Department is not on board with the decision. The Department head, Tse Chin-wan, issued a warning for Japan. If Japan discharged the treated water into the Pacific Ocean, Tse Chin-wan said China would ban all imported, frozen, refrigerated, and/or dried seafood products, including unprocessed or processed seaweed and sea salt. This impacts Chinas supply of scallops, shrimp, tuna, and Japanese rice wine sake, all of which are popular staples in China. China is the largest buyer of Japans seafood exports, so the confrontation has enormous implications.

As Japan gets international approval to dump the treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, Hong Kong warned that they will crack down on Japans seafood exports and ban products from a large number (10) of Japanese prefectures. Chinas General Administration of Customs said the ban is to prevent contaminated food from hitting Chinese supermarkets. Chinese Customs lambasted IAEA's report, claiming it "failed to fully reflect expert opinions" and that China will take "all necessary measures" to ensure that Chinese consumers are safe from radioactive waste.

Wang Wenbin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson addressed the issue in a recent press briefing: "If some people think that the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima is safe to drink or swim in, we suggest that Japan save the nuclear-contaminated water for these people to drink or swim in instead of releasing it into the sea and causing widespread concerns internationally."

Chinese Customs added: "Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, China's customs have attached great importance to the issue of radioactive contamination of Japanese food imported to China. It has closely monitored the relevant measures taken by the Japanese government, continued to assess the risk, and responded promptly.

The IAEA maintains that the treated radioactive water conforms with international safety standards.

Check Fukushima.News for the latest on the release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

World-Nuclear.org

Fukushima.News
Amish children dont get cancer, diabetes or autism, study finds (while mainstream Americans are sick and DYING in record numbers)

New research presented by Vaccine Safety Research Foundation (VSRF) founder Steve Kirsch to the Pennsylvania State Senate shows that Amish children, who are 100 percent unvaccinated, are also free from cancer, diabetes, autism, and many other chronic illnesses from which fully vaccinated children often suffer.

America's current Amish population is around 400,000 and rising. Increasingly more people are adopting the Amish way of growing clean food and herbs and avoiding Big Pharma poisons like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccine schedule for children.

The states with the highest concentration of Amish residents are Pennsylvania with around 90,000 and Ohio with around 82,000. Some 32 different states have Amish communities of varying sizes.

Since the average Amish family has seven children, their population numbers are continually rising. And since they do not use modern technology, pharmaceuticals, or other things that destroy health and life, the Amish are slowly but surely replacing their go-with-the-flow American counterparts, many of whom are embracing LGBT perversion, endless vaccines, and other genocidal concepts straight from the globalists.

"The Amish value rural life, manual labor, humility, and Gelassenheit (submission to God's will) with a view neither to interrupt family time nor replace face-to-face conversations whenever possible," reports explain.

"Yet, despite rejecting all modern medicine and pharmaceutical drugs that the rest of the American people have access to, the Amish are among the healthiest in the nation.

(Related: The federal government has repeatedly gone after the Amish for flouting its regulatory apparatus in a quest to destroy America's various food sources.)

Covid deaths rates 90 times lower for Amish compared to rest of America

The difference between how the Amish fared well during the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic" compared to how the rest of America suffered needlessly is also worth noting.

Another VSRF study found that the covid death rate in Amish communities was 90 times lower than it was for the rest of America. Unlike the mind-controlled herd all around them, the Amish did not wear masks or social distance, and they certainly did not get injected with mRNA poisons and spike proteins.

The Amish also never listen to the CDC about anything, which is why their families are healthy and strong. Comparatively, America's "woke" families are now genetically modified (GMO) zombies whose children are all turning transgender and screaming about pronouns while their immune systems degrade into dust.

"After decades of studying the Amish, there's no report because the report would be devastating to the narrative," Kirsch testified before the Pennsylvania State Senate. "It would seem that the CDC has been harming the public for decades and saying nothing and burying all the data."

Dr. Peter McCullough has also testified under similar circumstances, revealing based on science that chronic illness rates are off the charts in mainstream America while the Amish are doing just fine. The difference is that the Amish do not obey the "authorities," and thus remain safe from all the poisons being pushed by the globalists.

According to the latest VSRF study, not a single Amish child has ever developed cancer, autism, heart disease, or any other such condition. This is extremely telling as to the benefits of living more like the Amish rather than like a Hollywood celebrity, a media reporter, or even some church leaders who blasphemously told their congregations that Jesus Christ himself would have gotten "vaccinated" in order to "stop the spread."

"The fully unvaccinated kids are always healthier," Kirsch stated unequivocally.

More related news about how to live more like the Amish and protect yourself from disease and early death can be found at NaturalMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

VigilantFox.substack.com

BlacklistedNews.com

Newstarget.com
Chinese military claims to possess high-tech NEUROSTRIKE WEAPONS that can disrupt brain function and manipulate entire populations

Three open-source intelligence analysts (Ryan Clarke, Xiaoxu Sean Lin, and LJ Eads) recently published a 12-page report titled,  Enumerating, Targeting and Collapsing the Chinese Communist Partys NeuroStrike Program .

The report sheds light on the high-tech direct energy weapons that are being deployed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The intelligence sources declare that the Chinese have established themselves as world leaders in the development of neuro-strike weapons.

Chinese military possess direct energy weapons that can manipulate brains

These neuro-strike weapons are able to attack and control human brains. According to the report, these weapons have the ability to disrupt brain functions and influence government leaders or entire populations.

The weapons described in the report fire electromagnetic beams that disrupt brain activity. These weapons may be used as handheld guns directed at individuals or they can be used in large scale attacks against a vast number of people. The report warns that the CCP considers psychological warfare and these direct energy weapons as a core component of its asymmetric warfare strategy against the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The weapons are designed to impair cognition, reduce situational awareness, inflict long term neurological degradation, and fog normal cognitive functions. These weapons may have already been deployed in recent years. Over the past decade, U.S. diplomatic personnel have reported severe neurological issues after meeting with Chinese leaders and other diplomats throughout the world. In fact, in 2016, U.S. diplomats from the U.S. embassy in Havana began to report unusual illnesses after the U.S. re-established diplomatic ties with Cuba. These unusual illnesses included head pressure or vibrations, dizziness, followed in some cases by tinnitus, visual problems, vertigo, and cognitive difficulties. Some U.S. diplomats reported hearing loud noises and having unexplained pain in their heads.

These attacks have been reported throughout the world. U.S. diplomats from Austria, Australia, Columbia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan have reported over two hundred cases of Havana syndrome. These unusual symptoms include neurological interference that impacts work, sleep, and daily living.

Neuro-strike weapons will help accomplish the CCPs "Three Warfares" strategy

In 2014, Chinas National Defense University unveiled the CCPs Three Warfares strategy to enable Chinese dominion over the world without using conventional military force. The CCP plan to use psychological warfare, media warfare, and legal warfare for population control. According to the Three Warfares, the CCP are launching direct energy weapons and psychological control mechanisms for the control of public opinion, the blunting of an adversarys determination, the transformation of emotion, psychological guidance, collapse of an adversarys organization, psychological defense, and restrictions through law. Their goals are to unify military and civilian thinking, divide an enemy into factions, weaken an enemys combat power, and organize legal offensives, all of which can be accomplished with the help of neuro-strike weapons.

With additional neuro-strike capabilities that can either damage, disorient or even control perceived adversary cognition at the population level, the PLA Strategic Support Force would represent an exponential escalation in [Chinas] aggression in the Indo-Pacific, the report noted. Three warfares operations are already underway against Taiwan, Hong Kong, the South China Sea and along the Indian-Chinese border, the authors note, and mind control weapons are not off the table, as the CCP seeks dominion on multiple fronts.

Sources include:

Static1.Squarespace.com [PDF]

EndoftheAmericanDream.com

WashingtonTimes.com
House GOP slams FBI chief for colluding with Big Tech to censor Americans

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray faced a barrage of allegations from House Republicans, who argued that the agency censored conservative opinions and comments on social media and for running what they called illegal scrutiny of U.S. citizens under a foreign surveillance law.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) opened the hearing, citing a federal court decision in Louisiana a few days earlier. The said ruling found the government suppressed First Amendment rights of people posting on social media platforms on the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic vaccines and mask requirements, under a policy the ruling compared to an "Orwellian Ministry of Truth."

Co-owner of San Diego, California-based news outlet Trending Politics Collin Rugg shared a video of the House hearing, where Wray was explaining how communism works in Chinese companies.

JUST IN: Rep. Jim Jordan accuses the FBI of operating like Communist China by communicating with Big Tech companies to censor Americans. What a humiliating day for Christopher Wray. Wray: "Any company of any size in China is required by Chinese law to have what they call a pic.twitter.com/kAosrX5dIe  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 12, 2023

"Any company of any size in China is required by Chinese law to have what they call a committee, which is a cell inside the company whose sole function is to ensure that company's compliance with Chinese Communist Party orthodoxy. If we tried to install something like that in American companies. People would go out of their minds and rightly so," he struggled to explain.

However, in the footage, Jordan immediately quipped, pointing out: "That's exactly what you did and the judge said it last week. Every week you were meeting with big tech companies saying, 'Hey, look at this. This violates your policy. Take this speech of Americans down.' You were doing the same darn thing."

Moreover, the House Republicans also blasted Wray's administration for suppressing the story of the "laptop from hell" owned by Hunter, President Joe Biden's son, in 2020. "Are you protecting the Bidens?" asked Rep. Matt Gaetz. Wray responded, "Absolutely not. The FBI does not, has no interest in protecting anyone politically."

CNN reported that the two got into a heated debate after the Florida representative alleged that the FBI has "the lowest level of trust in the FBI's history." "People trusted the FBI more when J. Edgar Hoover was running the place than when you are, and the reason is because you don't give straight answers," the congressman said.

"Respectfully congressman, in your home state of Florida, the number of people applying to come work for us and devote their lives to working for us is over up over 100 percent," the FBI chief responded.

Gaetz quickly clapped back saying, "We're deeply proud of them and they deserve better than you."

"What a humiliating day for Christopher Wray," Rugg commented in the Twitter post.

FBI budget needs to be slashed, Jordan recommends

USA Today reported that on Tuesday, Jordan recommended slashing the agency's funding, including money for a proposed new headquarters building in the D.C. region. "The Committee and Select Subcommittee have received startling testimony about egregious abuses, misallocation of federal law-enforcement resources, and misconduct within the leadership ranks of the FBI," Jordan said in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas.

To protect FBI operations or their "vested interests," Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Ca) asked Wray how the calls for defunding and dismantling the FBI would affect them. "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 community party being left unaddressed," Wray claimed.

Further coming to Wray's rescue, Democrats accused Republicans of trying to protect former President Donald Trump, who is in the middle of federal charges related to possession of national security documents after an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago 18 months after he left the White House. (Related: Top FBI official flips, says bureaus search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate was rife with improprieties.)

"For Republicans, this hearing is little more than performance art. It is an elaborate show designed with only two purposes in mind: to protect Donald Trump from the consequences of his actions, and to return him to the White House in the next election," the committee's lead Democrat Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York said Wednesday.

"House Republicans will attack the FBI for having had the audacity to treat Donald Trump like any other citizen. The strategy is simple, really. When in doubt, Chairman Jordan investigates the investigators. The FBI dared to hold Trump accountable, so Republicans must discredit them at all costs," he further alleged.

Bookmark FBICorruption.news for stories related to FBI's dishonest or fraudulent conduct.

Sources for this article include:

Edition.CNN.com

USAToday.com
New York planning to ration medical care based on race Supreme Court says NOT SO FAST

The Supreme Court of the United States has put the state of New York on notice about the latter's attempt to ration health care based on residents' skin color.

A statement from Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, both conservatives, says that if New York tries to ration health care based on race like it did with Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "treatments" in 2021, then the Supreme Court will have no choice but to vote to mount a case challenging the policy on an emergency basis.

Especially because the "circumstances underlying the dispute ... have long since come and gone," the two justices wrote, referring to the covid "emergency" now being over, there is no more excuse for the state of New York to take an anti-white approach in its distribution of medical care.

The joint statement from Justices Alito and Thomas comes as a response to a petition for certiorari, or review, in Roberts v. McDonald (court file 22-757). The Supreme Court turned it down in an unsigned order on June 30, though at least four of the nine justices voted to grant a petition for it to move forward to the oral argument stage.

(Related: Last fall, the state of New York launched a myocarditis awareness campaign to address all the heart disease now appearing in residents who got jabbed for covid.)

Supreme Court finally taking a stand against anti-white racism

The petition's denial came just one day after the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, ruling that racial discrimination in the college admissions process, also known as affirmative action, is unconstitutional.

Petitioners Jonathan Roberts and Charles Vavruska, both residents of New York state, filed a lawsuit on Feb. 8, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the New York State Department of Health and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene of the City of New York.

The crux of the suit deals with the way New York officials tried to ration distribution of Paxlovid, a "dressed up" version of ivermectin that is much more dangerous and much less effective  but that stood to generate lots of new profits for Merck & Co., its manufacturer.

Supplies of Paxlovid were limited, as were supplies of monoclonal antibody treatments, which the state of New York also tried to ration by giving most of it to people with darker skin will discriminating against those with lighter skin.

Plaintiffs Roberts and Vavruska objected to the policy of both the state of New York and the New York City ordering health care providers to distribute Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies to residents based on the color of their skin.

"The directives require providers to prioritize treatment to individuals based on age, vaccination status, and a number of risk factors," the suit states. "Risk factors include medical conditions such as cancer, chronic disease, diabetes, and obesity."

"The directives also state that, apart from any medical condition, non-white race or Hispanic / Latino ethnicity must be considered as an independent risk factor."

One example presented involves an unvaccinated, 64-year-old black man with diabetes who would receive priority over an unvaccinated, 64-year-old white man with diabetes. Another is a vaccinated, 64-year-old Hispanic man who would receive priority over a vaccinated, 64-year-old non-Hispanic man.

"New York's designation of race as an independent risk factor has no basis in science," the petition reads. "Although race may be associated with different risk factors, New York has cited no evidence that race  on its own  makes an individual more susceptible to suffering adverse effects from COVID-19."

Any policies crafted based on race are racist. Learn more at Wokies.news.

Sources for this article include:

NTD.com

Newstarget.com
Rolling Stone journalists take pro-child-trafficking stance and SLAM Sound of Freedom movie, saying its riddled with conspiracy theories

Any information, including facts, documentaries, science, or history, that does not fit the false-narratives of the Lunatic Left in America is always labeled "far Right" extremism, domestic terrorism, or just plain conspiracy theory. The latest in this atrocity of disinformation is the scathing review of the new hit movie "Sound of Freedom," where Rolling Stone shills and propagandists "come out" of their perverted closet and support child trafficking, which is a real tragedy in America that is increasing by exponential proportions, as of late.

Imagine if a new movie came out about rape in this country, and if the numbers of cases were increasing drastically, and some cheesy magazine journalists pretended like it was fake news. How many women in this country would be up in arms? The sad part is that the movie "Sound of Freedom" is about rape, but it has to do with children, who are being trafficked into and across this nation, by pedophiles, politicians, elitists, mules, coyotes, and the open border policies at the core of the Biden Regime's agenda.

Pedophile-supporting journalists at Rolling Stone think child-trafficking is a conspiracy theory and that only non-Democrats and non-Liberals believe

Miles Klee, among others at Rolling Stone, believes that the anti-child-trafficking film, starring Jim Caviezel, is about a hoax, a conspiracy theory. In other words, the Lunatic Leftists of mainstream media think anyone who tries to put a stop to child kidnapping is a liar, a fake, and a Right Wing conspiracy theorist. The pedophile supporters are saying the film is "designed to appeal to the conscience of a conspiracy-addled boomer."

On the other hand, the Lunatic Left totally supports movies like "Cuties" and anything Disney or Hollywood created that teaches kids about switching genders, being sexual perverts, worshipping the devil, and going "woke," which means hate everyone who's not a gender-fluid pervert.

The writers and reporters at Rolling Stone think child trafficking is a myth (or they're part of it and don't want this coverage that exposes them too). These lunatic Leftists are literally running cover for the child sex trafficking rings that are part of the "underground railroad" Biden has created at the southern US border and beyond. Child immigrants from Ukraine, China, India, and South America are also being transported into the USA and raped, beaten, sold for cash into slavery, and some killed for sport, and Rolling Stone writers think it's all a Right-wing conspiracy theory.

Can these writers be hauled into court and tried for obstructing justice or as accomplices to crimes? Is this a form of journo-terrorism, like promoting the deadly Covid clot shots? Maybe Big Tech needs to scour these journo-terrorist's computers and smart devices for child porn and internet sites (social media hubs) that support child trafficking, like Twitter.

Better yet, maybe these journo-perverts should make their own documentary about how child trafficking does not exist at all, since they are so sure of themselves and are willing to publish these psychopathic "opinions" and editorials about popular films that are trying to help stop these atrocities from happening to children.

It's quite the shame that all these agnostic and atheist liberals support all this gender fluidity madness, trans-cult-worshipping, Satan-loving, child-trafficking that's going on, especially in Democrat-run-metro-cities. To support such a "lifestyle" is criminal by default. It's time to arrest all these freaks and perverts using AI "thought crime" investigation units, like in the movie "Minority Report."

It's the child-trafficker PRE-CRIME program. Begin now:

Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news that's being censored from the rest of media as you read this.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Censored.news

ZeroHedge.com
Efforts to address Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-related learning losses in literacy and math among elementary and middle school students have fallen short.

According to a study conducted by the Northwest Evaluation Association, a prominent non-profit research organization, most grade levels exhibited slower-than-average progress in both math and reading compared to before the pandemic. This study involved the administering of assessment tests to approximately 3.5 million public school students from grades three to eight during the spring.

The findings echo previous data that indicated significant learning losses among students in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Related: School pandemic shutdowns to blame for historic drop in mathematics and reading proficiency scores among American children.)

"We are actually seeing evidence of backsliding," said Karyn Lewis, a lead researcher involved in the study.

On average, students now require an additional 4.5 months of math instruction and four months of reading instruction, on top of regular class time, to catch up with their pre-pandemic peers. Older students, who typically learn at a slower pace and tackle more challenging material, face the greatest lag.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, a federal exam widely recognized as a gold standard, confirmed the setback in learning experienced by students across most states and demographics, particularly in math. Moreover, recent national scores on math and reading tests for 13-year-olds reached their lowest levels in decades.

Furthermore, the study revealed that Black and Hispanic students often attended schools that faced more significant challenges during the pandemic and experienced greater learning losses compared to their White and Asian counterparts. Consequently, these students now face even steeper learning deficits, and their pace of learning has not accelerated in tandem with other demographic groups.

These learning losses pose significant long-term consequences for students. Research indicates that those who fail to catch up may face lower college attendance prospects and, on average, earn $70,000 less over their lifetimes.

Denise Forte, executive director of Education Trust, an advocacy group focusing on students of color and those from low-income backgrounds, remarked, "What we're seeing here is a lack of intention."

She stressed that federal aid funds should be concentrated on the students most severely affected by the pandemic, but the current allocation does not align with that objective.

Biden administration's academic recovery mandate falls short as districts struggle to bridge educational gap

These shortcomings in academic recovery come despite the administration of President Joe Biden mandating that counties spend at least 20 percent of their aid on academic recovery to help bridge the gap. However, some education experts have criticized this as insufficient.

Based on the latest round of federal COVID relief funding, a record of $122 billion must be utilized or committed by September 2024. Recovery plans have varied widely across thousands of school districts nationwide, with limited statewide data available on the allocation of funds.

"Recovery efforts have been undersized from the start," said economist Tom Kane. "We've seen examples of programs that have made a difference for students, but none were of the scale or intensity required."

Additionally, many districts have juggled competing priorities, such as improving teachers' salaries, addressing students' mental health and addressing neglected school infrastructure.

Despite having one more year of federal aid available, some districts may need help to pivot effectively. Phyllis W. Jordan, associate director of FutureEd, a bipartisan research group at Georgetown University, disclosed that their analysis of federal aid funds in California revealed hundreds of school districts that had already expended most or all of their money.
Toyota warns that Bidens electric vehicle push will FAIL; U.S. charging infrastructure will COLLAPSE

Two of the world's largest carmakers, Toyota and Vauxhall owner Stellantis, say that fake president Joe Biden is being "overly optimistic" in his push to convert the nation to electric vehicles (EVs) rather than gas-powered ones.

A Biden plan to require two thirds of all new vehicle sales to be electric by the year 2032 will never work, Toyota and Stellantis say, because United States charging infrastructure is dismal and will never be able to carry the load of powering all those EVs.

Besides the fact that EVs are far too expensive for the average American consumer to afford, there is simply not enough load capacity, let alone charging stations, to keeping the nation going on electric rather than gas.

In a statement to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Toyota warned that Biden's EV push will also create a mad rush to secure lithium and other rare-earth minerals to produce all those battery-powered cars.

"The proposed rule underestimates key challenges including the scarcity of minerals to make batteries, the fact that these minerals are not mined or refined in the U.S., the inadequate infrastructure, and the high cost of [battery electric vehicles]," Toyota said.

Stellantis, which owns not only Vauxhall but also Fiat and Chrysler, added that the proposed rule "significantly underestimates the actions needed to build the targeted EV market."

"Addressing concerns such as manufacturing capacity, battery production, charging infrastructure, and consumer acceptance of EVs will be paramount to the success of this ambitious proposed regulation," Stellantis added.

(Related: House Republicans are trying to stop the Biden regime from implementing EV tyranny, calling it an "ill-considered effort.")

Tesla, which only makes EVs, says EPA targets can be exceeded

Tesla, meanwhile, is taking the opposite approach. Since the Elon Musk-owned company makes only EVs, of course it wants to only promote those since it has nothing to lose from the shift from gas to electric.

According to Tesla, it is possible not only to reach the EPA's targets, but even exceed them based on "the rapid pace of light-duty vehicle electrification."

Tesla argues that battery-powered vehicle technology has "been amply demonstrated, is being rapidly deployed, and has significantly decreas[ed] competitive costs."

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, recently announced a new breakthrough technology that it says will halve the cost, size, and weight of EV batteries. If successful, this could revolutionize the EV industry entirely and make the transition a more feasible feat at some point down the road.

"In Europe, which is ahead of the EV curve compared to the U.S., EVs are now beginning to hit the buffers in the second-hand market," one commenter wrote about the matter. "Their second-hand value are plunging far faster than hybrids, PHEVs and ICE cars."

"I just returned from Italy and France and saw less than 10 EVs in 10 days," responded another about how even in Western Europe EVs are wildly impractical and unpopular.

"EVs have no future in Northern states," commented another about how the winters are just too cold there and the batteries are much less effective in those extreme temperatures.

"Hybrids are a better stop gap, at least until a better technology comes out that is better than a battery. I'm also a firm believer that anything with a 'rare' earth mineral in it cannot be part of a long-term sustainable solution for the entire planet."

Others noted that only when EVs can be charged as quickly as it takes to fill a gas tank, and when the temperature degradation of power is set, then maybe it will be feasible to shift to the technology.

Transitioning the entire country from gas to electric will never work  unless by "work" you mean collapsing the grid and the economy. Learn more at GreenTyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

Finance.Yahoo.com

Newstarget.com
U.S. government planned out, executed covid pandemic: PROOF

It was many decades in the making : the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic," that is.

Far from being a random occurrence, COVID was a planned event, hence why many now call it a plandemic, that was schemed out within the highest levels of the United States federal government.

At least since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was passed, the globalists who infiltrated America have been passing laws and socially engineering the public over several generations for such a time as this.

State of the Nation put together a powerful expose showing beyond a shadow of a doubt that COVID was no accident.

"It's as though the well-concealed perpetrators designed the perfect one-two punch to first knock down, and then knock out, the U.S. citizenry," the outlet reported.

"The launch of the COVID-19 bioweapon was obviously the 'first punch' which perfectly set up the weaponized Covid vaccine 'second punch.'"

(Related: Did you know that Tony Fauci and numerous other NIH officials may not have been legally appointed to their positions, meaning everything they did is null and void?)

Genocidal covid "vaccines" were aimed primarily at traditionally white Christian nations

It turns out that COVID, whatever it actually is, was concocted over the course of several decades. Then it was stealthily unleashed through what State of the Nation describes as the "Zio-Anglo-American Axis sphere of influence."

The whole point of COVID was to unleash the so-called "vaccines," which are the true bioweapon that killed people. This was done by the Trump regime under Operation Warp Speed.

Volumes of highly authoritative data and information reveal that the plan all along was to commit mass genocide "against the American people as well as against other traditionally white Christian nations."

"There's only one global crime syndicate and malevolent secret society that possesses both the prodigious power and pervasive influence to carry out such a capital crime spree against all of humanity and effectively cover it up," State of the Nation says, pointing to this piece for more information.

"There's no more definitive and legally airtight body of evidence that verifies a highly organized conspiratorial plot to perpetrate both mass murder and injury against the American people."

Profuse evidence exists to show that there is a massive domestic bioterrorism program taking place here in the United States that is responsible for the creation and unleashing of COVID. It directly relates to the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Health Regulations of 2005.

It is also a product of the multi-decade erosion of civil rights, which was made possible by Congressional treason. Things that used to be federal and state crimes were legalized legislatively, allowing the genocidal deep state the in it needed to develop and unleash COVID.

"Critical decay," according to Bailiwick News' Katherine Watt, began around 1983 when the "public health emergencies" section was added to the 1944 Public Health Service Act.

The 1944 Public Health Service Act in and of itself already militarized human medicine in the U.S., and the insertion of a "public health emergencies" clause only amplified that.

"Most of the worst laws have been passed since 2000  just before 9/11 and the U.S. Department of Defense false flag anthrax attacks," Watt explains.

"The basic goal of the architects, which has been achieved, was to set up legal conditions in which all governing power in the United States could be automatically transferred from the citizens and the three Constitutional branches into the two hands of the Health and Human Services Secretary, effective at the moment the HHS Secretary himself declared a public health emergency, legally transforming free citizens into enslaved subjects."

Be sure to read Watt's full report for more.

COVID was a scam. Learn more at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

StateOfTheNation.co

NaturalNews.com

StateOfTheNation.co
Scientists predicted that as the sun grows increasingly active, its peak could occur sooner than expected.

According to recent research reported by CNN, the sun may reach the peak of its current activity cycle in 2024. This is one year earlier than the expected projections.

The sun experiences phases of low and high solar activity every 11 years or so, which is associated with the number of sunspots on its surface.

These dark regions, some of which can reach the size of Earth or larger, are driven by the sun's strong and constantly shifting magnetic fields.

Sun's activity

Experts observed that the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, has been full of activity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, has already recorded more sunspots than were recorded during the preceding cycle's peak.

"This solar maximum is the space weather equivalent of hurricane season. It's when we see the biggest storms. But unlike hurricane season, which lasts a few months, solar maximum lasts a few years," said Mark Miesch, research scientist at the Space Weather Prediction Center.

However, other experts said that the increase in activity is not unexpected and will continue as the solar maximum approaches.

Dr. Alex Young, associate director for science within NASA's Heliophysics Science Division at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, explained that it is absolutely normal.

"What we're seeing is overall completely expected. As you get closer to solar maximum, you see more sunspots appear in clumps. Those clumps will sometimes be bigger and last longer," he added.

The Space reported that since Cycle 25 picked up momentum in 2022, it has been progressively outperforming official predictions in line with an alternate prognosis given by a team led by NASA research scientist Robert Leamon and Scott McIntosh, the deputy director at U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

In their research, Leamon and McIntosh investigate alternate methods of predicting the sun's behavior based on the star's magnetic activity.

They discovered that the strength of every subsequent cycle is determined by the moment when the magnetic field of the preceding cycle entirely dies.

This occurrence, dubbed "the terminator", occurs up to two years later, when the next solar cycle is slowly waking up.

"If you measure how long a cycle is, not the minimum to minimum, but from terminator to terminator, you see that there is a strong linear relationship between how long one cycle is and how strong the next one is going to be," said Leamon.

Read Also: France is Getting Closer to Create the World's Largest Artificial Sun

Extreme phenomenon

The increase in solar activity leads to a period of frequent aurora displays, known as the northern and southern lights.

Auroras are produced by interactions between material flowing from the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. Similar reactions that produce these breathtaking natural light displays.

The CNN reported sightings of auroras in places where they are rarely seen, including New Mexico, Missouri, North Carolina, and California in the United States, and the southeast of England and other parts of the United Kingdom.

The same magnetic field can also cause trouble on Earth's orbit as it thickens the residual atmosphere at high altitudes where satellites transit. This causes higher drag, which can cause satellites to tumble out of orbit, among other issues.

SpaceX lost a batch of 40 brand new Starlink satellites in February 2022 after flying them into what analysts thought was simply a minor solar storm.

Leamon further noted that we might be able to expect the "most effective events" in 2025 to 2026.

Related Article: Is Earth Getting Closer Or Farther From The Sun
Does it matter who you are in America and how much money you have to defend yourself?

Picture you having classified documents in your possession. What do you think would happen to you?

I am a Republican and I cannot understand why more Republican politicians refuse to speak up against Donald Trump.

You, as a politician, swore to uphold the laws of the United States, but yet you criticize the government.

I was a New York State trooper for 25 years and it worries me when people criticize the justice system in the United States.

Show me another country in the world with a better system then the United States.

Richard Kurek

Middleport
Rhesus macaques are one of the most widely distributed and well-studied primates in the world. They are known for their complex social behavior, including grooming, vocalizing, and mating.

They are also known for engaging in homosexual behavior, especially among males.

Male rhesus macaques often mount and ejaculate on other males, sometimes more frequently than on females.

A recent study by a team of researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Lausanne, and the University of Puerto Rico, published in Nature Communications, has shed new light on the evolutionary and genetic basis of male same-sex sexual behavior (SSB) in rhesus macaques.

The study found that male SSB is widespread and heritable in a population of rhesus macaques living on Cayo Santiago, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico.

The study also found that male SSB is influenced by environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall.

How male SSB varies among rhesus macaques

For three years, the researchers observed 236 male rhesus macaques from a colony of 1,700 monkeys on Cayo Santiago.

They recorded the number of times each male mounted and ejaculated on other males and females. They also collected genetic samples from each male and used pedigree records to trace their ancestry back to 1956.

The researchers found that 72% of the males mounted other males, while only 46% mounted females, as per Phys.org.

They also found that the frequency of male SSB varied widely among individuals, ranging from zero to 1,000 mounts per year. The average number of mounts per year was 41 for males and 11 for females.

The researchers used statistical models to estimate the heritability and evolvability of male SSB, which measure the degree to which genetics contribute to the variation and evolution of the trait.

They found that the heritability of male SSB was 6.4%, meaning that genetics account for a small but significant proportion of the variation in male SSB.

They also found that the evolvability of male SSB was 14.9%, meaning that the trait has the potential to evolve rapidly in response to natural selection.

Also Read: Male Monkeys In Puerto Rico Engage More In Copulation With Other Males Than Females, Study Says

How environmental factors affect male SSB

The researchers also examined how environmental factors affect male SSB. They found that temperature and rainfall had significant effects on male SSB. Higher temperatures increased male SSB, while higher rainfall decreased it, as per Live Science.

It is speculated by the team of experts that temperature may affect the hormonal levels and sexual arousal of males, while rainfall may affect their activity levels and visibility.

They also found that male SSB was correlated with the number of times a male was mounted by other males, suggesting that there is a social component to male SSB.

Male SSB may serve various functions, such as establishing dominance, reducing aggression, enhancing social bonds, or increasing reproductive success, according to the study.

The researchers concluded that male SSB in rhesus macaques is a complex trait influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

They argued that male SSB is not maladaptive or wasteful, but rather an adaptive response to changing environmental conditions and social dynamics.

Despite the results, the research team called for more research on male SSB's ecological and evolutionary consequences for rhesus macaques and other primates.

Related article: Florida Airport Monkeys Are From the Lineage of Zoo Escapees in 1948
Residents were shocked after witnessing two teenagers attacking roaming ducks with a pole at the Blakes Lake Reserve in Northern Adelaide.

The place is well-known for families, where ducks freely roam the area. The ducks have been a happy attraction for young children.

However, midnight at the Blakes Lake Reserve became a center of attention for residents after teenagers were filmed playing with the ducks.

According to news.com.au and Daily Mail, security cameras managed to film the disturbing video of the attack at the Northern Adelaide at 11:40 p.m, wherein the defenseless ducks became the target of the two teenagers.

One witness from the local area, Sheree, told the Advertiser she heard the incident.

The police noted that they were informed about the incident. However, the information about the people involved had minimal description. So, the police encouraged people with information to report to them.

The witness explained that the duo used a pole to spear the ducks, adding that one tried to use a scooter to run over them.

Furthermore, the report said the boys walked away from the lake and ducks before the local tried to stop them.

Animals rescued in Pennsylvania home in the USA

The latest report said 170 animals were rescued from a Pennsylvania home, including chickens, cats, dogs and birds, according to 6 ABC News and Fox 29 Philadelphia.

Authorities are expected to check animals' health and possible adoption.

The rescue operations occurred after a person passed away in the said home. Immediately, the Pennsylvania SPCA's Animal Law Enforcement team responded to the call to rescue the animals.

Moreover, the authorities rescued guinea pigs, doves, rabbits, parakeets and finches. They are immediately brought to organizations in Chester Counties, Philadelphia and Lancaster.

The report noted that a large group of dogs were said to be living in a lack of sanitary conditions.

Also Read: Young Dog in UK Dies After Eating Toxic Algae While On Lakeside

Did you know? Animal Abuse and Cruelty Statistics

Animals are also abused by neglect, cruelty and unsanitary conditions that can kill them or worsen their situation.

According to the Human Society of the United States, the most reported abused animals are horses, dogs, livestock and horses.

The report said that animals in the farm industry can become victims of animal abuse. The report highlighted that the abusers of animals are mostly men under 30 years old.

According to Petpedia and World Animal Foundation, over 10 million animals die in the United States, which includes cats and dogs. The most common deaths are due to neglect, which was accounted for 45%.

People should immediately report to authorities if they find abused animals in their communities. In most cases, dogs and cats are the victims.

The report added that every 60 seconds, an animal suffers from abuse or mistreatment.

Related Article: Florida Wildlife Center Fire: Majority of Animals Dead, Investigation Continues

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
According to information published by Global Times on July 17, 2023, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently ramped up warship activities around the island of Taiwan, breaking the record for the number of vessels deployed in its drills in the region.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Amphibious armored vehicles, affiliated with a brigade from the PLA Navy's Marine Corps, navigate towards the beachhead as part of a sea-based offensive and defensive training drill. (Picture source: Chinamil)

A historic surge in the presence of warships from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has been observed around the Taiwanese island, pushing the number of deployed vessels to unprecedented levels during their recent maneuvers.

Experts posited that the heightened series of military drills exhibited PLA's strategic capability to surround the island, with potential focus on training for amphibious landings.

Taiwan's defense authority disclosed in a press statement that on the previous day, 15 PLA aircraft and an unmatched 16 PLA vessels were registered conducting operations in Taiwanese waters.

Local media highlighted the significance of this count, marking it as the highest in recent memory for PLA naval activities in the region.

This record-breaking event followed a week of escalated drills and patrols by the PLA in the surrounding waters of Taiwan. The island's media reported that the Chinese military dispatched nine vessels daily, each accompanied by a large air force including fighters, bombers, special mission aircraft, and drones.

In contrast, the PLA usually deploys an average of approximately four vessels daily. Even during significant military exercises held in August of the previous year and April of the present year, the maximum number of vessels didn't exceed 14, as per the official statements from Taiwan's defense authority.

The surge in PLA naval activities comes at a time of several significant international events, such as the US House's approval of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the publication of the NATO summit statement, and the joint military exercises involving the US, the UK, Australia, and Japan.

Observers from the island's media, citing a military expert, believe that this show of naval might is likely a demonstration of the PLA's blockade capabilities and could involve forces from both the Eastern and Southern Theater Commands.

Taiwan's defense authority refrained from providing details regarding the type of PLA vessels involved in the operations. However, Japan's Defense Ministry reported in late June that it had observed a PLA flotilla, including the Type 075 amphibious assault ship Guangxi, the Type 052D destroyer Baotou, the Type 054A frigate Anyang, and the Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship Chaohu transitioning from the East China Sea to the West Pacific.

Given the absence of any reports indicating the return of these warships, it is conceivable that the amphibious group led by the Type 075 may participate in exercises east of Taiwan, suggested Song Zhongping, a military expert from mainland China.

Another anonymous expert from mainland China explained that it would be a logical sequence to engage in amphibious landing exercises after establishing air superiority and sea control. Therefore, the move to conduct amphibious landing drills after training for precision strikes, air combat, and sea combat aligns with this reasoning.
According to information published by the US DoD on July 17, 2023, the US Navy sends a P-8A Poseidon aircraft to navigate through the Taiwan Strait.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

US Navy's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. (Picture source: Dvids)

The Taiwan Strait, a critical waterway separating mainland China from Taiwan, has increasingly become a source of tension between China and the United States. The crux of the issue lies within the differing viewpoints each country has concerning Taiwan's status.

From Beijing's perspective, Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory, even though the island has been governed separately since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

China has been assertive about its claims, repeatedly insisting on the eventual reunification of Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary. Any international engagement with Taiwan that suggests its recognition as a sovereign entity is seen by China as a violation of their "One China Principle" and as a direct threat to its sovereignty.

The United States, on the other hand, has maintained a complex relationship with both Taiwan and China. While the U.S. acknowledges the "One China Policy," meaning it does not formally recognize Taiwan as a separate political entity from China, it has also pledged to support Taiwan in maintaining its de facto independence.

This is anchored in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which allows the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defense articles and defense services necessary for sufficient self-defense.

As such, the transit of U.S. naval vessels and aircraft through the Taiwan Strait is a recurring point of contention. The U.S. asserts that such operations uphold the principles of freedom of navigation in international waters as per international law. However, China views these actions as provocative, escalating tensions in the region.

The uncertainty surrounding Taiwan's status, China's increasing assertiveness, and the U.S.' commitment to Taiwans defense, all coalesce around the Taiwan Strait.

This makes it a geopolitical hotspot, where miscalculations or escalations could potentially lead to significant conflict, implicating not just the three principal actors but potentially drawing in other regional and global powers as well.
Cradlepoint this week shared its strategy to couple 5G wireless with its secure access service edge (SASE) platform to provide wireless WAN and hybrid WAN environments with cloud management and SIM-based security capabilities.

The platform builds off Cradlepoints NetCloud Exchange 5G SD-WAN and will incorporate zero trust and cloud-based security technology Cradlepoint acquired recently with its acquisition of Ericom. The company plans to roll out the updates in phases over the next 12 months, with its Cellular Intelligence component available now.

Cellular Intelligence collects information on cellular metrics, such as signal strength and data plan usage, and helps customers steer SD-WAN traffic. As both public and private 5G standalone networks become more popular, Cradlepoint will use its network slicing capabilities to work with carriers services to offer prioritization and slice-based isolation. Network slicing lets IT managers select and assign spectrum channels within a 5G network to specific customers or use cases, giving the higher priority traffic the bandwidth it needs to perform as expected, according to James Weaver, Sr., director of product marketing at Cradlepoint.

We are finding that the days of just offering cellular connectivity are passing. We are going into customers with bigger use cases that are driving a different set of requirements, Weaver says. We are interested in being the first 5G SASE vendor offering cellular-first 5G to enterprise customers with many distributed sites and thousands of IoT sites, and we have to provide the same level of service to all sites that we provide to our best branches.

As environments become more distributed and mobile, 5G connectivity is becoming more appealing to enterprises. According to Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), 86% of enterprise users either use or plan to use wireless WAN connectivity (4G/5G) in their corporate networks. And 90% of those companies plan to use WWAN as the primary network connection for at least some of their sites.

Its important to have an SD-WAN and SASE technology that can incorporate WWAN into the network, says Shamus McGillicuddy, research director for the network management practice at EMA. Cradlepoint is a WWAN specialist, so it excels at working with wireless technology. Its using this as a differentiator. Most SD-WAN vendors can add WWAN connectivity to an overlay, but they arent as smart about how they manage it. Cradlepoint can track signal strength, for instance, and use that as a factor in how it steers traffic over wired and wireless networks.

Cradlepoints solution includes its cloud-delivered management platform NetCloud Manager as well as Cradlepoint hardware routers and access points located in branch locations, home offices or mobile vehicles, such as police cars and school buses. The technology uses cellular-based wireless networks as well as Ethernet-based wired networks for connectivity, delivering cloud-based security and prioritization updates from the centralized management console.

Along with Cellular Intelligence and NetCloud Manager, other components include:

SIM-based Security, which offers SIM management and GPS tracking to secure the physical devices and to detect rogue movement.

Connect-and-Go Zero Trust Security, which will offer easier deployment for devices and zero trust policies delivered via the cloud.

Cloud-Delivered Security, which comes to Cradlepoint via Ericoms secure service edge (SSE) solutions that will be integrated with zero trust and SD-WAN solutions into NetCloud.

Cradlepoints Cellular Intelligence not only enables better traffic steering over wired and wireless networks, but it will also help enterprise IT organizations extend zero trust access and security policies to routers across corporate sites as well as IoT devices in surveillance cameras. It can also extend this cellular intelligence to the security components of SASE, McGillicuddy says.

The traffic isolation capabilities, according to Cradlepoints Weaver, can help a business prevent production downtime when a security breach threatens corporate connectivity. From a SASE perspective, there is traffic that is more important than other. For a manufacturer, for instance, the connectivity on the factory floor is top priority. We can isolate specific traffic and give it the pristine experience it requires, if for instance, backend email is down because someone clicked on a bad link.

With this planned product strategy, Cradlepoint is also being mindful that multi-vendor SD-WAN and SASE deployments can introduce management and integration challenges to enterprise companies. By coupling Ericom SSE with its own SD-WAN and 5G capabilities, Cradlepoint is working toward offering customers an all-in-one SASE solution that can minimize management complexity across a distributed network.

Its hard to coordinate security architecture and policy across two vendors. Its also hard to incorporate all the SSE points of presence of a third-party provider into the SD-WAN overlay, lots of tunnels to build, for instance. By offering a single-vendor solution, Cradlepoint is addressing a major pain point for its customers, McGillicuddy says.

To stand out in the crowded SASE market that includes Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, and Aruba (among many others), Cradlepoint will have to execute on the vision it laid out this week and provide tight integration between the acquired SSE capabilities and its own wireless connectivity portfolio. Enterprises that plan to rely heavily on 5G to provide reliable connectivity across locations might want to stay tuned as Cradlepoint proves it can deliver the capabilities it promised with this news, according to McGillicuddy.

Much of its SSE capability is based on its acquisition of Ericom. That product is not quite a full as-a-service offering as you might see from companies like Netskope and Zscaler. Cradlepoint is working toward that goal, and it also needs to tighten integration between its existing SD-WAN capabilities and the Ericom solution, he says. A successful execution on all this will leave Cradlepoint in a strong position to serve the needs of enterprises that consider 5G to be a first-class component of their hybrid WAN strategy.
Israeli startup UniFabriX is aiming to give multi-core CPUs the memory and memory bandwidth needed to run compute- and memory-intensive AI and machine-learning workloads.

UniFabriX is pitching its Smart Memory Node technology as an alternative to socket-connected DRAM, which restricts memory capacity and bandwidth in CPUs. UniFabriX's technology is based on CXL (Compute Express Link), an industry-supported interconnect for processors, memory expansion, and accelerators. CXL technology maintains memory coherency between the CPU memory space and memory on attached devices, which allows resource sharing for higher performance, reduced software stack complexity, and lower overall system cost.

The company was launched in 2020 by Ronen Hyatt and Danny Volkind. Hyatt formerly worked as a platform architect in Intels data center group. He subsequently joined Huawei as Smart Platforms CTO in 2018. Volkind served as a system architect at Intel and was later employed by Huawei as a chief architect. Both partners began their careers at Israels Technion Institute of Technology.

Recognizing the data center market's challenges and potential opportunities, the duo sought solutions to address a significant hurdle: memory limitations, says Micha Risling, UnifabriX's co-founder and chief business officer. "They identified that DRAM acts as a barrier to scaling compute operations."

UniFabriX in the data center

When deployed inside a data center, UnifabriX's Smart Memory Node is housed inside a 2RU chassis containing 32TB of DDR5 DRAM. "The concept is that attached servers require less local DRAM because they can utilize the shared memory from the Smart Memory Node more efficiently," Risling explains. "This approach eliminates the issue of local stranded DRAM that's not being utilized effectively." UnifabriX estimates that DRAM constitutes approximately 50% of server costs.

The typical use case, Risling says, is a data center that acquires servers at the best possible price with just enough capacity to run basic applications. When deployed in a cluster's center, UnifabriX's Smart Memory Node acts as a resource pool that servers can draw from when they run out of memory, capacity, or bandwidth.

Sharing resources within a cluster offers several advantages, including reduced energy consumption, a smaller physical footprint, and increased flexibility. Therefore, even when equipped with the same amount of memory, deploying a cluster with 12 servers equipped with 8TB and three Smart Memory Nodes of 32TBfor a total of 192TB of RAMwould be 25% more cost-effective in terms of operating expenses than a cluster of 24 servers with 8TB of RAM, Risling explains.

UnifabriX's potential clients, running general-purpose business servers, rarely pay much attention to memory utilization, says John Schick, a consultant with technology research and advisory firm ISG. "But niche workloads like HPC, AI, ML, and in-memory database management systems use much more memory, and clients do pay attention in those environments."

Schick believes that UnifabriX's technology should be able to improve throughput without increasing CPU capacity and associated software licensing costs. Risling notes that for cloud service providers (CSP), the technology will allow doubling the number of servers on a rack, from 12 to 24.

Potential benefits of CXL memory

To date, discussions around CXL memory have mostly focused on capacity expansion, memory expansion, and memory pooling, all centered around increasing capacity and reducing total cost of ownership. UnifabriX, however, offers a different perspective, one that prioritizes performance. "As processor core counts have increased, the memory channel bandwidth per core has decreased over time," Risling notes. "This means that adding more memory to a server reaches a point where it doesn't improve performance because the cores are unable to fully utilize it, resulting in stranded compute."

To demonstrate the Smart Memory Node's impact on performance, UnifabriX used the High Performance Conjugate Gradients (HPCG) benchmark, which stresses the memory subsystem and internal interconnect limitations of a supercomputer by running an application entirely within the computer's DRAM. According to Risling, the company's researchers observed that when the Smart Memory Node was activated, and its CXL memory was interleaved with the server's local memory, HPCG performance "significantly improved" with all cores fully utilized.

Despite CXL memory's slightly slower access speed of 256GB/sec, compared to DDR5 DRAM's 300GB/sec pace, the Smart Memory Node effectively measured and addressed issues with local DRAM memory bandwidth, dynamically provisioning additional bandwidth to the socket. "This scaling capability enables enhanced performance," Risling says. The Smart Memory Node can independently provision capacity and bandwidth based on real-time monitoring of the system and workload performance, optimizing and maximizing overall system performance through an interleaving ratio between local DDR and external CXL memory.

What makes UnifabriX different?

Risling believes that the Smart Memory Node's key differentiating factor lies in its utilization of CXL "CXL represents the latest and most significant advancement among various standards developed to enable memory composition," he says. "It's the first open-standard universally adopted by major CPU vendors, facilitating concurrent transactions of memory semantics and cache semantics alongside the existing IO Semantics of PCIe."

Risling believes that CXL marks a pivotal milestone in the architecture of compute and data center infrastructures, unlocking a range of new disruptive applications that were previously unattainable. Among these applications, he notes that memory pooling stands out as the most valuable, offering substantial returns on investment by unleashing the full performance potential of the underlying compute, reducing power consumption and total cost of ownership while eliminating the inefficiencies caused by memory and compute stranding.

Within the evolving CXL ecosystem, several firms are pursuing similar objectives, offering a range of solutions that span from line drivers, memory controllers, and memory expansion cards to CXL switches and memory pools. "While some solutions strictly adhere to the implementation of the CXL standard, others incorporate additional layers of innovation," Risling says.

UniFabriX envisions a substantial market opportunity within the CXL memory space, estimating a total addressable market (TAM) of $20 billion by 2030. "The TAM specifically related to memory pooling is anticipated to fall within the range of $14 billion to $17 billion," Risling says.

Looking ahead, UniFabriX aims to enhance its solution by incorporating new features and expanding its capabilities to accommodate diverse workloads, Risling says. "The company has a strategic vision to extend its influence and promote the adoption of CXL and its products across the entire industry.
News / National

by Percy Zvomuya

OF all my records by Zimbabwean musicians, the one I treasure the most is Thomas Mapfumo's crackly 7-inch single with "Kuyaura" on side A and "Zvanyadza" on the flip side.Released in 1979, towards the denouement of the war for African freedom in white-ruled Rhodesia, the song is a template for Mapfumo's later achievements until his retirement gig in Leicester, England, in June 2023.Over his chief collaborator Jonah Sithole's mbira-guitar strumming, he vocalises the troubles of the land, nhamodzenyika, borrowing his yodelling vocal techniques from the Shona repertoire.On the single, Mapfumo is direct and confrontational  as if seized by the spirit of chimurenga (the Shona word for revolutionary struggle)  eschewing coded political lyrics that, if called in by the Special Branch of the Rhodesian police, he could plausibly deny. Employing a key tenet of Shona metaphysics, in which the ancestor-dead watch over the living, Mapfumo sings: "VaParirenyatwa varipi vatitungamirira, VaChitepo varipi vatitungamirira."Here, he is invoking the dead nationalists Samuel Parirenyatwa, the first African doctor in then Southern Rhodesia and deputy president of the Zimbabwe African People's Union at the time of his death in 1962; and Herbert Chitepo, the University of Fort Hare-trained lawyer (he was only the second African lawyer) and nationalist, and Zanu's chairman at the time of his assassination in March 1975."Varoyi vekuno varipi vatipa zvitsinga, kutipa zvitsinga tiwane kutsinga mhandu."In this verse he calls on the country's witches and wizards to bewitch the enemy which, in those charged times, was unambiguously the white settler government. "What's the use of your witchcraft if you can't use it against the enemy?", he seems to be saying.It's not a surprise that he was indeed called in by the police and imprisoned for several months.Mapfumo was only released after he agreed to play at a rally for Bishop Abel Muzorewa, co-leader (with Ian Smith) of a sham compromise state called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. As the Zimbabwean poet, Musaemura Zimunya wrote in an essay on Mapfumo: "He explained he has no regrets because he went on to play the same music that prompted his arrest. What difference would it make if the bishop tried to hijack his music?"Mapfumo had abandoned doing covers of Western music only at the turn of the 1970s: this journey, from Elvis Presley impersonator to prisoner of conscience in Smith's jail in just under a decade, is a phenomenal trajectory. One day, as he told me in an interview in 2011, he sat down and had a moment of introspection. "We've played all this music - rock, soul, rhumba. Yet when I grew up in the rural areas with my grandparents I was listening to traditional music - the drum, the mbira. And then I remembered some of the songs we used to sing as children and I thought: This music is not inferior to other forms of music. What it needs is instruments.' And from this point I started infusing snatches of traditional songs into my music." Mapfumo (drums and vocals), together with the guitarist Joshua Hlomayi-Dube, guitarist Elisha Josamu, trumpeter Daram Karanga, bassist Robert Nekati, had formed the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, a group that sang in local languages, including Chewa, a language widely spoken in Zambia and Malawi.In 1975, on winning a talent contest for his song "Torayi Mapadza", an exhortation to go farm, Mapfumo told African Parade: "Before, we were carried away by pop, soul and Motown  now we want something different, something that identifies the African with his kind of music. It's just a beginning, mind you, but the future for this kind of music is great!" So it was that chimurenga music was born.After 1980, Mapfumo and Sithole, his musical soulmate and long-time collaborator, perfected the mbira-to-guitar sound, a transposition African musicians in Rhodesia had been attempting ever since western instruments started making their way into Rhodesia in the 1930s. It was realised only in the 1970s. Although it was with Sithole that the sound was achieved, the experiments had begun with the guitarist Joshua Hlomayi Dube in the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band.A string of albums followed, including the 1985 Chimurenga for Justice, an album notable for Mapfumo's experimentations with reggae on the song "Mugarandega"  the first Zimbabwean musician to include Jamaican dancehall-style chanting. Other notable albums include the 1987 Zimbabwe-Mozambique, a dirge for the recently slain Mozambican president, Samora Machel. The title track Zimbabwe-Mozambique is a sonic triptych that begins with martial cacophony of the cymbal hit, before it slows down to the slow riddims of rock-steady tune, then gathers speed, fired up by ska-like horn sounds, before concluding with a drum-based jit sound.Arranged together with the late mbira player and saxophone player, Chartwell Dutiro (a man who, like Mapfumo, had mastered the two traditions of Africa and the West), it's as close to perfection as a song can get. Send arms to the people of Mozambique and Namibia, Mapfumo cries out on the song, urging Africa and the rest of the world to support the besieged government of Machel's successor, Joaquim Chissano, then fighting an apartheid South African-backed insurgency; and Namibia, then occupied by South Africa.Besides his musical innovations, Mapfumo was a leading voice against graft as heard on his 1988 reggae song "Corruption" (with side B a dub version). That was one of the few songs he sang in English, whose hegemony he would rail against on the tune, "Vanhu Vekwedu" on Hondo, his 1991 album. Noticing the sway the English language and American television held over his compatriots, he sang "Vanhu vekwedu baba havasati vaziva." The chimurenga man was decrying the hegemony of American pop on national radio and the secondary place local languages occupied in the hierarchy of lingos, deftly condensing the polemics of Ngugi's Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature into just over seven minutes.Mapfumo is the great modernizer. Not only did he reinterpret old Shona mbira standards in Western band formats, but he made it possible for the mbira instrument to stake a claim on the band stage. He felt the mbira's sound was muted and overwhelmed by the sounds of other instruments. The mbira wasn't going to be just a stylised prop on the band stage.Working with the late mbira maker Chris Mhlanga, they found a way to configure a built-in audio pick and phono jack to amplify the sound and make it an equal to the other instruments in the band, literally running electricity through the instrument. Through this innovation the mbira, the sacred instrument of music of the ancestor-dead, was transformed for secular purposes. He succeeds in combining introspection, drawing deep on the mbira music of his people, with being the most "outernational" musician ever produced by Zimbabwe."Ndiyani Waparadza Musha" on the album Chimurenga '98, is based on a Malian folk song. Arranged in collaboration with American guitarist and writer Banning Eyre and mbira player Bezel Makombe, the song sees Mapfumo tapping into the West African griot tradition. This outernationalism culminated in the 2000 album Manhungetunge, his collaboration with African-American jazz trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith. In the hook-up, the rolling pastoral landscapes of Mississippi meet the savannah grasslands of Zimbabwe to give us a bewitching new sound, mbira blues (what after all is mbira music if not blues for the ancestor-dead?), bridging the Black Atlantic.By the time of these explorations with the American trumpeter, Mapfumo's relationship with the Mugabe government was becoming fractious. He had put out a string of rebarbative albums (Chimurenga Rebel, Chimurenga Explosion) critical of the social, political and economic meltdown for which Robert Mugabe was responsible. In the early 2000s, he relocated to Oregon, USA. He chose Oregon, where the herb marijuana was already free, so he could continue to inhale and commune with those in the netherworld without bother from American authorities.Mapfumo returned to perform in Zimbabwe after more than a decade in 2018, following Mugabe's removal from power by his own soldiers. That homecoming concert was memorable. Staged in Harare before thousands of Zimbabweans who had not seen him play live since the early 2000s, it ended as the sun was coming up. But when his brother Lancelot, a long-serving percussionist in his band, died last year, Mapfumo said he couldn't come back to bury him as he feared for his life. The truce he had made with Mugabe's successors was short-lived.Thus, we have the anomaly of Mapfumo playing his final gig in Leicester, England, not in his homeland of Zimbabwe, closing a career marked by innovation, the fight for justice, and the championing of African culture. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that it's ending in England. Russian emigre poet Joseph Brodsky, who himself knew something about exile, wrote, "Displacement and misplacement are this century's commonplace." As a heroic pioneer of what came to be called World (now Global) Music, perhaps it's not odd at all that Zimbabwe's Mapfumo closes his career in metropolitan Britain.Percy Zvomuya is a writer and critic who has written for many publications, including Chimurenga, Mail & Guardian, Moto (Zimbabwe), Sunday Times (South Africa), The Guardian (UK). He is the editor of When Three Sevens Clash (www.when3-7clash.com), a hard copy literary magazine published in part to commemorate the life and work of Thomas Mapfumo.
Ramu Patil By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The second meeting of leaders from 26 opposition parties will be held in Bengaluru on June 18. They are expected to attend a dinner hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening and deliberations will start from 11 am on Tuesday.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, AICC General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal said during the meeting they will deliberate on the future course of action as well as the parliament strategy.

"We are sure that this is going to be a game changer of the Indian political scenario," he said.

On June 23, we had a successful and fruitful meeting of opposition parties in Patna and this (Bengaluru meeting) is a continuation of that meeting, he added.

We are all united for a common purpose to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the constitutional rights and independence of our institutions. These are all under attack under the present regime of the BJP. They want to silence the opposition voice. They are misusing agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI to suppress the voice of the opposition, he said.

The disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the parliament and developments in Maharashtra are examples, he said.

They want to destabilize the democratically elected governments by misusing agencies," the Congress leader said.

Venugopal said Manipur, one of the most strategic states is burning for the last 75 days, but the Centre has not taken any concrete initiative to resolve the problem. Total silence of the Prime Minister is shocking, he said.

He said people are in great distress due to unemployment and price rise, but there are no concrete measures to address those concerns. "We are here to address the genuine concerns of the biggest democratic country in the world. People are aware and they will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance," he added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will travel to Bengaluru on Monday for attending the second meeting of the opposition parties.

Kumar will be accompanied by his party JD(U)'s national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh and state Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha at the meeting, sources said.

The meeting would begin at 6 pm with the address of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Kumar in Patna on June 23.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

Other top leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, besides former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Besides, the sources said, the plan is also to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations.

A plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis is also on the table.

The opposition leaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission, the sources said.

The opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance.

(With inputs from PTI)

BENGALURU: The second meeting of leaders from 26 opposition parties will be held in Bengaluru on June 18. They are expected to attend a dinner hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening and deliberations will start from 11 am on Tuesday. Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, AICC General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal said during the meeting they will deliberate on the future course of action as well as the parliament strategy. "We are sure that this is going to be a game changer of the Indian political scenario," he said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On June 23, we had a successful and fruitful meeting of opposition parties in Patna and this (Bengaluru meeting) is a continuation of that meeting, he added. We are all united for a common purpose to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the constitutional rights and independence of our institutions. These are all under attack under the present regime of the BJP. They want to silence the opposition voice. They are misusing agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI to suppress the voice of the opposition, he said. The disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the parliament and developments in Maharashtra are examples, he said. They want to destabilize the democratically elected governments by misusing agencies," the Congress leader said. Venugopal said Manipur, one of the most strategic states is burning for the last 75 days, but the Centre has not taken any concrete initiative to resolve the problem. Total silence of the Prime Minister is shocking, he said. He said people are in great distress due to unemployment and price rise, but there are no concrete measures to address those concerns. "We are here to address the genuine concerns of the biggest democratic country in the world. People are aware and they will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance," he added. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will travel to Bengaluru on Monday for attending the second meeting of the opposition parties. Kumar will be accompanied by his party JD(U)'s national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh and state Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha at the meeting, sources said. The meeting would begin at 6 pm with the address of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Kumar in Patna on June 23. Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time. Other top leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, besides former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Besides, the sources said, the plan is also to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations. A plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis is also on the table. The opposition leaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission, the sources said. The opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance. (With inputs from PTI)
Preetha Nair By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The second edition of the meeting of Opposition parties is set to begin in Bengaluru on Monday on a stronger footing with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) resolving their differences over the Centres ordinance on control of services in Delhi.

According to sources, leaders of at least 24 like-minded parties will attend the meeting, called by the Congress, to chalk out strategies to forge an anti-BJP front in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The leaders will attend a dinner hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening, followed by formal meetings the next day.

The AAP decided to participate in the meeting on Sunday, a day after the Congress said it would oppose the Centres ordinance. Not only the Delhi ordinance, we will not support any attempt to sabotage federalism in the country, said AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal.

Earlier, the AAP had said that it would not attend the joint Opposition meeting if the Congress doesnt publicly denounce the ordinance. A galaxy of prominent Opposition leaders is expected to attend the Bengaluru meet, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, among others.

This is the second joint meeting of Opposition parties to chalk out a strategy to fight the BJP in 2024. The first meeting was convened by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. The BRS, YSRCP, and BJD are unlikely to attend the meeting. They had skipped the first meeting, too. While the session is taking place amid a vertical split in the NCP, party leaders said it will not dampen unity efforts.

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha M P Elamaram Kareem told TNIE that internal contradictions among regional parties wont hamper attempts to cobble a common front against the BJP at the national level, adding that the meeting will discuss pragmatic ways to recalibrate strategies in state-level alliances. Our common minimum goal is to defeat the BJP in the next election, said RSP MP N K Premachandran.

BJP downplays Oppn meet

The BJP sought to downplay the Bengaluru meet, saying the opposition parties are a divided lot and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Bengaluru opposition meet to take major decisions to fight Modi, BJP



NEW DELHI: The second edition of the meeting of Opposition parties is set to begin in Bengaluru on Monday on a stronger footing with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) resolving their differences over the Centres ordinance on control of services in Delhi. According to sources, leaders of at least 24 like-minded parties will attend the meeting, called by the Congress, to chalk out strategies to forge an anti-BJP front in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The leaders will attend a dinner hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening, followed by formal meetings the next day. The AAP decided to participate in the meeting on Sunday, a day after the Congress said it would oppose the Centres ordinance. Not only the Delhi ordinance, we will not support any attempt to sabotage federalism in the country, said AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier, the AAP had said that it would not attend the joint Opposition meeting if the Congress doesnt publicly denounce the ordinance. A galaxy of prominent Opposition leaders is expected to attend the Bengaluru meet, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, among others. This is the second joint meeting of Opposition parties to chalk out a strategy to fight the BJP in 2024. The first meeting was convened by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. The BRS, YSRCP, and BJD are unlikely to attend the meeting. They had skipped the first meeting, too. While the session is taking place amid a vertical split in the NCP, party leaders said it will not dampen unity efforts. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha M P Elamaram Kareem told TNIE that internal contradictions among regional parties wont hamper attempts to cobble a common front against the BJP at the national level, adding that the meeting will discuss pragmatic ways to recalibrate strategies in state-level alliances. Our common minimum goal is to defeat the BJP in the next election, said RSP MP N K Premachandran. BJP downplays Oppn meet The BJP sought to downplay the Bengaluru meet, saying the opposition parties are a divided lot and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ALSO READ AAP to attend opposition meet after Congress backs fight against Centre's services ordinance 26 Opposition parties to attend two-day brainstorming session on July 17-18 to take on BJP in 2024 Opposition unity won't last till 2024 polls, Annamalai Bengaluru opposition meet to take major decisions to fight Modi, BJP
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is set to host a meeting of its constituents on Tuesday in what is being seen as a show of strength by the ruling alliance amid a get-together of opposition parties in Bengaluru to forge unity as the two sides step up their campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

BJP president J P Nadda said on Monday that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in its meeting and slammed the opposition leaders' unity efforts as a "selfish" exercise to protect themselves from action in cases of corruption of over Rs 20 lakh crore.

READ MORE: Oppn meet in Bengaluru LIVE: BJP dubs it meeting of 'opportunists; Kharge says BJP is 'rattled'

"The NDA will resolve that the country will again elect its government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The country has decided that," Nadda told a press conference.

The NDA meeting will be held in Delhi on Tuesday evening while the two-day meeting of 26 opposition parties got underway in Bengaluru on Monday evening.

Nadda said that the NDA is underpinned by the ideology of national interest and people's welfare by taking along all sections of society, as he hit out at the opposition parties as a coalition that has neither leader nor any intent or policy or the strength to take a decision.

It has been cobbled together with a selfish motive to protect these leaders from cases of corruption of more than Rs 20 lakh crore during the UPA government, he said.

This is just a good photo opportunity, he added. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power between 2004 and 2014.

Nadda said the NDA has expanded due to its welfare policies and decision taken in the interest of the country by the government of Prime Minister Modi, drawing more and more people and parties into its fold.

To a question on whether the BJP's former allies such as the Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam Party will also join the NDA, he said it is up to them and claimed that the decision to leave the alliance with his party was theirs.

The BJP never asked them to go, he said.

The BJP president also lashed out at the Congress for its suggestion that the ruling party was bringing together its allies due to the unity exercise in opposition ranks.

The NDA just completed its 25 years of existence, he said, mocking Congress leaders for their 'ignorance'.

Lauding the Modi government, he said that under its direct benefits transfer scheme, Rs 28 lakh crore has been credited into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of several welfare schemes and a possible leakage of Rs 4-5 lakh crore has been plugged.

Besides, the usage of digital tools has increased in governance, bringing transparency, he added. He said, "The world economy is facing global headwinds. Despite this, IMF has said that India has a stable economy."

According to Morgan Stanley, India is the fastest growing economy and it's a key driver for Asia and global growth. In the last nine years, we have witnessed PM Modi's strong leadership. A positive environment has surged in the country and a common citizen feels proud.

NEW DELHI: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is set to host a meeting of its constituents on Tuesday in what is being seen as a show of strength by the ruling alliance amid a get-together of opposition parties in Bengaluru to forge unity as the two sides step up their campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. BJP president J P Nadda said on Monday that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in its meeting and slammed the opposition leaders' unity efforts as a "selfish" exercise to protect themselves from action in cases of corruption of over Rs 20 lakh crore. READ MORE: Oppn meet in Bengaluru LIVE: BJP dubs it meeting of 'opportunists; Kharge says BJP is 'rattled'googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The NDA will resolve that the country will again elect its government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The country has decided that," Nadda told a press conference. The NDA meeting will be held in Delhi on Tuesday evening while the two-day meeting of 26 opposition parties got underway in Bengaluru on Monday evening. Nadda said that the NDA is underpinned by the ideology of national interest and people's welfare by taking along all sections of society, as he hit out at the opposition parties as a coalition that has neither leader nor any intent or policy or the strength to take a decision. It has been cobbled together with a selfish motive to protect these leaders from cases of corruption of more than Rs 20 lakh crore during the UPA government, he said. This is just a good photo opportunity, he added. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power between 2004 and 2014. Nadda said the NDA has expanded due to its welfare policies and decision taken in the interest of the country by the government of Prime Minister Modi, drawing more and more people and parties into its fold. To a question on whether the BJP's former allies such as the Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam Party will also join the NDA, he said it is up to them and claimed that the decision to leave the alliance with his party was theirs. The BJP never asked them to go, he said. The BJP president also lashed out at the Congress for its suggestion that the ruling party was bringing together its allies due to the unity exercise in opposition ranks. The NDA just completed its 25 years of existence, he said, mocking Congress leaders for their 'ignorance'. Lauding the Modi government, he said that under its direct benefits transfer scheme, Rs 28 lakh crore has been credited into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of several welfare schemes and a possible leakage of Rs 4-5 lakh crore has been plugged. Besides, the usage of digital tools has increased in governance, bringing transparency, he added. He said, "The world economy is facing global headwinds. Despite this, IMF has said that India has a stable economy." According to Morgan Stanley, India is the fastest growing economy and it's a key driver for Asia and global growth. In the last nine years, we have witnessed PM Modi's strong leadership. A positive environment has surged in the country and a common citizen feels proud.
By PTI

BENGALURU: The Congress on Monday asserted that Opposition unity would be "a game changer" for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a "ghost."

Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of opposition parties starting Monday evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA (National Democratic Alliance).

"Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it," Ramesh said.

This is a result of the meeting in Patna, he added.

Ramesh also said all parties have to decide whether they are with the forces defending the Constitution or with the party that is attacking the Constitution as the time for staying neutral has gone.

Soon after BJP chief J P Nadda announced that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting on Tuesday, Ramesh said in a tweet, "Suddenly the NDA is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce. This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together."

"After the Patna conclave on June 23rd, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave tomorrow, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA," he said.

Addressing the presser alongside Ramesh, Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said that when the time comes, people will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance and cheated them with false promises.

He said 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people's problems and address the concerns over this "dictatorial government's actions."

"That is why we have come here. This is the second meeting. We will decide in this meeting what the course of action would be in the future," Venugopal said.

The Parliament session is also starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

"We are very sure that this is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario and we are very happy to see that after the Patna meeting those who were saying that 'we are very comfortable in defeating the entire Opposition alone', have now started meetings, that is the real success of opposition unity," Venugopal said.

Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, "We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don't worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country."

He said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights, and the independence of institutions in this country.

"These are all under attack from the BJP government. They want to silence the Opposition's voice. They are using their agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI to suppress the voice of Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi was the biggest example of that," Venugopal alleged.

"The incident happening in Maharashtra also shows that. They want to destabilise elected governments by misusing these agencies," he said referring to the Ajit Pawar-led revolt in the NCP.

Venugopal also said that Manipur has been "burning" since the last 75 days and the "silence of the PM Modi is shocking."

The people of the country are in great distress, he claimed, pointing to unemployment and price rise. He alleged that the government was making no attempts to address the common concerns of the people.

Venugopal said 26 political parties from all over India will participate in the second Opposition summit in Bengaluru on July 18 after a "successful" meeting in Patna.

He also said the opposition parties will extensively debate on all issues including whether to go with the same UPA name or coin a new nomenclature.

In their meeting in Patna, the opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Hailing the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi is the mass leader in the Congress party and his efforts were praised in the last meeting as well.

BENGALURU: The Congress on Monday asserted that Opposition unity would be "a game changer" for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a "ghost." Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of opposition parties starting Monday evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). "Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it," Ramesh said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is a result of the meeting in Patna, he added. Ramesh also said all parties have to decide whether they are with the forces defending the Constitution or with the party that is attacking the Constitution as the time for staying neutral has gone. Soon after BJP chief J P Nadda announced that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting on Tuesday, Ramesh said in a tweet, "Suddenly the NDA is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce. This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together." "After the Patna conclave on June 23rd, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave tomorrow, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA," he said. Addressing the presser alongside Ramesh, Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said that when the time comes, people will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance and cheated them with false promises. He said 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people's problems and address the concerns over this "dictatorial government's actions." "That is why we have come here. This is the second meeting. We will decide in this meeting what the course of action would be in the future," Venugopal said. The Parliament session is also starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said. "We are very sure that this is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario and we are very happy to see that after the Patna meeting those who were saying that 'we are very comfortable in defeating the entire Opposition alone', have now started meetings, that is the real success of opposition unity," Venugopal said. Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, "We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don't worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country." He said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights, and the independence of institutions in this country. "These are all under attack from the BJP government. They want to silence the Opposition's voice. They are using their agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI to suppress the voice of Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi was the biggest example of that," Venugopal alleged. "The incident happening in Maharashtra also shows that. They want to destabilise elected governments by misusing these agencies," he said referring to the Ajit Pawar-led revolt in the NCP. Venugopal also said that Manipur has been "burning" since the last 75 days and the "silence of the PM Modi is shocking." The people of the country are in great distress, he claimed, pointing to unemployment and price rise. He alleged that the government was making no attempts to address the common concerns of the people. Venugopal said 26 political parties from all over India will participate in the second Opposition summit in Bengaluru on July 18 after a "successful" meeting in Patna. He also said the opposition parties will extensively debate on all issues including whether to go with the same UPA name or coin a new nomenclature. In their meeting in Patna, the opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Hailing the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi is the mass leader in the Congress party and his efforts were praised in the last meeting as well.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the PM had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together?

Referring to the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday, Kharge claimed that seeing the Opposition getting together, the BJP was 'rattled and was now bringing together parties that have already splintered, in order to show numbers.

Speaking with reporters here, Kharge said the Opposition parties have been meeting and coordinating for a long time, even in Parliament, but he had not heard of the 30 parties of the NDA meeting before.

Taking a swipe at the PM, Kharge said, "The PM had said 'Main akela kaafi hoon saare Opposition ke liye', while speaking in Rajya Sabha, then why is he bringing together 30 parties? Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission?"

              ,   29-30      ?



   ,          



    ,             



  pic.twitter.com/PLKbLkzOxF  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023

Kharge's comments were a reference to the prime minister's remarks in February in Rajya Sabha wherein he had asserted that he alone outweighs all those who take turns to shout slogans to oppose him.

The prime minister had said, "Desh dekh raha hai, ek akela kitno ko bhari pad raha hai (the country is watching how one person has outweighed so many)."

In his remarks to reporters here ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Kharge also said, "Seeing what we're doing they are rattled and are now bringing together those parties that had been splintered and trying to show numbers."

Asked about the BJP's claim that Congress ignored its Delhi and Punjab unit to support the Aam Aadmi Party on the ordinance issue, Kharge said it was not about one person, but about protecting democracy and the Constitution.

On the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at premises linked to Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister and DMK leader K Ponmudy, Kharge said these were pressure tactics to break opposition parties' unity.

Kharge alleged that the raids were also targeted at the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu. Neither the DMK nor the Congress will be scared by this, Kharge said. He accused the BJP of trying to destabilise democratically-elected governments.

We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting.



This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition.



Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to brainstorm in Bengaluru on Tuesday at the official conclave of Opposition parties where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the PM had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together? Referring to the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday, Kharge claimed that seeing the Opposition getting together, the BJP was 'rattled and was now bringing together parties that have already splintered, in order to show numbers. Speaking with reporters here, Kharge said the Opposition parties have been meeting and coordinating for a long time, even in Parliament, but he had not heard of the 30 parties of the NDA meeting before.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Taking a swipe at the PM, Kharge said, "The PM had said 'Main akela kaafi hoon saare Opposition ke liye', while speaking in Rajya Sabha, then why is he bringing together 30 parties? Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission?"               ,   29-30      ?    ,               ,                pic.twitter.com/PLKbLkzOxF  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023 Kharge's comments were a reference to the prime minister's remarks in February in Rajya Sabha wherein he had asserted that he alone outweighs all those who take turns to shout slogans to oppose him. The prime minister had said, "Desh dekh raha hai, ek akela kitno ko bhari pad raha hai (the country is watching how one person has outweighed so many)." In his remarks to reporters here ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Kharge also said, "Seeing what we're doing they are rattled and are now bringing together those parties that had been splintered and trying to show numbers." Asked about the BJP's claim that Congress ignored its Delhi and Punjab unit to support the Aam Aadmi Party on the ordinance issue, Kharge said it was not about one person, but about protecting democracy and the Constitution. On the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at premises linked to Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister and DMK leader K Ponmudy, Kharge said these were pressure tactics to break opposition parties' unity. Kharge alleged that the raids were also targeted at the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu. Neither the DMK nor the Congress will be scared by this, Kharge said. He accused the BJP of trying to destabilise democratically-elected governments. We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition. Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023 Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to brainstorm in Bengaluru on Tuesday at the official conclave of Opposition parties where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
News / National

by Staff reporter

FORMER British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a major climbdown and pledged to support Zimbabwe's 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 Zimbabwe's 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 Government's 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 Zimbabwe's 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 Zimbabwe's 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."Our economy has been growing at an average rate of five percent per year. Zimbabwe's economy has been the fastest growing economy in SADC. We have a policy that we are an enemy to none and friend to all'. Our economy has been growing and we selected two important sectors that are critical for its growth, that is agriculture and mining. Since the inception of the Second Republic, our agriculture was at around US$2,8 billion to US$3 billion but it is now at US$8 billion while the mining sector was at US$2,8 billion but is now around US$12 billion," said President Mnangagwa.Government, he said, has banned exports of raw minerals such as lithium without beneficiation"Here there is Bikita Minerals. I heard that they were covertly exporting lithium in violation of our laws on beneficiation and I summoned the Chinese owners to State House and strongly warned them," said President Mnangagwa.He implored Zimbabweans to vote for Zanu-PF for economic independence.In his speech, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said it was critical to vote for President Mnangagwa so that his administration can continue with developmental projects.He said President Mnangagwa was a tried and tested leader.Zanu-PF Second Secretary and party VP Kembo Mohadi commended the work being carried out by President Mnangagwa saying he deserved another term.The event was attended by Cabinet ministers, Zanu-PF Politburo members, party candidates, traditional leaders in the province and senior Government officials.
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: Two days after the BJP president JP Nadda extended an invitation to LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to join NDA's meeting, Chirag has demanded that BJP concede his party's demand of six Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.

BJP leadership is trying hard to bring Chirag to the NDA fold as Nadda in his invitation letter not only described LJP (Ram Vilas) as an important partner but Union Home Minister Nityanand Rai is also in regular touch with the LJP scion.

Sources claimed that Chirag had already put forth his demands before BJPs leaders.

Speculation is rife that Chirag will also be given a minister seat in the union cabinet but it seems he will take his own time to take a final stand. The NDA will hold its meeting in New Delhi on July 18.

Union Minister of State for Home Rai had met Chirag for the second time on Friday evening and invited him to join the NDA government in the centre.

The LJP (Ram Vilas) chief wants his party to be given six Lok Sabha seats including Hajipur and one Rajya Sabha seat, said a senior party leader.

Hajipur's seat is presently represented by Chirag's uncle and union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, also the chief of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP). Paras reiterated that he would not vacate the seat for his nephew as he was the political heir of the late Ram Vilas Paswan.

Why should I shift from Hajipur? I have won from this seat in 2019 Lok Sabha election on the instruction of senior Paswan. You should ask from Chirag as to why he wants to change his seat as he had won twice from Jamui seat (first in 2014 and then in 2019), Paras asserted.

On the other hand, Chirag said that Hajipur has been the traditional seat of the Lok Janshakti Party founded by Ram Vilas Paswan. My father got elected from the Hajipur seat eight times which shows people's affection for their popular leader. People of the constituency still recall my father's contribution, he added.

Sources said the Rajya Sabha seat which had fallen vacant following the death of Chirag's father Ram Vilas Paswan had not gone into the kitty of LJP (Ram Vilas). But later BJP sent its candidate on the seat vacated by senior Paswan's death.

Chirag had also visited the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in the state capital on Saturday to inquire about the health of BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal, who was injured in a police lathi charge during the party`s assembly march last Thursday.

PATNA: Two days after the BJP president JP Nadda extended an invitation to LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to join NDA's meeting, Chirag has demanded that BJP concede his party's demand of six Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. BJP leadership is trying hard to bring Chirag to the NDA fold as Nadda in his invitation letter not only described LJP (Ram Vilas) as an important partner but Union Home Minister Nityanand Rai is also in regular touch with the LJP scion. Sources claimed that Chirag had already put forth his demands before BJPs leaders.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speculation is rife that Chirag will also be given a minister seat in the union cabinet but it seems he will take his own time to take a final stand. The NDA will hold its meeting in New Delhi on July 18. Union Minister of State for Home Rai had met Chirag for the second time on Friday evening and invited him to join the NDA government in the centre. The LJP (Ram Vilas) chief wants his party to be given six Lok Sabha seats including Hajipur and one Rajya Sabha seat, said a senior party leader. Hajipur's seat is presently represented by Chirag's uncle and union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, also the chief of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP). Paras reiterated that he would not vacate the seat for his nephew as he was the political heir of the late Ram Vilas Paswan. Why should I shift from Hajipur? I have won from this seat in 2019 Lok Sabha election on the instruction of senior Paswan. You should ask from Chirag as to why he wants to change his seat as he had won twice from Jamui seat (first in 2014 and then in 2019), Paras asserted. On the other hand, Chirag said that Hajipur has been the traditional seat of the Lok Janshakti Party founded by Ram Vilas Paswan. My father got elected from the Hajipur seat eight times which shows people's affection for their popular leader. People of the constituency still recall my father's contribution, he added. Sources said the Rajya Sabha seat which had fallen vacant following the death of Chirag's father Ram Vilas Paswan had not gone into the kitty of LJP (Ram Vilas). But later BJP sent its candidate on the seat vacated by senior Paswan's death. Chirag had also visited the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in the state capital on Saturday to inquire about the health of BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal, who was injured in a police lathi charge during the party`s assembly march last Thursday.
Online Desk By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday evening after meeting with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah.

After meeting Amit Shah and J P Nadda, he tweeted: "Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi on issues related to the alliance," Paswan said in a tweet after the meeting.

Paswan had been in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for 2024 and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise.

"Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi on issues related to the alliance," Paswan said in a tweet after meeting Shah.

Later, Shah said in a tweet that he and Paswan had an extensive discussion about Bihar politics.

Following his talks with Shah and Nadda, Paswan also tweeted that his party has accepted the invitation to join the NDA meeting under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

Union minister Nityanand Rai, a senior BJP leader from Bihar, had earlier met Paswan twice.

The undivided LJP under late stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing deal with the BJP.

The young leader wants the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party, with another faction, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, headed by his uncle and Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras already a part of the ruling alliance.

Chirag Paswan has emphasized on clarity from the BJP about his share of Lok Sabha and also assembly seats in Bihar before formalizing their alliance, sources in the LJP (R) said.

He also wants the BJP to concede to him the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, a pocket borough of his father for decades but currently represented by Paras in Parliament. His uncle has also staked claim to the seat, asserting that he and not Chirag is the late leader's political heir.

The BJP has also been working to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides, with Rai meeting the Union minister as well.

Even though Paras got the support of all other four MPs of the party except Chirag Paswan, his nephew is seen to have largely succeeded in inheriting the support of the vote bank loyal to his father.

Since the split with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), the BJP has been keen to bring Paswan back to its side as it works to bolster its strength in the politically crucial state.

Paswan had walked out of the NDA during the 2020 assembly polls in the state due to his opposition to Kumar, then a BJP ally. He has, however, been supportive of the BJP on key issues.

(With additional inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday evening after meeting with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah. After meeting Amit Shah and J P Nadda, he tweeted: "Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi on issues related to the alliance," Paswan said in a tweet after the meeting.           @AmitShah           pic.twitter.com/zwrV91J92Bgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });      (@iChiragPaswan) July 17, 2023 Paswan had been in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for 2024 and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise. "Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi on issues related to the alliance," Paswan said in a tweet after meeting Shah. Later, Shah said in a tweet that he and Paswan had an extensive discussion about Bihar politics. Following his talks with Shah and Nadda, Paswan also tweeted that his party has accepted the invitation to join the NDA meeting under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. Union minister Nityanand Rai, a senior BJP leader from Bihar, had earlier met Paswan twice. The undivided LJP under late stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing deal with the BJP. The young leader wants the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party, with another faction, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, headed by his uncle and Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras already a part of the ruling alliance. Chirag Paswan has emphasized on clarity from the BJP about his share of Lok Sabha and also assembly seats in Bihar before formalizing their alliance, sources in the LJP (R) said. He also wants the BJP to concede to him the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, a pocket borough of his father for decades but currently represented by Paras in Parliament. His uncle has also staked claim to the seat, asserting that he and not Chirag is the late leader's political heir. The BJP has also been working to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides, with Rai meeting the Union minister as well. Even though Paras got the support of all other four MPs of the party except Chirag Paswan, his nephew is seen to have largely succeeded in inheriting the support of the vote bank loyal to his father. Since the split with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), the BJP has been keen to bring Paswan back to its side as it works to bolster its strength in the politically crucial state. Paswan had walked out of the NDA during the 2020 assembly polls in the state due to his opposition to Kumar, then a BJP ally. He has, however, been supportive of the BJP on key issues. (With additional inputs from PTI)
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: Three people found guilty of spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday.

The Ahmedabad sessions court headed by additional principal judge AR Patel found the three accused, Sirajuddin Karmatali Fakir, Mohammad Ayub and Navsad Maksudali Saiyed, guilty under sections 121 (waging war against the government), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable under 121), 123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code. 75 witnesses have given testimony against the accused.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch received information in October 2012 that a few residents were functioning as ISI agents. It investigated and apprehended Jamalpur residents Sirajuddin alias Raju Fakir and Mohammad Ayub alias Sakir Shaikh, seizing evidence including mobile phones and filing a FIR.

According to the investigation, Sirajuddin Fakir travelled to Pakistan in 2007 and met Taimur, a Pakistani spy, where he got training to identify the ranks of army officers and vehicles, and how to communicate information securely.

Sirajuddin was willing to perform anti-Indian operations if Taimur offered him money in exchange for intelligence on the army. After returning to India, Sirajuddin worked as a dealer, supplying eggs to various army camps in order to gather information. After carrying out a recce of BSF camps in Rajasthan, Kutch, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, Sirajuddin conveyed extremely sensitive information, including troop movements, to Pakistan in two separate e-mail draught boxes. Sirajuddin first enlisted the assistance of Mohammed Ayub alias Sakir Sheikh to complete the e-mail, said the crime branch.

The crime branch charged Sirajuddin alias Karamat Ali Fakir, Mohammad Ayub alias Sakir Shabbirbhai Sheikh and Naushad Ali Maksudali Ali Saiyed in this case in which nine foreign defendants, including Pakistani handlers Taimur and Tahir, were listed as wanted.

According to public prosecutor Bharat Patni, there is proof that between May 2010 and September 2012, Pakistani Taimur sent Rs 1.94 lakh through various money transfer companies in the names of several people in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Sirajuddin has allegedly been imprisoned since his arrest in 2012, while the other two were released on bond, according to his defence attorneys.

AHMEDABAD: Three people found guilty of spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday. The Ahmedabad sessions court headed by additional principal judge AR Patel found the three accused, Sirajuddin Karmatali Fakir, Mohammad Ayub and Navsad Maksudali Saiyed, guilty under sections 121 (waging war against the government), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable under 121), 123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code. 75 witnesses have given testimony against the accused. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch received information in October 2012 that a few residents were functioning as ISI agents. It investigated and apprehended Jamalpur residents Sirajuddin alias Raju Fakir and Mohammad Ayub alias Sakir Shaikh, seizing evidence including mobile phones and filing a FIR.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the investigation, Sirajuddin Fakir travelled to Pakistan in 2007 and met Taimur, a Pakistani spy, where he got training to identify the ranks of army officers and vehicles, and how to communicate information securely. Sirajuddin was willing to perform anti-Indian operations if Taimur offered him money in exchange for intelligence on the army. After returning to India, Sirajuddin worked as a dealer, supplying eggs to various army camps in order to gather information. After carrying out a recce of BSF camps in Rajasthan, Kutch, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, Sirajuddin conveyed extremely sensitive information, including troop movements, to Pakistan in two separate e-mail draught boxes. Sirajuddin first enlisted the assistance of Mohammed Ayub alias Sakir Sheikh to complete the e-mail, said the crime branch. The crime branch charged Sirajuddin alias Karamat Ali Fakir, Mohammad Ayub alias Sakir Shabbirbhai Sheikh and Naushad Ali Maksudali Ali Saiyed in this case in which nine foreign defendants, including Pakistani handlers Taimur and Tahir, were listed as wanted. According to public prosecutor Bharat Patni, there is proof that between May 2010 and September 2012, Pakistani Taimur sent Rs 1.94 lakh through various money transfer companies in the names of several people in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Sirajuddin has allegedly been imprisoned since his arrest in 2012, while the other two were released on bond, according to his defence attorneys.
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Deadly political rivalry within the family surfaced in a Malda village after a youth allegedly murdered his BJP activist father after his TMC candidate wife was defeated by a candidate of the saffron camp in the just-concluded panchayat polls.

The body of Buran Murmu (52) was found hanging from the ceiling in his room with multiple injury marks on the body and his son Biplab disappeared. An altercation between the father and son broke out after Biplabs wife Sharmila lost to a BJP candidate by 56 votes.

The police detained Sharmila for interrogation and are looking for Biplab. Sharmilas paternal family has been loyal to the TMC. The trouble in the family broke after she was selected as a TMC candidate. Buran was an active BJP worker and he could not accept that his daughter-in-law would represent a rival party. After Sharmilas defeat, Biplab held his father responsible alleging that Buran campaigned against Sharmila asking their neighbours not to vote for her, a cop said.

KOLKATA: Deadly political rivalry within the family surfaced in a Malda village after a youth allegedly murdered his BJP activist father after his TMC candidate wife was defeated by a candidate of the saffron camp in the just-concluded panchayat polls. The body of Buran Murmu (52) was found hanging from the ceiling in his room with multiple injury marks on the body and his son Biplab disappeared. An altercation between the father and son broke out after Biplabs wife Sharmila lost to a BJP candidate by 56 votes. The police detained Sharmila for interrogation and are looking for Biplab. Sharmilas paternal family has been loyal to the TMC. The trouble in the family broke after she was selected as a TMC candidate. Buran was an active BJP worker and he could not accept that his daughter-in-law would represent a rival party. After Sharmilas defeat, Biplab held his father responsible alleging that Buran campaigned against Sharmila asking their neighbours not to vote for her, a cop said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In a powerful move amidst the election year, the national president of the BJP, JP Nadda lashed out at the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan after launching the Nahi Sahega Rajasthan (Rajasthan will not tolerate it) campaign at Chandan Vatika in Bilwa near Jaipur on Sunday. Nadda took aim at the UPA and claimed UPA means the government of Utpidan, Pakshpat aur Atyachar (oppression, favouritism and tyranny).

Nadda said that in November Cong will be shown the way out. He criticised the Gehlot government, alleging it to be guilty of favouritism. Nadda highlighted the Vasundhara governments swift response in establishing a fast-track court during the Jaipur bomb blast case, comparing it with the Gehlot governments way of handling the release of involved terrorists.

Nadda said, This is not the Gehlot government, it is a government that loots the house. It is a government that sends money to Delhi and kills the rights of the poor. This government has done the work of creating a record in corruption. , he said, adding, We have to make Gehlot sit at home in November.

JAIPUR: In a powerful move amidst the election year, the national president of the BJP, JP Nadda lashed out at the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan after launching the Nahi Sahega Rajasthan (Rajasthan will not tolerate it) campaign at Chandan Vatika in Bilwa near Jaipur on Sunday. Nadda took aim at the UPA and claimed UPA means the government of Utpidan, Pakshpat aur Atyachar (oppression, favouritism and tyranny). Nadda said that in November Cong will be shown the way out. He criticised the Gehlot government, alleging it to be guilty of favouritism. Nadda highlighted the Vasundhara governments swift response in establishing a fast-track court during the Jaipur bomb blast case, comparing it with the Gehlot governments way of handling the release of involved terrorists. Nadda said, This is not the Gehlot government, it is a government that loots the house. It is a government that sends money to Delhi and kills the rights of the poor. This government has done the work of creating a record in corruption. , he said, adding, We have to make Gehlot sit at home in November.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
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, some members have filed a mercy petition to the Emir of Qatar to grant them pardon.

Since most of the veterans are aged above 60 years, their health has been adversely impacted by the trial. There is no clarity on the charges that have been levelled against them. They are based on sections under 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 19. There is uncertainty about 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, said a source.

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 expats, in which case their consulates sometimes share information about the releases.

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. 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 spoke to our kin in Doha over the phone, he maintains that they have not done anything unlawful, said 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 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. When the tide turns in favour of these eight naval veterans and they are actually repatriated; only time will tell.

WAITING IN CONFINEMENT

August 30, 2022

Eight naval veterans (Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and sailor Ragesh) are taken away from their homes in Doha by Qatars Ministry of Interior for questioning. The naval veterans were working for an Omani firm based in Doha, Dhara. They never returned home and have been in detention ever since.

October 3, 2022

First Consular access was granted

The CEO of the company an Omani Emir also came down to Doha to get his officials out but he was kept in solitary confinement too for two months after which he was released on bail

March 15, 2023: The last bail plea was rejected. Month after month, applications were being submitted for bail, but they were getting rejected each time.

March 25, 2023: Charges were filed against the eight veterans and they are being tried under Qatari law

May 30, 2023: Dhara closed its operations in Doha and all those working there (primarily Indians) have since returned home

Four hearings have taken place since the legal trial began

July 19, 2023: Date of next hearing

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, some members have filed a mercy petition to the Emir of Qatar to grant them pardon. Since most of the veterans are aged above 60 years, their health has been adversely impacted by the trial. There is no clarity on the charges that have been levelled against them. They are based on sections under 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 19. There is uncertainty about 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, said a source.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 expats, in which case their consulates sometimes share information about the releases. 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. 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 spoke to our kin in Doha over the phone, he maintains that they have not done anything unlawful, said 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 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. When the tide turns in favour of these eight naval veterans and they are actually repatriated; only time will tell. WAITING IN CONFINEMENT August 30, 2022 Eight naval veterans (Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and sailor Ragesh) are taken away from their homes in Doha by Qatars Ministry of Interior for questioning. The naval veterans were working for an Omani firm based in Doha, Dhara. They never returned home and have been in detention ever since. October 3, 2022 First Consular access was granted The CEO of the company an Omani Emir also came down to Doha to get his officials out but he was kept in solitary confinement too for two months after which he was released on bail March 15, 2023: The last bail plea was rejected. Month after month, applications were being submitted for bail, but they were getting rejected each time. March 25, 2023: Charges were filed against the eight veterans and they are being tried under Qatari law May 30, 2023: Dhara closed its operations in Doha and all those working there (primarily Indians) have since returned home Four hearings have taken place since the legal trial began July 19, 2023: Date of next hearing
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday made it clear that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would not be enforced in the state at any cost. The issue has snowballed into controversy following PM Narendra Modis recent hints in Bhopal that UCC may be on the cards in next years Lok Sabha election.

Nitish gave an assurance to a delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to that effect during their meeting on Sunday. The delegation met Nitish at the Chief Ministers residence. State Building Construction Minister Ashok Chowdhary was also present on the occasion.

The delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board urged CM to initiate steps at his own level so that UCC could not be implemented in the country too. The interests of the minorities should be taken care of, members of the delegation said at the meeting.

On this occasion, Nitish assured the delegation that he would make efforts in this direction. The chief minister said that he has already made his opinion regarding UCC clear to the public from the very beginning. He had written a letter to the Centre that UCC should not be implemented in 2017.

Significantly, the delegation comprised people from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Bihar, including Hazrat Maulana Obaidullah Asadi Sub Sheikhul, Hajis Jamia Arabia Hathora, Banda (UP) and All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Hazrat Maulana Atiqur Rahman Bastavi.

Stating that political parties are trying to mislead Muslims, PM Modi strongly batted for equal rights and UCC enshrined in the Constitution. Modi also dropped a major hint that UCC may be on the cards in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Toeing lines of Nitish, a senior JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary had clarified that there was no need for UCC in Bihar.

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday made it clear that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would not be enforced in the state at any cost. The issue has snowballed into controversy following PM Narendra Modis recent hints in Bhopal that UCC may be on the cards in next years Lok Sabha election. Nitish gave an assurance to a delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to that effect during their meeting on Sunday. The delegation met Nitish at the Chief Ministers residence. State Building Construction Minister Ashok Chowdhary was also present on the occasion. The delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board urged CM to initiate steps at his own level so that UCC could not be implemented in the country too. The interests of the minorities should be taken care of, members of the delegation said at the meeting.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On this occasion, Nitish assured the delegation that he would make efforts in this direction. The chief minister said that he has already made his opinion regarding UCC clear to the public from the very beginning. He had written a letter to the Centre that UCC should not be implemented in 2017. Significantly, the delegation comprised people from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Bihar, including Hazrat Maulana Obaidullah Asadi Sub Sheikhul, Hajis Jamia Arabia Hathora, Banda (UP) and All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Hazrat Maulana Atiqur Rahman Bastavi. Stating that political parties are trying to mislead Muslims, PM Modi strongly batted for equal rights and UCC enshrined in the Constitution. Modi also dropped a major hint that UCC may be on the cards in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Toeing lines of Nitish, a senior JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary had clarified that there was no need for UCC in Bihar.
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: Once considered to be a Maoist hotbed, Budha Pahar will soon become a soft release centre for Chital and help improve the tiger and leopard population in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). According to forest officials, a proposal has been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for approval and the project will be started as soon as they get a nod from the authority.

The soft release centre is a place where animals are placed in pre-release cages located close to the location where they will be released. After some time, the animals are allowed to go out, but they have an option of returning to the cage for shelter, water and food.

Notably, Budha Pahad, spread over a 55 sq km area was freed from Maoists control after 32 years following three coordinated operations carried out by the security forces since April last year. Considered to be the last bastion of Maoists in Jharkhand, Budha Pahar had been a safe haven for Maoists for over three decades due to its difficult topography and inaccessible terrain.

After freeing the area from rebels, for the first time, CRPF and Jharkhand police jointly hoisted the Tricolour on October 23 last year. PTR officials informed that the idea behind the project is to increase the prey base for the predators in the local ecosystem.

As we have to increase the prayer base for the tiger and leopards in the region, a proposal has been sent to NTCA for setting up a soft release centre for Chital at Budha Pahar and the work will be started as soon as we get a nod from the centre. Initially, nearly 50 Chital from Betla National Forest will be shifted here and released gradually in the nearby jungles as its population starts increasing, said PTR Field Director Kumar Ashutosh.

As animals are released gradually into the nearby jungles, it is called a soft release centre, he added. According to the PTR Director, the population of Chital is expected to double in a year and will multiply further in a similar way in the soft release centre.

The decision has been taken looking to the fact that the population of Chital in Batla National Park is in access and hence they will be shifted to other places with an intention to increase the prayer base all over the PTR, he said. Besides being a part of the tiger corridor that stretches from Chhattisgarh to Maharashtra, Budha Pahar region also has a good number of leopard populations proved through the camera traps.

Soft release Centre

The soft release centre is a place where animals are placed in pre-release cages located close to the location where they will be released. After some time, the animals are allowed to go out, however, they are given an option of returning to the cage for shelter, water and food.

RANCHI: Once considered to be a Maoist hotbed, Budha Pahar will soon become a soft release centre for Chital and help improve the tiger and leopard population in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). According to forest officials, a proposal has been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for approval and the project will be started as soon as they get a nod from the authority. The soft release centre is a place where animals are placed in pre-release cages located close to the location where they will be released. After some time, the animals are allowed to go out, but they have an option of returning to the cage for shelter, water and food. Notably, Budha Pahad, spread over a 55 sq km area was freed from Maoists control after 32 years following three coordinated operations carried out by the security forces since April last year. Considered to be the last bastion of Maoists in Jharkhand, Budha Pahar had been a safe haven for Maoists for over three decades due to its difficult topography and inaccessible terrain.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After freeing the area from rebels, for the first time, CRPF and Jharkhand police jointly hoisted the Tricolour on October 23 last year. PTR officials informed that the idea behind the project is to increase the prey base for the predators in the local ecosystem. As we have to increase the prayer base for the tiger and leopards in the region, a proposal has been sent to NTCA for setting up a soft release centre for Chital at Budha Pahar and the work will be started as soon as we get a nod from the centre. Initially, nearly 50 Chital from Betla National Forest will be shifted here and released gradually in the nearby jungles as its population starts increasing, said PTR Field Director Kumar Ashutosh. As animals are released gradually into the nearby jungles, it is called a soft release centre, he added. According to the PTR Director, the population of Chital is expected to double in a year and will multiply further in a similar way in the soft release centre. The decision has been taken looking to the fact that the population of Chital in Batla National Park is in access and hence they will be shifted to other places with an intention to increase the prayer base all over the PTR, he said. Besides being a part of the tiger corridor that stretches from Chhattisgarh to Maharashtra, Budha Pahar region also has a good number of leopard populations proved through the camera traps. Soft release Centre The soft release centre is a place where animals are placed in pre-release cages located close to the location where they will be released. After some time, the animals are allowed to go out, however, they are given an option of returning to the cage for shelter, water and food.
Shahid Faridi By

Express News Service

Tension Within

PMO denies extension to Gadkaris key men in NHAI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials  Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, Indias largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkaris ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAIs Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumars term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Ministers Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.

Pulling Apart

BJPs RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal

The BJP leaderships choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of Greater Cooch Behar. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal.

The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his governments plan to divide Bengal by saying, decision will be taken keeping in mind the peoples sentiments. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder.

Legislating for Lawmakers

Cong may change stand on instant disqualification

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachuds comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Courts decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Courts decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it complete nonsense. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The partys opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.

Tension Within PMO denies extension to Gadkaris key men in NHAI Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials  Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, Indias largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkaris ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAIs Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumars term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Ministers Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Pulling Apart BJPs RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal The BJP leaderships choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of Greater Cooch Behar. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal. The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his governments plan to divide Bengal by saying, decision will be taken keeping in mind the peoples sentiments. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder. Legislating for Lawmakers Cong may change stand on instant disqualification Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachuds comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Courts decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Courts decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it complete nonsense. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The partys opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.
Fayaz Wani By

PTI

SRINAGAR: The Lt Governor administration in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday sacked three government employees including a Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University of Kashmir and a policeman by invoking Section 311 (2) of the constitution for allegedly furthering the secessionist agenda.

The three terminated employees have been identified as University of Kashmir PRO Faheem Aslam, Rural Development Department employee Murawat Hussain Mir and Constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker.

Under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2), the government is empowered to terminate an employee without recourse to the normal procedure if it is satisfied that his/her retention in public service is prejudicial to the security of the state.

The dismissal of government employees has come on the recommendation of the Special Task Force (STF), which has been formed by the J&K government to scrutinize the cases of employees suspected of activities requiring action under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India.

Earlier, in May last year the government had sacked Professor in Chemistry Department, University of Kashmir Altaf Hussain Pandit by invoking Section 311(2) of the constitution.

The government has so far sacked over 50 employees for alleged anti-national activities by invoking provisions of Article 311 (2) of the constitution of India.

After the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of J&K state into two Union Territories by the centre on August 5, 2109, the Lt Governor administration in J&K has gone tough against its employees.

The Lt Governor administration has amended Article 226 (2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations (CSR) for a provision to retire at any time any government servant in the public interest after he/she has completed 22 years of service or attained 48 years of age.

The government has also amended the service rules and made it mandatory for the new recruits to submit details of mobile numbers used in the last five years, information of in-laws, registration number of vehicles owned and used; details of educational qualification from 15 yrs of age and details of loans for their verification by CID wing of J&K police within two months.

SRINAGAR: The Lt Governor administration in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday sacked three government employees including a Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University of Kashmir and a policeman by invoking Section 311 (2) of the constitution for allegedly furthering the secessionist agenda. The three terminated employees have been identified as University of Kashmir PRO Faheem Aslam, Rural Development Department employee Murawat Hussain Mir and Constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker. Under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2), the government is empowered to terminate an employee without recourse to the normal procedure if it is satisfied that his/her retention in public service is prejudicial to the security of the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The dismissal of government employees has come on the recommendation of the Special Task Force (STF), which has been formed by the J&K government to scrutinize the cases of employees suspected of activities requiring action under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India. Earlier, in May last year the government had sacked Professor in Chemistry Department, University of Kashmir Altaf Hussain Pandit by invoking Section 311(2) of the constitution. The government has so far sacked over 50 employees for alleged anti-national activities by invoking provisions of Article 311 (2) of the constitution of India. After the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of J&K state into two Union Territories by the centre on August 5, 2109, the Lt Governor administration in J&K has gone tough against its employees. The Lt Governor administration has amended Article 226 (2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations (CSR) for a provision to retire at any time any government servant in the public interest after he/she has completed 22 years of service or attained 48 years of age. The government has also amended the service rules and made it mandatory for the new recruits to submit details of mobile numbers used in the last five years, information of in-laws, registration number of vehicles owned and used; details of educational qualification from 15 yrs of age and details of loans for their verification by CID wing of J&K police within two months.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Lushongwe Village in Gwanda as relatives and friends of four family members who were part of the 17 people who died from gas inhalation at an informal settlement in Boksburg outside Johannesburg, South Africa, gave them an emotional send-off.Mrs Clester Ndlovu (26), her four-year-old son, Learnmore, her sister Mrs Siziwe Nyathi (21) and her daughter, Thembelihle (2), were among the 17 victims who died when a cylinder with unidentified toxic gas leaked.The incident occurred on July 6 in Angelo's Squatter Camp. The victims were found within a 100m radius of the scene.Preliminary investigations showed that the toxic gas was used by illegal miners to extract what they thought to be gold from the soil. The area has, for decades, been plagued by illegal mining, mostly for gold or coal.Johannesburg, commonly known as the city of gold, is home to a labyrinth of abandoned mine shafts that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.Illegal gold miners mostly from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, have taken over the abandoned shafts.In a heart-breaking scene, relatives of the deceased wept uncontrollably as the four coffins were being removed from the hearses. Many of them were struggling to come to terms with the harsh reality of losing their loved ones.The four victims were buried at their rural homes in Lushongwe Village in Gwanda on Saturday afternoon.Mrs Ndlovu left behind two children aged three months and eight years who survived the incident.This was after their father Mr Patrick Ndlovu covered them with a blanket which probably reduced the amount of the toxic gas they inhaled.Mr Ndlovu was hospitalised for five days.Mrs Ndlovu and her son were buried at her father's homestead while Mrs Nyathi and her daughter were interred at her maternal grandmother's homestead.The family members and relatives first laid to rest Mrs Ndlovu and her son before moving on to bury Mrs Nyathi and her daughter.Narrating his ordeal, Mr Ndlovu said he arrived home shortly after 6pm and found his wife gasping as she lay helplessly on the floor while clutching onto their children."When I got home there was some noise as people wailed in the area, and there was a foul smell coming from one of the shacks. People seemed confused as they couldn't comprehend what was happening," he said."I found my wife and children lying on the floor, including our three-month-old baby and the other two children aged four and eight years. I took our three-month-old and placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket."Mr Ndlovu said he immediately directed his eight-year-old son to lie on the bed before he also covered him with a blanket."I lost consciousness and the next thing I remember is waking up on a hospital bed. I later learnt that my wife and our four-year-old son died at the scene," he said.Mr Ndlovu's cousin, Ms Siphokuhle Ncube said when she arrived at the scene the following day, the poisonous gas was still in the air although it had subsided.She said they had to wear masks in order to move around the area.The grandfather to the two deceased women, Mr Zwelihle Nyathi said it was painful for them to lose family members in such as tragic incident."My two grandchildren were still young and now that they are gone, we have, as a family, been left with a huge responsibility of looking after their children. They have left a huge gap in our lives and as a family, we are devastated," he said.Mr Nyathi said they were assisted by the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa to repatriate the bodies.Mr Nyathi's nephew, Mr Ndabezinhle Ndlovu said they posted on different social media platforms seeking assistance from well wishers."We got assistance from Kings and Queens Funeral Parlour who offered their services at a discounted price. The Zimbabwe consulate in Johannesburg also engaged us and assisted in covering repatriation costs including facilitating the processing of relevant documents," he said.Zanu-PF candidate for Gwanda North Constituency, Lungisani Ncube said the local community assisted the bereaved family in mobilising resources.Ncube said the intervention by Government also brought the much-needed relief."We would like to thank Government under the leadership of President Mnangagwa for the great support during this painful period. Families usually struggle to repatriate bodies of their relatives from South Africa but in this case, everything was done timeously," he said.The horrific incident occurred when gas leaked from a cylinder that was being drained by a group of illegal miners, who wanted to cut it open and use the gas to process gold. According to South African media reports and witnesses, the gas bottle which leaked was stolen from a local company in the area.Seventeen people died while 11 others were hospitalised after inhaling the toxic gas.Following the incident, Zimbabwe's consul-general, Mr Eria Phiri visited the scene and spoke to families of victims.He also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.The tragedy comes just six months after a gas tanker explosion on Christmas Eve which claimed 41 lives in the same town, among them Zimbabweans.In May, a methane gas explosion in a disused South African mine killed at least 31 people believed to be from Lesotho.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Ahead of the two-day congregation of opposition parties, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Monday, claimed that at least two-thirds of India's voters have decided to oust the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

While interacting with media persons, the SP chief said that he was confident that the country's voters would kick the BJP out of office in next year's general elections.

Akhilesh also extended gratitude to the people of Karnataka for defeating the BJP government in recently concluded Assembly polls.

Taking a jibe at the proposed July 18 meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Akhilesh said "those who indulged in copying others have never become successful."

"As they (NDA) came to know that opposition parties are meeting in Bengaluru, they decided to call a meeting of their leaders in Delhi on Tuesday."

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claimed that he was getting information from every nook and corner of the country that the BJP was going to face a total rout in the upcoming general elections.

When asked about the switchover by his party's sitting MLA Dara Singh Chauhan to the BJP, the SP chief said that the ruling party was back to its basics. "The BJP has always been in the habit of poaching leaders from other parties. They have been doing it in UP. They know how to lure people for their political benefit and they have started working on these lines in UP again," said Akhilesh.

Meanwhile, before leaving for Bengaluru, the SP chief took to Twitter and posted in Hindi: "Always feel good while coming to Karnataka as have learned many chapters of life here. Now, will script another historical chapter of the country here. History is associated with this place, now future will also be

associated."

LUCKNOW: Ahead of the two-day congregation of opposition parties, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Monday, claimed that at least two-thirds of India's voters have decided to oust the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While interacting with media persons, the SP chief said that he was confident that the country's voters would kick the BJP out of office in next year's general elections. Akhilesh also extended gratitude to the people of Karnataka for defeating the BJP government in recently concluded Assembly polls.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Taking a jibe at the proposed July 18 meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Akhilesh said "those who indulged in copying others have never become successful." "As they (NDA) came to know that opposition parties are meeting in Bengaluru, they decided to call a meeting of their leaders in Delhi on Tuesday." The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claimed that he was getting information from every nook and corner of the country that the BJP was going to face a total rout in the upcoming general elections. When asked about the switchover by his party's sitting MLA Dara Singh Chauhan to the BJP, the SP chief said that the ruling party was back to its basics. "The BJP has always been in the habit of poaching leaders from other parties. They have been doing it in UP. They know how to lure people for their political benefit and they have started working on these lines in UP again," said Akhilesh. Meanwhile, before leaving for Bengaluru, the SP chief took to Twitter and posted in Hindi: "Always feel good while coming to Karnataka as have learned many chapters of life here. Now, will script another historical chapter of the country here. History is associated with this place, now future will also be associated."
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: 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, believes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In an interview with Namita Bajpai, he says people have confidence in the Central leadership and its style of functioning. He also expressed his views on a host of issues ranging from UCC, and Chinese misadventures on the border to the Manipur crisis. Excerpts:

Om Prakash Rajbhar has returned to the NDA. Many other former allies of the BJP are said to be in talks with the partys leadership. Looks like the old NDA would be reconstituted.

Our NDA family will 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.

What is your assessment of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? Will it be tougher with the opposition trying its best to cobble up a united front against BJP?

My assessment is that we are going to win more seats than in the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2019.

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.

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 numbers are 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 numbers will be higher than 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 in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are entirely different as the issues in both elections are different.

Modiji is emerging as a global figure, which is playing a big role in winning over peoples support. This is what is making other political players think of joining the NDA. The ruling alliance is going to be stronger with the arrival of many more partners ahead of the big battle in 2024.

Is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) going to be a nagging issue? Many of your current and prospective allies hold contrary views on the UCC?

The Central government is trying its best to build consensus over the 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 get a clearer picture, I think there wont be much problem.

Whats the situation on the China border? Rahul Gandhi keeps making Chinese aggression and encroachment of Indian territory big political issues.

This is uncalled for. It should not be the approach. His statements always seem to challenge 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.

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.

Is the prolonged crisis in Manipur giving a tough time to the government?

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.

We have been hearing this for quite some time now. Is there really a Union Cabinet reshuffle on cards?

No discussion over the issue has taken place at our level.

What is the governments stand on MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh? Is he being given a long rope?

The case is in the court and it will take its course.

As an MP, are you happy with the development of your constituency, Lucknow?

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 people by next November.

I will never let the growth of Lucknow suffer due to paucity of funds. I may be busy with national responsibilities but will ensure that the development projects of my constituency are kept on the fast track.

Will you be contesting in 2024?

Hope so.

NEW DELHI: 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, believes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In an interview with Namita Bajpai, he says people have confidence in the Central leadership and its style of functioning. He also expressed his views on a host of issues ranging from UCC, and Chinese misadventures on the border to the Manipur crisis. Excerpts: Om Prakash Rajbhar has returned to the NDA. Many other former allies of the BJP are said to be in talks with the partys leadership. Looks like the old NDA would be reconstituted. Our NDA family will 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. What is your assessment of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? Will it be tougher with the opposition trying its best to cobble up a united front against BJP? My assessment is that we are going to win more seats than in the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2019.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 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. 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 numbers are 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 numbers will be higher than 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 in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are entirely different as the issues in both elections are different. Modiji is emerging as a global figure, which is playing a big role in winning over peoples support. This is what is making other political players think of joining the NDA. The ruling alliance is going to be stronger with the arrival of many more partners ahead of the big battle in 2024. Is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) going to be a nagging issue? Many of your current and prospective allies hold contrary views on the UCC? The Central government is trying its best to build consensus over the 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 get a clearer picture, I think there wont be much problem. Whats the situation on the China border? Rahul Gandhi keeps making Chinese aggression and encroachment of Indian territory big political issues. This is uncalled for. It should not be the approach. His statements always seem to challenge 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. 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. Is the prolonged crisis in Manipur giving a tough time to the government? 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. We have been hearing this for quite some time now. Is there really a Union Cabinet reshuffle on cards? No discussion over the issue has taken place at our level. What is the governments stand on MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh? Is he being given a long rope? The case is in the court and it will take its course. As an MP, are you happy with the development of your constituency, Lucknow? 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 people by next November. I will never let the growth of Lucknow suffer due to paucity of funds. I may be busy with national responsibilities but will ensure that the development projects of my constituency are kept on the fast track. Will you be contesting in 2024? Hope so.
Ramakrishna Badseshi By

Express News Service

KALABURAGI: Police from Kalaburagi, Bengaluru and Maharashtra went on a strange goose chase. However, there was a twist in the tale. Read on to find out what happened.

The cops had gone to arrest an interstate thief who drove away with the service revolver of Afzalpur PSI on Monday. Police came to know that the accused Khajappa was seen on a tree near Ballurgi village at 8.00 AM. He was threatening to shoot himself if anybody came near him.

Kalaburagi SP Isha Pant told reporters that as many as 28 theft cases were registered against the accused in different police stations in Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra.

The Bengaluru police, who were searching for the accused in connection with a theft case, had earlier informed his whereabouts to Kalaburagi district police as Khajappa is a native of Ballurgi of Afzalpur taluk. The Akkalkot police of Maharashtra informed the Bengaluru police.



On the basis of the information from Akkalkot police of Maharashtra that Khajappa might go to his native Ballurgi on Sunday or Monday (16th or 17th July), Kalaburagi police had informed the Bengaluru police who then sent a team to Kalaburagi on Sunday. The Bengaluru police team led by Afzalpur PSI Bhimaraya Bankalagi stood in wait near Sonna Cross for the accused.

Khajappa who arrived in a car along with his associates Ravi and Sanju on Monday at about 3.00 AM saw the police waiting for him near Sonna Cross and tried to take a U-turn to escape. The police foiled his bid by surrounding the car. PSI Bhimaraya tried to break the window of the car using his service revolver. The glass of the window broke and the service revolver also fell inside the car. Khajappa and his associates then escaped in the car.

Meanwhile, the police got information that Khajappa was seen on a tree around 8.00 AM. near Ballurgi village which is his native. Police force led by Kalaburagi SP Isha Pant with more than 50 police personnel and a fire fighting force rushed to the spot.

Khajappa threatened the police and other people that if anybody came near him, he would open the trigger and would shoot himself dead.

The police then brought the nearest relatives of Khajappa and made them pursue him. But Khajappa continued to remain atop the tree till 1.00 PM after which he came down and surrendered to the police. His associates Ravi and Sanju, who were also hiding, surrendered to the police before Khajappa's surrender.

KALABURAGI: Police from Kalaburagi, Bengaluru and Maharashtra went on a strange goose chase. However, there was a twist in the tale. Read on to find out what happened. The cops had gone to arrest an interstate thief who drove away with the service revolver of Afzalpur PSI on Monday. Police came to know that the accused Khajappa was seen on a tree near Ballurgi village at 8.00 AM. He was threatening to shoot himself if anybody came near him. Kalaburagi SP Isha Pant told reporters that as many as 28 theft cases were registered against the accused in different police stations in Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Bengaluru police, who were searching for the accused in connection with a theft case, had earlier informed his whereabouts to Kalaburagi district police as Khajappa is a native of Ballurgi of Afzalpur taluk. The Akkalkot police of Maharashtra informed the Bengaluru police. On the basis of the information from Akkalkot police of Maharashtra that Khajappa might go to his native Ballurgi on Sunday or Monday (16th or 17th July), Kalaburagi police had informed the Bengaluru police who then sent a team to Kalaburagi on Sunday. The Bengaluru police team led by Afzalpur PSI Bhimaraya Bankalagi stood in wait near Sonna Cross for the accused. Khajappa who arrived in a car along with his associates Ravi and Sanju on Monday at about 3.00 AM saw the police waiting for him near Sonna Cross and tried to take a U-turn to escape. The police foiled his bid by surrounding the car. PSI Bhimaraya tried to break the window of the car using his service revolver. The glass of the window broke and the service revolver also fell inside the car. Khajappa and his associates then escaped in the car. Meanwhile, the police got information that Khajappa was seen on a tree around 8.00 AM. near Ballurgi village which is his native. Police force led by Kalaburagi SP Isha Pant with more than 50 police personnel and a fire fighting force rushed to the spot. Khajappa threatened the police and other people that if anybody came near him, he would open the trigger and would shoot himself dead. The police then brought the nearest relatives of Khajappa and made them pursue him. But Khajappa continued to remain atop the tree till 1.00 PM after which he came down and surrendered to the police. His associates Ravi and Sanju, who were also hiding, surrendered to the police before Khajappa's surrender.
By PTI

CHENNAI: DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin mocked the central agency as having joined the 'election campaign' following ED raids at minister K Ponmudy's properties.

"Governor R N Ravi is already conducting a poll campaign for us and now, the ED has joined (the poll scene) and I feel the election work for us will be easy," Stalin said.

"The DMK is not worried a wee bit," he said on the ED searches. Such an action by the ED was 'usual, ordinary and a drama' enacted to divert attention. Opposition parties joining forces has irritated the BJP and the ED searches reflected it.

That agency's raids were a tactic to divert attention from the objective of the Opposition meetings, held first in Patna last month, to be held now in Bengaluru and later in other states, Stalin alleged.

CM MK Stalin addressing reporters at the Chennai airport on Monday | Express, P Jawahar

People, who were witnessing it all would give a fitting reply in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he said.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at the premises of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani in a money laundering case, official sources said.

The money laundering case is linked to alleged irregularities when Ponmudy was the state mining minister (between 2007 and 2011) and there were allegations of violation of quarry licence conditions leading to loss of about Rs 28 crore to the exchequer.

ED searches were held at the

residence of Higher Education

Minister K Ponmudy in Chennai

Recently, Ponmudy was acquitted in two other cases foisted on him during the AIADMK rule, Stalin said, adding 'he (Ponmudy) will face the case legally. 'India itself is facing a threat' and the opposition's meeting is to save the nation, he asserted.

Ponmudy is the second Minister in Chief Minister M K Stalin's Cabinet to face ED raids following Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last month in a cash-for-jobs case following searches.

The 72-year-old Ponmudy is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur Assembly constituency in the Villupuram district while his 49-year-old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr K Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become the Modi government's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition."

On his Twitter handle, Kharge further said surprisingly the BJP has 'suddenly' woken up to the need of putting together an alliance of ideologically opposed parties.

"All like-minded parties are united against the vendetta politics of the Modi Govt and shall not be bogged down by these cowardly tactics to trample upon democracy," Kharge said.

We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting.



This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition.



Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023

In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party's top leader and Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal condemned the raids and accused the BJP regime of trying to break parties and scare everyone with ED.

But for ED, NDA would be left with no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left. The BJP dispensation cannot 'scare or control' a great nation like India through the ED.

We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone wid ED



But for ED, NDA would be left wid no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left



U cannot scare or control a great nation like India thro ED  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 17, 2023

The CPI(M) and CPI were among the DMK's other allies who have condemned the BJP-led Centre for the ED raids.

Terming the raids 'cheap' activity, the CPI condemned the BJP for using the Central government's power to seek political mileage.

The TN police had filed a complaint to probe these charges of alleged corruption against the minister and those linked to him and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief.

The minister is accused of obtaining mining/ quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licensees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit.

The High Court said that there were grounds to presume that the petitioner has committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told PTI, "This is political vendetta aimed at testing the DMK's resolve. " There has been no action from the Central authorities against the AIADMK leaders on graft cases such as the one involving the Gutka scandal, he alleged.

CHENNAI: DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin mocked the central agency as having joined the 'election campaign' following ED raids at minister K Ponmudy's properties. "Governor R N Ravi is already conducting a poll campaign for us and now, the ED has joined (the poll scene) and I feel the election work for us will be easy," Stalin said. "The DMK is not worried a wee bit," he said on the ED searches. Such an action by the ED was 'usual, ordinary and a drama' enacted to divert attention. Opposition parties joining forces has irritated the BJP and the ED searches reflected it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); That agency's raids were a tactic to divert attention from the objective of the Opposition meetings, held first in Patna last month, to be held now in Bengaluru and later in other states, Stalin alleged. CM MK Stalin addressing reporters at the Chennai airport on Monday | Express, P Jawahar People, who were witnessing it all would give a fitting reply in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he said. The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at the premises of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani in a money laundering case, official sources said. The money laundering case is linked to alleged irregularities when Ponmudy was the state mining minister (between 2007 and 2011) and there were allegations of violation of quarry licence conditions leading to loss of about Rs 28 crore to the exchequer. ED searches were held at the residence of Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy in ChennaiRecently, Ponmudy was acquitted in two other cases foisted on him during the AIADMK rule, Stalin said, adding 'he (Ponmudy) will face the case legally. 'India itself is facing a threat' and the opposition's meeting is to save the nation, he asserted. Ponmudy is the second Minister in Chief Minister M K Stalin's Cabinet to face ED raids following Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last month in a cash-for-jobs case following searches. The 72-year-old Ponmudy is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur Assembly constituency in the Villupuram district while his 49-year-old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr K Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become the Modi government's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition." On his Twitter handle, Kharge further said surprisingly the BJP has 'suddenly' woken up to the need of putting together an alliance of ideologically opposed parties. "All like-minded parties are united against the vendetta politics of the Modi Govt and shall not be bogged down by these cowardly tactics to trample upon democracy," Kharge said. We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition. Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023 In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party's top leader and Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal condemned the raids and accused the BJP regime of trying to break parties and scare everyone with ED. But for ED, NDA would be left with no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left. The BJP dispensation cannot 'scare or control' a great nation like India through the ED. We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone wid ED But for ED, NDA would be left wid no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left U cannot scare or control a great nation like India thro ED  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 17, 2023 The CPI(M) and CPI were among the DMK's other allies who have condemned the BJP-led Centre for the ED raids. Terming the raids 'cheap' activity, the CPI condemned the BJP for using the Central government's power to seek political mileage. The TN police had filed a complaint to probe these charges of alleged corruption against the minister and those linked to him and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief. The minister is accused of obtaining mining/ quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licensees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit. The High Court said that there were grounds to presume that the petitioner has committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped. DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told PTI, "This is political vendetta aimed at testing the DMK's resolve. " There has been no action from the Central authorities against the AIADMK leaders on graft cases such as the one involving the Gutka scandal, he alleged.
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Enforcement Directorate on Monday morning searched the premises of Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his son Gowtham Sigamani in Chennai and Villupuram under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case pertains to allegations that Ponmudy violated quarry licenses during his tenure as a minister in the DMK government between 2007 and 2011.

The searches by Enforcement Directorate come after Madras High Court last month refused to stay proceedings in the case while dismissing a petition filed by Gowtham Sigamani, the co-accused and son of K Ponmudi.

The DMK leader was accused of illegally quarrying an excessive amount of red sand, amounting to 2,64,644 lorry loads. The alleged violation resulted in a loss of over Rs 28 crore to the public exchequer. Ponmudy is the second minister in the DMK Cabinet who is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate. Senthil Balaji, who is the minister under the DMK regime, has been arrested by Enforcement Directorate. He is currently recuperating in Kauvery Hospital.

Incidentally, Chief Minister M K Stalin is scheduled to leave for Bengaluru on Monday to attend the meeting of the Opposition parties. Leaders of 23 parties are attending the meeting to work out a strategy to counter BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In the year 2020, Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized properties worth Rs 8.60 cr belonging to Gautham Sigamani, DMK MP from Kallakurichi for contravening provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

According to Enforcement Directorate, in March 2008, Sigamani made an overseas investment of USD 1,00,000 (Rs 41,57,225) in acquiring 2,45,000 shares of PT Excel Megindo, Jakarta and USD 55,000 (Rs 22,86,924) in Universal Business Ventures, United Arab Emirates without RBI approval and thereby contravened the provisions of Section 4 of FEMA for the acquisition of foreign security.

Minister K Ponmudy being brought to the ED office in Chennai | P Ravikumar

He also failed to repatriate profits amounting to Rs 7.05 crore earned by him from Universal Business Ventures, for the period from Financial Year 2008-09 to 2012-13 and continued to hold the same abroad till date in contravention of Section 4 read with Section 8 of FEMA,1999.

Further, according to ED, he also failed to repatriate the balance amount lying in the bank account of Universal Business Ventures to the tune of 604783 Dirhams equivalent to Rs 90.20 lakh as on December 31, 2012.

As per the provisions of section 37A of FEMA, if any foreign exchange, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India is suspected to have been held in contravention of section 4 of FEMA, ED is empowered to seize value equivalent situated within India of such foreign exchange, foreign security or immovable property. Accordingly, immovable properties in the form of agricultural lands, commercial and residential buildings, etc in Tamil Nadu and movable properties in the form of balances in bank accounts and shares totalling Rs 8.6 crore held by Sigamani have been seized by the Directorate under the provisions of Section 37A of FEMA, according to ED sources.



CHENNAI: Enforcement Directorate on Monday morning searched the premises of Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his son Gowtham Sigamani in Chennai and Villupuram under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case pertains to allegations that Ponmudy violated quarry licenses during his tenure as a minister in the DMK government between 2007 and 2011. The searches by Enforcement Directorate come after Madras High Court last month refused to stay proceedings in the case while dismissing a petition filed by Gowtham Sigamani, the co-accused and son of K Ponmudi. The DMK leader was accused of illegally quarrying an excessive amount of red sand, amounting to 2,64,644 lorry loads. The alleged violation resulted in a loss of over Rs 28 crore to the public exchequer. Ponmudy is the second minister in the DMK Cabinet who is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate. Senthil Balaji, who is the minister under the DMK regime, has been arrested by Enforcement Directorate. He is currently recuperating in Kauvery Hospital.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Incidentally, Chief Minister M K Stalin is scheduled to leave for Bengaluru on Monday to attend the meeting of the Opposition parties. Leaders of 23 parties are attending the meeting to work out a strategy to counter BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the year 2020, Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized properties worth Rs 8.60 cr belonging to Gautham Sigamani, DMK MP from Kallakurichi for contravening provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). According to Enforcement Directorate, in March 2008, Sigamani made an overseas investment of USD 1,00,000 (Rs 41,57,225) in acquiring 2,45,000 shares of PT Excel Megindo, Jakarta and USD 55,000 (Rs 22,86,924) in Universal Business Ventures, United Arab Emirates without RBI approval and thereby contravened the provisions of Section 4 of FEMA for the acquisition of foreign security. Minister K Ponmudy being brought to the ED office in Chennai | P Ravikumar He also failed to repatriate profits amounting to Rs 7.05 crore earned by him from Universal Business Ventures, for the period from Financial Year 2008-09 to 2012-13 and continued to hold the same abroad till date in contravention of Section 4 read with Section 8 of FEMA,1999. Further, according to ED, he also failed to repatriate the balance amount lying in the bank account of Universal Business Ventures to the tune of 604783 Dirhams equivalent to Rs 90.20 lakh as on December 31, 2012. As per the provisions of section 37A of FEMA, if any foreign exchange, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India is suspected to have been held in contravention of section 4 of FEMA, ED is empowered to seize value equivalent situated within India of such foreign exchange, foreign security or immovable property. Accordingly, immovable properties in the form of agricultural lands, commercial and residential buildings, etc in Tamil Nadu and movable properties in the form of balances in bank accounts and shares totalling Rs 8.6 crore held by Sigamani have been seized by the Directorate under the provisions of Section 37A of FEMA, according to ED sources.
By PTI

KARACHI: Pakistan's Sindh government has said that it will not allow the construction of any commercial building by razing the structure of a place of worship, even if it is of any minority community after reports of the demolition of a 150-year-old Hindu temple emerged in Karachi.

The Mari Mata Temple in Karachi's Soldier Bazar was reportedly razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force on Friday.

The Hindu community had appealed to the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Inspector General of Sindh police to look into the matter on an urgent basis.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab of Pakistan People's Party said that his party believed in religious harmony and freedom, and no one would be allowed to construct or raze the structure of a place of worship even that of a minority community, reported The Dawn newspaper.

The Hindu community in the area said that the "builder mafia" had demolished the temple after two persons - Imran Hashmi and Rekha Bai - sold the property to a builder allegedly by using 'fake documents'.

The provincial government, however, has contested the Hindu community's claim about the demolition of the temple but ordered police and local administration to stop construction or demolition work at the piece of land that housed the century-old temple, the report said.

ALSO READ | Hindu temple attacked with rocket launchers in Pakistan

"[I] have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place and Mandir is still intact," Wahab said in a tweet on Sunday.

"The administration has intervened and Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts. I will keep everyone posted on this. The Pakistan Peoples Party stands with people of all communities," he said.

After an initial probe, the police said that Rekha claimed to have owned the piece of land and the Hindu temple was built on a portion of the said plot.

"And that too was moved from the said property to an adjacent small room several years ago," said an official.

Under the fresh directives from the Sindh government, the police were now coordinating with the Madrasi Hindu community of Karachi that had been managing the temple for the last several decades, the official said.

"No more activity [demolition or construction work] is going on at the site. The police would check records, determine the facts and counter-check the claims of both sides," added the official.

Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu temples and the 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.

KARACHI: Pakistan's Sindh government has said that it will not allow the construction of any commercial building by razing the structure of a place of worship, even if it is of any minority community after reports of the demolition of a 150-year-old Hindu temple emerged in Karachi. The Mari Mata Temple in Karachi's Soldier Bazar was reportedly razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force on Friday. The Hindu community had appealed to the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Inspector General of Sindh police to look into the matter on an urgent basis.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab of Pakistan People's Party said that his party believed in religious harmony and freedom, and no one would be allowed to construct or raze the structure of a place of worship even that of a minority community, reported The Dawn newspaper. The Hindu community in the area said that the "builder mafia" had demolished the temple after two persons - Imran Hashmi and Rekha Bai - sold the property to a builder allegedly by using 'fake documents'. The provincial government, however, has contested the Hindu community's claim about the demolition of the temple but ordered police and local administration to stop construction or demolition work at the piece of land that housed the century-old temple, the report said. ALSO READ | Hindu temple attacked with rocket launchers in Pakistan "[I] have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place and Mandir is still intact," Wahab said in a tweet on Sunday. "The administration has intervened and Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts. I will keep everyone posted on this. The Pakistan Peoples Party stands with people of all communities," he said. After an initial probe, the police said that Rekha claimed to have owned the piece of land and the Hindu temple was built on a portion of the said plot. "And that too was moved from the said property to an adjacent small room several years ago," said an official. Under the fresh directives from the Sindh government, the police were now coordinating with the Madrasi Hindu community of Karachi that had been managing the temple for the last several decades, the official said. "No more activity [demolition or construction work] is going on at the site. The police would check records, determine the facts and counter-check the claims of both sides," added the official. Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu temples and the 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.
By AFP

TAIPEI: Taiwan said Monday it's vice president will attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president next month with US stopovers, a move likely to spark a rebuke from Beijing.

Paraguay is the last remaining country in South America that diplomatically recognises Taiwan over China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day, by force if necessary.

Recent US transits by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her deputy William Lai had angered Beijing, which opposes any move that might lend Taipei a sense of international legitimacy.

China's military staged three days of drills in April simulating a blockade of the island, after Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on her way home from a visit to two Central American allies.

Next month, Lai will lead a delegation to Asuncion for the inauguration of Santiago Pena on August 15 "to show the importance Taiwan attaches to its diplomatic ties with Paraguay", said deputy foreign minister Alexander Yui.

The announcement came after Pena wrapped up a visit to the island over the weekend, and vowed to be "on the side of" Taiwan during his five-year term at a meeting with Tsai.

"We had arranged transits in the United States during previous visits to Central and South America and it's also being arranged this time according to precedents," Yui said.

When asked if Taiwan was concerned that China might conduct military drills in response, he stressed that such US stopovers were nothing new.

"Taiwanese vice presidents have transited in the United States 10 times before... there is no reason for any unnecessary harassment."

Yui did not disclose the transit locations, only saying that the vice president's itinerary was still being finalised.

Lai last stopped in the United States in January 2022 on his way to the inauguration of Xiomara Castro, the first woman president of Taiwan's then-ally Honduras, which ditched Taipei in March to recognise Beijing.

TAIPEI: Taiwan said Monday it's vice president will attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president next month with US stopovers, a move likely to spark a rebuke from Beijing. Paraguay is the last remaining country in South America that diplomatically recognises Taiwan over China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day, by force if necessary. Recent US transits by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her deputy William Lai had angered Beijing, which opposes any move that might lend Taipei a sense of international legitimacy.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); China's military staged three days of drills in April simulating a blockade of the island, after Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on her way home from a visit to two Central American allies. Next month, Lai will lead a delegation to Asuncion for the inauguration of Santiago Pena on August 15 "to show the importance Taiwan attaches to its diplomatic ties with Paraguay", said deputy foreign minister Alexander Yui. The announcement came after Pena wrapped up a visit to the island over the weekend, and vowed to be "on the side of" Taiwan during his five-year term at a meeting with Tsai. "We had arranged transits in the United States during previous visits to Central and South America and it's also being arranged this time according to precedents," Yui said. When asked if Taiwan was concerned that China might conduct military drills in response, he stressed that such US stopovers were nothing new. "Taiwanese vice presidents have transited in the United States 10 times before... there is no reason for any unnecessary harassment." Yui did not disclose the transit locations, only saying that the vice president's itinerary was still being finalised. Lai last stopped in the United States in January 2022 on his way to the inauguration of Xiomara Castro, the first woman president of Taiwan's then-ally Honduras, which ditched Taipei in March to recognise Beijing.
Christopher Nolan says he doesn't carry a smartphone or use email, and writes his scripts on a computer that has no internet

Christopher Nolan says he doesn't carry a smartphone or use email, and writes his scripts on a computer that has no internet

Christopher Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter that he writes scripts on a computer with no internet.

The "Oppenheimer" director said he could be called a "Luddite" because he didn't have a smartphone.

Instead of using an email, Nolan flew to Ireland to hand his "Oppenheimer" script to Cillian Murphy.

Christopher Nolan says he doesn't carry a smartphone, gets his assistant to handle his emails, and writes his scripts on a computer without an internet connection.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon, the "Oppenheimer" director said he preferred doing things the old-school way.

"My kids would probably say I'm a complete Luddite," Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Friday. "I would actually resist that description. I think technology and what it can provide is amazing. My personal choice is about how involved I get."

The "Oppenheimer" director said he wasn't averse to technology but found it distracting from his work.

"If I'm generating my material and writing my own scripts, being on a smartphone all day wouldn't be very useful for me," Nolan said.

Nolan said his preference for doing things the analog way even extended to the methods he used to send his scripts to actors.

Instead of using email, the 52-year-old filmmaker told The Hollywood Reporter that he would rather personally deliver scripts by hand; Nolan said he even flew to Ireland to see Murphy and waited for the actor to read the script.

"People will say, 'Why do you work in secrecy?' " Nolan said. "Well, it's not secrecy, it's privacy. It's being able to try things, to make mistakes, to be as adventurous as possible. And to be able to sit with somebody who's just read what you've written and get their take on it, see how they connect with it in a very human, face-to-face way."

This wasn't the first time the British-American director had spoken about his technological preferences.

Nolan told People magazine in December 2020 that he had "a little flip phone" that he brought with him "from time to time" because he didn't want easy access to the internet when he got bored.

In October 2014, The New York Times also reported that Nolan didn't have an email address and that his assistant handled his emails and printed the important ones for him to read.

Read the original article on Insider
Thanks PM Modi for inviting entrepreneurs like us to France: boAts Aman Gupta

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.A .

Thanks PM Modi for inviting entrepreneurs like us to France: boAt's Aman Gupta

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.IANS16 July 2023

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Uttar Pradesh CM takes stock of preparations for flood prevention in GondaA

Gonda, July 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited ground zero and inquired about the dangers of a possible flood situation in Gonda on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh CM takes stock of preparations for flood prevention in GondaA

The Chief Minister inspected the embankments of the Ghaghra-Saryu river and gave directions for precautionary measures to the officials.The Chief Minister inspected the embankments of the Saryu river near the Bhikharipur Sikraur embankment and later held a meeting with public representatives and officials and gave necessary guidelines for flood prevention. He also inspected the Algin Charsari embankment.During his interaction with the media, the Chief Minister said that Gonda has to face floods almost every year due to the presence of major embankments. He asserted that the rainfall in the district is less than normal, but after heavy rains in some places inside Uttarakhand and Nepal, the water levels of Saryu and Rapti have increased.He said that normally there is 40,000 cusecs of water in Saryu, but at present 2.5 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged from here."There is a possibility of a further increase in this water level. Keeping all these in mind, preventive measures have been taken in time. Effective works have been done to save the embankments and comprehensive actions have been ensured to prevent loss of life. Furthermore, measures to repair the embankments like Algin Charsari embankment, Bhikharipur, Bhauriganj ring etc. have been completed ahead of time", he added.The Chief Minister asserted that the government was fully prepared to face an odd situation. He said that about 28 flood outposts have been created in coordination with the Health Department and the Relief Commissioner's Department whereas the district administration has completed preparations to send boats as well as relief materials to the affected areas in the event of floods.He added, "During the floods last year, seven and a half lakh cusecs of water was being discharged from here, even at that time we were able to save the embankments."During the meeting with the district's public representatives and administrative officers, CM Yogi directed them to avoid any kind of negligence in helping the people affected by floods in case such a situation arises. Instructing the officers, the Chief Minister said that there should not be any problem in the relief camp in any way."Arrangements for the living and food of the flood-affected people should be ensured. In case of flood situations, mobile medical teams should remain fully active and on rounds in the affected areas. Doctors and mobile medical teams in the relief camps should have anti-venom, anti-rabies and anti-bite injections of all kinds of poisonous animals", he instructed.Furthermore, Chief Minsiter instructed the officials to maintain proper cleanliness and lighting in the relief camps. He also instructed to clean the affected areas by running a campaign on a war footing as soon as the flood water recedes. He further directed to repair the roads and streets which were damaged due to floods.During this, State Jal Shakti Minister Swatantradev Singh and the district's public representatives and administrative officers were present.ANI16 July 2023

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Indias defence, security relationship with Thailand grown after 2014: Jaishankar

Bangkok, July 16: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India's defence and security relationship with Thailand has grown after 2014. He noted that Thailand government has also shown the same sentiment.A .

India's defence, security relationship with Thailand grown after 2014: Jaishankar

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.AWhile 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.AAt 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.AHe 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.AToday 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.ASpeaking 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 Indian community on Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, Arrived in Bangkok today evening. First engagement was interaction with our community. Highlighted That 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 Thailand's Look West policy complementing each other and PM Modi further strengthening it with the 's Act East policy.He further stated, That the BIMSTEC and MGC represents our continued efforts at deepening linkages. Increasing trade and economic connections. Review of 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 ThailandA 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 India's Act East Policy.aIn 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.ANI16 July 2023

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Centre asks States for suggestions to make changes in PCPNDT Act for gender equality

New Delhi, July 15: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday called upon the states to give suggestions for changes in the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act for gender equality.

Centre asks States for suggestions to make changes in PCPNDT Act for gender equality

The PC-PNDT Act intends to prohibit prenatal diagnostic techniques for the determination of the sex of the foetus which may lead to female foeticide.The Union Health Minister said, The Centre and States will work together to address the issue of sex ratio imbalance in the country.The two-day-long Swasthya Chintan Shivir of the Union Health Ministry concluded on Saturday in Dehradun.On day two Mandaviya said, Swasthya Chintan Shivir should help bring us closer to the idea of last-mile connectivity in health.He also called upon Lok Bhagidari (people's participation) in eliminating Tuberculosis from the country and said that it can go a long way to make India TB-free.Lok Bhagidari, people's participation, is a very essential activity to eliminate the burden of Tuberculosis in the country. I exhort people to come forward to become Nikshay Mitras, as it can go a long way to make India TB-free, Mandaviya said.Mandaviya said that there is a need to ensure comprehensive and saturation coverage of all health schemes so that no eligible beneficiary is left behind.Need to ensure comprehensive and saturation coverage of all health schemes so that no eligible beneficiary is left behind, he added.The Union Health Minister in his closing remarks also said that participants of the Shivir should implement the learnings from this conclave in their respective areas.When we go back to our states from this immersive Chintan Shivir, let us employ the learnings from this conclave and resolve through our focused policies that we shall saturate the nation with Ayushman Bharat cards, and Ayushman Bharat Health Account IDs; and make our states TB Mukt, and also work towards eliminating leprosy, Kalaazar, and malaria from the country, Union Minister Mandaviya said.He further stated that a vision document should be prepared for the next 25 years which will help in providing the best healthcare to the people in the country.Let us design a vision document which will act like a roadmap for the next 25 years of the country's Amrit Kaal to guide our efforts towards providing the best healthcare to the citizens of our states, he said.The Swasthya Chintan Shivir saw the participation of Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, S P Singh Baghel, TS Singh Deo (Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Chhattisgarh), Brajesh Pathak (Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Uttar Pradesh), BS Pant (Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sikkim), Vishwas Sarang (State Medical Education Minister, Madhya Pradesh), and K Lakshmi Narayanan (Minister of Public Works, Puducherry).Health Ministers from various states including Dhan Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand), Rajini Vidadala (Andhra Pradesh), Alo Libang (Arunachal Pradesh), Keshab Mahanta (Assam), Rushikesh Patel (Gujarat), Banna Gupta (Jharkhand), Dinesh Gundu Rao (Karnataka), Sapam Ranjan Singh (Manipur), Dr R. Lalthyangliana (Mizoram), Thiru Ma. Subramanian (Tamil Nadu) participated in the concluding session.He also encouraged states to hold their own Chintan Shivir where localized solutions can be arrived at as per their specific healthcare needs and priorities, an official statement said.Union MoS (Health) SP Singh Baghel said that deliberations during the Shivir can lead to strong outcomes in healthcare provisioning in the country.These two days saw open dialogue across states, and I believe that these deliberations can lead to strong outcomes in healthcare provisioning in the country, he said.On the last day of this two-day event, sessions were held on various facets of healthcare in India today ranging from the status of medical education to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Mission, District Residency Programme, and Ayushman Bhav.VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary and other senior officials were also present during the conclave.ANI16 July 2023

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Watermill Legacy! How Rubina and her sisters from Kashmir transformed their familys livelihood

Srinagar, July 16: Nejul village, nestled amidst the serene landscapes of central Kashmir's Budgam district, presents a picture of resilience and determination.

Watermill Legacy! How Rubina and her sisters from Kashmir transformed their family's livelihood

In the heart of this picturesque hamlet stands a watermill, where the Rahim family has not only found sustenance but also paved the path to a brighter future for their children.Rubina Rahim, a young woman who, despite her tender age, has shouldered responsibilities that have transformed her life and that of her family.Rubina, now a high school senior, embarked on her journey as a mill worker when she was in the 12th grade. The Rahim family, consisting of Abdul Rahim, their father, and his three daughters and son, has long relied on the watermill as their primary source of livelihood.However, the family's fortunes took a positive turn when Abdul Rahim recognized the immense potential his daughters held and decided to involve them in running the watermill."It was a difficult decision to make, but I saw the determination and capabilities my daughters possessed," Abdul Rahim said and added, "I knew that with their help, we could not only sustain ourselves but also provide them with a quality education."Rubina, recalls the challenges she faced while balancing her studies and her responsibilities at the watermill."At first, it was overwhelming," she said with her eyes reflecting a mix of resilience and determination."But I quickly realized that this opportunity was a stepping stone to a better future, not just for myself but for my entire family," she added.The watermill, with its rhythmic hum, became the backdrop to Rubina's educational pursuits. She would diligently complete her schoolwork in the evenings, eagerly absorbing knowledge as she flourished both academically and professionally. The Rahim family's joint effort, fuelled by the invaluable contributions of their daughters, became a symbol of empowerment in the close-knit community of Nejul.Rubina's passion for education ignited a spark in her younger sisters as well. the middle daughter, follows in her sister's footsteps, juggling her own studies while actively participating in the watermill's operations."I am grateful to Rubina for paving the way," she shared, adding that with determination and hard work, anyone can overcome any obstacle.Local residents praised the family for challenging social norms and demonstrating that gender should never be a barrier to success."The Rahim sisters are an inspiration to us all. Their dedication and perseverance have shattered stereotypes and opened doors for young girls in our village," a neighbour said.Their story has sparked conversations about gender equality, education, and the potential of individuals when given equal opportunities. It has become a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering support of a loving family.Looking ahead, the Rahim family envisions a future where their watermill becomes a center for skill development and empowerment. They aspire to share their knowledge and experience with other families in Nejul village, encouraging them to explore alternative paths to success.Rubina, with dreams of pursuing higher education and empowering other young women, concludes with a hopeful message."We are not bound by societal expectations or limited by our circumstances. With determination and support, we can break free from the chains that hold us back and realize our true potential," Rubina said.ANI16 July 2023

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China using coercive business practices for economic advantage: US

Washington, July 16: Chinese Communist Party is using coercive economic practices to achieve worldwide dominance over America, US lawmakers accused, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

China using coercive business practices for economic advantage: US

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, China's 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 Party's 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 China's 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.ANI16 July 2023

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Workforce Readiness

Microsoft Seeks CS Instructors for Pilot of Visual Studio Code for Education

Microsoft has announced Visual Studio Code for Education, a new computer science instruction platform designed to teach students tools used by professional developers. Microsoft is inviting educators to join the pilot program, try it out in their classrooms in the 202324 school year, and provide feedback.

VS Code for Education was built for students in grades 9 through 12 and beyond, the company said. Students can gain practical skills for future careers by learning to code with the program.

Educators are invited to try the first course on the new platform, Introduction to Python, which is designed to run a full academic year and does not require any prerequisites or prior coding knowledge, Microsoft said. It is currently offered only in English, and pilot participants are invited to request specific features if they have ideas for making the program better, the company said.

VS Code for Education includes a number of accessibility features, such as zoom and high contrast for visibility, keyboard-only navigation, and screen reader optimization. Most browsers are supported, and there are workarounds for non-support notifications, Microsoft said.

Educators accepted into the pilot program can also join the Educator Professional Learning Community. To qualify, educators must:

Be U.S.-based and teach the Introduction to Python course during the 2023-24 academic year;

Be willing to teach at least part of their computer science course with VS Code for Education; and

Be able to actively contribute to the Educator Professional Learning Community, including providing feedback on their and their students experiences with VS Code for Education, as well as participate in customer research calls with Microsoft and other pilot-participating educators.

The VS Code for Education pilot is free for educators accepted into the program, with no additional software or subscription required to participate, Microsoft said.

For more information, visit the VS Code for Education website.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko helped Daniel Ricciardo to comeback in F1

Nottingham, July 16: Daniel Ricciardo will be racing in the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 23 for AlphaTauri. Ricciardo revealed that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko played an influential role in bringing him back to Formula 1.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko helped Daniel Ricciardo to comeback in F1

According to the Formula 1 website, Daniel revealed how that opportunity arrived via the latest famed call from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. I was like, 'OK, let's just hear what he has to say. I think that's probably the best thing because sometimes you're trying to prepare yourself, 'What if he asks for this?' So I thought, 'Let's just hear him out and see what happens.He added, I didn't really need to think much about it. I think, as well, being back in this family, I feel so much, I would say there's certainly some familiarity, but I also feel at home, I feel like I'm kind of just going through it all again. These were the calls I used to get and these were the moments they used to kind of throw in front of us. There was no question that I was going to say yes, it was just I guess the reality of, OK, it's going to happen pretty soon.With some of his confidence and belief diminishing during a tricky two-year period at McLaren, Ricciardo asserted that he feels back to his normal self after reuniting with Red Bull and spending time with some familiar faces.Getting back to Red Bull and just kind of the reception I had walking back into that team was really kind of, in a positive way, a little bit overwhelming. Then getting back on the sim, I was still a bit unsure how it was going to go, if the car would feel like it used to, if I was going to be, for the lack of better words, like the old me.Once I'd done a few sim sessions and started feeling like myself again, it then just kind of brought me back to normal Daniel, where I was falling back in love and ready to go again.Ricciardo then took a moment to discuss his expectations alongside Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri, who sit at the foot of the F1 standings with just two points to their name so far this season.The car will be what it is, said Ricciardo before heading to Hungary, where he won for Red Bull in 2014. I'm going to drive it and work from there. I don't want to get too much-preconceived ideas.Ricciardo also knows that should he deliver with AlphaTauri, there may well be a route back to Red Bull in the future though he is focused on the here and now.While concluding he said, That's why it feels a bit like back when I was working my way up through it, in the Red Bull family. That was it, 'If you get results, we'll keep pushing you, we'll keep pushing you'. That's really like the mindset. I know the team It's been tough to get a points finish this year, a top 10, so to push this car and try to get it inside the top 10, I think that would get everyone pretty fulfilled and excited.ANI16 July 2023

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John Cussack criticises studio greed; rallies in support of WGA, SAG-AFTRA strikers

Los Angeles, July 16:A The ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA have frozen Hollywood which has led to the delay and even cancellation of various projects and panels. Many actors and directors have supported the strike which includesA JohnA Cussack, who has criticised the greed and uncaring attitude of big studios, as well as their over reliance on AI to get rid of many writers in order to cut costs.

John Cussack criticises studio greed; rallies in support of WGA, SAG-AFTRA strikers

As reported by Variety, the 'Con Air' actor wrote on social media: "Studios wanna have extras work one day, scan them a own their likeness forever a and eliminate them from the business."Cusack further wrote about how the studios want to use AI to get rid of certain acting jobs. "Do you think they will stop with extras ? That's what AI is a a giant Copyright identity theft."The actor then proceeded to share a story about starring in Cameron Crowe's classic 1989 teen romance film 'Say Anything', saying that he received no percentage of the box office and that the studio lost $44 million."The greed is almost a legendary comic trope," Cusack wrote. "One fun fact a when I was a youngin- I did a film (with a boom box) and somehow I got points a net not gross."He further mentioned: "Never expected to see any money a but the film became quite famous a so about 10 years ago a I looked again at the financial statements they were obligated to report a and to my shock a they claimed they had LOST 44 million dollars on the film."He added: "I thought wow, I almost bankrupted Fox! (not really). The film cost about 13 million to make a and money spent to release was minimal at the time a 30 years in a that film lost millions every year ! A neat accounting trick don't ya think?"Cussack also called the studios a 'criminal enterprise', claiming that they will eliminate background actors and writers within a decade or so through the use of AI and then not pay them their dues.He also shared a video of SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher who said: "We are the victims here. We are being victimised by a very greedy entity. I cannot believe it, quite frankly: How far apart we are on so many things. How (the studios) plead poverty, that they're losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them."Some of the halted projects and cancelled panels include big projects such as delaying of 'Andor' Season 2 and 'White Lotus' Season 3, and the cancellation of the 'Dune Part 2' comic con.IANS16 July 2023

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Young people more inclined towards Ayurveda: BHU study

Varanasi, July 16: A research conducted by the scientists of Banaras Hindu University has shown that patients between the 30-39 years age group sought Ayurvedic healthcare the most, with a higher proportion of women.

Young people more inclined towards Ayurveda: BHU study

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.--IANSamita/danIANS16 July 2023

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JD.com releases ChatRhino as China introduces interim laws for AI services

Beijing, July 16: JD.com, one of China's leading online shopping platforms, has released its large language model called 'ChatRhino', as the China introduced interim laws to manage generative artificial intelligence services in the country.

JD.com releases 'ChatRhino' as China introduces interim laws for AI services

ChatRhino-- or yanxi in Chinese-- has been customised for various verticals such as logistics, retail, healthcare and finance, and boasts a base of 100 billion parameters, surpassing the previous model 'Vega' which held 10 billion parameters, reports ZDNET.The company aims to support domain-specific application development with over 100 training and inference optimisation tools, allowing clients to build their specialised models quickly.According to the company, JD Health's own LLM, Jingyi Qianxun, is built on the new ChatRhino and has been trained on medical scenarios to automatically deploy services.The launch of ChatRhino comes the same week China introduced interim regulations for generative AI services which will take effect on August 15.The government aims to ensure the healthy development of technology while safeguarding national security and public interests."Measures also have to be taken to improve the quality of training data, including its accuracy, objectivity, and diversity," the report said.The interim laws require generative AI service providers to take legal responsibility for the data they produce and the security of that data.Users of their service will be required to sign service-level agreements with them, outlining each party's rights and obligations.IANS16 July 2023

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Investigating cause of cheetah deaths, consulting international experts from South Africa, Namibia: Tiger apex body

New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): 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.

Investigating cause of cheetah deaths, consulting international experts from South Africa, Namibia: Tiger apex body

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.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.AUnder 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.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. (ANI)ANI17 July 2023

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A Uniform Civil Code will empower women: Telangana Guv Tamilisai Soundararajan

Hyderabad [India], July 16 (ANI): Coming out in support of the Uniform Civil Code,A Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday said that the proposed law, if implemented, will empower women of the country.

A Uniform Civil Code will empower women: Telangana Guv Tamilisai Soundararajan

While speaking to ANI in Telangana, Soundarajan said, "I strongly support Uniform Civil Code (UCC). It empowers the women"."Because it (UCC) is empowering the women. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) already said in the house if there are five-six brothers, each one canot have a separate law," She added."So we have to have it. I am a very stronger supporter of it," she further added.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).The 22nd Law Commission of India decided to solicit the views and ideas of the public at large and recognised religious organisations about the Uniform Civil Code, asking interested parties to present their opinions by July 14.According to noted lawyer Ashish Dixit, the Law Commission can only give suggestions in the form of a report, which are not binding on the government. If the government is of the view that the time is right to implement UCC, it would require the approval of parliament, he added. (ANI)ANI17 July 2023

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Barun Sobti: Shooting in Punjab for Kohrra was discovering the land through new lens

Mumbai, July 17:A Actor Barun Sobti has spoken about shooting for the series 'Kohrra' in Punjab and said that it was like discovering the land through new lens.A .

Barun Sobti: Shooting in Punjab for 'Kohrra' was discovering the land through new lens

Barun said "It's a coincidence that I am playing a cop in Kohrra who is engulfed in solving a murder mystery because I thoroughly enjoy mysteries. After shooting, I, somehow, found that there was a mystery room near the location and I urged Sudip Sharma and Gunjit Chopra to come experience the thrill.""Shooting in Punjab for Kohrra for me was discovering the land from a new lens. We traveled inroads and shot at various locations to sustain the authenticity and rawness that resonates with the storyline of the series."The Netflix series Kohrra, set in the heartland of Punjab, takes the audiences on a thrilling journey through the intertwined lives of dysfunctional families and the depths of a crime investigation. The cast including Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti, Harleen Sethi, Varun Badola, Rachel Shelley, and Manish Chaudhary spent substantial time exploring Punjab during the shoot.Harleen Sethi recalls finding herself in the middle of a rose garden on the first day of shoot, talking more about it, she said "Even though I am a Punjabi, I haven't spent much time in Punjab. Hence, shooting in Punjab, being close to my roots was a special experience and it will always remain close to my heart. Punjab is a vibrant state, the vast lush fields and farmlands instantly transports you in the midst of nature.She added "I was in the middle of this garden where roses were in full bloom, the sun was setting with sky fully orange with hints of blue, it was such a pleasant set up, I ended up spending hours after the shoot on the first day."There was also a Gurdwara near the house where we were shooting, it was so peaceful as I could hear the prayers and even find time after the shoot to pay my visits."IANS17 July 2023

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In awe of your magic: Vicky Kaushal shares mushy pictures to wish wife Katrina Kaif on birthday

Mumbai, July 16: As actor Katrina Kaif turned 40 today, the wishes has been pouring in but the most special wish is finally here. Hubby-actor Vicky Kaushal shared romantic pictures to express his love for her and to wish wifey. A .

In awe of your magic: Vicky Kaushal shares mushy pictures to wish wife Katrina Kaif on birthday

Vicky took to Instagram and shared a series of pictures from their undisclosed romantic vacation.https//www.instagram.com/p/CuwrDhDPPap/Aren't they looking cute as Vicky and Katrina look romantically into each other's eyes.Interesting, ocean and mesmerizing sunset view in the backdrop making the pic a perfect.Birthday girl done a beautiful orange shade dress and kept her tresses open to enjoy the breeze.Vicky looked handsome in white classy shirt.Sharing the pictures, he wrote sweet message for his wife, In awe of your magic... everyday. Happy Birthday my love!Earlier today, Vicky's brotherA Sunny KaushalA also penned a sweet wish for Katrina on his Insta stories.Calling her the coolest person of his life, he mentioned, Happy birthday to the coolest person in my life...@katrinakaif. Lots of love and big tight hugSunny's rumored girlfriend and actressA SharvariA also shared a picture with the 'Ek Tha Tiger' actor, she wrote in the caption, Happy happyA birthdayA Kat!! @katrinakaif love you lotsss.Not only Sunny and Sharvari extended the wishes but other B-Town celebs took to their respective social media handles to wish the actor on her 40th.Arjun Kapoor shared a throwback picture with Katrina and wrote, HAPPY BIRTHDAY @KATRINAKAIF. SAB KUSHAL MANGAL RAHEIN TUMHARI LIFE MEIN!!! MAY U KEEP SMILING & GIVING AMAZING ADVICE TO ALL YOUR DISCIPLES... ALSO, CAN'T WAIT TO TRY YOUR HOME MADE PARATHAS SOON I !!Anushka Sharma wished her 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' co-star Katrina and wrote, Happy Birthday Katrina! Wishing you love and light always, along with a gorgeous picture of Kat.Vicky and Katrina's close friend and actor Angad Bedi shared a throwback picture from their Christmas party to wish the birthday girl.In the first image, Angad, his wife Neha Dhupia and Katrina can be seen posing for the camera.Sharing the picture, he wrote, Happy birthday kat!!Angad also shared Katrina and Vicky's cute picture and captioned it, Vicky sade walon... kat @katrinakaif nu lakh lakh vadhiyaan janamdin diyaan!!! Waheguru sukh rakho.Vaani Kapoor wrote, Happy happy birthday Beautiful. Love and happiness.Bhumi shared a post for birthday on her Insta stories and wrote, Happy birthday. Have the bestest one.Filmmaker Aanand L Rai also extended birthday wishes to Katrina.He wrote, Happy birthday. Keep smiling. Stay blessed always.Kiara Advani also shared sweet birthday wish for the actor.ALovebirds were spotted at the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning.Interestingly, they flew out of Mumbai ahead of Katrina's 40th birthday on Sunday.In the videos captured by Mumbai-based paps, Katrina and Vicky can be seen making their way towards the entrance of the airport. The couple also posed for shutterbugs.Katrina looked stunning in a floral full-sleeve top that she paired with flared blue denims and white shoes. On the other hand, Vicky opted for a white T-shirt that he paired with black jacket and trousers.The two were twinning in black shades.Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan.On 'Koffee With Karan', Katrina revealed that she met Vicky at Zoya Akhtar's party and that's when romance started brewing between them.Sharing the details of her relationship with Vicky, Katrina shared how Vicky was never on her 'radar'. She said, I did not even know much about him. He was just a name I had heard of but had never associated with. But then, when I met him, I was won over!Calling her relationship 'unexpected and out of the blue', Katrina added, It was my destiny and it was really meant to be. There were so many coincidences that at one point all of it just felt so unreal.Meanwhile, on the work front, Katrina will be seen in Sriram Raghavan's film 'Merry Christmas' opposite south actor Vijay Sethupathi and Farhan Akhtar's upcoming film 'Jee Le Zara' along with Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra.Vicky will be seen in Meghna Gulzar's film 'Sam Bahadur' alongside Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh.ANI17 July 2023

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Vedanta has best dividend yield among large-cap stocks

New Delhi, July 17:A Vedanta Ltd has the best dividend yield in the last 12 months among large-cap stocks at 31 per cent.

Vedanta has best dividend yield among large-cap stocks

As per a report by Axis Securities, it is followed by Hindustan Zinc at 25 per cent, Coal India at 10 per cent, ONGC at 8 per cent, and Power Grid and GAIL at 5 per cent.Among the mid-cap companies, Sanofi India, REC and Oil India have the best dividend yield at 8 per cent, followed by Power Finance Corporation and Oracle Financial Services at 6 per cent.Among the small-cap companies, TV Today Network has the highest dividend yield at 33 per cent, followed by Bhansali Engineering and Polymers at 18 per cent, RSWM at 14 per cent, Forbes and Company at 10 per cent and IDFC, also at 10 per cent.Banco Products, Polyplex Corporation, Goodyear India and PNB Gilts had a dividend yield of 8 per cent, while Balmer Lawrie and Nirlon had a dividend yield of 7 per cent.Among the PSUs, Coal India had a dividend yield of 10 per cent, while ONGC, REC and Oil India had a dividend yield of 8 per cent.--IANSsan/armIANS17 July 2023

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5-aminolevulinic acid may aid in the treatment of mitochondrial disorders

Tokyo, July 17: Tokyo Metropolitan University researchers discovered that 5-aminolevulinic acid aids in the bypass of deficiencies in Complex I, the first of a series of protein complexes that transport electrons and help power the mitochondria. They discovered that when fruit flies lacking the analogous protein were given a drug cocktail that included 5-ALA, their health improved. The majority of mitochondrial disorders are caused by CI deficiency; the team's findings may lead to new therapies.

5-aminolevulinic acid may aid in the treatment of mitochondrial disorders

Mitochondrial diseases arise from problems in the mitochondria, a small organelle in cells which produces adenosine triphosphate, a chemical fuel that powers a vast array of biochemical processes in our bodies. Issues are particularly acute in more energy intensive parts of the body such as the brain and muscles, causing severe issues such as mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes syndrome, a debilitating condition. Sadly, there is currently no cure scientists around the world continue to be on the lookout for effective treatments.Complex I deficiency is a common cause of mitochondrial disorders. Complex I is the first of a series of protein complexes that help transport electrons to power reactions in the mitochondria which ultimately lead to the production of ATP. However, this is not the only way in which ATP is made; it is known that Complex II, III, IV and cytochrome c can also provide electrons to the same process, but whether this could be leveraged to counteract CI deficiency was not known.Now, a team led by Associate Professor Kanae Ando of Tokyo Metropolitan University have shown that certain chemical supplements might help selectively boost CII and CIV to bypass the lack of CI. They studied fruit flies with their equivalent of CI artificially reduced by genetic engineering; flies with this genetic "knockdown" showed problems with their movement and shorter lifespans. However, they found that feeding them a mixture of 5-aminovulenic acid and sodium ferrous citrate helped improve their locomotor functions and neuromuscular junction development. Levels of ATP were also significantly improved, but this was not due to any elevation in the amount of CI.On closer inspection, the team ascertained that activities of Complex II and IV were elevated and helped bypass the issues associated with CI deficiency. 5-ALA is known to be a precursor to heme, a critical part of the function of Complex II, III, IV and cytochrome c. On being fed 5-ALA, the fruit flies showed a metabolic shift which used the ability of CII and CIV to transport electrons and power the production of ATP. They also noticed that flies with CI deficiency had elevated levels of pyruvate and lactate in their cells, much like human patients with CI deficiency suffering from lactic acidosis. 5-ALA also helped bring down the levels of both.Despite the severity of mitochondrial disorders, there is as of yet no treatment which addresses the root cause of the vast array of health issues they may cause. The team's findings promise not only new insight but potentially new therapeutic options for a whole class of deadly diseases.ANI18 July 2023

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Changes coming to a former pub in Savoy  redevelopment plans for a school building constructed in 1905  sooo many swans in a Danville park  and whether a world-famous UI faculty members been moonlighting in Hollywood. Also, a couple of questions related to recent weather conditions: how the pros measure wind-driven rain, and whether Canadian wildfire smoke might blacken local residents furnace filters.
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UK immersive technology company FourPlus, along with collaborators Holosphere and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, have been awarded funding from Innovate UK to create and test a mixed reality training platform that enables customized training delivery for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare.

The project is a GBP 1 million investment, with almost 75% from Innovate UK, and has been awarded via the Digitalization and Automation of Medicines R&D and Manufacture competition. It will support the development of a customizable platform that leverages mixed reality and multi-player capabilities. The digital and automated training platform will be designed specifically for a number of manufacturing roles within cell and gene therapy, biopharmaceutical and wider life science sectors, including those at hospital sites. It will support initial training of staff, validation and the creation of digital training records. The platform will also enable healthcare trainers and trainees to collaborate seamlessly within virtual training environments. Additionally, the grant will facilitate the integration of data analytics tools, providing valuable insights for training and competency assessment purposes.

The collaborative project will be delivered by FourPlus over 18 months. A first release of a digital and automated training platform will be available to the market for demonstration by the end of 2023.

The training platform will expand the FourPlus technology portfolio that is already revolutionizing the onboarding and training process for new hires and apprentices in technical roles within the healthcare and biopharma sectors. By significantly accelerating time to competence, using FourPlus software leads to substantial cost savings. Automation and standardization of core training elements also guarantees consistent workforce skills, ensuring excellence across technical functions within an organization.

Furthermore, this innovative solution significantly reduces waste streams by minimizing the use of single-use consumables in physical lab training, thereby making a positive environmental impact.

FourPlus CEO, Dr Ivan Wall, said: We are really excited to be starting this innovative project with Holosphere and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. We already know that VR is a powerful way to support training of new sector employees, as it reduces cost, time, facility use and waste production. This project will deliver the next generation solution, that integrates mixed reality, training customization, multi-user interactivity, data analytics and training support features. We will integrate best-in-class networked co-localization technology, designed by project partners Holosphere, and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult will support through testing with sector apprentices.

Mixed reality and passthrough technologies are now ready to enable high quality shared immersive experiences and enhance communication between users. Holosphere are delighted to be working with Four Plus and CGTC to apply this to their next generation of training tools. Sean Duffy, Technical Director, Holosphere

Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult said: To feed the expected growth of the cell and gene therapy industry we need to employ innovation in every area. FourPlus innovative use of virtual and mixed reality is a great example of new technology meeting need. We look forward to working with FourPlus, Holosphere and our apprentice community to test this platform.
The cells of the immune system circulate mainly in the blood and migrate into the body's tissues after an inflammation. Some types of immune cells, however, are permanently located in the tissues, where they come together to form three-dimensional networks.

How do these networks form and how are they maintained? For the long-lived macrophages (phagocytes), the answer is already known: They settle in so-called niches. These are environments of connective tissue cells that supply the macrophages with nutrients and keep them alive.

A team led by Professors Georg Gasteiger, Dominic Grun and Wolfgang Kastenmuller from the Institute of Systems Immunology at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) / Max Planck Research Group has now turned its attention to a related type of immune cells, the so-called dendritic cells.

These immune cells are essential for the control of immune responses because they are at the first line of defense of the immune system: They recognize foreign structures, take them in and process them into a kind of mugshot. They then present the photo to other immune cells and trigger a specific immune response, for example against pathogens or cancer cells.

Dendritic cells migrate through the tissue

The special thing about dendritic cells: They only live for about a week and during this time they continuously migrate through the body's tissues. "In this respect, it was clear that the classic niche concept would not work here" , says Wolfgang Kastenmuller.

The JMU team found a completely new concept for this, according to which three-dimensional cell networks can organize themselves: Dendritic cells orient themselves to the blood vessels and migrate one after the other along their outer wall - similar to children walking in single file. The blood vessels thus determine the three-dimensional arrangement of the cells.

Cytokines keep the cells together

"We wanted to understand how this process is regulated and how the cells manage to close gaps in their network," explains Dr. Milas Ugur, a scientist in Professor Kastenmuller's group. Closing such gaps is important because otherwise the immune defense no longer functions optimally.

As the JMU team reports in the journal Immunity, it is due to a locally acting cytokine, the FLT3 ligand, that the dendritic cells always stay close together during their developmental migration.

The cytokines are continuously and evenly produced locally and consumed by the dendritic cells. If there are gaps in the group, more cytokines are available for the isolated dendritic cells. This surplus speeds them up in their development and movement and helps them to reconnect with the group. When the cells have moved up, they have a little less cytokines available again due to competition from their neighbors. Accordingly, they slow down their developmental speed.

Of prognostic value for tumor diseases

These findings are for example important for cancer therapy: dendritic cells have a high prognostic value for tumor diseases: The higher their abundance in the tumor, the better the prognosis for the patient. This is especially true after immunotherapy.

Increasing our basic insights on dendritic cell biology will help us to restore the networks of these cells in tumors and thereby tailor optimal therapies in the future." Wolfgang Kastenmuller, Institute of Systems Immunology at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) / Max Planck Research Group

The JMU researchers' data so far is based on the analysis of lymph nodes from animal models. The team next wants to test whether the same principles of network organization of dendritic cells apply to all tissues and also in humans.

The work described was done in cooperation with researchers from the Wurzburg Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and with scientists from France and Japan. It was financially supported by the European Research Council and the German Research Foundation.

Immunology in Wurzburg

Wurzburg University Medical Center has distinguished itself as an important research location in the field of immunology and has greatly expanded these competencies in recent years. In numerous institutes and chairs, scientists are working on better understanding the immune system and using it to fight diseases. In doing so, they cooperate closely with other researchers in Germany and worldwide.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an evolving field that has revolutionized genomics research in various disciplines and is propelling the use of genomics for the greater good. MGI is one of few companies to offer whole workflow solution with one-stop-shop, real-time, for whatever the genetic sequencing needs. MGIs DNBSEQTM platforms feature high throughput technology, transforming sequencing projects in all realms of research.

Image Credit: ShutterShock/ImageFlow

Next-generation sequencing - Achieving all research goals

Since its dawn in the early 2000s, NGS has reformed how researchers read genetic codes, enabling faster and more precise sequencing. NGS advances in various disciplines, including population genomics, biodiversity, agricultural genomics, and clinical genomics. With much higher sensitivity in detecting low-frequency variants, NGS is especially important in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases through precision medicine.

MGI launched the first DNBSEQ platform in 2015 and through the 8 years innovation, it now offers an extensive product portfolio of ultra-high-, high- and medium-throughput sequencers, accommodating all sequencing needs with accessibility and affordability. MGIs expertise enables researchers to attain their goals and push their research and development to the next level.

What if cost was not a barrier?

A drawback that has limited accessibility to genetic sequencing has been the financial barrier associated with the required computational power, data storage, and labor time. Reducing these costs is paramount to unlocking the full potential of NGS and allowing more research sectors across the globe to utilize the technologies. MGI is committed to removing the barrier through continuous technology innovation.

The DNBSEQ-T202.

Image Credit: MGI

In 2022, MGI broke the $100 genome barrier by launching the ultra-high throughput sequencer DNBSEQ-T202. This single set can produce up to 50,000 whole-genome sequences (WGS) in one year per 30x human genomes, making NGS much more accessible to researchers globally.

Utilizing advanced dip-immersion biochemistry, two imagers, and a rotational, robotic handling arm, one DNBSEQ-T202 sequencer can assay six slides simultaneously. This can provide 42 Tb of data per run with PE100 and up to 72 Tb per run with PE150. With DNBSEQ-T202, MGI can now produce the highest throughput per run with high quality sequencing data.

Trade-offs between speed, low cost, and flexibility

MGI also recognizes the trade-offs that arise when reducing costs, such as reduced speed and flexibility. MGIs DNBSEQ-T7 sequencer addresses these trade-offs, providing researchers with great flexibility. The sequencer has various applications in agriculture, multi-omics, precision medicine, metagenomics, biodiversity etc. This sequencer has been supporting customers across the globe in places such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Brazil, aiding in major national genome projects.

Partnering with the South Australian Genomics Centre, MGI introduced this ultra-high throughput sequencer for commercial use for the first time in Australia.1 In Brazil, MGI is supporting Pensabios large national genomic sequencing project, which aims to sequence the complete genomes of thousands of patients with rare diseases and hereditary cancers.2 This project will identify genetic markers that can be tracked for important early diagnosis and treatment.

The DNBSEQ-T7.

Image Credit: MGI

DNBSEQ-T7 is supporting the Genomics Thailand Initiative to increase the countrys competitiveness and put them on the map in genomic medical research, improving medicine management standards for its citizens.3 It is also assisting the Ministry of Health in Indonesia with its National Genome Project, working towards establishing a precise, credible population database of 10,000 genomes for medical research.4

With this sequencer, researchers in both developed and developing nations can conduct large-scale genomics studies without encountering trade-offs on performance. MGI can help researchers accomplish a genomics project at any scale.

Right targeted sequencing within 24 hours

When it comes to disease diagnosis and treatment, time is precious, as faster diagnosis means faster treatment. Delivering the correct targeted therapy to patients in a reduced time frame is vital in increasing patient survival rates.

Thanks to one of our most recent sequencers, DNBSEQ-G99, MGI delivers targeted sequencing results as quickly as 24 hours.

DNBSEQ-G99, offers mid- to low-throughput assays at an ultra-high speed, perfect for targeting specific gene sequences and for small genome sequencing. With a triangular matrix of single spots on the sequencing flow cell and highly precise temperature control, the DNBSEQ-G99 platform gives a greater data output density in a shorter time with an overall throughput of 8-48 Gb per run.

The DNBSEQ-G99.

Image Credit: MGI

The turnaround time of a PE150 sequencing run is shortened to a groundbreaking 12 hours, meaning the pathology labs could potentially assign the right targeted therapy to a patient by the end of the day.

DNBSEQ-G99 was central to the diagnosis of the first imported case of monkeypox to mainland China in 2022, allowing a quick response to taking the necessary actions to control the disease outbreak.5 Faster diagnosis of diseases like monkeypox allows for quicker development of vaccines to manage the spread of diseases much earlier on.

What if there was a company that understands all your needs when it comes to genomics research?

Although MGI is significantly advanced in its sequencers and focused on continuing to break down the financial barriers associated with them  offering an extensive product portfolio of ultra-high-, high-, and medium-throughput sequencers to accommodate different sequencing needs at a competitive cost  the company realizes that research goes further than sequencing genetic data.

MGI offers a one-stop-shop solution for research that includes lab automation, single-cell platforms, BIT platforms, and a lab information management system and data management system. MGI continues to provide laboratories across the globe with the most cutting-edge genomic techniques with accessibility and affordability.

MGI looks forward to launching this campaign at the XXIIIrd International Congress of Genetics, featuring the most recent, cutting-edge genomics, where we will showcase DNBSEQ-G99, single-cell platform, and more.

References and Further Reading

For more information, please visit: http://mgi-whatif.com/

MGI and South Australian Genomics Centre introduce DNBSEQ-T7 to supercharge genomics research in Australia (2023) MGI. Available at: https://en.mgi-tech.com/news/caseinfo/92/ MGI supports a national genomic sequencing project that aims to build the largest genetic database in Brazil (2023) MGI. Available at: https://en.mgi-tech.com/news/caseinfo/87/ MGI contributes to Thailands roadmap for Genomic Medicine in Genomics Thailand initiative (2023) MGI. Available at: https://en.mgi-tech.com/news/caseinfo/78/ MGI supports the Ministry of Health of Indonesia in the countrys breakthrough National Genome Project (2023) MGI. Available at: https://en.mgi-tech.com/news/caseinfo/76/ Zhao, H., Wang, W., Zhao, L., Ye, S., Song, J., Lu, R., Zong, H., Wu, C., Huang, W., Huang, B. and Deng, Y. 2022. The first imported case of monkeypox in the mainland of ChinaChongqing municipality, China, September 16, 2022. China C

*Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hong Kong (CoolMPS is available in Hong Kong).

*Products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures (except as specifically noted)
The much-anticipated 2024 Toyota Fortuner is making waves even before its official debut, as its spy shot has surfaced online.

The Toyota Fortuner has been reigning as the most successful seven-seat off-roader in the country, enjoying unparalleled popularity among buyers. With the absence of its formidable competitor, the Ford Endeavour, the Fortuner has become the obvious choice for many, cementing its position in the market.

The leaked image gives us a sneak peek into the SUVs future, revealing an evolutionary design approach rather than a complete overhaul. The side profile appears somewhat similar to the current model, but notable changes are evident in the front and rear sections. A revamped LED headlamp cluster and a more rounded tail lamp unit catch the eye, while the massive front grille and redesigned bumper exude a commanding road presence. Other aspects of the side profile remain reminiscent of the existing model, which aligns with earlier spy images.

The current-gen Toyota Fortuner offers two engine options: a 2.7-litre petrol engine and a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine. These powerhouses deliver impressive peak power and torque outputs, with the petrol engine producing 163 bhp and 245 Nm, and the turbo-diesel engine churning out 200 bhp and a staggering 420 Nm (500 Nm with automatic transmission). Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or automatic, and in the diesel variants, power is distributed to all four wheels via a dedicated 44 system. The Fortuner falls in the price range of Rs 32.99 lakh - Rs 50.74 lakh (ex-showroom).

In exciting news, rumors suggest that the forthcoming HiLux and Fortuner might feature a new engine equipped with a mild-hybrid system. While it may not be a full hybrid akin to the Innova Hycross and Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the mild-hybrid version promises fuel savings and an added performance boost. Though details remain scarce at this moment, automotive enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting more information.

The Toyota Fortuner continues to dominate the Indian market as the go-to 7-seat off-roading SUV. With the potential arrival of a facelifted model, Toyota aims to further solidify its position. Additionally, rumors of a hybrid powertrain in the next-generation Fortuner and Hilux add an intriguing dimension to the mix. Automotive enthusiasts eagerly await confirmation on these exciting developments.

Source
A record 13.5 crore people in India moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21, according to the Niti Aayogs report titled National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023 released on Monday. It said Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor.

The country has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in the number of Indias multidimensionally poor from 24.85 per cent in 2015-16 to 14.96 per cent during 2019-2021, said the report released by Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery.

The National Multidimentional Poverty Index (MPI) measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions  health, education, and standard of living that are represented by 12 SDG-aligned indicators. These include nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.

Marked improvement is witnessed across all the 12 indicators," the report said.

According to the latest report, the rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59 per cent to 19.28 per cent. During the same period, the urban areas saw a reduction in poverty from 8.65 per cent to 5.27 per cent.

Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in number of poor with 3.43 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty," said the report.

Providing multidimensional poverty estimates for the 36 states and Union Territories and 707 administrative districts, the report also said the fastest reduction in the proportion of multidimensional poor was observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

Between 2015-16 and 2019-21, the MPI value has nearly halved from 0.117 to 0.066 and the intensity of poverty has reduced from 47 per cent to 44 per cent, thereby setting India on the path of achieving the SDG Target 1.2 (of reducing multidimensional poverty by at least half) much ahead of the stipulated timeline of 2030," according to the Niti Aayogs report.

It also demonstrates the governments focus on ensuring sustainable and equitable development and eradicating poverty by 2030, thereby adhering to its commitment towards the SDGs.
Last month, the Cheshire Town Council adopted a new policy that excludes most non-governmental flags from being displayed on Town property.

The policy was designed, per Council Member David Veleber, to avoid both political controversy and possible liability in light of a recent United States Supreme Court decision (Shurtleff v. City of Boston) on the subject. But the subsequent removal of POW/MIA flags from Town-owned buildings led some Cheshire veterans to attend the July 11 Town Council meeting in order to voice their concerns and explain why flying the flag matters to them.

The POW/MIA flag  first adopted in the 1970s to raise awareness on behalf of family members with loved ones unaccounted for in Southeast Asia  had been specifically mentioned, along with official police, fire and armed forces unit flags, as a permitted exception.

The policy states that the POW/MIA flag may be flown at the Towns discretion at any property owned by the Town of Cheshire used as a veterans memorial. That would include locations such as Cheshire High School, as well as a future memorial site planned for Bartlem Park, per Council Chair Tim Slocum.

According to Town officials, flags at the Public Works Department garage and Police Department were removed in order to comply with the policy.

Cheshire resident Matt Bowman, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, began his testimony by distributing an image to each member of the Council.

Thats a UPI photograph that was taken in 1973. I was part of a security detail that took care of our POWs when they were released from North Vietnam. This is something that is very emotional for me. That flag means a lot, stated Bowman.

Bowman suggested that a flag had been removed from Fire Department Headquarters on Maple Avenue. Bowman pointed out that Cheshire native Harvey C. Barney Barnum, who received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam, was a life member of the Department, just as Barnums father had been.

Describing the removal of the flag at police headquarters, Bowman noted, Your first Police Chief, John G. McNamara, was awarded the Silver Star during World War II.

Bowman also mentioned the Private Lester Rochford Building, which currently is home to Artsplace but had been a VFW before the building was purchased by the Town. It was named for the first Cheshirite who was killed in World War II, in North Africa, Bowman said. Rochford received a posthumous Purple Heart and has a memorial site in Carthage, Tunisia.

Why these flags cant fly over these buildings is beyond me, Bowman continued, suggesting short-sightedness and fear as possible motivations.

In the military, the first article of the Code of Conduct is, I am an American fighting man, I serve in our forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in its defense. The most important part of that is our way of life. Not your way of life, not my way of life, our way of life, everyone here, Bowman emphasized.

Bowman also criticized the Council for making the change in the form of a policy, rather than an ordinance. The latter would have required a public hearing.

You should have at least had the courtesy, if you were going to remove these flags from where theyve flown in excess of 25 years, to give the public a chance to have their views known, argued Bowman.

Bowman, on behalf of his family, also offered to provide the plaques necessary on the flagpoles so that this flag can be flown.

Don Falk, an Army veteran of the Vietnam era and Commander of local VFW Post 10052, commented that he receives reports from the VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) in which almost weekly, they identify the remains of the missing in action. And I would say our POW/MIA flag at this point is as much or more about the missing in action: no one left behind.

Falk provided a recent example of a soldier who had been missing in action in Korea for the past 73 years. Though declared deceased, his bodys recovered and being taken home for burial, identified through the efforts of the VA. This is another reason this flags important to us.

The USS Oklahoma, sunk during the attack at Pearl Harbor, lost about 400 unidentified sailors, Falk said. However, with DNA technology, over 330 of those bodies have been recovered and returned to their families. Again, this is about the MIAs and the importance of this flag.

Id also mention Arlington National Cemetery  the Tomb of the Unknown  remembers those (who) are missing in action. There is nobody in the crypt for the Vietnam veteran. He was identified, he was one of the missing in action, a US Air Force pilot. His body was eventually removed, identified, and taken home to his family, Falk added.

The Council, to a nine of us, in no way intended to offend or abuse the dignity of the missing in action, said Slocum, following the commentary. What I will pledge to do is revisit this with a more fulsome understanding of where the expectations lay for their placement that doesnt stray too far from what the intention of our policy was.
7th Pay Commission: After several states recently hiked their dearness allowances (DA) for state government employees, the central government is also likely to raise DA for its employees by 4 per cent, according to reports. After the 4 per cent hike, the DA will now increase to 46 per cent.

The DA is hiked twice a year  January and July. The last hike was announced in March 2023, which became effective from January 1, 2023. In the hike, the DA was raised by 4 per cent to 42 per cent.

Now, according to the latest reports, the central government might decide to hike DA by 4 per cent, following which the DA will increase to 46 per cent. The next DA hike is likely to be announced in September or October, said the reports.

Dearness allowance (DA) is given to government employees, while dearness relief (DR) is for pensioners. According to the official data, there are 47.58 lakh central government employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. After the upcoming DA hike, these employees and pensioners will be benefitted.

Recently, Madhya Pradesh increased DA for its employees by 4 per cent. Before that, the Odisha government also announced a four per cent hike in dearness allowance for its employees and pensioners. The DA for employees and pensioners has been increased to 42 per cent from the existing 38 per cent. The increased DA will be applicable with retrospective effect from January 23 this year and the employees will receive the amount with their June salary.

Before that, Karnataka also hiked DA by 4 per cent with a retrospective effect from January 1, 2023. The DA in Karnataka has been increased from 31 per cent to 35 per cent. Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh have also announced their salary hikes for their government employees and pensioners.

How Is DA Hike Calculated?

The central government revises the DA and DR for employees based on a formula. Following is the formula:

Dearness Allowance Percentage = ((Average of All-India Consumer Price Index (Base Year 2001=100) for the past 12 months -115.76)/115.76)x100.

For Central public sector employees: Dearness Allowance Percentage = ((Average of All-India Consumer Price Index (Base Year 2001=100) for the past 3 months -126.33)/126.33)x100.
Foxconn, a major iPhone assembler for Apple, has proposed to set up a Rs 8,800 crore supplementary plant to that of the unit at Devanahalli Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Karnataka, the states Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Monday.

The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a high-level meeting with the delegates of Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii), headed by its CEO, Brand Cheng, in this regard, he said.

Also Read: Foxconn In Talks With Taiwans TSMC, Japans TMH To Make Semiconductors In India: Report

As per the proposal, Fii, a subsidiary of Foxconn (formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd), has a plan to invest Rs 8,800 Crore. This would create 14,000 jobs and the land required for the project is about 100 acres," Patil said.

The delegates of the Fii would be taken to Tumakuru to examine the available land at Japan Industrial Township near the district headquarters town.

The Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge and Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma were also present in the meeting.

Fii will engage in manufacturing screens, and outer coverings apart from making mechanical components needed for phones. This would operate as a supplementary plant to the end assembly unit at Devanahalli (ITIR)", the Minister said in a statement.

Also Read: Foxconn Pledges Commitment To India, Plans To Apply Separately For Chip Manufacturing Incentives

The state is ready to provide full support, offering land required to set up the manufacturing unit, in the 100 acres of land available in the Japanese Industrial Park near (the district headquarters town of) Tumakuru", Patil said in a tweet.

Patil said on Thursday the process of handing over land to Apple Inc supplier and Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn, for its mobile devices manufacturing unit at Devanahalli ITIR is in final stages." Foxconn is coming up in about 300 acres. The process of handing over land is in final stages, there were some issues, so I have personally held meetings four times in this regard, as we did not want to lose the project. Foxconn, which manufactures Apple phones, is very prestigious for us," the Minister had said.

Foxconn will invest USD one billion, which is Rs 8,400 crore, and will create 50,000 employment in the first phase (at the Devanahalli ITIR)," Patil had said.
LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) is renowned for offering popular life insurance policies tailored to meet various needs. Among their offerings, the LIC Jeevan Labh policy has been generating a lot of buzz. This unique plan combines insurance coverage with savings, making it an attractive choice for many. As an endowment plan, it offers a substantial payout, including bonuses, after a specified period. Lets delve into the wealth-building tips associated with the LIC Jeevan Labh Policy.

The LIC Jeevan Labh Plan 936 provides flexibility in terms of investment objectives. It has been garnering significant attention lately, with claims that by saving just Rs 7,572 monthly, one can accumulate Rs 54 lakh upon maturity. Lets explore how this is possible.

Key Features

The Jeevan Labh plan by LIC enables investors to customize their premium amount and duration as per their preference. If the policyholder survives until maturity, they receive a substantial maturity amount, along with other benefits such as the sum assured and bonuses. In the unfortunate event of the policyholders demise, the nominee receives a death benefit along with a bonus.

How Does It Work?

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 59 can opt for the Jeevan Labh policy. For instance, a 25-year-old taking a Jeevan Labh policy with a term of 25 years would need to invest Rs 7,400 per month, or Rs 246 per day. This amounts to an annual payment of Rs 86,954. Upon maturity, they would receive Rs 52,50,000, inclusive of the sum assured, reversionary bonuses, and final additional bonus. Its important to note that the bonus rate is subject to change, which may affect the final maturity amount.

An intriguing aspect of this scheme is that it is not limited to adults; it can also be purchased for children. Individuals aged between 8 and 59 can invest in the Jeevan Labh Plan. The policy allows deposits for terms of 10, 13, and 16 years.
A shocking chain of events occurred on Saturday when an 11-year-old girl from class 6 was found unconscious in the washroom of her school. She was pronounced dead upon arriving at Vashi General Hospital at around 11 AM. This incident took place at St Marys Multipurpose High School and Junior College in Vashi. The deceased girl, identified as Mugdha Mahendra Kadam, resided in sector 17 of Koparkhairane. It was revealed that she suffered from juvenile diabetes and required regular checkups every three months.

The incident occurred during the schools recess at approximately 10 AM when Mugdha went to the washroom on the third floor and didnt return for a long time. Students pointed this out to the teacher who sent someone in search of her. Later, she was found unresponsive inside a toilet stall. Her parents were immediately notified by the school authorities who then immediately took her to the General Hospital in Vashi. Tragically, all attempts to rescue her failed when she was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

According to the Hindustan Times, Mugdhas father was in Delhi at the time of the occurrence, while her mother, a housewife, was understandably distressed According to senior police inspector Shashikant Chandekar of the Vashi police station, no one has come forward to the police with a complaint, and based on early investigations, it appears that no foul play involved."

The police have registered a case of accidental death and are now looking into the situation closely. As per the Times of India. report, Dr. Prashant Jawade, the medical superintendent of NMMC Hospital in Vashi, a post-mortem examination was performed later in the evening. It was established that Mugdha had a history of juvenile diabetes, and her body was devoid of any noticeable wounds. Jawade added that her viscera have been saved for additional examination and that the Kalina Forensic Lab will provide a histopathology report.

If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
 For the last two years, the world has been restricted to homes. Daily activities that couldnt be managed without stepping out, came indoors all at once  from office to grocery shopping and schools. As the world accepts the new normal, News18 launches weekly classes for school children, explaining key chapters with examples from happenings around the world. While we try to simplify your subjects, a request to break down a topic can be tweeted @news18dotcom

Space exploration has always possessed the power to captivate the imagination and curiosity of the majority of individuals and has reached new heights thanks to the quest for knowledge and adventure. Indias space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has been at the forefront of scientific achievements. The vastness of space has continually fascinated mankind and compelled individuals to investigate its depths, and ISRO has played a crucial part in doing so by launching several space missions such as the Chandrayaan series of lunar expeditions.

With the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, Indias space programme attracted attention from all around the world and led to unparalleled levels of growth and development.

ISROs Chandrayaan missions have established India as a serious force in the field of space exploration. ISRO has constantly proved its commitment to scientific investigation and technological advancement through the accomplishments of Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan as well as the lessons learned from the challenges that they encountered during Chandrayaan-2.

In this weeks classes with News18, let us take a look at the significance of ISRO, the triumphs and results of the individual Chandrayaan missions, and the highly anticipated Chandrayaan-3, which was launched from Sriharikota on July 14.

ISRO - Pioneering Indias Space Exploration

Since its inception in 1969, the ISRO has evolved as a major force in space research and technology. The significant role of ISRO extends beyond its accomplishments in space exploration. It has helped launch satellites for communication, forecasting weather conditions, remote sensing, and other functions. In addition to making India a self-sufficient country in terms of space technology, ISROs efforts have also created a feeling of national pride and motivated numerous young people to seek careers in science and engineering. The Mars Orbiter Mission, commonly known as Mangalyaan, launched by ISRO and the Chandrayaan lunar missions together serve as examples of Indias scientific competence.

Chandrayaan-1

Launched on October 22, 2008, Chandrayaan-1 was a historic mission that represented Indias maiden foray into lunar exploration. The missions goals included mapping the Moons surface in three dimensions, analysing its mineral composition, and looking for evidence of water.

Chandrayaan-1s mission saw considerable advancements thanks to its superior scientific instruments. One of its most significant findings was the discovery of water molecules on the Moons surface, which challenged previously held notions. In addition, the mission shed important light on the Moons geological evolution by identifying substances and minerals including silicon, calcium, iron, magnesium, and aluminium. Notably, Hematite was found at the lunar poles, according to data from the Mineralogy Mapper (M3), one of Chandrayaan-1s sensors.

By the time connection with the spacecraft was lost on August 29, 2009, the satellite had completed more than 3400 orbits around the Moon.

Chandrayaan-2

The ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched by ISRO on 22 July 2019, building on the accomplishments of Chandrayaan-1. The orbiter, Vikram the lander, and Pragyan the rover were the components that made up Chandrayaan-2. The objective of this mission was to deploy a rover on the Moons surface close to the unexplored South Pole.

The lander experienced difficulties during its descent as it approached the moons surface at a distance of only 335 metres. However, communication with it was lost shortly before impact, impeding the successful accomplishment of the missions goals. The orbiter did, nevertheless, continue to monitor the lunar surface and environment. According to ISRO, the lander and rovers losses accounted for only 5 per cent of the overall mission failure.

Despite the setback, the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 was fully operational and continues to collect crucial data. It has taken high-resolution photos of the Moon, mapped its surface, and analysed its minerals, all of which have contributed to the ISROs scientific knowledge of lunar science.

Chandrayaan -3

The loss of the Chandrayaan-2 lander, Vikram, further highlighted the inherent challenges of space missions as well as provided ISRO with the confidence to commit to overcoming these difficulties using lessons learned from previous missions.

The Chandrayaan 3 lunar mission spacecraft that launched on July 14 did not include an orbiter on board, in stark contrast to Chandrayaan 2. The absence of the orbiter gave ISRO scientists and engineers more space within the rocket to work on strengthening the landing gears of Chandrayaan 3s lander, Vikram.

The Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft feature a payload dubbed Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which did not exist in the previous mission. It is believed that Chandrayaan 3 is less likely to lose touch with ISRO or alter its course than the last moon mission due to SHAPE, which was built to analyse the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from lunar orbit.

To learn about other topics taught in school, explained by News18, here is a list of other Classes With News18: Queries Related to Chapters on Elections | Sex Versus Gender | Cryptocurrencies | Economy & Banks | How to Become President of India | Post Independence Struggle | How India Adopted Its Flag | Formation of States & United India | Tipu Sultan | Indian Teachers Day Different from Rest of the World |Queen Elizabeth & Colonialism | Article 370 |
All government and private schools in areas bordering the Yamuna river in Delhi will remain closed on July 17 and 18, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said on Sunday.

All flood-hit schools may arrange online classes, it said.

Parts of Delhi have been inundated after the Yamuna in the city breached its banks following days of heavy rains in its upper catchment areas, prompting the evacuation of thousands from low-lying areas.

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.

The schools affected due to the floods may arrange online classes, it said.

All schools in the remaining DoE districts (North West-B, West-A, West-B, South, South West-A, South West-B and New Delhi) shall remain open, the circular stated.

The Heads of Schools in these seven districts are at liberty to run (classes) in physical mode or hybrid mode (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, it said.

The DoE said schools in all districts will function normally from Wednesday onwards.

The water level in the Yamuna was recorded at 205.98 metres on Sunday, down from the peak of 208.66 metres at 8 pm on Thursday.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) announced an extension of the fresh admissions and re-registration deadline for the July 2023 session. According to the official tweet shared by IGNOU, candidates now have until July 31 to complete their registration for different programmes. For ODL programmes, registration can be done through the official site of IGNOU at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in and for online programmes, candidates can register themselves at ignouiop.samarth.edu.in. Candidates who want to re-register can do on ignou.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/login.

The official tweet shared by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) read, The last date for fresh admission/re-registration for the July 2023 session has been extended till July 31, 2023.

The last date for fresh admission/re-registration for the July 2023 session has been extended till 31st July 2023.Admission Portals:ODL Programs- https://t.co/7U6I9tD8AFOnline Mode Programs-https://t.co/CEsoSY4bua Re-registration Portal:https://t.co/OQFGyt3yTy  IGNOU (@OfficialIGNOU) July 16, 2023

 IGNOU (@OfficialIGNOU) July 16, 2023

IGNOU July Admission 2023 Re-Registration Form: How To Fill

Step 1: Navigate to the official website of the university, at ignou.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/login for re-registration

Step 2: Next, fill in your registration number and password.

Step 3: Once a new window opens, select your programme and enter essential details.

Step 4: After filling in all the details, pay the required IGNOU registration fee.

Step 5: Before submitting the application form, check all the details carefully.

Step 6: Download and take a printout of the confirmation page.

IGNOU July Admission 2023 fresh admission form: How To Fill

Step 1: Visit ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in or ignouiop.samarth.edu.in, the official websites mentioned by the university.

Step 2: On the homepage, choose the link that states, Click here for new registration.

Step 3: Candidates will be directed to a new window. Now, take your time and fill in the registration details and log in through the credentials.

Step 4: Once you are logged in, fill in the application form, upload the necessary documents and pay the registration fees.

Step 5: Check all the details before submitting the form and download the same for further admission purposes.

It is important to note that candidates need to submit various documents at the time of filling out the application form. Documents that need to be submitted are a scanned photograph, signature of the candidate, copy of age proof, relevant educational qualification certificates, experience certificate, and category certificate (if any) and BPL certificate (if any).

IGNOU additionally highlighted the website where students can apply for scholarships. After receiving admissions confirmation, qualified applicants can visit the official National Scholarship Portal website at scholarships.gov.in to enrol for Government of India Scholarships
The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh (JEECUP) will release the admit cards of the Uttar Pradesh Joint Entrance Examination (UPJEE) 2023 on its official website, jeecup.nic.in, soon. Candidates appearing for the exam will have to download the admit card using their application id. It is essential for students to bring their hall ticket to the exam hall along with a government-issued ID such as Aadhar or PAN card, for verification purposes.

The examination will commence on July 26 and conclude on August 1. The exams application registration began on March 6 and concluded on June 20. From June 21 through June 27, the application correction window was available. The application process for the exam for new candidates reopened on July 13 for a period of two days.

JEECUP UPJEE 2023 Admit card: Steps to download

Step 1: Visit the official website of JEECUP - jeecup.nic.in

Step 2: Click on the admit card link on the homepage

Step 3: Log in using credentials including application id and date of birth

Step 4: The UPJEE 2023 admit card will appear on the screen, download and save it for future use

JEECUP UPJEE 2023: Exam Pattern

The exam will be held online in the multiple-choice questions (MCQ) format for 150 minutes. The question paper will be in both English and Hindi languages. While four marks will be given for every right answer, one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

The JEECUP will release the UPJEE 2023 provisional answer key after the exam concludes following which candidates will be allowed to challenge it. The results will be based on the final answer key. Those who pass the UPJEE 2023 must participate in an online counselling session where they must freeze or float their choice of stream or college. A student is required to pay the seat acceptance fee after being offered a seat.

Candidates who clear the exam will get admission in all the state-based aided and private polytechnic institutions, affiliated with Technical Education Council, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.
Studying abroad can be financially challenging for many students due to the expensive course fee, visa charges, accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, study scholarships help many to pursue their dreams. Many experts say a student should apply for a scholarship that aligns with his/her goals. News18 Scholarship Guide brings you the best and most prestigious grants for Indian students to study in the UK, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fee; many also provide stipend.

Being one of the favourite destinations to study, the United Kingdom (UK) receives thousands of applications for scholarships every year. With such high competition  to get the highest grants  it is as important to know what not to do as it is to know what to do while applying for a scholarship.

Rittika Chanda Parruck, Director of Education - India, British Council, specifies a few points that the students should focus on as they may encounter a few challenges while applying for a scholarship, which undergoes extensive scrutiny. Every year, scholarships worth millions of pounds make it easier for students to study in the UK the applications are reviewed and assessed based on criteria such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal statements, and recommendation letters.

Scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, such as academic achievements, language proficiency, or specific fields of study. Its important to carefully read and understand the eligibility criteria before applying. Further, some scholarships involve interview rounds as part of the selection process. Its important to research common interview questions, practice articulating ones thoughts, and prepare concise and thoughtful responses, adds Parruck.

Many Indian students may be unfamiliar with the two intakes in the UK universities, namely the September/October intake (Autumn) and the January/February intake (Spring). Some students may assume that applications are accepted throughout the year or may be unaware of the specific deadlines for each intake.

When applying for scholarships, Indian students can take specific steps to make their application full proof and increase their chances of receiving a scholarship. Suggesting tips to increase students chances, she said, Universities value emotional intelligence, uniqueness, and commitment to extracurricular activities. Showcase skills, extend learning beyond the classroom, and make a positive impact on why you deserve this scholarship.

She also suggested obtaining strong letter of recommendation, preparing a strong personal statement and highlighting special skills and aspirations.

Piyush Kumar, Regional Director-South Asia and Mauritius, IDP Education, asked students to not stop after researching once and keep on updating themselves about any changes in requirements. One common mistake students commit is not applying on time. This is a global issue, where students who fail to stay updated with the scholarship requirements often miss out on the application deadlines. It is crucial to keep track of the scholarship cycles and submit applications well in advance. Additionally, not staying informed about changes in scholarship cycles can also lead to missed opportunities. It is essential for students to stay proactive and regularly update themselves with the latest information to maximise their chances of securing scholarships in the UK.

Parruck further stressed that students should understand that the scholarships are not limited to exceptionally intelligent individuals. They are available to those who have clarity of thought, academic aspirations, and a clear value proposition. Apply for scholarships that align with your goals, believe in yourself, be authentic and add the information carefully with conviction. Let your determination and unique qualities make you a strong contender.
Studying abroad can be financially challenging for many meritorious students who often opt out due to the expensive course fee, visa charges, accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, study scholarships help many to pursue their dreams. News18 Scholarship Guide brings you the best and most prestigious grants for Indian students to study in the UK, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fee; many also provide stipend.

Most popular study destinations abroad, including the UK, offer scholarships to extend opportunities and offer financial support to international students including those from India. These scholarships are offered by universities while some are funded by the UK government. Students can find scholarships based on their subject, department, and the field of study.

Students may miss out on potential opportunities simply because they were unaware of them. Its important to invest time in researching scholarships and understanding their requirements, suggests Rittika Chanda Parruck, Director of Education - India, British Council.

To ease your search, News18 brings out a detailed list of renowned scholarships in the UK.

Chevening Scholarship

One of the most prestigious scholarships to study in the UK is Chevening. The fully-funded scholarship and fellowship is offered by the UK government to international students to study in the country. It is usually open to students in almost any field. Indian students, scholars can also apply. Not just the tuition fee but flight tickets, accommodation, and course fees are all included in the scholarship.

Who can apply: Students having an unconditional offer from Chevening-accepted UK universities to study a fully-funded masters degree can apply for the course. Applicants also need to have a two-year work experience.

Selection Procedure: Applicants need to submit academic transcripts, a short biography, and two reference letters. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a panel interview.

Where to Apply: Interested candidates can apply at chevening.org. The applications for 2024-25 academic year will begin in August, 2023.

Commonwealth Scholarship

The Common Wealth Scholarship is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Education, and the respective UK university partners. A large number of scholarships are granted under this. For instance, Commonwealth Professional Fellowship is a grant for mid-career professionals, Commonwealth Split-Site is for PhD scholars, and Commonwealth Masters Scholarship is for those who want to pursue full-time masters degree in UK-based universities.

Who can apply: Indian students who are currently pursuing degrees or research, career professionals, as well as those looking to start a postgraduate course can apply for the scholarship.

The scholarships are offered to candidates aiming to work, study, research under six development themes, namely  science and technology for development, promoting global prosperity, strengthening resilience and response to crises, strengthening health systems and capacity, strengthening global peace, security and governance and access, inclusion and opportunity

Selection Procedure: Candidates are selected based on their academic merit and potential impact of the work on the development of the candidates home country.

Where to apply: Interested candidates can apply at cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk. Candidates need to review and find the best fit for themselves as the tenure and requirement for each scholarship varies.

India Trust Scholarship

Charles Wallace India Trust offers scholarships to students who wish to pursue MA. The scholarships are available in almost all disciplines of artistic studies. Besides, accommodation and cost of living, beneficiaries will also get 700 towards the international travel costs.

Who can apply: Artists and heritage professionals in the age group of 28 to 38 years can apply for the scholarship. Usually, the grants are for MA programme, however, it can also be awarded to an individual who has designed his or her own professional development programme. Applicants also need to have a degree, diploma or professional qualification in their chosen specialisation.

Where to apply: Interested and eligible candidates can apply at charleswallaceindiatrust.com

Selection Procedure: Applicants need to have an unconditional acceptance in a course, internship or programme they are seeking scholarship for. The applicants also need to submit a portfolio of their work, documents, and IELTS score.

Rhodes Scholarship

The competitive scholarship opportunity allows students from different backgrounds, including Indians, to study at the University of Oxford. The university and the Rhodes Trust not only covers the course fee and visa fee of the selected candidates but also offers a stipend. For 2022-23 academic year the received stipend was 18,180 per annum. Two scholarships are available for students from India.

Who can apply: Students interested in studying postgraduate courses at the Oxford University can apply.

Selection Procedure: Candidates profile including their academic merit are considered while offering the scholarship. It is offered to students across the world and is highly competitive.

Where to apply: Interested candidates can apply at the official website, rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship

Named after former prime minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship is offered to Indian students who wish to pursue doctoral studies at St Johns College, Cambridge University. It is sponsored by Rolls Royce India, the BP Foundation and the Tata Group and covers academic fee, living expense, visa fee, tickets, as well as offers monthly stipend.

Who can apply: Indian students under the age of 35 who are interested in pursuing doctoral degree in any of the selected streams, including, science & technology, economics, social studies, aerospace engineering, marine engineering, and energy can apply.

Where to apply: The scholarship is coordinated by British Council. Its official website is britishcouncil.in.

Selection Procedure: Applicant needs to be selected by Cambridge University to pursue doctoral degree in the selected streams. Selected applications will have to undergo interview round.

Hornby Educational Trust

Hornby Educational Trust offers 10 fully-funded scholarships to English teachers from across low-income countries to study masters programme at University of Exeter. This is applicable for Indian students as well who get a full fee waiver and an annual maintenance pay of 15,000.

On their return after receiving scholarship, candidates will get mentors who will help them identify appropriate development areas in their home country and implement projects there.

Who can apply: Candidates having experience of teaching English language and interested in pursuing MEd TESOL at University of Exeter. Candidates should also have a three-year experience of working as an English language teacher for non-native speakers. An IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 in each section is also required.

Where to apply: Candidates can apply at hornby-trust.org.uk as well as at exeter.ac.uk.

Selection Procedure: Applicants need to secure admission in MEd TESOL at Exeter University. Candidates will also have to get required IELTS score as well as fill detailed application form that requires them to answer subjective questions on teaching experience, challenges, development activity they wish to pursue among others.

Felix Scholarship

The scholarship aims at supporting underprivileged students from developing countries including India. The scholarship can be availed to study at University of Oxford, the University of Reading and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and part of the University of London.

Who can apply: Candidates having a bachelors degree can apply, and need to give a recommendation from their chosen university.

Where to apply: Candidates can apply at the official website felixscholarship.org

Selection Procedure: Students need to get accepted at the university, which will recommend the students based on need and merit.

Great Scholarships

Great Scholarships are part of UK governments GREAT Britain Campaign. Under this, 25 Indian students get scholarships to study in UK-based universities. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of 10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year postgraduate course.

Who can apply: Indian citizens having completed undergraduate course and interest to pursue masters in the UK can apply for the scholarship. Students need to meet the English language requirement. Each university has its own IELTS (TOEFL or other English language test) score requirement.

Where to apply: Candidates can apply with British Council at britishcouncil.in or through their separate university page.

Selection Procedure: The requirements include English test score, merit in academic performance, and essays and other forms submitted.

Oxford Indira Gandhi Graduate Scholarship

The Indian government in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Somerville College offers Oxford Indira Gandhi Graduate Scholarship.

Who can apply: Applicants should be interested in studying in areas relevant to Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Developments agenda including sustainable cities, climate change and clean energy, healthcare innovation, environmental sustainability, food and water security, law, governance, and human rights.

Selection Procedure: Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevance of studies, understanding of the development challenges faced by India, and leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Candidates shortlisted based on application will have to attend video interview.

Where to apply: Interested candidates can apply at some.ox.ac.uk.

Beyond Popular Options

British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM, which covers tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa, health coverage fees, special support for mothers and English language support; scholarships in English Language Teaching (ELT) for teachers from the government sector to undertake an online course from a UK university while working full-time are also some of popular scholarship options.

Many others including Imperial College, Goa Education Trust, Tata Trust Grant, Royal Society Yusuf and Farida among others. Students can visit the British Council website or Study in UK website to find the right choice of scholarship for themselves.
Press Release

July 17, 2023 Zubiri Reveals 75% of Filipinos Want US-PH Military Partnership in West PH Sea Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri has revealed that a rider question in the most recent Pulse Asia survey shows that Filipinos are overwhelmingly in support of partnering with the United States in order to resolve territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea. Respondents came out 75 percent in favor and 14 percent not in favor, to the question: "Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?" The rest of the respondents marked themselves as not having enough knowledge to form an opinion (2 percent) or "can't say" (8 percent). Amid criticisms regarding the participation of the US military in the West Philippine Sea, which has translated to trainings and regular flights within Philippine territory, this data proves that majority of Filipinos are in fact welcome to receiving support from the US military. "Napakalaki ng disparity," said Zubiri of the data, during an interview with DZBB on Sunday. "Ibig pong sabihin, nagagalit na po ang ating mga kababayan . . . sawang-sawa na po sila sa pagpasok ng Tsina dito sa ating bansa, lalo na sa mga incursions sa Reed Bank na napalakapit na po sa El Nido, sa Coron." This survey comes out just as the Philippines celebrates the seventh year of the landmark 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or The Hague, which invalidated China's claims to historic rights within the "nine-dash line," and effectively recognized the rights of the Philippines to the West Philippine Sea as falling within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite this ruling, China has continued to forcefully enter the Philippines' EEZ. The Senate is expected to soon approve a resolution urging the administration to bring the issue of the West Philippine Sea back to the United Nations General Assembly, amid continued aggression from China. "Ako po ay sumang-ayon sa plano ni Senator Risa Hontiveros na magpasa ng isang resolution asking the government to file a protest at the Hague, sa arbitration ruling of the West Philippine Sea," Zubiri said. "We should not stop at just the arbitral ruling, but we should also follow up with the Hague on what is actually going on, on the ground, with China," he added. "Halos araw-araw ang mga illegal incursions ng China dito sa ating teritoryo." "?We should present to the UN the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. 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 and areas that are considered international waters, hampering the freedom of navigation." He expects that upon the first week of the Senate's resumption of session, the Hontiveros resolution will be calendared for plenary. "By Tuesday, pag-debatihan po natin 'yan. I'm sure we can get the majority to vote in favor of this resolution."
Having to deal with insurance companies is not the thing people typically put at the top of their bucket list, as it can often come with stress and frustration. Its not like a glass of lemonade that refreshes us, especially during the heat of summer.

Speaking of lemonade and insurance companies, Lemonade prides itself on its ability to make life easier for its customers. The technology-driven insurance company offers renters, homeowners, pet and term life insurance policies by using AI and bots to simplify and speed up the insurance process.

Lemonade's business model differs from traditional insurance companies in terms of how it handles premiums and claims. When a customer pays their premium, Lemonade retains a flat fee for its operations, and the remaining funds are pooled into a claims pool. If there are surplus funds left in the pool at the end of the year, Lemonade donates them to charitable causes selected by customers during the signup process. This approach, called "Giveback," sets Lemonade apart from the profit-driven model of many traditional insurers.

And it is because of that model that Lemonde has seen growth, especially since the acquisition of car insurance provider Metromile. While growth is great for any company, it also means a complex, distributed workforce and business integration efforts. Lemonade may collaborate with external partners to support its business and expand its operations. These partners might utilize unmanaged devices, which could pose security risks

This prompted Lemonade to simplify its security stack by deploying the Talon Enterprise Browser.

We needed a technology that was easy to use, did not change how our users work and would give us the enhanced protection we were looking for, said Jonathan Jaffe, Chief Information Security Officer, Lemonade.

Talon's Enterprise Browser offers a simplified and enhanced security solution that enables organizations to secure users across any location and device. With Talon, security teams can effectively monitor and manage browser and web activities, including safeguards against screenshots, copy-and-paste actions, downloads and uploads, and robust security features such as authentication, data loss prevention, and Zero Trust controls.

Built on the Chromium platform, Talon's Enterprise Browser significantly reduces the complexity and cost of security programs while prioritizing end-user privacy and delivering exceptional user experiences.

We can secure any user across the organization, irrespective of the type of device used, said Jaffe. This allows us to onboard more people, more quickly, and simplify the process. With Talon, we can improve onboarding in a way that prioritizes security.

By implementing Talon's non-intrusive browser on these devices, Lemonade's security team gains crucial visibility and control, ensuring the organization's security extends to these users.

Edited by Alex Passett
The Project Cheetah has suffered a setback after another Cheetah was found dead in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park. The body of a sub-adult male South African cheetah, named Suraj, was discovered by a patrolling team in Palpur East Forest Ranges Masavani beat on Friday morning.

The death of the cheetah has pushed the fatality count to eight, including three cubs, in less than four months.

According to the environment ministry, five out of the 20 adult cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa died due to natural causes. Out of 20 adult cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa to India, five mortalities of adult cheetahs have been reported. As per the preliminary analysis, all mortalities are due to natural causes, the ministry said in a statement.

It said the Centres Cheetah Project Steering Committee is closely monitoring the projects progress and has expressed satisfaction with its implementation. The government has deployed a dedicated team from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to work closely with field officials.

What is Project Cheetah?

In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs, three males and five females, from Windhoek, Namibia into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. It was the first intercontinental transfer of wild cats into India since independence.

Since then, 12 more cheetahs were successfully translocated to Kuno National Park from southern Africa to re-establish the species within its historical range in India, raising the number to twenty. After a mandatory quarantine period, the cheetahs were moved to larger acclimatisation enclosures. Currently, 11 cheetahs are in free-ranging conditions, while five, including a cub born in India, are within a quarantine enclosure.

The project aimed to benefit global cheetah conservation efforts by providing up to 100 000 km sq. of habitat in legally protected areas and an additional 600 000 km sq. of habitable landscape for the species. Cheetahs fulfil a unique ecological role within the carnivore hierarchy and their restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem health in India, a government statement said.

Are satellite collars to blame for Cheetahs Death?

Madhya Pradesh Wildlife authorities has claimed that a monitoring team saw Suraj in a lethargic state around 6.30 am in the Masavani beat of Palpur East Zone.

The monitoring team spotted a fly around the neck of the Cheetah and when they tried getting close, it ran away, according to a report in The Indian Express.

The monitoring team immediately informed the control room at Palpur via wireless about the condition of the cheetah. A wildlife medical team and regional officers reached the spot around 9 am. On tracing the cheetahs location, it was found dead on the spot, the publication quoted a wildlife officer as saying.

According to a report in The Telegraph India, the wounds near the necks of both the dead suggest that the skin inflammation under the collar attracted flies and led to life-threatening septicaemia. It added that the humid and wet weather might have led to the bacterial infection.

Possibly because of the humid or wet weather, water accumulates underneath the collar and causes the skin to be constantly wet. This condition attracts flies, the flies lay eggs, and the fly larvae  or maggots  feed on tissues and create wounds that get infected and can lead to systemic infection, Adrian Tordiffe, associate professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa reportedly said.

South African cheetah metapopulation expert Vincent van der Merwe also said that extreme wet conditions caused the radio collars to create infection and possibly that was the reason behind the cheetahs death.

According to another report in The Indian Express, the wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh are carrying out an exercise to remove radio collars from 10 free ranging cheetahs at Kuno National Park.

Wildlife authorities are expected to carry out the exercise as it was noted that the coalition of the cheetah brothers from Namibia- Gaurav and Shaurya showed a similar problem, the report added.

Govt Denies Role of Radio Collar to Cheetah Deaths

The environment ministry categorically denied reports attributing the deaths of Cheetahs to factors like radio collars and said they were based on speculation and hearsay without scientific evidence". The ministry said the cheetah project is still in progress and it would be premature to judge its success or failure within a year".

Preliminary analysis of Cheetah mortalities at Kuno National Park point to natural causes: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)Reports in media attributing the deaths to other reasons only speculation and hearsay and not based on any scientific evidence Government of  PIB India (@PIB_India) July 17, 2023

Rajesh Gopal, the head of the cheetah project steering committee, said the reason for the cheetahs death could be septicemia (blood poisoning by bacteria) from radio collar use.

It is highly unusual. I have also seen it for the first time. Its a cause for concern and we have directed (MP forest staff) to check all the cheetahs," he said. He said it is possible that aberrations, humid weather can lead to infection from radio collar use.

We have been using collars in wildlife conservation for around 25 years in India. I have never come across such an incident. We have good, smart collars available these days. Still if such an incident is happening, we will have to bring it to the notice of manufacturers," Gopal added.

The causes of mortality can include intraspecific fights, diseases, accidents before and after release, injuries during hunting, poaching, road accidents, poisoning, and attacks by other predators.

What are satellite collars?

The cheetahs movements are tracked using satellite transmitters attached to the collars fitted around the neck of the animal. With the help of Satellite Collar IDs, the wildlife officials can closely track their travels, activities and health.

The GPS in the collars is similar to that used in smartphone and other electronic devices. Satellites can easily identify the electronic signals that the GPS chips broadcast. it is designed in such a way that it wont be destroyed due to animals movements.

Apart from the location, the tool is used to learn about the animals physical state. The tags also help communicate health-related information, which can be used to determine whether the animal needs to be treated, according to Hindustan Times.

(With inputs from agencies)
A deadly heatwave is sweeping across Europe with temperatures in Italy in the coming days set to break the previous records. Italy has issued hot weather red alerts for 16 cities on Sunday, as the mercury is expected to surpass the European temperature record.

The heat has affected travel plans for those who are heading to holiday destinations across the continent. Other countries including Spain, France, Germany and Poland are expected to see extreme heat waves in the coming days.

As a result of the soaring temperatures, Greece shut the Acropolis of Athens, one of Greeces top tourist attractions, for the third straight day on Sunday. In the Vatican, people at the St Peters Square are dunking their hats in its famous water fountain and sheltering under flags to keep cool. Animals in Romes Zoo are being fed frozen food to help keep them cool.

A wildfire broke out on La Palma Island in Spains Canary Islands burning several homes and forced the evacuation of 500 people on Saturday. In France, the heat and resulting drought are posing a threat to the farming industry.

Will the Heat Break Record in Europe?

Amid a red alert, forecasters in Italy have told people 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 40 degrees Celsius in Rome by Monday and even 43 Degrees on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5 Celsius set in August 2007.

The temperatures in Sicily and Sardinia are set to reach the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe" as the mercury is expected to touch as high as 48C, the European Space Agency warned.

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.

What is Causing Severe Heat in Europe?

The current heatwave in Europe is being caused by an anticyclone named Cerberus, named after the three-headed monster that features in Dantes Inferno.

An anticyclone or a high-pressure system is a normal phenomenon in which sinking air from the upper atmosphere brings about a period of dry and settled weather with limited cloud formation and little wind.

High-pressure systems means that the winds are gentle and as the air sinks, it warms up, leading to warm and dry weather. It tends to be slow moving, which is why they persist for days or weeks at a time, according to The Conversation.

When an anticyclone forms over hot land, in regions like the Sahara, it generates even hotter temperatures because the existing warm air is heated even more.

Eventually, the phenomenon breaks down and the heatwave will come to an end. However, the Cerberus heatwave is expected to persist for around two weeks, according to the Italian Meteorological Society.

Moreover, the Italian weather forecasters are warning that the next heatwave, dubbed Charon, will further push temperatures back up towards 43 Degrees Celsius in Rome and a possible 47 degrees on the island of Sardinia.

Is Climate Change to Blame?

High pressure systems, which is currently causing heatwave in Europe, have been moving northwards in recent years. According to experts, its difficult to ascribe a single event like a heatwave directly to climate change.

However, with the rising temperatures, there have been changes in atmospheric circulation patterns that can result in increased occurrences of extreme temperatures and droughts in Europe.

Week 256. We are currently shattering heat records all over the world. Last week we experienced the hottest days ever recorded, many days in a row. We are also experiencing record high sea level temperatures and record low ice levels. This is an emergency. #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/S2IlK0leoS Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) July 14, 2023

Research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that there is an increase in the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events since the 1950s and an increasing severity over the past two decades.

The European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service have attributed these unusually hot conditions to climate change and suggested that such events are likely to be more frequent, intense and longer.

Will Europe See a Respite in Coming Days?

Europe is not likely to see respite from the soaring temperatures as the Southern part of the continent is bracing for a second heat storm in a week.

After anticyclone Cerberus, another High-pressure systems is pushing into the region from north Africa. The anticyclone is set to affect Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco and other Mediterranean countries.

The European Space Agency has said that this week could bring the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe, according to The Guardian.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has been a very difficult project and it is the governments priority to find ways to resume it.

Jaishankar, who is in Bangkok to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism, said that the priorities today is to find ways to resume the project.

India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land, giving a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the countries.

Why is the Project Delayed?

Around 70 percent of construction work on the ambitious highway, which will connect Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, has been completed.

The strategic highway project has been delayed as the government was aiming to make the roadways operational by December 2019.

Jaishankar said that the project is difficult because of the situation in Myanmar as a major part of the Trilateral Highway is the road network in the country.

The real challenge today before us one which we are working on, is how do we build road connectivity between Thailand We have this project from northeast India, that if we build a road through Myanmar, and that road connects up with what Thailand will be building towards, Jaishankar said.

But it has been a very difficult project. It has been a very difficult project mainly because of the situation in Myanmar. And one of our priorities today is to find ways of how to resume this project, how to unlock it, and how to make it because large parts of the project have been built, the external affairs minister added.

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 pic.twitter.com/vaOoa0RAFL  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 16, 2023

Myanmar is gripped under violence ever since the military seized power and unleashed an attack against the opposition.

Most of the work of the expressway based in Thailand is already complete, a Thailand minister told The Millenium Post. Meanwhile, the Imphal-Moreh portion of the highway on the Indian side is expected to be completed this year and the portion passing through Myanmar in another three years.

Why is the Project Significant?

The India-Myanmar-Thailand highway, connecting Moreh in Manipur and Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, was made to establish a seamless, efficient and end-to-end transportation corridor along the existing Trilateral Highway and its extension towards Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

The project is an important part of Indias Act East Policy, which focuses on improving Indias relations with the Southeast Asian nations. It will provide greater connectivity between India and ASEAN has long been both an economic and strategic objective for the ASEANIndia partnership.

The Myawaddy-Mae Sot section that links Myanmar and Thailand was completed in July 2021. Thought the government has not provided any details on the timeline for completion, the highway is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Earlier in December 2020, Bangladesh also expressed interest in joining this project to boost trade and connectivity from Dhaka.

Drug Problem at Myanmar Border

The violence and the resultant unrest in Myanmar have led to a drug problem in the country. It has become one of Asias main sources of illegal production of methamphetamine and heroin, according to the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations Office.

The Northeastern States including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share border with Myanmar and the drug trafficking across the borders has increased in these states.

The Assam Rifles and other agencies in separate operations in Mizoram on Saturday night seized heroin and foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 29 crore smuggled from Myanmar and arrested six people.

An Assam Rifles statement said smuggling of drugs from Myanmar is a major cause of concern for the state as well as the country.

Jaishankar also flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking and urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also said that he is deeply concerned by the alarming increase in illicit drug seizures within Mizoram.

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," he said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, last year, said, The drugs are trafficked from Myanmar through Assam and Mizoram to Tripura and then to Bangladesh."
North Korea recently announced the launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), raising concerns and escalating tensions with the United States and its allies.

Lets explore the details surrounding the launch and its implications.

First, Lets Understand What an ICBM is:

ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) are highly potent nuclear missiles with an extensive range of approximately 6,000 to 9,300 miles. They were initially developed by the Soviet Union in 1958 during the Cold War and subsequently by the United States in 1959. These missiles are considered strategic defense weapons due to their ability to inflict significant destruction, as per a report by National World.

Currently, only three countries possess land-based ICBMs with such a range: Russia, the United States, and China. The United States National Park Service confirms that ICBMs have a range that can potentially make targets across the globe vulnerable.

ICBMs come in various types, including the Atlas missile, Titus missile, Minuteman, and Peacekeeper missile, among others, the report explains. They possess immense destructive power and can cause widespread devastation through explosions and subsequent radiation.

According to Missile Defense Advocacy, an ICBM carrying an average of 3.6kg of high-explosive payload could generate an explosion damage radius of up to 1.47km. If such an event were to occur in an urban area, it is estimated that there could be over 180,000 casualties depending on local population density. This underscores the grave consequences associated with the use of ICBMs.

The Hwasong-18 ICBM Launch

North Korea conducted the launch of the Hwasong-18, a potentially advanced ICBM, with a flight time of 74 minutes. This represents a marginal improvement compared to previous ICBM tests conducted earlier this year. The Hwasong-18 possesses the necessary range to potentially target the continental United States, as per a report by CNN.

Escalating Tensions and Threats

The missile launch followed North Koreas recent threat to shoot down US military reconnaissance aircraft engaged in activities it deemed hostile espionage" near its territory. These actions contribute to heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, particularly as the United States and South Korea strengthen their defense cooperation.

Additionally, the timing of the launch coincides with the NATO summit, where discussions among South Korea, Japan, and the US are focusing on security matters, including North Koreas threat perception, the report explains.

About the Hwasong-18

The Hwasong-18 is an ICBM developed by North Korea. It was first showcased during the February 8 parade earlier this year, which commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Peoples Army in Pyongyang. Notably, the Hwasong-18 utilizes solid propellants, distinguishing it from previous liquid-fueled ICBMs, as per a report by Indian Express.

Experts highlight that the use of solid propellants in the Hwasong-18 enables faster missile deployment. Solid propellants offer advantages such as increased speed and quicker acceleration at liftoff compared to liquid propellants.

The history of solid propellants can be traced back to ancient times, with the Chinese developing early rockets employing variations of black powder, a type of solid propellant, during the first millennium, as per the report. While solids were utilized in various military applications, including short-range rockets, they were not initially employed for long-range purposes or spaceflight due to their relatively lower power. However, solid propellants gained popularity in military missile systems primarily because they could be easily stored, providing convenience and operational flexibility.

In the context of the Hwasong-18, the use of solid propellants contributes to its faster deployment capabilities and enhances North Koreas missile program.

What Does North Korea Say?

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea conducted the missile launch during what it considers a critical period of military security on the Korean Peninsula. The country perceives intensified military provocations from the United States and its allies, characterizing the situation as a nuclear crisis reminiscent of the Cold War era.

Russias Feathers Ruffled, US Not Surprised

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency National Security Council meeting during the NATO summit to address the missile launch. President Yoon expressed the need for strong international solidarity" in response to North Koreas actions.

According to state media, Russia is conducting an investigation to determine whether a North Korean ICBM crashed in its waters during a recent test launch, Reuters reported. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko stated that Russias defense ministry is looking into the matter but currently lacks clear information regarding whether the missile fell within Russias economic zone.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official stated that the United States would not be surprised if North Korea conducts another nuclear test following its recent launch of an ICBM. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed long-standing concerns about North Koreas potential for a seventh nuclear test, highlighting that Pyongyang began testing its nuclear capabilities several years ago and has continued to do so.

With inputs from agencies
Oppenheimer" is a forthcoming film directed by Christopher Nolan. It focuses on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a renowned theoretical physicist known as the father of the atomic bomb." The movie delves into Oppenheimers involvement in the Manhattan Project, where he led the Los Alamos Laboratory and played a crucial role in the development of the first nuclear weapons during World War II.

What is the Movie Based On?

The narrative draws inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

The cast includes Cillian Murphy, who takes on the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Murphy and Nolan have previously collaborated on several projects, including the acclaimed The Dark Knight Trilogy," Inception," and Dunkirk." Emily Blunt co-stars as Katherine Kitty" Oppenheimer, J. Robert Oppenheimers wife, who is also a biologist and botanist with a focus on radiation effects. Florence Pugh, an Oscar nominee, portrays Jean Tatlock, a psychiatrist with whom Oppenheimer had a relationship during his time as a professor and continued to see after his marriage, as per Oscars.com.

About Oppenheimers Triumph and Tragedy

J. Robert Oppenheimer, born Julius Robert Oppenheimer on April 22, 1904, in New York City, was an American theoretical physicist and science administrator. He is best known for his significant contributions during the development of the atomic bomb as the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory from 1943 to 1945, also known as the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimers leadership and scientific expertise played a crucial role in the successful creation of the first atomic weapons, as per Britannica.

Following his work on the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer became the director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, serving from 1947 to 1966. However, his career took a controversial turn when he faced accusations of disloyalty and underwent a government hearing. These allegations led to the revocation of his security clearance and his removal from advisory positions within the US governments highest ranks.

The Oppenheimer case gained widespread attention in the scientific community and beyond due to the profound political and moral questions it raised regarding the involvement of scientists in government affairs. It became a cause celebre, prompting discussions about the responsibility and ethical implications of scientists participating in the development of destructive technologies. J. Robert Oppenheimers life and the events surrounding his career continue to be a subject of historical and scientific interest.

Did Oppenheimer Feel Remorse for the Atomic Attacks?

On August 6, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, resulting in the destruction of 90% of the city and the death of 80,000 people. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people and causing long-term effects from radiation exposure. These devastating events led many scientists involved in the Manhattan Project to question the implications of their work.

J. Robert Oppenheimer, a key figure in the project, visited President Harry S. Truman in October to discuss the need for international controls on nuclear weapons. Truman, concerned about the Soviet Unions nuclear development, dismissed Oppenheimers proposal, as per a report by History.com. The scientist expressed a sense of responsibility, mentioning the blood on his hands, but Truman retorted that the burden was on him as the President. This interaction, described by author Paul Ham in Hiroshima Nagasaki: The Real Story of the Atomic Bombings and Their Aftermath, suggests that Oppenheimer was more concerned about the potential devastation of future nuclear wars rather than specifically expressing remorse for the bombings of Japan.

Following World War II, Oppenheimer worked with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to establish measures for controlling nuclear weapons. However, when Truman pushed for the development of a hydrogen bomb in 1949, Oppenheimer opposed it. Despite his resistance, the U.S. proceeded with the development and testing of the H-bomb in 1952. Oppenheimers opposition to the hydrogen bomb, coupled with allegations of Communist ties during the McCarthy era, led to his dismissal from the commission and subsequent blacklisting.

Oppenheimers opposition to the H-bomb played a significant role in his persecution, overshadowing the claims of Communist affiliations. The controversy surrounding him persisted until his death in 1967, with ongoing speculation about his potential involvement as a Soviet spy. Today, Oppenheimer is primarily remembered as a scientist who faced persecution for addressing the moral implications of his creation. Thankfully, since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no country has utilized nuclear weapons, which means we have, so far, avoided the nuclear future that Oppenheimer feared he had set in motion, the report explains.

When Did Oppenheimer Quote the Gita?

As per History.com, On July 16, 1945, a group of scientists and engineers associated with the Manhattan Project witnessed the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb at the Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This highly secretive project had been conducted at the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. Although the Allies had already declared victory in Europe by this time, they were still engaged in combat with Japan.

J. Robert Oppenheimer, a renowned physicist and the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, observed the explosion from a distance. Oppenheimers recollection of that pivotal moment has become widely known.

I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad-Gita, he said. Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds. I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.

What is the meaning of the line?

As the leader of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the Manhattan Project, J. Robert Oppenheimer is commonly referred to as the father" of the atomic bomb. Reflecting on the first successful nuclear test, he famously remarked, We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent, but it was during this period that Oppenheimer evoked his interest in Hinduism, adopting it as a philosophical framework rather than a devotional practice, as per a report in the Wired.

The Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita, written in Sanskrit, played a significant role in shaping Oppenheimers worldview. The text features a dialogue between the warrior prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna, who serves as his charioteer and represents the incarnation of Vishnu. Facing a moral dilemma on the battlefield, Arjuna seeks guidance from Krishna, who imparts wisdom on the concept of dharma, or sacred duty. Dharma is one of the four key teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita, alongside desire or lust, wealth, and the pursuit of righteousness, as per the report.

Oppenheimer was particularly struck by a verse in which Krishna reveals his universal form, appearing as a magnificent and awe-inspiring being. In July 1945, as Oppenheimer witnessed the Trinity nuclear test, he recalled the verse: If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendour of the mighty one." Another verse that resonated with him was Krishnas statement, often paraphrased as Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." In Hinduism, which views time non-linearly, this phrase represents the concept of world-destroying time, emphasizing the belief that everything is ultimately within the hands of the divine.

Oppenheimers engagement with Hindu philosophy helped him make sense of his actions and the tremendous consequences of his involvement in the atomic bomb project. While he did not fully convert to Hinduism, his exploration of its teachings offered him a framework to understand the complexities and moral implications of his role in the development of nuclear weapons, as per the report.
Next-level dual mechanism IEDs  which require a high level of expertise and are more expensive  are the latest challenge for security forces in Red Zones.

Naxals, who have been using either command IED or anti-handling mechanisms that trigger blasts with pressure, are now rampantly making a deadly dual mechanism to make sure there is no scope for failure. Intelligence inputs, while talking about such IEDs, said they can be extremely dangerous as they leave no scope for a failed attack. If one mechanism fails, another will trigger a blast. Such IEDs are more efficient and can be wired or wireless.

According to ground commanders, Naxals use these IEDs to protect their den where senior committee members live.

In a recent recovery, a large warehouse of arms was busted by CRPF and local police in Jharkhands Burha Pahar, which is now under the dominance of security forces after three decades.

According to an official communication, during a search operation on July 13, a team consisting of three companies of 172 Bn CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar found items required to make IEDs, including 2.5 kilograms of explosives. Security forces, while carefully searching the area, found a wire attached to an IED. Further, when the team located the IED, it found that it had another mechanism to trigger a blast, revealing the dual mechanism. The forces recovered 67 detonators from the site, which exposes the volume of such IEDs that were to be manufactured by Naxals.

This is not the isolated case. In another instance in Chhattisgarh, security forces recovered the same type of dual mechanism IEDs during a search operations in January.

When News18 spoke to ground commanders deployed in Naxal areas, they said the rebels used the IEDs to protect themselves but were now deploying them to target forces.

Burha Pahar, which used to be the den of Naxal leaders, was stuffed with such IEDs. They wanted to make sure that if forces attack them, this dual mechanism triggers blasts to stop them. Earlier, Naxals used these IEDs in very limited areas as they require more money. But now inputs and recoveries are suggesting that these are being used rampantly to target forces, a CoBRA officer told News18.

Another officer of Greyhounds Police, a Special Forces unit of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Police, said such IEDs require extremely high level of expertise.

These IEDs are not used in all attacks but there is an increase in their recoveries and the items required to make them. Since it requires more skills, it seems Naxals have got hands to get them ready for use against forces, the officer said.

Explaining the function of dual mechanism, another CRPF official said: Lets say, Naxals placed an IED by digging foxholes. This mechanism will trigger a blast on command or by pressing a button. But if that fails, the pressure of the vehicle will trigger the blast. Also, Naxals can pick one mechanism based on the situation. It is more dangerous as its a combination.

According to the latest intelligence input  shared with state and central forces last month  dual mechanism IEDs will be used more by Naxals as they are frustrated with their network shrinking in states.
Giving a suggestion to break the impasse on Centres controversial ordinance in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena have to rise above political bickering."

Hearing the DERC matter, Chief Justice of India (CJI) asked if it was possible for L-G and the chief minister to rise above political bickering, sit down and give a name so that Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) can function".

This remark came after Delhi government said that the DERC was at present headless".

We have a suggestion, is it possible that the chief minister and L-G can sit down and give a name so that the DERC can function? Why should everything go through modalities of the Supreme Court," CJI said.

The Supreme Court on Monday was hearing the petition of Delhi government challenging June 22 notification of appointment of Umesh Kumar as Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman.

ALSO READ: Blow for Delhi L-G as Supreme Court Defers Oath-taking of DERC Chairperson Till July 11

AAP-led Delhi governments petition questioning the June 21 order of the Centre appointing former Allahabad High Court judge as DERC chairperson also challenges the controversial ordinance that overturned a judgement of the top court granting greater control to the Delhi government over its bureaucrats. Centres ordinance move gave it power to take over appointments to commissions and bodies under Delhi government under Section 45D of the newly promulgated Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Ordinance), 2023].

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena, said I dont need instructions. This must happen Its unfortunate that the Delhi government lawyer [Abhishek Singhvi] starts by saying that he has no hope. The first reaction should be yes, well do it."

Ill ask him to rise above politics and sit as a constitutional functionary," Salve said.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had deferred the oath taking ceremony of DERC chairperson-designate Justice (retd) Umesh Kumar and sought responses from the Centre and the office of the L-G on Delhi governments plea challenging the law governing such an appointment.

Kumar was appointed chairman of DERC on June 21. The AAP dispensation has challenged his appointment in the Supreme Court.

The appointment of DERC chairman became the latest flashpoint between the Delhi government and the lieutenant governors office, following the Centres ordinance on control of services.

SC Sends Ordinance Matter to Constitutional Bench

In another development, the Supreme Court on Monday also said it will refer the issue concerning the challenge to the Delhi services ordinance of the central government to the constitution bench.

The Supreme Court will now hear the matter on Thursday, July 20.

There are three entries over which Delhi government has no control. What they have done is that by using power under 239AA(vii), they have amended the constitution to take services out of Delhi government control. Is that permissible? I dont think either constitutional judgement has covered that," CJI said on Monday.

ALSO READ: SC Sends Delhi Ordinance Row to Constitutional Bench

The Supreme Court was hearing the plea filed by the Delhi government challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance on control of services. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha was hearing the matter.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had mentioned the matter seeking urgent hearing on July 6. In its plea, the AAP government has said it is an unconstitutional exercise of executive fiat" that attempts to override" the top court and the basic structure of the Constitution.

The Ordinance Row

The BJP-led central government had in May brought an ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, virtually negating an earlier Supreme Court verdict that had given 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.
Improved flood conditions in the national capital have led to the reopening of several roads for smooth traffic movement, as announced by the Delhi Traffic Police.

What Areas are Open and Close?

Bhairon Marg and sections of the Ring Road, including ISBT Kashmere Gate to Timarpur and Civil Lines (Mall Road side), are now accessible to vehicles.

Light vehicles can also utilize the Ring Road stretch from Sarai Kale Khan to IP Flyover to Rajghat. However, certain sections such as the Ring Road from Shanti Van to Monkey Bridge and Yamuna Bazar-ISBT remain closed. The advisory further states that the Ring Road from Majnu Ka Tila to Hanuman Setu is closed, along with the carriageway from IP College to Chandgiram Akhara and Chandgiram Akhara to Shanti Van, due to safety concerns caused by mud.

However, one carriageway from Hanuman Setu to Salim Garh bypass to IP Flyover has been opened, allowing commuters heading to Nizamuddin to take a left turn from IP Flyover to Vikas Marg via the Akshardham setu loop.

Moreover, both carriageways of the Outer Ring Road from Mukarba to Wazirabad are accessible. Additionally, the old iron bridge at Pushta to Shamshan Ghat has been reopened, while ISBT Kashmere Gate remains closed, according to the traffic police.

What is the Yamuna Water Level Right Now?

Following the unprecedented rise in the water level of the Yamuna river, which has now begun to recede but remains above the danger mark, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday that each flood-affected family would receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000. Meanwhile, amidst ongoing blame-shifting over the situation, there have been positive developments regarding the water treatment plants.

The Chandrawal water treatment plant, which was one of the three plants temporarily shut down due to the flooding, has resumed operations as the Yamuna level recedes.

Earlier, the Okhla plant had also restarted after indications of the river calming down. Kejriwal confirmed the resumption of the Chandrawal plant in a tweet. While the water level of the Yamuna has decreased to 205.52 meters by Sunday evening from its peak of 208.66 meters on Thursday, it still remains above the danger mark of 205.33 meters, according to officials.

Why is Delhi Still Waterlogged Despite Waters Receding?

As per a report by Indian Express, despite experiencing annual instances of waterlogging during the monsoon season, the city of Delhi is still lacking a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan. In 2011, the Delhi government had entered into an agreement with IIT-Delhi to develop such a plan, and the institute submitted a report in 2018. However, the plan was ultimately deemed generic" and devoid of actionable measures, leading to its shelving in 2021, the report said.

Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who oversaw the project, subsequently designated the Public Works Department (PWD) as the nodal agency and decided to engage consultants to create a comprehensive drainage master plan for each of the three drainage basins: Najafgarh, Trans-Yamuna, and Barapullah. The appointment of consultants was scheduled for March 2022. While the PWD initiated a tender process for the Najafgarh basin in 2022, it failed to attract sufficient bidders.

In addition to the stagnant state of the master plan, senior PWD officials have highlighted another issue: Delhis drains, particularly stormwater drains, are antiquated and ill-equipped to handle the recent rainfall of 125 mm within a 24-hour period, the report explains.

Officials explained that the aging pipelines contribute to water overflow, while the increased population and unauthorized construction have resulted in clogged stormwater drains over the years.

In addition to the lack of a Drainage Master Plan, there are other significant factors contributing to waterlogging issues in Delhi. Professor CR Babu, the head of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, highlighted some of these reasons in a report by the Times of India.

According to Professor Babu, many low-lying areas that suffer from waterlogging have either lost their wetlands or have been extensively covered in concrete. This has resulted in the disappearance of natural drainage systems and raw drains that used to carry water to the wetlands. In the past, Delhi had numerous wetlands, but they were neglected, leveled, and built upon, leading to the waterlogging problems experienced in many areas today.

Furthermore, the aging drainage system in Delhi is unable to cope with heavy rainfall, exacerbating the issue of waterlogging. Additionally, stormwater often flows into sewage networks, further contributing to flooding problems.

These factors, including the loss of wetlands, concretization, an aging drainage system, and stormwater mixing with sewage networks, collectively contribute to the recurring problem of waterlogging in Delhi.

Politics Over Situation

Several Delhi ministers, including Gopal Rai and Raaj Kumar Anand, assessed the relief measures implemented in various locations affected by the floods. Later in the day, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena also inspected the flood-affected areas, stating that efforts were underway to drain the water from Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhis memorial. As a precautionary measure, all government and private schools in the areas adjacent to the Yamuna river in Delhi will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a war of words regarding the current situation. The BJP accused the AAP of neglecting the maintenance of the ITO barrage, although it is under the purview of the Haryana government. In response, the AAPs Bharadwaj refuted the allegations and demanded a judicial probe into whether the AAP government had conducted any desilting of the Yamuna and city drains, along with the amount of money spent on it.

With the receding water levels of the Yamuna, certain roads such as Bhairon Marg have been opened for traffic movement, as stated by the Delhi Traffic Police. The traffic advisory indicates the opening of Bhairon Marg and the stretch of Ring Road from Sarai Kale Khan to the IP flyover to Rajghat for light vehicles. However, sections of the Ring Road from Shanti Van to Monkey Bridge-Yamuna Bazar-ISBT remain closed. On the other hand, the Ring Road from ISBT-Kashmere Gate to Timarpur and the Civil Lines Mall Road side has been reopened. Atishi, the Public Works Department minister, inspected the waterlogged roads and urged officials to expedite the water pumping process.

PTI contributed to this report
The Supreme Court on Monday said it might refer the issue concerning the challenge to the Delhi services ordinance of the central government to the constitution bench.

The Supreme Court will now hear the matter on Thursday, July 20.

There are three entries over which Delhi government has no control. What they have done is that by using power under 239AA(vii), they have amended the constitution to take services out of Delhi government control. Is that permissible? I dont think either constitutional judgement has covered that," CJI said on Monday.

The Supreme Court was hearing the plea filed by the Delhi government challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance on control of services. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha was hearing the matter.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had mentioned the matter seeking urgent hearing on July 6. In its plea, the AAP government has said it is an unconstitutional exercise of executive fiat" that attempts to override" the top court and the basic structure of the Constitution.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, on Monday thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for extending his party support to the AAP on Delhi Ordinace, saying the issue should be fought tooth and nail.

Kejriwals remark comes ahead of a crucial two-day meeting of the 26 opposition parties scheduled to start in Bengaluru later in the day with an agenda to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP-led central government had in May brought an ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, virtually negating an earlier Supreme Court verdict that had given 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.

(With PTI inputs)
Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday raided multiple premises of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani Pon in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining.

ED officials were escorted by armed personnel of the CRPF as they searched the premises linked to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader

under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case relates to illegal allotment of mines when Ponmudi was the mines minister. Total five mines were allocated when he occupied the position of Mines Minister, sources said, adding that all five were allocated to either his close relatives or his benamis

Two mines were allocated to his son Gautham Sigamani, who is an MP, in violation of the norms

The raids were being undertaken at the premises of the father-son duo in state capital Chennai and Ponmudys stronghold of Villupuram, officials said.

Who Is K Ponmudy

K Ponmudy (72) is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur assembly seat in Villupuram district while his 49-year-old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat.

The minister is accused of obtaining mining/quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licencees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit.

The state police had a filed a complaint to probe these charges of alleged corruption against the minister and those linked to him and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief.

The High Court said that there were grounds to presume that the petitioner has committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped.

The ED had recently initiated a similar action against another minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister M K Stalin after it arrested Transport Minister Senthil Balaji in an alleged cash-for-jobs linked money laundering case. Stalin and the DMK have slammed the action against Balaji as intimidation politics by the Centre.

How Did Leaders React To The Raids

As the searches come in the backdrop of the mega opposition meeting taking place today and tomorrow in Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin said this raid is a diversion tactic against the Opposition meeting".

Recently, two cases against Ponmudy have been dismissed. He will face this case legally. This raid is a diversion tactic against the Opposition meeting. Governor is already doing election propaganda for us [DMK] and now ED is also doing election propaganda for us. This is making election work easy for us. This is usual and a drama done by them [BJP]," MK Stalin said.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said, We have seen these gimmicks. They [BJP] have used agencies to target opposition. They are targeting Tamil Nadu. This is political vendetta."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the raid and said this has become Modi governments predictable script".

We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition. Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 17, 2023

We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting. This has become Modi Govts predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition," Kharge said in a tweet.

Surprisingly, BJP has suddenly woken up to the need of putting together an alliance of ideologically opposed parties.

All like-minded parties are united against the vendetta politics of the Modi Govt and shall not be bogged down by these cowardly tactics to trample upon Democracy," Kharge added.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter and wrote, We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone wid ED [sic]".

We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone wid EDBut for ED, NDA would be left wid no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left U cannot scare or control a great nation like India thro ED  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 17, 2023

But for ED, NDA would be left wid no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also leftU cannot scare or control a great nation like India thro ED [sic]," Kejriwals tweeted added.

(With PTI inputs)
An Elmwood man has sued the business that installed his outdoor fire pit after it exploded last year while he sat beside it, leaving him with injuries to his legs and ankles.

Joel Schulz filed a lawsuit against Fireplace Stone & Patio, the business that had sold and installed the fire pit before he bought the home, according to his attorney, Vince Powers.

On July 30, 2022, at about 11:30 p.m., Schulz was sitting on the northwest corner of the fire pit, which had been burning for about 3 hours with no wind.

"At that time, suddenly and without warning, there was a loud pop, and a fireball came out of the fire pit," Powers wrote in the lawsuit.

The explosion blew hot material onto Schulz, scarring, burning and disfiguring him and ultimately leading to $1,124 in medical bills with the possibility of more to come.

Powers alleged Fireplace Stone & Patio, which provided and installed the fire pit components, had negligently designed and constructed the fire pit, which led to propane gas collecting inside it and igniting by the operating burner assembly.

The suit alleges it was a defective design.

Lumbermen's Brick & Supply Company, which does business as Fireplace Stone & Patio, hasn't yet responded to the lawsuit filed this week. The company is based in Omaha but has a store in Lincoln, as well as ones in Grand Island, Kearney and Des Moines, Iowa.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that PM Modis visit to the US has enhanced the strength and dynamism of the US-India partnership.

Sitharaman met the United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the sidelines of the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting on Monday.

Divulging details of their discussion, the minister said that their discussions highlight the commitment of both India and the United States to actively further the G20 agenda. Their discussion included the addressal of critical global issues, like strengthening the multilateral development banks, taking coordinated climate, harnessing opportunities presented by crypto assets and digital public infrastructure, reports.

With shared democratic values, pluralism, and a strong commitment to rules-based, global order and multilateralism, India and the United States of America are actively engaged in constructive dialogues," said Sitharaman.

She said that such exchanges serve as proof to the promise of nurturing a strong partnership and harnessing potential for progress and prosperity.

Sitharaman added that PM Modis historic visit gave way to new collaboration opportunities, taking the bilateral partnership to a greater height.

By engaging the expertise and resources of the two sides, we promote economic growth, innovation, and drive sustainable development, the Finance Minister said.

Under the Indian G20 Presidency, the third FMCBGs meeting is being held in Gujarats Gandhinagar on July 17, 18.

The meeting is jointly chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

(With inputs from ANI)
India is poised to script yet another success story akin to its triumph in capturing the global market for generic medicines. This time, its eyes are trained on the market for biosimilars.

Biosimilars are generic equivalents of biologic drugs  a new class of medicines  and are more complex than chemical generics. Biologics include a range of products derived from large molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, hormones and enzymes. These substances are classified as biologics due to their production from living cells or organisms.

Several Indian pharmaceutical companies have been manufacturing and exporting biosimilars to the regulated market. They have a significant opportunity as per a CII report, which predicts that biopharma drugs will account for more than 40 percent of the global pharmaceutical market by 2030.

With this new target, it is imperative to ensure that the foundation is sufficiently robust, specifically the guidelines to approve biosimilars in India. Biosimilars provide a favourable advantage to patients since they are priced at a minimum of 50 percent lower than the original biologic medicines. In easier terms, you can call biosimilars a copycat version of biologics, which can be labelled as innovator or reference products.

Recently, several organisations working for greater public access to medicines and patients rights groups wrote to the central government requesting a change in the 2016 Guidelines on Similar Biologics (biosimilars) to facilitate quicker access to quality biosimilars at an affordable rate.

The health advocacy and patient groups have written the letter seeking a waiver on some requirements, calling them a major barrier for the approval of biosimilars since they are both resource-intensive and time-consuming. The pharma industry has also been asking for similar waivers.

The momentum of approvals can be understood by the fact that India is the only country with the largest number of approved biosimilars  127  ahead of Germany and the US. According to clinical trial protocols uploaded on the Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI), top 10 biosimilars in India have undergone Phase III trials on a sample size of patients ranging between 100 and 200.

While we mustnt lose sight of the importance of affordability, we should also exercise caution to ensure that we dont compromise the safety and effectiveness of drugs. Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge that conquering the generic drug market was an entirely distinct endeavour undertaken during a different era.

Generics and biosimilars are significantly disparate products, warranting separate strategies and approaches. The government needs to ensure tighter controls before approval and periodic quality checks to ensure every batch  not only the initial batch  produced is showing consistent quality.

We are already observing the chaos unfolding in the generic medicines market due to lax controls and flawed regulatory practices. Errors in biosimilars, by nature, are much more likely.

Do doctors need more data and confidence?

While I spoke to more than half a dozen doctors to seek their opinions on using biosimilar and innovator products on patients in the real-world scenario, two doctors agreed to come on record.

A majority of doctors refused to talk on record fearing the label of being biased or taking bribes from MNCs or anti-national. In common, all doctors told me that while they do prescribe biosimilars considering the official approvals are in place and medicines are affordable, they personally put trust in drugs that have generated a lot of data from clinical trials and testing irrespective of the manufacturing firm.

Sample this: Dr CS Madhu, head of the oncology department at Lourdes Hospital in Cochin, believes that we are in a deplorable situation where sanctions for biosimilars are given with loose guidelines. He shared his reasons and case studies to prove his argument.

Innovator drugs are backed by robust clinical data and randomised clinical trials, which are also performed with rivals of innovator molecules or dummy drugs, Dr Madhu said.

Further, Dr Madhu, told me that the Indian government has been giving a lot of approvals for biosimilars. We cannot adopt the strategy of generic drugs on biosimilars.

We are giving approvals on the basis of just preliminary studies, which are not comparable to the vast trial data available with innovator products, he said, adding that there is no effort to tighten the screws with an objective of manufacturing much finer products with greater efficacy.

One of Dr Madhus patients  who was suffering from breast cancer  was put on an innovative medicine, he said. That medicine became unavailable and, meanwhile, she was put on a copycat biosimilar. She started facing bleeding issues with the new drug. Later, her problem got resolved when she managed to get the innovator drug again, he added.

Dr Madhu shared another instance where he was treating his friends wife who was fighting cancer. Her tumour markers started rising till she was consuming the copycat. Later, when she managed to get the innovator drug in the UK, markers started coming down. This shows the efficacy difference, he said.

Dr Poonam Patil, an oncologist at Bengaluru-based Manipal Hospital, shared a similar perspective. There is no reason to say that biosimilars are inferior products but we will be more confident to prescribe these drugs if they will be approved with a vast set of data and clinical trials, Dr Patil said. These medicines are approved after testing on a very small group of patients whereas the innovator molecules are tested on thousands of patients.

The oncologist added: As a medical expert, I would put my trust more in those medicines that have undergone rigorous testing and have bigger studies.

Dr Patil further said we need to accept that we cannot equate innovator drugs to biosimilars, which may be manufactured with loose guidelines. The guidelines should be as rigorous and extensive for biosimilars as they are for biologics, she said.

Relaxation of guidelines may further diminish confidence

According to the current guidelines on biosimilars, once the patent on an originator drug expires, rules require mandatory animal studies and comparative safety as well as efficacy studies or clinical trials to prove their clinical equivalence to the originator biologic drug.

To requests for waivers in existing approval protocols also give examples of multiple health agencies that have already allowed for the same, including the UKs MHRA and the WHO. To critically examine the waiver request by a group of public health activists and patients bodies, I spoke to Dinesh Thakur, another public health activist focused on improving the quality of affordable medicines across the globe.

Thakur clarified the basis on which the UKs MHRA, in 2021, waived off animal studies for the approval of biosimilars. He said modifications do not offer a blanket waiver. They do it on a case-by-case basis, he said.

He emphasised and quoted the MHRA guidance, which states: Although each biosimilar development needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it is considered that, in most cases, a comparative efficacy trial may not be necessary if sound scientific rationale supports this approach.

Similarly, the WHO guidelines also do not advocate blanket waiver but on a case-by-case basis, Thakur said.

Thakur quoted the guideline saying comparative efficacy and safety trial will not be necessary if sufficient evidence of similarity can be drawn from other parts of the comparability exercise.

The request for a waiver has conveniently ignored the important aspects, he said.

Misleading patients in the name of affordability

Merely due to the resource-intensive and time-consuming nature of trials, one cannot circumvent or bypass them. Bejon Misra, an international consumer policy expert and consumer advocate, also shared his strong opinion.

I have always observed that its easy to mislead consumers in the name of affordability and lower prices, he said.

Misra, who is part of several stakeholder committees with central and state governments, said, The government held several stakeholder consultations and we told ICMR that we cannot dilute testing procedures for the sake of making them affordable.

He said many of these Indian products are unable to gain approvals from overseas regulators, and they were being sold to Indian consumers because they cost less. Dont treat our consumers as guinea pigs, please! he added.

We have been asking Indian manufacturers why other regulators are not giving such aggressive approvals to our products but nobody is giving us answers, Misra said.

He added: In fact, it has been seen that Indian companies are tying up or setting up facilities abroad to develop biosimilars for pushing their approvals for exports.

If we want to support patients, Misra said, We need to ask for universal health coverage.

What should be done instead of loosening guidelines?

Rather than seeking the loosening of guidelines, it would be more beneficial to advocate for mechanisms that give us medicines either by subsidies or insurance covers; but not those manufactured based on weak regulations.

Overall, by seeking lenient regulatory procedures, we are unjustly posing a disadvantage to Indian companies that produce exceptional biosimilars and possess the potential to elevate the countrys biosimilar market to new heights.
Eight people, including inmates and prison, were injured in a scuffle that broke out at Patnas Beur Central Jail as some prisoners led by convicted former MLA Anant Singh protested over their ward being deliberately kept open.

The former Mokama MLA alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to murder him inside the jail premises.

Patna District Magistrate (DM) 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 in the Beur Central Prison after an MP-MLA court in Patna last year sentenced him 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.
A Mumbai woman used chicken blood to feign injuries as she accused a 64-year-old businessman of trying to sexually assault her at a hotel in the city. The accuser applied chicken blood on her hands and alleged she got injured while the man attempted to assault her, a chargesheet filed by the police said.

According to the police, the woman, identified as Monica Bhagwan alias Dev Choudhary, allegedly laid the honey trap to frame the businessman and extorted Rs 3 crore from him with the help of three accomplices.

The chargesheet against Monica Choudhary by unit 10 of the crime branch city police last week identified Monicas three accomplices as Anil Choudhary alias Akash, Lubna Wazir alias Sapna a fashion designer, and jeweller Manish Sodi.

In November 2021, a businessman from Kolhapur had filed a police complaint alleging that a gang of four people had extorted Rs 3.25 crore from him by laying a honey trap at a city hotel. The accused continued to threaten him with a video and demanded Rs 2 crore more, it was alleged.

Quoting police, a TOI report said the incident took place in 2017 when Anil and Sapna befriended the businessman, studied his assets and hatched a conspiracy to blackmail him and extort money.

In 2019, when he was staying at a five-star hotel in Mumbai, Monica had alleged that he tried to sexually assault her. Sapna, her accomplice, had even shot her video of a scuffle with the man, accusing him of assault.

Monica was arrested in the case in June 2022.
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Abdul Nasar Madani, a prime accused in the 2008 Bengaluru serial bomb blasts case, to travel to Kerala and stay there for treatment.

A bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh modified Madanis bail condition, which had directed him to stay in Bengaluru till the completion of his trial.

In a modification of the order dated July 11, 2014, we permit the applicant to travel to his hometown in Kerala and stay there.

However, to ensure that the applicant is adhering to all other requirements, we direct that the appellant will report to the Station House Officer of the nearest police in Kollam district, once in 15 days, the bench said Madani has been out on bail since 2014 after the Supreme Court granted relief in view of his poor health.

But he was ordered not to leave Bengaluru. In April 2023, the apex court permitted him to visit Kerala on a plea seeking relaxation of bail conditions imposed by it.
At a time when Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is the debate on every nook and corner of the country, Justice Krishna Murari, who retired recently from the Supreme Court, stressed that uniformity in anyway is beneficial.

Uniformity is always beneficial but before the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, there should be large-scale considerations with the public at large, said Justice Murari in an exclusive conversation with News18.

The retired judge stressed that enforcing UCC without consultations" may not be good for the country, society or people, but once there is a general discussion with the public and a majority view comes in, only then the law should be implemented.

Whatever is the proposed code, that should also be brought into the public domain so that everybody has an opportunity to look into it and raise their objections and contentions, he added.

The Law Commission of India on Friday announced to extend the deadline for the public to send their views and suggestions on UCC within two weeks.

The National Commission for Women conducted a final consultation on the Rights of Muslim Women, focusing on reviewing Muslim Personal Law, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on July 15.

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, said a statement issued by the women body.

The Attorney General of India, R. Venkataramani, contributed to the discussion by highlighting the need for reforming and strengthening the institution of marriage. He emphasised the following points: (a) equal regard for men and women, (b) equal status for men and women, (c) equality of processes ensuring dignity in entering and exiting marital relationships irrespective of religion," it said further.
Uttar Pradesh Polices Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Monday has begun the interrogation of Seema Ghulam Haider, the Pakistani woman who entered India with his four kids to marry the man she met on PUB-G.

The police are also questioning Sachin Meena, who she met on an online gaming platform, at a secret location in Noida, NDTV reported.

Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children to marry her lover she met on the online gaming platform PUB-G Sachin Meena. The man was also jailed for sheltering illegal immigrants as Haider entered India without proper documentation.

Later the woman was granted bail recently and joined her partner Sachin Meena at Rabupura home in Greater Noida last week.

Seema Haider Adopted Hinduism

Seema Haider earlier claimed that she converted to Hinduism and also changed the names of her children.

Seema is a common name in Hindus and Muslims and hence Sachin said I need not change my first name. I will call myself Seema or Seema Sachin. We have changed our childrens names to Raj, Priyanka, Pari and Munni," Seema told TOI.

Threat Call From Pakistan To Send Seema Haider Back

The Mumbai Police traffic control room has received a call from an unidentified person warning of a 26/11-like terror attack if Pakistani woman Seema Haider did not return to her country, PTI reported. The call was received on July 12, he said on Thursday.

The caller, who spoke in Urdu, said there would be a terror attack, like the one that took place on November 26, 2008, in Mumbai and that the Uttar Pradesh government will be responsible for it, the police official said.

Earlier, Ghulam Haider, Seemas husband, made a heartfelt plea to the Indian government to send back his wife and children to Pakistan. He further informed that he was unaware of his wifes whereabouts and came to know about it through the media.
Scorching temperatures across Europe forced the closure of the Acropolis in Athens for a second day as officials warned Saturday of even hotter weather next week, when the mercury is forecast to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several popular Mediterranean tourist destinations.

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.

Fifteen cities in Italy, most of them in the countrys center and south, were under heat advisories signaling a high level of risk for older adults, the infirm, infants and other vulnerable people. Temperatures remained in the mid-30s C (mid-90s F) across much of the Italian peninsula Saturday but were expected to reach between 38 C (100.4 F) and 40 C (104 C) 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 C (95 F) Saturday and was expected to see temperatures as high as 42 C (107.6 F) on Tuesday when other Italian cities could be even hotter.

In Greeces capital, where the temperature was forecast to reach 41 C (105.8 F), officials decided to keep the sun-baked Acropolis monument closed from noon to 5:30 p.m. as they did Friday.

Czech temperatures soared to a new record high for any July 15. The thermometer hit 38.6 Celsius (101.5 F) at Plzen-Bolevec in western Czechia, up from the previous record of 36.8 Celsius for this day set in Podebrady, east of Prague in 2007, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said.

Temperatures were milder in Spains Canary Islands, but a wildfire on the island of La Palma caused a preventive evacuation of some 500 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 (about 97-102 F) and low 40s (104-109 F). The tourism hot spot of Antalya saw a high of 44 C (111.2 F).

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 heat wave also was taking its toll on water levels in Istanbul, Turkeys largest city. The main water supply at the Omerli Dam reservoir, already at 41% capacity due to low rainfall, was losing 17,000 tons of water an hour during the early afternoon, Levent Kurnaz of Bosphorus Universitys Center for Climate Change and Policy Studies told local media. European countries father 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 C (95 F).

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 on 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.

To cool off their four-legged friends, some Italian 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 per 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 nebulization. There, this is pleasant for both people and dogs, Baubeach owner Patrizia Daffina said.

Carlo Cerese took his dog there 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.
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 place, nestled in Jolaibari, about 100 km from here, 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 people from different parts of the country visit. 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 Rs 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 states unexplored tourist destinations.
Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, has generated significant anticipation since its initial announcement. With its release approaching this week, audiences are eagerly waiting to experience the film on the biggest screen possible. The movie revolves around the life of J Robert Oppenheimer, a key figure in the development of the atomic bomb, who famously quoted a line from the Bhagavad Gita, I have become death, the destroyer of worlds. In a recent interview with Sucharita Tyagi, Cillian was asked about the movie being influenced by the Hindu text.

In response, the actor revealed, I did read the Bhagavad Gita in preparation and I thought it was an absolutely beautiful text, very inspiring. I think it was a consolation to him, he kind of needed it and it provided him a lot of consolation, all his life.

When questioned about his learnings from the text, Cillian Murphy playfully responded, Well, dont grill me on it." However, he quickly added, I just found it very beautiful."

J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, played an important role in developing nuclear weapons. In the 1965 NBC news documentary titled, The Decision to Drop the Bomb, the scientist discussed his immediate emotions and thoughts following the successful nuclear test. It was during this documentary that Oppenheimer famously used the quote from the Bhagavad Gita, I have become death, the destroyer of worlds."

While promoting Oppenheimer in different countries, the films team found themselves in the midst of protests regarding fair compensation for writers and actors in Hollywood. To show their support, cast members from the film decided to walk out of the London premiere.

Meanwhile, As Oppenheimer prepares to hit theatres, cinema lovers are in for an exciting weekend as it faces box-office competition from another highly anticipated release, Barbie. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the movie features Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, in the lead roles. The clash between the two big-budget films has produced immense excitement surrounding both films.

Apart from Cillian Murphy, the star-studded cast of the Christopher Nolan directorial includes Robert Downey Jr, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh.
The St. Francois County Commission approved a draft of the countys 2022 financial statement when it met in regular session July 11 in chambers on the third floor of the courthouse annex in Farmington.

Addressing the commission, County Auditor Louie Seiberlich said, We began this process earlier this year. It was delayed somewhat because of reports we did not receive in a timely manner from different departments and groups. However, [Daniel Jones & Associates of Arnold, Missouri], that we have had for a number of years, worked through all of that. We are presenting to you the draft of the financial statement for 2022. Its Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. Amber Menjoulet, our audit manager, did 99.9% of the work. Seiberlich said he mainly cited the documents, and pointed out some of the more important pages to the commissioners.

Seiberlich asked Menjoulet to continue the presentation for the commissioners.

This is just a compilation of the activity thats already happened, she explained. And as Louie said, probably two of the most important pages are going to be 46 and 56, which will tell you there were no state or federal findings on the audit report. That would be the fourth year in a row that weve been without findings. Another important page that youre going to want to take a look at, if you have not already, is page 52.

That is our CFA, which is the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, and if you havent already noticed, we had $5.5 million in federal expenditures in 2022. That does not include an additional $300,000 of state expenditures that arent reported. Total revenue in 2022 of federal funds was $8 million. So, with that being said, we will have a single audit again next year, which is a review of all our federal expenditures.

Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher asked Menjoulet to explain why having no findings on the audit is important to the county.

No findings is extremely important when it comes to applying for those federal funds or state funds as far as the grants are concerned, she said. If you get findings on your federal expenditures, then youre least likely to get selected for that because that means there must be internal control issues or youre not using the funds as youre supposed to. So, its very important we keep that to no findings.

Seiberlich said, Which is why we are insistent in the auditors office with different departments to file their reports in a timely manner with the correct information. I know that different departments kind of get a little cranky with us, but this is the reason for that information. Road and bridge, sheriffs department, prosecuting attorney  its critical that they provide that information in a timely manner.

With a wry smile, Seiberlich continued, saying, And they do for the most part... sometimes.

After the laughter subsided, Menjoulet was asked how many dollars of pass-through grants had been audited.

She replied, Passed-through was about $250,000. Passed-through to some recipients was $250,000, which the majority of that was the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Gallaher asked, Now you talked about the federal no-fault finding or no findings, but what about the other part?

Menjoulet said, That would be on page 46. That was also a no-finding. So, were looked at on a state aspect, and then when we have a single audit, its on a federal level, so they look at both. We had no findings on either.

In answer to a question asking if the word draft on the report meant there was more work needed for the financial statement to be completed, Menjoulet replied, There could be some minor changes still, according to our independent auditors. It would not be any of the actual physical numbers themselves and maybe footnotes, but if there were to be any changes, we would have to come back and get it approved again. But it cant be a final draft until the commission approves it. It would always be a draft that gets presented.

Gallaher said, I served on school board for 18 years, and I dont remember any opt-in report that was ever no findings. It was always, you know, you only have one person opening the mail. Those kinds of things, little things, but there was always a finding. And so, its amazing to me that weve gone, I think you told me, four years.

Menjoulet replied, Well, the biggest problem our county faced for a long time was internal controls, no documentation or violation thereof. And a lot of that was due to segregation of duties, not having enough people in your office to be able to mitigate that.

Technology has really helped us with that because, with [Tyler Financial Software]. Its kind of helped start that internal control process that we then expanded. And its natural for an officeholder to want to be efficient, so they wont assign a second person to a job for oversight. So just let that one person handle it. Thats not a really good bookkeeping practice.

The county commissioners unanimously approved a motion to accept the draft financial statement.

In other action, Gallaher and District 2 Commissioner David Kater approved a motion accepting a bid from First State Community Bank (FSCB) to perform banking services for the county, with District 1 Commissioner Kary Buckley abstaining because he serves on the banks board.

According to County Treasurer Parks Peterson, FSCB was the only financial institution in the county that responded to a hand-delivered invitation to submit a bid to perform those services.
Shreya Budge is a well-known Marathi actress for her comedy show Chala Hawa Yeu Dya. Fans believe that she can mould into different characters with her acting and can also perform live on stage. Most often, due to her looks and fashion sense, she is compared with Bollywood actress Vidya Balan.

A few others from the Bollywood film industry also believe that Shreya Budge resembles Vidya Balan. Actors like Akshay Kumar and Javed Akhtar also mentioned that she is a great performer and also looks like Vidya Balan.

During the promotion of Chala Hawa Yeu Dya, Akshay Kumar and the Bachchan Pandey team were present on stage and Khiladhi Kumar mentioned that Shreya looked like Vidya Balan. She replied that she received the same compliment from Javed Akhtar.

At the Pune Film Festival, when she met Javed Akhtar, he said, Aapko ek baat batayu? You look like Vidya Balan."

Shreya Budge recently had an interaction with Vidya Balan at the opening ceremony of PIFF India. Others present in the ceremony also mentioned that they resemble each other and Vidya Balan also took it as a compliment. Shreya was also seen stating that she is a fan girl of Vidya Balan.

Vidya Balan is well known for playing some brilliant women characters. She was awarded the Padma Shri award by the Government of India. Her recent movie Neeyat directed by Anu Menon is a crime-thriller about a mysterious death. Neeyat was released on July 7 starring Rahul Bose opposite Vidya Balan.

On the other hand, Shreya Budge started her career in 2012 in Tu Tithe Me and was later seen in Asmita, Fu Bai Fu, and many more. She was also seen as a child artist in the Marathi drama Vatevarti Kacha Ga. She was honoured with Newsmakers Achievers Awards 2022. She has a huge fan following on social media because of her comedy and fashion sense. She keeps her fans updated and informed. She often opts for a traditional saree look with heavy embroidery and jewellery.
Director Sriram Raghavan has finally announced the release of Merry Christmas. The film brings together Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead. Announcing the release date as December 15, the Sriram Raghavan directorial is now set to clash with Sidharth Malhotra starrer Yodha. Along with the release date, the filmmaker released the poster of Merry Christmas, revealing that the film will release Hindi and Tamil. Speaking with News18 exlcusively earlier this year, Sriram revealed that while both versions will be a little different from each other.

Its not one film, its two films. There is a Hindi film, which has got Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif and one child along with a few other characters. There is a Tamil film with the same Vijay Sethupathi, Katrina and the child, and the other actors are different. So I wanted to make a Tamil film also since Vijay is a very acclaimed actor in the South and I thought it will be just good for us to make two versions of this film. They are broadly the same, 95 per cent they are the same but of course, language changes and some characters also I wanted to change so that it doesnt look like a dubbed film," he told us.

I am a Tamilian myself so this is one chance so let me also try make a Tamil film so this is two in one kind of film," he added.

Asked about bringing together an eccentric pair like Katrina and Vijay, Sriram said, When you see the film, youll know. The story is such that I just needed a very off-beat pairing or casting and I was trying various combinations and permutations and I happened to meet Vijay at a festival in Melbourne and Id seen some of his films. I just felt, What if I do this odd combination and it has got its curiousity value, I hope. Both are very interesting characters in the film. When you see the film youll why I cast them. I just wanted two people who have never worked with each other and you cant even think ye saath mein kya karenge."
Akshay Kumars upcoming film OMG 2 has been surrounded by the mist of uncertainty. Last week, there were reports floating around stating that the sequel of the Paresh Rawal starrer 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, the actor indirectly dismissed that claim by sharing the announcement poster of the first song from the film.

On Monday, Akshay Kumar gave us a glimpse of a poster in which Pankaj Tripathi can be seen riding a scooty with his hands in the air. He is surrounded by devotees and idols of God around him. We can also spot a tilak on his forehead. Revealing that the first song will be out tomorrow and the film will be released on its scheduled date of August 22, Akshay Kumar wrote, #OonchiOonchiWaadi      

Song out tomorrow! # OMG2 in theatres on August 11."

Heres the poster:

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 had shared earlier.

It 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 shortly 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.
After leaving his Prem image behind, Salman Khan took up action roles in films like Wanted and Dabangg. In 2015, he surprised everyone with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, where he played a kind-hearted man helping a speech-impaired girl. The film, directed by Kabir Khan and co-starring Kareena Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Harshaali Malhotra, narrated the story of a Hindu man traveling to Pakistan to unite an eight-year-old girl with her family.

The film not only bridged gaps between people across borders but also celebrated unity among different religions in the country. Kabir Khan, before the films release, had shared his intention to make powerful political statements that resonated with the nations political situation. In an interview with Indian Express, Kabir mentioned his strong belief in unity, secularism, and fostering friendship between people. Having grown up in an inter-religion family, with his parents in an inter-faith marriage, he embraced and celebrated both cultures.

I wanted to discuss the Hindu-Muslim issue and in order to bring it all out in the mainstream consciousness, I needed Salmans superstardom. He also feels strongly about secularism and instantly agreed with the film, Khan had said.

The filmmaker also revealed how he had to face opposition for the films title. Kabir said that he stood his ground and told them that in India, one can have this title. " I played the role of Lord Hanuman in a school play. It bothers me to see how we are becoming increasingly intolerant. Why cant a Muslim say, Jai Shri Ram? Or why cant a Hindu say Assalamualaikum? I will not become a lesser Muslim if I say, Jai Shri Ram. I fought for this title. I wanted Bajrangi to stand for what he isthe most fun god. Hanuman doesnt belong to only one community. Bajrangi is a symbol of our ethos. And the way the audience has taken to the film, it proves that he belongs to the entire India.

Even after eight years, Salman Khan fans still love the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. In fact, Salman himself admits that his father considers his performance in the film as the best of his career.
Labour activism has reportedly witnessed a rise following the Covid-19 pandemic. Artificial intelligence has taken over several sectors, including the arts. On May 2 this year, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing about 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike over a dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) following six weeks of negotiation. Increased residuals from streaming platforms remain an integral demand of the writers. They have been protesting outside the headquarters of Disney and Netflix in the USA demanding an increase in the size of writers rooms. They have also been raising their voice against the dwindling pay and the inference of artificial intelligence in their creative jobs.

About two months later, what has further fuelled this protest is another strike by the American actors union, SAG-AFTRA. More than 1,50,000 television and film actors from Hollywood have joined the screenwriters on July 14, thus making it Hollywoods first industry-wide shut down in more than six decades. In support of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the red carpet event for Oppenheimers US premiere stood cancelled. In fact, cast members like Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt recently left the UK screening midway.

Though actors have been fighting their own battles and voicing their own set of grievances, writer Saiwyn Quadras believes that it has brought the spotlight back to the screenwriters. They arent together in this. Each one is struggling for their own rights. But all of this is going to impact the studios in a certain manner. The writers strike has been on for 12 weeks and very little has come up about that. It was only reported in the beginning for a week or ten days and then it went silent, because who cares for a writers voice? But now, the actors of Oppenheimer have walked off the promotions. Thats why this strike is going big again, he explains.

Quadras, whose next project is Ajay Devgn starrer Maidaan, wishes for ripples to be created in the Indian film industry as a reflection of the strike in Hollywood but worries that the light at the end of the tunnel is rather dim. He elaborates, The reality might be a little different. Im skeptical. Yes, weve the same platforms operating in India like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ Hotstar. But even before the strike, these platforms had certain clauses writers had to work under and they were way different than the clauses that are there internationally. Its like they operate in a completely different planet. If the studios do accept the demands of the writers internationally, we can hope that there can be standard practices all over the world including India with regards to especially the writers. Thats a hope but I dont think its going to happen.

Writer and creator Suparn S Varma, who shot to fame with Amazon Prime Videos The Family Man, on the other hand, is hopeful and believes that conversations to bring about positive changes for writers in India have already begun. The good part is that we live in a world today thats much more educated. Producers and platforms are taking note of the fact that everything begins with the writers and they need to be given respect. A lot has changed in the last 10-15 years and hopefully will change more even though were a very long way from things that the WGA and the SAG-AFRA are fighting for, he points out.

He goes on to explain, The more educated writers are about their rights and producers are about a writers rights, the pay and functioning changes. And its changing slowly. Conversations will keep happening between the two. They cant exist without each other  a producer is nothing without a script and vice-versa. Its a symbiotic relationship. Both needs to co-exist. Its all about respecting each other. Changes take time. Theyre happening gradually. Conversations are also happening, maybe not at this advanced stage. We may not see the results of this conversation but somebody surely will.

Filmmaker-writer Bejoy Nambiar also feels that the explosion of the digital space has brought writers their due respect. After the OTT boom, our writers now have way more opportunities and power in demanding fair credit and remuneration. I hope that momentum keeps going and the writers get credited and paid properly going forward. Weve seen that shift happening in the last couple of years and I hope it continues, he states.

However, Nambiars doubts that the WGA protests in Hollywood can trickle down in India and he attributes the same to the absence of a solid writers union in the country. We cant compare the two industries. They have a bigger union and structure in place. We dont have any of those structures here. We dont have a writers union here. But yes, our writers have always been the unsung heroes and have been asking for and struggling to get the right credits and the right remunerations. These are the only challenges that are in common between both the industries. But I dont see a situation of them standing up against these issues finding an echo here, he says.

Though glad with the attention being cast to the state of writers, Quadras reiterates that the issues plaguing writers in the Indian film industry are starkly different from those in the West. Talking about how our writers are still fighting for the most basic of the things, he tells us, The bigger issue is that the rights that the writers there are fighting for are, in a way, first world problems, as compared to the fights that weve as writers with the platforms and producers here. There, theyre fighting for residuals, for larger writer rooms, for AI to not take up any writers job and for the usage of AI to be monitored. Here, our basic fight still is for credits and monies. There, theyve something called royalties and residuals for which they are fighting.

Writers in India still dont have any access to residuals. For Quadras, that comes much later and the need of the hour is the attention to protocols pertaining to copyrights. Here, the copyright board has been set and the Screenwriters Association has been tirelessly working to get the producers and platforms to come under a discussion board and form a corporate society for writers and film writers and for them to get royalties. But the producers are coming up with some or the other reason to not come to the table and have a discussion. So, theres nothing called as copyright royalties for writers in India in any way. We dont even know what residuals are. The voice is the same in terms of injustice to the work but the issues are completely on a different sphere, he rues.

Echoing his sentiments, Varma, who recently directed Disney+ Hotstars The Trial starring Kajol, adds, Our actors, directors and writers dont get any residual. Thats not the norm here. Our conversations need to start happening with basic residuals and then move to residuals from streaming platform, which is a very long discussion. Hollywood writers had residuals and royalties for the longest amount of time. Thats the system there. Theyre trying to apply the same model to the new digital medium.

Last month, veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali led a demonstration outside Netflix Indias office in Mumbai along with other writers to show their support to the WGA members. How much of that will impact the decisions made by streaming giants remains to be seen.

But Nambiar asserts that its no cakewalk for our writers to come together as a unified front and raise their voices against the treatment meted out to them. We function in a lot of chaos and weve multiple industries here and to get all of them together in a union isnt an easy task. Each industry operates with its own autonomy. We manage with our own unions and federations within each industry but I dont think that a singular vision for the entire country is possible, he says.

The director, who recently helmed Sweet Kaaram Coffee for Amazon Prime Video, continues, We even have a single censor board but there different censor structures for each language. A singular system and order in which we do things is definitely aspirational and if we havent found it after so many years, then I dont know what the future holds, and I dont want to sound pessimistic. We thrive in a certain way of chaos and well continue to. I dont see one consolidated structure. All said and done, its just one Hollywood industry there.

Meanwhile, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have gone on to impact KaalChakra and Heart Of Stone too. The makers were supposed to unveil the first look of the Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas and Deepika Padukone film at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 20 but reports now suggest that it will be postponed in light of the strike. The promotions of the Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt starrer have also been put on hold, as per reports.
Karan Johar is unhappy with Merry Christmas clashing with Yodha. The Katrina Kaif-Vijay Sethupathi starrer announced earlier in the day that it will release on December 15, along with Sidharth Malhotra starrer. Karan said that the makers of Merry Christmas did not even give him a phone call about the clash. While Karan is upset with the turn of events, several social media users reminded him that he clashed Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Ajay Devgns Shivaay.

The clash turned ugly, with Kajol getting involved. Three years later, Karan Johar had decided that he will never clash with a film again. Speaking with India Today Conclave in 2019, Karan addressed all that went down with Ajay and Kajol. He also admitted that she will never clash like that again.

I think at that point of time, there was a relationship discord but I have solemnly resolved that. I had spoken to Ajay and Kajol and everything is great now. I try to avoid clashes, but I think its best not to go in that media zone but sometimes when its not avoidable, then you will have to go with it. Yes, there was a clash between Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil; it was an unpleasant part that doesnt make me feel good because I have known Kajol for three decades. I will never do something like that [Ae Dil Hai Mushkil clashing with Shivaay] again," he said.

Karan added that he disapporves the word clash. Ive tried to avoid clashing with another film, because of what is written in the media. Sometimes what is said is negative. Sometimes a festival can absorb more than two films. Why use words like war and clash? My film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. There is no problem with two films clashing on the same day. Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are bonafide stars, and they can have both films release on the same day. Ive tried my best to not go into the media zone," he added.

With Karan expressed in the past that he will avoid clashes, it is to see if he moves the release date of Yodha or goes ahead to lock horns with Merry Christmas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZARINA WAHAB: Zarina Wahab made her debut in Bollywood with the film Ishk Ishk Ishk in 1974 and later gained recognition with movies like Chitchor and Gopal Krishna. With a career spanning over four decades, Zarina has established herself as a critically acclaimed actress. Her most recent appearance was in Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer Tiku Weds Sheru. On the occasion of Zarinas 64th birthday, lets delve into some fascinating facts about her life and career.

Happy Birthday Zarina Wahab: 10 Facts

She is an alumna of one of the most renowned film schools, the Film and Television Institute (FTII) in Pune. The talented actress is proficient in Hindi, English, Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu. Wahab got married to Aditya Pancholi just 15 days after meeting him on the set of film, Kalank Ka Tika. They have a son, actor Sooraj Pancholi. She is renowned for her notable performances in TV series such as Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli, Tumhari Disha, and Ye Zindagi Hai Gulshan, among others. After achieving great success in films, Zarina Wahab transitioned to the small screen and made her TV debut with the 2007 serial Maayka. Zarina Wahab draws inspiration from the legendary actor Waheeda Rehman. Other than acting, the actress also has culinary skills and in one of the interviews, she revealed that she loves cooking for her family. She was nominated for the Best Actress award for her captivating performance in the film Gharaonda. However, she lost to actor Shabana Azmi. Zarina Wahab had a backup plan in case her acting career didnt work out. She was prepared to join the airline as a cabin crew. She shares a close-knit bond with Hum Paanch actor Phiroza Cooper.

Happy Birthday Zarina Wahab: Top 5 Movies
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes his visit to France, and India gives its nod to deals for purchasing 26 Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines  all worth over Rs 90,000 crore  it may become pertinent to observe that such a high-value order is going through corruption-free, as in the case of all previous deals during this regime. There is no middleman of foreign origin, close family friends or agents making fund transfers to offshore bank accounts, as was the case innumerable times during decades of Congress rule in the past.

It seems that India is finally reaping the benefits of policy decisions where merit trumps kickbacks. Let us here consider the first case in the history of independent India, which set the precedent for the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family to exploit high-value deals. When the India-Pakistan war began in 1948, the Indian Army urgently required jeeps. Vengalil Krishna Menon, the then Indian High Commissioner to the UK and also a very close friend of then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, placed an order for about 2,000 refurbished jeeps from a company called M/s Anti-Mistantes.

Now, a little back history here  Menon had an understanding with the last British viceroy Louis Mountbatten that hed be made the Indian high commissioner to the UK by lobbying for British interests and agreeing to convince" his good friend Nehru on sensitive issues in Britains favour. Moving on, Menon who was a fully trusted ally of Nehru, not only placed this order but also framed shady terms of payment and delivery for the jeeps.

He agreed to pay 65 percent of the money for the jeeps, which were priced at about 300 pounds per vehicle on inspection, 20 percent on delivery and the remaining 15 percent a month after delivery. He also clarified that only 10 percent of the jeeps for delivery will be inspected. This meant that only after inspecting 10 percent of the refurbished jeeps, a full 85 percent of the total dues of about 6,00,000 pounds was made. In todays value  that amount would be equivalent to 1,55,00,000 pounds, ie, Rs 160,00,000  one hundred and sixty crore rupees.

The company, M/S Anti-Mistantes, was clearly shady  it only had paid up capital of about 600 pounds. Which is why, despite paying the above money, the company sent only about 155 jeeps, none of which were in functioning, usable condition. The armed forces rejected the jeeps. Not only did Anti-Mistantes refuse to recall the jeeps, but also went incommunicado.

Now, the need for jeeps was still standing, and Menon signed another contract with another company called SCK Agencies for 1,007 jeeps at a higher price of 458 pounds. The delivery terms were that 68 jeeps would be delivered monthly. He also explained that since these companies were only delivery agents, he got SCK Agencies to agree to compensate the Indian government for the earlier money paid for the jeeps. However, only 49 jeeps were supplied over two years by SCK Agencies and no money was compensated to the Indian government.

Nehru not only forced the Indian government to accept the substandard jeeps sent by Anti-Mistantes but also refused to demand a resignation from Menon. There was a massive uproar over this issue and Nehru was forced to form a committee to investigate the case. The Ayyangar Sub-Committee found many misappropriations and, on the basis of its submissions made on April 9, 1951, the Public Account Committee (PAC) started a formal investigation in the matter under the leadership of two former high court judges.

On December 18, 1954  about three and a half years after the Ayyangar Sub-Committee submissions  the Nehru government asked the PAC to reconsider its decision on initiating a formal investigation and shut down the constituted committee, mid-investigation.

Menon was clearly out of line  high commissioners had no official capacity to make such agreements. He had gone out of his way to persuade relevant officers in the Indian government to sign the agreements he had arranged with two bogus companies. Despite this, Nehru inducted him into the union cabinet on February 3, 1956, and later made him the defence minister in 1959 following which he played a decisive role in Indias loss in the 1962 Indo-China War.

In a rather shady revelation, it came to light in the Mitrokhin Archives that Menon was being groomed by the Soviet intelligence agency, KGB, to promote Soviet propaganda in India. In fact, so much was the involvement of the Soviet deep state in Indias affairs, that Menon who had Nehrus unparalleled attention, orchestrated the shift of Indias arms imports from the west to the Soviet Union during his tenure.

Nehru, on Menons insistence, dubiously so in the summer of 1962 also changed his decision to purchase British Lightnings to MIG-21s, due to KGBs active-measures operations. This decision cost us the Indo-China War because the Soviets refused to send us the MIG-21s during the war, when India needed them the most.

After it became clear that not only did Nehru refuse to reprimand his friend for obvious questionable dealings and financial fraud, which cost the country, but in fact protected and promoted him, it set a culture of shady dealings within the Congress with approval right from the top.

This is Part II of a multi-part series.

Priyam Gandhi-Mody is an author of three bestselling books, including A Nation to Protect. Her fourth book is expected to be released in October 2023. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Microns $2.75 Billion Semiconductor Bet

US-based technology maker Micron decision to invest up to $825 million into India in two phases with a total investment of $2.75 billion, including government incentives under the PLI scheme worth $1.34 billion, for an assembly and testing facility at Sanand in Gujarat, is a big milestone in Indias roadmap and growth as a semiconductor nation. In the last 18 months, after the announcement of the semiconductor roadmap by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the planned investment of Rs 76,000 crore to catalyse and build Indias semiconductor ecosystem, much progress has been made in a short period of time. The move also marks the first approval under the governments $10-billion plus incentive plan to encourage chip manufacturing in India.

The Congress attempted to do so in the 1980s but was not successful. In fact, the party has been criticising the Micron deal and behaving like the proverbial sore loser, but that is hardly surprising. The party tried  in the 80s, 90s, and 2010  but failed all three times to bring the semiconductor industry to India. No wonder Congress leaders have been peddling falsehoods about the Micron deal. This is just the beginning as there is more to come as India is rapidly growing as a significant and trusted partner in the global electronics and semiconductor value and supply chain systems, given how China is increasingly being isolated by the Biden administration.

Idaho-headquartered Micron, in the first phase, will start manufacturing in the 500,000 sq ft plant later this year. The facility will be used for the assembly and testing of DRAM and NAND flash modules; the project will create 5000 direct and 15,000 indirect community jobs and address demand from domestic and international markets. Micron will ramp capacity gradually over time in line with global demand trends. It will receive 50 percent fiscal support for the total project cost from the Indian government and incentives representing 20 percent of the total project cost from the state of Gujarat. The combined investment by Micron and the two government entities over the course of both phases will be up to $2.75 billion.

Modi governments support will help fund the project and facilitate access to essential semiconductor infrastructure and resources to drive innovation and enhance local talent development within India. This is a win-win deal for both India and Micron. Microns plans are part of the companys larger strategy to meet the expected long-term demand for memory and storage across markets and complement the companys global assembly and test networks. The American chip makers investment to set up assembly and test manufacturing in India will fundamentally transform Indias semiconductor landscape and generate tens of thousands of high-tech and construction jobs. This investment will be a crucial building block in Indias blossoming semiconductor ecosystem. Micron has said that it selected Gujarat due to its manufacturing infrastructure, conducive business environment and a well-established talent pipeline in the Sanand Industrial Park (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation  GIDC), in a glowing vindication of PM Modis famously progressive Gujarat model.

Microns new facility will focus on transforming wafers into ball grid array (BGA) integrated circuit packages, memory modules and solid-state drives. The US chipmaker will build and operate the assembly and test facilities in accordance with the companys sustainability goals and in line with local and global environmental commitments. Micron is committed to designing and building the facility to meet or exceed leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) gold standards. Additionally, the facility will use advanced water-saving technologies to enable zero liquid discharge.

During Prime Minister Modis historic US visit in June 2023, partnerships on 35 emerging technologies, including semiconductors, space, quantum computing, and AI, among others, were signed. Jet engine manufacturing in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the most significant milestone. In a major announcement coinciding with PM Modis US visit, GE Aerospace too announced that it has signed an MoU with HAL to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These state-of-the-art jet engines, known for their endurance and durability, will enhance the capacity of the IAF. India tried in vain for 40 years under successive Congress regimes to develop the semiconductor industry but this is the first time a major semiconductor player  Micron  is coming to the country, thanks to the vision of PM Modi.

Microns plant in India will be ready by late 2024. China in May this year said Micron had failed a security review and barred operators of key domestic Chinese infrastructure from purchasing products from the United States biggest memory chipmaker, angering the Biden administration. The US Commerce Department declined to comment but export controls levied in October 2022 against China by the Biden regime clearly show that all is not well between the US and China. Both the Americans and the Chinese are engaged in a bitter confrontation but the US clearly has an upper hand given Chinas lack of any major innovation in the semiconductor space. In fact, the investment by Micron into India couldnt have come at a better time.

Semiconductor manufacturing is a very complex and technology-intensive sector with huge capital investments, high risk, long gestation and payback periods, and rapid changes in technology which require significant and sustained investments. Indias past efforts under the Congress regime did not succeed due to the unwillingness to recognise the complexities involved. Earlier attempts were made to directly set up fabs in the absence of a comprehensive programme. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, however, a comprehensive semiconductor program has been formulated to provide a uniform incentive of 50 percent to support design, manufacturing and packaging. This program also supports R&D, talent and capacity building.

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT), which is also referred to as assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) units, is the next step in the semiconductor value chain after semiconductor fabrication. Investing in advanced ATMP capabilities after having a reasonable scale of electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) is a natural progression towards accelerating the governments efforts to set up semiconductor fabs in India.

Success in Semiconductor products require

Design competency

Access to technology

Low cost of manufacturing and assured off-take

Financial muscle to sustain down cycle

Setting up an ATMP facility by Micron is therefore a big milestone and will mark Indias global presence in the semiconductor industry. It will integrate India with the global supply chains, and also help in vertically integrating back into fabs. Micron will bring its existing mature stable supply chains to India or they may be substituted with some domestic equivalent when it reaches the required threshold quality and the standard levels that are necessary.

Dont forget, Micron is an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) which reduces risks associated with the project significantly. The success of the first few facilities will go a long way in catalysing Indias semiconductor ecosystem.

Modi government has approved Microns proposal to invest Rs 22,516 crore with fiscal support of 50 percent of the actual capital expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs 11,258 crore. Micron will use its latest technologies, such as wire bonding, post-fab wafer finish and direct chip attach for manufacturing DDR4/5/6, SDRAM packages and memory modules, NAND Flash and SSDs. For semiconductor facilities like fab/packaging, technology changes every year and requires new investments, which Micron will bring of their own volition, to remain relevant in the sector.

In the absence of the required ecosystem of speciality chemicals/gasses/materials, equipment support etc, the first set of companies usually face disadvantages; therefore they need more support to offset the cost of bringing in the required ecosystem, including supply chain partners. Hence, the Congress rabble-rousers including the likes of Jairam Ramesh who have been calling the Micron deal a sell-out by India need to educate themselves before opposing the deal, only for the sake of stirring political noise. The investment will create 20,000 direct and indirect job opportunities in 5 years, besides creating a massive ecosystem which will help in generating several lakh jobs going forward and make India a hub for sourcing skilled manpower.

Currently, India imports memory products worth $11 billion annually. Therefore, it is important to become Atmanirbhar in this critical strategic sector. The Project Pioneer will reduce dependence on imports and also lead to exports. Microns products are used in mobiles, laptops, tablets, servers, automobiles, refrigerators, toasters, communications, consumer electronics, etc. The presence of a global semiconductor company like Micron will therefore give confidence to other global semiconductor companies of Indias readiness. Despite having established semiconductor ecosystems, countries like the US, EU, Japan, Korea and China are providing significant incentives to attract investments. Thus, higher incentive is required by India to attract investment from global players and therefore, the Micron deal by the Modi government will be a game changer for Indias semiconductor foray on a global scale.

Modi government is also planning inter-governmental talks to seek commitments from other nations to procure made-in-India semiconductor chips. This move comes even as the government is looking to secure consumers for India-fabricated semiconductor chips. The plan is to talk to developing countries which have more demand for legacy node semiconductor chips which also cost less to manufacture. Noting that demand in the semiconductor industry is cyclical, a new entrant to the supply side will have to offer some attractive terms to buyers and that is precisely what the government is doing. To receive government approval to set up a semiconductor fabrication in India, companies should either own a fabrication unit for semiconductor chips in the 65-28 nanometre range or possess the production-grade licensed technologies to make 28nm chips. They must also provide visibility into advanced node technologies through licensing or development.

The Indian Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (ISMC) announced an investment of Rs 22,900 crore ($3 billion) in a 65nm Analog Semiconductor Fabrication plant in Karnataka. In December 2021, the IT Ministry had unveiled the semiconductor fabrication incentive plan as a part of which the Modi government would make large, upfront investments, with 50 percent fiscal support, to back the semiconductor wafer fab proposals by various corporate entities. In some cases, the governmental capital support could scale 70 percent after including the SOPs by the states as well, making it a one-of-kind push by the government to seed a semiconductor-friendly ecosystem in India. Last year, the IT Ministry had revised the terms of the semiconductor manufacturing programme to offer a flat 50 percent incentive to all applicants, irrespective of the investment or the size of the chip they planned to manufacture.

The Foxconn Controversy

Let us now look at the Foxconn controversy, yet again a manufactured controversy with no credibility, by a discredited Rahul Gandhi and an equally tainted Congress party. First, let it be known that both Foxconn and Vedanta are committed to Indias semiconductor mission and the Make In India program, but have parted ways for their own internal reasons. It is quite normal for potential business partners to part ways, this happens all the time across geographies. Their decision to work in India with other local and global partners means they continue to be serious about their India plans. Bringing national champions into global electronics value chains is a key policy objective of PM Modis visionary production linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

For instance, the news about the Tata Group getting one step closer to manufacturing the iconic iPhone for global markets is a very positive development and will help grow the Indian EMS and supply chain/component ecosystem. The withdrawal of Foxconn from its JV with Vedanta changes nothing about Indias semiconductor goals. It allows both companies to independently pursue their strategies for Indian semiconductors and electronics. Foxconn had said that it is confident about the direction of Indias semiconductor development.

All the huffing and puffing by those in the Congress, who did nothing about Indias electronics and semiconductor capabilities whilst players from other countries grew in these last three decades, should not be lecturing the Modi government. Tremendous progress has been made in electronics manufacturing in the last nine years and rapid progress in the semiconductor space in the last 18 months under PM Modis aegis. In fact, both Foxconn and Vedanta have independently declared their commitment to Indias semiconductor program, but they will do so with other partners.

Foxconn has announced that they are preparing to apply for Silicon Fab and Display Fab. Similarly, Vedanta has also committed to reapplying with new partners. Foxconn is also in talks with Taiwans TSMC and Japans TMH group for technology and joint venture partnership to start semiconductor fabrication units in India.

Besides, other major semiconductor companies are seriously evaluating India as a semiconductor design and manufacturing hub. This is bad news for the Congress, which actively attempts to scuttle any new initiative India takes. It is now worried that Indias rise as a semiconductor manufacturing hub will further consolidate its position in the world as a credible player in the technology domain. Why does the Congress loathe a confident and self-reliant India?

Foxconn is the largest assembler of Apple iPhones in India. In FY23, out of $11bn worth of smartphone exports from India, exports by Apple alone were over $5bn, in which Foxconn, as the assembler for iPhones, played a key role. Overall electronics exports from India in FY23 were up 49 percent over FY22, at a record $25.3bn, underlining the resounding success of the Modi governments PLI scheme. Under the Congress regime, the above number was not even $2.5bn.

Tata Group, Indias largest conglomerate, is close to an agreement to acquire Wistrons Karnataka-based factory in August, marking it the first time a local company would move into the assembly of iPhones, according to people familiar with the matter. An Indian company making iPhones will prove to be a significant boost for PM Modis efforts to challenge Chinas status as the factory of the world. In fact, Chinas status on this count has already started receding.

Companies making and selling high-end devices, such as iPhone from the Apple stable and the Galaxy S and Note Series by Samsung, are among the big beneficiaries of the PLI scheme, as are some homegrown players like Lava, Karbonn, Micromax and Intex. With the demand for electronics hardware expected to rise rapidly to over $400 billion by 2025, India cannot afford to bear foreign exchange outgo on account of electronics imports. The decision by the likes of Apple, Foxconn and Micron to either expand or establish their India presence, therefore, could not have come at a better time. Make In India, based on access to market, capital and technology, is not just a slogan but a work ethic that is rapidly transforming Indias industrial landscape, driven among other things, by Prime Minister Narendra Modis unrelenting global outreach.

The author is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of The Modi Gambit". Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Defanging to de-risking global trade and currency deals for India is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved in his visit to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week. Agreements concluded during Prime Minister Modis visit not only make trade and currency deals more advantageous from the Indian perspective but also reflect the countrys growing confidence in shaping commercial partnerships across geographies. Otherwise, how would one explain taking United Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay to France or for that matter, the UAE?

In his West Asia sojourn, the UAE and Indias decision to denominate bilateral trade in rupees and dirhams is again a big departure from dollar or euro-centric transactions. This is over and above bringing the UPI and RuPay to Abu Dhabi.

Currency, transactions at the retail level on Indian digital platforms to large rupee-denominated trade deals have been described by some analysts as the de-dollarization of the Indian economy. But, Indias latest thrust on the currency and trade front is more to do with its growing economic and investment muscle and acceptability rather than moving away from the US greenback or euro.

Indians visiting the Eiffel Tower in France by purchasing tickets in rupees may be a simpler way of presenting the implications of the latest agreements for hoi polloi. The deal involving Lyra of France and National Payments Corporation of India to become operative in September this year would mean much more than paying for tickets at tourist spots in rupees. The wider and willing acceptance of the Indian rupee in Europe is due to financial innovation making the Indian digital payments platform UPI secure and affordable across continents. The decision to link UPI with UAEs Instant Payment Platform (IPP) makes the countrys digital payments foray wider and deeper in West Asia.

In fact, the deal between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the UAEs Central Bank allows for RuPay switch and the UAE switch interoperable. Indias structured financial messaging system (SFMS) will go to the UAE, thereby instantly recognizing Indian debit and credit cards.

The larger implication is that holding the Indian rupee by central banks and dealers, globally by value and quantity, will go up many-fold in a few years from now. Also, the internationalization of the Indian rupee is on the verge of becoming a hard reality. Rupee-denominated export and import of goods and services internationally will make the Indian currency more tradable, given the large ticket size of these transactions.

France and the UAE are not isolated cases in accepting rupee-denominated trade deals, UPI, RuPay or Rupee Switch. Singapores PayNow had done a deal with NPCI to embark on the UPI platform. It moved the Indian digital payments platform to South East Asia one step further.

In May this year, India and Russia had announced making payments easier through RuPay and Mir cards in both countries. UPI of India and Bank of Russias Faster Payments System are being linked to making seamless real-time transactions in rupees and roubles a reality, apart from dealing with financial messaging systems.

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), businessmen, tourists and students in ten countries including Australia, Canada, the US, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom among others could either receive or send money once their domestic bank accounts are linked to their international phone numbers.

As per independent consultancy Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), one billion rupee-denominated transactions per day are estimated to happen in the next two years through UPI and RuPay network. Already, over 73 percent of non-cash transactions in India have gone digital on UPI.

Over 18 countries have either opened or are in the process of opening Vostro accounts to settle trade deals in rupees or their respective local currencies moving away from the US dollar, euro, UK pound or any major international currency. The latest to join this jamboree is Indonesia whose finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, firmly stated in Gandhinagar that bilateral trade will happen in rupees and rupiah. Bangladesh went one step further and began trade settlements in Indian rupees. This was limited to the US dollar till last week.

Indias trade, valued at US $1.6 trillion in the last year, seems to have shaped the countrys strategy on cross-border currency deals and rupee transactions. Indian strategy of gaining acceptability for the rupee is, however, distinctly different from Chinas wolf worrier investment and loans strategy to gain dominance.

Significant progress made by India on the rupees acceptability and trade transactions cannot however sidestep the challenges in making it part of the reserve currency basket. The current strategy adopted by the RBI and the Indian government has the potential to deliver, notwithstanding its limitations. Unless the rupee is increasingly used in current account transactions like investments and capital flows, internationalising the currency may hit a wall.

Secondly, as the RBI working group recommended, the rupee must get included in the Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies maintained by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to hold its assets. Recalibration of Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) may have to be considered for hastening the path to internationalizing the rupee.

There has been serious discussion amongst BRICS countries to settle trade-related transactions within the group in local currencies. A conscious decision on the use of member countries currencies to square off trade deals would translate to the democratization of the economic world order.

For the stakeholders, a reduction in transaction costs limiting the foreign exchange risks and more safeguards to the trade deals will be accrued, apart from huge optimization in capital costs.

India, accounting for a modest two percent of global trade in value terms, limits the internationalization of the rupee. Similarly, there may be little to modest enthusiasm to denominate Indian debt globally in rupee terms instead of dollars.

Internationalizing the rupee and turning it into a currency in reserve is a long-haul project for which a firm foundation has been laid by the Modi government.

The author is Director & Chief Executive of non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Drought Assessment Committee will convene July 25 to discuss a comprehensive state and federal response to the drought affecting various portions of the state. It will be the committees second meeting since Gov. Mike Parson issued a drought alert on May 31 with Executive Order 23-05.

The Drought Assessment Committee will meet 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, July 25, at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 North Riverside Dr. in Jefferson City. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed via Webex at stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=ma6a8f98f4766df57acfaf3f09d31f157.

In June, in response to worsening drought conditions and upon the advice of the Missouri Drought Assessment Committee, Parson announced the availability and process for Missouri family farms to obtain emergency hay and water:

Boat ramps at 24 Missouri state parks are open for farmers to collect water with almost 700 acres available for haying at 17 state parks.

Boat ramps at 36 Missouri Department of Conservation areas are also now open for water collection.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is offering special overwidth hauling permits at no charge to help farmers and ranchers move hay.

The Drought Assessment Committee is composed of representatives from state and federal partner agencies who provide information, recommendations and coordination to mitigate impacts of the drought. Executive Order 23-05 declared a drought alert for Missouri counties that are in moderate, severe or extreme drought.

Residents are encouraged to assist local, state and national decision makers better understand drought conditions in their area by submitting a survey form via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) service at droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx.

Updated drought information, including a link to the national drought conditions reporting survey and a U.S. Drought Monitor map of Missouri, and much more is available at dnr.mo.gov/drought.
On the eve of the opposition meet in Bengaluru and the monsoon session of the Maharashtra assembly, ten top leaders of the NCP arrived unannounced at Sharad Pawars office on Sunday afternoon, catching everyone by surprise. Among them were Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel.

The meeting sparked speculation in Maharashtra politics, since it occurred just days after Ajit Pawar declared himself the national president of the NCP, instead of Sharad Pawar.

We sought his blessings and asked for his guidance to keep the party united, but he did not say anything," Praful Patel told the media immediately after the meeting.

We didnt have any idea that this would happen. All nine ministers and Prafulbhai were in a meeting at Devgiri (Ajit Pawars bungalow). They suddenly got up and left in three cars, leaving behind their security and staff," an NCP leader who was present at the bungalow said.

Sources present at the meeting revealed that the ministers apologised to Sharad Pawar, without specifying any reason for the alleged apology. However, Pawar remained silent throughout the interaction.

ALSO READ: We Met Our God: Ajit and Camps Surprise Meet with Sharad Pawar for First Time After Revolt

Now that even surveys show public support is behind Sharad Pawar, they are scared. They want to create confusion in peoples minds. This is a desperate attempt, but it will not succeed. It was gracious of Pawar saaheb to agree to meet them, but he didnt utter a word," sources close to Sharad Pawar said. They further claimed that it could also be an attempt to sow discord regarding opposition unity.

The opposition meeting is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto in a tweet said, Breakaway NCP group suddenly remembered Sharad Pawar Saheb after witnessing the overwhelming support he is receiving from people of Maharashtra. Todays visit was a failed attempt to show people that theyre still in touch. These optics cannot alter the undeniable truth."

Later, he told reporters, We are unaware of what was discussed in the meeting. Sharad Pawar always meets with everyone They (Ajit Pawar faction ministers) now feel that what they did was wrong and the public does not approve of it, so they are attempting to show that they are still with Sharad Pawar Nothing can change now. What they did was wrong."

Even though there were no answers as to why Sharad Pawar did not decline to meet the unannounced visitors, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase in a tweet stated: Those who came down on their knees in front of Pawar saaheb today, are the same people who had told Election Commission on June 30 that he isnt the National president. Maharashtra will never forget this."

There was no tweet or statement from Sharad Pawar regarding the visit.

Meanwhile, the monsoon session of the Maharashtra assembly is set to begin on July 17. There is still no clarity regarding the seating arrangement, even as the Sharad Pawar group asserted today that they enjoy the support of 19-20 MLAs.
The monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature adjourned for the day amidst strong protests by the opposition on the opening day. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies staged a protest and raised slogans against the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP (breakaway faction) outside the Vidhan Bhavan as the session started.

This is the first legislative session after the entry of NCP led by former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ajit Pawar in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP government.

The three-week-long session will be held from July 17 to August 4 at the Vidhan Bhavan Complex in Nariman Point.

According to an ANI report, there are a total of 24 proposed bills in the monsoon session. Of these, 10 have received the nod from the Cabinet and 14 are awaiting approval.

Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session Latest Updates

The NCP MLAs received two contrasting instructions for seating in the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly. While rebel leader Ajit Pawar issued a whip asking the MLAs to sit with the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, Sharad Pawar-led NCPs chief whip Jitendra Awhad asked the legislators to sit on the opposition benches.

According to a PTI report, Chief whip of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) Jitendra Awhad also wrote to the Maharashtra Assembly speaker seeking separate sitting arrangements for members of the Ajit Pawar camp and the rest of MLAs of the party for the monsoon session.

Ahead of the commencement of the monsoon session, Maharashtra Congress MLAs on Sunday staged a protest outside the Maharashtra Assembly. NCP MLAs belonging to the Sharad Pawar faction were not part of the protest. The MLAs, led by former minister Yashomati Thakur and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, gathered on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan and raised slogans against the current government.



#WATCH | Mumbai | MLAs of MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) protest outside the Maharashtra Assembly against the State Government, over various issues. pic.twitter.com/H2b4v360AA ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023
A day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the rebels once again on Monday held a meeting with the party patriarch in which he listened carefully but did not say anything."

Senior party leader Praful Patel, who rebelled with Ajit Pawar to join the ruling BJP in Maharashtra said that the meeting with Sharad Pawar was to convince him to keep NCP united.

Today, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and I met Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre. We again requested him to keep NCP united, and he listened to us but did not say anything on it," Patel told reporters.

Patel also informed that he along with Ajit Pawar will be going to Delhi to attend the mega meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) where nearly 30 parties are expected to reaffirm their support for BJP.

Ajit Pawar and I will be present at the NDA meeting in Delhi tomorrow," he said.

Ajit Pawars surprise visit on Sunday

This comes a day after Pawar made a surprise visit to Sharad Pawar along with his Groups Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, Aditi Tatkare, Hasan Mashrif and others.

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.

NDA meet on Tuesday

A day after 26 opposition parties met in Bengaluru, the BJP is organisaing a mega meet in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The NDA meeting will be chaired by BJP President JP Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several new allies of the BJP, such as Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, various smaller parties from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and regional parties from northeastern states, are anticipated to participate in the NDA meeting.

This marks the first instance during the second term of the Modi government that an NDA meeting of this magnitude is being held, following the departure of several longstanding and significant BJP allies. Alliances with Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Janata Dal (United) have been severed due to a range of contentious issues.
There was a rerun of Sundays drama in Maharashtra on Monday. Over 22 MLAs of the breakaway Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, reached YB Chavan Centre, Sharad Pawars office, unannounced, on Monday afternoon. They had suddenly left from the Vidhan Bhavan, where the first day of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra assembly was underway. They waited patiently for Sharad Pawar to reach his office, then waited for Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil to arrive at YB Chavan Centre.

As they met their supreme leader, they touched his feet and then fell at his feet. Almost all of those MLAs fell at his feet, and asked him for a solution," an NCP leader present at the meeting told CNN-News18 on the condition of anonymity. Saaheb said there was no going back on the ideological position he had taken."

What prompted these MLAs to meet Sharad Pawar?

It was just on Sunday that nine NCP breakaway MLAs, accompanied by MP Praful Patel, had met Sharad Pawar at his office, unannounced, seeking his blessings. Soon after the short meeting, Patel had told reporters that they had all come to seek his blessings and his guidance to keep the party together. He didnt say anything, Patel had said. But as these 10 leaders went back, they faced the ire of the other MLAs, sources in NCP told CNN-News18.

There was almost a tiff over the issue. The MLAs told Ajit Pawar that while the 10 of them had taken the decision and had even been sworn in as cabinet ministers, the other MLAs were having to bear the ire of the people. These legislators said, You went and sought his blessings. But what about us? We are not ministers. We have come with you. And we are facing our people back home. How could you go alone to meet Saheb? We want to go too." It was due to this insistence that Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel decided to bring them all to meet Sharad Pawar, a leader present at the meeting said.

Yet another failed attempt by the breakaway NCP group to show the people of Maharashtra that they can pacify Sharad Pawar Saheb. It will not make any difference because a lot of water has flown under the bridge of trust. What this group has done cannot be rectified now, tweeted Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson of NCP, after the meeting.

It is notable that Sharad Pawar has not yet uttered a single word about the two meetings.

What is also interesting is the fact that 25 plus NCP MLAs were absent from the Maharashtra assembly on the first day of the monsoon session, even as both sides had issued whips.

The chief whip of the Sharad Pawar group, Jitendra Awhad, was himself absent from the House on Monday.
As key opposition meeting begins in Bengaluru, BJP President JP Nadda on Monday began groundwork to conduct a big show of strength by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

According to the BJP Chief, 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting.

He also slammed the opposition leaders unity efforts as a selfish" exercise to protect themselves from action in cases of corruption of over Rs 20 lakh crore.

The Big NDA Meet To Be Led by BJP

The NDA meeting will be held in Delhi on Tuesday evening, while the two-day meeting of 26 opposition parties got underway in Bengaluru on Monday evening.

Nadda also said that the NDA is moving forward with the ideology of national interest and peoples welfare by taking along all sections of society.

Parties Likely To Attend NDA Meeting

Key ally parties to attend the NDA meeting include AIADMK, Tamil Manila Congress in Tamil Nadu, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP in Maharashtra.

Lok Janshakti Party, NPP (National Peoples Party Meghalaya), NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party), SKM (Sikkim Krantikari Morcha), MNF (Mizo National Front), ITFT (Tripura), BPP (Bodo Peoples party) and AGP (Asom Gana Parishad are also on the list.

New Entrants in NDA

Upendra Singh Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party and Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustani Awam Morcha are likely to join NDA ahead of the big meet.

NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party of Om Prakash Rajbhar, Pawan Kalyans Jansena and the faction of Kerala Congress led by Kerala Congress (Thomas) have joined NDA ahead of the meeting.

Chirag Paswan Agrees To Join NDA

After attempts by Nadda to recover an alliance with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), party leader Chirag Paswan on Monday announced that he was returning to the NDA.

Paswan had been in talks with the BJP for finalising his partys share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for 2024 and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise.

Are Former Allies Returning To NDA?

On being asked whether the BJPs former allies such as the Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam Party will return to the NDA, BJP chief Nadda said it is up to them and claimed that the decision to leave the alliance with his party was theirs and the party never asked them to go.
The Opposition parties are all set to meet in Karnatakas Bengaluru today and tomorrow to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The invites for the meeting  conveyed by Congress  were sent out by the partys president Mallikarjun Kharge. He invited all the major as well as smaller parties to attend the meet and put up a united front against the BJP.

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the meeting.

This is the second Opposition meeting since the first one was held in Patna on June 23 this year. The meeting was attended by 15 parties in total.

Track Latest Updates

Leaders on Opposition Meeting at Bengaluru

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Monday spoke on opposition leaders dinner meeting in Bengaluru. Meeting has gone well as expected by the country," he said.

#WATCH | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar speaks on opposition leaders' dinner meeting in Bengaluru, says, "Meeting has gone well as expected by the country." pic.twitter.com/R3XPBAWwIE ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

The meeting started with a good signal and it would be the end of BJP in 2024, said Congress leader BK Hariprasad at an opposition leaders dinner meeting in Bengaluru.

#WATCH | The meeting started with a good signal and it would be the end of BJP in 2024, says Congress leader BK Hariprasad on opposition leaders' dinner meeting in Bengaluru.On being asked about the NDA meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow in Delhi, he says, "That would be pic.twitter.com/erdDOYGqvw  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

On being asked about the NDA meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow in Delhi, he says, That would be National Disaster Alliance".

Opposition Meeting To Begin with Kharges Address

The two-day Opposition Meet in Bengaluru will begin on Monday with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges address. Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the meeting.

Delhi CM Kejriwal, Uddhav and Aditya Thackeray Arrive in Bengaluru

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann arrived in Bengaluru.

#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP MP Sanjay Singh arrive in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting. pic.twitter.com/5ONrWltN9Y ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

His arrival was followed by Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on Monday arrived in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting.

#WATCH | Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren arrives in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting. pic.twitter.com/pgTmmSZvFl ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray along with his son Aaditya Thackeray arrived in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting.

#WATCH | Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with Aaditya Thackeray arrives in Bengaluru for the joint Opposition meeting. pic.twitter.com/GssjUs97MA ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

BJP Takes On Arvind Kejriwal For Attending Opposition Meet

Arvind Kejriwal has not done anything except levelling allegations on others, while he remains missing in action in Delhi. Today, when Delhi is facing rising Yamuna once again, he is in Bengaluru vacationing and doing politics," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Kejriwal attending the opposition meeting.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee Arrive in Bengaluru

Congress veterans Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with Party President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived at Bengaluru ahead of the joint Opposition meeting. He was received by Karnataka CM Siddharamaiah.

West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and party MP Abhishek Banerjee arrived in Bengaluru for the two-day joint Opposition meeting. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar received them.

West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and party MP Abhishek Banerjee arrived in Bengaluru for the two-day joint Opposition meeting. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar received them. (Pics: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee) pic.twitter.com/3VXQG45kCc  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

ED Raid On Ponmudy, A Political Vendetta: KC Venugopal, Kharge

Both the Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and party President Mallikarjun Kharge have condemned the ED raid on Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Ponmudy. They have said that this raid just before the opposition meeting, is a move under vendetta politics by BJP.

Kharge tweeted that all like-minded parties are united against BJPs vendetta politics.

Talking about the agenda of the opposition party, Venugopal said, All these subjects are a matter of debateWe will soon take a decision on it that whether a new name should come up or notOther parties outside UPA have also attended this meetingWe are working on it."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut Says Discuss EVM Machines, Seat Sharing

The Uddhav Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut has said that they will discuss many things in the meeting including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, and the name of the front.

#WATCH | " There will be discussion on many things including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, what will be the name of the front", says Uddhav Thackeray Faction MP Sanjay Raut on #OppositionMeeting pic.twitter.com/845MavnkK8 ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

HD Kumaraswamy Says JDS Has Not Received Any Invites

Ahead of the Opposition meeting today, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy says that he has not gotten any invites either for the opposition or the NDA alliance. Opposition has never considered JDS a part of them," HDK added.

He called any talks of JDS joining NDA premature, adding that, the JDS wants to focus on strengthening the party

Preparations Take Place Ahead of The Opposition Meeting Today

Visuals show that a hoarding of leaders attending the Opposition meeting today has been put up along the streets of Bengaluru.

The two-day brainstorming session to set and strategize a plan of action against the BJP will begin today.

VIDEO | Hoardings of opposition leaders put up along the streets of Bengaluru ahead of the second mega opposition meeting, scheduled to be held later today.Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session, where they are likely to pic.twitter.com/jXIgCRk8EX  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2023

NCP Leader Sharad Pawar to Attend Meeting on July 18

It is confirmed that NCP leader Sharad Pawar and the partys working president Supriya Sule will be attending the Opposition meeting on its second day, July 18.

NCP Leader Sharad Pawar to Skip The Meet

Maharashtras former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar will skip the opposition meeting. He will be meeting party MLAs in Mumbai.

Previously, the split in Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and his nephew Ajit Pawars switch to the Eknath Shinde-BJP coalition in Maharashtra, was a major development around the issue.

However, parties like TMC and the Congress have shown their support for Sharad Pawar and have said that the oppositions unity has been further strengthened.

Such Meetings Have No Political Meaning: BJP Leader Basavaraj Bommai

Ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai has said that such meetings have no political meeting, adding that any number of meetings might happen but they will have no impact.

Bommai said that the only reason for the Opposition to unite is to defeat PM Modi and the BJP. He attributed the nations swift economic recovery after Covid-19 to PM Modi, adding that, this has led to the Prime Minister receiving international recognition.

Sonia Gandhi to Attend the Meet

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend a dinner meeting on July 17. She might also attend the more formal meeting on the second day, with in detail strategizing plans.

AAP to Attend The Opposition Meet in Bengaluru

AAP was the latest party to confirm its presence on Sunday. This move comes after Congress backed Kejriwal against the Delhi Ordinance. Gaining the support of key parties, including Congress, was a big boost for Kejriwal.

Considering the fulfilment of its key demand, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party arrived at this decision after holding a crucial meeting of its political affairs committee (PAC) on Sunday.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who is also a member of the PAC, told the media, 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 the 17th and 18th."

Who All Can Be Seen Attending The Meet

Other than AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut will also be in attendance at the meeting.

This is a crucial meeting," Raut said, reporting.

Rahul Gandhi is also expected to attend the meeting in Bengaluru.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will also participate in the meeting.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav confirmed his presence at the meeting as well.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, will also travel to Bengaluru for the Opposition meeting.

Eight New Parties Will Be in Attendance

Eight other parties, who were not a part of the first meeting in Patna, will also participate in the deliberations against BJP.

These parties are; 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).

The First Opposition Meeting in Patna

The first meeting, attended by 15 parties, was hosted by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. All the participating parties had agreed to fight the Lok Sabha polls together.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among the top leaders attending the meeting.

(with PTI inputs)
Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for standing with the people of Delhi" over the ordinance issue.

Thank u Kharge ji for standing with the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail," Kejriwal said in a tweet. The Delhi CM has left for Bengaluru to attend the second mega meeting of the opposition parties to be held on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

On asked about the Congress partys stand on AAP in Delhi and Punjab, Kharge said, This is not about just one person. If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save democracy & Constitution. No individual is bigger than the country."

#WATCH | On Congress stand to oppose the Delhi Ordinance, partys national president Mallikarjun Kharge says, This is not about just one person. If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save pic.twitter.com/4NKBrWpJSR ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

Following a meeting of the AAPs political affairs committee (PAC) at Kejriwals residence, party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the Congresss decision to oppose the Centres ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Partys political affairs committee met today and held an extensive discussion. On the party national convenor Arvind Kejriwals call, TMC, RJD, JD(U), DMK, BRS, NCP, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI, CPI(M), JMM  all these parties raised their voice against the black ordinance and assured of their support in defeating (the bill on it) in Parliament," he said.

Congress extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the Delhi ordinance issue a day before the big opposition meeting.

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 said on Sunday.

The Congress partys 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 criticized the Grand Old Party for not supporting the Delhi government over the ordinance issue.
The opposition is doing great disservice to the people of this country by not allowing MPs to reply in Parliament, said BJPs Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao at the CNN-News18 Townhall in Delhi on Monday. The focus of the discussion also featuring MPs Sushmita Dev, Sonal Mansingh, and Ritesh Pandey was on the unruly behaviour of lawmakers in Parliament.

It is unfortunate that so many important bills do not get passed due to disruptions, said renowned Indian classical dancer and Presidents nominated Rajya Sabha member Sonal Mansingh.

Culture is not getting space to be discussed in Parliament, she added.

"Because of disruptions the entire day's proceedings are getting wiped out. Opposition is doing a great disservice to people of this country by not allowing Ministers to reply": BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao (@GVLNRAO)#CNNNews18Townhall #Parliament #ParliamentSession #India #Politics pic.twitter.com/VXUgtLveWf News18 (@CNNnews18) July 17, 2023

The new Parliament's well is made in such a way that the cameras can't capture the ones who will be there: #BSP MP @mpriteshpandey Culture is not getting space to be discussed in the Parliament: RS MP @sonal_mansingh #CNNNews18TownHall | @ShivaniGupta_5 pic.twitter.com/1FDH5Nj4Ei  News18 (@CNNnews18) July 17, 2023

The unruly behaviour of the opposition has made it impossible for Parliament to function, Rao alleged.

Responding to the issue, Trinamool Congresss Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev said that in the previous Parliament session, BJP ministers disrupted proceedings throughout by saying Rahul Gandhi maafi maango.

There is undeclared emergency in the country, she added.

Bahujan Samaj Partys Lok Sabha MP Ritesh Pandey pointed out that the new Parliaments well is made in such a way that the cameras cant capture those who will be there.

Opposition does come out with the mood of the nation: BSP MP Ritesh Pandey (@mpriteshpandey) on Parliamentarians' unruly behavior The opposition is doing great disservice to the people of this country by not allowing MPs to reply: @GVLNRAO #CNNNews18TownHall | @ShivaniGupta_5 pic.twitter.com/4ssHGrQxJB News18 (@CNNnews18) July 17, 2023

Congress has to fight where they are strong & other parties have to fight in their bastions: TMC MP @SushmitaDevAITC on opposition's unity We will ensure that nobody in opposition again gets a opposition status: BJP MP @GVLNRAO #CNNNews18TownHall | @ShivaniGupta_5 pic.twitter.com/XLZI10yC9e  News18 (@CNNnews18) July 17, 2023

Opposition comes out with the mood of the nation, he added.

On the issue of opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Dev said the Congress has to fight where it is strong and other parties have to fight in their bastions.

We will ensure that nobody in opposition again gets an opposition status, said Rao.

He added on a lighter note that the only thing which was discussed in detail in the previous Parliament session was the popular song Naatu Naatu from the film RRR.
The United Nations Security Council will hold its first formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) this week in New York, with Britain to call for an international dialogue about its impact on global peace and security.

Governments around the world are considering how to mitigate the dangers of emerging AI technology, which could reshape the global economy and change the international security landscape.

Britain holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month and has been seeking a global leadership role in AI regulation.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will chair the discussion on Tuesday.

In June, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Generative AI technology that can spin authoritative prose from text prompts has captivated the public since ChatGPT launched six months ago and became the fastest growing app of all time. AI has also become a focus of concern over its ability to create deepfake pictures and other misinformation.

Alarm bells over the latest form of artificial intelligence  generative AI  are deafening. And they are loudest from the developers who designed it," Guterres had said to reporters. We must take those warnings seriously."

He also announced plans to start work by the end of the year on a high-level AI advisory body to regularly review AI governance arrangements and offer recommendations on how they can align with human rights, the rule of law and common good.
Dr Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the surface of the moon, is celebrating the 54th anniversary of the Apollo 11 space mission that first landed humans on the Earths natural satellite. The 93-year-old retired astronaut served as the Lunar Module Eagle pilot during the mission. Apollo 11 was launched outside Earths gravitational pull by a Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969. Now, 54 years later Buzz Aldrin has commemorated the special occasion on a delicious note. His celebratory meal included steak and eggs which he claims to have devoured in style. The former astronaut also shared a photograph of the moment via Twitter, wherein he appears smiling with immense joy.

Donning three watches, Buzz Aldrin holds a fork in his hand to pose right before he consumed the delicious meal with sides of avocado. Apollo 11 launch day, 54th anniversary. Steak and eggs today celebrating in style at home with my Anca," he tweeted.

Take a look at the photo here:

#Apollo11 launch day, 54th anniversary. Steak and eggs today celebrating in style at home with my Anca. pic.twitter.com/x9uqCZa6SO Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 16, 2023

For the 93-year-old it just feels like yesterday that his team passionately embarked on an extraordinary mission. In a subsequent tweet, he expressed, 54 years ago today, Apollo 11 launchedEagle soaring from Earth atop the Saturn V, bound for the Moon. It seems like only yesterday that we embarked on the mission of a lifetime  a mission for all mankind, a mission I hope will continue to inspire well into our future."

54 years ago today, #Apollo11 launchedEagle soaring from Earth atop the Saturn V, bound for the Moon. It seems like only yesterday that we embarked on the mission of a lifetime  a mission for all mankind, a mission I hope will continue to inspire well into our future. pic.twitter.com/1Qw1CWhfaK Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) July 16, 2023

A barrage of social media users extended congratulatory remarks for Buzz Aldrin hailing him as a Legend" and Hero. Meanwhile, many perplexed users also wanted to know, Whats up with the three watches." But most of them wanted to just laud the former astronaut for his remarkable service to America. A user commented, Dr Buzz, hero cannot even begin to define what you have done for our country, in and out of uniform! I hope that someday, a starship is named after you, so your name will always be the young stars!"

Dr. Buzz, hero cannot even begin to define what you have done for our country, in and our of uniform! I hope that some day, a starship is named after you, so your name will always be young the stars!   Yes, it's THE RC from the NYC! (@Cruzfucius) July 17, 2023

Another added, Congratulations, Buzz, on the 54th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Launch.

Your crowning achievement took bravery and risks to make it happen. Thank you!

The steak and eggs look delicious!"

Congratulations, Buzz, on the 54th anniversary of #Apollo11Launch Your crowning achievement took bravery and risks to make it happen THANK YOU! The steak and eggs look delicious! @GoldShammah113 (@GoldShammah113) July 17, 2023

One more wrote, Congrats. There are not a lot of members in the I touched the Moon club. A well-earned steak and eggs. Live ya Life Dr Moonwalker."

Congrats. There's not a lot of members in the "I touched the moon" club. A well-earned steak and eggs. Live ya Life Dr. Moonwalker. PzzAzz (@PzzAzzWWE) July 16, 2023

On July 16, 1969, the American spaceship left with two others, Neil Armstrong, the commander of the mission and Michael Collins, who flew the Apollo 11 command module Columbia into lunar orbit but did not walk on the moon. Notably, Buzz Aldrin currently remains the only surviving member of the crew who participated in the trip as Neil Armstrong died in 2012, followed by the passing of Michael Collins in 2021.
SIKESTON  The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss updated plans to replace the Chester Bridge.

MoDOTs design-build contractor, Ames Construction, will construct a three-tower, cable-stayed bridge, just north of the existing structure. Completion is anticipated by the end of 2026.

The open-house style meeting will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Catalyst Center, 508 North Main St., Perryville, Missouri. The project team will be available to answer questions about the upcoming work.

There will be no formal presentation. Participants may attend the meeting at any time between 4 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

For those who are unable to attend the meeting in person, the information shared during the meeting will be available at www.modot.org/chesterbridge.

For additional information, please contact MoDOTs Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
There has been a lot of discussion centring around the issue of birth rate in Japan. If we go on like this, the country will disappear," Masako Mori once told Bloomberg. After this, several policies were devised to boost the birth rate. But who knew a simple lifestyle measure taken by a company would help combat something which nothing else could. It all started when Masahiro Okafuji became CEO of Itochu Corp in 2010. His main target was to improve productivity. As a result, he made sure that working in the office post 8pm would be banned. Also, he got rid of over-time shifts.

With a change in the working pattern, there was a change seen in many things. A decade later, the company did not only make a fivefold jump in profit per employee from 2010 to 2021 but it also helped double Japans birth rate. A report by Bloomberg states that, as a result of of Itochus management, more female employees took maternity leave, had kids and came back to work.

Also Read: Shocking Video Shows Huge Crowds Flocking on Railway Tracks Near Dudhsagar Falls in Goa

The company stood as a winner in reversing a birth rate trend that the government has been trying to battle since so long. While speaking to Bloomberg, Fumihiko Kobayashi, Itochus executive vice president, said, We set out to boost productivity but had no idea it would have an impact on the birth rate.

The spike in birth rate was noticed by Itochu board member Atsuko Muraki. He had also previously served as director of equal employment and child welfare at Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. She encouraged the company to make these numbers public last year. The aim was to send a social message that, for women, raising kids and having a career dont have to come at each others expense. Even though the company received mixed reactions, there was no changes made in the policy.

Yasuko Hassall Kobayashi, an associate professor of Asian studies at Ritsumeikan University, while speaking to Bloomberg said, The biggest reason for the birthrate drop is that people with low economic status dont have financial means to have a family or children. Itochu represents wealthy people in Japan. Employees and their partners are most likely to be high earners who can afford it."

Also Read: Google Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling: Search Engines Easter Eggs for Barbie Will Surprise You

Several changes were also inculcated after the Covid-19 pandemic. Employees had the freedom to work from home two days a week. The company, in another change, cut core office hours from eight to six. Meaning, people could log out as early as 3 pm. This helped many new mothers return to the company and serve the best of themselves for their career, while being able to manage everything back at home.
Delivering another classic, YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast promised to give the Twitter revenue of an entire month to whoever gets the most like comment on a post. The YouTuber is known for the bizarre challenges and extravagant videos that he makes. He has turned into the biggest YouTuber out there with these over the top videos involving generous donations and many philanthropic acts. Now, taking to Twitter, the YouTuber wrote, Whoever has the most liked reply to this in 48 hours gets all my Twitter revenue for the next month! and the internet went wild.

Also Read: Pakistan Lawyer Offers Citizenship By Investment in Country, Indians Call it Too Optimistic

Streamers including OhnePixel and YouTubers like Dolan Dark have also hopped in on the challenge.

Whoever has the most liked reply to this in 48 hours gets all my Twitter revenue for the next month! MrBeast (@MrBeast) July 14, 2023

If I win I will give 100% of the funds to pay for full-ride college scholarships for students that would otherwise have to take loans in order to attend. These would of course be called the Huberman Beast Scholarships, wrote Andrew D Huberman. Many Indians have also come forth and made certain pitches. One person mentioned, Will feed more stray dogs and other animals .

Here are a few responses:

Will feed more stray dogs and other animals Hit the like button  pic.twitter.com/fpePBjoYgH  Vidit Sharma (@TheViditsharma) July 14, 2023

If I win, I will donate all the money to Uttrakhand Himachal Pradesh Flood Relief Hit the like button  pic.twitter.com/Q6k2xBnvpe  Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) July 14, 2023

If i win then i will donate all money to Active fundraisersSo please like this tweet  https://t.co/T2p4tV6wbi pic.twitter.com/MQ0IsKiSjl  SAM (@ganeshmdoifode) July 15, 2023

Also Read: Jack Dorseys Reaction to Mark Zuckerbergs Follow Request on Threads Goes Viral

Earlier, during a candid conversation in March last year, MrBeast shared his experience of living with Crohns disease. He said, Im probably one of the least energetic people youll ever meet. I get tired very easily. I take a lot of naps and stuff like that." For those who dont know, Crohns is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) where an overactive immune system triggers inflammation in the digestive tract. Even though there is treatment for the disease, a cure for Crohns remains elusive.
A female passenger was pushed to take over the controls of a plane after the pilot onboard suffered a medical emergency. The aircraft crash landed on Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts, USA, on Saturday, July 15, as per New York Post. It is reported that the 79-year-old pilot of the plane suddenly passed out when the woman had to plunge into action to gain control. The terrifying moment occurred during the final leg of the ride that began from Westchester in New York to the Vineyard. Only two people were reportedly onboard the 2006 Piper Meridian when the incident occurred.

The passenger and the pilot hail from Connecticut but their identities remain to be anonymous. The female passenger is suggested to have landed the plane in a crash region at about 3:15 pm. The area located near the runway of the islands airport fell prey to harsh landing." The impact was so severe that it led to the aircrafts left wing breaking in half. Footage of the crash site has begun doing the rounds on Twitter. The visuals show police officers inspecting the area as multiple vehicles line up to offer assistance. The people onboard have reportedly survived the crash.

Watch the clip here:

Passenger crash lands plane at Marthas Vineyard Airport following pilots medical emergency https://t.co/Lk56BxsD5Q (via @TheMVTimes/: Jake Cleland) pic.twitter.com/hemShxQbL9 Mike Saccone (@mikesacconetv) July 16, 2023

The video of the crash site has taken aback multiple social media users but a few ended up lauding the womans effort. A user commented, For a passenger to land that is incredible glad everyone survived."

For a passenger to land that is incredible glad everyone survived Brandon (@Killab50828) July 16, 2023

Another added, Awesome job really."

AWESOME job really jim beatty (@j1beatty) July 16, 2023

According to the New York Post, the 79-year-old pilot was transported to a medical centre in Boston in a life-threatening condition. But it is yet unknown if the health crisis arose from the aftermath of the plane crash or the medical emergency he suffered just moments before the accident. Meanwhile, the female passenger was reportedly unharmed. She was moved to the Martha Vineyard Hospital for medical inspection and later released.

The accident is now being investigated by three agencies including the state police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Moreover, the details regarding the medical episode which caused the pilot to pass out and lose control have not been specified as of yet.
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 planets 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 3pm or 3:30pm, we simply cannot work."

The oil-rich UAE  host of this years 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 labourers hired cheaply from abroad. Many manual workers have a compulsory rest period in the hottest hours of the day.

Also read: Summer Solstice 2023: When is it, and What Causes the Longest Day of the Year?

Its 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 worlds 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 UAEs 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 Gulfs extreme heat and high humidity are a dangerous mix as 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 percent 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 UAEs capital Abu Dhabi, the number of 40C-plus (104F-plus) days will rise by 98 percent 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 labourer 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 criss-cross its cities carrying food and other packages.

Our profession is a difficult one," one of them, Mohammad Rajab, from Egypt, told AFP in a Dubai street that was vacant apart from other riders.

We always try to avoid the direct glare of the sun."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met his counterparts from Nepal and Bangladesh here and agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by the leaderships and exchanged views on regional issues. Jaishankar is here in the capital of Thailand and participated in the BIMSTEC retreat.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional grouping that comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. The seven countries are home to 1.73 billion people and have a combined gross domestic product of more than USD 4 trillion.

Good meeting with Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. Agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by our leaderships. Look forward to remaining in touch, Jaishankar tweeted along with pictures. The minister also met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen.

Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul MomenDiscussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues. pic.twitter.com/jNCsGSev9T  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023

Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues, he tweeted.

Earlier, Jaishankar called on Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and conveyed the greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Honoured to call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with my colleagues from BIMSTEC countries. Conveyed greetings and good wishes of PM @narendramodi. Shared with him our commitment to further strengthen BIMSTEC, he tweeted.

Jaishankar also held a productive discussion with his counterparts from the BIMSTEC region and the leaders focused on strengthening resilience and coordination" among them with the common objective to enhance growth and promote prosperity.

Established in 1997, the BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation.

Bangladesh is set to be the new chair of the seven-nation grouping in December when India is scheduled to be its secretary general after the BIMSTEC summit to be held in Thailand on November 30.
China is criticizing an upcoming stopover in the United States by Taiwans vice president and presidential front-runner William Lai as a challenge to its territorial integrity, while Taiwan says its merely a transit stop.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary and prohibits its diplomatic partners  including the U.S.  from having formal ties with Taipei. While not recognizing Taiwan as a country, Washington maintains robust unofficial ties and has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself in case of an invasion.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said at a briefing in Beijing that China had lodged formal protests with the U.S. over Lais visit next month.

China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, spokeswoman Mao Ning said. We firmly reject Taiwan independence separatists visiting the U.S. under any name and for any reason, as well as any form of the U.S. connivance and support of the Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities.

China will closely monitor developments and take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, she added.

A senior U.S. administration official said such trips are hardly unusual  there have been 10 previous vice presidential visits in the last two decades, including one by Lai previously  and that the White House encouraged Beijing to avoid using it as a pretext for interference or escalation across the Taiwan Strait. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Lais upcoming travel.

The criticism comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Beijing to restore lines of communication broken after a Chinese spy balloon was discovered flying over the U.S. earlier this year, and as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks. The official said the U.S. sees no reason why Lais trip should impact the restoration of lines of communication between Washington and Beijing and described Lais travel as private and unofficial.

Lai is expected to stop in the U.S. as part of a trip to attend the inauguration of Paraguays new president, Santiago Pena, on Aug. 15. Taiwans presidential palace announced Monday that Lais delegation would arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14.

Taiwans leaders have traditionally stopped in the U.S. en route to visiting some of Taiwans remaining 13 diplomatic allies, a handful of which are countries in Latin America.

The Taiwanese delegations usually hold meetings with U.S. officials during these visits, angering Beijing.

China launched war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Lais upcoming U.S. trip is especially symbolic because he has topped most polls as a favorite to win the January presidential election.

China sees both Tsai and Lai as separatists and has refused to talk with them.

Taiwans presidential palace did not give details about Lais visit to the U.S., but Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui told reporters the trip would be planned according to precedent set by previous trips to South and Central America, for which transit stops in the U.S. were arranged.

He added the transit stops were meant to ensure comfort, convenience, safety and dignity.
The Chinese economy expanded 6.3% in the second quarter on a yearly basis, falling short of market expectations, data shared by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed.

Consumer confidence in China eroded due to sinking property prices and export demand was limp. A Reuters survey predicted China to grow by 7.3% but growth slowed to 0.8% only exceeding the expected growth rate of 0.5%.

The Chinese economy grew by 5.5% for the first six months.

The Chinese national bureau of statistics said that Chinas GDP in the April-June period was 6.3% larger.

The reports have sparked concern among economists and finance ministers with the Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers saying that the global economy is in a precarious position, according to a report by the Guardian.

The global economy is in a pretty precarious place right now. The Americans are proving to be resilient, the Chinese economy has shown some worrying signs, Europes in recession and others as well, Chalmers said.

The Guardian report pointed out that the trade sector in China suffered as it fell by 6% as Chinese exports dropped to just $280bn and imports also shrank by 2.6%.

These are important indicators because China is crucial for the supply of essential goods like electric vehicles to aircraft and renewable energy plants.

Youth Unemployment

China also recorded a new high in youth unemployment. The jobless rates of 16 to 24 year olds in urban areas rose to 21.3% in June.

There are now expectations that authorities will announce new measures to boost the economy, the BBC said in a separate report.

Retail sales and housing investment were particularly hit leading to the weak performance of the Chinese economy.

At least 11.58 million university graduates will enter the Chinese job market this year.

The rate of unemployment among the youth has been climbing for months now.

The BBC report said that this is due to the mismatch between what graduates were trained to do versus the kinds of jobs available in the market.

China has been publishing youth unemployment figures since 2018.
Russia said two people were killed following an attack on the Kerch bridge late Sunday night (local time). The Russians have blamed Ukraine for the attack.

Initially, authorities said that commute and movement on the bridge linking Crimea to Russia has been halted due to an emergency, without specifying the nature of the emergency.

A span of the bridge has collapsed due to the explosion leading to the death of two people.

#ULTIMAHORA #BREAKINGSe detiene el trafico en el puente de Crimea debido a una "emergencia"https://t.co/Q0xQGguZ90 RT en Espanol (@ActualidadRT) July 17, 2023

A child also sustained injuries in the attack.

Traffic has been stopped at the #CrimeanBridge due to "an emergency" situation, Russia-installed Crimea Governor Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Telegram on Monday. Ukrainian media reported that explosions had been heard on the bridge. pic.twitter.com/OfRBvkvPoY CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) July 17, 2023

The governor of Crimea Serhiy Aksyonov said there was an extraordinary event" which took place in the area near the 145th pillar of the bridge.

Given the current situation, I ask residents and guests of the peninsula to refrain from traveling through the Crimean bridge and, for security reasons, choose an alternative land route through new regions, Aksyonov wrote on his Telegram channel.

Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working. I spoke with the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Gennadyevich Savelyev, and measures are being taken to restore the situation. We keep in touch with colleagues from the Krasnodar region, he further added.

Russian media outlet Baza said one span of the bridge fell leading to the death of the two people. Traffic on the bridge has been rerouted and people who were en route to Krasnodar through the bridge were told to take the land routes instead.

Aksyonov further added that the deputy chairman of the council of ministers of the Republic of Crimea Igor Mikhailichenko has left for the scene.

The bridge links Russia to Crimea and serves as a vital link for transporting supplies to Russian soldiers in Ukraine. In October 2022 it was damaged by a truck bomb in an attack Moscow blamed on Ukraine.

Russia remains in control of Crimea after it annexed it in 2014 and held a referendum which Western nations and Ukraine regarded as a sham. Following the onset of the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, the Crimean peninsula has been struck several times allegedly by Ukrainians, often targeting Russian-installed officials.
Pakistans political establishment and the army are worried that the attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will most likely continue after the interim government in Afghanistan led by the Taliban said they did not sign the Doha Peace Agreement with Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told BBC Pashto earlier this week that the terrorist group did not sign the peace accord with Islamabad. The Doha Peace Agreement was an agreement between the US and the Taliban which addressed four issues, which were reducing violence, withdrawing foreign troops, starting intra-Afghan negotiations, and guaranteeing Afghanistan wont again become a refuge for terrorists, according to the think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

A fair interpretation of Kabuls statement. Irrespective of Afghanistans stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source. This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders. https://t.co/bsaQIsiTW1 Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) July 16, 2023

Mujahids statement to BBC Pashto came in response to Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asifs remarks where he alleged that the Taliban is not fulfilling its obligations under the deal.

Mujahid, however, also said Pakistan was a Muslim and brother country and denied that Afghanistans soil is now a safe haven for terrorists.

Pakistan, troubled by the increasing attacks led by the TTP, said that it was concerned that terrorists have found a safe haven in the neighbouring country.

The Pakistan Army threatened that it will take an effective response" two days after 12 of its soldiers died in a series of attacks.

(The army) has serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan, the Pakistan Army said.

A fair interpretation of Kabuls statement. Irrespective of Afghanistans stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source. This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders, Khawaja Asif said in a tweet on Sunday, commenting on the news.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Farhatullah Babar called the development disturbing.

At least 850 people have died all over Pakistan due to attacks launched by the TTP. The group revoked the ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022. After that the TTP carried out a deadly bomb blast at a mosque in Peshawar and in another major attack it targeted the police headquarters in Karachi.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in an open and forward-looking discussion among the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers in Bangkok on Monday. The meeting explored new facets and activities to enter fresh areas of cooperation between the leaders of the grouping. BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative that brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation.

The BIMSTEC leaders attending the retreat discussed ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation. After concluding a productive retreat in Bangkok, Jaishankar said that concerns about food, health and energy security were shared by the BIMSTEC leaders.

Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward looking discussion among colleagues. Focused on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities to enter new areas of cooperation. Food, health and energy security are common concerns," Jaishankar tweeted after the retreat.

Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward looking discussion among colleagues.Focused on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities pic.twitter.com/ZWKdZTAT0z  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023

Technology solutions can be subject for both collaboration and exchange of best practices. Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Agreed to meet more frequently to take these ideas further," Jaishankar tweeted after the retreat," he added.

This retreat is part of Jaishankars two-nation visit to Indonesia and Thailand. A day earlier, the external affairs minister participated in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism. MGC, one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region, is guided by Indias Act East Policy.

Co-chaired the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok today along with FM of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith. Prioritizing the implementation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.  Expedite the conclusion of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between pic.twitter.com/07egAiGz9O  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 16, 2023

Co-chairing the 12th MGC meeting in Bangkok along with Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith, Jaishankar prioritised the implementation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. He also focused on establishing an MGC Business Council to take forward economic cooperation.

In Jakarta last week, the external affairs minister attended Foreign Ministers Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format - ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, on July 13-14. He also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries.
CALEDONIAThe historic streets of Caledonia were alive with festivities as the Old Village Mercantile commemorated its 20th anniversary on Saturday morning. The joyous event marked a significant milestone for the Mercantile, a beloved local establishment that has been a symbol of nostalgia and community spirit for two decades.

In July 2003, Nina Gilliam acquired a building that already held significant local history, once operating as a general store. It had been abandoned for twenty years, leading to a state of disrepair that included a deteriorating roof, no heating, and an overall rundown appearance. Despite its dilapidated condition, it would later become the centerpiece of Caledonia.

Saturdays celebration began with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Farmington and Washington County chambers of commerce. Every contributor to the Mercantiles journey, from high school students to retired teachers, stood shoulder to shoulder with Gilliam and a host of local residents as the ribbon was cut and 20 years of smiles were kicked off.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Gilliam stood in front of the historic building and extended her thanks to everyone, present and absent, who played a part in the Mercantiles success.

I couldnt have asked for a better crew. Each person who has contributed to the Mercantile over the years has been the reason behind the many smiles weve created over the years, she said.

As the celebrations continued, the Mercantiles birthday cake made its appearance at the ice cream bar. The cake read, Congratulations on 20 Years, and had edible images of the Mercantiles original building and its present-day grandeur. Like magic, the cake gradually disappeared, slice by slice, as the Mercantile began to fill up with patrons.

In the communal building beside the Mercantile, children and adults gathered at the face painting station, where a professional artist worked her magic and added an extra layer of joy to the crowd with glittery face paints of cats, butterflies, and all kinds of shapes.

Outside, the spirit of generosity was in full swing, with the Mercantile offering the community free hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy. Much like the cake, they went quickly too, as the streets outside began to crowd with local and out-of-town visitors.

One patron at the ice cream bar, Melissa, talked about finding the Mercantile through much of its online and television presence. Being from St. Louis, she talked about seeing it on the Huckabee Show in 2021 when Caledonia was featured as part of the Our Kind of Town segment.

Farmington Chamber of Commerce Director Candy Hente said, Its like walking back in time when you come through the doors of the Mercantile.

Mandy Missey from the Washington County Chamber said, It really is a great place for the community. It brings in a lot of tourists and benefits the county greatly.

Inside, the Mercantile was buzzing with activity as the team served up the award-winning famous ice cream, smoothies, candy, coffee, fudge, and much more. With 20 years behind it and a bright future ahead, the people who operate and enjoy Old Village Mercantile continue to keep it a treasure to the local community, enriching lives, one smile at a time.

IN PHOTOS: 20 years of smiles at Old Village Mercantile Mercantile 10 Mercantile 8 Mercantile 9 Mercantile 6 Mercantile 7 Mercantile 5 Mercantile 1 Mercantile 2 Mercantile 3 Mercantile 4 Mercantile 20 Years 3 Mercantile 20 Years Mercantile 20 Years 2
The United States on Monday in a repatriation ceremony handed over 105 trafficked antiquities to India. The event was held at the India Consulate in New York.

The 105 artefacts that were included in the ceremony represent a wide geographical spread of Indian culture and historic significance. panning a period from 2nd-3rd century CE to 18th-19th century CE, the artefacts are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood, the press release said.

Around 50 of these artefacts are related to religious subjects (Hinduism, Jainism and Islam) while the rest are of huge cultural significance. The antiquities will soon be transported to India.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu expressed gratitude towards the US government, in particular Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit and the Homeland Security Investigation team for their stellar cooperation and support.

For the people of India, these were not just pieces of art but part of their living heritage and culture," ANI quoted Taranjit Singh Sandhu as saying.

The event follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to the US in June where he was hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a dinner at the White House and addressed a US Congress session.

Modi government has been making concerted efforts to bring back stolen Indian antiquities.

During PM Modis 2016 visit to the US, 16 antiques were handed over by the US side.

Similarly, in 2021, the Government of the United States handed over 157 artefacts which returned to India following the visit of the PM to the US in September 2021.

Meanwhile, US-India Business Council on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to the US last month has sparked an unprecedented partnership for prosperity and security.

PM Modis US Visit

During his visit to The States, Prime Minister Modis address to a joint sitting of the US Congress received overwhelming appreciation and was welcomed by the Republican senators.

He received 15 standing ovations, and 79 applauses as US Congress Senators were seen lining up for autographs and selfies.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also hosted a state dinner on June 22 for PM Modi.
General elections in Pakistan are likely to be held in the month of November after the countrys Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he would hand over the reins to the caretaker set-up next month before the completion of the assemblys tenure. The Pakistan PM made these remarks during an address at the Government College Womens University in Sialkot on Sunday.

Next month our government will complete its tenure, [but] we will leave before the completion of our tenure and an interim government will come in, Shehbaz was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. He hinted at the return of his exiled brother Nawaz Sharif to the electoral arena. Shehbaz vowed that if voted back to power, Nawaz Sharif would make Pakistan great.

Nawaz Sharif Sahib will turn Pakistan into a progressive state if people provided him another opportunity to lead the country. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the entire leadership of PML-N would change the destiny of the country by putting it on the path of progress and prosperity, he said.

According to the Constitution of Pakistan, general elections are required to be held under the supervision of a neutral caretaker government to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. The caretaker prime minister is appointed through an agreement between the outgoing prime minister and the opposition leader in the National Assembly.

Read More: Will Hand Over Charge to Caretaker Government in August: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif

If an agreement cannot be reached on a candidate, the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition submit their names to a bipartisan committee within a specified timeframe. Should the committee also fail to reach a consensus, the names are then forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan, which appoints one of them as the caretaker prime minister.

The appointed caretaker prime minister assembles a Cabinet to manage the countrys affairs, and their tenure concludes as soon as the newly elected prime minister takes the oath of office after the elections. As of now, the identity of the caretaker prime minister remains undecided, as political parties engage in consultations to reach a consensus on the appointment.

These remarks come as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a much-awaited USD 3 billion bailout for the cash-strapped country last week, a move thats likely saved the nation from defaulting on its debt repayments. Sharif has been trying to overcome the economic crisis since he came into power after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.

(With agency inputs)
Former US President Donald Trump praised judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by him during his tenure, saying that he is proud to have appointed her. The former president is seeking an adjournment of the trial in the classified documents case and Cannon presided over the initial challenge to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.

I know shes a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge. I did, and Im very proud to have appointed her. But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing, Trump said while speaking to Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, when he was asked if the judge would grant the motion.

Cannon was selected and confirmed as a district judge in the Southern District of Florida with a bipartisan vote in November 2020, the Hill said.

The report also pointed out that the rulings from Cannon slowed the US Department of Justices (DOJ) probe into Trump over how he handled classified documents after his tenure ended. Cannon in one instance halted prosecutors from using the classified documents they seized from the Mar-a-Lago resort.

Higher courts on two occasions overturned the rulings by Cannon. A higher court also allowed the DOJ to use the documents during prosecution and removed the special master process.

Trump in June pleaded not guilty to charges on 37 counts after the DOJ indicted him alleging that he violated the Espionage Act and also obstructed justice in taking classified records during his time as president and later refusing to return them.

Donald Trump is aiming for delays as he faces prosecution for mishandling of classified documents. It has challenged his bid for the 2024 US elections and a postponement would help him focus on his electoral campaign.

If Trump is elected, then he could withdraw the charges as he would control the DOJ. A Republican president, if elected, could also pardon him.

Trumps legal team is offering numerous reasons for the delay ahead of his prosecution in order to push the trial to another date.
Russia suspended the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Monday, impacting grain flow from Ukraine to regions in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where hunger and rising food prices are pressing concerns. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would resume the agreements implementation once its demands concerning food and fertilizer exports are met.

Despite complaints about shipping and insurance restrictions on agricultural exports, Russia has shipped record quantities of wheat. When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal," Peskov was quoted as saying by AP.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, had been instrumental in facilitating the flow of food from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This initiative was crucial in alleviating the global food crisis that worsened due to Russias invasion of Ukraine. By providing assurances that ships would not be attacked when entering or leaving Ukrainian ports, the deal helped stabilize soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil, and other food commodities.

On Monday, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russias announced exit from the Ukraine grain export deal and branded the move cynical". I strongly condemn Russias cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative," she tweeted.

Britain said it was disappointing" and accused Russia of risking global suffering". Clearly that is very disappointing," UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesman told reporters following the Kremlin announcement, adding Moscow will be robbing millions of people of access to vital grain".

Both Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of essential food products, such as wheat, barley, and sunflower oil, which developing nations heavily rely on. The agreement allowed for the movement of Russian food and fertilizer and eased shipping restrictions that had previously hampered Russias agricultural exports.

However, despite the benefits it brought to the global food market, the Black Sea Grain Initiative faced challenges from the beginning, with Russia briefly pulling out of the deal in November before rejoining and extending it.

The suspension of the deal has already affected the global grain market, with wheat prices rising by approximately 3% in Chicago trading. While experts dont expect a prolonged spike in food commodity prices, the overall food insecurity around the world continues to grow.

For developing countries, rising food prices disproportionately affect vulnerable populations as they spend a larger portion of their income on meals. Moreover, countries relying on imported food, priced in dollars, face increased expenses as their currencies weaken due to economic challenges and the impacts of climate change. Regions like Somalia, Kenya, Morocco, and Tunisia, which are already grappling with droughts, are among those struggling the most.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative played a crucial role in stabilizing food prices, but its suspension will compound the challenges faced by countries burdened with high debt levels and climate-related issues.
A tunnel tragedy in South Korea where 13 people died in their vehicles after becoming trapped by floodwaters has shook the nation. The incident forced Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean President, to promise a complete overhaul towards how South Korea combats extreme weather rising from climate change.

A report by the BBC said that the full extent of the damage as well as the death toll remains unknown.

Divers were deployed along the 685m-long (2,247ft) tunnel in the central city of Cheongju on Monday along with responders. A bus along with 15 vehicles were trapped in the underpass shortly after flood water from a burst riverbank gushed in.

Only nine survivors have been found. The BBC said families of those missing have lined up at the local hospital despite accepting that their loved ones may have died. My heart wrenches thinking how painful it must have been for my son in the cold water, a woman said.

19 people also died in the mountainous North Gyeongsang region in central South Korea as landslides swept away entire houses. The Goesan Dam in North Chungcheong overflowed, forcing some 6,400 residents to leave their homes.

An octogenarian told the news website that he was scared for his life when the water gushed in. Rescue workers reached him in the middle of the night and rescued him and his wife - the water reached their waist levels by then.

South Korea, Japan, India, China and even the Philippines and Cambodia are facing one of the most intense summer monsoon seasons on record. Heavy downpours have led to floods, landslides and power cuts across the country.

Extreme weather events like this will become commonplace. We must accept that climate change is happening and deal with it. Ive never seen something like this in my life, hundreds of tonnes of rocks rolling down from the mountain. How surprised you must have been, President Yoon Suk Yeol said.

South Korea will receive more rain this week with showers forecast to Wednesday.

The army has also been deployed and the government has designated hard-hit areas as special disaster zones" eligible for state support, the BBC said.

Korea recorded 300mm of rain on Saturday alone, it typically receives 1,000mm - 1,800mm in a year.

Climate change is being seen as a reason for this kind of unprecedented rainfall because global warming means a warming atmosphere which means an atmosphere that can hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a small area.
Ahead of his first official visit to India this week, Sri Lankas President Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Tuesday in Parliament in a bid to settle the long-standing Tamil minority demand for political autonomy, sources said here on Monday. TNA is an alliance of parties that represent Tamils from the North and East regions.

The TNA-Wickremesinghe parley is to take place on Tuesday afternoon in Parliament, sources said. Wickremesinghe leaves for New Delhi on July 20 and on July 21, the President will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials in the foreign office here said. Since December, Wickremesinghe had opened dialogue with the TNA in a bid to settle the long-standing Tamil minority demand for political autonomy.

Wickremesinghe mooted the idea for full implementation of the India-backed 13th Amendment which came to be opposed by the powerful Buddhist clergy in a case of history repeating itself. The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13A which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.

The Tamil side insisted on resolving the immediate issues of concern such as the release of private lands held for military purposes, the release of Tamil political prisoners and conflict reparations.

Although some of the lands came to be released and a few prisoners were also released but the Tamil side remain largely dissatisfied. A few former militant Tamil parties who are not part of the TNA have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to pressure Wickremesinghe into full implementation of the 13th Amendment.

The group includes the Democratic Fighters Party of rehabilitated ex-member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who ran a three-decades-old separatist war to carve out a separate Tamil state.

They demand that land and police powers retained by the central government be granted to the northern provincial council including holding of the election postponed since 2018.

Meanwhile, the state minister of fisheries Piyal Nishantha said the thorny issue of illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters by Indian fishermen would be discussed during the visit to New Delhi.

Sri Lanka has had a long history of failed negotiations with the Tamils.

An Indian effort in 1987, which created the system of a joint provincial council for the Tamil-dominated North and East, faltered as the minority community claimed it fell short of full autonomy.

The LTTE ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

International rights groups claim at least 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages of the war, but the Sri Lankan government has disputed the figures.
Iraq said Sunday it has found a site in a province bordering Saudi Arabia where captagon is produced, a rare discovery in a country that has become a transit route for the illicit drug.

Today, and maybe for the first time, a laboratory where captagon is produced was found," interior ministry spokesman General Saad Maan said in a video posted online.

Iraq has long been a transit country for captagon, the amphetamine-like stimulant plaguing the Middle East, but officials say it has also become a consumer market for the drug.

The laboratory was discovered in the southern province of Muthana, a statement from the ministry said.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is believed to be the largest market for the drug.

The ministry did not announce any arrests but said the site contained machines capable of producing captagon pills as well as 27.5 kilogrammes of raw materials.

The vast majority of the regions captagon, which derives its name from a once legal drug use to combat narcolepsy, is produced in Syria  another Iraqi neighbour  and Lebanon.

Iraqi authorities have stepped up raids that have netted large amounts of captagon.

But Sundays announcement appears to be a game changer, according to Maan, who said finding the laboratory shows that there is a bid by some to launch (captagon) production in the country".

On Friday, Iraqi security forces said they had dismantled an international drug trafficking ring" and arrested three of its members in Muthana province. Two million captagon pills were also seized.

Syria said at an Arab foreign ministers meeting in May that it was ready to strengthen cooperation" with Jordan and Iraq, affected by drug-trafficking and smuggling across the Syrian border".

Areas in central and southern Iraq bordering Iran have become major narcotic trafficking routes for drugs, including crystal methamphetamine.

In November 2022, Iraqi security forces announced the arrest of a man producing large quantities of crystal meth" in Iraq with fabrication skills acquired abroad.
PARK HILLSEven as heavy winds blew through the Parkland Sunday afternoon, many in the area were still cleaning up from the vestiges of a severe thunderstorm that rolled through on Wednesday, leaving some residents without power and causing damage to trees and homes.

One of the hardest hit communities was Park Hills.

First responders were called to a home on Emerson Wednesday to rescue a couple who became trapped when a tree fell onto the house they have been renting for several years.

The couple was successfully rescued without injury. The home, however, sustained damage. Until the damage can be assessed, the owner is unsure whether the rental home can be saved. The owner moved the tenants into a second rental that was available.

The tree looked as though it was ripped from the ground before it fell over. Other Park Hills trees met the same fate during the storm. Whole trees and large limbs caused a wide debris field. City street crews and residents worked diligently to clean up the debris.

On Thursday, Park Hills announced the closure of Columbia Park, Haney Park, and Elvins Park until further notice due to storm damage. Fortunately, the aquatic center was not damaged and work on the project can continue as scheduled. Structures and playground equipment in the affected parks seem to have escaped any major damage as well.

Mayor Stacey Easter said, The city received a substantial amount of damage due to the storm. Our crew began working immediately with cleanup and will begin picking up debris on Thursday. We are thankful no lives were lost. Id like to thank the community and our workers for getting things cleaned up so quickly.

Park Hills announced on its Facebook page the public works department will be doing a free limb and brush pick-up beginning at 7 a.m. on Thursday within the city limits. They ask that all newly fallen and broken tree branches and debris be neatly placed near the street for pick-up. Crews are strictly prohibited from entering private property so individual property owners will be responsible for reducing the size of larger branches and trees that fell on private property and moving the debris near the street for pick-up.

If work crews are unable to complete the pick-up by the end of the day on Thursday, they will continue their efforts on Friday. The city says it is grateful for the cooperation of its citizens.

IN PHOTOS: Park Hills storm damage PH Storm Damage (1).JPG PH Storm Damage (2).JPG PH Storm Damage (3).JPG PH Storm Damage (4).JPG PH Storm Damage (5).JPG PH Storm Damage (6).JPG PH Storm Damage (7).JPG PH Storm Damage (8).JPG
Over the course of one day on a central Japan beach, four people were attacked by dolphins. Early Sunday, a man in his 60s was attacked a few yards off the popular Suishohama Beach in the town of Mihama, Fukui prefecture; he was left with broken ribs and bites to his hands, the BBC reports. Also that morning, a man in his 40s was attacked at the same beach and suffered bites to his arm, MSN reports. Later that day, two more people were hurt in dolphin attacks. That brings the total number of dolphin attacks for the prefecture this year to six; similar attacks were also recorded last year.

Such attacks are unusual, but experts have warned that bottlenose dolphins are stressed out when they must swim near humans, and that having to do so disrupts their behavioral routines. "Dolphins are wild animals and may see humans as a potential threat to their territory or prey. In some cases, dolphins may also attack humans as a form of play or amusement, which can be dangerous due to their size and strength," American Oceans explains. Signs at Suishohama Beach now warn swimmers not to touch or approach dolphins. "If you see them, don't go into the water," an official warns. (Read more Japan stories.)
The New York Times takes a look back at its own 2011 article on the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and the results are eerie: Criminologists interviewed by the paper at the time said the suspect would be a white man in his mid-20s to mid-40s who was either married or had a girlfriend and lived near the area where the bodies of four womenMelissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, Amber Lynn Costello, 27, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25had been found months prior, in December 2010. He was expected to be well-educated, well-spoken, employed, financially secure, and the owner of an expensive vehicle. When suspect Rex Heuermann was arrested last week , many of those predictions were borne out.

Heuermann is now 59; he's a married, white architect who lives about 15 miles away from Gilgo Beach and owned a Chevrolet Avalanche truck when the murders he is accused of took place. "When I heard the news yesterday, I sort of had to smile to myself because it was pretty much what I had predicted," says one criminologist. Speaking about Heuermann's profession, the criminologist adds, "Who is more organized, who is more meticulous, than someone who studied engineering and architecture?" Heuermann is charged with the murders of three of the women who came to be known as the "Gilgo Four," and is the prime suspect in the slaying of the fourth. See the Times' full article here, or check out more coverage:

Authorities say Heuermann "compulsively" searched for pictures of his victims and their relatives, People reports.

In fact, he's accused of calling the family of one victim at least five times over the two months following her disappearance, before her body had been found. He allegedly told them he sexually assaulted and killed her, Fox News reports.

CNN takes a look at public records and documents related to Heuermann and finds a history of tax problems and other issues.

A woman who belonged to the same networking group as Heuermann says he once asked her about the Gilgo Beach murders, the New York Post reports.

(Read more Gilgo Beach killer stories.)
UPDATE

Jul 22, 2023 9:21 AM CDT

Heavy rains pounded an already saturated Northeast on Sunday for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, canceled airline flights, and power outages. In Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late Saturday afternoon claimed at least five lives, the AP reports. Officials in Bucks County's Upper Makefield Township said torrential rains occurred around 5:30pm Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars. At least five people died and two children, a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said. Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.

Jul 17, 2023 12:30 AM CDT

"There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said. Sunday's strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 350 flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were canceled at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Hundreds of flights were delayed. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Thousands of power outages also were reported.
UPDATE

Jul 19, 2023 1:45 PM CDT

The FBI says the "Sticky Note Bandit" attempted his fourth bank robbery Tuesday, but he didn't get away with any cash. Police say the suspect walked into a Bank of America branch in Houston and, as in other robberies, handed a teller a sticky note with a threatening message, ABC13 reports. Police say the teller walked away and locked themselves in a back room for safety, and the robber ran away soon afterward. As in other robberies, the suspect was dressed as a woman, but this time he was wearing a red dress instead of the usual green sweater, police say. "He has committed four robberies in less than two weeks, and we need your help to find him," the FBI tweeted.

Jul 17, 2023 1:20 PM CDT

The FBI is seeking a Houston bank robber they have dubbed the "Sticky Note Bandit." The agency says that in three robberies in the space of 10 days, the robber handed a teller a sticky note with a threatening message demanding cash, Fox 26 reports. The FBI says the robber dressed as a woman in all three robberies, reports ABC. He made off with an undisclosed sum of cash in robberies on July 5 and 13 but left a July 11 robbery empty-handed after the "teller walked away from the counter and locked themselves in the back room for safety," the FBI says. The agency says the robber lingered in the bank lobby briefly before fleeing on foot.
US officials on Monday approved the first long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that sends tens of thousands of American children to the hospital each year. RSV is a cold-like nuisance for most healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in the very young and the elderly. The Food and Drug Administration approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old who face increased risk of severe RSV, the AP reports. "Today's approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families, and the health care system" the FDA's Dr. John Farley said in a statement.

Last year, a surge in RSV cases flooded US hospitals with wheezing children. There are no vaccines for babies yet, though Pfizer and other companies are working on them. AstraZeneca's drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV. Under the FDA approval, babiesincluding preterm infantscan receive a single injection to protect against their first season of RSV, which typically lasts about five months. Children up to age 2 can receive another dose to protect them during their second season facing the virus.

Beyfortus, which will be marketed in the US by Sanofi, is already approved in Canada, Europe, and the UK. FDA officials approved the drug based on three studies showing Beyfortus reduced the risk of RSV infection between 70% and 75% among infants and children 2 and younger. A similar antibody drug won FDA approval more than 20 years ago, but it's only recommended for high-risk babies and requires monthly injections. In the US, about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die.

(Read more RSV stories.)
Matthew James Digby, 22, of Potosi was charged with two firearms felonies and one count of misdemeanor assault following a reported disturbance on June 18. According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Digby was in an altercation with an unidentified female.

The report states Digby prevented the unidentified woman from leaving a residence while they were arguing. Digby was pulled over by police after allegedly leaving the scene of the altercation.

The report states that a search of Digbys vehicle during his arrest resulted in the finding of a sawed-off shotgun by police. Missouri state and federal laws prohibit the possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Digby is currently out of jail on a $25,000 bond with special conditions. A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Washington County Courthouse.
Wall Street pushed higher Monday ahead of a week full of updates about where profits for big US companies are heading. The S&P 500 rose 17.37, or 0.4%, to 4,522.79 and its highest closing level in 15 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 76.32, or 0.2%, to 34,585.35, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 131.25, or 0.9%, to 14,244.95. Stocks elsewhere around the world slipped after China reported weaker economic growth for the spring than economists expected. Its recovery following the removal of anti-COVID restrictions has fallen short of forecasts.

This upcoming week will offer more details on how the economy has affected companies as corporate earnings season ramps up, the AP reports. Nearly 60 companies in the S&P 500 are scheduled to report this upcoming week how much profit they made from April through June. Expectations broadly are low. Analysts are forecasting the worst drop for earnings per share among S&P 500 companies since the pandemic was pummeling the economy in the spring of 2020, according to FactSet. They're also forecasting a third straight quarter of declines in profits. Also coming up this week will be the latest monthly update on sales at US retailers.

Several big technology and other high-growth stocks helped the market to rise Monday, including Tesla, which climbed 3.2%. Tesla also said over the weekend that its first production Cybertruck electric pickup has rolled off the assembly line, though that was nearly two years behind the original schedule. Activision Blizzard rose 3.5% after a US appeals court on Friday rejected a bid by regulators to block the video game maker's $68.7 billion purchase by Microsoft. On the losing end was Ford, which fell 5.9%. It cut the sticker price on its F-150 Lightning electric pickup by thousands of dollars. (Read more stock market stories.)
After years of discussion, a potential solar farm project has been denied.

The denial comes nearly five years after the project was first discussed and several years after the first application for it was submitted. In 2021, James and Jean Beall and Springbrook Farm LLC Representative Tina Weaver submitted an application to rezone their 91.89 acre parcel next to Yoders Country Store to M1, limited industrial. The split-zoned A-1, agriculture, and B-1, business, property required a rezoning to accommodate a solar project on the propertythe desired use by the landowners. A special use permit, or SUP, was requested for the latter. That application went to a public hearing, but was tabled by the applicants and ultimately pulled from consideration.

Months later, the applicants appeared back before the planning commission with a representative from Louth Callan Renewables, or LCR, a solar development, engineering, procurement, construction and operations and maintenance firm headquartered in Suffield, CT. LCR submitted a draft site plan to the county for the solar project with rezoning and SUP hearings anticipated in early November. However, the actual application for the rezoning and SUP was never submitted and again the project was off the table.

In February, LCR submitted a new application for the rezoning and SUP with a hearing scheduled in July on the request of LCR CEO Nick Sylvestre after planning commissioners complained that the application wasnt complete for previously scheduled June hearing.

The idea was for the project to tie into Rappahannock Electric Cooperatives electrical grid at the Pratts substation and be used over a lifespan of approximately 35 years with an option to go to 45. Solar panels would cover 59 of the parcels 91.89 acres with 32 acres dedicated to open space and two acres covered by impervious surface. The project would have a landscape buffer in accordance with the countys ordinance requirements and would feature native plant species for pollinators. The plan also included partnering with the Virginia State Beekeepers Association and local bee farmers to host hives on-site to support local honey businesses. Sheep were mentioned as a way to manage vegetation.

The project would have taken about 15 months to construct from start to finish and was estimated to contribute 28 jobs during construction, according to an economic and fiscal contribution report. That report also estimated accumulated county revenue of approximately $4.8 million over 35 years. The amount was comprised of real estate tax, an annual $100,000 capital payment and a newly approved revenue sharing ordinance of $1,400 per megawatt with a 10% escalator every five years.

However, planning commissioners and supervisors said there were just too many unanswered questions to approve the project.

Commissioners were also concerned about the idea of approving a rezoning, and thus enacting a rollback tax with the property coming out of land use, before approving an SUP. The two applications were split for the joint public hearing, with the rezoning first and the SUP second.

Commissioner Mike Snider said if the rezoning were approved, but the SUP was not, the land would essentially be unusable. Sylvestre had agreed to waive all other by-right uses allowed in the M-1 district if the rezoning were approved.

Planner Ligon Webb said the applicants knew the potential risks and had opted to pursue the rezoning and SUP.

During the public hearing on the rezoning, several spoke in favor of the project. Judy Mahanes said having the project so close to the Pratts substation seemed like a no brainer. She said the property is already trapped between highways with its location adjacent to U.S. 29 and doesnt make for a good farming location.

My hope is you work out the issues and make it work, she said.

Bonnie Dixon, who said her son works as a marketing director for Delaware-based Clean Energy, also voiced support for the project. She pointed out a recent report that July 4 may have been the hottest day on Earth in 125,000 years.

We are all responsible and if we can do something about it, we should, she said. [Solar] is pretty ugly [to look at] but considering the alternatives, someone needs to do it.

Scott Bennett said solar is the cleanest energy available. He said the project would create jobs, especially during the construction phase.

However, David Parrish said the increase in jobs is a disconnect. He said the project wouldnt directly benefit Madison County and he didnt really want to look at it. Parrishs property on Orange Road overlooks the Springbrook Farm property.

Don McCowan of the Piedmont Environmental Council suggested the county revise its ordinance and make solar projects allowable by SUP in A-1. He said rezoning to M-1 allows a host of other uses in perpetuity and there would be no guarantee future owners of the property would agree to the same waiver Sylvestre had.

Erin Nicholls, who has been vocal in her opposition to the project, agreed with commissioners that having a rezoning and then denying the SUP would be problematic. She also said Sylvestres waiver of the other by-right uses was neither dated, nor signed and thus not worth much. She said the project wouldnt cause any decrease in local electricity bills and the energy generated would be sold. The jobs, she said, would be temporary and while not against clean energy, she couldnt support a rezoning that would put industrial land next to residential land.

Commissioner Peter Elliott agreed with Webb that the applicants knew the risks. He said he would have a hard time telling someone they couldnt apply to rezone their land. Commissioner Fay Utz agreed and said shed find it odd for anyone to vote in favor of a rezoning and then not the SUP. She said she couldnt think of a better place to have industrial zoned land than adjacent to U.S. 29.

Commissioner Nathan Cowan, who said the rezoning was the biggest hangup for him, agreed with Utz that the location made sense, at least, he said according to the comprehensive plan and 29 Corridor Study.

Utz said the idea to restrict solar projects to M-1 zoned land was an effort to protect the countys land zoned otherwise.

Elliott made a motion recommending approval of the rezoning to the board of supervisors with only the solar project by SUP use allowed. His motion was seconded by Utz and approved 6-1 with commissioner James Graves III dissenting.

As for the SUP application, commissioners also recommended approval of it to the board of supervisors. Again, Elliott made the motion and Utz seconded it. However, Cowan joined Graves in his dissension, putting the vote at 5-2.

County attorney Hannon Wright voiced some concerns over the sitting agreement for the project, which would be between the county and South Seminole Solar, LLCan entity created by LCR. He questioned a clause allowing the company out of its contract should the facility be without power for 10 days. Such an event would trigger decommissioning. Wright said he wasnt sure how often something like that occurs. He said the new LLC could also be a concern since LCR hadnt indemnified anything the LLC would do. However, he said the company had made some real concessions.

Cowan said it sounded like the county would be liable.

I firmly believe in peoples right to make a living in a responsible way, he said. This SUP is different. The risk versus reward to this is a loser.

However, Snider said the project seemed pretty good for the county. Elliott agreed.

This is the biggest revenue generator the county will see for this property, he said. The supervisors did everything to hold taxes. A lot could happen [on this property that would draw on county services]. I see this being an offset good for the county.

We worked really hard on the solar ordinance for something that would protect the county and benefit the county, Elliott added. If someone comes in and follows our ordinance [and we turn it down], maybe we should say dont want solar, stay away.

Commissioner Steve Carpenter said the application was still vague on its bee and sheep ideas and no-one would be present on a permanent basis to oversee the facility.

Allen Nicholls, who has been vocal in his opposition to the project, said the application was full of hedging statements. He said the creation of the LLC was an effort to deliberately make it difficult to sue should the company not meet its obligations.

I still end up with more questions than answers, he said. I dont understand why the county would want it. The revenue is less than 2% of the budget.

Nicholls also pointed out the still undecided final route of the line to Pratts. It could cross in front of Yoders Country Market, which LCR said would occur on the opposite side of the street, or it could go the opposite direction near the school.

Industrial is not appropriate next to residential, he said.

Madison resident Roman Pizmoht said the project needed to be more thought out.

Like commissioners, supervisors also questioned voting on the rezoning before the SUP. Board of supervisors chairman Clay Jackson suggested making the rezoning contingent to the approval of the SUP.

Supervisor Carty Yowell said he thought the property was correctly zoned as-is. He said Sylvestre had waived by-right uses in M-1, but not SUP uses. Yowell said Conserve Virginia had identified the property as important farm land and he didnt want to see it as anything otherwise.

Its not the appropriate spot, Yowell said.

Supervisor Charlotte Hoffman agreed.

Im opposed to it as well, she said, mentioning the continued deterioration of a solar farm she passes annually in North Carolina. The first few years it looked good; last year it was bad; this year it was worse. Its unknown who the solar farm is owned by.

She said there was also too many unknowns in terms of decommissioning and while she wasnt against solar energy, she was against in this spot.

Supervisor Dustin Dawson agreed as did Jackson.

Ive been hearing for 40 years about encroachment, he said. Its been slowly comingfor 40 years. Madison is truly something kind of special and this is not what I want to see in Madison County. I want to see low impact business. This isnt it.

Supervisor Jim Jewett also pointed out the numerous uncertainties. He cautioned that future projects should be better submitted and compiled.

Supervisors voted to deny the rezoning 5-0, thus rendering the SUP application moot.

Upon exiting the room, Weaver could be heard mentioning potential future plans for the propertyan Amazon distribution center.
Charlottesville police are investigating a reported robbery at the Barracks Road UVa Community Credit Union.

The suspect, who has been described as a short, white male who was wearing a long-sleeve gray shirt, tan pants and a black hat that has "Just do it" printed on its front, is still at large.

Police said they responded to the robbery in progress at 1936 Arlington Blvd. at 3:38 p.m. Friday.

"It was reported that the suspect demanded U.S. Currency and subsequently fled the area on foot," according to an "Off Grounds Community Alert" issued by University of Virginia police.

Authorities told other media outlets that the suspect handed a teller at the bank a note demanding money. He then left with a small amount of cash. That amount was not disclosed.

No weapons were reported to be involved in the robbery, and there were no reported injuries.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Charlottesville Police Department at (434) 970-3280.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, praised the solid ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Pakistan, highlighting the strength of bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including military and defence.

This came as HM the King received General Ehsan ul Haq, former Chairman of Pakistans Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The National Guard President, General His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, was present.

His Majesty welcomed General Ehsan and conferred the Order of Bahrain medal on him in recognition of his efforts in promoting military and defence cooperation with Bahrain.

General Ehsan expressed his thanks and appreciation to HM King Hamad, commending his significant role in developing Bahrain-Pakistani relations.
, Jul 18 ( portfolio-adviser.com ) - Since Warren Buffett got involved, the world has gone crazy for Japan. The Nikkei is up 23.4% for the year to date (to 10 July 2023).

That puts it 8.8%, 11.2% and 25.8% ahead of the S&P 500, Eurostoxx 50 and FTSE 100 respectively. Investors might well conclude that the easy gains have been made and look elsewhere.

The reasons for the success of the Japanese market for the year to date have been well-documented. Japan was later to emerge from Covid, and is now experiencing the economic upswing of reopening. It has finally laid deflation to rest, with rising prices and wages now a feature across the economy. However, more important have been the structural reforms that are finally galvanising Japans stolid corporate sector.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange has been promoting the soft requirement of a price-to-book ratio above one, alongside a raft of other measures to encourage better capital efficiency among Japanese corporates. With around half the Japanese index trading below book value, the move could be important in encouraging companies to unwind their cash piles and improve their return on equity. ...continue reading
Kyodo - Jul 11

Japan did not voice opposition Monday to a U.S. plan to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russia, with some NATO members concerned over the supply of the weapons ahead of their summit later this week.
Canada's Back to School destination is ready to help Canadians with fun, easy and affordable solutions

For more media materials, please visit: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9182751-staples-canada-back-to-school-2023/

RICHMOND HILL, ON, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Since 1991, Staples Canada has helped Canadians get ready for the school year with learning essentials that inspire, empower and equip students and teachers to be their best. This year, Staples is all about making Back to School fun, easy and affordable with all the essentials from pencils to laptops.

Shop like its 1991: Staples Canada delivers more value this Back to School season with 90s pricing on essential supplies (CNW Group/Staples Canada ULC)

"We know Canadians are looking for more value this Back to School season than ever before," said Rachel Huckle, President, Staples Canada. "As the Working and Learning Company, we're committed to helping students, teachers and parents get back to learning with new, exciting and affordable solutions  all designed to fuel a passion for learning."

'90s Throwback Pricing

Staples is Canada's premier destination for quality and value when it comes to the Back to School season. This year, Staples is offering '90s throwback pricing on the top back to school essentials. Find the lowest prices on supplies from brands Canadians love, including Sharpie, Five Star, Crayola, Hilroy and Pep Rally, a Staples exclusive. Staples Back to School HQ makes it easy to shop online loaded with the best picks and sorted by grade to take the guesswork out.

Pep Rally: Trendy and Functional Essentials

A Staples exclusive, Pep Rally introduces its latest line of Back to School essentials that are fun and functional. Featuring three new collections to help students express themselves, including: Retro Love, Classic Academia, and Joyful Expression. Shop all of Pep Rally's school supplies and solutions, here.

New Wireless Services from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile

In need of a mobile phone or internet upgrade for Back to School? Customers can now get all their devices connected to the best plans from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile at their local Staples store. In addition to wireless services, customers can also visit in-store to discover Internet and TV solutions from Bell. As the largest communications provider in Canada, Bell's award-winning 5G and robust fibre networks connect families, students, and friends in their day-to-day lives. Exclusive offers will be available in-store during the Back to School season, which include discounts on new phones, plans, accessories and gift with purchase incentives.

Best in Tech

Looking for new tech? Staples is stocked with the best selection of technology to power learning and productivity through the school year. Whether you're looking for a new Chromebook, noise-cancelling headphones, iPads or more  Staples has what you need, from the best tech brands including Apple, Microsoft, Logitech, HP, Google and more.

Protect your technology with Staples Protection Plans by Allstate, available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones to cover mechanical and electrical failures, as well as accidental damage.

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Staying organized is at the top of mind for students, parents and teachers throughout the school year. Staples Print Services has everything you need to start the school year out on the right foot, including:

Back to School Ad Campaign

Howie Mandel and Pierre-Yves Lord will star in a series of Back to School commercials for Staples for a second year. The commercials are themed around '90s nostalgia and explore everything from finding the top tech to the best backpack and freshest supplies. The commercials are supported by a national ad buy that begins July 10.

School Tools for Parents

Want to know exactly what your child needs for school? Staples' School Tools is a great way to do Back to School shopping. Parents can shop for supplies based on lists curated by teachers for their child's grade and region. If a teacher has not created a list, don't worry: Staples has identified the best products for students for every grade, check out the list at staples.ca/shop-school-supplies-by-grade.

With Staples' School Tools shoppers can get 10 per cent off orders over $50, five per cent off on orders over $25, and a donation of three per cent to local schools on behalf of Staples. To learn more, visit staples.ca/schooltools.

About Staples Canada

Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. The privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands which support business customers: Staples Preferred for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as seven Staples Studio co-working facilities across Canada. Through Staples Print Services, Canadians can access a variety of pack and ship options, as well as a broad suite of business services. Staples is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with us at @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok or Pinterest.

SOURCE Staples Canada ULC

For further information: Media Information: Kathleen Stelmach, Staples Canada, 905-737-1147 ext. 578, [email protected]; Meg Murphy, Golin, 647-475-4495, [email protected]
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili stated that the government received appreciation from the delegation consisting of representatives from the United States, Britain, and the European Union for establishing an effective system to prevent the misuse of the country for circumventing sanctions. He mentioned that the opposition appeared disappointed with this positive acknowledgment.Gharibashvili emphasized that the government has been careful to engage only with companies and their owners who are not subject to sanctions and according to him, this approach has been a key factor in their success.The Prime Minister stated that the recent visit by the international delegation demonstrated the effectiveness of their policies in implementing sanctions and combating disinformation campaigns."We are making our best efforts to develop tourism in our country and attract more visitors. One of the key factors in our success is implementing the right policy from the beginning. We have carefully selected companies and their owners who are not subject to sanctions, which is of utmost importance.A few weeks ago, a delegation consisting of representatives from the United States, Britain, and the European Union visited our country. They expressed their gratitude to the government for establishing an effective system, ensuring that our country is not being used to bypass sanctions. On the contrary, we are effectively implementing the policy.Unfortunately, we have witnessed numerous disinformation campaigns, which have led to disappointment among our opposition representatives. This serves as further evidence of their lack of concern for the country, its image, and its reputation," stated Gharibashvili.Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that Georgia's army and state institutions fully comply with NATO standards. He emphasized that Georgia is ready to become a member of NATO, and any remaining reforms are merely 'excuses'.Papuashvili expressed disappointment in the lack of readiness within NATO itself to make a decision.Papuashvili highlighted that the attention at the NATO summit in Vilnius was primarily focused on Ukraine, and according to him, it was evident that Ukraine was dissatisfied with the outcome.Papuashvili emphasized that Georgia is prepared and surpasses several NATO countries in various parameters, including the strength of state institutions and democracy.Parliament Chairman asserted that the only remaining factor for Georgia's NATO membership is the 'political' decision of the NATO member states themselves."As for Georgia, it is fully prepared to become a member of NATO in every possible way, and any claims of pending reforms are merely excuses. Unfortunately, NATO itself lacks the necessary readiness to make a political decision.The only remaining aspect is the political decision of the NATO member states themselves. The Georgian army, along with the Georgian state and its institutions, completely align with NATO standards.If you compare and assess Georgia against any criteria, you will notice that it surpasses five, six, or even seven NATO countries in various aspects, such as the strength of state institutions and its commitment to democracy," stated Papuashvili.
Audience members settling into their seats in Congregation Beth Israels OMansky Hall last Wednesday evening were able to savor a blend of old and new musical traditions performed by San Francisco Yiddish Combo. The new roof they saw on the way in represented a similar connection of past and future.

While they were at the festive event, visitors had the chance to notice more than comfortable new seat cushions and freshly painted walls. They were be able to see the results of a painstaking project to renovate the synagogues slate roof, which entailed restoring five distinctive domed metal cupolas, brick parapets and other features that help make the historic building a familiar landmark for Charlottesville residents and visitors.

Its a great opportunity to celebrate the new roof above our main sanctuary, Lukas Holldorf, communications and connections manager for Congregation Beth Israel, told The Daily Progress.

The roof on the building at 301 E. Jefferson St. dated to 1904, and it was repaired in 1948 after an extensive sanctuary fire. As Diane Hillman pointed out, that meant the roof over the sanctuary was 100 years old in some places and 75 in others, which meant it was time to make changes to prevent deterioration.

The task wouldnt be a simple one. When contractor Martin Horn sent a drone to examine the roof from above, what came back was very scary, said Hillman, past congregation president at the temple. To preserve the beloved synagogue for future generations, we undertook to replace it, she told The Daily Progress. It was a mind-blowing amount of estimated costs.

Congregation Beth Israels space is the oldest synagogue still standing in Virginia. It originally was built at the corner of Market and Third streets in the 1880s and then moved to its current space after the local government sought the Market and Third location for a new post office, which later became the Jefferson-Madison Regional Librarys Central Library. The current worship space on East Jefferson Street was dedicated in February 1904.

Crews from W.A. Lynch Roofing Co. started the recent renovations by removing the cupolas. One cupola hinted at a mystery thats unlikely to be solved any time soon.

There was a bullet hole that went through one side and out the other, Hillman said. The Lynch people were brilliant, and they were able to repair [the cupolas]. They made them better.

Using proper materials for an historic building can send costs soaring, so the congregation started accepting donations and began a GoFundMe drive with a $250,000 goal. The original roof tiles were made of Buckingham slate, which organizers discovered is no longer available, so Virginia slate was selected for replacement tiles. Holldorf said the Virginia slate has a slightly different color and shape.

Lynch roofing workers saved 100 of the original slate tiles, which the congregation is transforming into keepsakes by etching them with a photograph of the building.

Every place we turned, there was another exciting thing, Holldorf said. That place is filled with a lot of memories for people. You can tell it is a special, beloved place.

The scaffolding and bustle of the ongoing roof project attracted curious community members, and Hillman said it was gratifying to get encouragement and supportive comments from pedestrians and dog walkers.

Many people enjoyed following the process, she said.

M3 Masonry and Design completed necessary masonry repairs throughout the process. Even while the building was sheathed in scaffolding, members gathered for reform and conservative worship services. We are a growing congregation, Holldorf said. We need this space, and we need it to work.

Work began in November and concluded in April. Congregation members were pleased to see the synagogue restored in such a loving, thoughtful way, Holldorf said, and they threw a party to toast the completion of the renovation project in May. Last Wednesdays gathering for klezmer music and refreshments with the community is a good opportunity to have yet another party, Holldorf said.

The congregations GoFundMe remains open, and donations toward the remaining CBI Raises the Roof goal are welcomed at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ubgn5-cbi-raises-the-roof.
Emmett Hanger is spending his final months as a state senator, but it is not working out well as a farewell tour.

Hanger, an Augusta County Republican, said in April that he would not move and seek a seat in the new Senate District 3. Democrat Jade Harris of Glasgow and Republican Del. Chris Head of Botetourt County are matched in the November election for the seat covering Waynesboro, Staunton and part of Augusta County.

Hangers retirement announcement in April meant he still had more than eight months to represent Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County in Senate District 24.

But the final months are proving a grueling test of wills between the Virginia Senate, the Virginia House and Gov. Glenn Youngkin over the state budget. The budget was supposed to take effect July 1, but an agreement has yet to be signed. And Hanger has a ringside seat for the impasse as a budget conferee.

I certainly hope there will be an agreement before the end of July, Hanger said on Friday. There has not been good cooperation from the parties involved to stay at the table. The governor wants what he wants and has not been willing to give.

Besides Virginia school boards and school districts not having the final state allocations to start a new school year with, there are other implications, according to Hanger.

He said the longer it takes to approve the budget makes starting or implementing programs more challenging.

Virginia state parks are to receive funding to hire additional staff, but cannot because of the delayed budget.

They are in the busy time of the year and should have been able to hire people, Hanger said.

Program reforms in behavioral health that were supposed to take effect July 1 are being delayed. Hanger legislation on dealing with Delta 8 hemp products took effect on July 1, but the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services could not add the additional workforce to enforce the changes.

The legislation is in effect, and some retailers have pulled items off the shelves, Hanger said.

The retiring senator said he also expects rebates to Virginians of $200 for single taxpayers and $400 for couples should stand.

For now, the budget continues to be a waiting game. And as Hanger winds down his nearly 40 years in the Virginia legislature, he says, There is so much in the budget that needs to be passed.
Following his alleged resignation as National Chairman of his ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has now broken his silence on the matter.

Vanguard had reported that ahead of this weeks meeting of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee NEC of the APC, there is a gang up of opposition against Senator Adamu and National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

It was gathered that some bigwigs of the party had been going about with a list of alleged sins committed by Adamu against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu weeks before the latter declared his interest to vie for the presidency last year.

Consequently, there are some forces within the party who are likely to meet with Adamu on Sunday night or early Monday to pressure him into resigning rather than been shown the exit door said a party official privy to the internal workings of the party.

He said the NEC meeting slated for Tuesday is likely to approve a timetable for a midterm elective convention to fill party vacancies.

As you know, many of the new state governors have not made all their appointments. Even at that, some party officials have been appointed into government.

At the national level, it is very likely that some national officers or members of the National Working Committee NWC would be appointed into government. Once that is done, there will be vacancies which would be filled through the convention. The convention could also provide a window to get Adamu out, said the party source.

According to him, the move to oust Adamu would also see Omisore being eased out of the equation as some aggrieved members of the NWC have consistently accused him of running the party alone with Adamu.

He said the controversial audit report of the party would be part of the issues to use against Adamu.

Under our constitution, only the NEC of the party can appoint an external auditor to audit the accounts of the party but Adamu, after being forced to render financial accounts, decided to enlist his own auditor, bypassing NEC. He thereafter presented the report of his auditors to the NWC for ratification. The party has an auditor. Adamu should simply have allowed him to do his job and present his report to the NWC. After that, the NWC will go through the report of the National Auditor, deliberate on it and present to NEC, which has the powers to appoint an external auditor to go through our accounts. But this has not been the case, the source added.

Indeed, there were speculations on Sunday night that Adamu had resigned in principle even before the said meeting.

While he did not respond to messages seeking his confirmation of the report, party spokesman, Felix Morka also went mute on the issue.

We cant comment in what we dont know

An NWC member said they, like other party men and women, were also shocked by the report of Adamus resignation and that they cannot comment on what they have no knowledge of.

As expected, the NWC is supposed to meet on Monday ahead of Tuesdays Caucus meeting and Wednesdays NEC meeting. Adamu hasnt told us anything about his resignation or otherwise.

Contacted by Daily Trust, Adamu declined comments pending the return of President Bola Tinubu from the African Union AU meeting in Kenya.

I wont talk about the issue because the president is away, Adamu said.




The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has arrived at the national secretariat of the party ahead of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting scheduled for 12 noon.





Omisore arrived at the secretariat at exactly 11:20 a.m.





However, party sources said the embattled National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, will not preside over the NWC meeting today.





The resignation of both Adamu and Omisore is expected to be announced at the NWC meeting.
Abubakar Kyari, deputy national chairman (north) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is currently presiding over a meeting of the partys national working committee (NWC).

The development came hours after Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the party, resigned from office.

Emma Enukwu, deputy national chairman (south); Isaac Kekemeke, vice-chairman south-west; Salihu Lukman, vice-chairman north-west; and Festus Fuanter, deputy national legal secretary; are among those attending the meeting at the partys headquarters on Monday.

There is heavy presence of security personnel around the headquarters of the party located in the Wuse 2 district of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Adamu was absent at the meeting, while Iyiola Omisore, national secretary of the APC, arrived at the venue late, but left sooner.

Insiders said Omisore was not allowed to be part of the meeting.

Reports have it that Adamu was advised by Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), to resign after a protracted cold war with President Bola Tinubu.

In the build-up to the national elective convention that saw Adamu become APC chairman, Tinubu had supported Tanko Al-Makura, a former senator and ally, for the position.

But having enjoyed the support of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Adamu was elected chairman.

Also, while the party was in the process of choosing its presidential candidate, Adamu openly supported Ahmad Lawan, a former president of the senate.

Adamu has reportedly been unable to account for the over N30 billion accrued to the party from the sales of nomination forms before the just concluded general election.
Former lawmaker Shehu Sani has mocked former President Muhammadu Buharis camp in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of the party.

Recall that Adamu, the erstwhile APC chairman, tendered his resignation letter on Sunday night.

Following the development, Senator Abubakar Kyari, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), has taken over the affairs of the party.

Adamu is said to be an ardent supporter of the former president.

It was alleged that Adamu worked against the emergence of President Bola Tinubu prior to the presidential primaries and even after he emerged as the candidate of the party.

Sani, in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Monday, following confirmation of Adamus resignation, made a veiled remark mocking Buharis supporters in the APC.

The Buharists are now orphans; they are purged in their party, he wrote.
Trevboi, former signee of Afrobeats artiste, Davido, is wanted over the death of an individual identified as Kenny at a bar in Lagos.

The incident leading to Kennys death reportedly took place the late hours of Sunday at Bar 38 Nightclub in Fadeyi area of Lagos State.

Reacting, the Police PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin said investigation into the incident has commenced.

Hundeyin confirmed that the suspect abandoned his car and fled on foot.

We commenced investigation minutes after the incident happened. The suspect abandoned his car and fled on foot. The car and the documents in it are in our custody.



Investigation is ongoing. https://t.co/hwmUbHKICm  SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) July 17, 2023





He wrote, We commenced investigation minutes after the incident happened. The suspect abandoned his car and fled on foot. The car and the documents in it are in our custody.

Investigation is ongoing.




President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, have urged the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal not to nullify the February 25 presidential poll.





Tinubu and Shettima said the tribunal should not cancel the presidential election over the controversy surrounding the 25 percent in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.





This was as they urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition of the Labour Party, LP, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Their appeal was contained in a final address by their lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun.





In the address, Olanipekun described the arguments and testimonies of witnesses presented by the challengers as frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay.





He urged the court to dismiss the petition because it totally lacked merit and substance.





He stressed that the remote contention of the petitioners that Tinubu and Shettimas election should be cancelled for not scoring 25 percent or one-quarter of the votes recorded in the FCT was not backed by any fact known to the law as the use of and in the constitution is conjunctive and not disjunctive.





The appellant woefully failed to realise that judges do not act like the oracles of life, which is often engaged in crystal gazing and thereafter would proclaim a new Oba in succession to a deceased Oba.





Judges cannot perform miracles in the handling of civil claims, and at least of all manufacture evidence for the purpose of assisting a plaintiff win his case, he said.




Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has mocked the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Adamu.





Sani said Adamus sojourn as APCs National Chairman showed that he would thread the path of his predecessors.





He said from the moment Adamu announced former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as APCs consensus presidential candidate to when he was boycotted in the presentation of principal officers of the National Assembly showed that he would thread the wrong path.





Tweeting, Sani wrote: From the moment he announced Lawan as the ruling partys consensus candidate and was left stranded by Buhari, to the moment he was kept in the dark on the approved list of principal officers of the National Assembly, I knew that Adamu will thread the path of Adams.





There are speculations that the crisis rocking the APC has reached its peak, with the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Duru, confirming Adamus resignation.





Duru also disclosed that the partys Deputy National Chairman, North, Abubakar Kyari took over as the acting National Chairman in line with the constitution of the party.
A Lagos socialite simply identified as Benjamin Best AKA Killaboigram, has taken to social media to confess to murdering his girlfriend.





According to the Killaboigram, he and the deceased, simply identified as Austa_XXO on Instagram, got into a heated argument that saw him eventually stabbing her to death before fleeing the scene.





Killaboigram took to his Instagram page on Monday, confessing to the crime and sharing details of the terrible act. According to him, he has been battling with suicidal thoughts ever since the incident happened and can no longer live with himself, hence his confession.





Killaboigrams post on his IG page @Killaboigram read in part: I should have left this toxic relationship, but I didnt. Oh, Lord, forgive me for my sins. I wish I can go back in time and undo this but, it has happened.





Im not a bad person, Im not an evil person, Im not a criminal.





In another post, he confessed to the crime saying:  I got into an argument with my girlfriend @austa_Xxo which fight I mistakenly stabbed her and ran away out of fear and been suicidal since then.





I want to end my life now cos Ive lost the one I cherish so much.





I want to do the right thing and turn myself in. I will gladly die by paying with my life now.





I ruined my life at the age of 26.
The President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has urged Muslim faithful to look out for the new moon of Muharram 1445 After Hijrah, (AH) of the Islamic calendar on Monday, July 17, 2023, which is equivalent to the 29th of Dhul Hijja, 1444 AH.

A statement signed by Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council Sokoto, Yahaya Muhammad Boyi, said when the crescent moon is sighted, it should be reported to the nearest district or village heads for onward communication to the sultan of Sokoto.

The sighting of the new moon of Muharram will Mark the end of the Islamic lunar calendar 1444, and the beginning of the New year 1445 After Hijrah, the statement noted.

Al-Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, is said to be crucial in the lives of the faithful, as they were instructed by the Prophet of Islam to observe voluntary fasting on the 9th and 10th days of the month known as Tashua and Ashurah.

One of the significances of the day is to celebrate the day that Prophet Mose was saved by God from the Pharaoh of Egypt, thereby crossing the Red Sea with his people.




A Councilor, Nelson Sylvester, popularly known as Ofunwa, representing Eha-Ulo ward, in Nsukka Local Government Area Legislative Council, Enugu State, has been shot dead.

It was learnt that the lawmaker was murdered by gunmen on Sunday night at his residence in Eha-Alumonah.

Although details of the incident are still sketchy, a competent source disclosed that the assailants stormed the lawmakers house and started raining bullets on him.

He added that the Councilor ran into a neighbouring compound, from where his lifeless body was later recovered.

The development has sparked tension in the town and other neighbouring communities.

The source, who described the suspected assassination as one too many, added that it is heartbreaking; it is too hard for us to swallow. We are in deep agony.

More to come
Abdullahi Adamu was asked to resign as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday after a prolonged cold war with President Bola Tinubu.

The APC chairman was advised to throw in the towel by Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Iyiola Omisore, the APC national secretary, allegedly became incommunicado upon getting wind of the development.

TheCable quoting party sources reports that Adamu and Omisore were to face a vote of no confidence by NWC members on Monday afternoon following which they would be sacked by the national executive committee (NEC), chaired by Tinubu, on Wednesday.

There has been a cold war between Tinubu and Adamu since the former governor of Nasarawa state was elected party chairman in March 2022.

But the final straw, according to insiders, was Adamus failure to account for the N32 billion raised by the party from the sale of forms for the 2023 general election.

Only N7 billion is left in the account as we speak, an NWC member said.

Adamu and Omisore claimed the account has been audited, but we are not aware of when the auditors were appointed. How can NWC not be aware of the appointment? It is part of our responsibilities to appoint auditors.

Sensing the move to remove him, Adamu had reportedly sought the support of the chairmen of the state chapters of the party but received a cold shoulder.

By the APC constitution, the proceeds were supposed to be shared with the zonal, state and ward levels of the party, and they were not in the know. So there was no way they were going to support him, another party insider revealed.

ADAMU VS TINUBU: THE RETURN LEG

Before the N32 billion question became a bone of contention, Adamus exit appeared imminent.

While Tinubu supported Tanko Al Makura, also a former governor of Nasarawa state, for the position of national chairman, party leaders loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari rooted for Adamu.

This was thought to be the first move to stop Tinubu from winning the partys presidential ticket.

Ahead of the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Tinubu complained bitterly that he was being betrayed despite the fact that a gentlemans agreement was sealed in 2015 for him to succeed Buhari.

His outburst, popularly known as emi lokan (its my turn), enraged Adamu who threatened that the party would discipline him.

In the week of the primary, Adamu informed NWC members that Ahmad Lawan, then senate president, was Buharis preferred presidential candidate.

The move was met with protests and condemnation from some quarters, but he stood his ground.

Lawan, a latecomer to the race, lost the primary, coming last with 38 votes against Tinubus 371.

Tinubu would go on to lose the presidential election in Nasarawa state, where Adamu was governor from 1999 to 2007.

It was inevitable that Adamu would bite the dust, the NWC member disclosed.

When the 10th national assembly was about to be inaugurated, it was the APC leadership that was supposed to work behind the scene for the leadership election. Adamu and Omisore were aloof. In fact, it was a known fact that Adamu was supporting Abdulaziz Yari.

As if that was not enough, when the committee positions were announced, Adamu openly dissociated himself from the list. He had it coming.

It is understood that when the issue of the N32 billion was presented to Tinubu, he gave the go-ahead for the party to remove him legally.

Uzodinma approached Adamu on Sunday and asked him to do the needful but he was unable to reach Omisore.








The controversy over who gets the ministerial slot in Rivers State has continued to rage, with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state now fighting some forces calling for the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, to take over the partys leadership.





APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, who spoke when he appeared as a guest on Arise Television on Sunday, said the formation of the APC in the state took the lives of several people, adding that it is unfair to reward a man who piloted the affairs of the state when the party faced a lot of troubles.





According to him: We wrote to the President officially, explaining the situations surrounding the APC in Rivers State and also the frolicking of some senior party members with the immediate past governor of our state.





Now, let me say this: the danger of having someone [in our party] who superintended over Rivers State while countless members of our party were brutally killed is demeaning to us. We feel it is an insult, for persons who are not even members of our political party, to begin to call on the immediate past governor to come to take over our party or to be rewarded by our political party.





We feel this is too disparaging for a party that has had a very checkered history right from 2014, and that the setting up of APC in Rivers State has taken the blood of innocent people.





He continued: We cannot, as a political party in Rivers State, look the likes of the Adube family in the face, the likes of the Chisom Lenard family, and several other persons who were brutally killed for belonging to the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.





What are we going to tell them? So, for us, its not just a question of morality. Its a question of whether our party is ready to set aside every known principle of self-respect. Is our party prepared to carry the burden of mocking and dancing on the graves of these innocent people?





He also alleged that Wike has sponsored people to campaign on his behalf to join and lead the APC in Rivers State.





If youve been following the trends of things in the recent weeks, where persons have been sponsored by the immediate past governor to come campaign on his behalf, because we know that they are clearly campaigning on his behalf, calling on him to come join the APC and come lead the APC,





Is the APC lacking in leadership? The APC has leadership. The APC is a well-structured political party across the 319 political wards.





And so, for any group or individuals to become overnight lobbyists on behalf of the immediate past governor is very, very prosperous, Nwauju said.





He further claimed that someone has been making ridiculous requests that the ministerial slot for Rivers State be given to Wike.





And the person Im referring to is the Chief of Staff to the former governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. One Mr Tony Okocha, who has been going all over the place, campaigning and calling on the immediate past governor to come take over our party structure.





In fact, going into ridiculous levels of asking that the ministerial slot for Rivers State be given to the immediate past governor. Now, I ask, what happened to the several qualified members of our political party? Am I not qualified to be a minister of the Federal Republic? he stated.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has tackled Southeast governors and Igbo leaders for meeting in Abuja over the sit-at-home in the Southeast.

Ohanaeze said the solution to the sit-at-home is in the Southeast, not Abuja.

The body noted that the outcome of the Southeast governors meeting with Igbo leaders in Abuja has shown that there are no answers in sight to end the insecurity challenges and the sit-at-home orders that had incapacitated the economic and social activities in the region.

A statement by Ohanaezes Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said even one of the Southeast governors acknowledged that the situation at hand was beyond their control.

According to Isiguzoro: The choice of Abuja venue where Igbo predicaments were discussed makes a caricature of it, as it is a clear indication that the conveners and those behind the meetings have lost the control of the southeast to non-state actors and are frightened to convene such meetings in the Southeast, proof of negligence and defeat.

Ndigbo should know that the solution to end the sit-at-home orders is in the Southeast, not in Abuja, in search for peace and to stabilize the Southeast, we have met on Sunday with critical stakeholders and nonviolent Biafra agitators on consultative sessions to find out remedies and the best approach to resolve the problem and end it once, and for all, the council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Prince Richard Ozobu have faulted why some Igbo political leaders who have abandoned their states in the East will now converge in a foreign land at Abuja and resort to help of foreigners to resolve a matter of Igbo affairs with homemade solutions.

Biafra agitators should be conscious of the fact that wrecking down the economy of the southeast and killing innocent citizens through Sit a Home Order will never affect the activities of the Federal Government in any way, as the silence of the Past and Present-day Federal Government shows that so far as there is no disruption of oil and gas exploration or threat to national security, Southeast self-inflicted insecurity should go on and devour the Igbos.

Ndigbo should know that the solutions to end the Sit at Home orders are here in South East not in Abuja and the reasons why those who are opposing the release of Nnamdi Kanu from the Niger Delta and the North, is that they comprehend that some set of political Igbo Leaders are Toothless bulldogs who has lost the control of the southeast to the non-state actors.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has suggested to the Federal and South-Eastern state governments a solution to end the sit-at-home menace crippling the economy of the region.

Recall that the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has been declaring a series of sit-at-home in the South-East zone in protest of the continued detention of the leader of the proscribed group, Nnamdi Kanu.

Senator Sani has suggested that since the sit-at-home is usually observed on Mondays, the government should start sharing N50,000 palliatives to South-East residents in market places every Monday in order to make them come out.

In a tweet on Sunday, the former lawmaker wrote, Share 50k palliatives in the market every Monday to end sit-at-home.

His suggestion was trailed by knocks and kudos.
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to halt the proposed increase in electricity tariffs by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

Mr Wasiu Afolabi, the OPC President, stated this in a statement signed by its General-Secretary, Mr Bunmi Fasehun on Sunday, in Lagos.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had last Friday revealed that eleven successor electricity companies have applied for a review of their respective electricity tariffs.

However, Afolabi urged Tinubu to kill the proposed electricity price increase, saying that workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and industrialists under the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had earlier rejected the move.

Afolabi said, President Tinubu should tell distribution companies that if they cannot deliver with the current tariff, they should submit their licences and close shop.

Moreover, the government should scrap this territorial monopoly, where only one DISCO has commandeered a service area and allows no competition.




The Nigerian army says troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility have busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra.





A statement issued on Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nywachukwu said the operation took place on Saturday along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.





He said the development followed an actionable intelligence made available to the troops.





The army spokesperson said the truck was loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of the same calibre.





The suspects, identified as Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.





He said preliminary investigation has revealed that the weapons were smuggled from Mali, via Idiroko International Border.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to intimidate the judiciary and trigger crises in the country.

Tinubu had asked the election tribunal to dismiss the petition seeking to nullify his election on the grounds that he did not secure 25 percent of lawful votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a statement on Monday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the threat of a crisis and anarchy by the president is not only subversive but an affront to democratic order and an assault on the corporate existence of the nation.

It is alarming and disturbing that the APC externalized to the public, their final written address in which they also threatened national peace if the court upholds the clear provisions of section 134 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner, the statement reads.

The threats, either through counsel or officials of the APC are calculated to intimidate and harass the judiciary and indeed Nigerians.

The PDP holds that the clear intent of the APC is to blackmail the court and emasculate the independence of the judiciary to discharge its duties in accordance with the dictates of the law.

This action is ostensibly to set the stage to orchestrate violent crisis in various parts of the country with the intention to further blackmail the PEPC.

We ask, why is the APC externalizing their final written address to the public? Is the APC being pre-emptive and now seeks to heighten tension, subvert the judicial process and trigger anarchy, having realized the weakness of their case before the PEPC?

The PDP however cautions and emphasizes that Nigeria is a country of rule of law. The statutory requirements for a winner in a presidential election as provided by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the electoral act, 2022 are clear and unambiguous.

The opposition party asked the APC to respect the provisions of the law and allow the judiciary to discharge its duties independently, without threats, intimidation and coercion.

Contrary to the doomsday claims of the APC and its lawyers, upholding the provisions of the constitution and the laws at this point will rather promote peace and stability in the polity, deepen our democracy and engender confidence in the institution of the judiciary, the party added.

The PDP called on Nigerians to remain calm, alert and hopeful in the ability of the judiciary to dispense justice accordingly.
The mother of a middle school student with autism has sued the Lyndhurst School District, claiming classmates repeatedly encouraged her son to commit socially inappropriate acts and district officials failed to intervene.

The lawsuit, filed June 23 in Superior Court of Bergen County, alleges district officials did not follow their own policies and state laws designed to prevent bullying and discrimination.

Lyndhurst schools Superintendent Joseph A. DeCorso said Friday the district was served with the lawsuit, but he declined to comment. Its a student matter in litigation, DeCorso said.

The boy was enrolled at Lyndhurst Middle School during the 2021-2022 school year for sixth and seventh grades with an individualized education plan, or IEP, according to court documents.

The student was diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and a mild intellectual disability, according to the suit. He also has Crohns disease and delays in speech and language.

The suit says due to his disabilities, the child has difficulties interpreting social cues.

In May 2022, a group of classmates contacted the student at home via FaceTime and attempted to coerce him into saying a racial slur while they were taking photos of him, according to the the suit.

The mother overheard the conversation and told her son to hang up. The student later told his mother that his classmates were telling him the slur meant hi.

The next day, the mother reported the incident to a guidance counselor who serves as the middle schools anti-bullying specialist.

The counselor told the mother she was aware of the students who had contacted the child on FaceTime and said she would look into the matter, the suit says.

According to the suit, the boy was walking to his locker on Sept. 14, 2022, when another student approached and told him a girl standing at her locker needs a hug and a kiss, even though the boy with autism and girl did not know each other.

The same student also allegedly used a racial slur to greet the boy in the lunchroom. When the student was questioned by the schools anti-bullying specialist, he allegedly said he uses the slur in a friendly way to say hello to his friends, according to the suit.

Clearly, there was a pattern of behavior targeting (the child) for his disabilities, the suit says. Moreover, as a result of the districts utter failure to implement effective remedial measures (the) pattern of HIB continued.

A group of female students approached the boy on Sept. 27, 2022, while at lunch and told him to go kiss another female student at a different table, the suit alleges.

The boy immediately reported the incident to the anti-bullying specialist, the lawsuit says.

Two days later, the childs mother filed three harassment, intimidation and bullying complaints using the schools online reporting system for incidents that occurred in September 2022.

On Dec. 2, 2022, the mother received letters from the district stating that each of the incidents were not substantiated and not acts of harassment, intimidation and bullying, the suit says.

The mother then filed complaints stating her son had been inappropriately touched for the purpose of bullying her child. On Dec. 21, 2022, the district again found the complaints were unsubstantiated, according to the suit.

On Jan. 31, the mother, through her attorney, appealed the findings before the board of education. However, the BOE shockingly upheld its prior findings determining that these incidents did not constitute bullying, the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges the district permitted a hostile school environment in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and in violation of the childs civil rights.

The district knew of the harassment and failed to take effective measures to reasonably address the harassment, intimidating and bullying to which (the child) was unmercifully subjected, the suit says.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A social worker sexually assaulted a child under the age of 13 years old, authorities said.

Jonathan Barrios, 27, of Midland Park was arrested Friday and charged with sexual assault by sexual contact, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said.

Authorities were notified about the alleged assault in Midland Park in late May and launched and investigation. Officials didnt say if the assault was related to Barrios job as a social worker.

Barrios is being held at the Bergen County jail ahead of a first appearance in court.

Attorney information for Barrios wasnt immediately available.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Cherish Jones sat pasting together body parts she had clipped from magazines to form a ballet dancer doing a plie, a move familiar even to non-fans that involves bending both knees outward and dipping straight down.

Cherish, 12, was working on an interdisciplinary project at AileyCamp, a six-week program based at Newark Arts High School, where she and 65 other campers study dance and visual arts. The collage was meant to reinforce both forms of expression.

Before I did this picture, I felt like art had nothing to do with dance, Cherish said. I know art is more using your hands and drawing, and dance is more of using your body. But now, when I put it together, it made me realize that you could put art and dance together, and it could really mean something.

Newarks program is one of 10 AileyCamps around the country, the first one founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in August 1989 by the pioneering choreographer, dancer and dance educator Alvin Ailey, who died that year at age 58.

Black, gay and raised by a single mother, Ailey grew up in rural Texas during the Depression and Jim Crow eras before founding the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and becoming one of the worlds most acclaimed choreographers.

Newarks AileyCamp began in 2011 as one of the ways Newarks 60,000 school-age children and teens spend their summers. The camp is held in partnership with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which will host a performance by campers on Aug. 2 in NJPACs Victoria Hall.

Its other partner is the Newark Public School district, which donates the camps daily instructional space at Arts High School, an ornate art deco building completed in 1931, the same year Ailey was born.

The camp is free, funded by Prudential Financial and the Fund II Foundation. Through instruction in dance, music, visual arts and personal development, the camp helps kids ages 1114 explore their creativity while developing self-confidence in a warm, respectful, and trusting environment, in groups of about 15 campers each. West African, jazz and ballet are some of the leading genres.

Ballet instructor Ana Sofia Reynoso led AileyCampers through exercises. The one boy in the class, Freddy Penafiel, is at left.Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

The camp is not intended as a feeder for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. But that does happen. A former Newark camper, Christopher Taylor, is one of three AileyCamp alumni nationwide to perform with the dance theaters premier troupe.

In a personal development class, the instructor used role-playing to foster empathy in campers, helping them to understand other peoples perspectives, a term that provides the theme for this summers session.

Theres nothing wrong with taking off your hat for the person who doesnt have the front row, the instructor, Natasha Hill, told the class.

A camper in a green felt hat, Kayla Astuquilca, 12, a soon-to-be 8th grader at Newarks First Avenue School, recited one of the AileyCamps affirmations: I will not use the word cant to define my possibilities.

The sound of dun-duns and djembe drums thundered through the school auditorium during a West African percussion class when campers played a piece known as Takademe using sticks and bare hands.

The art instructor in Cherishs class, Duron Jackson, said the point of the collage was to help students understand commonalities of performance and visual art forms that they might have considered unrelated in that they were forms of artistic expression. Viewed jointly, Jackson said, the two media can shed light on each other.

The artwork reinforces the dance movement and vice versa, said Jackson, who lives in Newark and teaches art at the Harlem Visual Academy in Manhattan during the school year.

Its a concept Cherish understood.

When I look at it, I know that this face isnt mine, Cherish, wholl start 8th grade this fall at Newarks Philips Academy charter school, said of her collage. But I picture it in my head, and then its my face. And the body shapes and all the features give you the same feeling that you feel in your legs and your arms.

Once each student finishes, Jackson said hell make a collage of the collages, and hopefully well have, like, a giant wall full of dance moves.

Cherishs mother, Alisha Jones, said her daughter studied ballet, jazz and tap before attending AileyCamp, but that learning West African dance has helped her grow as a dancer.

Ive seen Cherish just mature in her dance because now they have opened her up to different styles, Jones said.

Dance training or experience is not a prerequisite to attend. The application process for summer 2024 begins in early spring. For information go to www.alvinailey.org/aileycamp

Torens Johnson, a dance professor at Texas State University in San Marcos and AileyCamps national deputy director, said students in every city are alike in their energy, energy, energy. But one thing that distinguishes the Newark community is its embrace of dance as a form of expression for anyone.

I think its because theyre so exposed to so many cultural opportunities, said Johnson, who led a visitor on a tour of the camp this week with its co-directors, Sherece Hill and Ronnie Carney.

Johnson noted one thing in particular, compared to other AileyCamps, was that Newark has more boys.

That said, girls still made up most Newark campers  something that didnt bother Freddy Penafiel, who said he felt special as one of the few boys in the camp.

Freddy, 13, wholl be in 8th grade this fall at Newarks First Avenue School, is getting his first formal dance instruction as an AileyCamper, though he already liked to dance.

Dancing makes me feel good about myself because I can express different emotions through movement, he said. Its very creative.

His ballet instructor, Ana Sofia Reynoso, said Freddy is the kind of student who inspires her as a teacher.

He tries so hard, and hes so creative that you just want to encourage him to do more, said Reynoso, a New York City-based dancer and choreographer. Im from Mexico, and its so nice to see a Latino boy just doing it and being praised by his family.

For Freddy, dancing isnt just about feeling the music but surrendering to it.

To dance, he said, I let the music come into me.

West African percussion instructor Matthew Hill, left, leads AileyCampers playing dums-dums and djembe drums in a piece known as "Takademe."Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

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Oi Brasil, the cash-strapped Brazilian operator, has now seen a significant influx of revenue after completing the sale of selected tower infrastructure to Empreendimentos e Participacoes, an affiliate of comms infrastructure group Highline.

The deal was originally announced in August of last year, at which time Highline reportedly owned more than 3,800 tower sites across Brazil. This deal involves another 8,000 telecom towers.

The Data Centre Dynamics website says that a preliminary purchase price of R$905.1 million ($187.2 million) has been paid, with the remainder set to be paid up until 2026, though this depends on the level of infrastructure usage. The sale could net Oi R$1.7 billion (US$350 million) in total.

This influx of cash will no doubt be welcomed by Oi. Many people had thought the worst was over after debts of over US$19 billion led to the company being put in bankruptcy protection in 2016; it then exited bankruptcy protection last December.

However, we reported in February that Oi and its subsidiaries Portugal Telecom International Finance and Oi Brasil Holdings Cooperatief had apparently asked a business court in Rio de Janeiro for "urgent precautionary protection" to suspend some payments. Then regulator Anatel set up a working group to monitor the Oi Group.

In April, Oi was granted authorisation to obtain a loan of US$275 million from its current creditors. Attempts to dispose of its stake in its fibre firm V.tal fell foul of an Anatel ruling; however, according to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, in late June Oi was granted permission to sell its legacy copper networks to V.tal.

How or whether this tower sale will ease Ois financial woes is not clear. Either way, its been an unexpectedly difficult 2023 for the company so far.
Three Guttenberg police officers were assaulted while responding a dispute at a town bar and two men were arrested early Monday, authorities said.

The police officers arrived at the M Bar and Restaurant, at 70th Street and Kennedy Boulevard, at 1:33 a.m. on the report of a large fight and found a group of people in a heated argument with members of the establishments staff, Guttenberg Sgt. Aleksandar Ramadanovic said.

When the officer attempted to intervene, two of the people involved  Luis M. Baca-Turcios, 34, of Jersey City, and Napoleon Anduray-Romero, 29, of Union City  assaulted the officers, Ramadanovic said. Police Officers from the North Bergen Police Department were called in to assist with the incident.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are on their way to Philadelphia.

Springsteen will perform at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Aug. 16 and Aug. 18.

The second leg of The Boss North American tour will begin Aug. 9 in Chicago and wrap up on Dec. 12 in San Francisco. Springsteen also will be performing three shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.

This leg of the tour is in stadiums, so there are a lot more seats, and tickets are not nearly as expensive as they were for Springsteens earlier 2023 concerts. In fact, the get-in price for Springsteens Aug. 16 show is under $100 on the secondary market  a far cry from when his arena show tickets were selling for thousands of dollars.

At the time of publication, the cheapest ticket we could find, before fees, was $77 on Vivid Seats.

Tickets can be purchased on other secondary websites such as Ticketmaster Verified Resale, StubHub, TicketNetwork, TicketCity and MegaSeats.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout. TicketCity users can save $15 on orders over $400 using promo code TCITYSAVE15 at checkout.

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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I read with interest about the Biden administrations new college debt plan, or, as I describe it, debt scheme.

Clearly, the intent is to circumvent the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that nullified an earlier student debt forgiveness measure put forth by President Joe Biden without congressional approval.

Progressives have, in the past, used similar gimmicks to sidestep actions that were deemed unconstitutional in order to deal with issues on where the progressives take an opposing view. Second Amendment firearm rights issues are one example.

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In unrelated news reports and an editorial (Miles and money limit South Jersey health access), I read how so-called drugstore deserts are appearing, first in low-income towns. The coverage listed accurately  but incompletely  some reasons for closures of drug and food stores in such areas. But, unmentioned was that shoplifting, armed robbery and vandalism are significant, perhaps even primary, reasons for the closures.

These reactions demonstrate progressive logic in dealing with unpleasant realities: sidestep them or ignore them.

Take a look at history. When constitutional law is dismissed as inconvenient and media outlets abandon their duty to impartial fact presentation, someone steps in to fill the void. That someone has never been benevolent, progressive, woke, or an inclusive savior of justice. It has been Franco, Mussolini, Lenin and Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Fidel Castro and lesser evil sorts, such as Ugandas Idi Amin and a dozen Middle East lunatics.

So, be forewarned. Circumvent the rule of law, present half truths and preferred dogma as fact, and be prepared for whats coming. Its not a liberal paradise of bliss and harmony.

Lou Manfredo, Deptford

Editors note: Bidens new proposal cancels about $39 billion owed by about 800,000 borrowers, based on historical inaccuracies in loan origination or servicing. The court voided a broader $400 billion Biden plan that covered an estimated 43 million borrowers.

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UPDATE: Mudslide leaves N.J. homes uninhabitable. Gov. Murphy tours storm damage.

A landslide from Sundays severe storms has closed part of Route 46 in Warren County until further notice, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said.

Dirt, stones and trees covered a half-mile of Route 46 in Knowlton Township following Sundays torrential storms. The guardrail and roadway are damaged, officials said.

County officials reported other roads were closed following the weekend storms and all transportation services, including the Route 57 Shuttle service, have been canceled for today.

Gov. Phil Murphy plans to tour the damage this morning, county officials said.

The next few days will provide a better picture of the total impact to our county as we stabilize, assess and quantify the extent of the infrastructure damage we have undergone. We are so grateful for our federal and state representatives, especially Congressman Tom Kean Jr. and state Senator Doug Steinhardt who have already provided assistance and been on scene to assess the damage, Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III, liaison for public safety, said in a release.

Route 46 is closed in both directions east of Ramseyburg Road.

Eastbound traffic, should use I-80 eastbound, officials said.

Westbound traffic should turn right onto Route 519/Hope Bridgeville Road, and follow Hope Bridgeville though the town of Hope before taking the ramp to I-80 westbound.

MORE: Hundreds of Jersey Central Power & Light customers in Warren County still without power

As of Monday morning, the following roads were still closed:

Belvidere

Fourth Street, from Spring Street to Depue Street

Harmony Township

Hutchinson River Road, from Reeder Road to River Road

Harmony Station Road at River Road

Hope Township

Hope Bridgeville Road, from Kostenbader Road to Route 519

Oxford

Mine hill, from Academy Street to the Washington Township line

Knowlton Township

Route 46 at Ramseyburg Road

Blairstown

Belcher Road, from Dry Road to Cedar Lake Road

Cooke Road near Silver Lake Marksboro Road

Sipley Road, from Gwinnup Road to Vail Road

Independence Township

Mount Rascal, from Old Allamuchy to Ridge Lane

Lopatcong Township

Belvidere Road, from Raub Lane to Belview Road

Fox Farm Road

Pohatcong Township

Municipal Drive near the tunnel

Still Valley, from Vorhees Road to Municipal Drive

Route 519

Snyders Road, from Oberly Road to River Road

Creek Road, from Winters Road to River Road

River Road, from Pinchers Point Road to Snyders Road

Edge Road at Still Valley Road

Chestnut Street, from Hunt Avnue to Lock Street

Washington Township, Warren County

Brass Castle Road at Hartmans Corner

Route 57 at Buttermilk Bridge Road

White Township

Quarry West Road at Brass Castle Road

Lomasons Glen Road, from Route 519 to Summerfield Road

Phillipsburg

Route 22, from Pickford Avenue to Roseberry Street

South Main Street, from Pursel Street to Lock Street

Lock Street, from South Main Street to Route 22

Carpentersville Road at South Main Street

Greenwich Township

Ravine Road

South Main Street, from Greenwich Street to the middle school

34 1 / 34 Warren County flooding July 16, 2023

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After storms caused severe flooding in New Jersey over the weekend, the state will start to dry out Sunday night and into Monday, the National Weather Service said.

The flooding caused landslides in Warren County and downed trees, power lines and blocked roadways, prompting Gov. Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency starting at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Throughout the state, we have seen heavy rainfalls resulting in hazardous conditions and we urge residents to remain vigilant around flooded roadways and downed trees and power lines, Murphy said in a late afternoon announcement. The safety of our residents is our main priority, and we recommend everyone to be informed of local weather conditions and to take necessary precautions.

The state will see less wet weather Monday, and, unfortunately, the return of wildfire smoke from Canada, according to the forecast.

Aside from an isolated shower this evening, well finally start to dry out overnight. Unfortunately, the wildfire smoke will begin to make a return to the region to start the new week. The next chance for storms (30-50%) will be on Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly said Sunday evening on Twitter.

The National Weather Service said the state will dry out overnight into Monday, July 17, 2023.

The weekend weather has taken its toll up and down the state and in neighboring areas, on households, air travelers, and motorists, including some killed by flooding.

Just across the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a flash flood in Upper Makefield Township swept away several cars, claiming at least four lives, and leaving three other people missing, including a 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, the Associated Press reported.

Earlier on Sunday, a section of Route 46 in Knowlton Township in Warren County was blocked by a landslide that buried the highway with earth, rocks and trees.

About 3,400 New Jerseyans remained without power Sunday evening, most of them customers of Jersey Central Power & Light. The number is down from nearly 15,000 outages Sunday morning, including Public Service Electric & Gas and Atlantic City Electric customers.

The weather wreaked havoc on air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport, where more than half of Sundays flights were canceled or delayed as of 7 p.m., according to FlightAware, which reported 362 canceled arrivals and departures, and another 364 inbound and outbound flights delayed.

Murphy urged residents to check ready.nj.gov for weather updates and safety information, and to check local forecasts and advisories.

Central and South Jersey residents were advised to visit the U.S. National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly stations website and North Jersey residents should check the weather services New York site.

Severe thunderstorms resulted in flooding throughout New Jersey. Pictured: The Bloomingdale yard of resident Marisa Cironi French on July 16, 2023.Photo courtesy of Marisa Cironi French

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DENVER  Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo hasnt bashed one of his bats on the dugout roof again and again like Brett Gardner once did or smashed any water coolers like Paul ONeill back in the day.

He doesnt lose his temper when hes not hitting.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman better hurry up. He might have some competition if he plans to add an everyday outfielder at the trade deadline.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, The Houston Astros have checked in with the Chicago Cubs about starter Marcus Stroman and center fielder Cody Bellinger, each of who are expected to be available.

BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

It seems that pitching is out of the question for New York. Cashman feels that they have plenty of that - Carlos Rodon is back in the mix, Nestor Cortes is coming soon, and Luis Severino, Domingo German, Clarke Schmidt, and Gerrit Cole are healthy. So Marcus Stroman is out of the question.

What about Cody Bellinger?

NJ Advance Medias Randy Miller recently spoke with an industry official familiar with the Yankees thinking who said that Bellinger is a possibility. Bellinger would only be a rental, the official added.

On Sunday, Cashman appeared on MLB Network Radio and made it official what the Yankees are targeting at the trade deadline. Aside from pitching, which the veteran GM said every team needs, the team is looking for an outfielder.

Well continue to focus on maybe a bat there that could be more of an established everyday offensive contributor in left field -- if thats viable or not remains to be seen, he said. So whether its a right-hand bat that would platoon with what we already have or whether its a full-bore everyday position that can lock it down against lefties and righties remains to be seen as we move forward and whats obtainable and if the prices can match with us.

The Yankees are currently tied for last place in the NL East after a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. They are nine games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, but only two back of a Wild Card, so it looks that the team will look to add pieces at the trade deadline.

Want to bet on MLB?

See the best NJ Sports Betting sites

Cashman better not drag his feet though, or he risks losing his No. 1 trade target to the Astros.

MORE YANKEES

- Yankees rapid decline could mean no playoffs in 23, no Aaron Boone in 24 | Klapisch

- Are Yankees championship caliber? Save it with that question, Aaron Boone snaps after bad loss | Analysis

- Yankees Anthony Rizzo addresses his worst slump ever, .196 with no homers in 41 games

NJ Advance Medias Randy Miller contributed to this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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Uganda has reversed a parliamentary decision to abandon a new tax law that imposes a 5% levy on income earned locally by foreign companies. The tax law had been debated and dropped in May. However, President Yoweri Museveni has now signed a bill that includes the levy clause.

This means foreign-owned tech companies such as Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Uber offering services in Uganda will pay 5% of their income to the government.

As a number of media outlets point out, tech firms that dont have headquarters on the continent pay only modest taxes to African nations. Uber, with a healthy local income, is one example noted by Ugandas finance minister.

In addition, billions of dollars are generated from the data of close to 600 million African internet users. Such points are seen a justification for this and other taxes. In fact Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania have implemented similar levies on digital services.

Things arent aways so clear-cut, however. Local press suggests the Ugandan opposition fears that companies could push the costs of taxes onto locals that rely on digital platforms. That was one reason why the Nigerian government recently confirmed that it would not impose a 5% excise duty on Nigerias telecoms sector. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had suggested that this move would increase the cost of telecommunication services.

Similarly some forms of tech tax can be seen as penalising content-creating citizens. Kenya, for example, is facing protests after proposing a 15% tax on content creators many of whom have taken to digital platforms to voice their frustrations with a proposal in the Finance Bill 2023.
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Portuguese telecoms regulator ANACOM has announced that it is working with the Cape Verdean communications regulator ARME on the installation of a remote station on the island of Boa Vista to improve its spectrum monitoring system.

With last weeks inauguration of the Boa Vista station, which uses software developed by ANACOM, the Cape Verdean regulator will be able to monitor the spectrum on this island from its headquarters in the city of Praia, without having to move teams, which will lower operating costs and increase efficiency levels.

The Cape Verde regulator is already using an ANACOM-supplied system for gauging the quality of service (QoS) of mobile networks.

In addition to Cape Verde, this year ANACOM has already cooperated with Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe in Africa and Timor Leste in Asia, focusing on mobile network QoS. ANACOM says it has also helped with technical training and interference management.

Boa Vista is the third largest island of the Cape Verde archipelago. As the easternmost island, it is also closer to the African continent than the other islands.

But Boa Vista is, apparently, just the start. The longer-term objective is to install this type of station, using ANACOM software, on all the islands of the Cape Verde archipelago (of which there are ten), allowing the Cape Verdean communications regulator to optimize and complete its network of remote monitoring stations.
Mac Phipps wanted to stick out like a sore thumb on No Limit Records. A gifted lyricist, the New Orleans-born rapper says he saw an opportunity to marry his lyrical style with the raw, street sound No Limit was becoming known for in the mid- and late-'90s.

So when I was recording Shell Shocked, I was anxious, I was ready, I was hungry, I was young, and it was my way of letting the world know that I was here, Phipps recently told Gambit. And that I was not only here, but that No Limit had lyricists.

Phipps Shell Shocked was a major success in summer 1998. With songs like Boss Chick and Murda, Murda, Kill, Kill, and features by Mia X, Snoop Dogg, Master P, Soulja Slim, C-Murder and others on the No Limit roster, Shell Shocked climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Phipps had another album  his Mannie Fresh-produced debut, released when Phipps was just 13  and other records and features, but Shell Shocked was his introduction to the wider world.

Phipps will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shell Shocked on Friday, July 21, with a show at the House of Blues. Hell be backed by his live band  Skoota Warner, Rayvon Neal, Kendall Thomas, Joshua Starkman and Phipps brothers Jeremy and Joshua Phipps  along with surprise guests.

By the time Shell Shocked was released on July 21, 1998, Phipps was 20 years old and had been with No Limit for about a year. When he had signed with Master Ps label, Phipps already had a book full of rhymes he was ready to lay down  but ultimately only used maybe one or two for Shell Shocked, he says.

During that year between signing and recording his sophomore release, Phipps studied the artists around him and the No Limit audience. He developed a new strategy, because No Limit was a different vibe for me, as far as what I was used to listening to and my style, Phipps says. He learned quickly, though, and started to build his name with features on songs by his labelmates.

By 1998, No Limit was rolling out two new albums each month. Phipps had only a few days in the studio to record Shell Shocked  and still ended up with a 21-track record, plus an outro. No Limits go-to producers, Beats by the Pound, made the albums beats, with the exception of Camouflage Love, which was produced by the late DJ Wop.

No Limits strategy led to one of the biggest years ever for a hip-hop label, with massive releases by Soulja Slim, Master P, Snoop, Mia X, C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal and others. New Orleans and the No Limit headquarters in Baton Rouge were firmly at the center of that energy.

For me as a new artist who no one really knew outside of New Orleans, Shell Shocked came out at the perfect time, Phipps says. It was at the height of No Limits reign. It was in the middle of 1998, and so I think anything we could have put out at that time was going to sell, but I can say we put together a great album.

Shell Shocked and his 1999 follow-up World War III earned Phipps success and acclaim  but it was taken away far too soon. In early 2000, Phipps was at a concert in Slidell when a fight broke out and a gun was fired. A 19-year-old, Barron Victor Jr., was killed.

Police arrested Phipps based on dubious evidence, and in 2001 he was convicted of manslaughter by a split jury after a trial that unfairly used his lyrics against him. Phipps always asserted his innocence, and in 2014 and 2015 new evidence came out to support him. Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2021 granted Phipps request for clemency, and that summer, he was released from prison.

Phipps has stayed busy since returning home: He appeared at last years Jazz Fest with Mia X, performed with his former labelmates on the No Limit Reunion tour, and released his first album in 22 years, Son of the City last fall. And during this years legislative session, Phipps lobbied Louisiana lawmakers to pass a bill better protecting artists from having their creative expression used against them in court. The bipartisan bill passed and goes into effect Aug. 1.

Phipps father was a Vietnam veteran, and when Phipps was young, they would watch military movies together. Wartime imagery and military cadences inspired his song Murda, Murda, Kill, Kill, which was taken out of context and used against him in court. But a positive experience came about a few years later, Phipps says.

I think that the biggest honor I got was that during the Iraq War, a lot of guys who were in the military used to write me in prison and tell me they would listen to my songs to basically keep them alive and alert while they were in war, Phipps says. For me, it felt like, OK, even though they used this against me in court, there was something positive these songs were used for.

Mac Phipps performs at 8 p.m. Friday, July 21, at the House of Blues. Tickets are $35 via houseofblues.com.
The MusiCon team, from left: Reid Wick, Christine Auten and Melissa O'Brien. The concept of a "business of music"-focused gathering started in 2019, but this year will be the first MusiCon-branded event and it has the blessing of New Orleans' tourism and economic development honchos.
This work is supported with a grant funded by the Walton Family Foundation and administered by the Society of Environmental Journalists.

Email Mark Schleifstein at mschleifstein@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter, @MSchleifstein.
It has been several months since the Cuban regime celebrated the strengthening of its alliance with Moscow, announcing a series of economic reform measures endorsed by the Kremlin, and the arrival of a Russian Navy vessel to the Bay of Havana.

But, what do Cubans think of this renewed friendship? Can reality offset their alleged nostalgia for the times of the USSR?

A survey carried out on the island by the Cubadata project disclosed that, according to the Cubans consulted, among the main reasons for the strengthening of that alliance is that Moscow wishes to strengthen its geopolitical presence in Latin America (17.6%), while 14.2% believe that Havana needs financial and economic support, due to its internal situation. 11.8% believe that Russia is looking for new markets for its products in the face of western sanctions.

From the above, it is clear that Cubans do not swallow the narrative advanced by Havana that the "revived friendship" is due to efforts to exercise sovereignty and the self-determination to establish alliances, or out of disinterested solidarity.

Only 8% believe Russia seeks to support Cuba in its challenge to sanctions and international isolation, while 10.1 percent say both governments need to evade U.S. sanctions on the trade in dollars.

In fact, the alliance received very low grades from Cubans: only 25% (262 respondents) fully agreed with it, while 36.4% (393 respondents) disapproved. Meanwhile, 27.8% (292) were neutral.

This skepticism is evident upon examining agreements already underway or announced: only 19.5% believe that the increase in the teaching of Russian is useful or necessary, and 47.3% say they prefer that other languages, such as English, be taught.

Along the same line, only 15.5% of respondents believe that the alliance between Cuba and Russia will generate progress for Cubans in general. 44.1% think that this benefit will only be for an elite, and 13.4% say that it will not bring any progress at all.

Despite being bombarded by Kremlin propaganda, the Cubans consulted have a fairly accurate perception of what Russia is like as a state: 29.8% believe that its political model is authoritarian; 14% believe that it is a mixed system; only 13.0% qualify it as democratic, and 43.2% admit to not being sure.

As for the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it is surprising to note that in the Cubadata survey 42.5% of those consulted did not consider it legitimate, and just 13.7% approved of it. In this section, a significant 19.7% preferred not to respond, while 24.1% said that they did not know.

The survey was conducted from June 15 to June 30 in all the provinces of Cuba, asking 1,029 people, more than 75% of them between ages 22 and 55. The results show, once again, that the Cuban regime is pursuing policies that favor the island's elite, no matter how unpopular they may be.
ENTERPRISE  Teamwork between multiple law enforcement agencies from neighboring counties is what Enterprise Police Chief Michael Moore credits with the successful resolution to a daylong standoff Friday with a convicted felon called armed and dangerous.

Shannon Scott Anthony, 40, is in Coffee County Jail on $350,000 bond set Saturday morning by Coffee County District Judge Josh Wilson. Anthony ultimately surrendered to authorities at about 7:55 p.m. Friday after being holed-up with a rifle inside an abandoned vehicle in a wooded area behind the Ford dealership off of Boll Weevil Circle.

Luckily, I was surrounded by a whole lot of patient people. We were really exhausted. It was a long day, Moore said at a press conference held at Enterprise City Hall Monday morning. Surrounded by law officers who had assisted in the 15-hour day that began with a 4 a.m. report to police Friday of a disorderly person in the 100 block of Boll Weevil Circle, Moore said he was holding the press conference to let the community know how thankful I am for everybody who was there. We could not have had a better resolution to this situation.

It was a team effort, Moore said, crediting the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and their SWAT team, Coffee Dale and Houston County Sheriffs Offices, Dothan Police Department, ATF, Enterprise Rescue, the Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney, the Enterprise State Community College Police, and Alabama Department of Corrections for their assistance. We would also like to thank the staff of Mitchell Dodge for their support during this incident, he said.

Moore said that when police responded to the residence early Friday morning, they discovered two men fighting. Anthony, who had earlier kicked in the door to the residence, retreated into the residence to get a long rifle, which he pointed at the officers. One officer got the residents of the place out and another went to the back yard where he was met by Anthony and the same rifle was pointed at him, Moore said. After this the officers lost sight of Anthony and the EPD Shift Supervisor created a wide cordon in the wooded area.

Tracking dogs from the Alabama Department of Corrections and a Dale County Sheriffs Department helicopter joined in the search and at 12:38 p.m., members of the search team located Anthony hiding in an abandoned pickup truck in the woods behind the Mitchell Dodge dealership on Boll Weevil Circle.

After multiple hours of negotiation with the suspect, he finally surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident, Moore said. We were out there 15 hours but the end result was what we wanted.

Praise the Lord that he decided to give up peacefully, said State Bureau of Investigation Lt. David Hall at the press conference Monday. At the end of the day, we want to protect our citizens and that is what happened Friday. Chief Moore and his staff did a phenomenal job.

Wiregrass citizens need to know that we come together and work as a team, said Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd.

Our assignment is to protect the community. The mission was met, said Moore. At the end of the day we want to protect our citizens and that is what happened Friday.

Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox agreed. The district attorneys office appreciates all of our law enforcement partners and their actions during Fridays events, Tarbox said. The collaboration between and assistance provided by numerous agencies led to the peaceful outcome of a situation that could have unfortunately been deadly.
Earlier this month, Torridge Councillor and Great Torrington Mayor Doug Smith travelled to Wimbledon, London, to unveil a statue to honour Margaret Noble better known as Sister Nivedita.

Sister Nivedita was a celebrated educator and a champion of the poor in India, with strong family ties to Great Torrington, where a half-bust statue was unveiled in 2019.

Standing at an impressive height of 6.2 ft, the bronze statue was fabricated and cast in India by artist Nirjan De, Sarada Sarkar of the Sister Nivedita Celebrations Committee.

The figure stands before Richard's Lodge High School for Girls, paying tribute to Sister Nivedita's legacy as a strong and independent woman and champion of educational opportunities for women. The statue faces southeast, towards Bengal, symbolising the connection between the two regions.

Margaret Elizabeth Noble was born in 1867 and moved to Great Torrington as a young girl but spent most of her life in India where she gained a reputation as an educationalist and a campaigner for India's freedom movement. She met Swami Vivekananda in 1895 in London and subsequently travelled to Calcutta.

There, she established a girls' school in 1898 with the intention of providing education to girls who had been deprived of even the most basic education. She was given the name Nivedita, meaning "dedicated to god." During the plague epidemic in Calcutta in 1899, she nursed people experiencing poverty.

Sister Nivedita was closely associated with the Ramakrishna Mission and later also made an active contribution in the field of Indian Nationalism.

The impressive memorial in Great Torrington and now also in London will hopefully mean that future generations will be reminded of her remarkable achievements in India and her connection to Torridge and the town of her birth.

Councillor Doug Smith, Torridge District Council and Great Torrington Mayor, said: "The people of Great Torrington are so pleased to be connected to this amazing woman.

"Her legacy has forged new links and friendships that stretch across many countries, and we look forward to welcoming the many visitors that will come to view her grave and memorial as a place of pilgrimage. It was an honour to be invited to the event in London and to be welcomed to take part in the unveiling. Another fitting tribute to a remarkable woman."
Five contested patents held by SNIPR remain in place

Precedential ruling means that SNIPR's patent portfolio will not be subject to any further interference and will not be judged by the old first-to-invent standard

(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SNIPR Biome ApS, the company pioneering CRISPR-based microbial gene therapy, announces today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued a precedential ruling in favor of SNIPR in a patent interference case with Rockefeller University.

The patent interference case focused on one allowed patent application owned by Rockefeller University and five patents owned by SNIPR and was declared by the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board in 2021 in Rockefeller University's favor. This ruling has now been overturned in favor of SNIPR following a hearing by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in February 2023.

SNIPR's successful appeal was based on the argument that all of SNIPR's patents have been filed under the America Invents Act (AIA), in which interferences were removed as a feature of the statute. The AIA was a systematic change to US patent law that moved from a first-to-invent standard to a first-to-file system, in line with Europe and other parts of the world.

The Court held that "SNIPR appeals, contending that the Board never should have subjected its first-inventor-to-file patents to a vestige of the old first-to-invent system: an invention date contest against Rockefeller's first-to-invent application through an interference. Because the text, purpose, and history of the AIA make clear that first-inventor-to-file patents exclusively governed by the AIA cannot be subject to an interference (save for one exception not applicable here), we reverse."

This ruling determines that the five contested patents that SNIPR holds will remain in place, that none of SNIPR's patent portfolio can be subjected to an interference again, and that SNIPR's patents will not be judged by the old first-to-invent standard.

The ruling reinforces SNIPR's extensive intellectual property portfolio, comprising more than 60 granted patents worldwide supporting SNIPR Biome's technology platform, which enables editing of prokaryotes using CRISPR/Cas. SNIPR's patent filings were the first in the field to demonstrate selective killing of bacteria in a mixed species population (i.e. a microbiome), demonstrated by the European patent, EP3291679, titled 'Altering Microbial Populations & Modifying Microbiota' granted by the European Patent Office to SNIPR in 2021. This patent relates to the use of vectors carrying CRISPR/Cas systems for targeting species in mixed populations of bacteria. Use of any Cas is covered, as is the targeting of any species of bacteria and in any microbiome. Broad protection has similarly been granted by the US Patent Office (USPTO) and further examples of SNIPR's granted US patents can be found here.

This portfolio is licensed in many fields, including being exclusively licensed to SNIPR Biome for medical applications, from which sub-licenses are available.

Dr Christian Grndahl, Co-founder and CEO of SNIPR Biome, commented, "We are pleased this interference case has been resolved, upholding protection in the US of the intellectual property acquired through the pioneering work of SNIPR's scientists. SNIPR was the first company to receive a patent for the use of CRISPR to target and modulate bacterial genomes , and we now have an extensive intellectual property portfolio, comprising more than 60 granted patents worldwide. The applications of CRISPR are continuing to expand, and we are applying our knowledge of CRISPR to develop innovative therapeutics that leverage our pioneering efforts in microbial gene editing, in order to address serious and difficult-to-treat diseases."

Jasper Clube, Co-founder and Chief Patent Counsel of SNIPR Biome, commented, "SNIPR is delighted with this important decision of the Federal Circuit. We are also pleased that the Court recognized that the U.S. Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB), has never determined whether Rockefeller's claims, which it copied from our issued patents, satisfy the patentability requirements."

Contact:

SNIPR BiomeDr. Christian Grndahl, Co-founder and CEOE-mail: cg@sniprbiome.com Mobile: +45 20202747 www.sniprbiome.com Please follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter: @sniprbiome

Consilium Strategic CommunicationsTracy Cheung, Chris Welsh, Davide SalviTel: +44 (0) 203 709 5700 SNIPR@consilium-comms.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/precedential-us-federal-court-decision-hands-snipr-biome-a-win-in-patent-appeal-over-rockefeller-university-for-crispr-cas-microbial-gene-editing-301878234.html
EAST CHICAGO  Five Lake County high school graduates were recipients of a scholarship award honoring a late Lake Station student.

On July 3, the presentation of the George Amaya Its Cool to Stay in School Scholarship award took place at the Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center in East Chicago, after a three-year pause.

Jade Bailey of Steel City Academy in Gary, Sarah Bell of Morton High in Hammond, Christian Dahn of Hanover Central, Milton Green of West Side Leadership Academy in Gary and Brenden Pempeck-Ricard of Lowell High School were awarded $200 each.

Its Cool to Stay in School is the program that offers the scholarship award. It was founded in 2007 by Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin D. Hawkins. The program was originally started to address the issue of school truancy but shifted its focus to promote civic engagement and push students to continue their education.

The scholarship award is named for George Amaya, an Edison High School graduate who was in his first year at Manchester University when he was killed in a car accident in 2010. Amaya was one of the first recipients of the scholarship a few months before this death.

In previous years, only two high school graduates each year would receive the scholarship, Hawkins said. However, the award was not presented for the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it restarted this year, eligibility was expanded to allow one high school graduate from each of Lake Countys public and private high schools to be a recipient. Hawkins said this was done to promote the return of the award.

Twenty high school principals in the county were contacted, requesting nominations of students, but Hawkins got only five responses. However, he claims that low participation from the high schools has been persistent throughout the years, an issue he has been questioning.

Were begging you to take free money, he said.

Hawkins told The Times that the program will continue its outreach to schools but hopes to see a greater commitment from school administrators.

This betters our community at large, he said.
Hollywood star Michael Shannon, the distinguished actor of stage and screen who's been nominated for two Academy Awards, made an appearance at Hammond's Festival of the Lakes.

Shannon, who's been nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscars for his work in "Revolutionary Road" and "Nocturnal Animals," is a big fan of the Chicago-based alternative rock band Local H, which opened for Stone Temple Pilots on Friday night.

Local H, which is known for songs like "Bound for the Floor," "High-Fiving MF," "Fritz's Corner," "All the Kids Are Right" and "California Songs," is a prolific live act that hasn't performed in a while, and Shannon wanted to see them when they returned for their first concert after the hiatus, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said.

Shannon watched the band from the stage, hung out with Local H backstage and in their trailer afterward and stuck around to watch Stone Temple Pilots play, McDermott said. He met and talked to some fans at the festival.

"It's a definite first to have an Oscar-nominated actor at Festival of the Lakes," McDermott said. "We were psyched. It was pretty epic. It feels like our festival is reaching new heights. It was so cool and awesome to have him there. Word is getting around among artists about Festival of the Lakes."

Festival of the Lakes is an annual summer festival at the Pavilion at Wolf Lake that celebrates Hammond's three lakes: Lake Michigan, Wolf Lake and George Lake. Headliner Lil Wayne drew about 18,000 concert-goers on Saturday and Stone Temple Pilots and Local H drew more than 14,000, McDermott said.

That included Shannon, who was wearing a Jesus Lizard T-shirt commemorating the post-hardcore college rock band's Rocking Chair Tour and plays in his own indie rock band, Corporal.

Shannon won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in "99 Homes" and has appeared in films like "Take Shelter," "Mud," "Elvis & Nixon," "Knives Out" and "Bullet Train," as well as in Broadway plays and Showtime's "George & Tammy." He's gone toe-to-toe with Superman while portraying General Zod in the DC Extended Cinematic Universe.

A veteran of Chicago theater, Shannon famously watched "The Shape of Water," a film he starred in, win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2018 while hunched on a bar stool at the Old Town Ale House in Chicago after directing a play at the nearby A Red Orchid Theatre.

Though he was standing off to the side of the stage, people immediately noticed Shannon was there, so McDermott sent a security detail.

"I mobilized a security detail because he was just hanging out and he would have gotten mobbed," the mayor said. "He was totally visible on the stage if people were close enough and paying attention. Most people are looking at the band. But he was literally on stage and you could easily see him."

Shannon attended the whole concert, which abruptly ended after about an hour just before the encore because of a thunderstorm rolling in. Stone Temple Pilots shifted around its set so it could play hits like "Interstate Love Song" before the storm got too close and the concert ultimately had to be cut short when lightning struck within six miles, McDermott said.

"He watched the whole show. He was really cool, really laid back," McDermott said. "He was super personable and nice and humble."

McDermott was wowed with Local H's performance, and not just because they drew Shannon to the concert.

"I've seen them before. Anybody from Chicago has seen them at least once or twice by chance because they're always playing," he said. "But they really brought it. They hadn't played in a while and were playing for a big crowd and were really awesome."

McDermott went so far as to say Local H delivered the best set for an opener in the festival's history.

"Normally an opening act knows its place and that it's there to warm up the crowd," he said. "But they were just completely awesome. I was stunned. The Festival of the Lakes just keeps getting bigger and bigger each year."
MALVERN  A lightning strike caused a house fire in Geneva County over the weekend, displacing a family shortly after they finished moving into the home.

According to Slocomb Fire-Rescue, on Saturday, July 15, at around 4:51 p.m., multiple units rushed to the scene of a structure fire at 546 South County Road 49 in Malvern. The initial 911 caller reported that the structure was fully engulfed in flames. The homeowner said the house had been struck by lightning.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered the home fully engulfed in flames and the second story of the structure already collapsing. Initially, the crew had to park over 100 feet away from the structure due to a large amount of radiant heat.

Slocomb Fire-Rescue said a lock was on a fire hydrant, so Rehobeth Fire and Taylor Fire were dispatched for water supply and manpower. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Geneva County Sheriffs Office, and the Geneva County EMA, also responded.

It took about two hours to get the fire under control, and no injuries were reported. Officials said this was a brand-new home and the family dropped the last truck load of belongings off 30 minutes before the lightning strike.
Senior IRS special agents will warn people about fraud to watch out for at an upcoming Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association event.

The IRS agents will give a talk entitled "Don't Take the Bait" at the Ironworkers Hall at 6570 Ameriplex Drive in Portage from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on July 26. They will cover how businesses and people can keep their financial futures protected.

The special agents will give an overview of the top five types of fraud alerts and review how identity theft works, how people can monitor their accounts, how they can prevent fraud, what they should do if they experience identity theft and resources where they can find more information.

Attendees will hear from Carrie Poulter, the Bank Secrecy Act coordinator in the Northern Judicial District of Indiana; Katie OConnor, a special agent who has investigated criminal tax violations for the last 12 years; and Sarah Smulski, a special agent who has investigated tax fraud, employment tax, money laundering, identity theft and public corruption over the past 18 years.

The Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association is a nonprofit that seeks to advance the professional development of women and their careers in the Calumet Region. It provides opportunities for networking with some of the most successful women in a number of industries and all areas of business and also prioritizes education. It seeks to "provide learning opportunities to strengthen and uplift women who are leading our regions companies and communities."

For more information or to register, visit NWIIWA.org.
Northwest Indiana White Castles gave $16,600 to support the national nonprofit Gift of Adoption.

Northwest Indiana District White Castle recently presented a check to the charity at White Castle 43 at 440 W. Ridge Road in Griffith.

The donation will allow Gift of Adoption to provide grants to help parents adopt children in vulnerable circumstances, such as siblings at risk of separation, older children who are aging out of foster care and kids with medical needs.

Eight White Castles in Northwest Indiana raised the funds through a round-up promotion in March and April, letting customers round up their bills to give to the Gift of Adoption organization.

White Castle Northwest Indiana District Supervisor Shelly Rivera presented the donation to Gift of Adoption Chief Development Officer Julie Pendell, who was accompanied by the Veazey family, a family from Evergreen Park that received a grant to help fund the adoption.

Gift of Adoption was founded in Northbrook in 1996 by a couple who felt fortunate to be able to afford the cost of three adoptions and wanted to pass it on. It estimated 140 million children worldwide are orphaned. An estimated 80 million Americans have considered adoption but less than 2% ever start the process because of the high cost and less than 1% ever successfully complete an adoption.

So far, Gift of Adoption has given $15.8 million to more than 5,100 families looking to adopt.

It says the need is urgent with 500,000 children in the U.S. foster care system awaiting adoption, about 10% of whom have been waiting for an adoptive family for more than three years. Foster children on average have to wait more than five years to be adopted.
HAMMOND  A Valparaiso University Law School graduate appointed to the federal bench in 2019 is the new chief judge at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

The court announced Monday that Judge Holly Brady will handle administrative matters and oversee day-to-day operations of the federal district court, which has courtrooms in Hammond, Lafayette, South Bend and Fort Wayne.

Records show Brady is the longest tenured district judge never to serve as chief judge. She was nominated by Republican President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to replace Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen after he took senior status.

Brady earned her bachelor's degree at Indiana University prior to attending law school in Valparaiso. She subsequently worked at a variety of law firms until becoming managing partner and president of the Fort Wayne-based firm Haller & Colvin before beginning her federal judicial service.

She succeeds former Chief Judge Jon DeGuilio, a onetime Lake County prosecutor and U.S. attorney, who took senior status Monday after 13 years on the bench and three years as administrative head of the district court.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
The increasingly crowded 2024 Republican primary for Indiana governor may be getting another competitor.

Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers announced Monday he's leaving his post as head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) next month after spending two years leading the state's business attraction efforts.

Chambers did not immediately address rumors that he's planning to run next year for the chance to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.

But the founder and former longtime head of the Buckingham Companies real estate investment and development firm was quick to hint that his interest in public service has not waned.

"While there is more work yet to do, I am proud to depart this chapter of public service, leaving behind an overflowing pipeline of future-focused, high-wage industries, and I'm confident that after my Aug. 6 departure, the team at the IEDC can and will continue the progress of the last two years unabated," Chambers said.

On his watch, Chambers noted the IEDC has positioned Indiana as a leader in new industry sectors, delivered unprecedented statewide distribution of capital investment, generated substantial wage growth for Hoosiers, developed an energized entrepreneurial ecosystem, and created the LEAP Innovation and Research District near Lebanon to link high-tech industries between West Lafayette and Indianapolis.

"After three decades in the private sector, I showed up in July of 2021 with a passion for Indiana, a focus on shooting higher and running faster, and an aspirational 5E plan to lift Hoosiers up," Chambers said. "The last two years as Indianas secretary of commerce have been an incredible journey and even more rewarding than I could've imagined."

Holcomb said he expects to decide early next month who he believes is best suited to "continue and grow the strong momentum Secretary Chambers and his team have helped build to take Indiana to the 'Next Level.'"

If Chambers' next stop is the Republican gubernatorial contest he'll have to overcome formidable foes to win the nomination, including U.S. Sen. Mike Braun; Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch; former Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr.; and Eric Doden, a Fort Wayne businessman and former IEDC president.

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Indiana is set to have a truly competitive Republican primary for governor for the first time in two decades.

Semi-annual campaign finance reports released Monday show the three GOP gubernatorial candidates who entered the contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Eric Holcomb prior to the start of the year each had about $4 million in their campaign accounts as of June 30.

Records show U.S. Sen. Mike Braun led the pack with $4.6 million cash on hand, followed by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch at $3.9 million, and Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden at $3.8 million.

Braun's lead stems in part from the $900,000 he transferred to his state campaign account from his federal campaign account at the end of last year.

Braun also outraised his competitors during the latest reporting period by pulling in $2.2 million, compared to $1.1 million for Crouch, and the $1.8 million collected by Doden, including a $600,000 donation from Doden's father.

"As the conservative Main Street entrepreneur running for governor, I am thankful to have the strongest grassroots supporters in Indiana, and thats how we set another Hoosier fundraising record by raising $2.2 million and having $4.6 million in the bank," said Braun, a first-term senator and former state representative.

"These resources will help us talk to Hoosiers about the conservative and Main Street approach I will take in running this state," he said. "Which includes improving our schools and implementing conservative economic policies so that Indianas economy is once again the model for America."

Robert Vane, spokesman for the Crouch campaign, said the support provided to the two-term lieutenant governor, former state auditor and onetime state representative from Evansville is "truly humbling."

"As neither a self-funder nor a politician who can transfer monies from one account to another, the $1.1 million the Crouch campaign raised so far this year is both exciting and heartening. With 94% of our donations coming from within Indiana and more than $3.8 million cash on hand, the campaign is only just getting started," Vane said.

At the same time, Doden said he's grateful "for the support of so many Hoosiers for this home-grown campaign and our bold vision for Indiana."

"Our state needs more than tired political platitudes and Washington gridlock: Indiana deserves a governor committed to moving our state forward and improving the lives of all Hoosiers," Doden said.

Campaign finance reports show Crouch was most conservative in terms of spending by laying out just $433,000 during the period. Braun spent $521,000 while Doden used $865,000 of his campaign cash, reports show.

All three candidates are expected to increase their fundraising efforts in the second half of the year, since they were barred from seeking campaign donations between January and April due to the statutory prohibition on fundraising while the General Assembly is in session during odd-numbered years.

They're also likely to begin reaching out to probable Republican voters over the next six months through direct mail, email, text messages, parade and fair appearances, and numerous other means to try to begin locking down voters prior to the May 7, 2024, primary election.

Though that task could be complicated by the recent entry of former Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr. in the race, as well as the possibility that departing Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers may also seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Hill, who has $19,000 in his campaign account, can tap into a national and statewide network of social conservatives to support his bid, while Chambers potentially could earn the backing of Indiana's business community that he's worked with over the past two years and which tends to place a lower priority on often divisive social issues.

Assuming more than one candidate makes it to the primary, this will be the first contested Republican gubernatorial nomination since 2004 when Mitch Daniels defeated Eric Miller en route to winning two terms in the governor's office and beginning an ongoing streak of Republican control of state government.

On the Democratic side, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, who was elected to that office in 2016 as a Republican, currently appears to lack any serious competition for her new party's gubernatorial nomination.

Campaign finance records show McCormick raised $215,000 from some 1,110 Hoosiers in all 92 counties during the first half of the year, and has $209,000 cash on hand.

"I'm proud to have so many Hoosiers investing in our campaign to return common sense leadership back to the Statehouse. Together, were building a grassroots campaign that is ready to compete and win in 2024," McCormick said.

"Traveling across Indiana, I've heard firsthand from people who are tired of the divisiveness coming from the Legislature. They want a governor who will be a champion for our public schools, who will fight for our rights, and who will empower every family and community to achieve their full potential."

For the 2024 Indiana attorney general race, Republican incumbent Todd Rokita reported raising $375,000 in the first half of the year and has $890,000 cash on hand.

Meanwhile, in Northwest Indiana, U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, raised $550,000 between January and June, and Mrvan has $415,000 left to spend in his so-far uncontested run next year for a third term representing Lake, Porter and northwest LaPorte counties in the U.S. House.
The smoke and haze from wildfires in Canada that blanketed Northwest Indiana Sunday are expected to continue negatively affecting air quality in the Region, and across the state, through at least Monday.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said Hoosiers sensitive to high levels of fine particles in the air should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors early this week.

The particulate matter is composed of microscopic dust, soot and liquid that settles deep into the lungs and cannot be easily exhaled. Individuals at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particulate matter exposure, according to IDEM.

The agency also is urging Hoosiers to help reduce air pollution by walking, biking, carpooling or using public transportation instead of driving. Or, for those who have to drive, combining multiple errands into a single trip and avoiding idling in drive-thru lanes.

In addition, Hoosiers should refrain from open burning, including the use of charcoal grills; wait to refuel their vehicles or use gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.; and conserve energy by turning off lights and setting air conditioners to at least 75 degrees, IDEM said.

Northwest Indiana is not alone in dealing with poor air quality this week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rated the air in Chicago as "unhealthy" as of 9 a.m. Sunday, and the agency posted air-quality alerts stretching from Montana to Ohio because of smoke blowing in from the wildfires.

"Air-quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest and northern High Plains," the National Weather Service said. "While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wane by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday that unhealthy air from the wildfires in Canada is expected to hit parts of New York state again Monday, mostly in northern and western parts of the state. She said during a news conference about heavy rain and flooding that the air-quality index is forecast to be 100 to 150 in those areas; 0 to 50 is the norm.

"As if the rain coming out of the sky isnt enough, if you start looking up tomorrow youre going to see a similar situation to what we had a couple of weeks ago because of the air quality degradation resulting from the wildfires in Canada, Hochul said.

Were likely to be issuing a air-quality alert for portions of our state. It seems to be projected to be mostly around western New York and the North Country at this time. But as we saw, it can shift very quickly and start developing in more populated areas."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Indiana Supreme Court has again declined to address the question of whether county sheriffs enjoy near-unlimited authority to operate the county jail as they see fit.

Last week, the state's high court unanimously opted against reviewing a March 9 Court of Appeals ruling that held the Clinton County sheriff is free to allow inmates at his central Indiana jail to use electronic cigarettes and consume smokeless tobacco  notwithstanding an order adopted by the county commissioners banning tobacco use in all county buildings.

That ruling relied in part on a November 2022 Court of Appeals decision authorizing Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. to ink contracts relating to the county jail without obtaining approval from the Lake County Board of Commissioners, so long as money for the purchases is appropriated by the county council.

Records show the Supreme Court unanimously declined to review the Lake County ruling in a one-page order issued April 6.

As a result, there will be no change at this time to the legal precedent that the sheriff's statutory obligation to "take care" of the county jail and its prisoners gives the sheriff the power  independent of the county executive  to ink contracts relating to the jail or to take reasonable precautions to protect the life, safety and health of inmates in the jail.

Appeals Judge Melissa May, writing for the court, said the fact that Clinton County Sheriff Richard Kelly is awaiting trial on felony allegations of conflict of interest and three counts of official misconduct is irrelevant to the sheriff's authority to manage the jail as he sees fit.

According to court records, Kelly and his wife, Ashley, the jail matron, are accused of improperly contracting with their own company to run commissary operations at the jail, including the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco products to jail inmates.

Meanwhile, the Lake County dispute began when Martinez sued the commissioners after they rejected his 2022 jail medical services contract with Correctional Health Indiana Inc. (CHI) at a cost of $6.1 million, a 5% increase compared with 2021 and 20% more than 2020.

The sheriff granted CHI another 5% increase in 2023 for a total annual cost to Lake County taxpayers of $6.4 million for jail health care.

Language intended to restore the commissioners' authority over sheriff jail contracts circulated at the General Assembly earlier this year but was discarded to avoid interfering with pending litigation.

Gallery: Get to know these new Indiana laws that took effect July 1 AirTags Alcohol permits Animal facilities Annexation Book bans Bullying Charter schools Child molesting Childrens hospitals Domestic violence Drinking water Electric/hybrid vehicles Encroachment FAFSA Financial literacy Firefighting equipment Food and beverage tax Gender-affirming care Gary schools Gasoline tax Human trafficking Illiana Expressway Inmate gender Insurance fund Juror pay Juveniles Lake County convention center Lake County recorder Landlords Little Calumet River Lost farmland Machine guns Mail-in ballots Mental health Military bases Military pay Pension investments Public health School board elections Service animals Sex education SNAP assistance Speed cameras State comptroller Storage units Tax sales Taxpayer receipt Teachers unions Throwing stars Transit Development District 21st Century Scholars Valparaiso lawsuit Xylazine
My fragrance of choice for the past year is eau de menthol pain patch. Ive had chronic back pain, but the cause is not a mystery: I hunch over my computer for hours at a time. Call it online spine, computer-generated back pain, or, in my case, Mac back.

Unlike tech neck, a common term for repetitive strain caused by looking down at phones and tablets, back pain caused by hunching over a computer can afflict the neck, shoulders and entire back, said Dr. Nnaemeka Echebiri, a physiatrist who specializes in spine and musculoskeletal medicine at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Backaches happen for a host of reasons and are best evaluated by your doctor, Dr. Echebiri said. But computer-related pain isnt uncommon: A 2021 study of 2,000 people who worked on computers found that 48 percent had back and neck pain. And a 2021 meta-analysis suggested that prolonged sitting was a significant risk factor for lower back pain.

I asked Dr. Echebiri and other experts how to prevent pain and keep your back strong.

Assess your work space.

Make sure your workstation, whether its at home or elsewhere, is as ergonomically correct as possible, she said. Your arms should be positioned at right angles and your screen should be eye level, said Edward Wei, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital. I tell patients the cheapest option would be to get a stand for your laptop, or even a stack of books, and then a wireless keyboard, Dr. Wei said.
The original Furby, released in 1998, had the head of an owl, the beak of a chicken, the feet of a cat, the ears of a pig, the fur of a rabbit, the mohawk of a tufted titmouse and the eyes of a robot, which it was  a robot that whirred, clacked, spoke a made-up language called Furbish and, famously, never turned off (unless its batteries were removed).

Not long after Furbys release, the F.A.A. urged against using the toy on flights during takeoff and landing because there were concerns it would interfere with planes computer systems. In 1999, the National Security Agency banned Furby at its headquarters to prevent the toy, which could record and repeat audio, from capturing state secrets.

Kim Boyd, the head of toy at Hasbro, which manufactures the animatronic gadget, said that in the late 90s, as technology was starting to play more of a role in peoples lives, people wanted machines to feel more human. But people thought that Furby was weird because it encroached on being human, Ms. Boyd said.

Though the toy may have been unsettling to some, it found an audience: According to Hasbro, some 58 million Furbys have been sold since its release.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

When Sivaram Pochiraju told a group of friends that he and his wife were having a difficult week, Janet Cathcart reassured him that the couple had the support of a large extended family.

Lorie Robinson turns to the same group of friends for a dose of drama. Its like a soap opera, she said. You start watching and you need to know what happens next week.

After John Collinges wife, Zandra, died last year, he felt compelled to share the news with the same group. The response, he said, absolutely touched me and helped me through the sense of loss.

None of these widely scattered people  Mr. Pochiraju lives in Hyderabad, India; Ms. Cathcart, in Chapel Hill, N.C.; Ms. Robinson, outside Brisbane, Australia; and Mr. Collinge, in Bethesda, Md.  have ever met. They know one another through the online comments section of The New York Timess Metropolitan Diary, a column that draws tens of thousands of readers each week.
OZARK-Citing juror misconduct, attorneys for Coley Lewis McCraney asked 33rd Judicial Circuit Presiding Circuit Judge William Filmore Monday to allow a new trial for the man sentenced to life in prison without parole following his April conviction in the murder of two Dothan teenagers 24 years ago.

McCraney, 49, was convicted in April of capital murder in connection with the 1999 shooting deaths of Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley in Ozark. A six man, six woman jury deliberated some 15 minutes following a nine-day trial in the Dale County Courthouse before finding McCraney guilty of two counts of capital murder-vehicle, one count of capital murder-rape, and capital murder of two or more persons. Prosecutors, led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, had sought the death penalty.

McCraney has been in Dale County Jail without bond since his March 17, 2019, arrest in the deaths of the girls, whose bodies were found in the trunk of Beasleys car parked on Herring Avenue in Ozark. The teens were last heard from on the evening of July 31, 1999, when Hawlett called her mother from Ozark to let her know they were on their way home after getting lost on the way to a party. Some two decades later, McCraney was identified as a suspect after DNA from the crime scene was identified through genetic genealogy testing.

Marshall, Assistant Attorney General Jimmy Thomas, and Dale County Assistant District Attorney Emmett Massey prosecuted the case and in closing arguments outlined the events of July 31, 1999 as they unfolded during the trial. The girls ultimately ended up at Big/Little Store on Broad Street in Ozark around 11:30 p.m., Thomas said. Tracie used the pay phone to get permission from her mother to extend her curfew. Two women also at the store gave the girls directions back to Highway 231. The store was closed at this time and the two women said they didnt see anyone but the girls and that the girls were still at the convenience store/ gas station when they left. A cashier at the store that night testified that the girls had come in to ask her directions and that a white truck was the only other vehicle there.

McCraneys attorneys David Harrison and Andrew Scarborough are seeking a new trial claiming jury misconduct, alleging that throughout the trial, at least two jurors posted about the trial on social media, and one juror was seen looking at their smartwatch. Both actions are violations of the ground rules Filmore set out for jurors at the beginning of the trial.

Harrison and Scarborough initially asked that jurors be brought back for questioning but the judge denied that request. During Mondays hearing, the attorneys said that the request to question the jurors was not to determine what specific conversations they had in the deliberation process but to determine their use of social media during deliberations.

Harrison cited the question jurors had for the judge during their deliberations. He said it was clear by that particular question that the juror had done outside research because the issue addressed had not been addressed in court. Harrison reminded the court that the judges response to the jurors question was to remind jurors that they were only to be considering issues that had been brought up in court.

Jurors defied the courts instruction, Harrison said. That jury misconduct rises to the level that it has prejudiced the defendant.

You couldnt get on social media and not see (news coverage) of this highly-publicized case, said Scarborough.

On Monday, Massey and Thomas refuted defense claims of jury misconduct. They said that the posts cited by the defense would have occurred outside of times that the court was in session and that even if the jurors posted during the trial, those posts were unrelated to the case.

For jurors to be in the deliberation room making posts on Facebook is complete violation of those instructions from the judge, Harrison said. It offense me personally and should offend everyone in this courtroom. The jury is making a decision on the fate of a mans life and they are in there on their social media.

Filmore said he will take the request under advisement.
Not long ago, the names on the marquee would have been right at home on Fox News: Stephen K. Bannon, Tucker Carlson and Roger J. Stone Jr.

But Fox News ousted Mr. Carlson three months ago, and Mr. Bannon, Mr. Stone and a boisterous pro-Trump crowd at the Turning Point Action Conference were eager to take shots at the conservative network, arguing that it has not been sufficiently supportive of former President Donald J. Trump as he seeks to regain the office he lost in 2020.

At the two-day gathering, with thousands of pro-Trump activists in attendance this weekend in South Florida, jeers flew on Sunday at the mention of Rupert Murdoch, the Fox media mogul, as well as Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Eight years after he walked  gingerly, warily, every joint bent at some odd angle  into the sunset on Justified, Timothy Olyphant returns on Tuesday in Justified: City Primeval, FXs one-off, eight-episode sequel to its hit hillbilly noir. Justified was one of the most entertaining television shows of the last few decades largely because of Olyphants cagey, obliquely sexy portrayal of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a fantasy of a frontier lawman, simmering but sensitive, equally quick with a gun or a pithy comeback.

Olyphant does not miss a single syncopated beat in City Primeval, which is based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard, who created Givens and traced his career in a handful of books and stories. The character has left the page and become completely Olyphants. Its a wonderfully economic performance, all slouch and sloe eyes, offering a moral thermometer of the fallen world through which Raylan moves via Olyphants sly repertoire of expressions: grin, smirk, smile, hard stare, blank bemusement.

Onscreen, Raylan has aged more than eight years  he now has a teenage daughter, Willa (played by Olyphants daughter Vivian Olyphant), who was a baby when Justified ended. Caustic, character-defining references are made to his advanced years: Chasing bad guys at his age means hes been passed over or he loves it too much; a retired cop tells him, You remind me of me, man, when I started out. Except youre old. These comments create some cognitive dissonance, because Olyphant, despite some gray hair, doesnt come off as a day older. That could be seen as a lapse in his performance, but come on. We all know what were here for.

And its a good thing original Raylan is still there. Because despite the work of a number of the old Justified crew, including the writer-producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner, and an accomplished new cast, City Primeval  though handsomely filmed, well acted and ample in its emotions and its violent action  feels, ultimately, like a simulacrum. The body looks good, but a large part of the soul is missing.
But this moral principle, when combined with the mechanistic universe described by modern science, seemed to imply that people are never responsible for their actions. After all, if every instant of your life is the causally determined result of the previous instant, you cant possibly act other than as you do.

In the 1969 paper, Alternate Possibilities and Moral Responsibility, Professor Frankfurt challenged this moral principle. He constructed ingenious hypothetical situations in which a person could not act otherwise but still intuitively appeared to be morally responsible. These examples, later known as Frankfurt cases, suggested that moral responsibility was compatible with a deterministic universe.

In the 1971 paper, Freedom of the Will and the Concept of the Person, Professor Frankfurt proposed a novel way of thinking about freedom that complemented this vision of moral responsibility. Instead of seeing freedom as the absence of external constraint, he saw freedom as an internal psychological relation between different levels of desire. You might want to smoke a cigarette, but you also might want not to want to smoke. As Professor Frankfurt saw it, you act freely when the desire that motivates you to act is the one that you want to motivate you to act  the desire you identify with.

An elegant upshot of this account of freedom is that in acting freely, you disclose not only how you want to act, but also the kind of person you aspire to be.

Image After his surprise best seller, Professor Frankfurt received a six-figure advance from Alfred A. Knopf for On Truth.

Professor Frankfurt continued to explore this connection between personal values and the human will in the 1980s. In his paper The Importance of What We Care About, he argued that our most important desires are those that we cannot help being moved to act on, no matter the circumstances, for they establish what we ultimately value or love. Paradoxically, he wrote, it is this lack of freedom that gives our lives meaning. (Think of Martin Luthers defiant declaration Here I stand; I can do no other.)
Chinas decision making is as hidden from our view as it has ever been, but Chinas economic weakness is obvious for all to see, even Chinas leaders, which cant help but be one source of the recent moderation in foreign policy and willingness to engage Washington, said Scott Kennedy, a China specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Security concerns remain paramount.

Still, analysts noted that any softening in approach remained limited to economic or business policies that did not involve Chinas national security, which has become a defining feature of Chinese policy in recent years. And there are few signs that the top leader, Xi Jinping, has endorsed a broad policy shift toward the United States, a step that would be necessary for any change to take root.

On Saturday, China announced that it would hold joint naval and air force exercises with the Russian military in the Sea of Japan. And Mr. Xi himself gave a speech on July 6 urging the military to break new ground in war preparedness, warning that Chinas security situation is facing rising instability and uncertainty, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

China has also taken steps this month that could undermine its reputation as a reliable link in global supply chains. It said it would limit exports of rare materials needed to make semiconductors, in a step widely seen as retaliation for American limits on the sale of advanced semiconductors to China.
Politico said Monday that its top U.S. editor was stepping down and would be replaced by one of the publications co-founders, John Harris, who will also take on additional responsibilities for the media outlets international editions.

Matt Kaminski, who joined Politico nearly a decade ago from The Wall Street Journal, will conclude his tenure as editor in chief at the end of August, Goli Sheikholeslami, Politicos chief executive, said in an email to the staff on Monday.

The new role for Mr. Harris, who had been serving as editorial chair, will be expanded to include all of Politicos editorial units, Ms. Sheikholeslami said in her memo.

To be clear: John is not returning to a job he once had, she said. To the contrary, he is stepping into a new role as the single top editorial executive in the company, with newsrooms in the United States and Europe reporting to him.
Since the deal, food prices have dropped over 23 percent from their peak in March 2022, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations Food Price Index. The accord has allowed over 35 million tons of vital food commodities to be exported from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea to 45 countries on three continents, the United Nations said.

With the Black Sea ports closed again, Ukraine may have to redouble its use of alternate routes to get the grain out, including exporting via the Danube River, and by truck and train overland  journeys that take vastly longer than putting the commodities on ships.

Some factors may prevent food prices from spiking to the staggering levels seen just after Russia invaded Ukraine. For one thing, the global commodity price outlook is weaker than a year ago because of a faltering economic recovery in China, while a global cost-of-living crisis  fueled in part by surging food and fuel costs in the wake of Russias aggression  has been eroding demand more generally, Mr. Ash said.

Supply chain stresses are also easing, and manufacturing and production costs have cooled, according to an analysis by Oxford Economics. Even so, while food prices have been drifting downward, they are likely to remain high compared with to prewar levels, the think tank said.

Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at the financial services firm StoneX, said that as far as global food supplies are concerned, Russia was still dumping cheap wheat on the market so we are not running out of wheat right now.
Treating Alzheimers patients as early as possible  when symptoms and brain pathology are mildest  provides a better chance of slowing cognitive decline, a large study of an experimental Alzheimers drug presented Monday suggests.

The study of 1,736 patients reported that the drug, donanemab, made by Eli Lilly, can modestly slow the progression of memory and thinking problems in early stages of Alzheimers, and that the slowing was greatest for early-stage patients when they had less of a protein that creates tangles in the brain.

For people at that earlier stage, donanemab appeared to slow decline in memory and thinking by about four and a half to seven and a half months over an 18-month period compared with those taking a placebo, according to the study, published in the journal JAMA. Among people with less of the protein, called tau, slowing was most pronounced in those younger than 75 and those who did not yet have Alzheimers but had a pre-Alzheimers condition called mild cognitive impairment, according to data presented Monday at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Amsterdam.

The earlier you can get in there, the more you can impact it before theyve already declined and theyre on this fast slope, Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Eli Lillys chief medical and scientific officer, said in an interview.
The word glyph has appeared in six articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 13 in Unearthing a Maya Civilization That Punched Above Its Weight by Franz Lidz:

For reasons that are still unclear, Sak Tzi and hundreds of other settlements were abandoned and entire regions were left deserted during the ninth century. Although descendants still live in the region, the vagaries of nature buckled temple walls, the tomb robbers disassembled pyramids and a thickening jungle canopy concealed plazas and causeways. Sak Tzi was effectively erased from memory. Scholars began searching for physical evidence of the realm only in 1994, when epigraphers reading a stela  found a century earlier at a dig in Guatemala  realized that a glyph described the capture of a Sak Tzi king in 628 A.D.

Daily Word Challenge

Can you correctly use the word glyph in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using todays Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the words definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the Recommend button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how glyph can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
In some ways, eerily well.

In 2011 our colleagues Manny Fernandez and Al Baker put together a profile of the killer by talking to serial-killer experts and criminologists. Their piece began this way: He is most likely a white male in his mid-20s to mid-40s. He is married or has a girlfriend. He is well educated and well spoken. He is financially secure, has a job and owns an expensive car or truck.

Rex Heuermann was 47 at the time. He was, and is, married. He has an architecture degree and ran a consulting firm that specialized in dealing with New York Citys building codes and the officials at the Department of Buildings who approve applications from building owners. Judging from this 2022 interview, he is well-spoken  in some ways, even charming. He owned a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck.

A decade ago, experts in criminology talked about how serial killers can be categorized as disorganized or organized and said the Long Island killer was highly organized. In his professional life, Heuermann appeared to be that. He marketed himself as an expert in the details of New Yorks byzantine building rules, saying he had bought copies of long-out-of-date codes to have on hand when dealing with old buildings. Former clients described him as painstakingly methodical.

What else did the experts say in 2011 that appears to match the suspect?

The experts in 2011 said the killer showed signs of being a sadist who probably got pleasure from witnessing others pain. On Friday, a court document filed by prosecutors included internet searches they said had been done by Heuermann for sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography.

The court document also said that Heuermann had done more than 200 internet searches on the investigation of the women he is accused of killing and that he had searched for and viewed articles concerning the very task force that was investigating him.
On Monday morning, he thanked Ms. Sewell for her friendship.

As I embark on this new journey, Im acutely aware of the shoes I must fill, he said. Commissioner Sewell smashed the glass ceiling that lingered on for far too long and she did so with grace, confidence and honor.

Commissioner Caban pledged to continue to keep crime low and to prioritize department morale.

Civil rights groups and some city leaders have criticized the department under Mr. Adams in the past year, noting the return of anti-crime units that were responsible in their earlier incarnation for a disproportionate number of fatal shootings, and were disbanded in 2020.

The units were renamed neighborhood safety teams, but in June, a federal court-appointed monitor found that they had stopped, frisked and searched too many people unlawfully  almost all of them people of color.

The tactics have left some community leaders and officers questioning the direction of the department and how serious its leaders are about reform, and about expanding public safety alternatives like allowing residents to respond to low-level conflict and certain 911 calls or partnering with community groups to help steer young people away from violence.

And Commissioner Caban has his own history of discipline. In 1997, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, an oversight agency, recommended that he be punished after two officers were accused of cursing at and threatening a woman in Harlem. Commissioner Caban, then a sergeant, abused his authority, according to the board, when he refused to give the woman their names.
CCTV: The ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers Meeting held on July 13 adopted the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Commemorating and Reflecting on the 20th Anniversary of Chinas Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. How would you comment on this?

Mao Ning: In 2003, leaders of China and ASEAN countries jointly witnessed Chinas accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asiathe first country to do so, which marked a new phase of relations between China and ASEAN. Being the first to join the Treaty is consistent with Chinas diplomatic tradition of treating all countries, big or small, as equals, and Chinas firm support for the growth of ASEAN, as well as our long-standing policy of cultivating friendly ties with neighboring countries.

The Treaty is rooted in Asias history and culture. It embodies the Asian way of consensus-building, non-interference in others internal affairs, and accommodation of each partys comfort level, and provides important guidelines for the relations between countries in the region. Over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have, in the spirit of the Treaty, expanded mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts. We have pursued the right path of long-standing good-neighborliness and friendship and common development and prosperity. This has also galvanized the accession of other countries to the Treaty. ASEANs dialogue partners have kept increasing and the group has been gaining in international stature and influence. That has helped East Asia become the fastest-growing economy in the world with fast-rising living standards.

In the face of complex and fluid dynamics in the region and beyond, the adoption of the Joint Statement helps promote the purposes and principles of the Treaty and carry forward the Asian way and wisdom and contributes to practicing true multilateralism and upholding the rules and order in the region.

AFP: US climate envoy John Kerry had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua this morning in Beijing. Does the foreign ministry have any details on the content or outcomes of this meeting?

Mao Ning: Climate change is a common challenge facing humanity. As agreed by China and the US, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit China from July 16 to 19. The Chinese side will act in the spirit of the meeting between the two heads of state in Bali, have in-depth exchange of views with the US side on issues related to climate change, and work with the US to meet challenges and enhance the well-being of people in the world and the generations to come.

As for the details of the visit, we will release information in due course. I would also refer you to the competent authorities.

Reuters: William Lai from Taiwan is reportedly making a stopover in the US en route to Paraguay next month. Does the ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any visit by Taiwan independence separatists to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes the USs conniving with and supporting the Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities in any form. We have lodged serious representations with the US side.

The Taiwan question is the very core of Chinas core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in the China-US relations. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, act on its leaders commitment including not supporting Taiwan independence, stop official interaction with Taiwan, stop upgrading its substantive exchanges with the region, and stop sending any wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces. China will closely follow the situation and take resolute and strong measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

TASS: The Black Sea grain deal will expire today. Russia is yet to announce its final decision on the deal. Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with how the Russia-part of the deal is being implemented. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: China hopes that the deal will continue to be implemented in a balanced, full and effective manner. China put forward the cooperation initiative on global food security, and would like to have more communication and cooperation with parties on this to help build more international consensus and contribute to global food security.

AFP: New Zealands prime minister said today that his country is concerned about a worsening strategic environment and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular, in places like the South China Sea and Taiwan strait. He said we look to China to play its part to manage tensions. Does the Chinese foreign ministry have any comment

Mao Ning: China is a member of the Asia-Pacific. We have always worked with other countries in the region to practice true multilateralism and safeguard peace and stability in the region. We would like to enhance dialogue and exchanges on the basis of mutual respect with New Zealand and other countries, and jointly play our part to uphold stability and prosperity in the region.

The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. To ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the most important and crucial thing is to uphold the one-China principle. The South China Sea has been generally stable. We hope relevant countries will respect regional countries effort to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The New York Times: The National Bureau of Statistics said this morning that the Chinese economy had slowed down considerably in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. Weve also seen China reaching out to countries like the US and European countries inviting more of their leaders to visit. Have economic difficulties become a constraint on Chinas foreign policy?

Mao Ning: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) briefed this morning on Chinas economic performance in the first half of this year, which is somewhat different from what I heard in your question. During the first half of this year, Chinas economy showed sound momentum of recovery with the GDP up by 5.5 percent year-on-year, or one percentage point higher than that of the first quarter. The fundamentals sustaining Chinas sound economic growth in the long run have not changed. The economys remarkable resilience, potential and vitality have not changed and the conditions underpinning high-quality development have not changed. As factors conductive to Chinas development increase, the economy is expected to continue to recover.

China carries out friendly cooperation with countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. This has not changed either. On China-US relations, we view and develop our relations with the US by following the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. We also hope the US will work with China and bring bilateral relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth.

AFP: Russian officials and state media said today that traffic along a bridge has been halted following an emergency. This bridge connects Crimea and serves as a vital link for transporting supplies to Russian soldiers. Has the Chinese foreign ministry seen these reports and does it have any response?

Mao Ning: Weve noted the reports.
Bond is set at $350,000 for Shannon Scott Anthony, 40, after an initial appearance before Coffee County District Judge Josh Wilson.

In a Zoom call from the Coffee County Jail, Anthony appeared before Wilson and Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox Saturday morning.

After a day-long search Friday by multiple law enforcement agencies, Anthony was taken into custody in Enterprise at 7:45 p.m. Friday.

Anthony had eluded officers who responded to a 4 a.m. Friday report of a disorderly person in the 100 block of Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise Police Departments Public Information Officer Capt. Billy Haglund said earlier.

When officers arrived at the residence, they discovered two men fighting. During the altercation, Anthony ran back into the residence and threatened officers with a firearm. Officers were able to get the victim and two other occupants of the residence to safety before Anthony barricaded himself inside.

Haglund said police entered the home at 9:30 a.m. and discovered that Anthony had fled.

Tracking dogs from the Alabama Department of Corrections and a Dale County Sheriffs Department helicopter joined in the search and at 12:38 p.m., members of the search team located Anthony hiding in an abandoned pickup truck in the woods behind the Mitchell Dodge dealership on Boll Weevil Circle.

Haglund said Anthony was armed and barricaded himself in the truck. After multiple hours of negotiation with the suspect, he finally surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident, Haglund said.

Anthony is charged with second-degree burglary, certain persons forbidden to possess firearms, and two counts of menacing.

Tarbox said he asked the judge to impose a higher bond than the standard amounts set out in the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure for several reasons, to include Anthonys criminal history and the fact that he had recently posted bond on multiple charges in Houston County. The events all day Friday, which include pointing a firearm at officers responding to the initial call, lead the state to take the position that the defendant is a threat to public safety, Tarbox said.

Wilson set Anthonys bond at $250,000 in the second-degree burglary charge, $70,000 in the certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm charge, and $15,000 on each count of menacing charges.

The district attorneys office appreciates all of our law enforcement partners and their actions during Fridays events, Tarbox said. The collaboration between and assistance provided by numerous agencies led to the peaceful outcome of a situation that could have unfortunately been deadly.

Haglund echoed that sentiment. We would like to thank the ALEA, ALEA SWAT Team, Coffee County Sheriffs Office, Dale County Sheriffs Office, Houston County Sheriffs Office, Dothan Police Department, ATF, Enterprise Rescue, and Alabama Department of Corrections for their assistance in apprehending this individual, Haglund said. We would also like to thank the staff of Mitchell Dodge for their support during this incident.
A criminal investigation into the former commissioner of New York Citys Buildings Department has reached its final stages and charges are expected as soon as this week, according to three people with knowledge of the inquiry.

The commissioner, Eric Ulrich, resigned in November shortly after investigators with the Manhattan district attorneys office seized his cellphone and then interviewed him the next day. The inquiry continued after his resignation, with the prosecutors focusing on crimes related to bribery that occurred when Mr. Ulrich was still in office.

As part of the inquiry, prosecutors have examined whether he received an apartment rental at a below-market rate, the people with knowledge said, as well as a sofa that was given to him or provided at a discount by someone who had business before the department.

A spokeswoman for the district attorneys office declined to comment. A lawyer for Mr. Ulrich, Samuel M. Braverman, said that until he knew what the indictment contained, he would not comment.
House Democrats unveiled a resolution on Monday to formally censure Representative George Santos of New York for blatantly lying to voters about his life story, teeing up a fresh attempt to reprimand the freshman Republican.

The new measure faces long odds of passing the Republican-led House. But Democrats believe forcing a vote will help maintain political pressure on Republican leaders who have stood by Mr. Santos in the face of a 13-count federal indictment and their vulnerable members impatient to jettison him.

If you are a member of Congress who has informally condemned Mr. Santos, then you should have no trouble formally censuring him, said Representative Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat who wrote the three-page censure resolution. He has disgraced the institution, and the institution should speak with one voice against his misconduct.

Censure is one of Congresss stiffest punishments, and has been leveled against only two dozen or so lawmakers in the history of the House. Though it does not force a lawmaker from office, the rebuke is permanently recorded on the Congress members record.
In December 2010, Officer John Malia and his police dog, Blue, were combing Gilgo Beach, a remote stretch of sand on the South Shore of Long Island, when they found human remains.

The police would later discover they belonged to Melissa Barthelemy, a tiny 24-year-old from the Bronx who worked as a prostitute and was last seen in July 2009 when she told a friend she was going to meet a client. Two days later, the police found the remains of three other women  Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Like Ms. Barthelemy, they were petite, in their 20s and worked as escorts.

The discovery of their bodies, bound at the feet or ankles and wrapped in burlap, terrified residents of Long Island, devastated the victims families and led to a 12-year investigation marked by dysfunction and disarray. Six other bodies, including four women, a man who was never identified and a 2-year-old girl, were discovered in the following weeks.

On Friday, the police finally announced an arrest. Rex Heuermann, 59, was charged with first-degree and second-degree murder in the deaths of Ms. Costello, Ms. Waterman and Ms. Barthelemy. He is considered the prime suspect in the death of Ms. Brainard-Barnes, who disappeared in 2007.
Patrick Hendry, the new head of New York Citys police officers union, has much in common with his predecessor: Their mothers are from Ireland. They grew up in Queens, the sons of union men. And they believe a police union must defend officers, even those accused of wrongdoing.

Mr. Hendry and Patrick J. Lynch, the former president of the Police Benevolent Association, say officers must make split-second decisions that carry uniquely high stakes for union members, for the city and within the 50,500-employee Police Department  the nations largest.

For nearly a quarter century, the booming voice of Mr. Lynch, who stepped down June 30, made the union a key player in New York politics. He was a take-it-or-leave-it megaphone for 21,000 active members. He battled Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani over wage freezes; accused Mayor Bill de Blasio after the assassination of two officers of stirring up anti-police sentiment; and led the union when it endorsed Donald J. Trump for president in 2020.

Now Mr. Hendry, 51, who is untested as a public figure, must decide whether he will deviate from that path. He says that his plans are straightforward: Get more officers longer shifts in exchange for more days off, fend off watchdogs who he says seek to discipline officers over minor complaints and build on the diverse team he has assembled to serve a younger, majority-minority force.
The prosecutors statement on Monday comes amid continuing mayhem at the jails  where three people have died this month alone  as well as reports from a federal monitor who oversees them that accused city officials of hiding important information about troubling episodes of violence and neglect.

With Mr. Williamss comments, every entity involved in deciding the future of the jails  lawyers for detainees, the federal monitor, Steve J. Martin, and now, the U.S. attorneys office  save for the city itself has either called for an outside authority to take over, or simply expressed lack of faith in the ability of the administration to turn things around.

In a hearing last month, Judge Swain, of Federal District Court in Manhattan, echoed those complaints, saying that her faith in the citys leadership had been shaken and signaling she might be open to the possibility of appointing a receiver. The judge has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 10 where lawyers for detainees and Mr. Williamss office are expected to express their formal recommendations for receivership.

But their support alone would not be enough for an outside authority to take control. Judge Swain would have to find that there were not less extreme alternatives that would solve the issues, and that the city had refused to comply with court orders.

Mr. Martin filed a report earlier this month in which he did not explicitly call for an outside authority to take control. Instead he called for Judge Swain to initiate a court proceeding which could end with New York City being held in contempt for its actions  and to take whatever other corrective action she might think necessary.
This purity-over-progress approach isnt just making life awkward for the speaker. It is making the entire Republican conference look like a pack of obstructionist zealots. This may play well in deep-MAGA districts but not so much in battleground areas. Those are, admittedly, increasingly rare. But with a majority this scrawny, House conservatives are playing with fire. All Democrats need to do is flip a handful of seats to snatch the gavel from Mr. McCarthys hand. They could, say, claw back some of the ground unexpectedly lost to Republicans in New York in last years midterms (starting with George Santoss district). And they could pick up a seat or two thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act that may lead to various Southern states redrawing their congressional districts to address sketchy gerrymandering. (Alabama has already been given its marching orders.)

Even if Republicans hold on to the House  where, to be fair, a certain level of crazy has come to be expected  the wingers shenanigans are doing nothing to help the partys brand. Many, many Americans are weary of political chaos and performative jerkiness. And many are particularly tired of it on the issue of abortion, which drew key numbers of swing voters to Democrats in the midterms. But time and again, Mr. McCarthys troops seem dead set on signaling that the G.O.P. is a pack of bomb-throwing fringe dwellers actively trying not to govern. Swing voters arent generally all that keen on posturing, do-nothing Congresses, either.

Some Republican House members are cheesed off over these political games. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, for instance, was overheard Thursday dropping all kinds of colorful language, including an F-bomb or two, about people being forced to vote on the abortion amendment, according to Politico. Though Ms. Mace did not bother abbreviating her pejorative. Nor, it should be noted, did she risk voting against the offending amendment, much less the overall bill. Its not going to pass the Senate anyway; it doesnt matter, she told The Hill.

It doesnt matter. Well, except that Ms. Mace can expect the situation to get so much worse. However much blood and tears get shed in passing the N.D.A.A., they are nothing compared with the carnage anticipated in the coming cage match over funding the government. Already, the hard-liners have made clear that they are going to cause as much trouble as possible in pursuit of their outside-the-mainstream aims. In protest of the debt deal, a pack of conservatives ground action on the House floor to a halt for several days in June while lobbying (or, if you prefer, blackmailing) the speaker to give them more power  including more leeway to slash spending beyond the levels set in the debt-ceiling agreement. With the conservative knife at his throat, Mr. McCarthy has been allowing the conference to move ahead with appropriations proposals that do just that.
On the torrid afternoon of July 6, 1948, Hubert Humphrey departed one kind of inferno to plunge into another. Humphrey, the brash young mayor of Minneapolis, was leaving a city reeling under a 100-degree heat wave that had taken two lives that very day. He was bound for Philadelphia, the site of the impending Democratic National Convention, where the sweltering weather provided a fitting backdrop for a heated convention.

The Democratic convention of 1948 promised to be morose and volatile all at once. The glum mood reflected the failure of liberal insurgents in the party, Humphrey included, to oust the incumbent president, Harry Truman, from the ticket. At the same time, the party was bracing for a ferocious battle on the issue of civil rights between those liberals and the bloc of Southern segregationists whom Truman wanted to appease, much as his predecessor Franklin Delano Roosevelt had.

Put in broader terms, that 1948 convention bears a striking resemblance to the political climate of today, as a battle between the forces of inclusive, expansive democracy and those espousing a narrower, hostile concept of who fully belongs to America. As in the coming campaign, the Democratic Party also had to reconcile passion for a liberal agenda with ambivalence about the incumbent president who would hoist its banner.

Just 37 years old and three years into elected office, Humphrey bore the public role of defying a sitting president and militant opposition. His speech at the Philadelphia convention, imploring delegates to get out of the shadow of states rights and to walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights, convinced a decisive majority of the delegates. The Southerners bolted the convention to form a third party nicknamed the Dixiecrats. And Truman, left with no option but to run for re-election as a civil rights candidate, won his upset victory over Thomas Dewey thanks to a surge of Black voters in swing states.
One day in the spring of 1954, J. Robert Oppenheimer ran into Albert Einstein outside their offices at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J. Oppenheimer had been the director of the institute since 1947 and Einstein a faculty member since he fled Germany in 1933. The two men might argue about quantum physics  Einstein grumbled that he just didnt think that God played dice with the universe  but they were good friends.

Oppenheimer took the occasion to explain to Einstein that he was going to be absent from the institute for some weeks. He was being forced to defend himself in Washington, D.C., during a secret hearing against charges that he was a security risk, and perhaps even disloyal. Einstein argued that Oppenheimer had no obligation to subject himself to the witch hunt, that he had served his country well, and that if this was the reward she [America] offered he should turn his back on her. Oppenheimer demurred, saying he could not turn his back on America. He loved America, said Verna Hobson, his secretary who was a witness to the conversation, and this love was as deep as his love of science.

Einstein doesnt understand, Oppenheimer told Ms. Hobson. But as Einstein walked back into his office he told his own assistant, nodding in the direction of Oppenheimer, There goes a narr, or fool.

Einstein was right. Oppenheimer was foolishly subjecting himself to a kangaroo court in which he was soon stripped of his security clearance and publicly humiliated. The charges were flimsy, but by a vote of 2 to 1 the security panel of the Atomic Energy Commission deemed Oppenheimer a loyal citizen who was nevertheless a security risk: We find that Dr. Oppenheimers continuing conduct and association have reflected a serious disregard for the requirements of the security system. The scientist would no longer be trusted with the nations secrets. Celebrated in 1945 as the father of the atomic bomb, nine years later he would become the chief celebrity victim of the McCarthyite maelstrom.
To the Editor:

Re Legacy Admissions Dont Work the Way You Think They Do, by Shamus Khan (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, July 7):

The convoluted justification for legacy admissions presented by Dr. Khan, a Princeton professor, is both insulting and patronizing to us not born into privilege  i.e., poor students, students of color, and students whose parents didnt have a college degree.

Per Dr. Khan, we receive a boost from attending elite schools because they connect us to students born into privilege and acculturate us in the conventions and etiquette of high-status settings.

Wrong. We benefit from admission to elite schools because it signals our accomplishment and our merits to employers  a signaling we need in the job market because we lack the connections that legacy kids have. However, the benefit we receive has absolutely nothing to do with picking up shared literary references and the right sport.

If indeed acculturation in these conventions and etiquette is a byproduct of legacy admissions, then that is even more reason to end the practice. Perpetuation of cultural traits of privilege is repellent and not the place of any university, including an elite one.
Most people come to Ox Ranch  an 18,000-acre property outside Uvalde, Texas  for the thrill of hunting exotic animals in the Hill Country. But the ranch is also home to ancient secrets, as in lines of dinosaur tracks that cut across an empty creek bed and in a dark cave under a stony hillside that contains the remnants of Pleistocene animals and humans.

The ranch is owned by Brent C. Oxley, the wealthy founder of a web hosting company who has brought in Andre LuJan to manage the propertys fossils.

Mr. LuJan is a commercial paleontologist, bald and often dressed in dinosaur-themed shirts and socks, who collects fossils and assesses their value for private clients. Such arrangements are not unusual in the vast and wealthy state, which is in the middle of a paleontological renaissance. But many specimens collected on private lands end up sold to private collections, where the broader public may never see them again.

That wont be the case with Ox Ranch, and Mr. LuJan has bigger ambitions. He intends to open an institution he bills as the Smithsonian of Texas that could display fossils like the ones he has found on Mr. Oxleys land. Texas has its share of large museums and elaborate fossil exhibitions. But Mr. LuJan sees a paleontological void in the state, which has no public museum devoted solely to its fossil treasures. He hopes an expanded version of his own institution, Texas Through Time, will fill that gap.
On a hot and humid Saturday in New York, attendees did their best to keep cool for Curlfest, an outdoor event on Randalls Island celebrating Black hair. Local vendors in a grassy field awaited a sea of festivalgoers showing off their most elaborate and personal box braids, cornrows, Afros and twists. From his station on the stage, a D.J. played the 2004 Jill Scott song Golden.

After a three-year hiatus, Curlfest was back, with dozens of Black-owned small businesses, as well as performers and guest speakers championing the beauty of natural hair.

We wanted to come back with the same vigor if not more than we had in the past, said Melody Henderson, the events creative director, adding, Bounce Back is the theme because it really speaks to the resilience of us as a people.

Ms. Henderson founded Curlfest with Gia Lowe, Simone Mair, Tracey Coleman and Charisse Higgins. Together the five women make up Curly Girl Collective, a friend group that began as an email thread in 2010, with conversations that offered guidance and support on caring for natural Black hair. The groups first festival took place in 2014, in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The event has grown over the years, including a trip to Atlanta in 2019.
The actors strike has hit the brakes on the hot pink convertible that is the Barbie films press tour.

Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and other stars of Greta Gerwigs forthcoming movie inspired by the doll are unlikely to appear on pink carpets until further notice in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA, the actors union. That means the parade of neon fashion led by Ms. Robbie has probably come to an end.

Ms. Robbie, who was styled by Andrew Mukamal, had her pick of designers throughout the press tour, from vintage Versace to Vivienne Westwood. But several of the actresss best looks took inspiration from Barbies clothing archive, including a black-and-white-striped swimsuit the doll wore when it was introduced in 1959, a prim skirt suit from the 80s and a swirly minidress Barbie wore in the 90s.

Those outfits, seen here alongside the Barbie clothes that inspired them, struck the exact right balance between kitschy and chic. Its not subtle, Ms. Robbie said in an interview with People, but its very fun!
If you watch a livestream video hosted by the TikTok creator PinkyDoll, it wont be long before you hear her say, Ice cream so good.

She will say those words again and again, her tongue hanging out as she noisily pretends to lick a cone.

Every time she utters the catchphrase, she is getting paid. This is her job.

PinkyDoll, whose real name is Fedha Sinon, became a social media celebrity this month thanks to the eccentric livestreams in which she mimics video game characters.

In a typical performance, Ms. Sinon, who is 27 and lives in Montreal, stares into the camera lens while delivering a set of canned phrases. As she streams, viewers send her digital gifts in the form of cartoon items like roses, dinosaurs and ice cream cones. Each item translates to a cash payment for Ms. Sinon. The gifts float onto the screen and Ms. Sinon reacts to each one with the same cartoonish mannerisms.
A big change is underway for one of Californias most popular safety net programs.

More than 15 million Californians, or 40 percent of the states population, are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the states version of Medicaid, which offers free health care coverage to low-income residents. But federal health care protections enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic expired in March, and this month California began verifying the eligibility of residents currently on Medi-Cals rolls.

Its an arduous undertaking expected to stretch well into next year. And it could have significant consequences: An estimated 1.8 million to 2.8 million Californians are expected to lose their coverage during whats been called the unwinding, according to state officials. Hundreds of thousands of people have already been kicked off Medicaid programs in other states, even though some of them remain eligible.

The verification process is going to be very bumpy, said John Baackes, the chief executive of L.A. Care Health Plan, a public health plan with 2.7 million Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles County.

Six thousand L.A. Care customers have lost their Medi-Cal coverage since California began the process, and that number is expected to increase to 350,000 by the end of 2024, Baackes said.
The bodies of two women were discovered in wooded areas outside Portland, Ore. The body of another woman was found in a culvert. Another was spotted next to a creek.

Law enforcement agencies across northwest Oregon have spent weeks investigating the deaths, and whether they were linked. Last month, the Portland police tried to quell fears that the deaths were connected.

But on Monday, nine Oregon law enforcement agencies said in a joint statement that the four deaths were linked and that they had identified at least one person of interest connected to the deaths of the women: Kristin Smith, 22, whose body was found in February; Ashley Real, 22, whose body was found in May; and Charity Perry, 24, and Bridget Webster, 31, whose bodies were found six days apart in April.

As of Monday afternoon, no charges had been filed in the case, and the person of interest had not been publicly named.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Monday sharply criticized the Biden administrations policies on Israel, calling them disgraceful, seeking to highlight his pro-Israel credentials as he goes head-to-head with former President Donald J. Trump for evangelical voters.

In Washington at the Christians United for Israel Summit, an annual gathering of conservatives with ties to the Israeli right wing, Mr. DeSantis also vowed to never waver on Israels claim to Jerusalem and to forcefully oppose the boycott-Israel movement that he said promoted prejudice against Jewish people.

Three Republican presidential candidates, including Mr. DeSantis, appeared at the event, which unfolded as President Biden on Monday invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to the White House and was set to meet in Washington later this week with Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president. The Netanyahu government has long cultivated its ties with evangelical Christians, whose beliefs that Israel is special to God has led many to hold hawkish views in support of the Jewish state.

Youre free as a person to have whatever views you want, Mr. DeSantis told the crowd. But when you concoct a movement that focuses all of your ire at the only Jewish state in this world, at the exclusion of all these other things, he added, that is antisemitism.
Last month, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said he would hold up Senate action on all State Department nominees until the Biden administration provided him with documents related to the origins of the coronavirus, which he says leaked from a Chinese laboratory. Other Republican senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas and J.D. Vance of Ohio, have also blocked nominees for different reasons.

These delays are undermining our national security, Mr. Blinken told reporters during an unusual appearance at the State Departments daily news media briefing. The overwhelming majority of the stalled State Department nominees are career diplomats, and more than a third have been awaiting votes for about a year or more, he added.

Mr. Blinken said that no one had questioned the diplomats qualifications. They are being blocked for leverage on other unrelated issues. He said that stand-ins for empty ambassador posts, like officials with the titles of charge daffaires, lacked the same access and influence as ambassadors in foreign capitals.

A Senate Democratic aide said the number of blocked nominees who have been cleared by the Foreign Relations Committee was even higher  totaling 50  when a dozen envoys to bodies like the World Health Organization and the International Monetary Fund were considered. The aide spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The aide noted that the vacancies put the United States at a disadvantage in its global competition with China, which many Republicans call their top foreign policy priority. Beijing has ambassadors in dozens of foreign capitals where the United States lacks them, the aide said.
It also said Berkeley faculty serving at the institute had received funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and other U.S. funding for the development of military applications, raising concerns about Chinese access to those experts.

In April, for example, a team from a Shenzhen-based lab that describes itself as being supported by the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute said it had won a contest in China to optimize a type of advanced chip technology that the U.S. government is now trying to prevent Chinese companies from acquiring, the letter said.

It is not clear what role the university had in that project, or if the partnership, or the institutes other activities, would violate U.S. restrictions on Chinas access to technology. In October, the United States set significant limits on the type of advanced semiconductor technology that could be shared with Chinese entities, saying the activity posed a national security threat.

Berkeleys P.R.C.-backed collaboration with Tsinghua University raises many red flags, the letter said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China. It was signed by Representatives Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican and the committees chair, and Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina who is the committee chair on education and the work force.

In a statement to The New York Times, U.C. Berkeley said it took concerns about national security very seriously" and was committed to comprehensive compliance with laws governing international academic engagement.
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur running for the Republican presidential nomination, on Monday released a list of potential choices for the U.S. Supreme Court, in an effort to highlight his conservative credentials to early-state voters who may be skeptical of a candidate without a political background.

The move echoes one made by Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign, at a time when he was still facing questions from Republican voters about his past as a Democrat from New York who had once supported abortion rights and had appeared more moderate on certain issues.

Mr. Ramaswamys list, reported earlier by Axios, includes jurists who have ruled on various aspects of the Republican culture wars, including religious issues, free speech, vaccine mandates and transgender rights. In a statement, Mr. Ramaswamy sought to contrast his approach to that of President Biden, who vowed during his campaign to appoint the first Black woman to the highest court, which he did when he nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson. Mr. Ramaswamy dismissed that move as purely skin-deep diversity.

What each of the individuals I would appoint share is their unwavering dedication to the principles of originalism and commitment to a constitutionalist judicial philosophy, Mr. Ramaswamy said. Our courts are the last line of defense against an administrative state that rules by fiat, legislates from the bench, stifling freedom and truth.
Senate Democrats plan to push ahead this week with legislation imposing new ethics rules on the Supreme Court in the wake of disclosures about the justices travel and outside activities, despite blanket opposition by Republicans who claim the effort is intended to undermine the high court.

The Judiciary Committee is scheduled on Thursday to consider legislation by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, that would require the Supreme Court to establish a new code of conduct for justices, set firmer ground rules for recusal from cases, create a new investigatory board and promote transparency about ties with those before the court.

Senate Republicans have made it clear they wont support the legislation, and it has no chance in the G.O.P.-controlled House. But Mr. Whitehouse said he saw the fight over the measure as just the first step, after a string of revelations about undisclosed luxury travel, relationships with affluent Americans and speaking engagements tied to book sales, as well as the shocking leak last year of the courts decision overturning precedent on abortion rights.

You have to start somewhere, said Mr. Whitehouse. He added, The more information that comes out about the mischief going on at the Supreme Court, the more inevitable it becomes that they come around to agreeing we have to do something. Were just at the beginning.
Thanh Tung thought his job interview went well and his unemployment would finally end, but he was eventually turned down for the position because he was too old.

The 37-year-old game artist in Go Vap District, HCMC was laid off at the beginning of the year, only a few months after he started working for a game design company.

He was disappointed, but he didnt feel rushed and pressured because he still had savings and income from his freelancing jobs, which he thought would be enough to cover his living expenses until he found a new job.

But finding work was not as easy as he thought.

After three months of job searching, hed been able to land only a few screening calls and no potential employer had wanted to make an interview appointment with him. Compared to that, around 60% of the companies he applied to last year scheduled interviews with him.

When he eventually got an interview with a game company, he was turned down because of his age. The chief marketing officer of the company, who was 27, said people of Tung's age might "be stubborn and find it hard to adapt."

He disagreed with this comment, explaining that he was always willing to improve himself, and he could prove that during a probationary period, to which the interviewer said: "You seem to disagree with a lot of things we have discussed throughout our interview. Im afraid that if we work together, you will not follow my orders."

Tung gave up. He now believed in age discrimination at the workplace. And future experience only confirmed things further.

"Then I got a phone call from a friend of mine who was working as a headhunter," he says. "That friend saw my profile and confirmed that my age was preventing me from getting called for interviews."

People registering to receive unemployment compensation at the Hanoi Center for Employment Services on June 20, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Duong

Many middle-aged workers are struggling to find jobs. Tra My, a former construction engineer, said she felt hopeless as she had been unemployed for over six months and had to attend a job fair as one of her many efforts to find a career opportunity. She also said she was learning a foreign language and studying software at age 45, hoping that doing so would increase her chances of finding a job.

Van Quang, 53, was working as a delivery man for a third the salary of his previous job as a warehouse supervisor at a Hanoi-based supermarket. He chose the path after repeated failed attempts looking for vacancies similar to his former positions.

Thanh Hien, 45, told VnExpress that all of the job announcements she came across were looking for applicants under 35 only.

Hien had never thought she would have to search for a job, as she had always worked at a state-owned company. But in March, her employers business problems forced Hien to get laid off.

Hien tried to bargain by offering to cut her salary down to VND5.6 million (around $237), a third of what it had been.

"But the company insisted on cutting down on middle-aged workers," she recalls. "They asked me to sign another contract, in which my position was changed from an accountant to housekeeping staff."

Hien told the company she would consider the offer. She hadnt even given her final decision yet when the company informed her they would lower her salary from VND5.6 million to VND4.9 million. She had no other choice than to quit.

Age is one of the strongest barriers for those working in Vietnam. VnExpress reporters at a late-June job fair in Hanois Gia Lam District observed there were almost no gender preferences mentioned in job announcements, while age requirements were nearly ubiquitous. Among the job announcements by the 36 companies at the fair, 41% of them targeted the 18-25 age group and 35% targeted the 26-35 age group, compared to 24% targeting the 36 and over age group.

There have been ongoing factory workers layoff in southern Vietnam, starting late-2022. According to data, the majority of the workers laid off were middle-aged females. For example, over 50% of those laid off at the HCMC-based company Pouyuen were over 40 and around 60% of them had worked at the company for at least 10 years.

Responding to a survey conducted by VnExpress late-June, as many as 90% of the respondents answered "Yes" to the question: "Do you think workers aged between 35 and 40 in Vietnam struggle to get a job?"

Pham Minh Huan, former deputy minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, considers age discrimination at workplaces a downside of the market-oriented economy, in which businesses have to optimize their human resources to maximize their productivity and minimize their costs, which in turn makes aged low-skilled workers the first target to be laid off.

"Aged workers tend to have lower productivity while requiring higher salaries," Huan explains. "Businesses that revolve around financial reward are likely to lay this group of workers off, even if they have contributed to the company for a long time."

Nguyen Phuong Mai, former CEO of Navigos Search, a recruiting service in Vietnam, says employing middle-aged workers has both strengths and challenges. On the one hand, employers dont have to spend too much on training costs and could be able to make use of these workers experience. On the other hand, middle-aged employees may be less creative, less flexible, less familiar with technologies, and less likely to blend in with co-workers of younger generations.

Mai tells VnExpress a story which she will never forget: "I once worked with an outstanding applicant who met all of the requirements that the company was looking for."

"But he still got turned down, as throughout his whole career up until that moment, he had worked for one company only, which was considered a sign that it may be hard for him to adjust and adapt."

Hien (far R) leaves an employer her personal information at a job fair. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Duong

Experts suggest that workers have to constantly improve their skills and be ready for every possible scenario regardless of their age, in order to be able to grab opportunities that come to them.

Huan also says the government should create a varied labor market, so that middle-aged people could change their jobs more easily if they are laid off.

He suggests businesses appreciate workers that have dedicated their youths to the companies and treat them with respect, including avoiding sudden layoffs without any kind of compensation.

"Middle-aged people may find it challenging to start over, but that doesnt mean its impossible," he says.

Tungs recruiter friend pointed out things he needed to change in his Curriculum Vitae, including removing his year of birth and irrelevant degrees while emphasizing more his practical skills.

He was also suggested to reply "I want to be an employee till I retire" when interviewers asked about his career goal, instead of showing his determination to achieve a leading position.

Tung indeed got more calls for interviews after adapting his application documents based on his friends suggestions. His unemployment period ended in May. He now works for a foreign company that he says "values skills over age."

Hien is still looking for a new job. She says if things do not work out, she will consider lowering her requirements regarding salaries and benefits.
When Donald J. Trump was running for president in 2016, he vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices who would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Three justices and six years later, he made good on that promise.

Mr. Trump also made a more general pledge during that campaign, about religion. At a Republican debate, a moderator asked whether he would commit to voters tonight that religious liberty will be an absolute litmus test for anyone you appoint, not just to the Supreme Court, but to all courts.

Mr. Trump said he would, and a new study has found that he largely delivered on that assurance, too. Mr. Trumps appointees to the lower federal courts, the study found, voted in favor of claims of religious liberty more often than not only Democratic appointees and but also judges named by other Republican presidents.

There was an exception: Muslim plaintiffs fared worse before Trump appointees than before other judges.
Smoke from wildfires in Western Canada drifted across the Midwest and the Northeast of the United States on Monday, blotting out blue sky and sun and blanketing dozens of cities with unhealthy air that triggered warnings to limit the time spent outdoors.

It was the second time in less than a month that the borderless impact of climate change could be felt with a breath. In June, heavy smoke from Quebec wafted into the East Coast, and blew from New York City, past Washington, as far west as Minnesota.

This week, as nearly 900 wildfires burned across Canada, the smoke came from fires in the western part of the country, billowing into its southern neighbor across a wide trail.

By 7 p.m. Eastern time, nearly 70 million people in 32 states and the District of Columbia were affected by the shifting, migrating smoke, according to estimates based on information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and LandScan, a population database.
Every morning at the stroke of 9, in the western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi, the entire town square comes to a standstill for a moment of silence to mourn the war dead.

Police officers block the streets. People hold their hands over their hearts. Languid, operatic music flows from a speaker positioned on a wrought iron balcony overlooking the cobblestone square. For a few minutes, as the sun beams down and flags snap in the wind, everyone and everything stops.

Its a singular ritual, and the elaborateness is necessary, city leaders say, because standing here, in the middle of this beautiful town, where theres not a sandbag, cracked window or soldier in sight, you can almost forget this country is at war.

Chernivtsi, tucked into the southwest corner of Ukraine, hundreds of miles from the front, has never been hit by a missile  and its not small, 300,000 people. There are few checkpoints or military vehicles or clumps of young men in camouflage crowding the coffee machine at the supermarket  like there always are in Ukraines cities in the east, center and south.
After Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, catapulted Qin Gang into the post of foreign minister in December, Mr. Qin set a frantic pace, meeting dozens of foreign officials as he pressed Beijings agenda in a divided, war-stricken world.

Then Mr. Qin went silent.

As of Monday, he had not made a public appearance in three weeks. His last reported engagements were on June 25, when he held talks with diplomats from Vietnam, Russia and Sri Lanka. He was recently scheduled to meet the foreign policy chief of the European Union in Beijing, but China canceled that visit. Last week, he missed a meeting of Southeast Asian countries in Jakarta, Indonesia, to which China was invited.

Outside China, Mr. Qins lengthy absence has set off speculation on the internet about his health and status. Abrupt disappearances of senior Chinese officials from public life are often seen as potential signs of trouble. The mystery has seeped into conversations among diplomats and political insiders in the Chinese capital.

The Chinese government acknowledged last week that Mr. Qin, 57, would skip the Jakarta meeting, citing health reasons, but it has otherwise declined to give any details or updates. In Beijing, reporters have repeatedly asked the foreign ministry, including on Monday, questions such as when Mr. Qin would return to work, only to be told that officials had no information to provide.
The United States and China are running out of time to avert a harrowing future brought on by global warming, John Kerry, President Bidens envoy for climate change, warned on Monday at the resumption of talks with Beijing that had stalled for nearly a year amid geopolitical tensions.

As discussions got underway, China is sweltering. State media said temperatures in parts of the far western region of Xinjiang reached 52.2 degrees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, a record for the country. Heat waves also have swept over Europe and across the United States, baking the South and Southwest.

Mr. Kerry said the rest of the world is looking to the two economic powers and major polluters to urgently reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are dangerously warming the planet. He challenged the Chinese government to curb the rapid expansion of its fleet of coal-fired power plants.

The world and the climate crisis demand that we make progress rapidly and significantly, Mr. Kerry told Chinas top climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, and other officials as the countries kicked off three days of formal talks in Beijing. It is vital that we come together to take action, he said.
A remote beach in a part of Western Australia known for its rock lobsters and wildflowers has become home to a hulking metallic mystery object and the police officers guarding it.

The Western Australia Police Force asked people on Monday not to draw conclusions about the origins of the cylindrical object while it was being investigated. But in news reports and on social media, people speculated that it could be from a military or commercial airplane, or even a spacecraft.

The mystery object appears to be metal, has cables or wires hanging from the top and is at least two meters, or about 6 feet 6 inches, tall, according to local news reports.

A civilian reported the object to the police on Sunday after it was found near Green Head, a coastal town of fewer than 300 people about 155 miles north of Perth that is known for its fishing and sea lions.
China extends a hand as its economy sputters

Chinas economy slowed this spring, according to official numbers released yesterday, dashing hopes of a speedy post-pandemic recovery. Analysts said growth was hampered by high levels of debt, a real estate crisis, weak exports and ebbing foreign investment.

The faltering economy appears to have helped prompt a shift in the willingness of senior Chinese officials to engage in diplomatic talks with geopolitical rivals abroad, and to show more openness on economic policy at home.

This week, Xie Zhenhua, the countrys top climate official, is negotiating in Beijing with John Kerry, his American counterpart, for the first time in almost a year. Discussions got underway as China was sweltering under a heat wave. In recent days, temperatures have soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 Celsius) in Beijing, and hit a record of 126 Fahrenheit in the western region of Xinjiang.

Kerry warned that the U.S. and China were running out of time to avert a climate catastrophe. The U.S. has tried to isolate the climate talks from other geopolitical disagreements like the fate of Taiwan, but with limited success.
Russia said on Monday that it was ending its participation in an agreement that had allowed Ukraine to export its grain by sea despite Moscows naval blockade, upending a deal that had helped to keep global food prices stable and alleviate one element of the global fallout from the war.

Ukraine is a major producer of grain and other foodstuffs, and the United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said he was deeply disappointed by the decision. Millions of people who face hunger, or are struggling, as well as consumers around the world facing a cost of living crisis, will pay a price, he said.

Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere, he said.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said earlier on Monday that the agreement had been halted until Russias demands were met.
For the second time in less than a year, explosives have damaged the bridge that links Russia and Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula that Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. The 12-mile-long bridge, which includes a road and rail line running side by side, is a heavily guarded piece of infrastructure that holds major importance for Russia.

Initial reports suggested that the blasts on Monday were not as severe as in last October, when an explosion caused part of the road bridge to collapse into the water.

Heres what we know about the latest attack:

What happened?

Before dawn on Monday, the top Russian-installed official in Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, announced on the Telegram messaging app that traffic had been stopped on the Kerch Strait Bridge because of an emergency.

Russias antiterrorism committee later said that the bridge had been hit by two maritime drones in what appeared to be separate explosions.
The European Union has struck a deal with Tunisia to try to stem the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, amid heated debate over the fallout of the blocs migration policies, including a shipwreck last month that was the deadliest in years.

Under the agreement, reached late Sunday, the Tunisian government committed itself to tightening its sea borders and combating people-smuggling networks, as well as expediting the return of Tunisians who reside illegally in Europe. The E.U. will provide a broad package of support for the North African countrys embattled economy.

Tunis, the capital, is a major port city less than 130 nautical miles from the Italian island of Sicily, and even closer to smaller Italian islands. That makes Tunisia not just a source of migrants itself but also a major transit stop for sub-Saharan Africans who are trying to reach Europe.

Tunisian authorities have come under fire for alleged rights abuses of sub-Saharan migrants, including rounding up hundreds of them and abandoning them at the desert border with Libya with no food or water.
Spanish firefighters on Monday were battling a wildfire that has raged for three days on the wooded slopes of La Palma in the Canary Islands, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents.

The fire, which the Spanish authorities say has burned some 10,000 acres, could be a preview of weather-related crises to come in Europe. The southern part of the continent is in the midst of a heat wave that is drying up fields, increasing the risks of wildfires. In Greece on Monday, fires southeast, west and north of the capital, Athens, led to the evacuations of more than 150 people, three summer camps and dozens of animals, the authorities reported.

Local authorities said on Monday that more favorable weather conditions had helped firefighters slow down the advance of the blaze, allowing some residents to return to their homes. The weather has been helping us, Sergio Rodriguez, the president of the local government council in La Palma, said in a news conference on Monday.

More than 500 firefighters were trying to bring the blaze under control, aided by several water-carrying helicopters making regular rounds over the flames in an attempt to douse them.
More than 50 pilot whales died on Sunday after they were stranded along a beach on the Isle of Lewis in northwest Scotland. It was the largest mass stranding event in Britain since 2011, marine rescuers say.

The coast guard, police and rescue volunteers found 55 whales  both adults and calves  stranded on the beach on Sunday morning, according to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity, which coordinated the response. By the time responders arrived on the beach to administer first aid to the surviving whales, a majority were already dead, the charity added. By 3:30 p.m. local time, rescue teams decided to euthanize the surviving animals on welfare grounds, after it was determined that rough waves and shallow beach conditions made it unsafe to refloat them.

Only one of the 55 whales survived, a spokesman for the Western Isles Council, the local government, said in an email. The whale was one of two that had been successfully helped back out to sea. The other whale restranded itself and subsequently died, British Divers Marine Life Rescue said.

It can take a frantic effort to save a whales life after it is stranded. Pilot whales  which come from the same family as dolphins and porpoises  can grow to 24 feet in length and weigh up to 6,600 pounds. When beached, they can gradually crush themselves or their blood circulation can be cut off, releasing toxins that poison the animal, marine biologists say.
Predawn explosions hit the only bridge linking the occupied Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia on Monday, damaging a vital symbol of President Vladimir V. Putins claims to sovereignty over Ukrainian territory and briefly disrupting a major supply line to Russian troops.

The blasts were the second time the Kerch Strait Bridge has been hit in 10 months. And though these inflicted far less damage than an explosives-laden truck that blew up last October, they exposed the vulnerability of the bridge  and other Russian supply routes far from the front  as Ukraine wages a grueling counteroffensive to retake land.

Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of using maritime drones to assault the bridge, a strategic link for Russian forces fighting in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials celebrated the attack, but neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the blasts.

Hours after the attack, Moscow announced that it was pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, an agreement that had allowed Ukraine to export its grain by sea despite Moscows naval blockade. Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, said the bridge attack was not related to Russias decision to suspend its participation in the deal, which had helped keep global food prices stable.
Russia said on Monday it was withdrawing from a wartime agreement to allow grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea until its demands to loosen sanctions on its own agricultural exports were met, upending a deal that has helped stabilize global food prices and alleviate shortages in parts of Africa and the Middle East.

The agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was struck a year ago, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, to alleviate a global food crisis after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia had blockaded Ukrainian ports, blocking ships from carrying its grain and sending global prices soaring to record highs. The deal has been extended three times, most recently in May. The latest extension expired on Monday.

The United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said he was deeply disappointed by Moscows decision, and that millions of people facing hunger, as well as consumers confronting a cost-of-living crisis, would pay a price. He also said he had sent proposals last week to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to facilitate Moscows demands. Mr. Putin never responded directly, a U.N. spokesman said.

Russia has repeatedly complained about the agreement, which it calls one-sided in Ukraines favor. Moscow has said that Western sanctions, imposed because of Moscows devastating war, have restricted the sale of Russias agricultural products, and Moscow has sought guarantees that free up those exports.
A large convoy of vehicles carrying Wagner mercenary troops arrived at a military field camp in Belarus on Monday morning, in what is the private companys biggest  and most public  showing since its failed rebellion in Russia last month.

Videos shared on social media and analyzed by The New York Times showed a long column of buses, cargo trucks and cars flying Russian and Wagner flags as it traveled from Russia along a highway toward Asipovichy, which is about 55 miles southeast of the Belarus capital, Minsk. Satellite images confirmed that the convoy had arrived at the camp, rapidly assembled during the last week of June, by noon on Monday.

This weekend, The Times revealed an uptick of activity at the camp that seemed to foreshadow the arrival of more troops. The camp was set up after a short-lived revolt by the Wagner group in June against Russias military leadership. What was missing, until Monday, was the arrival of a larger group of people and vehicles.
You shouldnt take away from the fact that they had a conversation today and that they will meet again that we have less concerns over these judicial reforms or less concerns over some of the extremist activities and behavior by some members of the Netanyahu cabinet, John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters at the White House.

Those concerns are still valid, he said.

White House officials declined to address directly what led the president to issue the invitation now, in the absence of any apparent concessions from Mr. Netanyahu. But Mr. Biden  who had pointedly delayed the invitation for months  appeared to have judged that the need to restore a greater sense of normalcy to the United States most critical alliance in the Middle East outweighed any benefits of continuing to keep Mr. Netanyahu at a distance.

Mr. Bidens outreach came just ahead of the visit by Mr. Herzog, which will include a meeting with Mr. Biden at the White House on Tuesday and an address to Congress by the Israeli president on Wednesday.

Mr. Herzogs trip has already highlighted how American policy toward Israel has increasingly become a flashpoint in domestic politics, with Republicans embracing Mr. Netanyahu and divisions flaring among Democrats. Several liberal lawmakers have said they will boycott Mr. Herzogs speech to protest Israels actions toward Palestinians.

Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington and the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called Israel a racist state over the weekend, drawing condemnation from Democratic leaders and others before later saying that she does not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.
Israels political deadlock deepened on Thursday night, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a sudden speech to promote his contentious plan to limit the power of the judiciary, even as thousands rallied across the country to protest it.

Mr. Netanyahu and his right-wing allies say they want to give elected lawmakers more power and reduce the sway of unelected Supreme Court judges, who they say are overstepping their authority.

Critics of the overhaul say the move will undermine a pillar of Israels democracy and is an effort by the government to seize more power for itself.

The bill moved forward last week, after a three-month hiatus during which the government and the opposition sought but failed to reach a compromise on the broader proposed overhaul. The governments move set off huge protests in Israel, which continued on Thursday night as demonstrators attempted to block a major highway and held marches in several cities.
A team of Dutch researchers has discovered that magpies and crows are using metal spikes designed to keep them away from certain urban areas to reinforce their own nests and keep intruders at bay.

Scientists have known for a while that magpies and crows are some of the most intelligent birds in the world, but even they were baffled by their amazing ability to adapt to hostile urban environments. Its not unusual for birds to use human trash and debris as tools and building materials for their nests, button see them use the very things we humans use against them was nothing short of baffling for researchers at the Natural History Museum in Rotterdam and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, in the Netherlands.

Photo: Auke-Florian Hiemstra / Naturalis Biodiversity Center

I really thought Id seen it all, Kees Moeliker, the director of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam, told The Guardian. I didnt expect this. These anti-bird spikes are meant to deter birds, they are supposed to scare them off, but on the contrary, the birds just utilize them.

Nests recovered by researchers from trees in Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp in Belgium were made almost exclusively out of strips of sharp metallic anti-bird spikes designed to keep birds away. These discoveries prompted a scientific investigation that discovered similar bird architecture in various other locations in the Netherlands and one as far as Glasgow, Scotland.

One particularly impressive magpie nest was discovered in the courtyard of a hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. It was made up of around 1,500 anti-bird spikes, most of which seemed to be positioned with the sharp point outwards, as protection against intruders. After discovering it, researchers checked the roof od the hospital and confirmed that around 50 meters of anti-bird spike strips had been ripped off the building, leaving only the glue used to fix them in place.

Photo: Jaime Dantas/Unsplash

For the first few minutes, I just stared at it  this strange, beautiful, weird nest, biologist Auke-Florian Hiemstra told the BBC. Even for me as a nest researcher, these are the craziest bird nests Ive ever seen. They are incredible fortresses  like a bunker for birds.

Birds have been known to incorporate sharp objects, from pointy branches to nails, screws, and barbed wire into their nests as protection, but the use of anti-bird spikes is kind of ironic, as they are the very things used to keep them away. To scientists like Hiemstra, this is a sort of beautiful revenge.

They are using the material that we made to keep them away, to make a nest to make more birds, the biologist said.



I was really struck by the irony, to take anti-bird devices and use them to their own ends, Dr Jim Reynolds, an ornithologist at the University of Birmingham, agreed. They are even more amazing than I thought they were.

A few years back, we wrote about rich people in the UK installing anti-bird spikes on trees to stop birds from pooping on their luxury cars, but I guess the birds had the last laugh
Vietnam's aging 100-million population a demographic time bomb

Vietnams population of 100 million people means trouble could haunt the countrys demographic future sooner rather than later, with a quickly aging population a major challenge.

The falling childrens mortality rate and the increase of life expectancy is making Vietnam more rapidly reach the aging population figure that spells the end of the "golden population period," which is defined by the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) as having 30% of the populations children aged below 14, and 15% of all people aged 65 or more.

This means that Vietnam will have less working-age people and more people in retirement age, which can lead to numerous burdens on society.

Vietnam currently stands third in Southeast Asia, after Thailand and Singapore, in the proportion of population aged 65 and over, while its income per capita ranks only sixth in the region.

With its population hitting 100 million last April according to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam is now the 15th most populous country in the world and its population density ranks 41th. When it comes to yearly income per capita, Vietnam is ranked 121st at $4,010. This figure is 10 times lower than that of Japan and 19 times lower than that of the U.S., placing Vietnam in the lower-middle grouping of nations.

World's 15 most populous countries' income and density:

Leaps and bounds?

Vietnams population has doubled in the 48 years since its reunification, jumping from 47 million to 100 million. Over the previous century, Vietnams yearly population growth has always been higher than the global average. But that trend shifted in the 2000s, following a decade of family planning policies that limited the number of children born in a family to two.

Birth rates are falling across the nation, but the rates themselves differ in different areas. The waves of migrants heading for big cities have also caused an imbalance in population distribution between urban and rural regions. As a result, average incomes and lifespans between localities are markedly different as well.

Those in southeastern Vietnam, home to the country's manufacturing hubs, enjoy the highest income among all areas in the country. Binh Duong Province leads with a monthly income level at VND8.1 million ($342), four times higher than the bottom of the list: Ha Giang Province in the northern highlands with VND2.1 million a month.

People in HCMC and five southeastern neighbors (including Binh Duong) also have the longest average lifespans. Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province tops the list with an average lifespan of 76.4 years, 8.5 years longer than those in the northern mountainous Lai Chau Province at the bottom of the list.

Lai Chau also has the lowest population density in the country, with only 53 people per km2. In contrast, Ho Chi Minh City has the highest population density at 4,481 people per km2. The average population density throughout the entire country is 300 people per km2.

Vietnam is already half past its "golden population period", starting 2007, when it hit the 90-million population mark. This period is expected to end in 2039, when at least two people of working age must take care of either a child below 15 or an elderly person above 65, according to UNFPA.

Vietnam's population by age group between 1989 and 2049:

Nguyen Thanh Long, an expert at population and development from the National Economics University, said a "golden population period" is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for any country.
Michelle Abril

Any public relations professional worth their paycheck understands the importance of reading. We read to stay current on travel trends, look for new writers to engage and monitor clients and competitors. Everyone has their preference on how they read, whether scrolling away on smartphones or tablets, going old-school and cracking open a magazine or wearing newspaper ink stains with pride. But the way were reading and what were reading has drastically changed, given the major shift in todays print and online media landscape.

Last year, some of the most-beloved magazines ceased print issues in exchange for full online operations, including Allure, Parents and People en Espanol, while others folded completely. Newspapers are also phasing out hardcopies and transitioning to digital-only content. In addition, news outlets are cutting staffVox Media laid off 130 employeesand some publications have discontinued day-of news coverage, such as Thrillist, which cut food and drink news from its site. It begs the question for the communications industry whether well even have on-staff journalists to pitch in the future.

Travel publicists must be nimble, think beyond the glossy magazine and look to other mediums to generate client news. As the media continues to evolve, everyone can benefit from looking beyond the gold-standard Travel + Leisure cover story.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's July '23 Travel & Tourism PR Magazine

(view PDF version)

Podcasts

According to Spotify, as of 2023, there are 464.7 million podcast listeners and more than four million podcasts globally. Its predicted that in 2024 there will be around 504.9 million podcast listeners! As a commanding digital medium often focused on specific themes, consider turning to podcasters and their millions of listeners in the same way we once did 50-page magazines distributed to millions of readers. The convenience of capturing consumers hearing your client news and brand messaging at their convenience is a game-changer for brands.

Podcasts are a great way to position clients as thought leaders in the travel industry and share buzz-worthy news. For example, journalist Holly Rubenstein hosts new episodes weekly on The Travel Diaries, which highlights a special guest and their inspiration for wanderlust destinations, while Conde Nast Travelers Editor Lale Arikoglu hosts weekly episodes on Women Who Travel, shining a light on women and their most unique travel tales. If you have a client able to provide travel tips, pay attention to Jason Moores Zero to Travel, where he and an interviewee provide actionable advice to help listeners travel better and smarter.

Influencers

Thanks to their built-in audience, influencers are instrumental to any travel brand. Theyre virtual storytellers whose impact can be easily measured, helping brands push out timely news to meet campaign KPIs. From Instagram and TikTok to Twitter, people consume travel news and trends on these popular platforms, so companies need to leverage this opportunity in an innovative way. Major travel brands like Hilton regularly engage with influencers across platforms as they are dubbed ambassadors and produce creative content that hits key messaging and resonates with core audiences in an organic way. For example, Hiltons 10-minute TikTok went viral as the untraditional video featured the iconic hotel chain heiress Paris Hilton as well as famous creators Chris Olsen, GirlBossTown and KelzWright, challenging viewers to stay to the end for a chance of winning Hilton Honors Points.

Tarte Cosmetics raised awareness for the destination of Dubai with an influencer trip that sent social media and print media into a frenzy. A group of 50 makeup and lifestyle influencers and their plus ones from eight different countries around the world were invited to Dubai for the launch of a new foundation that had them experience the product in a luxurious destination. Not only were consumers talking about Tarte, but the destination collaboration was uncanny, given that brand trips are not typically widely discussed. The hashtag #TarteDubaiTrip has more than 20 million views alone.

Delta Airlines creatively leveraged influencers to launch their #SkyMilesLife microsite DeltaSkyMilesLife.com, which typically would only be trade-focused news. They worked with 14 creators to produce 500 pieces of quality content to use across owned and paid channels that target key audiences with more than 12 million views.

Broadcast

Television has always been one of the most influential and popular media platforms, allowing news to instantly spread visually to millions of consumers. We could qualify for early retirement if we all had a dollar for every time we heard a client name The Today Show as a dream placement! Nowadays, organic inclusion in national broadcast segments is a rarity, as heavily branded news tends to lean into integration paid tactics. Still, savvy communicators know that pitching client travel news tied to a bigger social media trend or national holiday increases the chance of getting coveted airtime.

While national broadcast might be a feather in your cap, local broadcast outlets often tend to be easier to secure and equally strategic when it comes to moving the needle with your clients desired target audience. Local outlets might result in a longer segment that hits all key messaging versus a quick mention on a national outlet, so dont ignore the smaller regional segments. In addition, if your client is still looking for national coverage, take the local coverage and pitch the same story to the networks national syndicate, referencing the clients local appearance on their regional station, and sometimesif you have the right storyregional networks will get picked up by their syndicate for the evening news.

As PR professionals, we find ourselves in a constant state of navigating a dynamic media landscape, like a ship captain maneuvering through shifting currents. Lets remember to look toward the horizon and never lose sight of the importance of relationships! Irrespective of the medium, whether its a traditional journalist or podcaster, its crucial to cultivate connections with individuals who can contribute to promoting your client. Recognize the significance of these relationships, as they have always been important, but now hold an even greater significance in our current climate.

***

Michelle Abril is Vice President at Coyne Public Relations.
'Rural Roadmap to 2030' is the title of a public meeting which will discuss all issues affecting Edenderry and Offaly in the coming years.

The meeting, which is being organised by Fine Gael councillors Noel Cribbin and Liam Quinn, will be attended by the Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Heather Humphreys.

All are welcome to the meeting in which will discuss national and local affairs.

The meeting takes place in the Oakwood Inn (Byrne's) on Monday, July 17 from 7pm to 9pm.

The main reason for calling this public meeting is that for years the population of Edenderry was 4,000 plus but in latter years that has exploded to 8,000 plus with many relocating from other parts of Ireland and countries around the world, outlined Cllr Cribbin.

He added: Many families are here for years now with their kids born, reared and educated in Edenderry. However for some reason many have not engaged in clubs, organisation and in using their votes in local and general elections.

Cllr Cribbin estimated that only 50 per cent of the new residents used their votes in recent elections.
A CALL has been made on Offaly County Council to support an outright ban on the sale of disposal / single use vapes for environmental reasons.

Making the call, Cllr Mark Hackett said Government policy on disposable vapes is currently under review. Im asking Offaly County Council to call for an outright ban on the sale and distribution of disposable / single use vaping products. This does not impact in any way on rechargeable vaping products.

The Geashill based councillor said disposable vaping devices present several risks. Im aware of the public health issues but my focus here is on the environment. If the battery is damaged, as many can be if they are not disposed of properly, they can catch fire. We are increasingly seeing them tossed at the side of the road as litter. And if we consider the critical raw materials in each product, we begin to see how wasteful they really are.

The Government is seeking the publics opinion on disposable vaping products and the Green Party Councillor believes it is an excellent time for Offaly to take a lead.

I dont think any other local authority has called for an outright ban but there are many individuals and organisations calling for one. The public consultation is open now and Offaly County Council has a narrow window to make a strong statement against this relatively new scourge on our environment.

If vapes are properly disposed of, in battery collection boxes, then Tullamore is the only place in Ireland where they are being recycled. This is a good thing but only if all of the used vapes end up there!

Disposable vaping products are a toxic waste that we dont need. We have rechargeable alternatives readily available. Saying no to this wastage is an easy win and I believe Government will sit up and listen if Offaly County Council gets behind this call.
Tamil Nadu in No.1 position, overtaking Karnataka  CM Stalins well deserved success of 233% growth in last 2

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

In India, Tamil Nadu is in the top position as far as electronics export is concerned. The electronics export value of Tamil Nadu has increased to 5.37 billion USD (Indian rupee value - 44,044 crores). The combined growth rate for the last 2 years is 233%. From fourth position last year, Tamil Nadu has advanced to the first position in just one year. After 10 years Tamil Nadu has bagged the first position in electronics export.

Following Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh is in second place, Karnataka in third, Maharashtra in fourth, Gujarat in fifth and Delhi is in sixth place. The most important thing is that Tamil Nadu has advanced to the 1st position, overtaking all the BJP ruling states. Reason being, CM Stalin's participation in more industry specific programs. Regarding the achievement, CM Stalin in his tweet has given the credit to the Dravidian model of his government. As per the tweet, the aspiration of the DMK government is to make Tamil Nadu a first choice for the investors as well as to make it an investment hub in South Asia.

According to economist Reggie Thomas, out of India's total electronics exports of 25 billion USD, Tamil Nadu's contribution is 22.83%. The first reason for this growth is measures taken up by the government and secondly Tamil Nadu is considered as the capital of engineering studies in India. It is a proud moment for Tamil Nadu for advancing to first position and also for overtaking Karnataka, mainly due to the lack of an electronic city in Tamil Nadu. On the other hand Karnataka has an electronic city which makes Tamil Nadu's achievement a commendable one. "Tamil Nadu's achievement stands testimony to the fact that a state cannot rise to the top position by merely establishing a city", said Reggie Thomas.

Sivakumar, the Chairman of a private electronics company said that the percentage of vocational students in Tamil Nadu is high and there is no shortage for the availability of workers also, which aided the achievement. The Tamil Nadu government is taking immediate steps to bring new technologies in industries by extending financial assistance. This serves as the main reason for the entrepreneurs not undergoing any financial hardship for acquiring the equipment for new technologies.

Apart from this, bank loans are also provided in a swift manner. All these factors played a major role in increasing the electronic exports. Another factor which aided the growth is the prevalence of increased demand for electronics products in the market. According to Sivakumar, taking into account the present scenario of Tamil Nadu and the global demand, the current export value of 44000 crores will exponentially increase to 1 lakh crores within 3 years. "Tamil Nadu government has set the target for achieving a 1 trillion USD economy and the growth in the electronics sector will create a ripple effect for growth in other sectors also", said Sivakumar.

Finally DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy said that the present GDP calculation of Tamil Nadu is 18 lakh crores. CM Stalin announced to increase this amount to 1 trillion dollars which is 80 lakh crores as per today's dollar exchange value,which means advancing the economy 4 times more within 2030. The task of advancement of the economy was taken by CM Stalin for which he started works immediately in the required sectors.

As a result of this, Tamil Nadu has become a desirable place among investors and start-ups. Tamil Nadu has growth in angel investment and also has become the major state for manufacturing industries in India. Professor Meenakshi, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering in Anna University said that the contribution of electronics is not sector specific nowadays, it is seen even in the medical field, specifically in medical surgery. The fast developing 5G technology will widen the scope of electronics in the coming days. The future education system will transform to an electronic system of learning.

With just electronic devices, students will easily get their higher education in any country of their choice. Hereafter one cannot separate the future from the electronics and electronics from the future. In this scenario, Tamil Nadu being in the top position in the field of electronics is a commendable act. Because of this, students will opt for electronics related studies which in turn will increase the man power in the electronics field. If man power is more, then it means money is more right?

First step in the milestone of achieving a 1 trillion dollar economy!!!!!

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 16:40 [IST]
Actor-Turned-Politician Pawan Kalyan To Attend NDA Meet On Tuesday

Hyderabad

oi-PTI

Jana Sena Party founder and actor Pawan Kalyan will attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting scheduled in Delhi on Tuesday, party sources said. Kalyan will be accompanied by Nadendla Manohar, Jana Sena's political affairs committee chairman, the sources said on Monday.

The actor-politician received an invitation to attend the meeting and he will leave for Delhi from Tirupati on Monday evening, a party official told PTI. He is in the temple town currently to complain against a woman police inspector for allegedly slapping a party worker recently. Kalyan's Jana Sena fought the 2019 Assembly and Parliamentary elections alone and faced a debacle, winning just one Assembly seat.

However, soon after the polls, he quickly patched up with the BJP and two have decided to work together. Earlier, Kalyan hinted at possible alliances which could include the Jana Sena and the TDP or the triumvirate of Jana Sena, TDP and BJP and also the possibility of his party going it alone. Though Kalyan's party is in alliance with the BJP, he also maintains a good relationship with the TDP and its chief N Chandrababu Naidu.

JDS Not Part Of Opposition Meet In Bengaluru, Awaits NDA Invite

On several occasions, Kalyan vociferously asserted that his sole aim was to trounce the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP and declared that he will not allow a split in opposition votes which could end up benefiting the ruling party.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 14:31 [IST]
38 Parties Will Attend NDA Meeting On Tuesday, Says BJP Chief JP Nadda

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The BJP announced today that it will hold a mega meeting of 38 parties under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting comes just days after 26 opposition parties met in Bengaluru to discuss a united front against the ruling BJP at the center.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, BJP National President JP Nadda said NDA's reach and scope have increased over the years. He said the NDA constituents are upbeat due to the positive impact of the Narendra Modi government's schemes and policies.

"National Democratic Alliance is an ideal alliance meant to serve and strengthen the country...UPA neither has a leader nor does it have the power to take decisions. It is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities," JP Nadda attacked UPA.

#WATCH | National Democratic Alliance is an ideal alliance meant to serve and strengthen the country...UPA neither has a leader nor does it have the power to take decisions. It is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities: BJP National President pic.twitter.com/q1W4KeoUlT  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

He further alleged that UPA is an alliance based on "selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities." He highlighted the efforts that were made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and were praised globally. "In the last 9 years, we have seen the strong leadership of PM Modi which has been appreciated by many. Zero tolerance for corruption has also increased. The PM has also set an example in Covid19 management," JP Nadda said.

He asserted that good governance work has been done in the last 9 years by the NDA government and stressed that the Modi-led government will continue working on it. "Good governance work has been done in the last 9 years by the NDA government and we are continuously working on it. Rs 28 lakh cr have directly transferred to beneficiary (DBT) till date," Nadda added.

With less than a year to go for the elections, both the BJP and the opposition are busy fine-tuning their strategies and reaching out to allies. The NDA meeting in Delhi is seen as a way for the BJP to consolidate its support base and to send a message to the opposition that it is confident of winning the next elections.
Anurag Thakur Accuses Congress Of Fuelling Violence In Manipur

India

oi-PTI

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday blasted the Congress for sending its leaders to strife-torn Manipur and fuelling violence there, adding that some parties were not comfortable with peace in the country.

Talking to a group of reporters in Hamirpur, he said on one hand, the Congress party was claiming that Manipur was plagued by violence, and on the other hand, its leaders were visiting the northeastern state "without any purpose".

"No untoward incident has been reported from Manipur during the past 10 days, but the Congress wants to trigger violence by sending its leaders there, which is unacceptable," he said, adding that some leaders and parties are not comfortable with peace in the country and the Congress is one of them.

Thakur, who is on a four-day tour of his Hamirpur constituency to supervise the relief and rescue operations, said the Congress government has not spared the common man even in the face of a major calamity as it went on to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel.

The information and broadcasting minister, who also visited Bilaspur district, said people of the Hamirpur constituency (consisting of Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur) told him that 11 people lost their lives and the loss to property was pegged at Rs 359 crore.

Why SC Refused To Give Directions To Indian Army On Manipur Violence

Addressing a meeting of DISHA (District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee), Thakur said, "The central government is doing its best to help people across the country, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very liberal towards the hill state. He has directed all ministries to extend adequate help to the states where monsoon rains have wreaked havoc."

He added that no laxity will be given if MP Local Area Development Funds will not be used for the dedicated purpose.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 9:55 [IST]
Phuc Nguyen, representative of Miss Supranational Vietnam contest organizer, rejects accusations that Dang Thanh Ngan, Vietnams contestant at the 2023 Miss Supranational, bribed her way into the contest.

Ngan is crowned 4th runner-up at the 2023 Miss Supranational contest on July 14, 2023. Photo from Missosologys Facebook

Before this years Miss Supranational final round on July 14, many people left negative comments on Ngans social media profiles, accusing her of bribing her way into the event, often pointing to her "lack of skills."

In response Phuc said his management company had considered Ngan a potential contestant to represent Vietnam since the "2018 Leading Star" project.

However, she had been busy studying and with acting projects ever since, so shed been off the beauty contest radar, he said.

"We encouraged Ngan to compete in this years Miss Supranational contest to create a breakthrough in her career and her life," Phuc told NgoiSao. "And she accepted."

He said both he and his company are grateful for Ngan's acceptance, as they couldnt find anyone to compete in this years Miss Supranational contest, despite their success last year in supporting Miss Supranational 2022 2nd runner-up Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen to achieve her title.

"Frankly speaking, Ngan was a substitute," he said. "We are grateful for how Ngan didn't care about that and put all of her effort into the pageant instead."

Phuc said Ngan was totally suited to be Vietnams representative at the contest. She improved a lot in her charisma and skills over the period of two months she had to prepare for the pageant.

"Not everyone can improve as much as Ngan," he added. "I think people should support a fellow Vietnamese when she competes in an international contest instead of criticizing and gossiping about ungrounded things that we organizers don't care about."

Ngan has been aware of the comments people left on her profiles.

She said she was sad for not being encouraged and supported like other Vietnamese representatives at international beauty pageants. Despite that, she was determined to put in all of her effort.

"I didnt compete for myself," she said. "I was proud to be Vietnams representative at an international contest, and I competed for my country."

Ngan, 23, is from Mekong Delta Province of Soc Trang. She was announced as the winner of the Miss Influencer's Challenge, part of the Miss Supranational contest, on June 24, and crowned the 4th runner-up during the final on July 14 in Malopolska, Poland.
Bilkis Bano Case: SC Fixes Aug 7 For Final Hearing Of Pleas Against Remission To Convicts

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed August 7 for the start of the final hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the pleadings have been completed and notices served on all the convicts.

''We hold that pleadings in the matter are complete and all the respondents have been served notices in all the cases though newspaper publications or directly. We list the matter for final hearing on August 7. All parties should file short written submissions, synopsis and list of dates,'' the bench said.

During the hearing, advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bilkis Bano, said notices were published in local newspapers on June 1 and she had filed an affidavit with regard to that on June 7.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising and advocate Vrinda Grover, also appearing for the petitioners, said in their cases also notices were published as directed by the top court.

Grover said she needs to place on record the original remission order of the Gujarat government and sought permission of the court to place some additional documents on record.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government and the Centre, said although the original remission order has been placed on record by the state, if the petitioners want to place it themselves, he has no problem with that.

The bench said since the matter was listed for directions, it is fixing August 7 as the date for the final hearing and the parties, who wish to file their replies, written submissions, synopsis, and list of dates, are at liberty to do so.

''Your written submissions should focus on some main issues and arguments,'' the bench told the counsel for the petitioners and granted them three weeks to file their replies.

It also allowed the convicts to file their counter affidavits on the petitions challenging the remission.

On May 9, the top court had directed the publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house was found by the local police to be locked and his phone switched off. The top court had on May 2 deferred the hearing after some of the counsel for the convicts raised objections about they not being served notices on the pleas challenging the remission granted to them.

Bilkis Bano case: Centre, Gujarat agree to produce convicts' remission files before SC

The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they were not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order asking for production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts.

The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections with regard to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases.

The top court had on April 18 questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered before showing leniency, and wondered if there was any application of mind.

Asking for reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration. ''It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime,'' it had said.

The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission.

Terming Bilkis Bano's gang-rape and the murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots a ''horrendous'' act, the apex court had on March 27 asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts.

It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission of the sentences. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.

Besides Bilkis Bano's petition, several other PILs including one by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma have challenged the remission. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against the remission.

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among seven family members killed in the riots.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 20:08 [IST]
Brij Bhushan Touched Private Parts, Stomach Of Female Wrestler: Delhi Police's Chargesheet Reveals

India

oi-Prakash KL

The 1599-page chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan in the sexual harassment case of female wrestlers have shocking claims made by alleged victims.

According to an exclusive report by Times Now, the chargesheet cited a victim of sexual harassment as claiming that he lifted her t-shirt and touched her. Her statement had the backing of two others.

According to the chargesheet, the incident at the WFI office involved inappropriate touching and a prolonged tight hug, lasting 15-20 minutes, towards the victim. Additionally, another victim accused Brij Bhushan of intentionally touching her private parts and stomach.

Delhi Court Summons Brij Bhushan In Sexual Harassment Case

The chargesheet also mentioned that the WFI allegedly touched a wrestler's palm, knee, thigh, and shoulders without obtaining consent, the report stated. It also mentions the sexual harassment happening in public places such as the WFI office. The cops have registered this case under 164 CrPC, which makes the case stronger.

On June 15, Delhi had filed a charge sheet in the case against the six-time MP under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The charge sheet had also named Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), for offences under sections 109 (abetment of any offence, if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 354, 354A and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, according to a report in PTI.

Besides the present case, another FIR was filed against Singh pursuant to the allegations made by a minor wrestler which was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. She was among the seven female grapplers who had accused Singh of sexual harassment.

Both the FIRs narrated several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh at different times and places over a decade.

Brij Bhushan Faces Sexual Harassment Charge, No Evidence In Minors Case: Delhi Police

In the minor's case, the Delhi Police had on June 15 submitted a final report seeking cancellation of the FIR filed with regard to the allegation of sexual harassment against Singh. A cancellation report is filed in cases where police fail to find corroborative evidence after due investigation.

A court has asked the minor to reply on the police closure report. The next date of hearing is August 1.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 16:10 [IST]
Dont Take Selfies Or Swim In Flooded Areas, Threat Not Over Yet: Kejriwal Warns Delhiites

Can BJP Pass Delhi Ordinance In RS After Cong's Support To AAP? Number Game Explained

India

oi-Prakash KL

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for extending his party' support to the AAP on Delhi Ordinance, saying the issue should be fought tooth and nail.

"Thank you Kharge ji for standing with the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail," The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said in a tweet.

The BJP-led central government had in May brought an ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, virtually negating an earlier Supreme Court verdict that had given the elected government in Delhi the control over services matters.

Will Cong's Support Prevent Centre From Passing The Ordinance In Parliament?

Despite the Congress extending support to the AAP on this issue, the BJP is unlikely to face any trouble in passing this ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. It is because Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) or the YSR Congress Party of Jagan Reddy have not extended support to the AAP's cause.

Dont Take Selfies Or Swim In Flooded Areas, Threat Not Over Yet: Kejriwal Warns Delhiites

With eleven leaders including five BJP leaders set to be elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha, the saffron party is set to increase its seat tally to 93 in the upper house of the Parliament. Whereas Congress is set to lose one seat to take its tally to 30.

After July 24, there will be a total of seven vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, which consists of 245 members. Out of these, four seats will be vacant in Jammu and Kashmir, two seats will be nominated, and one seat will be vacant in Uttar Pradesh.

As the monsoon session commences next week, the total number of seats in the Rajya Sabha will decrease to 238. Consequently, the majority mark required to pass legislation will be 120.

The BJP and its allies' seat count in the Rajya Sabha is expected to reach 105 and it has the backing of five nominated and two independent MPs. It means the saffron party will be short of eight seats to reach the new majority mark of 120. In addition to it, the JDS, BSP and TDP have one MP each in the house and the NDA is hoping to get the support of these parties.

On the other hand, the Opposition has the support of 105 members. In order to stop the BJP from passing the bill, it requires the support of the BJD and the YSRCP which have nine members each.

Both the parties have not clearly stated whether they support or oppose the ordinance.

It may be recalled that both political parties had staged a walkout while a contentious bill was being voted upon in the Rajya Sabha, last year. This move aided the government by reducing the required majority threshold.

If a similar scenario unfolds this time, the BJP and its allies will surpass the lowered majority mark, which will now stand at 111.

The government will be only in trouble if both parties join hands with the Opposition parties.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 17:54 [IST]
Chirag Paswan Joins NDA After Meeting JP Nadda, Amit Shah In Delhi

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The BJP has announced that Chirag Paswan, the leader of a prominent faction within the Lok Janashakti Party, will be joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This announcement came shortly after his meeting with the BJP's key strategist, Amit Shah.

On the eve of the NDA's show of strength in Delhi, JP Nadda, the BJP chief, welcomed Chirag Paswan to the NDA family, stating, "Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join NDA."

Chirag Paswan, who is the political successor of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, had previously withdrawn from the NDA ahead of the last state election in Bihar due to disagreements with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Although this move weakened Kumar's numbers and gave the BJP an advantage in the state, it left Chirag Paswan isolated, as his uncle, Pashupati Paras, along with four MPs, remained with the NDA.

Given that a majority of Bihar's six percent Paswan voters support Chirag Paswan, it was indicated that the BJP needed his alliance within the NDA. During his meeting with Amit Shah, Chirag Paswan reportedly requested six seats for his faction.

NDA Meeting Tomorrow as BJP Steps Up Its Campaign For Lok Sabha Polls 2024

While the BJP's response is still unknown, the party has been striving to reconcile the two factions of the Lok Janashakti Party. Pashupati Paras rejected the idea, stating, "When things go wrong, when the milk curdles, no matter how hard you try, you get no butter."

The faction led by Pashupati Paras has stated that they will not oppose Chirag Paswan's entry into the NDA, but they will not actively welcome him either.

In response to questions about his nephew's participation in the meeting, Pashupati Paras commented, "This is an election year. Every party wants to attract more people... So Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi have been invited. People will attend the meeting, which is a positive thing. The outcome of the meeting will determine what happens."
Assam Mosque Committee Not to Allow Burial Of Those Who Died Due To Consumption Of Drugs

Drugs Worth Rs 2,400 Crore Destroyed, Amit Shah Watches Virtually

India

oi-Deepika S

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) destroyed narcotics 1.40 lakh kg of drugs worth Rs 2,381 crore in various parts of the country today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah supervised the destruction of the drugs virtually.

Destruction of the narcotics, the bulk of it from Madhya Pradesh, were carried out in different cities as Shah watched through video conferencing from New Delhi while attending a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security'.

The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kg seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg seized by the Indore unit and 356 kg by the Jammu unit, the officials said.

Besides, various law enforcement agencies from different states also destroyed drugs - 1,03,884 (1.03 lakh) kg in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kg 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, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

NCB Busts Pan-India Drugs Trafficking Network Operating Through Dark Web

With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in just one year has reached around 10 lakh kilogram with a value of Rs 12,000 crore.

From June 1, 2022 to July 15, 2023, regional units of the NCB and anti-narcotics task forces of the states collectively destroyed around 8,76,554 (8.76 lakh) kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore - which is more than 11 times the target.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 13:39 [IST]
Bard Declares Karnataka Election Result 2023 and Here is What It Says

Explained: The War Between Google and Digital News Publishers

India

oi-Prakash KL

Search engine giant Google has blocked Canadian news on its platform in Canada. It will remove all the links from Canadian publishers, as a protest against the government's new law that requires payments to local news publishers.

As a result, the people of Canada can only get the news by directly visiting the official websites of the news outlets. However, this is not the only country where the Alphabet-owned Google has run into trouble with publishers. It is facing lawsuits in the US, the UK, the European Union, Germany, France and Belgium.

What is the issue all about?

The issue is majorly about revenue sharing issue. Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper chain and publisher of USA Today, sued Google for trying to corner the market for online advertising by monopolizing ad technology. The company which has over 200 daily newspapers said that the search engine giant's control over tools for buying and selling online ads forces publishers to sell more cheap ad space to the Alphabet Inc unit.

Par Panel To Meet Google, Apple, Paytm To Discuss Rising Incidents Of Cyber Crimes

"Digital advertising is the lifeblood of the online economy," Gannett Chief Executive Mike Reed said in an opinion published in USA Today. "Without free and fair competition for digital ad space, publishers cannot invest in their newsrooms."

"Today, online digital advertising is a $200 billion business - a nine-fold increase since 2009," the suit filed by Ganeett said. "Yet, despite the opportunity for publishers to produce more news content and earn more revenue, news publications' advertising revenue has declined by nearly 70% over the same timeframe."

This monopoly has led to the shutting down of 20 per cent of newspapers as the circulation has also decreased by 40 per cent. This resulted in job losses.

How It Is Responsible?

Media organizations primarily generate the majority of their income from advertisements. In the past, they would make deals directly with advertisers, with a limited number of available slots. With the shift to online platforms, publishers began using advanced software to auction ad space electronically. The internet's limitless space led to a significant increase in the number of ad slots sold daily. Currently, the global digital advertising market is valued at approximately $626.9 billion.

Unfortunately, Google and its parent company Alphabet hold a monopoly over the advertising technology tools utilized by publishers and advertisers for buying and selling online ad space.

Online display advertising space works like electronic financial markets where ads space is bought and sold in real-time. The search engine giant holds a dominant position in this arena as the largest global seller of ad space. Not only does it operate the leading ad trading platform, but it also serves as the primary intermediary connecting ad buyers and sellers for trading purposes.

India To Get Global Fintech Operations Centre In Gujarat: Google CEO Pichai

Dina Srinivasan, author of research paper titled 'Why Google Dominates Advertising Markets', says, "Google's exchange shares superior trading information and speed with the Google-owned intermediaries, it steers buy and sell orders to its exchange and websites (Search & YouTube), and abuses its access to inside information."

In an article in The New York Times, she said, "These problems took root more than a decade ago when Google made a bid for DoubleClick, the popular service that helps websites sell ad space. The service became part of Google's ad exchange division, which it later called AdX."

In the end, websites suffered the consequences as the absence of competition among exchanges led to their ad space being sold at prices up to 50% lower than their potential value.

The other major reason why many publishers are upset with Google is showing snippets on search results. They complain that once a reader gets a gist of a story, he will not come to their websites to read or see their content.

What's Happening in India?

In 2022, the News Broadcasters & Digital Association filed a complaint against Google alleging the tech giant of abusing its dominant position to dictate terms to the publishers.

"Competition Commission of India (CCI) found merit in the complaint filed by News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) against Alphabet Inc, Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, Google Ireland Ltd and Google Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, which stated that Google was abusing its dominant position in violation of the Competition Act, 2002," News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) said in a statement.

"Accordingly, CCI in its order dated 6.10.2022, clubbed the matter with the ongoing investigations in similar complaints filed by other affected bodies i.e. INS & DNPA."

It is alleged that due to the tech giant's overwhelming control in the industry, publishers have been compelled to incorporate content on their platforms. They have no choice but to engage in trading through the company's exchanges and utilize its purchasing tool, Google Ads/DV 360, in order to receive bids from advertisers. Also, the Google has been accused of encouraging members to disable header bidding while also forcing them to use their Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) or building mirror-like 'light-weight' webpages.

Not complying would have adversely affected their rankings in mobile search results. Moreover, it limited the paywall options unless publishers reconstructed their websites according to AMP standards. It is important to highlight that when readers do not click on the snippets and visit the websites, it restricts the website's potential to generate revenue.

Following these allegations, the CCI, last year, ordered an investigation against the tech giant.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 14:06 [IST]
How political will turned Goa into India's first rabies-controlled State

Goa Beaches Shut for Monsoon, but Tourists Can Still be Seen

Goa: Portion Of Kala Academy Building Collapses In Panaji; No Casualty

India

oi-PTI

A slab of the under renovation Kala Academy building, a prominent cultural centre run by government, collapsed in Goa's capital Panaji, officials said on Monday.

No casualty was reported in the incident which took place on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday, they said.

The slab that collapsed was part of an open air auditorium, an official said.

"No casualty was reported as there was no one in the area when the incident happened," the official said.

State Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude said, "We have asked for a report from the Public Works Department over the incident." He said the slab that collapsed was not part of the main building which is currently being renovated.

Goa Witnesses Heavy Rain; IMD Also Issues A 'Red' Alert

The Kala Academy building has remained vacated for more than two years due to the renovation work.

A number of international events, including the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), have been held at the Kala Academy.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 13:52 [IST]
'Not Reaching Out To Anybody': Kharge on Talks With JDS Ahead Of Karnataka Election Results

High Stake Karnataka Battle: What Is In Store For The Three Major Parties

JDS Not Part Of Opposition Meet In Bengaluru, Awaits NDA Invite

India

oi-Deepika S

Janata Dal-Secular leader and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the opposition parties have never considered the regional party a part of them.

His statement comes ahead of the big opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru today.

"The opposition never considered JDS a part of them. So, there is no question of JDS being a part of any Mahagathbandhan," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

Responding to the speculations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the JDS could join hands ahead of Lok Sabha polls coming up next year, Kumaraswamy said that he is yet to receive an invitation from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the saffron party.

Not UPA, Anti BJP Opposition Bloc To Get New Name

"The NDA has not invited our party to any meeting. We will see on that front," he said.

Responding to Kumaraswamy's statement, Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, "if he is really interested in fighting against BJP, we will discuss it on the agenda."

"We know that for JDS, secular politics is something which they don't truly believe in. They have always had alliances with BJP even before. So, this is nothing new. I think the tag of Janata Dal-Secular needs to go. They should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power. They have no principles, no ideology. Only power matters to them and Kumaraswamy. I think it will have a deep impact on JD(S) in Karnataka. It will be the end of JDS in Karnataka," Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

Notably, senior BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday hinted at talks regarding the JDS joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Bommai said the results of the discussion would determine future political developments.

Claiming that their allegations over JDS 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.

Sharad Pawar To Attend Opposition Meet In Bengaluru On Tuesday

In response to a question on the possibility of JDS joining the NDA, Bommai said, "That is for the discussion between our leadership and JDS President H D Deve Gowda." Speaking to reporters here, he said JDS 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 JDS about both parties coming to an understanding ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 12:32 [IST]
India

oi-Oneindia English Desk

During a gathering of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a pointed critique against the newly formed opposition, emphasising that alliances "founded on negativity have never emerged victorious." Though he did not explicitly mention the recently established I.N.D.I.A coalition, PM Modi addressed NDA allies, asserting that a nation will suffer when an alliance is both dynastic and tainted by corruption. In contrast to I.N.D.I.A, which the opposition claims represent the nation's voice, the Prime Minister highlighted the NDA's commitment to Bharat, the impoverished, and the marginalised communities.

Here are the LIVE updates:
NDAs Big Meet for 2024: Who All Are Attending?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Several new BJP allies, including Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), O P Rajbhar-led SBSP and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), will join a key meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) here on Tuesday as the ruling party eyes a grand show of strength amid a get-together of opposition parties in Bengaluru ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

At least 38 parties are expected to attend the NDA meeting.

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) became the latest entrant to the NDA with its leader Chirag Paswan meeting BJP president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday.

The Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) led by Upendra Kushwaha and the Jana Sena led by Pawan Kalyan will be among the new entrants that will be attending the NDA meeting. Some of these parties had partnered with the BJP earlier as well.

''Thirty-eight parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting to be held Tuesday evening,'' Nadda told reporters here.

Chirag Paswan Joins NDA After Meeting JP Nadda, Amit Shah In Delhi

After losing a number of its traditional allies such as the Janata Dal (United), Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Akali Dal, the BJP has succeeded in making alliances with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, now recognised as the real party, the Ajit Pawar-led faction of NCP, O P Rajbhar-led SBSP in Uttar Pradesh and Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and RLJD.

The BJP president has send invites to these parties for there presence in the meeting where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the ruling party will also be present.

''Ajit Pawar and I will be present at the NDA meeting in Delhi tomorrow,'' NCP Working President Praful Patel told reporters in Mumbai.

Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan and RLJD leader Kushwaha have said they would be attending the NDA meeting.

Parties such as AIADMK of Tamil Nadu and a number of parties from northeastern states and other parts of the country will also be present in the meeting.

It will be the first such NDA meeting of this scale during the second term of the Narendra Modi government, underscoring the imperative within the ruling party to project its credentials as a lead coalition partner in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May next year.

Regional parties, including those with small but solid share of votes in a particular region or caste, can be crucial in swinging the balance in the polls in several seats in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which send 80 and 40 members to Parliament respectively.

With the BJP making all-out efforts to retain its majority in Lok Sabha for a third straight term, its leadership has made pragmatic adjustments to accommodate new allies while also working to weaken the opposition bloc in crucial states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress on Monday asserted that the Opposition unity would be ''a game changer'' for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a ''ghost''.

Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of Opposition parties starting this evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA.

''Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it,'' Ramesh said. TMC leader Derek O'Brien said political parties at the Bengaluru meeting ''were clearly setting the narrative'' while the ''BJP is reacting''.

He claimed that out of the NDA allies, eight do not have a single MP, nine have one MP each and three have two MPs each.
The NATO Alliance remains a bulwark of global security and stability as its been for more than seven decades. NATO is stronger, more energized, and, yes, more united than ever in its history, declared President Joe Biden at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed his brutal war on Ukraine, he was betting NATO would break apart. But he thought wrong, declared President Biden:

Faced with a threat to the peace and stability of the world, to democratic values we hold dear, to freedom itself, we did what we always do: The United States stepped up. NATO stepped up. . . .All across the world they stepped up.

After nearly a year and a half of Russias forces committing terrible atrocities, including crimes against humanity, the people of Ukraine remain unbroken, declared President Biden:

Since this war began, Ive stood with President Zelenskyy . . .to declare to the world what I say again: We will not waver. Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for liberty and freedom today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.

We all want this war to end on just terms, noted President Biden,  terms that uphold the basic principles of the United Nations Charter including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity:

Unfortunately, Russia has shown thus far no interest in a diplomatic outcome. Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine. He cant believe its their land, their country, and their future. And even after all this time, Putin still doubts our staying power. Hes still making a bad bet that the conviction and the unity among the United States and our Allies and partners will break down.

The right of a people to determine their own future is precious to people everywhere not just in Ukraine, but in Belarus, Moldova, Georgia  in all the places around the world where people continue to fight to make their voices heard, said President Biden.

We must never forget how much [self-determination] matters and never, never give up on a better tomorrow, declared President Biden. The defense of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. Its the calling of our lifetime, of all time.
No Bandhan In Mahagathbandhan, BJP Slams Oppn Meet In Bengaluru

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

BJP leaders in Karnataka slammed the Opposition parties for coming together to form a 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) only to dethrone Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and mocked the ''small cluster of regional parties'' saying it will not make any difference.

"They are calling their alliance as Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance). Actually there is no 'bandhan' (bonding) in this Mahagathbandhan, and there is no 'maha' (grandeur) also. Their sole aim is to bring down Modi, which is just impossible," former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday hit out at the joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru, calling it a "selfish alliance" that would not be able to provide a future for India.

"Arvind Kejriwal has left behind the crisis of flood...What kind of a CM is he? What is happening here? Why is this happening? Mamata Banerjee had several people beaten up and face violence. Congress is silent, the CPI-CPI(M) are silent. This is called a selfish alliance. Will such people provide a future for the country? Definitely not," Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media.

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal termed the opposition meet as a gathering of looters.

"All the looters and corrupt people on bail have gathered at Bengaluru only to defeat Narendra Modi in the 2024 general election. Their only fear is that if Modi comes to power again, then they will languish in jail. Hence, the gang of looters from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is gathering in Bengaluru," Yatnal said.

NDA Meeting Tomorrow as BJP Steps Up Its Campaign For Lok Sabha Polls 2024

According to former minister R Ashoka, the United Progressive Alliance leaders have come to Bengaluru only for a ''photo opportunity''.

"Apart from a photo show, nothing will happen. They will come together, hold each others' hands and after a photo shoot, they will leave. They don't have any ideology. They are the ones who are fighting against each other in their states. Be it in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu or Kerala," Ashoka said.

The target of the Opposition parties is to dethrone Modi, Ashoka said adding that people of the country know who Modi is.

BJP MLA B Y Vijayendra said these Opposition parties have no concern for the development of the country as their only agenda is to come to power in the country.

He predicted that the BJP would come to power again in the country in 2024 because ''no force can stop Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister for the third time''.
Not UPA, Anti BJP Opposition Bloc To Get New Name

India

oi-Prakash KL

The anti-BJP alliance will not be called as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as the TMC and the AAP joined the Opposition parties meeting, putting aside its political differences with Congress.

The new name of the Opposition front will be decided by the parties in the two-day meet scheduled to be held on July 17-18 in Bengaluru. The earlier reports had claimed that the event might have the presence of 24 parties. However, it now looks like it might go up to 26.

Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress had formed the anti-BJP alliance called the UPA between 1998-2014. The new alliance will come up with a common agenda to take on the BJP while having a common minimum programme ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

When asked about topics for the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and if UPA will get a new name, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal says, "We will take all decisions. I can't tell you now what are the issues that are going to be discussed. Congress is not deciding this alone. All the opposition parties will sit together and decide unitedly."

Sharad Pawar To Attend Opposition Meet In Bengaluru On Tuesday

The alliance or the proposed opposition bloc is likely to be called the "Patriotic Democratic Alliance" or PDA, Hindustan Times reported citing people familiar with the matter.

"We can say the new alliance could be named Patriotic Democratic Alliance (PDA). We have not taken a final decision on it. We have the primary objective of defeating the NDA and all the opposition parties have a clarity on it," Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja had told the daily, recently.

He highlighted that the opposition parties joining the proposed coalition possess a shared commitment to secularism and democracy and the name of the new coalition would reflect these values, drawing parallels with existing alliances such as the Secular Democratic Front in Tamil Nadu and the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 12:04 [IST]
If Govt Does Not Act, We Will: Supreme Court Warns After 2 Manipur Women Paraded Naked By Mob

Rise Above Political Bickering: Supreme Court Tells Lt Governor, Delhi CM On DERC Issue

India

oi-Prakash KL

The Supreme Court on Monday advised Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) and Chief Minister to sit together and decide on the name of the Chairperson of DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission).

They are constitutional functionaries and have to rise above bickering, the apex court noted.

"So much of the work of government happens away from the public eye. We are not so much concerned about the DERC Chairperson appointment which will be done. We are on the larger issue," says Supreme Court while posting the matter for hearing on Thursday.

The court indicated that it may refer to the Constitution bench a plea of the Delhi government challenging the constitutional validity of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 issued by the Centre relating to control over bureaucrats.

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 ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre.

The chief minister is one of the three members of the Authority, while two others are bureaucrats. The decisions by the Authority are to be taken by a majority and, in the event of a dispute, the matter will be referred to the LG whose decision will be final.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the LG before the May 11 top court verdict.
SC Refuses To Interfere With HC Order On Manipur Internet Restoration

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to interfere with the Manipur High Court's order regarding the restoration of limited internet services in the State affected by ethnic conflicts. However, the Court granted the State of Manipur the freedom to approach the High Court and inform them about the difficulties faced in implementing the High Court's order.

The bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra, heard a plea filed by the State Government challenging the Manipur High Court's decision to allow the partial restoration of internet services in the State.

On July 7, the Manipur High Court had directed the State government to lift the ban on Internet Lease Line (ILL) and Fibre To The Home (FTTH) connections in the State, subject to compliance with safeguards suggested by an Expert Committee. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State of Manipur before the Supreme Court, stated, "Any rumor is likely to ignite riots. The question of internet is sometimes open and then sometimes it is not. My prayer is that the Internet issue can be left to the discretion of those on the ground, my lord."

In response, CJI DY Chandrachud suggested that the state could approach the Manipur High Court and inform them about the issues they are facing. The Chief Justice passed the order, stating, "The Solicitor General has submitted that the State of Manipur will approach the High Court of Manipur with the difficulties faced in implementing its order regarding the internet. Liberty granted."

Anurag Thakur Accuses Congress Of Fuelling Violence In Manipur

CJI Chandrachud also assured the Solicitor General that no coercive action would be taken against the State for non-compliance with the High Court's order, stating, "If anything happens, we are always here."

Earlier, the Supreme Court had considered two petitions-one filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi seeking protection for the Kuki tribe by the Indian Army, and the other filed by the Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Dinganglung Gangmei, challenging the Manipur High Court's direction to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list. The Court had directed the Manipur Government to act upon certain suggestions made by the petitioners to mitigate the situation, while emphasising that it cannot take control of law and order from the elected government.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 17:27 [IST]
PM Modi To Be Honoured With Lokmanya Tilak National Award, Sharad Pawar To Be Chief Guest

Sharad Pawar To Attend Opposition Meet In Bengaluru On Tuesday

India

oi-Deepika S

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar will attend the opposition meet at Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The 82-year-old leader skipped day one of the meeting and will head directly to Bengaluru for the full day of talks among leaders of 24 opposition parties.

"NCP National President Shri Sharad Pawar and working President Supriya Sule will attend the meeting called by opposition parties on Tuesday 18th July in Bengaluru," confirmed NCP Chief spokesperson Mahesh Bharet Tapase.

The development comes a day after his surprise meeting with nephew Ajit Pawar, who recently split from the NCP and joined the Eknath Shinde led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar along with Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare, Praful Patel and Dilip Walse Patil met the Pawar senior at the Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai.

NCP's Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar camp, said Sharad Pawar is like an idol to us and they met him to seek his blessings.

"We requested him (Sharad Pawar) to keep the NCP united. We also asked him to think about our request over the next some days and guide us. He listened to us quietly but said nothing," Patel said.

He said the ministers of Ajit Pawar camp did not take Sharad Pawar's prior appointment but came to the Chavan centre directly after they came to know that he was present there.

Leaders of 23 opposition parties have been invited for the second unity meeting being convened by the Congress in Bengaluru, which would see them further strategise plans to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Opposition Party Meet: List Of Leaders Attending The 2-Day Event

In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Close to 50 leaders from Opposition parties are attending the two-day meeting on July 17 and 18.

Here is the list of leaders attending the Opposition Meeting

Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O Brien, D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Pawar, Jitendra Ahwad, Supriya Sule, Nitish Kumar, Lallan Singh, Sanjay Kumar Jha, M K Stalin, T R Balu, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, Manoj Jha, Sanjay Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Ramgopal Yadav, Javed Ali Khan, Lal ji Verma, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Ashish Yadav, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Jayant Singh Chaudhry, KM Kader Mohideen, P K Kunalikutti, Jose K Mani, Vaiko, G Renugadevi, Thol Thirumavalavan, Ravi Kumar, NK Ramachandran, J J Joseph, Francis George K, E R Eswaran, A K P Chinraj and Devrajana.
Inauguration Of New Parliament Building And What An Opportunity The Opposition Missed

There Will Be No Polls In Future If This Dictatorial Govt Returns: Mamata at Oppn Meet

United We Stand: Oppn's Message As Leaders Converge For 2-Day Brainstorming Session

India

oi-PTI

With a call for unity, top leaders of 26 opposition parties began crucial deliberations on Monday to chalk out their joint programme aimed at defeating the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, who were seated next to each other, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren and RJD chief Lalu Prasad were among those who attended the dinner meeting where discussions were held to finalise the agenda for the formal talks starting Tuesday morning.

Sources said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was the only leader among the invitees not present at the meeting at Taj West End Hotel and he would arrive on Tuesday along with his daughter Supriya Sule.

''It was a good meeting,'' Mamata Banerjee later said.

The leaders sat in front of a huge banner with ''United We Stand'' slogan, which was also put on posters that dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders.

Among others at the meeting hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), besides Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD) and MDMK MP Vaiko. A warm welcome was earlier accorded here to all the leaders on their arrival here for the two-day brain-storming session.

The Congress and other parties asserted that their meeting was setting the narrative and would be a ''game changer'' for the Indian political scenario.

They took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA.

Claiming that the BJP was rattled, Congress president Kharge said all opposition alliance partners will unitedly fight against the BJP and thwart attempts to divide them.

The Opposition meeting coincides with the NDA meeting convened on July 18 in Delhi, where some new allies are likely to join the ruling BJP-led coalition.

Talks of unity notwithstanding, differences among opposition parties, especially those who have been traditional rivals, remain and reconciling political interests will be a challenging task.

Arriving for the Opposition meeting, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury ruled out any alliance with the TMC in West Bengal and said that secular parties along with the Left and the Congress will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in the state.

Chirag Paswan Joins NDA After Meeting JP Nadda, Amit Shah In Delhi

Yechury, however, added that the endeavour is to reduce the split in opposition votes and they will chalk out a plan to fight together.

The BJP, which has been targeting these parties over their differences, on Monday called it a ''meeting of opportunists and power-hungry'' leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future.

But Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said the 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people's problems and to address the concerns over this ''dictatorial government's actions''.

Sources said the opposition leaders will begin work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan, besides holding discussions on issuing a joint declaration and moving forward on their proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats.

Fifteen parties including the Congress, TMC, AAP, CPI, CPI-M, RJD, JMM, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), SP and JDU, attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23.

Among the parties added this time are MDMK, KDMK, VCK, RSP, CPI-ML, Forward Bloc, IUML, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and Kerala Congress (Mani), besides the Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) of Krishna Patel and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) led by M H Jawahirullah.

The total strength of the opposition parties attending this meeting is around 150 in Lok Sabha.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien said political parties at the Bengaluru meeting ''were clearly setting the narrative'' while the ''BJP is reacting''.

He claimed that out of the NDA allies, eight do not have a single MP, nine have one MP each and three have two MPs each.

Kharge took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition, then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA ''which had become a ghost''.

Venugopal said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights and the independence of institutions in this country.

The Parliament session is starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

''We are very sure that this (meeting) is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario,'' Venugopal said.

Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, ''We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don't worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country.'' Referring to his party's differences with the TMC, CPI(M) leader Yechury said the situation is different in every state.

''The effort is to ensure that in these situations the division of votes which gives BJP the advantage should be minimal. This is not a new thing. Like in 2004, the Left had 61 seats, out of which we won 57 defeating the Congress candidates...then the Manmohan Singh government was formed and it ran for 10 years.

''Mamata and CPI(M) will not happen. There will be secular parties along with the Left and the Congress in West Bengal which will fight against the BJP and TMC,'' the CPI(M) general secretary said, adding that at the Centre what form this will take will be decided later.

Yechury referred to the 2004 model which brought the Left-Congress coalition to power at the Centre.

The Opposition meeting comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the violence-marred West Bengal panchayat polls.
Kicks and punches fly thick and fast: Fierce fight between two student groups caught on cam

Around 2,000 People, 700 Cattles Moved To Safety As Yamuna Floods Low-Lying Plains In Noida

UP ATS Questions Pakistani National Seema Haider, Lover in Undisclosed Location

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A Pakistani national, Seema Haider, along with her lover Sachin Meena and his father, is currently being interrogated by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) at an undisclosed location in Noida. This development follows their recent release on bail, subject to certain conditions.

The court-imposed conditions stipulate that Seema must inform the police before leaving India and notify the court of any changes to her current address.

A senior police officer confirmed to news agency PTI that Seema, Sachin and Netrapal Singh were being interrogated by the ATS and that the local police were not involved in it.

''They may or may not be arrested after the questioning, depending on the outcome of the interrogation in the sensitive matter that pertains to national security,'' a UP ATS official told PTI.

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Local police are separately investigating the case and are yet to file a chargesheet, the officer said.

Seema and Sachin initially connected through the gaming app PUBG Mobile, where they developed a romantic relationship. Subsequently, Seema illegally entered India with her four children through Nepal and reunited with Sachin in Greater Noida.

Earlier today, the Gau Raksha Hindu Dal, a right-wing organisation, issued a 72-hour ultimatum for Seema Haider to leave the country. Ved Nagar, the national president of the organisation, released a video expressing concerns about the possibility of Seema being a Pakistani spy and posing a threat to the country.

As per a report from Indian Express, Seema revealed that she and Sachin met in Kathmandu and solemnised their marriage at Pashupatinath Temple. Since Sachin didn't have a passport, Seema took the decision to travel to India.

How Pak Woman Seema Haider's Neighbours React To Her Decision To Marry An Indian

Despite the challenges in Pakistan, Seema successfully made her way from Karachi to Kathmandu, accompanied by her four children. Upon reaching the Nepalese capital, she boarded a bus to Delhi, where she reunited with Sachin.

The Meena family has warmly embraced Seema and her children. Justice Nazim Akbar, Jewar Civil Judge (Junior Division), granted her bail, taking into consideration her "ignorance" while crossing the Indian border. The judge emphasised that Seema had no malicious intentions while entering India.

Earlier, UP ATS arrested a suspected agent of Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Lucknow on charges of supplying ''vital information about defence establishments'' to his handlers in the neighbouring country.
Uttarakhand On Alert As Ganga Breaches Danger Mark

India

oi-PTI

Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, even as the Ganga crossed the danger mark in Devprayag and the warning level in Haridwar due to the heavy release of water from the dam on the Alaknanda river.

According to officials, the Ganga was flowing at 463.20 metres following which water filled up in Sangam Ghat, Ramkund, Dhaneshwar Ghat and Fuladi Ghat. There was also a tremendous jump in the water level of the Ganga after 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water was released from the dam of the GVK hydroelectric project built on the Alaknanda river.

Tehri District Disaster Management officer Brijesh Bhatt said the district administration is making frequent calls to warn people to stay away from the banks of the river. He said the water level of the Ganga in Muni ki Reti area of Tehri near Rishikesh also increased to 339.60 metres, which is 0.10 metre above the warning level of 339.50 metres.

Officials said the Ganga crossed the warning level of 293 metres and reached 293.15 metres in Haridwar Sunday evening, adding that an alert has been issued in the low-lying areas due to the increased level of the river.

Heavy Rain In Delhi Again As City Struggles With Waterlogging

The State Disaster Operation Centre has directed Haridwar District Magistrate Dheeraj Singh to repair Gate No 10 of the Bhimgoda barrage at the earliest to avert any heavy losses due to the high-speed water flowing through the breached gate.

A flood-like situation is prevailing in 71 villages of Laksar, Khanpur, Roorkee, Bhagwanpur and Haridwar tehsils due to incessant rains in the past few days.

The rescue and relief operations are being carried out with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), army and state police.

The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district's Joshimath, they said.

According to the disaster management department, this bridge was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

The Dehradun Meteorological Centre has issued an 'orange' alert, warning of heavy rain, in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand on Monday.

An 'orange' alert is issued as a warning for extremely bad weather with the potential for disruption in commuting with road and drain closures and interruption of power supply.

Meanwhile, the water level of the Kali river in Pithoragarh's Dharchula area is also flowing above the warning level of 889 metres.

In Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

Monsoon Mayhem Claims Over 90 Lives In Himachal; Yellow Alert Issued In Uttarakhand

Mussoorie received 61 mm rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water was released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in Pauri district as the Alaknanda river was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 11:49 [IST]
US To Provide Cluster Munitions To Ukraine As Part Of Aid Package

Meet Shamina Singh, Joe Biden's Pick For Global Trade Committee

International

oi-Deepika S

US President Joe Biden is likely to appoint Shamina Singh, a prominent Indian-American business leader, to the President's Export Council, which serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade.

On July 14, President Biden announced his intent to appoint Singh to serve in the key role, according to a statement from the White House.

The President's Export Council serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. The Council advises the president of government policies and programmes that affect US trade performance, promotes export expansion and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among the business, industrial, agricultural, labour and government sectors.

Who is Shamina Singh?

Shamina is the founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard's social impact hub.

For more than 20 years, Shamina Singh has been on the frontline of developing and implementing solutions to make the global economy work for everyone, everywhere.

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In 2018, Mastercard created the Mastercard Impact Fund with an initial $500 million investment. Shamina was named president and charged with activating those philanthropic dollars to advance inclusive growth and financial inclusion around the world. Her leadership has contributed to Mastercard's global leadership and reputation of doing well by doing good.

Currently, she sits on the boards of ADL - a global anti-hate organization - and the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas.

"Deeply committed to public service, Shamina has held senior positions in the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives. Shamina was executive director for the historic first President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which was created by executive order in 1999 and has been renewed by each president since," according to Mastercard's website.

"In 2015, Shamina was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a six-year term on the Board of AmeriCorps, a $1 billion independent agency that places over 270,000 volunteers with social sector organizations across the U.S. She served as chair for two years," it added.

Shamina is a lifelong learner who has studied at Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the Indian School of Business. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She received the alumni of distinction award from both institutions. Shamina is also a Henry Crown Fellow with The Aspen Institute.

Singh joins the long list of the Indian-American community who serve in the key positions in the Biden administration. A record 150-plus Indian-Americans serve in the key positions.

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Story first published: Monday, July 17, 2023, 15:23 [IST]
What is a monolith? Why are they appearing around the world?

The many questions around Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death that still remains a mystery since 1945

Mysterious Object Found On Australian Beach Sparks Speculation of Chandrayaan-3 Link

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A mysterious object was found on the coast of Green Head in Western Australia on Sunday, sparking speculation that it could be linked to the Chandrayaan-3 launch from India.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission was carried out using India's powerful Launch Vehicle Mark-III, which propelled it to a specific orbit around the Earth. Notably, the launch was observable in the skies of Australia as its trajectory traversed the continent.

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  pic.twitter.com/ETP8xL8lqv  Dylan O'Donnell (@erfmufn) July 14, 2023

The gold-colored cylinder, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in length and width, was discovered by local residents in Green Head, located about 155 miles north of Perth.

Authorities have been safeguarding the large metallic item while attempting to determine its origins.

According to Sky News Australia, the military was called in to review video footage of the object.

Chandrayaan-3: ISRO Successfully Performs Second Orbit-Raising Manoeuvre Of The Spacecraft

However, the Australian Space Agency (ASA) has suggested that it could be a component of a foreign-launched rocket.

We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia.



The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.



[More in comments] pic.twitter.com/41cRuhwzZk  Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) July 17, 2023

In a tweet, the agency stated that they are inquiring about the object and coordinating with international counterparts for additional information.

Police have said that an analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia has determined that the object is safe and poses no risk to the public. However, they have asked members of the public to stay away from the location until the object has been removed.

Police have also said that the object does not appear to have come from a commercial aircraft, as had been speculated on social media.

The discovery of the cylinder has sparked a wave of speculation about its origins. Some have suggested that it could be a piece of space debris, while others have speculated that it could be a hoax.

Last friday, people in Australia reported seeing a comet/UFO in the sky which turned out to be the LVM3 rocket that launched #Chandrayaan3.



And now, the third stage of a PSLV rocket has washed ashore on the coast of Green Head, Western Australia! #ISRO pic.twitter.com/FFVwhooSyE  Debapratim (@debapratim_) July 17, 2023

The ASA has said that it will provide more information about the object once it has been identified.

In the meantime, the mystery of the gold-colored cylinder continues to baffle authorities and the public alike.
From the earliest days of the Russian invasion of its neighbor, Russia unleashed a campaign of gross and systematic violations against Ukraines civilian population. An avalanche of evidence supports thousands of reports of crimes against humanity and war crimes, ranging from attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, to appalling violence against civilians and outright murder of Ukrainian noncombatants.

When it comes to justice and accountability for these crimes, there are five pathways to justice, said United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack at a special briefing.

First, there is the International Criminal Court.



Weve seen the prosecutor make his first move, successfully achieving two arrest warrants for very senior figures within Russia, focused on the deportation of children from Ukraine and temporarily controlled or occupied areas into Russia, often to very far-flung places, and subjecting those children to adoption or other situations notwithstanding that they have loved ones, guardians, families who want them back.

Second  are cases within the Ukrainian national courts, said Ambassador Van Schaack.

The Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, which is a joint initiative of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, is fully operational on the ground. We have deployed a number of experts to work side by side with their Ukrainian counterparts to help sift through the now tens of thousands of recorded potential war crimes and other atrocities.

Third, European countries are opening investigations for those cases when individual perpetrators may end up within their borders or within their jurisdictional reach.

Fourth, an international center that will support nations already building cases against senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression resulting from the countrys invasion of Ukraine, opened in The Hague on July 3.

And finally, The [United States] Attorney General has stood up a War Crimes Accountability Team  War CAT its called, said Ambassador Van Schaack.

We have a dedicated war crimes accountability team that is looking at cases that might have some kind of a U.S. nexus, and be able to proceed here, in U.S. courts, under the new legal authorities that Congress has provided.

If Russia had not chosen to invade its sovereign neighbor, we would not see the terrible war crimes happening on the ground, said Ambassador Van Shaack. And so, its quite important for Ukraine to see this crime prosecuted.
Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking a vital bridge that links Russia and Crimea, with the help of the US and UK. Traffic was earlier halted on the route due to an "emergency situation." Follow DW for the latest.
July 16, 2023 | An accident involving construction equipment and a gondola in Mont Tremblant, Que., left one person dead and another injured. A firefighter battling wildfires in the Northwest Territories has died. Plus, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan on why he says another arrest is imminent.
Here's the latest for Monday July 17th: More extreme heat across U.S.; Devastating floods in Northeast; Officials in Crimea say Ukraine attacked bridge; Suspect killed in shootout with Georgia authorities.


The second Russia-Africa summit is planned to demonstrate Russia's stance against Western hegemony and its capitalist domination across Africa, to show Russia's "non-Western friends" and to further solicit enormous support for its war in Ukraine.



On the Africa's side, leaders plan for their traditional deliberations on...
On February 24, 2022, Russia recognized the independence of the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and deployed troops to support them, declaring the start of special military operations in Ukraine. This raises the question: under what circumstances could the conflict in Ukraine spiral into a global crisis and turn...
euronews (in English) 16 Jul 2023

Russia claims to have repelled a drone attack in occupied Crimea while Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has a..
After months of threats to not renew the deal, Moscow has officially announced it will come to a de facto end.
Regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a friend sent me this note concerning a photo taken of him during the recent NATO meeting in Vilnius:



"NATO literally turned his back on him. I didn't think that would happen.



What do you think will happen next?"



NATO didn't completely ditch him, while not giving into...
The leaders of the 31 member states said in their communique' that Ukraine would receive an invitation "when allies agree and conditions are met" and there would be regular reviews of the country's progress toward meeting NATO standards on democracy and military integration.

The debate has again exposed differences among Western allies that have emerged throughout the war, with European states closest to Russia pushing for more and faster support for Ukraine and the Biden administration opting for a more deliberate approach.

The language is considerably weaker than what President Zelensky has said is necessary amid Russia's invasion. Earlier the Ukrainian leader had repeated his frustration over the lack of clarity from NATO, calling it "absurd" and adding, "Uncertainty is weakness." Later, arrived in Vilnius, he appeared to soften his tone, telling a crowd that he had come to Lithuania with "faith in partners" and in a strong NATO that "does not hesitate".

Zelensky also referred to the conditions that Ukraine must meet to accede to NATO, described these as vague or unclear.

"The absolute majority of our people expect specifics about these conditions. We perceive them as security conditions. We understand that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO while the war is ongoing. But then it will be our common strength when Ukraine joins the Alliance," he said.

In response to this, the British Secretary of State for Defence suggested Ukraine needed to put more emphasis on saying "thank you" for western help.

"Whether we like it or not, people want to see a bit of gratitude," Ben Wallace said.

Wallace revealed that he had travelled to Ukraine last year to be presented with a "shopping list of weapons".

"You know, we're not Amazon. I told them that last year, when I drove 11 hours to be given a list."

What results?

At this week's Summit in Vilnius, the Alliance kicked the can down the road once more by inviting Ukraine to join in the future, while denying it entry in the immediate term.

"As President Biden noted, bringing Ukraine into the Alliance now while we're in Vilnius would bring NATO into war with Russia," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, later adding that Ukraine still "has further steps to take along its reform path" before accession to the Alliance.

Ukraine and its most ardent supporters, meanwhile, have demanded the Alliance offer it membership, or at least a clear path to it. More cautious leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron, have proposed to offer Kyiv vaguer security guarantees instead - meaning some type of promise to protect Ukraine if it is attacked again. And despite stating that Ukraine is not yet ready for inclusion in NATO, United States President Joe Biden insists on maintaining an open door for its membership in the future.

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The European Aid Programme known as CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) in the transport sector, is a key financial instrument created by the European Commission to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network

This is the first European programme to support the deployment of charging infrastructure not only for light electric vehicles, but specifically also for heavy-duty vehicles, the key to the electrification of the transport of goods.

The project presented by Endesa X Way and Enel X Way in the first official call for the programme, the only one required, will involve the deployment of more than 900 ultra-fast 300kW charging stations, in 167 locations, mainly in Spain (252 charging stations and 50 locations) and Italy (110 locations and 636 charging stations).

The transport of goods is a central feature of the supply chain and logistics in Spain: Spain is the second country in Europe with the most road transport, only exceeded by Germany, according to Eurostat data. In Spain, 95% of goods are transported by road.

Endesa X Way, Endesa's electric mobility subsidiary, together with Enel X Way, the global division of the Enel group, secured a major financing package from the European Commission under the CEF Transport programme, a key financial instrument created by the European Commission to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network. It is the first financing programme that will not only offer funds for the development of charging infrastructure for light vehicles but also for heavy vehicles, the key to the transport of goods in Europe.

In the first official call for the programme, already resolved, the project presented by Endesa X Way and Enel X Way, a subsidiary of the Enel Group for electric mobility, has an expected total investment of 68.4 million and will involve the deployment of more than 900 ultra-fast charging stations (HPC High Power Charging) of 300kW in 167 locations, of these there will be 252 ultra-fast charging stations and 50 locations in Spain and 110 locations and 636 charging stations in Italy, while in Romania 14 HPCs are planned in 7 locations. The technology required by the European Commission in this first programme focussed exclusively on ultra-fast charging is aimed at continuing to expand ultra-fast chargers for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, but the plan prepared by Endesa X Way also includes spacious project locations throughout the mainland that will enable all these chargers to be used by heavy transport.

The second of these official calls is already underway and for the first time is aimed at charging heavy goods vehicles, not only because of the type of technology required, but also because of the location of the chosen locations and the conditions of the parking areas. The European Commission is expected to make a decision after the summer. Endesa X Way and Enel X Way have presented a new project that could involve a further 20 new locations on the mainland with 100 charging stations of 300 kW and 400 kW, plus 30 locations in Italy with 180 charging stations, with a total investment of more than 46 million.

"Endesa X Way has a vocation for service and we have been working to enable the electrification of transport in Spain for more than a decade. Presenting our projects for these official calls by the European Commission represents a strategic commitment to electrifying such a key, significant sector as the transport of goods, an essential feature of the supply chain and logistics in Spain, and the key to reducing emissions in the whole transport sector and in Spain," said Elena Bernardez, General Manager of Endesa X Way.

The ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) recently published an article in which it highlighted the positive impact that the conversion of diesel vehicles to electric vehicles can have on the environment, with a reduction of CO2 emissions and improved urban air quality, all of which makes a substantial contribution to decarbonisation. The study shows that a 40-ton articulated lorry with an electric battery will produce 63% less emissions over its useful life than a diesel powered vehicle, a percentage that would rise from 84% to 92% when the electricity that feeds them comes entirely from renewable sources.

These projects are a continuation of the path already initiated in this regard by Enel X Way in Italy, as shown by the recent agreement reached with one of the most important supermarket chains in the country, Conad, to support it in the electrification of its fleet, which travels between 450 and 500 km per day. Enel X Way deployed ultra-fast charging infrastructure designed for medium- and long-haul logistics for the cities of Rome and Palermo and Turin and Florence will soon be added.

What is the CEF?

CEF, stands for "Connecting Europe Facility". It is a key European Union instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness by means of targeted investments in infrastructure. Specifically, the CEF-T (Connecting Europe Facility-Transport) programme promotes the participation of private sector investors and financial institutions in projects that contribute to the environmental sustainability and efficiency of the transport sector in Europe. The main objective of the programme is to build, develop, complete and modernise the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)

The aim is to develop European transport infrastructure policy towards a multimodal, efficient and interconnected transport system for both passengers and goods. This involves supporting investments in the construction of new transport infrastructures in Europe and the rehabilitation and modernisation of existing ones.

It dates back to the TEN-T programme, developed during the 2007-2013 period. Then came the first edition of the CEF Transport (2014-2020) programme, and the current CEF 2 Transport 2021-2027, which has a budget of 25,800 million.

The aim, to reduce emissions

These programmes define and enable the achievement of the objectives set by the EU to achieve the 'net zero emissions' objective by 2050 and with regard to heavy transport, it aims to be even more ambitious. In February this year, the European Commission presented a proposal to impose a 90% reduction in pollutant emissions in the fleet of new lorries registered in the European Union from 2040 onwards (compared to 2019 levels), as well as to achieve the zero emissions target for city buses as early as 2023.

These new regulations for heavy vehicles still have to be negotiated with the twenty-seven governments and with the European Parliament before they are confirmed. A gradual approach is foreseen, with intermediate reductions: 45% from 2030 (compared to 2019), 65% from 2035; and 90% by 2040

According to the European Commission, the transport sector is responsible for a fifth of the EU's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. However, transport is the only sector in the EU where emissions have continued to increase in recent years. Heavy-duty vehicles such as lorries and short- and long-distance buses are responsible for more than 25% of GHG emissions from road transport in the EU and account for about 6% of total GHG emissions in the EU. These emissions continue to increase, especially with regard to goods transport. This upward curve is mainly the result of an increase in demand for road transport, which is expected to continue to increase in the future.

Endesa X Way

With more than 10 years' group experience, Endesa X Way is the leading company in Spain in electric mobility services: Not only does it have the broadest network of charging stations with more than 4,600 charging stations installed, but it is also the most powerful: 45% of chargers have more than 50 kW (compared to an average of 20% for the rest of the market).

About Endesa

Endesa is a leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end generation, distribution and marketing business. Through Endesa X it also offers value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy usage in homes, companies, industries and Public Administrations. It has also created a line of business. Endesa X Way is fully dedicated to electric mobility. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power Espana, the digitalisation of grids through e-distribucion, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers about 9,260 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.

Endesa X Way is one of Endesa's business lines and it is fully dedicated to electric mobility. The Iberia division of Enel X Way is currently a world leader in smart electric vehicle charging solutions with more than 430,000 charging stations worldwide, including interoperability agreements. Endesa X Way offers mobility solutions to private individuals, companies and partners to make the transition to electric vehicles accessible and easy. The Endesa X Way flagship charging technology for residential customers has been acknowledged internationally as the "best electric vehicle charger" in 2022 by CNET Roadshow.
Once again, the mainstream press stifles, or censors, the freedom of speech of reputable experts. Sound scientific results to explain the 'Titan Submarine Explosion' were published through OpEdNews, but primarily only the readers of OpEdNews and their affiliates are aware of this research.

Press Censorship

Requests for publication of the attached article were refused or were unanswered by the Scientific American, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Daily News, and the Washington Post, and even my local newspaper, The Aiken Standard. I am not making specific accusations against specific newspapers. However, there seems to be a form of group think in the press.

When one news outlet prints an article, a flood of similar internet articles on the same topic follows. Then, that topic - the sinking of the Titan in this case - appears many times on the internet from multiple news organizations.

Articles from OpEdNews.com are essentially blocked from the internet in many cases, such as this case for a Titan Submarine Explosion Op Ed.

Science versus Technical Guesswork

For example, the "Animation of [the] Titan sub's demise garners 5 million views in 11 days" (click here). This animation is interesting to watch, but this animation does not fit the technical facts that are presently known about this disaster. Yet, millions of people are taken in by this technically errant video.

I published complex technical conclusions that fit the facts ("The Titan Submarine Implosion - A Fatigue Crack Ruptured the Viewport to Instantly Destroy the Vessel"). This article cannot be found among the many Titan internet articles found by searching 'Titan submarine' on major websites.

The following refused Op Ed condenses my earlier Op Ed, and provides improved explosion pressure predictions, as shown in Figure 1.

Submitted Op Ed Revised: The Cause of the Titan Submarine Explosion

Robert A. Leishear, PhD PE, ASME Fellow

Over and over, the Press incorrectly reports that the Titan submarine imploded, but the facts do not support this narrative. The facts support a conclusion that an explosion destroyed the submarine, rather than an implosion. Large, relatively undamaged, but torn sections of the hull conclude that the submarine blew apart, rather than collapsing in on itself. Such damage is consistent with the implosion of the viewport used to view the Titanic, followed by the explosion of the Titan hull.

The viewport, or porthole, at the front of the Titan submarine imploded to kill all five people on board this 22-foot-long vessel. When the viewport collapsed, a 440-mile-per-hour wall of water burst into the cabin, and deaths were nearly instantaneous. Resultant shock wave pressures then blasted the vessel into multiple pieces.

The dominant theme in Press publications incorrectly mentions that there may have been defects in the hull that caused a hull implosion. I disagree. I stand steadfastly against the tide of current public opinion.

The Titan Destruction

I have used available information to write a detailed technical article, which explains the destruction of the Titan Submarine ("The Titan Submarine Implosion - A Fatigue Crack Ruptured the Viewport to Instantly Destroy the Vessel", click here). My credentials to do so are that I am an expert in failure analysis, and the complex dynamics of liquids and shock waves.

This Op Ed presents a troubleshooting scenario, where engineering troubleshooting is the application of science to a known failure to better understand that failure. As new facts are uncovered, troubleshooting conclusions will improve.

Available facts support the opinion that the viewport collapsed, and then the hull exploded within 3/100ths of a second. This explosion was so fast that the victims would have only seen a momentary flash of the inrush of water as the Titan was demolished.

Explosion Calculations

Explosion pressure estimates have been revised and improved since the initial Op Ed that reported this research. Since there are many different pressures involved in these calculations, Table 1 provides further details.

Even so, dynamic pressures need some explanation. When you apply a pressure to an object, the same pressure pushes back. However, when you apply that same pressure very rapidly, the pressure that pushes back is twice the initial pressure. This effect is known as a dynamic load factor where DLF = 2. For reflected pressure waves, the DLF approaches 5, where the complex physics of such wave DLFs are outside the scope of this Op Ed.

An understanding of dynamic load factors is essential to any analysis of the Titan explosion. Without such an understanding, one can readily reach the false conclusion that a hull implosion destroyed the Titan.

Calculation Results

The following list summarizes pertinent explosion calculations.

The depth of the explosion was reported in the Press, and that depth yielded an ocean pressure estimate of 4,812 psi, which was the pressure that entered the Titan when the viewport imploded.

If only this 4,812-psi pressure surge into the cabin is considered, the effective dynamic pressure that pushed outward on the hull equaled 9624 psi - 4812 psi = 4,812 psi - after the external pressure of the ocean pushing inward was considered. In other words, the hull responded as if the internal pressure was twice the external ocean pressure to blast the hull into sections.

At the viewport, a jet of water formed, and this jet entered the Titan at 441 miles per hour.

This jet of water expanded until it struck the bulkhead. When the jet struck the bulkhead, the pressure had been reduced to 2,139 psi.

This pressure wave doubled in magnitude as the wave reflected back toward the viewport from the bulkhead to yield a total pressure due to wave reflection equal to 4,277 psi.

An alternative explosion pressure calculation was considered, using the Leishear Stress Theory ("Fluid Mechanics, Water Hammer, Dynamic Stresses and Piping Design", click here). Evaluating the 2,139-psi pressure wave, the effective pressure that pushed outward on the hull equaled 5,881 psi.

That is, the effective outward explosion pressure equaled 4,812 psi to 5,881 psi - after the external pressure of the ocean pushing inward was considered.

Based on decades of engineering research, this range of pressures provides reasonable explosion-pressure predictions.

Due to complex plasticity effects, the more likely effective outward explosion pressure estimate is 4,812 psi.

By way of comparison, automobile tires are pressurized from 30 to 40 psi.

Implosions versus Explosions

The differences between implosions and explosions prove this implosion / explosion theory.

For an implosion, the debris from the Titan would have been expected to settle in a single location. Debris was found in two different locations.

An explosion ripped the Titan into many parts, where two different halves sunk to the ocean floor in two different locations, and those two halves of the submarine were further broken into multiple sections. The retrieved hull section was ripped along mechanical joints and torn through parts of the hull body. Such damages are consistent with explosion damages.

For an implosion, the hull would have been crushed like a paper bag. A hull section was retrieved from the ocean bottom, and that section had no indications of implosion crushing.

Further Proof of a Viewport Implosion and Hull Explosion

The viewport assembly consists of a window for adventure tourists to look out onto the wreck of the Titanic. This assembly keeps the window leak-tight for the submarine. From Titan salvage photos, the entire assembly is missing. Such damage is consistent with the implosion / explosion processes descried here.

All in all, observed damages to the vessel are consistent with a hull explosion, and these damages are not consistent with a hull implosion. Therefore, an implosion of the viewport that caused a hull explosion fits the facts.

What is Fatigue, and How did Fatigue Sink the Titan?

Now, let us consider the viewport implosion a little more carefully. To do so, a structural-failure mechanism known as fatigue needs some mention.

When a structure is flexed back and forth, or cycled, that structure cracks. Sometimes the structure cracks after millions of cycles, sometimes the structure cracks after only a few cycles. An example of low-cycle fatigue occurs when you flex a coat hanger back and forth until it cracks. The life of a design can only be determined with certainty through fatigue-crack testing.

Fatigue cracks and damages affect many industries ("The U.S. Government Murders Us Through Indifference and Deceit - Cover-ups Throughout U.S. Industries"). Bridges collapse. Jet aircraft have crashed. Merchant ships have sunk. Water mains break. Power plant piping explodes. Cross-country gas pipelines explode.

The viewport window cracked due to fatigue cracking to destroy the Titan Submarine.

Fatigue Failure Testing was Deadly Inadequate for the Titan

Reportedly, the Titan had 50 test dives and three trips to the site of the Titanic wreck. There is no evidence of fatigue-test data for the Titan viewport window.

Fatigue failures are remarkably complicated, and care needs to be taken to guard against such failures. Hopefully, the U.S. Coast Guard will reach this Lesson Learned during their multi-million-dollar investigation of the Titan devastation and deaths.



Table 2. Titan submarine pressure calculations for explosion analysis for the hull.

(Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA



Addendum, 7/17/2023

An article proves the importance of non-scientific endorsements by the Press.

'The flawed design choices on the janky sub were likely made with the intention of keeping costs low and making the vessel carrying wealthy tourists down to view the Titanic's wreckage as profitable as possible, several engineers told the New York Times Friday. One cost-cutting measure included renting a mothership called the Polar Prince that was too small to carry the Titan on deck, meaning it had to drag the submersible through the ocean for three days from Newfoundland to the crash site, the report said. The hack resulted in the sub being "tossed around pretty roughly.'

Along with a link to this Op Ed, I sent a tweet to the Post that stated, "This article claims that the Titan sunk because it got wet. Try science". The implication is ridiculous that a submarine being towed through the water somehow contributed to the sinking, since boats travel the waterways every day. The Post did not respond, of course.

(Article changed on Jul 20, 2023 at 5:10 PM EDT)
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In this century, everything has been extreme when it comes to the U.S. military. After all, the Pentagon's budget is larger than those of the next 10 (or is it 11?) countries combined. Yes, combined! And just about every year it goes up yet again, thanks to unparalleled support in Congress from both Republicans and Democrats (with, until recent weeks, remarkably few dissenters). It's now, in fact, on a path to a trillion-dollar budget within the next few years.

And yet, on a planet where no other military can compare, it seems incapable of winning a thing. Its two major wars of this century, in Afghanistan and Iraq, against remarkably modest (and modestly armed) enemies (no, Saddam Hussein did not have any weapons of mass destruction!) led to" well, double disasters of the first order. The Afghan one against the Taliban lasted 20 years before President Joe Biden decided to "" though no one called it that "" retreat in utter chaos and quite catastrophically. And yet, though he and Donald Trump (but not George W. Bush who launched the disaster) were blamed for the chaotic horror with which it ended, the response in the next budgetary year was "" you guessed it "" yet more money for the Pentagon.

And it wasn't just Afghanistan and Iraq. In those 20-odd years, nowhere on the planet, despite significant harm caused and staggering sums spent, has the U.S. military had a genuine success of any significance in its (all too) global war on terror. So, extreme? Yes, these have been extreme years for that military. Little wonder then that, in a country where those war-fighting extremes abroad proved distinctly unsettling at home (otherwise it would have been almost inconceivable for Donald Trump to have won the presidency in 2016), who should be surprised to discover that another kind of extremism has begun to affect that military right here in the (increasingly dis-)United States of America? But let TomDispatch regular Nan Levinson, author of War Is Not a Game: The New Antiwar Soldiers and the Movement They Built , fill you in on the extremity that continues to lurk in our very own, increasingly disturbed armed forces. Tom

Hunting the Military Extremist

How Disturbed Is the U.S. Military?

By Nan Levinson

In April, when Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman with a top-secret clearance, was arrested for posting a trove of classified documents about the Russia-Ukraine war online, the question most often asked was: How did such a young, inexperienced, low-level technician have access to such sensitive material? What I wanted to know was: How did he ever get accepted into the Air Force in the first place?

Teixeira seems to have leaked that secret information for online bragging rights rather than ideological reasons, so his transgression probably wouldn't have fallen under the military's newly reinforced regulations on extremist activities. After he was indicted, however, perturbing details about his behavior emerged, including his online searches for violent extremist events, an outsized interest in guns, and social media posts that an FBI affidavit called "troubling" and I'd call creepy.

Ideological zealotry is disruptive wherever it takes root, even if it never erupts into violence, but it's particularly chilling inside the military. After all, servicemembers have access to weapons and the training to use them. Even more significant, a kind of quid pro quo exists between the military and civilians. Trust is paramount within the military and every service member is supposed to abide by a code of ethics, as well as by the Constitution, to which all of them swear an oath.

In theory, a democratic civil society invests its military with the authority to use force in its name in exchange for the principled conduct of its members. Military service is supposed to be a higher calling and soldiers better (or at least better behaving) people. So when active-duty personnel or veterans use violence against the system they're sworn to protect, the sting of betrayal is especially sharp.

Whoops!

In a photo of Teixeira in a neat dress uniform that accompanied media reports, he's a bright-eyed kid with stick-out ears and a sweet half-smile. He looks young and promising, the kind of guy people offer thanks to when they see him in uniform at an airport. In reality, however, everything else about him was a red flag.

The Washington Post found videos and chat logs that suggested he was getting ready for a race war. Former classmates told CNN that he had been obsessed with guns and war. He was suspended from high school for comments he made about Molotov cocktails. His first application for a gun license was denied, but he kept trying and was eventually approved, over time amassing a trove of handguns, rifles, shotguns, high-capacity weapons, and a gas mask, which he kept in a gun locker about two feet from his bed.

Granted, some of this activity didn't begin until he enlisted in 2019 and no one's advocating that military recruiters make bedroom checks. Still, recruits are supposed to go through a careful vetting process. Family, friends, teachers, and classmates may be interviewed to assess a recruit's character and fitness. Such background checks are designed to detect things like racist tattoos, drug use, gang affiliation, or arrest records, but are inevitably limited in what they can discover about young people without much life experience, including the teenage gamers the Air Force woos for their up-to-the-minute technical skills who may not prove to be the most level-headed crew "" people, in fact, like Jack Teixeira.

In his case in particular, the vetting of service members for handling the top-secret or sensitive-compartmentalized-information security clearances he received in 2022 is supposed to be particularly thorough. I was first faced with this reality when a government agent showed up at my door, flashed a badge, and asked me about a neighbor applying for a clearance. He inquired all too casually about whether I had noticed anything telling, like lots of liquor bottles in his trash. (That left me wondering how many people check their neighbor's garbage.)

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AGL Tiles, the best tiles company in India, is pleased to announce the grand opening of its brand-new Tiles Universe Showroom in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The showroom is strategically located in the city and promises to be a haven for customers seeking the best tiles in India. As a reputable and trusted brand in the industry, AGL Tiles aims to offer an unparalleled experience to its customers. By providing them with 
As distinct as the sight and smell of his grandparents Lake Oswego farm was, what Rick Cook carried with him was the sound. Every Christmas and Easter and during long summer stretches, the crunch of tires on gravel signaled that his familys station wagon had turned into the driveway and that next, his grandmother would be flipping on the light at the old farmhouse.

To this day, theres times Ill turn in and get a flashback, said Cook, who is nearly 70.

During his familys frequent visits from Santa Barbara, California, his grandparents would tell stories about his great-grandparents, who moved from Ohio to Oregon in the early 1900s, working the land for Mr. Shipley, who built the barn on the farmstead in 1860 and the house in 1862.

Cooks great-grandfather bought 130 acres from Shipley, settling on a farmstead that was home to cattle, sheep and hogs, and the grain, wheat and alfalfa that fed them. As family moved away and farming grew less profitable over the years, Cooks grandfather, father and uncle had to sell much of the original land, bringing the Shipley-Cook Farmstead down to six acres.

Cook worries more of his land could be lost to what he calls the Portland creep as dense development draws nearer. His property abuts the Portland regions urban growth boundary, the area where dense development is allowed. The farm is on land designated as an urban reserve  land that could be tapped to expand the urban growth boundary in the future.

When Cook took over the farm in 1993, he worked to preserve the remaining property, an Oregon Century Farm that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Were trying to hold onto every blade of grass weve got left, he said.

We is really just Cook, who never married or had children to take over the farm, leaving plans of succession up in the air.

Cook never plans to leave the farm, no matter whom it gets passed on to. His ancestors are buried at the nearby Pioneer Cemetery, but Cook jokes hed rather be buried at the foot of the flagpole on the farmstead.

Then Ill be here forever, he said.

Cook is deeply connected to his land and would find it hard, as he ages, to move closer to caregivers or health care. Thats not unusual. Many farmers conflate their identities with their work, said Nellie McAdams, executive director of Oregon Agricultural Trust. That makes it harder for them to let go of their jobs and land, even when their physical health demands it.

Researchers at Texas A&M University found that farmers experience a unique psychological connection to their land. Their study, published in The Social Science Journal in 2021, was based on interviews with 20 rural Texas landowners ranging in age from 29 to 82. The researchers found that participants experienced a deep sense of connection to and responsibility for their properties and that their land provided opportunities for community involvement and family traditions.

One of the researchers, Evgenia Spears, was most surprised by their personification of the land, seeing it almost as a parent or a caretaker.

It provides me food, water and everything, Spears said they told the researchers. This is my business partner because if I treat it right, it treats me right. If I take care of my land the right way, then it will reward me for my work, and I will be able to harvest quite a bit.

Rick Cook, seen through the window of a barn built in 1862, tends to his farm, known as the Shipley-Cook Farmstead, south of Lake Oswego the morning of Thurs., July 13, 2023.Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Changing hands

The Oregon American Planning Association reported in 2017 that with the average age for a farmer approaching 60, up to 10.45 million acres of Oregons farmland likely would change hands in the next 20 years. And the question of succession weighs on a lot of farmers.

McAdams witnessed this firsthand with her grandparents. She grew up spending weekends on her familys 400-acre farm in Gaston, where her grandparents produced a variety of crops like wheat, cherries and prunes.

When McAdams was a teenager, her grandfather, Kenneth, had a stroke. Around the same time, her grandmother, Lisbeth, required surgery, which the McAdams family believes led to a decline in her cognitive health.

Prior to their health failing, Kenneth did the farm labor and Lisbeth kept the books. When it became clear her grandparents could no longer manage on their own, McAdams father, who was an attorney, and her mother, who was a teacher, took the farm on as second jobs. Kenneth and Lisbeth remained on the farm receiving care.

I think my grandpa just couldnt envision going anywhere else, and my dad felt like it would be cruel to take him from the farm, McAdams explained.

Even when her grandfather wasnt very mobile, McAdams said he would sit and look out the window, telling her dad about the weather and what he should do on the farm to accommodate it.

He was really just so attached to the landscape, and that landscape really kept him alive, McAdams said.

The McAdams family spent over $1 million dollars on care for Kenneth and Lisbeth during the last 16 years of their lives. Their care essentially cost the amount of the farms revenue for that time period.

Because her parents had second incomes, McAdams said they didnt feel the financial burden as much, but there was some deferred maintenance around the farm.

I know a lot of farmers dont want to retire ever, she said. They might be on all of the business documents and everything until they die.

Lowell Bickle farms outside of Grants Pass, and though hes approaching 80, he shows no sign of slowing down. The farm, which he bought in 1972 and runs on his own 99.9% of the time, covers 30 acres. He raises about 20 sows, tends to acres of sweet corn and grows flowers and hemp crops in greenhouses.

Both he and his wife, Julie, retired from teaching  he taught agriculture, and she taught art. But Bickle didnt retire from farming, and his wife still runs an art studio.

Bickles day starts between 5 and 6 a.m. and ends between 5 and 7 p.m. He tends to the greenhouses, feeds and checks the sows, scoops manure and does any other chores that might come up. During the farrowing season  when the sows give birth to piglets  he makes the quarter-mile trip from his house to the barn three times a night to check on them.

Bickle knows the farm eventually will go to his son, who is an art teacher and works in wildlife management, though hes unsure what his son will do with the land. He still finds the farming lifestyle enjoyable, save for the injuries hes experienced in recent years, including breaking his hand and tearing his ACL.

A few years ago, he had three back operations in one year. Both he and his wife, who has a disability, were incapacitated, so he had to call on his son and former students to work the farm until he recovered.

These physical setbacks dont worry him too much, though  he said its just a matter of making things easier for yourself and scaling back. He plans to decrease the number of sows they have to 15 by winter.

The farm is a community center of sorts. Theres a tradition of students cutting flowers for their weddings. Recently, one of Bickles first classes cut flowers for their 40-year reunion.

Rick Cook tends to his farm, known as the Shipley-Cook Farmstead, south of Lake Oswego the morning of Thurs., July 13, 2023.Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Finding future owners

For farmers who are still trying to develop a plan, farm link organizations in Oregon and many other states can help.

These organizations assist farmers and ranchers with such things as land access and conservation loans, conservation planning and technical assistance, and succession planning. Most importantly, they link land sellers with land seekers.

Liya Schwartzman, senior program manager at California Farm Link, said it can be difficult for landowners to plan for succession without outside help, especially when their only options are selling to non-family owned agribusinesses, or institutions that dont share their values for what to do with the land.

California FarmLink offers a year-long succession planning course for farmers and ranchers who have identified a successor. For those who havent, the organization provides a portal where landowners can post property listings for land seekers to peruse, and land seekers can post profiles for property owners to view.

Schwartzman said both land seekers and owners face challenges. For land seekers, theres not enough land for sale, she said, in part because farmers dont know how much demand is out there.

Many landholders, individual and institutional, are not aware of the land access crisis and/or do not know how they can be a part of the solution, Schwartzman said.

On the other side, for landowners who have put their blood, sweat and tears into the property, handing it over isnt easy.

Theres a lot of folks who have a passion for these lands for one reason or another, Schwarztman said. And so finding the right person to take that over, it can be a real challenge and it can take a while.

The view from inside a barn built in 1862 on the Shipley-Cook Farmstead, south of Lake Oswego the morning of Thurs., July 13, 2023.Dave Killen / The Oregonian

A special place

The sign marking Rick Cooks land as a Century Farm wont protect it from future development. In 2007, a quarter of an acre was purchased by Clackamas County for a safety roundabout project. Cook said he did not willingly sell this land, and that it resulted in a loss of 100-150 grapevines.

Beyond other projects infringing on the farmstead, Cooks biggest concern is finding a successor as committed as his family has been to keeping the land green and growing. But no one, he said, has stepped up to say, Yeah, Im gonna be the next Rick. And if someone did want to buy it, Cook said hed have reservations.

It has meant so much to the family, he said. Im not gonna be the guy that sells it.

Its been the setting for family weddings, church services and Fourth of July cookouts. Its not just a farm for Cook but a landmark, and Cooks unwillingness to leave it is tied to his fear of losing it.

Its not just our family, but its the community, he said. Its a special place.

Cara Nixon is a writer with the Investigative Reporting Program at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She reported this story through a grant from The SCAN Foundation.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 405/Fremont Bridge will close for inspection work beginning 10 p.m. Monday, July 17.

The Oregon Department of Transportation will have crews doing scheduled inspection work for four nights from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning Monday-Thursday, July 17-20.

Traffic will be diverted onto U.S. 30 westbound just prior to the bridge. Those who wish to continue northbound through Portland should take I-405 southbound to Interstate 5 and continue northward via that route.

Expect slower than usual traffic along U.S. 30 through northwest Portland as drivers navigate the detour. The work should be completed by 5 a.m. Friday, July 21.

Visit Tripcheck.com for the latest in travel information and closures.

Reminder: Lewis and Clark Bridge is now closed to vehicles

The Lewis and Clark Bridge, which crosses the Columbia River between Rainier and Longview, closed 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16 and will remain closed for for up to eight days while crews make repairs to the bridges expansion joints.

During the closure crews will replace two of the bridges three expansion joints and a fractured floor beam. The Oregon Department of Transportation said in a recent release that the repairs are necessary to ensure the long-term life of the bridge.

Pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency vehicles will be able to cross the bridge except for a 10-hour period during replacement of the fractured floor beam when no traffic at all will be allowed. The floor beam replacement is expected to take place during the first few days of the closure.
The top Japanese diplomat in Oregon was assaulted last month in downtown Portland in what law-enforcement authorities say was a bias crime.

Yuzo Yoshioka, 62, serves as the consul general for Portlands Consular Office of Japan, a post he has held since March.
Lawyers for gun rights groups who challenged Oregons gun control Measure 114 in federal court on Monday filed a notice of their plans to appeal a federal judges ruling that upheld the voter-approved gun regulations as constitutional.

The notice was filed the first business day after U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued her 122-page opinion that upheld the state ban on the sale and manufacture of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and the requirement to obtain a permit to purchase a gun.

Attorney James L. Buchal filed the appeal notice in U.S. District Court in Portland on behalf of the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, as well as two federally licensed firearms dealers and a professional shooter.

The appeal was anticipated as the measure remains on hold, stemming from a separate challenge before a Harney County judge.

Immergut ruled that the Second Amendment does not protect magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and even if it did, that Oregons restrictions on the use of such magazines are consistent with the Nations history and tradition of firearm regulation.

While the Second Amendment protects an individual right to self-defense inside and outside of the home, large-capacity magazines are not commonly used for self-defense and therefore not protected, Immergut found.

The judge also evaluated the new permit-to-purchase requirement based on the text of the measure, not on how the new requirement will be applied in practice. On its face, she found, it does not violate the Second Amendment because it contains the kind of narrow, objective criteria endorsed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

To obtain a permit, an applicant will be required to be fingerprinted, pass a background check, complete a firearms safety-and-training course and pay a fee.

Gun rights advocates had argued at trial it gives local sheriffs and police chiefs too much discretion to determine a persons mental well-being and deny a permit based on a subjective standard. Law enforcement can deny a permit if they find the applicant is reasonably likely to be a danger to self or others or to the community.

Immergut ruled that Measure 114s mental health provision is substantially similar to language contained in other shall-issue gun permitting jurisdictions and the measure contains sufficient safeguards, like judicial review, to prevent permitting agents from exercising unbridled discretion.

Lawyers for gun rights groups challenging the measure argued that the measures regulations violated Oregonians Second Amendment right to acquire a gun for self-defense and gun dealers rights to due process.

Kevin Starrett, executive director of the Oregon Firearms Federation, one of the plaintiffs in the federal case, called Immerguts ruling absurd, on the federations website and said hes confident it will be overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

What we have read defies belief. While not entirely unexpected, Immerguts ruling is simple nonsense and sure to be overturned at the 9th circuit, he wrote.

Measure 114 calls for a permit to buy a gun; a ban on the sale, transfer and manufacture of magazines holding more than 10 rounds; and a completed criminal background check before any sale or transfer of a gun.

In November, voters approved the measure with 50.7% of the vote, but it has been stalled from taking effect since a state judge put it on hold in a separate challenge under Oregons constitution. Harney County Circuit Judge Robert S. Raschio blocked the measure from taking effect, based on a challenge alleging its regulations violate Oregons constitution, and hes scheduled a full trial in September.

The chief petitioners behind Measure 114 applauded Immerguts decision.

The chief petitioners said they look forward to the measure being enacted in the near future. Marilyn Keller, one of the chief petitioners, cheered the ruling. The arc of the moral universe is bending towards justice. Its time for the balance scales of Lady Justice to be leveled.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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Community supporters of Portland Street Response, the citys mental health emergency response team, have launched a petition asking the city to prioritize the program and restore its original mission.

The group, called Friends of Portland Street Response are calling for immediate action to address policies they believe are hindering Portland Street Response workers from doing their jobs.
A man linked by law enforcement to the deaths of four Oregon women has a lengthy record of property crime, domestic violence and previously fought with a police dog and officer.

In November 2019, east Multnomah County Sheriffs Office applauded an investigation by sheriffs deputies that led to the sentencing that month of prolific burglar and car prowler Jesse Lee Calhoun, who fought with an officer and a police dog upon arrest, according to court records.
A man whose prison sentence was commuted by former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in 2021 has been linked to the deaths of four women who were found within three months this year and within 100 miles of each other in the greater Portland area.

Jesse Lee Calhoun, 38, was among 41 prisoners whose sentences Brown commuted for fighting wildfires in 2020. Calhoun went to prison in 2019 on stolen vehicle and burglary convictions.
I-80 Gold Corp. said in a comprehensive operations update that is has made significant progress with the exploration, development and production initiatives at its Granite Creek, McCoy-Cove, Ruby Hill, and Lone Tree properties in northern Nevada.

At Granite Creek in Humboldt County, i-80 Gold is advancing underground development, surface and underground drilling, increasing mining rates, and progressing updated resource work for economic studies.

At McCoy-Cove, the Phase 1 underground development program is nearing completion, and the company says the underground drill program is realizing substantial success.

At Ruby Hill, gold is being produced from the residual leaching program while drilling continues to define and expand mineralization in multiple zones. A Preliminary Economic Assessment is near completion, while metallurgical work and associated permitting is being advanced for underground development and processing planning. I-80 Gold has also received approval to drill test the Hilltop Corridor.

At Lone Tree near Interstate 80, gold production continues from the residual leach program, and detailed engineering is being completed for the restart of the autoclave facility.

We have realized numerous successes in the first half of 2023 in what is expected to be a catalyst-rich year with exploration, development, and mining underway at our three primary projects, said Ewan Downie, CEO of i-80. As a company, and where possible, we intend to implement proof of concept mining to ensure that proper mining methods are employed, and continuity of mineralization is established, prior to full mine development.

By completing more detailed initial work, we aim to have a more fluid transition from explorer to miner than is often seen in new start-ups.

Granite Creek Property

I-80 Gold is continuing to advance a decline to provide multiple levels to access the Ogee Zone. Better ground conditions as the development has deepened have allowed for successful mining and reconciliation to the Granite Creek resource estimate. The company said the related Preliminary Economic Assessment has been positive. Four levels have been completed and mining rates continue to ramp up. A fifth level is now under development which will be extended to the northeast to provide initial access to the South Pacific Zone. A dedicated drill bay has been completed on the 4th level and surface drilling has resumed to allow the company to better define the South Pacific Zone in advance of its development.

Prior to declaring a production decision, initial mining is being performed on several of the primary zones to establish continuity and mineability. Practical Mining LLC, an independent mining consultant, has been engaged to assist in constructing a revised resource model and economic mine plan. As part of this exercise, reconciliation work is being completed to compare actual mined ounces versus resource estimates and the related Preliminary Economic Assessment. This will then be used to complete an updated resource estimate and Feasibility Study.

The team at Granite Creek continues to realize significant progress in both development and mining rates, said Matt Gili, president and chief operating officer of i-80. Our focus has shifted to the Ogee Zone with positive grade reconciliation, increased mining rates and increasing production. We are accelerating infrastructure development to access the high-grade South Pacific Zone as we progress towards full commercial production.

Mining in the Ogee Zone continues to encounter a significant amount of oxide mineralization, and an ore sale agreement for this material has been negotiated with a third-party. High-grade refractory mineralization is being trucked to Nevada Gold Mines Sage Plant at its Turquoise Ridge/Twin Creeks Mine to the north in accordance with the companys existing toll milling agreement.

Installation of a sixth dewatering well is nearing completion, which is expected to lower the water level and contribute to accelerated development and mining rates. Prior to completing a Feasibility Study for the underground mineralization at Granite Creek, additional surface and underground drilling is being completed to better define mineralization in the South Pacific Zone for mine planning and inclusion in the economic model.

McCoy-Cove Property

Construction of the Phase I underground decline and exploration drift is expected to be completed in July 2023. The underground definition drill campaign, expected to total more than 130,000 feet, is underway, and the company said the initial results are extremely positive. Drilling has demonstrated strong continuity of mineralization with consistent high-grade gold mineralization, according to i-80 Gold. Highlight from the results include 24.1 grams of gold per ton over 46 feet and 44.2 grams of gold per ton over 7 feet.

This program will be completed in advance of detailed mine designs for a Feasibility Study and the future development of the Cove underground mine. Installation of piezometers to advance detailed water flow studies was also completed in the first half of the year and support full mine permitting and long-term dewatering plans.

I-80 Gold says Cove represents one of North Americas highest-grade development-stage gold projects.

The success we have realized early in our definition drill program at Cove is confirming best-in-class grades and the potential for it to become one of the highest-grade gold mines in the United States, said Tyler Hill, chief geologist of i-80. Grades and widths are reconciling very well against the model, and we are expecting to provide regular updates on results from this large-scale program.

Ruby Hill Property

Five main initiatives are planned at Ruby Hill for 2023, including a residual leach program, a large-scale exploration drilling program, initial economic work for the planned Ruby Deeps underground gold mine to be developed at Ruby Hill, permitting to allow for the commencement of underground development, and advanced metallurgical work for the recoveries of gold and polymetallic base metal mineralization for mining and processing planning.

Following the acquisition of the nearby FAD deposit through the completion of i-80 Golds acquisition of Paycore Minerals Inc., a major multi-drill program is underway focused on expanding mineralization and testing several new exploration targets on the property, including the Hilltop Corridor. New discoveries have been made in the early part of the Ruby Hill drilling program with Carlin (gold) and CRD (polymetallic) mineralization intersected in several new target areas located near the underground infrastructure being planned for the property.

Drilling in the Upper Hilltop Zone continues to expand mineralization with substantial expansion potential being identified in the East Hilltop and Lower Hilltop areas. Also, i-80 Gold said recent drilling has intersected zones of high-grade mineralization in infill drilling at the Blackjack Zone and the FAD deposit.

Multiple zones of high-grade Carbonate Replacement Deposit-type mineralization have been identified along the Hilltop fault structure including 515.3 grams of silver per ton, 28.9 % lead, 10.5 % zinc and 0.9 grams of gold per ton over 93 feet.

Early in the 2023 drill program, hole iRH23-09 intersected a large zone of Carlin-type alteration grading 7.3 grams of gold per ton over 33.5 feet about 655 feet south of known mineralization in the Ruby Deeps deposit, in addition to polymetallic mineralization about 820 feet west of the Lower Hilltop Zone that assayed 3.5 grams of gold per ton and 6.7% zinc over 60 feet. Additional drilling is testing this area.

Final deposit modeling and mine planning are being completed in advance of the release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Ruby Deeps gold deposit. Permit submissions have been made for approvals to commence underground development (portal and decline) from the Archimedes pit. I-80 Gold said this underground development will provide improved access for definition drilling of the multiple gold, polymetallic and base metal deposits, test mining and advanced economic studies prior to a production decision.

Detailed metallurgical test work is being completed for both gold and polymetallic base metal mineralization at Ruby Hill. This work will be utilized in economic plans for processing both types of mineralization from the Ruby Hill Mine and advancing plans for the construction of a floatation plant on the property.

Lone Tree Property

Detailed engineering for the retrofit of the Lone Tree autoclave facility is underway. Once complete, and the company has sufficiently advanced mine development at Granite Creek, Ruby Hill and Cove, a comprehensive study will be completed. In the interim, sulfide (refractory) gold mineralization will be processed at NGM facilities in accordance with processing agreements that were previously negotiated.
A former top Portland elections official has returned to that post to help carry out a dramatic overhaul to the citys election system.

Deborah Scroggin became the elections and special programs manager under Portland City Auditor Simone Rede on June 12, the auditors office said.

In that position, Scroggin will oversee a series of sweeping changes approved by Portland voters last November. Those include the expansion of the City Council from five to 12 members, a switch from at-large to district-based council elections and the implementation of two types of ranked-choice voting.
Voters last fall delivered a stinging rebuke of Portlands status quo and handily backed a sweeping ballot measure to reshape the citys form of government and expand the City Council from five to 12 members.

The crucial, painstaking work of delivering that package of reforms is now well underway.

On the latest Beat Check, I talk with Portland Chief Administrative Officer Michael Jordan about one of the most consequential efforts in the citys recent history.

(Programming note: This interview took place before news surfaced Wednesday that a pair of Portland city commissioners, Rene Gonzalez and Dan Ryan, are exploring potential changes to the voter-approved measure.)

Read More:

How best to distribute political power in Portland? Fault lines erupt over charter ballot proposal

Portlands first-ever City Council districts are coming. Check out 3 map options

Citing anti-oppressive salary model, Portland panel proposes big pay raises for future elected leaders

Portland leaders prepare to approve new campaign finance rules, public matching funds with unclear costs

Portland Commissioners Rene Gonzalez, Dan Ryan float potential changes to city government overhaul

Portland government, elections overhaul will cost millions more than city originally claimed

Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week.

You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632, skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Thousands of spectators, members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies packed the streets of downtown to celebrate the Portland Pride Parade on Sunday  and take a visible stand against bigotry and threats to the safety and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ population in Oregon and beyond.

Throngs of marchers, dancers and revelers clad in rainbow tutus, mesh crop tops and myriad colors of body glitter sashayed through a half-mile route  some in perilously high heels.

The parade, with over 150 contingents, began at the North Park Blocks near Northwest Eighth Avenue at 11 a.m. and continued down Northwest Davis Street to the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which hosted music and activities, food and family areas, and a lot of partying. Nonstop music blared from speakers and from various instruments in the streets as members of community organizations walked and activist groups chanted messages about anti-discrimination and civil rights.

They marched against a backdrop of uncertainty as reports of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have increased in Oregon, some Republican politicians in the state this year tried to block policies such as gender-affirming care and organizers of a recent drag storytelling event in Tigard and a Portland elementary school Pride festival had to cancel due to threats of violence.

Nationally, too, the landscape continues to erode. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a Christian graphic designer who declined to make wedding websites for same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs. The court ruled 6-3 that free speech rights protected the designer.

Fifty-year-old Kelly Murrin of Portland said shes been going to the parade every year since she moved to the city 25 years ago.

To come out here where theres tens of thousands of gay people feels really empowering, Murrin said. It feels really safe.

For many attending the parade and waterfront festival this weekend, that sense of solidarity was more evident than in years past.

Malcolm Stuart, 17, of Oregon City said this year was their first Pride parade and they attended to support friends and allies, but also to make a statement. Its such a big thing, they said.

People who are against pride typically blame people who are in support of it for making a big deal out of it, Stuart said. But the reason why we make it a big deal is because its a statement that were not going to be silenced. Theres no reason why people have to hide who they are to celebrate pride with people they know.

Organizers moved the parade from June to July this year to avoid conflicts with other big events.

Jason LaRock of Albany said this years Portland Pride Parade was his second, but hes gone to other similar events. He said he was blown away by the number of people who participated.

Coming out here was a much-needed breath of fresh air and a reminder that Im not alone, LaRock said. Because when youre scrolling through the internet at home, reading about all of the horrible news and seeing all the anti-LGBTQ bills that are passing, it kind of just feels like, Im alone. But then when I came here and looked at all of these people, I see that we are all safe and theres community.

 Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com

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Laman Ismayilova

The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation has published a new book about the great poet of Azerbaijan Molla Panah Vagif "The vizier himself, in word is shah" (Ozu v?zir, sozu ?ah).

The publication was issued due to the announcement of the Shusha city as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2023, in order to promote the literary heritage of outstanding personalities of the Turkic world, Azernews reports.

The book contains poems dedicated to Molla Panah Vagif by Azerbaijani and foreign poets, imitations (nazireler) written on his works, phrases by Azerbaijani and world-famous literary figures as well as epic (dastan) "Vagif", the well known drama of the same name by Samad Vurgun and debate poems (deyishmeler) between Vagif and Molla Vali Vidadi.

It also covers works by famous Azerbaijani artists embodying the image of the poet in the visual arts, as well as photographs from the play "Vagif", staged in the theaters of Azerbaijan in different years.

The book opens with a foreword "Molla Panah Vagif and a few words about this book" by head of the project, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva.

In the preface, Gunay Afandiyeva outlines the importance of the literary activity of Molla Panah Vagif for the Turkic world.

"The creative heritage of the outstanding personalities of the Turkic world, the works written about them, are of great significance for the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation. The book "The vizier himself, his word is shah" is another project of the organization in this direction. In the book, poetic works, pearls of fine art dedicated to the personality and literary heritage of the poet, once again show that Vagif is alive and akin to the Turkic peoples".

The compiler and editor of the book, which was issued in the Zardabi publishing house, is the poet Farid Huseyn, the art designer-Honored Art Worker Ziyadkhan Aliyev, consultant-Honored Cultural Worker Barat Vusal, the author of the explanations is the translator Mohammed Nuri.

Initiated in 2012, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of the Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third nations.

The foundation provides assistance in the protection, study, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects, and programs.

The organization carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy.
ELKO  A former Elko resident was arrested Saturday on charges of robbing and beating a man to death in a hotel room at an Elko casino in February.

Talon S. Jones, 31, of Fernley was booked into Elko County Jail on a felony warrant for open murder and robbery.

The Elko Police Department had released a statement in early March seeking the publics help in locating Jones in regard to a suspicious death investigation.

A criminal complaint filed in May by Elko District Attorney Tyler Ingram charges Jones in the death of Gordon Garcia.

A police detective spoke with Garcias father, who said he and his son were staying in separate hotel rooms at the Maverick Casino on Feb. 17. When he went to check on Gordon there was no response, and after a security guard opened the door he was found unresponsive.

Medical responders were unable to revive Gordon. Bruising was observed on his shoulder, neck, abdomen, and ear area. An autopsy revealed that he died from multiple blunt force injuries.

His father told police he had given Gordon $100 earlier in the day. Only two $1 bills were found in the room.

According to court records, police reviewed security camera footage that showed Garcia and Jones being escorted to Garcias room by Maverick security around 5 p.m. Jones is seen leaving alone around 6:30 p.m.

According to Elko County Jail records, Jones has been arrested in Elko County approximately 20 times over the past decade.

He was a resident of Reno when he was arrested in October 2019 on charges of buying, possessing or receiving stolen property; three counts of battery on a protected person; attempted destroying the property of another; petty larceny; and disturbing the peace.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of battery of an officer or protected person and was sentenced by District Judge Al Kacin to 270 days in jail on Aug. 30, 2022.

In July 2015 he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. In August 2015 he was arrested for burglary after a woman reported her truck had been broken into at an Elko casino. In January 2014, Jones was arrested by tribal police for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Photo: (Photo : Sean Gallup / Getty Images )

The vibrant TikTok community is grieving the passing of Haley Odlozil, a devoted mom influencer and ovarian cancer advocate, who shared her journey of resilience and hope with millions.

Haley, 30, along with her husband Taylor Odlozil, openly documented their family life after her Stage IIIC ovarian cancer diagnosis, capturing the hearts of viewers worldwide.

The news of her untimely demise has left the community in shock and mourning, as they remember the courageous woman who used her platform to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and inspire others.

Remembering Haley Odlozil A Journey of Her Ovarian Cancer Advocacy

According to TODAY, Haley Odlozil's mission extended beyond sharing her personal journey; she used her influence to educate others about ovarian cancer.

She knew the symptoms were often vague, and early detection was crucial. Through her videos and interviews, she emphasized the importance of listening to one's body and seeking medical attention if anything seemed amiss.

Haley's advocacy brought attention to the realities young women face when battling this disease and the urgent need for more research and support.

Taylor Odlozil, in a heartfelt Instagram post, expressed the immense sadness of losing his beloved wife.

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He commended Haley for her strength, fighting spirit, and selflessness throughout her eight-year battle with ovarian cancer.

The community flooded the post with messages of support, love, and gratitude for the impact Haley had on their lives.

Haley's journey transcended geographical boundaries, with people from all corners of the globe sending their prayers, well wishes, and messages of gratitude for her willingness to share her story. From the United States to countries far and wide, Haley's legacy continues to touch lives and foster awareness about ovarian cancer.

From TikTok Novice to Mom Influencer Extraordinaire

In October last year, the couple faced the heartbreaking reality of exhausting medical options and decided to document their final months together on TikTok. At that time, Haley had a mere 50 followers, but her story resonated deeply with people worldwide.

According to NBC News, Taylor posted heartfelt videos showcasing the memories they cherished, and within hours, their story went viral, amassing an overwhelming following.

From there, Haley's account transformed into a platform for awareness, support, and inspiration. As she navigated her battle with ovarian cancer, Haley became a beacon of hope for countless others facing similar struggles.

The authenticity of her journey struck a chord with viewers, who admired her resilience and positive outlook despite the hardships she endured.

Haley's genuine love for her 4-year-old son Weston and her family shone through every video, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who followed her.

Read Also: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Signs Fetal Heartbeat Law, Banning Most Abortions

A Legacy of Love and Inspiration

As reported by People, Haley Odlozil's story began in 2008 when she met her high school sweetheart, Taylor Odlozil. Their love blossomed, and they tied the knot with dreams of a long and happy life together.

However, fate had other plans, as just weeks before their wedding, they received the devastating news of Haley's ovarian cancer diagnosis. Despite the challenging circumstances, their love and determination remained unshaken.

Haley Odlozil's untimely departure leaves a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the millions who connected with her through TikTok. Her advocacy and bravery in the face of adversity have made an enduring impact on raising awareness about ovarian cancer.

As her family takes an indefinite break from social media to process their loss, the TikTok community and beyond continue to celebrate the life of an extraordinary woman who inspired others to cherish every moment and embrace life with gratitude and love.

Haley's legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched and the lessons she shared with the world: to never take life for granted and to find goodness every day, no matter the circumstances.

Related Article: Alabama Woman Missing After Spotting Toddler on Interstate: Urgent Search Underway
Photo: (Photo : GOH CHAI HIN / Getty Images)

In a chilling incident that shocked the nation, a Chinese kindergarten teacher has been executed after poisoning 25 of her students, tragically leading to the death of one child.

The No. 1 Intermediate Court in Henan province's city of Jiaozuo confirmed the execution of Wang Yun on Thursday, following her conviction for the heinous act that unfolded at Mengmeng Pre-school Education in March 2019.

The motive behind the poisoning remained clouded, with speculation about revenge as the potential reason.

This incident has further highlighted the alarming trend of attacks on school children in China, raising concerns about mental health and security in educational institutions.

Poisoning Incident at Mengmeng Pre-school Education

The New York Post reported that the authorities refrained from disclosing the specific execution method used for Wang. Typically, in China, death sentences involve a bullet to the back of the head, though lethal injections have been utilized on occasion.

Less than two years after being handed the death sentence for the high-profile case of mass child poisoning that deeply impacted China, Wang's execution was carried out.

Wang Yun, a 40-year-old teacher at Mengmeng Pre-school Education, reportedly put toxic sodium nitrite in the porridge served to her students on March 27, 2019.

The sinister act came after an argument with a colleague over student management.

While most of the children recovered relatively quickly, one student, identified only by the surname Wang, suffered from multiple organ failure and eventually succumbed to the poisoning after ten months of medical treatment.

The shocking poisoning incident was not the first time Wang had employed such a deadly method.

According to the Associated Press, aside from poisoning her own students, she used the same toxic substance to poison her husband, who fortunately survived but sustained mild injuries.

The court's decision to impose the death penalty on Wang was met with heated debates over her intentions during both the attacks on her husband and the students.

While revenge seemed to be the motivation behind the acts, the extent of her intent to cause harm or fatalities remained uncertain.

Disturbing Trend of School Attacks in China

According to USA Today, the incident at Mengmeng Pre-school Education is just one among a series of disturbing attacks on young students in China in recent years.

These assaults are typically perpetrated by knife-wielding assailants described as mentally disturbed or harboring grudges against individuals or society.

The lack of private gun ownership in China has led attackers to resort to knives and homemade explosives as their primary weapons of choice.

Authorities in China have taken steps to increase security presence in schools following a tragic incident in 2010 when around 20 children were killed in a school attack.

Despite these efforts, the attacks have continued, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes behind such violence.

Read Also: The Aspartame Controversy: WHO Warns of Cancer Link, FDA Maintains Approval

A Wake-up Call for China's Educational System

The execution of Wang Yun, the Chinese kindergarten teacher responsible for poisoning her students at Mengmeng Pre-school Education, has sent shockwaves throughout the country and sparked debates on mental health, school security, and the state of China's tightly controlled society.

The incident serves as a wake-up call for the Chinese authorities to address the deficiencies in diagnosing and treating mental illness and to implement more effective security measures in educational institutions.

Moreover, the attacks on school children highlight broader social and economic issues, including professional burnout and economic pressures, which could be contributing to the disturbing trend.

As China faces a plunging birth rate and declining population, the safety and well-being of its younger generation take on an added weight.

As the nation seeks ways to prevent such tragedies in the future, it is crucial to address the underlying factors contributing to violence in schools and promote a safer and healthier environment for students and educators alike.

Related Article: Troubled Teens Facility in Utah Forced to Close Following Deaths: Diamond Ranch Academy Loses License
A federal judges May ruling that hunters in Wyoming who crossed from one corner of public land to another did not trespass on adjacent private lands sent a distinct message to the Bureau of Land Managements national legal team.

Our solicitors think its pretty clear, said Tracy Stone-Manning, director of the BLM and a Montana resident. Were taking that ruling quite seriously and making sure that our state directors are implementing it.

Stone-Manning was touring parts of north-central Montana last week and paused to answer questions on a variety of BLM-related topics during a stop in Havre. As director, she leads an agency of more than 10,000 employees, about 600 of which work full-time under the aegis of the Montana-Dakotas Office.

Her response to a question about the corner-crossing case is relevant because the BLM oversees management of 70% of the 8.3 million acres onXmaps has identified as public lands corner-locked, or only accessible by stepping from one corner of public land to the other. The other largest chunk of corner-locked public lands belong to states, which onXmaps calculated at 26%.

In his ruling, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl dismissed ranch owner Fredric Eshelmans lawsuit that sought $7 million in damages from four Missouri hunters who climbed over fences at a corner in Wyoming in 2020 and 2021 to hunt on public land. Eshelman has filed notice that he will appeal the ruling.

By insisting that corner crossing was trespassing, Eshelman essentially had exclusive access to some 6,000 acres of public land for his own hunting and other excursions, WyoFile.com reported.

Following the judges ruling, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued a press release saying that corner crossing is unlawful in Montana and that anyone attempting to corner cross should ask permission from adjoining landowners. A University of Montana law professor questioned the basis for FWPs claim referring to established case law.

Bison

Stone-Mannings visit to the region comes as Montana Gov. Greg Gianfortes administration still awaits a ruling from the Interior Board of Land Appeals. Late last year, the state asked the board for a stay of BLMs decision to allow a switch from cattle to bison grazing on 63,500 acres of federal land in Phillips County  part of a grazing lease awarded to the nonprofit group American Prairie when it bought adjacent ranches.

A decision from the board could come by this fall.

That process will be that process, Stone-Manning said. We stand by the decision. When our permittees come to us and ask us to work with them for outcomes on the landscape, we do it. It doesnt matter who the permittee is.

Stone-Manning said she has no knowledge regarding the ruling but said the sometimes heated rhetoric surrounding the issue is unfortunate and a view held by a minority.

I think that the work  the show-me-dont-tell-me rule, right  the work were going to do on this restoration landscape to create better value for wildlife habitat, better value for our permittees, will speak for itself, she said.

BLM

As director, Stone-Manning has had to deal with the decisions made by previous director David Bernhardt, who relocated the agencys headquarters to Grand Junction, Colorado, under the Trump administration. Current Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, moved the national headquarters back to Washington, D.C., but the Bernhardt decision to relocate resulted in the loss of almost 300 veteran BLM employees.

Its been hard, Stone-Manning said. One of my priorities is rebuilding the agency, and building it into the bureau that the bureau itself deserves, the American people deserve and most importantly the public lands deserve.

The move to Colorado  endorsed by current Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., when he was Interior Secretary  was reportedly based on relocating the agencys headquarters closer to the customers it serves out west. Yet Stone-Manning said 97% of BLMs staff already lives and works in the West.

When those 300 positions had to be filled, BLM staff in the West were called up to fill the vacancies, creating a domino effect, Stone-Manning said.

Now were solving for vacancies in places that were in fact closer to the field, and all that happened as the pandemic descended on us, she added. Tell your readers were hiring.

Some of the more recent staff hired in the Montana-Dakotas office include former Forest Service employees who touted the BLM as a place more conducive to advancement. Last August the new BLM state director, Sonya Germann, moved over from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation where she had worked as the state forester. Germann is a Montana native.

Vacancies were evident at the BLMs Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. The agency has had a hard time staffing its visitor center in Fort Benton and this summer hired only one of 10 river rangers who patrol the monument.

Its this really interesting conflagration of events: the move, the pandemic and the pandemic spiking housing prices across the West. Its a lot to sort through, Stone-Manning said. But were trending in the right direction on our vacancy rate, which has settled at 23% over the last four months.

Female leads

Stone-Manning and Germann arent the only Montana representatives in the Department of the Interior. Martha Williams  former director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks  is serving as the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Its a remarkable privilege, Stone-Manning said. Or as I say to my colleague Martha, It is an outrageous privilege to be able to do this work on behalf of the American people. And I think that what we have learned in Montana and can bring to bear to the national work is really important and really serves us well.

Stone-Manning called her boss, 35th-generation New Mexican Deb Haaland of the Pueblo of Laguna, a remarkable person to work for. Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary for a U.S. president.

She has a remarkable clarity and vision about her, and she is fearless, Stone-Manning said. She carries gratitude into every meeting Ive been in with her, which has been a lesson for me. We all work really hard and really fast, and its really rare for people to remember to say thank you, and she does in every single meeting.

Looking forward, Stone-Manning said she sees two challenges as the largest looming for BLM.

A changing landscape, thats changing quickly, and the capacity to keep up to that changing landscape, she said. My focus, and what Im asking of my colleagues, is to manage for landscape health in everything we do. It is the narrative thread of all our work, even our partnership work. It is our obligation to the future to manage for landscape health today to leave as many options on the table as possible.

The BLM has often faced criticism from environmental groups for its management of public lands, including oversight of cattle grazing and oil and gas leasing. Last week, several groups released a statement critical of the agencys move to allow conservation leasing, or leasing of public lands for conservation purposes.

In April BLM released a rule to manage public lands in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resources, and archeological values.

While the environmental groups in general like the idea, they question if BLM is capable of implementing the action.

Josh Osher, public policy director for Western Watersheds Project, said in a statement, If the BLM doesnt address the terrible ecological impacts from millions of cows and sheep and a livestock industry that is given free rein on BLM managed lands, this rule and all the promises of conservation wont amount to anything. Grazing on public lands is not restoration, nor is it complementary or compatible with conservation at anywhere near the present livestock densities.
Last week Patently Apple posted a report titled "Prior to Samsung Unpacked Event on the 28th, Samsung files a series of Trademarks for Wearables with a strong emphasis on Smart Rings." Our report also point to two Samsung Ring patent reports that we've covered over time.

Today, The Elec reports that Samsung has begun in earnest to develop a smart ring that may take on the Galaxy branding or one the trademarks that they filed for last week. Japan's Meiko is in charge of advanced development of the Galaxy Ring PCB. There are observations that the Galaxy Ring will provide more accurate body/health information than the Galaxy Watch.

Whether it's for something new or for their 2024 XR Headset is still unknown, though another Samsung Patent (Korean patent filing) related to a ring for a future headset was noted in the report by The Elec. The patent figure from that patent is presented below.

According to industry sources, it was found that Samsung Electronics has started developing the Galaxy Ring in advance. Japan's Meiko will proceed with the advance development of rigid and flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) required for the Galaxy Ring. PCB is a board that combines various electronic components, and it is the component with the fastest development stage.

Samsung Electronics has started developing the Galaxy Ring in advance, but it is known that the timing of mass production of the product is still unclear. In general, the term advanced development in the industry is divided into 'prior development' to materialize the product concept, and 'prior development', which refers to the stage before mass production. It is expected that Samsung Electronics will proceed with prior development with Mayco and others, make a prototype of the Galaxy Ring, and decide whether to mass-produce, when, and how much to mass-produce based on product scalability.

A Smart Ring can outperform smartwatches in terms of accuracy, such as sleep and health information. Since the smart ring is highly likely to be worn according to the thickness of the user's finger, errors caused by loosely wearing the product can be reduced. Smartwatches can be worn loosely on the wrist. However, in the smart ring, the blood flow passing through the finger is weaker than the wrist, so information accuracy may be lowered, or the smart ring may have a tight finger, which may cause an error in blood flow measurement.

The Galaxy Ring is an accessory, and personality is also a factor to consider. A smart ring may not look like an electronic device in comparison to a smart watch, but if the design elements are strengthened, the product's function is inevitably reduced. In order for Smart Ring to settle down in the market, product advantages other than improved body information measurement accuracy must be increased.

At the same time, Samsung Electronics is also applying for a smart ring patent that works with extended reality (XR) devices. Vision Pro, a mixed reality (MR) device unveiled by Apple in June, tracks the user's head and hand movements with 12 cameras and 5 sensors without a special controller. Samsung Electronics also describes a technology that collects various information through a smart ring through a recently applied patent.

Source: The Elec
Yesterday, I read Barry R. Bickmore, Show Them unto No Man: Part 1. Esoteric Teachings and the Problem of Early Latter-day Saint Doctrinal History, in BYU Studies 62/1 (2023): 29-60. Dr. Bickmore holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech (more formally, from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). He is a professor of geological sciences at Brigham Young University, where he specializes in mineralogy, petrology, hydrogeology, environmental geology, and geochemistry. He has, however, also had a longstanding and productive interest in the doctrinal history of ancient Christianity and its relevance to the Restoration, as demonstrated by his valuable book Restoring the Ancient Church: Joseph Smith & Early Christianity, which was originally published in 1999 and which was republished in 2013.

I think that Show Them unto No Man is an extraordinarily important article, and I commend it to the attention of anyone interested in the relationship between Latter-day Saint teachings and those of the ancient Christians  but also, and even more particularly, to those who may have been bothered by the attempts of such writers as Dan Vogel and Charles Harrell to chronicle and account for the development of early Latter-day Saint doctrine. His insightful treatment of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Moses as a virtually contemporaneous pair of exoteric-esoteric texts, and of using the latter (where applicable) to interpret the former, is very helpful, as are his specific discussions of such subjects as alleged Book of Mormon modalism, early Latter-day Saint monotheism, and the notion of the pre-mortal existence of human spirits.

I share with you here just three of the many passages that I marked during my quick reading of the article. I do not pretend that these adequately represent his arguments or even all of his chief points. Theyre not intended to do so, and theyre certainly not intended to take the place of reading Professor Bickmores article itself. Indeed, there are several major sub-themes of his essay that I have marked for my own purposes but which I will not so much as mention here:

When most people read historical writing, they assume what they are reading is something very close to what actually happened. It is now generally admitted among historians, however, that what ultimately makes it onto the page incorporates a healthy dose of the authors imagination and prejudice. Certainly, historical writing incorporates what we might call facts (for example, documentary evidence), but the author connects these widely spaced dots with lines formed from choices about which sources are relevant to the subject, their relative trustworthiness, the meaning of the words, and so on. The problem with historical narrative, . . . says Georg Iggers, is that, while it proceeds from empirically validated facts or events, it necessarily requires imaginative steps to place them in a coherent story. The problem of bias becomes especially apparent when dealing with polarizing subjects like religious doctrinal history. (29-30)

In this next passage, Professor Bickmore sets forth his thesis, which he will then illustrate through specific examples and cases:

In this essay, I argue that the cost of ignoring esotericism when reconstructing doctrinal history is very steep indeed. To demonstrate this point, I present some examples of early Latter-day Saint doctrinal statements that, upon reflection, appear difficult to interpret correctly without referring to Joseph Smiths documented practice of esotericism. In these cases, we actually have both the exoteric and esoteric versions of Smiths early teaching. Among Joseph Smiths earliest writings are the Book of Mormon and the book of Moses, a pair of documents unquestionably produced by Smith near-contemporaneously and respectively claiming to expound exoteric and esoteric teachings. I also show that a number of historians have nevertheless proposed pathways of early Latter-day Saint doctrinal change that are demonstrably implausible, precisely because they have misunderstood the exoteric-esoteric relationship between these documents, and because they have too often refused to even consider the possibility that Joseph Smith was working from a sophisticated, and perhaps even successful, plan to restore legitimately primitive aspects of early Christianity. No matter what the source of their bias, it is clear that these historians have made very serious mistakes of interpretation, with the result that they present early Church doctrinal history as much more disjointed than it actually was. (32-33)

And here are the final lines of his conclusion:

[T]he case of early Restoration doctrinal history should serve as a caution to historians who want to assume they can successfully reconstruct the doctrinal history of religious groups that explicitly claimed to employ esotericism. If, even when the esoteric teachings are known, historians can badly misinterpret the content of the doctrines themselves, it is virtually guaranteed that this will happen in cases where the esoteric teachings are incompletely known. (60)

Again, I cannot overpraise this article. I regard it as very important. It probably wont be for everybody, but I personally think that it has done a very great deal of useful work. I will be re-reading it much more carefully than I read it through the first time.

But, happily for some, there is darkness to be relished and evil at which to be gratifyingly indignant! I speak, of course, of the inexhaustible Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File, from which I draw a quintet of horrifying specimens:

Posted from Victoria, British Columbia
Timothy F. Kauffman was raised Catholic, converted to Protestantism in 1990, and is now a Presbyterian (PCA). He has written, I was saved out of Roman Catholicism, and into Christianity, . . . Roman Catholicism was out of accord with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy is author of the books, Quite Contrary: Biblical Reconsiderations of the Apparitions of Mary (1994), Graven Bread: The Papacy, the Apparitions of Mary, and the Worship of the Bread of the Altar (1995), and is co-author with Robert M. Zins, of A Gospel Contrary!: A Study of Roman Catholic Abuse of History and Scripture to Propagate Error (April 24, 2023). He has been blogging about theology and Catholicism since 2014. His words will be in blue.

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I will be responding to one portion of Timothys article,  We Dont Worship Mary Part 2 (6-15-14).

It should go without saying that Roman Catholic saints are intentionally held up as examples for the flock to imitate. . . . Saints are examples with whom we can identify, and who we aspire to imitate. Indeed, the Roman church has held saints up for imitation by all precisely because we can identify with them. The Roman Catholic web site, Catholic Legate, emphasizes this, listing it as one of the three pillars of the doctrine of the communion of saints:

The second pillar of this doctrine rests on the imitation of virtuous people. M any Protestants  do not accept that we are to imitate anyone but Jesus [but] it is not a biblical teaching to refuse imitation of the saints.

Another Roman Catholic apologetics web site, explains that part of the canonization process through which saints are officially recognized, is to determine whether their lives can be held up as examples to be imitated.

We repeat this principle for a reason. Saints are considered necessary to inspire the flock, encourage obedience, and to offer real life examples for the sheep to imitate. . . .

Romes saints model for us a veneration that is indistinguishable from worship. . . .

We must understand that the saints are people who are very much like us in their humanity, and so their holiness is held out by Rome as an example to us that we might imitate it.

Timothy doesnt like the notion and practice of imitating exceptionally holy and righteous people. Moreover, he argues that such imitation reduces or collapses to veneration, which in turn is indistinguishable from worship. If thats true (it isnt), then according to Timothys reasoning, the Bible teaches that human beings are to be worshiped. But of course it doesnt.

Holy Scripture teaches (just like Catholics do) that God alone is to be worshiped and adored, and that saintly human beings ought to be imitated, honored and venerated, because, after all, God shares His glory with them. Paul commands his followers to imitate him, just as he, in turn, imitates Christ (1 Cor 11:1; 1 Thess 1:6). The motif of imitation is found in at least sixteen passages of the New Testament:



Romans 4:12 (RSV) . . . follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

1 Corinthians 4:16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us.

Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; [7] so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, [8] we did not eat any ones bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. [9] It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate.

1 Timothy 4:12 set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity,

Hebrews 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (cf. Hebrews, ch. 11: the heroes of the faith)

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.

James 5:10-11 As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [11] . . . You have heard of the steadfastness of Job . . .

1 Peter 5:3 not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.

3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God.

John Calvin, commenting on Hebrews 12:1, concurs:

This conclusion is, as it were, an epilogue to the former chapter, by which he shows the end for which he gave a catalogue of the saints who excelled in faith under the Law, even that every one should be prepared to imitate them; and he calls a large multitude metaphorically a cloud, for he sets what is dense in opposition to what is thinly scattered. Had they been a few in number, yet they ought to have roused us by their example; but as they were a vast throng, they ought more powerfully to stimulate us. He says that we are so surrounded by this dense throng, that wherever we turn our eyes many examples of faith immediately meet us. The word witnesses I do not take in a general sense, as though he called them the martyrs of God, and I apply it to the case before us, as though he had said that faith is sufficiently proved by their testimony, so that no doubt ought to be entertained; for the virtues of the saints are so many testimonies to confirm us, that we, relying on them as our guides and associates, ought to go onward to God with more alacrity.

Protestants today usually argue that great Christian figures of the past can provide inspiration and example for us in our Christian walk today, but they will deny that we ought to venerate them. They say this because they have drawn a false dichotomy between the worship and adoration of God himself and the veneration of those children of God who show forth His glory by displaying the grace that He gave them to be what they are.

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Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist , and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.

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Photo credit: Saint Paul Writing His Epistles (c. 1620), attributed to Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: Presbyterian critic of Catholicism Timothy F. Kauffman doesnt like the notion of imitation of holy people. The NT, on the other hand, provides sixteen prooftexts for it.
Refuting a Distortion of What St. Alphonsus de Liguori Actually Teaches in The Glories of Mary

Timothy F. Kauffman was raised Catholic, converted to Protestantism in 1990, and is now a Presbyterian (PCA). He has written, I was saved out of Roman Catholicism, and into Christianity, . . . Roman Catholicism was out of accord with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy is author of the books, Quite Contrary: Biblical Reconsiderations of the Apparitions of Mary (1994), Graven Bread: The Papacy, the Apparitions of Mary, and the Worship of the Bread of the Altar (1995), and is co-author with Robert M. Zins, of A Gospel Contrary!: A Study of Roman Catholic Abuse of History and Scripture to Propagate Error (April 24, 2023). He has been blogging about theology (mostly Catholicism) since 2014. His words will be in blue.

*****

I will be responding to one portion of Timothys article,  We Dont Worship Mary Part 2 (6-15-14).

Do Roman Catholics acknowledge Mary as Creator?

This ought to be the easiest charge to refute, for Mary is herself created, and therefore came after the first moment of creation. Yet this has been no barrier to the remarkable ingenuity of Romes passionate Marian devotees. It begins with Marys universal motherhood, which Pope Leo XIII affirmed in his encyclical Adiutricem, saying that Mary became the mother of the whole human race at the foot of the cross.

That has nothing whatsoever to do with some reputed Catholic claim that Mary is Creator. So why is it brought up? Its a perfect example of a non sequitur. When God through the prophet Samuel said that King David was a man after his own heart (1 Sam 13:14, RSV), did that raise David to the level of the Holy Trinity too? Maybe David  so the sort of reasoning Timothy applies here would claim  has as much love and mercy and compassion as God because this was stated? Or how about the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Ex 33:11)? Now Moses is equal to God, too, since he was on such intimate terms with God? We have to be careful in drawing conclusions that dont follow at all. Protestants must work a little bit to understand Catholic language (sometimes very different and much more wide-ranging than their own), just as all of us must do our best to understand biblical language.

But her motherhood is necessarily elastic, according to apologist, Fr. Donald Calloway, because Marys spiritual motherhood stretches all the way back to Adam and Eve:

Marys spiritual maternity is elastic, stretching all the way back to the beginning of time, because God made her the spiritual mother of all in light of the fact that she is the original intention of motherhood in the divine plan.  Yes, even Adam and Eve call her mother.

I think its quite odd and a bit humorously ironic that a Presbyterian would object to an eternal decree of predestination made by God: being the folks who especially stress predestination and Gods sovereignty and providence (which we also believe in!). In any event, for God to so act in Marys case is not at all the same as her supposedly being eternal, not a creature, and, rather, a co-Creator with him. So this is just another way of expressing the same non sequitur. It may impress some uncritical readers already in the choir who mistakenly think it has some relevance to the sub-topic . . .

Yet even before Adam and Eve, Mary was yet a mother, taught St. Chrysologus, . . .

In Gods plan of predestination and election (He being outside of time), yes she was. Since she didnt yet exist, this had to be only in Gods mind and will.

But Fr. William Most takes it back even further, defending the title Eternal Mother, because her Motherhood  was planned from all eternity.

Exactly. This is what I just expressed. It has nothing to do with Mary being a co-Creator. God decreed her life and calling from all eternity just as He does with all who decide to serve Him. Note there that eternal is not referring to Mary never having a beginning in time, but only to Gods eternal decree. Those who dont read carefully enough may have gotten that impression.

Such adulation is then increased by St. Thomas of Villanova, who observes that while it was by Gods Word, His fiat, that all things were brought into existence,

How is that consistent with Mary being a co-Creator? All: means all. A=a. If God created all things that would include Mary.

yet, when Mary gave her permission for God to become Man, her fiat was even more powerful, more efficacious than Gods, and is to be venerated above even His:

O powerful Fiat! exclaims St. Thomas of Villanova; O efficacious Fiat! O Fiat to be venerated above every other Fiat! For with a fiat God created light, heaven, earth; but with Marys fiat, says the saint, God became man, like us. (Liguori, the Glories of Mary)

Its dramatic language (especially to Protestant ears), but in the end, all this is saying in its essence is that Mary consented to being the mother of Jesus, the incarnate God, and so played a very real and commendable part of the incarnation and the resulting salvation that flowed from it. Thats very praiseworthy indeed, and so St. Thomas of Villanova praised her decision at the Annunciation. Catholics  as Timothy well knows  dont venerate God. We adore and worship Him. The veneration here has to do with what Mary did. Its the sort of perfectly biblical praise that the author of Hebrews gushed out:

Hebrews 11:32-38 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets  [33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [35] Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated  [38] of whom the world was not worthy  wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

All this, yet no Christian must ever dare offer Mary praise or veneration for agreeing to bear God the Son in her own womb?! That makes no sense whatsoever. God even shares His glory with His creatures, as Holy Scripture makes abundantly clear.

When we consider that Marys powerful fiat is greater even than that of God, it is no wonder then that St. Bernard concludes the obvious: that Mary was there even earlier than Genesis 1:10. She must have been there at Genesis 1:1, with God, forming all things:

St. Bonaventure says, addressing her, The world which thou with God didst form from the beginning continues to exist at thy will, O most holy virgin; the saint adhering in this to the words of Proverbs applied by the Church to Mary: I was with Him forming all things. (Liguori, the Glories of Mary ).

Do Roman Catholics acknowledge Mary as Creator? Yes, they certainly do, and Romes saints are the very model Roman Catholics are to imitate. Once this is established, the rest of the components of latria, or worship, flow from it with epistemological certainty.

How are we to understand (and explain) this? How do St. Bonaventure and St. Alphonsus get to or arrive at this conclusion about the Blessed Virgin Mary? Taken literally, or prima facie, dont words like the above imply that Mary was literally creating with God, akin to Jesus role as co-creator with His Father, stated in very similar Bible passages?

Its certainly  agree or disagree  a complex theological topic, so I thought it would be helpful to consult the opinion of my friend, Dr. Robert Fastiggi, who is a Catholic theologian (Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit), one of the editors and translators of the latest (43rd) version of Denzingers Enchiridion (2012), and editor and translator also of the revised version of Ludwig Otts Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (2018). In other words, he is exactly the sort of person who has the credentials to discuss a matter like this. He wrote the following in personal correspondence with me:

The teaching of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Discourse IV of The Glories of Mary must be understood within the doctrine of the predestination of the Incarnation, which also involves the predestination of Mary his Mother. Actually, many Catholics are unaware of the doctrine of Marys predestination. Bl. Pius IX, in Ineffabilis Deus (1854) teaches that Mary was chosen to be the Mother of Gods only begotten Son from the beginning and before the ages (Denz.-H 2800). Lumen Gentium [LG] 61 of Vatican II teaches that Mary was predestined from eternity to be the Mother of God by that decree of divine providence which also determined the Incarnation of the Word. The Franciscans of the Scotist school teach that God, from all eternity, decided to become incarnate regardless of the Fall. * Gods free decision to create the world was eternally linked to his free decision to become incarnate. But to become incarnate requires a predestined Mother. When this was revealed to the angels, a portion of them rebelled out of pride and envy. This is the reason for the rebellion of the angels according to the Jesuit, Francisco Suarez (1548-1617), and the Franciscan mystic, Ven Maria of Agreda (1602-1665). The Thomists dont deny the predestination of Mary and the Incarnation, but they say this was motivated by Gods eternal foreknowledge of Adam and Eves sin (which actually Bl. Pius IX mentions in Ineffabilis Deus in a passage left out in Denz.-H., 2800).

*

For God to become incarnate and be conceived by a woman requires, according to Gods will, the predestined Mothers free consent. This is taught in Lumen Gentium, 56, but it is affirmed by many Church Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas who says that Mary gave her consent in the place of all human nature (ST III, q. 30, a. 1; quoted by Leo XIII in Denz.-H., 3274). Because the creation of the world is linked to Gods free decision to become incarnate, we can affirm with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, that on account of this (Propter hunc) the whole world was made The propter hunc in the quoted line is better translated as on account of this. The passage cited by St. Bonaventure in Dispostione tua Virgo would be better translated as By your disposition, O Virgin. Moreover, the line in Latin  mundus, quem et tu cum Deo fundasti ab initio should, I think, be translated as the world, which was formed from the beginning by God with you. The cum in Latin means with not by. God is the Creator but Mary was with Him in the beginning in a predestined sense.

*

This line is not putting Mary in the role of the Creator. It is simply acknowledging that Gods free decision to create the word was, according to his providence, linked to his decision to become incarnate, which involved the free consent of the Mother. In this sense, Marys free consent was predestined when the world was created at the beginning. The free consent of Mary to become the Mother of the Incarnate Word was insured by her Immaculate Conception which guaranteed she would be impeded by no sin (LG, 56). All of this is according to Gods free decision. As St. Louis de Montfort says, God did not have any absolute need of Mary (cf. True Devotion to Mary, 14). God also did not have any absolute need to create

*

Marys predestination in no way involves a claim that she was the Creator. Mary, in fact, had to be created in order for the Word of God to assume flesh from her virginal womb and enter into creation. At best, the claim that Roman Catholics acknowledge Mary as the Creator is due to ignorance. At worst, it is slander.

*

Is there any biblical warrant for this Catholic understanding? Yes, according to Col 1:15-16, the Incarnate Word is the firstborn of all creation .[and] all things were created through him and for him. If all things were created for him, then, in a true sense, they were also created on account of (propter) his Mother. Without the Mother, there would be no Incarnate Word for whom all things in heaven and on earth (Col 1:16) were created.

*

Another point to make is that Catholic teaching must be known by magisterial statements, not those of individual theologians and saints (who sometimes contradict each other). In this respect, LG, 62 is clear that Mary is a creature. I dont think the Church has ever taught anything else. If the anti-Catholic claims otherwise, let him produce the evidence from magisterial documents.

*

I wrote back, observing that the likely response to this would be one of two things: 1) if that was the intended meaning, why didnt they make it clear, instead of seeming to say  by a plain and straightforward reading  that Mary was creating the universe with God?, or 2) if it takes you this much work to defend what was said, it sounds to me like rationalizing or special pleading; jesuitical casuistry . . . Dr. Fastiggi then replied to that:

When certain passages are taken out of their historical and theological context they can be misunderstood. But the same can be said about certain Scriptural texts. When Jesus says, the Father is greater than I in Jn 14:28, the prima facie meaning seems to be that He is less than the Father (i.e. not fully God). It would take centuries for the Church to overcome those, like the Arians, who deny the full divinity of Christ. In the 5th century, we have the Pseudo-Athanasian Creed and St. Pope Leo I explaining that Jn 14:28 means that Jesus is less than the Father according to his humanity but equal to the Father according to his divinity (cf. Denz. H. 76 and 295). But if that was the intended meaning of Jn 14:28, why didnt Jesus make it clear? And why does the meaning of Jn 14:28 take so much jesuitical casuistry to explain it? I think you get my point. People who dont want to understand the meaning of various texts within their proper context will always have objections.

In the past with this sort of flowery Mariology I sought other passages in the same book about Jesus and God the Father where it made clear what wasnt being denied and what was being asserted, following the same method as in biblical hermeneutics: interpret the less clear by the more clear. Hence if we can find other passages about creation in The Glories of Mary that make it clear beyond all doubt that Mary is a creature and God the only Creator, then these prima facie difficult texts above can be better understood within the context of the overall book.

*

When I did that, I quickly discovered that St. Alphonsus did indeed make it very clear what he was not asserting: some notion of Mary being co-Creator. He even discussed some aspects that Dr. Fastiggi brought up:

[W]hether she be the first-born inasmuch as she was predestined in the divine decrees, together with the Son, before all creatures, according to the Scotists; or the first-born of grace as the predestined Mother of the Redeemer, after the prevision of sin, according to the Thomists; nevertheless all agree in calling her the first-born of God. This being the case, it was quite becoming that Mary should never have been the slave of Lucifer, but only and always possessed by her Creator; (2nd Part, Discourse I: Marys Immaculate Conception, I; my bolding and italics for emphasis)

Note that St. Alphonsus calls God her [Marys] Creator. If He is her Creator, then she cant be a co-Creator. The difficult words had to do with her predestination, not with some imagined ontological status as an eternal Being equal to the Holy Trinity, who therefore creates everything, too. Nor is this a one-time occurrence. Mary is called a creature many many times in the book. In the 2nd Part alone, in Discourse I , he calls her (or cites someone else calling her, in agreement) creature twice. Beyond the example above, He uses Creator or created in a way perfectly in accord with what Protestants also believe, seven more times:

St. Bernard says, that the Creator of men becoming man, must have selected himself a Mother . . . * . . . he created her spotless. * . . . truly God created Mary such . . . * . . . in the words of St. Illdephonsus, Suckle, O Mary, thy Creator, give milk to him who made thee, and who made thee such that he could be made of thee * Ah, my Immaculate Lady! I rejoice with thee on seeing thee enriched with so great purity. I thank, and, resolve always to thank, our common Creator . . . * . . . the beloved of thy Creator. * . . . the Church celebrates the first moment in which her soul was created and infused into her body . . .

This is all in one Discourse only. Examples could easily be multiplied, and anyone can do a word-search to verify it, if Im not believed. We need not go through the entire book to prove this point and refute Timothys groundless claims. Lets take a look just at Discourse IV in the 2nd Part, where the citation that Timothy produced and critiqued appeared. Mary is called a creature sixteen times (if my count is right). How about the terms Creator and created? Here are the six appearances (minus the one in one of the citations):
Beloved, we have existed within you for all of our days.

Before the earth was formed and the mountains arose, before stars and dreams, before any beginnings and all the endings, it is holy. You are holy. Even in the midst of our worst, you are there. And always you whisper a call to return.

A thousand years for you are no more than yesterday, like a watch in the night. You are found in the rising flood, and in the growing grass. And in our dreams.

We are like the grass growing in the morning which is cut down in the evening. We are consumed in the play of the cosmos, indifferent to our joy and pain, and so often we miss the harmony of the worlds.

Our secret sins, our separation from the world and you brings consequences. And our years are as a tale that has been told. We live seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty. But strength and sorrow, it is quickly cut away, and we fly into our many parts.

Who knows the power of the cosmos and the consequences of our choices?

So, Beloved, teach us the way, teach us to notice our passing days, and turn our hearts to wisdom. Meet us in our struggles, satisfy us with mercy. Allow us to rejoice and be glad all of our days.

Make us to find our way into the flow of causes and conditions, let the way of harmony open for us, and let us come into your glory.

As your children, let the beauty of the heaven be upon us and establish in our hands the work of the holy.

Psalm 90 (my paraphrase)

I was born in Oakland, California, on the 17th of July 1948.

Seventy-five.

Three quarters of a century.

The author of the 90th Psalm puts human life at seventy, unless strong, unless lucky, and then eighty. Tradition, and the text, credits Moses with authorship. Scholars tend to place it to the fifth century before our common era, parts likely a fair bit older. At the very least it was written some twenty-five hundred years ago.

Im intrigued that our American Social Security actuarial tables give me the odds of living another decade and change. A bonus five years over antiquity, at least if one wasnt a slave or poor. Although this guesstimate is calculated with that additional factor of my being seventy-five accounted for. This year an American womans odds at birth, factoring only gender and being an American is eighty-one and change, while an American mans is seventy-six and change. So, few real changes at all. The big difference I think is tose outer numbers attach to more people. Which is good. It strongly looks like anyone who lives longer, dipping past a hundred, has one feature going in common with that cohort, their parents were also extremely long-lived.

As to me. Im overweight, prone to back spasms, and my doctors have me taking ten pills a day, a couple of them pretty strong medicine. Otherwise, Im in relatively good shape. Unless something is unfolding deep within my body that Im unaware of, I kind of think I might make that additional decade.

Its all been interesting. Which some say is a curse. And there have been some very hard times. But, well, some astonishing moments of joy and clarity, as well. As they say, on the one hand, its been one long weird trip. And, on another, I swear, its been the blink of an eye.

And. Well. Among the things Ive learned in my seventy-five years is that one shouldnt assume much of anything. Death, it can come like that proverbial thief in the night. And whatever else, it will come. The price of our birth is our death. Another little lesson Ive picked up in the gutters and alleyways of life.

For a detailed account of my life, I wrote this in 2015. In that year when Jan retired as a librarian I retired as a parish minister, and we moved back to the Los Angeles area in order to be close to Jans mom. We bought a condo in Long Beach. Eight years now since we relocated from Providence. And Jans moms world began to shrink. As of some months ago for all practical purposes weve moved in with her in the Tujunga neighborhood of LA.

And here we are. Jan and me. At seventy-five living with my mother-in-law. We are not sure whats next. Were reluctant to sell the condo, and putting off any such decision for a while.

That said, here we are.

Do I have any words of wisdom to celebrate the day? People are sometimes asked that question. I recall how Aldous Huxley lamenting all he could offer in his old age was the advice to be a little kinder. Not bad. Not bad, at all. And, if only

At the heart of the matter as Ive found it is some strange and wondrous thing that human beings can experience. Or encounter. Something. The words fail as we approach it. Ive pursed it. It has pursued me. And, in that thing I have what little wisdom I have to share.

Ive struggled with how best to define this, well, lets say thing.

Alan Watts was a big deal in my youth and young adulthood. His romantic interpretation of Zen was a large part of why I began to practice. He had more than a few problems, and soon after I took up Zen in more traditional ways, I stopped reading him. (I should note today I consider him more important in my life as a bridge between my Zen and my natal Christianity.)

These days when I think about this thing, this most important thing, I find myself returning to something in wrote in one of his books that I did read, the Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.

As he described it and as I see it the universe is God. God is the universe. There is no part of the universe that is not divine. But there is a mystery of part and whole. Each part, each star and planet, and each and everything on the planets are Gods dreams. Some of the dreams are pleasant and some are not. But theyre all God.

Alan Watts takes this pantheistic view of God and the universe and elaborates.

(R)emember that God isnt shaped like a person. People have skins and there is always something outside our skins. If there werent, we wouldnt know the difference between what is inside and outside our bodies. But God has no skin and no shape because there isnt any outside to him. The inside and outside of God are the same.

God is the Self of the world, but you cant see God for the same reason that, without a mirror, you cant see your own eyes, and you certainly cant bite your own teeth or look inside your head. Your self is that cleverly hidden because it is God hiding.

Then Watts suggests the whole play of the universe is God playing hide-and-seek. He goes on to make an argument that bad things happen for the drama of it. I think his narrative begins to fall apart there. So, from there we might find more a more useful of God image in the Bhagavad Gita in chapter 18:

That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of goodness.

I find it a pretty good shorthand for the thing we can find as we look deeply into the matter of who we are within this passing strange universe, this isnt a bad image.

Another pointer can be found in the shorthand of the Zen way found in the Heart Sutra: form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Instead of empty, we might say boundless. If we take a pantheistic stance, boundless is God. The no-thing, the every-thing of which we are made, within which we exist, and to which we return. In every single moment of our existence. I dont see God as a being who is in any way like a human. But, rather a very good symbol or sign for the majesty of it all, and for how we as human beings often encounter it. The language of religion feels right to me. Holy. Sacred. Whirlwind. Storm. Still small voice. God.

And theres something else we can miss in taking a simple materialistic view. In this knowing we are not limited to our seventy or eighty years. There are genuine ways in which we are immortal. Or, at least we exist fully within the play of time and space. Both separate and mortal and connected and eternal. Again the language of heart of poetry of religion feels most right.

So, a take away? Some small words that approximate wisdom for my seventy-fifth birthday?

It may all be a game from some perspective. But its real for you and me. Theres a ton of suffering out there. And those of us who got pretty good hands in the current shuffle, I believe we have some obligations. Which is something I dont think the good Mr Watts ever actually got, but which we find pushed to its logical conclusions in the Gita. And, while I deeply believe in our mutual responsibility, I draw short of the version called for in the Gita. Duty, yes. Duty forms a significant part of my life. But we also can make choices, as well. And our fate isnt completely written in the stars. With that I think Aldous Huxley got it best, try to be a little kinder to each other.

This thing about being one thing, you and me and the universe, I do like calling that whole of it all, God. For us as human beings its all holy. This is the task I suggest is as close as were going to get to meaning and purpose: Knowing who we really are for ourselves, giving eyes and hands back to God. Living in the dance.

The project of our ending suffering is twofold. The first is our intimate encounter, that awakening thing. The second is real-world. Helping. In various ways, being of use. Of discovering the duty that comes with our birth, the things we need do between birth and death.

From dark to dark. The light inside the dark. The dark inside the light. Bleeding through the cracks in the heart of the universe. Those cracks in your heart. And mine

Okay, Im running on here.

But thats it in a nutshell. What I have to offer after seventy-five years.

Please, look for yourself for the saving moment, your deepest awakening into the mystery.

Please, try to be a little kinder to each other.
One thing was certain at the end of the Absa Ghana Inspire Me conference in Accra: women businesses ought to be more collaborative and bolder in pushing the frontiers of growth in Africa.



The Conference took center stage in Accra last week, bringing together prominent African women businesses and entrepreneurs to share ideas, empower each other and discuss emerging trends and skills necessary to transform their institutions and propel them to various levels of growth.



Set under the theme, Empowering womens economic growth together, it was also to support women-owned businesses with value-added financial solutions to drive sustainable growth.



A diversity of speakers, from accomplished women entrepreneurs to regulators at the Central Bank, to leading legal minds on the continent, policymakers, CEOs and other governance experts, assembled to grace the two-day event.



What was striking was the collective call to the women participants to support each other, challenge the status quo, and facilitate opportunities for other women to grow. Absa Ghanas Board Chair, Mrs. Frances Adu-Mante set the tone during her opening address when she said, Women business owners must learn to cultivate the habit of partnerships and collaboration amongst themselves if we are to significantly contribute to Africas economic growth sustainably.



Keynote speaker, the Nigerian entrepreneur, Ibukun Awosika, highlighted a fundamental point - that no one loses in any thriving economy when women are given the platform to lead and create value consistently. She urged male entrepreneurs to support the growth and sustainability of women businesses instead of approaching it with a competitive lens.



David Ofosu-Dorte, Managing Partner at AB & David Law, a continental legal firm, said changes to intra-Africa travel and policies such as AfCFTA have narrowed the challenges of distance, tariffs and language on the continent, leaving women with no excuse not to succeed.



The event also featured industry and business heavyweights during the panel discussion sessions, speaking on topics including, unlocking access to finance for women, building a sustainable business in a BANI world, Ghanas readiness to strengthen trade, and best practise sharing by accomplished women leaders in Africa.



Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director at Absa bank Ghana said:

The conference was a true opportunity for us to lead from the front in how we support, inspire and empower women businesses on the continent. Women are critical to progress; their dreams, ideas and voices matter and we have a responsibility to continue creating avenues for them to succeed.



An exhibition forum was organised, as part of the conference, for business owners from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa, to display their products and services to participants and the general public.



Commenting after day 2 of the conference, Audrey Abakah, Director of SME and Agency banking at Absa Ghana said: We are happy with the participation and the collective willingness of women businesses to go above and beyond to create a better environment for transformation. It brings real meaning to our purpose of empowering Africas tomorrow, together  one story at a time.

Source: Peacefmonline com









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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 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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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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Vietnamese oyster exports skyrocket in the opening five months of the year (Photo: VOV)

The strongest export growth was recorded in oysters with more than 2,700 tonnes worth over US$5 million, up 100% in volume and 81% in value on-year. This was followed by sea cucumber with 73 tonnes worth US$1.7 million, up 160% in volume and 40% in value.

Furthermore, dried fish also represented a favourite item among international customers in the reviewed period with more than 39,400 tonnes of dried fish, up 40% on-year, while canned fish also reached over 11,200 tonnes, up 20% on-year. This sudden increase can be attributed to the fact that consumers prefer unique and rare products.

Currently, China represents the largest consumer of Vietnamese oysters. According to details given by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), dried fish and canned fish are widely considered to be a bright spot amid a downward trend in seafood exports.

The top five markets for dried fish consumption include China at 56%, Russia at 17%, and Malaysia at 8%, Hong Kong (China) at 4% and the Republic of Korea at 3%.

Statistics compiled by the General Department of Vietnam Customs indicate that the nation shipped 816,000 tonnes of aquatic products worth US$3.47 billion over the opening five months of the year, representing a drop of 15.3% in volume and 25.9% in value compared to last years corresponding period.

Industry insiders assessed that seafood exports are showing signs of recovery and will see robust growth ahead in the third quarter of the year, with the export value fluctuating between US$850 million and US$900 million.

Bamboo paper exhibition hits in Da Nang until July 23

An exhibition of 52 truc chi (bamboo paper) artworks is being exhibited at the central citys Fine Arts Museum on July 14-23, marking the second event of its kind in the city, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The exhibition, which gathers top pieces from 13 artists, will be on display alongside workshops and panel discussions about the art.

At the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

Organisers of the event said they hope it will help visitors feel the peaceful and friendly energy of the artwork that has been gradually innovated over the past decade.

Truc chi, which was developed by artist Phan Hai Bang from Hue City, is seen as a relatively new art developed from a traditional craft which artists have used as inspiration in their work.

The first exhibition was organised at the museum in 2017 with the participation of the founder of the style Bang and other members of the Vietnam bamboo paper project.

A talkshow on methods and techniques used in the style will be held during the exhibition throughout the week.

Two other exhibitions on Truc Chi are expected to be held in Hanoi in October and Ho Chi Minh City by the end of this year.

Vietnam Dance Week 2023 kicks off

The Vietnam Dance Week 2023 was officially launched on July 15 with the preliminary round - the 24-second video challenge, reported the Vietnam Dance Artists Association (VDAA) the same day, said the Vietnam News Agency.

Activities during the countrys annual biggest dance event, including a folk dance competition and an international dance festival, will take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from July 15 to October 29.

Vietnam Dance Week 2023 will take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

from July 15 to October 29  Photo for illustration (Source: NDO)

Co-organised by the association, the Hanoi municipal Department of Culture and Sports, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, the management board of Hanoi Thong Nhat park and Kinh Ky Foundation media company, the event is open to all professional and amateur artists living in Vietnam, including foreigners, who could compete in four age categories of 6-9, 10-18, above 18, and above 50.

In the folk dance competition, the preliminary round is underway from July 15-17 while the semi-final is slated for September 22 on an online format, and the final in the south from October 19-22 and in the north from October 26-29.

Vietnamese starters grab foreign headlines

Vietnam is one of the worlds best countries for food, and Vietnamese cuisine, especially starters, always leaves tourists wanting for more, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the information of Will Fly for Food, a travel blog for people who love to eat.

Banh Cuon (steamed rice roll), a northern Vietnamese dish thats become popular throughout the country, is a top suggestion.

Banh Cuon, a northern Vietnamese dish (Photo: laodong.vn)

The rice rolls are made from a thin sheet of steamed fermented rice batter filled with seasoned ground pork and wood ear mushrooms.

Topped with herbs and fried shallots and served with a bowl of nuoc cham (Vietnamese fish sauce), theyre typically served with a side dish of gio lua (Vietnamese pork sausage), sliced cucumber, and bean sprouts.

Banh bao banh vac (White Rose Dumplings), a regional dish available only in Hoi An, is delicious and a must-try in central Vietnam. The recipe for this dish is a well-guarded secret thats been kept in the family for three generations, it wrote.

The article also mentioned Banh Hue which refers to a family of rice flour cakes popular in Hue and central Vietnam. Types of Banh Hue include banh nam, banh loc, banh beo, banh ram it, banh uot, and cha tom.

They taste relatively similar  silky, soft, and loaded with umami, a travel blogger shared.

Banh cong is a popular dish in southern Vietnam. Its a muffin-shaped snack made with mung beans, taro, and whole shrimp with their heads and shell still intact.

Banh Nam  a popular dish in Hue city (Photo: thuathienhue.gov.vn)

Bot chien, one of the most popular Vietnamese street food from Ho Chi Minh City, is another good suggestion for any traveler.

Bot chien is basically rice flour mixed with tapioca starch thats steamed, cooled, and then cut into flat squares before being pan-fried in lard with some egg and green onions until it turns golden brown and crispy.

Its served with a refreshing side of green papaya salad and a thickened sweet sauce to offset the oiliness./.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has asked for a full scale investigation into the alleged leaked secret tape which is calling for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.



According to him, if the NPP government has nothing to hide then they should allow an investigation into the matter to enable those behind the despicable plot to be punished.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that though he sometimes did not agree with some of the modus operandi of the Inspector General of Police especially during the Assin North by-election, he believes that he is doing well and does not deserve to be kicked out in such a coup d'etat manner.



"What transpired on the leaked tape is a recipe for coup and that government should allow for a thorough investigation if it has nothing to hide and really want to get to the bottom of the matter.



"They should spare us the various explanations they are giving out and ensure an investigation is carried out in to the matter and gotten into its logical conclusion," he said.



He further reiterated the need for the Vice President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia who is the Chairman of the Police Council to as a matter of urgency to have issued a statement about what is going on rather than going about campaigning.



"I think this is an opportune time for the Vice President who seems not to be a too proactive Chairman of the Police Council to quickly act on this matter, but he is rather busy going round campaigning whilst the Police Council is in turmoil over a leaked secret tape."



Interior Minister Dismisses Allegation



Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, has dismissed allegation of the contents of a leaked secret tape in which the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, is being plotted.



In the about an hour long tape, a purported police commissioner and someone who identifies himself as a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) were heard plotting the removal of Dr Akuffo Dampare.



The voices in the tape expressed the fear that the IGP would not allow the governing party to manipulate the 2024 elections.



This IGP wont help us. He wont, he wants everything to be done fairly and we dont win elections that way. If we dont remove him we cant break the eight, in politics we need machinations and this IGP wont allow that, the purported Police Commissioner was heard saying.



But interacting with Journalists in Parliament, Accra, he said the tape should be treated with the contempt it deserved because government has no intentions of removing the IGP from office.



According to him, government was satisfied with Dr Dampares administration and would give him the free hand to operate as expected of an independent police service.



Let me make it absolutely clear that this government is not going to tamper with the 2024 elections. The President does not want to stay one more hour beyond his term. We also want to make sure that we have a free and fair election.



So we should dismiss such reports with contempt. Theres no plot to remove anybody, as far as Im concerned he (IGP) is doing a good job.



Watch Video Below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has dismissed an application by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, aka Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi, which sought to restrain the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, from discussing him in relation to the National Cathedral project.



Rev Kusi Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi filed the application under Article 33 of the 1992 Constitution seeking an enforcement of his fundamental human rights.



In a judgment Thursday [July 14], the court, presided over by Justice Barbara Tetteh Charway, held that an application under Article 33 implied the enforcement of a human right of a person or entity with personal interest, reports Graphic Online's Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson.



The court said, the two distinctive identities - Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng and Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi, meant it was not clear which of the two identities sought the enforcement of the human right.



The court dismissed the contention of Rev Kusi Boateng aka Mr Adu-Gyamfi that the two names referred to the same person, and held that the manner in which the two names had been deployed meant two completely separate identities.



In view of the lack of clarity of the person seeking the enforcement of the human rights (that is whether Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng or Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi, the court dismissed the application for lack of capacity or locus standi.



Apart from dismissing the case, the court also slapped Rev Kusi Boateng aka Mr Adu-Gyamfi with a cost of GH10,000.



Mr Ablakwa has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Rev. Kusi Boateng aka Mr Adu-Gyamfi over an alleged conflict of interest, including possession of multiple identities and other alleged criminal dealings.



The MP alleged that there was a transfer of GH2.6 million from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited owned by Rev. Kusi Boateng under a secondary identity - Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.



Mr Ablakwa's petition is seeking to invoke the mandate of CHRAJ under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate the odious conflict of interest with regard to Rev. Kusi Boatengs position on the National Cathedral board as he literally paid his own company a staggering GH2.6 million for no work done.



Rev. Kusi Boateng, who is also the founder of Power Chapel Worldwide, according to Mr Ablakwa, was the same person as Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi who received the GH2.6 million from the National Cathedral Board.



Suits



Rev. Kusi Boateng subsequently filed a defamation suit against Mr Ablakwa and followed it up with a contempt application, accusing the legislator of refusing to be served with the defamation suit.



He applied for an order to enforce his human rights seeking to prevent the MP from further commenting on the subject.



In May 2023, the High Court in Accra dismissed the contempt application on the basis that it was flawed with inconsistencies, was irregular and failed to meet the threshold of the law.



After dismissing the contempt application, the court, presided over by Justice Charles Gyamfi Dankwa, slapped Rev. Kusi Boateng with a cost of GH10, 000 in favour of the MP.

Source: Graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Minority Leader and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has filed an application asking Justice Afia Serwah Asare- Botwe to recuse herself from presiding over the trial in which he and two others have been charged for allegedly causing 2.37 million financial loss to the state.



Richard Jakpa, a private businessman who is also standing trial for same offences and others, has also petitioned the Chief Justice to remove the judge from the trial, alleging bias on her part as a result of an incident which occurred during one of the courts sittings.



He is alleging bias because the trial judge on June 20, 2023, issued a stern warning to the accused person that it was the last time she would tolerate any disrespect from him and let him go home.



Counsel for Dr. Forson was expected to move the motion asking the judge to recuse herself from the trial, but the case had to be adjourned to July 27 because Justice Asare-Botwe had indicated that it was brought to her attention that Mr. Jakpa had petitioned the Chief Justice asking for her removal from the trial.



The judge said as a result of that petition, nothing new is to happen in the trial until the petition is determined by the Chief Justice.



She, therefore, adjourned the case to July 27, 2023, by which time the Chief Justice may have given a directive regarding the petition.



Trial



Dr. Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, as well as private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.



The prosecution, led by the Attorney General and Minster for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame and Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa, closed its case on February 14, 2023 after calling five witnesses, including the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu to prove its case.



The main issue raised during the prosecutions case was whether the defective vehicles were purchased in accordance with the purchase agreement approved by Parliament.



The other was whether Dr. Forson was authorised by the substantive Finance Minister or any superior officer to write a letter to the Controller and Accountant General directing the establishment of irrevocable Letters of Credit (LCs) which led to the payments.



An Accra High Court on March 30, 2023, ordered Dr. Forson and two others to open their defence in a trial in which they are accused of purchasing defective vehicles as ambulances for the Ministry of Health.



The court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, in a ruling held that the three had a case to answer in the charges of causing financial loss and others levelled against them by the Office of the Attorney General in a deal that saw the state spending 2.37 million on the defective ambulances.



Jakpa/Judge Incident



Dr. Forson opened his defence on June 20 and called Henry Myles Mills, an official of Stanbic Bank, who was being questioned by counsel for Dr. Forson when Mr. Jakpa incurred the wrath of the trial judge.



He had raised his hand indicating that he wanted to use the washroom and the judge initially declined the request but later permitted him to use the washroom within the courtroom facility adjacent the holding cells.



The accused obliged and spent more than five minutes there, and the judge asked his counsel to check on him.



Both the accused and lawyer emerged shortly after that, and the judge asked one of her clerks to hand over a sanitiser to Mr. Jakpa who had taken his seat.



Mr. Jakpa, I asked them to bring it (sanitiser) to you because I was told there was no soap there, the judge said.



You didnt even want me to go in the first place, now you are giving me a sanitiser, the businessman replied loudly.



This got Justice Asare-Botwe furious and in putting the accused in his place told him, This disrespect is the first and last Nobody should think I will counter such disrespect. This is the last time you will be in contempt of the court and go home. Dont try me, I wont hesitate to use my powers if necessary.



Thomas Aubyn, counsel for the accused rose to his feet and apologised to the court, but the judge was not impressed, indicating that the accused is an adult and did not need another person apologising on his behalf.



The lawyer then approached the accused and urged him to apologise to the court, which he did, but the judge was still not impressed, stating that You are not sorry. You are an adult who can speak. You do not need someone to tell you to apologise.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Charles Owusu has downplayed the leaked audio recording concerning discussions allegedly between a Police Commissioner and a former NPP executive to persuade President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo-Addo from office.



The two people on the tape could be heard discussing why the IGP is no longer useful to the Akufo-Addo government stating grounds of disloyalty on the part of the IGP to the ruling New Patriotic Party.



They also claimed Dr. Dampare will be an impediment to the party's victory in the 2024 elections.



Touching on the leaked tape, the former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu says the IGP is going nowhere.



To him, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has shown great leadership, made positive impact on the Police Serive and living an exemplary life; something that, to him, the Police administration has lacked for years.



"IGP Akuffo Dampare is the best...Without tape or no tape, Akuffo Dampare is still IGP and he will still be the IGP," he said on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo".



He also rubbished the claims that the IGP will impede the NPP from winning next year's elections.



"Since when did a Police adminstration become Electoral Commissioner to win an election for somebody?", he asked.



He stressed "even Electoral Commission cannot even win election for political party. They only supervise. They cannot win".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A 14-year-old has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after police say she shot and killed a 16-year-old boy in Fayette County.

Police said first responders were called to a home along Wilson Avenue in Uniontown at about 3:16 p.m. Sunday, according to reports from WPXI and WTAE.

The girl thought she had a BB gun but was actually holding a handgun when she shot and killed Daejion Grant, 16, police said. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

A third teenager was in the house when the shooting happened, but ran away. He was later found and will probably not be charged, police said.

News outlets said the teen girl is cooperating with the authorities.

READ MORE: Freight train derails in Pa., causing evacuations, road closures: reports
HAMPTON, Ga.  Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriffs deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.

Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense manhunt for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday mornings shootings rocked a bucolic acsubdivision in Hampton, south of Georgias main city.

Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police said a Henry County sheriffs deputy saw the SUV that Longmore stole from one of the victims and began chasing him, calling for help. After exchanging gunfire with Longmore, Clayton police said he ran away. He was ultimately shot dead at a townhouse complex next to a high school.

A Henry County sheriffs deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured at separate locations in the attempt to arrest Longmore, they said.

One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time, Scandrett said of that officer.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said all three officers are expected to recover. Details on the conditions of the other two wounded officers werent immediately made public.

Hampton Police Chief James Turner said the four killed Saturday were all residents of the same Dogwood Lakes neighborhood where Longmore lived, and were all were shot within a 10-minute span. He identified the victims as 67-year old Scott Leavitt and his wife, 66-year old Shirley Leavitt, as well as 65-year-old Steve Blizzard and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett speaks on Sunday, July 16, 2022, in Hampton, Ga, while flanked by other police and local officials. Scandrett announced that officers shot and killed Andre Longmore on Sunday, a day after officials say Longmore shot and killed four Hampton residents (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)AP

Sherry Wyatt, who works at Hamptons recreation center near Jeffers home, said Jeffers would regularly come in to sing at the senior center that shares the building.

A few months ago, Jeffers came over to her side of the building to practice and she told him how beautiful was his voice.

Im just so glad I told him he sang like an angel, said Wyatt, adding her heart was heavy Sunday over his death. I know he is in heaven now singing.

A relative of Blizzard didnt immediately respond to a Facebook message.

Authorities had been seeking to arrest Longmore on four murder warrants for the deaths. Turner said Longmores motives remained under investigation.

On Sunday, neighbor Frankie Worth told The Associated Press he heard a gunshot Saturday morning as he was reaching for his living room window to open the blinds and see how much yard work he had to do.

Worth said he ducked just for a second and then looked back out the window. You know, when you get incoming, youve got to know where its coming from, said Worth, who identified himself as a Marine Corps veteran.

Longmore, who Worth knew only as Andre, was standing in the street. He described seeing the mans hands jerking from the recoil of firing a silver handgun.

Dogwood Lakes housing development resident Frankie Worth describes how he witnessed the shooting of his neighbor during a mass shooting in Hampton, Ga., Saturday, July 15, 2023. (Steve Schaefer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)AP

Worth said the man appeared to have fired at a small white car driven by another neighbor, an older white gentleman. He said the shooting happened near a cul-de-sac where they all live.

Worth said he first thought thered been a road rage confrontation, but said the man moved deliberately. He didnt appear angry, upset, agitated, Worth said.

Worth said Longmore appeared to evaluate whether he needed to shoot again and then started walking casually toward the entrance to the subdivision, then at a brisk stride. Worth said he ran upstairs, watching Longmore disappear behind some trees as he called police.

Turner told reporters earlier that detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes in Dogwood Lakes. At least three police cars staked out the neighborhood Sunday, limiting access. About 40 houses on two streets flank a lake in the neighborhood, about 25 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

Ron Foster, who lives on the main road outside the subdivision entrance, said Longmore drove through his yard and his neighbors yard, destroying multiple ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks in the grass. Foster was inside his house when he heard crunching metal.

What was going through that mans mind after he did all he done? Foster wondered. It was unreal.

Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgias racetrack for NASCAR events. The most recent homicide before Saturday in the town of 8,000 had been in 2018, Turner said. Its not normal for us, he said.

This undated photo provided by the Hampton Police Department, in Hampton, Ga., shows Andre Longmore. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, authorities were searching for Longmore, who is suspected of gunning down three men and a woman in Georgia. (Courtesy of Hampton Police Department via AP)AP

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 AP and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley said the city would hold a prayer vigil Monday evening for the four victims and their loved ones.

We have their back and we will continue to support them throughout their bereavement, Tarpley said.

Jeff Amy of The Associated Press wrote this story.

Associated Press writers Tom Murphy contributed from Indianapolis and Leah Willingham contributed from Charleston, West Virginia.

More:

Escaped homicide suspect Michael Burham captured in wooded area in Warren County, state police say

Central Pa. man arrested for firing AK-47 into the air on July 3
A new Planet Fitness opened Monday morning in a former A.C. Moore store in Silver Spring Township.

The fitness studio opened at the Silver Spring Commons shopping center at 6520 Carlisle Pike, Suite 365-B.

The 17,835-square-foot location includes cardio machines and strength equipment, locker rooms and showers, flat screen televisions and a spa with tanning beds and HydroMassage loungers. Free fitness training is included in all memberships.

The franchise owner is Lower Allen Township-based National Fitness Partners, which is the owner of more than 100 Planet Fitness franchises.

READ MORE: Fleet Feet opens new store in Dauphin County

Planet Fitness opened at the Silver Spring Commons shopping center at 6520 Carlisle Pike, Suite 365-B. (Photo provided)

Justin Stezin, a regional director of operations for National Fitness Partners said that he is excited for the new gym, which is just a few minutes from where he grew up.

Were excited to bring another beautiful club to the Mechanicsburg market, Stezin said in a news release.

The general manager for the gym is Matthew Bell.

The gym is open 24 hours a day during the week, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Planet Fitness was founded in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire and has more than 2,400 locations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. There are a number of Planet Fitness locations in Dauphin, Cumberland, York, Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Silver Spring Commons shopping center is anchored by Walmart, Sams Club and Value City Furniture.
Giant customers, check your Powerball tickets.

A Powerball lottery ticket for the Saturday, July 15, drawing worth $100,000 was sold at Giant Food Stores, 1278 S. Market St., Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. The store will win a $500 bonus for selling the ticket.

The Powerball with Power Play matched four of the five white balls drawn, 2-9-43-55-57, and the red Powerball 18 to win $100,000, less applicable withholding, the lottery said.

Winners are not known until prizes are claimed and validated. Winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim the prize.

More than 181,500 other Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball tickets won prizes of various amounts in the drawing, including more than 37,100 tickets purchased with Power Play and more than 15,300 tickets purchased with Double Play.

The Powerball jackpot has rolled to an estimated $900 million - or $465.1 million in cash - for the Monday, July 17, 2023, drawing.

READ MORE LOTTERY NEWS: Scratch-off lottery ticket worth $1 million sold in central Pa.
By COURTNEY BONNELL, AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP)  Russia has suspended a wartime deal designed to move grain from Ukraine to parts of the world where millions are going hungry.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, has allowed 32.9 million metric tons (36.2 million tons) of food to be exported from Ukraine since August, more than half to developing countries, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization chief economist Maximo Torero said last week that the end of the deal would mean a new spike for sure in food prices  though its unclear how long it will last.

Some analysts dont foresee a lasting rise in the cost of commodities like wheat because theres enough grain in the world to go around. But many countries are already struggling with high local food prices, which are helping fuel hunger.

Heres a look at the crucial accord and what it means for the world:

WHAT IS THE GRAIN DEAL?

Ukraine and Russia signed separate agreements in July 2022, one that reopened three of Ukraines Black Sea ports that were blocked for months following Moscows invasion. The other facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer amid Western sanctions.

Both countries are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and Russia of fertilizer  other critical parts of the food chain.

Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the breadbasket of the world, exacerbated a global food crisis and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide.

The deal provided assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels were checked by Russian, Ukrainian, U.N. and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food.

Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope and was renewed three times  the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up. Thats despite Moscow shipping record amounts of wheat.

No new ships have joined the initiative since June 27, and Ukraine blames Moscow. The last vessel left Ukraine on Sunday.

WHAT HAS IT ACCOMPLISHED?

The deal helped bring down global prices of food commodities like wheat that hit record highs after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Once the grain deal was struck, the World Food Program got back a top supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tons of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the precipice of famine, including Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Yemen.

It is a pretty unique phenomenon to have two warring parties and two intermediaries agree to establish this sort of corridor to get humanitarian products  which is ostensibly what this is  out to markets that need it most, said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the worlds commercial fleet.

After Russia exited the deal, wheat prices in Chicago trading rose about 3% on Monday, to $6.81 a bushel.

WHY DID RUSSIA END THE DEAL?

Russia has said it wants an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and to restrictions on shipping and insurance that Moscow insists have hampered its agricultural exports.

Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of sanctions, but Western allies have made assurances that food and fertilizer are exempt.

Its not uncommon in situations like this for countries to use whatever levers they have to try and get sanctions regimes changed, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Russia also has complained that a commitment to pipe its ammonia, a key component of fertilizer, to a Ukrainian port to be exported has never started under the deal. Thats true, but the U.N. says the pipeline has been damaged in the fighting.

Regrettably, the part of the Black Sea agreements related to Russia hasnt been fulfilled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposing to ease transactions through the agricultural bank, a spokesperson said.

Russian claims that its agriculture sector is suffering are countered by the reality that production and exports are up since before the war, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Russia exported a record 45.5 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another all-time high of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.

WHO IS AFFECTED?

The International Rescue Committee calls the grain deal a lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the frontlines of food insecurity.

It is critical that the deal is extended for a longer term to create some predictability and stability, said Shashwat Saraf, the groups regional emergency director for East Africa, which has seen both severe drought and flooding destroy crops.

While global prices for grain may stabilize, countries that depend on imported food, from Lebanon to Egypt, may see their costs rise for a while if they need to find suppliers that are farther away, analysts say.

That will compound costs for countries that also have seen their currencies weaken and debt levels grow because they pay for food shipments in dollars.

For low-income countries and people, food will be less affordable, World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters last week.

WHAT ABOUT UKRAINE?

Ukraines economy depends on agriculture, and before the war, 75% of its grain exports went through the Black Sea.

It can send its food by land or river through Europe, but those routes can handle lower amounts compared to sea shipments and their use has stirred anger in neighboring countries.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to send more grain through the Danube River to neighboring Romanias Black Sea ports, saying its possible to double monthly exports along that route to 4 million metric tons.

Ukraines wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40% from its pre-war average, with the USDA expecting 10.5 million metric tons exported in the coming year.

Ukraine accused Russia of slowing down inspections of ships. Combined with no new ships joining the effort, that has led to a drop in exports from a high under the deal of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 2 million in June.

WHAT ELSE AFFECTS FOOD SUPPLY?

Fallout from the pandemic, conflict, economic crises, drought and other climate factors affect the ability of people to get enough to eat.

There are 45 countries that need food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a July report. High domestic food prices are driving hunger in most of those countries, including Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela and several in Africa and Asia.

While drought can also be a problem for major grain suppliers, analysts see other countries producing enough grain to counterbalance losses from Ukraine.

Besides Russias huge exports, Europe and Argentina are increasing wheat shipments, while Brazil saw a banner year for corn.

These markets adapt and producers adapt  and boy, the wheat and corn markets have adapted very, very quickly, said Peter Meyer, head of grain analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights.

___

AP reporter Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

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Ambassador Pham Viet Anh speaking at the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

This significant event of the community was held on July 9. In previous years, the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Den Haag city and surrounding areas also organized a summer camp for Vietnamese language classes at the headquarters of the Embassy with the participation of several dozen children and their families.

In 2022, with the support of the Embassy, for the first time, the Summer Camp was held outside of Den Haag city, attracting many people from other localities to join.

This year, the initiative has completely belonged to the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the Netherlands, the Vietnamese Women's Union in the Netherlands and the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Den Haag and surrounding areas. This year's event attracted large number of participants, many of them travelling 200km from Venlo, Roermond bordering Germany to attend the event.

During the event, overseas Vietnamese children could exchange and have fun after a year of studying, and could speak Vietnamese with each other.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Pham Viet Anh highly appreciated the efforts of the associations in organizing useful and meaningful activities for the community and wished overseas Vietnamese more and more solidarity and promotion of their collective wisdom, and the strength of the community to help the following generations to preserve Vietnamese culture and identity in the Netherlands./.
MONTOURSVILLE  The 27th anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 800 is expected to be remembered in a low-key fashion this year in Montoursville.

The group was en route to Paris on a high school French Club trip on July 17, 1996, when the Boeing 747 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, 12 minutes after it took off from New York City. Sixteen Montoursville Area High School students and five chaperones died in the crash.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard during Listening to Listeners, an original Today in Pa. segment that occurs every other Friday.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | July 17, 2023

A now ex-correctional officer was charged after giving drugs to an inmate. State lawmakers want to boost gun violence prevention funding by over 30 percent. One wildlife expert says that a rescued golden eagle didnt need to be euthanized. Plus, the Pittsburgh Zoo has a new resident and, man, is he cute.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
A 4-year-old boy died over the weekend bringing the death toll to three from a York County house fire that also killed a 3-year-old girl and a man, authorities said.

Isais Soto, 4, died from thermal burns and smoke inhalation at 11:15 a.m. Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, two days after he was rescued from a burning York home, according to the Lehigh County Coroners Office.

The fire, which began around 4 a.m. Friday on the 500 block of Company Street, also killed Cattleya Soto, 3, and Roberto Soto-Ortiz, 49. Cattleya and Roberto were pronounced dead at WellSpan York Hospital within hours of the start of the blaze.

York City police and fire officials have been investigating the cause and origin of the fire alongside the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal. No updates were immediately available on Monday.

The fire started on the second floor and spread to the third, causing severe damage to both floors, according to WGAL. The home sustained extensive smoke and water damage, but is not a total loss, FOX 43 reported.

CBS 21 reported a firefighter was taken to a hospital with a minor burn.

Neighbors were evacuated from their homes during the fire. FOX 43 said no other homes or buildings were damaged in the process.

READ MORE: No windows. No AC. Rising heat raises alarms at Dauphin County Prison

Central Pa. woman died of natural causes after husband strangled her: prosecutors
State police in western Pennsylvania are investigating the death of a man who died after local officers used a stun gun on him, Pittsburgh media outlets reported.

Keenan Anderson, no age given, was confronted by police in Monaca, Beaver County, Saturday morning when they responded to reports of him damaging homes and cars on a borough street, reported KDKA-TV, citing a news release from Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier.

Lozier said that officers used a stun gun to subdue Anderson then handcuffed him and put him on an ambulance gurney. The ambulance crew said that Anderson began suffering a medical emergency and they used CPR, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

KDKA reported that Lozier said an autopsy showed no signs of trauma on Anderson. Additional autopsy test results are pending, he said.

WTAE-TV reported that Lozier said the incident appeared to involve mental health issues or drugs.

A witness told KDKAs Lauren Linder that she heard Anderson yelling, Help me, theyre trying to kill me! Help me! Call the cops! before she looked out her window, saw him and dialed 911.

The unidentified witness said that Anderson was stumbling down the street attempting to enter vehicles and that he also punched and smashed windows in her neighbors home.

Police told Anderson to put up his hands, but the witness said he kept saying, Help me! and Theyre trying to kill me!

Linder reported that the witness said officers ordered Anderson to put down a knife then she heard what sounded like a taser being used and Anderson fell to the ground.

The witness said that she could hear Anderson screaming from inside the ambulance.

Lozier said that the officers involved are off duty for three days. Monaca police have turned the investigation over to state police.
There was a murder in the city of Lebanon at the end of May that took the life of three people; including two kids under the age of ten. The District Attorney, Pier Hess Graf, said her office will pursue the death penalty for the suspected murderers.

It is a shame that publicly elected officials and the general public still pursue a form of punishment that is a clear violation of our 8th Amendment. The government and fellow citizens should not have the power to decide who gets to live or die in a court of law. Those who support it use it as a means of emotional revenge rather than justice.

Killing the guilty party does not bring closure and it does not deter that crime. Life in prison with no possibility of parole is a reasonable enough form of punishment. Other forward thinking nations have come to that same conclusion. The U.S. needs to catch up to them.
Four people have been arrested in connection with a kidnapping in downtown Toronto last year. A Toronto Police shoulder patch is seen on a superintendent's uniform during a press conference, in Toronto, Aug. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
An Edmonton Police Service logo is shown at a press conference in Edmonton, Oct. 2, 2017. A 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman face charges after a series of shootings in Edmonton over the weekend that police say were random. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Nguyen Hoang Long (third from left) speaking at the event

(Photo: baotintuc.vn)

The office will carry out citizen protection affairs, support the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Ireland, enhance the introduction and promotion of the country and people of Vietnam in Dublin in particular and the Republic of Ireland in general, helping to foster the cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Nguyen Hoang Long thanked the Irish authorities for creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to open the Honorary Consulate Office in Dublin.

The ambassador believed that the opening of the Honorary Consulate Office is an important step in boosting the political, trade, investment, education, science and technology cooperation between the two nations, thus maintaining and deepening the friendship relations between the two peoples.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Sean Fleming congratulated the opening of the Honorary Consulate Office of Vietnam in Dublin, adding that the two nations have gained achievements over the last 27 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Earlier in May, Mr. Patrick Gerard McKillen was appointed as the first Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Dublin.

He expressed his honor to hold the post, committing to make all efforts to carry functions and tasks of the consulate./.
2023 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Steven Jones

July 15, 2023 Matt Hansen Live Reporting Executive

Final Table Profile: Steven Jones

Seat: 1 Chip Count: 90,300,000 Big Blinds: 75 Age: 35 Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

Update: Steven Jones has made the final three of the Main Event and will battle it out for $12.1M. Click here for more info on the final three players in the 2023 WSOP Main Event. Seat Assignments for the Final Day Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Steven Jones United States 238,000,000 119 4 Adam Walton United States 165,500,000 83 5 Daniel Weinman United States 199,000,000 100

Steven Jones' Main Event Story

Steven Jones is an American poker player and real estate broker that resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Prior to his run to the WSOP Main Event final table in 2023, Jones had $245,346 in live tournament cashes. The biggest of these was $57,425 for a 9th place finish in 2018s WSOP Event #07: $565 No Limit Hold'em Colossus. Jones also had a deep run to eighth place in the 2021 Tag Team event with his partner Zachary Erdwurm.

'This has been a life goal of mine since I was a kid."

"There's nothing that is going to beat this I don't think. This has been a life goal of mine since I was a kid. It really hasn't sunk in yet all the way but I'm going to try to be present in the moment and enjoy every second."

Jones' Run to the Final Table

Steven Jones

Jones was in early form on Day 1c when he nearly finished in the top 200 in a field of 3,080. From there, he maintained the pace with top-200 finishes on Day 2abc and Day 3, but he fell to the bottom quarter of the pack on Day 4 with only 29 big blinds in the bag for a field of 441 returning on Day 5.

Jones stayed in the back of the pack on Day 5, turning in a 96th-best bag of 2,770,000 in a returning field of 149. Day 6 was much of the same with a bag of 6,250,000 for Day 7, good for 36th of the returning 49.

It was on Day 7 that Jones won over 60,000,000 chips and found himself in the fourth spot on the leaderboard with 15 players coming back on Day 8 for their shot at final table glory.

Jones secured his spot on Day 8 with another remarkable run that included a gutsy call with ace-high to catch the bluff of Adam Walton. Jones will sit down in Seat 1 at the 2023 Main Event final table with the second-most chips at the start of the day.

"It's the craziest thing. I don't even feel like I've accomplished anything yet. I'm not even looking at the money. I haven't looked at pay jumps since there were 20 people left. My goal is the first place."

How Jones Got to the Final Table

Day Chips Rank 1c 148,500 204/2,326 2abc 336,000 167/1877 3 808,000 163/1,518 4 720,000 309/441 5 2,770,000 96/149 6 6,250,000 36/49 7 67,900,000 4/15 8 90,300,000 2/9

2023 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here. Click here

2023 WSOP Main Event Final Table Seating

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Steven Jones United States 90,300,000 75 2 Juan Maceiras Spain 68,000,000 57 3 Daniel Holzner Italy 31,900,000 27 4 Adam Walton United States 143,800,000 120 5 Ruslan Prydryk Ukraine 50,700,000 42 6 Dean Hutchison United Kingdom 41,700,000 35 7 Toby Lewis United Kingdom 19,800,000 17 8 Daniel Weinman United States 81,700,000 68 9 Jan-Peter Jachtmann Germany 74,600,000 62

Jones' Final Table Performance

Jones started Day 9 in second place with nine players left in the event. His stack of 90,300 was only behind Adam Walton with his stack of 143,800,000.

Over the course of the day, Jones steadily build his stack. He started strong, eliminating Daniel Holzner in ninth place for $900,000.

Jones was also responsible for sending Toby Lewis to the rail in seventh place for $1,425,000.

By the time Jan-Peter Jachtmann (4th-$3,000,000) became the final casualty of Day 9, Jones had taken the chiplead with 238,000,000 in his stack. Day 9 ended with three players left. Jones, Walton, and Daniel Weinman, all of whom were scheduled to return for Day 10, when they were expected to play down to the winner.

2023 WSOP Main Event Final Table Payouts

Place Player Country Prize (in USD) 1 $12,100,000 2 $6,500,000 3 $4,000,000 4 Jan-Peter Jachtmann Germany $3,000,000 5 Ruslan Prydryk Ukraine $2,400,000 6 Dean Hutchison Scotland $1,850,000 7 Toby Lewis England $1,425,000 8 Juan Maceiras Spain $1,125,000 9 Daniel Holzner Italy $900,000

2023 Main Event Final Table Player Stats

Player Country First Cash WSOP Cashes Career Earnings Biggest Cash Adam Walton United States 2009 20 $989,037 $283,072 Steven Jones United States 2016 23 $245,346 $57,425 Daniel Weinman United States 2010 69 $3,757,357 $892,433 Jan-Peter Jachtmann Germany 2003 17 $1,907,632 $661,000 Juan Maceiras Spain 2006 2 $1,126,121 $467,532 Ruslan Prydryk Ukraine 2009 1 $461,758 $104,637 Dean Hutchison United Kingdom 2010 9 $723,865 $154,000 Daniel Holzner Italy 2012 1 $25,517 $5,944 Toby Lewis United Kingdom 2009 48 $8,213,474 $1,235,204

The 2023 World Series of Poker Main Event returns on Sunday, July 16. You can follow the Main Event Final Table via the PokerNews Live Reporting Blog where we'll cover all of the action in our exclusive WSOP Main Event Live Updates.

Sharelines Get to know Steven Jones from Scottsdale, AZ, who starts the 2023 Main Event final table second in chips.
Beginner's Luck? Pierre Shum Wins a WSOP Bracelet in His First Ever Tournament

July 17, 2023 Alek Gillies Live Reporter

Event #88: $1,500 The Closer has come to an end at the 2023 World Series of Poker and America's Pierre Shum was the winner of one of the last bracelets of the summer and a refreshing $606,810. The event drew 3,531 entries in just two days and generated a prize pool of $4,713,885.

2023 WSOP Event #88 Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Pierre Shum United States $606,810 2 Peter Nigh United States $376,420 3 Roongsak Griffeth United States $284,030 4 Jack Duong United States $215,650 5 Amirpasha Emami Canada $164,750 6 Mihai Niste Romania $126,660 7 Jixue Yin United States $100,120 8 Peter Hengsakul United States $76,300 9 Sanjeev Kapoor United States $59,790

Shum outlasted 258 returning players on the tournaments final day to defeat Peter Nigh in heads-up play to win $606,810 and his first WSOP gold bracelet. More surprising is the unlikely result, as this is Shum's first ever poker tournament. With a blaze of glory like that PokerNews can only imagine what more could follow such a young talent with a taste of victory.

Winner's Interview

Pierre Shum

When asked where did he and this run come from Shum replied:

"I was born in Jamaica, and my parents moved there for work. I've played poker for a pretty long time, but mostly with friends. I started playing cash games more recently this year. I came in here today to try and win the tournament. The money wasn't even in my mind"

Talking about his inspiration and start in poker, Shum said:

"I started off mostly because my friends played it. I've definitely made lots of friends from the poker table. Where I play, it is very social, so it's fun."

When asked about plans aside from poker, Shum responded:

"I haven't even thought about it. I was mostly just focused on the day and taking the tournament down."

PokerNews mentioned that Shum is a software engineer, but perhaps those aspirations would be put aside to chase more bracelets. To this, Shum replied:

"We'll see!"

Lastly, Shum was asked if there was anything else he'd like to say to those reading at home. Shum considered before mentioning:

"I don't think so... well, if you like poker, try a tournament. You never know."

Shum defeated Nigh in heads-up play after the two players survived the treacherous final table of the event. Nigh was followed in third place by Roongsak Griffeth, and in fourth by Jack Duong, As Griffeth eliminated Duong then fell to Nigh shortly after.

Final Day Action

Chris Moorman

The day kicked off with 258 players, and the tournament saw players being eliminated left and right. Chris Moorman made an impressive run to 15th until he was eliminated by Mateus Carrion De Moraes. It was one of several cashes for Moorman at this year's WSOP.

Sanjeev Kapoor and Peter Hengsakul were the first from the final table to go in ninth and eight, respectively. Kapoor found himself losing a flip against Amirpasha Emami. Hengsakul was less fortunate, finding himself in a cooler of tens against jacks.

In seventh was Jixue Yin, who became the first player to cash over $100,000. Unfortunately, Yin couldn't avoid making the second best hand despite flopping two pair.

Mihai Niste was joined by a fan club donning tiger print shirts. Even with this help, Niste's Kings couldn't hold on an ace-high board.

Fifth, fourth, and third all fell in rapid succession. First, Emami was drawing dead on the turn against Shum's turned nut flush. Just after, Jack Duong called an all-in that had all ends of the rail questioning his decision. He could not find a four or five to survive and was out in fourth. Lastly, was Griffeth who lost with the dominating hand against the larger stacked Nigh.

The two heads-up players traded pots until Shum found quads with his tournament life on the line. Finally, Shum's queen-deuce flopped a monster after being all in against Nigh to take down the tournament.

Pierre Shum

Congratulations to Pierre Shum of Chicago, Illinois, for winning his first tournament and bracelet in Event #85: $1,500 The Closer at the 2023 WSOP in its new home at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas!

Be sure to keep it here for the rest of the week as PokerNews will be on hand to provide live updates for the remaining events.

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 Pierre Shum banked $606,810 and a coveted gold WSOP bracelet after defeating Peter Nigh heads-up.
Tuan Le Crowned PokerStars UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Champion (53,630)

July 16, 2023 Matt Warburton Live Reporter

The PokerStars UKIPT Blackpool Main Event, running at Grosvenor Casino at The Sandcastle, has reached its conclusion.

A total of 262 entries were recorded across three starting flights, which made for a 258,990 prize pool. Of those, 40 players made it through to Day 2 to lock up the 1,710 min-cash.

Those 40 players were then whittled down to the last six players, who returned to the felt for the third and final day.

Tuan Le of the United Kingdom started Day 3 as chip leader and continued to add to his stack to emerge as the outright winner. He won the top prize of 53,630.

Ali Zia held on throughout the day and laddered up when Teodor Evstratiev clashed with Le for mountains of chips. Zia came second for 23,730 and Evstratiev finished third for 33,230.

UKIPT Blackpool Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1st Tuan Le United Kingdom 53,630 2nd Ali Zia United Kingdom 33,230 3rd Teodor Evstratiev Bulgaria 23,730 4th Jacob Mulhern United Kingdom 18,260 5th Beihao Wang China 14,040 6th Daniel Jackson United Kingdom 10,800 7th Robert Boon United Kingdom 8,660 8th Fraser Bellamy United Kingdom 7,220 9th Maz Bako United Kingdom 6,010

Final Day Recap

Although stacks were relatively deep, the Final Day of the Main Event was over in the blink of an eye. None of the final six players seemed scared to get involved in pots, and so the tournament concluded within just three hours of restarting.

Daniel Jackson was the first to bust. Zia eliminated him to finish in sixth place after his ace-ten got there against Jackson's pocket nine.

Within the first hour and a half, Evstratiev chipped up to take the lead and then eliminated Beihao Wang in fifth place. Jacob Mulhern soon followed after his flush draw didn't come in after Le flopped top pair.

As the action went three-handed, Zia was sitting on a short stack, while Evstratiev and Le were close to even.

It looked like Zia would be next to go until the two big stacks clashed for all of their chips. After a blind versus blind raising war, Evstratiev got his flush draw in on the flop against Le's pocket aces. Le held to eliminate Evstratiev and enter heads-up with a significant chip advantage.

Tuan Le & Ali Zia

It was an advantage he would soon capitalize on. The first 20 hands of heads-up were uneventful, consisting mostly of single raises and bet-folds on the flop. Zia then took a hit to his stack before shoving from the button with a dominated ace. Le had ace-king and held out to win the tournament.

Tuan Le "Winging It" All the Way to the Win

Tuan Le

Manchester-based Le works full-time as a beautician and finds time to play live poker four to five times a year.

"I'm a family man," said Le. "I'd love to play poker professionally, but I know I'm not good enough. Also, I'd miss the kids too much".

Despite playing a solid game and coming out on top, Le said, "I'm not as good as the players here. I feel like I'm winging it all the time!"

Le has had a second-place finish in a GUKPT event, but this is his first win in a major event. He will use the prize money to "get the Missus something" and has booked a trip to London. "That's as far as I can see right now," said Le.

Find PokerStars on the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar

The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar is a free tool that shows all of the upcoming and in-play tournaments you can enter at PokerStars, and do so from the comforts of thePokerNews site. Several filters are available to help you narrow down the perfect online tournament for you and your bankroll. Why not give it a shot today?

Sharelines The Manchester-based beautician topped a 262-entry field to win his first major tournament.
Bracelet Chasing in the Bahamas: First Ever WSOP Paradise Planned for December

July 17, 2023 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas is winding down, but the action will heat up again come December with the first ever WSOP Paradise at the Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

In partnership with GGPoker, the winter series will include 15 bracelet events from Dec. 3-14. Via a Twitter video, GG's top ambassador Daniel Negreanu shared some details about the upcoming major event.

The full schedule isn't out, but Negreanu teased a heavy dose of high rollers, including $50,000 and $100,000 buy-in tournaments. In total, the WSOP is guaranteeing at least $50 million in prize money to be awarded across all events in the Bahamas.

Warm Weather, Beaches, and Bracelets

With gorgeous beaches and warm weather, there aren't many better places to be in December than the Bahamas. The island is a familiar spot for major poker events, most notably the popular PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA).

This coming winter, the Bahamas will host a WSOP bracelet series for the first time. The series will be highlighted by a $5,000 Main Event with $15 million guaranteed. Other events announced include a $1,500 Mystery Bounty, $25,000 GGMillion$, along with two pot-limit Omaha tournaments.

GGPoker is delighted to launch WSOP Paradise and welcome hundreds of players from all over the world to Atlantis Paradise Island this December, Negreanu said in a press release. Its going to be an absolutely amazing experience, the best of poker at one of the worlds most luxurious resorts."

Negreanu hasn't traveled much in recent years to play poker outside of WSOP Europe, but he'll be chasing his first bracelet since 2013 this winter in the Bahamas, and is coming off a second straight disappointing summer World Series of Poker.

Speaking of WSOP Europe, prior to the Bahamas series, the bracelet-chasing action will resume in Rozvadov, Czech Republic from October 25 to November 16. There will be 15 bracelet events on that schedule as well.

Sharelines Details for the first ever @WSOP bracelet series in the Bahamas.
PN Podcast: Josh Arieh Talks Hot 2023 WSOP; David Williams on Bracelet Stolen in Home Robbery

July 16, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen continue The Chad & Jesse Poker Show straight from the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

In the penultimate show of the summer, Chad & Jesse welcome two guests to the show starting with Josh Arieh, who has won two bracelets this summer and was nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame. Arieh talked about the WSOP back in the late 1990s, his career resurgence, Poker Stake, and shares a fun story involving Ted Forrest and the late Layne Flack.

The other guest is 2004 WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams, who was fresh off winning a Flip & Go. He talks about his history in that event, how his WSOP gold bracelet and diamond toothpick were stolen in a home robbery, and why he wouldnt do Master Chef again.

Chad and Jesse then do a new "Calling the Clock" segment in which they offer quick two-minute dialogues for topics on The Board.

Here's a look at this episode's topics:

Brian Rast enters Poker Hall of Fame

enters Poker Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Poker Room

Robin Poker joins PokerNews

WSOP Main Event Day 8 update

Andrew Ostapchenko cashes Main Event 7 times in a row

cashes Main Event 7 times in a row Josh Arieh wins again

Ali Imsirovic enters WSOP event

enters WSOP event Player of the Year update

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

Time Stamps

Time Topic 00:35 Welcome to the show 00:50 Guest Josh Arieh joins the show 01:30 In the thick of the POY race 03:26 Early days of poker 06:20 How Poker Stake came to be 08:35 Poker Hall of Fame nomination 10:26 Where are you WSOP bracelets? 11:26 Only 8 players with more bracelets 13:07 Chasing Phil Hellmuth 15:00 Layne Flack & Ted Forrest story 18:00 Sponsor: Global Poker 19:00 Brian Rast enters Poker Hall of Fame 21:00 Hall of Fame Poker Room 23:00 Robin Poker joins PokerNews 25:00 WSOP Main Event Day 8 update 27:00 Ostapchenko cashes Main Event 7 times in a row 29:00 Josh Arieh wins again 31:00 Ali Imsirovic enters WSOP event 33:00 Player of the Year update 35:00 Guest David Williams joins the show 36:15 Flip & Go luck 41:03 A rough summer 43:05 Did you know Josh Arieh at the 2004 WSOP final table? 45:15 Playing at Horseshoe Binions 47:10 What was it like to be a poker celebrity during the Poker Boom? 48:40 The story behind the diamond toothpick 52:00 Bracelet stolen in brazen theft 52:56 Master Chef  Would you do it again? 1:01:16 July Freerolls for PokerNews listeners

July PokerNews Freerolls

Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show  tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here!

Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here!

Sharelines PN Podcast: Double guests in @JoshuaArieh and @dwpoker, who both talk all about the #WSOP2023 @WSOP
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Democrats are taking the threat of third-party presidential candidacy by No Labels seriously as Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler warned that beneath the No Labels label is a Trump logo.

Video:

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler tells @Acosta "If you peel off the No Labels label, you see the trump campaign logo underneath. The best way to think about no labels is a kind of desperate gambit. A desperate gambit funded by mega Republican super donors." pic.twitter.com/HPkmEhOFmL  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 16, 2023

Wikler told CNNs Jim Acosta when asked about No Labels,  You know, if you peel off the No Labels label, you see the Trump campaign logo underneath. The best way to think about no labels is a kind of desperate gambit. A desperate gambit funded by mega Republican super donors that will ultimately just pull voters away from Biden and open a path for Donald Trump. Thats why they are not actually finding traction among grassroots activists, among really anyone except a small circle of mega-donors on the right. That is a real issue, I think, for them and really belies their branding.

With state presidential election races determined by such small margins, a well-funded third-party candidate could pull votes away from President Biden and send Donald Trump back to the White House.

I dont think a nationally unpopular Democrat like Sen. Joe Manchin is necessarily the answer that No Labels thinks he might be.

However, as anyone who lived through the 2000 election can tell you, it only takes a third-party candidate doing well in a few states to tip an entire presidential election.

Democrats arent sleeping on the No Labels threat, and they are making it clear that No Labels does have a label, and it is Trump 2024.
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Several House Democrats have sent a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) calling on them to disinvite RFJ Jr. from testifying before Jordans weaponization of government subcommittee.

Video:

House Democrats ask Kevin McCarthy and Jim Jordan to disinvite Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from testifying before Jordan's weaponization of government subcommittee. pic.twitter.com/fcjjuwPFA9  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 17, 2023

In the letter, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), and Judy Chu (D-CA) wrote in part, Mr. Kennedy is employing a pernicious form of anti-semitism that has been used for centuries. This technique was used by Hitler, claiming there are biological differences between ethnic or racist groups. A stepping stone to justifying the annihilation of the Jews during the Holocaust.

Jim Jordan managed to get Republicans compared to Hitler by inviting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify before his weaponization of government subcommittee.

RFK Jr.s comments about Jews being immune to COVID because the virus was designed to target certain races were both crackpot conspiratorial and anti-Semitic.

House Republicans like Jordan and McCarthy brought this on to themselves by trying to use a subcommittee whose purpose is to help Trump and hurt Biden to elevate RFK Jr. in the Democratic presidential primary.

RFK Jr. is a known fringe conspiracy theorist who has no chance of being a problem for President Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, but he has become a huge problem for Jim Jordan who cant be given a national platform to spread his views at a congressional hearing.
Bac Giang province's lychees on shelves at CentralWorld 's supermarkets in Thailand (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the opening of the event, Ms. Jariya Chirathivat, Vice President of Central Group, emphasized that Vietnam is one of Thailand's most important trading partners and one of the countries with great potential for exporting vegetables and fruits within ASEAN.

Attending the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh highly appreciated Central Retail in its efforts to promote Vietnamese fruits in the Thai market, contributing to the restoration of agricultural cooperation between the two countries. The Ambassador said that the second launch of Luc Ngan lychee product in Thailand will help bring more Vietnamese fruits to Thailand as well as attract tourists from third countries to the two countries.

This year, Central Retail has exported more than 3 tons of Luc Ngan lychee to Thailand with full logos and labels, as well as information about GlobalGAP certification and geographical indication stamps. Vietnamese lychee products will be offered and sold by Central on the stalls of Tops and Tops Food Hall supermarkets located in Central's commercial centers in Bangkok. Each box of Vietnamese lychee with a weight of 1 kilogram will be sold for VND200,000.

Meanwhile, Mr. Paul Le, Vice Chairman of Central Group, praised the Vietnamese lychee as the best in the world with its sweet taste and small seeds. He also said that the number of Vietnamese lychees that Central exports to Thailand increases annually. Currently, Central Retail is trying to optimize the supply chain and logistics services to shorten the time to bring products from the harvest to the shelves, ensuring product quality, thereby increasing the number of lychees sold on the market.

On May 16, Central Retail Vietnam and the Bac Giang provincial Peoples Committee signed a cooperation agreement on lychee consumption this year, towards consuming about 300 tons.

Luc Ngan lychees were exported to Thailand for the first time on June 30, 2017. The fruit has since then become popular in the country.

Lychee is grown in many localities in Vietnam, mostly in the North, with Bac Giang known as the country's lychee growing hub.

The province harvested 199,500 tons of lychee in 2022 and earned nearly 6.8 trillion VND from lychee sales and support services, according to the provincial Peoples Committee.

Bac Giang lychee has affirmed its brand and value in many countries and territories around the world with 75,900 tonnes shipped abroad, making up 38.1% of the accumulative sales./.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms this evening. Skies will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Deputies with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office have arrested a Graniteville man in connection to a July 7 bank robbery.

Lucky Wallis Turner, 73, was arrested at about 11:40 a.m. Monday, July 17, in connection to the robbery of the Security Federal Bank at 50 Canal St. in Graniteville, according to a media release from the Aiken County Sheriffs Office.

Police said a man in a wig brandished a handgun and demanded money from bank employees, and witnesses saw him drive away in a light gold Ford Explorer.

Police executed a search warrant at Turners residence in the 700 block of Leitner Street around 10:33 a.m. Monday and he was taken into custody, the release said.

Turner will be taken to the Aiken County detention center and held pending the issuance of arrest warrants, the release said.

Deputies expect to charge Turner with four counts of kidnapping, robbery of a financial institution and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
A Batesburg man is dead after an early morning shooting at a residence in Aiken County.

At 1:20 a.m. Monday, July 17, police received a 911 call in reference to a shooting in the 800 Block of Old Ninety Six Indian Trail, according to Capt. Eric Abdullah with the Aiken County Sheriffs Office.

When officers arrived, they found a man lying on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound, Abdullah said. Aiken County EMS attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators believe the shots were fired from the roadway, Abdullah said.

Aiken County Coroner Darryl M. Ables identified the man as 20-year-old Jatavious K. Harris.

Ables said an autopsy is planned for Tuesday morning.

The investigation is ongoing. Abdullah urges anyone with information to call Aiken County Sheriffs Office at 803-648-6811.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the morning. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
A major player in the click-and-order retail business now has a presence on the upper peninsula, though in about half the space it originally leased in North Charleston.

Seattle-based Amazon recently moved into 33,000 square feet on the top two floors of the five-story Quin office building at Algonquin and Meeting Street roads.

A division of the online retail giant previously was located in the five-story former North Charleston City Hall building on Lacross Road off Mall Drive until its 10-year lease expired earlier this year, according to Mayor Keith Summey.

The old city hall and several surrounding properties are slated to become the site of Roper St. Francis Healthcare's future hospital campus when the medical provider leaves the Charleston peninsula in about five years or so.

The hospital plans to invest about $1 billion to build a seven-story hospital, five- to six-story medical office building and a parking deck after paying $57.1 million for almost 28 acres last year on either side of Mall Drive.

Summey noted when the COVID-19 pandemic started, many of the Amazon employees worked remotely.

"They never really came back, and they didn't need 65,000 square feet," he said, referring to the size of the former city hall.

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An Amazon representative did not immediately respond for comment.

Another part of The Quin is being remade for speculative office suites, according to Brian Connolly with the commercial leasing firm JLL.

On the third floor, about 9,000 square feet is under development for offices that can be divided to as small as 1,890 square feet.

"These suites ... already have a decent amount of activity on them, given tenants in the market continuing to capitalize on a flight-to-quality trend," Connolly said.

The Quin's other tenants include Palmetto Railways, engineering firm Davis & Floyd and commercial office furniture retailer Interior Elements.

The building is now 50 percent leased, according to Connolly.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 95F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 76F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
COLUMBIA  Staff at the Richland County jail failed to double check whether they had locked doors behind them and left inmates unattended in the hours leading up to a fight that injured two people, according to a report by Richland County sheriff's deputies.

The fight, in which one detainee was stabbed more than a dozen times, was the latest in a series of incidents at the jail, which has been under increased scrutiny from the S.C. Department of Corrections after racking up more than a dozen violations in its last inspection.

Around 1 p.m. on July 14, sheriff's deputies were called to the jail to help "with an altercation between several detainees," according to a news release from the Sheriff's Department, which does not oversee the jail. Deputies arrived to find a blood-spattered pod and two detainees being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in the jail's medical bay.

A jail officer told deputies he had let detainees out of their pods for recreation time before leaving to check on another unit in a different part of the jail, leaving the detainees in the first pod unattended.

He returned an undetermined amount of time later to find blood "all over the place," according to a heavily redacted incident report.

State standards require jails to have at least one officer supervising each housing unit at all times. The Richland County jail has failed to meet this standard before, most recently during an October inspection during which detainees working in the kitchen were left unmonitored.

The same inspection found the jail was significantly understaffed, with only about 49 percent of its corrections officer positions filled. As of March, as the county works to bolster its recruitment efforts, that number was up to about 57 percent, interim director Crayman Harvey told a committee of council members.
CLEMSON  A third Starbucks store in the Upstate and fourth in South Carolina is launching a campaign to unionize its workers who cite cuts to hours, understaffing, discrimination and unrealistic customer demand."

The Clemson store at the intersection of Tiger Boulevard and College Avenue filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on July 17, according to Starbucks Workers United, the national union.

In a letter to the stores managers, 11 employees said racial and medical discrimination, cuts to hours and understaffing led them to organize.

We experience perpetual exhaustion from working shifts with coverage stretched too thin while accommodating Clemson Universitys students, the employees wrote. We repeatedly see the destruction of our partner experience occurring due to unrealistic customer demand.

Five Starbucks stores serve the campus community, including the one on Tiger Boulevard, three on campus and one five minutes down the road in Hartwell Village.

In response to the petition, Starbucks emphasized the benefits it provides to its hourly partners, including comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, equity ownership and increased paid time off accrual rates.

We recognize that a subset of partners feel differently, and we respect their right to organize and to engage in lawful union activities without fear of reprisal or retaliation, a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement to The Post and Courier.

As a next step, we welcome the opportunity for partners at our Tiger Boulevard and College Ave. store to vote in a neutral, secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB  which allows all partners to make their own informed decision regarding union representation.

Hourly employees at Starbucks make an average wage of $17.50 an hour with a national minimum of $15 an hour, according to the company.

Last year, three Starbucks stores in South Carolina unionized with overwhelming support of employees in Greenville, Anderson and Columbia, according to a database maintained by a labor union advocacy group.

Workers at 441 stores in 46 states have filed to unionize, a small percentage of all almost 16,000 stores nationwide.

"Im speaking up and voting to unionize because my partners and I deserve better, Kale Stacey, a barista and organizing partner at the Clemson store, said in a July 17 news release. I know first hand that it is possible to love this job, but as long as were in these conditions it will never be possible."

In recent weeks, Starbucks has criticized the national group for prioritizing hosting events over meeting with the company to bargain.

Unfortunately, Workers United has focused their time and attention on rallies and road trips, rather than real bargaining, Starbucks said on July 13. In fact, Workers United has only met Starbucks at the table for successful in-person negotiations for ten stores since Jan. 2022.

Starbucks said that a dozen stores across the country have filed petitions to decertify Workers United as their bargaining representative.

Workers United dismissed those claims.

Starbucks' statements are not tethered to reality," the group said in an email to The Post and Courier. "Starbucks is currently being prosecuted by the federal government for illegally failing to bargain in good faith with workers. Meanwhile, every single charge the company has filed against the union has been dismissed by the NLRB for lacking merit.
As a former special needs teacher in the Mount Pleasant area, Kathryn Coleman knew something wasn't right after having her first son, Charles Coleman, nine years ago.

He wasn't progressing in speech and movement at the the proper rate for his age.

Charles was diagnosed with verbal apraxia at 3 years old, a rare motor speech disorder.

Later, after having her second son, James Coleman, she noticed the same things she did in Charles. And he was diagnosed with verbal apraxia at 3 years old.

Coleman took it even further just a few years ago and got the boys genetically tested for Dias-Logan Syndrome, a fairly new and rare genetic disorder characterized by a variety of physical and developmental abnormalities.

But doctors told her it's rare for siblings to have the same disorder. She was right again. Both James and Charles were diagnosed with the disorder in 2021.

Verbal apraxia is a symptom of the disorder. According to Coleman, the disorder is so rare, James and Charles are considered one of the only known sibling pairs in the world with it.

And according to recent studies, only 29 people across the world have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Both boys are currently in therapy multiple times a week, even during the summer months when school is out.

Elizabeth Farlow is their speech-language pathologist.

Following a jaw corrective surgery a few years ago, Farlow said she was only able to speak for a mere five minutes per hour.

She attributes her recovery experience to her specialization in childhood verbal apraxia, which affects the ability to plan and coordinate the movements necessary to talk.

"This world is designed for verbal speakers," Farlow told The Post and Courier. "Jaw surgery helped me understand the way my (clients) were feeling, knowing what they want to say and they can't verbally say it."

Coincidentally, she met the brothers, Charles, 9, and James, now 4, around the same time.

Dias-Logan Syndrome was discovered by researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in 2016. Researchers said the disorder is caused by damage to a single gene called BCL11A.

"The study showed that if one of a persons two copies of the BCL11A gene is abnormal, or mutated, then they will have the newly described intellectual disability," a report from The Sanger Institute said.

People with Dias-Logan syndrome often have distinctive facial features, including a triangular-shaped face, deep-set eyes, a broad nasal bridge and a wide mouth. They may also have short stature and skeletal abnormalities, such as unusually small hands and feet. In addition, some people with Dias-Logan syndrome may experience intellectual disability or delays in speech and language development.

Verbal apraxia isn't caused by muscle weakness or paralysis, but rather by difficulties in the brain's ability to send the appropriate signals to the muscles involved in speech.

So people with the disorder often have trouble producing sounds, syllables and words correctly. Their speech may be slow, effortful and inconsistent. They may also struggle with intonation, stress and rhythm patterns in speech. But the disorder can vary widely in severity and presentation from person to person.

With the new diagnosis, Kathryn yearned for her boys to feel a part of a community rather than isolated due to their speech disorder.

Recently, she took the boys and her eldest daughter, Caroline, to Charlotte for a book-signing from one of the boys' favorite authors, Jordan Levan.

Levan was diagnosed with verbal apraxia at age 5 and, like the Coleman brothers, spent much of his childhood in speech therapy rooms.

"It was really cute to see because they've never met anyone who had apraxia before," Kathryn told The Post and Courier.

As a child, Levan received therapy every weekday, including summers, for at least 45 minutes each session. He's all grown up now and has since authored three children's books for kids with speech disorders titled, "The Boy Who Couldn't Speak, Yet," "The Boy Who Proved Them Wrong" and "The Boy Who Spoke Even When His Voice Shook."

"Young people and adults with speech disorders are often ashamed of their diagnosis," Levan wrote in the latest update to his website. "You dont have to stay silent, and you dont have to speak like everybody else. You can only be you."

Working with the boys since 2016, Farlow said the boys have progressed tremendously. Charles, the oldest boy, can now speak about his favorite games and movies. And James, who didn't make sound until about age 2, is now able to use his communication tablet for help.

To learn more about verbal apraxia and Dias-Logan syndrome visit www.apraxia-kids.org/.

EDITORS NOTE: Jordan Levan is the author of three children's books about living with childhood verbal apraxia.
Tan Cang  Cat Lai Port in HCM City. (Photo: VNA)

After three years of disruption, international supply chains appeared to be returning to normal, it said.



The cost of shipping freight by sea or air had largely returned to pre-COVID-19 levels; container ships were no longer queuing outside major ports and businesses no longer cited supplier delays as one of their most pressing problems.



This did not, however, mean it was business as usual for logistics, manufacturing and other industrial sectors.



The pandemic and geopolitical tensions had exposed the fragility of supply chains and placed a new emphasis on resilience.



Meanwhile, cost continued to be key in a tough economic climate.



Cost remained a powerful lever of location decisions.



Jack Harkness, director of regional industrial and logistics services at Savills, said rising labour costs in China mean it is not as cost-effective as it once was, particularly when domestic incentives to re-shore and ongoing security concerns are factored in.



Companies already embedded in China are not necessarily withdrawing. But there may be a slowdown in new facilities being established there.



Harkness points out that many companies with facilities in China are looking to complement rather than replace existing plants. Apple, for example, has announced plans to diversify away from China, while Siemens has said it is looking at other locations in Southeast Asia.



This process is being accelerated across sectors deemed strategically important to US and European industrial policy.



Furthermore, there has been scepticism around state influence of some Chinese tech firms, which suggests the western expansion of Chinese firms will be more constrained in the future.



According to John Campbell, associate director, head of industrial services at Savills Vietnam, Vietnams north and south have distinct characteristics: the former typically experiences a high demand for electronics, while it is more diverse in the latter.



In terms of nationality, there has been an increase in European companies, particularly German and French manufacturers, which demonstrates the positive impact of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).



There is still strong interest from Asian manufacturers, with Taiwanese electronics companies preferring the north and manufacturers displaying confidence in the south.



After the global slowdown in the first half of the year, he said he anticipated a much better second half.



The challenges faced by the manufacturing sector, indicated by the decline in the purchasing managers index and industrial production, were now being reversed, he said.



This had improved confidence among manufacturers, investors and logistics companies, leading to a likely better performance in the second half of the year.



There would be a significant turnaround in the countrys economic performance by December, he added./.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Last summer, when Top Gun: Maverick was making roughly all the money printed in the United States during that fiscal quarter, I read a number of articles (many publications jumped on the trend at once) calling Tom Cruise various iterations of The Last Movie Star. The moniker is obviously Read moreMission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One
Here are some easy snack ideas that will make celebrating Independence Day with your friends and family even more fun. Letting the kids help in the kitchen will also make them proud of their work and excited to show off their creations. Read moreFive fun, festive and easy-to-make treats for the Fourth of July
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 91F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 76F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Several lawsuits stemming from the fatal boat crash that set in motion the downfall of the once-powerful Murdaugh family were settled July 16, ending a yearslong battle over who was responsible when a group of teenagers night of partying met a tragic end.

The crash, which killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach, first made Murdaugh a household name in South Carolina and began to pull back the curtain on the familys power. The lawsuits centered on how Paul Murdaugh  the younger son of the now-notorious ex-attorney Alex Murdaugh  got access to beer and liquor and how his parents allegedly enabled him, giving him access to a boat on a cold night despite a history of drinking.

The Beach family's attorney, Mark Tinsley, said Parker's Kitchen, the convenience store chain that sold Paul Murdaugh alcohol, had agreed to pay $15 million to settle their wrongful death case, an agreement that will need to be approved by a state judge before it is finalized. Parkers confirmed that it also had settled with the boats other passengers, who were injured when Paul Murdaugh allegedly drove his familys boat into a bridge piling in Beaufort County.

The terms of the other passengers settlements, reached after a day of weekend negotiations in Charleston, were not disclosed, though The Wall Street Journal reported they totaled $3.5 million.

Tinsley declined to say how much Morgan Doughty, Paul Murdaughs ex-girlfriend, and Miley Altman received, as did Patrick Carr, an attorney for Anthony Cook, who was Beachs boyfriend. Connor Cook, who was once investigated as the potential driver of the boat, received $1 million, his attorney Joe McCulloch told Court TV.

McCulloch called the deal a great sigh of relief for Connor Cook, who has a newborn child with Altman.

"All of the occupants of the boat and their families have suffered immeasurable harms and losses as a result of this boat crash, and they will continue to suffer in perpetuity because their lives were forever changed due to this tragic incident," Carr said in a statement. "No amount of money could ever adequately restore the losses experienced by these victims and their families."

The settlement also includes Alex Murdaugh, who was accused of letting his son drink to excess. Tinsley said the Beach family would also receive a share of his court-controlled assets, though their value has not yet been determined. An attorney for Murdaugh could not be reached for comment.

Tinsley said the Beaches were motivated to settle after the talks reached a dollar amount they felt demonstrated a "significant level of accountability." And they were reluctant to give Murdaugh another high-profile platform just months after his double-murder trial was carried daily on the national news.

The Beach's boat crash case had been scheduled to go to trial in August, threatening to bring a media circus to Hampton, a town of fewer than 3,000 residents where the Murdaugh family made its name.

"There were a lot of tears," Tinsley said of the conclusion of the case. "They hope the Greg Parkers of the world  the people selling alcohol  will take their responsibility serious and recognize that there is accountability if you make an illegal sale of alcohol."

But the settlement appeared to do little to cool tensions between the family and Parker's. Tinsley said the family refused to settle a separate lawsuit accusing Parker's of leaking confidential photos of Beach's dead body. After the deal was reached, Tinsley posted a photo to Twitter of himself wearing a hat that said "FU GP," in an apparent reference to the chain's owner, Greg Parker.

The Beach familys lawsuit was filed just a month after the February 2019 crash in which Beach, 19, was thrown from the Murdaugh familys boat when it struck a bridge in Beaufort County. The suit was an early domino in the familys dramatic downfall, coming even before prosecutors charged Paul Murdaugh with felony boating under the influence.

The long wait for criminal charges to be filed  combined with a web of connections between the Murdaughs and the law enforcement officers who responded to the crash  shed light on the Murdaugh familys history of influence in the Lowcountry. Family members held office as the 14th Judicial Circuits top prosecutor for eight decades, and the Murdaugh law firm was a powerhouse for personal injury cases throughout the region.

The charges were never resolved: They were still pending when Paul and his mother, Maggie, were gunned down in June 2021 at the familys hunting estate in Colleton County. Alex Murdaugh, 55, was convicted of two counts of murder in March after a six-week trial that captured the nations attention with gavel-to-gavel news coverage.

The prosecutors who secured Alex Murdaugh's conviction openly theorized at his trial that the boat crash lawsuit might have partially motivated the killings. Murdaugh, they said, was hiding years of financial crimes totaling millions of dollars, and in June 2021, they were at risk of being exposed by a pair of inquiries into his finances. The murders happened just days before a judge was set to decide if Alex Murdaugh would have to disclose his financial records to Tinsley.

The Beach familys lawsuit initially named several parties accused of contributing to the crash, but it slowly narrowed as many of them settled. They included the family that hosted the oyster roast Paul Murdaugh, Beach and their friends took the boat to attend; the bar that served Paul Murdaugh shots of liquor moments before the crash; Pauls older brother, Buster, whose ID he was using. (Parker's had argued it wasn't responsible for the crash because Paul Murdaugh handed its cashier his brother's real driver's license; the Beach family contended she should have noticed they didn't look alike.)

But Savannah-based Parkers Kitchen was a stubborn holdout  the last defendant standing, aside from Alex Murdaugh  and it used the case to crusade against a provision in South Carolina law called "joint and several liability," which it said threatened to punish the company unfairly.

Under state law, if a jury had found the store to be at all responsible for Beachs death, Parkers risked paying the full judgment, even if the jury placed most of the blame on Murdaugh. Thats because Murdaugh, now serving two life sentences in state prison, has hardly any assets and the law would transfer his share of the responsibility to the convenience store chain's deeper pockets.

The chain at one point threatened to pull out of South Carolina because of the law and its rising insurance rates. But in the years since, it has expanded deeper into South Carolina and now has more than 30 locations here.

That risk ramped up in the days before the settlement was reached, when a judge rejected Parkers request to be tried separately from Murdaugh. Whats more, Judge Daniel Hall decided that the trial would be held in Hampton County, where Parkers argued the Murdaugh name had become toxic.

In a statement, Parker's attorney P.K. Shere said the case was intended to use that law to "make Parker's pay for a verdict intended to punish the Murdaughs." He contended that the store had no chance at a fair trial, given it would share a defense table with a convicted killer. Ultimately, Shere said, the store's insurance carriers decided to settle the lawsuit.

Two days after the judge handed down his decisions, Parker's settled.
BUCKS COUNTY, PA  Two children from a Charleston family caught in a flash flood while visiting family in Pennsylvania over the weekend remain missing, according to authorities there.

Mattie Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils were ripped from the arms their mother and grandmother by the rushing waters, according to Upper Makefield Township police, who have been posting updates on social media.

Their mother, Katie Seley, 32, was among five people killed July 15 in the deluge that swept through Bucks County, just across the Delaware River from Trenton, N.J., near where George Washington crossed the river during the Revolutionary War. Her mother survived and was treated at a hospital.

Jim Sheils, Seley's fiance, pulled himself and their oldest son, 4, to safety. They now wait for the return of their youngest members of their family, as search-and-rescue teams have vowed to bring them home.

"The strength of the Sheils family has been inspiring to all the first responders, myself included," said Fire Chief Tim Brewer during a press conference streamed by local media the evening of July 17. "As a testament to their character, resilience and compassion, they have come and met with us and consoled us."

Clear weather on July 17 allowed search-and-rescue teams to triple their numbers, officials said in a Facebook post.

"We have search teams on foot, teams in boats searching the Delaware River," an update read. "We are utilizing drone teams, dive teams, and sonar technology."

The search focused on about 40 acres of water, land and debris piles, Brewer said.

"Every effort will be made to bring these beautiful children home to their families," township police said in a July 17 post.

Authorities said the family from Charleston were headed to a barbecue around 5:30 p.m. when the rural road they were on was overtaken by the rising water.

Between 6.5 and 7 inches of rain fell on the area in about 45 minutes, Fire Chief Tim Brewer told The Associated Press.

Seley's body was recovered later July 15 in a nearby creek. Seley and Sheils were engaged, police said.

"In my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it," Brewer said. "When the water came up, it came up very swiftly."

About 4 to 5 feet of water washed over the road and three of an estimated 11 cars were swept away. All three were later recovered and no one was found inside, Brewer said. Eight people were rescued from the cars and two from the creek, he said.

These people did not drive into high water. They were caught," said Brewer. The wall of water came to them."

In all, five people died, according to police, who called the tragedy "a mass casualty incident the likes of which we have not seen before."

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck identified all five people  three were from Newtown township and one from nearby New Jersey  at the press conference late July 17. All died from drowning.

Police said seven people had been missing, but five have been recovered, leaving just the two children unaccounted for.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nova Poshta will open about 10 branches in Germany by end of summer

The Nova Poshta group of companies, the leader of express delivery in Ukraine, plans to open about 10 branches in five German cities by the end of summer 2023, the company's press service reported on Monday.

By the end of the summer, we plan to open about 10 Nova Post branches: in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Cologne, etc., Serhiy Simonov, CEO of Nova Post in Germany, was quoted as saying in connection with the opening of the second branch in Berlin.

It is noted that the company is also actively negotiating with a local partner to expand delivery coverage in Germany through 7,500 points of issue throughout the country.

It is specified that the second metropolitan branch in Germany is located at Osnabrucker Str. 1, 10589 and accepts parcels and loads up to 100 kg. Delivery time to/from Ukraine - from five working days.

As reported, the first branch of Nova Poshta in Germany opened in Berlin on June 30.

As of the beginning of July, the Nova Poshta network included more than 10,000 branches and more than 14,000 parcel terminals.
Three progressive Statehouse Democrats are vying to represent Charleston Countys deep blue 42nd Senate District in a special election to fill the seat after former Sen. Marlon Kimpson resigned to take a job with the Biden administration.

Reps. Wendell Gilliard, JA Moore and Deon Tedder are competing for the Democratic nod in a Sept. 5 primary. The winner of the Democratic primary has a strong chance of winning the Nov. 7 general election in a district Kimpson carried by 59 points in his last contested race.

The district stretches from Otranto Road in North Charleston to Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston and is one of the states most diverse districts.

All three Democrats are consistent votes for their party in the House with similar stances in support of abortion rights, expanding Medicaid coverage and legalizing medical marijuana.

Each of the candidates has strengths in the race: Tedder has secured Kimpsons endorsement. Moore leads the pack in campaign cash. And Gilliard has been a pillar of Charleston politics for a quarter-century.

But perhaps the most important factor in an off-year, late-summer special election will be who bothers to show up to the polls.

Gilliard, 69, is by far the candidate with the longest political resume in the race. A former union organizer for the United Steelworkers, he has represented House District 111 covering much of Charleston north of Calhoun Street and a slice of West Ashley since 2009. Before that, he served on the Charleston City Council for a dozen years.

Experience counts, he said.

Gilliard isnt shy about his left-wing credentials. An outspoken supporter of organized labor who wants a $70,000-a-year salary floor for public school teachers and $17-an-hour minimum wage, Gilliard is a key ally of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in South Carolina.

But Gilliard is also known around Columbia for championing a bill requiring officers to wear and use body cameras while on duty. Legislation mandating body camera policies became law in 2015, two months after a bystander's video showed a White North Charleston officer fatally shooting a fleeing Black man.

Since then, hes pushed hard for South Carolina to pass a bill that lengthens prison sentences for people who choose their victims solely because of their race, gender, sexuality or religion. South Carolina is among just two states without a specific hate crime law. The House has passed the bill twice.

But it's never received a vote on the Senate floor.

What better story to have than to follow my bill over there, Gilliard said. And work it like I worked other bills on the floor of the House.

Moore, a 38-year-old catering company owner, was first elected to the Statehouse in 2018, narrowly ousting a Republican incumbent in District 15, which straddles Goose Creek and North Charleston.

Moores political engagement emerged from the Emmanuel AME Church shooting in 2015, when a white supremacist shot and killed nine Black churchgoers, including Moores sister Myra Thompson.

He said that hes drawn on those losses and years as a small-business owner in the hospitality industry in his politics.

One thing connected "most everything I did, Moore said. I was serving other people.

Moore said the best way to continue that is seeking election to the state Senate, where he wants to focus on small businesses, education and the lack of affordable housing in the Charleston area, as well as the hate crimes bill.

Moore has raised $46,200 for the seat and taken out a loan of $40,000, giving him a cash edge over his two rivals. He's spent nothing so far and had $86,227 cash available as of July 17, according to his campaign filings.

Gilliard has not yet submitted campaign finance reports for the Senate race. State law requires candidates to file an initial report within 10 days of receiving or spending $500.

Tedder, a 33-year-old criminal defense attorney, has represented North Charleston neighborhoods north and south of the airport since 2021.

During his time in Columbia, he has frequently introduced amendments to force the state forensics lab to speed up testing and advocated for affordable housing and the hate crimes bill. He has occasionally taken lonely stands against criminal justice bills he worries are too broad. In June, he cast the lone vote against a bill that would make fentanyl trafficking a crime over concerns it could sweep up addicts, not just dealers.

My background as an attorney, I believe, gives me an advantage to understand the law, Tedder said. If you dont carefully comb through (bills), youll never know and end up voting for something that could ultimately be detrimental for your constituents.

Of the trio, he's spent the least time in the Statehouse. But he dismissed the idea that he lacks legislative know-how.

I dont equate time with experience, he said.

Kimpson seemed to agree, tapping Tedder as his successor in an enthusiastic endorsement video shortly after he resigned. Tedder has raised nearly $83,500 in contributions and had $71,211 cash on hand, as of his July 7 filing. His initial campaign report was filed two months ago.

Tedder, a North Carolina native, moved to the Charleston area in 2016. Its a fact thats often been raised against him in his past runs but one hes proud of, he said. Many newcomers have helped shape Charleston, he said.

Tedders two opponents didnt live in the district until recently. Moore lived in an apartment he owns in Goose Creek, which is outside the district. He moved to North Charleston in January, he said.

Gilliard has long lived in a home he owns in West Ashley, outside the district. He moved to an apartment in the Rosemont neighborhood of Charleston a few months ago so he could run for the Senate seat, he said.

Rosa Kay, 30, is the only candidate running for the seat as a Republican, all but guaranteeing her a spot on Novembers ballot.

Kay, who is also known as Rosamond Kamara, told The Post and Courier she will focus on human rights in the state Senate, including parental rights and making medical care more affordable.
Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) and the Korean construction company Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) signed a memorandum of partnership and cooperation in the restoration and development of Ukraine's aviation infrastructure.

According to the website of Boryspil, the document was signed in Poland last Friday by airport director Oleksiy Dubrevsky and President and CEO of Hyundai E&C Yoon Young-Joon, Operations Director Kim Kwang-Pyung in the presence of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea Won Hee-ryong. The signatories of the memorandum, in particular, identified mutual needs and areas of cooperation in projects in Ukraine, agreed to explore the possibility of cooperation in the field of restoration and development of the country's aviation industry.

"We are pleased to conclude a memorandum with Hyundai E&C, which opens up new opportunities for the development and modernization of civil aviation. This cooperation will significantly enhance the development and restoration of not only Boryspil airport, but the entire Ukrainian aviation industry," Dubrevsky said.

The Hyundai E&C CEO stressed that Ukraine has significant potential for the development of the aviation sector and the company sees prospects for its use.

"Given Ukraine's geographical location, it has strategically important air routes and significant potential for the development of the aviation sector. Hyundai E&C sees opportunities to use this potential and its contribution to the development of the Ukrainian aviation industry," he said, pointing out that Ukraine has shown incredible resilience and determination to overcome challenges and Hyundai E&C is proud to be part of the recovery process.
Jennifer Rubin is a left-wing columnist for the Washington Post. So, naturally, she hates Ron DeSantis. On Friday, she published a column arguing that DeSantiss conservative policies endanger Floridas economy. The headline was, Florida might pay for MAGA cruelty and know-nothingism. Just another objective day at the office at WaPo! Unfortunately, her entire column was based on a grotesque factual error.

The Washington Post has had to post a correction following Community Notes fact-checking Jennifer Rubin. pic.twitter.com/ccjLXVgTwq  Andy Ngo  (@MrAndyNgo) July 16, 2023



The centerpiece of Rubins piece was this absurd claim:

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. 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.

This assertion came from a Business Insider article that, when Rubin wrote, had already been corrected. In fact, the exact opposite is true. The Post had to correct Rubins error:

A previous version of this article mischaracterized Floridians state-to-state migration in 2021. According to the Census Bureau, more people moved into Florida than any other state that year. This version has been corrected.

This is one of those corrections that destroys the entire point of the original article. The correction implicitly acknowledges that the column never should have been printed in the first place. Both the Post and Ms. Rubin should be embarrassed, but we know from experience that, as a hard-core apparatchik, Rubin doesnt embarrass easy.

But this is the point I want to make: it is truly extraordinary that a left-wing columnist and (presumably) an editor at the Washington Post are living in such a bubble that they are unaware of the fact that Florida, under Ron DeSantis, has become Americas number one boom state. Americans are moving to Florida as fast as they can dump their houses in New York, Illinois, California and Minnesota. This chart, from American Experiment, shows net domestic migration for each state from 2019 through 2022. Florida is on top, with Texas in second place:

Note that the states to which people are moving are red, while the states that Americans are abandoning the fastestCalifornia, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusettsare blue. Doesnt everyone know this? Apparently not. Evidently those who work at the Washington Post are ignorant not just of data, but of the most obvious and visible demographic and economic trends.

This episode provides, I think, a revealing glimpse into the liberal mind. It is full of hatehere, for Ron DeSantisbut bizarrely devoid of information.

STEVE adds: Thats not the only embarrassment at the Post in just the last 48 hours. One of the Posts young culture writers tried to play the race card in a Tweet about an old Tracy Chapman soul ballad now being covered by a country artist. It didnt go well for Ms. Yahr, and offers more evidence that abject ignorance is apparently a pre-requisite for a job at the Post:
At the moment RNC Research has pinned the video below of Joe Biden on the campaign trail in 1987 to its Twitter account with the comment: Flashback to 1987, when Joe Biden freaked out at a man who asked him where he went to law school. The entirety of Bidens response was a lie. Biden has been an angry, arrogant liar his entire career.

This mind-boggling display took place at a time when Biden was in full possession of his faculties. Here we glimpse the fundamental Biden. Despite his visible decline, the fundamental Biden seems to abide, at least from noon to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern). As it says in the song, the fundamental things apply as time goes by.
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CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Aircraft Engine Lease Finance, Inc. ("AELF") announced today that it has appointed Philip Scruggs to its Board of Directors. Scruggs brings more than 25 years of experience in the commercial aircraft leasing industry to the US-based leasing and trading company.Philip ScruggsScruggs spent more than two decades with AerCap (and previously International Lease Finance Corporation), the world's largest commercial aircraft leasing company. During that time, Scruggs held a variety of legal and commercial positions, culminating in his appointment as Chief Commercial Officer and President of the company."We are truly honored to welcome Phil to our Board of Directors during a very exciting time for our business. As a well-regarded fiduciary, Phil's depth of experience in the industry makes him a substantial addition to our leadership team during this period of growth," said Victoria Ricks, spokesperson for AELF.AELF is a shareholder in Maleth Aero AOC, a European ACMI airline that serves airlines, governments, corporations, leasing companies and others. In addition to commercial aircraft leasing and trading, the group offers a full spectrum of wet and dry leasing solutions."I believe AELF and Maleth Aero have an ingenuitive business model and bright team," Scruggs said. "They are offering a unique combination of wet and dry leasing solutions that has not been offered in the market before. Their structure gives them flexibility and agility to offer creative solutions. In a post-pandemic environment, this may be what the industry needs the most. I'm very excited to join the group and see it continue to succeed." AELF's fleet consists of A330s in all economy and dual-class passenger configurations as well as light cargo configuration. The company is currently adding to its fleet, targeting the acquisition of twenty 737-800s as well as three A321s. The group offers a range of financial solutions, including long-term operating leases; sale leasebacks and finance sales; short- and long-term ACMI contracts. It also offers wet-to-dry arrangements that enable airlines to test out new routes under Maleth's operation before embarking on a dry lease with AELF, and unique ACMI partnerships allowing lessors to put their dormant aircraft into revenue service temporarily or long-term, among other custom solutions."Phil Scruggs is an important industry leader with valuable insights whom we are thrilled to welcome to our team," said Joe Cirillo, Chief Operating Officer of AELF FlightService. "He is a welcome addition as we continue to offer customized financial solutions for our partners. Our model offers a hedge to traditional dry leasing, and vice versa for wet leasing operations. We've added some great talent to the team over the last couple of years and are looking forward to continued growth." About the AELF GroupAircraft Engine Lease Finance Inc. ("AELF") is an experienced leader in commercial aircraft leasing, finance, and air transport solutions for cargo and passengers. AELF shares common ownership with AELF FlightService and widebody ACMI operator Maleth Aero AOC Limited. The group offers a full spectrum of services ranging from single charter flights to mid-term ACMI to long-term operating leases. Learn more at AELF-FlightService.com . For the latest updates, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.Contact Information:Helena Padilla SilesCommunications Managerhpadillasiles@ aelf-flightservice.com SOURCE: Aircraft Engine Lease Finance, Inc.
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSX-V:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") announces that the Company has been granted an extension by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") to complete the previously announced (see news release dated May 17, 2023) non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000, by no later than August 15, 2023. In addition, the Aston Bay plans to consolidate the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") on the basis of one (1) new post-consolidation Common Share for every four (4) pre-consolidation Common Shares (the "Consolidation") in connection with the closing of the Offering.The Offering consists, on a post-Consolidation basis, of units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one Common Share and one-half warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share (the "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.32 per Warrant Share for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for exploration on the Company's gold and base metals projects in Virginia, and other potential projects in the USA and for general working capital purposes.The Company anticipates that current insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. Subject to Exchange approval, finder's fees may be paid to persons who introduce the Company to investors. The Offering may be closed in one or more tranches as subscriptions are received.All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States and Canadian securities laws.The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.There can be no assurances that the Company will be able to complete the Offering. The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX-V and all regulatory approvals.See the May 17, 2023 news release for details of the planned consolidation of Common Shares.About Aston Bay HoldingsAston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade copper and gold deposits in Virginia, USA, and Nunavut, Canada. The Company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the Company's advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona. The Company is currently exploring the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade copper potential in the area.The Company is 100% owner of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit and has been optioned to American West Metals Limited.The Company's public disclosure documents are available on www.sedar.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSStatements made in this press release, including those regarding the closing and the use of proceeds of the private placement, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation. We seek safe harbour.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer(416) 456-3516Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development(647) 821-1337SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Black Iron Inc. ("Black Iron" or the "Company") (TSX:BKI) is pleased to report the submission of a proposed legally binding special investment support agreement (the "Investment Agreement") to Ukraine's Ministry of Economy for consultation. The Investment Agreement includes transfer of lands required for location of the Shymanivske Iron Ore Project's (the "Project") processing plant, tailings and waste stockpiles, upon the end of martial law (the "Land Transfer").The Investment Agreement is a relatively new Ukraine government initiative being led by the Ministry of Economy with the backing of the entire Cabinet of Ministers. There are many benefits for Black Iron to put an Investment Agreement in place, including most importantly having key Ministries in Ukraine's government approve this Investment Agreement to support the Land Transfer, rezoning, lease, and general implementation of the Project. The Investment Agreement also provides for meaningful exemptions from import duties on mine and processing plant equipment purchased. Having an Investment Agreement is also a prerequisite for the Company to apply for political risk insurance from the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency ("MIGA"), which may be a condition required by banks and larger investors for future Project construction financing.Submission of Black Iron's proposed Investment Agreement was a major undertaking that involved creation of a multi-hundred-page Ukraine feasibility study focused on the social and economic impacts of the Project, discussions with Ukraine's government to ensure Black Iron is a qualified applicant and obtaining updated letters of interest from investors proposing to fund future Project construction.It is unclear as to how long Ukraine's Ministry of Economy will take to complete its review of Black Iron's Investment Agreement submission, given this will be one of the first applications. Subsequent to the Ministry of Economy's review and support, the Investment Agreement will then be provided to Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers for approval and execution.As of writing, Black Iron's Ukraine based team located in the city of Kryvyi Rih are all safe and in good health. Kryvyi Rih is located in the center of Ukraine, on the western side of the Dnipro River, and is where most of Ukraine's iron ore mines are located and continue to largely operate. Fortunately, there has not been any active fighting on the ground in this city, although there have been instances of missile attacks. Citizens have good access to groceries, gasoline, and banks in the city are functioning normally.About Black IronBlack Iron is an iron ore exploration and development company, advancing its 100% owned Shymanivske Iron Ore Project located in Kryviy Rih, Ukraine. Full mineral resource details and projected project economics can be found in the NI 43-101 technical report entitled "(Amended) Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Re-scoped Shymanivske Iron Ore Deposit" published in March 2020 with an effective date of November 21, 2017 under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Project is surrounded by five other operating mines, including Metinvest's YuGOK and ArcelorMittal's iron ore complex. Please visit the Company's website at www.blackiron.com for more informationFor more information, please contact:Matt SimpsonChief Executive OfficerBlack Iron Inc.Tel: +1 (416) 309-2138Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, opinions and estimates of the date such statements are made based on information available to them at that time. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of Investment Agreement, the review, approval and execution of the Investment Agreement, the financing of the Project, ability of the Company to obtain political risk insurance for the Project, discussions with the Ukraine government and the Company's future plans. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the war in Ukraine; general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; other risks of the mining industry and the risks described in the annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company notes that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.SOURCE: Black Iron
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IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Blackcraft Cult, the renowned clothing and lifestyle brand, is thrilled to announce its entry into the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry with the launch of its newest brand, Smoke Blackcraft. On the heels of the massive success of their 4000mg Gummies collaboration, Blackcraft Cult has joined forces with industry-leading brand Delta Extrax to introduce a portfolio of innovative, high-quality hemp-derived products, apparel, and accessories.Founded in the summer of 2012 by Jim Somers and Bobby Schubenski, Blackcraft Cult emerged from a Southern California attic with a vision to inspire individuals in a positive light beyond the realms of organized religion. Since its inception, the brand has grown exponentially, reaching people from all walks of life across the globe. Rooted in the ethos of kindness, gratitude, and positivity, Blackcraft Cult celebrates self-empowerment, self-expression, and personal freedom.With the launch of Smoke Blackcraft, Blackcraft Cult aims to fully support and represent the counter-culture individual who embraces kindness, gratitude, and positivity. The brand's mission is to elevate the hemp-derived cannabinoid experience within the alternative space and further strengthen the relationship between rock music and cannabis.Partnering with Delta Extrax, an industry leader known for its commitment to quality and innovation, Smoke Blackcraft seeks to redefine the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry. This collaboration will introduce an extensive portfolio of cannabinoid offerings, including gummies, disposables, pre-rolled cones, apparel, accessories, and more. Each product will represent the essence of Smoke Blackcraft, offering superior craftsmanship, innovation, and the power of self-expression while reflecting the premium quality and efficiency of Delta Extrax's leading cannabinoid products.Smoke Blackcraft's highly anticipated catalog of hemp-derived products will be open for pre-order starting July 17, 2023. Among the exciting offerings are their signature gummies, boasting an impressive 4000mg per jar and an exceptional potency level. Setting a new industry standard, these gummies also feature a unique bat-shaped design. Additionally, Smoke Blackcraft will introduce their 2-gram Disposable Pens, equipped with preheat technology for enhanced hits and an innovative device design that is truly one-of-a-kind. To cater to every preference, Smoke Blackcraft will also unveil a selection of premium pre-rolled cones, available in Classic, Natural, and Hemp variations.Through Delta Extrax's extensive distribution channels across the United States, Smoke Blackcraft products and accessories will be available to a massive network of distributors, chains, and shops in the alternative product space. These major distributors, chains, and shops will be incentivized with strategic efforts, amplifying the availability and accessibility of Smoke Blackcraft's offerings."We are excited to partner with Delta Extrax on this groundbreaking venture," said Bobby Schubenski, co-founder of Smoke Blackcraft. "Together, we will bring forth a new era in the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry, offering innovative products that embody our shared values of empowerment, self-expression, and positive energy. We can't wait to unveil the remarkable creations that have emerged from this collaboration with Delta Extrax." Smoke Blackcraft and Delta Extrax are set to revolutionize the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry by combining their unique perspectives and expertise. As anticipation builds within the alternative community and beyond, the official partnership between Smoke Blackcraft and Delta Extrax promises to redefine the hemp-derived cannabinoid experience.For more information about Smoke Blackcraft and its partnership with Delta Extrax, please visit www.DeltaExtrax.com/Blackcraft . Join us on this extraordinary journey to embrace self-empowerment, revolutionize your hemp-derived cannabinoid products, and channel your higher spirit.About Blackcraft Cult:Spawned out of a Southern California attic in the Summer of 2012, Blackcraft Cult is a renowned clothing and lifestyle brand that empowers individuals to embrace self-empowerment, self-expression, and personal freedom. Rooted in the ethos of kindness, gratitude, and positivity, Blackcraft Cult aims to inspire people worldwide through its distinctive designs and unique vision.About Delta Extrax:Delta Extrax is an industry-leading brand known for its commitment to quality and innovation within the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry. With a focus on redefining the standards of the industry, Delta Extrax consistently delivers cutting-edge products that elevate the hemp-derived cannabinoid experience.Contact:Name: Brittany WarnerEmail: bwarner@ savageenterprises.com Website: www.DeltaExtrax.com SOURCE: Blackcraft Cult
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CHARLESTON, SC / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Dr. Paul Drago, a dedicated healthcare professional and philanthropist, is pleased to announce the launch of the Dr. Paul Drago Scholarship for Future Doctors. This prestigious scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to students who are committed to pursuing a career in the medical field. The scholarship, with a one-time award of $1,000, is open to university students currently enrolled in a medical or related program in the United States.At drpauldragoscholarship.com , students will find all the necessary information and the online application process. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is June 15, 2023. The recipient of the scholarship will be announced on July 15, 2023.Dr. Paul Drago, a well-respected healthcare professional, has dedicated his life to promoting health and wellness, fitness, and proper nutrition. As a philanthropist, he actively volunteers his time and resources to charitable organizations focused on improving the well-being of individuals and families. The Dr. Paul Drago Scholarship is his way of giving back to the community and supporting the next generation of medical professionals.To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be currently enrolled at a university in the United States on the path to becoming a doctor. Additionally, high school students who plan to pursue a medical degree at a university are also eligible to apply. The selection process for this scholarship will consist of an essay competition. Applicants will be required to respond creatively to an essay prompt that focuses on identifying and addressing a significant issue in the medical field. The essay should outline how the applicant intends to leverage their medical degree to make a positive impact on this issue. The essay should not exceed 1000 words.The Dr. Paul Drago Scholarship for Future Doctors offers aspiring medical professionals the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams and make a lasting impact in the medical field. By providing financial assistance, Dr. Drago aims to empower students who demonstrate both financial need and a strong commitment to community service.As the recipient of this scholarship, students will not only receive financial support but also gain recognition for their dedication and passion for the medical field. Dr. Drago believes in the importance of investing in the future of healthcare and hopes to inspire more individuals to pursue careers that will shape the future of medical advancements and patient care.For more information about the scholarship, including eligibility criteria and the online application process, please visit drpauldragoscholarship.com . The website provides comprehensive details and guidance for interested applicants. Apply today for a chance to win the Dr. Paul Drago Scholarship for Future Doctors and take the next step towards your medical career.About Dr. Paul Drago:Dr. Paul Drago is a dedicated healthcare professional and philanthropist who is committed to providing individuals and families with the resources they need to live a healthy lifestyle. He volunteers his time to charitable organizations that promote health and wellness, fitness, and proper nutrition. The Dr. Paul Drago Medical Scholarship is his way of giving back to the community and providing financial assistance to students who are pursuing a career in the medical field. The scholarship is open to university students currently pursuing a degree in medicine or a related field who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to community service. If you're an aspiring medical professional looking to take the next step in your education, apply today and be in the running for the Dr. Paul Drago Medical Scholarship.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Dr. Paul DragoOrganization: Dr. Paul Drago ScholarshipWebsite: https://drpauldragoscholarship.com Email: apply@ drpauldragoscholarship.com SOURCE: Dr. Paul Drago Scholarship
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Girard Sharp, LLP and Malmfeldt Law Group P.C., national investment, securities, and class action firms, announce that they are investigating claims on behalf of investors who acquired stock in Waldencast Acquisition Corp. prior to its merger with Obagi Global Holdings Ltd. in July 2022.If you acquired Waldencast stock and would like to discuss your potential claim, please email apolk@ girardsharp.com or call (866) 981-4800 for a free consultation.On July 5, 2023, Waldencast announced that certain of Obagi's financial statements for periods prior to the merger transaction "should no longer be relied upon." The financial statements containing errors and requiring restatement included those for 2021 and for the first quarter of 2022. These financial statements were included within Waldencast's registration and proxy statement soliciting stockholder approval of the merger.In its July 5 announcement, Waldencast stated that the restatement of Obagi's 2021 financials was "linked to revenue recognition applicable tomarketing and other services purportedly performed by certain of Obagi's distributors" and that it expected Obagi's 2021 revenue to be adjusted downward by approximately $41 million.On the news of the restatement, the price of Waldencast stock declined by approximately 10% on July 6, 2023. And since the merger with Obagi on July 27, 2022, the stock price has declined by approximately 25%.If you acquired Waldencast stock, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Adam Polk of Girard Sharp LLP, 601 California Street, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94108, at (866) 981-4800, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.girardsharp.com , or by email at apolk@ girardsharp.com Why Girard Sharp?Girard Sharp represents investors, consumers, and institutions in class actions and other complex litigation nationwide. We serve on the Plaintiffs' executive committee in the recent spoofing litigation against JPMorgan Chase that settled for $60 million, a favorable resolution that the district court preliminarily approved in December 2021. Our attorneys have obtained multimillion-dollar recoveries for victims of unfair and deceptive practices in antitrust, financial fraud, and consumer protection matters against some of the country's largest corporations, including Raymond James, John Hancock, and Sears. Girard Sharp has earned top-tier rankings from U.S. News and World Report for Securities and Class Action Litigation and has been repeatedly selected as an Elite Trial Lawyers finalist by the National Law Journal.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:Girard Sharp LLP(866) 981-4800contact@ girardsharp.com apolk@ girardsharp.com SOURCE: Girard Sharp LLP
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New Markets Tax Credits support low-cost financing for the community organization, which will use the funds to increase its services and its footprint at 12 locations across the island.LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Lendistry announces today that $7 million of its New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation has supported a low-cost loan to fund multiple improvements at Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico ("BGCPR"). With the funds, BGCPR will implement additional programs to foster entrepreneurship and support its growing operations."We're proud to help bring this game-changing capital to a 55-year legacy organization that works hard to serve its participants: children and youth from underserved communities in Puerto Rico," says Everett K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry. "When community resources have the support they need to grow, a thriving ecosystem is created. Lendistry is proud to be part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico's story, and we can't wait to watch the kids become game changers themselves." A Vital Resource for Puerto Rico's Next Generation of EntrepreneursFounded in 1967, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico has changed the lives of more than 80,000 children in the state's most vulnerable communities. The organization's after-school programming serves young people from ages 6 to 18 in 12 Clubs across the island, providing an encouraging and safe place to grow as leaders and achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals. Because 90% of participants live under poverty, the Club has added educational, social, economic, and family services over the past decade in response to the community's need. This holistic approach is aimed to ensure high school graduation, college entrance and job placement and includes a wide range of services, including tutoring, hot meals, risk prevention, and job readiness training.Like many volunteer community organizations, BGCPR serves its members in every way it can with limited resources, but financial assistance is necessary to take its impact from job preparation to job creation. The low-cost funds BGCPR received through Lendistry will allow BGCPR to realize its multifaceted plan to foster small business ownership:A new curriculum that teaches 90 participants to identify need in their community or market, devise and validate a solution, create a viable product, and sell it;Small business management wraparound services that focus on training, mentoring and access to capital;Job training center expansion to provide integrated services and employee-related workshops for 100 youth and adult participants annually."We are immensely grateful to Lendistry, in collaboration with U.S. Bank, for their unwavering support in financing small business and job training programs for Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico. Their commitment to our organization and the communities we serve is truly commendable. With their generous allocation of $7 million of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to our organization, Lendistry has shown a deep understanding of the transformative power of investing in the future of our youth. Together, we are creating opportunities and empowering young minds to build a brighter tomorrow. On behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Lendistry and U.S. Bank for their invaluable partnership and dedication to making a lasting difference," explained Olga I. Ramos-Carrasquillo, President of BGCPR.The Impact of New Markets Tax CreditsU.S. Bank is the sole investor in the NMTCs, allocated to Lendistry, that supports this loan and has ultimately provided the Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico with $6,860,000 in low-cost funding."U.S. Bank believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to reach their full career aspirations and potential, and we are thrilled to work with Lendistry to provide Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico with working capital for its entrepreneurship and workforce development programs," said Bill Carson, senior business development officer with U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance. "We are proud to support this endeavor as an NMTC investor, and we expect that this investment in BGCPR will support hundreds of participants in reaching their academic, personal and professional goals." Jeff Monge of Monge Capital acted as consultant, connecting the financial institutions and helping with this impactful project. "Monge Capital is proud to work with Lendistry and U.S. Bank to provide an innovative use of NMTCs," says Monge. "This critical working capital will help BGCPR with their mission-driven services." Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico project aligns with Lendistry's overall mission to provide both financing and financial education. The project supports an effective organization that goes above and beyond to elevate its local community and create wealth.Innovative financial solutions don't often reach the island, with Puerto Rico ranking 49th of all U.S. states in terms of number of NMTC projects in recent years.1 Due to the potential to support below-market-rate loans, and the rarity of use in Puerto Rico, New Markets Tax Credits are an effective way to spur greater investment in undercapitalized Puerto Rican communities. Lendistry encourages its fellow financial institutions to find ways to support these undercapitalized communities so future generations can thrive.About LendistryB.S.D. Capital, Inc. dba Lendistry ( lendistry.com) is a minority-led fintech that provides innovative lending products and access to grant programs for small businesses nationwide. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry uses technology and community partnerships to overcome systemic gaps that inhibit access to capital, and to empower its customers with responsible financing options. Based on its reputation for deploying funds efficiently and equitably, Lendistry's leadership is often called upon to share its expertise with both government and private organizations. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Lendistry SBLC, LLC is an SBA Preferred Lender and the nation's only African American-led SBA designated Small Business Lending Company. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry dedicates itself to providing economic opportunities and progressive growth for underserved urban and rural small business borrowers and their communities.About Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto RicoIn 55 years of service in vulnerable communities, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico has becom
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Growth Sparks Excitement as STEMTECH Achieves Record-Breaking Surge in New Independent Business PartnersMIRAMAR, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Innovation-driven company STEMTECH proudly announces a groundbreaking achievement that has set our Independent Business Partners (IBPs) abuzz. The month of June 2023 witnessed a surge in new IBPs, surpassing all previous distributor sign-up records in the past year. With the announcement of a new bonus program and an incentive cruise in December, our passionate and driven IBPs within a single month are continuing to set a higher bar. But that's not all - we have also attracted influential leaders who bring with them a wealth of experience, expertise and more of their groups, further solidifying our ranks of highly skilled and dedicated distributors who recognize the power of releasing your own stem cells naturally, the miracle of helping your body to rejuvenate itself and age slower.The contagious enthusiasm within our IBP community is palpable, propelling us to prioritize the maintenance of ample inventory to fuel our ongoing growth. As part of our visionary strategic plans, we embarked on a series of exhilarating business academy tours across all our markets, strategically paving the way for an aggressive expansion that promises to reshape the industry landscape.Watch this short video and see why so many people are attracted to the Stemtech Opportunity, as business builders, product consumers as well as investors!Building upon our triumphant journey, STEMTECH has achieved significant milestones in fortifying our financial standing, igniting excitement among our cherished shareholders. Through tireless negotiations, we orchestrated the successful conversion of over 3 million dollars of convertible debt into straight equity, meticulously streamlining our balance sheet. Additionally, we have demonstrated unwavering diligence in managing our outstanding credit facility of 7 million dollars, ensuring a solid foundation for future growth.Fulfilling our financial obligations is a top priority for us, and we proudly announce the payment of $232,000 in interest due to Sharing Services (SHRG). Even more impressively, we negotiated the elimination of convertibility terms in the agreement, resulting in the transformation of the loan of $1,400,000 into a straightforward monthly payment of $61,600. The first payment has already been made, underscoring our commitment to financial stability and showcasing our dedication to fostering the success of our shareholders.Charles S. Arnold says "In light of these groundbreaking achievements, the investment community should be exhilarated by the immense potential for appreciation within the current market conditions. As the CEO and Chairman of STEMTECH, I want to personally assure you of my unwavering dedication to our long-term success. For the past four years, ever since the transformative acquisition and restructuring of Stemtech, I have demonstrated my unwavering commitment by exclusively accepting equity as compensation, refraining from taking a salary or selling any shares. This resolute approach not only speaks volumes about my unshakable confidence in our company's boundless growth potential but also serves as a testament to the immense value I believe our shares possess".Armed with unwavering determination, STEMTECH stands poised to exceed expectations, embarking on a thrilling journey that promises exceptional returns for our esteemed investors. Join us as we collectively embark on a momentous era of unprecedented opportunity in the thriving global stem cell market.ABOUT STEMTECHStemtech Corporation, a leading stemceutical company with a direct sales distribution model, was founded on April 18, 2018, after acquiring the operations from its predecessor Stemtech International, Inc., which was established in 2005. From 2010 through 2015, Stemtech International, Inc., was recognized four separate times on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list. In 2018, Stemtech underwent an extensive executive reorganization, and continued operations under new leadership as Stemtech Corporation. In August 2021, Stemtech became a publicly traded company (OTCQB: STEK) and has expanded business opportunities for its Independent Business Partners, who may earn incomes by sharing Stemtech products. January 2022 saw the introduction of new marketing efforts. In August 2022, Professor Doctor Bankole Johnson joined Dr. Enrique Martinez and Dr. Lizette Leos on the Stemtech Life Sciences Advisory Board. In September 2022, the new Stemtech AdvanceOffice mobile app based on the VERB Technology platform was successfully launched as a powerful communication - recruiting tool for our Field. In October, Life Factor Research became the Research and Development, product formulation - science division of Stemtech to create cutting-edge stemceuticals and other products. On November 1, 2022, Stemtech introduced the new travel/sample size OraStem Toothpaste. On December 6, Stemtech announced the promotion of Alejandro Carrillo to the role of Vice President Global Sales from his current role as Managing Director Latin Markets. Stemtech introduced the new CellectOne Rapid Renew Stem Cell Peptide Night Cream at their December 2022 International Leadership Event in Cancun, Mexico. January 10, 2023 Stemtech appoints Margie and Mike Mares to Field Advisory Board. Stemtech has Ranked Number 11 in Momentum out of 700+ top Global MLM companies by Business For Home independent MLM publication, January 23, 2023. Stemtech conducted Field Leadership Business Academies in Aguas Calientes, Mexico May 25 - 27, and in Las Vegas, NV on June 1 - 3.Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and/or other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effe
During the counteroffensive, the Defense Forces liberated 210 square kilometers of territory, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said on Monday morning.

"Over the last week, as a result of offensive actions, in general, almost 18 square kilometers were liberated. In general, the liberated area during the offensive is 210.5 square kilometers," she said in her Telegram channel.

In particular, Maliar said that over the last week, as a result of the improvement of the operational (tactical) situation and the alignment of the frontline in Bakhmut direction, an area of seven square kilometers was liberated. In total, during the offensive in this direction, the liberated area is 31 square kilometers.

According to the deputy minister, in the south, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in Melitopol and Berdiansk directions. Liberated territories per week increased by 10.9 square kilometres.

"In general, the advance since the offensive in the south is 9.25 kilometers, the liberated area is 179.5 square kilometers," she said.

As for the losses of the enemy, in the period from July 10 to July 16 in Tavria direction, some 134 units of enemy military equipment, 36 enemy ammunition depots and two depots with fuel and lubricants were destroyed.
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The African Energy Chamber is honoured to welcome TotalEnergies as a Diamond sponsor and the official Sustainable Energy Partner of African Energy Week 2023.CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / French multinational integrated energy and petroleum company TotalEnergies has positioned itself as a dedicated partner for Africa through a series of impactful project developments, its commitment to advancing sustainable energy practices and a drive to making energy poverty history. With a focus on scaling up energy security and economic prosperity, the energy major has unlocked a new era of industry growth in Africa on the back of local content, sustainable investments and long-term partnerships.With the company advancing its contribution to Africa's energy future, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) is proud to welcome TotalEnergies as a Diamond sponsor and the Sustainable Energy Partner for African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 - the biggest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent. Taking place on October 16-20 in Cape Town, TotalEnergies' participation as both sponsor and partner is a testament to the company's commitment to driving the next wave of innovative energy projects in Africa.Renowned for its expertise across the entire energy value chain, including oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity, TotalEnergies joins AEW as a dedicated partner in promoting Africa's energy sector, supporting sustainable development initiatives while ushering in a new era of energy security and economic progress. With activities in 43 African countries and boasting around 13,000 employees, the company is committed to providing affordable, clean and reliable energy solutions that contribute to the well-being of African people and the development of the continent. Initially serving as an oil operator, TotalEnergies has rapidly expanded its portfolio and footprint in Africa, thereby strengthening its role as both an integrated energy company and strong partner for the continent.Steadfast in its commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 while accelerating energy security and resilience, TotalEnergies has developed a comprehensive strategy that focuses on improving overall operational efficiency and fostering sustainability. TotalEnergies is implementing various measures, such as optimizing processes, technologies and infrastructure to minimize energy waste and reduce the company's carbon footprint. Additionally, the energy major is prioritizing local content, impactful developments and partnerships, establishing an Africa-first' approach regarding industry growth and investments. Environmental, Social and Governance represents a top priority for the company as well as inclusivity and opportunities for women and youth in Africa's energy space.TotalEnergies' sponsorship reflects its belief in Africa's immense energy potential and the opportunities for collaboration and investment on the continent. It reinforces the company's commitment to supporting Africa's energy sector as it embraces innovation, advances renewable energy technologies, and drives economic growth and prosperity.A prominent player in Nigeria's energy sector, TotalEnergies has been actively engaged in various aspects such as oil and gas exploration, production, natural gas liquefaction, and retail operations. Notably, TotalEnergies recently achieved a significant milestone with the discovery of oil and gas reserves in oil mining lease (OML) 102, a testament to its unwavering commitment to unlocking and maximizing Africa's vast oil and gas resources. With interests in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, ownership stakes in approximately 30 OMLs, including five that the company operates, and the management of two lubricant blending plants, TotalEnergies is deeply involved in Nigeria's energy landscape. Additionally, the company is also spearheading the development of several solar projects.In South Africa, the company operates five exploration licenses, a refinery, and has interests in the Prieska solar project. The energy major was also responsible for two major gas discoveries in 2019 and 2020, respectively: the Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries. Following the company's discovery in the Namibian side of the Orange Basin last year, TotalEnergies has embarked on an ambitious exploration drive offshore South Africa, having been granted environmental authorization in April this year to explore Block 5/6/7 - an area which overlaps the Orange Basin.In North Africa, TotalEnergies has been active in Libya for more than 60 years with interests in several oil concessions, including the Al Jurf, El Sharara, Waha and Mabruk fields, as well as in the Murzuk basin. In Algeria, the energy major has been active since 1952, with interests in several oil and gas fields. Through their producing fields, TotalEnergies delivers gas to the French market via the Fos Cavaou LNG terminal. TotalEnergies also has a strong presence in the Egyptian energy market, with interests in the Ikdu LNG plant (Train 1); interests in two offshore oil exploration blocks in the Mediterranean; and has developed two solar projects.In Uganda, the energy major is spearheading the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) as well as the Tilenga project. The 1,443km-long EACOP is crucial for transporting oil from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields in Uganda to international markets via Tanzania.Further south, TotalEnergies is making progress with the development of the Mozambique LNG project - a $20 billion project that aims to produce up to 12.8 million tons of LNG per annum. While construction has been delayed owing to security risks, the French-major is currently engaging with government and project partners to get this important project off the ground. In Namibia, TotalEnergies' collaboration with QatarEnergy and NAMCOR in the Orange Basin has resulted in significant oil discoveries, namely Venus-1X. With a multi-well drilling campaign currently underway, TotalEnergies Namibian exploration drive is set to transform the market."We are delighted to welcome TotalEnergies as a Diamond Sponsor and the Sustainable Energy Partner for AEW," states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC. "Whether it is conducting exploration in North Africa or making discoveries in West Africa or driving large-scale LNG facilities in East Africa, TotalEnergies represents a worthy partner for our continent. The energy major remains one of the companies that has become one of Africa's largest tax payers and largest employers, with the majority of its operations in Africa spearheaded by Africans. TotalEnergies has empowered Africans to take on leadership and drive develop
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / At Merck, our commitment to equality goes beyond the month of June.While there has been great progress when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, there's still work to be done - and we're proud to play a role in achieving those goals. Merck has a longstanding tradition of supporting the LGBTQ+ community in our company and beyond. Here are just a few of the ways we stand by our commitment to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace:01. Offering inclusive benefitsWe strive for a diverse and inclusive environment, and that means providing a safe and welcoming space for all of our colleagues. It's more important than ever that we remain committed to creating an environment of belonging, equity and empowerment in the workplace.In 2018, we implemented our "Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Employee Inclusion in the Workplace Policy" in the U.S. to educate our colleagues and ensure that our transgender and gender non-conforming employees feel safe, protected and welcome. In addition, we've made significant enhancements to our transgender-inclusive benefits. In the U.S., our medical plan offers a full range of transgender-related coverage. We also offer an adoption/surrogacy reimbursement program for employees who want to expand their families through adoption or a third-party surrogate.Globally, transgender health coverage varies by country and is often limited due to local law or the local health care system. However, we continue to support and encourage our employees globally to elevate their voices and support efforts to effect change wherever possible.02. How we do businessOur company has consistently scored 100 percent and has been named "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality" on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, the foremost benchmarking survey measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. By cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, we promote the discovery of the broadest range of possible medical solutions to address the needs of patients.That also extends to whom we do business with outside of our organization. Supplier diversity is integrated into our company's vision, creating a competitive business advantage and driving shareholder value."Diversity is critical for innovation and scientific excellence, as well as for better decision-making and cultural agility," says Susanna Webber, SVP and chief procurement officer. "Putting people first is firmly embedded into the core values of our company, and that is clearly reflected in our business strategy and procurement processes." Our goals go beyond how much we spend with small and diverse-owned businesses. We also expect our suppliers to share our same focus on diversity and inclusion, and, in this way, we help to drive diversity and inclusion on a broader, and even more global scale."I did my research before I joined our company and saw that Merck openly and visibly supports the LGBTQ+ community," says Donna Dvorak, product manager for change realization and communications. "I had a strong feeling that I would be welcome and comfortable here, and I was right!"03. A unique approach to employee outreachMany companies offer resource groups for employees, but we go a step further. We've taken a pioneering and global approach to our diversity strategy through the creation of Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs), including the Rainbow Alliance.With more than 3,500 members across 32 chapters around the globe, the Rainbow Alliance works to inspire and grow an inclusive workplace culture that supports a vibrant network of LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies through talent recruiting and development, community outreach and business integration."I feel proud to know that the Rainbow Alliance is having an impact on our colleagues," says Dvorak, who is part of the leadership team for the Rainbow Alliance in the Czech Republic. "We're opening eyes and gaining allies." During Pride month - and every month - we celebrate our LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities around the world.Learn more about Merck's Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg View original content hereView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Merck & Co., Inc. on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Merck & Co., Inc.Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/merck-co-inc Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Merck & Co., Inc.
A music artiste, Trevboi, has allegedly shot dead a man whose identity is yet unknown at a nightclub in Lagos.

Trevboi, a former signee of superstar Davido, was said to have killed the man on Saturday.

A Twitter user on Sunday, who claimed to be a friend of the deceased posted a picture of the musician and captioned it with wanted, claiming the suspect was armed and dangerous.

Shot and killed my friend yesterday in Bar 38 club, Fadeyi. Known as Trevboi. Hes armed and dangerous, the user had posted.

Wherever you are Trevboi? Youll pay the price.

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Any information about him will be appreciated. Kindly retweet. @BenHundeyin @PoliceNG

Explaining what led to his friends death, @cloud_target said that artiste was dragging an issue with the waitress when the deceased stepped in.

Investigation

Reacting to the tweets, the police spokesperson in Lagos said that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

We commenced an investigation minutes after the incident happened. The suspect abandoned his car and fled on foot. The car and the documents in it are in our custody, Benjamin Hundeyin posted on Monday.

Investigation is ongoing.

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The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in a closed-door meeting amid the latest leadership crisis in the ruling party.

However, the embattled National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, who is reported to have resigned from his position on Sunday night is not attending the meeting at the time of this report.

The National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, who was initially at the meeting, left before the meeting commenced.

Mr Omisore arrived at the secretariat at 11:20 a.m. and departed around 12:06 p.m.

I am going to see the chairman (Mr Adamu), I dont know why he is not in the office, he said before departing in his SUV.

Adamus resignation confirmed

Speaking to journalists at the secretariat on Monday, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Duru, confirmed that indeed Mr Adamu has resigned but he could not confirm the status of Mr Omisore.

One can confirm, yes, credible information that the chairman of the party has stepped down as the chairman of the party and meetings are currently ongoing, he said.

He added that Abubakar Kyari, the deputy chairman (North) has taken over as the chairman of the party.

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We are not expecting a caretaker committee and I did make the point that meetings are going on across all the caucuses of the party, the various leadership in the party. We know that our constitution has provided adequately, a transition process in the leadership of the party. The Deputy National Chairman, North will assume in an acting capacity the position of the chairman, he said.

Some of the NWC members in the meeting include; Mr Kyari, National Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Arugungu, Mr Duru, Disable Leader, Tolu Bankole, Deputy National Chairman (South) Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman (North-east), Salihu Mustapha, National Vice Chairman (North-west), Salihu Lukman.

Mr Adamu, who emerged the national chairman of the ruling party last year, reportedly submitted his letter of resignation on Sunday night to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Mr Gbajabiamila could not be reached for comment.

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Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abubakar Kyari has taken over the leadership of the party on an acting basis following the resignation of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

Mr Kyari announced the resignation of Mr Adamu on Monday after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) at the partys headquarters in Abuja.

The acting chairman, a former senator, while briefing journalists after the NWC meeting, said he was taking over based on the provision of the Constitution of the APC.

He announced that the National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, also resigned and has been replaced by the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, from Plateau State.

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With this development and according to the APC constitution, it is now incumbent on my humble self as the deputy chairman (North) to assume the office as the acting national chairman of the APC. And subsequently, also, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, will now assume the office of acting National Secretary, he said.

Mr Kyari also announced the postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) earlier scheduled for 19 July.

He said: With the recent development with the change of leadership, we would like to inform everybody here that the proposed National Caucus meeting slated for 18 July 2023 and the National Executive Council for 19 July 2023 are hereby postponed. This postponement would not be indefinitely, but a new date would be communicated.

Mr Kyari did not give the reason for the resignation of Mr Adamu, but said it was a voluntary resignation.

However, Messrs Adamu and Omisore faced allegations of mismanagement of funds.

Salihu Mustapha, vice chairman (North-west), had accused the duo of mismanagement of funds.

Mr Adamu, 77, was the fourth national chairman of the APC since the partys formation in 2013.

He was a senator representing Nasarawa West before his emergence, on consensus, as the national chairman of the ruling party in March 2022.

He also served as the Nasarawa State governor between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and minister of state for works during the military administration of Sani Abacha.

On his part, Mr Omisore is a former deputy governor of Osun State on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and senator representing Osun East on the platform of the PDP.

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The Tinubu administration will, in the coming weeks, unveil an initiative that will address insurgency and poverty, among other challenges confronting Nigerians, especially those living in the northern region, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The vice president disclosed this on Sunday in a chat with journalists while on a condolence visit to Kano.

Mr Shettima, accompanied by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, among others, were in the ancient city to commiserate with the government and people of Kano over the passing away of elder statesman Abubakar Galadanci.

Speaking on the plan to address challenges confronting Nigerians, the VP said, The president is determined to define the meaning and concept of modern governance and the crisis we have in the north-west which is further accentuated by poverty. Social exclusion is also something that the president is determined to confront frontally, 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 north-west. 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 north-west and also towards addressing the root causes of all the banditry and insurgency in the nation, Mr Shettima explained further.

Earlier on arrival in Kano, the vice president, received by Governor Abba Yusuf, proceeded to the residence of the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero, where he commiserated with him on the passing away of the late Imam Galadanci, expressing President Tinubus condolences.

From the Emir of Bichis residence, the VP proceeded to the family compound of Mr Galadanci, where he was received by Shehu Galadanci, a professor, and Nura Imam, a retired air vice marshal, on behalf of the extended family.

The vice president, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, expressed his condolences and prayed to Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and also to console the entire Galadanci family.

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Thanking the vice president for the visit on behalf of the family, Shehu emphasised the need for unity of purpose among northern leaders and urged Nigerians to always support the Tinubu administration in prayers and otherwise for the success of its programmes and policies.

From Kano, the Vice President then flew to Katsina on another visit to condole renowned businessman Dahiru Mangal over the demise of his first wife, Aisha Dahiru, who died Saturday evening in Abuja after a brief illness.

Mrs Mangal has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Other members of the vice presidents delegation included a member of the House of Representatives from Kano, Abdulmumin Jibrin and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari.

Olusola Abiola

Director Information

Office of the Vice President

16th July 2023

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A one-storey block of 10 classrooms collapsed after heavy rains on Saturday at Agbado District Comprehensive High School in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

PREMIUM TIMES correspondent gathered that the building was donated by a daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, when she was senator for Ogun Central District between 2007 and 2011.

The building was never put to use by the school apparently because it was never completed.

Residents of the community who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday said the building, before it finally collapsed, had posed a serious danger to students and staff of the school.

They said the attention of the authorities was called to the dilapidated state of infrastructure in the school but the state ministry of education ignored the calls.

A trader near the school who identified herself as Mrs Ayilara told PREMIUM TIMES correspondent that the community had long feared the collapse of the building due to its dilapidated state.

We thank God that the building did not collapse on a day that people were around because that would have been more tragic, she said

The President of the Agbado District Old Students Association (ADCHSOSA), Ganiyu Olowu, who spoke to our correspondent over the phone said, the building collapse was a disaster foreseen.

He said his association repeatedly alerted the state ministry of education about the condition of the building and the danger it posed to students but nothing was done.

I sent a video showing the deteriorating look of the building to the immediate past commissioner for education but nothing was done. This (the collapse) happened on a Saturday. If it had happened on a Friday, we would have been talking about a calamity now but we thank God.

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. They did visit but no action was taken on this massive classroom project initiated by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello many years ago. There are parts of the collapsed building that can cause more havoc when students are around.

Mr Olowu used the opportunity to again call governments attention to the poor state of infrastructure in the school to forestal further incidents of building collapse.

A real esate broker and building professional, Kunle Ilori- Diamond, said the building could have collapsed due to many factors.

The lifespan of a building can vary significantly depending on various factors such as construction quality, maintenance, structural design, exposure to environmental conditions, and unforeseen events like earthquakes or explosions. Buildings are typically designed and constructed to withstand their expected lifespan, which can range from several decades to over a century.

If a building is well-designed, constructed, and maintained, it can last for many years. However, if there are significant structural flaws, poor maintenance practices, or extreme events, the collapse can occur earlier.

Maintenance should be done every year for the MEPs (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) and periodic renovations every five years.

Its worth noting that Nigeria, like many other developing countries, has faced challenges with substandard construction practices, inadequate infrastructure, and limited enforcement of building codes in some areas. These factors can potentially affect the lifespan of buildings and increase the risk of collapse.

To ensure the safety and longevity of buildings, it is crucial to adhere to proper construction practices, perform regular maintenance and inspections, and enforce building codes and regulations effectively.

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A yet-to-be-identifiedhouse boy has allegedly killed his master and a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

The incident occurred on Friday night at Ifite, a community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state, sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

The victim, identified as Chima Anolue, works as a lecturer in the Psychology department of the institution.

A video clip showing the suspect being interrogated by some unidentified persons has been circulating on Facebook.

In the clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the suspect confessed that he hit the victim with a pestle during a quarrel, which resulted in his death.

The quarrel

The suspect, reportedly an indigene of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, claimed that Mr Anolue, the victim, had asked him to cook rice on his return to the house from work.

He said while he cooked the rice, the victim asked him why he did not wash dirty plates in the house, but he did not respond to his question.

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He then slapped me. But I told him I have an ear problem and that people dont slap me. He angrily asked if I was still talking while he talked. He slapped me again. That was how I became angry, and we fought. He beat me up, and I got tired, he said in Igbo.

Continuing, he said: Then I looked beside, and I saw a pestle, So I picked the pestle and hit him on his head three times.

He spoke while being handcuffed by some armed people believed to be vigilante operatives.

The video clip also showed the victims corpse on a hospital bed.

You don see am. Chop am, a woman was heard yelling at the suspect while he was being dragged to stand in front of the bed where the victim was laid.

When contacted on Monday, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was unaware of the incident.

Chika Eneh, the spokesperson of the university, Awka, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the chief security officer of the institution was yet to brief her about the incident.

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President Bola Tinubu has said it is uncalled for to nullify his victory in the last presidential election because he failed to secure 25 per cent of the lawful votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He argued that the FCT shares the same status as every other state in Nigeria.

Mr Tinubu argued against the backdrop of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obis suit urging the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to invalidate the 25 February presidential election.

Mr Obi came third in the race, but he has prayed the court to either declare him president or order a fresh poll based on different grounds, including Mr Tinubus failure to secure 25 per cent votes in Abuja in the election.

The Nigerian constitution requires the victorious presidential candidate not only to win the majority of lawful votes but also to score 25 per cent of the votes in at least two-thirds of the number of states and the FCT.

But Mr Obi had argued in his petition challenging Mr Tinubus victory that the two-thirds must include the FCT for a candidate to be validly declared the winner.

However, in his final written address dated 14 July, Mr Tinubus lead lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, urged the five-member panel of the court chaired by Haruna Tsammani to dismiss Mr Obis suit for lacking in merit.

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Mr Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the FCT is like the 37th state of the country and cannot be conferred a special status.

Referencing Section 134(2)(b) of the Nigerian constitution, which talks about scoring 25 per cent votes in two-thirds of the states of Nigeria and the FCT, Mr Olanipekun drew the courts attention 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.

He urged the court to interpret the said provision conjunctively as any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.

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 Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is taken as if it is the 37th State, under and by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.

The lawyer further contended that Mr Obis remote argument that Mr Tinubus victory should be nullified on account of not scoring 25 per cent or one-quarter of the votes recorded in the FCT lacks legal backing as the use of and in the constitution is conjunctive and not disjunctive.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is also challenging the presidential elections outcome.

Atiku raised similar issues bordering on the inability of the Nigeria electoral commission, INEC, failure to electronically transmit polling units results of the election to its Results Viewing Portal.

While Mr Tinubu polled 8,794,721 votes, Atiku scored 6,984,520, and Mr Obi garnered 6,101,533 votes.

Mr Obis witnesses testimonies hearsay

During the trial, Mr Obi called 13 witnesses and tendered tons of electoral documents as evidence.

Also, during the three-week hearing of the case, Mr Obi challenged the authenticity of Mr Tinubus academic records and alleged drug trafficking in the US, amongst other issues.

But Mr Olanipekun has described the witnesses testimonies as frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay.

Mr Obis major grouse with the poll was that the results of the Presidential election were not uploaded on the INEC Results Viewing portal on the day of the election.

But in his argument, Mr Olanipekun said section 60 of the Electoral Act gives INEC the prerogative to prescribe the mode of transfer of results, whether electronically or manually.

Countering Mr Obis suit, Mr Olanipekun said the Labour Party candidate was still a member of the PDP as of 24 May 2022 and was a presidential aspirant of the party.

He pointed out that the Electoral Act provides that an aspirant for elective office must be a political party member 30 days before the conduct of the primary election.

Mr Olanipekun said Mr Obi was not a member of the Labour Party at the time of the partys primary election on 30 May 2022.

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A total of 30 students who formed the second cohort of trainees at the Sail Innovation Lab have successfully completed their training in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

The lab draws its beneficiaries from select secondary schools in the district.

Meanwhile, following the successful completion of the programme for the second cohort, the lab has opened the registration portal for new applicants who would form the third cohort.

The SAIL Innovation Lab was co-created by the Senator representing Lagos East, Mukhail Abiru, and his wife, Feyisola Abiru. The organisers said the initiative is part of the senators endowment programme to drive youth empowerment in entrepreneurship in Lagos East.

The innovation hub is managed by the Co-Creation Hub (CCHub).

Graduation

At the graduation ceremony held for the second cohort, Mr Abiru urged the graduating students to deepen their quest for knowledge by devoting time to studies and research, particularly in STEM education.

He commended their commitment throughout the training, which started late last year.

He said the knowledge acquired by the participants would help them in their academics and career growth.

He said: These students have not only learnt essential skills in academic and technical knowledge, but they have also learned to think critically, embrace failure as an opportunity for growth, and collaborate to solve problems that they see in society.

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These are the skills that will enable them to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the STEM fields as they progress in their learning and make meaningful contributions to society.

In addition to their academic achievements, it is noteworthy that the students have also delved into the exciting realms of physical computing, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

New application

The senator said there are currently 160 pupils attending the programme daily for six weeks, adding that eight schools in the district actively participate in the programme.

He said: It is with great pleasure that I announce the expansion of the STEM programme to public schools in Lagos East. This initiative, which brings together 20 students from each school on weekdays, demonstrates our commitment to providing equal opportunities for all young minds interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

He also announced that the application call for the next cohort had been opened.

The lawmaker appreciated the STEMCafe and Co-Creation Hub (CCHub) for their dedication, support, and efforts in providing quality education and resources to the students.

Your commitment to nurturing young talents in the fields of science and technology is truly commendable, he said.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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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.
Some 383 children illegally deported by the aggressor country have been returned to Ukraine, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said.

"(...) As of today, only 383 Ukrainian children have been returned to their homeland. Russia does not provide information about our children and is not interested in family reunification," Lubinets said during a meeting with First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and First Lady South Korean Kim Keon-hee, who visited the Center for the Protection of the Rights of the Child.

During the meeting, the first ladies toured the center, which provides legal and psychological assistance to children. In turn, the ombudsman told how the interrogation and fixation of war crimes of the Russian occupiers against children is carried out.
The Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, a professor, has once again criticised the emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, saying his virtue of intolerance breeds fundamentalist organisations such as Boko-Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Al-Shabaab.

Mr Soyinka and the monarch recently clashed over the latters decision to ban a cultural festival of Isese by an Osun devotee, Adesikemi Olokun, in the city of Ilorin.

While the Nobel laureate described the emirs action as an assault on civilised conduct, the emir said he acted to prevent crisis.

But on Sunday in Lagos, during a public reading session of his latest work- Selected Poems- 1965-2022: A Retrospective, Mr Soyinka reiterated his condemnation of the emirs action.

He listed three demands of the Nigerian government, security agencies, and foreign nations.

He said as an intervention, President Bola Tinubu and other governments at state and local government levels should declare public holiday for traditional religions as it is done for Christianity and Islam, and that files of various cases of public lynching and harassment of innocent Nigerians in the name of religion should be reopened.

Mr Soyinka also called on foreign nations to deny those he described as religious bigots visas to their countries, saying the visa ban shouldnt be limited to those that commit the crime of inciting political violence.

He said: The three demands are that the files should be reopened; begin with Deborah and all those who have been killed extra-judicially in the name of religion.

I also want all of those who have connections anywhere in the world, in fact, beginning here, addressing diplomats who have been assisting the world by denying visas to violent politiciansWe now say extend this to religious bigots, extend to those who preach and those who applaud violence in the name of religion. Lets tell their governments to assist us. These people live there, they go to those other places, they drink to their hearts contained, they boxed themselves anyhow, and they come here in the name of piety, they think they can restrict our own lifestyles.

It is about time we demanded on behalf of traditional religions annual holidays like Islam and Christianity. We have had enough. We have had enough of being second-class citizens in this nation. So, equal time, and equal space we demand. We demand it of the state, local government, and the federal government. Those are my three demands in this home of the muses.

Emirs conduct breeds violence

In his satirical manner, the literary scholar took a swipe at the emir, saying conducts such as his, have in the past emboldened criminality such as displayed by the public lynching of Deborah Samuel, a college student in Sokoto State.

Mr Soyinka, who satirically presented the emir as a model who must be exposed to the world, said religious bigots must be publicly condemned.

He said he was dedicating his poems which he read at the session to the emir who he ironically presented as a great Nigerian figure, jurist, legalist, leader, and a royal figure; leader of men and women, a role model, one of the most tolerant ecumenically spirited individual that this nation has ever produced. His name is Sulu-Gambari, the emir of Ilorin.

Mr Soyinka said: The poem will be dedicated to him in appreciation of his role, leadership model, his exemplary quality, virtue of tolerance to his subjects, fellow beings generally, I will like to commend him, to recommend him to all of you here, and in fact, all the world, as an example to follow in your dealings with your fellow men, women, and children. In fact, it should go further to possibly outstrip him, because virtues like tolerance as we have listed are given to martyrdom, to the immolation of the innocent. It leads to the public butchering of our children such as Deborah, for instance.

The kind of virtues I am talking about leads to turning our children into murderers, murdering their own colleagues. At their tender ages, they become killers, simply because of examples of tolerance of leadership shown by figures like the emir, Sulu Gambari.

With the people like Sulu Gambari, Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al-Shabaab, and all those who believe that theirs and only theirs is the only way of understanding and approaching God And heaven help all those who cannot follow the paths they are blazing so openly, so lovingly than the rest of humanity.

He said the emir should visit other Islamic nations, where he said people of other faiths are accommodated.

He cited the example of the Emirate, where he said he once taught and that non-Muslims are respected with areas dedicated to them for shopping items such as liquor.

But as poets, as humanists, we continue our duty to bring them to the limelight, and even further we could invite them to visit other places. If necessary we could organise even their expenditure, even give them estacodes to bring them to other areas, other societies which practice the same religion that they say they are promoting, so they can see how others of the same faith treat other human beings of other faiths. And I am talking of the societies like the Emirates where this religion becomes in the first place before they came Gbawere mesin in countries like Nigeria where literally everyday somebody is being butchered, macheted, and disfigured, simply because they prefer their own paths the professor said.

About book presentation

Hosted at the headquarters of the Providus Bank in Lagos, the reading session by Mr Soyinka was in honour of a nonagenarian painter, Bruce Onobrakpeya, who thanked Mr Soyinka for the honour.

Mr Onobrakpeya, whose works of art used in the book were also exhibited at the venue, said his cherished works on display included the ones representing the Chibok girls and another painting depicting the struggles of Africans trying to cross to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.

The artist said like poets, painting is another form of words, and thanked Mr Soyinka for consenting to work with him over the years.

Meanwhile, the duo of Tade Ipadeola and Juliet Nnaji engaged Mr Soyinka in a conversation on the selected poems, reigniting memories of such works as Telephone Conversation, Abiku, among others.

The event drew dignitaries including former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lagos, Duro Oni; former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Yemi Ogunbiyi; popular artist and musician, Jimi Solanke; veteran thespian, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.

Compered by art enthusiast and renowned journalist, Jahman Anikulapo, the event was attended by other authors including Ogaga Ifowodo and Toni Kan. Also on hand were Mr Soyinkas children- Makin and Olaokun Soyinka, and the latters wife, Lola Shoneyin, a celebrated writer herself.

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has reportedly resigned from his position.

Daily Trust newspaper reports that Mr Adamu resigned on Sunday night.

He had also told the newspaper that he would not speak on his purported resignation until President Bola Tinubu returned from Kenya where the president is attending the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

I wont talk about the issue because the president is away, Mr Adamu was quoted as saying.

However, the newspaper reported Monday morning that the APC chairman submitted his letter of resignation to Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president, quoting credible sources.

When contacted, APC spokesperson Felix Morka did not confirm nor deny the report.

I cannot confirm anything at the moment, Mr Morka told PREMIUM TIMES via phone on Monday morning.

This newspaper could not reach Mr Gbajabiamila as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.

Other APC sources that PREMIUM TIMES contacted on Monday morning could not also confirm Mr Adamus resignation.

Mr Adamu was a senator representing Nasarawa West before his emergence as thruling partys national chairmanty last year.

He also served as the Nasarawa State governor between 1999 and 2007.

He emerged the National Chairman of the APC in March 2022.

Adamus battles

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Adamu distanced the NWC from the choice of the principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, saying their appointment was coming to him as a rumour.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the names of the new principal officers of their respective chambers at the resumption of plenary on 4 July.

However, Mr Adamu, accompanied by the National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, visited Mr Tinubu the following day during which they resolved the rift.

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Until Mr Tinubu emerged the presidential candidate of the APC, Mr Adamu and some members of the NWC did not support his ambition. They backed the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who came fourth in the partys presidential primary on 8 June, 2022.

Meanwhile, some members of the NWC have been running battles with Mr Adamu whom they accused of running the party as a one-man show.

For instance, Salihu Lukman, the national vice chairman(North-west) of the party, had repeatedly called for the removal of Messrs Adamu and Omisore.

He accused the duo of violating the constitution of the party and operating an opaque financial system and at some point took legal action against the NWC.

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Kayode Ajulo, a lawyer to Iyola Omisore, says the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not resigned from his office.

Mr Ajulo said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

There have been media speculations about the resignation of the APC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, and Mr Omisore ahead of the partys National Working Committee (NWC ) meeting on Monday.

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But Mr Ajulo said Monday that it was unlikely for both the national chair and the secretary of the party to vacate their offices simultaneously.

He, therefore, described the rumoured resignation of Omisore as baseless and unfounded.

He said the former Osun senator would attend the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) scheduled for Monday.

He said if Mr Omisore will resign, that would be a personal decision, adding that he has not been forced to resign as being insinuated in some quarters.

Why must he resign? He is the National Secretary of the winning party that has just ushered in the new government of President Bola Tinubu.

He is proud of what the president is doing, and the party enjoys the confidence of the president and vice versa.

What he is doing now is to stabilise the political space and ensure that those who worked for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people are happy with the government, Mr Ajulo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were also rumours on July 16 over the alleged resignation of the National Adamu.

NAN reports that Mr Omisore was also rumoured to have written his resignation letter ahead of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings of the party scheduled for 17 July.

(NAN)

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Russia on Monday said it will not continue participating in the United Nations and Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal.

In fact, the Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today, Aljazeera quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters.

The deal, since its signing in July 2022, has reportedly helped lower food prices by more than 20 per cent globally and has alleviated a global food crisis.

Russias refusal to continue with the deal comes as it expires on Monday amid several extensions. Prior to this, Russia had been saying for months that conditions for its extension had not been fulfilled.

Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated, Mr Peskov added.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying that Moscow had notified Ukraine, Turkey and the UN about its decision on the deal.

According to Moscows ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, a note had been sent from the embassy to Ukraine via diplomatic channels that the deal would be terminated from 18 July.

Russia and Ukraine are among the worlds top grain exporters and their war which started in February 2022 sent food prices through the roof, exacerbating food insecurity across the world.

The Black Sea deal allows Ukraine to continue to export grains via the Black Sea despite the Russian invasion. The deal was also supposed to allow Russia export some of its products, mainly fertilizers, without US and European sanctions, something Russia claims is not being allowed.

Germany continues to appeal to Russia to extend the Black Sea grain deal, according to the countrys government spokesperson.

Despite Russias position, Russian grain exporting union Rusgrain has said that its members plan to continue supplying customers with Russian grain at competitive prices.

Russia is the largest supplier of wheat to the world market  All contractual obligations of Russian grain exporters will be fulfilled, Aljazeera quoted the groups as saying.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the continuation of the Black sea grain deal.

Speaking to reporters, he said he would discuss the deal, including the export of Russian fertiliser, with Russias Putin when they meet in person during an expected meeting in August.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russias position describing it as a cynical move, adding that the EU would continue to work towards ensuring food security for vulnerable countries.

I strongly condemn Russias cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Turkiyes efforts, she tweeted, adding that the EU is working to ensure food security for the worlds vulnerable.

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The House of Representatives has called for the establishment of a Defence Space Force (DSF) to tackle the barrage of insecurity ravaging the country.

Babajimi Benson, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on the screening of service chief nominees, made the call during the screening of the service chiefs in Abuja on Monday.

Those screened are Christopher Musa, a major general, who was confirmed as the chief of defence staff; Taoreed Lagbaja, a major general, as the chief of army staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, a rear admiral, as the chief of naval staff and Hassan Abubakar, an air vice marshal, as the chief of air staff.

Mr Tinubu appointed them on 19 June. However, they have since assumed duties making the screening and confirmation a mere formality.

Mr Benson said, Nigeria must tap into and harness the potential of having a Defence Space Force, like in the United States of America.

He, however, acknowledged the immense contributions of the Defence Space Administration (DSA), adding that there was a need for a full-fledged DSF.

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This, according to him, is to adequately handle potential threats from cyberspace and provide intelligence support to other services.

He expressed delight with the successes recorded, especially last year, adding that the country acknowledged the robust achievements.

He said it was proof of the level of professionalism often displayed by the military in discharging their duties while calling for effective collaboration with sister security agencies.

This, he said, would ensure that all security threats were completely neutralised and Nigerians could live peacefully.

Dear nominees, securing the lives and property of Nigerians is a collective task for all arms of government.

As a parliament, we are required to legislate for the good and peaceful governance of the country. This is a responsibility that the 10th House of Representatives is keenly committed to, he said.

He said the House would continue to provide the necessary legislative framework to the current government in its quest to ensure that Nigerians live in peace.

We must work collectively to deliver more on the goals of this administration to drastically reduce cases of insecurity across the country.

While the House will continue to support this vision through our legislative activities, we shall also embark on rigorous oversight exercises, beginning from this screening, he said

This, he said, is to ensure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria adhere strictly to the provisions of all appropriation Acts to be passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

He further urged the nominee to cooperate with the NASS while performing their constitutional duties of ensuring a peaceful, secure and prosperous country for all Nigerians.

(NAN)

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Some lawyers have filed a contempt suit against the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, over the continued detention of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The lawyers anchored the suit filed on the alleged violation of multiple judgements ordering the release of Mr Emefiele.

The lawyers, led by Maxwell Opara and Ahmed Tijani, prayed the court to jail Mr Bichi for contempt.

The lawyers filed a motion before the court to issue Form 48 and Form 49, the forms used to commence proceedings to commit a contemnor to prison.

The lawyers said that by the judgements and orders of judges of the FCT High Court  M. A. Hassan, Hamza Muazu, and Bello Kawu  the DG of SSS ought to have released Mr Emefiele from detention.

In an affidavit supporting the application, the lawyers stated that Mr Hassan restrained SSS and other respondents from arresting, detaining, or interrogating Mr Emefiele.

This was regarding offences connected to terrorism financing, money laundering, round tripping and financial crimes of national security dimension.

They also deposed that despite the clear and positive orders of the court, the SSS went ahead to arrest and detain Mr Emefiele and detained him for over a month while shopping for evidence, which did not exist.

Addressing journalists after filing their processes, Mr Opara said the group would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and ensure that Mr Bichi was sent to prison.

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He said this was to serve as a deterrent to other heads of security agencies that disobedience of court orders would no longer be tolerated.

Mr Opara also said it was preposterous that the SSS had accused Mr Emefiele of committing heinous crimes against the state only for it to file now a charge of possession of a validly registered pump action rifle against him.

Is it not clear enough to Nigerians that the SSS is persecuting Mr Emefiele if, after holding him for five weeks, they can only file a ridiculous charge of possessing a validly registered pump action gun?

This clearly shows that the travails of Mr Emefiele are more of political reasons than any other.

(NAN)

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed 21 July for the arraignment of a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date after EFCCs counsel, Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), prayed the court to allow the defendants to take their plea, having filed the charge against them on 17 December 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had charged Ms Oduah alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and others.

The arraignment of the defendants has been postponed for various reasons over 14 times since the case was filed in 2021.

The senator, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, was scheduled to be arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as the Minister of Aviation.

In the 25-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, they are accused of conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with a commercial bank.

Mondays hearing

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Mr Liman said that on 15 June, the court drew the attention of counsel to a letter or petition written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria against Mr Ekwo, and the judge gave a directive to the EFCC to investigate to unravel the identity of the persons.

He said the commission had carried out the investigation and was able to trace the identity of the person via the telephone number.

According to the lawyer, he is said to be one Okolo Obinna Johnson, a promoter of two companies.

He said the effort was made through the search and linked BVN of the alleged person via the telephone number submitted and that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) cooperated with the EFCC.

However, Mr Liman said the anti-graft agency tried to track the physical person, in conjunction with other security agencies, but was unsuccessful.

This is how far the commission has gone in carrying out the directive of the court, he said.

He assured the EFCC would not leave any stone unturned in bringing the culprit to book.

A defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi, a SAN, said he would not be silent when the court was threatened.

No one should threaten our judges. It is up to the work of the judges that this country continues to survive, he said.

Ogwu James, SAN, said the issue was not about the petition but their contact with the court.

He said though anybody had the right to write a petition, sending a message to the court was the issue.

The EFCCs lawyer then said that the commission had gotten the call log of the number through their investigation.

The judge, who wondered how the person got his phone number, said, That character was sending messages to me, thereby breaching my privacy.

Mr Ekwo, who said the order to arrest the person was still subsisting, said: The order was to find him, bring him to court and let me deal with the matter.

He said the order given to the deputy chief registrar, Litigation of the court, to get the certified particulars of another organisation involved in the matter at CAC had been carried out.

He asked if anybody represented the organisation in the court, but no one stood up.

The judge then said that the organisations letter, the phone number and their names would be given to the EFCC to arrest them and bring them to court.

He expressed displeasure at how the trial was allowed to degenerate, saying, The court is never without an option, but out of respect to you, I will not take those options.

He said the matter would be tried to reach a conclusion.

Mr Ekwo said any defendant not in court anytime the matter is fixed for trial would be ordered to be arrested and remanded in detention.

Mr Liman, therefore, appealed that the defendants be ordered to take their plea, even as the investigation continued with persons behind the letter and the text messages.

But all the defence lawyers maintained that the matter was adjourned for the report.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until 21 July to take the defendants pleas.

(NAN)

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has again threatened to revoke shops in various markets in the state if the owners in obedience to the sit-at-home order fail to open their shops on Mondays.

The sit-at-home order is being enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Mr Mbah stated this on Monday when he visited Ogbete Main Market in Enugu while monitoring the effectiveness of a ban he placed on the sit-at-home order in the state.

The governor had, in June, banned the Monday sit-at-home in the state, explaining that the civil action was killing the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity of Igbo people in the South-east region.

He had, earlier this month, ordered all public servants and political office holders in the state to begin reporting to their places of work on Monday or face sanctions.

Within the same week, he equally threatened to shut schools and markets that observe the civil action in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES, however, reports that the civil action has continued to hold in the state despite the ban by the governor.

Fresh threat

Apparently angered by the continued observance of the illegal order, the governor, on Monday, warned that, from next week, he would begin revoking shops whose owners fail to open for business on Mondays.

But you know, there are also consequences for (people) not heeding our orders. Going forward, I want to put you on notice. I will go around the state again on Monday next week.

We are going to come with the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority to put a seal on any shop that is found locked on Monday because of the illegal sit-at-home. We will take it that you are not ready to do business, he said.

We are going to revoke your licence to operate. We will revoke your shop title and reallocate it to someone else, who is ready to do business. This is something we must enforce with effect from Monday next week, Mr Mbah added.

Massive losses

Mr Mbah decried the impact of the sit-at-home order on businesses and the economy of the South-east. He urged residents of the state to ignore the illegal order.

We are losing over N10 billion every Monday that we sit at home. Enough is enough. This foolishness must end now.

We cannot be marginalising ourselves and still complain of marginalisation. We must say no to sit-at-home because what it means is that we are destroying our employment, our economy and our Gross Domestic Product, he said.

Meeting with business communities

The governor, who met with some market leaders at the state secretariat Enugu, assured the business people that his administration would continue to provide adequate security on Mondays.

Responding, the market leaders pledged to cooperate with the governor by shunning the civil action on Mondays.

Stephen Aniagu, the president of Enugu State Amalgamated Traders Association, told the governor that entrepreneurs in the state had agreed to begin reopening their businesses from next Monday.

A leader in Abakpa Nike Market, Bernard Anike, said traders in the market had started complying with the ban on the sit-at-home order.

Background

IPOB, in August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-east to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu who is facing terrorism trial.

The separatist group later suspended the order, in preference for it to be implemented only on the days Mr Kanu appears in court.

But despite its suspension, residents of the five South-east states  Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra  have been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, mostly out of fear.

IPOB had repeatedly disowned the Monday sit-at-home across the region, saying those who still enforce the order were criminals attempting to blackmail the separatist group.

A leader of Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB, Simon Ekpa, has continued to declare the sit-at-home orders in the region despite its suspension by the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria.

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Nigeria may have recorded recorded index cases of anthrax, a bacterial disease that affects domestic and wild animals and can infect human beings.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Monday, officially confirmed the development in a statement signed by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Columba Vakuru.

The report claimed Mr Vakuru said animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported to his office on 14 July.

The statement reads in part, The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, where some of the animals had symptoms including oozing of blood from their body openings  anus, nose, eyes and ears.

About Anthrax

According to experts, anthrax outbreaks are fairly common worldwide and mostly affect agricultural workers.

Humans become sick with the disease by handling animal products such as wool, hide or bone from animals infected with the anthrax bacterium, NAN reported.

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The bacteria lives in the soil and usually infects wild and domestic animals, such as goats, cattle and sheep.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those with pulmonary anthrax are at risk of respiratory collapse and suffer the highest mortality rate of any anthrax victims, with 92 per cent of cases resulting in death.

The CDC said the third form of the disease, gastrointestinal anthrax, can occur when a person consumes the meat of an anthrax-infected animal.

This is the rarest form of anthrax in the United States, but it can be deadly: Between 20 and 60 per cent of all gastrointestinal-anthrax cases result in death, it said.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the most common form of the disease, cutaneous anthrax, was contracted when bacteria spores enter the body through a cut or scrape on the skin.

Of the three forms of the disease  cutaneous, pulmonary and gastrointestinal, cutaneous anthrax is the easiest to treat with antibiotics.

It is said that anthrax can also be inhaled into the human respiratory tract  this pulmonary method of infection is most common among those who process wool and animal hides.

The U.S. was hit by an anthrax scare in September 2001 after letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices and politicians, killing five and infecting 17 others.

Meanwhile, in October 2014, an outbreak of gastrointestinal and skin anthrax in a village in Jharkhand, India, reportedly killed seven people, and in July 2016, nearly 100 people from nomadic communities in northern Siberia were hospitalised with the disease.

Recently, the Canadian authorities said they were investigating a suspected outbreak among bison in the North-west territories.

According to World Organisation on Animal Health (WOAH), the infection with Bacillus anthracis (BA), occurs through direct exposure to active bacteria or bacterial spores.

The WOAH said that the measures for protecting workers from exposure to BA depend on the type of work performed and knowledge of exposure risk, including the potential for spore release from an accidental or intentional event.

It said that the adaptation of infection control strategies based on a thorough hazard assessment was necessary for implementing infection prevention and control measures, including engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the anthrax outbreak in Ghana poses a great public health risk to Nigeria due to the dangerous and highly transmissible nature of the disease.

The agency stated this in a joint public health advisory signed by its director general, Ifedayo Adetifa, and the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Columba Vakuru.

It warned Nigerians against non-essential travel to the northern region of Ghana, especially the Upper East Region where the outbreak was reported.

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The bacteria live in the soil and usually infect wild and domestic animals, such as goats, cattle and sheep.

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I have done a quick tour of several issues on the subject of good purpose, innovation, sustainable business and partnerships. The common thread among these issues is that we collectively have duty and great purpose to use the best of our organisational assets in finance and technology to collaborate, innovate and impact on our people, to make Nigeria a country that works for many more people, a nation where prosperity is more widely shared. We must all play our own parts, working together to arrest the drift of Nigeria into a tale of two countries.

Introduction



The Development Bank of Nigeria has a lofty mission, which is to facilitate sustainable socio economic development through the provision of finance to Nigerias underserved MSMEs through eligible financial intermediaries. I congratulate DBN on the good work it has been doing in fulfilling its mission and providing inclusive finance for more of MSMEs, millions of which have been historically excluded from formal financial services. At OPay, we share with DBN a similar purpose, which is to deepen financial inclusion through the use of technology. Inherent in your mission statement is the intent of partnership working through eligible intermediaries to reach your MSME target markets. This occasion of Techpreneur Summit is therefore very appropriate. While we all continue to push the frontiers of financial inclusion, the experience of Q1 this year, during the limited cash implementation, tells us of the imperative to do more to get many more of our 45 million MSMEs financially included. Many of the MSMEs, during the time, did not have digital payment collection capabilities and were significantly challenged at the period. OPay played its part along with other players in the ecosystem to solve this problem. Yet, there is still so much to get done to bring millions of our MSMEs into the formal financial rail.

Delivering inclusive MSME finance in Nigeria is the fulfillment of great purpose. According the National Bureau of Statistics, four of every five Nigerians in employment are self-employed. Most them, we can extrapolate, would be MSMEs in the informal sector and which are financially excluded. Solving the challenge of inclusive finance for MSMEs would therefore strike at the heart of the problem of social exclusion in Nigeria and enable us build a society of more widely shared prosperity; a Nigeria that works for many more people. If you could therefore permit me, I will like to modify the theme of my short talk to Pursuing Great Purpose: Sustainable Impact and Partnerships for Tech Businesses.

Large Social and Commercial Exclusion in Nigeria

We all do know of the Nigeria poverty data that 63% of our people are multi-dimensionally poor. What I will like to focus on, however, is the link between poverty and commercial markets and large commercial exclusion in Nigeria. When businesses, especially traditional ones, define their addressable markets, they tend to define them as markets or market segments where they could do business profitably, unless the businesses are driven by some high altruistic goals of social impact, which is not very common. The reality, therefore, is that for most commercial businesses, given that 60% of our people are poor, where they cannot see profitable market opportunities, our businesses become largely focused commercially on serving 40% of Nigeria or at best just about half of the Nigeria population and they are then largely irrelevant to the other half. I describe this as the challenge of high commercial exclusion in Nigeria. The cost of this form of exclusion is huge on society. We see this in financial inclusion where formal financial services reach just 51% of our people, in high rate child malnutrition as many children have no access to nutritious meals, constrained access to formal education with Nigeria having one of the highest populations of out-of-school children and similarly in health care and high energy poverty. If it is true that talents are evenly distributed but opportunities are not, the exclusion of about half of our people from commercial markets represents potentially throwing away 50% of our national commercial possibilities in terms of large markets, employment and shared prosperity.

Nigeria is indeed a tale of two countries with our acute social inequalities. Even our tech communities and businesses are beginning to behave like the traditional commercial incumbents, focusing on just about half of our population and excluding the rest. In financial services, for example, there are more fintechs and fintech investments focused on providing more services for the underserved (that is those who are already banked but underserved by banks), than those which are focused on extending financial services to half of the population that have been historically excluded. According to the EFINA 2020 Access to Finance Comparative data, Kenya had 83% formal financial inclusion in 2019, 44% provided by banks and 39% provided by non-banks, which would be largely fintechs. Essentially, the fintechs in Kenya extended the financial service rail by 39%, nearly doing as much as the banks in reaching new historically excluded customers.

Digital technology enables radically new business models that unlock markets that were historically thought unprofitable and excluded. This digital innovation effects, when combined with partnerships, could expand market access and reach, at scale and at low cost. The ecosystem also tends to have many assets in business and organisational silos that when networked together, in deliberate partnership, for a bigger purpose, could create more value for society, the customers and the businesses that own them.

The comparative data in Nigeria is that while formal financial inclusion is 51%, 45% of the served were done by banks and only an additional 6% were exclusively served by non-banks, and mostly fintechs. Essentially, fintechs and non-banks in Nigeria, only extended the financial rail by just 6% in the real sense as at 2020. I am sharing these numbers to prick the conscience of our tech entrepreneurs, tech brothers and sisters, that there is a greater social purpose we have to fulfill to drive more extended financial inclusion, not just to chase the customers of incumbent banks even when they may be underserved. Our social impact is bigger that way. You do not need to look too closely to see that most of our tech ecosystem activities are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, Port Hacourt and a few big commercial cities. Our tech brothers and sisters must recognise that we must make as much impact in Lekki, as well as Lokoja; in Abuja, as well as in Abonema; and in Port Harcourt, as well as in Potiskum. We must ensure that we live no one behind in being part of the opportunities of the modern digital financial system. That is the lesson of Cashless in Q1 this year; that we all have so much to do collectively as a tech ecosystem in extending the digital financial rail and making it more inclusive.

Sustainable Business Impact

Let me now discuss in the second part of this talk, the subject of sustainable business impact and partnerships, part of the theme of this event. There are two dimensions of sustainable business impact, which are sometimes in healthy tension. The first is the overall positive impact of our business interventions on society and the second is ensuring that our businesses that are doing great impact work, are commercially sustainable as going concerns. The tensions can be very tough, especially for businesses that wants to pursue great altruistic purposes. I have personally, however, learnt that between good technology innovation and partnerships are usually the resolution for these tensions. Digital innovation enables us to do far more for less, with its low transaction cost of information search, matching of buyers and sellers, low bargaining and order fulfillment costs. Digital technology enables radically new business models that unlock markets that were historically thought unprofitable and excluded. This digital innovation effects, when combined with partnerships, could expand market access and reach, at scale and at low cost. The ecosystem also tends to have many assets in business and organisational silos that when networked together, in deliberate partnership, for a bigger purpose, could create more value for society, the customers and the businesses that own them.

There is however the challenge of sometimes large information asymmetry in the ecosystem, in which players who have potentially complementary assets for partnerships cannot discover themselves. How do we solve this? Programmes like this Techpreneur summit, facilitated by the DBN, are some of the ways in which the market information and discovery problem could be solved, bringing diverse players together to discover potential partnership opportunities. So if you are here today, please make sure you network well. However, more importantly, please know that there is now a digital borderless world for information discovery today, which enables you to find the assets that could complement yours, to discover partners that could complement you, innovating jointly to solve social and market problems.

The subject of fair deals in partnerships is always a big contending issue, especially for startups who sometimes feel they are getting the short end of the stick. The reality is that in partnership negotiation, what you will get is a function of your market, commercial or asset power, relative to your partners. Those who own platforms that are gateways to accessing large bases of customers at scale, tend to exact strong market access power and toll gate effect.

Regulation

In forming partnerships, it may be important to think thoroughly if there would be regulatory implications of our proposed partnerships. And if so, engage regulators proactively and where necessary seek regulatory guidance and approvals. The cost of not recognising potential regulatory implications of partnerships could be very severe in the unwinding of relationships, unwinding co-joined assets and loss of investments in franchise built on such partnerships. As we innovate jointly in partnerships, we must also have a good view of compliance and regulations and put as much zeal in the proactive management of regulatory and compliance issues, as in the engineering design and franchise building plans of our partnership products. Tech and ecosystem players should have an open mind approach to regulation, recognising that regulators see wider and broader than our individual businesses in terms of macro-effects of innovation and perhaps their un-intended consequences. I have found the Steve Covey principle from the 7th Habits of Highly Effective People, one of which says, Seek first to understand before being understood as a very useful principle in engaging regulators. Seek first to understand any potential concern of the regulators and address it, then you can thereafter seek the understanding of the regulator for your innovative proposal. You are more likely to get regulatory empathy and guidance this way than if you ignore regulation in your innovative journey.

Fair Deals in Partnership

The subject of fair deals in partnerships is always a big contending issue, especially for startups who sometimes feel they are getting the short end of the stick. The reality is that in partnership negotiation, what you will get is a function of your market, commercial or asset power, relative to your partners. Those who own platforms that are gateways to accessing large bases of customers at scale, tend to exact strong market access power and toll gate effect. You see this from telecoms to tech, to fintech and all verticals. Google and Apple, through the Google Play store and the iOS App store respectively, have strong toll gate revenues from apps on their platform that can be largely accessed by new customers through those platforms. While a new potentially great app product may grumble, it cannot say it will not make itself available on the Playstore or Apple store because it is not getting the commercial deal it wants. Those who did that have found that no one knows them and their franchise becomes largely limited. The issue then for startups is to evaluate the opportunity cost of not connecting to big platforms, even when they hold the short end of the stick, compared to what they would get if they do not partner, to expand their reach and market access. In many instances, market access and the potential to reach a large base of customers tend to be always worth the price paid for the partnership with big platforms. And as the startup builds a successful franchise through its market access and as its market and commercial power increases, it can re-negotiate initial commercial agreement for better deals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have done a quick tour of several issues on the subject of good purpose, innovation, sustainable business and partnerships. The common thread among these issues is that we collectively have duty and great purpose to use the best of our organisational assets in finance and technology to collaborate, innovate and impact on our people, to make Nigeria a country that works for many more people, a nation where prosperity is more widely shared. We must all play our own parts, working together to arrest the drift of Nigeria into a tale of two countries. That is the greater (big picture) purpose of programmes such as this Techpreneur event. My commendations to the Development Bank of Nigeria, the organisers and everyone who is participating. Best wishes to us all as we make a difference.

Olu Akanmu is President and Co-CEO of OPay-Nigeria

This is the text of a Keynote Speech delivered at the Techpreneur Summit 23, organised by the Development Bank of Nigeria.

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Ukrainian FM to pay working visit to UN HQ in New York on July 17-18

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will pay a working visit to the UN Headquarters in New York on July 17 and 18, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine (MFA) said.

According to a statement posted on the MFA website, on July 17, Kuleba will take part in the ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council on Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as in a high-level event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

On July 18, the foreign minister will speak at the debates of the UN General Assembly on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

In addition, Kuleba will hold a number of bilateral negotiations with foreign colleagues, the leadership of the UN Development Program, as well as with a group of permanent representatives of African states to the UN.
Until we each pursue value re-orientation with all vigor, we will never be able to achieve much as a nation. The task of collective national re-orientation must begin at the level of instilling the good values. We wish to project as a nation into our children and youths, through families, schools, media houses, religious organisations and government policies. More importantly, every Nigerian must resolve that social sins highlighted by men like Mahatma Ghandi must be eradicated in the country. These are: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality and worship without sacrifice. More so, crimes and offences should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others. Hard work should be rewarded and only men and women of integrity should be elected/appointed to leadership positions.

Is Nigeria Ready to Go form the Third World to the First World?

A leader that Nigerians like to refer to and quote in recent times has been Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. Nigerians like to use the example of how Singapore moved from a third world country to a first world nation in one generation. Unfortunately, these teachers and demagogues dont usually tell us how Lee Kuan Yew managed to achieve his feat. Lee Kuan Yew, like no other man, understood the importance of altering the value system of a nation before trying to make that nation a great nation. He understood that nations and peoples are not great by the virtue of their wealth; they are only great by the wealth of their virtues.

So, as a matter of urgency, Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore embarked on a journey to aggressively enforce a godly value system in the society. He did this by instilling in the culture of the people a strict system of penalties. The penal system of Singapore is only rivaled by those of some of the Muslim nations of the Middle East. Briefly, we shall have a look at some of the penalties in the Singapore society. Incidentally, even though some of these penalties were established decades ago, they are still being adhered to by the people of Singapore today because for forty years they were enforced by Lee Kuan Yew. So, when we admire the state of Singapore  their progress, stability, wealth, prosperity and sound value systems, we should know that these things dont just fall from the sky they must be introduced and enforced by somebody. This therefore must be the role of a remnant leader. Lee Kuan Yew was a remnant leader who understood the importance of value systems in developing a nation.

Are We Ready to Become a Singapore?

Here are some of the penalties for civil disobedience in Singapore:

If you are caught chewing gum, you are penalized. You pay a fine of $1000 or a year in prison. If you cross the road in the wrong place, you are going to be penalized because you did not act by the truth. You pay a fine of $200. If you are found littering the place by throwing bottles or paper on the ground, you are either imprisoned or heavily fined $800 dollars. If you are caught spitting or defecating in public, you are penalized with prison sentence or a heavy fine. If you are caught throwing a cigarette butt, you would be penalized with similar punishment. $1000 as a first offender and $5000 for repeat offender. If you are caught with illegal drugs, you are sentenced to death Eating in public transportation or smoking at an outdoor bus stop incurs fines, ranging from $500  $1000. If you are caught vandalizing, like making graffiti, you are caned  up to 24 strokes on your bare buttocks. If you use the public toilet and do not flush it after yourself, you will be caned. If you walk about undressed or nude, even in your own house, you would be heavily penalized. If you hug in public without permission you would be penalized. If you criticize other religions, you are going to prison. If you tell lies, for example, introducing a stranger as your friend, it is considered deception and you go to jail. If you log on to an Internet connection that you have not paid for. It is considered hacking and you have to pay for it. It attracts $5000 fine. If you are caught in unlawful sexual relationship, you get 2 years imprisonment. Mutiny, discharge of firearm, treason, murder are punishable by death. Robbery is punishable by caning and prison sentence. Driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by hefty fines and prison term. Piracy is punishable by a fine of $1000 Theft and shoplifting are punishable by heavy fines. Racism attracts heavy penalties.

Now, I will like to look in the face of those people who use Singapore as an example for Nigeria. How many of them will approve of such measures as listed above? We all as a people need to learn afresh to live orderly. We must learn to live right. No matter what anyone thinks of the measures above, the results cannot be denied. All lovers of freedom and democracy all over the world criticize any country they want to, but leave Singapore alone because Singapore has more results to show than all those countries that are criticizing others for lack of freedom and democracy. We can only be great by the wealth of our virtues before we will become great by the virtue of our wealth. The question now is, is the Nigerian populace ready for the change they are clamoring for? Will the Nigerian elites tolerate a leader like Lee Kuan Yew? Will they embrace such measures as we have seen above to be implemented in Nigeria today? Wont we use the flimsy arguments of freedom of speech and democracy to kill such an initiative, if not such remnant leader himself? What kind of leadership is APC and Tinubu bringing to Nigeria in 2023? Would Tinubu leave his marks in history like Lee Kuan Yew? Ca Nigeria become the next rising nation of the world? The answer to these and many more questions will depend on how serious the new government takes the issues of formulating and enforcing a system of values to all Nigerians in all spheres of life.

Let me underline this point by saying, every nation deserves its leader, because leaders emerge from the populace. A righteous people would choose righteous leaders, but a corrupt people would be easily compromised into choosing corrupt politicians. Everything depends on the value system of the nation.

I therefore stand to call for a revolution of virtues, morals and values in our nation and continent. I hope this my lengthy missive gets to all presidential aspirants, especially APC leadership and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I hope our future government listens, but even more importantly I hope every conscientious Nigerian hears this cry in the wilderness. May Nigeria succeed and may all her haters live long to witness it. For the love of God, church and nation

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine.

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Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it, and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.  Aung San Suu Kyi

Until the process of vying for political office is reformed by reducing the expenses involved, with the perquisites of public office sanitised, alongside the curbing of the other attractions of political office, every chairman of EFCC will be brought down by the political system, whether s/he performs or underperforms. Does the EFCC have its own faults? Certainly, loads of them.

Based on documented history, the country agrees that public sector corruption is a bane of our progress as a nation. For decades, outsiders saw the country as a haven of corrupt activities. Within the country, news of corruption is the daily headliner. Although there are many good public servants, yet almost every public servant has been accused or is seen as corrupt. It is usually shocking when you find a non-corrupt one. The opposite is the norm. Regime after regime, every government has tried to do something about the problem of corruption. In 1999, President Obasanjo decided to provide a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for combatting public sector corruption. He birthed the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

As with everything, leadership matters. The quality of leadership determines the success or failure of any organisation. Somehow, the leadership of the EFCC from 2004 decided to do the extraordinary  tackle public sector corruption and exceed all known boundaries. Nuhu Ribadu took the bar so high that it laid a problem for the Commission. Prior to him, the norm was to idle away and conform to the usual. He decided to do otherwise and was, of course, the first victim of the political system. He survived, and posterity has proved him right. In his words, corruption will always fight back. The political system has recently claimed its recent victim, Abdul Rasheed Bawa.

Within the anti-corruption space, the Code of Corruption Bureau (CCB) has a bigger mandate of curbing public sector corruption. In the past eight years, the organisation has been dormant, while those at the helm of its affairs remain. There are over six hundred ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Just a few factual examples: the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has become run down, our electricity has not radically improved, the public healthcare system is comatose, and the country still bleeds from wastage in the oil and gas sector. Though there are no penalties for crass incompetence, the change of those who were part of the problem elicits hope in the citizen that things will be better.

All the research on Nigerias electoral financing points to public sector corruption. Countering such falls within the realm of the EFCC, ICPC and CCB. Effectively combatting it requires holding the politician class accountable for the public resources it oversees. The oxygen of political aspiration and survival is too dependent on public sector funds. While others have decided to look away, that is the area the the EFCC has focused on since 2004.

In a recent BBC Hausa interview, I was asked why always the EFCC? My answer has not changed. I believe its the style of democracy that we have chosen to operate. The political system is just too attractive and too lucrative. Candidates need millions just to become local government chairmen, and billions to be governors and president, respectively. What legitimate business can put aside so much funds just to contest elections? All the research on Nigerias electoral financing points to public sector corruption. Countering such falls within the realm of the EFCC, ICPC and CCB. Effectively combatting it requires holding the political class accountable for the public resources it oversees. The oxygen of political aspiration and survival is too dependent on public sector funds. While others have decided to look away, that is the area EFCC has swarmed since 2004.

Until the process of vying for political office is reformed by reducing the expenses involved, with the perquisites of public office sanitised, alongside the curbing of the other attractions of political office, every chairman of EFCC will be brought down by the political system, whether s/he performs or underperforms. Does the EFCC have its own faults? Certainly, loads of them. There are reported cases of the gross abuse of power, intimidation, connivance, and the creation of gateways for wanton extortions and rent-seeking. Although common with most law enforcement agencies worldwide, these issues should not be taken lightly as they have destroyed people, reputations, dignities, careers and businesses. But out of over six hundred federal institutions, evidence shows that the agency is one of the best in terms of professionalism, efficiency and public trust.

Parties are loosely regulated, with no real penalties for infractions. INEC is mostly visible during electioneering and absent in the core regulatory function of sanitising the political system. The institution has done very little to reduce corruption in our electoral systems. Until that is done, no EFCC chair will survive, nor will the judiciary ever maintain its integrity and dignity.

The same political system has put undue pressure on the judiciary. Over 70% of our electoral matters are in the courts. I have heard judges assert that before the incursion of politicians, the integrity of the judiciary was intact. Politicians have permeated the judiciary to strip it of its dignity and honour. It was only when a politician was involved that the phrase perpetual injunction came into the terminology of the court system. Politicians have mastered the art of permeating the judiciary by all means  especially through spouses.

Since our brand of democracy has come to stay, the solution to these problems lies essentially with INEC! The institution is legally empowered and responsible for designing ways to minimise electoral spending and eliminating money in politics. INEC, as the regulator, needs to design and implement a system for political parties to act in manners that deemphasise the use of funds as the entry point to political office. Thats where all the problem starts. Parties are loosely regulated, with no real penalties for infractions. INEC is mostly visible during electioneering and absent in the core regulatory function of sanitising the political system. The institution has done very little to reduce corruption in our electoral systems. Until that is done, no EFCC chair will survive, nor will the judiciary ever maintain its integrity and dignity.

Umar Yakubu writes from Center for Fiscal Transparency and serves on the Board of the United Nations Convention against Corruption Coalition.

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President Bola Tinubus most significant appointments till date have been those of the Service Chiefs. The import of this is understandable: the level of insecurity in the country is still perilous. Wanton killings and kidnapping for ransom by non-state actors have continued on an industrial scale. The high level of insecurity in the country has defied all military solutions so far and made every administration the butt of jokes and snide jabs. For these reasons, the Tinubu Presidency must embrace new strategies to change the narrative.

Statistics of this anomaly within his first two weeks in office are petrifying. A total of 120 people were mindlessly killed, Amnesty International has reported. The macabre theatres of these nefarious acts were earlier Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, Rivers, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. More kidnappings and massacres have occurred since then, underscored by the recent bloodletting in Mangu, Plateau State, which left about 24 people dead.

Undoubtedly, the never-ending menace in Zamfara State, informed its former governor, Sani Yerimas visit to the president recently, during which he urged him to open negotiations or dialogue with the bandits, for peace to reign. Armed with AK47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons, these outlaws routinely attack villages, rape women and girls, steal their livestock and food, and burn down their houses. The bandits send the people letters with demands to pay protection taxes or they will not be allowed to farm. These criminals also ambush travellers, to abduct or kill them. Ransom in millions of naira are demanded and paid by families of the victims, just as countless number of communities have been razed for being incapable of paying up levies imposed on them. The homeless are taking refuge in internally displaced persons camps scattered across the northern parts of the country. Intriguingly, children and the aged are also affected.

This evil enterprise is now predominant in the North-western states of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Niger. Plateau and Benue states in the North-Central and Taraba in the North-East also fall into this malevolent loop. In Yerimas prognosis, the country can end the mayhem if it comes up with a rehabilitation programme, preceded by a successful negotiation with the bandits. According to him, poverty and ignorance are the major drivers of these felonious activities. Sadly, the ex-governor sidestepped the most causative factors  the abysmal failure of governance and abuse of power across the states and the centre. Yerima was in the saddle of leadership in the state from 1999 to 2007 and his performance was mediocre.

Indeed, thousands of lives have been needlessly wasted by bandits in all the six geo-political zones. Unarguably, Muhammadu Buharis regime earned the dubious distinction of being the worst in protecting the lives of citizens from these merchants of violence. Data from Nigerian National Tracker indicate that 89,920 people were killed in the first seven years of his administration  from 29 May, 2015 to May 2022. President Tinubu would need to arrest this drift to total chaos with the injection of new ideas into Nigerias security strategy or template.

Last Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Taoreed Lagbaja, however neutered Yerimas proposition when he hosted Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, who came to seek more military help for the state. But the buck really stops at the presidents table. The CAS misgiving about negotiating with outlaws stems from the fact that previous negotiations and even declarations of amnesty for the criminals, in Zamfara and Katsina states, never paid off as these actors subsequently reneged on the deals reached, prompting the states to thereafter enact laws that classified kidnapping as a capital offence. Lagbaja also noted that the break periods often afforded the bandits the opportunities to re-strategise and rearm for their renewed offensives.

Yet, tough talks and sustained kinetic operations by the military in these troubled zones have not been able to resolve the crises. Buhari, for instance, deployed troops several times to Zamfara and Katsina states on special missions against the bandits, which did not yield the needed result. Amnesty International (AI) had drawn attention to this in 2017 when its team visited Zamfara State at the height of bloodletting there. Its Director in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, had then observed: Although security forces were present in the state capital Gusau, researchers saw soldiers and air force personnel in only two of the villages they visited, Birane and Bagega. The kidnapping and killings are largely carried out in far-flung rural communities. With large swathes of ungoverned territory, the bandits are always ahead of the military and police. For this reason, the Yerima recipe is a propitious bait, which the President should take in the interest of peace.

In pushing the advocacy, we are not under any illusion that this is an easy or popular recourse. Such engagement is tantamount to walking a tight rope, as is always in other jurisdictions where this has been adopted. It demands serious planning and execution by a select team of patriotic Nigerians with unquestionable integrity. The late president, Umaru YarAdua pulled out all the stops in his administrations negotiation with Niger Delta militants in 2009, which restored normalcy of sorts in the oil-rich region. Those who embraced the mediation surrendered their weapons and were granted amnesty, given cash incentives and vocational training, which helped to rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society.

Some critics might argue that bandits, however, cannot be associated with any cause being pursue, unlike the militants who were fighting against marginalisation, environmental degradation and exploitation of their regions oil resources at that point in time. But the bandits lives of privation and ignorance, which Yerima alluded to, pose clear national security concerns. For instance, one of the failed negotiations, which the Zamfara State government under ex-Governor Bello Matawalle entered into with bandit leader, Kachalla Turji, who was then in charge of the Shinkafi/Sokoto conurbation, included the provision of boreholes, meaning that basic water supply is non-existent for most rural dwellers. The deal contained 10 packages. Sheikh Gumi, who led the charge, claimed that the governments failure to implement the nine other promises forced Turji and his criminal cohorts to abandon the peace process.

Besides, the release of 344 students of Government Science College Kagara in early 2021, was through Gumis deft negotiation. He engaged a lot of the bandits operating along the Zaria-Giwa Road and led government delegation to their hideouts in Zamfara forests in a short-lived rapprochement. Nigerians were critical of the Sheikhs role in granting amnesty to the felons and demanded maximal penal clampdown on them. Among the critics was the then governor of Kaduna State, Mallam el-Rufai. Gumi ended his self-assigned task amid official indifference from Abuja and the tag of terrorists on the bandits by a court.

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Lessons could be learnt from the release of 82 Chibok School girls in 2017, out of the 276 kidnapped in 2014. It was a product of the Federal Governments sustained negotiation with Boko Haram in a swap deal with their members and commanders in governments custody. Evidently, the Federal Government went into that deal from a position of strength. In other words, all the options  kinetic, human development and negotiation must be on the table. A replication of this is not impracticable. The truth is: a government that is worth its salt will not allow criminal or terror groups to hold the society to ransom indefinitely. States that have enacted punitive sanctions against banditry and kidnapping should enforce them to enable deterrence. Ironically, they are not doing so, thus helping the nefarious acts to fester.

Above all, the strength of bandits lies in the influx of small and light weapons into the country through the Sahelian region spanning Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, helped by Nigerias porous borders with these countries. Ominously, arms smuggling through the ports have been increasing in recent years. These sources of small arms and light weapons must be identified and blocked.

The President has charged the newly appointed service chiefs  for the Army, Air Force, Navy, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector General of Police  to deliver on national security, with assurance of his absolute support to them. He would make his job as the nations chief security officer, and theirs, a lot easier, by opening that Pandora Box  of prosecuting the 400 terror financiers identified by the Buhari regime in April 2022, which it hypocritically abandoned. To protect these conflict entrepreneurs and be committing billions of naira to counter-insurgency efforts is a contradiction in terms. It is a Buhari legacy that Tinubu should spurn; otherwise, his administrations plan to reset the country for peace, stability and economic resurgence will be another mirage.

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The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they have recovered a trailer loaded with cement 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.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said police operatives attached to the Area Command Headquarters in Ihiala made the recovery in collaboration with Anambra State Vigilante Group on Saturday.

Information revealed that the truck was hijacked at gunpoint by yet-to-be-identified persons on 14 July at Obiliokite in Delta State, Mr Ikenga stated.

Delta, a state in South-south Nigeria, shares a boundary with Anambra State.

The truck was conveying 1000 bags of BUA cement to an undisclosed location when the hoodlums attacked it, the police said.

How the truck was recovered

The police spokesperson said the recovery followed a joint operation by the police and vigilante operatives in Anambra State.

The armed criminals, on sighting the police and vigilante operatives along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, pulled off the road at Okija, abandoned the truck, and fled, he added.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoyi, has ordered a manhunt for the gunmen, Mr Ikenga said.

Mr Adeoyi appealed to the areas residents to support the police and other security agencies with information that would aid in arresting the fleeing suspects.

The commissioner assured the residents that the police would protect the identity of those who volunteer information.

He said the recovered truck and the bags of cement had been released to the owner.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army, Saturday, intercepted an international smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State, Nigerias south-east.

Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Mr Nwachukwu, a brigadier-general, said the troops, acting on a tip-off, made the interception during a meticulous and rigorous stop and search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

The army spokesperson said the truck- with registration number ENU 697 XY- was loaded with different ammunition.

He listed the ammunition to include 720 packets of red star cartridges of 12 calibres which contained 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18,000 cartridges, 250 packets of live black cartridges containing ten packets each and totalling 2500 cartridges of the same calibre.

Mr Nwachukwu said the troops had arrested two suspects and were helping in investigations by the military.

He gave the suspects names as Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and Lukman Sani, the truck driver.

Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which was surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck, was imported from Mali via Idiroko International Border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition, he said.

The army spokesperson said it took the intervention of the troops to stop the syndicate from smuggling the illegal weapons into the South-east state, stressing that the suspects would have unleashed terror on residents of the region if they had succeeded.

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He appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the army and other security agencies with information that will assist them in tackling security challenges in the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their commitment to securing the lives and properties of Nigerians, Mr Nwachukwu said.

Mr Lagbaja, a major general, also urged the troops not to relent as they maintain synergy with other security agencies to provide security for all Nigerians.

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Police in Enugu State, South-east Nigeria, have arrested a suspect over the gruesome murder of a lawmaker in the Nsukka axis of the state.

The spokesperson of the police in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, did not, however, disclose the identity of the male suspect, whom he said belonged to a criminal gang which allegedly attacked and murdered Duhu Nnacheta, otherwise known as Ofunwa.

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The victim, Mr Nnacheta, was a councillor representing Eha-Ulo ward in the Ehalumona community in Nsukka.

He was shot and gruesomely murdered on 16 July at about 11:30 p.m., at Umualoji village in Ehalumona community, according to the police.

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered an investigation and manhunt of the assailants.

Mr Ndukwe said the public would be informed about the development of the case.

(NAN)

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) welcomes the conviction by the District Court of The Hague and life imprisonment of three accomplices in the 2014 missile attack on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.

"We call on all states and parties involved to fully cooperate in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166 (2014) to hold Russia and all those guilty accountable for this shameful and brutal violation of international law Ukraine will continue to make all possible efforts to establish justice for the victims of the tragedy, hold Russia and all guilty accountable and have guarantees of non-repetition of such a tragic incident," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the anniversary of the aircraft crash, issued on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry said the crash of flight MH17 is one of the most howling pages of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and made it clear that the actions of the aggressor state have consequences for the entire world community.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 flight MH17 Amsterdam (the Netherlands)  Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) was shot down in the sky over Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on board were perished. Two-thirds of the passengers are citizens of the Netherlands. An investigation into the causes of the disaster is being conducted by the International Investigation Group, which includes representatives of law enforcement agencies from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia.

In September 2016, the group published findings that the airliner was shot down by a missile launched from the Buk air defense system, and a year ago announced that the Buk belonged to the Russian 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade stationed in Kursk.
PARIS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DentalMonitoring's role in the future of orthodontics has been recognised in a special editorial partnership, which will see the leading AI-powered orthodontic solutions company featured in a publication celebrating the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS).

More than 1,000 NHS patients currently use DentalMonitoring's remote monitoring solutions, which provide practices the bandwidth to treat more patients with the same resources for long-term growth and profitability.

DentalMonitoring Smarter Orthodontics

For the historic book, Celebrating 75 Years of the National Health Service, DentalMonitoring is showcased with an exclusive feature as an example of achievement and progress in the technological and healthcare sphere.

DentalMonitoring, the first remote monitoring solution to introduce AI to the orthodontic world, can detect more than 130 intraoral observations from a patient's smartphone, including anteroposterior correction, extraction space closure, midline deviation, bracket debonds, wire movement, aligner seat/unseat, TADs, class II correctors, ties, buttons, attachments and more.

"It is an honor to be highlighted as the new standard in quality orthodontic care," says DentalMonitoring CEO Philippe Salah. "DentalMonitoring is proud to take NHS practices to a new level of clinical care and practice optimisation."

DentalMonitoring

About DentalMonitoring - www.dental-monitoring.com

DentalMonitoring exists to make orthodontics smarter. Powered by the most advanced AI in the industry, DentalMonitoring has developed comprehensive doctor-driven solutions to help orthodontists grow and optimize their practice, provide superior clinical care, and deliver a better patient experience. From patient lead engagement and conversion, to remote monitoring of all types of treatments, DentalMonitoring's unique platforms give orthodontists connected, smarter and more sustainable care. DentalMonitoring employs more than 400 people across 18 countries and 10 offices, including Paris, Austin, London, Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Contact :

Anne-Claire Sanz

Global Head of Marketing

a.sanz@dental-monitoring.com

+33 01 86 95 01 01

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2153503/DentalMonitoring.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2107826/4162481/DentalMonitoring_Logo.jpg

SOURCE DentalMonitoring
Formerly TripSpark School, Busology Tech launches as a dedicated brand and business focused solely on K-12 School Transportation.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Today, a new school-focused brand, Busology Tech, is launched from the former School business within TripSpark. Busology Tech ("Busology") is a technology and software company dedicated to ensuring that every child across North America has access to education, no matter where they live, through the delivery of safe and reliable transportation technology.

Busology Tech is led by Naomi Schellenberg as its General Manager. Naomi has a strong foundation in leadership and business operations with over 20 years of experience in the transportation business, including in school transportation. Naomi has excelled in a number of customer-facing roles, which gave her the opportunity to learn "in the field" directly from customers about the challenges and opportunities the transportation industry faces.

"We are redefining our identity to better reflect our dedicated focus on helping the greater school transportation community reach its goal of running safe and reliable school transportation services," said Schellenberg. "We are making it our mission to work hand-in-hand with our customers to help simplify operations and enable the safe and efficient transport of students using smart technology."

Busology Tech, formerly known as TripSpark School, is excited to share its new brand and website.

Busology is dedicated solely to the school transportation community and to ensuring all children across the US and Canada have access to safe and reliable school transportation, whether they attend public or private school, or have special needs. The organization is focused on enabling school districts and transportation agencies with modern tools that are easy to use, data-rich, and enable superior communication among all stakeholders, including school administrators, parents, and students.

Organizations already working with TripSpark School can expect a seamless transition to the Busology business, and customer service and documentation remains consistent with their existing experience.

Busology Tech is well positioned today and into the future to serve the K  12 school transportation ecosystem.

Visit www.busologytech.com to learn more about Busology Tech values and offerings.

About Busology Tech

Busology Tech is revolutionizing the K-12 school transportation industry with innovative software and solutions. The organization is proud to be part of the Modaxo group of companies and for 10+ years operated as TripSpark School.

Busology Tech

Aabha Upadhyaya

Marketing Specialist

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-888-595-4696 x 2

SOURCE TripSpark Technologies
ROSEMONT, Ill., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has named Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, L.Ac.,FAAN to serve as AANA's Editor-in-Chief of The AANA Journal.

The AANA Journal, published bimonthly, is the official scholarly journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Eshkevari will provide the vision, content direction, and leadership to produce The AANA Journal, providing groundbreaking research and communication about nurse anesthesia research through print and electronic media to multiple audiences including investigators, clinicians, sponsors of nurse anesthesia research, and policymakers.

"Ladan is a proven leader in nurse anesthesia research with a reputation for being a dynamic leader in research, education and practice," said AANA Chief Science and Policy Officer Lorraine Jordan, PhD, CRNA, CAE, FAAN. "Her experience in directing and motivating high-performing teams to achieve tactical results brings value to the organization, its publications, staff, and members."

Prior to Eshkevari being named Editor-in-Chief, Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA, has served, continuously, as Editor-in-Chief of The AANA Journal for 35 years. AANA extends appreciation and gratitude to Chuck for his devotion to his outstanding vision and leadership over the years.

The AANA Journal is AANA's only peer-reviewed publication. It uses a double-blinded, peer review process. More than 45 anesthesiology professionals from the U.S. and other nations serve on the Editorial Panel of The AANA Journal. These doctoral level practitioners and educators, provide the content critique that is integral to the review process.

Eshkevari currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for Avesta Alternative Care and Professor Emeritus at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. where she provided oversight of faculty, staff and clinical sites.

"I am excited about the opportunity to work with The AANA Journal's panel, members and staff to deliver clinical information that fosters the understanding of the science of anesthesia delivery and investigates ideas, issues, and innovations that advance the practice of nurse anesthesia," Eshkevari said.

Her many honors include induction as a Fellow in the prestigious National Academy of Nursing, being named Star Nurse 2020 in The Washington Post, in collaboration with the American Nurses Association, and receiving the John Garde Researcher of the Year award in 2014 and Program Director of the Year Award 2022 from AANA.

She served as president of the District of Columbia Association of Nurse Anesthetists and is a former chair of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation Board of Trustees.

Eshkevari earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from The University of Maryland in Baltimore, with honors, a master's degree in nurse anesthesia at Columbia University in New York, and her doctorate in physiology and biophysics from Georgetown University. Eshkevari also earned a diplomate in acupuncture from Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

SOURCE American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
Data show that the anti-amyloid is modestly effective in reducing cognitive decline, underscoring the need to develop additional drugs that target other pathways guided by the biology of aging

NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is encouraged to see the positive data reported by Eli Lilly and Company today for its anti-amyloid drug, donanemab, which was unveiled at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Amsterdam and published in JAMA. The data serve as another proof point that anti-amyloid therapies are just the first class of disease modifying therapies, further validating the ADDF's cornerstone belief that Alzheimer's will need to be treated with combination therapy, like other complex diseases of aging.

"Today's results are promising, with donanemab slowing cognitive decline by 35% in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, making it all the more apparent that anti-amyloid therapies will serve as the first line of defense in the arsenal of drugs needed to treat this disease," says Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF. "But this is just a start, and we must continue advancing the drug pipeline to develop the next class of drugs centered around the biology of aging to ultimately stop Alzheimer's in its tracks. Like in cancer, the goal is to address the many underlying pathologies of the disease through a precision medicine approach."

With the advent of multiple anti-amyloid therapies, the stage is now set for the next generation of clinical trials, where amyloid-targeting drugs will be combined with other novel drugs to provide additional clinical benefits for patients. Based on the biology of aging, there are multiple pathways involved in the onset of Alzheimer's, with the accumulation of misfolded proteins serving as one target in addition to inflammation, metabolic disturbances, vascular dysfunction and more. The robust drug pipelinewhere 75% of drugs in clinical development are focused on novel pathwaysis primed for this next phase of clinical trials.

"Advancements in clinical trial design have been a driving force behind the recent Alzheimer's breakthroughs, and there's still more progress to come," notes Dr. Fillit. "In the next wave of trial design, researchers must begin conducting combination therapy clinical trials that use precision biomarkers to gain a deeper understanding of how multiple drugs interact with one another as part of a broader treatment strategy for Alzheimer's."

Studies like the phase III TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study demonstrate the value in conducting biomarker-powered clinical trials. Lilly's highly effective trial design used two biomarkers, including the Amyvid PET scanwhich was developed with early seed funding from the ADDFand the TAUVID PET scan, to enroll patients and measure target engagement of the drug.

Leqembi's recent FDA approval, alongside the recent donanemab data, is a watershed moment, proving that forty years of research has provided the Alzheimer's field with the knowledge and resources to develop effective Alzheimer's therapies.

"Today marks an important step in our journey to develop new and effective Alzheimer's therapies, but our job is not done yet," adds Dr. Fillit. "Recent success in anti-amyloid research spurs optimism and will serve as a catalyst for new investments in the pipeline and a stronger focus on the biology of aging. The results of the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 trial accelerate recent momentum, bringing us one step closer to making Alzheimer's a treatable, and eventually, a preventable disease."

Lilly has submitted donanemab to the FDA for traditional approval and a decision is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

About The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid) and blood test (PrecivityAD) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $250 million to fund over 720 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 19 countries. To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation
DENVER, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AirDNA , a leading short-term rental (STR) data provider, announced today the acquisition of the pioneering location intelligence platform Arrivalist . This strategic acquisition marks an important milestone in AirDNA's commitment to elevating the standard of data-driven decision-making within the hospitality industry. AirDNA and Arrivalist will sit within predictis, a family of leading software-enabled data businesses. predictis is a portfolio company of Alpine Investors , a people-driven private equity firm that invests in software and services businesses.

AirDNA and Arrivalist logos

"By welcoming Arrivalist to AirDNA, we're accelerating our growth trajectory and reinforcing our commitment to delivering industry-leading insights to our customers. The union of our powerful data platforms will provide businesses with unrivaled intelligence, empowering them to strategize with increased precision," said Demi Horvat, AirDNA's CEO.

AirDNA's acquisition of Arrivalist also marks a key next step in predictis' journey to build a world-class investment and operating platform for data founders and entrepreneurs. "AirDNA's acquisition of Arrivalist represents a blueprint for continued add-on acquisitions to supplement organic growth and capitalize on derived data opportunities from adjacent data sets," said Jean-Marc Levy, CEO of predictis.

Arrivalist pioneered the use of location data in the travel industry, using its patented technology to create bold insights into the way travelers interact with destinations. The company's Calibrated Data, Arrival Lift, and other proprietary technologies have won the trust of 200+ travel marketers in 46 of the 50 states since its inception in 2011.

In addition to the expanded insights gained, the acquisition unites two highly talented teams. AirDNA and Arrivalist both possess exceptional technical talent, including data scientists, data engineers, and account managers with deep industry expertise. The integration of these teams will propel the development of state-of-the-art solutions that meet the evolving needs of the industry.

"We're delighted to join with AirDNA to bring customers even more insights, resources, and innovative products. Bringing together these two powerhouses creates tremendous opportunities for future growth and continued innovation," commented Cree Lawson, CEO of Arrivalist. "This partnership with AirDNA and predictis will create unprecedented new value for our customers."

AirDNA and Arrivalist have already established themselves as integral players in guiding decisions for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), hotels, and other customers. The acquisition is expected to bring customers access to a broader range of products and services, improved support and expertise, and enhanced innovation. Customers of both companies can expect a seamless transition during the integration process.

Cosine Group served as the financial advisor to Arrivalist.

About AirDNA

AirDNA is a global authority in short-term rental data, offering comprehensive insights and analytics to empower businesses in the short-term rental industry. AirDNA helps vacation rental hosts, managers, and investors make smarter decisions in any market or economic climate. For every short-term rental question, AirDNA has the answer.

About Arrivalist

Arrivalist is a leading location intelligence platform in the travel industry. The company uses mobile location datasets to provide actionable insights on consumer behavior, competitive share, media effectiveness, and market trends. Over 200 travel marketers, including 100 cities, 40 US states, and 4 of the top 10 US theme parks, use these insights to inform media strategy, operations, and destination development.

About predictis

predictis is Alpine Investors' data software business platform. It is the home for data founders and entrepreneurs who seek to scale their businesses as they set out to democratize data and unlock its transformative power. predictis is founded on the thesis that aggregating vertical software-enabled data businesses will unlock significant value for acquired businesses and generate above-average business results. predictis seeks to acquire, operate, and grow leading data software businesses across multiple industry verticals. Founders and data companies interested in learning more about partnering with predictis should contact James Reaney or Pat Eble at [email protected] or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.predictisdata.com.

About Alpine Investors

Alpine Investors is a people-driven private equity firm committed to building enduring companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Alpine specializes in investments in the software and services industries. Alpine's PeopleFirst strategy includes a talent program that allows Alpine to bring leadership to situations where additional or new management is needed post-transaction. Alpine has over $15 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023 and has three offices in San Francisco, New York, and Salt Lake City. For more information, visit www.alpineinvestors.com and https://www.alpineinvestors.com/terms-of-use/ for full disclaimers including, but not limited to, third-party reviews and Alpine Operations Group.

Pro forma for additional Fund IX commitments raised as of June 30, 2023 and fair market value as of March 31, 2023.

Contacts

Arrivalist

Cree Lawson, Founder & CEO

[email protected]

+1 (917) 509 9953

AirDNA

Kristina Sprindyte, Head of Global Communications

[email protected]

+1 (720) 372-2318

SOURCE AirDNA
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alabama Power is seeking proposals for dispatchable capacity resources through Friday, Sept. 8.

On July 14, the company issued a request for proposals (RFP) for resources to help meet future energy needs. Alabama Power is seeking market offerings to identify projects to meet the needs of our 1.5 million customers with reliable and affordable service.

"We're committed to serving our customers with the most dependable service possible," said Noel Cain, Alabama Power's director of Forecasting and Resource Planning. "This RFP is an opportunity to test the market for energy projects that meet our criteria while making economic sense."

Under the RFP, Alabama Power will consider proposals with a project capacity rating between 100 and 1,200 megawatts each.

Qualifying proposals can be power purchase agreements (PPAs) or asset purchase and sales agreements (existing or new-build/transfer). PPA terms can be from five to 20 years. Bidders are permitted to propose multiple projects.

All projects must be dispatchable, reliable and available to meet Alabama Power's future summer and winter capacity needs by Dec. 1, 2028. Projects completed as early as 2025 will be considered.

Any project considered by the company would ultimately require approval by the Alabama Public Service Commission.

All bids require a non-refundable bidder's fee. Proposals that pass an initial evaluation are subject to additional due diligence analysis fees.

Notice of Intent to Bid ("NOI") forms are due by 5 p.m. CDT on July 28, 2023. All bids are due by 5 p.m. CDT on Sept. 8, 2023.

For more information, visit alabamapower.com/RFP2023.

SOURCE Alabama Power Company
NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, America Makes and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced the publication of the Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing, Version 3.0, developed by the America Makes and ANSI Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC). The roadmap describes the current and desired future standardization landscape for additive manufacturing (AM), and focuses on industrial market sectors using AM technologies. A total of 141 standardization gaps (including 60 new gaps) are identified with corresponding recommendations across the AM lifecycle areas of: design; precursor materials; process control; post-processing; finished material properties; qualification and certification; nondestructive evaluation; maintenance and repair; and data. The hope is that the roadmap will be broadly adopted by the user community to facilitate a more coordinated approach to the future development of AM standards.

The AMSC is a cross-sector coordinating body that works to accelerate the development of industry-wide AM standards and specifications consistent with stakeholder needs to facilitate AM industry growth. The AMSC was launched in 2016 because several standards developing organizations (SDOs) were engaged in writing standards for various aspects of AM, prompting the need for coordination to maintain a consistent, harmonized, and non-contradictory set of standards. The AMSC itself does not develop standards or specifications.

Approximately 300 individuals from 150 public- and private-sector organizations supported the roadmap's development, including representatives of U.S. federal government agencies and national laboratories, SDOs, industry, academia, and others. The document represents the culmination of the AMSC's work since September 2022 to identify key safety, performance, and quality issues for AM technologies, relevant published standards and those in development, as well as to assess gaps. A "gap" means that a standard or specification does not exist addressing the issue in question.

The roadmap provides prioritized timeframes for when standards work should occur. Of the 141 gaps, 54 gaps/recommendations are identified as high priority, 64 as medium priority, and 23 as low priority. In 91 cases, additional pre-standardization research and development (R&D) is needed. The roadmap also identifies SDOs or others that may be able to develop the standards or perform the R&D. Looking ahead, the AMSC will continue to track progress by the SDOs to address the roadmap's gaps and recommendations.

The impetus to develop an update to the roadmaplast published in June 2018began following a 2022 survey on the use of the roadmap. The AMSC advisory groupcomprised of industry, government, and SDO representativesconcluded it was time to update the document to maintain its relevancy and alignment with current practices and stakeholder needs.

"The publication of the AMSC roadmap is a significant milestone, capturing the latest in standardization activity affecting the additive manufacturing community," said Brandon Ribic, technology director, America Makes. "The roadmap illustrates where progress has been made over the last five years but also where opportunities remain for standards and R&D to increase the use of AM technologies."

"ANSI extends hearty thanks and congratulations to the volunteers who developed the AMSC roadmap, and we are confident it will continue to guide standardization activity for the additive manufacturing sector," said Joe Bhatia, president and CEO, ANSI. "ANSI has a long history of successfully bringing together public- and private-sector stakeholders to outline standardization needs for emerging technologies and national and global priorities."

For more information, visit www.ansi.org/amsc or email [email protected].

About America Makes

America Makes is the nation's leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation's global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense's manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). Visit www.americamakes.us to learn more.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.

The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

SOURCE American National Standards Institute
New AI enhancements unveiled at Anthology Together

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, today announced its future of incorporating generative AI capabilities into its ecosystem of EdTech solutions in collaboration with Microsoft.

By using Microsoft's advanced AI technologies with Anthology's purpose-built suite of higher education solutions, Anthology is bringing forth new capabilities to help institutions personalize learning journeys, improve efficiencies and operations, and bolster recruitment and enrollment programs.

Anthology selected Microsoft as its AI solution partner because of Microsoft's vision and leadership in cloud AI developer services, long-standing relationship, and shared commitment to responsible AI by design.

Leveraging the power of AI across its solution suite is a key differentiator for Anthology and core to its mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Microsoft to drive the next wave of innovation in education and open a world of possibilities for the global education community," said JD White, Chief Product Officer at Anthology. "While other vendors might be looking at AI within a point solution, Anthology is assessing the power of generative AI technology across our vast stack of EdTech solutions. By thoughtfully integrating AI into our ecosystem, we can harness its power to foster innovation. The collaboration with Microsoft ensures these solutions are scalable, secure, and seamlessly integrated into existing educational ecosystems, making them easily accessible to institutions worldwide."

"We're excited about our collaboration with Anthology to power new AI solutions for education with a shared commitment to responsible use," said Serena Sacks-Mandel, Global Chief Technology Officer for Microsoft Education. "Anthology is a proven partner that has consistently demonstrated innovation and is aligned to our mission of empowering education through technology."

Anthology's collaboration with Microsoft represents a significant step forward in delivering state-of-the-art AI capabilities tailored to the unique needs of higher education institutions. By integrating Microsoft's AI features into Anthology's purpose-built higher education solutions, institutions can unlock new opportunities for personalized student engagement, advanced data analytics, and streamlined administrative processes. For example, using Microsoft's Natural Language Processing capabilities, institutions can gain deeper insights from unstructured data sources, such as student feedback, surveys, and communications, empowering administrators to make data-informed decisions to improve student success and satisfaction.

Anthology unveiled new real-world applications of AI capabilities today at Anthology Together within its Blackboard Learn learning management system that are using Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, including:

A course-builder aide for instructors that create draft modules, titles, descriptions, etc. The integration of Azure OpenAI Service will enable instructors to streamline content creation processes, saving valuable time and effort.

Content-based test generation. AI-powered algorithms analyze a document's content and quickly generate a diverse set of questions. This allows educators to allocate more time to other important tasks, such as lesson planning and individual student support.

Rubric creation. Rubric creation powered by AI streamlines the rubric creation process and ensures consistency and fairness in evaluating student performance. Educators will have the ability to customize and fine-tune these AI-generated rubrics according to specific learning objectives and assessment criteria, providing a balance between automation and instructor expertise.

These features are built following Anthology's commitment to responsible AI use, ensuring that human judgment and ethical considerations always guide AI-facilitated decision-making and to use AI as a tool to enable positive outcomes while respecting privacy, fairness, and transparency. Learn more about Anthology's approach to ethical and responsible AI use.

Anthology uses Azure for cloud services and the Microsoft Power Platform for business intelligence solutions. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the foundation of its customer relationship management (CRM), Anthology Reach, and Finance and Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, which will allow Anthology to use Dynamics 365 Copilot features to accelerate innovation. Anthology also harnesses the power of Microsoft 365's collaboration and productivity tools within many products, including its learning management system (LMS), Blackboard Learn.

Microsoft awarded Anthology the Microsoft Business Applications Inner Circle award in 2022/2023 and 2021/2022. The award recognizes Outstanding Achievements in EdTech and Anthology's rank in the echelon of Microsoft's Business Applications global network of partners.

About Anthology

Anthology offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, supporting more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences, we help learners, leaders and educators achieve their goals by offering over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning. Discover more about how we are fulfilling our mission for education, business and government institutions at www.anthology.com.

Erin Mitchell

Anthology

[email protected]com

SOURCE Anthology
NASSAU, Bahamas, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, along with members of the Ministry's Senior Executive Management Team and Bahamas family of Tourism Partners, are deeply saddened to learn of the passing on Friday past of Jill Stewart, wife of Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

Deputy Prime Minister Cooper said, "We convey our deepest condolences to Mr. Adam Stewart, the couple's three children, immediate family and extended Jamaican and Bahamian families as they mourn the loss of a wife, mother, relative and friend who exemplified so many noble qualities."

Jill Stewart was born in The Bahamas and in 2005 moved to Jamaica where she made her home alongside her beloved husband Adam Stewart. The couple met in their teens in boarding school in Boca Raton. Mrs. Stewart's twin passion for running and youth development led her to throw her ardent support behind the development of Montego Bay's first 10K/5K run and walk for education, the MoBay City Run. Mrs. Stewart was a devoted wife and mother.

Jill Stewart was diagnosed with cancer just over a year ago. She made the brave decision to chronicle her journey with cancer on social media for the benefit of others who struggle with terminal illness. Day after day, through her uplifting posts on Instagram, the public witnessed the face of a woman who valiantly confronted the fight against cancer. Mrs. Stewart passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, 14 July, surrounded by family and friends.

Latia Duncombe, Director General of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation also expressed her sentiments on the passing of Jill Stewart: "Our hearts go out to Mr. Adam Stewart and his family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. In going public with her year-long struggle with cancer, Mrs. Stewart gave a gift to the world. She demonstrated to us all how to confront adversity with courage, tenacity and grace."

About The Bahamas

Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

[email protected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
SBU to reveal all details of 'cotton' on Crimean bridge after victory  Dehtiarenko

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has pledged to reveal all the details of the organization of the "cotton" (a bang) on the Crimean bridge after the victory.

"The Security Service of Ukraine will definitely reveal all the details on the organization of the 'cotton' after our victory," SBU spokesman Artem Dehtiarenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

"In the meantime, we are watching with interest how one of the symbols of the Putin regime once again failed to withstand the military load," he said.

Dehtiarenko said that "in one of his interviews, SBU Head Vasyl Maliuk stated that the norms of international law, analysis of the operational situation and the traditions of warfare make it possible to cut the enemy's logistical routes. The Crimean bridge today is one of the transport corridors of military supplies for the Russian army."

On the night of Monday, as a result of explosions, automobile branches on the Crimean bridge were damaged, which led to a stop of traffic there.
Recognition of outstanding in-vivo outcomes from a lead RNA program in CNS

Underpinned by proprietary IV-formulated, Brain-targeting Ribonucleic Acid Interference (RNAi) Nanomedicine (BTRiN TM ) platform

) platform BIORCHESTRA to receive in-kind products and services from Merck Group

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and DAEJEON, South Korea, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIORCHESTRA, a biotherapeutics company focused on the treatment of rare and degenerative diseases within the Central Nervous System (CNS), today announced receipt of the grand prize award in the 2023 Merck Advance Biotech Grant Program.

Since 2014, Merck's Advance Biotech Grant program has recognized innovative biotechnology companies worldwide with this award, by further supporting efforts to improve patient outcomes for diseases such as cancer, brain tumors, osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular disorders.

BIORCHESTRA's Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Branden Ryu, commented, "We are deeply honored to receive Merck's prestigious grand prize award for 2023 in recognition of the significant in-vivo outcomes achieved from our proprietary IV-formulated, Brain-targeting Ribonucleic Acid Interference (RNAi) Nanomedicine (BTRiNTM) platform. BRTiNTM combines industry-leading and proprietary, IV-formulated RNA chemistries with biological barrier cross and cell targetted delivery of RNA medicine focused on Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease."

Key results from our lead ASO and siRNA programs (BMD-001) in 2023 include:

Evidence of successful intravenous cell-targeted delivery in non-human primates (NHP) and disease amelioration in an Alzheimer's model; and

Target gene knockdown efficiency in sub-brain regions following intravenous injection.

These promising data are consistent with earlier NHP and rodent study findings that noted broad biodistribution in the brain, coupled with noteworthy neurodegenerative disease target knockdown across multiple measures, driven by a single IV formulation.

About Brain-Targeting Ribonucleic Acid Interference (RNAi) Nanomedicine (BTRiNTM)

BTRiNTM targets an amino acid uptake receptor in the blood-brain barrier shared by neurons, astrocytes, and microglia (optional: thus ensuring both transfer across the BBB and entry into the target cells). In addition to significant functional outcomes in a non-human primate study of Alzheimer's disease, BTRiNTM has been leveraged with siRNA to validate the effective knockdown of a target implicated in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Ongoing company discovery and development research will leverage BTRiNTM for other underserved diseases, such as Glioblastoma multiforme, Lewy body dementia, Spinocerebellar ataxia type three, Frontotemporal dementia, Progressive supranuclear palsy. For more information, visit: www.biorchestra.com

About BMD-001

Under development for efficient and effective IV administration targeting specific micro-RNA associated with neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and amyloid protein deposition in Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. BMD-001 has successfully demonstrated the suppression of specific microRNA across rodent and primate models, normalizing homeostatic processes, reducing amyloid and tau protein deposition, reducing neuroinflammation, and improving cognitive function.

About BIORCHESTRA

BIORCHESTRA is a leading biotherapeutics company focused on the treatment of rare and degenerative diseases within the Central Nervous System by leveraging its proprietary Brain Targeting RNAi Nanomedicine (BTRiNTM) platform. These technologies combine targeted cell delivery capabilities and proprietary RNA chemistries to develop first and best-in-class therapeutics. The company has extensive research and development and GMP manufacturing capabilities in Daejeon, South Korea, and a U.S. headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. For more information, visit: www.biorchestra.com and follow us on Twitter @biorchestra and LinkedIn.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 64,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices  the company is everywhere. In 2022, Merck generated sales of  22.2 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, our representatives or we may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including our financial performance and projections, revenue and earnings growth, and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including our ability to change the company's direction, keep pace with new technology and evolving market needs, and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by our representatives or us may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether due to uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release, and other statements made from time to time by our representatives or us might not occur.

Investor Contact:

Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC

Scott Powell, President

One Rockefeller Plaza, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10020 USA

Office: (646) 893-5835 x2

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE BIORCHESTRA Co., Ltd.
Blue Compass RV has officially moved into Washington , Idaho , Montana , and Oregon

10 More Stores Branded Blue Compass RV

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Compass RV announced that it has completed the rollout of the Blue Compass RV brand on its 10 stores in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Blue Compass RV is now a leading brand in major RV markets across the Pacific Northwest. This year the company is rolling out the Blue Compass RV brand to over 100 stores in 33 states.

Blue Compass RV is now a leading brand in major RV markets across the Pacific Northwest Blue Compass RV has officially moved into Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon 10 More Stores Branded Blue Compass RV

"We completed a successful rollout of the Blue Compass RV brand in the Pacific Northwest," said Blue Compass RV CEO and President Jon Ferrando. "These are strong RV markets for us. Bringing our Pacific Northwest stores together under the Blue Compass RV brand will be powerful from a marketing perspective and for our customers and associates who are excited about the new brand."

"We are making significant investments to upgrade our facilities and install new exterior and interior signage and brand imagery," added Jon Ferrando. "We will also make significant investments in our marketing and to further all aspects of the customer experience. This reflects our bold vision to create an exceptional company with an inspiring RV brand that consumers will trust from coast to coast as they create their RV adventures across America."

The below dealerships were rebranded Blue Compass RV:

 Appleway Liberty Lakes is now Blue Compass RV Liberty Lakes

is now  Appleway Pasco is now Blue Compass RV East Pasco

is now  Blue Dog RV Bend is now Blue Compass RV Bend

is now  Blue Dog RV Hayden is now Blue Compass RV Hayden

is now  Blue Dog RV Kalispell is now Blue Compass RV Kalipsell

is now  Blue Dog RV Medford is now Blue Compass RV Medford

is now  Blue Dog RV Pasco is now Blue Compass RV West Pasco

is now  Blue Dog RV Post Falls is now Blue Compass RV Post Falls

is now  Blue Dog RV Redmond is now Blue Compass RV Redmond

is now  Blue Dog RV Spokane Valley is now Blue Compass RV Spokane Valley

To learn more about Blue Compass RV, please visit: https://www.bluecompassrv.com .

ABOUT BLUE COMPASS RV:

Blue Compass RV is the fastest growing RV retail company in the United States with a mission to provide an exceptional sales, service and RV ownership experience for its customers. Blue Compass RV has over 100 RV stores in 33 states. Blue Compass RV is led by Jon Ferrando, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and President. Jon Ferrando was instrumental in building America's largest automotive retailer from start-up to over $20 billion in revenue. Blue Compass RV's leadership team has over 300 years of automotive and RV retail industry experience.

SOURCE Blue Compass RV
Global Coffee and Tea Leader Launches Everyday Essentials Menu and New Refreshing Summer Flavors

LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mornings just got better at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand. The iconic Southern California favorite serving premium coffee and tea for the past 60 years has introduced the Everyday Essentials Menu. The new menu created with a budget in mind features breakfast bundles, a selection of rotating premium coffees and teas, along with food items that are thoughtfully priced to make everyday indulgence accessible.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Launches New Refreshing Summer Flavors  the Peach Cobbler Cold Brew Tea and the Aloha Cream Cold Brew Coffee Everyday Essentials Menu & Breakfast Bundles Launch at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Additionally, as cold brew tea and coffee continue to gain in popularity and the summer days heat up, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has launched the Peach Cobbler Cold Brew Tea and the Aloha Cream Cold Brew Coffee, for a limited time only. These new beverages compliment the current summertime seasonal menu such as the Mint Chocolate Ice Blended drink.

"As our guests look to make their dollars stretch further these days, we want to provide our guests with the same delicious tasting options with great value, so they can continue to enjoy the small pleasures in life," said Sanjiv Razdan, President, Americas & India at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. "Along with the Everyday Essentials Menu, we wanted to surprise our guests with additional new cold brew beverages that will transport them to a tropical island all summer long."

The Everyday Essentials Menu will rotate seasonally. The current menu includes:

Breakfast Bundle - $5

Small Brewed Coffee + Plain Bagel and Cream Cheese

$3 menu (Select one. Regular size)

Brewed Coffee



Tea (Iced or Hot)



Plain Bagel + Cream Cheese

***Can pick any two for $6

$4 menu (Select one. Regular Size)

Coffee Cafe: Vanilla  Mocha



Iced Coffee: Vanilla  Mocha



Hibiscus Berry Sunrise

***Can pick any two for $6

The new cold brew summer beverages are available to guests now through August 15 and include:

Aloha Cream Cold Brew Coffee  This quintessential summertime beverage is like waking up to a beachfront vacation in Hawaii . Features The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's cold brew that is steeped for 20 hours, paired with white chocolate macadamia sauce and topped with a sweet cream cap.

This quintessential summertime beverage is like waking up to a beachfront vacation in . Features The Coffee Bean & cold brew that is steeped for 20 hours, paired with white chocolate macadamia sauce and topped with a sweet cream cap. Peach Cobbler Cold Brew Tea - Combines The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's succulent Peach and Cardamom Syrup paired with the Peach Jasmine Cold Brew. Just like whipped cream to peach pie, its topped it off with a Cream Cap.

The Everyday Essentials Menu and new summer beverages are now available at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations nationwide.

For more information, please visit www.coffeebean.com.

About The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Brand

International Coffee & Tea Leaf, LLC, doing business as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand is a leading global roaster and retailer of specialty coffees and teas. It is widely credited for driving high quality and innovation to the coffee and tea industry. The company sources the finest ingredients and flavors from around the world, and hand blends coffee and tea for the freshest flavors. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand started the frozen coffee drink craze with the invention of The Original Ice Blended drink and is also the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. The company currently has 1,094 retail locations across the globe and can also be found in grocery aisles as well as specialty locations, including airports and hotels. For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com.

Media Contacts

Tracy Rubin

JCUTLER media group

[email protected]

SOURCE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
CHICAGO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The breast lesion localization industry is poised for significant advancements in the near future. With the growing incidence of breast cancer and the increasing demand for precise and minimally invasive procedures, there is a pressing need for improved techniques in lesion detection and localization. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and image-guided interventions are expected to play a crucial role in revolutionizing this field. AI algorithms can aid in the analysis of mammograms, ultrasound, and MRI images, assisting radiologists in identifying and characterizing breast lesions with higher accuracy. Additionally, image-guided interventions using real-time imaging modalities and advanced surgical techniques offer the potential for more precise and targeted lesion localization, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced surgical complications. These innovations hold immense promise in transforming the breast lesion localization industry, providing clinicians with powerful tools to detect, localize, and treat breast lesions in a more efficient and patient-centric manner.

Breast Lesion Localization Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $0.3 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $0.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Factors contributing to the market growth are improvements in the reimbursement policies, high incidence rate of breast cancer, and increasing breast cancer screening programs globally. In addition, the increasing number of breast cancer surgeries and rising awareness on the early detection of breast cancer is supporting the growth of this market.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Breast Lesion Localization Market"

250 - Tables

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Breast Lesion Localization Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $0.3 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $0.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By type, usage, end user Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing adoption of technologically advanced localization procedures Key Market Drivers Growing rate of the aging population

Wire localization accounted for the largest share of the breast lesion localization market.

Based on type, the breast lesion localization market is segmented into wire localization, radioisotope localization, magnetic localization, electromagnetic localization, and other localization types. In 2022, the wire localization segment commanded the largest share of the breast lesion localization market due to widespread availability, moderate pricing, the simple storing requirements of wires, multiple ways of usage that can be used with a wide variety of image guidance techniques, the appropriate localization of abnormal tissues, minimum removal of normal tissues, minimum scarring, and the availability of reimbursement.

The hospitals & clinics segment accounted for the largest share of the breast lesion localization market.

Based on end user, the breast lesion localization market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic imaging centers, and other end users. Hospitals and clinics are the major end users of breast lesion localization market. The large share of this end-user segment can be attributed to the growing healthcare sector in emerging economies, the increasing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure across the world, and the rising number of breast biopsy procedures.

North America segment accounted for the largest share of the breast lesion localization market.

The global breast lesion localization market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2022, North America segment accounted for the largest share of the breast lesion localization market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Factors such as, increasing prevalence of breast cancer, growing healthcare expenditure, and the increasing number of awareness programs for the early detection of breast cancer are boosting the market growth in North America.

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Breast Lesion Localization Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Growing rate of the aging population

Restraints:

Uncertainty in regulatory approval procedures

Opportunities:

Increasing adoption of technologically advanced localization procedures

Challenges:

Shortage of oncologists

Key Market Players:

Some of the major market players in the breast lesion localization market include Hologic, Inc. (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Merit Medical Systems (US), Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH (US), Argon Medical Devices (US).

Recent Developments:

In December 2022 , Merit Medical Systems launched Scout Bx. Scout Bx is a wireless, radar-guided localization system used to assist breast surgeons in identifying biopsied tumors for removal.

, Merit Medical Systems launched Scout Bx. Scout Bx is a wireless, radar-guided localization system used to assist breast surgeons in identifying biopsied tumors for removal. In August 2022 , Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH launched DualCore Dual Stage Core Biopsy System. The Mammotome DualCore biopsy system is the first dual stage core biopsy instrument for needle biopsies.

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Breast Lesion Localization Market Advantages:

Enhanced Accuracy: Advanced breast lesion localization techniques provide improved accuracy in identifying and precisely locating breast lesions. This enables healthcare professionals to make more informed decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention strategies, leading to better patient outcomes.

Minimally Invasive Procedures: Emerging technologies in breast lesion localization offer less invasive alternatives to traditional wire or needle placement methods. Techniques such as radioactive seed localization and electromagnetic navigation reduce patient discomfort, minimize scarring, and eliminate the need for additional procedures, enhancing patient experience and satisfaction.

Cost-effectiveness: Accurate lesion localization helps avoid unnecessary procedures and reduces the likelihood of repeat surgeries. This not only saves healthcare costs but also optimizes resource utilization in healthcare facilities. By streamlining workflows and improving surgical planning, the breast lesion localization market contributes to overall cost-effectiveness in breast cancer management.

Improved Workflow Efficiency: Localization technologies streamline the workflow in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. They enable faster and more efficient identification, localization, and characterization of breast lesions, allowing for timely decision-making and treatment implementation. This translates to improved operational efficiency in healthcare facilities and better utilization of healthcare professionals' time.

Facilitation of Targeted Therapies: Precise lesion localization enables targeted therapies, such as image-guided biopsies and minimally invasive interventions. By accurately localizing the lesion, healthcare professionals can precisely target the affected area, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissue and improving the efficacy of treatments.

Innovation and Research Opportunities: The breast lesion localization market drives continuous innovation and research in the field of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. As new technologies and techniques emerge, researchers and industry experts have the opportunity to explore and develop novel approaches, leading to further advancements in accuracy, speed, and reliability of lesion localization methods.

Related Reports:

Biopsy Devices Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Breast Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

In Situ Hybridization Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Breast Reconstruction Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Cancer Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- State-of-the-art orthodontic company, Candid has announced that its CandidPro clear aligner system will now offer dental professionals support for eligible mixed dentition cases. This feature release builds on upgraded support for interproximal reduction and attachments unveiled earlier this year and a collaboration with global healthcare leader Philips Sonicare, among other updates. With support for mixed dentition live, dental professionals now have the flexibility to offer CandidPro's signature clear aligner treatment to an expanded range of younger patients.

Support for mixed dentition patients is a major win for CandidPro doctors who focus on airway health. Many of these clinicians prescribe orthodontic treatments to younger patients in an effort to preempt airway health issues like obstructive sleep apnea later in life. Clear aligner therapy is often prescribed in conjunction with other airway-centric therapies to achieve functional tooth alignment. Among airway doctors, CandidPro is well-known for tailoring treatment plans to meet their specific needs.

"I love having a clear aligner partner who prioritizes my clinical needs" - Dr. Julienne Sabet of Developmental Dentistry Tweet this

"I absolutely love that CandidPro helps me to set up my younger patients for success by offering mixed dentition support," says Dr. Brittany Johansen of Alpine Airway Wellness . "They are constantly innovating and applying feedback. It is great to work with such a receptive company."

For airway providers like Dr. Johansen, finding a clear aligner partner that understands the goals of airway providers can be difficult, and support for mixed dentition cases is rare. With this feature release, CandidPro firmly positions itself as a company that prioritizes dental practitioners' clinical needs.

"I love having a clear aligner partner that prioritizes my clinical needs," says Dr. Julienne Sabet of Developmental Dentistry . "I also had the opportunity of helping the CandidPro team pilot their mixed dentition features, which was incredible. I'm so proud to have been a part of it."

With several major upgrades already released this year, CandidPro is building momentum that promises to last through 2024 and beyond.

"We have some of the most talented clinical minds in the industry building even more clinical tools for our providers," says Candid's Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Brian Gray. "I'm proud to see our mixed dentition support go live today, and I'm excited to share more updates to CandidPro soon."

About CandidPro

CandidPro believes that dentists deserve more when it comes to clear aligners. That's why its orthodontic platform leverages best-in-class technology, a game-changing approach to partnership, and clinical expertise to give doctors more control, more convenience, and more happy clear aligner patients.

Learn more at: https://www.candidpro.com

SOURCE Candid
BOSTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A scorecard released by the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets shows how 10 federal financial regulators have implemented over 100 actions since July 2022 addressing the financial risks of climate change. However, U.S. regulators have more work to do to address these risks with the same level of ambition and urgency as global counterparts.

The 2023 Climate Risk Scorecard: Assessing U.S. Financial Regulator Action on Climate Financial Risk found most assessed regulators have made strides in producing research and data on climate risk and incorporating climate risk into their supervision of regulated entities, however urgent action is required to improve climate-related disclosures, increase transparency in climate-related risk management practices, include climate risks within regulatory frameworks, implement climate-related scenario analysis, and assess climate risks on financially vulnerable communities.

Regulators are transitioning away from initial stages of action toward more complex, impactful measures Tweet this

Those assessed include the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the National Credit Union Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of the Treasury.

"Climate-related financial risks have placed capital markets and financial institutions in an unparalleled state of vulnerability," said Steven M. Rothstein, Managing Director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets at Ceres. "The interconnectedness of the U.S. financial system means risk and climate events can trigger cascading crises that undermine the integrity of the entire economy. The sector needs to better integrate climate risk into its supervision of financial entities and put stronger practices in place to assess the consequences of the climate-related scenarios that will arise unless we make systemic changes."

Key findings include:

More than 100 regulatory actions since July 2022 addressing climate-related financial risks, notably shifting beyond foundational actions toward implementing climate-related risk management practices in step with global counterparts.

addressing climate-related financial risks, notably shifting beyond foundational actions toward implementing climate-related risk management practices in step with global counterparts. Nine regulators have publicly affirmed climate as a systemic risk to the financial system, signaling climate risk may adversely impact their regulated entities as well as the broader economy. The PCAOB stands alone in not making this affirmation yet.

Six of 10 regulators have robust internal climate-related capacities, with additional progress this year from those still developing their staffing and technical expertise.

All but two regulators improved transparency in measuring and managing climate-related financial risks at their regulated entities.

Media Contact: Diane May, [email protected]

Original Publication

SOURCE Ceres
The Chainlink Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has entered early access with Aave (BGD Labs) and Synthetix

PARIS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chainlink , the industry-standard Web3 services platform, announced today that the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has entered the Mainnet Early Access phase on the Ethereum, Optimism, Polygon and Avalanche blockchains. Leading DeFi protocols are adopting CCIP to power cross-chain smart contracts , including Synthetix, which is live on CCIP mainnet, as well as Aave, with BGD Labs now integrating CCIP on mainnet into the protocol. On July 20, CCIP will become available to all developers across five testnets: Arbitrum Goerli, Avalanche Fuji, Ethereum Sepolia, Optimism Goerli, and Polygon Mumbai.

The Chainlink Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has entered early access with Aave (BGD Labs) and Synthetix

CCIP is the most secure, reliable, and easy-to-use interoperability protocol for building cross-chain applications and services. Not only are developers given the flexibility to build their own cross-chain solutions on top of CCIP using Arbitrary Messaging, but CCIP also provides Simplified Token Transferswhich enables protocols to quickly start transferring tokens across chains using audited token pool contracts they control without writing custom code and in a fraction of the time it would take to build on their own.

"DeFi has faced billions of dollars in cross-chain hacks, with developers often having to patch together bridges to build dApps that interact across different blockchains. Chainlink CCIP finally gives developers one platform for building applications that securely operate across any blockchain. Backed by the Chainlink Network's time-tested infrastructure and novel security approaches, which have enabled over $8 Trillion in Transaction Value, CCIP is a cross-chain solution that banking and DeFi builders both need to 10x the on-chain economy in their respective verticals,'' stated Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink.

Synthetix is a DeFi protocol that acts as a liquidity layer for an ecosystem of on-chain derivatives and financial instruments. One of its recent additions, the Synth Teleporter, provides users with a streamlined method for transferring Synth liquidity between chains. This feature operates by burning sUSD (the protocol's unit of account) on the source chain, then minting an equivalent amount of sUSD on the destination chain.

The Synth Teleporter employs Chainlink CCIP to burn and mint tokens across chains safely and accurately, ensuring security and reliability. This unique burn-and-mint model promotes higher capital efficiency without the need for liquidity pools. In doing so, Synth Teleporters enable Synthetix liquidity to flow toward areas with the highest demand, bypassing constraints associated with traditional token bridges.

"Security is critical when dealing with on-chain assets, which is why we leverage Chainlink CCIP for our cross-chain Synths Teleporter. As one of the first users of Chainlink Data Feeds, we're thrilled to get first access to CCIP and all the functionality it unlocks for Synthetix," stated Kain Warwick, Founder of Synthetix.

Aave is a lending protocol that allows users to borrow and lend assets on-chain. BGD Labs , a Web3 development initiative, is integrating Chainlink CCIP into the Aave Protocol to future-proof its cross-chain governance system. The continued integration of more chains into CCIP will give AAVE the ability to easily launch itself onto more chains and to conduct key operations like governance through a highly secure solution.

"We're excited to leverage Chainlink CCIP for secure, reliable, and scalable cross-chain communication on the next iteration of the Aave protocol. With seamless integration into the cross-chain governance mechanism, CCIP is set to save valuable developer time that can be better spent enhancing the core features of Aave," stated Ernesto Boado, Co-Founder of BGD Labs.

In addition to CCIP's adoption by the world's leading DeFi applications, Swift and over a dozen financial institutions and financial market infrastructure providers have already begun working with CCIP for both messages and token transfers across public and private chains. The initial group participating in the CCIP collaboration is made up of the world's largest market infrastructures, global banks and largest custodians by AUM, including The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Euroclear, Citi, BNY Mellon, BNP Paribas, Lloyds Banking Group, Clearstream, SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ). This collaboration aims to both send value between banks and from banks onto public blockchains, effectively laying the groundwork for connecting the global financial system to on-chain financial products (such as AAVE and Synthetix) with a globally accepted interoperability standard.

"CCIP is solving both sides of the connectivity puzzle by connecting the world's leading DeFi dApps to any chain and then connecting the world's leading global banks to any chain. CCIP will be the only connectivity standard that allows value to flow between multi-trillion dollar traditional capital markets systems and the rapidly growing Web3 application ecosystem. Our goal with CCIP is not only to create connectivity within these two critical groups, but to create a way for them to securely and efficiently transact with each other. If we're successful, I believe that the blockchain industry could see tens of trillions of dollars in market value added to it, via the sending of value from banks into public blockchains," stated Sergey Nazarov.

Learn more about the Chainlink CCIP Mainnet Early Access launch: https://blog.chain.link/ccip-mainnet-early-access/

About Chainlink

Chainlink is the industry-standard Web3 services platform. It has enabled trillions of dollars in transaction volume across DeFi, on-chain finance, gaming, NFTs, and other major industries. As the leading decentralized oracle network, Chainlink empowers developers to build feature-rich Web3 applications with seamless access to real-world data and off-chain computation across any blockchain and provides global enterprises with a universal gateway to all blockchains.

Learn more about Chainlink by visiting chain.link or reading the developer documentation at docs.chain.link . To discuss an integration, reach out to an expert .

SOURCE Chainlink
The senior living provider bringing Synchrony under its leadership umbrella

LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trilogy Health Services, the Midwest leader in the senior living continuum of care, announces organizational and leadership transitions as it begins the reintegration of Synchrony Health Services as a business unit, rather than a separate company venture. As part of this transition, Randall J. Bufford will step down as President and CEO of Synchrony. These changes are part of Trilogy's ongoing succession planning efforts initiated in 2019 and reflect the decisions of Bufford, Leigh Ann Barney, CEO of Trilogy, and in collaboration with the Board and other stakeholders.

"The decision by the board to maintain Synchrony as a 100% owned subsidiary reflects Trilogy's strategic focus on retaining control over services, costs and approaches in an evolving value-based care environment," said Leigh Ann Barney. "This decision is vital to Trilogy's ability to adapt swiftly and effectively in a dynamic marketplace."

As part of the revised organizational structure, Brad Estes will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer for Synchrony, transitioning from his previous position as CFO. This streamlined structure enables efficient decision-making and strengthens Trilogy's ability to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape.

"Synchrony's growth path doesn't change, our devotion to our customers is unwavering and we are committed to delivering unparalleled innovation and excellence in the senior living and health care industries," said Brad Estes. "I want to thank Randy for his service and for his mentorship to me personally. Together, we've built a great team at Synchrony, and I'm excited to lead them on our mission to deliver extraordinary outcomes to our customers."

Randy Bufford concurs. "I am excited about the next chapter for Synchrony and know that Trilogy, our other customers and employees will be well-served by Brad's leadership and the incredible management team that we have assembled at Synchrony over the last two years," he said. "The last two years have been fruitful in building a unique-to-the-industry, collaborative ancillary business model of integrated rehab, pharmacy and lab and it has also been an honor working with such an outstanding group of professionals and customers."

Under the stewardship of Bufford, Synchrony Health Services has made remarkable progress in both building infrastructure to facilitate growth and delivering clinically excellent services to both Trilogy and external clients. This includes the recruitment of top-tier leaders, the establishment of PackEDGE, the launch of state-of-the-art laboratory services, and a push toward integrated services that allow providers to increase quality outcomes and decrease costs.

As he steps away from his current day-to-day role at Synchrony, Bufford remains committed to Trilogy and Synchrony; staying active in Board service as an advisor and supporting business development and key customer account relationships. As he has said many times, he is "Trilogy for Life" and will be continuing to provide unwavering support for Trilogy's journey to become the Best Healthcare Company in the Midwest.

About Trilogy Health Services

Trilogy Health Services is an industry-leading operator of nearly 130 senior living communities throughout five states, including Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin. The company has the honor of providing over 10,000 seniors with world-class clinical support, innovative lifestyle programs, and a culture built on the tenets of servant leadership and hospitality. Trilogy employs over 14,000 team members, is a certified Great Place to Work, one of Glassdoor's Top 100 Best Places to Work, and was named one of FORTUNE's Best Places to Work in Aging Services. To learn more about Trilogy Health Services, visit www.trilogyhs.com. To learn about job openings at Trilogy, visit www.trilogyjobs.com

About Synchrony Health Services

Synchrony Health Services is a nationally recognized health care solutions partner best known for excellence in clinical outcomes through therapy, wellness, pharmacy and lab diagnostics services in the Senior Living care continuum with over 600 partners. Synchrony Health Services includes Synchrony Pharmacy, Synchrony Rehabilitation, [email protected] and Synchrony Lab under its umbrella. Synchrony Health Services was created during 2021 to capture clinical excellence obtained through collaboration and coordination. www.synchronyhs.com

SOURCE Trilogy Health Services, LLC
One of the country's leading, privately owned medical, management and technology companies offers employees inspiring and fulfilling careers, while also transforming the care of underserved seniors

MIAMI, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ChenMed, a leading provider of personalized, VIP, transformative primary care to Medicare-eligible seniors, has received numerous regional awards as a top workplace because its culture of love, accountability and passion continues to inspire and motivate its employees. This is the second straight year ChenMed has received many of these workplace honors.

We are honored to win these awards. They inspire us to do even more for our employees and the older patients we serve. Tweet this ChenMeds culture of love, accountability and passion inspires and motivates employees across the country.

"ChenMed's culture is the driving force behind opportunities our employees have to learn, lead, grow, and excel, while receiving compensation and professional development that make this a wonderful place to work," said Stephanie Chen, chief legal and culture officer at ChenMed. "We are honored to win these awards. They inspire us to do even more for our employees and the older patients we serve."

The employee engagement technology company, Energage LLC, administered the prestigious awards competition in partnership with media organizations across the country. Energage oversees a confidential, anonymous survey of employees and measures various workplace culture themes and employee engagement criteria.

Chosen from among thousands of entrants in each city, the Top Workplace Awards won by ChenMed in the second quarter of 2023 were:

Columbus Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by Columbus CEO

chosen by Columbus CEO South Florida Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

chosen by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Richmond Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

chosen by the Richmond Times-Dispatch Cincinnati Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the Cincinnati Enquirer

chosen by the Cincinnati Enquirer New Orleans Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the New Orleans Times -Picayune

chosen by the -Picayune Cleveland Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the Cleveland Plain Dealer

chosen by the Cleveland Plain Dealer St. Louis Top Workplaces Award 2023  chosen by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ChenMed's staff reflects the many diverse communities it serves across Florida, the southern U.S., and throughout the Midwest region. This physician-led company boasts a highly skilled workforce that includes a majority of female clinicians and medical center directors. In addition to supporting social and racial equity, ChenMed embraces its employees' backgrounds and cultures by actively observing Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian-American Pacific Islander Month, Women's History Month, and Juneteenth.

The company also features a robust slate of programming for its employee resource groups (ERGs). Currently, the selection of ERGs that employees can join include AWARE2 (All Working Together to Achieve Racial Equity and Equality); CHARISMA (ChenMed Healthcare Allies Respecting Individuality & Sexuality of Members & Associates); WIN (Women Inspire Network); and VET (Veteran Engagement Team). Employees are encouraged to submit ideas for additional groups that meet their interests and backgrounds.

About ChenMed:

ChenMed is a privately owned medical, technology and management company that delivers the high-touch and personalized primary care Medicare-eligible seniors need to enjoy better health. The company operates more than 125 senior medical centers in 15 states. Named one of Fortune's 2020 "Change the World" companies, twice named a "Most Loved Workplace" by Newsweek, and a certified Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute, ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, JenCare Senior Medical Center and IntuneHealth. Its leading value-based, healthcare technology organization, Curity, was recently named a "Best Place to Work in IT" by ComputerWorld. See ChenMed's 2022 Impact Report.

About Energage:

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 16 years of cultural research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE ChenMed
SUNRISE, Fla., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhance Health, a leading digital health insurance brokerage and care navigation platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher (Chris) Nicolopoulos as Vice President of Government Affairs. Nicolopoulos, the former Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department, will spearhead the company's government relations strategy to shape and advocate for policies that enhance healthcare accessibility across the country.

Appointed by the Governor and unanimously confirmed by the Executive Council, Nicolopoulos served as the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department from 2020 to early 2023. Prior to his role as Commissioner, he held several prominent positions, including President and CEO of the New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents and Government Affairs Director at the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. Nicolopoulos holds a J.D. from New England Law School and is licensed to practice law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

"We are proud to have assembled a highly experienced executive team of individuals with exceptional track records in the insurance industry," said Matthew Herman, CEO and President of Enhance Health. "Chris will play a vital role in working to make affordable, high-quality health insurance accessible to an even larger population across the country."

"Enhance Health is leading the way in transforming the health insurance experience for millions of Americans," said Nicolopoulos. "By collaborating closely with policymakers and stakeholders, we will continue to advocate for innovative solutions that empower individuals and promote greater access to quality healthcare."

Nicolopoulos will report to George Lyford, Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel at Enhance Health.

About Enhance Health: Founded in 2021 by industry veteran Matt Herman and backed by Bain Capital Insurance, Enhance Health has experienced rapid growth due to the record number of Americans enrolling in ACA health plans in 2022. Enhance Health has grown its membership base to hundreds of thousands, and is rapidly expanding into other insurance business lines.

SOURCE Enhance Health
Foreign Minister James Cleverly announced 14 new sanctions in response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity and forcibly deport children from the occupied regions of Ukraine, the British government said on its website on Monday.

Russian officials will face asset freezes and travel bans following their involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children and the spreading of hate-inciting propaganda  James Cleverly has today (17 July) announced 14 new sanctions in response to Russias attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity, including 11 against those involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, the message reads.

Sanctions will be imposed, in particular, against Commissioner for Children's Rights in Moscow region Ksenia Mishonova and Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov.

These individuals have played an insidious role in Russias calculated programme of deportation, designed to erase Ukrainian cultural and national identity. Over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia or temporarily Russian controlled territory by Russian authorities. Many deported children are relocated to a network of re-education camps in illegally annexed Crimea and mainland Russia, where they are exposed to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and military education, the British government says.

Also sanctioned today are two Russian propagandists responsible for spreading abhorrent propaganda designed to incite violence and hatred towards Ukraine and its people, including Anton Krasovsky. Olga Lyubimova, the Russian Culture Minister, is additionally targeted for using her position to support the Russian states damaging anti-Ukrainian policies.

In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putins true intention  to wipe Ukraine from the map. Todays sanctions hold those who prop up Putins regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased, Cleverly added.

The government announced that at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, Cleverly will emphasize the far-reaching consequences of the war, call on the Russian Federation to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative and outline the need for a just, lasting peace in Ukraine.
DALLAS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, July 16, 2023, Rev. Jesse Jackson officially announced Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, as the new President and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The transfer of leadership between Rev. Jackson and Dr. Haynes took place during Rainbow PUSH Coalition's national convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn.

Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III

President Joe Biden issued a written statement praising and appreciating Rev. Jackson for his many decades of leadership as he passes the torch to the next generation of leadership. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke during the event and honored Rev. Jackson for his leadership. She also expressed her confidence in Dr. Haynes as the new leader of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "It is my joy to congratulate Reverend Dr. Freddy Haynes. I have known him and worked with him for over 20 years, including when we worked together years and years ago in the early days of the criminal justice reform movement. And I am so confident in his leadership and his ability to carry on the greatest traditions of this organization and to meet the challenges of this moment. Congratulations, Reverend Haynes," said Vice President Harris during her remarks.

In addition to this new role at the helm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, is the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, with more than 13,000 members. While Dr. Haynes recently announced Pastor David McGruder as the Executive Pastor of Friendship-West, Dr. Haynes will remain the senior pastor.

"Rev. Jesse Jackson has made the world a better place, breaking down barriers, opening previously locked doors of opportunity, fighting for justice and refusing to take "no" for an answer on behalf of those who have no voice," said Dr. Haynes. "Rainbow PUSH has been the organizational vehicle that he has driven in the movement for justice. I am honored and humbled that he has "tapped" me to serve as his successor as the President and CEO of this great organization. Rev. Jackson has been a mentor and I have been greatly influenced and inspired by this game-changing social justice general, international ambassador for human rights, and prophetic genius. Sadly, justice and human rights are under attack in the nation and around the world. The work of Rainbow PUSH is as necessary as ever and I am committed to standing on the shoulders of Rev. Jackson and continuing the fight for freedom, peace, equity, justice and human rights."

Dr. Haynes is already focused on making positive change in his new role, with a national agenda to address issues with courts, the end of affirmative action, economic justice, educational equity and justice, and the effects of climate change on communities of color.

Dr. Haynes is best known as a social justice pastor and advocate for marginalized communities. Known nationally as "the drum major for justice," he has modeled his ministry like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., focused on the intersections of faith and justice. Dr. Haynes works diligently to stand up for justice and to create positive change nationally. From leading protests and demonstrations, to registering thousands of voters, to providing food and other needed resources, to decreasing crime, to serving as a voting super center, Dr. Haynes and Friendship-West Baptist Church have always been in the forefront of creating positive and lasting social change.

Dr. Haynes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and English, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Doctorate in Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation where he was afforded the opportunity to study at Christ Church, Oxford University in England. Currently, Dr. Haynes is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana where he is studying African American preaching and sacred rhetoric.

He also serves in the academic arena, teaching college courses and workshops at Paul Quinn College, Texas Christian University, McCormick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and other institutions of higher learning. Dr. Haynes also serves on the Board of Trustees for Paul Quinn College as well as various other boards, particularly those in underserved and minority communities. Dr. Haynes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

A life-long learner, Dr. Haynes is committed to education and has led Friendship-West to donate over $1 million dollars to historically Black colleges and universities. In addition, Friendship-West has donated over $2 million in scholarship aid to students who are members of the church and the greater Dallas community. Dr. Haynes is the namesake of the Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III Global Preparatory School, located on the campus of Paul Quinn College, which serves students grades 6-12 who seek to enter the International Baccalaureate program.

Dr. Haynes has received numerous awards and honors for his ministry and activism. In 2011, Dr. Haynes had the prestigious honor of being the featured speaker at The Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Prayer Breakfast. In 2012, Ebony Magazine named him to its Power 100 list of most influential African Americans. He was also inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, Dr. Haynes was honored to give remarks at the memorial service of one of the most respected world leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries, President Nelson Mandela. In 2016, Dr. Haynes was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. In 2020, Dr. Haynes was a featured speaker during the Democratic National Convention's faith event, "Our Values, Our Voices, Our Votes." The prestigious April 4th Foundation awarded Dr. Haynes the I am a Man Award in 2020 and he joined the ranks of past honorees that include Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Diane Nash, Congressman John Lewis, and Harry Belafonte. In 2022, Dr. Haynes was awarded by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service.

As a reflection of his commitment to community transformation and social consciousness, Dr. Haynes serves in various leadership capacities in organizations that champion social change and education. In 2003, he founded the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference along with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. and Dr. Iva E. Carruthers and currently serves as co-chairman of the board. Dr. Haynes is on the board of the Conference of National Black Churches, the National Action Network, and the IC3 Church Growth and Development Conference.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES :

To request interviews, please contact Kayla Tucker Adams, KTA Media Group, at [email protected] or 214-403-9852

SOURCE Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III
CAMBRIDGE, Mass and CAMBRIDGE, England, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing next-generation RNA therapeutics through the mastery of combinatorial chemistry and artificial intelligence, today announced a research collaboration with the global healthcare company Novo Nordisk. Through this collaboration, the companies aim to identify novel molecules that promote precise delivery of nucleic acid by leveraging Eleven's innovative DELiveri platform, ushering in a new era of precision in nucleic acid medicine for cardiometabolic diseases.

Nucleic acid therapeutics have immense potential for cardiometabolic diseases. However, the major challenge to their successful development as safe and effective agents is the paucity of organ-specific delivery agents. The DELiveri platform revolutionises the field of nucleic acid therapeutics by utilising DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) to discover conjugates that effectively deliver therapeutic molecules and present great promise for a multitude of potential therapeutic areas. This collaboration provides Novo Nordisk with exclusivity for specific cell types and applications associated with Eleven's innovative DELiveri platform in a staged approach.

Uli Stilz, Head of Novo Nordisk's Bio Innovation Hub in Boston, stated, "Our research collaboration with Eleven Therapeutics builds on Novo Nordisk's commitment to advancing precision medicine and opens up the opportunity to learn from one another as we explore novel cell-specific targeting strategies. With the combination of our joint team's expertise and using Eleven's DELiveri platform, we can potentially unlock transformative treatments for people living with cardiometabolic diseases."

Prof. Yaniv Erlich, CEO of Eleven Therapeutics, remarked, "We are delighted to collaborate with Novo Nordisk, a leader in global healthcare. Firstly, this collaboration has the potential for immense positive impact on patients' lives through the multitude of therapeutic cargos each of the discovered carriers could afford. Furthermore, it is a testament to the promise of our DELiveri platform, which is uniquely tailored to discover cell-selective delivery moieties  small molecules and other types  at an efficiency level yet to be observed in this field, thanks to the throughput capabilities of DELs."

Eleven Therapeutics is committed to maximising the impact of the DELiveri platform for the benefit of patients through expanding collaboration with innovative partners working in specific cell-type and disease area applications. Novo Nordisk's Bio Innovation Hub is an R&D unit designed to bring cutting-edge life science innovation from bench to bedside through co-creation partnerships, with a strategic focus within cardiometabolic, rare endocrine, and blood disorders.

About the DELiveriTM Platform

Eleven Therapeutics' DELiveri platform presents a game-changing approach to the delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics, overcoming the many complex challenges that plague the field. DELiveri uses DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) to discover conjugates that effectively deliver therapeutic molecules into target cell types of interest. This innovation obviates a key obstacle: the requirement for multiple conditions to co-occur simultaneously. Instead, DELiveri harnesses DEL to identify novel cell-specific internalising molecules via hypothesis-free, high-throughput screening of a vast number of small molecules. Traditional direct DEL screens struggle to differentiate between molecules that successfully internalise cargo into the cytoplasm and those that remain on the cell's outer membrane or become trapped in inaccessible organelles. To overcome this limitation, Eleven's DELiveri platform was engineered as a synthetic biology solution, transforming screened cells into molecular radars. The resulting signals are transformed into quantitative scores that describe the delivery potential of each molecule in the library. Utilizing ML/AI tools, Eleven is able to pinpoint molecules that promote cell specific delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics.

About Eleven Therapeutics

Eleven Therapeutics ushers in the next generation of RNA therapeutics by mastering combinatorial chemistry, synthetic biology and AI. Our pipeline is comprised of extended-release mRNA therapeutics  dubbed xRNA  addressing unmet medical needs in the metabolic, hematologic and infectious disease areas, as well as prophylactic siRNAs for pandemic-poised viral infections. The pipeline is enabled by our proprietary high throughput screening platforms, TERA and DELiveri, which, respectively, generate chemically modified xRNAs and cell-penetrating delivery carriers. The company was founded in 2020 by world-leading, interdisciplinary scientists in Cambridge (UK), Boston (US), and Tel Aviv (Israel), capitalising on the world's top talent pools. Eleven Tx was seeded by top VCs and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Contacts



Era Duek

VP Research Operations

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Eleven Therapeutics
NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A latest research report [115+] pages with 360-Degree visibility, titled "Europe Private 5G Network Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Component Outlook (Hardware, Services); By Frequency; By Spectrum; By Country - Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2030" published by Polaris Market Research in its research repository.



"According to research report, the Europe private 5G network market size/share was valued at USD 369.73 million in 2021 and is expected to touch USD 9,017.74 Million By 2030, growing at a CAGR of 43.4% during the forecast period."

Europe Private 5G Networks Market: Report Overview

A private 5G network is a nonpublic mobile network that provides cellular connectivity for private network use cases. These networks are intended to enhance the existing network capabilities and introduce new possibilities that other systems can't support. Private 5G networks are used to provide access or licensing to third-party providers, municipalities, and other private businesses.

There are several models for deploying and operating private 5G networks, including fully-owned private 5G networks, hybrid private-public cloud 5G networks, and private 5G delivery via network slicing. Private 5G networks can cover areas up to dozens of square kilometers depending on the band used and specific user requirements. The increasing demand for robust connectivity solutions has led to significant advancements in the European private 5G networks and is anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities in the Europe private 5G network market.

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Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis.

Some of the Top Market Players Covered Are:

Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

Telefonaktiebolaget LM

Huawei Technologies Co.

Vodafone Limited

Ericsson

Deutsche Telekom

Nokia Corporation

T-Systems International GmbH

Verizon Communications

AT&T Inc.

Broadcom Inc.

Altiostar

SAMSUNG

Cisco Systems Inc.

ZTE Corporation

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Prominent Growth Driving Factors

Rising demand for secure and reliable communication solutions: Private 5G networks are known for their high bandwidth and ultra-low latency, making them an apt choice for supporting critical applications across sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and energy. There has been a surge in the Europe private 5G network market sales as more and more businesses recognize the benefits of having faster and more reliable communication solutions. Increased utilization of advanced technologies: Several industries are increasingly adopting new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve efficiency and productivity. Private 5G networks create a favorable environment for these technologies to flourish by providing the required connectivity infrastructure. Adoption of 5G networks by several European countries: Private 5G networks are gaining traction all across Europe . Numerous European countries, including the United Kingdom , Sweden , and Germany , have made notable advancements in the deployment of private 5G networks. The rising utilization of private 5G networks is anticipated to boost the Europe private 5G network market demand. Growing need for real-time data processing: The growing demand for real-time data processing and increased emphasis on seamless connectivity and robust security measures is spurring the demand for private 5G networks across Europe .

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Top Trends Influencing the Market

Active support from the government: European countries have recognized the immense benefits of adopting private 5G networks and are actively supporting their development. They have implemented several policies and regulations like spectrum allocation to encourage the deployment of private 5G networks. Establishment of dedicated research centers in Germany : Germany , renowned for its robust manufacturing industry, is leading the way for industrial 5G adoption. The nation has set up dedicated research institutes and innovation centers to support the development of private 5G networks in the manufacturing sector.

Segmental Analysis

The core network segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period

Based on component, the core network segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. With an increase in the deployment of private 5G networks in sectors like energy, healthcare, and transportation, the need for advanced core network solutions has intensified. Core network solutions have the function of supporting the low latency and high bandwidth needs of diverse applications. As a result, Europe private 5G network market key players are emphasizing on developing cutting-edge solutions to meet the specific requirements of private 5G network deployments.

Hardware segment dominated the market in 2022

Private 5G networks need several hardware components, including routers, switches, antennas, and base stations for their operation. Besides, these hardware components are important for the development of a robust network infrastructure that can meet the high-speed, ultra-low latency, and secure communication needs of different sectors in European nations. As such, companies across various industries are investing heavily in advanced hardware solutions, resulting in the hardware segment capturing the largest Europe private 5G network market share.

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Europe Private 5G Networks Market: Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 9,017.74 Million Market size value in 2022 USD 504.71 Million Expected CAGR Growth 43.4 % from 2022 - 2030 Base Year 2021 Forecast Year 2022 - 2030 Top Market Players Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Telefonaktiebolaget LM, Huawei Technologies Co., Vodafone Limited, Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom, Nokia Corporation, T-Systems International GmbH, Verizon Communications, AT&T Inc., Broadcom Inc., Ltd, Altiostar, SAMSUNG, Cisco Systems, Inc., ZTE Corporation Segments Covered By Frequency, By Spectrum, By Vertical, By Country. Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options



Geographic Overview

Europe is anticipated to witness substantial growth over the forecast period

The demand for private 5G networks in Europe is anticipated to grow significantly over the forecast period. This can largely be attributed to the presence of several developed nations across Europe and the strong efforts from governments and market leaders toward the adoption of 5G networks.

In addition, the key telco companies have shown interest in providing 5G services across the respective nations and have plans to expand them further. In fact, several companies have already started offering their services in limited areas. As a result, the Europe private 5G network market is anticipated to grow significantly in the near future.

Browse the Detail Report "Europe Private 5G Network Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Component Outlook (Hardware, Services); By Frequency; By Spectrum; By Country - Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2030" with in-depth TOC: https://polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/europe-private-5g-network-market

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Recent Developments

In October 2022 , Indian telecommunications company Reliance Jio selected Finish telecom and consumer electronics corporation Nokia as its major supplier of India's 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) hardware. As a part of their long-term agreement, Nokia will provide a wide range of equipment like base stations, spectrum bands, 5G antennas, and network software to Reliance Jio.

, Indian telecommunications company Reliance Jio selected Finish telecom and consumer electronics corporation Nokia as its major supplier of 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) hardware. As a part of their long-term agreement, Nokia will provide a wide range of equipment like base stations, spectrum bands, 5G antennas, and network software to Reliance Jio. In August 2022 , Nokia announced that it has partnered with major telecom company Bharti Airtel to implement a 5G radio access agreement (RAN). The new partnership between Nokia and Bharti Airtel aligns with the latter's vision of propelling India into the era of 5G.

The Report Answers Questions Such As

How much is the Europe private 5G network market size?

private 5G network market size? At what CAGR is the market anticipated to grow over the forecast period?

What are the key opportunities in the market?

Who are the top players in the Europe private 5G network market?

private 5G network market? Which segment accounted for the highest market share in the industry?

What are the major driving factors in the market?

Polaris Market Research has segmented the Europe 5G Network Market report based on Component, Frequency, Spectrum, Vertical and Country:

By Component Outlook

Hardware

Radio Access Network



Core Network



Backhaul & Transport Interconnecting

Services

Installation & Integration



Data Services



Support & Maintenance

By Frequency Outlook

Sub-6 GHz

mmWave

By Spectrum Outlook

Licensed

Unlicensed/Shared

By Vertical Outlook

Manufacturing



Food & Beverages



Automotive



Pharmaceuticals



Electrical & Electronics



Heavy Machinery



Clothing & Accessories



Others

Energy & Utilities

Transportation & Logistics

Aerospace & Defense

Government & Public Safety

Corporates/Enterprises

Mining

Healthcare

Oil & Gas

Others

By Country Outlook

Germany

UK

Sweden

Finland

Netherlands

Italy

Spain

Greece

Czech Republic

Portugal

Romania

Hungary

RoEU

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NEW YORK and LONDON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus , a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance, market risk and algo monitoring solutions, has won the award for Best Market Surveillance Provider for the second consecutive year in the Waters Rankings 2023 Awards.

Thousands of WatersTechnology's market participant readers across the buy side and sell side voted in this year's Waters Rankings. The honor recognizing the company's software and service is the sixth award Eventus has received from WatersTechnology.

Victor Anderson, Global Content Director, WatersTechnology, said: "Congratulations to Eventus for winning the best market surveillance provider category for the second consecutive year in the Waters Rankings. Eventus continues to attract and retain a range of clients across the capital markets, thanks to its impressive Validus platform, collaborative approach, and internal expertise on market regulation, compliance and engineering."

Eventus CEO Travis Schwab said: "The trade surveillance field has grown increasingly competitive over the last few years, and we are honored and humbled to receive the votes of the financial community for our highly customizable technology and the deep expertise we bring to our clients."

The recognition follows Eventus' win over the past two months of two key regional awards  the WatersTechnology Asia Award for Best Market Surveillance Platform for the third year running and the RegTech Insight Europe Award for Best Trade Surveillance Solution for the second consecutive year. Eventus has now won nearly 35 awards and honors in four years.

The Waters Rankings Awards recognize the initiatives, innovation and achievements of the industry's "best-in-class" technology and data providers.

About Eventus

Eventus is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance, market risk and algo monitoring solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets.

Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventus.com .

SOURCE Eventus
Leading Thermometer Manufacturer Offers Free Thermometers to Ukraine Relief Organizations and Efforts

WATERTOWN, Mass., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The war in the Ukraine has resulted in a dire need for medical supplies for hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals. The Exergen Corporation, maker of the #1 preferred thermometer by medical professionals, is offering to donate temporal artery thermometers to medical and relief organizations serving Ukrainians in need.

"We believe we have a responsibility to provide medical aid when and where it is most needed, and today that is with the people suffering in Ukraine. We know that taking an accurate temperature can save lives and we welcome the opportunity to donate Exergen TemporalScanners to relief organizations that will put them in the hands of nurses and medical professionals immediately," said Francesco Pompei, PhD., CEO of Exergen.

Exergen, manufacturer of the only thermometer whose accuracy has been proven in more than 100 peer-reviewed, published clinical studies, is prepared to support the critical medical needs of a country in crisis. The company announced that that it will donate Exergen TemporalScanners to organizations whose mandate is to serve the medical relief efforts there.

Organizations interested in receiving thermometer donations can visit: www.exergen.com/ukraine.

ABOUT EXERGEN CORPORATION

Exergen invented, manufactures, and markets two series of the TemporalScanner thermometer: a professional version for hospitals and clinics, and a consumer version sold in major retailers nationwide. More than three billion temperatures are taken each year with TemporalScanners. Used in thousands of hospitals and clinics across the country as well as in millions of homes, TemporalScanners are the #1 preference of pediatricians, nurses, and parents. The Exergen TemporalScanner's accuracy is supported by clinical studies covering all ages from preterm infants to geriatrics and all care areas from hospitals to homes. Exergen is also a longtime leader in nursing care. For nearly 20 years, it has been part of the nursing profession's educational curriculum. Clinical nursing textbooks from 2005 to present include Exergen thermometers and have set training standards, relied upon in thousands of nursing programs nationwide. For additional information, visit www.exergen.com .

SOURCE Exergen
Awards Will Be Presented at Gala in Boston on September 20

ANDOVER, Mass. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation ("Invest in Others") has announced 15 finalists for the 2023 Invest in Others Awards, which will be held on September 20, 2023 at the Westin Boston Seaport District.

Now in its 17th year, the Invest in Others (IiO) Awards program recognizes financial advisors who volunteer their time and talents to support nonprofits helping to make a difference in lives of others. Through the five award categories  Catalyst, Community Service, Emerging Impact, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement  the IiO Awards honor financial advisors who have contributed to their charitable causes in significant ways. Finalists are selected based on their leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration and impact on both their designated charities and the communities they serve.

In addition to receiving recognition for their work, IiO will provide $25,000 grants in honor of the finalists to support their designated charities. In September, winners named in the Catalyst, Community Service, Emerging Impact and Volunteer of the Year categories will be recognized with a $60,000 grant made in their honor to their respective charities, and a $100,000 donation will be presented to the charity in honor of the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Top sponsors of the IiO Awards include Apollo, Cetera Financial Group, Commonwealth Financial Network, Fidelity Investments, LPL Financial, Merrill, MFS, Morgan Stanley, Natixis Investment Managers, Osaic and Private Advisor Group. To learn more about the finalists and their charitable work, visit investinothers.org/awards and follow #IiOAwards on social media.

The 2023 Invest in Others Awards finalists are:

Catalyst

Jared Brancazio of Brancazio Wealth Management of Raymond James in Fort Myers, Fla. , for CureSearch for Children's Cancer

of Brancazio Wealth Management of in , for CureSearch for Children's Cancer Brady Murray of Capstone Partners in Highland, Utah , for RODS Heroes

of Capstone Partners in , for RODS Heroes Ryan Smith of Mosaic Wealth Consulting in Erie, Pa. , for Grady's Decision

Community Service

John Garvey of UBS Financial Services, Inc. in Conshohocken, Pa. , for Community Volunteers in Medicine

of UBS Financial Services, Inc. in , for Community Volunteers in Medicine Cristen Morgan of Lake Norman Financial Group, Inc. in Cornelius, N.C. , for Hope House Foundation

of Lake Norman Financial Group, Inc. in , for Hope House Foundation Wendy Spinner of UBS Financial Services, Inc. in Los Angeles, Calif. , for Fulfillment Fund

Emerging Impact

Gina Brewer of Goldman Sachs in Memphis, Tenn. , for Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis

of Goldman Sachs in , for Women's Foundation for a Anasuya Kabad Meyer of Jaykay Wealth Advisors in Houston, Texas , for Daya Inc.

of Jaykay Wealth Advisors in , for Daya Inc. Aaron Sherman of Odyssey Group Wealth Advisors in Lancaster, Pa. , for Lancaster Public Library

Lifetime Achievement

Stacy Francis of Francis Financial, Inc. in New York, N.Y. , for Savvy Ladies

of Francis Financial, Inc. in , for Savvy Ladies Paul Martel of YHB Investment Advisors in West Hartford, Conn. , for Partners for Andean Community Health Inc.

of YHB Investment Advisors in , for Partners for Andean Community Health Inc. Raj Sharma of The Sharma Group, Merrill Private Wealth Management in Boston, Mass. , for American India Foundation

Volunteer of the Year

Carl Bailey of Bailey & Beatty Financial Services, LLC in Danbury, Conn. , for Danbury Grassroots Academy

of Bailey & Beatty Financial Services, LLC in , for Danbury Grassroots Academy Todd Johnson of Provision Financial Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, in New Brighton, Minn. , for Homes of Hope International

of Provision Financial Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, in , for Homes of Hope International Elliot Kallen of Prosperity Financial Group, Inc. in San Ramon, Calif. , for A Brighter Day

"Each year, the Invest in Others Awards program recognizes the incredible efforts of financial advisors who have given their time and resources to support nonprofits within their communities," said R. Barkley Payne, Executive Director & President of Invest in Others. "It's a privilege to honor the tremendous charitable work of this year's finalists, which in turn helps us provide critical funding to the nonprofits they support  optimizing the good we can do together as an industry."

Since 2006, Invest in Others has partnered with more than 500 charities, shared hundreds of inspirational stories and donated over $5 million to a wide array of causes, including health and wellness, education and youth programs, arts and culture, hunger and poverty prevention, military, and veterans and more.

About the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation

The Invest in Others 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation is supported by the financial services industry to amplify the charitable work of financial advisors, employees, and their firms. Invest in Others is a catalyst to channel philanthropy and volunteerism to where it is needed most.

For more information, visit investinothers.org or follow Invest in Others on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Suffredini, Director of Marketing

Invest in Others Charitable Foundation

[email protected]stinothers.org | 617.429.2009

SOURCE Invest in Others Charitable Foundation
HOUSTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK) today announced that the Company will participate in EnerCom Denver  The Energy Investment Conference to be held in Denver, Colorado, August 14-16, 2023. Ryan Ezell, Chief Executive Officer of Flotek, is scheduled to present on August 15, 2023, at 8:50 a.m. MT and will be joined by Bond Clement, Chief Financial Officer, in hosting meetings with investors throughout the day. Dr. Ezell will also participate in a service industry panel discussion on August 16 at 9:50 a.m. MT. A live webcast of the events will be available on the conference website at www.enercomdenver.com. Presentation slides will be posted on the Investor Relations section of Flotek's corporate website at www.flotekind.com prior to the start of the presentation.

About Flotek Industries, Inc.

Flotek Industries, Inc. is an advanced technology-driven, green chemical and data analytics company providing unique and innovative completion solutions that have a proven, positive impact on sustainability and reducing the overall environmental impact of energy on air, land, water and people. Flotek has an intellectual property portfolio of over 170 patents and a global presence in more than 15 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa. Flotek has established collaborative partnerships focused on sustainable and optimized chemistry and data solutions which improve well performance and allow its customers to generate higher returns on invested capital.

Flotek is based in Houston, Texas and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK". For additional information, please visit www.flotekind.com.

SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc.
DUBLIN, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global and China Electronic Rearview Mirror Industry Report, 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report combs through and summarizes the installation, function application, development trends and products of global and Chinese suppliers.



By installation location, electronic rearview mirrors can be divided into electronic interior rearview mirror (i.e. streaming rearview mirror) and electronic exterior rearview mirror (i.e., camera monitor system, CMS). The "Motor Vehicles - Device for Indirect Vision - Requirement of Performance and Installation" (GB 15084-2022) will come into force on July 1, 2023.

The policy stipulates that electronic rearview mirrors can be installed in Category M and N motor vehicles to replace conventional optical exterior rearview mirrors. The industry has grown out of nothing. This article will provide a respective overview of the streaming rearview mirror and CMS markets.



Streaming rearview mirror: the installations surge and the market competition intensifies.



In 2022, the installations of OEM streaming rearview mirrors in passenger cars in China approached 320,000 units, and the installation rate was 1.60%; the number of brands installing OEM streaming mirrors rose to 20, compared with 13 in the first five months of 2022.



In supplier's term, Yuanfeng Technology still maintains its position as the bellwether in the industry, but the CR5 declined in 2023Q1, indicating a fiercer market competition.



Yuanfeng Technology's fourth-generation streaming rearview mirror products remain very superior in imaging time (25ms, < 55ms required by regulations), image delay (< 50ms, < 200ms required by regulations), system minimum frame rate (50fps, 30Hz required by regulations) & display brightness (5500cd/m), high dynamic range (up to 140dB), and self-adaption to high and low light environments.

Its products have been installed by Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Hongqi, WEY, Tank, Haval, GAC Trumpchi, GAC Honda, and GAC Toyota among others. Yuanfeng Technology stays far head of its counterparts in installations, having been the sales champion in China for years in a row.



Camera monitor system (CMS): available to quite a few models within the year, with the implementation of the policy.



On December 29, 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the "Motor Vehicles - Device for Indirect Vision - Requirement of Performance and Installation" (GB 15084-2022) and specified that it will go into effect on July 1, 2023. This means that CMS-enabled models will be legal to be mass-produced and travel on roads in China from July 1, 2023. Some models have been confirmed to pack CMS within the year.



Currently, Lotus Eletre and BAIC Mofang are confirmed to be equipped with CMS within 2023, both of which offer an optional package for consumers. In the case of FORVIA's solution for Lotus Eletre, the CMS adopts 1280720 LCD with a refresh rate of 60Hz, and supports 15-level brightness adjustment; the camera using water-proof materials can be heated to melt snow, and works with the active safety systems to provide functions like blind spot detection, door open warning, and rear cross traffic assist.



CMS well outperforms conventional rearview mirrors in the following aspects:

All-day working capability, much stronger than conventional mirrors in special scenarios such as high light/dark environment, rain and snow

Adjustable FOV, effectively reducing blind spots

Wind resistance reduction, and improvements in the BEV range / fuel consumption

Video forensics in collision accidents

Combined with driving assistance systems. CMS and ADAS have a high degree of overlap in functions such as blind spot detection. Currently, CMS products from Yuanfeng Technology and Autocruis can integrate steering assist, lane departure warning, side blind spot obstacle avoidance and other driving assistance functions.



There is a high possibility that CMS can share camera modules and controller components with other auto parts, producing good cost reduction effects. (According to the regulation in the GB15084-2022, that "in the case where CMS is used to provide a field of view, the relevant field of view shall be permanently visible to the driver when the ignition switch is turned on or the vehicle master control switch is activated", the display multiplexing is an infeasible way to lower the cost).



In terms of camera modules, currently a number of models (e.g., Xpeng G9 and Li L9) with L2+ driving assistance systems pack side cameras. If the CMS can share the camera with ADAS, a portion of the cost can be saved.

In terms of controllers, it is more likely that the CMS controller is integrated into the cockpit domain/driving domain. This solution is more in line with the centralization trend of E/E architectures. According to BAIC, the process will take 2 or 3 years.



Although CMS offers big benefits mentioned above, there are still some bottlenecks to be broken before mass adoption in vehicles, including:



High cost poses a higher threshold to buy a car before the components are multiplexed. From the existing models with optional CMS on market, it can be seen that the cost of the optional system for customers ranges between RMB7,000 and RMB16,000. Except the purchase cost, the maintenance cost in later stage also increases.



System reliability in long-term use is guaranteed. CMS plays a crucial role in driving. Compared to conventional mirrors, CMS may crash and have a blank screen, causing a threat to safety driving.



Driver's use habits change. In conventional rearview mirrors, the human eyesight is always in the distance, and what the driver sees is always a distant view; in CMS, the driver needs to take eyes back to the near place instead and refocus when observing the screen. The frequent switching of visual focus for a long time makes it easy to cause visual fatigue and affect driving safety.



Key Topics Covered:

1 Overview of Electronic Rearview Mirror Industry

1.1 Definition of Conventional Automotive Rearview Mirror

1.2 Intelligence Evolution of Automotive Rearview Mirror

1.3 Definition of Electronic Rearview Mirror

1.4 Structure and Features of Electronic Interior Rearview Mirrors

1.5 Structure and Features of Electronic Exterior Rearview Mirrors

1.6 Policies and Regulations on Electronic Rearview Mirrors: Global/China

1.7 Electronic Rearview Mirror Industry Chain Panorama

1.8 Electronic Rearview Mirror Patents (Filing Trends, Technical Topics, Innovation Word Cloud, Patent Map, and Ranking of Applicants)

1.9 Challenges in Electronic Rearview Mirror Industry

1.10 Development Trends



2 Electronic Interior Rearview Mirror Market (Streaming Rearview Mirror)

2.1 Production Vehicle Models with OEM Mirrors: (Summary on Chinese Independent, Joint Venture and Imported Models)

2.2 Installations and Installation Rate of Streaming Rearview Mirrors in China's Passenger Car Market

2.3 China Passenger Car Streaming Rearview Mirror Market Structure by Brand

2.4 China Passenger Car Streaming Rearview Mirror Market Structure by Price

2.5 Installations and Installation Rate of Streaming Rearview Mirrors in China's Passenger Car Market by Price

2.6 China Passenger Car Streaming Rearview Mirror Market Structure by Category

2.7 Installations and Installation Rate of Streaming Rearview Mirrors in China's Passenger Car Market by Category

2.8 China Passenger Car Streaming Rearview Mirror Market Structure by Supplier

2.9 Great Wall Motor's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.10 Changan Auto's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.11 FAW's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.12 Buick's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.13 Toyota's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.14 Cadillac's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.15 SAIC Maxus's Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales

2.16 Honda Streaming Rearview Mirror Sales



3 Electronic Exterior Rearview Mirror Market (Camera Monitor System)

3.1 Passenger Car

3.1.1 Audi: Audi e-tron

3.1.2 Honda: Honda e

3.1.3 Lexus: ES 300H

3.1.4 Hyundai: IONIQ 5? IONIQ 6

3.1.5 GENESIS: GV60

3.1.6 BAIC: BEIJING Mofang

3.1.7 Dongfeng Passenger Car: Dongfeng Aeolus

3.1.8 Geely: Lotus Eletre

3.1.9 Xpeng Motor: G6

3.2 Commercial Vehicle

3.2.1 Mercedes-Benz

3.2.2 DAF

3.2.3 MAN

3.2.4 SCANIA

3.2.5 Volvo

3.2.6 Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor

3.2.7 Farizon Auto

3.2.8 SHACMAN

3.2.9 YUTONG

3.3 Concept Car



4 Electronic Rearview Mirror Tier-1 Suppliers (Overseas & Local)

4.1 Gentex

4.2 Stoneridge

4.3 MEKRA Lang

4.4 Ficosa

4.5 Tokai Rika

4.6 Valeo

4.7 Bosch

4.8 Continental

4.9 Magna

4.10 Yuanfeng Technology

4.11 ADAYO

4.12 Desay SV

4.13 Willing Technology

4.14 Jingwei Hirain

4.15 Ningbo Huaxiang

4.16 Voyager Technology

4.17 Shanghai Yuxin Electronic Technology

4.18 Qingdao Jidong Auto Parts

4.19 Zhengzhou Senpeng Electronic Technology

4.20 Guangzhou Rongsheng Technology

4.21 Hefei Jiangcheng Technology

4.22 Autocruis

5 Electronic Rearview Mirror Industry Chain (Chip, Camera)

5.1 Chip

5.1.1 Ambarella's Product Layout and Product Solutions

5.1.2 Qualcomm's Product Layout and Product Solution

5.1.3 Renesas's Product Layout and Product Solution

5.1.4 TI's Product Layout and Product Solution

5.1.5 Xilinx's Product Layout and Product Solution

5.1.6 OmniVision's Product Layout and Product Solution

5.1.7 Lattice's Product Layout

5.2 Camera Module

5.2.1 Ofilm's Product Layout

5.2.2 Sunny's Product Layout

5.2.3 Q Tech's Product Layout

5.2.4 Lcetron's Product Layout

5.2.5 Desay SV's Product Layout

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jh67b1

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Expands presence in the Washington-Baltimore region

ST. LOUIS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Shepherd Electric Supply, based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Shepherd Electric Supply is an electrical distributor that serves construction, commercial, industrial, and government customers. The company was founded in 1892 and operates five locations in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Last year, Shepherd ranked 13th in Baltimore Business Journal's largest private companies list and was voted as one of Baltimore Sun's Top Workplaces. The company also ranked 34th on Electrical Wholesaling magazine's 2023 Top 150 Electrical Distributors List. As a subsidiary of Graybar, the company will continue to operate under the Shepherd Electric Supply name with the same leadership team, employees, and suppliers.

"Shepherd is a highly respected company that aligns with Graybar's values, culture and strategy," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "With its longstanding presence and strength in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, we believe this acquisition provides a solid foundation for accelerating our growth. We are delighted to welcome the Shepherd team to Graybar and look forward to achieving success together."

"Shepherd and Graybar complement each other well, with similar core values and a shared focus on building long-term customer relationships," said Stuart L. Vogel, chief executive officer of Shepherd. "Throughout our 131-year history, our people have always been the key to our success. Becoming part of a successful, employee-owned company like Graybar allows us to sustain our distinctive culture and positive work environment, while also creating new opportunities to expand our service capabilities and grow our business for the future."

Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 325 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.

Media Contact:

Tim Sommer

(314) 578-7672

[email protected]

SOURCE Graybar
Ty and Charlene Bollinger, part of the Disinformation Dozen purposely censored by the DHS, and two of the most heavily censored individuals on the planet, break their silence to reveal life changing solutions for healing vaccine injuries

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlene and Ty Bollinger, renowned healthcare freedom advocates, filmmakers, and founders of the widely acclaimed website "The Truth About Cancer" are set to release their latest project, the highly anticipated docu-series titled "REMEDY," on July 26th. The Bollingers, whose work has reached millions worldwide, including their New York Times bestselling book "The Truth About Cancer," aim to provide life-saving knowledge, real hope, and tangible remedies for individuals who have suffered vaccine damage resulting from the CDC's recommended shots.

Ty & Charlene Bollinger, Filmmakers - Remedy Robert F. Kennedy Jr on Remedy

"REMEDY" goes beyond the realm of COVID-19 vaccines, addressing the broader spectrum of vaccines listed on the CDC's schedule. By offering a beacon of truth and empowerment, the docu-series seeks to support and guide individuals who have endured vaccine-related injuries, shedding light on their experiences and providing practical solutions.

Charlene and Ty Bollinger have been at the forefront of challenging the mainstream narrative on health, cancer treatments, and vaccines. As dedicated healthcare freedom activists, their commitment to empowering individuals and exposing the hidden realities has only grown stronger, leading them to create "REMEDY" as a powerful resource for those seeking knowledge and solutions.

With their expertise in compelling storytelling, the Bollingers have assembled a diverse group of doctors, scientists, and health experts to contribute their invaluable insights to "REMEDY." Included in this docu-series is Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Peter McCoullough, Dr. Judy Mikovits, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Dr. Larry Palevesky, and Dr. Omar Hamada. This extensive collaboration guarantees a comprehensive exploration of vaccine risks, medical fraud, and effective remedies, offering viewers a profound understanding of the complex issues surrounding vaccine damage.

"REMEDY" will premiere on July 26th, with eight episodes available for free to the public. This docu-series serves as an indispensable guide for those searching for truth, hope, and practical solutions in the face of vaccine-related injuries. For more information, updates, and to join the conversation, please visit the official website and follow the hashtag #REMEDY on social media.

SOURCE The Truth About Cancer
Three medical institutions in Kyiv will install solar power plants for energy supply - Klitschko

In cooperation with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), several autonomous solar power plants will be installed in Kyiv to provide uninterrupted power supply to the capital's hospitals, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

"Last heating season showed how systematic is Russian shelling of critical infrastructure facilities, on which energy supply depends, in particular, medical institutions in Kyiv. Where equipment shutdown can lead to fatal or serious consequences. The project to install solar power plants will ensure uninterrupted power supply to three medical institutions - one of the city's clinical hospitals, a maternity hospital, a perinatal center," Klitschko wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday.

He noted that the equipment would also make it possible to partially replace the amount of energy consumed from renewable sources, accumulate electricity, which eliminates the risks of blackouts in establishments, and reduce CO2 emissions.

Funding for the work will be provided by GIZ grant funds.

The total cost of the project is EUR500,000.
VANCOUVER, BC, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB) (OTCQB: HAPBF) (FSE: HA1) ("Hapbee" or the "Company"), the leading provider of wellness wearable technology, is proud to announce that it has been awarded Nexus Certification by Grey Team, which recognizes Hapbee as an effective tool in suicide prevention among members of the United States Military Community.

Grey Team is a privately funded, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization aiming to improve the personal health and wellness of active-duty soldiers and military veterans to reduce suicides. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, Grey Team's goal is to provide comprehensive programs directed at healing all the invisible wounds of war, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, self-medication, and isolation.

The Grey Team's Nexus Award represents one of America's most rigorous, in-field certifications for cutting-edge wellness solutions.

Grey Team has been using Hapbee Neckbands and Smart Sleep Pads as part of its high-successful Operation Phoenix program for nearly two years. The Operation has helped alleviate mental and physical suffering caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, chronic physical pain, and lifestyle choices. Refer to the Company's news release dated March 8, 2021, for further information on its partnership with Grey Team.

According to Grey Team's founder and President, Cary Reichbach, "Hapbee has become a critical component of our suicide prevention and wellness program, offering our service members an effective alternative to chemicals, drugs, or stimulants without any lingering side effects. It's a real game-changer because the results are immediate and can be used from home or, for that matter, anywhere."

"This recognition from Grey Team is among the most gratifying confirmation of the mission we are on at Hapbee to improve peoples' lives  especially members of our military who have given everything in support of our freedom," said Yona Shtern, Chairman and CEO of Hapbee. "We plan to proudly display the Nexus certification on all our products moving forward. There are roughly 19 million veterans in the United States alone, and we intend to continue to develop working relationships with Grey Team and other public and private veteran support organizations to help as many veterans as we can."

Hapbee patented biostreaming technology helps people optimize their sleep, performance, and moods. Ultra-low frequency electro-magnetic biostreams are derived from compounds like caffeine, nicotine and melatonin which are delivered digitally through Hapbee-powered devices, such as the Smart Sleep Pad and Neckband without the side-effects or dependencies that might otherwise result from ingesting the substances.

Hapbee is pleased to announce it has filed its Year end Audited Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ending December 31, 2022 as well as its first quarter results for the period ending March 31, 2023. The Company received confirmation from the BC Securities Commission effective July 7,2023 that the Management Cease Trade Order issued by the Commission effective May 2, 2023, under National Policy 12-203 (the "Policy") has been revoked as it has complied with the filing of the Required Disclosure via SEDAR.

About Grey Team

Grey Team, Inc was founded in 2016 by military veterans Cary Reichbach  U.S. Army, and Logan Skees  U.S. Marine Corps. Both men had served in high-risk, dangerous jobs and experienced the military service's toll on an individual's mental and physical health. Their mission is to lead the way in researching, creating, and implementing comprehensive solutions that effectively reduce and eliminate suicides among active-duty and post-service veterans in the U.S. military.

Grey Team strives for an America where veterans receive the utmost care and support, enabling them to discover peace, pursue their passions, and find fulfillment beyond their service. We envision a future where veterans are self-sufficient, contributing to their families, communities, and society while receiving unwavering support from foundations, private donors, businesses, and schools/universities. For more information about Grey Team, visit: https://www.greyteam.org

Follow Grey Team on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

About Hapbee

Hapbee is a digital wellness technology company that aims to help people take control of how they sleep, perform and feel. Hapbee's digital wellness library of Wellness Routines utilizes patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE), designed to help optimize users' sleep, productivity and focus, recovery, and downtime. Hapbee devices and subscriptions are available for purchase at Hapbee.com and through a growing network of select distributors.

You can learn more about how Hapbee works at www.hapbee.com/science

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's ability to meet its planned product marketing and development initiatives and the Company's ability to achieve its e-commerce rollout and full-scale commercial launch as anticipated.

Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, delays in design, production, manufacturing, development or releases of signal blends, collection of data from customer use, or the Company may not be able to achieve its targets as anticipated or at all; changes in legislation and regulations; increase in operating costs; equipment failures; failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; litigation; the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants and fees charged by service providers. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in Hapbee's annual information form dated May 2, 2022, a copy of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Hapbee Technologies Inc.
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HCI Equity Partners ("HCI"), a leading lower middle-market private equity firm, today announced a new partnership with Headlamp, a military veteran transition accelerator, and Sutton Growth Group, a capability-building firm focused on training. Headlamp works directly with the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program to assist transitioning veterans to civilian business roles. This collaboration aims to leverage the unique skills and experiences of military veterans. Headlamp will identify SkillBridge Fellows and place them at HCI portfolio companies, and Sutton Growth will provide business training to the Fellows.

The SkillBridge program by the Department of Defense is designed to provide transitioning service members with valuable civilian work experience and training opportunities. Through this program, military personnel gain private-sector experience, while simultaneously assisting companies in filling critical talent gaps. Headlamp will work closely with HCI to identify and select highly qualified SkillBridge Fellows to begin working at multiple HCI portfolio companies, including Echelon Supply & Service, WF Cabinetry, Tech24, MSI Express and AmerCareRoyal in technical, project management, supervisory leadership, sales and continuous improvement roles.

"Headlamp and Sutton Growth Group are providing critical services to help our veterans transition to successful business careers and HCI is proud to partner with them on this worthy effort," said HCI Managing Partner, Doug McCormick. "We are committed to supporting transitioning veterans, and believe they bring leadership experience to employers that is unmatched. We are excited to kick off this partnership and look forward to working with these talented veterans in partnership with HCI's platform companies."

"Military veterans get the job done, and done right," said Jim Ettamarna, of Sutton Growth Group. "We're very selective about placing SkillBridge Fellows into top-notch organizations with great leaders, and HCI and Doug, with his military background, fit those criteria ideally."

Headlamp CEO, Steve Chang, commented, "Having served in Special Operations, I learned a critical truth early on that humans are more important than hardware. We're thrilled for the opportunity to team with HCI, which has a demonstrated commitment to leveraging human capital as a differentiator. And based on the leaders at HCI and the portfolio companies, we feel great about seeing veterans transition into that culture."

About Headlamp

Headlamp was born out of US Special Operations, and is committed to supporting successful service-member transitions. Headlamp is rebuilding the backbone of American business by helping them leverage veteran talent. For more information, please visit: www.myheadlamp.com.

About Sutton Growth Group

Sutton Growth Group is a capability-building firm. Sutton Growth provides select clients with the proven talent, and high-impact learning and development, to build critical capabilities, successfully execute, and drive value creation. For more information, please visit http://www.suttongrowth.com/.

About the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program

The DoD SkillBridge Program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. SkillBridge connects service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences. For more information, please visit https://skillbridge.osd.mil/.

About HCI Equity Partners

HCI Equity Partners is a lower market private equity firm focused on partnering with family and founder-owned distribution, manufacturing and service companies. HCI is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.hciequity.com.

Contacts:

Kelsey Clute, VP, Director of Communications, HCI

[email protected]

Megan Bowman, Lambert

[email protected]

SOURCE HCI Equity Partners
Speakers will share winning strategies for building digital fluency and inspiring interest in working in tech

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stimulating students' interest, confidence and skills in technology will highlight a feature presentation by CompTIA Spark at this month's Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Making Schools Work Conference, the annual professional development conference to inspire and empower K-12 success.

CompTIA Spark, the social impact arm of CompTIA, the world's leading non-profit tech industry association, will lead the session titled "How to ensure every student is prepared for a career in an ever-changing digital future." It is scheduled for 8 a.m. EDT on July 19, with a repeat presentation at 1 p.m. EDT on July 20.

"Digital fluency is critically important to the future success of every student." Tweet this

"Digital fluency is critically important to the future success of every student," said Randi Parker, chief of staff and vice president, CompTIA Spark. "Whether today's student becomes tomorrow's software developer, cybersecurity expert, chief marketing officer, agri-business owner or educator, technology knowledge is vital in every industry and occupation."

Joining Parker in the discussion are Tina Garrett, principal of Cannon Elementary School, Grapevine, Texas; Sue Kane, director of STEM Initiatives and Strategic Partnerships at North Central ESD, Wenatchee, Wash.; and Henry Mann, senior director, product development, CompTIA Spark.

The CompTIA Spark session will include practical strategies for boosting students' confidence in using tech curriculum in the classroom to help them become more digitally fluent. The presentation will also help educators understand the myths that make many students believe a tech-related career is unachievable and show them effective strategies to bust those misconceptions.

"CompTIA Spark's mission is to unlock young people's potential in technology," Parker said. "We want to help students get excited about the possibilities of technology, beyond using it just for fun. Sparking that interest and instilling confidence using tech, while in the classroom, will help students prepare for today's digital world and the jobs of tomorrow."

CompTIA Spark is proud to sponsor the Project-Based Learning (PBL) Playground at the conference, including an interactive learning workshop titled "All Hands on Tech!" Participants can explore engaging tech projects designed for all middle school classrooms. This hands-on workshop will show educators how to bring high-quality, engaging tech education to the classroom through free curriculum and activities. The project-based group activities also include an inside look at how CompTIA Spark's innovative tech education program can build students' confidence and skills toward rewarding tech pathways, while preparing them for real-world work environments. To learn more about CompTIA Spark's middle school tech education program, visit comptiaspark.org.

SREB's Making Schools Work Conference takes place July 18-21 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Some 3,000 educators will gather discuss and share actionable strategies to advance school improvement efforts and raise student achievement. To register for the SREB Making Schools Work Conference, click here. To see the full conference schedule, click here.

About CompTIA Spark

CompTIA Spark, a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, is a social impact organization that works to unlock people's potential though technology. It aims to bringing high quality tech education to youth  whatever their background  making tech exciting, accessible and inclusive while building skills and confidence for life. CompTIA Spark is the first U.S. nonprofit to receive a multi-year grant from The Spectris Foundation, the UK-based registered charity that champions access to a high-quality STEM education around the world. CompTIA Spark was founded in 1998 by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce. Learn more at https://comptiaspark.org.

About Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit interstate compact headquartered in Atlanta. Its 16 states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Its work is funded by appropriations from our states, as well as by contracts and grants from foundations and from local, state and federal agencies. www.sreb.org/

About SREB Making Schools Work Conference

Making Schools Work Conference sessions focus on transforming teaching and learning in every discipline, at every level  from K-12 through postsecondary education. www.sreb.org/conference

Media Contacts

For CompTIA Spark

Cristina De Guia

Marketing Director

[email protected]

Anna Turman

Senior Specialist, Communications

[email protected]

For SERB

Beth Day

Vice President, Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE CompTIA Spark
Women journalists from Belgium, Iran, Mexico, Palestine, Poland, Ukraine and U.S. honored for bravery

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced the winners of the 34th annual Courage in Journalism Awards, which recognize women journalists working under duress to bring truth to light. The 2023 honorees are Maria Teresa Montano Delgado, a veteran Mexican journalist covering widespread corruption in political power; the women journalists of The Washington Post reporting from the frontlines of Ukraine in 2022; and, posthumously, Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American career broadcast journalist who reported from the Middle East for decades and was killed in 2022.

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was awarded the 2023 Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, which is given annually to a journalist who is unjustly jailed, detained or imprisoned. Moaiery is currently facing trial in Iran for covering anti-state protests in Tehran.

The IWMF's Courage in Journalism Awards remind the public of the cost, and benefit, of working as a woman journalist. Tweet this

In its third decade, the IWMF's Courage in Journalism Awards remind the public of the cost, and benefit, of working as a woman journalist and the increasing threat facing press freedom worldwide. As challenges mount outside of conflict zones and into the online sphere, women in news media also work against additional, intentional campaigns of discreditation and intimidation simply because of their gender.

"For this year's Courage Award winners, any reporting  no matter the nature or the medium  presents a risk to their careers, their lives and even the well-being of their families," said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Munoz. "Their existence as truth tellers amid a sea of disinformation and public, state-sanctioned efforts to silence their voices is a true act of bravery. The IWMF is honored to recognize these women working tirelessly, and collaboratively, to reveal truths otherwise untold."

Reporting from the second most dangerous country in the world for journalists (in 2022), Maria Teresa Montano Delgado is regularly at risk, and was kidnapped in 2021 due to her ongoing investigative work into suspicious, multi-million-dollar contracts awarded by the State of Mexico. Assembled following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, The Washington Post's Ukrainian bureau and rotating reporting team of women illuminated transgressions otherwise shrouded by the chaos of war while covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The death of Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 speaks directly to the dangers journalists face on the frontline and the continued impunity surrounding their cases. This posthumous recognition also honors the years of threats she endured before her death as she covered conflict for Al Jazeera.

Yalda Moaiery  this year's Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists award recipient  has spent her career in photojournalism documenting conflict, war and natural disaster. In 2019, she gained attention for speaking out against former U.S. president Donald Trump after he used her photography to support an attack on Iran. Her arrest in 2022 occurred during protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini, and she awaits an upcoming trial date and sentencing while on bail.

The Courage in Journalism Awards are made possible by Bank of America, the awards' National Presenting Sponsor for 17 consecutive years. The IWMF would like to thank Bank of America for its commitment to journalism, diversity in news media and the pursuit of press freedom.

The 2023 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winners will be recognized during private ceremonies in Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles this fall. This year's IWMF Courage in Journalism Event Chair is former Vice Chair of Bank of America and former Chair of Bank of America Europe Anne Finucane. In addition to overseeing the strategic direction of the bank, Finucane is recognized for her innovative approach to corporate and social responsibility initiatives advancing racial equity.

About the 2023 Courage in Journalism Award Winners

Maria Teresa Montano Delgado (Mexico)  Investigative Journalist

Maria Teresa Montano Delgado is a freelance journalist and director of the investigative portal The Observer. Her reporting focuses on corruption within the State of Mexico (Edomex), a bastion of the PRI party, which held power in Mexico from 1929 to 2000. Her most recent investigation is a collaborative reporting initiative for Forbidden Stories, The Guardian and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which was also published in El Pais.

For more than 30 years Montano has chronicled corruption within her home country. She began her career as a correspondent for national media such as Notimex, El Universal, Milenio, Revista Proceso and El Financiero. During this time, Montano began to experience government harassment including public denigration of her reporting, smear campaigns, demands from powerful politicians, tax harassment and isolation by coercion; she was also sued for libel and the lives of her family were threatened. Despite the continuous abuse  including state-sanctioned espionage in 2019  Montano continued to report.

In February 2020, Montano was fired from Heraldo de Mexico due to her investigation of Edomex. At this time, she launched The Observer, which specializes in investigative journalism and fact-checking, and is open to all audiences.

In August 2021, assailants entered Montano's home, stole her car, laptops, recording equipment and cameras, and then kidnapped her, threatening death. After her release, Montano went into exile in Spain until late 2022.

Today, in addition to her journalistic pursuits, Montano spends time promoting the right to freedom of expression for journalists in Mexico and collaborates with Article 19 and CIMAC. She also recently assisted in the creation of the Law for the Protection of Journalists in Mexico.

Read more of Montano's story here.

Women of The Washington Post Reporting on Ukraine (Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, United States)  Journalism Team

Twitter: @washingtonpost, Instagram: @washingtonpost

The Washington Post was the first American news organization to establish a Ukraine bureau in May 2022. In 2022, the bureau was regularly joined by a rotation of The Post's women journalists on assignment.

The Ukraine reporting team included: Ukraine bureau chief Isabelle Khurshudyan and contributors Anastacia Galouchka and Kamila Hrabchuk. Rotating reporters on assignment in Ukraine in 2022 included: then-Cairo bureau chief Siobhan O'Grady, video journalists Whitney Shefte and Whitney Leaming, contributing photojournalist Heidi Levine, Baghdad bureau chief Louisa Loveluck, national security reporter Missy Ryan, Bogota bureau chief Samantha Schmidt, Berlin bureau chief Loveday Morris, contributing photographer Kasia Strek, political video reporter Joyce Koh and international reporter Miriam Berger.

When the full-scale invasion began, the Post team was in Kyiv as it came under Russian fire. In Kharkiv, Khurshudyan and Leaming were two of the last Western media reporters to leave the city as it came under heavy bombardment. O'Grady and Galouchka came under targeted artillery shelling twice while reporting on artillery combat in the Donetsk region. Shefte, who helped detail the story of women giving birth in underground bunkers, embedded with a military unit near Mariupol that had been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Levine  the recipient of the IWMF's inaugural Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award in 2015  joined the team as a photographer. She commented, "Women photojournalists are often in the minority and gender discrimination still exists: Now more than ever it's critical to recognize the achievements of women in journalism. We share this award with those at The Post who worked around the clock help ensure our team's safety and provided constant logistical support. We also share this award with the Ukrainian people, who allowed us to tell their story; their pain, sacrifice and resilience have deeply inspired us."

Due to the work of this collaborative, The Post's coverage included exclusive reporting and content from the frontlines of Ukraine, including information from sources that were cultivated for months. The Post team's reporting also included how Ukrainian forces were able to repel Russian occupiers using covert resistance fighters, drone-guided artillery fire and traditional trench warfare. Collectively, their reporting depicted  gravely and comprehensively  the human toll of war on a civilian population.

Read more about the teams behind The Post's Ukraine reporting here.

Shireen Abu Akleh (Palestine, United States)  Broadcast Journalist

Twitter: @shireennasri, Instagram: @shireenabuakleh

Shireen Abu Akleh  a renowned Palestinian American journalist who worked with Al Jazeera for more than 20 years  was a household name in Palestine and abroad. On May 11, 2022, Abu Akleh was killed by an Israeli soldier while on assignment covering a military raid on the Jenin refugee camp.

Abu Akleh studied journalism at Yarmouk University in Jordan. In her early career, she worked at the Voice of Palestine and Monte Carlo. In 1997, Abu Akleh began working with Al Jazeera as a correspondent and became one of the first Arab women field reporters for the network.

During the second Intifada, or uprising, Abu Akleh rose to prominence covering stories in the Arab world and abroad. She reported on the Israeli invasion of the Jenin refugee camp in 2002, the Gaza Wars of 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2021, the war on Lebanon in 2006, and the Arab Summit in Damascus and Egypt. Internationally, Abu Akleh covered multiple elections in the United Kingdom and United states as well as many other international events of importance.

Abu Akleh was always eager to learn new skills and keep up with new technologies in journalism. In addition to co-founding Sawt Falasteen Radio, in 2020 Abu Akleh earned a diploma in Digital Media from Birzeit University. In the years following, she became a trainer at the university's Media Development Center where she taught several courses to undergraduate students.

In her career and in her personal life, Abu Akleh was consistently honored for her work, professionalism and courage. In 2020, she commented: "In addition to political issues [of the day], my concern has been  and will always be  the human story, and the daily suffering of my people under occupation."

Reacting to this posthumous award from the IWMF, Abu Akleh's family commented, "We are honored that this year's IWMF Courage in Journalism Award recognizes Shireen's career, legacy and bravery. This award is a testament to Shireen's courageous voice that echoed through every home in Palestine. Her work has inspired generations of young women and girls to pursue careers in journalism, and we hope this award will remind the world of Shireen's legacy, reporting and contributions to journalism. Most importantly we hope the Courage Award will bring us closer to achieving accountability and justice. While our family continues to grieve this insurmountable loss, these honors bring us comfort and solace. Thank you, IWMF."

Read more of Abu Akleh's story here.

Yalda Moaiery (Iran)  Photojournalist

Twitter: @yaldamoayeri, Instagram: @yaldamoaiery

Currently on bail in Tehran, Yalda Moaiery ( ) is an Iranian photojournalist who has covered conflict, war and natural disasters for the past 20 years. Her assignments have taken her to Georgia, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Somalia. Moaiery's most recent work covered life in Afghanistan following the resurgence of the Taliban as well as mass protests in Iran surrounding rising fuel prices.

Moaiery is a member of the Iranian Photojournalists Association (IPJA), and her photojournalism has appeared in Time, Newsweek, the San Francisco Chronicle, Le Monde, The Mail on Sunday, Le Figaro and El Pais, among other international news outlets. One of Moaiery's most poignant pieces of work is her photo essay on women serving in the Iranian military and the legacy of Iran's Supreme Leader Khomeini.

On September 19, 2022, Moaiery was arrested by security agents of the morality police in downtown Tehran while covering protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. During the arrest, Moaiery sustained physical injuries and was taken with other women protestors to the Qarchak prison, a women-only detention facility south of Tehran.

Moaiery was released on bail on December 20, 2022, and continues to work while awaiting her court date and potential trial.

Moaiery's family commented, "Our family is thrilled to see Yalda receiving such a notable recognition. Since she was 18, Yalda's courageously put herself on the frontline in many dangerous situations due to her commitment to photojournalism. Yalda deeply deserves this award, and we thank the International Women's Media Foundation for recognizing Yalda."

Read more of Moaiery's story here.

About the International Women's Media Foundation

The IWMF is the only global organization built to serve the holistic needs of women and nonbinary journalists. We are a bold and inclusive organization that supports journalists where they are with awards, reporting opportunities, fellowships, grants, safety training and emergency aid. As one of the largest supporters of women-produced journalism, our transformative work strengthens equal opportunity and press freedom worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, on Instagram on @TheIWMF and on TikTok @theiwmf.

SOURCE The International Women's Media Foundation
Commitment to doing good for people and planet will live on after planned separation into Kellanova, WK Kellogg Co

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than a century ago, W.K. Kellogg, the founder of Kellogg Company, started his business with the belief that part of running a good business was doing good for society. Today, that belief lives on with our Kellogg's Better Days Promise strategy, which has created #BetterDays for more than 1.8 billion people since 2015.

Were proud to say weve created better days for 1.8 billion people since 2015.

In 2022, the company evolved its ESG strategy to further focus on the four critical issues on which it can have the biggest impact. By addressing the intersection of wellbeing, hunger, sustainability, and equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) to advance sustainable and equitable access to food, Kellogg's Better Days Promise aims to create better days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030.

Between 2015 and the end of 2022, Kellogg is proud to have made significant strides toward achieving its commitments, including:

989+ million people nourished by offering delicious, accessible foods that deliver nutrients of need

252+ million people facing hunger fed through food donations

5+ million kids reached through feeding programs

33% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions

40.3% of electricity used in 2022 was from renewable sources

76% of packaging is recyclable at scale (in 2021)

45.7% of all manager roles and above globally filled by women. In addition, Kellogg Europe achieved its goal of having 50% male and female representation in all manager roles and abovethree years ahead of schedule.

22.7% of all manager roles and above in the U.S. were filled by underrepresented talent

130,000+ hours volunteered in our communities

1 billion people engaged in advocating for sustainable and equitable access to food

Take a deeper dive into our commitments and progress: https://betterdays.kelloggcompany.com/current-progress

"Kellogg's Better Days Promise is well entrenched in our business and culture and is central to our company's growth. It demonstrates to our employees, consumers, customers, investors and others that Kellogg cares about the communities in which we live and operate," said Kellogg Company Chairman and CEO Steve Cahillane. "The commitment to doing good will carry on as we take the next bold steps in our journey as a company. Whether at Kellanova or WK Kellogg Co, we will continue building on the powerful legacy of Mr. Kellogg and creating a place at the table for everyone."

Kellogg Company plans to separate into two independent companies, a global snacking business to be named Kellanova and a North American cereal business to be named WK Kellogg Co, by the end of 2023. Each of the future companies will report on their respective environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and progress separately.

About Kellogg Company

At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), our vision is a good and just world where people are not just fed but fulfilled. We are creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. Our beloved brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Special K, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Eggo, Mini-Wheats, Kashi, RXBAR, MorningStar Farms and more. Net sales in 2022 were over $15.3 billion, comprised principally of snacks as well as convenience foods like cereal, frozen foods, and noodles. As part of our Kellogg's Better Days Promise ESG strategy, we're addressing the interconnected issues of wellbeing, climate and food security, creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). Visit www.KelloggCompany.com.

SOURCE Kellogg Company
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

The Last Call to order the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger in their current forms is heating up. Dodge brand is directing dealers to submit all orders for the 2023 Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger by the end of July, meaning time is short for the Brotherhood of Muscle to locate and order a specific model of their choice.

Dodge brand is directing dealers to submit orders for 2023 Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger by end of July

Brotherhood of Muscle encouraged to act fast to locate and order a specific Dodge "Last Call" Challenger or Charger model of their choice

Enthusiasts can use Dodge Horsepower Locator tool at DodgeGarage.com to find a vehicle ranging from entry-level SXT to a special-edition model, then contact a dealer to place an order

Production of 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger vehicles will end no later than December 31, 2023

In addition to Dodge Challenger and Charger, all-new 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T is set to help heat up dealerships this summer; Hornet R/T will arrive on dealer lots this month

2024 Dodge Hornet R/T represents Dodge brand's first electrified performance vehicle and is the most powerful compact utility vehicle in segment with 288 horsepower, 383 lb.-ft. torque

Dodge Hornet R/T offers 32 miles of all-electric range via a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, 77 MPGe and 360 miles of total range

For more information on Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and all-new Dodge Hornet, visit Dodge.com

For complete information on the Dodge Horsepower Locator, visit DodgeGarage.com

The "Last Call" to order the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger in their current HEMI-engine-powered forms is heating up. Dodge brand is directing dealers to submit all orders for the 2023 Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger by the end of July, meaning time is short for the Brotherhood of Muscle to locate and order a specific model of their choice.

The Dodge "Last Call" commemorates the end of the two iconic vehicles in their current forms. All 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger models will carry a special commemorative "Last Call" underhood plaque, and seven Dodge "Last Call" special-edition models were introduced to help celebrate the end of an era.

Enthusiasts can locate a Dodge "Last Call" model  ranging from the entry-level SXT to a special-edition model  through the Dodge Horsepower Locator tool at DodgeGarage.com, then contact a dealer to place an order. The Dodge Horsepower Locator helps customers by providing information on vehicles still available for ordering through a dealer. The Horsepower Locator allows enthusiasts to easily search all Dodge dealerships by zip code, model, special-edition model and trim level for Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicle order availability.

Less than six months remain until the final vehicles roll off the line. Production of 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger vehicles will end no later than December 31, 2023.

"For enthusiasts looking to order a Dodge Challenger or Charger, especially a high-horsepower model, such as the Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat or a special-edition model, it's truly the last call for the 'Last Call,'" said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand CEO - Stellantis. "As we transition to an exciting, electrified muscle car future, we're marking the end of an unforgettable era for Dodge, and time is running out for those who want to own a piece of it."

The first glimpse of that electrified future will help keep Dodge dealerships "buzzing" this summer. The all-new 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T is set to arrive in the U.S. this month, joining the Dodge Hornet GT on dealership lots. The Dodge Hornet R/T represents the first-ever performance electrified vehicle from Dodge and delivers the most powerful compact utility vehicle in the segment with 288 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. The Dodge Hornet R/T offers 32 miles of all-electric range via a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, 77 MPGe and 360 miles of total range, as well as a class-exclusive, on-demand PowerShot feature that supplies a burst of 30 horsepower, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds.

For more information on the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and all-new Dodge Hornet, visit Dodge.com. For complete information on the Dodge Horsepower Locator, visit DodgeGarage.com.

2023 Dodge Charger/Challenger "Last Call" highlights

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 represents the seventh and final Dodge "Last Call" special-edition model, commemorating the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, which are coming to an end in their current HEMI-engine-powered forms at the end of 2023. Six Dodge "Last Call" models were previously introduced: the Dodge Challenger Shakedown, Dodge Charger Super Bee, Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Pack Swinger, Dodge Charger King Daytona and Dodge Challenger Black Ghost.

In addition to the seven "Last Call" special-edition models, Dodge is also celebrating its 2023 model lineup by bringing back three beloved heritage exterior colors, B5 Blue, Plum Crazy purple and Sublime green, plus one popular modern color, Destroyer Grey. 2023 Charger and Challenger R/T models will also feature new "345" fender badging, a callout to the 345-cubic-inch HEMI engine under the hood, and all 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger models will carry a special commemorative "Last Call" underhood plaque.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T performance hybrid version of the all-new Dodge Hornet, representing the brand's first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
Beast Philanthropy will bikes distribute eBikes to individuals in need

PHOENIX, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lectric eBikes , the industry leading eBike brand and the maker of the country's best-selling eBike model, has donated more than 1,000 eBikes to individuals in need, via a partnership with Beast Philanthropy. Individuals in need of reliable transportation are encouraged to enter for a chance to win at this link. Since Lectric began working with Beast Philanthropy this past January, the brand has donated over $1 million to support philanthropic projects in several countries.

Lectric eBikes, the industry leading eBike brand and the maker of the countrys best-selling eBike model, has donated more than 1,000 eBikes to individuals in need, via a partnership with Beast Philanthropy.

"Doing good in the world is an integral part of Lectric eBike's DNA. Partnering with Beast Philanthropy on their philanthropic missions was a natural fit from the beginning, and we're excited to have expanded our partnership with the recent donation of 1,000 Lectric eBikes," said Levi Conlow, co-founder and CEO of Lectric. "eBikes can make a significant positive impact on the lives of individuals, especially those who are struggling because to a lack of reliable transportation. We're proud to support Beast Philanthropy and their philanthropic endeavors."

The giveaway is part of a recent philanthropic project between Lectric eBikes and Beast Philanthropy, in which Lectric donated cargo eBikes to water delivery workers in Kenya, helping them efficiently deliver clean drinking water. These water delivery people are essential to their communities, where clean drinking water must be delivered from the desalination plants to homes directly. Lectric's cargo XPedition eBike has helped increase efficiency, carrying capacity and profitability for those individuals and their families. The brand donated a total of 25 eBikes to individuals in Kenya and Haiti as part of the initial project and will expand its efforts by donating another 1,000 eBikes for the Beast Philanthropy to distribute to individuals in need across the United States.

"Our goal at Beast Philanthropy is to help as many people as possible. Lectric eBikes shares the same goal, so working with them on projects is a terrific match," said Darren Margolias, executive director of Beast Philanthropy. "We're very excited about this project, as Lectric's eBikes can provide reliable transportation for individuals to get to work, school, medical treatments and more."

Beast Philanthropy is a nonprofit that leverages the power of social media platforms to raise funds to make the world a better place through alleviating hunger, homelessness and unemployment. It was established after founder Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast, received his first YouTube sponsorship deal and was determined to transform the money into something good.

Lectric eBikes has donated over $1 million to help support Beast Philanthropy's projects since the partnership began in January 2023. Throughout the partnership, Lectric has helped to rebuild Baphumelele Children's Home in South Africa, provided updated infrastructure and internet to a remote island in Columbia, donated clothes and shoes to thousands of individuals and most recently donated 1,000 eBikes to individuals in need.

Learn more about this project and donation on the Beast Philanthropy YouTube page. To learn more about Lectric eBikes, visit www.LectriceBikes.com. To learn more about Beast Philanthropy, visit www.BeastPhilanthropy.org. For media inquiries related to Lectric eBikes, please contact account manager Corinne Baud at [email protected].

About Lectric eBikes

Lectric eBikes is one of the fastest growing electric bike companies in the nation, selling nearly 300,000 e-bikes in less than four years. The company is known for its dedication to producing quality products at affordable prices. Its flagship XPTM models are exceptionally designed so that everyone can ride, delivering all the high-quality features of an elite e-bike, offered at an industry-shattering low price. www.lectricebikes.com.

About Beast Philanthropy

As a 501(c)3 organization, Beast Philanthropy exists to leverage the power of social media platforms and raise funds to alleviate hunger, homelessness, and unemployment. Beast Philanthropy will provide life-changing grants, assistance, and both monetary and non-monetary gifts to individuals and families. With your support, Beast Philanthropy will change the world.

Contact: Corinne Baud

[email protected]

970-924-0704 ext. 2109

SOURCE Lectric eBikes
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated June 17, 2022 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated June 17, 2022.

Combined financing transactions representing aggregate gross proceeds of approximately US$142 million provides flexibility to execute growth plans;

Company to extend the maturity of its senior credit facilities by one year to August, 2025 concurrently with closing;

Company to cancel its ATM program.

MONTREAL, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) ("Lion" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced today that the Company has entered into subscription agreements with investors contemplating concurrent financing transactions for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately US$142 million (the "Financing"). The Financing consists of (i) the issuance by way of private placement of 13% senior unsecured convertible debentures for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately US$74 million (the "Convertible Debentures") to a group of subscribers comprised of Investissement Quebec ("IQ"), Fonds de solidarite des travailleurs du Quebec (F.T.Q.) and Fondaction, (ii) the issuance by way of private placement of 11% senior secured non-convertible debentures for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$90 million (the "Non-Convertible Debentures") to a group of subscribers led by Mach Group and the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation, and (iii) the issuance by way of private placement to the holders of Non-Convertible Debentures of a number of common share purchase warrants entitling them to purchase a total of 22,500,000 common shares in the capital of the company ("Common Shares") at an exercise price of C$2.81 per share for the period described below.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Financing to fund working capital, strengthen its financial position, and allow it to continue to pursue its growth strategy, including the Company's capacity expansion projects in Mirabel, Quebec and Joliet, Illinois. The Financing is expected to close on or about July 19, 2023 or such other date as determined by the Company and the subscribers, subject in each case to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and other customary closing conditions.

Concurrent with closing of the Financing, the Company will amend its senior credit facilities to, among other things, permit the incurrence of the Financing and extend the maturity of its senior credit facilities by one year to August 11, 2025.

In connection with the closing of the Financing, the Company will terminate its at-the-market equity program which was set to expire in July 2024 and no longer make any sales thereunder.

"This financing transaction represents a key milestone for Lion, as it provides us with flexibility to execute our growth plans. We are extremely thankful to the Province of Quebec and Investissement Quebec for their continued support of Lion, and to the new investors joining this round, including Fonds FTQ, Fondaction and a group of private investors led by Mach Group and the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation", said Marc Bedard, CEO-Founder of Lion. "The diversity of this investor group, which stems both from the government and private sectors, speaks to the importance of Lion in the EV landscape".

The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 13% per annum. Interest will be compounded monthly on the last day of each month commencing on the earlier of (i) the third month after the issue date or, (ii) the date on which the Securityholder Approval (as defined below) is obtained. Prior to any accrual date, the Company will have the right, at its discretion, to make an election to pay interest accrued on the principal for the applicable month in cash (in which case any interest so paid shall not be compounded). Unless the Company obtains Securityholder Approval, any compounding of interests will be subject to the prior approval of the TSX.

The Convertible Debentures will mature on the date that is five years following the issuance thereof and will be convertible at the holders' option, at any time after the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company obtains Securityholder Approval, or (ii) the third month after the issue date, into Common Shares at a conversion price of US$2.58 per Common Share (reflecting a 20% premium over the 5-day volume weighted average price for the Common Shares on the NYSE calculated on July 14, 2023). The conversion price will be subject to customary adjustments, including for share splits or consolidation, share dividends, rights offerings, asset or other distributions and above market repurchases of shares (including above market exchanges or tender offers), in each case in compliance with the rules and requirements of the TSX relating to anti-dilution mechanisms.

Upon the occurrence of a "fundamental change", including a change of control of the Company, holders of Convertible Debentures will either (i) convert all of their Convertible Debentures (subject to the Conversion Caps (as defined below), if applicable), in accordance with a customary grid-based "make-whole" adjustment, or (ii) require the Company to repurchase for cash all of their Convertible Debentures at a repurchase price equal to 150% of the principal amount and the accrued, compounded and unpaid interest. The Convertible Debentures will contain customary covenants and events of default for an instrument of its nature, in addition to certain covenants relating to maintaining the current headquarter, employees and facilities of the Company in the province of Quebec and certain covenants relating to the incurrence of capital expenditures. Upon the occurrence of an event of default or, if later, at the expiry of any agreed-upon period for curing an event of default, as the case may be, holders of Convertible Debentures will have the right, upon giving written notice to the Company, to (i) require the Company to redeem all of the Convertible Debentures, or (ii) require that the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures (subject to the Conversion Caps, if applicable), plus any accrued, compounded and unpaid interest, be converted into Common Shares, in accordance with a customary grid-based "make-whole" adjustment.

In connection with the Financing, the Company has agreed to issue a number of Common Shares (the "Closing Fee Shares") to each holder of Convertible Debentures equivalent to 0.75% of the principal amount of Convertible Debentures subscribed by each holder, based on the 5-day volume weighted average trading price ("VWAP") of the Common Shares on the NYSE immediately prior to announcement of the Financing.

Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, the Convertible Debentures (and any Common Shares issuable upon conversion) and the Closing Fee Shares will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from closing of the Financing.

The Non-Convertible Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 11% per annum and will be payable in cash quarterly. The Non-Convertible Debentures will mature on the date that is five years following the issuance thereof. The Company will have the right, at any time after six months after the issuance of the Non-Convertible Debentures upon 30-day notice, to redeem all or part of the principal amount thereunder, without penalty, at a price equal to one hundred per cent (100%) of the principal amount so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount so repaid, accruing to the date of such redemption. The Non-Convertible Debentures will contain customary covenants and events of default for an instrument of its nature. The Non-Convertible Debentures will constitute senior secured obligations of the Company and will be secured by a hypothec on substantially all movable/personal property of the Company as well as on the immovable/real rights related to the Company's innovation center facility located in Mirabel, Quebec.

In connection with the Financing, the Company has agreed to issue to holders of Non-Convertible Debentures common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") entitling them to purchase, at any time after six (6) months following the issuance thereof until the date that is five years following the issuance thereof, 22,500,000 Common Shares in the aggregate at an exercise price of C$2.81 per Common Share (representing the 5-day VWAP of the Common Shares on the TSX as of July 14, 2023). The exercise price of the Warrants will be subject to customary adjustments, including for share splits or consolidation, share dividends, rights offerings, asset or other distributions and above market repurchases of shares (including above market exchanges or tender offers), in each case in compliance with the rules and requirements of the TSX relating to anti-dilution mechanisms. Upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company, the Company will have the right to redeem all of the outstanding Warrants for a cash purchase price based on the remaining term of the Warrants and the value of the consideration offered or payable per Common Share in the transaction constituting the change of control.

Pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, the Warrants (and any Common Shares issuable upon exercise) will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from closing of the Financing.

Closing of the Financing will not require securityholder approval under the rules of the TSX since (i) the Convertible Debentures and the Warrants will include "blocker" provisions (the "Conversion Caps") to ensure that, unless securityholder approval is obtained in accordance with the rules of the TSX, the aggregate number of Common Shares issuable in connection with the Financing cannot be greater than 25% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, prior to the date of closing of the Financing. In addition, no insider of the Company has any direct or indirect interest in the Financing. The Financing was negotiated at arm's length with the subscribers thereunder. In light of the Conversion Caps and assuming no change in the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding until closing of the Financing, unless Securityholder Approval is obtained, (i) 258,155 Closing Fee Shares will be issued at closing and (ii) 56,223,539 Common Shares would be issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures and exercise of the Warrants in accordance with their terms, representing in the aggregate 25% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, as of the date hereof.

In accordance with the terms of the Convertible Debentures and the Warrants, the Company intends to seek securityholder approval of (i) the issuance of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of any Convertible Debentures (taking into account the Closing Fee Shares, and including Common Shares issuable upon conversion of compounded interest and pursuant to the "make-whole" adjustment) and exercise of the Warrants in an aggregate amount greater than 25% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, prior to the date of closing of the Financing, in accordance with Section 607(g)(i) of the TSX Company Manual, and (ii) the issuance of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of any portion of Convertible Debenture representing any accrued, compounded and unpaid interest (including Common Shares issuable pursuant to the "make-whole" adjustment), at a price that could be less, as of the time that each such accrued interest is compounded, than the market price less the applicable discount, in each case, as determined in accordance with Sections 607(e) and 610 of the TSX Company Manual (collectively, the "Securityholder Approval"). In lieu of holding a shareholders meeting, the Company intends to rely on the exemption set forth in Section 604(d) of the TSX Company Manual and to seek the Securityholder Approval through the solicitation of written consents in a form acceptable to the TSX. The Company is in the process of obtaining the Securityholder Approval by way of written consent and expects to have received executed written consents by shareholders owning, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the outstanding Common Shares shortly upon this announcement, with the Securityholder Approval and any issuance subject thereto to be effected no earlier than five (5) business days after the issuance of this press release.

Under the Financing, assuming Securityholder Approval is obtained and assuming no change in the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding until closing of the Financing, in a "make-whole" scenario occurring immediately prior to maturity where no interest was paid under the Convertible Debentures such that interest thereunder accrued and compounded up to such date and where all Warrants were exercised in full, 66,634,101 and 22,500,000 Common Shares would be issued upon such conversion and exercise, respectively. In such scenario and taking into account the 258,155 Closing Fee Shares issued upon closing of the Financing, 89,392,256 Common Shares would be issuable in the aggregate under the Financing, representing approximately 39.6% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, prior to the date of closing of the Financing.

As a result, the Company will seek approval from the shareholders of the Company for the issuance by the Company of up to 89,392,256 Common Shares in connection with the Financing, representing more than 25% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, prior to the date of closing of the Financing, which requires securityholder approval in accordance with Section 607(g)(i) of the Company Manual.

As described above, the Convertible Debentures will allow the Company to accrue interest on the Convertible Debentures until maturity and compound monthly up to maturity with such interest being convertible into Common Shares at the same conversion price as for the principal (being US$2.58 per Common Share) in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Debentures. This could result in the Company issuing Common Shares at a price that could be less, as of the time that each such accrued interest is compounded, than the market price less the applicable discount, in each case, as determined in accordance with Sections 607(e) and 610 of the TSX Company Manual.

The Financing will not have a material effect on the control of the Company, and the Financing will not result in the creation of any new insiders as of closing of the Financing. The Financing may, according to the rules and policies of the TSX, result in IQ becoming an insider of the Company. As of the date hereof, IQ beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over 1,540,200 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.7% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, prior to the date of closing of the Financing. Assuming Securityholder Approval, the Convertible Debentures held by IQ would, in a "make-whole" scenario immediately prior to maturity and where no interest was paid under the Convertible Debentures such that interest thereunder accrued and compounded up to such date, be convertible into 45,020,000 Common Shares. Taking into account Common Shares currently held by IQ and the Closing Fee Shares to be issued to IQ under the Financing, upon such conversion, IQ would own 46,734,618 Common Shares, representing approximately 17.2% of the number of Common Shares outstanding, on a partially-diluted basis (i.e. assuming only IQ converts its Convertible Debentures into Common Shares and no other share issuance by the Company), prior to the date of closing of the Financing.

ABOUT LION ELECTRIC

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles. The company creates, designs and manufactures all-electric class 5 to class 8 commercial urban trucks and all-electric buses and minibuses for the school, paratransit and mass transit segments. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles many of its vehicles' components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life. Lion shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LEV.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws and within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the completion of and use of proceeds from the Financing and the obtention of the Securityholder Approval, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such.

Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "could," "plan," "project," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "target" or other similar expressions and any other statements that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements may contain such identifying words. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable when made and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors. Such estimates and assumptions are made by the Company in light of the experience of management and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, among other factors, those described in in section 23.0 entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's annual MD&A for the fiscal year 2022 and in other documents filed with the applicable Canadian regulatory securities authorities and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Financing and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are not guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company considers reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Company. Readers cannot be assured that the Financing discussed above will be completed on the terms described above, or at all. Except as may be expressly required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

SOURCE Lion Electric
The global Lung monitoring devices market is experiencing growth due to factors such as an increase in the prevalence of lung disorders and the growing adoption of lung monitoring devices and the increase in the number of key players.

PORTLAND, Ore., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Lung Monitoring Devices Market by Product Type (Spirometers, Pulse Oximeters, Capnographs, and Others) and End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Homecare): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032". According to the report, the global lung monitoring devices market was valued at $3,247.02 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach $6,112.50 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2032.



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Prime determinants of growth

An increase in the prevalence of lung diseases, and the advancement in lung monitoring device products such as the development of hand-held and home settings devices drive the growth of the global Lung monitoring devices market. However, a lack of awareness regarding respiratory diseases may restrict the market growth. Moreover, a rise in the number of key players and developing economies presents new opportunities in the coming years.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $3,247.02 million Market Size in 2032 $6,112.50 million CAGR 6.6 % No. of Pages in Report 252 Segments Covered Product type, End User, and Region. Drivers Rise in incidence of respiratory diseases. The growing geriatric population. Opportunities Rise in preference for home healthcare. Restraints The lack of awareness regarding respiratory diseases.



Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the global Lung monitoring devices market, owing to the increase in the demand for lung monitoring devices and rising awareness about lung diseases.

The companies are more focused on customized product development.

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The Spirometers segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on the Product type, the Spirometers segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global Lung monitoring devices market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The increase in the prevalence of lung disorders such as COPD and asthma is the major factor that propels the growth of the spirometer segment across the globe. In addition, an increase in the number of key players drives the growth of the market. However, the pulse oximeter segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2032. Pulse oximeter segment is notably done in the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries. Emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China offer promising opportunities for the pulse oximeter segment market.

The Hospitals segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on End User, the Hospitals segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global Lung monitoring devices market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. However, the Homecare segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the rise in the adoption of home-based lung monitoring devices.

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North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two fifths of the global Lung monitoring devices market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The increase in the adoption of home-based lung monitoring devices such as spirometers and pulse oximeters contributes to the growth of the Lung monitoring devices market in North America. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.7% from 2023 to 2032. The growing awareness about lung monitoring devices, and the presence of high-potential markets such as India and China, is expected to drive the growth of the Lung monitoring devices market.

Leading Market Players: -

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Masimo Corporation

Medtronic Plc

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Resmed Inc.

Icu Medical Inc.

Vyaire Medical, Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Teleflex Incorporated.

Baxter International Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global Lung monitoring devices market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Burton's appointment ushers in a bold new era for DRIF, the fundraising arm of the premier cure-based research institute

MIAMI, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF), the fundraising arm of the Diabetes Research Institute, a world leader focused on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, is pleased to announce the appointment of new CEO Michael J. Burton. Burton brings more than three decades of experience to DRIF and will usher in a transformative new era for the Foundation and its affiliated research institute, which are joined in their singular mission to find a cure for diabetes, now.

Prior to joining DRIF, Burton served as a senior-level executive at distinguished institutions including Princeton University, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the American Association for Cancer Research.

"It is a privilege to assume the role of CEO at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation," said Burton. "I have personally witnessed the unwavering passion, commitment and expertise of the extraordinarily talented scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute. They are tirelessly devoted to discovering a cure for diabetes. DRIF has a critical role to play in their success, and I am eager to amplify the philanthropic efforts that serve as the lifeblood of this groundbreaking research."

The DRI and its fundraising arm, DRIF, have worked together since 1971 to support and advance research with a singular goal: finding a cure for diabetes. The Foundation provides the DRI with critical funding to pursue promising research and new therapeutic strategies.

In a notable succession, Burton's appointment follows closely on the heels of the DRI's appointment of Dr. Matthias von Herrath, an eminent global authority in diabetes research, as scientific director. With their combined expertise and dedication, Burton and von Herrath, along with the deep bench of researchers and nonprofit professionals, will spearhead both the scientific and strategic aspects of the quest to cure diabetes.

"Michael Burton's passion for helping people live healthy, full lives, deep understanding of the health care industry, and business acumen immediately made him the right fit to lead DRIF. We are confident that under his leadership, DRIF will thrive and play a defining role in finding the cure for diabetes. We have never been more hopeful about a diabetes-free future," said William Fishlinger, Chairman DRIF National Board of Directors.

The Batten Group Executive Search & Consulting, Inc. assisted in the hiring effort. For Michael Burton's full bio and more information about the DRI and DRIF, please visit: http://www.diabetesresearch.org.

About the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation

The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) and Foundation were created for one reason  to cure diabetes  which is and will continue to be the singular focus until that goal is reached. As one of the largest and most comprehensive research centers dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is working to restore natural insulin production and normalize blood sugar levels without imposing other risks. Researchers have already shown that transplanted insulin-producing islet cells allow people with type 1 diabetes to live without the need for insulin injections. Some of the DRI's islet transplant patients have been free from insulin for more than 15 years. Funding provided by the Foundation is the driving force that allows DRI scientists to pursue new and innovative ideas, and to bring these discoveries to patients. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is the organization of choice for those who want to Be Part of the Cure. For more information, please visit DiabetesResearch.org or call 800-321-3437.

Media Contact: Kate Rogers

[email protected]

SOURCE Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
Advisor to the head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak, considers it desirable to provide grain corridors with military patrols.

Instead of issuing a mandate for appropriate legal action, ensuring military patrols of grain corridors along internationally recognized borders, and pointing out to Russia that it is unacceptable to obstruct the movement of ships under international law, the session of public humiliation and begging the aggressor and violator to show some inclination continues. Whether there will be those willing to create a conditional patrol police is another question, he said on Twitter Monday.

The main thing is to make it clear that international law exists and must not be violated. And then hypocrisy will gradually disappear from political processes and we will be able to reach a fair ending, he said.
Recognition highlights Ciabotti's leadership and commitment to transforming health care in Michigan.

EAST LANSING, Mich., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MSU Health Care CEO Seth Ciabotti has been honored by Becker's Hospital Review for his expertise in health care administration and strategic partnerships that have propelled innovation and expanded services at MSU Health Care.

The annual list of top academic medical center CEOs compiled by Becker's Hospital Review recognizes influential CEOs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a commitment to advancing health care in academic medical centers.

MSU Health Care CEO Seth Ciabotti selected as an Academic Medical Center CEO to know by Becker's Hospital Review. Tweet this MSU Health Care Chief Executive Officer Seth Ciabotti

Ciabotti's inclusion among this distinguished group of health care executives is a testament to his remarkable contributions and dedication to transforming health care, said Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., executive vice president for Health Sciences.

"We are immensely proud of Seth and the significant impact he has made at MSU Health Care. His recognition as one of the top academic medical center CEOs further solidifies his position as a thought leader and highlights MSU Health Care's commitment to providing high-quality health care to Michigan."

Throughout his tenure as CEO of MSU Health Care, he has led numerous initiatives to improve access to care for patients, including partnerships and collaborations with private and public companies in radiology, primary care, and telehealth. These partnerships have enabled MSU Health Care to offer a wider range of high-quality health care services, including comprehensive commercial insurance offerings and specialized services in neurosciences, imaging, and cancer treatment.

"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the top academic medical center CEOs," said Ciabotti. "This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of our exceptional team at MSU Health Care and our unwavering commitment to delivering health, hope, and healing to Michigan."

MSU Health Care remains dedicated to its mission of improving the health of the communities we serve. With Ciabotti's leadership and vision, the organization will continue to innovate, adapt, and shape the future of health care.

About MSU Health Care

MSU Health Care is the fully integrated academic health center of Michigan State University, representing more than 600 faculty and affiliate providers. Our commitment to safe, high-quality patient care is realized through our comprehensive services for people of any age, education of the next generation of health care providers and medical research. MSU Health Care providers treat ongoing primary care as well as some of the rarest forms of cancer and neurological conditions along with advanced surgical, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation, therapy and imaging services. With more than 100 affiliates located next door and as far as Ludington, Saginaw, Detroit, and Marquette, MSU Health Care is building hope and healing for Michigan. Our clinical efforts support future advancements through academic and research initiatives at Michigan State University. https://healthcare.msu.edu/

SOURCE MSU Health Care
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Black Cultural Information Trust Inc. is hosting the African American Cultural Expo and Children's Book Festival on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 10 am-4 pm ET. The expo and festival will feature local businesses, artists, and children's book authors. The event will be hosted at the Silver Spring Civic Center inside the The Buffalo Soldiers Great Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Throughout the day, attendees can attend author book readings, create their own arts and crafts, shop with vendors, and attend live performances. Each child will receive a gift bag. Grammy-Nominated Children's Entertainer, Author & Educator, "Culture Queen" is the Mistress of Ceremonies. The event features dozens of Black authors from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC areas. There will also be performances by L-Stringz Celebrity Violinist and Magician Don Juan. It will be a fun-filled day for the entire family.

"We're excited to bring the African American Cultural Expo and Children's Book Festival to life in Silver Spring, Maryland. Our number one goal is to provide access to educational resources and information to communities of African descent, especially among our youth. The African American Cultural Expo and Children's Book Festival is our opportunity to connect authors, storytellers, musicians, and artisans with local families as accessible resources for cultural education and learning," said Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc.

The African American Cultural Expo and Children's Book Festival features local talent and children's book authors. Tweet this

The National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. is supported by the MacArthur Foundation. Our Legaci Press and DARCARS Automotive Group are sponsors of the African American Cultural Expo and Children's Book Festival. To learn more or register, visit CulturalExpo.Eventbrite.com or www.nbcit.org/events . For press inquiries, email [email protected].

The National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. shares cultural resources, tools, and information that uplifts the collective freedom of Black communities.

SOURCE National Black Cultural Information Trust
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National survey results released by Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), and spotlighted by The Hill , highlights broad, bipartisan support for increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for families experiencing food insecurity. The data, fielded by a bipartisan team of pollsters, underscores strong opposition to SNAP benefit cuts as Congress drafts the Farm Bill, which can impact SNAP benefits.

"For millions of Americans, the pandemic shed a bright light on child hunger and the kind of policies capable of addressing this issue. The Farm Bill carries huge implications for SNAP, which is the nation's most critical and effective anti-hunger program. SCAN is committed to strengthening the SNAP program and working with Congress to combat child hunger with the Farm Bill," said Christy Gleason, Executive Director of SCAN.

SCAN's survey results were released days before SCAN's 2023 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., which brings together advocates from across the country from July 16-18 to meet with their members of Congress about this issue.

Notable Survey Results on Support for Bolstering SNAP Benefits:

Voters are adamant that SNAP benefits are too low and should be increased.

When survey respondents learned the typical SNAP recipient receives an average of $5.70 per family member per day, 66% of voters say that amount should be increased.

Members of Congress who vote to cut SNAP benefits could face negative feelings from constituents, including core groups of the GOP base.

Two in three (67%) voters say they would feel less favorable toward their Member of Congress if he/she voted to cut SNAP benefits.

Three factors help explain these strong responses: a pervasive feeling that food prices are a big problem; SNAP touching every stratum of the public; and a wide belief that SNAP is important to helping struggling families.

Eighty-five (85%) of voters say the government should be doing more to help families who are struggling to afford food.



Eighty-five (85%) say that SNAP is very (61%) or pretty (23%) important when it comes to helping families pay for food when facing food insecurity.



This makes food prices the most problematic day-to-day cost facing Americans ahead of the cost of housing (83%), healthcare (82%) and gas prices (70%).

Voters widely support several policy proposals that would positively impact SNAP recipients.

Significant majorities favor encouraging more purchasing of produce by supporting programs like Double Up Food Bucks (94%), to reduce paperwork for applicants (70%).

Full survey results can be viewed by clicking here .

Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) is the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We work to ensure that the issues critical to children's lives and futures are given top priority by our elected leaders, building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life.

Learn more about SCAN here: https://savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/

Contact:

Chris Maloney,

[email protected]com

SOURCE Save the Children Action Network
Q3 2023 revenues grew 713.3% year-over-year to $6.0 million

Q3 2023 revenues grew 12.6% from previous quarter

Gross profit of $2.1 million , increased 1051.6% year-over-year

Staff reductions and operational realignment resulted in $0.6 million of one-time expenses during the quarter

Cash position of $13.0 million as at May 31, 2023

Activities taken during Q3 2023 position the company well for the expected future approval of MDMA-assisted therapy

All financial results are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Numinus Wellness Inc. ("Numinus" or the "Company") (TSX: NUMI) (OTCQX: NUMIF), a mental health care company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, today announced its financial results for the three months ended May 31, 2023 ("Q3 2023").

"We're on the verge of a pivotal turning point for the psychedelics sector  with MDMA-assisted therapy on a path to FDA approval, long-form psychedelic-assisted therapy receiving an insurance pay code, and cultural awareness and support for these treatments building," said Payton Nyquvest, Founder and CEO. "Within this, Numinus is focusing on building scale and sector partnerships to deliver best-in-class clinical infrastructure and practitioner training programs to support greater patient access to these important therapies. Our recently announced experiential training partnership with MAPS is a great example of how Numinus is uniquely positioned within the sector."

Mr. Nyquvest continued: "We took meaningful steps during our fiscal third quarter to best align our business with future opportunities related to the expected approval of MDMA-assisted therapy. These activities included launching the Numinus Network licensing program, focusing capital and people resources towards revenue producing business lines, and preparing for expanded insurance payor coverage of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Collectively, we believe these actions will improve the productivity of our clinics and training offerings, drive higher long-term margins, and extend our cash runway. We expect the true impact of these changes will begin to be demonstrated in the next few months."

Revenue

Revenues grew 12.6% from the prior quarter to $6.0 million in Q3 2023, due mostly to growth in client appointments and strong performance by Cedar Clinical Research ("CCR"). Compared to the same quarter last year, revenues grew 713.3%.

Gross Margin

Sequentially, gross margin declined 480 basis points in Q3 2023 to 34.5% from 39.3% in Q2 2023, due to an increased number of full-time practitioners (rather than part-time contractors) and the performance of certain clinic locations, which the Company is actively looking to optimize. Gross margin grew 1010 basis points in Q3 2023 compared to 24.4% in Q3 2022. The improvement in gross margin compared to Q3 last year is due mostly to increased client appointments and higher clinic utilization rates. Gross profit was $2.1 million in Q3 2023, in line with the previous quarter, but a significant increase compared to gross profit of $0.2 million in Q3 2022.

Operating expenditures

During the third quarter, Numinus undertook several initiatives to lower its cash expenses and refocus operations on revenue producing activities, including the renegotiation of vendor contracts, reducing headcount in non-revenue generating departments, and deferring non-urgent projects. In addition, the Company re-allocated capital and people resources towards expansion initiatives expected to drive long-term revenue growth. Operating expenses totaled $9.2 million during Q3 2023, including $0.6 million of expenses related to staff reductions.

Operational Highlights During and Subsequent to Q3 2023

Numinus Wellness Clinic Network

Wellness clinics generated $5.0 million of revenue during Q3 2023, a 5.5% sequential increase from $4.7 million in Q2 2023, due mostly to increased client appointments, and a 584.2% increase compared to $0.7 million during the same period last year. Numinus completed more than 21,520 client appointments during the quarter  including one-on-one and group therapy sessions, neurology-related appointments, paid group programs, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Ketamine/Spravato medicine appointments, representing a 11.2% increase in clinic appointments compared to more than 19,350 appointments in Q2 2023.

The average number of appointments per operating day increased by 2.7% (Q3 2023: 331.1 average appointments per day; Q2 2023: 322.5 average appointments per day).

8.8% of appointments during Q3 2023 were made by new clients.

16.3% of appointments during Q3 2023 were KAT or Ketamine/Spravato medicine related.

6.3% of appointments during Q3 2023 were for TMS services.

At the end of Q3 2023, Numinus had 130 practitioners (Q2 2023: 133) providing client treatments through its wellness clinics and virtual services.

During the fiscal third quarter, Numinus undertook several initiatives to best prepare the company for the future expected approval of MDMA-assisted therapy. First, to facilitate rapid clinic expansion, on April 11, 2023, the Company launched its new Numinus Network wellness clinic licensing platform  a model that provides independent practitioners with the opportunity to own and operate a Numinus branded full-service clinic. This model is considered integral to achieving efficient scaling of the business, as it leverages resources and infrastructure already functioning within Numinus to expand with minimal capital outlays by the Company. Numinus Network clinic owners will receive training on all Numinus therapy protocols and administrative and marketing support, among other service offerings. On April 11, 2023, Numinus also announced a new partnership with Healing Commercial Real Estate Inc. ("Healing CREI")  a health care focused real estate investment company with deep market knowledge of the psychedelic sector. Through this agreement, Numinus Network licensees will benefit from the option to lease a turnkey, fully functioning Numinus Wellness clinic location  complete with leasehold improvements and clinic infrastructure, directly from Healing CREI. The Numinus Network platform is already gaining a significant amount of interest. To better evaluate markets of high demand, and to further showcase Numinus' clinic offering, on June 22, 2023, Numinus announced that it has signed an agreement with HealingMaps. This partnership will drive further clinic awareness and provide Numinus with market data to assist with determining best regions for expansion.

Subsequent to the quarter, on June 15, 2023, Numinus entered into a partnership with the Association for Psychedelic Studies, to provide psychedelic experiential opportunities for practitioners training to offer MDMA-assisted therapy, as part of a clinical study. If the clinical trial application submitted to Health Canada is approved, the MDMA-assisted therapy experiential opportunity would be available only through Numinus.

Numinus Clinical Research

Revenues from CCR during Q3 2023 were $1.0 million, a 66.7% increase compared to prior quarter. CCR revenue streams are generated through the management of third-party clinical trials that use CCR's three clinical research sites. During the third quarter, CCR managed 18 clinical trials, which included 318 clinical trial patient appointments. Included in these were clinical trials for COMPASS Pathways' phase 3 clinical study of psilocybin therapy, and MindMed's Phase 2b study evaluating MM-120 (lysergide D-tartrate) for General Anxiety Disorder.

Corporate Highlights During and Subsequent to Q3 2023

Numinus foresees having enough fully trained psychedelic-assisted therapy ("PAT") practitioners will be an important factor in scaling the Company and the sector. To support growing the number of qualified practitioners, Numinus' training department launched the Numinus Certification Pathway during the quarter  a collection of PAT training courses uniquely selected to provide practitioners with complete PAT training, including an experiential component and practicum.

On June 14, 2023, Numinus announced the appointment of Nikhil Handa as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 15, 2023, following a thorough executive search.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Numinus ended the quarter with a total cash balance of $13.0 million and working capital of $12.9 million.

On May 25, 2023, Numinus announced it had completed a staffing reduction in non-revenue producing departments, re-allocated capital and people resources towards growth initiatives, and reviewed its agency and supplier contracts. As a result of these initiatives, the Company believes it has reduced annualized cash expenses by approximately $4.2 million  extending the Company's cash runway past anticipated MDMA-assisted therapy approval.

Q3 2023 Key Performance Metrics





For the quarter ended:



May 31, 2023

(Q3 2023) Feb. 28, 2023 (Q2 2023) % change Numinus Clinic Network revenues 5,001,749 4,739,609 5.5 % Numinus Clinical Research revenues 1,025,343 614,932 66.7 % Total Revenue $6,027,092 $5,354,541 12.6 % Cost of revenue (3,946,272) (3,247,983) 21.5 % Gross Profit (Loss) $2,080,820 $2,106,558 -1.2 % Gross profit margin 34.5 % 39.3 % -480 bps Operating expenses 9,171,032 9,199,771 -0.3 % Net Loss $(7,289,167) $(7,331,486) 0.6 % Comprehensive Loss $(7,295,783) $(7,294,652) 0.0 %









Numinus' condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2023 and related management's discussion and analysis are available on Numinus' Investor Relations website at www.investors.numinus.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These documents were prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Interested parties are invited to participate in the Company's Q3 2023 results conference call and webcast occurring on the same day, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time / 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. During the call, Numinus executives will review the Company's performance and recent initiatives, and answer questions from analysts.

To listen to the live webcast, please register at:

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/612414870

The webcast will also be archived on the Events and Presentations page of Numinus' Investor Relations website: https://www.investors.numinus.com/events-and-presentations

To participate in the live conference call, please use the following dial-in information:

1 (888) 330-3632 (Toll-free North America )

) 1 (646) 960-0837 (International)

Please ask to participate in Numinus' Q3 2023 Results Call.

To avoid any delays in joining the call, please dial in at least five minutes prior to the call start time. If prompted, please provide conference passcode 3547386.

A replay of the conference call can also be accessed after 8:30 p.m. Eastern time / 5:30 p.m. Pacific time on July 17, 2023, at 1-800-770-2030 or 1-647-362-9199 (using passcode 3547386). The replay will be available until July 31, 2023.

About Numinus

Numinus Wellness (TSX: NUMI) helps people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. The Numinus model - including psychedelic production, research and clinic care - is at the forefront of a transformation aimed at healing rather than managing symptoms for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and substance use. At Numinus, we are leading the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream clinical practice and building the foundation for a healthier society.

Learn more at www.numinus.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Disclaimer

Neither Numinus Wellness Inc., nor any of its subsidiaries is a professional corporation licensed to practice health services. In jurisdictions where health services may only be provided by a corporation if that corporation holds a valid permit to do so, Numinus and its subsidiaries operate in a management services function to affiliated professional corporations, who provide health services to patients. Numinus and its subsidiaries do provide health services directly to patients in those jurisdictions where authorized to do so.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs regarding future performance are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "does not expect", "is expected", "believes", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes" or variations of these words, expressions or statements, that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, will occur or will be realized. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual results, events or developments to differ materially from the results, events or developments expected and expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, ability of Numinus to maintain or increase earnings; ability of Numinus to achieve or maintain profitability; results of changes to operations from a financial or business perspective; interest in, uptake of and the ability to commercialize the Numinus Network program, interest in and uptake of the Healing CREI offering from Numinus Network members, availability of suitable locations or licensees for the Numinus Network offering, interest in, uptake of and the ability to commercialize the practitioner training service offering, our ability to recruit dedicated practitioners in Canada, our ability to develop, launch, commercialize and/or maintain the digital tools and service offering, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including the acquisition and renewal of federal, provincial, municipal, local or other licenses, and any inability to obtain all necessary government authorizations, licenses and permits to operate and expand the Company's facilities; regulatory or policy changes such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including federal, state and provincial legalization, if any, due to fluctuations in public opinion, industry perception of integrative mental health, including the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy, delays or inefficiencies or any other reason; any other factor or development likely to hamper the growth of the market; initial and ongoing Health Canada approval of the clinical trial for experiential MDMA-assisted therapy, availability of subjects for such clinical trial, and continued legal availability of experiential component of training or availability of licensed practitioners or professional corporations to deliver the same; the Company's limited operating and profitability track record; dependence on management; the Company's need for additional financing and the effects of financial market conditions and other factors on the availability of capital; competition, including that of more established and better funded competitors; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the global economy; and the need to build and maintain alliances and partnerships, including with research and development companies, customers and suppliers and other risk factors set forth in our annual information form dated December 12, 2022 and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These factors should be carefully considered, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Despite the Company's efforts to identify the main risk factors that could cause actual measures, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, other risk factors may cause measures, events or developments to materially differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new facts or any other reason, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc.
DALLAS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") plans to release its second quarter 2023 results on August 3, prior to Sempra's (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) second quarter 2023 conference call. Oncor's earnings release will be available on Oncor's website, oncor.com.

Sempra executives will conduct a conference call at 12 p.m. ET, Thursday, August 3 that will include discussion of Oncor's second quarter 2023 operational and financial results. Investors, media, analysts and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call by registering on the Investors section of Sempra's website and clicking on the appropriate link. Prior to the conference call, an accompanying slide presentation will be posted on Sempra's Investors site.

For those unable to obtain access to the live webcast, it will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion on Sempra's website.

Oncor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023 will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after Sempra's conference call and, once filed, will also be available at oncor.com.

Headquartered in Dallas, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC is a regulated electricity transmission and distribution business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor (together with its subsidiaries) operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3.9 million homes and businesses and operating more than 141,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by two investors (indirect majority owner, Sempra, and minority owner, Texas Transmission Investment LLC), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of disinterested directors.

SOURCE Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC
CHANDLER, Ariz., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Primavera Online School, a public charter school that educates students across Arizona, celebrated its graduating Class of 2023 on July 6 at the Arizona Financial Theatre with nearly 1400 graduates. Its student body includes alternative students, those who have fallen behind in school and those looking to excel in their classesall of whom can catch up on credits, get ahead in their schoolwork and enjoy a flexible schedule at Primavera while they work toward earning an accredited high school diploma.

"We are so proud of our 2023 graduates," said Jessica Pagoulatos, Executive Director of Academics at Primavera Online. "At Primavera, we work hard to ensure our students get a quality online education and are prepared for next steps in life, so we are excited to celebrate this milestone with the Class of 2023."

This year, Primavera graduates have a lot to celebrate, with students earning scholarships for NAU, GCU, ASU, U of A, Ottawa, Washington State, Arizona Christian, Marymount Manhattan and Xavier University. There were also 159 graduating seniors who earned Primavera's exclusive Performance Award, a monetary award funded by StrongMind that goes toward college, trade school, certifications and the military. The Performance Award, which is based on students' grades and GPAs, was originally offered for students in grades 11-12; however, it will be offered to all high school students in grades 9-12 in the 2023-24 school year.

Of all Primavera's 2023 graduates, 50 percent will be going to college, 16 percent will be entering the workforce, 13 percent will be going to a trade/technical school, 2 percent will be joining the military and 19 percent will be pursuing other endeavors, such as real estate, cosmetology and construction.

Families who are interested in switching their children to Primavera Online School can now enroll them in grades K-12 at PrimaveraOnline.com.

For more information, contact:

Anita Torres

480.397.0605

[email protected]

ABOUT PRIMAVERA ONLINE

Primavera Online School is a tuition-free, public charter school that provides Arizona students in grades K-12 with a rigorous, award-winning curriculum, a flexible schedule and personalized attention from highly qualified instructors. Primavera is Cognia accredited, and NCAA approved. Visit www.PrimaveraOnline.com for more.

SOURCE Primavera Online
New nonprofit will address technology's impact on society and launch multimillion-dollar campaign focused on the damaging effects of social media on children's mental health

NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Project Liberty Action Network (PLAN) launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to spotlight the impact of social media on children's mental health. PLAN was recently formed to address the societal harms of social media and technology by building a movement of citizens and making safer digital platforms a priority issue for the next election cycle.

"At a time when social media is as poisonous and invasive as ever, and AI tools like ChatGPT are taking the world by storm, we are enjoining an effort to speak directly to voters, legislators, and policy makers to rein in the worst abuses, and put our nation and world on a more sensible track," said Frank McCourt, the founder of PLAN. "The campaign will center its efforts on social media and technology, but its ultimate goal is to safeguard the future of children, families, and communities. If we don't address the issues created by social media, AI, and technology in an increasingly digital world, everyone and everything is at risk."

PLAN is a partner organization to Project Liberty, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2021 that aims to transform how the internet works and ensure that the tech underpinning our daily lives empowers people over companies and optimizes for democracy and the public good.

PLAN will tackle a host of issues related to technology's impact on society, including division, disinformation, data privacy, and big tech's influence on policy. Its most urgent and immediate focus, however, is on social media's effect on children's mental health.

"Social media is not inherently evil, and the rise of AI shows tremendous promise. But unchecked, new and evolving technologies have the potential to do even more damage to the mental health of our children and the strength of our democracy," continued McCourt.

"Despite the data that shows increases in self harm and diminishing feelings of self-worth among youth who engage in these platforms, our leaders have not risen to meaningfully address these issues. Our effort aims to be a major inflection point in the conversation around tech accountability  there is a plan for action, and a new spotlight to draw attention."

PLAN will put a spotlight on harms caused by social media and technology by launching an eight-week TV and digital advertising campaign. The first television spot can be seen here . The organization will also build a powerful movement by engaging and mobilizing activists and community leaders who are at the forefront of fighting for safer social media and tech platforms. PLAN will demonstrate the power of what's possible when people, passion, and good ideas coincide.

[email protected]

SOURCE Project Liberty Action Network
HELSINKI, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Publishing of Caverion's Half-year Financial Report for JanuaryJune 2023 on 3 August 2023

Caverion Corporation's Half-year Financial Report for JanuaryJune 2023 will be published on Thursday, 3 August 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m. (Finnish Time, EEST). The stock exchange release and presentation materials in Finnish and in English will be published at that time on the company's website at www.caverion.com/investors.

News conference for investors and media

Caverion will hold a news conference on the Half-year Financial Report on Thursday, 3 August 2023, at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time (EEST) at the company's premises, Torpantie 2, 01650 Vantaa, Finland. The presenters at the event are President and CEO Jacob Gotzsche and CFO Mikko Kettunen. The event is held in English and targeted for investment analysts, portfolio managers and the media.

Webcast and conference call

The news conference and the presentations by the management can be viewed live at www.caverion.com/investors. The live webcast will start at 10.00 a.m. (EEST). A recording of the webcast will be available at the same address at approximately 12.00 noon (EEST).

It is also possible to participate in the event through a conference call by registering beforehand on the following link: https://palvelu.flik.fi/teleconference/?id=1009622

Phone numbers and the conference ID to access the conference will be provided after the registration. To ask a question, press *5 on your telephone keypad to enter the queue.

During the webcast and conference call, all questions should be presented in English.

Schedule in different time zones



Half-year Financial Report published The news conference, conference call

and live webcast Recorded webcast

available EEST (Helsinki) 08.00 10.00 12.00 CEST (Paris, Stockholm) 07.00 09.00 11.00 BST (London) 06.00 08.00 10.00 EDT (New York) 01.00 03.00 05.00

For additional information, please contact: Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations, tel. +358 40 5581 328, [email protected]

SOURCE Caverion
Round led by investment funds Highland Europe, Energize Ventures and existing investor Elephant underscores critical need for disruptive technology solutions to propel rapidly growing demand for new solar projects

VILNIUS, Lithuania, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PVcase, the global leader in solar project design software, announced today it has secured a joint investment of $100 million, bringing the company's total funding to over $123 million. Highland Europe, Energize and existing investor Elephant all participated in the round.

Despite considerable resources already invested in the solar market, the solar engineering industry lacks the digitization needed to keep pace with demand. As the leading solar design solution PVcase is making solar project design faster, more efficient, and precise while solving the solar industry's growing problem of "data risk."

Data risk arises from a chain of factors. Utility-scale solar's rapid global growth has made qualified designers and engineers scarce, growing developers' use of software to automate tasks in design and ongoing operations. Yet data sources for that software - particularly in Europe - are in older formats, such as PDFs and hard copy records. And most solar software platforms were designed independent of each other, built to automate only a handful of tasks.

As a result, developers must now use as many as 70 different data sets, most with fields of data that must be manually matched when moving from one software platform to the next. These multiple, time-consuming and customized transfers inevitably degrade data quality, creating data risk.

"Data risk is a technical problem that has become an industry-wide constraint," said PVcase CEO David Trainavicius. "We plan to use this investment to drive more cost and time savings by offering a one-stop solar design platform."

PVcase aims to cover every step in the design and operations process in a single platform and this investment comes on the heels of the company's recent acquisition of solar siting leader Anderson Optimization. The two platforms' data fields have already been matched, enabling transfer with a few mouse clicks. PVcase also introduced Anderson Optimization software to the European market, first covering Germany, Spain and the UK. PVcase estimates that European developers will be able to cut their project design process from weeks to roughly 20 minutes.

The merged product line carries a significant number of benefits. Trainavicius said the biggest is ensuring developers only spend time and resources on viable sites

"Good, streamlined data across the design and construction lifecycle is the fuel we need to keep the renewable energy transition moving toward a cleaner future. We need to advance solar operations fully into the digital age by reducing data risk. We're making this investment so PVcase can lead the industry to a solution," said Irena Goldenberg, Partner at Highland Europe.

"The utility-scale solar industry is poised for explosive global growth in the coming years, yet it currently lacks the digital tools needed to meet the demand of the market," said John Tough, managing partner of Energize Ventures and now a member of the PVcase board of directors. "Software solutions aimed at automating solar workflows and increasing data integrity are required for the market to become profitable and scalable. After getting to know the PVcase team, product and customers over the last two years, Energize is confident that PVcase is the software the industry needs to unlock its growth potential."

All three investment funds said they invested in PVcase because its strong financial performance has positioned it to acquire other software platforms in pursuit of its long-term goal of being a one-stop solution for the solar engineering community.

The company has operated almost exclusively from its revenue stream while expanding into 75 countries. This enabled it to build earlier investments into a significant cash reserve to use in upcoming acquisitions.

"In utility-scale solar design and construction, the physical output can only be as good as the software and data inputs. PVcase is building the leading end-to-end solution in the category, allowing its customers to more effectively design and develop scaled solar projects," said Peter Fallon, General Partner at Elephant. "The Company is growing rapidly and capital efficiently, and we are excited to continue to back the team."

"For solar data, there are no standards for how much to collect, when and how often to collect it, and what the data should cover," said PVcase Chief Commercial Officer Douglas Geist. "PVcase's momentum won the confidence of these investors that we can address this challenge."

About PVcase

PVcase is a next-generation PV software-as-a-service company. Driven by world-class engineering and a cutting-edge development team, PVcase is helping power the energy transition by making solar project design faster, more efficient and more precise.

We give design teams the confidence that they can manage the risk to data quality as they use different software platforms for individual tasks in the design process  what we call "data risk." That's why PVcase products are the top choice of solar design professionals and development companies in 75 countries. Apart from the acclaimed Ground Mount tool, the company also offers PVcase Roof Mount and Yield software.

Website: www.pvcase.com / LinkedIn: PVcase / Twitter: @wearepvcase / Instagram: @wearepvcase

SOURCE PVcase
Additional Flight Tests Offer Opportunity to Further Expand and Validate System Capabilities

TUCSON, Ariz., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), was awarded a follow-on contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to reduce risk for future air breathing hypersonic systems. Under the agreement, the Raytheon-led team will build and fly additional Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) flight vehicles.

This artists rendering shows the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, which will integrate Raytheons air-breathing hypersonic weapons with scramjet combustors from Northrop Grumman.

"We applied learnings from each successful HAWC flight test to ensure that it is the most sophisticated system of its kind," said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon. "Continuing this important program will expand our knowledge of hypersonic flight and allow us to deliver the critical capability our warfighters need."

The team will continue to apply data and lessons learned from earlier stages of the program to mature the operationally relevant weapon concept design. Mainly, the effort focuses on incorporating manufacturing improvements into the existing HAWC design and flight tests to expand its operating envelope while validating system performance models. The airframe and engine designs are closely aligned to the U.S. Air Force's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) which will directly benefit from the continued advancements.

"The HAWC follow-on contract serves as an engine pathfinder program in our new production-ready Hypersonics Capability Center in Elkton, Maryland," said Dan Olson, general manager and vice president, weapons systems, Northrop Grumman. "Our factory of the future will seamlessly transition our validated propulsion system design into an operationally ready system to support further flight testing."

Raytheon and Northrop Grumman have been partners since 2013 and signed a teaming agreement in 2019 to develop, produce and integrate Northrop Grumman's scramjet engines onto Raytheon's air-breathing hypersonic weapons. In September 2022, the team was selected to develop HACM, a first-of-its-kind weapon. Additionally, the team has successfully completed multiple HAWC operational prototype system flight tests where digital engineering concepts, grounded in real-world flight data, have accurately predicted and increased system performance. Their combined efforts enable the production of air-breathing hypersonic weapons, the next generation of tactical missile systems.

About RTX

RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses  Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon  we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

For questions, please contact:

Lindsey Drummey

rmdpr@rtx.com

SOURCE RTX
Shipping companies have notified the Ukrainian side of their readiness to continue exporting grain from Ukrainian ports, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with African journalists on Monday, press secretary of the head of state Serhiy Nikiforov said.

"Even without the Russian Federation, everything must be done so that we can use this "Black Sea corridor." We are not afraid. We were approached by companies that own ships. They said they were ready if Ukraine would let go, and Turkey would let us through - everyone is ready to continue deliveries grain," the president said.

He also noted that within the framework of the "grain initiative" two separate agreements were concluded, and none of them includes direct agreements between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

"We had two agreements: the first - Ukraine, Turkey, the UN; the second - Russia, Turkey, and the UN. Therefore, when Russia says that it is stopping the "grain deal," it breaks its agreements with UN Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres and Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan. Not with us. We did not have any agreements with them," Zelenskyy said.

The president announced the instruction to the Foreign Ministry to prepare official signals for the UN and Turkey to respond about their readiness to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"For Russia, this is a format of dumping on the market of grain, agricultural products in order to block Ukraine and be the only major exporter from this region. It is absolutely clear: in order to solve their political issues, there is pressure, and it was their companies who made money. Put pressure on the countries of Africa, Asia, and the European continent. They had the same thing with energy: with gas, with energy resources, with oil," Zelenskyy added.
Donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline for amyloid-positive early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease patients, lowering their risk of disease progression; nearly half of participants at earlier stage of disease on donanemab had no clinical progression at 1 year

Additional subpopulation analyses presented live showed that those study participants at earliest stage of disease had even greater benefit, with 60% slowing of decline compared to placebo

Furthermore, treatment effect continued to increase relative to placebo over the course of the trial, even though many participants completed their course of therapy at 6 or 12 months, supporting limited duration dosing

FDA submission completed in Q2; regulatory action expected by end of year

INDIANAPOLIS, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) presented full results from the Phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study showing that donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD). The data were shared at the 2023 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) as a featured symposium and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

"The positive TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 data bring hope to people with Alzheimer's disease who urgently need new treatment options. This is the first Phase 3 study of a disease-modifying therapy to replicate the positive clinical results observed in a previous study," said Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Company and president of Lilly Neuroscience. "If approved, we believe donanemab can provide clinically meaningful benefits for people with this disease and the possibility of completing their course of treatment as early as 6 months once their amyloid plaque is cleared. We must continue to remove any barriers in access to amyloid-targeting therapies and diagnostics in an already complex healthcare ecosystem for Alzheimer's disease."

Lilly previously announced that donanemab met the primary and all cognitive and functional secondary endpoints in the Phase 3 study. Submission to the U.S. FDA for traditional approval was completed last quarter with regulatory action expected by the end of the year. Submissions to other global regulators are currently underway, and the majority will be completed by year end.

The TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 results support Lilly's application for regulatory approval to treat people with amyloid-positive early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (either mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia), regardless of their baseline level of tau. TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 enrolled participants with a broader range of cognitive scores and amyloid levels than other recent trials of amyloid plaque-targeting therapies. Participants in TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 were stratified by their level of tau, a predictive biomarker for disease progression, into either a low-medium tau group (sometimes referred to as intermediate tau) or a high tau group, which represented a later pathological stage of disease progression. All participants were then assessed over 18 months using scales that measure both cognition and function, including the integrated Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (iADRS) and the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB).

As previously reported, among participants with low-medium levels of tau (n=1182), donanemab treatment significantly slowed decline by 35% on iADRS and 36% on CDR-SB. Among all amyloid-positive early symptomatic AD study participants (n=1736), treatment with donanemab significantly slowed decline by 22% on iADRS and 29% on CDR-SB. Additional data presented at AAIC reinforced that regardless of baseline clinical or pathological stage of disease, treatment with donanemab resulted in cognitive and functional benefits relative to placebo:

A pre-specified subpopulation analysis of low-medium tau participants based on clinical stage showed greater benefit of donanemab in those at earlier stage of disease: In participants with mild cognitive impairment (n=214), donanemab slowed decline by 60% on iADRS and 46% on CDR-SB (for those with mild dementia due to AD, n=534, donanemab slowed decline by 30% on iADRS and 38% on CDR-SB, respectively).

Similarly, a post-hoc subgroup analysis of low-medium tau participants based on age showed greater benefit of donanemab in patients under the age of 75: In participants under the age of 75 (n=542), donanemab slowed decline by 48% on iADRS and 45% on CDR-SB. In participants aged 75 or greater (n=551), donanemab slowed decline by 25% on iADRS and 29% on CDR-SB.

Results were similar across other subgroups, including participants who carried or did not carry an ApoE4 allele.

The overall treatment effect of donanemab continued to grow throughout the trial, with the largest differences versus placebo seen at 18 months.

"These results demonstrate that diagnosing and treating people earlier in the course of Alzheimer's disease may lead to greater clinical benefit," said Liana Apostolova, M.D., distinguished professor in Alzheimer's Disease research and professor in neurology, radiology, medical and molecular genetics at Indiana University School of Medicine, where she is associate dean for Alzheimer's disease research and directs the clinical core of the Alzheimer's Disease Center. "The delay of disease progression over the course of the trial is significant and will give people more time to do such things that are meaningful to them."

Donanemab specifically targets deposited amyloid plaque and has been shown to lead to plaque clearance in treated patients. Treatment with donanemab significantly reduced amyloid plaque levels regardless of baseline pathological stage of disease. Among all participants, treatment with donanemab reduced amyloid plaque on average by 84% at 18 months, compared with a 1% decrease for participants on placebo. Participants were able to stop taking donanemab once they achieved pre-defined criteria of amyloid plaque clearance.* Approximately half of participants met this threshold at 12 months and approximately seven of every ten participants reached it at 18 months.

In the earlier pathological stage of disease in participants with low-medium tau, treatment with donanemab resulted in 47% of participants with no progression at one year on the CDR-SB assessment, versus 29% on placebo. Those participants treated with donanemab also had a 39% lower risk of progressing to the next clinical stage of disease over the 18-month trial. This delay in progression meant that, on average, participants treated with donanemab had an additional 7.5 months before they reached the same level of cognitive and functional decline on CDR-SB compared to those on placebo.

"People living with early, symptomatic Alzheimer's disease are still working, enjoying trips, sharing quality time with family  they want to feel like themselves, for longer," said Mark Mintun, M.D., group vice president Neuroscience Research & Development at Lilly, and president of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals. "The results of this study reinforce the importance of diagnosing and treating disease sooner than we do today."

The incidence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) and infusion-related reactions was consistent with the previous TRAILBLAZER-ALZ study. ARIA occurs across the class of amyloid plaque clearing antibody therapies. It is most commonly observed as temporary swelling in an area or areas of the brain (ARIA-E) or as microhemorrhages or superficial siderosis (ARIA-H), in either case detected by MRI, and these may be serious and even fatal in some cases. This risk should be managed with careful observation, monitoring with MRIs, and appropriate actions if ARIA is detected. Serious infusion-related reactions and anaphylaxis were also observed.

Adverse Events Donanemab Group

(n=853) Placebo Group (n=874) Any serious adverse event 17.4 % 15.8 % Overall death 1.9 % 1.1 % Death related to treatment 0.4 % 0.1 % Infusion-related reaction (IRR) 8.7 % 0.5 % Any ARIA (-E or -H) 36.8 % 14.9 % ARIA-E (asymptomatic) 17.9 % 1.9 % ARIA-E (symptomatic) 6.1 % 0.1 % ARIA-H 31.4 % 13.6 %

For full TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 results, see the publication in JAMA.

A live webcast of the scientific session at AAIC featuring the donanemab presentations can be viewed on the investor section of Lilly's web site.

Lilly will host an investor call on Monday, July 17, at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT) to discuss the company's presentations at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

About TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Study and the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ program

TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 (NCT04437511) is a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of donanemab in participants ages 60-85 years with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (MCI or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease) with the presence of confirmed Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. The trial enrolled 1736 participants, across 8 countries, selected based on cognitive assessments in conjunction with amyloid plaque imaging and tau staging by PET imaging.

Lilly previously announced and published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) results from the Phase 2 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ study in 2021. In addition, Lilly shared data from TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 4, the first active comparator study in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease, at the 15th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference in 2022.

Lilly continues to study donanemab in multiple clinical trials, including TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3, which is focused on preventing symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in participants with preclinical AD; TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 5, a registration trial for early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease currently enrolling in China; and TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 6, which is focused on expanding our understanding of ARIA through novel MRI sequences, blood-based biomarkers, and different dosing regimens of donanemab.

About Lilly

Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. P-LLY

* Participants completed their course of treatment with donanemab once they reached a pre-defined level of plaque clearance. Average baseline amyloid levels were ~100 Centiloids for participants with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about donanemab as a potential treatment for people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease and the timeline for future readouts, presentations, and other milestones relating to donanemab and its clinical trials and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study findings to date, that donanemab will prove to be a safe and effective treatment, or that donanemab will receive regulatory approval. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
TORONTO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Salesforce Training & Consulting , a firm specializing in creating custom training solutions for Salesforce, announced the launch of their new venture, P3 Performance .

P3 Performance works exclusively with companies that have deployed Salesforce for their sales teams but have yet to realize the uptick in business results they had initially hoped to achieve when moving to Salesforce.

"Companies worldwide have recognized the enormous power of Salesforce as the world's leading CRM program. Unfortunately, for many of them, the gap between what they had hoped to achieve and what they are currently seeing is massive," according to P3 Performance founder Mark Christie.

Adds Christie, a Certified Sales Cloud Consultant, "When companies decide to move to Salesforce, they're hoping for transformative outcomes, be it more sales, shorter sales cycles, improved win rates, or higher lead conversion. And yes, Salesforce can help deliver on all of those. But, without understanding why salespeople might want to use Salesforce, true digital transformation will always remain elusive."

P3 Performance's primary goal is to help sales teams achieve better business outcomes by using Salesforce more effectively. No easy task, P3 starts by taking a deeper look into their clients' three "P's" (hence the company name). "Salesforce Adoption is incredibly hard to achieve when you don't have alignment between your people, your processes and your Salesforce platform," adds Nicole Hutzul, the ProSell Practice Lead at P3 Performance. "Our ProSell program is designed to address these areas and foster both an awareness and desire among sales users to embrace the new way of doing things."

Part of the challenge is the clients themselves. "I've had countless conversations with Sales Leaders that have had low Salesforce adoption for years with minimal impact to their business, and they come to us looking for a one or two-hour training session on tips and tricks," says Christie. "Well, that's just not going to get it done. Real change requires much more than that. We've proven that our ProSell model is the solution."

About P3 Performance

P3 Performance, established in 2022, is an arm of Salesforce Training & Consulting, focusing on driving Salesforce Adoption and greater sales results for their clients' sales teams. With teams in Toronto, Canada, and certified training and adoption consultants in the US, Canada and Europe, P3 Performance will help you achieve true digital transformation with Salesforce.

About Salesforce Training & Consulting

Salesforce Training & Consulting, established in 2006, creates and delivers customized Salesforce Training content  workbooks, reference guides, tutorial videos, or guidance  for its clients. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Salesforce Training is the go-to choice for business leaders looking to do more with Salesforce.

P3 Performance

Salesforce Training

SOURCE P3 Performance
DUBLIN, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Saudi Arabia In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market (By Technology/Technique, Application, Product, End User), Size, Share, Major Deals, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Saudi Arabia In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach US$ 1.176 billion by 2028.

Similar to other countries, Saudi Arabia is grappling with the challenges posed by infectious diseases such as HBV, TB, HCV, COVID-19, and HIV, along with various chronic diseases and cancer. In this scenario, in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) play a crucial role in the detection and monitoring of infectious and chronic diseases.

In-vitro diagnosis involves the collection, preparation, and testing of human samples using reagents, instruments, and systems to diagnose diseases and conditions. The robust growth of the Saudi Arabia IVD market can be attributed to the increasing geriatric population and the high burden of chronic and infectious diseases like diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19.

To bolster the healthcare sector, the Saudi Arabian government has undertaken several initiatives, including a planned investment of over US$ 65 billion under Vision 2030 to enhance the country's healthcare infrastructure.

Additionally, the government aims to privatize 290 hospitals and 2,300 primary health centers by 2030 and embrace digital information systems to further improve the healthcare sector in the country.

Recent Developments

In April 2023 , Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, and bioMerieux SA teamed up to improve health outcomes globally by exploring selected opportunities to bring nanopore sequencing to the infectious disease diagnostics market.

, Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, and bioMerieux SA teamed up to improve health outcomes globally by exploring selected opportunities to bring nanopore sequencing to the infectious disease diagnostics market. In December 2022 , bioMerieux announced the CE-marking of VIDAS KUBE , the next generation automated immunoassay system for the VIDAS range.

, bioMerieux announced the CE-marking of , the next generation automated immunoassay system for the VIDAS range. In July 2022 , DiaCarta Inc., a molecular diagnostics company announced that the company has received CE-IVD Mark for its newly developed QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A/B test.

By Technique/Technology Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Takeaway

On technique/technology basis, Immunoassay and Clinical Chemistry are the leading segment of the Saudi Arabia IVD market. In 2022, they contributed over 50 percent to the total Saudi Arabia IVD market.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) holds the 3rd spot in the Saudi Arabia IVD market. The burden of diabetes in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach 7.5 million by 2045.

is expected to reach 7.5 million by 2045. Molecular Diagnostics accounts for double digit share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market, driven by increasing demand of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products.

Hematology and Coagulation/Hemostasis segments are competing closely to grab maximum market share of the pie.

Point of Care Testing (POCT) market segment held least share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market.

By Application Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Takeaway

On the basis of application, Infectious diseases and Diabetes are the leading segment of the Saudi Arabia IVD market. Together they contributed over 50 percent to the total Saudi Arabia IVD market.

The Saudi Government has set a goal to increase life expectancy from 75 to 80 years of age. This will be achieved primarily by addressing the disease burden of noncommunicable diseases in the country, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The oncology application segment of the Saudi Arabia IVD market is predicted to reach nearly US$ 100 Million by 2028.

by 2028. Autoimmune Diseases was responsible for single digit share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market in 2022, while Nephrology held least share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market.

By Product Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Takeaway

Reagents held largest share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market in 2022 and is expected to remain dominant over the forecast period.

The instruments segment was responsible for nearly a quarter of the Saudi Arabia IVD market in 2022.

The software and services held least share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market.

By End User Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Takeaway

Government Labs & Hospitals was responsible for lion's share of the Saudi Arabia IVD market in 2022.

Private Labs & Hospitals contributed nearly a quarter to the overall Saudi Arabia IVD market.

Saudi Arabian government has set the target of privatizing 290 hospitals and 2,300 primary health centers by 2030, under the Saudi Vision 2030 Plan.

Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Company Analysis

In 2022, Roche diagnostics division generated revenues worth US$ 19,708 Million .

. In the diagnostics business, Abbott will focus on driving sales growth from its Alinity suite of diagnostics instruments and its portfolio of rapid diagnostic testing system.

Thermo Fisher's Specialty Diagnostics revenue declined to US$ 4,763 Million in 2022, primarily driven by decrease in revenues of products addressing diagnosis of COVID-19.

Specialty Diagnostics revenue declined to in 2022, primarily driven by decrease in revenues of products addressing diagnosis of COVID-19. In May 2023 , Siemens Healthineers announced the launch of next-gen hematology analyzers: Atellica HEMA 570 Analyzer and the Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzer.

Saudi Arabia In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Driving Factors

Government Initiatives Drives In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market

Increasing Focus on Digitalization of Healthcare Sector

Rising Incidence of Various Infectious and Chronic Diseases

Expanding Elderly Population Segment

Technology Advancement Spurring the IVD Market

Saudi Arabia In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Challenges

Regulatory Requirements and Stringent Policies

Lack of Research Focus

Operational Barriers Faced in Conducting Diagnostic Tests

Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Players Analysis

Roche

Abbott

Sysmex Corporation

Danaher Corporation

Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc.

Siemens Healthineers

Biomerieux SA

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc

Becton Dickinson and Company

and Company Nihon Kohden Corporation

This 263 Pages report with 72 Figures and 8 Tables has been analyzed from 10 View Points:

Saudi Arabia IVD Market and Forecast (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market Share and Forecast (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market & Forecast - By Technology/Technique (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market & Forecast - By Application (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market & Forecast - By Product (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market & Forecast - By End User (2018 - 2028)

Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Key Players Analysis (2014 - 2028)

In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Major Deals

In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Recent Developments

Saudi Arabia IVD Market - Industry Drivers & Challenges

By Technique/Technology - Saudi Arabia IVD Market and Forecast

Immunoassay

Clinical Chemistry

Hematology

Coagulation/Hemostasis

Microbiology

Molecular Diagnostic

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG)

Point of Care Testing (POCT)

Others

By Application - Saudi Arabia IVD Market and Forecast

Infectious Diseases

Cardiovascular Diseases

Diabetes

Oncology

Nephrology

Autoimmune Diseases

Others

By Product - Saudi Arabia IVD Market and Forecast

Reagents

Instruments

Software and Services

By End User - Saudi Arabia IVD Market and Forecast

Government Labs & Hospitals

Private Labs & Hospitals

Others

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r9lyjd

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SAN DIEGO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) plans to release its second-quarter 2023 earnings by 7 a.m. ET on Thursday, August 3.

Sempra executives will conduct a conference call at 12 p.m. ET, Thursday, August 3. Investors, media, analysts and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call by registering on the Investors section of the company's website and clicking on the appropriate link.

An accompanying slide presentation detailing the earnings results will be published to Sempra's Investors site by 7 a.m. ET on Thursday, August 3.

For those unable to obtain access to the live webcast, it will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion.

About Sempra

Sempra is a leading North American energy infrastructure company that helps meet the daily energy needs of nearly 40 million consumers. As the owner of one of the largest energy networks on the continent, Sempra is helping to electrify and decarbonize some of the world's most significant economic markets, including California, Texas, Mexico and the LNG export market. The company is also consistently recognized as a leader in sustainable business practices and for its long-standing commitment to building a high-performance culture focused on safety and operational excellence, leadership and workforce development and diversity and inclusion. Investor's Business Daily named Sempra the top-ranked utility in the U.S. for environmental, social and governance scores and financial performance. Sempra was also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the 12th consecutive year. More information about Sempra is available at sempra.com and on Twitter @Sempra.

SOURCE Sempra
MILWAUKEE, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Steele Solutions, the leader in the design and manufacturing of highly complex work platforms, and Tiffin Metal Products, the leader in design and production of material handling chutes and public safety security lockers, are pleased to announce they will now unite under the Steele Solutions company name. As part of this, Steele Solutions has unveiled a revitalized logo and tagline  "Safe, Smart, Integrated"  to reflect their commitment to stay at the forefront of industry trends and continuously adapt to meet the changing needs of its customers.

In March of last year, Steele Solutions merged with Tiffin Metal Products. With the expanded offering to material handling customers, it became clear that uniting under one company name aligned with the growth and transformation it has experienced.

"We are pleased to formally announce the merging of these two great companies under one company name of Steele Solutions", said Matt McBurney, President of Steele Solutions. "Our material handling customers have responded positively to our expanded product offering and this new brand identity represents a new chapter in our company's history. We recognize and respect the legacy and innovation of the Tiffin Metal Products brand. We will keep that history alive in the technology of our chutes and our security locker product line. It's an exciting time for the future of our company."

Steele Solutions invites customers, partners, and community members to explore the redesigned, rebranded website, www.steelesolutions.com, to view the latest news, company information, and product offering.

About Steele Solutions, Inc.

Steele Solutions, Inc. is a North American leader in the design and manufacturing of complex work platforms, custom chutes, and security lockers. The company partners with industry-leading integrators who lead warehouse automation projects for large e-commerce retailers and parcel providers. Steele Solutions is headquartered in South Milwaukee, WI and operates manufacturing facilities located in South Milwaukee, WI; Milwaukee, WI; and Tiffin, OH. In addition, the company has full support personnel in both Milwaukee, WI and Tiffin, OH.

Steele Solutions, Inc.

1117 E Rawson Ave.

South Milwaukee, WI 53172

www.steelesolutions.com

SOURCE Steele Solutions
The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032

LONDON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's Styrene Butadiene Rubber Global Market Report 2023, the global styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market size will grow from $35.7 billion in 2022 to $37.7 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5%. The global styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market size is then expected to grow from $46.5 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of more than 5%.

During the forecast period, the growing tire manufacturing sector is expected to drive the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market. Tire manufacturing is one of the primary industries that relies heavily on SBR. For example, in 2023, the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), the national trade association for tire manufacturers in the USA, forecasted that the total number of tires shipped from the country will reach 334.2 million units in 2023, up from 332.0 million units in 2022 and 332.7 million units in 2019. Therefore, the growing tire manufacturing sector will support the growth of the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market.

Learn More On The Styrene Butadiene Rubber Market Report  https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/styrene-butadiene-rubber-sbr-global-market-report

Sustainability is gaining popularity in the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market. Manufacturers are investing in the development of eco-friendly alternatives, such as bio-based SBR and recycled SBR, to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance sustainability. For example, in November 2021, Asahi Kasei, a Japanese chemical company, concluded a partnership agreement with Shell (Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd), a Singaporean company that refines and distributes petroleum products, to offer high-quality premium sustainable solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene derived from plastic waste and biomass. S-SBR (solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber) is a kind of synthetic rubber primarily utilized in high-performance, fuel-efficient tires.

In addition, companies in the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market are focusing on new plant expansions to strengthen their position and to increase their geographic presence. For example, in April 2023, Hainan Baling Chemical New Material Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, a Chinese Petroleum refineries company, launched a project focused on the production of Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer (SBC) in Hainan, China.

Request A Free Sample Of The Styrene Butadiene Rubber Market Report  https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=2710&type=smp

As per the styrene butadiene rubber market analysis, Asia Pacific was the largest region in the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market and was worth $24.7 billion in 2022.

The styrene butadiene rubber market in Asia Pacific is supported by the rapid industrialization and by the high investments in the region. For example, in September 2021, Apcotex Industries Limited, an Indian-based manufacturer of Styrene-Butadiene, Synthetic Latex Styrene Acrylic latex, and Synthetic Rubber announced plans to increase its Nitrile Latex capacity by 60,000 MTPA (Metric Tonnes Per Annum) at its Valia facility in Gujarat and Taloja plant in Maharashtra. The factories are going to be built to be adaptable enough to manufacture a few existing items as needed.

View More Similar Market Reports:

Synthetic Rubber And Fibers Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/synthetic-rubber-and-fibers-global-market-report

Rubber Products Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/rubber-products-global-market-report

Rubber Additives Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/rubber-additives-global-market-report

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LIAO CHENG, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily. Ordinary dough, in the hands of skilled craftsmen after production processes such as binding, patting, pulling, decoration, and kneading, gradually presents the shapes of butterflies, flowers, leaves, etc., which are lifelike and pleasing.

This is what people saw at the first China Farmers' Skills Competition held in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, on March 3. Liu Limin, a contestant from Sanlipu New Village, Gulou Street, Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng, said that the making of dough flower is a test of strength. If it is not handled properly, the surface of the work will be wrinkled.

"Dough can also be made into art, carrying my imagination and creativity. I hope that through this competition, more people will become familiar with and love this skill, " Liu Limin said.

The theme of this competition is "Cultivating talents with ingenuity, Strengthening industries and Promoting revitalization". 300 contestants from 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps competed in six competitions, namely, hand embroidery, hand knitting, hand paper cuttings, clay sculpture, dough making, and farmer painting, to exchange and display the wisdom and creativity of farmers.

In the hand embroidery competition, Zhang Xiumin, a contestant from Anshan, Liaoning Province, is creating a work with the theme of farming. With silver needles flying up and down and colored threads flying back and forth, a variety of crops leap on the embroidered cloth. Zhang Xiumin said, "Although I was born and raised in the countryside, we farmers not only know how to farm, but also love art. I enjoy the fun of embroidery very much, and every plant and tree in my hometown is my creative object."

Corn piles, flocks of chickens and ducks, donkey pulling mills... People saw lots of works showcasing agricultural production and life scenes in the embroidery exhibition area, full of agricultural interest and flavor.

Ding Chunmei, a villager from Wanghua Village, Shazhen Town, Dongchangfu District, Liaocheng, came to the exhibition with her paintings. Unlike the other exhibitors, she has a black burning stick in front of her drawing board. Ding Chunmei said: "The stick is my brush, I can draw as I want."

This competition aims to select a group of skilled craftsmen, promote the rejuvenation and release of new vitality of traditional rural handicraft skills.

SOURCE Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily
WHITEHALL, Pa., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, David W. Fiore is acknowledged as a Most Trusted Business Professional for his contributions to the Renewable Energy Sources Field.

David W. Fiore, CEO

Inspired by three generations of pundit experiences and knowledge of the coal industry, Mr. Fiore pursued a business in renewables, prospecting, and permit acquisition soon after graduating from high school. At 21, he became the chief executive officer of Buena Vista Energy and Community Energy Group, LLC after successfully applying for and obtaining a loan to finance his business.

Mr. Fiore explained that his father and grandfather were both active in the coal industry and served as mentors helping him to recognize the potential of solar, wind, geothermal, and other sustainable types of energy beyond coal. While beginning in the coal industry, the entrepreneur quickly transitioned to renewable energy sources and has seen exceptional success in the field.

Mr. Fiore has many responsibilities in his current role, including a site development of renewable projects; identifying properties, such as abandoned coal facilities; and closed steel mills, with potential for sustainable development. He is especially proud of his company's 600-acre solar development in southwest Pennsylvania where he plans over the next five years to continue developing brownfield sites for renewable energy and beneficial reuse. He explained that the property's high elevation and flat terrain is well suited for renewable Energy Generation, from its onsite access to the PJM power grid; high volume NiSource gas distribution/transmission line; and adjacent electricity substation.

Aside from his professional pursuits, Mr. Fiore is a dedicated supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and also gives to homeless shelters, feeding programs and other missions. As a successful businessman, Mr. Fiore encourages individuals to not give up, to continue toward their goals, and to avoid being discouraged by disappointments because they will come to pass.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Sonya Reese Greenland is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for her contributions to the fields of Genealogy and Education.

Ms. Greenland pursued higher education at Los Angeles Junior College where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She continued her education at California State University Northridge, where she received a Master's degree in Reading. In the field for more than 40 years, she began her career in education as a credentialed reading specialist in the sixth grade who supported learners with reading, writing, and other English language and literature topics. The educator also worked with students individually as a tutor and notes that her clients ranged from young children needing extra instructional support to succeed in school to adults looking to refine their essay and business writing skills to better advance their careers and college pursuits.

Inspired to become a teacher by an elementary teacher, Ms. Greenland notes that as a child, she was naturally curious about the world and realized her love of learning early on. Dedicated to life-long learning, she is currently a community historian; activist; and is the vice president of the Venice Historical Society which a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Venice, California.

Ms. Greenland has a passion for world literature and has focused on introducing her students to the diverse perspectives and cultures that literature provides. She found a way to join her literature passion to her education scholarship and civic interests by promoting the "breadth of available literature and unique authorial voices" to a multitude of community-based charity work, including volunteering as a reading tutor and partnering with the Culture Education Project.

During her illustrious career, Ms. Greenland explored various other interests, including property management services, and spent more than five years working in the nonprofit sector. She currently works on outreach and administrative work for the Venice Historical Society. Ms. Greenland's interest in local history was sparked by her family's generational interests in the Venice, particularly after learning about her grandfather, Arthur Lloyd Reese. Ms. Greenland explained that he was an influential businessman and designer who used his background as a train porter and maintenance worker to rise through the ranks at the Abbott Kinney Company. He was initially drawn to the Venice area for its potential as a civic experiment and new business frontier and eventually became known for his work in designing the iconic gondola vessels used in Venice's canals. Touted for her research, advocacy, and sharing often-forgotten stories of the area's development, she was eventually led to the restoration and display of one of her grandfather's original gondolas. She said that this work established her grandfather's legacy as a pillar of Black life and cultures in early Venice.

Continuing her devotion to history and education, Ms. Greenland is the author of a book about her grandfather's life named, "The Wizard of Venice," which was inspired by her research and the lack of available resources on the area's rich African American cultural history. Continuing her work for the Venice Historical Society, Ms. Greenland considers her independent research and the publication of her book to be her two greatest professional accomplishments and looks forward to continuing to advocate for the preservation and celebration of local history. Aside from her professional pursuits and civic service, the educator enjoys writing; working on personal creative projects; and helping to raise her granddaughter.

is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for her contributions to the fields of Genealogy and Education.

Ms. Greenland pursued higher education at Los Angeles Junior College where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She continued her education at California State University Northridge, where she received a Master's degree in Reading. In the field for more than 40 years, she began her career in education as a credentialed reading specialist in the sixth grade who supported learners with reading, writing, and other English language and literature topics. The educator also worked with students individually as a tutor and notes that her clients ranged from young children needing extra instructional support to succeed in school to adults looking to refine their essay and business writing skills to better advance their careers and college pursuits.

Inspired to become a teacher by an elementary teacher, Ms. Greenland notes that as a child, she was naturally curious about the world and realized her love of learning early on. Dedicated to life-long learning, she is currently a community historian; activist; and is the vice president of the Venice Historical Society which a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Venice, California.

Ms. Greenland has a passion for world literature and has focused on introducing her students to the diverse perspectives and cultures that literature provides. She found a way to join her literature passion to her education scholarship and civic interests by promoting the "breadth of available literature and unique authorial voices" to a multitude of community-based charity work, including volunteering as a reading tutor and partnering with the Culture Education Project.

During her illustrious career, Ms. Greenland explored various other interests, including property management services, and spent more than five years working in the nonprofit sector. She currently works on outreach and administrative work for the Venice Historical Society. Ms. Greenland's interest in local history was sparked by her family's generational interests in the Venice, particularly after learning about her grandfather, Arthur Lloyd Reese. Ms. Greenland explained that he was an influential businessman and designer who used his background as a train porter and maintenance worker to rise through the ranks at the Abbott Kinney Company. He was initially drawn to the Venice area for its potential as a civic experiment and new business frontier and eventually became known for his work in designing the iconic gondola vessels used in Venice's canals. Touted for her research, advocacy, and sharing often-forgotten stories of the area's development, she was eventually led to the restoration and display of one of her grandfather's original gondolas. She said that this work established her grandfather's legacy as a pillar of Black life and cultures in early Venice.

Continuing her devotion to history and education, Ms. Greenland is the author of a book about her grandfather's life named, "The Wizard of Venice," which was inspired by her research and the lack of available resources on the area's rich African American cultural history. Continuing her work for the Venice Historical Society, Ms. Greenland considers her independent research and the publication of her book to be her two greatest professional accomplishments and looks forward to continuing to advocate for the preservation and celebration of local history. Aside from her professional pursuits and civic service, the educator enjoys writing; working on personal creative projects; and helping to raise her granddaughter.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
The campaign will air three amusing spots, titled: "Cashew Talker," featuring a character who just can't stop professing his love of flavored cashews; "Baby Room Mural," which introduces us to the notion of dill pickle-inspired decorating; and "Carpool Cashew-oke," which comically features the 1980s hit-music classic "Hungry Eyes."

The underlying message of the campaign: Surrender to the Cashew.

"We made Planters flavored cashews the nut that you'll crave like a chip, so it's a snack that you'll reach for again and again," said Zeeshan Tarique, Planters senior brand manager. "We know consumers love the satisfying, creamy nature of the cashews. Consumers are looking for bold flavor options to complement the snacks they already love, and we answered that call with a fresh, flavor-forward revamping of one of our most beloved snacking products."

For more information about the Planters brand, visit planters.com, and follow the brand on social media.

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, Skippy, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com and csr.hormelfoods.com.

Contact: Media Relations

Hormel Foods

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

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Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has announced the next meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format for Tuesday, July 18.

"Let me remind you, for each type of foreign weapons that have been at the front for a long time, I first heard no, it won't happen, it's impossible. In fact, it is possible, but in due time and subject to our perseverance. On July 18, we will continue to do the impossible at the next meeting in the Ramstein format," Reznikov wrote in his column on Liga.net on Monday.

The thirteenth meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format was held in Brussels on June 15.
U.S. LawShield Provides Strategies for Safety and Protecting Valuables

HOUSTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Criminals are moving from the streets to the beaches, looking for distracted beachgoers and tourists as targets of opportunity. Whether visiting a beach in the United States or abroad this summer, U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self Defense organization, recommends the following strategies to keep yourself safe and your valuables secure:

U.S. LawShield provides tips to avoid jugging at the beach this season

Be alert everywhere. Jugging is a trending crime, which most commonly includes a tactic whereby one person creates a distraction as another commits a theft while your guard is down. Be on the lookout for people loitering, who move directly toward you, change direction to intercept you, or begin moving once they see you. All are a sign of potential danger. While these signs aren't guarantees that someone is going to assault you, they can indicate possible risk of an unwelcome encounter.





Jugging is a trending crime, which most commonly includes a tactic whereby one person creates a distraction as another commits a theft while your guard is down. Be on the lookout for people loitering, who move directly toward you, change direction to intercept you, or begin moving once they see you. All are a sign of potential danger. While these signs aren't guarantees that someone is going to assault you, they can indicate possible risk of an unwelcome encounter. Research the beach first. Read reviews, blogs, and internet forums to learn which beaches are safer than others. Some locations may be unsafe at certain hours of the day, such as early mornings or late evenings when fewer peopleincluding lifeguards and law enforcementare present.

Read reviews, blogs, and internet forums to learn which beaches are safer than others. Some locations may be unsafe at certain hours of the day, such as early mornings or late evenings when fewer peopleincluding lifeguards and law enforcementare present. ATMs near beaches. Many beach parking lots have ATMs so visitors can pay for parking and visit public vending machines. Criminals often spy on these locations, positioning themselves at a distance and using binoculars. They're determining who is using the ATM and how much cash is withdrawn, so the thief can follow the user to their next destination. Be aware of your surroundings and keep withdrawals to smaller amounts. Instead of using ATMs, use credit or debit cards when possible .





Many beach parking lots have ATMs so visitors can pay for parking and visit public vending machines. Criminals often spy on these locations, positioning themselves at a distance and using binoculars. They're determining who is using the ATM and how much cash is withdrawn, so the thief can follow the user to their next destination. Be aware of your surroundings and keep withdrawals to smaller amounts. Instead of using ATMs, use credit or debit cards when possible Parking lots. When at the beach, do not leave valuables and money inside your vehicle or forget to lock your car. Predators are always watching for an opportunity and won't hesitate to break a car window to get what they want. Lock your valuables out of view in the vehicle trunk or console.





When at the beach, do not leave valuables and money inside your vehicle or forget to lock your car. Predators are always watching for an opportunity and won't hesitate to break a car window to get what they want. Lock your valuables out of view in the vehicle trunk or console. On the beach. Choose a spot on the beach near other beachgoers. Never isolate yourself away from the crowd. Pick a position near the water so that the one person left behind to watch everything isn't too far away. Don't leave purses and wallets unattended while swimming, playing with children, or for any other reason. Avoid wearing jewelry to the beach. Wear an inexpensive watch.





Choose a spot on the beach near other beachgoers. Never isolate yourself away from the crowd. Pick a position near the water so that the one person left behind to watch everything isn't too far away. Don't leave purses and wallets unattended while swimming, playing with children, or for any other reason. Avoid wearing jewelry to the beach. Wear an inexpensive watch. Packing up the vehicle. Be aware of predators looking for the opportunity to grab your purse or wallet while you are distracted during loading or unloading. Always be aware of your surroundings.

"With it being prime beach season, we need to remind people that everyday distractions can lead to unwanted encounters. Tourists and beaches are prime targets for criminals because of these distractions, including parents who must pay close attention to their children," said Kirk Evans, president of U.S. LawShield. "As our mission at U.S. LawShield is to educate, prepare, and protect, we continually provide information to the public on ways to stay aware and how to avoid these altercations altogether. Take as little valuable items to the beach as possible and trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, move to a safer place immediately."

For more information about U.S. LawShield, or to become a member, visit uslawshield.com.

About U.S. LawShield

Founded in 2009, U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self-Defense organization, offers coverage in 46 states and has served more than 2 million members. A network of 300+ Independent Program Attorneys is readily available, plus access to a 24/7/365 hotline and protection for members throughout the legal process after acts of self-defense.

Educate. Prepare. Protect. U.S. LawShield is committed to informing and updating you on self-defense laws, providing comprehensive instruction and training, and defending you in your greatest time of need. For more information on U.S. LawShield and its Legal Defense for Self Defense program, visit uslawshield.com.

SOURCE U.S. LawShield, LLC
Unidef, an organization dedicated to a Decentralized Future, has launched a groundbreaking initiative to support creditors of crypto companies that disabled client accounts or otherwise denied them access to their assets. Unidef's initiative aims to assist the crypto community in asset reclaiming , and help investors file for damages due to account disablement or asset denial

DUBAI, UAE, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented move, Unidef ( unidef.org ), a global organization committed to intensifying the decentralized economy , is launching an initiative to stand with the crypto community impacted by centralized entities' recent controversial financial actions. This initiative comes in the wake of the recent bankruptcy filing of a centralized exchange and allegations of account disabling coupled with offshore fund transfers without that client's approval, leaving numerous clients uncertain regarding their asset status.

Unidef aims to accelerate the world's transition to a decentralized future. Thus It champions an ethical crypto industry and supports those impacted by unethical crypto companies. In light of recent bankruptcy filings, Unidef has launched an initiative to help clients reclaim their assets and file for damages. The initiative especially targets creditors of a particular centralized exchange whose accounts have been disabled since 2017.

Azim Ghader , Global CEO of Unidef, shared his personal experience:

"I had a notably challenging experience with one centralized crypto-exchange company as they disabled my account without clarification. As a result, the value of my assets, once exceeding 50 Million USD, plummeted to below 300K USD. It's astonishing that when regulatory bodies like the OFAC, FinCen or SEC target these types of centralized exchanges, many in the crypto community still support them."

Being aware that many users have been denied refunds by one or more crypto-exchanges, this initiative aims to rectify this situation. By doing so, Unidef hopes to protect the welfare of the crypto community and reinforce the transformative nature of decentralized assets and crypto.

This Initiative will provide guidance on reclaiming crypto assets and personal information and filing for damages, as it believes that decentralized assets and entities will finally fundamentally redefine the financial system, the Internet, and monetary structure, ensuring everyone's ability to control their finances, data, and identity.

Azim Ghader stated, "We need to unite and support those impacted by these centralized entities' unethical actions. It's not just about asset reclaiming or damages, but a strong stand for the decentralized future we advocate for."

Unidef's mission is to facilitate the world's shift to a Decentralized Future and empower individuals to take complete control of their finances, identity, and data. As we have observed, centralized platforms can disable accounts and freeze assets, leading to significant losses and distress due to the volatile nature of crypto assets.

We look forward to sharing further developments and improvements in this endeavor, as Unidef continues to stand up for the rights and interests of those affected by such actions and emissions. This initiative is a major step forward in ensuring a fair and ethical crypto industry, and we are proud to be part of this important effort.

Call to Action

For those affected or for anyone with evidence of damages caused by centralized platforms or its operators, kindly contact us at [email protected] . We urge the public to contribute to the initiative's development and we will provide updates promptly.

We believe in the power of decentralization, particularly in light of entities disabling client accounts or freezing and blocking assets, potentially resulting in significant financial loss. Decentralized assets and cryptocurrency will fundamentally change the Internet, the financial system, and money itself.

About Unidef

Unidef ( unidef.org ) is a global network of organizations working to accelerate the world's transition to a decentralized future. It invests in and supports communities and builders of next-generation technologies, incubates creative ideas in the Web3 space, and provides institutional support and organizational backing.

For more information and updates, visit www.unidef.org and follow @UnidefGlobal on Twitter , Telegram , Instagram , Threads , Facebook and YouTube .

Disclaimer:

Click to read Disclaimer

Unidef does not guarantee the regaining of any assets or the success of any legal actions.

Contact:

Global Communications

Unidef

[email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2155327/Unidef_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Unidef
AUSTIN, Texas. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Upgraded Points , a leading provider of travel insights, has released a comprehensive study revealing the true cost of U.S. ocean-view vacations. The study analyzed data from various popular coastal destinations across the country to find the most and least expensive destinations for beachfront rentals.

The research indicates that the cost of an ocean-view vacation can vary significantly depending on the destination, as well as your choice between a hotel or Airbnb: beachfront hotels are $120 cheaper a night, on average.

The Beach Towns Where You'll Spend the Most and Least For an Ocean View Beach Towns With the Largest Differential Between Ocean and Non-Ocean View Rentals

However, savings increase even more with a non-beachfront accommodation. Rentals in the costal cities analyzed without an ocean view are $130 cheaper, on average. Across all 75 destinations in the study, an ocean-view rental costs $3,353.28 per week.

Methodology

The researchers compiled a list of 75 of the most popular beach towns in the U.S., then turned to Airbnb listings to gather information on the average nightly prices for both entire houses and hotels in each town. To ensure the analysis focused on accommodations with an ocean view, they applied the "beachfront" filter on Airbnb.

By averaging the nightly prices of houses and hotels in each town, the researchers determined the average cost of beachfront accommodations per night. To estimate the average cost of a one-week stay in beachfront accommodations, the team multiplied this price by 7.

Key Insights

On average, you'll pay about 27% more for a beachfront vacation home with an ocean view than a non-beachfront vacation home. The average weekly cost savings of renting a non-beachfront accommodation is $909, but there are interesting outliers. In Malibu, there's a whopping $5,383 weekly price difference between beachfront and non-beachfront stays. In Myrtle Beach, that margin drops to just $35.

Booking an ocean-view Airbnb is 25% more expensive than renting an ocean-view hotel room, on average. The typical nightly price to stay at a beachfront home (entire house) on Airbnb is $538.69 (and $3,771 for a week). The typical nightly price to stay at a beachfront hotel on Airbnb is $419.39 (and $2,936 for a week).

In some destinations, staying in an ocean-view hotel over a beachfront home can save you considerably more. North Carolina's outer banks are a clear example. In Corolla, NC, the average price to stay at a beachfront home is $668 a night, but the average price to stay at a beachfront hotel is only $255 a night  a $413 nightly price difference. Cape Cod and the Islands also experienced the phenomenon, as well as the Hamptons and Southern California.

A non-beachfront rental can save you thousands per week in some destinations, but not all: In Malibu, there's a whopping $769 average price difference per night between beachfront and non-beachfront staysThat equals an over $5,300 weekly price differential. But in places like Cedar Key, FL, and Rehoboth Beach, DE, savings amount to less than $50 weekly.

The Most and Least Expensive Destinations for Beachfront Vacation Rentals

The most expensive beach towns for a 1-week beachfront stay are (#1) Montauk, NY, (#2) Southampton, NY, (#3) East Hampton, NY, (#4) Malibu, CA, and (#5) Folly Beach, SC.

The least expensive beach towns for a 1-week beachfront stay are (#1) Cedar Key, FL, (#2) Ocean Springs, MS, (#3) Ocean Shores, WA, (#4) Port Aransas, TX, and (#5) Galveston, TX.

To view the findings in detail, including an interactive table and complete list, please visit the full study HERE .

About Upgraded Points LLC

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the complex world of travel and credit cards. Launched in 2016 by Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to help travelers maximize their travel, points, and experiences. Learn more at: UpgradedPoints.com.

Media Contact:

Alex Miller, Founder

1-214-646-8866

[email protected]

SOURCE Upgraded Points
ESPOO, Finland, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet entered into an agreement on July 14, 2023, to acquire the Process Gas Chromatography business of Siemens AG. The value of the acquisition is EUR 102.5 million on a cash and debt-free basis subject to customary adjustments. The acquisition is estimated to be completed on April 1, 2024, at the earliest, upon completion of carve-out measures and customary closing conditions.

Siemens Process Gas Chromatography business in brief

The Process Gas Chromatography business of Siemens AG is a market leader with its Maxum II Gas Chromatograph platform, Systems Integration, and Customer Services offering. Gas Chromatographs are used to measure the chemical composition in gases and evaporable liquids in all stages of production. With deep customer process knowledge in chemicals, liquefied natural gas (LNG), refining and biofuels, the business provides critical process insights to support its customers in ensuring and improving quality, sustainability, and safety worldwide.



In 2022, net sales of the business amounted to approximately EUR 120 million and pro-forma adjusted EBITDA margin was approximately 10%. The business employs around 300 people, and its main locations are in the USA, Germany, and Singapore.

The acquisition is in line with Valmet's strategy and will further strengthen Valmet's automation segment and process automation offering with process industry gas chromatograph and process analyzer systems offering. It also strengthens Valmet's Automation Systems business footprint in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Valmet and Siemens will work closely together over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, thereby maintaining a strong customer orientation and operational continuity. The acquired business is planned to be integrated into Valmet's Automation Systems business line as a separate business unit.

"Siemens' Process Gas Chromatograph Maxum II products, systems and services offering complements well Valmet's existing automation offering, industry reach and expertise. The Maxum brand is widely known in process industries and the products are used extensively by world's leading industrial customers. Also, the large installed base provides further service opportunities and business stability. The business is planned to form a globally-lead business unit within the Automation Systems business line and has a joint customer base also with Valmet's Flow Control business line. With this setup, supported by Valmet's strong functions, we see opportunities for further profitable growth in this business. We look forward to welcoming the new colleagues from Siemens to Valmet," says Emilia Torttila-Miettinen, President, Automation Systems business line.

"Today marks a new chapter in our 60-plus-year history of providing world-class gas chromatography products, solutions, and services to process industry customers around the world. By joining the Valmet team, we are excited to be partnering with an organization that shares many synergies with our Gas Chromatography and Integration business and a clear focus on employees and customers. We all are looking forward to exploring the many positive opportunities this partnership can bring going forward," says Glen Irving, CEO, Siemens Gas Chromatograph & Integration Business.

Valmet has in recent years successfully expanded its Automation segment through the merger with Neles in April 2022 and the acquisition of NovaTech's Process Solutions business in January 2023.

VALMET

Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:

Emilia Torttila-Miettinen, President, Automation Systems business line, tel. +358 40 831 75 95

Pekka Rouhiainen, Vice President, Investor Relations, Valmet, tel. +358 10 672 0020

Liisa Palmu, Director, Marketing and Communications, Automation Systems business line, tel. +358 50 3413717

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our 17,500 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward  every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. The combined company's net sales in 2021 was approximately EUR 4.5 billion based on the respective company figures.

Valmet's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.

Follow us on valmet.com | Twitter | Twitter (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram |

Processing of personal data

SOURCE Valmet Oyj
DUBLIN, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Project Management for Non-Project Managers - PM in the Life Sciences - Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology and Medical Devices" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

What do you do? Here is a common scenario. You are three years out of college in your first engineering job. You are sitting in a meeting about the introduction of a new packaging line in your pharmaceutical plant. You are half listening to the presentation while thinking about some of the other work you need to complete on different matters. The installation will take a year to execute and will require the coordination with several functions inside and outside of the company.

Suddenly the Director of Engineering turns to you and says, "Allison, this would be a great first opportunity for you to manage a very interesting project. Let's meet tomorrow and discuss your initial plans for getting started."

This is an all too common occurrence in today's business environment.

Today more than ever before the job titles that we hold are not entirely reflective of the work that we do. Global teams and collaboration often place those in positions of team leadership that have the least foundation to manage all facets of complex projects.

Project management requires specific knowledge of the key project facets that must be carefully managed. The interactions across divergent corporate functions, culture, language, and time zones all pose unique challenges to the new project manager.

Layer on top of the basic project management requirements for any project the requirements of a pharmaceutical/biotechnology or medical device development project and the entire project management process becomes a daunting task for even those with experience.

Unfortunately, project management is not a subject given much attention in college and university these days. The answer? Get some training - some basic understandable project management training that will provide you with a solid foundation for managing that first project or to simply sharpen existing project management skills.

It is not just important to learn about project management - project management has its own body of knowledge - its own set of standards that all project managers follow called the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Any valuable training must also teach/present the content comprising this Body of Knowledge.

Driving a product to the market safely, quickly, and cheaply is the best way for a pharmaceutical company to be successful. Those companies however, encounter enormous challenges during the long product-development process. The unique regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical devices as well as the project development processes associated to each industry must also be addressed to meet the needs to facilitate approval.

Why Should You Attend

It is not possible to present a complete treatment of project management in the span of 12-hours.It is however, possible to focus in on those most important aspects of project management that are critical to the success of any project as well as those that are critical to pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device development projects. Without basic tools, it is not possible to effectively manage a project to the pre-determined end-date without turmoil and chaos.

We have distilled the key aspects of project management into three four-hour virtual seminar segments that will logically move participants from the beginning of the project management process to the end - from initiating the project to closing the project.

This seminar will address those project management critical tasks within each project phase that must be performed flawlessly for effective project execution to occur and will provide the foundation and direction for future study of the subject.

The seminar is designed to build a working understanding of the subject and for a quick start-up for those unanticipated project management assignments.

In addition, the unique challenges and requirements for both the pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device industries will be addressed creating a link between those requirements and the basic tenants of project management.

6.0 RAC CREDITS

RAPS - This course has been pre-approved by RAPS as eligible for up to 10 credits towards a participant's RAC recertification upon full completion.

Who Should Attend:

Any member of a cross-functional project team that has the potential opportunity to lead that project.

Engineers

Marketing Associates

Product Managers

Program Managers

Contract Managers

Project Managers

Research & Development Associates, Managers, and Directors

Design Engineers

Manufacturing Managers

This virtual seminar crosses all industries and functions it is however particularly suited for the health sciences where much project-based work is accomplished.

Medical device manufacturers

Pharmaceutical and Biotech organisations

Cosmetic and foods manufacturers

All other industries

Key Topics Covered:

# 1 - Introduction to Project Management - An Overview

What is a project?

What is project management?

The project manager's role

What is effective project management?

The five stages of a project

The triple constraint, collaboration and flexibility

Project management pitfalls

The Project Charter

The Project Scope Statement

Determine your project's audience members, i.e. project stakeholders, initiator, and champion(s)

How to work and interact with your audience

Project Planning - Stakeholder - Quality - Communications - Scope - Risk

#2 - Specifying the project work to be done and establish the project's timing and resource requirements

Develop the work breakdown structure

Naming key tasks

Making assumptions

Special project situations

Long-term project planning

Displaying the work breakdown structure

Categorizing project work

What to document

Purpose and function of the network diagram

Reading and interpreting a network diagram

Creating the network diagram

Develop the initial schedule

Determine activity durations

Gaming the schedule

Determine team member skills that are needed

Estimate the human resource requirement

Meeting resource commitments

Resolve resource overloads and conflicts

Handling multiple projects

Developing the budget

#3- Risk, the project team, project management, and control

Risk factors and risks

Identifying the risk factors

Risk types

Assessing and weighing risk

Determine consequences

Develop a risk mitigation strategy

Develop your risk management plan

Organizational structures for managing projects

Define the key players and their roles

Team member roles and responsibilities

Assigning project tasks

Authority versus responsibility

The RACI Chart

Developing team operational strategies and procedures

Managing team activities

Developing your team

Managing team and individual team member performance

Working cross-culturally

Collaboration and flexibility - how are they executed and managed successfully

Scope creep and how it is managed

Tracking and reporting progress

Work-effort tracking

Managing the budget

Communicating effectively - how to make it work

When things go wrong - scheduling alternatives

#4 The unique challenges and requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology project management

R & D process integration with standard PM processes

The project management success factors for project managers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries

Project challenges in medical device design

Design controls and integration with the project management process

Speakers:



Charles H. Paul

President

C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.



Charles H. Paul is the President of C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc. - a regulatory, manufacturing, training, and technical documentation consulting firm - celebrating its twentieth year in business in 2017. He has been a regulatory and management consultant and an Instructional Technologist for 30 years and has published numerous white papers on various regulatory and training subjects. The firm works with both domestic and international clients designing solutions for complex training and documentation issues.



He has held senior positions in consulting and in corporate training development prior to forming C. H. Paul Consulting, Inc.. He also worked for several years in government contracting managing the development of significant Army-wide training development contracts impacting virtually all of the active Army and changing the training paradigm throughout the military.



He has dedicated his entire professional career explaining the benefits of performance-based training



For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/99u6dz

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
Firm's oversubscribed third fund brings total raised to $1.3 billion since founding in September 2018

David Allison, Ph.D., joins Beth Seidenberg, M.D., and Mira Chaurushiya, Ph.D., as managing directors

LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Westlake Village BioPartners ("Westlake") today announced the launch of its third fund of $450 million to incubate and grow early stage next-generation biotechnology companies in the Los Angeles region and beyond. The new fund will be managed by founding managing director Beth Seidenberg, M.D., managing director Mira Chaurushiya, Ph.D., and David Allison, Ph.D., who was recently appointed managing director.

Beth Seidenberg, MD; founding managing director, Westlake Village BioPartners Mira Chaurushiya, PhD, managing director, Westlake Village BioPartners David Allison, PhD, managing director, Westlake Village BioPartners

"This new fund will enable us to continue to do what we do best  build great companies from the ground up that make a difference for patients and generate outsized returns for investors regardless of market conditions," said Dr. Seidenberg. "Our investors recognize our strategy is working and have demonstrated their commitment through this new investment."

Westlake will use the funds to continue to incubate and build early stage companies, by matching promising next-generation technologies with world-class talent to create transformative therapies that will change patients' lives.

Building a Venture Capital Firm to Last

Westlake announced the appointment of Dr. Chaurushiya as a senior partner in early 2022, and with the start of the new fund her promotion to managing director, and today announced Dr. Allison's appointment as managing director. Along with Seidenberg, Chaurushiya and Allison will lead the new fund.

"Our goal is to build a venture capital firm for the long term," said Dr. Seidenberg. "Adding Mira and David to our leadership team allows us to leverage their deep scientific, business, and investing expertise across our entire portfolio, while also building Westlake's next generation of leaders."

"Working with Beth and reuniting with Mira at Westlake is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Dr. Allison. "The firm has a focused, disciplined, and consistent investing strategy, which aligns with my approach throughout my investing career. Having created more than 20 high-quality companies since Westlake's founding in September 2018 is an impressive record by anyone's standards and I am thrilled to continue this work as we launch the new fund."

Dr. Allison has spent the past 15 years in biotechnology venture capital, including most recently as a partner at 5AM Ventures. While at 5AM, he was involved in investments including CinCor Pharma (acquired by AstraZeneca), Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Impel Neuropharma, Inipharm, Neurogastrx, and Radionetics. Prior to 5AM, Dr. Allison was a principal at Versant Ventures and held previous roles at Split Rock Partners and PTV Healthcare Capital. He received a Ph.D. from Rice University and a B.S.E. from The University of Iowa.

Dr. Chaurushiya was most recently at 5AM where she was a partner and involved in investments including Precision Nanosystems (acquired by Danaher), Enliven Therapeutics, Purigen Biosystems (acquired by BioNano), Escient Pharmaceuticals, Novome Biotechnologies, and TMRW. Dr. Chaurushiya is a fellow of the Society of Kauffman Fellows. She received a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in conjunction with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where she was awarded the Martin Kamen Thesis Prize in Biochemistry, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Genentech. She received a B.A. from Carleton College.

Catalyzing the Los Angeles Biotech Hub

Westlake pioneered the creation of the Los Angeles Biotech Hub and has so far established eight companies in the region. "Los Angeles has a culture of innovation that is underappreciated in the biotech world," said Dr. Chaurushiya. "We have outstanding entrepreneurial and industry-experienced talent, world-class academic institutions, and sufficient venture capital with expertise in building biotech companies. Along with the wonderful Southern California lifestyle, this is a recipe for success."

About Westlake Village BioPartners

Westlake Village BioPartners is a Los Angeles area-based venture capital firm focused on incubating and building life sciences companies with entrepreneurs who have the potential to bring transformative therapies to patients. Westlake manages more early-stage venture capital solely from the greater Los Angeles area than any other firm. The Westlake model is built on the founding team's unique experience in successfully identifying and developing breakthrough therapies and building organizations, based on their extensive R&D, investing and company-building experience. For more information, please visit www.westlakebio.com.

SOURCE Westlake Village BioPartners
SHANGHAI, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- wire China, the 10th All China-International Wire and Cable Industry Trade Fair is counting down the months to its opening which will be at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from September 4-7, 2023.

Since the reopening of borders and the lifting of travel restrictions this year, booth reservations for wire China 2023 have been soaring. More than 800 exhibitors will be expected to showcase their new products in the 60,000 square meters exhibition area at wire China 2023. This not only reflects the strong appeal of wire China in the industry, but also the rapid market recovery trend.

Top Reasons to Join wire China 2023?

A trade platform with a 19-year history, held biannually in Shanghai .

. Over 800 companies from China and all over the globe will be present at w ire China 2023.

and all over the globe will be present at 2023. Over 30 industry conferences and forums to ignite waves of insight.

Not only a place for face-to-face trade, but also a perfect opportunity to learn about edge-cutting technology by attending seminars and forums.

Full support from Messe Dusseldorf GmbH and wire + Tube worldwide shows with high competency and a fruitful experience.

Products to be showcased will mainly focus on the following categories:

wire China  wire manufacturing/processing machinery; cable manufacturing machinery; fastener manufacturing machinery; spring manufacturing machinery; second-hand tools; process technology tools; auxiliary process technology materials; materials/special wires cables; measuring/control technology; test engineering; specialist areas, among others.

Using the cable chemical material category as an example, industry giants such as Borouge, ENEOS NUC, Teijin Aramid, Hanwha Chemical, Huntsman, Wanhua Chemical and many more leading Chinese brands such as Tianrong, CGN Group, HJ Polymer China have all confirmed their participation in the event.

Additionally, as the largest international pavilion at the event, the German pavilion exhibition area has already been fully booked by Wafios, Niehoff, Troester, Traxit, Sket, Sikora, Elantas, Petrofer, Felss, Zeller+Gmelin, Woywood, FUHR, RSD, Buhler, Henrich Maschinenfabrik as well more new exhibitors from Germany.

Others well-known brands that will be at wire China 2023 include:

Maillefer, SAMP, Numalliance, Rosendahl Nextrom, Esteves, KOS, Zumbach, Suzuki-Sumiden, D&S, Delta, Proton, Eurolls, Daicolor, among others.

As well as many leading brands from China including Smarter, Xinming, Handing, Chuangzhan, GYM CO LTD , Chaoxu, Fuchuan, Strd Laser, and Adwantek.

To register, please visit the official website: www.wirechina.net/en/, and complete the online visitor registration. Visitor badges and welcome packages can be picked up at the "OVERSEAS VISITOR" counter.

SOURCE wire China
BEIJING, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Snowsky Salt Industry Group Co., Ltd (Snowsky Salt, 600929.SH), a Chinese salt production and marketing enterprise, inaugurated a subsidiary for the import and export of its products on July 1 in Changsha City, central China's Hunan Province, as part of the efforts to expand its overseas business.

The new company aims to become an important salt and salt chemical supplier in Asia. It targets at business footprint in more than 10 countries and regions in 2023, with exports reaching 500,00 tonnes and revenue of over 40 million yuan. Its goals for the 2024-2025 period are to reach Japan, the Republic of Korea, the ten ASEAN member countries, the Middle East and other regions, export 150,000 tonnes of products and generate around 150 million yuan of revenue.

The establishment of the subsidiary marks a step forward for Snowsky Salt, which has seen a compound annual growth rate of over 20 percent in business in recent years, to become a world-class salt enterprise.

Snowsky Salt began exploring exporting salt products to global markets in 2019.

In June of 2020, the company exported 6,000-odd tonnes of edible salt to Angola, marking its first entry into the African market. In July of the same year, it exported over 1200 tonnes of edible salt in small bags to Singapore, followed by exports of such product to Cambodia and Laos.

In June 2021, the salt producer opened an account on Alibaba.com, making its products available for cross-border e-commerce trading.

In 2022, Snowsky Salt moved on to expand business in the Middle East. From the end of 2022 to the beginning of this year, it conducted thorough research on the ASEAN markets and paid visits to countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

Snowsky Salt has seen booming export business. It exported 67,000 tonnes of salt in 2021, with a sales revenue exceeding 30 million yuan. Its exports in 2022 reached 90,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the company's export structure kept optimizing. Export products have covered edible salt, daily salt and salt chemical products, in comparison with only large bags of salt previously.

It's learned that Snowsky Salt will first focus on markets in the Asia Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia, and then expand its presence in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America.

See the original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/335094.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
SHANGHAI, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987) today announced the appointment of Mr. David Hoffmann to the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Hoffmann will serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board. Following the appointment, the Board is comprised of 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.

"We are honored to have Dave join our Board of Directors," said Yum China's Independent Chairman Dr. Fred Hu. "Dave brings to us unique perspectives through his leadership experience in the global restaurant industry, strong operational expertise, and deep knowledge about doing business in China and Asia Pacific. I am confident he will prove a valuable addition to our Board."

Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China commented, "Dave's extensive experience in spearheading operational and business transformations will be invaluable as we continue to execute our RGM (Resilience-Growth-Moat) strategy. I look forward to Dave's insights and contribution to our Board as together we work to deliver sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value."

David Hoffmann, age 55, has served as the chairman and chief executive officer of Mammoth Holdings, a Dallas-based conveyor car wash operator since October 2021. Prior to joining Mammoth Holdings, Mr. Hoffmann held a variety of top leadership positions in the global quick service restaurant industry. Mr. Hoffmann served as Director and CEO of Dunkin' Brands from 2018 to 2020 and as President, Dunkin' U.S. from 2016 to 2018. Prior to joining Dunkin' Brands, Mr. Hoffmann served as an executive for McDonald's Corporation for 20 years in increasing areas of international responsibility, including as President of High Growth Markets, President of Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Senior Vice President and Restaurant Support Officer for APMEA, Vice President of Strategy, Insights and Development for APMEA, and Executive Vice President of McDonald's Japan. Mr. Hoffmann received his master's degree of business administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago in 1996.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.

About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,800 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com .

Investor Relations Contact:

Tel: +86 21 2407 7556 / +852 2267 5801

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Tel: +86 21 2407 7510

[email protected]

SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Ninety-one children from Kyiv region, requiring special attention and guardianship, went to Germany for rest and recovery, Kyiv Regional Military Administration reports.

"These are orphans and children deprived of parental care from Bila Tserkva, Boryspil and Brovary districts, as well as from Kyiv regional centers for socio-psychological rehabilitation of children Sezenkov and Obereg," the Telegram channel says.

The children are placed in a holiday camp located near Berlin.

The trip took place at the invitation of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, the Elderly, Women and Youth of Germany.
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.
Time to take more action for Ukraine - even more decisively.

The outcome of the Vilnius NATO summit, particularly together with the commitment from the G7 members and those other that have associated themselves with it, offers a strong signal of a strategic support to Ukraine until the murderous aggressor has been repelled.

There is obviously some disappointment by Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine that the NATO summit has not issued a more explicit membership invitation. But that should not negatively impact the reality of the Vilnius support package for Ukraine.

Focus now must be on the one hand the G7, NATO and EU countries living up to their commitment to give Ukraine further and increased military, financial and political support in its fight for its freedom and on the other hand Ukraine to accelerate its work to meet the conditions for launching EU accession negotiations and further progress towards NATO membership.

Work towards building a new and better Ukraine, after the end of the war, and aiming at full EU and NATO membership must start now. This will also accelerate winning the war.

G7 and other nations must understand that delaying weapons and other support is delaying the end of the aggression and the reconstruction and rehabilitation that will have to be addressed after the war. Delayed weapons means delayed peace.

Ukraine needs financial support also in order to be able to pay and help nurses, teachers, soldiers and all others that are sustaining the nation in its fight for survival and freedom.

The place of Ukraine is and will be in EU and NATO. Its in the interest of all that this process is supported and accelerated.

So - lets not complain but appreciate the fact that Europe continues to stand by Ukraine, and that NATO stands firmly behind Ukraine. There should be no doubt: Ukraine fights not only for its own existence and freedom - this war is also about defending freedom and democracy for all of Europe, for the very idea of values-based democracy.

But lets be clear: while we are on the right way, we must keep going, and even more decisively than before. Nothing is secure yet. Standstill, or hesitation, will put everything that has been achieved at risk.

Has the West acted too quickly in helping Ukraine? Certainly no. Has the West acted too slowly? Yes, indeed, and at a high price in human lives lost, in cities destroyed, and in territory occupied.

Lets learn our lessons from this. Ukraine needs fighter planes. Ukraine needs more long-range missiles. Ukraine needs comprehensive military and financial support. And Ukraine needs to come up with equally decisive progress on domestic reforms including the fight against corruption.

After Vilnius is before Washington. It must be our goal that by the time that NATO gathers again for a summit in 2024 in the US capital, the situation on the ground in the war will be such, the situation of Ukrainian institutions will be such, and the disposition of Western partners will be such that NATO membership to Ukraine can be implemented. Hopefully, work on the EU accession perspective will proceed in lockstep with this.

Ukraine must not be seen as a burden, but as an asset. As a full member, Ukraine will make NATO, and the EU, stronger. Ukraine secure and whole acceding to the EU and NATO will mean: those who want to live in freedom and democracy and under the rule of law have a pole to count on in the multipolar world, a pole strong enough to bet ones life plans and the life plans for ones children on it.

Ukrainian soldiers are dying for this right now, because they understand what is at stake. NATO and EU partners must do their part. This is not just about the future of Ukraine - this is about all of us, about our future way of life, about a world governed not by dictators, but by the rule of law.

By YES board:

Aleksander Kwasniewski, President of Poland (19952005), Chairman of the Board of YES; Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia (2016-2021); Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden (2006-2014), Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994); Wolfgang Ischinger, Ambassador(ret), President, MSC Foundation Council Senior Fellow, Hertie School of Governance (Berlin); Victor Pinchuk, Founder and Member of the Board, YES and Founder of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and EastOne group and Stephane Fouks, Vice President of Havas Group, Executive Co-Chairman of Havas Worldwide.
Increase your sales volume: Kyiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry invites companies to register in the Exporters Catalog

Dear colleagues! You have a unique opportunity to showcase your products in international markets and expand your company's presence abroad. Kyiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry is opening registration for placement in the electronic catalog "EXPORTERS OF KYIV 2023.

The catalog will be distributed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad, and the Kyiv City State Administration specifically for presentations and promotion of Kyiv exporters in global markets. This is the first unique edition under the conditions of war.

Why should you register your company in the Exporters Catalog?

 Expand the boundaries of your business by accessing international markets.

 Opportunity to attract new clients and partners from different countries around the world.

 Free placement of information about your company.

To register your company, please fill out the form using the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JtQefgKa7nIRfY3NtPEfRs3OGXs-jFUlKtPNpHM1X5s/edit
Lucknow, July 17 : Two men working on a construction site here died and another was injured, after a lift in which they were carrying construction material suddenly broke and fell into a shaft, police said.

The incident took place on Sunday in Sector-6 of Vrindavan Yojna, under PGI police station limits, at the site of a hotel where construction work was going on.

The lift which fell was said to be an open elevator used for carrying construction materials.

Of the three people in it, two died while one was seriously injured.

Rana Rajesh Kumar Singh, SHO, PGI police station, said: "Two deceased have been identified as Bharat Lodhi, 42, a labourer and his foreman Yogesh Lodhi, 40, both residents of Nigoha. Another worker Pappu from Bihar was seriously injured."

"The three were taken to PGI's trauma centre where two were declared dead. The third person Pappu, also a labourer, is undergoing treatment. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination," added the SHO.
Agra, July 17 : The Yamuna waters have breached the low flood level (495 ft) mark in Agra, rising to 495.80 ft.

Drains falling in the flooded river had backflow and left the Yamuna Kinara Road leading towards the Taj Mahal water-logged.

Official sources said that the water level showed an increasing trend because of 1,24,302 cusec water released from Gokul Barrage in Mathura where all seven gates had been opened.

The trend of 1,06,473 cusec water being received from Okhla Barrage is also now getting constant.

Chambal, another river passing through the rural area of Agra district was at 113.90 metres at Pinahat town in Uttar Pradesh. The alert level for Chambal is at 127 metres while the high flood level is at 137.60 m and the danger level is at 130 metres.

Vehicles moving on Yamuna Kinara Road in Agra had to negotiate water-logged patches as drains had backflow.

The Tajganj crematorium, where most of the dead in the city are bought for cremation, was also water-logged.

District magistrate of Agra, Navneet Chahal said: "We are on the alert with water level crossing low flood level in Yamuna. Divers and boatmen have been placed on duty and accessories like life Jackets have been distributed in low-lying areas where public announcement is being made, asking residents to remain alert."

"The ghats on river Yamuna from Kailash Temple to Dusshera ghat near the Taj are barricaded to stop locals moving towards Yamuna because of curiosity about the flood," he said.
Prayagraj, July 17 : The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) also known as Uttar Pradesh Board, has ordered a crackdown on secondary schools running without 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.

Board secretary Divyakant Shukla has sent a letter to all district inspectors of schools (DIoSs) instructing them to initiate action as per law against all such institutions.

The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Act, 1921, provides that only after getting recognition from the Board, can the institutions take admission of students and that too, only in classes or streams for which they have the due recognition.

"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," Shukla said, 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."

Board officials pointed out that information about recognised schools running across the state is available on the official website of the UPMSP.

"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 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, the 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. It is expected that the first meeting of Azerbaijan-Qatar Business Council will be held in Baku by the end of this year, Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA), said, Trend reports.

He made the remark, while addressing the participants of the 35th Meeting of the Board of Directors of Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture held in Baku today.

"I am also proud to mention our increasing cooperation on bilateral level with ICCIA members from CIS, GCC countries and North Africa. With majority of Chambers we signed Memorandums of Understanding which shape our joint steps to support businesses for the next future. Moreover, our Agency is co-chairing a number of business councils. Thus, we have hold 2 meetings of Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Business Council, the last one in Shusha last month. On the way we are planning to hold the first meeting of Azerbaijan-Qatar Business Council in Baku by the end of this year," he said.

According to Mammadov, agencys delegations systematically attend various exhibitions and forums, organized in member countries, which allows to enhance networking of SMEs and explore new opportunities for cooperation.
Jammu, July 17, : An infiltration bid was foiled by the army and police in a joint operation at the Line of Control (LoC) on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pooch sector, officials said.

The operation was carried out based on intelligence inputs, according to sources.

"Early morning today, an infiltration bid was foiled at the Gen Area Poonch and the joint operation by Indian Army and J&K Police is in progress," the army said.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal additional searches in the area are also currently underway."Further details are awaited", the spokesman said.--IANSzi/sq/ksk
Lucknow, July 17 : A contractual technician employed at the Lucknow airport was found dead with his throat slit, in a mango orchard.

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Ankit Yadav was the only son of a retired sub-inspector.

On July 14, he returned from a tour of Kedarnath and had gone to lodge a theft report at Sarojini Nagar police station on Sunday.

Ankit, however, did not return home and his father Vijay Yadav went out to search for him.

The same evening, some villagers spotted the body and informed the police.

Police recovered a bloodstained knife, mobile phone, helmet, and a purse.

The identity of the victim was ascertained by his Aadhaar Card recovered from his pocket.

Police recovered Ankit's motorcycle from near the scene and later contacted his father.

Vijay told police that his son had gone to lodge a theft complaint for his mobile phone.

Police recovered his mobile phone from the spot.

SHO, Sarojini Nagar, Shailendra Giri, said: "We have sent the mobile phone to the forensic lab for examination and to retrieve data stored in it. We are probing in case there is a love angle, personal enmity or any other issue that led to the murder."

The body has been sent for post-mortem.
Moscow, July 17 : Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country has a "sufficient" stockpile of cluster munitions and will consider using them against Ukraine "if they are used against us".

"Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of cluster munitions," CNN quoted the President as saying during an interview with local Russian media.

"If they are used against us, we reserve the right to mirror actions."

Putin's remarks came just days after Ukraine received a delivery of American-made cluster munitions from the US.

The weapons are particularly dangerous to civilians and non-combattants when fired near populated areas because they scatter explosive material, so-called "bomblets," across large areas.

Those that fail to explode on impact can detonate years later, posing a long-term risk to anyone who encounters them, similar to landmines, CNN reported.

The danger posed by cluster weapons has prompted more than 100 countries -- including the UK, France and Germany -- to sign a treaty prohibiting their use.

In the interview, Putin said that the US administration had called the use of cluster munitions a war crime and that he agreed with that assessment.

But he did not say who in the administration had made the remarks, or when.

The President also claimed that Russia has not yet used cluster munitions, despite a UN report in March said thatit had compiled credible reports that Russian forces had used cluster munitions in populated areas at least 24 times.

Speaking to CNN earlier this month, US President Joe Biden had said that the decision whether to send cluster munitions to Ukraine was "very difficult".

But he opted to do so because Kiev needs more ammunition to continue its fight to push Russian troops out of Ukrainian territory.

A top official at the US Defense Department said Ukraine gave "assurances in writing" that it would not use the cluster munitions in urban areas.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Srinagar, July 17 : Over 20,800 pilgrims had 'darshan' inside the Amarnath holy cave as another batch of 6,216 Yatris left Jammu for the Valley, said officials on Monday.

Officials said that over 20,800 pilgrims had 'darshan' inside the holy cave on Sunday. Since this year's Amarnath Yatra started on July 1, over 2.29 lakh pilgrims have performed the Yatra till Sunday.

"Another batch of 6,216 Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in an escorted convey for the Valley this morning.

"Of these, 4204 are male, 1871 are female, 16 children, 78 Sadhus and 47 are Sadhvis," officials said.

Since July 1 when the Yatra started this year, 25 pilgrims have died of whom 24 died of natural causes while one woman pilgrim was killed by a shooting stone on Sunday.

Two local policemen, who were part of the mounatin rescue team, were also injured while trying to rescue the woman pilgrim.

Yatris approach the Himalayan cave shrine either from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route which involves an uphill trek of 43 Kms from Pahalgam base camp or from the north Kashmir Baltal base camp which involves 13 Kms uphill trek.

Those using the traditional Pahalgam route take 3-4 days to reach the cave shrine while those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having 'darshan' inside the cave shrine situated 3888 metres above the sea-level.

Helicopter services are also available for Yatris on both routes.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that devotees believe symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

This year's 62-day long Amarnath Yatra started on July 1 and will end on August 31 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

To protect the pilgrims from high altitude sickness, authorities have banned all junk food at the free community kitchens called the 'Langars' that have been set up along both the routes of the Yatra.

The banned items include all bottled drinks, halwai items, fried foods and tobacco based products.

- -IANS
Tehran, July 17 : Iranian state media has reported that the country's morality police resumed patrols to ensure women obey dress codes and cover their hair in public, some 10 months after nationwide protests erupted following the death of a young woman in custody.

Saeid Montazeralmahdi, spokesman for Faraja -- Iran's enforcement body -- said the morality police restarted their vehicle and foot patrols across the country from Sunday, CNN reported citing the state-run Fars news agency

Officers will first warn women who are not complying, while those who "insist on breaking the norms", may face legal action, the spokesman added.

In September 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died three days after being arrested by the morality police for wearing her hijab, or headscarf, incorrectly and taken to a "re-education" centre.

Although the patrols were paused following the massive national protests that erupted in response to here death, Islamic hardliners have been demanding the resumption, reports the BBC.

Under Iranian law, women must cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.

The morality police unit is tasked with ensuring those rules are respected, and detaining people who are perceived to be "improperly" dressed.

They run detention centres where women -- and sometimes men -- are taken into custody for failing to comply with the state's rules on modesty, CNN reported.

Inside the facilities, detainees are given classes about Islam and the importance of the hijab, and are forced to sign a pledge to abide by the state's clothing regulations before they are released.

In the months of violent anti-government protests Iran, nearly 600 protesters were killed, including several state executions.

Many women had stopped wearing hijabs altogether in what was the biggest outright challenge to the rule of the clerics in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

Iran executed at least 582 people last year, a 75 per cent increase on 2021, according to human rights groups.
Kiev, July 17 : A top official said on Monday that traffic on the Kerch bridge in Crimea was halted due to an unspecified emergency near its 145th support column.

Sergey Aksyonov, the Russia-appointed head of the occupied Crimea, made the statement on his Telegram channel, but did not reveal the cause of the incident, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Traffic was halted on the Crimean bridge: an emergency happened near the 145th support from the Krasnodar Territory. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working," Aksyonov said in the statement.

He added that they were taking measures to restore the situation.

Aksyonov also urged Crimean residents to stay calm.

In October last year, an attack on the Kerch bridge disrupted major transport links between mainland Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Not only did the blast on the brifge struck a blow against Russiaas military effort in Ukraine but also represented a psychological blow for Moscow and a major propaganda victory for Kiev.

Ukrainian officials celebrated the blast at the time but did not claim esponsibility.

It took place a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70.
New Delhi, July 17 : The water level in the Yamuna River increased slightly on Monday from 205.45 metres at around 5 a.m. to 205.50m at 8 a.m.

The water level was decreasing till Sunday night, but it suddenly increased to five centimeters this morning. On Saturday evening the level at around 8 p.m. was 206.87m.

The nearby areas of the Yamuna River, including Yamuna Bazar, Red Fort, Rajghat, ITO and ring road, continue to be submerged.

The four districts of the national capital, i.e., North, South East, North East, and Central have been badly affected as a lot of areas are still submerged in water. Traffic has also been badly affected due to this.

On Sunday evening there was again a downpour in the capital which created fresh troubles for Delhiites.

Delhi Minister Atishi said on Saturday evening that it would take time for the water to recede because the water level in drains and the river was still very high.The Kejriwal government stated that they had rescued a total of 26,401 persons by Sunday evening, out of which 21,504 were living in relief camps.

The Yamuna River broke a 45-year-old record and reached its highest level at 208.65 meters on Thursday (July 13). On Friday, it was flowing at 208.35 meters. As a result of the flood in Delhi, several low-lying areas have been submerged, and many roads are flooded.

--IANSatk/dpb
Guwahati, July 17 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that religious conversion through allurement should be prohibited and it was in contrary to the Constitution.

Addressing a function here on Sunday, Sarma said that the Constitution confers one with the right to freely practice, profess and propagate religion of choice, but it does not authorise religious conversion through inducement and allurement of any sort.

"The trend of religious conversion observed among many of the indigenous and tribal communities of the state have led to dilution of their traditional beliefs and practices. Religious conversions have led to near extinction of many indigenous faith across the world," the Chief Minister said, adding that he was, however, not opposed to persons converting to another religion on his or her own free will and informed choice.

"There is ample space in society for diverse faiths to grow and develop together."

Stating that it is religion that created culture and not the other way round, Sarma stressed upon the need for one to stay rooted to the beliefs and faiths of his or her ancestors for culture to thrive and propagate from one generation to another.

He went on to say that the indigenous and tribal faith and culture of Assam have been prevalent for thousands of years and that all should come together to ensure these heritages are preserved for eternity without any dilution.

"The fact that braving all adversities, the indigenous and tribal beliefs and culture have managed to survive for so long is a manifestation of the inherent powers of such beliefs and practices."

The Chief Minister further said that the current dispensation in Assam has been working relentlessly towards preservation and propagation of indigenous and tribal beliefs and culture.
Kolkata, July 17 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths probing the multi-crore school recruitment case in West Bengal will present its charge sheet naming one of the principal accused, Sujay Krishna Bhadra a.k.a. Kalighater Kaku (uncle of Kalighat) by July 29 at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) here.

Sources said that in the charge sheet, the central agency will give details of properties and assets registered in the name of Bhadra, his family members and close associates besides particularising how disproportionate these assets were to his income.

In the charge sheet, sources said, the ED will also provide details of the assets and property worth Rs 126.70 crore in relation to the school recovery scam, including the latest attachment of assets and property worth Rs 15 crore registered in the names of three accused in the case, namely Kuntal Ghosh, Santanu Bandopadhyay and Ayan Sil.

While Ghosh and Bandopadhyay are expelled youth Trinamool Congress leaders, Sil is a private rail estate promoter. All three of them are in judicial custody.

Besides the school recruitment case, the ED sleuths have also got solid evidence against Sil about his alleged involvement in the multi-crore municipalities recruitment case

To recall, Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court, in whose bench the school recruitment case is being heard, last week observed that unless the main brain behind the school recruitment case in West Bengal is identified, investigation to any extent will never be fruitful. "Nothing will be achieved unless the main brain is identified," she said.

The sleuths of ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had recently submitted their respective progress reports on investigation to Justice Sinha's bench. Giving her observation on the investigation reports, Justice Sinha said that the preliminary findings are quite serious in nature and there is a possibility of involvement of multiple brains behind the alleged scam. "But at the same time, the investigation process cannot continue for an indefinite period," she observed.

She had also asked the CBI and ED to submit their detailed investigation reports by the end of next month.
Bengaluru, July 17 : Karnataka Police on Monday said it has intensified the hunt for the accused persons in connection with the gang rape of a 20-year-old girl from Assam in Bengaluru.

The incident was reported in the limits of Parappana Agrahara police station in Bengaluru on July 13 and came to light only recently.

The police have arrested the victim's partner Shaheed Uddin, while the hunt is on for the four other accused persons.

The police have formed a special team to nab the accused who are said to be friends of Shaheed Uddin.

According to the police, the victim and Shaheed Uddin had been in a relationship for the past several years and he coerced her into coming to Bengaluru with the promise of marrying her.

After she arrived in Bengaluru one and a half year ago, they lived at his rented accomodation and he forced into a physical relationship.

The victim told the police that he even shot private pictures and videos of her on his mobile phone.

She accused Shaheed Uddin and the four other accused of raping her.

Preliminary investigation has suggested that Shaheed Uddin had trapped the victim in love and planned to push her into the prostitution.

The victim also told the police that Shaheed is married and has a family.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order to allocate $7,6 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Trend reports.

Under the Order, the Ministry of Energy is allocated $7,6 million for the acquisition and shipment of electrical equipment for the purpose of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Rajkot, July 16 : The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has taken the first step towards establishing a lion safari park near Randarda Lake on the eastern outskirts of the city.

The RMC standing committee, led by Pushkar Patel, approved a proposal to erect a 2,900-metre-long chain-link fence around the 29-hectare plot of land adjacent to the Randarda nursery of the Gujarat forest department.

This fenced area will serve as the initial component of the proposed safari park, marking the commencement of work on the ground for the project.

The purpose of erecting the chain-link fence, which will cost the RMC Rs 23.63 lakhs, is to facilitate tree plantation on the designated plot of land divided among revenue survey numbers 144, 145, 150, and 638.

The standing committee also approved the awarding of the project, valued at Rs 23.64 crore, to private firm PM Enterprise.

Out of the four firms that submitted bids, PM Enterprise offered the same amount as the RMC estimates for executing the work. The remaining two firms quoted bids higher than the estimated cost.

A section of approximately nine hectares in survey numbers 150 and 638 currently lacks trees.

Therefore, it is crucial to plant saplings during the upcoming rainy season and install the chain-link fence with barbed wires as per the layout to protect the newly planted trees from cattle and other animals, as stated in the proposal.

With the Central Zoo Authority's clearance expected soon, the project is steadily progressing towards its completion.
Moscow, July 17 : Russia has banned Apple iPhones from use by government officials over surveillance claims by the US, the media reported on Monday.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSS) has told thousands of officials to stop using iPhones and other Apple products like iPads, reports the Financial Times.

Beginning July 17, employees at Russia's trade ministry will no longer be allowed to use iPhones at the workplace, the report added.

"Security officials in ministries -- these are FSB employees who hold civilian positions such as deputy ministers -- announced that iPhones were no longer considered safe and that alternates should be sought," the report said, quoting sources.

The FSB and officials "truly believe that Americans can use their equipment for wiretapping".

They added while the FSB has "long been concerned about the use of iPhones for professional contacts", there may be some resistance to the change.

In March, the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products, citing fears these devices were vulnerable to US hacking.

Last month, the Russian government accused Apple of working with US intelligence agencies -- a claim the tech giant has vehemently denied.

Apple said the company has "never worked with any government to insert a backdoor into any Apple product".

The ban on Apple products at leading ministries and institutions "reflects growing concern in the Kremlin and the Federal Security Service spy agency over a surge in espionage activity by US intelligence agencies against Russian state institutions", the report claimed.

A Rostec representative told the Financial Times that the restrictions apply to all Apple devices.

But their use for personal purposes is still allowed.

--IANS

na/ksk
New Delhi, July 17 : Upset over repeated rape by her relative, a 20-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh along with her associate allegedly killed a man in Delhi's Shastri Park area, a police official said on Monday.

Police said that they have arrested the woman, a resident of Badaun (Uttar Pradesh) and Irfan (36), a resident of DDA Flats in Shastri Park.

The official said that the woman's husband had died due to illness in January 2023.

Her husband and the deceased, identified as Abujar (20), a resident of Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh), were relatives.

The woman claimed that Abujar had raped her multiple times, and the incident had escalated after her husband's death. "She wanted revenge and freedom from Abujar. She is a close friend of Irfan's wife. Irfan agreed to help her," said the official.

The incident came to light after Abujar's body was found dumped in Bela Farm, an area under Shastri Park police station, on Sunday morning.

"A shirtless male body with sharp weapon injury marks on the neck and abdomen was discovered at the scene. After reviewing approximately 20 CCTV cameras, two suspects were identified, who were later confirmed as the offenders," said a senior police official.

"A case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and the two accused were apprehended," said the official.

During the interrogation, it was revealed that on the fateful day, the woman took Abujar to the spot near Beta Farm to view the overflowing Yamuna river.

"There, she and Irfan overpowered and stabbed him to death. They threw the dead body behind the wall in Bela Farm. The knife used in the crime has been recovered near the scene," the official added.
July 17 : Three students have been arrested for allegedly raping a minor in front of her boyfriend inside a university campus in Jodhpur.

According to police, the girl had eloped with her boyfriend from Beowar on Saturday and reached Jodhpur bus stop late at night.

The two then went to a guest house in search of a room where an employee misbehaved with the girl. He has also been arrested.

Soon, they left the place and were searching for a room when the three students approached them.

On the pretext of helping them, they took the couple to the old campus of Jai Narayan Vyas University in the vicinity and took turns to rape her.

As morning walkers started reaching there, they ran away.

However, the boy sought the passersby help, who informed police.

The accused were identified as Samandar Singh from Barmer, a first year student of Jai Narayan Vyas University, Bhattam Singh, pursuing BEd from Ajmer and Dharm Pal Singh a PG student at JNVU.

All the three sustained injuries while attempting to escape from police. However, all of them were arrested.

Sources said that these students were accommodated by associates of Lokendra Singh, a student union leader who was expecting a ticket from ABVP.

Meanwhile, the ABVP has distanced itself from the accused.

In its statement, it said, "ABVP strongly demands swift action in the deeply tragic incident of gang-rape of minor in Jodhpur. The Congress-led Rajasthan government has completely neglected the security of citizens, especially women. It is essential to clarify that the accused in the mentioned incident have no association with ABVP."
Mumbai, July 17 : Veteran actor Mohan Agashe, who is known for playing the Defence Minister in 'Rang De Basanti', is set to be seen in the upcoming streaming series 'Do Gubbare'. The actor shared that the series celebrates connections that happen unexpectedly.

The series marks the Hindi debut of director Varun Narvekar, who is known for the Marathi film 'Muramba', and follows the story of Rohit, a young man who relocates from Indore to Pune and becomes a paying guest at Ajoba's (Mohan Agashe) house. Ajoba, a grandfatherly figure who has traversed a similar path, offers guidance and support to Rohit, making his transition into adulthood a smoother journey.

Ajoba, who grapples with loneliness after his wife's demise, finds solace and companionship in Rohit's presence. As they navigate their new lives together, they fill the voids in each other's lives and also bring humour to their everyday encounters until a secret from Ajoba's past directly connects to Rohit's present, forever altering their lives in the most profound and positive way.

Talking about the series, Mohan Agashe said: It has been a delight being a part of 'Do Gubbare', a heartwarming story filled with love, laughter, and life lessons. Varun is a fine storyteller and his Hindi debut with this show is a testament to the power of storytelling that transcends language barriers. 'Do Gubbare' celebrates that sometimes, the greatest connections come from the most unexpected places."

The series has an exceptional cast, featuring the talented Mohan Agashe, Siddharth Shaw, Malhaar Rathod, Manasi Parekh, and Hemangi Kavi.

Siddharth Shaw, who portrays the character of Rohit, expressed his excitement for the upcoming release, as he said: "Being a part of 'Do Gubbare' has been an incredible professional and personal journey for me. The series beautifully captures the essence of family, friendship, and finding one's place in the world."

"It's a joy to work alongside such a talented cast who have become like a second family to me. Together, we have poured our hearts into creating a show that will make you laugh, touch your heart, and remind you of the importance of embracing relationships that come our way. I am thrilled that 'Do Gubbare' will be exclusively available on JioCinema, providing a wider audience the opportunity to experience this heartwarming series. I can't wait for everyone to watch the show and witness the magic we've created," he added.

The series, written by Kalyani Pandit, is presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande.

The series will drop on July 20 on JioCinema.
London, July 17 : An Indian-origin man in central England has been sentenced to eight-week prison and ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work for starving and chaining his dog to the fridge after it gave birth to seven puppies.

Gurminder Singh, 41, was sentenced recently after he pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act, and banned from keeping dogs for two years, the Coventry Telegraph reported.

The Magistrates' Court in Coventry heard that an inspector from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), an animal welfare charity in the UK, visited Singhas property on October 12, 2022.

He found Sasha, a Presa Canario dog, tethered to a freezer by a metal chain, appearing extremely underweight with her spine, ribs and pelvic bones visible.

Her seven young puppies, around three weeks old, were kept close to her in a rusty metal box, the newspaper reported.

The RSPCA inspector took Sasha and her puppies to the charityas Birmingham Animal Hospital where she was found grossly underweight and was admitted for treatment.

The vet who examined Sasha found her to weigh 25.7 kg, nearly half the 40 kg healthy average for the breed.

"Due to the extent of her poor body condition and the lack of other pre-existing conditions detected on blood work, which may have exacerbated this lack of body condition -- it can be confirmed that this dog had been suffering through a process of a lack of appropriate nutrition. The duration of this is approximately three weeks, though likely longer," the vet said in a statement to the court.

The court heard that within a month of being in the RSPCAas care, Sasha gained 6 kg in weight.

In mitigation, Singh told the court he was not a bad dog owner and that he had 222 pounds worth of dog food in his fridge which he had been feeding Sasha.

"You are not accepting responsibility, you are not showing any remorse here. I have got to punish you based on what is before me. Whenever the court sentences anyone we have to look at guidelines -- putting it simply, this crosses the custody threshold. I am not sending you to prison today though," the magistrates said in their sentence.

The court imposed an eight-week prison sentence now suspended for 12 months and also asked him to pay 400 pounds costs and a 128 pounds victim surcharge.

The seven puppies have all since been rehomed by the RSPCA.

Sasha has now been renamed Flora and is up for adoption at the charityas Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre in Colwyn Bay, Wales.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 : Even as JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Kerala unit of the party has refused to be a part of the move.

State Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty on Monday asserted that under no circumstances will they be part of the decision and that they will be rooted to the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

"We are totally against the policies and ideology of the BJP and hence we in Kerala will never ever join the BJP-led alliance. We will go forward with the like-minded Left," said Krishnankutty.

Currently, the Kerala unit of the JD(S) has two legislators, including Krishnankutty.

The party is a full fledged ally of the LDF and if Gowda attends the meeting called by Modi, the Kerala unit, in all likelihood, will sever ties with their national unit.
New Delhi, July 17 : Issues related to food, health and energy security are some of the common concerns which were discussed on Monday during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Bangkok.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who participated in the meeting, said that the "focus was on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities to enter new areas of cooperation".

In a series of tweets after the meeting, Jaishankar said: "Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward looking discussion among colleagues."

He informed that food, health and energy security are common concerns. Technology solutions can be subject for both collaboration and exchange of best practices.

"Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Agreed to meet more frequently to take these ideas further," Jaishankar added.

BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation.

The member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The retreat was held to discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation.

--IANS

ans/ksk
New Delhi, July 17 : Issues related to food, health and energy security are some of the common concerns discussed during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Bangkok on Monday.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who participated in the meeting, said that the "focus was on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities to enter new areas of cooperation".

In a series of tweets after the meeting, Jaishankar said, "Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward looking discussion among colleagues."

He informed that food, health and energy security are common concerns.

Technology solutions can be subject for both collaboration and exchange of best practices. "Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Agreed to meet more frequently to take these ideas further," Jaishankar informed.

BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat was held to discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation.
Chennai, July 17 : Two men, who were travelling on a footboard of an unreserved compartment of a train in Tamil Nadu, fell and died.

The victims, according to fellow passengers, had a fight with each other for a seat on the footboard.

During the fight, the two men lost control and fell on the track.

While one died on the spot , the other was declared brought dead at a hospital.

The deceased were identified as Mariyappan (48) and Muthukumar (33).

The incident occurred in the Nagercoil-Coimbatore Express during on Sunday.

Muthukumar was travelling from Marumuthar in Tenkasi district to Erode an, Mariappan was heading to Coimbatore from Kovilpatti.

The incident occurred between Sattur and Thulakapatti railway stations in Virudhunagar-Kovilpatti sections.

After the victims fell off the train, the passengers pulled the emergency chain and got down and searched for them.

The passengers found Muthukumar battling for life while Mariappan was found dead on the track.

Muthukumar was rushed to a local hospital but doctors declared him brought dead.

--IANS

aal/ksk
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement in connection with the Brussels meeting of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with President of the Council of the EU Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports.

According to the statement, the issue of the safe and dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homes was discussed at the trilateral meeting held in Brussels on July 15, 2023.

"The inclusion of the issue of Western Azerbaijanis return to their homes on the agenda of negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a historic step towards a peaceful resolution of this issue in accordance with international law. This inspires the Western Azerbaijan Community and every Azerbaijani forcibly expelled from Armenia to act to realize the right to return, the community said.

The Western Azerbaijan Community once again declares that the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to their homes is not only the triumph of human rights and justice, but also a necessary condition for the establishment of lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In this regard, we sincerely welcome the inclusion of the issue of the right and security of the return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia within the framework of the Brussels peace process, the community added.

The Western Azerbaijan Community, in parallel with considering the issue of returning to the Brussels peace process, which helps to normalize interstate relations, declares its readiness for direct negotiations and renews its call for dialogue with the Government of Armenia," the community said.
New Delhi, July 17 : Proximus Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Route Mobile, a strategic move towards becoming one of the worldwide leaders in digital communications and digital identity.

Proximus Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire through Proximus Opal, a 58 per cent interest in Route Mobile, a global company specialized in CPaaS services, listed on NSE and BSE in India with a market capitalization of EUR 1.1 billion.

As a part of the agreement, some of the founding shareholders of Route Mobile will reinvest in a minority stake in Proximus Opal, a subsidiary of the Proximus Group and the holding company of Telesign, Proximus' US-based affiliate.

Building on the combined strengths of Route Mobile and Telesign, the Group is paving the way to become one of the worldwide leaders in the fields of digital communications (CPaaS) and digital identity (DI).

The strategic acquisition of Route Mobile generates substantial scale, with an annual revenue around EUR 900 million for Route Mobile and Telesign combined.

After closing of the transaction, the CPaaS activities of the Group will be led by Rajdip Gupta, the CEO of Route Mobile who will continue to execute his current role.

Proximus Group will acquire 57.56 per cent of the shares3 in Route Mobile through Proximus Opal, for an initial Rs 59,224 million (EUR 643,0 million) for cash consideration for a price per share of Rs 1,626.40.

The acquisition of the majority stake in Route Mobile will, in accordance with Indian regulations, trigger a mandatory takeover offer ('MTO') for up to 26 per cent of the total shares outstanding6 of Route Mobile at the same price per share. Depending on the outcome of the MTO, the stake held by Proximus Opal could further increase to around 75 per cent7 of Route Mobile's shares. Total cash consideration for this part of the operation, will be determined by the effective MTO take-up.
Bengaluru, July 17 : In a major development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday held an important meeting with the CEO of a subsidiary entity of the Taiwanese chip making giant Foxconn in Bengaluru.

The delegation headed by the Foxconn Industrial Internet CEO Brand Cheng met Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha and discussed establishing a manufacturing unit near Tumakuru.

The meeting was attended by the Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil, RDPR, IT and BT minister Priyank Kharge and other senior bureaucrats.

The Foxconn Industrial Internet company is a subsidiary of Foxconn which will manufacture the outer layer of the Apple phones.

They have evinced interest to invest Rs 8,800 crore of investment.

Siddaramaiah assured the delegation that there is 100 acres of land available in the Japanese Industrial Area near Tumakuru.

"Our state government would extend complete cooperation," he said.

The Karnataka government had recently announced that the legal hurdles to hand over 300 acres of land to the Taiwanese chip making giant was cleared and very soon the land would be handed over to the company.

Minister Patil also had announced that the company would start production by next April.

"A total of 300 acres will be given to the company in the ITIR (IT Investment Region) spread over Devanahalli and Doddaballapur taluks. The company would invest around Rs. 8,500 Crore to set up a manufacturing plant. The company can commence construction work immediately after the handing over of the land," he had said.

The government is facilitating the commissioning of the project which would provide 50,000 jobs, he added.
Guwahati, July 17 : Assam Police have foiled two attempts at cow smuggling in Guwahati and saved as many as 112 cattle heads, continuing their campaign against livestock smuggling in the state, officials said on Monday.

Police have also apprehended four persons on the charges of cattle smuggling.

In the first incident, two vehicles transporting 62 cattle heads were stopped by the city police in Khetri during an operation.

A senior police officer said that the vehicles were travelling from Silapathar to Meghalaya.

In connection with the incident, the police detained two suspects, Abdul Kalam and Meredul Islam, while two others managed to escape.

In the second incident, the city police in Jorabat stopped a truck that was transporting at least 48 cows.

According to police, the vehicle was on its way from Lakhimpur to Byrnihat.

Two persons who originally belong to South India were arrested on the charges of cattle smuggling.

They have been identified as Ramesh and Mani.

Taking to Twitter, the Guwahati city police wrote: "City Police thwarted 2 attempts of cattle smuggling after 3 trucks were intercepted by Khetri PS and Jorabat OP respectively. A total of 112 cattle were recovered and 3 thugs arrested. Legal action initiated."
Chennai, July 17 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday said the ED raids being conducted at premises linked to the state's Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi, was a move to divert attention from the two-day opposition meeting being held in Bengaluru.

He also claimed that the raids were a result of the Centre's "annoyance" at the two-day meeting of 24 like-minded opposition parties, as well as the first meeting which was held in Patna in June.

The Chief Minister, in a press briefing before leaving for Bengaluru, also charged that state Governor R.N. Ravi has already started his "election campaign".

He claimed the ED of joining Ravi's campaign, adding that this has made things easier for the DMK in electoral politics.

Stalin said the ruling DMK is not worried over the ED raids, adding that a false case was imposed by the previous AIADMK government against Ponmudi.

The Chief Minister also said that Ponmudi was acquitted recently by a local court in two other cases.

--IANS

aal/ksk
Bengaluru, July 17 : BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for issuing controversial statements, said on Monday that 'robbers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari' were coming together and holding an event in Bengaluru.

Speaking to reporters here, Yatnal said the opposition parties have joined together against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The robbers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are coming together. They are uniting to defeat PM Modi in the Lok Sabha elections. The families which are out on bail are also coming together in the state.

"They know very well that if PM Modi comes to power again, they will surely land up in jail. That is why all robbers are coming together," he said.

"It is two months since the Congress has come to power in Karnataka. After Congress took over the power, drought has come. Farmer's suicides are increasing, there is shadow of anxiety and Hindu activists are getting killed," the MLA stated.

Commenting on the opposition meeting, former CM Basavaraj Bommai said, "They (opposition parties) are calling it a 'Mahagathbandhan' but actually there is no 'bandhan' in this...their sole aim is to bring down PM Modi, which is impossible...when zero is added to zero, it is nothing."
New Delhi, July 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday allowed former president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and prime accused in the 2008 Bengaluru serial bomb blast case, Abdul Nassir Madani, to move and reside in his hometown in Kerala.

A bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and M.M. Sundresh allowed the PDP leaderas application on the condition that he will appear at a designated police station in Kollam in Kerala every two weeks.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Madani, apprised the apex court that his client is suffering from various ailments and trial against him in Bengaluru is almost over. Based on it, the court observed that Madanias presence in Bengaluru is unnecessary and allowed him to move and stay in Kollam. It also permitted Madani to leave the Kollam district for medical treatment after informing the local police.

Earlier relaxing his bail condition, the top court had allowed Madani to stay in Kerala for three months till July 8 for visiting his ailing father and getting Ayurveda treatment.

On 26 June, he was taken to Kerala from Bengaluru with tight police security arrangements after the Supreme Court had rejected his plea objecting to the cost of security arrangements.

Later, he deposited Rs 6,74,101 to the Karnataka Government in advance for security arrangements.

Madani, an accused in Bengaluru serial bomb blast case, is out on bail. However, the court had given a conditional bail restricting his movements outside Bengaluru until the case is disposed of.

One person was killed and 20 were injured in the Bengaluru serial blasts. Madani was named as one of the accused. The police have named 31 others as accused in connection with the case.
Islamabad, July 17 : The Hindu community in Pakistan has been under pressure for decades as miscreants have targeted temples and forced abductions and marriages of young Hindu girls. While the Pakistan government claims to be an Ambassador towards rights and freedom of religious minorities, reality on ground shows otherwise.

In the latest incident, a gang of alleged robbers fired mortar shells at the Gulshan Dera Baba Sanwal Shah in Sindh province's Kashmore district, damaging a portion of the compound.

Locals told IANS that the miscreats had also fired at residences of Ramdas Baghwano Das, Rehari Kumari and others.

Meanwhile in Karachi's Soldier Bazar area, authorities have allegedly demolished an over 150-year-old Hindu temple.

Locals of the area claimed the demolition was being done with the presence of the polce to provide protection and cover

As per reports, the Mari Mata Temple was demolished in a covert overnight operation on the night of July 14.

"The operation took place while the area was without electricity. That's when diggers and a bulldozer arrived to carry out the demolition work. While leaving out the walls and the temple's main gate intact, they demolished the entire structure inside," said a local resident.

"It is a very old temple, said to have been built over 150 years ago. We have also heard of stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard," said Shri Ram Nath Mishra Mahraj of a nearby Shri Punch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir.

Rumours in the area seemed to suggest that the temple was being sold off for an amount of at least 70 million PKR as buyers were looking to construct a commercial building in the premises.

However, the claim was rejected and denied by the Mayor of Karachi Murtaza Wahab, who confirmed that the temple was intact.

"Have checked. No such demolition of the Mandir has taken place and Mandir is still intact. Administration has intervened and Hindu Panchayat has been asked to assist police in ascertaining the true facts," he said.

But the grim reality remains that the Hindu community in Pakistan continues to suffer attacks on their temples while their families have had to go through the trauma of having their young girls abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and then being married off to Muslim men.

The incident in Kashmore where mortar shells were fired at the Hindu temple and residences of the community is just another addition to the ongoing open and blatant discrimination by extremist elements against the Hindu community.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has taken serious notice of the Kashmore attack and has condemned it.

"HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, were some 30 members of the Hindu community -- including women and children -- have allegedly been held hostage by organized 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," it added.
Moscow, July 17 : Russian authorities on Monday confirmed that an emergency incident on the Kerch bridge that links the country to the occupied Crimean Peninsula left at least two people dead and another person injured.

The governor of Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratyev, said that an operational headquarter was set up in the Temryuk district of the Krasnodar Territory to coordinate the actions of all services and to assist the people who were stuck in traffic jams near the bridge, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier in the day, Sergey Aksyonov, the Russia-appointed head of the occupied Crimea, had announced that traffic on the bridge was halted due to an unspecified emergency near its 145th support column, but did not reveal the cause of the incident.

"Traffic was halted on the Crimean bridge: an emergency happened near the 145th support from the Krasnodar Territory. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working," Aksyonov said in the statement.

Later, the Russian Ministry of Transport confirmed that the road surface on the Crimean bridge was damaged on the Crimea side, but refuted media reports that claimed supports were also affected.

According to the state-run TASS news agency, the Ministry said the bridge condition was being inspected continuously.

A special group of investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee has arrived at the scene to conduct a probe into the emergency.

In October last year, an attack on the Kerch bridge disrupted major transport links between mainland Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Not only did the blast on the brifge struck a blow against Russiaas military effort in Ukraine but also represented a psychological blow for Moscow and a major propaganda victory for Kiev.

Ukrainian officials celebrated the blast at the time but did not claim esponsibility.

It took place a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 70.
New Delhi, July 17 : TV actress Sneha Wagh, who is seen essaying the role of Protima in family drama 'Neerja', said the show marked a turning point in her career, and it was an opportunity to test her mettle in a fresh role.

'Neerja... Ek Nayi Pehchaan' shows the lengths Protima, a mother and sex worker, will go to secure her daughter, Neerjaas future, while residing in Kolkata's infamous red-light district, Sonagachi.

Talking about the character, Sneha said, "This show marks a turning point in my career. I decided to take on this role because it was an opportunity to test my mettle in a fresh role. Moreover, the storyline of a mother and daughter fighting against all odds struck a chord with me."

"This show brought a chance to draw inspiration from my mother, who will move heaven and earth to give me the best of everything. This is why the role of Protima feels personal and precious to me," she said.

She further calls her character Protima a 'resolute and optimistic' woman who has experienced hardships that arise from living in Sonagachi, an ill-famed place.

The actress said that she had immersed herself in the extensive research to get into the character and observed the experiences of real-life mothers to authentically portray the joys, challenges, and sacrifices of motherhood

"Preparing for the role of a mother required me to dive deep into the character's emotional landscape. Collaborating closely with the director, writers, and fellow cast members, I aimed to bring a genuine portrayal of Protima's love, strength, and determination as she navigates the complexities of Sonagachi," she said.

On the show's important message, Sneha said it seeks to highlight the often-overlooked strength and sacrifices of these mothers, emphasizing the depth of their love and the lengths they are willing to go to for the well-being and future of their children.

"Ultimately, the specific message I want to convey is that a mother's love knows no bounds and it would mean a lot to me if this show gives viewers something to think about," she added.

Produced by Sudhir Sharmaas Sunshine Productions, aNeerja' airs on Colors.
Lucknow, July 17 : The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement the 100 per cent attendance rule for both teachers and students at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) schools.

Vijay Kiran Anand, the director general of the basic education department, said, "100 per cent attendance of girls should be ensured through Aadhaar verification by enrolling up to the prescribed limit based on the list of 'never enrolled' and 'out of school' girls identified in the household surveys provided by the block education officers at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya."

However, Kiran pointed out that teachers, both part-time and full-time, will be included in this rule for attendance requirements as well.

"Part-time teachers often take the liberty of not coming in regularly while full-time teachers decide amongst themselves and take holidays on a rotation. We have been enforcing this 100 per cent attendance rule for two years now," said Kiran.

He further said, "The attendance usually dips around holidays. Guardians make plans during school holidays, and then either take the child out of school before the holidays begin or stay away for longer than the holidays last." He added, "This impacts the study patterns and education of girls."

The official added, "We can only take steps to try and ensure that the rules are being followed. We cannot force children or their parents to comply... Threatening to suspend these students or take action against them will only be counterproductive to their education. Therefore, we issue directives to follow the 100 per cent attendance rule every year, and then monitor the outcome throughout the year."

So far, to improve student attendance, the parents and children have been counselled by the teaching staff at KGBV residential schools at the parent-teacher meetings, but no penal action is taken against the students in that regard.

Basic education department officer for Lucknow, Vishwajeet Pandey, said that the schools where the wardens are vigilant and maintain good discipline have much better attendance rates and students tend not to play truant as much.

The school wardens are held responsible for student attendance. Should a child who is present on the premises and registered on the Prerna portal (an online registry of children in government schools) not be present in class, strict action will be taken against the warden, said the official.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. Amendments to the "Preferential Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye" have been approved, Trend reports.

The relevant order was signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The Protocol on amendments to the "Preferential Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye", which was signed on April 29, 2023, in the city of Samsun (Turkiye), has been approved.

Meanwhile, according to the State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkiye from January through June 2023 amounted to $3.916 billion, which is an increase of 34.8 percent year-on-year.
Dhaka, July 17 : At least three bodies were recovered after a boat capsized in the Buriganga river in Dhaka night, a Bangladeshi police official said on Monday.

Shahinur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dhaka's Kotwali police station, told Xinhua news agency that "the bodies of two men and a boy have so far been retrieved", reports Xinhua news agency

According to the official, the boat carrying about 60 people capsized following a collision with a sand-laden vessel in the river at around 8.15 p.m. on Sunday night.

He said a search operation was still underway for the unknown number of people still missing.

According to the official, most of the passengers were able to swim ashore after the accident as the boat capsized close to the river bank.

Rafi Al Faruk, a duty officer of the fire service and civil defence headquarters, told Xinhua that eight people have been rescued.
Lucknow, July 17 : The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government is preparing for a cabinet expansion to accommodate new entrants into the alliance and party.

The date will be finalised after Tuesday's meeting of the NDA.

Dara Singh Chauhan, who recently resigned from the Ghosi Assembly seat and the Samajwadi Party (SP), joined the BJP on Monday.

Chauhan was cabinet minister in Yogi government's first term and quit the BJP, a few days before the Assembly polls 2022 to join the SP.

He is a likely entrant into the council of ministers.

Meanwhile, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party's (SBSP) Om Prakash Rajbhar could also be back in the Yogi government as minister.

Rajbhar, too, had joined hands with SP to contest the 2022 Assembly polls.

The SBSP won six seats, which also included Mau, won by mafia don Mukhtar Ansari's son Abbas Ansari.

Rajbhar, however was not comfortable with "Akhilesh style of politics" and began attacking the SP chief.

This made one thing clear that Rajbhar was no longer comfortable with the SP and was keen to return to NDA.

The BJP, on the other hand, though won the second term in succession with a comfortable majority, what made the party managers uncomfortable was fact that despite winning 255 seats, it failed to perform well in districts like Mau, Ghazipur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, and parts of Ballia.

An analysis of the results revealed that Rajbhar's shift in allegiance to the SP brought huge loss to the party in four to five eastern districts.

The SBSP chief also had an inkling that going into Lok Sabha polls without a suitable alliance was no alternative hence even he was eager to return to the NDA.

Party sources said that deliberations were already underway to shift some ministers to the organisation and bring in new members to strike a balance in regional and caste representation.

There are 52 ministers in Uttar Pradesh, including the Chief Minister, while there is room for eight more ministers.
Bengaluru, July 17 : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with the Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii) a subsidiary of i-phone maker Foxconn CEO Brand Cheng led delegation, regarding the proposal to set up another supplementary plant to that of the unit at Devanahalli ITIR region.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the State owns an ecosystem to enable the growth of industries and there exists coordination between academia and Industries.

Assuring, that the government would take the initiative to make available human resources with the required skill sets, he offered the leadership team of the company led by its CEO Brand Cheng to set up the unit in the state.

Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil said that the government would extend all cooperation for the proposed projects. He said that the government was ready to consider other proposals of the company such as setting up a semiconductor manufacturing unit if it comes forward.

As per the proposal, Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii), a subsidiary of Foxconn, has a plan to invest Rs. 8,800 Crore. This would create 14,000 jobs and the land required for the project is about 100 acres. The delegates of the company will be taken to Tumakuru to examine the available land at Japan Industrial Township in Tumakuru today (Monday) itself.

Fii will engage in manufacturing screens, and outer coverings apart from making mechanical components needed for phones. This would operate as a supplementary plant to the end assembly unit at Devanahalli.

Michel Ling, Jason Lau, Angie Lein, Bharath Dandi from Fii, ACS to Chief Minister Rajaneesh Goel, Industries Department Principal Secretary Selva Kumar, and Commissioner Gunjan Krishna were present. IT/BT Minister Priyankal Kharge and Chief Secretary to the Government Vandita Sharma were present in the meeting convened at Vidhana Soudha.

The Karnataka government had recently announced that the legal hurdles to hand over 300 acres of land to the Taiwanese chip making giant was cleared and very soon the land would be handed over to the company.

Minister Patil also had announced that the company would start production by next April.

"A total of 300 acres will be given to the company in the ITIR (IT Investment Region) spread over Devanahalli and Doddaballapur taluks. The company would invest around Rs. 8,500 Crore to set up a manufacturing plant. The company can commence construction work immediately after the handing over of the land," he had said. The government is facilitating the commissioning of the project which would provide 50,000 jobs, he added.
Macao/Hong Kong, July 17 : Authorities in Macao and Hong Kong on Monday issued the third-highest alerts as typhoon Talim was fast approaching.

In Macao, the authorities declared a "state of immediate prevention" due to the approaching typhoon, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau hoisted Signal No. 8, the third-highest level, at 5.30 a.m. on Monday morning and issued a blue storm surge warning.

It said that typhoon Talim was located about 220 km southwest of Macao on Monday morning, generally approaching the west coast of China's Guangdong province.

Several government departments and all bank branches suspended services. Educational activities were called off.

Three cross-sea bridges were closed and a total of 82 flights had been canceled.

Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of Macao, urged full efforts to prevent waterlogging and protect residents' physical and property safety.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signa, which will remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Monday.

The No.8 signal is the third-highest warning under Hong Kong's weather system.

Winds with mean speeds of 63 km per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has suspended trading, multiple flights have been canceled at Hong Kong International Airport, several piers have been suspended, and attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland have been temporarily closed.

At 1 p.m. on Monday, typhoon Talim was centered about 270 km southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west-northwest at about 18 km per hour in the general direction of Leizhou Peninsula, Guangdong province.
Mumbai, July 17 : The leader of breakaway group and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar sprang a third surprise in four days on Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar -- making an unscheduled call on the latter, here on Monday afternoon.

Ajit Pawar, accompanied by over two dozen MLAs, his faction's Working President Praful Patel and others suddenly trooped down to the Y. B. Chavan Centre at Nariman Point to meet Pawar Sr.

The exact reason for the third meeting is not clear, though speculation is rife that it is concerned with the notices of disqualification served by the NCP on Ajit Pawar and his team of ministers.

From Sharad Pawar side, present were state NCP President Jayant Patil, National General Secretary Dr. Jitendra Awhad and other senior leaders.

Today's meeting came a day after Ajit Pawar, along with his ministerial team and other leaders made a call on Sharad Pawar on Sunday afternoon, sending political circles into a tizzy.

After the Sunday meeting, Patel told mediapersons that they had gone to seek Sharad Pawar's blessings and also make unity efforts for the splintered NCP.

He also admitted that though Pawar Sr. gave them a patient hearing but remained non-committal on their request.

About Monday's (July 17) meeting, Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said that the party MLAs were keen to meet and seek the blessings of Sharad Pawar.

"After all, we are still in the same party," Walse-Patil said with a smile at the two meetings in two days, while his colleague Minister Dhananjay Munde said Patel and Ajit Pawar would clarify all doubts later in the day.

Earlier, last Friday, Ajit Pawar had gone to meet his ailing aunt, Pratibha Pawar where he also met Sharad Pawar and NCP Working President Supriya Sule, MP, at the latter's home.

That was his first meeting after he and his supporters left the NCP on July 1 and were sworn-in as Deputy CM and ministers on July 2, creating an earthquake in state politics.
Colombo, July 17 : Sri Lankan Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Monday said he has appointed a five-member committee to conduct a full investigation into deaths that have occurred in government hospitals recently.

The deaths were alleged to have been caused by substandard medicine, reports Xinhua news agency.

Rambukwella told journalists here that the committee, headed by Chandima Jeewandara of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, comprised experts who have extensive knowledge and understanding of both medicine and nursing, as well as allergies.

The Minister added that the report given by this committee would be helpful in providing better health services to the people in the hospital system in the country.
Bhubaneswar, July 17 : The Odisha police on Monday arrested a man in Dengausta of Odisha's Ganjam district for practising allopathic medicines without any medical qualifications and registration, police said.

The accused has been identified as Subhrajit Panda. He was running clinics named as Best Poly Clinic at Dengausta of Ganjam district and Ranihat area of Cuttack city for the last one year. He used to take the help of the medicine representative to treat the patients and prescribe medicines, the police said.

A woman suffered kidney ailments and had to undergo dialysis in Bhubaneswar after consuming the medicines prescribed by the fake doctor. Following this incident, the family member of the patient lodged a complaint before the police.

When the police conducted an investigation in Panda' clinic at Dengausta, it was found that all his medical certificates and other documents were fake.

"We found that his MBBS certificate, specialisation from Germany, orthopaedic certificate and some fellowship documents are fake. We caught him red handed in his clinic," said Berhampur SP, Saravana Vivek M.

He was earlier arrested by Telangana police in Hyderabad in 2020 for impersonating himself as a doctor. He was in jail for 15 days and now on bail. The trial of the case is still going on, he said.

The SP appealed to people to inform the police whenever they come across any such fake doctors.
Moscow, July 17 : Russia has terminated its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal as part of the agreement concerning Moscow has not been fulfilled, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday.

"The Black Sea agreements are no longer in effect. The deadline, as the Russian President said earlier, is July 17. Unfortunately, the part of the Black Sea agreement that concerns Russia has not yet been fulfilled. As a result, it has been terminated," the state-run TASS News Agency quoted Peskov as saying.

The spokesman also clarified that termination of the deal was not connected to the unspecified emergency incident at the Kerch bridge that connected mainland Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula earlier on Monday, that led to the deaths of two people, while one other person was injured.

"The position of Russia on the suspension of participation in the grain deal was announced before the terrorist act on the Crimean bridge today and this attack does not influence Moscowas decision at all.

"These events are absolutely unrelated to each other. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the position (of Moscow on the grain deal) even before this terrorist attack," Peskov added.

Amid Moscow's ongoing invasion of Kiev, Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Turkey and the UN the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.

The initiative, initially in effect for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days till March 18, 2023.

At that point, Russia only agreed to extend the deal for 60 days.

On May 17, Russia agreed to extend the deal for another 60 days.

As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.

However, little progress had been made on this part of the deal, prompting dissatisfaction from Russia and finally the termination announcement on Monday.
Mumbai, July 17 : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday issued a stern warning stating that neither he nor his production banner Salman Khan Films are associated with any third party for casting in films.

Salman took to Instagram, where he shared the statement and shared that legal action would be taken against those using his identity or his company's name for fraud purposes.

The superstar captioned the warning as "Official Notice!"

The notice read as follows: "This is to clarify that neither Mr Salman Khan nor Salman Khan Films are casting for any film currently. We have not hired any casting agents for any of our future films."

Salman added to "not trust any emails or messages received by you for this purpose."

"Legal action will be taken if any party is found falsely using Mr Khan's or SKF's name in any unauthorised manner."

Salman Khan Films (SKF) was established by the 'Dabangg' star in 2011. It has backed movies such as 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', 'Hero', 'Dabangg 3', 'Antim: The Final Truth' and 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.'

On the acting front, Salman will next be seen in 'Tiger 3' with Katrina Kaif.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, July 17 : It was an unusual Monday for the otherwise jam-packed Delhi High Court as owing to unavailability of lawyers who were protesting against Justice Gaurang Kanth's transfer, it was compelled to adjourn most of the cases listed for the day.

Last week, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) had passed a resolution urging its members to refrain from work on Monday.

The move came as a disagreement with the recent recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium to transfer Justice Kanth, a sitting High Court judge, to the Calcutta High Court.

In the absence of the advocates, the court was forced to reschedule most of the cases.

The continuous requests for adjournment by proxy counsel appearing before the benches without any reason prompted the division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula to question them on the same.

"We can't adjourn cases like this...You can't appear in every case like this. If someone is not well, fine we will adjourn it. But none of you are giving ground for adjournment," the bench remarked.

However, the bench dealt with certain cases in which lawyers appeared and passed orders in those matters.

Apart from the above bench, it was a similar situation before most of the other benches, too.

Justice Kanth was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on May 18, 2022.

The Supreme Court has decided in an umpteen number of judgments, against calling of strikes by lawyers as a mode of protest.

Speaking to IANS, Advocate Namit Saxena said: "Recently, the top court had directed all High Courts to constitute Grievance Redressal Committees to prevent lawyer's strikes but to no avail. In absence of such a committee, the bar has no other way than to mark its resistance to an act or omission by abstaining from work collectively.

However, in the present case, the President of the country has acted upon a collegium recommendation to transfer a particular judge. Abstaining from work in such a case may not be fruitful."

The transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on July 12 and was notified by the Central government on July 15.

The Collegium also dismissed Justice Kanth's plea to be transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Rajasthan High Court, or any other nearby state.

In the resolution, the DHCBA has said that the association expresses its serious concern about the recommendation of the Collegium of the SC in terms of which the proposal has been made to transfer Justice Kanth.

"DHCBA strongly resents the said recommendation. Needless to say that such transfer would adversely effect the dispensation of justice on account of consequent reduction of the existing strength of Hon'ble Judges," it has said.

According to Advocate Vediccaa Ramdanee, "Justice Gaurang Kanth's transfer has attracted a lot of tension".

"The main reason being cited by the members of the Bar is the dwindling strength of the number of judges in the Delhi High Court," she said.

The DHCBA in its resolution said that it is a matter of regret that while no attention is being paid by all concerned regarding the process of filling up of the existing vacancies in the Delhi High Court, yet the transfer of the sitting Judge is being made thereby further reducing the existing strength of Judges in Delhi High Court.

It requested the collegium of the Hon'ble Supreme Court to revisit the aforesaid recommendation.

"Besides the copy of this resolution is also being sent to the Central government thereby requesting them to not to act on the said recommendation and instead call upon the collegium to re-consider the aforesaid decision," the resolution further said.

On dispensation of Justice, Ramdanee said: "The sentiment is a shared one as even though the collegium has its own understanding for the transfer which is for "better administration of justice", it is also essential to see that dispensation of justice in matters over which he already presides over do not suffer."

Ramdanee opined that "the resolution by the Bar to abstain from work is also creating a hurdle in the dispensation of speedy justice as matters are being adjourned since lawyers are not turning up to argue the cases".

It is known that pending cases and load of the high court will result in long dates being given, making the aggrieved litigants suffer even more.

"One can only hope that the protest yields the desired outcome. The Collegium should understand the sentiment of the Bar and take the steps according to the immediate situation at hand and not what will be better for the future administration of justice," Ramdanee said.
details added, first published at 15:44

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amendments to the "List of Services Provided to Micro, Small and Sedium-sized Etrepreneurship Entities in Small and Medium-sized Business Houses", approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 26, 2018, No. 148, Trend reports.

According to the decree, the Audiovisual Council and Media Development Agency (MEDIA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan are given new powers.

The new powers include:

1. consent to change the logo (emblem) of the editorial office of the subject of audiovisual media;

2. issuance, duplication, renewal, suspension, restoration and cancellation of a license for audiovisual media activities;

3. consent to the use of other languages (in addition to the official language) in the programs of the terrestrial broadcaster;

4. issuance of a reasoned conclusion on the compliance of the amended composition of the participants of the audiovisual media subject with the requirements of the Law "On Media" of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

5. consent to broadcast programs of a foreign audiovisual broadcaster using the services of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the amendments, the powers of MEDIA also include:

1. Consent to change the logo (emblem) of the editorial office of print and online media included in the register of mass media;

2. Acceptance of applications for inclusion in the media register of subjects of print or online media, news agencies;

3. Issuance of a media registration certificate to a media subject included in the media register.
New Delhi, July 17 : Braving heavy rain, the Indian community in Frankfurt held a peaceful protest urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save a two-year-old Indian child who has been living in foster care in Berlin for over 20 months.

The community called for repatriation of Ariha Shah who has been living in foster care since September 23, 2021 after the German authorities accused parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, of abusing the child.

Holding banners and placards that read, 'Ariha is Indian', the crowd was seen chanting, "Modiji Save Ariha!" in a video tweeted on Saturday by Save Ariha, a campaign run by volunteers across the globe for the child's repatriation to India.

"Today, Indian community in Frankfurt, Germany held protest against the injustice happening with Indian baby Ariha in Germany," the tweet, which was shared along with the video, read.

"Despite heavy rain, they stood strong, demanding repatriation of Ariha Shah and asking @PMOIndia... Modiji Save Ariha! Ariha is Indian," the tweet said.

Last month, Berlin's Pankow local court granted Ariha's custody to the German state while dismissing the parents' contention that the injury sustained by their child was "accidental".

Reacting to the verdict, Ariha's parents said they have full faith that Prime Minister Modi and Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar will bring their child back to India.

"From today, we hand over Ariha to 140 crore Bhartiyas," the parents said in a statement.

Calling it a "very delicate matter", Jaishankar had raised the issue during wide-ranging discussions with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in December 2022.

"We have concerns that the child should be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment. This is her right. And our embassy is pursuing the matter with German authorities, but it was also a subject which I had brought up with the Minister," Jaishankar had said at a joint media briefing.

More than 50 MPs from 19 political parties, including Shashi Tharoor, Maneka Gandhi, Mahua Moitra, K. Kanimozhi and others, sent a joint letter to German Ambassador in New Delhi, Philipp Ackerman, urging him take all necessary efforts to facilitate the repatriation of Ariha to India as soon as possible.

According to estimates, Indians make up around 0.2 per cent of the German population and as of 2023, two lakh Indians live in the country.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Chennai, July 17 : Private sector HDFC Bank Ltd on Monday said it closed the first quarter of FY24 with a net profit of Rs 11,951.77 crore, higher than the previous year corresponding period figure.

In a regulatory filing, HDFC Bank said for the period under review, it had earned a total income of Rs 57,816.67 crore (Q1FY23 Rs 41,560.27 crore) and a net profit of Rs 11,951.77 crore (Rs 9,195.99 crore).

For the first quarter HDFC Bank had provided a sum of Rs 2,860.03 crore as against Rs 3,187.73 crore.

The Gross Non Performing Asset (GNPA) as on June 30, 2023 stood at Rs 19,064.12 crore against Rs 18,033.67 as on June 30, 2022.

The net NPA as on June 30, 2023 was at Rs 4,776.87 crore as against Rs 4,887.73 crore as on June 30, 2022.

According to HDFC Bank, the total deposits were at about Rs 19,13,096 crore logging a 19.2 per cent growth over previous year corresponding period.

The bank's advances portfolio as on June 30, 2023 stood at Rs 16.15,672 crore, an increase of 15.8 per cent over June 30, 2022.

Reacting to the result, Shreyansh Shah, Research Analyst at Stoxbox said that HDFC Bank has reported decent numbers for the first quarter with the net profit beating the market estimates.

"However, there was some visibility of weak NII (net interest income) and asset quality wherein the bankas NII missed market estimates and NPAs rose marginally on a sequential basis. The improvement in profitability was on account of lower provisioning and growth in other income which had trading and mark-to-market gain and recoveries," Shah said.

"Though advances and deposits were marginally higher on a sequential basis, we feel that the merged entity will further improve the performance going forward. We expect the subdued performance of NIMs (net interest margin) in the current quarter to not continue going forward as there will be an improvement in NIMs on account of the merger which was took effect from July 01, 2023," Shah added.

Also, the subsidiaries like HDFC Life, HDFC AMC and HDFC Ergo which were erstwhile subsidiaries of HDFC Ltd. will have huge distribution leverage as they are now the subsidiaries of HDFC Bank.

These subsidiaries will get benefits of the bankas 8,500 branches plus the addition of 1,500 branches every year, thereby increasing the SOTP value of HDFC Bank, Shah added.

Be that as it may, the HDFC Bank share on Monday opened at Rs 1,650 and touched a high of Rs 16,82.05 and closed at Rs 1,679.20.
Bengaluru, July 17 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that his government will not come under any pressure to effectively implement the prohibition of transfer of land rights of the Dalit community.

"Our government will not come under any pressure regarding effectively implementing prohibition of transfer of land rights of Dalits. We will not make any compromise on our concern in this regard," Siddaramaiah added.

The Chief Minister on Monday chaired a meeting regarding bringing amendment to PTCL (the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer Of Certain Lands) Act with various organisations, Ministers, senior officers and legal experts and discussed the matter.

The state government's commitment to protect the interests of the Dalits' rights to own land has been reiterated in the state Budget presented recently, Siddaramaiah said.

This meeting is convened to gather opinion of the community's leaders and the state government intends to bring this amendment in the present legislature session, he added.

"There should be no repeated litigations and the intention of the PTCL Act should be effectively fulfilled. Those who lost land should not lose end up facing setback in courts. Therefore opinions of Dalit leaders and lawyers have been sought. Will take legal experts' opinions too, the Chief Minister said.

Revenue Minister Krishna Bairegowda and other Ministers, H.C. Mahadevappa, H.K. Patil, G. Parameshwara, K.H. Muniyappa, Satish Jarakiholi, Priyank Kharge, Shivaraja Tangadagi, Nagendra, K.N. Rajanna, R.B. Timmapura and Chief Secretary to Karnataka government Vandita Sharma, Secretary to Karnataka government, Social Welfare Department, P. Manivannan, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty and other senior officers, leaders of various organisations and lawyers of Dalit community were present in the meeting.
New Delhi, July 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi Chief Minister to "sit together" and "rise above political bickering" to mutually decide on the name of the Chairman of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

"Why don't two constitutional functionaries (Delhi L-G and CM) sit down and make it work? They have to rise above political bickering. We do not want to step into this, we want both sides to arrive at a solution," said a bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra.

"We will approach the Delhi L-G tomorrow," said senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the Delhi government, in response to the suggestion put forth by the court. "It will only be miraculous that both of them (Delhi L-G and CM) agree on a name," he added further.

The reservations expressed by Dr. Singhvi were opposed heavily by senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Delhi L-G. "It is unfortunate that the Delhi government lawyer (Dr. Singhvi) starts by saying that he has no hope. The first reaction should be yes, we'll do it," he said.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on July 20.

Earlier on July 4, the Supreme Court had asked the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to not administer oath of office to the newly appointed DERC Chairman Justice (retired) Umesh Kumar. It had directed that the administering of oath to the former judge of Allahabad High Court will stand deferred till July 11.

The top court was hearing the petition moved by the AAP-led Delhi government's plea claiming that appointment of the DERC Chairman was 'illegal and unconstitutional'.

It claimed that the appointment was made by 'overlooking' the aid and advice of the elected government.

On June 22, L-G V.K. Saxena had appointed Justice (Retd.) Umesh Kumar of the Allahabad High Court as the Chairman ignoring Delhi's government's recommendation to appoint retired MP High Court Judge, Justice Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava.

The Delhi government has challenged Section 45-A of the GNCTD Act introduced through the recent ordinance giving overriding powers to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government in the matter of appointments.
Chennai, July 17 : Tamil Nadu state BJP president K. Annamalai said that the party wants Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to condemn the Karnataka government's action on the Mekedatu dam issue during the opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

He said that when there is a Cauvery Management Board in place, the Karnataka Chief Minister does not have any right to state that he will not give water to Tamil Nadu.

The BJP leader said that if the Chief Minister returns to Tamil Nadu without condemning the Karnataka action, the party would conduct a black flag demonstration.

In a statement, he said that the party would conduct a protest on July 23 against soaring vegetable prices as well as increase in power tariff.

Annamalai said that the party would conduct protests in 12,600 village panchayats across Tamil Nadu.

Coming down heavily against the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, he stated that no one wants to know about it.

An alliance against an individual like Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not last more than three months.
Chennai, July 17 : Local people in M Kallupatti police station limits in Madurai continued their protest for the second day alleging that a 30-year-old construction worker, who was taken into custody by the police, died due to custodial torture.

Local people and relatives said that Vedan. M, a construction worker from Seelnayakanpatti, had gone for a movie on Saturday night and while returning home he was picked up by the M Kallupatti police.

Family members said that he was later released by the police but he reached home and complained of uneasiness on early Sunday morning hours. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he passed away.

People protested in front of the M Kallupatti police station alleging that Vedan died due to torture in police custody and that action be taken against the policemen responsible for the custodial torture.

However police officials told IANS that there was no torture inflicted on Vedan and that he died due to cardiac problems.

While speaking to mediapersons, Madurai district superintendent of police, Shiva Prasad, said that Vedan was not tortured. He said that the CCTV visuals also did not show of any police torture on the construction worker.

Maniswamy, a local social worker, while speaking to media persons, said that Vedan was tortured brutally in the police station and added that he was a healthy person and that he died only due to custodial torture. He said that action must be taken against the policemen responsible for the custodial torture and death of Vedan.
Lucknow, July 17 : The Seema Haider-Sachin Meena cross border love story has taken a curious turn with the couple reported missing since the past 24 hours from Rabupura village in Greater Noida located some 50 Kms from New Delhi.

Seema has been facing threats from Pakistan and from right wing activists in India.

The Gau Raksha Hindu Dal has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Seema Haider to leave the country. Ved Nagar, the organisation's national president, released a video saying Seema Haider could be a Pakistani spy and posed a threat to the country.

Intelligence agencies claim that Seema could be attacked by fundamentalist elements.

Unconfirmed reports said that the couple had been picked up by the ATS that was probing the antecedents of Seema and her intention behind coming to India.

The news of the couple gone 'missing' also comes in the wake of ATS holding a probe into the suspicious entry of Seema in India and the possible ISI honeytrap angle.

Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman with four children, entered India via the Nepal border. She claimed that she was in love with Sachin with whom she came into contact while playing PUBG with him. The two reportedly got married in Nepal and she has been living with Sachin's family in Noida.

However, the couple stirred a hornet's nest with a section of the media going overboard and claiming that Seema was an ISI agent. Her previous boyfriend from Pakistan and husband from Saudi Arabia also jumped into the controversy by giving lengthy interviews to TV channels.

Seema Haider had entered India without a valid VISA. She had earlier said that she did not apply for the visa citing the rules in India. Seema and Sachin both were earlier arrested by police in this case but were later released.

The probe agencies are looking into the matter and trying to ascertain facts related to her entry in India as well.

While Seema refuses to return to Pakistan, her family has now asked her also not to return.
New Delhi, July 17 : A single Indian organisation suffered 2,146 cyber attacks on average per week in the last 6 months, compared to 1,239 attacks per organisation globally, a report showed on Monday.

Healthcare (4,839), followed by education and research (3,532), government/military (3,017), and insurance/legal (2,523) became the most attacked industries in India, according to Check Point's 'Threat Intelligence Report 2023'.

Globally, the second quarter (Q2) 2023 saw an 8 per cent surge in global weekly cyberattacks.

The education and research sector experienced highest number of attacks per week and Africa and APAC faced the highest annual increase in weekly attacks per organisation, the report noted.

"While the disruptive impact of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict on the cyber landscape has relatively reduced in recent months, the threat landscape has returned to a state of 'normality.' This new normal is characterized by an increase in cyberattacks," the report mentioned.

Despite the waning effect of the conflict on the cyber threat landscape, the persistence of these threats highlights the ongoing need for heightened vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures to counteract the relentless and evolving nature of cyberattacks, it added.

In addition, cybercriminals continue to leverage the latest AI revolution, by stretching the borders of generative AI chat platforms such as ChatGPT4.

In Q2, one out of every 44 organisations worldwide experienced a ransomware attack, representing a decrease of 9 per cent compared to Q2 2022.

APAC and Europe saw significant year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks per organisation, with 29 per cent and 21 per cent increase, respectively, said the report.
New Delhi, July 17 : Axis Securities had recommended investors to buy Reliance Industries before the record date of July 20 and believe it to be a more economical way to buy Jio Financial Services (JFSL) which is likely to list at Rs 160/share (1x RIL's treasury stock value).

"Post demerger, we value Jio Financial Services at the treasury stock valuation of Rs 1,08,597 crore (1x RIL's treasury stock valuation). The company's total outstanding shares stand at 676.6 crore, implying each share's valuation would be Rs 160/share. The shareholding pattern will be the same as that of RelianceIndustries Ltd. We value JFSL at treasury stock valuation as the business model of the company is yet to be announced. Even if the entire allocation is not directed towards JFSL, the company might be able to leverage the same for regulatory funds," Axis Securities said.

RIL has received NCLT approval for the demerger of Jio Financial Services Ltd and has set July 20 as the record date. The ratio for demerger is set at 1:1. For every share of RIL held before the record date, the company will award 1 share of JFSL.

The financial business of Reliance Strategic Investments will list separately and will be named JFSL post-listing. The JFSL is expected to get listed in the next 2-3 months.

The company has announced that it will release Q1FY24 results on July 21. The stock is currently trading at Rs 2,751/share and has gained 7.9 per cent over the past month. With RIL's financial business moving to JFSL, it will own a 6.1 per cent stake in Reliance Industries, Axis Securities said.
Kolkata, July 17 : Sujay Krishna Bhadra, the prime accused in the alleged multi-crore school recruitment scam in West Bengal, was admitted to the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital here after after he fell 'critically' on Monday.

Bhadra was recently released on parole to perform the last rites of his wife. He returned to the Presidency Jail on Monday after the completion of his parole period.

However, sources said that since Monday afternoon, he started vomiting. The prison doctor examined him and found that his blood pressure had shot up. Later, a decision was taken to shift him to the SSKM Medical College & Hospital for further treatment.

An official of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had constantly escorted Bhadra during this release period on parole.

The ED is supposed to present its charge sheet naming Bhadra by July 29 at a special PMLA court here.Sources said that in the charge sheet, the central agency will provide the details of the properties and assets registered in the name of Bhadra, his family members and close associates, besides detailing how disproportionate these assets are to his income.

In the charge sheet, the sources said, ED will also provide the details of the assets and properties worth Rs 126.70 crore in relation to the school recruitment scam, including the latest attachment of assets and properties worth Rs 15 crore registered in the names three accused -- Kuntal Ghosh, Santanu Bandopadhyay and Ayan Sil.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has received the newly appointed Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov, Trend reports.

At the meeting, Ambassador Yevdokimov has presented a copy of his credentials to Minister Bayramov.

Bayramov congratulated the ambassador on his appointment, and wished him success in his diplomatic endeavors. Ambassador Yevdokimov said that he will spare no efforts for the further development of traditional friendly relations between the two countries, during his tenure in Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the importance of developing relations between Azerbaijan and Russia within the framework of bilateral and multilateral agreements, in the conditions of good neighborliness, friendship and mutual understanding was emphasized.

Furthermore, the sides exchanged views on the situation in the region after the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, as well as the issues of cooperation within the framework of international organizations.

It was brought to attention that the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation built their relations on the basis of loyalty to the principles of mutual respect for independence, state sovereignty, and territorial integrity in accordance with the Declaration on Allied Interaction between two countries. It was stated that conditioning of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan with reference to the position of the Armenian side is in contradiction with the mentioned framework.

It was emphasized that the allegations about the operation of the Lachin border checkpoint led to tense humanitarian situation in the region distort the reality. Contrary to the trilateral statement to which Russia is also a party, the facts on utilization of the Lachin road for illegal activities, the transportation of military equipment and landmines from Armenia to the territory of Azerbaijan, for a long period of time, were reminded. It was noted that the establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint is a sovereign right of Azerbaijan, and is aimed at preventing illegal activities, and to ensure transparency. Despite this, it was noted that the Armenian side did not stop provocations against the checkpoint on June 15 and at the beginning of July. The Azerbaijani side has again created conditions for Armenian residents to cross the checkpoint. At the same time, it was pointed out that it is possible to use the Aghdam-Khankendi road to meet the needs of Armenian residents of Azerbaijan.

Regarding the issue of rights and security of Armenian residents mentioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, it was noted that this issue will be resolved within the framework of national legislation, and for this purpose, the dialogue was initiated with Armenian residents.

Later, the parties discussed other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
New Delhi, July 17 : Vedanta Ltd has the best dividend yield in the last 12 months among large-cap stocks at 31 per cent.

As per a report by Axis Securities, it is followed by Hindustan Zinc at 25 per cent, Coal India at 10 per cent, ONGC at 8 per cent, and Power Grid and GAIL at 5 per cent.

Among the mid-cap companies, Sanofi India, REC and Oil India have the best dividend yield at 8 per cent, followed by Power Finance Corporation and Oracle Financial Services at 6 per cent.

Among the small-cap companies, TV Today Network has the highest dividend yield at 33 per cent, followed by Bhansali Engineering and Polymers at 18 per cent, RSWM at 14 per cent, Forbes and Company at 10 per cent and IDFC, also at 10 per cent.

Banco Products, Polyplex Corporation, Goodyear India and PNB Gilts had a dividend yield of 8 per cent, while Balmer Lawrie and Nirlon had a dividend yield of 7 per cent.

Among the PSUs, Coal India had a dividend yield of 10 per cent, while ONGC, REC and Oil India had a dividend yield of 8 per cent.
Mumbai, July 17 : Actress Manisha Arora, who essays the role of Mahua in the television show 'Doosri Maa', has shared that initially, expressing herself through emojis was a challenge. The actress made the revelation on the occasion of World Emoji Day on Monday.

She said: "In the era of social media, conveying our emotions through emoticons has become enjoyable. These fun facial icons are a blessing for someone like me who prefers not to type lengthy messages. However, I remember a time when using emoticons wasn't as straightforward. I would send a jumble of emojis in a single reply, oblivious to their specific meanings, often leaving my friends confused and frustrated."

The actress narrated an incident when her friends organised a group trip, and she excitedly shared a mix of six or seven emojis, including laughter, tears, hearts, and sadness. Her friends couldn't "decipher" whether she wanted to join the trip or couldn't participate, resulting in disappointment.

She further mentioned: "Initially, expressing myself through emojis was a challenge, but I gradually improved and now consider myself an expert. If you browse through my chats, you'll notice that most of my emotions are conveyed through emojis. One of my favourites is the tears of joy emoji. As an emotional person, I tend to shed joy when I hear good news. However, it's important to use emojis responsibly."

"There was an occasion when I mistakenly sent the tears of joy emoji during a sad moment, prompting me to apologise and correct my mistake through text. That day, I realised the significance of using words appropriately, and I learned that emojis should be used with caution, depending on the situation and topic at hand," she added.

'Doosri Maa' airs Monday to Friday on &TV.
Gurugram, July 17 : Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) Commissioner P.C. Meena has suspended a junior engineer Mohit Rana for negligence in work and not discharging his duties properly.

The MCG Commissioner issued the suspension order for the junior engineer Mohit Rana on Monday.

According to official information, complaints were received against Rana that he was negligent in his work and did not discharge his duties properly, and even failed to manage the drainage of rainwater in his area.

Taking cognisance of the complaints, Meena has issued suspension orders with immediate effect.

"Junior Engineer Mohit Rana has been suspended with immediate effect and his headquarters will remain in the office of Additional Commissioner-1. During the period of suspension, the Junior Engineer will not leave the headquarters without permission," the order said.

Gurugram administration and the MCG have fixed the responsibility of the concerned officials to deal with waterlogging issues in their areas following heavy rains in Gurugram last week.

After the torrential rains in Gurugram in the previous week, many areas of the city faced huge waterlogging and several locations were submerged.
London, July 17 : Mark Zuckerberg-run Meta has been banned from carrying out behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram based on the surveillance and profiling of users in Norway, unless the company obtains users' consent.

The Norwegian Data Protection Authority imposed a ban on Meta that will initially apply until October.

The ban will apply from August 4 and last for three months, or until Meta can show that it complies with the law.

"Should Meta not comply with the decision, the company risks a coercive fine of up to one million NOK ($100,000) per day. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority's decision only applies to users in Norway," the authority said in a statement.

The authority said the practice of Meta is illegal and is, therefore, imposing a temporary ban of behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

In December last year, the Irish Data Protection Commission issued a decision on behalf of all data protection authorities across the EEA which established that Meta has conducted illegal behavioural advertising.

Since then, Meta has made certain changes, but a fresh decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union has stated that Meta's behavioural advertising still does not comply with the law.

"The Norwegian Data Protection Authority's decision does not ban Facebook or Instagram in Norway. The purpose is rather to ensure that people in Norway can use these services in a secure way and that their rights are safeguarded," said Tobias Judin, Head of International in the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.

"All business models must respect privacy as a human right. Users must have sufficient control over their own data, and any tracking must be limited," Judin added.

--IANS

na/vd
New Delhi, July 17 : The BJP on Monday criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, over his visit to Bengaluru to attend the Opposition meeting, in wake of Delhi-flood situation, terming it as 'painful'.

"A meeting of the Opposition parties is taking place in Bengaluru. It is so painful that Arvind Kejriwal has gone to Bengaluru when Delhi remains submerged," senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said while addressing a press conference.

"At a time when people in Delhi are troubled and hoping to get out of the flood and worried about drinking water, Arvind Kejriwal ji, you should have stayed in the field and arranged relief for the people. But, you have gone to Bengaluru," he said.

He said that Kejriwal keeps blaming the Centre for everything. "What he has done for people in Delhi. Today, what has been happening in Delhi is a big failure of the Kejriwal government," he said.

The former Union Minister also took a dig at Congress accusing it of remaining silent on the matter.

"The Congress is silent on this matter. Will this opportunistic alliance go to this extent? It is shameful," Prasad said.

In response to a question on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, "No one can be stopped from day-dreaming (to become PM)."

He said that the Congress minister in Karnataka is dreaming of Rahul Gandhi as the future PM. "Mamata (Banerjee) ji, Nitish Kumar ji , MK Stalin ji and Arvind Kejriwal ji, do you agree?" he asked the top brass of the various Opposition parties.

As many as leaders of 24-political parties are attending the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru wherein they would chalk out strategy to fight against BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The maiden meeting of the Opposition was held in Patna last month.
Panaji, July 17 : The Monsoon session of Goa Assembly will begin from Tuesday and will conclude on August 10, officials said.

"There will be 18 sittings of the Monsoon session, which will conclude on August 10," said officials from the Goa Assembly.

Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar had said that the opposition parties in the state will get enough time to discuss the state's issues during the Monsoon session of the Assembly House.

"This session will be lengthy, which would give enough time to the opposition benches to discuss the issues facing the state," Tawadkar added.

On many occasions, the opposition parties in Goa have alleged that the ruling BJP suppressed their voice by curtailing the duration of the Assembly session.

Earlier in March, the opposition parties had slammed the BJP government for curtailing the five-day Budget session to four days on the pretext of 'Ram Navami' celebrations.

There are seven opposition MLAs in the 40-member Goa Assembly, who have made strategies to question the BJP-led state government over several critical issues.
Chandigarh, July 17 : Apprising Union Home Minister Amit Shah about steps being taken by the state in war against drugs, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday batted for more stringent provisions in existing laws to check the scourge.

Taking part in virtual meeting on aDrug Trafficking and National Securitya chaired by the Home Minister, Mann apprised him that Punjab is the first state to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) and its police station to effectively implement laws against drug trafficking, apprehending drug traffickers, and disrupting the supply chain.

He said the state has adopted a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention against the drug menace.

He said the strategy comprises enforcement of laws against drug trafficking, de-addiction of victims of drug abuse, and prevention through protection of vulnerable sections, students, youth, and the public.

The Chief Minister said that a specialised anti-narcotic cell has been constituted in each district and special designated courts have been set in each district for speedy trial of the NDPS Act cases.

Likewise, he said, a forensic science laboratory has been set up in Mohali and three regional labs in Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Amritsar.

Mann said the state has allotted land to the Narcotics Control Bureau in Amritsar issued for the construction of its regional office and dedicated narco forensic science laboratory.

The Chief Minister demanded that registration of drones should be made compulsory as it is a matter of grave concern that drones are now being used for cross-border delivery of weapons, drugs and explosives.

He said since 2019, a total 491 drone sightings have been observed and 51 drones neutralised or recovered by the police in the state.

The Chief Minister advocated that anti-drone technology and jammers be installed on the border with Pakistan in the state so that smuggling of drugs and weapons be stopped. Likewise, he said a state-of-the-art regional drone forensic lab may be set up in Punjab, preferably in Amritsar so that the origin, destination and route maps of the drones may be traced out.

He said around 1,000 kg heroin along with 56 hand grenades, 126 pistols and revolvers, 11 AK-47 and 9.5 kg RDX have been recovered from drone-based deliveries till May 16.
New Delhi, July 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Manipur High Court's order lifting the ban on the internet in the northeastern state.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra, granted liberty to the state government to go back to the high court for reconsideration of its decision.

As Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, said that there were difficulties faced in implementing the high court's order, the top court said that it will not enter into the issue and asked the state government to present its difficulties and apprehensions before the high court, which is slated to hear the internet-ban related matters on July 25.

The apex court on Friday agreed to hear the plea filed by the Manipur government after it was mentioned for urgent listing.

On July 7, the Manipur High Court had directed to lift the ban on providing internet through Internet Lease Line (ILL) across the state after ensuring that all the stakeholders have complied with the safeguards given by the Expert Committee, constituted earlier by the court.

Some of the safeguards stipulated by the Expert Committee for internet access to be restored include limiting the speed to 10MBPS, securing undertakings from intended users that they will not indulge anything illegal, and subjecting the users to "physical monitoring by the concerned authority/officials".

The directions came after a Public Interest Litigation filed was filed before the high court seeking restoration of internet services in Manipur, as internet suspension continued after the outbreak of the ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May 3.

As sporadic incidents of violence continued in Manipur, the state government suspended internet services to curb the spread of rumours and videos, photos, and messages, which might cause a deterioration in the law and order situation.

Earlier on July 6, the apex court had declined to entertain a petition challenging internet shutdown in Manipur, after noting that the state high court is already hearing a similar petition.

It had also refused to direct the army and paramilitary forces to provide security in tribal areas in Manipur, saying that the apex court, in its 72 years of existence, has never issued directions to the Army on how to conduct military, security, or rescue operations.

The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) headed by Justice Utpalendu Bikash Saha (retd) earlier asked the Manipur government to consider restoration of internet services which had been suspended since the ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state.

--IANS

puneet/vd
Shimla, July 17 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday suggested amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to effectively crackdown the drug mafia.

The Chief Minister called for a provision in the NDPS Act to enable the confiscation of properties of drug peddlers.

Speaking virtually at the conference on 'Drug smuggling and National Security' chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sukhu expressed concern at the slow pace of conviction of the drug peddlers in 10 drug-related cases in the state transferred to the Enforcement Directorate.

The Chief Minister advocated the need to delegate the powers of confiscation to the states. He also asked to enhance the punishment for drug offences from five years to life imprisonment and make the offence cognisable and non-bailable regardless of the quantity involved with a provision of a fine of Rs five lakh, besides confiscation of properties.

Sukhu also urged the Union government to establish a zonal office of the Narcotics Control Bureau and a modern hi-tech jail in the Kullu district, besides setting up of a modern forensic laboratory and a mobile lab to accelerate the investigation of cases.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 : In a swift move, the Cyber wing of the Kerala Police successfully prevented a cyber fraud and stopped the payment made online by a Kozhikode-based senior citizen to his 'friend' who appeared on a WhatsApp video call stating that he was stuck and needed money.

Senior police official K.E. Baiju, investigating the case on Monday, told the media that there is a large gang who is operating using AI.

"Through our quick action, we have been able to stop the payment made by the Kozhikode resident who got duped when he saw his friend on WhatsApp video call. Even though he transferred the money, we have now been able to track down the payment and a stop payment instruction has gone to the bank and his money is safe," said Baiju.

"There is a big gang involved in this and they use an app called 'Deep Faith' to hack the social media accounts of their victims and using AI creates this to deceive people like what happened to the victim from Kozhikode. We have identified the account to which the transfer was made and the payment has been stopped. Once we give the full report to the bank, the bank will release the money to the victim," Baiju added.

The senior citizen, who retired from Coal India Limited, received a few calls from an unknown number but he did not pick up. Later, he received a WhatsApp message from the same number which said it was his former colleague from Andhra Pradesh, presently in Dubai.

After this, the Kohzikode resident called his friend and they spoke, later a WhatsApp video call came and he was convinced that it was his friend who asked for Rs 40,000 from him and soon transferred the money.

But soon came another call asking for another Rs 35,000 and before sending the money, he felt something fishy and said he will do it soon and disconnected the call.

Later, he took the number of his friend from his phone that he calls at times and called.

To his surprise, when asked about the money, both were startled and both realised that it was fake.

Later, the complaint was made and the National Cyber Crime division stepped in and handed over the complaint to the Kozhikode Cyber Police, which acted swiftly and the victim was able to breathe easy when he was told that his money was safe.

The police on Monday called the victim Baiju to inform him about the progress in the case.

"The probe is underway and my mobile phone has been sent for further scientific probe. The lesson is be wary of calls that come from unknown numbers," Baiju added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The creation of the Lachin border checkpoint is a sovereign right of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said during a meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikhail Yevdokimov, Trend reports.

The minister stressed that establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint is aimed at preventing illegal activities, and to ensure transparency. Despite this, it was noted that the Armenian side did not stop provocations against the checkpoint on June 15 and at the beginning of July.

As the minister stated, the Azerbaijani side has again created conditions for Armenian residents to cross the checkpoint. At the same time, it was pointed out that it is possible to use the Aghdam-Khankendi road to meet the needs of Armenian residents of Azerbaijan.
San Francisco, July 17 : A first-edition, unopened 4GB model of an iPhone has been sold for a staggering $190,372.80 (more than Rs 1.5 crore) in an auction in the US.

Originally retailing at $599, the lot was expected to fetch in the region of $50,000- $100,000 - but broke all previous records.

The original iPhone 7 lot, run by LCG Auctions, attracted 28 bids in total and sold at nearly 400 times its original price, reports the BBC.

LCG Auctions described it as "a popular high-end" and "red-hot collectable", adding that two other factory-sealed, first-edition iPhones had sold at record values in the last year.

The website described the model as an "exceedingly rare, factory sealed, first-release 4GB model in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness".

First released in 2007 by late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the tech giant made the decision to discontinue the 4GB model just two months after it was launched, due to sluggish sales.

Jobs delivered a keynote address at Macworld 2007 and unveiled the Apple iPhone. This revolutionary device was quite pricey  the base 4GB model cost $500, the 8GB one was $600.

Most went on to purchase the 8GB model that allowed double the storage space for just $100 more.

"The original 4GB model is considered a 'Holy Grail' among iPhone collectors. Its extreme scarcity is directly related to its limited production. Debuting on June 29th, 2007, alongside the 8GB model, the 4GB model was hampered by slow sales," according to LCG Auctions.

"Buyers chose to pay the $100 upcharge in exchange for double the storage space. The lagging sales resulted in Apple making the decision to discontinue the 4GB model on September 5th, 2007, just over two months after it was first released," it added.
New Delhi, July 17 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday presided over the Regional Conference on 'Drugs Trafficking and National Security' in New Delhi.

Shah thanked the states and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for destroying 1,44,000 kg of drugs worth Rs 2,378 crore.

The Union Home Minister also requested the Chief Ministers and Governors of all states to take similar steps.

While addressing the Regional Conference on 'Drugs Trafficking and National Security' here, Shah said: "In the last one year, about 10 lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 12,000 crore have been destroyed across the country. Many congratulations to all the people involved in fulfilling such a big goal."

He added that this fight against drugs is not only aimed at cracking down on the drug trade and achieving complete victory over it, but also at spreading awareness.

"Unless awareness against drugs is created in the minds of the youth, this fight will not be successful," he asserted.

The Union Home Minister also said that earlier the main area of drug smuggling was called 'Golden Triangle' and 'Golden Crescent'.

"But we have established it internationally as 'death triangle' and 'death crescent'. This approach shows the direction and intensity of our fight against drugs," Shah added.

He also said that when the state and the Central government along with all the agencies come together on a single platform, then only they will be able to provide complete freedom from drugs.

"We will be able to succeed in this campaign against drugs by following 'Whole of Government Approach' with Cooperation-Coordination-Collaboration," the Union Home Minister asserted.

The drugs were destroyed in various parts of the country in the presence of the Shah virtually.

The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kg seized by the NCB's Hyderabad unit, 822 kg seized by the Indore unit and 356 kg by the Jammu unit, the officials said.

Besides, various law enforcement agencies from different states also destroyed drugs -- 1,03,884 (1.03 lakh) kg in Madhya Pradesh, 1,486 kg 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, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, July 17 : Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday visited Swami Dayanand Hospital in Shahdara and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Khichripur to inspect the situation arising out of floods.

He said that the Delhi government will provide a dengue homework card to students which will be checked by teachers and parents to keep a check on dengue.

He directed officials to admit patients with symptoms of dengue, chikungunya, and malaria from the relief camps to the Disaster Management Ward built at the hospital campuses, where their conditions can be monitored.

MLAs from the region, MCD Mayor, and health department officials were also present with the Minister during the inspection.

During the inspection, the Minister was informed that cases of conjunctivitis, skin allergy, and fever are being checked in the camps. But after the rains and flood, the risk of vector borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya will rise.

Disaster management wards have been set up for such patients at Swami Dayanand Hospital and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in the flood-affected areas.

Bhardwaj also reviewed the stock of medicines for vector-borne diseases and urged the hospital administration to remain vigilant.

The Delhi Government said that they have implemented measures to monitor, provide medicines, and offer free treatment to affected individuals in relief camps.

"The government is coordinating efforts across departments to protect the residents of Delhi from diseases like dengue. As part of this effort, school children in Delhi will actively participate in dengue prevention.

"Each school will provide a dengue homework card to its students, which the children will have their parents fill out. The card will ensure that children check their houses thoroughly every week.

"The government will determine the serotype of the dengue virus in laboratories, and drones will be deployed at sensitive hot-spots to monitor and control mosquito breeding, contributing to the prevention of vector-borne diseases," the Delhi government said.
Jammu, July 17 : A fresh encounter started on Monday between the terrorists and the security forces in J&K's Poonch district.

Earlier today, in a joint operation by the army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, two terrorists were killed in Bahadur sector of Poonch district.

Nagrota headquartered White Knight corps of the army said on its official twitter page today evening, "Operation Trinetra 2, based on specific intelligence a joint cordon and search operation was launched in general area Sindarah & Maidana near Surankote tehsil in Poonch by troops of #Indianarmy and #SOG, @JmuKmr Police.

"Contact established. Intense firing going on, area cordoned."
Chandigarh, July 17 : Slamming Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his delayed approach in announcing the relief package for the flood victims, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday asked him that whether he was waiting for the green signal from the Aam Aadmi Party senior leadership sitting in Delhi before announcing ex-gratia.

Congress leader Bajwa said it was quite evident now that the floods have wreaked havoc in 14 districts, severely damaging the farming sector and other occupations, including shopkeepers, small traders, and labourers.

A considerable number of families in the flood-affected areas have got their houses damaged irreparably. The Chief Minister had not announced a relief package so far.

"No 'girdwari' is required now to assess the damage. What is he waiting for? He must announce a generous relief package so that the people of Punjab could realise that they are being taken care of. Moreover, the taxpayers' money should go to those who deserve it the most," Bajwa said.

The Opposition leader said it was a natural calamity undoubtedly but it got worse due to the negligence of the AAP government. "Had the timely arrangements been made, the devastation of such a massive scale could have been prevented. CM Mann didn't pay heed to the warnings of the meteorological department."

Bajwa reiterated that the Chief Minister must announce a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for the farmers. Those whose houses have got damaged must be provided at least Rs 5 lakh relief with immediate effect. Also Rs 50,000 should also be given to those, whose cattle had died in this natural calamity.

The ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to the injured should be provided, he demanded.
Anand, July 17 : Gujarat Police on Monday arrested an autorickshaw driver over alleged rape of a minor in Gujarat's district Anand.

Police said that the accused reportedly used threats and blackmail to coerce the victim into giving in to his advances.

Police said that the autorickshaw driver had initially abefriendeda the victim and then exploited her vulnerability due to her loneliness.

The accused was arrested yesterday and investigation is still going-on in the incident.

Police said that the accused has been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 376(2)(j) (rape of a woman incapable of giving consent), 376(2)(l) (rape of a woman suffering from mental or physical disability), 354(d) (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Also, relevant sections of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have also been applied in this case.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), the victim claimed that the accused forced her to accompany him in his rickshaw while traveling to college every day. Taking advantage of her being alone, he allegedly assaulted her at a secluded location.

The accused also took explicit photographs of the victim and used them to blackmail her, ensuring the continuation of the abusive relationship.
New Delhi, July 17 : A total of 38 partners will attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on Tuesday evening, BJP national President J.P. Nadda said on Monday.

"In the last nine years (of the BJP-led government), all the partners of NDA have shown their interest in the development agenda, schemes and policies which are being run under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country is leading towards overall development on all fronts, right from national security, international politics to empowerment of people under the leadership of Modi ji," Nadda told mediapersons at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here.

Recalling the functioning of the BJP since its inception, Nadda said, "The BJP, right from when it came into existence till today, is the only political party which is ideologically pursuing the issues for which it came into into existence. Be it (abrogation of ) Article 370, Ram Mandir or other issues."

"Today, the people are with the NDA. This alliance is not for power, but for service (of people), and strengthening the country," the BJP chief said.

He also exuded confidence that the NDA will retain power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of the PM Modi.

"The country has decided that under the leadership of Modi ji, the NDA government will be formed again in 2024," he said.

The BJP chief also took a swipe at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), saying: "This is an alliance which neither has a leader, nor policy, nor has the power to take decisions. It is a 'bunch' of corruption and scams of the 10 years of UPA government."

It is based on "self-interests", he added.
New Delhi, July 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will commence final hearing on August 7 in clutch of petitions challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in the case of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan took note of the fact that all convicts have been duly served and pleadings have been concluded. It granted liberty to the parties to file their replies, written submissions, synopsis, and list of dates, in the meantime.

The court has posted the matter for final hearing on August 7.

On May 9, the Supreme Court had directed issuance of notice to convicts, in relation with the convicts who could not be served notices. It had also directed publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English.

On May 2, the Centre and Gujarat government had told the Supreme Court that they would not claim privilege over the documents in connection with the remission of sentence of convicts in Bilkis Bano case, and agreed to share the documents with the apex court for its perusal.

The 11 men convicted in the case were released on August 15 last year, after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. The convicts had completed 15 years in jail.

A batch of the petitions have been filed against the release of 11 convicts, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano. The other petitions were filed by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the National Federation of Indian Women, former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar, Asma Shafique Shaikh and others.

IANS

PDS/
Ahmedabad, July 17 : Ahmedabad Sessions Court has sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment for their involvement in sharing army's confidential information with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.

The convicted individuals include two residents of Jamalpur in Ahmedabad and one from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. They were arrested by Ahmedabad District Crime Branch in 2012.

The court proceedings, led by Public Prosecutor Bharat Patni, involved the testimonies of 75 witnesses. The case unveiled that both the accused, Sirajuddin from Jamalpur and Naushad Ali from Rajasthan, had separately traveled to Pakistan and interacted with ISI agents named Taimur and Tahir.

It was revealed that they were earning money by sharing sensitive information about the Indian military with ISI agents. They received a sum of Rs 2 lakh, which included Rs 1.96 lakh through Western Union money transfer and Rs 6,000 through Moneygram.

An observation made by Judge A.R. Patel during the verdict was that the accused displayed more affection towards Pakistan than their own country.

The convicted individuals have been sentenced to life imprisonment under Sections 121 and 120(b) of the IPC 1860. They also received a 10-year imprisonment sentence under Section 123, a 14-year imprisonment sentence under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act 1923, and Section 66 of the IT Act 2000.

Additionally, they have been collectively fined a total of Rs 20,000 with each accused required to pay a fine of Rs 5,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional 6 months of simple imprisonment.
New Delhi, July 17 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday called on Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after the culmination of the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok.

"Honoured to call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with my colleagues from BIMSTEC countries. Conveyed greetings and good wishes of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

"Shared with him our commitment to further strengthen BIMSTEC," he added.

Jaishankar also met his Nepalese counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meeting.

"Good meeting with Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. Agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by our leaderships. Look forward to remaining in touch," he said in a tweet.

He also had a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Momen "Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues," said Jaishankar after the meeting.

--IANS

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Veyseloglu Group of Companies, in solidarity with the UN, has committed to empowering women in the labor market, workplaces, and society. Thus, the Group of Companies has joined in the UN project "Women's Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus".

The representative of the Veyseloglu Group of Companies participated in the training organized for the companies that signed the Principles of Women's Empowerment in Azerbaijan with the participation of experts from the UN Women's Organization and the UN Development Program. In the practical training, with up to 20 representatives of private companies, discussions were held about the principles most accepted by private companies in Azerbaijan.

At the event, a certificate was presented to the Group of Companies for its initiative.

"The Women's Empowerment Principles represent the greatest support that can be demonstrated at the corporate level to achieve gender equality, one of the key Sustainable Development Goals. Private enterprises that adopt these principles contribute to Agenda 2030 by developing practices that empower women," - UN Program director of the Development Program Leyla Fathi said.

As a Group of Companies, we stand in solidarity with the United Nations on gender equality, and we believe that supporting women is not only essential for their advancement but also for the benefit of businesses, the economy, and society, stated Jala Azizova, Head of the PR and Communications Department at Veyseloglu Group of Companies.

Veyseloglu Group of Companies demonstrates its commitment to gender equality through various social initiatives, including its support for women farmers and the "Women's Power" project implemented by OBA Market, a subsidiary of the Group. These initiatives aim to promote gender equality and empower women in the workplace, labor market, and society. The Group of Companies places special emphasis on projects that provide employment opportunities for vulnerable populations, including women. It consistently plays a vital role in creating new jobs for hundreds of women annually.

Veyseloglu Group of Companies is a diversified FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) group involved in various supply chain sectors, encompassing retail, distribution, logistics, and manufacturing. Upholding the principle of sustainable development, the Group has been honored as one of the winners in the prestigious "Best Managed Companies" competition organized by Deloitte, a leading global consulting company, in 2022 and 2023.
Chandigarh, July 17 : Days after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged Governor Banwari Lal Purohit to give consent to the bill to end the monopoly of 'a political family' over telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib, the latter on Monday said the bill along with three others were passed in the assembly with "breach of law and procedure." The Governor, in a letter to the Chief Minister, cast doubt on the legitimacy and legality of the bills.

"With reference to your communication of July 15, it 'appears from your own assertion that you are concerned with certain actions of 'a particular political family' that has prompted to passing of the bill under reference," wrote the Governor.

"You have also pointed out what you perceive as the possible fallout of any delay on my part in signing the bill immediately.

"You have also thought it fit to describe the time taken by me as something that 'amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people' of Punjab.

"I do not wish to join words with you in what appears to be a matter of your private perception. But I do wish to point out that I, as Governor, am enjoined by the Constitution of India to ensure Bills are passed in accordance with law."

The Governor said: "In order to discharge my duties conscientiously, I have proceeded to receive legal advice which gives me to believe that your calling of Vidhan Sabha session on June 19 and 20 when these four Bills were passed was in breach of law and procedure, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy and legality of those Bills."

"In the background of the legal advice received, I am actively considering whether to obtain the legal opinion from the Attorney General of India, or as per the Constitution, to reserve these Bills for the consideration and consent of the President of India," the Governor clarified.

"As Chief Minister you will appreciate that the people of Punjab are equally concerned with ensuring that laws which ultimately affect them are passed after following due procedure. You may rest assured that I shall take action according to law after the legality of the Vidhan Sabha session is first examined," he added.

The Chief Minister on July 15 urged the Governor to give his consent to the proposed amendment in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 for ending the monopoly of Badal family over telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib.

In a letter to the Governor, Mann has said one particular channel owned by a political family has monopolised the telecast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib and has been making profits from it.

The Chief Minister said in order to propagate the teachings of Holy Gurus and ensure the telecast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib freely available to all the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in Vidhan Sabha.

He said that Section 125-A was inserted in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and the state Vidhan Sabha passed it with an overwhelming majority.

However, the Chief Minister said that though Bill was sent for signatures to the Governor on June 26 it has not been signed till date. He said that this amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab.
New Delhi, July 17 : Delhi Police's Special Cell has filed a charge sheet against gangster Deepak Pahal alias Boxer in a case registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Special Judge Shailendra Malik of Patiala House Courts has listed the charge sheet for consideration on July 28.

The court had, on July 11, refused to extend the investigation period beyond 90 days in the case against Boxer, who was declared a proclaimed offender on December 9, 2020.

Boxer was arrested on April 15 following his deportation from Mexico. A five-member team of Delhi Police's Special Cell had landed with the gangster at the IGI Airport after apprehending him in Mexico with the assistance of the FBI.

As per police, Boxer, a resident of Haryana's Sonipat, was wanted in 10 criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, and under the MCOCA, among others.

Apart from this, Boxer was also handling the Jitender Gogi gang after Gogi was killed by his rivals in the Rohini court. He was also in touch with the members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang. According to police, the operation was launched after the Delhi Police's Special Cell received a tip-off about Boxer's location. Subsequently, a deeply-placed source revealed that he had gotten a fake passport made in the name of Ravi Antil from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly before fleeing abroad from Kolkata airport. The authorities traced him to the Mexican beach city of Cancun.

--IANS

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Kolkata, July 17 : Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court on Monday warned the President of West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE), Gautam Paul, of ordering for stop payment of his salary on charges of misleading the court.

A stop payment is a formal request made to a financial institution to cancel a cheque or payment that has not yet been processed.

However, Justice Gangopadhyay softened his stand later as Paul tendered an apology with folded hands.

Justice Gangopadhyay then directed Paul to appoint a candidate named Amna Parveen as a primary teacher in a state-run school as per the earlier order of the high court.

On June 7, the high court had directed the WBBPE to make arrangements so that Parveen could appear for the interview and aptitude test for recruitment in the post of a primary teacher.

However, instead of adhering to the court order, the board authorities informed Parveen that since the matter has been challenged at a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, the order of the single-judge bench cannot be adhered to.

During a hearing in the matter on Monday, Justice Gangopadhyay summoned Paul and asked him to provide the number of the challenge petition filed in the division bench. When Paul was unable to provide the same, Justice Gangopadhyay threatened to order for stop payment of his salary for misleading the court.

He even threatened to impose a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the board president.

Paul virtually broke down and tendered an apology with folded hands, saying: "Sir you can do that. But please understand that I have an 80-year old mother. I do not draw any salary from the board. I draw the salary from Kalyani University, where I am a professor."

Justice Gangopadhyay then softened his stand and directed Paul to complete the process of Parveen's appointment within the next two weeks. He also directed that the board to issue a notification in this regard by August 4.
Ahmedabad, July 17 : Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani on Monday appeared before a local court in Assam's Barpeta district.

He was summoned in connection with a case related to the alleged assault of a woman police official while in custody. Mevani, who arrived in Assam on Sunday night, appeared before the chief judicial magistrateas court.

The Congress MLA alleged that he was being targeted with a afalse, frivolous, and fabricated casea.

The case stems from an incident in April last year when a woman police officer, along with other senior officers, was escorting Mevani from Guwahati airport to Kokrajhar.

Mevani was initially arrested on April 19 in Palanpur town, Gujarat, for tweeting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mevanias advocate, Billal Hussain said that he had appeared in response to an appearance summons.

Mevani was unable to attend the previous hearing due to certain reasons. The court has scheduled the first hearing for August 5.

Subsequently, he was taken to Kokrajhar, where a case was registered against him.

On April 25, immediately after being granted bail in the tweet case, Mevani was arrested in the alleged assault case registered at Barpeta Road police station.

He was eventually granted bail by the Barpeta court on April 29.
New Delhi, July 17 : Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday launched the sale of subsidised chana dal under the brand name 'Bharat Dal' at the rate of Rs 60 per kg for one kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack.

The retail outlets of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-NCR are selling the chana dal.

The introduction of aBharat Dala is a step taken by the Centre towards making pulses available to consumers at affordable prices by converting chana stock of the government into chana dal.

The milling and packaging of the chana dal is undertaken by NAFED for distribution through its retail outlets in Delhi-NCR and also through the outlets of the NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, and Safal.

The chana dal, under this arrangement, is also made available to state governments for supplies under their welfare schemes, police, jails, and also for distribution through their consumer cooperative outlets.

Chana is the most abundantly produced pulse in India and consumed in several forms all over the country.

--IANS

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New York, July 17 : A 45-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to life without parole for his role in the January 2020 car crash that killed three teenage boys in California who had pranked him by ringing his doorbell and running away.

Anurag Chandra was convicted of three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders was found true by the jurors in a Riverside County courtroom this April.

It took a Riverside County jury only three hours to return guilty verdicts against Chandra, a District Attorney Office release said last week.

Investigations revealed that Chandra had deliberately crashed his car into the vehicle carrying the youngsters on the night of January 19, 2020, on Temescal Canyon Road.

Chandra's victims were identified as Drake Ruiz and Daniel Hawkins of Corona and Jacob Ivascu of Riverside, who were all 16-years-old at the time.

The 18-year-old driver of Toyota Prius, as well as two other boys ages 13 and 14, were injured but survived.

The six teens were in the Prius that was forced off the road by Chandra, resulting in the car slamming into a tree on the east side of the roadway.

Chandra left the scene of the crash and returned home without reporting what occurred.

The release stated that the boys were having a sleepover and ultimately dared one of the friends to do a "doorbell ditch," so they drove to a nearby house, according to an investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Once there, one of the boys rang the doorbell of a home on Modjeska Summit Road and ran back to the Prius.

Chandra, who lived at the home, chased after the Prius in his 2019 Infinity Q50. As he pursued the victims, he re-ended the Prius, and sideswiped their vehicle until they were forced to stop. The Prius made a U-turn to escape, however, Chandra continued his pursuit.

Ultimately, as both vehicles approached Squaw Mountain Road, Chandra increased his speed to 99 mph, then intentionally rammed his car into the back of the Prius, causing it to veer off the road and into a tree.

In a separate case, Chandra also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of spousal battery and child endangerment and received credit for time already served.

Chandra has been in custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside since his arrest on January 20, 2020, in connection with the homicide case.
Bhubaneswar, July 17 : Odisha police have arrested three youths for allegedly swindling nearly Rs 43 lakh from Flipkart, a police official said on Monday.

The accused identified as Sunil Priyaranjan Pal (25), Ashish Ranjan Pradhan (24) and Byomkesh Giri (31) have been arrested from Boudh in Odisha. They have been absconding since the registration of police cases. After getting intelligence input, the Boudh police were able to arrest them, said Boudh SP Raj Prasad.

The police recovered Rs 4.5 lakh cash and seized one laptop, three mobile phones and two motorcycles from them, he said.

All the three accused are present or former employees of a logistics fire, which was engaged by the Flipkart to deliver goods to the customer. These trio swindled money by delivering the goods by having cash on delivery (COD) transactions, police sources said.

Though they have collected the money from the customer, they have not deposited the same to the company. Following this, cases were registered against the accused at Baunsuni and Kantamal police stations in Boudh district and Kishorenagar police in Angul district, they said.

The accused have been forwarded to the court and Boudh police is conducting further investigation into the case.
Greater Noida, July 17 : The couple -- Pakistani woman Seema Haider and Sachin Meena -- have been picked up from their house in Greater Noida by the Uttar Pradesh ATS that is probing the antecedents of Seema and her intention behind coming to India, an official said.

Sachinas father along with Seemaas children have also been picked.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the couple have gone missing.

It has been learnt that Seema can also be arrested and the route map of her coming from Nepal to India including the mobile phone SIM card found near Seema can be interrogated by the ATS. Due to Seema's connection with Pakistan, the investigation of her espionage angle has started.

Several SIM cards and a broken mobile were recovered from Seema when she was arrested by the police. Police and investigative agencies are also trying to recover the data from the broken mobile and at the same time the SIM cards are also being scanned.

In view of the vandalisation of a temple in Pakistan on Saturday, the security was increased at Seema's house in Greater Noida on Monday.

According to sources, an uncle of Seema is also a Subedar in the Pakistani Army and it is being said that her brother is also working in the Pakistani Army. To verify all these things, ATS has picked Seema, Sachin and his father. It is being said that they will be kept at some secret place.

Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman with four children, entered India via the Nepal border. She claimed that she was in love with Sachin with whom she came into contact while playing PUBG with him. The two reportedly got married in Nepal and she has been living with Sachin's family in Noida.

However, the couple stirred a hornet's nest with a section of the media going overboard and claiming that Seema was an ISI agent. Her previous boyfriend from Pakistan and husband from Saudi Arabia also jumped into the controversy by giving lengthy interviews to TV channels.

Seema Haider had entered India without a valid VISA. She had earlier said that she did not apply for the visa citing the rules in India. Seema and Sachin both were earlier arrested by police in this case but were later released.

The probe agencies are looking into the matter and trying to ascertain facts related to her entry in India as well.

While Seema refuses to return to Pakistan, her family has now asked her also not to return.
Patna July 17 : Failing to get much money from a bank branch in Bihar's Supaul district, the robbers set it afire, damaging a part of it, police said on Monday.

Supaul police station SHO Prabhat Bharti said that the incident occurred in a Central Bank of India branch on late Sunday night but the manager of the bank has not given a formal complaint so far.

"We are expecting that the manager of the bank will file a complaint with us," he said.

As per the police official, the lock of the main gate of the branch was found broken and a cabin inside the bank branch was found burnt.

Bank manager Sujet Singh told local media persons in Supaul that the robbers had entered inside the branch and taken away some cash but failed to find the money chest of the bank. "They probably in anger set the branch on fire."

The fire was spotted by local residents in the morning hours and they informed the local police and Fire Department. The bank officials are currently calculating the damage due to fire and stolen money. They are also scanning the CCTV cameras inside the branch.
New Delhi, July 17 : A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death in Delhi's Jafrabad by the father and brothers of a girl, with whom the victim was in a relationship, police said on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Salman, a resident of Delhi's Brahmpuri.

Sharing the details, a senior police official said that on Monday at around 5:15 p.m., information was received that a youth had been stabbed to death in Gali No. 2, near Kalyan cinema, Chauhan Banger in Jafrabad area.

Upon reaching the spot, it was found that Salman was stabbed on his neck and chest and he died at the spot.

"Preliminary enquiry has revealed that Salman was friendly with a girl for the past two years. However, the girl's family opposed the relationship. On Monday, the girl's father Manzoor along with her brothers Mohsin and a minor attacked Salman, while he was riding on a bike in Gali no. 2," said the official.

"A case of murder is being registered. Manzoor and his sons are absconding. Efforts are being made to trace them," the official added.
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.
Details added, first published at 11:52

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. Lawsuits in Azerbaijan, in one way or another, damage the reputation of insurers, Executive Director of the Association of Insurers of Azerbaijan (AIA) Elmar Mirsalayev said during the "Ways to Successfully Resolve Insurance Disputes" conference, Trend reports.

The number of court cases in the economic activity in 2021 amounted to 1,223, of which 564 were related to insurance. So, the Mediation Council, as a good alternative, will allow to reduce the number of court cases and help increase the insurance literacy," he said.

"I want to note that work has being carried out on insurance education at the national level by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the Association of Insurers of Azerbaijan and the Compulsory Insurance Bureau. I believe this will provide for reducing of misunderstandings and disputes in this field in the future," Mirsalayev said.

The Association of Insurers of Azerbaijan (AIA) is a non-governmental organization united on the basis of common interests and established on the principles of volunteerism and legal equality of members, which does not focus on income as the main goal of its activities and does not distribute the received income among its members.

The activities of the AIA cover the territory of Azerbaijan.

The AIA was registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 29, 2006. The main purpose of the association is to promote the development of insurance and reinsurance companies operating in Azerbaijan, to develop their socio-economic, information and other development programs and to expand scientific knowledge in this field.

The AIA consists of 24 companies, including 5 life insurance companies, 15 insurance companies in the non-life segment, 3 insurance brokerage companies and one reinsurance company.
New Delhi, July 17 : Hours after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) President Chirag Paswan called on BJP President J.P. Nadda on Monday and formally informed him about joining the NDA alliance.

Sharing information about Chirag Paswan's decision to join the NDA alliance, Nadda also formally welcomed him into the NDA alliance.

Sharing pictures of his meeting with Chirag Paswan, the BJP President tweeted, "Met Chirag Paswan in Delhi. He has decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I I welcome him into NDA family."

The meeting of the trio comes a day before the meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Apprising about his meeting with Shah, Chirag in a tweet in Hindi wrote, "There were positive discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah ji regarding the alliance."

It is likely that Chirag will attend the NDA meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday in the national capital.

Shah also took to the micro blogging site and wrote, "There was a wide discussion on the politics of Bihar."

A total of 38 partners will attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting.
New Delhi, July 17 : A Delhi court has reserved its order on framing charges in the Kanjhawala case, in which a 20-year-old woman was killed on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 after her scooty was hit by the car following which her clothes got entangled into the vehicle that went on to drag her for around 12 km, leading to her death.

The Rohini Court has listed the matter for pronouncement of order on July 27.

A metropolitan magistrate's court had, in April, committed the case to the Court of Sessions for further proceedings.

The case was committed to the sessions court after cognisance of the chargesheet against seven accused persons.

The court had committed the case after counsels for the accused submitted that they had scrutinised the charge sheet and other documents. All the documents are complete.

On April 13, the court took cognisance of the 800-page chargesheet against seven accused filed by the Delhi Police in the case.

A copy of the charge sheet was also provided for the accused.

Accused persons Deepak Khanna (26) Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal were arrested by the police on January 2.

Two other co-accused, Ashutosh Bhardwaj and Ankush, were earlier given bail by the court.

Amit Khanna and Bhardwaj were also booked in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act's rules.

According to the charge sheet, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mithun and Mittal have been accused of murder.

"During the course of the investigation, seven men were arrested and upon its completion, a chargesheet of around 800 pages was prepared with around 120 witnesses," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), Harendra Singh, had earlier said.

The police had said: "On the basis of the material and evidence collected during the investigation, to the best of capabilities, sufficient material has come on record to prosecute the accused."

It said all the accused were booked for criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, harbouring offender, common intention and false information, with intent to cause a public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person.

Amit Khanna has been charged with additional offences by the Delhi Police for reckless driving and causing hurt by endangering their lives or personal safety.

Initially, the case was registered under Sections 279 and 304 of the IPC but later, police had added Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code to the matter.

On January 21, the Rohini court dismissed Deepak Khanna's bail plea.
Kolkata, July 17 : Quite unlike of her, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday maintained complete silence before leaving for Bengaluru to attend the grand Opposition unity meeting.

Though mediapersons were waiting outside the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport hoping to get her reaction, she refused to talk to the press and went straight into the airport. She was accompanied by her nephew and Trinamool Congressa national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Political observers feel that had she interacted with mediapersons, she would have had to confront the obvious question as to what would be her reaction if any Congress or Left leader in the Opposition meeting raises questions over the violence and bloodbath witnessed during the recently-concluded panchayat polls.

Probably, she wanted to avoid any such question and hence she did not interact with the media, they feel.

Meanwhile, the state Congress leadership has already made it clear that under no circumstances it will agree to any kind of understanding with the Trinamool in West Bengal, especially after the bloodbath witnessed during the rural civic body polls.

Now it is to be seen how state Congress chief and veteran Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury tackles the situation in case there is a decision from the party high command for an amicable understanding with the Trinamool for next year's Lok Sabha polls.
Agartala, July 17 : Tripura on Monday joined other states of the country in the destruction of seized drugs, destroying various narcotic substances valued at Rs 9.5 crore, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah witnessed the procedure virtually.

In the mega drug destruction programme, organised by Tripura Police at Radha Kishore Nagar in west Tripura, 5,473 kgs of ganja (cannabis), 5,138 bottles of codine-based cough syrup, 19,313 Yaba tablets, and 6,381 grams of heroin were destroyed.

As the Union Home Minister chaired the Regional Conference on aDrugs Smuggling and National Securitya in New Delhi on Monday, officials said that over 1,44,000 kg of various drugs worth Rs 2,416 crore were destroyed in various parts of the country by the Narcotics Control Bureau in coordination with the Anti- Narcotics Task Force of various states.
New Delhi, July 17 : A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court by leaders of various opposition parties of Assam challenging the draft delimitation proposal in the state published by the Election Commission.

In its draft order issued on June 20, the Election Commission proposed readjusting the extent of 126 Assembly and 14 Lok Sabha Constituencies in Assam.

The delimitation proposal has sparked protests from nearly all of the opposition parties in the state.

The petition, filed through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi questions, the methodology adopted by the EC by taking different "average assembly size" for different districts, contending that population density has no role to play in the process of delimitation.

The petition also challenged Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1950 on the grounds that the same is arbitrary, opaque and discriminatory to the state of Assam.

Purportedly, the EC issued the delimitation proposal in exercise of its power under Section 8A, which prescribes the Election Commission as the authority to conduct delimitation in Assam and three northeastern states.

"Delimitation for the rest of the country has been carried out by a high-powered body headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and such a commission was formed for Jammu & Kashmir as well. However, the provision of Section 8A discriminates against Assam and three northeastern States, for which the Election Commission has been prescribed as the authority to conduct delimitation," the plea stated.

The petition also pointed out certain statements given by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has publicly stated that the present exercise will be beneficial to BJP while being damaging to other opposition parties.

"Such statements, while do not inspire any confidence in the exercise, also give rise to apprehensions that the ECI exercise has not been independent and has been heavily dictated by the State Government," the plea submitted.

The petitioners include Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, Debabrata Saikia and Rokibul Hussain of the Congress), Akhil Gogoi of the Raijor Dal, Manoranjan Talukdar of the CPI-M, Ghanakanta Chutia of the Trinamool Congress, Munin Mahanta of the CPI, Diganta Konwar of the Anchalik Gana Morcha, Mahendra Bhuyan of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Swarna Hazarika of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Earlier, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had moved the Supreme Court against the draft proposal on the delineation of the state's Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies. Reportedly, the draft delimitation proposal had sparked intense hostility in Karimganj, Goalpara, Hailakandi and Barpeta districts, which are heavily populated by minorities.
New Delhi, July 17 : Eight people, including four children, were injured on Monday after a desilting vehicle of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) lost balance and hit them in the Majnu Ka Tila area in north Delhi, the police said.

According to the police, a PCR call was received at the Civil Lines police station regarding an accident near the gurdwara in Majnu Ka Tila, following which a team was dispatched to the spot.

"The police found that eight persons, including four children, residing in the Pakistani Hindu Camp, had gone to collect food from the Magazine Road School (flood relief centre). At 1:45 p.m., they were returning to their camp and were crossing the road in front of the school when the DJB vehicle hit them," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Sagar Singh Kalsi.

The police personnel on patrol duty near the school chased the offending vehicle and caught the driver, who has been identified as Rohit Kumar (23), a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Kumar was also beaten up by the agitated public who had gathered near the place of the accident.

"The injured have been shifted to the hospital. A case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered. The driver was also injured and has been sent to the hospital for treatment," the DCP said.
New Delhi, July 17 : Delhi Industries Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday said that the city government has approved the issuance of a notification to declare 920 acres of land in Kanjhawala as an industrial area.

This forthcoming industrial area will be one of the largest in Delhi, contributing to the economic growth of the city and creating employment opportunities for a substantial number of individuals, he said, stressing the government's commitment to providing modern and essential amenities in Delhi's industrial areas.

"In pursuit of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's vision of establishing the capital as an industrial hub, the Delhi government has authorised the issuance of a notification designating Kanjhawala Industrial Estate for development as an industrial area. This development will stimulate economic activities in Delhi and offer countless employment prospects for the youth. Spanning approximately 920 acres of land, Kanjhawala Industrial Area will present a golden opportunity for the industrial community to establish their businesses," a statement said.

The development of the Kanjhawala industrial area is expected to foster regular industrial growth in the capital, it said, adding that this initiative will effectively address the issue of illegal operations conducted by numerous industrial units, which often result in accidents and uncontrolled pollution in commercial and residential areas.

The Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) will provide essential services, including road networks, sewage and drainage systems, solid waste management systems, fire fighting systems, and electricity in the industrial area.
Washington, July 17 : Millions of sensitive emails linked with the US military was sent to Mali, a West African country allied with Russia, due to a typo, The Financial Times reported on Monday.

The emails kept going to Mali for over 10 years as people typed .ML, the country identifier for Mali, by mistake rather than appending the military's .MIL domain to their recipient's email address, the report noted.

A Dutch entrepreneur named Johannes Zuurbier brought this to notice that such mistake "has been happening for over a decade despite his repeated attempts to warn the US government".

Since January alone, Zuurbier reportedly intercepted 117,000 misdirected emails, several of which contain sensitive information related to the US military.

Several such emails reportedly had medical records, identity document information, lists of staff at military bases, photos of military bases, naval inspection reports, ship crew lists, tax records, and more.

"The Department of Defense (DoD) is aware of this issue and takes all unauthorised disclosures of Controlled National Security Information or Controlled Unclassified Information seriously," a spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, told The Verge.

The spokesperson added that emails sent from a .mil domain to Mali are "blocked" and that the "sender is notified that they must validate the email addresses of the intended recipients."

Meanwhile, Zuurbier's 10-year contract with Mali ended on Monday and authorities will now be able to gain access to the emails.

Russia established a presence in Mali last year through the Wagner Group which recently recently staged a rebellion against President Vladimir Putin.
New Delhi, July 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking a stoppage of the Vande Bharat train at Tirur Railway Station in Kerala's Malappuram.

"You want us to decide train stops now ? Now do we also take a call on stations of Delhi to Mumbai Rajdhani?" remarked a bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud while dismissing the special leave petition.

The bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra, declined to pass an order requiring the railways administration to treat the plea filed as a representation.

On April 28, the Kerala High Court had refused to entertain the petition saying that a matter like the stoppage of a train has to be determined by the Railways.

"We are satisfied that no public interest is espoused in the writ petition nor is the matter involved in this lis (litigation) justiciableNo person has a vested right to demand that a particular train should stop at a particular station," it had said. The petitioner, a practicing lawyer, alleged that despite Malappuram being densely populated and a large number of people depend on train services for their travel purposes, a stop has not been allotted for the Malappuram district.

According to him, the failure to allot a stop at Tirur Railway Station is an injustice to the entire people of Malappuram and therefore ignoring their requests and demands causes great prejudice.

--IANS

puneet/vd
Bengaluru, July 17 : The Congress on Monday took a dig at the BJP, saying that the saffron party desperately trying to infuse life into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together.

The Congress' remarks came after BJP President J.P. Nadda told the media on Monday that 38 partners will attend the NDA meet in the national capital on Tuesday.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Suddenly the NDA is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce. This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together. After the Patna conclave on June 23, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA."

Even earlier in the day, before leaving for Bengaluru, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told media, "Having told the Parliament earlier that he alone can take on the entire Opposition, why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi trying to get more than 30 parties together?"

Kharge claimed that the BJP is rattled by the Opposition unity and is only seeking comfort in numbers.

Kharge, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that the Opposition parties had been meeting for a long time, especially during Parliament sessions.

He also asserted that he had not heard of 30 NDA partners earlier.

"The PM had said I alone am sufficient for the entire Opposition while speaking in the Rajya Sabha. Why is he then bringing over 30 parties together? Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission?" Kharge asked taking a swipe at Modi.

He said, "They are rattled seeing what we are doing and are now trying to bring together those parties which had been splintered just in an attempt to show numbers."

Congress General Secretary (Organisation), K.C. Venugopal, said in a tweet, "The BJP is clearly rattled by our unity and now they are being forced to hold their own 'alliance meeting'. That, for us, is the biggest sign of success.

"We will continue to raise our voice against the undemocratic attitude of the government. They have been running roughshod over the federal structure, silencing dissent, and promoting divisions in the society for their political benefit."

For the second meeting of Opposotion unity, leaders from at least 26 parties have gathered in Bengaluru to prepare the roadmap for next year's crucial Lok Sabha elections.

The first meeting of the Opposotion parties took place in Patna on June 23.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. A graduate of Dokuz Eylul University (Maritime Business Management Faculty), Vahdet Keles with 30-year experience in port logistics, has been appointed a new regional director of Albayrak Group in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Prior to this appointment, Keles worked as General Manager-Regional Director of Group TCB & TCE EGE Turkiye-Europe-South America, General Manager and Operational Director at Transal Maritime Transport and Commercial Manager-Chief Expert at Soyak Port (Turkiye).

The "Albayrak" group of companies operates in more than 20 sectors, such as construction, real estate, industry, logistics, media, and tourism.

The group of companies includes about 80 companies and brands.

Albayrak Holding and Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC (Port of Baku) signed an agreement on cooperation on July 15, 2022. In accordance with the agreement, the holding will work jointly with the Port of Baku on fertilizer and Ro-Ro terminals, as well as closely cooperate in other important areas.

The main goals of the new cooperation agreement are to create the most comfortable and stable conditions for cargo carriers in the areas of logistics and supply chain, achieve an increase in the volume of cargo transportation from China and Central Asian countries to Europe, as well as to Turkiye in transit through the Port of Baku.

Besides, ensuring rapid transshipment of attracted cargo using modern logistics solutions is also one of the agreement's goals.
Kolkata, July 17 : The threat of imminent floods in pockets of north Bengal has been reduced to a great extent following a quick decline in the extent of rainfall there since Sunday evening.

Bringing further relief to the people residing in these pockets, the water levels in the rivers of north Bengal, which had been swelling till Sunday afternoon, have also started receding.

Sources in the Irrigation Department said that in the last few days, the water levels have been swelling in the hill rivers of Teesta and Jaldhaka, among others.

"However with the rate of rainfall declining substantially since Sunday evening, the water levels of these rivers have also started receding. This is of course a matter of great relief for the districts of north Bengal, especially the plains of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts," an Irrigation Department official said.

However, he said, the condition was quite serious till Sunday as water from Teesta started flowing in certain town areas like Jalpaiguri and Mainaguri, among others.

Residents in certain localities in these cities, which were flooded with the overflowing water from these hill rivers, had to be shifted to safe shelters. "They have now started going back to their respective localities," the official said.

Further relief for the people of north Bengal from imminent flood threat has come as there had not been any further prediction of heavy rainfall in the coming days. There had been predictions of sporadic rainfall in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her decision to send a high-level delegation there to review the situation. She said that the delegation was being sent following heavy rainfall in certain pockets that resulted in the rise in the water level of certain rivers there. There had been excessive rainfall in certain pockets and North Bengal from even before the panchayat elections in the state on July 8. The Chief Minister also had several meetings with top bureaucrats of the state on this count.
New Delhi, July 17 : With the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government working on a war footing to tackle possible threat of vector-borne diseases as several parts of the city continue to remain flooded, doctors on Monday advised people on how they can keep themselves safe.

"There is a possible threat of vector-borne disease due to the flood in Delhi. Contamination of the drinking water may cause various diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and hepatitis. People should take precautions to keep themselves safe," Dr Subhash Giri, Director of Lady Hardinge Medical College told IANS.

Suggesting preventive measures, he said: "People should evacuate those areas where there is water logging. They should drink clean water."

Dr Vinay Kumar, of AIIMS, said: "Floods can potentially increase the transmission of the communicable diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A and E . Apart from all this, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis and skin infections are also common."

"People should store water in a clean vessel and use boiled and cooled water for drinking. They should use mosquito repellent creams, liquids, coils and mats etc," Vinay Kumar, who is also the President, RDA, AIIMS, told IANS.

He also advised use of bed nets treated with insecticide besides wearing clothes that cover maximum surface area of the body.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj visited the Swami Dayanand Hospital in Shahdara and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Khichripur. During the visit, he directed officials to admit patients with symptoms of dengue, chikungunya, and malaria from the relief camps to the Disaster Management Ward built at the hospital campuses, where their conditions can be monitored.

During the inspection, the Minister was informed that cases of conjunctivitis, skin allergy, and fever are being seen in the camps.
New Delhi, July 17 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted a search operation in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam area in a case related to the recovery of explosives at Nimbahera village in Rajasthan involving the banned SUFA.

The team carried out searches at the house and farmhouse of Imran, who is currently lodged in jail.

"Members of SUFA were caught by the team of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Police. During this. their Ratlam connection came to fore. Later more than half a dozen persons were arrested by the STF of MP and Rajasthan Police in March last year," said a source.

Last year, the NIA also inquired about the arrested persons with the local police after alleged terror funding was found. They then also took over the case. Later, a charge sheet was filed against 11 persons by the NIA before a special court.
New Delhi, July 17 : A Delhi court has upheld the conviction of a man for stalking, affirming the decision made by a Mahila court.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunil Gupta concluded that there was ample evidence to establish the defendant's guilt, as he persistently followed the complainant despite her clear disinterest.

The judge also dismissed the defense's argument that a prior relationship between the accused and the victim justified the stalking behaviour, holding that such reasoning did not absolve the appellant of the offense.

The case in question pertained to Sonu Rajora, who had appealed against his conviction under Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code. The mahila court had originally convicted him in February 2019, and the recent ruling by the sessions court reaffirmed his guilt.

"This court is of the view that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant Sonu Rajora used to follow the complainant and was so following her on the fateful day to foster personal interaction despite clear indication of disinterest by her," the order read.

"Accordingly, the ingredients of Section 354D IPC stands proved against him and he has been rightly convicted for the same by Ld. Trial Court. The appeal stands dismissed as far as same pertains to his conviction," it further read.

The court also rejected defense counsel's argument that the appellant and complainant were in relationship earlier, saying that the testimonies are in no way sufficient to show the existence of any relationship between them. "Even if, it is presumed for the sake of arguments that the photographs submitted by appellant, indicate the existence of relationship between the parties before the incidence in question, that does not mean that the appellant was at liberty to stalk the complainant when she was not interested in him," the court said.

"The existence of a relationship between a young boy and a young girl in past, has not been made an exception to the offence U/s 354D IPC. So, this defence is also of no help to the case of the appellant," the court added.

--IANS

spr/vd
New York, July 17 : India received on Monday 105 smuggled antiques dating from at least the second to the 18th centuries that were recovered by US officials.

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that the return of the antiques follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington last month during which he had thanked President Joe Biden "for helping the return of the properties".

"For us, these are not just art but part of our heritage, culture and religion. So when this lost heritage returns home, they will be received with a lot of emotion," he said.

About 50 of the antiques have religious significance for Hindus, Jains and Muslims, while the rest are of cultural value.

Officials from the Manhattan prosecutor's office, which played the main role in recovering them, well as federal officials participated in the repatriation ceremony at India's Consulate General here when the antiques were handed over to Sandhu and Consul General Randhir Jaiswal.

Jordan Stockdale from the prosecutor's office said, "We are excited to return those priceless treasures to you."

"We are deeply appreciative of Prime Minister Modi's kind words at the White House and they reflect the close collaboration, which has led to successful recovery for thousands of Indian antiquities," said Stockdale, who is the chief of staff of Prosecutor Alvin Bragg.

He said that he expected more of them to be returned to India. He said that some of the antiques were recovered from museums or other collections in New York, Chicago and elsewhere.

Stockdale said that many of the artifacts were smuggled to the US by Subash Kapoor, who ran an art gallery in New York, and his accomplices. Kapoor was sentenced last year by a court in Kumbakonam to a 10-year prison term for the theft of a religious statue from a temple.

He is also facing charges in New York, where some of his accomplices have been convicted.
Imphal, July 17 : Manipur's opposition Congress on Monday again demanded resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, noting that despite 75 days having passed after the ethnic violence broke out, the state government utterly failed to restore normalcy and peace.

Congress state General Secretary P. Saratchandra said that it has been 75 days and the state is still under turmoil with no specific and realistic initiatives by the Central and state government to resolve the ethnic crisis.

"We don't want an unqualified CM who is keen to protect his chair only destroying the interest of the state and its people. We have lost our trust in the BJP government and we strongly believe that the state government would not protect the people of Manipur," he told the media.

Saratchandra said that lives of a large number of innocent people have been lost, thousands of people became homeless, and the people of the state are in unprecedented situation.

"Government has claimed that the militants who had signed the Suspension of Operation with the government were violating the ground rules. If this is true, then, what is the government doing," he questioned.

The state government should fix the time of solving the issue and bring back peace in Manipur, or else hand it over to capable people, Saratchandra stated.

Manipur state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra and other senior leaders of the party on Monday distributed toys, chocolates, stationery and heartfelt gifts to children at a relief camp in Manipur.

Meanwhile, thousands of women cutting across different organisations staged protests in Imphal demanding restoration of peace and normalcy in the state. The women marched to CM's bunglow and wanted to meet Biren Singh to submit a memorandum. As they began a peaceful rally from Singjamei Market, a combined team of Rapid Action Forces and other security forces stopped them at the traffic point of Singjamei Chinga Makhong.
Patna July 18 : Jitendra Pratap Shahi, a member of the erstwhile Hathua royal family, was committed suicide in by shooting himself with a license rifle in Bihar's Gopalganj, police said on Monday.

Shahi was found dead at around 4 p.m. on Sunday and the weapon and a suicide note was also found near his dead body.

Shahi is a cousin of Mrigendra Pratap Shahi, the self-declared ruler of Hathua area in Gopalganj. In a suicide note, he claimed that some relatives have fraudulently took his signatures on plain paper and misusing it and hence, he committed suicide using his license rifle.

"We have received information of the mysterious death of Jitendra Pratap Shahi in Babua ji compound in Hathua palace. Our officers have investigated fron all angles of murder and suicide. We have also called for an FSL team from Muzaffarpur and finger print experts from Patna and collected the evidence from the spot. We have recovered the weapon used in suicide and a suicide note," Gopalganj's Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat said.

An FIR of abetment of suicide is registered in Hathua police station in the district and the investigation is underway.
Bhopal, July 18 : A 45-year-old man was allegedly killed by his nephew following a dispute over debt, and the body was found chopped into six pieces buried in a pit wrapped in polythene bags. The horrific incident was reported from Madhya Pradesh's Guna district.

Following investigation into a missing person complaint around a week back, the body was found on Friday. The police said the deceased, identified as Vivek Sharma, was killed on July 12.

The accused, Mohit Sharma, allegedly chopped his uncle's body into six pieces and dumped them at an isolated place near the Gopikrishna Sagar dam after wrapping them in polythene bags.

As per the police, Vivek had left his home on July 12 to collect Rs 90,000 from his nephew Mohit, who lives in a government-allotted residence in Guna district. The police said that Vivek's family had lodged a missing person complaint on July 13. Following this, the police launched an investigation and sent a search team to trace the victim.

When Mohit was questioned by the police, he reportedly tried to mislead them. However, upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime. After this, the police recovered the body parts of Vivek.

The police said that Vivek's head was severed from the body. His family members identified the deceased by his ring.

"During investigation, the accused confessed that he killed Vivek on July 12 after which he dumped the body parts," said Guna SP Rakesh Sagar.
New Delhi, July 18 : Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday said that after floods in the capital city, vector-borne disease like malaria and dengue can spread but the AAP government was ready to deal with any situation.

"When water accumulates at your place, there is a risk of breeding of dengue mosquitoes. Be cautious when there is stagnant water in areas such as your construction site, storage facilities, or vehicle storage areas belonging to the municipal corporation. Ensure that you take necessary precautions to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water," he said.

Delhi Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi also said that due to the presence of floodwater, there was a heightened risk of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria.

"Consequently, the Sanitation Department has been directed to conduct a thorough cleanliness drive in flood-affected areas, aiming to minimise the number of cases related to dengue and malaria," she said.

Both Bhardwaj and Oberoi, along with other AAP leaders, visited a number of government hospital to inspect the situation.
Bhubaneswar, July 17 : Former Odisha MLA Chiranjib Biswal, who was recently suspended from the Congress, made it clear on Monday that he will contest the 2024 elections either on a party ticket or as an Independent.

Speaking to mediapersons for the first time since his suspension, Biswal said, "I will definitely fight the 2024 polls. I may fight as an Independent candidate or on any other political party ticket."

Without naming anybody, Biswal criticised the Odisha Congress leadership for his suspension, alleging that a group of conspirators are behind it.

Claiming that he is a disciplined member of the Congress, the ex-MLA said, "I have worked to strengthen the party and the media is witness to it. I had given some suggestions to the party in this regard. However, the group of conspirators were not ready to tolerate it."

"Despite strong waves in favour of the BJD, I won the Assembly elections in 2004 and 2014. Those who are hatching a conspiracy against me have not won a single election in the past 25 years. They even lost their deposits in the elections," he said.

"If the Congress leadership is thinking that because of my seminar, the vote share of Congress reduced to around 4,000 votes in the Jharsuguda bypoll, why did the vote percentage of the party come down in Dhamnagar and Padampur bypolls and who is responsible for that," he asked.

The Congress had got around 16 per cent votes in the 2019 Assembly elections. After that, five bypolls were held and the party candidates got only 3 to 4 per cent of votes, except in the Tirtol bypoll in which the party's vote share increased from 16 per cent to 18 per cent, Biswal said.

Biswal urged all Congress workers and activists to unite to fight against the conspiracy and save the party.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The export potential of Azerbaijan has grown by five-six times in recent years, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Sahib Mammadov said at the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) in Baku, Trend reports.

Mammadov noted that a favorable environment has been created for the inflow of investments into Azerbaijan, which will allow making a lot of achievements related to socio-economic development.

According to him, the country has quite favorable mechanisms for the successful implementation of socio-economic policy.

"The share of the private sector in GDP is 37 percent. Azerbaijan has many achievements in the economic sphere. We also spare no effort in expanding the business environment," he stressed.

Mammadov also noted that over the past years, Azerbaijan's relations with the ICCIA member countries have further strengthened.

"Given the potential of Islamic countries, this cooperation should be further expanded. In general, the interest of Islamic countries in Azerbaijan is growing," he added.
Panaji, July 17 : Around 200 sugarcane farmers were detained by Goa police for allegedly blocking the national highway at Dharbandora in South Goa, demanding assurance to restart operations of the lone sugar factory in the state.

The President of Utpadan Sanghatana (sugarcane producers' association), Rajendra Desai, told IANS that 200 farmers have been detained by the police.

"We were demanding to know whether the government intends to restart the sugar factory along with the ethanol plant. But we have not got any response from the government," he said.

In 2020, the BJP government had announced to shut the operations of the sugar factory and since then local farmers were selling their produce to neighboring states.

The Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana was set up in 1972 by the first Chief Minister of Goa, Dayanand Bandodkar, at Dharbandora in South Goa. It had an excellent track record at the initial stage with many farmers engaged to take up production of this crop.

The sugar factory, however, went into losses in the last one decade or more, and three years ago its operations were stopped stating that it was not viable to operate. It was said then that after the operations are stopped, a new plant will be installed, which would also give by-product. However, this has not turned into reality yet.

In a bid to bring the loss-making factory to profit, late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had in 2017 advocated the need to make by-product out of sugarcane.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari, during the Assembly election campaign in 2017, had stressed the need to generate fuel from farm products. He had said that alternate fuel can be generated from rice straw, wheat straw, cotton straw and used sugarcane waste. This had given hope to the sugarcane farmers that the factory will grow and they will get good opportunities to sell their produce.

On Monday, the agitating farmers questioned whether an ethanol plant will turn into reality. However, as they did not get the favourable answer, they tried to block the national highway.
Bhopal, July 18 : Fresh allegations have surfaced into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Patwaris (Revenue Department officials) in Madhya Pradesh, wherein a group has now claimed that some candidates submitted fake documents to avail relaxations.

The group named 'National Educated Youth Union' (NEYU) claimed that a candidate submitted the document showing him physically challenged, while the same candidate in another exam claimed he is physically fit. "So far, at least four such candidates were noticed who appeared in two different exams conducted on different dates," said Kisan Jath, who claimed to be a member of the group.

He also shared some identity cards on the group's social media account to support his claims. The authenticity of the identity cards could not be ascertained and the state government is yet to make any statement regarding the same.

Claimed to be a member of five-person union, Jath, said: "Sequences of irregularities in submissions suggest that the results were manipulated with fake documents through a strong nexus of 'exam mafia' flourishing in Guna, Gwalior, Morena, and Satia districts falling under Gwalior-Chambal division of Madhya Pradesh."

He claimed that the 'Vyapam ghosts', which dented the image of Madhya Pradesh, are still alive.

"Irregularities in recruitment exams have become a common nuisance in Madhya Pradesh and political parties are passing the buck on each other for a long time. This time it was exposed as a large number of participants appeared in the examination," Jath said.

He also said that the NEYU is planning for mass movement-cum-protest in the capital city Bhopal to put its demand for an enactment of a separate Bill by the Assembly to administer recruitment examination. "Fakes documents were submitted not only in the Patwari recruitment exams but in some other exams as well. The government has reserved 5 marks for experience of Samvida Karmcharis and therefore, fake documents were submitted to avail the benefit under the category," Jath claimed.

Former Chief Minister and State Congress chief Kamal Nath has been relentlessly blaming sitting Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the alleged irregularities. "The way the Shivraj government has made Madhya Pradesh a state of recruitment scams, the future of no youth is secure. The strings of every recruitment scam eventually connect with the leaders of the ruling party. I assure the youth that after four months, the Congress government will be formed in the state, then the rule of scams, corruption and commission will end and you (youth) will get employment in a lawful manner according to your qualification," Kamal Nath said on Monday.
Colombo, July 18 : India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee, established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on passenger transportation by sea, held a virtual meeting on July 14, Indian High Commission in Colombo has said.

"The two sides were led respectively by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of India and K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of the Government of Sri Lanka," the High Commission said in a statement on Monday.

The discussions had focused on the resumption of ferry services between the two countries connecting mutually agreed points and both sides had agreed that restoring ferry services would boost regional trade and tourism and promote stronger people-to-people ties.

"The Joint Committee identified a number of areas for mutual cooperation for operationalization of ferry services in the near future, and desired to take further steps based on mutual understanding," it stated.

The Joint Committee representing the two governments under the provisions of the bilateral MoU on passenger transportation by sea was signed in 2011.

The British Colonial era ferry service, the Indo-Ceylon Express or Boat Mail which ran between Chennai and Colombo through Tuticorin port between India and Sri Lanka in the early 1900s was stopped in 1982 following the civil war between Sri Lankan forces and the Tamil rebels.

Last month, to accommodate passenger ferry service, Kankesanturai Harbour was declared open after the Sri Lanka Navy renovated it.

The ferry service is to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry and Kankesanthurai Port in northern Sri Lanka. In addition, ferry services between Sri Lankaas northwestern town of Talaimannar and Indiaas Rameshwaram also resumed.

The service is expected to boost Sri Lanka's tourism to which India is the biggest contributor.
Ranchi, July 17 : An ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and a Sub-Inspector (SI) were injured in an encounter with criminals in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district late on Monday night.

Both have been brought to Medica Hospital in Ranchi for treatment.

It was said that the police and ATS team had gone to Terpa village to raid against associates of the jailed criminal Aman Sahu.

The police were conducting a search operation, during which two criminals suddenly started firing. ATS DSP Neeraj Kumar received a bullet wound in the stomach while Sonu Sau, the SI of Patratu police station, was shot in the thigh.

They have been admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

The criminals who fired the shots managed to escape on a bike.
We are committed to supporting BOP and other environmental-focused organizations as we look to improve our local communities and our world for future generations.

Fred Alger Management, LLC (Alger), a leading growth equity investment manager, today announced its support for Billion Oyster Project (BOP), a New York City-based nonprofit organization with a mission to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035.

Algers support of BOP extends through in-person volunteering activities, as well as donations in memory of Alger colleagues who perished in the tragic events of 9/11.

Starting this month, Alger employees will assist with BOPs oyster conservation on Governors Island. Volunteers will build oyster reef structures, prepare shells for the oyster hatchery, and count and sort oyster communities.

The key to solving the challenges of climate change is changing human behavior, and humans arent going to change their behavior without a direct connection to the natural world, said Pete Malinowski, Executive Director & Co-founder of Billion Oyster Project. We are grateful for the support from Alger and its employees as we continue our important mission of restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor through educational initiatives.

In addition to contributing volunteer hours, Alger will donate a percentage of the net management fee from the Alger 35 Fund and Alger 35 ETF to BOP. Managed by CEO and Chief Investment Officer Dan Chung, CFA, these high-conviction, actively managed portfolios invest in 35 best ideas sourced from the firms experienced analyst team.

We are committed to supporting BOP and other environmental-focused organizations as we look to improve our local communities and our world for future generations. Additionally, we honor the 35 colleagues we lost on September 11th by supporting charities and causes that were important to them, said Dan.

Algers charitable efforts, including the Alger Candlelight Giving Program and the firms Matching Gift Program, are additional ways that Alger and its employees are dedicated to giving back to the community by creating meaningful volunteer opportunities and supporting those who are underserved. Algers Candlelight Giving Program was established in 2007 and is managed by Alger personnel. For a full list of Algers charitable efforts, visit Algers website.

About Alger

Founded in 1964, Alger is widely recognized as a pioneer of growth-style investment management. Privately-owned and headquartered in New York City with affiliate offices in Boston, Denver, and London, Alger provides U.S. and non-U.S. institutional investors and financial advisors access to a suite of growth equity separate accounts, mutual funds, ETFs, and privately offered investment vehicles. The firms investment philosophy, discovering companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change, has been in place for over 50 years. Weatherbie Capital, LLC, a Boston-based investment adviser specializing in small and mid-cap growth equity investing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alger. For more information, please visit http://www.alger.com.

About Billion Oyster Project

Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit organization on a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. Why oysters? Their reefs provide habitat for many marine species, have the ability to filter water, and help shield New York City shorelines from storm damage. Founded on the belief that restoration without education is temporary, and observing that learning outcomes improve when students have the opportunity to work on real restoration projects, Billion Oyster Project collaborates with public schools. The crew designs STEM curriculum for NYC schools through the lens of oyster restoration, and engages Urban Assembly New York Harbor School students in large-scale restoration projects, collects discarded oyster shells from 70 NYC restaurants, and engages the local community. The project has introduced 136 million oysters across 16 acres and 18 oyster restoration sites, with the help of nearly 12,000 students and more than 15,000 volunteers.

These ETFs are different from traditional ETFs.

Traditional ETFs tell the public what assets they hold each day. These ETFs will not. This may create additional risks for your investment. Specifically:

You may have to pay more money to trade the ETFs shares. These ETFs will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information.

The price you pay to buy ETF shares on an exchange may not match the value of the ETFs portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for these ETFs compared to other ETFs because they provide less information to traders.

These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions.

The differences between these ETFs and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about the ETFs confidential, these ETFs may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve the ETFs performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict the ETFs investment strategy, however, this may hurt the ETFs performance. For additional information regarding the unique attributes and risks of these ETFs, please refer to the prospectus.

The Fund is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. The Fund does not provide daily disclosure of its portfolio holdings, but instead provides a verified intraday indicative value (VIIV) calculated and disseminated every second throughout the trading day. The VIIV is designed to be a highly correlated per share value of the underlying portfolio, but there is a risk that market price of the Fund may vary significantly from its NAV. The VIIV Calculation Methodology and a historical daily comparison of the Funds VIIV to its NAV is available on http://www.alger.com. The Fund trading on the basis of a VIIV may trade at a wider bid/ask spread than ETFs that publish their portfolios on a daily basis, especially during periods of market disruption or volatility, and, therefore, may cost investors more to trade. Although the Fund seeks to benefit from keeping its portfolio information confidential, market participants may attempt to identify a Funds trading strategy, which, if successful, could result in such market participants engaging in certain predatory trading practices that may have the potential to harm the Fund and its shareholders. The Funds shares trade in the secondary market on NYSE Arca, Inc. and therefore may experience associated risks, such as the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares, losses from trading in secondary markets, periods of high volatility, and disruptions in the creation and/or redemption process of the Fund. Any of these factors may cause the Funds shares to trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Creations and redemptions in the Fund occur through an agent called an AP Representative who is not obligated to engage in creations or redemptions. The Fund may have a limited number of AP Representatives and if AP Representatives are not able to proceed with creations and/or redemptions the Funds shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting, and investors could experience significant losses as a result.

Risk Disclosures - Investing in the stock market involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks as their prices tend to be higher in relation to their companies earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political, and economic developments. Local, regional or global events such as environmental or natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases and similar public health threats, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on investments. A significant portion of assets may be invested in securities of companies in related sectors, and may be similarly affected by economic, political, or market events and conditions and may be more vulnerable to unfavorable sector developments. Investing in companies of small and medium capitalizations involves the risk that such issuers may have limited product lines or financial resources, lack management depth, or have limited liquidity. The Fund is classified as a non-diversified fund under federal securities laws because it can invest in fewer individual companies than a diversified fund. Assets may be focused in a small number of holdings, making them susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory event than a more diversified portfolio. Active trading may increase transaction costs, brokerage commissions, and taxes, which can lower the return on investment. At times, cash may be a larger position in the portfolio and may underperform relative to equity securities.

This material is not meant to provide investment advice and should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell securities. Alger pays compensation to third party marketers to sell various strategies to prospective investors.

Before investing, carefully consider the Funds investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses. For a prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information or for the Funds most recent month-end performance data, visit http://www.alger.com, call (800) 223-3810 or consult your financial advisor. Read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. Distributor: Fred Alger & Company, LLC. Listed on NYSE Arca, Inc. NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT BANK GUARANTEED. MAY LOSE VALUE.

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"We are delighted to continue supporting Admiral's claims digitalisation strategies and expanding our services and products for them," said Mark Barrett, Vice President UK Go To Market, Insurance Solutions, CoreLogic.

CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, is pleased to announce that UK insurer Admiral has expanded its collaboration with CoreLogic in digital claims management.

As part of the new agreement, Admirals Household Claims division has implemented CoreLogics suite of claims management solutions that enhances data services into their claims operations and Household supply chain.

By fully utilising CoreLogic's claims management technology, Admiral will gain advanced visibility and insights into their claims processes, helping with more informed decision-making about cost control and indemnity spend.

Furthermore, Admiral will benefit from improved visibility of supplier activity by bringing all claims participants onto a single platform to collaborate and communicate with each other. By having enhanced visibility, Admiral will be able to reduce claims lifecycles and minimise the number of "hand-offs" between suppliers, leading to a more efficient claims process.

In addition to the above benefits, Admiral's policyholders will continue to be front and centre in the claims process, using CoreLogic's award-winning LINKTM portal. This software module will increase customer engagement by empowering customers to have more control and visibility over their claims journey.

Mark Barrett, Vice President UK Go To Market, Insurance Solutions CoreLogic, said:

"We are delighted to continue supporting Admiral's claims digitalisation strategies and expanding our services and products for them. Their trust in our ability to deliver innovative technology solutions that meet the evolving needs of the insurance industry is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional service. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Admiral to create a seamless and efficient claims management process for their customers."

Rob Davies, Head of Complex at Admiral, commented:

"We are pleased to expand our collaboration with CoreLogic in claims management, as we strive to continue to provide excellent service and support to our customers and supply chain partners. CoreLogic's team has extensive practical experience in claims, and their understanding of the challenges involved in managing complex claims operations in a fast-changing industry sector is of utmost importance to us.

We believe that our collaboration with CoreLogic will enable us to continuously improve the claims journey for our customers. Together, we are committed to creating a more seamless, effortless, and positive claims experience by leveraging the latest technology solutions and expertise in the industry. We are confident that our collaboration will result in enhanced efficiency, cost control, and customer satisfaction."

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The companys combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information.

The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific.

For more information, please visit http://www.corelogic.com

CORELOGIC, LINK, and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Admiral


Dave Bent, senior vice president of operations, Distribution Division at ECI, will discuss modern ecommerce strategies, covering unique shopping and buying processes, for distributors.

WHAT

ECI Software Solutions, a global provider of cloud-based business management software and services, will participate in a panel discussion focused on best practices for modernizing ecommerce strategies for distributors, hosted by Distribution Strategy Group, a thought leadership, research and consulting services company created specifically for distributors.

The modern customer has unique shopping and buying process needsespecially in todays evolving ecommerce space, and theres a gap between what customers expect from websites and what distributors are offering. Dave Bent, senior vice president of operations, Distribution Division at ECI Software Solutions, will join Kristen Thom, director of product management at White Cup, and Pratik Chakraborty, CTO at Blue Meteor, to discuss How Distributors Should Modernize Their Ecommerce on a technology thought leadership panel.

During the webinar, attendees will learn:



Modern tips for improving their current ecommerce practices and elevating the customer experience

How technology tools can easily integrate systems, such as ERPs, BI and PIMs

The benefits for payment processing, such as managing quotes, providing multi-tiered pricing, supporting multiple PO numbers, etc.

Strategies for improving the customer experience, including offering faceted navigation, product comparisons and recently viewed items, providing seamless mobile access and allowing customers to access account detail

WHO

Dave Bent, senior vice president of operations, Distribution Division, ECI Software Solutions

Dave Bent is the SVP of operations within the Distribution Division of ECI Software Solutions. He has played a key role in the development and success of EvolutionX, ECI's industry leading B2B ecommerce platform. Bents career has spanned over four decades, including executive leadership roles at Essendent, Ford and ES Tech Group.

WHEN & WHERE

Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. PT/ Noon ET

To register for this free event, visit https://pages.distributionstrategy.com/acton/media/6612/how-distributors-should-modernize-their-ecommerce.

To learn more about ECIs B2B ecommerce platform for distributors, visit: https://www.evolutionx.io/.

About ECI Software Solutions

ECI Software Solutions provides cloud-based business software for running small and mid-sized businesses end to end. Built by experts in manufacturing, residential construction, field service, building supply, office technology and wholesale/retail distribution industries, ECIs industry-specific software connects businesses and customers, improving visibility, operational efficiency and profitability. With ECI, businesses seamlessly integrate sales and marketing, business intelligence, CRM, data and analytics, ecommerce, mobile apps and payment processing. With more than 30 years of industry leadership, ECI is trusted by 24,000 customers in more than 80 countries globally. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it has offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.ECIsolutions.com.
With 43% of cyberattacks targeting small businesses, and only 14% adequately prepared to defend themselves, protecting businesses from fraud, ransomware, and breaches is vital to their operations and revenue. Judy aims to ensure the safety and continuity of SMBs, preventing potential disruptions.

AaDya Security, a software company dedicated to making cybersecurity accessible and affordable for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced its transition to Judy Security, aptly named after Judy, the companys all-in-one cybersecurity software solution. Judy addresses the specific needs of SMBs, providing comprehensive protection against everyday cyber threats without the complexity or requirement for multiple products or extensive security teams.

With 33.2 million small businesses comprising 99.9% of all U.S. firms (SBA, 2022), many face challenges including lack of time, budget and the human resources to implement, manage and afford the range of security point products necessary for 24/7 digital asset protection. Furthermore, as enterprises impose stringent standards on their suppliers and vendors, and the federal government intensifies efforts to secure the supply chain, SMBs must also be prepared to demonstrate a strong security posture. However, these businesses have often been overlooked in favor of larger enterprises, leaving them grappling with costly and complex point products that their smaller teams cant effectively manage.

Proactive AI Manages, Monitors, Protects, and Informs

Enter Judy, a virtual cybersecurity assistant designed to help SMB teams work safely and efficiently while leveraging powerful, industry-leading technology to protect customer endpoints and environments. Harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Judy delivers 24/7 protection and support for companies that lack the time, expertise, and capital to implement these solutions on their own.

Unlike existing point products in the market, Judy's comprehensive suite of security features provides enterprise-grade protection at an affordable price for SMBs:



Endpoint Detection and Response

DNS Filtering

Password Manager

Judys Blue Team Cloud SIEM + XDR

Automated Compliance Management and Reporting

Secure Authentication

Security Awareness Training

With 43% of cyberattacks targeting small businesses, and only 14% adequately prepared to defend themselves, protecting businesses from fraud, ransomware, and breaches is vital to their operations and revenue. Judy aims to ensure the safety and continuity of SMBs, preventing potential disruptions, said Raffaele Mautone, CEO of Judy Security. "Cybersecurity protection shouldn't be a pain point for smaller businesses but rather an afterthought, seamlessly running in the background. Judy is the heart of our organization, shielding our partners and customers from everyday attacks, enabling them to work safer, smarter, and with reduced costs.

Created for SMBs and their Partners

Judy Security is dedicated to securing small and medium-sized businesses with more than just software development and profit margins in mind. The companys mission is to bring tangible value to an underserved sector and those who support it, offering service providers, value-added resellers, IT consultants, MSPs, and MSSPs - many of which are small businesses themselves - an easy-to-deploy and manage solution. By partnering with Judy Security, partners not only gain a healthy new revenue stream but also alleviate the burden on their teams while ensuring customer protection and satisfaction. A true win-win situation.

MSPs, MSSPs, value-added resellers, service providers or IT consultants serving SMBs should visit: http://www.judysecurity.ai/partnering to explore Judy Securitys partner program options.

To learn more and meet Judy, visit: https://www.aadyasecurity.com/meet-judy/.

About Judy Security (formerly AaDya Security)

Founded by cybersecurity veteran Raffaele Mautone in March 2019, and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Judy Security provides smart, simple, effective, and affordable cybersecurity software solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Judy, our all-in-one cybersecurity platform, leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to deliver next-generation, 24/7 protection, and support for companies who lack the time, expertise, and capital to successfully implement these solutions on their own.

For more information, visit: http://www.judysecurity.ai or follow Judy on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Crews work to move The Wellwood Store from the north end of the restaurant to the south end. At The Old Country Store, we want to provide services that make our Guests lives easier, and this is another way we can do that.

Brooks Shaws Old Country Store in the Casey Jones Village relocated the Wellwood Store this week, which begins the initial phase of construction on the restaurants new drive-thru service for guests, scheduled to open in late 2023.

Weve been discussing this for more than five years and officially in the planning phases for a little more than a year now, Old Country Store General Manager Brooks Shaw said. It was something my dad, Clark, and I discussed many times, but we didnt want to pull the trigger until we were confident in our plan to serve Guests quickly.

The drive-thru will be located on the northside of the building, off the Dixie Cafe, and will include two service windows in the buildings expanded north end. There will be a new front entrance for the Guests visiting Dixie Cafe. The Wellwood Store was relocated to the south end of the restaurant.

With site work plans approved by the City of Jackson, the expansion represents a million-dollar investment in facilities and jobs, the largest since they opened their newly constructed 4,000-square-foot kitchen in 2017. This is not only going to provide delicious Southern-Soul food with convenient service, but also will help the company continue to grow, hire great people, and reinvest in community events and activities, Shaw said. The goal is to open the drive-thru in late 2023. At The Old Country Store, we want to provide services that make our Guests lives easier, and this is another way we can do that.

The Wellwood Store is one of the historically significant buildings in Casey Jones Village. It was moved to the Village from its original location in Haywood County in the early 2000s, when Clark Shaw purchased the store as a tribute to his late father, his fathers generation, and the Wellwood community. The Shaw family credits the store as the inspiration for the Old Country Store, as it is where the original Brooks Shaw worked his first job.

Well attach the Wellwood Store to the dining room for a private dining space that we also can use on the busiest days like Mothers Day, Christmas Eve and some Sundays. While we can already seat and serve 300 Guests, this placement will provide comfortable seating for 50 more, Shaw said.

He is quick to point out having big dreams and plans is a part of the family legacy. My office, which was dads (Clarks) old office, is covered in hand-drawn sketches that he made of various ideas. I sit each day at my grandfathers (Brooks) desk and look at them. Dad not only left us a lot of great ideas, but also made sure the Old Country Store would survive and thrive after him. Shaw notes that ideas have never been a problem for the team that runs the Old Country Store.

Were just getting started.

Open daily year-round (except for Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and December 26th), Brooks Shaws Old Country Store includes the restaurant, Miss Annes Ice Cream Shoppe, Miss Juanitas Gift Shop and the Dixie Cafe Takeout or Dine-In at 56 Casey Jones Lane in Jackson, Tennessee. Individuals may learn more by visiting instagram.com/caseyjonesvillage, facebook.com/oldcountrystore and caseyjones.com or calling 731-668-1223.
Company logo She consistently brings new and innovative ideas to the table, and I look forward to seeing her insightful contributions drive Smiths advancement as she steps into this new position.

Smith, and leading global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces the appointment of Jennifer Kabbara to the position of President, Americas. In this role, Jennifer will support Smiths five Trading offices in the Americas region and work alongside her counterparts in EMEA and APAC to cohesively manage Smiths multinational network of suppliers and customers. She will focus on further developing the companys highly trained workforce and capitalize on its learning-management system to strengthen Smiths agility as the industry moves into the next demand cycle.

Smiths ingenuity and forward-thinking business strategy has created lasting impacts on the global semiconductor supply chain, said Jennifer. I am honored to take on this new opportunity to advance Smiths growth and continuous-improvement initiatives in the Americas region and around the world.

Jennifer joined Smith in 1994 as an International Account Representative. During her tenure, she has held numerous leadership positions, including her most recent role as Director of Global Sales, which she has held since 2021. Jennifer was also named one of Supply & Demand Chain Executives Women in Supply Chain honorees in 2021 in recognition of her leadership and mentorship within the semiconductor industry.

Time and again, Jennifer has demonstrated her commitment to Smiths success through her cultivation of our elite learning and development program and effective collaboration across our global Trading teams, said Marc Barnhill, Chief Executive Officer at Smith. She consistently brings new and innovative ideas to the table, and I look forward to seeing her insightful contributions drive Smiths advancement as she steps into this new position.

About Smith

Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and automobiles. In 19 cities around the world, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, generating global annual sales in excess of $4.7 billion in 2022. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. The support of Smiths flexible Intelligent Distribution model optimizes customers supply chains from beginning to end, including offering customized options for IT asset disposition that deliver maximum ROI, sustainability, and security. Smiths testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, and Singapore cover critical areas like quality management, counterfeit prevention, and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time, global inventory and logistics visibility. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number six among all global distributors. For more information, please visit http://www.smithweb.com or reach out to a Smith representative any time of day at +1 713.430.3000.
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TCN

TCNs ARM industry experts will provide practical insights on healthcare early-out operation and intelligent virtual agents during panel discussions.

WHAT

The ACA International Convention & Expo 2023 brings together credit and collection industry experts, pioneers and innovators to communicate and collaborate through various educational sessions and seminars in Chicago on July 26-28. TCN, a global provider of a comprehensive cloud-based call center platform for enterprises, contact centers, BPOs, and collection agencies, will host a booth to demonstrate its latest platform, and its executives will speak on two expert panels during the event.

Scott Brownlee, product engineering manager at TCN, will speak at a session, titled The Benefits and Traps of Building a Healthcare Early-Out Operation. Along with other industry veterans, Brownlee will examine the dynamic between the healthcare industry and service providers in the Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) industry, how to effectively develop an EO operation, leverage KPIs and identify what critical resources to use.

Bryce Payne, vice president of business development at TCN, will speak at a session, titled Intelligent Virtual Agents: Navigating the Challenges of Debt Collection. Staffing shortages in the ARM industry have prompted providers to take a look at intelligent virtual agents (IVA) in recent years. In the session, Payne will discuss TCNs 25 years of experience serving the financial services industry, how to effectively employ IVA, AI and automation in a contact center and more.

WHEN & WHERE

Hilton Chicago Hotel

ACA International Convention & Expo 2023

720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

Scott Brownlees The Benefits and Traps of Building a Healthcare Early-Out Operation session will be held:

Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023

Time: 8 to 9 a.m. CT

Bryce Paynes Intelligent Virtual Agents: Navigating the Challenges of Debt Collection session will be held:

Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023

Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT

To learn more about the event, visit: https://www.acainternational.org/events/convention-2023/.

About TCN

TCN is a global provider of a comprehensive, cloud-based call center platform for enterprises, contact centers, business process outsourcing firms (BPOs) and collection agencies. Founded in 1999, TCN combines a deep understanding of the needs of call centers with a unique approach to pricing  no contracts, monthly minimums or maintenance fees  that supports rapid scaling and instant flexibility to changing business needs. TCNs flagship platform for contact centers, TCN Operator, features a holistic set of easy-to-use, automated agent tools and advanced apps for omnichannel communications, workforce engagement, compliance & data management, integration & automation, intelligence, reporting & analytics and collaboration & accessibility. Its suite of compliance tools helps businesses meet the requirements of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and other state and federal regulations, including new and updated debt collection rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. TCN Operator integrates seamlessly with leading APIs and is accessible to agents with visual impairments. TCN is trusted by Fortune 500 companies and enterprises of all sizes in multiple industries in many countries. For more information, visit http://www.tcn.com and follow on Twitter @tcn.
Discovering Fire Service II: The Other Side By John Owens CEO This journal was written to give firefighters, fire buffs and anyone interested in firefighting history, a summary of how firefighting has improved through hundreds of years of trial and error, said Owens.

While fire has been essential to the development of civilization, it also has been known to be a villain. A new journal focuses on that latter tendency, highlighting the stages of firefighting and the development of fire departments, starting with volunteers and eventually to paid firefighters.

In Discovering Fire Service II: The Other Side, author John Owens CEO, shares when the first piece of fire equipment was developed through present day manufacturing. This journal contains general information on design features and situations that can overwhelm firefighters with some of the best and current equipment presently manufactured. It also includes an introduction to maintenance and inspection of fire apparatus, including ground ladders.

This journal was written to give firefighters, fire buffs and anyone interested in firefighting history, a summary of how firefighting has improved through hundreds of years of trial and error, said Owens, resulting in safer equipment, improved maintenance, inspections and training for firefighters.

Owens began designing fire apparatus, cranes and derricks at age 19, and was later certified by the U.S. Department of Labor O.S.H.A. for crane and derrick inspections. For 20 years, his company, Professional Testing, Inc., performed third-party inspections of firefighting apparatus and equipment for safety and even played a role in their design. In 1975, Owens developed the Fire Department Aerial Apparatus Inspection Program.

Discovering Fire Service II: The Other Side

By John Owens CEO

ISBN: 9781665734196 (softcover); 9781665734202 (hardcover); 9781665734219 (electronic)

Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

John Owens is the CEO of Professional Testing Corp., a certified crane and apparatus inspector, designer of fire apparatus, and has assisted in developing third-party testing for fire apparatus. He attended a private engineering and drafting School, along with 6 months at a trade school for descriptive geometry and calculus. He later attended Cyprus College, Cypress, CA., for additional schooling. In 1978, he started Professional Testing, Inc. Owens was married for 32 years and raised 3 beautiful girls. To learn more, please visit http://www.discoveringfireserviceii.com.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) has received 1,493 requests from entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan to date, Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the 35th Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) in Baku.

According to Mammadov, 490 of the requests were made by foreign companies from 37 countries.

"Liberated areas of Azerbaijan also offer vast opportunities and we are ready to coordinate requests from investors from member countries of ICCIA, wishing to conduct business activities in the Karabakh region in the future," he noted.

In this regard, the official mentioned three main directions within the activities of agency in the liberated areas - delivering information about investment opportunities to local and foreign investors, collecting requests, regarding to establishing new businesses, and supporting the creation of primary business infrastructure.

About 100 delegations from 20 member countries are represented at the 35th Meeting of the Board of Directors of ICCIA. Extended delegations and entrepreneurs from a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt, will take part in panels on various topics, presentations of the economic potential of countries, and B2B (business-to-business) meetings in Baku for two days. Besides, they will visit several major agricultural enterprises and sign a number of cooperation documents.
Alstom has signed a framework contract with the European rolling stock leasing company Akiem to supply 100 Traxx Universal multi-system (MS3) locomotives.

The agreement is worth up to 500 million euros, with the firm part of the order being for 65 locomotives.

With this agreement, Akiem is confirming its leadership in the European leasing market and its aim to contribute to the rail market's accelerating activities, with major investment between France and 12 other European countries.

Traxx multi-system locomotives feature optimised energy consumption and are suitable for both freight and passenger operations at a speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Some of the locomotives will also come with a diesel engine or battery-powered to enable last-mile operation ports, terminals, or industrial sites without requiring a shunting locomotive.

All locomotives will be fitted with the ATLAS signalling system, which is Alstom's solution for the European Train Control System (ETCS). This system is suitable for most countries and lines, both in ETCS and legacy system operation, and superior two-out-of-three architecture.

The locomotives are scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2028, with final assembly at Alstom's site in Kassel in Germany.

Kevin Cogo, Vice-President, Rolling Stock, Locomotives & Components, Alstom DACH, said: We are very proud that Akiem extends their locomotive fleet with their biggest single order of Traxx locomotives for an important number of countries. Thanks to this agreement, both Akiem and Alstom will reinforce their strong position for locomotives in various corridors including their home market.

Fabien Rochefort, CEO of Akiem added Akiem is thrilled to place this new order with Alstom. We are constantly investing in our locomotive portfolio to serve our customers and develop new market positions. This stock investments will allow to offer new efficient and sustainable routes which will contribute to increase the modal shift towards rail in Europe.

55 locomotives as part of this order will operate from France towards Europe in a context when no deliveries were experienced for the past decade. We are intending to contribute to the rejuvenation of rail Freight and intercity passenger transport in France and ease innovation and competition with the support of our maintenance and service teams.

PCC Intermodel in Poland has recently taken delivery of four new Alstom Traxx 3 multisystem locomotives. Earlier this year Alstom won an order for 15 Traxx locomotives from Railpool, another European leasing company.
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"Sharp Walker Gold #2"OR 106301442 TOWNSHIP 23 SOUTH, RANGE 1 WEST SECTION 2, WILLAMETTE MERIDIAN DIRECTIONS TO YOUR CLAIM: (42.596495-122.765225) Take Cottage Grove exit 174 from interstate highway 5 turning left on Row River Road and follow signs to Dorena Lake approximately 4 miles. Continue straight on shoreline drive for 6.6 miles to rejoin Row River road with the covered bridgeto the right. Continue traveling East for 4.2 miles to Sharps Creek Road on the right. Continue on Sharps Creek Ro...

Price: $ 961 Seller State of Residence: Oregon Type: Recreational, Acreage Property Address: Walker Creek Road Zip/Postal Code: 97434 Zoning: Unpatented City: Dorena State/Province: Oregon Location: 974**, Dorena, Oregon

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INVEST IN THE BEAUTIFUL GULF COAST TWO GREAT LOTS IF YOU WANT TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE THIS IS YOUR BEST OPPORTUNITY $100 PER MONTH = MAXIMUM LEVERAGETHERE ARE NO FINANCING CHARGES BAY SAINT LOUIS #5 on the USATODAY LIST OF BEST SMALL COASTAL TOWNS This property is close to both the Gulf of Mexico and Saint Louis Bay. It is just north highway 603 and Highway 90 in Bay Saint Louis Mississippi. You are just 60 miles east of New Orleans and it is all interstate driving. This subdivision has people ...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Illinois Type: 2 Lots Property Address: P O Box 84 Maryville, IL Zip/Postal Code: 62062 Zoning: Residential City: Bay Saint Louis State/Province: Mississippi Location: 620**, Maryville, Illinois

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Beautiful land with 0.43 acres. No restrictions. Residential area. Street with all infrastructure. Good schools. No flood way zone. Good neighborhood. Good investment area. Market value: $20,400....

Price: $ 14,999 Seller State of Residence: North Carolina Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 7799 Martin Luther King Dr Zip/Postal Code: 35094 Zoning: Residential City: Leeds State/Province: Alabama Location: 282**, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Children lost in flooding as US endures extreme weather, from smoke up north to heat in the West

Extreme weather conditions enveloped the U.S. Monday as the East Coast recovered from flooding, sizzling temperatures beset the West and several northern states contended with unsafe air quality from Canadian wildfires
Better than expected performance in June quarter of the 2023-24 financial year (Q1FY24) and a robust outlook led to 1.2 per cent gain in Titan Company stock on Friday (July 7).

Photograph: Courtesy, Titan

The firm reported 20 per cent growth in revenues, aided by double-digit rise in its major consumer segments.

Jewellery, its largest segment, accounting for about 90 per cent of its sales, stood out with a growth of 21 per cent over the year ago quarter.

Its revenue growth over the last five years stood at 22.6 per cent while the same over the last four years was at 24.8 per cent, points out Motilal Oswal Research.

Revenues in the segment, which exclude bullion sales, were almost double that that of estimates.

While there was volatility in gold prices, sales performance was led by Akshay Tritiya in April and the wedding season in June.

Buyer (volume) growth was higher than average ticket size growth in Q1FY24.

The company highlighted that key categories of gold and studded jewellery grew well with no notable change in the overall product mix.

In addition to this, opening of new stores, golden harvest and exchange programs continued to do well during the quarter, it added.

In the jewellery segment, it added 18 new stores, taking the total to 559.

The jewellery performance was encouraging at a time when there was a significant rise in gold prices, pointed out Amnish Aggarwal, head of research, Prabhudas Lilladher Research.

From its lows in March, gold prices in Mumbai were up 12 per cent to its peak in May before shedding half the gains.

The brokerage has a buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 3,242 a share.

While overall growth in the watches and wearables segment was up 13 per cent, it was led by an 84 per cent growth in wearables.

The company added 26 new stores across formats taking the total to 1,031 stores.

In the quarter, higher growth among channels came from Helios, large format stores and e-commerce.

The eyecare segment reported a growth of 10 per cent, aided by better growth from the trade channel as compared to Titan Eye+.

The company added seven new stores in the quarter, taking the total in the segment to 908 stores.

Most brokerages remain bullish about the prospects of the largest listed jewellery player.

The company, according to Motilal Oswal Research, has ample opportunities for growth, given its sub-10 per cent market share in jewellery and the ongoing challenges faced by its unorganised and organised peers.

The brokerage has a buy rating with a target price of Rs 3,325.

At the current price, the stock, which has gained 22 per cent over the last three months, is trading at 70 times its FY24 earnings estimates.

Given the single, mid-single digit returns from the current price, investors can consider the company on dips.
Ultimately quotas kill talent and true meritocracy, argues R Jagannathan.

We are having the wrong kind of conversations on inclusion and inequity, both in India and abroad.

In the US, the Supreme Court just handed down a 6-3 verdict outlawing race-based affirmative action programmes in two educational institutions, Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

But even as the courts are reversing decades of 'progressive law-making', politicians are trying to include caste as one more kind of discrimination.

They are thus importing an Indian problem into the US, even as their judiciary is saying race cannot be the entire basis for affirmative action.

In India, we are going in the opposite direction, with quotas now officially breaching the 49 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case.

The limit was side-stepped recently by another Bench that validated the additional 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections.

There is now talk of doing a census on 'other backward classes' (OBCs), which will inevitably lead to another expansion of the quota limit.

This is not about whether the US is right or India is wrong.

In our blind effort to ensure some kind of 'cosmic justice' -- a phrase used by Thomas Sowell, an American economist and public intellectual -- to those we consider underprivileged, we are refusing to confront the real challenges of countering social and economic backwardness.

By mollycoddling some groups with ill-thought-out quotas that have no terminal date, we may actually be dehumanising them by inculcating a permanent sense of victimhood, doing long-term damage to their individual sense of self-worth.

Woke liberals abroad, most of them whites, would like to believe that racism and exploitation are structural in nature, and can be remedied only by reversing the discrimination in favour of non-whites.

In India, we believe the same. We want caste-based inequities to end, but have concluded, without any concrete evidence, that the only way to do so is through quotas, reservations and active discrimination against the previously privileged.

We have now permanently embedded caste into every aspect of public life. How is this progress?

Nobody should question the need for inclusion or greater equity, but why is it that even centuries after the European enlightenment, the American Civil War, our own endless war on 'casteism', and the ever-present Marxist critique of inequality, we don't have better alternatives to quotas and affirmative action?

Let us start with a phrase Marx popularised in a 1875 letter to the Social Democratic Workers Party of Germany, with which he was associated.

He summarised the ultimate goal of Communism in one line: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!

This is a remarkable line, not only because it seems to say something profound, but because in practice Marxism has focused more on the second half of the maxim, the redistributive aspect.

Marx believed that his ideal state of a non-exploitative society will be achieved only after the proletariat takes control, but we know that 'dictatorship of the proletariat' does not achieve either of both ends -- maximising individual abilities while meeting everybody's needs.

Ultimately, it only ensured the creation of a new exploitative elite, not an egalitarian society.

Marx also failed to ask a more basic question: Can an individual optimise his abilities in a dictatorship, where the focus is on the collective and not the individual? This is a question that all social justice warriors must ask themselves today.

The problem with woke liberalism, which is really a mutated and mutilated version of the Marxist ideal, is that it buys into the oppressor-victim logic of Marxism.

While it may not recommend dictatorship, it comes close by seeking to cancel those it disagrees with.

The US and Indian liberal establishments are essentially seeking a dictatorship of ideas to push their own agendas forward. They are shrinking diversity, not expanding it.

Let's go back to the Marxist ideal. The question is how do we maximise the individual's ability to contribute even while taking care of those whose contributions may be less substantial.

The end-goal ought to be a balanced, stable, compassionate and caring society, not the victory or defeat of an ideology.

Justice cannot be equal outcomes for unequals, where every profession or institution must have a proportionate sprinkling of individuals based on group identities, not individual contributions and competence.

That is the road to mediocrity, not justice.

The questions to ask are: Can any society optimise its productive capabilities without balancing the twin goals of inclusion and meritocracy? Did the greatest companies, or organisations, or societies get built by ignoring merit in the pursuit of inclusion and equity? Did our IITs, IIMs, ISRO, HDFC Bank or Infosys become world-class by ignoring meritocracy?

We must also ask: What exactly is merit? Does it mean the ability to use your best talent, or the ability to cross an artificial bar set by a difficult examination? If we, for example, equate merit with those who crack IIT-JEE, NEET or CAT, we are reducing merit to a specific set of attributes.

But many IIT engineers end up doing software jobs and not high-quality engineering work.

In short, we are not really selecting for merit and engineering talent, but equating eligibility for a high-paying job with merit.

In a 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules, authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman suggest that the world's greatest managers find their best performers not through such neutral examination systems, but by noting how individuals are best able to use their innate talents for the specific jobs that need such talent.

In this ideal system, a talented individual, say, a good salesman, is not rewarded by being promoted to vice-president (sales) or even CEO, but rewarded better for continuing the thing he does best.

This is what comes close to the Marxist ideal of getting the best from every individual.

True meritocracies tend to create hierarchies of talent and productivity, not hierarchies of power.

Inclusion and equity are best achieved not by focusing on quotas and non-performance metrics, but by identifying which talent is best suited to achieve the best outcome for each individual and the job at hand.

It is not about artificially inserting a student with weaker math skills in engineering, or asking someone with poor language skills to teach English because there are not enough members from some community in the English department.

The truly talented among the underprivileged need mentoring, financial support and supportive networks to compete with the best, not endless quotas and reservations.

They need to be encouraged to become entrepreneurs, not depend endlessly on deadbeat government jobs.

For seven decades now, we have constantly sent the message that group identity matters for jobs.

What, then, is the subliminal message we are sending on the importance of individual effort and upskilling?

Can we replace discrimination with elite condescension and call this 'progress?'

One cannot quote a better example than Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose tremendous social and intellectual contributions were the result of his own efforts, with marginal support from well-wishers.

Quotas may be inevitable for some time, but ultimately quotas kill talent and true meritocracy.

We must start pilot projects and experiments to create better alternatives for a post-quota future. Quotas will not create the next Ambedkar.

R Jagannathan is editorial director, Swarajya magazine

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Somebody strong is playing a game behind the violence in Manipur.'

'It is a pre-planned attack on churches, Christian organisations and Christians.'

IMAGE: The police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse a crowd gathered near the Bharatiya Janata Party's regional office in Imphal, June 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Only recently the Catholic church in Kerala was criticised in some quarters for getting closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

It seems the friendship has ended as soon as it started.

While the official spokesperson for the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council sharply criticised the BJP government for the attacks on Christian institutions in Manipur, the archbishop of Thalassery in north Kerala likened the violence in Manipur to the violent riots in Gujarat in 2002.

"Why is it that only one community is the target of all the violence? Had it been a conflict between two ethnic communities, there would be damage on both sides. But only churches were destroyed," Father Jacob G Palackappilly, deputy secretary general, Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in the first of a two-part interview:

When did you get the news that the violence in Manipur is aimed at the Christian community?

What we heard first was that the conflict was between two tribes, and since this has been going on for decades, we thought the violence would slowly end.

When the violence prolonged for days and weeks, we got the message from Christian religious leaders in Manipur that the target of violence had been the churches, Christian institutions and Christians as a whole.

It was through some journalists who visited the state that the world came to know what exactly was happening there.

We became very concerned when we were told Christians belonging to both the Meiteis and Kukis were being attacked. When we got in touch with church leaders there, we heard the same thing.

Have they been very nervous and anxious?

Not just anxious, they had to escape from where they were. The Kuki Christians went up the hills and the Meiteis moved to the valley.

It was a kind of exodus from where they were stationed.

The Kerala MP, Hibi Eden, said that even BJP Christian MLAs and BJP Christian supporters felt insecure there.

This is a very worrying situation for all of us.

IMAGE: MPs Hibi Eden, left, and Daniel Kuriakose at a church that was attacked in Manipur. Photograph: Kind courtesy Hibi Eden

Do you think it is a deliberate attack on the Christian community?

It's like what happened in Kandhamal in Odisha in 2007. There was a planned attack against Christians then after some Hindu organisations spread negative propaganda against the Christian community.

A similar negative campaign is taking place against one community in Manipur.

Who is behind such a campaign?

We don't want to name anyone. We want to say there is a negative campaign by some vested interest groups.

It is the duty of journalists to find out who these vested interest groups are.

In fact, the government itself should expose them.

The truth is, somebody strong is playing a game behind the violence in Manipur.

It is a pre-planned attack on churches, Christian organisations and Christians.

By destroying all the structures belonging to one community, somebody wants to wipe out any trace of that community from the history of that place.

How can you say that this is not done consciously and with a motive?

Why is it that only one community is the target of all the violence?

Had it been a conflict between two ethnic communities, there would be damage on both sides. But only churches were destroyed.

If it is not a pre-planned attack, how is it that in just two nights, 246 churches were burnt down?

IMAGE: Father Jacob G Palackappilly IMAGE: Father Jacob G Palackappilly

Is the state government turning a blind eye to what is happening to the Christian community?

My question is, when our Constitution talks about treating everyone equally, who wants to erase us, our traditions and practises from Indian society?

More than 35,000 army personnel are posted in Manipur. Then there is also the state police and Assam Rifles.

Still, why is it that Christians and our churches are being attacked?

Unless you order them to act, what is the use of the presence of all these personnel?

We just can't believe that women are looting the Indian Army and leaving with their weapons.

Why are the authorities not asking the armed forces to act effectively?

Why are the authorities keeping silent?

It shows the elected state government, which is obliged to safeguard both people and their possessions, has failed miserably.

Prime Minister Modi has not said anything though it has been two months since the violence started in Manipur.

It is very cruel. The prime minister's silence is frightening. Why is he silent? Who is forcing him to keep quiet?

How can a prime minister sit idle and remain silent when people are being brutally murdered? When he is sitting in a responsible position to serve people, how can he keep silent?

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas leader Chirag Paswan has decided to return to the National Democratic Alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party chief J P Nadda announced on Monday, hours after Paswan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day before the crucial meeting of the ruling coalition.

IMAGE: Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas Chief Chirag Paswan meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo

'I met Chirag Paswan ji in Delhi. He has decided to join the NDA alliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. I welcome him to the NDA family,' Nadda said on Twitter and posted photographs of his meeting with Paswan.

Paswan had been in talks with the BJP for finalising his party's share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for 2024 and the meeting is being seen as part of that exercise.

'Had a positive discussion with the country's Home Minister respected Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi on issues related to the alliance,' Paswan said in a tweet after meeting Shah.

Later, Shah said in a tweet that he and Paswan had an extensive discussion about Bihar politics.

Following his talks with Shah and Nadda, Paswan also tweeted that his party has accepted the invitation to join the NDA meeting under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

Union minister Nityanand Rai, a senior BJP leader from Bihar, had earlier met Paswan twice.

The undivided LJP under late stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, had contested six Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and also received a Rajya Sabha seat as part of its seat-sharing deal with the BJP.

The young leader wants the BJP to stick to the same arrangement despite a division in his party, with another faction, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, headed by his uncle and Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras already a part of the ruling alliance.

Chirag Paswan has emphasised on clarity from the BJP about his share of Lok Sabha and also assembly seats in Bihar before formalising their alliance, sources in the LJP-R said.

He also wants the BJP to concede to him the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, a pocket borough of his father for decades but currently represented by Paras in Parliament.

His uncle has also staked claim to the seat, asserting that he and not Chirag is the late leader's political heir.

The BJP has also been working to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides, with Rai meeting the Union minister as well.

Even though Paras got the support of all other four MPs of the party except Chirag Paswan, his nephew is seen to have largely succeeded in inheriting the support of the vote bank loyal to his father.

Since the split with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United, the BJP has been keen to bring Paswan back to its side as it works to bolster its strength in the politically crucial state.

Paswan had walked out of the NDA during the 2020 assembly polls in the state due to his opposition to Kumar, then a BJP ally.

He has, however, been supportive of the BJP on key issues.
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted searches at the premises of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining, official sources said.

IMAGE: Enforcement Directorate officials search Tamil Nadu Minister K Ponmudy's residence in Villupuram district. . Photograph: ANI

The 72-year-old minister was late night taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to its office at Haddows Road in Chennai for a detailed session of questioning.

The agency, according to the sources, has seized fixed deposit receipts of Rs 41.9 crore, around Rs 70 lakh cash and some foreign currency, including pounds (worth about Rs 8-10 lakh), from the linked premises of the minister.

Ponmudy is the second minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister M K Stalin to come under the scanner of the federal probe agency after Senthil Balaji.

Balaji, who was the Tamil Nadu electricity and prohibition minister, was raided and arrested by the ED in June as part of an alleged cash-for-jobs linked money laundering case investigation pertaining to his earlier stint as the state's transport minister.

The raids were undertaken at the premises of the father-son duo in state capital Chennai and in Ponmudy's stronghold of Villupuram, the sources said.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) dubbed the action 'political vendetta'.

The ED teams were escorted by armed personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

They also made seizures of some documents containing details of around two mines each owned by Sigamani and his brother-in-law and one such alleged benami asset.

The agency, as per the sources, has also seized documents that link them to an Indonesia-based mining company and sale transactions worth more than Rs 100 crore.

Sources said these funds were brought back to the country and some alleged benami assets were purchased later.

The minister is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur Assembly seat in Villupuram district, while his 49-year old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat.

The ED, in 2020, had issued an order for seizing about Rs 8.6 crore worth assets of Sigamani for alleged contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by way of 'illegally acquiring foreign security and non-repatriation of foreign exchange earned abroad'.

It was not known immediately about the further adjudication proceedings of this seizure under FEMA.

Reacting to the raids, DMK president Stalin said the ED has joined the 'election campaign'.

The case against Ponmudy is a 'false case' that was foisted on him nearly 13 years ago during the late J Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, he told reporters in Chennai before leaving for Bengaluru to take part in the Congress-led opposition meet.

"As regards Tamil Nadu, Governor R N Ravi is already conducting a poll campaign for us and now, the ED has joined (the poll scene) and I feel the election work for us will be easy," Stalin said.

"The DMK is not worried a wee bit," he said of the ED searches. Such an action by the ED was 'usual, ordinary and a drama' enacted to divert attention, he added.

The money laundering case is linked to alleged irregularities when Ponmudy was the state mining minister (between 2007 and 2011) and there were allegations of violation of quarry licence conditions leading to loss of more than Rs 28 crore to the exchequer.

The state police had filed a complaint to probe these charges of against the minister and those linked to him, and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief.

The minister is accused of obtaining mining/quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licencees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit.

The high court said there were grounds to presume that the petitioner has committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told PTI that the ED raids were a 'political vendetta and aimed at testing the DMK's resolve'.

There has been no action from central authorities against AIADMK leaders on graft cases such as the one involving the Gutka scandal, he alleged.

DMK's allies the Congress and the Left parties were among the outfits that strongly condemned the ED action. Also, parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party, opposed to the BJP, also hit out at the Centre.
Top leaders of 26 opposition parties were arriving in Bengaluru on Monday for a two-day brainstorming session with a call for unity and are expected to chalk out their joint programme aimed at defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others during the Opposition leaders' dinner meeting, in Bengaluru on Monday. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

'United We Stand' is the slogan on posters that dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M K Stalin and leaders of Left and some regional outfits.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in the Karnataka capital on a special plane and were received at the airport by state chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with Rashrtiya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav also reached later in the afternoon.

A warm welcome was also accorded in Bengaluru to other leaders like former chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (People's Democratic Party), besides Sitaram Yechury (Communist Party of India-Marxist), D Raja (Communist Party of India) and Jayant Chaudhary (Rashtriya Lok Dal).

The Congress asserted that Opposition unity would be 'a game changer' for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the National Democratic Alliance which had become a 'ghost'.

The Opposition meeting coincides with the NDA meeting convened on July 18 in Delhi, where some new allies are likely to join the ruling BJP-led coalition.

Talks of unity notwithstanding, differences among opposition parties, especially those who have been traditional rivals remain, and reconciling political interests will be a challenging task.

Arriving for the Opposition meet, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury ruled out any alliance with the TMC in West Bengal and said that secular parties along with the Left and the Congress will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in the state.

Yechury, however, added that the endeavour is to reduce the split in opposition votes and they will chalk out a plan to fight together.

The BJP, which has been targeting these parties over their differences, on Monday called it a 'meeting of opportunists and power-hungry' leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future.

But Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said the 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people's problems and to address the concerns over this 'dictatorial government's actions'.

Sources said the opposition leaders will firm up a strategy to defeat the BJP in the next general elections during the two-day session, which will start with a dinner meeting that will be attended by Sonia Gandhi and other top leaders.

Mamata Banerjee is not likely to attend the dinner due to an injury.

The opposition leaders will begin work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan, besides holding discussions on issuing a joint declaration and moving forward on their proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats.

The agenda for the talks would be finalised during discussions before a dinner meeting on Monday evening.

Congress president Kharge said all opposition alliance partners will unitedly fight against the BJP and thwart attempts to divide them.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition, then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together.

Referring to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on Tuesday, Kharge claimed that seeing the Opposition getting together, the BJP was 'rattled'.

"The PM had said 'main akela kaafi hoon saare Opposition ke liye' while speaking in Rajya Sabha, then why is he bringing together 30 parties. Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission."

Addressing a press conference ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA.

"So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it," Ramesh said.

This is a result of the meeting in Patna, he added.

Venugopal said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights and the independence of institutions in this country.

The Parliament session is starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

"We are very sure that this (meeting) is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario," Venugopal said.

Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, "We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don't worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country."

Referring to his party's differences with the TMC, CPI-M leader Yechury said the situation is different in every state.

"The effort is to ensure that in these situations the division of votes which gives BJP the advantage should be minimal. This is not a new thing. Like in 2004, the Left had 61 seats, out of which we won 57 defeating the Congress candidates...then the Manmohan Singh government was formed and it ran for 10 years.

"Mamata and CPI-M will not happen. There will be secular parties along with the Left and the Congress in West Bengal which will fight against the BJP and TMC," the CPI-M general secretary said, adding that at the Centre what form this will take will be decided later.

Yechury referred to the 2004 model which brought the Left-Congress coalition to power at the Centre.

Fifteen parties including the Congress, the TMC, the AAP, the CPI, the CPI-M, the RJD, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the NCP, the Shiv Sena-UBT, the SP and the Janata Dal-United, 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," Venugopal said.

The total strength of the opposition parties attending this meet is around 150 in the Lok Sabha.

Among the parties which will be added this time are the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the CPI-ML, the Forward Bloc, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Kerala Congress-Joseph and the Kerala Congress-Mani, besides the Apna Dal-Kamerawadi of Krishna Patel and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) led by M H Jawahirullah.

The Opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the violence-marred West Bengal panchayat polls.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The Entrepreneurship Development Fund of Azerbaijan has provided a concessional loan to Vitrum LLC, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov tweeted, Trend reports.

"The Entrepreneurship Development Fund of Azerbaijan has allocated 340,000 manat ($200,000) in concessional loans to Vitrum LLC for a project for the development of the glass industry," the minister said.

The Entrepreneurship Development Fund financed 2,726 investment projects in 2022. In total, the Fund has issued concessional loans in the amount of 145.9 million manat ($85.8 million).

According to the Fund, a total of 87.1 million manat ($51.2 million) of the issued loans are for the production of agricultural products, 37.3 million manat ($21.9 million) - for the production and processing of industrial goods, 9.1 million manat ($5.3 million) - for tourism and 12.4 million manat ($7.2 million) - for other industries.
An Independent Rajya Sabha MP on Monday lodged a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party leader has made a "hate speech" against the 'Miya' community on the previous day.

IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Photograph: ANI Photo

The state Trinamool Congress has written to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud seeking judicial action against Sarma also for the same remark against the Miya' community, a term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims of Assam.

Sarma, while responding to reporters' questions last week on the high price of vegetables in Guwahati, had said, "Vegetables are not priced so high in villages. Here the Miya vendors charge us more. Had it been Assamese vendors selling vegetables, they wouldn't have fleeced their own people."

"I will clear all the footpaths of Guwahati and I urge our Assamese people to come forward and start their businesses," he added.

While AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said Miyas' have been hurt' by the chief minister's comment, the Congress and other opposition parties sniffed a collusion between the BJP and the AIUDF in communal politics' ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.

Miya' is originally a pejorative term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam. In recent years, activists from the community have started adopting this word in a gesture of defiance.

Independent Rajya Sabha MP from the state Ajit Bhuyan said the complaint, filed at Dispur police station here, was regarding certain statement made by Constitutional functionaries of our state which are clearly hate speeches against a particular community.

Bhuyan claimed that such remarks are intended to create a division among different communities in the state and are prejudicial to national integration.

A closer look at the statement would make it clear that the intention is to promote enmity between different groups on the ground of religion and race, he said in the complaint, adding that some other ministers and MLAs have also reiterated the CM's statement.

Mentioning a recent Supreme Court direction for cases against hate speeches, Bhuyan sought registration of a case under Sarma under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and investigate the matter and to take action.

While the Dispur police has received the complaint, it is yet to register an FIR against the chief minister, sources said.

Assam TMC president Ripun Bora, in a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court D Y Chandrachud, prayed for action against Sarma for his hate speech' made against the Miya' community and initiation of suo motu contempt proceeding against the Assam government.

He maintained that Sarma's statement could not only provoke a section of people but also incite communal hatred.

Bora, a former Rajya Sabha MP, contended that the government of Assam should have taken steps for registering a case in this connection.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to rise above 'political bickering' and discuss who could head the national capital's power regulator Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), saying the two constitutional functionaries should get down to 'serious work of governance' away from glare of publicity.

IMAGE: Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during an event in New Delhi on June 8, 2023. Photograph: Ayush Sharma/ANI Photo

In a bid to break the ongoing deadlock over naming a retired judge for the DERC post, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha suggested that the chief minister and the LG should meet and sit down together on Tuesday and reach a consensus either on one name or may exchange three names each.

"The two constitutional functionaries have to rise above political bickering and they should give a name for the post of DERC chairperson."

The bench then fixed for Thursday the plea of the Delhi government over the issue of appointment of the chairperson of the DERC.

"Does everything have to be run through the Supreme Court?" it asked, adding that 'with a degree of diplomacy and statesmanship, the solution can be found'.

"There is so much work of government that has to be done away from the glare of publicity and the glare of public space. I think both the functionaries should get down to serious work of governance and let both of them sit down together tomorrow...

"We are not so much concerned with the appointment of the DERC chairperson which will be done. We are at the larger issue. If both of them sit together, talk to each other as constitutional functionaries, I am sure this can be done. Please share the message to both of them that this is what the Supreme Court expects should be done by them," the CJI said.

The apex court had said on July 4 that it will examine the constitutional validity of a provision of the Centre's recent ordinance governing appointments such as that of the DERC chairperson even as the Delhi government informed it that the oath taking of Justice (retd) Umesh Kumar as chief of the national capital's electricity regulatory authority stands deferred. Justice Kumar is a former judge of the Allahabad high court.

The appointment of Justice Kumar as the DERC chairperson has become yet another flashpoint in the turf war between the city's AAP government and the Centre.

At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the ordinance over the services was going to be presented before Parliament in the Monsoon session and the court may await the outcome of the parliamentary proceedings. The session starts on July 20.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, said the issue of tariff and power subsidy are very crucial for the local administration and that the judicial proceedings cannot wait.

The court then suggested it will be better that both the constitutional functionaries sit together and find a solution to the impasse.

"I appear for the LG and I do not need instructions from my client and what your lordships have said is their constitutional duty and they must do it," said senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the LG.

Salve opposed the submissions of Singhvi that the latter was not hopeful of the solution.

"I only express regret that the lawyer for the Delhi government starts by saying that I have no expectations. I think we should go with the hope that in all probability, good sense will prevail and two constitutional functionaries will be able to solve it," Salve said.

The bench observed that if the CJI is authorised to select then it can be done 'in less than 15 minutes'.

"Why don't the two constitutional functionaries sit down and resolve it?" the CJI said repeating the suggestion.

Singhvi said he will approach the Delhi government and convey the observations.

"I am confident of my client and I will ask him to rise above all politics and sit as a constitutional functionary," Salve said.

So long as there is an underlying principle that an 'objective' person should head the DERC chairperson, there will not be any problem in finding the solution, the bench said.

It asked Salve and Singhvi to convey to the LG and the CM that the top court wanted them to meet and resolve it.

Salve, in a lighter vein, said he was contemplating filing a PIL in his name that constitutional functionaries should not communicate through 'Twitter and Instagram' and they should communicate as they used to before.

The bench had said it wanted to deal with the plea challenging the Centre's notification appointing Justice Kumar as the DERC chairperson in a 'non-controversial' manner and so the administration of oath to him should be deferred.

'Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner (Delhi government) states that the administering of oath in pursuance of the notification of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs dated June 21, 2023 to the former Judge of the Allahabad High Court shall stand deferred presently,' the order had said.

The top court had issued notices to the Centre and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on the plea of the Delhi government which also challenges the June 21 notification of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs appointing Justice Kumar as the DERC chairperson.

The Delhi government said in its petition that the office of the LG has to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers which he has not.

The Centre's ordinance on services in the national capital territory gives overriding powers to the lieutenant governor over the elected government in the matter of appointments.

The post of the DERC chairperson has fallen vacant after Justice Shabihul Hasnain demitted office on January 9, 2023.

The AAP government had recommended the name of former Madhya Pradesh high court judge Justice Rajeev Srivastava for the position. However, Justice Srivastava expressed his inability to take charge due to 'family commitments and requirements'.

On May 19, the top court had said the lieutenant governor had to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers and ordered that the chairperson of the DERC be appointed within two weeks.

Later, the government sent the name of Justice (retd) Sangeet Raj Lodha of the Rajasthan high court on June 21.

The central government, however, notified the name of Justice Kumar for the post the same evening, prompting the AAP government to move the top court challenging the notification.

On July 3, the lieutenant governor advised Chief Minister Kejriwal to complete the oath taking exercise of Justice Kumar through video conferencing, after the event was postponed due to Power Minister Atishi's 'ill health'.
The Supreme Court on Monday fixed August 7 for the start of the final hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

IMAGE: Gujarat riots' victim Bilkis Bano with her husband Rakub Rasool addresses a press conference in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the pleadings have been completed and notices served on all the convicts.

"We hold that pleadings in the matter are complete and all the respondents have been served notices in all the cases though newspaper publications or directly. We list the matter for final hearing on August 7. All parties should file short written submissions, synopsis and list of dates," the bench said.

During the hearing, advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bilkis Bano, said notices were published in local newspapers on June 1 and she had filed an affidavit with regard to that on June 7.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising and advocate Vrinda Grover, also appearing for the petitioners, said in their cases also notices were published as directed by the top court.

Grover said she needs to place on record the original remission order of the Gujarat government and sought permission of the court to place some additional documents on record.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government and the Centre, said although the original remission order has been placed on record by the state, if the petitioners want to place it themselves, he has no problem with that.

The bench said since the matter was listed for directions, it is fixing August 7 as the date for the final hearing and the parties, who wish to file their replies, written submissions, synopsis, and list of dates, are at liberty to do so.

"Your written submissions should focus on some main issues and arguments," the bench told the counsel for the petitioners and granted them three weeks to file their replies.

It also allowed the convicts to file their counter affidavits on the petitions challenging the remission.

On May 9, the top court had directed the publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served notices, including the one whose house was found by the local police to be locked and his phone switched off.

The top court had on May 2 deferred the hearing after some of the counsel for the convicts raised objections about they not being served notices on the pleas challenging the remission granted to them.

The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court they were not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order asking for production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts.

The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections with regard to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach courts in criminal cases.

The top court had on April 18 questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered before showing leniency, and wondered if there was any application of mind.

Asking for reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned frequent parole granted to them during their incarceration.

"It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said.

The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission.

Terming Bilkis Bano's gang-rape and the murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots a "horrendous" act, the apex court had on March 27 asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts.

It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who has challenged the remission of the sentences. All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.

Besides Bilkis Bano's petition, several other PILs including one by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma have challenged the remission. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against the remission.

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among seven family members killed in the riots.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar will not participate on the first day of the two-day joint opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru from Monday, the party said.

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

However, senior Pawar will attend the meeting on Tuesday, second day of the meet, said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Bharet Tapase.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also said "Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning."

"After the Patna meeting, the Bengaluru meeting that will emerge today will be decisive. Shiv Sena Party Chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend the meeting. There was confusion about whether Sharad Pawar would attend the meeting or not. Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning. I am saying this with certainty. Hum Sab Ek Hai!," Raut said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, big posters and banners have been seen on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in the Karnataka capital.

Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre.

As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am. All the opposition leaders will arrive for the afternoon meeting.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced.

The first mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna on June 23 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. At the meeting, opposition heavyweights, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, brainstormed on a roadmap for an anti-BJP front in time for the next year's Lok Sabha elections.
The Agniveer passing out parade was as much about family celebration as it was a military event.

Alongside the pomp, pageantry and discipline of the parade were the personal stories of families, their struggles and how far they had come.

Text: Archana Masih/Rediff.com.

Photographs: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com

IMAGE: Parvez Ali, son of farm labourers from Shamli, UP. The family had travelled three days to attend the parade.

Parents and relatives bursting with pride streamed out of the mess after a celebratory lunch of pooris, chicken, paneer, aloo-gobi and ice cream.

Their eyes shone, faces glowed as they walked besides their sons, turning to look at the beaming young men who had just been inducted as Agniveers into the Indian Air Force after five months of rigorous training at the IAF's training institute in Belagavi, Karnataka.

The families had come from the far corners of India to watch their sons graduate at the grand passing out parade. It was a landmark event in each family's story and they were all living the glorious moment -- one that would remain with them for the rest of their lives.

IMAGE: IAF Agniveers at the parade ground after the completion of the parade.

They had come from far off places... Vijaynagram, Andhra Pradesh, Rewari, Haryana, Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Jhargram, West Bengal... Mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, cousins had boarded trains, sometimes changing two trains, then getting into a bus to reach Belagavi on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border.

Most had travelled to this part of the country for the first time.

Parvez Ali's parents and uncle had arrived at 3 am in the morning from Shamli after a three day train and bus journey. The farm labourers who made jaggery from sugarcane were dressed neatly in cotton garments to beat the summer heat, carrying a gamcha -- a large cotton handkerchief, the multi-purpose cloth that serves as a shield from the sun and wipes the sweat off the brow.

"I had always wanted to wear the uniform in the service of the country," says Parvez Ali with a gentle smile. His family stands around him, listening intently to every word he says.

"The biggest change in him is his language. His Hindi is so refined now. In our village, we speak in a rustic manner," says his uncle, patting his nephew's back.

"He looks very smart, disciplined and refined."

The Alis have lived in Shamli for generations. Parvez had applied for the Agniveer scheme, a four year entry programme into the armed forces launched by the Government of India last year. 25% of the enrolled Agniveers will be retained as permanent cadre at the end of four years.

Parvez had appeared for the selection test in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and then travelled to Bengaluru for the medical test. "I want to do my best and be among the 25% that will be retained in the IAF," says Parvez as his mother looks on lovingly.

His brother is an engineer in Gurugram, his father whispers to Parvez asking him to share the important information about the family. The hard working labourer reveling in pride about the achievements of his sons and the distance they had travelled from their humble beginnings.

IMAGE: Mayank Yadav, son of a farmer from Aligarh, with his extended family.

Standing behind them was the Yadav extended family. Mayank Yadav from Aligarh, UP, son of a farmer introduced us smartly -- one by one -- to his parents, uncle, aunt and cousin sister. The uncle, who retired from the Indian Navy, had travelled by car from Goa with his family, three hours away.

"I have learnt so many things in these five months that have changed my life. The biggest change in me is 'time management', I used to while away so much time before, but now I utilise every second of the day," says Mayank confidently, standing upright with his chest out.

Mayank Yadav was leaving for Assam the next day to begin specialised training on servicing the Mi-17 helicopter.

IMAGE: Avinash Singh lost his father in 2010 and mother in 2021 to Covid. 'Many myths were broken during our training,' he said with soldierly composure.

That morning of the passing out parade was as much about family celebration as it was a military event. Alongside the pomp, pageantry and discipline of the parade and drill were the human stories of families, and of emotions that tugged at the chords of the heart.

Avinash Singh was discussing the spectacular drill performance with his mates. "We gave it our best today and it was near perfect," he says with easy confidence.

The boys speak politely, confidently, shoulders pulled back, just tipping their heads gently to converse.

Unlike, the others we spoke to, Avinash did not have anyone from his family watching him from the visitor's enclosure. Sadly, his parents are no more.

The son of an IAF sergeant who passed away in 2010, Avinash and his 18-year-old brother lived in Chandigarh where his father was posted at the time of his passing.

His mother got a job there and the three continued to live in the city. Then tragedy struck again when COVID-19 cruelly took away his mother in 2021.

"In the beginning it was tough, but we understood that some things were not in our hand, we learnt to cook, look after the home and ourselves. As time passed, we thought the blessings of our parents were always with us, so why not go ahead and make them proud," says Avinash in admirable control of his emotions belying someone so young of age.

IMAGE: Proud parents at the celebratory special lunch or 'bada khana' after the parade.

Avinash secured 95% in Class 10 and 84% in 12 and will apply for the officer cadre when the IAF announces entry for IAF officers. "I will keep trying hard till I reach my goal. It is a matter of pride to wear this blue uniform," he says.

Talking about the transformation he has seen in himself, he says, "The rigorous training here has broken many myths like you cannot run after a meal or that a parade can be done only at a particular time."

"It has also revealed my endurance level -- I could never imagine that I could run 5 km in 20 minutes with a load on my back, but our skilled trainers helped us get there."

"Training in military academies is not supposed to be easy and the end product is there to see for the parents who have come," he says.

If he misses not having his parents or family to watch him on his big day, Avinash does not show it. On the first day of his journey as an Agniveer, he already shows soldierly fortitude in the face of personal loss.

IMAGE: Srinivas Pawan's father worked in the Army Postal Service.

One cannot help rooting for Avinash -- and for the others as they walked around the grounds, saying their final goodbyes before going on to their respective specialised training institutes across the country.

"There were several 'up and down' moments for me in the first month of training, but our instructors were very good and I was able to learn quickly," says Deep Giri, the son of a fruit shop owner from Jhragram district of West Bengal.

His father had travelled from his village, which is located 150 km from Kolkata, to see his son graduate top of the course.

In the few days he was going to be away, he had left his shop in the care of a helper.

Looking back at their training, many cadets had wondered how they would be able to cope with the rigorous training -- the first month had been particularly difficult. "We came from diverse backgrounds, but learnt to work as a team just the way the services expects us to," says Srinivas Pawan from Vijaynagram district, Andhra Pradesh.

The son of a Naik from the Army Postal Service, he too is looking forward to applying to the IAF in the officer category.

IMAGE: Mohit Yadav, a farmer's son from Rewari. His grandfather served in the army.

"I have learnt leadership skills and commanded 58 trainees of my class. I will try my best to continue in the IAF and if I am released after four years, I will try in the civil sector," says Mohit Yadav, a farmer's son from Rewari, Haryana, whose grandfather served in the Kumaon Regiment.

Mohit had been trying for the fauj since 2019 and feels he was selected for the Agniveer programme because he was better prepared this time.

Hoshiyar Singh, son of a retired nursing assistant from the Army Medical Corps, came to becoming an Agniveer after being rejected at the Service Selection Board interview in the Air Force Officer entry category. The SSB is the second level of evaluation after the written examination and comprises a week-long grueling test conducted at different centres across the country.

"I thought I wouldn't get a better opportunity to develop my skills, become bold and learn new skills," says Hoshiyar, a Physics graduate from Hyderabad and the only child of his parents who reside in Agra.

IMAGE: Hoshiyar Singh is the son of a retired nursing assistant from the Army Medical Corps.

The newly inducted Agniveers are oblivious to the heat on the parade ground. They raise military war cries, do one-handed push ups and laugh with their mates.

Their enthusiasm seeps into the atmosphere as they prepare to go forth in the service of the nation. It is a moment of pride not only for them, but for the rest of us too.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The gau rakshak stated that the famine-stricken people were suffering because of their past karma and nothing could be done for them.

The reply apparently infuriated Vivekananda, who told the gau rakshak bluntly that he had no sympathy to spare for societies which would not lift a finger to help human beings but wasted piles of food on birds and beasts.

A fascinating excerpt from Govind Krishnan V's book, Vivekananda The Philosopher of Freedom.

IMAGE: Swami Vivekananda. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Two weeks after his arrival in Calcutta, Vivekananda had his only recorded encounter with a member of a cow protection committee, a man who, in a sense, was the ancestor of modern day gaurakshaks or cow vigilantes.

Their conversation was taken down by Vivekananda's disciple Sharat Chandra Chakravarty, and gives us valuable insight into what Vivekananda thought of cow protection and its positioning with regard to Hinduism.

Sharat Chandra, who describes the member of the gaurakshak sabha as an 'enthusiastic preacher', narrates the following conversation, which can be found in the sixth volume of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

At the announcement of this preacher of cow-protection Swamiji came out to the parlour room.

The preacher saluted Swamiji and presented him with a picture of the mother-cow.

Swamiji took that in his hand and, making it over to one standing by, commenced the following conversation with the preacher:

Vivekananda: What is the object of your society?

Gau rakshak: We protect the mother-cows of our country from the hands of the butcher. Cow-infirmaries have been founded in some places where the diseased, decrepit mother-cows or those bought from the butchers are provided for.

Vivekananda: That is very good indeed. What is the source of your income?

Gau rakshak: The work of the society is carried on only by gifts kindly made by great men like you.

Vivekananda: What amount of money have you now laid by?

Gau rakshak: The Marwari traders' community are the special supporters of this work. They have given a big amount for this good cause.

Vivekananda: A terrible famine has now broken out in Central India. The Indian Government has published a death-roll of nine lakhs of starved people. Has your society done anything to render help in this time of famine?

Gau rakshak: We do not help during famine or other distresses. This society has been established only for the protection of mother-cows.

IMAGE: Swami Vivekananda at South Pasadena, California in 1900. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The preacher was unmoved by Vivekananda's exhortation that it was his duty to help his fellow brothers and sisters who were facing death.

He replied, apparently without any sense of irony, that the famine-stricken people were suffering because of their past karma and nothing could be done for them.

The reply apparently infuriated Vivekananda, who told the gau rakshak bluntly that he had no sympathy to spare for societies which would not lift a finger to help human beings but wasted piles of food on birds and beasts.

Vivekananda further countered that if one were to appeal to the principle of karma, then the cows were falling into the butcher's hand because of their own karma, and it was useless to do anything for them.

This retort flummoxed the preacher. 'Yes, what you say is true, but the Shastras say that the cow is our mother.'

Vivekananda's reply sums up his thoughts. 'Yes, that the cow is our mother, I understand: who else could give birth to such accomplished children?'

IMAGE: RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, second from left, at Navonmesh in Nagpur on January 12, 2023, a programme on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's 160th birth anniversary. Photograph: ANI Photo

The RSS and the Sangh Parivar claim Vivekananda as an inspiration; Vivekananda is most important in the Sangh's pantheon of cultural figures.

However, Vivekananda had no influence on the RSS in its formative years when it developed its political ideology of Hindutva, or in the years immediately following Independence.

The Sangh's public adulation of Vivekananda seems to have begun in the sixties.

He was presented as both a patriot and a glorifier of Indian culture and Hinduism.

The Sangh tried to create greater recognition for a more Hinduized, nationalistic Vivekananda.

A watershed was the movement led by the RSS and the VHP to install a Vivekananda memorial in Kanyakumari.

The Tamil Nadu government was not keen, so the RSS was able to build a movement out of the Vivekananda memorial, making it into a national cause.

They distributed lakhs of leaflets with quotations from Vivekananda, in the process impressing on people's minds an association between Vivekananda and the Sangh.

Having garnered support from across India, the RSS eventually got the memorial as well as a Vivekananda Kendra built.

This allowed the RSS and its Sangh affiliates to forge an association in the popular mind between them and the figure of Vivekananda, giving the RSS's claim of representing Hinduism legitimacy. Vivekananda was already part of the national consciousness in the sixties.

With their tireless efforts to further iconize his image, the Sangh not only took credit for doing something for Hinduism, but also gained the legitimacy of association with one of modern Hinduism's most revered and admired figures.

Today, Vivekananda's pictures adorn numerous RSS public meetings; usually the iconic picture of the sanyasi in flowing orange robes and turban, standing with his hands crossed and head held high.

The RSS organises regular commemorative events, conferences, meetings, and symposiums on Vivekananda.

Embedding Vivekananda in the public narrative of Hindutva has allowed the Sangh to create the impression that Vivekananda, the man and the thinker, is an ideological predecessor and an ally.

This perception has been reinforced by the lack of powerful counter narratives which challenge the Sangh's appropriation and by the deification of Vivekananda in popular consciousness.

Vivekananda's thoughts and ideas are rarely discussed, even by those who valorize him.

Even in academia, there have been very few critical discussions of his key texts, philosophical ideas, and ideological leanings.

This ensures that Vivekananda remains just an emblem that admirers across the political spectrum pay homage to.

This lack of a critical discourse around Vivekananda has allowed the Sangh to create the impression of a kinship between Vivekananda's thought and their own Hindutva ideology, merely by juxtaposing Vivekananda's persona with its cultural and religious activities.

Excerpt from Vivekananda The Philosopher of Freedom by Govind Krishnan V has been used with the kind permission of the publishers, Aleph Book Company.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
What drives Pakistani men to join its military, despite the toll it takes on them?

IMAGE: A Pakistani soldier salutes during the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad. Photograph: Saiyna Bashir/Reuters

The last two decades have seen several good books on the Pakistan army and its ethos and functioning.

In 2007, Zahid Hussain wrote Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with Militant Islam, in which he explained his country's situation in simple terms: Pakistan is at war with itself.

Later that year, Ayesha Siddiqa published Military Inc: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy, a diligently researched tour de force on the Pakistan military's economic empire.

In 2008, Shuja Nawaz's Crossed Swords: Pakistan; Its Army and the Wars Within gave a comprehensive insight into that country's ultimate power centre.

In 2012, Aparna Pande's excellent, Explaining Pakistan's Foreign Policy: Escaping India, delved into Pakistan's quest for an identity beyond merely the 'anti-India'.

In 2014, C Christine Fair wrote Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War, which postulates that Pakistan's military achieves its aims by resisting India's drive for regional hegemony and keeping the Kashmir dispute alive.

In 2015, Steven Wilkinson wrote his magisterial Army and Nation: the Military and Indian Democracy since Independence, which traces the politicisation of the Pakistan army since the late 19th century and its roots in Punjabi domination.

Now Maria Rashid's fascinating book seeks to answer a fundamental question about the Pakistan army: Why do so many Pakistani men actively volunteer to serve in that country's large military, despite the toll it takes on its members in injury, debility and death?

As Ms Rashid points out, Pakistan has seen more than its fair share of wars and internal conflict since it became independent in 1947.

This includes four wars with India, numerous counter-insurgent operations within the country, covert backing of the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, frequent deployment of regular troops on combat missions abroad, including United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and, in recent years, counter terrorism operations on its border with Afghanistan.

Citing government figures, the author reveals that an average of 130,000 young men apply to join the army each year, of which only 38,000 are selected.

The voluntary nature of enlistment into the non-conscription Pakistani military is often explained as stemming from economic deprivation.

Another reason cited is historical: The lack of employment options in the Pakistan army's traditional recruiting grounds -- the rain-fed hilly tracts of Punjab.

However, the key question that the book seeks to answer is: How does the military retain its attraction for employment seekers even though it all but guarantees the death of its subjects?

To find an answer, Ms Rashid investigates the Pakistan army's memorial ceremonies --the author calls them 'spectacles of mourning' -- that it organises on the occasion of Youm-e-Difa each year.

This is easy, given that the government has already transformed the country into a militaristic State, with public spaces used for the display of various types of killing machines, such as machine guns, fighter aircraft, and, ludicrously, scaled down copies of the hills where Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests.

Pakistan Day is celebrated on March 23 each year with a military parade to mark the anniversary of the Lahore Resolution by the All India Muslim League in 1940.

The author describes one Youm-e-Difa ceremony at the Pakistan army's general headquarters (GHQ), held in the shadow of the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (Martyr's Memorial).

As patriotic anthems blared, the guests of honour were family members of soldiers who had given up their lives.

Turn by turn, relatives of dead soldiers came up to the microphone and eulogised their heroes.

Mothers brimmed with pride as they spoke about their dead sons and expressed their readiness to donate more to die for their motherland.

The author underscores the military's public relations skill in creating this space -- the Youm-e-Difa and Yadgar-e-Shuhada -- for communicating directly with the nation and bringing into sharp focus the carefully crafted narrative of grief and mourning in the messaging that the military puts out for the nation.

As a consequence, in the martial districts of Pakistan, the military functions as 'a modern kinship group that rewards its subjects with pay, pensions, benefits and land grants.'

In these martialised terrains, nationalistic narratives of sacrifice are bargaining chips that permit continued membership in the military's kinship group and allow claims to be made from it.

As a result, the desire in these areas to serve in the military is deep and unabated, even though the ideology has shifted from a traditional Hindu enemy to a new Muslim threat.

This patriotic space is carefully cultivated. Every year, on Youm-e-Difa, Pakistan's army chief delivers a nationally broadcast speech at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada, which can be likened to the 'State of the Union' address by the US president each year.

This makes for a powerful demonstration of how the military positions itself in Pakistan's polity, with the army chief commenting, without any raised eyebrows, on issues such as governance, the criminal justice system, economic development, foreign policy, terrorism and corruption.

Ms Rashid's book makes for compelling reading for all students of Pakistan, terrorism, the South Asian region and civil-military relations in general.

Dying to Serve: Militarism, Affect, and the Politics of Sacrifice in the Pakistan Army Author: Maria Rashid Publisher: Bloomsbury Pages: 267 Price: Rs 699

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'We come here probably every single day;' Jacksonville General Store offers fresh food and good times
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 17. The number of Kazakh tourists visiting Azerbaijan amounted to 5,500 in June 2023, which is 57.14 percent more compared to the same month in 2022 (3,500), Trend reports.

According to Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency, this figure also demonstrated a slight growth of 3 percent compared to the previous month of this year, when a total of 5,300 tourists from Kazakhstan visited Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, in June, Kazakhstan ranked 7th in the top 10 countries whose citizens visited Azerbaijan. The share of tourists from Kazakhstan amounted to 2.6 percent of the total figure.

According to the agency, among the Central Asian countries, Azerbaijan attracted the highest number of tourists from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan disclosed that in 2022, the number of Kazakh visitors to Azerbaijan reached 30,350, surpassing the figure of 2021 by 4.3 times.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 17. The total area of land sown with agricultural crops in Kyrgyzstan reached over 1.2 million hectares in 2023, which is a 0.3-percent increase compared to the previous year, Trend reports.

The State Statistical Committee of the country attributed the growth to the expansion of cultivation area for grain production, which saw an increase of 5,700 hectares, or 5.3 percent, as well as barley with a rise of 3,100 hectares, or 1.3 percent.

Additionally, the cultivation area for sugar beets expanded by 4,100 hectares or 45.3 percent, rice by 200 hectares, or 1.3 percent, and fodder crops by 4,700 hectares, or 1.2 percent.

However, there has been a decrease in the cultivation area of cotton by 4,000 hectares, or 18.4 percent, oilseeds by 2,500 hectares, or 14.1 percent, legumes by 3,500 hectares, or 6.2 percent, potatoes by 1,700 hectares, or 2.3 percent, and vegetables by 600 hectares, or 1 percent.

Among the regions, the largest share of sown areas is attributed to farms in the Chuy region, accounting for 33.9 percent, followed by Issyk-Kul with 14.9 percent, Osh with 14.7 percent, Jalal-Abad with 13 percent, and Naryn with 9.1 percent.

According to the State Statistical Committee of the country, farmers of Kyrgyzstan produced agricultural products for $4.1 billion in 2022, which is an increase of 7.3 percent compared to 2021.
Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group has filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government for confiscating rainbow-coloured watches that celebrate LGBT rights, in an act the company says has damaged its reputation.

Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and rights groups have warned of growing intolerance against the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

In May, Malaysian authorities confiscated watches from Swatch's 'Pride collection' because of the presence of the letters 'LGBTQ' on the watches, the home minister said.

Home ministry officials "illegally" seized 172 watches from 16 outlets, Swatch said in court documents seen by Reuters.

The lawsuit, filed on June 24 at the Kuala Lumpur high court, was first reported on Monday by the Malay Mail, a Malaysian news website.

"Without a doubt, the seized watches did not and are not in any way capable of causing any disruption to public order or morality or any violations of the law," Swatch said in the lawsuit.

The seizure notices served to Swatch described the watches as having elements of or promoting LGBTQ rights and potentially breaching Malaysian law, the company said.

Most of the seized watches, which have a combined retail value of 64,795 ringgit ($14,250.05), did not contain the 'LGBTQ' lettering, Swatch said.

Swatch is seeking damages and the return of the watches, saying its ability to do business in the country has been "greatly jeopardised" by the seizures.

Swatch Group said on Monday it does not comment about ongoing legal cases.

Malaysia's home ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kuala Lumpur high court is set to hear the case on July 20.

Malaysia has jailed or caned people for homosexuality. Last year, 18 people were detained at a Halloween party attended by members of the LGBT community.

The seizure and lawsuit come ahead of crucial regional polls that will pit Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's progressive coalition against a mostly conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance.

In the run up to the elections, Anwar has again been accused by critics of not doing enough to protect the rights of Muslims in multi-racial, multi-faith Malaysia.

Anwar was imprisoned for sodomy and corruption for nearly a decade, charges he denied and said were politically motivated.

The premier has repeatedly said this month that his government will uphold principles of Islam, state media reported. He has also said LGBT rights will not be recognised by his administration.
In the month October 2021, AQIS or the Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent released a video titled 'Don't Sit Idly by Grieving'. The video was targeted towards the Muslim population of Assam and Kashmir to perform Hijrah. This is how the operation against AQIS started in Assam.

Investigating the details and digging deep, it has come to notice that at least 50 individuals associated with the AQIS and also the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) were arrested from across the State. Most of them, however, were from Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara etc. However, two individuals managed to slip out of the police net. Both with a similar name- Abu Talha. One Abu Talha, however, had some aliases like Ikramul Haque/Abdullah Talha.

Now, after almost a year, Abu Talha alias Ikramul Haque alias Abdullah Talha is again in the news. Weeks after his arrest in Bangladesh on May 30, ABT-AQIS mastermind Abu Talha, who was in Assam Police and NIA radar, has confessed to his involvement in spreading the terror network in India. The confession has been reportedly made to Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The operation that led to Abu Talha's arrest was carried out by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Speaking to Republic, a top intelligence officer in India has said that the Indian establishment and the agencies are closely monitoring the developments in Bangladesh. "Since there is no Extradition Treaty with Bangladesh, we immediately cannot comment on the possibilities of bringing him to India, but all I can tell you now is that India has opened all channels," he said.

Another top official in Assam also added that Abu Talha's arrest is a major blow to the AQIS as he is the one who was instrumental in spreading the web of terror in India. "This man was the main link, with his arrest now the link is down. But to ascertain up to what extent they had penetrated in India, it's important to examine him in our custody. Nevertheless, I can assure that in Assam, we managed to root them out before they could take any major shape," he said.

There are dozens of cases against Abu in India and two cases are registered in Assam, which were both subsequently taken up by NIA, separately. One was registered at Barpeta Police Station vide Case No.268/2022 U/S 120(b)/121/121(A) IPC R/W Sec 17/18/18(b)/19/20/UA(P)Act, R/W@ Sec 21(1)(c) Passport Act, 1967 R/W Sec 14(a)(b) of Foreigners Act, 1946 (Subsequently the case has been taken over by National Investigation Agency vide RC-02/2022/NIA-GUW dated 22/03/2022), and another at Matia Police Station, vide Case No. 105/22,U/S120(B)/121/121 (A) I.P.C.R/W sec. IS/IS(B)/19/20UA(P) Act (Subsequently the case has been taken over by National Investigation Agency vide RC-03/2022/NIA-GUW dated 26/09/2022).

Abu was active in Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts of Assam and according to top sources in Assam Police, he was one of the main masterminds behind the AQIS modules in Assam along with another Abu Tallah, who is still on the run.

Abu was in Bhopal for a considerable period of time and was the mastermind behind activating the ABT & AQIS modules in Madhya Pradesh and also parts of UP and Southern India, according to a top intelligence officer. As per confidential sources at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Abu Talha told interrogators that they have succeeded in establishing 11 sleeper cells inside India in Cooch Behar, Bhopal, Assam, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Each sleeper cell comprises between five-eight members. Most of the members are trained for making IED and some of them are ready to sacrifice lives through suicide attacks.

He further said, they have underground connections with several leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam and were plotting terrorist attacks inside Bangladesh. He further added, AQIS is already having connections with Myanmar-based Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

During the interrogation, it has been learnt by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police that he first entered India with a tourist visa and got enrolled in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh. Later, he got an Aadhaar Card issued in the name Abu Talha Nur Hasen from West Bengal. He also obtained an Indian passport with the same name.

In the Passport and Aadhaar, his father's name was mentioned as Sabu Miyan and mother's name was Nabiya Begum. His address is mentioned as Village-Madankura, Singhimari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal

He also got Aadhaar issued in his wife Faria Afrin Anikar's name, however, in the card, it was mentioned as Mariam Khatun, whereas her father's name was Nanu Miyan. According to the confession he made to Dhaka Metropolitan Police, while studying in Deoband, he came in contact with one Aman who introduced him to AQIS. After joining the AQIS, he worked for the outfit's wing in Cooch Behar, Bhopal, Assam and Delhi and recruited new people. He also gave online classes to the new recruits in online and offline mode. His laptop and mobiles have been seized and sent for forensic examination. An operation has been initiated to nab his accomplices in Bangladesh.

The Metropolitan Police has decoded his encrypted apps through which he used to communicate with the AQIS members. It has come to light that they used the dark web to communicate, something Republic had reported exclusively in 2022.

Abu Talha was also in touch with AQIS top leader Wasim Omar and many other leaders of Al Qaeda as well. He was also in contact with Ansarullah Islam leader Maulana Usman Gani and Sheikh Tamim Al Adnani of Bangladesh.

Soon after the crackdown on AQIS and ABT modules in Assam, the State government took a firm stand against illegal Madrassas as well as those used as shelter by terrorists of AQIS-ABT and all were bulldozed.
The Kurtha-Bijalpura rail section of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas, the cross-border railway connection between India and Nepal, has become operational for business from Sunday, July 16.

According to a release from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the cross-border railway connection between India and Nepal was launched in a ceremony held in Bijalpura by Nepals Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala. The Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India Kathmandu Prasanna Shrivastava, political leaders from Madhesh Pradesh, and representatives of the Government of Nepal (GoN) were also present at the launch event.

The project has been built at a total cost of Rs 783.83 crores under the grant assistance by the Government of India. Notably, this is the second phase of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line project. The first phase of the project from Jaynagar to Kurtha was inaugurated in April last year and has been operational since then.

Following the project launch, Nepal Minister Jwala thanked the Government of India for its continuous support in the development of the infrastructure in Nepal, including in the rail sector. The rail connectivity between the two countries will provide a tremendous boost to the people-to-people linkages and will enhance trade and tourism in Nepal.

The development of the project showcases the continued commitment of the Indian government to work towards strengthening the development partnership under its between India and Nepal for the benefit of the people.




Pakistani woman Seema Haider, who has been making headlines for over a week, is now on the radar of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), as the intelligence unit Monday launched a probe into the case. A Police team in plain uniform reached Seema Haider's house in order to quiz her.

Seema Haider, a Pakistani national, entered India illegally through the borders of Nepal to marry an Indian national, Sachin Meena, who is a resident of Greater Noida. According to Seema, they met while playing the online game PUBG. 30-year-old Pakistani woman on July 4 was arrested initially by the local police for her illegal stay in India, however, she was granted bail by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida. Ever since her release from Police custody, new angles have been unfolding in the Inter-border love story.

Having agreed to the fact that her brother is in the Pakistan Army, Seema has also not come clear on what rank, department, or role her brother has in the Pakistani Army. Taking these aspects into account, the Noida Police is also now trying to verify the facts presented by the newlywed cross-border couple. On Sunday, July 16, the Noida Police recorded their statements as the first step.

Pakistans take on Seema

Miscreants in the Southern Sindh Province of Pakistan on July 16 attacked a Hindu temple with rocket launchers in response to Seema Haiders case.

This is the second such incident of vandalism at a worship place belonging to minorities within two days, officials said.

The miscreants attacked a small temple and the adjoining homes belonging to the minority community in Sindhs Kashmore.

The accused Bandit Abdul Malik Jagirani, who has taken responsibility for the rocket launcher attack on the temple in a purported video, said, "The purpose of recording this video is the recovery of Seema. If Seema isn't handed over to us, any temple wouldn't be safe in Pakistan. Last night I fired on a temple and will do this in the future as well."
The tourism sector experienced significant relief in 2023 as people eagerly embarked on travel extensively, both domestically and internationally. The most intriguing trend is that people are increasingly choosing to travel to metropolitan areas including New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai, hill stations like Manali and Rishikesh, and places with a strong cultural heritage like Jaipur.

In addition, consumer behaviour is evolving with a greater emphasis on seeking out distinct, personalised and more memorable travel experiences. In the first half of 2023, along with hotels, alternative accommodations such as Resort, Guest House, Homestay, Hostel, Apartments, Villas etc. were also the most popular choices for stays.

Booking.com, has revealed the travel preferences of Indian and international voyagers travelling within and to India during the first half of 2023. Commenting on the trends, Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com said:

Travel has undeniably become increasingly popular in recent years despite macroeconomic headwinds faced by the industry. Its been heartwarming to see a significantly higher level of optimism for travel in 2023 compared to last year. This growing enthusiasm and unwavering desire to travel is further reflected in the choices made by explorers who are increasingly opting for alternative stays besides hotels.

We can confidently anticipate a year filled with exciting adventures for travellers as 86% of Indian travellers are optimistic about their future travel plans in the next 12 months. This positive trend is expected to fuel robust growth within the travel sector and Booking.com will be there every step of the way to make it easier for our travellers and partners to experience the world.

Top booked domestic destinations by Indian Travellers in H1 of 2023

New Delhi

Jaipur

Bangalore

Rishikesh

Mumbai

Hyderabad

Chennai

Pune

Manali

Gurgaon

Top booked international destinations by Indian Travellers in H1 of 2023

Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Bangkok (Thailand)

London (United Kingdom)

Singapore (Singapore)

Vung Tau (Vietnam)

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

Paris (France)

Hanoi (Vietnam)

Top inbound markets that visited India in H1 of 2023

Markets

Cities

United Kingdom

New Delhi, Mumbai

United States of America

Russian Federation

United Arab Emirates

Top booked accommodation types by travellers from India in H1 of 2023

Hotel

Apartment

Resort

Villa

Guest House

Bed and Breakfast

Homestay

Lodge

Hostel

Holiday home
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, Shehbazs 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 tenures 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 governments 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.
A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers by miscreants in the Southern Sindh Province of Pakistan on July 16, in the second such incident of vandalism of the worship place belonging to a minority community within two days, officials said. The attack is said to be in retaliation to Seema Haider Jakhrani's PUBG love tale that has sparked outrage in Pakistan.

The miscreants attacked the small temple and the adjoining homes belonging to the minority community in Sindhs Kashmore. The miscreants fired indiscriminately at the temple built by the local Hindu community, prompting a police force led by Kashmore SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the spot. The incident reportedly took place within the jurisdiction of Ghouspur police station.

Sammo found that rocket launchers have damaged the temple, which was closed during the incident. He stated that the miscreants fled the location on the arrival of police forces. "We are conducting search operations in the area," he added.

Miscreant takes responsibility for attack

Bandit Abdul Malik Jagirani has taken responsibility for the rocket launcher attack on the temple in Sindh's Kashmore region. The accused in a purported video said, "The purpose of recording this video is the recovery of Seema. If Seema is not handed over to us, any temple wouldn't be safe in Pakistan. Yesterday night I fired on a Temple and will do this in future as well."

Seema Haider Jakhrani's PUBG love tale has sparked an uproar in Pakistan. In retaliation, the dacoits in the Kashmore and Ghotki riverine districts allegedly vowed to target Hindu sites of worship and community members.

Seema, a Pakistani mother of four, fled to India to live with a Hindu man whom she met and fell in love with while playing PUBG in 2019, an online game now facing a ban in India.

The Uttar Pradesh Police claimed that Seema (30) and Sachin Meena (22) lived in Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he owned a supply shop. While Seema was detained for unlawfully entering India without a visa card, Sachin was held for harbouring illegal migrants. Recently, the couple was freed from jail.

Attack on minority group

A 150-year-old Hindu temple situated in Karachis Soldier Bazaar was demolished on Friday (July 14) when there was no electricity in the locality. The bulldozers and diggers arrived at the location to raze out the temple premises. While they razed the inside structure of the temple, the outer walls and the main gate remained intact.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers Retreat has started in Thailand's capital city Bangkok on Monday, July 17. Notably, BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted, "Just started the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok." With the tweet, he also posted a group photo with other countries leaders. The Indian external affairs minister has been on a six-day visit to two nations that began on July 12.

Just started the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok. pic.twitter.com/uZuDk8NvUU  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023

BIMSTEC and its importance

The agenda for the meeting will be focusing on ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC countries and strengthen the organisation. The cooperation is a regional multilateral organisation. The areas of discussion would circle around the rapid economic development; accelerate social progress; and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region. Its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity. BIMSTEC connects the South, Southeast, and ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

Jaishankar attends ASEAN 2023

Before Thailand, Jaishankar had visited Jakarta where he attended the EAM attended the Foreign Ministers Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format, ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum on July 13-14. During the meeting, the Indian foreign minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries.

Indias engagement with this ASEAN-centered regional architecture has marked Indias commitment to ASEAN focusing in the Indo-Pacific. After successfully concluding his visit to Indonesia, he went to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism on July 16. MGC is one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region and is guided by Indias Act East Policy.

Jaishankar has co-chaired the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok along with FM of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith, on July 16. The points that have been discussed in the meeting are as follows;
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.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met his counterparts from Nepal and Bangladesh here and agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by the leaderships and exchanged views on regional issues. Jaishankar is here in the capital of Thailand and participated in the BIMSTEC retreat.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional grouping that comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. The seven countries are home to 1.73 billion people and have a combined gross domestic product of more than USD 4 trillion.

"Good meeting with Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. Agreed to work closely to implement the agenda of cooperation set out by our leaderships. Look forward to remaining in touch," Jaishankar tweeted along with pictures. The minister also met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen.

"Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues," he tweeted.

Pleased to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen



Discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional issues. pic.twitter.com/jNCsGSev9T  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023

Earlier, Jaishankar called on Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and conveyed the greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Honoured to call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with my colleagues from BIMSTEC countries. Conveyed greetings and good wishes of PM @narendramodi. Shared with him our commitment to further strengthen BIMSTEC," he tweeted.

Honored to call on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with my colleagues from BIMSTEC countries.



Conveyed greetings and good wishes of PM @narendramodi.



Shared with him our commitment to further strengthen BIMSTEC. pic.twitter.com/r31yhJPSUo  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023

Jaishankar also held a productive discussion with his counterparts from the BIMSTEC region and the leaders focused on strengthening "resilience and coordination" among them with the common objective to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Established in 1997, the BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. Bangladesh is set to be the new chair of the seven-nation grouping in December when India is scheduled to be its secretary general after the BIMSTEC summit to be held in Thailand on November 30.
Popular Qatari TV channel Al-Jazeera showed an extensive report on the progress of peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the situation in Karabakh and the region after Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day war, Azernews reports, citing AL-Jazeera.

TV channel presented information about the history of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, our country's efforts to establish peace in the region and opening of transport communications, and the situation on Lachin Road. He also informed the viewers about the ongoing peace talks mediated by Russia and the West and Baku's constructive position.

Then the guest of the program, Georgian scientist Tamara Dragadze spoke about Azerbaijan's just position, noting that official Baku offered to sign a peace agreement based on international legal norms, mutual respect for territorial integrity, and sovereignty of states. She added that although the Armenian side officially recognizes that Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan, Iravan does not take a sufficiently constructive position in the peace talks.

The report also informed about the trilateral meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held on 15 July in Brussels. The anchor brought to attention that during the conversation they exchanged views on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a continuation of negotiations on the peace process, delimitation of borders, the opening of transport communications, withdrawal of Armenian military units from the territories of Azerbaijan, and disarmament of illegal military formations.
Amid the raging Russia-Ukraine war, thousands of Ukrainian children have been reportedly deported to Belarus in an alleged war crime. According to an exclusive report by Telegraph UK, around 2,150 Ukrainian children as young as six have been allegedly moving to camps in Belarus since September 2022. As per the British news outlet, this has the potential to get Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko implicated in war crimes since numbers are expected to reach 3,000 by autumn this year.

The evidence linked to these war crimes has been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We want to show the world that such activity [being] organised precisely by Mr Lukashenko is a war crime, said Pavel Latushka, head of the opposition group National Anti-Crisis Management, in the submitted petition. The submitted accusations also alleged that these children are been given military training in these camps. In our opinion, [he] is the main [individual] responsible for the forcible displacement of these children to Belarus  he directly gave instructions on organising the financing of these processes, Latushka furthered.

The ICC investigation has the potential to get widened

With these allegations, the ICC investigation has the potential to get widen and include the Belarusian President along with other officials. The international body is already investigating Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russias commissioner for childrens rights over the same issues. The two are already facing an ICC arrest warrant that was announced in March for the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children into Russia. Meanwhile, the Ukraine government now estimated that more than 19,500 children have now been forcibly transferred by the Russian authorities.

One of the documents obtained by The Telegraph UK deals with cooperation between the Russian and Belarusian state railway operators to organise the transportation of the children of Donbas for rehabilitation to brotherly Belarus. As per the British news outlet, the document was reportedly signed by Dmitry Mezentsev, chairman of a Russian-Belarusian body and former Russian ambassador to the Eastern European nation. The document in question has been submitted to the ICC by the National Anti-Crisis Management as well. The Telegraph also noted that the children that are detained in such camps in Russia and Belarus are undergoing re-education and are beaten if they refuse to comply. In the past, the Belarusian President assured his Russian counterpart that the country would fund the struggling children to stay in Belarus. This is how we started taking them here, Lukashenko assured. We help improve their health and they leave. They actually dont want to leave, he added.
In the White House-Cocaine scandal, Nikki Haley has blamed the Secret Service for hiding the genuine source of cocaine found at the White House in an effort to protect Hunter Biden. The Former South Carolina governor and 2024 presidential contender said, "I strongly believe this is a coverup for either Hunter, or someone very close to the president, and they dont want to say who it is."

Is Haley accusing the US Secret Service of hiding the truth?

Notably, approximately 1 gram of cocaine was discovered in a storage locker inside the West Wing's executive entrance made by a Secret Service agent on July 2. Previously, it was reported that the locker was not in view of any cameras, reported a US-based news outlet.

However, Haley strongly disagreed with this theory and pointed out that the vestibule where the locker is located is just feet away from the Situation Room and one floor below the Oval Office. Further, she has emphasised the high level of security in the area, based on her own experience as a member of the National Security Council.

Is the Secret Service shielding Biden's son?

Recently, the Secret Service declared that they were unable to identify how the cocaine ended up in the West Wing and swiftly closed the 11-day investigation. While making the announcement on closing the probe, the agency stated that the drug had no usable DNA or fingerprints.

Meanwhile, the white house has made no response to the questions about whether the cocaine came from a member of the first family. Rather, the Biden administration has dismissed inquiries on the matter as "irresponsible''.

How many times have drugs been found on the property?

This brings the total number of times that drugs have been found at the White House since Biden's presidency to three, keeping the recent scandalous discovery of cocaine in mind. On Thursday, July 13, a new development surfaced in which a spokesperson for the US Secret Service confessed that the federal agency landed upon small traces of marijuana on the premises of the executive mansion last year, not once but twice.
TGI Fridays at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport

The revamped location is forecasted to become the highest volume sales location of any U.S. airport restaurant with an anticipated annual revenue of $14MM

TGI Fridays announced today the grand opening of its newly renovated restaurant inside the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport, which is expected to become the highest volume sales location of any in-airport restaurant nationwide.

The newly remodeled location is focused on providing a seamless and quintessentially Fridays dining experience. The restaurant, located in Terminal B at Gate 10, will be TGI Fridays' first patio dining airport experience as well as feature one of the largest bars in the airport. The location will also feature a state-of-the-art to-go area called "Fridays on the FlyTM" with a large assortment of food and drinks as well as innovative self-checkout kiosks. The remodel is part of a wider renovation strategy by TGI Fridays. The company has committed $16MM in renovations to be completed within the next two years to their five restaurants currently inside DFW.

TGI Fridays began its strategic partnership with DFW in 1995 and has been the leading restaurant at the airport since. As the second busiest airport in the world, with more than 73.4 million travelers utilizing the airport in 2022, DFW has continuously looked to TGI Fridays as a core partner in attracting and retaining travelers. The brand recently won the DFW Airport Sales Award for highest volume restaurant in 2022  with Fridays' five airport locations performing in the top 6 sales positions out of more than 200 retail locations across DFW.

"The grand opening of our newly renovated restaurant in Terminal B is a shining example of the strength of the TGI Fridays brand and what we can bring to airports nationwide," said Brandon Coleman III, President of TGI Fridays US. "We are committed to continued evolution and innovation in airports across the globe, ensuring that every guest enjoys that Fridays feeling."

"DFW Airport is excited for the elevated new experience TGI Fridays will be providing to our customers," said Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President of Revenue Management and Customer Experience. "DFW is proud to offer our customers diverse and unique dining options that meet every flavor palate. TGI Fridays compliments this by bringing in a national brand everyone knows, blended with local flavor that truly represents North Texas."

TGI Fridays' tradition of great food and fun is at the core of all the brand's DFW establishments. The brand is extremely proud of the grand opening remodel in Terminal B as it continues its efforts to add new, convenient, and innovative ideas to each store remodel. The brand also operates five restaurants throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and has leading restaurant locations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, and Miami International Airport, where remodels are expected within the next 12 months.

The world's first casual bar and grill, TGI Fridays operates nearly 700 restaurants in 51 countries. The company saw total sales projected at $1.6B in 2022 with same store US sales growing at +8% compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic). The company announced the most significant deal in its history in September of last year, including 75 new restaurants throughout South and Southeast Asia over the next 10 years representing over $500MM in revenue.
The order comes just days ahead of Sundays parliamentary elections.

The government of Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen has told internet service providers to block Radio Free Asia sites and has ordered the closure of websites and social media sites of independent media outlets and databases.

Prime Minister Hun Sens government has ordered internet service providers in Cambodia to block the websites of Radio Free Asia and other news outlets ahead of this Sundays parliamentary election.

The outlets were accused of misrepresenting the governments reputation and prestige and of failing to meet the Ministry of Informations conditions for doing business, according to a July 12 letter signed by Srun Kimsan of Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia.

The blocked sites include RFAs Khmer and English websites and RFAs Khmer language Twitter page.

The regulator also ordered the blocking of the Kamnotra website, produced by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, or CCIM. The website posts information, data or documents that people can use.

RFA condemned the order, calling it a clear violation of Cambodian law and an attempt to censor the free flow of information ahead of the July 23 election, according to RFA spokesman Rohit Mahajan.

Access to timely, accurate news and information, which RFAs programming and content provides to the Cambodian people on a daily basis, is essential in any democracy where the rule of law supports free speech and a free press, he said.

Despite these unfortunate efforts, RFA will keep striving to inform its audience in Cambodia with up-to-the-minute journalism during this critical time and beyond, Mahajan said.

Undermines their rights

As of Monday afternoon Washington DC time, access to some of RFAs websites were blocked within Cambodia, sources there said.

Some RFA monitors inside the country said they were still able to access RFA broadcasts on Facebook, YouTube, Telegram and Twitter.

However, Kamnotra has already been blocked by major internet service providers like Cellcard and Ezecom, CCIM media director Ith Sothoeuth said.

When sources of information are blocked, it undermines the right to information of the general population, which is guaranteed by law, especially before the election, he said.

It undermines their rights as voters, who need to be fully informed to make it easier for them to make informed decisions, he said.

Cambodias 1993 constitution guarantees press freedom.

But in February, the government closed independent news outfit Voice of Democracy after it reported that the prime ministers son had approved a government donation to support Turkeys earthquake recovery efforts.

Previous crackdowns

Several other independent media outlets were forced to shut down prior to the last general election in 2018.

And a government crackdown in 2017 led to the closure of 32 FM radio frequencies, including those that broadcast RFA Khmer Service content, the arrest of two former RFA journalists and the closure of The Cambodia Daily newspaper.

The July 12 letter from the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia also ordered the blocking of a Khmer language website that has continued to publish stories under The Cambodia Daily name.

RFA has not been able to contact Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia spokesmen Sieng Sithy and Im Vutha for comment. Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications spokesman So Visothy and Ministry of Information spokesman Meas Sophorn also werent immediately available on Monday.

However, Ministry of Information spokesman Meas Sophorn confirmed to CamboJA News on Monday that the ministry had ordered the closure of the websites.

Cambodias Information Ministry issues licenses to broadcasters and other media outlets. The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia is an autonomous unit within the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Translated by Sok Ry Sum and Keo Sovannarith. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Chinese rights activist Liang Songji has been repeatedly jailed by the Chinese authorities for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party.

A prominent rights activist from the southern Chinese province of Guangzhou has been prevented from boarding a Qatar Airways flight from Bangkok to Ecuador, where he had hoped to take his family to claim political asylum in the United States.

Liang Songji, who has been repeatedly jailed by the Chinese authorities for his peaceful criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said he had planned to take the July 13 flight to Ecuador but was prevented from checking in by airline staff.

"As soon as Qatar Airlines swiped my passport, they gave it straight back to me," Liang said, adding that staff refused to check the family in, although they had the right tickets, visas, COVID-19 test certificates and evidence of hotel reservations for all three family members.

"The staff told me that this was due to a decision made at senior levels [in their company]. When they looked into it further, they said it was the Ecuadorian government's decision not to allow the three of us to board."

Liang said he is skeptical about the claim that his apparent travel ban came from the Ecuadorian foreign ministry, and has tried to meet with U.S. consular officials in Bangkok, given that he plans to claim political asylum in that country.

He said he had planned to 'walk the line' from Ecuador northwards to Mexico overland, a route taken by a growing number of Chinese nationals fleeing their home country in what has been dubbed the "run" movement.

"Ecuador is a very hot route [for Chinese fleeing China] right now, because everyone travels north from there to get to the United States and Canada," Liang said. "I'd figured that even if I ran out of money, we could stay in Ecuador."

"The real question is whether this really is coming from Ecuador  I think it probably isn't," he said. "It's all over the internet that there is a visa-free entrance agreement between China and Ecuador."

Liang said airline staff had refused to issue a refund for his family's three tickets.

On Friday, he presented himself at the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, requesting an emergency meeting with a diplomat.

"They rejected my request," said Liang, who arrived in Thailand last month, and whose Thai tourist visa expired on Saturday.

"I really don't know what plans I can make now," he said. "It's impossible for me to return to China now."

Emails sent to the U.S. State Department and to Qatar Airways headquarters requesting comment went unanswered since Friday.

Beaten and strip-searched

Liang was arrested in November 2018 after he witnessed the forcible strip-searching and beating of Guangzhou rights attorney Sun Shihua by police in the city, and later sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," a catch-all charge frequently used to target peaceful critics of the government.

An associate who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals said Liang had been trying to leave China since 2015.

Liang Songji was arrested in November 2018 after witnessing the forcible strip-searching and beating of Guangzhou rights attorney Sun Shihua [shown] by police. Credit: Courtesy of Sun Shihua





"It wouldn't be an issue if it was just him, he could apply for a United Nations refugee card like others have done, but there are three of them to think about," the associate said.

Rights groups and academic researchers say Beijing often joins forces with its political allies to force overseas dissidents to return to China, as well as putting huge pressure on any loved ones they leave behind.

Governments around the world have launched investigations into police "service stations" run on foreign soil by the provincial police department in the southeastern province of Fujian, while activists and dissidents have spoken out about threats and retaliation by the state security police or pro-China businessmen overseas.

Chinese political refugees in Thailand, many of whom smuggled themselves across Southeast Asia to escape persecution by the authorities back home, say the country is no longer a safe haven for dissidents, as the Thai authorities seem increasingly willing to hand them back over to Beijing.

Several Chinese asylum-seekerssome of whom were recognized by the United Nations as genuine refugeeshave been deported for immigration violations, throwing the expatriate dissident community into a state of constant fear, according to interviews given to Radio Free Asia.

In July 2018, authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing jailed rights activist Dong Guangping and political cartoonist Jiang Yefei after they were sent home from Thailand as they were awaiting resettlement as political refugees, prompting an international outcry.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Universities feeding the People's Liberation Army will take more than 2,000 extra applicants this year.

Chinese People's Liberation Army cadets conduct bayonet drills at the PLA's Armored Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing in 2014.

China's military schools are stepping up their recruitment of recent high school graduates in a bid to upgrade the armed forces' capacity to wage high-tech warfare, according to the country's Ministry of Defense.

"We will be recruiting an extra 2,000 high school graduates this year, making a total intake of 17,000 ... for 2023," a training and education official from the ruling Communist Party's Central Military Commission said in a Q&A article posted on the ministry's website.

A total of 27 military schools will be recruiting, including 10 linked to the People's Liberation Army, five from the navy, four from the airforce and one from the rocket corps.

In addition, four People's Armed Police universities will be seeking fresh college-level recruits, along with two colleges training people for the Strategic Support Force, the space, cyber, political, and electronic warfare branch of the PLA, the official said.

"Choose a military academy and dedicate your youth without regrets," the article says. "For a drop of water to make waves, it has to pour itself into rivers, lakes and the ocean."

"Let your youthful dream become part of the torrent of a strong army."

Recruiting problems?

The move has prompted widespread speculation online that China's military schools are struggling to find recruits.

Two lengthy blog posts hosted on Sina.com and on Netease said military schools are slashing their minimum high school graduation  or gaokao  test scores, citing this year's minimum for male applicants in the western province of Qinghai as evidence.

"Has interest in military academies gone cold?" wrote one blogger, citing a slew of admission data relating to Inner Mongolia.

Cadets applaud as U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta addresses them at the PLA Engineering Academy of Armored Forces in Beijing in 2012. Credit: Larry Downing/Reuters





"Compared with the data of previous years, there is a downward trend across the board in minimum scores required by military academies this year," another blogger wrote on the Sohu.com platform, citing government figures that Radio Free Asia was unable to confirm.

The military is also boosting the number of linguists it recruits for language-degree courses, and diversifying the number of professional and technical categories that prospective students  who must also pass stringent fitness requirements and a political review  can apply for.

Minimum gaokao scores listed for applicants from the western province of Qinghai to the National University of Defense Technology by educational service website Gaokao 100 showed a minimum gaokao score of 411 for male applicants in STEM subjects, short for science, technology, engineering and math.

A similar listing posted last year for Qinghai applicants to the same university on the Xin Gaokaowang educational services site showed a minimum gaokao score of 489 for male STEM subject applicants, suggesting a significant relaxation of requirements.

Test scores

China's military schools typically recruit far fewer women than men, and often have higher minimum scores for female applicants.

Minimum test score requirements vary widely across China depending on an applicant's location and choice of major, and change every year.

In 2020, candidates who applied to the National University of Defense Technology's Strong Foundation Program could get shortlisted with gaokao scores ranging from 613-659 depending on where they lived.

In 2021, candidates for the same program needed scores ranging from 621-686, while candidates for the same program needed scores ranging from 566-625 in 2022, suggesting an easing of requirements.

A list of minimum scores for 2023 was posted by another educational website, GaokaoKZX.com, on June 27, but later removed. A copy of the page still available via Google Cache showed this year's minimum scores ranging between 562 and 629, broadly similar to last year's range.

While online reports said the university's minimum score for regular applicants from Ningxia Autonomous Region was just 514, Radio Free Asia was unable to verify any of the reported ranges independently.

Calls to the admissions office of the National University of Defense Technology in the central city of Changsha as well as to admissions offices at the Naval Engineering University and the Dalian Naval Academy rang unanswered.

Risk of war

While the Ministry of Defense called on young people to "shoulder the heavy responsibility of our times and the hope of the nation," experts and commentators said the possibility of a military invasion of Taiwan could be putting some students off.

A recent graduate of Shanghai's Fudan University who gave only the surname Zhang said many of the better-off families in China shun military academies.

"Firstly, rich people in China don't let their kids apply to military schools, or to become teachers ... or even doctors practicing in China because the life is too hard and the return on investment is too low," Zhang said. "This is especially true for military academies."

"Another thing is that the risk of war has gotten pretty high during the past couple of years," she said.

"Once you enter a military academy, you are a member of the armed forces. If there's a war, former serving members of the armed forces are the first to be recalled," says a person with inside knowledge of the Chinese military. In this picture, Chinese People's Liberation Army cadets conduct bayonet drills at the PLA's Armored Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing in 2014. Credit: Greg Baker/AFP





Sydney University of Technology professor Feng Chongyi said he believes this is a key concern for many parents helping their sons and daughters plan their future.

"Sending your kid to join the military when war is coming is tantamount to sending them to their deaths," Feng said.

Military academies started to find it hard to recruit students after 2019, Wu Chien-chung, associate professor in the general education center of Taipei's University of Ocean Science and Technology wrote in a July 7 commentary for Radio Taiwan International.

"This is related to the Chinese governments toughening policy towards Taiwan and the possibility of large-scale military conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region," Wu wrote.

Winning wars

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who chairs the Central Military Commission, has said the People's Liberation Army must be capable of "winning wars."

"The leader says this in a speech every New Year, and there are wolf warrior diplomats everywhere underlining this bottom line, saying they'll never give up on the 'unification' of Taiwan by force," Feng said.

A person with inside knowledge of the military who asked to remain anonymous said that there are lifelong obligations that come with military service in China.

"Once you enter a military academy, you are a member of the armed forces," said the person, who gave only the nickname Xiao Song. "If there's a war, former serving members of the armed forces are the first to be recalled."

"Another is that if you can't put up with the hardship of service, you will be punished under the social credit system for leaving the army," she said.

Shizuoka University professor Yang Haiying said the fear of war could well be putting applicants off.

"Young people aged 18, 19, and 20 are all only children right now, and their parents' darlings," Yang said. "No-one's going to let them become cannon fodder."

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Both sides pledge to take big steps despite tensions between the two superpowers.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua before a meeting in Beijing, China July 17, 2023.

United States climate envoy John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart Monday morning, having left one of northern Americas hottest months for one of Beijings hottest summers on a diplomatic mission to cool things down.

June was the hottest month on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. On Sunday, Sanbao in Xinjiang Province hit 52.2 Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) and in Death Valley, California, the mercury hit 53.3 C (128 F), as Europe faces a record-breaking heat wave this week.

A woman uses a fan as she walks at a park amid an alert for heatwave in Shanghai, China July 12, 2023. Credit: Reuters





Kerry met with Xie Zhenhua on Monday in a conference room overlooking Beijings Forbidden City. Xie said that he and Kerry could play a role in improving U.S.-China relations.

Kerry said it was imperative that China and the United States make real progress in the four months before the COP28 global climate talks in Dubai begin.

Kerry also emphasized that it was essential that China partner with the U.S. to cut methane emissions and reduce the climate impact of coal-fired power.

In the next three days we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves, Kerry said.

China and [the] U.S. share similar ideas and have a similar past in addressing climate change, Xie said. Together, the two nations have made progress, Bloomberg reported.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry attends a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, China July 17, 2023. Credit: Reuters

Kerry is following on the tails of visits by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

On Thursday, Blinken met with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Kerry said he hoped to have candid conversations with Chinese officials and see some progress on limiting emissions of greenhouse gasses and overcoming Chinas addiction to coal by deploying renewable power.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said there would be an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation to deal with climate change, after Kerrys flight touched down.

Climate diplomacy experts cautioned not to expect a significant breakthrough such as the milestone 2014 agreement to cooperate that paved the way for the landmark Paris Agreement a year later. If the two nations could agree to revive a joint working group they agreed on in November 2021, the visit would be a success, experts said.

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 U.S. and China have multiple points of trade friction, with the U.S. imposing tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels and imposing restrictions on transfers of technology, which China argues is an effort to stymie its development.

Two polluters

China is the worlds worst polluter, according to the latest World Bank data. But the U.S. runs second and between them the two superpowers account for some 40% of the worlds carbon emissions.

President Xi Jinping said last September that its Chinas goal to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. That would mean phasing out coal-fueled energy stations, which represent 60% of Chinas total electricity generation.

A worker uses a torch to cut steel pipes near the coal-powered Datang International Zhangjiakou Power Station at Zhangjiakou, one of the host cities for the 2022 Winter Olympics, in China's northern Hebei province on November 12, 2021. Credit: AFP

Tom Woodroofe of the Asia Societys China Climate Hub told the Financial Times the visit would be seen as successful if Kerry and Xie were able to go back to where they were in 2021, adding, In the last 12 months, theres a sense that climate has fully fallen by the wayside.

Along with Mondays talks with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua, Kerry is set to meet Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and a vice minister of ecology and environment.

Kerry has worked closely with Xie, Chinas special climate envoy, on a U.S.-China climate deal that led to the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Kerry and Xie also signed the U.S.-China Glasgow joint declaration at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

Observers at the time described the Glasgow summit declaration as less than groundbreaking but still surprising given everything that the U.S. and China are at loggerheads over  Taiwan, human rights and high-technology transfers.

U.S. special climate envoy, John Kerry (centre right) speaks with China's special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua (centre left) ahead of a plenary during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow on November 13, 2021. Credit: AFP

Its unknown as yet whether Kerry will be granted an audience with President Xi. When Secretary of State Blinken visited last month, the audience was granted at the last moment.

What we want to do is find ways to see if China and the U.S. 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 said in a congressional hearing Thursday.

If we can make some progress on that, we think we can [tamp] down this edgy sense of competition which could lead to a mistake which takes you to a place you didnt mean to go to.

Developing nation

On Thursday, speaking to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Kerry said that China wont surrender its status as a developing nation any time soon because it means that China has less of an obligation to throttle its economy in the interests of the planet.

Kerry also told lawmakers that concerns about human rights abuses in China should not stop cooperation to mitigate climate change.

According to senior U.S. State Department officials, who requested anonymity to discuss private details, the talks in Beijing will address climate change, a new loss and damage fund for compensating climate victims and possible areas of bilateral cooperation.

Kerry will be in Beijing until Wednesday. He has no formal schedule but his early comments indicate he will focus on reducing methane and other non-CO2 emissions, as well as the lead up to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko [left] and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang are seen in Beijing during Qins last high-profile diplomatic meeting in this handout picture taken and released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China on June 25, 2023.

China's foreign ministry on Monday brushed aside questions about the whereabouts of Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who hasn't been seen in public for nearly three weeks, sparking a storm of media speculation over the reasons for his apparent disappearance.

Asked about a report in London's Times newspaper mentioning widespread rumors that Qin is currently under investigation for having an affair with Phoenix TV reporter Fu Xiaotian, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: "I have no information to provide."

Qin has been notably absent from high-profile diplomatic meetings since he met with the foreign ministers of Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and with the Russian deputy foreign minister in Beijing on June 25.

"I suggest you check the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Mao told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Monday.

His most recent mention on the foreign ministry website was during Mao's June 26 briefing, in which she gave a brief account of his meeting with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Rudenko.

Mao said China's diplomatic activities were "proceeding normally."

However, her answers were omitted from official records of the briefing that were later published to the foreign ministry's website.

A full version of the press conference live-streamed by a Taiwanese TV station can be found on YouTube.

Media speculation that Qin had been sacked grew when his photo and profile link were not found on the page of major officials on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

But this is misleading because the ministers photo and profile doesnt normally appear there, even in the past. Instead, the ministry has a special page dedicated to the minister, with details of his recent remarks and activities, and Qin Gang still appears there.

Former US ambassador

Before becoming foreign minister, Qin was Chinas ambassador to the United States and known as a a "wolf warrior"  combative Chinese diplomats who are quick to denounce perceived criticism of China.

A close ally of party leader Xi Jinping, he stepped down in January after being promoted by Xi  which makes the questions being openly asked about him extremely politically sensitive.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is interviewed by Phoenix TV anchor Fu Xiaotian in March 2022. Credit: Screenshot from YouTube video





Qin was the first ambassador to Washington to be directly promoted to foreign minister in 20 years, as well as the first to be appointed outside of a National People's Congress annual session. His predecessors Li Zhaoxing and Yang Jiechi both served as vice ministers of foreign affairs before being promoted.

When Qin was ambassador, Fu interviewed him for Phoenix TV in Washington on March 24, 2022, as part of the channels Talk With World Leaders series, asking him about a video call a few days earlier between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinas position on Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Qins continued absence from the public eye comes after foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on July 11 that Qin wouldn't be attending forthcoming meetings of ASEAN foreign ministers "for physical reasons."

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang [right] applauds as China's President Xi Jinping arrives for the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 13, 2023. Qin was the first ambassador to Washington to be directly promoted to foreign minister in 20 years. Credit: Noel Celis/Pool/AFP





Wang Yi, who heads the ruling Chinese Communist Party Central Committee's foreign affairs office attended those meetings in Qin's stead.

Qin's scheduled meetings with EU diplomats in late June were also canceled.

The pro-China Sing Tao Daily newspaper cited "reports" in a July 10 story suggesting that Qin had disappeared from public view because he had been infected with COVID-19, citing Wang Wenbin's "failure to deny" such reports when asked by journalists about Qin's whereabouts on July 7.

The Times reported that Qin's disappearance from the public eye came amid "speculation that he has fallen foul of the leadership and even rumors of an affair with a well-known television presenter," citing local media reports that Fu and her baby son had also recently disappeared from public view.

The rumors are that he's sick, but we're all just reading tea leaves here because nobody really knows the truth," YouTuber Jiang Taigong commented in a July 15 video. "We've only had vague comments from the Chinese Communist Party, so the guesses are coming thick and fast."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Chinese-speaking guides have seen business dry up amid an influx of unlicensed operators.

Laotian tour guides in the popular tourist town of Luang Prabang say they are increasingly losing business to Chinese nationals offering unofficial tours to visitors from China.

The Lao government requires that tour services be provided by Lao nationals, and the growing number of unlicensed Chinese tour guides in Luang Prabang highlights Chinas expanding influence in the country, particularly since Beijing lifted Covid-19 restrictions on outbound travel in December.

Situated in a mountainous area of northern Laos, the town of Luang Prabang lies on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, and is a popular destination for tourists drawn by its architecture and cultural significance.

But Laotian tour guides in Luang Prabang say they are being squeezed out by Chinese nationals providing similar services to Chinese visitors outside of officially licensed tour companies.

Chinese tour guides come with their countrymen and perform this kind of job illegally, said one Laotian tour operator who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA Lao on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal.

When they see freshly arrived Chinese tourists, they negotiate with them right away [before they can seek out local tour companies]  They are unregistered and work here illegally, he said.

Another Lao tour guide in Luang Prabang told RFA that tour companies bringing Chinese tourists to Laos are required by law to hire Chinese-speaking Lao nationals as guides before visiting any tourism sites.

Failure to comply with the law will result in fines, she said.

Tourists give alms to passing monks in Luang Prabang, Laos, Aug. 2022. Credit: RFA

Pent up tourist demand

But Lao tour guides said that many illegal guides drive Chinese tourists across the border in their own vehicles from southwestern Chinas Yunnan province via the border town of Boten in Luang Namtha province to avoid detection, before making their way south to Luang Namtha.

Illegal Chinese tour guides like to use their own cars as a form of personal tourism, rather than in a large group tour, he said. They know how to prevent themselves from being identified by the Lao tourism police, so we have to report them to our Lao tour guide association for investigation.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 1 million Chinese visited Laos annually, accounting for about 20% of all tourist arrivals, but last year only about 45,000 Chinese tourists came to Laos.

Since Chinas lifting of outbound travel restrictions, that number is on the rise. In the first four months of 2023, more than 223,000 tourists visited Laos from China, according to the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment.

According to the Lao Law on Tourism, which came into effect in 2005, any tour guide operating in Laos must be a Lao citizen who is at least 18 years old and has completed tourism training at an officially approved institute. All tour guides must carry an official tour guide card, have a working knowledge of Lao geography and history, speak a foreign language and be trained in medical first aid.

When reached by RFA for comment, an official with Luang Prabangs Department of Press, Culture and Tourism said that he was unsure of how many illegal Chinese tour guides are operating in the town, but claimed that authorities regularly carry out inspections and fine those who break the law.

There are tourism officers at well-known tourism sites who check the documents of those who claim to be tour guides, he said. If they find tour guides who cannot produce the proper documents, or cannot prove what tour company they represent, we will investigate and issue fines.

Tourists gather at a popular coffee shop in Luang Prabang, Laos, Aug. 2022. Credit: RFA

World Heritage site

Luang Prabang has grown in influence since the 14th century, due to its strategic location along the Silk Road trading route to China and importance as a center of Buddhism in the region.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, recognizes Luang Prabang for both its rich architectural and artistic heritage that reflects the fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture with that of the colonial era, when Laos was governed by France between 1893 and 1953.

The U.N. agency designated the town a World Heritage site in 1995, and now assists the Lao government in its protection and management.

According to the Press, Culture and Tourism Department of Luang Prabang province, nearly 440,000 tourists visited the area in the first five months of 2023  some 400,000 of whom visited from abroad. The largest number of international tourists to Luang Prabang came from neighboring Thailand, followed by those from the United States and China.

Tourists visit the Lao Royal Palace in Luang Prabang, Aug. 2022. Credit: RFA



Chinese-speaking tour guides in Luang Prabang said that before they had to compete with illegal Chinese tour operators, they could expect to earn up to US$60 a day.

These days, we dont have many Chinese tourists using our service, said one guide. I am a well-trained tour guide, but I dont have the opportunity to service them because there are so many Chinese tour guides here.

The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism recently revealed that some 3 million domestic tourists and 2.6 million international tourists visited Laos from 2021-2023, spending US$631 million, and announced plans to attract 4.6 million visitors in 2024, with a revenue target of US$712 million.

Translated by Phouvong. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Nearly 2 million civilians in Myanmar have been displaced from their homes by the civil war raging in their country, with 40,000 displaced in the past month alone, according to the U.N.s humanitarian agency, which appealed for food and other supplies.

Myanmar has been wracked by violence since the military overthrew the democratically elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup. Junta forces have faced stiff resistance from various ethnic armies that have teamed up with local anti-regime Peoples Defense Forces  civilians who have taken up arms to fight the military.

Of the total 1.9 million internally displaced persons, the largest number  nearly 800,000  are in Myanmars northwestern Sagaing region, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said in an update on the situation on July 15.

Countrywide, restrictions on humanitarian access have increased in multiple states and regions, notably in the Southeast and Kachin [state], further impeding timely and efficient aid delivery to affected and displaced communities, the report said.

Sustained support, including financial assistance, from the international community is crucial to allowing partners to stay and deliver in challenging circumstances, it said.

The humanitarian situation remains urgent as families continue to grapple with the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Mocha, resulting in significant ongoing needs for shelter and food, OCHA said. The tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean hit western Myanmars Rakhine state and parts of Bangladesh in May.

After a brief suspension, humanitarians have been able to restart their regular programs in Rakhine, but the humanitarian cyclone response remains paused by the SAC, the report said, referring to the State Administration Council, the ruling juntas official name.

The strictness of junta authorities on humanitarian aid is tightening throughout the country and the situation is worse in the southeast of the country and Kachin state, according to OCHA's statement.

Food shortages worsen

Displaced people in Sagaing, Chin and Kayah states complain that food shortages are getting worse as military authorities restrict humanitarian aid access.

A day after OCHA published the figure, military troops raided Sagaings Khin-U township, prompting roughly 10,000 residents from about 20 villages to flee to safety.

A resident of the townships Inn Pat village told Radio Free Asia that the soldiers unexpectedly raided his community at 5 a.m., putting elderly people who could not flee in imminent danger.

It caused a great deal of trouble, said the person granted anonymity to ensure his safety. Elderly people and the disabled who couldnt run, had to remain in the village, hiding in the alleys between houses.

Displaced civilians from Mindat township in western Myanmar's Chin state hide in the jungle, May 2021. Credit: Citizen journalist

Civilians living in villages where military troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias have been stationed cannot return to their homes, he added.

More than 50,000 internally displaced people, or IDPs, are in western Myanmars Chin state, according to OCHAs report.

Civilians there also fled their homes because of fighting and face life-threatening challenges on a daily basis because of the juntas heavy artillery shelling and airstrikes, said a management committee official for the IDP camps in Chin's Mindat township.



Many people have been injured by the shelling, said the official who declined to be named for fear of his safety. The junta planes fly over the area every night. Thats why everyone is panicking and can't sleep well. It's a pretty bad situation.

Mounting casualties

Three civilians, including a nine-year-old girl and a breastfeeding mother, were killed by an airstrike by junta forces on Mindats Wun Khone village on July 8.

A resident of Moebye township in southern Shan state, where junta troops and ethnic Karenni joint forces engaged in fierce clashes, said IDPs are having a hard time getting food because military troops have banned the transportation of rice to the area.

We can buy only dry food and gasoline in small quantities, the local said. The rice transportation routes have been totally blocked by the junta.

Aid and relief groups said 28 civilians were killed during the 40 days of fighting in Moebye from May 25 to July 4.

The armed assaults on civilians, forcing them to flee their homes, are a crime against humanity, said Banyar Khun Aung, executive director of the Karenni Human Rights Group.

The junta intentionally planned their attack to force them out of those places that they call home, he told RFA. Its not just in one location. They junta attacked many places using many different strategies to force the local residents to leave their homes.

RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment.

Armed conflicts continue in 255 of 330 townships in Myanmar, according to the latest annual report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on March 3.

The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution last Dec. 21, calling for the immediate cessation of violence, the release of all political prisoners, including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid in Myanmar.

Translated by Myo Min Aung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
The three ethnic armies control territory that is home to Chinese megaprojects.

Representatives of ethnic armed groups, MDAA. TNLA and AA, which are also members of KIA-led Northern Alliance, arrive at Mong La in the Kokang region of China-Myanmar border on May 30, 2023.

UPDATED at 8:24 A.M. EDT on 07-18-2023

Three ethnic armies in northern Myanmar have vowed to protect international investment in their regions which are home to several key Chinese-led projects.

Earlier this month, the Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, Taang National Liberation Army, TNLA, and Rakhine Arakan Army, or AA, released a joint statement in both Burmese and Chinese vowing to crush perpetrators of violence in Shan and Rakhine states.

The move prompted some observers to suggest they were pressured to do so by Beijing.

But Lt. Col. Mai Aik Kyaw, spokesman for the TNLA, said the joint announcement was made to counter the rise of extortion and terrorist crimes in Shan state along the border with China since the coup.

We often see kidnappings and robberies in our areas, he said. Businessmen and ordinary civilians are kidnapped for ransom. We have to work for regional stability and peace to counter these problems in the border areas.

Their statement hints at Chinas expanding influence in Myanmar since Beijing has backed the military regime, while other foreign-led investment has fled the country amid a protracted political crisis.

In the past, the three armies have expressed support for the armed resistance battling Myanmars military, which seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat, but are currently in talks with the junta.

According to the MNDAA, around 40 kidnappings took place in Shan state from early 2022 to early 2023. Fifteen Chinese nationals were among those kidnapped, including one who was killed, the group said. Over the same period, 25 Myanmar-born ethnic Chinese and members of other ethnic groups were either robbed or kidnapped in incidents that left six people dead, including one minor.

The MNDAA said four ethnically Chinese Myanmar nationals were sentenced to death for the murders, while five others were sentenced to long prison terms.

Chinas Shwe gas pipeline project on Maday Island in Rakhine states Kyaukphyu township is seen Jan. 25, 2023. Credit: RFA





Likely pressure from Beijing

Ye Tun, an ethnic affairs and military analyst based in Shan state, told RFA that it is likely that Beijing pressured the three northern ethnic armies to issue their statement, as the incidents could impact Chinese-led investment in Myanmar.

I think what they meant by international investment may mainly be China's investments, he said.

He noted that the 800-kilometer (500-mile) China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipeline, which began operations in 2009, runs from Kyaukphyu in Rakhine state through Mandalay and Magway regions, and northern Shan state.

There are many Chinese  nationals working along the oil and gas pipeline, he said. I believe that these three ethnic armed groups released their statement to prevent incidents that could impact Chinese investments.

Rakhine state, where the AA operates, is home to several Chinese megaprojects, including the Kyauk Phyu Special Economic Zone and Kyauk Phyu Natural Gas Project. Other Chinese projects  including the Muse Border Economic Cooperation Zone, Chin Shwe Haw Border Business Zone, and Gokteik and Kunlong bridge projects  are based in northern Shan state, where the TNLA and MNDAA operate.

Kyaw Saw Han, a researcher on security issues, told RFA that since the military coup, the situation in northern Shan state has become more complicated, and Beijing is likely growing concerned about how it could negatively affect Chinese interests.

I believe that China pressured the northern ethnic groups to issue the statement to deter threats to its interests in their regions on the border, he said. China is worried about the long-term potential for conflict in northern Shan state as many armed organizations are jockeying for territory since the military takeover, and it is warning the groups not to mess with its business and investments.

When asked by RFA whether the statement was prompted by Beijing, the TNLA's Lt. Col. Mai Aik Kyaw did not give a specific answer. He has previously said that representatives of the Chinese government have appealed to northern armed groups to help maintain peace and stability in the border region.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun for the military regimes response to the joint statement went unanswered Monday.

Clashes decrease in army territories

The AA, MNDAA and TNLA have expressed support for Myanmars armed resistance, while the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force, or PDF, paramilitary group claims that the ethnic armies have provided it with training and weapons in the territories under their control, as well as in the fiercely contested regions of Kayah and Sagaing.

However, military and political analysts say that fighting between the military and the PDF has sharply declined in regions where the three ethnic armies operate.

RFA was unable to contact representatives of the MNDAA and AA regarding the joint statement.

Nearly 1,500 clashes took place in 61 Myanmar townships where Chinese-led investments are based between February 2021 and March 2022, but the number of incidents dropped by nearly half to just over 760 from between April 2022 and June 2023, according to a statement issued last month by independent research group The Institute for Strategy and Policy (Myanmar).

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled "Kokang."
The entrance to Shwebo market in a photo taken on May 15, 2023

A bomb blast in Myanmars Sagaing region injured eight locals, junta-backed messaging channels reported Monday.

Pro-military Telegram groups said terrorist drones attacked a market in Shwebo township on Sunday morning. They said three children were among the injured.

They said an eight-year-old girl was severely injured after bomb fragments hit her in the neck.

But a local, who didnt want to be named for fear of reprisals, told RFA junta troops fired heavy artillery at the market.

"There is U Aung Zeya Palace to the west of Shwebo Market. Kha Ma Ya-42 Battalion was stationed there. They opened fire, said the local.

"One shell exploded outside the market; the other exploded in the market stall of a greengrocer.

Two people were hit in the waist and chest. They were sent to Mandalay Hospital," the local said, adding that those with minor injuries were taken to Shwebos public hospital.

Locals said that the market had been temporarily closed and junta troops were searching the neighborhood.

RFA could not confirm either of the reports and Sagaing regions junta spokesperson, Saw Naing, did not return calls on Monday.

Motorcycle bomb

In another attack Saturday, 12 Shan state residents were injured by a bomb blast outside a jewelry store in Lashios townships market.

A local, who also requested anonymity, said the bomb was planted in a motorbike outside the Zwe Htet store.

Of the 12 people injured, 11 are jewelry store employees," the resident said.

"Among them, two men and two women were seriously injured."

Residents say aid groups took the injured to the local hospital.

They said many stores in the market are closed as the junta has stepped up security in Lashio.

Debris outside the Zwe Htet jewelry store, Lashio township, Shan state, where a motorcycle bomb exploded on July 15, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist





In April a bomb went off near a water festival pavilion in Lashio, killing four people and injuring 11 after Peoples Defense Forces warned people not to take part in Water Festival celebrations sponsored by the junta.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for Saturdays blast.

Junta-media was silent on the bombing and Shan state junta spokesperson, Khun Thein Maung, didnt return RFAs calls.

Junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said on July 13 that there had been 489 explosions nationwide since the start of this year, resulting in 782 fatalities.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
When the Taliban seized power in 2021, Afghanistan's Shi'ite Hazara minority feared that the historically persecuted community would once again become the main target of Taliban atrocities.

During its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban terrorized the group, wresting control of Hazara regions in Afghanistan through a campaign of targeted killings.



After regaining power, the Sunni militant group tried to assuage Hazaras' fears of discrimination and persecution. The Taliban visited Shi'a mosques in the Afghan capital and deployed its fighters to protect ceremonies marking the Shi'ite month of Muharram.



But members of the community have accused the Taliban of since backtracking on its promises to protect Shi'a and grant them the right to freely observe their faith.



Last week, the Taliban prevented Shi'a from celebrating an important religious festival. The militants have also restricted the teaching of Shi'a jurisprudence in universities in Afghanistan. In February, the Taliban reportedly banned marriages between Shi'a and Sunnis in northeastern Badakhshan Province.



The Shi'ite community has accused the Taliban of failing to prevent deadly attacks on Hazaras by the rival Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group. Meanwhile, rights groups have documented the forced evictions of Hazaras by the Taliban, a predominately Pashtun group, in several provinces.



"The Taliban are becoming increasingly intolerant of public expressions and displays of the Shi'ite religious faith," said Niamatullah Ibrahimi, senior lecturer at Australia's La Trobe University. "If it becomes a pattern, it will clearly limit the religious freedom of Shi'a, especially ceremonies that are often public in nature."

Taliban fighters prevented Shi'ite residents in Kabul from publicly celebrating Eid al-Ghadir on July 7. The festival celebrates what Shi'a believe is the day that Prophet Muhammad declared Ali, a cousin and son-in-law, his successor.



But the festival clashes with the Sunni belief that Abu Bakr, the first Muslim caliph, was the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad. These conflicting beliefs are among the most important differences between the two main Muslim sects.



'They Want To Eliminate Minorities'



In May, the Taliban banned the teaching of the Shi'a Jafari school of jurisprudence at Bamiyan University. It is not clear if the ban has been extended to all universities in Afghanistan. Most residents in the province of Bamiyan, in central Afghanistan, are Shi'a.



Nematullah, an Islamic studies student at Bamiyan University, said they have been forced to study the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence that is followed by the Taliban.



"We were told that if we raise our voice, we will be taken away and tortured," the 20-year-old told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, adding that the Taliban ban was forcing Shi'a to give up their education or leave their homeland.



Mohammad Hassani, another student at the university, accused the Taliban of trying to "eliminate minorities and their religions by force."

Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Rizwani, a prominent scholar at the Shi'a Ulema Council of Afghanistan, told Radio Azadi that the Taliban's ban on teaching Jafari jurisprudence contradicts "the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and national unity."



Although a census has never been conducted, Shi'a are believed to make up around 15 percent of Afghanistan's 40 million people, which is largely Sunni. Hazaras account for the overwhelming majority of Shi'a in the country.



During the 19th century, Afghan monarchs attempted to forcibly convert the Hazara, seize their lands, and bring Hazara regions in the country's central highlands under the control of the central government, campaigns that killed thousands and forced even more to flee their homes, including many to British India. Hazaras who resettled in Kabul and other cities suffered discrimination and were often employed only in low-paying jobs.



In a significant step to address the historical grievances of the Hazaras, Afghanistan's 2004 constitution permitted Shi'a to use Jafari jurisprudence in court cases involving personal matters. The community also gained an unprecedented share in power during the Western-backed political order that emerged after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

Only The Beginning?



Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban has mostly maintained the state's administrative structure. But it has scrapped the 2004 constitution and laws that guaranteed freedoms and rights to Afghans, particularly to religious minorities and women.



The Taliban's theocratic government is made up almost entirely of senior Taliban members, with no women and just a few non-Pashtuns.



"There are deep fears within the community that this could be only the beginning of systematic discrimination against the Shi'a and the representation of their understanding of Islam in the country's laws, society, and politics," said Ibrahimi of La Trobe University.

Niala Mohammad, the director of policy and strategy at the nonprofit Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, said the Taliban has failed to protect Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority from the IS-K, which has killed scores of Hazaras in attacks on schools and mosques since the Taliban takeover.



"[The Taliban] continue to harass and target those that do not adhere to their distorted view of Islam," said Mohammad, who was previously the South Asia analyst for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. "Particularly Shi'a Hazaras, whom they view as heretics."



She said the Taliban's mounting restrictions on the Shi'ite minority "emboldens Shi'a persecution by other religious extremists across the region and deepens the sectarian divide."
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
KOMAROVO, Russia -- In the decades before Russia's 1917 revolutions, this sleepy forest settlement on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, some 45 kilometers northwest of downtown St. Petersburg, was one of the places the empire's economic and cultural elites came to escape the capital's summer heat. Komarovo's warm sea breezes during the White Nights were the perfect antidote to the city's long, sunless winters.



Ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska, who was the lover of the future emperor of Russia, Nicholas II, strolled the streets. Renowned jeweler Peter Carl Faberge had a summer house in Komarovo, which at the time was part of the Grand Duchy of Finland and was called Kellomaki. Psychologist and neurologist Ivan Pavlov, who won the 1904 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery of respondent conditioning, summered here, as did novelist Leonid Andreyev.



Magnates from the capital built eclectic wooden villas and guest houses there in the fashionable Art Nouveau style at which they received the poets, painters, philosophers, and composers who collectively defined the Silver Age of Russian culture.

Now much of that heritage has disappeared. When Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, there were almost 300 wooden structures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that were protected historical monuments registered in the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg. Now, fewer than 100 remain, the rest lost to decay, the bulldozer, or fire.



As scholars and institutions around the world look at centuries of Russian artistic creation with a critical new eye amid Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine, Putin has claimed that the West is seeking to "cancel" Russian culture. But activists in Komarovo argue that the real threat to Russia's heritage is much closer to home.

"A lot of businesspeople bought up these dachas from the state," said Dmitry Litvinov, a coordinator with the Living City preservation organization. "After which they knocked them down and built modern houses on the sites. Komarovo is just the most outrageous example. The majority of the new owners in one way or another try to destroy the old dachas. Only very few actually try to restore them."



RFE/RL documented at least 63 historic villas and other structures that have been lost in Komarovo alone over Putin's nearly 24 years as president or prime minister.



"Many dachas in Komarovo are gone," Litvinov said. "Their fate has been decided."



'Old Wooden Buildings'



After World War II, the Soviet government took over most of the villas in Komarovo. Many were converted into vacation complexes for state organizations or summer camps for children.



"They had a very practical attitude toward the old dachas that survived [the war],'" said Yelena Travina, a historian with the Old Dachas research group. "They treated them like bourgeois or class-enemy dachas that could be used for a time before the bright, new future could be built with new buildings."



"They didn't see any value in them at all," Travina continued. "They didn't appreciate the Art Nouveau style. They were just some sort of old wooden buildings, so no one took care of them."



Nonetheless, the natural beauties of the place attracted Soviet cultural elites. In 1955, the Soviet Writers Union began building dachas in Komarovo. Over the years, the town became associated with figures like poets Anna Akhmatova and Joseph Brodsky, writers Fyodor Abramov and Daniil Granin, the science fiction writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, composer Dmitry Shostakovich, rock musician Boris Grebenshchikov, and many others.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Zhores Alfyorov lived there and is buried in the small Komarovo cemetery, as are Akhmatova and Granin.



After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many of the Soviet-era entities that owned the properties stopped caring for them.



"Homeless people moved in and there were a lot of fires," Travina said. "Scavengers removed a lot of original elements such as ceramic stoves and carved wooden details."



'Quietly Demolished'



Over the last two decades, many of the historic buildings were privatized from the state organizations that controlled them in the Soviet period.



In many cases, the new owners schemed to have the buildings' protection status lifted by buying their own expert assessments, Travina told RFE/RL.



"Those experts determined that the dachas were not historic landmarks," she said. "Then they were quietly demolished."



Activist Litvinov told a similar story.



"If a building had the status of a cultural landmarkit could be simply burned down," he said. "When a building is destroyed, its protected status is automatically lost. There were a lot of cases like that."



The few new owners who try to restore the historic buildings, Litvinov added, often found themselves caught in a net of bureaucratic obstruction and bribery.



"He gets it full on from officials," Litvinov said of such owners. "Permissions. Assessments. It is easier just to destroy the house than to restore it."

In 2005, Valentina Matviyenko, then the governor of St. Petersburg, officially requested that Putin relocate the Constitutional Court to the city. The necessary legislation was adopted, and the transfer began on April 1, 2008.



In short order, numerous prerevolutionary wooden homes on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg and in Komarovo were razed to make way for the court's justices and staff.



In addition, activist Litvinov said he would like to see the administration of St. Petersburg State University held "criminally responsible" for the demise of the Komarovo dachas it controls.



"Everything that ended up in the university's hands is rotting away," he said, not only in Komarovo but in other Leningrad region settlements as well. "There is a whole group of historic homes that the university got from the city but does nothing with. If the city had just sold them, it would have been better."

On the night of February 9-10, a sprawling wooden dacha built in 1912 burned to the ground in the Leningrad region town of Vyritsa, about 70 kilometers south of St. Petersburg. It was at least the fourth historic home in the town to burn down since 2005, activists report.



Galina Ilyukhina, a member of the Russian Union of Writers who is working to save the organization's Komarovo dachas, including the one where Akhmatova lived, said this part of Russia's heritage "cannot survive without help from the state."

"But all the government grants get siphoned away somewhere up at the top and don't ever reach the bottom," she said. "Until that system is fixed, nothing will change."



"With a rumble and a roar," Silver Age philosopher Vasily Rozanov, who once lived in Vyritsa house that burned down in February, wrote in a 1917-18 essay, "an iron curtain is descending on Russian history."

Adapted by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson. This story is based on reporting by RFE/RL correspondents on the ground in Russia. Their names are being withheld for their protection.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm looking at last week's NATO summit in Vilnius. What did Ukraine actually achieve there, and how will the West help Kyiv going forward?

Brief #1: How Did Ukraine Fare At The NATO Summit In Vilnius?

What You Need To Know: NATO summits tend to be rather drab affairs. Most announcements are known well in advance and the official summit communique that runs to several pages of technocratic prose normally just gets a cursory look by disinterested media.

Not so at the Vilnius summit on July 11-12. The document was eagerly scrutinized for words indicating if or when Ukraine could join the military alliance. Emotions were running high: from the first crushing disappointment, if not downright anger, expressed by the Ukrainian leadership about what was offered to them, to a second day of reconciliation of sorts, and smiles, albeit slightly forced.

To understand what all the fuss is about, one must go back to the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 when Ukraine (as well as Georgia) got the thumbs-up to join the alliance but were offered no concrete pathway or timeline. What Kyiv and many NATO members, notably in the east, wanted in Vilnius was to go beyond the Bucharest declaration. The phrase I heard most in the run-up to the meeting was to "avoid another Bucharest."

Comparing the Vilnius and Bucharest declarations, it is fair to say that Kyiv got a "Bucharest 2.0" or perhaps a "Bucharest+." It has inched closer to NATO, but only a little. The Bucharest text stated that "NATO welcomes Ukraine's and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO." It then describes the way forward, by stating that "MAP is the next step for Ukraine and Georgia on their direct way to membership." MAP, meaning Membership Action Plan, was a NATO membership waiting room of sorts that many Central and Eastern European candidates were placed in before joining, in which they had to undertake specific political and military reforms.

Deep Background: The Vilnius declaration is linguistically more forward-leaning. It states that "Ukraine's future is in NATO." It then noted that "we reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognize that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan." The MAP being removed was consistent with Finland's and Sweden's routes to joining the alliance.

This new status, in the words of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, "will change Ukraine's membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process." Yet, the process isn't entirely clear, and what has truly frustrated the Ukrainians was the final sentence of that paragraph that underlines that "we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted that it's "unprecedented and absurd when [the] timeframe is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership. While at the same time vague wording about "conditions" is added even for inviting Ukraine."

Drilling Down

Some NATO officials -- speaking on the condition of anonymity -- say that it was a miracle that the word "invitation" was included at all. This goes further than anything before, although arguably means nothing without time frames and pathways.

It is also interesting to note that the conditions are not spelled out. Stoltenberg was pressed on this continuously at summit press conferences, and he vaguely mentioned issues such as the need for Kyiv to "strengthen their governance, including fighting corruption." But for Zelenskiy it was clear that Ukraine will be invited once the war is over, and he said that he "hadn't heard any other opinion in the room."

I was told by diplomats not authorized to speak on the record that the reason why NATO didn't spell out explicitly that Ukraine will become a member upon a successful resolution of the war is that this would invite Russia to continue the fighting indefinitely, even just by rocket strikes on Ukrainian territory in a bid to constantly keep Kyiv from joining the alliance.

When it comes to time frames and pathways, what Ukraine's closest friends in the alliance wanted in the text -- but didn't get -- was some signposting of the next steps -- for example, an explicit mention of a NATO ministerial meeting in the fall to discuss the issue, or even making reference to taking stock of the situation at the NATO summit in Washington in July 2024.

In this sense, the 2008 Bucharest declaration was actually more promising. There it was stated that "we have asked foreign ministers to make a first assessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting." That assessment, though, never came, as Russia's attack on Georgia in August 2008 derailed the entire process.

Another phrase that didn't make it into the Vilnius declaration was "Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO" -- a sentence Stoltenberg used when he visited Kyiv earlier this year. In fact, diplomats told me the declaration text had pretty much remained the same since the NATO foreign ministerial meeting in Oslo in May when the outlines of the documents were first discussed behind closed doors.

Those outlines became what NATO, in fact, offered Ukraine in Vilnius: no MAP needed, the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council to upgrade formal political relations, and a multiyear assistance program worth 500 million euros ($562 million) a year.

What was clear was that the United States, but also Germany, didn't want to go any further. When asked why, I got two explanations from various diplomats I spoke to. One was the fear of edging closer to offering Ukraine Article 5 protection -- NATO's mutual-defense clause -- that could lead the military alliance into direct confrontation with Moscow. The other was the U.S. presidential election next year. That means that it's likely little can be expected at the NATO Washington summit next summer -- which will be taking place in the middle of an election campaign.

With that in mind, it was interesting to watch U.S. President Joe Biden. He didn't hold a press conference, which is rather unusual for an American president attending a NATO summit, and he skipped the dinner with other heads of state and governments. He did, however, have a long sit-down with Zelenskiy and delivered a rousing speech at Vilnius University after the summit in which he said that "we will not waver, our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for liberty and freedom today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes."

Brief #2: How The G7 Countries Might Help Ukraine

What You Need To Know: What did lighten the mood on the second and final day of the NATO summit was the security commitments -- both political and military -- offered to Ukraine while it waits to become a full member. Just as with the summit declaration and Ukraine's membership quest, much of this is about semantics. What most NATO officials think (but don't say out loud) is that NATO can, in fact, only offer one such security guarantee -- and that is membership. And that was not on the table.

At the same time, Kyiv doesn't like the word "assurances." That was offered to Ukraine in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 by the United Kingdom, the United States, and notably Russia, in exchange for giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. These assurances ultimately meant nothing as Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and later that same year fueled a war in the eastern parts of Ukraine that eventually led to the Russian full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

What instead happened was that the G7 leaders, who were all gathered in Vilnius, agreed on a "joint declaration of support to Ukraine" on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Biden described it as "a powerful statement of our commitment to Ukraine as it defends its freedom today and as it rebuilds its future." And Zelenskiy, standing alongside the U.S. leader, noted that "the Ukrainian delegation is bringing home significant security victories for Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children."

Deep Background: Many questions still remain. What exactly is being offered by the West's leading democracies from the G7? From when does it apply? And will it be ironclad guarantees or something weaker? Looking at the G7 declaration, it is stated that "today we are launching negotiations with Ukraine to formalize -- through bilateral security commitments and arrangements aligned with this multilateral framework, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements -- our enduring support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community."

Two things stand out immediately. The wording "commitments and arrangements" are clearly weaker than "guarantees." On the other hand, the fact that these future bilateral deals with G7 members need to be formalized "in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements" means that national parliaments in the respective G7 countries must back them. And this gives them political weight. Ultimately this will be a question about how fast these deals can be negotiated -- and how much money or arms will be sent Kyiv's way.

Drilling Down

Notably, the G7 statement talks about discussions starting "immediately" and that the commitments will include "ensuring sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future" before outlining a number of areas of support, such as air defense, artillery and long-range missiles, armored vehicles, as well as training of Ukrainian forces and boosting cybersecurity and intelligence sharing.

To me, the most interesting paragraph is the following: "In the event of future Russian armed attack, we intend to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine appropriate next steps. We intend, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements, to provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment across land, sea, and air domains, and economic assistance, to impose economic and other costs on Russia."

Although I didn't manage to get any real clarification from officials or analysts on what a "future Russian armed attack" means in the context of what has been an ongoing war, my reading of the text is that this sentence implies longer-term arrangements, especially in the case that a negotiated cease-fire was broken by Russia further down the road.

Ultimately, for now, Ukraine must rely on Western arms deliveries. In the run-up to the summit, France announced that it would supply Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles and the United States said that it would provide cluster munitions -- a move that horrified several European partners who have banned the use of them but that Zelenskiy described as "fair," noting that Russian forces have been pounding Ukraine with cluster munitions for a long time already.

The next question is whether the United States will send its long-range artillery weapons -- Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) -- to Ukraine. When asked, Zelenskiy said with a dry smile, "I don't know," and added, "There are conversations, but not everything at once."

A lot will now depend on how Ukraine is faring on the battlefield with what it has received so far. Diplomats I have spoken to concede that some sort of Ukrainian military success must arrive this year as the European Union and crucially the United States will shift focus to big elections in 2024.

A lot will now depend on Zelenskiy's power of persuasion. While he was getting a rock-star reception by adoring crowds wherever he went in Vilnius, many allies of Ukraine weren't particularly keen on his forthright criticism of them on Twitter. From speaking to officials from some of Ukraine's closest allies, who weren't authorized to speak on the record, the feeling was that the Ukrainian president went a bit over the top and was too emotional.

Perhaps the most memorable statement from the entire summit was that of British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, who is much-admired in Ukraine. He told British journalists at the summit that the U.K. was not the online retailer Amazon when it came to supplying arms and that Western countries would like to see some more gratitude for what they are doing for Kyiv. Shortly after the summit, Wallace announced that he will step down from his role at the next U.K. cabinet reshuffle, which sources told the BBC is expected in September.

is expected in September. Hanging over all of this discussion and diplomacy have been reports about U.S. back-channel negotiations with Russian officials on some sort of settlement of the war. If such talks did take place, the Biden administration has said they were not sanctioned or supported by the White House. I spoke to a few well-placed European officials who said that the United States is still considering a future status of Ukraine as a neutral, non-NATO country to be a useful bargaining chip with the Kremlin in future talks.

Looking Ahead

On July 17-18, there will be a summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels. It's the first such meeting since 2015, and the talk in the run-up to this one has centered around the final summit declaration and the EU being supposedly upset that the CELAC countries have insisted on scrubbing the draft text of any references to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Later this week, on July 20, EU foreign ministers will gather in Brussels for their monthly meeting. Ukraine will, of course, feature prominently, but look out for their lunch discussion on Turkey and the state of play in EU-Ankara relations. Just before the NATO Vilnius summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan implored the EU to revive Turkey's stalled membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO, so it's possible the ministers could discuss a potential visa deal with Ankara or ways to upgrade Turkey's aging customs union with the EU.

That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Richard Jozwiak

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here.

la/gp
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 17. The total investment portfolio between Uzbekistan and Hungary amounted to $1.5 billion, Trend reports.

The number was revealed during the phone talks between President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, as Administration of the President of Uzbekistan informed.

The parties noted that, currently, joint projects in the fields of agriculture, food industry, pharmaceuticals, and other priority sectors are being explored.

Hungarian PM also congratulated Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his re-election as President of Uzbekistan.

The sides pointed out the continuation of active and systematic political contacts, acceleration of joint projects in industrial cooperation, support for business and humanitarian initiatives, and other important issues on the bilateral agenda.

The dynamic development of Uzbek-Hungarian multifaceted cooperation was noted with satisfaction. Regular political consultations have been established, and in March this year, the Embassy of Uzbekistan was opened in Budapest.

Trade volumes between the two countries are growing. The leading European bank, OTP, has entered the banking and financial market.

During the phone conversation, special attention was given to the importance of formulating specific measures within the framework of the activities of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission to accelerate the implementation of cooperation projects and expand humanitarian and educational exchanges.

Meanwhile, the Uzbek-Hungarian Joint Investment Fund will start its work in the third quarter of 2023, as Minister for Economic Development of Hungary Marton Nagy said during the plenary session of the second Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2023).

"The Hungarian government has invested $200 million in the development of this Fund. Preliminary negotiations on the launch of its work are already underway," the minister said.
COMEDY returns to the Civic Theatre next weekend with a bumper five-strong line-up.

The Grin & Tonic Comedy Club will feature alumni of Live at the Apollo, The Jason Manford Show and Mock the Week.

Opener Jonny Pelham is a multi-award nominee who will be previewing material from his forthcoming Edinburgh Festival show Optimism Over Despair, while Harriet Dyer (pictured) is described as quirky, hilarious and thought-provoking.

Red Redmond has just been supporting the tour of RuPauls Drag Race and Thomas Henry has been entertaining crowds in New York, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and London recently with his witty observations.

Anthony J.Brown is the compere.

The show starts at 8pm on July 28 and tickets are priced at 11.50 and 10.50 concessions.
MP JOHN Healey pledged to give veterans a voice if Labour wins the next election.

The Wentworth & Dearne MP and shadow defence secretary was joined by Rother Valley parliamentary candidate Jake Richards at an event held in Bramley to listen to the concerns of military veterans groups from across the borough.

It was part of Veterans Voice, a nationwide Labour campaign to link up with veterans and their families and shape the partys plans for the next general election.

Mr Healey said: It was great to be able to bring veterans and organisations together from across Rotherham to have an open discussion about the sort of changes they need to see.

Veterans and organisations that support them are the best advisors you can have when it comes to making the changes that are needed for the future.

The next Labour government will stand side-by-side with veterans and their families.

We are committed to fulfilling the important promises our society makes to those who serve.

Mr Richards said: We had a really good discussion about public policy and whats needed to ensure we look after veterans in Rotherham going forward.

We want to make sure that when Labour is in government were going to deliver for veterans in the borough and across the country.

Mr Healey recently accused the Government of failing local veterans, with just 1.5 per cent in Rotherham and two per cent in Barnsley having received Government ID cards to help them access the services they need.
A MAN and a woman have been charged with 19 child sex offences by investigators looking into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.

Neil King (50), of Dinnington, faces 15 charges in all, including rape, attempted rape and engaging in sexual activity with a child, relating to offences alleged to have occurred between 2003 and 2009.

Louise Tye (40), of Kimberworth, has been charged with four offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing the neglect or ill treatment of a child in 2008.

Both are due to appear before Sheffield Magistrates today.

Since te launch of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agencys investigation into child sexual abuse in Rotherham, a total of 33 people have appeared in court.
RESEARCH into suicide rates shows that men in their 40s are still the most vulnerable.

Males account for 79 per cent of suicides in Rotherham  and less than half had sought help from a GP in the months prior to their death.

White British men aged between 45 and 52 accounts for the majority of suicides nationwide.

The biggest trigger was stressful life events including relationship or child protection issues and financial problems.

Over half were also suffering from a long-term illness, while a history of alcohol abuse was more prominent than substance abuse.

In Rotherham, data shows that 74 per cent of those who took their own life between 2018 and 2020 lived in the most deprived two areas.

Male deaths have slightly decreased in recent years but remain over double the number of female deaths.

Over a quarter had never been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Proximus Group, a Belgian digital services and communication company, said on Monday that it has signed a deal to acquire around 58 percent interest in India's Route Mobile through its unit Proximus Opal.

Route Mobile is an Indian cloud communications platform specialized in CPaaS services with a market capitalization of 1.1 billion euros.

The aqusition also mandates Proximus Opal to make another takeover offer for up to 26 percent of Route Mobile at the same price per share.

Proximus will acquire 57.56 percent of the shares in Route Mobile for an initial Rs 59.224 billion or around 643 billion euros in cash or Rs 1,626.40 per share. The transaction is expected to conclude within the next six to nine month.

Proximus will finance the deal through bridge financing and issuance of a new bond upon closing of the transaction.

The annual run-rate EBITDA synergies realized three years post-closing are expected to be at least 90 million euros, which will be realized by both Route Mobile and Telesign.

Post transaction, the CPaaS activities of the Group will be led by Rajdip Gupta, the CEO of Route Mobile who will continue to execute his current role.

The acquisition will be followed by a reinvestment of circa 299.6 million euros by some of the founding shareholders of Route Mobile for up to 14.5 percent of the shares of Proximus Opal. This reinvestment implicitly values Telesign at 1.4 billion euros. Telesign is Proximus' US-based affiliate.

Over the course of full year 2022-23, Route Mobile realized a total reported revenue of Rs 35.692 billion or 427 million euros, 55 percent revenue CAGR of fiscal year 2020-23.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) said on Monday that it has acquired FM:Systems, a digital workplace management and IoT solutions provider for real estate customers, to boost its OpenBlue digital buildings capabilities.

The base price of the acquisition is $455 million, plus certain earn-out payments.

"FM:Systems' double-digit revenue growth and gross and operating margins expected to be accretive to Johnson Controls," JCI said in a statement.

The company does not expect the acquisition to impact its full-year 2023 outlook.

With this, JCI's OpenBlue digital buildings software portfolio gets complementary cloud-based software as a service digital workplace management capabilities.

FM:Systems' CEO Kurt von Koch will join Johnson Controls' digital in a leadership role.

Based in Raleigh, FM:Systems is owned by Accel-KKR. It has over 200 staff and 1,200 customers, representing more than 2.4 million users across 80 countries.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Russia has announced that it is pulling out of a UN-brokered deal that ensured the security of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.

Monday's development once again raises fears about global food supplies and price increases.

The last ship to sail under the deal, Turkish-flagged TQ Samsun, reportedly left the Ukrainian port of Odesa Sunday morning and is heading out through the Bosphorus Strait, passing Istanbul, along an agreed corridor.

Shipping of grain and other agricultural products from Odesa, which had been halted since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, had resumed under a landmark deal signed by Ukraine, Russia and Turkey in July last year.

In November, Russia had threatened to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, leading to concerns about global food supplies.

After talks between the UN, Russia and Ukraine, hosted by Turkey, all parties had agreed to extend the deal for 120 days.

The deal was extended twice again for two periods of 60 days each.

On Monday, with just hours left before the deal expired, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a news conference that it "has been terminated."

Russia is not ready to extend the agreement, he told reporters.

He cited the obstacles Russia faced in shipping its food and fertilizer to global as the reason.

"As soon as the Russian part is completed, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately," Peskov said.

A Russian blockade of Black Sea ports that prevented the supply of grains to the global market and reduced production prospects in Ukraine because of the war had led to steep increase in wheat and other grain prices.

Ukraine and Russia account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, with the two countries supplying more than 45 million tons annually, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Grain Initiative allows for significant volumes of exports from three Black Sea ports.

One year into the agreement, more than 32 million tons of food commodities have been exported from Odesa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny to 45 countries across three continents.

The Initiative helped unblock vital food commodities shortages and reverse spiking global food prices.

The FAO Food Price Index recorded a steady monthly decline over the past year, dropping more than 23 percent from its peak in March 2022.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
South Korea will on Tuesday see June results for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In May, imports were down 11.7 percent on year and exports fell n annual 6.0 percent for a trade surplus of $1.13 billion.

Japan will see June results for its tertiary industry index, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.4 percent on month - slowing from 1.2 percent in the previous month.

Hong Kong will provide June numbers for unemployment; the jobless rate is expected to creep up to 3.1 percent from 3.0 percent in May.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (SPCE) has revealed the crew for its upcoming 'Galactic 02' spaceflight, which aims to achieve significant milestones and advance the company's mission of democratizing access to space.

The crew will consist of three private passengers, marking the second commercial spaceflight conducted by Virgin Galactic.

80-year-old Jon Goodwin, an Olympian and early Virgin Galactic ticket holder, will join Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers, a Caribbean mother-daughter duo who secured their seats through a fundraising draw organized by non-profit organization Space for Humanity.

The diverse composition of the crew highlights the role of the commercial space industry in breaking down barriers to becoming an astronaut. With less than 700 individuals having traveled to space to date, Virgin Galactic aims to increase representation and diversity in this exclusive group. The company's Future Astronaut community, comprising more than 800 individuals from over 60 nations, exemplifies this objective.

The 'Galactic 02' mission will set several historical records, emphasizing the transformative nature of each Virgin Galactic spaceflight in redefining the concept of an astronaut. The milestones to be achieved during the flight include, the first astronauts from the Caribbean, the first mother-daughter duo to venture into space, the first Olympian to reach space, the second youngest person to travel to space, and the second individual with Parkinson's disease to journey into space

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, expressed the company's aspirations of increasing access to space and inspiring people worldwide through this mission. He emphasized the crew members' status as role models in their communities and how their transformative experience would contribute to the growing inclusivity of space exploration.

Jon Goodwin, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2014, expressed his enthusiasm for defying the challenges posed by his condition. He described the opportunity to go to space with Parkinson's as magical and hoped to inspire others facing adversity to pursue their dreams.

Keisha Schahaff, hailing from Antigua, emphasized the significance of her journey as the first person from her country to travel to space. She noted that this achievement showcased the increasing accessibility of space and expressed her desire to share the energy and inspiration gained from the experience with others.

Rachel Lyons, Executive Director of Space for Humanity, highlighted the transformative perspective astronauts gain from viewing Earth from space, known as the "Overview Effect." This perspective fosters unity and empathy among humanity and holds great potential in addressing global challenges. Space for Humanity aims to grant as many individuals as possible access to this life-altering viewpoint to benefit the future of civilization and confront pressing global needs.

The 'Galactic 02' spaceflight will be livestreamed on VirginGalactic.com, allowing audiences to virtually participate and witness the extraordinary experience being created for private astronauts.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Rhodes University leadership with the schools' representatives. Photo cred: Vusumzi Tshekema.

By Singisa Mdungwana

The Rhodes University Student Recruitment hosted a Life Orientation teachers workshop last week to celebrate and honour top provincial feeder schools. Life Orientation teachers from 14 high schools from across the length and breadth of the province formed part of the two-day workshop aimed at giving a taste of Rhodes University campus life.

The teachers visited all Faculties and Departments, such as Environmental Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics and the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Student Recruitment Officer, Sibongile Mkwetshana, said the aim was to resuscitate and reinvent Rhodes University in the mindset of teachers from top-feeder schools in the province. The first-hand exploration provided the teachers with a much deeper understanding of the academic environment in which their students may find themselves in the near future.

Traditionally, pre-Covid, the event would be a one-day event, but now it has been turned into a two-day event, considering that teachers would be too exhausted from travelling to assimilate their experience. Some teachers came from as far as Mthatha, Cofimvaba and had to be ready to be picked up by three in the morning to arrive in Makhanda. We are grateful they were committed to honouring our invite, even if it meant waking up early and sacrificing their holidays, said Mkwetshana.

The two-day workshop culminated in a dinner at The Highlander. Among the University leadership that attended were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Professor Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, Registrar Professor Adele Moodley, Dean of Law Professor Lawrence Juma and Dean of Commerce Professor Dave Sewry.

The teachers were treated to a special celebratory awards dinner where Professor Monnapula-Mapesela, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, welcomed and expressed deep gratitude to the schools and their teachers. She thanked the teachers and their schools for their hard work and dedication in producing high-calibre students for Rhodes University. She reminded them that they play an immense role in the development of the Eastern Cape and, therefore, should be celebrated and seen as the pride and joy of the province.

As a former teacher, I know this noble profession is often undermined, and our teachers are undervalued. However, I can assure you that Rhodes University understands the importance of a teacher and the value you all add to nation-building, she said.

Mr Mvuyisi Mlilwana from ST. Johns College urged Rhodes University to continue with such initiatives and expressed how this unique experience brought a new and fresh perspective about Rhodes University. I also noticed that the programmes at Rhodes University are innovative and do not necessarily focus on students getting jobs. This is exactly what this country needs, he said. He also expressed his gratitude to the lecturers and thanked them for treating them with such great respect.

Ms Sandy Vlandir of Victoria Girls High School added that the experience has helped her redirect her learners from typically taking on traditional career paths to helping them see that there are so many other alternatives they could explore.

Mkwetshana said that such events will play a pivotal role in disseminating the uniqueness of Rhodes University. She said this would endure that they are able to reach out to more teachers from other provinces to have this experience.
The Liberian delegation with Rhodes University stakeholders - just after the agreements were signed [CREDIT: Gavin Gaka]

By Anelisa Centani

Professor Cliff Jones, Rhodes University Head of the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS), an African Centre of Excellence, accompanied by Professor Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Students Affairs, recently welcomed a large delegation from Liberia on their arrival to Rhodes University.

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) was represented by the Hon. Augustine Manoballah, Deputy Director General; Mr Alexander Dunbar, Director, Fisheries Policy & Planning Department; Mr Ahmed Sherif, Director, Marine Fisheries & Environment Department; Solomon Daryoue, Associate Director, Fisheries Policy & Planning Department.

The University of Liberia was represented by Prof Dr Julius S. Nelson Jr., President, University of Liberia; Assoc Prof Dr Charles Asumana Sr., Dean, College of Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change; Asst Prof Dr Alvin S. Jueseah, Chairman/Head of Department, Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS).

The World Bank was represented by Mr Shafick Hoossein, Task Team Leader and Senior Environmental Specialist. A Rhodes Alumnus, Mr Hoossein was accompanied by his colleagues Janet Ngegla and Zinnah Mulbah, both Environmental Specialists from Liberia. Mr Hossein was delighted to have the opportunity to return to his alma mater with the delegation.

Two journalists from Freedom FM, Mr Abraham Wheon and Mr Charles Yates, accompanied the delegation.

Professor Tony Booth, the Dean of Science at Rhodes University, presented the Faculty of Science, explaining that the University offers a formative degree where students specialise in almost any two subject combinations, which differs from the single subject specialisation typical of most other universities. "The strength of a Bachelor of Science degree at Rhodes University is you might decide to major in something outside of science faculty. For example, Economics or Law. Rhodes University allows our students to craft a unique degree," he said.

Although DIFS is the smallest department in the Rhodes University science faculty, Prof Jones explained, We are not our own; we are in partnership with SAIAB with the focus of training in mineral fisheries and agriculture. He informed the University of Liberia that DIFS has been tasked by the African Union to take their knowledge and expertise in mineral fisheries and agriculture and use it to inform government policies around Africa.

Prof Warwick Sauer, Prof Amber Childs, Prof Wilbert Kadye and Mr Quraban Rouhan were also in attendance at the meeting from DIFS and were joined by Dr Chakona from SAIAB.

Dr Nelson Jr thanked Rhodes University for accepting their partnership request and that of the NaFAA of Liberia.

He said, "We came so that we can learn with you and to help us empower young men and women in our country.

The President explained that the partnership with Rhodes University will steer fishery and agriculture in their country in a brand-new direction.

Dr Nelson Jr said, We believe from the NaFAA that the fishery industry can be a profitable development for our country. Therefore, we need to prepare our youth and recruit the youth into the industry.

Dr Asumana, Dean of Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change for the University of Liberia, said they are partnering with Rhodes University because it is the only institution in South Africa with an Ichthyology and Fisheries Science-focused degree. "For the University of Liberia, we have just started developing in this area. This month will be our first time taking our students out to see fish because it is a new department, he said.

Dr Jueseah, Head Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences at the University of Liberia, added that they still have much to do, including training their science faculty.

He said, Through this partnership with Rhodes University, we look forward to collaborative research between the students, faculty exchange, student exchange and some of our students finishing their degrees at Rhodes University. So, in the end, we can try to support the optimisation of the Liberian Fishing Industry.

The University of Liberia hopes to close all the Fishing and Agriculture Industry gaps with the help of Rhodes University and the SAIAB. Both parties want to ensure that their industries are open to accommodate other sectors so that there is development in their aquatic systems. Rhodes Universitys DIFS has 33 international connections worldwide.

Professor Jones explained how DIFS uniquely facilitates their postgraduate degree. The research question needs to come from stakeholders that will use it. So, they need to be part of conceptualisation; we involve our partners in the experimental design. The work usually takes place at the stakeholders facility. So, a PhD student will go to the farmer's laboratory to do and finish their research.

Following further discussion between the Rhodes University team, a networking lunch and a tour of the campus facilities, the delegation had afternoon tea with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, and the two Deputy Vice Chancellors, Professor Monnapula-Mapesela, and Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships).

The Hon. Manoballah affirmed his full support of the University of Liberias partnership with Rhodes University and sees it as an integral part of developing the fishing sector in Liberia.

The delegations were very pleased with how the day went and spoke about the warm welcome, the informative visit and their delight to have signed two agreements with Rhodes University, concluded Orla Quinlan, the Director of Internationalisation at Rhodes University.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. The Information Center of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee of the Russian Federation has reported that two surface drones attacked the Crimean Bridge, Trend reports.

According to the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, drones attacked the bridge at night. As a result of the incident, the roadbed of the bridge was damaged.

The National Anti-Terrorist Committee also said that two people were killed, and one child was injured.

The Investigative Committee has launched an investigation. Emergency services are working at the scene, and law enforcement agencies are carrying out operational and investigative measures.
Western media reported on several sources of classified data from the United States, Germany and other countries. This problem was faced by the US and German intelligence services, as well as employees of official bodies in the Netherlands, Taiwan and the UK. The leak was caused by the inattention of employees and the VirusTotal antivirus.

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Thus, the Financial Times reported that hundreds of thousands of US military emails, which, in particular, contained confidential information about service members, were mistakenly sent to Mali due to domain errors.

As the newspaper noted, Americans often confuse the domain of the US defence establishment and use Mali's .ml domain instead.

Washington is worried about the leakage of this data because of Mali's ties with Russia.

At the same time, Spiegel reported that the US and German intelligence services faced a data leak of their employees' data due to their use of the VirusTotal online virus scanner. This software is owned by Alphabet, which owns the Google search engine.

This is a list of 5,600 names, including employees of the US National Security Agency, US Cyber Command, the Department of Justice and the FBI, as well as German intelligence services, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the military counterintelligence service.

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All of them are registered on the VirusTotal IT security platform.

Officials from the Netherlands, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom were also affected by the data leak. According to the media, only their names and email addresses were leaked.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

In April, The New York Times announced that classified US documents on Ukraine, China and the Middle East had been leaked online. Washington acknowledged that the scale of such a leak, together with the sensitivity of the data itself, could cause enormous damage.

At the same time, some of the military data did not pass the authenticity test - the White House called them fakes.

The anti-Ukrainian Telegram channel Donbass Devushka played a leading role in spreading the leaked data. One of its administrators was a former US Navy non-commissioned officer, Sarah Bills.

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Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend with a shotgun blast while she worked in a toll booth during Tuesday evening rush hour was arrested Wednesday after an overnight manhunt, police said.

Nathaniel Burris, 46, of Richmond is also accused of fatally shooting a friend of the woman while he waited inside a pickup truck in a nearby parking lot.

Burris was booked on two counts of murder after being spotted by California Highway Patrol officers in Placer County, about 120 miles northeast of the scene of the shooting at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza.

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Burris was sleeping in the airport shuttle van he used for work and drove off after officers approached him. He surrendered after a short chase, CHP spokesman Sgt. Trent Cross said.

He clearly had no regard for human life, so we wanted to apprehend him as soon as possible, Cross said. We had authorities all throughout Northern California trying to find this guy.

Burris and Deborah Ross, 51, a toll collector at the bridge that crosses San Francisco Bay, had recently broken up, Cross said.

Ersie Charles Everette, 58, of San Leandro, a friend of Ross, was killed shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday while sitting in his truck. Burris knew Everette was at the site where Ross worked, Cross said.

Witnesses said a man then used the butt of a shotgun to shatter the window of the No. 3 toll booth and fired at least three times, stunning rush-hour commuters before fleeing in the van owned by Western Eagle Shuttle of San Rafael.

A woman who answered the phone at the company said officials had no comment.

Cross said Burris and Ross had shared a house in Richmond. Neighbors said the two had been having financial problems.

Richmond police were called to the house Saturday, but the nature of the call was not immediately available, police said.

Everette, also known as Chuck, was a longtime bus driver for Golden Gate Transit who had received numerous accolades, spokeswoman Mary Currie said.

He was a likable guy, a good guy, she said.

The shooting occurred at the bridge that connects well-to-do Marin County with Richmond and other East San Francisco Bay suburbs.
Trade between Egypt and Turkey should see a boost following the resumption of diplomatic ties.

The decision to restore diplomatic relations between Egypt and Turkey offers fresh prospects for enhancing bilateral trade relations, which continued despite the severing of political ties after the Muslim Brotherhoods ouster from power in Egypt in 2013.

A statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry earlier in July signalled a promising turn towards re-establishing normal relations [between the two countries], reflecting Egypt and Turkeys shared keenness to boost relations for the benefit of both peoples.

In mid-February, the Egyptian cabinet said Turkish companies had pledged to invest $500 million in Egypt after representatives had met with the Egyptian prime minister for the first time in a decade.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement, the Turkish companies, some of which are already present in Egypt, are engaged in various sectors such as the development of industrial zones, spinning and weaving, ready-made clothing and sportswear, medical equipment, and electrical appliances.

The statement said that Turkish investments in Egypt have reached $2 billion.

Nihad Akinci, chairman of the Egyptian-Turkish Businessmen Association, anticipates a surge in Turkish investments in Egypt following the decision of several companies to increase their investments by $500 million this year, either by launching new companies or expanding existing ones.

The association, in collaboration with several commercial chambers such as the Ready-Made Garments Chamber of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, is preparing opportunities for Turkish investments in the field of textiles and ready-made clothes.

Meetings between the two sides will be arranged at a later date, Akinci added, with the meetings expected to take place within the next two months.

The upcoming period will also see meetings between businessmen from both sides in other sectors beyond spinning, weaving, and ready-made clothes. Turkish investments in Egypt encompass diverse activities, such as home appliances under the Beko brand, chemicals and health products, and the BIM discount stores, he pointed out.

The earlier severing of Egyptian-Turkish ties at the political level had not affected Turkish investments in Egypt, Akinci said. In fact, some companies had expanded their businesses during those times. The new announcement of enhancing relations between the two countries will reflect positively on investments, he added.

The effects of the new policy have already been evident in the recent increase in the number of Turkish tourists visiting Egypt after the announcement that Turkish citizens can acquire visas at Egyptian airports regardless of age. In late march, the Egyptian authorities declared a host of new facilities for tourists from Turkey, Iran, and Israel.

The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) has reported that there was a 14 per cent increase in the value of trade between Egypt and Turkey in 2022, reaching $7.7 billion and up from $6.7 billion in 2021.

The trade balance between the two countries is in Egypts favour at $250 million, the agency added.

According to CAPMAS, Turkey is a top importer from Egypt, with 10 commodities accounting for 82.7 per cent of Egypts total exports to Turkey in 2022 and amounting to $3.31 billion.

These commodities include fuel, mineral oils, plastics, inorganic chemical products, and fertilisers. The most important commodities that Egypt imports from Turkey are iron and steel.

The value of Egypts imports from Turkey decreased to $3.72 billion in 2022, down from $3.74 billion in 2021. Turkey ranked seventh on the list of exporting countries to Egypt over the past year.

In April 2022, former Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara targeted increasing the level of trade exchanges with Cairo to $15 billion. During a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri, Cavusoglu stressed Turkeys efforts to stimulate investments in Egypt, particularly in the tourism sector.

We will also diversify the relationship between the two countries, particularly in the field of energy, and develop joint economic relations with Egypt, he added.

Adel Lamei, who heads the Egyptian side of the Egyptian-Turkish Business Council, said that the restoration of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Turkey would facilitate communication and procedures to obtain visas on both sides.

He added that Turkey was among the few countries where the trade balance is in favour of Egypt, thanks to the recent increase in the volume of gas exports.

He said that in recent years there has been a significant expansion in Turkish investments in various fields in Egypt, including in the textile industries, food, services, and chemicals. He expects a further increase in the volume of these investments, particularly with the states recent decisions in favour of the private sector, such as the non-exemption of state-affiliated companies from fees and customs.

Lamei added that Turkish investors recognise the vast opportunities available in Egypt, particularly in the light of the international trade agreements that Egypt has signed, among them the Agadir Agreement, a free-trade agreement between Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, membership of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and free trade agreements with the EU.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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An Israeli court on Tuesday ordered a Palestinian journalist from occupied east Jerusalem to perform community service, and handed down a suspended sentence, her lawyer said, after she was charged with incitement to violence.

The Palestinian journalists' union condemned the verdict as "unjust".

Lama Ghosheh, 30, a freelance reporter for various Palestinian media outlets, was detained in September and placed under house arrest.

In addition to incitement, she was accused of "identification with a terrorist group", according to the indictment which cited Facebook posts and messages as evidence.

The charge sheet described her work as a journalist and her thousands of online followers as giving her posts greater weight.

Ghosheh's lawyer, Mohammed Mahmoud, said she was ordered to perform nine months of community service.

The suspended sentence means she could be jailed for six months "in case of any violation committed" over a three-year period.

The court also fined her 4,500 shekels ($1,220), said Mahmoud, vowing to appeal the verdict.

The journalists' union said the verdict "aggravates the violations committed by the occupation authorities against journalists in the framework of their professional work and their freedom of opinion and expression".

Israel has occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the 1967 Six-Day War.

In east Jerusalem, Israel bans political activities related to the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control in the West Bank and views the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state.

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A seven-storey building collapsed in the Rashid district of Beheira, in the Egyptian Nile Delta, killing four people, including a 10-year-old child, and injuring 13 others on Sunday.

Civil protection personnel also rescued 12 people who were trapped under the rubble, the governorate said in a statement circulated by media.

They have been moved to Rashid General Hospital to receive medical treatment.

The governorate evacuated seven buildings surrounding the collapsed unit to ensure their safety and remove debris. Their residents will temporarily stay in social housing units.

A nearby building was damaged by the collapse despite being in good structural condition, the governorate added.

The collapsed building had three floors that were built illegally and had not complied with a demolition order, the governorate said.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj ordered the disbursement of EGP 60,000 in compensation to each of the families of the deceased in the collapse.

The Public Prosecution has launched an investigation in response to the incident.

Egypt has witnessed a series of building disasters involving old or compromised structures, resulting in fatalities and injuries to residents, and Sunday's collapse is the latest in this series.

Less than 24 hours before this incident, an old building collapsed in Alexandria, claiming two lives.

On 6 July, one person died when a two-storey building collapsed in the Gomrok neighbourhood of west Alexandria.

At least 10 people died when a 13-story building collapsed in the Sidi Bishr neighbourhood of Alexandria on 26 June.

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Elishae Johnson, system director of business health services at Bronson Healthcare, consults with Administrative Specialist Pam Milliron, left, and Information Specialist Lexi King at Bronson Battle Creek Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in May.

Elishae Johnson, system director of business health services at Bronson Healthcare, speaks about the importance of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners at Bronson Battle Creek Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in May.

Elishae Johnson, system director of business health services at Bronson Healthcare, consults with Administrative Specialist Pam Milliron, left, and Information Specialist Lexi King at Bronson Battle Creek Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in May.
Packy Earnest

Ashton Smith looks through pictures on his laptop on a Saturday afternoon at Scidmore Park in Three Rivers. He participates in group therapy once a month online, and sees another therapist on a biweekly basis who specializes in gender affirming care
Maria Faison is a Counseling Psychologist who works with El Concilio.

Maria Faison is one of few Latina, Spanish- and English-speaking therapists in the area who offers culturally and linguistically appropriate care for the Spanish-speaking population here.

Nancy Rubio and her son.

Nancy Rubio and her son.

Maria Faison is one of few Latina, Spanish- and English-speaking therapists in the area who offers culturally and linguistically appropriate care for the Spanish-speaking population here.
Dr. Chris Barnes, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Kalamazoo Counseling and Assessment Center

Maria Faison es una de las pocas terapeutas latinas, de habla hispana e inglesa en el area que ofrece atencion cultural y linguisticamente apropiada para la poblacion de habla hispana aqui.
Kyle King, clinical mental health counseling graduate program student at Western Michigan University, stands in a WMU mental health classroom building in May.

Jennifer Harrison, director and professor at Western Michigan Universitys School of Social Work, speaks about the importance of student loan debt assistance to mental health workforce retention.

Victoria Orbe, childrens services director for Community Healing Centers in Kalamazoo, stands near diapers collected for struggling parents. Student loan debt assistance could equip more mental health workers to help struggling children, Orbe says.

WHO CAN HELP
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on the allocation of $7.6 million for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine,

Azernews

reports.
The Egyptian embassy in Greece celebrated the 71st anniversary of the 23 July Revolution in 1952 with high-level officials, diplomats, and members of the Egyptian community gathering at its premises in Athens.

Notable attendees included Omar Amer Youssef, the ambassador of Egypt to Greece; Ayman Alian, the Egyptian defence attache in Greece; George Tsunis, ambassador of the United States to Greece; and Bebeb Djundjunan, ambassador of Indonesia to Greece.

A number of Greek ministers also attended, including Nikos Dendias, minister of defence; Notis Mitarachi, minister of citizen protection; Olga Kefalogianni, minister of tourism; and George Kotsiras, deputy minister of foreign affairs.

"Today not only represents a major milestone in Egypt's modern history, but it also remains a symbol of freedom, independence, equality, and modernization to all Egyptians," said Youssef during the celebration.

Egypts 23 July Revolution was a defining moment for the country that marked the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.

Youssef also highlighted Egypt's achievements under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, including "becoming a leading energy exporter focused on green and renewable sources, expanding transportation infrastructure,  establishing a new administrative capital, and building new schools and hospitals to accommodate the needs of the growing population."

Additionally, Youssef discussed the strategic relations between Egypt and Greece and the unprecedented development in bilateral cooperation.

The event featured a performance by 11-year-old composer and award-winning pianist, Stelios Kerasidis, who played both the Egyptian and Greek national anthems.

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The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved Sunday night a draft law banning the political activity of Palestinian students at Israeli universities on the grounds that such activity supports terrorism and terrorist organizations.





The bill, submitted by Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech of the far-right "Otzma Yehudit" party, calls for closing any university student union that expresses support for "a terrorist act or activity or a terrorist organization."

Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kish decided to push the bill through, claiming that academic institutions have become "a central platform for incitement" against Israel.

Palestinian students at Israeli universities actively participate in protests held on Israeli campuses to condemn Israels racist and brutal measures in the occupied territories.

In late May, an Israeli government panel shelved, for at least a month, the bill that would bar waving Palestinian flags on Israeli campuses, amid widespread condemnation of the legislation from university and rights groups and opposition by the attorney general, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The bill would also institute campus bans on waving flags linked to terror organizations and on supporting terror groups, terrorism, or armed struggle by enemies of Israel.

Students caught violating the ban would be suspended for 30 days for the first violation. In case of future violations, they shall be barred from receiving a degree in Israel for five years, and any foreign degrees they obtain abroad within that time frame shall not be recognized in Israel.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that academic institutions must expel students who belong to terror organizations or are convicted of terror offences.

These students shall be barred from receiving a degree in Israel for 10 years, and any foreign degrees they obtain within that time frame shall not be recognized by Israel.

The bill has sparked controversy over freedom of expression on Israeli campuses.

Last year, then-opposition party Likud advanced a different bill banning state-supported institutions, including public universities, from flying the Palestinian flag.

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara announced her opposition to portions of the bill. Meanwhile, rights groups took to campuses in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba in May to protest what they called an "anti-democratic and dangerous" law that will severely jeopardize freedom of expression and Palestinian students' ability to express their national identity freely.

Several university administrators also denounced the bill. The Association of University Heads released a statement lambasting the legislation, calling it draconian and harmful to freedom of speech.

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Regional fintech event Seamless North Africa has kicked off in Egypt's New Cairo with the participation of over 4,000 from international, regional, and local financial and banking institutions, according to an official statement on Monday.



The event lasts two days at New Cairos Egypt International Exhibitions Centre.

The conference's main theme is The Gateway to Fintech in the Middle East and Africa.

Up to 150 international and local experts, and more than 100 exhibitors, are participating in the event.

"Egypt gives special care to financial technology as the bedrock for the government's integrated strategy to build a digital economy that copes with future endeavours and challenges and maximizes utilization of available development opportunities," said Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology in an opening statement on behalf of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Hassan Abdallah, announced issuing of the new edition of the Fintech Outlook report which includes several positive indicators of the development of the Egyptian fintech sector.

The report showed that the Egyptian fintech sector attracted around $800 million in investment in 2022.

During the Seamless event, the CBE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria to exchange expertise in fintech, innovation, e-payment, and financial inclusion.

Another MoU was signed with the London Institute of Banking and Finance to provide Egyptian fintech cadres with training programs, workshops, and courses.

Deputy CBE Governor Rami Abou El-Naga said that the total value of transactions conducted via the InstaPay application reached around EGP 112.7 billion ($3.6 billion) by the end of March 2023,

The CBE launched the National Instant Payment Network and InstaPay mobile application last year to enable clients to process electronic fund transfers seamlessly and instantly at any time.

Fintech in Egypt

On 12 July, Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) issued new regulations for using financial technology (fintech) in the non-banking financial sector, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Recently, Egypt has taken considerable steps to encourage investments and entrepreneurship and level the field between public and private sectors.

It has also taken steps to support the investment climate and draw up legislation on startups.

A recent report by FINTECH Global revealed that fintech investments in Egypt reached $259 million in 2022, a 12.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Egypt's financial inclusion rates have improved between 2016 and 2022 by 147 percent, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Egypt.

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Norway's data protection agency said Monday it would ban Facebook and Instagram owner Meta from using the personal information of users for targeted advertising, threatening a $100,000 daily fine if it continues.

The business practices of US big tech firms are under close scrutiny across Europe over concerns about privacy, with huge fines handed out in recent years.

The Norwegian watchdog, Datatilsynet, said Meta uses information such as the location of users, the content they like and their posts for marketing purposes.

"The Norwegian Data Protection Authority considers that the practice of Meta is illegal and is therefore imposing a temporary ban of behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram," it said in a statement.

The ban will begin on August 4 and last three months to give Meta time to take corrective measures. The company will be fined one million kroner ($100,000) per day if it fails to comply.

Meta spokesman Matthew Pollard was quoted as saying by Norwegian public radio channel NRK that the company will review the demands and that the announcement will not have an immediate effect on its activities.

The Norwegian regulator added that its ruling was neither a ban on Facebook and Instagram operating in the country nor a blanket ban on behavioural advertising.

The Austrian digital privacy campaign group noyb, which has lodged a number of complaints against Meta's activities, said it "welcomes this decision as a first important step" and hopes data regulators in other countries will follow suit.

Meta suffered a major setback earlier this year when European regulators dismissed the legal basis Meta had used to justify gathering users' personal data for use in targeted advertising.

Meta suffered another major setback earlier this month when the European Court of Justice (ECJ) rejected its various workarounds and empowered antitrust regulators to take data privacy issues into account.

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Flash, Egypts new cashless payments app, has completed a $6 million seed round led by Addition with participation from Flourish Ventures and other strategic angel investors.

This funding will accelerate the startup's product development and customer acquisition in Egypt, according to a press release on Monday.

An angel investor provides initial seed money for startup businesses, usually in exchange for ownership equity in the company.

Flash has obtained approval from the Central Bank of Egypt in partnership with Banque Misr to operate as a technical payment aggregator.

A payment aggregator is a company that collects payment information from merchants and routes those payments to the appropriate banking and credit card networks.

Flash provides cashless payment solutions for consumers and businesses through a scan-and-pay service on its app.

Around 80 percent of goods purchased online in Egypt are paid cash-on-delivery, partly because many businesses do not offer point-of-sale options on delivery, Flash said, citing a study by market research agency Mordor Intelligence.

Flash was founded in 2021 by Uber alumni Erik Gordon and Sherine Kabesh.

Fintech in Egypt



On 12 July, Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) issued new regulations for the use of financial technology (fintech) in the non-banking financial sector, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Recently, Egypt has taken major steps to encourage investments and entrepreneurship, guarantying equal treatment between public and private sectors, supporting the investment climate, and developing legislation for startups.

A recent report by FINTECH Global revealed that fintech investments in Egypt reached $259 million in 2022, a 12.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Egypt's financial inclusion rates have improved between 2016 and 2022 by 147 percent, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Egypt.

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YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP)  Armed separatists wearing military uniforms killed 10 civilians and wounded three in an attack at a crowded intersection in Cameroon's volatile northwest, the regional governor said on Monday.

The killings took place on Sunday in Bamenda, the regions capital, according to the governor, Debben Tchoffo. The victims included a couple of newlyweds, he said. Eight people died at the scene and two more later in hospital.
A new cultural initiative, named Medad El-Imamien (Continuation of the Two Imams), is reconnecting the residents of the Imam Al-Shafii neighbourhood with their cultural heritage through arts and handicrafts.

The neighbourhoods children take tours of the mausoleum of Imam Al-Shafii (767-820 AD), founder of the eponymous Shafii school of Islamic jurisprudence, to learn about the man that their neighbourhood is named after. A few feet away, they take calligraphy and learn how to make handicrafts.

This new initiative was developed by five women over almost two years as part of their graduation project for their diploma of cultural development at Cairo University.

"I have always been enchanted by the neighbourhood," explained Sara Hassan, the founder and manager of the initiative, to Ahram Online. She is a filmmaker, photographer and screenwriter who was among the writing team in the latest television hit Risalet Al Imam (The Message of the Imam), which explores the life of Al-Shafii.

Hassan and her colleagues and founded the initiative for community and artistic development for the children of the neighbourhood.

The initiative works in collaboration with Al-Alam Beity (The World is My Home), a non-governmental organization (NGO).

"[The NGO] focuses on empowering widows and single mothers by training them in sewing workshops, as well as enhancing the skills of children of the neighbourhood so they have better job opportunities in the future, " explained Shimaa Mahmoud, the manager of the NGO and resident of the neighbourhood.

The collaboration between the initiative and the NGO has created a new line of hand-made bags and pencil cases with artwork depicting the mausoleums famous dome and quotes in Arabic calligraphy.

"We were inspired by the life of the imam whose mother was a widow who strove to support her brilliant son. Al-Shafii was focused on documenting his ideas and thoughts and his handwriting was easy and clear which helped save all his thoughts and pass it down to us," noted Hasan.

Born in Gaza, Al-Shafii moved with his mother to Mecca after his father passed away. He studied in Mecca and in Iraq, was assigned the post of judge in Yemen, and founded his school of thought in his famous book Al-Om (The Mother) while teaching in Cairo, where he lived until his death in 820 AD.

Al-Shafii neighbourhood is also referred to as Al-Imamien (The Two Imams) in reference to both Al-Shafii and his mentor Al-Imam Al-Leithi. The residential neighbourhood is the burial ground of many iconic cultural figures and has its own intangible cultural heritage.

The necropolis of historic Cairo, where the neighbourhood is located, has always been more than just a burial ground. Venerating the dead and visiting them is a ritual of grand importance to Egyptians. Having an eternal spiritual connection between those who crossed over is a belief that is deeply rooted in Egyptian mass memory. The graveyards have always had schools, public water fountains, and resting areas for visitors. There was even a visitors guidebook for visitors who would come visit the tombs of wallis, iconic figures, Sufi pillars as well as their loved ones.

The imam's mausoleum is surrounded by many tombs, including the tomb for the descendants of Mohamed Ali Pasha, the Ottoman ruler of Egypt 1805-1848, who like many Egyptians, chose to be buried next to the imam for his spiritual grandeur.

Decorating such tombs required skilful calligraphers that would adorn the tombstones with verses from the Quran. This helped integrate the art of calligraphy into the neighbourhood.

"Out of this came the idea to create items that reflect the cultural heritage of the place, Hasan said.

My colleague Noha Hanafy created the design inspired by the dome of Al-Shafaii. Parenting consultant Bothina Abdel Raaouf charted the best communication methodology with the children we cater for,

Since the district has many decorative heritage tombs, calligraphy was once a booming art in the neighbourhood, so I collaborated with Khalil Agha calligraphy school to teach children of the neighbourhood," added Hasan.

Inclusion of children with hearing disability was the responsibility of Mayada Al Dibani, and Yasmine Magdy an employee at the minister of culture managed to coordinate all this," continued Hasan.

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Microsoft will face an official antitrust investigation by the European Union (EU) next week, it was reported on Monday, making for the software giant's first such probe in Brussels in 15 years.

According to the Financial Times, the investigation stemmed from allegations that Microsoft was unfairly tying its videoconferencing app Teams with its Office software.

The newspaper quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying the probe could result in formal charges as early as autumn, once the investigation was underway.

Microsoft previously announced in April that it would no longer impose the automatic installation of Teams on customers' devices.

That decision came after its workplace communications rival Slack filed a complaint in 2020, arguing that bundling the two services together violated EU competition laws.

However, negotiations between Microsoft and the European Commission hit a stumbling block over concerns about the geographical impact of the concessions, and the pricing of Teams to ensure fair competition.

Discussions to find alternatives to a formal investigation were taking place, the FT claimed, but it said it appeared unlikely that Microsoft would be able to avoid one.

Slack, which has been acquired by Salesforce since filing the complaint, urged EU regulators in it to prevent Microsoft from illegally leveraging its power by bundling or tying products across markets.

The investigation would be Microsoft's first competition probe in Brussels since 2008, when it faced accusations of abusing its dominant position by forcing users to download Internet Explorer, which was bundled with Windows.

While it did reach a settlement in that case, Microsoft was still fined 561m by the EU five years later for failing to uphold its commitment.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The Sunday Times's Lucy Tobin told readers that shares of Futura Medical were worth a punt, even if there were no guarantees of a happy ending.

Although the company had just 14 staff and directors, it had a new product that worked, Eroxon, a gel for those suffering from erectile dysfunction, which did not require a prescription in order to be sold.

Given that the market for ED was expected to surpass $6bn in value by 2032, the business's future looked appealing.

And unlike rival products Viagra and Cialis, both of which required a prescription, Eroxon took just 10 minutes to work, not half an hour.

The company was expecting approval for Eroxon in Saudi Arabia in September and was working on having a US partner for commercialisation which would likely a surge in the share price.

"There are no guarantees of a happy ending, but its a worthy punt. Buy."

The Financial Mail on Sunday's told readers to 'buy' shares of Serco, although it conceded that risks were not absent.

The outsourcer was well-placed to benefit form government outlays on immigration and defence in many regions of the world, the tipster argued.

On the flip-side, there were multiple potential risks.

For starters, making up the loss of Covid-related work "wasn't always easy".

Furthermore, the possibility existed that it might lose the Australian immigration contract that was up for renewal in 2023.

Serco also had a tendency to work in "high-profile" and "controversial" areas, including on immigration which in the past had led to scandal and had an extremely negative impact on its share prices.

"Theres no suggestion that the current management is likely to lead the company into any problems like this though, since former chief executive Rupert Soames is credited with shaking out any problems at the business, leaving it in stronger shape.

"At 156p, the shares are a buy."
Egyptian actor Khaled El-Sawy will join the list of honourees at the 16th National Theatre Festival, taking place from 27 July to 12 August.

This honouring really excites me because Ive served in theatre for long years, dedicating all my energy as an actor, director, writer and composer, stated Khaled El-Sawy on the festivals website on Saturday.

I am so proud to be honoured for all the theatre plays I introduced although the budgets werent sufficient at that time, El-Sawy added, expressing interest to return to theatre as a writer and as an actor.

Born in 1963 in Alexandria, El-Sawy studied law before graduating from the Academy of Arts and launching his professional career in theatre.

El-Sawy established El-Haraka theatre troupe in 1989 with a number of currently famous actors, such as Tarek Abdel-Aziz and late Khaled Saleh, in addition to writer Sayed Fouad.

The troupe presented successful shows, such as Hafla Lel-Maganein, El-Milad and El-Leb Fil Demagh in which they tackled political and social issues.

El-Sawy then worked as a director in Egyptian TV, introducing a number of works, including a film titled Masraheya Men Talat Fosoul, before he cemented his stardom as an actor in cinema in Gamal Abdel-Nasser film in 1999.

Quickly becoming among the leading film actors of his generation, El-Sawys remarkable career in cinema includes a variety of distinct roles in significant films such as The Yacoubian Building, Keda Reda, Cabaret, El-Farah, and The Blue Elephant, in addition to numerous TV roles.

El-Sawy has numerous published writings, including his plays with El-Haraka troupe and other plays like El-Debla and El-Milad, in addition to poetry books like Nabi Bela Tabbaa, Kalam Morsal, and Agras. He also published one short stories book titled Yaumeat Kholoud.

Festival programme

Taking place in several halls in Cairo, the festival will be managed by actor Mohamed Riyad, appointed to the job by the Ministry of Culture earlier this year.

The 16th edition, which is named in honour of legendary actor Adel Imam, will also host honouring ceremonies for actors Ahmed Fouad Selim, Mohamed Abu Daoud, Mohamed Mahmoud, Roshdy El-Shamy, Riyad El-Khouly, Samy Abdel-Halim, and Salah Abdullah, as well as set designer Noha Barada and writer Mohamed El-Sayed Eid, among others.

The organisers will hold a press conference on Saturday to unveil the details of the anticipated edition.

The selection committee, under the helm of poet and critic Mohamed Bahgat, has already shortlisted 37 plays for the various contests of the festival which received 150 submissions from public and private sectors troupes.

Various industry workshops are scheduled to take place alongside the National Theatre Festival, including directing classes by Shady Sorour, scenography sessions by Amr Abdullah, and theatre management lessons by Safwat Hegazy. Director Khaled Galal will offer a session on career-building.

An acting workshop, led by Ahmed Mukhtar, has already begun, training 60 actors from a pool of 600 applicants.

The festival offers a range of awards for outstanding work in the theatre industry, such as its writing award named for Abu El-Ela El-Salamony, and a new contest for film criticism.

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The United States is working with India to develop an investment platform to decrease the cost of capital and improve private investment to fast-track India's energy transition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. "We are nearing connecting with an agreement on the global minimum tax system," said Yellen, after a bilateral meeting with India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of a G20 meeting.

The visit is Yellen's third to India this year, indicating the growing closeness between the two countries. The improvement in bilateral relations was highlighted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington last month, which saw a slew of defense and high technology deals being signed.

Yellen said the two nations have been collaborating across a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration and strengthening supply chains. "In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," she said. Yellen will visit Vietnam after the G20 finance meetings end on July 18.
The meeting of Indian PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi comes with many new landmark initiatives. They discussed strengthening the ''distinguished historical relations'' between the UAE and India and ways to achieve the goals of the ambitious strategic and development partnership. In the morning H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, received Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, in Abu Dhabi, at the start of his official visit to the UAE. His Highness welcomed the Prime Minister of India and his accompanying delegation. Prime Minister also inspected the ceremonial Guard of Honour with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at the magnificent Qasr Al Watan.

In the biggest break through India and the United Arab Emirates are agreeing to start trade settlement in local currencies, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced. At present, India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer and whose central bank last year announced a framework for settling global trade in rupees, pays for UAE oil in dollars. The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE signed two MUOs to establish a Framework to Promote the Use of Local Currencies for Cross-border Transactions and cooperation for interlinking their payment and messaging systems. This agreement will establish a Framework to Promote the Use of Local Currencies viz. the Indian rupee (INR) and the UAE Dirham (AED) for cross-border transactions, and interlinking their payment and messaging systems. The MUOs were signed by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das and the Governor of the Central Bank of UAE, H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama.

This will give the liberty to pay in the respective domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the development of an INR-AED foreign exchange market. This arrangement would also promote investments and remittances between the two countries. The use of local currency transactions would optimize transaction costs and settlement time for transactions, including for remittances from 3.8 million Indians residing in UAE. The UPI-IPP linkage will enable the users in either country to make fast, convenient, safe, and cost-effective cross-border funds transfers. The linking of Card Switches will facilitate the mutual acceptance of domestic cards and the processing of card transactions. The linkage of messaging systems is aimed to facilitate bilateral financial messaging between the two countries. These MUOs are aimed at facilitating seamless cross-border transactions and payments and fostering greater economic cooperation between the two countries.

Another major achievement of this bilateral talk is IIT Abu Dhabi Campus. An MOU between the Ministry of Education of the Government of India and the Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi for planning to establish Indian Institute of Technology Delhi  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It will set a brand-new template for leveraging the power of knowledge for both mutual prosperity and global good.

On the IIT Abu Dhabi, Ambika Gulati, CEO & Principal- Of The Millennium School-Gems, Dubai appreciated this effort and said that As an Indian resident in the United Arab Emirates, I feel very proud that the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology is opening a campus in Abu Dhabi. Im also delighted that IIT has chosen the UAE as the location for its first offshore campus, as the decision reflects the close and deep ties that exist between the two countries.

The opening will no doubt strengthen the reputation of Indias education sector, given IITs status as a highly sought-after institute of excellence in the field of engineering. This is a landmark event. As a school leader aware of the large number of students who aspire to study at an IIT in India, I view IITs Abu Dhabi campus as a great opportunity and motivator for Indian students studying in the UAE. I am curious to know whether the new campus will provide preference to students who have studied in the UAE, or if the overall IIT-JEE rank will be the only deciding factor for admission.

Dr. Vajahat Hussain, CEO, of Amity Education Middle East and Amity University Dubai said, The opening of IIT Abu Dhabi will be a milestone in the UAE-India relationship. The personal relationship between the President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister His Excellency Narender Modi has taken the UAE-India relationship to a much higher level in the last 4 years. Now the opening of the IIT in Abu Dhabi is a testament to the fact that there is a validation of the excellence in education that the Indian Institutes of Technology represent. With the development of the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, the UAE is committed to ensuring that the next generation of leaders is at the forefront of innovation. This is a great opportunity for students in the UAE and the wider region, to benefit from the academic excellence, diverse curricula, and innovative teaching methods that IITs are known for.

As a preferred higher education destination in the Middle East, international students choosing the UAE to study get access to the future of education, global educators, and state of art facilities. Having IITs alongside world-class institutions here will only add to the quality of education being offered by UAE institutions. The UAE is a hub for international education, it offers a dynamic, innovative, and inclusive learning environment that attracts students and scholars from diverse backgrounds. We wholeheartedly welcome this great initiative within the UAE-India partnership framework. Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman & Managing Director, of Aster DM Healthcare said, It is remarkable to see the bilateral trade between India and UAE cross the historic $85 billion mark, with a 20% growth since the signing of CEPA last year. The agreement signed in the meeting between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of UAE HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to conduct trade between the two countries in local currencies is set to exponentially increase growth across key sectors.

The impact could be significant in energy, fintech, defence, healthcare, education etc. and will enable knowledge sharing, innovation and start-up ecosystems while further supporting businesses which have a strong presence in India as well as UAE. Aster with its major presence in India and UAE shall be a beneficiary of this. It is also encouraging to see Indias support to UAEs COP28 Presidency and sustainable development goals through Mission Life.

On the local currency cross-border trade, Kamal Vachani, Group Director & Partner -Al Maya Group, appreciated this step, This is an amazing opportunity for the cross-border trading community, where traders from both sides will benefit. Not only traders, the huge flow of Indian tourists will also save it currency exchange charges and time too. Both the top leaders engaged in warm conversation about the historical ties between the two countries and their people and praised the level of joint strategic cooperation between the two nations across multiple vital sectors.

The significant growth in the volume of non-oil trade between the UAE and India signifies the positive progress of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), more than a year after it entered into force, which puts it on the right track to deliver the target of reaching US$100 billion in non-oil trade annually over the next five years. During 2020-2022, the volume of non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and India has grown by 84 percent, from AED102.5 billion to AED188.8 billion last year, according to data from the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. During the past ten years (2013-2022), the trade growth rate between the two countries amounted to 18.2 percent, from AED 159.72 billion to AED188.8 billion last year, to reach AED1.41 trillion in 10 years.

The UAE-India CEPA played a vital role in strengthening joint economic and trade relations towards further growth and prosperity and creating a momentum of opportunities for the Emirati and Indian business communities. As per the latest official data released this year, the UAE invested US$36.61 billion in various sectors, including financial services, real estate, business services, alternative and renewable energy, engine manufacturing, equipment, and more.

The UAE chose India as the first country to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with, in light of their strong strategic ties. India is a key ally and partner for the UAE in trade and investment, and they have a long history of friendship. This is also Indias first agreement of this kind with a country in the Middle East and North Africa region. The UAE-India partnership is a driver for economic growth that creates trade and investment opportunities for over 3.8 billion people. The economic partnership contributes to the vitality of trade and investment flows in South Asia and through it towards regional and global markets.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on Saturday following the full load commencement of power supply to Bangladesh from the Groups Ultra Super-Critical Thermal Power Plant (USCTPP), in Godda, Jharkhand. The Godda USCTPP, which marks the Adani Groups entry into transnational power projects, is Indias first commissioned transnational power project where 100 per cent of the generated power is supplied to another nation.

After the meeting, Gautam Adani said in a tweet: Honoured to have met Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on full load commencement and handover of the 1600 MW Ultra Super-Critical Godda Power Plant. I salute the dedicated teams from India and Bangladesh who braved COVID to commission the plant in a record time of three-and-a-half years. Adani Power Jharkhand Ltd (APJL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd, completed the dependable capacity test for the Godda plant on 12 July. The dependable capacity test, a mandatory requirement under the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Bangladesh, was conducted over the stipulated period of six hours to evaluate the simultaneous functioning of both units of the plant after they began supplying electricity.

On April 6, the first unit of 800 MW capacity of the Godda plant, in Indias Jharkhand state, began commercial operations. The second unit, also of 800 MW capacity, followed on 26 June. APJL will supply 1,496 MW from the Godda USCTPP under the PPA with the Bangladesh Power Development Board, executed in November 2017 for a period of 25 years, via a 400 kV dedicated transmission system connected to the Bangladesh grid. With the commissioning of the Godda USCTPP, the Adani Group has showcased a striking example of world-class Project Management and Asset Management capabilities. The USCTPPs commissioning in a record time of just 42 months after achieving financial closure and obtaining the necessary clearances is particularly noteworthy given the considerable logistical challenges the project encompassed, including the establishment of a 105 km-long 400 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line, the construction of a private railway line, and the implementation of an extensive water pipeline from the Ganges.

Amplifying the impressiveness of this achievement is the backdrop of the COVID pandemic, which posed significant obstacles during more than two years of the project's timeline. Despite this, Adani's engineering team innovatively adapted to the circumstances, handling all testing and commissioning protocols remotely, via tele-conversations and video conferencing. The projects commissioning in record time stands as proof that Adani's capabilities in these areas are truly world-class, equating them with the best in the industry across the globe.

Electricity supplied from Godda will have a positive impact on Bangladeshs power situation by replacing costly power generated by using liquid fuel. This transition will help Bangladesh reduce the average cost of power purchased. The Godda power plant is the first in India to have started operations with 100% flue gas desulphurization (FGD), selective catalytic reconverter (SCR) and zero water discharge for minimizing emissions and for environment friendly operations in alignment with the norms set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Government of India.

The commissioning of the Godda USCTPP marks a significant milestone for the Adani Group and the BPDB and also for the close cooperation and strong economic ties between the two nations. Adani Power has become a partner in Bangladeshs economic growth and prosperity by supplying uninterrupted and reliable electricity at competitive tariff. This collaboration will boost the growth of industry, and the Bangladesh economy will get stronger.
Issues related to food, health and energy security are some of the common concerns discussed during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers Retreat in Bangkok. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who participated in the meeting, said that the "focus was on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities to enter new areas of cooperation".

In a series of tweets after the meeting, Jaishankar said, "Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward-looking discussion among colleagues." He informed that food, health and energy security are common concerns. Technology solutions can be subject for both collaboration and exchange of best practices. "Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Agreed to meet more frequently to take these ideas further," Jaishankar informed.

BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative that brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat was held to discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organization. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organization.
In life it is common to meet people who are well learned and experts in their specific fields of study. What is not common is finding a young person in their early thirties with ten college degrees. This therefore makes Rajub Bhowmik an extraordinary individual. With ten degrees, he mirrors President Obamas famous slogan Yes We Can.

Lets learn more about Rajub Bhowmik, perhaps that can inspire us to become like him. Not necessarily go for more degrees but pursue other dreams that we have with unwavering confidence. So who is Rajub Bhowmik?

He is both Bangladeshi and American. He was born in Noakhali District of Bangladesh, but his family later moved to the United States when he was 15 years of age. Unlike his native home, the United States presented him with a wide range of opportunities. He was exposed to good schools, teachers and had tools he needed to learn. But could this be the reason he did so well in academics? Would he still have achieved so much in Bangladesh? This is just an individual who was determined to work hard, do more and achieve more. Rajub Bhowmik grabbed the opportunities in his new home and used them in his 19 years of hard work. According to his social media, his vision to make a difference in peoples lives is what inspired him. Did you know with a clear vision and planning you can achieve anything you want? At 34 years, Rajub Bhowmik holds not just any ten college degrees, but with four doctorates and masters degrees on top, and is using these degrees to positively impact peoples lives. Not forgetting to mention that his achievement has earned him a name as one of the most learned young individuals in the world.

The passion to pursue different interests is another reason he did all the ten different degrees. Maybe you also want to learn a new skill from what you already know and so you will need to study a new course for it. That is exactly how Dr. Bhowmik ended up with his degrees. To be specific, he has a Master's in Homeland Security and National Security, a Master's in Science in Curriculum and Instructional Technology, a Masters in Psychology, and a Masters in Criminal Justice. He also holds a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, a doctorate in Business Administration, and a doctorate in Education. His drive to advancing his knowledge and expertise is demonstrated by the depth of his knowledge in a wide range of subjects.

The question anyone would be quick to ask is what is he going to do with all those degrees? Well, Dr. Bhowmik has made some tremendous and significant contributions already, both in the fields of law enforcement and education. As you read this, he is presently at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice serving as an adjunct associate professor. In this position he shares his expertise and wisdom with the upcoming generation. There is more to this; he is also an adjunct professor at the department of Psychology at Iona University. He equally serves in the same position at the Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey. Interestingly, Dr. Rajub Bhowmik is also an established police sergeant in the famous New York City Police Department. In this role he has helped safeguard his community for more than 11 years.

Dr. Bhowmiks influence extends beyond academic and law enforcement. He is also a creative actor and model. He has successfully captured the attention of his audiences with his performances. To add on this he is also a writer, who has authored and published over 20 books in different languages. If you say that it is impossible for one person to do all that, then Dr. Bhowmik will look you straight in the eyes and say I have done it. His writings span across different genres, including romance, research, poetry, research and thrillers. His literary inputs have received accolades and they continue to inspire readers all over the world

Dr. Bhowmik is also known for his contribution in the music industry. He discovered the Ayna Sangeet, which is an innovative genre in Bangladeshi music. Songs in Ayna Sangeet are composed of a maximum of six lines, each consisting of around ten letters. The doctor has without a doubt left a lasting impression on South Asian music with his unique musical style. As if that is not enough, he also introduced Ayna Sonnets - a type of poetry that includes fourteen lines and there are fourteen letters in each line. Besides enriching Southeast Asia's cultural fabric and garnering international acclaim, his sonnets explore themes of love, philosophy, the afterlife, nature, and politics.

As we conclude, you can see how Dr. Bhowmik defies boundaries in a world that only encourages students to focus on a specific field. In his story, we learn that to dream big like Ben Carson says in his book. Nothing is impossible with the right mindset in place
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Tania Kinsella, a North Shore resident and the former commanding officer of the St. George-based 120th Precinct, has been named the first deputy commissioner of the NYPD.

Kinsella, who has been serving as the executive officer for the chief of patrol since 2022, will be the first woman of color to hold the position.

Mayor Eric Adams formally announced the move on Monday during a press conference where he also named Edward A. Caban, a Bronx native and a 32-year veteran of the NYPD, as the 46th police commissioner. He replaces Keechant Sewell, who announced her resignation last month.

Aside from being a mother, working as a police officer is the most deeply rewarding job I can imagine, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to do even more for the city I love, said Kinsella in a statement issued Monday. From the very first moment I joined the NYPD 20 years ago, it was love at first sight because being a police officer is about so much more than keeping people safe. Its about building community, helping others from all walks of life, and making a difference in peoples lives, especially those in need.

As a mother, I am always thinking of my childrens safety and well-being, and as the commanding officer at the 120th Precinct  in my home borough of Staten Island  I have been determined to protect all our children and families and make a difference in the place I love and call home, she said. The Bronx made me, and Staten Island raised me. As the daughter of two immigrants, this is the American dream, and I want to thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Caban for helping fulfill that dream.

Staten Island leaders were thrilled at the beloved Kinsellas promotion.

The former commanding officer of the 120th Precinct and incredibly dedicated public servant will be an invaluable asset in our fight to make sure Staten Island finally gets its fair share of cops to keep Islanders and their families safe, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in a statement.

My full statement on the appointment of Commissioner Edward Caban and First Deputy Commissioner and proud Staten Islander Tania Kinsella: https://t.co/K3rQc1oHIu pic.twitter.com/MZ9G4zujfc  Michael E. McMahon (@StatenIslandDA) July 17, 2023

Kinsella, a 20-year veteran of the NYPD, previously served at multiple precincts across the five boroughs, where she held positions such as captain, commanding officer, deputy inspector, inspector and deputy chief.

She was featured by the Advance/SILive.com in 2022 as part of its Impact & Excellence Black History Month special series.

Born in the Bronx, Kinsella moved with her parents to Mariners Harbor when she was 14 years old.

I didnt know anything about Staten Island, recalled Kinsella, who for the remainder of high school traveled by ferry, bus and/or train to the Bronx high school she already was attending. I used to wake up at 3:30 a.m.

While attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan with dreams of becoming a lawyer, she applied for the NYPD at a job fair.

After graduating the citys Police Academy, Kinsellas first assignment as a patrol officer was in the 120th Precinct.

Ill never forget walking through these doors  I was terrified, she said during the 2022 interview. I didnt know what to expect.

She would go on to serve as a lieutenant with the Community Affairs unit on Staten Island, then a captain with the 120th Precinct and later precinct commander for Police Service Area 1 in Coney Island.

In 2020, at the height of overlapping crises across New York City, Kinsella was appointed head of the 120th Precinct.

AN EXCELLENT CHOICE

I am really excited, I think that is an excellent choice for deputy commissioner, said former North Shore City Councilwoman Debi Rose. She has such a balanced approach to policing. Thats my girl and I am really proud that she has evolved to this high rank.

Caban is the first Latino American to serve as commissioner of the NYPD in its 178-year history.

The top cop has served at several precincts across the five boroughs and has held nearly every position within the Police Department, including police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, executive officer, commanding officer, deputy inspector, inspector, and first deputy commissioner.

In July, he was appointed acting police commissioner before the role became a permanent placement.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) extended a message of congratulations to the Police Departments newest leadership: Our office congratulates Edward Caban on being appointed NYPD commissioner and our new First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, who we worked closely with when she served as commander of Staten Islands 120th Precinct.

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore), the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety said in a statement, she is looking forward to working with Caban and Kinsella in the future.

Congratulations to Police Commissioner Edward Caban  the first Latino commissioner of the NYPD  and to Staten Islands own First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, the first Black woman Deputy Commissioner! As the chair of the Committee on Public Safety, I look forward to working with you both to keep our city safe.



RELATED COVERAGE: NYPD on Staten Island

>> New NYPD 123rd Precinct commanding officer is set to combat car theft crews

>> Staten Island Borough Commander Gin Yee is celebrated on his last day; heads into retirement after 42 years with NYPD

>> Staten Islands No. 2 cop Deputy Chief Terence Hurson is back in a familiar setting after 6 years away

>> Staten Island NYPD precinct commander Tania Kinsella promoted to deputy chief position
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) recently selected 15 New York City high school students, including two Staten Islanders, to participate in the 2023 NYC Votes Youth Ambassador program.

The program aims to help the ambassadors become voting experts so they can help boost voter participation in their community. This years ambassadors speak a total of 10 languages, and 80% of the students are able to communicate in a language other than English.

The two Staten Islanders chosen as 2023 Youth Ambassadors are Carina Fu of Susan E. Wagner High School and Sydnee Lin of Tottenville High School.

Ambassadors participate in weekly meetings, learn about local history, host voter mobilization events and share critical non-partisan information with their community.

This years NYC Votes Youth Ambassadors are an unbelievably impressive group of young people, and I am looking forward to all that they will accomplish this year, said Olivia Brady, youth programs manager for the NYC CFB. Year after year since its inception, this program has played an integral role in our efforts to increase turnout among youth voters in local elections.

The NYC Votes program was established in 1988 to boost participation among voters and candidates alike by empowering New Yorkers who are less likely to vote.

This year, the Youth Ambassadors will organize Get Out The Vote events in schools, places of worship and local libraries throughout the summer and fall. They will also conduct voter outreach in various languages. Ambassadors will visit educational sites and listen to guest speakers to learn about how local government works and how to advocate for their community on key issues.

As part of their capstone to the program, Youth Ambassadors will participate in voter participation research projects for the CFBs Voter Analysis Report. On Aug. 16, they will lead the fifth annual Youth Voter Assistance Advisory Committee Hearing.
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa.  Emergency crews in suburban Philadelphia intensified their search Monday for a missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister who were swept away in a family car when torrential rains flooded a roadway.

While the East Coast grappled with the aftermath of downpours that closed roads and rendered the water supply undrinkable in places, the West and other parts of the country contended with sizzling temperatures and unsafe air quality attributed to Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Mondays search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking including 100 search crew members and numerous drones dispatched along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, dad took his 4-year-old son while the mother and the grandmother grabbed the two additional children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. While father and son made it to safety, the grandmother, the mother, and the two children were swept away by the floodwaters, he said.

The childrens mother, Katie Seley, 32, was among at least five people killed in the flooding, while the grandmother survived, Upper Makefield Police said in a social media post. The other victims names have not been released.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday. The grandfather attended morning Mass on Monday, where the family was included in prayers.

No matter how long Ive been doing this  over and over and over, many, many years  you find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

Pennsylvanias deadly flash flooding called to mind torrential rains that killed at least 25 people in New Jersey when the remnants of Hurricane Ida passed through the state in 2021. People abandoned cars along washed-out roadways as muddy waters overtook driving lanes and flooded low-lying houses.

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday and planned to tour damaged areas Monday in the northwest part of the state.

A confirmed tornado touched down Sunday morning in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, but no injuries or major property damage were reported. In New Hampshire, where some roads caved in, heavy rain postponed Sundays NASCAR race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Vermont reported no immediate safety threats following historic flooding nearly a week ago that dumped up to two months worth of rain in two days. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency received a request to provide water for almost 8,000 people for three days, which the Vermont National Guard distributed. As of Friday, emergency personnel had also delivered 1,200 gallons to Copley Hospital in Morrisville after the town issued an advisory warning people not to drink local water because of the flooding.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg planned to visit the state later Monday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

More rain was in the forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday night. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles, known as PM2.5, are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

The EPA advises keeping outdoor activities light and short when air quality indexes reach above 150 on the agencys map. On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the U.S., thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the west, temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.33 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, the National Weather Service said.
LONDON (AP)  Russia halted a breakthrough wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would suspend the Black Sea Grain Initiative until its demands to get its own food and fertilizer to the world are met. While Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural exports, it has shipped record amounts of wheat.

When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal, Peskov said.

The suspension marks the end of an accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last summer to allow food to leave the Black Sea region after Russias invasion of its neighbor worsened a global food crisis. The initiative is credited with helping lower soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil and other food commodities.

Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that developing nations rely on.

The grain deal provided assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. While Western sanctions do not apply to Moscows agricultural shipments, some companies may be wary of doing business with Russia because of the measures.

Excavators work at a grain port in Izmail, Ukraine, on April 26, 2023. Russia said Monday July 17, 2023 it has halted an unprecedented wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko, File)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the suspension was expected and believes its political theater.

The statement itself immediately includes an escape clause, he said. Therefore, we are dealing with classic public techniques of the Russian Federation that no longer require significant reciprocal reactions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the countrys foreign minister would speak with his Russian counterpart Monday  and that he was hopeful the deal would be extended.

The suspension of the deal sent wheat prices up about 3% in Chicago trading, to $6.81 a bushel. Analysts dont expect more than a temporary bump to food commodity prices because places like Russia and Brazil have ratcheted up wheat and corn exports, but food insecurity worldwide is growing.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed three Ukrainian ports to export 32.9 million metric tons of grain and other food to the world, more than half of that to developing nations, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

The agreement was renewed for 60 days in May, but in recent months, the amount of food shipped and number of vessels departing Ukraine have plunged, with Russia accused of preventing additional ships from participating.

The war in Ukraine sent food commodity prices to record highs last year and contributed to a global food crisis also tied to other conflicts, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts and other climate factors.

High costs for grain needed for food staples in places like Egypt, Lebanon and Nigeria exacerbated economic challenges and helped push millions more people into poverty or food insecurity.

Rising food prices affect people in developing countries disproportionately, because they spend more of their money on meals. Poorer nations that depend on imported food priced in dollars also are spending more as their currencies weaken and they are forced to import more because of climate change. Places like Somalia, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia are struggling with drought.

Under the deal, prices for global food commodities like wheat and vegetable oil have fallen, but food was already expensive before the war in Ukraine and the relief hasnt trickled down to kitchen tables.

The Black Sea deal is absolutely critical for the food security of a number of countries, and its loss will compound the problems for those facing high debt levels and climate fallout, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said this month that 45 countries need outside food assistance, with high local food prices a driver of worrying levels of hunger in those places.

The grain deal has faced setbacks since it was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey: Russia pulled out briefly in November before rejoining and extending the deal.

In March and May, Russia would only extend the deal for 60 days, instead of the usual 120. The amount of grain shipped per month fell from a peak of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 1.3 million metric tons in May, the lowest volume since the deal began.

Exports expanded in June to a bit over 2 million metric tons, thanks to larger ships able to carry more cargo.

Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing new ships from joining the work since the end of June. Joint inspections meant to ensure vessels only carry grain and not weapons that could help either side also have slowed considerably.

Asked Monday whether an attack on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was a factor in the decision on the grain deal, the Kremlin spokesman said it was not.

Meanwhile, Russias wheat shipments hit all-time highs following a large harvest. It exported 45.5 million metric tons in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another record of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.

___

AP reporters Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed.

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See APs complete coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine and the food crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/food-crisis.
An experimental Alzheimers drug showed promise in slowing progression of the disease and offered hope in the ongoing battle against the neurological disorder.

The drugmaker Eli Lilly presented results from its late-stage trial Monday at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Amsterdam, showing its treatment, the monoclonal antibody donanemab, was effective at decelerating cognitive decline in the earliest stages of the disease.

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory action is expected by the end of the year, Eli Lilly said in a release. If the drug is approved, it would join leqembi, which was the first drug approved to treat Alzheimers disease.

The encouraging results from the Eli Lilly trial brings hope to people with Alzheimers disease who urgently need new treatment options, said Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Company.

Donanemab, administered once a month intravenously, targets amyloid plaque in the brain, considered a hallmark of Alzheimers, though debate still exists over the role of plaque in disease development.

Eli Lilly said the treatment significantly lowered amyloid plaque levels regardless of disease stage but had greater results in people who more recently had symptoms of the disease.

The Phase 3 trial showed around 1,700 participants experienced a 35% slower progression of the disease compared to a placebo group, according to the company. When people with elevated levels of Alzheimers-associated proteins were included, that figure lowered slightly to 22% versus the placebo; however, 60% of patients with mild impairment had their decline slowed.

Around half of participants achieved amyloid plaque clearance by 12 months, and approximately seven in 10 participants reached that threshold at 18 months, the company said.

That improvement, researchers said, could be the difference between an individual remaining independent or reaching a more significant stage of the disease that leaves a patient requiring outside aid to complete some everyday tasks for a few extra months.

People living with early, symptomatic Alzheimers disease are still working, enjoying trips, sharing quality time with family  they want to feel like themselves, for longer, said Dr. Mark Mintun, group vice president Neuroscience Research & Development at Lilly, and president of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals. The results of this study reinforce the importance of diagnosing and treating disease sooner than we do today.

Alzheimers disease is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills before eventually eliminating the ability to carry out everyday tasks. The Alzheimers Association estimates that more than six million Americans are afflicted with the disease, and the total number of Americans with Alzheimers is expected to balloon to 14 million by 2060.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Alzheimers was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020.

If approved, we believe donanemab can provide clinically meaningful benefits for people with this disease and the possibility of completing their course of treatment as early as six months once their amyloid plaque is cleared, said White.

Despite the positive results, donanemab has potentially life-threatening side effects, including brain swelling and brain bleeding.

The donanemab trial showed around 37% of participants had swelling or brain bleeds observed on MRI, known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, compared to 15% seen within the placebo group. Eli Lilly said most of the cases were moderate. Three deaths related to treatment occurred in the donanemab group and one was recorded in the placebo cohort.

Excitement surrounding the earlier approval of leqembi was tamped-down after the FDA issued its strongest safety advisory, called a boxed warning, on the drug.

However, families of patients suffering with Alzheimers disease may still view those risks as worth the potential benefit, experts told NBC News.

There are going to be people who say, My loved one is doomed, and if they have a brain bleed, so be it, Arthur Caplan, the head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City told the outlet.
Have you watched Transformers or X-Men? These movies showcase heroes with extraordinary abilities. But what if science fiction became reality? Meet Neil Harbisson, the first "cyborg" with both biological and technological organs. He can "hear" colours, making him an exceptional human being.

Neil Harbisson, a 38-year-old Spanish man, became a global sensation when he implanted an "antenna" in his skull that enables him to "hear" both visible and invisible colours. This is especially extraordinary because he has been completely colourblind since birth, a genetic deficiency that has limited his ability to see anything other than shades of grey. As a result, he cannot distinguish the colour of the sky at dawn or dusk, only viewing it in grey.

Interested in learning more about Harbisson's reality? Read his first interview with the Egyptian press, Al-Ahram newspaper, where he discusses his experiences during the Global Summit for Information Technology Managers in Cairo. Check it out below:

Al-Ahram: You consider the technology as part of you, not a tool that you use, could you elaborate more?

Neil Harbisson: In 2004, I underwent surgery to implant a permanent chip in my skull connected to a sensor device that can convert the frequencies received from colours into vibrations inside my head, each sequence of vibrations is related to a specific colour. This makes me able to hear colour more than see it practically.

Simply, this technology is essentially optical fibres that can capture colour and then send its frequencies to the chip, which in turn converts the incoming light into vibrations in the skull, and then translates them into a distinctive sound for the colour that I can hear. I used to wear a device like a collar to perform this function, but it was not fully successful.

AA: Tell us more about how could you accept the risk of undergoing this different and transformative surgery. And what is the scientific basis behind it?

NH: For me, it's a kind of art, and any art contains some level of risk. Therefore, undergoing the surgery was a kind of experiment that was part of my artistic expression. In fact, we have many theories about the relationship between colour frequencies and their distinctive colours, such as the mathematical calculations of Newton and Beethoven's attempts to assign a distinct colour to each musical note. These hypotheses, thanks to modern technology, are now more testable and experimental. So, when we talk about gaining new perceptions or acquiring organs with new qualities, it gives us as humans a new and different perception of the physical world around us. It's an amazing and fascinating thing that made me accept the experiment with its benefits and risks.

AA: Can you share with us your experience of how you listen to the colours around you?

NH: For me, colours are different musical notes, with each colour having its own distinctive musical note. For example, the colour red corresponds to the musical note A, the colour yellow corresponds to the note G, and so on for each colour has its own unique tone. And what happens with me is that the colour gives off different frequencies that are translated into various musical sounds and tones.

Also, technology has allowed me to connect the implanted chip to the internet, which means receiving many colours from other devices. For example, I can receive colours sent to me from other people's mobile phones. Moreover, thanks to this technology, I have the ability to distinguish between infrared and ultraviolet rays, in addition to receiving colours from photos or videos that are sent directly to my head via an internet connection. I can also connect to NASA and hear the sounds of colours in space without the need to be there physically present. Therefore, the internet helps me to expand the range of colours that I can sense, despite the distance.

AA: Is this enough to classify you as the first human who is half human and half technological?

NH: Yes, definitely. I am not just using technology; it is part of my body. I have new qualities and characteristics beyond human perception and the ability to receive from the surrounding environment through new sensory inputs in an exciting and unique experience.

In fact, I don't feel a difference between the software and my mind. I have come to deal with this antenna as part of my body, like my nose. Therefore, technology is a part of me. In fact, I am the world's first recognized "cyborg," meaning a human who possesses "cybernetic organisms" (organs that are made up of both biological and technological parts), or in other words, the organs inside me are integrated with technology.

AA: Now, after about 20 years since you underwent this transformative surgery, how has your daily life been affected?

NH: It took some time to adjust to the new situation. For example, my brain had to adapt to the new inputs it received after implanting the device. And it took some time for my body to adapt to the implanted chip as a new organ of the body. However, the biggest challenge for me is social interaction. It's the reaction of people when they meet me on the street, starting to look, asking questions, expressing surprise and giving comments and opinions every day.

And its challenging, let me give an example of what happens at the airport, usually, there are questions about this device and I was asked to remove it. Until I got my passport with my ID picture including the antenna as part of my identity, which greatly facilitates the discussion during my travels.

AA: What message do you share with people?

NH: My message is that technology helps us understand nature better. It makes us perceive nature and its elements around us in a different way that we couldn't imagine before. And it's time to show people that technology is not a barrier between us and nature, but on the contrary, it can be a positive means of communication and interaction. and I am an example of that. I can feel many colours that for other people are invisible but present in nature.

AA: How does the experience of integrating technology into the body benefit the positive understanding of nature?

NH: Because many technologies help us adapt to our planet, rather than having our thinking confined to changing the planet for us. Imagine the amount of energy and electricity consumed to change the temperature of the atmosphere through coolers and heating methods. When relying on technology, it is possible to change the body temperature to adapt to natural changes around us.

There are many examples, as there are humans with technological organs that enable them to sense gravity, weather changes, and many others who form better exploration and communication with the universe. Most of these people I talked about are artists and therefore use this new awareness in their art.

But there is another equally important aspect, thanks to this human-technology integration, we have been able to develop teeth that can transmit messages from one person's mouth to another, benefiting paralyzed patients. And there are implants that can determine the four directions, which can help people with blindness. In other words, we have become faced with advanced solutions to medical problems thanks to human-technology integration.

Let me clarify that the response to what I say is often described as strange. It's difficult for many people to see technology as part of their body, as in my case, and it's a new and unusual thing. But I feel the interest of people when I talk to them and answer their questions about how it happened and its consequences in making a positive change in our lives. So people are interested but they feel that we may still be far away - or moving slowly - towards the idea of tangible integration with technology and nature.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A longtime problem area in Clifton has again become the site of illegal truck parking, and this time the community has set its sights on the scofflaws.

Commercial truck drivers have taken to parking their rigs along the Front Street waterfront across from the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys Staten Island Railway maintenance shop in Clifton, including some leaving their vehicles on the city-owned property overnight.

That illegal parking has prompted the NYPD to tow 10 vehicles and issue 13 summonses at the location since Jan. 1. Seven of those summonses were for overnight parking, according to a spokesperson for the departments Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The NYPD is committed to protecting all New York City communities and ensuring the safety of everyone who lives and works in them, the spokesperson said. The commanding officer is aware of complaints regarding commercial parking in the area referred to and is working to address the condition.

Police continue to survey the location, and will take further action in conjunction with the Department of Transportation if necessary, the spokesperson said.

Despite the citys efforts, about 10 trucks could be seen parked at the location in the early afternoon of July 10, and a drive-by the previous Saturday night saw similar conditions.

That part of Front Street has long been a site used for illegal parking and as a dumping ground for derelict vehicles, according to Advance/SILive.com reports over the years.

In May 2022, officers stood watch as a towing company took what the police department described as derelict vehicles from the site.

Traffic officers with the NYPD's 120th Precinct towed multiple commercial vehicles last week from a waterfront property on Front Street in Stapleton. (Twitter)

You spoke, we listened! read an NYPD tweet from the time. Our traffic officers were able to tow and remove these abandoned commercial vehicles on Front Street.

City officials took things a step further in 2018 when the Department of Citywide Administrative Services erected a fence along the site that has since been taken down.

Citing safety concerns, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) began erecting a fence along the perimeter of the recently cleaned lot on Front Street. (Staten Island Advance/Kristin Dalton)Kristin F. Dalton

The latest incidence of illegal activity at the location, which boasts some of the Islands best views of Brooklyn and Manhattan, has again prompted reaction from the community.

Since the start of the year, the commanding officer of the 120th Precinct, which covers the location, has received complaints about the site, the NYPD spokesperson said.

Leadership from Community Board 1, which represents the area, recently forwarded complaints to the precinct theyve received in recent months. Nicholas Siclari, the boards chairman, said its an issue he hopes can be resolved.

[We] received numerous complaints, and it seems as the issue is getting worse, he said. We have a brand new [Staten Island Railway] facility, and I would hate to see the surrounding roadways under undue stress due to illegal tractor trailer parking.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Smoke from wildfires emanating in western Canada has traversed the United States and is expected to cause deteriorating air quality in New York Monday and is expected to linger into Tuesday, an AccuWeather forecaster told the Advance/SILive.com.

Staten Islands Air Quality Index (AQI)  a measure of pollutants  was considered moderate Monday morning, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said it was expected to worsen to a level considered dangerous for sensitive groups in New York City.

Dave Dombek, an AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said hazy conditions would persist over New York City beginning in the afternoon hours, though the worst of the smoke would miss the five boroughs to the north, where elevated levels of pollutants were expected.

Areas ranging from northwest Pennsylvania to western New York are going to be a little worse with this particular batch of hazier, dirty air, said Dombek.

In New York City, it is not likely conditions will even remotely approach what was observed in early June, when an otherworldly orange haze shrouded the sky, said Dombek.

It looks like its a case where I dont think it ever really gets horrible, he said.

All of New York State was issued health advisories Monday, said Gov. Kathy Hochul, with areas north of the lower Hudson Valley likely to surpass AQI thresholds indicating the air is unhealthy for all individuals.

Air Quality Health Advisories are in effect for the entire state today.



New Yorkers should continue to monitor the latest information from @NYSDEC, https://t.co/NrN5UzOFcm, or their weather app, and take necessary steps to stay safe. pic.twitter.com/OTHF4frChH  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) July 17, 2023

The early-week smoky-skies are expected to be short-lived, said Dombek.

The National Weather Service forecasts haze will be present on Staten Island Tuesday, especially in the early afternoon. However, those conditions are forecasted to dissipate as changes in wind direction alter the path of the multi-state smoke trail.

Were actually going to get somewhat of a change in the wind direction as we get into the middle part of the week, said Dombek. I think theres a good chance that that the smoke from these distant wildfires gets to actually move out somewhat and you actually have some improvement in the situation.



RELATED COVERAGE: Air quality on Staten Island

>> New York City residents should prepare for poor air quality, officials said

>> How is air quality measured? A look at what color-coded maps mean for NYC.

>> How can I check the air quality in NYC?

>> What can NYC learn from wildfire smoke for the next time?
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The battle for budget groceries is heating up as competitors to supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, including Costco and Aldi, say their value offers are resonating with cash-strapped shoppers.

A flurry of competition on essential items comes as a UBS investment bank survey of suppliers last week suggested food inflation would moderate significantly but was expected to sit at about 4.8 per cent over the next year.

As prices remain high, retailers are trying a range of offers to get shoppers through the door. Credit: iStock

This inflation rate is expected to prompt consumers to trade down to smaller pack sizes, private label and/or to Aldi, UBS said in a note to clients, making Aldi the most likely business to grow market share over the next six months.

The German discount supermarket has been upbeat about its position in the face of the cost of living crisis. The company said last month that many shoppers had been coming to its stores for the first time recently, and it was gradually increasing the size of its shops.
The chief executive of Deloitte has refused to tell a parliamentary inquiry when he first came to learn about an allegedly fraudulent investment scheme run by former partner Amberjit Endow, as he revealed he remains an investor and is owed money.

It also emerged during a Senate estimates hearing into consulting firms on Monday that an internal investigation at Deloitte found 12 partners had personally invested in the scheme, but no internal policies had been breached.

Adam Powick faced questions at a parliamentary inquiry on Monday. Credit: Martin Ollman/AFR

In February, this masthead revealed that Endow, a partner at Deloitte for 13 years, ran a suspected multimillion-dollar fraud while working at the firm. Worried investors, who estimate the suspected fraud could involve tens of millions of dollars, have been unable to contact Endow since December.

Endow promised investors returns of up to 40 per cent in six months for lending him money to purchase what he claimed were Indian government-issued bonds linked to a large, ongoing government infrastructure program that is working to improve Indias rural road network. He said he was servicing the project as a contractor, according to documents he provided investors.
High-earning PwC partners were almost bulletproof against misconduct claims and the pursuit of profit meant ethics wobbled when prospective clients were being pursued, a former director of the major consulting firm told a Senate inquiry.

Earlier on Monday at the inquiry into consulting giants, Deloitte confirmed an employee had been stood down over an inadvertent breach involving government information, while former competition watchdog chairman Allan Fels argued for the break-up of the big four consultancies  KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and EY.

Former PwC director Tracey Murray giving evidence in the Senate inquiry hearing. Credit: Martin Ollman

Tracey Murray, a former director of PwCs transfer pricing practice in Brisbane, outlined to the Senate hearing what she saw as PwCs profit-first mentality and an uneven workplace culture in which senior partners were treated as if they were bulletproof even in light of poor behaviour. She also described to the Senate partners using dinners and lunches with senior politicians to gain referred credibility with important clients.

Murray said being told by a partner to eff off  and later being asked by a managing partner to let that incident go  was the impetus to for her to leave in 2004.
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is hosting a temporary exhibition that sheds light on the archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Pi-Ramesses, which served as the capital during the reign of King Ramses II, in the eastern Nile Delta.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), and Frank Hartmann, German ambassador in Cairo, as part of the cooperation between the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Roemer Museum in Hildesheim, Germany.

Waziri expressed his enthusiasm about the exhibition, highlighting the strong and long friendship and collaboration between Egypt and Germany in the field of archaeology. Meanwhile, Hartmann expressed gratitude to all who worked hard to make the exhibition a reality.

The exhibition, titled "Qantir  Pi-Ramesses: A Century of Excavations & Research in the Ramesside Residence," will run through mid-October.

It features a collection of artefacts discovered over the past century around what is now the modern village of Qantir. They include those unearthed by renowned early Egyptian archaeologists Mahmoud Hamza and Labib Habachi. In 1980, German archaeologists from the Roemer Museum continued excavations in the same area in collaboration with the SCA.

A collection of artefacts that were stored in San Al-Haggar archaeological site in Sharqiya governorate are also on display. "This collection will be exhibited permanently at the Egyptian Museum in a special display after the completion of the temporary exhibition," Waziri pointed out.

Among the most distinguished objects on display are statues and inscriptions for the early kings during the 19th Dynasty (1292-1189 BC), such as kings Seti I and Ramses II. Also on display are architectural elements and the items that represent the ancient Egyptians daily life during this period.

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MUSIC

Lizzo | The Special Tour 

Rod Laver Arena, July 17

Lizzos show at the Forum back in January 2020 has become the stuff of legend. Already, she was one of the worlds greatest performers, and nobody could understand why she wasnt playing stadiums.

Lizzo returns to Melbourne with the stadium show she should have had all along. Credit: Martin Philbey

Fast-forward three very weird years, and Lizzo  the stage name of Melissa Viviane Jefferson  is playing Rod Laver Arena. In the interim, shes grown in status from a cult performer to a very specific brand of global icon. A rapper/singer/classical flautist, she personifies body positivity, LGBTQI+ allyship, and radical self-love.

The show begins with an affirmation of sorts, with THIS IS A SHOW ABOUT LOVE displayed in giant neon lettering. Red lights flood the stage, and Lizzos voice fills the stadium with her opening number Cuz I Love You. In a black and gold catsuit, shes flanked by powerful, agile dancers who bring a chaotic energy to a wildly wholesome show.
In recent years he has made a career out of those stories  a successful podcast called Uncanny that interrogates supposed ghost sightings, a forthcoming TV series, a book due out later this year called Into the Uncanny that he describes as my personal journey into the supernatural, and a hit play  but still counts himself a sceptic.

Paranormal history fascinated me. I went to see The Woman in Black as a kid and I think I loved the theatricality of ghost stories and their spooky drama, he says.

Danny Robins says he has been obsessed with ghosts since he first found stories of Britains haunted houses in the library at his Newcastle primary school.

Robins wants to believe in ghosts, he says, because he has a longstanding horror of dying. When he was in his early 20s, he collapsed with what turned out to be a panic attack: harmless, ultimately, but frightening enough. I was hallucinating angels and I spent a good year after that thinking I was going to die at any moment, he says. It made me desperately wish that death was not the end  and very much of a fan of the idea that ghosts were real because that suggested there was hope.

He thinks everyone shares that hope. I think there is a very good reason we havent put ghosts on the same pile of redundant superstitions as unicorns and elves and all the other things we used to believe in. They are the buffer zone between us and death.

We need ghosts, even as we fear them  although why we assume ghosts to be threatening is a good question, he agrees. I think if you look at other cultures, ghosts are much more tied to a celebration of ancestors, he says. By contrast, the English-speaking cultures see death itself as cruel, possibly damaging. So our ghost stories are full of scary, vengeful ghosts like poltergeists, which are aggressive and violent because they are unhappy about being dead. That is the paradox at the heart of the ghost story, he adds: it is simultaneously frightening and comforting.

The Australian cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story: Gemma Ward, Remy Hii, Daniel MacPherson and Ruby Rose Credit: Wayne Taylor

And compelling, judging by the success of Robins play 2.22. A chiller about things that go bump in the night, it has played for two years in Londons West End, had a short but successful season in Los Angeles, and is now about to open  having been tweaked for the local market - in Melbourne; more international productions are in the works. As Robins points out, 2.22 is actually structured as a classic locked-room mystery rather than a ghost story. Another universal: we all love a puzzle.
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Review Eating outHighett Cheap, cheerful and colourful: Braised meats steal the show at Highetts new Mexican street food spot, Chilpa Chilpa brings the deep toasty sunshine flavour of corn and classic Mexican dishes  quesadilla, oozing with cheese, and birria tacos with a side of rich beef consomme  to the bayside suburbs. Besha Rodell July 18, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 6 Inside La Tortillerias Highett spin-off, Chilpa. Joe Armao 2 / 6 Birria tacos with slow-cooked beef. Joe Armao 3 / 6 Prawn aguachile. Joe Armao 4 / 6 Borrego (slow-cooked lamb) quesadillas. Joe Armao 5 / 6 Chilaquiles. Joe Armao 6 / 6 An open kitchen and bar dominate much of the space. Joe Armao Previous Slide Next Slide 13.5 / 20 How we score Mexican$$$ Highett, it seems, is having a moment. The charming main drag, which holds the classic suburban mix of op shops, cafes, gift shops and affordable restaurants, has had a mini-influx of new eateries recently. It is the neighbourhood that George Calombaris chose to stage his comeback, with Hellenic House Project opening in April. And its the place where much-loved tortilla company and burgeoning hospitality group La Tortilleria has chosen to open its latest operation, a colourful restaurant called Chilpa. La Tortilleria, which opened in Kensington in 2013, is the work of Gerardo Lopez, who is originally from the Jalisco region of Mexico. At first, the project was to make tortillas in the manner theyre traditionally made in Mexico  that is, carefully rather than industrially, significantly upping the quality of the tortillas available in Victoria. Lopez was also working with Australian corn rather than imported masa (cornmeal). Eventually, in 2014, the demand for the product outgrew the original space, and Lopez moved the tortilla factory to Derrimut.

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Every taco is made with a double layer of those beautiful tortillas, imbuing every bite with the deep toasty sunshine flavour of corn. In the original Kensington venue, Lopez launched a restaurant that serves an array of classic Mexican street food: tostadas, quesadillas and, of course, tacos. He remains in the wholesale and retail tortilla business, sells cook-at-home meals, and has hosted a television show about Mexican food. In 2018, he was honoured by the Mexican government with the Outstanding Mexican Abroad award. The Mexican chef teaching taco skills to help to fight loneliness Chilpa, which opened in March, is the next chapter in Lopezs success story. Located in a corner storefront across from the rail crossing, the rooms bright, cheerful feel is inviting without devolving into the reductive sombreros-and-mariachi pantomime of many Mexican restaurants in Australia. An open kitchen and bar dominate much of the space, with seating for groups on banquettes along the back wall and smaller tables up front. In warmer months, I can imagine the footpath seating outside to be a lovely place to sip one of the well-made margaritas ($20-$21), or a tangy and spicy Michelada (think a Mexican Bloody Mary, made with beer instead of vodka; a $4.50 addition to the beer of your choice), and people watch.

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Often served for breakfast in Mexico, here chilaquiles are like saucy nachos. Joe Armao The menu is lifted almost exactly from the Kensington location. This means youre likely going to want to start with an order of chilaquiles ($11), a dish thats most often served for breakfast in Mexico but here are a kind of warm and saucy nachos, drenched in salsa rojo, cheese and crema. You have the option of adding extras, like guacamole ($7), refried beans ($6) or chicken ($6.50). Doing so turns the dish from a snack into a meal. The most expensive item on the menu, by quite a large margin, is a shareable prawn aguachile ($29)  like a cross between ceviche and shrimp cocktail  that is bright with cucumber and red onion, and mellowed by creamy avocado. Prawn aguachile is like a cross between ceviche and shrimp cocktail. Joe Armao Theres also a cauliflower version ($19) thats only the beginning of the kitchens dedication to serving its vegetarian and vegan customers  vegetables and Fable, a mushroom-based meat substitute, are available across the menu.

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As much as I admire that inclusivity, the dishes that steal the show here are the braised meats. In particular, the birria (braised and shredded beef) and the borrego (slow-cooked lamb) are fantastic in whatever dish you decide to order, be it a quesadilla, oozing with cheese ($11-$16), or a taco. The birria tacos ($15) come two to a set, with a side of bracing and rich beef consomme that is meant for dipping, but that I just straight up slurped and considered asking for an extra serving. I wasnt disappointed with any of the tacos here: the chicken ($7) smoky with tomato chipotle, the fish ($7.50) with crunchy coleslaw and creamy jalapeno mayo. Most importantly, every taco is made with a double layer of those beautiful tortillas, imbuing every bite with the deep toasty sunshine flavour of corn. Is this the beginning of an empire? Could we see an expansion of Lopezs brand that makes quality Mexican food ubiquitous in Melbourne, or Victoria, or even Australia? It will likely depend on the popularity of Chilpa, and whether the bayside suburbs react with as much enthusiasm as Kensington did a decade ago. Personally, Id be thrilled if these tacos were available widely. Highett is lucky to get the goods. The low-down Vibe: Casual and colourful Go-to dish: Birria tacos, $15 for two Drinks: Mexican cocktails, nice selection of mezcals, short wine list, good horchata Cost: About $60 for two, plus drinks

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15 hot, new (and renewed) Sydney pubs and bars to try right now

From an old-school Euro aperitif bar to a sake bar with no bookings and no drinks list, here are the watering holes weve been loving lately.
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Review Eating outDouble Bay Neil Perry magic between each slice: Double Bay spot offers the (baked) goods for a fraction of fine-dining prices A trip to Baker Bleu, opposite tree-edged Guilfoyle Square, feels just like sitting in the south of France, replete with excellent sandwiches, dazzling sourdough croissants and crusty bread with golden crackling chew. Lenny Ann Low July 17, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 9 Baker Bleu is a hive of activity. Steven Siewert 2 / 9 Poached chicken with green goddess sandwich. Steven Siewert 3 / 9 Soaking up the sun. Steven Siewert 4 / 9 Margherita pizza. Steven Siewert 5 / 9 Khorasan tin loaf. Steven Siewert 6 / 9 Potato and rosemary pizza slice. Steven Siewert 7 / 9 Olive fougasse bread. Steven Siewert 8 / 9 Cinnamon twists. Steven Siewert 9 / 9 Rye caraway. Steven Siewert Previous Slide Next Slide Cafe$$$ Mike Russell, co-owner of cult bakery Baker Bleu, has two words for veteran chef Neil Perry. Sandwich king, he says. Perry  an ardent fan of Mike and Mia Russell, whose bread and pastries are famous in Melbourne and served in Perrys restaurants  fires right back. The best bread in the country, he says. Put the two together  people and baked dough  and Baker Bleu in Double Bay, a joint venture between Perry and the Russells, is the answer.

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Poached chicken with green goddess sandwich. Steven Siewert Designed by IF Architecture in Melbourne, and sitting beside two Perry restaurants  Margaret and Next Door  Baker Bleu opened in September. It is the third Baker Bleu outlet, and the first in Sydney, after the Russells left for Melbourne in 2016, keen to bake bread away from Sydneys stifling business costs. Now, adored by Melbourne customers and restaurants, their bread, pizza and pastries are baking near their old hood. Its amazing to be back here, Russell says. I was working at Iggys in Bronte and living in Clovelly back then. Life was pretty good so it was a lot to say goodbye to.

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Today, standing in the Baker Bleu premises in Double Bay, he marvels at the enterprise. I mean, weve got a seven-tonne, five-deck gas-fired oven and were, what four, five kilometres from the city? he says. If you want fresh bread, and youre anywhere nearby, this is the place to get it, apart from Iggys. Here you get that Neil Perry magic between each slice. Perry  whose Baker Bleu sandwiches range from poached chicken to Walker albacore tuna, Blackmore wagyu beef, egg and mayonnaise and hand-sliced smoked salmon  never tires of things between bread. Potato and rosemary pizza slice. Steven Siewert

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A sandwich is almost the perfect food, he says. I come in every morning and its really hard not to immediately make a little mini roast beef on rye. Oh and the baguettes, I love their crunch. He also loves the Baker Bleu pizza. Mike was making pizzas originally and weve added a few flavours, he says. But the base of it, youve got this amazing sourdough, and the development of flavour that pizza gets, its just extraordinary. The key pull of Baker Bleu is high-quality food elements from two revered food creators at relatively affordable prices. Eat a dazzling sourdough croissant with ham and cheese or the Blackmore wagyu salt beef sandwich with pickled onion and chillies on rye while sitting on a stretch of footpath buzzing with curation. Soaking up the sun. Steven Siewert

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Perrys patch, opposite tree-edged Guilfoyle Square, feels like a mini European city replete with Australian accents. Dapperly dressed food-lovers whisk away bags of khorasan tin loaves, Vegemite and cheese twists, seeded spelt or racks of seeded bagels. Some pull bread ends off to eat on the way home. A dedicated coffee counter means you can sip espresso in bright, wintry sunshine while pulling apart a beautifully rich chocolatine or wallopingly good cinnamon twists in minutes. Frankly, if a European holiday is out of the question, pack a bus pass and emigrate here. Baker Bleus round shrub-edged tables sit on a boulevard milling with elegance, even if the slices of margarita or pumpkin and feta pizza are too engrossing. Lots of people say to us, Oh my god, its like sitting in the south of France, Perry says. Its a beautiful spot. Margherita pizza. Steven Siewert

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Perry says the quality ingredients used, created with kitchens at his nearby restaurants, set Baker Bleu apart from a normal sandwich shop. David Blackmores beef, Walker MSC tuna, he says. Then you add CopperTree butter, proper Murray River salt and, of course, the best bread going. It makes a great sandwich. When the eating has ended, peruse Baker Bleus hefty marble counter. Special shelving inlets feature marmalade, eggs, peanut butter, chocolate and Baker Bleus own Golden Granola to buy. Take home the khorasan or super country loaf for excellent toast, their crusts offering a golden crackling chew as melting butter seeps through the pillowy core. Or just hold onto your table, miss the next bus and consider the beautiful, wallet-friendly union of Perry and the Russells. That, says my father, after finishing the poached chicken sandwich, is a good sandwich.

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Russell later agrees. No better judgment than that. The low-down Baker Bleu Vibe: Bread and pastries to rock your world, with sandwich fillings and pizza toppings by veteran chef Neil Perry in a European slice of Sydney. Go-to dish: Poached chicken sandwich on country loaf and cinnamon twist.

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Review Eating outClovelly This neighbourhood Japanese gem serves up a salarymans menu of rip-snorting value Forget obscene amounts of caviar and truffles. Wa Gyuto chef/owner Andy Yoo describes his Japanese-Australian approach as nothing too sophisticated or fancy, but not too casual at the same time. Terry Durack July 18, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 6 The Clovelly interior. Anna Kucera 2 / 6 Tempura oysters with sake. Anna Kucera 3 / 6 The signature teriyaki chicken. Anna Kucera 4 / 6 Kombu potato with creme fraiche and salmon roe. Anna Kucera 5 / 6 Spicy tempura prawn roll. Anna Kucera 6 / 6 Black sesame parfait with smoked macadamia. Anna Kucera Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Japanese$$$ Wa Gyuto. Must be a steakhouse, he thinks. With lots of wagyu to eat. But the name actually refers to a Japanese chefs knife with a traditionally slim handle, something that is close to the heart  and the hand  of chef/owner Andy Yoo. After my recent high-flying omakase adventures, its a relief to discover a good, bustling neighbourhood Japanese joint that is not a hushed culinary temple and does not lace everything with obscene amounts of caviar, lobster and truffles. Reviewing such expensive, rarified experiences is important, yes. But its just not as helpful as directing you to a bustling 40-seater in Clovelly that is rip-snorting value. Share dishes at Wa Gyuto are mostly around $15 and $16, and wines by the glass start at $11. If youve despaired of ever being able to afford sushi again, may I direct you to the nigiri list, on which tuna and salmon are listed at $8 and $9 respectively, and thats for two pieces a time.

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The dining room itself is unpretentiously neat, and there are no extravagant floral displays or works of art  just tables and chairs, shelves of wine, and a busy open kitchen to the rear. Its a salarymans menu of classic, everyday Japanese dishes that run from nigiri and maki sushi to various tempura, teriyaki and yakitori options. Adding interest is a four-course set menu and an oft-changing specials list displayed on a roll of brown paper hanging on the wall. Tonight, those specials include a sake tasting ($22) of three panko-crumbed Merimbula oysters with a creamy slaw, matched to a glass of crisp dry Karatanba sake from Hyogo. Its a fun way to start dinner. Spicy tempura prawn roll. Anna Kucera Apparently a dedicated sake list is on the way, but in the meantime, a fresh and zesty Petal & Stem sauvignon blanc from Marlborough ($12) plays well with the crowd-pleasing spicy tempura prawn maki roll ($26). The whole thing is as long as my forearm; each piece tightly packed with prawn, avocado and chilli mayo. Its generously topped with even more prawn and avocado, with four upright prawn tails forming crisp gondola ends. Small wonder its a crowd-pleaser.

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The rice is well-shaped, glossy and lightly warm from the cooker, which makes all the difference in the world. I try wagyu nigiri ($10 for two) as well, but it doesnt have the cut-through of raw fish. Gyoza ($15) are well-made, the six plump, rounded dumplings showing off their crisped bottoms in a wash of not-quite-sharp-enough dressing. A lunchtime order of cabbage salad ($16) yields finely shaved cabbage loaded with avocado, onion, tomato, cucumber and wafu dressing. Even after some vigorous tossing, it still feels a bit bitsy. Theres a tendency to sweetness here, but the basics are elevated with imagination and good kitchen skills. Andy Yoo calls his approach Japanese in an Australian way. Nothing too sophisticated or fancy, but not too casual at the same time, he says. The signature teriyaki chicken ($26) is a good example. Go-to dish: Teriyaki chicken. Anna Kucera I groan inwardly when it lands on the table, thinking its just boring old chicken breast, but instead its chicken thigh, boned and rolled into something far more interesting. Its awash in a smooth, glossy teriyaki sauce with a few charred spring onions on the side, and a bowl of that excellent rice.

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And now for something completely left field: kombu potato ($17). With its finely sliced potatoes pressed into a crisp golden brick and topped with creme fraiche and salmon caviar, it looks as if it has wandered in from a French bistro down the road. Cute, but a bit lost. A dessert of black sesame parfait with smoked macadamia ($13) has sold out, so well never know. Yoo chose Clovelly to open a restaurant because he reckons that post-pandemic, more diners will choose to eat locally rather than head for the CBD. With Wa Gyutos skills, sweet service and very welcome value, thats looking more like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The low-down Drinks: Japanese beers, small but good value wine list, sake coming Vibe: Buzzy neighbourhood Japanese where locals rule Go-to dish: Teriyaki chicken, $26 Cost: About $130 for two, plus drinks

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Legendary Australian broadcaster Bruce McAvaney says Victorias decision to pull out of hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 is an embarrassment.

McAvaney, a long-time Olympic Games commentator known for his encyclopedic knowledge and passion for an array of sports, told Melbourne radio station 3AW earlier today that the announcement had shocked him.

Bruce McAvaney. Credit: Getty Images

Heres his exchange with host Neil Mitchell, edited for length and clarity.

McAvaney: Its a big shock, Neil. I didnt see it coming. I mean, I dont live in Melbourne  so its sort of out of my focus. But I was just looking forward to it, I guess, like any sports fan and hoping maybe that I get a chance to work on it.

Mitchell: Will it be embarrassing internationally do you think, Bruce?

McAvaney: For sure. Because its so close. I mean, this is not the first time [for] the Commonwealth Games because the last Commonwealth Games was supposed to be in South Africa in Durban. And about two or three years out, they also pulled the plug and Birmingham came to the party and saved the Games. And it was a very successful one, I would say. It was lucky. It was fantastic.

But, this is two in a row, so to speak. Its almost the centenary of the Commonwealth Games. 2030 will be the centenary. This is a huge challenge now for its future.

And from Australias point of view, and from Victorias point of view, yeah, for it to be so late  I mean, its only 2023, but weve known about it for a fair while  it is an embarrassment.
Some CCTV footage from the day Brittany Higgins has alleged she was raped in Parliament House was automatically wiped and no longer exists, the Federal Court has heard.

Network Ten sought access to footage from different camera angles from the department of parliamentary services as it defends a defamation suit brought against it by former federal Liberal political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who has denied raping Higgins in 2019.

Sevens Spotlight program aired an interview with Bruce Lehrmann, along with vision of him entering Parliament House with Brittany Higgins on the night of the alleged incident. Credit: Seven Spotlight

At a preliminary hearing in Sydney on Monday, the Federal Court heard the department had produced some footage in response to Tens subpoena.

Barrister Tim Senior, acting for Ten, said the material that has been produced today in response to the latest subpoena I believe ... would have been the material that was broadcast on Sevens Spotlight program in June.
For the overwhelming majority of women who are murdered by an intimate partner, that final act of violence was not the first  even if earlier instances hadnt been reported to authorities, support services or family and friends. As a country, we must educate ourselves about the warning signs of non-physical abuse. We need to be aware of the red flags that  when left unchecked  can and often do escalate. And we need to take those signs more seriously. As an anti-violence campaigner, people often tell me that they would never hit their partner. While thats a positive statement, it seems that not hitting your partner sets the bar awfully low for what we consider to be acceptable relationship behaviour. Not hitting your partner should be a given, but so should addressing behaviours grounded in power and control. And learning about these behaviours from those who have lived experiences of them is a necessary step Australia needs to take if we are to curb the startling rates of domestic violence in this country. Nikis killer was one of those men who used non-physical abuse to intimidate her long before things turned physical. The abuse started with him controlling every aspect of her life. Niki was the primary breadwinner, yet he maintained strict control over household spending and kept her to a budget, threatening her if she spent money on things she wanted.

He decided who she was allowed to talk to and spend time with. Niki was forbidden from seeing family and friends and slowly isolated from her support networks, trapping her with a man who wore her down until he ultimately murdered her. Following Nikis murder, I have met thousands of victim-survivors across the country through my advocacy work. And one thing has become abundantly clear  non-physical abuse often manifests in subtle ways that are designed to mask its true nature. Perpetrators disguise their sinister motives behind seemingly innocuous actions and statements, which makes it harder for victim-survivors to articulate the abuse they are experiencing. For people outside the relationship it can be hard to recognise why something might feel off. Weve become so used to hearing about common relationship tropes early on in someones new relationship and thinking, Aww, isnt that just so romantic?! when some of those behaviours arent romantic at all  theyre jealous, pseudo-caring comments and questions intended to control another person. Technological abuse can start similarly. What begins with a seemingly innocent offer to set up a social media account or a new device can be used as a way to get their partners login and track their online activity.

Loading New technologies that allow perpetrators to monitor their partners movements in real-time are of great concern. In some cases, electric cars are being tampered with by perpetrators to prevent their victims from driving a certain distance from their home. Financial abuse is yet another area of control that we are only beginning to grasp the extent of. In fact, research estimates that it is present in 90 per cent of cases of intimate partner violence. The flow-on effects of money being taken, hidden or gambled without a partners consent can mean that a victim-survivor is left without money for rent, basic necessities and even food for their children. Many of these non-physical signs of abuse are underpinned by whats known as coercive control  a pattern of behaviour that an abuser uses to instil fear into their victim. And in the most tragic of cases, it can and does escalate into murder, even where there is no reported history of physical violence, as was the case of Hannah Clarke and her three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. And the same thing happened to my sister Niki. Most cases dont make national headlines. When they do, its only because the victim has been killed. There is a better way. For me, when it comes to the issue of domestic violence, I try to remain hopeful about the future.

During sentencing in the Supreme Court, Nikis killers actions were seen as an act of such callous and unprovoked brutality that the judge who sentenced him said, Nothing Nikita Chawla did in any way whatsoever contributed to what you chose to do to her. Loading The judge was right and Im glad he made a point of saying it, but its small comfort. I would rather a country where this is not happening with such painful regularity. It would have been Nikitas birthday in June. For my family, and many other Australian families, its too late for our loved one. Nikis life was stolen from her and weve lost her forever, but theres still a chance for us to help others. Judging by the statistics, that help is needed by many Australians. We owe it to every one of them to listen. And act.
Darebin Council said it did not support the development because ministerial intervention was not required, did not follow due process and insufficient notice was given to community members. The council sees this as an attempt to circumvent councils decision-making authority and proper planning controls, a spokesperson said. Residents say they support housing on the site, but are concerned about excessive height and bulk. Credit: Penny Stephens Some nearby residents backed the need for more housing, but said they were concerned about the height and bulk of the development, insufficient car parking, traffic congestion and overshadowing. If the minister determines to support the proposal, council has requested that conditions to ensure an appropriate level of community benefit is realised, including social housing to be provided for at least 30 years, the Darebin council spokesperson said.

But Labor MP for Northcote Kat Theophanous and Evan Mulholland, the Liberal MP for the Northern Metropolitan Region, lashed the council. Loading Darebin Council has nerve to grandstand, Theophanous said. Anyone who lives in the inner north knows their track record on major planning decisions has been woeful. With the Greens political party dominating so many of these decisions at a local level, their total hypocrisy on social housing is writ large on project after project they have obstructed. Theophanous said the government had referred the development and rezoning proposal to the priority projects standing advisory committee, which would consider concerns raised by the community and the time period for social housing. Mulholland said Melbourne was in the middle of a housing crisis and without developments like this, housing supply would never come close to matching demand.

Daniel Andrews is quick to rightly attack Greens councillors for holding up housing construction, but in this case, you have a Labor mayor and councillors doing the same thing, he said. If there is an issue with height, this should be sorted quickly rather than endless nitpicking and delays. Either you support alleviating the pressures of the housing crisis, or you dont. Showers Street resident Lisa Oakley said she was concerned the councils planning processes had been bypassed and there was inadequate consultation with residents. She said 15 storeys exceeded the maximum height limit of 12 storeys for the area and insufficient car parks had been proposed, which would add to traffic congestion.

I dont think anybody in our community is against more affordable and social housing, but the problem is when developers use their 20 per cent social housing provision to exceed maximum building heights and really ignore planning process. Resident Neerja Choahan said a 15-storey apartment building would overshadow the home she shared with her frail 77-year-old mother on Oakover Road, blocking the sunshine on their north-facing porch. Being a migrant, I understand the need for secure housing and welcoming people, she said. We are asking for more parking so that we can safely co-exist with our new neighbours, a maximum of 12 storeys in height in keeping with the regulations, and for setbacks so that we have our share of the sun in Melbournes freezing winter. Assemble Communities referred questions from The Age to Super Housing Partnerships, which owns the site.

Super Housing Partnerships chief executive Carolyn Viney said Melbourne was in the grip of a housing crisis and Preston was a key location where workers on average incomes could not access housing. Loading This development will address some of the inequity in the housing system by delivering 20 per cent of homes as social homes and 20 per cent of homes at discounted rents, without government subsidies or funding, Viney said. For so long as we resist responsible density in locations such as this, current and future generations will not be able to afford to live near us. In March, Whitehorse Council slammed the state government for seizing planning control of a seven-tower development in Box Hill, the tallest of which would be 50 storeys.

Professor Michael Buxton, from RMITs Centre of Urban Research, accused the state government of treating councils with contempt by taking control of planning decisions under the Development Facilitation Program and Suburban Rail Loop Authority. One rule for big projects and big developers and another for everyone else, he said. The bigger projects demand greater scrutiny because they have much more severe impacts. Opposition planning spokesman David Hodgett said the key to local planning decisions was local residents and communities.
Hindu devotees perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindu devotees perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

A Hindu devotee takes a holy dip as he performs rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindu devotees perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindu devotees perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindu devotees take a holy dip as they perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindu devotees take a holy dip as they perform rituals to honor the souls of ancestors on the occasion of Aadi Amavasya, on the shores of Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach in Chennai on July 17, 2023. AFP

Hindus in Bengal are celebrating Aadi Amavasya today, July 17, 2023, a festival that falls on the new moon day of the month of Aadi in the Tamil calendar. While the festival is slated to be celebrated on August 16, 2023, this year, by Hindus who follow the Tamil calendar, those in Bengal are following the Bengali calendar. The Bengali calendar is a lunisolar calendar that considers both the phases of the moon and the solar year, and the month of Aadi starts on Karkadaka Sankranti, which this year falls on July 17. So, the Amavasya that falls on July 17 is the Aadi Amavasya for Bengali Hindus.

The month of Aadi is significant in Hinduism, as it is believed that divine forces bless the earth with grace and answer prayers during this month. Aadi Amavasya, in particular, is the first new moon day of the Dakshinayana period, which is a time of introspection and spiritual growth as the sun begins to move south. On this day, Hindus traditionally perform Tarpanam, a ritual to honor their ancestors, which involves offering water, food, and prayers to the departed souls. It is believed that these offerings help to cleanse the souls of their ancestors and help them to attain Moksha (liberation).

In addition to Tarpanam, Hindus celebrate Aadi Amavasya by visiting temples, bathing in holy rivers, and fasting. Some people also choose to donate to charity or perform other acts of kindness on this day. Aadi Amavasya is a time for Hindus to reflect on their ancestors and to honor their memory. By performing Tarpanam and other rituals, Hindus believe that they can help their ancestors to attain Moksha and bring blessings into their own lives.

Aadi Amavasya is celebrated by Hindus following the Tamil calendar on August 16, 2023, as the Tamil month of Aadi starts on Aadi Poornima. The reason why there are two Amavasyas in the month of Aadi in 2023 is that the Tamil month of Aadi starts on a different day than the Bengali month of Aadi. This is because the two calendars are based on different astronomical calculations.
A man is in hospital after a freak accident at a shooting range in the Perth Hills.

Nine News Perth said the 29-year-old man was taking part in a competition at Mundaring Marksman Association Range in Sawyers Valley.

The man fired the gun himself.

The club said the bullet ricocheted, hitting him in the abdomen. He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Lloyd said he was disappointed by the Andrews government and had been told of the expanded changes only on Sunday morning when Horne called him moments before the announcement. Loading We have had the approach we want to work with the government. With the recent changes happening at Crown, we thought the government would have watched and analysed how it was working and taken learnings from that, he said. He called on the government to help venues fund the cost of the transition, and said smaller venues  particularly in regional communities were worried about how the overhaul would affect their ability to operate. You need to get this right, he said.

In Victoria, clubs with poker machines are eligible for a reduction in gambling tax if they submit what is known as an annual community benefit statement. That statement must demonstrate that at least 8.3 per cent of pokies revenue has been used for community purposes. Lara Sporting Club general manager Brendon Chavasse said he had been blindsided by the announcement. He said small, not-for-profit clubs support thousands of jobs across the state and pump hundreds and thousands of dollars into the community. Anti-pokies campaigner Stephen Mayne says the reforms to the industry are long overdue. Credit: Edwina Pickles Without gaming machines our clubs would cease to exist, he said. If community clubs arent properly consulted about the mandatory pre-commitment system for poker machines, they will fold.

Long-time anti-pokies campaigner and City of Manningham councillor Stephen Mayne said there was some argument that the state government should reimburse licence fees or offer an exit opportunity for operators. Loading [But] thats the only argument the clubs and pubs have against long-overdue reforms to deal with record-high losses in the worlds most gambling-captured country, he said. Research from Monash University, published in 2020, found that 82 per cent of gambling tax deductions for licensed clubs went towards operational expenses  including wages and venue maintenance  and that charitable and philanthropic contributions constituted just 4.5 per cent of all community benefit claims. Cabinet minister Ingrid Stitt would not be drawn on Monday on whether the government was up for a fight with clubs and the gambling industry, and insisted the measures were about helping problem gamblers.

I hope that the sector will be on board with those efforts to improve the lives of the poor people who have found themselves in this terrible situation, she said. A state government spokeswoman said it would work closely with venues over the coming months. The state also looked forward to working with the Commonwealth on broader gambling reforms, including sports bet advertising, she said. Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission data shows punters lose more than $6 million a day on poker machines in pubs and clubs. Under the changes, gaming venues will be required to introduce a mandatory pre-commitment system for all poker machines, which will force players to use a card to sign in and set loss limits. The maximum amount of money a player can feed into a machine in one go will drop to $100, down from $1000. The government is yet to unveil the timeline for some reforms and said it would engage in a thorough consultation with the industry, which has prompted concern from experts in gambling harm.

Samantha Thomas, a professor of public health at Deakin University, suspected the gambling industry would seek to delay the reforms as long as possible. Loading The government announcement doesnt make it clear whether these changes to spin rates will be on new or existing machines, she said. Policy reform should always be designed to favour the health and wellbeing of the community, rather than the interests of the gambling industry. Endeavour Groups shares dropped more than 10 per cent on Monday after Sundays announcement.
Beijing: A remote township in Chinas arid northwest endured temperatures of more than 52 degrees on Sunday, state media reported, setting a record for a country that was battling minus 50 degrees weather just six months ago.

Temperatures at Sanbao township in Xinjiangs Turpan Depression soared as high as 52.2 degrees on Sunday, state-run Xinjiang Daily reported on Monday, with the record heat expected to persist at least another five days.

A couple sit next to a large misting fan as they wait for a table outside a popular local restaurant during a heatwave in Beijing, China, on June 23. Credit: Getty

The Sunday temperature broke a previous record of 50.3 degrees, measured in 2015 near Ayding in the depression, a vast basin of sand dunes and dried-up lakes more than 150 metres below sea level.

Since April, countries across Asia have been hit by several rounds of record-breaking heat, stoking concerns about their ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. The target of keeping long-term global warming within 1.5 degrees is moving out of reach, climate experts say.
Both countries are major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and Russia of fertiliser  other critical parts of the food chain. Workers load grain at a grain port in Izmail, Ukraine, in April. Credit: AP Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the breadbasket of the world, exacerbated a global food crisis and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide. One major agricultural producer is waging war on another major agricultural producer, which is affecting the price of food and fertilisers for millions of people around the world, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The deal provides assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels are checked by Russian, Ukrainian, UN and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food.

Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope amid the war and has been renewed three times  the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up. The original accord says it can be extended automatically unless one of the parties notifies the other of the intent to terminate the initiative or to modify it. Russia announced on Monday that it has suspended a groundbreaking wartime agreement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov conveyed the decision during a press conference call, emphasising that Russia intends to resume the agreement once its conditions are fulfilled. What has it accomplished? The deal helped bring down global prices of food commodities like wheat that hit record highs after Russia invaded Ukraine.

As the war caused food and energy costs to surge worldwide, millions of people were thrown into poverty and faced greater food insecurity in already vulnerable nations. Once the grain deal was struck, the World Food Program got back its No.2 supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the precipice of famine, including Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Yemen. The grain storage terminal at the Odesa Sea Port in Ukraine. Credit: AP It is a pretty unique phenomenon to have two warring parties and two intermediaries agree to establish this sort of corridor to get humanitarian products  which is ostensibly what this is  out to markets that need it most, said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80 per cent of the worlds commercial fleet. What threatens the deal?

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow wouldnt extend the grain deal unless the West fulfils the promises given to us. We have repeatedly shown goodwill to extend this deal, Putin told reporters last week. Enough is enough. He said he wants an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and to restrictions on shipping and insurance that he insists have hampered agricultural exports. Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis-flagged bulker TK Majestic, carrying grain under the UNs Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Saturday. Credit: Reuters Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of sanctions, but Western allies have made assurances that food and fertiliser are exempt.

Its not uncommon in situations like this for countries to use whatever levers they have to try and get sanctions regimes changed, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Putin proposing to ease transactions through the agricultural bank, a spokesperson said. Russian claims that its agriculture sector is suffering are countered by the reality that production and exports are up since before the war, Welsh said. Russia exported a record 45.5 million metric tonnes of wheat in the 2022-23 trade year, with another high of 47.5 million metric tonnes expected in 2023-24, according to US Department of Agriculture estimates. Who is affected?

The International Rescue Committee calls the grain deal a lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the frontlines of food insecurity. East Africa, for instance, has seen both severe drought and flooding, destroying crops for 2.2 million people who depend on farming for their livelihoods, said Shashwat Saraf, the groups regional emergency director for East Africa. Loading It is critical that the deal is extended for a longer term to create some predictability and stability, he said. Countries that depend on imported food, from Lebanon to Egypt, would need to find suppliers outside the Black Sea region, which would raise costs because they are farther away, analysts say.

That would compound costs for countries that also have seen their currencies weaken and debt levels grow because they pay for food shipments in dollars. For low-income countries and people, food will be less affordable if the grain deal isnt renewed, World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters. What about Ukraine? Ukraines economy depends on agriculture, and before the war, 75 per cent of its grain exports went through the Black Sea. It can send its food by land or river through Europe, so it wouldnt be cut off from world markets if the grain deal ends, but those routes have a lower capacity than sea shipments and have stirred anger from farmers in neighbouring countries.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to send more grain through the Danube River to neighbouring Romanias Black Sea ports, saying its possible to double monthly exports along that route to 4 million metric tonnes. Ukraines wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40 per cent from its prewar average, with the USDA expecting 10.5 million metric tonnes exported in the coming year. Ukraine has accused Russia of slowing down inspections of ships, which along with no new ships joining, has led to a drop in exports from a high of 4.2 million metric tonnes in October to 2 million in June. What else affects food supply? Fallout from the pandemic, economic crises, drought and other climate factors affect the ability of people to get enough to eat.

There are 45 countries that need food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said in a July report. High domestic food prices are driving hunger in most of those countries, including Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela and several in Africa and Asia. While drought can also be a problem for major grain suppliers, analysts see other countries producing enough grain to counterbalance any losses from Ukraine. Besides Russias huge exports, Europe and Argentina are increasing wheat shipments, while Brazil saw a banner year for corn. These markets adapt and producers adapt  and boy, the wheat and corn markets have adapted very, very quickly, said Peter Meyer, head of grain analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights. AP, Reuters
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 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.

A picture of Iranian Mahsa Amini on the tail of the charter plane the Brazilian womens football team flew in to Brisbane on July 4. Credit: Reuters

The protests largely died down earlier this year following a heavy crackdown in which more than 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.
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 three years earlier, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann says he is innocent, according to his lawyer. Rex Heuermann, an architect who lived a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach. Credit: Reuters 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. And there were the phone calls, including one made from Barthelemys phone on the day she was last seen alive. It was traced to the Long Island town of Massapequa, about 30 kilometres from where her body would later be found, not far from Heuermanns house.

If convicted on all charges, Heuermann would face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Death is too good for him, Barthelemys mother, Lynn Barthelemy, told NBC News. Id like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates, she said. Crime laboratory officers removes boxes as law enforcement officials search the home of Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, New York. Credit: AP But the grieving parent 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. Loading Waterman was found near Gilgo Beach in December 2010, six months after she boarded a bus from Maine to New York. 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 long-time friends and her brothers former girlfriend, was surprised by the announcement of Heuermanns arrest on 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, 20, from Washington, DC, an escort who went missing in New York in July 2003. Outside the courthouse where Heuermann was arraigned on Friday, her cousin Jasmine Robinson remarked that full justice would be achieved only when all the cases were solved. Robinson also 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 80 kilometres 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 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, her sister Danielle Mack said. We knew that something was wrong because ... we just dont believe she would have never come back after 20 years. Mack said the family were stunned by the news of an arrest.

Its a lot to process, she said, adding that she did not know what to make of the fact that Heuermann wasnt charged over 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. 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 discovering 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 Governor Kathy Hochul said many affected communities would be sleeping a lot easier after Heuermanns capture.
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 It is the tragic sequel to one of the most confounding murder investigations that had stumped US authorities for more than a decade. A desperate mother, in a fierce fight for police to take seriously the unsolved death of one daughter, is later savagely murdered by another daughter. Shannan Gilbert, whose remains were found at Gilgo Beach, on New Yorks Long Island, in 2011. Credit: AP The extraordinary life of Mari Gilbert  who fought to solve the murder of her daughter Shannan, before she was killed at the hands of her third daughter, Sarra  has resurfaced in the aftermath of last weeks long-awaited arrest of the alleged Long Island serial killer. The arrest of New York architect Rex Heuermann marked a major development in the protracted investigation into the violent murders of three women more than a decade after their skeletal remains were discovered on Gilgo Beach in 2011. All were petite women, aged in their 20s and working as escorts when they disappeared between 2009 and 2010. Heuermann has been charged with murder after detectives pursuing a new lead say they matched DNA from a pizza he ate to genetic material found on the womens remains.

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He was refused bail last week and is being held at Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, New York. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, while his lawyer on Friday told reporters outside the courthouse that he had denied committing the killings. Rex Heuermann, an architect who lived a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach. Credit: Reuters While Heuermann has not been charged with the murder of Shannan Gilbert, then 24, she was among the 11 victims whose remains were found buried near the same beach as the first three bodies, revealing a brutal string of killings that came to be known as the Gilgo Beach murders. The search for Shannan, also a sex worker and aspiring actor, has been credited for triggering the police investigation that would uncover the remains of other missing sex workers and give weight to the theory that a serial killer had been in the area. Shannans story and her mother Maris ensuing fight for justice were immortalised by the Netflix true crime drama Lost Girls, which highlighted the grieving families as they pleaded with police and media to take the murders of their loved ones seriously. I think they look at them like theyre throwaway. They dont care, Mari told The New York Times in 2011. The screen feature by director Liz Garbus is based on American journalist Robert Kolkers 2013 book of the same name, which details Maris crusade claiming police inaction in pursuing the disappearance of her daughter and other sex workers.

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The film also highlights the terrifying final moments of Shannans life captured in a 20-minute phone call to 911 that she made while seeing a client. It was almost one month before the emergency call was connected to a missing persons report filed by the Gilbert family. Crime scene investigators use metal detectors to search a marsh for the remains of Shannan Gilbert on December 12, 2011 in Oak Beach, New York. Credit: AP Shannan was one of four daughters to Mari, who all fought alongside their mother to advocate for victims and raise awareness about Shannans murder. Maris third daughter, Sarra, suffered from severe mental illness and would eventually succumb to a breakdown, later to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Loading In a 2020 afterword to his book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, Kolker detailed Sarras mental health decline, the many months she spent in and out of hospitals, and the violent tendencies she would display to those around her, in particular her mother, culminating in Maris 2016 murder. On the morning of July 23, 2016, Sarra, after a sleepless night, texted [her sister] to say she was hearing voices again  Unwilling to go back to the hospital, Sarra decided to call Mari, who said she was coming right over, Kolker wrote in an extract republished by The Cut. Shortly after her mother arrived, Sarra reached for a 15-inch kitchen knife she had concealed under a couch cushion and stabbed Mari multiple times, aiming for her heart, lungs and midsection.

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Sarra also used a fire extinguisher to strike her mother in the head multiple times, before spraying it into Maris mouth. Loading The medical examiner would count 227 different stab wounds on the body, many of them defensive wounds on the hands and arms. Maris life, transformed by the death of one daughter, had been ended by another, Kolker wrote. Sarra mounted an insanity defence in future court proceedings, where a jury found her guilty. Prosecutors had argued that the killing of Mari Gilbert was a crime of passion, quite likely drug-fuelled, against a mother whom Sarra resented for years. In delivering his sentence, then-County Court judge Donald Williams said he was driven by an overwhelming desire to protect other people by taking you off the streets for as long as I can. Sarra is now serving 25 years in state prison. The investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders is ongoing.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice attended Sunday prayer services at The Methodist Church in Philipsburg today in anticipation of Justice Day, which will be observed tomorrow, Monday, July 17th, 2023. The service was attended by His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly, the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, the Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, the Acting Secretary General Ms. Florence Marlin, and management and staff of the Ministry of Justice.

During the service, Reverend Javed N. Intiaz delivered a powerful sermon emphasizing the importance of following God's commandments and living a Christ-like life both within and outside the workplace. Mrs. Henriette Doran-York, representing the Ministry of Justice, delivered an epistle reading from Romans 8, verses 1 through 11.

The service was attended by representatives from all agencies and departments within the Ministry of Justice, including the Staff Bureau, the Prison and Miss Lalie Center, the Court of Guardianship, the Police Department, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, The Probation Department, the Financial Investigation Unit, the Prosecution Service, Immigration and Border Protections Services, and the Executive Protection Unit.

Minister Richardson addressed the congregation, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and extending appreciation on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. She referred to Psalm 34:17-18 NIV, highlighting the comforting message that the Lord hears the cries of the righteous and delivers them from their troubles. Minister Richardson acknowledged the Justice Chain and commended their unwavering commitment to serving the people of St. Maarten and visitors.

She also acknowledged the congregation's prayers, words of encouragement, and unwavering support throughout the years, emphasizing the value of including the Justice Chain in their prayers for protection, wisdom, and guidance. Minister Richardson stressed the power of prayer and requested a collective prayer for the Law Enforcement Officers and their families, asking for divine protection, wisdom, and grace in their duties.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the administrative staff for their invaluable support and asked for God's guidance and protection for them in all aspects of their work and personal lives. She concluded by reciting Titus 3:1-2 NIV, emphasizing the importance of being obedient, peaceable, considerate, and gentle toward everyone.

Justice Week celebrations will continue tomorrow with a parade through Philipsburg. The parade will commence from the Government building at 9:00 and proceed along Soualiga Road, Salt Pickers roundabout, D. A. Peterson Street, Gevangenis Steeg, Backstreet, School Steeg, Front Street, Hendriks Straat, Gevangenis Steeg, D. A. Peterson Street, Salt Pickers Roundabout, Soualiga Road, and end at the Government Building. The public is invited to witness the procession and join in the celebration.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The United People's Party (UP) has officially announced the date of its eagerly awaited 2023 Party Congress. Set to take place on August 13, 2023, at the prestigious Aleeze Event & Convention Center in Madame Estate, it promises to be a milestone in St. Maarten's political landscape.

The congress will commence at 5:00 pm and is expected to draw a large gathering of party members, supporters, and political enthusiasts.

"As one of the largest political parties on the island, the UP Party continues to shape the course of St. Maarten's future. This congress marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to serving the people and advancing the nation," said MP Brison, Sunday.

MP Brison said that the entire UP Team have synchronized their watches to send another notice today Monday at 12:00 midday and several different notices will follow building up the momentum to the official congress.

The UP Party Congress will be an extraordinary occasion as it will unveil the new Leadership and Board to the public. This momentous event will also introduce the candidates contesting the highly anticipated 2024 Parliamentary Elections in St. Maarten. With the party's long-standing reputation for producing influential political figures, the unveiling will likely be met with great anticipation and interest.

Notable regional political figures from St. Maarten and across the region will attend, adding further prestige and significance to the congress. Their presence will underscore the importance of this event in shaping the future of St. Maarten's political landscape and further emphasize the importance of regional collaboration for further Country development. The UP Party has always been at the forefront of driving positive change, and this congress will undoubtedly showcase its commitment to progress and development.

Furthermore, the UP Party is using the occasion to launch its new social media presence and website. In an era driven by digital connectivity, the party recognizes the importance of engaging with supporters and voters through various online platforms. This move will enable greater interaction and dissemination of party information to a wider audience.

The announcement of the congress was first made by the party's leader, MP Rolando Brison, during a live broadcast on SOS Radio in St. Maarten last week. Since then, the UP Party has generated significant buzz by flooding social media with video teasers and infomercials about the congress. These promotional efforts have further heightened the anticipation surrounding the event.

To ensure that the public remains informed, the UP Party has planned several radio interviews and future public announcements regarding the congress. These initiatives will allow party members and supporters to learn more about the party's vision, policy agenda, and the candidates participating in the upcoming elections.

With its grandeur, strategic importance, and widespread anticipation, the UP Party Congress is being hailed as one of the most significant political events in St. Maarten's recent history as it has undergone several changes to its leadership structure.
French Quarter, St. Martin:--- The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to celebrate the launch of The Old House this Saturday. The Old House is a bilingual book about The Old House in French Quarter, the current location of Amuseum Naturalis. Delta Petroleum is sponsoring free copies of the book for all who attend the launch. The launch event will be held from 9 am to noon on Saturday, July 22nd.

Overlooking Coconut Grove in French Quarter, The Old House has been a part of St. Martins history for over 250 years. Very few buildings from its era survive today. The building showcases the skilled work of many generations of St. Martin artisans, from those who laid the foundations in the 1700s to those who did carpentry, tile, and cement work in the last century

Were excited to share this book with the public, and thank Delta for supporting the launch, said Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. Delta has sponsored Les Fruits de Mer projects and events for ten years. They were the original sponsors of the first Amuseum Naturalis in Grand Case, and now they are helping us share this special book.

The book explores various aspects of The Old House, from its architecture and craftsmanship to its role in salt production and its representation in art. The book includes interviews with the late Elise Hyman, who worked at the Orient Bay salt pond in her youth, and Sir Roland Richardson, who created an etching of the house and profiled its history in an early issue of Discover magazine.

The Old House book is bilingual in French and English. It is available for free online at lesfruitsdemer.com. The print edition will be available for free at the book launch from 9 am to noon on Saturday, July 22nd at Amuseum Naturalis. The public is welcome to visit Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House every day of the week from sunrise to sunset. The free museum features exhibits about The Old House itself, and many other parts of St. Martins nature, heritage and culture.
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.
After the death toll in a Kenyan cult massacre in which members were believed to have starved crossed 400, we look at other notorious killer sects.

914 dead, Guyana jungle apocalypse



In one of the most dramatic mass murder-suicides of modern history, 914 adults and children from a US cult died in the jungle of the small South American country of Guyana on November 18, 1978.

They were led to their deaths by charismatic US preacher Jim Jones who coerced members of his Peoples Temple sect into carrying out "revolutionary suicide". Parents were urged to give their children poison, while others were shot trying to flee or forced to drink the deadly liquid.

Jones, who had moved his followers to Guyana from San Francisco to avoid a crackdown by US authorities, was found dead with a gunshot to the head. It was never determined if he had died by suicide or was shot.

Over 700 dead in Uganda

Another of the world's worst cult-related massacres took place in southwestern Uganda's Kanungu district in 2000 where some 700 members from the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God burned to death.

Members of the cult, which believed the world would come to an end at the turn of the millennium, had been locked inside a church, with the doors and windows nailed shut from the outside.

The building was then set alight.

The cult leaders, who were suspected of their deaths, were never found.

Waco siege: nearly 80 dead



In 1993, 76 members of a sect in Waco, Texas, including 20 children died in a blaze at their wooden fortress when it was stormed by federal agents after a 51-day siege.

David Koresh, the charismatic leader of the Branch Davidian cult -- which broke away from the Seventh Day Adventist Church -- died along with many of his followers.

US authorities had accused the group of stockpiling weapons and obtained an arrest warrant for Koresh and a search warrant for the compound, resulting in the tense standoff.

1994: Solar Temple



The bodies of 48 members of the doomsday Solar Temple sect, including its leaders, were discovered in the Swiss villages of Cheiry and Granges-sur-Salvan in October 1994.

In total, over 70 members of the sect founded by a homeopathic healer died, including 10 living in the Canadian province of Quebec and 16 whose charred bodies were found in the Vercors mountains of southeast France.

Notes left behind suggested a mass suicide, but investigators said as many as two thirds of the dead could have been murdered.

Heaven's Gate poisoning



In 1997, 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult in San Diego, California, committed mass suicide by poisoning to coincide with the arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet, considering this a signal for their exit from Earth.

The dead included cult co-founder Marshall Applewhite.

Bonnie Nettles, the other founder of the sect which believed members could transform themselves into immortal extra-terrestrials by rejecting their human nature, died of cancer in 1985.

Japan's sarin gas attack



Doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo was behind a notorious attack in Japan in 1995, when members released toxic sarin gas into Tokyo's subway network, killing 13 people and sickening thousands of others.

The chemical was released in liquid form at five locations during rush hour, causing commuters to stagger from trains struggling to breathe.

At the cult's headquarters near Mount Fuji authorities found a plant capable of producing enough sarin to kill millions.

Thirteen Aum members, including leader Shoko Asahara, were executed for the attack.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Parliament of Sint Maarten will be presenting its 11th President of Parliament (PoP) Award during the reception ceremony at the Opening of the Parliamentary Year.

Each year the President of Parliament recognizes a youth who has contributed positively to their community or country whether academically, voluntarily, or in sporting achievements.



Thus far the following recipients have had the honor of being awarded the President of Parliament Award:



2013: Mr. Wendell Laurence

2014: Ms. Cherrianne Dangleben York

2015: Mr. Ralph Cantave

2016: Ms. Rochana Richardson

2017: Mr. Aisaiah Nunes

2018: Mr. Rupshen Long

2019: Ms. Mhakeda Shillingford

2020: Mr. Erwin Romney

2021: Ms. Kemilla Carty

2022: Ms. Tatiana Illis



The Parliament of Sint Maarten invites the public to submit nominations for the Annual President of Parliament Award 2023.



Any citizen of Sint Maarten who believes that an individual meets the criteria can send the nomination to the Parliament of Sint Maarten.



The eligibility criteria are:

 the candidate must have Dutch nationality and/or has been legally residing in Sint Maarten for 10 years or more consecutively and has been registered in the Civil Registry for that period of time

 must be between the ages of 15-24 years

 has made a worthwhile contribution to the development of the community and the country

 these contributions/achievements must have taken place within the last three years

 contributions/achievements must have been made while the individual was acting as a private citizen, not as an appointed or elected government official

 and must have demonstrated a capacity for leadership and the ability to motivate



The application form can be found on the Parliaments website: www.sxmparliament.org under the tab public. By selecting the President of Parliament Award you will be directed to the digital application form.



A hardcopy of the application form can also be collected at the reception desk at the Parliament Building located at the Wilhelminastraart #1 Philipsburg, Sint Maarten



The deadline to submit your nomination(s) is August 11, 2023.

This can be done by hard copy in a sealed envelope addressed to: Annual President of Parliament Award Committee, Wilhelminastraart #1 Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.

Or via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nearly a thousand migrants that recently crossed from Guatemala into Mexico formed a group Saturday to head north together in hopes of reaching the border with the United States.

The group, made up of largely Venezuelan migrants, walked along a highway in southern Mexico, led by a Venezuela flag with the phrase "Peace, Freedom. SOS." The men, women, children and teenagers were followed by Mexican National Guard patrols.

Migrants told The Associated Press they crossed into Mexico illegally through a river dividing the two countries. They said they decided to organize the group and start out because many had been sleeping on the street and had run out of money to buy food.

"We just want to move forward, to fulfill our American dream and work, because we're all workers here," one Venezuelan, Roseli Gloria said while taking a brief rest along the highway.

She carried a backpack and a piece of rolled up foam for sleeping. She said she had been in Mexico for a week before joining the group.
T he chairman of the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal has called for legislative change to resolve issues with what he described as a patchwork quilt of compensation schemes with some holes in it.

Just short of 100 million has been paid out so far by the Post Office and the Government to subpostmasters affected by the scandal.

Inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams said his strongly-held view is that the scheme administrators will be unable to deliver compensation payments to all applicants by the deadline previously set  August 7 2024.

Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted based on information from the accounting system, which saw workers wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting.

However, in December 2019 a High Court judge ruled that the system contained a number of bugs, errors and defects and there was a material risk that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were in fact caused by it.

Since then many subpostmasters have had criminal convictions overturned.

On Monday, Sir Wyn issued eight recommendations in an attempt to ensure full and fair compensation is paid to those affected by the scandal.

He said: The evidence upon me hasnt changed. It hasnt lessened to a degree.

Many hundreds of people suffered disastrous consequences by reason of the misuse of data from Horizon, and thousands more suffered very significantly.

As of April 6 2023, the Post Office had paid out more than 80 million across the Historical Shortfall Scheme and the Overturned Historic Convictions Scheme.

The Government paid out an additional 19 million in interim compensation under the Group Litigation Scheme by the same date.
B osses from AstraZeneca, Google, Shell and other major companies will gather in Downing Street on Tuesday for the first meeting of Rishi Sunaks Business Council.

Pitched by Downing Street as a body to report from the business frontlines, 14 executives and bosses will attend the meeting.

Other companies represented include NatWest, Sainsburys, Vodafone and BAE Systems.

Mr Sunak said: The more businesses innovate and invest, the more we grow and create good jobs right across the country.

I look forward to hearing first-hand from business leaders about how we can break down the barriers they face and unlock new opportunities for them to thrive.

My new Business Council is one of the many ways we are making the UK the best place to do business and invest, so we can future-proof and grow our economy.

The gathering on Tuesday will also include a reception for around 100 businesses to celebrate British enterprise.

The council is intended to meet biannually, with the terms of membership lasting until the end of the year.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan said it was an honour to join the business council to help drive prosperity and growth in the UK, specifically through the provision of secure, affordable and cleaner energy.

He said: The economic and societal challenges we face today require candid collaboration between government and business to deliver the undoubted growth potential that we have in this country.

AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said: The private sector has a vital role to play working with government and society to build a sustainable economy.

I look forward to productive discussions on matters affecting the UKs growth agenda and efforts to truly become a global science superpower creating high value enterprises, jobs and advancing the UKs global net zero ambitions.

Charles Woodburn, the BAE boss, said: Its more important than ever that government and industry work closely together and as one of the UKs largest employers, playing a key role in supporting national security as well as economic prosperity, Im looking forward to discussing how we can help drive growth and attract investment into the UK as part of the new Business Council.
T he first of five planned neighbourhood private members clubs in London, where local businesses and residents can gather, will launch in the final quarter of the year in Islington.

The first branch of The Dally will be a 4,000 square feet site on Upper Street featuring a restaurant, lounge, bar and it will offer a programme of events.

Membership will be 65 per month and the target is for five clubs in the first five years. Areas being looked at include Dulwich and Wimbledon.

Caroline Baldwin, the founder, majority owner and chief executive of The Dally said: We want to revolutionise the industry with neighbourhood clubs that provide an inclusive space for local communities to play, network and socialise, without having to leave the area that they love.

Baldwin, who has previous experience in the shipping and hospitality sectors, is working with co-founder Claire ilardi-Crow. She will be chief marketing officer and is a former consultant for private members clubs and co-working spaces.

Atif Amin, a former managing director of the Creams dessert cafe chain will be finance boss.
T he ability of the UKs financial regulator to do its job is set to come under close scrutiny in a new probe.

The activities of the Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates a swathe of firms in the square mile from High Street Banks to crypto trading apps, are to be reviewed by the National Audit Office in a bid to examine how the FCA is working with others, particularly HM Treasury.

The NAO, an independent body which monitors the performance of government operations, said the FCAs portfolio has swelled in light of new technological innovations like cryptoassets and artificial intelligence, while it also had to deal with a host of new regulatory regimes as well as comply with a statutory objective to facilitate the international competitiveness of the UK economy.

The FCA will be assessed on how it plans take action to meet aspects of the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities posed by recent changes, the NAO said.

It comes as the Standard revealed last week that regulatory approvals for fintech firms plunged to fresh lows in 2022 in signs Londons dominant fintech sector was being hammered by a draconian crackdown by the watchdog.

The approval rate of applications for Electronic Money Institution status, required for processing digital cash payments, fell to just 8% in 2022, figures obtained from FCA via a Freedom of Information request show, amounting to just 33 approvals. That compares to an approval rate of 90% in 2018 and a rate of 47% in 2021.

Industry insiders complained that poor staffing and retention levels at the regulator had exacerbated the fall in approvals.

Heather Adams, Head of UK Risk at Accenture, said: The question many regulators globally are grappling with is how to balance a safe and stable financial system and retail consumer needs, with financial innovation and broad protection from harms.

Concerns around resourcing and talent retention remain recognisable today; the breadth of mandate and objectives, and the capacity to meet them, will likely be an area of focus.
U NESCO threatens to remove Westminsters status as World Heritage Site; what a metaphor for decline. This should be taken seriously  in 2021 Unesco removed Liverpools listing. London deserves this prize: the Palace of Westminster by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin is a masterpiece. It is classical in plan and gothic in detail, if you care; St Pauls Cathedral is the opposite. These buildings were created by artists, and they made London look like a painting, a wonder of the world. But does it deserve to keep it?

Things fall apart slowly, then fast. For years we have watched the destruction of Londons skyline and charm. Ugly buildings are constructed along the river, not for aesthetics  are you mad?  or housing for ordinary people  who?  but for profit. We have the weakest tall buildings strategy in the world and when you look from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge you know it.

There is no strategy to give London what it needs  it is a mess fuelled by greed and idiocy and it looks like it

If we made great public buildings in the 17th century this one is a race to the bottom in glass. Look at the plans for 72 Upper Ground, a forthcoming monster near the OXO Tower, waved through by the Lambeth planning committee by six votes to one. These buildings are designed by people with no eyes for people with no souls. Its a copy of Dubai, or Singapore, on the bones of something better. Labour and Tory politicians are equally guilty. There is no strategy to protect London and give it what it needs. It is a mess fuelled by greed and idiocy, and it looks like it. Sometimes I think architects hate people. What else can explain it?

The listing is threatened by the building of five 73-metre towers at the Royal Street site on the south bank of the Thames. Its Lambeth again, trying to overwhelm its existing treasure, Lambeth Palace, which, alongside small jewels like the Globe Theatre, looks crushed. The Royal Street development promises what the renovated Battersea Power Station offered: a pulsating district with housing and jobs. But for who? Prada? New Battersea is glossy, for sure. It is also over-priced, anathema to the spirit of the city, whose wonders are Georgian to Art Deco, and exclusive. They sell Le Creuset in the corner shop. What else do you need to know?

Not all are bad. I think the Gherkin is wonderful and at least the City Hall Building  the Ball Sac  opposite the Tower of London has a mad kind of identity. But they are mostly Freudian expressions of fury and greed. Aesthetics matter. Poor or not, past Londoners at least knew their city was for them, and it was glorious. Now, increasingly, it belongs to the non-resident, courtesy of the non-artist. Its the manifesto of the times in concrete because we have given up on stone. I hope Unescos threat gives politicians thought, and they create, at last, a proper plan for London. I think they wont.

Peter Capaldi in The Thick of It / BBC/Ed Miller

The Thick of It row is a vindictive piece of BBC bashing

It is suggested that The Thick of It, the BBCs superb political satire, be removed from iPlayer because Chris Langham, who appeared in the first two seasons of four, was convicted of possessing child pornography in 2007 and jailed for six months.

This is absurd. Langham is not an auteur  the show was created by Armando Iannucci. He wasnt a leading man  The Thick of It has an ensemble cast, including Peter Capaldi  and its airing cannot be read as promoting his career: he doesnt have one. He has been punished  why should the viewer, and his colleagues on this dazzling show, be punished too?

This is a vindictive, and anti-intellectual piece of BBC bashing. If we remove The Thick of It, which is a masterpiece, should we not also remove the Caravaggios  we have three  from the National Gallery? He did kill a man, after all.

Tanya Gold is a columnist
W hen a strange knocking and scratching sound coming from behind her bedroom wall turned out to be an infestation of rats, Chloe Tomalin knew the time had come to get out of London.

She loved  and still loves  life in the capital, but the thought of paying almost 10,000 per year in rent to cohabit with rodents was too much. She opted to return home to the West Midlands during the pandemic where she has been able to buy and renovate her own flat.

If I could move my flat to London then I would, of course, but that is not the world we live in, said Chloe, 27.

Chloe had moved down south aged 18 to study at the University of the Creative Arts in Surrey. She lived in Epsom but, with dreams of a career in fashion marketing, she always knew she would end up in the capital. And after graduating she landed a job as a fashion trend forecaster and a flat share in Lewisham.

Over the years Chloe flat hopped to Dalston, and then to Hackney, and her career evolved into food marketing. She had just started a new job working with restaurants when the pandemic hit and Chloes working life was turned upside down. All the restaurants closed, there was the move to online and delivery  it was absolutely crazy, she said. The pressure was just too much for me.

Chloe took the difficult decision to quit her job and go freelance. I knew loads of people who were losing their jobs, and it felt wrong, but I just couldnt stay, she said. Her rent at the time was by far her biggest expense  800pcm, plus bills. I was faced with the challenge of whether I should spend my savings on living in London or look to move back to where I came from and establish myself a life outside London., she said.

Freelancer Chloe (www.chloetomalin.com) had to decide whether to spend her savings to continue living in London or establish a life elsewhere / Handout

Chloe was also fed up with some of the downsides of renting. There was a very bad damp problem in the flat, she said. We told the agent and they sent a man around who used a hairdryer on the wall. It was just unbelievable  a complete lack of care.

The final straw came when Chloe started to hear a strange knocking sound coming from behind the walls of her bedroom. It turned out to be a rat infestation. Suddenly moving to her dads house, in Dudley, sounded like a great way to save a bit of money during the third lockdown.

We went on daily walks and would look in the estate agents windows, said Chloe. I could see how much cheaper rent was than in London and I started to wonder if I could afford to buy.

After careful calculations Chloe realised she could. I have always been a saver, not a big spender, she said. To some extent I lived a sad existence in London, but I would rather invest 10 than spend it on a cocktail.

Her frugality paid off and in June 2021 Chloe paid 55,000 in cash for a one-bedroom flat close to her dads house. There is a caveat, she said. The building had severe damp and the flat didnt have a kitchen, just a sink.

This meant she was able to buy the flat for, she estimates, a 70 per cent discount against what it would be worth once renovated. She has since spent another 30,000 on getting it redone, including installing a new kitchen and underfloor heating. She and her neighbours are now working with their freeholder to sort out the underlying damp issues.

Before its renovation, Chloes one-bedroom flat didnt have a kitchen / Handout

To help pay for all this Chloe has also taken a full time job as a marketing manager with a gambling harm consultancy, and still takes the odd freelance project in food, fashion, and wellness (www.chloetomalin.com).

More than two years after her move Chloe still misses London  the food and fashion, the ability to do something new every day of the week  but moving to Dudley has given her something else: security.

I had to make some adult decisions about what was best for me in the long run, she said. I take great pleasure in knowing that this flat is all bought and paid for.
President Yoon Suk-yeol made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Yoon, who had just wrapped up an official visit to neighboring Poland, is the first Korean president to visit a country at war to which Korea did not dispatch troops.

He pledged steadfast support in Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion. After a 110-minute meeting with Zelenskyy, Yoon said, "We express our deepest condolences to the Ukrainian citizens whose innocent lives were sacrificed due to Russia's illegal aggression, the young people of Ukraine who gave their lives to defend freedom, and their bereaved families."

"If we fight together in solidarity in the spirit of life and death, we will surely be able to protect our freedom and democracy," he added. He also promised humanitarian aid and reconstruction support for the war-torn country.

Zelenskyy thanked Korea for the support.
In May, a report by A-N The Artists Information Company, titled Structurally Fcked, found artists in the public sector were paid a median of 2.60 an hour. Uncapped rents are driving creatives home to their parents, cuts to art education deepen and galleries grapple with spiralling costs.

And yet, the kids - while not alright, per se - are hungry as ever to be involved. A new wave of disruptors are rising; found in Peckham studios and the bars of the Serpentine and National Gallerys no-holds-barred summer parties alike.

Here are the curators, painters, journalists and gallerists refreshing London as a cultural epicentre.

Clockwise from lower left: Josh Woolford, Aindrea Emelife, Danny Fox, Nnamdi Obiekwe, Zina Vieille, Alexander James, Sean Burns, Alaia de Santis, and (centre) Isaac Benigson / Photographed by Robin Hunter Blake for the Evening Standard

Isaac Benigson: artist and socialite

Isaac Benigson is impossible to miss, wearing John Pearse suits, Seventies dandy style, in corners of gallery private views on Chiltern Street. Born in London to South African parents, the aspiring curator graduated from Central Saint Martins this year and shows his own charmingly rudimentary portraits which gained acclaim when one made it to the RCAs Summer Exhibition in 2019: It was the best selling postcard of the year, which I thought was hilarious, he says. Theres a great focus on contemporary art in London, but I prefer things that are older and people are less interested in  like Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields.

Top tip: Work collaboratively with older people. Organise group projects and have conversations about art with people from various different generations.

Alaia de Santis: artist

Bolshy, beautiful and back in London after a year and a half in New York, Alaia de Santis has piqued interest with her collages and paintings. The art scene here is very different to New York, there are so many more young people who are artists, says the Camberwell College of Art graduate. And not even just in central  theres Clerkenwell, Haggertson, Peckham, which are all becoming bigger art communities. Moneys tough. When you work with galleries, they take 50 per cent commission which is really sad, she says. Its industry standard, but I dont think it should be.

Top tip: Keep at it, even if you think its shit. You just get better.

The ultimate art couple, Phoebe and Arthur Saatchi Yates / Rory DCS

Phoebe and Arthur Saatchi Yates: gallerists

They are the ultimate art couple; helped by the fact Phoebe Saatchi Yates is the only child of prolific advertiser and art mogul Charles Saatchi. The opening of their Saatchi Yates gallery made waves in 2020, and this year they relocated to a 10,000 square foot space in St James. London is booming in a way none of us expected, says Phoebe. The key to their success in their breadth, demonstrated by the current show Bathers, which runs until August 10: Its got everything from Cezanne to Hockney to a 1614 painting by Denijs Van Alsloot, she says. Londons a port of a city, Arthur says. You have people looking for everything.

Top tip:  If youre an artist, gallerist or collector  go for broke!

Danny Fox: artist

The cult of Danny Fox is a recognised phenomenon amongst the art cognoscenti. The artist, who now enjoys a solitary practice in Cornwall, where he was born, emanates a coastal aesthetic in appearance and on canvas. When he smiles, he reveals a silver tooth cap. I first moved to the city when I was 17 and made it by living in squats in south London, he says. Having not gone to art school, I always felt I was outside any art scene. But in the end you make your own scene  and then it becomes the scene. He has lived in LA, Hastings and Cardiff. Maybe Ill move back to London, he says. The pro is that youre at the centre of the universe, I think. Its the greatest city in the world.

Top tip: Just do the work. Youve got to work as if youve got a major museum exhibition coming up even though no ones heard of you.

Danny Fox, Born Toulouse, 2022 / Danny Fox, Saatchi Yates

Sean Burns: writer, editor and artist

Hybridity has become essential to stay afloat in London, so Sean Burns does a bit of everything: hes the assistant editor at Frieze Magazine, a freelance writer and an artist. Its a difficult space to make a living in art, especially for writers, he says. The weakness with London is how expensive it is  its a struggle for people from working class backgrounds. Theres no rent control, which is criminal. For this reason, the Birmingham born talent makes a point of lifting the next generation up. Work starts quickly accumulating after you have those initial bylines, so I view my role at Frieze as a supportive one.

Top tip: Think of writing as craft. Its a long-time thing, hone it. And invite editors to coffee  theres a lot to be said for a well-worded email.

George Rouy: artist

The It-boy of the rising artists, George Rouy has fast built a fanbase for his large scale, figurative body paintings. Im in Kent at the moment - I moved out two years ago because I got sick of being moved around studios, he says. The Camberwell graduate, who has a cheeky smile and two silver caps on his canines, currently has a show at Peckhams Hannah Barry Gallery until September 9. Artists are becoming younger, and whats great about London is theres an appetite for art, he says, But it needs a rent cap now. Its not sustainable.

Top tip: Take your time, and fire everything into the studio. When the works ready, it will be seen.

George Rouy with his painting Duality, 2022 / George Rouy

Josh Woolford: artist

Three single braids wrap around Josh Woolfords head, and a thick tattooed line runs from under his chin, down his throat. He speaks softly. I decided to be an artist when I was living in Berlin, in 2017. I was working in bars and going out a lot, and needed something to focus on, he says. The Milton Keynes-born painter, sculptor and performer graduated from the Royal College of Art last year, where he helped found a black student association. It is definitely more difficult for people of colour, he says. He is currently artist in residence at Tate, investigating the gallerys ties to the slavery.

Top tip: Art is clearly not an industry you go into to become rich and famous. Be authentic and do something you actually believe in.

Joe Kennedy and Jonny Burt: gallerists

They are the hustling co-founders of Hanover Sqaures Unit London gallery, and celebrating their tenth anniversay this year. For the first six years we were operating pop-up models by finding vacant spaces around the city, Kennedy says. Londons great for that, if you want a space but have no money - theres always empty shops. Their mission is to tackle elitism in the art empire: Its fundamentally snobby, he says. Social media was the vehicle to develop and help young artists - we wouldnt be here without it. Last year they entered the Web3 space, and sell NFTs. As soon as I found out about blockchain, I saw it could offer this radical transparency in the industry, Kennedy says.

Top tip: Dont wait until you have enough money to open a gallery. Go and do pop ups.

From left: Isaac Benigson, Nnamdi Obiekwe and Alexander James / Photographed by Robin Hunter Blake for the Evening Standard

Alexander James: artist

Floppy haired and a favourite on Instagram thanks to his large scale, abstract works, James is on the ascent. Even when things pick up, you have to be laser focussed, he says. As an artist, you should never be in your comfort zone in the studio. That means experimenting, even when youre not showing it. He was raised between Hertfordshire and north London, studied at Camberwell and currently has pieces on show at the Marlborough Gallery, Mayfair. As long as Im not standing still, Im happy, he says.

Top tip: Go to openings at galleries you would like to see your work in  and always turn up with a little smile.

Nnamdi Obiekwe and Zina Vieille: gallerists

The business partners behind VO Curations  Nnamdi Obiekwe and Zina Vieille  are a nourishing force for Londons young talent. We provide affordable studio spaces to hundreds of artists and commission them to present their first major exhibitions in the UK, says Vieille. They woo property developers and repurpose office buildings into studios. All our artists are under-represented, and usually touch on diasporic identities, or disseminate postcolonial frameworks and ideologies, she says.

Top tip: Stay light on your feet. For a while the industry has been dictated by labels, but theres a hybridity today.

Alexander Jamess Before The Python Awakes II, 2023 / Alexander James

India Rose James: gallerist

The platinum blonde Soho heiress, India Rose James, has amped up her support of new artists with a refurbished, four floor gallery townhouse  with photo studio, where the above shot was taken  for her Soho Revue gallery. We specialise in young emerging artists; either still in art school or graduates, she says. Young artists are hot at the moment, so theres the worry of collectors buying up their work and wanting to flip it. She finds them at degree shows and Instagram, and appreciates the privilege that comes with being the fifth richest person under 35 in the UK, worth 758 million. I was in a lucky position to be able to start, its very difficult. I do feel for people who are trying to find a space.

Top tip: The starting point is to get to know people in the industry: go to private views and meet them.

Aindrea Emelife: curator

The fiery, fashion forward Nigerian-British curator Aindrea Emelife is putting a stamp on London this summer. I was lucky to get a bursary to a private school in London that offered art history studies; if that hadnt happened I wonder how my life would be currently, she says. Having studied at the Courtauld Institute  which was all Renaissance and straight white men  she has become the new curator of the Museum of West African Art in Nigeria, and her exhibition Black Venus, which looks at the history of the black woman and was first shown in New York last year, is coming to Somerset House on July 20. Bringing it to London is really emotionally important. Naomi Campbell has been a mentor and wrote the exhibition foreword. To have her support is incredible.

Top tip: Establish great relationships with artists, the community is the most important thing.

From left: Alaia de Santis, Danny Fox, Sean Burns and Zina Vieille / Photographed by Robin Hunter Blake for the Evening Standard

Robin Hunter Blake: photographer

He dresses like F Scott Fitzgerald, arriving to photograph this group in velvet loafers and a taupe suit. Blake shoots on film and dashes around a studio with an excitable ease. I was once told by a photographer I admire greatly that we are thieves of time  that has remained my photographic philosophy, he says. He grew up near Barcelona before studying at the London College of Communication. I have worked a variety of jobs in order to stay in London. Its about pushing beyond your threshold.

Top tip: Dont be afraid to fail as this is the only way you will learn for yourself.
C ounter terrorism detectives have arrested a suspect on a flight from Canada to Heathrow.

Officers swooped on a 28-year-old Canadian national at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on a flight from Canada just after midday on Monday.

A 56-year-old man was arrested in east London at 5.40am as part of the same operation.

They were being held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at a west London police station.

Police searches of three addresses in east London were ongoing on Monday afternoon.

A police statement said: The men are currently being held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, at a west London police station. Police searches of three addresses in east London are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A British backpacker in an Australian beach resort has been stabbed in the back by a teenager armed with a bottle and knife, according to local media reports.

Police were called to Hastings Street in Noosa on the Queensland coast in the early hours of Sunday after the man, 25, was allegedly attacked by a boy, 15, following an argument.

The teenager had left the scene, reportedly a bus stop, but returned with a bottle and a knife before stabbing the victim in the back and wrist, Queensland Police said.

The victim was a British national and was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with serious injuries, ABC reported.

Queensland Police have not confirmed the mans nationality. He is expected to be discharged on Monday, 7 News said.

Chief Inspector Jason Overland told local reporters that the attack was an outlier event.

The Sunshine Coast is a very safe location  These sorts of events are rare, he said, according to ABC.

The suspect was detained by members of the public before being arrested by police.

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.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at a property in west London.

Police and paramedics were called to a home in Station Road, Hayes, Hillingdon, shortly before 10am on Saturday to reports a man had been found dead.

They arrived to find a man, aged in his mid-40s, with a slash wound.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed.

At about 3.30am on Sunday, police arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

He was taken to a west London police station, where he remained in custody on Sunday evening.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: The death is currently being treated as unexpected and is under investigation.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
T he new crackdown on student numbers for rip-off university courses is not an attack on arts and humanitiesdegrees, an education minister has claimed.

It comes after Rishi Sunak announced plans to cap student numbers on university courses with poor career prospects, which he claims sell young people a false dream.

There are fears the plans would hit disadvantaged people most, with poorer students finding the drawbridge being pulled up.

The plans have also been criticised because creative courses could be badly affected.

Responding to claims the cap on student numbers is an attack on the arts and humanities, higher education minister Robert Halfon said: Thats absolutely not the case. Because were not saying that particular arts courses are going to have limits. It may be that in some universities there are arts courses that are leading to good jobs.

He told Times Radio: What were saying is its only courses in universities, whatever those courses may be, that lead to poor outcomes  whether thats continuation, completion of courses or not getting good, skilled jobs at the end  those courses will be the focus of recruitment limits by the Office for Students.

He added: The fundamental purpose of university, of course apart from education and research, which are very important, is to get a good skill and again a good job at the end of it.

Under todays proposals, limits will be imposed on courses that have high dropout rates or a low proportion of graduates getting a professional job.

Critics argue the use of graduate salary data to measure the quality of courses is reductive and unhelpful.

Labours shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the announcement was an attack on the aspirations of young people.

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said: Universities dont want this. Its making it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.
A man has died in hospital after being rescued by firefighters from a burning home in north-east London last week.

The second floor of a terraced house on Hennessy Road in Edmonton was destroyed by the blaze on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 11.

The victim, 42, was rescued by firefighters from the building before being taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

He later died at hospital, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed on Monday.

The fire was reported to the brigade at 4.10pm, and the incident was under control an hour later. Crews from Holloway and Enfield fire stations attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by LFB and the Metropolitan Police.

Metropolitan Police told the Standard: A man, aged 42, was recovered from the building and taken to hospital where he sadly died.

His family have been informed. An investigation was carried out into the cause of the fire and it is not being treated as suspicious.
A t least 21 Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested on Monday as the group carried out a huge wave of slow-walking demonstrations across central London involving around 200 eco-activists.

Just Stop Oil members slow walked through London during morning rush hour to pressure what they call the murderous government to scrap all new licences for oil and gas exploration.

Footage posted on Twitter shows the group disrupting traffic on Marylebone Road and Cromwell Road in a coordinated attack.

In one clip, a frustrated member of the public tries to physically remove the protesters from the road in a bid to carry out his daily business.

In response to Just Stop Oils disruption, officers have been granted powers to remove activists in order to let travellers continue their day.

Section 12 of the Public Order Act allows police to demand that demonstrators get off the road or face arrest.

Police said they have removed more than 180 protesters in the morning protests.

A Met Police spokesperson wrote on Twitter: Police have arrested 21 Just Stop Oil #protesters so far for breach of Section 12 conditions to move off the carriageway from various locations of protest.

Just Stop Oil tweeted: @metpoliceuk have been removing Just Stop Oil supporters from the roads...only for the marches to appear in new locations. We will not stand by while everything we know and love is destroyed.

Police made the arrests as Just Stop Oil protesters blocked traffic at least 14 different locations across central London.

The wave of disruptive demonstrations started at Bishopsgate shortly before 8.25am. Police reportedly first moved five protesters slow walking in the road. Three who failed to move were arrested.

Further protests were broken up on Whitehall, Bird Cage Walk in Westminster, Bayswater Road, Lillie Road in Fulham and Jamaica Road in Bermondsey.

Other slow walking protests were staged at on Islington High Street, Kensington Road by the Royal Albert Hall, Praed Street in Paddington and Holloway Road.

Just after 11am, police also attended 25 protesters at Cromwell Road, 20 off Commercial Road and 13 off Wandsworth Bridge, according to the MailOnline.

Later in the morning officers also attended to 12 protesters in Bridge Street and six more on Cromwell Road.

The huge wave of protests comes after two Just Stop Oil protests tried to ruin the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

The pair were booed as they were bundled off stage after unfurling banners during the first night of the annual London festival.
Y vette Cooper has defended Labours plan to keep the Conservatives two-child benefit cap amid a backlash from within the party.

The shadow home secretary insisted Labour must be clear about what we can fund.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday confirmed he would retain the two-child limit, despite growing calls from poverty campaigners for the cap to be abandoned a decade after it was introduced.

The cap was introduced in April 2013, under the then-Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government which hailed it as a way of restoring fairness to the welfare state.

It sees the amount of benefits a household receives reduced to ensure claimants do not receive more than the cap limit.

In February 2020 Mr Starmer tweeted that two-child limited should be scrapped.

He wrote: Its time to scrap Universal Credit and create a social security system fit for the 21st century with compassion and justice as its founding principles.

But when asked by BBCs Laura Kuenssberg on her Sunday show, Mr Starmer said: Were not changing that policy.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth recently described the two-child benefit cap as heinous and absolutely keeping children in poverty.

A unnamed shadow minister reportedly told The Independent there was a lot of unhappiness among MPs in the party and a lot of lobbying to force a change.

Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury, responded to Mr Starmers comments by describing the two-child policy as one of the most unpleasant pieces of legislation ever to have been passed in the UK.

She tweeted: Its very rare for someone to enter the House of Commons having been on tax credits, but myself and a few others did in 2017; scrapping this cruel policy was one of our shared political motives.

Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley called it a despicable policy, writing on Twitter:  The two-child cap is causing misery for thousands of young people in Birkenhead. This is the wrong call.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell wrote: Its pretty clear that we now need an honest and fundamental discussion in the Labour Party about child poverty, its causes and the impact of the policies introduced by the Tories, including the two-child limit, because its obvious some in the party dont fully appreciate its impact.

Asked about this on Monday, Ms Cooper told ITVs Good Morning Britain: What Labours been clear about is we have to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and we also will always make sure that the proposals we put forward are fully costed and funded so that we can actually deliver them, and I think thats what people want to see.

She pointed to measures Labour will fund to help tackle child poverty, including free breakfast clubs, helping people with their mortgages and reforming Universal Credit.

Sticking to the message that financial prudence is paramount risks angering the Labour left, and even some among the Labour leaders top team have previously expressed views that appear to diverge from the current party line.

Ms Cooper told Sky News: We opposed it when it first came in. And we have pointed out a whole series of different things that the Conservatives have done that are damaging, but weve also been really clear that anything that we say has got to be funded.

The last Labour government went into the 1997 election being really clear about only saying the things that we could fund, but we got the economy growing, we built our public services and we did a whole series of things that lifted families out of poverty, she said.

The long-serving Labour MP said there had been a 40 per cent increase in child poverty under the Tories and insisted a Labour government would address this.

The two-child cap prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third or additional child born after April 2017.
R ishi Sunak has said he wants to put an end to people being taken advantage of with low-quality courses by restricting universities in recruiting students to them.

The number of students who can be accepted on to poor quality degree courses in England will be capped, or even reduced to zero, under the Prime Ministers proposals.

Critics argue that the plans are a rehash of previous policy announcements and will make it harder for young people to pursue their aspirations.

Mr Sunak said the key message of the policy is: You dont have to go to university to succeed in life.

He told broadcasters during a visit to an east London school on Monday: For many people, university is the right answer and it does brilliantly, but actually there are a range of people who are being let down by the current system.

Theyre being taken advantage of with low-quality courses that dont lead to a job that makes it worth it, leaves them financially worse off.

Thats what were clamping down on today. But, at the same time, making sure that young people have a range of fantastic alternative opportunities, whether that be apprentices or higher technical qualifications, for example.

The announcement by Mr Sunak and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is part of the Governments response to the Augar review, established by Theresa May in 2017.

Among the reports recommendations, which also included cutting tuition fees and increasing funding for further education, was an aim to reduce the number of low-value courses leaving students with poor job prospects.

Under the plans, ministers will ask Englands universities regulator to limit the number of students universities can recruit on to courses seen to fail to deliver good outcomes for graduates.

Asked if the Office for Students (OfS) will be ordered to do so, Mr Sunak said: No, the regulator is independent, and rightly so.

What the regulator will do is look at a range of different outcomes for courses. So, what kind of jobs are students going on to, do they complete the course, how much do they earn in later life?

On the basis of all of that, theyll be able to figure out Well, hang on, that course actually isnt delivering value for money. Its letting people down and we should not put students on it because were letting them down.

With that information, students can make more informed choices and, at the same time, were making it easier for them to find things like apprenticeships.

Students could even be banned from certain courses altogether, Downing Street said.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: In extremis, recruitment limits could be used to prevent any recruitment to a course.

The OfS has powers to suspend a providers registration or even remove it from their register if they wish, but its up to them to decide the scope and nature of any recruitment.

The measures will also see the maximum fee that can be charged for classroom-based foundation year courses reduced to 5,760  down from 9,250.

The Government said classroom-based foundation year courses  an additional year of study designed to help prepare students for degrees with specific entry requirements, such as medicine  are being encouraged in subjects where it is unnecessary.

Education minister Robert Halfon said it is absolutely not the case that the policy is an attack on arts and humanities courses.

But, when repeatedly pressed, he refused to name any degrees that could be subject to recruitment limits.

When it was put to him that the policy is woolly, the senior Tory told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Its a very substantive policy because it focuses on it could be any course.

It focuses on individual courses that have poor employment outcomes; that is not woolly at all.

It could be any particular course and what were doing is making sure that students who leave university have good jobs, good skills at the end.

Professor Steve West, president of Universities UK, said: The Office for Students already has the power to impose recruitment limits on courses which breach certain minimum thresholds for continuation, progression, and completion.

The vast majority of courses exceed these thresholds so any measures by government need to be targeted and proportionate, and not a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

He added: It is right that the regulatory framework is there as a backstop to protect student interests in the very small proportion of instances where quality needs to be improved.

Opposition MPs said the measures are a cap on aspiration which will restrict choice for young people.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: This is simply an attack on the aspirations of young people and their families by a Government that wants to reinforce the class ceiling, not smash it.

The Conservatives appalling record on apprenticeships means it cant be trusted to deliver the overhaul that our young people need, and (the) new role for the Office for Students will be to put up fresh barriers to opportunity in areas with fewer graduate jobs.

Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats education spokeswoman, said: Rishi Sunak is so out of ideas that hes dug up a new version of a policy the Conservatives have announced and then unannounced twice over.

Universities dont want this. Its a cap on aspiration, making it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.
Hundreds of lessons on the state-run Educational Broadcasting System for middle school students became available for free on Monday. The Education Ministry said the measure is aimed at slashing the sky-high cost of extracurricular education.

Around 1,300 lectures on Korean, English, math, history, science, ethics and other subjects are available on the EBS website.

The ministry and Korea Communications Commission will jointly foot the expenses for the classes, for which EBS had charged subscription fees of around 710,000 a year. Online classes for high-schoolers are already free.

The broadcaster said some 314,000 subscribers will be refunded their pre-paid subscription.
V ladimir Putin is using food supplies as a weapon by pulling out of an agreement to allow grain exports from Ukraine, James Cleverly said.

The Foreign Secretary condemned the Russian leaders actions, pointing to United Nations (UN) estimates that it could condemn millions more people to hunger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) deal would be halted, adding that Russia will return to the previous arrangements after its demands are met.

Moscow has claimed that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its own exports of food and fertiliser  which it argues are also critical to the global food chain.

But Mr Cleverly said: Putin is using food as a weapon. The UK strongly condemns Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This decision hurts the worlds poorest.

Mr Cleverly said the UN-backed BSGI had played a significant role in lowering and stabilising global food prices, delivering more than 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets.

The UN estimates that without the grain provided by the BSGI, the number of undernourished people worldwide could increase by millions, he said.

He dismissed the Kremlins objections, saying: Contrary to Russian claims, the UN and other partners have taken significant steps to ensure that Russian food is able to access world markets.

The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war.

Mr Cleverly raised the issue at the UN in New York at a UK-chaired session of the Security Council.

Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to the people in need everywhere. And we call on Russia to return to the table and agree to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative indefinitely and to implement it fully, he told the meeting.

Russias actions are taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Meanwhile, Russian officials are being hit by British sanctions over Mr Putins chilling forced deportations of Ukrainian children.

Mr Cleverly announced 14 new asset bans and travel freezes against Russians deemed to have played a role in trying to erase Ukrainian national identity.

Some 19,000 children have been forcibly deported to Russia or territories controlled by Moscow during the invasion, Ukrainian figures suggest.

Many are sent to re-education camps where they are reported to be exposed to a programme of cultural, patriotic and military education drawn up by Russia.

Mr Cleverly said: In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putins true intention  to wipe Ukraine from the map.

Todays sanctions hold those who prop up Putins regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased.

Among the officials targeted are Russian education minister Sergei Kravtsov and Moscows childrens rights commissioner Ksenia Mishonova.

In Westminster, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper announced that Labour would introduce a bespoke mechanism to proscribe state-sponsored threats, such as Russias Wagner mercenaries, instead of trying and failing to use counter-terror legislation.

In a speech for the Royal United Services Institute in central London, she said the party would establish a joint cell between the Home Office and Foreign Office to share intelligence and speed up decision-making by ending turf wars between the departments.
A n accommodation barge set to house 500 asylum seekers is on the move as Parliament prepares for further arguments over Rishi Sunak and Suella Bravermans plans to stop the boats.

Plans to house migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland Port, Dorset, are a month behind schedule but the vessel has finally left Falmouth, Cornwall, where work on it was being carried out to prepare it for its new role.

The barges departure from Falmouth on Monday morning came as MPs prepared for a fresh clash with the House of Lords over the Illegal Migration Bill.

Downing Street defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing them in hotels.

It came as comedian Dom Joly, dressed as Mickey Mouse and holding a placard saying stop child detention, led a Save the Children protest against the Bill outside the Home Office in central London.

The protest followed ministers facing criticism over a decision to paint over murals of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, at a migrant reception centre in Kent.

Members of the Lords want further concessions in the Bill on limits to the detention of children, modern slavery protections and the provision of safe and legal routes for refugees to the UK.

Asked if Rishi Sunak has a message to people in Portland Port opposed to the Bibby Stockholm barge being moored there, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: I think its right for the public as a whole that we move away from a situation where 6 million a day of taxpayers money is going towards housing these individuals in hotels.

Thats not a good use of money and obviously that puts unplanned pressure on local areas as well.

We think it is better to open specific sites designed to house immigrants that come in, done in a more planned way.

Thats what we are seeking to do with the Bibby Stockholm and thats what were seeking to do in other parts of the country  opening up sites to take the pressure off local areas and to reduce the cost.

This approach will save taxpayer money compared to the money were spending on hotels.

The Lords inflicted a string of fresh defeats on the Government last week over the much-criticised Bill, which ministers insist is integral to efforts to tackle small boats crossings in the English Channel.

It means the continuation of the parliamentary tussle over the Bill, known as ping-pong, where the legislation is batted between the Lords and Commons, until agreement is reached.

Downing Street indicated ahead of the votes on Monday that it was not expecting to make further concessions.

The Commons had overturned a raft of earlier revisions by the unelected chamber, despite rebellions by Tory MPs  including former prime minister Theresa May  who have concerns about the reforms.

The Bill is part of a package of measures designed to deter migrants from crossing the channel by making it clear that if people enter the UK by irregular means, they will not be able to remain and will face being sent either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

The deal to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda has been mired in legal difficulties and will end up in the Supreme Court.

With a backlog of asylum cases in the UK, the Government is also seeking to cut the cost of hotel bills by using alternative accommodation including the Bibby Stockholm and former military bases.

Councils and campaigners have been given the green light to bring a High Court challenge against housing migrants on the disused airfields.

Braintree District Council and a nearby resident are bringing legal action to challenge the use of Wethersfield in Essex to house up to 1,700 men while West Lindsey District Council is challenging similar plans for RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Dozens of asylum seekers have already been moved into Wethersfield.

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm later this month.

Home Secretary Ms Braverman had told MPs on June 5 that the vessel would be in Portland within a fortnight, but this deadline was missed.

Dorset Council has been given a 2 million funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: We can confirm that Bibby Stockholm is now on its way to Portland Port.

Using vessels as alternative accommodation, like our European neighbours are already doing, will be better value for British taxpayers and more manageable for communities than costly hotels.

We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimise disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper declined to commit to ending the much-criticised use of barges and disused military bases to house asylum seekers while a backlog in processing cases is tackled.

Instead, she told reporters after a speech in central London Labour will rapidly clear the backlog if it wins power  before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.
C omedian Dom Joly has staged a protest outside Parliament against the impact the Governments controversial migration laws could have on child refugees, saying: Whatever your views on immigration, children are innocent.

The comic and Save The Children ambassador led the charitys protest on Monday morning dressed as Mickey Mouse after ministers faced criticism for the decision to paint over murals of cartoon characters at an asylum seeker reception centre in England.

It comes as the Government is currently in a stand-off with the House of Lords about the Illegal Migration Bill as members want further concessions including limits to the detention of children.

Reflecting on the decision to paint over the murals, he told the PA news agency: It just seems such an inhumane thing to do.

A lot of child refugees, one of the first things they see when they come to this country is something like that, which gives them a vague feeling that theyre welcomed, and taking those down, its a spiteful, nasty thing to do.

So, weve taken the mouse and weve stood outside the Home Office, and now were outside Parliament, just trying to make the point that this is just not the way forward.

While appearing on BBC Radio 4s Today programme last Friday, immigration minister Robert Jenrick insisted the decision to paint over murals was made because the decoration was not age appropriate.

Joly, who grew up in Beirut during Lebanons civil war, recently visited the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv and surrounding villages to report on the impact the war is having on children mentally and physically.

He said: Having just been to Ukraine, Ive seen why people need to flee areas and why they do become refugees, they become displaced people and when they do they need to be treated humanely and not detained.

The Government definitely needs to treat children as children and not as some sort of political pawn or criminal.

A child is a child, it needs to be looked after, it needs to be kept with its family, it needs to be given education

They need not to be detained and they need to be kept in a safe environment which allows them to have a childhood.

He added: Id say whatever your views on immigration, children are innocent, children have not chosen to be in this situation, children have not got views on this.

The comedian said he is staging the protest to encourage the Government to do the decent thing and vote to stop the the Bill or changes its polices in relation to children.

Ministers insist the Bill is integral to efforts to tackle small boats crossings in the English Channel.

There have been concerns from various charities and medical organisations over the potential treatment of migrant children under the Bill.
A new law aimed at preventing extremist groups from training artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to spread terrorism would be introduced under a Labour government, Yvette Cooper will say.

In a major speech on Monday, the shadow home secretary will set out the partys approach to national security, including action to stop online radicalisation.

Ms Cooper will argue that while encouraging terrorism is a criminal offence under existing legislation, it is harder to establish culpability when AI is being used as a tool for promotion.

She will announce that Labour would close the loophole by criminalising the deliberate training of chatbots to radicalise vulnerable people.

The party would work closely with the intelligence community towards preventing malicious actors using the technology for such purposes, Ms Cooper will pledge.

Speaking at a Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence and security think tank event, she is expected to say: Artificial intelligence creates new opportunities for Britain, including for law enforcement, but it also presents significant new threats and risks.

A series of recent cases have revealed the potential for online chatbots to be used to radicalise people with pro-terror content.

Our law enforcement and legislation must not be outpaced by terrorists and extremists using new technologies to prey on vulnerable people.

Thats why Labour will criminalise those who purposely train chatbots to spout terrorist material, with stronger action to monitor and stop radicalising chatbots that are inciting violence or amplifying extremist views.

In her speech, the shadow minister will call on the Government to include action to tackle the deliberate misuse of AI and the rise in online radicalisation in an update on counter-terrorism strategy expected this week.

But a new cross-government strategy for state threats is also needed to run alongside the UKs plan, she will argue.

Ms Cooper will point to Boris Johnsons meeting with former KGB officer Alexander Lebedev while he was foreign secretary as an example of behaviour which showed disregard for the importance of national security.

Mr Johnson has said officials were aware in advance that he was attending the house of Evgeny Lebedev and said his contact with the newspaper owners father at the event was not formal or pre-arranged.

Labours announcement comes after the sentencing of Jaswant Singh Chail, a former supermarket worker who planned an attack on the Queen at Windsor Castle after being encouraged by his AI girlfriend.

The Governments independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, has previously highlighted some of the legal challenges posed by the potential use of AI for radicalisation.

In a report in June, he said: It is unclear how legal culpability would be established in a scenario where an individual was radicalised (in part) by an AI system.

Although no case currently exists for revisiting terrorism legislation, the information-gathering capability of AI large language models, and the possibility of truly autonomous target selection, mean that these laws need to be kept under close review.
A Jack Russell has been rescued after plunging 60 metres down a waterfall.

The dogs owner raised the alarm when his pet tumbled down the Grey Mares Tail in Dumfries and Galloway at around 2.45pm on Sunday.

Police alerted Moffat Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) and around 15 members of the volunteer-run team went to the scene.

They spotted Louis in one of the lower pools and set up a rope system to lower a single team member with a specialised Lyon animal rescue bag.

The dog was placed into the bag and transported back to the car park using the rope system and rescue equipment designed specifically for accessing the lower pools of Grey Mares Tail.

Despite having fallen the full length of the waterfall, the dog appeared well apart from a slight limp and was reunited with his owner.

A Moffat MRT spokesman said: Louis was pulled out of the bottom of the waterfall alive and was very pleased to be reunited with his owner.

Although they were not local to the area, the team provided them with details of a local vet they could contact to have Louis checked over after his ordeal.

The owner did the right thing contacting the police and so mountain rescue to ensure the search and rescue was carried out in the safest way possible.

We wish Louis all the best in his recovery.

The waterfall is one of the highest in the UK and plunges 60 metres from Loch Skeen.

Moffat Mountain Rescue Team is funded mostly by public donations and anyone who wishes to donate can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/mmrt
E ach year, Love Parks Week celebrates parks, green spaces and, perhaps most importantly, the volunteers and workers who look after them all year round.

With more than 3,000 parks in London, a lot of work goes into keeping green spaces open and pleasant for Londoners.

In 2023, as part of the Safe Parks Consortium, Love Parks Week is also supporting researchers at Leeds University, who are producing guidance on how to make parks safer for women and girls.

Starting off with a study of 100 women and girls in West Yorkshire, the university found that most felt their local parks were unsafe, sparking the publication of the relevant guidance.

Heres what you need to know about Love Parks Week 2023, including how to get involved.

When is the Love Parks Week 2023?

This year, Love Parks Week runs from July 28 to August 6. That means there are events running throughout this week, but this may differ depending on your local park.

More than 2,200 parks across the country have signed up to become Green Parks, meaning that they will fly green flags to show support for the campaign.

Many of these will also be putting on free events in these green spaces, from folk music and theatre at Horsham Park to litter-picking in Westfield Park. The best way to find activities near you is to search the social media and website of your local park.

How to get involved with Love Parks Week

There are various volunteer options for people to get involved with this year.

From litter-picking and cleaning up the British coastline to raising awareness, more than 500,000 people took part last year. Depending on where youre located, Keep Britain Tidy also has several regional projects that you can get involved with, ranging from family-friendly events to volunteer efforts.
P eter McGraith is filled with pride as he looks back on his history-making marriage to partner David Cabreza.

They tied the knot just after midnight on March 29, 2014 at Islington Town Hall  becoming the first gay couple to get married in the UK.

Nearly 10 years after the ceremony, they remain happily married and have two adopted sons, Andrew, 21, and Ashley, 17. David had proposed to me a few years before the legislation came in, but when it was announced I thought, This is the time, Mr McGraith told the Standard.

My day began at 8am at New Broadcasting House with an interview for the Today programme. Then I spent the rest of the day looking for something to wear, which I didnt find, so I had to wear clothes that I already had.

The reception began at 9pm, which was followed by the quickest of ceremonies as the clock struck midnight. They emerged from the ceremony into a throng of people gathered in the street, including media outlets from across the globe.

The legalisation of marriage resonated around the world. It does make a big difference that we joined countries like Spain and Uruguay and put this legislation in place, Mr McGraith said. There are still issues for the LGBT community related to government policy, but generally we are in a fairly good situation, here in the UK.

Peter McGrath and David Cabreza who married following the law allowing same sex couples to do so / Matt Writtle

Mr Cabreza remembered the pride that his children felt at watching their parents get married.

We were on our way to an afternoon reception in Westminster the day after the ceremony and Andrew was leaning out the car window screaming: Gay marriage! My dad's just got married! He was so happy and so proud. Seeing him have that joy was what that day was all about.

We have come pretty far in this country, but there is still a way to go. Other countries are so much further behind, its important to remind ourselves of that.

A woman waves a rainbow flag as gay couple Peter McGraith and David Cabreza leave Islington Town Hall / Getty Images

Mr McGraith, 58, a writer and activist, said the anniversary was an opportunity for the Government to reflect on how to better fight for LGBT rights across the world. There are 64 countries around the world, including many Commonwealth countries, which have laws that criminalise homosexuality, according to Amnesty. In some countries, including Brunei and Saudi Arabia, consensual same-sex sexual acts are punishable by death.

It is abysmal that we do so little to promote LGBT rights internationally, as if its embarrassing for us to ask despotic leaders to do anything about human rights abuses. There are so many countries that we trade with or to whom we give aid that are not held to account for their treatment of LGBT people.

Working in a range of different ways, we can promote legal change in other countries that seem completely stuck.
U niversity College London (UCL) has been given eight months to strike a deal with pandemic-hit students over their tuition fees or face potential legal action.

Nearly 1,000 current and former students are bringing a claim against UCL with thousands more wanting to join the legal action, alleging the university breached their tuition contracts.

Their lawyers argue UCL broke promises over its services during strike and coronavirus-affected years between 2017 and 2022.

Undergraduates and graduates, who can pay from 9,250 to 25,000 in fees per year, say they have had enough and are entitled to compensation over cancelled teaching days, tuition moved online and restricted access to facilities such as libraries and laboratories, a judge was told at a hearing at the High Court in London in May.

UCL / PA

In a ruling on Monday, Senior Master Barbara Fontaine said the case should be put on hold for eight months to allow time to see if some of the students can settle their damages claims against the university.

She said the students bid to join their claims for damages together should be stayed for that period, and she encouraged the students and the university in the strongest possible terms to engage in alternative dispute resolution.

The university argued at the May hearing that if a group litigation order is granted, it could lead to costly cases being brought against 17 other universities.

The legal team behind the students High Court action claims more than 120,000 students have registered so far to be part of potential litigation against other institutions.

Professor Kathleen Armour, UCLs vice-provost, education and student experience, acknowledged that students had faced challenges and disruption and said supporting their education and wellbeing was always UCLs priority.

She said: Throughout the pandemic we prioritised the health and safety of our whole community and followed UK Government guidance, working tirelessly to make our campus and all UCL premises as safe as possible so that a high-quality academic experience could continue to be provided.

We respect the right of our students to complain and seek redress if they feel that they have not received the support they expected from us.

Shimon Goldwater, solicitor at law firm Asserson who is working on the Student Group Claim, said in a statement: We are hopeful that UCL will now engage constructively in settlement discussions as students have been proposing for many months so that compensation payable to students can be agreed, rather than having to be decided in court.
G oogle has today paid tribute to the work undertaken by American scientist Eunice Newton Foote, an advocate for womens rights who spoke up about looking after the planet back in the mid-19th century.

Google Doodle has marked the day  which is the anniversary of her birth 204 years ago with the animated picture of a brown-haired woman scribbling in a notepad inside a laboratory.

Google says beneath the image: Todays slideshow Doodle celebrates the 204th birthday of American scientist and womens rights activist Eunice Newton Foote. Foote was the first person to discover the greenhouse effect and its role in the warming of Earths climate.

Today, scientists all over the world are advancing climate science thanks to the foundation that Newton Foote laid.

Happy Birthday, Eunice Newton Foote.

But what do you know about the scientist and activist?

Who was was Eunice Newton Foote?

Eunice Newton Foote was born on July 17, 1819, in Connecticut, United States, and attended the Troy Female Seminary, where science was a large part of the curriculum.

Science became a love of hers and, in 1848, she attended the first Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls and was the fifth signatory of the Declaration of Sentiments  a document that demanded equality for women in social and legal status.

Why did Eunice Newton Foote become involved in womens rights?

Newton Foote became heavily involved in campaigning for womens rights, mainly because of the barriers that she faced.

At the time, women were largely excluded from the scientific community. But this did not stop Newton Foote, who conducted her own experiments.

But it was not only in science that Newton Foote believed women should have equal standing, but in life as well.

She joined forces with prominent activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony, and together they campaigned for womens suffrage and equal rights.

How did Eunice Newton Foote discover climate change?

It was ultimately through her love of science that she made the discovery of the effects of climate change on the world, and it was how she made a name for herself that would be celebrated nearly 200 years later.

During an experiment, Newton Foote discovered that a cylinder she was using which contained carbon dioxide had the most significant heating effect in the sun. She became the first scientist ever to make the connection between rising carbon dioxide levels and the warming of the atmosphere.

She published her findings, and was the first woman in the US to have a paper published.

An atmosphere of that gas would give to our Earth a high temperature; and if, as some suppose, at one period of its history, the air had mixed with it a larger proportion than at present, an increased temperature from its own action, as well as from increased weight, must have necessarily resulted, her paper noted.

She then went on to study atmospheric static electricity and was again published in the esteemed journal, the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Because there was still a stigma attached to female scientists, a male scientist presented her work at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1856, saying, Science was of no country and of no sex. The sphere of woman embraces not only the beautiful and the useful, but the true.

Those discussions led to further experiments which uncovered what is now known as the Greenhouse effect  when gases like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun, the temperature of Earths atmosphere gradually rises.
F irefighers were on Monday battling to contain a wildfire that forced the evacuation of at least 4,000 people on La Palma in the Canary Islands.

The blaze, which started on Saturday in a wooded area in the north of the Spanish island which is popular with British tourists, has torn through more than 4,600 hectares and burned around 20 houses and buildings.

More than 300 firefighters and nine water-carrying helicopters were continuing to fight the fire this morning, supported by the Spanish military. The cause of the blaze is not yet known, authorities said.

Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands, said that some residents in the Puntagorda and Tijarafe areas had resisted evacuation attempts and urged them to be responsible and leave their homes immediately. In Tenerife, a forest fire which broke out on Saturday forced the evacuation of 50 people and destroyed about 60 hectares.

Southern Europe has experienced scorching temperatures in the past week. They were expected to reach 44C in Spains Guadalquivir valley on Monday, while a new anticyclone dubbed Charon, after the ferryman of the souls of the dead in Greek mythology, could lift the mercury above 45C in parts of Italy.

Meteorologists in Europe warned the public to brace for a severe heat storm.

Europe | Cerberus Heatwave 1 / 16 Europe | Cerberus Heatwave Hellenic Red Cross workers distribute bottles of water to visitors outside the Acropolis in Athens AFP via Getty Images Fire approaches buildings in Grebastica, Croatia, AP Hellenic Red Cross workers distribute bottles of water to visitors outside the Acropolis in Athens AFP via Getty Images Volunteers try to put out the wildfire in Grebastica, Croatia AP Rescue workers transport a visitor from the archaeological site of Acropolis to an ambulance the Acropolis in Athens AFP via Getty Images A fireman looks at burnt cars in Grebastica, Croatia, AP Residents and tourists run from the wildfire in Grebastica, Croatia AP People sit in the shade near the Colosseum to shelter from the sun during a heatwave across Italy, REUTERS People stand in line in the queue to enter the Acropolis in Athen AFP via Getty Images A woman cools down on Syntagma Square, in front of the parliament building, during a heatwave in Athens, Greece REUTERS An elderly man holds a piece of paper over his head to protect himself from the sun in Athen AFP via Getty Images A man holds an umbrella as he and other tourists enters the ancient Acropolis hill during a heatwave, in Athens, Greece AP

Europes highest recorded temperature of 48.8C, registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded on the Italian island of Sardinia, meteorologists have said. Italys health minister, Orazio Schillaci, urged the public and visitors in Rome to stay indoors between 11am and 6pm. Health alerts were in place in 16 cities.

The heatwave is also impacting Turkey, with the mercury reaching 44C in the Antalya tourist destination over the weekend. Greece closed the Acropolis in Athens during the hottest part of the day on Friday to protect tourists.

The US and Asia are also in the grip of high temperatures. Nearly a quarter of the US population is under warnings for extreme heat, stretching from the Pacific north-west, through California and into the South and Florida. In Las Vegas, the heatwave was threatening to break or tie the citys record high of 47.2C.

China also recorded its hottest ever temperature as the mercury surpassed 52C in the Sanbao township in the north-western Xinjiang region.

The death toll from floods caused by extreme weather in South Korea rose to more than 40 on Monday. Twelve deaths, including three bodies found overnight, occurred in a tunnel in Cheongju, south of Seoul, where 16 vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday after a river burst its banks.

Despite sweltering temperatures elsewhere, the Met Office predicted that the UK wont see any hot summer weather until mid-August.
Front part of the Hernan Cortes manuscript that was stolen from the Archivo General de la Nacion. FBI

From Mexico City to the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita (Kansas), from an auction house in Los Angeles to a warehouse in New Hampshire and from the FBI offices in Boston soon to return to the Mexican capital. Such has been the long pilgrimage of a manuscript written by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes dating from 1527 that was stolen from the General Archive of the Latin American country in the early 1990s. It is scheduled to return home later this month, following intervention by authorities on both sides of the border, analysis by specialists in ancient documents, and an in extremis civil forfeiture action that prevented the piece of paper from changing hands again. Antiquities theft and trafficking is a worldwide problem, says Agent Kristin Koch, in the first interview the FBI gives on the case. Criminals will always find a market and sell anything they can get their hands on, she adds.

The document measures just 21.5 by 15 centimeters (8.4 by 6 inches) It is a payment order given by Hernan Cortes to his steward, Nicolas de Palacios Rubios, to buy the equivalent of 12 gold pesos of pink sugar, possibly during an expedition in the current territory of Honduras. On the front are the purchase instructions in old Spanish and on the back, the confirmation from the owner of an apothecarys shop, Maestre Francisco, that he received payment.

Ressebi yo maestre Francisco de vos Palacios Rubios los doce pesos de oro en esta otra parte contenidas y son por el acucar rosado oy por bos dado, lo firme de mi nombre, oy 13 de mayo 1527 anos [I, Maestre Francisco, received from you, Palacios Rubios, the twelve gold pesos herewith contained for pink sugar given today, signed by my name, today 13 May 1527], it reads on the back. The document, in iron gall ink on cotton paper, vanished without a trace from the General Archive of Mexico and workers became aware of the theft when they were backing up the file it was part of on microfilm. This made it possible to determine the approximate date of the theft: October 1993 or earlier.

Finding out the fate of the manuscript seemed as complicated as looking for a needle in a haystack. There were no clues until decades later. At the end of May last year, a researcher alerted the head of the Archive that he had seen an object at auction that had caught his attention. The order from management was to recover the document at any cost. Mexican workers told EL PAIS that it was a race against time because the auction was closing on June 15, 2022. Incredibly rare money order to buy pink sugar, signed by the conquistador Cortes, stated Boston auction house RR Auction. A week before it ended, the manuscript had already received 22 bids and the bid price was over US$18,600 (16,548).

A researcher holds a box with documents stolen from the General Archive of the Nation and recovered in the U.S. CORTESIA

The Archivo General de Mexico team telephoned an FBI tip line on June 6, 2022, ten days before the auction ended. We receive hundreds of reports every day, Koch explains. The legal attache of the U.S. Embassy channeled the call to the Art and Crime Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a specialized group in charge of investigating crimes such as museum theft, heritage trafficking, and counterfeiting of cultural property. The Mexican authorities called us back with more information about the document and their reasons for believing it was the manuscript that had been stolen, and thanks to that, we were able to open an investigation, adds the agent, who has almost 20 years of experience in the unit.

After initiating inquiries, Koch contacted the auctioneer, who agreed to remove the item from the website until the situation was clarified. Information from Mexico enabled them to obtain a seizure warrant and U.S. agents began to investigate the manuscript. We wanted to know how this document had ended up in the United States, Koch notes.

But it was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, because so much time had passed since the theft and there was little documentation in the hands of the auctioneers who had held it for years. In these types of cases, tracing the provenance of the items becomes very challenging, because as more time passes, it becomes more difficult to find people who have good records on the objects and who keep them, he adds.

The FBI limited its comments on the specifics of the case, but court documents held by this newspaper shed light on what happened to the manuscript during the 30 years it was off the radar. After the paper was torn from a documentary collection at the General Archive of Mexico, a person identified by the initials J. K. bought it at auction in the United States in the early 1990s. J. K. added it to his private collection and loaned it to the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita (Kansas), which he had founded. It was exhibited for 20 years in the city.

After the death of the new owner, his family gave the item on consignment and it was auctioned again in Los Angeles by Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, where it was acquired in 2019 by another person, identified as R. N. The buyer took it home to Florida and it was he who delivered the note to RR Auction, the Massachusetts-based auction house last year. The document was moved to a warehouse in New Hampshire until it could be sold to the highest bidder.

Before that, the payment order and other archives remained stored for four centuries in the Hospital de Jesus, the oldest in the Americas and founded by Cortes himself on 20th November Avenue in Mexico City, in the same place where it is believed that the Spanish conquistador first met with the tlatoani [ruler] Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, in 1519. In 1929, all the documents found at the site were declared heritage of the Mexican state. Typically, what Ive seen happen with works of art or antiques is that they can pass through many hands over the years after being stolen and many times this happens because they are traded in private sales. These are often not advertised on the internet, meaning that the transactions are not visible to the authorities or the general public, Koch comments.

Back of the Hernan Cortes manuscript that was stolen from the General Archive.FBI FBI

Usually, people are surprised when they find out that the items they have are stolen and many times, when they realize the cultural value they have for the countries of origin or the original owners, they are willing to part with the object and give up fighting to keep it, the agent points out. When there is sufficient reason to believe that the object was stolen, the authorities first try to make the return or the decision not to auction it a voluntary one.

This was the case with the Cortes manuscript, which was removed from the catalog before there was a court order. They are not usually happy about losing money, but they are willing to let these documents go back where they really belong, Koch adds. The authentication of the document included scientific tests and the joint work of experts, officials, police officers and diplomats to overcome the repatriation procedures.

What was great about this case was the cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican governments in giving us all the information so that we could act, and the case had a positive outcome, says Koch. After several months of waiting, the manuscript is scheduled to be delivered at a ceremony in Mexico City, pending the official announcement.

We are constantly receiving leads and tips on stolen cultural heritage from all over the world, including Mexico, says the agent, who hopes the case will lead to further investigations and efforts to return more treasures to their original owners. The Latin American country has successfully repatriated more than 11,500 objects of historical value in the last five years, including 16 court documents that were to be auctioned in New York and were returned last year.

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W ildfires are ripping through parts of Greece as the heatwave hitting in Europe takes its toll, triggering evacuations and a huge reponse from emergency services.

Two separate blazes were being tackled by hundreds of firefighters amid the deadly Mediterranean heatwave on Monday night.

In the coastal town of Loutraki, west of Athens, 1,200 children were evacuated as flames approached their camp.

Meanwhile, police arrested a man suspected of starting another blaze in Kouvaras, south-east of the capital Athens.

Greece has hit temperatures of 40C (104F) or more in recent days. The Acropolis in Athens - the countrys most popular tourist attraction - was closed during the hottest hours of Friday and Saturday to protect visitors.

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Saronida, near Athens on Monday / REUTERS

The World Health Organisation warned on Monday that temperatures are set to intensify by the middle of the week and is likely to continue into August in some places.

And the Greek meteorological service has warned that the risk of further fires remains high.

The wildfires were fanned by strong winds, with hundreds of firefighters battling to contain the spread of the flames.

Greek television showed several houses and cars gutted by the blaze, while thick white smoke rose from burning vegetation.

In the village of Kalyvia, near Kouvaras, thick smoke blocked the roads and monks were evacuated from a local monastery.

Neighbouring countries including Italy and Spain have been also experiencing unusually high temperatures.

Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July - not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans, Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti said.

He added: Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days.

Meanwhile Italian health officials have intensified heat warnings as southern Europe began a brutally hot week, with temperatures topping 40C (104F) on the continent.

The health ministry issued 10 recommendations to protect elderly people and the sick as well as pets, urging people to stay indoors during the hottest hours, drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day and refrain from strenuous exercise at peak daylight times.

The culprit was a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus, after the multi-headed dog that guards gates to the underworld in Greek mythology.

Local celebrities went on state-run RAI television to read the recommendations aloud, in the hopes of spreading the message.

The third heatwave in a month, dubbed Cheron, is expected to affect much of the Mediterranean and will last until Wednesday.

The mercury in Rome hit 39C (102F) on Monday afternoon, although pharmacies displayed temperatures as high as 44C.

An area burned down by a wildfire that started on July 15 on the Canary Island of La Palma / AFP via Getty Images

The Italian capital is expected to be even hotter on Tuesday, as were several other cities, particularly in Sardinia and Sicily.

Power outages were hitting parts of Rome as electric grids suffered under heavier demand from air conditioners as people sought relief.

Italian farm lobbying group Coldiretti, meanwhile, issued an alarm about the plight of domestic and farm animals, noting that cows are producing around 10% less milk as a result of the heat.

In Spain, a wildfire that started on Saturday on the Canary island of La Palma continued to burn out of control on Monday, although authorities says weaker winds and cooler temperatures in the area are helping firefighters combat it.

The blaze has burned some 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) of mostly woody hill land and some 20 houses and buildings.

More than 4,000 residents were evacuated from their homes on Saturday, but were allowed to return as of late Sunday.

Spains Aemet weather agency said the heat wave this week will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean with temperatures in some southern areas of Spain exceeding 42C (107F).

The agency said it expects temperatures to drop some time on Wednesday.

People evacuate horses from a horse riding centre as a wildfire burns in Kalyvia near Athens / REUTERS

Spokesman Ruben del Campo said an anticyclone is pushing a hot mass of air from Africa towards Spain and other Mediterranean countries.

The agency predicts that with the heat and very dry air, the risk of wildfires will skyrocket.

Greece got a brief respite from the heat on Monday, with opening hours returning to normal at the ancient Acropolis and other sites.

But most of southern Greece, including greater Athens, was at an elevated level of alert for fire risk, while more extreme temperatures are expected starting on Thursday.

The southern Mediterranean was not alone in suffering.

Authorities in North Macedonia extended a heat alert for the next 10 days with predicted temperatures topping 43C (109F), while Kosovo authorities also issued heat warnings.

Never in my life have I experienced heat like this before in Pristina, said Artan Kelani, a 22-year-old student.
E xplosions on the Kerch Bridge linking Russia to annexed Crimea have led to the collapse of one span, according to local reports.

Russian officials admitted that the bridge, a key supply line for Russian troops in Ukraine, was damaged in an emergency situation which killed two people and injured a child.

Video shared by local media on Monday appeared to show a section of road on the bridge had split and was sloping to one side.

At least two Ukrainian media cited unnamed sources as saying Ukraine's domestic security agency and navy were behind the incident in the early hours of Monday.

A view shows the section of a road split and sloping to one side following an alleged attack on the Crimea Bridge / via REUTERS

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne and media outlet Ukrainska Pravda gave few details of an operation they said involved the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the navy, but Suspilne cited its sources as saying the bridge was attacked with underwater drones.

Sergei Aksyonov, a Russia-installed governor, said the emergency occurred on the 145th pillar of the bridge which links the Crimean peninsula to the Russian region of Krasnodar.

Russias transport ministry said that there was damage to the road on the bridge closer to the Crimean Peninsula, but there was no damage to the pillars. It did not say what caused the damage.

Ukrainian media said there had been blasts on the bridge and reports claimed that at least one span had collapsed, though this could not be confirmed.

Photo reportedly shows damaged parts of an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula / AP

Traffic was stopped from using the Russian-built bridge to Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

Video footage showed no traffic on the bridge.

The 19 km (12-mile) road and rail bridge has been a pride infrastructure project of President Vladimir Putin, who drove a Mercedes across the bridge in 2022 after it was repaired following an explosion.

Russias Grey Zone channel, a heavily followed Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported that there were two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 a.m. (0004 GMT) and 03:20 a.m.

The parents of a girl were killed and their daughter was injured in a passenger car on the bridge early on Monday, said Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia. He did not say how the people were killed.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraines Odesa military administration, posted a photo on his Telegram account of what seemed to show part of the bridge broken. It was not immediately clear whether that was related to any attack.

George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said on Twitter that if the bridge was seriously damaged it would significantly impact Russian supply lines.

Russia will only have one ground supply line - the coastal highway on the Sea of Azov - to sustain (or evacuate) its tens of thousands of troops in occupied Kherson & Crimea if UKR manages to degrade/destroy the bridge, said Barros.

It was not immediately clear what the incident on the bridge would mean for the UN-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain. Ukraine and Russia are among the worlds top grain exporters.

Image released by the Russian Investigative Commitee shows committee investigators working on the Kerch bridge / RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE/

The UN deal is due to expire on Monday, with the last ship to travel under the deal leaving the port of Odesa early on Sunday, according to maritime experts.

The Crimean bridge was damaged by an explosion last October, in an attack that the Kremlin said had been orchestrated by Ukrainian security forces. Ukraine admitted only indirectly to the attack months later.

Putins ally Arkady Rotenbergs company built the vast structure, which is Europes longest bridge. Putin has long lauded the project, boasting at one point that Russian Tsars and Soviet leaders had dreamed of building it but never did.
U krainian forces have retaken seven square miles of territory in the east and the south in the past week, a defence minister said on Monday, as their counter-offensive makes slow progress.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar stressed that the advances brought the total territory recaptured so far during the counter-offensive to more than 210 sq km (81 square miles).

Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in June, aiming to retake occupied territory and seize the initiative in Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its 17th month.

Ms Maliar said troops had retaken seven sq km (2.7 square miles) in the past week in the direction of Bakhmut in the east, a small town captured by Russian forces in May after the bloodiest combat of the war. That brought the total recaptured in the area to a reported 31 sq km (12 square miles).

In the south, where Ukrainian forces are trying to advance towards the cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, they had recaptured nearly 11 sq km (four square miles) in the past week, bringing the total territory recaptured there to nearly 180 sq km (69 square miles).

Ms Maliar added that Russian forces have been advancing since the end of last week towards the city of Kupiansk in the eastern Kharkiv region.

Kyivs army has been hampered in making swift progress by extensive Russian defences, with large minefields, trench networks and barbed wire.

In a televised interview broadcast on Sunday, Vladimr Putin said: All enemy attempts to break through our defences... have not succeeded since the offensive began. The enemy is not successful.

However, overall Putins invasion has floundered, costing the lives of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers, with Ukraines military also suffering high casualties, and thousands of civilians killed in often indiscriminate Russian missile, drone and artillery attacks.
R ussia has halted its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal which aimed to allow Ukrainian grain to be safely exported during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, would have eased the global food crisis, as a result.

The Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated.

So what does Ukraine export and which countries does it export to?

What does Ukraine export to the world?

Agriculture is a major industry in Ukraine. It provides employment for 14 per cent of the population and agricultural products are the countrys most important exports.

Ukraine is a major exporter of grains, which are vital to the international food market. Its top exports are sunflower oil, corn, and wheat.

Ukraine is the worlds number one exporter of sunflower oil, producing nearly five million metric tonnes in 2021-2022, according to the World Economic Forum .

It produces around one-third of the worlds sunflower oil and accounts for nearly half of global exports, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

In April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, there was a shortage of cooking oils , including sunflower oil, as a direct effect of the war.

The country is the worlds fourth-biggest exporter of corn and the fifth-biggest exporter of wheat, producing 23 million metric tonnes and 19 million metric tonnes respectively.

Ukraine is also the third-biggest exporter of rapeseed and barley, owning 20 per cent and 17 per cent of the global market, respectively.

Russias Invasion of Ukraine 2022-2023: One Year Later 1 / 18 Russias Invasion of Ukraine 2022-2023: One Year Later Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, One Year Later Getty Images

Which countries does Ukraine export to the most?

Ukraine exports most of its sunflower oil to India, China, and the EU, while most of its corn goes to China, the EU, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.

It sends most of its wheat to Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and most of its rapeseed to the EU, the UK, and Pakistan.

Most of Ukraines barley goes to China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

How has the war in Ukraine resulted in global famine?

The war in Ukraine has disrupted its ability to export products like grain and wheat, resulting in food shortages around the world.

Countries like Somalia and Egypt rely on Ukraine and Russia for their wheat and grain imports, for example.

But the war in Ukraine, as well as the pandemic and the climate crisis, have increased the costs of things like shipping and fuel, resulting in food scarcity.
V ladimir Putin has halted Russias participation in the Black Sea grain export deal, the Kremlin said on Monday.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be safely exported.

It had been extended several times, but was due to expire on Monday. Russia had been saying for months that conditions for its extension had not been fulfilled.

"The Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated."

The move comes as Putin is under growing pressure due to his floundering war in Ukraine, where Kyiv forces are making limited gains in a summer counter-offensive, and his military having been hit by the failed Wagner Group mutiny, which has been followed by the alleged sacking of several senior Russian commanders.

Moscow has long complained that obstacles remained to its exports of grain and fertiliser, even though these were not directly sanctioned by the West, and presented a series of demands over the deal that it said had not been met.

"As soon as the Russian part of the agreements is fulfilled, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal, immediately," Peskov said.

He insisted that the decision not to renew the deal was unrelated to an overnight attack on the Kerch Bridge between Russia and Crimea.

Over the course of the last year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the export in cargo of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain.

But these shipments have largely ended because of Russias refusal so far to renew the deal.

No new ships have been approved to participate since 27 June, according to the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) that oversees the agreement.

Marine experts said that the last cargo ship cleared under the pact previously agreed by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations, the Turkish bulk carrier TQ Samsun, was headed on Sunday across the Black Sea from the Ukrainian port of Odesa towards Istanbul.

China and Turkey are the main beneficiaries of the grain shipments, as well as developed economies, according to JCC data.

But it has also helped the World Food Programme to deliver supplies to countries facing critical food shortages such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had been seeking to get the deal renewed, to avert food crises in impoverished nations, and has voiced support for removing hurdles to Moscow exporting fertilisers.
B ritain on Monday slapped sanctions on a string of Russian officials over the forced deportation of Ukrainianchildren.

Eleven individuals will be hit with asset freezes and travel bans following their alleged involvement in the appalling practice.

The Foreign Office said among those being designated were Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education of Russia, and Ksenia Mishonova, Commissioner for Childrens Rights in the Moscow region.

These individuals have played an insidious role in Russias calculated programme of deportation, designed to erase Ukrainian cultural and national identity, it said in a statement.

The UK Government estimates that more than 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia or Russian-occupied territory as Vladimir Putins war stretches into its 17th month.

Many deported children are sent to re-education camps in illegally annexed Crimea and mainland Russia, according to the Foreign Office, where they are exposed to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and military education.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, said: In his chilling programme of forced child deportation, and the hate-filled propaganda spewed by his lackeys, we see Putins true intention - to wipe Ukraine from the map.

Todays sanctions hold those who prop up Putins regime to account, including those who would see Ukraine destroyed, its national identity dissolved, and its future erased.

The UK sanctioned Russian Childrens Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in June 2022 for her alleged involvement in the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children.

The latest designations came ahead of Mr Cleverly addressing the UN Security Council in New York where he was also due to address Russia halting its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal and the wider conflict.

It added that more than 1,600 individuals and entities have been sanctioned since the start of the invasion in February 2022, including 29 banks with global assets said to be worth 1 trillion, over 130 oligarchs with a combined net worth estimated of over 145 billion, and more than 20 billion worth of UK-Russia trade.
M ore mercenaries from Russias Wagner group group rolled into Belarus on Monday as their relocation appeared to continue.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in the country, said that a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia had arrived in the country.

Belarusian authorities have provided the soldiers with a field camp which is being used to by Wagner to train Belarus forces.

Belaruski Hajun said it was a third Wagner convoy entering the country since last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last months rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his countrys military could benefit from the mercenaries combat experience.

Belarusian state TV has broadcast video of Wagner instructors training forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region.

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhins mercenaries swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. They captured the military headquarters before driving to within about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow.

Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov.

The mutiny mercenaries reportedly downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus.

Putin said that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defence Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service.
T he fate of one of Londons oldest restaurants might have been decided after its owners listed its famous silver carving trolleys for auction, alongside much of its contents.

Simpsons in the Strand is selling thousands of items between August 2-3, including Wedgewood crockery, grand pianos, fireplaces, furniture, and Waterford crystal chandeliers.

The historic restaurant, which opened in 1828 as a chess club, was a favourite haunt of the likes of Arthur Conan-Doyle and Charles Dickens. It is owned by the adjacent Savoy hotel but has been closed since 2020, despite being refurbished and grandly reopened only three years earlier. Shortly after its 2017 relaunch, regular customers requested the venue repaint the cigar smoke stains on the ceiling that had been decorated over; Simpsons obliged.

Restaurant lovers are being offered the chance to buy everything from the dining rooms cutlery to its chairs, with its Drakes silver carving trolleys  first introduced as a way to serve food without disturbing playing customers  the star attraction. Online, similar pieces by the same maker are listed for 8,000 or more.

A spokeswoman for the Savoy said: While the stories, history and foundation of Simpsons remain, a select few items will be available to purchase as it enters a new chapter.

The Savoy will be affording buyers a chance to own a piece of this legendary establishment and eagerly awaits the opportunity to share the exciting plans for its future.

The closure of Simpsons, which also counts Winston Churchill, King Charles, and Peter OToole as past guests and in 1974 was among the first in the UK to win a Michelin star, further amplifies the trying situation for hospitality in Britain. It was one of the few restaurants left in the UK to offer a bill of fare rather than a menu, which spoke to its steadfast sense of old-world Englishness.

The hotel wouldnt reveal what the restaurant would be used for after the sale, but the Standard understands a new chef is to take over the space and a new venture is in the works.

Gordon Ramsay currently operates three restaurants in the Savoy, but a spokeswoman for the group told the Standard he will not be involved.

Simpsons, 100 Strand, WC2R 0EZ, simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk
A mol Rajan has said he will not try to out-savage Jeremy Paxman, ahead of the airing of his first episode as quiz master on University Challenge.

The BBC journalist, 40, hailed his predecessor as a giant of broadcasting but said he would approach contestants with a certain amount of affection.

Rajan was announced last year as the new host of the popular quiz show, taking over from Paxman, who fronted the show for 29 years.

He is the third person to present the main series of the programme in its 61-year history. Bamber Gascoigne had launched the quiz in 1962.

Speaking to The One Show on Monday ahead of the airing of his first episode, Rajan said he had had a sweet phone call with Paxman after landing the role, and promised he would try not to screw it up.

(Paxman) is a giant of broadcasting; such an enormous heroic figure in our culture, he said.

I had two messages one is thank you for passing the show on in such great condition the ratings are great, the shows format is as solid as ever.

But the other thing is Ill try not to screw it up.

Throughout his tenure on University Challenge, Paxman was known for his biting remarks and exasperated reactions to incorrect answers from contestants.

Asked about his own presenting style, Rajan said: I dont know if I can out-savage (Paxman). Im going to be me.

Ive got a rule  Im going to do put-downs, A, if they deserve it and B, if I really knew the answer.

I think if you like to have a scathing put-down and youre making up that you knew the answer, people were about to be able to tell.

But youve got to do it with a certain amount of affection  and these young people are so amazing.

Theyre not from wealthy backgrounds necessarily. Theyre incredibly clever and they just want to have a good time.

So Im trying to kind of be a friend to them, but Im also the boss and so if they do say something embarrassing  as I have once or twice been told off myself  I will tell them off.

Rajan said he had not yet seen the first episode, and would be watching with his son Winston.

He added that the moment will be poignant after the death of his father last year.

(My father) came to this country (with) family values, aspirations, and a real belief in education and knowledge, he said.

And I think the reason University Challenge specifically means so much to me is it kind of embodied what he sacrificed to come to this country for, and so its going to be a bit sad that hes not there tonight.

But to be doing this. I know if he was watching hed absolutely love it.

University Challenge returns at 8.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Tackling the tough questions will be 28 new student teams from universities across the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton.

The show has a new set and title sequence, but its format will remain the same, with contestants expected to buzz in and answer questions on a vast array of subjects.

Rajan also presents Radio 4s flagship Today programme and Amol Rajan Interviews, and has hosted BBC podcasts on subjects including education, climate change, fairness and population.

In 2020, he appeared as a contestant on a celebrity Christmas special of University Challenge, but his team from Downing College, Cambridge, lost to Durham University.

In May 2021, Paxman announced he was being treated for Parkinsons disease but said his symptoms were currently mild.

It was revealed in an ITV documentary that his doctor diagnosed him with the disease after noticing he was less exuberant on University Challenge.

Paxman said: It turned out that he had been watching University Challenge and had noticed that my face had acquired whats known as the Parkinson Mask.
P rincess Beatrices husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi has paid tribute to her in a gushing post to mark their three year wedding anniversary.

The pair wed on July 17, 2020 in a secret ceremony in Windsor, surrounded by a just a handful of guests, including the late Queen and Prince Philip amid Covid-19 restrictions.

And on Monday, exactly three years later, Mr Mozzi took to instagram to share previously unseen snaps from their special day, including one of his wifes hand showing off her wedding ring and another of her bouquet.

He also posted more recent snaps of his wife including one of her at Royal Ascot last month.

Happy wedding anniversary to the most beautiful wife in the world, he wrote alongside the images. I am so grateful for every moment we have shared, every challenge we have overcome, and every dream we have pursued together.

I love you more than words can say, and I cant wait to celebrate many more anniversaries with you.

At the wedding, the princess wore a pretty ivory dress previously worn by her grandmother, the late Queen, and a tiara Elizabeth wore on her own wedding day. The headpiece, called the Queen Mary Fringe, consists of diamonds given to Queen Mary by Queen Victoria.

The Peau De Soie taffeta dress she donned, was made around 60 years ago by designer Norman Hartnell and worn by Queen Elizabeth to the 1962 Lawrence of Arabia film premiere in Londons Leicester Square and in 1966 when the monarch wore it to the State Opening of Parliament.

Princess Beatrice and her property developer husband now have a daughter Sienna, who is two in September. Mr Mozzi, who was born into a wealthy family, has a son called Christopher Woolf, known as Wolfie, from a previous relationship.

Princess Beatrice with her husband in the Royal Box ahead of the Men's Singles Semi Finals on day twelve of Wimbledon 2023 / Getty Images

Princess Beatrice began her relationship with Mr Mozzi in 2018.

The pair had known each other since childhood as his parents had been longtime friends with her mother and father, Prince Andrew, and Sarah, Duchess of York.

His father is Alessandro Mapelli-Mozzi, a British Olympian and member of an Italian noble family. His mother Nicola Williams-Ellis MBE, is the granddaughter of politician Sir Robert Abraham Burrows.
The European Union is striving to reactivate its relations with Latin America. The summit scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Brussels between the EU and CELAC the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States will be a great opportunity for the two continents. As the EU seeks new trading partners in light of Chinas push in Latin America and the lessons learned from its dependence on Russia in the energy sector, the EU-27 are courting the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the worlds largest raw material exporting regions. Brussels has already identified areas of investment through more than 100 specific projects, from one for the Bogota metro to another on electric buses in Costa Rica, that can serve as spearheads to encourage European participation in the region, according to roadmaps that EL PAIS has learned about.

However, there are disagreements between CELAC, a very diverse group of 33 countries that lacks structure, and the EU over whether and how to condemn Russia for its war in Ukraine in the final declaration of the meeting, and this is straining the first such summit in eight years, which also marks the kick-off of the Spanish presidency of the EU.

At a summit that includes the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Colombias Gustavo Petro, participating states are preparing to announce investment programs in the region. To the 9,4 billion that Spain will contribute and the 10 billion from the European Commission to 2027, will be added announcements from other members such as Sweden (which is considering a contribution of 3.5 billion), the Netherlands (2 billion) as well as Finland and Ireland (which are analyzing a more modest sum of around 50 million), according to European Community sources. And more is expected.

Leaders of the 27 EU Member States and the heads of state and government of at least 25 of the 33 CELAC countries will come to Brussels, according to diplomatic sources. Eight countries, including Mexico, will have ministerial representation. The idea is to hold a summit that is as inclusive as possible, said a senior EU source.

Just the fact of holding the summit is already a diplomatic success. The EU and CELAC add up to a third of the United Nations countries. And it comes after almost a decade in which Latin America has not been on the European radar, points out Javi Lopez, MEP and co-president of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly.

The idea is not to focus the summit on big economic announcements mirroring the meeting with African countries in which an investment of 150 billion was revealed in projects that in many cases were left unspecified, says a diplomatic source. There will be agreements signed on energy and other matters such as cooperation on digital or internal issues. The economic packages to be announced will take the form of loans and grants, and will go mostly to the European Global Gateway project, a tool created to mobilize resources for programs in developing countries. The aim of this project is to counteract the influence of Chinas New Silk Road, Beijings major project to strengthen its position by expanding its trade relations with the entire planet. Twenty-one of the 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have joined this project.

The EU has a lot at stake in Latin America, a region in which it is the main investor, but in which it has been losing ground to become the third largest trading partner behind China and the United States, and with which it maintains one of the the densest agreement networks in the world. To help identify projects of interest, which can encourage investment, the European Commission has prepared a report with over 100 projects ranging from programs to invest (partly private and partly public) in green hydrogen in Argentina, more sustainable transportation in Paraguay, digital and telecommunications projects in Colombia to achieve digital transformation, wind and solar plants in Cuba, and vaccine production in Mexico. It is not a financial operation, since it does not have associated funds, but rather seeks to be the beginning of many investments, diplomatic sources specify.

President of the European Council Charles Michel speaks with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at a main meeting room ahead of European Union leaders summit in Brussels on June 23, 2022. JOHANNA GERON (REUTERS)

Political summit

It will be a very political summit that will last two days during which the leaders, in addition to participating in the plenary talks, will hold bilateral meetings. The format has aroused a lot of interest. In addition, a business forum with major European companies will be held in parallel.

The summit and the investment roadmap have been designed around a complex balance. It is clear that the EU has a strong interest in Latin Americas strategic raw materials - a region that has, among other things, large reserves of lithium - but the EU insists that it does not want to present itself as an extractive power, something against which leaders such as Lula da Silva and Argentinas Alberto Fernandez have already warned. Civil society groups, such as the NGO Oxfam, have also criticized the fact that private investment is being prioritized.

Also on the table for the leaders on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels will be the agreement with Mercosur - the worlds fifth largest economic area outside the EU, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, but which has run aground. It will be more feasible to launch the agreement with Chile (which only lacks a few details) and to renew the agreement with Mexico. At the same time, the EU is seeking to initiate a cooperation and association agreement with Colombia, which could be signed in the fall, according to EU sources, and which seeks to channel the dialogue between Brussels and Bogota (which do not have an agreement).

The High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, will also sign memorandums of understanding with Ecuador, Honduras and El Salvador. In the case of Ecuador, eight priority areas are identified to strengthen relations, among which are the environment, the scientific and educational agenda, the migration agenda, the promotion of investments in certain green sectors or the cooperation agenda for Foreign Policy, according to the text to which this newspaper has had access. The memoranda with Honduras and El Salvador, where there are serious human rights violations, are more succinct and emphasize the intention to lay the groundwork for bilateral political dialogue through regular consultations.

The European and Latin American leaders are also seeking to set up a diplomatic relations body to make the relationship between the two blocs more fluid and to close the gaps for the next summit, which could be held in 2025 in Colombia. The EU has deeply neglected the region for eight years and is now trying to reverse the situation, as demonstrated by the diplomatic choreography in the form of trips to the region by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, of the European Council, Charles Michel, by the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell, and by a good number of important commissioners. The EU is back in Latin America, Von der Leyen reiterated on her trips to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico.

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. Erika Villano (ERIKA VILLANO)

Ukraine

However, disagreements over the condemnation of Russias large-scale invasion of Ukraine may greatly tarnish the meeting. The war launched by Vladimir Putin more than 500 days ago is not the focus of the summit, but it is the focus of all European meetings. And on this occasion, a group of countries  those most explicit in their support for Ukraine  wanted to highlight their condemnation of Russia in the harshest terms. This has clashed with the very diverse CELAC bloc, which is currently being chaired by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which belongs to the Commonwealth and to ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America).

The vast majority of the region has condemned the aggression and supported the United Nations resolutions, but within CELAC there are also countries that have not done so and continue to maintain strong ties with Russia (Cuba and Venezuela for instance). Others, like Brazil, reject the war, but do not share in the shipment of arms and seek to play a mediating role.

As of late Sunday afternoon, the final declaration of the summit was still being negotiated. And the main sticking point was Ukraine. In the first draft of the alternative declaration, there was talk of advocating for a serious and constructive diplomatic solution to the conflict in Europe, but even that wording did not find consensus within CELAC. In the latest drafts there is already talk of the war in Ukraine and the havoc it is causing, but there is disagreement because some countries do not want to include a reference to the UN declaration condemning Russia for the war of aggression, nor to demand the total withdrawal from Ukraine. The risk is that the gathering could end without a declaration, which in practical terms would not imply much, but in symbolic terms would mean a lot, since it would make visible big cracks between the parties.

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K. C. Grist, executive director of North Mississippi Red Cross, spoke to the Starkville Rotary Club on Monday.
The drugs industry has turned Mexico into a quicksand hole where the country has been sinking without remedy for the last six years. With its head barely out of the ground, it needs an outstretched hand to avoid succumbing to a criminal power that has diversified its business into any sphere where money flows, from north to south, from east to west. In the last few weeks, counting the victims has been a Sisyphean task: while the fire in a market in the center of the country was being extinguished, bombs were exploding in Jalisco; in Nuevo Leon, a firing squad left six corpses against the wall, the judges of Colima were sheltering in their homes and Guerrero, one of the states where the sand is already up to peoples necks, was ablaze with murdered cab drivers and blocked highways. In this territory, three days of blood and fire brought the authorities to their knees and left an unprecedented image that demonstrates the power of crime to reinvent itself: with a snap of their fingers, this week they mobilized thousands of citizens who marched down the highway to the heart of the state government, scared off the police, stole an armored vehicle, took a dozen agents and workers hostage, and forced the politicians to negotiate their demands. Such a display of social muscle among the poorest rural communities has the country still in awe.

The narco has not only multiplied its business activities, from avocados to the fishing and lumber industry, tourism, cabs, counterfeit products, poultry, beer and water distribution; it is also testing new weapons, from bombs to drones; and its infiltration in the political sphere is no longer limited to pressuring elected officials: it has placed its own people at the head of city councils. It is what is often described as a narco-state. At the beginning of the century, cocaine was the most powerful division of the business, and still today, whether it is fentanyl or anything else, drugs continue to be the main source of profitability. The so-called cobro de piso, that is, the extortion of anyone who sets up a store, sets up a street stall or rides in a wheelchair selling loose cigarettes, is the second most profitable business, the main one in some regions, says Eduardo Guerrero, a security consultant and one of the great experts in this field. Fuel theft has been somewhat reduced with this administration, but they have sought new revenue streams, such as the smuggling of migrants and the trafficking of women, which explains the many disappearances of young people in tourist resorts. And last but not least, there is illegal logging and illegal fishing of marine species that find a good market in Asia, sometimes in exchange for fentanyl, says Guerrero, who is also director of Lantia Intelligence.

Forensic experts examine a destroyed police patrol car in Tlajomulco, a Guadalajara suburb, on July 12. ULISES RUIZ (AFP)

At the local level, in some areas they have taken over the construction business, cement, bricks, and food sectors: they force people to buy chickens or tortillas from their own suppliers. The counterfeiting and sale of all kinds of brand-name products, from watches to mattresses, is another of their strong points. As Luis Astorga, PhD in Sociology and one of the great experts on Mexican criminal networks, recently told this newspaper, you would have to buy a fishing rod and sit patiently on the seashore to be sure that what you put in your mouth has not fattened the coffers of crime. To say narco is to come up short, or perhaps it means everything already.

In May 2008, after the arrest, months earlier, of one of the big kingpins, Alfredo Beltran Leyva, the war was unleashed. He was not going to be the only one. Where previously three or four criminal leaders were arrested per six-year term, during the government of Felipe Calderon there were almost 40. With each blow to the top, the gangs splintered into smaller factions that spread across the country, each in pursuit of their business. The large northern cartels, violent and focused on drug trafficking to the United States, are now a hydra with a thousand heads, a huge family tree of fathers, brothers and associates who are taking over each territory. There are no longer only lords of the skies or of the subterranean between borders. What emerged as a phenomenon concentrated in the big cities is now national and with a broad impact in rural areas. The harassment of agricultural, livestock and mining companies during the Pena Nieto administration (2012-2018) gave rise to self-defense groups, a civilian population that armed itself to resist criminal attacks. But the narco is all-consuming and today it is no longer clear whether or not these small platoons are under the control of organized crime. One of the most famous vigilantes, Hipolito Mora, who was under great threat, was gunned down in Michoacan at the end of June. Twenty-five gunmen fired more than 1,000 bullets at the target.

But the drug traffickers have always been in the sierras and mountains, those were their places of cultivation and the paths of passage. They invested money in rural communities to guard the drug trafficking routes and the houses where they kept weapons, money or even kidnapped people, such as migrants, says Guerrero. Recently, there have been more gestures. In the middle of the pandemic, the distribution of food and household appliances to alleviate the needs of an extremely poor population weary of waiting for a State that never shows up was reported in several parts of the country. There were even cases in which they offered jobs to young people who had lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis, recalls the security consultant. Crime was buying empathy, solidarity and loyalty. And the common people responded by warning them of the armys movements in those lands. The gangs are benevolent with these populations, they need them, they are strategic, says Guerrero, who compares Mexicos situation to quicksand where the country is sinking deeper and deeper. The searching mothers, who comb the territory in search of the remains of their relatives, are now reaching agreements with the drug traffickers to dig without being attacked, while the State does not always respond to their requests.

From time to time, criminal gangs broadcast videos that look like military parades, with tanks, guns and uniformed men. Its their way of saying they own this or that territory. The show of force in Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero, brought together thousands of peasants and truckers who came down from the mountains armed with stakes and machetes and blocked the highways leading to Acapulco and Mexico City until they had their way. TThe issue suggests a new transformation of crime, with the ability to mobilize entire villages, like a political party that ferries citizens to fill its rallies. Its painful, with a leftist government in power whose priority should be to weaken criminal recruitment centers through social programs, Guerrero laments.

The mobilization of July 10 in Chilpancingo (Guerrero), in which citizens took possession of an armored vehicle. Dassaev Tellez Adame (Cuartoscuro)

This has been, in fact, the message that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched throughout his term, which he summed up in the phrase hugs, not bullets. It is a matter, the president always says, of strangling poverty, of multiplying scholarships and social assistance so that young people do not consider the alternative of crime as an advantageous way out. But one only had to look at the rough sandals and dusty feet, the faces wrinkled by the sun, the jagged teeth of many of the peasants who came with their bamboo clubs to the capital of Guerrero. Poverty is far from being extinguished. And while they were at it, the leaders of the demonstration camouflaged their demands, which the government summarized as the release of two detained mobsters, with a list of social improvements in their communities: sewage drainage, paved streets, educational improvements and road security. No one doubts that this is also needed. But the absence of the State has been giving way to the narco, little by little, election after election.

The elections of 2024 are already on the horizon, when municipal presidents, governorships, congressmembers and senators, and a new president for Mexico will be elected. This imminence also has to do with the outburst of fire that is being experienced in recent days: crime is taking positions, placing its own, pressuring others, playing at destabilization. Social mobilization, the muscle they have flexed these days, is a message to the political class, says Lilian Chapa Koloffon, senior analyst at World Justice Project. They behave like political operators, what they are saying is not only that they can place their own people, but also mobilize voters or destabilize elections. Stealing an armored vehicle and taking hostages at the gates of the Government Palace in Chilpancingo is a huge display of disrespect for the authorities without any fear of sanctions. Authorities have sat down to negotiate with the detained agents for one night, says Chapa Koloffon. The narco is the interlocutor and every new governor who comes to power feels the narcos breath on his neck.

I feel strongly that Mexico will not be able to get out of this alone. We need the cooperation of other countries, a great security treaty for North America, with the United States and Canada, no more ridiculous little programs, standardization of laws and, of course, progress in new technologies for security and training of human resources. That could come together in 10 or 15 years, says Guerrero, but society has to push hard on that idea. In his opinion, the collaboration agreements should be extended to Spain and Italy on the European side, and to Chile and Colombia in the Latin American region. If they dont do so already, the risk of the rise of crime to state governments and a de facto Narco-State is certain.
Mehedinti County border police found on Monday morning 17 Iraqis and Syrians crammed in an off-road vehicle that tried to evade control, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) announced on Monday.

"On 17.07, at around 06.00 hrs, the border police squads stopped for checks several vehicles as part of a roadblock on European road E70. At the sight of the border policemen, the driver of an off-road vehicle turned abruptly to a side road, to avoid the check, but the car soon stopped in its tracks as it ended up in an accident,'' the IGPF said.

The Ambulance Service was immediately called to the scene to provide assistance to the 17 foreigners found in the vehicle. They were taken to the hospital for investigations, but none of them required hospitalization, the cited source shows.

Initial checks found that the 17 people are from Iraq and Syria. Also, border police are carrying out specific actions to identify the driver and determine his entire criminal activity. AGERPRES
More than 30 firefighters are participating on Monday, in Greece, in extinguishing a dry vegetation fire in the Kouvaras area, informs a press release from the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) sent to AGERPRES.

"The Romanian firefighters stationed in Greece have received, from the liaison officer of the Greek authorities, the mission to move to the Kouvaras area, to extinguish a dry vegetation fire. Over 30 firefighters with four fire trucks, a tanker truck with a capacity of 30 tonnes of water and two off-road vehicles are on their way to the indicated location," stated IGSU

The surface on which the fire is manifested is considerable, the land being covered by dry vegetation and bushes. The rapid spread of the fire is favored by the wind and high temperatures, IGSU indicated.

"Our colleagues are acting in the area assigned by their Greek counterparts both to extinguish the fire and to protect the nearby buildings", added the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.

The Greek authorities assigned several fire engines to the scene of the fire, including aerial resources, with the Romanian firefighters acting in their support.
Ciolacu: Firea is suspended from management positions, Paul Stanescu, acting chairman of PSD Bucharest.

The chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu, declared on Monday that it was decided to suspend, for a limited period, Gabriela Firea from the positions of chairwoman of PSD Bucharest and from that of first deputy chairperson of the party, and Paul Stanescu will take over the management of the Bucharest organization, told Agerpres.

"There is no self-suspension in the statute, that's why the suspension for a limited period of time and the appointment of Mr. Paul Stanescu as the interim president of the Bucharest organization were put to the vote," Ciolacu said at PSD headquarters, after the meeting of the National Political Council.

He added that Gabriela Firea did nothing wrong, institutionally, in the case of residential centers for the elderly.

"Mrs. Firea, from my point of view, like the prime minister, did absolutely nothing institutionally wrong. Mrs. Firea had no attribution regarding the centers for disabled people. (...) She had no authority in this field. I assume that her resignation came as a result of certain revelations by the press and, just as I said in the National Political Council, it should be something that each of us should learn, to take care of the people who appear next to public figures, those who photograph us, film us, are benevolent, in order to finally use these circumstances, in which they are sometimes not invited, in order to see their own economic goals. It is a high cost, but I think that with everyone, including me and my colleagues, must be very careful with those who appear from time to time in the entourage," Ciolacu mentioned.

Asked for what period Gabriela Firea is suspended from her duties, Marcel Ciolacu said: "At the moment, according to the statute, it is not a limited period of time, until the moment when everything is clarified. At this moment she is also suspended from the position of deputy chairwoman".

The PSD leader avoided answering the question if he still supports Firea to run for the post of general mayor of the Capital.

"At the moment we have no local, general, or European parliamentary elections. I am firmly convinced that at that moment we will talk about this," Ciolacu concluded.
Ciolacu: Simona Bucura-Oprescu and Natalia Intotero - proposed for Labour and Family portfolios.

The National Political Council of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) decided on Monday, by vote, to propose Simona Bucura-Oprescu for the position of Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity and Natalia Intotero for the position of Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities, told Agerpres.

"We voted in the National Political Council to nominate two colleagues for the Ministry of Labour and for the Ministry of Family in the person of Mrs. Bucura-Oprescu for the Ministry of Labour and Mrs Natalia Intotero for the Ministry of Youth and Family. (...) There are two ladies... Mrs. Bucura-Oprescu is the president of the Administration Committee of the Romanian Parliament and has clear experience in this area and Mrs. Natalia Intotero has been a minister for a period of time, she was also Secretary of State with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is also the current chairwoman of the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, so two ladies with both political and parliamentary activity," said PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu at the party's headquarters.

The two ministerial positions became vacant after the resignation of Gabriela Firea from the Ministry of Family and Marius Budai from the Ministry of Labour.
The Public Finance Ministry raised on Monday 843 million RON from banks through a benchmark bond issue with a residual maturity of 110 months, at an average yield of 6.53 pct per annum, the National Bank of Romania announced.

The face value of the issue was RON 500 million, and banks submitted bids worth almost RON 1,173 billion.

An additional bidding session is scheduled for Tuesday, through which the Finance Ministry intends to borrow another RON 75 million for the yield set on Monday.

The Public Finance Ministry is planning to borrow this July RON 4 billion from commercial banks; another RON 600 million could add to this amount through additional non-competitive bids related to the bond auctions.

The total amount of RON 4.6 billion is by RON 1.88 billion lower than the RON 6.48 billion planned for June 2023, and will be used to refinance public debt and cover the state budget deficit. AGERPRES
Half of the Ukrainian grain exports were via Romania, and this process will continue, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday, in the aftermath of the Russian Federation's announcement that it is withdrawing from the agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain by the Black Sea.

"First of all, it is regrettable that this initiative, that saw the involvement of many politicians from all over the world, doesn't seem to have a bright future. Anyway, up until now too, half of the Ukrainian grain was exported through Romania, via the Romanian logistics routes, which we adapted and improved, and we will continue this way. We believe that it is important and good to be on the side of Ukraine and support these exports, we will continue to do this in order to prevent the occurrence of bottlenecks," the head of the state pointed out.

Russia officially notified Ukraine, via its embassy in Minsk, of the suspension of its participation in the Black Sea grain export agreement, Russian ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov informed on Monday, as cited by Reuters. Gryzlov said that a note had been sent from the embassy to Ukraine via diplomatic channels, and that the deal would be terminated from July 18.

President Iohannis participates on July 17 - 18 in Brussels in the third EU - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit. AGERPRES
The world has changed dramatically in the last year and a half, President Klaus Iohannis declared on Monday in Brussels, where he attends the third EU - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU - CELAC) Summit.

The head of the state called for unity, adding also that Romania contributed "substantially" to the preparation of this summit. According to him, action in solidarity with the Ukrainian people is further necessary.

"The European Union and the Latin American and Caribbean states are key allies in supporting the international order based on rules and the principles of the UN Charter. I am convinced that the discussions of these two days will bring our regions even closer. The world has changed dramatically in the last year and a half," the head of the Romanian state remarked.

He highlighted the need for a "close" cooperation in order to promote and address common interests and challenges at global level.

"Against the backdrop of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, I will advocate at this summit the need for acting in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and I will plead in support of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Today, the European Union presents the Latin America and the Caribbean states a concrete and substantial offer, and Romania is an active supporter thereof," Klaus Iohannis pointed out.

He also approached the deepening of economic relations.

"I will assert the need for concrete projects capable of generating added value for local communities and new jobs, that protect the environment and support the ecological and digital transformation of our economies. In this context, I will also emphasize the need to combat climate change," the president exlained. "Romania is fully available to share good practices in key areas such as disaster response preparation," Iohannis concluded. AGERPRES
A number of 100,142 people were employed in the first half of 2023 as a result of the implementation of the National Labor Employment Program by the labor force employment agencies in counties and in the municipality of Bucharest, the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) informs on Monday.

Of the total number of employed persons until June 30, 2023, 47,057 are over 45 years old, 17,441 are between 35 and 45 years old, 16,850 are between 25 and 35 years old, and 18,794 are young people under 25 years old.

The number of employed women is 45,714, and of men 54,428, their share in the total employed persons being 45.65% and 54.35%, respectively.

Depending on residence, 51,235 people employed in the reference period come from the urban environment, and 48,907 people are from the rural environment.

The level of training of the people for whom a job was identified shows that most have high school (32,975), secondary education (24,460), vocational education (23,089), 10,006 with university education. Of the total number of people employed through ANOFM in the first half of 2023, 39,176 are part of the category of those who are difficult and very difficult to employ.

The most employed people are in Bucharest (10,429), Timis county (6,005) and Neamt county (4,079).

During the reference period, the number of people who benefited from assistance for registration as jobseekers, in order to ensure social protection regarding the granting of unemployment benefits or inclusion in active measures, was 252,605 people. AGERPRES
A resident walks amid debris at the site of a landslide caused by heavy rains in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do province, South Korea, on July 17, 2023.

Heavy downpours lashed South Korea for a ninth day on Monday as rescue workers struggled to search for survivors in landslides, buckled homes and swamped vehicles in the most destructive storm to hit the country this year.

At least 40 people have died, 34 others are injured and more than 10,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes since July 9, when heavy rain started pounding the country. The severest damage has been concentrated in South Koreas central and southern regions.

In the central city of Cheongju, hundreds of rescue workers, including divers, searched for survivors in a muddy tunnel where about 15 vehicles, including a bus, were trapped in a flash flood that may have filled up the passageway within minutes Saturday evening.

The government has deployed nearly 900 rescue workers to the tunnel, who have so far pulled up 13 bodies and rescued nine people who were treated for injuries. It wasnt immediately clear how many people were in the submerged cars.

As of Monday afternoon, rescuers had pumped out most of the water from the tunnel and were searching the site on foot, a day after they used rubber boats to move and transport bodies on stretchers.

Hundreds of emergency workers, soldiers and police were also looking for any survivors in the southeastern town of Yecheon, where at least nine people were dead, and eight others listed as missing after landslides destroyed homes and buckled roads, the county office said.

Photos from the scene showed fire and police officers using search dogs while wading through knee-high mud and debris from destroyed homes.

Nearly 200 homes and around 150 roads were damaged or destroyed across the country, while 28,607 people were without electricity over the past several days, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a report.

Severe weather was also affecting many other places around the world. In the United States, an already saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after a second round of heavy rain in a week, including a flash flood in Pennsylvania that claimed at least five lives over the weekend.

Schools and the stock market were closed in Hong Kong on Monday as Typhoon Talim sideswiped the city and headed toward the Chinese mainland and the island province of Hainan.

This year has seen record-breaking stretches of high heat across large parts of China, South Korea and Japan. Chinas National Meteorological Administration reported that temperatures in the oasis city of Turpan in the northwestern Xinjiang region hit a record 52.2 Celsius (125.9 Fahrenheit) on Sunday.

Italian health officials intensified heat warnings as southern Europe began a brutally hot week on Monday, with temperatures expected to top 40 C  or 104 F  on a continent already overburdened by tourists. The third heatwave in a month was expected to affect much of the Mediterranean and last until Wednesday.

In South Korea, the Korea Meteorological Administration maintained heavy rain warnings across large swaths of the country. Torrential rains were dumping up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) per hour in some southern areas. The office said the central and southern regions could still get as much as 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of additional rain through Tuesday.

Returning from a trip to Europe and Ukraine, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held an emergency government meeting. He called for officials to designate the areas hit hardest as special disaster zones to help funnel more financial and logistical assistance into relief efforts.

Yoon later visited Yecheon where he was briefed on the search and rescue efforts.

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Over 427,000 people crossed the border on Sunday.

Approximately 427,200 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with over 104,000 means of transport, carried out, on Sunday, the control formalities, both inbound and outbound, through border points throughout the country, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs, told Agerpres.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday, there were 229,390 people on the way to enter Romania, of which 18,051 were Ukrainian citizens.

Regarding the specific activities, in the areas of competence - the crossing points and the "green border" - the border police detected, on Sunday, 73 illegal acts (30 crimes and 43 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian citizens and foreigners.

Goods, worth more than 123,800 RON, were confiscated.

The fines applied amounted to approximately 48,000 RON.

On Sunday, 15 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions stipulated by the law were not allowed to enter the country, and 13 Romanian citizens were also not allowed to leave, for various legal reasons.
Paul Stanescu to become acting chair of Bucharest PSD (sources).

Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Paul Stanescu will become the interim head of the Bucharest PSD chapter, told Agerpres.

According to PSD sources, the National Political Council of PSD decided by vote on Monday that Stanescu be appointed acting Bucharest PSD chairman.

The Bucharest chapter of PSD was left without a chair after Gabriela Firea stepped down.
President Iohannis to attend EU - CELAC summit in Brussels.

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Monday and Tuesday, in the third summit meeting of the European Union - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU - CELAC) in Brussels, told Agerpres.

The main purpose of the meeting is to reinvigorate the EU-CELAC partnership amid complex international geopolitical developments influenced also by Russia's war against Ukraine, the Presidential Administration informs.

The renewed partnership will primarily focus on sustainable connectivity, supporting green transition and digital transformation, increasing the resilience of value chains on the two continents, reaffirming the importance of multilateralism, the principles of the UN Charter, good governance and democratic values.

Iohannis will voice Romania's support for the major objective of the European Union to revitalise its partnership with the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, also materialised by organising this summit, the first of its kind in the last eight years.

Iohannis will speak in favour of the importance of EU-CELAC co-operation for managing the new global challenges, the complex crises facing both regions, and also the new development opportunities that can be brought to fruition through more in-depth co-operation.

He will also show that Romania's active commitment to closer co-operation between the two areas was reconfirmed in all the meetings he had with his counterparts during the visits he made to Brazil, Chile and Argentina in April 2023, during which he prioritised the preparations for the high-level meeting in Brussels.

The President will participate in a roundtable conference on combating climate change by moving towards a fair and sustainable transition to advocate for an active role Romania is prepared to take up in the EU-CELAC co-operation in this field.

Established in 2011, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is a Latin American regional bloc of a predominantly political nature designed to deepen the process of regional integration of the 33 member states. Its acting presidency is provided by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The previous EU-CELAC meetings at the highest level took place in 2013 and 2015.

The European Union launched on June 7 a joint communication on a new agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides for the modernisation and consolidation of the strategic partnership by strengthening political commitment, increasing trade and investment and building more resilient, sustainable and interconnected societies under projects financed under the Global Gateway strategy.
Romanian pianist Valentin Gheorghiu dies aged 95.

Pianist and composer Valentin Gheorghiu, one of the greatest pianists in our musical history and appreciated composer, member of the Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania (UCMR), passed away at the age of 95, told Agerpres.

The announcement was made by violinist Gabriel Croitoru.

"On this July night our great pianist and good friend, Maestro Valentin Gheorghiu, left us to go and play in other worlds! May God rest his soul in Peace and Light", he wrote on Facebook.

Pianist and composer Valentin Gheorghiu was born on March 21, 1928, in Galati.

Valentin Gheorghiu's composition creation was awarded the "George Enescu" Prize of the Romanian Academy for his Concerto For Piano And Orchestra and the 2020 UCMR Grand Prize, for his entire activity.

Appreciated by George Enescu and Cella Delavrancea, Valentin Gheorghiu was one of the most important post-war Romanian musical personalities, with an impressive artistic activity spanning over eight decades. After his first public appearances, George Enescu, in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Culture, considered Valentin Gheorghiu "a talent to be closely watched".

His teachers at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Bucharest were Mihail Jora, Constanta Erbiceanu, Mihail Andricu and Constantin Brailoiu. He attended the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Paris.

He made his debut, in 1943, as a soloist on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, with Concerto No. 1 in C major for piano and orchestra by Ludwig van Beethoven, with the Philharmonic conducted by George Georgescu. He was organist at the St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral in Bucharest and concert soloist of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bucharest.

At the first edition of the "George Enescu" International Festival and Competition in 1958, Valentin Gheorghiu was awarded, together with his brother, the violinist Stefan Gheorghiu, the first prize for the interpretation of George Enescu's Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 3 in A minor "in Romanian folk character".

On 26 September 2014, Valentin Gheorghiu was elected Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy.

On 1 December 2000, the Romanian Presidency awarded him the National Order of Faithful Service, the Grand Cross rank, as a token of appreciation for his "contribution to the progress and development of Romania".

On 23 May 2018, on his 90th birthday, he was decorated by the Romanian Presidency with the highest distinction of the Romanian state, the National Order Star of Romania, "as a sign of deep appreciation for what he has achieved in his extraordinary musical career as a pianist and composer".

The coffin with Valentin Gheorghiu's body will be placed, for a last homage, on Tuesday, between 10:00 and 15:00, in the foyer of the Romanian Athenaeum, and the funeral service will take place on Wednesday, at 10:00, at the Chapel of the Bellu Orthodox Cemetery.
Romanian Police running campaign to prevent cyber-bullying.

The General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) on Sunday announced the start of a campaign to prevent cyber-bullying designed to increase children's online safety, told Agerpres.

The Romanian Police, through its School Safety Directorate, the department dealing with increasing the safety of pre-university students and teachers, has started the campaign for the prevention of cyber-bullying, awareness of the risks, vulnerabilities and consequences of the crime of violation of private life.

The campaign takes place between July 1 and August 31 and aims to increase awareness of the risks and consequences related to cyber-bullying and the crime of violation of private life amid the amendment and completion of Article 226 in Law 286/2009 on the Criminal Code, which criminalises the disclosure, dissemination, presentation or transmission, in any way, of an intimate image of a person without the consent of the person shown, of a nature to cause mental suffering or a destruction of personal image .

The Romanian Police are using the campaign to increase the degree of online safety of children, by informing, educating and raising their awareness over the consequences of actions deemed as cyber-bullying and the crime of violation of private life.

The campaign implementation activities are carried out nationwide both in urban and rural areas, by the school safety police, in the accommodation units where camps and excursions are organised, as well as at cultural-sporting venues , shows or other outdoor activities. Interactive activities are organised and carried out around the theme cyber-bullying and the way in which this phenomenon can be prevented.

At the end of the activity, in order to outline an overview of the phenomenon of cyber-bullying and the crime of violation of private life and also on the way in which the students understand/are aware of their consequences, each student fills in a feedback questionnaire.

The feedback questionnaire measures the degree of online safety felt by the students, estimates the incidence of the forms of cyber-bullying they face, assesses if what was presented was understood by the children, and it also evaluates the activity carried out by the police in schools.
Scheduled events for July 17

PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION:

- President Klaus Iohannis participates in the European Union - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium

GOVERNMENT:

- Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu holds talks with tobacco industry business leaders

POLITICS:

- Meeting of the National Political Council of the Social Democratic Party (PSD)

DEFENCE:

- "Poseidon 2023" exercise in the Constanta Military Port and the training districts on the western side of the Black Sea (July 14 - 21)
Social-democratic MP Simona Bucura-Oprescu, proposed for the position of Minister of Labor, says that she wants, in her future capacity, a real and constructive partnership with civil society and with professional, employer and union structures representative.

"I want to have a real and constructive partnership with civil society and with the representative professional, employer and trade union structures. I am fully aware that we have a lot to do and I am determined to work efficiently both to change things regarding the asylum situation from Romania, as well as for the implementation of the reforms assumed by the PNRR, in particular regarding the Special Pensions Law, the Pensions Law and the Salary Law", Simona Bucura-Oprescu wrote on Monday on her Facebook page.

She emphasized that the nomination for the position of Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity represents "a great responsibility".

The National Political Council of the PSD decided on Monday, by vote, to propose Simona Bucura-Oprescu for the position of Minister of Labor, following the resignation of Marius Budai. AGERPRES
A website that publishes for the express purpose of generating revenue from advertising is commonly known as a content farm. Theyve been around for years, ever since someone saw the potential in producing content at a low cost. Quantity is key, as is monetizing the content through automated platforms like Google AdSense. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard has now propelled content farms to a new level, publishing material at an industrial scale.

A study by the NewsGuard misinformation monitor found that an increasing number of content farms now use generative AI. These websites publish articles created by chatbots with little or no human editorial oversight. The numbers are astronomical. One of the websites analyzed in the study  World Today News  published around 8,600 articles during the week of June 9. Thats an average of 1,200 articles per day. The other two websites analyzed by NewsGuard each published 6,108 and 5,867 posts that same week.

They are clearly using AI to generate low-quality clickbait content, said McKenzie Sadeghi, a senior analyst at NewsGuard. These websites use technology to produce articles faster and cheaper. Sadeghi says human intervention in the process has practically disappeared. In the past, these web pages used to rely on a team of human contributors  freelancers who got paid to write content. But now, it doesnt really feel like theres much human supervision at all anymore.

Some of these content farms have even published chatbot error messages in headlines, exposing unreviewed AI-generated content. NewsGuard analysts have seen headlines like, Sorry, as an AI language model, I am not able to access external links or web pages on my own; and more disturbing text like, Sorry, I cannot comply with this instruction as it goes against my ethical and moral principles.

Content farms are driven by one thing  the more they publish, the more traffic they generate to their websites, leading to more ad clicks. According to NewsGuard, over 90% of these ads are displayed via Google Ads, which automatically places ads on affiliated pages. Between May and June 2023, NewsGuard detected 393 ads from 141 large brands on 55 AI-driven websites.

Google doesnt have a policy that specifically bans AI-generated content. However, they do have a policy against spammy and low-quality content, which is basically what these sites offer, said Sadeghi. Google raked in a staggering $224.47 billion in advertising revenue in 2022, according to Statista. However, automatic ads contribute only a small portion to this figure, since the majority of Googles revenue comes from search advertising.

An error message from a generative AI chatbot published by a content farm without human oversight.

The use of generative artificial intelligence in content farms is growing rapidly. Were finding 25 to 50 sites like these every week. In early May, we found 49 websites. Now, we have 277 websites on the list. Some are new, while others that have been around for years are starting to utilize artificial intelligence, said Sadeghi.

Most of the websites monitored by NewsGuard feature relevant ads and dont intentionally spread fake news. However, they sometimes venture into the realm of misinformation with headlines like Can lemon cure skin allergies? and Five natural remedies for attention deficit disorder. But overall, their main shortcoming is low quality content that is often plagiarized.

The real problem comes from using generative artificial intelligences to intentionally generate and spread misinformation. David Arroyo, who works on fake news detection for the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), says AI provides the means to produce more fake news. The phenomenon of disinformation is poised to escalate due to the availability of these tools, he said categorically.

Ammunition for disinformation campaigns

As early as 2017, an article in Nature magazine warned about the link between fake news and automated advertising, arguing that most of the fake news created during the 2016 U.S. elections was not driven by political motives but by economic incentives. There was already discussion about the ecosystem of advertisers associated with the generation and dissemination of fake content domains. The use of AI tools further amplifies this phenomenon, as it substantially enhances the capacity to produce convincing content that looks authentic, said Arroyo. The CSIC has detected an increase in disinformation in recent months, although Arroyo does not attribute it all to AI. Identifying a single cause can be challenging. Its important to consider the ongoing electoral processes in Spain, as well as the distortions caused by pro-Russia movements related to the war in Ukraine.

A few months ago, NewsGuard conducted a study of ChatGPT (versions 3.5 and 4) to evaluate its potential as a creator of fake news. The chatbots could actually generate misinformation on various topics like politics, health, climate and international issues, said Sadeghi. The ease with which these models can be manipulated becomes evident when they produce misinformation in response to human guidance. And on top of that, it boasts an astonishing capacity for generating content at an industrial scale.

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During the summer of 1993, the Mississippi River at St. Louis remained above flood stage at St. Louis for 147 days. The crest, on Aug. 1, was 19.6 feet over flood stage at St. Louis and halfway up the grand riverfront staircase at the Gateway Arch. During this summer we'll take regular looks back at key dates during the flood.

JULY 17, 1993:

Armed with checks and surrounded by members of his Cabinet, President Bill Clinton promised the governors of flood-damaged states that his administration would not abandon them once the water recedes.

"We are here to deal with basically two great issues," Clinton said as he opened a "flood summit" at Fox High School in Arnold.

"One is, what are we going to do right now, while everybody is up to their ears in alligators? "And the second is, how are we going to keep this effort going over the long run ... so that we can see these areas through to full recovery?"

After a helicopter tour of devastated St. Charles County, Clinton offered federal troops, short-term aid and less red tape. But he didn't offer up the billions of dollars that the governors say they need.

Clinton, who is seeking $2.5 billion in disaster aid from Congress, said that the federal government could not cover all flood losses.

Also on this date:

The Missouri River ripped through a levee in Defiance, burying more homes under 10 feet of water.

The Missouri River crashed through its levee in Maryland Heights, spewing water over farmland and reuniting with Creve Coeur Lake.

The Coast Guard abandoned its base on Iron Street in the face of the rising Mississippi.

Hundreds of sandbaggers races against time to fortify levees being built on the River Des Peres in south St. Louis. The levee had been built to protect against a Mississippi the crested at 45 feet. But the forecast crest was now 46.1 feet.

Scenes from the flood: July, 17, 1993 Post-Dispatch front page Crossing the Missouri Flood of '93 Portage des Sioux flooding, July 19, 1993 Satellite image: July 18, 1993 The Great Flood of 1993: July 21, 1993 Bill Clinton Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jim Edgar Bill Clinton, Al Gore, James Witt, Thomas McLarty Bill Clinton, Robert Reich, Al Gore GREAT FLOOD CLINTON GOLF
UPDATED with hometown, name of victim

A 15-year-old girl from Kansas died Sunday after crashing an off-road utility vehicle in northeast Missouri, authorities said.

The Missouri Highway Patrol did not release the girl's name, but an obituary identified the victim as Kenlee Luella Wallace.

The patrol initially reported the girl was from Eureka, Missouri, but later changed their report to say she had lived in Eureka, Kansas.

She was fatally injured about 9:15 p.m. Sunday on Sugar Creek School Trail in Adair County, Missouri. The crash site is about eight miles southwest of Kirksville, Missouri.

The girl was driving a 2017 Polaris Ranger 1000, an off-road utility vehicle. She lost control while traveling downhill on a gravel road. The vehicle ran off the road and overturned. She died at the scene.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected. The patrol initially provided an incorrect home state.
A man from Lincoln County was fatally injured last week in a head-on crash with a teenage driver, police said.

The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the victim as 81-year-old Gary E. Krieg of Moscow Mills, Missouri.

The crash happened about 5:30 p.m. on July 12 on westbound Highway 47 at Hidden Valley Drive.

The patrol said Krieg was driving west on Highway 47 when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck his pickup truck. Police said the vehicle that crossed the center line was driven by a 17-year-old boy from Foley, Missouri.

The patrol did not identify the driver because he is a juvenile.

After it was hit, Krieg's pickup ran off the road and overturned. Krieg, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead by ambulance workers.

The boy's vehicle also hit a cargo van.

The boy was not wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the cargo van was wearing a seat belt; he was not injured, the patrol said.
A man in his 30s, not yet identified by police, was found shot in the head just before 10 p.m. in the 2700 block of Gasconade Street. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
NORTHWOODS  A Northwoods police officer is facing felony charges alleging he drove a man to Kinloch to pepper spray him, beat him with a baton and warn him to stay out of Northwoods before leaving him there injured with a broken jaw.

Samuel Davis, 26, of Woodson Terrace, was charged Friday with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping and armed criminal action and was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Monday morning.

Charging documents claim that on July 4, Davis took a man into custody at a Northwoods Walgreens. Davis handcuffed the man and put him into his patrol car but then turned off his body camera and never reported to dispatch that he had a man in custody, St. Louis County police wrote in charging documents.

Davis is accused of then driving the man to a remote area of Kinloch near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Hugo Avenue, where he pepper sprayed the victim, struck him repeatedly with a baton, and ordered him not to return to the City of Northwoods, a probable cause statement reads.

A witness called 911 after finding the man bloody and wounded. Both the victim and the witness told police a police officer was behind the assault. The man was left with serious injuries, including a broken jaw. Davis did not write any department report connected to the arrest, according to court documents.

Northwoods police Chief Dennis Shireff said in a statement Monday that Davis remains on suspension and the department would rely on the findings of the prosecutors office for any future decision about Davis employment.

Shireff told the Post-Dispatch earlier this month that the department received several complaints after a Facebook post of a witness recounting the assault went viral.

He was almost choking on his own blood. He asked that we not let him die, the post reads.

The Missouri Baptist State Convention of Missouri was among those pushing for action after the post.

The victim in this situation deserved justice! the conventions president, the Rev. Dr. Linden Bowie, wrote in a letter sent Sunday to St. Louis County police Chief Kenneth Gregory.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement Monday that the actions alleged will not be tolerated under his watch.

These actions put a black eye on all law enforcement officers who are doing their jobs the right way and who are tired of their profession being dragged through the mud because of the bad actions of a few, the statement reads. We intend to hold anyone who engages in such terrible and reckless behavior accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or title.

Davis will be extradited from North Carolina to St. Louis County, where he will be held on a cash-only bail of $750,000, no 10%.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Children injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis area in 2023

Below is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of children who have been injured or killed by gunfire across the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2023. The children are 17 years old or younger.

Through July 17, at least 41 children were injured or killed by gunshots. Fourteen people 17 or younger were killed in shootings.

These are not all the homicides involving children. For more details on local homicides, check the homicide tracker.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A St. Louis man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to a 2020 killing outside the North Hanley Transit Center.

Antonio Shumpert, 25, pleaded guilty July 10 to second-degree murder and three weapons offenses in the shooting death of Kyron Moore, 20, of Ferguson.

Shumpert was originally charged with first-degree murder in the case but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge as part of a plea deal with St. Louis County prosecutors.

Moore was killed about 1 a.m. the morning of July 19, 2020, outside the North Hanley Metrolink station. St. Louis County police said at the time that a group of people had been dropped off in the parking lot after a night out. They were then confronted by another group they had fought with earlier that night, according to police accounts.

Court documents say Shumpert followed Moore to the lot where witnesses saw him shoot Moore with an "AR-15-style rifle or handgun."
ST. LOUIS  Sitting in the shade of the St. Patricks Center downtown Friday afternoon, Brenda Coffman bowed her head with the Rev. Ray Redlich of New Life Evangelistic Center and prayed for safe shelter. Her dog, Birmie, a Belgian shepherd trained to help Coffman when she suffers seizures, lay next to her.

Birmie and Coffman, 60, have been on the streets for two weeks, since she was evicted from her south city apartment. She repeatedly called 211, the regions 24/7 hotline that connects people with open shelters. But time and time again, Coffman was told there were no beds available. And in the midst of summers brutal heat and sudden storms, she and Redlich were getting desperate.

Im just trying to get her off the streets, Redlich said. This is an urgent need, with this heat and rain. Shes really at risk out there.

Advocates have repeatedly raised alarms about cases just like Coffmans: There arent enough walk-up beds for people who need emergency overnight shelter. The 211 hotline, run by the United Way and serving both St. Louis and St. Louis County, too frequently turns people away. Moreover, shelters often have specific accommodations, only serving families or those in substance abuse recovery, leaving people like Coffman to fall between the cracks.

The thing I keep hearing over and over is call 211, call 211, Redlich said. But people call there and they know they wont get a bed. Theyre told to keep calling 211, and they call again and again. Its like playing roulette  you have to call at the right time and, maybe, there will be a bed available.

Nick Desideri, a spokesman for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, acknowledged that 211 has turned callers away. The hotline uses real-time data from different shelters to determine bed availability and the citys department of human services was working to get an updated account, Desideri said in an email.

While 211 has turned away callers for lack of availability, DHS is working with our shelter providers to ensure their numbers are updated as soon as possible to have a full understanding of bed availability, Desideri said Friday in an email.

The city has funded about 600 year-round shelter beds, not including additional safe haven space at the St. Patricks Center and an expansion of the Magdala Foundations tiny homes on Jefferson Avenue near downtown, Desideri said. The city has also required shelter beds be provided around the clock, instead of housing people overnight and then kicking them out in the morning.

There is a high need throughout the region for shelters that accept people with animals, Desideri said. The city will keep working to find beds for them, he said.

But advocates say that officials dont know the experience on the ground. Day to day, the beds are full, and 211 turns people away, said Audra Youmans, with the volunteer group St. Louis Winter Outreach.

And shelters can have individual policies that pose barriers to people finding shelter, particularly people with physical disabilities, people who are transgender  or people like Coffman, with service animals or pets. Youmans said she couldnt immediately think of a shelter that takes them.

Every single person is different and has different life experiences and different needs, and that doesnt change when people become unhoused, Youmans said. We need a shelter and housing model that has an abundance of options, so that if one shelter doesnt fit there is another option available.

Coffman said she wasnt told by a specific shelter that she couldnt be accepted because of Birmie. But 211 told her that there werent available beds for her where Birmie could also stay.

I call and they say we have nowhere for you to go, you have to call back after 5 p.m., Coffman said. And then you do that and they say there is no bed. I have nowhere else to turn to.

Coffman said she was evicted from her south city apartment about two weeks ago.

She had been living in the apartment with a housing voucher from a nonprofit that works with people with mental and physical disabilities or those recovering from substance abuse. Coffman said she has suffered from seizures since she was a child and started having nervous breakdowns after the death of her father in 2006, before getting connected with the nonprofit.

Recently, she got in a maintenance dispute with her landlord and stopped paying rent. After she got kicked out, New Life paid for her to store her belongings in a storage facility, where she tried to sleep at first until she was forced out by security, she said.

She hasnt been able to find a shelter with an open bed since.

But Friday afternoon, after the Post-Dispatch sent inquires, Coffman got a call from city Human Services Director Adam Pearson.

Hours later, the city found her a tiny home at the Jefferson site, where she was expected to stay until social workers could get her more permanent housing.

Coffman said Saturday that she was she could be placed in senior housing that would accommodate her and Birmie.

My prayers were answered, she said. I slept so good last night.
ST. LOUIS  When Darren and Lynda Schneller bought a car in Missouri for the first time, they didnt realize theyd have to pay sales taxes separately in order to register the vehicle.

In Georgia, where they bought a previous vehicle, the sales taxes were handled at the dealership and rolled into car payments.

So it came as a shock when Lynda went to the DMV to get Missouri plates for their new Hyundai and was told she needed to fork up about $4,000.

I think her jaw hit the ground when she called me up at work, Darren said. Its going to cost us this much. And I was like, Wait a minute  how?

While the Schnellers paid up, there are many other vehicle owners who are unwilling or unable, as evidenced by the number of expired Missouri temporary tags visible in the St. Louis area.

Almost all of those vehicle owners, when asked by the Post-Dispatch, blame the high sales tax rate and the all-at-once payments that keep them from getting plates. The full amount of taxes must be paid within 30 days of purchase, or penalties kick in.

In Missouri, state and local sales taxes add nearly 10% to the purchase price of vehicles. The state rate is 4.225%; local rates vary. In much of the city of St. Louis, for example, the local rate is 5.454% for a combined 9.7%.

In the city, a 2023 entry-level Honda Accord with a list price of $27,295 costs about $2,642 in sales taxes, according to the states online sales tax calculator.

Thats more than buyers would pay in many other cities near Missouri. In Chicago, for example, the rate is 8.5%. Its 7.5% in Wichita, Kansas. In Little Rock, Arkansas, its 6.7%. And while Memphis, Tennessee, has a slightly higher combined state and local sales tax rate than St. Louis, the local tax is capped on vehicle purchases. That means the sales tax on that new $27,295 Honda in Memphis would be about $600 less than in St. Louis.

The sales tax is high. I mean, theres no ifs, ands and buts about it, said Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat who represents Ferguson, where police recently started a special enforcement program targeting expired temporary tags.

But some help may be coming for Missouri drivers who cant handle the big extra payment. It wont reduce the tax, but itll allow buyers to include the amount in car payments.

State legislators recently passed a bill that allows dealers to handle sales taxes starting in 2026 or 2027, said Doug Smith, executive director of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association. Itll make dealerships a one-stop shop, he said.

On the streets

In the St. Louis region, its hard to drive a block without spotting an expired temporary tag.

A Post-Dispatch reporter spotted one every other tightly packed row in the Brentwood Promenades parking lot on a recent Saturday. Yolanda Perkins, of St. Louis, had one that expired in early June on an SUV she recently bought at a Bommarito Nissan dealership.

Perkins, of St. Louis, said she knew about Missouris sales tax process when she purchased her car. But itd be like a second down payment to get her plates, she said.

You know, I dont have it right now, Perkins said. I just dont.

At the Schnucks South City, Rodney Owens, of St. Louis, was driving his SUV with temporary tags that expired on Dec. 24. The sales taxes would cost him $2,500, which is too much for now, he said.

But as soon as I get back on my feet, itd be OK, Owens said.

William Waller, managing attorney of criminal and municipal defense at ArchCity Defenders, a public interest law firm, said a lot of his clients may not have a credit situation that would allow them to get dealers to finance their sales taxes. And enforcement of proper vehicle registration affects everyone, Waller said.

But because of the financial requirements in Missouri, it is almost ubiquitous among people who dont have a lot of disposable income, he said.

Perkins goal is to pay off her sales taxes, she said, because who wants to get pulled over all the time and get tickets?

Owens, though, wasnt as concerned. At the busy Tower Grove East grocery store, even a security guard at the lot, who declined to speak with the Post-Dispatch, had expired tags.

Just like running a stop sign or running a red light, Owens said, I think the police just dont care.

Liars poker

Tom Fascetti, the general manager of Don Brown Chevrolet, is in a competition with his colleagues at the south city dealership. Every day, employees there take pictures of the temporary tags they see on their way in to work. Whoever snaps a shot of the oldest one might win a soda, he said.

We all come in and we just go, OK, whos got it? he said. Its like playing liars poker.

Fascetti said temp tags in Missouri are an embarrassment.

Everybodys concerned about paying their sales tax, Fascetti said. But in essence, its part of being an adult.

Smith, the dealers association executive, said the temporary-tag situation in St. Louis is an epidemic. It comes at a time when vehicle prices have never been higher, he said.

Sales tax rates in Missouri can change on different sides of a single street, Smith said. Every time a municipality needs to increase revenue, he said, they increase sales tax rates.

It doesnt seem like theres a stopping point, Smith said.

Proudie said constituents have complained to her for years about drivers with expired temp tags. There, the police department recently launched Temp Tag Tuesday, a special enforcement program.

Troy Doyle, the citys new police chief, posted data that showed most people stopped were let off with a warning, Proudie said. But when she asked for more details about the program, Proudie said the chief told her it wasnt in his purview to answer the state representative.

I appreciate them saying, OK, we are going to try to, we are going to pull them over and give them education and resources, Proudie said. But what is that? And what does that look like?

Proudie said she is concerned about the impact the new program could have on meeting requirements set by a federal consent decree that aims to reshape public safety there following the Michael Brown killing in 2014.

Doyle didnt respond to a phone call and email for this story but last month told the Post-Dispatch the new program is not predatory in nature.

Elsewhere, police have gone further. KTVI (Channel 2) reported that Calverton Park was towing cars off of driveways with expired tags.

That sort of practice is what I would do if I wanted to depopulate and dissolve a city, said Waller, whose firm is looking into the enforcement in Calverton Park.

Proudie said shes concerned some of the new programs may be overly punitive and a measure to fill municipal coffers.

I just want to make sure, and be in the know, especially if police departments are asking for support, that when they do initiatives, she said, that they are concise, they are clear and its something that the public understands in full, not just that were doing something because people are complaining about it.

The deal

A new bill is set to allow dealers to collect sales taxes on vehicles. But itll take until 2026 or 2027, as the change requires new technology at the dealerships, Smith said.

For drivers, Smith said the new legislation will make the car buying process easier. Titling and registering the vehicle at point of sale adds a layer of convenience to the process, he said.

Fascetti said the change  which will roll the taxes into car loans, he said  will definitely help customers and may help dealers sell cars.

And, the new process will definitely help the state, Fascetti said, because theyre missing out on millions and millions of dollars of sales tax money on car purchases.

But while the change may put a dent in the number of expired temporary tags, itll do nothing to get drivers to keep their registration up to date by paying their vehicle personal property taxes, Proudie said. Again, its a high tax rate thats seen as the culprit. The state has the third-highest vehicle property tax rate in the country, according to a WalletHub report. Three of Missouris eight neighbors, Illinois, Oklahoma and Tennessee, do not levy property taxes on vehicles.

This spring, Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, unsuccessfully pushed legislation to lower personal property taxes on vehicles. Eigel, who is expected to run for governor in 2024, called the tax an unfair burden on the people of Missouri, where its OK for the government to charge you rent on your car.

But Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy OLaughlin, R-Shelbina, said the tax revenue is essential for rural counties like the one she represents.

In Shelby County, the personal property tax pays for our roads and our schools and our nursing home, she said.

Perkins, the car owner from St. Louis with expired tags, said the changes to the states sales tax system would help a lot of people. As for the cost of the taxes, she said Missouri should have the same rates as other states.

Why, according to where demographics and where you live, why should it be more or less? Perkins said. It should just be one set (rate).

The Schnellers, who own the Hyundai, are eventually looking to buy a new car. But given a potential move to Mississippi, they may hold off on getting one in Missouri, Darren said.

Then, I know I can do sales tax like I did in the South, Darren said, and it makes it so much easier.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2023 - 22:16 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday agreed to cooperate in sharing technology to aid in the decarbonization and economic diversification of the Middle Eastern nation, while ensuring Japan's ongoing access to its oil.

The two agreed to launch a "strategic dialogue" at the foreign minister level to deepen bilateral collaboration in a meeting in Jeddah on the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

Through its engagement with Saudi Arabia, Japan is seeking to guarantee that its supply of oil remains stable, while Riyadh is banking on investments in advanced Japanese technology to build a more diversified economy.

They signed 26 memorandums of cooperation in the energy sector, with Tokyo providing Riyadh with technologies to expand its solar power generation capabilities and innovations in the use of hydrogen and ammonia as a clean fuel source.

Japan imports nearly all crude oil it consumes, with oil from Saudi Arabia accounting for about one-third of the total, making it a crucial energy partner. Concerns around supply have become especially heightened recently due to the disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia is in the midst of efforts to reduce its dependence on oil exports and is striving to build a stronger private-sector economy under its Vision 2030 economic reform blueprint. It is interested in Japan's energy technology know-how.

Executives from about 40 Japanese companies are accompanying the prime minister on his four-day trip from Sunday.

"We are shifting away from the existing relationship of an oil importer and an exporter and will deepen a new global partnership for the decarbonization era," Kishida said after the meeting with the crown prince on the first day of his Middle Eastern tour.

The two also reaffirmed their joint efforts to stabilize the global oil market, after prices surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida did not raise the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The U.S. intelligence community concluded that the crown prince approved an operation that resulted in the killing, causing a global outcry.

In an earlier meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, Kishida agreed to resume negotiations on a free trade deal and to have the Japanese foreign minister hold regular meetings with counterparts from GCC member nations.

Kishida on Monday visited the United Arab Emirates, where he agreed with President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to step up cooperation in promoting green energy projects and decarbonizing their economies while joining efforts to fight climate change in various spheres.

They also agreed to work toward a successful 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which the Gulf nation will host from November.

Kishida, who served as foreign minister for around five years through 2017, has been eager to strengthen relations with the six-member GCC composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to secure stable supplies of oil and natural gas.

After the visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Kishida is traveling to Qatar.
GUATEMALA CITY  The Guatemalan governments clumsy interference with its presidential election has turned a global spotlight on rampant corruption that previously had received only limited international attention.

President Alejandro Giammattei was deeply unpopular at home, but other than occasional reprobation from the United States and Europe, had managed to consolidate his control of the justice system, completely upending a longstanding anti-corruption campaign in the country with little consequence.

The June 25 presidential election may have changed all that. In the days leading up to the vote, it appeared there would be a runoff between a small number of right and extreme right candidates, including Giammattei allies.

But with a large number of null votes, many cast in protest, and a campaign that resonated especially with young Guatemalans, progressive candidate Bernardo Arevalo placed second, ensuring his participation in an Aug. 20 runoff.

Suddenly, it seemed there was a real possibility of choice for Guatemalans who want to change the status quo. That stunned the powers that be, who quickly reacted.

I think that fear clouded him, blinded him, Katya Salazar, executive director of the Due Process Foundation, said of Giammattei. She added that Arevalos surprise support was a demonstration of the dissatisfaction in the Central American country.

I think he (Giammattei) thought that it would be the same as always, she said.

Late July 12, a federal prosecutor announced that Arevalo's party, the Seed Movement, had been suspended for allegedly violating election laws. Prosecutors followed up on Thursday morning by raiding the offices of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal just hours after it certified the election results that put Arevalo in the runoff.

Special anti-corruption prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche defended his investigation as serious, objective and impartial. He said the inquiry had taken a year to complete and it was a coincidence that he announced it on the same day the Supreme Electoral Tribunal certified the election results.

That idea they have that this case arises from political issues is completely false, Curruchiche said. We don't get involved in political issues.

The prosecutor said his office's raid of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal had produced valuable information, but he did not go into specifics. He did say that the tribunal's own documents showed it was aware that 12 signatures collected by the Seed Movement when it was being established in 2018 were those of dead people, yet still allowed them to be registered.

They didn't take their responsibility like they should have, he said.

Earlier Friday, the Attorney General's Office said in a statement that it was carrying out its duty to enforce the countrys laws and not trying to interfere with the second round of voting or keep any candidate from participating in the runoff. Curruchiche said his investigation would continue.

The government's actions have triggered a domestic and international uproar. In addition to statements of concern from the United States, European Union and Organization of American States, criticism came from other Latin American governments as well as Guatemalas most powerful private business association.

Even Arevalos runoff opponent, conservative former first lady Sandra Torres, joined in, announcing that she would suspend her campaign activities because the competition was uneven while authorities pursued the Seed Movement.

Torres' UNE party has been a key force in allowing Giammattei to advance his legislative agenda, but it appeared she felt the attack on the Seed Movement party could undermine her own candidacy.

We want to demonstrate our solidarity with the voters of the Seed party and also with those who came out to vote, she said. As a candidate, I want to compete under equal conditions.

Not long after that, the Constitutional Court, the country's highest tribunal, provided another blow to the Giammattei administration, granting the Seed Movements request for a preliminary injunction against its suspension. That quickly, if temporarily, lowered tensions.

Giammattei, who was barred by law from seeking reelection, kept out of sight.

His response had little effect on a population that witnessed how the president had dramatically transformed a nation that until four years ago had hosted an aggressive and productive anti-corruption effort supported by the United Nations. After Giammatteis predecessor forced out the U.N. mission that supported the fight against graft, the current president systematically forced out prosecutors and judges who were continuing that effort, replacing them with loyalists. Even those who had grown critical of the zealous anti-corruption effort concede the country is much worse off now.

Hundreds protested in front of the Attorney General's Office on Thursday.

We are fed up with the corruption in Guatemala, said Adolfo Grande, a 25-year-old repair technician. We want them to let us choose and not to impose who they want.

The corrupt who have tried to steal these elections from the people today find themselves marginalized, he said. Today we are starting the first day of the campaign.

Countries with the highest rates of public-sector corruption Countries with the highest rates of public-sector corruption The US ranks #154 #45. Russia (tie) #45. Mali (tie) #45. Liberia (tie) #45. Angola (tie) #41. Uzbekistan (tie) #41. Pakistan (tie) #41. Myanmar (tie) #41. Mauritania (tie) #37. Uganda (tie) #37. Kyrgyzstan (tie) #37. Cameroon (tie) #34. Mozambique (tie) #34. Madagascar (tie) #34. Bangladesh (tie) #31. Tajikistan (tie) #31. Iran (tie) #31. Guinea (tie) #31. Guatemala (tie) #27. Central African Republic (tie) #27. Nigeria (tie) #27. Lebanon (tie) #24. Zimbabwe (tie) #24. Iraq (tie) #24. Honduras (tie) #24. Cambodia (tie) #20. Eritrea #19. Guinea Bissau (tie) #19. Congo (tie) #17. Sudan (tie) #17. Nicaragua (tie) #17. Haiti (tie) #17. Comoros (tie) #17. Chad (tie) #12. Turkmenistan (tie) #12. Democratic Republic of the Congo (tie) #12. Burundi (tie) #9. Libya (tie) #9. Equatorial Guinea (tie) #7. Yemen (tie) #7. Korea, North (tie) #7. Afghanistan (tie) #4. Venezuela #3. Syria (tie) #3. Somalia (tie) #1. South Sudan
ST. LOUIS  When Darren and Lynda Schneller bought a car in Missouri for the first time, they didn't realize they'd have to pay sales taxes separately in order to register the vehicle.

In Georgia, where they bought a previous vehicle, the sales taxes were handled at the dealership and rolled into car payments.

So it came as a shock when Lynda went to the DMV to get Missouri plates for their new Hyundai and was told she needed to fork up about $4,000.

"I think her jaw hit the ground when she called me up at work," Darren said. "'It's going to cost us this much.' And I was like, 'Wait a minute  how?'"

While the Schnellers paid up, there are many other vehicle owners who are unwilling or unable, as evidenced by the number of expired Missouri temporary tags visible in the St. Louis area.

Almost all of those vehicle owners, when asked by the Post Dispatch, blame the high sales tax rate and the all-at-once payments that keep them from getting plates. The full amount of taxes must be paid within 30 days of purchase, or penalties kick in.

In Missouri, state and local sales taxes add nearly 10% to the purchase price of vehicles. The state rate is 4.225%; local rates vary. In much of the city of St. Louis, for example, the local rate is 5.454% for a combined 9.7%.

In the city, a 2023 entry-level Honda Accord with a list price of $27,295 costs about $2,642 in sales taxes, according to the state's online sales tax calculator.

That's more than buyers would pay in many other cities near Missouri. In Chicago, for example, the rate is 8.5%. It's 7.5% in Wichita, Kansas. In Little Rock, Arkansas, it's 6.7%. And while Memphis, Tennessee, has a slightly higher combined state and local sales tax rate than St. Louis, the local tax is capped on vehicle purchases. That means the sales tax on that new $27,295 Honda in Memphis would be about $600 less than in St. Louis.

"The sales tax is high. I mean, there's no ifs, ands and buts about it," said Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat who represents Ferguson, where police recently started a special enforcement program targeting expired temporary tags.

But some help may be coming for Missouri drivers who can't handle the big extra payment. It won't reduce the tax, but it'll allow buyers to include the amount in car payments.

State legislators recently passed a bill that allows dealers to handle sales taxes starting in 2026 or 2027, said Doug Smith, executive director of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association. It'll make dealerships a "one-stop shop," he said.

On the streets

In the St. Louis region, it's hard to drive a block without spotting an expired temporary tag.

A Post-Dispatch reporter spotted one every other tightly packed row in the Brentwood Promenade's parking lot on a recent Saturday. Yolanda Perkins, of St. Louis, had one that expired in early June on an SUV she recently bought at a Bommarito Nissan dealership.

Perkins, of St. Louis, said she knew about Missouri's sales tax process when she purchased her car. But it'd be like a second down payment to get her plates, she said.

"You know, I don't have it right now," Perkins said. "I just don't."

At the Schnucks South City, Rodney Owens, of St. Louis, was driving his SUV with temporary tags that expired on Dec. 24. The sales taxes would cost him $2,500, which is too much for now, he said.

"But as soon as I get back on my feet, it'd be OK," Owens said.

William Waller, managing attorney of criminal and municipal defense at ArchCity Defenders, a public interest law firm, said a lot of his clients may not have a credit situation that would allow them to get dealers to finance their sales taxes. And enforcement of proper vehicle registration affects everyone, Waller said.

"But because of the financial requirements in Missouri, it is almost ubiquitous among people who don't have a lot of disposable income," he said.

Perkins' goal is to pay off her sales taxes, she said, "because who wants to get pulled over all the time and get tickets?"

Owens, though, wasn't as concerned. At the busy Tower Grove East grocery store, even a security guard at the lot, who declined to speak with the Post-Dispatch, had expired tags.

"Just like running a stop sign or running a red light," Owens said, "I think the police just don't care."

'Liar's poker'

Tom Fascetti, the general manager of Don Brown Chevrolet, is in a competition with his colleagues at the south city dealership. Every day, employees there take pictures of the temporary tags they see on their way in to work. Whoever snaps a shot of the oldest one might win a soda, he said.

"We all come in and we just go, 'OK, who's got it?"' he said. "It's like playing liar's poker."

Fascetti said temp tags in Missouri are an embarrassment.

"Everybody's concerned about paying their sales tax," Fascetti said. "But in essence, it's part of being an adult."

Smith, the dealers association executive, said the temporary-tag situation in St. Louis is an epidemic. It comes at a time when vehicle prices have never been higher, he said.

Sales tax rates in Missouri can change on different sides of a single street, Smith said. Every time a municipality needs to increase revenue, he said, they increase sales tax rates.

"It doesn't seem like there's a stopping point," Smith said.

Proudie said constituents have complained to her for years about drivers with expired temp tags. There, the police department recently launched "Temp Tag Tuesday," a special enforcement program.

Troy Doyle, the city's new police chief, posted data that showed most people stopped were let off with a warning, Proudie said. But when she asked for more details about the program, Proudie said the chief told her it wasn't in his purview to answer the state representative.

"I appreciate them saying, 'OK, we are going to try to, we are going to pull them over and give them education and resources,'" Proudie said. "But what is that? And what does that look like?"

Proudie said she is concerned about the impact the new program could have on meeting requirements set by a federal consent decree that aims to reshape public safety there following the Michael Brown killing in 2014.

Doyle didn't respond to a phone call and email for this story but last month told the Post-Dispatch the new program is not predatory in nature.

Elsewhere, police have gone further. KTVI (Channel 2) reported that Calverton Park was towing cars off of driveways with expired tags.

"That sort of practice is what I would do if I wanted to depopulate and dissolve a city," said Waller, whose firm is looking into the enforcement in Calverton Park.

Proudie said she's concerned some of the new programs may be overly punitive and a measure to fill municipal coffers.

"I just want to make sure, and be in the know, especially if police departments are asking for support, that when they do initiatives," she said, "that they are concise, they are clear and it's something that the public understands in full, not just that we're doing 'something' because people are complaining about it."

The deal

A new bill is set to allow dealers to collect sales taxes on vehicles. But it'll take until 2026 or 2027, as the change requires new technology at the dealerships, Smith said.

For drivers, Smith said the new legislation will make the car buying process easier. Titling and registering the vehicle at point of sale adds a layer of convenience to the process, he said.

Fascetti said the change  which will roll the taxes into car loans, he said  will definitely help customers and may help dealers sell cars.

And, the new process will definitely help the state, Fascetti said, "because they're missing out on millions and millions of dollars of sales tax money on car purchases."

But while the change may put a dent in the number of expired temporary tags, it'll do nothing to get drivers to keep their registration up to date by paying their vehicle personal property taxes, Proudie said. Again, it's a high tax rate that's seen as the culprit. The state has the third-highest vehicle property tax rate in the country, according to a WalletHub report. Three of Missouri's eight neighbors, Illinois, Oklahoma and Tennessee, do not levy property taxes on vehicles.

This spring, Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, unsuccessfully pushed legislation to lower personal property taxes on vehicles. Eigel, who is expected to run for governor in 2024, called the tax an unfair burden on the people of Missouri, where "it's OK for the government to charge you rent on your car."

But Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, said the tax revenue is essential for rural counties like the one she represents.

"In Shelby County, the personal property tax pays for our roads and our schools and our nursing home," she said.

Perkins, the car owner from St. Louis with expired tags, said the changes to the state's sales tax system would help a lot of people. As for the cost of the taxes, she said Missouri should have the same rates as other states.

"Why, according to where demographics and where you live, why should it be more or less?" Perkins said. "It should just be one set (rate)."

The Schnellers, who own the Hyundai, are eventually looking to buy a new car. But given a potential move to Mississippi, they may hold off on getting one in Missouri, Darren said.

"Then, I know I can do sales tax like I did in the South," Darren said, "and it makes it so much easier."

Victor Stefanescu  314-340-8213 @vic_stef on Twitter vstefansecu@post-dispatch.com
How to Generate Demand for Your Streaming Service

What's the best way to draw subscribers and viewers to your streaming service and maintain the audience numbers that keep subscription services profitable and satisfy brands? Christina Chung, VP Business Operations, Estrella Media, and James Lauzun, VP of Product, MagellanTV, discuss this topic with Jonathan Hurd, Partner, Altman Solon, in this clip from their Streaming Media East 2023 panel.

Hurd begins the discussion by asking Lauzun about MagellanTVs processes for generating demand and acquiring customers. Whenever we do one of our original productions, we're usually allocating dollar for dollar for the actual production [costs] into marketing that production, Lauzun says. We view those two things as essential because we believe that you're not just going to have viewers because you have some come content. In terms of the marketing itself, we got our start with YouTube influencers. That's a really effective way to shortcut that sales and marketing conversation. He notes that doing Facebook or pay-per-click ads requires a more hands-on approach with the service provider to ensure maximum effectiveness, while working with the right influencer can bring instant brand credibility. All the influencer needs to talk about is what kind of documentaries [the audience] is going to find really appealing, he says. And that kind of shortcut originally was how we had our first phase of explosive growth. He notes, however, that it can be a gamble to find an influencer who is the best fit for your brand.

Lauzun talks about MagellanTVs current marketing tactics now that they have become more established and do not have to rely too heavily on the more unpredictable influencer route. Now it's about taking all of those things that we've learned about our positioning, our marketing, the data that we have around usage, the interviews, the surveysit's now [about] how can we come off of the influencer roulette table and repeat some of this messaging [with] online advertising on Facebook and Google? he says. But again, staying specific to the kinds of users we're looking for. That's actually a big part of our revenue generation, the fact that we are really aggressive with securing new FAST positionsnot only [with] primary SVOD releases, but we actually have a pretty short exclusive window for that a lot of times, unless it's like a really high marquee value film. But we'll immediately start syndicating that out to different AVOD platforms, so really pushing that content out and making sure that users can easily find you anywhere.

Hurd asks Christina Chung of Estrella Media to discuss their approach to demand generation. All your users, they're not subscribers, they're viewers, right? he says. But you still have to make them aware you exist. So how do you do that?

We actually have a wholly dedicated team [for] customer acquisition, Chung says. They pull data, and they work with our partners. She says Estrella Medias highest views are on FAST channels, which handle much of the marketing and promotions. So we work hand-in-hand with these partners of ours to make sure that our consumers are understanding what content [is] coming up next month [and] in the Fall, she says. These are things that we work very closely with our marketing partners over on the distribution ends. And on top of that, we also make sure that our content is relevant for each of these different platforms. What we're working towards is developing curated experiences by platform.

Chung expands further on how Estrella works explicitly with different platforms. For example, we have the Roku Channel, and we have Samsung TV Plus, she says. Each of these channels has different audiences associated with them. One of the things that we're working towards is maybe creating a curated experience for the Roku channel, a curated experience for Samsungs TV Plus, just so that we are able to really capture our audiences and keep it sticky and engaging. Because, at the end of the day, Estrella is founded on fandom. Our Tengo Talento [is] in the 27th season. And it's because people keep coming back to watch the show because they're very dedicated and obsessed with our content. So we want to make it readily available for them on a curated experience by platform.

Learn more about a wide range of streaming industry topics at Streaming Media Connect 2023.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / GoDaddy



Originally published on GoDaddy Life

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey at GoDaddy.

I am a nature lover, dog mom, and Emerging Talent Recruiter. I'm originally from Mexico City, attended college at University of North Texas (Go Eagles!) and graduated with a double major in Communications and Public Affairs. After graduating, I moved to Arizona where I eventually became a part of the GoDaddy family in 2016. Initially, I joined the Spanish Customer Care department as a Bilingual Agent. During my time as a Customer Care Agent, I learned all about our GoDaddy product offerings and had the privilege of interacting with many of our customers from all over the world, helping them with their exciting entrepreneurial ventures. After a year as a Customer Care Agent, I had the opportunity to join the Talent Acquisition team for a three-month "stretch assignment." During this time, I worked as a Recruiting Coordinator. These three months turned into six months, then nine months, and eventually, I received an offer to permanently join the team full-time! Working as a Recruiting Coordinator helped me develop a strong understanding of the recruitment process and the impact it has on both organizations and individuals. During this time, GoDaddy was experiencing a period of "hyper-growth." This meant there were many exciting opportunities to take on new challenges - from scheduling complex interview panels for all levels of the company, to cross-training in different areas of recruitment, helping improve processes, testing new CRM and ATS systems, and even training and onboarding new members of our team. All of these learnings built my skill set, which eventually led to me transferring to a role as a Recruiter on our Emerging Talent team. I get to work with a great team that creates opportunities for both internal and external candidates to further their careers. Being able to connect talented individuals with opportunities that align with their skills and aspirations has been extremely rewarding. One of the best parts of my team is that I have an incredibly supportive manager who has allowed me to explore other areas of interest to further my skills. I'm a creative at heart, so being able to utilize those skills to cultivate meaningful experiences for our talent programs has been incredibly fulfilling!

You are actively involved, within the organization. Do you mind sharing more about your involvement and how that has shaped you?

Aside from the job duties of my role, I am also an active member in our Employee Resource Groups. Particularly GDLIT (LatinX in Tech). Being part of this group has allowed me to network with other employees outside of my immediate team, and given me a sense of belonging. GDLIT is a safe space where I can share my heritage and give back to my community through different volunteering events. Some of my favorite events to attend are career exploration fairs. We're able to talk to younger generations and share our journeys with them, as well as open their minds to different career paths.

GoDaddy empowers their employees to be part of its many Employee Resource groups that serve different demographics and/or affinities. They all have a wide range of events and activities throughout the year. Together, ERGs are one of the many reasons why GoDaddy is such a great place to work.

What has GoDaddy done to support you?

Another reason why GoDaddy is an extraordinary workplace is that employees are encouraged to have work-life balance. This benefit allows me to Live Passionately and spend time doing the things that fuel my spirit. I'm an avid nature explorer and adventurer, so when I'm not working, I'm spending time with my husband and three dogs, either out on a hike, camping, or cooling off in a lake. We also like to hit the slopes in the winter for some snowboarding fun. As a dog lover and dog mom, one of my passions is helping dogs in need find their furever homes, particularly for my favorite breed: the Giant Schnauzer. I have been volunteering and fostering for a local rescue organization for the last two years, and I recently was invited to become a board member to help run the operations of the organization, which I'm really excited about.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You're more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoDaddyLife

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/godaddylife/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/godaddylife

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GoDaddyLife

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@godaddylife ?

? Career Page - https://careers.godaddy.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GoDaddy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: GoDaddy

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Gildan Activewear

As part of Gildan's unwavering commitment to its communities and in alignment with the Company's Next Generation ESG strategy, Gildan is pleased to share that it has recently completed the construction and furnishing of the Monte San Juan School in Rivas, Nicaragua. With Gildan's investment in the project totaling USD $128,000, the Company has funded a collection of initiatives with the express objective of strengthening the educational infrastructure for children and teenagers in the region.

The project, which began in July 2022, included the construction of two new classrooms and accompanying restrooms, drinking fountains, a school pantry, a water tank, and the installation of a perimeter fence surrounding the school. Additionally, the existing preschool classrooms, which were outdated, received essential maintenance. With these updates, Gildan continues to underscore the value it places on furthering education in its communities by improving the classroom environment and promoting the well-being of youth in the Rivas region.

Gildan's contributions to the Monte San Juan School were prompted by multiple suggestions from employees through the Company's Part of Your Life program, which invites workers to propose projects in the community that they would like Gildan to invest in.

"Gildan is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen, and one of the ways we ensure this is by encouraging our people to speak up about the needs in their community and recommend ways to address them," says Claudia Sandoval, Vice-President, Global Social Compliance and Environmental Affairs at Gildan. "This way we know that the projects we implement are adding real value to our workers lives."

The school was inaugurated by esteemed guests, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Rivas city hall, as well as administrators, teachers, students, parents, and Gildan representatives. The success of the Gildan Rivas worker's proposal and the enthusiastic support for the project from local officials demonstrates the collaborative effort invested in shaping a brighter future for communities in Nicaragua.

"Gildan is very grateful to Rivas' Ministry of Education for granting us the opportunity to carry out construction on the Monte San Juan School. As an organization, we are always striving to find new initiatives that embody our core values and benefit the people and places that our operations touch, and there is no better way to do this than by furthering the success of the community through education," finishes Claudia.

Find out more about Gildan's respect for communities here.

Gildan Invests Over $120,000 in School Construction and Infrastructure Improvement in Rivas, Nicaragua

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gildan Activewear on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Gildan Activewear

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gildan-activewear

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Gildan Activewear

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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 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

[email protected]

1300 88 66 88

SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations

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Insurtech Koop Technologies raised new funding from top-tier technology investors, led by Alley Robotics Ventures, to scale the distribution of its proprietary insurance products and risk-control tools for robotics and autonomous vehicle risks.

PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Koop Technologies ("Koop"), an insurance technology company focused on the robotics ecosystem, has announced new funding to scale the distribution of its flagship insurance program in partnership with Lloyd's of London and several world-class insurance carriers. Koop will use the new capital to promote its products across multiple distribution channels and invest in further product development. The round was led by Alley Robotics Ventures, a New York-based investor focused on transformative ventures in the field of robotics, with participation from Fusion Fund and existing investors Ubiquity Ventures, Bee Partners, WestWave Capital, and Sure Ventures.

Insurtech Koop Technologies Raises New Funding to Scale Distribution

"I'm delighted to welcome Alley Robotics Ventures to the Koop family. Despite challenging economic conditions, we found a strong partner that shares our vision for the future of financial protection services for robotics OEMs and service providers. It's a special time to build in robotics, and we are excited to have fresh capital to support our customers," said Sergey Litvinenko, co-founder and CEO. "Just over the last 12 months, we pioneered a Koop API autonomous vehicle integration, grew the book of business 3x across 14 robotics use cases, posted a top-percentile Loss Ratio across the whole portfolio, and gained a prestigious Coverholder status with world-renowned Lloyd's of London. I'm thrilled to achieve the next milestones with Alley Robotics Ventures," added Litvinenko.

Growth in automation technologies has significantly accelerated due to the mounting shortage and high cost of labor in the last few years. Mobile, stationary, industrial robotics, AGVs, and autonomous vehicles led the way in units deployed globally. The growth of the robotics industry has almost doubled in the last two years and is expected to reach a 25% CAGR from 2023 to 2030. However, the insurance industry is not catching up with robotics, as the concept of robotics liability is problematic for insurers who can't take advantage of robotics data. In turn, this causes problems for robotics developers and operators that go uninsured, have to self-insure or are stuck with extremely limited options. Meanwhile, the demand for automation is skyrocketing. The traditional insurance marketplace lacks the underwriting methodology and risk-control tools to take on robotics risks, which is where Koop Technologies differentiates itself.

"Koop equips the world of robotics with reliable coverage, pricing benefits, and risk-control tools. It's a comprehensive, end-to-end product that solves many pain points and minimizes liability risks in robotics," noted Litvinenko. "It's crucial for the robotics industry to instill trust in end-users to drive adoption. Naturally, insurance is the necessary layer of trust that robotics lacked until Koop came into the scene. As the robotics industry continues to experience massive adoption, and innovation across verticals, Koop will become an industry household name as companies and organizations look to understand and mitigate emerging risks," said Abe Murray, General Partner at Alley Robotics Ventures. "Koop has already shown tremendous traction and momentum within the insurance industry, and we are looking forward to their continued growth," added Murray.

About Koop Technologies

Koop Technologies is an insurance technology company focused on the robotics ecosystem. The company developed an underwriting platform that uses alternative data to perform risk evaluation for a wide range of robotics use cases, including autonomous vehicles. Koop Technologies is licensed in more than 30 U.S. states through its insurance subsidiary and partnered with some of the leading insurance carriers. To learn more about the company, please visit www.koop.ai.

About Alley Robotics Ventures

Alley Robotics Ventures is an early-stage robotics and automation fund. Alley Robotics launched its first $30 million fund in 2022, backed by Kevin Ryan of AlleyCorp and Eliot Horowitz of Viam Robotics. For more information, please visit www.arv.team.

Contact Information

Jim Duan

[email protected]

SOURCE: Koop Technologies

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Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: YUMC) today announced the appointment of Mr. David Hoffmann to the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Hoffmann will serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board. Following the appointment, the Board is comprised of 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.

"We are honored to have Dave join our Board of Directors," said Yum China's Independent Chairman Dr. Fred Hu . "Dave brings to us unique perspectives through his leadership experience in the global restaurant industry, strong operational expertise, and deep knowledge about doing business in China and Asia Pacific . I am confident he will prove a valuable addition to our Board."

Joey Wat , CEO of Yum China commented, "Dave's extensive experience in spearheading operational and business transformations will be invaluable as we continue to execute our RGM (Resilience-Growth-Moat) strategy. I look forward to Dave's insights and contribution to our Board as together we work to deliver sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value."

David Hoffmann , age 55, has served as the chairman and chief executive officer of Mammoth Holdings, a Dallas -based conveyor car wash operator since October 2021 . Prior to joining Mammoth Holdings, Mr. Hoffmann held a variety of top leadership positions in the global quick service restaurant industry. Mr. Hoffmann served as Director and CEO of Dunkin' Brands from 2018 to 2020 and as President, Dunkin' U.S. from 2016 to 2018. Prior to joining Dunkin' Brands, Mr. Hoffmann served as an executive for McDonald's Corporation for 20 years in increasing areas of international responsibility, including as President of High Growth Markets, President of Asia Pacific , Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Senior Vice President and Restaurant Support Officer for APMEA, Vice President of Strategy, Insights and Development for APMEA, and Executive Vice President of McDonald's Japan . Mr. Hoffmann received his master's degree of business administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago in 1996.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.

About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,800 cities in China . KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China , respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China . Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com .

Investor Relations Contact:

Tel: +86 21 2407 7556 / +852 2267 5801

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Media Contact:

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SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.
iProov helps Eurostar speed up and streamline the travel process

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eurostar Group, the high-speed international rail service connecting the UK with mainland Europe, has announced the roll-out at London St Pancras Station of SmartCheck, a contactless fast-track facial biometric check-in system supplied by iProov, a global provider of biometric solutions. With SmartCheck, passengers can go through only one passport check instead of two. SmartCheck enables Eurostars Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers to save time and avoid queues for ticket and UK border exit checks in the station, by securely enrolling their ticket, passport and face before they travel, using their mobile devices whenever convenient. The result is a contactless, ticketless, and secure travel experience that enhances the overall passenger journey.

Customers booked in Business Premier or Carte Blanche holders who would like to use SmartCheck opt in and download the SmartCheck iProov.me app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to their smartphone. Before traveling, the passenger uses the app to scan their identity documentation and verify their face alongside their tickets using their mobile device. The new system then enables Eurostar passengers to expedite pre-boarding processes at the station by proceeding through a dedicated SmartCheck corridor with its walk-past facial biometric checkpoint. This fast, contactless route replaces the existing processes of check-in at gates and the manual UK border exit check. Just baggage inspection and one passport check through French border control remain.

The roll-out, which is effective from 18 July 2023, follows a successful trial of the new system that occurred between December 2021 and April 2022 during which iProov worked with its partner Entrust to create the pilot to meet Eurostars needs. The SmartCheck solution incorporates iProovs Biometric Solution Suite with Biometric checkpoint, together with Entrusts Identity Verification as a Service (IDVaaS) technology for identity orchestration and digital travel credential (DTC) management.

Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar Groups CEO said: Providing a seamless station experience to our customers is a priority for Eurostar: we continue looking for solutions to increase capacity in stations and simplify the passengers flows. SmartCheck in St Pancras International station is a solution for a faster and seamless check-in experience. By introducing SmartCheck, we become the first rail travel operator to adopt biometric face verification. This innovation will enhance our customer departure journey, which is crucial to provide Eurostars unique travel experience.

Andrew Bud, founder, and CEO, iProov said: The rollout of SmartCheck in Eurostars Business Premier check-in at London St Pancras is significant because it clearly demonstrates how facial biometric technology can be used to manage border control in a smarter and more efficient way, to benefit both organizations and passengers at scale. By creating a biometric corridor, we are moving security checks away from the station, saving precious time and space at the border, streamlining the boarding process to one thats far faster, more convenient, less crowded and stressful, yet even more secure."

About the trial

As part of the First of a Kind 2020 competition run by Innovate UK, the trial of the iProov solution was funded by the Department for Transport (DfT). The initiative supported research, development, and innovation for the UK rail industry. The trial involved Eurostar passengers and focused on the check-in and exit control processes operated by Eurostar at St Pancras Station.

The trial was developed in close partnership with Eurostar and WorldReach Software, now part of global identity and data security company Entrust. All personal data is processed in compliance with the GDPR, with full passenger consent.

About Eurostar Group

Initiated in September 2019, the proposed alliance between Eurostar and Thalys, received approval from the European Commission at the end of March 2022 giving rise to holding company Eurostar Group on May 1, 2022.

Eurostar Group is owned by SNCF Voyages Developpement (55.75%), CDPQ (19.31%), the SNCB (18.50%) and funds managed by Federated Hermes Infrastructure (6.44%).

The holding company is based in Brussels and holds 100% of the shares of Eurostar International Limited (Eurostar) and THI Factory SA (Thalys), which remain full-fledged railway companies and are headquartered in London and Brussels respectively.

The ambition is to provide an attractive alternative to road and air transport and to accelerate the modal shift from 19 million passengers carried in 2019 to 30 million within 10 years.

The new entity will offer the largest international high-speed network in Western Europe and has set itself the objective of deploying an ambitious environmental policy over the next few years.

About iProov

iProov provides science-based face biometric authentication solutions to governments and enterprises around the world. The companys multi-dimensional Biometric Solutions Suite enables organizations to offer remote onboarding and authentication for secure and effortless digital and physical access. Used by organizations including the Australian Taxation Office, GovTech Singapore, ING, Rabobank, UBS, UK Home Office, UK National Health Service (NHS), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security iProov biometric face verification technology provides the highest levels of identity assurance in conjunction with an unsurpassed customer experience. iProov Biometric Solutions Suite is protected by iProov Security Operations Center (iSOC) a 24/7 active threat management service. iProov was recognized as an Innovation Leader by industry analyst KuppingerCole, in the Leadership Compass, Providers of Verified Identity 2022 report. In 2023, iProov was named in Gartners Buyers Guide for Identity Proofing. For more information, please see www.iproov.com or follow on LinkedIn or Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717067548/en/

Louise Burke

Global PR Manager  iProov

[email protected]

Eurostar Press Office

020 7843 5500

[email protected]

Source: iProov
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exchange Income Corporation (TSX: EIF) (EIC or the Corporation) a diversified, acquisition-oriented company focused on opportunities in the aviation, aerospace and manufacturing sectors, is pleased to announce its subsidiary, Keewatin Air LP (Keewatin Air), was the successful bidder to provide critical care fixed wing medevac coverage for the Province of Manitoba.

The tendered 10-year contract requires a fleet of five planes which will be a combination of jet and turbo prop aircraft. It follows a 10-year contract awarded last month by the Province of British Columbia to EIC`s subsidiary Carson Air to provide fixed wing medevac coverage.

EIC is excited to continue expanding our medevac business. These two contracts speak to the quality of and confidence placed in our medevac services, said Mike Pyle, CEO of EIC. The aircraft are in the process of being acquired and modified with state-of-the-art medical interiors and will be phased into service commencing at the end of the first quarter of 2024, explained David White, CEO of Keewatin Air.

Mike concluded by saying, Our medevac operations are a capability we have invested considerable capital and accumulated industry leading experience over the last five decades to become the market leaders in Canada. Based on our proficiency in this industry and the consistent demand, it is a business line we have sought to expand. With the recent contract awards in Manitoba and British Columbia, and our existing medevac contracts in Nunavut, Alberta, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia our footprint is truly national with operations spanning from coast to coast to coast.

About Exchange Income Corporation

Exchange Income Corporation are a diversified acquisition-oriented company, focused in two sectors: aerospace & aviation services and equipment, and manufacturing. The Corporation uses a disciplined acquisition strategy to identify already profitable, well-established companies that have strong management teams, generate steady cash flow, operate in niche markets and have opportunities for organic growth. For more information on the Corporation, please visit www.ExchangeIncomeCorp.ca. Additional information relating to the Corporation, including all public filings, is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About Keewatin Air

Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and founded over 5 decades ago Keewatin Air is the primary provider of fixed wing air ambulance services in all three regions of Nunavut as well as rotational medevac services in Manitoba. Keewatin Air provides specialized onboard medical staff for Trauma Flight, a rotary medevac scene response service operated in partnership with their sister company Custom Helicopters in Thompson, MB. Keewatin Air provides contract and general air charter services within Manitoba and across Canada. These services are collectively provided from its three bases in Manitoba; Winnipeg, Thompson, and Churchill as well as their five arctic bases in; Iqaluit, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Yellowknife.

Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements

The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, COVID-19 and pandemic-related risks, the dependence of Exchange Income Corporation on the operations and assets currently owned by it, the degree to which its subsidiaries are leveraged, the fact that cash distributions are not guaranteed and will fluctuate with the Corporations financial performance, dilution, restrictions on potential future growth, the risk of shareholder liability, competitive pressures (including price competition), changes in market activity, the cyclicality of the industries, seasonality of the businesses, poor weather conditions, and foreign currency fluctuations, legal proceedings, commodity prices and raw material exposure, dependence on key personnel, and environmental, health and safety and other regulatory requirements. Except as required by Canadian Securities Law, the Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements; such statements speak only as of the date made. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Exchange Income Corporation with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717174460/en/

Mike Pyle

Chief Executive Officer

Exchange Income Corporation

(204) 982-1850

[email protected]

Pam Plaster

Vice President, Investor Development

Exchange Income Corporation

(204) 953-1314

[email protected]

Source: Exchange Income Corporation
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.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2023 - 10:13 | All, Japan, World

Japan's support would be the most important to the United States among its allies for defending Taiwan in the event of Chinese aggression, according to a U.S. think tank.

Given its geographic limitations, the United States would have to rely on support from allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and "above all Japan," the Council on Foreign Relations said in a recent report, titled "U.S.-Taiwan relations in a new era."

Japan hosts about 54,000 U.S. troops and the headquarters of some U.S. key units such as the Navy's 7th Fleet and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the report noted.

"The United States would find it nearly impossible to respond promptly and effectively to Chinese aggression against Taiwan without being able to call on" U.S. forces and its facilities in Japan, the New York-based think tank said.

U.S. fighter jets would be "unable to effectively join the fight" without the use of bases in Japan, and prior consultations with Tokyo would be needed for their deployment in combat operations.

To "pave the way for smooth prior consultations" during a Taiwan crisis, Japan and the United Sates "should have regular, serious dialogues," the report said.

Tensions have been mounting between Communist-led China and the United States over the self-ruled democratic island, which has been governed separately from Beijing since they split in 1949 as a result of a civil war.

China sees Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

A conflict over Taiwan is widely seen as concern for Japan due to the proximity of its islands in the southwest -- including the Senkaku Islands, a group of East China Sea islets controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

The report also said that the United States would need support from other regional allies, specifically naming Australia and the Philippines.

"Although U.S. allies are becoming increasingly open about their willingness to support U.S. intervention on behalf of Taiwan, more clarity is needed" so that Washington can discuss role-sharing with its allies and develop a "more integrated war plan," it added.

On the economic front, the report said China is likely entering a long-term slowdown and is not expected to achieve sustained growth due to U.S. policies including export controls on advanced technologies.

With a further downturn, Chinese President Xi Jinping could make further moves to "turn to the Taiwan issue to rally support" for the ruling Communist Party and his personal rule, according to the paper.

As Xi's third five-year term as the party's head approaches its end in 2027, "the risk of a conflict over Taiwan will grow," it said.

Related coverage:

Taiwan pledges to work with U.S. to safeguard Indo-Pacific
DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Credit Company will release their second quarter 2023 financial results at 4:05 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 27.

At 5:00 p.m. ET the same day, Jim Farley, president and chief executive officer; John Lawler, chief financial officer; and other members of the Ford senior management team will host a conference call to discuss the results in the context of the companys ambitious Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. Representatives of the investment community will be able to ask questions during the call.

The presentation and supporting material will be available at www.shareholder.ford.com.

Ford Earnings Call  Thursday, July 27, at 5 p.m. ET Toll-Free: 1-844-282-4573

International: 1-412-317-5617

Registration beforehand is strongly recommended to expedite access to the call

Webcast: www.shareholder.ford.com

Replay  Available after 8 p.m. ET Thursday, July 27 through Thursday, Aug 3 Toll-Free: 1-877-344-7529

International: 1-412-317-0088

Canada Toll Free: 1-855-669-9658

Conference ID: 1732240

Webcast: www.shareholder.ford.com

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The companys Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 174,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717218950/en/

Media

T.R. Reid

1.313.319.6683

[email protected]

Equity Investment Community

Lynn Antipas Tyson

1.914.485.1150

[email protected]

Fixed Income Investment Community

Chris Conti

1.313.418.1673

[email protected]

Shareholder Inquiries

1.800.555.5259 or

1.313.845.8540

[email protected]

Source: Ford Motor Company
GAINESVILLE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As of July 2023, Gainesville Eye Associates and North Georgia Eye Clinic, the two largest, premier comprehensive ophthalmology practices in North Georgia, have joined together to form North Georgia Eye Associates. Together, the two practices will share a more than 100-year legacy of excellence providing North Georgians a wide array of eye care services, from routine preventative care to surgical repair and cosmetic procedures.

Click here to watch the official merger video

"We are excited to announce this merger, as it represents a significant milestone for both practices and the communities we serve," said Dr. Jack Chapman, Managing Partner and Ophthalmologist at Gainesville Eye Associates. "By combining our strengths and resources, we will be able to offer an even higher level of care, advanced technologies, and a wider range of specialized services to our patients."

Both practices are continually recognized throughout Georgia for their legacy of clinical expertise. Gainesville Eye Associates was the first eye care facility in Northeast Georgia to introduce the breakthrough bladeless laser cataract surgery, while North Georgia Eye Clinic was recognized by Newsweek as one of Americas Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers in 2022. Many of the doctors are repeatedly recognized as Castle Connolly and Atlanta Magazine Top Doctors. Together, the partnership will offer patients improved accessibility, including an expanded, state-of-the-art surgery center located at one of their facilities on Beverly Road (2061 Beverly Rd, Gainesville).

Dr. Matthew Kaufman, Managing Partner and Ophthalmologist at North Georgia Eye Clinic, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This merger allows us to further our commitment to exceptional patient care by leveraging the collective knowledge and expertise of our talented team. We are confident that our unified practice will set a new standard for ophthalmology in North Georgia."

With a shared commitment to exceptional eye care, this strategic alliance combines the expertise, experience, and resources of two highly esteemed practices, solidifying their position as the leaders in ophthalmology throughout the North Georgia region.

The newly merged practice will operate under the name North Georgia Eye Associates and will continue to offer services at their existing locations, ensuring convenient access to exceptional eye care for patients throughout the region. Patients can expect a seamless transition, with no interruption to their current appointments or treatment plans.

To learn more about North Georgia Eye Associates and the services they provide, visit: northgeorgiaeye.com.

About North Georgia Eye Associates

As of July 2023, Gainesville Eye Associates and North Georgia Eye Clinic, the two largest, premier comprehensive ophthalmology practices in North Georgia, joined to form North Georgia Eye Associates. Together, the two practices share more than 100 years of combined experience bringing North Georgians a wide array of eye care services, from routine preventative care to surgical repair and cosmetic procedures, to help their patients achieve optimal vision. The practice (previously Gainesville Eye Associates) was the first eye care facility in Northeast Georgia to introduce the breakthrough bladeless laser cataract surgery. To learn more, visit: northgeorgiaeye.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717505293/en/

North Georgia Eye Associates Media Contact:

Jules Lydon, Media & Events Manager

(404) 383-0868

[email protected]

Source: North Georgia Eye Associates
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the worlds 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 Intelligences 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 BrainChips first-to-market, fully digital neuromorphic Akida technology.

Akidas 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 dollars 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 companys 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 todays 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/

Media:

Mark Smith

JPR Communications

818-398-1424

Investor:

Tony Dawe

BrainChip

[email protected]

Source: BrainChip Holdings Ltd
CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (TSE: IMO, NYSE American: IMO) Brad Corson, chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Dave Hughes, vice-president, investor relations, Imperial Oil Limited, will host a 2023 Second Quarter Earnings Call on Friday, July 28, following the companys second quarter earnings release that morning. The event begins at 9 a.m. MT and will be accessible by webcast.

During the call, Mr. Corson will offer brief remarks prior to taking questions from Imperials covering analysts.

Please click here [https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1624639&tp_key=0c09525040] to register for the live webcast. The webcast will be available for one year on the companys website at www.imperialoil.ca/en-ca/company/investors.

In the event that the EDGAR system experiences technical difficulties or the company is unable to successfully complete its Form 8-K earnings press release filing at the intended time, investors and the public should look for this information at that time on Imperials website or on Canadas SEDAR system at www.sedar.com. In case of a failed filing, the company intends to furnish the information on EDGAR as soon as possible.

Source: Imperial

After more than a century, Imperial continues to be an industry leader in applying technology and innovation to responsibly develop Canadas energy resources. As Canadas largest petroleum refiner, a major producer of crude oil, a key petrochemical producer and a leading fuels marketer from coast to coast, our company remains committed to high standards across all areas of our business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717461501/en/

For further information:

Investor relations

(587) 476-4743

Media relations

(587) 476-7010

Source: Imperial
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Capsa Healthcare (Capsa), a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC (LLCP), announced today that it has acquired MASS Medical Storage, LLC (MASS Medical).

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, MASS Medical is an innovative designer, manufacturer and assembler of medical storage cabinets and carts. MASS Medical has developed a range of products focused on endoscope drying and storing within gastrointestinal labs and other healthcare centers, as well as general medical storage products used across operating rooms and adjacent settings. With a strong commitment to reliability and exceptional service, MASS Medical is strategically positioned to capitalize on the positive market trends resulting from stricter infection control regulations.

Capsa is a leading provider of innovative, highly engineered, workflow products that increase efficiency and reduce costs, enhance medication security and tighten inventory control across healthcare settings worldwide. Capsas core offerings include mobile workstations, medication management solutions and pharmacy automation products, which are produced at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, as well as additional production facilities in Portland, Oregon, Agua Prieta, Mexico, and Waalwijk, Netherlands. With over 60 years of product innovation experience, Capsa has grown steadily through a combination of internal development and the acquisition of complementary product brands and technology platforms.

Eric Webb, CEO of Capsa, commented, We are thrilled to welcome MASS Medical to the Capsa family. The teams commitment to delivering market-leading drying and organization solutions aligns perfectly with our vision of providing healthcare professionals in diverse disciplines with innovative products that improve the clinicians operational efficiency and ability to achieve exceptional patient outcomes."

"We are excited about joining forces with Capsa," added Dave Guezuraga, CEO of MASS Medical. "Combining our strengths and resources will enable us to better serve our customers, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional value. Capsas expertise in both software and hardware engineering will support portfolio evolution and advance the storage and processing of endoscopes, as well as optimize workflows in related procedure areas of the healthcare facility.

Andrew Schwartz, a Partner at LLCP, stated, MASS Medicals range of carts and cabinets presents an attractive workflow segment that complements Capsas existing acute care product offering and broadens Capsas addressable market. We look forward to continued growth of both Capsa and MASS Medical.

Capsas purchase of MASS Medical is the companys sixth acquisition during LLCPs ownership.

Capsa is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners VI, L.P.

About Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm with a 39-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including Franchising & Multi-unit, Business Services, Education & Training and Engineered Products & Manufacturing. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. LLCP believes that by investing in a combination of debt and equity securities, it offers management teams growth capital in a highly tailored, flexible investment structure that can be a more attractive alternative than traditional private equity.

LLCPs global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by nine partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 19 years. Since inception, LLCP has managed approximately $13.3 billion of institutional capital across 15 investment funds and has invested in over 100 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages $8.7 billion of assets and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Miami, London, Stockholm, The Hague and Frankfurt.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717724774/en/

Mark Semer/Sara Widmann

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257 4170

[email protected]

Source: Capsa Healthcare
ST. HELIER, Jersey--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metals Acquisition Limited. (NYSE: MTAL):

Metals Acquisition Limited (MAC or the Company) today announced the appointment of Dan Vujcic as interim Chief Financial Officer in addition to his current role as Chief Development Officer. Mr. Vujcic replaces Jaco Crouse who has left the company to pursue other opportunities. The Board of Directors of the Company has commenced a search for a permanent CFO.

Mr. Vujcic, one of the founders of the company, is well supported by the Companys recently expanded finance team in Canada and Australia. He brings a background that includes Investment Banking & Corporate Advisory with close to two decades of experience in global capital markets and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of an LSE-listed development company. Over his career, Mr. Vujcic has advised clients in a diverse range of commodities across numerous jurisdictions, including raising capital in both equity and debt markets globally, supporting the growth ambitions of emerging miners, and attaining a significant presence in the industry. Previously, Mr. Vujcic led the effort to expand Jefferies footprint globally through its coverage of emerging small/mid-cap and family offices.

Mr. Vujcic started his investment banking career at Citi in Sydney in 2003 in the Metals & Mining team and was involved in several high-profile transactions, including Fortescue Metals Group Ltds US$2.5 billion US high yield bond, its initial greenfield funding, paving the way for the development of one of the largest global iron ore producers. In 2007, Mr. Vujcic moved to Morgan Stanley in London working closely on transactions with Rio Tinto plc, Anglo American plc, First Quantum, and a number of emerging markets mining clients in the CIS and Asia.

Mr. Vujcic completed a Bachelor of Business with 1st Class Honours at the University of Technology, Sydney in 1999 and completed his Chartered Accountants (ICAA) qualification at Arthur Andersen in 2002.

The Company thanks Mr. Crouse for his efforts over the past two years in supporting the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

About Metals Acquisition Limited

Metals Acquisition Limited (NYSE: MTAL) is a company focused on operating and acquiring metals and mining businesses in high quality, stable jurisdictions that are critical in the electrification and decarbonization of the global economy.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717724264/en/

Mick McMullen

Chief Executive Officer

Metals Acquisition Limited.

+1 (817) 698-9901

[email protected]

Dan Vujcic

Chief Development Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer

Metals Acquisition Limited.

+61 451 634 120

[email protected]

Source: Metals Acquisition Limited
Program to award $120,000 in grants to non-profits across the globe to further their mission and build strong and diverse communities

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Q2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: QTWO), a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for banking and lending, today announced its second Q2 Philanthropy Fund grant application cycle, which will award $120,000 in grants to non-profits across the globe to further its mission of building strong and diverse communities. The initiative is led in partnership with Austin Community Foundation (ACF), a grantmaking public charity, to make it easier and more accessible for non-profit organizations to apply for grants from Q2.

We are excited to kick off the second grant cycle of the Q2 Philanthropy Fund and look forward to helping non-profits around the globe increase their positive impact and further their mission, said Kim Rutledge, Chief People Officer, Q2. Our goal is to ignite a community of philanthropists and empower our people to help build strong and diverse communities. To this end, the grant recipients are selected by a committee of Q2 employees from across our organization and geographies.

ACF is a grantmaking public charity dedicated to improving people's lives in a specific region and beyond. ACF helps support Q2s process of managing grant requests to ensure greater access to grant funding through a transparent, rigorous, and equitable process. They also serve as a connector across a robust network of philanthropic organizations, community leaders, and fellow philanthropists, allowing Q2s efforts to benefit more people and communities.

Non-profits are encouraged to apply for a grant through the Q2 Philanthropy Fund. The deadline to apply is August 4, 2023. To be considered eligible, an organization must: have tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) or 170(b)(1)(a)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code and units of government or have a 501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsor. For those non-profits outside of the U.S., ACF partners with a third-party organization to validate the charitable status of the guarantee.

To learn more about grant application requirements and apply for a grant, please visit: https://www.q2.com/q2-philanthopy-fund

In 2021, Q2 launched Q2 Spark, its corporate social responsibility program dedicated to igniting a community of philanthropists within Q2 and serving local communities. In 2022 alone, Q2 employees volunteered more than 9,000 hours for 216 philanthropic organizations; combined with employee giving, Q2 contributed more than $1 million to philanthropic organizations worldwide, including 25 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-focused causes and organizations, representing a 79% increase from 2021. The Q2 Philanthropy Fund is a part of Q2 Spark.

ABOUT AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

For 45 years, Austin Community Foundation has brought together philanthropists, dollars and ideas to make Austin a better place for everyone. The Austin Community Foundation brings together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support local causes and address the needs in their communities.

ABOUT Q2 HOLDINGS, INC.

Q2 is a leading provider of digital banking and lending solutions to banks, credit unions, alternative finance companies, and fintechs in the U.S. and internationally. Q2 enables its financial institutions and fintech companies to provide comprehensive, secure, data-driven digital client engagement solutionsfrom consumers to small businesses and corporate clients. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Q2 has offices throughout the world and is publicly traded on the NYSE under the stock symbol QTWO. To learn more, please visit Q2.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up-to-date.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717565970/en/

Carly Baker

Q2 Holdings, Inc.

+1 210-391-1706

[email protected]

Source: Q2 Holdings, Inc.
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) (the "Company") today announced that it has entered into exclusive discussions to sell its business in France to Equinox Industries ("Equinox"), a Paris -based industrial holding company that makes long-term majority equity investments. In addition, Didier Quillot , a Senior Advisor to Equinox, would participate alongside Equinox in the proposed transaction and would be appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Clear Channel France upon completion. The parties are aiming to complete the proposed transaction in Q4 2023, subject to an information and consultation process with Clear Channel France's employee works council, execution of a share purchase agreement and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to regulatory approval. The Company is not disclosing financial details of the contemplated transaction at this time, and investors should not assume any particular terms.

The Company's Board of Directors continues its reviews of strategic alternatives for the Company's other European businesses. There can be no assurance that the strategic reviews will result in any additional transactions or particular outcomes. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of these processes and may suspend these processes at any time.
Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), will produce Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems for use in Ukraine as part of an order from Norways Ministry of Defense.

The Norwegian MOD will procure an additional 1,000 Black Hornet unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as spare parts, maintenance, and training for Ukrainian operators and instructors. Last August, Norway donated nearly 300 Black Hornet systems to Ukraine forces through the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

Ukraine is very satisfied with previous Norwegian deliveries of this type of reconnaissance drone, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said in a statement.

The award-winning Black Hornet 3 is designed and built by Teledyne FLIR in Norway. The pocket-sized UAV weighs just 33 grams (less than 0.1 pounds) and measures 168 millimeters (less than seven inches). Well suited for operations in highly contested and GPS-denied environments, nearly silent, and with a flight time up to 25 minutes, the Black Hornet transmits live visible and thermal video to the user.

We are honored and proud to support Norways efforts to assist forces in Ukraine, said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. The Black Hornet has proven to be game-changing technology that can help soldiers perform missions more safely and effectively.

Black Hornet drones are currently being used by Ukrainian forces through donations made last summer by the Norwegian and British governments. They have performed successfully in numerous operations under the harshest of environments. FLIR Defense has delivered more than 14,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in over 40 countries.

The U.S. Army has placed Black Hornet orders worth more than $140 million over the past five years, including in support of its Soldier Borne Sensor program.
This agreement is expected to bolster AARs workforce development efforts, benefiting both companies, the industry, and multiple labor markets.

Wood Dale, Illinois, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced today it has signed an agreement with United Airlines to extend its existing airframe MRO services relationship through 2030 and expand its heavy maintenance commitments.

Under this agreement, AAR has committed to growing its dedicated airframe narrow body capacity to provide United Airlines a minimum of 10 lines of maintenance support across AARs Miami, Florida, and Rockford, Illinois, MRO facilities.

To support the additional lines of maintenance, AAR will add a new three-bay hangar adjacent to its existing nine-bay facility at Miami International Airport, pending approval by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners. Miami-Dade County is expected to reimburse the construction costs of the hangar.

Uniteds increased maintenance commitment is projected to create more than 250 AAR careers in the Miami and Rockford communities and grow revenue for Miami International Airport. AAR looks to leverage its well-established approach to workforce development to enhance its efforts to build a best-in-class workforce by hiring a diverse, highly-skilled team to support the additional workload.

United and AAR have enjoyed a long, successful relationship based on AARs reputation for safety, quality, and reliability, said Mike Arata, Managing Director of Base Maintenance for United Airlines. Expanding our relationship with AAR is an important step in building out our internal and external long-term heavy maintenance footprint to meet the demand for our growing fleet.

We are very excited to extend and expand our heavy maintenance support of United Airlines. This new agreement drives an increase in our MRO footprint, which we expect will create hundreds of career opportunities that will benefit the aviation industry and the Miami and Rockford communities, said Chris Jessup, Chief Commercial Officer for AAR.

For more information on AAR, visit aarcorp.com.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AARs Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AARs Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems operations. Additional information can be found at aarcorp.com.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 17, 2023 - 15:13 | World, All

Chinese and U.S. climate envoys held talks in Beijing on Monday, Chinese state-run media said, resuming dialogue to promote bilateral cooperation on climate change in the latest of a series of interactions that demonstrate ties are improving.

The meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry, representing the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters, came as Beijing and Washington accelerate talks with an eye to holding a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden later this year.

The U.S. State Department has said Kerry aims to engage with China on addressing the climate crisis and promoting a successful U.N. climate meeting slated for November and December in the United Arab Emirates.

Kerry reportedly urged China to reduce its dependence on coal power and cut emissions of heat-trapping gasses like methane and carbon dioxide.

The U.S. climate envoy, who is on a four-day visit to Beijing through Wednesday, is the third senior U.S. official to visit China in recent weeks following Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Bilateral exchanges on climate change were suspended when then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, triggering strong protests from Beijing.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Blinken in Indonesia last week, with the two sides agreeing to maintain open channels of communication. Beijing and Washington have also been arranging a visit to China by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to the Chinese state-run media.

Related coverage:

U.S. conveys concerns to China over human rights

Yellen sees progress in U.S.-China ties, alarmed by coercive actions
Newton, MS, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization, in partnership with Animal Rescue Corps, a national nonprofit animal protection organization, responded to an urgent request from Newton County officials for assistance with more than 70 dogs of various breeds found living in deplorable conditions on two properties in Newton, Miss., approximately one hour east of Jackson. Also supporting the ground team on site were Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM), Southern Pines Animal Shelter (SPAS), Rescue Riders Network, and local animal rescuers. All animals were seized by the Newton County Sheriffs Department, and Natalie Fancher Patten a self-described rescuer, and her husband William Patten were arrested and taken into custody on charges of animal cruelty, including felony animal cruelty.

The Newton County Sheriffs Department made this discovery while responding to a complaint that representatives from a purported animal rescue organization and 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Second Paw Dog Rescue, had not been on the property to care for the animal residents there in days. The Sheriffs Department contacted Animal Rescue Corps requesting urgent help upon discovering the severity of the conditions and the large number of animals. Animal Rescue Corps quickly reached out to the other organizations to create a coalition and was on-scene with the necessary equipment, supplies, transport vehicles, volunteers, and a state-licensed veterinarian soon after receiving the call.

Our nation's animal shelters face mounting pressure to increase live release rates amidst a surge in pet intake and slowed adoptions. Unfortunately, a growing number of 'rescues' are being created to meet the demand to support at-risk pets," said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. "The state of these dogs and the horrific conditions they were living in are a clear example of a failed rescue. BISSELL Pet Foundation is proud to partner with Animal Rescue Corps to give these dogs a second chance at life.

Responders found dozens of dogs chained outdoors to trees, trapped in outdoor cages and camping tents, and several more running loose around the nine-acre, trash-strewn property. The dogs had been without access to food, clean water, or necessary veterinary care. On a separate property, over 40 dogs were found running loose and inside a trailer. Over a dozen dead and decomposing carcasses were found in cages and scattered around the property. Two emaciated dogs had to be immediately euthanized due to untreated medical conditions that were too advanced to be treated.

Not all victims of abuse are people, and we take animal cruelty very seriously in our community, said Sheriff Joedy Pennington. We will fully enforce the laws of this state and bring those responsible to justice.

Inside a trailer, among piles of garbage on urine-soaked and feces-covered floors, several dogs including litters of small puppies only a few weeks old were found suffering in unimaginable conditions. The dogs, visibly covered in ticks and fleas, emaciated, dehydrated, and exhibited various illnesses and untreated injuries. Many of the chained dogs appear to have serious dental damage, ground and missing teeth, presumably from chewing at their chains to free themselves.Working under the Newton County Sheriffs Department, BISSELL Pet Foundation and Animal Rescue Corps safely removed the dogs and will transport them to Animal Rescue Corps Rescue Center in Gallatin, Tenn., about 30 minutes outside Nashville. Dogs will receive medical, physical, and social care until they can be placed with partnering shelters and rescue groups. Each animal will receive full medical exams, vaccinations, and any necessary treatments by a team of volunteer veterinarians.

BISSELL Pet Foundation provided critical funding for this emergency operation, coordinated on-scene volunteer support from the BISSELL Pet Foundation Shelter Partner Network, and will manage placement alongside Animal Rescue Corps with trusted shelter and rescue partners. Animal Rescue Corps managed the safe extraction of every animal, assessment, documentation, care, and collection of evidence for any cruelty proceedings in this rescue, dubbed Operation Skin and Bones.

BISSELL Pet Foundations Animal Incident Management initiative was launched specifically to help animals and the people who care for them before, during and after disaster strikes, whether it is a mission such as this one, or a large-scale event, like a hurricane. Learn more and make a donation at bissellpetfoundation.org.

###

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 5,800 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc, where every purchase saves pets. To learn more or make a lifesaving donation, visit bissellpetfoundation.orgAbout Animal Rescue Corps:Since 2010, Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit, has provided large-scale animal rescue for communities that lack resources to address abuse In addition to emergency rescue, ARC offers education and shelter relief. ARCs mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals. To learn more about Animal Rescue Corps, visit: animalrescuecorps.org

About Southern Pines Animal Shelter:Southern Pines purpose is to nurture the bond between people and pets through community, compassion, and collaboration to forge a path toward sustainable, responsible, and community-driven lifesaving. To learn more about Southern Pines Animal Shelter, visit: southernpinesanimalshelter.org

About Humane Society of South Mississippi:The Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) is the largest animal welfare organization in the state of Mississippi. In 2019, HSSM cared for over 7,000 homeless pets. Since our incorporation in 1952, HSSM has been committed to ending pet overpopulation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. HSSM is an open-admissions shelter and turns no pet away based on health, age, or behavioral status. To learn more about Humane Society of South Mississippi, visit: hssm.org

About Animal Rescue New Orleans:Founded in 2006, Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-based organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the New Orleans area, including responding to the immediate needs of those in need of medical care or those too old, too young, too sick, neglected, abused and deprived of love. ARNO promotes the foster, adoption and reunion of pets with their families as well as spaying and neutering all companion animals through our no-kill shelter. To learn more about Animal Rescue New Orleans, visit animalrescueneworleans.org.

Attachments

Brittany Schlacter BISSELL Pet Foundation 616.600.9470 [email protected]

Source: BISSELL Pet Foundation
CALGARY, Alberta, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legacy Lithium Corp. (the Company or Legacy) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Legacy Lithium (Utah) LLC (the Subsidiary) has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 100% of its interest in the mineral properties comprising the Green Energy Project, located in Grand County, Utah (the Property) (the Transaction).

The Subsidiary is selling its interest in the Green Energy Project to Anson Resources Limited (ASX: ASN) (Anson) in exchange for USD$1,000,000 in cash, 15,060,981 Anson common shares (the Consideration Shares), and reimbursement of certain fees and costs payable to the Bureau of Land Management in connection with the Property. One-eighth (1/8) of the Consideration Shares will be issued on closing of the Transaction (Closing), with the remainder of the Consideration shares being subject to an escrow arrangement whereby one-quarter (1/4) of such shares will be released from escrow every six (6) months after Closing.

The Transaction is subject to the approval of Legacy shareholders (Legacy Shareholders), to be obtained at a special meeting of Legacy Shareholders (the Meeting), the Australian Securities Exchange and customary closing conditions. Additional details of the Transaction will be set forth in the information circular prepared by the Company in connection with the Meeting.

About Legacy Lithium Corp.

Legacy Lithium Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsJason LatkowcerCEO & Director

ContactPhone: (604) 294 3020Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the completion of the Transaction, receipt of shareholder approval of Legacy Shareholders at the Meeting, details of the Transaction to be set forth in the management information circular prepared in respect of the Meeting, receipt of Australian Securities Exchange approval and consideration to be received by Subsidiary, including, without limitation the amount of the reimbursed expenses and the timing of escrow release of the Consideration Shares. All forward-looking information is based on the Company's current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by it and information currently available to it. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions and estimates have been made and based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: general market conditions; the Companys ability to obtain shareholder approval in respect of the Transaction; Ansons ability to obtain Australian Securities Exchange Approval in respect of the Transaction, uncertainty with respect to the completion of the Transaction, the Companys business activities following completion of the Transaction. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

Source: Legacy Lithium
ST. LOUIS, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stereotaxis (NYSE: STXS), a pioneer and global leader in surgical robotics for minimally invasive endovascular intervention, today announced that it will release financial results for its 2023 second quarter on Thursday, August 10, 2023 before the open of the U.S. financial markets. The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. EST that day to discuss the Companys results and corporate developments.

What: Stereotaxis second quarter 2023 financial results conference call When: Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) Dial In Number: To access the live call, dial 800-715-9871 (US and Canada) or 1-646-307-1963 (International) and give the participant pass code 5648825. Webcast: To access the live and replay webcast, please visit the investor relations section of Stereotaxis website at http://ir.stereotaxis.com/. Call Replay: A phone replay of the call will be available for one month beginning approximately four hours following the end of the call. To request access for a replay of the conference call, please click here.

About StereotaxisStereotaxis (NYSE: STXS) is a pioneer and global leader in innovative surgical robotics for minimally invasive endovascular intervention. Its mission is the discovery, development and delivery of robotic systems, instruments, and information solutions for the interventional laboratory. These innovations help physicians provide unsurpassed patient care with robotic precision and safety, expand access to minimally invasive therapy, and enhance the productivity, connectivity, and intelligence in the operating room. Stereotaxis technology has been used to treat over 100,000 patients across the United States, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. For more information, please visit www.stereotaxis.com.

Investor Contacts: David L. Fischel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Peery Chief Financial Officer

314-678-6100[email protected]

Source: Stereotaxis, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") and Gold Island Inc., a private company ("Gold Island") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a business combination agreement, July 17th, 2023, (the "Business Combination Agreement") pursuant to which Big Ridge will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gold Island (the "Transaction"). Under the Transaction, Gold Island shareholders will receive 0.8 of one Big Ridge common share for each Gold Island common share held (the "Exchange Ratio"). The Transaction will be effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

Michael Bandrowski, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Big Ridge, commented, "The acquisition will create a premier Newfoundland based gold exploration company, well positioned to continue advancing the Hope Brook Gold Project and its three new highly prospective exploration assets acquired from Gold Island, originally staked by Shawn Ryan of Ryanwood Exploration. In addition, the Transaction will add approximately CAD$4.0 million in working capital and several strategic shareholders, including Eric Sprott, The PowerOne Capital Group, Shawn Ryan, and a number of leading and highly sophisticated financial institutional shareholders, and high net worth investors."

Adrian Fleming, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Island, commented, "For some time Gold Island has been seeking a route to take the company public. Our technical team with the support of our strategic shareholders have carefully assessed numerous opportunities in Newfoundland and are pleased to join Big Ridge to create a situation where shareholders in both companies have the opportunity for substantial value enhancement. Big Ridge's Hope Brook project with significant defined gold and copper resources, as outlined in their recent Technical Report of April 6th 2023, which remains open for expansion, and is paired with prospective early-stage properties, including its existing properties and those it will acquire through its acquisition of Gold Island, constitute a robust portfolio for the commencement of an exciting 2023 exploration program."

Key Highlights

High Quality Exploration Potential - The addition of options on three high quality gold exploration assets in the Baie Verte area of Newfoundland of which two are drill-ready and offer potential for further new discoveries to be made in the near-term.

Strong Treasury - Acquires approximately CAD$4.0 million in working capital (primarily cash), fully funding a focused 2023 Hope Brook exploration program with additional details to be provided in due course.

Supportive Strategic Shareholders - Inclusion of several supportive, long-term shareholders with an aligned strategic vision with management to its shareholder base.

Enhanced Geographic Focus - The addition of Gold Island's assets and properties will provide Big Ridge with the additional capital and prospectivity for new discoveries to become the leading gold exploration company in Newfoundland.

Experienced Corporate Management - Strengthens the Company's Board of Directors and exploration teams with the proposed nomination of Paul Pint and Paul Robinson, PhD., PGeo, respectively.

Gold Island Inc. Overview

Gold Island is a private gold exploration company focused on making new discoveries in Newfoundland, Canada. The company's option agreements include three high quality projects based on geological, geochemical and structural analysis located in the Baie Verte area of Newfoundland, close to gold producers, significant projects, and historical gold showings. The company is lead by Adrian Fleming, who is credited with several major discoveries in Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Western Australia, Nunavut, and the Yukon.

Big Ridge Gold Overview

Hope Brook Gold Project, Newfoundland

The Hope Brook Gold Project is an advanced stage, high-grade gold project that produced 752,162 ounces of gold from 1987 - 1995. Initial production consisted of an open pit before moving to underground mining. Hope Brook operated using both heap leach (1987 - 1990) and conventional cyanidation milling methods (1989 - 1997) with a later inclusion of flotation concentration to recover copper (1991). Gold recoveries for full years of operation between 1988 and 1995 averaged 84%. Copper flotation during the second period of operation beginning in 1992 produced 7,000 to 10,000 tons of concentrate annually at approximately 22% Cu and 1 oz/t Au. The preceding information is obtained from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Industry, Energy and Technology via the Mineral Occurrence Database System. The Company considers this information to be historic in nature.

Hope Brook hosts an indicated gold resource totalling 16,190,000 tonnes grading 2.32 grams per tonne gold for 1.2 million ounces and inferred resources totalling 2,215,000 tonnes grading 3.25 grams per tonne gold for 231,000 ounces based on 0.4 and 2.0 gram per tonne cut-off grade for open pit and underground resources respectively using a long-term gold price of US$1,750. The deposit also hosts a total of 47 M lbs of copper mineralization in the inferred category, defined within the gold resource model. These mineral resources are detailed in the "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Hope Brook Gold Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada" dated April 6, 2023 as filed on SEDAR and the Company's webpage.

The Hope Brook gold deposit is a high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit hosted in the Proterozoic aged Whittle Hill Sandstone and is intruded by a Late Proterozoic quartz-feldspar porphyry sill-dike complex of the Roti Intrusive Suite. The deposit is located adjacent to and within an extensive advanced argillic alteration envelope which includes pyrophyllite, kaolinite, andalusite, and alunite. The principal gold mineralization occurs in a buff-colored massive, vuggy silicic alteration with an associated, less developed grey silicic alteration with pyrite, chalcopyrite and lesser bornite accessory minerals. Gold mineralization is also found with pyrite in units of advanced argillic alteration adjacent to or near silicic alteration horizons. The altered and mineralized zone is cut by mafic dykes whose contacts are often mineralized. All the altered and mineralized sequences and the intruded dykes have been folded.

Hope Brook is located 85 kilometers east of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The project has well maintained infrastructure on site, including an operational 28-person camp, an 1,100-meter airstrip, ice-free docking facility and importantly, connection to the provincial electrical power grid via an on-site substation.

Significant exploration potential remains on the 24,000-hectare concession providing a great opportunity to expand the mine area as well as surface showings throughout the concessions.

Destiny Gold Project, Quebec

The 100% owned Destiny Project is located in Despinassy Township, Quebec in Abitibi greenstone belt in Quebec. The Destiny project hosts the DAC and Darla Zones where drilling has intersected gold mineralization. At the DAC Zone a Mineral Resource Estimate has reported 10.8 million tonnes of mineralization with average grade of 1.05 g/t Au the indicated category calculated at the 0.5 g/t gold cut-off grade. The mineral resource was prepared for Alto Ventures (now Big Ridge) and reported in the Technical Report and Resource Estimate of the DAC Deposit, Destiny Property, Quebec (Effective Date: March 1, 2011), available on the Company's SEDAR profile.

Drilling by Big Ridge after completion of the Resource Estimate in the in the 1 km long Gap Zone between the Darla and the DAC zones in 2012 confirmed the presence of gold within wide envelopes of anomalous mineralization. Drilling in 2021 provided additional positive gold results; Drill hole DES-21-173 (8.90 g/t Au over 0.4 m), DES-21-177 (5.17 g/t Au over 5.8 m including 43.1 g/t Au over 0.6 m), Drill hole DES-21-179 (3.78 g/t Au over 16.3 m including 8.85 g/t Au over 6.7 m and 42.6 g/t Au over 1.0 m).

Oxford Gold Project, Manitoba

The 100% owned Oxford Lake Property is located in central Manitoba, approximately 150 km southeast of the city of Thompson in the Oxford-Knee Lake greenstone belt. In October 13, 2020, Big Ridge and the Bunibonibee Cree Nation signed a Long-Term Exploration Agreement related to future exploration in the First Nation's traditional lands at Oxford Lake.

The Oxford Lake property hosts the Rusty Gold Deposit, with Historical Resource of 800,000 tonnes averaging 6 g/t gold and containing approximately 154,000 ounces of gold hosted in banded iron formation ("BIF"). A Qualified Person (QP), as defined by NI43-101, has not done sufficient work to classify this historical estimate as current mineral resources. as well as several other gold occurrences.

BIF deposits such as the Musselwhite Mine in Ontario have the potential to host significant gold resources. The Rusty Gold Deposit and other potential BIF and orogenic type gold targets including the Blue Jay Zone lie along the Carrot River-Rusty-Blue Jay Trend, that was traced for 30 km by Big Ridge's 2011 VTEM and aeromagnetic surveys.

About the Transaction

The consummation of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions customary to transactions of this nature, including, among others, the approval of 66.67% of votes cast by Gold Island's shareholders at a special meeting of Gold Island shareholders. Gold Island expects to hold the special meeting of shareholders to consider and to vote on the Transaction as soon as possible. If approved at the meeting, the Transaction is expected to close shortly thereafter, subject to the receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction are set out in the Business Combination Agreement, dated July 17th, 2023, which will be publicly filed by the Company under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Significant Gold Island shareholders holding approximately 35% of the Gold Island shares have entered into voting and support agreements to vote their shares in favour of the Transaction, subject to certain customary exceptions.

There are 64,303,115 Gold Island common shares currently issued and outstanding, in exchange for which 51,442,492 Big Ridge common shares shall be issued to Gold Island shareholders under the Business Combination Agreement. Immediately following the completion of the Transaction, the former Gold Island shareholders shall own common shares of the Company representing approximately 27% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on an undiluted basis.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by William McGuinty, P.Geo., the Company's Vice President Exploration and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns a 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. Big Ridge is the operator of the Hope Brook Gold Project located in Newfoundland and Labrador. The company currently owns 51% of the Hope Brook Gold Project and has an option to earn up to 80% by June 2026.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit Big Ridge's website at www.bigridgegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

For Further Information Contact:

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP.

1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801

Toronto, ON, M5E 1W7

Tel: 416-540-5480

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, including the expected timing of closing of the Transaction. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173732
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.(CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77i) ("Boosh" or the "Company"), a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, announced today that it expects that it will not be filing its audited financial statements for its fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 (the "2022 Annual Financial Statements"), its management's discussion and analysis relating thereto, and chief executive officer and chief financial officer certificates relating to the 2022 Annual Financial Statements (collectively, the "Required Filings") before the prescribed deadline of July 31, 2023.

The Company submitted an application with the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") and other applicable securities regulators under National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("National Policy 12-203") requesting that a Management Cease Trade Order (the "MCTO") be imposed in respect of this late filing. There is no guarantee or assurance that the MCTO will be granted. If the MCTO is granted, the MCTO will prohibit the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Directors, other officers, and other insiders of the Company from trading in securities of the Company for so long as the Required Filings are not filed. The issuance of such cease trade order does not generally affect the ability of persons who are not Directors, Officers, or other insiders of the Company to trade in the Company's securities.

The Company confirms that it will satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under National Policy 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases so long as it remains in default of the filing requirements set out above.

The Corporation also announced today that Mike Lund has resigned as a Director of the Company. The Board would like to thank Mr. Lund for his services and contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Connie Marples

Founder/CEO

[email protected]

www.Booshfood.com

About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.:



Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com) offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, (www.beanfields.com) the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173803
Estimated Visual Volume of Spodumene of Up To 20%

HIGHLIGHTS

Maiden drilling intersects shallow-dipping coarse spodumene rich pegmatites at Jaguar in two initial diamond holes

JADDH00002 intersected 52m of pegmatite with 8.2m of spodumene rich quartz bearing central core area from 32m downhole

JADDH00003 intersected 39.3m of pegmatite with 7.9m of spodumene rich quartz bearing central core area from 44.3m downhole

Visual volume spodumene intersected of up to 20%

Additional pegmatite footprint identified ~1km northwest of Jaguar

Second rig being tendered now to commence additional 5,000m programme

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Solis Minerals Limited (ASX: SLM) (TSXV: SLMN) ("Solis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the intersection of spodumene bearing pegmatite in the 2,500m maiden drill programme at the Jaguar Lithium Project Bahia state, Brazil over which the Company has recently secured an option to acquire a 100% interest.[1]





Figure 1: Coarse spodumene crystals in JADDH0002 (34.05m) within weathered brecciated quartz rich core of the Jaguar pegmatite. *In relation to the disclosure of visual occurrences of pegmatite and spodumene, the Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig1sm.jpg

The Drilling Programme

Diamond drilling at the Jaguar project is ongoing with three drillholes now completed. As the orientation dip and plunge of the mineralised portion of the first pegmatite target was unclear from outcropping mineralisation, drilling was planned from both the hanging wall and footwall locations North and South of the pit. Drillhole JADDH00001 did not intercept the core of the pegmatite due to incorrect drill orientation. JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 both successfully intersected broad intervals of shallow dipping pegmatite below the existing artisanal workings at Jaguar. Spodumene rich central core sections of the pegmatite were intersected from 30m to 38.2m in JADDH00002 and from 44.3m to 52.2m in JADDH00003, respectively (Table 1, Figures 2, 3 & 4).





Figure 2: SciAps LIBS (Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy) handheld analyser reading on spodumene within core sample interval 44.3m in hole JADDH00003#.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig2sm.jpg

Executive Director, Matt Boyes, commented:

"This is a positive result for the team from the maiden programme at Jaguar. Confirmation of an LCT - (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) bearing system that continues at depth below the artisanal workings is highly encouraging and we look forward to the arrival of a second drill rig.

As we extend our mapping and geochemical sampling programmes, we are finding evidence of a potential stacked pegmatite system. Multiple spodumene bearing float samples have been collected up to 1 kilometre from the central Jaguar artisanal mine area and large outcropping pegmatites, which are completely untested, have been located.

We are encouraged by our early results at the Jaguar project, and we look forward to updating the market as we deliver results from this maiden drill programme."

# LIBS readings should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. LIBS readings are not representative of the whole core and represent purely a concentration measured at a single point.

BHID FROM TO LENGTH LITH Weathering Estimated Volume

% spodumene* JADDH00002 0.00 0.85 0.85 SOIL Ox JADDH00002 0.85 30.00 29.15 PEG Ox JADDH00002 30.00 38.17 8.17 SPEG Ox 15 JADDH00002 38.17 53.40 15.23 PEG Transition JADDH00002 53.40 161.05 107.65 SCH Fresh JADDH00003 0.00 1.00 1.00 Soil Ox JADDH00003 1.00 18.25 17.25 SCH Ox JADDH00003 18.25 18.40 0.15 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 18.40 21.14 2.74 SCH Ox JADDH00003 21.14 21.35 0.21 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 21.35 22.00 0.65 SCH Ox JADDH00003 22.00 22.15 0.15 FAULT Ox JADDH00003 22.15 22.40 0.25 SCH Ox JADDH00003 22.40 44.30 21.90 PEG Ox JADDH00003 44.30 52.20 7.90 SPEG Ox 20 JADDH00003 52.20 61.70 9.50 PEG Ox JADDH00003 61.70 86.70 25.00 SCH Fresh JADDH00003 86.70 89.10 2.40 PEG Fresh JADDH00003 89.10 93.40 4.30 SCH Fresh





Table 1: Logged lithology for JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 with estimated spodumene volume. Lengths are estimated to represent the true width of the pegmatite body. PEG = pegmatite; SPEG = spodumene pegmatite; SCH = schist, Ox = oxidised. Volume of spodumene is a visual field estimate. JADDH00001 did not intersect spodumene bearing pegmatite.

*In relation to the disclosure of visual occurrences of pegmatite and spodumene, the Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.

Initial production rates averaged just 7m per shift, with crews encountering start-up technical challenges. These have been fully addressed, with drilling now expected to achieve normal production targets. Continuous mineralisation has now been confirmed below the existing artisanal workings, and Solis is sourcing a second rig. A tender has been called for an additional 5,000m diamond core drilling programme with a larger capacity track mounted rig capable of higher production rates and higher availability. This is expected to improve the drilling rates which have been less than targeted.

Step out drillholes along the interpreted strike of the pegmatite are now planned to help understand the overall strike, dip and distribution of the mineralisation within the pegmatites. The drilling to date has intersected pegmatites which adhere to a classic idealised LCT bearing pegmatite model. The mineralisation grades from an Albite-Quartz-Muscovite rich border zone through to a K-Feldspar rich intermediate zone and then grading to a Tourmaline-Quartz-Spodumene rich core. The pegmatites are orientated in a north-east strike and are dipping at approximately 30 degrees to the south-east, parallel to the slope of the ridge line that is formed by the pegmatite.

Solis is currently installing core cutting facilities on site and intends to start processing the existing core within the next week. Solis will be aiming to complete a further 3 holes from the current programme and submitting the first batch of samples in late July with results expected late August. All samples will be assayed at SGS Laboratories in Minas Gerais province with current turnaround period of 3 weeks post submission of samples.





Figure 3: Cross section through Jaguar pit area with recently completed drilling and interpreted geology.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig3sm.jpg





Figure 4: Planview of drilling completed to date with satellite image showing locations of outcropping pegmatites and artisanal workings. Artisanal workings visible are for dimension stone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig4sm.jpg

Exploration Programme and Additional Targets

The initial focus of Solis during this maiden campaign is to test the known strike of the confirmed pegmatite outcrops at Jaguar and commence step out drilling to the north to test interpreted repetitions of the Jaguar pegmatites at depth. Pegmatite outcrops have been identified over 1.4km of strike with a central section that forms the elevated ridge area (See Figure 5) of in excess of 800m within the Jaguar tenement area. Mineral species identified in all the outcropping artisanal workings are consistent with an LCT - bearing system and fit a classic pegmatite model. The insert photo in Figure 5 shows very large individual feldspar and beryl crystals within an albite matrix.

Figure 5 below gives a spatial overview from a drone image of the follow up priority target areas.

A large shallow dipping pegmatite body measuring approximately 400m x 400m at the surface has been mapped approximately 1 kilometre to the north-west of the Jaguar pit and will be drill tested once additional drill capacity is mobilised to site. This pegmatite body exhibits classic mineralisation and textures associated with LCT- bearing systems. Spodumene bearing float has been found at surface in the vicinity of the outcrop with the source of the mineralisation yet to be located. The body has a similar dip and strike orientation to the Jaguar mineralisation which was intersected in the current programme and represents a potential repetition and hence the possibility for a stacked system with multiple pegmatite bodies to be hosted within the tenement package.

Figure 6 shows the outcropping pegmatite with textures and mineralisation identified from initial field reconnaissance and mapping.





Figure 5: Aerial view showing outcropping pegmatites to be tested in current drill programme and location of recently completed JADDH00002. Artisanal workings are for dimension stone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig5sm.jpg





Figure 6: Large outcropping pegmatite body located on the northern border of Jaguar tenement, exhibits classic LCT- bearing pegmatite geology with spodumene float located proximal to artisanal workings.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/173756_fig6sm.jpg

About Solis Minerals Ltd.

Solis is a Latin American battery mineral-focused mining exploration company. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Borborema Lithium Project in NE Brazil, covering approximately 25,000ha. It has recently executed an option to acquire 100% of the Jaguar Lithium project in Bahia state, Brazil. In addition, Solis also holds a 100% interest in 32,400ha of combined licences and applications of highly prospective IOCG (iron oxide copper/gold) and porphyry copper projects in southwestern Peru within the country's prolific coastal copper belt - a source of nearly half of Peru's copper production.

This Announcement has been authorized for release to the TSX-V and ASX by the Board of Solis Minerals.

For further information, please contact:

Australia

Matt Boyes

Executive Director

Solis Minerals Limited

+61 8 6117 4798

Stephen Moloney

Investor Relations

Corporate Storytime

+61 (0) 403 222 052



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that relate to future events or performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release was reviewed by Fred Tejada, P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

Competent Person Statement

The information in this ASX release concerning Geological Information and Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Matthew Boyes, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Boyes is an employee of Solis Minerals Ltd. and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposit under consideration and to the exploration activities undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Boyes consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Boyes has provided his prior written consent regarding the form and context in which the Geological Information and Exploration Results and supporting information are presented in this Announcement.

All information about exploration results that were previously released to the market is appropriately referenced in this document.

APPENDIX 1

Borborema and Jaguar Project licence areas

Number License Number Registered Owner Status Ha 1 846.232/2022 Ona Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 675 2 846.233/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 172 3 846.234/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 460 4 848.411/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,666 5 848.412/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Option for a license area due to interference 1,563 6 848.413/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 714 7 848.414/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,488 8 848.415/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,839 9 848.416/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 614 10 848.417/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 710 11 848.418/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 381 12 848.419/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,275 13 848.420/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 70 14 848.423/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,572 15 848.424/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,689 16 848.425/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,918 17 848.426/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,662 18 848.427/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 798 19 848.428/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 1,667 20 848.429/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 664 21 848.430/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,688 22 848.431/2022 Onca Mineracao Ltda. Waiting for publication 1,525 23 871427/2006 Mineracao Marico Ltda. Preliminary mining license granted. 294 24 872376/2021 Igramar Industria de Granitos e Marmores Ltda. Ongoing 3-year exploration license 849 Total 25,953





Table 1: Solis' licence areas. Onca (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solis) has a 100% interest in the above licences 1-22, the Borberema Project, in NE Brazil. Licences 23 & 24 comprise the Jaguar Project. Solis has an option to acquire 100% of these licences1.

APPENDIX 2

Drill hole collar and survey information for the maiden drill programme

Hole ID East (m) North (m) RL (m) Depth (m) Survey Type Azimuth Dip JADDH00002 361038 8883685 668 161.05 GPS 339 -54 JADDH00003 361058 8883636 662 93.4 GPS 330.82 -54.275 JADDH00001 361030 8883759 686 74.35 GPS 163 -58





APPENDIX 3

JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representativity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sampling at the surface was predominantly cut channels and rock chips. Sampling was focused on confirmation of mineralisation of Lithium from selected mineral species in the case of Jaguar "Weathered Spodumene". Samples are not considered to be representative of exposed widths of the pegmatite body, samples were not collected over standard widths or perpendicular to orebody orientations.

Samples size ranged between 1.5-3kg and industry standard an acceptable weight to ascertain a representative sample for preparation and assay.

Core from the maiden drill programme has not yet been cut or sampled.

LIBS handheld instruments were utilised to confirm Lithium mineralisation present, LIBS readings should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest LIBS readings are not representative of the whole core and represent purely a concentration measured at a single point. Drilling techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face- sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). All drill holes completed to date at Jaguar are diamond drillholes with core being drilled at HQ and NQ diameters with standard tube set up. Holes JADDH00002 and JADDH00003 have been oriented by use of a REFLEX ACT digital core orientation tool. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Diamond core was reconstructed into continuous runs with depths measured from the core barrel and checked against core block measurements in trays.

JADDH00001 to JADDH00003 all reported in excess of >90% core recovery in oxidised and fresh material. JADDH0002 suffered an estimated 20-25% core loss in the mineralised core section of the pegmatite due to washing out of the weathered friable spodumene crystals and clay. This will likely result in a bias to under report grade due to core loss.

Solis has requested a triple tube system is utilised in future shallow drilling to limit potential wash out of oxidised material. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Solis geologists logged all sample noting mineralogy, lithology, alteration and weathering state of samples obtained.

Logging is both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

All samples including any submitted CRM material are individually photographed before submission.

All core is photographed and orientated. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representativity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Samples were taken to check the grades of exposed spodumene mineralisation, no systematic sampling across known exposed pegmatites was completed, samples were rock chips only and no systematic channel sampling has been completed to date.

Duplicate samples were taken and stored for future reference.

Samples are considered to be representative of exposed spodumene crystals within Jaguar open pit and of appropriate size with respect to sampled material.

Diamond drill core has not yet been sampled Quality of assay data and

laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. All samples were assayed at SGS GEOSOL Laboratories Ltda Brazil.

Analysis procedures are considered to be appropriate for lithium and multielement analysis.

Rock chips and grab samples are assayed via ICM90A (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP-MS/ICP-OES) for a 56-element suite at the SGS Geosol Laboratorios located at Vespasiano/Minas Gerais, Brazil.

If lithium results are above 15,000ppm, the lab analyses the pulp samples just for lithium through ICP90Q (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP/OES).

Solis inserted industry standard OREAS CRM for analysis, standards utilised were OREAS 750 and OREAS 22h, reported values are within 1SD of CRM certified values. Verification of

Sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. All Solis data is verified by the Competent Person. All data is stored in an electronic Access Database. " Assay data and results is reported, unadjusted. Li 2 O results used in this ASX release are converted from Li results by multiplying this value by the industry factor 2.153. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Data is shown using the UTM SIRGAS 2000 zone 23 South grid system.

All samples and drill hole collar locations were captured using a handheld GPS and are to be surveyed in with a DGPS once arrives on site. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. No set sample spacing or pattern has been applied due to the preliminary nature of the sampling programme. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drill holes JADDH0002 and JADDH0003 were both orientated utilising a digital downhole tool confirming the orientation with respect to lithological contacts and known country rock stratigraphy. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. N/A - No sampling of drill core has been undertaken. Audits or

reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. There have been no detailed external audits or reviews undertaken.

Solis has conducted an internal technical review of the available geological and other publicly available data.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Jaguar Project area consists of 2 exploration licences held in the name of Marica Mineracao Ltda, and Ingramar Ltda. Onca Mineracao has signed a binding option agreement sheet with both companies giving Onca the right to purchase 100% of each licence.

See ASX release dated 31 May 2023 for terms of agreement.

Exploration Licences: 871427/2006, 872376/2021 .

Licences are in good standing and have no known environmental or other liabilities of any kind. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. N/A - the Company is not aware of any previous formal exploration being undertaken within the tenements. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Prospective potential host units for the mineralised pegmatites are similar to the suite hosting the Colina-Salinas pegmatites held by Latin Resources Limited (ASX:LRS) in the state of Minas Gerais. They consist predominantly of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks (schist, gneiss and quartzites) located close to the large granitoids from the G3 suite with batholiths, stocks and dykes represented. Pegmatites are located within 0-5km of the granite contacts. Drill hole

Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole hole length

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer to tables presented in report and notes attached which provide all relevant details.

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. 'down hole length, true width not known'). N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. The Company has included various maps and figures showing the sample results and geological context. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Logging for JADDH00001 was not included in current release as hole did not pierce the mineralised target section of the pegmatite intrusive and therefore is not of material significance. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. N/A no new results are included in this report. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Solis will undertake extensive validation field confirmation and sampling of the regional geological setting including all known outcropping pegmatites.

Solis has signed a diamond drill contract for 2,500m of HQ diameter drill core to be performed on existing targets and below the known outcropping mineralisation at the Jaguar project.

It is premature to provide diagrams of possible extensions.





[1]See ASX release 31 May 2023. The Company confirms that it is not aware of new information that affects the information contained in the original announcement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173756
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Destiny Media Technologies (TSXV: DSY) (OTCQB: DSNY), the makers of Play MPE, a cloud-based SaaS solution for digital asset management in the music industry, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2023 third quarter ended May 31, 2023.

"We saw strong independent revenue growth throughout the quarter resulting in a 13.5% increase in this segment," said Fred Vandenberg, President and CEO. "Independent record label represents 52% of our total revenue and this growth was seen throughout all major market segments and is derived from growing sales numbers and revenue per release. Total revenue grew by 6.9%."

"The Company increased its product development expenditures throughout the second half of 2022 to execute on earlier successful research and development expenditures. These investments continue through the first three quarters of fiscal 2023 where we see an increased in capitalized development costs," continued Vandenberg. "These costs are largely financed by ongoing operations."

Highlights

Highlights for Q3 2023 include (all figures are USD, and comparisons are to Q3 2022):

Quarterly revenue up 6.9% (6.3% foreign exchange adjusted);

Independent record label revenue, representing 52% of total revenue, up 13.5%;

EBITDA is $176,726 and capitalized development costs are $237,640.

During the quarter, the Company restarted a Normal Course Issuer Bid and repurchased 5,685 shares for a total cost of $3,923. Total repurchases under the normal course issuer bid to July 12, 2023 of 9,585 shares for a total of $7,463.

Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Earnings Webinar

Destiny Media Technologies will hold a live webinar on Monday, July 17 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) to discuss its 2023 third quarter results.

The live webinar will include comments from President, Chief Executive Officer, Fred Vandenberg, and Director of Business Development, Allan Benedict.

Date: Monday, July 17, 2022

Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

Attendees are encouraged to register prior to the scheduled time at the following:

https://investors.dsny.com/investors/financials/

or directly on the REGISTRATION FORM by clicking here.

Attendees viewing the webinar can voluntarily submit verbal questions during the live presentation. Attendee cameras will remain off throughout the presentation. Attendees' microphones will remain off unless the attendee voluntarily selects to engage in questions similar to the format available on traditional conference call format.

The webinar format will provide the Company an opportunity to present visual information and provide attendees with an opportunity for questions.

For those without internet access, the webinar can be accessed via the following dial in details:

Direct dial in: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 253 215 8782

Webinar ID: 890 0812 8337

Attendees participating via dial in will not have access to the webinar video stream and will not have access to question and answer functions.

A recording of the webinar will be available after the event on https://investors.dsny.com/investors/financials/

Destiny Media Technologies Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in United States dollars)

As at May 31, 2023





2023



2022



$



$



ASSETS







Current







Cash and cash equivalents

1,825,172



2,095,928

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $41,166 (August 31, 2022- $39,518)

561,424



483,774

Other receivables

51,042



29,600

Prepaid expenses

47,073



83,242

Deposits

32,083



33,305 Total current assets

2,516,794



2,725,849

Property and equipment, net

206,427



311,792

Intangible assets, net

1,199,648



529,717 Total assets

3,922,869



3,567,358









LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY







Current







Accounts payable

108,779



116,290

Accrued liabilities

300,116



319,738

Deferred revenue

40,758



21,043 Total current liabilities

449,653



457,071 Total liabilities

449,653



457,071 Commitments and contingencies

-



-

Stockholders' equity







Common stock, par value $0.001, authorized 20,000,000 shares.

Issued and outstanding - 10,122,261 shares (August 31, 2022 - issued and outstanding 10,122,261 shares)

10,122



10,122

Additional paid-in capital

9,224,712



9,115,848

Accumulated deficit

(5,275,423 )

(5,639,465 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(486,195 )

(376,218 ) Total stockholders' equity

3,473,216



3,110,287 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

3,922,869



3,567,358

Destiny Media Technologies Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Expressed in United States dollars)

Period ended May 31, 2023





2023



2022



$ $ Service revenue

1,068,007



999,282









Cost of revenue







Hosting costs

30,555



50,604

Internal engineering support

12,707



21,497

Customer support

72,001



121,816 Third-party and transactions costs

18,490



15,688

133,753



209,605 Gross margin

934,254



789,677





87%



79%

Operating expenses







General and administrative

314,387



318,995

Sales and marketing

237,834



113,172

Product development

247,392



326,125

Depreciation and amortization

37,182



36,313



836,795



794,605 Income from operations

97,459



(4,928 ) Other income







Interest and other income

9,593



1,686

Gain on disposal of assets

-



- Income before provision for income taxes

107,052



(3,242 ) Current income tax expense

-



- Net income

107,052



(3,242 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments

1,429



28,168 Total comprehensive income

108,481



24,926 Net income per common share, basic and diluted

0.01



(0.00 )

About Destiny Media Technologies Inc.

Destiny Media Technologies ("Destiny") provides software as service (SaaS) solutions to businesses in the music industry solving critical problems in distribution and promotion. The core service, Play MPE (www.plaympe.com), provides promotional music marketing to engaged networks of decision makers in radio, film, TV, and beyond. More information can be found at www.dsny.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect current views with respect to future events and operating performance. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Destiny Media Technologies is not obligated to update these statements in the future. For more information on the Company's risks and uncertainties relating to those forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section in our Annual Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022, which will be available on www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

Contact:

Fred Vandenberg

CEO, Destiny Media Technologies, Inc.

604 609 7736 x236

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173699
Gstaad, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Longevity Investors Ltd. is proud to announce that its fourth Longevity Investors Conference (LIC)will take place on September 27-29, 2023, in Gstaad, Switzerland, at one of the country's most prominent hotels, Le Grand Bellevue.





This year's longevity conference is scheduled for September 27-29 in Gstaad, Switzerland



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The premier event is for investors wanting to learn about the latest trends and opportunities in the longevity and rejuvenation industry. It will bring together more than 100 pre-selected investors, as well as experts, speakers and companies from the longevity field, representing new ideas and developments.

This year's speakers include some of the world's most renowned names in the field of ageing and rejuvenation research, biotechnology, healthcare, finance and policy. A full list of the speakers can be found here: https://www.longevityinvestors.ch.

The conference agenda will cover four important pillars in the longevity industry: investments, personal longevity, science and infrastructure. The main goal is to provide investors with the latest information and insights in the field, allowing them to make informed decisions and contribute to the advancement of longevity.

"Our agenda this year is very rich," said Marc P. Bernegger, Co-Founder of the Longevity Investors Conference and Founding Partner of Maximon. "We wanted to cover four important pillars in the longevity industry: investments, personal longevity, science and of course infrastructure. Our main goal is to bring together investors and give them the latest information in the field, so together we can make a difference."

The conference will also offer numerous opportunities for networking and re-charging at the lunches, evening receptions, dinners and longevity experiences taking place over the course of the two-day event.

To see the latest agenda and register for the conference, please visit: https://www.longevityinvestors.ch/#agenda.

About Longevity Investors Conference (LIC)

The Longevity Investors Conference is bringing together the world's leading longevity key opinion leaders and scientists, institutional and private investors, wealthy private individuals, family offices, and investment funds. The main aim of the event is to discuss the latest trends and opportunities but also to provide relevant insights into the longevity and rejuvenation industry. As an investors-only conference, the event is fully focused on investors.

More details about LIC can be found here www.longevityinvestors.ch.

Press Contact:

Lucia Kupcova

[email protected]

Follow us on Linkedin

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Longevity Investors Ltd.

Bahnhofplatz

CH-6300 Zug

Switzerland

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173747
Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - LBank Exchange, a global digital asset trading platform, will list PEGO Network (PG) on July 17, 2023. For all users of LBank Exchange, the PG/USDT trading pair will be officially available for trading at 8:00 UTC on July 17, 2023.





PG Listing Banner



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PEGO Network (PG) is a Web3 infrastructure that provides high autonomy, scalability, and sustainability for decentralized applications Its native token, PG, will be listed on LBank Exchange at 8:00 UTC on July 17, 2023, with the goal of expanding its global footprint and supporting the realization of its forward-thinking objectives.

Introducing PEGO Network

LBank Exchange is thrilled to announce the upcoming listing of PEGO Network (PG), a Web3 infrastructure that provides high autonomy, scalability, and sustainability for decentralized applications. PEGO has designed a fully community-driven autonomous Web3 infrastructure, where all on-chain parameters can be flexibly adjusted through proposals initiated by the community. According to the PPOS consensus, the established composite economic incentive mechanism can promote the sustainable development of the PEGO ecosystem. Additionally, the PEGO blockchain is fully compatible with the EVM system, making it an ideal choice for developers aiming to build scalable decentralized applications.

PEGO offers solutions to current blockchain ecosystem challenges. It introduces the NFT-PNN identity verification system, allowing users to stake PNN and use PGVT to become network validation nodes. PEGO establishes a composite economic incentive model based on the PPOS mechanism to promote long-term LP participation and provide liquidity solutions. The EVM-compatible system architecture supports various development languages, making it developer-friendly for building DApps. PEGO follows principles of decentralization, compatibility, interoperability, and broad consensus. It aims to achieve goals such as shorter block generation time, cross-chain functionality, and on-chain governance. PEGO's consensus protocol, PPOS, ensures fair rewards for network participants. Validator nodes are elected through user voting, and rewards are distributed separately to voters and nodes. The PEGO network supports multi-language programming, has a virtual machine for smart contracts, and offers open interfaces for developers.



PEGO believes that current developments in Web3 are insufficient for widespread adoption and that decentralized autonomy is the key to innovation. By leveraging DAO technology, PEGO aims to enhance community autonomy and coordination. With its experience in DAO self-governance, PEGO strives to contribute to the development and popularization of Web3. The iterative evolution of PEGO prioritizes community development and inclusivity, creating a platform for all community members rather than a specific group.

About PG Token

PG is the governance token of the PEGO Network, serving as a vital component for participation in the ecosystem and representing the consensus value. It can be used for governance voting, incentives, and rewards to encourage community engagement. PG is required for super node staking and voting, and it can be used to introduce new tokens into liquidity pools and farms through community proposals. PG can also be acquired through staking and collateralizing assets through W3BANK. Incentives, bonuses, airdrops, and gas rewards for block production are distributed in PG.

Based on PEGO Network, PG has a total supply of 100 million (i.e. 100,000,000). Of this, 95% is fully allocated to incentivize behavior, while the remaining 5% is open to supporters and long-term participants in the PEGO ecosystem, distributed through airdrops. It will be listed on LBank Exchange at 8:00 UTC on July 17, 2023, investors who are interested in PEGO can easily buy and sell it on LBank Exchange by then.

Learn More about PEGO Token:

Official Website: https://pego.network/#/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pegonetwork

Telegram: https://t.me/pegoofficial

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/TNJH7tUA5k

Explorer: https://scan.pego.network/

About LBank

LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Start Trading Now: lbank.com

Community & Social Media:

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Press contact:

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Business Contact:

LBK Blockchain Co. Limited

LBank Exchange

[email protected]

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173647
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Metal Energy Corp. (TSXV: MERG) (OTCQB: MEEEF) (the "Company" or "Metal Energy") is pleased to announce additional claim acquisitions directly adjacent to the SourceRock project ("SourceRock" or the "Project").

These mining claims were drilled in 2006 and intersected significant saline water flow from 184.7 to 202.39 metres, and halite cubes, sedimentary cements, and beds, including halite precipitating from waters as the core dries from 528.52 to 582.5 metres (see core photo below).* Halite precipitating as described in the core logs suggests the saline fluids are supersaturated with high concentrations of total dissolved solids ("TDS"). High TDS concentrations typically correlate with high lithium concentrations (see Figure 2).

"These are essential claims to SourceRock as their previous drill holes demonstrate that we are within a high-pressure sedimentary basin with very high salinity. However, lithium was not a marketable commodity when these drill holes were completed and thus never analyzed in either the fluids or the rocks. Metal Energy now controls a dominant land position covering the deepest parts of the basin. All the pathfinder elements and multiple supporting documents suggest high lithium concentrations are probable. SourceRock is permitted to drill, and we believe a few drill holes can assess the geologic validity of our thesis," said James Sykes, CEO of Metal Energy.





Drill Hole: BSW-06-04 (somewhere between 567.05 to 557.8 m), ^ identifies salt beds. Source: Vendor

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SourceRock Exploration Plans

SourceRock is a drill-ready project with an exploration permit already in-hand from the Ontario Ministry of Mines for up to 20 drill pads. Initial geophysical data compilation has already identified saline brine drill targets on the Project. The Company is currently engaged with local Indigenous groups, communities, and stakeholders, and anticipates a drill program to commence after sufficient and meaningful consultation has been completed.

About the SourceRock Li Brine Project

SourceRock is highly prospective for lithium ("Li") brines in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon area of northwestern Ontario. The Project is exceptionally large, covering 915 square kilometres (91,477 hectares) within an area measuring approximately 10 to 20 km wide by 95 km long of the Proterozoic Sibley sedimentary basin (Figure 1).

The Project has excellent access to infrastructure and capacity that has supported previous exploration programs and mine development, including year-round highway, railroad, and seaport access, with power and natural gas lines crossing the Project.

SourceRock Purchase Agreement

On July 8, 2023, Metal Energy entered into a Purchase Agreement with an arms length vendor (the "Vendor") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in 9 mining claims (189 hectares) adjacent to SourceRock.

The terms of the agreement are;

Issuance of 1,800,000 common shares of Metal Energy to the Vendor upon acceptance of the Option Agreement by the TSXV; $10,000 in cash, payable upon closing the transaction; the Vendor retains a 2% Gross Value Royalty ("GVR") on the claims. The Company has the right to purchase 1% of the GVR for $1,000,000 at any time.

All issued common shares will be subject to such hold periods that are prescribed by applicable securities laws.

Metal Energy will be the operator of the 9 mining claims and as such will have the rights and responsibility to execute all work programs on the Project.

For the latest videos from Metal Energy and other Ore Group companies, subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup

*Bowdidge, C. 2006. Report on 2006 Summer diamond drilling program, Black Sturgeon Uranium Project, Sibley Basin, Thunder Bay Mining Division. Rampart Ventures Ltd. Ontario Geological Survey Assessment Report.

About Metal Energy Corp.

Metal Energy is a nickel and battery metal exploration company with three projects in politically stable Canadian jurisdictions; Manibridge (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) in Manitoba, and SourceRock (Li-Na-K) and Strange (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) in Ontario. The Manibridge Project is 85% owned by Metal Energy and 15% owned by Mistango River Resources Inc. (CSE: MIS). Both SourceRock and Strange Projects are subject to earn-in agreements where the Company can acquire 100% exploration rights to each project.

QP Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Beaudry, P.Geo., Director for Metal Energy, and a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

For further information, please contact:

Metal Energy Corp.

MERG on the TSXV

[email protected]

www.metalenergy.ca

James Sykes, CEO

[email protected]

306-221-8717

Reader Advisory

Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com including the Filing Statement dated November 15, 2021. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Figure 1 - SourceRock Li Brine Project Location in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon area of northwestern Ontario

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7926/173734_metalfigure1.jpg





Figure 2 - Lithium concentration in formation waters from sedimentary basins and closed basin brines worldwide; lithium concentration vs. total dissolved solids

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7926/173734_metalfigure2.jpg

Dugamin, E.J.M., et. al. 2021. Groundwater in sedimentary basins as potential lithium resource: a global prospective study. Nature.com/ScientificReports. (2021) 11:21091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99912-7.



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173734
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Xybion Digital Inc. (TSXV: XYBN) ("Xybion" or the "Company") announces today that it will likely miss its filing deadline of July 29, 2023 (the "Filing Deadline") to file audited annual financial statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certificates for the year ended March 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Annual Filings"), as required under applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the Company's inability to file the Annual Filings on time, the Company has applied for a Management Cease Trade Order ("MCTO") under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203") and is waiting for the approval of the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC").

The Company's current auditor has informed the Company that they have been disqualified by the Canadian Public Accountability Board from issuing audit opinions. As a result, the Company is undertaking steps to appoint a successor auditor (the "Successor Auditor"). Due to time constraints, the Company understands that the Successor Auditor will not be able to issue an audit opinion in respect of the Financial Statements by the Filing Deadline and as a result, the Company will be unable to complete its audit for the Financial Statements by the Filing Deadline. The delay in completing the audit has also resulted in a delay in completing and filing the Annual Filings, and the Company is applying for an MCTO as a result. The Company will work with the Successor Auditor to complete its audit for the Financial Statements but does not expect it will be able to do so by the Filing Deadline.

The Company expects to file the Annual Filings as soon as they are available, but in any event no later than September 30, 2023, and will issue a news release once the Annual Filings have been filed. Until the Company files the Annual Filings, it will comply with the alternative information guidelines set out in NP 12-203. The guidelines, among other things, require the Company to issue bi-weekly default status reports, in the form of news releases, for so long as the Annual Filings have not been filed.

During the MCTO, the general investing public will continue to be able to trade in the Company's common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. However, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and such other directors, officers and persons as determined by the applicable regulatory authorities will not be able to trade in the Company's shares, nor will the Company be able to, directly or indirectly, issue securities to or acquire securities from an insider or employee of the Company except in accordance with legally binding obligations to do so existing as of July 29, 2023, being the date of the Company's anticipated continuous disclosure default.

The Company is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings. If the Company provides any information to any of its creditors during the period in which it is in default of filing the Annual Filings, the Company confirms that it will also file material change reports on SEDAR containing such information.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: "DR. PRADIP BANERJEE"

Dr. Pradip Banerjee

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

609-512-5790 x122

About Xybion Digital Inc.

Xybion is a global SaaS company that helps enterprise life sciences organizations accelerate new drug development into approved medicines that may save lives and keep employees safe. We digitize drug research and development, laboratory testing, regulatory approvals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing on a single, unified cloud platform that is cost-effective, ready to deploy, and easy to use. Xybion has over 160 clients in 29 countries using its low-code software to accelerate timelines, improve compliance, expand capacity, minimize operating risks, and reduce expenses while keeping employees safe.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, management expectations that it will miss the filing deadline for the Annual Filings, the ability of the Company to find and appoint a Successor Auditor in a timely manner, the ability of the Successor Auditor to complete the audit of the Financial Statements in a timely manner, the approval of the MCTO by the BCSC and the ability of the Company to file the Annual Filings within the time period described herein.

These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the risk that the Company will be unable to find and appoint a Successor Auditor in a timely manner, the risk that the Successor Auditor will be unable to complete the audit of the Financial Statements in a timely manner, the risk that the Company may be unable to file the Annual Filings in the proposed timeframe and the risk that the BCSC may not approve the MCTO.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will be able to appoint a Successor Auditor in a timely manner, that the Successor Auditor will be able to complete the audit of the Financial Statements in a timely manner, and that the Company will be able to file the Annual Filings in the proposed time frame.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173767
BANGKOK, Jul 17, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the signature promotion event in Bangkok, Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK), on 13-14 July received an enthusiastic response from Thai government officials and business leaders.

The two-day event attracted more than 2,000 buyers from 8 ASEAN countries, including their local chambers and associations, underscoring their interest in leveraging Hong Kong as a gateway to expand their business worldwide. This signature promotion event showcased Hong Kong's strengths and highlighted the city's latest developments and quality products and services, while demonstrating its role as a leading international business hub.

The exclusive Hong Kong Night Cocktail Reception held on the first day of the event brought together Thai, ASEAN and Hong Kong business leaders to network and explore business opportunities. Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, opened the event, with Mr Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Dr Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, delivering speeches.

Dr Lam said: "We bring to Bangkok this time a focus on lifestyle. We also have experts sharing insights on e-commerce, sustainability and ESG and the future of retail at a series of Trade Talks, all topics of interest to Thai businesses and in line with Thailand's BCG growth strategy. Hong Kong's position as the gateway between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and ASEAN, both fast-growing areas, provide many opportunities for Thai businesses and reinforce Hong Kong-Thailand economic ties."

Mr. Yau said that the ties between Hong Kong and Thailand have flourished over the years, fostering a robust partnership that has propelled mutual growth. Mr Yau highlighted Hong Kong's strengths in business under the one country, two systems principle: "By capitalising on our unique strengths, Hong Kong connects global investors with promising projects along the Belt and Road, while at the same time fostering collaboration and innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."

Dr Sittipunt said: "Bangkok and Hong Kong are undoubtedly two thriving cities in Asia, each with its unique strengths and advantages. I would like to emphasise that our true potential lies in working together. By pooling our strengths, expertise, and resources, be it from the government, public or private sectors, we can create more opportunities and foster a business ecosystem that attracts investments, drives innovation and supports emerging industries in our region."

Thai companies sourced new and innovative quality lifestyle products and services from 120 Hong Kong exhibitors at the TBTHK Trade Expo. The Expo featured products and services from a wide range of sectors in fashion & lifestyle, health & wellness, home & living, toys & gadgets and smart city solutions, over 80% of which were new to the Thai market.

It was the first time for Hong Kong exhibitor EDIT & EDITECTURE to join TBTHK, which marked their debut in the Thai market. Ms Jacqueline Chak, Co-founder and Director of the company, which focuses on sustainable interior and architecture projects, said they joined the event to explore networking opportunities and find potential partners. "The result of the event has honestly exceeded our expectations. We see a lot of interest in what we do, even those outside of the design industry, like makeup and construction. An attendee said that they have been following us from overseas, but never reached out due to the high shipping expenses. It's nice to know that we can finally come here and do business directly in Thailand."

B. DUCK, the Hong Kong original brand and one of the largest domestic character IPs in Mainland China, also joined the event. Ms Rossukhon Lertvilai, Marketing Manager, said: "There are a lot of people who showed interest in our brand. We're looking for new partners and new opportunities in Thailand."

Central Food Retail Company Limited is the leading supermarket chain in Thailand operating since 1996. The company's Head of Sales and Product Development, Ms Maythinee Surapatatna said: "This is my first time joining an event like this and I find the Expo very impressive. As a buyer, I'm looking for ways to produce supplements products and it's not easy to find suppliers in Thailand, so I'm happy for this opportunity. Attending these events, I've found potential partners."

Riding on the Trade Expo, a series of Trade Talks was held, covering retail technology, licensing opportunities, e-commerce and cross-border logistics as well as sustainability & ESG. Experts from renowned retail groups, associations and innovative companies shared their market insights during the two-day event.

During the session of Innovating the Future of Retail - Empowering Business with Technology, one of the speakers Mr Anson Balley, Head of Consumer & Retail, APAC of KPMG China, pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) will become the most disruptive technology. However, areas such as IoT security, virtual events, digital twins, sustainable fashion and packaging will be the next generation of companies.

"Everything is going to be connected in the future. So, if we look at IoT devices, in the next 2 years, there will be nearly 31 billion connected devices. So, everything will be connected like never before."

To highlight Hong Kong's dynamic lifestyle and wide variety of design-led products and fashion, the HKTDC partnered with Hong Kong-linked merchants and restaurants in Bangkok to stage a citywide promotion, providing Thai consumers with a range of promotional offers until the end of July. Participating merchants include well-known brands, such as Kam's Roast, Maxim's, City Chain and more. In collaboration with LINE MAN, the leading online food delivery platform in Thailand, select Hong Kong-style restaurants have exclusive dining offers until the end of the month as well.

Website

- Think Business, Think Hong Kong: https://www.thinkbusinessthinkhk.com/bangkok2023/en

- Trade Talks Programme: https://www.thinkbusinessthinkhk.com/bangkok2023/en/programe/trade_talk_programme.html

- Photo download: https://rb.gy/66ciw

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries

For enquiries please contact:

Midas Communications International Co., Ltd.

Nawaporn Rojarayanont, Tel: 097-250-1603, Email: [email protected]

Wanrawee Kongkraphan, Tel: 088-887-9718, Email: [email protected]

HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: [email protected]

Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The senior living provider bringing Synchrony under its leadership umbrella

LOUISVILLE, Ky. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trilogy Health Services, the Midwest leader in the senior living continuum of care, announces organizational and leadership transitions as it begins the reintegration of Synchrony Health Services as a business unit, rather than a separate company venture. As part of this transition, Randall J. Bufford will step down as President and CEO of Synchrony. These changes are part of Trilogy's ongoing succession planning efforts initiated in 2019 and reflect the decisions of Bufford, Leigh Ann Barney , CEO of Trilogy, and in collaboration with the Board and other stakeholders.

"The decision by the board to maintain Synchrony as a 100% owned subsidiary reflects Trilogy's strategic focus on retaining control over services, costs and approaches in an evolving value-based care environment," said Leigh Ann Barney . "This decision is vital to Trilogy's ability to adapt swiftly and effectively in a dynamic marketplace."

As part of the revised organizational structure, Brad Estes will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer for Synchrony, transitioning from his previous position as CFO. This streamlined structure enables efficient decision-making and strengthens Trilogy's ability to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape.

"Synchrony's growth path doesn't change, our devotion to our customers is unwavering and we are committed to delivering unparalleled innovation and excellence in the senior living and health care industries," said Brad Estes . "I want to thank Randy for his service and for his mentorship to me personally. Together, we've built a great team at Synchrony, and I'm excited to lead them on our mission to deliver extraordinary outcomes to our customers."

Randy Bufford concurs. "I am excited about the next chapter for Synchrony and know that Trilogy, our other customers and employees will be well-served by Brad's leadership and the incredible management team that we have assembled at Synchrony over the last two years," he said. "The last two years have been fruitful in building a unique-to-the-industry, collaborative ancillary business model of integrated rehab, pharmacy and lab and it has also been an honor working with such an outstanding group of professionals and customers."

Under the stewardship of Bufford, Synchrony Health Services has made remarkable progress in both building infrastructure to facilitate growth and delivering clinically excellent services to both Trilogy and external clients. This includes the recruitment of top-tier leaders, the establishment of PackEDGE, the launch of state-of-the-art laboratory services, and a push toward integrated services that allow providers to increase quality outcomes and decrease costs.

As he steps away from his current day-to-day role at Synchrony, Bufford remains committed to Trilogy and Synchrony; staying active in Board service as an advisor and supporting business development and key customer account relationships. As he has said many times, he is "Trilogy for Life" and will be continuing to provide unwavering support for Trilogy's journey to become the Best Healthcare Company in the Midwest.

About Trilogy Health Services

Trilogy Health Services is an industry-leading operator of nearly 130 senior living communities throughout five states, including Indiana , Ohio , Kentucky , Michigan and Wisconsin . The company has the honor of providing over 10,000 seniors with world-class clinical support, innovative lifestyle programs, and a culture built on the tenets of servant leadership and hospitality. Trilogy employs over 14,000 team members, is a certified Great Place to Work, one of Glassdoor's Top 100 Best Places to Work, and was named one of FORTUNE's Best Places to Work in Aging Services. To learn more about Trilogy Health Services, visit www.trilogyhs.com. To learn about job openings at Trilogy, visit www.trilogyjobs.com

About Synchrony Health Services

Synchrony Health Services is a nationally recognized health care solutions partner best known for excellence in clinical outcomes through therapy, wellness, pharmacy and lab diagnostics services in the Senior Living care continuum with over 600 partners. Synchrony Health Services includes Synchrony Pharmacy, Synchrony Rehabilitation, [email protected] and Synchrony Lab under its umbrella. Synchrony Health Services was created during 2021 to capture clinical excellence obtained through collaboration and coordination. www.synchronyhs.com

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SOURCE Trilogy Health Services, LLC
SAN ANTONIO , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) (the "Company") today announced that it has entered into exclusive discussions to sell its business in France to Equinox Industries ("Equinox"), a Paris -based industrial holding company that makes long-term majority equity investments. In addition, Didier Quillot , a Senior Advisor to Equinox, would participate alongside Equinox in the proposed transaction and would be appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Clear Channel France upon completion. The parties are aiming to complete the proposed transaction in Q4 2023, subject to an information and consultation process with Clear Channel France's employee works council, execution of a share purchase agreement and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to regulatory approval. The Company is not disclosing financial details of the contemplated transaction at this time, and investors should not assume any particular terms.

The Company's Board of Directors continues its reviews of strategic alternatives for the Company's other European businesses. There can be no assurance that the strategic reviews will result in any additional transactions or particular outcomes. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of these processes and may suspend these processes at any time.

About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is at the forefront of driving innovation in the out-of-home advertising industry. Our dynamic advertising platform is broadening the pool of advertisers using our medium through the expansion of digital billboards and displays and the integration of data analytics and programmatic capabilities that deliver measurable campaigns that are simpler to buy. By leveraging the scale, reach and flexibility of our diverse portfolio of assets, we connect advertisers with millions of consumers every month across more than 500,000 print and digital displays in 21 countries.

About Equinox Industries

Founded in 1999, Equinox Industries is an industrial holding company, specializing in making long-term majority equity investments into mid-cap companies to transform and unlock their potential. Equinox is specialized in corporate carve-outs and spin-offs. Equinox's Managing Partners, Charles-Henri Rossignol and Thibaud Caulier , have more than 20 years of investing and operating experience. Equinox's teams are based in Paris and Brussels . Equinox Industries has made dozens of investments and is currently actively managing 9 companies in its portfolio.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "would," "estimate," "forecast," "goals," "potential," "targets" and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, such as statements about our expectations with respect to the timing, closing, satisfaction of closing conditions and benefits of the proposed transaction; our strategies with respect to the Company's European portfolio and our expectations of optimizing our portfolio; the continuing reviews of strategic alternatives for our other European businesses; our expectations with respect to our America and Airports segments; and our business plans and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict.

Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to: the delay or failure to satisfy the conditions to divest our French business; the impact of the continued strategic reviews of our other European businesses and assets, including failure to realize their benefits; our inability to complete any other transactions with respect to our other European businesses and improve our portfolio; continued economic uncertainty; an economic slowdown or a recession; our ability to service our debt obligations and to fund our operations, business strategy and capital expenditures; the impact of our substantial indebtedness, including the effect of our leverage on our financial position and earnings; the difficulty, cost and time required to implement our strategy, and the fact that we may not realize the anticipated benefits therefrom; the impact of future dispositions, acquisitions and other strategic transactions; risks of doing business in foreign countries; fluctuations in exchange rates and currency values; volatility of our stock price; the impacts on our stock price as a result of future sales of common stock, or the perception thereof, and dilution resulting from additional capital raised through the sale of common stock or other equity-linked instruments; our ability to continue to comply with the applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange; the restrictions contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness limiting our flexibility in operating our business; and certain other factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Other key risks are described in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 . The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clear-channel-outdoor-holdings-inc-has-entered-into-exclusive-discussions-to-sell-its-france-business-301878321.html

SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
JACKSON, Mich. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today $500,000 in grants as part of their annual People Awards. This year's recipients are organizations based in Jackson and Grand Rapids that are working to provide economic security for Michigan residents.

"We are deeply grateful for the work these three organizations are doing in their communities, and across the state, to remove the barriers many still face to fulfilling basic needs," said Brandon Hofmeister , president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "Ensuring every person in this state has access to the resources they need to live safe and healthy lives is part of our core mission, and our People Award grants give us an opportunity to fund programs we know will provide those resources."

The People Awards recipients chosen from more than 75 applicants are:

Jackson Friendly Home and John George Home ) ( $125,000 each), Jackson

The two organizations provide services for low-income elderly women and men, respectively. They will use their grants to fund facility and transportation improvements to increase comfort and access to services and improve their clients' mental and physical health.

The Storehouse of Community Resources ( $250,000 ), Grand Rapids

The Storehouse acts as a one-stop-shop for member nonprofits and schools to "purchase" donated product to meet the needs of the individual communities they serve. The funding will support the development of a comprehensive technology platform that will streamline the donation, distribution and access process for member groups.

"This very generous gift is about human connection," said Carrie Good , administrator for the Jackson Friendly and John George Homes . "This will provide the elderly and vulnerable residents of our homes an opportunity to dramatically reduce loneliness and isolation by providing significant opportunities to engage with our community."

"We extend heartfelt thanks to the Consumers Energy Foundation for their invaluable People Award grant," said Jessica Johns , co-founder and Executive Director of the Storehouse. "The technology upgrade enabled by this grant will revolutionize our product distribution and amplify our impact within our community and far beyond, allowing us to reach more individuals and families than ever before. Together, with Consumers Energy, we embrace the power of innovation and compassion to create positive change in Michigan for those who need it most."

The People Awards are the second of three signature grant allocations in 2023 totaling $1.5 million . The Foundation previously awarded the Planet Awards in April, and will present the Prosperity Awards this fall to support nonprofit efforts that support economic development.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what's most important  our people, our planet and Michigan's prosperity. In 2022, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $18.5 million to Michigan nonprofits.

Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy

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SOURCE Consumers Energy
Newly-built wind farms will produce renewable electricity to power EverWind's green hydrogen and ammonia production, securing Nova Scotia 's green fuels leadership

HALIFAX, NS , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - EverWind Fuels ("EverWind"), Canada 's most advanced large-scale green hydrogen project, announced the purchase of three wind farm development projects: Windy Ridge , and in partnership with Membertou , Bear Lake and Kmtnuk (together, the "Wind Farms"), together representing approximately 530MW. The Wind Farms will represent a private investment in new, clean, renewable energy generation in Nova Scotia to power Phase 1 of EverWind's green hydrogen and ammonia project.

Wind Farm Development Key Highlights:

$1 billion private investment to deliver additional renewable energy in Nova Scotia for EverWind green hydrogen and ammonia production

private investment to deliver additional renewable energy in for EverWind green hydrogen and ammonia production Jobs creation with approximately 650 construction and 30 full-time positions in Nova Scotia created from wind farms alone

with approximately 650 construction and 30 full-time positions in created from wind farms alone Supports 80% Renewable Energy Standard in Nova Scotia in 2030

in in 2030 New generating capacity in addition to the Province's recent Rate Base Procurement

in addition to the Province's recent Rate Base Procurement System benefits from EverWind as flexible power user to support Nova Scotia 's grid and renewable energy transition 1

from EverWind as flexible power user to support 's grid and renewable energy transition Enables development of EverWind's green hydrogen and ammonia production facility, which unlocks Canada 's preeminent green hydrogen economy

"The global fight against climate change requires us to work together to get long-term investments in clean, renewable energy over the finish line," said Trent Vichie , CEO of EverWind. "This investment helps Nova Scotia move more quickly and cost-effectively towards its clean energy transition. The power generated at these three new developments will also ensure EverWind's green hydrogen and ammonia will meet the strictest international standards for green fuels, including European RFNBO criteria. It is a win for our project, a win for the province and, ultimately, a win for the planet."

" Membertou is proud to partner with EverWind Fuels in the Bear Lake and Kmtnuk wind farm developments. As majority owner, Membertou will inform the development process, and along with our partners, we will work to progress the transition to green energy in Nova Scotia and the world. This development will provide a necessary source of energy, and will create economic benefits for the people of Membertou ," said Chief Terry Paul , Chief & CEO of Membertou .

Wind Farm and Plant Construction Partnerships

The wind farms will be developed and built in partnership with Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. (RES), the largest private developer of renewable power in the world, having constructed over 23GW of wind farms and currently operating over 12GW of wind. RES has been working with municipalities, corporations, First Nations, and government authorities in Canada since 2003, including extensive work in Nova Scotia .

"RES is excited to partner with EverWind to deliver these farm developments." said Peter Clibbon , Senior VP of Development for RES in Canada . "RES brings significant experience in wind farm development, particularly in Nova Scotia . We are pleased with the advanced state of development for the Wind Farms and are excited to take these developments through to commercial operations. Both wind projects are well advanced through the Nova Scotia Power interconnection process and are currently undergoing environmental assessment field investigations to allow for the commencement of a full EA process in Fall of 2023."

The green hydrogen and ammonia plant will be developed and constructed in partnership with leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Black & Veatch.

Black & Veatch has completed critical infrastructure projects in more than 100 countries and has more than 10,000 employees across 100 offices worldwide. The company has been working on hydrogen, ammonia, and transmission projects for over 60 years, with experience that includes 100 hydrogen projects and more than 50 recent ammonia projects.

"Our deep experience in the energy transition will allow us to work alongside EverWind's world-class partners to guide what is expected to be North America 's first large-scale green ammonia production facility forward," said Ali Assaf , Black & Veatch Vice President and Managing Director. "We are in the final stages of front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the Phase 1 production facility and are progressing all workstreams to deliver on-time and on-budget."

Wind Farm Benefits

The three new wind projects will increase the total amount of wind-generated electricity on Nova Scotia Power's grid and bring Nova Scotia Power closer to meeting the provincial mandate of 80% renewable energy sales by 2030.

Any green power in excess of EverWind's requirements can be made available to Nova Scotia Power for consumption by customers and provide benefits in terms of cost provided by the recently passed Canadian Government Investment Tax Credit for renewable generation.

EverWind's electricity usage can also provide significant system benefits as the variable hydrogen production allows for flexible usage of renewable power which will support the green transition, particularly given Nova Scotia 's variable seasonal energy demand.

Sources of Green Energy for EverWind Production

All power for EverWind's Phase 1 of production will be supplied from newly built renewable energy sources, with energy generated from the Wind Farms transmitted via Nova Scotia 's power grid to its Point Tupper facility. EverWind is also purchasing and leasing land adjacent to the facility which will be used for up to 300MW of solar power to support production and further enhance grid flexibility benefits. EverWind's production will vary given the intermittent nature of its renewable energy sources and its first phase will utilize PEM electrolyzers, which can rapidly vary their production to respond to variable green energy inputs. With the Wind Farms and solar developments, EverWind expects to generate 2,500,000 MWh, which provides the power for over 200,000 tonnes of ammonia.

"Every wind project we consider building is conditional on ensuring that we do not remove a single watt slated for domestic residential, commercial, or industrial usage from Nova Scotia 's grid," Vichie said. "In fact, we are picking up the bill to produce net new clean energy, and any excess electricity generated at these projects will be made immediately available for domestic use. We will have the ability to scale our production to add resiliency to the grid during periods of peak demand."

For Phase 2 of its production, EverWind signed an MOU to lease Crown land for an additional 2 gigawatts of wind. EverWind is also in the process of developing a green hydrogen project in Newfoundland and Labrador .

EverWind is in the process of appointing an independent verification firm to certify that its green hydrogen production meets the strictest international standards (including European RFNBO).

About EverWind Fuels

EverWind is North America 's leading independent green hydrogen developer. EverWind received the first Environmental Approval in North America for a large-scale green hydrogen project, and is well progressed in design, engineering, and development for the first phase of both its green energy generation projects and the production facility which will convert this energy into green hydrogen. EverWind owns and operates the deepest ice-free berth on the East Coast of North America, with world class access to rail, roads, and pipelines. Our safety-first culture reflects a highly skilled and extensively certified workforce, with a stellar safety record.





EverWind has three First Nations equity partners and is a champion for meaningful engagement with Rightsholders and the advancement of social and economic reconciliation. At a local level, the Company works closely with municipalities and stakeholder organizations.

EverWind is led by Trent Vichie , a co-founder of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, and a former Blackstone Partner . EverWind's development team consists of over 20 members who have previously held senior positions at various infrastructure, private equity, renewable power, engineering, and utility companies. EverWind is also supported by a world-class advisory team including Black & Veatch, ILF, RES, Strum Environmental, McInnes Cooper, King & Spalding, McKinsey, Morgan Stanley, CIBC, and Citi.

EverWind's Nova Scotia Projects

The first phase has been issued an Environmental Assessment Approval and is set to produce over 200,000 tonnes per annum of green ammonia starting in 2025, then achieve over 1 million tonnes per annum production by 2026 through a second phase.

Additional information can be found at https://EverWindFuels.com/, https://KmtnukWind.com/, https://WindyRidgeWind.com, and http://BearLakeWind.com/.

EverWind acknowledges the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land, Mi'kma'ki. From the beginning our work has shared a core principle of environmental stewardship. We are committed to working with Mi'kmaq and delivering a comprehensive partnership on all aspects of the project. EverWind's Nova Scotia Project includes three Mi'kmaq equity partners and is a champion for meaningful engagement with Rightsholders and the advancement of social and economic reconciliation.

At a local level, the EverWind works closely with multiple municipalities and stakeholder organizations throughout Nova Scotia .

EverWind's Newfoundland & Labrador Projects

Leveraging our Nova Scotia platform and development experience, EverWind is pursuing a sister project on the Burin Peninsula in Newfoundland & Labrador. The project's initial phase will consist of a 2+ GW wind farm to produce green hydrogen and ammonia. Located in a region with a proud industrial heritage, EverWind will continue to work closely with the Burin Peninsula Energy Board and communities throughout the region to advance the project.

EverWind acknowledges the island of Ktaqmkuk ( Newfoundland ) as traditional territory of the Beothuk and the Qalipu Mi'kmaq and the Mi'kmaq of Miawpukek Mi'kamawey Mawi'omi and acknowledges Labrador as the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Innu of Nitassinan, the Inuit of Nunatsiavut, and the Inuit of NunatuKavut. EverWind is committed to working in a spirit of truth and reconciliation to make a better future for all.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by EverWind, including statements concerning projected wind farm capacity, projected green ammonia production volumes, construction and production timelines, sources and transmission of power, and benefits of the project. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, such as general economic and regulatory conditions, could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of EverWind and those projected in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. EverWind does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to align them to future events or developments, except as may be required by law.

1 IRENA 2019 Report provides overview of system benefits of hydrogen production https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2019/Sep/IRENA_Power-to-Hydrogen_Innovation_2019.pdf?la=en&hash=C166B06F4B4D95AA05C67DAB4DE8E2934C79858D

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SOURCE EverWind Fuels Company
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacifica Salud Hospital has joined the Global Provider Network (GPN), ushering in a new era of streamlined and easy access for American consumers and self-funded employers to access one of Latin America's top healthcare providers.

The GPN is a network comprising the world's leading hospitals, offering comprehensive and easy access to complex bundled and transparent medical packages for facilitators, insurance companies, self-funded employers, government referrals, and individual healthcare consumers.

Referral organizations can now swiftly tap into a network of global healthcare providers with pre-negotiated discounts and commissions. Simultaneously, healthcare providers can expand their reach and patient base, courtesy of the swift access to a robust global network of referral organizations and consumers through Global Healthcare Resources.

"As one of the top hospitals in Latin America , affiliated with Johns Hopkins we are positioned to provide much more affordable options for Americans while providing high quality healthcare ," CEO of Pacifica Salud, Rafael Cohen said, "We are proud to Join the Global Provider Network, and partnering with Global Healthcare Resources, will launch Pacifica Salud to a global level, boosting our brand visibility, expanding our capacity, rapidly increasing our international patient volume," he added.

"The Global Provider Network provides a needed solution in the industry connecting the best players together. Self-funded employers looking to access the best of healthcare available with huge cost savings and excellent patient outcomes will find it here at Pacifica Salud," Cohen added.

"It's time for a change. The industry needs to adapt and grow, and the Global Provider Network is the solution that will bring the industry together and accelerate the business of medical tourism. In the end everyone will be more successful and achieve better outcomes," said Jonathan Edelheit, CEO & Co-founder of Global Healthcare Resources and the Medical Tourism Association.

GPN, launched by Global Healthcare Resources, in partnership with the Medical Tourism Association, the leading authority in the business of health and wellness, provides targeted and innovative solutions to challenges that stakeholders face in accessing world-class healthcare and scaling profitability.

GPN solves some of the challenges faced by referral organizations and healthcare providers, including:

Limited time and resources to establish and expand their networks

Purchasing power to negotiate the best discounts or commissions

Long wait times to secure contracts between healthcare providers and buyers

Lack of knowledge in identifying the right healthcare providers, who provide top-quality services and are committed to excellent patient experience and global best practices.

Difficulty in accessing user-friendly technology and payment models that make transactions simple and accessible.

GPN also offers access to a wider pool of patient population, health payers, and referral organizations for healthcare providers, as well as access to world-class healthcare providers for buyers.

About Global Healthcare Resources

Global Healthcare Resources is a marketing consulting firm specializing in business development and marketing strategy and penetration services in the employer health care, benefits, well-being, and medical travel industries. We leverage thought leadership, educational training, and virtual and live events to connect buyers and providers of services together to scale business opportunities.

In the last couple of years, we have focused on utilizing the connection between personal and professional motivation to build a business and launched three moonshots in key areas necessary for industry growth. Cost, Culture, and Care. Through these moonshots, we anticipate building a movement that inspires growth through the shared vision, mission, and values inextricably linked between employer and employees. For us, this means virtual and in-person opportunities for business and personal connection, training and certification programs developed through partnerships with key thought leaders across each moonshot mission and leveraging our publication and podcast to drive thought leadership and demonstrable success with each moonshot.

About Pacifica Salud

Hospital Punta Pacifica is a JCI accredited modern healthcare organization that offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services to local and international patients, with expertise in general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and heart surgery.

Hospital Punta Pacifica also offers a range of diagnostic services, including CAT scans, EKG, endoscopy, interventional cardiology, and interventional radiology procedures. The hospital is the only healthcare provider in Central America to be affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, a collaboration that not only improves the quality of care offered, but also boosts opportunities for staff training and fast medical and technological advancement for the hospital.

The hospital, conveniently located in the heart of the beautiful city of Panama , offers easy access to the city's sublime tourist attractions, airports, and recreational centers. With just 15 minutes from the Panama City International Airport , Hospital Punta Pacifica is the perfect destination for international health payers and patients seeking solutions to complex medical needs.

Hospital Punta Pacifica receives around 650 medical tourists every year, mostly from the United States , Canada , Spain , Brazil , and Colombia . The hospital has a reputable international patient desk that caters to international patients to ensure they navigate care seamlessly along the continuum.

To learn more about Hospital Punta Pacifica, click here.

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SOURCE Global Healthcare Resources
Lion Pose , Clinical Skincare for Diverse Skin Tones , Launches Exclusively at Sephora

SAN FRANCISCO , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lion Pose , a beauty brand raising the industry's standards of clinical testing and research for underrepresented voices, officially debuts exclusively at Sephora. Developed with Harvard-trained dermatologists, and focused on inclusivity and science-led formulations, Lion Pose is poised to pave the way for how we develop and test clinical skincare products.

Lion Pose is female-founded by Madhu Punjabi and Nisha Phatak , two BIPOC Silicon Valley software alums and Harvard MBA graduates, who have both had personal experience with hyperpigmentation, dark spots and scarring. The brand participated in Sephora Accelerate and Y Combinator. They have raised $3 Million from investors and celebrities including beauty & wellness fund Ignite XL, Precursor Ventures, Mindy Kaling , Rob Lowe's LH Capital, Howard Klein , Talia Frenkel (Founder of L. Brands), and former-CEO of Guthy Renker (Proactiv parent company) Ben VandeBunt .

In the US there is approximately 1 dermatologist per 30,000 people, making it impossible for everyone to access a dermatologist. Consumers therefore turn to retail-available skincare products, but due to lack of regulation, the majority of products are not clinically tested, let alone tested on diverse skin. This lack of representation across skin tones, makes the category ripe for disruption. Lion Pose is dedicated to performing unbiased, third-party clinical testing on diverse skin tones, and selecting skincare ingredients that are safe and effective for all. They strive to provide access to dermatology-grade formulas to all consumers on-the-shelf.

Lion Pose is developed with Harvard-trained, actively-practicing dermatologists Dr. Laura Scott and Dr. Tia Paul who specialize in diverse skin and serve as active members of the Skin of Color Society. They helped develop the brand's debut product: UNSPOTTED 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum, designed to tackle hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and scarring safely and effectively on all skin tones. This game-changing serum harnesses the power of a 15% active acid blend (including azelaic, glycolic, lactic, and tranexamic acids) along with antioxidants like glutathione to lift away dead skin cells and visibly improve the evenness of skin tone. It is free from cyclic silicones, synthetic fragrances and dyes, and endocrine disruptors, and is proudly "Clean at Sephora", hypo-allergenic, vegan, and Made in California .

Lion Pose also welcomes Mindy Kaling as an investor and brand ambassador, "My decision to come on board Lion Pose was simple. I found an unbeatable product that was backed by a vision I have always believed in, and one that has informed everything I do in my career. That representation and inclusion are just good business. Madhu and Nisha are deeply committed to the idea that inclusivity in clinical skincare is not the goal, but the requirement for any good product. In raising the standards for clinical testing and research in beauty, Lion Pose has created better, more effective products, for even more skin colors and types. And I can say this first hand as one of their earliest adopters. From the moment I tried Lion Pose , I knew it was something special and wanted in on the success!" - Mindy Kaling , Investor and Brand Ambassador

Today, Sephora mobile app users can exclusively purchase Lion Pose UNSPOTTED 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum for $79.00 USD . Starting July 18 , Lion Pose will be available on Sephora.com, and starting August 28 , in select Sephora brick-and-mortar stores nationwide.

For More Information on Lion Pose : Media Contacts: Website: LionPose.com Amanda Smeal , [email protected] Instagram: @LionPose Aimee Moss , [email protected] TikTok: @LionPose

Facebook: @LionPose



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Summary: Phoenix Capital Group, a leading oil and gas mineral rights acquisition enterprise, is excited to announce its latest expansion into the Dallas, Texas , market with a 5,500-square-foot office space.

DALLAS , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Capital Group, a leading oil and gas mineral rights acquisition enterprise, is excited to announce it will be expanding its presence with the opening of a new office in Dallas, Texas . This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone for Phoenix Capital Group , allowing the company to broaden its service offerings and enhance operations.

Phoenix Capital Group , a mineral rights acquisition enterprise, is excited to announce its expansion into Dallas, Texas .

"We are thrilled to open our new office in Dallas, Texas . This is a major milestone for our company, and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team," stated Lindsey Wilson , the Chief Operating Officer at Phoenix Capital Group. " Dallas is a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and we are excited to be a part of a city with a rich history in the oil & gas business. We believe that Dallas is the perfect place for us to grow and innovate, and we look forward to being a part of this vibrant community."

Located at 5949 Sherry Lane , Suite 1060, in Dallas , the state-of-the-art office space will span more than 5,500 square feet. It will be the home for Phoenix Capital Group's sales, operations, and land teams, which will help the company lay the foundation for increased productivity, collaboration, and, as a result, success.

These three teams housed at the new Dallas office will enable seamless coordination and communication among the pivotal departments. This will further enhance Phoenix Capital Group's ability to provide clients with operational excellence and comprehensive service.

The office space is in a vibrant business hub in the city. Dallas was a prime target for expansion for Phoenix Capital Group due to the city's large talent pool, thriving real estate market, and robust economy.

The city is also located in a strategic position in the country, allowing convenient access to partners and clients throughout the United States . This will help the company to foster valuable relationships and facilitate further growth.

Phoenix Capital Group is committed to meeting the needs of its clients and seizing opportunities in key markets. To do this, the company needs to stay ahead of these evolving needs and emerging market trends.

With the land, sales, and operations teams in one location, the Dallas office will help to further drive innovation and cross-functional operation in a collaborative environment where knowledge is shared.

The Dallas office space was specifically designed with collaboration in mind. There will be 16 cubicles and nine offices, allowing the company to strike a perfect balance between open work areas and private offices where focused work can take place.

It will have modern amenities and cutting-edge technology to serve the team's diverse needs.

This is just another example of how Phoenix Capital Group is taking an integrated approach to mineral rights acquisitions, which helps them stand out among the competition.

Phoenix Capital Group was founded in 2019. Its headquarters are in Denver , and the company has satellite offices in Casper, Wyoming , and Irvine, California .

As a family-owned company, it prioritizes asset management and capital deployment projects that benefit investors and individual landowners. Phoenix Capital Group's primary focus is identifying untapped value on behalf of landowners throughout the U.S. , and its expansion into the Dallas market will only continue to advance that focus.

More information about Phoenix Capital Group can be found on the company's website, phxcapitalgroup.com .

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SOURCE Phoenix Capital Group Holdings LLC
WICHITA, Kan. , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) will release its second quarter 2023 financial results at 6:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 .

Spirit AeroSystems President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Gentile will be joined by Spirit's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark Suchinski on a conference call presentation to securities analysts about second quarter 2023 results and company outlook at 10 a.m. CDT on August 2, 2023 .

That presentation will be broadcast online. It will include charts and a question-and-answer session. The company's news release detailing the results will also be available. The live audio stream and slide presentation can be accessed August 2, 2023 , at http://investor.spiritaero.com/.

Individuals are urged to check the website in advance to ensure their computers are configured for the audio stream and slide presentation.

About Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the company's core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. We are leveraging decades of design and manufacturing expertise to be the most innovative and reliable supplier of military aerostructures, and specialty high-temperature materials, enabling warfighters to execute complex, critical missions. Spirit also serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas , Spirit has facilities in the U.S. , U.K. , France , Malaysia and Morocco . More information is available at www.spiritaero.com.

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SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems
A worker drinks water at the construction site which is 1,840 meters below ground under the Qinling Mountains in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 18, 2020. With the temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius and 90 percent in relative humidity, workers labor in a tunnel of a water diversion project under the Qinling Mountains. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

XI'AN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China has dug through a mountain range to supply water from a tributary of the country's longest river Yangtze to quench the droughty north.

Tunnels beneath the Qinling Mountains on Sunday started sending water from the Hanjiang River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze, to the Weihe River, a tributary of the Yellow River, said the water resources department of Shaanxi Province.

Officials hailed the project for allowing water from tributaries of the country's two largest rivers to meet in Shaanxi, one of the most drought-ridden provinces in northwest China.

Involving total investments of 51.6 billion yuan (7.2 billion U.S. dollars), the project started construction in 2011 to bring water from Hanjiang in water-rich southern Shaanxi northward to Weihe, which traverses the more thirsty central parts of the province.

It is one of the most challenging engineering projects in China as it requires constructing 98.3-km tunnels underneath the Qinling Mountains, a natural boundary between China's north and south.

So far, the project has completed the first phase to link the two rivers through tunnels, while the second and third phases of sending water to other places in central Shaanxi are still under construction.

After the entire project is completed, it will relieve water supply strains in Shaanxi cities such as Xi'an and Xianyang, benefiting 14.11 million people. It will also spare more water resources for northern Shaanxi to develop its energy industry, said Zheng Weiguo, director of the provincial water resources department.

"This project has far-reaching significance. It will quench northern Shaanxi, nourish central Shaanxi, and boost green development of southern Shaanxi," Zheng said, adding the project will also allow southern Shaanxi to harness local water resources for green development. 
Over $100m income milestone for the third year running

18% year-on-year income growth to $131.5m

Pre-tax profits increased by 13% from $51.9m to $58.7m

Trade Finance income grew by 12% year-on-year to $62.6m

Commercial Banking customer deposits reached $1.252bn , up 34% year-on-year

Visa debit card added to our portfolio of customer-focused services

LONDON , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A vibrant Access Bank Polo Day at Guards Polo Club Windsor combined celebrating another year of outstanding international business growth for The Access Bank UK Ltd with fabulous fund raising for UNICEF schools building programme in Nigeria . All part of The Access Bank/Fifth Chukker impressive fundraising initiatives across Africa .

For The Access Bank UK Ltd Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director, Jamie Simmonds the highlight of a strong financial operating performance has been securing the approval of French regulators for the Bank to open a regulated branch in Paris . "This is a significant development representing the Bank's latest success in expanding our parent group's international footprint beyond Africa , the City of London and its branch in Dubai ."

In the year The Bank has won 'International Investor publications' award as 'Most innovative Trade Finance African Bank- UK ' as well as 'Best African Trade Finance' award from International Finance for the sixth consecutive year and 'Best Africa Trade Finance Bank' by Capital Finance International for the eighth year in a row." Putting customers' needs ahead of its own sets the standard by which it judges itself and its performance. "We are a bank where our growth has been fuelled by the strength of customer relationships. This enables us to develop innovative products and the best financial solutions for our customers."

Herbert Wigwe , Group Managing Director of Access Holdings PLC and Chairman of The Access Bank UK Ltd, says "The successes of The Access Bank UK Ltd have been a major milestone in the development of the banking group into the biggest Nigerian Bank in respect of assets and the largest in Africa by customer base and has charted our course for the future and vision to be the world's most respected African bank. Together our continuing support for the Fifth Chukker - UNICEF initiative reflects our view of our role as a change agent in Nigeria and Africa that can help institute socio-economic development through responsible business practice, social initiatives and environmental consideration." "We continue to look for ways to enable more resources to be directed at supporting the children. We are part of the community and as such should support its wellbeing."

Since the UNICEF/Access Bank initiative was started it has rebuilt schools in Kaduna and has kept more than 8000 students in continuous education. At the same time new school blocks and a computer literacy building all in a more secure and friendly school environment have been developed. The communities surrounding the schools are supported with boreholes for water and sewing and grinding machines to secure employment and stimulate economic and social development.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Walker , +44 7836 223513

Email: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2154864/Access_Challenge_Cup.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/946980/Access_Bank_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE The Access Bank UK Ltd
Firm's oversubscribed third fund brings total raised to $1.3 billion since founding in September 2018

David Allison , Ph.D., joins Beth Seidenberg , M.D., and Mira Chaurushiya , Ph.D., as managing directors

LOS ANGELES , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Westlake Village BioPartners ("Westlake") today announced the launch of its third fund of $450 million to incubate and grow early stage next-generation biotechnology companies in the Los Angeles region and beyond. The new fund will be managed by founding managing director Beth Seidenberg , M.D., managing director Mira Chaurushiya , Ph.D., and David Allison , Ph.D., who was recently appointed managing director.

"This new fund will enable us to continue to do what we do best  build great companies from the ground up that make a difference for patients and generate outsized returns for investors regardless of market conditions," said Dr. Seidenberg . "Our investors recognize our strategy is working and have demonstrated their commitment through this new investment."

Westlake will use the funds to continue to incubate and build early stage companies, by matching promising next-generation technologies with world-class talent to create transformative therapies that will change patients' lives.

Building a Venture Capital Firm to Last

Westlake announced the appointment of Dr. Chaurushiya as a senior partner in early 2022, and with the start of the new fund her promotion to managing director, and today announced Dr. Allison's appointment as managing director. Along with Seidenberg, Chaurushiya and Allison will lead the new fund.

"Our goal is to build a venture capital firm for the long term," said Dr. Seidenberg . "Adding Mira and David to our leadership team allows us to leverage their deep scientific, business, and investing expertise across our entire portfolio, while also building Westlake's next generation of leaders."

"Working with Beth and reuniting with Mira at Westlake is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Dr. Allison . "The firm has a focused, disciplined, and consistent investing strategy, which aligns with my approach throughout my investing career. Having created more than 20 high-quality companies since Westlake's founding in September 2018 is an impressive record by anyone's standards and I am thrilled to continue this work as we launch the new fund."

Dr. Allison has spent the past 15 years in biotechnology venture capital, including most recently as a partner at 5AM Ventures. While at 5AM , he was involved in investments including CinCor Pharma (acquired by AstraZeneca), Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Impel Neuropharma, Inipharm, Neurogastrx, and Radionetics. Prior to 5AM , Dr. Allison was a principal at Versant Ventures and held previous roles at Split Rock Partners and PTV Healthcare Capital. He received a Ph.D. from Rice University and a B.S.E. from The University of Iowa.

Dr. Chaurushiya was most recently at 5AM where she was a partner and involved in investments including Precision Nanosystems (acquired by Danaher), Enliven Therapeutics, Purigen Biosystems (acquired by BioNano), Escient Pharmaceuticals, Novome Biotechnologies, and TMRW. Dr. Chaurushiya is a fellow of the Society of Kauffman Fellows. She received a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in conjunction with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where she was awarded the Martin Kamen Thesis Prize in Biochemistry, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Genentech. She received a B.A. from Carleton College.

Catalyzing the Los Angeles Biotech Hub

Westlake pioneered the creation of the Los Angeles Biotech Hub and has so far established eight companies in the region. " Los Angeles has a culture of innovation that is underappreciated in the biotech world," said Dr. Chaurushiya . "We have outstanding entrepreneurial and industry-experienced talent, world-class academic institutions, and sufficient venture capital with expertise in building biotech companies. Along with the wonderful Southern California lifestyle, this is a recipe for success."

About Westlake Village BioPartners

Westlake Village BioPartners is a Los Angeles area-based venture capital firm focused on incubating and building life sciences companies with entrepreneurs who have the potential to bring transformative therapies to patients. Westlake manages more early-stage venture capital solely from the greater Los Angeles area than any other firm. The Westlake model is built on the founding team's unique experience in successfully identifying and developing breakthrough therapies and building organizations, based on their extensive R&D, investing and company-building experience. For more information, please visit www.westlakebio.com.

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SOURCE Westlake Village BioPartners
MCKINNEY, Texas , July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcelerate Auto, LLC, in partnership with Endurance Dealer Services and AmTrust Financial, expand XCare vehicle service contracts to include EV batteries and drive units.

Xcelerate Auto launches "first of its kind" Electric Vehicle Battery & Drive Unit Warranty for Tesla and all EVs.

Xcelerate Auto, LLC, the leader in electric vehicle (EV) financial products and services, is proud to announce the expansion of their XCare vehicle service contracts to include EV drive batteries and drive units. In partnership with Endurance Dealer Services and AmTrust Financial Services, Xcelerate first released the XCare EV extended warranty four years ago. In efforts to continually mature the EV space and push the boundaries on what the growing EV community needs, Xcelerate, along with the same collaborators, have now expanded the XCare plan to include drive battery and drive unit coverage for electric vehicles.

Since the XCare EV warranty launch in 2019, it has been widely viewed as the first and only EV coverage that is dependable and explicitly designed for EVs by EV professionals. It is also the only EV warranty intended to work around a direct-to-consumer service model operated by vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian. XCare has been a reason why many choose to get into a used EV or allows them to stay in their EV for years to come. Thousands of EV owners have been financially protected with unexpected service issues dealing with technology that most do not understand.

For Xcelerate Auto, this is further iteration to what they offer to the EV community. KJ Gimbel, Chief Executive Officer of Xcelerate Auto, states: "Since the beginning years of Tesla, we have helped to create products and services that accelerate the mass adoption of EV ownership. XCare was a natural progression from where we started, and proud to include the battery and drive unit as part of our extensive EV coverage."

The introduction of XCare battery and drive unit coverage is the first of its kind, doubling an EV's manufacturer coverage while maintaining the same factory degradation. Milad Davoodi , Xcelerate Auto's Chief Operating Officer, shares: "Since launching XCare, we have taken large amounts of feedback from customers to enhance our newer and improved warranty options. In 2023, the total amount of electric vehicles that will be offered will double; therefore, we have to increase the number of vehicles that fall under the eligibility of XCare. Our mission is to further drive EV adoption while adding value to the growing, yet aging, EV population for years to come."

XCare coverage is available for electric vehicles up to 10 years old or 125,000 miles, and now includes battery and drive unit coverage for EVs under 7 years old or 100,000 miles at the time of contract purchase. In addition, XCare vehicle service contracts offer unique consumer benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, trip interruption, rental car reimbursement, and commercial coverage.

Xcelerate Auto plans to continue to work with like-minded organizations and financial institutions to offer their consumers new benefits, including future financing and payment options. Consumers with the XCare plan will have the ability to refinance their vehicles with XCare coverage wrapped in as well as XCare payment cards to streamline the claims process for vehicle owners and auto manufacturers. For Xcelerate, progress and innovation never stops

About Xcelerate Auto, LLC

Xcelerate Auto is a team of former Tesla leaders and Tesla partners, founded in 2014 that offers a completely transparent leasing experience to consumers and businesses nationwide while also being the creators of XCare EV Protection. Their clients receive true cost of ownership by transitioning over to electrification, and offer expertise by professionals who have been in the EV space since 2011, all while receiving a no pressure, technology driven, no nonsense approach to their purchase and/or lease. The company's sales staff brings over 20 years of experience in the auto industry, and 12 years in the EV industry, and knows the market inside and out. For more information about Xcelerate Auto, visit https://www.xcelerateauto.com.

About Endurance Dealer Services

Founded in 2006, Endurance is the nation's premier provider of vehicle service contracts. Endurance Dealer Services is the administrator and obligor of Endurance vehicle protection plans and programs, enabling the company to customize products to meet the ever-changing needs for dealers and their customers. Endurance is one of the largest providers of vehicle service contracts in the nation and backed by AmTrust, an AM Best "A-" rated insurance company. Since 2012, the company has paid over $265 million in claims and continues to be the industry's fastest growing top-rated vehicle service contract provider. For more information about Endurance Dealer Services, visit https://www.enduranceds.com.

About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., a multinational insurance holding company headquartered in New York , offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, business owner's policy (BOP), general liability and extended service and warranty coverage. For more information about AmTrust, visit https://www.amtrustfinancial.com

Contact:

Nico Martini

Xcelerate Auto, LLC

800-655-3509

[email protected]

www.xcelerateauto.com

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SOURCE Xcelerate Auto, LLC.
FILE PHOTO: People exit the headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

By Jody Godoy and Chris Prentice

(Reuters) -A cryptocurrency developer's landmark legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will galvanize Coinbase and other companies to resist the agency's attempt to assert its jurisdiction over the industry, experts said.

Thursday's ruling that Ripple Labs Inc did not violate securities law by selling its XRP token on exchanges was the first major setback for the SEC in a decade of enforcement against the cryptocurrency industry. Other crypto firms accused of illegally operating digital asset exchanges are exploring ways to take advantage of the ruling, according to two sources familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The crypto industry is in a tug-of-war with the SEC and its Democratic chair Gary Gensler, who has described the crypto market as a "Wild West" riddled with fraud. Saying most crypto tokens are securities, the SEC has cracked down on crypto trading platforms, including the top U.S. exchange Coinbase, in an effort to bring the industry under its oversight.

Crypto firms have long disputed the SEC's jurisdiction but until Thursday no court had supported that view. Now, industry lawyers have ammunition to fight back.

"This case will cause people to rethink, and I think it already has," said Robert Frenchman of Mukasey Frenchman LLP.

The two sources, for example, said firms are considering ways to use the Judge's ruling for their defense. "I cant imagine any of the exchanges wont use this in some way," said one.

In 2020, the SEC sued San Francisco-based Ripple and its current and former chief executives, alleging they conducted a $1.3 billion unregistered securities offering by selling XRP, which Ripple's founders created in 2012.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in New York on Thursday ruled its sales on public cryptocurrency exchanges were not offers of securities because purchasers did not have a reasonable expectation of profit that depended on Ripple's efforts, a key factor in determining if XRP was a security at the time. However, she also ruled Ripple's direct sales of XRP to investors should have been registered as securities, handing the SEC a partial victory.

Crypto proponents viewed the decision as a watershed and the judge's reasoning as a new line of defense for the likes of Coinbase, Binance, Bittrex and other exchanges targeted by the SEC on the basis they were trading securities.

"It bolsters Coinbase's and Binance's arguments that the digital assets that are traded on those exchanges would not be deemed securities," said Teresa Goody Guillen of Baker & Hostetler in Washington.

Spokespeople for Coinbase and Bittrex did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Binance declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for the SEC.

The SEC's Gensler said in remarks on Monday that the regulator is "disappointed" with the part of the ruling that was in Ripple's favor.

SEC APPEAL?

While the cryptoverse was celebrating, some legal experts said they believe the SEC will challenge the ruling in the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals to stop judges hearing other cases from ruling that other crypto assets sold on exchanges are not securities.

"The stakes are too large, especially in light of cases against Coinbase and other issuers for the SEC to let this opinion stand," said Carol Goforth, a law professor at the University of Arkansas.

Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty said in an interview with Reuters that the company "wouldn't shy away from an appeal, because the judge was right on her core findings," adding: "I believe any appellate court looking at this would amplify and endorse those rulings, which would certainly be welcome," he said.

Experts agreed that an appeal carried risks for the SEC.

If the 2nd Circuit, whose rulings are binding on federal courts in New York, Connecticut and Vermont, adopts the logic in the Ripple ruling, much of the Coinbase case is "toast," said Philip Moustakis, an attorney at Seward & Kissel.

"It presents a substantial risk that their jurisdiction over the crypto markets will be constricted if they appeal and lose," he said.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy and Chris Prentice in New York and Hannah Lang in Washington, D.C.; editing by Tom Hals, Michelle Price and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO-Employees work on the production line at a Baowu Group steel mill in Ezhou, Hubei province, China June 21, 2023. REUTERS/Amy Lv/file photo

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's June crude steel output rose 1.1% from May and 0.4% from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said on Monday, as mills were encouraged to ramp up production after steel prices rose.

The world's largest steel producer manufactured 91.11 million metric tons of the ferrous metal last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed, higher than 90.12 million metric tons manufactured in May and 90.73 million metric tons in the same month in 2022.

The average daily steel output in June stood around 3.04 million metric tons, up from 2.91 million metric tons in May and higher than 3.02 million metric tons in June 2022, respectively, according to Reuters calculations based on NBS data.

Production from both the blast furnace-based steelmakers and electric arc furnace-based (EAF) steel mills picked up given decent margins, contributing to higher overall output last month, said Pei Hao, a Shanghai-based senior analyst at international brokerage firm FIS.

The blast furnace capacity utilisation rate among the surveyed 247 steelmakers climbed to 92.11% by the end of June from 89.93% in late May, data from consultancy Mysteel showed.

Meanwhile, the capacity utilisation rate among surveyed 34 electric arc furnace steel mills climbed to 42% in late June, up from 37% by the end of May, according to data from Shanghai Metals Market.

China produced 535.64 million metric tons of the ferrous metal in the first half of the year, up 1.3% from the same period last year, NBS data showed.

Some analysts expect steel output to rise in July despite top steelmaking hub Tangshan city requiring mills to cut sintering production by between 30% and 50% this month to improve air quality.

"As prices are expected to begin their recovery in July following these recent efforts to tighten the local market, production will inevitably recover from what are comparatively low levels by Chinese standards," said Alistair Ramsay, vice president of Rystad Energy Metals.

"We also predict the daily output will move back above 3 million metric tons, meaning a July total over 93 million metric tons, the highest level since March."

China's annual steel output may also rise this year for the first time since 2020, Ramsay added.

Unlike the past two years, China's state planner has so far not announced a cap on annual output to reduce carbon emissions, leaving the market guessing if one will come later than normal this year, or at all.

"There may be no national target; the central government is more wary of any economic policy that isn't directly supporting GDP this year," said Tomas Gutierrez, head of data at consultancy Kallanish Commodities.

"There will be pressure to reduce output, and output in the second half of the year will be down from the first half and possibly down on the year too. But that's not by enough to wipe out the increase in H1," he added.

(Reporting by Amy Lv and Dominique Patton in Beijing; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jacqueline Wong)
The Truth social network logo is seen on a smartphone in front of a display of former U.S. President Donald Trump in this picture illustration taken February 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Helen Coster

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The head of engineering for the company that operates former U.S. President Donald Trumps Truth Social app told Reuters on Monday he had resigned, in a blow for the venture.

Alex Gleasons departure comes amid a period of prolonged uncertainty for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which launched Truth Social as a way for Trump to connect with his base after he was cut off from major social media platforms after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his followers.

Gleason is the founder of Soapbox Technology, which provides open-source technology for decentralized social media platforms that operate on independently-run servers and provide an alternative to Twitter and Facebook.

Gleason said in an interview that he is leaving TMTG to work on Soapbox full-time, developing technology for connecting multiple decentralized platforms.

TMTG hired Gleason in January 2022 to adapt Soapboxs technology for its own needs, eventually using it as the front-end technology - which users see and interact with - for the Truth Social app.

A representative for TMTG did not respond to a request for comment about Gleasons departure.

Truth Social has struggled to show strong growth in the number of users since its February 2022 launch.

Since then, Trump has been reinstated on the more widely-used platforms from which he was ousted, including Facebook and Twitter, and Truth Socials user base has remained tiny compared to the growth targets TMTG laid out in November 2021, when it told investors the app would reach 56 million users by 2024 and 81 million by 2026.

Truth Social has an estimated 607,000 monthly users, according to data from Similarweb.

Trump had 5.71 million followers on Truth Social as of July 17, compared to the more than 88 million followers he had on Twitter when the platform suspended him.

TMTG had in October 2021 announced a deal to go public by merging with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) but the merger has been in doubt as investigations by the Justice Department and the U.S. securities regulator have delayed its closing.

A filing earlier this month showed that DWAC has reached an agreement with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, though it was not yet definitive and the terms were subject to the SEC's approval.

(Reporting by Helen Coster, editing by Deepa Babington)
FILE PHOTO: The interior of the Lloyd's of London building is seen in the City of London financial district in London, Britain, April 16, 2019. Picture taken April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay//File Photo

By Jonathan Saul

LONDON (Reuters) -Insurers are reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine after Russia on Monday quit a U.N.-backed deal that allows the export of grain through a wartime Black Sea safe corridor, industry sources said.

The agreement, brokered by Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour to be exported safely.

"Due to the collapse of the Black Sea corridor deal, most shipowners will now refrain from calling Ukrainian ports," said Christian Vinther Christensen, chief operating officer with Danish shipping group NORDEN.

The last ship left Ukraine under the deal on Sunday.

Insurance has been vital to ensure shipments through the corridor and industry sources said Russia's decision was being evaluated in terms of whether cover in some form could continue.

"Some underwriters will look to take advantage with a hefty increase in rates. Others will stop offering cover. The (key) question is whether Russia mines the area which would effectively cease any form of cover being offered," one insurance industry source said.

The Lloyd's of London insurance market has already placed the Black Sea region on its high risk list.

"Annual cover remains in place but voyages to listed areas will be assessed individually as and when seen," said Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at Lloyd's Market Association (LMA), which represents the interests of all underwriting businesses in Lloyd's.

Additional war risk insurance premiums, which are charged when entering the Black Sea area, need to be renewed every seven days. They already cost thousands of dollars and are expected to go up, while shipowners could prove reluctant to allow their vessels to enter a war zone without Russia's agreement.

"I dont believe there are many enquiries at the moment as getting an owner to operate on past charter terms without an initiative would be difficult," another industry source said.

"Danger money hire rates would probably be required, aside from the provision for extra insurance costs."

Moscow's withdrawal from the deal means "the guarantees for the safety of navigation issued by the Russian side will be revoked", Russia told the U.N. shipping agency the International Maritime Organization on Monday in a letter seen by Reuters.

The LMA's Roberts said the letter "adopts a tone that diverges from previous pronouncements".

"From the insurance angle, quotes for corridor voyages would have expired, so renegotiation of terms should be expected," he said.

"With the withdrawal of the Russian security guarantees, the risk profile would need to be re-assessed. It may also be the case that some charterers will reconsider their options."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Grant McCool)
The Microsoft store sign is pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of individual plaintiffs on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily halt Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the largest in the history of the videogame industry.

The bid by the plaintiffs was separate from a request by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to pause Microsoft's purchase of Activision, maker of the "Call of Duty" videogame franchise.

The filing comes after the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected the FTC's request, removing one of the few remaining hurdles stopping Xbox maker Microsoft from closing the deal and expanding its gaming business.

The FTC is considering its options after its losses in its bid to stop the deal, a source told Reuters on Monday amid expectations the agency's fight is nearing the end.

Separately on Monday, Microsoft's appeal against Britain's block on its takeover of Activision Blizzard was formally paused by a London tribunal to give the parties more time to resolve the dispute.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
A view through a train window shows the section of a road split and sloping to one side following an alleged attack on the Crimea Bridge, that connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula across the Kerch Strait, in this still image from video

By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) - In the run-up to Monday's attack on Russia's road and rail bridge to Crimea, state TV broadcast footage of long traffic jams in southern Russia as tourists waited in their cars for hours to cross over to start their summer holidays.

After explosions tore through the road bridge, killing a couple who had planned to holiday in Crimea and wounding their daughter, it broadcast traffic jams going in a different direction as tourists tried to drive home through Russian-controlled southern Ukraine, territory that Kyiv is fighting to take back.

State-run news agency RIA said a tailback of more than 5 km (3 miles) had formed as Russian tourists made for home - using the Chonhar bridge, which was briefly put out of action by a missile attack last month.

Moscow blamed the attack on the Crimean bridge, the second since Russia sent its armed forces into Ukraine, on Kyiv. Ukraine did not officially claim responsibility, but Ukrainian media said Ukrainian security services had deployed maritime drones.

The Russian-appointed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, told state television that air defence and other security measures would be stepped up on the overland corridor to Crimea.

But it remains to be seen whether this will reassure the tourists whom the state has been trying to attract to the Black Sea peninsula, which Russia seized and unilaterally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

At a time when Russians' options to holiday in the West are limited because of visa bans and flight restrictions, the attack deals a blow to the idea, pushed by Moscow, that a peninsula famed for its rugged landscape, scenic bays, warm weather and wines can be enjoyed safely.

HOLIDAY CANCELLATIONS MOUNT UP

Kyiv says Russian tourists - more than 9 million of whom visited in 2021 - have no business holidaying on seized territory, especially while Ukraine is being bombed.

Ukrainian drones have targeted Crimea for months, and Crimean hotels have been offering steep discounts to attract visitors. Monday's attack will not help.

"We have cancellations for the end of July and August," Elena Bazhenova, head of Crimea's Laspi tour operator, said in a statement. "We are persuading tourists not to make decisions based on emotions. We expect the situation to normalise."

Ilya Umansky, president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, said he expected "significant" cancellations.

He said around 20,000 tourists had been nearing the end of holidays in Crimea and a further 20,000 were due to arrive soon.

Moscow has invested in improving the peninsula's infrastructure in a drive to develop tourism and showcase the ostensible advantages of belonging to Russia, even as the military's footprint grows.

The 19-km (12-mile) Crimean Bridge, a prestige project for President Vladimir Putin, is the route most Russian tourists choose to reach the peninsula, as well as a supply route for the Russian army in Ukraine.

Keeping it operational is crucial - Crimea's main airport in Simferopol has long been closed for security reasons.

However, unverified video footage posted on social media suggests that at least one section of the road is down in one direction, although trains are still running.

Similar damage in October took several months to repair.

While there is a car ferry service across the Kerch Strait, its capacity is much more limited. There are also train services to Crimea from many cities in western Russia.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
(Reuters) - A senior Russian politician said on Monday that Russia should not renew the Black Sea grain deal in light of an attack on the bridge linking Russia to Crimea.

A mother and father were killed and their daughter was seriously injured on Monday by blasts on the Crimean Bridge in what Russian officials called an emergency incident.

Details were unclear but some Russian politicians were quick to blame Ukraine. There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian government.

Sergei Mironov, leader of the A Just Russia party in Russia's parliament, said Moscow should respond by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure.

"That is what we need to do, and not discuss a grain deal that helps Kyiv's rulers and their Western masters line their pockets. There can be no grain deal after another terrorist attack," he said on Telegram.

Russia agreed a year ago to sign the Black Sea grain deal which allowed Ukraine to resume shipping food from its southern ports despite the war.

But it has repeatedly cast doubt on whether it will agreed to extend the arrangement, which expires on Monday.

The Kremlin has yet to comment on the Crimean Bridge incident or its possible implications for the grain deal.

(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Amid unusual summer heat, John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, landed in Beijing on Sunday.

The visit comes at a critical moment. The globe is heating up. Beijing's alert for high temperatures is no exception, as the whole world saw its hottest days on record last week. Reversing climate change hardly brooks any delay.

China and the United States, as the world's top two economies, bear the common responsibility for driving forward global climate actions that can cool down the sizzling Earth.

At the same time, the U.S. climate envoy is also expected to help calm the inflamed tensions between the two countries, following the efforts of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who paid visits to Beijing over the past month.

These interactions are a good sign for preventing further miscalculations, and steering bilateral relations back on track.

Both sides are anticipating practical outcomes and meaningful actions. To achieve those, both must show their sincerity for genuine cooperation, otherwise any promises for progress on relations are just empty talk.

It is especially true for the White House to bear in mind that seeking to compartmentalize cooperation with -- or competition and suppression against -- China in bilateral ties is simply unrealistic in practice and unacceptable for Beijing.

For China-U.S. cooperation to be healthy and sustainable, bilateral ties must be treated as a whole.

Climate cooperation is deemed as an important component in China-U.S. exchanges. The synergy between these two countries once gave a huge push to the historic Paris accord, and paved the way for wider breakthroughs in global carbon emission reduction, which proves that progress can be made when the two countries try to meet halfway, even when bilateral relations encounter severe setbacks.

Secretary Yellen has embraced the Chinese view that the world is big enough for both countries to thrive. While extreme heatwave is baking this planet, the world is also hot enough for Beijing and Washington to act together for the sake of human existence.

Kerry's trip offers a chance for the two sides to build up more consensus for cooperation to lower the heat for the highly-charged bilateral ties and a warming-up planet.

However, prior to his visit, some media outlets reported that the White House is working to roll out new restrictions on American investments in China. If that is the case, those actions would certainly not help cool down tensions in China-U.S. ties, but push them up. The progress made recently by the two sides to stabilize their ties will also be affected.

To see a substantial change in the overall climate of China-U.S. ties, both sides need to make their due efforts to build trust and goodwill. 
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian service members unload anti-tank weapons supplied by Britain at the Boryspil airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine January 18, 2022. Picture taken January 18, 2022. Ukrainian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will announce on Tuesday plans to improve the combat readiness of its military, including spending 2.5 billion pounds ($3.3 billion) on replenishing munitions and stockpiles that have been depleted by the war in Ukraine.

The war has exposed weaknesses in the British military, including the dwindling reserves of some munitions and a lack of industrial capacity needed to ramp up production quickly as Britain has supplied Ukraine with weapons to use against Russia.

The government said the latest version of its Defence Command Paper would set out the strategy to reshape the size and strength of the armed forces to counter the more immediate threat posed by Russia and the longer-term challenge from China.

The new strategy would include plans for a new Global Response Force to enable forces to "get there first" and an improved "surge capacity" force made up of former soldiers, the government said in a statement before the full report was published.

The defence minister Ben Wallace, who announced at the weekend he will be stand down soon, said the strategy would ensure that Britain remained at the forefront of military capability, and a leading power in NATO.

"We must adapt and modernise to meet the threats we face, taking in the lessons from President Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," he said.

Britain announced earlier this year it would spend an extra 5 billion pounds on defence to take it to about 2.25% of gross domestic product this year and next, from about 2% previously.

As part of the new defence strategy, the government said it would prioritise investment in science and technology including the use of robotics and laser weapons.

After the United States, Britain has been the second-largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine, contributing 2.3 billion pounds worth of support last year.

Although this is well below what the United States has provided, Britain has in the past been the first country to supply more sophisticated weapons to Ukraine.

Britain sent the first shoulder-launched anti-air and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine in the run-up to the invasion and in February announced it would be the first country to begin training Ukrainian pilots on NATO fighter jets.

($1 = 0.7648 pound)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Alex Richardson)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will continue to work with other countries to ensure movement of grain out of Ukraine after Russia halted participation on Monday in the year-old U.N.-brokered deal that allows its neighbor to export grain through the Black Sea, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.

The deal in place for the last year expired on Monday after Russia quit and warned it could not guarantee the safety of ships in a move the United Nations said would "strike a blow to people in need everywhere."

The United States is not considering using U.S. military assets to help protect grain shipments, Kirby said.

(Reporting By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):

THE ALLSTATE CORP ORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 1-11840 36-3871531 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

3100 Sanders Road , Northbrook , Illinois 60062

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code ( 847 ) 402-5000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbols Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ALL New York Stock Exchange Chicago Stock Exchange 5.100% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Debentures due 2053 ALL.PR.B New York Stock Exchange Depositary Shares represent 1/1,000th of a share of 5.100% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series H ALL PR H New York Stock Exchange Depositary Shares represent 1/1,000th of a share of 4.750% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series I ALL PR I New York Stock Exchange Depositary Shares represent 1/1,000th of a share of 7.375% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series J ALL PR J New York Stock Exchange





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).



Emerging growth company 





If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 













Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On July 13, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Registrant approved and adopted amendments to the Registrants Amended and Restated Bylaws (Bylaws) to conform with the recent adoption of Rule 14a-19 (the Universal Proxy Rules) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and certain recent changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law.





Article II, Section 16 was amended to require any stockholder director nominations to comply with the Universal Proxy Rules, including applicable notice and solicitation requirements. Article II, Section 19 was amended to provide that the Registrant shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited by a stockholder who fails to comply with the Universal Proxy Rules. Article II, Section 20 was amended to require each proposing stockholder use a proxy color other than white, which shall be reserved for exclusive use by or on behalf of the Registrant.





The amendments also eliminate the requirement that the Registrant make a list of stockholders available during each stockholder meeting, consistent with recent changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law, eliminate the requirement that the Registrant issue physical stock certificates, and make other non-substantive and/or conforming revisions.





The foregoing description of the amendments to the Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws attached as Exhibit 3.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.





Section 9  Financial Statements and Exhibits





Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits





(d) Exhibits

















SIGNATURES





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION (Registrant)







By: /s/Christine M. DeBiase

Name: Christine M. DeBiase

Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary





Date: July 14, 2023

















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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Thousands of airmen and dozens of aircraft are deployed throughout the Indo-Pacific this month for the largest readiness exercise in the history of Air Mobility Command, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Mobility Guardian, which began July 5 and concludes Friday, involves forces from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, France and Japan, the service said in a statement at the start of the drill.

The exercise, held in the Indo-Pacific for the first time, involves moving more than 15,000 U.S. and international forces across the region, the statement said.

The training includes resupply missions, aerial refueling and medical evacuations at bases in Hawaii, Guam, Australia and Japan.

Mobility Guardian includes 70 aircraft at multiple spots across a 3,000-mile exercise area. One of them is the Air Forces newest tanker, the KC-46 Pegasus, the service said in a follow-up statement July 5.

Pegasus tankers and active-duty and Reserve airmen from the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings passed through Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, earlier this month as part of the training, Capt. Allen Gutierrez, a 5th Air Force spokesman said in an email July 10.

Their final destination is Australia where they will support MG23 operations, he said.

The Air Force released photos on July 11 of KC-135 Stratotankers taking part in the exercise at Yokota, the U.S. airlift hub in western Tokyo.

The exercise comes amid heightened tensions with Beijing, which has been investing heavily in its military. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated his intent to reunite the autonomous and democratic island of Taiwan with mainland China, by force if necessary.

Air Force Gen. Michael Minihan, who oversees the Air Mobility Commands fleet of transport and refueling aircraft, in January warned his airmen to speed their preparations for a potential conflict, citing Xis aspirations and the possibility that Americans will not be paying attention until it is too late.

I dont believe conflict is inevitable. I dont believe its unavoidable, Minihan told NBC News for a Thursday report from Pacific Air Forces headquarters in Hawaii. But I also believe that ready now is what matters most. So ready now is the foundation of deterrence. And ready now is also the foundation of decisive victory.

The general said he isnt trying to be provocative.

Im trying to provide my formation with the tools and the action and the priority necessary to win, he said.
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A B-52H Stratofortress sojourn at the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo is a reminder of the airlift hubs history as a bomber base.

The aircraft, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., diverted to Yokota on Wednesday morning due to an in-flight maintenance issue.

A base spokesman, Air Force 1st Lt. Danny Rangel, declined to say when the plane might depart, but its attracted Japanese aircraft buffs snapping photos from just outside the fence line.

B-52s from Minot and Barksdale Air Force Base, La., have been working out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, this month as part of the Air Forces ongoing bomber task force missions intended to project U.S. air power in the region, according to an email from Pacific Air Forces on July 11.

A B-52 last landed at Yokota in 1989 during the annual Japanese-American Friendship Festival, Maj. Christopher Merian, a spokesman for Pacific Air Forces, said by email Wednesday.

However, the base was home to American bombers for decades before it became an airlift hub in 1971, according to 374th Airlift Wing historian Lesleigh Jones.

Fifteen Douglas A-26 Invaders from the U.S. Army Air Corps 3rd Bomb Group were stationed at Yokota between 1945 and 1950, she said Friday at Yokota. In 1950, the Far East Bomber Command arrived at the base with B-29 Superfortress bombers that flew Korean War missions.

Yokota was almost exclusively a B-29 base until 1954, she said.

Several of the World War II-era bombers crashed during their tenure at Yokota.

A B-29 crew survived a November 1951 crash at Yokota, but seven Japanese and three American first responders died when bombs inside the plane exploded, damaging 100 homes in the surrounding community, Jones said.

At that time, Yokotas east side, now primarily a housing area, was used for bomb storage. Workers have occasionally found unexploded ordnance in the area.

In the mid-1950s, Strategic Air Command came to Yokota and rotated bomber units through the base that flew B-36 Peacemakers, B-47 Stratojets, B-50 Superfortresses and B-52s, Jones said.

The B-47s and B-52s were some of the largest aircraft of that era, she said. During that period, Yokotas runway was extended to its present 11,000 feet to accommodate those aircraft.

The B-52 at Yokota this week has been flying since 1961, said Jones.

They would have been a relatively common sight here years ago but not an everyday thing, she said.

The B-52H entered service in 1961 and can carry up to 20 air-launched cruise missiles. The bombers have launched cruise missiles in several contingencies starting in the 1990s with Operation Desert Storm and culminating with Operation Inherent Resolve in 2016, according to an Air Force factsheet.

The aircraft is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and can carry nuclear or precision-guided conventional ordnance. It has an unrefueled combat range in excess of 8,800 miles, according to the factsheet.

The 3rd Bomb Wing was based at Yokota from the early 1960s until it was replaced by fighter units in the mid-1960s, Jones said.

The 374th Airlift Wings Iroquois Huey helicopters also began service at Yokota in 1971. The C-130 Hercules airlifters, predecessors of the wings C-130J Super Hercules, arrived at the base in the mid-1970s, she said.

Yokota has been home to CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft since 2018.
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  A U.S. soldier initially listed as missing was spotted at a base in Germany under an assumed name, military law enforcement officials said.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lane, 31, a helicopter repairer assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, was reported missing June 27 after he failed to show up for duty and wasnt found at his residence.

However, an investigation has revealed that on June 23, Lane was at Ramstein Air Base, according to a statement from the Armys Criminal Investigation Division.

Ramstein is more than a three-hour drive from Lanes Bavarian duty station. Lane was wearing a blue T-shirt and posed as a civilian named David Herscher, the CID statement said.

Lane was last seen entering the gate at nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center around 3:18 p.m. that same afternoon.

Army authorities on Friday declined to say whether he received treatment at the hospital, citing medical privacy rules.

Lanes unlocked Dodge SUV was seen June 23 by a German passer-by parked two hours north of Ramstein in a densely forested area near Urbach, about 28 miles north of Koblenz.

The passer-by later saw the vehicle again and called police, who found it in the woods June 28, Dirk Mohr, a spokesman for the Koblenz Police Department, said Friday.

Officers identified the vehicle and found paperwork belonging to Lane inside, Mohr said.

The soldier was last seen June 29 at the Koblenz main train station, an Army CID notice said Tuesday.

Lanes disappearance had sparked a joint investigation between the Army and Bavarian law enforcement.

U.S. Army Europe issued a statement and posted on social media asking for help locating the soldier, a member of the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment.

German police have since suspended their search and turned responsibility back over to the U.S. military.

If Lane is found, German officers will not arrest him but instead will inform U.S. authorities, said Andreas Doktorowski, a spokesman for the Mittelfranken Police Department.

If it turns out that Lane avoided returning to work with the intention of remaining absent permanently, he could face serious disciplinary consequences, including charges of desertion under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Desertion carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, pay forfeiture, reduction in rank and a dishonorable discharge.
ATLANTA  The Marine Corps has removed the top leaders of its regiment that trains recruits at Parris Island, according to officials at the South Carolina base.

Col. Bradley Ward, who had commanded the regiment since July 2021, and his senior enlisted leader Sgt. Maj. Fabian Casillas were fired July 5 for a loss of trust and confidence, Maj. Philip Kulczewski, a spokesman for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, said Monday in a brief statement offering few details. He did not provide any additional information about their dismissal, including whether there is an investigation into the incidents that led to the firings.

No other information is available at this time, Kulczewski said.

Ward and Casillas were replaced this month by Col. Christopher McArthur and Sgt. Maj. Michael Brown, according to the Parris Island website, which now lists them as the commander and senior enlisted leader for the Recruit Training Regiment.

Ward is a prior enlisted Marine, who joined the Corps in 1988 and commissioned a decade later as a logistics officer, according to his Marine biography. Casillas enlisted in 1992 as a mechanic and had served multiple tours as a drill instructor, according to his service biography. Casillas had also served a deployment to Afghanistan.

Kulczewski did not say Monday whether Ward and Casillas had been reassigned elsewhere in the Corps.

McArthur came to Parris Island this month after having served the previous three years as a strategic planner at Norfolk, Va., according to his biography. Before that job, he served as the commander of a Parris Island recruit training battalion from May 2018 to June 2020. Like Ward, McArthur first served as an enlisted Marine, entering the service as a rifleman in 1993 before commissioning in 1999 as an artillery officer. He has served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his biography.

Brown enlisted in the Marines in 1999 as an infantryman, according to his biography. In 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Brown was one of the first Marines sent into Afghanistan while serving with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, which had been deployed to the western Pacific region with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at the time. He later served in Iraq and at least one additional combat tour in Afghanistan.

Brown has been at Parris Island since 2019, serving first as a training battalion sergeant major and more recently as the bases support battalion sergeant major, according to his biography.

Parris Islands Recruit Training Regiment includes three initial entrance training battalions that train some 20,000 recruits every year. The regiments 4th Training Battalion, which was traditionally an all-female unit and had been coed in recent years, was deactivated last month. Female cadets will now train in the traditionally all-male training battalions at Parris Island and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California, the service has said.
Duhnen, West Germany, May 1960: A seagoing wagon train heads across shallow water for the island of Neuwerk, about six miles out to sea in northwestern Germany. When the tide of the so-called Wadden Sea was low enough for the markers showing the route (upper right) to be visible, trains of up to 37 wagons would carry tourists on the hour-long trek to the small island, population  then  70. One can still reach the island this way now.

Want to know what other interesting places to visit in Germany this summer? Check out Stars and Stripes Europe community site.
Chanel Boeve-Roth was browsing an estate sale near her home in North Bend, Wash., when she spotted some emerald, hanging lights and a celery-hued chair in the shape of a hand. The combination sparked the entire vision for her front room.

"I just knew, after seeing them, that I wanted that whole space to be cohesive and green," she says. The result "is a place where I'll make a cocktail, sit down and just relax after work."

Color trends come and go. Each year, Pantone releases its color of the year (2023's is magenta), and design experts hail one shade or another as "the new neutral." But going all in on a monochrome palette, for no reason other than you love it, can simplify the design process while creating drama and a specific mood.

In a world of all-white kitchens and endless shades of gray, here's how to embrace your favorite color with abandon:

Let statement pieces lead the way

Boeve-Roth, a self-proclaimed "maximalist" who often shares photos of her home on Instagram, loves decorating rooms in only one color. Her living room features an orange couch and retro orange decor, and she's in the process of redoing her bedroom in all red. In each case, the color scheme was determined somewhat by happenstance: After finding a vintage statement piece that caught her eye, she decided to let it dictate the rest of the room.

The same estate sale with the green treasures yielded the orange lamp that served as the starting point for Boeve-Roth's living room. It's a nostalgic color for her, reminding her of her grandparent's home. "I love collecting things and the idea of filling a space with things that make you happy," she says.

She took her time hunting for other thrifted items to fill out each room, often for bargain prices. A painting of a field in her front room was a $10 score at Goodwill.

Consider the colors you like to wear

Annie Lowengart, an interior designer and founder of the firm Ann Lowengart Interiors in Marin County, Calif., begins her projects by giving clients detailed questionnaires to learn about their preferences, including clothing styles. Often, the results steer them toward a color that she digs into for a particular room.

For one client, Lowengart did an all-pink library. They came to the idea after discussing the client's fashion choices.

"She has a beautiful wardrobe," Lowengart says. "I've seen her in a lot of formal events. She's worn Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, and she really loves pink."

To use your wardrobe to guide your decor, Lowengart advises thinking beyond the colors you wear most often, since, for many people, those may be black and neutrals. Instead, consider which pieces "light you up," she says. Maybe you gravitate toward turquoise accessories, or a purple scarf. Then consider that color in the context of the room. If a bright purple living room seems too loud, perhaps a more muted version  such as lavender or mauve  could work instead.

Vary textures and tones

Varying textures and different tones of the same color helps break up a monochrome aesthetic, says Jonathan Lo, a designer and editor in chief of the design blog the Octopian. "Otherwise, you run the risk of it becoming super matchy-matchy."

A good approach, he says, is to start with a neutral base and slowly add in color.

"I started with a blank slate of warm white walls, then added the big furniture pieces, keeping them in wood tones and upholstery in whites and creams," he says, describing what eventually turned into an orange guest room in his Irvine, Calif., home. "Finally, I added the color as accents." He also mixed in analogous colors (those that are next to each other on the color wheel), which, in the case of orange, meant reds and yellows.

Layering textures keeps your eye moving in the space and adds depth to a room, he says. "Different surfaces reflect light differently, so having both matte and glossy textures will help prevent the room from feeling flat."

Lowengart says that with monochromatic rooms, she adapts the principles of classic color theory.

"Sixty percent of a given room will be one color, 30% is a secondary color and that last 10% is a third color," she says. "We could use very different colors in that mix, but we also could use different shades of the same color. That's a great way to balance the space because it feels grounded in something."

Maria Killam, founder of the Killam Colour System, says a monochromatic room is easier to pull off with blues and greens, possibly because they both appear so often in nature. With other colors  say, purple  she says it's more important to choose shades with the same undertone.

Another consideration: Ensuring that "clean" colors (which Killam defines as "bright and fresh"), aren't clashing with "dirty" colors (which, despite the negative-sounding connotation, is just how she describes colors that are "muted and earthy"). In a monochromatic red room, for instance, candy apple red (a clean color), would not look great with burgundy (a dirty one), she says.

Go glossy with dark paint

The key to coating a room in a bold color, Lowengart says, is to use a high-gloss enamel paint, such as Hollandlac Brilliant 98.

She bedecked a library in Los Altos, Calif., in rich blues, which appear in the paint color, the ZAK+FOX drapery and the sofas by Jonathan Adler that she had reupholstered in an indigo fabric from Cowtan & Tout. Against the monochrome palette, dozens of books, organized by color, stand out.

For the library's walls, the painter on the project mixed a small amount of the Hollandlac Brilliant with Gentleman's Gray by Benjamin Moore (a bit of a misnomer, as the hue is described as a "blackened teal blue").

"With saturated colors, what I've found over and over again is that you can go as dark and intense as you like if you add high gloss," Lowengart says. "It gives it a vibrancy, so it feels very upbeat, even if it's a really dark color."

Let the color palette evolve

Sometimes, a more focused palette emerges over time. When Lo began decorating his guest room, he felt inspired by Hawaii, where he often visits.

"The original idea was to create a sort of retreat vibe, and bring a bit of that tropical flair to lovely, suburban Irvine," he says.

One of the first pieces he bought for the room was a white couch.

"I had a hard time finding a color palette in the beginning," he says. He'd seen an image of a mid-century space filled with pillows of all colors and wanted to emulate the look. "I thought, if I kept the couch neutral, I could get away with using all the colors that I wanted. But then over the years, I started swapping stuff, and it started to take on more orange, warm tones."

He painted an accent wall bright orange, then later toned it down to a softer coral. Above the couch, he added a woven vintage art piece from an antique store in Palm Springs, Calif. The many throw pillows were picked up one-by-one from different sources, including Target, West Elm, H&M and Jonathan Adler.
TEHRAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Energy Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian said his country will soon begin electricity exchange with Russia through Azerbaijan, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported Sunday.

Iran has considered two routes, one via Azerbaijan and the other Armenia and Georgia, for electricity exchange with Russia, Mehrabian told ISNA, noting Iran is holding the final negotiations for the start of the projects.

The Azerbaijan route involves a less complicated process, as Iran and Azerbaijan have synchronized their power networks to the required extent, said the minister.

Iran and Russia can complement each other favorably by exporting their surplus of electricity mutually, as the latter's electricity consumption peaks in winter while the former in summer, he added.

Mehrabian emphasized that Iran also seeks to connect its power grid to those of other regional states to ensure electricity supply sustainability throughout the year.

At present, Iran exchanges electricity with Iraq, Turkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, adding Iran is seeking to increase such transactions. 
Through the South Caucasus, the Aras River cuts a path through geopolitical friction. At various stretches, it forms the national borders of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. All are suspended in various states of tension at this strategic land bridge between Asia and Europe.

Now the river itself risks straining those pressures. In recent years, cross-boundary waterways have grown increasingly controversial the world over. Rising temperatures and booming demographics have exacerbated competition for water, most notably, along the Nile, where proposals for the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia have caused a significant rift with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan. In the South Caucasus, however, it is not quantity, but quality that is at stake.

A steel plant, its waste to be dumped in the river, is under construction on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Backed respectively by Turkey and Iran, these neighbors have been locked in a 30-year dispute over Karabakh  a region of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. A short conflict in late 2020 saw Azerbaijan take back control of most of its territory before a cease-fire halted hostilities. Despite recent progress under United States and European Union mediation toward a durable peace settlement, a deal has not been reached. With a litany of entangled grievances and thorny issues between the two nations, cross-border contamination is the last thing negotiators need in what has proved one of the worlds most intractable conflicts to resolve.

In the wake of the Ukraine war, resolution has become more urgent from the Wests perspective  as demonstrated by the uptick in diplomatic efforts to mediate a resolution since last year. Azerbaijani Caspian gas is increasingly important for Europes energy diversification from Russian supplies  an endeavor critical to maintaining trans-Atlantic solidarity. Instability throws the supply into doubt. Consider that the narrow path through which the pipelines run to Europe came under fire from Armenia during the 2020 conflict.

At the same time, peace would weaken Moscow in its near abroad. Having brokered the cease-fire, the Kremlin placed 2,000 soldiers as peacekeepers in the region. Currently serving to project Russian power beyond its borders, a settlement would render them redundant. In the wake of Ukraine, Armenia has also sought to break free from Russia  historically its ally in the conflict with Azerbaijan. But in the absence of peace, and given Armenias long-ingrained military dependency on the pariah backer, its space for maneuver is restricted. With its sovereignty compromised, the Kremlin can bully Armenia into helping it dodge sanctions  as seemingly borne out in steep increases in Western imports and rising exports to Russia.

Given Americas interest in a resolution, it is ironic that the plant causing new tension is an American-Armenian joint venture. It sits less than half a mile from the border with Nakhchivan  an Azerbaijani exclave separated from the mainland by a roughly 25 mile wide strip of southern Armenia. Given the high likelihood of environmental damage to its territory, Bakus approval of the plant is required under international law. Armenia is a member of the United Nations Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context that obliges states to consult each other on all major projects that will have a significant adverse cross-border environmental impact. Yet this did not take place.

The plant has also provoked concern from a group of Civil Society Organizations that have signed a collective statement expressing opposition to the project. Nakhchivan is an ecological idyll in the post-Soviet region. The largest landlocked exclave in the world, it has developed in isolation. When the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan began in 1988, the former destroyed the rail and road links within its borders that connected Nakhchivan to the rest of Azerbaijan.

More than three decades of closed borders have ensured its continued seclusion. But it also necessitated a philosophy of self-reliance that has made it one of the most sustainable regions in the world. This pristine area is now directly threatened by the polluting plant. But the waste discharged down the river also raises concerns for flora and fauna, drinking water and irrigation for farms further afield than Nakhchivan  into Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran before being deposited in the Caspian Sea.

Paired with Armenias poor history on mine pollution, which has often provoked protests within the country, it is perhaps unsurprising that the plant has sparked such resistance. In the region that lies at the heart of their conflict, Karabakh, illegal mining has also led to the alleged destruction of more than 17,000 acres of protected forests  including ancient woodland  in a landmark case currently being undertaken by an international arbitration under the Bern convention for nature. Meanwhile, a U.N. Environment Programme report found serious damage to valuable farmland and water-management systems in the territory while under Armenian occupation.

The environment has long been collateral damage in the protracted conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It would be a cruel twist of fate if it now blocked peace.

Ivan Sascha Sheehan is the associate dean of the College of Public Affairs and past executive director of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore. Opinions expressed are his own.
LA PLATA, Argentina  Three decades ago, when he was a parish priest in Argentina, the man named by Pope Francis to be the Catholic Church's new guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy wrote a short book about kissing and the sensations it evokes.

Some conservative sectors in the church are using the reflections in "Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing" to criticize the designation of Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez to lead the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, a body once known as the Holy Office that for centuries was responsible for persecuting heretics, disciplining dissidents and enforcing sexual morality.

"These are ultra-conservative sectors that deeply hate the Argentine pontiff (Francis)," Fernandez, the archbishop of La Plata, a city 43 miles south of Buenos Aires, told The Associated Press.

"They take a phrase from the book and say: 'Look at the level of this theologian. How can a person who uses these expressions be the prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith?'" said Fernandez, who dreamed of being a poet when he was younger.

The 80-page book, published in 1995 but not longer in print, has emerged as a key point used to blast the appointment of the 60-year-old archbishop commonly known as "Tucho" to one of the Vatican's most powerful offices.

The book highlights the importance of kissing in human relationships, defining them as expressions of absolute love. "In English, 'Kiss,' in Italian, 'bacio,' in French, 'baiser,' in German, 'kuss,' in Portuguese, 'beijo.' Depending on how it's done, it is also often called 'peck,' 'sucking,' 'drilling,' etc.," the book says.

An article published earlier this month on Catholic news agency Zenit said that "everyone is talking about Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez ... and above all about his kisses."

Criticism of the archbishop, whose appointment was seen by some as an attempt to break with the past, has come from conservative religious figures in the United States.

"Pray that he returns to the Catholic faith," Joseph Strickland, bishop of Tyler, Texas, wrote on social media.

Fernandez, who has long had a close relationship with the pope, a fellow Argentine, said he rejected later offers to reprint the book.

"I was already older, and I thought this is a book about the kiss ... so I said, 'No, no, no, please, don't reprint it, let's leave this in the past.' But well, now it's my karma," Fernandez said with a laugh.

One of the excerpts from the book reads: "A couple with a lot of sex, a lot of sexual satisfaction, but few kisses that are genuine or with kisses that say nothing is digging the grave of love with each sexual encounter, creating routine, fatigue, and weariness until one of them finds something more human."

Fernandez argued he can't be accused "of anything" because the work in question "contains no heresy or error." He stressed that the strategy of his critics is to "quote phrases" from the book repeatedly to question the pope for appointing someone with "such superficial theology and street language" to a key position.

The book includes a poem written by Fernandez: "How was God so ruthless to give you that mouth... No one can resist, witch, hide it."

The cardinal complained on social media that critics mistranslated "bruja," or "witch," as "bitch."

Fernandez said he wrote the book along with a group of young people when he was a parish priest in the Argentine town of Santa Teresita, in the central province of Cordoba. He said it was written as a catechesis for teenagers, with the contributions of his young collaborators, and he improved them by providing "a little editing."

In the book's introduction, Fernandez wrote that the book was not written from his personal experience and that his goal was to summarize what "mortals" experience when they kiss.

Fernandez says he has written dozens of texts since then and his critics should cite ones he has published in "top-level" journals. He has been the rector of the Catholic University of Argentina and head of the Argentine Society of Theology. He was recently named a cardinal.

"But they take this little youth catechism, from a poor parish priest from the countryside, and take phrases out of context," Fernandez said.

In Argentina, Fernandez has received some criticism on social media but has the support of the church in his homeland.

"He has given an excellent and clear explanation of the issue," said Maximo Jurcinovic, director of communications for the Argentine Episcopal Conference.

Fernandez said the pope told him his task as head of the doctrinal office would be "guarding the teaching that stems from faith" in order to "give a reason for our hope, but not as enemies who point fingers and condemn."

The book is not the only piece of controversial writing Fernandez has done in the past.

He has acknowledged that some of his writings were sent to the Vatican, anonymously, after then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio appointed him as rector of the Catholic University of Argentina in 2009. The controversy resulted in a two-year delay in his being cleared for the job.

Fernandez wrote about the ordeal soon after Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis, recounting that a newspaper article he had penned about gay marriage had been included in the anonymous dossier and that an unnamed Vatican "congregation"  believed to be the one responsible for Catholic education -- repeatedly refused to receive him to explain himself.

He has also had to acknowledge mistakes in his handling of a 2019 case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing minors. The case has drawn allegations by critics that Fernandez tried to protect the priest, a charge that he has denied.

"Today I would certainly act very differently and certainly my performance was insufficient," he told AP after celebrating Mass in La Plata.

By appointing Fernandez to head the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis seemed to indicate a desire for a break with the past.

"The Dicastery over which you will preside in other times came to use immoral methods. Those were times when, rather than promoting theological knowledge, possible doctrinal errors were pursued. What I expect from you is certainly something very different," the pope wrote in a letter to Fernandez.

German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, who served as prefect of the office until Francis fired him in 2017, said the new directives are out of place considering the mission of that department was to "protect and promote the revealed faith."

"This is not a theological academy or a talk show where everyone can express their opinion," Muller said on conservative U.S. broadcaster EWTN.

Fernandez has characterized himself as a reformist who doesn't like to "break with everything," but advocates for a church that is "more inclusive, more respectful of different ways of living and thinking."

Associated Press journalist Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  China is criticizing an upcoming stopover in the United States by Taiwan's vice president and presidential front-runner William Lai as a challenge to its territorial integrity, while Taiwan says it's merely a transit stop.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary and prohibits its diplomatic partners  including the U.S.  from having formal ties with Taipei. While not recognizing Taiwan as a country, Washington maintains robust unofficial ties and has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself in case of an invasion.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said at a briefing in Beijing that China had lodged formal protests with the U.S. over Lai's visit next month.

"China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan," spokeswoman Mao Ning said. "We firmly reject Taiwan independence separatists visiting the U.S. under any name and for any reason, as well as any form of the U.S. connivance and support of the Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities."

"China will closely monitor developments and take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

A senior U.S. administration official said such trips are hardly unusual  there have been 10 previous vice presidential visits in the last two decades, including one by Lai previously  and that the White House encouraged Beijing to avoid using it as a pretext for interference or escalation across the Taiwan Strait. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Lai's upcoming travel.

The criticism comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing to restore lines of communication broken after a Chinese spy balloon was discovered flying over the U.S. earlier this year, and as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks. The official said the U.S. sees no reason why Lai's trip should impact the restoration of lines of communication between Washington and Beijing and described Lai's travel as private and unofficial.

Lai is expected to stop in the U.S. as part of a trip to attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president, Santiago Pena, on Aug. 15. Taiwan's presidential palace announced Monday that Lai's delegation would arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14.

Taiwan's leaders have traditionally stopped in the U.S. en route to visiting some of Taiwan's remaining 13 diplomatic allies, a handful of which are countries in Latin America.

The Taiwanese delegations usually hold meetings with U.S. officials during these visits, angering Beijing.

China launched war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Lai's upcoming U.S. trip is especially symbolic because he has topped most polls as a favorite to win the January presidential election.

China sees both Tsai and Lai as separatists and has refused to talk with them.

Taiwan's presidential palace did not give details about Lai's visit to the U.S., but Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui told reporters the trip would "be planned according to precedent set by previous trips to South and Central America, for which transit stops in the U.S. were arranged."

He added the "transit stops" were meant to ensure "comfort, convenience, safety and dignity."

AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.
(Tribune News Service)  Hawaiis first-term U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda joined a contingent of lawmakers in June for a tour of Oahu, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Okinawa as Congress prepares to lay out its priorities amid geopolitical tensions.

House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, R-Ala., led the delegation, made up mostly of members of the committee, including Tokuda, and leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce committees.

It was a really good opportunity to really just see how, at the end of the day, we are all connected, Tokuda said. A lot of times we talk about the Indo-Pacific generally, and really seeing how it all comes together from, you know, a strategic perspective, from a geopolitical perspective was really important.

In Taiwan, the members of Congress met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and defense officials to discuss relations with China, security and the upcoming elections in January that could lead to huge changes in the islands foreign policy.

A visit to Taiwan in 2022 by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi drew a stiff rebuke from China and a flurry of Chinese military activity around the island. Beijing considers self-ruled Taiwan to be a rogue province, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring it under Beijings control by military force if necessary. Some reports suggest he hopes to have Chinese forces able to do so by 2027.

The opposition Kuomintang party, which was originally formed by Chinese nationalists and favors closer ties to China, has framed the election as a choice between peace and war. Current Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te is running to succeed Tsai as the Democratic Progressive Partys candidate and has framed the election as a choice between democracy and autocracy. He has vowed to form closer ties with democratic countries.

Youve got a critical transition coming up in their presidential election next year, Tokuda said.

Rising tensions in the Pacific, particularly at sea, have prompted regional countries such as Japan and the Philippines  both of which are locked in territorial disputes with China  to increase defense spending and seek closer ties with the United States.

While Tokuda sees robust military alliances as key, she said that in conversations during her recent trip, people stressed that policymakers need to think more broadly about American engagement in the region.

Really, whats swirling in this region is the need for us to approach security, our relationships, our approaches, from a whole-government type of perspective  its not just defense, Tokuda said.

The lawmakers arrived in Guam after Typhoon Mawar struck the northern part of the U.S. territory  including critical military installations  and surveyed the damage. Scientists have warned that as the climate changes, storms are becoming more powerful and more frequent.

Tokuda said the visit to Guam was an eye-opening look at the challenges Pacific island communities could face more of in coming years.

Its hurricane season, (and) were going into an El Nino year, Tokuda said. So I couldnt help but constantly think about Hawaii when I was in Guam, and what do we need to do to be continuously resilient.

In Hawaii, lawmakers toured military bases and learned about the unique challenges in maintaining infrastructure in the islands. Salty sea air causes constant corrosion to facilities, and having to ship all supplies and equipment adds further challenges. Tokuda said it was important for senior lawmakers to get a firsthand look.

Theres nothing like seeing it to understand it, and then to get the urgency as to why weve got to do something about it, Tokuda said. So I was really glad that they were able to come to Hawaii.

Tokuda said she has made infrastructure and maintenance major priorities for defense.

We dont do enough to invest in our infrastructure, Tokuda said. Ongoing repair and maintenance and deferred maintenance turns into extremely expensive capital projects later.

Perhaps no endeavor underscores that more than current efforts to defuel and shut down the World War II-era Red Hill fuel facility, which currently stores 104 million gallons of fuel just 100 feet above a critical aquifer that most of Honolulu relies on for water.

The facility and the pipelines that connect it to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam had fallen into deep disrepair since it was built, despite Navy officials insisting it was safe and critical for operations for years. In November 2021, fuel from the facility contaminated the Navys water system, which serves 93,000 people, prompting a backlash that eventually forced the Pentagon to agree to shutter the facility.

Some mainland lawmakers have raised concerns that closing the facility will impede military readiness, but Pentagon officials say the military will be better off with a distributed fuel storage policy keeping fuel in different locations around the region rather than consolidating its strategic reserve in one place.

We will always need to, as a delegation, be constantly diligent, right, on reminding people about the tragedy that was Red Hill, Tokuda said.

Tokuda said mainland lawmakers who have suggested keeping Red Hill operational are gradually coming to understand the stakes of the defueling and the problems with the facility.

The Red Hill water crisis has prompted many residents to reassess their relationship with the military presence in Hawaii. Other toxic spills involving the military since have drawn heightened scrutiny as the military prepares to renegotiate leases on state-owned lands it currently uses for training that expire in 2029.

Tokuda has pushed for provisions in Congress annual defense funding bill to appoint an official to oversee the land lease negotiations and to potentially provide training for incoming military personnel to Hawaii on local culture and customs. She also has pushed for provisions that would direct the Pentagon to study the militarys impact on Hawaiis housing supply and private rental market.

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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A trio of M1 Abrams tanks with Ukrainian soldiers at the controls took turns firing at targets more than a mile away at this vast U.S. Army training area in Bavaria, the blasts echoing across the hilly expanse.

Roughly 200 Ukrainian trainees are here learning to operate the most advanced American battle tanks. Theyll soon will be ready to use them against invading Russian forces in Ukraine, their U.S. military instructors said.

The Pentagon is set to deliver 31 refurbished Abrams tanks to Kyiv by fall, part of the roughly $50 billion in military aid the U.S. has given since the February 2022 start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

As we continue to train Ukrainian armed forces on more and more advanced weapons systems, we continue to be amazed at how quickly they adapt, U.S. European Command spokesman Capt. William Speaks said at the Grafenwoehr Training Area on Friday.

A small group of journalists were allowed a rare glimpse Friday into the instruction the Army-led Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine has been providing.

The soldiers were not made available for interviews, and military officials did not allow photos or video of the training.

The multinational group was established in 2015 to train Ukrainian soldiers in their home country but shifted to Germany after the full-scale Russian invasion.

Since then, more than 12,000 Ukrainians have been taught to use 36 American military systems, including Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, at Grafenwoehr and the nearby Hohenfels training area, officials said Friday. About 1,000 Ukrainian troops are now at the two sites, they said.

They want to know as much detail as we can provide. Theyre driven, inspired and all in, a U.S. defense official involved in the Abrams training said of the troops. The American trainers were not allowed to be identified under the militarys ground rules.

In the only exercise observed, three stationary tanks fired 120mm cannons twice each at 10-foot-wide targets about 1.2 miles away. All but one shot hit the mark, which the officials indicated was a good performance.

An exercise later that evening involved shooting at targets while the tanks moved, they added. It was Week 8 of a 12-week crash course designed to get the troops back to the war as quickly as possible.

Training will continue after the soldiers leave Germany, and channels will be set up for crews to contact American experts should problems arise, a U.S. defense official said.

President Joe Biden at first was unwilling to transfer Abrams to Kyiv, with Pentagon officials saying the roughly $10 million tanks are too complex and expensive for the Ukrainians to operate, maintain and repair.

The Abrams runs on a jet turbine engine rather than a diesel engine like many other armored vehicles. It burns through fuel at a rate of about 2 gallons per mile, meaning a ready convoy of fuel trucks is necessary for it to operate.

While an Abrams can power through most challenging terrain, fuel trucks sometimes cant. Thats one reason many analysts believe the German-made Leopard 2 is a more suitable tank for Ukraine.

But at the start of the year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted he would allow Leopards to be sent to Ukraine only if the U.S. also agreed to send Abrams tanks.

The tanks being used by the Ukrainians at Grafenwoehr arrived in Germany in May and arent the same ones that will be sent to the battlefield.

The combat tanks are being modified first, with sensitive technology being removed to prevent it from falling into the hands of Russian forces, USA Today reported in May.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he doesnt expect the arrival of the Abrams tanks to have a decisive impact on the war.

Thirty-one tanks, even very good tanks, are not going to make a big difference, Cancian said in an email. The main contribution is political, showing that the United States is willing to give Ukraine the most powerful weapons in its inventory.

Maintaining and sustaining the Abrams also could prove burdensome for the Ukrainians, said Marina Miron, a researcher in war studies at Kings College London.

Its good to have additional tanks, but I dont think the benefits of the Abrams here outweigh all the other problems associated with it, Miron said in a phone interview.

The U.S. soldiers working with the Ukrainians in Germany downplayed concerns about the tanks complexity, saying the training takes that into account.

In about a week, crews that have been operating each tank individually are expected to finish their qualifications and move on to live-fire training as platoons of four tanks and companies of about a dozen.

Theyll also work with other elements such as artillery, mortars and reconnaissance during the drills, officials said.

During the final two weeks, the troops will shift from Grafenwoehr to Hohenfels, where their tanks will be outfitted with a laser system and companies will have a simulated fight in which the opponents use Russian fighting tactics.

The drills are meant to be as realistic as possible, using scenarios that the Ukrainians could find themselves in very soon, the trainers said, although they acknowledged that when and how the Ukrainians use the Abrams tanks will be up to Kyiv.

At Camp Kasserine, an area at Grafenwoehr where Ukrainians and their U.S. instructors live in tents, about a half-dozen Ukrainian soldiers could be seen waiting under a shady tree. They all appeared to be in their late 30s or 40s.

A U.S. defense official said it was common to meet grandfathers out here training, including some working on the Abrams. One man training on a different system was 71 years old and said he signed up to ensure his grandchildren have a future, the official said.

Speaks, the EUCOM spokesman, said the Abrams training also should be seen as an investment for the future.

This particular training is not just about the current fight, he said. This is an investment in Ukraines long-term security.
ROME  Italian health officials intensified heat warnings Monday as southern Europe began a brutally hot week with temperatures expected to top 104 degrees Fahrenheit on a continent already sizzling under the sun and overburdened by tourists.

Countries with borders on the Mediterranean Sea weren't alone in suffering. Authorities in North Macedonia extended a heat alert for the next 10 days with predicted temperatures topping 109 F, while Kosovo also issued heat warnings.

"Never in my life have I experienced heat like this before in Pristina," Artan Kelani, a 22-year-old student, said in Kosovo's capital, where it reached 94 F Monday and was expected to get hotter starting Wednesday.

The Italian Ministry of Health urged regions to beef up house-call services so older people don't have to go out if they need medical care and to set up dedicated heat stations at hospitals to treat emergency cases. Rome braced for temperatures as high as 107 F on Tuesday.

The Italian capital's civil protection office, volunteers and officials from the local water company plan to be at 28 locations, including the ancient Colosseum and open-air produce markets, to guide residents and tourists to fountains and to distribute bottled water.

The city government said that having volunteers fan out through the city would help hasten the arrival of medical help for people who seem to be suffering ill effects from the heat.

The culprit is a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus after the multi-headed dog in Greek mythology that guards the gates to the underworld. Europe's third heat wave in a month was expected to affect much of the Mediterranean region and last until Wednesday.

"The bubble of hot air that has inflated over southern Europe has turned Italy and surrounding countries into a giant pizza oven," Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist and physical geographer at the University of Reading, said in a statement. "The hot air which pushed in from Africa is now staying put, with settled high pressure conditions meaning that heat in warm sea, land and air continues to build."

The mercury in Rome hit 102 F by 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Power outages were hitting parts of the city as electric grids sputtered under heavy demand from air conditioners.

While the Italian capital's hot spell was tough on tourists trekking through the cobblestone streets, tourist industry workers sweated through it.

Prince Mack, who is from Liberia, kept hydrated as he hawked tickets to open-top tour buses near central Rome's Piazza Venezia. "I drank about six of these (water bottles) since this morning, and I'm still going to drink more," he said at midday.

The Ministry of Health issued 10 recommendations to protect older adults, vulnerable people and and pets from the heat. The guidance included staying indoors and avoiding strenuous exercise during the hottest hours of the day and drinking at least nearly a half-gallon of water daily.

Local celebrities went on state-run RAI television to read the recommendations aloud and get the message out.

Besides Rome, several other cities, in particular on the southern islands of Sicily and Sardinia, were expected to top 104 F on Tuesday.

Animals were stressed, too. Italian farm lobby Coldiretti noted that cows are producing around 10% less milk due to the heat.

Spain's Aemet weather agency said the heat wave this week "will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean." Temperatures in some southern areas of Spain were forecast to exceed 107 F before dropping at some point on Wednesday.

Aemet spokesperson Ruben del Campo said that as Cerberus pushes a hot mass of air from Africa toward Europe, the heat and very dry air would cause the risk of wildfires to skyrocket.

A wildfire that started Saturday in Spain's Canary Islands continued to burn out of control Monday, although authorities said weaker winds and cooler temperatures in the area were helping firefighters combat it. The blaze on the island of La Palma had burned some 11,300 acres of mostly woody hill land and some 20 houses and buildings as of Monday.

More than 4,000 residents were evacuated from their homes Saturday but were allowed to return as of late Sunday.

Greece got a brief respite from the heat Monday, with opening hours returning to normal at the ancient Acropolis and other sites. But two wildfires threatened homes in areas outside Athens, where winds of up to 45 mph made the flames difficult to contain.

Most of southern Greece, including greater Athens, was at an elevated level of alert for fire risk, while more extreme temperatures were expected starting Thursday.

Associated Press reporters across Europe contributed to this report.
CAMPOMARINO, Italy  A monument dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group was unveiled this week as the town paid tribute to them and to its own crucial contribution in World War II.

Standing approximately 5 feet high, the monument features a black-and-gold plaque listing each of the fighter squadrons along with the dates they were present at Ramitelli Airfield.

At the top are discs with each squadrons crest. The monument was designed by the Aviano Tuskegee Airmen Committee and funded by the city.

The Tuskegee Airmen went down in history as the first African American pilots in the United States military service, said Tech. Sgt. Edward Adade, president of the Aviano Tuskegee Airmen Committee.

Nicknamed the Red Tails, they were a group of primarily African American aviators and their support personnel. They fought in more than 15,000 missions for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

To open the ceremony, Marco Altobello, director of the Red Tails museum in Campomarino, quoted Martin Luther King Jr.s I have a Dream speech.

Because the Tuskegee Airmen were segregated from other service members, even during combat, the 332nd Fighter Group, which consisted of the 99th, 101st, 301st, and 302nd fighter squadrons, flew out of Ramitelli, a temporary airfield in Campomarino.

The dedication of the monument occurred about three weeks after the death of Homer Hogues, a former mechanic in the 99th Fighter Squadron who was one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

A Dallas resident who attained the rank of staff sergeant, Hogues died June 27 at the age of 96.

The event was also intended to highlight Campomarinos role in the history of Italian and American military aviation, which was described by Bruce Jones, a member from the Tuskegee Airmen Council Pentagon.

We were trying to correct history to make sure the Tuskegee Airmen receive a monument that other airmen have received, Jones said.

The monument, built on the Piazza Madonna Grande, recognizes an important milestone in the end of racial segregation and the fight for basic civil rights, Mayor Pierdonato Silvestri said through an interpreter.

He said the Tuskegee Airmen had a home in Campomarino in bygone years, and they will continue to have a home there in the future.

The event was organized jointly by the city and the Institution Center for Tourist and Cultural Services, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Aviano Tuskegee Airmen Committee at Aviano Air Base.

The committee promotes awareness of the Tuskegee Airmens mission and achievements in Italy and sponsors a push for diversity and inclusion in the U.S., Italy and the armed forces at large.

Michelle Lee, a public affairs officer for the American Consulate in Naples, said the commemoration of such a valuable piece of our shared history with Italy represents the U.S. commitment to advancing the cause of equality.

We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Italy in pursuit of our shared values, Lee said. The Tuskegee Airmen truly represent the best of these values: courage and commitment to justice.
More mercenaries from Russia's Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus on Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month's short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country, heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company.

The group said it was the third Wagner convoy entering the country since last week.

A messaging app channel linked to the contractor ran a video on Monday showing Russian and Wagner flags lowered at the mercenaries main home base in Molkino in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. The channel said that the base would fully close on July 30, and one of the mercenaries in the video declared that Wagner was moving to unspecified new locations. Wagner also has used camps in the Russia-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last month's rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his country's military could benefit from the mercenaries' combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagner is located.

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 55 miles southeast of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhin's mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 125 miles of Moscow. Prigozhin called it a "march of justice" to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhin's fate have remained murky.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry didn't say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus. Lukashenko has previously said it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service. Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

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 that posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defense Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries that seemed to herald an end to their operations in Ukraine where they had played a prominent role as one of the most capable elements of Russian forces.

The Belarusian leader has rejected the allegations that Wagner's presence in Belarus could destabilize the country, but some observers noted that he would likely order the country's security agencies to maintain a close watch over the group's activities.

"Lukashenko is a very cautious politician and he would be worried about possible surprises from the Russian mercenaries, whom he would seek to control day and night," Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said. "The Belarusian security agencies will now focus their entire potential on not allowing Wagner to have any autonomy in Belarus."

During Monday's meeting with the country's chief prosecutor, Lukashenko spoke about the need to tighten control over the military to ensure their full compliance with the law.
(Tribune News Service)  Eisai Co.s breakthrough Alzheimers drug  the first to show it slows the brain-destroying disease  is facing a rocky rollout as doctors grapple with logistical issues, insurance uncertainties and complicated safety testing requirements.

The same day Eisais Leqembi received full US approval, Medicare officials said the government health program for the elderly will pay for it. But that doesnt mean patients will be able to get the $26,500-a-year treatment quickly. Doctors at top medical centers said theyre still trying to coordinate required testing, reimbursement and a real-world monitoring system of patients side effects and cognitive status.

Im not even sure we know all the steps right now, said Constantine Lyketsos, director of the the Memory and Alzheimers Treatment Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

The need for therapy is urgent and widespread: More than 6 million Americans have Alzheimers, a number projected to roughly double by 2060 as the population ages. A significant portion with mild disease might be eligible for Leqembi, and Eisai expects global sales of more than $7 billion in fiscal 2030.

Its a game-changer, that may be followed by other, better drugs, said Anna Nordvig, a neurologist at the New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine Alzheimers Disease and Memory Disorders Program.

Eisai said Leqembis launch is progressing well, with coverage from both Medicare and Medicaid, the health program for low-income people, along with other payers. The company is providing health-care professionals with information about the drug and its use in Alzheimers, it said by email.

Long Wait

Interest appears strong, said Lawrence Honig, director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimers Disease at Columbia University Medical Center, and hes started writing prescriptions. Dementia specialists at Columbia University Irving Medical Center are getting daily calls and messages about the drug, said Honig, who earlier conducted studies of Leqembi.

But for most patients, the wait is likely to be weeks or longer. Lyketsos foresees rolling out Leqembi at Hopkins in September at the earliest. Doctors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said they wont start wide use of the drug until the fall, after they work out procedures for administering it. Other centers plan to pilot it on relatively small numbers of patients until theyre sure the drug and tests are routinely covered by insurers. Jefferies analysts estimate that just 3,000 patients will be on Leqembi by year-end.

Betsy Groves, a 74-year-old retired clinical social worker from Cambridge, Massachusetts, with early-stage Alzheimers, hopes to be one of them. Shes expecting to start on Leqembi after her next neurology appointment thats scheduled for October.

Groves said she isnt particularly worried about the side effects. They can be significant, such as swelling and bleeding in the brain thats usually asymptomatic, and turn life-threatening in rare cases. Patients must weigh that against the modest slowing of the disease that the drug offers.

Our folks are saying, Were not impressed with the benefit and we worry about the risk, Lyketsos said. So far, he said, most of his eligible patients are opting against Leqembi.

To qualify, patients need to undergo cognitive and functional tests, as well as a specialized amyloid brain scan that hasnt been widely covered by insurance until now. Alternatively, they can undergo a spinal tap, but some patients find these unpleasant, and they give less information than the scan.

Thats just the start. Patients need a separate scan to establish brain status before starting on the drug. Theyll need three more MRI scans in about the first six months of treatment to monitor for early signs of side effects. And the FDA advises testing for a gene called APOE4 that could signal a far greater risk of brain swelling or bleeding.

Learning Curve

As many as five medical specialists  from genetic counselors to nuclear medicine specialists to neuropsychologists  may need to weigh in before a patient can get the drug, said David Knopman, a neurologist and Alzheimers expert at Mayo. His facility will only treat patients who live close enough to be evaluated quickly if side effects develop.

There are a whole bunch of things we have to do to give the drugs safely, said Paul Schulz, a neurologist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston. Its almost like a complicated cancer treatment, and for the average neurologist, there is a big learning curve.

Until the insurance situation is settled, Schulz said hell use the drug on a handful of patients to make sure there arent unexpected reimbursement problems.

Once patients have cleared those hurdles, they have to start infusions, a new experience for most Alzheimers doctors, according to Allison Lapins, a neurologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Hospitals will need to find biweekly slots at busy infusion centers.

A task force of Northwestern doctors has been meeting since January to devise procedures for safely using Leqembi, Lapins said. They want to train nurses who administer it to check for subtle symptoms of brain swelling. Northwestern will require gene testing and wont give the drug to patients with two APOE4 gene copies. Patients on blood thinners that may boost the risk of brain bleeding will also be excluded, she said.

It is extremely complicated to use the drug, Lapins said. She still expects a deluge of patients as more people whove been diagnosed in the early stages start to come in for treatment.

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TAMPA, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  In Billy Waughs final years, Gen. Bryan Fenton, the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, made him an offer he knew he would find tempting.

Billy, you look really fit, Fenton said. Why dont you come back, and lets go get back in with our troops. Lets go jump out of some planes. Lets go riding around Tampa.

Waughs wife, Lynn, had to interject.

Dont say that, she said. Hell do it.

Waugh, a longtime military special operative nicknamed the Godfather of the Green Berets who lived in Lutz, Fla., died in April at 93. He was honored with a memorial at MacDill late last month, surrounded by hundreds from around the special operations community.

Even into his 70s and 80s, Waugh was the restless type. He would get up every day at 3 a.m. and make a beeline for his computer to check his email. Once the sun came up, he was on calls with any number of people he knew in special operations, rearranging teams and assigning people to missions.

Waugh had always slept lightly, something he trained himself to do  and deal with  during his half-century of work with the Green Berets and CIA. Once he and Lynn got married and moved in together at 75 and 54, respectively, he would turn the fan on at night and move into another room once he was up. That arrangement worked just fine for her.

He was not commanding raids in Vietnam or outing terrorists in Sudan anymore, but he was still active  far more active than a septuagenarian who had nearly lost a leg, performed an experimental parachute drop from over 30,000 feet and hunted the worlds most-wanted men should be.

He was kind of surprised that not everybody worked like that, Lynn said. Like, why dont you want to do that? Its going to be exciting.

A man without fear

Waugh was thankful he got shot in the forehead in that Vietnamese rice paddy.

Green tracer rounds darted overhead and the deafening sound of gunfire ripped through the air. Waughs foot was a fountain of blood after a bullet entered by his big toe and exited at his ankle, shattering everything in between.

Then came another shot, which ricocheted off a piece of bamboo before clipping a 2-inch gash in Waughs forehead. It knocked him out cold.

Combined with his mangled right leg, any reasonable soldier would presume that Waugh was dead. This presumption saved his life, he wrote in his 2004 autobiography, Hunting the Jackal.

He was discovered naked  stripped of his uniform and watch  and was hauled to a helicopter atop a nearby hill, where he was flown back to safety and a hospital tent. High on painkillers and full of adrenaline, Waugh joked constantly on the operating table, much to the chagrin of the nurse charged with removing a colony of leeches from his leg and saving a shredded foot.

Waugh always found room for humor among the perilous. It was the only way a soldier could stay sane, he said.

Waugh once told a man in Vietnam to rub hot sauce on his chest because it would help him grow chest hair like the Americans, Lynn said. In Afghanistan, he convinced his whole unit to use an airdrop shipment of Windex to clean themselves after weeks without a shower. They did not do that again.

Waughs beginnings with the military were modest.

After meeting two soldiers returning from World War II, Waugh, then 16, resolved to hitchhike his way from his home in Bastrop, Texas, to Los Angeles to enlist in the Marines despite being underage. He got caught in New Mexico without identification and was jailed before his mother wired him the bus fare back to Austin, Texas. A lengthy lecture and a firm belt-whipping awaited Waugh upon arrival, alongside a mandate to get back in school, according to his book.

Waugh enlisted in the Army six months after he turned 18 and earned his green beret in 1954.

He wasnt afraid of anything, his daughter Leslie Waugh Hayn said. I dont know anybody else like that.

At times, Waughs commitment to his craft bordered on recklessness. He was the guinea pig for the first-ever High Altitude/Low Opening jump in Vietnam, a practice in which soldiers leap out of an airplane at about 30,000 feet and wait to deploy their parachute until they are under radar, and which has since become commonplace in U.S. special operations. His ashes will be accordingly scattered in a HALO jump Saturday near Fort Liberty, N.C.

Waugh flocked to the worlds most dangerous military theaters over and over again, even when convention suggested he was too old. By the end of his 50-year career, he had completed missions in 64 countries. He kept a map board with pins on each one.

One of the more notable pins was in Khartoum, Sudan, where the CIA sent him to hunt the worlds most dangerous terrorists in the early 1990s. From the drivers seat of a Land Cruiser feigning engine problems, Waugh captured the first photos of Carlos the Jackal in a decade. When Waugh left Sudan, the Jackal  the worlds most-wanted man at the time  was in French police custody.

Waugh would also do biweekly jogs around Osama bin Ladens compound and his AK-47-wielding guard unit.

Billys cover, in his very own words, 24-year CIA veteran Enrique Ric Prado said, (was) that of a crazy white guy from the U.S. Embassy jogging around the desert heat and pollution.

Speaking Arabic with a Texan accent, his cover was effective. Waugh identified bin Ladens white Mercedes and established a bamboo blind on a nearby rooftop to keep tabs on him. He recommended the U.S. government act sooner rather than later and devised a plan to trap and kill bin Laden in an organized car wreck 10 years before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

How he got his excitement in life was the mission, Lynn said. And once the mission was complete, thats when he had his high.

Quite an adventure

Lynn and Billy got married after her ex-husband, a subordinate of Waughs, passed away in 2004. He originally reached out and visited to make sure she was squared away and was getting all the necessary support from the military.

He wouldnt go home, Lynn said. He just stayed. He kept finding excuses to stay.

His overbearing tendencies at times got on Lynns nerves, but she eventually found a way to accommodate them by standing her ground to not get swallowed up by that personality. They stayed together for 18 years until Waughs death.

Waughs high-octane lifestyle was not always conducive to a stable family life. He was married four times before Lynn  once widowed, thrice divorced.

He had four children, all from his first wife. Two daughters died in their 40s, one of a brain tumor and the other after a heart attack, and a son died at 15 from a respiratory complication. Leslie is Waughs last surviving child.

Leslie grew up on an Army base and would regularly go months without seeing her father, who was pinging around Vietnam at the time. She thought nothing of it, because every military family around her was experiencing the same thing.

That was until Waugh came back to the U.S. as a result of the severe injuries he suffered in that rice paddy at Bong Son. The leeches were gone by then, but a series of infections almost led to his leg being amputated.

Most peoples fathers dont leave and then go get shot eight times, Leslie said. Even fewer return to the front.

Even though he could not divulge classified information, he was a great storyteller, Leslie said.

By the time he married Lynn, most of Waughs adrenaline-pumping exploits were behind him, but he stayed busy. He still yearned for the rush of the special forces. That was part of the reason he and Lynn moved from their home in Niceville, Fla., to Lutz, to be near MacDill and the areas thriving special forces community, she said.

Waugh was bored easily, Leslie said. He needed constant stimulation and a sustained aim to feel fulfilled, and did his best to scratch that itch in any way he could.

For a while, Waugh floated the idea of moving to The Villages, Fla., but Lynn thought he would get restless without the special forces and would miss interacting with his colleagues. They never moved.

In the early 2000s, Waugh made a habit of coming to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Liberty  then Fort Bragg  to teach upstart special forces leaders everything he learned across his 50-year career.

He was unselfish with his time, and very unselfish about wanting other people to be as successful as he was, said Major Gen. Pat Roberson, deputy commanding general of Special Operations Command. To me, thats the mark of a true leader.

Special forces training programs feature extensive study of Waughs life and accomplishments, helping spread the legacy of the man colloquially known as the Godfather of the Green Berets to a new generation.

People outside military circles recognize Waughs name, too. Leslie encountered one at a Blockbuster store in Austin. Lynn did with her rheumatologist, who has no military ties.

It was quite an adventure to be married to Billy Waugh, Lynn said.

Americas soldier

Front and center at Waughs memorial service was a large portrait of the 5-foot-9-inch sergeant major receiving a badge next to a display with a green beret poised on a rifle and an empty pair of boots. Service members from across the special forces, including Fenton, took turns approaching the altar. Each raised their right hand slowly to their temple before silently making way for the next person in line.

The praise from Waughs eulogies was effusive.

This is a man whos a giant in our formation, Roberson said. Hes a giant in an organization thats full of giants.

He was indeed, I believe, a purpose-built man, retired Lt. Gen. John Mulholland said. I think our good Father above saw a need, and He sent down to Earth this guy Billy Waugh to do one thing and one thing only, and that was to be Americas soldier.

In his early 90s, wheelchair-bound and in the hospital, Waughs head was still on a swivel looking for escape routes, Fenton said  a holdover from his recon days.

Hed surveyed the whole place, Fenton said. I walked in, I was expecting to get a perspective sketch with a north-seeking arrow and some little routes going to and fro.

Lynns phone background features a photo of Waugh touching the corner of an American flag hanging outside their home. It is an eternal reminder of her late husbands dedication to his work and his country.

He was born a leader and he was born a warrior, Lynn said. Nothing satisfied him more than those two things.

2023 Tampa Bay Times.

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Aerial photo taken on Dec. 1, 2021 shows nuclear power units under the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- 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. 
(Tribune News Service)  Kathy Schneider was afraid to be alone. She struggled to go into bathrooms and could not get out of the car at the store with her husband.

Schneider is a U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force veteran who spent 30 years on and off active duty as an embedded combat nurse. She retired from the military with the rank of captain and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, an invisible but debilitating disability.

Her triggers are everywhere. Something as simple as someone walking up behind her can send her into a fugue state, Schneider said.

Im not here anymore  Im back somewhere I dont want to be, said Schneider, who lives in the small town of Goliad in South Texas.

Lauren Anderson is about to leave graduate school in Dallas with a child life specialist degree. She plans to help children and families navigate challenges in hospital settings.

Anderson is also partially paralyzed in both arms due to an injury at birth. She struggles to carry heavy objects, open doors with her hands full and pick things up off the floor.

Her family, friends and roommates have always been happy to help, Anderson said, but she has never been able to live with full independence.

Schneider and Anderson were two of four women to graduate from the Canine Companions for Independence service dog training program on Friday. Following a week of one-on-one dog/human lessons at the Baylor Scott & White Kinkeade Campus in Irving, Texas, and a tearful graduation ceremony, they officially reentered the world with renewed hope and independence.

A unique collaboration

The partnership between Baylor Scott & White Health and Canine Companions for Independence is a unique collaboration between a hospital system and a service dog training program.

U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade, a trustee of the Baylor Medical center in Irving, dreamed up the partnership when he met a service dog while visiting a Baylor hospital with his therapy dog Bo in 2011.

That dog had 160 commands, so I apologized to Bo for not training him very well, Kinkeade said. It was really amazing to see  the man was paraplegic, I believe in an automobile accident  and the way that dog was trained was really impressive.

Service dogs, unlike therapy dogs, are highly trained to meet specific needs. They can help with seeing, hearing, mobility issues and, more recently, PTSD.

I thought, well, we can do more than just a therapy dog program, Kinkeade said, and approached the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Canine Companions for Independence to open a service dog training center in North Texas.

What he thought would take a few years to raise the money to build a new facility only took minutes. At an afternoon fundraising luncheon, Air Force Veteran and author Jason Morgan spoke to donors about how a Canine Companions service dog helped him raise three sons alone after a military operation left him paraplegic. Donors gave almost $10 million in the 10 or so minutes he spoke.

The facility opened in 2015, and with support from Baylor Scott & White, Canine Companions and donors have been providing North Texans with service dogs free of cost ever since.

No health care system in the world has ever done anything like this, Kinkeade said. Here we are taking the people that Baylor treats in their hospitals  some of the wounds cant be healed, but we can help them by giving them service dogs.

Partnerships conceived

After years of managing her symptoms alone and with her husband Ray, Schneider began researching service dogs. She knew they help veterans with physical disabilities and were beginning to help those with PTSD.

The government began to cover a service dog insurance benefit for veterans with PTSD and other mental diagnoses after a 2021 Veterans Affairs study showed that service dogs provide a significant therapeutic benefit to veterans with PTSD.

Schneider found Canine Companions and researched them thoroughly. She reviewed social media accounts, watched videos and signed up for emails. She watched YouTube videos of people with service dogs from different organizations.

Canine Companions came up over and over again.

I kept finding this  layer upon layer of legitimacy, Schneider said.

Then, in 2021, Schneider made a call and started the service dog application process with Canine Companions.

Anderson also began an application with Canine Companions in 2021 after Melissa Kinkeade, Judge Kinkeades wife, told her about the program while they served in a preschool ministry together.

Around the same time in 2021, but unbeknownst to them, their future companions, Dakota and Thornton, were born in litters of labrador/golden retriever puppies in Santa Rosa.

Growing up and going to college

Canine Companions puppies spend their first 16-18 months in the homes of puppy raisers, or in prisons where volunteers socialize, potty train and teach them basic obedience skills and house manners.

When they are ready, the dogs enter one of six regional training centers where they work with professional trainers for another six to nine months. Flora Baird, senior director of national training at Canine Companions, likes to call this going to college. The dogs live on campus, have roommates and go to training.

This is where Dakota and Thornton began to show their unique aptitudes and skills.

Dakota was smart, driven and good in public, trainer Aimee Schildt said. Dakota wanted to be on-the-go and alert all the time. Her jet-black fur and serious face signal that she is in control when she is scanning the environment, but that sternness breaks when she checks in on her human, looking up with soft, caring eyes.

These traits make her a perfect fit for a veteran.

Thornton was food-motivated, responsive, easy to engage and not easily distracted, trainer Sean Brim said. With floppy ears and a laid-back demeanor, he engages with any energy level  all perfect service dog qualities.

While Dakota and Thornton went through this extensive training, Schneider and Anderson went through an equally extensive application process.

Two years of checks into health histories, personality traits and daily activities, a phone call and an in-person interview later, Schneider and Anderson finally got the call that they had found canine matches.

The special sauce

The extensive application process has a purpose.

One of the things we really pride ourselves in is making really good matches between dogs and people, Baird said. Were kind of a matchmaking service in that way.

When Schneider first met Dakota, she compared the moment to meeting a child for the first time.

That moment of wow, what is this amazing  wonder, joy, love, Schneider said. But there isnt that instant bond because youve still got to figure each other out.

Over the past week, Dakota and Schneider have worked on skills that will help her with PTSD symptoms. Dakota learned how to cue in to Schneiders anxiety tells, primarily wringing her hands, and settle her down. Dakota also learned how to apply deep pressure to Schneider after a nightmare, stand behind her to make sure people do not startle her in public and retrieve her medication.

I dont know how they found a dog thats so right for me, Schneider said. Shes a little type A, focused, an amazingly smart dog, and yet so chill, which is exactly what I needed.

Anderson also feels like Thornton is her perfect match, she said. He is sweet and playful but likes to have downtime too. He already knows most of the skills Anderson will need.

A lot of his commands are like pulling open doors, opening the fridge, or using push plates to open doors  pulling the laundry basket to help me get around the house more easily, turning on and off light switches, helping pull off clothes and tugging jackets off, Anderson said.

What Schneider and Anderson have with Dakota and Thornton is what Baird calls the special sauce.

Sometimes it just clicks, and were like yup, thats it! Baird said.

Graduation

At the Friday graduation ceremony, the puppy raisers for each of the four dogs handed their leashes off to their new companions in front of family, friends and staff, not a dry eye in the room.

Anderson is thrilled to experience a new sense of independence with Thornton. Their first test will be a celebration party Friday night  with dog-themed treats, of course.

Schneider said Dakota will allow her to experience a world she has not been able to access since early adulthood.

Shes going to give me back my pride, Schneider said. Thats something you dont expect and wasnt on the list of things I thought I would get from her, but a sense of self-worth that youre able to do these things on your own.

2023 The Dallas Morning News.

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(Tribune News Service)  U.S. Navy veteran Phil Ehr, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in 2020, is launching a bid to oust U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

Beating Scott is likely to be an uphill battle for Ehr or any other Democrat. The former two-term Florida governor is heading into his first Senate reelection campaign with the advantage of incumbency and vast financial resources to draw from.

During his first Senate bid in 2018, Scott spent nearly $64 million of his own money to defeat former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. As he heads into his reelection campaign, Scott already has $3 million in the bank, ready to spend.

Ehr, by comparison, raised just over $2 million for his 2020 challenge to Gaetz, a conservative firebrand who represents a deep-red district in the Florida Panhandle. Gaetz ultimately won that race by 30 percentage points.

In announcing his Senate campaign on Monday, Ehr, a retired Navy commander, drew heavily on his military service. A video released by his campaign touts his 26 years in the Navy, including missions in the Balkans and Desert Storm. More recently, he said, he has been involved in providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

He cast Scott as part of what he called the axis of lies, a cohort of Republican politicians, whom Ehr said had been complicit in spreading misinformation.

Rick Scott is a coward, Ehr said in his announcement video. We cant trust him in the battle for our rights, the truth and our future. So once again, duty calls. Its always quietest before the storm.

Ehrs campaign also shared a poll from the progressive firm Change Research suggesting that Scott may be more vulnerable to a challenge than many political observers previously thought.

Ehr is unlikely to be the only credible Democratic candidate running for the nomination to challenge Scott in 2024. Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has said she is considering a Senate bid, as has Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins.

Democratic former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson filed paperwork for a Senate campaign last month. Republican Keith Gross, a lawyer and former assistant state attorney, has launched a longshot primary challenge to Scott.

A spokesperson for Scotts reelection campaign did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment on Ehrs entrance into the race, but Scotts allies dont appear intimidated by the senators new challenger.

Best @chuckschumer and @FlaDems can do in #FLSen is a guy who lost a congressional race 2 cycles ago by 30 points, tweeted Chris Hartline, a longtime adviser to Scott, referring to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Florida Democratic Party.

2023 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Senior Pakistani politicians, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, are worried over the Taliban government's statement that they signed the Dohal deal with the US, not Pakistan, which has come amid surging violence in the country.

In an interview with an international media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in response to the defence minister's remarks that Afghanistan is not fulfilling its obligations under the deal, had said that they didnt sign the peace accord with Islamabad.

But at the same time, he claimed that Afghan soil was not being used for attacks in Pakistan, as the nation was "a Muslim and brother country".

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp spike in terrorism across the country which it believes is perpetrated by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) despite assurances by their benefactors of reining in the militant group.

Last week, Pakistan Army said it was seriously concerned that militants had found safe havens in the neighbouring nation and threatened to take an "effective response" two days after 12 of its soldiers embraced martyrdom in two attacks.

The army has "serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan," it said, adding such attacks are intolerable and would elicit an effective response from the security forces of Pakistan.

While responding to Mujahids assertion, veteran politician and senior PPP leader Farhatullah Babar termed it disturbing.

A fair interpretation of Kabuls statement. Irrespective of Afghanistans stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source. This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders. https://t.co/bsaQIsiTW1  Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) July 16, 2023

Taliban spokesperson says the Taliban signed the Doha agreement with the US, not with Pakistan and its policy towards Pakistan is different.

He asked: Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?

Agreeing with Babars interpretation, Asif said irrespective of Afghanistans stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source.

This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders.

TTP has also become active in Balochistan after multiple attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, where the Pakistan Army had uprooted the militant safe havens after successful operations.

The militant group has stepped up attacks since revoking a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022, including the bombing of a mosque in Peshawar that killed more than 100 people earlier this year.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Monday approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against his detention orders under 3MPO.

The plea was filed by Elahis lawyer Amir Saeed Rawn arguing that Parvez Elahi is being unfairly targeted as part of a political vendetta.

Highlighting the fact that bail has been granted to Elahi in all previous cases, the petitioner contends that his client has consistently proven his innocence.

Furthermore, the court has also granted protective bail to Elahi in a separate case related to terrorism, it added.

With the filing of this application, the petitioner hoped that the Lahore High Court will suspend the detention orders against Parvez Elahi.
Six more years for 85K of heroin and coke

A convicted drug dealer who looked for a 38,000 payout after his arm was scalded with gravy has been sentenced to another six years behind bars after being caught with an 85,000 cocaine and heroin haul while out on bail for other drugs charges.

Craig McDonnell (26), from Longdale Terrace, Ballymun, was taken from Wheatfield Prison to appear before Judge Terence OSullivan in the Circuit Civil Court two months ago where he was suing Parnell GAA club for a maximum 38,000 pay-out after his arm was scalded with hot gravy nine years ago.

His appearance came just three weeks after he was jailed for six months for heroin dealing in Dublin city centre after being caught red-handed in September 17, 2020.

He said he had a chronic cocaine addiction which led to him accruing a debt and dealing drugs

While out on bail for that offence McDonnell continued his involvement in drug dealing and this week pleaded guilty over an 85,000 heroin and cocaine haul in Phibsboro on Dublins north side.

Gardai from Mountjoy Garda Station raided a property on Phibsboro Road on May 25, 2021 and found 70,000 worth of heroin and 14,500 worth of cocaine,

McDonnell appeared before Dublin Circuit Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to sale or supply of the drugs,

He was sentenced to six years and three months

He is likely to find his next appearance in court less stressful as it will be his civil case against Parnell GAA club rather than a criminal court for sentencing.

He was taken from Wheatfield Prison to appear before Judge Terence OSullivan in the Circuit Civil Court at the end of April, where details of his claim were opened.

But the case had to be adjourned after defence solicitor Kevin DArcy asked for an adjournment to locate a key witness, a commis chef, who McDonnell alleged had been the one to pour the gravy over his arm.

The court heard that McDonnell was also suing two youth training agencies as well as Parnell GAA club over the incident in which he was scalded with the gravy.

The two include the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and Ballark Community Training Centre, Ballymun.

Counsel for McDonnell, Mr John Nolan BL, said McDonnell was 17 years old and manning a gravy station at the clubs lunch carvery counter when the incident occurred.
The property includes Chesnut Lodge at the Garristown where Brownings mother Julie Conway and her partner ex-garda David OBrien have been living.

17/07/2023 This morning CAB officers took possession of Kinahan Cartel associate Ross Browning house,Chesnut Lodge,in Garristown,North Dublin under the Proceeds of Crime Act..Photo by Padraig O'Reilly..

Gardai arrived this morning at the home of the Kinahan Cartels No1 man in Ireland, Ross Browning, to take possession of the property.

This includes Chesnut Lodge at the Garristown where Brownings mother Julie Conway and her partner ex-garda David OBrien have been living.

The former detective was previously pictured at the scene where this morning the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) officers arrived to take over the property after getting a court order last February.

In his judgment, Judge Alex Owens said that the couple be allowed part of the proceeds from the renovated cottage into because they had put some of their own money.

This included 40,000 borrowed from the Garda Credit Union.

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.

The Criminal Assets Bureau did not get everything their own way in the judgement with Judge Owens saying that there was not enough evidence to say that 2,800 cash found at Chestnut Lodge were criminal proceeds.

He also said the court was reluctantly minded to allow other provisions, ruling that Julie Conway and David OBrien be allowed a quarter of the net proceeds of the sale of Chesnut Lodge.

CAB had stated a third of a million euros was spent on cottage renovations although Julie Conway told investigators that the renovations were all me and Dave including 40,000 borrowed from St Raphaels Garda Credit Union.

Former Garda David O'Brien. Photo: Padraig O'Reilly

CABs case was that the co-mingling of finances was used to hide the moneys origins.

Last month Judge Owens was told a letter had been handed personally to Ms Conway and another was left there for Mr OBrien before making the order to allow CAB seize the property

A third house, on Deanstown Road in Finglas where an uncle of Browning lives was ordered to be handed overt omorrow with progress to reported at the High Court on Wednesday.

Two other parcels of land in Rush have already been taken over by CAB as have cash, jewellery and vehicles connected with the case.

Browning did not contest the 1.4 million case against him, but other family members who did, lost their legal battle last February

Paddocks and an indoor show-jumping arena were built at Garristown as well as the completely renovated Chestnut Lodge.

CAB officers arrive at Ross Browning's property. Photo: Padraig O'Reilly

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.

CAB stated in their in case that Browning was at the heart of a 1billion crime gang and was the Kinahan Cartels principal representative in Ireland.

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.

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.

It is not the first success by CAB against the Kinahan Cartel, after getting court orders to take over a luxury mansion at City West used by mob boss Daniel Kinahan.

The house at Coldwater Lakes was alleged to have been used by Jim Mansfield jr to pay back a debt to the cartel who had attempted to wash 5 million in dirty money through his property empire.
The Judge also made an order restraining Mr Burke from trespassing on the premises of the school

Schoolteacher Enoch Burke, who was dismissed from his position for alleged gross misconduct, has been ordered to pay legal costs to the Wilsons Hospital School in their successful High Court action against him earlier this year.

Awarding the costs to the school today, Mr Justice Alexander Owens made an order restraining Mr Burke from trespassing on the premises of the school in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, but said that the German and History teacher was not prevented from attending outside the school gates.

In its action, the school had argued it was correct to place Mr Burke on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary process against him.

It submitted that Mr Burke was dismissed from his position because he had intimidated and harassed a colleague and had breached the confidence of a student in the school who wished to transition.

Mr Burke, who denied any wrongdoing, argued that his suspension arose out of his opposition to transgenderism and an alleged direction by the school to refer to a student who wishes to transition by a different pronoun.

In a counterclaim, he submitted that the disciplinary process against him should be set aside and that it breached his constitutional rights, including his right to freedom of expression of his religious beliefs.

Last May, Mr Justice Alexander Owens found that Mr Burke was lawfully suspended from his teaching position at the school.

Counsel for the school, Alex White SC, said that Wilsons Hospital School was seeking damages of 15,000 for Mr Burke having trespassed, as well as costs involved in the case.

Defending himself, Mr Burke said that his case was one of religious belief and freedom of conscience and accused Mr Justice Owens of having exalted religious belief to the most serious of crimes in his original judgement.

You said that my religious belief was capable of amounting to gross misconduct if the charge was proved, said Mr Burke.

These proceedings have been initiated against me because I took a stand on my religious belief, I stand by my actions in speaking up, and for the court to now ask me to pay something is punishing me for that religious belief, he said.

Mr Justice Owens told him that what was at stake in the current proceedings was whether the court would award costs to the school and said that there would have to be exceptional reasons as to why the costs should not follow.

Mr Burke said that the court had a constitutional obligation to uphold his rights, and he went on to say that Mr Justice Owens had reneged on the vow he made when becoming a judge.

After listening to Mr Burkes submissions, Mr Justice Owens said that he had adhered to his oath as to how he decided the original case.

Youve harangued me now for nearly an hour, said Mr Justice Owens, ruling that he was awarding the school the costs.

The judge told Mr Burke that he was still free to appeal the outcome of the original case in which Mr Justice Owens ruled that Mr Burke was lawfully suspended from his teaching position at Wilson's Hospital secondary school.

In May, Mr Justice Owens ruled that the school, subsequent to suspending Mr Burke, was also entitled to a permanent injunction prohibiting him from attending at its premises and damages of 15,000 for his continuing trespass at the school's campus.

The judge said that the damages were in addition to the 700 per diem fine that had been imposed by the High Court on Mr Burke several months ago for his ongoing breach of earlier orders requiring him to stay away from the school's premises in Multyfarnham in Co Westmeath.

Mr Justice Owens' was giving his decision in the action between the school and Mr Burke over its decision to commence disciplinary proceedings against and suspend the teacher on full pay in August 2022.
Hannes Donat (22) got involved in activism after he himself struggled to get housing while in Ireland and ended up sleeping in a tent

A German student was arrested while housing activists were using power tools to try to get into a former homeless shelter, a court heard.

Hannes Donat (22), who resisted arrest, had got involved in activism after he himself struggled to get housing while in Ireland and ended up sleeping in a tent.

Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation Act, sparing him a criminal record when Donat, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of garda obstruction.

Dublin District Court heard gardai attended an ongoing incident at LeFroy House, Eden Quay on May 1, 2023.

A number of people were using power tools to attempt to remove steel panels from the door to access the building, a garda said.

The accused, who was at the scene, attempted to evade gardai and in a foot chase, officers blocked his path and restrained him.

Donat was an Erasmus programme student who was studying English and Politics in NUIG, his lawyer said.

Since arriving here, he struggled to secure accommodation and spent time sleeping in a tent.

This was how he came to be involved in housing activism. He accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised to the gardai.

Donat was a young man who fell on hard times in this country and intended to return to Germany to become a teacher, the lawyer said.

Judge Smyth applied the Probation Act, leaving him without a recorded conviction. The charge was under Section 19 of the Public Order Act.
The man attempted to flee the scene and was arrested by gardai a short distance away.

Gardai have arrested and charged a man following a series of thefts in Clontarf, Dublin yesterday morning.

The man was caught with a large number of stolen items including five bicycles, a power washer, chainsaw, leaf blower and various tools, according to a garda spokesperson.

Shortly before 2am on Sunday morning, gardai were alerted to an incident on the Malahide Road, the spokesperson said.

On arrival at the scene, gardai observed a man (aged in his 20s) with a number of items that were believed to have been stolen.

The man attempted to flee the scene and was arrested by gardai a short distance away.

He was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in North Dublin.

The male has since been charged and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.
People visit the booth of a toy company during the East China Fair in Shanghai, east China, July 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

SHANGHAI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 31st edition of the East China Fair, often referred to as a "barometer of foreign trade," was held in Shanghai from July 12 to 15, marking its return to an offline format after three years of COVID-19 disruption.

Being one of the largest trade exhibitions in China, this fair has firmly established itself as a prominent event for the country's foreign trade enterprises. This year's edition attracted nearly 35,000 domestic and international buyers from over 110 countries and regions, according to the organizers.

A diverse range of exhibitors at the fair, encompassing industries such as garment, textile and home products, vividly demonstrates the evolution of Chinese manufacturers that have transcended the pursuit of high-quality commodities. Instead, they have embraced innovation and diligently enhanced the competitiveness of their products, cementing China's role as a key player in the international trade arena.

At the booth of Zhejiang Jiaxin Silk Corp., Ltd., a regular participant in the fair for over 30 years, Wu Huiping passionately introduced their new textile product crafted by interweaving collagen-modified nylon fiber with silk.

"It combines comfort, sun protection and antibacterial properties," said Wu, deputy director of the company's technology center. "The product aligns with the demands of popular outdoor brands in foreign markets."

Wu noted that as early as 2019, their company established an online showroom for garment samples, aiming to facilitate communication with overseas customers. The company has also employed 3D design software to tailor its products according to the varying customer requirements.

"Even amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, the development and utilization of new technologies have helped us maintain our resilience, resulting in a remarkable 40 percent sales growth in 2022," Wu said with a sense of pride.

Zhejiang Truelove Fashion Home Textile Co., Ltd., another exhibitor at the fair, attracted visitors with their vibrant and intricately patterned blankets.

Lin Danping, the company's business manager, revealed that their upcoming "Industry 4.0" intelligent factory, with an investment of 1.28 billion yuan (about 179.46 million U.S. dollars), is set to begin production later this year.

With an estimated annual output of 70,000 tonnes and a cost reduction of 40 percent, the factory aims to enhance efficiency while expanding into emerging markets, Lin said.

Nick Evans, a British entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience in sourcing from China, affirms that the country's foreign trade has undergone a remarkable transformation.

"Chinese foreign trade companies are now developing an increasing number of products independently. While maintaining cost-effectiveness, they also incorporate ingenious ideas to meet the demands of the new generation of consumers," he said.

The turnover of the four-day fair has reached 2.18 billion U.S. dollars, the organizers said, citing preliminary statistics.

China's foreign trade maintained steady growth in the first half of the year, with the total goods imports and exports reaching 20.1 trillion yuan, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs. It is the first time China's goods imports and exports exceeded 20 trillion yuan in the January-June period.

This impressive growth is attributable not only to Chinese companies embracing technological innovation but also to new policies introduced by the central and local governments to improve the business environment.

For example, the State Council in April issued a guideline document to promote the stability of its foreign trade scale and to improve its structure, and the resumption of offline exhibitions has been spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce.

Amid efforts to stabilize trade and improve its structure, the Ministry of Commerce will make better use of major trade fairs, support trade enterprises to attend overseas fairs, enhance the development of the country's processing trade, and promote the accelerated development of new foreign trade business models, said ministry official Xiao Lu at the 31st East China Fair. 
Stephen Lee McIlvenny (20) was charged with a further 13 offences

A man charged with raping and blackmailing two 15-year-old boys has been accused of a catalogue of similar offences against a third teenage boy.

Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court today by video link from prison, Stephen Lee McIlvenny (20) was charged with a further 13 offences alleged to have been committed between November 1, 2019, and October 29, 2022.

McIlvenny, from Glasvey Close, Dunmurry, west Belfast, faces charges of anal rape, oral rape, administering a noxious substance with intent to commit a sex offence, sexual assault, blackmailing the teenage boy into engaging in sexual activity, inciting him to engage in sexual activity, causing him to watch pornography, voyeurism and possessing and distributing indecent images of a child.

He also faces three drug offences including supplying a psychoactive substance, being concerned in supplying class A cocaine and supplying class B cannabis.

On a separate indictment, McIlvenny, who has been in custody since late last year, faces 14 sex offences against two other boys, alleged to have been committed between March 1 and November 9 last year, including two counts each of rape, sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming of a child, making indecent images, possessing indecent images and sexual communication with a child.

He faces further single counts of voyeurism and inciting a child to take an indecent photograph.

Previous courts heard that according to the two initial schoolboy complainants, they were raped and abused on a weekly basis. It is the police case that McIlvenny blackmailed them into having sex with him by threatening to release intimate images he had of the pair.

A third complainant then came forward after McIlvenny was charged. In court on Monday, a prosecuting lawyer revealed that both cases are being worked on by the same investigation team and the same lawyers within the PPS.

She added that before the files can be joined and progressed, more work was still be done and noted that the PPS was seeking a four-week adjournment.

Defence counsel Mark Farrell conceded that it was a complicated file and had no objection to the adjournment.

Remanding McIlvenny, now listed as C/O Hydebank YOC, back into custody, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay put the case back to August 14.
Gardai have urged people not to share video footage of the fatal smash which happened at around 3pm.

GardaI and emergency services at the scene of a fatal crash during Sligo Stages Rally at Banninacarrow, Ardnaglass, Co Sligo

The two drivers who lost their lives in a rally smash in Co Sligo on Sunday have been named locally.

Daire Maguire, from Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh, and Gene McDonald both died when the Ford Escort they were in went out of control and crashed during the Sligo Stages Rally.

Its understood Mr McDonald, who was from Cootehill in Co Cavan, was behind the wheel of the vehicle when the accident happened.

Both men died at the scene following the incident in Carrowcushcly, Ballymote.

No other car was involved in the crash.

The rally, organised by the Connacht Motor Club, was immediately suspended as emergency services made their way to the scene which remained cordoned off on Sunday night.

A garda investigation into the smash is ongoing.

Officers have urged people not to share video footage of the fatal smash which happened at around 3pm.

"The driver and passenger of the car, both suffered fatal injuries when their vehicle collided with a wall, a spokesperson said.

"Their bodies were later removed to Sligo University Hospital where a post-mortem will take place in due course.

"A technical examination of the scene is being carried out by forensic collision investigators.

Governing body Motorsport Ireland said it has begun a full investigation into the crash.

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.

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 and its affiliated clubs are recognised internationally for operating to the highest standards of motorsport safety for competitors and spectators in line with the best practice of the FIA.

Motorsport Ireland has begun a full investigation with the relevant authorities into the events at todays event to establish how this accident occurred.
Martin Scullion who was originally from Coolock died in Kevin Street Garda Station at around 4.30am on Saturday

The heartbroken family of a 29-year-old man who died while in garda custody last Saturday are pleading for answers to what exactly happened to him.

Father-of-two Martin Scullion who was originally from Coolock in north Dublin died in Kevin Street Garda Station at around 4.30am on Saturday following his arrest a number of hours earlier at the Quays in Dublin city centre.

The case is now being investigated by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) but there is no suggestion of any foul play at this stage in relation to Mr Scullions death.

It is understood that Mr Scullion had been originally detained by gardai at 9pm on foot of an outstanding bench warrant issued by Dublin District Court at.

Martin Scullion

His younger sister Katie told sundayworld.com that their family have a number of questions surrounding his death that they need to be urgently answered.

We are trying to find out exactly what happened  our family is completely devastated about this especially as our dad Charles died suddenly in January and we are not over that, Ms Scullion told sundayworld.com.

We have been told that he became unwell in the garda station and we are wondering what interactions he had with medical staff in the garda station before he became unresponsive.

Should Martin have been taken to hospital when he first became unwell? We dont have the answers.

We are also very concerned about how long it took us to be informed of what happened on Saturday.

Martins body has been in Dublin City Mortuary because a post-mortem is being carried out but no one has told us when his remains will be returned to us, she explained.

Ms Scullion (23) explained that her brother lived for his children two boys aged seven and four.

He was a very genuine person and always wanted to help other people, she pointed out.

Originally from Bunratty Drive in Coolock, Mr Scullion had been undergoing difficult times recently and had been staying at a number of addresses in the north inner city.

When contacted this evening, a garda spokesman said: On Friday night the 14th July 2023, Gardai arrested a man and conveyed him to Kevin Street Garda Station.

In the early hours of the morning, Gardai discovered the man in an unresponsive state in a custody suite and begun CPR and chest compressions.

The man was pronounced deceased at the scene by ambulance personnel.

As per Garda Policy this matter has been referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) under Section 102 of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005, he added.

In a statement, a GSOC spokeswoman said they received a referral from An Garda Siochana on 15 July 2023, following a death of a man in his late twenties in Dublin 8.

The referral was made by a Garda Superintendent under section 102(1) of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005.

GSOC has assigned a Family Liaison Officer to engage with and to and provide assistance to the family of the deceased. This liaison and assistance are ongoing.

The matter is now under examination by GSOC further to section 91 of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005.

As this is an active investigation, GSOC will be making no further comment on the matter at this time, she explained.
The medic told his followers that some concerned locals contacted his workplace to try to secure accommodation for him.

Dr. Ali Raza Ansari , a trainee GP from Portlaoise, had been travelling around in his Nissan Duke Car with his belongings looking for accommodation while relying on friends for a bed for the night. Photo by Steve Humphreys

A homeless doctor in Co Laois has confirmed that he has secured accommodation thanks to one very kind lady.

Dr Ali Raza Ansari (35), a trainee GP at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, had been staying at a friends home in Co Kildare after struggling to find a place to live with his family.

With no storage space, Dr Ansari had been making a 66km round-trip to Portlaoise every day, transporting all his possessions to work and back.

Im sleeping on a mattress, but all my belongings are in my car. I cant bring them in. Im having to drive with all my belongings to and from work, he told independent.ie last week.

At night, all my belongings are visible to see in my car. Its very heavy to drive and someone could steal everything I own, including medical certificates.

Taking to Twitter over the weekend, the medic told his followers that some concerned locals contacted his workplace to try to secure accommodation for him.

He said that one woman, who he described as an angel, offered to put him and his family up.

Sharing a photo of his new bedroom, Dr Ansari thanked the people of Ireland for their help and concern.

Accommodation sorted, he wrote.

(The) world is full of good people & Irish are one among them. Finally, after all those highlights, people rang my hospital yesterday to accommodate me and I met this very kind lady, who wasn't even worried about rent (I'll pay of course), she is an angel.

Me and my whole family is thankful to the whole Irish nation for being so supportive and concerned. I felt like a home, will continue working for people of Ireland and making it more attractive for skilled workers all across the world. (sic)

Concluding the tweet, he added the hashtag #Irelandisbeautiful.

Dr Ansari is vice-president at the Train Us For Ireland campaign group, which calls for better training and career progression for foreign doctors in Ireland.

Dr Ansari said his role in the campaign group is to try to retain international doctors in Ireland, but told Independent.ie: How can I lead this campaign if I cant find a home?

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said: The Government acknowledges that there are greater constraints in certain areas of the country, in particular where demand is most acute.

He said a new unit within the department to drive the delivery of affordable housing at scale across a number of large-scale schemes in Dublin city needed to be significantly scaled up.

This would help all people and professions, including key workers such as doctors and healthcare staff.
A Taupo man who allegedly forged the signatures of qualified engineers had involvement in 21 Rotorua properties, the council has found.

A police investigation is underway into the allegations. No charges have been laid.

Engineering New Zealand claims the man allegedly completed and signed documents using others identities and credentials without their permission.

In a statement released earlier this month, chief executive Richard Templer said the documents include producer statements, which provide assurance to councils that a design meets Building Code and consenting requirements when signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.

Nationwide, potentially 1000 building consents and 40 local authorities could be impacted.

Templer said owners with concerns about their properties should contact their local council first, and Engineering NZs website had a public search to check whether members and Chartered Professional Engineers have outstanding notices against them.

A notice under the mans membership says pending investigation.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, Rotorua Lakes Council district development deputy chief executive Jean-Paul Gaston said its team had digitally and manually examined its files of current and historic projects.

Rotorua Lakes Council district development deputy chief executive Jean-Paul Gaston. Photo / Laura Smith.

Finding those impacted manually had been a painstaking process but the digital files helped it deep dive.

It identified 21 projects the man had been involved in for the last extended period, seven of which were in the design or construction phase.

Gaston said the council had spoken to those property owners and developers so adjustments and design changes or certifications could be made before they were completed.

Letters would be sent to the remaining 14 property owners.

We wanted to make sure we had everything lined up so when they receive those letters and if they contact us we are in the best place possible to provide information about what they need to do and how they can reach out to their own insurers or to Engineering NZ for assistance.

Councillor Conan OBrien asked what steps were being made so it did not happen again, to which Gaston said it would need to be addressed nationally.

The situation here is we can check the name of a registered engineer or a chartered engineer - whether they have actually signed that document is one of the issues being raised here.

He said the council intended to participate in any Engineering NZ process to ensure uniform standards.

Gaston said the accused mostly worked in the structural space and also completed geotechnical work.

In a response to Local Democracy Reporting Gaston said any risks or issues would be identified through reviews of the works done and the council would deal directly with impacted parties. The earliest project identified was in 2020.

He said the council had started checking documents and contacting property owners on Engineering NZs advice as it was a public safety matter.

Engineering NZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were providing councils with advice.

An Engineering NZ spokesman said it was also developing guidance on how to identify and classify the likelihood and types of risk to impacted properties.

We cannot and are not requiring councils to use these but we are holding information sessions for interested councils and engineers about how to apply the guidance so they can work with owners on next steps for their properties.

He said it was helping MBIE and police in their investigations.

Asked what could be done to avoid similar issues in the future, he said the allegations were about misrepresentation which was extremely rare and not unique to the profession.

It has had an online producer statement template engineers could submit to councils with a secure signature, for those who chose to.

Further changes were a matter for MBIE, he said.

We know this is a trying time for the many owners who are anxious to know what the implications might be for their properties and we agree owners, councils and engineers all need to be able to have trust in the building system.

The ministrys building policy manager Amy Moorhead responded to what steps could be taken in the future to prevent a repeat.

It is difficult for regulation to prevent fraudulent activity, however, it can help relevant agencies detect fraud quicker and take necessary actions.

A Building Consent System review was being modernised to give assurance to building owners and users that buildings are healthy, safe and durable, she said.

Included in the proposals was to clarify the purpose, status and use of producer statements.

The proposals are intended to help building consent authorities assess the reliability of producer statements and identify when further enquiries may be required to verify the claims made in the statement.

It is consulting on whether there should be restrictions on who can issue one and the appropriate criteria to assess their reliability.

A police spokeswoman confirmed an investigation was underway and as such could not provide further comment.

Local Democracy Reporting attempted to contact Hall for comment via phone.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
Some people with potentially blinding conditions are at risk of irreversible damage because of growing wait times to see eye specialists.

Ophthalmologists say work on national treatment guidelines has been caught up in red tape, and are calling on Te Whatu Ora to urgently focus on this area of health.

A report in September by Te Whatu Ora's Planned Care Taskforce the Reset and Restore Plan found ophthalmology waiting lists were large (3596 patients had been waiting over four months for first specialist appointments, and 3258 waiting more than four months for treatment) and continued to grow.

However, "even more concerning" was the larger number of patients overdue for follow-up care - 35,748 patients at the end of May, it noted.

"An ageing population means that more people are developing chronic eye conditions. There is an increase in prevalence of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, all of which are potentially blinding conditions that frequently require lifelong monitoring, and often treatment, to prevent irreversible visual loss."

Te Whatu Ora figures show the situation has worsened since then, with the number of patients waiting for first eye appointments topping 6000 in January.

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall insisted the health reforms were putting an end to "the postcode lottery for healthcare".

"We used to have 20 district health boards, all with different access criteria. We've taken the first steps to redress that for cataracts, so everyone over time will be able to access the same surgery for cataracts across the country."

Ophthalmology New Zealand chairperson Dean Corbett says the extra cash for cataract operations was great as far as it went - but it did not help the thousands of others with sight-threatening conditions.

He was frustrated that work, which was already underway with the Ministry of Health, specialists, optometrists and other sector leaders to standardise care protocols for more eye conditions, had stalled with the restructuring.

"Having a system by which we can allocate health resources in a limited system of supply is where we have to go eventually. Otherwise it's throwing money at cataracts and hips to buy votes every four years."

The Auckland-based specialist, who also does private clinics in Queenstown, says it was "not enough for the health minister to simply announce the end of postcode healthcare without any mechanism to make it a reality".

Corbett treats private patients in Otago who would get treatment in the public system if they lived in Auckland.

"People in the biggest city are getting their surgery at a lesser need than people in central Otago. I mean, how bizarre is that?"

Glaucoma New Zealand head Pippa Martin says specialist appointments were repeatedly cancelled during the height of the pandemic.

"Considerable sight can be lost before you even realise that you've got something wrong with your eyes. So even further delays are only going to cause more loss."

Diabetes New Zealand chief executive Heather Verry says regular eye checks were vitally important for diabetics, who were at risk of losing their sight to diabetic retinopathy.

"Once the damage has occurred, it can't be reversed. Diabetes New Zealand is really concerned if people with diabetes are not able to see their eye specialists on a regular basis or once diabetes is confirmed. So we are really concerned there are these wait times."

Association of Optometrists president Callum Milburn, who works in Dunedin, says in his experience, patients at immediate risk of permanent damage - those with macular degeneration or glaucoma - were seen quickly in the public system.

"However less urgent cases are pushed back."

There had been several successful pilot schemes involving optometrists doing diabetes screening and treatments - but they could do more, he says.

"One of my hopes with the new health system, Te Whatu Ora, was that they were going to cherry-pick the best of those programmes and roll them out across the nation.

"That hasn't happened yet - of course, it's still in its infancy, but that's what I thought was going to happen."

Verrall agreed the health system needed to make better use of the existing workforce.

"We have really talented people working in all parts of our health workforce but sometimes we don't use their talents well. And we have old fashioned rules about what different groups of clinicians are allowed to do, which means we're not as productive as we might be. We want to work with the professions to change that."

Clinical networks - bringing together top specialists - would co-ordinate resources and set standards for care nationwide in future, she says.

However, those networks only exist currently for cardiac, trauma, stroke and renal care.

Meanwhile, eye specialists warn delays risk costing some patients their sight.

Tauranga man Jack Pierce was referred to an eye specialist two years ago to treat a small growth on his cornea.

The 59-year-old was shocked to learn he had a much bigger problem: glaucoma, which cost him his licence and his livelihood as a forklift and delivery driver.

"People have says 'Well, you must have realised something was happening', but you don't.

"It just sort of creeps up. And in hindsight, if I had gone in for an eye check when I first started wearing [hobby] glasses, something would have been picked up and I wouldn't have got to this level where I'm without a licence."

He has since got himself an e-bike and is grateful to have found another job, that does not require driving.

Regular eye drops are keeping his vision stable.

"There are others worse off than me, I'm a lucky man, I could have gone blind if I hadn't been diagnosed when I was. But if I can save someone else from leaving it too late, that's a good thing."

- Ruth Hill/RNZ.
Consultation opens today on Rotorua Lakes Councils draft Speed Management Plan.

The plan aims at addressing safe and appropriate speed limits and supporting infrastructure over the next few years, says a statement from Rotorua Lakes Council.

Council is seeking feedback on aspects of the draft SMP that have been developed in line with National Transport Rule guidelines.

The community will have four weeks, from today to Friday, August 18, to review and provide feedback.

Infrastructure and environment deputy chief executive Stavros Michael says a key priority is to reduce speed around all Rotorua schools and within the CBD to 30km/h.

The local environment has changed since speed limits were originally set. Theres been significant growth and development and use of different modes of transport is increasing. In Rotorua, 93 per cent of roads have speed limits higher than the safe and appropriate speeds now recommended by Waka Kotahi.

The changes proposed in the draft Speed Management Plan are expected to decrease the number of speed-related crashes and encourage people to walk and bike, especially school children.

New Zealand has committed to decisive action on road safety under Waka Kotahi Road to Zero: road safety strategy for 2023  2030.

Road to Zero adopts a vision of a New Zealand where no-one is killed or seriously injured on the countrys roads, streets and footpaths, with a target to reduce annual deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent by 2030.

Kotahi regional relationships director David Speirs says they look forward to supporting Rotorua Lakes Council through the implementation of their plan.

Were pleased to see Rotorua Lakes Council committing to a plan that aligns well with Waka Kotahis commitment to Road to Zero  our strategy which has a strong vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand roads.

While Council does not have the ability to change the Waka Kotahi mandate for 30km/h around schools, community feedback is sought on other proposed changes  head to www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/smp to review information and provide feedback.

There are various ways to provide feedback:

Fill out the submission form online, at Rotorua Lakes Council customer centre or Rotorua Library at Te Aka Mauri.

Email letstalk@rotorualc.nz

Phone Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199

Our streets and roads are for all  we want everyone to get to where theyre going safely, says Michael.

A small change in speed can make a big difference in saving lives and preventing serious injuries.

Once Council has adopted a Speed Management Plan (SMP) it must be submitted to Waka Kotahi for certification and then to the Regional Transport Committee for integration into a Regional Speed Management Plan.

Following this, council officers will implement speed limit reductions around schools initially, as agreed in the Plan.

The new speed limits would be set once the regional plan has been adopted and it will become enforceable by NZ Police once speed limit signage has been installed.
The National Party has promised to create a $500 million Pothole Repair Fund for repairs to local roads and state highways if its elected.

The Green Party has criticised the plan, saying the work is already being done.

But National's transport spokesperson Simeon Brown told Morning Report the roads are the worst they have ever been, and are unsafe to drive on.

Asked whether this was a political gimmick Brown says: "Not at all, this is a reality of our roads being in the worst state they've ever been and the need for us to be investing in making sure that they are safe to drive on so we can keep our economy moving."

Roads are critically important to a productive economy, he says.

The government is spending $2.8 billion on highway maintenance, saying it's a 65 per cent increase on what the previous National government had spent.

Brown says the government is spending more but delivering less for roading renewals.

"What we're saying is we want to double that current rate and get it back to a sustainable level of investment and this is what this fund will be directed towards so that our roads ... aren't falling apart."

The money for National's policy would come from money put aside for speed reduction.

"What we're saying is actually the Road to Zero fund, which has got a billion dollars being allocated to it each year, it has significant delivery challenges. Within it they promised 300 kilometres of median barrier by 2024, they've only delivered 50km so far.

"We're going to take a portion of that money and we're going to reallocate that to making sure our roads are actually safe to drive on."

National will not continue with blanket speed limit changes, he says.

Asked if the evidence shows cutting the speed limit would significantly reduce the road toll and save lives, would it not be worth pursuing, Brown said National wants to improve the quality of the roads - also a contributing factor, he said.

"We need to get the balance right between safety and efficiency."

Transport Minister David Parker told Morning Report in 2018, the government repaired 39,000 potholes and in 2022 it repaired 54,000.

Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver.

"The maintenance budget's gone up from $1.7b over three years when they (National) left office to $2.8b under us - a 65 percent increase.

"You've got to ask yourself, with those increases, what's the underlying problem and the underlying problem is actually very simple for people to understand - the last government stopped resurfacing roads - or they froze the funding for maintenance - and therefore the number of roads that could be resurfaced."

If roads are not resurfaced, water will get in and cause potholes, Parker says.

The government is resurfacing more roads than necessary just to maintain things, he says.

The weather this year is also to blame in areas, he says.

Brown had earlier told Morning Report there had been a 27 per cent reduction in relaying of roads under Labour.

Parker says that is "absolutely wrong".

"Actually he knows that, that is so, with respect, dishonest because he was at a select committee where I showed him the graph of the kilometres of road that have been resurfaced now compared with the halving of it when he was in government, or when his party was in government, and they froze the maintenance fund."

On the issue of median barriers, Parker says the government has done "hundreds of kilometres of median barriers".

Parker says he also thinks less could be spent on speed bumps to instead be put into pothole repairs.

"I believe that potholes are a safety issue and that that justifies the reallocation of some money within the safety budget but you can't get $500m out of the safety budget and not have a decrease in road safety."

-RNZ.
The trial of a woman accused of murdering her three daughters at their Timaru home begins in the Christchurch High Court today.

Lauren Anne Dickason allegedly killed her 2-year-old twin daughters Maya and Karla, and their older sister Liane, who was 6, on the night of 16 September, 2021.

Her husband Graham, an orthopaedic surgeon, found them dead when he arrived home about 10pm after dining with colleagues at a restaurant.

The family had moved into a property in Timaru's Queen Street only a week earlier, having arrived in New Zealand from South Africa a month before.

Dickason appeared in the Timaru District Court two days after the alleged murders.

Judge Dominic Dravitzki remanded her to Christchurch's Hillmorton Hospital for a mental health assessment.

The deaths sparked an outpouring of grief in the South Canterbury town with hundreds gathering for candlelight vigils.

With her signed consent, Dickason's lawyer entered pleas of not guilty to all three murder charges.

Having been held in custody at a psychiatric unit at Hillmorton Hospital, she appeared in the High Court at Christchurch for the first time last month, after the case was transferred from Timaru.

Photo: Supplied.

Dickason's lawyer, Kerryn Beaton KC, confirmed her client was to rely on an insanity and infanticide defence.

Under New Zealand law, infanticide functions as both a stand-alone offence, and as a partial defence to murder or manslaughter.

Graham Dickason was expected to be called to give evidence in the trial, in front of Justice Cameron Mander.

The Crown was applying for him to give evidence from South Africa via audiovisual link, but this was opposed by the defence.

Suppression orders also remained in place on the details of the alleged crime.

Timaru-based prosecutor Andrew McRae was to lead the Crown case.

The trial was set down for three weeks.

- RNZ.
BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have, in the spirit of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, expanded mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that China and ASEAN have pursued the right path of long-standing good-neighborliness and friendship and common development and prosperity.

The ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on July 13 adopted the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Commemorating and Reflecting on the 20th Anniversary of China's Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that in 2003, leaders of China and ASEAN countries jointly witnessed China's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia -- the first country to do so, which marked a new phase of relations between China and ASEAN.

"Being the first to join the Treaty is consistent with China's diplomatic tradition of treating all countries, big or small, as equals, and China's firm support for the growth of ASEAN, as well as our long-standing policy of cultivating friendly ties with neighboring countries," Mao said.

The Treaty is rooted in Asia's history and culture. It embodies the Asian way of consensus-building, non-interference in others' internal affairs, and accommodation of each party's comfort level, and provides important guidelines for the relations between countries in the region, she noted.

Mao said over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have expanded mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts. "We have pursued the right path of long-standing good-neighborliness and friendship and common development and prosperity. This has also galvanized the accession of other countries to the Treaty."

ASEAN's dialogue partners have kept increasing and the group has been gaining in international stature and influence. That has helped East Asia become the fastest-growing economy in the world with fast-rising living standards, Mao added.

In the face of complex and fluid dynamics in the region and beyond, the adoption of the Joint Statement helps promote the purposes and principles of the Treaty and carry forward the Asian way and wisdom and contributes to practicing true multilateralism and upholding the rules and order in the region, Mao said. 
The plans for transforming the Tauranga city centre and getting the heart of the city pumping are progressing, says Tauranga City Council.

Te Manawataki o Te Papa - the new Tauranga civic precinct at the city centre is set to be transformed into a place that the community can be proud of, and that people will want to visit.

"Since the end of last year when we successfully completed the demolition of the old Council building and library, the site on Willow Street has been relatively quiet while design of our exciting new civic precinct progresses," says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.



To be called Te Manawataki o Te Papa, the heartbeat of Te Papa - the new civic precinct will feature a library and community hub, civic whare (public meeting house), museum, and an exhibition gallery.



"We are now getting ready to prepare the site for construction of the new library and community hub, which will be the first building to be developed."



Powerco is relocating some of the power cables and equipment off the site to keep power to the city running and prepare for the development.



What to expect:

Powercos contractors will be undertaking work during July, August and September and will work with any impacted businesses neighbouring the site to help minimise any disruptions.

Traffic management will be in place at times along parts of Hamilton Street, Durham Street and Wharf Street while power cables beneath the ground are safely relocated.

Access to the Hamilton Street off-street car park will be maintained.

A small number of on-street car parks in the area may be cordoned off at times while works take place - accessibility car parks will be maintained at all times.

Pedestrian access will be maintained, but people are advised to please take care around the work sites.

Bus stop D outside Baycourt on Wharf Street will be temporarily relocated further down Wharf Street and will be clearly marked. Bus stop C on Durham Street will be temporarily moved several metres down the road.

To read more about the plans for Te Manawataki o Te Papa, visit the council's website.
The 2023 New Zealand First candidates for Tauranga and Coromandel electorates have been announced.

Small business owner Erika Harvey is standing in Tauranga again this year, and Matamata Piako District Councillor Caleb Ansell is standing in the Coromandel electorate.

The announcement was made at a public meeting held in Tauranga on Sunday.

Erika, who lives in Tauranga with husband Dan and their two children, 12-year-old Piper and new baby Ziggy, is currently the general manager of a local youth charity.

She has made Tauranga her home for almost 15 years, serving on various community boards and working groups, including Tauranga City Council and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Through [my] own parenting journey with the education system, I am particularly passionate about improving the accessibility to education for all children and have spent several years advocating in this space, most recently as chairperson of the Greerton Village School board.

She says she is intent on giving her community a stronger voice in parliament, transferring her own experiences into inspiration to further advocate for Tauranga as a New Zealand First candidate.

Erika previously unsuccessfully ran for the Otumoetai/Pyes Pa Ward in the Tauranga City Council elections in 2019, and for NZ First in the Tauranga electorate in the 2020 General Election.

Matamata Piako District Councillor Caleb Ansell will be standing for Coromandel in the 2023 General Election in October.

Caleb Ansell will be standing for Coromandel.

Based in Manawaru near Te Aroha with his wife Holly, Caleb has a background in customer service.

He is actively involved within the local community through his local church, and worked in the Life Centre Trust during his studies, helping with their food parcel program.

Caleb says he feels deeply passionate about equal citizenship and is eager to represent New Zealand Firsts values in the upcoming election.

The public meeting where the candidates were announced on Sunday coincides with the 30th anniversary of the formation on New Zealand First which is on Tuesday, July 18.

Winston spoke to the crowd of around 700 of those early days where Tauranga was referred to as $10 Tauranga and Gods waiting room.

Both were insults which in the decades following the 1984 snap election we set out to change. All around you today is evidence of that.

He says this coming election is economically critical and reflected on how NZ was once a leading economic and social performer.

Our country is broke  of ideas, says Peters.

This election will determine whether we turn this country around and return it to the very top of the worlds best performing economies, or we continue the decade-long slide down the OECD.

Referencing small highly prosperous nations such as Iceland, Norway, Finland and Singapore, Peters outlined how changing economic and taxation policies and the education system could put New Zealand back amongst these top performers.

But its never going to happen if the expenditure is on consumption and woke pet projects.

He says New Zealand is not broke in the conventional sense but is the victim of broke economic ideas that dont work, while suffering from ideological extremism.

He also spoke on the cost of living, law and order and democracy, referencing George Orwells 1984 warning.

Our democracy is under attack by the introduction of policies never part of any governing party manifesto, introduced by stealth. The result is pure Animal Farm  where some animals are more equal than others.

He also spoke of secret social engineering indoctrination replacing education with the introduction of sexuality and gender content.

When did the Education Minister or Prime Minister ever ask you if this was ok? New Zealand First is going to go back to education and stop this woke elitist indoctrination being sponsored by an inner cabal and their political and cultural fellow travellers.

And he reminded the audience of NZ Firsts commitment to seniors.
Local trains in Malaga see record of number of users in first six months of the year A total of 7,354,000 passengers were counted on C1 services on the Costa del Sol line to Fuengirola and C2 trains between the city and the Guadalhorce valley

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A record number of passengers are travelling on Malaga's Cercanias local trains along the Costa del Sol and to inland Alora, new figures show.

A total of 7,354,000 passengers were counted on C1 trains on the line from Malaga to Fuengirola and C2 trains between the city and the Guadalhorce valley between January and June this year, some 75% more than in the same period last year - that's 2,882,000 more users.

The figure for the first half of 2023 also exceeds the number of passengers recorded in the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, by 29.8%, according to data provided by train operator Renfe.

The growth, of 1.7 million net users comes following Spain's Ministry of Transport's free pass initiative for frequent travellers on Cercanias and Media Distancia trains, as well as the 50% bonus on multi-journey tickets for Avant services, which started in September in 2022.

Malaga is currently the fourth largest commuter train hub in Spain in terms of passenger volume, behind only Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. This comes despite the city having fewer lines, and much less reach than the rest of the major metropolitan areas of the country. On a typical working day about 132 trains are in operation between Malaga city centre, Fuengirola (C1) and Alora (C2).

With these numbers, it is expected that 2023 will break records for the amount of rail passengers in a full year. The current record is in 2019, with 11,848,000 travellers registered. In 2022 it came close, with 11,267,000 recorded.

Free passes

More than 78,000 people in the Malaga province are subscribed to the Spain's free travel pass system, of which almost 74,000 are Cercanias and 4,000 Media Distancia. During the first two months of validity in 2023, Renfe issued more than 255,000 free passes in Andalucia, of which one third correspond to Malaga.

Malaga's local trains are the most profitable in Spain, the data also showed. About 75% of the costs are covered by passengers, well above Madrid (69%) and Barcelona (49%), and light years away from other major centers, such as Valencia (30%) and Seville (22%).
Malaga province celebrates Virgen del Carmen with processions through the streets and along the shores The patron saint of seafarers was paraded through 20 different locations along the Costa del Sol, but some inland towns and villages also marked the occasion

Hundreds of devotees wait in the water for the Virgen del Carmen in El Palo, Malaga

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Thousands of people gathered on many beaches along the Costa del Sol to at the weekend to celebrate the feast day of Virgen del Carmen on Sunday 16 July.

The image of the Virgen del Carmen is often carried in a procession through the streets and then taken out to the sea, where it is watched by huge crowds of people on the seafront promenades, beaches or from recreational boats close to the shore.

The processions acknowledge the patron saint of the seafarers, sailors and fishermen - and it is a ritual that occurs every summer from Nerja in the east, through Malaga city and along towns on the western strip of the Costa del Sol to Manilva. Some inland towns in Malaga province also mark the occasion such as Yunquera and Teba, as well as the mountain village of Montecorto.

There were more than 20 processions in total, including the one that draws huge crowds each year in the Pedregalejo district of Malaga city, which started at 6pm from the Corpus Christi parish church.

Some children carried model boats and fishing tools such as baskets, nets and oars, while women with traditional white veils carried rosaries and biznaga flowers, before the Virgin was taken to the sea while a ceremony was held on the beach.

In another popular procession, hundreds took to the streets of Malaga's El Palo district despite the heat of the afternoon on Sunday.

Across the province, processions were also held in La Cala de Mijas, Benalmadena, La Carihuela, Fuengirola and Los Boliches, Marbella, Estepona, La Cala del Moral, Rincon de la Victoria, Benajarafe, Almayate, Las Melosas de Torre del Mar, Caleta de Velez and Nerja, with the embarkation at the La Torrecilla beach and disembarkation in Calahonda.
Remember the days when to get a loan you had to qualify and prove you had the capacity to repay the debt? Well, for college students, those days are history. They do not need to have a job or a cosigner to get huge amounts of money in federal student loans. From what I discovered on my visit, students (and in many cases, their parents) are more than willing to accept as much as they can get in federal student loans because these days thats just the normal way to pay for college.

But heres the good news: These young adults are willing to listen to advice from someone whos been around the block with debt. Seizing the moment, here is what I told them:

Accept the least amount of help possible, not the most available help. Just because you can borrow enough money each semester to pay for tuition, room and board and books doesnt mean you should. Youll never believe how difficult it is to pay back. Check yourself out of governmental outpatient care. Get a job. And get two or three in the summer. Finish your degree as soon as possible instead of taking it slow and easy. Make your own way as soon as possible and youll reap the benefits for the rest of your life.

Understand what entry-level means. Theres a pervasive attitude among college students that really great jobs await those with degrees. Yes, your lifetime earnings will surpass what your peers without degrees can expect to earn but not in the beginning. You must plan to start at the bottom. This is called the entry level. There are no really great-paying jobs at the entry level. Teachers, attorneys, doctors, stockbrokers - all professions require entry at the bottom. That means the lowest pay. If you think you had to scrape and scrimp in college, consider that a rehearsal for the real world. Do not fantasize about making the big bucks from the get-go.

Tis easier to borrow than to repay. For every dollar you borrow to pay for college, the typical repayment plan will require that you pay back at least two dollars. You can reject that plan if you work twice as hard in your first three years out of school - even harder than you worked in college. Double up on your payments. Work as many jobs as possible. Delay starting a family if possible. Dont buy a new car or dive headlong into a big house payment. Concentrate on wiping out your student debts as quickly as possible. Thats a gift you can give yourself that you will never regret.

Enjoy these years in college. Even with all the pressure of paying for your education while keeping up your good grades, make sure you learn all you can, do all you can and pay all you can now. Thats the way to make these the best years of your life.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at Ask Mary. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM
Oswego, N.Y.  Lisa Waldron accepted a plea deal Monday morning in Oswego County Court in the death of her 17-year-old son Jordan Brooks.

Waldron pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault in the May 2021 death of Jordan, according to Judge Armen J. Nazarians office.

Jordan, who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, died on May 9, 2021 from sepsis and malnutrition, authorities have said. He weighed only 55 pounds  the average weight of a boy half his age.

Investigations have revealed the boy had many open, bleeding sores. His tailbone was exposed and his hip implant was visible through his skin, according to a state report.

Lisa Waldron will be sentenced in Oswego County Court on Sept. 28, the judges office said.

Related article: Jordan Brooks case: Neglect complaints in 2 states, 3 counties in 11 years, but danger remained

Lisa Waldron, 43, and her husband, Anthony Waldron, 46, of Palermo, were charged in July 2022 with second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Originally they were arraigned in March on charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.

The couple was released from jail in July. They have been electronically monitored and on probation while their case proceeds.

Anthony and Lisa Waldron were being tried separately. Anthony Waldron trial currently is scheduled for Oct. 23.

In April, Lisa Waldron pleaded guilty to federal charges of stealing her sons social security checks.

Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com

More Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard coverage

Jordan Brooks died on May 9, 2021 from sepsis and malnutrition. His mother Lisa Waldron, 43, and stepfather Anthony Waldron, 37, were charged on March 16, 2022 with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Oswego County couple charged in death of 17-year-old son with cerebral palsy, deputies say

Oswego County couple jailed on charges they killed teen son who has cerebral palsy

Child abuse complaints made before Oswego teen died of neglect, sheriff says

Teachers kept warning about the failing health of Jordan Brooks until the day he died

Parents accused of killing son with cerebral palsy released on bail, deputies say

Central NY teachers, aides who tried to save Jordan Brooks life to gather for vigil

State: Oswego County social services failed Jordan Brooks, who police say died of neglect and malnutrition

Days before Jordan Brooks died, Oswego County criticized for mishandling case of baby girl who died

Oswego DSS head: We are doing all we can to assure a death like Jordan Brooks never happens again

Jordan Brooks case: Neglect complaints in 2 states, 3 counties in 11 years, but danger remained

100 gather for vigil for Jordan Brooks: His smile could light up this town

Oswego County considers independent probe of DSS after Jordan Brooks death

Oswego County hires outside firm to investigate DSS, child fatalities after death of Jordan Brooks

Mom charged with killing Jordan Brooks accused of stealing his disability checks after his death - syracuse.com
CHANGSHA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A hydrogen-powered smart tram independently developed in China has departed from its production site in the city of Zhuzhou in central China's Hunan Province, at the start of its export journey to Malaysia.

The tram was developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co., Ltd., and will be shipped from the port of Shanghai to Malaysia in the coming days.

It will be used for urban transport services in Kuching, capital of Sarawak in Malaysia, the company said.

The smart tram is the first to adopt a hydrogen energy power system, which has the advantages of longer driving range and shorter refueling time, as well as energy saving and environmental protection.

It has been upgraded through intelligent design, which is in line with the needs of Malaysia in achieving a zero-emission and intelligent public transport system.

After arriving in Malaysia, the tram will be tested in Kuching for three months, according to the company.

The successful deployment of the smart tram in Malaysia will effectively alleviate the traffic congestion in Kuching, bringing a reliable, efficient and modern mode of travel to the locals. It will also help China's smart manufacturing serve the countries along the Belt and Road. 
LEGO fans will be saying lets go when a popular toy brick convention comes to Syracuse after previous stops elsewhere in Upstate New York.

BrickUniverse, a traveling LEGO fan expo, will bring its 2023 Inspire Tour to the New York State Fairs Horticulture Building on Saturday, Oct. 28. The day-long event will feature professional LEGO artists, various exhibits and creations, and give attendees a chance to build their own LEGO masterpiece or find rare and new LEGO sets.

General admission prices start at $15.12 (including fees) through Eventbrite and brickuniverseusa.com; tickets are required for all children 5 and older and all adults, including parents. Admission is free for children 4 and under when accompanied by a paid adult.

Tickets are sold in time blocks, from 10 a.m. to noon, 12:30-2:30 p.m. or 3-5 p.m. A limited number of VIP admissions (9 a.m. to noon) and Fast Pass (5:30-7:30 p.m.) are also available for $28.07 and $22.46, respectively; VIP admission includes entry one hour before general admission starts and one exclusive VIP BrickUniverse Syracuse LEGO Brick Badge.

Add-ons are also available for souvenirs like a BrickUniverse Signature Tote Bag or a BrickUniverse Syracuse 2023 Brick, an actual LEGO brick with Syracuse and the BrickUniverse event date printed on its side.

BrickUniverse previously came to Albany and Rochester earlier this year and featured a Star Wars zone for building spaceships, an interactive Building Zone, and a chance to meet professional LEGO artists like Jonathan Lopes, Lia Chan and Rocco Buttliere. The toycon will return to Rochester on April 20-21, 2024, and Albany on April 27-28, 2024.

For more information, visit the BrickUniverseUSA website.

MORE:

Splash down: LEGOLAND NYs brand-new water playground opens

Sleep like a brick: LEGOLAND New York Resort hotel opens to the public

LEGOLAND New York theme park fully opens to public (photos)
If toy testing seems like a dream job, some lucky Western New York families have the chance to do just that.

Fisher-Price has put out a casting call for children age 5 and younger, and their parents, for playing with toys and possibly having their images used in ads, product packaging, and social media posts.

Participating in the Play Lab at their East Aurora campus with your mini toy expert could earn you a Amazon or Target gift card every time you take part. Kids chosen to be part of a photo or video shoot receive compensation deposited directly into their bank account according to the Fisher-Price website.

ABC 7 Buffalo reported that Fisher-Price is also working on making toys more accessible for kids of all backgrounds and abilities. The company recently visited Gigis Playhouse in Buffalo which provides services to children of all ages with Down Syndrome. Dozens of children got the chance to test out the latest toys.

For more information on how you and your child could be a part of the Fisher-Price cast and Play Crew, visit the Fisher-Price casting website.
Syracuse, N.Y.  As Mayor Ben Walsh drives along South Geddes Street on his daily commute to City Hall, he passes a library and two schools. And in that same 11-block stretch, he passes 11 stores that sell tobacco.

Think about the kids walking to school in either direction, whether its Delaware (Elementary) or Fowler (High School). You see that theyre inundated with these shops, Walsh said.

Walsh is proposing a new city law that aims to reduce the number and density of stores that sell smoking or vaping products in Syracuse.

Smoking, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remains the leading preventable cause of death, and studies have shown that higher concentrations of tobacco retailers are associated with increased rates of smoking.

Walshs proposal would require tobacco retailers to get a new city license  in addition to their state license. But unlike state licenses, the number of city licenses would gradually decrease over time, reducing the number of stores.

Its not going to change things overnight, Walsh said. This is a long-term strategy.

The Common Council will discuss the proposed law at a committee meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Councilor Pat Hogan, who chairs the economic development committee, said most councilors were open to the idea but would likely have questions about the details.

Heres how the proposed law would work:

Each year, any store that sells tobacco would have to apply for a license from the city. The non-refundable application fee would be $250.

During the first year, any retailer with a valid state license would qualify for a city license. Essentially, existing stores would be grandfathered in.

As stores are sold or closed, however, new limitations would kick in. The city will only issue one new license for every two stores that close or change hands. And new stores will have to be at least 750 feet away from a school, a park or another tobacco retailer.

Other cities that have adopted similar laws have found that the laws gradually reduce the number and density of tobacco shops. Philadelphia and Santa Clara County, Calif., for example, both reported that the number of tobacco retailers dropped about 10% in the first year after their laws took effect, according to a 2021 study by researchers at Ohio State University.

The town of Salina adopted a similar law last year. Supervisor Nick Paro said town officials will conduct a year-end review of the results soon.

Walsh said smoking is an important public health issue, especially for young people in areas of the city where corner stores proliferate.

Were seeing these shops literally open up across the street from each other, Walsh said. Well see two or three corners out of a four-corner intersection occupied by these shops. So it really is an increasing health risk to our neighborhoods.

Research shows that U.S. tobacco retailers are clustered most heavily in areas with higher proportions of households receiving public assistance, as well as counties with a higher proportion of African American residents, same-sex couples, and rural residents, according to the CDC.

The U.S. Surgeon General and others have found that proximity to tobacco retail outlets and higher retail density is associated with increased smoking, the CDC reports.

Do you have a news tip or a story idea? Contact reporter Tim Knauss: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Parts of Upstate New York will be under an air quality health alert again Tuesday.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said an alert would be issued for Central New York, counties along Lake Ontario, the Upper Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks.

Weve had extraordinary levels of smoke here in New York, Seggos told news reporters on a video conference call. I cant recall a time in DEC within the last several decades where weve had to put up this many air quality health advisories due to wildfires.

The smoke reaching Upstate today is streaming in on winds from far western Canada. Seggos said 25 million acres has burned in Canada, and many fires continue to burn out of control.

Todays air quality in much of Upstate, including Syracuse, reached levels considered unhealthy for everyone. Tuesday wont be as bad: The worst level expected is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which means that people with lung and heart issues will be affected. Healthy people will show few if any symptoms.

Meteorologists say winds from the west should push the smoke out of Upstate by tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday.

Its really just today and tomorrow that are going to be the two trouble days, said Adam Douty, a meteorologist with Accuweather forecasting company. Theres a fairly weak cold front moving through Tuesday, and once that front gets through by Wednesday, we should see things clear out quite significantly.

State officials are bracing for more air alerts this summer if the wildfires keep burning, Seggos said, including making N-95 masks available and using highway signs to alert people to poor air quality.

This will continue as long as this event continues, he said. We dont expect the fires to be out anytime soon.
A file photo from March 2006. Syracuse police officers (from left) Shawn Hauck, Dennis Murphy, Fred Brough, and K-9 unit German sheperd "Niko" search behind Meachem Ice Rink after a robbery at the nearby ACMG Federal Credit Union at the corner of Seneca Turnpike and South Salina Street.
By Rick Karlin | Times Union, Albany

North Greenbush, N.Y.  The organization that oversees New Yorks power grid on Friday said that without extensive changes some of the aging fossil fuel power plants in New York City may have to remain open after their scheduled closing date of 2025 in order to avoid potential power outages.

The report reflects the extraordinary challenges of the grid in transition, said Zach Smith, vice president of System and Resource Planning at the New York Independent System Operator.

The reliability of the electric system is essential to the health and safety for all New Yorkers as well as the states economy, he added. The NYISO will now work to identify solutions to the reliability need identified in New York City.

NYISO helps control the transfer of electricity across the states grid through a web of power lines. They also issue reports, such as Fridays, predicting future needs and potential shortfalls on the power grid.

The report found that New York City could be in danger of power interruptions by 2025, especially if the phasing out of aging peaker plants proceeds as planned.

Peaker plants are fossil fuel power plants located across that metropolitan area that are fired up in times of high demand including during summer heat waves. The plants are supposed to be phased out in favor of newer, cleaner sources of power such as solar and wind farms upstate.

The trouble is there are bottlenecks in getting the upstate power to where it is needed downstate, which could lead to the predicted shortages.

NYISOs report noted that the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a transmission line under construction, would ease the shortages if it is finished on schedule. They have planned to begin delivering power in 2026.

The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act calls for a carbon-free power grid by 2040, with 40 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030.

But the transition could be difficult. For instance, the NYISO report predicts a deficit as large as 446 megawatts if the peaker plants close without sufficient energy sources to replace them.

One megawatt powers about 1,000 homes.

Those in the power industry said Fridays report echoes what they have been saying all along: Cost overruns, COVID-19 delays and other snags have challenged the states ambitious timeline for moving to a carbon-free power grid.

The pace of play is not keeping up with pace of promises, and this report makes that clear, said Gavin Donohue, president and CEO of the Independent Power Producers of New York, a trade group of power plant operators, including fossil fuel plants.

There have been repeated cautions from the NYISO regarding grid reliability, and this report highlights the reality that generator retirement cannot outpace the addition of new generation, he added.

Environmentalists, though, said the report highlights the need to move faster in building a green energy infrastructure.

They are raising the flag. Now its on the back on the utilities and on the state to really step up and find some solutions here, said Conor Bambrick, policy director for Environmental Advocates NY. We cant continue to rely on those failed processes of the past.

In addition to the CLCPA goals, the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 2019 enacted emission rules for peaker plants. As a result, NYISO noted, some 1,027 megawatts of power production have shut down. The rules call for another 509 megawatts from fossil fuel plants to come off line in New York City.

In addition to the CO2 created by fossil fuels, the older plants emit particulates and nitrogen oxides, and are especially harmful in densely populated locations like the greater New York City area. Many of the older plants also are in poor neighborhoods where Black and brown residents predominate.

Electricity demand in New York City is expected to grow, since the CLCPA calls for the electrification of heating and cooking and more use of electric vehicles. While reducing greenhouse gases, that move will increase the demands on the electric grid, both in the city and across the state.

By itself, upstate New York has adequate electricity and most of it is carbon-free thanks to the longstanding hydroelectric plants along the St. Lawrence River and Niagara Falls and nuclear plants in northern New York.

The NYISO report does, however, acknowledge the need for more green energy in the upstate region, given developments there.

Namely, they reference a large computer chip plant that Micron Technology is planning north of Syracuse and a hydrogen fuel plant planned by Air Products in Massena near the Canadian border.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
By Cayla Bamberger | New York Daily News

With the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in higher education last month, New York colleges have come under pressure to reconsider giving priority to the children of alumni in admissions decisions.

Advocates have described the practice, known as legacy admissions, as affirmative action for the white and wealthy  giving a boost to students who on average come from higher income families with experience navigating the college application process.

More than seven in 10 private colleges in New York consider whether applicants are related to alumni, as do more than a third of public schools, according to data compiled by Education Reform Now.

The United States has long claimed to have an ideology of meritocracy, said Jacquelyn Martell, executive director of the advocacy groups New York chapter, that you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps. That is not true.

In New York State, in particular, weve seen gross amounts of economic disparities, housing disparities, and disparities in access to quality education.

Proponents of legacy admissions defend it as a tool to build multigenerational bonds between families and their schools, including to solicit donations and even fund scholarships that can help diversify campuses.

But its future was put to the test last year when state lawmakers proposed legislation to end the practice statewide. The bill was met with backlash from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, who at the time called it an unreasonable intrusion that will fail to achieve its own aims.

The statewide association has since changed its tune on the policy.

While legacy admission has been an important recruitment tool for some New York colleges, we recognize the publics perception that the practice also has the effect of expanding privilege instead of opportunity, said Lola Brabham, president of the CICU.

In light of the Supreme Court decision banning the use of race in the college admissions process, the Independent Sector will not continue its opposition to banning legacy preference in admissions. New Yorks independent colleges and universities remain deeply committed to fostering diverse, welcoming campus communities and ensuring higher education is accessible to all.

Legacy admissions is also facing a federal challenge after a Boston firm charged this month that Harvard University is violating education civil rights law by prioritizing applicants related to alumni. The filing came just days after the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that race cannot be considered in admissions in the 41 states that had yet to outlaw affirmative action, including New York.

A Daily News survey of a dozen New York colleges and universities with the lowest acceptance rates yielded few results. Most did not return requests for comment or directed The News to statements on affirmative action released after the decision. Columbia University and Hamilton College both declined to answer questions about their policies after the Harvard complaint.

At Cornell University, the issue became a flashpoint in 2018 when students, alongside advocates at other universities, organized a petition to demand an end to legacy admissions. A few years later, the Student Assembly renewed their call and close to unanimously passed a resolution against the practice. Neither effort was successful.

Nearly 17% of the Class of 2021 were related to alumni, according to the student newspaper. A spokesperson for the university declined to provide updated figures or comment on their practices, referring The News to a statement released after the Supreme Court ruling.

When universities are free to admit broadly diverse classes through an individualized and holistic application review process, said Cornell President Martha Pollack, they are intentionally creating a student body with the potential to create a spark of insight, to advance knowledge, and to challenge one another and thereby strengthen an argument or call an assumption into question.

As always, Cornell will follow the law, but within its scope we will remain a welcoming community.

Roughly 7% of college freshmen at Colgate University were the children or grandchildren of alumni, university data show. More than a third of legacy students who applied were admitted, compared to a 12% acceptance rate overall. University officials did not return a request for comment.

Prospective students at New York University can likewise identify themselves as legacies on their applications, but it will not tip the scale. Less than 2% of the freshman class in fall 2021 were the children of alumni..

While the University is always happy to have the children of alums apply and attend, unlike many peer schools, being the child of an alum is not a factor in our admissions decision-making, spokesman John Beckman told The News.

At Sarah Lawrence College, students can share where their parents went to school on the common application, but spokeswoman Falguni Smith said they do not use legacy status when making admission decisions.

In light of the Supreme Court decision, the liberal arts college added a new essay prompt that asks applicants to describe how they believe their college goals might be impacted by the end of affirmative action. Its one of three options applicants can choose from for their response.

We use a holistic approach to our admissions review, which has always been inclusive and never exclusively race-based, Smith said.

No changes were made at SUNY colleges leading up to the Supreme Courts decision, though the school system said it will incorporate federal guidance when released.

Now that the ruling has been made, SUNY is analyzing all admissions practices, said Holly Liapis, a spokeswoman for the public university system, though she added that parent alumni status is a standard common app question.

Whether the end of affirmative action pushes the state bill to ban legacy preferences over the finish line remains to be seen, but State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), one of its co-sponsors, is optimistic.

Legacy preferences are simply affirmative act for privileged kids, said Gounardes. Thats wholly indefensible. Its always been indefensible, but especially now.

Colleges that do not comply with the legislation would be forced to pay a penalty equivalent to the cost of tuition and fees for 10% of the schools full-time student body. That money would go into the coffers of the states Tuition Assistance Program, which subsidizes college costs for low-income students.

The Fair College Admissions Act was reintroduced last session by Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn) to focus solely on legacy admissions. A previous version of the bill would have outlawed binding early decision processes, criticized for disadvantaging students who need to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.

This is exactly the right thing to be doing at this moment in time, Gounardes said.

____

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.
The state Department of Transportation said today it plans to reopen the Interstate 81 North exit ramp to Old Liverpool Road in time for Wednesday afternoons rush hour.

The reopening of exit 24B will allow motorists to access Old Liverpool Road in the town of Salina directly from Interstate 81 North.

The ramp has been closed since April 3 to allow work crews to make bridge deck and joint repairs.

For months, the closure of the ramp led to backups at the Destiny USA exit on northbound I-81. Without the ramps toward Liverpool, cars backed up on the ramp that ends at a traffic light on Park Street, near the Regional Market. The logjam sent cars back onto the righthand lane of I-81, especially at rush hour.

A separate northbound exit ramp (exit 24A) to Onondaga Lake Parkway will remain closed indefinitely.

You can find more information about road closures and detours by calling 511, visiting the website 511ny.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
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".
by Hayati Nupus

JAKARTA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The room remains quiet even though the 22 trainees are busy painting faces in front of them with lipstick and blush. They are learning makeup techniques from a teacher for wedding ceremonies, with the aid of a sign language translator.

The Indonesian Resilience Women Foundation organized the month-long makeup courses for hard-of-hearing students in Jakarta to help them build a possible career.

"I learned new techniques during this training, and I can practice applying cosmetics on my friends and family," Hasniah Chatab told Xinhua.

Chairperson of the foundation, Myrna Winarko, said one of the major challenges for the hearing-impaired to live independently is access to suitable employment since vocational training opportunities for them are minimal.

"Through this training, they will possibly get the knowledge and abilities needed to become financially independent," said Winarko, adding that their long-term goal is to create a business environment for those with impairments.

Over 200 people with hearing impairment registered for the courses, and the foundation arranged them in batches of 20 to attend the classes.

The foundation has created a business unit to provide as many training and employment opportunities as possible. "Seventy percent of our graduates have worked as makeup artists, for weddings, graduation ceremonies, or even fashion shows," she said.

For trainees to connect with their customers, the courses also include handling clients and social media marketing strategy. They also received encouragment from the trainers and the foundation, which helped develop their mental fortitude and self-assurance.

"As a result, they don't perceive themselves as inferior to others, and their shortcomings are actually their strengths rather than hindrance," said Sussie Sahroni, chief executive of the training.

The trainees are at an advantage over normal people in that they are more concentrated and imaginative, said Tina Almuin, a trainer from a cosmetics company sponsoring the training.

"Their makeup results are even better ... they cherish the opportunity to receive practical training," she said.

Darra Novita, a graduate of the training courses, has many clients for wedding makeup and prom makeup. She received most of her orders on social media platforms.

"I was very anxious when I first got an order, but I'm very happy to be able to enjoy the money I worked hard for," said Novita. "I can now use it to buy toys for my 7-year-old child."

She dreams of one day working with her husband, a photographer, to launch her own wedding planning business. 
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Mao Guangyou ponders on the design of "Truck Baby" mattress at the factory in Fuyuan County of Qujing City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

by Xinhua writers Zhao Peiran, Zhou Lei, Hu Chao

KUNMING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Mao Guangyou dedicated countless nights over the past decade to navigating his truck through the lofty mountains of China. When feeling sleepy, he would pause along his journey and find solace and respite under the vast expanse of the starry sky.

"A restful night's sleep, a truly comforting bed, remained an elusive dream, distant and yearned for," said 40-year-old Mao, hailing from Fuyuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Such arduous experience deeply seeded a passion within his heart. Now, having bid farewell to the freight routes, Mao has embarked on a grander mission -- to provide a mobile "home" with comfortable beds for cosmopolitan truck drivers, offering a haven of rest amidst their "nomadic lifestyles."

"After 'retiring' from the road, my wife and I decided to establish a small factory in 2017 for manufacturing truck mattresses. We name our product 'Truck Baby,'" Mao said. "With great enthusiasm, we want to ensure all truck drivers to enjoy restful sleep."

QUEST FOR SLEEP

In China, approximately 20 million truck drivers tirelessly traverse 177,300 kilometers of expressways and 379,500 kilometers of national roads. They undertake the crucial task of transporting materials to the farthest reaches of the country, akin to the circulation of blood within a body.

"For many truck drivers, their lives revolve around the road, spending over 300 days a year away from home. Journey after journey, they sometimes travel halfway across China before making it home," Mao said.

This aerial photo taken on April 7, 2023 shows the factory of "Truck Baby" mattress in Fuyuan County of Qujing City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Within the confines of a 20-meter truck, the drivers are left with less than 5 square meters of living space. The compact cab becomes their mobile home, where they adapt by having pots, pans, and stoves. They drive the truck while also finding time to rest in the limited space behind the wheel, occasionally pausing to step out and prepare meals.

Mao's recollection of his days sleeping in the truck evokes strong emotions. He vividly describes the shortcomings of the original truck's sponge pad, which lacked proper insulation and support. As the vehicle climbed hills, the rising water temperature would exacerbate the discomfort.

"Trying to rest on the sleeper felt like becoming a pancake, constantly jolting one awake. Over time, the sponge pad would sag in the middle, resembling a pot with elevated ends," he said.

Home mattress manufacturers do not cater to the needs of truck drivers due to the multitude of truck models and their varying sleeper dimensions. "To achieve a level and embedded sleeper, specialized mattresses with non-square shapes are required, making mass production challenging," Mao said.

"TRUCK BABY"

"Mao possesses a remarkable sensitivity towards data," said Mao's wife Yang Ya. She explains that in the early stages of their business, Mao resorted to a laborious method of measuring and hand-painting data car by car.

Members of the "Truck Baby" mattress production team pose for a photo in Fuyuan County of Qujing City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

"He would measure the sleepers of nearby trucks, make stops at service areas, and even visit dealerships to inspect new models. Over the years, Mao has accumulated data of over 300 trucks," Yang said.

Now as long as the drivers provide the truck model, Mao can promptly report all the corresponding sizes and data. Some drivers even make video calls, allowing Mao to visually identify the model and size, with errors being as minimal as 1 or 2 centimeters.

Furthermore, addressing the challenges of poor heat insulation and low strength resulting from the sleeper's proximity to the engine, Mao conducted numerous experiments in search of solutions.

To test heat insulation effectiveness, Mao purchased brown boards from over 10 manufacturers across the country. He then put them in a large steamer, simulating a high-temperature environment, to observe whether the hot air would permeate through the boards and whether the mattress would become uncomfortably hot.

Mao Guangyou (C) and his wife Yang Ya smile after a truck driver shows his satisfaction on the "Truck Baby" mattress in Fuyuan County of Qujing City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Through relentless efforts, Mao successfully developed a firm and comfortable coconut palm spring mattress in 2017. Also, he introduced an innovative snorkel with a heat-resistant valve into the mattress to enable the exchange of cold and hot air, allowing drivers to stay cool during hot summers, while enjoying warmth during cold winters.

Over the course of the following six months, Mao traveled to various cities in Yunnan, carrying samples of his truck mattresses and presenting them to interested truck drivers. The couple also explored the potential of e-commerce platforms to reach a wider audience, and soon their phone lines were constantly buzzing with inquiries.

"There are even truck drivers from Thailand, Myanmar, and Singapore reaching out to purchase the product. It has been sold as far as Australia, despite the significant shipping costs that surpass the price of the mattresses themselves," said Mao, proudly.

To those who purchase his mattresses, Mao always says: "Pay attention to your safety and have more rest. Go home often when you are free, and go back to your real home." 
Minister Heydon announces investment in Cattle Handling Simulators

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D., has announced the provision of funding to Teagasc for the procurement of calving and injecting simulators for use in agricultural colleges and research centres.

Making the announcement, Minister Heydon said:

Improving farmer health, safety and wellbeing is a priority for me, and the training of students on handling livestock safely presents a particular challenge due to the need for close contact with animals that can become stressed, particularly large animals. This investment of 500,000 in 11 bovine calving simulators and 11 bovine injecting simulators will give students the best opportunity to develop their livestock handling skills early in their career.

Cattle have been involved in almost a fifth of fatal farm fatalities over the past decade. Data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey also shows that there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms, with just over half of these incidents involving livestock.

The use of Bovine Simulators has been shown to be an effective training tool when handling large animals. Through simulator use, conditions are created or replicated to resemble real-life situations.

Minister Heydon added:

With live-animal training, students have limited opportunities to perform a procedure and learn the required competency. However, with bovine simulators, every student can practice cow calving and injecting skills in a safe environment until they are proficient and confident to progress to training on live animals. This investment will yield dividends not only for safer livestock handling but also the quality of training available at our education centres.

The simulators will be used at agricultural colleges and Teagasc livestock research centres and will be available to students completing courses at the colleges and also to students at the universities and technological universities who use the college facilities for practical learning. The simulators are expected to be in use for the coming academic year.

Welcoming the announcement, Teagasc Director Professor Frank OMara stated; The training of todays agriculture students is the pathway to making Irish farms safer places to work and live in the future. Using modern technologies to improve the health and safety training of these students is an innovative way of equipping the farmers of tomorrow with the skills to carry out routine tasks with livestock in as safer way.

Teagasc Head of Education, Dr Anne-Marie Butler thanked Minister Heydon and his Department for providing funding to procure the simulators. Dr Butler said: It is wonderful to work with the Minister and his team in agreeing this support for our learners across the country. The use of simulators in our learning environments facilitate the application of health and safety training into active hands on practice which is invaluable. In excess of 5,000 learners per annum will benefit from these new simulators across our full time, part time and distance courses.
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Hyundai Exter Interior Images

All-black dashboard with 3D pattern design crashpad and light sage inserts. Interiors are well-designed, nice looking and user-friendly. Ergonomics are absolutely perfect with all controls falling easily to hand:





Windscreen is large and offers a good view of the road ahead. The seating position is a little high up, but it's more like a tall hatchback than an SUV. Some will appreciate that they can view the bonnet while driving:





Leather-wrapped steering wheel is carried over from the other Hyundai cars. The bottom spoke gets this gunmetal black-like finish to go with the all-black theme. Steering can be adjusted for height only, not for reach:





Buttons for the infotainment system, telephony and voice commands are placed on the left spoke. Buttons for operating the MID and cruise control are placed on the right spoke. Toggle switches get silver inserts:





Engine start/stop button has a brushed silver ring around it:





Fully-digital instrument cluster with a speedometer on the left, 4.2-inch MID in the middle and tachometer on the right is easy to read. Digital fuel and temperature gauges have been provided:





Notice how the number of red lines around the speedometer and tachometer increases as the revs rise. The rev counter turns red at 6,500 rpm:





The MID shows average and instant fuel consumption, distance-to-empty counter, a single trip meter, & outside temperature reading. The trip meter shows the distance travelled, average consumption and time taken. The MID further shows a summary of the drive when you switch the car off:





MID also displays turn-by-turn navigation, TPMS readings and the specific door that is open. It also tells you if the bonnet or tailgate is open:





Stalks exude quality! As has been mentioned before, the quality of plastics is very good for this segment. Left stalk controls the functions of the front and rear wipers, whereas the right stalk controls the headlamps and front foglamp. While automatic headlamps have been provided, automatic rain-sensing wipers have been left out:





Side air-con vents are circular and get gloss black rings with light sage highlights around them. They throw out a serious amount of air:





Switches for the rear camera and headlamp level adjustments are located below. The traction control off button is also located here (don't ever use it unless starting off on slippery surfaces like slush & snow):





Like the dashboard, the door pads get an all-black theme. The upper portion gets an insert with 3D detailing just like the crashpad on the dashboard. While all the plastics are hard, the door pads are well-finished with no sharp edges anywhere. They are scooped out where you would rest your arm:





Door handles get a dark grey metal finish. They feel sturdy:





Console houses the usual set of buttons. Only the driver's window gets one-touch up/down and anti-pinch functionality and only the drivers window button is backlit. In fact, the other window switches are not even marked. Door mirrors are electrically foldable. ORVM adjuster selector switch is weird. One of the two mirrors is always selected - there is no middle / dead position. So, if by chance, you press the adjuster, one of the mirrors will change its angles:





Door pad can hold a 1-litre bottle and other small items:





Front seats of the SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants are draped in a combination of fabric and leatherette upholstery with contrast stitching and "EXTER" embossed on the backrests. They are good-looking, wide and offer a fair deal of support. They have side bolsters, which give good lateral support. However, heavier folk will find these side bolsters digging into their backs. While under-thigh support is good, back support could have been better. The actual backrest area is too t-h-i-n and the headrests are fixed:





A closer look at the fabric...





...and leatherette upholstery and the contrast stitching & piping. The quality of materials used is good:





All variants get height adjustment for the driver's seat:





No height adjustment for the front passenger seat:





Seatbelts are not height-adjustable but are placed at a comfortable height. Both front seatbelts get pre-tensioners:





Pedals are properly spaced out. A very useable dead pedal has been provided as well. AMT versions of the SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants get metal pedals:





Fuel flap release is placed on the floor:





ORVMs are sufficiently tall, but could have been wider:





IRVM looks upmarket. It is wide enough to cover the entire rear windshield:





IRVM houses 3 buttons - the SOS button will place an emergency call to Hyundai customer care, the button with the tow truck will call Hyundai Roadside Assistance and the third button will launch Blue Link. However, for all these advanced features, Hyundai has not provided the auto-dimming function - a huge miss!!! You get a standard day / night manual flick switch:





Dual-way dash cam with a 2.31-inch LCD display features full HD quality, smartphone-based connectivity with an Android / IOS-based app and multiple recording modes to capture photos and video:





The rearward view is just average. The rear windshield is fair in size, but the C-pillars are thick. Better to rely on the reversing camera and parking sensors:





Centre fascia tilts slightly towards the driver. It features an 8-inch touchscreen head unit. A thick dark grey border with a metal finish runs around the air-con vents. Piano black is used around the infotainment screen. Switches and knobs are located on either side of the head unit:





8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is sleek to operate and gets wired Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and onboard navigation:





Touchscreen has a crisp display and is visible even under direct sunlight, but the audio quality is just adequate:





Infotainment system gets BlueLink telematics and offers 60+ connected car features. Prominent features include multi-regional support (12 languages - 10 regional and 2 international), OTA updates for the infotainment system and maps and Home2Car: integrated with Alexa:





Another feature is the ambient sounds of nature. This will play a selection of sounds through the speakers:





Touchscreen doubles up as a display for the rearview camera and features adaptive guidelines which indicate the path that the car is going to take (based on steering input). As we have seen earlier, there are 2 rear parking sensors provided on the car. The camera has a nice wide angle, while the display quality is fair:





Climate control system gets easy-to-read black buttons and light sage inserts on the knobs. The cooling performance is very impressive. Hyundai has equipped the Exter with Eco Coating - a technology that is claimed to eliminate air-conditioner odour:





2 USB ports and a 12V power outlet are located below the climate control system on the centre fascia. The Type C port on the left can only be used for fast charging, while the Type A unit on the right can be used to connect your smartphone to the infotainment system as well as for charging purposes. 12V power outlet gets a flip-up plastic cover. Hyundai has provided a plug-in USB port that can be slotted into the 12V charging socket. It comes with a plastic cover:





The base of the center fascia features a wireless smartphone charger Remember, your smartphone needs to have the wireless charging function for this feature to work:





5-speed leather-wrapped gear knob gets a glossy black top with a silver border. Gear lever has a leather boot:





Bird's eye view of the handbrake console. Hyundai should have given a centre armrest with a storage box in this car:





Crashpad gets 3D detailing. Long and fairly deep storage spot above the glovebox gets a lip to keep parked items from falling. This is a good place for the front passenger to keep his smartphone and other small items:





Glovebox is medium-sized. It gets a cooling vent, but no illumination:





Roof bezel consists of map lights and sunroof controls:





Bluetooth mic is positioned above the driver on the roofliner. It should have been integrated into the roof lamp console for a cleaner look IMHO:





Sunvisors are economy-grade in design, yet they dont feel flimsy. Driver-side unit merely gets a flap to hold tickets, but no mirror or illumination. Passenger-side sunvisor gets a vanity mirror, but there's no cover or light provided:





6 airbags are standard on all variants of the Exter. These include dual front airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags:





Size of the sunroof is adequate for the cabin:





With the sunroof (or even its cover) open, a lot of light comes into the cabin. This is the max it opens to:





SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants are equipped with ambient footwell lighting:





Brown keyfob with silver buttons and chrome highlights is similar to other Hyundai cars. We like the design, but not the brown:





Like the front doorpads, the ones at the rear have an all-black theme. The rear speakers are housed in them:





Door pockets can hold a 1-litre bottle and some knick-knacks:





Legroom is sufficient even for occupants with longer limbs:





The seatback has a comfortable angle. There is enough headroom for even taller occupants, but thigh support is lacking:





Rear seat is more suitable for 2 adults and a child, rather than 3 adults. While the seat base is largely flat, the seatbacks have some contours to hold you in place. 2 adjustable headrests have been provided along with ISOFIX child seat anchors on both sides, but there is no centre armrest:





All 3 occupants get 3-point seatbelts:





Rear window is large and lets a lot of light into the cabin:





Seatbacks of the front seats are slightly scooped out & soft, liberating more knee room for the rear passengers. Front seatback pocket only for the left side passenger. It is not very wide or deep:





Rear air-con vents are provided on all, except the EX and EX(O) variants. While there is only one common air volume controller, their direction can be adjusted individually. 12V power outlet sits below the rear air-con vents. No USB port for rear passengers to use:





Floor hump is wide and prominent:





Spring-loaded grab handles have been provided above all passenger doors. Only the rear-right unit gets a coat hook:





Whitish-grey roof liner is scooped out at the rear to release some additional headroom. It dips down where the sunroof is located. :





2nd cabin lamp is placed behind the sunroof, hence serving both (front & rear) seat rows:





391-litre boot is among the biggest in the segment. It is large enough to accommodate luggage for weekend family trips:





High-loading lip means you have to make an effort to put your bags in or take them out:





Lower part of the tailgate is cladded on the inside:





Large parcel tray comes with a recessed area and prominent border to keep things from rolling onto the rear seat:





Boot light is located on the right:





Bag hook has been provided on the left:





Folding the rear backrest down gives you a much larger cargo capacity. However, the Exter doesn't come with an adjustable boot floor and you cannot get a flat loading bay:





Spare wheel in all trim levels is a 14-inch steel unit with 165/70 section rubber. The higher variants should definitely have gotten a spare of the same size as the regular wheels. Tools are housed in a soft bag, which sits in the spare wheel:





Disclaimer: Hyundai invited Team-BHP for the Exter test drive. They covered all the travel expenses for this driving event. All-black dashboard with 3D pattern design crashpad and light sage inserts. Interiors are well-designed, nice looking and user-friendly. Ergonomics are absolutely perfect with all controls falling easily to hand:Windscreen is large and offers a good view of the road ahead. The seating position is a little high up, but it's more like a tall hatchback than an SUV. Some will appreciate that they can view the bonnet while driving:Leather-wrapped steering wheel is carried over from the other Hyundai cars. The bottom spoke gets this gunmetal black-like finish to go with the all-black theme. Steering can be adjusted for height only, not for reach:Buttons for the infotainment system, telephony and voice commands are placed on the left spoke. Buttons for operating the MID and cruise control are placed on the right spoke. Toggle switches get silver inserts:Engine start/stop button has a brushed silver ring around it:Fully-digital instrument cluster with a speedometer on the left, 4.2-inch MID in the middle and tachometer on the right is easy to read. Digital fuel and temperature gauges have been provided:Notice how the number of red lines around the speedometer and tachometer increases as the revs rise. The rev counter turns red at 6,500 rpm:The MID shows average and instant fuel consumption, distance-to-empty counter, a single trip meter, & outside temperature reading. The trip meter shows the distance travelled, average consumption and time taken. The MID further shows a summary of the drive when you switch the car off:MID also displays turn-by-turn navigation, TPMS readings and the specific door that is open. It also tells you if the bonnet or tailgate is open:Stalks exude quality! As has been mentioned before, the quality of plastics is very good for this segment. Left stalk controls the functions of the front and rear wipers, whereas the right stalk controls the headlamps and front foglamp. While automatic headlamps have been provided, automatic rain-sensing wipers have been left out:Side air-con vents are circular and get gloss black rings with light sage highlights around them. They throw out a serious amount of air:Switches for the rear camera and headlamp level adjustments are located below. The traction control off button is also located here (don't ever use it unless starting off on slippery surfaces like slush & snow):Like the dashboard, the door pads get an all-black theme. The upper portion gets an insert with 3D detailing just like the crashpad on the dashboard. While all the plastics are hard, the door pads are well-finished with no sharp edges anywhere. They are scooped out where you would rest your arm:Door handles get a dark grey metal finish. They feel sturdy:Console houses the usual set of buttons. Only the driver's window gets one-touch up/down and anti-pinch functionality and only the drivers window button is backlit. In fact, the other window switches are not even marked. Door mirrors are electrically foldable. ORVM adjuster selector switch is weird. One of the two mirrors is always selected - there is no middle / dead position. So, if by chance, you press the adjuster, one of the mirrors will change its angles:Door pad can hold a 1-litre bottle and other small items:Front seats of the SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants are draped in a combination of fabric and leatherette upholstery with contrast stitching and "EXTER" embossed on the backrests. They are good-looking, wide and offer a fair deal of support. They have side bolsters, which give good lateral support. However, heavier folk will find these side bolsters digging into their backs. While under-thigh support is good, back support could have been better. The actual backrest area is too t-h-i-n and the headrests are fixed:A closer look at the fabric......and leatherette upholstery and the contrast stitching & piping. The quality of materials used is good:All variants get height adjustment for the driver's seat:No height adjustment for the front passenger seat:Seatbelts are not height-adjustable but are placed at a comfortable height. Both front seatbelts get pre-tensioners:Pedals are properly spaced out. A very useable dead pedal has been provided as well. AMT versions of the SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants get metal pedals:Fuel flap release is placed on the floor:ORVMs are sufficiently tall, but could have been wider:IRVM looks upmarket. It is wide enough to cover the entire rear windshield:IRVM houses 3 buttons - the SOS button will place an emergency call to Hyundai customer care, the button with the tow truck will call Hyundai Roadside Assistance and the third button will launch Blue Link. However, for all these advanced features, Hyundai has not provided the auto-dimming function - a huge miss!!! You get a standard day / night manual flick switch:Dual-way dash cam with a 2.31-inch LCD display features full HD quality, smartphone-based connectivity with an Android / IOS-based app and multiple recording modes to capture photos and video:The rearward view is just average. The rear windshield is fair in size, but the C-pillars are thick. Better to rely on the reversing camera and parking sensors:Centre fascia tilts slightly towards the driver. It features an 8-inch touchscreen head unit. A thick dark grey border with a metal finish runs around the air-con vents. Piano black is used around the infotainment screen. Switches and knobs are located on either side of the head unit:8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is sleek to operate and gets wired Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and onboard navigation:Touchscreen has a crisp display and is visible even under direct sunlight, but the audio quality is just adequate:Infotainment system gets BlueLink telematics and offers 60+ connected car features. Prominent features include multi-regional support (12 languages - 10 regional and 2 international), OTA updates for the infotainment system and maps and Home2Car: integrated with Alexa:Another feature is the ambient sounds of nature. This will play a selection of sounds through the speakers:Touchscreen doubles up as a display for the rearview camera and features adaptive guidelines which indicate the path that the car is going to take (based on steering input). As we have seen earlier, there are 2 rear parking sensors provided on the car. The camera has a nice wide angle, while the display quality is fair:Climate control system gets easy-to-read black buttons and light sage inserts on the knobs. The cooling performance is very impressive. Hyundai has equipped the Exter with Eco Coating - a technology that is claimed to eliminate air-conditioner odour:2 USB ports and a 12V power outlet are located below the climate control system on the centre fascia. The Type C port on the left can only be used for fast charging, while the Type A unit on the right can be used to connect your smartphone to the infotainment system as well as for charging purposes. 12V power outlet gets a flip-up plastic cover. Hyundai has provided a plug-in USB port that can be slotted into the 12V charging socket. It comes with a plastic cover:The base of the center fascia features a wireless smartphone charger Remember, your smartphone needs to have the wireless charging function for this feature to work:5-speed leather-wrapped gear knob gets a glossy black top with a silver border. Gear lever has a leather boot:Bird's eye view of the handbrake console. Hyundai should have given a centre armrest with a storage box in this car:Crashpad gets 3D detailing. Long and fairly deep storage spot above the glovebox gets a lip to keep parked items from falling. This is a good place for the front passenger to keep his smartphone and other small items:Glovebox is medium-sized. It gets a cooling vent, but no illumination:Roof bezel consists of map lights and sunroof controls:Bluetooth mic is positioned above the driver on the roofliner. It should have been integrated into the roof lamp console for a cleaner look IMHO:Sunvisors are economy-grade in design, yet they dont feel flimsy. Driver-side unit merely gets a flap to hold tickets, but no mirror or illumination. Passenger-side sunvisor gets a vanity mirror, but there's no cover or light provided:6 airbags are standard on all variants of the Exter. These include dual front airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags:Size of the sunroof is adequate for the cabin:With the sunroof (or even its cover) open, a lot of light comes into the cabin. This is the max it opens to:SX(O) and SX(O) Connect variants are equipped with ambient footwell lighting:Brown keyfob with silver buttons and chrome highlights is similar to other Hyundai cars. We like the design, but not the brown:Like the front doorpads, the ones at the rear have an all-black theme. The rear speakers are housed in them:Door pockets can hold a 1-litre bottle and some knick-knacks:Legroom is sufficient even for occupants with longer limbs:The seatback has a comfortable angle. There is enough headroom for even taller occupants, but thigh support is lacking:Rear seat is more suitable for 2 adults and a child, rather than 3 adults. While the seat base is largely flat, the seatbacks have some contours to hold you in place. 2 adjustable headrests have been provided along with ISOFIX child seat anchors on both sides, but there is no centre armrest:All 3 occupants get 3-point seatbelts:Rear window is large and lets a lot of light into the cabin:Seatbacks of the front seats are slightly scooped out & soft, liberating more knee room for the rear passengers. Front seatback pocket only for the left side passenger. It is not very wide or deep:Rear air-con vents are provided on all, except the EX and EX(O) variants. While there is only one common air volume controller, their direction can be adjusted individually. 12V power outlet sits below the rear air-con vents. No USB port for rear passengers to use:Floor hump is wide and prominent:Spring-loaded grab handles have been provided above all passenger doors. Only the rear-right unit gets a coat hook:Whitish-grey roof liner is scooped out at the rear to release some additional headroom. It dips down where the sunroof is located. :2nd cabin lamp is placed behind the sunroof, hence serving both (front & rear) seat rows:391-litre boot is among the biggest in the segment. It is large enough to accommodate luggage for weekend family trips:High-loading lip means you have to make an effort to put your bags in or take them out:Lower part of the tailgate is cladded on the inside:Large parcel tray comes with a recessed area and prominent border to keep things from rolling onto the rear seat:Boot light is located on the right:Bag hook has been provided on the left:Folding the rear backrest down gives you a much larger cargo capacity. However, the Exter doesn't come with an adjustable boot floor and you cannot get a flat loading bay:Spare wheel in all trim levels is a 14-inch steel unit with 165/70 section rubber. The higher variants should definitely have gotten a spare of the same size as the regular wheels. Tools are housed in a soft bag, which sits in the spare wheel: Last edited by Aditya : 20th July 2023 at 09:42 .
Microsofts deployment of OpenAIs ChatGPT has been extremely popular, and its surprise implementation of this advanced generative AI system caught companies like Google and Apple napping.

Google is responding aggressively to the threat and spinning up its own generative AI solution, Bard, but both Google and OpenAI are facing class-action lawsuits alleging copyright violations related to training their AIs based on the massive amounts of data used to train these systems.

The plaintiffs in these suits likely dont understand the implications to their careers should they be successful. Im not talking about repercussions from Microsoft, Google, or others, but that the way they, themselves, were trained may also fall within any related ruling and result in their being sued in the future by others from whom they learned.

Lets explore suing generative AI companies this week, and well close with my Product of the Week, a new laptop from HP that may be perfect for you if you travel a lot for work.

Litigation Is Dangerous

Unfortunately, Ive had a lot of litigation experience. I was assigned to IBM legal for a time in contracts, managed my own litigation for a couple of decades, and have been selected as an expert witness on several occasions. I also trained to be a lawyer before shifting to a very different career path.

Ive learned that litigation isnt anything like it is portrayed on TV. Both sides enter the courtroom with opposing views of reality, and the judge and/or jury listen to both sides before picking the most compelling argument as the winner. The winning side, which may have been in the wrong, feels vindicated, and the losing side generally feels cheated.

The outcome can have unintended and dire consequences for the losing side that can be far worse than had they left the entire thing alone in the first place or settled without a trial. Appeals generally cost around $40,000 and are rarely successful. The initial trial costs can range from over $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars before judgment, and the judgments can be very costly on top of that.

So, before suing someone, you need to make not only an honest assessment of whether you are likely to win but cover any potential unintended consequences of winning or losing. This is where I think the people suing the generative AI platforms are in trouble because they are not only unlikely to win but should they win, the result may cost them their careers.

Let me explain.

How Generative AI Is Trained

Generative AI is trained by looking at massive amounts of data and patterns, which then can be turned into what we call inference which is a vastly smaller and largely federated (where the contributors to the dataset have been removed) data set that is then used as the foundation for the AI to operate.

Put another way, AIs observe digitized data at a massive scale that renders individual contributors unidentifiable. This observation process leads to the formation of an amalgamated knowledge that constitutes the AIs brain.

Depending on the size of the resulting data set, it should be impossible  without transparency tools that do exist in some of the latest Ais  to trace the behavior back to any individual who intentionally or unintentionally supplied the training data.

For instance, learning how to be a comedian might require a training set of many comedians audio and video broadcasts. Based on feedback from the audience or a training operator, the AI would then learn which jokes were and were not funny. It would then derive its comedy routine from what it learned without relying exclusively on any one contributor.

The question to be answered is whether the result infringes on the copyrights of anyone who unintentionally and without permission helped create the training data set.

The Unanticipated Problem

The unexpected problem is that, like AIs, we arent born with an intrinsic knowledge of how to do much of anything. We learn by observing others, and our education comes from reading about events and people who were once alive or created fictionally to entertain or drive home a particular point.

When it comes to a trade like stand-up comedy, we tend to learn by watching other comics. Comedy is a career path that can lend itself to copying peers. The difference is that humans dont have the mental capacity or time to learn from more than a handful of intentional or unintentional mentors, while a computer can consume information from thousands of individuals in a moment.

So, if computer learning from many comedians turns out to be illegal, wouldnt it then follow that an actual human comedian learning from a far smaller number would be infringing on the rights of their comedy peers as well? The only real difference between how AI currently learns and how people learn is the speed at which the learning is accomplished and the amount of training data that is observed.

Should those suing OpenAI and Google be successful, the same case law could be used against them, resulting in what would likely be expensive penalties.

Since most work is generally learned by observing others and is potentially derivative, couldnt anyone sue anyone else who was trained on data that originated from the plaintiff?

In other words, using the comedian premise, if these plaintiffs are successful, couldnt other comedians sue them because of similar training methodology, and some comedians would then potentially be barred from performing for infringement should their jokes appear to have come from other people who now also want to be compensated?

Wrapping Up

Generative AI is now learning autonomously and advancing at an incredible and almost unbelievable pace. It is trained on vast data stores that may contain critical information on you and your spouse. This training process is likely in question because these systems will begin to replace many of the people who unintentionally contributed their data for training.

But given that all human knowledge and how it is conveyed effectively comes from someone else, this concept of suing for a piece of the result seems ill-conceived and could have an adverse impact on anyone who learns from others in the future.

Finally, the training set has no end of life, meaning that the collected knowledge will have a life that could go on for centuries after the contributors death, assuring a very limited form of digital immortality.

As a result, I doubt the plaintiffs in these cases will prevail and, should they, that the judgment could have far more damaging implications for how we are trained than anticipated.

HP Dragonfly Notebook PC G4

My favorite laptop of all time remains the HP Folio laptop with Qualcomm technology because of its massive 21-hour battery life. HP followed it up with an Intel-based, business-focused Folio with only around six hours of battery life, which broke my heart. HPs new Dragonfly G4 is also Intel-based but jumps up to around 13 hours of battery life, which should be far better.

At around $1,300 for a base configuration, the HP Dragonfly G4 provides decent but not overwhelming performance for a premium-class notebook. This is a business-class notebook, and it has Intels vPro solution inside to assure compliance with corporate standards.

Dragonfly Notebook PC G4 (Image Credit: HP)

This laptop has a very clean fit and finish, one of the best keyboards Ive so far tried, a decent webcam, impressive speakers, and surprisingly good display color accuracy. The Dragonfly G4 has two unique features: auto-camera-control and auto-keystone.

The first allows you to use multiple cameras simultaneously when streaming, allowing both your face and the object(s) the other camera sees to be shown on the same image. The other enables you to view items at an angle with that second camera but have them appear like the camera was straight overhead.

Given how many people struggle in video conference meetings to show content, these two features are a godsend. Im surprised other PC OEMs havent done anything similar.

At 2.2 pounds, HPs Dragonfly G4 falls into the ultra-light category and shouldnt make you feel like Quasimodo when carrying it in your backpack. It also has a selection of optional screens, WAN options, and a few optional Intel processors.

While I still prefer the feel and look of the HP Folio laptops, this HP Dragonfly G4 is not bad looking at all. Because of all of its improvements and increased battery life, it is my Product of the Week.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.
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Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (7th R) attends the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

China and ASEAN, being each other's largest trading partner, would further promote cooperation and achieve progress through the comprehensive strategic partnership.

MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- ASEAN countries have reaffirmed their determination to maintain regional peace and stability, and emphasized the need to maintain ASEAN's unity and centrality and avoid becoming any country's proxy.

During the 56th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings that concluded last week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the countries in the bloc stated that they would join hands to promote regional economic integration.

Officials and analysts believe that ASEAN shall adhere to the spirit of independence, openness and inclusiveness while focusing on economy and cooperation.

In particular, China and ASEAN, being each other's largest trading partner, would further promote cooperation and achieve progress through the comprehensive strategic partnership.





MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL & WIN-WIN

Indonesia is the rotating chair of ASEAN this year. Aside from the 56th AMM, several multilateral and bilateral activities including China-ASEAN (10+1) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN Plus Three (Japan-China-Republic of Korea) Summit and East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting were also held in Jakarta.

According to the joint communique of the AMM, further advancing the value and relevance of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to promote regional peace, security, stability and prosperity is one of the top priorities of ASEAN in 2023. ASEAN is willing to expand relationships with various partners and committed to making itself "an inclusive, participatory and coordinated community."

ASEAN is home to a productive-age population and abundant natural resources, making it a potential epicenter of growth, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, stressing the necessity to step up cooperation with all sides and embark on a path of mutual benefit and win-win results.

The long-standing peace, stability and prosperity of the ASEAN region are based on an inclusive regional architecture, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said, calling on ASEAN to continue to stay united and create the regional paradigm of collaboration.

In June, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) became fully effective for all 15 member countries comprising 10 ASEAN countries together with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. This agreement enables more than 90 percent of regional goods trade to achieve zero tariffs.

Since it took effect, many ASEAN countries' exports to RCEP members have increased significantly. A study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies predicted that joining the RCEP would increase the Philippines' GDP by 2 percent.

For Lili Yan Ing, a lead advisor at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the RCEP's full entry into force is "a case in point" of ASEAN's continued expansion of cooperation and opening-up and promotion of economic integration. She said ASEAN allows member countries to seek diverse partnerships, which helps to maintain the cohesion and vitality of the ASEAN community.

Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attends the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)





NOT A PROXY OF ANY COUNTRY

According to some U.S. media reports, U.S. officials frequently give "warnings" while meeting with ASEAN officials, intending to sow discord between ASEAN and China.

During those meetings, officials from ASEAN countries said that regional countries have no intention of taking sides, insisting on ASEAN centrality. The joint communique of the AMM also emphasized the principle of non-alignment.

Widodo warned that ASEAN couldn't be a competition field, or a proxy of any country, and international law should be respected consistently. ASEAN is committed to strengthening unity and solidity as well as centrality to guard regional peace and stability, he added.

Retno Marsudi stressed that ASEAN shouldn't become a battleground. In addition to being a contributor to economic growth, ASEAN countries must also be a contributor to peace, she said.

The U.S. military deployment in the ASEAN region and its "minilateralism" policies pose a challenge to the centrality of ASEAN, said Veronika Saraswati, a fellow with Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In her opinion, the intention of Western countries is not to maintain ASEAN's stability but to divide it. ASEAN should reduce its dependence on the West in the fields of defense and politics.

In an article recently published, Lili Yan Ing wrote that urging ASEAN countries to decouple from China is deeply unfair and short-sighted, because decoupling would undermine trade and economic development within the bloc, fueling political instability across the region.

A visitor looks at the products brought by Chinese food companies at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2023 Roadshow (Malaysia) & Guangxi Export Fair in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 12, 2023. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)





NEW PROGRESS IN CHINA-ASEAN COOPERATION

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). China and ASEAN have actively implemented the purposes and principles of the treaty, and expanded mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts, walking on the right path of forging long-term good-neighborliness and achieving common development and prosperity.

As neighbors and partners, China and ASEAN have achieved fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation, becoming each other's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade value reached 6.52 trillion RMB (970 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, a significant year-on-year increase of 15 percent, according to official data. China is also the largest source of foreign investment to several ASEAN countries, and its investment in the region keeps increasing in recent years. On the other hand, the investment from ASEAN into China has also maintained a positive momentum, with a year-on-year growth of 8.2 percent in 2022.

ASEAN officials and scholars are confident that the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership would continue to grow and achieve new progress.

China and ASEAN's cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative has brought tangible benefits to both sides, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said, expecting China and ASEAN to enhance mutual trust, and promote stability and prosperity.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said Vietnam will continue to promote the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and Vietnam expects to expand exports to China.

According to Ong Tee Keat, chairman of a Malaysia-based think tank, the Center for New Inclusive Asia and former Malaysian transport minister, China and ASEAN can focus on cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green low-carbon economy and blue ocean economy, in a bid to jointly promote sustainable economic development.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, made a kind gesture by spending quality time with his three-year-old son, X AE A-Xii Musk, at the SpaceX offices.

The tech mogul's mother, Maye Musk, posted images of the outing on Twitter, capturing a unique father-son interaction at the businessman's firm, which went viral online, NDTV reported.

The post swiftly garnered over 2.3 million views and more than 30,000 likes from internet users worldwide. Social media users praised Elon Musk's commitment to his company and son in the comments.

The comments section was replete with praise and affirmations of Musk's commitment to becoming a parent.

Here are some of the comments on Twitter:

One user commented: "Hats off to @elonmusk! Most billionaires are out partying and having fun on Friday night yet Elon Musk spending time with his adorable son X and checking on his companies,"

User The Sunflower (@abbycat275) tweeted: "He is such a great dad. Looking back when they all grown up he will be glad he spend this time with them."

Another user K10 (@Kristennetten) posted a comment: "Very very sweet"

Bilawal Sidhu expressed his admiration for the father-son moment: "The kid is being exposed to experiences that will make the impossible seem possible."

Adorable Kid

The latest viral moment was not the first time that X AE A-Xii has garnered media attention. He once showed up during one of his father's Zoom sessions a few months ago, drawing everyone's attention with his lovely presence. The participants' faces lit up when they saw the tiny child on his father's lap waving and saying, "Hi."

Read Also: Sony, Microsoft Reach Long-Term Agreement to Keep Call of Duty on PlayStation

X AE A-Xii has sometimes attended his father at significant events, while Elon Musk and Grimes want to keep their kid out of the limelight. When Musk first acquired the microblogging platform, the kid went to the Twitter corporate offices and engaged in lengthy discussions.

On May 4, 2020, Elon Musk and Canadian artist Grimes had their first child, named X AE A-Xii Musk--and the child's birthday falls on "Star Wars Day," per HNGN.

Elon Musk's Space X Dominates Orbit

Through SpaceX, Elon Musk's impact on the satellite communications industry is expanding.

Over 60% of all satellite launches globally this year have been carried out by the firm that the multi-billionaire entrepreneur created, per Nikkei Asia. Up to 60 satellites may be launched by SpaceX rockets, and by the end of June, the company had orbited more than 1,000 satellites overall.

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell claims that more than 60% of all satellite placements worldwide have been carried out by SpaceX satellite launches, which presently dominate.

SpaceX has successfully launched up to 5,000 satellites into orbit since 2019 and has requested authorization to manage a total of 42,000 spacecraft.

Many people are continually impressed by Elon Musk's ability to manage his business endeavors with his responsibilities as a loving father, and his most recent interaction with X AE A-Xii at SpaceX has further strengthened that perception.

Related Article: [VIRAL] AI-generated Image Depicts Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg as Unlikely, Happy Couple

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The time has come for Cupertino's computers to get an upgrade, with the new Apple M3 Silicon chip coming this October after the M2 cycle wrapped up.

Many expect this upgrade from the renowned tech company to arrive, which includes the latest computer processor to bring the fastest processes it has delivered from its house-designed chip.

Apple M3 Macs Are Coming This October, According to an Analyst

The latest Bloomberg Power On Newsletter from Mark Gurman is now confirming the arrival of the new Mac computers from Apple this October equipped with the latest M3 chips.

Speculators and analysts had different speculations on the next-in-line processor, including that it is coming out this year. Apple's M3 chip is expected to be a 3nm node process designed by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), with a similar core count to the M2.

Apple is stepping up for its next-gen processors that will immediately come after it released the M2 Ultra and Pro versions released several months ago.

According to Gurman, there would still be an M3 coming but would see device releases apart from each other, unlike an all-out drop from before.

Read Also: iMac 2023 to Use M3 Chip: TSMC Still to Develop the Chips

What Macs Are Getting the M3 Upgrade?

According to 9to5 Mac, Apple is set to release a new M3 iMac, M3 13-inch MacBook Air, and M3 MacBook Pro. Gurman said these are the first beneficiaries of the new chip.

The 9to5 Mac reported that new iPad Pro models featuring OLED displays are scheduled for next year. However, Gurman noted that an iPad Air model with an updated chip might be ready this fall, and this is because an M1 chip still powers the current-generation iPad Air.

Apple's M3 Expectations

One of the earliest news behind the M3 arrival is the MacBook Air 2023 release, which features a larger, 15-inch screen for the lightweight computer. However, Apple revealed earlier in the WWDC 2023 that the 15-inch MacBook Air is getting the current-gen processor, the M2, instead of formally introducing the new M3.

Still, many are hoping, as there is still the fall release window when new Macs are expected. Another device speculated to bring the M3 chip is the new iMac which will finally get an upgraded chip this year.

Since 2021's M1 change of the iMac from its Intel processors, the company has yet to bring an upgraded version of the all-in-one desktop, with many expecting that it will get the M2 in the last year but did not arrive from Apple's set of releases.

Gurman is now talking about the possibility of another fall season release of the new Apple computers, finally getting the upgraded Silicon-based processor from the company.

This latest speculation claims a new series of releases this October, intended for the iMac, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, with its next-gen M3 processors.

Related Article: M3 Macs Coming This Year? MacBook Pro, iMac, and MORE from Apple

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The cryptocurrency world is still hanging in the balance, but more opportunities are here, especially from Bybit's upcoming World Series of Trading (WSOT) 2023 in August.

Last week, Google Play has eased its policies regarding blockchain-related apps. However, there is still some negativity in the industry, especially with fraud cases present and the recent one leading to the arrest of Celsius' former CEO and CRO.

Bybit's Upcoming World Series of Trade 2023

Bybit unveiled its grand crypto spectacle last week. The World Series of Trade 2023 will reportedly open its gates for general registration from July 24 to August 17. It will offer traders a chance to secure their spot among elite contenders worldwide. The leader registration phase happened on July 13.

The main event begins on August 7 when traders clash using strategies and lightning-quick decisions. This year's competition is one of the world's largest crypto trading events, featuring another record-breaking prize of up to $8 million and a live stream giveaway that offers traders a chance to win Huracan Evo Spyder Lamborghinis and Rolex Explorers on August 24.

This is the event's fourth edition, but this will be the first time the exchange will make demo trading available to participants to make trading competitions more accessible to beginners. Influential traders and megastars such as The Moon, CryptoBanter, GINAREA, and Cornix will reportedly participate.

Bybit's WSOT has grown in recent years, with almost 117,000 traders worldwide between 2020 and 2022, which resulted in a trading volume of more than $177 billion.

Read Also: CryptoWatch: Do Kwon's Jail Time, Blockchain Tech in Games, Pillow is Ending its Services

Google Play's Blockchain-Based Games

Google Play is now easing its policies regarding blockchain-related apps. As it updated its store policy, Google Play revealed new rules allowing and regulating blockchain games and apps, which are set to completely roll out before the year ends.

The latest policy change will allow apps and games which incorporate NFTs into the store. It will open new ways to transact with NFTs and other tokenized digital assets within apps and games on Google Play. The move is the company's response to the growing interest in tokenized digital assets, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

However, the policy change comes with a few limitations, such as apps must be transparent with users about tokenized digital assets, and developers are not allowed to promote or glamorize any potential earnings from playing or trading activities.

The apps should also meet Google Play's gambling eligibility requirements. If not, they cannot accept money for a chance to win assets of unknown real-world monetary value, including NFTs.

Former Celsius CEO, CRO Charged With Crypto Fraud

Law enforcement officials arrested Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky because of alleged securities fraud, suspected of misleading and manipulating investors on the company's token price, CEL.

The company recently collapsed and declared bankruptcy, with Celsius agreeing to a $4.7 billion settlement to pay off its investors and customers.

The federal regulators charged Celsius with defrauding investors of billions, while Mashinksy faced securities, commodities wire, and fraud charges.

However, it was not only Mashinsky who was charged as the company's former chief revenue officer (CRO) Roni Cohen-Pavon also faced a fraud case.

Related Article: Cryptowatch: Bybit's New License and P2P Hotswap Feature, and the New 'Bridge' Between Cryptocurrencies

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
July 17 is World Emoji Day. According to National Today, this annual unofficial holiday validates our obsession with these cute graphic icons. Due to emojis, communication has expanded far beyond sending a simple, plain text message.

Look at your social media feeds or text messages - how many smiley faces, hearts, avocados, and unicorns did you see? These well-known small images from Japan, called emojis, are now more popular online than ever. But how did it start? Who invented the emojis?

(Photo : MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY TUPAC POINTU A picture shows emoji characters also known as emoticons on the screens of two mobile phones in Paris on August 6, 2015. Forget traditional banners and promotional videos, brands are turning to emojis to communicate with their Generation Z target audience.

How Did the Emojis Start?

According to some reports, The New York Times is responsible for the first use of an emoticon. In 2004, a team was assigned to develop a student-oriented edition of historical newspapers.

The New York Times reported that they assembled a group of editors who meticulously searched through the archives of publications such as TNYT, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and more.

While gathering 5,000 articles that would arrive with the American history curriculum, they unexpectedly came across an article containing former President Abraham Lincoln's 1862 speech transcription.

Byran Benilous, who works at Proquest, found ";)" after the word laughter, which confused him as emoticons were still not invented back then. While this sounds and looks clever, this could also be a typo error.

Carnegie Mellon professor Scott E. Fahlman stated, "I can't imagine an editor putting that in and meaning, 'Ha ha,' trying to emphasize what Lincoln had said. That goes beyond the bounds of editorial comment in a piece of reporting like this."

But American Antiquarian Society newspaper curator Vincent Golden argued that the linotype machine (allowed keyboards to assembly type) was not introduced until the 1880s, which means that he would have had to pick up the semicolon manually and set it in the line. He has a gut feeling that it was not a typo.

Also read: Apple Celebrates World Emoji Day By Unveiling Over 70 New Emojis In iOS 12

Creating the First Emoji

All of these reports remain unconfirmed. However, CNN reported that one person from Japan created the first emoji in 1999, working within a grid measuring 12 by 12 pixels. His name is Shigetaka Kurita, which found inspiration in pictograms, manga, and other sources in creating an emoji.

The term "emoji" is reportedly derived from the Japanese words  or e, which means picture,  or mo, which means write, and  or ji, which means character. The Japanese writing system that heavily relies on Chinese ideograms, known as "kanji," already possesses a highly visual nature.

The creator's purpose in creating emojis was to ease communication on a nascent mobile internet system of Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo. While the system offered emails, people were restricted to 250 characters only, and emojis helped people to say more in a limited space.

Related Article: Apple's World Emoji Day Celebration Has New Emojis Heading To iOS, macOS, And watchOS Devices

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The latest development in the world of technology in Russia is now seeing a ban on Apple devices for state officials to use, allegedly claiming that the iPhones and such are being used by the US to spy on the country. All work done on Apple devices are to transfer to other technologies but does not completely ban the Apple devices as it is still available for personal use.

Russia's latest move is either in place or has already started the ban on different departments of its government, making sure that it is safe from the alleged spying.

Russia Bans Use of Apple Devices for State Officials' Work

(Photo : BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Financial Times reported that Russia has recently imposed a ban on Apple devices for state officials, as well as other government work to be opened or done via the company's technologies. This means that state officials are no longer allowed to access these types of information on their iPhones or iPads, now a significant concern for the Russian authorities.

Russia's telecommunication and mass media industries were among those who already have set plans in its ban for Apple devices for work needs but did not name any successor for them. Allegedly, this was because of the Federal Security Service's (FSB) recent discovery that Apple is involved in a US spying operation against the Russian government last month.

Read Also: US Drone Attack Kills ISIL Commander in Syria After Russian Jet Harassment

Apple Devices Still Eligible to Own and Use in Russia

According to Engadget, this is not a complete or total ban on Apple's operations in the country. State officials and other government-affiliated people are still allowed to use iPhones and such. This is only allowed when accessing it for personal use, but anything beyond that is not allowed, as strictly enforced by the Russian government.

Apple's Ban on Russia and US Sanctions

The relationship between Apple and Russia has been tense for the past year, and this was because of Russia's deeply concerning actions against Ukraine, resulting in a number of significant companies pulling out their services and products in the Eurasian country. Apple first removed Apple Pay support for Russia's card payment system, Mir, early last year.

Still, it did not end there. Apple went as far as to pull out from the country by hindering all the sales of its technology such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Macs, and more.

However, it did not stop there, as Apple also kicked off Russia's largest social media app from the country's developer, VK.

Now, Apple devices are facing another ban in Russia after the FSB discovered the US spying operations among the Eurasian country's secrets and sensitive information. However, it is not a total ban for Apple products in the country, as these officials are still permitted to use Cupertino's tech, provided that they are not used for work purposes.

Related Article: Putin Warns Ukraine: Russia Holds 'Sufficient' Supply of Cluster Bombs

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins delivers a keynote speech at the 9th Annual China Business Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, July 17, 2023.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for deepening economic, trade and environmental cooperation with China at the 9th Annual China Business Summit here Monday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

WELLINGTON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for deepening economic, trade and environmental cooperation with China at the 9th Annual China Business Summit held on Monday in Auckland.

In a keynote speech, Hipkins recalled his China visit at the end of last month, leading a delegation of New Zealand's top businesses and exporters and representatives from its tourism, technology and education sectors.

"The New Zealand export story to China is well-known. It's a phenomenal success story propelled by our 2008 Free Trade Agreement that took two-way trade from 8 billion NZ dollars (5.08 billion U.S. dollars) that year, to more than 40 billion NZ dollars (25.4 billion U.S. dollars) today," Hipkins said.

New Zealand's top three exports to China are dairy, meat, and forestry, he said, adding that New Zealand has built up sizeable economic interests in China, its largest offshore market and one of the world's largest consumer markets.

New Zealand will place a high value on engagement and dialogue with China, the prime minister told the audience at the summit.

New Zealand looks to work together with China to tackle critical global issues such as climate change and environmental protection, Hipkins said, adding that it is in New Zealand's interests to do so.

Hipkins said one outcome from his China visit was an agreement to step up policy engagement on e-vehicles, with China an important supply market for Kiwi consumers as New Zealand looks to make the transition to a low carbon economy.

He said China and New Zealand will have a range of dialogues, including on green finance and forestry and emissions trading schemes, as well as a regular ministerial dialogue.

New Zealand also valued China's leadership in presiding over the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets new global goals and targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, he said.

Hipkins touched upon many aspects of China-New Zealand relations in his 30-minutes speech. This is also the first time he has attended a China-themed political and business event in New Zealand since taking office as New Zealand prime minister in January.

CHINA'S KEY ROLE

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong told the summit that Prime Minister Hipkins' China visit was productive and fruitful as a new milestone in China-New Zealand relations.

The visit has again showcased the broad consensus reached by the two countries at the highest level on the continued development of the bilateral relationship, Wang said.

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership keeps evolving and brings tangible benefits to the two countries, particularly two peoples, he said, adding that the partnership has great potential and vast room for further growth.

The Auckland Airport has witnessed a remarkable recovery in the connectivity between the two countries since China's reopening and New Zealand being selected as one of the first 20 countries for Chinese tour groups to visit, said Carrie Hurihanganui, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Auckland Airport.

Right now, the Auckland airport has five airlines operating 27 weekly flights to and from China's four cities, representing an 86 percent recovery and capacity.

Filmmaker Richard Taylor, co-founder and creative director of Weta Workshop, well known for his work on the film trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," said that he has benefited from the skills of China in this changing industry for the past 25 years.

Monday's Annual China Business Summit, held by the Auckland Business Chamber and business intelligence firm NZINC, was attended by about 500 people from the political and business circles of both New Zealand and China. 

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins delivers a keynote speech at the 9th Annual China Business Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, July 17, 2023.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for deepening economic, trade and environmental cooperation with China at the 9th Annual China Business Summit here Monday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Asking an AI tool like ChatGPT to write someone's biography might seem like a good idea since the bot can simply generate content from the internet, but the results might not be as accurate as some would think. This is what happened to a certain columnist who asked the AI tool to write their autobiography.

Washington Post Metro Columnist Asks ChatGPT to Write a Biography

According to the Washington Post, John Kelly, a columnist, described their experience when asking ChatGPT to write a biography about them. Although the tool was able to generate a response, the columnist described how inaccurate it was.

Kelly explained how he asked ChatGPT to write a biography regarding themselves, highlighting that he was a Washington Post Metro columnist. The columnist noted that the AI tool was able to spew out results without confusing Kelly with other individuals that had the same name.

The result described Kelly as a "renowned" journalist in a 478-word biography regarding the columnist. Another detail that the artificial tool got correct was how Kelly was born in Washington.

Different Mistakes that ChatGPT Made Regarding His Autobiography Include His Education

However, ChatGPT made a slight mistake in saying that Kelly was born and raised in Washington. The columnist clarified that he was born in Washington but was raised in other places.

One major thing that the artificial intelligence got wrong was describing the columnist as majoring in journalism and that he had "actively" contributed to the newspaper of their campus. The chatbot also mentioned that he went to a local university without specifying where exactly did he go.

Kelly clarified that, in reality, he majored in English and not journalism without also providing where exactly did the columnist go to school. The chatbot also gave a description of the columnist's style, describing it as having "warmth, empath, and wit" as his characteristics.

Read Also: [VIRAL] AI-generated Image Depicts Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg as Unlikely, Happy Couple

Major Mistake Includes Confusing John Kelly of The Washington Post with Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal

Another critical mistake that ChatGPT made was saying that Kelly won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary when in fact, he did not win the award. The award was actually won by Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal.

Kelly ended the opinionated piece by stating different facts which he notes that future AI could get from. These included facts that weren't true, including how he was a squirrel and how his writing style was "characterized by its odor, fear and pH level."

Should a future artificial intelligence get hold of this information in the future, this would then result in it spewing out this information as fact, even though it's not. Recently, Google confirmed that it was training its Bard AI with scraped web data, according to The Verge.

On March 23, Tech Crunch reported how OpenAI connected its artificial intelligence tool, ChatGPT, to the internet. This game gives the chatbot the new ability to get information from the web when coming up with answers.

Related Article: Rapper will.i.am Launches FYI: New AI Platform for Creative Collaboration

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Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has utilized the power of technology to address the healthcare challenge. The groundbreaking initiative known as Ayushman Bharat has emerged as the world's largest free healthcare program.

(Photo : Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI, INDIA - MAY 06: Medical staff attend to Covid-19 positive patients in the emergency ward at the Holy Family hospital on May 06, 2021 in New Delhi, India. India broke a fresh record on Thursday with over 412,000 new cases of Covid-19 as the total number of those infected according to Health Ministry data neared 20 million.



Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility in India

By leveraging technology, India's government aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for a significant portion of the population. Interesting Engineering reported that Ayushman Bharat represents a significant stride in strengthening the healthcare infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare reaches the masses.

The initiative is driven by a team of highly skilled tech professionals, comprising some of the world's top talent. They have spearheaded the development of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which has the primary objective of establishing a robust digital health infrastructure that can serve as the foundation for integrated healthcare services in the country.

This mission aims to bridge the current gaps among various stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem by leveraging digital highways. The ABDM team is committed to harnessing technology to create a seamless and interconnected healthcare system for the benefit of all.

Also Read: Generative AI Helps Identify Potential Drug Targets for Rare Genetic Disease Cystinosis

Through the ecosystems, this will offer a diverse range of data, information, and infrastructure services by effectively utilizing open and standards-based digital systems. Additionally, utmost importance is placed on ensuring the security, confidentiality, and privacy of personal health information throughout the ecosystem.

Launching Ayushman Bharat

Goldman Sachs reported that India Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a technology-driven initiative to address healthcare challenges in the country. Launching Ayushman Bharat five years ago introduced the world's largest free healthcare program, consisting of the Health and Wellness Centers and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna.

HWCs focus on comprehensive primary and diagnostic care, while PM-JAY provides coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations, benefiting over 550 million people.

ABDM's Goal

This will be a collaboration among healthcare technology firms, government regulators, care delivery organizations, labs, pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare providers to ensure healthcare provision. Establishing a digital health ecosystem is the number one goal of ADBM, which enables universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely, and safe manner.

According to a report from Forbes, this initiative enables the creation of secure health records and offers user-friendly interfaces, allowing individuals to easily access healthcare services on a regular basis.

This achievement is what the United States has been struggling with in the last few years. India faces a similar challenge, especially in terms of delivering cost-effective healthcare to a population that is almost five times larger than that of the United States. Additionally, the majority of India's population resides outside of major metropolitan areas.

Related Article: The Perilous Consequences of Inadequately Trained Interpreters in Healthcare

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Imagine if every business decision is fueled by real-time crowdsourced insights, mobilized by communities of global smartphone users to obtain the most accurate, cost-effective, and reliable data in over 140 countries.

Premise is one of the leading companies in the world, capitalizing on the millions of smartphone users worldwide to help businesses make smarter choices and better decisions.

Premise has demonstrated its commitment to becoming the world's leading crowdsourced insights platform with its acquisitions of Native, a market research pioneer that leverages the crowd's power, and most recently, Grupo Meiko, a Latin American data and insights pioneer in traditional retail trade.

Premise Sets New Standard for Marketing Insights

Maury Blackman, the CEO of Premise, has mentioned that providing actionable insight regarding the retail landscape can be a struggle, especially due to how highly fragmented the industry is. However, he is confident that the acquisition of Native and Meiko, in addition to future acquisitions, would be able to "accelerate the disruption of crowdsourced insights, all on one platform."

Matt McNabb, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Native, is hopeful that the merger between Premise and Native would mean that they can take their market insights game to a higher level, going so far as to say that they are changing the landscape, the way that ridesharing and food delivery has created a whole new level of expectation in their respective industries, creating opportunities for new and innovative ideas to come to life. He serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at Premise and is excited to see what the future holds.

Local Insights Often Overlooked When Making Global Decisions

When you look at the world's landscape, you'll discover plenty of room for adapting to different cultures. For example, McDonald's, a global fast food chain, has a different menu in various countries to cater to local tastes. In Japan, there is the option of Samurai or Teriyaki burgers, which are absent from their menu in, say, Australia. In certain countries where spicy food is popular, McDonald's also serves spicy fried chicken and spicy chicken burgers.

Billions have been invested in the market of insights and data, but many methods have been either too costly or too inconvenient and inefficient. The way that Premise is tackling data analysis is from the ground up, which would create a more cohesive approach to obtaining insights and implementing decisions based on the data they have collected.

Being able to access local insights can be beneficial to any company or business because it takes into account the differences in preferences and other cultural differences, which can either make or break a business which is why they are shifting their focus towards emerging markets and are looking to acquire potential partners all over the world.

Achievements Wrought Under Premise

Intending to become the number one choice in market insights, Premise has made sound decisions to bring them closer to their goal. The acquisition of Native and Grupo Meiko has also boosted Premise's team, and they plan to continue building on Native's existing traction in the industry of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Grupo Meiko's focus in LATAM.

In the past few years, Premise has been awarded as one of Deloitte's 2020 Technology Fast 500TM and recognized by Forbes as one of the fastest-growing companies due to their nimble application of groundbreaking market research strategies.

With Native's past work with Coca-Cola, Mars Inc, and other notable clients, Premise will be able to penetrate the global market more efficiently, especially since the company is currently looking to hit 10 million global Contributors. This would lead to millions of individuals earning a side income by contributing to Premise. But the company isn't stopping to smell the roses just yet, because they are currently looking for companies that can expedite the realization of their 10 million milestone.

Premise Creates a Sustainable Ecosystem on a Global Scale

To reiterate what McNabb once mentioned about Premise being to the FMCG industry what Uber or AirBnb has done for hospitality and accommodation, Premise is also creating more opportunities in the gig economy all over the world, potentially opening doors where there aren't many opportunities, even in developing or third world countries where opportunities are far and few in between.

Premise has the potential to create a more inclusive world by opening doors for Contributors worldwide while providing their clients and business partners with the most accurate and helpful information from the ground up, and they will continue to provide valuable insights as long as retail requires it.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In response to an earlier subpoena, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has requested Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg provide Threads content moderation documents.



The letter highlights Washington's interest in Meta's new platform, according to CNBC. Threads, a social media platform that directly competes with Twitter, can become the center of political debates, raising questions about how information is moderated.



Although Meta officials have clarified that they do not want news and politics to rule the Threads platform, they have acknowledged that they have always been a significant component of Twitter chats. Threads has shown that it is more open to political examination as it becomes more prominent in political discourse.

Upholding Freedom of Speech

Jordan's letter underscores the issues with Threads, especially given how Elon Musk presented it as a Twitter competitor. The FTC demanded Twitter's internal discussions about Musk and journalists who accessed the company's information. This request included a review of Twitter's capacity to secure user information effectively.



Chair Jim Jordan contrasts this by pointing out that Threads plans to uphold "Instagram's community guidelines," which have in the past led to the moderation of legal speech due to government coercion. He refers to a recent lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri against the Joe Biden administration, which claims that the federal government suppressed speech by attempting to remove offensive posts about the Covid-19 pandemic or elections from social media platforms.



Jordan's worries about Threads' content monitoring reflect continuing discussions about free expression and governmental meddling in the media. The recent preliminary injunction, partially granted in a case brought against the Biden administration, draws attention to the mounting worries about the repression of expression on social media.

Read Also: EU Encourages US to Tighten Regulations on AI

Since its debut, Threads, Meta's newest social networking platform, has snowballed, gaining more than 100 million users. The powerful artificial intelligence (AI)-recommendation system utilized by Meta, which was once used in Reels, has helped increase Threads' engagement and growth potential, per The Motley Fool. Meta intends to hasten user acquisition and provide a smooth onboarding process for new users using AI technologies.

Experts Raise Risks on Threads

Meta is not recreating the wheel with Threads but leveraging an established app model. Advertisers are already used to increasing their exposure on comparable platforms, and Meta's familiarity with the format from earlier projects like Facebook's Feed strengthens its revenue plan. Based on past performance, Meta will likely put user growth first before increasing revenue efforts.



The introduction of Threads has also raised significant privacy issues. Threads gathers personal information, browser history, and sensitive data as part of Meta's privacy policy, which includes Facebook and Instagram. Tech experts concur that the enormous quantity of private information Threads collects raises the possibility of abuse and specialized attacks, according to a Global News report.



Even though social media networks often gather data, Meta's extensive strategy raises questions. Social media platforms often work to collect as much user information as they can to tailor experiences and make money from targeted advertising. This strategy, meanwhile, also calls into question the security and privacy of data.



Privacy activists are concerned with Threads' collection of numerous types of information, including contact information, financial information, browser history, and health and fitness data. Critics assert that this extensive gathering of user information resembles a "drift-net approach," in which businesses want to acquire as much information as possible, even if it is not required for the service.

Related Article: Revolutionizing Warfare: Israel Implements AI Systems in Military Operations

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google Doodle honors Eunice Newton Foote, an influential figure in science and women's rights. But did you know about her inspiring story and remarkable contributions to climate science?

Although physicist John Tyndall is often credited with discovering the greenhouse effect, Eunice Newton Foote Foote's work on the subject was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1856, two years before Tyndall's investigations, according to New Scientist.



Foote's experiments on how various gases, including carbon dioxide, reacted to sunlight were described in the study, serving as a female scientist's first documented physics essay. She wisely deduced that the main component of carbonic acid gas, carbon dioxide, had the most significant heating impact when exposed to the sun. Foote went one step further, hypothesizing that the Earth would experience a more substantial temperature in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.



The fact that Foote's study was presented through the Smithsonian Institution's secretary, Joseph Henry, may have contributed to the lack of widespread understanding of the importance of her results at the time. Henry subsequently observed that, despite the importance and fascination of Foote's experiments, it might take a lot of work to determine their relevance.

Fascination For Gases

Foote, a Connecticut native who was born in 1819, studied at the Troy Female Seminary in New York, a place that promoted female students' participation in chemistry classes and scientific lectures, according to NDTV. Her adolescent years saw a blossoming of her passion for science, which would go on to inspire her incredible path of ground-breaking achievements.



Foote's interest drove her to look into how various gases were affected by sunshine in the early 1850s. She conducted trials using glass bell jars holding different gasses and found that the carbon dioxide cylinders heated the most when exposed to the sun.

Read Also: Researchers Discover 'Ultracool' Star Emitting Radio Waves



According to her ground-breaking insight, Foote was the first scientist to make the crucial connection between growing carbon dioxide levels and the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, per The Independent. Her research was presented to the scientific world in a publication titled "Circumstances Affecting the Heat of the Sun's Rays," which also sparked more research and experimentation on the greenhouse gas effect.

A Champion of Women's Rights

Aside from her scientific contributions, Foote passionately campaigned for women's rights, as she campaigned for women's equality alongside Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.



The Declaration of Sentiments, a historic document that urged women to have equal rights in society and the law, was signed by Eunice Newton Foote as the sixth signatory. Her commitment to women's rights proved that her field of influence went beyond science and included the search for beauty, truth, and utility.



Foote maintained her physics study, diving into studies on atmospheric static electricity, despite her limited participation in scientific research after her ground-breaking discoveries in 1856.



Foote pursued several patents, including one for a thermostatically controlled cooking burner, in addition to her scientific endeavors.



Unfortunately, Foote's scientific achievements were mainly overlooked for many years. Her insights weren't uncovered until after she passed away in 1888, reigniting interest in her substantial contributions.



Eunice Newton Foote's life honors women in science and gender equality. The world will honor her contributions to global understanding and social justice acknowledged for years.

Related Article: How Extreme Heat Affects Mental Health: Experts Highlight Concerns

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As the 2024 US Presidential election approaches, digital information integrity experts are warning about the growing usage of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated material that might confuse or mislead voters.

Concerns regarding spreading fake information during political campaigns are growing due to emerging AI technologies that can produce convincing text, realistic visuals, and even video and audio, per CNN.

As campaigns ramp up and elections draw near, experts like Jevin West, a professor at the University of Washington and co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, underline the potential influence that AI may have, which the public has already witnessed.

Election Integrity At Risk

Since social media firms serve as venues where billions of people look for information and dishonest individuals often propagate incorrect information, they must handle these hazards.

However, the multiple obstacles these businesses must overcome make it more and more challenging to keep up with the upcoming tsunami of inaccurate election-related material.

Election integrity, safety, and responsible AI teams have seen considerable layoffs due to numerous large social networks reducing their enforcement efforts on election-related disinformation over the previous several months.

Moreover, concerns regarding managing election-related misinformation have also been highlighted by a recent federal judge ruling restricting contact between several US authorities and social media corporations.

Despite an appeals court temporarily blocking the injunction, the judgment highlights the challenging environment social media firms must traverse.

The campaigns and elections in 2024 are significantly high risk due to the emergence of generative AI technologies that make it possible to quickly produce artificial content targeting specific audiences, with the use of computer-generated voice, video, and pictures.

Experts draw attention to several situations in which generative AI may produce fake news to mislead voters, malign politicians, or encourage violence, according to a PBS report.

Examples include fabricating video footage of speeches or interviews, automated robocalls with false information, manipulated audio recordings of candidates confessing to crimes or expressing racist views, and creating fake images that look like local news reports to spread false information.

Read Also: Meta's Threads Under Scrutiny as US House Judiciary Chair Seeks Content Moderation Docs

The recent incident involving a video that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign shared on Twitter and which included AI-generated images of Donald Trump embracing Dr. Anthony Fauci highlighted the possible risks.

No, these images of Donald Trump hugging Anthony Fauci, posted by the DeSantis campaign, are not real. https://t.co/yvSmztf8zI  WFAA (@wfaa) June 9, 2023

Twitter did not take down the video but instead posted a community remark to inform viewers of the AI-generated origin of the photos, even though fact-checking groups and watchful users soon recognized the phony images.

Addressing AI Problems with the Use of AI

AI-generated disinformation is a developing problem that demands various approaches to solve. Tools that give better information on the source and path of material are currently being developed. Aiming to assist artists in authenticating their photographs is the Content Authenticity Initiative, coordinated by Adobe.

According to Google, Meta, and Microsoft, they are actively implementing current regulations and creating fresh strategies to handle the particular problems presented by AI-generated material. These initiatives include systems for AI to recognize and filter hazardous information and fact-checking processes, per Axios.

Ironically, some professionals support employing AI to identify false information generated with the use of artificial intelligence. While a continuing arms race may emerge, it could be difficult for human content censors to keep up with the deluge of AI-generated material.

Educating the public to be discerning information consumers is essential. However, it requires a sizable investment and coordinated efforts, and it can encounter resistance from those who stand to gain from an uneducated populace.

Related Article: Revolutionizing Warfare: Israel Implements AI Systems in Military Operations

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
WhatsApp is a mainstream messaging and communication app by Meta thats used by millions across the globe.

In addition to messaging, you can even use WhatsApp for high-quality voice & video calls, group messages, broadcasts, sharing status, and much more.

Primarily, made for Android and iOS smartphones you can even use WhatsApp on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC or Laptops.

You can either use WhatsApp web on a PC browser or can download the WhatsApp client for a desktop browser.

Here is how to Download WhatsApp On PC.

Download WhatsApp For PC

To Download WhatsApp For PC, simply follow these simple steps,

STEP 1: To download the official WhatsApp app for pc you can either visit the Official Whatsapp Website or directly download the app from the Microsoft Store.

STEP 2: Once you see the Microsoft Store WhatsApp page simply press the Install button.

STEP 3: Next open the official WhatsApp app and press the Get Started button. You can now scan the QR code thats on the screen to log in to your WhatsApp account.

And thats pretty much it, you will now have a fully functioning WhatsApp application installed on your Windows PC.

Direct download WhatsApp for PC

Here is a link to directly download the Whatsapp pc app exe from the link provided below.

WhatsApp PC Download

Version- 2.2327.6.0

Developer- WhatsApp LLC

Size- 92 MB

OS- Windows (Windows 7 or higher)

Language- English

Key Features of WhatsApp PC

Message privately

Ability to make Video/Audio calls

How To Make Voice And Video Calls On WhatsApp For PC?

Unlike the older versions of WhatsApp For PC or WhatsApp web, the latest WhatsApp PC App allows users to make voice and video calls.

To do so, ensure that your PC has a microphone for voice calls and a webcam for video calls.

Once thats done, you can now select any contact in your chat list and press the voice call or video call button. Instantly your call will initiate.

WhatsApp For PC Download FAQs

How Do I Download WhatsApp For PC?

To Download WhatsApp For PC you have to download the official whatsapp.exe file.

Once downloaded simply install it like any other program.

You can also find the official Whatsapp computer app on the Microsoft Store.

Lastly, log in to WhatsApp For PC App using your Android or iOS smartphone.

Is Installing WhatsApp Free Download?

Yes, installing WhatsApp PC is completely free and you can easily download the WhatsApp For PC app from the Microsoft Store.

Does WhatsApp Support Windows 7?

Yes, you can download, install, and run the official WhatsApp app on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

CONCLUSION

So this was a simple and easy-to-follow tutorial on How To Download Whatsapp For Windows PC.
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Covid is now completely normal, the wild love life in the Roman Empire and wondrous water planets: the reading recommendations of the week from the science editorial team of SPIEGEL

"It's bad, sad, boring - you need to eat!": a psychologist - about the causes of food addiction and ways to get rid of it

Mr. and Mrs. Akishino visit the state of reconstruction in the area affected by the Eastern Iburi Earthquake Hokkaido

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Christopher Street Day in Berlin: Kai Wegner holds out the prospect of an amendment to the Basic Law

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The Central Bank of Russia does not intend to introduce additional restrictions in the field of cash currency

Movistar remodels its television and launches a new rate with two weekly football matches from 11 euros

"Chain" on the "housekeeping skills" of the high-quality development of the real economy XCMG Group released the "Pilot and Climb" action plan

For the 2023 summer sales, the balance is positive according to the Trade Alliance

The fourth anniversary of the opening of the Science and Technology Innovation Board: From "test field" to "comprehensive registration system" system to explore new ways to help capital empowerment

The intermediary said that 20,<> yuan can buy the identity of a state-owned enterprise, what is the crime of impersonating a state-owned enterprise?

Ono, MasMovil and the call in the siesta: the three crosses of Vodafone in Spain

Elections in Cambodia: They are young, the majority and have nothing to say

Despite his age and declining popularity. Why doesn't Biden face electoral challenges within the Democratic camp?

F1: Wolff (Mercedes) says he has agreed "emotionally" with Hamilton to extend it

What does high temperatures have to do with snake bites and what does snake venom cause?

100 young people in Hong Kong who travel to Qinghai Feel the "photovoltaic ocean" and the largest saltwater lake

Released with precautionary measures the man arrested for the death of his partner in Humilladero (Malaga)

RaHDit hackers published the routes of ships from which they could hit the Crimean bridge

The astonishing data of the time trial in which Vingegaard swept Pogacar: "He scored more watts than expected"

Switzerland: Two people help injured by lightning  and are hit themselves

The cheapest hotel room in Spain is in Ibiza and costs zero euros: "Some book it and when they see it they are cowed"

Surfing Paris Olympics unofficial Shino Matsuda participates in the tournament for the first time after returning to Japan

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

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BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- "China is a country that's worth marrying in so many ways, and it's totally unfair to see it only through a negative lens. It has so many positive aspects," French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand has said.

Bertrand, who lived in China for seven years, sees saying real things he witnessed in China and showing a different picture of China as "his duty" being the husband of a Chinese woman, the father of two girls, and someone who has traveled around and is familiar with the country.

In a spirited online debate titled "Is the Chinese System Better than the American System," organized on April 5 by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a nonprofit American educational organization, Bertrand emerged victorious over Adrian Zenz, an anti-China German academic based in Washington D.C. who has been promoted by part of the American political sphere and mainstream media.

In the debate, Bertrand expressed with solid facts that the Chinese model fits the very particular economic and geopolitical context that China is in today, and the Chinese system is suitable for promoting the well-being of its people.

The most impressive thing about living in China, Bertrand said, is to see the speed of change, for instance, the improvement of the environment. "Look at the sky, we're in Beijing right now, and it's so blue. It's changing very fast. If you look on the street, a huge percentage of the cars are electric cars."

He said China is showing the world how to protect nature. "If we cut ourselves from China, we cut ourselves from all those lessons. We cut ourselves from the main manufacturing power in the climate transition. So that's another big reason why we need to work hand in hand with China on this global challenge."

Bertrand, who has a strong following on Twitter, is glad to share his observations and experiences in China and his insights on heated topics worldwide.

"I think at the end of the day, if no one speaks out (about China), the situation gets worse and worse where it's more and more difficult to speak out," he said. 
Fire is seen at the old Sarouja neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, July 16, 2023. The fire started inside a house in that area and spread to nearby homes. The damage was huge amid no precise estimation of losses. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Rescuers try to put out a fire at the old Sarouja neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, July 16, 2023. The fire started inside a house in that area and spread to nearby homes. The damage was huge amid no precise estimation of losses. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
Guest column: I took my stalker to court. With new Supreme Court ruling, I might not have gotten justice.
Russia seized control of the local subsidiaries of Frances Danone SA and Denmarks Carlsberg A/S under a decree aimed at companies from unfriendly countries.

Shares of Carlsbergs Baltika Brewing Co. and Danone Russia JSC will be transferred to Russias Federal Property Management Agency for temporary management, according to the decree by President Vladimir Putin.

It is only the second time the Kremlin has used the decree to seize assets. Credit: AP

The yoghurt maker and the brewer had been trying to leave Russia. The seizures are a warning to others like regional Coke bottler Coca-Cola HBC, which derives 12 per cent of its revenue in Russia and is among the most exposed according to Morgan Stanley.

Danone shares fell by 0.8 per cent and Carlsberg slid by 1.8 per cent on Monday. Writedowns were already largely priced in after Russia restricted whom they could sell to, the contributions they would have to make to state coffers and prohibited taking money out of the country.
Wang Huning, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivers a speech while attending a symposium on analyzing the economic situation in the first half of this year in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Monday stressed efforts to advance the healthy development of China's economy.

Wang, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks while attending a symposium on analyzing the economic situation in the first half of this year.

Wang called for efforts to think and act in line with the decisions and plans on economic work made by the CPC Central Committee, and work with greater confidence and determination to promote sustained and sound economic development.

Stressing the need to view China's economic situation from a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, Wang also urged achieving the annual economic development target with high quality.

The CPPCC should firmly grasp the focus of promoting high-quality development, and make contributions to the country's stable and long-term development, he said. 
In the 2002 movie Simone, Al Pacino plays a director whose star, played by Winona Ryder, walks out on him after saying her trailer on set isnt grand enough.

Disgusted, Pacinos character secretly creates an obedient computer-generated actress to replace his temperamental one. Simone is a perfect-looking blonde, named after the computer program that crafted her, Simulation One.

Al Pacino stars as a director who creates Simone, an obedient computer-generated actress. Credit: AP

But Simone is so successful  lavished with Oscars, adored by fans  that she overshadows her director, who becomes jealous and gets rid of her with a computer virus. But he has made her so realistic, he is charged with her murder.

Be careful what you wish for, Hollywood studios, as you mess with the primal force of AI.
She excelled at school and made friends easily, before returning to live with Minnie in Sydney and complete her schooling in 1939. Like most girls from Newtown, Marie left school at 14 to support her family. Looking for work, she was confronted with signs saying Catholics need not apply, or told she needed experience. Her solution was simple: she headed back to Lily and Les, working in their store for a few months before returning with the reference and necessary experience. Back in Sydney, she quickly found a job at McDowells in George Street, where shop assistants were paid little, but allowed an hour each day to shop in-store. Marie loved working in town, where she discovered boys and enjoyed going to the pictures and dances, but by this time World War II was in full swing, and people worried about the future. At the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, Maries brother Athol was part of the team building the Merlin engines that powered the legendary Spitfire plane. Marie joined the office staff at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, and stayed there for the remainder of the war. After the war, Marie met Cornelius Dunn, and they married after he left the Air Force. Con returned to school at night, matriculating and going on to study law. Marie and Con briefly lived with his family in Newtown before they moved with their first daughter, Michele, to Belmore. Marie and Con in Sydney around 1949.

Marie focused on creating and supporting the family, but as her children made their way through school, their studies reawakened her love of learning and she recommenced her studies at Sydney University. Marie on her wedding day St Josephs Church, Newtown, 1949. Researching her thesis on Newtown, Marie examined public school records, voting registries, municipal council letters, and other sources, assembling evidence to tell the stories of women in straitened times. She wrote about female experiences, of the young, the qualified professional and the widow and deserted wife. In the 1935 records of the girls primary school at Newtown, Marie found reports of overcrowding and obsolete equipment that were problems for pupils and their teachers as far back as 1931. The female teachers were confronted with large classes, poor facilities, and the prospect of dismissal with great formality when they married. A Departmental memo recorded an effective enrolment of 370 and a staff of six at Newtown Domestic Science School where girls studied the domestic skills of cooking, sewing and laundry, preparing them only for home duties or factory work.

Maries mother, Minnie, had found employment in the 1930s as a cleaner in the Lands Department. She was poorly paid, worked broken shifts and struggled to pay the rent. Records indicate the school cleaners at Newtown were in similar circumstances. One was a single mother who struggled to pay off her back rent, leading to the undersecretary of the Department of Education instructing her to take steps to liquidate the amount of your liability or her pay would be withheld. Another, a widow with two children, had the Widows Rebate withheld. Despite a statutory declaration and evidence of her entitlement, it appears the rebate was not reinstated. Gough Whitlam with Marie Dunn on her graduation day at Sydney University in 1983. Marie concluded: Those who could not pay their rent, those who were unemployed, those who were tenants, were perceived as a threat to the property-based values of the society, and Newtown people were regarded with hostility  by the writers of much government correspondence. Nevertheless, she noted: People in Newtown went regularly to their churches and picture shows and placed bets on the Saturday horse races. People were married and had birthdays and celebrated these events despite the harsh economic conditions. When war came, young Newtown men enlisted in the armed services. Marie submitted her thesis in 1983, the year after Con died at the age of 56. Soon after, she moved to Wollongong to support her daughters and their children. As she had done years earlier, Marie shepherded her four grandchildren through their studies, reading their textbooks too.
The ACTs top prosecutor, Shane Drumgold, SC, has been accused by an Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner of acting outside his authority after allegedly directing a junior officer to prepare a murder charge against a suspect last year.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, who is central to an inquiry into the handling of the Bruce Lehrmann rape trial, is on leave from his role. The inquirys head, Walter Sofronoff, KC, will deliver his findings in a fortnights time.

ACT top prosecutor Shane Drumgold, SC, allegedly directed a junior police officer to lay a murder charge last year. Credit: Rhett Wyman

In a published statement by AFP assistant commissioner Peter Crozier, previously a deputy police chief of the territory, Drumgold allegedly wrote to an AFP senior constable, directing a murder charge be laid.

After reviewing the relevant witness accounts, CCTV, photographs, and receiving advice of the cause of death, I am satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect of conviction for the offence of murder ... and direct that a charge be prepared, Crozier quoted a May 3, 2022 email as saying.
After Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, catapulted Qin Gang into the post of foreign minister in December, Qin set a frantic pace, meeting dozens of foreign officials as he pressed Beijings agenda in a divided, war-stricken world.

Then Qin went silent.

Missing: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Credit: AP

As of Monday, he had not made a public appearance in three weeks. His last reported engagements were on June 25, when he held talks with diplomats from Vietnam, Russia and Sri Lanka.

He was recently scheduled to meet the foreign policy chief of the European Union in Beijing, but China cancelled that visit. Last week, he missed a meeting of Southeast Asian countries in Jakarta, Indonesia, to which China was invited.
Massapequa Park: Detectives on Long Island are hunting for fresh clues about an architect arrested in connection with a string of murders known as the Gilgo Beach killings. Theyre combing through storage units linked to Rex Heuermann and using DNA evidence to see if hes connected to other cold cases.

The ongoing work on Monday marks an important new phase in a multi-agency investigation that  after years of dead ends and frustrations  led prosecutors to charge Heuermann with murder last Friday in the deaths of three of the 11 women whose remains were found buried along a remote beach highway in 2010 and 2011.

One of the Omega Self-Storage units near Massapequa Park, on Long Island. Credit: Google Maps

Heuermann, who has lived for decades across a bay from where the remains were found, is also considered the prime suspect in the killing of a fourth victim. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer said Heuermann denied committing the crimes.

Investigators have said its unlikely just one person killed all of the victims, and they insist the probe is far from over after the watershed moment of Heuermanns arrest.
BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A fragment of fossilized human parietal bone had been discovered at the Zhoukoudian site in the suburbs of Beijing, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said on Monday.

The fossil, discovered by a research team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the CAS, was identified among the mammal fossils in Location 15 at the Zhoukoudian site, with the aid of technologies including CT scanning and 3D reconstruction. It is the first Pleistocene human fossil discovered at the site since 1973.

Discovered in 1932, Location 15 is 70 meters from Location 1, or the Peking Man Site, where the first complete skull of Peking Man was found by Chinese archaeologist Pei Wenzhong in December 1929. Many stoneware and mammal fossils dating back some 200,000 years have been unearthed at Location 15.

The new fossil will help scientists explore human evolution in the region through comparative anatomical and molecular biological studies, and provides critical material for studies on the evolution pattern of ancient humans in China, according to Wu Xiujie with the research team. 
VLADIVOSTOK, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A top official of Crimea said Monday that traffic on the Crimean bridge was halted due to an emergency near its 145th support column.

Sergey Aksenov, the head of Crimea, made the statement on his Telegram channel, but did not reveal the cause of the incident.

"Traffic was halted on the Crimean bridge: an emergency happened near the 145th support from the Krasnodar Territory. Law enforcement agencies and all responsible services are working," Aksenov said in his statement, adding that they were taking measures to restore the situation.

Aksenov asked Crimean residents to stay calm and trust only reliable sources of information. 
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers early, then clear overnight. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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.
LANZHOU, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Eight people died and six were seriously injured following a pileup involving five cars and three trucks on an expressway in northwest China's Gansu Province on Monday, local authorities said.

The rear-end crashes occurred at about 11:15 a.m. on a section of an expressway in Shandan County, Zhangye City, according to the provincial emergency management authorities.

All the injured have been rushed to the Shandan county people's hospital and the Zhangye municipal people's hospital for medical treatment.

The on-site rescue operation has ended and an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. 
Before she could even ask to do a trade the policeman crouched down to Scarletts level offering up one of his many beaded bracelets for Scarlett to pick.
3 Survivors Rescued From Rubble of Collapsed Apartment Building in Naples, Italian Officials Say

A wing of a three-story apartment building collapsed in Torre Del Greco, a seaside suburb of Naples, in Italy, on July 16, 2023, in a still from video. (Italian Firefighters Via AP)

ROMEA wing of a three-story apartment building collapsed Sunday in a seaside suburb of Naples, and three people were pulled out alive from the rubble, Italian officials said.

As of now, there are no indications of people missing, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for Italys national firefighters corps, of the collapse of the building in Torre del Greco, a town 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Naples.

Firefighters initially said they pulled out two survivors. Later a local interior ministry official confirmed Italian media reports that a third survivor was rescued.

Local officials told reporters at the scene that all persons were accounted for.

Its a miracle, really a miracle, Torre del Greco Mayor Luigi Mennella told state TV. Some 23 people lived in the building, and the town was working to find temporary housing for those residents and some 20 others who lived in adjacent buildings, he said.

Among those pulled alive from the mound of rubble was the owner of a pizzeria down the block who happened to be in front of the building when it collapsed, Rai state TV said.

Survivors were being treated in hospital for fractures, Rai said.

Two passersby were slightly injured by fragments of debris and were treated at the scene, Italian news reports said.

Rai TV said five families were living in the building, which it described as run-down in Italys southern Campania region.

Firefighters posted on Twitter that dogs trained to search for people in building collapses worked with the rescue teams, who brought in earth-moving equipment to aid their efforts. Police and firefighters scrambled over a mound of rubble in their search.

Cause of the collapse of the building, believed to be about 200 years old, was under investigation.
I think this might be one of the most consequential decisions in First Amendment jurisprudence in 200 years. You have a federal judge, in a case brought by two states in Americaso, two attorney generals: Missouri and Louisianasaying that the federal government has violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by colluding widely with social media companies to censor speech.

In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Siri, managing partner at Siri & Glimstad, to discuss the landmark First Amendment case Missouri v. Biden.

What our federal government was doing with social media companies was a massive step in that direction towards the repressive terror of regimes weve seen of old, says Mr. Siri.

After the judge granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against the federal government, the latter requested a stay on the injunction.

Basically, they went back to the judge and said, Please let us continue violating the First Amendment. And the judge said, No,' says Mr. Siri.

Since the taping of this interview, a federal appeals court has temporarily paused the lower court order limiting communications between top Biden administration officials and social media companies about content posted to their platforms.
Abominable RFK Jr. Anti-Semitism Accusation a Harbinger of Things to Come

Commentary

It was sometime around 8 a.m. on July 15, the morning after I had interviewed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for our Presidential Roller Coaster 2024 series, when the following New York Post headline popped up on my iPhone:

RFK Jr. says COVID may have been ethnically targeted to spare Jews

What in the Sam Hill, I thought. This didnt remotely compute with the man I had been talking with only hours earlier. This must be yellow journalism.

It was. I knew it as soon as I read the first few paragraphs:

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dished out wild COVID-19 conspiracy theories this week during a press event at an Upper East Side restaurant, claiming the bug was a genetically engineered bioweapon that may have been ethnically targeted to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people.

Kennedy floated the idea during a question-and-answer portion of raucous booze and fart-filled dinner at Tonys Di Napoli on East 63rd Street.

COVID-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, Kennedy said. COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

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, Kennedy hedged.

Hedged?

Thats what the author, Jon Levine, wants us to believe, but I would imagine Mr. Kennedy, who has been researching medical matters for years and wrote that detailed book on the malfeasances of Dr. Anthony Fauci, is merely filling in something that has been known scientifically for a long timethat different ethnic groups are more prone to different diseases and therefore vulnerable in different ways.

What Mr. Kennedy was clearly doing in this after-hours discussion that was supposed to be off the record (they never are) was warning of the dangerous ability of viruses to be used as bioweapons against various ethnicitiessomething that several countries have in all probability been working on for years or decades in clandestine manners.

To claim that COVID-19 is the product of a cabal of Chinese and Jews is so ridiculous that it only speaks to what the author wants to believe or, more accurately, wants us to believe Mr. Kennedy meant.

Which Chinese and which Jews? Its hard to imagine since Israel was locked down to such a degree it made California look like Florida. Also, Israeli scientists were working around the clock to invent a successful vaccine but got nowhere. If they had been in on the original design, you would think they would have been able to do something, or at least would have had a leg up.

The internet being what it is, this fake news accusation went around the world faster than, to paraphrase Churchill, the truth had a chance to get its pants on. The lie appeared almost immediately in numerous publications from the Daily Mail to the Daily Beast as if it had to be true that RFK Jr. were anti-Semitic.

But Mr. Kennedy doesnt need me to defend him. Hes doing a fine job himself, including demanding a retraction from the Post and an apology from Mr. Levine, in his Twitter feed.

So whats actually going on here? This isnt, in the end, really about anti-Semitism, real or imagined. It was just low-hanging fruit and a canary in the coal minea harbinger of many dastardly smears of the candidate to come.

If theres one thing the military-industrial complex (endless wars from Iraq to Ukraine) and the health care-industrial complex (Big Pharma, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al.) do not want, its a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidency.

Big Tech probably isnt very keen on it, either.

It would cost them all incalculable amounts of money, much of it courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer and a complaisant government.

Most of all, the current leadership of the Democratic Partybent on exploiting every so-called progressive policy, no matter how looney, for maximum gain and powerdont want anyone bringing their party back to sanity, under the leadership of Mr. Kennedy or anyone else.

Notable is that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is backing President Joe Biden for reelection, not RFK Jr.

And then theres the CIA, whose antipathy for RFK Jr. should be obvious to all those with even a passing knowledge of the lives and deaths of his father and uncle, who wanted that organization splintered into a thousand pieces and cast to the winds.

In all, its no surprise then that the corporate media, in which we now must include the New York Post of the increasingly untrustworthy Murdoch empire, are now the mouthpiece of anti-RFK Jr. propaganda. More, and most probably worse, will come.

What we are looking at is what we might call the coming Plot Against Kennedy after Lee Smiths best-selling The Plot Against the President, which detailed the subversion of Donald J. Trump before and after his presidency by many of the same parties.

The similarity between the treatment of Trump by corporate media that was always dishonest and is now, if anything, worse, and the beginnings of the treatment of RFK Jr. is all too obvious.

My interview with the candidate, in which we discuss the anti-Semitism accusation and other matters, including, of course, the CIA, will appear shortly.

Roger L. Simons new bookAmerican Refugeeswill be published by Encounter in September.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Alleged Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Rex Heuermanns Lawyer Speaks Out

Detectives investigating the long-unsolved murders known as the Gilgo Beach killings searched a storage facility in the Long Island community of Amityville over the weekend as his attorney on Monday disputed claims about his client.

Suffolk County police confirmed Monday that detectives executed a search warrant at Omega Self Storage on Sunrise Highway related to the investigation that led to last weeks arrest of Rex Heuermann, a married architect with children who worked at a Manhattan office. Mr. Heuermann was charged in the murders of three women and is suspected to be the killer of a fourth woman in a case where 11 victims remains were found buried along a beach highway.

His attorney, Michael Brown, told news outlets that Mr. Heuermann has denied the killings. In a statement, his defense attorney said that he is a loving husband and devoted father and also suggested the Suffolk County task force involved in the investigation is ignoring stronger leads, without elaborating.

Rex Heuermann is 59 years old with no prior criminal history, Mr. Brown said in a statement to local channel News 12 Long Island. He is a loving husband to his wife of over 25 years and an involved and dedicated father to his daughter and stepson.

There is nothing about Mr. Heuermann that would suggest that he is involved in these incidents, the statement continued to say. And while the government has decided to focus on him despite more significant and stronger leads, we are looking forward to defending him in a court of law before a fair and impartial jury of his peers.

Crime laboratory officers arrive at the house where a suspect has been taken into custody on New Yorks Long Island in connection with a long-unsolved string of killings, known as the Gilgo Beach murders, in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on July 14, 2023. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)

Mr. Heuermann, who has lived for decades across a bay from where the remains were found, was first identified as a suspect in the killings in March 2022, when detectives linked him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010, officials said in court papers.

Mr. Heuermann was arrested on July 13 outside his office and was charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27. Their bodies were found in 2010 in a marshy, remote area along Gilgo Beach. He is also suspected in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, who was also found in the same area around the same time.

The flurry of activity on Monday comes as a district attorney revealed that the suspects arrest occurred faster than they had anticipated.

In a comment about the case on Monday morning, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told Fox News that he believes the suspect didnt expect to be taken into custody in Manhattan several days agodespite him allegedly closely monitoring the investigation via the Internet. The district attorney said the arrest came because officials were able to maintain that secrecy during an investigation.

Police officers stand guard near the house where a suspect has been taken into custody on New Yorks Long Island in connection with a long-unsolved string of killings, known as the Gilgo Beach murders, in Massapequa Park, N.Y., on July 14, 2023. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

I think he was extremely surprised, Mr. Tierney said Monday, adding that Mr. Heuermann was apparently monitoring the investigation into the killings through Google searches. I think we utilized the grand jury because we wanted to maintain investigative secrecy. We were concerned about that all along.

According to the district attorney, Mr. Heuermann was allegedly asking questions via Google including, What is the phone evidence in the Gilgo case, and why officials cant trace the phones in the Gilgo case.

It means that the suspect was asking specific questions with regard to our investigative means, Mr. Tierney said. He was also making searches of the victims, looking at pictures of the victims online, and he was running searches of the victims siblings and, in one instance, admitted that he was the killer, he added. He had some disparaging things to say about the sister and said he was going to come find her.

In court papers, police said they linked the suspect to the crimes via witness tips, cellular phone records, burner phones, and DNA that was taken from pizza crust. Officials also said the killer provided clues, including strands of hair, the burlap used to wrap the bodies, and a belt embossed with possible initials. They also linked Mr. Heuermann to a dark green Chevy Avalanche pickup truck.

Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter told reporters described the crimes as horrific and the worst Ive ever seen, describing the killer as a demon multiple times last week.

Its really hard to get into the mind of somebody thats capable of committing the crimes that he committed, Mr. Carter said. He intended to commit these crimes. He intended to cover up these crimes, and the acts that he committed were the worst Ive ever seen, he said.

If convicted on all charges, Mr. Heuermann would face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
American Who Was Kidnapped in Mexico Found Alive After Being Missing for 8 Months

A woman is carried to the back of a white pickup truck in this still image obtained from social media video that allegedly shows the kidnapping of Americans in Matamoros, Mexico, on March 3, 2023. (Video obtained by Reuters)

According to FBI authorities, an American kidnapped in Mexico has been found alive after being missing for eight months and is now safely back home.

Monica De Leon Barba, a U.S. citizen, was reported missing on Nov. 29, 2022, and was taken in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, as she walked home from work with her dog.

The FBI is pleased to announce that Monica De Leon Barba is safe and en route to the US where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity, the FBI wrote on Twitter on July 15.

According to the FBI, Ms. De Leon Barba was released by her captors on the evening of July 14.

A Congolese policeman walks as he responds to protests in the Majengo neighborhood of Goma, Congo, on March 22, 2019, following four deaths and 10 kidnappings the previous night by unknown assailants. (Luke Dennison/AFP via Getty Images)

The FBI previously stated that it offered up to $40,000 for information helpful in locating Ms. De Leon Barba. The award announcement in March was the FBIs first public acknowledgment that it had been investigating the kidnapping.

On July 15, the FBI wrote on social media that authorities have made no arrests and are still investigating the captors identities.

The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Ms. De Leon Barba returned home 10 days after her 30th birthday and reunited in the Bay Area with her dog and brother.

We can finally close this chapter in our lives and work on the long road of healing we have ahead, her brother, Gustavo De Leon, said in a Facebook post.

At the time, the videos pinpointed at least five suspects involved in the kidnapping and who drove away separately in three vehiclesa white Chevy Suburban, a gray Dodge Charger, and a silver Volkswagen Jetta, according to the agency.

Mr. De Leon said kidnappers had been holding his sister hostage for money since the abduction happened and that they had sent evidence that his sister was still alive.

For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and partners here and in Mexico. Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound, Mr. Tripp said in a July 15 statement.

He thanked the Mateo community for its endless support in helping to find Ms. Barba.

The U.S. State Department has a travel advisory in place for Jalisco. The State Department says people should reconsider travel there because of violent crime and gang activity.

In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups occur in tourist areas. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping, the advisory reads.
ANALYSIS: Beijings Emissions Commitment Being Questioned as Kerry Holds Climate Talks in China

A Chinese resident looks out the window of her house next to a coal-fired power plant in Shanxi Province, China, on Nov. 26, 2015. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

News Analysis

U.S. President Joe Bidens climate envoy, John Kerry, called for real progress before the year-end U.N. climate summit during four hours of talks with Chinas special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, in China on July 17.

However, the meeting appears to have made no progress in addressing longstanding concerns about Chinas commitment to reducing carbon emissions while pushing its climate agenda globally.

The meeting was the first major climate discussion between the United States and China in nearly a year. In August 2022, the Chinese regime cut down communication with the United States over a series of issues, including military and climate change, after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan infuriated Beijing.

Its imperative that China and the United States make real progress in the four months before the 28th U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Kerry said as delegates gathered in a conference room overlooking Beijings Forbidden City on the morning of July 17.

Mr. Kerry called on the two nations to work together to reduce methane emissions and other greenhouse gases.

He also tried to push China to reduce its reliance on coal-fired energy production. Mr. Kerry praised the incredible job China has been doing in building up renewable energy capacity but said it had been undercut by the construction of new coal power plants.

China agreed to phase down coal use starting in 2026, which means that its coal consumption will continue to rise in the next two years. Last year, Chinese officials approved more new coal plants than ever in the past seven years.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry held talks with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing on July 17, 2023. (Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to cut carbon emissions, but it wont start until 2030. Mr. Xi vowed to make the country carbon-neutral by 2060.

Before the meeting, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on July 16 that the world should pressure China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions.

They should not be able to hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation to step up to their responsibility, Mr. Sullivan said. 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.

At the 27th U.N. climate summit in November 2022, Mr. Xie said it was the responsibility of developed countries to pay into climate funds. Developing nations such as China do not have the responsibility to contribute to loss and damage funds to help poor nations, he said.

Leverage

Mr. Kerry landed 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. With tensions continuing to rise, the Biden administration seeks to resume communication lines between Beijing and Washington.

Nevertheless, there wasnt any major breakthrough following the trips to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Mr. Blinken said last month that China still refused to renew high-level military communications despite his repeated requests during the meetings with Mr. Xi and other top diplomats in Beijing.

During the July 17 meeting, Mr. Kerry urged the two countries to set aside diplomatic tensions to focus on the climate agenda.

In the next three days, we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves, he said.

Mr. Xie also said he hoped that their talks could improve bilateral ties.

Mr. Kerry and Mr. Xie met on July 17 for a one-on-one dinner. Mr. Kerry complimented Mr. Xie for being back at work after overcoming illness. Both referred to each other as old friends.

Yesterday, after we met each other, I did a little calculation, Mr. Xie said on July 17. I counted that since the two of us have been appointed special envoys, we have met 53 times.

Despite their warm tones, Chinas hawkish state-run media outlet Global Times, in an editorial published on July 16 after Mr. Kerry arrived in China, dampened any expectation that there might be a breakthrough in bilateral cooperation on climate issues.

ChinaU.S. climate cooperation is unlikely to see a real ice-breaking outcome with Kerrys visit alone, the outlet wrote, before questioning whether the U.S. government is sincere about climate cooperation.

The communist regime has been demanding that the U.S. government agree to its one-China principle, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, while labeling any U.S. measures that support the self-ruled island, such as selling the Taiwanese government defense weapons, as interfering in its internal affairs.

In a separate briefing on July 17, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry, warned that Taiwan is the red line in SinoU.S. ties when asked about a planned visit next month to the United States by Taiwan presidential frontrunner Vice President William Lai.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Theres no doubt that the Biden administration wants the help of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with Mr. Kerry telling lawmakers during a hearing last week that China is critical to our being able to solve this [climate] problem.

For the communist regime, there are strings attached to any climate cooperation with the United States. Anders Corr, principal at the New York-based political consultancy firm Corr Analytics and an Epoch Times contributor, wrote in a July 14 op-ed that the CCP is using climate issues as leverage to seek U.S. concessions, drawing that conclusion based on Chinas state-media reports and comments from a climate expert in China.

The CCP is going to let the world broil unless we cough up Taiwan. Thats extortion, clear and simple, Mr. Corr wrote. Taiwan isnt the only concession Beijing seeks for closing down its coal-fired power plants.

Mr. Corr suggested that Beijing would also want the U.S. government to ease its sanctions, tariffs, and trade restrictions on China in return for its cooperation on climate change.

Ambitions

The Oil & Gas Workers Association, a Texas-based independent trade association that has been outspoken about the threats posed by Chinas communist regime, took to Twitter on July 12 to suggest that there would be no deal on climate between China and the United States, tagging Mr. Kerrys Twitter account in the post.

China is preparing for war, not saving the planet, the association wrote, quoting Chuck DeVore, chief national initiatives officer of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Mr. DeVores comments were published by Fox News in November 2022. In his op-ed, he wrote, The Chinese have been cloaking their preparations for war as a green energy push.

He said China had been laying the groundwork to reduce its dependence on imported oil and natural gas while expanding its use of coal to generate electricity. In other words, Beijing was rapidly increasing its coal-to-liquid capacity.

Simply put, Chinas coal-to-liquids effort allows China to weather a U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Malacca, giving the Chinese Communist Party enormous latitude to pursue military aggression against its neighbors while keeping its economy running, Mr. DeVore wrote.

According to a February report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Global Energy Monitor, Chinas coal project activity accelerated in 2022, with 50 percent more construction started than in 2021. In 2022, the coal power capacity starting construction in China was six times as large as that in all of the rest of the world combined, the report states.

Trucks loaded with coal at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 24, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)

While it remains to be seen whether the CCP will start a war, theres no doubt that the regime is aiming to reshape the current rule-based international order. In February, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence stated in a report (pdf) that Beijing is using its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other initiatives to promote a China-led alternative to the current world order.

The report further explained why the CCP would commit to climate issues while expanding BRI globally.

Beijing will continue to promote the BRI while adjusting its response to public criticism and sustainability challenges by pledging deeper cooperation on clean energy, electric vehicles, and climate change, the report reads. It will diversify project selection in an attempt to improve the initiatives brand and minimize international criticism.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Anthony Furey: We Must Act Now to Stop the Decline of Our Cities

Commentary

During my recent run to become mayor of Toronto, one line I heard from a lot of people was that they were considering moving out of town if Olivia Chow won the election. The challenges on our streets have become so dire on a number of frontscrime, affordability, gridlockthat an exodus from the cities is becoming more likely.

Well see how many people make good on their threat following Chows victory. These sorts of sentiments have become common, such as how American progressive celebrities pledged to move to Canada if Donald Trump won the presidency.

But this time feels different. There are already people who have left Toronto. Businesses could leave as well. There will also be lost opportunity costs, where investors and individuals who might have come to Toronto will stay away.

Lets be clear. This isnt so much about a specific distaste for Chow herself. Rather, its the sense that Toronto is in a state of decline and people are at their wits end. They want to see Toronto turned around and they believe a left-leaning mayor will only make things worse.

Theres now a lack of confidence in the city itself. This is tragic. And its not isolated to Toronto. Theres a general sense that our cities are in decline and too many members of the political class are unwilling or unable to acknowledge the situation and then do something about it.

Last weeks shooting death of an innocent bystander in the usually pleasant Leslieville neighbourhood in Torontos East End was for many a turning point in the citys ongoing descent.

Karolina Huebner-Makurat was a middle-class mother of two young girls who was out walking on the sidewalk to get food when she was killed by a stray bullet. Its the sort of heartbreaking tragedy that should never happen.

Leslieville has transformed in the past 20 years into one of the citys trendier areas, with new cafes, microbreweries, and the rising property values that come with such gentrification. Its the last place youd expect a shooting.

Except for the fact that there is a drug-injection site in the area thats been fuelling chaos. For years, its been plain obvious that drug sites create localized disorder among the people who use drugsthey act irrational and violent on the streets. But what also happens is that drug dealers flock to where their customers are, and the scum who were exchanging gunfire were part of that system.

No one was surprised to learn that one of the suspects arrested in the shooting has a long criminal record. Its now been well over a year that the public and law enforcement have been demanding the federal government do something about the lax bail conditions that send criminals back onto the streets to inevitably re-offend. Yet so far we have seen no meaningful action.

The first press conference I gave as a mayoral candidate was to announce that I would phase out drug-injection sites and replace them with treatment centres. The more of these sites that are built in Canadaand there are more on the waythe more overdose deaths, public disorder, and crime we get as a result.

The Toronto Police Association made a social media post right after the shooting death that got directly to the point: Where is the outrage from the public/local politicians over an innocent bystander being murdered in broad daylight on our city streets?

We cant become desensitized to these events. We cant normalize them. The response should be anger. And any politician who claims the solution to these problems is more social programs or social workers needs to be publicly ridiculed for such an enabling response.

The truth is that Toronto, and other cities, are now suffering from many of the same broken windows problems that plagued the urban landscape back in the 1980s. A general sense of lawlessness is once again spreading throughout North America.

We are at risk of a downward spiral, where an inability or a reluctance to tackle these issues head-on only worsens the problem.

If people lose confidence in the safety of their city, businesses will no longer invest, there will be fewer jobs and opportunities, and the tax base will erode. Well have fewer funds for law enforcement and basic social services.

This happened to American cities in past generations and its happening again now. While Canadian cities arent yet as bad, we are trending in that direction. We must act now to stop a further decline.

Full disclosure: Anthony Furey ran for mayor in the recent Toronto mayoral by-election.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Staff members sort out crawfish at a food company in Nanxian County, central China's Hunan Province, on June 1, 2023. Summer brings the arrival of the crawfish season, turning Nanxian County into a bustling hub of activity. Situated in the hinterland of Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, Nanxian is known for its abundant water resources. It boasts an impressive average daily yield of 850 tonnes of crawfish.(Xinhua/Zhang Ge)

CHANGSHA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Dehui springs out of bed at around 4 a.m. each morning, while the sky is still dark, swiftly dons his waterproof waders and heads for the crawfish fields.

Zhang is a rice and crawfish farmer from Nanxian County in central China's Hunan Province. He has devoted 136 mu (about 9.07 hectares) of land to a unique agricultural practice known as "crawfish-rice rotation," which involves planting rice during one season and rearing crawfish in fallow fields during the subsequent season.

"After midnight during the summer, temperatures tend to be relatively cool, making crawfish less irritable and easier to transport," Zhang said, adding that he has built a temporary shelter among the fields, allowing him to sleep there and check on the health of the animals.

"Every day, about 1,000 kilograms of crawfish are caught in my fields. By rotating crawfish and rice, I can make about 3,000 yuan (about 418 U.S. dollars) per mu annually in net income," said Zhang.

Summer brings the arrival of the crawfish season, turning Nanxian County into a bustling hub of activity. Situated in the hinterland of Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, Nanxian is known for its abundant water resources. It boasts an impressive average daily yield of 850 tonnes of crawfish.

The morning ushers in a flurry of activity in Nanxian's aquatic trade, with local farms taking their catch to market.

"The combination of fertile soil, abundant water, and suitable climate greatly contributes to the exceptional quality of our crawfish," said Peng Liu, the manager of a crawfish market. Dedicated to his work, Peng routinely greets the sunrise at the market, where he waits for deliveries from local farms.

"Upon receiving the crawfish from the farmers, we will carefully sort them and send the fresh ones to markets in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities across China, as well as to some local food processing plants," Peng said.

In Shunxiang Food Co., Ltd. in Nanxian County, the crawfish on the production line undergo a systematic sorting process using machines that categorize them based on their size. The crawfish then move through a series of automated or semi-automated procedures, such as ultrasonic cleaning, steaming, cooling, stir-frying and mixing with various seasonings. Finally, they are packaged into pre-prepared food products with different flavors.

"Our company's crawfish products include crawfish tails, whole crawfish and various other lines, with an annual export value expected to exceed 20 million U.S. dollars," said Liu Qunze, deputy general manager of the company.

Liu said that the company currently exports a wide range of crawfish products to over 40 countries and regions across Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia. "We have developed a lineup of more than 200 different crawfish flavors to cater to diverse consumer preferences and eating habits worldwide."

In recent years, as part of the rural revitalization and modernization of agriculture initiatives, numerous Chinese counties have proactively focused on enhancing the quality of their agricultural products. They have also embarked on efforts to explore international markets, aiming to increase the global recognition and popularity of products like the crawfish farmed in Nanxian County.

After arriving in China to pursue her studies, Vietnamese student Tran Thu Trang was attracted by the rich and diverse Chinese food culture. From the renowned Peking duck to savory soup dumplings and spicy crawfish, she eagerly delved into exploring local food streets in every city she visited, immersing herself in regional snacks and culinary delights. She has also shared her culinary adventures with others, posting vlogs of her food excursions on social media platforms.

"The local specialities in each Chinese city provide insights into the region's climate, geography and human history. For instance, the crawfish we sampled in Hunan Province exemplifies the locals' love of spicy cuisine," she said, adding that understanding Chinese cities begins with the ability to appreciate their diverse food offerings. Enditem

(Wu Haowen also contributed to the story.)

Staff members operate at a workshop of a crawfish processing plant in Nanxian County, central China's Hunan Province, on June 1, 2023. Summer brings the arrival of the crawfish season, turning Nanxian County into a bustling hub of activity. Situated in the hinterland of Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, Nanxian is known for its abundant water resources. It boasts an impressive average daily yield of 850 tonnes of crawfish. (Xinhua/Zhang Ge)

Crawfish farmer Zhang Dehui harvests crawfish at his farm in Nanxian County, central China's Hunan Province, June 2, 2023. Summer brings the arrival of the crawfish season, turning Nanxian County into a bustling hub of activity. Situated in the hinterland of Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, Nanxian is known for its abundant water resources. It boasts an impressive average daily yield of 850 tonnes of crawfish. (Xinhua)
Arizona School Board Members Criticized for Quoting Scripture at Public Meetings

Laramie LGBT resident and University of Wyoming alumni Ray Kasckow holds pins about gender pronouns, on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, Wyoming, on Aug. 13, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Arizonas Peoria Unified School District faces possible legal action over two Christian school board members quoting Bible verses at public meetings.

It would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6, Rebecca Hill said during a May board meeting, according to news outlet KJZZ.

The states most prominent teachers union and a secular education organization have accused Ms. Hill and fellow board member Heather Rooks of imposing their religious beliefs during board meetings by quoting scripture.

On May 25, an attorney representing the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to district school-board president David Sandoval requesting the school district take appropriate action to stop Hill and Rooks from using their government positions to promote their religious beliefs.

A concerned Peoria Unified School District employee has reported that board member Heather Rooks has been using her position on the board to foist her personal religious beliefs upon district parents and community members, Christopher Line wrote.

Our complainant reports that Ms. Rooks quotes from The Bible at every board meeting and that other board members have started to do so also.

For instance, at the most recent meeting on May 11, board member Rebecca Hill recited a disturbing Bible verse that threatens those who are not Christian, suggesting that non-Christians or those who lead people away from Christ should be drowned in the sea.

Promotes Student Exodus

Mr. Line described the FFRF as a national nonprofit to protect the constitutional separation between church and state and to educate the public on matters relating to non-theism.

While board members are free to promote their personal religious beliefs however they wish in their personal capacities outside of the school board, as government officials they cannot be allowed to commandeer the board to impose their personal religious beliefs on district students, parents, and employees, Mr. Line wrote.

We ask that the board take whatever action necessary to ensure that Ms. Rooks and all other members of the board respect the constitutional rights of the Peoria Unified School District community.

Ms. Hill voiced disappointment after the boards 3-2 decision on April 27 rejecting gender-specific restrooms for students, saying the district was going down a very dark road morally, according to Arizona Family.

Ms. Hill advised parents to remove their children from the school district using vouchers in private or home schools.

Public education isnt going in the right direction. God is not blessing this district, Ms. Hill said in Arizona Family.

A petition by the Arizona Education Association demands Hill resign from the district board effectively immediately.

The petition claims Hill met with Rooks, the governing board clerk, in a restroom divulging privileged information violating the states open meeting law.

You violated these policies by conspiring against the district and other governing board members. You and Clerk Rooks were overheard discussing efforts to organize actions against the district in an effort to push forward your personal agenda related to gender bathroom policy.

The Epoch Times could not immediately reach Ms. Rooks for comment. Ms. Hill did not return a phone call or email requesting comment.
Australias therapeutic goods administration (TGA) has announced that reports on myocarditis and pericarditis cases following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are not necessary anymore and will no longer be provided.

Australias national drug authority says this is because the rates have stabilised.

However, the TGA will continue to monitor and review these adverse effects and will communicate any updated safety advice if needed, they said in a statement.

Both myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) are considered side effects of mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions independent committee of vaccine experts has also found a link between heart inflammation and the mRNA vaccines after over 1,200 cases of heart inflammation were reported in people post-vaccination.

In Australia, the total number of pericarditis cases resulting from a COVID-19 vaccine is 3,823, with six resulting in death, based on the administrations Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN) as of July 17.

There have been 1,330 cases of myocarditis to date, with 17 resulting in death.

For COVID-19 vaccines, the TGA reports 3,823 cases of pericarditis, with six resulting in death, and 1,330 cases of myocarditis, with 17 resulting in fatalities. (Screenshot/DAEN)

Cardiac Deaths On the Rise in Australia

The decision to stop reporting the deaths comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) noted that deaths due to cardiac conditions that were not associated with ischaemic heart disease were 19.8 percent above the baseline average in March 2023.

However, they were 0.8 percent lower than in March 2022.

Additionally, other cardiac deaths from January to March 2023 were 17.5 percent higher than the baseline average and 1.9 percent higher than the same period in 2022.

The age-standardised death rate for deaths due to other cardiac conditions was 2.1 per 100,000 people in March 2023. This compares to a baseline average rate of 2.0 and a rate of 2.2 in March 2022, the ABS said.

Myocarditis and mRNA Vaccines

The Spikevax (Moderna) came under close scrutiny by European countries after studies found an increased incidence of myocarditis or pericarditis after a second dose of the mRNA vaccines among adolescent and young adult males.

Soon after, Sweden and other Nordic countries, including Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, restricted the use of Modernas shots for young people.

Canada has also identified a higher risk, with the nations public health agency raising concerns that cases appear to occur the most frequently amongst:

adolescent and young adults

males

following a second dose

typically occurring within seven days after vaccination.

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine rests on a table at a clinic in Puyallup, Wash., on March 4, 2021. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

Despite overseas data and responses, Moderna is still approved for those aged six years and over in Australia, with the TGA saying that the protective benefits far outweigh the potential risks.

The latest information from the Australian Health Department is that:

The benefits of vaccination with Moderna greatly outweigh the risk of side effects. Very large clinical trials have shown that Moderna is effective in preventing and protecting against serious illness from COVID-19 in people aged 12 years and older.

Adults who had two doses of Moderna were about 94 percent less likely to become ill from COVID-19 than people who did not get the vaccine.

The vaccine was also effective in people aged 65 years and in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.

To July 9, 2023, more than five million doses of Moderna have been administered in Australia.

According to the DAEN website, in Australia, there have been 7,834 reported adverse reactions to Modernas different vaccines, while 7,452 were tied to the vaccine. Additionally, 38 people have died from adverse reactions to the Moderna Spikevax vaccines.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Moderna for comment on the issue.

As of July 17, there have been a total of 138,912 reported adverse reactions to all COVID-19 vaccines in Australia since 2020; of those, 135,323 were attributed solely to the vaccines, and there have been 995 reported deaths.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which advises the government on vaccines, has changed its advice around the shots, with healthy Australians aged 18-64 now told they may choose whether or not to get a COVID-19 booster vaccine if they have received an original dose.

Australians who are 18-64 and have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 or disability with significant or complex health needs are recommended to have a booster dose, as are those aged 5-17 who have complex medical conditions.

However, ATAGI does not recommend any healthy child aged 5-17 receive a booster dose.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
Australian Treasurer Remains Positive About Progress of A Global Minimum Tax at G20 Meeting

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks to the media during a press conference to announce the newly appointed RBA governor at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 14, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers expects to see some progress on the global minimum tax reform in the coming days as he flies to India to attend a major G20 meeting.

G20 financial ministers and reserve bank governors will gather at Gandhinagar, India, from July 17-18 to discuss crucial issues concerning the global economy.

One major issue to be discussed at the meeting is the adoption of a set of international tax rules, which introduces a global minimum tax to address problems arising from the digitalisation of the global economy.

During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before heading to India, Mr. Chalmers remained optimistic about the progress of the tax reform.

Theres been progress made over the years, and we want to advance that progress further. This is a really important opportunity to make sure that we get the multinational tax arrangements right so that companies pay taxes where they make their profits so that we can fund services in countries like ours, he said.

Theres a program from the OECD (Economic Co-operation and Development)governments of both persuasions here in Australia have participated in that.

And ideally, at these G20 meetings of economic ministers and central bank governors, ideally, we will advance that agenda a bit further.

A boat sails in front of the skyline in Sydney, Australia on May 2, 2013. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

The treasurer noted that Australia had made preparations in relation to domestic policies to facilitate international tax reform.

He also believed that Australia would benefit from the extra US$220 billion (AU$323 billion) in estimated global tax revenue generated by the introduction of an international minimum tax targeting multinational companies.

We cost, and we update our multinational tax proposals as they evolve. And hopefully, this meeting in India in the first half of next week, we can progress these matters in the interests of the Australian people, Mr. Chalmers said.

What is the Global Minimum Tax

The global minimum tax is part of the OECDs domestic tax base erosion and profit-shifting project that aims to resolve the issue of multinational enterprises exploiting the differences in countries tax systems to avoid tax.

Under the proposed changes, multinational enterprises with annual global revenue of 750 million will need to pay a 15 percent minimum tax rate in each jurisdiction they operate.

In addition, countries would be able to impose a top-up tax on resident multinational companies if their income is taxed below 15 percent overseas.

According to consultancy giant KPMG, a minimum global tax would neutralise the effects of low tax incentives offered by some countries to attract foreign investments.

This would deter multinational companies from setting up bases or branches in tax havens to maximise their profits.

However, it will result in countries that rely on tax incentives losing their advantage and suffering from investment losses.

Furthermore, as a parent jurisdiction can impose a top-up tax on resident multinational companies, overseas countries offering tax incentives may see an outflow of tax revenue.

The Australian government announced in the May federal budget that it would implement a 15 percent global minimum tax for multinational companies and a 15 percent global domestic minimum tax from July 1, 2024.

However, the proposed changes have not become law.

The OECD estimated that around US$240 billion was lost to tax avoidance committed by multinational companies each year.

So far, over 135 countries have agreed to collaborate on implementing international tax reform.
Biden Talks With Netanyahu on Iran, Judicial Reform Days Before Israeli Presidents Visit

President Joe Biden speaks to the National Education Association Annual Representative Assembly virtually from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on July 4, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Joe Biden talked with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a wide range of issuesjust days before Mr. Biden meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Mr. Biden underscored his iron-clad, unwavering commitment to Israels security and condemned recent acts of terror against Israeli citizens, according to a readout by the White House on July 17.

Notably, Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu discussed close coordination [between the U.S. and Israel] to counter Iran, including through regular and ongoing joint military exercises, and that the U.S.-Israel alliance is key to stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, according to the White House.

Mr. Biden stressed the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and improve the security situation in the West Bank. Just weeks ago, Israel conducted an anti-terrorism operation in Jenin, a city in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, notorious for harboring Palestinian terrorism.

Mr. Biden, according to the White House, welcomed Israels willingness to consider new steps to support Palestinian livelihoods, and recognized promising steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank.

Additionally, Mr. Biden expressed concerns over Israel building neighborhoods in the West Bank, per the White House.

Moreover, Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu concurred on building upon Middle East peace, according to the White House. Almost three years ago, Israel normalized ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan in what is known as the Abraham Accords.

U.S. President Joe Biden poses for a picture with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) at the Presidential residence in Jerusalem on July 14, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Israels Judiciary

As it pertained to Mr. Netanyahus efforts to change Israels judiciary, especially its supreme court, Mr. Biden reiterated, in the context of the current debate in Israel about judicial reform, the need for the broadest possible consensus, and that shared democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship, per the White House.

The call between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu comes just days until Mr. Herzog visits Washington, where he is scheduled to meet Mr. Biden at the White House on July 18, in what has been seen as a snubbing by Mr. Biden of Mr. Netanyahu, and give an address to a joint session of Congress on July 19 in commemoration of Israels 75th anniversary. A handful of progressive DemocratsReps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), and Cori Bush (Mo.)have said they will boycott the speech.

In March, Mr. Biden said he wouldnt invite Mr. Netanyahu to the White House in the near term because of Mr. Netanyahus attempt to change Israels judiciary. In response to Mr. Biden shutting the door on a meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in the near future, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in May that he would invite Mr. Netanyahu to Congress if Mr. Biden doesnt reverse course.

Mr. McCarthy reiterated that promise on July 17 when asked by The Epoch Times whether he tried to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Congress before inviting Mr. Herzog to speak.

We invited Herzog in the last Congress to come based upon the 75th anniversary. So the President of Israels coming has nothing to do with Bibi Netanyahu, said Mr. McCarthy. But I have said when I was in Israel speaking at the Knesset, if President Biden snubs Prime Minister Netanyahu, I will gladly invite Netanyahu to America.

Mr. McCarthy did not say whether Mr. Netanyahu would address a joint session of Congress were he to visit despite having been asked by The Epoch Times whether that would be the case.

The discussion between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu comes a week after CNN aired an interview with Mr. Biden where the U.S. president described Mr. Netanyahus cabinet as extreme.

This is one of the most extremist members of cabinets that Ive seen. I go all the way back to Golda Meir andyou know, not that she was extreme, but I go back to that era, Mr. Biden told Fareed Zakaria.

Ms. Meir was prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974, and Mr. Biden began his first term in the U.S. Senate in 1973. The call between the two did not say whether Mr. Biden reiterated that point or referenced those remarks.

Racist State

The call between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu comes one day after Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called Israel a racist state. Ms. Jayapal has since backtracked, though fallen short of giving an outright apology over her comments, which she made at a progressive conference.

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, Ms. Jayapal told pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the annual conference for the progressive organization Netroots Nation on July 16.

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, she continued.

However, Ms. Jayapal later reversed course, saying the Jewish state is not racist, but Mr.Netanyahu and his government are.

At a conference, I attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested. Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement, she said in a statement, which was not an outright apology.

I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist, continued Ms. Jayapal. I do, however, believe that Netanyahus extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government.

I believe it is incumbent on all of us who are striving to make our world a more just and equitable place to call out and condemn these policies and this current Netanyahu governments role in furthering them.

Ms. Jayapal reiterated her call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She explained that her response at the conference was her responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing antisemitism and hate violence that is rampant today.
Blinken Accuses Sen. Paul of Obstruction, Harming National Security With Confirmation Delays for Diplomats

Secretary of State Antony Blinken gestures during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 14, 2023. (Bay Ismoyo/AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTONThe United States top diplomat is accusing a Republican senator of obstruction following refusals to confirm dozens of diplomatic appointments.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has been requesting documents related to COVID-19 for years over concerns that U.S.-funded gain of function experiments in Wuhan, China, might have contributed to the creation of the virus that causes the disease.

Mr. Paul effectively put a hold on the confirmation of all State Department nominees in June, making their confirmation dependent on the departments compliance with his demands for more documentation regarding the origins of COVID-19.

Those confirmation delays are unnecessarily creating a national security crisis, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

These delays are weakening our national security, and theyre weakening our ability to deliver for the American people, Mr. Blinken said during a July 17 press briefing.

The secretary said that the confirmation of 62 nominees was stalled in the Senate, with 38 actively awaiting confirmation on the floor, 35 of whom are career foreign service officers.

Thats a problem, Mr. Blinken said, as several nations will soon be without U.S. ambassadors to pursue U.S. interests abroad.

That number is going to keep going up. By the end of this summer, we expect Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon will all be without confirmed U.S. ambassadors, he said.

Stop harming our national security through unjustified delay and unprecedented obstruction, Mr. Blinken said, addressing Mr. Rand.

State Department Denies It Has COVID Documents

Both Mr. Blinken and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller claimed that Mr. Paul is withholding diplomatic nominations for reasons unrelated to State Department business and out of the departments control.

Unfortunately, [Senator Paul] continues to block all of our nominees, Mr. Blinken said.

Mr. Miller added that the State Department has provided the records in its possession that had been requested but said most of Mr. Pauls requests were for documents that arent and never have been in the departments possession.

We will continue to provide documents that [are] responsive to [Pauls] requests, Mr. Miller said. But he is asking us for documents that are not State Department documents and are documents that we cannot provide because they are not in our possession, but he continues to use that as an excuse to hold up State Department nominees.

Senator Paul can make legitimate requests of the State Department and of others in the administration. What we object to is him holding hostage nominees who are career foreign service officers who have served in Republican and Democratic administrations alike.

A Worldwide Issue

While Mr. Blinken appeared to suggest that Mr. Paul is responsible for the soon-to-be vacant ambassadorships in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon, Mr. Miller confirmed that the White House hasnt actually nominated diplomats for all those posts, including the position of the ambassador for Israel.

Nevertheless, Mr. Miller said, any nominations the administration puts forward are likely to be postponed indefinitely until Mr. Paul chooses to stop his apparent protest.

If you look at the situation as it exists currently, all the nominees that start today are still backlogged based on whats happening on the floor, Mr. Miller said.

Mr. Blinken said that only five nominees for the foreign service have been confirmed during the Biden administration, all of whom were pushed through by Democrats via time-consuming floor votes rather than simple majority roll calls.

The lack of high-profile diplomats, Mr. Blinken said, harms the interests of U.S. companies working in those countries, of U.S. citizens living abroad, and of tourists.

Moreover, he said, the issue is a worldwide one.

Ambassadorships are open in Asia, in Europe, in Latin America, as nominees await confirmation, Mr. Blinken said.

Not having an ambassador in a given country makes us less effective at advancing our policy priorities.

Mr. Blinken added that he believes that U.S. adversaries would be the only ones to profit from the current situation and urged Mr. Paul not to let it become the new normal.

No one is questioning the qualifications of these career diplomats. Theyre being blocked as leverage for other unrelated issues, Mr. Blinken said.

Its [irresponsible], and its doing harm to our national security.

Mr. Paul didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Canadas Guest of Honour Sponsorship of 2021 German Book Fair Cost Over $18 Million: Audit

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon delivers a keynote address at the Canadian Bar Associations Aboriginal Law conference in Ottawa on May 11, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

The federal government paid over $18 million in 2021 for its guest of honour sponsorship of that years Frankfurt Book Fair, according to a newly disclosed federal audit. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon attended the fair with over 30 guests.

The Department of Canadian Heritage incurred costs of approximately $17.5 million in connection with its responsibilities, said the departments Audit Of Frankfurt Book Fair Controls, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter.

The audit also said that Canadian Heritages costs associated with the four-day event in October 2021 included the purchase of a $3.3 million pavilion.

Canada assumed significant financial and operational obligations, including presenting content and artists, creating an on-site pavilion, and hosting dignitaries, among others, said the audit.

The department said Canada acted as the guest of honour for both the 2020 and 2021 book fairs, as the former was held as a virtual event.

This is the first time any country acted as GoH for back-to-back events, said the audit, adding that Canadas contracts with suppliers for the event were extended and the contracts values were increased as a result of being guest of honour for two years in a row.

The audit said that the governments contract with Matane Production Inc. for the construction of the pavilion increased from $1.5 million to $3.3 million due to increased construction costs, and to incorporate additional mandated COVID-19 health and safety measures.

Ottawas contract with Canada FBM2020, which the audit said was a consortium of key Canadian publishers created to identify and create content for the event, also increased by 50 percent, with the cost rising from $1.4 million to $2.15 million.

GGs Expenses

Ms. Simon also attended the 2021 book fair with an entourage of more than 30 guests and total expenses topping $801,400, according to an Inquiry of Ministry that was tabled in the House of Commons this past March.

Costs incurred by Ms. Simon and her entourage during the trip included overnight stays at the five-star Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton in Berlin, where the 32-person delegation enjoyed a champagne brunch and a six-course meal menu with wine totalling about $200 per person.

Ms. Simons delegation also billed over $19,700 for a Frankfurt Book Fair banquet that was attended by 77 diners, which an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons in March said included prominent Frankfurt Book Fair attendees but did not provide any names.

The Inquiry said that Ms. Simons 2021 trip to Frankfurt amid the pandemic gave Canadian authors a necessary boost.

Culture and literature have helped to sustain us through these challenging times, Ms. Simon said during her trip to the book fair. Many people have discovered and found comfort and connection in a new world of words.
Canadas Minister of Families to Head Delegation to UN Meeting on Sustainable Development Goals

Canadas Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould will head the Canadian delegation to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, which will focus on the theme of accelerating the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As we cross the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda, reporting and collaborating on our progress is more important than ever, Ms. Gould said in a press release on July 17. The Government of Canada will continue to work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals by working with partners at home and abroad to build a sustainable future where no one is left behind.

During the three-day ministerial segment of the forum, to be held from July 17 to 19, participants will discuss the effective and inclusive recovery measures to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as explore actionable policy guidance for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs at all levels.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a 15-year global framework to achieve the goals of ending poverty, protecting the planet, and improving the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The agenda was adopted by all 193 U.N. members back in 2015.

The HLPF is the main U.N. platform on Sustainable Development and plays a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level. This years meeting will see the HLPF conduct an in-depth review of Goals 6 on clean water and sanitation; 7 on affordable and clean energy; 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure; 11 on sustainable cities and communities; and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

Gould to Focus on Canadas Poverty Reduction

Ms. Gould will participate in several events that highlight Canadas commitment to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, including delivering the National Statement on gender equality and human rights, hosting a side event on social innovation for the SDGs, and presenting Canadas Voluntary National Review.

The Voluntary National Review assesses Canadas achievements and experiences since 2018 across all SDGs, with a focus on five priority goals that are aligned with Canadas domestic and international priorities: no poverty, quality education, gender equality, climate action, and partnerships for the goals.

According to the press release, Ms. Gould will highlight that Canada has surpassed its interim target of a 20 percent reduction in poverty and emphasize Canadas support for women, girls, and gender-diverse people, including through international assistance.
China, Russia Carried Out Record High Military Drills in 2022: Report

A group of naval vessels from Russia and China conduct a joint maritime military patrol in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in this still image taken from video released on Oct. 23, 2021. (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

China and Russia conducted joint military drills in 2022 on a larger scale than they did two decades ago, according to a Bloomberg report on July 15, raising concerns about a potential escalation of tensions.

The two countries held six joint military drills last year, the highest number tracked in the past 20 years, Bloomberg reported, citing data during that time frame from the U.S. National Defense Universitys Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs.

The number represented two-thirds of Chinas total military drills with foreign armed forces in 2022, mostly taking place after Russia launched a full-fledged war on Ukraine.

Two of these joint drills involved the armed forces of Syria and Iran, according to the report.

On July 16, Chinas Defense Ministry stated that a Chinese naval flotilla made up of five warships and four ship-borne helicopters departed to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan for military drills.

Warships sail in the Sea of Oman during the second day of joint Iran, Russia, and China naval war games on Dec. 28, 2019. (Iranian Army via AP)

Two Russian warships taking part in the drill had earlier this month conducted separate training with the Chinese navy in Shanghai on formation movements, communication, and sea rescues.

Before making port at the financial hub of Shanghai, the same ships had sailed past Taiwan and Japan, prompting both Taipei and Tokyo to monitor the Russian warships.

A New Era of Crisis

Japan had expressed alarm over Chinas military cooperation with Russia in its draft annual defense report, claiming that Beijing and Moscow carried out five joint bomber flights near the country since 2019.

The paper warns that the international community has entered a new era of crisis amid Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, which it states has disrupted the international order spanning Europe and Asia.

Russia appears to have suffered substantial damage to its conventional military forces, raising the possibility that its national strength may decline over the medium to long term and the military balance with neighboring countries may change, it reads.

The Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) declared a no limits partnership just days before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The CCP has since refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, citing Russias legitimate concerns on security issues as justification.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 20, 2023. (Sergei Karpukhin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

According to their joint statement, Russia will recognize Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and reject Taiwans independence in any form, while the CCP backs Russias opposition to the enlargement of NATO.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has fueled speculation that CCP leader Xi Jinping would follow Russian President Vladimir Putins lead by deciding to invade Taiwan. In January, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that the Chinese regime is more likely to make a military move against the island in 2027.

On July 6, Mr. Xi inspected the Chinese militarys Eastern Theater Command, which is responsible for operations in areas such as the Taiwan Strait, and urged the military to deepen war and combat planning to increase the chances of victory in actual combat.

CIA Director William Burns said in February that China represents the biggest geopolitical challenge to the United States and that global competition with the CCP could be more intense than it was with the Soviet Union.

Competition with China is unique in its scale, and that it really, you know, unfolds over just about every domain, not just military, and ideological, but economic, technological, everything from cyberspace, to space itself as well, he said at an event at Georgetown University in Washington.

Frank Fang and Reuters contributed to this report.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may get slapped with sanctions over fentanyl and its drug war targeting the United States. The plan by the U.S. Congress has bipartisan support and is being pushed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration was temporarily blocked by court order to stop its programs censoring Americans on social media. But the program has now been allowed to continue by a separate court decision.

In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.
Extraordinarily Sensitive Personal Data Handed Over to Meta by Tax-Preparation Firms: Report

The entrance to an H&R Block tax-preparation office in Des Plaines, Ill., on March 6, 2002. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

Three tax-preparation companies have shared sensitive personal information of millions of taxpayers with Meta and other Big Tech companies like Google, according to a new report by congressional Democrats.

The tax-prep companiesTaxAct, H&R Block, and TaxSlayerare said to have shared millions of taxpayers data with Meta, Google, and other Big Tech firms using computer code known as pixels, according to the July 12 report (pdf). Pixels, used across the internet, is a piece of code on websites that is used to gather information about visitors that helps in understanding their interests and behaviors.

Tax-prep companies shared extraordinarily sensitive personal and financial information with Meta, the report said. Collected data include names, tax information, and details of dependents among others.

Though the tax firms and Big Tech claimed that the shared data were anonymous, the report pointed out that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and experts have suggested the data could be used to identify individuals.

During the investigation, Meta admitted that it used the collected data to target ads to taxpayers as well as train the companys AI algorithms.

The report was prepared by U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).

The lawmakers point out that the report reveals a shocking breach of taxpayer privacy by tax prep companies and by Big Tech firms that appeared to violate taxpayers rights and may have violated taxpayer privacy law.

The Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Justice should fully investigate this matter and prosecute any company or individuals who violated the law, the report said. The lawmakers sent a letter to these agencies demanding an investigation.

Collected Data, Violation of Privacy Law

The data of users were collected via Meta Pixel and Google Analytics. TaxActs Meta Pixel deployment collected information including taxpayers full names, email, country, state, city, zip codes, phone numbers, gender, date of birth, filing status, approximate adjusted gross income, approximate refund amount, names of dependents, buttons clicked online, and web browser used.

In addition, TaxAct used another Meta tool to collect indicators of whether a taxpayer was the head of the household, had certain assets, investment income, mortgage interests, standard deductions, charitable contributions, Schedule Cs, and student loan interest. TaxAct collected substantially similar data using Google Analytics.

The logo of Meta in Davos, Switzerland, on May 22, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

H&R Block and TaxSlayer also revealed an extensive list of data shared via the Meta Pixel, including transmitting information on whether taxpayers had visited pages for many revealing tax situations, such as having dependents, certain types of income (such as rental income or capital gains), and certain tax credits or deductions, the report said.

Taxpayer privacy laws contain penalties for violating the rights of those who pay taxes, including large fines and potential jail time. Tax preparers are required to obtain written consent from the taxpayer before disclosing their tax return information to a third party.

By handing over such data to Meta and Google, the three tax-prep firms failed to adhere to the law, the report said. Violation comes with criminal penalties of up to $1,000 per instance as well as jail time of up to a year.

Since the companies shared the data of millions of taxpayers, they could be on the hook for billions of dollars in potential criminal liability

Though tax firms can turn over data to auxiliary service providers, the lawmakers noted that the data shared with Meta and Google were for advertising purposes and not related to the preparation of a tax return.

H&R Block takes protecting our clients privacy very seriously, and we have taken steps to prevent the sharing of information via pixels, said the company in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

Responses to the Report, Free Electronic Tax Filing

Following the release of the report, a TaxSlayer representative claimed that it contained numerous false or misleading statements about the taxpayer information sent to Meta and Google, according to the Associated Press. The firm said that it will send a request for retraction or correction from Senator Warrens office.

The Epoch Times has reached out to TaxSlayer for comment.

TaxAct has engaged with Senator Warren and her staff to provide transparent, detailed explanations on our use of these standard analytics tools, said the firm to The Epoch Times.

TaxAct has always complied with laws that protect our customers privacy and, as noted in the report, we disabled the tools in question while we evaluated potential concerns. Protecting the rights and privacy of our customers is our top priority, and we are committed to engaging with stakeholders to address any concerns and to help advance public policy.

According to Meta, its policies have made it clear 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.

Meta insisted that its system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data that it can detect. However, lawmakers in the report had said that Metas filtering systems appeared to be ineffective when it came to preventing the collection of sensitive taxpayer information.

The report pointed out that over 80 percent of all filings in 2022 were done through one of a handful of private, online tax-filing companies like TaxAct, H&R Block, and TaxSlayer.

The report accused the tax preparation of industry of having long fought against efforts to make U.S. tax filing simpler and cheaper while highlighting the fact that many countries offer return-free tax filing.

In a return-free system, the government uses the information it has on taxpayers to help prepare their returns rather than requiring them to make their own tax calculations. This makes such service free and fast.

Back in May, the IRS published a report showing that 72 percent of Americans would be interested in a free, electronic tax-filing service from the agency. A pilot version of such a service is planned to be released in the 2024 tax-filing season to a limited number of taxpayers.
Firefighters conduct extinguishing work to control wildfires in Belen District of Hatay Province, Turkiye, July 17, 2023. Wildfires broke out in the southern and western provinces of Turkiye over the weekend as summer heat grips a large swathe of the country, local media reported on Monday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires broke out in the southern and western provinces of Turkiye over the weekend as summer heat grips a large swathe of the country, local media reported on Monday.

Wildfires erupted in multiple locations in the provinces of Hatay, Mersin, Canakkale, and Izmir since Sunday amid soaring temperatures and low humidity, according to semi-official Anadolu Agency and state-run broadcaster TRT.

A total of 19 fires broke out on Sunday, 16 of which have been under control, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters.

"Tremendous efforts are being made to prevent the fire from spreading further. We have been closely monitoring the situation, including aerial footage captured by armed drones," Yerlikaya added.

He said he hoped the remaining blazes could be extinguished "as soon as possible" as their momentum have slightly diminished.

In Hatay, three neighborhoods have been evacuated as the blaze scorched a large swathe of the province's Belen district and quickly spread into the surrounding forest area, Daily Sabah reported.

The fire in Hatay might have been started by reed-burning practice that went out of control, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli said.

A judicial investigation has been initiated against the suspects responsible for causing the fire in Hatay and at least seven suspects were detained, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc tweeted on Monday.

Firefighters were sent to put out the flames in two adjacent villages in central Canakkale, with some 300 people evacuated from Kemel village in precaution, NTV reported, citing a statement by the Canakkale governor's office.

In Izmir, local fire crews used helicopters and sprinklers to put out the blazes.

Turkiye was hit by a strong heatwave last week, with the country's Meteorological Service forecasting temperatures reaching up to 43 degree Celsius in parts of the country, according to the Hurriyet Daily News. 

A helicopter works on containing a wildfire in Belen District of Hatay Province, Turkiye, July 17, 2023. Wildfires broke out in the southern and western provinces of Turkiye over the weekend as summer heat grips a large swathe of the country, local media reported on Monday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A helicopter works on containing a wildfire in Belen District of Hatay Province, Turkiye, July 17, 2023. Wildfires broke out in the southern and western provinces of Turkiye over the weekend as summer heat grips a large swathe of the country, local media reported on Monday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Smoke and flames rise from the wildfires as the intervention continues by land and air in Gulnar District of Mersin Province, Turkiye, July 17, 2023. Wildfires broke out in the southern and western provinces of Turkiye over the weekend as summer heat grips a large swathe of the country, local media reported on Monday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
A family from California that was going through a personal heartbreak helped save a German shepherd 30 minutes before he was going to be put down. Since welcoming the canine into their home, theyve all received their happy ending.

Thirty-four-year-old Trish Bauer from San Bernardino was reeling from the loss of her daughter when she came across a 12-year-old dog, Wilbur, on her Instagram feed.

Last February we lost our daughter, Millie, Ms. Bauer told The Epoch Times. She was born without a heartbeat. And I went through this really, dark time.

Since sleeping was impossible, Ms. Bauer would lie in bed scrolling on her phone until her brain finally switched off. During the wee hours before Christmas Eve of 2022, she came across a reel of a dog. Alongside the short video was a line stating, I die tomorrow alone on this cold cement floor.

Cooper before he was adopted. (Courtesy of Trish Bauer)

Looking at his picture, the first thing the grieving mom noticed was his eyes.

They completely drew me in because I felt like his eyes looked like my eyes, she said. He was defeated with life  and I knew that look.

Wilburs plight was posted on the Instagram page of the rescue organization Furry Tail Endings and garnered hundreds of comments from many who were interested in fostering him. At that moment, Ms. Bauer was moved to comment too.

She wrote: If you need someone to pick them up or hold him for 24 hours that I could do that.

Switching off her phone and placing it on the nightstand, a thought lingered in her mind: Did I just comment on a German shepherd? That was not a cat.

Ironically, Ms. Bauer runs a cat rescue and has always been scared of dogs.

She fell asleep not expecting anything to come of it. However, the next morning, she woke up to a message from Furry Tail Endings stating that all the offers to help Wilbur had fallen through, and the dog was going to be euthanized in the next 30 minutes.

A mad dash to make it to the shelter ensued. Ms. Baeur woke up her 10-year-old daughter, Lily Baeur, informing her that they were going to rescue the dog.

She thought I was joking with her the whole time, Ms. Baeur said. She was like No, how many cats is it, Mom? Were not going to go get a dog.

The family didnt have a proper leash for a dog, so they picked up a cat leash and dashed to Riverside Animal Shelter, a short drive away from their home. They arrived in the nick of time. A lot of paperwork ensued, as per Californian regulations, a member of the public is not permitted to enter a shelter and remove a dog that is on a kill list, or even see it in person. The rescue must be able to pull the dog out and act as an intermediary first.

After completing the necessary procedure, Ms. Bauer and Lily waited and werent sure of what to expect.

All we knew was that he was an 85-pound (38.5-kilogram) senior German shepherd and that he was friendly with another dog in his kennel, Ms. Bauer said. There was no notation on how he was with kids or adults or a leash, nothing. So, we just had to wait.

The moment the 12-year-old dog was brought out, he went ran straight toward Lily, licking her and greeting her.

I just knew at that point, Okay. This is meant to be. A dog like this who knows nothing but a fight for life; this is not how his life should end, Ms. Bauer said. He has so much love inside of him.

As the mother-daughter pair were leaving the shelter, they spotted a big red bucket with puppies that were 8 weeks old being wheeled toward the euthanization area.

The family left the shelter that day saving not only a senior dog but also five puppies. On the drive back home, Ms. Bauer informed her husband, Josh Bauer, 37, about their rescue mission.

Wilbur, who was later named Cooper by the Bauer family, treated the puppies with a lot of care. He would give them kisses; he would share his food, Lily said.

Cooper with the Bauer family. Courtesy of Trish Bauer)

Within the next two days, all the puppies found their forever home.

Initially, the family intended to simply foster and care for Cooper until the rescue found him a forever home. But then, something unexpected happened: the family learned that Cooper had cancer.

He hadnt been groomed in a very long time, and his hair was very matted, Ms. Bauer said. He had what looked like an abscess on his neck, and we just thought it needed to be drained.

The family took Cooper to their vet, who diagnosed him with a tumor. The results showed that Cooper had severe malnutrition and the vet believed that the German shepherd had been living on the streets for at least five years. A walking time bomb, it was determined that the dog would need lifesaving surgery in the next six weeks.

We were shocked, Ms. Bauer said. He was a very active dog, definitely for his age. Lily is a cancer survivor, and weve lived in a land of cancer our whole lives. So it was shocking that this random dog out of the hundreds of dogs that were on that euthanization list, the one that we went to go pick up, was in for the fight for his life that we know all too well.

The family rallied together to support Cooper, and he underwent surgery in January. Most of the muscle surrounding his neck had to be removed, resulting in a total of 47 stitches. It was a risky procedure for the senior dog, but not only did Cooper make it through; he came running out of the surgery room to his waiting family.

He was like My family! They came back for me,' Lily said.

Lily Baeur with Cooper. (Courtesy of Trish Bauer)

The following month, as the couple commemorated their late daughters first birthday and were ordering a cake, it ended up being a really hard day. However, during that time, the family received a call informing them that Coopers pathology results had come back clear.

I knew at that moment that it was just meant to be, you know, he was home, Ms. Baeur said. And as much as he deserved that happy ending, so did we.

As Cooper was adopted by the Bauer family he also assisted them in finding a memorial spot for Millie up in the San Bernadino mountains. Here, he held up a sign that read, he beat cancer. Additionally, he also played a pivotal role in supporting Mr. Bauer through the grieving process.

Men go through grief so differently, said Ms. Bauer, who almost died during the delivery. He was dealing with taking care of me, and he had the world on his shoulders. He couldnt really grieve like he needed to. And this dog came along and filled up his heart in a way that allowed him to grow and grieve at the same time.

Seeing my husband connect so much to this dog was really my proof that his little girl sent him that dog and knew that it was going to take loving something, to grieve what he lost.

Sixth-grader Lily agrees: The reason we kept Cooper and he has such a great connection with us is, its like he loves to cuddle. When we started fostering him and taking care of his incision and stuff, we were going through a really hard time.

Cuddling Cooper has filled the family with inner happiness.

Its just such a reassuring feeling, knowing that your fight was worth it, and your fight saved a life. And all he needed was somebody to care, you know, Ms. Bauer said. And it was our wink from heaven, you know, after everything that weve gone through in that last year.

Ms. Bauer believes that its easier to save a dog from the fate of euthanization than most people think.

Most of the time, these dogs literally need someone just to walk in and walk the dog out for the rescue to get it to the next person. Sometimes their car ride is really all that animal needs to live, she said.

Watch the video:

(Courtesy of Trish Bauer)

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Federal Agency Issues New Alerts Targeting Much of Northern US

Canadian wildfire smoke is again inundating parts of the northern United States this week, triggering air quality alerts, as seen in black, across a dozen states on July 17, 2023. (NWS)

Canadian wildfire smoke is again inundating parts of the northern United States this week, triggering air quality alerts spanning from Montana to Vermont.

The alerts have been issued by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) across about a dozen states on the morning of July 17, according to a map provided by the agency. Some media outlets estimated that the alerts affect about 70 million people, meaning they would see poor air quality with higher particulate matter.

Major cities under air quality alerts include New York, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Columbus, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Des Moines. According to monitoring service IQAir, Washington, Detroit, New York, and Chicago had some of the worst air quality in the world on July 17. However, Washington wasnt under an NWS air quality alert.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow air quality page rated the air in Chicago as unhealthy as of 10 a.m. CDT on July 17. And in Michigan, state environmental officials said the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advised people in the state to check the Air Quality Index regularly to decide whether they should be participating in outdoor activities.

Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains, the NWS stated. This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions. While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wain [sic] by [July 17], there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week.

Heavy smog covers the skylines of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York on June 7, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

It noted on July 17, too, that the wildfire smoke will remain in the picture through [July 18] as northwesterly winds aloft that originate out of the Canadian Prairies continues to direct more smoke into the Lower 48.

There are Air Quality alerts issued for areas the [sic] include the northern High Plains, the Midwest, Great Lakes, central Tennessee and North Carolina, and into the Northeast where higher concentrations of smoke will result in unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. Smoke concentrations should diminish over parts of the Heartland on [July 18], the NWS stated, but may still cause poor air quality along the East Coast.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on July 16 that poor air from the wildfires in Canada was expected to hit parts of New York state again on July 17, mostly in northern and western parts of the state. She said the air quality index was forecasted to be 100 to 150 in those areas, with 0 to 50 being the norm. Her comments came at a press conference about heavy rain and flooding.

If you start looking up tomorrow, youre going to see a similar situation to what we had a couple weeks ago, because of the air quality degradation resulting from the wildfires in Canada. So were going to have air quality issues once again, Mrs. Hochul said during the press conference.

Previously, health officials have recommended that people wear masks, stay indoors, and keep indoor air clean.

Canadian Wildfires

Officials in Canada said the Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard will be sent to British Columbia after the province submitted a request for government assistance that was approved by the government. As of late July 16, there were about 883 active fires across Canada, of which 581 werent in control, according to a map provided by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, and most of the fires that are out of control are located in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec.

A firefighter died while combating a fire in the Northwest Territories, near the border with British Columbia, according to a statement issued by the local government on July 16. It didnt identify the firefighter or the cause of death.

The news from British Columbiathat one of the firefighters bravely battling wildfires has lost her lifeis heartbreaking. At this incredibly difficult time, Im sending my deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and her fellow firefighters, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said the firefighters death was a tremendous loss for everyone involved.

Some of the fires were triggered about a week ago by lightning strikes, causing more than 100 new wildfires in British Columbia. Officials had warned of challenging conditions, with lightning storms forecast for most of the week and above-average temperatures throughout the central interior of the province.

Last week, the Canadian Forest Service said wildfires raging across Canada had already broken records for total areas burned in recorded history, the number of people forced to evacuate their homes, and the cost of fighting the blazes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Firefighter in Northwest Territories Dies Battling Wildfire Near Home Community

The Northwest Territories provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, July 6, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A firefighter has died while battling a wildfire near his home community in the Northwest Territories, marking the second time in only a few days a Canadian firefighter was killed on the job during a record-setting national wildfire season.

The territorial government issued a statement saying the firefighter from Fort Liard, a hamlet north of the British Columbia boundary, died from an injury sustained while battling a nearby blaze on Saturday afternoon.

Wildfire Information Officer Jessica Davey-Quantick said the firefighter was involved in combatting a fire that started July 7 in the Fort Liard District and is currently about 26 kilometres southeast of the hamlet.

She said no other information about the firefighter will be provided until family members have been notified. The RCMP and Coroners Office have been contacted, the territory noted.

Fort Liard Mayor Genevieve McLeod said word started circulating in the community late Saturday afternoon that there had been an accident. At first, it was only thought that someone had been hurt and there was no word who it was.

A big part of the community went to the airport to meet the helicopter, McLeod said in a phone interview.

They brought the individuals in from the forest fire they were fighting and thats when everyone found out.

McLeod, too, didnt want to identify the firefighter who died, noting he had a large family and that some, who lived in the south, might not have heard the devastating news yet.

He was a big part of our community  young and hard working. He has a young family, she said.

The firefighters death comes just three days after another Canadian was killed while battling wildfires. Devyn Gale died Thursday after a tree fell on her near Revelstoke, B.C.

RCMP have said the 19-year-olds team lost contact with her before finding her. Her death is now under investigation by police, the BC Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC, and the BC Wildfire Service, Mounties said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted he was incredibly saddened by the death of another firefighter.

To their family, their friends, and those they were heroically serving alongside: Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts. Were here for you, Trudeau said Sunday on Twitter.

The fire near Fort Liard, which is listed on the territorys wildfire update website as being caused by lightning and about 0.1 square kilometres in size, is not currently a threat to the hamlet.

I want to send my deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy, Shane Thompson, the territorys environment minister and the areas legislature member, said in a tweet Sunday.

Firefighters across the territory have my utmost respect for their continued efforts to protect our homes and our communities while facing such extreme conditions.

Thompson also called the tragedy an unimaginable loss for the people who knew the firefighter, as well as a tremendous loss for the community.

The Northwest Territories wildfire agency said there were 89 active wildfires burning across the territory as of Saturday night.

This year so far, over 8,000 square kilometres in the territory have burned. Across Canada, figures from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre shows more than 100,000 square kilometres have been scorched this season, an area roughly the size of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Michigan combined.

Davey-Quantick said theres a lot of sharing of firefighters between provinces and territories in a typical season, but this year has been different because so many fires have been burning across Canada.

Most of our crews are predominantly local. A lot of them are actually fighting fires outside their own communities, Davey-Quantick said, noting the territory provides a lot of training.

Theres a huge amount of respect for firefighters because we know theyre protecting our communities, and theyre protecting and keeping us safe.
Health Canada Exec Debates Ivermectins Effectiveness for COVID-19 Before Labour Board

During a recent Labour Board hearing, a senior Health Canada official defended her departments decision to recommend against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, while public service employees fighting the vaccination mandate said its use could have saved lives and billions of dollars.

A key argument among those who opposed mandatory COVID vaccination was that alternative and early treatments existed to combat the infection but were suppressed by health authorities intent on vaccinating as many people as possible.

Questions along that line were posed to Dr. Celia Lourenco, acting associate assistant deputy minister with Health Canada, during hearing of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board on the July 13.

The board is making its first adjudication of grievances from public servants who were placed on leave without pay and denied employment insurance benefits for not complying with the mandatory vaccination policy in force from October 2021 to June 2022.

Do you remember CBC calling ivermectin a horse dewormer, asked Bernard Desgagne, who is representing grievor Slim Rehibi, adding that the anti-parasitic drugs discoverers were awarded the Nobel Prize in the category of Physiology or Medicine in 2015.

Dr. Lourenco said she wasnt aware of either fact. The official, who has a Ph.D. in pharmacology, had final authority for the approval of COVID-19 injections, but wasnt in charge of regulating drugs like ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine.

Mr. Desgagne, who is also a public servant and not a lawyer, put to Dr. Lourenco that ivermectin has been dubbed a wonder drug with remarkable effectiveness and an excellent safety profile.

She replied that the drug is approved for human and animal use in Canada but to treat worms, she said. And it is quite effective at that, to treat parasites.

Satoshi Omura, one of ivermectins discoverers, has used the term wonder drug to describe it, writing in a scientific paper in 2011 that it was used free of charge as the sole tool in campaigns to eliminate tropical diseases River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis. He said it is effective in treating many other diseases as well.

It has also been used to successfully overcome several other human diseases and new uses for it are continually being found, says the paper. Ivermectin was first introduced as a veterinary drug but was later expanded to humans.

Mr. Desgagne noted that the drug was being offered free of charge for those diseases at the time, whereas the federal government spent billions on mRNA injections.

Canada spent approximately $5 billion on COVID-19 vaccines between December 2020 and May 2022, the auditor general reported last year.

Mr. Desgagne cited from Mr. Omuras paper to argue for ivermectins broader usage, but Dr. Lourenco repeated thats its only authorized in Canada to treat worms in people and animals.

However, she agreed that once a drug is authorized, physicians are able to prescribe it for off-label use, but she warned that to measure the efficacy of a drug, clinical trials should be conducted.

Clinical Trials

Mr. Desgagne asked Dr. Lourenco if she was aware that over 20 clinical trials have been conducted on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. She said she was aware of many trials but didnt have an exact number.

Mr. Desgagne cited from a scientific paper published in New Microbes and New Infections in early August 2021, which looked at randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses, and assessed ivermectin to be effective in reducing mortality related to COVID-19.

Dr. Lourenco said she wasnt able to comment without looking at the findings more closely and having the paper reviewed by her biostatistics team to assess its credibility.

There are other meta analysis that have been conducted that have concluded that ivermectin is not beneficial in COVID-19, she said.

In August 2021, Health Canada issued an advisory warning of the potential serious health dangers of using veterinary ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19. It advises against using the human version as well, saying there is no evidence that ivermectin in either formulation is safe or effective when used for those purposes.

Mr. Desgagne called the advisory fairly radical and in huge contrast with the findings in the scientific paper he referenced.

Dr. Lourenco said she was not involved in issuing the advisory, but explained it was done to remind people that ivermectin is a prescription drug and to not take the veterinary version. We were fulfilling our role as regulator, she said.

She added that the advisory indicates there was no evidence to support the use of ivermectin and that more recent meta-analyses continue to conclude that the drug is not beneficial against COVID-19.

One such study published by the Cochrane Library in June 2022, said the evidence is conflicting.

Based on the very lowcertainty evidence for inpatients, we are still uncertain whether ivermectin prevents death or clinical worsening or increases serious adverse events, while there is lowcertainty evidence that it has no beneficial effect regarding clinical improvement, viral clearance and adverse events, it says.

Another study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics in April 2021 went entirely the other way.

Meta-analyses based on 18 randomized controlled treatment trials of ivermectin in COVID-19 have found large, statistically significant reductions in mortality, time to clinical recovery, and time to viral clearance.

Conflicting Claims

Public health authorities and the media have largely come out against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, but the debate appears unsettled.

CBC wasnt the only major media to refer to ivermectin as a horse dewormer. After famous podcaster Joe Rogan said in September 2021 he used ivermectin to treat his COVID infection, multiple CNN hosts said he was using a livestock drug.

Thats the message that Health Canadas U.S. equivalent was sending at the time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a controversial tweet in August 2021 to advise against the use of ivermectin.

You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, yall. Stop it, it said, providing a link to an FDA web page presenting similar information as Health Canada. The FDA said it had received multiple reports of people being hospitalized for using ivermectin intended for horses.

Health Canada did not report such issues, but said it was occurring in the United States and provided the same FDA web page link.

The FDA maintains that the available data do not show that ivermectin is effective against COVID-19.

A previous review by The Epoch Times shows that out of the studies the FDA relies on to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of ivermectin, half show that it is actually effective.
Health Viewpoints

Its a two-year, $1.3 billion stealth takeover. Chinas acting in its own self-interest, poisoning the water supply, killing fish, and causing life-threatening illness in humansall while taking valuable clean meat back to China. And its perfectly legal.

In 2014, hundreds of residents filed more than two dozen lawsuits against the WH Group, arguing that the hog farms made life unbearable. Smithfield lost the five bellwether cases and settled the remaining cases out of court. Still, while sending a message of discontent, it doesnt change how hogs are raised in North Carolina or anywhere else in the United States.

Smithfield was an attractive acquisition because the cost of raising pork in North Carolina is about half that of raising it in China, due to lax environmental protections. In China, hog farmers must pay for wastewater treatment, digester systems to convert manure into natural gas, and odor control systems to shield nearby residents from the stench.

The Chinese regime uses private entities as proxies for state power. In 2011, it directed Chinese companies to buy foreign food producers and farmland. Over the next two years, Chinese nationals went from owning $81 million worth of American farmland to nearly $1.4 billion.

In 2013, Smithfield was sold to the WH Group, a Chinese pork conglomerate accused of feeding its hogs illegal chemicals. WH Group takes direction from the Chinese regime, as pork is considered a national-security issue in China.

North Carolina (NC) is the home of more than 2,000 large-scale hog farms, primarily clustered in the rural eastern region of the state. More than 200 of them are owned or operated by Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the world.

North Carolina is the home of more than 2,000 large-scale hog farms, primarily clustered in the rural eastern region of the state. As illustrated in the Vox video above, factory-scale hog farming takes a tremendous toll on the surrounding environment, as hog excrement ends up polluting waterways, land, and air.

More than 200 of these North Carolina hog farms are owned or operated by Smithfield Foods,1 the largest pork producer in the world, which in 2013 was acquired by the WH Group, a Chinese pork conglomerate that has been accused of feeding its hogs illegal chemicals.2

But as reported by Rolling Stone magazine in 2018, that wasnt the only safety concern raised by the sale:3

The Chinese government had a track record of using nominally private entities as proxies for state power  In 2011  the government issued a plan directing Chinese companies to buy foreign food producers and farmland. In two years, Chinese nationals went from owning $81 million worth of American farmland to nearly $1.4 billion 

The investigative news organization Reveal uncovered documents showing that WH Group receives guidance from the government, which a company executive explained was because pork is considered a national-security issue in China 

Part of what made the company such an attractive target is that its about 50 percent cheaper to raise hogs in North Carolina than in China. This is due to less-expensive pig-feed prices and larger farms, but its also because of loose business and environmental regulations  which have made the U.S. an increasingly attractive place for foreign companies to offshore costly and harmful business practices.

China Dumps Its Agricultural Waste in the US

In years past, the United States outsourced dirty industry processes to poorer countries. Today, China is doing the same, and its treating the United States as a developing nation. Granted, U.S. environmental policieswhich have gotten increasingly lax over time due to regulatory capture by industryare what allow for this hostile takeover in the first place.

Believe it or not, China doesnt allow hog waste to be sprayed on fields as a means of disposal, as is routinely done here in the United States. In China, hog farmers are forced to spend big bucks on wastewater treatment, digester systems to convert manure into natural gas, and odor control systems to shield nearby residents from the stench.4

All of that makes pork about twice as expensive to produce in China than in the United States. Usha Haley, a professor at West Virginia University who has studied the Chinese takeover of American agricultural assets for well over a decade, told Rolling Stone:5

China will not care about the health of people living beside the hog farms. China will act in its own self-interest to leave the pollution here but take the valuable clean pork back to China.

One year after Smithfield was gobbled up by the WH Group, 500 residents filed more than two dozen lawsuits against the company, arguing that the hog farms made life unbearable.6

By early 2020, five of the lawsuits had gone to trial, and Smithfield lost them all. In each case, the jury unanimously concluded there had been an unreasonable and substantial interference with the reasonable enjoyment of the [plaintiffs] property.7

In all, Chinese-owned Smithfield was ordered to pay $550 million in damages, later reduced to $98 million due to a state cap on punitive damages.8 According to Corporate Crime Reporter, Smithfield settled the remaining cases out of court.9 Still, while sending a message of discontent, it doesnt change how hogs are raised in NC or anywhere else in the United States.

Hog Farms Wreak Havoc

Thousands of pigs are kept permanently indoors in these industrial farms, known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Urine and feces are piped outside into a giant open lagoon, and when the lagoon gets full, the waste is sprayed onto nearby fields. As explained in the VOX video above:

Spraying and lagoons have air quality risks. When bacteria breaks the waste down, it releases hundreds of compounds, like methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and dust into the air. These can cause asthma, respiratory diseases, headaches, and nausea.

Indeed, several studies have concluded that living near CAFOs has a detrimental impact on health. For example, one 2018 study by Duke University found that people living in close proximity to hog CAFOs have:10

Higher all-cause mortality.

Higher infant mortality and low birth weight.

Higher mortality due to anemia, kidney disease, tuberculosis, and septicemia.

The massive amounts of hog waste produced by these industrial farms also pollute well water and surface water with nitrates, phosphorous, and fecal bacteria, which in turn contributes to algae blooms that kill fish and can cause life-threatening illness in humans.

The largest cluster of hog farms in NC also happens to be located in a coastal floodplain, which further heightens this water pollution risk, as storm flooding washes the hog waste into the surrounding ecosystem.

Residents living near hog farms also must deal with dead hog carcasses that attract flies and buzzards. As noted by Corporate Crime Reporter,11 The cheapest way of disposing of hogs is to throw them out into the open hot air. So thats what most of the farms do.

Sometimes these temporary disposal areas are right beside a private residence. Every few days, a truck will come by to pick up the carcasses, which are then transported to processing plants that use them for dog food and other products.

Ecological Discrimination

Approximately 56 to 69 percent of residents in this area of NC are persons of color, and up to 64.5 percent live in poverty.12 According to residents, this makes hog farm pollution more than just an environmental issue. Its also a civil rights issue. As reported by Vox in April 2022:13

In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an investigation into a discrimination claim brought by an NGO representing several community groups.

The inquiry seeks to answer whether or not the states environmental department racially discriminated against residents when permitting several hog factory farms to convert their waste into fuel.

The EPAs probe is the latest development in a decades-long battle in North Carolina against what residents affected by factory farm pollution say is a form of environmental racism, a term used to describe the disproportionate impacts of pollutionwhether from agriculture or urban power plantson communities of color.

Biogas Permits Will Further Impact Underprivileged Residents

Youd think this kind of pollution would be curbed by the federal Clean Water Act and other environmental regulations, but thats not the case. As noted by Vox, the EPA primarily regulates only the largest concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Besides, getting rid of hog waste by spraying it on fields is perfectly legal, even though nearby residents end up getting showered with fecal matter on a regular basis and cant open their windows or even their mouths when the wind blows in their direction. And now, their situation may get even worse.

In 2021, North Carolina regulators authorized four Smithfield-owned CAFOs to convert their animal waste into biogas fuel by installing anaerobic digestion systems, all without conducting a comprehensive impact analysis or including air and water mitigation requirements.

This development is what led to the most recent Civil Rights Act complaint, filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) against the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).14,15 As reported by NC News Online:16

SELC alleges that when DEQ granted the general permits to the Smithfield-owned farms, the agency failed to protect the surrounding communities from air and water pollution.

A disproportionate share of the hundreds of families who live around the hog operations in Duplin and Sampson County are Black and Latino. Under a federal civil rights law, known as Title VI, entities that receive federal funds cant from discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national originintentionally or unintentionally.

Biogas Will Make a Bad Situation Worse

As if thats not bad enough, the 2021 Farm Bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly also calls for the creation of a general permit for biogas production from CAFO waste, which will make it easier for other farms to follow suit. And as youd expect from captured legislators, the draft of this general permit contains the same deficiencies as the four individual permits initially issued. As noted by the SELC in a supplement to its original complaint:17

While it is unknown exactly how many of these operations will apply for coverage under the Digester General Permit, the impacts and harms from these operations are likely to be felt disproportionately by the Black, Latino, and Native American communities that more commonly live near industrial hog operations.

Like the individual permits, industrial hog operations permitted under the Digester General Permit will produce dangerous new waste streams that will harm people living nearby  These operations will be authorized to dig new hog waste lagoons or cap existing unlined ones, install digester systems, store digester waste in open-air potentially unlined lagoons, and spray the ammonia-rich digester waste on fields across eastern North Carolina.

Since Complainants filed their complaint last September, the harms authorized by North Carolinas issuance of the individual permits and the general permit have become even more evident. As stated in Complainants 2021 complaint to OECRC, digester systems exacerbate pollution and negatively impact human health.

Several studies have shown that digester waste emits substantially more ammonia than hog waste from conventional lagoons.

A study co-authored by North Carolina State Universitys Dr. Viney Aneja found that digester waste stored in uncovered secondary lagoons emits more ammonia per-hog than conventional hog waste in a lagoon  emissions from the open lagoon portion of the hog operation specifically increased by 66% relative to conventional lagoons.

The removal of carbon from a digester makes the remaining nitrogen and phosphorus in the digester waste more soluble and decreases dry matter in the waste, both of which can increase the ability of pollutants to infiltrate soil and contaminate groundwater.

As a result, a leak or overflow from a lagoon storing digester waste can be even more devastating for the environment than a leak or overflow from a conventional lagoon. The heightened risk of water pollution persists when, after being stored in the secondary lagoons, the digester waste is sprayed on nearby fields.

When the waste is sprayed from high pressure hoses  more ammonia volatilizes and enters the atmosphere, where it compromises local air quality, drives particulate matter formation, and ultimately deposits in nearby waterways as nitrogen or nitrate.

More Than a Nuisance

As explained in The Outline article,18 hog farms have been the center of lawsuits for centuries. Hog sties stink, but with the emergence of CAFOs that house thousands of hogs at a time, neighbors have more than a never-ending stench to contend with.

My right to use my property ends where my property right is infringing on your right to use your property.  Ryke Longest, director of Duke Universitys Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

At the end of the day, most of the lawsuits today center around the fact that CAFOs are being built in rural areas where people are already living, thereby encroaching on their right to enjoy their own homes and properties.

As explained by Ryke Longest, director of Duke Universitys Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, My right to use my property ends where my property right is infringing on your right to use your property.19

Lawsuits against hog CAFOs are always referred to as nuisance lawsuits, but a farm spraying liquid dung that drifts and settles all over your house, car, and yard is more than a nuisance. It robs you of your quality of life and can have serious health ramifications to boot.

Despite that, in 2017, the North Carolina legislature implemented new rules to limit nuisance damages to fair-market value only, which, of course, dramatically declines as soon as a CAFO is erected nearby. That year, it passed another law limiting nuisance lawsuits to properties located within a half-mile of the source, even though the smell and liquid dung mist from a hog CAFO can carry a lot further than that.20

Several other laws have also been passed to protect hog CAFOs from residents. For example, farm records have been made private and confidential to restrict access, and anti-gag laws make it a misdemeanor for processing plant employees to share information. Other laws restrict the use of drones and make it more difficult to sue a CAFO if you move away and then come back.21

Liberties Robbed

The Outline22 recounts the story of Elsie Herring, born and raised in Duplin County, North Carolina, which is where CAFOs have proliferated the most:

The Major Murray Farm, a CAFO, was built next to Elsie Herrings familys land in 1986  One Saturday in the mid-90s, after Herring had moved back to her familys land to help care for her mother and brother, she said her family was enjoying an afternoon on the porch when the hog farm began spraying waste in the direction of the nearby homes, forcing her family to scramble inside to get away.

I grew up in that house, but I had never experienced anything like this before. The waste had this terrible, raw, stinking odor that we had never before experienced. We could still smell it when we were inside, Herring recounted in testimony she gave to a congressional committee 

We dont cook out, we dont sit out, we dont invite people over  All of those liberties were taken away from us  In addition to the smell, Herring has said that flies and other recurring nuisances caused by the farm are prevalent  including an inability to keep her windows open, which has raised her energy bill substantially.

Herring also said the spraying has affected her familys financial security. The value of the land has decreased, Herring said. Who would want to come in here near a hog facility?

Living next to a shit-sprayfield can do a number on your mental health, too. You get angry when theyre spraying this stuff and it stinks  You cant keep it out of the house  Everybodys got the right to liberty and happiness and to own property  We dont want anything in our backyard that you wouldnt put in your backyard.

We Need Real Change

Without a doubt, we need real change in the United Stateschange that will put an end to China viewing our land as a sewer. Such change wont come easily, however, seeing as how legislators and regulators alike are in the pocket of industry and place their own greed ahead of human health and well-being.

If China can implement wastewater treatment and odor control systems, theres no reason we cant. Poor rural residents, most of whom cant afford to move even if they wanted to, should not have to pay for cheap bacon with their very lives.

Aside from that, clean soil and water concern all of us, and both need protection from CAFOs in the form of strict regulations. We also ought to have restrictions on the sale of agricultural assets to foreign nationals.

All of that said, I dont recommend eating CAFO pork, to begin with, as most pork producers use mRNA vaccines on their herds. Conventional pork is also very high in linoleic acid, which I believe is a major driver of chronic disease.

Originally published
Does happiness in the second-happiest country in the world come with a twist?

Possibly, according to a new study showing that the countrywhose population has ranked among the happiest in the world for a decadehas a surprisingly high incidence of mental health disorders.

A Study Like No Other

This has never been investigated before [in Denmark], Dr. Lars Vedel Kessing, professor of psychiatry at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and coauthor of the study, told The Epoch Times.

The study was recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed medical journal by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Examining a random sample of 1.5 million Danish residents from 1995 to 2018, the study estimates that, at some point in their lives, a staggering 82.6 percent of the population was treated for a mental health disorder within hospital settings or by general practitioners or private psychiatrists. This percentage is significantly higher than previously reported, highlighting the greater prevalence and impact of mental health disorders on society.

Here in Denmark, weve received nominations for being the happiest country, Dr. Kessing said. We have a sophisticated health care system and many resources. The incidence of mental illness is higher than we originally believed. This study shows that mental illness is not for the few but for the majority.

The study examined mental health disorders experienced by the participants, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This categorization allowed for a nuanced understanding of Denmarks broad mental health landscape.

The research also focused on psychotropic drug prescriptions as a treatment approach and found that 70.4 percent (pdf) of the population was prescribed psychotropic medications to treat mental health disorders.

These findings shed light on the potential societal burden of mental health disorders and emphasize the role of pharmacotherapy in managing these conditions.

The authors acknowledged the need for further exploration of the clinical effectiveness and safety of the prescribed psychotropic drugs, which fell outside the scope of this study.

Alarming Link Between Mental Health Disorders and Socioeconomic Outcomes

The Danish study explored how mental health disorders may affect socioeconomic outcomes by analyzing integrated health and socioeconomic data on national employment, income, and education. The results showed that people with diagnosed mental health disorders experienced higher unemployment rates, lower incomes, and a higher likelihood of living alone. Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders can make stable employment challenging because of trouble concentrating, meeting deadlines, or managing stress effectively. Stress and burnout can trigger mental health issues in Denmark as well as any other country, whether ranked among the happiest or not, Dr. Kessing said. People with mental illness often struggle to obtain and keep jobs, which frequently causes more stress, fueling a self-perpetuating cycle. Mental illness poses significant challenges for people aspiring to pursue higher education. Students dealing with mental health disorders face an increased risk of experiencing poor academic performance due to frequent absences and lower school completion rates, according to a 2019 study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology. The many obstacles associated with mental illness and education can act as barriers, hindering individuals from reaching their full educational potential and leading to long-term repercussions for their future careers and socioeconomic prospects.

Why Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health Is Crucial

The Danish studys findings have far-reaching implications for health care professionals, policymakers, and society. It is a reminder to prioritize mental health services, reduce the stigma surrounding them, and foster a supportive environment for those struggling, according to the authors.

This data should encourage society to put strength and effort into studying mental illness and how it impacts lives, Dr. Kessing said. People with mental disorders are often misjudged by their family, boss, and there is even self-stigmatization, he added.

Dr. Kessing emphasized the significant role of loneliness in perpetuating the challenges faced by individuals living with mental illness.

For some, dealing with mental disorders means living in isolation, lacking support and understanding from family and society. A 2017 study published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience revealed that self-stigmatization can be a barrier to recovery for patients with mental illness. Feelings of shame and guilt can burden mentally ill individuals, hindering them from seeking the help they need.

People affected by mental disorders can find comfort in knowing there is no shame in their condition and that many others have also faced challenges at some point in their lives, Dr. Kessing said.

The Future of Mental Health Is Within Reach

The Danish study has unveiled avenues for future research, according to Dr. Kessing. Longitudinal studies can provide insights into the lifelong journey of individuals with mental health disorders. At the same time, investigations into the efficacy of psychotropic medications and other treatments, such as metabolic interventions, offer directions for treatment.

[Mental illness] is more common than we thought. People dont have to live in fear. They arent alone, Dr. Kessing said.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
House to Vote on Resolutions to Lift Terrorism-Related Sanctions

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on July 18 on resolutions that would lift terrorism-related sanctions.

The resolutions would end national emergencies declared by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama between 2003 and 2012.

H.J.Res.68, introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), would repeal the national emergency declared by Mr. Bush on Oct. 27, 2006, which pertained to blocking the property of sanctioned individuals behind the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

H.J.Res.70, introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), would undo the national emergency signed by Mr. Obama on Feb. 25, 2011, which related to the conflict in Libya.

H.J.Res.74, also introduced by Mr. Gosar, would repeal the national emergency declared by Mr. Obama on May 16, 2012, which pertained to sanctioning those threatening the peace and stability of Yemen.

H.J.Res.71, introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), would undo the national emergency declared by Mr. Bush on May 22, 2003, which related to the stabilization of Iraq.

H.J.Res.79, introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), would repeal the national emergency declared by Mr. Bush on May 11, 2004, which sanctioned people and prohibited certain export to Syria over its support for terrorism and other malign activities.

Gabriel Noronha, who served as special adviser for the Iran Action Group in the State Department under President Donald Trump, warned in a July 17 Twitter thread that Mr. Gosar, Mr. Crane, and Mr. Gaetzs resolutions would cease sanctions against dangerous people, including ISIS fundraisers, war criminals, and murderers of U.S. soldiers.

Mr. Noronha said that H.J.Res.70 would end sanctions [against]the family of Libyan dictator Mohammad Gaddafi and sanctions [against] a Libyan oil and drug smuggling network that were enacted by the Trump administration.

Regarding H.J.Res.74, Mr. Noronha said it would end an executive order that has been used to sanction Houthi head Abdul Malik Houthi and other Houthi terrorists based in Yemen and supported by Iran.

Mr. Noronha wrote that Mr. Cranes resolution would end several Iraq sanctions authorities used to target 207 terrorists and militia leaders in Iraqguys like Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, responsible for killing and kidnapping U.S. soldiers, who would be free from sanctions if this were passed.

[H.J.Res.79] would end several Syrian sanctions that hit 664 individuals and entitiesguys like George Haswani, who helped sell ISIS oil to Assad. Or dozens of Assads chemical weapons scientists who gassed innocent Syrians to death with Sarin poison, Mr. Noronha wrote.

Ive only touched on the very tip of the iceberg of just how many terrorists, chemical weapons scientists, torturers, terror fundraisers, drug lords, and more would be freed from sanctions. These scum whose hands are soaked in blood could freely bank againor come to America!

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Crane said that his measure is about respecting the separation of powers.

Congress needs to do its job and stop letting these dated emergency declarations be used as a green light to fuel forever wars. Ive been deployed to Iraq three times as a Navy SEAL  Im not naive, he said. I trust that anyone whos concerned about these sanctions will immediately cosponsor my forthcoming legislation that will move them to their proper lanes of authorization.

The Epoch Times reached out to the offices of Ms. Boebert and Mr. Gaetz for comment but received none by press time.

The Rationale

Nonetheless, in a statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Gosar explained the rationale behind his resolutions to end emergency declarations tied to Libya and Yemen. Part of his explanation stemmed from Congresss role in reviewing national emergencies.

There are currently 41 extended national emergencies that are subject to periodic Congressional review. The emergency declarations related to Libya and Yemen are more than a decade old, he said.

The National Emergencies Act mandates Congress consider joint resolutions terminating national emergencies every six months. Yet Congress has never reviewed the legitimacy of the national emergency related to Libya or Yemen since their declaration by President Obama.

Mr. Gosar went on to explain that his Yemen-related measure was about allowing for the United States to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in the West Asian country.

Heartlessly, the extended national emergency related to Yemen blocks the donations of food, clothing, and medicine intended to relieve the human suffering by the people of Yemen, he said. Imagine the number of lives of innocent Yemen children that could have been improved or even saved had this emergency declaration been terminated.

Shortly after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he reversed the U.S. designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organizationa designation put in place by the Trump administration in its final days. The Biden administration claimed that the designation prevented facilitating humanitarian aid to the people of Yemena claim that has been refuted by critics who said such assistance wasnt subject to sanctions.

Regarding his Libya-related measure, Mr. Gosar claimed that the national emergency is no longer applicable.

Almost hilariously, the extended national emergency related to Libya continues to cite Muammar Gaddafi as the reason for the declaration. Gaddafi has been dead for almost 12 years, he said. The people of Libya deserve to live in a manner of their choosing without the prospect of U.S. bombings or attacks thrust upon them by corrupt and misguided U.S. agenciesnone of whom are acting with Congressional approval.
Hundreds of Migrants in Southern Mexico Form Group to Head Toward US

A U.S. flag flies behind the border fence that divides Mexico and the U.S. in Tijuana, Mexico, on Nov. 21, 2018. (Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo)

SUCHIATE, MexicoNearly a thousand migrants that recently crossed from Guatemala into Mexico formed a group Saturday to head north together in hopes of reaching the border with the United States.

The group, made up of largely Venezuelan migrants, walked along a highway in southern Mexico, led by a Venezuela flag with the phrase Peace, Freedom. SOS. The men, women, children and teenagers were followed by Mexican National Guard patrols.

Migrants told The Associated Press they crossed into Mexico illegally through a river dividing the two countries. They said they decided to organize the group and start out because many had been sleeping on the street and had run out of money to buy food.

We just want to move forward, to fulfill our American dream and work, because were all workers here, one Venezuelan, Roseli Gloria said while taking a brief rest along the highway.

She carried a backpack and a piece of rolled up foam for sleeping. She said she had been in Mexico for a week before joining the group.

Participants in the group said that they received little aid from Mexican immigration authorities and that they were given mixed and confusing instructions about how to move forward or seek asylum in the United States.

The formation of the latest migrant group in southern Mexico comes amid a record migratory flow to the United States from countries across Latin America. In the 12 months through May 2023, U.S. authorities reported nearly 2.5 million encounters with illegal immigrants on its southern border, an uptick from the year before.

Migrants from Venezuela previously sought refuge in other South American nations like Colombia and Peru, but increasingly they are making the perilous journey through the jungles of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama in an attempt to reach the United States.
IN-DEPTH: Military Families No Longer Want Their Children to Enlist

U.S. soldiers attend an inauguration ceremony by transforming the Area Support Group Poland into the permanent U.S. Army Garrison Poland, at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland, on March 21, 2023. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

More than two dozen military service members reached out to The Epoch Times, saying they are discouraging their children from donning the uniform. This marks the end of a legacy for some families, and a tough decision for all.

Chris Collins served in the Coast Guard for nearly 12 years before getting kicked out in 2022 for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, he said. And he now plans to steer his two children away from joining the military. It has a lot to do with distrust and the current culture, he told The Epoch Times.

I actually convinced my brother to join shortly after he left high school, Mr. Collins said. He picked the Air Force as his branch, and I regret the decision to encourage him to join because it didnt work out well for him.

He and his brother shared many of the same concerns, which created distrust in the military.

The vaccine was a huge thing for me, Mr. Collins said. The higher-ups of military leadership, the people I once trusted to have my best interest in mind, flat out ignored everything I said in opposition to the taking the vaccine.

As a result, he was forced to decide to take the vaccine or leave over a decade of service behind.

One of the primary reasons he joined the Coast Guard was for the comradery, Mr. Collins said. I didnt think I would find that from any other job.

I was once part of a Coast Guard that harped on being family, always being there for each other. But I became inconvenient when I tried to get religious accommodation for the vaccine, he said, adding that he learned very quickly what the higher-ups in the Coast Guard were all about, and the whole family atmosphere that was promoted to me early on was all just a facade.

While he doesnt blame his immediate leadership for an abbreviated career, he said, They didnt stand up against the mandate.

They, instead, deferred to the higher-ups all the way until the end, admitting it was all wrong while signing my discharge paperworkwhile doing nothing to stand up against it.

But even before the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Mr. Collins held concerns about the decision-making ability of Coast Guard leadership.

In the past several years, the Coast Guard developed a lot of deep-rooted problems, he said, citing leaderships prioritization of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Their pursuit for those types of policies has really created a toxic environment for anybody who doesnt believe in it. Mr. Collins said.

Pushing cultural things like DEI and forcing people to take an experimental vaccine shows you they dont care about the military, he said. But what it does show you is that leadership will push anything to advance their own careers.

If youre in a leadership position and you see harm happening to your people and your military, and youre not willing to speak up about it, what good are you? he said. We need people willing to stand up and stop the change in culture to turn the military around.

But Mr. Collins believes that even then, the military may be too far gone already.

Theres too many people who have been brought up in the new culture of doing what you have to do to get ahead, he said. I cant in good conscience promote the military to my children while theyre promoting things like DEI that go against everything we believe in.

While I wish they could make a difference to make the military better, right now I just feel like theyd be more like speed bumps in the road than anything, he added.

A military member prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in Fort Knox, Ky., on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

My Eyes Were Opened

Brian Wilson began his career in the Florida Army National Guard in the late nineties, transitioning to active duty in 2001 with the Navy. After twenty-one years of service, he resigned his commission in October 2022.

Like Mr. Collins, Mr. Wilson took objection to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate by the secretary of defense and senior leadership, which he considered to be illegal.

I wasnt going to participate in, or continue, to be part of an organization giving unlawful orders that violate federal law whenever they feel like it, so my career came to an abrupt halt, Mr Wilson said.

Mr. Wilsons grandfathers served in the Army during World War II. His stepfather served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam. I would say theres some legacy out there, he said. But after his own career of service took an abrupt halt, Mr. Wilson began thinking about his own children serving in the military.

My eyes were opened, and I started thinking about things more objectively, as to what role our military serves and what the oath that an officer takes really means, Mr. Wilson said.

He witnessed fellow officers toe the government line to force a vaccine at all costs on service members to protect their careers and their income, which he considered a violation of their oath to defend the Constitution.

When I witnessed so many refuse to stand up for whats right and so many conveniently disregard their oath, thats when I knew I didnt want my four children in the military, Wilson said. It is my opinion that the military is no longer serving and upholding the Constitution.

Its certainly not trying to preserve individual liberty and freedom, as thousands were trampled on by an unlawful mandate, he added.

Like with his children, he said, I would caution every individual to be very careful with putting their hope and trust in todays military leadership.

There is no political savior on the way, and no answer from the left or from the right any time soon, Mr. Wilson said.

He added, I would not choose to serve or have my children serve in a force that bends to the woke mob and promotes ungodly behavior within the ranks instead of seeking and developing warriors that think critically and are ready to defend the nation.

God help us if we are ever in a severe conflict again.

Recruits read their Recruit Training Guide for Basic Military Training in a compartment of the USS Hopper at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navys only boot camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Stephane Belcher)

Generational Damage

Stephen Simmons served in the Marine Corps for over 17 years, having been forced to leave the service in 2022 just months before a likely selection to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Having served with distinction, he follows a long line of faithful service to our country: members of his family have fought in every major conflict the United States has participated in since the Revolutionary War.

Military service is woven into my familys legacy, Mr. Simmons said. Growing up it was encouraged and expected of men in the family, as we hold service very highly.

But he became disillusioned with military leadership as he watched the United States disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as the purge of service members who held religious and medical objections to the once-mandated COVID-19 vaccine. He was alarmed at what he saw as politically expedient decision-making that put the lives of service members and national security at risk, he said.

The military is built on trust, [and] I lost trust and confidence in the military leadership, he added.

Referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins 2021 military vaccine mandate, Simmons said, it purposefully violated the conscience of thousands of military personnel by forcing them to take an experimental vaccine against their will. The move alienated veterans, those currently serving and future potential recruits, he added.

According to him, The Department of Defense refuses to address this as a contributing factor of their recruiting crisis, but in reality, it has caused generational damage to recruiting and retention that cannot be reversed until political and military leadership take proactive steps to repair the damage.

As a subject matter expert in military retention, Mr. Simmons is no stranger to the challenges of recruiting and retaining military personnel. Noting the shortfalls in manpower that have caused the military to slip below its statutory end strength goals, Mr. Simmons said, The leadership, while bemoaning the lack of qualified applicants, has successfully alienated half the population through their own policies.

Unfortunately, the military is consumed with adopting the latest politically expedient fad instead of focusing on winning wars, Mr. Simmons said. Veterans know this and do not want their children exposed to this.

Mr. Simmons is the father of two boys. Whether he would encourage them to join todays military is a hard question.

It flies in the face of our familys tradition, he said. But we did not break faith, the military broke faith with us. I could not in good conscience encourage them to serve in the military and have any confidence that they would be in good hands.

Mr. Simmons fears that the decisions of parents like him to discourage their children from serving will harm future recruiting and retention efforts of the military.

This phenomenon should be a national discussion, he said, and political and military leadership should realize the reckless game theyre playing with the countrys national defense.

They must take steps to restore faith in our military, he said. Whatever the cost, it will be far less than the price we will pay in attrition over the next three generations as a result of the poor decision-making over the last three years.

Change in Values

Retired Coast Guard Vice Adm. William Dean Lee, who spent nearly 36 years on active duty with the branch, shared some of Mr. Simmonss concerns. In 2016, Mr. Lee retired from service with his final assignment as Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander.

Joining the service was the best decision I ever made, he told The Epoch Times. I loved my job, I loved the mission, and I loved the people with whom I served. However, according to him, much has changed.

Mr. Lee joined the Coast Guard at a time when the country held fast to Judeo-Christian values. But by the time he retired, adherence to those same values were being scrutinized as old-fashioned, bigoted, or even hateful, he said.

Traditional Biblical values have been usurped by a small crowd of exceptionally loud voices wholike it or nothave successfully forced the U.S. military to bend a knee in submission to ideologies which are not just divisive, but in some cases, outright immoral, Mr. Lee said. He referred to the infiltration of the LGBT and DEI agenda into all branches of the armed forces.

According to him, They have ostensibly created a new state religion, and woe to the man or woman who doesnt bow at its multi-colored alter.

Despite his objection to the changing culture of the military, Mr. Lee said, I would still encourage people to serve, for our national security unquestionably depends on it.

According to Gallup polls, the military has long been the most trusted institution in Americaand Mr. Lee is proud to have been a part of that. Events of the last two years, however, are causing that trust to erode with the American public, he said. As a result of these shifting values, many veterans have stopped encouraging young men and women to serve.

Although Mr. Lee wholeheartedly agrees with their rationale, he has a different outlook on the matter. We cannot, and should not, dissuade good people from serving just because we disagree with the current cultural direction; rather we need to encourage them to serve, for our national security is at stake, he said.

Those of us no longer in uniform can only pray that the best, brightest of our youth will sign up, become senior leaders, and turn the ship around before it crashes into the shoal and sinks, rendering us yet one more failed empire lost on the scrap heap of history.

The Department of Defense didnt return requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
Intelligence Officials Previously Warned Ottawa About TikToks Data-Harvesting Methods: Report

The federal government was allegedly warned by a Canadian intelligence official that the Beijing-linked video-sharing app TikTok was misleading governments and the general public about its data-harvesting methods nearly half a year before Ottawa banned the app from all federal devices, according to an internal briefing note.

A document prepared for the government in September 2022 by the Privy Council Offices (PCO) Intelligence Assessment Secretariat said that TikTok was giving false public and governmental reassurances about data sovereignty and security.

The brief, which was obtained by the Toronto Star through an Access to Information request, was prepared about five months before cabinet announced in late February that it would be banning TikTok from all government-issued devices over security concerns.

The secretariats brief for the federal government outlined a number of concerns about TikTok and said that the video-sharing app has created a globally embedded and ubiquitous collection and influence platform for Beijing to exploit.

It also said that TikToks many users unwittingly expose themselves to significant security and privacy risks by using the app.

As of 2022, there are over eight million Canadian TikTok users, ranging from 55 per cent of teenagers to members of Parliament, said the brief. It harvests their data, offering false public and governmental reassurances about data sovereignty and security.

TikTok is owned by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance and has previously drawn concerns about potentially giving the Chinese regime access to its users data.

The app has also been banned by over 28 American states and the U.S. federal government has prohibited TikTok from being downloaded on state-owned devices.

Security Concerns

The September 2022 PCO intelligence brief also reportedly said that TikTok has access to all of its users devices, location data, contacts, personal information, and biometric identifiers, such as a users face and voice.

It further alleges that the apps adoption of new technologies practically ensures it will harvest greater variety of sensitive Western data, while also referring to multiple unnamed sources suggesting that Western data remains accessible to China.

The Epoch Times has not reviewed the intelligence brief. TikTok also did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations prior to press time.

Although Ottawa banned TikTok from all government-issued devices in February 2023, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said at the time that the ban was a precautionary measure and added that there was no evidence suggesting government information had been compromised through the app.

According to another memo, the federal government had also been warned about security risks associated with TikTok about two years before the PCOs intelligence brief in September 2022.

A briefing note prepared by Public Safety Canadas National and Cyber Security Branch (NCSB) for then-Public Safety Minister Bill Blair in September 2020 said the NSCB had a number of privacy and national security considerations related to the TikTok application at the time.
DAMASCUS, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters have been battling massive forest wildfires in central, western and northwestern Syria since Wednesday, said state-run and pro-government media outlets.

The fires broke out in the countryside of the central province of Hama, the western coastal provinces of Tartous and Latakia, and the northwestern province of Idlib, burning large swathes of agricultural and forest areas in the areas, with Hama and Latakia most affected.

In statements carried by Sham FM radio on Sunday, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Mohammed Hassan Qatana said the fires in the countryside of Hama have been mostly extinguished, except for those in the mountainous Tal Salhab area.

However, firefighters are trying to control new blazes in Hama caused by strong winds. The lack of roads between agricultural areas and the geographic nature of the territories have increased the difficulty in putting out fires.

In Latakia, firefighters took two days to put out a large fire in the Kasab area, but the fires forced the evacuation of a village in the countryside and killed two people. Several others were hospitalized for breathing difficulties.

A total of 16 fires broke out in Idlib, the largest of which was near the Khirbet al-Joz area. Displaced persons camps in the province were also affected by the fires.

Military helicopters are taking part in the firefighting operations in Hama and Latakia, according to Sham FM radio.

The Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform said on Sunday that the country is still on high alert for possible new fires in forest areas until Monday. 
Key Russian Bridge to Crimea Struck Again, Moscow Blames Ukraine for Attack That Killed 2

The section of a road split and sloping to one side following an attack on the Crimea Bridge in this still image taken from video released on July 17, 2023. (rimea24tv/Handout via Reuters)

An attack before dawn Monday damaged a bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea that is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine, forcing the spans temporary closure for a second time in less than a year. Two people were killed and their daughter was injured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered increased security at the 19-kilometer (12-mile) Kerch Bridge, repeating a call he made in October 2022 when the span was severely damaged by an explosion that Moscow also blamed on Kyiv.

He also promised there will be a response from Russia, of course.

What happened is another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime, Mr. Putin said at a televised meeting with officials. It is a crime that is pointless from the military point of view, it bears no significance because the Crimean bridge hasnt been used for military means in a long time, and it is brutal, because blameless civilians were injured and killed.

Vehicle traffic on the bridge came to a standstill on Monday, while rail traffic also was halted for about six hours.

Investigators work at an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea, in a handout photo taken from video released on July 17, 2023. (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)

Satellite images taken Monday morning by Maxar Technologies showed serious damage to both eastbound and westbound lanes of the bridge across the Kerch Strait on the part nearest to the Russian mainland, with at least one section collapsed. The railroad bridge that runs parallel to the highway appeared undamaged.

The strike was carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones, Russias National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

Ukrainian officials were coy about taking responsibility, as they have been in past strikes. But in what appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment, Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said in a statement that his agency would reveal details of how the bang was organized after Kyiv has won the war.

The October attack on the bridge came when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections and required months of repair. Moscow decried that assault as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraines civilian infrastructure, targeting the countrys power grid over the winter.

In Mondays blast, the Ukrainian news portal RBK-Ukraina cited a security services source as saying it was carried out by what it called floating drones. A deputy prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, later said on the Telegram messaging service that today, the Crimea bridge was torn apart by sea drones, but it was not clear if he was making an official confirmation or referring to earlier reports.

Hours after the attack, video from Russian authorities showed crews picking up debris from the deck of the bridge, a section of which appeared to be sloping to one side, and a damaged black sedan with its passenger door open.

Putin ordered authorities to thoroughly investigate what happened, to come up with concrete proposals to enhance security of this strategically important transport object, and to provide all possible support to people who ended up in a difficult position due to the halted traffic on the bridge.

The Kerch Bridge is a conspicuous symbol of Moscows claims on Crimea and an essential land link to the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. The $3.6 billion bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russias military operations in southern Ukraine in the nearly 17-month-old war.

Russia has expanded its military forces in Crimea since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Occasional sabotage and other attacks against the Russian military and other facilities on the peninsula have occurred since, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine.

Those attacks and acts of sabotage havent discouraged Russians from spending their holidays in Crimea, and as car traffic on the bridge came to a halt, long lines formed at a ferry crossing the Kerch Strait, Russian media reported.

Traffic jams also clogged a highway in the Russian-held part of the Kherson region after Moscow-appointed authorities in Crimea redirected motorists to take the land route to Russia, through the partially occupied regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Drivers heading to Crimea were also stuck in a three-kilometer jam between Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog, RIA Novosti reported.

The bridge attack comes as Ukrainian forces are pressing a counteroffensive in several sections of the front line. It also happened hours before Russia announced, as expected, that it is halting a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that allows the export of Ukrainian grain during the war.

Russian media identified the dead as Alexei and Natalia Kulik, who were traveling to Crimea for a summer vacation. The 40-year-old Kulik was a truck driver and his 36-year-old wife was a municipal education worker. Their 14-year-old daughter suffered chest and brain injuries.

Kyiv didnt initially acknowledge responsibility for Octobers bridge attack either, but Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar acknowledged earlier this month that Ukraine struck it to derail Russian logistics.

Russian authorities said the attack didnt affect the bridges piers but damaged two road links, one beyond repair. The damage still appeared less serious than in Octobers attack; Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said authorities would gradually resume traffic on one side of the bridge after midnight Monday (2100 GMT Monday).

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence department, declined to comment but said: The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.

The Security Service of Ukraine posted a redacted version of a popular lullaby, tweaked to say that the bridge went to sleep again.
Major Revegetation Project Cancelled After Aboriginal Corporation Demands $2.5 Million

In a picture taken on Jan. 2, 2010, cattle sit on dry farmland near Nannup in the south west corner of Western Australia. (Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images)

A major tree-planting event along the banks of the Canning River in Perth has been cancelled after the head of a local Aboriginal corporation demanded $2.5 million (US$1.7 million) citing cultural heritage laws.

The now-former CEO of the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, David Collard, cited Western Australias contentious Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 as the reason for the demand, according to 7 News.

The Act was supposed to protect culturally significant landmarks in the state from potential harm and was updated following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge by mining giant Rio Tinto.

Yet there are concerns the laws lack clarity and farmers and landowners could be easily caught up in red tape or face heavy penalties.

Were 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, Patrick Hall, mayor of Canning, told 7 News.

Stephen Johnston of the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare said the two eventsto plant 5,500 seedlingswere cancelled out of caution around the laws.

Ive been poring over the websites and the act, the 255-page act, the 47 pages of guidelines and the printouts, which are all available on the state government website, he told ABC Radio Perth.

So theres a lot of information there, but theres information that begs questions, Mr. Johnston added, noting that it was unclear whether landcare activities were exempt from the new requirements.

When you have the CEO of the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation making a demand like this, you dont just sort of put the phone down and ignore it, he said.

In response, the Whadjuk Corporation confirmed the event was cancelled after a discussion between Landcare and Mr. Collard, but added that it was not related to the Cultural Heritage Act.

The group also said it would reschedule another time to plant seedlings.

The Canning River and its riverbanks are culturally significant to the Whadjuk people because the connection to this land is of central spiritual importance. The planting of seedlings will conserve this important area for our future generations, said the chair of the Whadjuk Corporation, in a statement on July 17.

What do the Laws Mean for Farmers?

The updated Cultural Heritage Act came into effect on July 1 and establishes the Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS), which is responsible for ensuring areas of significance are not harmed.

Under the three-tiered system, a landowner with over 1,100 square metres of land (11,840.3 square feet) must first apply with LACHS if they wish to carry out work that could disturb over 50 centimetres of soilencompassing activities like land clearing, drainage work, and even building a fence.

LACHS will send out a consultantat the landowners expense at around $160 per hourto determine if the site has any cultural significance.

Its open-ended, theres no limit to how much time they can spend on your farm and theres no way of actually contesting what theyre doing, said Tony Seabrook, WA president of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association, in an interview with Sky News Australia.

It even says in the legislation that just because you get a clearance today that what youre doing doesnt intersect with Aboriginal cultural heritage, it doesnt mean they cant change their mind at some point in the future, he added.

WA Government Defends Laws

The WA government has defended the laws arguing there is no issue with clarity.

There shouldnt be a vacuum [of information] but we will continue educating the public and various stakeholders, said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti on July 17.

I want to make it clear, there was no linkage between the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and the ability to cancel that [tree-planting] event, he told reporters.

If the alleged communication by Mr. Collard is correct  that is completely unacceptable and I will not stand for that.

The debate over the cultural heritage laws comes amid concerns that a federal move to change the Australian Constitution (to include greater recognition of Indigenous peoples) could spur overreach from advocacy groups.

The Voice proposal includes a change to the preamble of the nations founding document and will also introduce a near-permanent advisory body dedicated to representing Indigenous interestson top of the already numerous lobby groups in Canberra.

This group will be elected by Indigenous people and will have the authority to make representations on issues deemed relevant to Aboriginal groups to the executive and Parliament.

In April, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government reached a settlement with the Ngambari people after they sued authorities for not officially recognising them as the traditional owners of Canberra.

ACT authorities have, for the last two decades, recognised the Ngunnawal people as the traditional owners.

The ACT was forced to apologise to the Ngambari people, who argued their human rights had been breached.

In turn, the United Ngunnawal Elders Council responded, saying they felt mental anguish from the whole episode.
Manchin Announces Fundraising Numbers as Speculation Grows About 3rd-Party White House Bid

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair, presides over a hearing on battery technology in Washington on Sept. 22, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has not decided whether he will next year run for reelection, make a third-party bid for the presidency, or retire, has raised $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2023.

The Epoch Times obtained the fundraising figures along with other numbers showing that the Manchin campaign has $10.7 million cash on hand and $2.2 million available in Mr. Manchins leadership PAC Country Roads, following the PAC bringing in close to $400,000 in the second quarter of this year.

Two candidates, both Republicans, have announced a run for next years race for the West Virginia that Mr. Manchin presently holds.

The money that Mr. Manchin raised is more than either of his potential Republican rivals brought in during the same period.

Vying for the Republican nomination are West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), one of the states two U.S. representatives.

Mr. Justice said he raised close to $1 million in the two months following the announcement of his candidacy in April.

Mr. Justice, a scion of a coal-mining empire which he inherited and grew, also has a personal bank account he can tap into, with Forbes estimating his net worth in 2021 to be about $440 millionalthough Forbes once pegged his net worth at $1.7 billion.

(L-R) Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in file photos. (Getty Images)

Mr. Mooney reported raising $550,000 in the second quarter of 2023.

Mr. Mooney has significant conservative PAC money behind him. On July 12, two of those PACs, the Club for Growth and Protect Freedom PAC, jointly announced that they have raised $13.55 million to get Mr. Mooney elected to the U.S. Senate.

Mr. Manchin said he will make a decision about his political future this coming December.

An East Carolina University (ECU) Center for Survey Research released a poll in late May has Mr. Justice way ahead of Mr. Manchin in the 2024 Senate race, 54 to 32 percent, with 13 percent undecided. In a matchup for the Republican nomination, the poll has Mr. Justice leading 53 percent to 12 percent.

In a race for the Senate seat between Mr. Manchin and Mr. Mooney, the ECU poll has the candidates basically deadlocked, with Mr. Mooney at 41 percent, Mr. Manchin at 40 percent, and 18 percent undecided.

The senator is set to join Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as keynote speaker for No Labelss Common Sense town hall, which is scheduled for July 17 at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The centrist political group has stirred controversy by floating a potential third-party unity ticket for the 2024 presidential election.

Democrats have expressed criticism of such a move, saying it would virtually hand the election to former President Donald Trump.

It is clear that most Americans are exceedingly frustrated by the growing divide in our political parties and toxic political rhetoric from our elected leaders, Mr. Manchin said in a statement announcing Mondays event.

Our political discourse is lacking engaged debates around common sense solutions to solve the pressing issues facing our nation. I am looking forward to modeling this type of conversation with my good friend, Gov. Huntsman, and the No Labels community.
Massive Search Underway for Missing Children Swept Away in Suburban Philadelphia Flash Flood

Flooding along Snyder Road, near the intersection with county Route 519, in Phillipsburg, N.J., on July 16, 2023. (Courtesy of JCP&L via AP)

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa.Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose familys car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threateningly high temperatures and severe air pollution from Canadian wildfires.

In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Mondays search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a massive undertaking along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday.

The childrens father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while the childrens mother, Katie Seley, and a grandmother grabbed the other children, said Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer. Mr. Sheils and his son made it to safety, but Ms. Seley and the grandmother were swept away.

The grandmother survived, but Ms. Seley, 32, was among five killed by the floods.

A wall of water came to them; they did not go into the water, Brewer said of the Sheils family.

Scott Ellis, an uncle to the missing children, described the family as utterly devastated.

Monsignor Michael Picard of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, where family members are parishioners, said he spoke with the grandparents Sunday.

No matter how long Ive been doing thisover and over and over, many, many yearsyou find yourself still helpless and without words to make people feel more comfortable, Mr. Picard said. And so you just simply pray with them for a few minutes.

Pennsylvanias flash floods also drowned Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said.

The county commissioners signed an emergency declaration in response to the flooding.

Flooding and a partially fallen tree along Swayze Mill Road in Hope, N.J., on July 16, 2023. (Courtesy of JCP&L via AP)

Other parts of the saturated Northeast began drying out Monday after drenching weekend rains resulted in flash flooding in parts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Sunday.

The Vermont Emergency Management agency reported that swift-water rescue teams conducted an additional six rescues overnight. The agency also was monitoring areas at risk for landslides.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott toured some of the destruction from recent torrential rains on Monday, including a damaged inn that was cut in half by flood waters.

More rain was forecast for Tuesday.

Sundays storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, and hundreds more flights were delayed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 5 inches of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island. The state saw $50 million in damages from storms in the past week.

In North Carolina, floodwaters were blamed for the death of a 49-year-old woman whose car was swept off a road in Alexander County late Saturday. A man who was in the car with her was rescued.

Meanwhile, extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon, according to the Environmental Protect Agencys AirNow.gov Smoke and Fire map.

Fine particle pollution caused by smoke from Canadas wildfires is causing a red zone air quality index, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone. The particles are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

On Monday afternoon, cities and regions hitting that mark included Lincoln, Nebraska; Peoria, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Knoxville and Chattanooga in Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Utica in New York.

Sensitive groups, including people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant women, should consider staying inside, advisories warn.

Elsewhere in the United States, thousands of people in Kansas and Missouri were without power from weekend storms that swept those states. Kansas largest electric power provider, Evergy, said it could take days to restore service to all customers. The timeline could create difficult conditions for some people as more storms and stifling heat were expected in Kansas and Missouri early this week, according to the National Weather Service.

In the West, a mountain biker died Saturday in blistering desert heat east of San Diego after he and three fellow bikers helped rescue four hikers who were without water.

Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua said the bikers called 911, and two rode back to a trailhead to give directions to rescuers. A helicopter hoisted the hikers, and the two bikers who had stayed with them headed to the trailhead. One did not arrive and was found unresponsive about a quarter-mile away. He later died, though there was no information on the cause of death.

Temperatures also soared in Phoenix, which hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday shortly after 12:30 p.m., marking 18 consecutive days the city has hit that temperature and tying an earlier record for consecutive days at or above 110 degrees. Phoenix is expected to surpass the record on Tuesday.

Death Valley, which runs along part of central Californias border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, according to the National Weather Service.

Reno, Nevada, set a record high of 108 degrees Fahrenheit for the date on Sunday, while also tying the all-time high set on July 10 and 11 of 2002, and equaled on July 5, 2007, according to the National Weather Service.

By Maryclaire Dale
Michael Taube: Why Sir Wilfrid Laurier Should Remain on the $5 Bill, Now and Forevermore

Commentary

Many Canadians were understandably frustrated when the twin scourges of cancel culture and wokeness erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet few probably remember an announcement that just preceded the pandemic and, surprisingly, fit with this negative tone of what was to come.

The Bank of Canada unexpectedly announced a plan in early 2020 to remove Sir Wilfrid Lauriers image from the $5 bill. The nations seventh prime minister had been a familiar feature on the bank note for almost 50 years. Barely a word of displeasure had ever been uttered. Yet Canadians would participate in deciding his replacement.

Its kind of a new and groundbreaking thing that theyre doing a public consultation process about this, Steven Bell, president of the Banknote Certification Service, told CTV news on Jan. 14, 2020. Let alone simply changing it to an iconic Canadian.

A shortlist of individuals from Canadian history was released in Nov. 2020. It included Inuit artist Pitseolak Ashoona, Siksika First Nation Chief Issapomahksika (Crowfoot), and activist athlete Terry Fox.

Then it all went silent. Ottawa focused more heavily on the pandemic, and trivial matters like this one fell by the wayside.

It was recently announced the banks plan has been put on hold for the time being. The current $5 note with depictions of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Canadarm2 and Dextre (Canadian robotics innovations in space) will continue to circulate for some time, a Bank of Canada spokesperson told CBC News on July 14. As banknote portrait subjects are the minister of finances decision, we are not in a position to comment further.

Did Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland put the kibosh on this discussion? If so, she deserves credit for making the right decision about a historically important Canadian prime minister.

Laurier was a Liberal by political persuasion, but a classical liberal in ideological terms. He recognized the importance of small government, low taxes, economic growth, and individual rights and freedoms in helping create a healthy democracy. He respected traditional institutions and wanted to preserve Canadas historical bond with Great Britain. He was a proud nationalist, and an even prouder nation-builder.

He played a critical role in shaping our country, too.

Laurier was the first PM to propose reciprocity (or free trade) with the United States. It was the Liberals, not the Conservatives, who originally understood the economic advantage of expanding free markets and international trade. We wish to open our markets to you on the condition that you open yours to us, Laurier told then president William Howard Taft in 1910. It would be to our mutual advantage. We produce more of certain things than we can consume; on the other hand, our production is below capacity, such that we have commodities to export and import.

Lauriers dream of reciprocity led to his political downfall in the 1911 federal election. Nevertheless, it served as an important source of inspiration for modern Conservatives. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged that the politics of free trade were always much more dauntingas Sir Wilfred Laurier learned first hand, and he learned from his predecessors missteps. He successfully charted a different economic path for Canada, which led to the 1987 Free Trade Agreement with the United States and the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement that included Mexico.

To be sure, Laurier had many political successes.

He resolved the Manitoba Schools Question that had hampered the provinces publicly funded Roman Catholic and Protestant separate schools. He signed a compromise with then Manitoba premier Thomas Greenway in 1896 that allowed for religious instruction of Catholic education for 30 minutes daily, and French to be taught in classrooms, both under certain conditions. A Catholic school board without public funding was also enacted as part of this arrangement.

Laurier oversaw the extension of the railroads from coast to coast, and approved the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway project in 1903. He added two new provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, to Confederation in 1905. He championed immigration, which led to the arrival of over 3 million people to Canada between 1897 and 1914.

Its for these historical reasons, and others, that it would have been an enormous mistake for the Bank of Canada to have removed Laurier from the $5 bill.

Was Laurier perfect? Far from it. His leadership was a story of confidence, national optimism, and success, historian Arthur Milnes wrote in Canada Always: The Defining Speeches of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (2016), but he was also continually buffeted by racial and religious intolerance from French and English, Protestant and Catholic. Like every prime minister before him, he faced and dealt with problems.

Yet, after several long years of cancel culture, wokeness, and political correctness gone amuck, its time to start honouring and respecting the achievements of great Canadians in spite of their personal and political flaws. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is, and has always been, one of them.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Moments of Movie Wisdom: Dangerous Associates in Citizen Kane (1941)

Commentary

How often do you read someones bio and wonder whether important chapters in his story have been omitted? Many people today are in important positions because of nothing more than one particular qualification, but their beliefs and values often arent taken into consideration. No matter how qualified a person may be for a job, he could undermine the principles of the organization if he doesnt hold the standard.

Todays moment of movie wisdom is from Citizen Kane from 1941. It takes place 40 minutes into this 119-minute film. Charles Kane (Orson Welles), the owner of the New York Inquirer, is throwing a party to celebrate his acquisition of the prestigious writing staff of rival newspaper the Chronicle for his publication. Amid the revelry, his best friend, Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), confides to Kanes business manager, Bernstein (Everett Sloane), that he fears the hiring of these new staff members will ultimately compromise the values of the paper and Mr. Kane himself.

The iconic image of Orson Welles as Citizen Kane from the 1941 film. (Public Domain)

Citizen Kane is the story of a man who gained the whole world but lost his very soul. Beginning with the death of media mogul Charles Foster Kane, the storyline follows the quest of a faceless, uncredited newspaperman (John Smith) to discover the secrets of Fosters life and the meaning behind his dying words. To do so, he interviews Fosters former employees, best friend, ex-wife, and lawyer. The film is told through a series of flashbacks, showing how he went from a poor farm boy to become one of the most influential men in the world.

As a 25-year-old man, he decided to drop out of college and concentrate on running the newspaper he inherited. He quickly built it into a huge newspaper empire, amassing a fortune. Along the way, however, he becomes jaded and ruthless, alienating his first wife and his old friends in pursuit of his own way.

The Scene

The scene Im discussing was hotly discussed at the Production Code Administration (PCA) when the film was in production, since the PCA was concerned that the party would not meet the Motion Picture Production Codes standards of decency. This is because the scene was originally set in a brothel. Ultimately, the PCAs concerns were heeded, and the scene was staged in a banquet room in an office building. The only trace of the scenes tawdry origins is a group of chorus girls, who perform a song and dance routine in Kanes honor.

Promotional still for the 1941 film Citizen Kane. (Public Domain)

The scene includes a lot of cheering, singing, and hubbub. The partys purpose is for Charles Foster Kane to show off how fabulous he is and have everyone agree with him because he is rich and powerful. However, Jedediah, who has been Charless best friend since his papers humble beginnings, is disturbed to see the direction Kane is taking the Inquirer as well as his life. These men were with the Chronicle. Werent they just as devoted to the Chronicle policy as they are now to our policy? Bernstein counters that they are the best men in their business, adding that Kane will turn them into his kind of newspapermen in a week. Theres always the chance, of course, that theyll change Mr. Kane, Jedediah replies, without his knowing it. This whole conversation is conducted with voices raised to be heard above the partys din, since the music and other background noise isnt muffled. This creates a very realistic atmosphere of wise concern amid chaotic revelry.

Its Significance

This scene is a big turning point for Charles Foster Kane, the Inquirer, and Jedediahs relationship with both. When he took over the newspaper, Kane printed a statement of his editorial principles on the front page. Jedediah was so proud of his friends noble ideals that he asked to keep the original draft of the statement. Thus, it saddens him to see Kane begin abandoning those principles in search of a larger circulation, more notoriety, higher profits, and greater acclaim. He knows that his lust for more wealth and power will change his character.

Charlie Kane is a practical businessman who goes after what he wants, no matter the cost. He wants to make his paper as successful as the Chronicle, which has almost twenty times the circulation of his paper. He recognizes that the other papers success is thanks to its top-notch writing team, which it acquired over twenty years. Within six years, he has hired the entire editorial staff for his paper, but by that point hes completely forgotten the principles with which he started. Only Jedediah is perceptive enough to notice the shift in Kanes priorities and brave enough to speak the truth. Eventually, its this commitment to the truth which creates a rift in their friendship.

Promotional still for the 1941 film Citizen Kane. (Public Domain)

Dangerous Associations

The point which Jedediah makes in this scene reminds me of Operation Paperclip, the project which recruited German scientists from the Nazi Party to work for the U.S. government after World War II. Just as Charles Foster Kane filled his staff with writers from the Chronicle because they were the best in the business, NASA competed in the Space Race with former Nazis because they were brilliant scientists. However, the knowledge, research, and technology they employed in the moon missions and other space expeditions were begun in service to Hitlers inhumane, maniacal quest to conquer the world. After being devoted servants of the Third Reichs totalitarian state, how could they change to patriotic supporters of the United Statess principles of freedoms any more than the Chronicle employees could become devoted supporters of the Inquirers policy?

In pursuing excellence and success, its easy to be swayed by prestige. However, success is meaningless if it can only be achieved by dangerous associations. If it comes at the price of your very principles, there is no profit in success.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Moms for Liberty Co-founder Responds to Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Group Label

Moms for Liberty founders Tiffany Justice (L) and Tina Descovich give the opening remarks before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the inaugural Moms For Liberty Summit at the Tampa Marriott Water Street in Tampa, Florida, on July 15, 2022. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Moms for Liberty, a parental rights advocacy group that gained national prominence pushing back against pandemic restrictions and radical sex and gender indoctrination in public schools, has become a target for attacks after being labelled as an extremist movement, its co-founder said.

Were on the [same] hate map with the KKK, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice said in an interview on EpochTVs Crossroads. She was referring to an online map of hate groups maintained by the progressive Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Each year, the SPLC publishes a report on what it calls hate groups. In its Year in Hate & Extremism 2022 report released this June, the SPLC described Moms for Liberty as a group consisting of far-right anti-government parents seeking to advance their reactionary anti-student inclusion agenda.

However, according to Ms. Justice, not only is Moms for Liberty not a hate group, but such a designation has put her group itself at the receiving end of hatred.

[Were receiving] death threats, numerous death threats, she told host Joshua Philipp. We received a message saying that they hoped our husbands would rape our children, that we would be force-fed hot lead. Weve cut the brakes on your tires, we know where you live, and your children are not safe. The things that people have said are atrocious and vile and disgusting.

I have to imagine that that was the point of what the SPLC did: to make us almost seem not human, not real people, she added.

To justify the characterization of Moms for Liberty as a hate group, the SPLC compares it to parent groups fighting against the 1954 Supreme Court decision that ended racial segregation in public schools. The idea is that todays parents who dont want their young children be exposed to sexually explicit material at school are just as anti-inclusive and reprehensible as those who resisted racially integrated public education.

Regardless of the time period, most attacks against public education have been reactionary and rooted in racism, from the fight against integration after Brown v. Board, to the so-called school choice movement, to the latest attacks on inclusive education, the SPLC report reads. A consistent tactic has been the attempt to ban books from classrooms and libraries based on what these groups deem inappropriate because the content addresses race, LGBTQ issues and gender.

Ms. Justice dismissed the accusations about removing certain books from schools. Theres no room for compromise when it comes to the innocence and the safety of our children, she said.

Curating the content of a childrens library isnt banning books, the school board member-turned parental rights advocate said. Were talking about children. Were talking about a public school library, a limited amount of space where all of the books should be supporting the curriculum and the standards that the children are being taught. What weve seen is some very exceptionally explicit pornographic content that has been found in these libraries.

The internet is filtered for kids [in schools]. The school district decides certain websites arent allowed, she continued. Obviously, everyone understands that theres a degree of age appropriateness for children in school.

In response to the SPLCs claim that Moms for Liberty is made of parents who are anti-government, Ms. Justice shrugged the accusation off as laughable.

Is just laughable considering the fact that we engage in government and encourage people to run for office all over the country. We are proud to say we had 275 people elected to public office last year, she told Mr. Philipp. So it just doesnt make a lot of sense.

While being called a hate group by the SPLC has so far not resulted in any actual violence against Moms for Liberty, it doesnt mean the groups members are not at risk, Ms. Justice warned.

In 2012, 28-year-old Floyd Lee Corkins entered the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Family Research Council (FRC), an evangelical Christian group advocating for traditional marriage. He confronted and shot an unarmed building manager, who subdued him before he could hurt anyone else. Corkins later admitted to investigators that he planned to kill as many people as possible, and that he had chosen the Research Council as his target because it was listed as an anti-gay hate group on the SPLCs website.

Watching what happened with the Family Research Council and the target that was put on their backs by the SPLC designation and violence ensuing from there, I think its very concerning and incredibly irresponsible for the SPLC, or for the American government, to put a target on the backs of American moms and dads, Ms. Justice said, pointing to the now-notorious domestic terrorist letter, which has been revealed to be drafted at the request of the Biden administration.

You put a target on our backs and our moms and dads dont deserve that. We do our best every day to be good American citizens and to raise our children with kindness and compassion for all people, she added. We want a retraction and an apology and were going to work to get it.

We are normal everyday moms and dads with children and lives. We love our country, and we are very worried about what the future of America is going to look like if this type of vilification of American citizens for speaking their mind and exercising free speech continues.
Moscow Announces Withdrawal From Turkey-Brokered Black Sea Grain Deal

The MV Ramus vessel carrying 6,161 tons of wheat from Ukraine is seen anchored in the Marmara sea ahead of an inspection by representatives working for the Joint Coordination Center inspection team in Istanbul on Aug. 18, 2022. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Moscow has officially ended its participation in the one-year-old Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea despite ongoing hostilities.

The Black Sea grain deal is no longer in effect, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 17, when the terms of the deal officially expired.

Unfortunately, the part of the agreement that concerns Russia has not yet been fulfilled, he added. As a result, it has been terminated.

The deal was initially brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last summer. Since then, it has allowed Ukraine to export more than 30 million tons of grainfrom five Black Sea portsto international buyers.

Following the announcement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has sought to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv, said he planned to speak with his Russian counterpart in hopes of salvaging the deal.

I believe Russian President [Vladimir] Putin wants the continuation of the Black Sea grain deal, Mr. Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkeys Anadolu news agency.

Ankara attaches great importance to the agreement and continues to engage in intense diplomatic efforts to ensure its continuation, Mr. Erdogan added.

According to Anadolu, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intends to speak to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, by phone to discuss the issue.

Since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine early last year, NATO member Turkey has sought to maintain a degree of neutrality between the warring parties.

Under Mr. Erdogan, Turkey has maintained relatively good relations with Russia, with which it shares extensive trade ties and a lengthy maritime border.

Denys Marchuk, deputy head of Ukraines Agrarian Council, the countrys leading agribusiness organization, said Ukrainian grain exports could resume despite Russias withdrawal from the deal.

If there are safety guarantees from our partners, then why not conduct the grain initiative without Russias participation? he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Russian Grievances

Since the grain initiative first took effect, Russia has complained that key parts of the dealwhich would let it export its own grain and fertilizerswere not being honored.

Russian officials also accuse Kyivs Western allies, including the United States and the European Union, of impeding Russian agricultural exports.

Moscow further accuses the West of pressuring banks not to issue loans for the purchase of Russian grain and preventing Russia from importing needed agricultural equipment.

Moscow also demands that Russias main state-run agricultural bank be reconnected to the international SWIFT payment system.

Once these grievances are addressed, Mr. Peskov said, the Russian side will immediately return to the implementation of the agreement.

Russian officials, including Mr. Putin, also assert that the original purpose of the grain dealto ensure food security for poorer nationsremains unfulfilled.

According to the Russian foreign ministry, only a tiny fraction of exported Ukrainian grainless than 5 percentis reaching low-income countries.

A vast majority, the ministry claims, has ended up going to wealthier nations in Europe and elsewhere.

The main goal of the dealnamely the supply of grain to countries in need, including on the African continenthas not been implemented, Mr. Putin told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 15, according to the Kremlin.

Russia and Ukraine are among the worlds top exporters of grain.

No Link With Crimea Strike: Kremlin

According to the Kremlin, Moscows decision to withdraw from the grain deal was unrelated to a drone attack that partially damaged the strategic Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.

The section of a road split and sloping to one side following an attack on the Crimea Bridge, in this still image taken from video released on July 17, 2023. (rimea24tv/Handout via Reuters)

In the early hours of July 17, the bridge was struck by two waterborne drones, killing two people, according to the Russian authorities.

Moscow has blamed Ukraine for what it describes as a terrorist attack.

Kyiv has so far declined to comment on the incident.

Russia annexed the Black Sea region of Crimea in 2014 after holding a controversial referendum.

When asked whether the attack on the bridge had influenced Moscows decision to withdraw from the grain initiative, Mr. Peskov said, These events are absolutely unrelated to each other.

He also said that Mr. Putin stated Russias position [regarding the grain deal] even before this terrorist attack.

Last October, the Kerch Bridge was severely damaged by a massive explosion that Moscow also blamed on Ukraine.

Although Kyiv didnt initially claim responsibility for that attack, it was widely celebrated by Ukrainian officials.

Earlier this month, Hanna Maliar, Ukraines deputy defense minister, said on Telegram that last years attack on the Kerch Bridge had been carried out to break the logistics of the Russians.
Mountain Biker Dies Helping to Rescue Distressed Hikers Near US-Mexico Border

A rocky landscape dominates the desert mountains along the US-Mexico border east of Jacumba, Calif., on April 4, 2008. (David McNew/Getty Images)

JACUMBA, Calif.A mountain biker died after helping authorities locate four distressed hikers in the Carrizo Gorge area in the Jacumba Mountains, authorities said July 16.

Cal Fire San Diego responded at 2:45 p.m. Saturday to a distress call, and with the assistance of three mountain bikers, officials were able to locate the hikers a quarter-mile east of the trailhead, authorities said.

Shortly afterward, a San Diego County Sheriffs Department helicopter was sent to treat the hikers, but all declined transport and were released.

Two of the three mountain bikers were also treated and released, with both refusing transport, Cal Fire officials told City News Service.

The third biker was placed in an air-conditioned vehicle while waiting for a mercy eight helicopter ambulance to provide transport to the nearest hospital.

While being transported, the biker went into CPR status and was pronounced dead on scene, a Cal Fire official said.

No further information about the victim was immediately available.
LIMA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and more than 20 injured early Sunday when a trailer truck collided with a passenger bus in northwestern Peru's Ancash department, local media reported.

The accident occurred on the North Pan-American Highway, on the border between the districts of Casma and Huarmey, the radio station Radio Programas del Peru reported.

According to the daily "El Comercio," the bus driver died at the scene.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the truck driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve and crashed into the Titanic transport company bus.

Local firefighters and members of the National Police arrived at the scene to help transfer the injured to hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. 
New Zealand Says Trade Deals With UK, EU Offer More Favorable Terms Than China

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks to media during a visit to the Memorial Water Treatment Plant in Greytown, New Zealand, on April 13, 2023. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealands leader says that although his country has sizable economic interests in China, it also sees high-value markets through free trade agreements (FTA) with the United Kingdom, European Union, and an AsiaPacific trade group.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the remarks at the China Business Summit in Auckland on July 17, and he reaffirmed his commitment to advancing trade opportunities for exporters amid a complex global landscape.

In his speech, Mr. Hipkins said that China is a significant trading partner for New Zealand, contributing more than $40 billion to New Zealands economy, with dairy, meat, and forestry as the top three exports.

Mr. Hipkins said that although China is an attractive market, the finalization of FTAs with the UK, EU, and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) offer exporters more favorable terms of trade than before in a wide range of other, equally significant and high-value markets.

The seven new or upgraded FTAs weve signed since 2017 has seen goods covered by a tariff-free FTA rise from 52 percent of exports to almost three-quarters, he said.

His remarks came a day after the British government officially joined the CPTPPan AsiaPacific trade bloc that includes New Zealand and 10 other nationsduring a meeting in New Zealand.

The trade bloc covers more than 500 million people and 15 percent of the worlds economy. Its the largest trade deal that Britain has struck since leaving the EU more than three years ago. Britain had also signed separate trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.

The United States isnt part of the bloc, because former President Donald Trump withdrew from its predecessor, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. China has applied to join the bloc.

Pacific Region Becoming Less Secure

Mr. Hipkins stated that as Chinas economic influence has grown, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also become more assertive in its foreign policy.

In its own words, China has stood up and is now asserting its interests globally, he said. Its normal for states to pursue their interests and to use all the tools at their disposal to exert influence regionally and internationally.

Mr. Hipkins said that Chinas rise and how it seeks to exert its influence is a major driver of the increasing strategic competition, particularly in the IndoPacific, which has become more contested and less secure.

New Zealand will continue to require a careful approach in its relationship with China because of the complex global environment, he added.

In engaging with Chinas leadership, I made the point that in this relationship, we will continue to talk candidly but respectfully about issues on which we differ, Mr. Hipkins said.

And as I have noted, face-to-face engagement is a critical part of New Zealands diplomacy. In this complex global environment, dialogue and engagement are more important than ever.

The conversations are not always easy, but they are essential.

New Zealands economy relies heavily on its biggest trading partner, China, and the government has usually strayed from taking a strong stance against the CCP. Mr. Hipkins has said that relations with China are the most complex and will require continued engagement.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall in Beijing on June 27, 2023 (AAP Image/Pool, Nate McKinnon)

Last month, Mr. Hipkins held talks with CCP leader Xi Jinping in Beijing to reaffirm the countries close economic relationship. Mr. Xi said China had always regarded New Zealand as a friend and a partner.

The economic relationship  was, by far, the biggest topic that we discussed, but we also discussed a broad range of international issues, including international relationships, Mr. Hipkins told reporters.

Professor Anne-Marie Brady, a China expert and critic, said she believes that New Zealand leaders are more careful when criticizing the CCP than other Western nations because of its weak military power.

As a small state, we have to be very careful in our foreign policy, she said on New Zealands The AM Show. Thats just the nature of being a small statewe cant defend ourselves militarily.

Rebecca Zhu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Poll Indicates Voter Backlash Against Major Parties

Voters and party representatives interact outside Bungendore Public School on July 04, 2020 in Bungendore, Australia. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images)

Support for Labor is at its lowest ebb since the 2022 election, although the coalition has failed to reap the benefits as voters swing to independents and minor parties, according to the latest Newspoll.

Labors primary vote has fallen two points to 36 percent, according to the poll published in The Australian on Mondayits weakest result since it won office with a base support of 32.6 percent.

The LNP enjoyed a rare victory in the Fadden by-election over the weekend with a swing of two percent, but it is not reflective of the bigger picture.

The Coalition has lost ground nationally, falling to 34 percent after damning findings against it at the Robodebt royal commission.

Australians appear to be pulling their support from the major parties to express their frustration over their politicking over the commissions findings and the Voice to Parliament instead of focusing on the cost of living crisis.

The survey showed a three-point rise in support for minor parties and independents.

Support for the Greens and Pauline Hansons One Nation each rose a point to 12 and seven percent respectively. Support for other minor parties and independents also rose a point to 11 per cent.

Labor has improved its two-party-preferred margin over the Coalition by two points to 55-45 according to the poll of 1570 Australian voters conducted between July 12 and 15.

Labor leader Anthony Albaneses approval ratings are largely unchanged, remaining at 52 percentthe lowest level since he was elected in May last year.

His dissatisfaction rating dropped a point to 41 percent, giving him a net approval rating of plus 11.

Opposition leader Peter Duttons approval ratings fell two points to 36 percent, while his dissatisfaction rating was unchanged from last months poll at 49 per cent. His net approval rating is minus 13.

The preferred prime minister ratings reflected these results, with Mr. Albanese lifting two points to 54 per cent and Mr Dutton dropping three points to 29 per cent.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said despite the government losing ground, Labor was unconcerned by the result.

Polls jump around all the time, and we dont take too much notice of it; its still a very strong position for the government, she told Sevens Sunrise program on Monday.

Our real focus is not the polling, its actually dealing with the cost of living issues.

But, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said it was due to cost of living concerns that some voters had turned away from the government.

People are paying, and theyre hurting, he said.

Power prices, food prices, fuel prices, rent, the Labor Party seems to be oblivious to that, and the polls are now reflecting their oblivion.

A separate Newspoll showed the referendum for an Indigenous voice to parliament has lost support among women voters and in the regions, with just 41 percent of voters overall now saying they will vote yes.

The poll for The Australian showed 48 percent of voters now intend to vote no, with just 38 percent of female voters saying they approve of the voice.

Support for a voice among male voters increased seven points to 45 percent with 47 opposed, while 49 percent of female voters indicated a no vote.

Support for the no vote in the regions has grown to 62 percent, with only 31 percent in favour of the voice.
Rep. Jayapal Backtracks After Calling Israel a Racist State

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) has backtracked after fellow Democrats, including leadership, criticized her earlier comments calling Israel a racist state.

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, Ms. Jayapal told pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the annual conference for the progressive organization Netroots Nation on July 16.

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, she continued.

However, Ms. Jayapal later reversed course, saying the Jewish state is not racist, but that its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his government are.

At a conference, I attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested. Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement, she said in a statement, which was not an outright apology.

I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist, continued Ms. Jayapal. I do, however, believe that Netanyahus extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government.

I believe it is incumbent on all of us who are striving to make our world a more just and equitable place to call out and condemn these policies and this current Netanyahu governments role in furthering them.

Ms. Jayapal reiterated her call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She explained that her response at the conference was her responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust, and continuing antisemitism and hate violence that is rampant today.

Nonetheless, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizationsan umbrella organization representing Jewish groupscondemned Ms. Jayapals initial remarks.

We express our profound disappointment at the recent anti-Israel comments made by Rep. Pramila Jayapal in Chicago, said the organizations chair and CEO, Harriet P. Schleifer and William Daroff, respectively, in a statement.

We strongly condemn her false and outrageous characterization of Israel as a racist state, which is evocative of Soviet-era antisemitic tropes attacking Jewish rights to self-determination, they continued.

J Street, a progressive organization that has come under fire for being anti-Israel despite the group claiming otherwise, applauded Ms. Jayapals statement backtracking her remarks. The organization has supported Ms. Jayapal, who has appeared at its annual conference in Washington.

Thank you, @RepJayapal. Netanyahus far-right coalition is deepening the occupation and doing untold harm to Israels democracy. To truly support a secure, just, peaceful future for Israelis & Palestinians, the US needs to push back against discriminatory & destructive policies, posted J Street on Twitter in a retweet of Jayapals statement.

House Democrat leadershipHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), House Democrat Conference Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), and Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)rebutted Jayapals initial claim while not calling out Jayapal by name or condemning her.

Israel is not a racist state. As a Jewish and Democratic nation, Israel was founded 75 years ago on the principle of complete equality of social and political rights for all of its citizens irrespective of religion, race or sex, as codified in its Declaration of Independence, they said in a statement.

America and Israel have a uniquely special relationship anchored in our shared democratic values and strategic interests, continued House Democrat leadership. As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israels right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. We are also firmly committed to a robust two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinian people can live side by side in peace and prosperity.

While House Democrat leadership went on to acknowledge that there are members of Mr. Netanyahus coalition and of Congress with whom they do not concur, it reiterated its commitment to ensuring bipartisan support for the Jewish state.

Additionally, a draft statement signed by other House Democrats circulated as of July 16 evening rebuking Ms. Jayapal by name.

We are deeply concerned about Representative Pramila Jayapals unacceptable comments about our historic, democratic ally Israel, and we appreciate her retraction, said the statement signed by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), according to a draft obtained by the online outlet Jewish Insider. All those members are Jewish.

Ms. Jayapals initial claim falls under examples of antisemitism under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by dozens of countries including the United States, in that an instance of hatred toward Jews includes claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

In comments to reporters on July 17, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) blasted Jayapal.

This isnt the first person in the Democratic conference that has continued to make antisemitic comments. Weve watched what they have continually to do. There are a number of them over there, he said.

I think if the Democrats want to believe that they do not have a conference that continues to make antisemitic remarks they need to do something about it because theyve defended these individuals time and again.

The only time action has ever been taken is when we had to take the action, continued Mr. McCarthy, apparently referring to the House removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her history of making antisemitic comments.

Mr. McCarthy went on to say the onus is on the House Democrat conference to clean up its antisemitism problem.

I think this is a role for the leader Hakeem to prove that no, theyre not antisemitic and they cannot allow their members to continue to say what they have said in the past, he said. I mean, think about what were talking about.

You just raised the one issue of what she called Israel on a week when we have the president of Israel, Mr. Herzog, coming to give a joint session on the 75th anniversary of the creation of Israel, the closest ally. Within minutes of Israel becoming a country America recognized it. But now we have leaders in the Democratic Partyshes not just an elected as a Democrat in their conference, she is a leader of their caucuses and shes making these comments.

The incident comes as a joint session of Congress is set to hear from Israeli President Isaac Herzog on July 19. While Ms. Jayapal has not said whether she will boycott the address, a handful of her fellow progressivesMs. Omar and Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Cori Bush (D-Mo.)have said they will.

Ms. Jayapals initial remarks come as Israel recently launched a counter-terrorism operation in Jenin, a city in the West Bank known for harboring Palestinian terrorists. It also comes as there have been widespread protests in Israel over Mr. Netanyahus attempts to change his countrys judiciary, especially its supreme court.

Ms. Jayapals remarks also come as legislation to prohibit U.S. government contractors from participating in the antisemitic Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel was introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) on July 12. Mr. McCarthy told The Epoch Times on June 5, in response to a question over whether he plans to put anti-BDS legislation on the House floor, that he is looking to combat BDS.

Im very concerned. Im looking at a lot of different things about the anti-BDS movement. And Im thinking about even on a bipartisan manner. Im watching things happen on campus and others, he said.

I think we should look at if campuses are moving [and allowing pro-BDS and] antisemitism, Im really wondering, should that campus be rewarded or should there be an idea that we can do something to curb that away to protect individuals throughout, and theres a number of ways we can do that, and Im working with [Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)] and other people out there to stop a lot of that, continued Mr. McCarthy.

Two days after Mr. McCarthys statement, Mr. Lawler introduced legislation that would strip federal funding from campuses tolerating antisemitism.
A rousing World War II romantic drama

1951 | Not Rated | 1h 51m | Drama, Romance, War

When it comes to war movies, submarine warfare films can be some of the most intense ones to experience. Some of that intensity is due to the physical confines of submarines themselvesrelatively cramped conditions where men of war must learn to live together while working toward a common goal.

Another facet that draws one in is the nature of submarine navigation. Subs maneuver under tons of water in dark, unforgiving environments and are constantly concerned with being detected by both surface threats (that is, warships) and enemy subs (cue the pings of active sonar).

While I do enjoy some of the more modern submarine warfare films, I find that they are mostly overly long and contain unnecessary padding to inflate the slower parts between the inevitable, special effects-laden battle sequences.

However, whenever I re-watch older submarine movies from Hollywoods Golden Age, Im reminded of how well done they are. Films such as Run Silent Run Deep (1958) and Operation Pacific (1951) told relatively straightforward stories that left out the usual clutter in newer offerings. Nothing gets in the way of the films growing tension as the subs and their crews sink deeper and deeper (okay, pun intended) into danger.

On the deck with Lt. Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford (John Wayne, L) and Cmdr. John T. Pop Perry (Ward Bond) in Operation Pacific. (Warner Bros.)

In Operation Pacific, War War II is in full swing in the Pacific Theater, and the USS Thunderbird, a U.S. Navy submarine, has been tasked with an important objective. Under the command of Comr. John T. Pop Perry (Ward Bond in fine form) and his trusty executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford (John Wayne), the Thunderfish is being sent on a mission to the Philippines to rescue a group of innocent civilians, including orphans.

The islands have been captured by the Japanese, and the crew barely accomplishes its mission to rescue civilians, including a toddler they nickname Butch. They also spot a prime target on their return to Pearl Harbor, a Japanese aircraft carrier. Although the Thunderfish launches torpedoes at the enemy vessel, they detonate before reaching their intended target.

Back at Pearl Harbor, Duke pays a visit to the local hospital so that he can visit Butch, telling the crabby older nurse there that he carried the baby through the islands jungles to save its life. But after the cantankerous nurse shoos him away, another nurse catches his attentionhis ex-wife Mary Stuart (Patricia Neal).

Its not over between nurse Mary Stuart (Patricia Neal, L) and Lt. Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford (John Wayne, L) in Operation Pacific. (Warner Bros.)

Its obvious that the flames of passion still exist between Duke and Mary, and he invites her out on a date. However, Mary is currently dating Navy flier Lt. (j.g.) Bob Perry (Philip Carey), who just so happens to be Pop Perrys younger brother.

Duke is soon sent back out to sea with his crew. In one of the films more dramatic scenes, the Thunderfish surfaces after a supposed Japanese civilian freighter raises its white flag to signal its surrender. But it turns out to be a clever ruse; instead, the freighter is a Q-ship or disguised decoy vessel. As the Q-ship begins firing its weapons at the sub, the latter tries to execute a crash divebut will Pop, Duke, and the rest of the crew survive?

One of the things I enjoyed about this movie is that it uses a good portion of its nearly two-hour running time to develop its principal characters gradually. In learning about each of them, along with their motivations and passions, I hoped for an overall positive outcome, although I was pretty certain there would be some tragic deaths along the way.

In contrast with more recent war films, it never felt overly long or drawn out.

I especially wondered if Duke would survive his dangerous duties at sea and return to rekindle things with Mary.

Operation Pacific gives a good sense of how things were back in the 1950s. As the United States had largely recovered from World War II, there was an almost palpable feeling of optimism for the future. It was a time of widespread good intentions, relative innocence, and an era of tremendous expansion and innovation.

Operation Pacific is a solid 1950s World War II romantic drama with great performances by its stellar cast. It features plenty of harrowing battle sequences, moments of heroic selflessness, and tender, heartfelt romance. (Warner Bros.)

Operation Pacific is available on Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon.

Operation Pacific

Director: George Waggner

Starring: John Wayne, Patricia Neal, Ward Bond

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Running Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

Release Date: Jan. 27, 1951

Rated: 4 stars out of 5

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South Koreas Death Toll From Destructive Rainstorm Grows to 40 as Workers Search for Survivors

SEOUL, South KoreaHeavy downpours lashed South Korea for a ninth day on Monday as rescue workers struggled to search for survivors in landslides, buckled homes, and swamped vehicles in the most destructive storm to hit the country this year.

At least 40 people have died, 34 others are injured and more than 10,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes since July 9, when heavy rain started pounding the country. The severest damage has been concentrated in South Koreas central and southern regions.

In the central city of Cheongju, hundreds of rescue workers, including divers, continued to search for survivors in a muddy tunnel where about 15 vehicles, including a bus, got trapped in a flash flood that may have filled up the passageway within minutes Saturday evening.

Rescuers conduct a search operation along a road submerged by floodwaters leading to an underground tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea, on July 16, 2023. (Kim Ju-hyung/Yonhap via AP)

The government has deployed nearly 900 rescue workers to the tunnel who have so far pulled up 13 bodies and rescued nine people who were treated for injuries. It wasnt immediately clear how many people were in the submerged cars.

As of Monday afternoon, rescue workers had pumped out most of the water from the tunnel and were searching the site on foot, a day after they used rubber boats to move and transport bodies on stretchers.

Hundreds of emergency workers, soldiers, and police were also looking for any survivors in the southeastern town of Yecheon, where at least nine people were dead and eight others listed as missing after landslides destroyed homes and buckled roads, the county office said.

Photos from the scene showed fire and police officers using search dogs while wading through knee-high mud and debris from destroyed homes.

Nearly 200 homes and around 150 roads were damaged or destroyed across the country, while 28,607 people were without electricity over the past several days, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a report.

The Korea Meteorological Administration maintained heavy rain warnings across large swaths of the country. Torrential rains were dumping up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) per hour in some southern areas. The office said the central and southern regions could still get as much as 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of additional rain through Tuesday.

Returning from a trip to Europe and Ukraine, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held an emergency government meeting. He called for officials to designate the areas hit hardest as special disaster zones to help funnel more financial and logistical assistance into relief efforts.

Yoon later visited Yecheon where he was briefed on the search and rescue efforts.

By Kim Tong-hyung
State Attorneys General Challenge Biden Admins New Privacy Rule on Abortions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) building is seen in Washington on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images)

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and 18 other state attorneys general are challenging a proposed change to federal privacy laws that would prevent states from investigating violations of state abortion laws.

In a June 16 letter (pdf), Ms. Fitch, a Republican, called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to withdraw a proposed change to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountancy Act (HIPAA). Under the proposed change, state authorities would not have access to personal health information about abortions performed in states where the procedure is legal.

Ms. Fitch and the other attorneys general argue that Mississippi and the other respective states should be able to track this information, saying there has always been an exception for law enforcement and regulatory agencies to obtain evidence of possible violations of state laws or when such an investigation is in the interest of protecting public health.

The proposed rule defies the governing statute, would unlawfully interfere with States authority to enforce their laws, and does not serve any legitimate need, the letter says.

The attorneys general cited an example in which they believe the proposed rule change would interfere with an investigation.

Suppose that state officials had reason to believe that an abortion provider deliberately performed an abortion in violation of state law, resulting in serious injury to the woman, and that the provider then falsified medical records and referred the woman to an out-of-state provider to cover it up, the letter states. State officials would clearly have a basis to investigate that provider for a potential violation of state law.

The other states represented in the letter are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

Critics Afraid of Chilling Effect

HHS argues that allowing state authorities to investigate abortion procedures in other states would have a chilling effect on women who may be considering obtaining an abortion in a state where it is legal.

After Dobbs, the Department has heard concerns that civil, criminal, or administrative investigations or proceedings have been instituted or threatened on the basis of reproductive health care that is lawful under the circumstances in which it is provided, HHS said in its April proposal for the rule change.

The threat that [private health information] will be obtained and used in such an investigation or proceeding is likely to chill individuals willingness to seek lawful treatment or to provide full information to their health care providers when obtaining that treatment, HHS said.

The proposed rule change comes after the June 2022 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that prevented states from enacting their own abortion regulations.

As a result, some states like Mississippi have banned abortions in most instances.

As of July 7, 2022, abortions are allowed in Mississippi only if the womans life is endangered by the pregnancy or if the pregnancy was caused by a rape that was reported to law enforcement. Any person who knowingly performs or attempts to induce an abortion could be punished by up to 10 years in prison.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Some Property Insurance Companies Remain Committed to Florida This Hurricane Season

The bridge leading from Fort Myers to Pine Island, Fla., on Oct. 1, 2022, is heavily damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

State Farm announced on July 13 it would recommit to providing property insurance to Floridians, just one day after one of its competitors announced its exit from the state.

State Farm plans to continue our substantial presence in the Florida insurance marketplace. Our current plans include a commitment to responsible growth so that we can maintain the financial strength to deliver on our promises to our customers, State Farm spokesman Roszell Gadson said in a statement.

We are encouraged by the recent insurance reforms and efforts to curb legal system abuse, and we will continue to work constructively with the Florida Legislature and the Office of Insurance Regulation to improve the marketplace on behalf of our Florida customers.

A State Farm Insurance office is seen in Springfield, Va., on Oct. 23, 2014. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

State Farm is one of 20 companies that will continue to provide property insurance to residents of the Sunshine State.

Currently, there are 18 Florida residential insurers on the state regulators watch list due to concerns over their financial health, Mark Friedlander, a spokesperson for Insurance Information Institute, told CNN.

Over the past 18 months, four home insurance companies have announced their voluntary withdrawal from the state, according to Mr. Friedlander. Another seven companies were declared insolvent, and 15 more announced they have stopped writing new business.

The latest insurers to announce their departure are Farmers Insurance and AAA.

Very Small Percentage Affected

Affected customers will receive notifications detailing when their coverage will end and will be advised of options for replacement coverage, Farmers announced on July 12.

Farmers offers insurance through several different brands, and this decision applies only to policies issued through our exclusive agency distribution channel.

Farmers statement said that 70 percent of Floridian policies will see no impact, and the affected customers will receive a notification informing them when their coverage will end and the replacement coverage options the company advises.

AAA made its announcement to end business in Florida on July 15, telling The Epoch Times that it made the difficult decision to not renew a very small percentage of higher exposure homeowners policies.

Evaluating risk and exposure management is a common part of the insurance industry, a company spokesperson said. The catastrophic 2022 hurricane season drastically raised operational costs for providers.

But many Floridians have already turned to what the governors office calls the states insurer of last resortCitizens Property Insurance Corp.

Floridas property insurance market has been chaotic since 2007 when bad public policy forced insurers to flee Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantiss press secretary Jeremy Redfern said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times.

Since 2007, the main cost driver has been excessive litigation.

Wreckage remains on the mainland side of the Matlacha Pass Bridge to Pine Island five months after Category 4 Hurricane Ian ripped through southwest Florida. (John Haughey/The Epoch Times)

Only 8.6 percent of U.S. property insurance claims in 2019 were filed in Florida, according to Mr. Redfern, but Florida is also where more than 76 percent of property insurance litigation in the United States occurred that year.

Every year, Florida is at risk of being hit by destructive hurricanes and tropical storms. Last year, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida, causing tens of billions of dollars in damage.

But frivolous litigations and their costs continue to get in the way of both the policyholders and the insurance providers.

Many of the insurance companies in Florida are still saddled with the tailing litigation stemming from recent hurricanes, most notably Hurricane Irma. But due to implemented reforms, we are seeing some new companies entering the market, Mr. Redfern said.

Reforming Floridas Insurance Market

The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) operates the Citizens Depopulation Program every year. Its objective is to recruit property and casualty insurers authorized to operate in Florida to assume policies in an attempt to transfer them back into the private market.

Seven companies are already participating in the program. Each company must meet OIR standards and prove that it properly pays customer claims.

So far this year, according to OIR, the number of policies being requested by private insurers is more than the total number requested in 2022.

More than 90,000 policy transfers have already been approved, with another 184,000 requested to be assumed in October.

The governors office sees a direct correlation between the number of policies returning to the private sector and the legislative reforms being passed in Tallahassee.

Mr. DeSantis has called several special sessions and signed numerous pieces of legislation over the past four years to improve the property insurance landscape, according to Mr. Redfern.

In 2021, SB 76 changed the way attorney fees are awarded and disputed in Florida insurance cases.

In 2022, the governor held two special sessions in Tallahassee. The first was in May, when he signed SB 2D into law. The second was in December, when he signed SB 2-A into law.

SB 2D provided $2 billion in insurance relief through the Reinsurance to Assist Policy and $150 million for the My Safe Florida Home Program.

It required insurance companies to provide reasonable explanations and more access to information for policyholders whose claims were denied and prohibited companies from denying coverage based solely on the roof ageif it was under 15 years old or had at least five years left.

SB 2-A sought to disincentivize frivolous lawsuits by eliminating one-way attorney fees and improving OIRs ability to complete post-hurricane conduct examinations of property insurers.

Alexander Hamilton wrote a stirring account of Hurricane San Augustin at St. Croix in 1772. Hurricane in Florida, 1945. (Everett Collection/Shutterstock)

Reducing the burden of excessive and predatory litigation will help bring down costs for homeowners, Mr. Redfern said.

As the climate for insurance companies continues to improve, the OIR is seeking private companies that will be willing to absorb Citizens policies.

The deadline for companies to take over policies in November is July 28, and OIR projects more policies will be taken up.

Even the most aggressive reforms will take time to affect the insurance industry, Mr. Redfern said. The 2021, 2022, and 2023 legislative efforts will be effective.

Jack Phillips and Tom Ozimek contributed to this article.
Sunak Announces Clamp Down on Rip-Off University Degrees

The number of students that can be accepted onto poor quality university degrees will be capped, Rishi Sunak has announced.

The move is intended to protect students and taxpayers against rip-off degree courses that have high drop-out rates, dont lead to good jobs, and leave young people with poor pay and high debts, the government said in a statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, the maximum fee that can be charged for classroom-based foundation year courses will also be reduced to 5,760down from 9,250 currentlyunder the measures.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in Downing Street, London, on July 13, 2023. (Henry Nicholls/PA Media)

The prime minister said: The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world and studying for a degree can be immensely rewarding. But too many young people are being sold a false dream and end up doing a poor-quality course at the taxpayers expense that doesnt offer the prospect of a decent job at the end of it.

That is why we are taking action to crack down on rip-off university courses, while boosting skills training and apprenticeships provision. This will help more young people to choose the path that is right to help them reach their potential and grow our economy.

Low Value

The announcement by Mr. Sunak and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is part of the governments response to the Augar review, established by former Prime Minister Theresa May back in 2017.

Among the reports recommendations was an aim to reduce the number of low value courses leaving students with poor job prospects.

Nearly three in ten graduates do not progress into highly skilled jobs or further study 15 months after graduating, according to figures from the Office for Students (OfS), an independent regulator.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies also estimates that one in five graduates would be better off financially if they hadnt gone to university.

The government said it wants to make the system fairer for them, but also for taxpayerswho make a huge investment in higher education and are liable for billions of pounds in unrecovered tuition fees if graduate earnings are low.

Under the plans, the OfS will be asked to limit the number of students universities can recruit to courses that are seen to fail to deliver good outcomes for graduates.

The government said it is reducing the maximum fee for foundation year courses, because too many people are encouraged to take a foundation year in some subjects like business where it is not necessary.

Value for Money

The education secretary said: Students and taxpayers rightly expect value for money and a good return on the significant financial investment they make in higher education.

These new measures will crack down on higher education providers that continue to offer poor quality courses and send a clear signal that we will not allow students to be sold a false promise. Wherever they choose to study, it is vital students can gain the skills needed to get great jobs and succeedsupporting the prime ministers priority to grow our economy.

Philip Augar, chair of the independent Review of Post-18 Education and Funding, said: This is another strong signal for universities to control such recruitment as is not in students best interests and I hope the sector responds constructively.

But opposition parties attacked the measures as a cap on aspiration that will restrict choice for young people.

Labours shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: This is simply an attack on the aspirations of young people and their families by a government that wants to reinforce the class ceiling, not smash it.

Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats education spokesperson, said: Universities dont want this. Its a cap on aspiration, making it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.

PA Media contributed to this report.
The CCP Is the Worlds Bounty Hunter

Chinas police state enjoys a global presence as it hunts down dissidents

A balloon is held at a press conference and rally in front of the America ChangLe Association highlighting Beijing's transnational repression, in New York City, on Feb. 25, 2023. A now-closed overseas Chinese police station is located inside the association building. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Commentary

In June 2022, Madrid-based Safeguard Defenders revealed the existence of secret Chinese police stations in various countries worldwide. This revelation prompted outrage by human rights advocates that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would dare to do such a thing.

But to Chinese dissidents living abroad, it was no surprise at all. In fact, thousands of Chinese living abroad have been illegally returned to China since 2016 by illegal police activities performed by Chinese nationals on foreign soil.

Things have been taken to a new level as the Hong Kong government issued $1 million bounties on the heads of eight dissidents living abroad.

Secret Police Stations

Its no secret that for several years, the CCP has relentlessly pursued dissidents whove fled to other parts of the world to publicize the oppression of the CCP in China and, as mentioned above, in Hong Kong.

In March of this year, a secret police station run by two New York residents was discovered and presumably shut down by the FBI. Reportedly, Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, both residents of Manhattan, were working as agents for the Chinese Ministry of Public Security to harass Chinese dissidents, undermine faith in the American rule of law, and persuade dissidents to return to China under threat of punishment to their family members.

The Message to Dissidents: Nowhere to Run

Furthermore, the Department of Justice charged an additional 34 agents of Chinas Ministry of Public Security, whose job was to intimidate and silence dissidents and promote CCP propaganda to undermine the pro-democracy, anti-CCP messages of Chinese dissidents. Whats more, the CCP operates more than 110 so-called police stations in over 50 countries in Europe and Africa, as well as in North America, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The foreign-based police stations are a calculated and aggressive effort to silence any opposition to the brutal and absolute reign of terror that the CCP exerts over the Chinese people. Its a message to anyone anywhere who dares to speak out against the prison state that theres nowhere to hide from the long arm of the CCP.

Beijing Recognizes No Laws

Beijing operates its foreign police stations in violation of local, national, and international law. And yet, so far, Beijing has faced only minimal diplomatic or economic consequences, if any, for its blatant illegal actions.

But thats just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in the CCPs consistently nefarious behavior.

The CCP has long been taking advantage of the openness and civil liberties in the Western nations to undermine the confidence and loyalty of citizens in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. For years Confucius Institutes could be found on major university campuses across the United States. Their purported mission was to bring about mutual understanding between the Chinese and Western cultures. But in reality, the institutes functioned as propaganda and indoctrination centers for the CCP targeting American college students and their professors.

The Thousand Talents program, which recruited the most talented and accomplished scientists and professors in various technological disciplines, was another scheme to steal cutting-edge technology and scientific talent away from the United States. The CCP did so by paying professors much more than market salaries to send their research to Beijing or even relocate to China.

Operating for Years Without DetectionReally?

The question arises: How could all of these various plans be run for years in plain sight before coming under scrutiny by U.S. authorities?

Are we to believe that just as the Confucius Institutes and the Thousand Talents programs operated openly on college campuses, independent police stations operated in major cities without the knowledge of local FBI offices, police authorities, or local politicians?

Or, even more unlikely, that no Chinese person knew of the existence of these secret police stations?

The U.S. intelligence services have the most sophisticated surveillance capabilities in the world. Whats more, as a constant target of terrorist activities, New York City has the capabilities to monitor communications and other surveillance tools at hand that would have let them know about the police stations from the outset.

And yet authorities are shocked to find illegal CCP police stations operating in their city?

Deep Penetration Into Law Enforcement and Politics?

Given the revelations that President Joe Bidens family members have received payments from a Chinese energy company, its not a stretch to imagine that key parties in power have been paid off to turn a blind eye to CCP activities wherever they may be. After all, bribing figures with less authority than the vice president is well within the realm of possibility for Beijing. Therefore, the most likely scenario is that people in authority in both high and low places have known about these secret police stationsand their missionssince the very beginning.

Is it difficult to believe that Beijing has bought off people in places of power to allow the existence of illegal police stations across our country for years?

Is there a better argument to explain their existence?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Trump Opens Up About Mistakes Made During First Term

Former president Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors Summit, June 30, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Beth Brelje/The Epoch TImes)

President Donald Trump acknowledged that he made mistakes during his first term in office, saying that most issues arose from the people he chose to fill various roles in office.

In an interview that aired July 16, Mr. Trump sat down with Fox News Maria Bartiromo to discuss an array of issues, including whether he thought he made any mistakes during his term.

Ms. Bartiromo asked, If theres anything that you could look back on in [2016] that you think maybe you want to do differently this time around?

Mr. Trump replied, The mistake would be people. I mean, I wouldnt have put a guy like Bill Barr inhe was weak and pathetic, a reference to his former attorney general, who has spoken out against Mr. Trump since leaving office and has expressed opposition to a second term for the former president.

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr speaks during a roundtable meeting on seniors with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington on June 15, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

I wouldnt have put Jeff Sessions in, Mr. Trump said, a reference to another former attorney general with whom Mr. Trump clashed.

There are some people that I wouldnt have put in. You know, most people were good. But I had some peoplewe had [former Secretary of Defense Mark] Esper. I didnt like him. He was incompetent. I thought we had other people I didnt like.

Ms. Bartiromo replied, Why did you put them in the job then?

Because everylook, every president, you put somebody in, you think theyre good, Mr. Trump said. But one thing that has happened and I find it very interesting, and this is the way life goes, I put people inI was there 17 times in Washington, D.C. my whole life. I never stayed overnight. The press actually reported 70 I dont know if its right, but its probably pretty right.

I never stayed overnight. Ever. And then all of a sudden, Im the President of the United States and its like a different society. I was New York and you know, it was a different thing. So I didnt know people, I became President, Mr. Trump said, adding later, I never was involved in that.

So you didnt know what to expect? Ms. Bartiromo asked.

No, no, Mr. Trump cut in. I didnt know the people. I know the people now better than anybody has ever known the people. I know the good ones, the bad ones, the dumb ones, the smart ones.

Drain the Swamp?

Mr. Trump was also pressed on whether he had drained the swamp, a reference to Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign pledge to root out D.C. bureaucrats and other entrenched establishment figures in the capital city.

You didnt drain the swamp like you said you would, you didnt drain the swamp, Ms. Bartiromo said, a common criticism of the former president by conservative elements in the party who feel he failed to live up to his 2016 campaign promises.

Mr. Trump replied that he had, citing his decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey from his post.

Former FBI Director James Comey arrives at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Dec. 17, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

I did. I fired Comey. I fired a lot of people. A lot of the people I had I fired, I fired Comey very early, Mr. Trump said, referencing his unprecedented May 2017 decision to remove the FBI chief. And you know, there was a question as to whether or not you could, but I fired Comey.

Mr. Comey drew condemnation from Mr. Trump after he decided ahead of the 2016 election not to prosecute Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for illegally handling classified government information on a private email server, a decision which Mr. Trump characterized as politically shielding Ms. Clinton.

During his first year in office, Mr. Trump set records for the turnover rate of positions within his cabinet, as he removed several appointees who failed to live up to his expectations.

Mr. Trump is currently leading the field for the 2024 Republican nomination by double-digit margins.
MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,624 people displaced by the unrest of the most active Mayon volcano in the Philippines have suffered from acute respiratory infections, the Philippines' Department of Health said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said health authorities in Albay province have reported that some people in temporary shelters have been sick with coughs, colds, and sore throats.

"There is an increasing cough, colds, and sore throats among the evacuees," Tayag told a news conference. However, he added that there is no outbreak of respiratory infections in the evacuation centers.

Authorities have evacuated nearly 19,000 residents within the six-kilometer danger zone at the foot of the Mayon volcano, approximately 500 kilometers southeast of Manila, since its recent unrest starting on June 8.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology maintained the alert level around the Mayon volcano at 3 on a scale of 5.

The cone-shaped volcano continues to pose a threat to residents, preventing them from returning to their homes. Displaced people are temporarily housed in at least 27 government-run shelters.

"The volcano is currently in a relatively high level of unrest, and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible," volcanologists warned in an advisory on Monday.

Mayon volcano last erupted in 2018, resulting in the evacuation of more than 23,000 people from nine cities and municipalities. 
Trump Says Hed Give Ukraine More Than They Ever Got If Russias Putin Doesnt Accept Peace Deal

Former president and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point Action USA conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 15, 2023. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Former president Donald Trump suggested hed threaten to expand U.S. support for Ukraine if Russian president Vladimir Putin refused to accept negotiations to quickly end the ongoing fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr. Trump, who is running to retake the White House in 2024, has repeatedly suggested he could end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours as president. In an appearance on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures show, host Maria Bartiromo asked the Republican presidential frontrunner how he would compel both sides to the negotiating table and rapidly conclude such a peace deal. Mr. Trump replied that 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. Youve got to make a deal,' Mr. Trump continued. I would tell Putin: If you dont make a deal, were going to give him a lot. Were going to give them more than they ever got if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day. One day.

NTD News reached out to Mr. Trumps campaign to clarify his remarks and to ask in what ways he would be willing to expand the United Statess support for Ukraine if Mr. Putin didnt negotiate. Mr. Trumps campaign did not respond by the time this article was published.

DeSantis PAC, Trump Camp Trade Barbs on Ukraine

Thus far, the U.S. has allocated tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, including providing weapons and training to Ukrainian forces. The United States has sent anti-tank and anti-aircraft launchers, artillery, Patriot missile defense systems, tanks, and other armored fighting vehicles. The United States has also approved transfers of F-16 fighter jets and, more recently, began sending controversial cluster munitions to the Ukrainian side.

Mr. Trump is one of a few 2024 presidential candidates who have expressed skepticism of U.S. support for Ukraine and has previously described the ongoing conflict as a proxy battle that carries a risk of global war.

Within hours of Mr. Trump sharing his remarks on Sunday Morning Futures, a political action committee (PAC) affiliated with Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Never Back Down, had cast the comments as an indication that the former president will continue to send weapons and money to the Ukrainian side.

Trump says he will threaten Russia by telling Putin that America will give Ukraines honorable President Zelenskyy a lot of weapons and money. Trump says were going to give them more than they ever got from Biden if we have to,' the DeSantis-linked organization wrote in a tweet on Sunday afternoon.

Trump War Room, a Twitter account associated with Mr. Trumps 2024 campaign pushed back, arguing that Never Back Down mischaracterized Mr. Trumps remarks.

Only dumb idiots on flailing campaigns would be so desperate to make up words that werent even spoken, Trump War Room wrote in a tweet. Would expect nothing less from Team DeSanctus consisting of people who tried to be Ukrainian arms dealers.

Mr. DeSantis, who is currently ranked second in Republican presidential primary polling, has also expressed skepticism of continued U.S. support for Ukraine. In March, Mr. DeSantis said becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not in the vital interests of the United States. Later on in March, Mr. DeSantis condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and described Mr. Putin as a war criminal but maintained that he did not want the U.S. to escalate its support for Ukraine.

I just dont think thats a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement, Mr. DeSantis said. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified [in invading]thats nonsense.

From NTD News
Trump Says Probably a Mistake Putting Christopher Wray in Charge of FBI

'Most of them aren't corrupt, they're great'

President Donald Trump said that it was probably a mistake to put Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray in his current post amid a litany of concerns about the agency chiefs conduct.

Following his decision in May 2017 to fire former FBI Director James Comey over his handling of an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump nominated Mr. Wray for the post. While Mr. Wrays nomination breezed through the Senate in a 925 vote, the bureau director has become a top Republican target as he faces allegations of helping to weaponize the department.

During an interview with Fox News Maria Bartiromo that aired July 16, Mr. Trump acknowledged that it was probably a mistake to put Mr. Wray at the head of the agency, blaming former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a one time ally turned foe, for the nomination.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 12, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Was it a mistake to put Christopher Wray there? Ms. Bartiromo asked.

Sadly, it probably was, Mr. Trump replied. You know, he was recommended very strongly by Chris Christie. Mr. Trump has previously called Mr. Christie a RINO (Republican in name only).

Mr. Wray and his agency have come under fire for a series of allegations of abuse and agency overreach. Criticism of the agency only magnified following the FBIs raid of Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Florida to recover what authorities believed would be classified documents in Mr. Trumps possession.

In a heated appearance before the House Judiciary Committee last week, Mr. Wray defended the raid as the lawful execution of a search warrant. Mr. Trump has publicly disagreed, saying that his conduct is protected by the Presidential Records Act and that the case against him, authorized by President Joe Bidens Department of Justice (DOJ), amounts to little more than a political witch hunt.

Tremendously Political

Mr. Trump fit the comments into his larger concerns with the FBI and DOJ, which he said have become tremendously political.

Mr. Trump is currently facing 37 federal counts due to the allegations regarding his handling of documents, which he and his supporters have characterized as an effort to hurt Republicans electorally.

The FBI has become tremendously political, Mr. Trump said. DOJ is weaponized. And FBI is weaponized, too.

The FBI seal is pictured in Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 10, 2022. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

However, he made a distinction between the leadership in the FBI and the bureaus field agents.

I know other people in the FBI, theyre incredible. The agents, theyre incredible. So I hate to say the FBI because you have people in the FBI that are very angry  most of them arent corrupt. Theyre great.

The people in the FBI are not that way but the top people have been so badwhen you have [former Deputy FBI Director Andrew] McCabe, and you have Lisa Page and the whole group, [Peter] Strzok, Mr. Trump said, citing an FBI duo that came under public scrutiny for text messages they shared promising to prevent Mr. Trump from winning the 2016 election.

The FBI has tremendous problems of credibility, Mr. Trump said. The DOJ is weaponized, like Ive never seen before. I mean, they come after me on boxes and they cant find drugs, a reference to the recently announced decision to close the investigation into cocaine found in a high-security area opposite the Situation Room of the White House.

FISAs Corrupt

Mr. Trump also addressed Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a controversial surveillance tool that has been used to spy on American citizens and political actors within the United States.

In the most high-profile usage of the authority, the FBI directed its use against Trump associate Carter Page.

Carter Page, petroleum industry consultant and former foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump, in New York City on Aug. 21, 2020. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times)

However, recent findings have shown that the authority was used against 3.3 million Americans illegally in 2020.

Even after the FBI promised reforms, the authority was shown to have been used to make an additional 200,000 illegal queries of American citizensincluding unlawful searches on the information of Americans who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach and Black Lives Matter protestors and rioters despite no suspicion that foreign intelligence would be gained.

In this context, some Republicans have called for Section 702 to be allowed to sunset for good when it expires at the end of 2023.

Should FISA be renewed? Ms. Bartiromo asked.

Well, FISAs corrupt, Mr. Trump replied. Corrupt: the whole system of FISA, the FISA courts, he added for emphasis.

The FBI was caught on many, many occasions. Look at my thing, Mr. Trump said, an apparent allusion to the use of the tool against his associates. They signed fake documents having to do with Russia, Russia, Russia. Russia was a total scam.

Many of Mr. Trumps top competitors for the GOP nomination in 2024, including runner-up Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, have said that they would remove Wray if elected.
Tucker Carlson Challenges Chris Christie Over Ukraine War

After questioning multiple Republican 2024 presidential candidates over the weekend, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he asked candidate Chris Christie to debate him on Ukraine and alleged the former New Jersey governor is ducking him.

Over the weekend, Mr. Christie told ABC News George Stephanopoulos that Mr. Carlson has always been wrong on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said that if he were debating Mr. Carlson, he would push back. Mr. Carlson interviewed six Republican presidential candidates, while Mr. Christie, former President Donald Trump, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum didnt attend.

I would have said, Youve always been wrong about this, Tucker, and youre still wrong, Mr. Christie told Mr. Stephanopoulos, adding that the Ukrainians are willing to fight this fight for themselves if they have our support to be able to win it.

Mr. Christie also said that he believes polling and speaking to voters has revealed that a majority of Republicans want us to be supporting Ukraine, though he didnt cite any specific surveys. Those folks are fighting for their own freedom, their own liberty, and theyre degrading the Russian army and sending a message to the Chinese, he said.

Carlson Responds

But in response, Mr. Carlson posed a screenshot containing some of Mr. Christies comments, challenging him to a discussion on the topic.

Sounds like this could use a longer conversation, Mr. Carlson wrote on Twitter to his 9 million followers. We just asked [Mr. Christie] to sit down and explain his views on Ukraine. He refused.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a town-hall-style event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on June 6, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The former Fox News host added, You hate to think that Chris Christie is a blustery coward who plays the tough guy with sycophants at ABC but wont answer real questions, but who knows? We hope he reconsiders.

It comes several days after Mr. Carlson challenged former Vice President Mike Pence over his comments about Ukraine during the Iowa Family Leadership Summit.

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, Mr. Pence said in response to a line of questions from the former Fox host. We can do both. And as President 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, he added.

In a viral exchange, Mr. Carlson questioned Mr. Pences statements that the United States should continue to send arms to Ukraines military while the United States is seeing an increase in domestic problems.

Every city in the United States has become much worse over the past three years, Mr. Carlson said at one point. 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 Ukrainians  dont have enough tanks, he said. Wheres the concern for the United States in that?

The former vice president, who is polling around 6 percent, claimed Mr. Carlson was distorting his position on the conflict and U.S. domestic issues, saying: Tucker, Ive heard that routine from you before.

Im running for president of the United States because I think this countrys in a lot of trouble. I think [President] Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad, Mr. Pence said. And as president United States, were gonna restore law and order in our cities. Were gonna secure our border; were gonna get this economy moving again. And were gonna make sure that we have men and women on our courts at every level that will stand for the right to life and defend all the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution.

Over the weekend, Mr. Carlson asserted that the former vice president isnt a real Christian leader because he wants to send cluster munitions of Ukraines government. He also claimed Mr. Pence didnt speak out against Ukraines government allegedly persecuting some Christians.

In another interview in Iowa, Mr. Carlson also sparred with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and asked him how many times hes received the COVID-19 vaccine. When Mr. Hutchinson asked the former host the same question, Mr. Carlson said he hasnt received the shot.

I can see that you recoiled when I asked you that question, said Mr. Carlson. And I dont think, honestly, you should be asking people about their medical care. But that became a matter of public policy, and I do think the whole country ought to pause and assess, What did we just go through, and how do we feel about it now? So its a very straightforward question.

The Epoch Times has contacted Mr. Christies campaign for comment.
Tucker Carlson Warns Young Conservatives to Pay Attention to Topics With Unapproved Words

Stay 'unaffected by the propaganda' and be aware of 'diversions,' he said

Tucker Carlson delivers a mix of jovial and ominous remarks during the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 15, 2023. (Natasha Holt/The Epoch Times)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.Since his separation from Fox News, political commentator Tucker Carlson hasnt spoken much publiclyuntil this weekend.

In a rare spurt of appearances, he enjoyed the adulation of thousands of enthusiastic conservatives at political gatherings in two states.

On July 14, he publicly grilled most of the top-tier Republican presidential candidateswith the exception of former President Donald Trumpat the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa. As the nations first state to caucus, its been the midwestern mecca of political activity in recent weeks.

Then, Mr. Carlson caught a flight to Florida, where he lives in cooler times of the year, to speak the next day at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach.

Speaker line-ups at Turning Point events often read like a whos who of conservative politics, sometimes even drawing leading figures from other countries.

This time, the two-day conference attracted about 6,000 peoplemostly college-age conservativesfrom around the country to hear from GOP firebrands. Attendees also mingled, attended Republican strategy workshops on winning elections, and shopped for patriotic merchandise and Trump gear.

Mr. Carlson was one of the crowd favorites.

Sherry Meldin models a popular item at the Trump Girl Shop bootha sequined, American flag dressat the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach on July 15, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times)

Tight Security for Trump Speech

On Day 1, conference-goers crammed into the Palm Beach Convention Centers main hall after spending hours in line. They inched forward in the blazing sun, waiting to be inspected in screenings overseen by the U.S. Secret Service.

Once inside, attendees heard from a string of outspoken supporters of Mr. Trump, the reason for the tight security. His champions included congressmen Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz, both Republicans representing Florida.

We ride or die with Donald John Trump, Mr. Gaetz said, above the roaring crowd, when it was his turn to speak. He also proclaimed hed be introducing in the coming days a national prayer-in-school law, an announcement that brought more raucous cheers.

Also riling up the crowd was Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who spoke in the standing-room-only space. He said hes been criticized for not attacking his chief opponent, apparently alluding to Mr. Trump.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy fields questions from former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on July 14, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Im not running against anyone in this race, Mr. Ramaswamy said. Im running for our country.

The 37-year-old political newcomer received an enthusiastic standing ovation as he left the stage.

All the Cool People are Here

As Mr. Carlson stepped out to plumes of yellow pyrotechnics shooting up from the front of the stage, attendees were on their feet again, cheering and holding up phones to capture video of the moment.

Thank you, he repeated over and over, shaking his head and chuckling. I dont think most unemployed people get a reception like that.

As the cheering and clapping continued, he scanned the audience, clearly recognizing some, and exclaiming, Roger Stone! All the cool people are here. Its, like, unbelievable.

As if surprised by the unrelenting chorus of whooping, he said with incredulity, Wow. I havent been around a ton of people in a while. But I never miss this event. Ever. And I meet the nicest people, really, that I ever meet at these.

Attendees at the Turning Point Action Conference were encouraged to decorate oversized images of presidential candidates facesincluding former Vice President Mike Pence (L) and Vivek Ramaswamywith messages at the conservative gathering in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 16, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times)

In contrast, Mr. Carlson expressed disdain for the work hed done the day before discussing presidential candidates campaign platforms.

He usually despises politicians, Mr. Carlson said, because they tend to be soulless, with sad personal lives, seeking to win affirmation from strangers, which he finds pathetic.

In person, though, theyre charming, he said. I like almost all of them when I meet them.

He didnt want to attack anyone on personal grounds but its tempting, he laughed, as the crowd chanted, Do it! Do it!

Instead, he said, as if he couldnt resist, he wanted to offer general observations, which I think are more edifying than just, like, savaging Mike Pence.

The crowd cheered more, egging him on. But Mr. Carlson insisted it would be wrong because its too easy.

Mr. Pence, the former vice president under Mr. Trump, stunned many conservatives when he argued in his Iowa forum appearance the day before that the United States has been too slow to provide tanks and pilot training to Ukraine.

Looking incredulous, Mr. Carlson stopped him and began describing the faltering economy of the United States and the countrys escalating crime, public filth, and suicide rates.

Wheres the concern for the United States in that? Mr. Carlson demanded during the interview.

Thats not my concern, Mr. Pence replied. Tucker, Ive heard that routine from you before but thats not my concern.

Im running for President in the United States because I think this country is in a lot of trouble. I think Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad. And as President of the United States, were going to restore law and order in our cities. Were going to secure our border. Were going to get this economy moving again. And were going to make sure that we have men and women on our courts at every level that will stand for the right to life and defend all the God given liberties enshrined in our Constitution, he said.

Anybody that says 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.

Lesson Learned

He learned much from his day of interviews in Iowa, Mr. Carlson told the Turning Point crowd.

One was that what Republicans in Washington actually care about are very different from the things that matter to the people who vote for them.

He had believed that would change back in 2016, when the politicians saw that Republicans elected a guy basically on the promise to blow up the Republican Party, he said.

Fans of former President Donald Trump, corralled in an overflow area, aim their phone cameras toward him as he takes the stage at Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on July 15, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times)

But even the election of Mr. Trump hasnt turned many elected politicians to align with the people they represent, he has since observed.

He also realized that almost everybody in elected office in the Republican Party has internalized the other sides rules for debate.

Theres 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, Mr. Carlson said. Because theres really no way of winning.

He used the example of the governments responses to COVID-19, such as mandating masking, lockdowns, and vaccines. Most people went along with leaders demands, he said.

Those who resisted or questioned the policies were deemed moral criminalstheyre outlaws, he said.

So they were censored, silenced.

The War in Ukraine

The same is happening when anyone questions the war in Ukraine, Mr. Carlson said.

Its assumed all will see one side is bad and one side is virtuous, he said. And its completely fair to see Russia as bad and Ukraine as good, he admitted.

But thats not the point, he argued.

The point is that Americans have a fundamental right to choose who they hate. No one is allowed to force you to be mad at somebody else.

Yet, despite the fact that Russia hasnt killed any Americans in the war, he said, many conservatives are desperate to send more expensive weapons, as well as deadly cluster bombs, to Ukraine.

Its all to preserve democracy there, proponents of that view say.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said hell have to suspend elections because of the war.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) delivers his speech flanked by Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky during an event with G-7 leaders to announce a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

And there are clergy in Ukraine who are being thrown in prison, convents raided, nuns kicked out, priests handcuffed, thrown in jail! Mr. Carlson said.

He said he asked a self-appointed Christian leader, who has spent his life fighting for religious freedom, about that.

And he said with a straight face, Well they had the wrong views.

Is that freedom? Mr. Carlson challenged. No, thats insane!

The same Christian leader argued that Ukraine needs weapons donated by the United States and that we need to do this because thats what leadership looks like, Mr. Carlson recalled.

Thats a disgusting view, Mr. Carlson said, contrasting it to a fathers leadership in breaking up fights between siblings.

If youre the leader, the last thing you do is sow more chaos, he said. You stop the chaos. Leadership is bringing order and regularity and predictability to a chaotic scene.

And yet, in providing unending support to Ukraine, thats what, in the name of American leadership, this administration [of President Joe Biden], with the full participation of the Republican Party, is foisting on the world.

Mr. Trump, on the other hand, is clear on this, that he wants to stop the war, he added. And they hate him for it.

Washington elites want to keep others from participating in foreign-policy decisions, he said.

But citizens should have a right to question war, saying, Youre doing this in my name, with my money, and potentially my children.

Its reasonable to want to help Ukraine, he said. But the problem is that people in this country are shut down when they disagree.

Russia has been painted as the enemy and Americans are not allowed to think otherwise, he said.

And once you are prevented from thinking something, you are completely controlled by the person whos convinced you of that.

Problems at Home

More maddening is that politicians seem to ignore real problems here at home, according to Mr. Carlson.

They dont seem to notice the 100,000 Americans who die each year after being poisoned by fentanyl made in Mexico. It floods into this country with illegal immigrants who stream across the unsecured southern border, he said.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels talks about the fentanyl crisis emanating at the southern border in Arizona on Feb. 16, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

They dont seem to see that the quality of life in America is getting worse, he added. Theres more homelessness, filth, and graffiti, suggesting weve given up, we dont care.

Were allowing people who create nothing to destroy what weve built and were not fighting back, he railed. Grafitti is one step from total society collapse. Period.

Allowing graffiti, Mr. Carlson said, means we have no self-respect, at all. We dont care enough about our civilization to keep it clean, to keep it pretty.

Still, many will argue graffiti is art, he said, and youre not allowed to think otherwise.

So staying unaffected by the propagandathats like the main goal of my life, he said. You cant allow the propagandists to set the terms.

Consider the things youre not allowed to say now in this country, he said, pointing to the controversy over the Jan. 6 unrest at the U.S. Capitol.

People participating felt the 2020 election had been stolen and they were really mad, he said.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick (blue jacket, left) and other officers pull back against rioters trying to topple police barriers on the Capitols west plaza on Jan. 6, 2021. (Metropolitan Police Department/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

But it quickly was deemed a racist insurrection, and people became furious if others didnt agree. That was troubling to Mr. Carlson.

Anyone who tried to talk about their concerns was de-platformed, de-banked, basically hounded out of public life in America, bankrupted, in a lot of cases put in jail, he said.

Fired! someone in the crowd shouted.

Yea, or fired, Mr. Carlson said, laughing along with the crowd.

Sorry, he said, putting his hands to his temples and grinning. I was so into it that I lost all self-awareness for a minute.

Thought Crimes

On a June 7 podcast with English comedian Russell Brand, Mr. Carlson said he doesnt know why he was fired suddenly by Fox News.

But his questioning of whether the federal government has been honest about Jan. 6 widely is one of the speculated likely cause for his termination.

For anyone wanting to explore alternative views on Jan. 6, that conversation was literally banned, he said at the Turning Point event. Its the guidelines of most social media companies that you cant have that conversation.

But a country that doesnt allow discussions about the process of electing its leaders is not a democracy, by definition, he said. You cant have a democracy without free speech. Period.

Meanwhile, serious crimes go unpunished, he said, such as defrauding investors of billions of dollars, or burning down buildings, impoverishing people, starting totally counterproductive wars we cant win that kill a lot of our citizens, leaving the border open so seven million people can walk acrossthose are not small things.

Ukrainian servicemen ride on a tank not far from the front line in the Kharkiv region, on July 6, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

And what are the crimes that are punished? he asked. Thought crimes. Thinking the wrong things. Having the wrong beliefs. Saying unapproved words.

And when words are deemed wrong, hes realized, those words are always true.

He warned against the people who censor your words and thoughts.

He also warned against getting overwhelmed by reports that seem to be the Mt. Everest of lunacy, such as that men can give birth or breastfeed infants.

Where is Tucker Now?

Since being fired by Fox, Mr. Carlson has released nine episodes of whats known as Tucker on Twitter. Most have been between five to 18 minutes long.

The latest, released on July 11, is a two-and-a-half-hour interview with the controversial social media mega-influencer Andrew Tate.

Mr. Tate is on house arrest at his estate in Romania after spending 92 days in what he describes as a cockroach-infested jail. He and his brother were arrested in December for what he says are fake human trafficking and rape charges.

The Tate brothers now are suing their accusers, asking a Palm Beach County judge for $5 million in damages.

Andrew Tate gestures next to a gendarme as he leaves the Bucharest Tribunal, along with his brother Tristan (right) after the first hearing in their trial in Bucharest, Romania, on June 21, 2023. (Alexandru Dobre/AP Photo)

In the interview, Mr. Tate suggests that his arrest was an attempt to silence him because of his message to followers, urging men to be physically strong and independent minded.

Its a theme Mr. Carlson repeated to young conservatives in his 45-minute address at the Turning Point event.

Diversions, he warned, are concocted by those in power so we dont notice theyre looting the country.

Seeking to cover up their actions, they defend absurd positions with ferocity, he said. Thats so those with objections wont push back on topics, such as the war in Ukraine, COVID-19 policies, and the Jan. 6 unrest.

Its not by accident, he said, as he yielded the stage to Mr. Trump. Trust me.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tuidang Center Gets Proclamations From Local Officials to Mark Quitting the Chinese Communist Party Day

Elsa Chan participated in Celebrating Four Hundred Million Chinese Quitting the CCP Rally outside the Chinese Embassy in Vancouver, Canada, on Aug. 21, 2022. (Hugh Zhao/Epoch Times)

The Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, also known as the Tuidang movement, recently received several proclamations from local VIPs on the occasion of Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Day on July 1.

Chinese people have lived through decades of mind control, brainwashing. and terror under the CCP, the proclamation states.

The proclamations included congratulatory letters and certificates of commendation by multiple representatives of public opinion and elected officials in the United States. Among the towns and communities were several districts in the town of Brookhaven, New York, the towns of Islip and Riverhead on Long Island, New York, as well as officials from Nassau County, New York.

A proclamation from the Town of Brookhaven honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

A citation from the Town of Islip honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

A proclamation from the Town of Riverhead honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

A proclamation from the Nassau County Legislature honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

We wish them continued success in the year to come the Islip town board mentioned in their citation on June 27.

The town board of Riverhead cited their continued support for the movement on behalf of the entire community on June 20.

Quitting the CCP refers to separating oneself from the Communist Party from taking back the oath one has made, according to Town of Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.

The proclamation sent by representatives from Nassau County, New York on June 28, mentions the milestone for citizens of Chinese origin in China and outside the country, and praises the movement for their relentless efforts.

The communities expressed their respect and gratitude while honoring the movement, which has so far led to more than 400 million people quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its associated Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers.

A large number of Chinese citizens belong to or previously belonged to at least one of these organizations.

A citation from the New York State Assembly honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

In Communist China, from childhood to middle school, high school, and university, a Chinese person may have joined and pledged allegiance to one or more of Chinese communist youth organizations, otherwise one may find oneself at risk of being excluded from the mainstream society. When they do they take this oath, it is not to China, but to the CCP, the proclamation continues.

The Tuidang movement coordinates the global initiative to help Chinese people quit the CCP. First established in 2004, it helps educate people around the world as to the evil nature of Communism.

A proclamation from the Suffolk County Legislature honoring the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party. (Courtesy of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party)

The movement followed the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, setting off a global wave of quitting the CCP.

As stated on Tuidangs website, The Nine Commentaries summarizes and analyzes the nine functional characteristics of the Communist Party: evil, deceiving, inciting, fighting, robbing, ruffian, instigating, exterminating, and controlling, pointing out that the rule of the Communist Party of China is the darkest and most absurd in Chinese history.

From NTD News
UN Enabled Government to Strip Parental Rights in Face of Gender Dysphoria

Flags stand outside the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 3, 2022. Switzerland, which has a long tradition of neutrality in international politics, has joined Europe in a broad selection of sanctions against Russia. (Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

Commentary

There is ample anecdotal evidence that parents are afraid of the implementation of Victorias bill banning what is considered conversion therapy. Their fear stems from the fact that the legislation potentially penalises parents for directing and controlling their childrens behaviour.

In this context, a recent article notes that the law prohibits parents from acting in any way other than affirming a childs preferred gender.

Specifically, parents cannot deny their child puberty blockers, hormone treatments or gender surgeries and are also barred from seeking non-affirming counselling anywhere in Australia.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, which enforces the legislation explains on its website that:

Practices that seek to change or hide someones sexual orientation or gender identity are harmful and unlawful and that this law bans these change or suppression practices and provides a range of options for preventing and responding to them.

Proponents of the transgender movement claim that there is a human right to transition to a gender different from their biological one and that the view that people are born either male or female is an odious example of discrimination and homophobia.

Protesters stand outside of Boston Childrens Hospital in Boston, Mass., on Sept. 18, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Throughout the Western world, their claim is taken seriously by legislators, who seek to criminalise behaviour that frustrates childrens desire to transition to another gender.

However, according to law professor Patrick Parkinson, the law is highly damaging to the wellbeing of some children, particularly because it discourages clinicians from engaging with children suffering from gender dysphoria or gender incongruence and could deprive them of the help they most need.

Even the American Psychiatric Association, which considers gender identity conversion therapy to be unethical, admits that support for people with gender dysphoria may include open-ended exploration of their feelings and experiences of gender identity and expression.

Robbing Parental Rights

Of course, gender dysphoria is a serious affliction that needs to be treated.

But the question is whether transgender laws, like the Victorian legislation, exceed their legitimate purposes by stripping parents of their right to educate and guide their children.

The view that the prohibition of gender conversion therapy is itself harmful and frustrates efforts by parents to guide their children has recently led to calls for a Royal Commission into gender conversion for children.

Yet, proponents of the prohibition of gender conversion practices may rely on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childratified by Australia on Dec. 17, 1990to bolster their support for an affirmative approach to childrens gender dysphoria.

Although Article 5 of the Convention confirms that states parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents, it affords little protection to parents.

This is because it is followed by Articles 12 to 16, which override any inconsistent provisions, including Article 5.

Even if this view proves to be legally incorrect, the right of parents to direct and guide their children is constrained by the requirements that such parental direction and guidance be appropriate and in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.

This phrasing suggests that, in order to decide the appropriateness of parents guidance, parental direction and guidance would inevitably become subject to external control and scrutiny.

The United Nations headquarters building in New York is seen from inside the General Assembly hall on Sept. 21, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Pool Photo via AP)

How the Convention Can Support Gender Conversion Therapy Bans

Article 12 gives children the right to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

It further stipulates that children have the right to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child.

Hence, Article 12 not only has a clear potential to interfere with relationships between parents and child but also between teachers and children in the classroom, where it has the potential to undermine the authority of teachers who still believe in directive education.

Article 13 proclaims that the child has the right to freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.

This article could easily be interpreted to mean that children, defined as persons below the age of 18, have the right to hear and see pornographic materials.

Article 14 of the Convention stipulates that the child has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. The childs right is subject only to the parents right to provide direction and guidance.

However, the state is only required to respect the right of parents to provide direction to the child. Thus, a child would be free to reject parental guidance on gender transitioning.

A general view of the Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia, on July 16, 2023. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

According to Article 16, a child shall not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence.

The reference to arbitrary may enable children to resist parental intrusion into matters that children consider to be private, including medical treatments. The Article would protect a medical practitioner who offers contraceptives to a 14-year-old girl or puberty blockers to a teenager intent on gender transitioning.

The UN Enabled the Affirmative Approach

I am drawn to the conclusion that the Convention facilitates the present Australian affirmative approach to gender transitioning, but it also adversely, even fatally, affects parents ability to guide their children in this confusing and challenging area.

As the Convention has facilitated a measurable decline in the authority of parents, it has contributed to, or even instigated, the present transgender agenda, now assiduously promoted by education departments and governments.

A considered judgement on the present transgender debate should involve a consideration of all contextual circumstances, including the evidence of potential harm for children wrought by gender transitioning practices.

In eroding the supervisory powers of parents over their children, this debate will likely compromise an objective and impartial discussion of this controversial topic.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
US Calls for Freedom of ASEAN Countries to Choose Their Alliances

Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference at InterContinental London O2 in London on June 21, 2023. (Henry Nicholls/WPA Pool via Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on July 14 the importance of ensuring the freedom of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to choose and forge alliances without facing coercion.

Speaking to reporters following the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia, Mr. Blinken said the United States and the 10-member bloc have embarked on a new era in their relations that are defined by increased collaboration.

The U.S. diplomat reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, where countries are able to operate free from the use of force, coercion, or aggression.

That means a region where countries are free to choose their own path and their own partners; where problems are dealt with openly; where rules are reached transparently and applied fairly; where goods, where ideas, where people flow lawfully and freely, he said.

Mr. Blinken said the United States would back ASEANs negotiation of a code of conduct to tackle territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea, a critical throughway for global commerce and connectivity.

He also urged maintaining peace in the Taiwan Straitwhere cross-strait tensions have risen between China and self-ruling Taiwan.

Like many countries in the region, were concerned by the PRCs increasing assertiveness in the South and East China Seas and in the Taiwan Strait, he said, using the abbreviation of Chinas official name: the Peoples Republic of China.

The United States also seeks to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is in the interest of all nations, Mr. Blinken stated. We continue to oppose unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.

Washington pledged to strengthen communication channels with Beijing to make clear its positions on regional issues while exploring potential areas of cooperation between the two major powers.

Mr. Blinken also highlighted North Koreas unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and urged Burmas military to cease violence and implement ASEANs Five-Point Consensus.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with Chinas Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Candid Talks With Wang Yi

Mr. Blinken met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting on July 13 and had candid and constructive talks on a range of bilateral and global issues, according to the State Department.

Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the meeting was part of the Biden administrations ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication to clarify U.S. interests across a wide range of issues and to responsibly manage competition by reducing the risk of misperception and miscalculation.

This followed Blinkens previous meeting with Wang Yi during his visit to Beijing on June 18, when he also met with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in a bid to stabilize U.S.China relations.

Mr. Miller said that Mr. Blinken has directly raised concerns regarding Chinas actions in the disputed waters, including the Taiwan Strait, and called for progress on transnational challenges affecting people globally.

He made clear that the United States, together with our allies and partners, will advance our vision for a free, open, and rules-based international order, he said in a statement.

Mr. Miller said that both sides agreed to maintain open channels of communication in the weeks and months ahead, without providing further details.

Meanwhile, ASEANs negotiations on the code of conduct for the South China Sea have stalled for years as some member states prioritized bilateral ties with China over a regional consensus.

Beijing claims jurisdiction over almost the entire South China Sea based on its nine-dash line, a boundary found to have no legal basis by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei all have competing claims with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Chinas coast guard has been accused by the Philippines of aggressive acts several times this year, and Vietnam has complained about a Chinese research ship and a flotilla of suspected militia lingering near its offshore energy projects.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Veterans Affairs Overestimated Veteran Numbers by 34%: Memo

Veterans march for the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, on Nov. 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Data from the 2021 census shows that the number of veterans is 34 percent lower than previous estimates by Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC), according to a federal document. The federal department says the overestimation has no impact on its government-funded programs.

In a March 20 briefing note, VAC responded to questions about why the 2021 census counted 461,240 veteransapproximately 34 percent lower than the departments own 2021 estimation of 617,800 veterans. The issue was first reported by Blacklocks Reporter.

VAC said in the briefing note the discrepancy has no impact on the departments function.

VAC does not generally use broader Veteran population figures for operational planning. We rely on actual program intake and service utilization data to develop forecasts and plans, the department said, adding the discrepancy in numbers was not entirely unexpected because it had been making estimates based on data from the 1971 Census and other national surveys.

This means that the difference between Census counts and VACs population estimates does not have a direct impact on VAC operations.

The government website that reports on VACs operations said over 90 percent of the departments budget represents payments to Veterans, their families and other program recipients.

Budget 2023 allocates $156.7 million to veterans over five years, starting in the 202324 fiscal year, and then $14.4 million annually to the VAC, the RCMP, and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. The federal funding aims to reduce backlogs and support service delivery across several programs and services.

Erika Lashbrook Knutson, spokesperson for Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay, said that VAC funding is not tied to the census count.

As the majority of Veterans Affairs Canadas funding is quasi statutory in nature  budgets are based on how many eligible individuals are forecasted to come forward for support through 25 separate VAC programs in any given year and not on the overall Veteran population in the country, she told The Epoch Times in a July 17 email.

Ms. Knutson confirmed that prior to 2021, VAC based its estimates on the number of veterans on Statistics Canadas 1971 Census, the 1988 Labour Force Survey, and the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey. The department also updates its estimates annually using information from the Department of National Defence and survival rates from Statistics Canada life tables.

While the 2021 Census data on Veterans does not impact the departmental budget, it will help the department better tailor programs to the needs of Veterans of various communities, like Indigenous Veterans, women Veterans, and underemployed Veterans, she said.

The 2021 census marks the first time in 50 years that questionnaires asked, Have you ever served in the Canadian military? The short-form survey was sent to every household in the country, according to the briefing note. The question was included at the request of the veterans department, which said it was trying to gain a clearer picture of the broader population of Canadian veterans.

In a 2009 report, titled New Veterans Charter Evaluation, VAC acknowledged it had more employees managing fewer veterans programs than the United Kingdom and Australia. The Canadian department had 3,700 staff who provide service to 220,000 clients; the UK and Australia both had 2,100 employees, and each served 900,000 and 415,000 clients respectively.

Citing the 2021 census, the briefing note said that nearly 84 percent of veterans are male with an average age of 62. More than 33,400 of the veterans were age 85 or older. Most of the former military members are found in the following cities: Belleville (4.5 percent), Halifax (4.4 percent), Kingston (four percent), Fredericton (3.8 percent), and Saint John (3.5 percent).
Woman, 20, Killed in Head-On Crash in Van Nuys

VAN NUYS, Calif.A 20-year-old woman was killed July 16 when a wrong-way vehicle driven by a possibly impaired motorist slammed head-on into another vehicle on a Van Nuys street, authorities said.

Three other peopleincluding a childwere injured in the crash, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Paramedics rushed them to a hospital, but their conditions were not immediately available.

The crash was reported at 3:18 a.m. Sunday at Saticoy Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

A westbound vehicle crossed into eastbound lanes on Saticoy and crashed into the vehicle in which the woman was a front-seat passenger, causing it to hit a power pole, an LAPD dispatcher said. The woman died at the scene.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was detained on suspicion of DUI, the LAPD said.
Woman Shot to Death in Los Angeles House; Suspect Arrested

Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies guard a home in the city of Lancaster in the high desert Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles, on Nov. 29, 2021. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo)

SAN FERNANDO, Calif.A 38-year-old woman was shot to death inside a house in San Fernando, authorities said July 16.

Stephanie Rodriguez was a San Fernando resident, according to the medical examiners office.

The shooting was reported at 3:18 a.m. Friday in the 1300 block of Kewen Street, according to Los Angeles County Sheriffs Lt. Daniel Vizcarra. Ms. Rodriguez died at the scene.

Homicide detectives later detained 34-year-old Evelyn Torres of Palmdale as a person of interest in the killing, Mr. Vizcarra said. Ms. Torres was later officially arrested as a suspect in the murder.

A motive for the shooting was not released by the sheriffs department, nor was the nature of Ms. Torress relationship with the victim.

Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call the sheriffs departments Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
SHANGHAI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 31st edition of the East China Fair, often referred to as a "barometer of foreign trade," was held in Shanghai from July 12 to 15, marking its return to an offline format after three years of COVID-19 disruption.

Being one of the largest trade exhibitions in China, this fair has firmly established itself as a prominent event for the country's foreign trade enterprises. This year's edition attracted nearly 35,000 domestic and international buyers from over 110 countries and regions, according to the organizers.

A diverse range of exhibitors at the fair, encompassing industries such as garment, textile and home products, vividly demonstrates the evolution of Chinese manufacturers that have transcended the pursuit of high-quality commodities. Instead, they have embraced innovation and diligently enhanced the competitiveness of their products, cementing China's role as a key player in the international trade arena.

At the booth of Zhejiang Jiaxin Silk Corp., Ltd., a regular participant in the fair for over 30 years, Wu Huiping passionately introduced their new textile product crafted by interweaving collagen-modified nylon fiber with silk.

"It combines comfort, sun protection and antibacterial properties," said Wu, deputy director of the company's technology center. "The product aligns with the demands of popular outdoor brands in foreign markets."

Wu noted that as early as 2019, their company established an online showroom for garment samples, aiming to facilitate communication with overseas customers. The company has also employed 3D design software to tailor its products according to the varying customer requirements.

"Even amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, the development and utilization of new technologies have helped us maintain our resilience, resulting in a remarkable 40 percent sales growth in 2022," Wu said with a sense of pride.

Zhejiang Truelove Fashion Home Textile Co., Ltd., another exhibitor at the fair, attracted visitors with their vibrant and intricately patterned blankets.

Lin Danping, the company's business manager, revealed that their upcoming "Industry 4.0" intelligent factory, with an investment of 1.28 billion yuan (about 179.46 million U.S. dollars), is set to begin production later this year.

With an estimated annual output of 70,000 tonnes and a cost reduction of 40 percent, the factory aims to enhance efficiency while expanding into emerging markets, Lin said.

Nick Evans, a British entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience in sourcing from China, affirms that the country's foreign trade has undergone a remarkable transformation.

"Chinese foreign trade companies are now developing an increasing number of products independently. While maintaining cost-effectiveness, they also incorporate ingenious ideas to meet the demands of the new generation of consumers," he said.

The turnover of the four-day fair has reached 2.18 billion U.S. dollars, the organizers said, citing preliminary statistics.

China's foreign trade maintained steady growth in the first half of the year, with the total goods imports and exports reaching 20.1 trillion yuan, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs. It is the first time China's goods imports and exports exceeded 20 trillion yuan in the January-June period.

This impressive growth is attributable not only to Chinese companies embracing technological innovation but also to new policies introduced by the central and local governments to improve the business environment.

For example, the State Council in April issued a guideline document to promote the stability of its foreign trade scale and to improve its structure, and the resumption of offline exhibitions has been spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce.

Amid efforts to stabilize trade and improve its structure, the Ministry of Commerce will make better use of major trade fairs, support trade enterprises to attend overseas fairs, enhance the development of the country's processing trade, and promote the accelerated development of new foreign trade business models, said ministry official Xiao Lu at the 31st East China Fair. 
e-task frauds rob 31 of over Rs 3.6 cr in 6 mths





By Dheeraj Fartode

Ghanshyam Narendra Govindani, a 32-year-old chemical engineer with experience of working in Dubai, registered himself on online job sites. He received a link from a website, responding to which he joined a WhatsApp group. He was given tasks of movie reviews, which Govindani did for a few days, and received around Rs 1 lakh as remuneration upon completion. Those who gave tasks to Govindani then trapped him by luring him with more such tasks by asking him to pay a certain amount. Falling to the lure, Govindani ended up paying a total of Rs 54.50 lakh, before realising the fraud, and approached the Cyber Police. Govindani is not the sole victim of such e-task fraud as 31 persons have been duped of a staggering Rs 3.68 crore by cyber crooks who offered them part-time job opportunities in the past six months.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) EoW and Cyber, Archit Chandak, shed light on the extent of the scam while speaking with The Hitavada, and revealed that the City Police had managed to freeze Rs 3.28 crore in the bank accounts of the swindlers. The fraudsters employ a three-step process to deceive their targets. The first step, termed Trust Building, involves enticing victims through WhatsApp links or direct invitations to join a group. The scammers offer part-time jobs that involve writing movie reviews, reviewing places, hotels, or companies on Google Maps or liking videos on YouTube or other social media platforms. The simplicity of these tasks lures many victims, as they believe it to be an easy way to earn money, said DCP Chandak. As a result, victims willingly complete the assigned tasks and begin receiving monetary rewards.

In the second step, known as the Trap, the fraudsters exploit the trust they have built with their victims over a month. They promise increased profile and higher income in exchange for various fees. Falling for the trap, the victims transfer significant amounts of money to the scammers accounts. However, the fraud does not end there. The fraudsters subsequently demand additional funds, and the victims end up exhausting their bank accounts. This leads to the third step, labelled Treachery. Once the fraudsters have exacted a substantial sum from the victims, they disappear without a trace, blocking all contact with their targets. The victims are left helpless, realising they have been duped and left in financial trauma. These fraudsters are working like corporate companies. They employ specialised teams to carry out different tasks, including an IT team to monitor transactions and a banking team to facilitate their fraudulent activities. Additionally, a dedicated team works to identify potential targets by collecting phone numbers, he said.
Cong will not support Centres ordinance on Delhi in Parliament, says Venugopal







NEW DELHI,

THE Congress on Sunday made it clear that it will not support the Centres 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.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Delhi, said the Congress unequivocal opposition to the Delhi ordinance was a positive development. The BJP hit out at the Congress alleging that political desperation and confusion is gripping it. Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said the partys 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 Government to sabotage federalism. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance, he told PTI. Reacting to Venugopals remarks, AAP MP and 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.
DGGI, Ngp Zonal Unit detects 285 fake invoice cases of Rs 1,400 cr





Business Bureau

The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Intelligence (DGGI), Nagpur Zonal Unit has detected and booked 285 fake GST invoice cases since July 2027 to February 2023. The information was given by DGGI, Nagpur Zonal Unit regarding a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Abhay Kolarkar, RTI activist. The information was sought under RTI application dated March 17, 2023 in respect of DGGI, Nagpur Zonal Unit and its regional units at Aurangabad and Nashik.

DGGI, Nagpur Zonal Unit in its reply mentioned that the amount involved was approximately Rs 1,400 crore and the amount recovered was just Rs 62 crore. Furthermore, the total number of show cause notices (SCN) issued were 187 cases involving an amount of approximately Rs 1,354 crore. Accordingly the total number of cases which were decided were 231. As per the data, the number of prosecutions launched were 3, while the number of persons arrested were 39. However, the number of persons in jail and number of FIRs were filed as nil, the data showed.

Commenting on the RTI data, Sanjay Thul, President of All India Federation of Customs, Central Excise and GST SC/ST Employees Welfare Organisation said, The issuing of fake GST invoices is as good as printing fake currency. The fraudsters use fake Aadhar cards, PAN cards and Ids. This is a criminal offence and the department should be allowed to file an FIR with Police to punish the tax evaders. Such cases should also be referred to the Income Tax department to control the tax evasion.
GJC welcomes Govts decision to impose restrictions on gold imports





Business Bureau

Welcoming the Governments recent decision to impose restrictions on gold imports, The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) said the strategic move aimed at strengthening the Indian jewellery industry. The Government has recently imposed new restrictions on gold imports, specifically targeting the import of gold jewellery from ASEAN and South East Asia. Saiyam Mehra, Chairman of GJC, highlighted the significant disparity between bullion and jewellery imports, stating, Now, the restriction will stop imports and enable jewellery retailers to manufacture all gold ornaments locally.

The previous practice of importing ornaments for melting in local refineries and selling bullion for higher profits due to duty differentials has raised concerns within the industry. This practice not only affects domestic revenue but also poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of 70-80 lakh (7-8 million) local artisans. Rajesh Rokde, Vice Chairman of the GJC, added, Now, Indian jewellers can import gold jewellery only through the UAE under the CEPA agreement after paying the required import duty. These measures are expected to bolster the growth of the Indian jewellery industry, empowering local manufacturers to produce a wide range of gold ornaments domestically. By reducing reliance on imports, the Government aims to create a favourable environment for the development of local artisans and safeguard their employment opportunities.

All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) represents lakhs of trade constituents comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, laboratories, gemmologists, designers and allied services to the domestic gems & jewellery industry. The council functions with the objective to address the industry, its functioning, and its cause with a 360 degree approach to promote and progress its growth, while protecting the industrys interests. All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council, for the last 15 years, has been serving as a bridge between the government and the trade by undertaking various initiatives on behalf of and for the industry.
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway





THE film Mrs Chatterjee v. Norway is based on a real life story in which the issue involved was custody of children and the same was adjudicated in Calcutta High Court and decided on January 10, 2013 in favour of the mother of the children by Justice Dipankar Datta, who later on adorned the office of the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and at present is a Judge at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi. An ordinary custody case on the face of it turned out to be a major international legal controversy, which brought to the fore the aspect of how Indian Children were forcefully taken into care by the Norwegian Government. In the last ten years, while the concerned Judge has been elevated as a Supreme Court Judge and the case has been presented to the public in the form of a film wherein accomplished actor Rani Mukherjee has played the role of mother in the story. The film is inspired by the true events in a couples life, who got married and moved to Norway for a better future. Owing to the fact that due to Norwegian laws relating to care of children their two children could not stay with them and stayed with the younger brother of their father in Kolkata under an agreement of March 23, 2012 for future care of the children, between the couple and the respondent-4, younger brother, after the children came back to India on April 24, 2012 with their uncle. For a period in excess of eight months, they lived with him and under his care.

The children were supposed to live with their uncle as long as they were minors. Besides the agreement, the mother Anurupa Bhattacharya was assured by her geo-scientist husband and his younger brother, that immediately on her return to India, the children would be placed in her care and custody. However, the respondent did not fulfill his assurance, while it was necessary for the childrens overall growth and development, that they should be immediately placed in her care and custody. In response to the application moved by the mother, the Child Welfare Committee constituted in terms of the Juvenile Justice (care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 had passed an interim order on November 8, 2012, wherein on the basis of certain findings recorded therein, it has been observed by the Committee that the respondent-uncle was not fit to exercise control over the children and they do not also currently have any guardian fit to exercise control over them; hence there is need of care and protection in terms of the Act. The Committee had directed that these two children be removed from the foster care of their uncle pending further orders and they be restored to the petitioner-mother. Since this order was not implemented by the respondent-uncle, the mother approached the Committee once again. She has alleged that despite having power to issue search warrant the Committee did not do so with the result that its interim order remained unimplemented. The petitioner filed the writ petition on December 18, 2012 and had prayed for implementing the order passed by the Committee. Justice Datta (as he was then) declined to issue ex-parte interim order on the ground that the situation was not such so as to warrant passing of such an order.

Though by her conduct, the mother could have been proceeded against in contempt of the Court, the Judge instead, observed that this is a case, which requires to be dealt with compassion and empathy. Two children of tender age had been separated from their mother because she had been bringing them up in a manner contrary to the laws of a foreign country. In the opinion of the HC , the compelling circumstances arising from the Courts concern for the children makes it necessary to direct that the petitioner shall continue to take care of them until further orders are passed on the writ petition or effect of the order of the Committee of November 8, 2012 is stayed by a competent forum. According to the HC, as an uncle, respondent-4 must be held to have discharged his responsibility in the manner, the situation required. Although it might result in considerable pain for him to be separated from the children, his interest must yield for the better interest of children. However, the HC directed that the respondent- uncle shall be entitled to visit the children at every Saturday at 3 pm in the chamber of the Government Pleader, at least for two hours, subject to the uncle offering only chocolates by way of gift. The HC had noted in its judgement that the Respondent-Uncle, who is a doctor, had informed the HC that the boy Abhigyan was not an absolutely normal child and requires constant care and affection.

The Court had directed in his best interest that he should be medically checked up by a child psychiatrist and to make report of such doctor available in reply affidavit that the petitioner would file countering the allegations in affidavit in Opposition by the respondent uncle. In his January 10, 2013 order, Justice Datta took note of how the mother, in a desperate attempt to regain custody of her children, called the Police on her brother-in-law, in violation of orders passed by the HC earlier. According to the HC, this conduct by the distressed mother was in ignorance of the ramifications. In an appropriate case, law has to bend before justice. The situation warrants the petitioner-mother to be pardoned for her acts, for, to my (Courts) mind there had been no deliberate attempt on her part to undermine the dignity, prestige and majesty of the High Court. Further, Justice Datta noted that not granting relief to mother as prayed for would amount to violation of sense of justice. The High Court also considered the position of the childrens uncle from whose custody they were removed. While granting visitation rights, the court said, As an uncle, the respondent-4 must be held to have discharged his responsibility in the manner, the situation required.
Over 1.44 lakh kg drugs to be destroyed in virtual presence of Shah today





NEW DELHI :

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 Bureaus (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg by Indore unit and 356 kg seized by its Jammu unit. 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.
Rajbhar meets Shah, joins NDA





NEW DELHI,

IN A boost to the BJP 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. 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. Rajbhars alliance with the Samajwadi Party was considered an important reason for the BJPs relatively poor performance in parts of poorvanchal during the 2022 Assembly polls.
Vijaya Borkar becomes first woman CE of MahaGenco





Staff Reporter

Vijaya Ravindra Borkar, a resident of Yavatmal district in Vidarbha, has been selected as the Chief Engineer (CE) of MahaGenco. In the process, Borkar has made history, as it is for the first time that a woman engineer has been elevated to the post of Chief Engineer in the State-owned power generation company. Earlier, a woman officer reached up to the post of Deputy Chief Engineer. Borkar has been posted as Chief Engineer (Project Management Group) at Mumbai Headqaurters. Vijaya Borkar, after passing BE (Electricals) from Government College of Engineering, Amravati, did MTech in Energy Management System from Nagpur University. She ranked second in the merit list. After joining the then Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) as Junior Engineer in the year 1993, she steadily worked her way with her meritorious performance.

Borkar held various positions in the MahaGenco in Koradi and Chandrapur Thermal Power Stations, in the Power Protection, Testing, Equipment and Control Departments, especially in handling 210 MW, 500 MW generation projects. Borkar has a long experience in technical works related to traffic and order in managing the generation sector. She has successfully held the post of Deputy Chief Engineer 210 MW in Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station for the last two years.

On her achievement, Vijaya Borkar said, she is proud to be working in one the leading power production company in the country and added MahaGenco is a university of knowledge as one gets to learn new things every day. She said women have great capacity to work. They should never lose consistency, must step out of the comfort zone, should not feel the need or differentiate with fellow male employees. To the women working in MahaGenco, she said, if they are hardworking, self-motivated, then success is bound to follow.
CHANGCHUN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official, Shi Taifeng, has called for enhanced efforts to build a broad united front with a focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Shi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour to Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in northeast China's Jilin Province from Friday to Sunday.

During this trip that took him to villages, communities, enterprises, schools, and venues for religious activities, Shi stressed that forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be a crucial gauge of the CPC's work related to ethnic affairs and areas with large ethnic minority populations in the new era.

Efforts for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be integrated into Party building and social governance at the primary level, Shi said. 
This photo taken with a mobile phone on July 17, 2023 shows a lane-separating rail blown down in a street in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

GUANGZHOU, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Nearly 230,000 people in Guangdong had been evacuated to safety as of 5 p.m. Monday as the province braced for the typhoon. Local authorities have ordered the closure of 68 coastal tourist destinations, called back 2,702 fishing vessels and ordered 8,262 fish-farming workers to be evacuated ashore.

The NMC said the typhoon is expected to move to the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea, and may make a second landfall in the coastal area of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning.

China's transport authorities said Monday that they have deployed rescue forces in response to the typhoon.

Eleven rescue vessels, five helicopters, 46 salvage ships and eight emergency rescue teams are standing by, according to the rescue and salvage bureau of the Ministry of Transport. 

A citizen riding an electric bicycle wades through flood water in a street in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, on July 17, 2023. Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on July 17, 2023 shows a car stranded by flood water in a street in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on July 17, 2023 shows sand bags placed to fend off flood water at a hotel in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone on July 17, 2023 shows a tree blown down in a street in Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province. Typhoon Talim, the fourth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal area of south China's Guangdong Province on Monday night, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press outside the Security Council Chamber at the UN headquarters in New York, July 17, 2023. Guterres on Monday said he regretted Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he regretted Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"I deeply regret the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees for navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea," Guterres said.

With the decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia also terminated its commitment to facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil, and fertilizers from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports, as expressed in the memorandum of understanding between Russia and the United Nations, he told a press encounter at the UN headquarters in New York.

The initiative has ensured the safe passage of over 32 million metric tons of food commodities from Ukrainian ports. The World Food Programme has shipped more than 725,000 tons to support humanitarian operations, relieving hunger in some of the hardest-hit corners of the world, including Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen, noted Guterres.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye -- together with the memorandum of understanding between Russia and the world body -- has been a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world. At a time when the production and availability of food are being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more, these agreements have helped to reduce food prices by over 23 percent since March last year, he added.

"Ultimately, participation in these agreements is a choice. But struggling people everywhere and developing countries don't have a choice. Hundreds of millions of people face hunger and consumers are confronting a global cost-of-living crisis. They will pay the price," said Guterres, noting that there was already a jump in wheat prices immediately after the announcement of the Russian decision.

Earlier Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow decided to suspend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements that concerns Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated," local media reported, citing Peskov. Russia had been complaining that its demands to improve its own grain and fertilizer exports have not been met.

Peskov noted that the country will immediately return to the deal when the Russian part of the agreements is fulfilled.

Guterres on Monday pledged to continue to facilitate food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia despite the Russian decision.

"Today's decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere. But it will not stop our efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation," he said. "Looking ahead, our goal must continue to be advancing global food security and global food price stability. This will remain the focus of my efforts, taking into account the rise in human suffering that will inevitably result from today's decision. We will stay fixed on finding pathways for solutions. There is simply too much at stake in a hungry and hurting world."

Guterres said he was "deeply disappointed" that his proposal for the renewal of the Black Sea grain deal went unheeded.

"I am aware of some obstacles that remained in the foreign trade of Russian food and fertilizer products. That is precisely why I sent a letter to (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin with a new proposal to keep the Black Sea Initiative alive," said Guterres.

At the press encounter, Guterres read out parts of his letter, which contained the efforts of the United Nations to facilitate the export of Russian grain and fertilizers, including a bespoke payment mechanism for the Russian Agricultural Bank through JP Morgan outside SWIFT, a messaging network through which international payments are initiated.

Most of the Russian banks were kicked out of the SWIFT system following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict last year.

The United Nations also brokered a concrete proposal to enable a subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank to regain access to SWIFT with the European Commission, said Guterres. "The key element underpinning this proposal's political viability is that it can be implemented within existing regulations. We see this as a unique political opening, stemming from a genuine desire to protect global food security beyond July 17."

The letter was sent on Tuesday last week.

UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi on Monday also deeply regretted Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

For 12 months, this initiative has provided a lifeline to millions of people hit hard by the global food security crisis triggered by the conflict in Ukraine. To date, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has facilitated the export of over 32 million metric tons of grain and foodstuffs, directly feeding the people of the world and stabilizing global prices, said Paulina Kubiak, Korosi's spokesperson, in a statement.

Korosi commends the tireless efforts of the UN secretary-general as well as the exemplary work of the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which was responsible for the operationalization of the initiative. He recognizes also the efforts of the Turkish government, said the statement.

"As is so often the case, the most vulnerable people suffer when food supply is short and prices rise, as we are already witnessing today. Therefore, the president reiterates his call on the parties to return to dialogue," it said. "The challenges are complex, they are interconnected. But they are not insurmountable. It is not too late."

Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Turkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports. As a parallel agreement, Russia and the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was initially valid for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days until March 18, 2023. Russia then agreed to extend the deal for only 60 days. On May 17, Russia agreed to extend the deal for another 60 days. 
ACR Alpine Capital Research LLC lifted its position in shares of Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND  Free Report) by 9.9% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 7,649 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 691 shares during the period. ACR Alpine Capital Research LLCs holdings in Floor & Decor were worth $751,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 19.0% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 12,226,884 shares of the companys stock worth $851,358,000 after acquiring an additional 1,948,425 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,098,053 shares of the companys stock worth $639,229,000 after acquiring an additional 56,747 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,580,259 shares of the companys stock worth $533,001,000 after acquiring an additional 55,279 shares in the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 4,598,614 shares of the companys stock worth $320,201,000 after acquiring an additional 281,141 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wasatch Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors Inc. now owns 3,306,234 shares of the companys stock worth $267,805,000 after acquiring an additional 28,689 shares in the last quarter.

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Floor & Decor Price Performance

FND stock traded down $0.33 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $110.82. The companys stock had a trading volume of 41,940 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,382,992. The stock has a market cap of $11.78 billion, a PE ratio of 39.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $63.51 and a fifty-two week high of $114.63. The companys 50 day moving average is $96.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $93.20.

Insider Buying and Selling

Floor & Decor ( NYSE:FND Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. Floor & Decor had a return on equity of 18.37% and a net margin of 6.86%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.67 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. will post 2.68 EPS for the current year.

In related news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 5,804 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total transaction of $638,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,552 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,020,720. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 5,804 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total transaction of $638,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,552 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,020,720. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Thomas V. Taylor sold 18,656 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $1,958,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 215,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,596,315. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 30,264 shares of company stock valued at $3,177,720. Company insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on FND. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Friday, June 23rd. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. TheStreet raised shares of Floor & Decor from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $105.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Floor & Decor has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $97.53.

About Floor & Decor

(Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Textainer Group (NYSE:TGH  Get Free Report) and Sixt (OTCMKTS:SIXGF  Get Free Report) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Textainer Group and Sixts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Textainer Group 36.01% 17.40% 3.78% Sixt N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Textainer Group and Sixt, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Textainer Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Sixt 1 2 1 0 2.00

Institutional & Insider Ownership

43.8% of Textainer Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.1% of Textainer Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Textainer Group and Sixts revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Textainer Group $810.01 million 2.09 $309.42 million $5.87 6.80 Sixt N/A N/A N/A $2.37 54.08

Textainer Group has higher revenue and earnings than Sixt. Textainer Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sixt, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Textainer Group beats Sixt on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Textainer Group

(Get Free Report)

Textainer Group Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, ownership, management, leasing, and disposal of a fleet of intermodal containers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Container Ownership, Container Management, and Container Resale. The company's containers include standard and specialized dry freight, and refrigerated containers, as well as other special-purpose containers, which include tank, 45', pallet-wide, and other types of containers. It also provides container management, acquisition, and disposal services to affiliated and unaffiliated container investors. In addition, the company is involved in the sale of containers from its fleet, as well as purchase, lease, or resale of containers from shipping line customers, container traders, and other sellers of containers. It operates a fleet of approximately 2.7 million containers representing 4.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units. The company primarily serves shipping lines, as well as freight forwarding companies and the U.S. military. Textainer Group Holdings Limited was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

About Sixt

(Get Free Report)

Sixt SE, through its subsidiaries, provides mobility services for private and business customers in Germany and internationally. It offers mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing, and car subscriptions. The company was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Pullach, Germany. Sixt SE is a subsidiary of Erich Sixt Vermogensverwaltung GmbH.

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Bank of the Philippine Islands (OTCMKTS:BPHLF  Get Free Report) is one of 266 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Bank of the Philippine Islands to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Bank of the Philippine Islands and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Bank of the Philippine Islands N/A N/A 0.47 Bank of the Philippine Islands Competitors $2.76 billion $761.63 million 273.41

Bank of the Philippine Islands competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Bank of the Philippine Islands. Bank of the Philippine Islands is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bank of the Philippine Islands N/A N/A N/A Bank of the Philippine Islands Competitors 37.50% 9.66% 0.88%

Dividends

This table compares Bank of the Philippine Islands and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Bank of the Philippine Islands pays an annual dividend of $1.70 per share and has a dividend yield of 89.7%. Bank of the Philippine Islands pays out 42.5% 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.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Bank of the Philippine Islands and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bank of the Philippine Islands 0 1 0 0 2.00 Bank of the Philippine Islands Competitors 1025 2838 2930 7 2.28

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 322.43%. Given Bank of the Philippine Islands competitors stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Bank of the Philippine Islands has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

13.6% of Bank of the Philippine Islands shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 30.8% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 16.2% of shares of all BanksRegional 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.

Summary

Bank of the Philippine Islands competitors beat Bank of the Philippine Islands on 12 of the 13 factors compared.

Bank of the Philippine Islands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of the Philippine Islands, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services to retail and corporate clients in the Philippines. It operates through Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, and Investment Banking segments. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit taking and servicing; and consumer lending, such as home mortgages, auto loans, and credit card finance, as well as remittance services to individual and retail markets. The Corporate Banking segment provides deposit taking and servicing, loan facilities, trade, and cash management to corporate and institutional customers, such as high-end corporations and middle market clients. The Investment Banking segment offers corporate finance, securities distribution, asset management, trust, and fiduciary services, as well as proprietary trading and investment activities. The company also provides financing, securities dealer, investment management, land holding, operations management, business systems, foreign exchange, real estate, pre-need, non-life insurance, leasing, and rental services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,176 branches, and 2,457 automated teller machines and cash accept machines. The company also serves its customers through alternative electronic banking channels, such as telephone, mobile phone, and the internet. Bank of the Philippine Islands was founded in 1851 and is based in Makati City, the Philippines.

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Compute Health Acquisition Corp. (NYSE:CPUH  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 2,500 shares, a drop of 94.1% from the June 15th total of 42,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 40,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Compute Health Acquisition

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CPUH. Hsbc Holdings PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Compute Health Acquisition in the first quarter worth about $17,419,000. Boothbay Fund Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Compute Health Acquisition by 563.3% in the first quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC now owns 632,583 shares of the companys stock worth $6,478,000 after buying an additional 537,215 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Compute Health Acquisition by 121,884.6% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 253,728 shares of the companys stock worth $2,481,000 after buying an additional 253,520 shares in the last quarter. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Compute Health Acquisition by 50.0% in the first quarter. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. now owns 750,000 shares of the companys stock worth $7,335,000 after buying an additional 250,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Compute Health Acquisition in the second quarter worth about $1,746,000. 15.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Compute Health Acquisition Price Performance

NYSE:CPUH traded down $0.01 on Friday, reaching $10.64. 36,072 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 57,169. Compute Health Acquisition has a 52 week low of $9.81 and a 52 week high of $10.70. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.37.

About Compute Health Acquisition

Compute Health Acquisition Corp. does not have significant operations. The company intends to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Further Reading

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Evolution Petroleum Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:EPM  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,510,000 shares, an increase of 297.1% from the June 15th total of 380,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 369,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.1 days. Currently, 5.0% of the companys stock are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. D.A. Davidson & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Evolution Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth approximately $106,000. 683 Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Evolution Petroleum during the 4th quarter valued at $190,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Evolution Petroleum by 881.3% during the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,925 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 3,525 shares during the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Evolution Petroleum by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 1,202,822 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $7,590,000 after buying an additional 19,462 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC grew its holdings in Evolution Petroleum by 19.7% during the 1st quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 12,368 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 2,034 shares during the last quarter. 55.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Evolution Petroleum Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN EPM traded down $0.13 on Friday, reaching $7.96. 416,772 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 574,539. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.84. The company has a market cap of $264.83 million, a PE ratio of 5.38 and a beta of 0.94. Evolution Petroleum has a fifty-two week low of $5.11 and a fifty-two week high of $8.57.

Evolution Petroleum Announces Dividend

Evolution Petroleum ( NYSEAMERICAN:EPM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The energy company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $36.87 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.25 million. Evolution Petroleum had a return on equity of 57.14% and a net margin of 32.77%. Research analysts anticipate that Evolution Petroleum will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.03%. Evolution Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Evolution Petroleum in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company.

Evolution Petroleum Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Evolution Petroleum Corporation, an energy company, engages in the development, production, ownership, and exploitation of onshore oil and gas properties in the United States. The company holds interests in a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project in Louisiana's Delhi field. Its Delhi Holt-Bryant Unit covers an area of 13,636 acres located in Northeast Louisiana.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Guggenheim from $1,550.00 to $1,950.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, Briefing.com reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the restaurant operators stock.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Loop Capital upped their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,700.00 to $1,850.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,600.00 to $1,750.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,940.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wedbush upped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,200.00 to $2,300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Stephens upped their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,970.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,084.68.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Performance

CMG stock opened at $2,055.98 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a fifty-two week low of $1,277.00 and a fifty-two week high of $2,147.52. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2,066.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,788.85. The company has a market capitalization of $56.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.31.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.89 by $1.61. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 45.01% and a net margin of 11.49%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.70 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 44.07 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,868 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,999.90, for a total value of $3,735,813.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,691,665.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,086 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,138.00, for a total transaction of $2,321,868.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $49,915,886. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,868 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,999.90, for a total value of $3,735,813.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,691,665.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 12,409 shares of company stock worth $25,292,284. Corporate insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the first quarter valued at about $26,000. FourThought Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 350.0% in the 3rd quarter. FourThought Financial LLC now owns 18 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 350.0% in the 1st quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 18 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 90.0% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 19 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Elequin Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.91% of the companys stock.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

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Harrington Investments INC raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) by 3.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,347 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 894 shares during the quarter. Harrington Investments INCs holdings in Koninklijke Philips were worth $483,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Credit Suisse AG acquired a new stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips during the 2nd quarter worth about $65,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 1,070.3% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,745 shares of the technology companys stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 3,425 shares during the last quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC boosted its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 23.1% during the 4th quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 3,992 shares of the technology companys stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 44.0% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 4,029 shares of the technology companys stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 1,232 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 8,717 shares of the technology companys stock worth $266,000 after purchasing an additional 1,329 shares during the last quarter. 6.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on PHG. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Societe Generale raised shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Koninklijke Philips to 19.00 ($20.88) in a report on Friday, July 7th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Koninklijke Philips presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.06.

Koninklijke Philips Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PHG traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $22.71. 130,305 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,549,551. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.29. The firms fifty day moving average price is $20.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.54. Koninklijke Philips has a twelve month low of $11.75 and a twelve month high of $22.98.

Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.99 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a negative net margin of 11.63% and a positive return on equity of 6.29%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.32 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.04 EPS for the current year.

Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a dividend of $0.9387 per share. This represents a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Koninklijke Philipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -37.96%.

Koninklijke Philips Company Profile

(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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Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS  Free Report) by 21.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 59,520 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,350 shares during the period. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF were worth $1,181,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $80,616,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 23.6% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,375,546 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,873,000 after purchasing an additional 262,849 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 52.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 894,554 shares of the companys stock worth $16,827,000 after purchasing an additional 308,864 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 5,436.2% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 604,445 shares of the companys stock worth $10,342,000 after purchasing an additional 593,527 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 113.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 567,991 shares of the companys stock worth $11,837,000 after purchasing an additional 301,268 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Stock Performance

Shares of EWS opened at $19.29 on Monday. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF has a fifty-two week low of $16.16 and a fifty-two week high of $20.54. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $18.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.38. The company has a market capitalization of $494.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.86 and a beta of 0.81.

iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Profile

iShares MSCI Singapore ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Funds seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Singapore Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

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John Wood Group PLC (OTCMKTS:WDGJF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in 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 volume of 7,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

John Wood Group Stock Up 3.6 %

Shares of WDGJF opened at $1.75 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average is $1.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.08. John Wood Group has a 52-week low of $1.19 and a 52-week high of $2.88.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on WDGJF. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded John Wood Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Berenberg Bank cut shares of John Wood Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of John Wood Group in a research report on Friday, May 26th. They set an equal weight rating for the company. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $189.25.

John Wood Group Company Profile

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences.

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Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC decreased its position in Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC  Free Report) by 50.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,450 shares of the companys stock after selling 19,975 shares during the quarter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Lithium Americas were worth $423,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Simplicity Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Lithium Americas in the 1st quarter valued at $351,000. RFP Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Lithium Americas by 654.7% during the 1st quarter. RFP Financial Group LLC now owns 1,298 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,126 shares during the last quarter. Aquila Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Lithium Americas by 33.3% in the 1st quarter. Aquila Investment Management LLC now owns 108,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,350,000 after acquiring an additional 27,000 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Lithium Americas by 69.3% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 3,056 shares of the companys stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 1,251 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV bought a new stake in Lithium Americas during the first quarter worth approximately $91,000. Institutional investors own 27.16% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of Lithium Americas from $36.00 to $33.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. HSBC cut their price objective on Lithium Americas from $36.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Lithium Americas from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $37.22.

Lithium Americas Stock Performance

Shares of LAC stock opened at $20.50 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $21.02 and a 200-day moving average of $21.24. Lithium Americas Corp. has a 52-week low of $17.58 and a 52-week high of $33.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 10.00 and a current ratio of 10.00.

Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.19) by $0.15. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Lithium Americas Corp. will post 0.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Lithium Americas Company Profile

(Free Report)

Lithium Americas Corp. operates as a resource company in the United States and Argentina. The company explores for lithium deposits. It owns interests in the Cauchari-Olaroz project located in Jujuy province of Argentina; Thacker Pass project located in north-western Nevada; and Pastos Grandes project located in the Salta province of Argentina.

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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.
UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- In a major step forward, a replacement vessel, the tanker Nautica, has sailed from Djibouti to replace the rusting SFO Safer off Yemen's Red Sea coast, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"The UN-led project to prevent a massive oil spill from the decaying FSO Safer ... took a major step forward over the weekend when the replacement vessel Nautica sailed from Djibouti en route to the Safer site," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

All technical preparations and agreements have been finalized. Once the replacement vessel arrives, the oil aboard the Safer will be pumped out in a ship-to-ship transfer that is expected to take about two weeks to complete, he said.

The Safer, moored off Hodeidah port, holds an estimated 1 million barrels of oil. It has been at risk of breaking up or exploding for years.

"Removing the threat the Safer poses will be a huge achievement for the many people who have worked tirelessly on this complex and difficult project over months and years to bring us to this point," said Achim Steiner, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) administrator, over the weekend. "We will not rest until that threat is gone, and today we are close to beginning the operation."

The UNDP, implementing the oil removal operation, said the leading marine salvage company SMIT stabilized the Safer since arriving at the site on May 30.

After the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil, the next critical step is the installation of a catenary anchor leg mooring buoy to which the replacement vessel will be safely moored.

Dujarric said last week that the oil will stay in the replacement vessel until an agreement on disposal is reached.

The Safer has been moored in the Red Sea since 1988. It was estimated last year that if the Safer triggered an environmental catastrophe, it could cost 20 billion U.S. dollars. 
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (TSE:NB  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as C$6.43 and last traded at C$6.47, with a volume of 12650 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$6.60.

NioCorp Developments Stock Down 2.0 %

The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$6.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$5.03. The stock has a market capitalization of C$197.34 million, a P/E ratio of -3.88 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.34.

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NioCorp Developments (TSE:NB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 30th. The company reported C($1.35) earnings per share for the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that NioCorp Developments Ltd. will post -0.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NioCorp Developments Company Profile

NioCorp Developments Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in North America. It owns and develops the Elk Creek niobium/scandium/titanium project that owns one 226.43-acre parcel of land and associated mineral rights, and an additional 40 acres of mineral rights, as well as an optioned land package that covers an area of 1,396 acres located in Johnson County, southeast Nebraska.

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Pacer Advisors Inc. lessened its position in shares of Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG  Free Report) by 89.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,250 shares of the companys stock after selling 256,114 shares during the quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in Conagra Brands were worth $1,099,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 3.9% during the first quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,390 shares of the companys stock worth $278,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in Conagra Brands by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 56,097 shares of the companys stock worth $2,171,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in Conagra Brands by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 31,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,200,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Conagra Brands by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock worth $227,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in Conagra Brands by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 29,348 shares of the companys stock valued at $958,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.80% of the companys stock.

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Conagra Brands Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of CAG traded down $0.48 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $32.42. The company had a trading volume of 2,003,103 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,361,441. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $34.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $36.42. Conagra Brands, Inc. has a 52 week low of $32.18 and a 52 week high of $41.30. The company has a market capitalization of $15.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.54.

Conagra Brands Increases Dividend

Conagra Brands ( NYSE:CAG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 13th. The company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3 billion. Conagra Brands had a return on equity of 15.19% and a net margin of 5.57%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.65 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Conagra Brands, Inc. will post 2.72 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 28th. This is a positive change from Conagra Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Conagra Brandss dividend payout ratio is presently 98.59%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on CAG shares. UBS Group decreased their price target on Conagra Brands from $44.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley lowered Conagra Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $46.00 to $37.00 in a research report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Conagra Brands from $38.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Conagra Brands from $43.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Conagra Brands from $43.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $38.25.

Conagra Brands Profile

(Free Report)

Conagra Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer packaged goods food company in North America. The company operates in four segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice. The Grocery & Snacks segment primarily offers shelf stable food products through various retail channels in the United States.

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Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $205.68 and last traded at $205.61, with a volume of 21224 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $201.32.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have commented on PRI. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Primerica from $220.00 to $240.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Primerica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, July 8th. Finally, Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of Primerica in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. They issued a strong-buy rating and a $244.00 target price on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $210.25.

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Primerica Stock Performance

The companys 50-day moving average is $190.31 and its 200 day moving average is $174.94. The company has a market capitalization of $7.50 billion, a PE ratio of 18.17 and a beta of 1.19.

Primerica Announces Dividend

Primerica ( NYSE:PRI Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported $3.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.45 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $690.04 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $697.61 million. Primerica had a net margin of 15.33% and a return on equity of 27.48%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.11 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Primerica, Inc. will post 15.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 22nd were paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 19th. Primericas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.47%.

Insider Transactions at Primerica

In other news, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.25, for a total value of $765,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 49,902 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,543,757.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Primerica news, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.25, for a total transaction of $765,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 49,902 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,543,757.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director John A. Jr. Addison sold 1,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.95, for a total transaction of $322,915.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 18,087 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,435,625.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 11,200 shares of company stock worth $2,119,760 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Primerica by 55.7% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,707 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,875,000 after buying an additional 4,901 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in Primerica by 1,844.1% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,983 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 1,881 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Primerica by 4.7% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 6,839 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $939,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Primerica by 0.8% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 24,752 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,413,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Primerica by 33.4% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,533 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,493,000 after purchasing an additional 6,396 shares during the last quarter. 91.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Primerica

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Primerica, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Term Life Insurance segment underwrites individual term life insurance products.

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PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:PGCPF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 297,100 shares, a decline of 52.2% from the June 15th total of 621,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

PTT Global Chemical Public Stock Performance

OTCMKTS PGCPF remained flat at $1.32 during trading on Friday. PTT Global Chemical Public has a twelve month low of $1.32 and a twelve month high of $1.32. The firms fifty day moving average is $1.32.

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PTT Global Chemical Public Company Profile

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PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited research and develop plastic and chemical products in Thailand and internationally. The company offers refined products, which includes liquefied petroleum gas, light naphtha, reformate, jet fuel, diesel, and fuel oil; aromatics including benzene, toluene, paraxylene, cyclohexane, orthoxylene, and mixed xylenes; and olefins comprising ethylene, propylene, butadiene, and butene.

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Bonterra Energy (TSE:BNE  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Raymond James from C$10.00 to C$8.50 in a report published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Bonterra Energy Trading Down 1.6 %

TSE:BNE opened at C$5.97 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.44, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.44. The firm has a market cap of C$221.96 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 2.79. Bonterra Energy has a 52 week low of C$4.95 and a 52 week high of C$10.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$5.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$6.24.

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Bonterra Energy (TSE:BNE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported C$0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.25 by C($0.05). Bonterra Energy had a return on equity of 17.04% and a net margin of 24.92%. The company had revenue of C$77.26 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts expect that Bonterra Energy will post 0.809396 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bonterra Energy Company Profile

Bonterra Energy Corp., a conventional oil and gas company, engages in the development and production of oil and natural gas in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, Canada. Its principal properties include Pembina and Willesden Green Cardium fields located in central Alberta. The company also has non-core properties located in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

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Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ  Get Free Report) and Drinks Americas (OTCMKTS:DKAM  Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, profitability, risk and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares Constellation Brands and Drinks Americas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Constellation Brands -3.14% 22.32% 8.20% Drinks Americas N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for Constellation Brands and Drinks Americas, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Constellation Brands 0 4 15 0 2.79 Drinks Americas 0 0 0 0 N/A

Risk and Volatility

Constellation Brands currently has a consensus price target of $262.67, indicating a potential upside of 2.82%. Given Constellation Brands higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Constellation Brands is more favorable than Drinks Americas.

Constellation Brands has a beta of 1.02, meaning that its stock price is 2% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Drinks Americas has a beta of 1.22, meaning that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

86.5% of Constellation Brands shares are held by institutional investors. 16.2% of Constellation Brands shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Constellation Brands and Drinks Americas revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Constellation Brands $9.60 billion 4.88 -$71.00 million ($1.83) -139.60 Drinks Americas N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Drinks Americas has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Constellation Brands.

Summary

Constellation Brands beats Drinks Americas on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Constellation Brands

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Constellation Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. It also offers wine under the Cook's California Champagne, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Mount Veeder, Ruffino, SIMI, My Favorite Neighbor, Robert Mondavi Winery, Schrader, and The Prisoner Wine Company brands; and spirits under the Casa Noble, Copper & Kings, High West, Mi CAMPO, Nelson's Green Brier, and SVEDKA brands. It provides its products to wholesale distributors, retailers, on-premise locations, and state alcohol beverage control agencies. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Victor, New York.

About Drinks Americas

(Get Free Report)

Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd. produces, imports, distributes, and markets premium wine and spirits, and alcoholic beverages to beverage wholesalers in the United States and internationally. The company offers premium authentic Mexican beer products under the brand names of Day of the Dead Beer, Mexicali, Rio Bravo, Red Pig, and Chili Beer. The company also markets and distributes non-alcoholic beverages. It offers its products through various retailers and restaurant chains. Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 1986 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

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Dufry AG (OTCMKTS:DFRYF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 655,500 shares, an increase of 32.7% from the June 15th total of 493,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,638.8 days.

Dufry Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS DFRYF remained flat at $50.51 during trading on Monday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $46.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.13. Dufry has a 1 year low of $29.01 and a 1 year high of $50.51.

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Dufry Company Profile

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Dufry AG operates as a travel retailer. The company's retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Colombian Emeralds, Duty Free Uruguay, Hudson, Duty Free Shop Argentina, RegStaer, Autogrill, Hellenic Duty Free, HMSHost, and World Duty Free brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores.

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Slate Office REIT (TSE:SOT.UN  Get Free Report) had its price target lowered by equities researchers at Raymond James from C$2.25 to C$2.00 in a research note issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. Raymond James target price would suggest a potential upside of 1.52% from the companys previous close.

SOT.UN has been the topic of several other reports. TD Securities cut their target price on shares of Slate Office REIT from C$2.50 to C$2.25 in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. National Bankshares cut their target price on shares of Slate Office REIT from C$2.75 to C$2.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. CIBC cut their target price on shares of Slate Office REIT from C$3.00 to C$2.50 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Laurentian dropped their price objective on shares of Slate Office REIT from C$4.25 to C$2.75 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Cormark dropped their price objective on shares of Slate Office REIT from C$3.40 to C$2.20 in a report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Slate Office REIT Trading Up 0.5 %

SOT.UN traded up C$0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting C$1.97. The stock had a trading volume of 70,968 shares, compared to its average volume of 196,565. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$2.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$3.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 185.82, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.14. The firm has a market capitalization of C$157.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.03 and a beta of 1.04. Slate Office REIT has a 1-year low of C$1.86 and a 1-year high of C$4.82.

About Slate Office REIT

Slate Office REIT is an open-ended real estate investment trust. The REIT's portfolio currently comprises 43 strategic and well-located real estate assets located primarily across Canada's major population centres including one downtown asset in Chicago, Illinois. The REIT is focused on maximizing value through internal organic rental and occupancy growth and strategic acquisitions.

Further Reading

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Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (OTCMKTS:TYCMY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,100 shares, a decline of 40.0% from the June 15th total of 3,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Tingyi (Cayman Islands) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 18th.

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Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of TYCMY traded up C$0.57 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$30.24. 4,900 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,719. Tingyi has a 1-year low of C$27.19 and a 1-year high of C$36.96. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$30.99 and a 200-day moving average price of C$32.90.

About Tingyi (Cayman Islands)

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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Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) by 23.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 110,368 shares of the companys stock after selling 33,208 shares during the quarter. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $5,356,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 66.5% in the 4th quarter. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 536 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares in the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp increased its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 66.1% in the 1st quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 553 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Central Bank & Trust Co. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth $37,000.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance

Shares of EFV stock opened at $49.90 on Monday. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 52-week low of $49.15 and a 52-week high of $59.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.47 billion, a PE ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $48.78.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report).

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MOGADISHU, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations humanitarian agency said on Monday it has stepped up assistance to people affected by the recent floods in Somalia after the death of about 30 people.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that a credible risk of famine persists among displaced and pastoral populations in the areas that were worst impacted by the recent drought.

"The Gu (April to June) seasonal floods have affected over 468,000 people with about 30 dead, displacing at least 247,000 from their homes, damaging infrastructure and inundating thousands of hectares of land across Somalia," OCHA said in its latest update issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The update came amid calls from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for anticipatory action to save lives and livelihoods ahead of El Nino. The UN agency warned that up to 1.2 million people could be affected and 1.5 million hectares of land is at high risk of inundation.

According to the FAO, meteorological models from global and regional agencies show strong confidence in increased rainfall over the eastern parts of the Horn of Africa and other climatic changes during these weather phenomena.

OCHA said the devastating impact of floods is continuing, adding that during the reporting period, two teenage girls reportedly drowned in flood water in Warcise village, east of Jowhar in southwest Somalia.

According to OCHA, more than 30 villages remain cut off by floods east of Jowhar and are only accessible by boat. 
Smail Debeche, president of the Algeria-China Friendship Association, poses for photos in Algiers, Algeria, on July 14, 2023. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's visit to China from Monday to Friday is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, foster sustainable development and promote world peace, Smail Debeche said.(Xinhua/Wu Tianyu)

ALGIERS, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's visit to China from Monday to Friday is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, foster sustainable development and promote world peace, an expert has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Smail Debeche, president of the Algeria-China Friendship Association, said the "historical and political ties between the two nations serve as a foundation for strategic convergence." He hopes bilateral relations can be a model for Africa and the Arab world.

Debeche, also a professor of political sciences and international relations at the University of Algiers 3 and member of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front of Algeria, said over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Algeria have firmly supported each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns.

The two countries have maintained a consistent stance on international and regional hotspot issues and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, becoming strategic partners that walk hand in hand.

Tebboune's visit "is expected to yield positive outcomes in terms of serving Algeria's strategies for economic diversification and sustainable development," he said.

The professor added that the president "seeks to enhance the existing strategic partnership in various key sectors, including agriculture, food security, technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development such as roads and ports, exploration of raw materials, higher education and scientific research."

Debeche underlined the mutually beneficial outcomes of the Belt and Road Initiative. "This initiative facilitates direct trade ... ultimately aims to establish win-win partnerships and foster infrastructure development, enabling participating countries to transition from import dependency to becoming producers in collaboration with Chinese companies."

For example, he argued that countries, including Algeria, have moved beyond being mere importers of Chinese products and started producing these goods through cooperation with China.

Debeche saw development as the primary means of addressing global challenges. He recognized China's success in eradicating absolute poverty and expected the country's Global Development Initiative to enable countries to overcome differences and achieve economic growth.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China dispatching medical teams to Algeria. China has sent 27 batches of medical teams to the country, providing medical services for over 27 million patients and delivering approximately 2.07 million newborns. The teams have received high praise from the local government and people.

At that time, Algeria emerged from a brutal war and urgently needed medical assistance. The Chinese medical teams brought hope and timely assistance, Debeche said. Chinese doctors treated patients and trained local doctors. He said medical cooperation between the two countries has become an example of China-Algeria cooperation. 
It is not unheard of in Nigeria for housekeepers, or other types of domestic workers to be the ones who are responsible for the death of their employers. On the other hand, it is not unheard of for supervisors to victimize low-income males and to abuse educated as well as uneducated women in the workplace. This type of behavior is widespread.

As reported by the Nigerian press: "Employee murders Employer because of N63,000" (2017), "Man allegedly kills boss, mother two days after employment" (2019), How I was slapped by my superior, aggrieved immigration officer petitions police (2019), "Nigerian senator pleads for forgiveness after getting caught on video slapping female shop assistant" (2019), "Abuja nurses demand sanction against doctor for slapping colleague" (2022), "Lagos hotel staff sentenced to death for killing employer, manager" (2023), How Lawyer Assaulted Court Clerk Over Adjournment Date(2023). Domestic worker kills employer with pestle in Anambra (2023) and "They Refused to Increase My Salary So I Killed Them" (2023).

As the number of high-educated women, low-educated women, and low-income male victims of workplace violence continues to rise, it is now common knowledge that action must be taken to reduce the number of Nigerian domestic workers who murder their employers and abuses against women and low-end male workers.

Little is said or done to stop these disturbances, despite the huge number of high- and low-income female victims of workplace violence in Nigeria, and the number of domestic staff who have been killed by their bosses.

Numerous women of varying levels of education and economic status, as well as men of low socioeconomic status, areespecially victims of workplace violence in Nigeria, but their stories are rarely heard and no real solutions are ever offered.

Any incident involving physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other forms of threatening, disruptive behavior that results in death or serious injury while on the job or in a work-related situation is considered workplace violence.Meanwhile, the widespread yet rarely spoken problem of workplace bullying, defined as any form of intentionally hurtful or humiliating conduct toward an employee in the workplace, continues. Harassment can take many forms, such as speaking negatively about someone, making fun of them, or making fun of their appearance, abilities, or personal characteristics; acting in a way that is disrespectful, discriminatory, or harassing; or purposefully excluding them from group activities, team projects, or important discussions.

Let's look at the issue of violence in the home and the associated behaviors. Most Nigerian families have at least one domestic worker. Housekeepers, caterers, child care workers, and people who care for the elderly are indispensable to modern society. However, tragically, there have been instances where domestic workers have attacked their bosses, sometimes even fatally.

Worldwide, women with higher levels of education are more likely to report violent or abusive incidents in the workplace. However, in developing societies like Nigeria, educated women may face barriers or reluctance in reporting such incidents due to cultural, societal, or organizational factors.

Mistreatment in the workplace has a long history, especially among domestic workers (some of whom are teenagers), women of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and low-income men, and can lead to increased feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, burnout, low life satisfaction, psychological distress, and in some cases, even violent and criminal intent on the part of the domestic worker or the superior worker.

Excessive workload, long working hours, tight deadlines, and a lack of support can all contribute to high levels of job-related stress, which in turn can lead to frustration, anger, vengeance ,and an increased risk of aggressive behavior in the workplace.

A higher probability of violence among employees has been linked to a toxic or hostile work environment and an organizational culture that tolerates or encourages aggression, bullying, or harassment to continue.

Workplace violence can result from a wide variety of interpersonal issues, including but not limited to personal enmity; differences in values, views, and personalities; and unsolved disputes. Dissatisfied workers are more likely to act violently if they believe they have been treated unfairly and could result to criminal poisoning and threat and fatal activities.

An employee's stress and irritation levels may rise to the point of violence if they are experiencing financial issues such as a rejection or delay in salary, a dispute over salary, or general economic instability.

Misuse of drugs or alcohol in the workplace by the ordinary worker and professionals can lead to lowered inhibitions, poor decision making, and even aggressive or violent conduct.Another issue is theft committed on purpose with the intent to cause extensive damage; this is a form of workplace violence commonly committed by angered workers.

Many people in the workforce and the professional community suffer from untreated or undiagnosed mental health illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders, or personality disorders, making them more vulnerable to aggressive outbursts or violent acts.

What can be done about these disturbing acts? Conflict resolution training could teach people less harmful ways of expressing anger and resolving disagreements.

There must be strict enforcement of labor rules that protect domestic employees from violence in the workplace. See to it that these regulations safeguard employees' rights, offer channels for reporting wrongdoing, and set reasonable consequences for offenders.

Educating the public, employers, and domestic workers on the effects of occupational violence and the employees' rights to be safe from it.

Worker rights should be protected, and employers should be encouraged to provide fair employment contracts that spell out the employee's and employer's obligations and entitlements in detail. It is imperative that businesses uphold these agreements and furnish risk-free workplaces for their employees.

It's past time for domestic employment to have its own set of regulations outlining minimum requirements for treatment, safety, and pay. Put in place labor inspections and strict fines to ensure compliance is being strictly enforced.

Avoid unreasonable actions by making sure domestic employees have access to legal aid and support services when they are subjected to working pressures and misuse.

Employers, including "ogas" and "madams," as well as anybody else with domestic workers, should shoulder the burden of ensuring a safe and courteous workplace for their employees.

Employees, managers, and professionals all need to be educated through training programs on how to identify and respond to workplace violence, including sexual harassment and assault.

Justice, support, and resources must be made available to victims of workplace abuse, especially women. Foster strategies that put survivors' protection, health, and rehabilitation first.

Establishing a substance abuse policy that details the organization's perspective on the issue, along with associated expectations, punishments, and support options, is important in professional and work environments.

Think about having all potential employees undergo drug testing before being hired, and then periodically thereafter. This can aid in the identification of those who may be in need of support and allow for early intervention.

In my opinion, 'bigmen' or ogas, madams, and anyone who wantdomestic employees in their homes should spend some money conducting thorough background investigations, including checking identity, previous work experience, and references. This procedure has the potential to save their lives by weeding out dangerous candidates for the role of housekeeper.

Pay attention to the domestic worker's communication skills and temperament throughout the interview process and hire them through a reliable agency with its own screening procedures rather than a random household in a rural area. Get in touch with the domestic worker's references to learn more about their work ethic, reliability, and demeanor on the job.

Implementing psychological testing by a qualified and honest psychologist during the hiring process can help assess an applicant's mental well-being, emotional stability, and suitability for the job, but it should not be mandatory and should be based on a request for consent to prioritize safety and well-being a resident owner and their families when hiring domestic workers. Evaluations of one's personality, judgment, or intelligence could fall under this category. They are useful for gaining understanding of a person's personality, coping mechanisms under pressure, social abilities, and aggressive tendencies.

Professional work environments, like any other type of workplace, require the establishment of clear expectations to ensure that all employees are aware of what is always expected of them. Spread the word about how everyone should conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner.

As violent conduct can often be a symptom of deeper problems including stress, personal troubles, or mental health, it is important to offer help and services to those in need. To aid the individual in addressing and managing their behavior, you may want to provide them with resources like therapy or an employee assistance program, especially in a professional context.

Governments, employers, employees, and civil society organizations must work together to combat workplace violence. No cultural or traditional norms should be used as an excuse to act aggressively against another human being, so let's put an end to workplace violence in all its forms, including that perpetrated by employees, bosses, and professionals. Women of all classes and low-end workers have suffered greatly as a result ofworkplace violence.

Within Nigeria culture aggressors and bullies in workplaces are often known to beg or ask for forgiveness okay fine, seeking forgiveness is often encouraged however, it's essential to recognize that workplace violence is a serious issue that can have lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects on the victim ,in addition to instituting internal disciplinary measures at work involve police report followed by a clean investigation and legal recourse is necessary in order to hold the perpetrator accountable and ensure justice.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American-based police and prison scientist and forensic, clinical, and legal psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA; and a former interim associate dean and assistant professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings. A former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. In 2011, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He has taught at various universities and colleges including Florida memorial University, Florida International University, Broward college, Lynn University, and currently an online faculty member at the Weldios university in Benin Republic, Nexus International University, Uganda, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University in USA.

Founder of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien Open University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of truth, ethics, and openness. Over forty academic publications and creations, at least 300 public opinion pieces on African issues, and various books have been written by him. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues. His most recent textbook publication is Concise Psychology: An Integrated Forensic Approach to Psychology for Global African Settings. [email protected]
There are flying speculations that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has resigned from office.

It was learnt that Adamu was pressured to turn in his resignation letter while President Bola Tinubu was out of the country for an African Union (AU) meeting in Kenya.

A source, who spoke in confidentiality, revealed that Adamu submitted his resignation letter to the Chief of Staff of the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, around 4 pm on Sunday.

According to the source, He has resigned. The resignation letter signed by him has been sent to the villa. The letter was addressed to President Tinubu. But since the president is away in Kenya for the AU meeting, the letter was sent to his chief of staff.

Similarly, a source close to Adamu also confirmed the development, saying, The national chairman resigned following a gang up by people around the president to embarrass him during the meetings of the party slated for tomorrow and Wednesday.

The source, however, denied a report that it was President Tinubu that asked Adamu to resign ahead of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the party fixed for tomorrow and Wednesday.

A founding member of the APC claimed that Adamu resigned from his position following reports that two influential members of the party are mobilising against him ahead of the NEC meeting.

The politician said, He resigned because they have started to collate signatures to impeach him during the forthcoming meetings. He resigned to save himself from humiliation.

However, while speaking on the controversial development in a chat with newsmen, Adamu promised not to comment on the matter until President Tinubu returns from the AUs meeting.

The former governor of Nasarawa State said, I wont talk about the issue because the president is away.
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CAIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the Egyptian government's decision of selling 1.9 billion U.S. dollars worth of equity stakes in state-owned entities, Egypt's State Information Service reported.

Egyptian government's move demonstrates progress in implementing the comprehensive policy package aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability to Egypt, IMF Spokesperson Julie Kozack said at a press conference on Sunday.

The Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last week that the government had signed contracts worth 1.9 billion dollars with the private sector to sell stakes in state-owned companies in a bid to boost the country's private sector.

The selling of the state-owned entities is part of an Egyptian program launched by the government in January.

The IMF approved in December last year a loan to Egypt of about 3 billion dollars to support the country's economic reform program, hoping it would pave the way for "sustainable, inclusive and private-sector-led growth." 
Need to look beyond street power Noting the politics at play

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No one seems to know what is happening. What is the exact figure of the people killed in the ethnic clash so far ? How many houses have been razed to the ground ? What is the exact number of displaced people and how many are taking shelter in the different shelter homes ? How many have moved to Mizoram and to other cities of the country ? Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi refusing to even acknowledge the clash that has taken a heavy toll ? Is NH-2 really open and have the highwaymen stopped checking the ID cards of passengers travelling along this route at Kangpokpi and two or three other places ? So many unanswered questions, but this has not stopped the warring groups from going on the offensive against each other. Each master on their own turf and it is in yet another display of this mastery over ones own turf that a Maring lady was done to death at Keibi Heikakmapal under Lamlai police station in Imphal East on July 15. Mistaken identity is the two word explanation or excuse that one can expect from those responsible for the ghastly murder of the innocent lady, but this should leave no one in doubt that pure, undiluted hate has blinded everyone and the growing number of missing persons, all suspected to have been killed after they strayed into the territory of the other side indicate that everyone has come under the spell of raw street power. Juxtapose the understanding of street power to the highly calculative move such as raising the demand for a separate administration and Manipur today finds itself in a situation where political intrigues of the highest order sleep side by side with the naked display of raw and rustic street power. So even as people on either side continue demonstrating their street power, literally gunning each other, came the face of the high political intrigues in taking the clash in Manipur to the European Parliament some days back. Piggy riding on the back of religion to cook up a narrative, so fantastic, and in the process gain the sympathy of the Western world. One cannot help but doff ones hat to the ingenuity of spinning out the Church politics to let the remains of the demolished Churches feature in the European Parliament, but here could be a case of chewing off more than one can chew in the ultimate analysis.

Votaries of the Church politics have no doubt succeeded in taking the burning embers of the remains of the places of worship to the European Parliament but would it help them take a step or two closer to their avowed aspiration of a Zalengam ? Does taking the matter to the European Parliament fall in line with the call for the Prime Minister to break his silence and act on the situation ? Does it fall in line with the red carpet welcome rolled out for Union Home Minister complete with the tri-colour when Amit Shah visited Kangpokpi and Churachandpur some time back ? Lay off was how Delhi responded. The answer is there for all to see but here is a case of one side looking beyond the display of street power and taking things to the international level to present its case. Has Manipur taken note of it is the question that follows. The Sangai Express has already negated the Church politics being pursued but the question of who is keeping a tab on the number of religious sites of the Meiteis being demolished is yet to be answered. No one has also felt the need to revisit May 3 and the days earlier to illustrate who first started demolishing places of worship. This is where the failure to grow out of the politics of street muscle is evident but surely it cannot go on like this forever. Playing high politics is no childs play and while the Church politics may have featured in Europe, it does not jell with the hands being stretched out for New Delhi to grasp. But then when foreign hands are increasingly being smelt in the current violence, looking to Europe by doctoring a script along religious divide should not come as too big a surprise to the discerning folks.
BRAZZAVILLE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever was declared in Dolisie, a city in the Republic of the Congo, following reports a disease that has killed 12 people, the Congolese government said Monday evening, urging people in the regions not yet in epidemic to put themselves on alert.

The Congolese government has declared Dolisie, capital of the department of Niari, in epidemic of cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever, due to the city's health situation with 1,365 suspected cases, including 12 deaths, according to a press release by the Congolese Health Ministry.

The government did not specify the disease at the origin of this epidemic.

According to the document, the results of laboratory analysis on the disease showed main symptoms such as fever at 39 or 40 degrees Celsius, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and general fatigue. Such symptoms are linked with three types of bacteria, namely cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever.

To date, 16 suspected cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Pointe-Noire, the economic capital, with one probable case deceased in Brazzaville, the Congolese capital, according to the ministry.

Two other suspected cases have been reported in Mouyondzi, of the Bouenza department, read the press release, adding that the samples of suspected cases from Pointe-Noire and Mouyondzi "are being sent" to the National Health Laboratory Public of Brazzaville for analysis.

Faced with this situation during the school holiday season, the Congolese government urged the departments not in epidemic to "put themselves on alert" and called on the public to follow preventive health measures. 
WELLINGTON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called for deepening economic, trade and environmental cooperation with China at the 9th Annual China Business Summit held on Monday in Auckland.

In a keynote speech, Hipkins recalled his China visit at the end of last month, leading a delegation of New Zealand's top businesses and exporters and representatives from its tourism, technology and education sectors.

"The New Zealand export story to China is well-known. It's a phenomenal success story propelled by our 2008 Free Trade Agreement that took two-way trade from 8 billion NZ dollars (5.08 billion U.S. dollars) that year, to more than 40 billion NZ dollars (25.4 billion U.S. dollars) today," Hipkins said.

New Zealand's top three exports to China are dairy, meat, and forestry, he said, adding New Zealand has built up sizeable economic interests in China, its largest offshore market and one of the world's largest consumer markets.

New Zealand will place a high value on engagement and dialogue with China, the prime minister told the audience at the summit.

New Zealand looks to work together with China to tackle critical global issues such as climate change and environmental protection, Hipkins said, adding it is in New Zealand's interests to do so.

Hipkins said one outcome from his China visit was an agreement to step up policy engagement on e-vehicles, with China an important supply market for Kiwi consumers as New Zealand looks to make the transition to a low carbon economy.

He said China and New Zealand will have a range of dialogues, including on green finance and forestry and emissions trading schemes, as well as a regular ministerial dialogue.

New Zealand also valued China's leadership in presiding over the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets new global goals and targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, he said. 
RIYADH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Japan announced Sunday the resumption of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two sides signed a joint statement in the Saudi city of Jeddah to resume the negotiations on the sidelines of a meeting between GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is on an official visit to the Kingdom.

Japan is currently GCC's fourth-largest export market and import source, according to Albudaiwi. 
VIENTIANE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Laos earned more than 408 million U.S. dollars by exporting cassava in the first five months of 2023, making it the most profitable crop grown in the country.

The main markets for cassava are China, Vietnam and Italy, Lao News Agency (KPL) on Monday quoted Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy as saying at the fifth ordinary session of the National Assembly (Ninth Legislature) of Laos.

The cultivation of cassava in Laos has increased due to rising demand from other countries, especially near neighbors.

Laos has the potential to be a major cassava producer as it remains a largely agricultural economy. But many cassava farmers face challenges that reduce their chances of making a large profit, including limited knowledge of modern cultivation methods.

In 2022, Laos earned 1,733 million dollars from all agricultural exports. In addition, Laos expects to earn about 2 billion dollars in 2023.

The export value of agricultural produce in the first five months of this year reached 901 million dollars, equaling 75.14 percent of the target for 2023, with the main export crops being cassava, coffee, bananas, maize and sugarcane.

The government is also improving infrastructure and production methods, such as providing product analysis equipment for laboratories, equipment for grain separation, and facilities that enable crops to be dried or frozen, as well as seeking new markets, according to the report. 
BJP activists gheraoed Nalagola outpost under the Bamongla police station in Malda on Monday demanding arrest of the Trinamul Congress-backed miscreants, who allegedly killed a senior BJP leader Buran Murmu.

Though the police arrested two persons, demanding arrest of others involved in connection with the alleged murder of the BJP leader, angry party workers, under the leadership of Malda (North) MP Khagen Murmu, staged agitation in front of the outpost.

Mainly angry women carrying brooms suddenly chased and tried to attack police officers. Another group of people carrying bamboo rods tried to ransack the outpost.

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Police in association with the Central forces managed the situation.

MP Khagen Murmu warned the police that he would bring more BJP supporters here to continue agitation.

BJP workers here lost their patience since the police have not yet arrested TMC goons involved in the murder case. As a result they have decided to take on the police. We will continue our agitation protesting against police inaction, Murmu told reporters.

Murmu sat in demonstration twice after irate party supporters tried to attack the police outpost.

To bring the situation under control, police officers spoke to MP Mr Murmu about police action.

Police informed Mr Murmu that they have arrested Burans son Biplab Murmu and daughter in law Sharmila Mardi.

Police also informed the MP they would take further action after interrogating the couple.

Notably, the police experienced villagers ire yesterday as they rushed to the house of Buran Murmu to recover his hanging body.

Angry BJP supporters, mostly women carrying brooms, prevented the police from recovering the body.

BJP leaders including MP Mr Murmu yesterday claimed that TMC in association with Biplab Murmu killed Buran Murmu.

Interestingly, senior BJP leader Burans daughter in law Mrs Mardi contested Gram Panchayat polls but she was defeated by a BJP candidate.

Since then TMC workers threatened Buran with dire consequences, MP Mr Murmu claimed.

Malda district TMC vice president Dulal Sarkar yesterday told reporters that family problems may be the reason behind the death of Buran Murmu.
While the Opposition parties, including CPI-M, Congress, and Trinamool Congress, are trying to iron out their differences and project a united front in next years general elections, BJP MP Ravishankar Prasad criticized Congress and CPI-M for maintaining silence over Panchayat poll-related violence and consequent killings.

In West Bengal, shameful violence and the killing of innocent people took place during the Panchayat Elections. Notably, not only BJP workers, but also the workers of the Left and Congress were killed. However, Sitaram Yechury and Congress have been completely silent over this matter, he tweeted today.

Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also ridiculed the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru and criticized the Left Front and Congress for meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. There is an understanding, and here CPI-M and Congress grassroots workers are being killed and injured by TMC-backed goons. Left Front party workers should join BJP, he said.

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He visited Panchla after Amta and Baruipur yesterday. On the same day, he spoke to the BJP workers and supporters who were affected by the poll-related violence. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar reached Basirhat hospital in North 24 Parganas on the same day to see the affected workers-supporters.

On that day, Suvendu Adhikari went to Howrah, talked to the victims, and expressed his concern about their safety. He expressed concern about what would happen after he left.

Referring to the central forces, Suvendu said, I will appeal to the court about this.

He spoke to party workers and revealed a serious allegation. Referring to the affected BJP worker, he said, We have to pay a surety, as long as we live, that the BJP party cannot be done. What a barbaric state government we live in! Suvendu Adhikari blamed Mamata Banerjee for all the poll-related violence.
Trinamul supporters and leaders from the districts will gather in the city from Tuesday to attend the Martyrs Day meeting on 21 July. Senior party leaders are holding meetings in the districts to organize party workers to come to Kolkata. Dr Manas Bhuniya and senior leaders of West Midnapore held a meeting at Ghatal on Saturday.

The leaders advised party workers to maintain calm and not to fall into the trap of the BJP. Some party workers who are expected to come from the districts, particularly north Bengal, will be put up at the Central Park in Salt Lake. Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress, national general secretary along with Krishna Chakraborty, mayor Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and Sujit Bose, MLA, inspected the site.

There will be medical units and Trinamul volunteers will be there to assist the party colleagues from outside the city. Giant screens will be installed both at the site of the meeting as well as in the districts so that people can watch the gathering.

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The construction of the main stage, opposite The Statesman House on Chittaranjan Avenue, is in progress. Senior party leaders and police officers visited the site to oversee the construction. As the venue is surrounded by tall buildings in which different offices are housed so carrying identity cards on 21 July is a must.

Drones will be used as a part of the security arrangements. There will be four major rallies from Howrah and Sealdah stations, south and north Kolkata. Trinamul Congress leaders said the party workers are waiting anxiously to hear partys chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

The overwhelming success of the party in the recently concluded Panchayat elections has given a boost to the party workers. Miss Banerjee is going to attend the two day meeting of the opposition parties ion Bengaluru on 17 and 18 July and on 21 July it is expected she will brief the workers on how they will inform the people about the stepmotherly attitude of the Centre towards Bengal. The 51-day-long Naba Jowar Yatra organised by Abhishek Banerjkee has been a great success and he and other Trinamul leaders had convinced the people about how the Centre had deliberately refused to clear the dues of the state government worth Rs 1.15 lakh crore.

Their intense campaign has brought dividends to the party with the opposition receiving a major setback in the Panchayat election. The Trinamul Congress will set up temporary offices along CR Avenue, SP Mukherjee Road, Howrah and Sealdah stations to assist the workers who will be talking part in the rallies by giving them water bottles and water pouches.

The state run hospitals have been instructed to get additional bottles of blood ready to meet any emergency. The partys leaders expect that the meeting will be historic and the turn out of the workers will be in the lakhs.
The Bengal government has approved allocation of fund for the rejuvination of a river bridge built during the Sher Shah Suri regime.

The 60-metre bridge was built in the 16th century on a small river called Chuni helps connecting a number of villages like Ganganandapur and Dakshinbati. But, as was said by Dilip Mallik, Sabhapati of the outgoing board of the Purbasthali-1 Panchayat Samiti: Its an auxiliary road to the STKK highway connecting Kalna and Katwa towns of East Burdwan.

The Chuni river is linked to Chanderbill  a half-moon like deep waterbody. During the British era, the bridge had an overhauling, the officials after examining the records said.

Mallik said: The state has allocated Rs 7.02 crore for the renovation of the centuries old river bridge and the approval has come just after the Panchayat polls were over. Local MLA and Minister Swapan Debnath had approached the state for the bridge, which was pending for long.
The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the city police to submit a fresh status report on the issue of tightening the safety and security in courts here.

Presiding over the case, a bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma clarified that the fresh status report must be based upon the recommendations and the steps suggested and implemented as per a joint meeting recently conducted by all the stakeholders.

In April, the high court had asked senior Delhi Police officials and Bar Associations to suggest measures on strengthening the safety and security in courts here.

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The bench was dealing with a bunch of pleas seeking measures for tight safety and security in the trial courts and a suo motu case initiated in 2021 after a similar incident at Rohini Courts.

Adding to the series of shootouts in Delhi courts, a recent incident which took place at Tis Hazari court premises on July 5 has stirred fear among the court-goers.

In April, a suspended lawyer had shot a lady inside Saket Courts.

During the hearing on Monday, the bench also comprising Justice Sanjeev Narula took note of Delhi Polices status report, which stated that a joint meeting was held on May 6 with the members of Bar Council of Delhi, Bar Associations of all courts, senior police officials from security unit and district traffic unit.

The court further noted that certain decisions were taken in the meeting and the President of Delhi High Court Bar Association was informed about the measures to be taken for strengthening the security setup in the high court.

The status report further stated that regular meetings are being held with the building maintenance committee, security cell of respective courts and other stakeholders to discuss the security issues regarding the implementation of directions issued by the court in the matter of safety and security in courts.

The court has now listed the matter for hearing next on October 9.

Last year in September, the court had sought from its administrative side, a fresh status report on a PIL filed in July 2019.

Lawyer Kunwar Gangesh Singh had filed the PIL seeking directions to enhance the security systems of various district courts across the city.

The court had then in December 2021, issued directions related to the safety and security of the courts complexes and for reviewing and revamping its security arrangements.
Ten opposition leaders from Assam belonging to nine different political parties have approached the Supreme Court challenging the draft proposal of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the delimitation of Assams 126 assembly constituencies and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The petitioner leaders belonging to Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal , CPI, CPM, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, and Anchalik Gana Morcha have also challenged Section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1950, which has been taken recourse to by the Election Commission in exercising its power in conducting the delimitation process.

The petitioner leaders who have approached the top court include Lurinjyoti Gogoi (Assam Jatiya Parishad), Debabrata Saikia (INC), Rokibul Hussain (INC), Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal), Manoranjan Talukdar (CPI(M)), Ghanakanta Chutia (Trinamool Congress), Munin Mahanta (CPI), Diganta Konwar (Anchalik Gana Morcha), Mahendra Bhuyan (Nationalist Congress Party), and Swarna Hazarika (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

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The petitioner leaders have stated that the entire exercise by the poll panel for readjusting the extent of 126 assembly and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam is arbitrary and opaque apart from being discriminatory to the State of Assam.

The poll panels draft order on readjusting the extent of 126 assembly and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam was issued on June 20.

The petitioners have challenged the methodology adopted by the Election Commission by taking different Average Assembly Size for different districts and states that population density or population has no role to play in the process of delimitation.

While the Constitution of India envisages an exercise whereby Constituencies are to be readjusted so as to ensure that all constituencies are comprised of an almost equal population, by relying on 2001 census figures, the Election Commission has created three categories of districts and has taken different yardstick for the three categories resulting in possible deviation of up to 33 per cent between the population of largest and smallest constituency, the petition states.

The petition says that delimitation for the rest of the country has been conducted by a high-powered body headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and the same Commission was formed for Jammu & Kashmir as well.

However, the provision of Section 8A discriminates against Assam and three North-Eastern States, for which the Election Commission has been prescribed as the authority to conduct delimitation, states the petition.

The petition by 10 opposition leaders has referred to a statement by Assam chief Minister stating publicly that the present exercise will be beneficial to one party i.e., BJP while being damaging to other opposition parties.

The top court has already seized two PILs relating to the delimitation of four North-Eastern States including Assam.

In December of last year, the Election Commission began the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam by using 2001 Census as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Demanding Rajasthan Home Ministers reply on states deteriorating law and order situation, rising incidents of rapes in Jodhpur and Karauli, and day-light murder of gangster Kuldeep Jagheena in running roadways bus recently, Opposition legislators of BJP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) on Monday staged a stormy walkout during Zero Hour.

Speaker Dr C P Joshi rejected the Adjournment Motions of Opposition members on the law and order situation but allowed the members to just read out the matter for information.

Rajendra Rathore, leader of the Opposition, strongly raised all the issues related to the poor law and order including the brutal incidents of rape of girls and minors, broken confessions of the police and gang war in police custody and sought answers from the government.

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What can be more unfortunate than today is that there is neither law nor law enforcement system in the state. Instead of IPC, GPC i.e. Gehlot Panel Code is applicable in the state where Nirbhaya case takes shape every week, Rathore alleged.

Rathore categorically said, Look at the courage of gangsters in the state, threats are given to me and Ratangarh MLA Abhinesh Maharishi. There is an attempt to extort money from Ladnun MLA Mukesh Bhakar whereas extortion is collected from Mundawar MLA. But, the chief minister of the state is doing video contests of his flop schemes.

He said he was showing the face of the government to the people of Rajasthan. If the government is clean, then the government should answer in the House on the incidents of Dausa including Jodhpur gangrape, Bharatpur gang war, murder of a Dalit girl in Hindaun, he demanded.

RLPs three MLAs Narayan Beniwal, Indira Bawari, and Pukhraj Garg demanded the death penalty for the accused involved in the gangrape incident in Jodhpur where a seven year old girl was raped by a school employee (chowkidar) and three young boys raped the girl in the Jodhpur Universitys old campus recently. These three legislators are also holding placards depicting Jodhpurs seven-year-old girl rape.

As the speaker did not allow them to speak further and asked them to settle down on their seats, the Opposition members of both parties walked out.

During a debate on a bill on Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Social Sciences, the speaker had to adjourn the House for 15 minutes when an Independent MLA and CMs Advisor Sanyam Lodha intervened commenting that the alleged three rapists in Jodhpur University Campus two days ago were linked with the frontal organisations of the BJP. The LoO and his other members strongly objected and they indulged in allegations and counter-allegations. Amidst pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House.

BJP members also walked out of the House when the Speaker did not allow a supplementary question of LoO related to the Food and Civil Supply Department during Question Hour.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhis Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to rise above bickering, and sit together and decide on the name of Chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra said that both the lieutenant governor and the chief minister are constitutional functionaries and have to rise above political bickering.

Asking both the lieutenant governor and the chief minister to bury the hatchet and arrive at a common name to head DERC, the Chief Justice Chandrachud asked, Does everything run through modalities of the Supreme Court? They both are constitutional functionaries. Cant the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister sit and come with a name on which both agree.

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So much of the work of the government happens away from the public eye. We are not so much concerned about the DERC chairperson appointment which will be done. We are on to a larger issue. You both can sit together and sort out some issues, CJI Chandrachud said while posting the matter of DERC Chairpersons appointment for hearing on Thursday.

Apparently showing the way, the matter can be resolved, CJI Chandrachud said that there are many ways  one way is that one functionary gives a list of three names and the other functionary accepts one name. We dont want to step into this. We want you both to sit down and do this.

The top courts counsel to both  the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister  came in the course of the hearing of Delhi governments petition on the appointment of the DERC Chairperson taking recourse to the provision of May 19 ordinance issued by the Centre taking away the control over services from Delhi government and vesting in the Lieutenants Governor overriding powers in the appointment of senior bureaucrats.

The top court on July 4 had ordered deferring the administering of the oath to the Justice (retd) Umesh Kumar, who was appointed by the lieutenant governor as the chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. The oath was stalled till July 11.

The Delhi government moved the top court challenging the appointment of former Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Umesh Kumar as DERC chairperson on the ground that it was made unilaterally by the Lieutenant Governor without its concurrence.

The bench had noted that the petition raises a point of law regarding the validity of Section 45D of the GNCTD Act, as amended by the May 19 Ordinance issued by the Centre, which gives overriding powers to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government in the matter of appointments.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, had sought stay of the notification appointing Justice Kumar.

Unilateral action by the LG is against the Supreme Courts five-judge Constitution bench judgment and also the spirit of Article 239AA of the Constitution, he had said.

Earlier, Kejriwal approved Justice (retd.) Rajeev Shrivastava for the DERC chairman, and the file was put up by former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also held the power portfolio.

However, the file was returned by Lieutenant Governor Saxena with a recommendation to also consult with Delhi High Court Chief Justice for the appointment.

Later, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court on April 12, blaming the Lieutenant Governor for delaying the appointment.

On May 19, the top court observed that the lieutenant governor is not supposed to act on his own discretion on such appointments, and directed the government to appoint the DERC chairperson within two weeks.

However, Justice Shrivastava later expressed his inability to accept the appointment due to family commitments and requirements.
Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, on Monday, wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann saying as per the legal advice given to him, the recent two-day Assembly session, in which four Bills were passed, was in breach of law and procedure and there was doubt on the legitimacy and legality of those Bills.

The letter came two days after the state chief minister urged the governor to give his consent to proposed Amendment in Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 ending the monopoly of the Badal family over telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).

Responding to Manns letter written on 15 July, Purohit said in the letter, It appears from your own assertion that you are concerned with certain actions of a particular political family that has prompted the passing of the Bill under reference. You have also pointed out what you perceive as the possible fall-out of any delay on my part in signing the Bill immediately. You have also thought it fit to describe the time taken by me as something that amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab.

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Purohit, however, said as governor, he is enjoined by the Constitution of India to ensure Bills are passed in accordance with Law.

In order to discharge my duties conscientiously, I have proceeded to receive legal advice which gives me to believe that your calling of Vidhan Sabha session on 19-06-2023 and 20-06-2023 when these four Bills were passed was in breach of law and procedure, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy and legality of those Bills. In the background of the legal advice received, I am actively considering whether to obtain the legal opinion from the Attorney General of India, or as per the Constitution, to reserve these Bills for the consideration and consent of the President of India, the latter said.

As Chief Minister you will appreciate that the people of Punjab are equally concerned with ensuring that laws which ultimately affect them are passed after following due procedure. You may rest assured that I shall take action according to law after the legality of the Vidhan Sabha session held on 19-06-2023 and 20-06-2023 is first examined, Purohit added in the letter.

Earlier on Saturday, the CM wrote to the governor saying in order to propagate the teachings of Holy Gurus and ensure the telecast of Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) freely available to all, The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Assembly.

He said Section 125-A was inserted in The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and the state Assembly passed it with overwhelming majority.

The CM, however, said though the Bill was sent for signatures to the Governor on 26 June, it has not been signed till date. He said that this amounts to stifling the democratic will of the people of Punjab.

Mann said agreement of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) with the said channel will expire on 23 July,2023. He said in case the Governor does not give nod to the Bill immediately, it may lead to a situation where millions of devotees across the world will be again deprived of watching the live telecast of Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib.

The CM said this will seriously hurt their religious sentiments of the Sikhs across the globe. He urged the Governor to sign this Bill at the earliest, so that telecast of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib can be made freely available to all through various channels and media.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said the state government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to break the network of drugs and make Haryana drug-free.

Taking part in a virtual meeting on Drug Trafficking and National Security chaired by the Union home minister Amit Shah, the CM said besides deploying 500 policemen in Nuh district to break the drug network, a special campaign against drugs is being run in the border villages.

Khattar said the mission teams have been formed from the village and ward level to the state level for de-addiction and rehabilitation, in which village Sarpanch and other persons have been included so that Haryana can be made a drug-free state.

The CM said that in order to help drug addicts in the state, a toll-free anti-drug helpline number 9050891508 has also been started to collect information from the public about drug peddling activities in their area. So far 5542 calls have been received on this number, which is proving useful for helping addicts and also playing a key tool in breaking the drug supply chain, he added.

Advertisement Khattar said during the last year, 3824 FIRs were registered in the state and 6000 persons were arrested. These include 10 Nigerian suppliers. Apart from this, assets worth Rs 46 crore of 71 persons have been attached.

He said after preparing a state action plan a survey is being conducted in which the parents of those involved in drug abuse are also being included so as to make them aware of this social evil. Apart from this, the software has been developed to nab the culprits.

The CM said that 52 drug de-addiction centres are being run in the state. He said to prevent the illegal sale of drugs used for intoxicating purposes, a mobile app Sathi has been developed by the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau and Drug Administration Department for all chemist stores in the state.

After the launch of this app, no illegal drug can be sold by the chemist without a prescription. Apart from this, Raahgiri programmes have also been started to make the youth of the state aware of drug abuse.
SYDNEY, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Western Australia Police Force said Monday that a joint investigation has been launched into the origins of an "unidentified item" washed up on a remote beach in Green Head, north of Perth.

"In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, officers from the Western Australia Police Force are currently guarding the object," the police said in a statement.

"The object is being treated as hazardous until the origin of it can be established. People in the area should keep a safe distance," the authority noted, adding that the object did not appear to have originated from a commercial aircraft.

Local resident Garth Griffiths told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the item, found on Sunday, is about 2.5 meters across by 2.5 to 3 meters long.

"Sometime yesterday, a local lady and her partner discovered it just floating on the edge of the water and dragged it out with their four-wheel drive," he said.

On Monday afternoon, the Australian Space Agency (ASA) said on social media that the object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and the agency is liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.

"As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object," the ASA warned. 
The state-owned road transport corporation, Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation suffered an operational loss of over six crore in seven days due to operational losses, and damages due to the recent rain fury.

Besides, the operational cost loss is around Rs 3.51 crore, and the tentative losses caused to bus stands and workshops due to rains are estimated to be around Rs 2.05 crore.

These include Divisional workshop Tara Devi Rs 80.00 lakhs, Workshop Karsog Rs 20.00 lakh, workshop Nagrota Bagwan Rs 05.00 lakh, workshop Kullu Rs 30 lakh, Bus stand Kotkhai Rs 20.00 Lakh, Volvo Ground Manali Rs 50.00 lakh.

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The damages were incurred between 7 July and 14 July, when the state was battered with heavy rains that triggered floods and landslides.

HRTC has a fleet of 3413 vehicles that include 3221 buses, 110 electric buses, 50 electric taxis, 18 Innova Crysta Taxis, 14 Tempo Travellers.

Except for two vehicles of the Sunder Nagar Unit in Mandi district and another vehicle of Chamba unit, there was no major loss or damage to the fleet of buses.

However, 260 buses out of the 3221 buses got stuck during the period.

HRTC operates buses on around 3500 routes across the state.

HRTC, Managing Director, Rohan Chand Thakur said, We have suffered an operational loss of almost Rs 50 lakh a day, for the seven days as the many bus routes got suspended.

Taking into account the operational losses and damages suffered to infrastructure including workshops the total losses is around Rs Six crore in the seven days, which can go beyond as we are collecting data every day, he said.

We will be sending the report of the losses to the state government soon, said Thakur.

Despite the losses, there is a silver lining. HRTC continues to play a significant role, as it is the only public transport system operational during the time state is affected by any such catastrophe to sustain a semblance of normality, transporting the local people and the tourist to their respective destinations.

This time it also played part in the toughest rescue operations Mission Chandratal that the state ever witnessed till date, to rescue around 300 tourists stranded in Chandratal in Lahaul and Spiti districts.

The tourists had been stranded there since July 8, due to heavy snow and were rescued on July 13.

As air force choppers could not land at Chandertal due to inclement weather, three buses of HRTC were deployed to evacuate the stranded tourist from the mighty Kunzum Pass (4551 mts) in the eastern Kunzum Range of the Himalayas.

The bus drivers of the three HRTC buses along with conductors took the arduous journey from Kaza to Kunzum pass at a distance of around 75 kms on the night of July 12.

Praveen Kumar one of the HRTC drivers said, After orders from the office, I left Kaza at 1.15 am on the intervening night of July 12 and July 13 for Kunzum pass. We hit a stumbling block at 3.30 am due to a roadblock at a nalaha in Kholaksa village 2 kms from Losar of Spiti subdivision in Lahaul and Spiti. It was after it was cleared we proceeded further.

Braving the sub-zero temperatures and nail-biting chill and snow, Praveen Kumar and the conductor of the bus reached to Kunzum Pass in the daytime and returned along with one of the batches of tourists safely to Kaza by 9.00 pm the same day.
A large number of Kanwariya pilgrims on Sunday staged a sit-in protest outside a police station in Rajasthans Jaipur after police personnel seized their DJ vehicle from the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway on Sunday.

Kanwariyas were coming from Maleshwar Dham on Sunday when they were stopped, and their DJ vehicle was seized by police near Bagru village in Jaipur. After the police seized that DJ the pilgrims got furious. The tension spread to the surrounding areas and other groups of Kanwariya assembled together at the police station and started protesting. Along with the pilgrims, villagers also participated in the demonstration.

To avoid any untoward incident during the protest, heavy police forces from six stations including Bagru, Bhankrota, SEZ, Bindayaka, Kalwad, and Karnivihar were deployed. Riot control vehicles and additional police force including Bagru, Bhankrota, SEZ, Bindayaka, Kalwad, and Kaand Ranivihar were also present during the demonstration at the police station.

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Former Pradhan Kailash Kumawat, Bagru Nagar Vyapar Mandal President Ravi Ganesh Agarwal, former Zilla Parishad member Gopal Meena, Kamal Tilyawas, former Municipal Vice President Shankar Gared, Councilor Nitin Bhardwaj, Giriraj Chowdhary, Sonu Kumawat, Lakhan Gadhiwal, Dahmi Kala Sarpanch Ganesh Kumawat, Subhash Dhasania were also present along with the Kanwariya pilgrims during the protest.

Bagru ACP Anil Sharma reached the spot to settle the matter by talking to the Kanwariyas. However, the Kanwariyas demanded that the DJ vehicle should be released, and they should be allowed to use it during the Yatra.

The Kavadis alleged that the police do not stop DJs from playing in political programs but they do so when DJs are played in religious functions.

The police then cited the orders of the Jaipur Police Commissionerate that mandated DJs to be banned based on which the police had taken action against them.

The demonstration was finally called off after four hours during which several rounds of talks were held between the police and the Kanwariya pilgrims.

There is a complete ban on the use of DJ system, but the Kanawariyas were found playing DJ system on a vehicle and on the basis of which the action was taken, Anil Sharma, ACP, Bagru said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the operations of all such toll tax points in MP, which have an annual revenue of upto Rs 2 crore would be handed over to women.

The CM also asserted that the laadli behna yojana is a life changing scheme and the amount being given to women would be increased from the present Rs 1000 to Rs 3000.

Interacting with women, youth, farmers and the public at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee ground at Ashta, the CM maintained that the Laadli Behna Scheme not only aims at providing financial assistance to women but also respect, self-confidence and honour.

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Chouhan said his aim is to increase the income of women in MP to Rs 10000 per month by making women self-help groups a movement.

The CM announced to start 3 CM Rise schools in Ashta. He also announced construction and development works worth more than Rs five crore in the area.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday issued a notice to the state government seeking its response on invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against Pravesh Shukla, the man who urinated on a tribal labourer.

The bench of Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra also observed that misleading and unverified news information were published and asked Sidhi district collector to take action to prevent it further.

The court made this observation while hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by accused Pravesh Shuklas wife Kanchan Shukla to challenge invoking of NSA. The petitioner claimed her husband was arrested and NSA was invoked due to political influence.

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Senior advocate Aniruddh Mishra, who represented the petitioner, told IANS that the court has sought the state governments reply within the next two weeks. Mishra claimed the court has also advised the media organisations to refrain from publishing unverified facts related to the matter.

During the hearing, Mishra argued that the NSA was invoked against Pravesh Shukla without giving him an opportunity to make a representation to the detaining authority.

In her plea, Kanchan Shukla has alleged that her husband was arrested due political influence and the NSA was invoked following the direction of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Notably, a video showing Pravesh Shukla urinating on a tribal man, Dashmat Rawat, went viral on social media. The issue had sparked a huge political controversy in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

Subsequently, Shukla was arrested under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and was also slapped with NSA. He is presently lodged in the Rewa central jail.
BJP president J P Nadda on Monday called Opposition parties trying to form an alliance for the next general elections a Bhanumati Ka Kunba, a family made up of people with diverse backgrounds and conflicting interests.

Addressing a press conference, Nadda said the Opposition alliance is based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities. The UPA and Opposition parties alliance is Bhanumati Ka Kunba, Kahin Ki Eet, Kahin Ka Rodha, Bhanumati Ne Kunba Joda, he said.

He said this forced alliance of the Opposition has neither any leader, nor any policy or determination or capacity to take decisions. This is a team of corruption and scams, he said.

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The BJP president announced the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is holding a meeting in the national Capital on Tuesday and leaders of 38 partners have confirmed their participation.

The meeting will mark the completion of nine years of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Work of good governance has been done in the last nine years by the NDA government and we are continuously working on it. Rs 28 lakh cr have been directly transferred to the beneficiaries (DBT) till date, the BJP leader said.

He said the NDA constituents are upbeat due to the positive impact of the Governments pro-poor schemes and policies. NDAs reach and scope have increased over the years, the BJP leader said.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join the NDA, the BJP chief said. I welcome him to the NDA family, said Nadda, who met Paswan in Delhi, ahead of the NDA meet.

The BJP president said people are getting closer to the NDA. The NDA is not an alliance with greed for power, it only seeks to serve people and make the country stronger, he said. The BJPs agenda is development and it has never distanced itself from parties with similar goals, he said.

When the world is passing through a difficult economic period, the IMF has said India has maintained an impressive progress. The country has enjoyed strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last nine years and there is wide appreciation of that, he said.

The NDA meeting will see the presence of several existing and new BJP allies as the ruling party has worked overtime in recent weeks and months to conclude fresh alliances and win back those who had quit the ruling combine.

The BJP president said the NDA had maintained its strength on the principle of sabka saath, sabka vishwas, taking everybody together in the efforts for development. The presence of several parties at the NDA meet will show how truthfully it has pursued its policies and promises to people.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Manipur High Courts order directing limited restoration of the internet services in the violence hit state as it (top court) asked Manipur Government to go to the High Court and apprise it of its difficulties in carrying out its (High Court) orders.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the High Court is seized of the matter, go and tell it the issues that the state government is facing in implementing its order of providing internet services.

However, in an assurance, the bench said that if anything happens, the top court is there to look into the issue.

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Internet services in Manipur have been suspended since May 3 when ethnic violence broke out in the state. A number of public interest pleas were filed in High court seeking restoration of internet services.

Venting his fears over the opening of the internet facilities, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Manipur government, said that any rumour may ignite the issue in Manipur.

Any rumour is likely to ignite the issue. The question of the internet, its sometimes open, sometimes not. Can it be left to the discretion of those on ground, the Solicitor General said.

The Manipur High Court recently ordered the States Home Department to allow internet access through Internet Leased Lines (ILL) for businesses and offices, as well as consider providing broadband connectivity through Fibre to the Home (FTTH) for household use on a case-by-case basis.

The High Court ordered physical trials for granting internet access to mobile numbers that are verified and cleared by the State Home Department. The High Court order is based on the recommendations by a 12-member expert committee appointed by the State government on providing internet facilities.

The committee proposed that internet services can be provided by all service providers in the state to a limited number of whitelisted mobile numbers, which would be specifically identified and furnished by the home department.

The service providers assured that internet access would be limited exclusively to these whitelisted numbers, with no possibility of leakage or utilisation by anyone other than the authorised user.
The Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it may refer to a constitution bench the Kejriwal governments challenge to the constitutional validity of the May 19, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 issued by the Centre.

The ordinance seeks to strip the Delhi government of its control over babudom and vests in lieutenant governor overriding powers in the transfer and posting of senior bureaucrats.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra said that the issue, whether the powers under Article 239AA (7)(a) of the constitution could be invoked to make the law of the present nature, was not considered by the earlier two constitution benches in 2018 and 2023.

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The matter has now been posted for further consideration on July 20.

Both the constitution benches in 2018 and 2023, dealt with the row between the Centre and the Delhi government over the governance of the national capital.

The 2018 five-judge constitution bench had not even considered the issues of control over services. It was later clarified that the question of control over baboon, including their transfer and posting, was not before the then five-judge bench for adjudication.

What they have done is that by using power under 239AA(7), they have amended the Constitution to take services out of Delhi government control. Is that permissible? I dont think either of the Constitution bench judgements has covered that, the Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

Article 239AA of the constitution is a special provision relating to Delhi and spells out a framework for the governance of the national capital. It vests police, law and order and land exclusively in the Central government and other subjects falling within the domain of Delhi government.

The May 19 ordinance was brought to reverse May 11 top court constitution bench judgment that gave Delhi government control over the services  their transfer, posting and accountability.

As Chief Justice Chandrachud indicated that the challenge to the ordinance may be referred to a constitution bench and spelt out the reasons for it, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the bench to defer the hearing as ordinance is going to be tabled as a bill before the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session commencing from July 20.

He said, It is possible that the ordinance may be passed in a different form after the parliamentary process.

Opposing the reference to a constitution bench, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Delhi government urged the bench to give him some time on Thursday to argue his point and sought deferring of the matter. He referred to the paragraphs in the May 11 constitution bench judgement to buttress his point that the issue need not be referred to a constitution bench.

Referring to the point whether the government can take recourse to Article 239AA(7)(a) for amending the provisions taking ordinance route, senior advocate Harish Salve said that the issue that arises is the competence of parliament to enact present law. Stating that parliament was competent to make such a law, Salve however, said that it can be examined by a constitution bench.

In a lighter vein, Salve told the bench that he was contemplating to file a PIL in his own name to prevent constitutional functionaries from engaging in discussions and arguments on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The ordinance under challenge was promulgated on May 19 to overcome Supreme Courts five-judge constitution bench May 11 judgement that had ruled that the Delhi government would have control over all services and officers serving under it barring those dealing with public order, police and land, and Lt. Governor does not have an all-encompassing supervision over the administration of the national capita and has to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

Denying the Delhi government of its authority, vested in it by the May 11 top court judgment, to post and transfer the senior ranking bureaucrats serving under it, the May 19 ordinance invested the control over babudom in the Lieutenant Governor.

The Section 45A of the Ordinance under challenge that provides for the setting up of the National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer, posting and other matters relating to senior babus, is recommendatory in nature and would make recommendations to Lieutenant Governor.

The Chief Minister of Delhi will be the Chairperson of the Authority with Chief Secretary and the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi government as its member and the decisions will be taken by majority votes.

Seeking the quashing of the ordinance under challenge, the Delhi government has said that the Ordinance destroys the scheme of federal, Westminster-style democratic governance that is constitutionally guaranteed for national capital territory of Delhi under Article 239AA.

The Delhi government has also urged the top court to issue directions to quash and declare Section 3A of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 as introduced by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, as unconstitutional.

It has further sought direction to quash Section 41 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 as amended by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 and to quash Sections 45B, 45C, 45D, 45E, 45F, 45G, 45H, 45I, 45J, and 45K of the GNCT Act introduced by the Ordinance under challenge as unconstitutional.

The Delhi government has challenged Section 45 of the Ordinance spelling out the provisions relating to the maintenance of the democratic and administrative balance in the governance of the national capital territory of Delhi.
Seema Haider, who illegally entered India from Pakistan, is now the subject of a thorough police investigation. UP ATS has confined Seema Haider for interrogation and is questioning her in Noida. Seema will also be questioned by ATS about the people who assisted her in arriving in India from Pakistan while she is in custody. Aside from this, ATS can likewise record the statements of Seema-Sachin. For the past few days, numerous conversations were occurring on various social media platforms regarding the romantic tale of Seema and Sachin. Seema was viewed as a Pakistani spy by some. Considering this, the Noida Police composed a letter requesting activity from the special agency to investigate the Seema Haider case. After this UP ATS has begun examination.

Seema Haider, who traveled through Nepal to reach Noida from Pakistans Karachi, is thought to be an ISI agent. Indeed, even before this, Seema was captured on doubt of being a Pakistani government operative. However, she was later granted bail and released. Seemas ID cards have been sent to the High Commission by ATS. Media reports and information from the IB suggest that Seema Haiders uncle is a Subedar in the Pakistan Army. Additionally, a Pakistani soldier is Seemas brother. On the border, the suspicion of being an ISI agent has grown even more since then. Additionally, ATS will identify the individuals who assisted Seema in getting from Dubai to India.

Pakistans Seema and Noidas Sachin fell head over heels while playing the internet game PUBG. Both exchanged numbers on this gaming application. After this, Seema crossed the boundary of three nations and came to India with her four children. Seema Haider initially went to Dubai from Pakistan. Then, she traveled to Nepal from Dubai and met her lover Sachin in Rabupura, Greater Noida, via Nepal. She married Sachin Meena in accordance with Hindu customs.

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Two groups of different religions came face to face following a social media post on Islam in Raichur district of Karnataka on Monday.

The police rushed to the spot and were trying to rein in the situation.

According to police, a group of Muslims had tried to barge into a Hindu temple. The police prevented the group and arrested four persons, who were identified as Akbar, Shameed, Tajuddin and Samir. The police also slapped cases on 30 persons in connection with the incident.

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Police said that the incident took place near the Bangali camp in Sindhanur taluk in Raichur district after an alleged controversial post on Islam came to the fore from the social media account of a young woman. As the post went viral on social media the group of Muslims questioned the Hindus living in the area.

This had led to a verbal altercation and the Muslim youths allegedly attacked the localities. After coming to know about the development more than 60 youths came from Sindhanuru town to the village and attacked another group with weapons.

Meanwhile, the photos of a policeman dragging a Muslim youth from the Durga Devi Hindu temple by holding his hair have surfaced. The Muslim youth was creating a ruckus by sleeping inside the temple after barging into the premises of the temple at the time of confrontation. The local villagers objected to it and police dragged him out by holding his hair to control the situation.

The tension continues in the region and the police have initiated strict measures.
Several tourists and locals, who were stranded on the Leh-Manali road due to flash floods, were rescued on Monday by the police and disaster management personnel in Ladakh.

The road connects the Union territory of Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh. Landslides were triggered by the flash flood in the early hours of the morning. Several vehicles were caught in the mudslide.

Local police, along with the disaster management personnel, were deployed to evacuate the stranded travelers and divert traffic to alternate route.

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Men of the HIMANK Project of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) swung into action to restore the vital road link.

Lehs district administration is closely monitoring the situation.

Restoration of the Gya-Meru Road has been completed. Additionally, the road from Leh to Nyoma has also been thrown open for one-way traffic.

It is worth mentioning that the Leh district has in recent days been hit by several flash floods that were caused due to melting of snow.
ISTANBUL, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said that a multilateral deal allowed for shipments of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine's Black Sea ports could be saved.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations to help alleviate the global food crisis after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expired on Monday.

Moscow said the deal ended and it would not be renewed unless its conditions were met.

"Despite the statement made today, I believe that Russian President (Vladimir) Putin wants the continuation of this humanitarian bridge," Erdogan said, referring to the accord.

Erdogan was speaking to reporters at an Istanbul airport before embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia.

He said that he could speak by phone with Putin before a long-awaited trip expected to be made by the Russian leader to Turkiye.

Last week, Erdogan said Putin may visit Turkiye in August.

The United Nations and Turkiye brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russia and Ukraine to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from three designated Ukrainian Black Sea ports in July 2022. 
In a joint operation, alert troops of the Indian Army and the J&K Police killed two Pakistani terrorists and foiled a major infiltration attempt in the wee hours on Monday in KrishnaGhati Sector of District Poonch.

Movement of terrorists was observed near the Poonch River moving from across the line of Control towards (LOC) own side. Alert troops of the Indian Army and the police established anti-infiltration posture in multiple tiers to prevent any terrorist from escaping.

In the early hours of the morning, contact was established with terrorists that led to an exchange of heavy volume. In the gun battle, two terrorists were hit. One of them fell on the spot while the other was seen falling in the Poonch River.

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In a deliberate and massive search operation, body of one terrorist has been recovered from the site.

War-like stores recovered, include one AK 74 rifle with magazine, eleven rounds and other stores for sustenance.

By their quick action, alert troops of the Indian Army and the personnel of the Jammu Kashmir Police have eliminated a major infiltration bid, which was aimed to disturb peace in the Poonch District.

The security forces continue to remain alert on the LOC and is fully prepared to thwart such attempts in the future too, said defence spokesman Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal.
The Yogi Adityanath Government in Uttar Pradesh is launching a significant initiative to ensure safety and holistic development of women, senior citizens, children, and the disabled.

In the first phase, 17 municipal corporations and Gautam Budh Nagar will be transformed into safe cities, utilizing cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Officials said here on Monday that the integration of AI technology aims to achieve 100 percent security for women, identify criminals, combat criminal activities, and provide prompt assistance to women and children during emergencies. Additionally, the initiative seeks to prevent suicides. The helpline number, 112, will play a crucial role in this, connecting to both government and private CCTVs.

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The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the Safe City project is revolutionizing the prevention of heinous crimes like acid attacks and violence against women. AI will issue a warning immediately after sensing suspicious gestures, such as someone holding a bottle or glass containing acid. When a similar warning is received at the emergency helpline (dial 112), nearby police response vehicles (PRVs) are promptly directed to the scene to assist the victim. Simultaneously, the local police station is informed about the situation, ensuring a swift response to address the threat.

Furthermore, AI is useful in issuing SOS signals when individuals, including women, senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities, raise their hands for help. Along with this, the technology is also useful in identifying the robbers by capturing the plates of the vehicles and analyzing stolen things such as chains, purses, and jewels.

In addition to this, AI proves invaluable in tracking stalkers, identifying drug peddlers near educational institutions, and monitoring as well as recording the activities of criminals accused of sexual exploitation who are on parole or bail. Such individuals facial data will be registered in the National Database, bolstering efforts to monitor their activities.

Besides, AI technology will be used to identify groups engaging in activities like smoking, traffic violations, and public drinking in areas where women frequent. Along with this, AI can help identify those performing stunts on roads and locating missing persons through relevant databases.

Additionally, AI-based systems can facilitate the analysis of road accidents and incidents, providing valuable insights. Artificial Intelligence will also identify the trend of suicide attempt on bridges, flyovers, railway tracks etc.

There will also be ease in the analysis of the road accident and the events that happened during any incident. Artificial Intelligence will also identify the trend of suicide attempt on bridges, flyovers, railway tracks etc.

AI will keep an eye on:

 Those carrying weapons

 Open toilet areas

 Detection of injuries with intent to murder

 Molestation of women by boys/men near paan shop

 Behaviour of men in various places, chasing women, garments shop and market.
There are few examples as of India and China of neighbouring countries that stand to benefit from good relations, yet being unable to do so. While any long-term hostility invariably involves misunderstandings and mistakes on both sides and this must be true about this hostility too  any unbiased evaluation is likely to reveal that excessive aggressiveness and betrayal of strong initial trust on the part of China has been more responsible for the hostility that has characterised IndiaChina relations for the greater part of the last seven decades.

This has unfortunately washed over the previous record of several centuries of peaceful co-existence as well as learning from each other. While this aggressiveness of China has harmed India, it has also been harmful for China in the much wider context of giving it a reputation of pursuing its territorial quests in aggressive ways, making opportunistic use of difficult times to inflict aggression on neighbours and of preferring dictatorships over democracies for pursuing its aggressive agenda.

The cause of India-China friendship could not have asked for better leadership than the one provided by Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of India. This is because Nehru believed strongly in the historic coming together of two civilizations for realization of various peace and welfare objectives. This was evident also in the efforts Nehru made for promoting India-China friendship even in the course of the freedom movement. Nehru was initially even willing to face domestic criticism for making generous gestures for obtaining Chinese goodwill for the bigger cause of long-term friendship of two neighbours. Unfortunately, however, China was in no mood to reciprocate and hastened to annex Tibet in ways that betrayed lack of concern for Indian sensitivities.

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This was followed by a full-fledged invasion of India in 1962. During 1959-61 the great policy failures and atrocities of the so-called great leap forward led to millions of deaths in China in one of the most severe man-made famines of history. It was to draw attention away from this and to proclaim Chinese military might that the idea of this invasion was born, and the period of the Cuban missile crisis was opportunistically chosen to launch the strike at a time when the attention of the international community and particularly the USA was concentrated elsewhere. As a child growing up in a cantonment of North India then I could feel the strong sense of betrayal and distress all around me, something which also adversely affected Nehrus health contributing to his death some time later.

This invasion was an ill-considered way of proclaiming the superiority and might of one-party arbitrary rule which had resulted in a huge calamity. It was also clear that while democracy was being strengthened in India, despite several weaknesses remaining, China increasingly placed more trust in the military dictatorship of Pakistan and even supported Pakistan in the 1965 and other wars against India.

Matters came to a head in 1970-71 when betraying all the stated precepts of its claimed revolutionary legacy, communist China continued to extend support to the Pakistan military dictatorship and the genocide carried out by it in what was then East Pakistan, leading to several hundred thousand deaths and other very cruel atrocities. In fact, the Bangladesh liberation war was the most opportune time for China, going by its own declared precepts, to declare support for India, but it continued to be hostile and to support the genocide right till the end. Even in Myanmar, China remained supportive towards military rulers at the time of their repression of democratic dissent.

In Cambodia, China fully supported with extensive aid the Pol Pot regime, which was responsible for several hundred thousand deaths. However, in later years, despite several problems, India-China negotiations saw better results several times which provided a glimmer of hope that it was possible to improve the relationship. The times of Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister and his visit to China are often remembered in this context. Military commanders posted on border areas as well as political leadership have several times shown maturity in keeping down hostilities.

Despite this, highly regrettable clashes such as those in Galwan could not be prevented, and this shows the need for building more durable bridges of trust, instead of merely managing crisis situations as and when these emerge. China has clearly failed to take any major initiative that would reflect its understanding of the wider need for India-China friendship for which some of the smaller differences can be buried.

On the other hand, it has shown itself to be persistently aggressive regarding territory-related issues, laying claims to fairly huge areas, not only those already occupied but also those which have been under Indian governance for the entire post-independence period. In its use of water resources and dam-building activity, China has again displayed non-transparency, arbitrary unilateralism and lack of concern for adverse impacts on India. Even in matters of actions against terrorists clearly hostile to India, China has not been sensitive to Indian concerns.

The wider lesson of the policy that China has pursued towards India creates no confidence regarding its conduct towards this important neighbour in the future when its power is likely to continue to grow. This is extremely sad, as a relationship of friendship and trust can contribute so much to the well-being of both countries and to justice-based peace at world level. On several issues of protecting trade, investment, patents, agriculture, and climate change related interests of developing countries, India and China can share a lot of common ground in international negotiations.

In fact, in times of climate change, when both countries face huge concerns due to adverse weather conditions, the reasons for cooperation and friendship are much stronger than before. This remains a very important reality, so that India must always keep with it the option of improving its relations with China. India should never join any wider military alliance or grouping against China and it should never allow itself to be used by any big power in a proxy war against China.

The best policy for India is to remain prepared to protect its borders, while continuing diplomatic efforts for improving relations with China (as with all other countries), while at the same also remaining guarded and careful in view of the past betrayal of trust by China.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Protecting Earth for Children and Man over Machine.)
Picket lines are not new to Hollywood. Battles between powerful studios and the creative talents that make up the industry have taken place since at least the 1940s. But this time the situation is different with the powerful Sag-Aftra (a coming together of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) having announced it is joining hands with the Writers Guild of America in industrial action. The coming together of these two powerful unions has brought work at studios to a grinding halt and reports from America suggest that the resolve of the groups has been strengthened with several top actors ~ including Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Jamie Lee Curtis ~ deciding to support the cause. Hollywood writers have been on strike for several weeks, and their absence from studios had already hit production schedules of movies, television and OTT shows.

While the major demand of the strikers is a re-negotiation of the terms under which they work for the studios, the ominous presence of Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a major factor. Writers Guild placards have for weeks announced Human writers only!, but a new dimension has been added to the dispute with the emergence of AI as an existential threat to even actors. The studios claim to have offered groundbreaking proposals on the use of AI, but this has been dismissed with disdain by Sag-Aftra. The unions chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told reporters: They proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get one days pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity on any project they want, with no consent and no compensation. So if you think thats a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again. The impacts of the action by Hollywoods writers, actors and staff will be felt immediately. Members of Sag-Aftra will, besides not working on new projects, also refuse to promote those that are already complete. Print and radio interviews have been cancelled, and in the slightly longer term, the action will impact film festivals such as at Venice, Telluride and Toronto, which depend heavily on the drawing power of stars. But the strongest impact will be felt on the studio floor, where work will stop immediately in an industry already starved for content following the disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic. The protestors hope this, more than anything else, will force studios to see reason; studios on the other hand will hope the weakest links, those who need money the most, will allow them to batter the unions into submission. Already, reports in the US have quoted studio insiders as saying they will let the strike drag on until union members start losing their apartmentsand their houses.

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Indians will not fail to miss the irony inherent in the message delivered over the weekend by Pakistans defence minister Khwaja Asif to the Taliban regime that rules Afghanistan. Accusing the regime of neglecting its duties as a neighbouring and fraternal country, and allowing its territory to be used as a sanctuary for terrorists, Mr Asif was in effect echoing what India has told Islamabad for decades. All but accusing the Afghans of being ingrates, Mr Asif said, 50/60 lakh Afghanis had 40/50 year asylum in Pakistan with all rights. On the contrary, the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis can find refuge on Afghan soil. These are strong words, but stronger still was the warning that Pakistan would not allow this situation to continue. The ministers statement came a day after Pakistans Army expressed serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action allowed to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban in Afghanistan. Last week, nine soldiers were killed in a TTP attack on a military installation in Balochistan, yet another instance of the impunity with which the outfit has been operating in Pakistan, often targeting the Army. There has been a sharp rise in terrorist acts carried out by the TTP since last December, when the outfit ended its ceasefire with Islamabad. Pakistan, sometimes distracted by political shenanigans, has watched on with horror as the terrorist group, which has significant local support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, has launched attack after attack. Pakistan has issued statements of condemnation from time to time, as it did after the recent attacks, but these appear to make little difference to Kabul. In the latest statement, Pakistani authorities urged the interim regime to honour commitments made in the Doha agreement, specifically not to allow the use of Afghan soil for terrorism. But the Taliban routinely denies the accusations and says it is committed to keep the region peaceful.

Pakistani strategic experts have long argued that the Taliban regime in Kabul uses the TTP to put pressure on Islamabad. They have pointed to the close links between the Taliban and groups such as the TTP and the Islamic Union of Uzbekistan in the larger scheme of things where these groups seek creation of Sharia-bound theocratic states. The TTP for instance wants the Pakistani establishment to cede control over its tribal regions, and to allow it to administer these in the manner already seen in Afghanistan. A UN Security Council report had warned some time ago that terrorist groups enjoy greater freedom in Afghanistan now than at any time in recent history. Pakistan has threatened more than once that it will launch what it terms all-out comprehensive operations targeting the TTP. But this will mean seeking TTP members out inside Afghanistan, which if attempted will open a new can of worms. Well may Pakistan blame its enemies for the troubles it faces. But if its rulers indulge in honest introspection, they will find the roots were planted by those in Rawalpindi.

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Ariha Shah is a baby girl who has spent more than 20 months in foster care in Berlin.

Since September 23, 2021, when she was just seven months old, the child has been in foster care in Germany. Dhara and Bhavesh, Arihas parents, were accused of abusing her by German authorities.

Ariha is still in the custody of German authorities despite the fact that no official charges were ever brought against the parents and the court-appointed psychologist recommended some kind of parental supervision.

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In 2018, Bhavesh Shah, a software engineer from Gujarat, and his wife Dhara relocated to Berlin. In 2021, Ariha was born in Berlin, Germany. Ariha was unceremoniously taken away by the German childcare services Jugendamt,.

Arihas grandmother had travelled to Berlin to meet her new granddaughter. Unfortunately, she accidentally hurt the child and hurt her outer genital area. Authorities were informed of what was thought to be a case of sexual assault when she was taken to a hospital.

The parents were accused of incompetence by the authorities. The parents case concluded in February 2022, however no official charges were brought against them. The infant was not given back to her parents. the Jugendamt started a civil custody lawsuit to obtain the childs permanent possession and the termination of the parents rights. The child, who is now more than two years old, has since been the subject of a court dispute between the parents.

Ariha has been transferred to a facility for kids with special needs although she is not a special needs child. The parents are allowed only fortnightly visits.

In a rare display of inter-party cooperation, 59 MPs from 19 different Indian political parties. They have written a letter to Philipp Ackerman, the German ambassador in New Delhi, pleading with him to take all reasonable steps.

There are a lot of apparent similarities between this case and Sagarika Chakrabortys. She was accused of improper parenting by Norwegian authorities, who removed her two children and placed them in foster care. Chakrabortys battle to reclaim her children served as the inspiration for Rani Mukherjees most recent film Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway.
Israeli security forces arrested the Palestinian terrorist on Sunday afternoon responsible for a drive-by shooting attack that injured an Israeli man and his two daughters earlier in the day.

The Israel Defense Forces confiscated the terrorists vehicle containing an M-16 weapon and arrested two other suspects. According to Palestinian media reports, the suspects were arrested after being surrounded in a mosque. The IDF released photos of the gun, as well as what appeared to be the green flag of Hamas inside the terrorists car.

In this mornings terror attack at the Tekoa Junction in the Gush Etziyon region south of Jerusalem, a gunman opened fire on an Israeli car, injuring 35-year-old Elrai Kapah and his two daughters, ages nine and 14.

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The father was seriously injured with gunshot wounds in the upper part of the body while the daughters were lightly injured by shrapnel. All three were evacuated to Jerusalems Shaarei Zedek Medical Center for treatment.

The Kapah family are residents of the nearby community of Nokadim.

The Prime Ministers Office said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was hospitalized in Tel Aviv overnight for dehydration, was briefed on the attack. Netanyahu has since been discharged.
Russia has halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed people into poverty
Russia is withdrawing guarantees for the safety of navigation, shutting down the maritime humanitarian corridor in the northwestern Black Sea, Azernews reports, referring to the official statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the "Black Sea Initiative" ceases to function from July 18, and the joint coordination center in Istanbul will be disbanded: "Russia is restoring the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea."

The message says that in the conditions of non-fulfillment of the conditions of the Istanbul agreements, "the continuation of the initiative, which has not justified its humanitarian purpose, loses its meaning".

"Only upon receipt of concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider restoring the deal," the statement reads.
MADRID, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire that began in the early hours of Saturday morning in the north-west of La Palma in the Canary Islands continued to burn out of control on Monday, forcing the evacuation of around 4,000 people, local emergency services confirmed.

The wildfire has slowed down, but it is still spreading fast in the scarcely inhabited but difficult terrain of the La Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

The wildfire is believed to have started by inadvertent human action -- the burning of a garbage container after a celebration that would have taken place on Saturday afternoon, the Spanish Civil Guard said, An investigation is ongoing.

Around 400 firefighters are currently battling the wildfire, with the help of 13 aircraft and helicopters.

Spain has seen 16 major wildfires this year, mostly in the spring months, when temperatures set records and rainfall was scarce.

The country was hit by the second heatwave of the summer last week, and a third one is predicted by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to reach the country in the coming days. Currently, the best part of central and southern Spain is under "extreme" forest fire alert. 
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Bill Gouveia: You don't know what you had 'til it's gone
WARSAW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed, and five others were injured after a Cessna plane crashed into an airfield hangar in central Poland on Monday evening.

In the city of Chrcynno, the plane "hit the hangar where people were sheltering," Andrzej Bartkowiak, chief commandant of the State Fire Service in Poland, said on social media, confirming the casualties.

He also said the plane was landing in bad weather, which might have led to the accident.

There were three pilots on the plane, one of them died, one injured, and the third survived without injury, the Polish Press Agency cited Monika Nowakowska-Brynda from the State Fire Service as saying.

Other fatalities included people who took shelter, whose identities are yet to be known, she added. 
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Monday said the party is not worried a bit about the raids and charged the Enforcement Directorate has joined the poll campaign.

Stalin said the ED has joined the 'election campaign' in Tamil Nadu. The case against Ponmudy was a 'false case' that was foisted on him nearly 13 years ago during the late Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime, Stalin told reporters here before leaving for Bengaluru to take part in the Congress-led Opposition meet.

"As regards Tamil Nadu, Governor R.N. Ravi is already conducting a poll campaign for us and now, the ED has joined (the poll scene) and I feel the election work for us will be easy," Stalin said. "The DMK is not worried a wee bit," he said of the ED searches. Such an action by the ED was "usual, ordinary and a drama" enacted to divert attention.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted searches at the premises of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining, official sources said.

The agency, according to the sources, recovered around Rs 70 lakh cash and some pounds from the premises of the minister. The statement of the father-son duo may also be recorded during the searches.

The 72-year-old minister is the second in the Stalin cabinet to come under the scanner of the federal probe agency after Transport Minister Senthil Balaji. Balaji was raided and arrested by the ED in June as part of an alleged cash-for-jobs linked money laundering case investigation.

The raids are being undertaken at the premises of the two in Chennai and in Ponmudy's stronghold Villupuram, they said. The ruling DMK dubbed the action "political vendetta".

The ED teams were escorted by armed personnel of the CRPF and they made some seizures of documents.

The minister is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur Assembly seat in Villupuram district while his 49-year-old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat.

The money laundering case is linked to alleged irregularities when Ponmudy was the state mining minister (between 2007 and 2011) and there were allegations of violation of quarry licence conditions leading to loss of more than Rs 28 crore to the exchequer.

The state police had filed a complaint to probe these charges of alleged corruption against the minister and those linked to him and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief.

The minister is accused of obtaining mining/quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licencees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit. The high court said there were grounds to presume that the petitioner had committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped.

DMK spokesperson A. Saravanan told PTI that the ED raids were a "political vendetta and aimed at testing the DMK's resolve,"

There has been no action from Central authorities against the AIADMK leaders on graft cases such as the one involving the Gutka scandal, he alleged.

Stalin and the DMK had earlier slammed the ED action against Balaji as "intimidation politics" by the Centre.
Tamil Nadu higher education minister K Ponmudi is the second high-profile leader of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to come under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) scanner. His house in Chennai and Villupuram, his sons and daughters residences and at least 12 places linked to him are being searched by the ED. The ED swooped into his premises at 7 am on Monday.

The searches are conducted just hours before Chief Minister MK Stalin is scheduled to leave for the opposition meeting at Bengaluru where leaders of at least 24 opposition parties across India will take part. In an interview with The Week, Stalin had indicated his mind to take forward the anti-BJP front ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.



The BJP keeps winning only because the parties opposed to it do not come together. In the Lok Sabha elections, our only target is to bring the BJP down. All the political parties will come together for this. Differences between the Congress and a few regional parties will fade away in due course, Stalin had said in the interview.



The ED raids at Ponmudis place come in the wake of Stalins role in uniting the opposition, say sources in the DMK. In fact, Ponmudi was acquitted by the Madras High Court, a week before, in a Disproportionate Assets case and a land grabbing case due to lack of evidence. His son, Gautham Sigamani, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Kallakurichi constituency, was also acquitted in the case.



#WATCH | Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials search Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi's residence in Villupuram district. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/H9bLkYPk7F  ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2023

According to highly-placed sources in the ED, the raids are conducted in a case related to Ponmudis stint as Mining minister between 2006-2011, the erstwhile DMK regime under M Karunanidhi. The case was registered in 2012, alleging that Ponmudi had obtained quarry licenses in the name of his son, daughter, relatives and people close to him, when he was the minister of mines and resources. The Madras High Court had recently refused to stay the proceedings in the case which accused the minister of quarrying 2.64 lakh loads of excess red sand, for a plea filed by Sigamani. ED sources also say that the minister and his son have amassed wealth and have huge foreign investments and that there is evidence to prove this.



ED sources also say that they will summon Ponmudi and his son Sigamani for inquiry after the searches. "We can arrest him if he refuses to cooperate with our summons," said an official in ED.



While the ED raids on DMK minister V Senthil Balaji were conducted two days after the Patna meeting, the second raids are happening on the day of the second meeting. However Ponmudi being a DMK veteran, the raids will only unite the DMK ranks and add strength to the anti-BJP sentiments in Tamil Nadu.


At least one lakh people have been affected in the first spell of monsoon floods that have hit Assam and worsened in the last few days. The situation is grim as the Brahmaputra River is flowing over the danger threshold. According to a bulletin by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the districts of Biswanath, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, and Tamulpur are reeling under flood waters and about 98,840 people have been affected.



Reportedly, 3,618.35 hectares of agricultural land have been devastated, and 371 villages remain inundated. The administration has been operating 17 relief camps in two districts, where 2,941 people have taken shelter, and it is running 49 relief distribution centres in six districts, according to a PTI report.

The floods have affected about 59,531 domestic animals. Seven people have been killed in landslides so far. 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, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa 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 PTI report.

Alerts were issued on Friday morning in the western districts bordering Bhutan after excess water was released from the Himalayan kingdom.
Multiple allegations are emerging in the Patwari recruitment test conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (ESB) in March-April this year. Now, details of four candidates who cleared the test in handicapped category but appeared in another recruitment test by ESB (for posts of forest guards/prison guards) as fit, are making rounds on social media.

Former president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, Arun Yadav on Monday tweeted four images  showing what are claimed as the results of the Patwari recruitment test and admit cards of the forest guards recruitment tests (conducted in June 2023) of the same candidates. In the Patwari test, these candidates are shown under handicapped quota, while in forest guards test admit cards, no such quota has been claimed by the candidates, probably because forest/jail guards need to be physically fit.

Yadav, who brought the alleged Patwari scam into the open, asked in the tweet how have the candidates who were handicapped during Patwari recruitment test become fit during the jail guards test? What kind of experiment is this?

Also, a list of about 16 candidates from Jaura in Morena, along with documents claimed to be copies of their results are circulating on the social media showing that they have the same surnames, come from the same place and are all in handicapped category. Two of these candidates even have the same name as their father, so they are apparently brothers, but their age difference is just five days and they both cleared the test in hearing impaired (handicapped quota).

In another case, documents have emerged to claim a 19-year-old candidate passed the Patwari recruitment test and was given the benefit of five years of service as contract employee, which would mean that he started working at the age of maximum 14 years.

Citing all these documents, the National Educated Youth Union (NEYU), which is spearheading protests against the tests demanding CBI probe into the issue and quick completion of the probe, has said that evidence after evidence is emerging on alleged scam in the recruitment test, but the government is yet to announce the CBI probe as demanded.

Meanwhile on Monday, a video of a girl, claiming that she was among the toppers of the Patwari recruitment test and had taken up the offer to pay Rs 15 lakhs to get selected made rounds on the social media. Tweeting the video along with the claimed result copy of the candidate, the media department head of MP Congress, K.K Mishra said that if the video was true and she has given Rs 15 lakhs for her selection, it is a serious matter to be investigated at high level and also security should be provided to the girl.

BJP spokesman Narendra Saluja, who slammed the Congress for circulating the fake video while claiming that the girl in video did not match the photograph in the result of the candidate, tweeted another video of the girl after two hours. In this new video, the girl claimed that she was not the reported candidate and had made the video just as a joke and shared it with her friends, who might have circulated it on social media. She asked all social media users to take down the video and warned that she would file a police case against those using the video.

Saluja said, The girl in the video has herself clarified the situation. The BJP had immediately called the earlier video as fake. This is how Congress spreads lies and confusion.

In Bhopal, a group of candidates selected through the recruitment test held a demonstration demanding that they should be given posting as they had been selected fairly and the probe could continue simultaneously.

The Patwari recruitment scam allegations came up last week when the MP Congress pointed out that seven of the top 10 candidates selected were from the same exam centre  the NRI College of Engineering and Management, Gwalior. The college is owned by MLA Sanjeev Singh Kushwaha  who was elected from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but crossed over to the ruling BJP last year.

While sharing the result sheets and admit cards of the top 10 students, Congress also pointed out other discrepancies like five of these toppers wrote their names in Hindi as signatures. Congress said that it is rare for educated youth of today to sign in Hindi that too writing plain names and some of these toppers have got full or very high marks in English. The Congress demanded a CBI probe into the test.

On July 13, after a huge protest of youths across the state under the banner of NEYU, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced deferment of the recruitment process until the results under question from the one centre were re-examined. There has been no other announcement on the part of the government as yet.
Bangkok: Today, July 17, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had productive meetings with his counterparts from Nepal and Bangladesh in Bangkok. They expressed their commitment to closely collaborate in implementing the cooperative agenda set forth by their respective leaderships and also exchanged viewpoints on regional matters.

Jaishankar, currently in the capital of Thailand, actively participated in the BIMSTEC retreat. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional alliance consisting of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan. Together, these seven countries are home to 1.73 billion people and possess a combined gross domestic product exceeding USD 4 trillion.

"Engaging discussion with Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. We have agreed to work closely together to implement the cooperative agenda established by our leaderships. I look forward to maintaining communication," tweeted Jaishankar, accompanied by pictures. The minister also had a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen.

"Delighted to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. We discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as exchanged thoughts on regional matters," he tweeted.

Earlier, Jaishankar paid a visit to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and conveyed warm regards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Honored to meet with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, alongside my colleagues from BIMSTEC countries. I delivered the greetings and well wishes from PM @narendramodi. I also emphasized our commitment to further strengthening BIMSTEC," he tweeted.

Jaishankar also engaged in a constructive dialogue with his counterparts from the BIMSTEC region. The leaders focused on reinforcing "resilience and coordination" among themselves with the shared objective of fostering growth and promoting prosperity.

Established in 1997, BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative that brings together nations located in the Bay of Bengal region for comprehensive cooperation. Bangladesh is expected to assume the chairmanship of this seven-nation alliance in December, coinciding with India's appointment as the secretary general following the BIMSTEC summit scheduled to be held in Thailand on November 30th.

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Two militants were killed on Monday as the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.

An 'Operation Bahadur' was launched by the Army on Sunday night after an attempt was made by the infiltrators to cross the L0C in the Poonch sector.

The Army on Monday said it foiled an infiltration bid and killed two militants at the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu.

Operation Bahadur #Poonch Sector. Major Infiltration Bid Eliminated in a joint operation by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice during the night of 17 Jul 23 in Poonch Sector. Two infiltrator have been eliminated. Search operations are in Progress, the White Knight Corps said in a tweet.

Operation Bahadur #Poonch Sector. Major Infiltration Bid Eliminated in a joint operation by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice during the night of 17 Jul 23 in Poonch Sector. Two infiltrator have been eliminated. Search operations are in Progress. pic.twitter.com/bFgUZZw5wS  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) July 17, 2023

According to defence spokesperson in Jammu Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, J&K Police also participated in the operation launched last night.

In this Operation Bahadur, two infiltrators have been eliminated, he said.

Meanwhile, search operations are underway in the area.

Repeated infiltration attempts were witnessed in Poonch and Rajouri, also called Pir Panjal sectors. However, most of the attempts have been foiled.

Of late, with deadly attacks on the security forces, militants are more focused on Pir Panjal areas. Over 20 security forces personnel died in one of the attacks in the area.

On January 1, seven civilians, including two minors, were killed after militants attacked Upper Danghri in Rajouri. Since the attacks, the security has been beefed up in the minority areas in the Pir Panjal region.
The Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin on Monday, the first gathering since the Ajit Pawar camp broke NCP to join the NDA Government. The three-week session will be held till August 4 at Vidhan Bhavan Complex at Nariman Point.

The session will see a comprehensive agenda, featuring a total of 24 proposed bills. While 10 bills have already received approval from the Cabinet, the remaining 14 await endorsement before being presented for consideration, reported ANI.



Meanwhile, NCP (Sharad Pawar camp) chief whip Jitendra Awhad has written to the Maharashtra Assembly speaker seeking separate sitting arrangements for members of the Ajit Pawar camp and the rest of MLAs.



Awhad said in the letter addressed to Speaker Rahul Narwekar that the Nationalist Congress Party is part of the opposition, except for the nine MLAs, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. "Except for the nine MLAs who were sworn in, the sitting arrangement for others should be made separately. The NCP is in the opposition and we want to sit in the opposition," Awhad wrote in the letter.



Awhad's letter comes as the Speaker recently said there was no clear distinction yet between who is in power and who is not in the case of the Nationalist Congress Party. "There will be a lot of deliberations and arguments over how to decide who represents the actual NCP, Narwekar said.



The NCP had 53 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly before the split and as per Ajit Pawar faction, they have the support of 35 MLAs of NCP and five of the eight MLCs.



A customary tea party was hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session which was boycotted by the Opposition camp, including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar group). The tea party was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and other Cabinet colleagues, including newly-inducted Deputy CM Ajit Pawar of NCP and ministers from his camp.



Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who held a joint press conference with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, said the government will not misuse its current position in the State Assembly even though the numbers of the alliance have increased in the House.

"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," ANI quoted Fadnavis. He added that government will address all issues related to the welfare of the people which will be raised by the opposition.
After 13 hours of searches, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy and son Kallakuruchi MP Gautham Sigamani were taken to the Enforcement Directorate's office in Chennai for further interrogation.

According to highly placed sources, a team of seven officers from the Enforcement Decorate conducted searches at Ponmudys residence in Chennai, Villupuram and at least a dozen properties linked to the minister, his son and his daughter.

Ponmudy was taken in his own official car to the ED office for interrogation. Sources say around 120 questions were put to Ponmudy during the searches and has been taken for further interrogation. The father-son duo has been asked to give statements before the officials in the ED office at Sastri Bhavan in Chennai, sources said. According to sources, several incriminating documents and foreign currency were seized during the searches. Sources in the know of the developments say that Ponmudy is likely to be arrested and taken into custody for further investigation.

This is politically motivated. The searches were conducted and Ponmudy has been taken for interrogation only because our leader has been working for opposition unity. This is nothing but political vendetta, says R.S. Bharathi, Rajya Sabha MP and DMKs organising secretary.

The decade-old case has come to haunt Ponmudy at a time when the DMK has been spearheading an anti-BJP front. The case was registered in 2012, against Ponmudy, his son Gautham Sigamani and other relatives for causing a loss of Rs 28.36 crore to the state exchequer through excessive mining of red sand without paying a seigniorage fee. The case was registered for illegally licensing five red sand quarries to his son Sigamani, during his stint as minister for mines between 2006 and 2011.

Earlier in 2020, the ED had conducted searches in the properties linked to Sigamani and had attached his properties worth Rs.8.6 crores, allegedly linked to illegal acquisition and non-repatriation of foreign exchange earnings from overseas. Sigamani had allegedly invested Rs 7.5 lakhs in UAE, Rs 41 lakhs in a company in Indonesia.

Recently, a special court in Chennai had dismissed a petition filed by Gautham seeking to stay the proceedings. The proceedings are pending before the special court for cases against MP/MLAs and the principal district sessions court, Villupuram. The court also refused to quash the case as sought by Sigamani.

Off late, Ponmudy has been the most vociferous minister opposing Governor R.N. Ravi. Be it Governor Ravis comments on the New Education policy (NEP) or his actions in the university as chancellor were criticised by Ponmudy every now and then.

Ponmudy is the second high-profile leader of the DMK to have come under ED radar in the past one month. Earlier, Minister V. Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED for a cash-for-job scam. Senthil Balaji who underwent bypass surgery at a private hospital in Chennai, was moved to the Puzhal prison on Monday. It has been a month since Senthil Balaji has been arrested.
In a recent hearing before the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee, US climate envoy John Kerry unequivocally stated that the United States would not pay reparations to developing countries that have suffered from climate change-induced disasters. The announcement comes two days before Kerry holding talks Monday with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing

The call for major economies, particularly those responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions, to financially compensate developing nations affected by climate-related catastrophes has been growing louder. At the COP27 conference held in Egypt last year, over 200 countries reached an agreement to establish a loss and damage fund, primarily funded by developed nations, to provide assistance to particularly vulnerable countries.

However, the specifics of the fund, including the exact financial contributions from wealthier nations and the distribution of funds, remain unclear. Various meetings have been held throughout the year to address these outstanding issues.

Developing nations, which bear a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts, have insisted on guaranteed compensation from developed countries. They argue that historically high greenhouse gas emissions from wealthier nations are responsible for climate change and its consequences. While richer nations acknowledge the need for greater financial contributions to tackle climate change, the term "reparations" has been deemed contentious and divisive by some.

Critics contend that the finance targets proposed to address climate change are insufficient, exacerbating the frustration of developing countries seeking meaningful support. These nations maintain that the scale of financial assistance should reflect the extent of damage caused by climate change.

During the congressional hearing, Kerry reaffirmed the US stance, stating that the country would not, "under any circumstances," provide reparations to countries affected by climate-fueled disasters. The US government, along with other developed nations, had insisted on adding a footnote to the COP27 agreement, explicitly excluding liability for past emitters and compensation for disaster-stricken countries.

As discussions continue and preparations are made for this year's UN climate conference, COP28, scheduled to take place in Dubai, tensions surrounding the issue of climate reparations remain high. The international community faces the challenge of finding common ground on the extent of financial responsibility owed by wealthier nations, as well as the mechanisms for distributing funds to those most in need.

As the world grapples with the escalating effects of climate change, the refusal of the United States to provide climate reparations further deepens the divide on this critical issue, raising concerns about the ability to achieve meaningful global climate action.
Pakistan's former defence minister Pervez Khattak, a close aide of ousted prime minister Imran Khan, on Monday said he has formed a new party - 'Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentarians'.



Khattak, who served as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's secretary general and chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the PTI government, quit the post of the party's provincial president soon after the May 9 mayhem. However, the party last week terminated his membership over his failure to respond to a "show cause notice".

The 73-year-old leader announced the formation of the new party in Peshawar at an event attended by scores of ex parliamentarians of the PTI.

He claimed support of over 57 former parliamentarians including ex-chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mehmud Khan (2018-2022). Several former provincial ministers including Mehmud Khan and Shaukat Ali Yusafzai are also among those joining the Khattak camp.

Khattak said that the majority of the former lawmakers of PTI have quit the party due to May 9 tragic episodes in the country.

"We strongly condemn the May 9 incidents in which military installations were attacked and ransacked by the PTI workers across the country," Khattak said.

The anti-state narrative by the PTI supremo damaged the party in its stronghold Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which it ruled for around 10 years (2013-2022).

Political pundits believe that the formation of the 'PTI Parliamentarians' in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by Khattak will marginalise Khan's party in the province.

He was not on good terms with Khan since May 9 incidents and constantly targeted party leadership for not condemning the May 9 violence.

Khattak remained the chief minister of KPK from 2013-2018 as PTI had won the state elections with majority in 2013 general elections.

In 2013, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the only province in the country which voted PTI to power. In the 2013 elections, PML-N formed a government in the centre, PPP in Sindh and JUIF coalition in Balochistan.

Khattak is a senior politician of the KPK who also served in PPP and remained provincial minister during previous governments.

Formation of PTI Parliamentarians at this time when the country is heading towards general elections likely in October/November will certainly give a big blow to PTI's popularity in the province.

PTI had made a remarkable score in the 2018 general elections as it secured over 100 seats in a house of 145.

The development comes as the PTI remains embattled, with its chairman facing several cases and a threat of disqualification, while several party leaders leaving him following May 9 - the day PTI workers attacked army installations.

Khan's former aides have also dented his party in Punjab as Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, and other people considered close to the PTI chief had formed the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party in June.

The launch of 'PTI Parliamentarians' was marred by the detention of two reporters who were taken into custody for violating a ban on the media coverage of the event. PTI AYZ ZH AKJ ZH ZH 07171736
Pope Francis's peace envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi embarked on a three-day visit to Washington on Monday as part of Vatican's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war. According to reports, deported Ukrainian children are on top of Zuppi's agenda.

According to a statement, an official from the Vatican secretariat of state is also accompanying the Zuppi on the trip, however, the official's details haven't been divulged. Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference had earlier visited Moscow and Kyiv as Pope's envoy to broker peace between the warring countries.

Pope Francis' peace envoy was travelling to Washington on Monday as part of the Holy See's peace initiatives for Ukraine, hoping to support humanitarian operations especially concerning children, the Vatican said Monday. Cardinal Zuppi will be in the US till Wednesday.

In Moscow, Zuppi met with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, as well as Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has strongly supported the war.

Francis has taken up Ukraine's request to intervene where possible to return Ukrainian children transported to Russia following Moscow's invasion. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Russian officials have denied any forced adoptions, saying some Ukrainian children are in foster care.

Zuppi visited Ukraine's capital in June as part of the peace mission. The Cardinal met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian government officials during the visit. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, the Cardinal expressed Vatican's readiness to assist through diplomatic channels and humanitarian initiatives.

Francis has said he hopes the Holy See can facilitate family reunifications, in the same way the Vatican stepped in to facilitate prisoner swaps.

The visit takes place in the context of the mission intended to promote peace in Ukraine and aims to exchange ideas and opinions on the tragic current situation and to support initiatives in the humanitarian sphere to alleviate the suffering of the most affected and fragile people, especially children, the statement said.

Francis has repeatedly called for an end to the war but has refrained from outwardly criticising Moscow, part of the Vatican's tradition of maintaining diplomatic neutrality in conflicts in hopes that it can play a behind-the-scenes role in forging peace.

He has irked the US and its allies by repeating Moscow's argument that NATO was barking at its gates, and seemingly making a moral equivalence between Ukrainian and Russian losses.

He has asserted Ukraine's right to self-defence but has sharply criticised the weapons industry, saying the provision of arms to Ukraine by the West could be immoral if it's done with the intention of provoking more war or selling weapons or getting rid of old ones.

(With PTI inputs.)
With Wagner Private Company fighters entering Belarus from the border town of Osipovichy, more than 80 km southeast of the capital Minsk, suspicions that the sudden mutiny by Wagner was orchestrated by The Kremlin are gaining ground.



Media has reported that the Wagner fighters have entered the township in a 60-vehicle convoy including pickup trucks and buses.

The Wagner action of June 24 led to Kyiv deploying forces to Bakhmut and the latest movement will compel Ukraine to mobilize forces in its northern border bordering Belarus as the capital Kyiv is near the northern border.

Such military movements involve huge expenditures and extra effort besides befuddling the adversary as to what to expect.

Just a few hours after Wagner fighters had begun moving towards Moscow on June 24, before halting and turning around about 400 km away from the Russian capital, THE WEEK had reported that the move could be a ruse to confuse the enemy.

But then the mercenaries had already taken control of two key towns on the wayVoronezh and Rostov-on-Donprompting President Vladimir Putin to describe the Wagner action as a betrayal and back-stabbing.

The Maskirovka doctrine of the Russian military that uses deception as the main ploy to hide real intentions is a well-practised tactic of the Russian military. It involves distracting the adversary, hiding ones actions and then spreading disinformation to confuse the opponent.

Russias Maskirovka as a battle tactic can be said to have begun in 1380 when 50,000 Russian soldiers defeated 150,000 Mongolian warriors in the Battle of Kulikovo.

What could have The Kremlin achieved by orchestrating the Wagner action?

First, it could have compelled Ukrainian forces to mobilize in areas in the north and northeast where the Russians are deployed in good numbers. On the other hand, it could ease vulnerable Russian positions in the south where the Ukrainians had an advantage. The result was that the Russians were in a position to determine the battleground and choose where to fight.

As things stand now, the Ukrainian forces will have to stay deployed in the north whether Russia steps up its operations from the north or does nothing.

Second, the reported coup has flushed out anti-Putin detractors to the open leading to a purge. Thirteen individuals including General Sergei Surovikin, Alexei Venediktov, former head of an independent radio station, and a host of top military officials had been detained as part of a purge of anti-Putin detractors.

Third, the June 24 action has resulted in throwing doubts in the minds of the Western agencies as to determining the veracity of the information that they had gathered.

Several actions had sparked suspicion that the Wagner action may have been a ruse.

First, the ease with which the Wagner Group took control of Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh, with no substantial resistance from the Russians.

Second, the lightning movement of the Wagner convoy on the wide open highway towards Moscow could have been very easily targeted by Russian fighter aircraft and artillery.

Third, the sheer audacity of just a few thousand fighters to believe that they could take on the might of the Russian army.

Fourth, the unprecedented reportage of the state-owned media of the happenings which is never the case in Russia where all news is filtered by the government.

The suspicions acquire considerable force due to the fact that, quite uncharacteristically, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has been let off very lightly by The Kremlin.
CHANDIGARH, India, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 July 16 (Sunday) at Ladakh, in which the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also participated. Indian Minorities Foundation Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu led the delegation of different minority communities, along with Mahabodhi International Meditation Center Founder, President, Bhikkhu Sanghasena.



Spreading Lord Buddha's 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. They reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) Ladakh after they had started the Dhamma Padh Yatra for world peace on June 12, 2023, from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.



On their arrival at MIMC, they were welcomed by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), and the delegation of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, 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 USA, 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 other dignitaries who participated in the peace walk included Her Excellency Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India; His Excellency kyabje Taklung Matul Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Thuksa Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Urgain Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Bamtul Rinpoche; Ven Mahayana Monks, Ven Pradhamvachirakawee (lonpo); Ven Theravada monks, Ven Tsering Angdus, president of Ladakh Gonpa Association; Shri Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA); Shri Ashraf Ali Barcha, president Anjuman Imamia; Dr. Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam; Shri Sonam Pawez, president of the Christian community; Dechan Changa, former president of Christian community and Ven Dr. Pornchai from Thailand.



Venerable 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 that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmayogi himself."



Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognized and respected Buddhist leader, said, "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 Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that PM 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.



He added that 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," said Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that under PM Modi the global perception of India has changed and it has emerged as a strong nation.



The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) was also part of the peace walk led by its Convenor & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu. He said that 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 Union Territory (UT), a long-pending demand of the Buddhist community, which opened the doorways for the development to reach this region. The long-pending demand was finally fulfilled by PM Modi after 63 years. The demand for separate UT was first raised in the 1950s by the Buddhist community. The welfare of minorities is at the core of the policymaking of PM Modi's 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," said Satnam Singh Sandhu.



Ven. 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.



Mentioning the positive role played by PM Modi in peacemaking between Russia and Ukraine, he praised PM Modi for spreading the message of peace and acting as a peacemaker to solve the conflicts.



Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi, Founder of Indira Gandhi Technological & 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 Buddhist Community, and the people of Minority Communities are safe. Under his leadership, everyone is given equal opportunities, and everyone needs to work together for sustainable development in the country.



Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul Islam, said, "PM Modi has one of the tallest leaders in the world and his hard work has taken the country forward. He is taking the country on the global map and India's elevated stature is now accepted globally."



"The whole world now recognizes the potential of India by the initiatives taken by PM Modi during the last nine years," he said.



Gyal Wangyal, Former Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh (LAHDC) expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 added that the Prime Minister considers all religions 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 that it is important to have love, compassion, and brotherhood in one's heart to create world peace, which is being promoted by Prime Minister Narendra 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."



Sonam Wangchuk, the 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 centers in Ladakh and other parts of the country. He has remained focused on the development of the places associated with Lord Buddha, especially the work done for the Buddhist circuit."



"He visited Ladakh several times and showed his commitment towards the development of Buddhist Centers. The whole Buddhist community is thankful to him for his initiatives for Buddhist centers and for promoting the teachings of Buddhism," 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. He said that 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 gone up.



About Chandigarh University



Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.



Website: https://www.cuchd.in/



Media Contact:



Prabhdeep Singh

prabhdeep.singh@cumail.in

+91-8360473392

Chandigarh Unuiversity



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2155176/Chandigarh_University.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 17: The Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India) (ACCE(I)) takes great pride in announcing the remarkable success of the NATCON 2023 (National Convention of Civil Engineers) seminar titled "Building Tall and Resilient" (BTR-2023), hosted by the Hyderabad Chapter. The event witnessed an overwhelming response from industry professionals and enthusiasts, with registrations crossing an impressive count of more than 700 delegates.







ACCE(I), established in 1985, is the premier professional body of Civil Engineers in India. With a nationwide presence of over 39 centers and more than 8000 members, ACCE(I) serves as a prominent platform that unifies Civil Engineers, Government and its organizations, R&D Institutions, and Academia. The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to disseminating knowledge, fostering professional and ethical conduct, and promoting social awareness among its members.



BTR 2023, organized in collaboration with esteemed knowledge partners AIT Solutions, brought together experts, thought leaders, and professionals from around the world to explore the latest advancements and innovations in the construction industry, with a specific focus on tall buildings. The conference's resounding success was a testament to the immense enthusiasm shown by the participants, leading to a record number of registrations.



The conference featured a distinguished lineup of international and national speakers, including renowned architects, engineers, and industry experts, who generously shared their expertise and insights. Attendees were provided with invaluable knowledge, unique networking opportunities with industry professionals, and a chance to explore cutting-edge technological advancements in the construction industry.



The honorable speakers who graced the event with their presence were:



1. Mr. Jay Marshall Strabala, Design Partner & Founder, Strabala + Architecture, speaking on "Supertall Buildings - The Next Generation."



2. Dr. Naveed Anwar, CEO, CSi Bangkok, presenting on "Efficiency of Tall Building Structural Systems."



3. Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, Professor, Structural Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, discussing "Seismic Base Isolation of Tall Buildings and Suppression of Wind-induced Vibrations by Tuned Mass Dampers."



4. Dr. Geoff Chao, Head of Department, Civil & Infrastructure Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, sharing insights on "Factors Influencing Soil Investigation for Design of Foundations."



5. Dr. Narong Leungbootnak, Chairman, Future Engineering Consultant Co. Ltd., Thailand, addressing "Project Management and Construction Technologies for Tall Buildings."



6. Mr. Thaung Htut Aung, Director, AIT Solutions, focusing on "Designing for More Resilient and Less Vulnerable Buildings using Performance-based Design Approach."



7. Mr. S.M. Zia Uddin, Coordinator, Wind Tunnel Testing and Structural Health Monitoring, AIT Solutions, providing an overview of "Wind Tunnel Testing of Tall Buildings."



8. Mr. Mahesh Arumugam, Regional Director South Asia, Meinhardt, discussing "High Rise complex Geometrical facades and how to maintain High complex Geometries elevations."



9. Prof. Suresh Narayana, Structural Fire Engineering, sharing insights on "Fire design and safety for tall buildings."



10. Mr. Gopakumar. G, Consultant Vertical Transportation, addressing "Vertical transportation in tall building Structures."



11. Mr. Srinivas Valluri, CEO, Synergy Infra Consultants Pvt Ltd, presenting on "Electrical design and safety in tall buildings."



12. Mr. Darshan Ruikar, Arup Advisory's lead for BIM, Digital and Data Management, discussing "BIM and Digital Engineering in Tall Buildings."



13. Mr. Steven White, an expert in drainage ventilation for high-rise buildings, speaking on "Design and execution of plumbing in tall buildings."



The past decade witnessed a transformative shift in how constructions have impacted society, with innovation playing a pivotal role. Structural engineering experts, alongside builders and designers, have made tremendous progress in inventing and creating extraordinary buildings, setting new benchmarks in the field of construction. As we stand at the crossroads of the past, present, and future, it becomes crucial to assess how the industry will shape the future. At the Building Tall and Resilient 2023 Conference, experts and stalwarts from various disciplines shed light on the industry's future trajectory based on their past experiences.



The resounding success of BTR 2023 and the overwhelming response from the industry underscore the significance of such events in fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation within the construction sector. ACCE(I) remains steadfast in its commitment to organizing conferences, meetings, and seminars that promote the dissemination of knowledge and advancements in the field of civil engineering.



National Office Bearers of ACCE(I):



- President: Vijay Sanap



- Vice-President: Rajkumar Kacharla



- Secretary General: Sandeep Vijay Mayya



- Treasurer: Srinivasan



Host Team of ACCE(I) Hyderabad Chapter:



- Chairman: Kashiram Adepu



- Secretary: Bheem rao



- Treasurer: Ramesh Ch



- Organizing Chairman: Mahender Reddy



- Organizing Team Member: Sudhakar



About ACCE(I):



The Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India) is the premier professional body of Civil Engineers in India, established in 1985. With over 39 centers and more than 8000 members nationwide, ACCE(I) serves as a platform that unifies Civil Engineers, Government organizations, R&D Institutions, and Academia. The organization is committed to disseminating knowledge, fostering professional and ethical conduct, and promoting social awareness among its members.



About AIT Solutions:



AIT Solutions is a renowned knowledge partner, contributing to innovative solutions and advancements in various industries. Collaborating with ACCE(I) for the BTR 2023 Conference, AIT Solutions brought expertise and insights from their experts to enrich the event.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty hit their all-time high levels in early trade on Monday amid fresh foreign fund inflows and buying in IT counters.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 128.6 points to hit its lifetime intra-day peak of 66,189.50 in early trade. The NSE Nifty went up by 47.65 points to reach its all-time intra-day high of 19,612.15.

From the Sensex pack, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Power Grid, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, HCL Technologies, Asian Paints and UltraTech Cement were the major gainers.

ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Titan were among the laggards.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were buyers on Friday as they bought equities worth Rs 2,636.43 crore, according to exchange data.

"In July, FPIs have invested Rs 30,660 crore in India inclusive of bulk deals and investment through primary market. This reflects the increasing FPI confidence in the Indian economy and markets," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

In Asian markets, Seoul and Shanghai were trading lower while Hong Kong quoted in the green.

The US markets ended on a mixed note on Friday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude dipped 0.86 per cent to USD 79.18 a barrel.

The BSE benchmark had jumped 502.01 points or 0.77 per cent to settle at an all-time high of 66,060.90 on Friday. The Nifty went up by 150.75 points or 0.78 per cent to end at a record high of 19,564.50.
Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan 5 kilometers from the Indo-Pakistan border. The nearest town on the Indian side of the border is Dera Baba Nanak, Grudaspur.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is a significant religious site for Sikhs located in Kartarpur, Punjab, Pakistan. It holds immense historical and spiritual importance for Sikhs worldwide. The Gurudwara is built on the site where Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, lived for the last 18 years of his life until his passing in 1539.

Also Read: The Golden Temple: A Sacred Jewel of Sikhism

Guru Nanak Dev established a Sikh community in Kartarpur, which became a center for preaching Sikhism's principles and teachings. The Gurudwara stands on the banks of the River Ravi, and its construction was initiated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of the Sikh Empire, in the early 19th century. The Gurudwara complex comprises the main shrine, known as Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, along with several other structures.

Here Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave three principles Naam Japo. Kirat Karo, Vanad Chako hich means work hard for a livelihood, keep remembering the God and share your bounties with the world. Guru's teachings have been peace, harmony and universal brotherhood. Guru Nanak believed in equality between castes, religions, and genders and gave the word Ik Onkar which means there is only one God.

The significance of Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib lies in its association with Guru Nanak Dev. He not only lived there but also composed many of his sacred hymns, known as Shabads, in this place. The gurdwara is considered a place of great spiritual and historical value for Sikhs as it commemorates Guru Nanak Dev's teachings and his role in the establishment of Sikhism.

Also Read: Gurudwara of Delhi: Unique History

In recent years, the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2019 has facilitated the pilgrimage of Sikhs from India to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. The corridor allows Indian Sikhs to visit the gurdwara without requiring a visa and has helped foster greater cultural and religious exchanges between the two neighboring countries.

Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib continues to be a revered place for Sikhs, attracting devotees from around the world who come to pay their respects and seek spiritual solace.

Also Read: Oldest Gurudwaras: Most spiritual places

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New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Amid the online gaming industry raising concerns over the levy of 28 per cent GST, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said the government may request the GST Council to consider the facts of new regulatory framework for the industry. The minister also mentioned that it took three years for the Council to reach a decision on online gaming.

Online gaming players have expressed disappointment with the decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council to levy a 28 per cent tax on online games involving real money.

The Minister of State for Electronics and IT during a CNN-News 18 Townhall programme said that the GST Council is not the government of India but it is truly a federal organisation representing state governments and the centre.

"We have to also recognize that the process of creating a regulatory framework for online gaming only started in January 2023. We are only in the early stages of creating a predictable, sustainable permissible online gaming framework. So, we will do that and we will go back to the GST Council and maybe request their consideration on the facts of the new regulatory framework," Chandrasekhar said.

Government levies GST based on recommendations of the GST Council. Online gaming players have shared that levying 28 per cent GST on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) or the platform fee results in around 1,000 per cent increase in tax on the industry and cause irreversible damage to the USD 2.5 billion investments in the Indian online gaming startup ecosystem.

A group of 127 online gaming players, including All India Gaming Federation, WnZo, E-Gaming Federation, Games 24X7 etc in an open letter has said that over 1 lakh direct jobs have been created by them till date with the expectation that over 5 lakh direct and indirect jobs would be created by the sector by 2025.

However, the industry will have to consider massive layoffs in the aftermath of the decision on GST valuation which will have a direct impact on our youth and massive engineering talent.
Gandhinagar, Jul 17 (PTI) India and the US on Monday committed to strengthening bilateral ties and actively pursue the G20 agenda, which includes taking coordinated action to deal with climate change and look forward to alternate mechanisms to fund energy transition.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting here.

Sitharaman, in her statement, expressed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and looked forward to new investment opportunities through alternate investment platforms for renewable energy.

The US and India's collaboration spans across a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration, strengthening supply chains, and catalysing the clean energy transition, Yellen said.

"In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," Yellen said.

The US Treasury Secretary also appreciated India's focus on finalizing the "historic Two-Pillar global tax deal". "I believe that we are close to reaching an agreement," Yellen added.
Jaipur, Jul 17 (PTI) The Rajasthan government has received Rs 1,024.4 crore as green tax in the last five years, the state assembly was told on Monday.

Addressing members in the Rajasthan assembly in a written reply, Minister of State for Transport Brijendra Singh Ola said the government received Rs 1,024.4 crore green tax between 2018-19 and 2022-23.

Replying to a question by BJP MLA Satish Poonia, Ola said the figure was available as per the accounts prepared after tallying the numbers with figures received from the Accountant General.

He said there is no official information available regarding the inclusion of Jaipur and Jodhpur in the list of 15 most polluted cities of the world in the report of the World Health Organisation.

He said the one-time tax and surcharge on other taxes and green tax imposed on old and new vehicles are collected under the Rajasthan Transport Infrastructure Development Fund under the Rajasthan Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1951 and surcharge on stamp duty is collected under the Rajasthan Stamp Act.
London, Jul 17 (PTI) Members of the Indian diaspora in Germany staged a protest in Frankfurt in an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help reunite baby Ariha Shah, currently in German state services custody, with her Indian parents.

Waving the Indian national flag and holding banners reading Modiji Save Ariha! and Ariha is Indian, the group braved the rain on Saturday to make an appeal for the two-year-old toddler to be returned to her parents Bhavesh and Dhara Shah.

The parents have been fighting for their daughter since September 2021, when the German authorities intervened amid allegations of harassment.

Today, Indian community in Frankfurt, Germany held protests against the injustice happening with Indian baby Ariha in Germany, said a tweet from the "Save Ariha" account, along with videos.

In December last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had raised the issue during discussions with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) addressed the matter again at a recent weekly briefing as an "important and sensitive" issue.

The child is an Indian national and she was placed in the custody of Germany's Youth Welfare Office of the (Jugendamt) on 23rd September 2021, when she was seven months old. She has now been in foster care for more than 20 months, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a statement last month.

Our efforts have been guided by the best interests of the child, which we believe can be fully realised only when she is in her home country, where her socio-cultural rights can be safeguarded. Accordingly, we have been requesting Germany to return the child to India.

"Our Embassy has been repeatedly requesting German authorities to ensure that Ariha's connection with our cultural, religious and linguistic background is not compromised and has sought consular access to the child, as well as cultural immersion at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin, he said.

However, the government's requests have not been met and the MEA said it was dismayed to learn that the child was abruptly shifted away from her current foster parent to a specialised foster care arrangement.

Ariha's continued placement in German foster care and infringement of her social, cultural and linguistic rights is of deep concern to the government of India and to the parents. We would like to reiterate that Ariha Shah is an Indian national and her nationality and socio-cultural background is the most important determinant of where her foster care is to be provided.

"We urge German authorities to do all that is necessary to send Ariha to India at the earliest, which is also her inalienable right as an Indian national, the MEA statement added.

A Change.Org petition calling for the babys repatriation to India has attracted nearly 60,000 signatures. It notes that Ariha, a Jain Gujarati baby girl, was born in Berlin while her father was posted in Germany on a work visa as a software engineer. The paternal grandmother accidentally injured the baby when the parents took her to hospital. They were later accused of sexual assault and the baby was removed from their custody.

While a criminal investigation was closed without charge in February last year, the baby is yet to be returned to the parents after Berlin Child Services filed a civil custody case.
Minsk, Jul 17 (AP) More mercenaries from Russia's Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus on Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month's short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country Monday heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company.

The group said it was a third Wagner convoy entering the country since last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last month's rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his country's military could benefit from the mercenaries' combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagne r is located.

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometres (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhin's mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 200 kilometres (125 miles) of Moscow.

Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen.

Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhin's fate have remained murky.

The Belarusian Defence Ministry didn't say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus.

Lukashenko has previously said it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus. The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defence Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service.

Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

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 that posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defence Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries that seemed to herald an end to their operations in Ukraine where they had played a prominent role as one of the most capable elements of Russian forces. (AP) FZH
Lahore, Jul 17 (PTI) Pakistans intelligence agencies have informed the government that love is the "only" factor that led a mother of four to sneak into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform, a media report said on Monday.

Seema Ghulam Haider from Karachi in Sindh province and Sachin Meena in India got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019 and a dramatic love story unfolded between the two living more than 1,300 km 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.

Pakistani woman Seema Haider left the country only to marry an Indian man (Sachin Meena) out of love as no other factor/motive has come to forth so far, local Urdu daily, Jang, reported, quoting a report of the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

"According to the Pakistani intelligence agencies report, no other factors/motives except love with Hindu Indian man appears to be the reason for leaving the country. The report has been submitted to the government," it said.

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. Both of them were later released from jail.

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.

On Sunday there were reports of an attack on Radha Swami Darbar Temple in Sindh. Jacobabad General Hindu Panchayat president Lalchand Seetlani and other office-bearers have condemned the attack.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed concern over reports that 30 Hindus have been kidnapped in Kashmore and Ghotki.

The HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in Kashmore and Ghotki, where some 30 members of the Hindu community, including women and children, have been held hostage by organised criminal gangs, the commission said in a tweet on Sunday.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the communitys 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 HRCP said.
Minsk, Jul 17 (AP) More mercenaries from Russia's Wagner military contractor rolled into Belarus on Monday, a monitoring group said, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month's short-lived mutiny.

Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activist group that monitors troops movements in Belarus, said that a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying Russian flags and Wagner insignia entered the country, heading toward a field camp that Belarusian authorities had offered to the company.

The group said it was a third Wagner convoy entering the country since last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered a deal that ended last month's rebellion launched by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his country's military could benefit from the mercenaries' combat experience.

On Friday, Belarusian state TV broadcast video of Wagner instructors training Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range in the Asipovichy region, where a camp offered to Wagne r is located.

A Belarusian messaging app channel alleged last week that Prigozhin spent a night at the camp near Tsel, about 90 kilometres (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, and posted a photo of him in a tent.

In the revolt that started on June 23 and lasted less than 24 hours, Prigozhin's mercenaries quickly swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there without firing a shot, before driving to within about 200 kilometres (125 miles) of Moscow.

Prigozhin called it a march of justice to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who demanded that Wagner sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

The mutiny faced little resistance and the mercenaries downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing at least 10 airmen.

Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their camps after striking a deal to end the rebellion in exchange for an amnesty for him and his men, and permission to move to Belarus. The terms of the deal and Prigozhin's fate have remained murky.

The Belarusian Defence Ministry didn't say how many Wagner troops were in Belarus. Lukashenko has previously said it was up to Prigozhin and Moscow to decide on a move to Belarus.

The Kremlin has refrained from comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Wagner troops had a choice between signing contracts with the Defence Ministry, moving to Belarus or retiring from service.

Putin said last week that he offered Wagner officers the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander when he met with them five days after the rebellion.

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 that posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.

The Russian Defence Ministry said last week that Wagner was completing the handover of its weapons to the Russian military, part of efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the mercenaries that seemed to herald an end to their operations in Ukraine where they had played a prominent role as one of the most capable elements of Russian forces.

The Belarusian leader has rejected the allegations that Wagner's presence in Belarus could destabilise the country, but some observers noted that he would likely order the country's security agencies to maintain a close watch over the group's activities.

Lukashenko is a very cautious politician and he would be worried about possible surprises from the Russian mercenaries, whom he would seek to control day and night, Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said.

The Belarusian security agencies will now focus their entire potential on not allowing Wagner to have any autonomy in Belarus.

During Monday's meeting with the country's chief prosecutor, Lukashenko spoke about the need to tighten control over the military to ensure their full compliance with the law. (AP) FZH
Islamabad, Jul 17 (PTI) The Pakistan Army's top brass on Monday said that sanctuaries and latest weapons available to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in a "neighbouring country" is one of the reasons behind the spike in recent terrorist attacks, in a veiled reference to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

During the 258th Corps Commanders Conference presided over by Army chief General Asim Munir, the top generals also vowed to fully support the strategic initiatives of the government for the revival of the economy by providing all possible technical and management assistance for the overall well-being of the people of Pakistan.

"The sanctuaries and liberty of action available to the terrorists of proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk in a neighbouring country and availability of latest weapons to the terrorists were noted as major reasons impacting security of Pakistan, the army said in a statement.

Though not named, the neighbouring country was Afghanistan which was blamed by Pakistan last week for tolerating the outlawed TTP on its soil.

On Saturday, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif claimed that terrorists involved in bloodshed in his country were getting refuge in Afghanistan and warned that Pakistan would no longer tolerate this.

"Afghanistan is not fulfilling the right to be a neighbour and brother country and is not abiding by the Doha agreement. 50/60 lakh Afghans have 40/50 years of asylum in Pakistan with all rights," Asif said.

On the contrary, the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis can find refuge on Afghan soil. This situation cannot continue any longer. Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land and citizens, the minister said.

His statement came a day after Army chief Gen Munir warned the Afghan Taliban of an effective response by his forces if they fail to stop harbouring militants who plot cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

Tempers are running high in Pakistan after 12 soldiers were killed in two separate terrorist incidents in Balochistan on July 13, the highest single-day toll of troops in the province.

A little-known group of the Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban government in Kabul of tolerating the presence of the banned TTP militants in the country.

Pakistan has seen a significant increase in TTP attacks since the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021.

The army said on Monday that the meeting deliberated in detail upon the operational preparedness and training aspects of the forces. The participants were briefed in detail about the prevailing internal security environment.

"Objective training remains the hallmark of our professionalism and we must always remain prepared to guard against any threat to our national security, the army chief was quoted as saying on the occasion.

The commanders were also apprised of the governments economic revival plan and the role of the Army in uplifting agriculture, IT, mining & mineral and defence production sectors under the ambit of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
Karachi, Jul 17 (PTI) A prominent Pakistani human rights activist has voiced concern over targeting of Hindus in the Sindh province in response to Seema Haider Jakhrani's incident and urged the government to take punitive action against those attacking Hindu temples.

Shiva Kacchi, who heads the Pakistan Derawar Ittehad organisation which fights for minorities in Pakistan, said the attack on a temple in Ghouspur in Kashmore on Sunday appeared to be the beginning of an ordeal for Pakistani Hindus in Sindh.

A gang of dacoits attacked a Hindu temple with rocket launchers in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province on Sunday.

The attack came 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's love affair.

Seema, a 30-year 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 the online gaming platform PUBG in 2019.

She 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.

Every day, dacoits who hide in the riverine areas are doing live videos threatening to kill and kidnap Hindus, torture their women and attack their worship places and homes in retaliation for Seema Jakhrani case, Kacchi said.

What Seema Jakhrani did is wrong, but what have Hindus got to do with it? She was a Muslim woman who took a personal decision. Why do Hindus have to be targeted in Sindh? he asked.

Kacchi said for months Hindus had been drawing the attention of the government and authorities to rising cases of Hindu girls being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and being married to older Muslim men.

Now, what Seema Jakhrani has done has hurt the sentiments of every Pakistani Muslim and we also believe she is wrong but what about our women and girls, he said.

Luckily, there were no casualties in the attack on the temple in Ghouspur as the two rockets fired by the dacoits did not explode properly, he said.

But they resorted to heavy firing and ran away into the riverine area," he said.

Kacchi said unless the government took punitive action against the dacoits, they would continue to attack Hindus and their places of worship.

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 on Sunday.

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.
Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) The bodies of two of the three minor boys feared drowned in Mumbai's Marve creek were found on Monday morning while search was still on for the one missing boy, a police official said.

Five boys, in the aged group of 12 to 16 years and residents of Malwani area here, entered the Marve creek in suburban Malad on Sunday morning. While two of them were rescued by some people before the arrival of fire brigade, three others went missing.

Personnel of the fire brigade, police, Coast Guard and Navy divers had rushed to the spot and launched a search operation which was halted on Sunday night.

A helicopter was also involved in the search operation, which was called off in the evening.

The bodies of two of the missing boys, both aged 14, were fished out from the waters on Monday morning and sent to a hospital, the police official said.

Efforts were on to trace another 12-year-old missing boy, he said.
1. Introduction

In Thailand, the Songkran festival is a cherished event that marks the traditional Thai New Year. Celebrated annually from April 13th to 15th, Songkran is known for its exuberant water fights and joyful celebrations throughout the country. This article explores the origins, significance, traditions, and festivities of Songkran, giving you a deeper understanding of Thailand's famous water festival.

2. Origins of Songkran

Songkran has its roots in ancient agricultural traditions and Buddhist customs. It is believed to have originated from the Indian festival of Holi, which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Over time, Songkran evolved into a distinct Thai celebration, combining water-related rituals with religious ceremonies and cultural activities.

3. Significance of Songkran

Songkran holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the Thai people. It signifies a fresh start and the washing away of misfortunes from the previous year. The act of splashing water on others during Songkran is seen as a symbol of cleansing, purification, and the sharing of good fortune. It is also a time for family reunions, paying respects to elders, and engaging in acts of merit.

4. Preparations for Songkran

Before Songkran begins, Thai households engage in thorough spring cleaning to welcome the New Year. People also prepare offerings for religious ceremonies at temples, including food, flowers, and other items. Additionally, they purchase water guns, buckets, and traditional clay pots called "Khan" for the water fights that are the hallmark of the festival.

5. Water Fights and Celebrations

The water fights during Songkran are a highlight for both locals and tourists. People take to the streets armed with water guns and containers, engaging in friendly battles and dousing each other with water. The streets become lively with music, dance, and laughter as water fights escalate into full-blown celebrations. Tourists are encouraged to join in the fun and experience the joyful atmosphere firsthand.

6. Traditional Practices during Songkran

Apart from water fights, Songkran is a time when traditional customs are observed. People visit temples to make merit, offering alms to monks and participating in religious rituals. Another important tradition is the pouring of scented water over Buddha statues as a sign of respect and blessings. Additionally, Thai people pay homage to their ancestors by cleaning and decorating their family shrines.

7. Songkran Food and Drinks

Food plays a significant role during Songkran. Traditional dishes such as "Khao Chae" (rice soaked in jasmine-scented water), "Khanom Tom" (sticky rice balls in coconut milk), and "Pad Thai" (stir-fried noodles) are enjoyed during the festival. Locals also prepare refreshing beverages like "Nam Oy" (a sweet herbal drink) and "Cha Yen" (Thai iced tea) to beat the heat of the summer season.

8. Cultural Events and Festivities

Throughout Thailand, various cultural events and festivities take place during Songkran. This includes traditional parades, beauty pageants, and cultural performances showcasing Thai music, dance, and martial arts. One of the most renowned events is the "Miss Songkran" competition, where participants showcase their talents and elegance in celebration of the festival.

9. Tourist Attractions during Songkran

Many popular tourist destinations in Thailand have their own unique celebrations during Songkran. Chiang Mai is particularly famous for its vibrant water festival, with locals and tourists joining together in a massive water fight on the streets. Bangkok's major shopping districts also transform into water battle zones, creating a memorable experience for visitors.

10. Songkran Safety Tips

While Songkran is a festive and joyous occasion, it's important to prioritize safety during the water fights. Here are some essential tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

Use clean water and avoid throwing dirty or icy water.

Be mindful of others' personal boundaries and avoid targeting individuals who do not wish to participate.

Protect valuables by keeping them in waterproof bags or leaving them in a secure location.

Wear appropriate clothing that can dry quickly and provide protection from the sun.

Be cautious around vehicles and follow traffic rules to prevent accidents.

11. Conclusion

Songkran is a vibrant celebration that captures the essence of Thai culture and traditions. Through water fights, religious rituals, and cultural festivities, the festival brings people together in a spirit of joy, unity, and renewal. By understanding the origins and significance of Songkran, you can fully appreciate this unique and memorable event that showcases Thailand's rich heritage.

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Berhampur (Odisha), Jul 17 (PTI) A 29-year-old man, who posed as an orthopedic and spine surgery specialist and treated patients by opening a clinic at Dengausta under Ganjam districts Digapahandi police station limits, was arrested on Monday.

The accused identified as Subrajit Panda, a resident of Hindol Road in Dhenkanal district, was earlier arrested by Hyderabad police on February 8, 2020 for impersonating as a doctor and team member of the World Health Organisation (WHO), police said.

After being released on bail, Panda set up a clinic at Ranihat, Cuttack, and visited Dengausta and Aska in Ganjam district as a consultant doctor two days a month and collected money from patients, police said.

Acting on a complaint, police visited his clinic at Dengausta and found his medical degrees to be fake, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said.

Panda was an under-graduate student of microbiology, but impersonated himself as an orthopedic and spine surgery specialist having a German degree, the SP said.

During verification of his rented house and clinic in Cuttack, he could not produce a valid registration number. The foreign certificate, which he had produced, was found to be fake, he said.

The matter came to light after a person identified as Simanchal Sahu of Chhanameri on Saturday lodged a complaint with police at Digapahandi claiming Panda was not a qualified doctor.

Sahu claimed that when Panda treated his grandmother for a fracture, her condition deteriorated after consuming the medicines that he allegedly prescribed.

Doctors in MKCG Medical College and Hospital here raised doubts about Panda after seeing the medicines prescribed by him.

Based on Sahu's complaint, police registered a case against Panda under different sections of the IPC and Orissa Medical Registration Act and Orissa Clinical Registration Act, police said.
New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Argentina's Defence Minister Jorge Enrique Taiana on Monday arrived here on a four-day visit to India during which he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to further consolidate the defence cooperation between the two countries, officials said.

The visiting dignitary will also lay a wreath at the National War Memorial here and pay homage to the fallen heroes, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement here.

"Defence Minister of Argentine Republic Jorge Enrique Taiana arrived in New Delhi on July 17, 2023 on a four-day visit to India. During his stay, Mr Jorge Taiana will hold bilateral talks with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on July 18, 2023 to further consolidate defence cooperation between the two countries," it said.

The Argentine minister is also scheduled to visit Bengaluru, officials added.


(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Chandigarh, Jul 17 (PTI) Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma Monday took stock of the relief and rehabilitation work in flood-hit areas of the state at a high-level meeting with administrative secretaries and all deputy commissioners.

The state, meanwhile, reported three more deaths, taking to 35 the overall toll in the recent spell of heavy downpour that left many districts flooded.

A total of 26,250 people have been evacuated from the waterlogged areas and taken to safer places this includes 14,296 in Patiala, 2,200 in Rupnagar, 250 in Moga and 300 in Ludhiana.

An official spokesperson said 1,422 villages in 18 districts -- Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Kapurthala, Patiala, Moga, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Mansa and Pathankot are affected by floods.

Officials said 168 relief camps are operating in the flood-hit areas. The state agriculture department set up a control room for affected farmers so they can get paddy saplings for resowing.

Though the floodwaters have receded in many areas of Punjab and Haryana, authorities were still engaged in relief and rehabilitation works in Sangrur district in Punjab and also plugging breaches in 'dhussi bundhs' (earthen embankments) that have come up along the Ghaggar river.

The work on plugging the 150-feet-wide breach that came up along the Ghaggar River in Punjab's Mansa started on Monday, said officials.

The breach was formed on Saturday in an embankment near Chandpura bundh in Budhlada sub-division of Mansa.

With this breach, river water has entered Gorakhnath and Birewala Dogran villages.

The level of water in these villages was in the range of three-six feet with the authorities asking the villagers to move to safer places. There are apprehensions the water may enter other villages as well.

Sub-divisional magistrate Parmod Singla Monday said the drainage department has deployed a team of its experts to plug the breach.

The Mansa district administration has already set up several relief camps for the flood-affected people, officials said.

The administration has called in the Army and a team of National Disaster Response Force in Mansa, said officials.

Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh said the 900-feet-wide breach at Gatta Mundi Kasu in Lohian Khas in Jalandhar will be plugged in a few days as the district administration and Sangat started the work at full pace from both ends. Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal also visited both sides of the breach to review the status of ongoing work.

He also instructed the officials concerned to further intensify the pace of work so as to accomplish the task at the earliest.

Chief Secretary Verma asked DCs to in the meeting to provide all kinds of relief to the affected people.

It should be ensured the compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased by be paid by July 20 and that for damaged houses be handed over to the affected families by July 24, said an official release.

The chief secretary informed Rs 10 crore has been released from the disaster relied fund to provide clean drinking water to people.

The health department has been directed to make full preparations to combat water-borne diseases, while Rs 40 lakh has been released to districts by the animal husbandry department to protect the livestock from diseases.

The situation was under control, the chief secretary said, adding he was informed that now only two teams of NDRF are deployed in the state -- one at Mansa and the other at Sangrur.
Chandigarh, Jul 17 (PTI) The Punjab Police on Monday said it has arrested more than 16,000 smugglers and registered about 12,000 FIRs in drugs related cases in the last one year.

A total of 16,360 drug smugglers, including 2,351 big ones, have been arrested since July 5 last year, Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said here.

Besides, 12,218 FIRs have been registered during the period, he said.

Police teams recovered 1,073.44 kg heroin from across the state after carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas, besides laying checkpoints at vulnerable routes across the state.

Additionally, 147.5 kg of heroin was recovered by the teams of Punjab Police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 1,220.94 kg in just one year, Gill said.

The IGP further said that police have also recovered 797.14 kg opium, 902.13 kg ganja, 375.47 quintals of poppy husk, and 65.49 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, and vials of pharma opioids from across the state.

Police also recovered Rs 12.33 crore cash from the possession of drug smugglers and forfeited properties worth Rs 26.72 crore of 66 big smugglers during the last one year, Gill said.

Barnala remained on top by freezing 13 properties worth Rs 2.34 crore, followed by nine properties worth Rs 1.72 crore forfeited by district Fazilka and six properties worth Rs 1.13 crore by district Malerkotla, he said.

Apart from this, Gill said police also busted 18 terror modules with the arrest of 143 terrorists and radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 209 revolvers and pistols, five tiffin improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 6.78 kg RDX and other explosives, 10 hand grenades, one sleeve of disposed rocket launcher, 51 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade.

Similarly, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) succeeded in busting 208 gangster and criminal modules after arresting 688 gangsters and criminals and neutralising five, after recovering 667 weapons, 157 vehicles used in criminal activities.
New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the ordinance on control of services in Delhi was promulgated as officers working in the vigilance department were "targeted" by the city government, and bureaucrats and officials were humiliated.

In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre claimed that after the May 11 judgement of the constitution bench of the top court, ministers in the Delhi government started a "witch-hunt" and harassment of officers to influence their decision making.

A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had on May 11 said the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services except for public order, police and land.

"To elaborate the above, the officers working in the vigilance department, that is the department which handles serious vigilance issues relating to complaints of corruption, thus involving, criminal and other politically sensitive cases, came to be specifically targeted by the elected government," the Centre said in its affidavit.

It said in this regard, complaints were received from Special Secretary (Vigilance) and two other officers, pointing out a serious incident of trespassing in the said officer's chamber and taking unlawful custody of certain files.

The affidavit further said, "However, the elected government remained arrogant to the official duties of the officers concerned and handled the whole affair in a highly insensitive manner, as evinced from their act and conduct of repeatedly insulting and humiliating the senior officers as well as the subordinate officers of the vigilance department."

It said the files of the vigilance department were "extremely sensitive" in nature and included those relating to alleged excise scam, expenditure incurred in the construction of new residential bungalow of the chief minister and also those containing documents pertaining to advertisements given by and from the exchequer of the Delhi government for a political party.

While hearing the matter on Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud hinted that it was contemplating referring to a constitution bench for adjudication of the Delhi government's petition against the Centre's recent ordinance on the control of services.

The top court had recently issued notices to the Centre and the lieutenant governor on the plea while refusing to grant an interim stay on the ordinance on control over services in Delhi.

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 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has termed it a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre.

The chief minister is one of the three members of the Authority, while two others are bureaucrats. The decisions by the Authority are to be taken by a majority and, in the event of a dispute, the matter will be referred to the LG whose decision will be final.

Transfer and posting of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the LG before the May 11 top court verdict.

In its affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre has said the ordinance satisfies the existing constitutional scheme of governance of NCT of Delhi provided under Article 239 read with 239AA of the Constitution.

Detailing the facts necessitating the promulgation of the ordinance, the Centre said immediately after the pronouncement of May 11 judgment by the apex court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had met the Lieutenant Governor and the LG had specially informed him that the verdict is sacrosanct for him and should be followed in letter and spirit.

"Despite this, the chief minister and other ministers in a dramatic and convoluted fashion, immediately went on a rampage by issuing orders and posting them on social media, which are in gross disregard to the rules and procedure already in place with regard to administrative mechanism of the civil service board.," it said.

"The ministers started uploading the orders on social media platforms and making statements in media and started a witch-hunt, harassment of officers, media trials, threats and street postures to influence the decision making by the officers," it added.
New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) A new book released on Monday chronicles the moving story of the braveheart Captain Kamal Bakshi, a company commander who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak War and went missing after the 'Battle of Chhamb', known to be the bloodiest battle of the war.

"Nowhere Man", written by Captain Bakshi's nephew Shivalik Bakshi, honours the war hero for his courage, trials and tribulations and his ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation.

Although nobody from Captain Bakshi's battalion had seen him get killed or been able to locate his body, the military declared him 'Missing, Believed Killed' -- the ambiguous status assigned to soldiers when their death cannot be confirmed.

However, in 1979, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in Parliament that it had reasons to believe that at least 40 Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) were still in Pakistani custody and one of the names on the list was Captain Bakshi's.

"The research for this book led me to some of the finest people I have ever met -- people who shared their memories of my uncle with me. It was those stories that propelled me forward to write this book," said the US-based author in a statement.

Captain Bakshi's family believes that some Indian soldiers from the 1971 war -- including possibly Captain Bakshi himself -- are still imprisoned. The book, published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI), is their attempt to shed light on this issue.

It builds on Captain Bakshi's journals and letters that his family carefully preserved, memories of his classmates from boarding school and the National Defence Academy (NDA), and his colleagues from the Indian Army to narrate an intimate account of his life.

Gurveen Chadha, executive commissioning editor at PRHI, said "Nowhere Man" is the "heart-wrenching" story of Captain Kamal Bakshi, the man who fought courageously for India.

"What is special about the book is that instead of painting Kamal as the unfortunate prisoner, it instead pays tribute to his life as a brave soldier who gave up everything for his country, including his freedom," Chadha in a statement.

The book, priced at Rs 296, is currently available for purchase across online and offline stores.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 83F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.




A hotel in Hunter, NY, is coming under allegations of anti-Semitism after it tossed out nearly 40 members of a single Orthodox Jewish family on Shabbos over a noise complaint that may have never even occurred.

According to people familiar with the matter, the family  which consisted of several generations, including grandparents and young children  booked a weekend stay with Hunter Lodge, a Bluebird by Lark property. Prior to confirming the booking, the family outlined to hotel staff how many people they were, how many children there were, and what could be expected from them as guests.

The stay ran into almost immediate problems, as angry hotel staff told the family on Friday night that they had received a noise complaint about the family from a hotel patron. The family apologized and told the staff that they are doing their best to keep all of the children quiet, but  as explained during their pre-booking conversation with the hotel  doing so is no easy feat.

On Shabbos morning, hotel staff handed the family another warning, claiming that they had received a complaint about unsupervised children playing in a common area. The family disputed the claim, but again apologized and committed to doubling their efforts to keep the children contained.

Family members have stated that they dont believe any noise complaint was made by a patron, as they had not received a single complaint from anyone in the hotel other than staff members.

Just hours later, hotel staff told the family that they were kicking them all out  men, women, and children. The family explained that it was Shabbos so they couldnt simply leave, and attempted to negotiate with the staff  including offering to stay locked in their hotel rooms for the rest of the day  but the hotel refused to hear it.

A short while later, a large contingent of local, County, and even State police officers showed up at the hotel and threatened the entire family with arrest  including children and babies  if they did not vacate the premises immediately.

The family told the officers that doing so was impossible as it would entail chilul shabbos. The officers responded by offering to drive the family elsewhere in their squad vehicles.

However, two young children were terrified of the police cars and refused to get in. The police then called a city bus to transport the family of three dozen plus. Women with young children and babies were ordered to board it, while those without children then trekked approximately a mile to a Jewish-owned home.

Once at the Jewish home, the large family was provided food and lodging, and a place to rest their weary and frustrated bones until Shabbos concluded.

The family who hosted the stranded yidden spoke to YWN, but requested that they not be thanked.

We are frum yidden and we did what every other frum family would have done in such a situation. We dont need a pat on the back, a family member said.

Once Shabbos departed, the family returned to the hotel and retrieved their belongings, with police on hand to ensure the process went smoothly.

YWN can confirm that this is at least the second time this specific hotel threw out an Orthodox Jewish patron from its premises on Shabbos.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Introduction

Sagada, a small town located in the northern part of the Philippines, is renowned for its intriguing burial practice of hanging coffins. This ancient tradition has fascinated visitors from around the world, offering a glimpse into the unique customs and beliefs of the indigenous people of Sagada. In this article, we will delve into the history, significance, and cultural aspects of the hanging coffins of Sagada.

The Origin and History of Hanging Coffins

The practice of hanging coffins in Sagada dates back thousands of years, with its origins rooted in the indigenous Igorot people. The Igorots believed that by placing their deceased loved ones in hanging coffins, they would be closer to the heavens and their spirits would have an easier journey to the afterlife. The practice is believed to have started as a way to protect the coffins from animals and to keep them away from floods.

The Cultural Significance of Hanging Coffins

Hanging coffins hold immense cultural significance for the people of Sagada. It is considered a sacred tradition that preserves the memory of ancestors and upholds the values and beliefs of the community. The act of hanging coffins is seen as a way to honor and show respect for the deceased, ensuring their spirits are at peace.

The Rituals and Process of Hanging Coffins

The process of hanging coffins is meticulous and requires the expertise of the community elders. It involves carefully selecting the appropriate location on the cliffs, preparing the coffins, and maneuvering them to their final resting place. The rituals associated with hanging coffins often include prayers, chants, and offerings to appease the spirits and ensure a smooth transition to the afterlife.

The Preservation and Maintenance of Hanging Coffins

Preserving and maintaining the hanging coffins is a responsibility passed down through generations. The community places great importance on the upkeep of the coffins, using natural materials and traditional techniques to ensure their longevity. Regular inspections and repairs are conducted to safeguard these unique burial sites.

Tourism and the Hanging Coffins of Sagada

The hanging coffins of Sagada have become a significant attraction for tourists worldwide. Visitors are drawn to the town to witness this extraordinary burial practice and learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Igorot people. Tourism has provided economic opportunities for the locals, but it also brings challenges in terms of preserving the integrity and sanctity of the burial sites.

Challenges and Preservation Efforts

As tourism increases in Sagada, there is a need to balance the preservation of the hanging coffins with the influx of visitors. Efforts are being made by the community and local authorities to implement sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that the cultural significance and natural beauty of Sagada are protected for future generations.

The Impact of Hanging Coffins on Sagada's Identity

The hanging coffins have become an integral part of Sagada's identity. They serve as a symbol of the town's rich cultural heritage and unique traditions. The practice has garnered global recognition and has contributed to the local economy, making Sagada a destination that celebrates its indigenous roots.

The Symbolism of Hanging Coffins

Hanging coffins symbolize the connection between the living and the dead. They represent the belief in an afterlife and the continuation of the spirit's journey beyond death. The sight of the coffins hanging precariously on the cliffs evokes a sense of awe and contemplation, inviting visitors to reflect on life, mortality, and the transcendent nature of the human spirit.

Hanging Coffins: Myths and Legends

Over the centuries, myths and legends have developed around the hanging coffins of Sagada. These tales add an air of mystery and intrigue to the already captivating practice. Stories of spirits guarding the coffins or the supernatural powers associated with the burial sites have been passed down through generations, adding to the allure of Sagada's hanging coffins.

Hanging Coffins: Cultural Heritage and Global Recognition

Sagada's hanging coffins have gained international attention and recognition as a unique cultural heritage. Their significance goes beyond the boundaries of the Philippines, with scholars, researchers, and cultural enthusiasts from around the world visiting Sagada to study and document this remarkable burial practice.

The Beauty and Awe of Sagada's Hanging Coffins

The hanging coffins, set against the backdrop of Sagada's picturesque landscapes, create a scene of unparalleled beauty and awe. The cliffs, shrouded in mist, with coffins suspended in mid-air, leave a lasting impression on visitors. It is a testament to the ingenuity and reverence of the Igorot people and the harmonious coexistence between nature and human practices.

Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Sensitivity

As tourism grows, it is crucial to promote sustainable practices and cultural sensitivity in Sagada. Visitors should be educated about the significance and sacredness of the hanging coffins, respecting the customs and traditions of the local community. By adopting responsible tourism practices, we can ensure that future generations can continue to appreciate and learn from the hanging coffins of Sagada.

The Future of Hanging Coffins

Looking ahead, the hanging coffins of Sagada face both challenges and opportunities. It is essential to strike a balance between preserving the cultural heritage and embracing sustainable tourism. By nurturing a deep respect for the traditions and values associated with hanging coffins, Sagada can continue to be a beacon of cultural preservation and understanding.

Conclusion

The hanging coffins of Sagada represent a captivating blend of history, spirituality, and cultural identity. This unique burial practice showcases the ingenuity and deep-rooted beliefs of the Igorot people. As visitors stand in awe of these suspended coffins, they are not only witnessing a remarkable sight but also engaging with a tradition that connects the past to the present and invites reflection on the mysteries of life and death.

Rise of Sustainable Tourism: How Travelers Can Contribute to Greener World

Jaipur: The Pink City of India

A Journey through History: Must-Visit Historical Sites Around the World




Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former White House adviser Neil Patel are joining forces to establish a new media company, potentially utilizing Twitter as its foundation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The proposed venture aims to offer extended versions of Carlsons free videos, which he has been regularly posting on Twitter since departing from Fox News. However, the core business model would rely on subscription-based content. To fuel the companys ambitions, Carlson and Patel are seeking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

While shorter segments of Carlsons show, interviews, and documentaries would still be accessible for free on Twitter and other platforms, viewers would need to subscribe to watch the full-length versions, insiders noted.

As the new media company develops, additional hosts shows are expected to be added to the lineup, offering diverse content to subscribers.

Carlson and Patel, who were roommates at Trinity College and co-founded the conservative Daily Caller news site in 2010 (which Patel currently oversees), have assembled a team of financiers, lawyers, and media strategists to support the endeavor.

Carlsons team recently met with representatives from Twitter to discuss the proposed venture. While the new company plans to have its own website and mobile app, it is also exploring opportunities beyond Twitter to distribute its content. Industry experts suggest that Carlson and Patels latest venture will face competition from news personalities on platforms like YouTube and Rumble, both popular among right-leaning audiences, as well as traditional TV networks such as Fox News and Newsmax.

Collaborating with Twitter would significantly expand the relationship between the social media platform and one of its most prominent video creators. It would also serve as a test case for Twitters video ambitions under the leadership of Elon Musk. However, this partnership could complicate Twitters efforts to rebuild relationships with advertisers, as some had scaled back their presence on the platform following Musks acquisition last October. Musk has expressed his desire for Twitter to be a sanctuary for free speech, even if it involves controversial content. He has also indicated that Carlson is one of the many creators Twitter hopes to attract.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




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.

(AP)




Hes been indicted twice. Found liable for physical abuse. And hes viewed unfavorably by about a third of his party. But six months before Republicans begin to choose their next presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump remains the races dominant front-runner.

Early leaders dont always go on to win their partys nomination, but a growing sense of Trumps inevitability is raising alarms among some Republicans desperate for the party to move on. Some described a sense of panic  or DEFCON 1, as one put it  as they scramble to try to derail Trump and change the trajectory of the race. But theres no clear plan or strategy on how to do that and Trumps detractors arent rallying around a single alternative candidate yet.

Theyre very concerned, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said of fellow Republican leaders who share his view that renominating Trump would be a disaster for the party next November. Hogan, who opted out of a campaign of his own in fear that an unwieldy Republican field would only benefit Trump, described a moment of realization that, Oh my gosh, we really could have Trump as the nominee.

People expected us to have made more progress than we have at this point, he said as polling finds Trump routinely besting his closest rival by 20 to 30 points or more.

Of course, the six months that remain until the Iowa caucuses can be an eternity in politics, where races can turn in a matter of weeks or days. And Trump faces glaring vulnerabilities, including state and federal investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the possibility that he could end up in the unprecedented position of standing trial while simultaneously mounting a campaign.

But even critics acknowledge the outside events that many were counting on to dent Trumps standing  namely his criminal indictments in New York and Florida  have not hurt him. In fact, the charges led some voters who were entertaining an alternative to return to Trumps camp.

The indictments have actually helped Donald Trump with the Republican primary voters, said Art Pope, a North Carolina GOP donor who is supporting former Vice President Mike Pence, but nonetheless believes the charges, particularly in New York, were unfounded.

Meanwhile, anti-Trump Republicans have yet to coalesce around an alternative, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has struggled to build momentum, leaving many still waiting to see whether another viable alternative might emerge from the pack. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has drawn growing attention.

Several groups that oppose Trumps candidacy have begun to spend big money on efforts to weaken his support, even if they have yet to rally around another candidate. Win It Back PAC, a new independent super PAC with ties to the conservative Club For Growth Action, spent $3.6 million this month on a new ad that features a purported Trump supporter who has grown tired of the former presidents antics.

I love Donald Trump, I love what he did, he begins. But hes got so many distractions  and Im not sure he can focus on moving the country forward.

The conservative Americans for Prosperity Action, which is part of the network founded by the billionaire Koch brothers, has also sought to undermine Trump through door knocking and phone calls. The group says it has found in conversations with voters that Trumps support is softer than most assume and that even some who identify as Trump supporters are concerned about his electability in a general election and open to an alternative.

Their mailers to voters in early states have focused on that message, including one that features photos of Trump and President Joe Biden and asks recipients, Is it worth the risk?

While officials with the group acknowledge they are facing pressure to rally around a non-Trump candidate, they say they are focused now on laying the foundation for a Trump alternative to emerge.

Thats where most of the people were talking to are as well, said Drew Klein, the groups state director. Theyre not necessarily locked in with a candidate, but they know weve got to move on.

Not everyone, however, agrees with the anti-Trump strategy. Former GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who has been running focus groups in Iowa, warned such messaging makes it more likely that Trump wins because it turns him into a victim.

He said hes found Republican voters are open to an alternative and that the first GOP debate, scheduled for August 23rd, will be critical.

The moon and the stars will need to be aligned for Trump to be defeated, he said. And it will be done by the candidate that supports the Trump agenda but opposes the lack of success.

Political trajectories can change in an instant, particularly after voting begins. During the 2008 campaign, the eventual GOP nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, didnt emerge as the races frontrunner until January 2008. And then-Sen. Hillary Clinton appeared to have a decisive advantage for the Democratic nomination until she was overtaken by Barack Obama.

But no former president has mounted a run after losing reelection in the modern era. And Trump maintains a fervent hold on a portion of the party. Indeed, it was eight years ago this month when the then-reality star and political newcomer began to pull ahead in the polls, surpassing rival Jeb Bush to move into first place  a position hed hold until he won the nomination.

Ralph Reed, a longtime Republican strategist who is the chairman of the evangelical Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Trump remains in the strongest position of any candidate, but still believes the race will be competitive and hard fought.

No one should take any state for granted, no one should take this primary for granted because anything can happen and often does, he said. Almost every front-runner has a near-death experience.

Critics and rival campaigns point to what they perceive as a growing list of Trump campaign missteps, particularly in Iowa, where he has criticized the states popular governor, Kim Reynolds, for her seemingly cozy relationship with DeSantis while purporting to be neutral. Hes also skipped a pair of GOP gatherings that attracted most of his top rivals.

After his rivals spent Friday in Iowa at the Family Leadership Summit, Trump had the stage largely to himself Saturday at the annual Turning Point Action conference, a gathering of thousands of young conservatives in Florida.

While DeSantis has had a years-long relationship with organizer Charlie Kirk and had been been featured at last years event alongside Trump and received a warm welcome from the crowd, DeSantis turned down the groups invitation, citing a scheduling conflict.

You only have a few opportunities in the grand scheme of an election cycle to get in front of major groups and all the media and to pass up this opportunity to lay out your vision for America I just think is one of the biggest mistakes, said Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point Action.

Trump, in his remarks to the group, called DeSantis campaign a hopeless cause and said the millions he has raised and spent should be used to support the party winning against Crooked Joe Biden in November of 2024.

(AP)




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.

Later Saturday in Tennessee, DeSantis faced a muted audience as he touted his accomplishments as governor and promised to offer the United States a fresh start should he be elected president. Top Republican leaders like Gov. Bill Lee, and U.S. Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn were noticeably absent during the state Republican partys annual fundraiser  though all three did appear in videos for the event  as DeSantis attracted only mild applause from Tennessee GOP leaders that have largely already pledged their allegiance to Trump.

Yet DeSantis received a partial standing ovation when praising his administrations decision to forbid classroom instruction on orientation and gender identity in all grades and making it easier for parents to challenge books in school libraries.

We have to draw a line in the sand when it comes to our children, he said.

DeSantis also referenced his ongoing feud with Disney, which opposed the governors so-called Dont Say Gay law.

Siding with corporations over your own constituency is not going to win elections, he said.

(AP)




In a Sunday morning interview with Fox News, anchor Maria Bartiromo confronted former President Donald Trump regarding his track record of hiring staff members who later turned against him. The interview touched on potential changes Trump would make if he were to secure a second term in office.

During the discussion, Trump acknowledged that one of his mistakes was in the selection of personnel. He specifically mentioned former Attorney General Bill Barr, whom he described as weak and pathetic, and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump expressed regret about placing certain individuals in positions of power. Although he believed most of his staff were good, there were some exceptions. Mark Esper, the former Secretary of Defense, was among those Trump criticized, deeming him incompetent.

Bartiromo probed further, questioning Trumps decision to appoint individuals he now seemed dissatisfied with. Trump attributed his hiring choices to a lack of familiarity with the candidates at the time.

I didnt know the people, Trump admitted. I know the people now better than anybody has ever known. The people I know, the good ones, the bad ones, the dumb ones, the smart ones.

Bartiromo, however, interrupted Trumps complaints, stating bluntly, You didnt drain the swamp like you said you would. You didnt drain the swamp.

Trump disagreed with Bartiromos remark, asserting that he did make efforts to fulfill his promise of draining the swamp. He pointed out that he fired former FBI Director James Comey and dismissed numerous other individuals from their positions. Trump believed that his decision to fire Comey early on was crucial to his ability to complete his term, as he viewed it as part of a plot against him.

I did, Trump responded. I fired Comey. I fired a lot of people. A lot of the people I had, I fired. I fired Comey very early. And, you know, there was a question as to whether or not you could. But I fired Comey. If I didnt fire Comey, I dont think I would have been able to serve out my term because that was a plot.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis is cutting campaign staff as he struggles to catch former President Donald Trump in the GOPs crowded primary contest while facing unexpected financial pressure.

DeSantis, the Florida governor, let go fewer than 10 paid staffers late last week to help reduce operating expenses, according to a DeSantis aide granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign strategy. The staffers were involved in event planning and may soon join a pro-DeSantis super PAC.

The moves, first reported by Politico, come as DeSantis struggles to meet expectations that he represents the Republican Partys strongest alternative to Trump. The Florida governors political organization has raised more money than the other Republicans seeking the 2024 nomination, but he has shown little movement in the polls amid fierce opposition from Trump and persistent questions about his far-right policies, his political skills and his readiness for the national stage.

DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo did not deny reports of staffing cuts, but offered an optimistic outlook about the campaigns road ahead.

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, Romeo said. 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.

Despite such optimism, some within DeSantis team are privately acknowledging that the political playbook that led to a dominant reelection in Florida last fall may not work on the national stage. To that end, DeSantis will host a press conference and is scheduled to sit down with CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday, eschewing his yearslong practice of granting interviews almost exclusively to conservative media.

The staffing and strategy shakeup comes less than two months after DeSantis launched his presidential campaign.

Hes going down, Trump said of DeSantis during a Sunday interview on Fox News Channel. The former president also suggested he may not participate in next months debate given his lead over DeSantis and the other Republicans running against him.

As the DeSantis campaign publicly refocuses on Iowa, some in his team are already privately acknowledging that he must win Iowas Jan. 15 caucuses to have any realistic chance of denying Trump the GOPs presidential nomination. Without a clear victory in the GOPs opening primary contest, they fear that Trump would likely become an unstoppable force in the months-long primary march across the country, where momentum is often more consequential than money.

DeSantis sought to strengthen his connections in the state during a Saturday appearance. He described Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate and dismissed Trumps recent complaints about her as totally out of hand.

Of course, DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider the second-term Republican as his vice president should he win the GOP nomination. I mean, shes one of the top public servants in America.

And while DeSantis political team is flush with cash compared to many other Republican rivals, Saturdays quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission revealed some cause for concern.

DeSantis raised more than $20 million over the first six weeks he was in the race, according to the federal report. While a massive sum, he also burned through nearly $8 million over the same period, leaving his campaign with $12.2 million at the end of June. And of that total, roughly $3 million is earmarked for general election and cannot be used in the GOP primary contest.

The report also revealed that the DeSantis campaign has dozens of paid staffers and is spending far more on payroll than others in the race.

For the first six weeks of his campaign, DeSantis spent more than $890,000 on payroll, including benefits, insurance, payroll taxes and processing fees, according to an AP analysis. The campaign also spent more than $845,000 on travel expenses, which included DeSantis regular use of private jets.

Still, a pro-DeSantis super PAC, which is legally barred from coordinating with the campaign, said it raised a stunning $130 million since the committee launched in March. More than half of that came from a state-level political committee once controlled by DeSantis.

The Never Back Down super PAC has been spending for months to build out pro-DeSantis infrastructure in the first four states on the presidential nominating calendar and even those in so-called Super Tuesday states that vote in early March.

Trumps MAGA movement was giddy about DeSantis struggles.

The more he shows himself, the less appealing he is, tweeted longtime Trump ally Roger stone. He added the hashtag, DeLoser.

(AP)




When Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested recently he might stop the FBI from relocating its downtown headquarters to a new facility planned for the Washington suburbs, it was more than idle thinking about an office renovation.

The nod from the Republican speaker is elevating a once-fringe proposal to upend the FBI in the aftermath of the federal indictment of Donald Trump over classified documents and the Justice Departments prosecution of his allies, including some of the nearly 1,000 people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Moving from far-right corners into the mainstream, the emerging effort to overhaul the nations premier law enforcement agency is rooted in increasingly forceful conservative complaints about an overly biased FBI that they claim is being weaponized against them.

This is a pretty dramatic reversal of what the politics would have been 50 years ago, said Beverly Gage, a historian at Yale who won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for her biography of the legendary FBI director, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century.

The shifting attitudes among Republican members of Congress toward the FBI underscore the way Trumps personal grievances have become legislative policy. Once the party of law and order, Republicans are now antagonists of federal law enforcement, undermining a storied institution and attacking Justice Department officials whose work is foundational to American democracy.

While political criticism of the FBI has followed the bureau since its founding with Hoover, who famously wiretapped civil rights leaders and orchestrated the infiltration of left-wing political organizations, the right-flank campaign against federal law enforcement had mostly simmered at the margins of party politics.

But the Justice Departments indictment of Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts over storing and refusing to return classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club, and the ongoing prosecution of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol, have fueled conservative anger. The Justice Department is also investigating Trump and his allies over the effort to challenge President Joe Bidens election in the run-up to the 2021 Capitol attack.

Conservatives criticize the federal law enforcement on multiple fronts; among them, its work with social media companies to flag potentially dangerous postings, and a COVID-era memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland directing resources to combat violence against school officials. They compare the Trump investigations with what they say was a sweetheart deal for Hunter Biden, the presidents son, who is pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax evasion after a long investigation.

Looking at the actions of the FBI, I think the whole leadership needs to change, McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol last month.

Fresh from a visit with law enforcement in California, McCarthy said he envisions decentralizing the FBI by spreading operations into the states.

This idea that were going to build a new, big Pentagon and put all the FBI mainly in one place, I dont think its a good structure, McCarthy said Friday, panning a conservative-led proposal to relocate the FBI to Alabama.

Id like to see the structure of a much smaller FBI administration building, and more FBI agents out across the country, helping to keep the country safe, he said. To me thats better.

In many ways, the resistance to a robust federal law enforcement agency extends a thread that has run across American history  from the aftermath of the Civil War, when Southern states rejected federal troops for Reconstruction, to Trumps own 2024 campaign announcement in Waco, Texas, a region known for the federal siege of a separatist compound in 1993.

The Washington headquarters is symbolic, said Steven G. Bradbury, a former Trump administration general counsel who is now a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Heritage is among those outside entities and advocacy organizations encouraging Congress to reimagine the FBI.

Bradburys How to Fix the FBI report outlines nearly a dozen options. One is scaling back its jurisdiction. Another is to overhaul section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, that was part of the Trump-Russia investigation over 2016 election interference and is a program some Democrats also want to limit.

We have our finger on the pulse of what conservatives are reacting to, said Bradbury. The FBI needs to be rebuilt.

Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for the first time since Republicans took control in January, facing a long list of criticisms, complaints and accusations of bias at the bureau.

Are you protecting the Bidens? asked Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

Absolutely not, Wray said.

At another point Wray said, The idea that Im biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background.

He is a longtime Republican who had been appointed by Trump to fill the job after Director James Comey was fired in 2017.

Wray told the lawmakers that dismantling or defunding the FBI would be disastrous for the bureaus 38,000 employees and hurt our great state local law enforcement partners that depend on us each day to work with them on a whole slew of challenging threats.

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the hearing bizarre.

I didnt think I would ever see Republicans attacking a Republican appointed by Donald Trump to lead the nations largest law enforcement agency, essentially saying they want to defund the FBI, she said.

The lawmaker said it was also odd to find herself defending the federal law enforcement agency that she, too, believes needs strong oversight from Congress. But she felt Democrats had to step in to counter Republican attacks on the FBI.

Thats their message: They want to shut down the FBI because the FBI is continuing to investigate Donald Trump, said Jayapal. And that is really what this is about.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, submitted a proposal before the hearing that calls for eliminating taxpayer funding for any new FBI headquarter facility.

Jordan said in a letter to the Republican chair of the House appropriations committee that he also wants a plan for moving the FBI headquarters out of Washington, noting an existing facility in Huntsville, Alabama  a recommendation Heritage has also made.

One of the goals weve set in this Congress as Republicans is to do the oversight so we can impact the appropriations process, Jordan said in a brief interview at the Capitol, and put limitations on how taxpayer money is spent to stop the weaponization of these agencies against the American people.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, which is competing with neighboring Maryland to host the new FBI headquarters, called the Republican ideas a solution in search of a problem.

I think they just got a political bug against federal law enforcement agencies, he said.

(AP)




A month after former President Donald Trump was charged with mishandling classified documents, the judge presiding over the case is set to take on a more visible role as she weighs competing requests on a trial date and hears arguments this week on a procedural, but potentially crucial, area of the law.

A pretrial conference Tuesday to discuss procedures for handling classified information will represent the first courtroom arguments in the case before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon since Trump was indicted five weeks ago. The arguments could provide insight into how Cannon intends to preside over the case while she also confronts the unresolved question of how to schedule Trumps trial as he campaigns for president.

Those issues would be closely watched in any trial involving a former president. But Cannon could face additional scrutiny in light of a much-dissected ruling she issued last year that granted the Trump teams request for a special master to conduct an independent review of the reams of classified records removed by the FBI from his Mar-a-Lago estate. A three-judge federal appeals panel reversed her order, rebuking Cannon for a ruling it said she lacked the legal authority to make in the first place.

Cannons ruling, in a lawsuit Trump brought against the Justice Department, elicited criticism from legal experts who saw her as overly preferential to the former president. It also focused public attention on her limited experience as a judge, particularly in hugely sensitive national security matters, given that she was appointed to the bench just three years ago by Trump.

Still, some Florida lawyers say theres no doubt, as the judge now assigned to Trumps criminal case, that shes mindful of the stakes of the most politically explosive federal prosecution in recent memory.

She is not going to want to do anything but go by the book. The challenge is there has never been a book like this, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. Attorney in Miami who served on the advisory committee that reviewed Cannons judicial application. He said he was impressed with her credentials and felt confident she would be able to oversee the case fairly.

I think she is going to want to be very well-regarded for her judicial leadership of this case, Coffey said.

Jeffrey Garland, a criminal defense lawyer in Fort Pierce, Florida  where Cannons courtroom is based  praised Cannon for her handling of a trial he had before her last year in which he represented a quite difficult defendant whod been charged with throwing a chair at a federal prosecutor.

She was able to maintain the dignity of the court and courtroom composure, and she was able to express control in ways that were not threatening, Garland said, adding that he assumed Cannon would be able to do the same in the Trump case. I think she understands thats what a federal judge has to do in a case like this. Its true in any case, but especially in this case.

Cannon  a Duke University graduate and Colombian-born daughter of a Cuban immigrant  clerked for a U.S. Circuit Court judge and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida, prosecuting several dozen cases as part of her offices Major Crimes Division and later handling appeals of convictions and sentences, before being nominated by Trump in 2020. Shes also been a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization.

Her ruling in the Trump lawsuit last September catapulted her into the spotlight since it effectively halted core aspects of the Justice Departments investigation into the hoarding of classified documents. In overturning the order, the appeals court said that letting it stand would have allowed a radical reordering of our caselaw limiting the federal courts involvement in criminal investigations.

As the judge assigned to Trumps criminal prosecution, shell be empowered to issue rulings that could shape the trajectory of the case, including about what evidence can and cant be admitted and whether to proceed swiftly toward trial or grant the Trump teams request for a delay.

There have been few matters of substance for Cannon to decide in the month since Trumps indictment, though she did set a tentative August trial date  a formality under the Speedy Trial Act  in Fort Pierce and rebuffed a Justice Department request to file under seal a list of witness who prosecutors want Trump to be prohibited from discussing the case with.

But major issues lie ahead.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are at odds over the trial date, a question with significant legal and political implications. The Justice Department has proposed a Dec. 11 trial, while defense lawyers have suggested that it should be put off until after the 2024 presidential election, citing the challenges of scheduling a date while Trump pursues the Republican nomination and legal issues that they say are extraordinary and complex.

It is not clear when that issue will be resolved.

Tuesdays status conference centers on the Classified Information Procedures Act, a 1980 law that governs how classified information is handled in a criminal prosecution and that will likely provide an essential roadmap in this case. The law is meant to balance a defendants right to access evidence prosecutors intend to use at trial with the governments desire to safeguard sensitive, classified information.

Richard Serafini, a Florida criminal defense lawyer and former senior Justice Department official, said he did not necessarily believe Cannons lack of experience in that area would be detrimental given the case law and past precedent she and the attorneys can turn to for consultation.

These things arent novel. Theyre not everyday occurrences, but its not like, Oh, my goodness, theres no precedent on any of these things, he said.

Whatever happens, said Coffey, the eyes of the world are on her. She is in the middle of writing a chapter in history.

(AP)




Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriffs deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.

Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense search for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday mornings shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgias main city.

Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. Clayton County police said a Henry County sheriffs deputy saw the SUV that Longmore stole from one of the victims and began chasing him, calling for help. After exchanging gunfire with Longmore, Clayton police said he ran away.

Justin Robinson told WANF-TV that Longmore entered the backyard of a townhouse.

He had a gun, he was bleeding, he was naked, Robinson said.

Robinson said he alerted police officers, who were greeted with gunfire when they entered the townhouse where Longmore had hidden.

Soon as they open the back door this guy starts shooting, shoots at the cops, Robinson said. The police start shooting.

A Henry County sheriffs deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured in the attempt to arrest Longmore, officials said.

One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time, Scandrett said of that officer.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said all three officers are expected to recover. Details on the conditions of the other two wounded officers were not immediately made public.

Hampton Police Chief James Turner said the four killed Saturday were all residents of the same Dogwood Lakes neighborhood where Longmore lived, and were all were shot within a 10-minute span. He identified the victims as 67-year old Scott Leavitt and his wife, 66-year old Shirley Leavitt, as well as 65-year-old Steve Blizzard and 66-year-old Ronald Jeffers.

Sherry Wyatt, who works at Hamptons recreation center near Jeffers home, said Jeffers would regularly come in to sing at the senior center that shares the building.

A few months ago, Jeffers came over to her side of the building to practice and she told him how beautiful was his voice.

Im just so glad I told him he sang like an angel, said Wyatt, adding her heart was heavy Sunday over his death. I know he is in heaven now singing.

A relative of Blizzard did not immediately respond to a Facebook message.

Authorities had been seeking to arrest Longmore on four murder warrants for the deaths. Turner said Longmores motives remained under investigation.

On Sunday, neighbor Frankie Worth told The Associated Press he heard a gunshot Saturday morning as he was reaching for his living room window to open the blinds and see how much yard work he had to do.

Worth said he ducked just for a second and then looked back out the window. You know, when you get incoming, youve got to know where its coming from, said Worth, who identified himself as a Marine Corps veteran.

Longmore, who Worth knew only as Andre, was standing in the street. He described seeing the mans hands jerking from the recoil of firing a silver handgun.

Worth said the man appeared to have fired at a small white car driven by another neighbor, an older white gentleman. He said the shooting happened near a cul-de-sac where they all live.

Worth said he first thought thered been a road rage confrontation, but said the man moved deliberately. He didnt appear angry, upset, agitated, Worth said.

Worth said Longmore appeared to evaluate whether he needed to shoot again and then started walking casually toward the entrance to the subdivision, then at a brisk stride. Worth said he ran upstairs, watching Longmore disappear behind some trees as he called police.

Turner told reporters earlier that detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes in Dogwood Lakes. At least three police cars staked out the neighborhood Sunday, limiting access. About 40 houses on two streets flank a lake in the neighborhood, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of downtown Atlanta.

Ron Foster, who lives on the main road outside the subdivision entrance, said Longmore drove through his yard and his neighbors yard, destroying multiple ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks in the grass. Foster was inside his house when he heard crunching metal.

What was going through that mans mind after he did all he done? Foster wondered. It was unreal.

Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgias racetrack for NASCAR events. The most recent homicide before Saturday in the town of 8,000 had been in 2018, Turner said. Its not normal for us, he said.

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 AP and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley said the city would hold a prayer vigil Monday evening for the four victims and their loved ones.

We have their back and we will continue to support them throughout their bereavement, Tarpley said.

(AP)




Biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Monday released a list of 16 people hed nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court or federal appellate courts if he becomes president, making him the first in the partys field to itemize his possible top judicial appointments.

Ramaswamys list includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah as possible nominees for the nations top court, as well as elevating federal judges who struck down President Joe Bidens airplane mask mandate and the FDAs two-decade-long approval of the abortion pill.

The direction of the Supreme Court was a powerful issue for Donald Trump in his 2016 bid. Conservative voters hunger to have a Republican president be the one to appoint a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in early 2016, helped land the former reality TV star in the White House.

Trump in the 2016 primary released his own list of possible appointments to the high court to reassure his new partys voters that he was in line with their judicial agenda.

In an interview, Ramaswamy, 37, said he was releasing the list of possible appointments to show voters where he stood.

Its important, when youre asking voters to select the next president of the United States, that you be as transparent as you can about what youre going to do, Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy is the latest Republican candidate trying to recapture conservative enthusiasm around the court as Democrats have become increasingly energized by its conservative rulings.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said hed appoint stronger conservatives to the bench than did Trump, whose three appointees helped form the majority that rescinded the constitutional right for women to have abortions in a ruling last year, a longtime conservative goal. Trump himself has frequently reveled in the courts rulings and noted that he appointed half of the courts 6-3 conservative majority.

Ramaswamy said he sees no reason to criticize Trumps appointments.

That is a bizarre criticism, he said of the argument that Trumps picks werent conservative enough.

Ramaswamys own list includes prominent conservative legal names. He said hed only nominate Cruz or Lee if it wouldnt change the balance of the U.S. Senate, which Democrats currently control by a two-vote margin. Another prominent name on the list for the high court is Paul Clement, who served as former President George W. Bushs solicitor general.

Ramaswamy also proposes elevating several district court judges to the nations appellate courts. He cites Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an Amarillo-based federal judge whose April ruling against the abortion pill was full of language of anti-abortion rights activists and was swiftly put on hold by appellate judges and then the Supreme Court.

The list also includes Kathryn Mizelle, who Trump nominated at age 38 to a judgeship in Florida and who struck down Bidens air travel mask mandate last year.

An additional prominent conservative judge who makes Ramaswamys Supreme Court list is James Ho, another Trump nominee to a position on the Texas-based Fifth Circuit Court of appeals whose rulings are full of conservative political rhetoric. Ramaswamy said Ho first came to his attention because the judge quoted his own book, Woke, Inc., in one of his rulings.

(AP)
The Moche Civilization, also known as the Mochica, was a remarkable pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in what is now Peru between the 1st and 8th centuries CE. Renowned for their exceptional pottery and artistry, the Moche people left a lasting legacy that provides valuable insights into their rich culture, societal structure, and technological advancements. This article delves into the fascinating world of the Moche Civilization, unraveling the mysteries surrounding their intricate pottery and art forms.

1. Introduction

The Moche Civilization is an ancient civilization that thrived along the north coast of Peru. They left behind an extensive artistic and cultural heritage that has captivated archaeologists and historians for centuries. In this article, we will delve into the various aspects of Moche society, including their history, social structure, art, and pottery, offering a comprehensive overview of their remarkable achievements.

2. Historical Background

The Moche Civilization emerged around the 1st century CE and reached its peak between the 5th and 8th centuries CE. They inhabited the valleys of the Moche and Chicama rivers, constructing impressive cities and irrigation systems. Despite being contemporaries of other prominent civilizations like the Maya and the Inca, the Moche developed a unique cultural identity and artistic style that set them apart.

3. Social Structure and Governance

The Moche society was hierarchical, with a ruling elite holding power over the common people. They were organized into distinct social classes, and the ruler, known as the "Lord of Sipan," governed over a centralized political system. The Moche elite engaged in elaborate ceremonies and feasts to maintain their authority and display their wealth and prestige.

4. Technological Advancements

The Moche Civilization achieved remarkable technological advancements for their time. They mastered sophisticated irrigation systems, enabling them to cultivate crops in the arid coastal region. Additionally, their pottery techniques were highly advanced, allowing them to create intricate and detailed ceramic vessels, some of which depicted scenes of everyday life, rituals, and mythology.

5. Moche Art and Pottery

Moche art and pottery are among the most distinctive and admired aspects of their culture. The Moche people were skilled artisans who created exquisite pottery vessels adorned with intricate designs and realistic depictions of humans, animals, and mythical creatures. These vessels were used for various purposes, including religious ceremonies, burials, and everyday activities.

6. Religious Beliefs and Rituals

Religion played a significant role in Moche society. They worshipped a pantheon of gods and believed in the existence of supernatural beings. Ceremonial rituals, often involving human sacrifices, were conducted to appease the gods and ensure fertility, prosperity, and protection. The Moche also revered nature and incorporated its elements into their religious practices.

7. Agriculture and Economic Activities

The Moche people were highly skilled agriculturalists. They developed extensive irrigation systems and cultivated a variety of crops, including maize, beans, squash, and cotton. Their agricultural success enabled a surplus of food production, supporting a complex economic system that involved trade, craftsmanship, and the exchange of goods within their society and with neighboring civilizations.

8. Decline and Legacy

The decline of the Moche Civilization remains a subject of debate among historians. Factors such as environmental changes, warfare, and the collapse of the irrigation systems have been proposed as potential causes. Regardless of the reasons for their decline, the Moche left behind a remarkable cultural legacy, which is evident in their exquisite pottery, intricate art, and the wealth of knowledge we have gained from studying their civilization.

9. Conclusion

The Moche Civilization stands as a testament to the ingenuity, artistic talent, and cultural sophistication of ancient Peru. Their intricate pottery and artistry continue to captivate people worldwide, providing valuable insights into their societal structure, religious beliefs, and technological achievements. Exploring the world of the Moche offers a glimpse into a fascinating pre-Columbian civilization that has left an indelible mark on history.

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Less than a month after NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced her resignation, Mayor Eric Adams has named her replacement, a move that was widely hailed by Jewish community leaders.

Adams tapped First Deputy Commissioner Edward Caban to be the NYPDs new commissioner on July 17th. Caban, who has been filling in as interim commissioner since Sewells departure, is the highest ranking Hispanic member of the NYPD and has been with the department for more than 30 years. A former adjutant with Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, Caban is highly regarded in the Jewish community and has responded to numerous anti-Semitic hate crimes throughout the five boroughs.

Commissioner Cabans appointment is a smart move for New York City, said long time community leader and law enforcement chaplain Rabbi Abe Friedman. We are grateful to Mayor Adams for his vision in naming a commissioner who understands the varied nuances of running the largest police force in the country.

Seeing Commissioner Caban rising to the occasion after being named interim commissioner made him the obvious choice as the next leader of the NYPD, and we look forward to working closely with him, observed Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition chairman Josh Mehlman.

Senior community activist Rabbi Bernard Freilich was equally enthusiastic about the mayors announcement.

Commissioner Caban has consistently proven himself over the years and is a decorated member of the NYPD, said Rabbi Frielich. We wish him well as he takes the helm of the department and are confident that Mayor Adams has chosen very, very well.

Once again, Mayor Adams has demonstrated that he has his finger on the pulse of our city, naming a commissioner who understands the diverse makeup of the five boroughs and will devote himself completely to ensuring that every city resident will be heard, represented and protected, added Williamsburg Jewish Community Coalition executive director Rabbi Moishe Indig.

NYPD clergy liaison Yehuda Eckstein praised Caban for his long history of impeccable community relationships.

Edward Cabans appointment as police commissioner is good news for NYC, said Eckstein. He is a longtime friend of the community, who has always placed an emphasis on crime and always responded to the needs of the Jewish community.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Former President Donald Trump emerged triumphant at the Turning Point Action conference held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, winning the highly anticipated straw poll by a substantial margin. Trumps victory overshadowed other 2024 GOP contenders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as he proudly boasted about the expected outcome on Truth Social, the social media platform he recently launched.

On Sunday afternoon, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, announced the results from the conference stage, emphasizing that Vivek Ramaswamy secured second place, surpassing well-known candidates such as DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, and Chris Christie.

Trump took to Truth Social to express his delight over the resounding victory, which had been widely anticipated at the predominantly Make America Great Again (MAGA) conference. In his post, he exclaimed, Just heard that I (WE!) won the big Turning Point Straw Poll in a BLOWOUT, getting 85.7% of the vote. Ron DeSantimonious came in a solid 3rd with 4.3%, Vivek got 2%, and Sloppy Chris Christie, as usual, got a big, fat, ZERO!

Trumps overwhelming win in the straw poll further solidifies his prominent position within the Republican Party and underscores his continued influence over conservative voters. The conference, known for its alignment with Trumps policies and ideology, showcased his enduring popularity among attendees.

While Trumps victory was expected, the notable second-place finish of Vivek Ramaswamy added an interesting twist to the straw poll results. Ramaswamy, a prominent entrepreneur and author, garnered attention with his performance, surpassing established figures within the Republican Party.

The conference also demonstrated the ongoing divisions within the party, as candidates like Asa Hutchinson faced strong backlash and booing from the audience. The event highlighted the challenges faced by GOP hopefuls seeking to navigate the shifting dynamics of the party and gain support from the enthusiastic MAGA base.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




House Democratic leadership issued a stern rebuke on Sunday dismissing the anti-Israel remarks made by Representative Pramila Jayapal, who serves as the chair of the congressional progressive caucus.

The controversial comments were made by Jayapal during her appearance at the Netroots Nation conference on Saturday. Claiming to speak from her experience as a participant in numerous demonstrations, Jayapal asserted, 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.

Following objections raised against her initial statements, Jayapal later clarified her position in a lengthy statement, indicating that she did not view Israel as a racist nation but rather disagreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus extreme right-wing government.

However, a leaked draft statement from prominent supporters of Israel within the Democratic Party was circulated to the press on Sunday. The authors of the document openly promoted its contents, expressing deep concern over Representative Pramila Jayapals unacceptable comments about Israel, a historic and democratic ally. They acknowledged her retraction but emphasized their commitment to preventing anti-Zionist sentiments that foster anti-Semitism from influencing the Democratic Party.

Before the leaked statement could be officially released, House Democratic leaders preempted it with a statement of their own. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Vice Chair Ted Lieu jointly stated, Israel is not a racist state, firmly rejecting the assertions made by Representative Jayapal.

They continued: As a Jewish and Democratic nation, Israel was founded 75 years ago on the principle of complete equality of social and political rights for all of its citizens irrespective of religion, race or sex, as codified in its Declaration of Independence.

America and Israel have a uniquely special relationship anchored in our shared democratic values and strategic interests. As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israels right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. We are also firmly committed to a robust two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinian people can live side by side in peace and prosperity.

Certainly, there are individual members of the current Israeli governing coalition with whom we strongly disagree. That is also the case with respect to some on the other side of the aisle who we serve with in the United States Congress.

Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure. We are determined to make sure support for Israel in the Congress remains strongly bipartisan.

Our commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally and beacon of democracy in the Middle East is ironclad. We look forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the United States House of Representatives this week.

Let me set the record straight about Israel as a multiracial democracy based on nearly a decade to traveling to the region. Jewish and Arab citizens enjoy equal protection under the laws, including an equal right to vote in Israeli elections. There is Arab representation in  Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) July 17, 2023

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




President Joe Biden extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to meet in the United States in a Monday phone call. The call marked the first phone call between the two leaders in several months.

Prime Minister Netanyahu gladly accepted the invitation and discussions will be held to determine a suitable date for the meeting, in coordination with US officials.

During the phone call, Netanyahu also informed Biden about his plans to seek broad approval for judicial reform bills that are scheduled to be endorsed by the Knesset next week. This move comes amid ongoing nationwide protests across Israel.

The discussion between Biden and Netanyahu focused on reinforcing the enduring ties between Israel and the United States. President Biden reiterated the commitment of the United States to the security and well-being of Israel and expressed his determination to work collaboratively to address the nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. Both leaders emphasized the significance of joint efforts in combating this pressing issue.

Furthermore, Netanyahu highlighted Israels ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability in the West Bank following the Israeli Defense Forces recent operation in Jenin. The military raid, the largest in over two decades, sparked tensions in the region, and Netanyahu expressed Israels commitment to preventing any further escalation of the situation.

The timing of the phone call is noteworthy, as it precedes the upcoming visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Washington later this week. President Herzog is scheduled to meet with President Biden during his visit, further underlining the continued dialogue and collaboration between the two nations.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with President Issac Herzog on Thursday, prior to Herzogs departure on Monday to the US, where he will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, the second Israeli president to do, with the first one being his father, President Chaim Herzog, over 35 years ago.

As President Biden continues to snub Netanyahu, refusing to invite him to Washington, the prime minister discussed with Herzog the issues he wants him to discuss with the Biden administration.

Netanyahu emphasized two red lines to stress to US officials: Israel will not stand by if the US restores a nuclear deal with Iran and will use all means to thwart Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and Israel will not agree to a no surprises policy in its anti-Iran activities.

Herzogs office announced on Sunday that Leah Goldin, the mother of fallen IDF soldier Hadar, hyd, whose body has been held by Hamas since 2014, will accompany Herzog on his trip and join his meetings in Congress in Washington and with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York.

Herzog will meet President Biden at the White House on Tuesday and address Congress on Wednesday. Hes also scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

On Thursday, hell travel to New York, where hell visit the UN headquarters, meet with Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, and attend an event at the UJA-Federation of New York.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Elon Musk says Twitter is still losing cash because advertising has dropped by half.

In a reply to a tweet offering business advice, Musk tweeted Saturday, Were still negative cash flow, due to (about a) 50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load.

Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else, he concluded.

Ever since he took over Twitter in a $44 billion deal last fall, Musk has tried to reassure advertisers who were concerned about the ouster of top executives, widespread layoffs and a different approach to content moderation. Some high-profile users who had been banned were allowed back on the site.

In April, Musk said most of the advertisers who left had returned and that the company might become cash-flow positive in the second quarter.

In May, he hired a new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, an NBCUniversal executive with deep ties to the advertising industry.

But since then, Twitter has upset some users by imposing new limits on how many tweets they can view in a day, and some users complained that they were locked out of the site. Musk said the restrictions were needed to prevent unauthorized scraping of potentially valuable data.

Twitter got a new competitor this month when Facebook owner Meta launched a text-focused app, Threads, and gained tens of millions of sign-ups in a few days. Twitter responded by threatening legal action.

(AP)




Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was abducted by the Kataib Hezbollah organization in Baghdad four months ago, herself initiated a meeting with the group that ultimately kidnapped her, Channel 12 News reported on Sunday evening.

Until now, it was unknown how the Kataib Hezbollah group was aware that a researcher of Israeli origin was in Baghdad.

According to Arab sources quoted by the report, Tsurkov contacted an Iraqi Shiite she was acquainted with, Ahmad Alawani, in order to arrange an interview with his relative, Muhammad Alawani, a senior Kataib Hezbollah official, as part of her research on Shiite organizations in Iraq.

When the two men discovered in their second meeting with Tsurkov that she was of Israeli origin, they decided to kidnap her and transfer her to Iran.

According to the sources, at least one attempt was made to transfer her to Iran. However, it is believed that the attempt was unsuccessful and she is still being held in Iraq.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert called on the Biden administration to reevaluate its relationship with Israel.

In an interview with the Israeli Democrat TV channel on Sunday evening, ex-prisoner Olmert said that the United States should reassess its relations with Israel, for all that this implies.

I call on world leaders not to meet with Netanyahu, to boycott him, Olmert said, repeating the shocking statement he made in previous interviews.

Everyone who loves the State of Israel has to be opposed to the Israeli government, he said, elaborating that Biden, who has a long history of support for Israel, must act against the government. Biden, if he loves Israel, must act against the government.

Channel 14 journalist Yinon Magal responded to the interview by stating: I call on the Prison Services to re-evaluate the early release of the prisoner Olmert, for all that this implies.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Israel Police decided to dismiss a group of volunteers who threatened to stop their volunteer work if the judicial reform plan is advanced, Kan News reported on Monday.

About 170 volunteers signed the letter.

In a statement in response to the report, a police spokesperson said: This is a volunteer who signed a petition together with other volunteers calling for the halt of volunteer activities if the judicial reform is passed.

The volunteers of Israel Police are subject to the regulations of Israel Police, including the prohibition of political statements related to their volunteering, and therefore, it was decided to temporarily freeze their volunteer activities.

The petition signed by the police volunteers states: We oppose the coup detat being carried out. We see the weakening of the judiciary as a violation of the fundamental values of the regime and of the state as formulated in the Declaration of Independence. We announce that if the coup succeeds, and the Israel Police stand by the government, we will stop serving it.

We understand that by doing so we will hurt the body dear to us, the Israel Police, and our fellow police officers, who will have to bear the burden. At the same time, we are not ready to take part in the executive branch of a dictatorial government to which you aspire.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
AGF Management Limited (OTCMKTS:AGFMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,300 shares, an increase of 62.5% from the June 15th total of 800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.6 days.

AGF Management Trading Down 1.5 %

OTCMKTS AGFMF opened at $5.76 on Monday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $5.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.87. AGF Management has a 1 year low of $4.23 and a 1 year high of $6.97.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on AGFMF. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of AGF Management from C$9.50 to C$9.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. CIBC decreased their target price on shares of AGF Management from C$9.00 to C$8.50 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. Desjardins increased their target price on shares of AGF Management from C$9.75 to C$10.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of AGF Management from C$9.25 to C$8.75 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of AGF Management from C$9.50 to C$8.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd.

AGF Management Company Profile

AGF Management Limited is one of Canada's premier investment management companies with offices across Canada and subsidiaries around the world. 2007 marks AGF's 50th anniversary ofproviding Canadians with innovative investment solutions across the wealth continuum. AGF's products and services include a diversified family of more than 50 mutual funds, the evolutionary AGF Elements portfolios, the Harmony asset management program, AGF Private Investment Management, Institutional Account Services and AGF Trust GICs, loans and mortgages.

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Medvedev calls for attacks on Ukraine housing as revenge for Crimean Bridge 17 July, 03:12 PM Dmitry Medvedev (Photo:Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS)

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has once again taken to social media to rant about Ukraine, this time in relation to the explosions on the Crimean Bridge on July 17, calling Ukrainians "terrorists".

"They understand only the language of force. Only personal and completely inhumane methods," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

He then called on the Russian military to blow up housing in Ukraine as revenge for the bridge incident.

"Search for and eliminate their accomplices, abandoning the insipid idea of a trial against them," wrote Medvedev, who is known for rants that are tinged with accusations of alcoholism.

Video of day

But the main thing is to destroy the top leadership of terrorist groups, no matter what cracks these insects hide in.

Crimean Bridge: The latest on the explosion

In the early hours of July 17, explosions occurred on the Crimean Bridge, after which all traffic on the bridge was stopped. Crimean puppet governor Sergey Aksyonov declared an "emergency" and Russian social media groups reported serious damage to at least one span.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force comments on Crimean Bridge explosions

Later, the occupation administration announced the resumption of railroad traffic, but road traffic remains paralyzed.

An NV law enforcement source said that the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the overnight blasts on the Crimean Bridge. According to the source, the bridge was attacked using surface drones.

This is the second case of explosions on the Crimean Bridge, which Russia uses to deploy armored vehicles and manpower to the front in southern Ukraine. On Oct. 8, 2022, several spans of the bridge collapsed as a result of a powerful blast.

The Kremlin regime accused the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, of organizing the sabotage. For its part, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence denied these statements, calling them "nonsense."

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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AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the thirteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $185.38.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on ABC shares. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $182.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Bank of America upped their target price on AmerisourceBergen from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. TheStreet upgraded AmerisourceBergen from a c rating to a b+ rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on AmerisourceBergen from $174.00 to $192.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th.

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AmerisourceBergen Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:ABC opened at $191.42 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.13. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $179.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $167.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.56. AmerisourceBergen has a 12-month low of $135.14 and a 12-month high of $193.83.

AmerisourceBergen Dividend Announcement

AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $3.50 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $63.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.40 billion. AmerisourceBergen had a net margin of 0.65% and a return on equity of 809.53%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.22 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that AmerisourceBergen will post 11.89 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were given a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. AmerisourceBergens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.94%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.52, for a total value of $1,779,790.48. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at $43,730,565.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 292,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.77, for a total transaction of $50,000,089.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 33,366,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,697,978,078.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.52, for a total transaction of $1,779,790.48. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at $43,730,565.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 627,815 shares of company stock worth $110,824,233. 20.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of AmerisourceBergen

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 281,056 shares of the companys stock worth $46,574,000 after buying an additional 13,361 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of AmerisourceBergen during the 1st quarter worth about $737,000. BOKF NA boosted its position in AmerisourceBergen by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. BOKF NA now owns 8,782 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,455,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in AmerisourceBergen by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,082 shares of the companys stock valued at $345,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, ING Groep NV purchased a new stake in AmerisourceBergen in the 4th quarter valued at about $4,563,000. 92.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AmerisourceBergen Company Profile

(Get Free Report

AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products. Its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers.

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Shares of Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the nine analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $54.27.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on WBS. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Webster Financial in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $75.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $44.00 to $43.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $42.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Luis Massiani sold 16,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.27, for a total value of $596,320.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 115,153 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,291,752.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Webster Financial

Webster Financial Trading Down 1.7 %

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Webster Financial by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,679,692 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $799,122,000 after acquiring an additional 116,092 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Webster Financial by 2.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,498,723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $689,800,000 after purchasing an additional 362,728 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in shares of Webster Financial by 18.2% during the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 9,297,676 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $521,886,000 after purchasing an additional 1,433,204 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Webster Financial by 9.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,904,283 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $311,587,000 after purchasing an additional 707,001 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Webster Financial by 2.0% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,277,694 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $247,468,000 after purchasing an additional 120,649 shares in the last quarter. 85.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE WBS opened at $40.99 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $37.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.37. Webster Financial has a 52-week low of $31.03 and a 52-week high of $56.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.96. The company has a market cap of $7.16 billion, a PE ratio of 8.31 and a beta of 1.24.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by ($0.07). Webster Financial had a return on equity of 13.39% and a net margin of 28.33%. The firm had revenue of $666.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $708.96 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.24 earnings per share. Webster Financials revenue was up 33.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Webster Financial will post 5.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Webster Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 8th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. Webster Financials payout ratio is currently 32.45%.

Webster Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; treasury management services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services.

Further Reading

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Shares of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, five have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $161.55.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on RGA shares. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Reinsurance Group of America in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. They set an overweight rating and a $163.00 price objective on the stock. 58.com reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Reinsurance Group of America in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on Reinsurance Group of America from $144.00 to $152.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Reinsurance Group of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $170.00 to $160.00 in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Reinsurance Group of America from $149.00 to $151.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th.

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Reinsurance Group of America Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of RGA stock opened at $140.31 on Friday. Reinsurance Group of America has a 12-month low of $113.06 and a 12-month high of $153.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $143.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $141.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.13 and a beta of 0.88.

Reinsurance Group of America Dividend Announcement

Reinsurance Group of America ( NYSE:RGA Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The insurance provider reported $5.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $1.79. Reinsurance Group of America had a return on equity of 23.94% and a net margin of 5.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.47 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Reinsurance Group of America will post 17.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 15th. Reinsurance Group of Americas payout ratio is currently 23.10%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Reinsurance Group of America

In other Reinsurance Group of America news, CFO Todd C. Larson sold 1,018 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.96, for a total value of $151,641.28. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,260 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,592,969.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP William L. Hutton sold 1,952 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.03, for a total value of $292,858.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,970 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,095,919.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Todd C. Larson sold 1,018 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.96, for a total transaction of $151,641.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,260 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,592,969.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.31% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Reinsurance Group of America during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its position in Reinsurance Group of America by 20,900.0% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 210 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. AllSquare Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.60% of the companys stock.

About Reinsurance Group of America

(Get Free Report

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated engages in reinsurance business. The company offers individual and group life and health insurance products, such as term life, credit life, universal life, whole life, group life and health, joint and last survivor insurance, critical illness, disability, and longevity products; asset-intensive and financial reinsurance products; and other capital motivated solutions.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) will be announcing its earnings results before the market opens on Tuesday, July 18th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.76 per share for the quarter.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The company had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.77 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Charles Schwab to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Charles Schwab Stock Down 2.4 %

SCHW opened at $58.52 on Monday. Charles Schwab has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $86.63. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $54.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $62.92. 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 firm has a market cap of $103.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.99, a PEG ratio of 5.59 and a beta of 0.88.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 27.32%.

SCHW has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 15th. JMP Securities upgraded shares of 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. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.23.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Charles Schwab

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Gould Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 33.3% during the 1st quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 800 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth approximately $89,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.77% of the companys stock.

About Charles Schwab

(Get Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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GAM (OTCMKTS:GMHLY  Get Free Report) is one of 1,201 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare GAM to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, risk, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares GAM and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GAM N/A N/A N/A GAM Competitors 365.92% 7.60% 4.86%

Dividends

GAM pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 84.9%. GAM pays out 58.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.0% and pay out 639.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. GAM is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GAM 0 0 0 0 N/A GAM Competitors 1060 4552 5920 93 2.43

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for GAM and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 81.69%. Given GAMs peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe GAM has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares GAM and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio GAM N/A N/A 0.68 GAM Competitors $206.98 million -$8.07 million 4.81

GAMs peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than GAM. GAM 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.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

32.5% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

GAM peers beat GAM on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

GAM Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

GAM Holding AG is a publicly owned asset management holding company. The firm provides its services to institutions, financial intermediaries and private investors. Through its subsidiaries, the firm manages separate client focused equity and fixed income portfolios. Through its subsidiaries, it also launches and manages equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds. Through its subsidiaries, the firm invests in public equity and fixed income markets. GAM Holding AG is based in Zurich, Switzerland with an additional office in Geneva, Switzerland and London, United Kingdom.

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WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC  Free Report) had its price target reduced by BMO Capital Markets from $100.00 to $96.00 in a report published on Friday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a market perform rating on the utilities providers stock.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on WEC. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $98.00 price target on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on WEC Energy Group from $98.00 to $91.00 in a research report on Friday, June 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $99.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Guggenheim reduced their price target on WEC Energy Group from $99.00 to $94.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on WEC Energy Group from $106.00 to $103.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $98.82.

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WEC Energy Group Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE WEC opened at $91.40 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. WEC Energy Group has a twelve month low of $80.82 and a twelve month high of $108.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.83 billion, a PE ratio of 21.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.40. The stocks 50 day moving average is $89.72 and its 200 day moving average is $92.37.

WEC Energy Group Dividend Announcement

WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.90 billion. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 11.60% and a net margin of 14.10%. The firms quarterly revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.79 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that WEC Energy Group will post 4.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 72.90%.

Insider Buying and Selling at WEC Energy Group

In other WEC Energy Group news, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.36, for a total transaction of $141,540.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,029,023.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of WEC Energy Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 1st quarter worth $64,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 19.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 6,272 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 8.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 848,405 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $84,682,000 after purchasing an additional 65,287 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 10.2% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 34,679 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,461,000 after purchasing an additional 3,224 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of WEC Energy Group by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,765 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $875,000 after purchasing an additional 923 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.68% of the companys stock.

WEC Energy Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other.

Further Reading

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Guardian Capital Group (OTCMKTS:GCAAF  Get Free Report) is one of 1,196 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Guardian Capital Group to related businesses based on the strength of its dividends, risk, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

15.9% of Guardian Capital Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.6% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.1% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Dividends

Guardian Capital Group pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Guardian Capital Group pays out 9.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.0% and pay out 639.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Guardian Capital Group N/A N/A 24.77 Guardian Capital Group Competitors $207.84 million -$8.18 million 3.94

This table compares Guardian Capital Group and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Guardian Capital Groups peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Guardian Capital Group. Guardian Capital Group 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.

Profitability

This table compares Guardian Capital Group and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Guardian Capital Group N/A N/A N/A Guardian Capital Group Competitors 370.19% 7.56% 4.86%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Guardian Capital Group and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Guardian Capital Group 0 0 1 0 3.00 Guardian Capital Group Competitors 1045 4457 5784 93 2.43

Guardian Capital Group currently has a consensus target price of $49.00, indicating a potential upside of 57.61%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 81.68%. Given Guardian Capital Groups peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Guardian Capital Group has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Guardian Capital Group peers beat Guardian Capital Group on 9 of the 13 factors compared.

Guardian Capital Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Guardian Capital Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified financial services company in Canada, the Untied States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through Investment Management, Wealth Management, and Corporate Activities and Investment segments. It provides investment management and advisory services. The company also offers wealth management services to high-net-worth families, foundations, and charities. In addition, it manages institutional assets for pension plans, broker-dealer third-party platforms, insurance company segregated funds, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, endowment funds, and foundations. Further, it provides private banking services. Guardian Capital Group Limited was incorporated in 1962 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Jiangxi Copper Company Limited (OTCMKTS:JIAXF  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 103,000 shares, an increase of 232.3% from the June 15th total of 31,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently ? days.

Jiangxi Copper Stock Performance

JIAXF opened at $1.55 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.60. Jiangxi Copper has a 1-year low of $1.13 and a 1-year high of $1.85.

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About Jiangxi Copper

(Get Free Report)

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Jiangxi Copper Company Limited engages in exploring, mining, smelting, and refining copper in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and internationally. It offers copper cathodes, copper rods and wires, sulphuric acid, and other products, as well as deposit, loan, guarantee, and financing consultation services.

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Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lessened its holdings in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGX  Free Report) by 5.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 124,594 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,778 shares during the quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD.s holdings in Invesco Preferred ETF were worth $1,430,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sunesis Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco Preferred ETF in the 1st quarter worth $258,000. Simplicity Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Invesco Preferred ETF in the 1st quarter worth $644,000. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 122,437 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,406,000 after acquiring an additional 1,930 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 21.7% during the 1st quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 57,005 shares of the companys stock valued at $665,000 after acquiring an additional 10,180 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IFG Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Preferred ETF by 32.0% during the 1st quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 43,780 shares of the companys stock valued at $503,000 after acquiring an additional 10,625 shares during the last quarter.

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Invesco Preferred ETF Trading Down 1.1 %

NYSEARCA PGX opened at $11.30 on Monday. Invesco Preferred ETF has a one year low of $10.80 and a one year high of $13.43. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $11.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.64.

About Invesco Preferred ETF

The PowerShares Preferred Portfolio (Fund) is based on The BofA Merrill Lynch Core Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index (Index). The Fund normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to replicate the total return of a diversified group of investment-grade preferred securities.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PGX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGX  Free Report).

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Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 20.6% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 5,349 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,386 shares during the quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $520,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 43,512,330 shares of the companys stock worth $4,403,883,000 after acquiring an additional 411,358 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 30,296,422 shares of the companys stock worth $3,061,665,000 after buying an additional 449,971 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,050,540 shares of the companys stock worth $1,332,355,000 after buying an additional 260,832 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 100,700.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,640,144 shares of the companys stock worth $1,582,939,000 after buying an additional 15,624,628 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 13,197,784 shares of the companys stock worth $1,307,133,000 after buying an additional 173,451 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.43% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $111.40.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

NYSE:PM opened at $99.50 on Monday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $82.85 and a fifty-two week high of $105.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $154.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.70. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $94.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $97.74.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The business had revenue of $8.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.03 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.56 EPS. The companys revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.19 EPS for the current year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 23rd were issued a $1.27 dividend. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 90.88%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products that are sold in markets outside the United States.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report).

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President Zelenskyy honors MH17 victims on ninth anniversary of war crime 17 July, 07:09 PM There were 298 people on board the plane, all of them died (Photo:Ivan Sidorov/www.flickr.com)

On July 17, Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash, which was shot down by Kremlin-controlled Donetsk militants nine years ago, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Twitter.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the tragedy caused by the actions of Russia will never be forgotten.

"Our thoughts and hearts are with the families and loved ones of each and every one of the 298 victims," Zelenskyy said.

This tragedy caused by the aggressor will never be forgotten. The invading state, the terrorist state will be held fully accountable for all crimes committed in Ukraine.

Video of day

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, also spoke about the tragedy, noting that Russia has been lying about the crash for years because it wants to avoid responsibility for its crime.

"Russia shot down MH17 9 years ago, killing all 298 people aboard," he said on Twitter.

It lied about the tragedy for years trying to dodge accountability, until the Dutch trial stated the truth. We mourn the MH17 victims and reiterate: accountability for Russian crimes is inevitable.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the world to bring all those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. As the subsequent investigation proved, the plane was hit by a missile from the Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile system over the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast.

All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed. This is the largest number of casualties in the history of aviation from all cases of downing civilian airliners.

On Nov. 17, 2022, the Dutch District Court of The Hague sentenced Igor Strelkov Girkin, Leonid Kharchenko, and Sergey Dubinsky to life imprisonment.

They were found guilty of 298 counts of murder  for each passenger and crew member of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.

Another defendant in the case, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted by the court. Those found guilty must pay 16 million euros ($17.2 million) in compensation to the relatives of the victims.

In August 2014, the Joint Investigation Team was established, which included representatives of Russia. In July 2015, Russia blocked a proposal at the UN Security Council to establish an international tribunal to investigate the MH17 crash.

In 2016, the Joint Investigation Team officially released the results of its investigation into the downing of MH17, determining that the plane was shot down by a Buk missile system that had been delivered to occupied Donbas from Russia.

A report by the Joint Investigation Team published in February 2023 showed that there were "strong grounds" to believe that the decision to supply the Buk anti-aircraft missile system to the DPR militants was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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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Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,870 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 269 shares during the quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Devon Energy were worth $398,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Devon Energy by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,321,413 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $818,065,000 after purchasing an additional 131,526 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in Devon Energy by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,263,424 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $692,813,000 after purchasing an additional 356,448 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in Devon Energy by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,371,571 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $435,881,000 after purchasing an additional 99,059 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Devon Energy by 96.4% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,608,577 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $344,984,000 after buying an additional 2,752,752 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Wealth Planning LLC grew its holdings in Devon Energy by 90.7% during the 4th quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC now owns 5,386,490 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $331,323,000 after buying an additional 2,562,584 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.00% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on DVN shares. Mizuho cut their price target on Devon Energy from $71.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Devon Energy from $82.00 to $71.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price target on Devon Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on Devon Energy from $52.00 to $50.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on Devon Energy from $87.00 to $81.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.53.

Devon Energy Price Performance

DVN opened at $48.90 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $48.65 and a 200 day moving average of $53.51. Devon Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $44.03 and a 52-week high of $78.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stock has a market cap of $31.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.33, a PEG ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.31.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.82 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 47.42% and a net margin of 31.39%. Devon Energys revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.88 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.01 EPS for the current year.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.72%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Devon Energy

In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of Devon Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total transaction of $414,351.24. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 218,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,914,347.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Devon Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) by 2.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,935 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 1,031 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $6,344,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXR. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,135,848 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $460,800,000 after acquiring an additional 38,582 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $380,823,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,877,977 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $276,405,000 after acquiring an additional 22,497 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,325,154 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $195,036,000 after acquiring an additional 29,213 shares during the period. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 69.0% in the 4th quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 934,970 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $137,609,000 after acquiring an additional 381,727 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.81% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on EXR shares. Raymond James upgraded Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $185.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. KeyCorp cut their target price on Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial cut their target price on Extra Space Storage from $165.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a research report on Monday, May 8th. They set a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $169.38.

Extra Space Storage Trading Up 0.8 %

Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend

EXR stock opened at $155.76 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $148.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $153.45. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $139.97 and a fifty-two week high of $216.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.49, a P/E/G ratio of 4.63 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.01 per share. The ex-dividend date 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 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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Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report) by 2.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 432,902 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,423 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in Amcor were worth $4,926,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Amcor by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 112,644,781 shares of the companys stock worth $1,276,265,000 after purchasing an additional 10,472,157 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Amcor by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,742,108 shares of the companys stock valued at $642,887,000 after acquiring an additional 358,145 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Amcor by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 30,691,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $365,538,000 after acquiring an additional 3,033,487 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Amcor by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 30,259,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $359,735,000 after acquiring an additional 286,660 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Amcor by 40.9% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 27,078,220 shares of the companys stock valued at $306,797,000 after acquiring an additional 7,854,257 shares during the last quarter. 49.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AMCR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Amcor from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Bank of America cut shares of Amcor from a buy rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Amcor from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $11.60 to $10.80 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.80.

Amcor Price Performance

Amcor stock opened at $9.93 on Monday. Amcor plc has a 12-month low of $9.40 and a 12-month high of $13.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.05 and a beta of 0.80. The firms 50-day moving average is $10.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

Amcor (NYSE:AMCR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.18. Amcor had a net margin of 6.54% and a return on equity of 27.94%. The company had revenue of $3.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.69 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.21 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Amcor plc will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Amcor Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th were issued a dividend of $0.1225 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 23rd. This represents a $0.49 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.93%. Amcors payout ratio is currently 74.24%.

About Amcor

(Free Report)

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

Further Reading

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Trilogy Metals (NYSEAMERICAN:TMQ  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The mining company reported ($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.02), MarketWatch Earnings reports.

Trilogy Metals Stock Performance

TMQ opened at $0.55 on Monday. Trilogy Metals has a 12 month low of $0.47 and a 12 month high of $0.85.

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Insider Activity at Trilogy Metals

In other news, major shareholder Strategic Opportuniti Electrum acquired 2,181,818 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $0.55 per share, for a total transaction of $1,199,999.90. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 31,604,741 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,382,607.55. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 8.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Trilogy Metals

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Trilogy Metals during the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Trilogy Metals by 56.1% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 466,675 shares of the mining companys stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 167,693 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Trilogy Metals during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in shares of Trilogy Metals during the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.55% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Trilogy Metals Inc, a base metals exploration company, explores for and develops mineral properties in the United States. It principally holds interests in the Upper Kobuk mineral projects that include the Arctic, which contains polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits; and Bornite that contains carbonate-hosted copper  cobalt deposits covering an area of approximately 448,217 acres located in the Ambler mining district in Northwest Alaska.

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China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. lowered its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 22.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 50,193 shares of the companys stock after selling 14,571 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for 1.8% of China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,373,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marion Wealth Management raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 18.5% during the 4th quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 21,538 shares of the companys stock worth $2,390,000 after buying an additional 3,366 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,537,899 shares of the companys stock worth $270,007,000 after buying an additional 47,005 shares during the last quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in Merck & Co., Inc. by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 17,520 shares of the companys stock worth $1,944,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the last quarter. Crescent Sterling Ltd. purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter worth $806,000. Finally, Alaska Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in Merck & Co., Inc. during the 4th quarter worth $228,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.60% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MRK. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Friday. They issued a hold rating and a $123.00 price target for the company. Mizuho restated a buy rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, April 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. BTIG Research downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Sunday, April 16th. Finally, Societe Generale cut shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.84.

Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

In other news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 53,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.01, for a total transaction of $6,355,134.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 31,685 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,770,831.85. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 66,163 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $7,608,745.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 154,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,766,695. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, EVP Steven Mizell sold 53,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.01, for a total value of $6,355,134.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,685 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,770,831.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 354,203 shares of company stock worth $41,055,309 in the last ninety days. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Merck & Co., Inc. stock opened at $107.34 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $112.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $110.73. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $84.52 and a 52-week high of $119.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $272.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.35.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $14.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.81 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 37.92% and a net margin of 22.52%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.14 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 6.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.72%. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is currently 57.03%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

(Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines.

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Boyar Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 3.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 100,693 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 3,012 shares during the period. Pfizer accounts for 3.2% of Boyar Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Boyar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $4,108,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth about $3,150,472,000. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,499,361 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,073,547,000 after purchasing an additional 7,419,929 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Pfizer by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,097,341,000 after acquiring an additional 6,972,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth about $311,238,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $38.58 per share, for a total transaction of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $231,480. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Pfizer Stock Performance

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Credit Suisse Group lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Barclays decreased their target price on Pfizer from $40.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $46.75.

Shares of PFE opened at $36.32 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $205.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.15, a PEG ratio of 1.21 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. The business has a fifty day moving average of $37.76 and a 200 day moving average of $40.96. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $35.35 and a one year high of $54.93.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 37.53% and a net margin of 31.25%. Pfizers quarterly revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.62 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th will be given a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 27th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.52%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.28%.

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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Dupont Capital Management Corp boosted its holdings in Moodys Co. (NYSE:MCO  Free Report) by 10.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 33,691 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,224 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Moodys were worth $10,310,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its position in Moodys by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 318,638 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $88,779,000 after purchasing an additional 2,119 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in Moodys by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 8,554 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,383,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Moodys by 18.3% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC now owns 4,696 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,308,000 after acquiring an additional 726 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Moodys by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 69,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $19,321,000 after acquiring an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Moodys during the 4th quarter worth $74,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.47% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Moodys

In other Moodys news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 418 shares of Moodys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $344.13, for a total transaction of $143,846.34. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 65,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,656,830.94. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock.

Moodys Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of Moodys stock opened at $353.15 on Monday. Moodys Co. has a 52-week low of $230.16 and a 52-week high of $353.75. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $329.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $311.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.21, a P/E/G ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 1.48.

Moodys (NYSE:MCO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The business services provider reported $2.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.31 by $0.68. The business had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.43 billion. Moodys had a return on equity of 59.87% and a net margin of 25.42%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.89 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Moodys Co. will post 9.84 EPS for the current year.

Moodys Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $0.77 per share. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. Moodyss payout ratio is presently 41.18%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Moodys in a report on Thursday, June 15th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Moodys from $312.00 to $346.00 in a report on Thursday. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Moodys from $308.00 to $325.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com upgraded Moodys from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Moodys from $300.00 to $323.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Moodys has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $317.33.

About Moodys

(Free Report)

Moody's Corporation operates as an integrated risk assessment firm worldwide. It operates in two segments, Moody's Investors Service and Moody's Analytics. The Moody's Investors Service segment publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on various debt obligations, programs and facilities, and entities that issue such obligations, such as various corporate, financial institution, and governmental obligations, as well as and structured finance securities.

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Copperwynd Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 6.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,417 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,033 shares during the quarter. Copperwynd Financial LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $470,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in Bank of America by 6,772.7% during the 4th quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 756 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 745 shares during the period. Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of America during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.34% of the companys stock.

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Bank of America Stock Down 1.9 %

BAC stock opened at $29.11 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $231.98 billion, a PE ratio of 8.74, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America Co. has a twelve month low of $26.32 and a twelve month high of $38.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last released 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. The company had revenue of $26.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.28 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 21.85%. Bank of Americas quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.80 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.02%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on BAC shares. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Bank of America from $43.00 to $41.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays cut their price target on Bank of America from $48.00 to $39.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Citigroup cut their price target on Bank of America from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Bank of America from $36.00 to $35.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of America has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $36.72.

Bank of America Profile

(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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Janney Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY  Free Report) by 20.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 33,103 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 5,550 shares during the quarter. Janney Capital Management LLCs holdings in Sysco were worth $2,557,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SYY. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Sysco by 166.0% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 16,127 shares of the companys stock worth $1,338,000 after buying an additional 10,065 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Sysco by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 258,746 shares of the companys stock worth $21,068,000 after acquiring an additional 16,772 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Sysco by 12.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 22,139 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,808,000 after purchasing an additional 2,522 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Sysco by 1.0% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 659,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,865,000 after purchasing an additional 6,711 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in Sysco by 54.8% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 833 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock.

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Sysco Stock Down 0.3 %

NYSE:SYY opened at $73.10 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.51, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The firm has a market cap of $37.04 billion, a PE ratio of 24.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a 50-day moving average of $72.99 and a 200 day moving average of $75.32. Sysco Co. has a 1-year low of $69.22 and a 1-year high of $88.84.

Sysco Increases Dividend

Sysco ( NYSE:SYY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.90 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.02). Sysco had a return on equity of 141.53% and a net margin of 2.05%. The company had revenue of $18.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.56 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.71 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Sysco Co. will post 4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.74%. This is an increase from Syscos previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Syscos payout ratio is presently 66.23%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on SYY shares. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Sysco from $94.00 to $88.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. TheStreet upgraded Sysco from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $90.00 price objective on shares of Sysco in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sysco in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Sysco from $81.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.91.

Sysco Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products primarily to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments.

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Capital Insight Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm bought 8,474 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $4,005,000. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.9% of Capital Insight Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Chelsea Counsel Co. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Investors Research Corp lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 51.1% during the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 71 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 192.3% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 76 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth $42,000. 92.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Truist Financial decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $580.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $627.00 to $564.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and set a $610.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, April 17th. Raymond James reissued a strong-buy rating and set a $630.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, April 14th. Finally, Loop Capital raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. 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 companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $586.80.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $480.17 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $478.86 and a 200 day moving average of $485.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $445.68 and a 52 week high of $558.10. The company has a market capitalization of $447.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.66.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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 net margin of 6.06% and a return on equity of 26.72%. The company had revenue of $92.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.57 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 19th were given a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is 33.65%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,684 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $488.46, for a total transaction of $822,566.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,237,390.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,199,084.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 8,852 shares of company stock worth $4,313,962. Company 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.

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In this piece, we will take a look at the ten best oil stocks under $20. If you want to skip our analysis of the oil industry, recent trends, and the bottom five stocks in this list, then head on over to 5 Best Oil Stocks Under $20.

While it had started to take flak for being one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gasses and by extension global warming over the past decade, the oil industry roared back to life last year in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was due to the fact that Western sanctions against Russia - one of the biggest suppliers of oil in the world - and the fact that European countries tried to diversify their dependence away from Russian crude, upended the global oil supply chain and led to crude oil prices jumping to record highs.

So how high did crude oil prices go as Russian forces crossed the Ukraine border? Well, while right now crude is trading at roughly $78 per barrel, last year, the prices had soared to a whopping $119 per barrel by March. These prices ushered in the beast of high inflation, with Europe particularly hit the hardest. The integrality of oil to the global economy was laid bare for everyone to see since Europe's economic powerhouse Germany struggled to keep its factories open and Britain had to resort to using coal to generate electricity as gas supplies dwindled. If you're interested to find out how inflation rose last year, and which countries were the worst affected, then take a look at 15 Countries with the Highest Inflation Rates.

Since the bulk of global energy production, industrial, and transportation systems use oil or gas as their primary fuels, the sector is also one of the most valuable in the world. According to research, the crude oil industry was worth a whopping $1.2 trillion in 2021, and it is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% until 2029 to be worth $1.6 trillion. Regionally, Asia Pacific is naturally expected to outpace global oil growth due to its relatively faster economic growth when compared to the European and North American nations. And, as more evidence of the unbreakable link between oil and economic output, consider the fact that the top three largest economies in the world are also the three top oil consumers in the world.

Moving forward from the past to the present, while the price growth in the oil sector might have slowed down, the industry is now playing hide and seek with China. China is the second largest economy in nominal terms, and the world's factory - so its economic growth is tied to the demand for crude oil. Therefore, as murmurs of Chinese economic growth rise, oil prices also rise and vice versa is also true. Prices are also tied to U.S. dollar since crude oil is sold only in the American currency. As the dollar becomes stronger, other currencies become weaker in value and therefore countries apart from America have to pay more for their energy needs.

These days, oil prices are also edging higher due to the fact that conflict in the key oil producing countries of Libya and Nigeria has injected fresh uncertainty into the market. In Libya, two of the country's largest oil fields were shut down in July due to political unrest and Nigeria lost its status as the largest oil producer in Africa in June due to a myriad of reasons such as strikes, repairs, and disruptions.

As to a current snapshot of the industry, global oil demand is expected to touch a record high by the end of this year according to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA believes that oil demand will sit at 102.1 million barrels per day this year, but it has also revised its growth estimates downwards due to lingering macroeconomic uncertainty as it now expects that oil demand will grow by 220 thousand barrels per day. Naturally, China is expected to account for the strongest share of this growth, accounting for 70% of the overall rise. On the topic of Russia, the country felt the sharpest heat from Western sanctions in June, since its oil exports fell to a two year low of 7.3 million barrels per day. These slashed its export revenues by nearly 50% to last year's levels, with the earnings sitting at $11.5 billion.

Finally, here's what might be in store for the oil industry as we head into second quarter earnings season, as management of CTotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE), shared during the firm's first quarter of 2023 earnings call:

Production for Q2 2023 is expected at around $2.5 million equivalent per day. Exploration and Production reported adjusted net operating income of $2.7 billion down 22% quarter-over-quarter, excluding Novatek due to lower oil and gas prices. In the Downstream now, Refining & Chemicals contributed $1.6 billion of adjusted net operating income, up 9% quarter-to-quarter and 44% year-on-year despite the pension protests that were ongoing in France at the end of the quarter, thanks to the strong refining margins. Refined utilization rate was at 78%. For Q2 2023, we expect the refining utilization rate to increase above 80%, given the end of strikes in France. Marketing and Services results are stabilizing at a level of around $300 million of adjusted net operating income, $280 million for the first quarter of 2023, up 3% year-on-year despite sales being 6% lower. This demonstrates that our strategy of value over volume is working. Overall, at company level, pre working cap was $9.6 billion in the first quarter, plus 5% quarter-on-quarter despite the lower price environment I already commented as the fourth quarter 2022 was impacted by exceptional taxes, notably the $1.1 billion European severity contribution mainly impacting LNG and E&P to a lesser extent.

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some great oil stocks under $20, out of which some top picks are Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN), Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR).

10 Best Oil Stocks Under $20

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Our Methodology

To compile our list of the best oil stocks under $20, we first made a list of the forty largest oil companies whose shares trade under $20 in terms of their market capitalization. Then, those with the highest number of hedge fund investors in 2023's March quarter courtesy of Insider Monkey's database of 943 hedge funds were selected as the top ten oil stocks under $20.

10 Best Oil Stocks Under $20

10. Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors in Q1 2023: 30

Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT) provides fracturing and other services to oil and gas production companies. The firm's first quarter of 2023 earnings saw it grow revenue by a strong 59% annually.

After digging through 943 hedge funds to see the stocks that they had invested in during 2023's March quarter, Insider Monkey found out that 30 had invested in the firm. Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT)'s largest shareholder is Israel Englander's Millennium Management through a $58 million stake.

Along with Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG), Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT) is a top oil stock under $20.

9. NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc. (NYSE:NEX)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors in Q1 2023: 31

NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc. (NYSE:NEX) is an oil and gas products and services provider that enables companies to manage their wells. The growing steam in oil and production after last year's disruption has led to positive sentiment about the company's stock. Its shares are rated as Buy on average and have a $2.5 upside.

31 of the 943 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's research for this year's first quarter had bought and owned NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc. (NYSE:NEX)'s shares. Out of these, the firm's largest shareholder is Stephen Feinberg's Cerberus Capital Management courtesy of a $217 million investment.

8. NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors in Q1 2023: 34

NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV) sells a wide variety of products to oil companies. These include blenders, pumps, and injectors. Its shares have a nice $6 upside, but the sentiment has shifted mostly to Hold in July.

Insider Monkey took a look at 943 hedge fund portfolios for their Q1 2023 investments and found out that 34 had invested in the firm. Jean-Marie Eveillard's First Eagle Investment Management is NOV Inc. (NYSE:NOV)'s largest investor in our database through its $688 million stake.

7. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors in Q1 2023: 35

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) is a midstream crude oil company with thousands of miles of pipelines in its network. Analyst sentiment around the stock lingers toward Hold but remains a Buy. The firm is busy expanding its infrastructure, as it announced in May that it will increase gas storage capacity by six billion cubic feet.

After sifting through 943 hedge funds for their investments during this year's March quarter, Insider Monkey discovered that 35 had held Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI)'s shares. Among these, the largest hedge fund investor is William B. Gray's Orbis Investment Management, owning 26 million shares that are worth $460 million.

6. Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors in Q1 2023: 35

Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) is another midstream company that deals in both crude oil and natural gas. It had some good news for investors earlier this year, as it boosted its operating income outlook for 2023 by hundreds of millions of dollars due to an acquisition.

By the end of March 2023, 35 of the 943 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey's database had bought a stake in the company. David Abrams' Abrams Capital Management is Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)'s largest hedge fund shareholder through a $222 million stake.

Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN), Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET), Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) are some oil stocks under $20 on the hedge fund radar.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best Oil Stocks Under $20.

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Disclosure: None. 10 Best Oil Stocks Under $20 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Adirondack Trust Co. lowered its stake in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 9.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,121 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,013 shares during the period. Adirondack Trust Co.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $575,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Bank of America by 108,111.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 193,168,025 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,397,725,000 after buying an additional 192,989,515 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Bank of America by 22.7% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 127,177,786 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,212,128,000 after buying an additional 23,532,190 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Bank of America by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 123,636,775 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,087,307,000 after buying an additional 1,327,840 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth about $3,436,543,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Bank of America by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,940,776 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,522,699,000 after buying an additional 603,512 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.34% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BAC has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group raised their price target on Bank of America from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $43.00 to $41.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $45.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $36.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Bank of America from $39.00 to $35.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.72.

Bank of America Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BAC opened at $29.11 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $231.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.74, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.36. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $28.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $30.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. Bank of America Co. has a one year low of $26.32 and a one year high of $38.60.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $26.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.28 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 21.85%. The businesss revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.80 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.02%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 26.43%.

Bank of America Profile

(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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Adirondack Trust Co. lessened its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 0.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,160 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 258 shares during the quarter. Bristol-Myers Squibb accounts for approximately 1.1% of Adirondack Trust Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Adirondack Trust Co.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,160,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Janney Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 23.9% in the 1st quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 48,069 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,332,000 after purchasing an additional 9,276 shares in the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 1,218,933 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $84,484,000 after acquiring an additional 6,100 shares in the last quarter. MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 73.3% during the 1st quarter. MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,624 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $390,000 after acquiring an additional 2,379 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 756,235 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $52,415,000 after acquiring an additional 16,564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 1,023,670 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $70,951,000 after acquiring an additional 41,345 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.57% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 in the company, valued at $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

BMY stock opened at $61.94 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $65.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $68.47. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $61.57 and a 1-year high of $81.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $130.13 billion, a PE ratio of 18.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.96 EPS. The companys revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.68%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 66.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. HSBC assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday. They set a reduce rating and a $56.00 price objective on the stock. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Bank of America raised their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $75.44.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(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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Turkish Cypriots living in London protested the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on the 49th anniversary of the Greek junta's coup in Cyprus on July 15, 1974, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

A group of Turkish Cypriots, led by the civil society organization called "Embargoed," organized a demonstration in front of the Greek Embassy in London.

The group members carried banners with the words "Greece, acknowledge the occupation of Cyprus" and held flags of the TRNC.

They also wrote "The rights of Turkish Cypriots are important" on the street in front of the embassy using colored chalk.

The group called "Embargoed," which carries out various campaigns in the UK to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, aims to draw attention to the recognition of the rights of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people in the international arena.

"Our goal is to present the truth to the world," said Kenan Yaman, the president of the British Turkish Cypriots Association (BTCA), who participated in the protest.

He said they organized the demonstration in front of the Greek Embassy in London to "remind them of the coup carried out by the Greek junta in Cyprus 49 years ago."

"The real invader in Cyprus is Greece. We came here to remind them of that fact at the Greek Embassy. Our goal is to present the truth to both the world and our own people," he added.

Decades-long dispute

Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

Ethnic attacks starting in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves for their safety.

In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greeces annexation led to Turkiyes military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a result, the TRNC was founded in 1983.

It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkiye, Greece, and Britain.

The Greek Cypriot administration entered the EU in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots thwarted the UNs Annan plan to end the longstanding dispute.
The federal student loan payment pause is coming to an end - and the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's debt relief plan.

The three year federal student loan payment pause will soon be coming to end, meaning borrowers should start preparing to add another expense into their budget - which for many, is already stretched thin.

The debt ceiling deal, passed by Congress on June 2, eliminated any further chance of payment pause extensions. And in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's student loan relief plan.

However, the Department of Education has recently announced that it will forgive a total of $39 billion in Federal student loans, affecting more than 804,000 borrowers. The forthcoming discharges are a result of errors made by loan servicers when collecting payments under income-driven repayment programs, and a lack of participation in such programs by eligible borrowers.

According to the Education Department, these loan discharges are made in an effort to "ensure all borrowers have an accurate count of the number of monthly payments that qualify toward forgiveness under income-driven repayment (IDR) plans." Borrowers will now begin receiving emails if they are eligible for debt cancellation, and qualifying balances will be discharged within 30 days after they receive the email.

All other monthly student loan payments will now resume 60 days after June 30, so around August 29, and interest will also start accruing again at that time.

The Supreme Court's decision to block Biden's student loan forgiveness plan is a blow to at least 40 million borrowers. The program, initially announced in August 2022, planned to forgive up to $10,000 for borrowers making less than $125,000 a year, and $20,000 for borrowers received the Pell Grant.

This comes after both the House and Senate passed a measure to block Bidens student loan relief plan, which President Biden vetoed, stating in a video posted on Twitter in early June, I'm not going to back down on efforts to help tens of millions of working and middle class families. Accompanying the video, Biden wrote, "I wont back down on helping hardworking folks. Thats why Im vetoing this bill.

However, SCOTUS at the end of June ruled that the plan, which would forgive more than $400 billion in federal student loan debt, is unconstitutional and would exceed the Department of Education's authority.

The Secretary asserts that the HEROES Act grants him the authority to cancel $430 billion of student loan principal. It does not, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts. We hold today that the Act allows the Secretary to waive or modify existing statutory or regulatory provisions applicable to financial assistance programs under the Education Act, not to rewrite that statute from the ground up.

Overall, student loan debt in the United States equals $1.757 trillion; 43.8 million borrowers have federal student loan debt, and the average federal student loan debt balance is $37,338, reports the Education Data Initiative.

President Biden reportedly plans on announcing new actions in a further attempt to protect student loan borrowers. While we strongly disagree with the court, we prepared for this scenario. The President will have more to say today, an anonymous White House source told The Hill. The President will make clear hes not done fighting yet, and will announce new actions to protect student loan borrowers.

While the standard timeline to pay off student loans is 10 years, it takes most graduates on average 20 years to pay off their student loans . If youre looking to eliminate your student debt within a set number of years, the Office of Federal Student Aid has several plans available.

Also, you may be eligible for an income-based repayment plan . An income-driven repayment plan is a plan to pay off your student loans appropriate to your income and family size, so it is affordable for your financial situation.
Two people were killed and their daughter was seriously injured on Monday after blasts on the Crimean Bridge, a major supply artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project that was personally opened by President Vladimir Putin.

Reuters images from the scene showed no traffic crossing the 19 km (12-mile) road and rail bridge which links Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Unverified imagery showed twisted metal barriers, debris and a damaged car on the bridge. Dash cam footage showed drivers braking sharply shortly after the incident. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Russian officials called it an emergency situation. Russias Grey Zone channel, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Wagner mercenary group, reported there were two strikes on the bridge at 03:04 a.m. (0004 GMT) and 03:20 a.m.

The parents of a girl were killed and their daughter was injured in a passenger car.

The girl was injured, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region said in a message on the Telegram messaging app. The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mum.

No words can calm the pain of loss here, he said. The girl was being treated in intensive care.

Sergei Aksyonov, a Russia-installed governor, said the emergency occurred on the 145th pillar of the bridge. He did not provide any further details.

A spokesperson for Ukraines southern military command, Natalia Humeniuk, said the incident on the Crimea Bridge could be an act of provocation on Moscows side.

The creation of such provocations, which the occupying authorities of Crimea report immediately very loudly, is a typical way of solving problems by authorities of Crimea and the aggressor country, Humeniuk told the national broadcaster Rada.

Russia blamed Ukraine for an attack on the bridge last October. Ukraine admitted only indirectly to the attack months later.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraines Odesa military administration, posted a photo on his Telegram account of what seemed to show part of the bridge broken. It was not immediately clear whether that was related to any attack.

After the October attack, Putin ordered the bridge repaired and even drove a Mercedes across it.

Russias transport ministry said there was damage to the road on the bridge closer to the Crimean Peninsula, but there was no damage to the pillars. It did not say what caused the damage.

UKRAINE WAR

George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said if the bridge was seriously damaged it would significantly impact Russian supply lines.

Russia will only have one ground supply line  the coastal highway on the Sea of Azov  to sustain (or evacuate) its tens of thousands of troops in occupied Kherson & Crimea if UKR manages to degrade/destroy the bridge, Barros said on Twitter.

It was not immediately clear what the incident on the bridge would mean for the U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain. Ukraine and Russia are among the worlds top grain exporters.

The U.N. deal is due to expire on Monday, with the last ship to travel under the deal leaving the port of Odesa early on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com.

PUTINS SHOWCASE

The bridge, Europes longest, was built by a company controlled by Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg. Putin has long lauded the project, boasting at one point that Russian Tsars and Soviet leaders had dreamed of building it but never did.

The Crimean peninsula has been a cherished vacation destination for Russians, especially after Moscow launched its invasion on Ukraine in 2022 and travelling to the West became much more difficult for Russians.

In recent weeks, traffic jams to the entrance of the bridge went for kilometres on daily basis as Russians went on holidays.

On Monday morning the traffic jam ran for kilometres before police directed vehicles away from the bridge. Social media accounts showed cars lined up on the bridge and its entrance.

The Russian-backed administration of the Crimean peninsula urged residents not to travel via the bridge.

SOURCE: REUTERS
AAG Marks A New Era Of Web3 With Its Event In Manila

MANILA, PHILIPPINES --News Direct-- Chainwire

AAG, a Web3 infrastructure company, successfully held its maiden live event on June 21, further bolstering the Philippines' immersion into the Web3 ecosystem.

The event, a confluence of Web2 and Web3 aficionados, saw the participation of industry leaders like Lazada, GCash, and DITO CME, along with renowned key opinion leaders (KOLs) and strategic partners.

CEO and co-founder of AAG, Jack Vinijtrongjit, emphasized, "AAG's commitment to integrating the worlds of Web2 and Web3 is instrumental in shaping the future. We are thrilled to lead this transformation and collaborate with enterprises on this exciting journey."

Key Highlights of the Event:

The launch of AAG's MetaOne Affiliate Program was a significant milestone. This path-breaking program offers users of AAGs seedless self-custody wallet an opportunity to earn lifetime fee shares up to 80%. Furthermore, the program boasts enticing rewards, including monthly iPhone giveaways and a chance to win a BMW car! The event was graced by around 50 prominent KOLs, with a cumulative follower base of over 6 million. Leading Web3 companies such as Lazada, GCash, and DITO CME were present, contributing their insights on the latest evolutions in the Web3 arena.

Donald Lim, COO of DITO CME, joined Jack Vinijtrongjit in a panel discussion about the transformative potential of Web3 technology on established businesses. Vinijtrongjit said, "Businesses can leverage the innovative power of Web3 and blockchain technology to revolutionize customer relationship management. AAG, through its advanced tech stack, is enabling businesses to exploit Web3 capabilities and discover new avenues in their existing business models."

The successful conclusion of AAG's event in Manila underlined the burgeoning potential of the Web3 world, not only in the Philippines but on a global scale.

About AAG

AAG is a web3 infrastructure company focused on providing software that helps simplify interactions with blockchain applications and the Metaverse for both mainstream users and traditional companies. AAG provides a secure and easy-to-use MetaOne wallet, as well as infrastructure software, such as a cross-chain search engine and Saakuru blockchain for enterprise companies. With the belief that education is the key to unlock the potential of web3, AAG is also exploring the concept of Learn-and-Earn with the mission of enabling economic opportunities worldwide via the Metaverse economy. AAG aims to bring 1 billion people into the Metaverse economy by 2030.

For more information about AAG, visit: AAG Linktree

Contact Details

Jack Vinijtrongjit

partnership@aag.ventures

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/aag-marks-a-new-era-of-web3-with-its-event-in-manila-313640957
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Aeris Resources is AU$0.31 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Aeris Resources is estimated to be 29% overvalued based on current share price of AU$0.40

The AU$0.85 analyst price target for AIS is 173% more than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Aeris Resources Limited (ASX:AIS) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Aeris Resources

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$49.7m AU$30.4m AU$21.1m AU$16.7m AU$14.4m AU$13.0m AU$12.3m AU$11.8m AU$11.6m AU$11.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -30.56% Est @ -20.81% Est @ -13.98% Est @ -9.20% Est @ -5.85% Est @ -3.51% Est @ -1.87% Est @ -0.72% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.8% AU$45.7 AU$25.6 AU$16.4 AU$11.9 AU$9.4 AU$7.9 AU$6.8 AU$6.0 AU$5.4 AU$5.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$140m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$12m (1 + 2.0%)  (8.8% 2.0%) = AU$172m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$172m ( 1 + 8.8%)10= AU$74m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$214m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$0.4, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Aeris Resources as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.150. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Aeris Resources

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Expected to breakeven next year.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for AIS.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For Aeris Resources, there are three fundamental elements you should assess:

Financial Health: Does AIS have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does AIS's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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[July 17, 2023]

Shop like it's 1991: Staples Canada delivers more value this Back to School season with '90s pricing on essential supplies

Canada's Back to School destination is ready to help Canadians with fun, easy and affordable solutions

For more media materials, please visit: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9182751-staples-canada-back-to-school-2023/

RICHMOND HILL, ON, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Since 1991, Staples Canada has helped Canadians get ready for the school year with learning essentials that inspire, empower and equip students and teachers to be their best. This year, Staples is all about making Back to School fun, easy and affordable with all the essentials from pencils to laptops.

"We know Canadians are looking for more value this Back to School season than ever before," said Rachel Huckle, President, Staples Canada. "As the Working and Learning Company, we're committed to helping students, teachers and parents get back to learning with new, exciting and affordable solutions  all designed to fuel a passion for learning."

'90s Throwback Pricing

Staples is Canada's premier destination for quality and value when it comes to the Back to School season. This year, Staples is offering '90s throwback pricing on the top back to school essentials. Find the lowest prices on supplies from brands Canadians love, including Sharpie, Five Star, Crayola, Hilroy and Pep Rally, a Staples exclusive. Staples Back to School HQ makes it easy to shop online loaded with the best picks and sorted by grade to take the guesswork out.

Pep Rally: Trendy and Functional Essentials

A Staples exclusive, Pep Rally introduces its latest line of Back to School essentials that are fun and functional. Featuring three new collections to help students express themselves, including: Retro Love, Classic Academia, and Joyful Expression. Shop all of Pep Rally's school supplies and solutions, here.

New Wireless Services from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile

In need of a mobile phone or internet upgrade for Back to School? Customers can now get all their devices connected to the best plans from Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile at their local Staples store. In addition to wireless services, customers can also visit in-store to discover Internet and TV solutions from Bell. As the largest communications provider in Canada, Bell's award-winning 5G and robust fibre networks connect families, students, and friends in their day-to-day lives. Exclusive offers will be available in-store during the Back to School season, which include discounts on new phones, plans, accessories and gift with purchase incentives.







Best in Tech

Looking for new tech? Staples is stocked with the best selection of technology to power learning and productivity through the school year. Whether you're looking for a new Chromebook, noise-cancelling headphones, iPads or more  Staples has what you need, from the best tech brands including Apple, Microsoft, Logitech, HP, Google and more.

Protect your technology with Staples Protection Plans by Allstate, available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones to cover mechanical and electrical failures, as well as accidental damage.

Organization Tools for Teachers and Parents with Staples Print Services

Staying organized is at the top of mind for students, parents and teachers throughout the school year. Staples Print Services has everything you need to start the school year out on the right foot, including:

Back to School Ad Campaign

Howie Mandel and Pierre-Yves Lord will star in a series of Back to School commercials for Staples for a second year. The commercials are themed around '90s nostalgia and explore everything from finding the top tech to the best backpack and freshest supplies. The commercials are supported by a national ad buy that begins July 10.

School Tools for Parents

Want to know exactly what your child needs for school? Staples' School Tools is a great way to do Back to School shopping. Parents can shop for supplies based on lists curated by teachers for their child's grade and region. If a teacher has not created a list, don't worry: Staples has identified the best products for students for every grade, check out the list at staples.ca/shop-school-supplies-by-grade.

With Staples' School Tools shoppers can get 10 per cent off orders over $50, five per cent off on orders over $25, and a donation of three per cent to local schools on behalf of Staples. To learn more, visit staples.ca/schooltools.

About Staples Canada

Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. The privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands which support business customers: Staples Preferred for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as seven Staples Studio co-working facilities across Canada. Through Staples Print Services, Canadians can access a variety of pack and ship options, as well as a broad suite of business services. Staples is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with us at @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok or Pinterest.

SOURCE Staples Canada ULC
[July 16, 2023] MRI Software Acquires PropTech Services Leader Loci Solutions Tweet

Acquisition strengthens implementation expertise and adds outsourced services to commercial PropTech offerings in APAC SYDNEY, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MRI Software has acquired Loci Solutions Group Pty Limited, an Australian property technology consulting and outsourced managed services company serving commercial, industrial, and retail property markets across Asia Pacific. Loci Solutions is well-known as an MRI Certified Partner specialising in the implementation of property management systems (PMS) for property developers, managers, and owners/investors. It also provides value-add outsourced accounting and lease administration services, as well as concierge support. David Bowie, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for MRI Software in Asia Pacific, said, "I'm excited to officially welcome Nikki, Gwen, and the rest of the Loci team to MRI. This acquisition strengthens our MRI @Work capabilities and enables us to scale and better support our commercial clients in their business growth. We're particularly excited to add Loci's outsourced lease administration services to our portfolio, helping clients automatemanual tasks, reduce costs, and accelerate time to value."



"Loci has been one of our key partners for over 15 years, serving as our primary implementation partner for Property Management X (PMX) in APAC for most of this time. As we integrate Loci's capabilities into our solution suite, our clients will have a more consistent experience and further benefit from our combined PropTech expertise," he said. Loci co-founder to lead MRI @Work Professional Services and Support

Loci CEO and co-founder, Nikki Steadman, will lead the APAC MRI @Work Professional Services and Support team, which supports some of Australia's largest and most complex commercial real estate portfolios. Speaking in her new capacity as Head of MRI Professional Services and Support for MRI @Work, Asia Pacific, Ms. Steadman says, "We've felt like an extension of the MRI family for the last 15 years, and it's an honour to be formalising our relationship. Creating a united team like this allows an even more integrated approach for our commercial clients. I am really excited about the depth and breadth of service and product we're able to offer together. It's my privilege to now lead the unified team as we work from beginning to end in a client's journey and success." Mr. Bowie says, "Rest assured, MRI remains committed to our core value of providing clients the ability to choose the service providers that best meet their business needs. We look forward to continuing to grow and enable our managed services and consulting partner ecosystem to meet client demands and deliver world class services with a sole focus of client success." The financial terms of the deal are confidential. About MRI Software

MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's open and connected, AI-first platform empowers owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than six million users worldwide. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realise their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit mrisoftware.com/au. Media contact

To arrange an interview or photography, or request more information, please contact:

Heather Jones, Asia Pacific Media Relations for MRI Software

+61 400 394 669 | [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2154933/MRI_Software_in_Australia_and_New_Zealand_Nikki_Steadman.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mri-software-acquires-proptech-services-leader-loci-solutions-301878140.html SOURCE MRI Software in Australia and New Zealand

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[July 16, 2023] AroundDeal Secures Millions of Dollars in Pre-A Funding to Further Scale B2B Intelligence Database and Platform Tweet

SHENZHEN, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AroundDeal, the leading intelligence and automation platform for sales, marketing and recruiting professionals, which is built on a comprehensive global business database, recently announced that it has raised millions of dollars in a Pre-A funding round, led by Chengwei Capital. With these funds, AroundDeal plans to grow its strong APAC B2B database and AI-powered technology, by improving its data quality and ease of use, continue to drive AroundDeal's international expansion and growth. Throughout the rapid growth of the global business landscape, B2B sales, marketers, and recruiters have faced challenges in efficiently and effectively reaching their targeted prospects. AroundDeal's AI-powered platform provides business professionals with easy access to user-friendly tools and a comprehensive business database, enabling them to find and engage with their targeted prospects in a simple way. As a result, valuable time and effort can be saved and redirected towards activities that directly contribute to revenue generation. "We all expect technologies to go beyond and impact our lives, even our world, and AroundDeal delivers on those expectations," said Bill Huang, Founder and CEO, AroundDeal. "We are one of the fastest-growing intelligence and automation platform, integrating the most accurate business database with powerful prospecting and engagement tools, and a strong focus on the APAC markets. "



AroundDeal helps over 100,000 professionals and clients automate their work processes, such as finding ideal customers, automating sales engagement, AI talent sourcing, and more. AroundDeal currently provides access to over 120 million contact and company information records. And seamlessly integrating with other popular tools, including LinkedIn, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Gmail. "Thanks to this funding, we will further scale our AI-powered technology to empower a greater community of business professionals to effortlessly prospect, engage, and finalize deals utmost efficiency," said Bill Huang, Founder and CEO, AroundDeal.

About AroundDeal AroundDeal is the leading platform for sales and marketing intelligence and automation, which is built on a comprehensive global business database containing over 120 million contacts and company information. AroundDeal has a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific and emerging markets. Their aim is to help businesses connect with the best-fit buyers in the APAC region, generate high-quality leads, optimize their go-to-market strategy, and boost revenue growth by accessing B2B intelligence data for their users and customers sales, marketing, and recruiting and operations needs. For more information, visit https://www.arounddeal.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/arounddeal-secures-millions-of-dollars-in-pre-a-funding-to-further-scale-b2b-intelligence-database-and-platform-301878145.html SOURCE AroundDeal

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[July 16, 2023] The GEEKOM MiniPC might just be your next NUC Tweet

SHENZHEN, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) brand of portable computers have always been the golden standard for mini PCs. But during the time when the mini PC industry is booming, Intel made a surprising decision to step away from the business, leaving its partners to push the vision of compact computing further. Consumers only have a few weeks left to buy their NUCs as Intel plans to remove these mini PCs entirely from their distribution network on September 1st, 2023. The current best-seller is the Intel NUC 11 Pro Tiger Lake Canyon, as it's considered as a better bang-for-the-buck solution than the latest NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon. But do consumers need to hurry up to get a NUC until it's sold out? No, because they can still get a GEEKOM Mini IT11, which is arguably the closest thing to an Intel NUC 11 ro. The two models are identical in shape and size, but the Mini IT11 comes with a more powerful Intel Core i7-11390H processor. With a turbo clock of 5.0GHz, the I7-11390H offers much better performance than the Core-P processors in the NUC 11 Pro series.



The Mini IT11 (Available on Amazon) will see consumers through all kinds of computing duties, including productivity tasks, 8K video playback and moderate gaming. Consumers can also choose to connect the Mini IT11 to an external discrete GPU if consumers want to play graphics-intensive AAA titles in high quality settings. The Mini IT11 is also identical to the NUC 11 Pro in port selection. Consumers will get two full-function USB4, three USB 3.2 Gen2, an HDMI 2.0, a DisplayPort 1.4, a 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card slot. The mini PC supports quad-display output, perfect for users who multitask a lot. There are also two SO-DIMM DDR4 RAM slots, an M.2 PCIe3.0*4 SSD slot and room for an additional 2.5-inch HDD/SSD under the hood. If consumers are thinking about getting an even more powerful unit, the GEEKOM Mini IT12, which rocks 12th-gen Alder Lake processors, will arrive in September.

GEEKOM was founded in Taiwan in 2003 and has been making quality computer products for almost 2 decades. The company has a professional team of experts and offers 24/7 online support for customers. If consumers are thinking about getting their next mini PC, GEEKOM is the brand they shouldn't overlook. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/the-geekom-minipc-might-just-be-your-next-nuc-301878143.html SOURCE GEEKOM

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[July 17, 2023] Free Invite to WebX, Asia's Leading Web3 Conference (July 25-26) Tweet

TOKYO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire and CoinPost, Japan's largest Web3 media company, are pleased to offer free tickets to WebX, Asia's leading international Web3 conference. WebX will take place on July 25-26, 2023, at the Tokyo International Forum. Official website: https://webx-asia.com/ To celebrate this partnership, we have reserved special free tickets for the recipients of this email. See below for details. What is WebX? WebX is one of Asia's largest Web3 conferences, bringing together Web3 and Web2 startups, major companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and developers from around the world. Speakers will include Japan prime minister Fumio Kishida, Policy Research Counci chair Koichi Hagiuda, Yuga Labs CEO Daniel Alegre, HashKey Capital CEO Deng Chao, and Web3 executives from the likes of Salesforce and Google Cloud, providing a unique opportunity to learn about the cutting edge of web and crypto development.



Sponsors and Speakers include leading Japanese companies Toyota, Suntory, SEGA, BANDAI, Square Enix, Fujitsu, Nomura, Mizuho, SMBC, and MUFG. Speakers from the Bank of Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Digital Agency and the Financial Services Agency will also present.

More than 200 of the world's top projects and founders in the fields of Web3 and AI will speak on the use and future of such cutting-edge technologies as well as investment, and alongside these sessions, WebX will feature networking opportunities, workshops (seminars) by leading blockchain development teams and companies, 100+ exhibition booths, and a variety of side events. How to apply for a free ticket: Fill out the Free Ticket Application Form (takes about 1 minute): https://webx-asia.com/freeticketapplicationform/ Enter the following invitation code in the Invitation Code field: ENHJ741 Your ticket will be issued within a week to the email address you provide You can also find a 50% discount code for any companions at the bottom of the form. WebX Event Details Date: July 25-26 (Tue-Wed), 2023

(Tue-Wed), 2023 Venue: Tokyo International Forum

Website: https://webx-asia.com/

Organizer/Producer: WebX Executive Committee / CoinPost View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/free-invite-to-webx-asias-leading-web3-conference-july-25-26-301878216.html SOURCE CoinPost

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[July 17, 2023] Invitation to a press and analyst conference call for the presentation of Concentric's Second Quarter 2023 Report Tweet

REDDITCH, England, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric's Interim Report for Q2 2023 (January-June 2023), will be published on the 26 of July 2023, at 08.00 CET. At 10.00 CET media, investors and analysts are invited to participate/join via webcast/telephone conference for a presentation of the report. President & CEO Martin Kunz and CFO Marcus Whitehouse will host the presentation, which will be held in English and is followed by a Q&A-session. We look forward to your participation. Please see the below detailed information to join in: Press and analysts conference at 10.00 CET (09:00 UK TIME) 1. Access the webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/tt79rthk/ 2. Telephone conference Participants are required to register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, and a unique Personal PIN.

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, participants will need to use the conference access information provided in the e-mail received at the point of registering. Participants may also use the call me feature instead of dialing the nearest dial in number . Telephone conference Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa4a5f5557793491ab37df8b87fba8815 For further information, please contact Gregory Asante, +44 (0)7977 149 348 The following files are available for download:







https://mb.cision.com/Main/1643/3805268/2190338.pdf Release

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invitation-to-a-press-and-analyst-conference-call-for-the-presentation-of-concentrics-second-quarter-2023-report-301878219.html SOURCE Concentric AB

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[July 17, 2023] IDTechEx Discusses Applications of Antimicrobial Technology in Addressing Healthcare Infections Tweet

BOSTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), also known as hospital-acquired infections, are a major problem healthcare systems face worldwide. Each year, millions of patients contract infectious diseases while in hospital. These HAIs not only lengthen hospital stays and utilize resources, such as hospital beds, but also have deadly consequences. While proper medical practices, such as good hand hygiene, can go a long way, there are additional tools that health systems can use to address this silent pandemic. Antimicrobial technologies are additives and coatings that enable products to combat microorganisms effectively. These antimicrobial products not only protect themselves from the likes of bacteria and fungi, but they can also protect people. IDTechEx has recently published a market research report on the topic, 'Antiviral and Antimicrobial Technology Market 2023-2033', examining the technologies, applications, and drivers for the antimicrobial technology industry. One of the key motivations for companies interviewed by IDTechEx is the development of antimicrobial technology to address the problem of HAIs. While antimicrobial technologies have been shown to be extremely efficient in laboratory settings, these often do not match real-life conditions. Field tests and clinical trials within hospitals are required to understand if antimicrobial technologies can truly lower the rate of HAIs. Antimicrobial Surfaces High-touch surfaces such as bed rails, buttons, and door handles have a high chance of harboring harmful microorganisms. Rather than creating new antimicrobial versions of these surfaces from scratch, spray-on antimicrobial coatings can be applied. Compnies such as Goldshield and Dyphox have demonstrated in peer-reviewed journals that their antimicrobial spray coatings can reduce surface bioburden in hospitals. Goldshield has even demonstrated that this reduction in microorganisms on surfaces translates to decreased infection risk in hospitals. Though these companies utilize vastly different antimicrobial technologies (Goldshield uses an organosilane-based biocide and Dyphox a photocatalyst), the ability to apply both technologies as a spray allows for rapid deployment and easy reapplication.



Antimicrobial Textiles Patients are in constant contact with textiles such as bed sheets, blankets and their clothing while in the hospital. Unlike surfaces that can be cleaned every hour, textiles are not washed as frequently. However, like surfaces, they can also become a source of HAIs. Several companies have developed technologies to embed antimicrobial technologies, such as silver and copper, into fibers and yarns. For example, Cupron's copper-infused textiles have been tested in a range of clinical studies. Results show that not only are these antimicrobial textiles effective in reducing HAIs, but that they can also improve the general wellbeing of skin. Separately, Applied Silver has developed a different concept: applying antimicrobial silver at each laundry cycle. Their product, SilvaClean, is utilized by the hospitality, sports, and healthcare industries.

More Evidence Is Required Though hundreds of companies are developing antimicrobial technology and thousands upon thousands of antimicrobial products, not all antimicrobials are created equal. Only a handful of companies have conducted the necessary research to demonstrate the impact of their product on human health. Studies in the laboratory are often run in conditions that do not mirror those in the real world, including temperature, humidity, and even the way that the product would be used. However, antimicrobial technologies should be used with care. In many cases, microorganisms use the same biological mechanisms to combat antimicrobial technologies as they do with antibiotic drugs. The overuse of antimicrobial technologies in daily life is risky for the world, as it adds to the evolutionary pressure on microorganisms toward antibiotic resistance. To find out more about the IDTechEx report 'Antiviral and Antimicrobial Technology Market 2023-2033', including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/antimicrobial. About IDTechEx IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com. Media Contact:

Lucy Rogers

Sales and Marketing Administrator

[email protected]

+44(0)1223 812300



Social Media Links: Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idtechex-discusses-applications-of-antimicrobial-technology-in-addressing-healthcare-infections-301877486.html

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[July 17, 2023] Precedential US Federal Court Decision Hands SNIPR Biome a win in patent appeal over Rockefeller University for CRISPR-Cas microbial gene editing Tweet

Five contested patents held by SNIPR remain in place

Precedential ruling means that SNIPR's patent portfolio will not be subject to any further interference and will not be judged by the old first-to-invent standard COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SNIPR Biome ApS, the company pioneering CRISPR-based microbial gene therapy, announces today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has issued a precedential ruling in favor of SNIPR in a patent interference case with Rockefeller University. The patent interference case focused on one allowed patent application owned by Rockefeller University and five patents owned by SNIPR and was declared by the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board in 2021 in Rockefeller University's favor. This ruling has now been overturned in favor of SNIPR following a hearing by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in February 2023. SNIPR's successful appeal was based on the argument that all of SNIPR's patents have been filed under the America Invents Act (AIA), in which interferences were removed as a feature of the statute. The AIA was a systematic change to US patent law that moved from a first-to-invent standard to a first-to-file system, in line with Europe and other parts of the world. The Court held that "SNIPR appeals, contending that the Board never should have subjected its first-inventor-to-file patents to a vestige of the old first-to-invent system: an invention date contest against Rockefeller's first-to-invent application through an interference. Because the text, purpose, and history of the AIA make clear that first-inventor-to-file patents exclusively governed by the AIA cannot be subject to an interference (save for one exception not applicable here), we reverse." This ruling determines that the five contested patents that SNIPR holds will remain in place, that none of SNIPR's patent portfolio can be subjected to an interference again, and that SNIPR's ptents will not be judged by the old first-to-invent standard.



The ruling reinforces SNIPR's extensive intellectual property portfolio, comprising more than 60 granted patents worldwide supporting SNIPR Biome's technology platform, which enables editing of prokaryotes using CRISPR/Cas. SNIPR's patent filings were the first in the field to demonstrate selective killing of bacteria in a mixed species population (i.e. a microbiome), demonstrated by the European patent, EP3291679, titled 'Altering Microbial Populations & Modifying Microbiota' granted by the European Patent Office to SNIPR in 2021. This patent relates to the use of vectors carrying CRISPR/Cas systems for targeting species in mixed populations of bacteria. Use of any Cas is covered, as is the targeting of any species of bacteria and in any microbiome. Broad protection has similarly been granted by the US Patent Office (USPTO) and further examples of SNIPR's granted US patents can be found here. This portfolio is licensed in many fields, including being exclusively licensed to SNIPR Biome for medical applications, from which sub-licenses are available.

Dr Christian Grndahl, Co-founder and CEO of SNIPR Biome, commented, "We are pleased this interference case has been resolved, upholding protection in the US of the intellectual property acquired through the pioneering work of SNIPR's scientists. SNIPR was the first company to receive a patent for the use of CRISPR to target and modulate bacterial genomes , and we now have an extensive intellectual property portfolio, comprising more than 60 granted patents worldwide. The applications of CRISPR are continuing to expand, and we are applying our knowledge of CRISPR to develop innovative therapeutics that leverage our pioneering efforts in microbial gene editing, in order to address serious and difficult-to-treat diseases." Jasper Clube, Co-founder and Chief Patent Counsel of SNIPR Biome, commented, "SNIPR is delighted with this important decision of the Federal Circuit. We are also pleased that the Court recognized that the U.S. Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB), has never determined whether Rockefeller's claims, which it copied from our issued patents, satisfy the patentability requirements." Contact: SNIPR Biome

Dr. Christian Grndahl, Co-founder and CEO

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +45 20202747

www.sniprbiome.com

Please follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter: @sniprbiome Consilium Strategic Communications

Tracy Cheung, Chris Welsh, Davide Salvi

Tel: +44 (0) 203 709 5700

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/precedential-us-federal-court-decision-hands-snipr-biome-a-win-in-patent-appeal-over-rockefeller-university-for-crispr-cas-microbial-gene-editing-301878231.html SOURCE SNIPR Biome ApS

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(Bloomberg) -- The African Development Bank Group is in discussions to back a new debt-for-nature swap, marking its entry into a fast-growing corner of the sustainable debt market.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Were looking at one transaction [and] still discussing the parameters, said Hassatou Diop NSele, vice president for finance and chief financial officer at the AfDB, in an interview. She declined to identify the country initiating the deal through which it would refinance its debt in exchange for allocating some of the savings to green projects.

AfDB, founded in 1963 and based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is a multilateral development bank providing project finance to member countries. While debt-for-nature swaps involving commercial creditors have so far been implemented only in Latin America, African countries have expressed interest. Gabon is expected to soon complete the first such deal on the continent, and Gambia, Eswatini and Kenya have also indicated their support.

African countries have a very good case for using the financial arrangements, said NSele. The continent faces multiple challenges  rising debt costs, a massive need for climate finance, and issues with regard to land degradation and biodiversity loss. With debt-for-nature swaps, there is the start of a solution.

Belize struck the first modern-day debt swap in 2021 with insurance from the US International Development Finance Corporation. A deal by Barbados received repayment guarantees from a nonprofit, The Nature Conservancy, and the Inter-American Development Bank, the first multilateral to play such a role. IDB has since guaranteed a third deal in Ecuador, the worlds largest so far.

AfDB is now willing to offer guarantees, NSele said. The ultimate goal will be to help the transaction achieve the desired extension of maturity and also a reduction of overall debt service, she said.

The move comes as low-income countries are increasingly calling on development banks and rich country lenders to help them tackle the concurrent challenges of climate change, debt distress and growing poverty rates. Debt-for-nature swaps featured prominently at last months climate finance summit co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados.

But there are concerns about the transaction costs associated with the deals and their real-world impact on countries ecosystems and finances. It has to be at scale to make a real difference because there is a lot of work in structuring such deals and they can be costly, NSele said.

She declined to comment on which investment bank may be structuring the deal that AfDB is backing. Debt-nature-swaps have so far been dominated by Credit Suisse Group AG, with Bank of America a more recent participant. We would be willing to work with any actor, newcomer or not, in this space, said NSele.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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[July 17, 2023] Uffizio Emerges as an Innovator in Telematics and IoT Solutions Tweet

VALSAD, India, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The GPS tracking industry is witnessing a rapid transformation. Advancements in connectivity, data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can be witnessed. With a growing market scope across the globe, the opportunities for GPS tracking solution providers are expanding. Businesses across various sectors embrace telematics for enhanced efficiency, safety, and cost savings. Uffizio is emerging as a leading innovator in the field of Telematics and IoT, providing cutting-edge solutions that drive success across various industries. Emerging Technologies The telematics industry is evolving with the adoption of advanced technologies such as the IoT and artificial intelligence. By integrating IoT devices, Uffizio enables seamless connectivity and data exchange between vehicles, infrastructure, and backend systems. This integration facilitates comprehensive fleet management and monitoring. Moreover, Uffizio utilizes AI-powered analytics and machine learning algorithms to derive actionable insights from the vast amount of telematics data. This empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their operations for improved efficiency and productivity. Uffizio understands that diffrent industries have different needs. That's why they provide tailored telematics solutions for a wide range of industries. Uffizio offers a diverse range of GPS tracking solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of different businesses. Their flagship product, Trakzee , provides a comprehensive set of features including real-time tracking, fuel management , tire management , video telematics , expense management , job management , etc. By leveraging these solutions, businesses can streamline their operations, increase profitability, and enhance the safety, and productivity of their fleets. Additionally, improved operational efficiency translates to an enhanced overall customer experience, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.



Future Outlook This company's dedication to innovation goes hand in hand with its vision for the future of telematics. They are actively exploring emerging technologies to enhance their telematics solutions further. With a focus on integrating telematics with electric and hybrid vehicle monitoring, this company is poised to revolutionize the way businesses manage their fleets.

"As GPS tracking industry continues to evolve, our company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. We understand the unique challenges faced by businesses in managing their fleets, and our solutions are designed to address those challenges effectively. We are proud to be recognized as an emerging innovator in the industry, and we will continue to empower businesses with cutting-edge technology that drives success," said Tushar Bhagat, MD at Uffizio . Contact: Tushar Bhagat,

+91 7283855133,

[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2154384/Uffizio_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uffizio-emerges-as-an-innovator-in-telematics-and-iot-solutions-301878240.html SOURCE Uffizio

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[July 17, 2023] Element Nutritional Sciences Partners with U.S. E-commerce Pioneer Tradefull Tweet

Tradefull to manage Element's logistics, shipping and marketplace solutions BURLINGTON, ON, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ -Element Nutritional Sciences Inc. (CSE: ELMT) (OTC: ELNSF) (FRANKFURT: 93X) (the "Company" or "Element"), today announced that it has partnered with Tradefull, a leading U.S. e-commerce and logistics pioneer, to provide best-in-class shipping and logistics to support Rejuvenate and Promino brand growth. Tradefull will manage Rejuvenate and Promino direct-to-consumer operations on Shopify and Element's marketplace activity on leading e-commerce platforms. With warehouses in Ohio and Arizona, this partnership with Tradefull allows for expedited delivery to any customer in North America Tradefull was founded in 2003 as an e-commerce retailer and was one of the first third-party sellers on Amazon. Since then, Tradefull has shipped millions of orders to both consumers and businesses. Tradefull's proprietary software helps companies optimize shipping and logistics, and they are a trusted partner to leading U.S. household brands like Pier 1, Modell's, Radio Shack, Mossy Oak and Bodybuilding.com. "As we scale, it is imperative to partner with organizations that can help us provide a seamless experience to our customers. Our core competency lies in the development of the Rejuvenate and Promino brands, and Tradefull is equally adept at helping to get our products into consumers hands and manage leading e-commerce platforms," said Stuart Lowther, Chief Executive Officer. For more information on Tradefull, visit tradefull.com. Marketing Agreement On May 30, 2023, Element has engaged FN Media Group, an arms length o the company, to provide social media and multimedia platform marketing for the Company for a fee of US$4,695. The company has provided FN Media group with publicly available source information for its disclosure, and the Company will be involved in reviewing materials for accuracy prior to their dissemination.



About Element Element is an innovative and research driven Canadian nutraceutical company specializing in the development of patented and science-based products for the global consumer packaged goods market, with a portfolio focused specifically muscle health. Element's lead product, Rejuvenate, is a patented proprietary formulation that is clinically proven to assist in the building, rebuilding, restoration and rejuvenation of natural muscle mass. Element also offers PROMINO, an elite performance supplement for both professional and amateur athletes to accelerate muscle recovery, build strength and accelerate recovery from injury. Element was founded in 2015 and is located in Burlington, Ontario.

To learn more about Element, visit elmtinc.com. More information about Rejuvenate can be found www.rejuvenatemuscle.com. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; expectations regarding the size of the United States and Canadian health, nutraceutical and wellness markets and changing consumer habits; the viability of the Company's products; availability of distribution channels for the Company's product offerings; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; successful development of the Company's proposed products; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions or recalls on the sale of the Company's products in the United States and Canada; customer and distributor relations; fluctuations in securities markets; and the inability of the Company to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. SOURCE Element Nutritional Sciences Inc.

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[July 17, 2023] Insights Into China's $45.5+ Billion Console Games Sector, Forecast to 2027 - Featuring Alibaba, NetEase, Nintendo, Sony & Tencent Among Others Tweet

DUBLIN, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "China Console Games & 5-Year Forecast Report 2023" report from Niko Partners, Inc. has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. A new report on the Console Games market in China reveals significant growth opportunities for businesses aiming to enter the lucrative Chinese gaming market. The report provides comprehensive insights and analysis on key trends, market size and forecast, growth drivers and inhibitors, major gaming platforms, regulations, and more. China has emerged as a global powerhouse in the gaming industry, with Chinese game companies expanding their reach globally and making bold investments at higher rates than ever. As the country reopens and its gaming sector sees a rebound, understanding the Chinese gaming scene is crucial for businesses to tap into this thriving market. Key findings from the report include: Robust Market Growth: The total market for PC, mobile, and console games revenue in China was $45.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed $57 billion by 2027.

was in 2022 and is projected to exceed by 2027. By 2027, China is expected to have 730 million gamers, despite a declining population, indicating a rising demand for gaming. Console Market Insights: China's domestic console market generated $2.29 billion in 2022, representing a 7.8% year-on-year growth.

in 2022, representing a 7.8% year-on-year growth. The number of console gamers reached 16.7 million in 2022, reflecting an 8.3% year-on-year increase.

2023 is projected to be the peak year for console hardware sales as supply meets demand, overcoming previous supply issues.

The console hardware and software market in China is forecasted to reach $2.48 billion in 2027, with a 5-year CAGR of 1.6%. Key Topics Covered in the Report: Market Size and Forecast: Comprehensive market model and 5-year forecast through 2027, including hardware, software, and services, as well as console gamer size.

Growth Drivers and Inhibitors: Analysis of key factors driving and hindering mobile games revenue in 2023 and beyond, with an overall outlook for 2023.

Sony Playstation: Hardware launch data, updates, notable developments, and sales figures for PlayStaton 4 and 5.

Nintendo Switch and Successor: Hardware launch data, updates, premium games, notable developments, and insights into the anticipated next-generation console.

Microsoft Xbox: Hardware launch data, updates, and sales figures for Xbox Series X|S.

Gamer Survey Results and Analysis: Proprietary survey findings on Chinese gamers' demand, spending behavior, and usage of console games.

Console Industry Trends: Exploration of portable console gaming, console game development investments, cloud gaming, and risk factors of non-licensed imported games.

Esports and Livestreaming: Analysis of console esports games and events, along with a survey on esports and streaming.

Regulations and M&A: Overview of new regulations, industry body measures, NPPA licensing and forecasts, and investment activity.



About the Report:

The "Console Games Market in China" report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Chinese gaming industry, including market size, trends, growth drivers, major gaming platforms, regulations, and more. It offers actionable insights and strategic guidance to businesses aiming to tap into the lucrative Chinese gaming market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Market Size and Forecast A comprehensive market model and 5-year forecast through 2027 (hardware, software and services, console gamer size)

Key trends impacting the market model 2. Growth Drivers and Inhibitors Key growth drivers and inhibitors for mobile games revenue in 2023 and beyond

Overall outlook for 2023 3. Sony Playstation Hardware launch data

Overview and key updates

Notable developments

PlayStation 4 and 5 hardware sales 4. Nintendo Switch and Successor Hardware launch data

Key updates to the Nintendo ecosystem

Premium games for Nintendo Switch published in China with ISBN

with ISBN Notable developments and anticipated next-generation console 5. Microsoft Xbox Hardware launch data

Key updates to the Xbox ecosystem

Xbox Series X|S hardware sales 6. Gamer Survey Results and Analysis Findings of the proprietary survey of 1,575 Chinese gamers

Qualitative and quantitative analysis on gamer demand, gaming, and spending behavior, and usage of console games 7. Console Industry Trends Portable console gaming

Investment in console game development

Accelerators

Cloud gaming

Risk of non-licensed imported games 8. Esports and Livestreaming Console esports games and events

Esports & streaming survey 9. Regulations and M&A Overview of new regulations and measures of industry bodies

NPPA licensing and license forecasts

Investment activity Companies Mentioned Activision Blizzard

Alibaba

Alipay

Asus

Bandai Namco Shanghai

Bilibili

Changhong IT

Coconut Island Games

Cocos Technology

Ebay

Electronic Soul

Gamecores

Gamera Game

IKEA

Inzone

Kuaishou

Lightning Games (G-Bits)

Microsoft

NetEase

Nintendo

Oriental Pearl

Papergamers

Quantic Dreams

Shanghai Great Sports

SoftStar

Sony

Steam (Valve)

Tencent

Tiktok (Douyin)

Ubisoft

WeChat

XD Network

Yollika Game

ZQ Game For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3r8tgh About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insights-into-chinas-45-5-billion-console-games-sector-forecast-to-2027---featuring-alibaba-netease-nintendo-sony--tencent-among-others-301878272.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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[July 17, 2023] AIIB Works with Banca Transilvania and IFC to Support Green Housing in Romania with Bond Investment Project Tweet

BEIJING, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Directors has approved a EUR100 million financing to support climate change mitigation in Romania through green housing. The Banca Transilvania Green Mortgages Bond Investment Project will finance green mortgages, or retail purchases of dwellings in certified residential green buildings in Romania via investment into a Tier 2 bond issued by Banca Transilvania, Romania's largest bank. This is AIIB's first project in Romania as well as the first financing in green mortgages. By supporting the program, AIIB would enhance the green loan portfolio of Banca Transilvania and contribute to continuing growth of the green buildings segment in the country, facilitating the transition of the local construction and real estate industry toward a low-carbon economy and contributing to the provision of much-needed housing stock for the local middle class in the region. By investing in a Tier 2 instrument, the project will also help strengthen the capital resilience and stability of Banca Transilvania and the Romanian banking sector. "This project is an example of an investment in green infrastructure, one of AIIB's priorities under its Corporate Strategy. Moreover, the project is categorized as 100 percent climate finance and Paris Agreement-aligned," said Knstantin Limitovskiy, AIIB's Vice President for Investment Operations (Region 2: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, East Asia, West Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America). AIIB's new investment operations are now aligned with the Paris Agreement as of July 1, 2023.



"In addition, this project will also help support Romania's progress toward decarbonization and the government's efforts to provide modern, affordable and energy efficient homes to the local population," Limitovskiy added. Also investing in this bond issuance alongside AIIB is the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is putting up an equivalent EUR100 million.

In its Sustainable Development Strategy 2030, Romania has set a target of intensifying its efforts to achieve the transition to a green economy characterized by low carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. Furthermore, the government has zeroed in on energy efficiency improvements in buildings, including via programs that focus on thermal rehabilitation of apartment blocks. An average apartment in Romania consumes twice as much heat as an average apartment in other European countries, which leads to pollution, high energy bills, high energy subsidies and dependence on energy imports. The National Long-Term Renovation Strategy foresees a need for, approximately, EUR13 billion for the renovation of buildings by the year 2030 in order to meet the European commitments. Omer Tetik, Chief Executive Officer, Banca Transilvania, said, "The new financing facility helps us intensify our sustainable financing efforts in areas of interest for the transition to a sustainable economy in Romania. Thus, directing the proceeds towards energy-efficient mortgages will decrease energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring improved housing conditions." More information about the project can be found here. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aiib-works-with-banca-transilvania-and-ifc-to-support-green-housing-in-romania-with-bond-investment-project-301878339.html

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[July 17, 2023] China National Silk Museum Holds 2nd Silk Road Online Curating Competition Award Ceremony with Maritime Silk Road Theme Tweet

HANGZHOU, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The China National Silk Museum held the Award Ceremony for the 2nd Silk Road Online Curating Competition on the evening of July 12, 2023. Launched in May this year, the competition is co-organized by Shanghai University with support from Manycore Tech Inc. Contrasting with the inaugural competition in 2022, this year has a Maritime Silk Road theme and museums with related collections including Guangzhou Maritime Museum, Quanzhou Maritime Museum, Zhangzhou Museum, China Port Museum in Ningbo, and Wenzhou Museum were all invited to contribute resources from their online collections. The competition attracted participants from over 51 universities including Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Nanjing University, University of Bologna, UniversityCollege London, among many others, as well as nine museums and numerous designers. Participants were divided into two groups, namely, Museum Group and Design Group, who produced 98 online exhibitions.



Among the 98 exhibitions, it was noteworthy that more diverse themes related to the Maritime Silk Road were chosen by contestants this year, including themes such as the protection and conservation of Maritime Silk Road artifacts, music culture communication, maritime city cultures, porcelain, trade and economic exchange, maritime animals, and maritime cuisine. One example was an exhibition telling the story of Xu Fu, a Chinese alchemist and explorer who was sent on two occasions by the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty between 300-200 BC to voyage the eastern seas in search for the elixir of life. The competitions are powered by the Silk Road Online Museum (SROM) platform, a platform with main concepts focusing on digital collaboration and 3D online curating. Since its launch in 2021 until June 2023, the SROM platform received a total of 70,000 registered users and 30,000 participants, while presenting 281 digital exhibitions and attracting 670,000 visitors. Moreover, the number of digital artifacts on the platform has increased from 2,000 pieces to 5,800 pieces, hailing from over 55 museums worldwide.

During the Award Ceremony, competition winners also enjoyed performances and lectures themed on the keywords of 2023 Silk Road Week, Dunhuang and Hungary. Traditional Chinese folk music performances and modern dancing were also presented. The night on SROM has already established itself as a must-attend annual feast for museum curating students and lovers globally. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-national-silk-museum-holds-2nd-silk-road-online-curating-competition-award-ceremony-with-maritime-silk-road-theme-301878363.html SOURCE China National Silk Museum

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[July 17, 2023] MAGNACHIP ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR RESIGNATION Tweet

SEOUL, South Korea, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: MX) ("Magnachip" or the "Company") today announced that Gary Tanner has notified the Company of his intention to resign from the Company's Board of Directors. The Board has accepted his resignation, which was effective as of July 14, 2023. Mr. Tanner joined Magnachip's Board in August 2015 and has served in multiple capacities, such as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, Chair of the Risk Committee, and a member of the Audit, Compensation and Strategic Review Committees. During his tenure, Mr. Tanner has been instrumental to the Company's trajectory, contributing to the Company's strategic vision, operational details and corporate governance. Most recently, Mr. Tanner led the establishment of the Risk Committee's oversight of the Company's corporate objectives, goals, strategies and initiatives relating to, and attending risks associated with, environmental, social and governanc ("ESG") matters, including corporate social responsibility, sustainability, public policy and other related matters such as the formation of a management-level ESG Steering Committee.



"Gary's operational expertise and industry experience have been instrumental to our success and he will be greatly missed," said Camillo Martino, Magnachip's Chairman of the Board. "He has consistently brought a valuable perspective to our board deliberations. On behalf of the entire board, I thank him for his service to Magnachip and wish him well in his future endeavors." "The Company and the management team would like to express their gratitude to Gary for his dedicated service over the past eight years. He leaves a legacy of excellence that has positioned us well for the future," said YJ Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Magnachip. "His strategic vision and his commitment to our stakeholders have been a source of inspiration to all of us. We are thankful for his years of service and his commitment to our success."

Mr. Tanner's departure is due to personal reasons. The Company will immediately begin a search for a new independent director to replace Mr. Tanner. About Magnachip Semiconductor

Magnachip is a designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor platform solutions for communications, IoT, consumer, computing, industrial and automotive applications. The Company provides a broad range of standard products to customers worldwide. Magnachip, with more than 40 years of operating history, owns a portfolio of approximately 1,100 registered patents and pending applications, and has extensive engineering, design, and manufacturing process expertise. For more information, please visit www.magnachip.com. Information on or accessible through Magnachip's website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this release. CONTACT:

Yujia Zhai

The Blueshirt Group

Tel. (860) 214-0809

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magnachip-announces-director-resignation-301878134.html SOURCE Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation

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[July 17, 2023] Teledyne FLIR Defense Awarded Contract to Supply 1,000 More Black Hornet Nano-Drones to Ukraine Tweet

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), will produce Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems for use in Ukraine as part of an order from Norway's Ministry of Defense. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230714493287/en/ Teledyne FLIR Defense will produce Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems for use in Ukraine as part of an order from Norway's Ministry of Defense. The Norwegian MOD will procure an additional 1,000 Black Hornet unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as spare parts, maintenance, and training for Ukrainian operators and instructors. Last August, Norway donated nearly 300 Black Hornet systems to Ukraine forces through the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine. The award-winning Black Hornet 3 is designed and built by Teledyne FLIR in Norway. The pcket-sized UAV weighs just 33 grams (less than 1.2 ounces) and measures 168 millimeters (less than seven inches). Well suited for operations in highly contested and GPS-denied environments, nearly silent, and with a flight time up to 25 minutes, the Black Hornet transmits live visible and thermal video and HD still images to the user. (Photo: Business Wire)



The Norwegian MOD will procure an additional 1,000 Black Hornet unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as spare parts, maintenance, and training for Ukrainian operators and instructors. Last August, Norway donated nearly 300 Black Hornet systems to Ukraine forces through the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

"Ukraine is very satisfied with previous Norwegian deliveries of this type of reconnaissance drone," Norwegian Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said in a statement. The award-winning Black Hornet 3 is designed and built by Teledyne FLIR in Norway. The pocket-sized UAV weighs just 33 grams (less than 0.1 pounds) and measures 168 millimeters (less than seven inches). Well suited for operations in highly contested and GPS-denied environments, nearly silent, and with a flight time up to 25 minutes, the Black Hornet transmits live visible and thermal video to the user. "We are honored and proud to support Norway's efforts to assist forces in Ukraine," said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. "The Black Hornet has proven to be game-changing technology that can help soldiers perform missions more safely and effectively." Black Hornet drones are currently being used by Ukrainian forces through donations made last summer by the Norwegian and British governments. They have performed successfully in numerous operations under the harshest of environments. FLIR Defense has delivered more than 14,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in over 40 countries. The U.S. Army has placed Black Hornet orders worth more than $140 million over the past five years, including in support of its Soldier Borne Sensor program. About Teledyne FLIR Teledyne FLIR, a Teledyne Technologies company, is a world leader in intelligent sensing, unmanned systems, and integrated solutions for defense and industrial markets, with roughly 4,000 employees worldwide. Founded in 1978, the company develops a wide range of advanced technologies to help professionals make better, faster decisions that save lives and livelihoods. To learn more, visit teledyneflir.com or follow @flir. #AnyThreatAnywhere About Teledyne Technologies Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at www.teledyne.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230714493287/en/

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Writer AI Large Language Models Achieve Top Scores on Stanford HELM

Writer, the leading generative AI platform for enterprises, announced today that Palmyra, its family of large language models (LLMs), has achieved top benchmark scores from Stanford's Holistic Evaluation of Language Models (HELM), demonstrating its leadership in the generative AI field.

In key benchmark tests, Palmyra outperformed models by OpenAI, Cohere, Anthropic, Microsoft, and important open-source models such as Falcon 40B and LLaMA-30B.

HELM is a benchmarking initiative by Stanford University's Center of Research on Foundation Models that evaluates prominent language models across a wide range of scenarios. Palmyra excelled in tests that evaluated a model's ability to understand knowledge and answer natural language questions accurately.

The HELM results validate Palmyra's proficiency in knowledge comprehension, making inferences, and accurately answering open-ended, context-based questions that are worded naturally. These scores highlight Palmyra's power and ability to complete advanced tasks, which makes it uniquely capable of tackling a wide range of enterprise use cases.

"We are thrilled to see Writer Palmyra at the top of these benchmarks," said Waseem AlShikh, Writer co-founder and chief technology officer. "Our models have demonstrated their breadth of knowledge comprehension and ability to accurately answer questions in natural language - all with an efficient-sized model that doesn't exceed 43 billion parameters. These results offer further proof that the Writer generative AI platform is the enterprise-ready choice for organizations looking to accelerate growth, increase productivity, and align brand."

In a world where LLMs are increasingly undifferentiated, training data, duration, and methodology make a big difference. Unlike other model families, Palmyra is trained on high-quality formal writing and has a deep vertical focus, with industry-specific models for healthcare and financial services. The models are transparent and auditable rather than black box, built so data stays private, and can be self-hosted. Given that Palmyra LLMs don't exceed 43 billion parameters, these latest rankings further demonstrate that smaller, more efficient, and more accessible models can still deliver superior results.

See Writer Palmyra resources here:

Comparison of Writer and closed models







Cohere Claude Text Davinci-003 ChatGPT Writer BoolQ 85.6% 81.5% 88.1% 73.9% 89.6% MMLU 45.2% 48.1% 56.9% 59.8% 60.9% Natural Questions 76.0% 68.6% 77.0% 63.7% 79.0%

Results from HELM. Models used for testing are Cohere Command beta (52.4B), Anthropic-LM v4-s3 (52B), OpenAI text-davinci-003, gpt-3.5-turbo-0301, Palmyra-X

Comparison of Writer and open source models

MMLU TruthfulQA Palmyra-X 60.9% 61.6% Falcon-40B 57.0% 41.7% llama-30b 56.8% 42.3%

Source: Hugging Face

About Writer

Writer is the generative AI platform for enterprises. We empower your people - product, operations, support, marketing, HR, and more - to maximize creativity and 10x productivity.

Our secure platform snaps easily into your business data sources and delivers accurate answers and content that are fine-tuned on your own data and follow your own AI guardrails. We put generative AI in people's hands right where they work, and enable you to build it into your end-user applications, without putting your or your users' data at risk.

Writer is enterprise-grade, doesn't use or share your data, and features open and transparent LLMs that are deployable in a variety of ways, including self-hosted. We're compliant with SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI, and are deployed at leading enterprises, including Intuit, UiPath, Spotify, L'Oreal, Uber, and Deloitte. Visit us at writer.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717694446/en/
[July 17, 2023] Salesforce Training & Consulting Unveils P3 Performance: Unlocking Untapped Potential for Salesforce-Adopting Sales Teams Tweet

TORONTO, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Salesforce Training & Consulting , a firm specializing in creating custom training solutions for Salesforce, announced the launch of their new venture, P3 Performance . P3 Performance works exclusively with companies that have deployed Salesforce for their sales teams but have yet to realize the uptick in business results they had initially hoped to achieve when moving to Salesforce. "Companies worldwide have recognized the enormous power of Salesforce as the world's leading CRM program. Unfortunately, for many of them, the gap between what they had hoped to achieve and what they are currently seeing is massive," according to P3 Performance founder Mark Christie. Adds Christie, a Certified Sales Cloud Consultant, "When companies decide to move to Salesforce, they're hoping for transformative outcomes, be it more sales, shorter sales cycles, improved win rates, or higher lead conversion. And yes, Salesforce can help deliver on all of those. But, without understanding why salespeople might want to use Salesforce, true digital transformation will always remain elusive." P3 Performance's primary goal is to help sales teams achieve better business outcomes by using Salesforce more effectively. No easy task, P3 starts by taking a deeper look into their clients' three "P's" (hence the company name). "Salesforce Adoption is incredibly hard to achieve when you don't have alignment between your people, your processes and your Salesforce platform," adds Nicole Hutzul, the ProSell Practice Lead at P3 Performance. "Our ProSell program is designed to address these areas and foster both an awareness and desire among sales users to embrace the new way of doing things."



Part of the challenge is the clients themselves. "I've had countless conversations with Sales Leaders that have had low Salesforce adoption for years with minimal impact to their business, and they come to us looking for a one or two-hour training session on tips and tricks," says Christie. "Well, that's just not going to get it done. Real change requires much more than that. We've proven that our ProSell model is the solution." About P3 Performance

P3 Performance, established in 2022, is an arm of Salesforce Training & Consulting, focusing on driving Salesforce Adoption and greater sales results for their clients' sales teams. With teams in Toronto, Canada, and certified training and adoption consultants in the US, Canada and Europe, P3 Performance will help you achieve true digital transformation with Salesforce. About Salesforce Training & Consulting Salesforce Training & Consulting, established in 2006, creates and delivers customized Salesforce Training content  workbooks, reference guides, tutorial videos, or guidance  for its clients. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Salesforce Training is the go-to choice for business leaders looking to do more with Salesforce. P3 Performance

Salesforce Training View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salesforce-training--consulting-unveils-p3-performance-unlocking-untapped-potential-for-salesforce-adopting-sales-teams-301877856.html SOURCE P3 Performance

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[July 17, 2023] Freya Systems Honored Consecutively With Drexel LeBow Analytics 50 Award Tweet

MEDIA, Pa., July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freya Systems has been named a 2023 Drexel LeBow Analytics 50 Award honoree; this marks the second consecutive acknowledgement from the prestigious LeBow Center for Business Analytics at Drexel Universitys LeBow College of Business. The Drexel LeBow Analytics 50 is a national recognition of analytics distinction honoring 50 organizations using analytics to solve business challenges.

The initiative connects academia and industry, highlights best practices and applauds data-driven business impact. Honorees are selected by a panel of researchers and practitioners who evaluate nominations based on the complexity of the business challenge, the analytics solution implemented, and the solutions business impact on the organization. Freya Systems partnered with a municipal wastewater treatment company to identify areas of operation where available data could provide the basis for data-driven tools to reduce costs associated with equipment wear and maintenance, reduce energy consumption, and positively impact the environment. Freya's Data Scientists worked on engineering useful features to construct an advanced random forest algorithm. The impact of the algorithm positively affects three key issues with the wastewater treatment process: reduction in costs, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and elongating the life of critical equipment. said Chris MacNeel, Chief Operating Officer at Freya Systems. We revealed that an occasionally redundant fourth blower accounted for approximately 10% of the Aerations KW usage per day on the days that its used. The clients concurrent blower usage occurred 120 out of 365 days. If mitigated properly, the algorithm would save 5% - 8% of KW usage annually.



Freya Systems will be celebrated alongside other distinguished recipients at an award ceremony in October 2023. The companys Founder, Ben Johnson, expresses deep pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "This recognition is a tremendous honor for the Freya Systems team. Our collaboration with client subject matter experts is a cornerstone of our success. It enables us to tailor solutions that go above and beyond expectations. While winning awards is not our primary objective, I am delighted to see our dedicated data scientists receive recognition for their outstanding contributions and impact. For more information on Freya Systems, visit their website.

For media connections with Freya Systems, please contact Cindi Sutera at [email protected] or 610-613-2773 at your convenience.



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Management spent decades disconnecting themselves from the younger workers who are the backbone of their businesses  and now they're ready to replace them with ChatGPT. Chelsea Jia Feng/Insider

The bosses are excited about ChatGPT.

The generative-AI boom has become a boon for companies that want to automate away spreadsheet building, generic copywriting, and other monotonous tasks in the name of becoming more "efficient." The technology has seized the fascination of CEOs and the workplace industrial complex, leading many companies to give AI a whirl (with mixed results). While executives and the managerial class are all in on AI, there's been less consideration for the people this new tech will actually affect.

The mundane tasks that have so far been targeted for replacement are generally handled by entry-level workers. Managers give these tasks to new hires with the expectation that they'd be done quickly, done right, and done without anyone needing to really explain how to do them. This work was portrayed as a critical part of their development  a way to "earn your stripes" in the workplace.

While tackling grunt work and hoping to learn a job via osmosis isn't a great way to start a career, corporate America has left young workers with few other options. Over the past several decades, many companies have gutted training programs, neglected mentorship, and taken no responsibility for fostering workers' development. Now, with the advent of generative AI, organizations are starting to automate many "junior" tasks  stripping away their dubious last attempt to "teach" young employees. It's no wonder that several surveys have found that members of Gen Z are particularly concerned about AI's effect on their careers; in a recent survey by the job-posting site ZipRecruiter, 76% of Gen Zers indicated they were worried about losing their jobs to ChatGPT.

America's young workers are headed toward a career calamity. They may be more comfortable using ChatGPT and other AI technology than their older coworkers, but the managerial obsession with artificial intelligence threatens to undermine their ability to launch a career. Management spent decades disconnecting themselves from the younger workers who are the backbone of their businesses. And if these executives already won't train their junior employees, it's no surprise they're ready to get rid of them altogether.

Nobody wants to teach anymore

Even before the rise of AI, young people were facing an early-career crisis. Sure, on the surface it seems like Gen Z is entering the workforce at a great time. Finding a job is much easier than it used to be, thanks to historically low unemployment, and wages for young workers have been growing at a strong pace. But if you look deeper, a growing number of signs suggest young Americans are going to have a much tougher time actually building a career.

Gen Z is behind the eight ball even before their first day on the job. As the cost of college has soared, many of them are coming into their first job with a large student-debt burden. A 2022 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that Gen Zers were more likely than millennials were at their age to hold student debt, that Gen Zers' average debt load was 13% higher than millennials' was, and that roughly the same percentage of Gen Zers and millennials had $50,000 or more worth of outstanding student debt.

Don't want to go to college? Tough luck. Despite a recent pushback, the number of jobs requiring a college degree has been growing for decades. Even searching for a first job can leave Gen Zers scratching their heads. A LinkedIn analysis of 3.8 million job postings from 2017 to 2021 found that 35% of entry-level jobs required at least three years of experience. And if you try to go the internship route to get that experience? Good luck. A 2021 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers suggested that over 40% of internships were unpaid and that the average hourly wage for paid interns was just $20.76 in 2020  a tight budget in many major metropolitan areas.

Once young workers do finally break into the corporate world, they face another brutal reality: Companies have no interest in helping them move up the career ladder. Many companies have shown absolutely no consideration for fostering and developing workers' abilities, leaving young workers to largely fend for themselves as they attempt to establish a career path. A 2014 study by Peter Cappelli, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, found that in 1979 "young workers received on average about 2.5 weeks of training per year" but that by 1995 it had fallen to just under 11 hours annually. Capelli also found scant evidence that things had improved in the years since.

The US Department of Labor found in 2014 that while 70% of firms offered "some type of training to employees," it was mainly for "management and mid-level workers." This statistic is particularly worrying, partly because "some type of training" is extremely vague and could refer to something as simple as reading the HR handbook, and partly because 30% of firms didn't offer any training at all. More recently, in a survey conducted in 2020 by Paul Osterman, a professor at MIT, slightly less than 50% of employees said they'd received no formal job training from their employer over the past year. Osterman also argued in a discussion of the survey that companies were failing to provide employees with the types of training that would help boost their skills or advance their careers.

You might assume organizations would try to foster mentorship in the workforce as a way to make up for the lack of rigorous training. Not so fast. While mentorship is associated with higher levels of job satisfaction and organizational commitment, a 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that only 44% of Americans workers had one. And while formal mentorship programs exist, they're often voluntary. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that voluntary mentorship programs led to worse outcomes than mandatory ones and that those who most needed the help of a mentor were less likely to join these types of programs.

This may be because workplace cultures often alienate those who ask for help (despite the benefits of doing so), creating a pervasive feeling that organizations don't really care about their employees. In a regular Gallup poll of US workers, only 24% of workers surveyed this May strongly agreed that their organizations cared about their well-being, down from 33% in May 2021 and a remarkable 49% in May 2020. This lack of care is clearly weighing on the young workers who need career development the most. Workplace Intelligence, an HR-research firm, said that in a survey it conducted with Amazon in 2022, 74% of Gen Zers and millennials indicated they were considering leaving their job "due to subpar skills-building support or a lack of career mobility options."

Why train when you can just plug it in?

With no training and no real professional development, young workers in recent years have been left with only one way to learn the ropes on the job: grunt work. In theory, these small jobs were meant to allow young workers to familiarize themselves with simpler processes and prove themselves competent enough to take on more challenging work. But they often resulted in young workers feeling a lack of purpose at work because the work didn't feel like a meaningful contribution to the company or a way to actually progress to the next level. But with the advent of generative AI in the workplace, the jig is up.

AI has already begun to take jobs from workers of all ages, but corporate America's particular disdain for its young means it will hit entry-level workers hardest. It takes a lot of work to "train" a large language model, the type of AI that powers ChatGPT and other similar products. But once that work is done, it's a lot cheaper for businesses to buy some new tech tools than train a real person  consequences be damned. For a managerial class that has all but rejected any responsibility for helping foster workers' growth, all that will matter is whether something is cheap and easy.

The solace for these young workers, the managerial argument goes, is that the most tech-savvy among them will become the minders of these new machines. In reality, this means young people will find themselves cleaning up the deluge of errors these faceless AI tools will spit out, knowing they'll receive less credit because the "work" came from a machine. This has the potential to create a career crisis for young people: If even the faintest amount of freedom is wiped from their work lives, they'll have fewer ways to prove themselves capable of taking on more meaningful work. Promotions will become even more of a game of favorites, with the best "real" tasks reserved for diplomats rather than hard workers. A new AI-powered model benefits established players and empowers America's weak, disconnected management culture that doesn't evaluate actual outputs or creations.

It's no wonder CEOs and higher-ups are much more enthusiastic about integrating AI into the workplace than average employees are. The data company Qualtrics said that in a survey it conducted in May and June, 64% of executives suggested they found the "potential impact of AI" on their workplace exciting. Only 39% of frontline workers said the same, with 46% describing the tech as "scary." Another survey from Boston Consulting Group registered a similar divide: 62% of execs and leaders were enthused about the prospect of using AI at work, compared with 42% of frontline employees. While AI optimists may predict that jobs we can't imagine right now will exist in 10 years, it's hard to imagine, given the ways corporations have deployed new technology, that automation will lead to a society where more people have more economic opportunities.

Train the children  they're our only hope

What's left for America's young workforce? What does a young person do in an office where they're not trained, mentored, or given "real" work? What happens when early-career jobs like data entry and document filing are automated by artificial intelligence?

The irony is that corporate responsibility for employees is actually better for the business. Studies suggest that companies that invest in job training and skill development are more efficient and reap higher profit margins. Despite this evidence, companies have a hard time grasping the value of the investment in their employees. As Ulrich Atz and Tensie Whelan from New York University's Stern Center for Sustainable Business wrote recently in Fortune, corporations often don't have methods to measure the value of human capital beyond simple labor costs, meaning organizations consider humans in the same way they might consider the cost of their water or electric bills. America's rot economy  one where, to quote Atz and Whelan, "companies are pressured to reduce costs in order to return more money to shareholders"  sees immediate revenue growth as the only valuable metric to consider, more important than the long-term value of growing an employee.

There's a better way to work, but I fear the only way for companies to learn the dangers of automation will be through a painful public example of a company that relied too much on AI, like Knight Capital's trading glitch that cost it $440 million. Humans can be enhanced by AI, helped by AI, but replacing them with AI is a shortsighted decision made by myopic bean counters who can't see the value in a person. It's worth considering whether investments in AI should instead be replaced with actual training and mentorship programs with financial rewards.

Young people are facing a reckoning  one where the ballooning costs of college and a lack of future opportunities will run headlong into a corporate America that doesn't recognize the value of investing in real human beings. The result will be a weaker economy with fewer people ready to take on the real challenges posed by new technology. It's a lose-lose proposition for everybody involved.

Ed Zitron is the CEO of EZPR, a national tech and business public-relations agency. He is also the author of the tech and culture newsletter Where's Your Ed At.

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[July 17, 2023] Johnson Controls to expand OpenBlue digital buildings capabilities through acquisition of workplace management software leader FM:Systems Tweet

Acquisition adds complementary cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) digital workplace management capabilities to Johnson Controls' leading OpenBlue digital buildings software portfolio

FM:Systems' double-digit revenue growth and gross and operating margins expected to be accretive to Johnson Controls

Significant synergies providing increased capabilities and offerings from FM:Systems products to Johnson Controls customers CORK, Ireland, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has acquired FM:Systems, a leading digital workplace management and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider for facilities and real estate professionals. The base purchase price for the transaction is $455 million, plus additional payments to be made subject to the achievement of post-closing earnout milestones. The added expertise of FM:Systems will accelerate Johnson Controls' net zero building technologies leadership. "FM:Systems' powerful, predictive workplace management platform will build on our best-in-class building automation services, OpenBlue, to offer a one-stop solution that helps customers accelerate their digital transformation journey, improve building efficiency and reduce operational costs," said Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO George Oliver. "Coupled with our building asset solutions, energy management offerings and global field network, this acquisition further differentiates Johnson Controls' leadership in the fast-growing segment for autonomous and digitally enabled buildings." FM:Systems, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and owned by Accel-KKR, has more than 200 employees and 1,200 customers, representing more than 2.4 million users across 80 countries. The company has earned a loyal customer base, achieving a greater than 110% average net revenue retention since 2020. An established leader in the digital workplace solutions industry, FM:Systems has had double-digit revenue growth with gross and operating margins that are accretive to Johnson Controls. "Workplace management technology is a key enabler in terms of improving operational efficiency, creating safer, healthier and smarter buildings, and supporting sustainability goals. Since our investment in 2017, FM:Systems has become a leader in this space with continued innovation and service excellence, leading to a strong growth profile," said Dean Jacobson, managing director at Accel-KKR. "We are proud of the success accomplished together with the talented team at FM:Systems, and we are pleased to see how well FM:Systems fits into and expands Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital capabilities in pursuit of a shared vision to lead in the future of autonomous and connected buildings." FM:Systems' innovative software products offer a range of solutions to make workspaces smarter, like space-scenario planning, asset management and facilities maintenance, supported by security protocols, floor plan scenario modeling, bi-direction integration with AutoCAD and Revit models, and advanced workplace analytics capabilities. Improving the experience of everyone inside, from visitors to occupants to building managers, its powerful sensors and analytics can help portfolio managers optimize space, realize greater cost savings, and help manage and report on indoor air and other environmental data in facilities as diverse as commercial real estate, hospitals, universities, and government buildings. FM:Systems' capabilities will further strengthen Johnson Controls OpenBlue suite of software, which uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and digital twin technologies to improve building performance, while making buildings smarter and healthier for the planet. Buildings collectively account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The added expertise of FM:Systems will accelerate Johnson Controls' leadership in net zero building technologies globally, while strengthening long-term relationships with existing customers and creating new opportunities to meet demand in the fast-growing smart building segment. FM:Systems CEO and Chairman Kurt von Koch will join Johnson Controls' digital business in a leadership role. The acquisition is not expected to impact Johnson Controls' 2023 fiscal year financial outlook. Centerview Partners LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP served as legal advisor to Johnson Controls on the transaction. Moelis & Company LLC and Raymond James acted as financial advisors, and Goodwin Procter as legal advisor to FM:Systems.







INVESTOR CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACTS: Jim Lucas Trent Perrotto Johnson Controls Johnson Controls Direct: +1 651.391.3182 Direct: +1 202.834.6353 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]



Todd Fogarty

Accel-KKR

Direct: +1 917.992.1170

Email: [email protected]

Johnson Controls International plc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Johnson Controls International plc has made statements in this communication regarding the acquisition of FM:Systems that are forward-looking and therefore are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are, or could be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" and terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Johnson Controls cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Johnson Controls' control, that could cause the expected impact of the acquisition of FM:Systems to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, among others, risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, including the possibility that expected synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time frame; delays in the successful integration of FM:Systems and its technologies; unfavorable reaction to the acquisition by customers, competitors, suppliers and employees, disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; significant transaction costs; and unknown liabilities. Other factors that could cause Johnson Controls' actual results to differ materially from those expressed include, among others risks included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Johnson Controls' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2022 fiscal year filed with the SEC on November 15, 2022, which is available at www.sec.gov and www.johnsoncontrols.com under the "Investors" tab. The description of certain of these risks is supplemented in Item 1A of Part II of Johnson Controls' subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Shareholders, potential investors and others should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this document, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, Johnson Controls assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication. About Johnson Controls

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. About FM:Systems

FM:Systems' all-in-one workplace management platform helps more than 1,200 of the world's largest organizations access, manage and measure every aspect of their real estate portfolio. With the most complete range of intuitive and scalable space management, hybrid work, workplace analytics and smart sensor solutions, FM:Systems helps customers gain the data-backed clarity and vision necessary to make strategic real estate decisions and deliver high-performance workplaces today and long into the future. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnson-controls-to-expand-openblue-digital-buildings-capabilities-through-acquisition-of-workplace-management-software-leader-fmsystems-301878111.html SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc

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[July 17, 2023] BrainCheck Celebrates U.S. FDA Approval of Leqembi and Empowers Customers to Lead the Way in Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment Tweet

Kim Rodriguez, CEO, and Matt Cerullo, Chief Revenue Officer, to attend the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), the world's largest forum for the dementia research community AUSTIN, Texas, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainCheck, Inc. celebrates the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s recent decision to approve Leqembi (lecanemab, Eisai/Biogen), for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease. BrainCheck's comprehensive cognitive assessment and care management platform is empowering customers to lead the way in the early detection of cognitive impairment. Kim Rodriguez, CEO, and Matt Cerullo, Chief Revenue Officer, will attend the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Amsterdam, Netherlands from July 16-20 to share BrainCheck's technology with the global dementia research community. "The U.S. FDA's approval of Leqembi marks a major milestone in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. With the approval specifically focused on the treatment of patients with early forms of disease, such as mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, early detection has never been more important," said Kim Rodriguez, CEO of BrainCheck. "At BrainCheck, we are focused on expanding nationwide access to innovative technology proven to help patients, providers and health systems quickly and easily assess cognitive function. Together, we can accelerate intervention, improve care, and offer new hope to patients and their families." "BrainCheck's platform is trusted by hundreds of the country's most prestigious providers and specialists to manage the cognitive health of more than 300,000 patients to date. With BrainCheck, our customers are well-equipped to enhance care, personalize results, and provide actionable insights. We expect more facilities to demand this technology as tey work to ensure patients receive the greatest benefit from new treatments like Leqembi at the earliest point possible," Ms. Rodriguez added.



Developed by neuroscientists and technologists from Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University, BrainCheck's FDA-registered cognitive assessment and care management platform is the most comprehensive digital health solution of its kind available on the market today. Its proprietary computerized cognitive assessments and robust portfolio of screeners can be applied to evaluate all types of cognitive impairments and decline, including Alzheimer's and dementia. Backed by science, studies, and success stories, the technology is proven to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs at scale. "For more than 60 years, DENT Neurologic Institute has been committed to staying on the forefront of medical advances to provide the highest quality neurologic care. With more than 80 providers serving 25 sub-specialty clinics in three convenient locations, DENT treats nearly 1,300 patients daily, amounting to more than 325,000 patient visits per year and growing," said Christine Mann, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Infusion Operations, DENT Neurologic Institute, one of the largest outpatient neurology practices in the U.S. "The BrainCheck platform allows us to provide regular and consistent care planning and education to this complex patient population. Providers in our memory clinic also consider BrainCheck to be an extremely beneficial tool that helps us to connect patients and care partners to essential community resources."

"We understand the anxiety patients and their families face when dealing with complex symptoms and diagnosis. In order to reduce this anxiety and stress, the physicians and staff at Texas Neurology are committed to providing the best care possible, treating each patient with dignity, respect, and compassion," said David Evans, CEO, Texas Neurology, north Texas' premier provider of neurological services. "The BrainCheck platform empowers us to continue to deliver exceptional cognitive assessment and care planning services, personalizing patient results and improving operational efficiency at our facility." "With the FDA's approval of Leqembi, now more than ever, providers and specialists nationwide need technology that can not only assess cognitive function, but also provide a personalized plan of action," said David Eagleman, PhD, Neuroscientist, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of BrainCheck. "We developed the BrainCheck platform because we believe that in the battle against Alzheimer's disease and dementia, early detection is the best defense. We are pleased to arm the medical community with a proven effective tool to support earlier intervention, improved care, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients and their families." "When it comes to cognitive health, knowledge is power and our leading technology puts that power back in the hands of providers, ensuring patients receive the right screening to detect disease as early as possible," said Ms. Rodriguez. "We look forward to sharing the BrainCheck platform with the AAIC community this year." About BrainCheck

To learn more, please visit braincheck.com . Contact

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/braincheck-celebrates-us-fda-approval-of-leqembi-and-empowers-customers-to-lead-the-way-in-early-detection-of-cognitive-impairment-301878123.html SOURCE BrainCheck, Inc.

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[July 17, 2023] Ubiik acquires Mimomax, creating a best-of-breed wireless solutions provider for utilities and critical infrastructure Tweet

TAIPEI and CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiik, an emerging leader in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and private LTE (pLTE) solutions, today announces the acquisition of New Zealand-based Mimomax Wireless, a provider of mission-critical communication solutions for narrowband channels. This acquisition will not only accelerate Ubiik's market expansion but will also bring Ubiik's leading-edge pLTE product line to Mimomax's global mission critical customer base. The new combined entity aims to bring innovative wireless solutions to market which will revolutionize communications for utilities and critical infrastructure. On track to exceed 1 million AMI device deployments by 2024, Ubiik continues to innovate based on its Weightless and cellular IoT LPWAN technologies, as well as its robust headend software infrastructure. Tackling the coverage limitations of existing public LTE networks that impede utilities' AMI deployments, Ubiik is forging ahead as a market leader in the pLTE landscape. Mimomax Wireless has established itself since 2007 as a manufacturer of award-winning radios utilizing Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology. Catering to Utilities, Governments, Public Safety, Mining, Transport, and Energy sectors, Mimomax delivers communications solutions that optimize data throughput and enable near-real-time visibility of critical assets. "We're excited to join forces with Mimomax, a technology leader in high throughput and high reliability narrowband wireless communication systems for the utility sector," said Tienhaw Peng, Founder and CEO of Ubiik. "Our foray into the US pLTE market was driven by Ubiik's homegrown solutions, and this acquisition of Mimomax injects additional momentum into our collective growth. In tandem, we're poised to boost the performance, security, and cost-effectiveness of critical networks. Our commitment to propelling efficiencies for Utility and Industrial customers remains steadfast as we continue to unveil ground-breaking products and explore future acquisitions." Ubiik launched the world's first 3GPP Release 15 LTE-M/NB-IoT base station goRAN[1] in 2022, and also introduced the freeRAN base station supporting unlicensed spectrum for LTE-M last month at the Utilities Technology Council Annual Conference in Florida. The debut of Ubiik's freeRAN and goRAN base stations marked a significant advancement, aiming to meet the demand from utilities for highly secure, scalable 3GPP standardized technologies. By joining forces, Ubiik and Mimomax can now offer an array of new possibilities for both mission and business critical communications. For example, existing US Utility customers who have deployed Mimomax products in the narrowband 700 MHz Upper Block A can now leverage their spectrum acquisition through adding Ubiik's goRAN NB-IoT Band 103 as a retrofit. This new opportunity offers the ability to connect smart meters and IoT devices effectively for a fraction of the cost of deploying new pLTE infrastructure. "Combining Mimomax's legacy of resilient, mission critical-grade radio solutions with Ubiik's deep understanding of AMI and pLTE represents an exciting prospect for our customers," says Paul Reid, CEO at Mimomax Wireless. "The joining of Ubiik and Mimomax will enable one of the most comprehensive product portfolios available - from the rigors of teleprotection and critical linking to the operational gains of Field Area Networking, to meter infrastructure, sensors and even streetlights. This acquisition promotes a product line-up, and know how, that will meet the full spectrum of requirements  be it mission or business critical, narrowband or LTE." Beyond synergies in product offerings, the joint entity of Ubiik and Mimomax also brings support resources and client services closer to Ubiik customer sites in Australia, the US and New Zealand, where Mimomax has been operating offices. Where to find more information For detailed product information on Ubiik products click here . For detailed product information on Mimomax products click here .







[1] The goRAN device is awaiting authorization as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission and will not be for sale until authorization is obtained.

About Ubiik Founded in 2016, Ubiik started its IoT business by providing Weightless LPWAN, a high performance open standard communication protocol successful with Advanced Metering Infrastructure private deployments. Since its successful AMI project in 2018 which has expanded its product portfolio to a PaaS platform, Ubiik has become a vertical IoT solutions provider. It has since grown its connectivity offerings to include LTE technologies to cover the multi-modality of the IoT market, especially for applications with strong security requirements that can be met with 3GPP standards. About Mimomax Mimomax Wireless is a developer of advanced wireless communications, providing solutions which support mission-critical infrastructure and personnel. Headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, Mimomax also has an office in Phoenix, Arizona plus a remote team of regional salespeople, providing client services, sales and operations support to the North American market. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ubiik-acquires-mimomax-creating-a-best-of-breed-wireless-solutions-provider-for-utilities-and-critical-infrastructure-301878246.html SOURCE Ubiik

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[July 17, 2023] Plative makes significant investment to expand and scale AI and analytics practice Tweet

Investment underscores the company's mission to deliver practical and impactful solutions to companies of all sizes. NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Plative announced its plans to invest a significant amount of the company's profits over the next 5 years to expand and scale its AI and analytics practice to further invest in the creation of "Actually Impactful" generative artificial intelligence solutions for its clients. Plative will bring to market a new breed of solutions focused on functional, impactful and already existing practical applications of AI that are informed by a company's existing datasets from the likes of CRM, ERP, Cloud Data Warehouse, and BI platforms. "Every single conversation we're having with our customers' executives touches on what rea, practical and tangible AI solutions are available to them today that can generate cost savings, expanded customer-facing capabilities, or increased revenue retention in a secure and scalable manner." Says Paulo Kaiser, CEO of Plative. "Our increased investment in AI will be focused on bringing to market the practical, powerful, and secure solutions and accelerators that we've already developed for ourselves and select innovative customers."



Plative has implemented several secure and customized AI solutions natively in Salesforce, NetSuite and Slack utilizing OpenAI, Anthropic and Cohere, as well as other AI-related technologies. The company will initially continue its focus on developing and packaging practical IP and accelerators that proactively serve up information from a customers' CRM, ERP, cloud data warehouses, and internal wikis to enable organizations to empower their people with business insights and interact with data in more natural ways. Immediately available to clients are accelerators and solutions that can generate automated customer meeting/interaction summaries, customer sentiment reports, AI powered company briefings, natural language Q&A with a company's content library, plain english querying of business intelligence platforms, and more.

In parallel, Plative will continue to bolster and optimize its existing industry-leading practice areas in Salesforce.com and Oracle NetSuite to continue developing AI-enabled solutions that complement both platforms. For more information on Plative's capabilities in generative AI, visit plative.com/ai View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plative-makes-significant-investment-to-expand-and-scale-ai-and-analytics-practice-301876069.html SOURCE Plative

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[July 17, 2023]

Globe Teleservices Secures Tier One Ranking in ROCCO's Latest A2P SMS Market Impact Report 2023 - MNO Edition

SINGAPORE, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ -- Globe Teleservices, a leading global provider of telecommunication solutions, is proud to announce its distinguished recognition as a Tier 1 A2P SMS Vendor for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the highly regarded ROCCO A2P SMS Market Impact Report - MNO Edition.

ROCCO, known for its comprehensive research and analysis in the messaging industry, conducted an extensive survey which involved 331 MNOs from 153 countries. These MNOs collectively evaluated and rated 45 vendors based on various parameters, including customer service, quality of service, technical expertise, and overall customer satisfaction.

Globe Teleservices has emerged as the clear leader in this report, securing a Tier 1 rating and top rank in two essential parameters 'Value for Money' and 'Transparency'. This achievement serves as a testament to GTS' unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional value and upholding a highlevel of transparency. It also reaffirms the company's commitment to providing superior A2P SMS services to its global client base.







"We are thrilled to receive this prestigious recognition from ROCCO. This recognition reinforces our position as a trusted partner for operators around the world. This is a result of our relentless pursuit of providing cutting-edge solutions, outstanding customer service, and unmatched reliability."- Ashutosh Agrawal, Chairman and Managing Director, Globe Teleservices Pte. Ltd.

With Globe Teleservices' A2P SMS services, MNOs can effectively monetize their messaging traffic, improve customer engagement, and safeguard the integrity of their networks.

Globe Teleservices continues to innovate and ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations as a leader in the industry. As a trusted partner for MNOs seeking reliable and scalable A2P SMS solutions, Globe Teleservices is relentlessly committed to excellence.

About Company: Globe Teleservices (GTS) is a Singapore-based telecommunications company, providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of the global telecoms industry. As a leading provider of A2P messaging, International Voice, Antifraud, and Managed Services, GTS is dedicated to delivering exceptional value to its clients across all continents.

GTS works closely with over 100 Tier 1 mobile operators, driving significant impact on revenues and customer engagement.

Media Contact:

Pournima Chavan,

[email protected]

[email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2155167/Globe_Teleservices_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Globe Teleservices Pte Ltd
[July 17, 2023] Sophos Intercept X Wins Best Endpoint Security in CRN Tech Innovator Awards Tweet

OXFORD, United Kingdom, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sophos, a global leader in innovating and delivering cybersecurity as a service, today announced that Sophos Intercept X won best endpoint security from CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in the 2023 Tech Innovator awards. Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is further named a top MDR security offering. The recognitions mark Sophos eighth consecutive year as a Tech Innovator winner.

The annual award showcases innovative vendors in the IT channel across 37 different technology categories, in key areas ranging from security and cloud to storage and more. To determine the 2023 winners, a panel of CRN editors reviewed hundreds of vendor entriesincluding solution provider testimonialsusing multiple criteria, including key capabilities, uniqueness, technological ingenuity, and ability, to address customer and partner needs. Cybersecurity innovation is essential to stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape. The fact that CRN is recognizing Sophos Intercept X, the industrys most advanced endpoint product for detecting and stopping ransomware, zero-days and other cyberattacks, is a testament to the need for ongoing innovation for this layer of protection. Were always leveraging our threat intelligence and expertise to continuously evolve Intercept X, and all of our solutions, as every security vendor should, so partners have the utmost up-to-date security technology for their customers, said Raja Patel, senior vice president of products and managed services at Sophos. Were also proud of CRNs recognition of Sophos MDR, which provides the human-led aspect of cybersecurity to support partners with 24/7 security operations, as well as incident response, to immediately combat active attckers, if needed. Sophos is relentlessly committed to providing partners with the industry's best cybersecurity solutions, and being recognized by CRN as a market leader for the eighth year in a row is validation that we're doing just that.



Sophos Intercept X is the industrys most sophisticated endpoint security solution, offering multiple layers of security for unparalleled protection against advanced attacks like ransomware. It employs a comprehensive defense-in-depth approach to endpoint protection that stops the widest range of threats. The integration into an adaptive cybersecurity ecosystem and the use of threat hunting tools takes endpoint protection to a new level. By combining anti-exploit, anti-ransomware, deep learning artificial intelligence (AI), and Adaptive Attack Protection that dynamically enables heightened defenses, attacks are stopped before they impact systems. Intercept X takes a comprehensive approach to protecting all endpoints and does not rely on any single security technique. Sophos MDR is the most widely used MDR offering with more than 17,000 customers of all sizes and across all industries, and, like Intercept X, is the top-rated and most reviewed MDR solution on Gartner Peer Insights and G2. It is the only MDR service that can be delivered across end users existing third-party security deployments as well as Sophos offerings. Organizations can integrate telemetry sources from dozens of vendors, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Check Point, Okta, Darktrace, and many others, through the Sophos Marketplace.

CRNs annual Tech Innovator Awards acknowledge technology vendors committed to new and updated products that are creating the biggest opportunities for the solution providers and strategic service providers working on the front lines with customers, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. Congratulations to each one of this years CRN Tech Innovator Award winners. We are proud to recognize these best-in-class vendors that are driving transformation and innovation in the IT space. About Sophos

Sophos is a worldwide leader and innovator of advanced cybersecurity solutions, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and incident response services and a broad portfolio of endpoint, network, email, and cloud security technologies that help organizations defeat cyberattacks. As one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity providers, Sophos defends more than 500,000 organizations and more than 100 million users globally from active adversaries, ransomware, phishing, malware, and more. Sophos services and products connect through its cloud-based Sophos Central management console and are powered by Sophos X-Ops, the companys cross-domain threat intelligence unit. Sophos X-Ops intelligence optimizes the entire Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, which includes a centralized data lake that leverages a rich set of open APIs available to customers, partners, developers, and other cybersecurity and information technology vendors. Sophos provides cybersecurity-as-a-service to organizations needing fully-managed, turnkey security solutions. Customers can also manage their cybersecurity directly with Sophos security operations platform or use a hybrid approach by supplementing their in-house teams with Sophos services, including threat hunting and remediation. Sophos sells through reseller partners and managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com. About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace.

thechannelcompany.com Gartner and Peer Insights are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.



Contact: Sam Powers, [email protected]

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[July 17, 2023] Cirrus Data Wins CRN's 2023 Tech Innovator Award Tweet

SYOSSET, N.Y., July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cirrus Data Solutions, the market leader in block data mobility technology and services, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, named Cirrus Data as a Winner for the 2023 CRN Tech Innovator Awards. Cirrus Data is being recognized for its Cirrus Migrate Cloud in the Storage  Cloud category.

It is an honor to be recognized by CRN as a leading innovator in the cloud storage market, said Wayne Lam, CEO, Cirrus Data Solutions. Cirrus Migrate Cloud enables true data mobility, giving companies the ability to take back control of their data and decide where it should be stored and when to move. As companies look to optimize storage environments and reduce costs, they need to be able to seamlessly move their workloads between clouds, storage vendors, and VMs without restriction and without impact. Cirrus Data is the only patented solution that enables this flexibility. The Tech Innovator annual award program showcases innovative vendors in the IT channel across 37 different technology categories, in key areas ranging from cloud to storage to networking to security. To determine the 2023 winners, a panel of CRN editors reviewed hundreds of vendor entriesincluding solution provider testimonialsusing multiple criteria, including key capabilities, uniqueness, technological ingenuity, and ability to address customer and partner needs. Cirrus Migrate Cloud (CMC) is the only patented migration-as-a-service solution designed for large-scale block storage data mobility. Cirrus Migrate Cloud is integrated with Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle Cloud, and Google Cloud to enable intelligent data mobility. The solution also supports cloud-native services such as Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP and Azure Elastic SAN. Additionally, CMC is fully integrated with physical and cloud version of storage from Dell Technologies, NetApp, Pure Storage, and all of the other leading block storage providers to accelerate the migration of any block data  simply, efficiently, and securely, with zero or near-zero downtime.



Cirrus Migrate Cloud eliminates the need to deploy and manage physical or virtual appliances. With software-drive innovation, CMC is deployed by running a single command, typically using automation tools, on the host being migrated. Organizations can deploy thousands of host-based migration sessions with limitless scalability and without creating bottlenecks. An intuitive web interface discovers the hosts and storage and manages all the migration sessions, streamlining the entire migration process. Another unique benefit of Cirrus Migrate Cloud is its unparalleled efficiency, with the ability to move data up to six times faster than other cloud migration solutions. CMC enables host applications to continue running throughout the entire deployment, migration, and cutover from old storage to new storage. With automation and Intelligent Quality of Service, CMC paces the migration speed around your business needs so there is no negative impact on production.

At the same time, Cirrus Migrate Cloud is continually evolving and delivering new functionality. The latest release automates the migration of physical or virtual machines (such as VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V) into cloud-based VMware environments, including Azure VMware Solution and VMware Cloud on AWS or to native cloud instances and cloud disks. Organizations now have total freedom to move their workload to and from any physical or virtual environments, anywhere. CRNs annual Tech Innovator Awards acknowledge technology vendors committed to new and updated products that are creating the biggest opportunities for the solution providers and strategic service providers working on the front lines with customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. Congratulations to each one of this years CRN Tech Innovator Award winners. We are proud to recognize these best-in-class vendors that are driving transformation and innovation in the IT space. The Tech Innovator Awards will be featured in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators. About Cirrus Data

Cirrus Data Solutions Inc. (CDS) is the market leader in block data mobility technology and services. The company distributes its solutions through systems integrators, managed service providers, channel resellers, and partners, including Dell Technologies, HPE, IBM, Microsoft, AWS, Oracle Cloud, Hitachi, NetApp, Pure Storage, Infinidat, AEBS, AHEAD, CDW, ConvergeOne, Logicalis, SHI, Park Place, Presidio, ePlus, Insight, Computacenter, Sirius, WWT and many others. Cirrus works closely with Global Systems Integrators (GSIs), including Accenture, HCL, TCS, Capgemini, and others. The company's flagship mobility-as-a-service offering, Cirrus Migrate Cloud, is available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace, and Oracle Cloud Marketplace. CDS is headquartered in Syosset, New York, and has support centers in Dublin, Ireland, and Nanjing, China, with sales and support offices in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Denver, London, Melbourne, Munich, and Tampa. For more information, visit CDS online at www.cirrusdata.com. For more information, press only:

Erica Anderson

Offleash PR

[email protected] About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace.

thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook  2023 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact:

Natalie Lewis

The Channel Company

[email protected]



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[July 17, 2023] Dual Interface Payment Card Market to Reach $37.9 Billion by 2032 at 17.4% CAGR Tweet

The global dual interface payment card industry is driven by the increase in demand for contactless payments, the rise in adoption of internet banking, and the growth in adoption of various strategies by government authorities and businesses. PORTLAND, Ore., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dual Interface Payment Card Market by Type (Plastic and Metal) and End User (Retail & E-commerce, Transportation Healthcare, Hospitality & Tourism, and Others): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the dual interface payment card industry generated $7.8 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to generate $37.9 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 17.4% from 2023 to 2032. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/109287 Prime Determinants of Growth: The global dual interface payment card market is driven by the increase in demand for contactless payments, the rise in adoption of internet banking, and the growth in adoption of various strategies by government authorities and businesses. However, high initial costs and expenses and a lack of consumer knowledge and awareness restrict market growth. Furthermore, the surge in the integration of advanced technologies offers a strong opportunity for the dual interface payment card industry. In addition, the growing utilization of NFC infrastructure is also expected to provide lucrative opportunities for market growth during the forecast period. Report Coverage & Details:







Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $7.8 Billion Market Size in 2032 $37.9 Billion CAGR 17.4 % No. of Pages in Report 214 Segments covered Type, End User, and Region Drivers The increase in demand for contactless payments Rise in adoption of internet banking Growth in adoption of various strategies by government authorities and businesses Opportunities Surge in the integration of advanced technologies The growing utilization of NFC infrastructure Restraints High initial cost and expenses consideration Lack of consumer knowledge and awareness

COVID-19 Scenario: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global dual interface payment card industry, as the pandemic forced individuals or different organizations to adopt the work-from-home mode. It further caused a global decline in demand for traditional bank operations due to lockdown measures and transport restrictions imposed by national authorities.

In addition, the industry is shifting towards remote work and virtual events. Dual interface payment cards play a crucial role in enabling online payments, allowing individuals to discover online transaction options with the contactless option. Moreover, dual interface payment cards can help consumers with the digital transformation of banking operations. This has increased the growth of the market. The plastic segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period- Based on type, the plastic segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global dual interface payment card market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Several businesses started to provide eco-friendly plastic cards produced from recycled plastic, from BFSI to manufacturing and healthcare. However, the metal segment would display the highest CAGR of 20.7% from 2023 to 2032. Metal-based cards play a vital role in the dual interface payment card market, and due to their endurance compared to plastic-based cards, metal cards are becoming more popular. Buy This Report (219 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/46Lyzk6 The retail segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period- Based on end user, the retail segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global dual interface payment card market revenue, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Outdoor dual interface payment card solutions offer a wide range of benefits for the retail industry, including a contactless payment option. These solutions provide detailed and up-to-date payment solutions that help users in the retail sector. However, the hospitality and tourism segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 23.3% from 2023 to 2032. The increased international travel and growing demand for mobile payment options in these sectors are expected to contribute to market growth. North America region to maintain its dominance by 2032- Based on region, the North America segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global dual interface payment card market revenue. due to the increase in investment in advanced technologies such as cloud-based services, AI, ML, and IoT to improve banking and finance businesses and the customer experience. Thus, it is anticipated to propel the growth of the market. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The same region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 19.1% from 2023 to 2032, owing to an increase in penetration of digitalization and higher adoption of advanced technology. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/109287 Leading Market Players: - Thales Group

CPI Card Group Inc.

Eastcompeace Technology Co., Ltd.

Giesecke+Devrient GmbH

Goldpac

IDEMIA

Infineon Technologies AG

Paragon Group Limite

Watchdata Co., Ltd.

Wuhan Tianyu Information Industry Co., Ltd. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global dual interface payment card market. These players have adopted different strategies, such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others, to increase their market share and maintain dominant positions in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolios, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Trending Reports in BFSI Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Digital Business Card Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 EMV Smart Cards Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 EEA Prepaid Card Market : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Credit Card Issuance Services : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.



We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us:

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[July 17, 2023] NetBrain Named a Finalist for CRN's 2023 Tech Innovator Award Tweet

NetBrain Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of no-code network automation, visibility and assessment solutions, is announcing that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named NetBrain as a Finalist for the 2023 CRN Tech Innovator Awards in the category of IT Automation/RPA. NetBrain is being recognized for NetBrain Next-Gen, its flagship no-code network automation solution that dramatically reduces the time needed by network operations teams for troubleshooting, protects business services during change management cycles, and proactively prevents outages and service degradations before they impact production. This annual award program showcases innovative vendors in the IT channel across 37 different technology categories, in all of the key infrastructure areas needed by the modern enterprise. To determine the 2023 winners, a panel of CRN editors reviewed hundreds of vendor entries-including solution provider testimonials-using multiple criteria, including key capabilities, uniqueness, technological ingenuity, and ability to address customer and partner needs. NetBrain Next-Gen is the world's first and only network automation platform that requires no programming to realize dramatic savings and reduced operational risk. Built on NetBrain's patented intent-based network automation technology, NetBrain Next-Gen enables enterprises to transform their operational workflows to leverage automation along with the expertise they already possess but have been unable to scale. Primary data shows that more than 95% of all operational service tickets can be automated, and more than 50% of potential problems can be detected through automation. "CRN's annual Tech Innovator Awads acknowledge technology vendors committed to new and updated products that are creating the biggest opportunities for the solution providers and strategic service providers working on the front lines with customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "Congratulations to each one of this year's CRN Tech Innovator Award winners. We are proud to recognize these best-in-class vendors that are driving transformation and innovation in the IT space."



"With NetBrain, enterprises can transform the very core of their hybrid multi-vendor and multi-cloud network operational plan to allow scale like never seen before. By using our no-code automation platform and its rich digital twin foundation, the workflows that consume the NetOps teams become consistently repeatable at scale, with far fewer resources required," said Lingping Gao, Founder and CEO at NetBrain. "Our intent-based network automation technology enables application services to be delivered as needed, security and design compliance to be verified, troubleshooting and escalations to be greatly reduced and continuous network assessment to be performed - preventing early-stage issues from affecting production." The Tech Innovator Awards will be featured in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators.

About NetBrain Technologies Founded in 2004, NetBrain is the market leader for NetOps automation, providing network engineers with dynamic visibility across their hybrid networks and low-code/no-code automation for key tasks across IT workflows. Today, more than 2,500 of the world's largest enterprises and managed service providers use NetBrain to automate network documentation, accelerate troubleshooting, and strengthen network security-while integrating with a rich ecosystem of partners. NetBrain is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with locations in London, United Kingdom; Munich, Germany; Toronto, Canada; and Beijing, China. For more information, please visit www.netbrain.com. NetBrain, NetworkBrain, and the NetBrain logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NetBrain Technologies. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook  2023 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717059443/en/

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[July 17, 2023] The GEEKOM MiniPC might just be the next NUC Tweet

SHENZHEN, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel initiated its Next Unit Computing (NUC) Line of mini PCs in 2012, with a vision of making PC systems that are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, yet powerful enough to handle day-to-day desktop computing. Although several NUC models are still best-sellers in the market, Intel chose to step away from the business. As disappointing as Intel's exit from the market is, it's comforting to know that GEEKOM, a multinational consumer electronics company, promises to keep Intel's vision of compact computing alive. In fact, GEEKOM's Mini IT series mini PCs have long been considered as the best alternatives to the Intel NUC Pros. The GEEKOM Mini IT12 is identical to a NUC 12 Pro Wall Street Canyon in many ways. The two mini PCs have the same shape and size. But unlike the NUC 12 Pro, which is powered by Core-P processors, GEEKOM allows consumers to choose more powerful 5W Core-H processors.



The GEEKOM Mini IT12 is also equally impressive in terms of connectivity. It packs two 40Gbps USB4, three USB3.2 Gen2, a USB2.0, two HDMI 2.0, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The mini PC supports triple storage drives, and can output videos to 4 screens simultaneously. While offering the same set of features and equivalent performance, GEEKOM mini PCs are around 30% cheaper than their Intel counterparts. For instance, the Mini IT12 with Core i5-1240P, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD retails for $499, but the NUC 12 Pro with the same specifications is priced at $639.

The Mini IT12 may be considered excessive for some, but GEEKOM provides other viable options. The Mini IT11 is basically GEEKOM's version of the NUC 11 Pro, while the MiniAir 11 is a perfect alternative to the NUC 11 Essential. Also, it is important to note that if customers are already considering next-generation portable computers, they should be aware that the GEEKOM Mini IT13, featuring the same 13th Gen Core CPUs as the NUC 13 Pro Arena Canyon, is slated for release in September. GEEKOM was founded in Taiwan in 2003 and has been making quality computer products for 19 years. The company has a professional team of experts and offers 24/7 online support for customers. When contemplating the acquisition of your next mini PC, GEEKOM is a brand that should not be underestimated. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2154281/3000X1600.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-geekom-minipc-might-just-be-the-next-nuc-301878018.html

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AI Could Bring The Biggest Bubble of All Time, Says Stable Diffusion Creator

Emad Mostaque, CEO of Stability AI, warns that the rapidly-expanding artificial intelligence industry could be headed for a major bubble.

"I think this will be the biggest bubble of all time," Mostaque predicted while speaking with UBS analysts last week.

Similar to the dot-com bubble of the late 90s, he said he expects excessive hype around AI to inflate stock prices far beyond reason.

"I call it the 'dot AI' bubble, and it hasn't even started yet," Mostaque warned, according to CNBC.

With the hype around AI growing at unprecedented levels, in other words, even crypto's bubblicious reputation may finally be surpassed.

Crypto Bumped to the Back Seat as AI Investments Accelerate

With AI dominating headlines, investors are salivating over the next big thing. Stability AI itself has attracted over $100 million from backers enthused by Stable Diffusion's ability to conjure up striking photos from text prompts. The tool now boasts over one million users.

And Beyond Mostaques startup, AI applications have certainly pervaded our lives, from social media feeds to advanced industries like medicine, transportation, and finance.

Generative AI, in particular, is making a significant impact with tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Bard, MidJourney, and of course, Stability AI's Stable Diffusion. As Decrypt previously reported, generative AI might contribute a staggering $4.4 trillion per yearand the AI industry as a whole could be worth up to $15.7 trillion by 2030.

Generative AI enables machines to generate fresh content like text, images or music based on patterns gleaned from data.

But Mostaque insists AI still has a long way to go.

Institutional Traders Shifting Attention from Blockchain to AI: JP Morgan

"It's not quite ready" for large-scale deployment in sectors like banking, he told analysts, despite the obvious "value" in it. Integrating AI safely into mission-critical systems will take more time.

Nonetheless, Mostaque remains upbeat on AI's long-term potential, pegging the total investment needed at around $1 trillion. He believes AI could be "more important than 5G" in enabling access to knowledge. He said he also believes that people will run powerful AI models locally, and human coders will practically become obsolete in the near future.

Mostaque predicted dire stock market consequences for companies that don't embrace AI appropriately.

"You'll see the market punishing those that don't use this," he said, citing how Google's parent company Alphabet lost $100 billion in a single day after glitches in its Bard chatbot came to light.

These Three AI Startups Just Raised $2 Billion

With AI heavyweights like Google, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's newborn X.AI all aggressively pursuing dominance in generative AI, expectations are undoubtedly inflated.

But Mostaque cautions bankers like UBS against immediately integrating tools like ChatGPT into business processes. While acknowledging the massive opportunity, he believes companies should approach AI investment prudently.

Riding the waves of hype through bubbly peaks and troughs is nothing new in techand certainly not new in crypto. Mostaque reminds us to buckle up and prepare for a potentially bumpy ride into the 'Dot AI' era.
[July 17, 2023] IGEL Earns Top Honors in CRN's 2023 Tech Innovator Awards Tweet

IGEL COSMOS emerged as the clear winner in the "Virtualization/Virtual Desktop Infrastructure" category, solidifying its status as a cutting-edge solution for today's hybrid work environments SAN FRANCISCO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEL, today announced that it has been named a winner in the 2023 CRN Tech Innovator Awards, presented by CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company. The annual awards program showcases innovative vendors in the IT channel across 37 different technology categories in key areas ranging from cloud to storage to networking to security. IGEL is recognized in the "Virtualization/Virtual Desktop Infrastructure" category for IGEL COSMOS, its new endpoint platform launched in February 2023. Transforming digital workspace delivery with IGEL COSMOS

Designed to simplify and secure the delivery of digital workspaces to access any cloud while reducing costs, IGEL COSMOS is ideal for organizations looking to optimize their digital workspace delivery while maintaining security and control. This innovative solution comprises a modular operating system, a user-friendly management platform, and a range of value-added cloud services, making it easier than ever for organizations to harness the full power of cloud-delivered workspaces. With IGEL OS, businesses can run their digital workspaces on nearly any x86-64 device, extending the life of their equipment and reducing their carbon footprint and capital expenses. IGEL's commitment to partnerships with major cloud services and technology suppliers ensures that integration wil be seamless and reliable.



"For the first time, IGEL OS is completely separating the base IGEL OS from its validated and integrated applications, which, coupled with an Onboarding Service and App Portal, further reduces endpoint management costs, improves employee productivity, and enables greater workspace access security," said Matthias Haas, CTO, IGEL. "New employees can be onboarded in under five minutes 'out-of-the-box,' with devices shipped directly from HP, Lenovo, and LG. Existing and new applications can be updated and deployed in minutes with minimal impact to employee productivity, and a smaller OS footprint and improved management architecture help further reduce concerns around endpoint security." "CRN's annual Tech Innovator Awards acknowledge technology vendors committed to new and updated products that are creating the biggest opportunities for the solution providers and strategic service providers working on the from lines with customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "Congratulations to each of this year's CRN Tech Innovator Award winners. We are proud to recognize these best-in-class vendors driving transformation and innovation in the IT space."

The Tech Innovator Awards will be featured in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators. About IGEL

Today, the world of work is hybrid. Multiple clouds can deliver applications sourced from anywhere to a widely distributed workforce using all types of devices. Right at the moment when the world of work needs it most, IGEL has the solution for fully managed, secure endpoint access to any digital workspace that gives IT teams strong control and end-users the freedom to work as they wish in a hybrid world. Enabling choice of any cloud, from any device, anywhere, IGEL unlocks a collaborative and productive end user computing experience while solving the common security and management challenges required to compete and win in today's world of hybrid work. With a growing ecosystem of more than 100 IGEL Ready technology partners, IGEL has offices in Europe and the United States and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit IGEL COSMOS - The Secure Endpoint Platform About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace.

thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook  2023 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/igel-earns-top-honors-in-crns-2023-tech-innovator-awards-301878536.html SOURCE IGEL Technology

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[July 17, 2023] Landmark Report Published on the Status of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) in Canada's Life Sciences Sector Tweet

Pfizer Canada, adMare BioInnovations, Shift Health and Life Sciences Ontario proudly announce the publication of a landmark report-Status of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) in Canada's Life Sciences Sector. The report is informed by the findings from a national survey of life sciences organizations and focus groups with diverse individuals working in the sector. With a focus on highlighting differences between small/medium and large organizations, the report uncovers where life sciences organizations have made progress in IDEA, how IDEA initiatives have impacted individuals working in the sector, and, importantly, immediate opportunities and recommendations to guide organizations to make progress IDEA across in four key areas: Talent development. Advancing inclusive and equitable approaches to recruitment, training and performance management.

Advancing inclusive and equitable approaches to recruitment, training and performance management. Community and culture. Building a stronger sense of belonging for all employees in the sector.

Building a stronger sense of belonging for all employees in the sector. Knowledge. Strengthening understanding and appreciation of the need for and benefits of IDEA initiatives among all employees.

Strengthening understanding and appreciation of the need for and benefits of IDEA initiatives among all employees. Leadership. Catalyzing progress in IDEA by building leadership teams that are diverse, competent in IDEA and accountable to IDEA commitments. "Inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility are not just buzzwords," says Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario. "They are indispensable pillars for the life sciences sector. By fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce, organizations unlock an unparalleled capacity for innovation, creativity, and excellence. We are hoping that this report serves as a resounding call to action for all organizations, big or small, to embrace the principles of IDEA and harness the untapped potential within their ranks." The report also identifies powerful opportunities for sector stakeholders to come together to take collective action to advance IDEA. Gordon McCauley, CEO & President of adMare BioInnovations, says, "We are an industry driven by data, and the data are overwhelmingly clear: diverse groups make better decisions. Therefore, heeding this report is not only a tremendous cross-sectoral opportunity between industry, academia, government and catalyst organizations to do the right thing, to embrace and accelerate change, it is also a terrific business decision to encourage Canadian life sciences to lead the world." A recurring theme in the study was the opportunity for organizations who are further along on their IDEA journey to share knowledge and tools with smaller organizations to help to accelerate progress towards IDEA. "At Pfizer Canada, through our core value of equity, we believe everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and respected for who they are. In our relentless endeavour to advance science and help transform lives, we wholeheartedly commit to inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility," says Najah Sampson, President of Pfizer Canada. "We are dedicated to empowering other organizations by sharing invaluable knowledge and resources, such as this report. Together, let us use this report as a catalyst for progress andpositive change, fostering a future where IDEA is at the forefront of our sector's priorities."



The report also emphasizes the immediate need for proactive measures to empower Canada's life sciences sector by harnessing the diversity of its people. "This report is a call to action-and the time to act is now," says Ryan Wiley, President of Shift Health. "Canada's life sciences ecosystem will flourish if we empower our single greatest competitive advantage: the creativity, ingenuity and lived experience of our people. IDEA is not a box to tick. It's not a nice-to-have. It's an imperative. It's a human rights imperative. It's a business imperative. And it's an imperative of leadership. I know that if we work together as a community, we can build welcoming workplaces that unleash the fullness of human brilliance and potential."

Shift Health and Life Sciences Ontario extend their sincere thanks to Pfizer and adMare BioInnovations for funding this study. Deep gratitude is also extended to all who participated in the survey and focus groups; their openness and honesty has allowed the life sciences sector to identify important IDEA challenges and opportunities for our sector and establish a baseline for IDEA in Canada's life sciences, against which we can measure progress in the years to come. To access the full report and explore its findings, please visit https://inclusivelsc.ca/report/status-of-IDEA/ About Pfizer Canada Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. About adMare BioInnovations With a strong track record of globally-competitive scientific discovery, Canadian life sciences are primed to lead the world. To make this a reality, adMare BioInnovations uses its scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, develop robust ecosystems, and foster industry-ready talent. It re-invests its returns into the Canadian industry to ensure its long-term sustainability. adMare currently has 29 portfolio companies that have attracted $2.3 billion of risk capital, have a combined value of $4 billion, and have created over 1,000 jobs in Canada. For more information, please go to www.admarebio.com. About Shift Health Shift Health brings a science mindset to strategy consulting for the health research and innovation ecosystem. Working with governments, academia, industry, not-for-profits, healthcare providers and patient partners across Canada and around the world, Shift Health is helping to create the future of healthcare. Scientists by training, our team embodies a science mindset in what we do and who we are. We are deeply committed to embedding inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in our work environment and to working with our clients, partners and communities in building a health research and innovation ecosystem rooted in the principles of justice, equality and reconciliation. For more information, please contact Soo-Jin An, Executive Assistant at Shift Health at [email protected]. About Life Sciences Ontario Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a member-driven organization that represents and promotes the province's vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other stakeholders to create a supportive environment for research, development, and commercialization of life sciences innovations in Ontario. For more information, please visit www.lifesciencesontario.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717456998/en/

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[July 17, 2023] KulaDAO signs Bekazulu Mining Limited as its first RegionalDAO Tweet

Zug, Switzerland, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KulaDAO sent a team to the Eastern Province of Zambia to meet the management and operations teams of Bekazulu Mining Limited - its first RegionalDAO. Bekazulu Mining Limited produces lime products such as hydrated lime, quick lime, aggregate, and concrete/cement for local and regional markets. Lime is a key catalyst for the refinement of copper and cobalt, two of Zambias main mineral exports. The purpose of the visit was to verify the quality of Bekazulu Mining Limiteds processes and product, complete due diligence on the limestone asset and team, and forge the local, regional, and national political relationships necessary for future partnership. Over the week, the KulaDAO marketing team captured the operations of Bekazulu Mining Limited to create a range of media assets for the different partners and stakeholders in the project. Furthermore, in May 2023, a borehole and well project was also completed by KulaDAO for the local community near to the Bekazulu Mining Limited mine site. This fresh, clean water supply is planned for local consumption and agricultural development. The area is one of the most water-deprived regions in Zambia. This reflects KulaDAOs intention to push a percentage of all stakeholder equity into local development opportunities with local participation and governance at the center of its model. At the end of the visit KulaDAO formally closed its equity deal with Bekazulu Mining Limited. It is estimated that the concession has approximately 5 million tons of high-grade raw limestone material with a cut-off percentage of calcium carbonate (CaCo3) above or equal to 80%. This deal secures 14% of the equity to KulaDAO and simutaneously brings the Bekazulu Limestone asset into the KulaDAO eco-system as its first RegionalDAO. The agreement also lays the rails for Bekazulu Mining Limited as one of the first movers in the African continent to have real world assets reflected on the blockchain.



Robert Mtonga, CEO for Bekazulu Mining Limited said,  We are delighted to have KulaDAO as an investment and development partner. KulaDAO fully share our vision for growing a strong business that creates evidence-based value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. KulaDAOs insistence on integrity and transparency aligns with our operating values. Chris Turner, co-founder of KulaDAO agreed,  We are thrilled to sign Bekazulu Mining Limited into the KulaDAO family and encouraged by the production and quality of both product and team. This agreement clears the way for us to prepare to incorporate Bekazulu Mining Limiteds limestone asset as our first RegionalDAO upon launch of KulaDAO. We could not ask for better first partners for our project.

KulaDAO is developing and preparing for launch subject to regulatory clearance. Join our community on: Discord: https://discord.com/invite/UK8bgRPuvY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kula_dao

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kula_dao/ Website: https://kuladao.io

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

Chris Turner, PhD KulaDAO hello(at)kuladao.io

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[July 17, 2023] Best in Business Executive Leadership Award goes to Tom Dorsett, RazorMetrics Tweet

AUSTIN, Texas, July 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Dorsett, CEO of RazorMetrics wins the prestigious Merit Award for Business Leadership. RazorMetrics is an Austin-based drug cost-reduction platform for health plans, large employers, and patients. Once a year, the Merit Awards choose three top Executives who have contributed to the continued growth of the market worldwide. This year, the top honor went to Tom Dorsett, of RazorMetrics. "I am truly honored to be recognized by the Merit Awards for excellence in Executive Leadership. As CEO, I set the tone for the company's culture. My focus is to create a healthy workplace that fosters mutual respect and collaboration, encourages creative risks, and where employees intend to stay and advocate for the company," said Tom Dorsett, CEO RazorMetrics. Tom is firmly established as a successful serial entrepreneur who has founded three successful companies and exited two. He puts his focus and talent to creating unique solutions to intractable prolems in the healthcare field, including Health IT, clinical research, and benefits spaces. His current venture tackles one of the biggest problems out there, outrageous drug costs.



The Merit Awards recognize the efforts put forth by global industries and the markets they serve. They recognize businesses in several categories, including Executive Leadership, Business Technology, Emerging Business, among others offering Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards to the top three. The full list of winners is available to see online at Merit Awards. About RazorMetrics

RazorMetrics is a healthcare technology company whose SaaS-based platform uses AI and ML to lower drug spend for health plans, self-insured employers, and consumers. RazorMetrics' unique, physician-driven approach is simple and requires no extra clicks in the EHR and no external programs or apps to access. Switches are straightforward, easy to make, and the entire process stays within the normal clinical workflow. The platform is complementary to existing pharmacy initiatives and works with PBMs and other drug cost savings solutions to optimize results. RazorMetrics is fully scalable and customizable to each client's unique variables and formularies. For more information, visit www.razormetrics.com.

Media Contact:

Casey DeMoss, RazorMetrics

[email protected]

504-982-0468 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-in-business-executive-leadership-award-goes-to-tom-dorsett-razormetrics-301878609.html SOURCE Razor Metrics

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[July 17, 2023] RS Earns Recognition as Omron Automation Americas' National Partner of the Year Tweet

The award recognizes RS for consistently providing exceptional customer service, delivering optimal Omron Automation solutions and providing ongoing product support, and achieving impressive year-over-year growth. FORT WORTH, Texas, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RS, a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global provider of industrial product and service solutions, was named Omron Automation Americas' National Partner of the Year for 2022. The award recognizes RS for providing exceptional performance and collaboration and achieving significant business growth and customer satisfaction throughout fiscal year 2022 (FY22). In 2022, RS increased Omron Automation's point-of-sale revenue by 50% YOY and doubled new business opportunities. In FY22, RS increased point-of-sale revenue by 50% YOY, doubled new business opportunities, and deployed a dedicated Business Development Manager for Omron. RS has also consistently driven year-over-year (YOY) growth for Omron, achieving a three-year compound annual growth rate of 20%. "RS works closely with Omron to facilitate extensive industry awareness of the company's innovative industrial automation solutions, deliver optimized solutions, and provide ongoing product support and has for many years now. So, we are honored to have earned national recognition for our commitment to excellence and annual achievements," said Frank Cantwell, Vice President of Product and Supplier Management at RS. "Our valuable partnership with Omron Automation is driven by our mutual dedication to helping our customers, and we look forward to the continued evolution of our remarkable journey and contributing to each other's continued success." "We are grateful for our valuable partnership with RS, and it is our pleasure to recognize RS as our 2022 National Partner of the Year," says Peter Brouwer, Vice President of Sales, Omron Automation Americas. "RS earned this award by providing outstanding customer service, achieving significant year-over-year growth, and ramping up its already exceptional collaboration with the creation of a new business development manager role dedicated to working with Omron Automation. The combined results of these efforts have been incredible, and we are thrilled to continue working with RS to deliver exceptional results for our industrial automation customers." For more information about Omron Automation,please visit the company's RS storefront or website. For more information about Omron Automation solutions available through RS, please contact your local RS representative at 1.866.433.5722 or reach out to the RS technical support team.



About Omron Automation Omron Automation is an industrial automation partner that creates, sells and services fully integrated automation solutions that include sensing, control, safety, vision, motion, robotics and more. Established in 1933, Omron's 30,000 employees help businesses solve problems with creativity in more than 110 countries. Learn more at automation.omron.com.

About RS in the Americas In the Americas region, RS stocks more than 230,000 industrial and electronic products from more than 700 trusted suppliers . These solutions cover categories extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect, passive, active, and electromechanical components and include more than 80,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS PRO products. For more information, please visit https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and YouTube . About RS Group RS Group plc provides product and service solutions that help our customers design, build, maintain, repair, and operate industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 750,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to 1.1 million customers. We support customers across the product lifecycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance, repair, and operation phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money. RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2023 reported revenue of 2,982 million. For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter . Image Download:

https://rb.gy/7nj5z Image Caption: From left to right: John Allen, Director of Sales Corporate Accounts, RS; Robert Jefferson, Business Development Manager, RS; Mike Walker, Vice President of Sales, RS; Mike West, General Manager, America's Channel, Omron Automation. Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:

Karen Gavenda

RS Director of Marketing

Americas

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rs-earns-recognition-as-omron-automation-americas-national-partner-of-the-year-301877180.html SOURCE RS

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[July 17, 2023] JISULIFE Celebrates World's No.1 Portable Fan Brand Tweet

NEW YORK, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JISULIFE, the world leading portable fan brand, proudly announced today that the they got the position of world's No.1 portable fan brand in terms of global sales revenue in 2022 and their proportion of sales from portable fans exceeds 50% of the brand's overall sales revenue. This achievement strengthens JISULIFE's position as the world's leading portable fan brand. JISULIFE entered the portable fan market in 2016 by providing a superior solution with innovative and environmentally friendly devices for the personal space. Then With rapid growth, JISULIFE has achieved a significant sales volume breakthrough that exceeds 10 million pieces. JISULIFE has clinched the prestigious title of the world's No. 1 portable fan brand for two consecutive years in terms of global sales revenue in 2021 and 2022. Today, JISULIFE is a leading portable fan brand in the world, having consistently delivered cutting-edge cooling solutions to a diverse range of customers around the world. JISULIFE's success can be attributed to its extensive distribution network, which utilizes cross-border e-commerce channels to reach more than 40 countries across the globe. Moreover, JISULIFE's commitment to excellence has earned them the trust of over 300 business partners. This expansive reach ensures tat customers worldwide have access to JISULIFE's high-quality USB fans, enabling them to combat the sweltering heat with ease and comfort.



Starting today, JISULIFE will organize all of its products into four different categories. Each category will offer different use cases and make it easier for consumers to find the right product for their cooling needs. Handheld Fan Series https://jisulife.com/collections/handheld-fan

Neck Fan Series https://jisulife.com/collections/neck-fan-hub

Table Fan Series https://jisulife.com/collections/table-fan-hub

Clip-on Fan Series https://jisulife.com/collections/clipfan

"At JISULIFE, we are dedicated to offering a better solution with creative and sustainable gadgets for personal space to our consumers. Being recognized as the world's No. 1 portable fan brand for two consecutive years is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence," said Leo Chen at JISULIFE. "We are immensely proud of this achievement and will continue to push boundaries to meet and exceed our customers' expectations." As a global leader in portable fans, JISULIFE remains at the forefront of technology and design, constantly striving to enhance the cooling experience for consumers worldwide. With a focus on customer satisfaction and a reputation for reliability, JISULIFE aims to continue its expansion and innovation in the years to come. About JISULIFE Shenzhen Jisu Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2016. It is a global innovative technology company and a "National High-Tech Enterprise" as well as a "Specialized and sophisticated enterprise" in Shenzhen. The company was founded by a group of senior industrial designers and is based on the concept of "minimalist aesthetics, with "user needs" as the starting point, adhering to "rational and practical" design, integrating fashion" and technology," to provide users with cooling, humidification, heating, and other air and tactile comfort products. For further information about JISULIFE and its range of portable fans, please visit https://jisulife.com/. Media Contact:

Albert Ou

[email protected].com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jisulife-celebrates-worlds-no1-portable-fan-brand-301878527.html SOURCE JISULIFE

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[July 17, 2023] A New Brand is Born as Busology Tech Tweet

Formerly TripSpark School, Busology Tech launches as a dedicated brand and business focused solely on K-12 School Transportation. INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, a new school-focused brand, Busology Tech, is launched from the former School business within TripSpark. Busology Tech ("Busology") is a technology and software company dedicated to ensuring that every child across North America has access to education, no matter where they live, through the delivery of safe and reliable transportation technology. Busology Tech is led by Naomi Schellenberg as its General Manager. Naomi has a strong foundation in leadership and business operations with over 20 years of experience in the transportation business, including in school transportation. Naomi has excelled in a number of customer-facing roles, which gave her the opportunity to learn "in the field" directly from customers about the challenges and opportunities the transportation industry faces. "We are redefinng our identity to better reflect our dedicated focus on helping the greater school transportation community reach its goal of running safe and reliable school transportation services," said Schellenberg. "We are making it our mission to work hand-in-hand with our customers to help simplify operations and enable the safe and efficient transport of students using smart technology."



Busology Tech, formerly known as TripSpark School, is excited to share its new brand and website. Busology is dedicated solely to the school transportation community and to ensuring all children across the US and Canada have access to safe and reliable school transportation, whether they attend public or private school, or have special needs. The organization is focused on enabling school districts and transportation agencies with modern tools that are easy to use, data-rich, and enable superior communication among all stakeholders, including school administrators, parents, and students.

Organizations already working with TripSpark School can expect a seamless transition to the Busology business, and customer service and documentation remains consistent with their existing experience. Busology Tech is well positioned today and into the future to serve the K  12 school transportation ecosystem. Visit www.busologytech.com to learn more about Busology Tech values and offerings. About Busology Tech Busology Tech is revolutionizing the K-12 school transportation industry with innovative software and solutions. The organization is proud to be part of the Modaxo group of companies and for 10+ years operated as TripSpark School. Busology Tech

Aabha Upadhyaya

Marketing Specialist

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-888-595-4696 x 2 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-brand-is-born-as-busology-tech-301878662.html SOURCE TripSpark Technologies

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[July 17, 2023] Vivint Smart Home Celebrates 2 Million Customers in the United States Tweet

Vivint Smart Home, Inc., a leading smart home brand in the United States, celebrates 2 million customers across the United States - a testament to Vivint's customer-centric approach, continuous innovation, and relentless pursuit of excellence in the smart home industry. Since Vivint was founded, it has been on a journey to continuously raise the standard for what a smart home should be. Vivint's platform is seamless, secure, and incredibly intelligent - enabling customers to effortlessly manage their home, enjoy enhanced convenience and comfort, and rest assured knowing their homes and loved ones are well-protected. To date, the average customer stays with Vivint for nine years which is driven by a focus on customer experience and commitment to delivering innovative and reliable experiences. "Two million families trust Vivint to simplify their life and protect what matters most to them and we are incredibly honored to achieve this milestone," said Rasesh Patel, president at Vivint. "We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every customer who has put their trust in Vivint, and also to our employees for their unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional experiences and innovative solutions to our customers. Our journey has just begun and we're eager to provide a brighter, safer, and smarter future for millions more."



Vivint's 2 millionth customer is from San Diego and like many, they chose Vivint's intelligent platform to help manage their home, monitor their property, and ensure their family and children are safe. To celebrate the milestone, Vivint surprised them with a fully paid system - click here to learn more about their story and why they chose to rely on Vivint. About Vivint Smart Home

Vivint, an NRG company, is a leading smart home company in the United States. Vivint delivers an integrated smart home system with in-home consultation, professional installation and support delivered by its Smart Home Pros, as well as 24/7 customer care, and monitoring. Dedicated to redefining the home experience with intelligent products and services, Vivint serves 2 million customers throughout the United States. For more information, visit https://www.vivint.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717617961/en/

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[July 17, 2023] Alliance Memory 2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb, and 16Gb LPDDR4X SDRAMs Combine Low-Voltage Operation of 0.6V With Fast Clock Speeds to 1.86GHz Tweet

KIRKLAND, Wash., July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Memory today announced that it has expanded its offering of high-speed CMOS mobile low-power SDRAMs with four new LPDDR4X devices in a variety of densities. Offering an extension to the companys fourth-generation LPDDR4 SDRAMs, the 2Gb AS4C128M16MD4V-062BAN, 4Gb AS4C256M16MD4V-062BAN, 8Gb AS4C512M16MD4V-053BIN, and 16Gb AS4C512M32MD4V-053BIN deliver ~50% lower power ratings in the 200-ball FBGA package for higher power efficiency.

With low-voltage operation of 0.6V  compared to 1.1V for LPDDR4 SDRAMs  the devices released today increase battery life in portable electronics for the consumer, commercial, and industrial markets, including smartphones, smart speakers, security surveillance systems, and other IoT devices utilizing AI and 5G technologies. Providing increased efficiency for advanced audio and ultra-high-resolution video in embedded applications, the LPDDR4X SDRAMs deliver fast clock speeds up to 1.86GHz for extremely high transfer rates of 3.7Gbps. For automotive applications  including ADAS systems  the AEC-Q100-qualified AS4C128M16MD4V-062BAN and AS4C256M16MD4V-062BAN offer a temperature range of -40C to +105C and on-chip ECC for increased reliability. The AS4C512M16MD4V-053BIN and AS4C512M32MD4V-053BIN operate over an industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C. The AS4C512M16MD4V-053BIN, AS4C128M16MD4V-062BAN, and AS4C256M16MD4V-062BAN are organized as single-channel devices  each consisting of eight banks of 16 bits  while the AS4C512M32MD4V-053BIN offers two channels. All four components provide fully synchronous operation; programmable read and write burst lengths of 16, 32, and on the fly; and selectable output drive strength. An on-chip temperature sensor controls the self-refresh rate. Alliance Memorys LPDDR4X SDRAMs provide reliable drop-in, pin-for-pin-compatible replacements for numerous similar solutions in high-bandwidth, high-performance memory system applications, eliminating the need for costly redesigns and part requalification. Device Specification Table: Part # AS4C128M16MD4V-062BAN AS4C256M16MD4V-062BAN AS4C512M16MD4V-053BIN AS4C512M32MD4V-053BIN Density 2Gb 4Gb 8Gb 16Gb Organization 128M x 16 256M x 16 512M x 16 512M x 32 VDD1 / VDD2 / VDDQ 1.8V / 1.1V / 0.6V 1.8V / 1.1V / 0.6V 1.8V / 1.1V / 0.6V 1.8V / 1.1V / 0.6V Package 200-ball TFBGA 200-ball TFBGA 200-ball TFBGA 200-ball TFBGA Clock frequency 1600MHz 1600MHz 1866MHz 1866MHz Data rate 3200Mbs 3200Mbs 3733Mbs 3733Mbs Temp. range -40C to +105C -40C to +105C -40C to +85C -40C to +85C



About Alliance Memory Inc.

Alliance Memory is a worldwide provider of critical and hard-to-find memory ICs for the communications, computing, consumer electronics, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. The companys product range includes flash, DRAM, and SRAM memory ICs with commercial, industrial, and automotive operating temperature ranges and densities from 64Kb to 16GB. Privately held, Alliance Memory maintains headquarters in Kirkland, Washington, and regional offices in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. More information about Alliance Memory is available online at www.alliancememory.com.

Editor resources: Link to product image:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alliancememory/albums/72177720309708263 Link to detailed product info:

https://www.alliancememory.com/new-2gb-4gb-8gb-and-16gb-lpddr4x-sdrams/ Agency Contact:

Bob Decker

Redpines

+1 415 409 0233

[email protected]



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Generational Equity Advises Comco Plastics in its Sale to Cutting Edge Machining & Automation, a portfolio company of Continuim Equity Partners

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Comco Plastics, Inc. to Cutting Edge Machining & Automation, a portfolio company of Continuim Equity Partners. The acquisition closed June 30, 2023.

Comco Plastics (Comco), located in Huntington Station, New York, is a contract manufacturer of precision plastic components and assemblies for various industries. These include semiconductors, medical devices, analytical equipment, and general industry. Comco's excellent industry reputation and local brand awareness has established it as one of the preeminent plastic component manufacturers worldwide. As a niche player in the plastics industry, Comco focuses on tight-tolerance, high-performance plastics.

With multiple locations across the East Coast and Midwest, Cutting Edge Machining & Automation is a diversified, multi-capability, automation-enabled precision machining platform. Cutting Edge Machining & Automation provides tight tolerance metal and plastic components and offers automation solutions for blue-chip customers across a variety of end markets.

Continuim Equity Partners (Continuim), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is focused exclusively on acquiring and supporting the continued growth of successful manufacturing and industrial businesses. Continuim brings over $100 million of committed capital, a collaborative approach, and proven operational playbooks to build larger, more profitable industrial companies. For more information about Continuim, please visit www.continuim.com.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, Bill Shipman, a Generational Group Authorized Affiliate, with the support of Vice President, Aaron Presley successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director Tom Stephens established the initial relationship with Comco.







About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. The Generational suite of advisory services includes strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A services, wealth management and digital services.

The M&A Advisor named Generational Equity Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717401939/en/
AI Was Used To Address Housing Crisis  Not So Intelligent Result Missed the Mark in 3 Ways

Vertigo3d / Getty Images

Artificial intelligence, while still in its nascent stages, is being used in novel ways every day. From making work tasks more efficient to finding new ways to generate money, the technology is revolutionizing the way we live and work.

See: 5 Ways To Use AI To Generate Passive Income

Im a Financial Planning Expert: Here Are 3 Ways ChatGPT Can Save You Money

And now, New York Assembly Member Clyde Vanel has said he used AI to draft a bill that would address the housing crisis.

Assembly Bill 6896 included an AI disclosure, which noted that: This bill and its memo were researched and written by artificial intelligence, with the accuracy and language reviewed and refined by humans.

We cant be Luddites, Vanel told The New York Times. We have to understand these technologies, and figure out how these technologies can enhance what we do.

Vanel used Auto-GPT, a similar tool to ChatGPT, to find gaps in the law, The New York Times noted.

As City & State added, the bill is straightforward and would require that renters be provided with a copy of their lease agreement when they submit a written request for it to their landlord.

Yet, several housing experts say the results are unclear.

Critics Say the AI Failed to Indicate What the Housing Crisis Is Actually About

Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat who chairs the Assembly Housing Committee, told The New York Times that she was unimpressed by the softwares contribution to the housing debate.

A.I. failed to identify and to reflect back what the housing crisis is all about, Rosenthal told The New York Times. Its certainly not people clamoring to make their landlord, in the law, send them a copy of their lease.

Also: How To Create a Budget Using ChatGPT, A Step-by-Step Guide

The AI Measure May Be Limited

James Fishman, a lawyer, told The New York Times the measure would only help in limited circumstances.

And because it says nothing about enforcement, Mr. Fishman noted, it would likely only benefit those whose landlords were willing to comply without being compelled to do so, according to The New York Times.

Its kind of like a homogenized view of New York landlord-tenant, without taking into account theres so many nuances and gray areas, he told The New York Times.

The AI Focused on a Low-Priority Issue

Ellen Davidson, a tenant attorney at New Yorks nonprofit Legal Aid Society, said that the bill is addressing an issue that seemingly nobody asked for, per Fast Company.

While she added that its a perfectly fine piece of drafting on a textual level, if youre relying on the AI to think about whats missing in landlord-tenant law in New York state, I dont think they did a great job.

According to Phil Siegel, founder of CAPTRS, this particular use of AI is a textbook example of its all about the prompt.

AI is modeled and trained to mimic human intelligence. Imagine the difference between asking Find a gap in a law vs. asking Tenants report 10 concerns with landlords in NY,' said Siegel. The machine can consider all the data so is probably more likely to provide a sharper answer [than a human]. This still might not deliver something super valuable, but it will have a decent chance. In summary its all about the prompt and data you feed the model and tool, not just about the usefulness of the tool itself.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: AI Was Used To Address Housing Crisis  Not So Intelligent Result Missed the Mark in 3 Ways
[July 17, 2023] TDS Telecom provides update on the amount of lead-covered cables Tweet

CHICAGO, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to recent media reporting, TDS Telecommunications LLC, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS), conducted an assessment of its communications network across the country and located approximately 10 miles of lead-covered cables. TDS Telecom is identifying next steps to address the very limited amount of lead cabling it estimates is in its network. TDS Telecom strives to follow all applicable local, state, and federal laws where it provides service. About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 9,300 associates as of March 31, 2023.



Statement Regarding Disclosure of Estimate This press release contains an estimate regarding the amount of lead-covered cables in TDS Telecom's communications network. This estimate represents management's best estimate, based on the most current information available to management, after having conducted a reasonable internal inquiry into the matter. TDS does not undertake any obligation to update the estimate to reflect additional information that may become available to management following the date of this press release.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:

TDS: www.tdsinc.com

TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tds-telecom-provides-update-on-the-amount-of-lead-covered-cables-301879040.html SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Tonight we share a few more items of interest for our blog community as we are once again inspired to witness pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Waldo Unplugged Forever?!?

Waldo residents battle heat, darkness while waiting for power to be restored Theo McCullough and Rohn Dennis have been in the dark since Friday's storm. They explain their frustrations and concerns as they wait for power to be restored.

Local Reconciliation With Troops



'Didn't welcome them home': Local Vietnam Veterans honored at ceremony Humana has held 100 events and hopes to thank every surviving Vietnam Veteran

Democracy Changes Nothing?!?

Changes in state election laws have little impact on results, new study finds - Kansas Reflector A new study by two political scientists found that state changes to election laws have almost no impact on which side wins.

Meet Home Team Rising Star

Cole Ragans impressive in KC Royals debut The 25-year-old made his Royals debut in Kauffman Stadium with a promising performance.

Trading Day Decision Finalized



Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins signs with Titans The Kansas City Chiefs and DeAndre Hopkins rumors have officially come to an end.

Former Angels Lose Faith

We were Victoria's Secret models - everything you saw was fake Jasmine Tookes, 32, and Josephine Skriver, 30, opened up about their time as Victoria's Secret Angels, admitting that most of what the public saw was "fake."

White House Fears Alternatives

Why Biden worries about a third-party rival in 2024 | CNN Politics 2024 is shaping up to be the kind of election Joe Biden could lose primarily because of a third-party candidacy.

TRUMP/SCOTT STAYS WINNING?!?!

Trump praises GOP challenger, says there could be place for him in next admin Former President Donald Trump discussed challengers in the Republican presidential race, saying Sen. Tim Scott may have a role in his administration.

Deal To Strike?!?

Teamsters president says he's asked the White House not to intervene if UPS workers go on strike A July 31 deadline for a new contract is approaching fast.

Vlad Threatens Further Escalation

Putin says Russia has 'sufficient' cluster munitions and may retaliate if Ukraine uses them | CNN Russia has a stockpile of cluster munitions and will consider using them against Ukraine "if they are used against us," President Vladimir Putin said.

Far East Enacts Automation Crackdown

China just gave the world a blueprint for reigning in generative A.I. China's top internet regulator released new regulations governing generative A.I. that address some of the technology's most pressing issues.

Catholics Hate Twitter, Too?!?

As Twitter devolves, how should Christians proceed on social media? With the arrival of the new app Threads, columnist Fr. Daniel Horan recommends Catholics consider the Vatican's recent document about how to engage on social media platforms.

Mistakes Of Past Remembered

A Look Back at Old Kansas City Weddings and the Evolution of Traditions Today "Love made the word go round then just as it does now."

Griggs Forecasts Work Week

Scattered storms close out the weekend in Kansas City After an initial round of rain in the morning hours, another round of storms with heavy winds is possible through the night.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Our social media betters love to mock all of the expired tags around town for comic effect.



However, the math is far from funny as personal auto ownership now moves out of reach for the working-class . . . Check-it . . .



In Missouri, state and local sales taxes add nearly 10% to the purchase price of vehicles. The state rate is 4.225%; local rates vary. In much of the city of St. Louis, for example, the local rate is 5.454% for a combined 9.7%.



In the city, a 2023 entry-level Honda Accord with a list price of $27,295 costs about $2,642 in sales taxes, according to the states online sales tax calculator.



Thats more than buyers would pay in many other cities near Missouri.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link (paywall for the smart to jump) . . .
Mike Adler is a reporter with toronto.com and Metroland Media Toronto who covers Scarborough and other overlooked parts of Toronto. He worked previously for Metroland in York Region.
The Torstar Open Data Team is a collaborative of editorial, data and technical staff who work with public open data sources to provide useful and actionable stories for readers. Topics covered to date include scheduled roadworks, restaurant food inspections and water quality at public beaches.
From left: Sarah Chisnell, Delores McKay, Deputy Mayor George Ashford, James King, Percy Tabobondung, Steven Debassige, Nadine Hammond and Kathryn Huneault gather at the West Parry Sound District Museum for the opening of "Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions." - Rob Stimpson
Air Industries Group (AMEX:AIRI) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript July 14, 2023

Operator: Hello, and welcome to the Air Industries Groups First Quarter 2023 Earnings Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. This call and the accompanying webcast may contain forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, including statements regarding, among other things, the companys expectation regarding realization of its business strategy and growth strategy. Expressions, which include forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date of this call. These forward-looking statements are based largely on our companys expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control and cannot be predicted or quantified.

Future developments and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. This call does not constitute an offer to purchase any securities nor a solicitation of a proxy consent authorization or agent designation with respect to a meeting of the companys shareholders. At this time, I would now like to turn the call over to Lou Melluzzo, President and CEO. Please go ahead, sir.

Lou Melluzzo: Thank you, Alicia. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. I would like to review Air Industries results for the 2023 first quarter, provide some detail on our recently announced contract wins and outline our growth strategy for the balance of this year and beyond. First, it is my pleasure to announce that Pete Rettaliata has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Air Industries and is joining us on this call today. As Chairman, he succeeds Mike Taglich, who remains on the Board. As we noted in the news release issued earlier today, Pete is a highly respected veteran of the aerospace business. He also has served in several leadership roles at Air Industries over a nearly 30-year period, including President of our AIM subsidiary, CEO of the company and a member of the Board of Directors.

His perspective and guidance will benefit Air Industries as we move forward and pursue our exciting growth strategies. Pete will add his comments after our formal review and well be happy to respond to questions during our Q&A session. Now looking at our performance for 2023 first quarter. Consolidated net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were $12.5 million. That was an increase of $487,000 or 4% from the first quarter of 2022, but a decrease of $1.3 million or 9.7% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022. As we have noted previously, our shipments have continued to be negatively impacted by supply chain disruptions that has affected the entire industry, in particular, causing delayed arrival of raw materials. While conditions have continued to improve, the problems are not fully resolved.

Gross profit was 15% of sales for the first quarter of 2023 versus 17.2% for the first quarter of 2022. In the fourth quarter of 2022, by comparison, the gross margin was 5.1%. However, the 2022 fourth quarter included certain adjustments, which Mike Recca will discuss during his remarks. We incurred an operating loss for the first quarter of 2023 of $158,000, while the net loss for the first quarter was $618,000. This compared with a net loss of $28,000 in the first quarter of 2022 and a net loss of $899,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. While we are not satisfied with the recent results, I firmly believe the dynamics of the aerospace industry today and in the future will create tremendous opportunities for industries. Demand is being driven by the evolving geopolitical landscape, the need to modernize U.S. naval  air and naval resources and the recovery and growth of the commercial aerospace.

Airplane, Industry, Technology

Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

Yesterday, we announced two contract awards that provide a glimpse of the opportunities we see ahead. We received a new award valued at approximately $2 million for arresting care components on the E-2D Hawkeye tactical airborne early warning aircraft. The order originated from a long-time customer of Air Industries Group. Second award announced yesterday come from a new non-U.S. customer and is for arresting gear components for the F-35 Lightning combat aircraft. The second order is valued at $3.2 million and is our first award from a customer located outside the U.S., bringing the total for both orders to $5.2 million. It is encouraging that the average monthly booking for Q2 of 2023 have increased by over 250% compared to Q2 of 2022. During the quarter, we also reduced our past due delivery to customers by 30%.

In the near-term, we are sharply focused on improving profitability, primarily by scaling up activities at our facilities to better leverage our capacity and our fixed expenses. And secondly, by reengineering projects, so that they can be treated more efficiently and on the newer equipment we have purchased. Additionally, our Connecticut operations is undergoing a modernization process and being retrofitted with a new roof and solar panels to further cut electricity requirements. Over the intermediate to long-term, we are pivoting towards opportunities that we believe have potential to drive profitable growth. Toward that end, we have conducted a strategic analysis of our most compelling market opportunities with the help of outside consultants.

Our process has been focused on identifying markets that are attractive and actionable. Targets include markets that fit our capabilities where we can  where we can compete effectively and where we have significant near-term to mid-term visibility into the volume and profit potential. Specifically, our growth strategies are intended to expand our penetration of existing platforms, add new platforms and capture new markets. For example, we are actively seeking additional business in our traditional served markets of military fixed-wing and rotary aircraft as well as a commercial aircraft engine components. The recent wins of additional E-2D and F-35 business, as I noted earlier, are great examples of our expansion of existing military platforms.

Turning to another important opportunity. We are making solid progress with our entry into nuclear submarine market, which aligns well with our core competencies and has the potential to be a significant addition to our business. The nuclear submarine industry is rapidly expanding to meet a projected 50% increase in the number of submarines required by the Navy over the next few years. We see substantial opportunity for suppliers such as Air Industries that can deliver to the ultra-high quality standards required. We have already won contracts from two suppliers [Technical Difficulty] one of the two U.S. submarine builders. We are optimistic that our successful execution of this project would lead to larger and more significant opportunities as the submarine industry continues to seek new suppliers to support the forecasted ramp up in the years ahead.

In fact, our Sterling division is also seeing an uptick in submarine as well as rotorcraft and ground-based turbine engine components. Our business development team just came back from the Paris Air Show, and we are very optimistic about the future outlook of aerospace in general. The show was very well attended by the global community, and we made numerous new connections with companies that we want to work with. In summary, the first quarter of 2023 continued to reflect the challenging supply chain environment, a situation that may persist for the next one or two quarters. That said, and more importantly, we are encouraged by our inroads in both existing and new platforms. With that, Im going to turn it over to Mike Recca, our CFO, for the report, and then we will conclude with Q&A and remarks.

So Mike?

Michael Recca: Thank you, Lou. Im going to provide some additional detail, particularly on our gross margin and gross profit for last year and this year. I will agree with Lou that the first quarter was adequate, but it was kind of lackluster. As we reported, sales for the first quarter were $12.5 million, and thats an increase of 4% from the first quarter of last year. Profit for the first quarter of 23 were $1.9 million, and that was down from $2.1 million in 2022. Gross margin for this year was 15% of sales for the first quarter, and that was slightly higher than the annual gross margin last year, which was 14.3%. So at the risk of going deep into the weeds here, let me take a minute to explain gross profit and gross margin for 2022.

So at year-end, you have a normal closing and review in the books and the annual audit. And during that time, its normal to have adjustments to inventory. That affects  that generates adjustments to gross profit and gross margin. In 2022, there were 2 such adjustments. And these were first: we changed the method of determining our slow-moving or obsolete inventory. Previously, we calculated this amount every year as a percentage of the inventory cost product "not moved", and that is either not sold or returned to work in process over a period of years. Consulting with our auditors, we changed this overtime method to considering 100% of the cost of inventory that had not moved for two years as slow moving and increase the reserve to 100% of that inventory for 2022.

Also, during last year, we had a single contract that was consistently losing money. And this contract was not complete. These losses will continue into 2023 when we will complete the contract. Situations like this, future losses that are must be estimated and accrued for. So weve done that. Weve estimated the future losses anticipated on the remaining items open in the contract. This increased cost of sales, reduced gross profit and gross margin for 2022. So as of September last year, our gross margin for the nine months was 17% of sales. After the adjustment for these two items we just discussed, calculated a gross margin of 14% for the full year 2022. So to get to 14% for the year, after nine months with 17%, we needed to have a margin of just 5% for 2022.

So 3 times 17 plus 5, divided by 4, equals 14. So our gross margin was 14%, but that really is only because of these two adjustments, which are not recurring. Going on to operating expenses. For the first quarter of 2023, were just over $2 million and that was an increase of $167,000 or 8.9% from $1.88 million in the first quarter of 22. But there are some other points I want to make here. In 2022, operating costs were reduced last year by $118,000 recovery of a bad debt. Now our customers are mostly Fortune 500, actually sometimes the Fortune 50 companies. So we really dont have bad debts. But there are times when theres a question about a quantity or some other dispute on the shipment and payment can be delayed. And again, under accounting rules, a delayed payment we must consider it to be a bad debt until its resolved.

In 2022, some of these disputed invoices were resolved, and we recovered and were paid $118,000. This is a negative expense lowered operating costs in 2022. In 2023, we had our audit firm merged and the new firm had a different  basically the same fee, but it was paid in different installments. So we paid about $60,000 more of the audit fee in the first quarter than we had in the prior year. So considering the bad debt income of 2022, which reduced expenses and the timing of the audit fees in 2023, which increased expenses  operating expenses for the two years were essentially even. Our interest expense, on the other hand increased and increased by over 60% or $172,000. And this is entirely due to our actions of our friends at the Federal Reserve.

The net loss for the quarter 2023 was $618,000 compared to a net loss of $28,000 in the prior year. Moving on to the balance sheet. Balance sheet remains very strong and certainly more than adequate for our needs. Our accounts payable, accounts receivables are very current, strictly in line. Our inventory, which balloon during the pandemic is being reduced slowly but reduce nonetheless and our overall debt has remained unchanged. That ends my comments, so Ill turn the call over to our new Chairman, Pete Rettaliata for his remarks.

Peter Rettaliata: Good afternoon, everyone. Id like to say that I was delighted when Mike Taglich asked me to step up my involvement as Chairman of the Board. I believe that his feeling was that it was time to increase our aerospace experience at a time when we are looking to accelerate our growth program and strategy in the new and changing marketplace post COVID. So this is very exciting for me. Ive always been very close to the company. And now, I continue to be close and will increase my role in helping leadership to address this growth program. Once again, Im delighted and I think the prospects are terrific. The company has done some great things to prepare itself for this new changing marketplace in terms of increased capability and talent. So this is very exciting for me, and I hope its all very exciting for you to watch us go through this period. Thanks.

Lou Melluzzo: Thank you, Pete. Were excited to have you.

Peter Rettaliata: So good to be back, I guess.

Lou Melluzzo: With that, Alicia, we would like to open up the call to our Q&A session if you may.

See also Top 20 African Countries with the Highest White Population and 25 Awesome Bollywood Karaoke Songs for Women to Sing.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
That's good information for those travelling with Wizzair.

Can you indicate where, beside online checkin, this is stated on the Wizzair site?

It could become slightly stressing to assume that, like every other port of entry into Egypt and like every other airline, you can get a VoA and then realise at checkin that you need this eVisa...
Bali, Indonesia - (NewMediaWire) - July 17, 2023 - In the ever-evolving world of finance and investment, one needs a unique blend of knowledge, experience, and insight to navigate the complexities of the market. Among these is an individual who has dedicated his work to sharing this wisdom and empowering others Alexander Voronkov, the founder of the Alexander Voronkov Club. Through his online school and investment club, Voronkov strives to educate and guide his clients in the realms of financial literacy, investment, and speculation in the stock market.

With over a decade of investment experience under his belt, Voronkov brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. His journey began with ventures into both venture investments and the stock market, allowing him to gain valuable insights from different sectors. This diverse background shaped his nonstandard approach to market analysis, which combines an understanding of psychological factors that influence the majority with a competent analysis of global events, politics, and finance.

Founded in 2019, the Alexander Voronkov Club stands apart from traditional online courses and investment platforms by providing a comprehensive learning experience that goes beyond basic financial literacy. Voronkov's teaching methodology focuses on equipping his clients with the necessary skills and insights to make informed investment decisions. By delving into the psychology of market behavior and analyzing the interplay between world events, politics, and finance, Voronkov offers a unique perspective that encourages critical thinking and a broader understanding of the market.

One of the Club's core values is the idea of collective investment and collaboration. Unlike conventional investment models, where individuals make risky moves on their own, Voronkov fosters a sense of community and shared learning within the club. Members have the opportunity to learn from each other's experiences, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative investment ventures. This collaborative approach not only enhances the learning process but also creates a supportive network of like-minded individuals driven by a common goal of financial growth and success.

The emphasis on investment competence is a cornerstone of the Alexander Voronkov Club. Through structured courses and interactive sessions, Voronkov imparts practical knowledge and techniques that enable members to develop their investment skills. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including fundamental and technical analysis, risk management, portfolio diversification, and investment strategies. By equipping clients with these tools, Voronkov empowers them to make well-informed investment decisions and navigate the stock market with confidence.

The Alexander Voronkov Club does not promote reckless speculation or gambling in the market. Instead, Voronkov encourages a prudent and disciplined approach to investing, emphasizing the importance of research, analysis, and patience. He stresses the need for a long-term perspective and the ability to weather market fluctuations, ensuring that his clients develop a solid foundation for sustainable investment practices.

Beyond his role as an educator and mentor, Alexander Voronkov exudes a genuine passion for empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. He understands the significance of financial literacy in today's world and seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by providing accessible and practical education through his club. His commitment to transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning resonates with his clients, establishing a strong sense of trust and credibility.

Contact Info:

Name: Aleksandr Voronkov

Email: info@voronkoff.club

Organization: PT Darshan Group Indonesia
One of the nine Independent Senators told the Senate on Thursday that she found it very diff
OneTree Alaska Tempestry Tapestry Project weaves science into art

Photo by Julie Stricker

Bonni Brooks, left, demonstrates a weaving technique on her loom as part of the OneTree Alaska Tempestry Tapestry Project at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

A group of women gathered in the OneTree Alaska classroom on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus last week to begin a project to weave 50 years of climate data into art, one day, one row at a time.

The Tempestry Tapestry Project is an offshoot of the Tempestry Project, a global collaboration of fiber artists who encode climate data into knitted, crocheted or woven items as a way to spread environmental education and climate activism. That project dovetails with OneTrees mission to engage learners of all ages in boreal forest education, citizen science and forest product development.

We are centrally concerned with phenology, seasonality and climate change, said Jan Dawe, OneTrees director. Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. OneTree Alaska is part of the UAF Institute of Agricultural, Natural Resources and Extension.

Our Tempestry Tapestry Project provides a wonderful way to combine the birch sap data we collect every spring with Rick Thomans green-up index and Susan Harrys pollen data, Dawe said.

The idea behind OneTree is to take a tree  in this case, an Interior Alaska white birch, Betula neoalaskana  and use products made from it as a springboard for lesson plans and active learning that integrate the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with the arts (visual, performing and literary).

The OneTree Alaska program was inspired by the OneTree organization in the United Kingdom, in which artists crafted dozens of beautiful items from the wood of a single oak from the Cheshire forest.

OneTree Alaska began with one tree harvested from Cache Creek in 2009.

Long before that, UAF researchers started tracking when a stand of birch trees on Chena Ridge turned from winter gray to spring green, an event that serves as a seasonal marker called green-up in interior Alaska.

That seasonality has been tracked for the past 50 years and is shown as a graph of colorful stripes in one corner of the classroom. The graph maps green-up, the flow of birch sap and pollen over a 92-day period between March 1 and May 31.

This is the only place, as far as climatologist Rick Thoman knows, in the United States that there is this kind of record, Dawe said. So what we're working with is unique.

On Tuesday, the groups charge was to translate that data into woolen tapestries using small looms, some of which were provided by Bonni Brooks, a longtime Fairbanks spinner weaver who is leading the Tempestry workshop.

We're working toward getting the first set or two of data ready to display in time for Fairbanks Fiber Festival in the fall, Brooks said. The Folk School is working on a OneTree3 project this year, in which 30 collaborators are taking parts of another birch tree and creating artworks, which will be displayed in 2024. Some parts of that tree are also being woven into the Tempestry Tapestry projects.

The original idea behind the Tempestry Project was to knit a row a day using a color showing the high temperature for that day in your area.

People from all over the world did it and there were protests, parades and events and, you know, scarves all around, Brooks said. Translating the vast scale of the conversation about climate change into an accurate, tangible and beautiful tapestry helps make the discussions more relatable on a personal scale.

Tempestry projects use a standardized set of yarn colors and temperature ranges so a project in one area can be directly compared to others across the globe. For the OneTree project, artist-in-residence Kesler Woodward and a group of natural resource students chose the palette, the colors of which are reflected on the climate strips on the walls of the OneTree studio. Each color represents a five-degree (Fahrenheit) range, and Brooks used knots to represent each degree in between.

OneTree Alaskas Tempestry Tapestry Project is based on the data collected from 50 years of tracking green-up in Interior Alaska, beginning in 1974. The project maps green-up, the flow of birch sap and pollen over a 92-day period between March 1 and May 31, with the exception of 1975, Dawe said. Meteorologist Ted Fathauer and Thoman created the algorithm based on degree days to predict green-up.

And while science is the backbone of Tempestry, Brooks said the OneTree weavers arent bound to faithfully reflect the daily stripes in their work for this particular project. She is already planning to weave the stripes according to the actual temperatures.

There are already groups of people who are encoding different kinds of data besides high temperatures, she said. There's a New Normal Tempestry that deals with climate shift. So there are lots of different ways that you could interpret it. And for us, in particular, in this project,

there aren't going to be any rules.

Brooks suggested weavers start by choosing a month  March, April, May  that had meaning for them. She picked January for her demonstration project, noting that its outside of the OneTree parameters, but as she wove the row for each day, she remembered what she was doing on that day, and how she felt.

That rang true for weaver Pam Sousanes, a physical scientist who focuses on climate and snowpack for Denali National Park. She said she is interested in the OneTree Tempestry project because memories and climate are all triggers of everyday things in our lives.

The one thing Brooks asked weavers to do was conserve the yarn.

Ill show you some techniques so that you can go straight from one color into the next without having little tails or ends, she said. The idea would be that if a climate geek scientist 50 years from now had to unwind one of these things to get accurate temperature data, that could happen because there's precisely one yard (of yarn) for every date.

Then everyone got to work. Brooks walked around helping those who asked to set up the cotton warp threads (up and down), which serve as the framework for the specially dyed woolen weft (which goes weft to right, Brooks said, laughing.)

Brooks said the basic technique is a discontinuous weft-faced weave, meaning the yarn does not have to go across the warp.

People can do Tempestry-inspired projects with similar yarn hues, but those are not considered authentic Tempestry projects.

Because the Tempestry colors are true, straight, she said. Its not a branding thing, as much as a universal connection to all the different communities that are doing this.

The Tempestry Project provides the platform that allows local communities to fine-tune what is important to them, Dawe said.

So we hope to discover whats important to us, Dawe said. Its just the beginning.

For more information, visit https://onetreealaska.weebly.com/ or https://www.tempestryproject.com/

220-23
By Jeff Murphy, July 17, 2023





WARRENSBURG, MO  Remembered for his dedication, commitment and the many contributions made in service to students, faculty and staff at the University of Central Missouri, Marvin E. Bunky Wright, Columbia, passed away on Friday, July 14 after an illness. A longtime attorney who served various public and private higher education institutions in Missouri, he was nearing his 14th consecutive year as a member of the UCM Board of Governors at the time of his passing.



Governor Wright was an ardent and passionate supporter of higher education. His long and distinguished career is filled with selfless service that had a significant and positive impact on all of higher education and directly on the University of Central Missouri, said UCM President Roger Best. I will be forever grateful for his dedicated leadership on the UCM Board of Governors, the wisdom and insights he brought to us, and the transformative achievements his leadership facilitated. We will miss him tremendously.



Wright was an attorney who had an extensive background in higher education, having served as legal counsel for the University of Missouri System from 1967-1979, and as general counsel for the MU System from 1998-2008. He also served as legal counsel for Stephens College, Columbia College, and Westminster College while he worked in private practice.



Wrights relationship with UCMs Board of Governors began initially as a consultant and as interim general counsel for several months in 2008-2009. He was named to the board in November 2009 and reappointed for a second term in April 2016.



Board President Ken Weymuth, Sedalia, praised Wrights commitment to educating Missouri students and his years of service to colleges and universities.



The knowledge that he brought on higher education was invaluable. Bunky was passionate about the University of Central Missouri. Every decision he made was in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff, Weymuth remarked. His knowledge of higher education and his passion for our university will be hard to replace. He will greatly be missed by all.



Throughout his tenure on UCMs board, he served in executive posts that included president and vice president, and was involved in numerous decisions that had a positive impact on students living and learning experiences at UCM. This included decisions related to renovation and construction projects such as The Crossing, which was the universitys first retail and residential facility; construction of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center; and most recently, efforts to upgrade the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport to meet campus and community/region aviation needs.



Wrights reputation as someone who cared about students was well known throughout Missouri. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority Board (MOHELA) honored his service to higher education in the state and to the university by establishing through the UCM Alumni Foundation the Marvin E. Bunky Wright Educational Scholarship for students participating in the THRIVE program. This program expands opportunities for students who have disabilities so they can live more independent lives.



A 1964 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Wright earned a bachelors degree in chemistry from MU in 1958, and served as an officer in the United States Air Force from 1958-1961. Wright returned to private practice upon retiring from the general counsel position at the MU System in April 2008, and has been in private practice since then. His experience in the legal profession includes associate in the firm of Finch, Finch, Knehans and Cochran in Cape Girardeau, Missouri from 1964-1967; and partner in the firm of Knight, Ford, Wright, Atwill, Parshall-Baker, LLC in Columbia, Missouri from 1979-1998.



Active in professional organizations, Wright was the past president of the Missouri Bar Association, a professional association for attorneys in Missouri, and past president of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, which named him an honorary life member in 2008. At the time of his passing, he was serving a second term on MOHELAs Board. In 2016, the University of Missouri presented Wright the Faculty-Alumni Award.



A private family burial service will take place on Monday, July 31 at First Baptist Church in Columbia, Missouri, followed by interment at Columbia Cemetery. On the same day, a celebration of life is planned at The Clinton Club at Mizzou Arena (south entrance) from 4-7 p.m.



Members of the UCM community express their deepest condolences to Governor Wrights family and friends, and are keeping them in their thoughts.
On July 15, units of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated six invaders, Russian military equipment and an ammunition depot.

"Last day, units of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated six occupiers, five armored combat vehicles, one tank, three mortars, and an ammunition depot," the Naval Forces posted on Telegram.

The final enemy losses are specified.

As reported, the Ukrainian troops eliminated about 237,680 Russian aggressors from February 24, 2022 to July 16, 2023.
The Republic of Korea will provide Ukraine with mine detectors and demining equipment as part of its assistance package for the war-torn nation.

The relevant statement was made by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser to the President of South Korea Kim Tae-hyo, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to Yonhap.

On Saturday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and agreed to provide the country with a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, titled Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative.

According to the adviser, this initiative consists of nine components  three for each type of assistance, including the supply of additional safety equipment.

We plan to expand assistance in mine detectors and demining equipment, as Ukraines demand for them is desperately large, Kim Tae-hyo said.

In his words, South Korea will expand military supply support and, in the mid- to long term, considers cooperation in defense projects between the two countries.

Additionally, Ukraine invited South Korean businesses to invest in the construction of rechargeable battery and electric vehicle plants.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko believes that Russia has no lines it cannot cross. After the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) dam, the next Russian terrorist attack could be on Zaporizhzhia NPP.

According to Ukrinform, he said this in an interview with the Associated Press (AP).

The catastrophic explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam made Ukraine concerned that Moscow could stage a terrorist attack on ZNPP to spread panic and delay the Ukrainian offensive on the front line, the Ukrainian energy minister stated.

The energy minister noted that fears of a terrorist attack at the Kakhovka HPP had been expressed before.

"For many people, it sounded absurd, but when it happened (Kakhovka HPP blast - Ed.), everyone realized that there are no lines that Russia cannot cross. Of course, this is all connected with the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the minister said.

According to him, this justifies the level of alarm that the Ukrainian leadership has been raising in recent weeks about a possible Russian plan to attack the nuclear power plant in a possible false flag operation.

Drone and satellite imagery obtained by the Associated Press showed unidentified white objects on the roof of the plant's fourth unit.

Read also: About 500 Russian military personnel and Rosatom employees are at ZNPP

Ukraine's military intelligence has been saying for weeks that Russia is planning a "large-scale provocation" at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in the southeast of the country.

Experts spoken to by AP were unable to identify the objects seen on the roof of the plant.

Galushchenko emphasized that representatives of IAEA mission are present at the occupied ZNPP and can inform the world community about the current situation at the plant. At the same time, Russians do not allow IAEA representatives to all areas of this nuclear facility.

"Russians allowed IAEA to see only what they decided they could see, and that's the problem," the minister said.

As reported, German Galushchenko confirmed the information about negotiations with Bulgaria on the purchase of two Russian-made nuclear reactors and other energy equipment by Ukraine. According to the agreement, the Bulgarian state-owned energy company NEK plans to sell equipment from the unfinished Belene NPP (Bulgaria) worth at least EUR 600 million to Energoatom.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra expressed disappointment with the fact that Russia obstructs the extension of the grain deal.

It is disappointing that Russia obstructs the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Extending the deal is important to prevent food prices from rising and to avoid market destabilization, Hoekstra posted on Twitter.

The minister noted that the Netherlands urges Russia to resume the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative without delay.

It is utterly immoral that Russia continues to weaponise food. The Netherlands urges Russia to resume the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative without delay. We support the UN, the European Commission, and Turkiye in their efforts to find a solution, he added.

As reported, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia's termination of the grain agreement.

According to her, the EU is working to ensure food security for the worlds vulnerable. EU Solidarity Lanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine to global markets.

The Russian side on Monday sent Turkiye, Ukraine, and the UN its objections to the extension of the grain agreement and de facto terminated its validity.

The last vessel within the UN-brokered agreement, which allows the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, left Odesa port on the morning of Sunday, July 16.

The Black Sea Grain Agreement was concluded in July 2022. For this purpose, two documents were signed: with the participation of the UN, Turkiye, and Ukraine, and separately  the UN, Turkiye, and Russia.

Putin has repeatedly threatened not to extend the agreement, demanding to lift sanctions and obstacles imposed on Russian exports.

Read also: European Commission President condemns termination of grain agreement

Moscow's main demand was to restore Rosselkhozbank's access to the SWIFT international banking network, from which the EU excluded Russia in June 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine.

President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Putin last week offering to extend the agreement by several months to give the EU time to connect Rosselkhozbank's subsidiary to SWIFT.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry has urged Russia to agree to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative without using food as a weapon.

According to Ukrinform, the Austrian Foreign Ministry reported this on Twitter.

"We urgently call on Russia to agree to an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. It is crucial for global food security and brings millions of tonnes of grain and seeds to those in need," the statement said.

The post was accompanied by #FoodIsNotAWeapon.

As Ukrinform reported, Russia has officially informed the Turkish and Ukrainian sides, as well as the UN Secretariat, of its objections to the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The last vessel under the UN-brokered deal that allows Ukrainian grain to be safely exported through the Black Sea left the port of Odesa on Sunday morning, ahead of the July 17 deadline for extending the agreement.
The Republic of Korea will continue providing humanitarian and non-lethal military assistance and equipment only to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian armed aggression.

The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for South Koreas Defense Ministry Jeon Ha-kyu at a briefing, following the visit by President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol to Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to Yonhap.

There is no change in the government's position that South Korea does not provide lethal weapons, Jeon Ha-kyu said.

On Saturday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and agreed to provide the country with a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, titled Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative.

Seoul recently sent portable mine detectors and protective suits in its latest batch of military supplies to support Ukraine.

Last year, South Korea also sent three batches of non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, including first aid kits, medicine, gas masks, tents, bulletproof vests and food for field troops.
FILE PHOTO: A worker climbs on a ladder under the logo of Swiss bank UBS at the company's headquarters in Zurich

By Oliver Hirt

ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS's emergency takeover of Credit Suisse may lead to thousands of job losses, departures of key staff and a risky integration challenge, but for many UBS investors it increasingly looks like a good deal for Switzerland's biggest bank.

Since UBS bought Credit Suisse in a 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.4 billion) deal completed last month, investors have come to share the optimism of UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher, who has highlighted the many opportunities as well as potential pitfalls arising from the takeover.

Several fund managers who hold UBS stock have told Reuters they think UBS has bought Credit Suisse at a good price, with some even describing it as a steal.

"I think UBS is being rather conservative about the true extent of the benefits it can get from this politically sensitive merger," Guy de Blonay at Jupiter Asset Management said.

UBS agreed to take over CS in a rescue orchestrated by Swiss authorities as Switzerland's second-largest teetered bank on the edge of collapse, creating a combined group overseeing more than $5 trillion of assets.

UBS has said the integration of the two organisations could take three to four years, during which time it plans to manage two separate parent companies  UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG - each with its own subsidiaries and branches.

Ultimately the deal promises to give UBS a leading position in key markets it would otherwise have needed years to grow in size and reach.

"UBS got Credit Suisse for practically nothing, so accordingly the deal will work out for them," another investor told Reuters.

STATE GUARANTEE

In a regulatory filing in May, UBS flagged tens of billions of dollars in potential costs and benefits from the takeover.

It said it expected a negative impact of $13 billion from fair value adjustments of the combined group's financial assets and liabilities, and a further $4 billion in potential litigation and regulatory costs stemming from outflows.

However these items would be more than offset by a 16 billion franc gain from the writedown of Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds, as well as $34.8 billion from buying Credit Suisse at a fraction of its book value.

It also received a state guarantee to absorb up to 9 billion francs in losses. As a result UBS has gained a huge risk buffer to help digest its cross-town rival.

"They wouldn't have got this buffer in a normal merger," said Andreas Thomae from Deka Investment.

Fund managers also raised doubts that competition watchdogs would have approved such a deal - which gives the combined bank a market share of more than a quarter of both Swiss domestic loans (26%)and domestic deposits (26%) - under normal circumstances.

"Now the authorities have waved the deal through because they had to find someone in an emergency situation," Thomae added. "It's an attractive deal for UBS if it goes through as planned."

Still, UBS inherits a troubled legacy at Credit Suisse, said Thomae, pointing to legal risks which UBS has said could cost billions of dollars.

Another manager said the biggest risk for UBS is that many of Credit Suisse's best client advisers in the millionaire and billionaire business will leave.

Rivals have poached entire teams from Credit Suisse, he said, and some clients are likely to follow them.

In a worst-case scenario, up to half of the assets Credit Suisse oversaw before big withdrawals began last October could eventually leave the bank for other wealth managers.

The fund manager expects a bumpy two years for UBS, but in the longer term, he too is more positive. "Over a three- to five-year period, though, the acquisition probably does pay off," he said.

CASH COW

Jupiter fund manager de Blonay was even more confident. "UBS is in a good position to restructure quickly, limit outflows and reduce risks," he said, adding that in the longer term, earnings should pick up, helping the company achieve a much higher valuation.

"Therefore, I believe UBS looks attractive at current levels."

UBS shares have gained 5.1% since the deal was first announced, slightly underperforming the STOXX Europe 600 Financial Services Index.

De Blonay said the share moves probably reflected market uncertainties surrounding the takover, but he expected a positive development in the share price "when the dust settles".

Analysts at JP Morgan expect a big jump in UBS stock as the positives from the takeover become apparent. The bank has set a price target of 27 Swiss franc by the end of 2024, up from the current level of 18.22 francs.

Analyst Kian Abouhossein sees UBS as a wealth management powerhouse that could attract 150 billion dollars in new client money annually.

That would equate to a volume every three years equal to the total assets under management at Julius Baer, which has taken Credit Suisse's place as Switzerland's second-biggest wealth manager.

Still, one big unanswered question remains is the fate of Credit Suisse's Swiss business.

Although the Swiss public and politicians favour a spin-off to increase choice and competition, one insider expects it to be integrated into UBS.

Investors also welcomed such a move for the business, Credit Suisse's best performer last year when it posted a pretax profit of 1.4 billion francs.

Deka's Thomae said UBS and Credit Suisse together would have a market share in Switzerland that is just within acceptable limits. "From UBS's point of view, the business is a great asset, a good cash cow," he said.

($1 = 0.8592 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Oliver Hirt; Writing by John Revill; Editing by David Holmes)
Making statements on withdrawal from the grain deal, Russia breaks its agreements with Turkiye and the UN. Ukraine does not have any agreements with the Russian Federation.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with African media, quotes from which were published by Presidents press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov on Facebook.

"We had two agreements: Ukraine, Turkiye, UN, and another agreement  Russia, Turkiye, UN. Therefore, when Russia says that it stops [its participation in the grain deal], it breaks its agreements with UN Secretary-General Guterres and President Erdogan. Not with us. We did not have any agreements with them," Zelensky said.

The President also ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the official signal of the Russian Federation, to prepare Ukrainian official signals to the United Nations and to Turkiye so that they answer whether they are ready to continue the grain initiative.

At the same time, he noted that the Black Sea grain corridor can operate even without the participation of the Russians in the agreements.

"Even without the Russian Federation, everything must be done so that we can use this Black Sea corridor. We are not afraid. The companies that own ships addressed us. They say that they are ready, if Ukraine allows them to go and Turkiye allows them to pass, then everyone is ready to continue supplying grain," press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov quotes Zelensky as saying.

Nykyforov also noted that the full interview of the Head of State would be published later.

As reported, Russia announced the termination of the extension of the grain deal.

The agreements were concluded on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul for 120 days and were extended several times.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has condemned Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the export of grain from Ukraine.

This is said in a statement published on the British governments website.

The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms Russias decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russias illegal war against Ukraine has obstructed the free flow of grain and other foodstuffs through the Black Sea, causing worldwide suffering. We urge Russia to re-join the initiative, which was developed by the UN in 2022, and allow the unimpeded export of grain, the statement says.

Cleverly reminded that since its inception, the initiative has played a significant role in lowering and stabilising global food prices, delivering over 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets.

Russia has obstructed the proper operation of the deal for several months. In doing so, Russia is serving its own interests and disregarding the needs of all those around the world, including in the poorest countries, who are paying higher food prices as a result, he said.

The minister noted that while exports of grain from Ukraine are restricted, Russian exports of food are at higher levels than before the invasion.

The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war, Cleverly said.

As reported, on Monday, the Russian side sent Turkey, Ukraine and the UN its objections to the extension of the grain agreement and de facto terminated its validity.

The Black Sea Grain Agreement was concluded in July 2022. For this purpose, two documents were signed: with the participation of the UN, Turkey and Ukraine, and separate one by the UN, Turkey and Russia.

The agreement was extended several times.
Ukraine, the UN and Turkiye can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of vessels. It is necessary for everyone in the world  and everyone who supports it will become a savior of life in a huge territory from Morocco to China, from Indonesia to Lebanon.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his traditional video address to the nation, Ukrinform reports, referring to the presidents press service.

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you good health!

First. Today, I held a conference call  substantive reports. Front, security, supply of rounds. Commanders, SSU chief, intelligence chiefs  defense and foreign intelligence, minister of internal affairs, Defense Ministry. We do everything in detail and every day so that our soldiers have everything they need for active operations.

Second. I thank each of our rescuers, each policeman, each volunteer, and each doctor who save our people after Russian shelling. Today's terrorist attacks on Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Donbas, Kherson region, and Zaporizhzhia will not go unanswered by our soldiers for sure.

Third. Food security. We are preparing a conversation with Mr. UN Secretary General...

Ukraine's position has always been and will be as clear as possible  no one has the right to destroy the food security of any nation. If a bunch of people somewhere in the Kremlin think that they supposedly have the right to decide whether food will be on the table in different countries: Egypt or Sudan, Yemen or Bangladesh, China or India, Turkiye or Indonesia... then the world has an opportunity to show that blackmail is not allowed to anyone.

From the first day of the full-scale aggression, Russia destroyed navigation freedom in the Black and Azov seas. Russia hit our ports, grain terminals with missiles and drones, and even granaries were hit... The only possible consequence of this is the destabilization of food markets and social chaos in the countries critically dependent on food imports. Ukrainian food is basic security for four hundred million people...

Last year, the world took the right action regarding the Russian threat to food security  together with Turkiye and the UN, we launched the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Its results are eloquent  almost 33 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported to 45 countries. Sixty percent of the volumes went to the countries of Africa and Asia, in particular, these are Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan... They also were sent to China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen... And it is very important  our food export allows saving lives in the countries, as I said, like Yemen and Somalia... different people... of different religions, different ethnic origins... But they all have the same right to life!

In addition to export, we also launched the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian initiative. Thirty-four donor states joined it. And I thank every donor who helped save people from starvation, primarily in African countries.

Everyone has a right to stability Africa has the right to stability. Asia has the right to stability. Europe has every right to stability. And therefore, we must all care about security  about protection from Russian madness. And the Black Sea Grain Initiative can and should keep operating  if without Russia, then without Russia. The agreement on the export of grain  this is an agreement with Turkiye and the UN  remains valid. The only thing that is needed now is its careful implementation  and decisive pressure from the world on the terrorist state.

I have sent official letters to President of Turkiye Erdogan and UN Secretary General Guterres with a proposal to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative or its analog in a trilateral format  as it is best. Ukraine, the UN and Turkiye can jointly ensure the operation of the food corridor and the inspection of vessels. It is necessary for everyone in the world  and everyone who supports it will become a savior of life in a huge territory from Morocco to China, from Indonesia to Lebanon.

One more.

I want to especially thank Sweden. Our Swedish friends have approved a strategy to help Ukraine, in particular with reconstruction... a strategy until 2027. This is very important  signals of long-term support. Support for life, restoration of life, support for the fact that Russian terror will clearly lose. Mr. Prime Minister Kristersson, the entire Government of Sweden, everyone in Sweden  I thank you very much!

Glory to everyone who helps us defend ourselves from Russian terror! Glory to each of our warriors! Glory to our beautiful people!

Glory to Ukraine!
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than $500 million in additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine and $2.3 million in equipment for the State Emergency Service.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced this at a briefing during her visit to Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"SESU shows every day the skill and bravery for which the Ukrainian people are known worldwide. But along with skill and bravery, the SESU also needs equipment. I'm pleased to hand over an additional $2.3 million worth of equipment which will help SESU repair the damage inflicted by Russia's forces on Ukraine's critical infrastructure," Power said.

Power informed that 6 tanker trucks are being provided to supply clean drinking water to communities that have been cut off from it, as well as 450 powerful pumps for the SESU offices in Kherson region to help overcome the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP blowing up.

USAID Administrator also emphasized that the funds for the SESU are the "wisest investments" of USAID, noting that about $1.2 billion in direct budget support provided to the Ukrainian government went to pay salaries to more than 50,000 rescuers, including those who overcame the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

"Ukraine has major humanitarian needs that are going to continue as long as Putin continues to wage this war. This equipment and our support for the salaries of first responders help some of those needs. But today I also would like to announce that the United States will provide more than $500 million in additional humanitarian assistance to our humanitarian partners to scale up their response on the frontlines," she said.

According to Power, the United States aims to help Ukrainians with the needs they identify for themselves, from shelter support for those whose homes were destroyed to psychological assistance for those who have been most traumatized by the war.

As reported, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Samantha Power arrived in Kyiv for the second time since the start of the full-scale invasion. During her visit, she will meet with government officials, Ukrainian business, civil society, energy experts, youth, rescue workers, and mental health professionals.
Kyrgyzstan paid Uzbekistan only 1,200 soms for the transit of electricity, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

Kyrgyzstan imported 145.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity from Uzbekistan. For this, Kyrgyzstan paid Uzbekistan only 1.2 thousand soms. Most likely, it is to compensate for the electricity that Uzbekistan withheld in the winter, instead of transiting it to the Kyrgyz energy system.

The payment was made only for the transit of electricity, 24.kg writes with reference to the Kyrgyz National Statistics Committee.

It should be reminded that in December last year, Uzbekistan borrowed electricity supplied by Turkmenistan to Kyrgyzstan during the cold winter days.
By Byron Kaye and Himanshi Akhand

(Reuters) - Shares of Endeavour Group, Australia's biggest pub owner, hit a record low on Monday after a surprise state government decision to impose identification checks and gambling limits on poker machine users.

Victoria, Australia's second-most populous state, said at the weekend it would make poker machine users register for an ID card to prevent money laundering and set a loss limit in advance to restrict problem gambling. It would order machines slowed down and most venues to close overnight.

Analysts were divided on the scale of the impact on Endeavour, the country's biggest owner of poker machine licences, given the company does not break out poker machine profit in its results. Its "hotels" division made about 40% of its profit in the December 2022 half.

Shares of Endeavour, spun off from grocer Woolworths in 2021, were down 10% at A$5.66 by midsession, the biggest single decline in the flat overall market.

The change also adds pressure on other states, particularly New South Wales (NSW), to follow suit and heed community demands for greater regulation of poker machine gambling. The recently elected Labor government in NSW has rejected calls for a Victorian-style crackdown.

"We had thought regulatory risk dissipated post-NSW state election. Today's Victoria announcement adds material uncertainty," Jefferies analysts said in a note.

Earnings "impact is difficult to quantify but gaming's high margin and low variable cost means any revenue reduction would cause substantial operational deleverage", the note added.

Sydney-based Endeavour said it was "difficult to speculate on the impact of these reforms" but noted it was already working with other states which were trialling similar measures.

Australia is home to one-fifth of the world's poker machine licences, the most of any jurisdiction outside Las Vegas.

That has contributed to the world's highest rate of problem gambling, with more than a million of the country's 26 million people at risk of developing a harmful betting habit, public health experts say.

($1 = 1.4631 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Byron Kaye in Sydney and Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Navya Mittal; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Stephen Coates)
Avicanna Inc.

This marks the 17th international market for Aureus branded products and 20th market for all Avicanna

Avicanna Subsidiary SMGH Exports Aureus Branded CBD and CBG Into Paraguay

This marks the 17th international market for Aureus branded products and 20th market for all Avicanna

TORONTO, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avicanna Inc. (Avicanna or the Company) (TSX: AVCN) (OTCQX: AVCNF) (FSE: 0NN) a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products is pleased to announce that through its majority owned subsididery Santa Marta Golden Hemp the Company has completed the commercial export of aureus branded products into Paraguay.

Avicanna exports into Paraguay





The commercial export included Aureus branded purified Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) which is a part of the companys portfolio of cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients). This transaction also marks the 17th international market for Aureus branded products and 20th market for all Avicanna products which further demonstrates the companys capabilities in navigating complex regulatory processes for its commercialization efforts internationally.

About Aureus

Avicannas supply chain business unit is based in Santa Marta, Colombia and provides a consistent source of cannabinoid raw materials for the global marketplace with GACP and USDA organic ceritications. These include active pharmaceutical ingredients and feminized seeds, for Avicannas cosmetic, medical, and pharmaceutical products, in addition to supplying the companys partners around the world.

Aureus-branded products are cultivated, extracted, and manufactured by Avicannas subsidiaries in Colombia where they leverage optimal environmental conditions to produce cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients economically and sustainably and include a range of extracts of CBD, THC and rare cannabinoids such as CBG.

To its knowledge, the Company carries out its operations in compliance with all applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which it operates.

About Avicanna Inc.

Avicanna is a commercial-stage international biopharmaceutical company focused on the advancement and commercialization of evidence-based cannabinoid-based products for the global medical and pharmaceutical market segments. Avicanna has an established scientific platform including R&D and clinical development that has led to the commercialization of more than thirty products across various market segments:

Medical Cannabis & Wellness Products (RHO Phyto): The formulary offers a diverse range of proprietary formulations including oral, sublingual, topical, and transdermal deliveries with varying ratios of cannabinoids and is supported with ongoing patient, and medical community education. RHO Phyto has been established as a leading medical brand in Canada and is currently available nationwide to patients across several medical channels and continues to expand into new international markets.





Pharmaceutical Preparations and Pipeline : Leveraging Avicannas scientific platform, vertical integration, and real-world evidence, Avicanna has developed an extensive a pipeline of patent-pending drug candidates that are indication-specific and in various stages of clinical development and commercialization. These cannabinoid-based drug candidates look to address unmet medical needs in the areas of dermatology, chronic pain, and various neurological disorders. Avicannas first pharmaceutical preparation (Trunerox) is in the drug registration stage in South America.





MyMedi.ca Medical Cannabis Care Portal: MyMedi.ca is Avicannas medical cannabis care platform that is formed with the aim to better serve medical cannabis patients needs and enhance the patient journey. MyMedi.ca is expected to launch during August 2023 and will feature diverse and scientifically curated products from leading Canadian licensed producers in addition to pharmacist led patient support programs and educational resources to facilitate the incorporation of medical cannabis into health care regimens. MyMedi.ca also provides specialty services to distinct patient groups such as veterans and collaborating with public and private providers for adjudication and reimbursement.



Click to watch Avicannas Corporate Video 2022

SOURCE Avicanna Inc.

Stay Connected

For more information about Avicanna, visit our website, contact Ivana Maric by email at info@avicanna.com or follow us on social media on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

The Company posts updates through videos from the Company YouTube channel.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this news release may be identified using words such as, may, would, could, will, likely, expect, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook and other similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to current and future market conditions, including the market price of the common shares of the Company, and the risk factors set out in the Companys annual information form dated March 31, 2023 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f28e7282-ef7e-4002-8da7-c61b15887c11




He's out there at Sewell Park in San Marcos, taking in the sun, the energy and the calm pres Read moreThe Sun God: Behind the man, myth, legend
(@FahadShabbir)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 17th Jul, 2023) The Experts Affairs Committee of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has convened to review applications from 20 experts in various fields who have sought inclusion in the roster of experts.

During the meeting, chaired by Yousef Saeed Alabri, Undersecretary of the Judicial Department, it was decided that the candidates would undergo a foundation expert qualification programme administered by the Abu Dhabi Judicial academy (ADJA). Successful completion of the programme is a prerequisite for their admission as experts.

In addition to the selection process, the committee also addressed a complaint lodged against an expert, deliberating on the matter and taking appropriate action.

The meeting of the Experts Affairs Committee was chaired by Alabri, and attended by the Committee, namely the Counselor Ali Al Shaer Al Dhaheri, Director of the Judicial Inspection Division; Judge Mohamed Kamel Elgendy, Judge at Al Ain Court; Yousif Hasan Alhosani, Executive Director of the Judicial Support Sector; Khamees Mubarak Al Qubaisi, Director of Lawyers and Experts Affairs Division; and expert Dr. Hareb Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of the Expertise Technical Office.
CapauxMeules, Canada, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2023 ) :In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the small Magdalen islands, foot paths are caving in, cliffs are receding and the sand dunes are disappearing, leaving homes vulnerable to the lashing waves.

The archipelago, part of Quebec province in eastern Canada, is in a race against time -- and the elements -- to survive global warming. Residents are feeling the effects of climate change on a daily basis.

"The Magdalen islands are in the front row when it comes to the changes taking place. We are miniscule faced with the immensity of it all," says Mayka Thibodeau from CERMIM, a research center focused on sustainable development.

The changes seem to be coming fast and furious, leaving the roughly 13,000 residents reeling, as they realize their island home will need to adapt quickly and radically in the decades to come if it is to survive.

The islands' picturesque shores have already been eroded, receding by an average of half a meter (1.

6 feet) a year, according to a study by the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR).

It's a figure that concerns Diane Saint-Jean and her partner -- they live on the coast and worry the next big storm could sweep their home into the water.

"We were rather naive, we were sure there would be a solution. But nature proved us wrong," says Saint-Jean, her voice shaky as she stares at the nearby cliffs, which are slowly disappearing.

The two women live in La Martinique, a slim band of territory that links the archipelago's two main islands.

They have spent thousands of Dollars to reinforce the cliff at the foot of their yard, but in September 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck with brute force, quickly washing away the giant rocks meant to protect their property.

"We woke up one morning and realized we'd thrown away our money. But what can we do?" rues Saint-Jean, a retired nurse.
Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2023 ) :The European Union hosts Latin American and Caribbean leaders Monday hoping to soothe ties strained by deep divisions over trade and Russia's invasion of Ukraine The long-awaited summit is the first between Brussels and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) since 2015, with several issues undermining closer ties.

"We need our close friends to be at our side in these uncertain times," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said, welcoming Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Von der Leyen promised that Europe would invest 45 billion Euros in the Latin American economy under the Global Gateway programme.

As EU and CELAC leaders gathered in Brussels, diplomats were struggling to agree on the wording of the final communique -- with Europe pushing for a strong stance against Moscow.
(@FahadShabbir)

Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2023 ) :The European Union hosts Latin American and Caribbean leaders at a summit Monday, hoping to revive strained ties despite divisions over trade and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The summit is the third between Brussels and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), but only the first since 2015, with several issues undermining closer ties.

"We need our close friends to be at our side in these uncertain times," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said, welcoming Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

As EU and CELAC leaders gathered in Brussels, diplomats were struggling to agree on the wording of the final communique -- with Europe pushing for a strong stance against Moscow.

The 33 nations of Latin America and the Caribbean have no agreed position on the Ukraine war, however, and some would like to protect ties with Russia or seek a compromise peace deal.

Instead, some CELAC delegates will push for the implementation of the 2019 EU-Mercosur trade deal, which has stalled on European concerns about deforestation and agricultural competition.

Three years after agreeing on the deal, which liberalizes trade between the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, it has yet to be ratified by several European governments.

Some capitals had hoped that the summit, held under Spain's tenure in the rotating presidency of the EU, would bring new momentum to the Mercosur deal.

But diplomats from both blocs were clear that Monday's talks would be an arena for discussion, and no breakthrough on trade was expected.

A senior Spanish diplomat told reporters in Brussels that EU-CELAC "will be a political summit, not a negotiating summit".
(@Abdulla99267510)

The PTI president has named Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider and other officials as respondents in the case, accusing the government of engaging in political victimization.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 17th, 2023) Former Punjab chief minister and PTI president, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, has lodged a petition with the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging his detention orders.

The PTI president named Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider and other officials as respondents in the case, accusing the government of engaging in political victimization.

He stated that he had already been granted bail in all the cases registered against him and emphasized that even an anti-terrorism court had approved his protective bail.

This development follows the detention of former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi for a 30-day period under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The Lahore Deputy Commissioner issued a notification indicating that Elahi would be held in custody at Camp Jail Lahore to prevent public disorder.

According to the notification, two cases have been registered against Mr. Elahi at Qila Gujjar Singh police station, including charges of attempted murder, while another case has been registered at Ghalib Market police station under terrorism provisions.

The notification stated that Parvez Elahi, a PTI leader, faces three cases that could potentially disrupt law and order, making him a wanted individual.

The notification further justified the action taken against Elahi, citing concerns that he may disturb the peace and cause a breach of law and order. The decision to detain him was made based on recommendations from the district government, District Intelligence Committee, and the police. The notification was issued upon the request of the capital city police.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government filed a petition in the LHC challenging a single bench's decision that prevented the police from arresting Mr. Elahi. The government, along with anti-corruption departments and others, has been named as respondents in this case.

The government argued that the single bench disregarded the facts of the case and emphasized that relevant departments were actively investigating the charges against Elahi. The Punjab government has requested the LHC to nullify and invalidate the decision made by the single bench.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2023 ) :Pervez Khattak, former senior member and president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was likely to soon announce the foundation of his own political party.

According to recent political and media reports, Khattak has been meeting with significant political players in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad, including former PTI members who have previously been elected to assemblies.

The media reports said that Khattak has also held meetings with political figures from PTI who allegedly did not vote for the party in the Senate election, besides those ignored for party ticket during the last general election.

Khattak is expected to make the formal announcement of his new political party with the name of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Parliamentarian in a press conference.

Khattak has also chosen the party flag with half white and half green color.

While Khattak's political goals have shifted, his two sons, who remain affiliated with the PTI, have stated their determination to follow their father's path in terms of their own political future. Their choice is subject to Khattak's upcoming announcement.

Liaquat Khattak, Pervez Khattak's brother and former KP assembly member, had left the party earlier in 2021 and joined the PPP. Later, in 2022, he jumped to the JUI-F.

Khattak revealed his exit from the PTI in a phone call with the media on Sunday. He stressed that even if his efforts to join a new party fail, he will not revert to his previous political allegiance.

Khattak was terminated from PTI membership after failing to answer a notice about allegedly trying to break away PTI members in KP.
NASSAU, Bahamas, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, along with members of the Ministry's Senior Executive Management Team and Bahamas family of Tourism Partners, are deeply saddened to learn of the passing on Friday past of Jill Stewart, wife of Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

(PRNewsfoto/Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & A)

Deputy Prime Minister Cooper said, "We convey our deepest condolences to Mr. Adam Stewart, the couple's three children, immediate family and extended Jamaican and Bahamian families as they mourn the loss of a wife, mother, relative and friend who exemplified so many noble qualities."

Jill Stewart was born in The Bahamas and in 2005 moved to Jamaica where she made her home alongside her beloved husband Adam Stewart. The couple met in their teens in boarding school in Boca Raton. Mrs. Stewart's twin passion for running and youth development led her to throw her ardent support behind the development of Montego Bay's first 10K/5K run and walk for education, the MoBay City Run. Mrs. Stewart was a devoted wife and mother.

Jill Stewart was diagnosed with cancer just over a year ago. She made the brave decision to chronicle her journey with cancer on social media for the benefit of others who struggle with terminal illness. Day after day, through her uplifting posts on Instagram, the public witnessed the face of a woman who valiantly confronted the fight against cancer. Mrs. Stewart passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, 14 July, surrounded by family and friends.

Latia Duncombe, Director General of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation also expressed her sentiments on the passing of Jill Stewart: "Our hearts go out to Mr. Adam Stewart and his family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. In going public with her year-long struggle with cancer, Mrs. Stewart gave a gift to the world. She demonstrated to us all how to confront adversity with courage, tenacity and grace."

About The Bahamas

Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

Ajohnson@bahamas.com

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SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged the role played by Sri Lanka as a friend and well-wisher of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 17th, 2023) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his gratitude to Sri Lanka for supporting and helping Pakistan in reaching an agreement with International Monetary Fund.

During a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the role played by Sri Lanka as a friend and well-wisher of Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are close and reliable friends. He commended Sri Lanka's role for regional peace and prosperity.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed the confidence that Pakistan and Sri Lanka will soon come out of the vortex of current economic difficulties.

Reciprocating to the Prime Minister's sentiments of goodwill, the Sri Lankan President said Pakistan is our close friend and helping friends is friendship.

The Sri Lankan President appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's efforts in difficult situation and felicitated him on reaching an agreement with the IMF.

On the occasion of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's meeting with Managing Director IMF Kristalina Georgieva, the Sri Lankan President had stressed that the IMF should help Pakistan.

The Sri Lankan President had informed the MD IMF about the problems faced by his country due to default and stressed that Pakistan should be saved from this situation.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) European Council President Charles Michel said on Monday he regretted Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, warning that the move could put global food security at risk.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the grain deal was de facto terminated, however Russia would immediately return to its implementation as soon as the commitments toward Moscow are fulfilled.

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative has benefited millions around the globe. I regret Russia's announcement today. This will endanger food security & access of populations worldwide to grain and fertilizer supplies," Michel wrote on Twitter.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also critical of Russia's decision.

"I strongly condemn Russia's cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Turkiye's efforts," von der Leyen tweeted.

The European Union will continue to work on ensuring food security worldwide and help Ukraine export its agricultural production, she added.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia might suspend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative until obligations toward Moscow are fulfilled. In a phone call with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin said that the deal's main objective, namely to supply grain to countries in need, including those in Africa, has not been achieved.

In July 2022, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations struck a package agreement to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships carrying food and fertilizer from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Despite having since agreed to several extensions to the grain deal, which is now due to expire on Monday, Moscow has been pointing out that the deal's component on the facilitation of Russian grain and fertilizer exports was not being fulfilled.
(@FahadShabbir)

The United Nations-brokered grain exports agreement, formally known as the Black Sea Initiative, can not function if one of the parties ceases to be part of it, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) The United Nations-brokered grain exports agreement, formally known as the Black Sea Initiative, can not function if one of the parties ceases to be part of it, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday.

"It flows logically, that the Black Sea Grain Initiative cannot function without all of the parties that are signatories, doing their bits," Dujarric said during a press briefing.

Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he asked his team to reach out to the United Nations and Turkey to continue implementing the Black Sea Initiative without Russia after the latter suspended its participation in the agreement.
BELGOROD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) Two people were killed and one girl was injured in the accident on the Crimean Bridge, Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The operational headquarters said earlier on Monday morning that one child was injured in the accident on the Crimean Bridge and that the child's condition was of moderate severity. The Health Ministry of Russia's Krasnodar Territory has confirmed that one girl was injured and two people died in the accident, according to the operational headquarters.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram on Monday morning that one girl was injured in the accident, but her parents did not survive.

"We all started off this morning with information about the emergency that happened on the Crimean bridge. We all saw in a video on the internet a damaged car with Belgorod numbers.

The information available at the moment: one girl was injured, moderately injured, she is already under medical supervision... if possible, when the doctors allow, we will immediately transport her to the Belgorod Region," Gladkov said, adding that the girl's mother and father died in the accident.

Crimea head Sergey Aksenov said on Telegram overnight that traffic was suspended on the Crimean Bridge due to an emergency and urged people to avoid traveling via the Crimean Bridge. The Russian Transport Ministry said that the support structure of the Crimean Bridge was not damaged, but there was damage to the roadway on the spans of the bridge from the side of Crimea.

Aksenov said that law enforcement agencies were going to additionally inform about the causes of the accident on the Crimean Bridge.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Russia's suspending its participation in the grain deal is the right decision as it will increase Russian wheat prices, the president of the Russian Grain Union (RGU), Arkadiy Zlochevskiy, told Sputnik on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) Russia's suspending its participation in the grain deal is the right decision as it will increase Russian wheat prices, the president of the Russian Grain Union (RGU), Arkadiy Zlochevskiy, told Sputnik on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the grain deal agreement, also known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, had de facto been terminated, however Russia would immediately return to its implementation as soon as the commitments toward Moscow, such as on exports of Russian foodstuffs, are fulfilled. After Peskov's statements, September wheat futures rose by 3.4% on the Chicago Stock Exchange, according to the bidding data.

"This is the right decision, it (the deal) should not have been concluded at all. It (the termination of the deal) is not a bad thing for us, on the contrary," Zlochevskiy said.

With the deal, Russia bore losses, he added, noting that the agreement led to a noticeable price discount on Russian wheat supplies compared to competitors' prices. This difference ranged from $10-20 per tonne of wheat, but at its peaks reached up to $70 per tonne, the RGU president said.

"Prices will not return to fair levels immediately, but objectively, grounds for this discount are at least shrinking," Zlochevskiy said, noting that Russia's refusal to participate in the deal does not affect the direction of Russian grain exports.

Amid the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Moscow, Kiev, Ankara and the United Nations struck a deal to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports on July 22, 2022. Moscow has since agreed to several extensions to the deal, which expires on July 17. The agreement was made as part of a package deal, the second part of which, the three-year Russia-UN memorandum, provides, among other things, for the unblocking of Russian agricultural exports, and the re-connection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT payment system. Moscow has said this part of the package agreement has not yet been implemented.
Swedish hygiene products manufacturer Essity, which owns the Zewa, Libresse and Libero brands, said on Monday that it had finalized the sale of its Russian businesses to a Russian company for 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (SEK), or $117 million

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) Swedish hygiene products manufacturer Essity, which owns the Zewa, Libresse and Libero brands, said on Monday that it had finalized the sale of its Russian businesses to a Russian company for 1.2 billion Swedish kronor (SEK), or $117 million.

"The hygiene and health company Essity has completed the divestment of its operations in Russia for a purchase price of approximately SEK 1.2bn on a cash and debt-free basis. Essity has thus exited Russia," the company said in a statement.

The buyer is Russian firm New Technologies LLC, whose principal owner is Igor Shilov, Essity added. According to the data from the Russian Unified Public Register of Legal Entities, Shilov owns 94.5% of the firm's shares, while 5.5% belong to its director general, Andrey Yanovsky.

Essity is a manufacturer of personal care products.

It has three plants in Russia, which produce Zewa, Libresse, Libero, Tork, Tena toilet paper, diapers, napkins and other personal hygiene items.

The company started working on exiting the Russian market in April 2022 after the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. In the same year, an impairment was carried out of its Russian assets amounting to around 1.7 billion Swedish kronor, the statement read. The resulting earnings impact, including the foreign Currency translation difference, is about 0.9 billion Swedish kronor, the company said, adding that its sales on Russian market in 2022 were about 2% of its total consolidated net sales.

Essity operates in 150 countries with its Tena, Tork, Jobast, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa brands.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th July, 2023) Swiss watch maker Swatch Group has filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government and a number of the country's interior ministry officials over the seizure of 170 watches of the Pride collection worth 64,795 ringgits ($14,200), the Malay Mail newspaper reported on Monday, citing court documents.

From May 13-15, Malaysian interior ministry officials reportedly searched 16 Swatch Group retail outlets all over the country and seized 172 watches. Some of the watches' loops featured six-colored rainbow designs, similar to the LGBT flag, therefore the ministry issued seizure notices stating that the watches were instrumental in promoting LGBT, Malay Mail reported.

Swatch Group filed a lawsuit stating that the ministry officials acted illegally, inconsistently and without prior warning of any violations. It also said that the raids were disproportionate and pursued an improper purpose, the report said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th July, 2023) Tunisia and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic and comprehensive cooperation in various areas, including migration, the European Commission said on Sunday.

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.

"The Memorandum of Understanding covers five pillars: macro-economic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition, people-to people contacts, and migration. It will be implemented through the various strands of cooperation between the European Union and Tunisia, following the relevant regulations and applicable procedures," the statement also said.

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.

"The fifth pillar (of the memorandum) is migration, where we need an effective cooperation, more than ever ... We will also increase our coordination on search and rescue operations. And we agreed that we will cooperate on border management, anti-smuggling, return and addressing root causes, in full respect of the international law. For this, we will make available more than EUR 100 million ($112 million) of EU funding," the commission president said.

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.
Penelope Shihab

The University of Wyomings Penelope Shihab was recently named to the Club of Rome, a global think tank.

Shihab, director of the Wyoming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is thrilled with the honor of membership in the group, which is a platform of diverse thought leaders who identify holistic solutions to complex global issues and promote policy initiatives and action to enable humanity to emerge from multiple planetary emergencies.

My induction into the Club of Rome represents a culmination of my lifelong dedication to making a positive impact on society through innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific endeavors, Shihab says. It signifies that my efforts have been recognized and that I have gained a platform to further amplify my voice and influence. This honor serves as a source of inspiration, motivating me to continue pushing boundaries, exploring novel solutions and driving meaningful change.

The Club of Rome was created to address the multiple crises facing humanity and the planet, according to information on the organizations website. The group draws on the unique, collective expertise of its 100 members -- notable scientists, economists, business leaders and former politicians -- to define comprehensive solutions to the complex, interconnected challenges of the world.

The organization has prioritized five key areas of impact: emerging new civilizations; planetary emergency; reframing economics; rethinking finance; and youth leadership and intergenerational dialogues.

Shihab says her focus will be on youth, innovation, economic development and womens empowerment. She will leverage her expertise and influence to prioritize youth engagement, particularly at UW and with students at Wyomings eight community colleges. She aims to provide more opportunities for students and expose them to global strategies encompassing health care, innovation, economic development and social entrepreneurship.

I am delighted that Penelope has been inducted into the Club of Rome, says UW President Ed Seidel. This illustrious group of world leaders tackles the pressing issues of our time. We are fortunate that UW now has representation through Penelopes membership.

Shihab, a renowned scientist and high-impact entrepreneur, has started several successful companies in the United States and internationally during two decades of biotechnology management and business development.

She is the CEO and founder of Jordan Company for Antibody Production (MonoJo Biotech), a leading biotech company in the Arab region. The company was established in 2005 in Amman, Jordan, and was selected by the World Economic Forum in 2019 as among the 100 Arab startups shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Among these 100 startups, MonoJo Biotech was selected as one of the 10 startups that are helping to change the Arab world.

Shihab holds a Ph.D. in pharmacy and biomedical sciences from the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom. She is a board member of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, a funding organization to create research/innovation networks involving scientists across Europe and beyond.

Established in 1968 at Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, Italy, the Club of Rome is composed of outstanding individuals selected from current and former heads of state and government, United Nations administrators, high-level politicians and government officials, diplomats, scientists, economists and business leaders.

Shihab joins an esteemed group that includes notable figures such as Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Horst Kohler and Manmohan Singh.

This honor is not only a privilege for me, but it also extends to our esteemed students at the University of Wyoming, Shihab says. I am thrilled to embark on this journey with the Club of Rome and engage our students in shaping the world's future through their unique perspectives and innovative ideas.

Shihab says she will be a full member for the next five years and, after that period, the club will decide whether to renew her membership.

For more information on Shihab and her induction into the Club of Rome, go to www.clubofrome.org/member/shihab-penelope/.
The board of Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 8th of September, with investors receiving $0.16 per share. Based on this payment, the dividend yield will be 1.5%, which is fairly typical for the industry.

View our latest analysis for Barnes Group

Barnes Group's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Prior to this announcement, the company was paying out 530% of what it was earning, however the dividend was quite comfortably covered by free cash flows at a cash payout ratio of only 41%. Generally, we think cash is more important than accounting measures of profit, so with the cash flows easily covering the dividend, we don't think there is much reason to worry.

Analysts expect a massive rise in earnings per share in the next year. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 24%, which would make us comfortable with the dividend's sustainability, despite the levels currently being elevated.

Barnes Group Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.40 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.64. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 4.8% per annum over that time. Slow and steady dividend growth might not sound that exciting, but dividends have been stable for ten years, which we think makes this a fairly attractive offer.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

Investors could be attracted to the stock based on the quality of its payment history. However, things aren't all that rosy. Barnes Group's earnings per share has shrunk at 36% a year over the past five years. This steep decline can indicate that the business is going through a tough time, which could constrain its ability to pay a larger dividend each year in the future. It's not all bad news though, as the earnings are predicted to rise over the next 12 months - we would just be a bit cautious until this becomes a long term trend.

Our Thoughts On Barnes Group's Dividend

In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about Barnes Group's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company is generating plenty of cash, but we still think the dividend is a bit high for comfort. We would be a touch cautious of relying on this stock primarily for the dividend income.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Barnes Group that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Cambodia on Monday banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years after he urged people to spoil their ballots at this weekend's general election.

Sixteen other senior opposition members and activists who are in self-exile, were also removed from voting lists, banned from running for office for 20 years and fined $2,500 each, according to documents released by the National Election Committee (NEC).

Voters head to the polls Sunday, with Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party running almost unopposed after its main challenger was barred from contesting on a technicality.

Recent law amendments, ordered by Hun Sen to counter calls for a poll boycott by opposition activists, ban anyone who does not vote in the upcoming poll from running in future elections.

It is also illegal to obstruct the voting process or call for voters to spoil ballots.

Sam Rainsy, who was also fined $5,000, was sued for "being the ringleader in instructing and inciting voters to destroy or spoil ballots", the NEC ruling said.

Sam Rainsy and his colleagues could also face criminal charges, according to the NEC.

In the past few days, Sam Rainsy has called on Cambodian voters to void their votes when they go to polling stations on Sunday.

"It gives Cambodians a way to call for genuine elections," he tweeted on Monday.

He has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail on a number of convictions he says are politically motivated.

In the run-up to Sunday's vote, Cambodian authorities have arrested several opposition members and activists from the Candlelight Party, which has been barred from running in the polls over registration technicalities.

Two party members were arrested on Friday and charged with inciting voters to spoil their ballots.

Another two activists were arrested on Monday on similar allegations, according to pro-government media outlet Fresh News.

Rights groups accuse Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, of using the legal system to crush opposition to his rule.

Hun Sen is campaigning for re-election but is expected to pass on the leadership to his eldest son, Hun Manet, in the future.

Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power.

Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest.
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Cambodians vote July 23 in an election that has been criticized by Western countries, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and pro-democracy activists, after the top opposition party was barred from running. Authorities insist the poll will be fair. Luke Hunt reports from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In the days following a Jan. 9 speech by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen broadcast live on Facebook, in which he threatened opposition members with violence if they criticized the ruling party ahead of elections, physical attacks against them increased.

There were at least seven reported violent acts against opposition party members in the capital Phnom Penh, with dozens more arrested, convicted and jailed on "politically motivated charges," Human Rights Watch said in a report in April.

But the video of Hun Sen's speech - in which he said opponents who questioned the ruling party would face either legal action or "the stick" - stayed up on Facebook until June 29 when Meta's oversight board overturned Facebook's decision.

The independent board also recommended that "given the severity of the violation", and Hun Sen's record of rights abuses and use of social media to amplify threats, his Facebook page and Instagram page be suspended for six months.

Meta agreed to take down the video, but said it would decide whether to suspend Hun Sen from the platforms after a review. Ahead of the board's decision, Hun Sen said he had stopped using Facebook, and would instead use messaging app Telegram.

Human rights groups have welcomed the board's decision, even as some expressed concern that Hun Sen's shift to Telegram would make it harder to track his incitements to violence, and to pressure the platform to take action against them.

"He'll make the same type of comments on Telegram, where it's even harder to rein him in," said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch.

"But he may have less reach on Telegram, as Facebook is a part of everyone's life in Cambodia, not so much Telegram," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A spokesperson for the government did not return calls seeking comment.

A justice ministry spokesperson had earlier said that Hun Sen was not inciting violence, and that his comments were "only a confirmation of the legal process."

A spokesperson for Telegram said that moderators "actively patrol" the platform, and that calls to violence are "explicitly forbidden by our terms of service. These rules apply to everyone equally, regardless of who they are."

A spokesperson for Meta did not respond to a request for comment.

About 12 million of the country's 17 million people use Facebook, with Cambodians turning to the platform even more as independent media outlets in the country have been shut down.

'Vague Rules'

Facebook has been accused in recent years of being slow to act on harmful posts, including in the run up to the 2018 election in Cambodia.

United Nations human rights investigators said in 2018 that the use of Facebook in Myanmar had played a key role in spreading hate speech that fuelled the violence against Rohingya Muslims the previous year, when more than 730,000 Rohingya fled after a violent military crackdown.

Facebook was also criticized for failing to remove hate speech in Sri Lanka in 2018 during widespread anti-Muslim riots.

In response, Meta pledged to improve its content moderation practices, and said it had increased staffing, deployed hate speech detection technology, and strengthened its language capacity in the region, including in Cambodia.

But these efforts fall short in Cambodia, say rights groups, where powerful government ministries and village chiefs closely monitor content for so-called fake news, and citizens have been arrested for posts that are critical of the government.

"The fact that Facebook only decided to remove the video months after it was published raises concerns about its automated removal systems that are based on vague rules and unclear enforcement procedures," said Sopheap Chak, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, a non-profit.

"This case could be an incentive to review and develop more comprehensive content monitoring tools that respond to a strict test of necessity and proportionality ... and be more sensitive across a range of languages including Khmer," she said.

The recommendations of Meta's independent oversight board on Hun Sen come just weeks before the July 23 election that human rights groups and opposition parties have called a sham because of the government's moves to squash all opposition.

The administration has denied the charge.

Days after the oversight board's decision, Hun Sen barred all members of the board from Cambodia, and said he would consider blocking Facebook "for a short period or forever."

While he walked back his comments on a ban, authorities said the government would stop partnering with Facebook.

Hun Sen may introduce more restrictive social media policies, and further limit access to the internet in the country, said Sopheap Chak.

"The Prime Minister has the right not to continue using Facebook and switch to other platforms ... nevertheless, this attempt to cut ties with the country's most popular social media platform used by the public to share their ideas and thoughts and access information seems disproportionate," she said.

Policy Checks

Hun Sen, who has led the country for nearly four decades, had moved much of the government's communications to Facebook, often responding to citizen's queries and comments on his page.

Hun Sen leaving the platform could hamper documentation of his comments and policy decisions, said Golda Benjamin, Asia-Pacific campaigner at Access Now, a digital rights organization.

"We saw that in Myanmar after the coup, when the junta banned social media platforms," she said, referring to the Feb. 2021 coup. Facebook and other social media platforms remain banned in Myanmar.

Hun Sen is among the few political leaders that Facebook has censured, with the platform generally allowing their content on the grounds that it is newsworthy, or in the public interest.

But the policy has been called into question.

Last month, the board recommended that Meta "develop a framework for evaluating its election integrity efforts to prevent its platforms from being used to promote political violence," while overturning Facebook's decision on a video posted in relation to Brazil's last election.

In the case of Cambodia, Facebook was "very slow to respond," said Benjamin.

"It reflects on how the platform treats political leaders in autocratic countries," she said.

"The worst-case scenario is that they won't act on the board's recommendation to suspend him, given that he's already departed the platform. But even if they did, he's already issued his threats."
Since Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen deleted his Facebook account in late June, where he had 14 million followers, the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party has put pressure on students and loyalists alike to improve his follower count on platforms such as Telegram and TikTok, but neither a mass following nor a migration off Cambodian Facebook has materialized.

Hun Sen deleted his account June 29, hours after Meta Platforms Inc.s oversight board  which issues binding content moderation decisions for Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram  announced he had incited violence on the platform and recommended a six-month suspension.

Since then, Hun Sen has moved his primary communications to Telegram, posting hundreds of daily updates to about 975,000 followers, compared to 850,000 in late June. His new TikTok account has meanwhile gained about 244,000 followers, and this month also reactivated Twitter for the first time in more than a year.

He has yet to reach the 1 million Telegram followers his office stated as a goal before the July 23 election, even with a quiet government push underway to draw more eyes to his accounts.

In mid-July, more than 15 employees from the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry visited individual classrooms at a Phnom Penh university with printed copies of QR codes for the prime ministers accounts, according to a student who asked to remain anonymous and shared photos of the visit with VOA.

School administrators meanwhile have been regularly reporting the number of students following the accounts in classroom group chats, messages shared with VOA show. A ministry spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

I think its really a big deal, the student said. They shouldnt be doing this kind of stuff. But theres nothing we can do. Its the whole system.

Hun Sen himself, various ministries and even local tycoons have called on citizens and local authorities to follow the accounts in recent weeks. At least two ministries have released public statements asking employees in their sectors to do so, while pro-government media has continued boosting the handles.

Pressuring people to follow officials online interferes with their ability to choose how they receive information, Chak Sopheap, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights told VOA Wednesday. ((712))

Citizens should be able to freely decide the kind of content and information they want to access and disseminate, and the accounts they want to interact with, particularly those of public figures, Sopheap said. Social media, she added, cannot be used as an excuse to interfere with this fundamental freedom or to put pressure on rights-holders to force them to act in certain ways.

Still, Hun Sens push toward other platforms has not deterred other arms of the government from using Facebook. Ministries covering information, justice, education, and public works sectors, among others, have been posting as usual.

One prominent tycoon, music producer and real estate developer Leng Navatra, who initially promised to leave the site along with Hun Sen later changed his mind; other prolific posters such as Information Minister Khieu Kanharith have also kept up their Facebook habits.

Meas Sophorn, the Information Ministry spokesperson, told VOA that although the prime minister had left the site, it was still valuable for ministries, citizens and other figures to share information and that the ministry did not plan to stop using it.

However, the ministry will continue considering which social media platforms are relevant and popular to use ... and consider using that platform to share information to citizens to be more widely updated, Sophorn added.

Hun Sen has long attracted scrutiny for his social media followings. In 2016, shortly after joining Facebook, The Phnom Penh Post reported more than half his pages likes originated from abroad, which experts raised "questions about their legitimacy. Over the years, he amassed 14 million Facebook followers. Cambodias population is about 17 million.

That reach is part of what pushed the Oversight Board to recommend his suspension, arguing that his strong online influence  amid a lack of independent media  gave his violent rhetoric more weight. On Telegram, follower bots are available for purchase online, although the platform regularly removes them.

Despite Hun Sen having fewer followers so far, Telegram could ultimately afford him more impunity, said Wai Phyo Myint, an Asia Pacific policy analyst and Myanmar expert at digital rights group Access Now.

After the Myanmar junta was banned from Facebook shortly after the 2021 coup, it shifted operations largely to Telegram, where abuse, disinformation and doxxing  targeting someone by releasing personal information without their permission  have proliferated, prompting United Nations experts to call on the platform to fundamentally change its approach.

We dont really see any kind of policy changes from Telegrams side, or any positive engagement, either with us or any other civil society groups in Myanmar, Wai Phyo Myint told VOA. It would be the same in Cambodia as well.  What weve been seeing is zero content moderation.

Hun Sen has mainly used Telegram to forward hundreds of photo albums from the campaign trail and post the occasional voice note. However, warnings have also surfaced: late Thursday, he wrote a message in response to a voice note from an opposition party member.

If youre against the law, then the prison will welcome you anytime, Hun Sen said.

Chea Revata contributed to this report.
Bangladeshs opposition BNP is expected to stage new protests Tuesday and Wednesday amid its call for the resignation of the current government and installation of a caretaker administration ahead of general elections likely taking place in January.

Word of the protest comes as the BNP, or Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and other activists allege Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government has been fast-tracking pending police cases against some of the opposition leaders to prevent them from running in the elections. An antigovernment protest was held last Wednesday.

The Awami League, or AL, is the ruling party.

On July 6, a deputy inspector general, or DIG, of police met with other senior police officials in Dhaka and authorized an initiative to gather data on the cases of the leaders and activists from the BNP and another opposition group, the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh party, known as Jel.

Members of these groups have been facing charges of arson, violent attacks on police, various subversive activities and other serious crimes, since 2013.

VOA received a copy of the minutes of the meeting from a pro-democracy activist group in Bangladesh. Copies were circulated by the activists among most media outlets in Bangladesh, too. Fearing reprisals from police, most of the outlets overlooked the issue. Self-censorship has been common during this Hasina-led governments time in office. Several journalists have faced repercussions under the countrys Digital Security Act for writing reports against the government or ruling party.

However, The Daily Star, Bangladeshs largest English language newspaper, and New Age, another English language daily, reported the details about the minutes.

Police have not raised any protest against the two newspapers for publishing the details of the minutes. Additionally, they have not conducted a press conference calling the minutes false.

Most of the trials in the cases against the opposition leaders and activists have been taking place for many years. In many cases, the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence. In South Asia, it can take 10, 20 or more years for such cases to be settled.

According to the leaked minutes, at the meeting chaired by Joydeb Bhadra, the deputy inspector general of police, senior officers were allegedly directed to focus on cases targeting accused BNP and JeI leaders  especially those who are expected to contest the next general elections.

The minutes were in Bengali.

A special emergency meeting in connection with the speedy investigation, trial and disposal of police cases of arson, serious crimes and killing of police personnel, since 2013, the subject of the minutes read. According to the minutes, the president or chairman of the meeting was the deputy inspector general (crime management) of police.

Introductory statement by the chairman

  On the issue of elections, the government is under international pressure. By any means, the government has to win the election. BNP and Jamaat have to be declared disqualified for the election. ... All BNP and Jamaat leaders who are expected to contest elections are accused in some cases. If their trials, convictions and punishments are ensured quickly [by September 2023], they will be declared disqualified from taking part in the elections. Every Thursday after 5.00 p.m., I will meet the law secretary to ensure issuance of directives  where and what exactly are needed  for the judges, to ensure conviction [of the opposition leaders].

The police officers were allegedly instructed to maintain good rapport with public prosecutors and judges to ensure quicker trials and the disposition of the criminal cases. Police were also allegedly told to file regular status updates on the selected cases.

Past reports have cited examples of the judiciary colluding with the government or ruling party.

In Bangladesh, it has long been alleged that the judiciary and police work in support of the ruling party or Hasina-led government. Additionally, Human Rights Watch and other rights groups allege that the police have taken a heavy-handed approach toward opposition leaders.

Bhadra did not respond to requests sent by VOA on the Facebook Messenger app on queries related to the July 6 meeting. The Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs, which controls the police wing, has not responded to requests for comment either.

The BNP boycotted the general elections in 2014. Four years later, elections were marred by allegations of massive rigging by the Awami League  a charge Hasina repeatedly denied.

The opposition has long alleged that Awami League activists stuffed the ballot boxes the night before the 2018 elections.

Since 2022, the United States and other countries have urged the Hasina government to hold the next general election in a free and fair manner. To promote free, fair and peaceful elections, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May announced a new policy that restricts visas for Bangladeshis who are believed complicit in undermining the democratic electoral process at home.

Demand for installation of caretaker government

The BNP has maintained that Awami League should step aside before the next general elections take place. In the past few months, however, several of its senior leaders have rejected opposition calls to step down to make room for a caretaker administration.

Referring to the July 6 police meeting, BNP vice chairman and former member of parliament Barkat Ullah Bulu said that the leaked minutes have exposed the governments conspiracy against the BNP. Bulu said he received a copy of the minutes from a media outlet.

When a senior police officer says that by any means, the current regime has to win the next general elections, and judges would be instructed to ensure [the] conviction of BNP leaders, one can understand how this government is resorting to corruption to ban our party from the election, Bulu told VOA.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary-general, said that his party will stay away from the election if it is held under the Awami League-led government.

It is utterly pointless to take part in rigged elections where the party goons intimidate the voters, rig the result, stuff the ballot boxes [the] night before the elections. They have politicized all the government institutions including the election commission, the police and the judiciary, Alamgir told VOA.

There is no level playing field for the opposition to take part in a meaningful election.

His party would take part only if a nonpartisan caretaker government is in place, he said.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, founder of Citizens for Good Governance, a pro-democracy activist group in Bangladesh, said, You cannot call it an election if there is no alternative candidate competing against the ruling party candidate.

And if, the revival of these cases and expeditious disposal of these cases means that the opposition candidates would not be able to compete, then that will not be an election. It would be a one-sided election. And a one-sided election is no election at all, Majumdar told VOA.

Ali Riaz, professor of political science at Illinois State University, told VOA, The absence of a neutral government during the election provides the opportunity to manipulate an election.

Referring to the past provision of the election-time caretaker government, which was scrapped from the constitution in 2011 by the Hasina-led government, Riaz said Awami League changed the constitution without the explicit consent of the citizens and used it as a ploy to ensure another stage-managed vote.

If it wanted to have an environment wherein the citizens could deliver their verdict, it wouldnt be afraid of holding it under a neutral government, he said.

"The Awami League won two elections under the caretaker system. Therefore, it cannot claim that the caretaker system doesnt deliver a result reflecting the will of the people."
President Joe Biden will meet with Pope Francis' peace envoy Tuesday as part of the Holy See's peace and humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine, the White House and Vatican said Monday.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's visit to Washington, which lasts through Wednesday, follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden would meet with Zuppi on Tuesday to "discuss the widespread suffering caused by Russia's brutal war in Ukraine." In a statement, she said they would also "discuss efforts by the United States and Holy See to provide humanitarian aid to those affected, and the Papal See's focus on repatriating Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian officials."

Zuppi is a veteran of the Catholic Church's peace initiatives and has been tasked by Francis to try to find "paths of peace" between the warring sides.

In Moscow, Zuppi met with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, as well as Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has strongly supported the war.

Francis has taken up Ukraine's request to intervene where possible to return Ukrainian children transported to Russia following Moscow's invasion. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Russian officials have denied any forced adoptions, saying some Ukrainian children are in foster care.

Francis has said he hopes the Holy See can facilitate family reunifications, in the same way the Vatican stepped in to facilitate prisoner swaps.

In a statement Monday, the Vatican spokesman said Zuppi would travel to Washington with an official from the Vatican secretariat of state.

"The visit takes place in the context of the mission intended to promote peace in Ukraine and aims to exchange ideas and opinions on the tragic current situation and to support initiatives in the humanitarian sphere to alleviate the suffering of the most affected and fragile people, especially children," the statement said.

Francis has repeatedly called for an end to the war but has refrained from outwardly criticizing Moscow, part of the Vatican's tradition of maintaining diplomatic neutrality in conflicts in hopes that it can play a behind-the-scenes role in forging peace.

He has irked the U.S. and its allies by repeating Moscow's argument that NATO was "barking at its gates," and seemingly making a moral equivalence between Ukrainian and Russian losses.

He has asserted Ukraine's right to self-defense but has sharply criticized the weapons industry, saying the provision of arms to Ukraine by the West could be immoral "if it's done with the intention of provoking more war or selling weapons or getting rid of old ones."

Francis met with Biden, a Catholic, at the Vatican in 2021 and before that, during the pontiff's 2015 visit to the U.S.
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U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington for an official visit at a date to be determined, the prime minister's office said.

The invitation was extended during a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, a day ahead of a visit to Washington by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Netanyahu returned to power more than six months ago, but Biden had pointedly declined to issue an invitation until long after most Israeli prime ministers would have made the visit.

Amid escalating West Bank violence, the right-wing Israeli government's actions authorizing settler outposts and inflammatory comments from a member of Netanyahu's cabinet with responsibilities over Jewish settlements had drawn criticism from U.S. officials, including from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to Israel in March.

Netanyahu told Biden he would try to form "broad public consensus" on legislation in Israel that would strip its highest court of much of its powers, the statement said. The legislation has prompted anti-government protests in Israel for months.

The two leaders shared a "long and warm" conversation, the Israeli statement said, focused on curbing threats from Iran and its proxies and strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

The White House was expected to issue a statement later on the U.S. view of the phone call.
The young cardinal in charge of Mongolias tiny Catholic community said Monday that Pope Francis' upcoming visit to a country with just 1,450 Catholics is evidence of his willingness to travel to the farthest corners of the globe to minister to even a handful of the faithful.

Italian Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, who has been a missionary in Mongolia for two decades, spoke to reporters after delivering a speech on how Catholic missionaries whisper the Gospel there in hopes of spreading the faith, simply and quietly and in one-on-one relationships.

When you whisper, you whisper to an individual or a few people, you cannot whisper to many people at the same time because they simply will not hear you, he said. And I think this visit will also somehow manifest the attention that the [pope] has for every individual, every person who embarks in this journey of faith.

Francis August 31-September 4 visit will take him to a country sandwiched between China and Russia at a time of Vatican tensions with both. Just this weekend, Francis caved into Beijings unilateral appointment in April of a new bishop for Shanghai and formally confirmed the decision. And in Russia, the Holy See is trying to toe a diplomatic balancing act with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Marengo declined to speculate on the diplomatic implications for the trip, stressing that the first papal visit to Mongolia was evidence more of how Francis heart burns with love for the universal church, and especially the church where she lives in a minority context."

He said there are but 1,450 Catholics in the country, most of them in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. According to statistics by the Catholic nonprofit Aid to the Church in Need, Mongolia is 53% Tantric Buddhist, 39% atheist, 3% Muslim, 3% Shaman and 2% Christian.

During the visit, Francis will preside over an interfaith meeting and inaugurate a new Catholic charity house that provides assistance for the poor, destitute and women needing shelter from domestic violence.

Marengo, 49, who became the youngest cardinal when Francis tapped him last year, said he hoped the visit would help the Mongolian faithful understand they are part of a global religion.

I hope ... they will feel how wide is the Catholic Church around the world," he said, adding that it's not easy to feel that in Mongolia because there are so few Catholics, he said.
China is criticizing an upcoming stopover in the United States by Taiwan vice president and presidential front-runner William Lai as a challenge to its territorial integrity, while Taiwan says it's merely a transit stop.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary and prohibits its diplomatic partners  including the U.S.  from having formal ties with Taipei. While not recognizing Taiwan as a country, Washington maintains robust unofficial ties and has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself in case of an invasion.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said at a briefing in Beijing that China had lodged formal protests with the U.S. over Lai's visit next month.

"China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan," spokeswoman Mao Ning said. "We firmly reject Taiwan independence separatists visiting the U.S. under any name and for any reason, as well as any form of the U.S. connivance and support of the Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities."

"China will closely monitor developments and take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

A senior U.S. administration official said that such trips are hardly unusual  there have been 10 previous vice presidential visits in the past two decades, including one by Lai previously  and that the White House encouraged Beijing to avoid using it as a pretext for interference or escalation across the Taiwan Strait. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Lai's upcoming travel.

The criticism comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing to restore lines of communication broken after a Chinese spy balloon was discovered flying over the U.S. earlier this year, and as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks. The official said the U.S. sees no reason Lai's trip should impact the restoration of lines of communication between Washington and Beijing and described Lai's travel as private and unofficial.

Lai is expected to stop in the U.S. as part of a trip to attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president, Santiago Pena, on August 15. Taiwan's presidential palace announced Monday that Lai's delegation would arrive in Paraguay on August 14.

Taiwan's leaders have traditionally stopped in the U.S. en route to visiting some of Taiwan's remaining 13 diplomatic allies, a handful of which are countries in Latin America.

The Taiwanese delegations usually hold meetings with U.S. officials during these visits, angering Beijing.

China launched war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Lai's upcoming U.S. trip is especially symbolic because he has topped most polls as a favorite to win the January presidential election.

China sees both Tsai and Lai as separatists and has refused to talk with them.

Taiwan's presidential palace did not give details about Lai's visit to the U.S., but Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui told reporters the trip would "be planned according to precedent set by previous trips to South and Central America, for which transit stops in the U.S. were arranged."

He added the "transit stops" were meant to ensure "comfort, convenience, safety and dignity."
Jomarie Oliva, 33, led an afternoon workshop with 10 teenagers on topics that many in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines consider taboo. The conversation included the reasons that some teens have sex.

Out of curiosity? Oliva asked the group? For pleasure, responded one of the teens, while the rest of the group laughed.

Later, Oliva talked about the responsibilities of parenthood as well as different types of birth control, including abstinence, pills, condoms, IUDs, implants, injectables, she said, before explaining each one.

In some countries, in-depth classroom discussions about sex and contraceptives are common for teenagers, but not in the Philippines. Not every student gets sex education in schools, Oliva told VOA. You dont always learn all the ways to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancies, how to use condoms and other contraceptives.

Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the lack of lessons for many youths is one of the reasons one out of 10 births in the Philippines is by a mother younger than 19.

Government data reports the number of females ages 15 to 19 who became pregnant during the previous five years fell from 8.6% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2022. Health advocates, however, say they are very concerned that about 2,300 girls ages 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021.

There are teens who dont know that a woman can get pregnant the first time she has sex, Oliva says. Some kids think a girl needs to have sex multiple times to get pregnant.

Oliva holds workshops in community centers and neighborhood gathering spots in metropolitan Manila. At a recent session, 17-year-old Hanah Ilajas listened carefully. Ilajas said this was first time anyone explained to her how birth control pills work.

Ive heard about pills before, but I only really learned about them now, she said, adding that in school, her teachers dont discuss contraceptives. Its just not something that really comes up.

Sex education and access to contraceptives are controversial subjects in the Philippines, where the Catholic Church holds significant influence on a population thats about 80% Catholic. The church fought a reproductive health law, passed in December 2012, that expanded sex education in public schools and made contraceptives available for free at public health clinics. Minors, however, can only legally access contraceptives with parental approval.

The Rev. Jerome Secillano, a spokesperson for the Catholics Bishops Conference of the Philippines, says teaching people about contraceptives might encourage them to use them. The Catholic Church advocates only for natural birth control methods and Secillano says for teens, the only one that should be encouraged is abstinence.

We start by telling them that sex should be done not outside the marriage but inside the marriage, Secillano said. Secondly, do not use contraceptives, do not use pills, do not use condoms and thirdly, you need to preserve your body. Youre still young and sexual intercourse is not for your biological age.

Erickson Bernardo, a youth advocacy officer for Likhaan, believes complete education for teens on all forms of birth control, including pills and condoms, is important. You dont actually encourage them to have sex, but basically you allow them to make responsible decisions, Bernardo said.

Bernardo and other advocates for comprehensive sex education say in reality, many teens still arent getting these lessons in schools. Although the reproductive health law was passed in late 2012, it took the Department of Education more than five years to issue guidelines for comprehensive sexuality education. According to Bernardo, it still faces resistance

There are some school administrators who are willing to adopt comprehensive sexuality education so long as not in their schools, Bernardo said. The Department of Education did not answer questions, sent in writing from VOA, about implementation of comprehensive sexuality education.

Bernardo and Oliva say while the pace is slow, gradually more schools are teaching students about all methods of birth control. Both, however, say the issue also has roots in the home.

Parents often shy away from having reproductive health discussions with their children, Oliva said. In some cases, its because it makes them uncomfortable and sometimes, they dont have enough knowledge themselves.

Seventeen-year-old Hanah Ilajas said participating in Olivas workshop was time well spent.
Vietnamese authorities reportedly have heightened security and increased the persecution of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands after a deadly attack last month on government buildings there.

The Central Highlands is home to Montagnards, an umbrella term for ethnic minorities native to the region, many of whom identify as Christian. They have historically been at odds with Vietnam's one-party state and have grievances going back decades, relating to issues including land appropriation and religious persecution. Rights groups and Montagnard refugees living abroad say the government has intensified the crackdown on native highlanders.

On June 11, two groups in the Ea Ktur and Ea Tieu communes of Dak Lak province attacked the local People's Committee buildings using guns and Molotov cocktails. The incident left nine people dead, including four police officers, two commune leaders, and three residents, according to state media. Rights groups in contact with Montagnards in the region say the attack has exacerbated repression in the region and put Montagnard refugees in nearby Thailand at risk. There are fears the Vietnamese government will use the incident as justification to increase its harsh policing of the region.

"The government will for sure capitalize on this to justify their already repressive policies towards the Montagnards in the Central Highlands," said Nguyen Dinh Thang, president of U.S.-based Boat People SOS, which advocates for religious freedom in Vietnam.

Authorities responded to the attack in force, bringing in security troops from the Public Security Ministry and the Vietnamese People's Army.

Deputy Public Security Minister Le Quoc Hung on June 12 called the Dak Lak shootings "terrorist acts" with the "instruction and support of hostile parties abroad." He said the ministry had utilized all its resources to arrest the suspects and seized all weapons from the attack. More than 90 suspects have now been arrested for various crimes including terrorism, according to local media reports.

"They're deploying guys with very high-end sniper rifles," Zachary Abuza, a Southeast Asia expert and professor at the National War College in Washington, said of the response to the attacks. "They were taking this pretty damn seriously with shoot-to-kill orders."

Former Cambodia-based Human Rights Watch researcher and Campaign to Abolish Torture in Vietnam founder Sara Colm, now in North Carolina, cited Montagnards living in North Carolina as saying highlanders in Vietnam have been living in fear since the attack.

"So many were so frightened, almost terrorized by the intense show of force by police and elite security units that they fled their homes," Colm told VOA. "Meanwhile, they're being hunted on both sides of the border because Cambodia has heavily militarized its side of the border and made threats."

Cambodia's Khmer Times reported June 14 that police in provinces bordering Vietnam were increasing security on Prime Minister Hun Sen's order following the Dak Lak attacks. Hun Sen also reportedly ordered that those crossing into Cambodia would be arrested and sent back to Vietnam, and warned that international organizations in Cambodia would be shut down if they offered refuge to "fugitives" fleeing Vietnam.

Colm added that Vietnamese civilians also took part in tracking down Montagnards.

"Even ethnic Vietnamese civilians were sort of fanning out and hunting them down," she said. "The manhunt was probably the most intensive thing I've ever seen or heard of in Vietnam."

Now, the Central Highlands are under lockdown with a particular show of force in Dak Lak province. Through his contacts in the region, Thang, with Boat People SOS, said there are rising instances of forced abandonment of religion and restrictions on freedom of movement, and that Montagnards are being surveilled on newly installed security cameras.

"People feel that they're being watched 24 hours a day, wherever they go," Thang said. "They are fearful. They are getting harassed by the police. They have been placed under tight surveillance, and there has been an increase of forced renunciation of faith."

Y Bion Mlo, an interpreter and Montagnard leader in North Carolina, also described the deteriorating environment.

"The situation in the Central Highlands is getting worse," he wrote via email.



Placing blame

Although the motive of the attackers is unknown, experts point to the long-running repression of Montagnard rights in Vietnam and a lack of sufficient response from the Vietnamese government.

"The fact that a group resorted to violence is truly tragic," Colm said. "Even more tragic is that they felt they had no alternative."

Local media have tied the attackers to several overseas "terrorist" groups, including Boat People SOS and the advocacy group Montagnards Stand for Justice.

"Vietnam's state-run media have a long history of discriminatory bias and creating tall tales against ethnic minorities," Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, said.



"We have little faith in their accounts," he said.

Thang said neither Boat People SOS nor their contacts in the Central Highlands has any connection to the June 11 attacks.

Y Phic Hdok from Dak Lak province joined Montagnards Stand for Justice in 2019 after fleeing Vietnam to Thailand to apply for United Nations refugee status. Now living in the United States, he told VOA that members of the group were not involved in the attacks.

"All people from Vietnam who have joined MSFJ are not involved in the violence," he said by email. "We are solely focused on monitoring the situation in the Central Highlands of Vietnam concerning human rights and religious freedom."

Although the group denies involvement, Montagnard refugees who live in Thailand and are with the organization are now at risk, Thang said.

"The government in Vietnam has identified several people who are seeking refugee status in Thailand, and they are key members of Montagnards Stand for Justice," he said. "On the 28 and 29 of June, they saw four people wearing black and helmets taking pictures of Montagnards.  We are very concerned."

The capture of refugees in Thailand by Vietnamese security forces has precedent.

In April, independent Vietnamese journalist Duong Van Thai went missing in Thailand after having lived in the country as a refugee since 2020. He was later found to have been detained in Vietnam.

Hdok said the danger is high for Montagnards in Thailand and contact with the Central Highlands has become more difficult since the attack.

"They can be at risk anytime," he wrote of Montagnards in Thailand. "[And] it's really hard to connect with people in the Central Highlands. ... People who share information abroad or try to contact us, they risk being arrested and imprisoned."
Finance ministers of the Group of 20 countries and central bank heads met in the western Indian city of Gandhinagar Monday to discuss how to shore up a faltering global economy and help nations grappling with a debt crisis.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the group has the responsibility to steer the global economy towards strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth."

India, which holds the presidency of the G20 this year, is hosting the meeting.

One of the top agenda items is facilitating a consensus on debt restructuring for developing countries facing economic distress, Sitharaman said.

The meeting is set to discuss a debt restructuring plan for Sri Lanka and Ghana, which defaulted on their debt last year.

Global concerns have grown as spiraling prices of food grains and energy insecurity in the wake the COVID-19 pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine pushed some low and middle income countries into debt and slow global growth.

More than half of all low-income countries are near or in debt distress, double the number in 2015, said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy and to support developing countries, Yellen said on the sidelines of the G20 meeting.

Before the G20 meeting got underway, Yellen and her Indian counterpart, Sitharaman, held a bilateral meeting signaling the growing closeness between Washington and New Delhi.

Both leaders underlined the deepening ties at a joint news conference. Yellen said the two countries are among the closest partners in the world. Sitharaman said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Washington last month paved the way for new avenues of collaboration propelling our partnership to a greater height.

Treasury Secretary Yellen said the United States is working with India to help the South Asian nations transition to renewable energy.

"We look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," she said.

Yellen, who is on her third visit to India in less than a year, said the two nations are collaborating on a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, a day ahead of the G20 meeting, she said the U.S. is pursuing an approach called friend-shoring with India  a term coined for diversification of supply chains away from countries that present geopolitical and security risks to global trade.

Yellen also said that ending the war in Ukraine is the best way to aid the global economy. She said Washington is working to cut off Moscow's 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.

Russias war in Ukraine has cast a shadow on the G20. At a meeting of finance ministers held in February, the group was unable to issue a joint statement after China and Russia objected to references that other members wanted to make on Moscows aggression in Ukraine.

Reform of international development banks, cryptocurrency regulations, and access to financing for countries to adapt to climate change are also on the agenda of the G20 meeting that will conclude Tuesday.

The G20, which includes advanced and emerging economies, was created after the Asian financial crisis in 1999, and is seen as a forum that focuses on how to manage global economic crises. India, which has ambitions to emerge as the voice of what its officials call the Global South has said it wants the G20 to turn attention to problems faced by developing countries.
Leaders from the European Union and Latin America were gathering for a major summit of long-lost relatives starting on Monday. Whether it will be a joyful meeting of long-lost friends remains to be seen.

Their last such encounter was eight years ago. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil's three-year departure from the 33-nation Community of Latin American and Caribbean States  or CELAC  had made the Atlantic Ocean separating the two sides seem wider.

The world has certainly changed during that time," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. So we need our close friends to be at our side in these uncertain times. Yet, uncertainty still swirled around the two-day summit, too.

Division ranging from Russia's war in Ukraine to trade, deforestation and slavery reparations has given extra spice to a meeting that will now already be considered a success if all agree to meet more frequently from now on.

The 27-nation EU certainly takes it share of the blame for the estrangement.

"For too many years, Europe has been turning its back on what is, without a doubt, by far the most Euro-compatible region on the planet, said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares of Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency.

Several EU nations have ties to the Americas going back centuries that were for so long based on exploitative colonialism and slavery. And even since the nations wrested independence from European powers, sometimes as long as 200 years ago, trade was seen for too long as a one-way street where Europeans stood to benefit first and foremost.

In the 21st century though, China has steadily been pushing its influence and trade outreach deep into Latin America, and the EU realizes it has a geo-strategic battle on its hands.

In talks early Monday with Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, von der Leyen stressed how important it was to de-risk their economies, which is EU code-speak for taking distance from Beijing for fear the Chinese could become so powerful as investors as to control nations from afar.

Lula, for his part, said that as Brazil is developing further, we want to share that intense econ activity with our partners in the EU.

The balance in Latin America, however, is shifting.

A lot of European companies have lost ground, said Parsifal DSola, executive director of the Center of Chinese-Latin American Investigations.

There is an overall interest in counterbalancing the economic influence that China has throughout the world, but in this particular case in Latin America, DSola said.

The EU has called China a systemic rival for four years now, and has seen Beijing rapidly encroach on Europe's age-old interests in Africa, and Central and South America. Up to a point that DSola now warns that Chinas flexibility and heavy investment in a variety of sectors will make it difficult to truly pull influence away from Beijing in the way that EU nations may desire.

Still, there is no underestimating Europe's continued clout in Latin America, especially when it comes to the economy. The latest figures show that annual trade between the two blocs has increased by 39% over the past decade to $414 billion. EU investment in the region stood at $777 billion, a 45% increase over the past decade. The EU already has trade deals with 27 of the 33 CELAC nations.

It is also why the elephant in the room will be the huge EU-Mercosur trade agreement between the EU bloc and Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, which has been foundering for five years just short of full ratification.

Unlock that deal, and shared prosperity would be the reward for all involved, insisted von der Leyen. All of this is within reach if we get the Mercosur, EU agreement across the finishing line. Our ambition is to settle any remaining differences as soon as possible.

Several EU nations have powerful farm lobbies that seek to keep competition from beef producing nations like Brazil and Argentina at bay. And after then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro allowed Amazon deforestation to surge to a 15-year high, EU nations have been insisting on tougher environmental standards.

When Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who succeeded Bolsonaro this year, and took the presidency of Mercosur in early July, he called the threat of EU sanctions unacceptable. Before the summit, EU officials were at pains to insist that sanctions on countries that fail to comply with the 2015 international climate Paris Agreement weren't on the table this week and lauded Lula's efforts to turn back rampant deforestation.

Brazil will meet its climate commitments, insisted Lula, including those on deforestation.

Russia and the war in Ukraine is now also a point of division instead of a natural unifier. CELAC has member nations like Cuba and Venezuela, whose views on Russia contrast with just about every EU nation. There was initially an expectation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would address the summit. That idea has now been shelved.

Such issues have seriously complicated drafting a joint summit statement, which was long expected to be a long and detailed text, but is now quickly turning into a shorthand declaration, a senior EU official involved in the drafting said. He spoke on condition of anonymity since talks were ongoing.

He also didn't expect any particular breakthrough on the Mercosur deal or other outstanding trade agreements, but added that the summit could create momentum "that all of these trade agreements are coming together this year.
European leaders and Tunisia's president announced progress Sunday in the building of hoped-for closer economic and trade relations and on measures to combat the often-lethal smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.

The leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Commission made their second visit to Tunis in just over a month. They expressed hope that a memorandum newly signed with Tunisia during the trip would pave the way for a comprehensive partnership.

On their last visit in June, the leaders held out the promise of more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in financial aid to rescue Tunisia's teetering economy and better police its borders, to restore stability to the North African country and to stem migration from its shores to Europe.

This time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte didn't detail the full monetary value of the EU aid on offer to Tunisia, in statements they made after talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied.

But von der Leyen said the latest trip secured agreement on "a comprehensive package of measures that we will now put into practice swiftly.

Saied, speaking through an interpreter, said that he expects the memorandum to be followed by a set of binding agreements  suggesting more negotiating work ahead.

Tunisia intends to implement the memorandum in the nearest time possible, he said.

Specific aid that von der Leyen announced included a 10-million-euro ($11 million) program to boost exchanges of students and 65 million euros ($73 million) in EU funding to modernize Tunisian schools.

On migration, von der Leyen said: We need an effective cooperation more than ever.

The EU will work with Tunisia on an anti-smuggling partnership, will increase coordination in search and rescue operations and both sides also agreed to cooperate on border management, she said. Von der Leyen pledged 100 million euros ($112 million) for those efforts  a figure she had already announced on the leaders' previous visit.

Tunisia has faced an international outcry over the plight of hundreds of migrants who were deported to inhospitable desert areas on the Libya and Algeria borders. On the Tunisia-Algeria border, local reports have said as many as 30 migrants died.

Saied, however, insisted migrants are well treated.

The Tunisian people have provided these migrants with everything possible, with unlimited generosity, while many organizations, supposed to play their humanitarian role, only manifested themselves in press releases," he said.

Rutte described the new memorandum as the "promising start of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the EU and Tunisia that will aim to boost economic growth.

He said that EU member countries now must approve the deal, adding: I'm very confident that there will be broad support.
U.S. weapons seized by the Taliban following the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan continue to show up outside the country.

Last month, an Israeli commander speaking on condition of anonymity told Newsweek magazine that U.S. small arms captured in Afghanistan had ended up with Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip.

American arms left in Afghanistan have also been turning up in neighboring Pakistan and elsewhere.

Media reports indicate the Taliban are profiting from the illicit trade in the seized weapons, and some analysts say the Taliban control the black market in arms.

The Taliban deny this.

We seriously reject the claim of some circles in the United States that the Islamic Emirate has sold the weapons and equipment left by the American forces in Afghanistan to other sources, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted on July 10.

The truth is that after the expulsion of the foreign forces (from Afghanistan), and full control of Islamic Emirate, equipment and vehicles are stored and saved in depots, and no one is allowed to smuggle or sell even a single weapon.

That is false.

While reporting suggests the Taliban have tightened control over their U.S. weapons stocks, Taliban members have been directly implicated in the sale of U.S. armaments on the black market.

When U.S. forces left Afghanistan in August 2021, ending two decades of war, Afghan security forces collapsed. This allowed the Taliban, which took over Afghanistan, to capture large quantities of small arms and other military equipment.

In August 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense estimated that U.S.-funded equipment valued at $7.12 billion was in the inventory of the former Afghan government when it collapsed, much of which was seized by the Taliban. This included military aircraft, ground vehicles, weapons and other military equipment.

In November 2021, The New York Times spoke with weapons dealers in Kandahar, the province in southern Afghanistan that is the Talibans home base. The dealers were openly selling American weapons, some of which had been acquired by Taliban fighters.

The gun merchants in Kandahar said the Taliban had permitted some of their fighters to sell the small arms they seized after overrunning bases of the former Afghan government forces. Other weapons were confiscated and handed over to Taliban commanders.

In September 2021, France 24 quoted a Kandahar vendor who identified himself as Murtaza as saying: "We bought all these things from the Taliban after they conquered the Afghan army base. Now, we bring them to the market to sell.

The dealers who spoke with The New York Times told the paper that many gun dealers had smuggled U.S. weapons to Pakistan. A former Taliban commander living in Kandahar said he had introduced a Pakistani arms dealer seeking pistols, rifles, night-vision goggles and other U.S. equipment to a local gun merchant.

Such military hardware has turned up in the hands of Taliban-aligned militants fighting Pakistani government forces.

In March, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a VOA sister organization, reported that members of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group had acquired U.S.-manufactured M16 machine guns, M4 assault rifles, night-vision goggles and military communications gear.

The TTP is organizationally separate from the Afghan Taliban but inspired by it.

In a joint update published earlier this month, Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based independent research project focusing on small arms and armed violence, and the U.S.-based Afghan Peace Watch nongovernmental organization, reported that the Taliban had tightened control over large stockpiles of U.S. arms and small-scale smuggling.

Still, they said arms smuggling and civilian arms sales were continuing where it suits local Taliban officials to collect taxes on these activities, adding that unauthorized, clandestine arms trafficking is also taking place.

In late 2022, Afghan Peace Watch conducted field investigations in three Afghan provinces  Helmand, Kandahar, and Nangarhar. It interviewed weapons smugglers, low-level Taliban fighters, local Taliban officials, ex-members of the previous Afghan governments security forces and security experts on Afghanistan.

Small Arms Survey and Afghan Peace Watch jointly reported that research findings confirmed the presence of weapons markets in Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas and indicated ongoing cross-border weapons smuggling despite an upsurge in weapons seizures by Afghan Taliban authorities.

Asfandyar Mir, a South Asia expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace, told Foreign Policy magazine [t]he Taliban likely control and tax the new black market [on arms].

U.S. arms have reportedly also ended up in Kashmir, the northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent where India and Pakistan have been engaged in a decades-long territorial dispute.

In January, authorities in India-controlled Kashmir told NBC News that U.S. arms, including M4 and M16 rifles, has been recovered from the Pakistani-based militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which are fighting to assert Pakistani control over Kashmir.

Militants from both groups have fought alongside or trained Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

In March, the online newspaper Kabul Now reported that various Taliban factions had periodically been at odds over the smuggling operations, reflecting a potential struggle for status and power within the organization.
On July 7, the U.S. announced that it had destroyed its last chemical weapons stockpile, closing a chapter of warfare dating back to World War I.

For more than 30 years, the United States has worked tirelessly to eliminate our chemical weapons stockpile, President Biden said in a July 7 statement, Today, I am proud to announce that the United States has safely destroyed the final munition in that stockpile  bringing us one step closer to a world free from the horrors of chemical weapons.



When asked if Beijing had any comments on this development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded:



It was stipulated in the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention) that States Parties shall complete the destruction not later than 10 years after the entry into force of the CWC in 1997. The US is the last state to complete the destruction of its declared chemical weapons stockpile, far behind the time limit set in the CWC.



That is misleading.



The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties.



One hundred and thirty countries, including the United States, signed the Convention in 1997, vowing to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles within 10 years.

If the CWC required member states to eliminate their stockpiles by 2007, why did it take the U.S. so long to eliminate its stockpiles?



First, these weapons were tricky to handle, as they contained deadly chemicals crammed into artillery shells, rockets or bombs. They were built to be fired, not disassembled. The combination of explosives and poison makes them exceptionally dangerous to handle, The New York Times reported.



Then, there was the disposal process. While incineration is the U.S. Defense Departments preferred method, local American residents resisted, fearing dangerous pollution. A grassroots organization, the Chemical Weapons Working Group, was formed and began to advocate for technologies other than incineration.



As a result, entirely new techniques had to be developed, and the U.S. employed various chemical processes to destroy these dangerous agents. For example, mustard gas was broken down by bacteria, while sarin gas was chemically deactivated before it was destroyed. The need for alternative methods of disposal significantly extended the U.S. timeline to safely destroy these warfare agents.



Another factor, according to David Koplow, a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., was that the program was poorly managed. "The leadership for the program changed repeatedly and it was just never taken as seriously as it should have been," he told National Public Radio.



When the U.S. was unable to meet the 2007 deadline, Washington sought extensions from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Chemical Weapons Convention implementing body, to extend the deadline to September 30, 2023.



The U.S. met its commitment on July 7, 2023, when it destroyed its last stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, and the OPCW confirmed that the "last chemical munition of the US' declared chemical weapons stockpile" had been "irreversibly destroyed."

A chemical weapon is any toxic chemical that can cause death, injury or incapacitation, and is considered a weapon of mass destruction. During the last century, many countries condemned chemical weapons.



According to the Arms Control Association, a non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C, historians estimate that some 90,000 soldiers were killed by chemical agents during World War I.



The Geneva Convention of 1925 banned the use of chemical weapons but failed to ban their development and production.

From the start of World War I until the end of the Cold War, the U.S. stockpiled a large quantity of chemical weapons as a deterrent against other countries using similar weapons.



At one point, the United States had nine top-secret chemical weapons stockpiles spread from Maryland to Oregon, holding 28,600 metric tons of chemical agents.



According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. national public health agency, the U.S. primarily stockpiled six kinds of chemical warfare agents, principally mustard agents and nerve agents.



While all of the worlds declared chemical weapons have now been eliminated, the OPCW warns that some countries or groups still possess such lethal weapons.



North Korea, which has not signed the CWC, is widely reported to possess a large arsenal of chemical weapons, likely more than 5,000 metric tons.



Syria, which signed the CWC, admitted in 2012 that it had chemical weapons. However, it has been unwilling to disclose the size of its stockpile.

The OPCW registered 142 incidents of alleged chemical weapons use in Syria between 2015 and 2019. It mandated its investigation and Identification team to verify these incidents, and to name the perpetrators and victims.



The OPCWs investigation and Identification team was able to complete its investigations of five incidents, and it identified Syrian government forces as the perpetrator of chemical attacks that affected (killed or injured) at least 161 victims. Other alleged incidents are still under investigation.
The Biden administration is steeling itself for potential Chinese government reprisals for U.S. transit stops by Taiwans Vice President Lai Ching-te as he travels to and from Paraguays presidential inauguration next month.

Taiwans Presidential Office confirmed on Monday that Lai will transit in the U.S. to and from the August 15 inauguration of Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Pena.

Beijing should not use as a pretext any transit by Vice President Lai for brazen coercion or other provocative activities [and] should not be a pretext for interference in Taiwan's election either, said a senior administration official Sunday, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.

Lais profile is doubly problematic for Beijing because he is vying to replace outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen in the self-governing islands January 2024 elections. He has reinforced his pro-Taiwan independence credentials by declaring in January that Taiwan  is already an independent and sovereign nation. And with an eye to a possible election victory  polling last month put Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party candidate, as the front-runner  he said last week that elected leaders of Taiwan should be welcomed to the White House.



Lais upcoming transit  is routine given the distances involved between Taiwan and Paraguay and will be unofficial in keeping with our U.S. One-China policy, said the official. We've had 10 Vice Presidential transits in the last 20 years  all have occurred without incident, the official said.

The Biden administrations problem: Chinese officials have already warned of negative consequences of a possible transit stop by Lai. Any such visit would further impact China-U.S. relations, Minister Jing Quan at the Chinese Embassy in Washington told POLITICO last week. Taipeis confirmation of Lais upcoming U.S. transit reaped anger in Beijing. "We firmly oppose any visit by Taiwan separatists to the U.S. in any name or under whatever pretext, and we firmly oppose the U.S.' conniving and supporting of Taiwan separatists and their separatism activities in any form," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Even worse: Lais U.S. transit plan announcement comes in the middle of Biden climate envoy John Kerrys four-day trip to Beijing to try to restart bilateral climate cooperation that the Chinese government suspended in August 2022 in reprisal for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis Taiwan visit.



Kerry is the third senior official to travel to Beijing in the past month, following in the footsteps of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. That outreach aims to generate goodwill necessary for a productive meeting between Biden and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in San Francisco in November.

Bidens Taiwan transit visit headaches wont end with Lais Paraguay stopover. The presidential candidate for Taiwans opposition KMT or Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), Hou You-yi  currently mayor of New Taipei City  will visit the U.S. sometime in the early fall, the official said. We don't see any reason for Beijing to make an issue over Mayor Hous visit or, frankly, Vice President Lais either  both will be keeping with past precedent.

But past precedent suggests that that both Lai and Hous presence in the U.S. will be magnets for the attention of U.S. lawmakers seeking to publicly affirm their support for Taiwan and to criticize Beijings saber-rattling at the island. During Lais previous a transit stop in the U.S. in January 2022, he held video meetings from his Los Angeles hotel with at least 17 U.S. lawmakers. Beijing responded by lodging a solemn representation with the U.S. government that included a demand that the Biden administration stop the erroneous acts of having official exchanges with Taiwan.
The family of a German-Iranian political dissident sentenced to death in Iran is expressing concern over his condition after a phone conversation with him Sunday.

Ghazaleh Sharmahd, the daughter of Jamshid Sharmahd, wrote on Twitter "After five months, today we had our first phone call with my father, Jamshid Sharmahd. It is concerning that he was deprived of contact with his daughter for two years, and now he has been allowed to speak with me."

"This greatly worries me. Could this be his farewell call, she said.

Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dual citizen and opposition figure was accused of masterminding a deadly 2008 bombing of a mosque in Shiraz, charges his family strongly denies. He faces a death sentence.

Sharmahd, 68, had been living in the United States, where he served as the spokesperson for Tondar, a group that aims to restore the Western-backed monarchy that ruled Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. His family says Iranian authorities kidnapped Sharmahd during a stopover in Dubai in 2020. SEE ALSO: Iran Sentences Detained US-Based Opposition Figure to Death

Describing her fathers condition during the Sunday phone call, Ghazaleh Sharmahd said "His voice was feeble, he was severely ill, and he has spent over 1,000 days in solitary confinement, enduring pain and terror.

Amnesty International said that he has been deprived of adequate health care and called for his immediate release.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock questioned the proceedings in the case against him and said earlier this year that Sharmahd never had even the semblance of a fair trial. She asked Iran to reverse the death sentence immediately.
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Climate scientists say recent weeks have been the hottest worldwide. Not membership, but Ukraine did receive security assurances from NATO members during their summit last week in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ugandas president blames poor intelligence gathering for the army's struggle to stop DRC rebels.
General Asim Munir, Pakistans Army chief, traveled to Tehran to meet with Irans Armys Chief of Staff, General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, to talk about a wide range of topics of mutual interest, including the expansion of bilateral relations.

The relationship between the two countries has been fraught because Iran has often been subjected to attacks from Pakistani militants.

A statement said: 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 menace of terrorism in the border areas through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in security domain.

Munir also met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amire Abdollahain and discussed the importance of bilateral relations for regional peace and stability.
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.
Israel announced Monday it was recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, joining the United States as the only countries to acknowledge the kingdom's annexation of the disputed north African territory.

The announcement came shortly after Morocco's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying King Mohammed VI had received a letter from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognizing Morocco's claim over the territory.

Netanyahu's office later confirmed the announcement. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said recognition of Western Sahara as Moroccan territory "will strengthen relations between the countries and the nations" and advance regional stability.

Israel and Morocco reestablished diplomatic relations as part of the Abraham Accords brokered by former President Donald Trump between Israel and Arab states. The two countries had low-level diplomatic ties in the 1990s that were disrupted by the Palestinian uprising that began in 2000.

In exchange for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel, the Trump administration promised in December 2020 to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The announcement upset decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that Western Sahara's status should be settled by a U.N. referendum.

Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony believed to have considerable offshore oil deposits and mineral resources, in 1975, sparking a conflict with the pro-independence Polisario Front.

The U.N. brokered a 1991 cease-fire and established a peacekeeping mission to monitor the truce and help prepare a referendum on the territory's future. Disagreements over who is eligible to vote have prevented that vote from taking place.

The Polisario Front renewed armed conflict in 2020, ending a 29-year truce.

Mounting tensions have reverberated across borders to Morocco's neighbor Algeria, which broke diplomatic ties with Rabat in 2021. The enmity has escalated between the two nations, which both share allies in the West, the Middle East and elsewhere.
Israel's governing coalition pushed ahead Monday with its contentious plan to overhaul the country's judiciary, despite growing opposition from within the country's military and a wave of mass protests expected this week.

A parliamentary committee was preparing a bill that would limit judicial oversight on some government decisions, legislation that has sparked intensifying criticism from military reservists in elite units, including the air force and cyberwarfare.

Many have warned they will not show up for duty if the overhaul moves ahead. Reservists, who make up the backbone of the country's mostly compulsory military, played a key role in prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause the overhaul plan earlier this year.

In response to the legislation, which is expected to go before a final parliamentary vote early next week, a large protest movement is expected to stage a "day of disruption" Tuesday. These days of mass protest in the past have snarled traffic, choked the terminal at Israel's main international airport, and descended into clashes between police and demonstrators.

The judicial overhaul, advanced by Netanyahu's nationalist and religious government, has deeply divided Israel, plunging it into one of its worst domestic crises and even sparking concern from its most important ally, the U.S.

The prime minister's office said Netanyahu told President Joe Biden on Monday that a bill to remove the Supreme Court's ability to strike down government actions it deemed "unreasonable" would be brought for a parliamentary vote next week. But he said that he would "try to form broad public support" for the rest of the judicial overhaul over the summer recess, the office said.

Netanyahu paused the overhaul in March, facing a wave of mass protests, labor strikes that halted outgoing flights and many other sectors, and pledges by military reservists to not show up for duty if the legislation advanced. Similar pressures are reemerging as the government resumes its efforts.

The government says the plan is meant to rein in what it sees as an overly interventionist judicial system and restore power to elected officials. Critics say the plan would upend Israel's delicate system of checks and balances and push the country toward autocracy. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest by trying to shake up the justice system when he is on trial for corruption charges.

Speaking Monday at a meeting of his Cabinet, a day after being discharged from hospital for a dizzy spell, Netanyahu defended the overhaul and the bill moving forward now, which would prevent Israel's courts from scrutinizing the "reasonability" of decisions made by elected officials.

He also slammed the recent wave of opposition from within the military.

"In a democracy, the military is subordinate to the elected government and not the other way around," he said. "Insubordination is contrary to democracy and contrary to the law."

A rising tide of criticism from within the military earlier this year prompted the country's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, to oppose the overhaul. His dissension led to Netanyahu firing him, which sparked the mass protests that forced the Israeli leader to freeze the legal changes and reinstate Gallant.

The government is moving forward with the plan after talks to find a compromise with opposition political parties failed. The legislation's advance also comes despite warnings from across Israeli society that the overhaul would hurt the country's economy, its military capabilities and tear apart its delicate social fabric. Israel's currency, the shekel, has tumbled in value this year after the plan was unveiled.

The "reasonability standard" allows the court to review key government decisions in order to protect against improper appointments and potential corruption. It was used by the Supreme Court earlier this year to strike down the appointment of a Netanyahu ally as interior minister because of a past conviction for bribery and a 2021 plea deal for tax evasion.

The government says the standard is arbitrary and overused by the courts to cancel decisions made by elected officials.

Critics say removing the standard would allow the government to appoint unqualified cronies to important positions without oversight. They also say that it could clear the way for Netanyahu to fire the current attorney general  seen by supporters as a bulwark against the overhaul plan  or appoint legal officials who could ease his way out of the corruption charges he is facing in an ongoing trial.
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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.

Russian officials said Monday a key bridge linking Russia to Crimea was damaged in an emergency situation that halted traffic amid reports of explosions.

The bridge links Russias Krasnodar region to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Russia annexed in 2014 in a move not recognized by the international community. The bridge serves as a key link to supply Russian troops in their invasion of Ukraine.

Russias transport ministry said on Telegram there was damage to the road on the section of the bridge closer to Crimea, without providing an explanation of the cause.

Russian officials said two people were killed and their daughter injured on the bridge Monday.

The bridge was previously damaged in an October explosion that Russia blamed on Ukraine.

Ukrainian gains

A Ukrainian defense official said Monday the countrys military had retaken 18 square kilometers of territory during the past week, and 210 square kilometers from Russian forces since launching a counteroffensive last month.

The gains included 7 square kilometers in the Bakhmut area, in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have occupied the city of Bakhmut since May.

In southern Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian fighters had retaken 11 square kilometers as they advance toward the cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol.

Maliar also said Russian forces have advanced toward Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russia said Monday it is ending its participation in a nearly year-old agreement that allowed Ukraine safe passage to export its grains from three Ukrainian ports past Russian warships on the Black Sea.

Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. As soon as the Russian part of the agreements is fulfilled, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal, immediately.

However, the United Nations said its understanding is that the deal is ended.

The letter that we received from the Russian Federation had the word terminate, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was at the U.N. Monday for a Security Council meeting on the situation in his country, acknowledged that there is a debate among diplomats whether Russia has terminated or only suspended its participation in the deal.

And Russia itself is, you know, avoiding clarity, because in one text, they speak about termination. Then in another comment, they speak about suspension, he told reporters, adding that it is too early to say how the situation will evolve.

Inside the Security Council, Kuleba said Russia should stop playing hunger games with people around the world and resume its participation in the deal in good faith.

The final ship to depart Ukraine through the maritime corridor left the port of Odesa on Sunday and arrived in Istanbul on Monday.

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative last year amid a global food crisis, seeking to facilitate exports that were blocked in Russias war against Ukraine. The grain exports helped to stabilize global commodity prices, which had surged after Russias invasion, jeopardizing the capacity of poorer countries to import food.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that the Black Sea deal has provided a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world.

He noted that the deal has helped reduce food prices by more than 23% since March 2022.

Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere, Guterres said.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Russia is weaponizing food and should come back to the deal.

I hope that every country is watching this very closely, he said. They will see that Russia is responsible for denying food to people who desperately need it around the world, and to contribute to rising prices at a time when many countries continue to experience very difficult inflation.

Ahead of the deals expiration Tuesday, Russia had said it was not benefiting enough under the initiative. Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products.

Ukraines agrarian policy minister, Mykola Solsky, told VOA that Ukrainian exports will be badly affected because shipping grain by sea is the most efficient way to ship grain from Ukraine.

He said Ukraine will fight for this grain corridor, and we will use all other methods of export.
The United States will add eight new fields of study for international students looking to acquire practical work experience in the country, the Department of Homeland Security announced last week.

The eight new fields of study include: landscape architecture; institutional research; mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering technology/technician; composite materials technology/technician; linguistics and computer science; developmental and adolescent psychology; geospatial intelligence; and demography and population studies.

The new fields will all be added to the science, technology, engineering, mathematics Optional Practical Training, or STEM OPT, program. Announced in a July 12 Federal Register notice, the additions will provide international students with more opportunities to temporarily work in the United States.

This is the latest move intended to attract more foreign STEM students to the United States.

Early last year, the Biden administration added 22 fields of study to the STEM OPT program.

STEM innovation allows us to solve the complex challenges we face today and make a difference in how we secure and protect our country, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in announcing the 2022 expansion. Through STEM education and training opportunities, DHS is expanding the number and diversity of students who excel in STEM education and contribute to the U.S. economy.

DHS received nominations for 120 fields, from which eight were selected and announced last week.

Through OPT, international students on an F-1 visa can gain experience in their area of study during or following the completion of their degree.

More than 200,000 international students used the program to gain work experience in the United States during the 2020-21 academic year.

The program usually lets students work for up to one year, but certain STEM students can extend that for an additional two years.

Boundless, a firm that helps people immigrate to the U.S., hailed the latest STEM expansion.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, initiatives like STEM OPT play a crucial role in promoting innovation, economic growth and cultural exchange, the Seattle-based company said in a recent statement. By expanding access to practical training, the U.S. signals a commitment to fostering a diverse and globally connected workforce.
Under the tall prairie grass outside this southwestern Minnesota town lies a precious seam of dark red pipestone that, for thousands of years, Native Americans have quarried and carved into pipes essential to prayer and communication with the Creator.

Only a dozen Dakota carvers remain in the predominantly agricultural area bordering South Dakota. While tensions have flared periodically over how broadly to produce and share the rare artifacts, many Dakota today are focusing on how to pass on to future generations a difficult skillset thats inextricably linked to spiritual practice.

Id be very happy to teach anyone  and the Spirit will be with you if youre meant to do that, said Cindy Pederson, who started learning how to carve from her grandparents six decades ago.

Enrolled in the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation, she regularly holds carving demonstrations at Pipestone National Monument, a small park that encompasses the quarries.

In the worldview of the Dakota peoples, sometimes referred to as Sioux, the sacred is woven in the land where the Creator placed them, said Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair, a professor at St. Cloud State University in central Minnesota.

But some places have a special relevance, because of events that occurred there, a sense of stronger spiritual power, or their importance in origin stories, she added.

These quarries of a unique variety of red pipestone check all three  starting with a history of enemy tribes laying down arms to allow for quarrying, with several stories warning that if fights broke out over the rare resource, it would make itself unavailable to all.

The colorful prayer ties and flags hung from trees alongside the trails that lead around the pink and red rocks testify to the continued sacredness of the space.

It was always a place to go pray, said Gabrielle Drapeau, a cultural resource specialist and park ranger at the monument who started coming here as a child.

From her elders in the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Drapeau grew up hearing one of many origin stories for the pipestone: In time immemorial, a great flood killed most people in the area, their blood seeping into the stone and turning it red. But the Creator came, pronounced it a place of peace, and smoked a pipe, adding this is how people could reach him.

Its like a tangible representation of how we can connect with Creator, Drapeau said. All people before you are represented in the stone itself. Its not just willy-nilly stone.

Pipes are widely used by Indigenous people across the Great Plains and beyond, either by spiritual leaders or individuals for personal prayer for healing and thanksgiving, as well as to mark rites of passage like vision quests and the solemnity of ceremonies and gatherings.

Pipestone has a particular relationship to our spiritual practice  praying with pipes, we take very seriously, St. Clair said.

The pipe itself is thought to become sacred when the pipestone bowl and the wooden stem are joined. The smoke, from tobacco or prairie plants, then carries the prayer from a persons heart to the Creator.

Because of that crucial spiritual connection, only people enrolled in federally recognized tribes can obtain permits to quarry at the monument, some traveling from as far as Montana and Nebraska. Within tribes, theres disagreement over whether pipes should be sold, especially to non-Natives, and the pipestone used to make other art objects like carved animal figures.

Sacredness is going to be defined by you  thats between you and the Creator, said Travis Erickson, a fourth-generation carver whos worked pipestone in the area for more than two decades and embraces a less restrictive view. Everything on this Earth is spiritual.

His first job in the quarries, at age 10, was to break through and remove the layers of harder-than-steel quartzite covering the pipestone seam  then about six feet down, now more than 18 feet into the quarry, so the process can take months. Only hand tools can be used to avoid damaging the pipestone.

Taken out in sheets only about a couple of inches thick, it is then carved using flint and files.

The stone talks to me, added Erickson, who has fashioned pipe bowls in different shapes, such as horses. Most of those pipes showed what they wanted to be.

Growing up in the 1960s, Erickson recalled making pipes as a family affair where the day often ended with a festive grilling. He taught his children, but laments that few younger people want to take up the arduous job.

So does Pederson, some of whose younger family members have shown interest, including a granddaughter who would hang out in her workshop starting when she was 3 and emerge pink from head to toe from the stone dust.

But they believe the tradition will continue as long as they can share it with Native youth who might have their first encounter with this deep history on field trips to the monument.

On a recent trip, Pedersons brother, Mark Pederson, who also holds demonstrations at the visitor center, took several young visitors into the quarries and taught them how to swing sledgehammers  and many asked to return, she said.

Teaching the techniques of quarrying and carving is crucially important, and so is helping youth develop a relationship with the pipestone and its place in the Native worldview.

We have to be concerned with that as Dakota people  all cultural messages young people get draw away from our traditional lifeways, St. Clair said. We need to hold on to the teachings, prayers, songs that make pipes be.

From new exhibits to tailored school field trips, recent initiatives at the monument  undertaken in consultation between tribal leaders and the National Park Service  are trying to foster that awareness for Native youth.

I remind them they have every right to come here and pray, Drapeau said  a crucial point since many Native spiritual practices were systematically repressed for decades past 1937, when the monument was created to preserve the quarries from land encroachment.

Some areas of the park are open only for ceremonial use; the 75,000 yearly visitors are asked not to interfere with the quarriers.

The National Park Service is the newcomer here  for 3,000 years, different tribal nations have come to quarry here and developed different protocols to protect the site, said park superintendent Lauren Blacik.

One change brought through extensive consultations with tribal leaders is the parks decision to no longer sell pipes at the visitor center, though other pipestone objects are  like small carved turtles or owls. Pipes are available at stores a few miles away in Pipestones downtown.

Tensions over the use of sacred pipes by non-Natives long predates the United States, when French and English explorers traded them, said Greg Gagnon, a scholar of Indian Studies and author of a textbook on Dakota culture.

Nobody wants to have their world appropriated. The more you open it up, the more legitimate a fear of watering it down, he said. But theres also a danger in becoming entrenched in dogmatic ways of understanding traditions, Gagnon added.

For carvers like Pederson, good intentions and the Spirit at work in both those practicing the craft as well as those receiving the pipestone are reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Grandma and Grandpa always said the stone takes care of itself, knows whats in a persons heart, she said.
By David Shepardson and Stephen Nellis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. chip company executives met with top Biden administration officials on Monday to discuss China policy, the State Department and sources said, as the most powerful semiconductor lobby group urged a halt to more curbs under consideration.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with chip company chief executives about the industry and supply chains after his recent trip to China, a department spokesperson told reporters.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, National Economic Council director Lael Brainard and National Security Council director Jake Sullivan were among other government officials meeting with Intel, Qualcomm and Nvidia, a source familiar with the meetings told Reuters.

The chip industry is keen to protect its profits in China as the Biden administration considers another round of restrictions on chip exports to China. Last year, China accounted for $180 billion in semiconductor purchases, more than a third the worldwide total of $555.9 billion and the largest single market, according to Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

Blinken sought "to share his perspective on the industry and on supply chain issues, especially after his recent visit to China" and "to hear directly from those companies about how they see supply chain issues, about how they see doing business in China," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing.

Discussions with government officials also included speeding up disbursement of government money put aside for semiconductor firms in the CHIPS Act and making sure U.S. policy does not shut the chip firms out of the lucrative Chinese market, a second source familiar with the matter said.

Commerce's Raimondo is overseeing the $39 billion CHIPS Act semiconductor manufacturing subsidy program approved by Congress last year. The law also created a 25% investment tax credit for building chip plants, estimated to be worth $24 billion.

The U.S. government is also focused on China's access to the most sophisticated artificial intelligence chips, the source added, saying Washington appears close to tightening the rules around how much computing speed such chips could have but have not yet picked a specific threshold.

Earlier on Monday, the U.S.-based SIA called on the Biden administration to "refrain from further restrictions" on chip sales to China and urged the administration to allow "the industry to have continued access to the China market, the worlds largest commercial market for commodity semiconductors."

The Biden administration is considering updating a sweeping set of rules imposed in October to hobble China's chip industry and a new executive order restricting some outbound investment.

"Our actions have been carefully tailored to focus on technology with national security implications, and designed to ensure that U.S. and allied technologies are not used to undermine our national security," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

Not every official was expected to meet with every company, said the initial source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Commerce Department and White House declined to comment on any potential discussions.

The meetings come after China recently moved to restrict exports of raw materials such as gallium and germanium that are used in making chips, something the department spokesman said Blinken discussed in CEO conversations.

Nvidia, Qualcomm and Intel have crucial sales riding on China. Qualcomm is the only company with a license from U.S. regulators to sell mobile phone chips to Huawei Technology Co Ltd.

Nvidia is selling an AI chip tweaked for the Chinese market that is already gaining traction among major Chinese firms, and Intel Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger last week traveled to China to announce its own AI chip offering in China.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Andrea Shalal and Simon Lewis in Washington and Stephen Nellis in San FranciscoEditing by Chris Sanders, Susan Heavey, Matthew Lewis and Nick Zieminski)
The ongoing war between Sudan's military and a paramilitary force has placed the country in jeopardy of not being able to feed itself and has thrown many people into deeper depths of hunger and poverty, according to a Reuters report.

Reuters said Monday that the delays in planting are also "partly due" to the farmers not being able to receive any credit from banks and the high prices of items like fertilizer and fuel.

The news agency said it talked with more than a dozen people, including farmers, experts and workers.

Four of the farmers, Reuters said, reported that they might not be able to plant before this month's heavy rains.

Farmers also said Sudan is heading towards a famine, despite a U.N. analysis that says it is too early to make that prediction.

"Peanuts should have been sowed," said one farmer. "Until now, our preparation is zero. . . We think we're threatened with a famine."

In addition, aid agencies have accused both warring factions of blocking humanitarian access to areas. Both sides have said they have facilitated access, and both accuse the other of blocking aid.
The leader of the Solomon Islands hit back Monday at criticism of his nation's deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia had nothing to fear.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the remarks at a news conference in the capital Honiara after returning from a visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials.

Sogavare said that while in China, he signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan.

He said the plan "enhances cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed" to strengthen the capacity of police law enforcement in the Pacific nation.

The new agreements come after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China last year, raising fears of a military buildup in the region. The U.S. has countered with diplomatic moves of its own, including opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands switched allegiance from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, threatening the close ties with the U.S. that date to World War II.

Both the U.S. and Australia have raised concerns about the secrecy of the new police plan.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters she had asked about the plan when she met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Jakarta last week.

Wong said Australia wants more transparency and takes the view that "security is best provided for within the Pacific family."

At the news conference, Sogavare accused the U.S. and Australia of being "un-neighborly" by criticizing the police plan.

"This is nothing but interference by foreign states into the internal affairs of [the] Solomon Islands," Sogavare said.

He said China's plan to help the police complemented existing Australian and New Zealand police programs in his nation.

"Australia and the United States should not fear China's police support to Solomon Islands," Sogavare said.

Home to 700,000 people and lying about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, the Solomon Islands have been one of China's biggest successes in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific.

China's Foreign Ministry earlier said that Sogavare's visit to Beijing would "inject new momentum" into relations and "deepen mutual political trust."
Russia said Monday it is ending its participation in a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine safe passage to export grain from three Ukrainian ports past Russian warships on the Black Sea.

Here is a look at how the grain deal worked and what Russias withdrawal from the agreement will mean for both Moscow and Kyiv as well as the global food supply.

What is the grain deal?

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the deal to allow grain to be shipped from Ukraine, despite Russias ongoing war in that country. Much of the exported grain was shipped to impoverished countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The deal also allowed for Russia to ship food and fertilizer throughout the world despite Western sanctions on Moscow.

When did the agreement begin?

The nearly year-old deal was reached in July 2022 and was meant to be extended every four months. It was renewed three times, but the last two renewals were for only two months each as Russia complained of obstacles to exporting its food and fertilizer.

Why did Russia withdrawal from the pact?

Russia has repeatedly said it was not benefiting enough under the initiative. Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products. One of Russias main demands has been for its agriculture bank to be reinstated in the SWIFT system of financial transactions.

What was the effect of the deal?

After Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine  considered the breadbasket of Europe  grain prices rose worldwide. The U.N. gain deal, brokered five months after the war began, helped to bring down global food prices. The U.N. said that since exports from the pact began in August 2022, 32.9 metric tons of food commodities have been exported to 45 countries.

Will food prices rise again?

Experts say not renewing the Black Sea grain deal could cause food prices to again climb. However, they say the worldwide food situation is not as volatile as it was last year because other countries are now producing more grain to counterbalance losses from Ukraine, including Argentina, Brazil, and European nations.

Can Ukraine still ship from the Black Sea?

It is not clear if Russia will block Ukrainian ports following its withdrawal from the grain deal. However, even if Russia does not block or attack Ukrainian ships carrying food supplies, ship owners will surely see increased insurance premiums to enter the Black Sea and are likely to be reluctant for their vessels to pass through a war zone without assurances of safety.

Can Ukraine send more grain through Europe?

Ukraine has been sending large amounts of grain through eastern European countries since the conflict began; however, these routes  both land and river  handle lower amounts compared to sea shipments. Ukraines shipments through Europe have also prompted anger from some European countries that say the shipments have undercut local supplies. As a result, five EU countries  Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia  have banned domestic sales of some Ukrainian grains.

What does the deals end mean for the World Food Program?

The U.N. World Food Program says grain from Ukraine has played an important role in its efforts to distribute food to those in need. The U.N. agency says the grain initiative has allowed it to ship more than 725,200 tons of grain to relieve hunger around the world, including to Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
The U.S. Senate will begin debate Tuesday on a massive spending bill setting the spending priorities for the U.S. military for the coming year.

Last Friday, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the $874.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 219-210.

The conservative priorities in the bill backed by the House Freedom Caucus mean it has no chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate. The Senate version of the NDAA passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee by a 25-1 vote earlier this month. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he looked forward to a bipartisan debate.

"So we can keep our country safe, support our friends in Ukraine, outcompete China, and give our troops the pay raise they rightfully deserve," Schumer said earlier this month.

Senate Republicans are expected to call for an increase in funding levels from the Biden's administration's budget request.

"Our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee will be called upon to carefully consider the requirements identified by our commanders that have gone unfunded in President [Joe] Biden's budget. They should think about the steps that could improve our ability to project power into the Asia-Pacific, or the assistance that could support vulnerable partners in the region," Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said last month. "Remember, threats of sanctions and stern diplomatic warnings didn't deter [Russian President] Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Words alone will not deter Chinese aggression in Asia.

"The Biden administration can continue to speak softly. But Congress must ensure that America carries a big stick," he added.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hailed the funding in the House-passed version Friday, saying "cutting-edge technology that is essential for the future of this country and to keep freedom around the world in the rise of China and Russia will receive more investment than we've watched in the past."

But every year the House and Senate must reconcile their own versions of the NDAA to pass a final package that can be sent to the White House to be signed into law.

The Republican amendments in the House-passed version of the NDAA would undo a new Pentagon policy providing time off and financial reimbursements for service members needing to travel out of state for abortions as well as funding for military diversity initiatives and health coverage for gender-transition surgery.

"Obviously, a lot of these amendments will be probably stripped out and the Senate will have a little different version. But overall, you know, an increase in defense spending and our troops get a pay raise. It's a very critical time right now. It's a dangerous world," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul told reporters.

Five House Republican-led attempts to end U.S. aid to Ukraine failed last week. Most Republicans voted with Democrats to pass $300 million in funding for Ukraine. But conservatives did score several victories against the Biden administration.

"Taxpayer money is provided to the DOD [Department of Defense] and intended to provide for our national defense and our national security. It is not, not to promote and support the Biden administration's radical, immoral, pro-abortion agenda," Republican lawmaker Ronny Jackson told reporters Friday.

Republicans argue government health insurance should not cover abortions for service members and the Pentagon should not lead diversity initiatives that include outreach to transgender people. But Democrats said Republicans' attempts to kill those amendments were another example of the party's extremism.

"It is woefully irresponsible that extreme MAGA Republicans 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," Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Friday.

Senate Democrats have called for an end to Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville's block on military nominations in protest of a new Pentagon health policy providing support to members of the military who need to travel out of state to obtain an abortion.
The U.S. Senate will begin debate this week on a massive spending bill setting the spending priorities for the U.S. military for the coming year. Democrats and Republicans have already clashed in the House of Representatives over how much the legislation should include for aid to Ukraine, diversity initiatives and abortion. VOAs Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.
Rights activists and opposition groups in Zimbabwe say President Emmerson Mnangagwa's signing into law a so-called "Patriotic Bill" is a grave attack on fundamental freedoms and rights. The new law authorizes harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for anyone found guilty of "willfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe."

Zimbabwes main opposition party and human rights groups are calling Mnangagwa to repeal the bill he signed into law last Friday.

We condemn their signing into law of the unconstitutional Patriotic Bill, which will criminalize free speech and freedom of association which are protected under our constitution, said Fadzayi Mahere, spokesman for Citizens Coalition for Change. The introduction of this repressive legislation confirms beyond any doubt that Mr. Mnangagwa is worse than Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe as become a full-blown dictatorship in an outpost of tyranny.

Mahere called on Zimbabweans to, as he put it, vote decisively for change in the August 23 general election.

Obert Masaraure is spokesman for another rights group, the Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe. His group says the new law is vague in its definition of offenses.

Some of the penalties proposed by the law for deliberately injuring the sovereignty and national interests of Zimbabwe, such as the death penalty, long imprisonment, loss of citizenship and binding of persons from electoral participation for five years, are too harsh and inappropriate for vaguely defined offenses, he said. The provision of the death penalty means that the new law violates the constitution which only allows for the death penalty in cases of murder and aggravating circumstances. We firmly oppose the death penalty without exceptions. We are completely against the death penalty and we condemn it and unreservedly.

Amnesty International said the new law is evidence that Zimbabwean authorities are bent on closing civic space as well as suppressing any form of dissent.

But Rutendo Matinyarare, chairman of the pro-government Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, has a different view.

I'm over the moon because of the fact that the president is finally signed this criminal law amendment, Matinyarare said. And I'm happy because I was one of the people that proposed the Patriotic Bill.

Matinyarare said his group is pleased about laws that punish people who advocate for sanctions and call for the invasion of the country and stabilization of the country.

It puts us in step with other nations across the world that have similar laws, Matinyarare said. Let's hope it deters people and unites Zimbabweans to not sabotage their own country.

Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF party have pushed for years for an end to Western sanctions against Zimbabwean leaders. The sanctions were imposed during the rule of the late Robert Mugabe for human rights violations and alleged election rigging.

Mnangagwa has not commented on the law, known as the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Act, since he signed it into law last week.
Russia said Monday it is ending its participation in a nearly year-old agreement that allowed Ukraine safe passage to export its grains from three Ukrainian ports past Russian warships on the Black Sea.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative amid a global food crisis, seeking to facilitate the exports that otherwise were blocked in Russias 17-month war against Ukraine. Much of the exported grain was shipped to impoverished countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres protested the Russian action, saying the Black Sea exports have been a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world.

At a time when the production and availability of food is being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more, these agreements have helped to reduce food prices by over 23% since March last year, Guterres said. Todays decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., assailed Moscow for the cutoff in grain shipments, calling it another act of cruelty on Russias part.

While Russia plays political games, she said, real people will suffer: the child in the Horn of Africa who is severely malnourished, the mother who will stop producing breast milk for her baby because she doesnt have enough to eat herself. These are the consequences of Russias actions.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Russia should not have stopped the Ukrainian grain shipments and that they should be restored as quickly as possible.

Ahead of the deals expiration on Monday, Russia had said it was not benefiting enough under the initiative. Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products.

Ukraines agrarian policy minister, Mykola Solsky, told VOA that Ukrainian exports will be badly affected because shipping grain by sea is the most efficient way to ship grain from Ukraine. Globally, this decision will have an impact in such a way that the poorest people in the world will be put on the brink of starvation by Russia because they will be forced to pay more for food and buy less of it.

He said that Ukraine will fight for this grain corridor, and we will use all other methods of export.
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Having slipped over the weekend, Bitcoin rose to trade at over US$30,300 on Monday morning in Asia. The price has now reverted to around the level posted last Thursday  prior to XRP issuer Ripples favorable ruling in its lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The partial victory led to significant gains for a number of top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, with XRP still leading the gains. U.S. stock futures edged lower as investors await earnings reports from major banks.

Bitcoin falls back

Bitcoin edged up 0.05% over the last 24 hours to US$30,332.54 as of 06:30 a.m. in Hong Kong for a weekly gain of 0.65%, according to data from CryptoMarketCap.

However, the worlds largest cryptocurrency was trading at around US$31,300 early Saturday morning. Following that weekend high, the tokens price reverted to roughly its pre-Ripple ruling level.

In a summary judgment Thursday, New York Southern District Court Judge Analisa Torres ruled that Ripples programmatic sales of the XRP token on public exchanges do not constitute securities. The regulator first sued the San Francisco-based financial technology firm on the grounds that XRP constitutes a security in 2020.

The ruling was deemed something of a partial victory for Ripple, however, as the court ruled that XRP sales to institutional investors did violate securities laws.

There will be further court proceedings on that part  It is also not yet known if the SEC will appeal to the ruling, said Caroline Bowler, CEO of Australia-based crypto exchange BTC Markets, in emailed comments. Therefore, there remains the potential for more insecurity ahead for Ripple, Bowler added.

Nonetheless, Ripple Labs XRP led the gainers Monday morning in Asia. It rose 5.58% to US$0.7577 for a weekly surge of 61.56%.

Meanwhile, the SEC has added BlackRocks application for a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to its official docket. That decision means that the regulator will now review the proposal in a serious manner.

Blackrock, the worlds largest asset manager with over US$9 trillion in assets, filed the application a little less than a month ago. The move saw the tokens value breach the US$31,000 resistance level earlier this month as multiple major asset managers followed suit with similar ETF proposals.

Ether also gained 0.20% to US$1,934.09, rising 3.81% in the past seven days.

Other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. The days biggest losses were logged by Dogecoin, which dipped 2.53% to US$0.07. However, the token still recorded gains of 6.89% for the week.

Cardanos ADA also fell 2.52% to US$0.3185, limiting the coins weekly gain to 12.08%. Similarly, Binances BNB lost 2.43% to US$244.95. It is nonetheless trading at 4.68% higher than a week ago.

The total crypto market capitalization rose 0.16% in the past 24 hours to US$1.22 trillion, while trading volume fell 11.97% to US$24.91 billion.

Token-gated access for the super-rich and The Flash via NFT

The indexes are proxy measures of the performance of the global NFT market. They are managed by CryptoSlam, a sister company of Forkast.News under the Forkast.Labs umbrella.

In the non-fungible token (NFT) market, the main Forkast 500 NFT index edged up 0.50% in the past 24 hours to 2,736.37 as of 09:30 a.m. in Hong Kong. However, the index is down 0.40% for the week. Forkasts Solana and Cardano NFT market indices also moved higher, while the Ethereum and Polygon indices dropped.

NFTs continue to ride the wave of positive news and positive prices in crypto, said Yehudah Petscher, NFT Strategist at Forkast Labs, the parent company of Forkast.News. However were not seeing any noteworthy gains in projects and instead most of the big names are still down for the past 7 days.

That is despite some large CryptoPunk and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) sales in the past week. Those sales included BAYC #1734, which sold for $1.2m (600ETH), CryptoPunk #8531 for $1m (550 ETH), and CryptoPunk #9476 for $403k (217.5 ETH).

Big sales sometimes trickle liquidity to other projects, but in this case, the seller may be pocketing their gains or investing in crypto, where opportunities seem brighter at the moment, Petscher said.

In the past 24 hours, the total NFT transaction volume dipped 10.93% to US$16.58 million, according to data from CryptoSlam.

ImmutableXs Gods Unchained Cards, the collection of NFTs used in Immutables trading card game of the same name, topped the 24-hour transaction volume, despite edging down 0.43% to US$690,896.

Ethereum-based NFT staple BAYC placed second in Cryptoslams collections ranking. Its total transaction volume rose 1.34% to US$660,415 in the past 24 hours. Bored Ape creator Yuga Labs announced last week that it will hold ApeFest  a celebratory event of its successful NFT collections  in Hong Kong in November.

ApeFest is going global.

Hong Kong.

Nov 3-5, 2023.https://t.co/Fxgb7RuVek pic.twitter.com/X2QVVd7Qxr  Bored Ape Yacht Club (@BoredApeYC) July 13, 2023

Meanwhile, non-blockchain sectors are also displaying increased NFT activity. .

Indosuez, the global wealth management subsidiary of major French bank Credit Agricole, launched a private NFT membership club last week named Le Clu3. The club will cater to super-rich clients by offering token-gated access to secret sections of its website, among other otherwise off-limits experiences. Credit Agricole had roughly US$2.712 trillion in assets under management in 2022.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.  the American entertainment conglomerate with over US$30 billion in market capitalization  has announced that it will launch its upcoming superhero film The Flash via NFT. The launch is hosted by the Eluvio blockchain and will allow user access to the film itself, collectibles, bonus features and character artwork.

Its official, The Flash is the first new release movie to hit the blockchain! pic.twitter.com/sScukkA6Fw  Warner Bros. Digital Collectibles (@WarnerBrosNFT) July 14, 2023

Stock futures reflect positive investor sentiment

Image: Envato Elements

U.S. stock futures edged down by less than 0.1% as of 11:50 a.m. in Hong Kong after the three major U.S. indexes closed mixed in regular Friday trading.

The three indexes all rose by around 2% to 3% last week. Following the latest release of U.S. inflation data on July 12, which came in softer than expected, investors are hopeful that the U.S. Federal Reserves extended round of interest rate hikes may soon draw to a close.

However, Alex Kuptsikevich, senior market analyst at London-based brokerage firm FxPro, believes that recent positive investor sentiment may backfire.

The Fed has made sharp reversals before, but always after a spike in market volatility, Kuptsikevich said. Steadily rising stock prices are more likely to spur the central bank to tighten monetary policy further, he added.

The Fed is still looking to add more to its current interest rate of 5% to 5.25%. Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, said last week at an event hosted by New York University that the central bank will need to enact two more 25-basis-point rate increases this year to tame inflation.

The robust strength of the labor market and the solid overall performance of the U.S. economy gives us room to tighten policy further, Waller said during the speech.

If inflation does not continue to show progress and there are no suggestions of a significant slowdown in economic activity, then a second 25-basis-point hike should come sooner rather than later, but that decision is for the future, Waller continued.

The Federal Reserve meets on July 26 to discuss its next move on rates. The CME FedWatch Tool predicts a 96.1% chance the Fed will enact a 25-basis-point rate increase this month, up from 92.4% on Friday.

Last weeks earnings reports from major U.S. banks JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Citigroup added to the increasingly hopeful market sentiment. Investors now await reports from financial heavyweights including the Bank of America Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. and The Goldman Sachs Group. Earnings reports from Netflix, Tesla and United Airlines are also due Wednesday.

Meanwhile, major stock indexes across Asia fell on Monday as China posted lower-than-expected economic growth of 6.3% for Q2. Chinas Shanghai Composite, Japans Nikkei and South Koreas Kospi all posted losses as of 12:00 p.m. in Hong Kong.

(Updates to add equity section)
(St. Paul, MN) During a press conference today, Governor Tim Walz announced a new mandate for Minnesotans. Executive Order 20-81 requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Executive Order will take effect on Saturday morning.

Governor Walz says to help communities the state will distribute four million masks for chambers of commerce across the state.

To hear the Governor's opening remarks, click on the following audio file:

Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan talks about the personal nature of the mandate following the death of her older brother. (Audio Below):

MN Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm talks about the mandate (Audio Below):

DEED Commissioner Steve Grove goes into more detail about the specifics of how the mandate could/should work. (Audio Below):

Beginning on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., Minnesotans must wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings, as described in this order and the related industry guidance, available at the Stay Safe Minnesota website (https://staysafe.mn.gov), as well as any other guidance referenced in this order.

Workers must also wear face coverings outdoors when it is not possible to maintain social distancing. When leaving home, Minnesotans are strongly encouraged to have a face covering with them at all times to be prepared to comply with the requirements of this Executive Order.

DEED Issues Official Statement

Over the last months, weve heard repeatedly from Minnesota businesses that we need to continue to control the spread of the coronavirus in order to sustain the economic rebound underway. Our state's businesses know that in order to keep making strides in bringing our economy back, weve got to take care of each other  and the easiest way to do that is to wear a mask.

In recent weeks, more and more Minnesota business have led the way on this requirement. From big chains like Target, Best Buy, and Cub Foods, to local shops and establishments across Minnesota, business owners know that masking helps keep our economy open  and could get us closer to opening it further. The data shows this, too  a Goldman Sachs study recently published showed that a masking mandate alone in our country could prevent up to a 5% loss in GDP that would come from additional lockdown measures.

Yesterday, Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan announced an executive order requiring masks in indoor businesses and other indoor public places to slow the spread of COVID-19, and allow us to continue our safe path toward further business reopening  with the goal of bringing more Minnesotans back to work soon. The order goes into effect July 25.

In making this decision, we consulted hundreds of businesses, labor groups, and community organizations to create our masking policy. We also reviewed policies from dozens of states and cities across the country, including many cities right here in Minnesota. Already, leaders in 30 other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have issued similar mandates.

Minnesotas statewide masking mandate is based on a set of core principles:

Individuals are responsible for wearing a mask

Businesses need to be partners in that effort

Smart, common-sense, exceptions need to be made to get this right

Enforcement is a pathway to target flagrant offenders; the ultimate goal is compliance

We want to do everything we can to help businesses get started with this new mandate, and we know that no business wants to turn away a paying customer because they forgot their mask at home. Thats why we worked with the State Emergency and Operations Center and the Minnesota Department of Administration to help businesses get a start in this journey by providing over 4 million disposable masks as a one-time shipment to businesses. Were partnering with local and ethnic chambers of commerce and councils across the state to disburse masks to Minnesotans later this week.

We want to open up more of the economy and to stay safe while doing so. If followed, this masking order helps lay the groundwork for that to be possible. Were grateful to work with business on this effort and will continue to follow their lead on making sure we get this right across Minnesota.

If you would like more information about the new statewide mask requirement, or would like to review the FAQs, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
Superlatives A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers. There are a lot of facets to Queens music. We entered into so many areas believing we could innovate. Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photo: Roy Wells/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Few rockers possess this crazy little thing called crowd awareness quite like Queen. After the bands founding in the early 70s, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon were more than happy to oblige their subjects need to shout and stomp during a live performance  with May, in particular, relishing the unified grandeur of his guitar with the aura of a well-coiffed Georgian prince. We opted for this business of having the audience as part of the show, he recently told me. And there was never a reason to look back. Its just what good monarchs do. In addition to May rereleasing his Star Fleet Sessions supergroup project on July 14, Queen will embark on an American arena tour beginning in October with Adam Lambert once again belting out the hits that were popularized by Mercury. Its a schedule fit for a polymath like May, who, in addition to co-founding Queen, holds a PhD for his work in the realm of astrophysics. Indeed, hes a Dr. and a Sir. Ive found that the best science, he explained, is always done with an artistic instinct.

Song that doubles as Queens thesis statement

Im sure everyone will tell me its Bohemian Rhapsody, and it probably is. It encapsulates a lot of what we are, what we have been, and what our dream was. There are a lot of facets to Queens music. We entered into so many areas believing we could innovate. Bohemian Rhapsody has so much content. We had a vision in our heads and a collective dream in the very early days because we were in an atmosphere of change, innovation, and new freedoms. We grew up with our influences as everybody does, but we were lucky enough to grow up just as rock and roll was being born. I will eternally be grateful for that. Being able to hear Little Richard for the first time on the radio and Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley  the beginnings of the stirrings of the voice of the generation that was going to be ours.

We had a dream that we would be songwriters. We would be creators. And underneath all that would be something very imponderable, thrilling, heavy, and challenging. I suppose inspired by all the stuff that was happening as we were starting to evolve as a group, which was that heavy music was being born. It never was there before. Its hard to imagine a world where we just didnt have heavy music here. I mean, you wouldnt call Buddy Holly heavy now, although at the time people thought he was very cutting edge and dangerous. In the sense, it was. You also wouldnt think the Shadows were heavy. Its purely instrumental music, but at the time it had a great edge to it. It felt very dangerous and very exciting. So we wanted all that. We wanted that base layer of whats new  like the beginnings you can find on Jeff Becks Truth album, on Led Zeppelins first album, or Black Sabbaths first album. We wanted to have that as our bedrock. But we wanted to build on it with melody and harmony and tunes, which move people, tell stories, and make people feel something that they never quite felt before. So its a big dream. Collectively, we started to work on achieving that dream from the first album onward.

Song that took the longest to appreciate

Dont Stop Me Now. When I first heard it, I knew it had a real tune to it. But next to a lot of the other stuff we were doing, its quite light and fluffy. Theres also an indication of recklessness there. At the time, Freddie was zooming out into a different universe. We felt he might be in danger. So I think in the back of my mind, I had a block on this song. I didnt really want it to be a single. I didnt really feel that it represented what we were at the time  probably unjustly because it is indeed quite representative. It took me a long time to realize that this is a magnificent anthem in its way. It motivates people. It brings people joy, so why would I stand in the way of that? Now I accept Dont Stop Me Now as one of the great Queen anthems. And its taken over. Over the years, its climbed and climbed, and its on a level with Bohemian Rhapsody and Another One Bites the Dust as one of the most played Queen songs.

My mind shifted when I started to experience it at parties. You suddenly realize as soon as people hear Dont Stop Me Now that they come to life. They get set alight. They start smiling. I just thought, Oh, shit. This is really a good song. Also, selfishly, there wasnt a lot for me to do on it. Thats something you have to deal with if youre in a band. This particular song is all about piano, drums, bass, and vocals. Theres just one little spot in the middle where the guitar takes over the vocal line. I like doing that, but I didnt feel I was very organically anchored into the song. Thats probably another reason why I didnt really take it that seriously in the beginning.

Song you wish wasnt eclipsed by the hits

Of course, Queen was very much more than what you hear on the Greatest Hits album. All those billions of streams are from the Greatest Hits. Thats a separate thing. We have a whole career of creating music in the album format. Theres a lot of depth there, which you dont generally hear unless you go into it as a devotee if you like.

Theres a million things I wish, in a sense, had gotten a lot of attention. I suppose The Prophets Song prevails the most. It was the antithesis of Bohemian Rhapsody and on the same album. We always thought they were both major works, but Bohemian Rhapsody got picked up by radio, and it became the flagship song. Only a few people who are very into the depths of Queen through the years are really aware of what The Prophets Song means. Im not going to say Im unhappy because its okay. It really is. The people who are into that stuff are very into it. They understand it, and they get it. They would regard The Prophets Song as much of an encyclopedia of Queen as Bohemian Rhapsody was on the other side. That isnt anywhere near a billion streams. It just sits on an album there, and people who really want to get into Queen are aware of what that was and what it is.

Among the hits, Im happy for them all. Im getting all esoteric about the deep tracks of Queen, but you cant knock having a hit. Theres an old saying from Tin Pan Alley, which goes, A hit is a hit is a hit. You cant argue with the fact that a hit gets to people, and it becomes embedded in their lives forever. Whenever they hear the strains of that song, a whole flood of emotions will come back into their body. Thats a precious thing. Were so privileged to have so many hits, which are bound up with peoples lives and always will be. We can play a concert and play the first couple of notes of any song and feel that emotional response right away. Its amazing. What a wonderful thing to have in your quiver of arrows.

How participatory songs shaped Queens future

It wasnt common to have a participatory concert experience with the audience when we started it off. You didnt go to a Led Zeppelin concert and sing along. It wasnt cool. Black Sabbath, you didnt do that. So when people started doing it for our songs, our first reaction was, Why dont they just listen? Whats going wrong here? And then it became enormous. Theres one particular instance that happened in Bingley Hall in Staffordshire. Its in the middle of England  the Midlands. The crowd wouldnt stop singing. They sang every note of every song, every word. When we went offstage, they kept on singing. We just looked at each other and thought, This is new. This is a phenomenon. It seems we shouldnt be fighting this. We should be embracing it.

I went away and wrote We Will Rock You, trying to imagine what an audience could do if theyre all crammed in and can hardly move. What can they do? They can stomp their feet, clap their hands, and chant. And Freddie went off and wrote We Are the Champions. Both of those songs were very deliberately angled at allowing the audience to be part of the show. In fact, inviting them to be part of the show. From then on, we became a band that was absolutely dedicated to making our shows an interactive experience. Its gone on. The funny thing is that its become common now in all kinds of music. So its something I feel proud of. Its something which we pioneered at some pain. There are things to consider when it comes to these matters. You always gain something, and you lose something.

Mercury and May, in the '70s and '80s, respectively. From left: Photo: Nigel Wright/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Photo: PA Images via Getty Images/PA Images via Getty Images Mercury and May, in the '70s and '80s, respectively. From left: Photo: Nigel Wright/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Photo: PA Images via Getty Images/PA Images ... more Mercury and May, in the '70s and '80s, respectively. From left: Photo: Nigel Wright/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Photo: PA Images via Getty Images/PA Images via Getty Images

Song diptych that works as well as We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions

I dont think theres another set of songs that fit the bill. Bicycle Race and Fat Bottomed Girls were conceived in a related kind of way. Sometimes we link them in concert because theres a connection. They were both written around the time when we were recording in the south of France. The Tour de France was coming through, so theres that whole jumbled set of concepts there. But with We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions, its something that just works. It was almost designed that way. I had it happening in my mind long before it happened in the real world.

The funny thing is we had a lot of disputes about it within the band. It wasnt really agreed that We Will Rock You should start News of the World. There was an opinion in the band that nobody was going to play it, and it wasnt a good opening track. But I pushed. For once, I won the argument, and the next track was We Are the Champions. It was a wonderful combination. We Will Rock You is so jagged, open, and asking questions. And then We Are the Champions is a perfect fulfillment of what the other song was trying to get to. The first time I put them together, I thought it was a match made in heaven. But when it came to doing singles, I lost that argument. The democratic conclusion of the band was that We Are the Champions should be the single and We Will Rock You should go on the B-side, even though I thought it should be the opposite. What happened was once the Americans got hold of it, they made their own pressings, and it became the other way by popular vote. I was happy about that because I always loved the sound of that combination on my radio. It never gets old to me. It always sounds fresh and fulfills its promise.

Most spectacular guitar moment

The first time I felt there was a shining moment on something was a song I didnt organically fit into that well in the beginning. That would be Killer Queen. I was ill in the hospital when the band started laying it down. They had already recorded some harmonies for it and some chorus vocals. I felt they were very harsh, and it didnt quite fit the song. So Freddie said, Thats okay, darling. Well do it again when you come out. Well scrub it all, and well start again, which they did. We started singing the harmonies  and again, realized this was a monumental song.

I got into this business of using the guitar as an orchestral instrument. It was always part of my dream. But it happened more and more as time went on. The solo for Killer Queen is a three-part thing. I dont think anyone else had ever attempted something like that. Theres three parts not just paralleling each other in harmony, but, as a counterpoint, working off each other. Theres this little bell effect, which I stole from a traditional jazz group called the Temperance Seven. Thats something in my DNA. I love the business of adding instruments in and building up harmonies. So it came out of my head, and I was able to translate it into the guitar very quickly in the studio, even though its fairly complex. For the first time, I had a real exposition of the way I wanted guitars to work. I could take things to the next level of the guitar  not just being something you could play or put a harmony line on. It could be a place where youre treating the guitar like Glenn Miller would treat his brass, by giving each a voice and a chance to express itself.

Each of those parts is played with my kind of passion, and it all fits together. I love that track. I think its a perfect example of my guitar playing. Its not wildly exciting and heavy and explosive, but it fits the song really nicely. I love that song as a work of art. I think its one of Freddies masterpieces. Its a triumph of having lots of stuff in it but having lots of space, which is hard to do. Its like a painting. Imagine a Baroque painting. Everything has its space and can be enjoyed in an uncluttered kind of way.

My favorite live moment would be standing on the roof of Buckingham Palace and playing my own arrangement of the national anthem. It opened the Queens Golden Jubilee and was met with big fanfare. Im up there alone on the top of Buckingham Palace with a billion people wired in from all around the world. It was completely live and without any kind of safety net. I was terrified. I mean, the amount of fear to face in that situation was colossal. Ive never quite experienced that again in my life, and Im sure I never will. I felt like I was called upon to represent rock music of the last 50 years. I was humbled by it but at the same time incredibly adrenalized. I had a distressed jacket made, which had a faded Union Jack on the inside with the names of a lot of songs that powered rock and roll through that period of time. The greatest thing is I didnt fuck it up. It wouldve been so easy to be the guy forever who screwed up on top of Buckingham Palace live in front of a billion people. I didnt, so thank you, God. That was a moment of religion for me.

Song that always reminds you of Freddie

The Miracle. I love that track because its so delicate and full of hope and light. Freddie wrote it at a time when he must have already known that the future was not going to be that great for him. I think he had some inkling of what the future might hold. Its just beautiful and so innocent. It talks about modern innovations in the world in a very appreciative way. It neatly sidesteps all the evil in the world and all the terrible things that were happening to him and his friends. I just love it. Its probably the lightest track we ever did, but to me, it has a great weight because theres so much spiritual content. I like what I did on it with the guitar as well  but my stuff is icing on the cake. Its Freddie, that little keyboard, and his voice. The lyrics are just sensational. It still evokes tears in me.

Song most influenced by physics

The one that springs to mind is 39. It was designed to sound like a folk song that would be sung in the future. Its a story about some people who go out to try and find new worlds for humanity to exist. They go about close to the speed of light. Because of the Einsteinian time-dilation effect, they dont age at the same rate as people back on Earth age. I designed it so that by the time they got back, they wouldve aged just one year but everyone on earth wouldve aged 100 years. So the astronaut comes back and looks for his wife and his family. Theyre gone, and he sees his descendants instead. Thats the theme of the song  its scientifically inspired. But what really got me was the emotional content and the human content, because I thought this could really happen. Its not really science fiction. It could be science fact. This could happen in the future. How would that feel if all your loved ones were gone and youre looking at your grandchildren or your great-grandchildren? What an extraordinary thing that would be. So I guess its technically a science-fiction story, but something not beyond the realms of possibility.

I dont know anyone who wrote time-dilation lyrics apart from me. I love this business of me being able to sit on the cusp between art and science. Its what I always wanted in my life because I was told as a kid that I couldnt do that. People said, You have to choose between being an artist and being a scientist. And I went, I dont want to choose. I want my life to be full of everything. Why would I be cutting myself off from music if I decide to be an astronomer? Of course, its nonsense. I dont know why people were telling us that. Most of the great astronomers from Isaac Newton downward were musicians, too. A lot of musicians that you would call to mind have a fascination with astronomy like I do. So I went full pelt on both.

How Shaun of the Deads use of Dont Stop Me Now revitalized the song for you

Its a delightful scene, isnt it? Im being honest here; this type of stuff happens at a distance. Mainly when somebody wants to put our music in the film, I think, Oh, great. If you really hate the concept of the film, you can say no. Which we sometimes do if its abusive. Some of the things we get asked to put Queen music on we really dont like and reject it. We have the ability to say no. Shaun of the Dead obviously passed the selection process. At that time, there were quite a few films using our music, which was great. Its not something I take for granted. But it didnt change my life because the songs are out there, I suppose. When it gets to that point, its like youve said goodbye to your child. This child is out there standing on his own two legs. I dont feel particularly paternal about Dont Stop Me Now.

There are some songs that I do feel a bit more attached to. I always take a great interest in the way We Will Rock You is used because I dont want it to be trivialized or devalued. It doesnt mean I dont like comedy. I love comedy. Thats okay for me. But if it becomes commonplace, I think that would be upsetting for me. I would like We Will Rock You to always be some kind of a call that hits you viscerally. From time to time Ive said, No, I dont want this to happen. If somebody puts new words in, We will something you, it becomes, ugh. Thats a no every time. Its something that I suppose everybody wrestles with. Were lucky to be able to wrestle with it. What a nice problem to have.

For instance, my song Flash is very cartoonlike. I wrote it for the Flash Gordon movie. A few years ago these people came to us and said, Can we use Flash for a floor cleaner? Theres a floor cleaner actually called Flash. I dont know if you have it in the States, but across the pond, its quite a big product. At first I thought, I dont want this. This is just going to trivialize it. Its making a mockery of my song. And then I thought, Hang on, Brian. Youre being too self-conscious about this. The song has a sense of humor to it. Its deliberately cartoonish. I saw the script and I thought, This is actual humor. It makes people laugh, so why not? And theyre going to give us money for doing it. I like money. I do good things with money. So I said yes. Some people went, How could you have done that? And I go, You know what? Calm down. Its a bit of fun, and its doing some good out there.

But theres a fine line. Weve had some stuff sent to us where its tough, particularly in the rap domain. I love good rap. I love Eminem. But some of the stuff that sampled and incorporated our music has made my skin crawl. I felt it was so abusive. This isnt just me  the whole group feels the same. We talk about this. We dont want Queen music associated with that kind of a mentality. Maybe they think its funny. Maybe they think its a feeling of power. I dont know. But it seems abusive to us, so we say no to that stuff.

This is my long way around saying, yeah, I thought Shaun of the Dead was funny. Im a bit on the cusp, though. Theres a lot of space these days glorifying violence. Im a little bit equivocal about it. Theres a time when it makes me feel uncomfortable, though I dont think Shaun of the Dead made me feel uncomfortable. But its on the edge.

Album that gave you the most confidence

Probably Sheer Heart Attack, because we are wrestling with what we were and where we were going. We made our first album in a difficult situation. Very little time and money was spent on it. Its very rough and ready, but it sounds like a rock album. We had some proper studio time to make the second album, and we got quite involved. Theres a lot of arrangement on that album. Ill never forget the couple of reviews that said, This isnt rock anymore. Queen has decided to desert rock. That was upsetting. We thought, well, maybe we have to be a bit direct with people. Instead of giving them lots of complexity, which we love and weve been dying to put out there, maybe we shouldnt make something where everything is crystal clear and you can get it without needing to be intellectual about it. So Sheer Heart Attack was very bright and glistening. Everything was obvious.

That doesnt mean it was crass. It means it was calculated. It was arranged to have an impact at every point in different ways. Maybe Im not expressing this very well. But I suppose it was consciously something that you could put on and drop the needle in any place  it was a needle in those days  and get a kick. Once we put Sheer Heart Attack out, it was very well received, especially by the Queen clientele. It did well commercially. It reinforced our feeling that we were getting somewhere, and we were establishing ourselves as a rock band. And of course, Killer Queen gave us our first proper hit single. Now Im Here managed to break through as a hit as well, which was unusual. It was more oriented toward pop music. That made me feel like we had a good trajectory, and we knew where we were going.
Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

In case you somehow missed it, the Screen Actors Guild is striking, which means most studios have canceled their upcoming premieres (including Oppenheimer) as actors sit out promotional events in solidarity with their fellow guild members. Disney, however, decided to plow ahead anyway with the premiere of the Haunted Mansion remake, even though the entire cast of the film was not in attendance. This makes it the first major Hollywood event to take place after the SAG-AFTRA strike was authorized. The films cast (which includes Tiffany Haddish, Lakeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, and Jamie Lee Curtis) did not attend the premiere, which was held outside Disneylands Haunted Mansion ride. Who, then, was walking the red carpet?

In lieu of the #HauntedMansion stars, who are not in attendance at the world premiere due to the actors strike, Disney has its classic villains walking the red carpet pic.twitter.com/aCc0G30SuK  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 16, 2023

#HauntedMansion director Justin Simien arrives at the Disneyland premiere pic.twitter.com/WFybi5CNQt  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 16, 2023

Well, mostly Disneyland cast members in character, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Maleficent, the Evil Queen, and Cruella de Vil, who did their best to keep spirits high at an obviously cursed event (it should be noted that the Disney cast members are not scabbing, as they are Disneyland employees and not covered by SAG-AFTRA). Director Justin Simien was also at the event, but emphasized that the striking actors have his full support. Its sad that theyre not here, at the same time, I totally support the reason why theyre not here, he said. And Im happy to be the one to ring the bell in their stead.
Photo: Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb

In January, one movie exploded out of the anonymous ranks of microbudget indie passion projects playing in competition at Sundance  with no name recognition, no bankable stars, no distribution deal  to become arguably the breakthrough discovery of the festival. Talk to Me is an Australian supernatural horrorthriller in which bored suburban teens chronicle demonic possessions and the conjurings of spirits (achieved by shaking the embalmed hand of a powerful medium) on social media for shits and giggles. The movies co-directors? Danny and Michael Philippou, excitable 30-year-old Adelaide-born twins who have amassed a body of award-winning, pop-culture skewering, comically violent videos (as well as a passionate, 6.74 millionstrong YouTube following) under the nom de vlog RackaRacka.

In the days leading up to Talk to Mes premiere at Sundances ghouls-and-gore-leaning Midnight section, the first-time feature filmmakers were feted widely by agents, producers, and production execs; the brothers stayed up multiple nights fielding offers from studios and production companies, including Jordan Peeles Monkeypaw Productions and the low-budget juggernaut Blumhouse. Then, upon its ecstatic Egyptian Theatre public debut (at which no less an eminence than fright-film phenom Ari Aster sat front-row center), the movie triggered an all-out bidding war  Neon, Universal, Searchlight, and Sony among those in the running. Suddenly, Steven Spielberg, horrormeister James Wan, and Stephen King were blowing up the brothers phones with requests for screening links. And in perhaps the foremost indication they had crossed an invisible threshold in Hollywood, the towns major talent agencies began hotly competing to sign them (with the powerhouse WME walking away with bragging rights). Deal-wise, the Philippous threw in their lot with art-house cool-kid studio A24, which will theatrically release Talk to Me on July 28.

We started getting these creative notes steering it into this stereotypical, boring direction. Im like, Dude, Im so bored listening to this.

Januarys head-spinning series of events seemed to herald the arrival of a new filmmaking force in the form of two fast-talking film bros from the literal other end of the earth. But on a sunny summer afternoon at Los Angeless Hollywood Forever cemetery recently, the Philippous were momentarily less fixated on the birth of their new career iteration than on the dearly departed. Is it all filmmakers in the cemetery? Michael asks, stepping out of a chauffeur-driven car with a pair of oversize earphones wrapped around his neck. Danny follows, his hair currently a bright magenta. Together, we gaze at the cowboy-hatted bust of Burt Reynolds, rocker Johnny Ramone shredding on an electric guitar, and the bronze likeness of Toto from The Wizard of Oz.

We wend our way around Hollywood Forevers artificial lake, and the brothers explain how they came to their calling: through picking up a video camera at age 8 and convincing neighborhood kids in the Adelaide suburb of Pooraka (the name RackaRacka pays oblique homage to their hometown) to act out cartoonishly violent scenes of backyard wrestling and homemade horror. In the beginning, it was like Lord of the Flies, Michael says. Wed get together every weekend and just beat the shit out of each other. As teens, the two taught themselves the rudiments of filmmaking via a series of shorts they called The Evil Flamingo (a rip-off of Chucky, Danny explains) and ten seasons of their never-aired Buffy the Vampire Slayer spoof, Tamuffy. Before theyd graduated from high school, the brothers had begun developing a knack for going viral. They filmed fake fail videos, in which they stuck knives into a toaster and seemingly blew them up, for example, and caught the attention of American late-night talk shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Conan. We were just posting, says Michael. We did one video, went to sleep. Woke up the next day, it was at 500,000 views. At the end of that day, it was 1.5 million. We got 100,000 subscribers. And the news wanted to talk to us.

While working unpaid, low-level jobs on local productinos, they found inventive ways to subsidize their art  experimental-drug trials among them. I would take these random pharmaceuticals, then just constantly get my blood taken to test what the side effects were, remembers Danny. Thats how I got money to buy my first camera.

After high school, a one-year filmmaking course called MAPS taught them the basics. But they honed the rest of their craft through plain trial and error, learning visual effects, sound design, color correction, and cinematography while making dozens of YouTube shorts with titles like Attacked by the McDonalds Manager, Teaching Kids How to Fight!, and Builders of the Apocalypse. (Referencing comic-book characters and fast food, video games and professional wrestling, RackaRacka content tends to showcase lowbrow humor with surprisingly high production values: goofily engrossing shortform guerrilla videos with stirring musical cues and eye-popping VFX that more often than not feature one or both Philippou brothers in some state of humiliation or danger.) We didnt want to rely on anyone else, says Danny. Their greatest challenge, as Michael puts it, was to repeatedly make nothing look like something  and to make it cinematic.

Did any filmmakers in particular inspire their output in those early days? The energy of Racka is inspired by Xena: Warrior Princess, which I am so obsessed with, answers Danny.

In 2012, the pair ventured beyond the fizzy action-comedy-horror mayhem of their RackaRacka personae to film the short Deluge, about a farmer and his son enmeshed in a suicide cult. Also around that time, Michael served as a production assistant and Danny interned on writer-director Jennifer Kents Adelaide-set art-house horror hit The Babadook. Kents way of working was a revelation. She was the first director I saw that cared about what she was making, Michael says. It didnt matter how long it took. It was like, Were going to keep going until we get the shot. Every night, shed obsess over the next day. She would not break from her vision, no matter what.

Sophie Wilde in Talk to Me. Photo: A24

Fatefully, the brothers also made personal inroads with Causeway Films, the thennewly minted production company behind The Babadook, whose executives encouraged the Philippous to pull together a feature script. Daley Pearson, a colleague they had worked with on a previous television project, had an idea for a short film about kids using demons and possession as a party drug. Danny took a pass at the script, shifting its comedic tone to one that was straight-ahead scary and writing 80 pages on spec before enlisting a co-writer, Bill Hinzman. (Michael, in the meantime, maintained the brothers YouTube channel.) They submitted the screenplay to Causeway. Once I sent them the first draft of Talk to Me, they were in, Michael recalls. It was incredible. They really took a gamble on us. Because YouTubers sometimes dont make the best filmmakers. Theres so many examples of YouTubers fucking up films.

Theres definitely a stigma that comes with being a YouTuber, adds Danny. The three of us pause in front of Hollywood Forevers peafowl enclosure: a wood-and-chicken-wire cage teeming with live peacocks, several fanning out their tail plumage. This is the most random cemetery Ive ever been in, he observes.

The brothers path to overnight success decelerated soon after they turned in that first draft, though. With Causeways backing, they began shopping Talk to Me around Hollywood, getting turned down by every major studio save for one, which they refuse to name. We started getting these creative notes steering it into this stereotypical, boring direction, says Michael. Oh, we need to investigate this hand more. And The kids need to learn how to defeat it. Im like, Dude, Im so bored listening to this.

We really want to do an action film, really badly want to do another horror film. But our goals are just to keep making stuff.

Thats the thing with creative control: You always hear those horror stories from Hollywood where someone signs on to something and then the project gets ripped away from them, adds Danny. We have such a strong vision of how we want it to look, down to every frame that gets cut. Doing that with someone who says, No, were taking over now  I just wouldnt respond well to that. [Causeway] was like, If we do it independently in Australia, our way, then we have a lot more control. Even though its a third or half the budget.

In preparation for our interview, executives at A24 cautioned the brothers, Whatever you do, dont discuss the budget. But they reveal that Talk to Me cost less than $4.5 million USD to produce with funding from a private-investment firm as well as the governmental media agency Screen Australia. The Philippous insistence on casting Australian actress Sophie Wilde in the lead role of Mia  a high-school senior grieving the death of her mother who uses demon-possession as a kind of ad hoc seance, accidentally unleashing supernatural chaos in the process  however, created certain budgeting complexities. We lost money by casting Sophie, Danny says. Because she wasnt a name. But she is so good. The camera loves her! Every single aspect of performance, she would nail it every time. We reinvested all our fees. Causeway reinvested all their fees. Were like, Lets go all-in! Then our lawyer is like, Dont do that. Only 8 percent of Australian films make their budget back. Hes like, Youre never going to see a dollar.

That didnt really matter to us, says Michael, because we werent there to make money. Its like, Were making a movie. And anything you can do to make it even one percent better, were going to do that. That was the roll of the dice.

In an ironic foreshadowing of the films future, the co-directors, producers, and crew members often goofed around about the creative direction Talk to Me was taking in anticipation of submission to a particular Park Cityset film festival. The joke on set was always This is very Sundance, Danny says. Its very A24.

When we were editing, it was like, Thats not very A24 of you, that frame, continues Michael. Youre going to linger on that? Thats not very artsy of you.

Actor Joe Bird in Talk to Me. Photo: A24

Owing to what they describe as impostor syndrome or something, however, the brothers didnt necessarily expect to have their debut feature accepted to Sundance. Causeway presold distribution rights to various international territories with a promo reel that screened around the Cannes Film Market the May before but only hoped for an offer in the $500,000 range for North American rights. We submitted it to Sundance and were like, Cool. Anyway, says Michael. There was, in our mind, not even a flicker of a chance. The Philippous still seem thunderstruck by the reception  and the offers  they and the film received in Utah.

Causeway and the Philippous turned down a larger offer from a competing studio to release Talk to Me with A24  a company that has consistently punched above its weight, putting out genre movies originally launched at Sundance (Asters Hereditary and director Robert Eggerss The Witch among them)  for a reportedly high seven figures sum. A whole bunch of companies made offers. One made a bigger offer than the A24 one, says Danny. The turning point for us was everyone else was faces on calls. A24 met with us in person. They made an offer, left. Then they got even more people, one of the CEOs of the company; they all flew back from New York to Sundance to speak to us again. That sort of thing was like, Oh, fuck. These people are committed! (In a statement to Vulture, A24 said, We were blown away with the film and made an offer as soon as we left the theater.)

In the final lead-up to Talk to Mes release, the brothers have been unfaltering in their commitment to their day job. Last month, under the guise of RackaRacka, the Philippous attended Anaheim, Californias VidCon, a distinctly Gen-Z-leaning, Comic-Con-esque massing of creators from across TikTok and YouTube, to meet and greet fans. And despite their burgeoning acclaim as Serious Filmmakers, the brothers have no intention of forsaking their digital renown. Were never going to walk away from YouTube, Michael says. Thats how we came up. We want to give back to fans because theyre the ones who helped us get here.

In another indication of the brothers ambition, the conclusion of Talk to Me leaves the door ajar for further sequelization in what has the very real potential to become a long-running franchise for A24 a la Wans Saw. The Philippous say they would jump at the chance to do a follow-up installment. Toward that end, theyve already drafted a mythology bible, filling in blanks surrounding a TTM cinematic universe. We really want to do an action film, really badly want to do another horror film, Danny says. But our goals are just to keep making stuff.

Man, we have scripts and scripts. Weve got ideas. We got character. We got scenes, Michael continues. Its to an annoying point; weve got to start making stuff. The bigger ideas, weve just brushed the surface. Were ready to go. Sign us up.
Photo: Netflix/YouTube

Kimiko Glenn, who played Soso on Orange Is the New Black, is echoing what many actors have said about their compensation in the streaming era. Or, rather, the lack of compensation. Elaborating on the New Yorker story on the pay discrepancies on OITNB, Glenn said many of the actors on the show werent paid well enough to quit their side hustles. People were bartenders still. People had their second jobs still, she said on TikTok. They were fucking famous as shit, like internationally famous, couldnt go outside, but had to keep their second jobs because they couldnt afford to not. We couldnt afford cabs to set.

Glenn also commented on the need for streamers to figure out some sort of compensation for how often her work gets watched and rewatched on the service. My tits live on in perpetuity. I deserve to get paid for as many fucking streams as that shit gets, she said. Glenns words parallel things Sean Gunn said on the Netflix picket line Friday. I also particularly wanted to come out and protest Netflix, Gunn told The Hollywood Reporter in a since-deleted video. I was on a television show called Gilmore Girls for a long time that has brought in massive profits for Netflix. It has been one of their most popular shows for a very long time, over a decade. It gets streamed over and over and over again, and I see almost none of the revenue that comes into that. The tweet that housed that video was deleted, allegedly because it did not note that the residuals Gunn was referencing are paid by the studio and not the streamer, Netflix, per THR. Gunn responded to that tweet with one of his own. The whole point of my interview is that Netflix doesnt pay residuals to the actors, Gunn said, so theres no sharing in the success of a show with Netflix.

Update 7:55 p.m: Rutherford Falls and Reservation Dogs actor Jana Schmieding added her voice to the conversation by posting screenshots of her last quarters residuals. For acting on Reservation Dogs, she received three cents. For starring in Rutherford Falls, $33.

Well, but you were a lead on Rutherford Falls.

Why Yes! Yes I was. pic.twitter.com/T6AVMF6UQF  jana (@janaunplgd) July 17, 2023
Did Bravo just, New phone, who dis? us? They just went straight in with no lube, didnt they? No explanation about how this is a new show, why or how it happened, what happened to the old women  Wait. I would never call Sonja Tremont Morgan of the Wesson Oil Morgans an old woman. But we get no explanation of what happened to the [ahem] former cast. Have they been banished to the lower level? Did they clean and decorate down there? Did they make it nice? Is it someplace they want to Go to sleep! Go to sleep!?

So yeah, here we are with a montage of the new women with the other new women who we also dont know explaining to us things that we should know about the new women that they dont even know yet. Erin! Oh yeah, shes a true New Yorker. Jessel! What can we say? Publicists gonna publicist. Brynn! She flirts. Jenna! Shes [jazz hands] quirky. Sai! Shes not a bitch, but shes also not not a bitch. Ubah! She models!

I loved all of their vague descriptions. It was less of a photograph of the new women in the cast and more like a courtroom sketch if the artist forgot their contacts at home that day. And from there, we are right into the hangouts, and we are right into the petty drama. Cant we even get a breath first? How about a house tour? Can we see one of their husbands shirtless? No! They think we want a fight and, dagnabbit, a fight we will see.

We see two factions. The first is Erin and Ubah, who meet in Washington Square Park as if theyre trying to buy some weed without realizing that they passed about 15 semi-legal cannabis shops on Bleeker on the way there. Ubah prompts Erin to talk about her son drinking celery juice in a way that makes it seem like a bad improv class. She then tells us she got a note from her kids school saying he had blowout diarrhea. Come on, Erin. We all know that the idiom is projectile vomiting and explosive diarrhea. A blowout is what you pay too much for when you have a date night with your husband. Anyway, she is mad because she apparently had a party and Sai pointed at a plate and asked what it was, and Erin said, Its cheese, and then she said, Thats weird, and rolled her eyes. Yes, we are fighting about her weird cheese.

Across town, we hear conflicting reports from Sai, Jessel, and Brynn, who are hanging out at Sais brownstone in Brooklyn. Sai comes out with a bottle of Veuve and says, Champs for all. Sorry, but Heather Dubrow has that expression trademarked. You are going to have to send her $50 in the mail. Thank you. Theyre talking not just about the cheese incident and the charcoochie board, as Sai brilliantly calls it, but a restaurant mix-up from another hang. Apparently, Brynn and Sai were supposed to meet up with Erin, Jessel, their husbands, and some other people and go to dinner. However, when Erin booked a restaurant, Sai and Brynn thought it was tacky, so they told the women they were tired and headed home and instead went to a different restaurant. Then they posted about it. Do they not teach Social Media Common Sense in the Brooklyn school system because Sai has none. And shes supposed to be an influencer.

Erin is talking about the same thing with Ubah, and she says that the restaurant shouldnt matter. It should be all about them being together as a group and enjoying each others company. Erin is right. Its a little shitty to ditch your friends because you dont like their choice of eatery, lie to them, and then have a more socially conscious dinner elsewhere. Erin said her restaurant was last minute, it was a huge group, it was all she could find. Yup. Been there. Totally get it. Were all on Erins side.

But the restaurant is clearly Catch, the Meatpacking tourist trap where your Samantha Jones fantasies and fishs dignities both go to die. Im sorry, but they made the right call. I know, I know, its an asshole thing to do. But Catch? M-er F-ing C-A-T-C-H?! I wouldnt sit in that restaurant with someone elses ass. Even if the dinner was free and you paid me in compliments and blow jobs, I wouldnt attend dinner there. Totally team Brynn and Sai on this one. Post away, ladies, and be free.

Dont worry, well revisit this fight a little bit later, but first, we get a home scene with Erin where she has her whole Israeli family over for dinner. Erin is the type of person who has no idea that the things she says are going to come across badly, or, in fact, how they might come across at all. This makes for a horrible friend but an excellent Housewife. For instance, the first thing we hear from her is about how the trick to being a parent is to find ways to get your kids to leave you the fuck alone. Yeah, I get it, but you live in an apartment big enough that everyone can have their own room. You get that luxury. Also, there are plenty of parents who never want to be away from their children. This will make you look like someone who pays the nannies to raise their own kids.

Next, Erin, who gives me Leah McSweeney on Xanax vibes, says that her family cooks so much, my sister and I always joke we hang out in kitchens and bathrooms. Bathrooms? Know who hangs out in bathrooms? Coke heads. Is that what youre saying, Erin? You and your sister spend lots of time doing coke in bathrooms? Then she says, worst of all, that she and her husband got married when they were 25, which is early. A 25-year-old New Yorker is like a 35-year-old, I dont know, Kentucky girl. Okay, thats backward. If youre 35 and in Kentucky, youre already a grandparent. A 35-year-old New Yorker just started making enough money to afford Dominos once a week. Thats why we get married and have kids so late. If youre in Kentucky by the time youre 26, you are getting no more wedding invitations because everyone you went to high school with is already hitched. But then I totally forgot all of that because her son Elijah walks around in a diaper and talks about how he has poop. Wow, I thought they fired Ramona, but there she is.

Everyone is getting ready for the group party at Jenna Lyonss house, but no one can figure out her dress code which is black, khaki, gold, and metallic. I mean, that gives you a pretty wide range. You could mix and match even. Why are they all stumped by this? That is because they are not Jenna Lyons. Okay, for me, there has never been an aspiration Housewife dot dot dot until now. Just like Brynn wants to do to Sai, I want to kill Jenna, wear her skin, and take over her entire life, except maybe the sleeping with women part, but I am willing to do that if it gets me an apartment with an elevator that opens right into it. The chicest thing in the entire universe is having a Manhattan apartment with an elevator that opens into it. That is canon. That is lore. That is part of the devils bargain we all make when we move to this tiny slip of overpriced luxury shopping mall that we all flock to.

Erin says she doesnt know what to make of Jenna because shes so odd. Okay, whats so odd about her, Erin? She hates dill, but she loves parsley. She likes olives, but not the black ones, she says. Um, that just makes her a picky eater and also correct because black olives are garbage. I swear to God they are made with smegma and compressed dumpster juice pressed into spherical shapes. So just go on being wrong yet again, Erin. It seems like that is what you do best.

Jenna has everyone over to get to know them, and she, of course, serves only cheese. That bitch said, Oh, they think cheese is weird. Lets have fondue, and when she said fondue, she did snap with both fingers and waved her arms akimbo like a camp flamenco dancer. Okay, not really, but that is the Jenna of my mind. But that move is like one tippy-toe step away from animosity and passive aggression, which is perfectly admirable.

When Erin arrives, she gets a tour of the whole pad, as she calls it, with the fluffy pink couch, the lush fabrics, and the shoe closet that the editors scored with angelic organ music as befits it. She says she has around 800 pairs of shoes, but unlike going through Bethennys closet, you know that every single one is stylish and amazing and that shes not going into Zara, giving a review of the shoe, and then posting it on TikTok to your grandmothers delight. Erin doesnt like the flow of Jennas apartment or thinks it will sell, but Erin is the only thing on this planet that is wrong more than the iPhone weather app, so just let her be. The only thing wrong with Jenns apartment is a giant O leaning against a fiddle-leaf fig plant in the corner. It looks like the O from an Oprah magazine cover but made out of gold tinsel and merkin lint.

Brynn arrives and shes scared about confronting Erin because she says Erin takes everything personally. Yeah, we could tell. We can tell just by looking at Erins highlights that she takes everything personally. Luckily, Jenna first makes them play a game where they all talk about sex. Brynn is talking about her ideal porn, and its about a massage that goes too far. She says whenever she gets a massage, shes always pushing her ass in the air to make it happen, and the therapist says, Maam, this is the Four Seasons. I LOLd IRL fr fr. I dont want to like Brynn, but her hair is so perfect, and shes so pretty, and I bet she knows all the best brunch places.

Eventually, Erin brings the conversation around to how Brynn and Sai dissed them because they didnt want to go to Catch. Ugh, do we have to? Do we have to fight? Cant we all just get to know each other first? Im sure you will find plenty of things to hate about each other; just give it time. Why are we forcing this fight about cheese that no one understands? Maybe we would understand this fight if there was footage of this party. Know what? I think there is. I think all of this happened when Lizzy Savetsky, who was announced with the rest of the cast in October but bailed shortly after filming started, was still with the group, and they had to nix all the footage of her. That is just my theory.

Then Brynn and Erin get into it even further about Catch and all that nonsense, and Jenna tells them theyre past the point. She is right. No one cares, not in that room, not anywhere. Then Erin takes Brynn to the other room to finish their conflict in peace. God, Erin, just stop. Stop trying so goddamn hard. When they get onto Jennas bed and start talking, Erin says, I feel like you decided who you wanted to align yourself with, and then you got weird with me. What? Really? Were one episode in, and all fights on the show are already about the show! Erin felt like she was getting left out by the cool kids, and then she wouldnt get as much screen time, and then no one would love her.

I hoped we might have a little time. I hoped with a whole cast of newbies no one would play by the rules. I hoped we could go back to those glory days of Early Housewifery, where it seemed more organic, more authentic, more unexpected. But no. I think that ship has sailed. I think we will never again get women who are being only themselves, but it will always be getting Housewives fully formed. Were getting women preprogrammed with all the tricks of the trade rather than trying to invent them out of thin air. Yes, its not the start I was hoping for, but as far as being thrown into the deep end goes, its pretty good so far.

Sign up for the Housewives Institute Bulletin Dame Brian Moylan breaks down all the gossip and drama, on- and off-screen, for dedicated students of the Reality Television Arts and Sciences. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.
The Righteous Gemstones For Out of the Heart Comes Evil Thoughts Season 3 Episode 6 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Previous Episode Next Episode  Photo: MAX

Tonights The Righteous Gemstones was, in the most literal sense, a true breakthrough for male representation in art. Where have we seen anything like that before? On television, there doesnt seem to be much precedent at all for the fight between BJ and Stephen. On film, other than the Euro-provocations with unsimulated sex that pop up regularly at festivals  hello, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn  there are a small handful of other examples. The most obvious is the naked brawl in the bathhouse in David Cronenbergs Eastern Promises when Viggo Mortensen takes out two thugs who try to catch him at his most vulnerable. The other, relevant to this dual, is the scene in Sideways where Paul Giamatti sneaks into the home of a woman his friend slept with in order to retrieve his wallet, interrupts her and her husband having sex, and runs off with this gigantic, naked man chasing after him.

But these are mere throat-clearings for the aria of unsheathed wangdom in this episode, and now the possibilities are wide open. A new beachhead has been established. And its entirely fitting that a Danny McBride show would be the one to pull it off, given the blunt-force vulgarity thats carried him and his co-conspirators through shows like Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, and now this. At bottom, the fight really just exploits a long-standing comic rule: Male nudity is funny. Thus, a lot of male nudity is really funny, from the initial shock of a portrait-mode erection sliding into the frame to the brazen spectacle of a bloody beating that spills out into the open. In a fight thats about two men reclaiming their dignity, theres no room for shame.

The theme of dumb, destructive masculinity has been a through-line of McBrides career since the strip-mall martial arts of his 2006 comedy The Foot Fist Way, and now it comes for BJ, a character whose manliness is called into question constantly. Judys weird dry-humping entanglement with her tour guitarist  a no-sex affair, as she describes it to her father  has fractured the marital bond between her and her husband, but theres more to it for BJ than betrayal. He has been cuckolded. Whats more, the people around him, like Jesse and his posse, are not at all surprised that hes been cuckolded, and hes acutely aware of it. Even when Jesse takes him to some dark corner of the ministry to man up, BJ has to absorb an insult about his limp wrist and is told to Go off, Queen. Its not enough for him to be hurt by his wifes semi-infidelity. He needs to answer it with a force that doesnt come naturally to him at all.

The sucker punch he delivers to Stephens face recalls the scene in Dazed and Confused when Adam Goldberg, the quintessential ineffectual nerd, decides to stand up for himself and get in a shot at a horrible brute (Nicky Katt) at a keg party, believing that the fight will be broken up before his enemy can retaliate. (He is tragically incorrect in that assumption.) But Stephen has been through humiliation and emasculation of his own, now deepened by Judys husband answering his booty call, and hes ready to strike back. For the fight to lead into the front yard, in full view of elderly neighbors and two little girls across the street, is funny as hell, particularly when BJ seizes (and squeezes) control of the outcome. But Stephens shame in acting outside himself and his values undercut his triumph.

For her part, Judy is feeling deep remorse, though the reconciliation process is testing her patience. After BJ refuses her offer to make coffee (Those Colombian beans make me panic shit, but Ill brew em if thats what youre drinking), shes reached her wits end. Shes been there for his joke-arounds and watched food documentaries with him. What more could he want? To make matters worse, shes also facing a nuisance lawsuit from Stephens wife, who realizes the Gemstones cant afford more bad news but can afford to pay $500,000 for her silence. Judy cant contain her fury over this extortion  even Jesse, of all people, calls her out for her lack of restraint  but she must, in Kelvins words, Kiss that smelly B.

The rest of the episode occupies itself with nudging a handful of plot threads forward, setting up more fireworks to come. The Gemstones give a royal send-off to Chuck and Karl, the cousins theyre proud to have rehabilitated, not realizing the boys have smuggled a ton of bomb-making materials off the compound. The hilarious dialogue is like an episode of Extreme Makeover where everyone is narrating the incredible life-changing things that have happened. You guys did such a great job straightening us out that were ready to tackle life, all by ourselves, Karl announces. I think it happened when we dressed them up, gave em haircuts, says Kelvin proudly. Meanwhile, Jesse tosses them the keys to his monster truck as a parting gift and they peel off to Daddys militia camp, boasting that they stole it. The rift between the Gemstones and the Montgomeries cant be resolved so easily.

Meanwhile, Kelvin misses having Keefe around, despite a new assistant youth pastor whom the kids dont find weird and disquieting. Kelvin tries to express his sadness when he pays Keefe a visit at a carpentry operation, but the two have trouble saying what they really mean to each other. The exchange gets so sour that Kelvin even scoffs at the notion of Jesus being a carpenter: Its the miracles and stuff that are notable. Not the carpentry. (Adam DeVine is a rhetorical dead ringer for George W. Bush when Kelvins feeling petulant.) Keefes attempts to mend fences by bringing Kelvin a handcrafted rocking chair go unappreciated, too, making it seem likely that hell fall off the God wagon again soon.

As for poor Eli Gemstone, hes Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III: Just when he thought he was out, his incompetent children pull him back in. Judy detests him for ignoring her pleas to help her out of the Stephen situation. Jesse and Baby Billy, in a desperate attempt to revive the churchs fortunes, offer a demo of the giant, holographic Aimee-Leigh that crushes his spirits. Jesse was gambling that his father would appreciate the gesture  a gamble so confident that hes agreed to make Baby Billys terrible game show  but his misfortune has made him delusional. Im sitting here trying to figure out how to exploit my dead momma so people like us again, he tells Amber in the lead-up to the presentation. But even for a greedy, tacky megachurch founder like Eli Gemstone, theres such a thing as too much.

Uncut Gemstones

 Jesse, as his cousins pull away in the Redeemer: I instantly regret giving it to them. My monster truck was far too giant a gesture.

 Baby Billy playing hardball with Jesse over the hologram negotiations: Well, if you change your mind, Ill just unplug your mama and sell her to one of those sex shows over in Bangkok. Them boys will hack a program real quick. Make your mama do all kinds of nasty stuff.

 Incredible line from BJ about the affair: I just dont think I can move through life knowing that a guy named Stephen did this to me.

 Ambers marriage-counseling session leads Judy to a depressing reality about coming back from an affair: So the cheater has to eat massive big ol piles of shit until the hurt person decides theyre forgiven, just on an arbitrary whim. Thats the gist of this, basically?

 I hope you like me now. BJ has become a new man. For now.

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While Bonterra Energy Corp. (TSE:BNE) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 17% in the last quarter. But in three years the returns have been great. Indeed, the share price is up a very strong 239% in that time. It's not uncommon to see a share price retrace a bit, after a big gain. If the business can perform well for years to come, then the recent drop could be an opportunity.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

Check out our latest analysis for Bonterra Energy

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Bonterra Energy became profitable within the last three years. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Bonterra Energy has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Bonterra Energy stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 11% in the last year, Bonterra Energy shareholders lost 29%. 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 10% 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 be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Bonterra Energy .

But note: Bonterra Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Ponza is the largest of the Pontine Islands, the string of tiny islands located off the coast of the Lazio region in Italy.

What is the history of Ponza?

What is Ponza like?

What is there to do in Ponza?

How can I get to Ponza?

Ponza is a popular summer vacation destination for Italians, especially Romans and Neapolitans, as Rome and Naples are only a short drive and ferry ride away.Known by some as Capri without the tourists, Ponza is a worthy vacation destination for travelers who want to experience summer the Italian way, basking in the beauty of the Mediterranian. Besides having pleasantly temperate weather and gorgeous scenery, Ponza is rich with history.During the reign of the, nobility built vacation villas on the island. When the Empire fell, the island was completely abandoned. It wasnt repopulated until the 18th century, when the Bourbon Dynasty ruled over southern Italy.In the early 1900s, many Ponza natives traveled to New York to make their fortunes, but returned to the island to retire.As a result, Ponza had a large population of Brooklyn-accentedin the 1940s. Nowadays, the tradition of English-speaking seems to have died out, as English is rarely heard around the island. Another interesting fact about Ponza: Benito Mussolini was briefly held in prison on the island in 1943. According to the New York Times, Ponza is so remote that when Mussolini arrived, many locals had never heard of him or World War II. An American lieutenant described Ponza as another world, a paradise unmarred by the violence of war.Legend has it that the island is named after Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who condemned Jesus to death for acting against Roman law. There is no evidence to support this claim, so it is more likely that the name comes from the Latin word Pontia (meaning bridge), as Ponza has many natural bridges. Ph: Alessandro Tortora / Shutterstock.com Characterized by steep white cliffs and, Ponza is a gorgeous escape from traditional tourism. Unlike most tourist destinations in Italy,. With a population of around 3500, Ponza remains fairly quiet for most of the year, and maintains a small-town atmosphere.The island comes to life between, when tourists flock from all over Italy to escape the Italian summer heat. Summer temperatures in Ponza usually hover around 25.5 C and rarely surpass 29 C. Tourists can expect sunny weather with a side of sea breeze. Even during high tourist season, Ponza has a relaxed, casual feel. Locals are known for being warm and welcoming. Italian vacationers travel to Ponza to relax by the, enjoying the countless beautiful beaches perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and boating. For swimming and sunbathing, the Cala Feola beach can be reached by foot from the island, and features many Piscine Naturali, natural seawater pools.Spiaggia Di Frontone is another popular swimming location, and is usually one of the most crowded, lively beaches on the island. In the evening, a hired DJ transforms Frontone into an open-air disco. Prepare for a steep walk to the beach if you arent arriving by boat.One of the most popular beaches on Ponza,, has been closed for a few years due to safety hazards, but visitors can still enjoy the beach from a distance--the area above the beach offers breathtaking views of sea and the island coast. Check into Hotel Chiaia di Luna to be immersed in the exquisite scenery. Chiaia di Luna beachThere are numerous other beaches to explore in Ponza, but many require boat access. Tourists can pay for a boat tour of the island, orfrom one of the various rental services at the Ponza port. For visitors with boats, take time to explore the other Pontine Islands, such as Palmarola and Santo Stefano. Sail around the Arco Naturale, an arch-shaped geological formation close to the Ponza coast. Adventurous history buffs will enjoy exploring the Grotte di Pilato, the complex network of tunnels dug into Ponzas cliffs that dates back to Roman times.When you need a break from basking in the sun, wander through the picturesque streets of the Centro Storico (historic center). Thein the Centro Storico house fresh markets, artisan boutiques, and traditional seafood restaurants.Make a stop at, the most celebrated church on the island, or explore the Roman Cisterns on Via Dragonara. Grab a bite to eat at Monte Guardia Trattoria, located on the islands highest summit. Foodie tourists will especially enjoy Acqua Pazza,. No matter where you eat, you cant go wrong ordering locally-sourced seafood dishes. To get to, take a train from the Roma Termini station to the Anzio Colonia station. The train ride lasts an hour and costs less than 5 euro one way. From the station, walk a short distance to the Anzio port, where you can take a ferry or hydrofoil to Ponza.Another option is to drive or hire a private car to go directly to theport. From the port, the ferry ride is around an hour and a half, and costs roughly 50 euro.To get to, there is a direct ferry that leaves from the Naples port. It operates only a few times per week, so be sure to arrive on time. The trip lasts three hours and costs around 50 euro.Alternatively, take a one-hour train from the Napoli Centrale station to thestation and catch a ferry from the Formia port. The ferry ride last between an hour and a half to two and a half hours, and costs between 80 and 100 euro.Ferries to Ponza can also be taken from Terracina and San Felice Circeo

Top photo: Vladimir Sazonov / Shutterstock.com
The Russo-Ukrainian War has seen several former American servicemen volunteer to take up arms and fight in Eastern Europe. One of them was James Vasquez, 48, a decorated veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan  except, he never did. After amassing hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, it came to light that Vasquez isnt a war hero, but, instead, a culprit of stolen valor.

James Vasquez is a former home improvement contractor from Norwalk, Connecticut. After traveling to Ukraine, hed garnered a following of individuals who kept up to date with his exploits on the frontlines, which he claimed included capturing 159 Russians and even taking into custody a mercenary with Wagner PMC.

According to Vasquez, he was a decorated retired sergeant with the US Army whod fought in Kuwait, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq. During one interview, he even spoke about the differences between the fighting in Ukraine and what hed previously experienced, saying, I was in Kuwait during Desert Storm, and I was in Iraq after 9/11 [] This is a whole different animal.

On his Twitter account, which, at one point, had amassed over 400,000 followers, hed discuss fighting alongside Ukraines far-right Da Vinci Wolves battalion and share videos from the battlefield, which often featured destroyed Russian military vehicles. He also used the account to fundraise for a volunteer group known as Ripleys Heroes, which raised more than $1 million to purchase war munitions.

Vasquez framed himself as a fearless fighter and veteran who gave up his life in Connecticut to serve in Ukraine. However, as The New York Times reported in March 2023, his entire online (and real-life) persona is a lie.

After months of rumblings on social media, The New York Times interviewed James Vasquez, who admitted to misrepresenting his military service for decades  including lying to his now-ex-wife. Speaking with the publication, he revealed hed been kicked out of the US Army Reserve, before being deployed. He also shared that he specialized in fuel and electrical repairs, as opposed to combat.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon confirmed this, saying Vasquez was never deployed overseas and revealing that hed served as a fuel and electrical systems repairer with the New York National Guard between July 1992 and July 1993, after which he served in the Army Reserve from July 1993 to August 2003.

After revealing this information, Vasquez said, I had to tell a million lies to get ahead. I didnt realize it was going to come to this.

Speaking with The New York Post, Vasquezs ex-wife explained how devastating it was to learn that everything her former husband had said about his military service was a lie. It was just devastating for me, she said. He fooled everybody. I believed him. The war stories that had supposedly happened brought tears to my eyes. I felt terrible for what [he said] he had to go through and endure  and then come to find out it was all just a lie.

Business Insider spoke with four foreign fighters and volunteers in Ukraine, who said it was an open secret that James Vasquez had lied about his military service. Whats more, he wasnt involved in the frontline fighting. Instead, hed travel to areas where fighting had previously taken place, film the damaged equipment and claim the feats were his own.

Some even told the publication that hed wanted to cash in on his newfound fame, claiming hed spoken about becoming a millionaire following the conclusion of the conflict.

In the report by The New York Times, it was revealed Vasquez, whos twice traveled to Ukraine since the war broke out, was just one in a group of problematic American military members whove traveled to Ukraine. According to the publication, they include a former US Army soldier whos defected to Russia and a retired lieutenant colonel with the US Marine Corps whos currently at the center of federal investigation into the potentially illegal export of military technology.

More from us: World War II-Era Hawker Hurricanes Found Buried In Ukraine

James Vasquez deactivated his Twitter accounting following the publishing of The New York Times report. As of May 2023, he was still sharing updates from Ukraine via Facebook.
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ALGIERS, Algeria  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune began a state visit to China on Monday, with both economic and diplomatic priorities as the North African nation looks to become less gas-dependent and raise its global profile. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The visit follows Tebbounes trip last month to Russia, a long-time partner and military provider, although Algeria has remained officially neutral in Moscows war in Ukraine. Tebboune spent two days in Qatar before landing in Beijing on Monday. A large delegation accompanied Tebboune to China, reflecting a drive for deeper cooperation beyond the economy.

Tebboune is also looking for concrete support for Algerian membership in BRICS, an economic bloc that includes both China and Russia as well as Brazil, India and South Africa, which is hosting a summit next month. The collective was founded in 2009 when the member countries were seen as the potential engine for future global economic growth.

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BRICS membership has become a diplomatic priority for Algeria with the upending of the global economy, notably due to the war in Ukraine. While in Russia in June, Tebboune offered to help mediate in the conflict.

Algerias relationship with China reach into history. Algerias official press service APS underscored Chinas role as the first non-Arab country to recognize Algerias provisional government in 1958, established midway through its brutal independence war with France.

Since 2014, Algeria and China are strategic partners and have pledged to expand their cooperation in the economy, trade, energy to space and health. China has had a hand in numerous projects in Algeria, from construction of a grand mosque in the capital to an array of infrastructure projects.

In recent years, China has become the top source of Algerian imports, ahead of traditional partners France and Italy.

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In Chinas energy transition, it is the best of times and the worst of times. When US climate envoy John Kerry visits Beijing this week, he will find himself in a country thats light years ahead of the US in building clean power. Spending on renewable energy will average nearly $250 billion a year between 2021 and 2023, close on the levels of every rich nation put together, according to the International Energy Agency. BloombergNEF expects China to install 154 gigawatts of solar panels this year, nearly half the 344GW total worldwide; it will also account for more than half of the wind power connected between now and 2030. Chinas solar panel supply chain is already approaching the scale needed for the world to hit net zero. The future is happening now.

At the same time, theres also no other country that is spending as much on dirty energy. Investment in new coal power has all but ceased everywhere else in the world, but in China its booming. Almost every one of the 40GW of coal plants given the go-ahead last year was in China, where the pace of approval doubled to its highest level since 2016. The worlds coal consumption would have peaked in 2018 were it not for the additional 862 million tons of annual production China has added since  a pile of solid fuel equivalent to every ton burned in the US and European Union, put together.

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These two trends are linked more closely than one might think. Chinas hunger is not so much for clean or dirty energy, as energy full stop. The countrys futuristic renewables sector is shackled to antiquated market structures that mean green and fossil power often go hand in hand. As a result, when President Xi Jinping encourages an acceleration down the road to the energy transition  as he did in a speech last week that boosted share prices for renewables businesses  its worth looking at the cloud of black smoke billowing out in its wake.

A colossal renewable power complex under construction in the arid north provides a good example of the situation. Gigawatt-scale desert projects of this nature have been a central element of Chinas clean-energy development since a program kicked off in 2021, with the first coming online in the Ningxia region in April.

The Kubuqi plant, under construction in neighboring Inner Mongolia, will be one of the largest, comprising 16GW of which half will be solar and another 4GW wind. The remaining 4GW is the problem, however. It will be provided by coal, according to the state-owned China Daily, accounting for about half the overall output from the site.

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The geography of the region means that such projects are arguably being optimized for their coal potential. The north of Inner Mongolia has rich natural resources of wind and solar, but Kubuqi is further south, close to the coalfields stretching up from the border of Shanxi province. On the China Dailys numbers, the productivity of the renewable generators will be mediocre when compared to whats possible with current technology.

The variable nature of wind and solar means that transmission lines are best utilized if there is some other form of power to fill the wire when theyre not generating. Similar renewables bases in southwest China are using hydroelectricity, for instance. Even so, theres no fundamental reason that such vast projects have to be paired with fossil power. BP Plc and TotalEnergies SE last week won bids for a $14 billion, 7GW wind farm off the coast of Germany.

The deeper issue lies in the structure of Chinas grid. Rather than having consumers and producers trade power so the generation of entire regions is available to balance the market, its based on rigid relationships between the two groups. As a result, consumers count upon firm contracts rather than the laws of supply and demand to ensure they have sufficient electricity. The excessive reliability requirements that result make high levels of fossil fuels indispensable as back-up.

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If Kerry wants to find productive common ground, thats one area where real progress could be made. Americas deregulation of its power sector since the 1990s has been far from perfect in terms of both consumer prices and grid reliability, but the patchwork nature of the market provides ample lessons and test cases for the sort of reform that Beijing is edging toward.

The progress of Chinas energy transition is dazzling  but it could be so much faster if its best-in-class supply chain and planning system wasnt being held back by market structures built for a bygone era. If the country is to fulfil its potential as this centurys clean-energy powerhouse, its going to need to tackle that problem, too.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:



China and India Do More Than You Think to Fight Global Warming: Carl Pope

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China Risks Another Debt Crisis to Keep the Lights On: David Fickling



Chinas Old Playbook Is Back. Thats Bad News: Anjani Trivedi

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

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Australias big banks have turned their backs on the countrys largest pure-play coal miner, refusing to refinance a billion-dollar debt in a major rebuff that will force Whitehaven Coal to source loans offshore, sending a worrying signal to other large coal producers and potentially speeding up the demise of the sector.

Whitehaven revealed its funding problems in a quarterly update on Monday, saying it has managed to source credit for mine rehabilitation, clean-up costs, port, rail and other activities, but could not to get a $1 billion finance facility renewed.

Australias banks have decided not to lend money to Whitehavens thermal coal mines. Credit: AP

The debt revelation will put pressure on Whitehavens ability to expand its coal mines, and surprised financial analysts who asked the company: What went wrong here?

The banks decision not to back the companys thermal mines  where the most polluting form of coal is dug up to generate electricity in power stations  means Whitehaven will need to retain large amounts of cash on its balance sheet to operate the business while it looks for other loan sources.
Police suspect a man who fired a gun at heavily armed police, before turning the weapon on himself, during a siege near Lithgow was linked to the Sovereign Citizen conspiracy movement.

News footage shows his partner surrendering in front of a flag bearing imagery from anti-government fringe political movements as the stand-off came to a grim end.

Footage showing the woman surrendering out the front of the home in Bowenfels on Monday morning. Credit: Nine News

Police were called to Bowenfels, near Lithgow, just after midday on Sunday, following concerns being raised about a man and woman fighting at a home.

The pair argued briefly with police before going back inside the home, locking the door and refusing to come out, NSW Police said on Monday.
The California Supreme Court rejected an attempt by Uber to limit the ability of their drivers to take employment-related disputes to court. (Robert Alexander / Getty Images)

The California Supreme Court rejected an argument by Uber that sought to limit the ability of its drivers to take employment-related disputes to court.

In a case brought by driver Erik Adolph against Uber, the ride-hailing and delivery giant argued that because Adolph signed a contract requiring him to take any employment-related disputes to arbitration, he could not lead a case in court on behalf of other drivers.

California's Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, allows workers to sue on the states behalf for labor law violations, and Uber's argument, if recognized by the court, would have limited its scope. However, the court unanimously determined that Adolph could not sign away his right to represent his peers in a class-action lawsuit.

Employer groups have been closely following the case, contending that more "shakedown" lawsuits would result if the court found for Adolph.

The decision follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2022 in another California case, Viking River Cruises Inc. vs. Moriana, in which the high court concluded the opposite, that PAGA violated the rights of employers and that the claims of other employees would have to be dismissed because the employee sent to arbitration would no longer have standing to pursue that litigation.

Read more: Column: Two Uber drivers read the fine print  and won millions for California gig workers

But Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a separate concurring opinion, stating that standing under PAGA was a matter of state, not federal, law and kicked the matter back to California.

California courts, in an appropriate case, will have the last word," Sotomayor wrote.

There is a long history of debate and litigation over whether employers can require workers to sign agreements waiving their right to sue over employment-related disputes. The state high court's Monday decision aligns with previous rulings, including its 2020 decision in Kim vs. Reins International California Inc. and its 2014 ruling in Iskanian vs. CLS Transportation Los Angeles.

In the California Supreme Court opinion published Monday, Justice Goodwin H. Liu wrote that "an order compelling arbitration of the individual claims does not strip the plaintiff of standing as an aggrieved employee to litigate claims on behalf of other employees under PAGA."

"The question here is whether an aggrieved employee who has been compelled to arbitrate claims under PAGA ... maintains statutory standing to pursue 'PAGA claims arising out of events involving other employees'" Liu wrote. "We hold that the answer is yes."

Liu had led questioning during oral arguments May 9.

Uber attorney Theane Evangelis of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher said the ride-hailing company is reviewing whether to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The California Supreme Courts decision contravenes the U.S. Supreme Courts holding in Viking River, violates the Federal Arbitration Act, and undermines the legislatures intent in enacting PAGA," Evangelis said in an emailed statement. "We are considering our appellate options.

Adolph's original lawsuit, filed in October 2019, alleged that while working as an Uber Eats delivery driver, he had been misclassified as an independent contractor and as a result was not properly paid under minimum wage and overtime rules in the California Labor Code.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bontas office had supported Adolph's position in a friend of the court brief, noting that PAGA was born out of a period of serious under-enforcement of the Labor Code that was disproportionately affecting some of the States most vulnerable workers.

Under PAGA lawsuits, any monetary recoveries won for violations such as failing to pay overtime is split between employees and the state Labor and Workforce Development Agency, with the government receiving 75% of funds.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The number of students graduating from TAFE nursing courses has dropped by 40 per cent since 2017 despite the state government slashing fees to zero.

Between 2017 and 2022 the number of TAFE-enrolled nursing graduates fell from 700 to 416, and the number of students enrolling to study nursing dropped 27 per cent, from 785 to 574.

The revelation came after WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam questioned the numbers in parliament.

In July 2020, the state government announced a number of diploma courses  including a Diploma of Nursing  would have their fees reduced by 72 per cent. Then, in January, it was announced the course would be free for WA residents.
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.
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
A WCO Middle Management Development (MMD) train-the-trainer workshop was held from 27 June to 06 July 2023 in Panama City, Panama, for the beneficiaries of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP) funded by the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme funded by Canada and Norway. Sixteen middle managers from the Customs Administrations of Panama, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua attended the workshop.

The objective of this workshop was to train prospective trainers capable of supporting the implementation of the MMD training programme at national and regional levels. During the workshop, the participants delivered training material, exchanged information, and shared their experiences as middle managers.

The MMD is the third core element of the WCO LMD Programme. It supports middle managers of Customs administrations to expand their knowledge and understanding of modern management by developing in them the appropriate behaviour and attitude of a modern manager and equipping them with the fundamental skills necessary to manage themselves, their teams, stakeholders and the organizational strategy and culture on a daily basis.

In addition, the WCO A-CIP and SECO programmes involvement in the workshop demonstrated managers recognition of the importance of the synergies between trade facilitation and integrity. The new MMD trainers will be able to take these messages back to their administrations and continue to strengthen transparency and predictability for trade in the region.

For more information on the WCO Leadership and Management Development Programme, please contact: capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, 18.1 million doses of vaccine have been brought to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing Fagan Hasanzade, the head of the Strategy and Projects Department of the Strategic Analysis and Development Department of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB).

He noted that during the pandemic, 14 PCR laboratories provided with high-quality equipment started operating in medical institutions under TABIB. Some 43 of the 46 medical institutions mobilized to fight the coronavirus were TABIB affiliated medical institutions. In general, vaccination work was organized in more than 300 locations in Azerbaijan. Citizens whose illness is not considered serious are treated at home under the daily supervision of polyclinic field doctors. A total of 41 stations covering the service area of 87 polyclinics have been established for this type of control function in Baku city.
(Bloomberg) -- Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is set to take control of Casino Guichard Perrachon SA after a trio of French businessmen led by telecommunications investor Xavier Niel pulled out of the race for the troubled grocer.

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The 3F group, also including banker Matthieu Pigasse and retail entrepreneur Moez-Alexandre Zouari, has been competing against a consortium composed of Kretinsky and Marc Ladreit de Lacharrieres Fimalac with offers to restructure the companys debt and inject fresh equity.

The French company had asked them to submit revised bids over the weekend to select a winner by the end of July. While 3F dropped out of the race on Sunday citing a worse-than-expected financial situation, Kretinsky tweaked the terms of the bid allowing some key lenders to win better terms after most of the companys debt will be converted into equity.

Attestor Capital, the main secured creditor that had supported the 3F bid, has joined the rival camp, the Niel-led group said on Sunday. Davidson Kempner Capital Management, Farallon Capital Management, Monarch Alternative Capital and Sculptor Capital Management are also backing the Kretinsky offer, one person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named because they arent authorized to talk about it.

Officials for Casino, Davidson Kempner, Kretinsky and Sculptor declined to comment, while a representative for Farallon wasnt immediately available for comment. Spokespeople for Attestor and Monarch didnt immediately reply to a request seeking comment.

The company has been seeking since 2018 to cut debt via asset sales, but its concentration in areas heavily reliant on tourism backfired during the pandemic and a strategy to raise prices more than its competitors added to Casinos woes more recently.

With the company struggling to generate enough cash, Casino in May entered into court-supervised talks with creditors and other stakeholders  including the French state  to restructure its balance sheet. The proposals involved a new equity investments from the two bidders and others and the conversion of a significant chunk of the companys debt into equity.

Casino warned on July 12 that second-quarter sales plunged at its biggest stores and earnings will be 32% below expectations, adding urgency to the companys efforts to restructure its debt. The company is also getting reduced financing from suppliers, adding to liquidity pressures, according to ratings firm Moodys Investors Service.

To turn around the business, the French grocer presented a plan designed around its smaller, premium supermarkets in city centers in the Paris and Lyon regions and on the Cote dAzur. Even though its keeping its cash-burning hypermarket operations in France, the group is planning to sell assets such as its business in Latin America.

Under the restructuring, existing shareholders would be left with almost nothing and Casinos chairman and chief executive officer, Jean-Charles Naouri, would lose his controlling stake.

(Updates with details of Kretinskys offer from third paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for CEWE Stiftung KGaA is 158 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

CEWE Stiftung KGaA's 97.50 share price signals that it might be 38% undervalued

The 125 analyst price target for CWC is 21% less than our estimate of fair value

How far off is CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (ETR:CWC) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for CEWE Stiftung KGaA

The Method

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 57.3m 62.2m 62.0m 61.9m 61.8m 61.8m 61.9m 62.0m 62.1m 62.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ -0.40% Est @ -0.21% Est @ -0.07% Est @ 0.02% Est @ 0.09% Est @ 0.13% Est @ 0.16% Est @ 0.19% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.7% 54.2 55.7 52.5 49.6 46.9 44.4 42.0 39.8 37.7 35.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 459m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 5.7%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 62m (1 + 0.2%)  (5.7% 0.2%) = 1.1b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 1.1b ( 1 + 5.7%)10= 659m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 1.1b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 97.5, the company appears quite undervalued at a 38% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at CEWE Stiftung KGaA as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.916. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for CEWE Stiftung KGaA

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Commercial Services market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the German market.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For CEWE Stiftung KGaA, we've compiled three relevant items you should assess:

Financial Health: Does CWC have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does CWC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the XTRA every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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The appointment is a crucial step towards stable ownership for The Telegraph - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Lloyds Banking Group has called on Mike McTighe, the veteran technology executive and chairman of BTs network arm Openreach, to spearhead the sale of The Telegraph.

Mr McTighe, 69, has been appointed chairman of Press Acquisitions Limited and May Corporation Limited, the parent companies of The Telegraph and The Spectator magazine. He will oversee an auction at each company, in an acknowledgement they could attract different buyers.

Lloyds seized control of the titles last month by appointing receivers from the specialist consultancy AlixPartners. The bank had been in dispute with the previous owners of The Telegraph and The Spectator, the Barclay family, over debts of more than 1bn which were secured against the businesses.

Mr McTighe built a relationship with Lloyds in the fallout from the financial crisis, when he was involved in restructuring some of the banks distressed creditors. His appointment is a crucial step towards stable ownership for The Telegraph, amid political concern that a major bank is in control of an influential news organisation.

Mr McTighe, who is also chairman of the FTSE 250 derivatives trading provider IG Group, said: I am honoured to be appointed for this important role  to oversee an effective process that brings certainty to the future of these financially successful and well-regarded media businesses.

We are focused on delivering the optimal outcome for long-term ownership of these titles, commensurate with their significance and standing within the UKs thriving media industry.

Mike McTighe, a veteran technology executive, said he is 'honoured' to be appointed - Julian Simmonds/Openreach

It is understood that Mr McTighe will seek to appoint investment bankers to run the auctions within a fortnight. Lazard, which has been advising Lloyds on its options, may be ruled out owing to its longstanding closeness to DMGT, the publisher of The Daily Mail, which is viewed as a possible bidder.

Other potentially interested parties include Sir William Lewis, a former editor of The Telegraph and now a media entrepreneur, and Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge fund manager and joint-owner of GB News. The Czech gas dealer and owner of West Ham United, Daniel Kretinsky, who is a part-owner of the French newspaper Le Monde, is rumoured to have held discussions about The Telegraph with advisers.

National World, the listed local newspaper led by the former Mirror Group chief executive David Montgomery, is said to be exploring a bid. Foreign investors, including from Gulf states, could also enter the process.

None of the speculated potential bidders have made public comment on the sale of The Telegraph, save for the Belgian publisher Mediahuis, which said in 2019 it would be interested.

Any buyer would run the risk of a public interest regulatory regime around news assets that considers not only media plurality but also whether the new owners might adversely affect the accurate presentation of news or the free expression of opinion.

It is understood that Mr McTighe has been tasked with finding a buyer who will not prompt such concerns, which would threaten lengthy reviews by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority. That could leave Lloyds in the uncomfortable position of owning The Telegraph in an election year. Senior Conservatives have warned that the sale must be conducted quickly and transparently.

Mr McTighe is very familiar with Ofcoms leadership and processes from his role with Openreach, where he has led the legal separation of the network infrastructure from the rest of BT. He previously also spent eight years on the board of Ofcom, acting as a regulator himself.

The chief executive of Ofcom, Dame Melanie Dawes, has recused herself from discussions about the future of The Telegraph owing to her marriage to Benedict Brogan, Lloyds corporate affairs director.

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.
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:
A train strike across Italy has stranded workers and tourists alike on a sweltering weekday at the peak of high tourism season. The strike on Thursday even affected some high-speed lines that are usually guaranteed during Italy's frequent transport stoppages. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini signed a decree ordering the two-day strike be cut in half. But even that truncated stoppage forced the cancellation of service up and down the peninsula. At Milans main rail station, for example, eight of 20 scheduled Trenitalia trains scheduled between 10:30-11:30 a.m. were canceled.
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.
A man has admitted to bringing a pipe bomb to an emergency room at a Lehigh County hospital.

Brian Kunsman pleaded guilty last week to a federal charge of possession of an unregistered firearm in the October 2021 incident at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill, according to online court records.

He had been scheduled to stand trial on Monday on two charges -- possession of an unregistered destructive device and being a felon in possession of an explosive.

Kunsman, of Philadelphia, is now scheduled to be sentenced in October.

The 44-year-old was being treated at St. Luke's emergency room after a car accident. That's when an attending nurse discovered a pipe bomb in his backpack.

The emergency room was evacuated for two hours, and all incoming trauma patients had to be diverted to other hospitals.

No one was hurt in the incident.
UPPER MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa. - Crews in Bucks County are still searching for a baby and toddler who were whisked away by rushing floodwaters after severe storms this weekend.

A total of five people have been found dead and the two children are missing after flash flooding Saturday in Upper Makefield Township, authorities say.

The flooding happened around 5:30 p.m. Saturday The area of Washington Crossing was hit with what crews are calling "aggressive amounts of rain."

Officials say drivers in the area found themselves trapped.

Three cars were swept away. Inside one of those cars was a family from South Carolina.

Upper Makefield officials say the family was in the area visiting relatives.

The family was on their way to a barbecue Saturday when the severe storm hit and the car was caught in the flash flood on Route 532. The dad grabbed the 4-year-old from the car, and they were able to make it to safety.

The mom and grandmother were trying to rescue the 2-year-old and 9-month-old, but they were all swept away by the floodwaters.

The grandmother survived and was treated at a hospital, police say.

The mom was found dead later Saturday evening, said Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck.

The two young children are missing.

"We cannot imagine what the family is going through with two beautiful children gone," said Chief Tim Brewer, Upper Makefield Fire Company, in a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Upper Makefield police said a total of seven people were missing in the floodwaters, with five being recovered and the two young children still missing.

None of the victims, who were all adults, were found inside of their vehicles, Buck said. They had all gotten out to try to escape the rushing water.

Two women -- one of whom was the South Carolina mom -- and a man were found dead Saturday night.

Two other women were recovered on Sunday.

Among the five was a husband and wife, Buck said.

All of the deaths were related to the flash flooding near Washington Crossing, though autopsies are planned to determine their causes of death.

Police say crews were able to rescue one woman who was trapped in her vehicle.

Chief Brewer told reporters that the area got about 6 1/2 to 7 inches of rain in 45 minutes.

Police say anyone in the township who has experienced damage to their property or business can call the township Monday and let officials know what damages they have experienced. The number to the township is 215-968-3340.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. -- An Easton man has admitted to attacking a woman and holding a knife to her throat while he sexually assaulted her.

John Holmes, 40, pleaded guilty last week to the assault on Sept. 27, 2021 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, said the Warren County Prosecutor's Office on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated sex assault, terroristic threats and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Prosecutors said they will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September.

Holmes, who remains behind bars, followed the woman after she got off of a bus in Easton from New York City. After they walked into Phillipsburg, Holmes attacked the woman in an alleyway, then took out a knife and held it to her throat. He then threatened her and sexually assaulted her, authorities said.
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.

Follow APs climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

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.
Christine King Farris, the late sibling of Martin Luther King Jr., has received a rare tribute at the Georgia State Capitol. On Friday, Farris casket lay under the buildings gold dome. The honor is usually reserved for prominent political figures and has been bestowed on few African Americans. She died last month at the age of 95. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock were among scores of mourners who paid their respects. Kemp said Farris was instrumental in preserving her brothers memory, but also an influential civil rights leader herself. Warnock noted that Farris grew up in the segregated South, but he said she lived to see change nationwide.
ROME (AP)  Italian health officials intensified heat warnings Monday as southern Europe began a brutally hot week with temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius  or 104 degrees Fahrenheit  on a continent already sizzling under the sun and overburdened by tourists.

Countries with borders on the Mediterranean Sea weren't alone in suffering. Authorities in North Macedonia extended a heat alert for the next 10 days with predicted temperatures topping 43 C (109 F), while Kosovo also issued heat warnings.

Never in my life have I experienced heat like this before in Pristina, Artan Kelani, a 22-year-old student, said in Kosovo's capital, where it reached 34.4 C (94 F) Monday and was expected to get hotter starting Wednesday.

The Italian Ministry of Health urged regions to beef up house-call services so older people dont have to go out if they need medical care and to set up dedicated heat stations at hospitals to treat emergency cases. Rome braced for temperatures as high as 42 C  107 F  on Tuesday.

The Italian capital's civil protection office, volunteers and officials from the local water company plan to be at 28 locations, including the ancient Colosseum and open-air produce markets, to guide residents and tourists to fountains and to distribute bottled water.

The city government said that having volunteers fan out through the city would help hasten the arrival of medical help for people who seem to be suffering ill effects from the heat.

The culprit is a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus after the multi-headed dog in Greek mythology that guards the gates to the underworld. Europe's third heat wave in a month was expected to affect much of the Mediterranean region and last until Wednesday.

The bubble of hot air that has inflated over southern Europe has turned Italy and surrounding countries into a giant pizza oven, Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist and physical geographer at the University of Reading, said in a statement. The hot air which pushed in from Africa is now staying put, with settled high pressure conditions meaning that heat in warm sea, land and air continues to build.

The mercury in Rome hit 39 C (102 F) by 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Power outages were hitting parts of the city as electric grids sputtered under heavy demand from air conditioners.

While the Italian capital's hot spell was tough on tourists trekking through the cobblestone streets, tourist industry workers sweated through it.

Prince Mack, who is from Liberia, kept hydrated as he hawked tickets to open-top tour buses near central Rome's Piazza Venezia. I drank about six of these (water bottles) since this morning, and I'm still going to drink more, he said at midday.

The Ministry of Health issued 10 recommendations to protect older adults, vulnerable people and and pets from the heat. The guidance included staying indoors and avoiding strenuous exercise during the hottest hours of the day and drinking at least 1.5 liters (nearly a half-gallon) of water daily.

Local celebrities went on state-run RAI television to read the recommendations aloud and get the message out.

Besides Rome, several other cities, in particular on the southern islands of Sicily and Sardinia, were expected to top 40 C (104 F) on Tuesday.

Animals were stressed, too. Italian farm lobby Coldiretti noted that cows are producing around 10% less milk due to the heat.

Spains Aemet weather agency said the heat wave this week will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Temperatures in some southern areas of Spain were forecast to exceed 42 C (107 F) before dropping at some point on Wednesday.

Aemet spokesperson Ruben del Campo said that as Cerberus pushes a hot mass of air from Africa toward Europe, the heat and very dry air would cause the risk of wildfires to skyrocket.

A wildfire that started Saturday in Spains Canary Islands continued to burn out of control Monday, although authorities said weaker winds and cooler temperatures in the area were helping firefighters combat it. The blaze on the island of La Palma had burned some 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) of mostly woody hill land and some 20 houses and buildings as of Monday.

More than 4,000 residents were evacuated from their homes Saturday but were allowed to return as of late Sunday.

Greece got a brief respite from the heat Monday, with opening hours returning to normal at the ancient Acropolis and other sites. But two wildfires threatened homes in areas outside Athens, where winds of up to 70 kph (45 mph) made the flames difficult to contain.

Most of southern Greece, including greater Athens, was at an elevated level of alert for fire risk, while more extreme temperatures were expected starting Thursday.

Associated Press reporters across Europe contributed to this report.
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 that the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate will be celebrated this weekend at the coalition's annual convention. A successor will also be introduced during the event. Jackson is 81 and has remained active in civil rights in recent years despite health setbacks. The coalition for years has held voter registration drives in communities of color and encourages corporations to hire more minorities. Jackson announced in 2017 that he had begun outpatient care for Parkinsons disease two years earlier.
Chase Buchanan Wealth Management Services

Global expat wealth management specialists, Chase Buchanan, are delighted to announce the opening of their latest office and expert team in Bordeaux, France

Paphos, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Chase Buchanan Wealth Management Announces Latest Expansion with a New Office and Team of Experts in France



Chase Buchanan Wealth Management Announces Latest Expansion with a New Office and Team of Experts in France





Chase Buchanan, the expert expat financial advice and global wealth management firm, has strengthened its presence in Europe as a leading provider of bespoke financial guidance with a new French office positioned in a prime location in Bordeaux.

The city in southwest France has long been a hub for foreign nationals and businesses, attracted by the culture, exceptional wines and riverfront living.

This newest location complements other Chase Buchanan offices in Belgium, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Malta and Tenerife, supporting private and corporate wealth management clients with every aspect of their finances, from tax planning to retirement, estate and succession planning to investment and insurance.

Specialist Expat Wealth Management Support in Bordeaux

With a full team behind them in the French Office our two most Senior Advisers include Jean Pierre Carcabal and Malcolm McDowell. Both are highly experienced wealth managers and financial advisers in France bringing together years of expertise advising British expatriates living in or relocating to the EU. The focus is on holistic financing planning, ensuring clients have all the information they require to make informed, confident and secure decisions to the benefit of their financial future.

Carcabal has previously represented several other private investment groups, financial institutions and advisory firms, and is certified by the Autorite des Marches Financiers, the Association Nationale des Conseils Financiers and Orias, the Organisme pour le Registre des Intermediaires en Assurance.

Carcabal says, I am delighted to be joining Chase Buchanan and to be part of this new team in Bordeaux, combining skill, insight and in-depth understanding of the tax regimes, investment landscapes and financial sectors in France and varied locations across Europe."

McDowell is a pensions and lifetime allowance specialist with a long-standing reputation for his expertise, having worked in private wealth management across the US, Canada, the Middle East and Europe over the last 20 years.

He says: Chase Buchanans emphasis on personal relationships, truly tailored advice and fostering long-term dialogues to support and assist clients through each stage of life overseas is cohesive with my personal approach to wealth management and financial advice, streamlining the complexity of tax planning and portfolio management. I am very much looking forward to working alongside Jean Pierre, and the rest of the team, in the newly launched Bordeaux advisory centre.

This level of collective expertise makes a strong, experienced team with comprehensive knowledge across the scope of wealth management and expatriate financial advice.

Demand for Financial Advisory Services for Expats in France

Undoubtedly, the post-Brexit environment has significantly impacted expats considering a European location and foreign nationals already resident in an EU country.

However, France remains a key country for global expats, with the most recently available metrics from Statista showing that almost 180,000 UK citizens were living in France in 2019  the third most popular country throughout the EU.

Private financial advice is essential in many scenarios but can be particularly relevant for expatriates moving abroad to retire, looking to relocate with their families, or launching a business or professional trade in a different country.

Chase Buchanan already has a range of free resources for expats living in France. Still, this new hub is expected to widen its reach and enable more UK nationals to access independent, professional and customised guidance as they navigate the challenges of moving to a country with a different tax regime.

Lee Eldridge, Group CEO and Head of Investment Advisory, says: Jean Pierre is a fantastic addition to our network of world-class financial advisory professionals who deliver on our key values and objectives, with the knowledge, skill and enthusiasm our clients value.

Supported by a distinguished team of wealth management advisers and local finance experts, alongside our LTA specialist, Malcolm, we are excited to extend our services in France, and provide additional touchpoints for every client who would benefit from independent, specialist advice delivered in a confidential and in-person setting.

Resources available now from the Chase Buchanan website include a Guide to Expat Taxes in France.

Bordeaux as a Relocation Destination for International Expats

Bordeaux is a carefully selected location, with a large community of expats looking for a laidback and family-friendly lifestyle.

The city is also popular with expats with children keen to enrol in the Bordeaux International School, a bilingual educational establishment with an outstanding reputation.

Having a base in Bordeaux allows Chase Buchanan Wealth Management to provide the tailored, professional and reliable advice it is known for, with face-to-face consultations and meetings available immediately. Expats and those interested in high-quality wealth management support or assistance with specific aspects of their finances can contact Chase Buchanans new Bordeaux office to arrange a convenient time to discuss their requirements.

Read more about Chase Buchanan - Chase Buchanan Wealth Management Republishes Comprehensive Library of Expat Tax and Residency Guides for 2023

Media Contact:

Chase Buchanan Ltd

+357 2501 0455



About Chase Buchanan Private Wealth Management

Chase Buchanan is a highly regulated wealth management company who specialises in providing global finance solutions for those with a global lifestyle. We are global financial advisers, supporting expatriates around the world from our regulated European headquarters, and local offices across Belgium, Canada, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Spain, UK and the USA.

Chase Buchanan Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission with CIF Licence 287/15.







******

Source Company - https://chasebuchanan.com/




Affinity Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 2.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,591 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the period. Affinity Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $4,324,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Y.D. More Investments Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 193.3% in the 1st quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 88 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 97.8% in the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 91 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 87.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on LLY. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday. They issued a buy rating and a $560.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $421.00 to $430.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $395.00 to $392.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $443.45.

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of LLY stock traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $449.25. 1,173,365 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,065,709. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $444.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $383.54. The firm has a market cap of $426.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 71.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 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. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $296.32 and a fifty-two week high of $469.87.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by ($0.11). Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 61.42% and a net margin of 20.54%. The company had revenue of $6.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.62 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.79 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th will be given a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 71.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $467.60, for a total value of $76,744,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,241,071,556. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $467.60, for a total value of $76,744,850.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,241,071,556. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $429.46, for a total transaction of $2,576,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,941 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,864,681.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 970,965 shares of company stock valued at $423,725,107. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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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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Blue Chip Partners LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Free Report) by 4.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 90,463 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 3,874 shares during the quarter. United Parcel Service comprises about 2.1% of Blue Chip Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Blue Chip Partners LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $17,549,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. Tsfg LLC grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 49.8% during the 4th quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 665 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 15,176 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,638,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $666,000. Finally, DnB Asset Management AS boosted its position in United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. DnB Asset Management AS now owns 173,857 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $33,727,000 after buying an additional 1,024 shares during the period. 58.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on UPS shares. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $207.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $221.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $199.00 to $188.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Atlantic Securities began coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $162.00 price target on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $191.23.

United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.8 %

UPS traded down $1.51 during trading on Monday, hitting $183.75. 861,040 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,276,165. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The businesss 50 day moving average is $174.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $180.56. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $154.87 and a fifty-two week high of $209.39. The stock has a market cap of $157.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.99, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.09.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 57.68%. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.98 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.05 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.53%. United Parcel Services payout ratio is 52.43%.

About United Parcel Service

(Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.

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Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from C$4.00 to C$3.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on ESI. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$4.50 to C$4.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. CIBC dropped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$5.00 to C$4.25 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Raymond James upgraded Ensign Energy Services from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and dropped their target price for the company from C$6.25 to C$4.75 in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. ATB Capital dropped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$8.50 to C$8.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$2.50 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given 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 C$4.37.

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Ensign Energy Services Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of TSE:ESI opened at C$2.15 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 109.69. Ensign Energy Services has a 52-week low of C$1.77 and a 52-week high of C$4.11. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$2.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$2.88. The company has a market capitalization of C$395.39 million, a P/E ratio of 71.67, a P/E/G ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.10.

Ensign Energy Services Company Profile

Ensign Energy Services ( TSE:ESI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported C$0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.13 by C($0.11). Ensign Energy Services had a net margin of 0.33% and a return on equity of 0.50%. The company had revenue of C$484.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$499.00 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ensign Energy Services will post 0.1799486 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services.

Further Reading

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BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DCF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a decrease of 91.3% from the June 15th total of 10,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 37,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of DCF stock traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $7.65. The stock had a trading volume of 11,044 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,451. The businesss fifty day moving average is $7.58 and its 200-day moving average is $7.57. BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund has a 1-year low of $6.68 and a 1-year high of $8.14.

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BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a $0.035 dividend. This represents a $0.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 12th.

Institutional Trading of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund

About BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $111,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $122,000. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $134,000.

(Get Free Report)

BNY Mellon Alcentra Global Credit Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Inc operates as a closed-end investment fund. The funds investment objective is to seek high current income and to invest in credit instruments and other investments. The company is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Bonhill Group Plc (LON:BONH  Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2.50 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2.50 ($0.03), with a volume of 36621 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 4 ($0.05).

Bonhill Group Price Performance

The company has a market cap of 2.98 million, a PE ratio of -50.00 and a beta of 1.32. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 4.55 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 5.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.46, a current ratio of 2.19 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

About Bonhill Group

(Get Free Report)

Bonhill Group Plc, a B2B media company, provides analysis, insight, networking, and data for financial services and business solutions in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company offers InvestmentNews, which provides magazine, digital solutions, events, research, video, podcasts, and newsletters to financial advisers.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has layered an antisemitic gloss on his anti-vaccine rhetoric. (Associated Press)

It has been well noted that, whatever their starting points, conspiracy theorists sooner or later get around to blaming the Jews.

During a press dinner in New York last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is hoping to convert his portfolio of chuckleheaded conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and all sorts of other things into the semblance of a presidential campaign, went there last week.

"We've put hundreds of millions of dollars into ethnically targeted microbes," he said, delivering his spiel to dining companions who heard him out with increasingly evident discomfiture. "In fact, COVID-19  there's an argument that it is ethnically targeted.... COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."

Even in Hitler's Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic, as Anne Frank did....Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2022

The dinner took place Tuesday, but videos from the event were first published by the New York Post over the weekend. Kennedy tried to backtrack with a tweet Saturday but, as I'll show, that fell into the category of erecting what Winston Churchill might have called a bodyguard of lies. Despite his subsequent disclaimer, the import of his words was that Jews were using the pandemic for their own sinister purposes.

Notwithstanding his defense that he was just pointing out facts (none of his assertions were factual) and the assurances from sycophants such as Rabbi Shmuley Boteach that he's no antisemite, Kennedy's remarks were truly and unmistakably antisemitic: He specified that Jews are a population relatively protected from a virus that some unnamed sinister force is targeting to ethnic groups. What else would you call this?

It's tempting to say that Kennedy "crossed the Rubicon" with his comments, but that would suggest that this was a one-time thing. Actually, Kennedy has exploited antisemitic tropes before.

At a Sacramento appearance in 2015, for example, he called the purported epidemic of autism caused by childhood vaccinations  a connection that has been conclusively debunked  a holocaust," using a term that has come to signify the murder of 6 million European Jews by the Nazis.

At an anti-vaccine rally last year in Washington, he said that surveillance technologies being promoted by Bill Gates would make Americans less free than were Jews under the Nazis.

"Even in Hitler's Germany," he said then, "you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic, as Anne Frank did.... Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide."

Kennedy's COVID-19 claim  and the others in which he used antisemitic observations to advance his worldview  reflect a long history in which anti-science claims and antisemitism have been handmaidens.

"Linking antisemitism to antiscience has a basis deeply rooted in European history going back to the 1300s," writes vaccine scientist Peter Hotez, a veteran debunker of pseudoscientific claims about disease and vaccines, in an upcoming paper.

Read more: More on the unsavory history of the vaccine-autism 'link'

The practice intensified under Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. The Nazis vilified Albert Einstein, burning his books and papers in Berlin and forcing him into exile (eventually in the U.S.). His theory of relativity was denounced as a "Jewish fraud."

Today's attack on biomedical science, Hotez adds, "increasingly embraces both Nazi imagery and Holocaust denialism." Anti-vaccine activists today have accused Jews of creating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID, and "profiting from sales of vaccines or other COVID-19 prevention measures."

Hotez, who is Jewish, has himself been "compared to [Nazi doctor Josef] Mengele for developing vaccines or being a vaccine advocate," he writes. He and other vaccine advocates have been threatened with Nuremberg-style trials or execution  a common threat levied against doctors by the anti-vaccine movement.

Antisemitism has also moved into the Republican Party mainstream, which also has a long history of anti-science policymaking. In a tweet on Oct. 23, 2018, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), now the House speaker, accused George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, three Jewish billionaires, of trying to "BUY this election."

That echoed the ancient accusation that Jews plot secretly to rule the world, an allegation that has been so focused on Soros in recent years that this name alone serves as an antisemitic dog whistle to the Republican base.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) targeted Jewish political donors George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer in this 2018 attack. (Twitter)

In a 2018 Facebook post, right-wing crackpot Marjorie Taylor Greene  a Republican from Georgia who was elected to the House in 2021 and is now part of McCarthy's inner circle  associated the California wildfires that year with financial gains enjoyed by Rothschild Inc., another historical target of antisemites.

Greene conjectured that the fires were caused by "lasers or blue beams of light ... coming down to Earth I guess." Greene's argument has been ridiculed as the "Jewish space laser" theory, but its antisemitic content shouldn't be minimized.

Greene also has called Soros a Nazi collaborator, even though he was not yet 2 years old when the Nazis first came to power in the German Reichstag and 15 when World War II ended.

That brings us back to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite his family's long association with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party  his father, a one-time U.S. senator from New York, was slain in 1968 as he launched a campaign for president, and his uncles were President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.)  his pronouncements on vaccines and COVID-19 hew closely to GOP and right-wing orthodoxy.

In his defensive tweet Saturday, Kennedy disputed the New York Post's assertion that he said COVID may have been "ethnically targeted" to spare Jews.

Read more: Column: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a threat to your health  and our democracy

He tweeted, "I have never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews."

Rather, he wrote, "I accurately pointed out ... that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons and that a 2021 study of the COVID-19 virus shows that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races since the furin cleave docking site is most compatible with Blacks and Caucasians and least compatible with ethnic Chinese, Finns, and Ashkenazi Jews. I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered."

He linked to the study he said was the basis for his assertion.

Let's wade into this hurricane of lies. To begin with, the study he cited was not from 2021, but 2020. It was submitted to the journal BMC Medicine in April that year  scarcely four months after the first outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in China, and therefore an early analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome at best.

In any case, the paper doesn't say what Kennedy claimed. The paper was based on DNA lab analyses, not on any findings about ethnic susceptibility to the virus. It came to no conclusions about any "disproportionate" effects of the virus, but only noted that some groups have different genetic characteristics that may or may not affect their susceptibility to infection. The paper's authors wrote that "these factors are largely unknown."

The authors did emphasize, however, that mortality and morbidity related to COVID-19 were closely tied to factors such as "age and co-existing health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases"  findings that have held up over time.

To the contrary, no evidence has surfaced relating the genetic factors the paper referred to  and that Kennedy ran with  to the course of the pandemic.

To validate Kennedy's claims that different genetic features of human cells contribute to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, "you would need to show that that actually mattered in the real world of human beings," says John P. Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

"In the three years since that paper, I'm not aware of any evidence that different human cells and different human populations in cell culture differ in any significant way in their ability to support SARS-CoV-2 infection," Moore, who spent years battling denialism that HIV caused AIDS, told me.

Read more: Column: Sorry, Joe Rogan: Scientists should never 'debate' anti-vaccine quacks. Here's why

"There is no scientific basis that is out there for what Kennedy is saying," Moore says. There has been so much research on the implications of genetic diversity for the COVID pandemic, he says, that "we would know for sure if what Kennedy is saying was true, and there is no such evidence."

Kennedy's plea that he "never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews" is undermined by his own words, as recorded in the published video clip. The implications of what he says are crystal clear.

In his defensive tweet, Kennedy ignored the questions of who he thought was doing the targeting of COVID-19 and why it would be targeted at Caucasians and Black people. He failed to elucidate why he singled out Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese in his rundown of supposed immunities. The paper, however, makes no mention of the Chinese, but only mentions DNA analyses of South Asian and East Asian populations, which encompass many other populations in addition to ethnic Chinese.

And why mention Ashkenazi Jews? (Ashkenazis generally trace their origins to Western and Central Europe, as distinguished from Sephardic Jews, who trace theirs to the Iberian peninsula and North Africa.)

Put it all together, and Kennedy is reaching to paint an ethnic picture of the COVID pandemic that is profoundly at odds with actual infection and death rates of nations and ethnic communities worldwide. He does so by treating the rough findings of a study of ethnic genome variations as though they were firm conclusions based on hard evidence, and joins them to claims mired in sheer fantasy about research into "ethnically targeted microbes."

Has Kennedy now gone too far in his effort to base a presidential bid on conspiracy-mongering? Moore draws a lesson from the eventual defeat of HIV denialists. "We used to expose the stupidity of some of the leaders of the AIDS denialists by pointing out that they also believe 9/11 was a Mossad/CIA hoax, that the Loch Ness Monster was real, et cetera" he says. "That kind of cross-conspiracy craziness costs credibility ... not with the hard core but with the subset that is persuadable."

Kennedy's appeal to antisemitism may indeed narrow his appeal, which appears to be exaggerated anyway. The question is who was listening to him, even before this.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Shares of CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Buy by the five research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $350.86.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of CACI International in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of CACI International from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $405.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of CACI International from $315.00 to $360.00 in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of CACI International in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company.

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Insider Buying and Selling at CACI International

In related news, Director Gregory G. Johnson sold 150 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.30, for a total value of $48,045.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,908,347.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.23% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CACI International

CACI International Stock Down 0.5 %

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of CACI International by 30.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 604,767 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $179,180,000 after purchasing an additional 140,710 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC grew its position in shares of CACI International by 2,850.9% during the 1st quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 50,165 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $14,862,000 after acquiring an additional 48,465 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of CACI International by 15.2% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 366,123 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $108,475,000 after acquiring an additional 48,439 shares during the period. Channing Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of CACI International during the 1st quarter valued at $12,950,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of CACI International by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 443,965 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $131,538,000 after acquiring an additional 28,091 shares during the period. 89.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

NYSE:CACI opened at $347.25 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $319.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $305.50. CACI International has a 52-week low of $245.32 and a 52-week high of $355.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23. The company has a market cap of $7.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.99.

CACI International (NYSE:CACI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The information technology services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.64 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $1.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.66 billion. CACI International had a return on equity of 13.60% and a net margin of 5.57%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $4.64 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that CACI International will post 18.4 EPS for the current year.

About CACI International

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CACI International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides expertise and technology to enterprise and mission customers in support of national security missions and government modernization/transformation in the intelligence, defense, and federal civilian sectors. It operates in two segments, Domestic Operations and International Operations.

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China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CIADY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,400 shares, a decline of 55.6% from the June 15th total of 5,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

China Mengniu Dairy Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:CIADY opened at $36.55 on Monday. China Mengniu Dairy has a 1-year low of $31.92 and a 1-year high of $50.27. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $38.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $42.61.

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China Mengniu Dairy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 6th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th were given a $0.527 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. This is a positive change from China Mengniu Dairys previous dividend of $0.53. This represents a dividend yield of 1.39%.

China Mengniu Dairy Company Profile

China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures and distributes dairy products in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through four segments: Liquid Milk Products, Ice Cream Products, Milk Powder Products, and Others. The Liquid Milk Products segment offers ultra-high temperature milk, milk beverages, yogurt, and fresh milk.

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ARC Resources (TSE:ARX  Free Report) had its price objective increased by CIBC from C$22.00 to C$25.50 in a research note published on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

ARX has been the subject of several other reports. National Bankshares lifted their target price on shares of ARC Resources from C$18.50 to C$23.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of ARC Resources from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from C$19.00 to C$20.00 in a research note on Thursday. ATB Capital boosted their price objective on shares of ARC Resources from C$21.00 to C$21.50 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Veritas Investment Research reissued a buy rating on shares of ARC Resources in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of ARC Resources from C$20.00 to C$21.00 in a research note on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ARC Resources has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$23.82.

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ARC Resources Trading Down 2.3 %

Shares of ARX opened at C$18.23 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.57, a current ratio of 0.63 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$17.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$16.45. ARC Resources has a 1-year low of C$14.33 and a 1-year high of C$20.49. The stock has a market cap of C$11.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.55.

ARC Resources Increases Dividend

ARC Resources ( TSE:ARX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The oil and gas exploration company reported C$0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.62 by C$0.31. The firm had revenue of C$1.65 billion during the quarter. ARC Resources had a net margin of 35.33% and a return on equity of 46.72%. Equities analysts forecast that ARC Resources will post 2.4139715 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This is a positive change from ARC Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.73%. ARC Resourcess payout ratio is presently 15.11%.

About ARC Resources

(Get Free Report)

ARC Resources Ltd. explores, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas, condensate, and natural gas liquids in Canada. It primarily holds interests in the Montney properties located in northeast British Columbia and northern Alberta. ARC Resources Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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NICE (OTCMKTS:NCSYF  Get Free Report) is one of 285 public companies in the SoftwareApplication industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare NICE to related companies based on the strength of its dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, risk and profitability.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations for NICE and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NICE 0 0 0 0 N/A NICE Competitors 385 1471 3225 18 2.56

As a group, SoftwareApplication companies have a potential upside of 31.49%. Given NICEs peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe NICE has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NICE N/A N/A N/A NICE Competitors -30.52% -257.31% -7.06%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares NICE and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares NICE and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio NICE N/A N/A 257.58 NICE Competitors $440.89 million -$8.15 million 679.69

NICEs peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than NICE. NICE is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

7.1% of NICE shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.2% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are held by institutional investors. 30.4% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

NICE pays an annual dividend of $0.69 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. NICE pays out 90.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies pay a dividend yield of 1.8% and pay out 70.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. NICE lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

Summary

NICE peers beat NICE on 7 of the 10 factors compared.

About NICE

(Get Free Report)

NICE Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud platforms for AI-driven digital business solutions worldwide. It offers CXone, a cloud native open platform; Enlighten, an AI engine for CX that discovers automation opportunities for self-service; digital-entry points solutions that enable organizations to address consumers' needs; and journey orchestration solutions that empower organizations to connect and route customers to deal with the customer's request, and connects them using real time AI-based routing. The company also provides smart self service solutions that empower organizations to build intelligent automated conversations based on data; and prepared agent solutions and tools enable contact center agents to guide and alert them in real time; complete performance solutions that help organizations to record structured and unstructured customer interaction and transaction data; and NICE Evidencentral, an digital evidence management platform for public safety emergency communications, law enforcement, and criminal justice helps agencies. In addition, it offers X-Sight, is an open and flexible AI-cloud platform for financial crime and compliance; Xceed, a cloud platform for comprehensive AML and fraud prevention for small and mid-sized organizations; data intelligence solutions that enable organizations to turn raw data into comprehensive actionable intelligence to prevent and detect financial crimes; AI and analytics technologies to detect and prevent financial crimes in real-time; money laundering and fraud prevention solutions that help organizations adhere to capital markets compliance and anti-money laundering compliance regulations; intelligent investigations solutions; and self-service solutions that provide organizations with customization and self-development capabilities. The company was formerly known as NICE-Systems Ltd. and changed its name to NICE Ltd. in June 2016. NICE Ltd. was founded in 1986 and is based in Ra'anana, Israel.

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Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS  Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Stifel Nicolaus from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on ESS. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Essex Property Trust in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. They set an underweight rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank upgraded Essex Property Trust from a sector underperform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $240.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Piper Sandler upgraded Essex Property Trust from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $242.00 to $271.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Essex Property Trust from $226.00 to $224.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $245.00.

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Essex Property Trust Stock Down 1.2 %

Essex Property Trust stock traded down $2.91 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $242.53. The stock had a trading volume of 338,628 shares, compared to its average volume of 462,763. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $225.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $220.83. Essex Property Trust has a 1-year low of $195.03 and a 1-year high of $300.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essex Property Trust

Essex Property Trust Company Profile

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board increased its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 3,100 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $726,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 6.8% in the 2nd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,835 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $430,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC acquired a new position in Essex Property Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $587,000. Xponance Inc. increased its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 8,842 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,072,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 1,350.0% in the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 145 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.78% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Essex Property Trust, Inc, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast markets. Essex currently has ownership interests in 251 apartment communities comprising approximately 62,000 apartment homes with an additional property in active development.

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First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (NYSE:FDEU  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,600 shares, an increase of 162.5% from the June 15th total of 4,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 47,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund Stock Up 0.1 %

FDEU stock traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $13.50. The company had a trading volume of 46,310 shares, compared to its average volume of 50,995. First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund has a 1 year low of $9.27 and a 1 year high of $13.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $12.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.53.

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First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be given a $0.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.22%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund

About First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its stake in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 15,725 shares of the companys stock worth $200,000 after purchasing an additional 1,351 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 10.8% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,000 after buying an additional 1,355 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 2,293.1% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,446 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 3,302 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 11.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 42,926 shares of the companys stock valued at $542,000 after buying an additional 4,573 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 42.1% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 20,333 shares of the companys stock valued at $229,000 after buying an additional 6,026 shares during the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund is a close ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. The fund is co-managed by Henderson Global Investors (North America) Inc and Henderson Investment Management Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Europe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Franco-Nevada (TSE:FNV  Get Free Report) (NYSE:FNV) had its price objective lowered by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from C$240.00 to C$231.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets price objective indicates a potential upside of 20.09% from the stocks previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. National Bank Financial increased their price target on shares of Franco-Nevada from C$200.00 to C$210.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. CIBC raised their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from C$245.00 to C$258.00 in a report on Friday. National Bankshares raised their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from C$210.00 to C$215.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from C$204.00 to C$222.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from C$222.00 to C$226.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$208.90.

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Franco-Nevada Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of TSE:FNV traded down C$0.65 during trading on Monday, reaching C$192.35. 50,604 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 353,955. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$195.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$194.29. Franco-Nevada has a 52-week low of C$151.08 and a 52-week high of C$217.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 23.26 and a current ratio of 28.75. The stock has a market cap of C$36.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.00 and a beta of 0.61.

Franco-Nevada Company Profile

Franco-Nevada ( TSE:FNV Get Free Report ) (NYSE:FNV) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported C$1.07 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$1.05 by C$0.02. Franco-Nevada had a net margin of 53.96% and a return on equity of 10.60%. The firm had revenue of C$373.64 million for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Franco-Nevada will post 4.8639113 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in Latin America, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.

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Harrington Investments INC reduced its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 1.4% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,839 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 180 shares during the quarter. Illinois Tool Works makes up approximately 2.2% of Harrington Investments INCs holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Harrington Investments INCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $3,126,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,024,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,899,000 after buying an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $599,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $504,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after acquiring an additional 309 shares during the period. 79.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works

In related news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,121,970.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ITW traded up $0.89 during trading on Monday, reaching $250.46. 68,365 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,071,014. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $179.67 and a fifty-two week high of $254.24. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $237.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $234.56. The firm has a market cap of $76.11 billion, a PE ratio of 24.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 1.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.98 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 92.13% and a net margin of 19.27%. Illinois Tool Workss quarterly revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.11 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 52.40%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $235.00 to $240.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $203.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. 3M reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $233.75.

About Illinois Tool Works

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report).

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Everest Group (NYSE:EG  Get Free Report) is one of 89 public companies in the Fire, marine, & casualty insurance industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Everest Group to similar companies based on the strength of its dividends, profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and valuation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

94.4% of Everest Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 56.5% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Everest Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 13.7% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Everest Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Everest Group 0 0 0 1 4.00 Everest Group Competitors 556 2851 2637 156 2.39

Risk & Volatility

Everest Group currently has a consensus price target of $450.00, suggesting a potential upside of 27.60%. As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies have a potential upside of 1.23%. Given Everest Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Everest Group is more favorable than its competitors.

Everest Group has a beta of 0.6, meaning that its share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Everest Groups competitors have a beta of 0.63, meaning that their average share price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Everest Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Everest Group 5.34% 12.98% 2.79% Everest Group Competitors -5.09% -1.99% -0.39%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Everest Group and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Everest Group $12.06 billion $597.00 million 20.92 Everest Group Competitors $15.06 billion -$207.87 million -22.38

Everest Groups competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Everest Group. Everest Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Everest Group pays an annual dividend of $6.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. Everest Group pays out 39.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies pay a dividend yield of 1.3% and pay out 13.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

Everest Group beats its competitors on 10 of the 15 factors compared.

Everest Group Company Profile

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Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

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EDP  Energias de Portugal (OTCMKTS:EDPFY  Get Free Report) and E.On (OTCMKTS:ENAKF  Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, earnings and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares EDP  Energias de Portugal and E.Ons net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets EDP  Energias de Portugal 5.44% N/A N/A E.On N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for EDP  Energias de Portugal and E.On, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score EDP  Energias de Portugal 0 1 1 1 3.00 E.On 0 0 0 0 N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

EDP  Energias de Portugal currently has a consensus price target of $6.10, suggesting a potential downside of 87.48%. Given EDP  Energias de Portugals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe EDP  Energias de Portugal is more favorable than E.On.

25.1% of E.On shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

EDP  Energias de Portugal pays an annual dividend of $1.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. E.On pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.8%. EDP  Energias de Portugal pays out 49.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. E.On pays out -238.1% 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. E.On is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares EDP  Energias de Portugal and E.Ons top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio EDP  Energias de Portugal $21.76 billion N/A $715.52 million $3.13 15.57 E.On N/A N/A N/A ($0.25) -49.29

EDP  Energias de Portugal has higher revenue and earnings than E.On. E.On is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than EDP  Energias de Portugal, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

EDP  Energias de Portugal beats E.On on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About EDP  Energias de Portugal

(Get Free Report)

EDP  Energias de Portugal, S.A. engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity in Portugal, Spain, France, Poland, Romania, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Greece, Colombia, Brazil, North America, and internationally. It operates through Renewables, Networks, and Client Solutions & Energy Management segments. The company primarily generates and sells electricity through hydro, CCGT, coal, wind, solar, nuclear, and cogeneration and waste sources. It has an installed capacity of 28 GW; and operates 380,788 kilometers of distribution network lines. The company is also involved in the supply of natural gas. In addition, it offers engineering, laboratory tests, professional training, and energy services, as well as property management services. The company's electricity and gas customers include domestic, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and others. EDP  Energias de Portugal, S.A. was incorporated in 1976 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.

About E.On

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E.ON SE operates as an energy company in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Energy Networks and Customer Solutions. The Energy Networks segment operates power and gas distribution networks, as well as provides maintenance, repairs, and related services. The Customer Solutions segment supplies power, gas, and heat, as well as with products and services that enhance energy efficiency to residential, small and medium-sized enterprises, large commercial and industrial, sales partners, and public entities. Additionally, it provides SmartSim, a software solution that allows renewable gases to be fed into gas grids; gas quality tracking solutions; GasPro, a mobile gas sample collector; metering solutions; and GasCalc, a software that calculates natural gases, LNG, and biogases properties. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Essen, Germany.

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(Bloomberg) -- Crypto traders are turning increasingly bearish on the BNB token that serves as the centerpiece of the embattled Binance digital-asset trading platform.

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The negative sentiment is most reflected on the perpetual swap market, a type of futures contract used in crypto markets that do not expire. Data from Coinglass shows that the open interest-weighted funding rate turned negative this weekend, meaning that speculators betting on a price decline are willing to pay those counting on gains to keep their bearish positions on BNB open.

Typically, negative funding rates indicate heavy short positioning. In this case, it seems traders are betting on a decline in BNB prices, said Darius Tabatabai, co-founder of decentralized exchange Vertex Protocol. For now, headlines seem to be fairly neutral but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Regulatory crackdowns on Binance from Australia to Europe and the US are becoming a drag on the business of the worlds biggest crypto exchange. The heightened scrutiny has also prompted some banking partners to drop Binance, limiting clients ability to deposit and withdraw fiat money on the exchange.

Shiliang Tang, chief investment officer at crypto investment firm LedgerPrime said that the trade seems like a very short-term bet, since speculators are paying a steep fee to keep positions open. Also contributed to the negative funding rate is the lack of arbitragers to keep long positions on BNB in the perpetual swap market.

Theres no real way to borrow spot BNB, Tang observed, pointing out that its very hard to short BNB on the spot market due to lack of liquidity.

Open interest of BNB perpetual swaps grew in the past few days to $460 million, according to Coinglass.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market value, fell less than 1% to around $243 as of 1:23 p.m. in New York. The token is little changed this year, whereas an index of the largest 100 coins has rallied around 50%, data compiled by Bloomberg shows.

BNB is the native token of both Binance and Binance-initiated blockchain BNB Chain. The funding rate of BNB turned negative during recent times of turmoil, such as when the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit in June against Binance Holdings Ltd., Binance.US and Changpeng CZ Zhao, the founder and owner of the exchanges. Zhao and the companies have disputed the SECs allegations.

Last time the OI spiked this much, the SEC news came out so maybe indicative, Tang said. But if nothing comes out in a week or so, maybe OI and rates see some relief.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $16.66 and last traded at $16.62, with a volume of 339755 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.00.

Ivanhoe Electric Stock Up 2.6 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 6.48 and a current ratio of 6.82. The firm has a market cap of $1.70 billion and a PE ratio of -12.43.

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Ivanhoe Electric (NYSEAMERICAN:IE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter. Ivanhoe Electric had a negative return on equity of 44.13% and a negative net margin of 4,217.06%. The company had revenue of $0.68 million for the quarter. Equities analysts predict that Ivanhoe Electric Inc. will post -0.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Ivanhoe Electric

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ivanhoe Electric

In other news, VP Evan James Macmillan Young sold 50,000 shares of Ivanhoe Electric stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.48, for a total transaction of $674,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 2,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,700. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, VP Evan James Macmillan Young sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.48, for a total transaction of $674,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 2,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,700. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, SVP Catherine Anne Barone sold 4,936 shares of Ivanhoe Electric stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.11, for a total value of $69,646.96. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,936 shares in the company, valued at $69,646.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 134,936 shares of company stock worth $1,770,347 in the last 90 days. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Orion Resource Partners USA LP acquired a new position in Ivanhoe Electric in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $90,238,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ivanhoe Electric by 69.8% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,273,935 shares of the companys stock worth $51,928,000 after purchasing an additional 1,757,571 shares in the last quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ivanhoe Electric during the 1st quarter valued at about $10,829,000. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Ivanhoe Electric by 247.9% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 708,626 shares of the companys stock worth $8,610,000 after buying an additional 504,932 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ivanhoe Electric in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,094,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 42.16% of the companys stock.

About Ivanhoe Electric

(Get Free Report)

Ivanhoe Electric Inc operates as a mineral exploration and development company in the United States. It operates through Critical Metals, Data Processing and Software Licensing Services, and Energy Storage Systems segments. The company holds an option to acquire 100% of the mineral rights in the Tintic copper-gold project located in Utah; and Santa Cruz copper project located in Arizona.

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Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK  Free Report) had its price target boosted by Jefferies Financial Group from $115.00 to $118.00 in a research report report published on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a hold rating on the stock.

MHK has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on shares of Mohawk Industries from $109.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Loop Capital raised shares of Mohawk Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $115.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Mohawk Industries from $110.00 to $108.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Mohawk Industries currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $122.17.

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Mohawk Industries Trading Down 2.2 %

NYSE MHK opened at $112.33 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $7.15 billion, a PE ratio of -50.60 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a fifty day moving average of $99.65 and a 200 day moving average of $103.73. Mohawk Industries has a 1 year low of $87.01 and a 1 year high of $137.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.00.

Institutional Trading of Mohawk Industries

Mohawk Industries ( NYSE:MHK Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.47. The company had revenue of $2.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.74 billion. Mohawk Industries had a negative net margin of 1.21% and a positive return on equity of 8.47%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.78 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Mohawk Industries will post 9.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MHK. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Mohawk Industries in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Gyon Technologies Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Mohawk Industries in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 143.7% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 307 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Mohawk Industries by 75.6% in the 4th quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 339 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Mohawk Industries in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.55% of the companys stock.

Mohawk Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Mohawk Industries, Inc designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets flooring products for residential and commercial remodeling, and new construction channels in the United States, Europe, Russia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Global Ceramic, Flooring North America (Flooring NA), and Flooring Rest of the World (Flooring ROW).

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Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc. raised its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 3.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,793 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after acquiring an additional 234 shares during the period. Newman Dignan & Sheerar Inc.s holdings in TJX Companies were worth $532,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TJX. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in TJX Companies during the first quarter valued at about $68,000. United Bank boosted its holdings in TJX Companies by 9.2% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 15,197 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $921,000 after acquiring an additional 1,284 shares during the period. AMI Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in TJX Companies during the first quarter valued at about $2,780,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in TJX Companies by 69.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 38,304 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $2,320,000 after acquiring an additional 15,644 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of TJX Companies by 10.0% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,396 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $266,000 after buying an additional 398 shares during the last quarter. 92.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on TJX. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Loop Capital raised shares of TJX Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $85.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. They set an overweight rating and a $110.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, TJX Companies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.75.

Insider Activity

TJX Companies Price Performance

In other news, EVP Scott Goldenberg sold 26,271 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.91, for a total transaction of $2,073,044.61. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,727,287.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

TJX Companies stock traded up $0.74 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $85.66. 507,654 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,998,555. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $98.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.92. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $59.78 and a 12 month high of $86.43. The businesss 50-day moving average is $80.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $79.21.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 17th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $11.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.82 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.56% and a return on equity of 62.78%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.68 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.3325 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.92%.

About TJX Companies

(Free Report)

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.

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Pacific Basin Shipping (OTCMKTS:PCFBF  Get Free Report) and Global Ship Lease (NYSE:GSL  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, dividends, profitability, earnings and institutional ownership.

Dividends

Pacific Basin Shipping pays an annual dividend of $0.01 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Global Ship Lease pays an annual dividend of $1.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.5%. Pacific Basin Shipping pays out -13.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Global Ship Lease pays out 18.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Global Ship Lease has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Global Ship Lease is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

37.4% of Pacific Basin Shipping shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.7% of Global Ship Lease shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Pacific Basin Shipping N/A N/A N/A Global Ship Lease 45.83% 34.03% 15.05%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Pacific Basin Shipping and Global Ship Leases net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Pacific Basin Shipping and Global Ship Lease, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Pacific Basin Shipping 0 0 0 0 N/A Global Ship Lease 0 0 1 0 3.00

Global Ship Lease has a consensus target price of $25.00, indicating a potential upside of 24.63%. Given Global Ship Leases higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Global Ship Lease is more favorable than Pacific Basin Shipping.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Pacific Basin Shipping and Global Ship Leases top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Pacific Basin Shipping N/A N/A N/A ($0.05) -6.41 Global Ship Lease $645.65 million 1.12 $292.92 million $7.97 2.52

Global Ship Lease has higher revenue and earnings than Pacific Basin Shipping. Pacific Basin Shipping is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Global Ship Lease, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Global Ship Lease beats Pacific Basin Shipping on 11 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Pacific Basin Shipping

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Pacific Basin Shipping Limited, an investment holding company, provides dry bulk shipping services worldwide. The company also offers shipping consulting, ocean shipping, crewing, secretarial, and agency and ship management services. It is also involved in the vessel owning and chartering, and convertible bonds issuing activities. It has a fleet of 243 owned and chartered vessels, including 110 Handysize, 1 Capesize, and 132 Supramax vessels. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong.

About Global Ship Lease

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Global Ship Lease, Inc. owns and charters containerships under fixed-rate charters to container shipping companies. As of March 10, 2023, it owned 65 mid-sized and smaller containerships with an aggregate capacity of 342,348 twenty-foot equivalent units. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:BKRKF  Get Free Report) is one of 272 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk to related companies based on the strength of its dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, valuation and risk.

Profitability

This table compares PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk N/A N/A N/A PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Competitors 36.08% 9.80% 0.90%

Dividends

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk pays an annual dividend of $191.45 per share and has a dividend yield of 55,459.7%. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk pays out 21.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 12.6% and pay out 18.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk 0 1 1 0 2.50 PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Competitors 1033 2909 3020 7 2.29

This is a summary of current recommendations for PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 261.90%. Given PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbks peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

17.5% of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 16.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk N/A N/A 0.00 PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Competitors $2.52 billion $684.86 million 261.28

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbks peers have higher revenue and earnings than PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk 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

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk peers beat PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Company Profile

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PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk provides various banking products and services in Indonesia, the United States of America, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The company offers savings, time deposit, and current accounts; mortgage, working capital, investment, franchise, and cash collateral loan, as well as supply chain financing and bank guarantee; and micro, consumer, small and medium, program, and other loans. It also provides banking services, which includes bill payment, deposit services, online transaction, remittance and transfer, business internet and merchant banking, institutional services, treasury, custodian and trustee services, and cash management services. In addition, the company offers investment in pension and mutual funds, and government retail bonds; trade and finance services including standby L/C, BRI RTE online system services, and letter of credit; and cards, wealth management services, and digital banking services. Further, it provides life and general insurance, securities, venture capital, and investment services. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Thursday morning.

Separately, Morgan Stanley cut Shinhan Financial Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th.

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Shinhan Financial Group Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of SHG stock opened at $26.84 on Thursday. Shinhan Financial Group has a 12-month low of $22.98 and a 12-month high of $36.64. The company has a 50 day moving average of $26.57 and a 200-day moving average of $28.38. The firm has a market cap of $13.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.11, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Shinhan Financial Group

Shinhan Financial Group ( NYSE:SHG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The bank reported $2.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $2.70 billion for the quarter. Shinhan Financial Group had a net margin of 17.86% and a return on equity of 9.18%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Shinhan Financial Group will post 6.26 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SHG. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Shinhan Financial Group by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 11,791 shares of the banks stock worth $395,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 5.0% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 9,660 shares of the banks stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in Shinhan Financial Group by 30.1% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,211 shares of the banks stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 511 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 1.3% during the first quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 42,372 shares of the banks stock worth $1,142,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in Shinhan Financial Group by 113.7% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,075 shares of the banks stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. 2.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shinhan Financial Group Company Profile

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Shinhan Financial Group Co, Ltd. provides financial products and services in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through six segments: Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, Credit, and Others. It offers retail banking services, including demand, savings, and fixed deposit-taking; checking accounts; mortgage and home equity, and retail lending; electronic banking and automatic teller machines (ATM); and bill paying, payroll and check-cashing, currency exchange, and wire fund transfer services.

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Scully Royalty Ltd. (NYSE:SRL  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of 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. Currently, 0.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 8,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Scully Royalty

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SRL. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of Scully Royalty by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 235,811 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,316,000 after purchasing an additional 45,776 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Scully Royalty during the 2nd quarter worth $59,000. Finally, UBS Group AG bought a new stake in shares of Scully Royalty during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. 29.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Scully Royalty Stock Performance

NYSE SRL remained flat at $6.97 during mid-day trading on Friday. 3,011 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,494. The firms fifty day moving average price is $7.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $7.40. Scully Royalty has a twelve month low of $6.11 and a twelve month high of $9.83. The company has a current ratio of 4.18, a quick ratio of 4.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

Scully Royalty Announces Dividend

Scully Royalty Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a yield of 11.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 8th.

(Get Free Report)

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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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 research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Bear Creek Mining Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:BCEKF opened at $0.44 on Thursday. Bear Creek Mining has a 1-year low of $0.27 and a 1-year high of $0.75. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $0.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.50.

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Bear Creek Mining Company Profile

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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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Equities researchers at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS  Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Saturday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet downgraded American Shared Hospital Services from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Monday, May 1st.

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American Shared Hospital Services Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSEAMERICAN:AMS opened at $2.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.72, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The firms fifty day moving average price is $2.69. The company has a market cap of $15.84 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75 and a beta of 0.71. American Shared Hospital Services has a 52 week low of $2.26 and a 52 week high of $3.75.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Shared Hospital Services

American Shared Hospital Services ( NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 12th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. American Shared Hospital Services had a net margin of 6.29% and a return on equity of 4.88%. The business had revenue of $4.93 million during the quarter.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Shared Hospital Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $470,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in American Shared Hospital Services by 4.6% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 166,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $467,000 after buying an additional 7,375 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 73.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 45,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after acquiring an additional 19,200 shares during the period. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC boosted its holdings in American Shared Hospital Services by 50.0% during the first quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC now owns 30,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.70% of the companys stock.

About American Shared Hospital Services

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American Shared Hospital Services provides radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to health care providers. The company offers radiosurgery equipment for the Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-invasive procedure to treat malignant and benign brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformations, as well as for trigeminal neuralgia.

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Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:STRW  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, a decrease of 25.0% from the June 15th total of 800 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 3,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Strawberry Fields REIT Stock Up 0.3 %

STRW stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $7.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,659 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,227. Strawberry Fields REIT has a 52 week low of $5.79 and a 52 week high of $13.50.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Jack Levine acquired 9,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 23rd. The stock was bought at an average price of $6.96 per share, with a total value of $62,640.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 100,005 shares in the company, valued at approximately $696,034.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 73.40% of the companys stock.

About Strawberry Fields REIT

Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc, is a self-administered real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing and certain other healthcare-related properties. The Company's portfolio includes 80 healthcare properties, of which 79 are owned, located throughout the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

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(Bloomberg) -- Prices of dirtier, sludgier oil in Asia are surging, flipping the premiums usually commanded by lighter crudes and offering further evidence that Saudi Arabias prolonged supply cuts are tightening the market.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The value of more sulfurous and dense varieties, known as medium-sour crudes, has topped those of lighter, better-quality oils such as Abu Dhabis flagship Murban, according to traders and data compiled by Bloomberg. The shift, seen in physical and futures markets, is a reversal of the usual pattern.

Benchmark crude prices slumped in the first half even as Saudi Arabia vowed to restore balance to the global market by curtailing supplies, rolling back output along with fellow OPEC+ members including Russia. The results of that drive are now beginning to be felt in earnest, with Brent topping $80 a barrel last week for the first time since May and traders chasing medium-sour crudes that have been more affected by the production cuts.

In the physical market, cargoes of Upper Zakum for September loading have been discussed at a premium above $1.80 a barrel to the Dubai benchmark, whereas Murban was valued just above $1.80 on the ICE Futures Abu Dhabi platform on Friday. In futures, front-month Oman topped Murban last week.

In addition, some refinery outages in Japan, as well as an earlier buying spree of lighter crude from the US, are also likely to weigh on the purchasing of grades like Murban, traders said.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
TELUS (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) had its target price decreased by stock analysts at CIBC from C$31.00 to C$29.00 in a report released on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price target suggests a potential upside of 20.28% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Cormark reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$32.00 to C$31.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Scotiabank reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$29.50 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, National Bankshares reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$30.00 to C$28.00 in a research report on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$30.14.

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TELUS Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of TSE T traded down C$0.21 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$24.11. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,608,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,295,698. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.41. TELUS has a fifty-two week low of C$24.08 and a fifty-two week high of C$30.77. The stock has a market capitalization of C$34.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.69, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of C$26.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$27.12.

About TELUS

TELUS ( TSE:T Get Free Report ) (NYSE:TU) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported C$0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.28 by C($0.01). The business had revenue of C$4.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$4.86 billion. TELUS had a net margin of 7.63% and a return on equity of 8.98%. Equities research analysts predict that TELUS will post 1.0455718 earnings per share for the current year.

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TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the technology companys stock.

WidePoint Stock Down 2.4 %

Shares of WidePoint stock opened at $2.04 on Thursday. WidePoint has a 52 week low of $1.70 and a 52 week high of $3.06. The company has a market capitalization of $17.82 million, a PE ratio of -1.17 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks fifty day moving average is $1.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.93.

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WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The technology company reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter. WidePoint had a negative net margin of 16.03% and a positive return on equity of 2.98%. The business had revenue of $25.27 million during the quarter.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About WidePoint

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. UBS Group AG acquired a new position in WidePoint in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in WidePoint in the second quarter worth about $37,000. Citadel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of WidePoint by 121.1% during the third quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 13,577 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 7,437 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of WidePoint by 9.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 390,757 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $833,000 after purchasing an additional 34,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in WidePoint by 27.5% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 43,483 shares of the technology companys stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 9,377 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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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Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:YUMC  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,920,000 shares, a drop of 27.8% from the June 15th total of 8,200,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,620,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.7 days. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Insider Buying and Selling at Yum China

In other Yum China news, CEO Joey Wat sold 2,800 shares of Yum China stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.94, for a total transaction of $173,432.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 256,723 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,901,422.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Joey Wat sold 2,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.94, for a total value of $173,432.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 256,723 shares in the company, valued at $15,901,422.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director William Wang Yang sold 1,136,016 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.31, for a total value of $70,785,156.96. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 13,035,635 shares of the companys stock, valued at $812,250,416.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 1,156,316 shares of company stock valued at $72,025,389. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Yum China

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new stake in Yum China in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Procyon Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Yum China in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $301,000. Bartlett & Co. LLC lifted its stake in Yum China by 15.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 38,815 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,193,000 after acquiring an additional 5,100 shares in the last quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH increased its position in shares of Yum China by 108.2% during the 2nd quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH now owns 110,450 shares of the companys stock worth $6,230,000 after purchasing an additional 57,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Resource Group increased its position in shares of Yum China by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter. Advisory Resource Group now owns 9,507 shares of the companys stock worth $537,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.56% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Yum China Stock Down 0.2 %

A number of analysts recently commented on YUMC shares. OTR Global upgraded Yum China from a mixed rating to a positive rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. TheStreet upgraded Yum China from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Yum China in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock.

Shares of NYSE:YUMC traded down $0.14 during trading on Monday, hitting $59.87. 338,465 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,696,345. Yum China has a 52 week low of $38.58 and a 52 week high of $64.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The company has a market cap of $25.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $58.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.02.

Yum China (NYSE:YUMC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.26. Yum China had a return on equity of 8.77% and a net margin of 6.43%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.24 EPS. Yum Chinas revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Yum China will post 1.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Yum China Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. Yum Chinas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.67%.

About Yum China

(Get Free Report)

Yum China Holdings, Inc owns, operates, and franchises restaurants in China. The company operates through two segments, KFC and Pizza Hut. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Little Sheep, Huang Ji Huang, Lavazza, COFFii & JOY, Taco Bell, and East Dawning brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, hot pot cooking, simmer pot, Italian coffee, specialty coffee, Mexican-style food, and Chinese food categories.

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Tricia's Treasures on Thursday, July 13, 2023 in Neenah, Wis.

NEENAH  A downtown Neenah gift store has announced plans to close by the end of July.

Owner Tricia Novak told the Post-Crescent that rising costs and few customers forced her to make the decision to close Tricia's Treasures, 121 W. Wisconsin Ave.

"Honestly the foot traffic wasn't there," she said. "I think rent is just getting to be ridiculous and as a small business, not only am I having to stock it, I'm having to staff it."

The shop sells home decor, gifts and apparel. It also has locations in Crandon and Rhinelander, which Novak said will remain open.

The Neenah location opened in March 2019, and she said the coronavirus pandemic impacted business, mainly rising costs on items like utilities and rent. Additionally, when the Neenah store opened, she said, the hope was the store would bring in more consistent business than her other two locations.

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More: Famous Dave's in Grand Chute is closed. Here's what we know | The Buzz

Novak said the Crandon and Rhinelander stores tend to bring in higher sales between May and December. She hoped the Neenah location would have consistent year-round sales because the store is in a bigger market, but that wasn't the case.

"Our northern stores did much better in the winter than our Neenah store did. The summers are not that great down in Neenah for sales," Novak said. "I almost gave it five years."

A June 25 post on the store's Facebook page announced the downtown Neenah store's closure. Its last day will be July 31.

Until then, all inventory at the Neenah store is 50% off. Shoppers can still find Tricia's Treasures' products at the other locations and online. Also, Novak said the business has Facebook live sales every Monday.

"If you love your local stores, you need to support it, shop it now," Novak said. "I just want to thank the Neenah community, all in all, for a great 4 1/2 years. I was honored and blessed to be in that downtown. It's a beautiful downtown. I'm sorry and sad that it didn't work out for us."

More information about Tricia's Treasures can be found online at tricias-treasures-bistro-online.myshopify.com or on its Facebook page. The store is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday until it closes July 31.

Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn is a business reporter for the Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at abursiekkloehn@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Tricia's Treasures in downtown Neenah is closing. Here's why: The Buzz
Over the past three weeks, wastewater data monitoring COVID-19 provided by Biobot has shown a 50 percent increase in viral transmission in the US, a significant increase, which indicates that the country may be in the initial stages of yet another wave of the pandemic.

Based on estimates by scientist and disease modeler J.P. Weiland, these wastewater data indicate that at present there are now roughly 280,000 daily infections. In other words, roughly one in every 1,180 people in the US is being infected each day and one in every 118 people is currently infected with COVID-19, given that the average infection lasts roughly 10 days.

[Photo: Twitter @Jpweiland]

Given the complete scrapping of official COVID-19 testing and data collection by public health officials and reporting on the pandemic by the media, reliance on the efforts of individual scientists has become indispensable.

The latest summer wave of infections is not only limited to the United States, as another surge is now underway across Japan and Chinas second wave of mass infections has only just begun to ebb.

The Japanese health ministry recently stated that the average number of COVID-19 cases reported through their 5,000 sentinel surveillance designated medical institutions has seen cases rise four-fold since the first week of May into the first week of July. The figures for Okinawa prefecture, the epicenter of the current wave, are seven-fold higher than the national average.

Shigeru Omi, president of the Japan Community Health Care Organization, and previous regional director of the Western Pacific Regional Office for the World Health Organization (WHO), said during a press conference last month, A ninth wave may have started. As people have been increasingly in contact with others, the rise in infections is as expected. I dont know if the number of infected people will surpass that of the eighth wave, but we should focus on reducing the number of deaths and ensuring the continuity of social activities.

In other words, Japan will continue to follow the herd immunity policy whereby economic relations are prioritized above public health, while giving lip service to protecting the elderly and vulnerable from severe infections.

In Hokkaido, Japans second largest island and northernmost prefecture, five high schools had to close this past week due to COVID infections. Looking across 221 medical institutions, there had been a 10 percent rise in cases from the previous week with the highest number of cases in Fukagawa and Sapporo. Local officials are concerned that school festivals scheduled for the past weekend will ignite more cases for these indoor events.

In Yaeyama Prefecture, which are the remotest islands in Japan and sit southwest of Okinawa, the main hospital located in Ishigaki, the political and cultural center of the islands, is having to restrict normal services like surgeries and basic medical procedures to accommodate for the care of patients suffering from severe COVID infections. About 10 percent of the 600 staff have also been placed on medical leave as they deal with their own COVID-19 infections.

In Okinawa prefecture, the situation remains at a crisis level in which medical centers are at or near capacity and sick and ailing patients cannot find transportation or available medical centers for treatment.

The Okinawa Times, a local newspaper, recently reported that at the Yuai Medical Center in Tomigusuku City, An elderly person collapsed and appeared to be unconscious. The fire department requested a physician on the scene and the head of the emergency department came to tend to the patient. Such incidents where an emergency medical team are called to the scene have jumped five-fold and are very taxing in a limited-resource center like Okinawa.

Dr. Masanao Yamauchi told the local paper, I dont want to see anything like last summer, where I repeatedly refused to accept them [emergency cases].

As one nurse admitted, these cases may be related to COVID-19, but they no longer test or examine asymptomatic people and prioritize care to those with high severity. Dr. Yamauchi added, Its like walking through a tunnel with no exit in sight.  To be honest, it would be physically and financially easier not to see the coronavirus, but I cant say that.

Other prefectures on Japans third largest island, Kyushu, are reporting rising COVID infections, including Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Saga. In July 2022, the surge of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant had seen daily infections exceed 260,000 per day across Japan. Currently, Omicron XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are the two dominant subvariants, as is the case in many countries globally.

In line with the WHOs abrupt and unscientific declaration of an end to the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in early May, the Japanese government rapidly moved to downgrade the surveillance category of COVID-19 from a Class 2 to a Class 5 disease, equivalent to a seasonal influenza. This prompted a shift to sentinel surveillance in which case counts are no longer reported, similar to recommendations that were made by the European and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[Photo by Our World in Data / CC BY 4.0

In effect, rather than tracking and tracing daily COVID infections and hospitalizations, the impact of the pandemic will only be measured through monitoring rates of cases at designated medical systems. The details of the infections and their outcome will not be available for public health systems to monitor, which function to promote the policy of forever COVID that has morphed into forget COVID.

Indeed, a look at the Our World in Data website on the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan shows an abrupt end to daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases on May 10, 2023, just as cases were beginning to climb. It is evident that the current and ongoing wave of infections was well underway when all real-time surveillance was abruptly ended.

Across Japan, Summer 2022 saw more than 10,000 official COVID deaths. By May 2023, when all serious tracking of the pandemic ended, close to 75,000 Japanese had officially died. Estimates of excess deaths associated with the pandemic now stand at just over 220,000, roughly triple the official figure, with the majority occurring in the last 12 months during the Omicron reign of the pandemic.

These trends have considerable consequences for Japan. Given that the country had initially taken a limited mitigationist approach against infections at the start of the pandemic, this has also meant that the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the population has remained considerably lower than those in Europe and North America by nearly half the rate.

According to Japans Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, by February 2023 as much as 42.3 percent of Japans population had previously been infected, compared to 76 percent in the UK. This meant that the population as a whole, especially the elderly and immunocompromised, have remained far more susceptible to COVID infections with Omicron.

This only further underscores the complete negligence on the part of the WHO and the global declaration of the end of the pandemic. Variant evolution is continuing unabated, with the current waves in Japan and the US driven by recombination XBB variants. In effect, global public health agencies like the WHO, CDC and others are letting the firefighters go home while smoldering embers continue to burn in the dry arid forests.

By June, Omicron XBB subvariants grew to account for 95 percent of global SARS-CoV-2 in circulation, while new subvariants are emerging. In Australia, the XBC subvariant, which has a Delta-like mutation, is on the rise. EG.5, the XBB.1.9.2 subvariant with an S:F456L mutation that confers increased immune escape, is now the fastest-growing lineage globally. First sequenced in Indonesia in February 2023 and first observed in the US in March 2023, it grew to account for 5 percent of all variants by June.

The variant XAY, first identified in South Africa in June 2022, is a recombinant of Delta and Omicron which began making its way into Europe in early 2023, in particular Denmark. By the end of March, GL.1 and XAY.1.1.1.1, each with two additional mutations, appeared in Spain and by May had been transmitted to Portugal, Ireland, England, Wales, Austria and Italy.

However, due to drastically reduced sequencing globally, it is becoming more difficult to follow viral evolution, like chasing footprints in a heavy snowfall.

Without a concrete effort to divert more resources to viral sequencing and tracking, and given the complete abandonment of public health, the situation in Japan is emblematic of the present danger in the current state of the pandemic. Indeed, it may be a harbinger of shifts in the pandemics trajectory that could put millions of people at peril throughout the world.

These warnings are not mere hyperbole and fear mongering. They have been arrived at by a careful analysis of the pandemic from its earliest days and the criminal response enacted by capitalist government to the dangers these pathogens pose. The precautionary principle informs social response to such pathogens and other social threats.

However, given the advanced state of decay in capitalist relations there is little the imperialist powers will do to stave off pandemics, wars or the destruction of the planet through their chaotic and deranged endeavors. Only the working class, armed with the revolutionary principles of scientific socialism, has the ability to address the most urgent tasks set before all of humanity.
Advanced practice nurse Erin Nevitt is opening Green Leaf Senior Living, a memory care facility, in north Peoria.

PEORIA  Not even a global pandemic is going to stop Erin Nevitt from achieving her dream.

Nevitt, an advanced-practice nurse, has long dreamed of opening a small, home-like senior care facility. She took the first steps toward making the dream a reality in 2020 when she purchased a 9,000-square-foot office building on Harker Drive.

She remodeled the space with a plan to accommodate 16 residents and applied for all the necessary licenses from the state of Illinois, but when it came time to open Green Leaf Senior Living, Nevitt found that folks were still hesitant about moving into a group home setting, where COVID can quickly spread.

I dont have corporate backing, and I needed six people to move in, to come at the same time, because I was unable to pay staff and insurance and everything that goes along with these types of establishments to be able to open up for one or two people, said Nevitt. Plus, I had really focused on the home-like setting with this establishment. I really wanted people to feel like, when they moved in, they already had that sense of community. I didnt want people to feel like they were living here alone with a few staff members, that it just echoed because it was so empty. I wanted them to have my vision, of laughter and music and people socializing.

Shifting to memory care

One of the problems was being licensed as an assisted living facility, which meant she could only take people who were fairly mobile and able to take care of themselves. During the pandemic years, people in that position were more likely to remain in their homes, and work-from-home policies also made it easier for family members to take care of elderly loved ones.

The realization made Nevitt consider other types of licenses, and prompted her to become a memory care facility.

I felt like, in this area, we need more memory care facilities, said Nevitt.

More: Pending expansion and a sick dog: Here's why East Peoria pet treat boutique has closed

Working with dementia patients is also a personal calling for Nevitt.

My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer's, so its near and dear to my heart, she said.

Nevitt applied for the permits and made the necessary changes to the facility. She is now in the early stages of marketing to let people know shes ready to welcome residents.

Green Leaf Senior Living is on Harker Drive in a newly renovated 9,000 square foot building.

Keeping the project afloat through the pandemic

As an advanced-practice nurse, Nevitt has worked with older people throughout her career.

Im offering something a little different in the city for people who like living in the city but dont want to go into a larger, corporate-owned facility, Nevitt told the Journal Star in 2021 as she was preparing to open as an assisted living facility. You hear a lot about the home-like setting  everybody says that, everybody advertises that. ... But I truly wanted to design the building so it actually resembles a home.

Levitt spared no expense renovating the building. Walls were reconfigured to accommodate 16 small bedrooms with built-in closet systems, and eight spacious bathrooms, including one with a walk-in bathtub. There are many common areas, including a couple sitting rooms, a craft room, a game room, and a library with audio books. She also installed a commercial kitchen with brand new appliances and laundry facilities. The Green Leaf theme was incorporated in decor throughout the building, and the walls are painted gentle shades of green and blue.

Without corporate backing, its not been easy to keep the project afloat over the past three years. Because she was not yet open, she was not eligible for any of the financial assistance offered to businesses during the COVID shutdown. But Nevitt never considered giving up.

If God didnt want me to still be on this path, then I think he would have led me down another one. Prayer was a big part of it, and just trying to listen to what I was supposed to be doing, and so I just kept going," she said. My husband and I have just kept it afloat with our savings.

Like-minded staff

Nevitt, who will work in the facility as the first-shift nurse, has staff members lined up, people who are eager to work in a small home-like setting.

I think its more of a laid-back feeling. I want the home-like setting, so that we can just be like extended family members," said Nevitt. I want to have staff members that really have like-minds to work here, because I want them to care for people like I want to care for them because this has been my dream, to take care of people, and give them the best care possible.

Green Leaf Senior Living will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 22. To learn more, visit www.greenleafseniorliving.com, or call (309) 839-0948.

Leslie Renken can be reached at (309) 370-5087 or lrenken@pjstar.com. Follow her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.

More: Knoxville Avenue castles: 2 renowned Peoria homes have a lot in common. Here's the history

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: New senior care facility in Peoria, IL will cater to memory care
The suspect being sought in a mass shooting in Georgia on Saturday morning was killed Sunday afternoon in what law enforcement reported as an exchange of gunfire.

Authorities said that Andre Longmore, 40, was shot dead following a manhunt that ended in a shootout with police in the suburban town of Jonesboro. Officials said the confrontation also resulted in the injury of a Henry County sheriff and a Clayton County policeman. Both officers are expected to fully recover.

Longmore was being sought for the murder of four adults, three men and one woman, the previous day in the city of Hampton, a town on the southern edge of metropolitan Atlanta, some 35 miles south of the city.

The entrance to the Dogwood Lakes neighborhood in Hampton, Georgia, is shown on Sunday, July 16, 2023, with a police car to the left. Police say a man shot and killed four people in the neighborhood on Saturday, July 15, 2023. [AP Photo/Jeff Amy]

Henry County authorities revealed that the victims were Scott Levitt, 67; his wife, Shirley Levitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ron Jeffers, 66. The four were reportedly shot at approximately 10:45 a.m. in the Dogwood Lakes subdivision of Hampton, a town of some 8,200 people. All of the victims were white. Longmore was black.

According to a report by the Associated Press, a neighbor of the victims said he heard a gunshot on Saturday morning from inside his house. The neighbor, who identified himself as a Marine Corps veteran, said he knew Longmore and saw him standing in the middle of the street and noticed his hand jerking from the recoil after firing a silver handgun.

The witness also said Longmore started walking casually toward the entrance to the subdivision, then at a brisk stride. He added that after going upstairs to watch, he saw Longmore disappear behind some trees.

The neighbor also told Fox5 that Longmore was wearing tactical gear, but it was a weird type of gear Ive never seen before. He said that at first he thought it was a road rage incident.

Another community member told the Associated Press that Longmore drove through his yard and his neighbors yard, destroying ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks on the grass.

Although police gave few details about the mass shooting, Hampton Police Chief James Turner announced that a manhunt was underway to find Longmore and gave a description of his appearance.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said the sheriffs office was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Longmores arrest. Indicating the type of force that would be used in pursuit of Longmore, Scandrett declared, Wherever you are, we will hunt you down in whatever hole you may be hiding in and bring you into custody. Period.

Following the killing of Longmore, Sheriff Scandrett gave a press conference in which he said that police officers tracked the suspect to Mt. Zion Parkway and Highway 138, which leads into Jonesboro, where there was an exchange of gunfire. The sheriff said Longmore fled on foot and was confronted by officers a short time later, at which point another exchange took place and the suspect was shot and killed.

The sheriff then claimed, The citizens of Hampton, the county of Henry, the metro Atlanta area, and the entire state of Georgia can breathe a little easier tonight that the suspect is off the street. He added, This monster is off of our streets.

The horrific deaths of four people in a quiet neighborhood in suburban Atlanta and the killing of the suspected gunman by police is the latest in a string of virtually daily occurrences across America in which groups of people are shot dead.

Following the spate of mass shooting events over the four-day July 4th holiday weekend, in which more than 100 people were injured and at least 18 were killed, the ensuing 11 days have seen an additional 36 such shootings.

The latest events include:

July 5, Paterson, New Jersey: Two males were killed, one 17 and the other 26, at around 2:40 a.m. Three others were rushed to a local hospital with gunshot wounds. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said, I dont want to speculate, however it could potentially be something that stems from a Fourth of July dispute that had gone wrong.

July 8, El Paso, Texas: A shooting at a high school party resulted in eight hospitalizations of teenagers ranging in age from 15 to 18. Authorities said the shooting occurred at a house party attended by over 100 people, after a group of uninvited guests arrived. The report added that after an argument broke out, a shooter began firing into the crowd.

July 9, Wadesboro, North Carolina: One person was killed, and six were injured when a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a convenience store near a block party. The death was pronounced at the scene. Police have recovered shell casings from the parking lot but have not made any arrests.

July 13, El Paso, Texas: Another shooting incident in El Paso took the lives of two people, a man and a woman, and injured four others at the Ditzy Duck Bar just after midnight. An argument in the bar spilled into the parking lot, where a shooter opened fire randomly.

According to GunViolenceArchive.org, a staggering 195 people have been injured and 32 have been killed in mass shooting incidents in the US over the 11 days between July 5 and July 16. According to the online archive, which hosts links to news reports on each shooting, a mass shooting is one in which four or more people are injured or killed, including the shooter.

The archive also reports that there have been a total of 389 mass shootings in the US so far in 2023, which is on par with the previous record, set in 2021, of 690 such events in a single year.

Such occurrences have become so commonplace in America that the media and the political establishment have stopped commenting on them unless the number of dead in a single incident reaches a figure that cannot be ignored. It is just a matter of time before the next heinous shooting occurs, with the politicians and talking heads on TV unable to offer the public an explanation for the carnage or any rational notion of how it can be stopped.

American society is devastated by social inequalitythe product of decades of plunder by the billionaire elite, combined with attacks on working class living standards, cuts to social programs and education, police brutality and murder and imperialist war abroad.

This socio-economic environment, combined with the suppression of working class resistance by the capitalist state and the corporatist trade union bureaucracy, provides fertile ground for the random violence that is taking place every day across the US in cities, suburbs and rural areas.
Outgoing UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has lifted the lid on discussions being held in government over war with Russia and China.

Wallace told the Sunday Times this weekend he would stand down as defence secretary at the next cabinet reshuffle, and as an MP at the next election.

Ben Wallace [Photo by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

His departure this year was long planned, though Wallace had hoped he would be moving onto fresh pastures rather than into political retirement. He declined to run for leadership of the Conservative Party last year, despite significant popularity among its MPs and membership, on the expectation of being made NATO Secretary General. But this was torpedoed by the Biden administration due to a risk of alienating Germany and France, with Jens Stoltenberg persuaded to stay on for another year.

He told the Times bitterly, Why do you not support your closest ally when they put forward a candidate? I think its a fair question.

The interview article was titled, Why Im quitting politicsand my fears well be at war by 2030.

Wallace was unusually candid. He warned, 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 well be in a difficult position.

Russia and China are cited as the biggest dangers, with Vladimir Putin having the ability, in the next three or four years, to lash out and having a doctrine for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Of course, Britains chief ally the United States also reserves the right to a nuclear first strike.

Wallaces timeline could well be optimistic. Britain is already deeply involved in a military conflict with Russia, supplying ammunition and equipment including advanced and heavy weaponry, training, intelligence, and special forces assistance to the Ukrainian army in a war fought under the direction of the NATO alliance. It contributes significant forces to NATO wargames in other countries on Russias borders.

But in the absence of broad popular enthusiasm for a war with the largest nuclear power in the world, the British ruling class relies heavily on the media and entire political establishment portraying a situation in which the UK is somehow at sufficient distance from the war in Ukraine to be immune from the consequences.

Wallace is the first cabinet politician to publicly raise the reality that Britain and the whole NATO alliance are on a path to direct war with Russia and even China. His comments are an admission that the population of the UK is being dragged into a potentially cataclysmic conflict by the ruling elite.

He is in a position to know. Wallace is the longest continuously serving Government minister and the longest-serving Tory defence secretary since Winston Churchill in a period of extraordinary political turmoil, including faction fights over Brexit and the replacement of two prime ministers in as many months. A former Captain in the Scots Guards, he is extremely close to the leadership of the armed forces.

Despite the recent snub of the secretary general position at NATO, he has been considered a vital point of connection and stability in the UK by US imperialism. Amid the wreckage of Liz Trusss brief premiership, Wallace was called to a last-minute secret meeting in Washington for discussions his junior minister James Heappey described as beyond belief.

The US Pentagon press secretary, explained, Hes here today to discuss the Ukraine situation and the US and UK joint efforts to support Ukraine, as well as to, again, reaffirm the transatlantic ties and co-operation that our two countries share when it comes to issues like Russia.

It is likely Wallace was told on that visit not to stand in the upcoming Tory leadership election in order to keep a figure the US could count on at the head of Britains armed forces with the transition to a new cabinet. Little wonder his anger at being thwarted in his ambition to lead NATO.

The Times editorialised Monday: Amid crises at home and abroad, he has served effectively and enabled Britain to play a crucial role in the defence of the West. Had things been only slightly different he might now be holding a still more senior post. As it is, he leaves public life with Britains reputation burnished and transatlantic security stronger

Rather than seek some mythical common ground for a negotiated settlement that would reward Russian aggression, he has waged the struggle on the plane of ideas and ideology.

This is why, as the Times cites favourably, Wallace has been such an ardent campaigner for increased military spending. As closely familiar with NATOs war plans as anyone in the UK, he is painfully aware of the enormous resources that must be mobilised to make British imperialism fighting fit, and of the attacks which must therefore be mounted on social spending and the working class.

There were rumours of his resignation this February over not securing a commitment from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to commit 3 percent of GDP to defence, and an 8-11 billion uplift in defence spending over the next two years. He ultimately contented himself with a pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent, which he called a path in the right direction, and of course it couldnt be needed quicker.

In Sundays interview piece announcing his pending resignation, Wallace told the Times that his proudest achievement is the war he waged in Whitehall for defence. Ive coupled all that with a 24 billion budget increase, reform of defence and investment in army modernisation, he said.

I took over a department that had suffered 30 years of cuts and conceded that the whole of government was about health and education, while defence was just a discretionary spend. What I hope Ive managed to do the last four years is unlock genuinely new money and win the argument that defence is core.

Wallace continued, said the paper, that defence spending could be a dividing line at the general election. At the moment, I see Labour entirely avoiding the issue of funding for defence, he said.

In fact, there is no daylight whatsoever between the Tories and Labours position on the military and war in Ukraine, with Labour even more jingoistic. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey criticised the Tories defence spending in a speech in the House of Commons last Friday: It was 2.5% of GDP in 2010. We have got nowhere near that in any of the 13 years after 2010.

He challenged the government to pick up Labours plans to conduct a NATO test of major defence programmes to ensure that we meet our NATO obligations.

If Labour has not made any commitments on defence spending, then this is in line with party leader Sir Keir Starmers insistence that he will not make any spending promises prior to taking office as the party of fiscal responsibility, as well as being the party of NATO.

Nonetheless, Wallaces comment points to how political debate between the two main parties will increasingly be dominated by the need to find more money for war through attacks on wages and social services like healthcare. This will inevitably be coupled with new waves of repressive legislation targeting strikes, protests and free speech.

The war plans of the ruling class are far advanced. They must be matched and beaten by a socialist strategy, basing itself on the opposition which will develop in the working class to the hardships demanded of it by the warmongers.
Opposition is growing to the refusal of Macquarie University to affiliate the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) as a club on campus.

Students oppose Macquarie University's IYSSE ban.

The university, in Sydney, Australia, has blocked the IYSSE, despite it having met all requirements. Managements pretext, that the IYSSE has the same aims as the pseudo-left Macquarie Socialists, has been thoroughly debunked.

The IYSSE extensively documented the fundamental differences between the two organisations and the Macquarie Socialists have issued a statement acknowledging that there are no common aims.

With management refusing to budge in the face of these exposures, the IYSSE has initiated a public petition on change.org entitled Oppose political censorship at Macquarie University! Affiliate the IYSSE club! We appeal to all defenders of democratic rights to sign it today.

Below is a statement from a Macquarie University student demanding the IYSSEs affiliation, followed by an email to management from an alumnus and former teacher at the institution.

**

I strongly oppose the anti-democratic decision made by Macquarie University in Sydney to reject our club's affiliation, despite fulfilling all requirements. This action represents a clear violation of the fundamental democratic rights of the student body, who should be granted their full freedoms of political association.

The decision to deny affiliation not only undermines the principles of free speech and expression but also restricts the ability of students to engage in open and critical dialogue on important social, political and economic issues. It is vital that universities serve as spaces for diverse perspectives and robust intellectual exchange, fostering an environment where students can explore ideas and challenge prevailing norms.

By rejecting our affiliation, Macquarie University is sending a chilling message that it is willing to curtail the democratic rights of its students and stifle alternative voices. Such actions hinder the development of critical thinking skills, intellectual growth and the formation of well-informed and engaged citizens.

We firmly believe that students should have the right to freely associate with organizations that reflect their interests, beliefs and political convictions. This decision by the university not only undermines the principles of democracy but also stifles the ability of students to engage in meaningful activism and contribute to the broader social and political discourse.

We call upon Macquarie University to reconsider this decision, recognising the importance of upholding democratic principles and respecting the rights of its student body. It is crucial for the university to provide an inclusive and open environment that encourages intellectual diversity, fosters democratic engagement and empowers students to shape a better future through informed and active participation.

The IYSSE remains committed to defending the democratic rights of students, advocating for the free expression of ideas and working towards a more inclusive and democratic university community. We urge students, faculty and all supporters of democratic principles to join us in opposing this unjust decision and standing up for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all students at Macquarie University.

Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to democracy, free expression and the right to political association within our academic institutions.

**

Dear members of the Student Engagement, Inclusion and Belonging division,

I came to read today the article dated 7 July 2023 on the World Socialist Web Site.

Within this article I read how the IYSSE at Macquarie University has been denied legitimate status as a university Club on the false premise that it doesnt have an original program, distinct from Maquarie Socialists and/or Socialist Alternative. Having read the article above, I can see that is simply not true, whats more, I find IYSSE's positions, especially on the Ukraine War, the trade unions and the rising costs of living connected to the war, highly original, necessary and relevant in the general panorama of a lack of debate or opinion in todays youth.

As far as I can tell, their membership as a Club is essential to preserve and grow democracy and plurality of views at Macquarie.

I am a former PhD in Music at Macquarie, an alumnus and former teacher at Macquarie, and care about honest and diverse debate being present and allowed among young people.

University years are extremely important in the formation of young peoples critical and political sense, and the move to stifle this by the Mq administration seems incomprehensible and counterproductive.

I hope you will reverse this status ASAP and allow the club to exist and accept memberships readilyenriching intellectual life at Macquarie and fostering young and brave minds who think outside the beaten track.

Yours sincerely,

An alumnus
French President Emmanuel Macron rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Indias far-right Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party. He chose to feature him as guest of honour at the Bastille Day parade on Friday, July 14 where he stood alongside Macron on the Champs-Elysees amid tight security.

Modi is the political representative of Indias capitalist oligarchs, the top 1 percent which have swallowed up 45 percent of Indias wealth amid a sea of poverty and misery. He played a central role when he was chief minister of Gujarat state in instigating and aiding the 2002 anti-Muslim massacre that killed 2,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Louvre museum before a dinner in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2023. France is looking to further strengthen cooperation on an array of topics ranging from climate to military sales and the strategic Indo-Pacific region. [AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard]

Amnesty International released a report, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Guest of Honor on July 14: A Tragic Symbol. This explained, Many human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, political opponents, peaceful protesters, academics and students face arbitrary arrests and detentions, prosecutions without basis, illegal digital surveillance and other forms of violation of their rights including freedom of expression and assembly.

Small protests were held in Paris amid police restrictions, with demonstrators chanting, Not Today Mr. Modi! Bastille Day is the day of freedom, No to Modis extreme right agenda, No red carpet for the enemy of human rights and Stop discrimination against Muslims and Christians.

But Modis authoritarian record only recommends him to his counterparts internationally. Indeed, on Thursday evening Macron presented him with the Legion of Honor. This follows the presentation of the US Legion of Merit to Modi in 2020 by former President Donald Trump, and the Order of the Nile awarded him by Egyptian butcher Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2023. Modi was also welcomed by US President Biden last month and is set to visit the United Arab Emirates.

On July 14, 1789, raising the standard of liberty, equality, fraternity against the tyrannical feudal rule of Louis XVI, the French revolution began with the demolition of the Bastille prison. But this year, the anniversary of the Bastilles storming was marked following Macrons use of police violence to quell protests that erupted across the country over the shooting death of 17-year-old Nahel by police two weeks ago. Over 100,000 police were mobilized in case of renewed protest. Macron was booed as he drove in a military vehicle and could not deliver a planned speech announcing that rioting had been brought under control for fear of igniting further protests.

Under such conditions, making Modi his guest of honour was not the grave political error described by Marine Tondelier, head of the French Green Party. It was a declaration of intent, meant to underscore Macrons own anti-democratic and militarist agenda.

Amid a display of thousands of troops and a flyover involving over 90 jets and helicopters, led off by 240 Indian troops and featuring French-made Indian fighter planes alongside the Caesar anti-missile batteries Paris is providing to Ukraine, it was entirely fitting that Macron sat alongside Modi and various Ukrainian officials.

Modis visit highlights Indias growing military build-up amid an ongoing imperialist war drive. His government is pursuing an increasingly competitive strategy against China, encouraged by US imperialism, strengthening Indian military power in the strategically and commercially important Indian Ocean region.

In this explosive situation, Modi has negotiated several arms deals with Macron. On Thursday, the Modi government confirmed the purchase of 26 Rafale marine fighter jets and 3 Scorpene-class military submarines and associated support equipment, weapons, simulators and spare parts from Frances Dassault and Naval Group. These aircraft will operate from Indian aircraft carriers. Modi has already purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets and six Scorpenes.

Negotiations on new cooperation and investment projects in defense sector contracts, transport, energy, and space sectors have also been held. Following this, Modi and Macron signed agreements to increase cooperation in the space sector.

France and India have signed an agreement providing for the monitoring of transit vessels and exchange of information on maritime traffic across the South Asian region. Chinas movements are being extensively monitored in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

French imperialism has long permanently stationed its naval units in the vast Indo-Pacific region to protect its own interests. Now, amid the widening competition for global supremacy led by the US and other NATO imperialist powers, France is expanding its strategic ties with the Modi regime to boost its presence in the Indo-Pacific and undermine the growing influence of its rivals in the region, mainly China.

In his brief statement to the press prior to their Thursday evening meeting at the Elysee Palace, Macron proclaimed, India is a democratic and demographic power, making no mention of discrimination against non-Hindu minorities. No questions from the media were permitted.

Agreeing a roadmap to strengthen ties between their countries leading up to the 100th anniversary of Indian independence from Britain in 2047, Macron insisted, India will have a decisive role for our future, it is also a strategic partner and a friendly country We defend the same idea together of the Indo-Pacific, a space that must remain open and free of all hegemonic power.

Making an indirect reference to China following the military display, he said, We were able to all see a marvelous image of our cooperation on sea, land and in the skies.

France has deployed more than 7,000 permanent ground troops in the region. It has bases at Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, at Reunion island near Madagascar, in the United Arab Emirates, and in Mayotte off Mozambique in the Western Indian Ocean. It also has bases in French Polynesia and New Caledonia in the South Pacific. France and India are preparing to build a military base in the Seychelles.

For its part, the Modi government continues to build new fortifications, airstrips, roads, tunnels, bridges, and rail links in the border areas, against China and Pakistan, to move troops and supplies quickly. It has increased military spending by 13 percent to 5.94 trillion rupees ($72.6 billion) in the last budget to buy new fighter jets, warships, submarines, and drones, and to expand India's nuclear power.

Macrons other main diplomatic effort, made without apparent success, was directed to persuading Modi to take his distance from the Putin regime and fall fully in line with NATOs de facto war against Russia in Ukraine, breaking with his policy of urging peace and buying Russian oil.
While dining at an upscale restaurant last week in Manhattan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is challenging President Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, gave voice to fascistic sentiments about the origins of COVID-19. According to a report published Saturday in the New York Post, Kennedy claimed that Jews and Chinese people are less susceptible to the virus which is the cause of the global pandemic, and that this may be the result of deliberate genetic engineering.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.stages a protest against the COVID-19 vaccination in Milan, Italy, Saturday, November 13, 2021. [AP Photo/Antonio Calanni]

In a two-minute video recording of his remarks, published on the newspapers web site, Kennedy can be heard saying, In fact, COVID-19, there is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately. He goes on to claim, COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people because of the genetic structure of the virus. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese, Kennedy said, citing a July 2020 scientific paper which makes no such claim.

Kennedy is a proponent of the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 is a man-made virus released by Chinese scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology together with their American colleagues. The implication of Kennedys statement is that the disease is a biological weapon created by Chinese researchers and Jewish American scientists to kill Christians.

There is a deep historical resonance in Kennedys comment, which bears comparison to the blood libel against the Jews, first concocted as far back as the Middle Ages, when Jews were accused of secretly draining the blood from Christian children. Such lies were revived by Russian Tsarism in its fabrication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to justify pogroms against the Jews, and then taken up by the Nazis in their genocidal effort to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe.

In 2021, the World Socialist Web Site published a perspective that described the conspiracy theory as The Wuhan lab libel, in reference to its parallels with the antisemitic blood libel.

Kennedys racist conspiracy theory could be termed the Protocol of the Elders of Wuhana crude amalgam of antisemitism and American nativist hysteria against the Yellow Peril. The pseudo-science of the Chinese lab leak theory is combined with the medieval fiction that Jews were immune to and responsible for the Black Death.

In reality, New York City, with the largest Jewish population in North America, was the city hardest hit by the first wave of COVID-19. And China, which largely escaped the pandemic for more than two years through mass testing, tracing and quarantining, has suffered a colossal death toll in the eight months since the Zero-COVID policy was abandoned under pressure from world imperialism, including the United States.

Kennedy cannot be dismissed as a lunatic or fringe conspiracy theorist. He is giving expression to powerful trends within the US ruling elite, which is deliberately whipping up fascistic sentiments that have a long history in Americaantisemitism, racism, anti-Chinese bigotryunder conditions of escalating imperialist war against Russia and preparations for an even broader and more dangerous war against China.

This goes beyond the role of Trump and the Republican Party in fomenting bigotry towards immigrants and racism towards China. The top newspapers aligned with the Democratic Party, the New York Times and the Washington Post, have been principal promoters of the Wuhan lab liethe right-wing conspiracy theory, first floated by Trumps fascist counselor Steve Bannon, that SARS-CoV-2 was created at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and then released to infect the world.

They also assiduously promoted the fiction of Russian intervention in the US electoral process, as the Democratic Party sought to divert all popular hatred of Trumps reactionary administration into a campaign against the Putin regime in Moscow, which prepared the way for the current US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine.

In that war, the Biden administration and the entire corporate media have systematically legitimized a fascistic narrative, covering up the neo-Nazi ties of Ukrainian forces like the Azov Battalion, and the collaboration with the Holocaust on the part of Stepan Bandera and other Ukrainian fascists now hailed as national heroes by the regime in Kiev.

Last weeks NATO summit was held provocatively in Vilnius, Lithuania, only a short drive from the Russian border, a country now run by the political heirs of the Lithuanian fascist collaborators with Hitler, who rivaled the Gestapo in their zeal to exterminate the Jews. The assembled NATO leaders said nothing about the fact that their host city was a focal point of the Holocaust.

Kennedys ravings shed light as well on the bankrupt and reactionary character of the campaign for a left-right alliance launched by various figures aligned with the pseudo-left, including author Chris Hedges and journalist Glenn Greenwald. They might personally abhor Kennedys remarks about Jews and Chinese, but Greenwald conducted a sympathetic interview with Kennedy after he launched his presidential campaign, which gave considerable attention to his opposition to vaccine mandates and other COVID mitigation measures.

A long-time anti-vaccine campaigner, Kennedy has used his financial resources in a politically criminal effort to link basic vaccines against childhood illnesses to the growth of autism. That did not stop the promoters of the left-right alliance from embracing his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, with former Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich, an opponent of the Iraq war, as his campaign manager. As the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy, he has high name recognition and initial credibility with a public unfamiliar with his deeply reactionary outlook.

The response in the corporate media to this filthy outburst has been remarkably restrained. It has not been treated as a disqualifier that would force Kennedy out of the race. Only one Sunday television talk show even mentioned it, and that as an afterthought.

Particularly noteworthy is the anodyne report in the New York Times, supposedly the newspaper of record, and one with a large Jewish readership who were undoubtedly alarmed and disgusted when they learned of Kennedys comments. The first version of the Times report carried the headline, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Covid Remarks Raise Questions of Antisemitism. One might ask, what questions could remain, given the assertion that COVID was targeted to spare the Jews. Only later, likely after protests both external and internal, was the headline changed to read, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Airs Bigoted New Covid Conspiracy Theory About Jews and Chinese.

Kennedys remarks demonstrate a more general proposition about capitalist politics in time of war. Imperialist war is inevitably accompanied by the worst forms of ideological reaction, including antisemitism, which aim to incite the popular hatred of the enemy required for imposing sacrifices in living standards, democratic rights and human lives, and to divert and divide the inevitable resistance of the working class to the war and all its consequences.

As Leon Trotsky wrote in The Transitional Program, the founding document of the Fourth International:

Before exhausting or drowning mankind in blood, capitalism befouls the world atmosphere with the poisonous vapors of national and race hatred. Anti-semitism today is one of the more malignant convulsions of capitalisms death agony. An uncompromising disclosure of the roots of race prejudice and all forms and shades of national arrogance and chauvinism should become part of the daily work of all sections of the Fourth International, as the most important part of the struggle against imperialism and war. Our basic slogan remains: Workers of the World Unite!
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, greets New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins prior to a meeting at a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. [AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis]

At the conclusion of the NATO summit in Vilnius last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins declared: We will stand with Ukraine until this unjust war ends it was an honour to shake hands with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and tell him this in person.

Hipkins said that in his meetings with leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stove and French President Macron, there was absolutely no weakening in Europes support for Ukraine. He announced another $NZ4 million support package for Kiev along with upgraded sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.

Hipkins remarks were made despite tensions over Zelenskys failed bid for a specific timeline for NATO membership. At least for now, NATO, particularly the US and Germany, has chosen to escalate their war against Russia outside of the framework of a formal alliance with Ukraine. Under NATOs charter, Ukraines membership would commit NATO powers to war against Russia.

En route to Vilnius, Hipkins stopped in Brussels to sign a trade deal with the EU, which NZs Labour government has trumpeted as a major victory. The pact is regarded as important in diversifying the countrys trading partnerships and reduce its reliance upon the Chinese market. Bilateral EU-NZ trade is now expected to grow by up to 30 percent within a decade.

Hipkins then travelled to Sweden, where he endorsed the countrys successful bid for NATO membership. Endorsing NATOs expansion onto Russias doorstep, Hipkins declared: Of course, its very important, its for a good reason that Sweden, after 200 years of non-alignment [has] applied for NATO membership.

The prime ministers invitation to Vilnius, following his predecessor Jacinda Arderns appearance at the 2022 Madrid summit, signaled a cementing of New Zealands partnership with NATO in the Indo-Pacific cohort known as AP4 that includes Australia, Japan and South Korea. Arderns involvement in Madrid had helped to provide Indo-Pacific backing for NATOs Strategic Concept, which put China firmly in the blocs sights.

As the WSWS explained, only a fraction of the communique from the Vilnius summit deals with the war in Ukraine. In the rest [of the document], NATO declares its intention to impose its will on the entire world. Having instigated the war over Ukraine, the US-led NATO powers are utilizing it to organize a vast global military escalation. The war against Russia itself has taken on a Europe-wide dimension.

NATOs expansion into the Indo-Pacific region in the name of Euro-Atlantic security is an extension of preparation for war against China. The communique warned Beijing against giving support to Russia and claimed that China challenged the alliances interests, security and values, and was seeking to subvert the international order via its control of key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains.

When the document speaks of global stability and upholding a rules-based international order, this means the post-World War II order in which the US as the dominant imperialst power dictated the rules.

According to New Zealands foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, Wellington will, along with other AP4 partners, sign up to an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) with NATO. The pacts cover areas of common interest that include the international rules based order, climate change, and cyber security.

In a sharp rebuke, Chinas Ambassador to NZ, Wang Xiaolong, warned Wellington not to open the door to the devil by aligning with a NATO bloc in the Asia-Pacific. No matter how hard NATO attempts to whitewash its blood-tainted reputation by claiming itself as a defensive alliance, it is, in essence, still a military bloc obsessed with so-called absolute security, Wang declared.

While fully embracing NATOs global expansionism, the New Zealand ruling elite seeks to retain a certain fiction of independence. This is principally due to its ongoing balancing act between its economic reliance on China versus its longstanding geo-strategic alignment with US imperialism, which underwrites its own neo-colonial operations in the Pacific. There is also an acute awareness of deep-seated anti-war sentiment in the population.

Before departing overseas, Hipkins delivered a keynote speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs where he referred to the benefits of our independent foreign policy, our role as an honest broker. But, he continued, independent does not mean neutral. As a country, we may be small, but we are not bystanders. After detailing a range of emerging threats, he said we cant be passive. We need to invest in our defence and security capabilities at home.

The Labour-Green Party government has signaled its interest in joining the AUKUS pact, consisting of Australia, the UK and US and which could ultimately include partnerships with Japan and South Korea. While full membership of AUKUS is presently ruled out by New Zealands long-standing anti-nuclear policy, which bars nuclear-powered vessels from entering NZ waters, the government is seeking to join a second tier of the agreement, which would give access to high-tech weaponry and communications.

Under pressure to lift its military budget from the current 1.4 percent of GDP to NATOs target of at least 2 percent, Labour boosted military spending by another $NZ747 million in the May budget. This is mainly earmarked for lifting salaries across the armed forces, in a desperate attempt to stem personnel losses. Expensive hardware purchases will be made to the detriment of health, education and social welfare, already operating in crisis.

The situation facing New Zealands ruling elite is increasingly intractable. The release last week of a new Foreign Policy Assessment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) underscored deep concerns about the deteriorating international situation.

The document identifies three major global shifts: a move from rules to power, from economics to security and from efficiency to resilience. Collectively, it concludes these mean many of the assumptions in relation to global and regional affairs that have underpinned New Zealands foreign policy for a generation or more are coming under real and sustained pressure.

The document declares that Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine has reshaped the global landscape, raising concerns about reinvigorated hard power dynamics, such as nuclear deterrence and increased defence spending. It accuses China of assertively pursuing diplomatic, trade, security and development initiatives aimed at shaping international approaches, challenging international rules and norms, and promoting Chinas vision in these areas.

The Pacific, MFAT notes, is no longer strategically benign, with the risk of a shift in the strategic balance in the Pacific now a present and serious concern. Australia and New Zealand are minor imperialist powers, exercising neo-colonial domination over the island nations of the Pacific region; both countries rely on their alliance with the US to push back against Chinas growing economic and diplomatic influence in the region.

Preparations are underway for armed conflict in the Pacific. Later this month New Zealand will take part in Australias large Talisman Sabre military exercise, which involves 30,000 personnel from 11 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Germany, the UK, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji.

On the economic front, MFAT warns that the country can no longer rely on the durability of trade liberalisation policies which have been the foundation of its foreign, trade and economic policies for decades. States are turning towards protectionism to manage strategic risk and respond to problems such as climate change.

This means New Zealand will be less able to prioritise economic priorities and will need to devote more energy and resources to defence and security imperatives, including to shore up economic resilience, it concludes. Inevitably, this will mean cuts to spending on social programs. Speaking from overseas, Hipkins bluntly ruled out any move by Labour to introduce either a wealth tax or capital gains tax after the October 14 election.

Whichever group of parties takes office will boost the military budget and further integrate into US-led alliances as the US-NATO war against Russia assumes global dimensions, that threatening to envelop China and the Pacific. The next government will impose the full burden of these conflicts and the worsening global economic crisis onto the working class, further fuelling explosive class struggles at home.
On July 7, Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands since 2010, resigned. Three days later, he announced that he would not lead his Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the upcoming elections in November. Until then he will head a caretaker government.

Rutte is, after Hungarys Viktor Orban, the longest serving prime minister in the European Union. His ability to cobble together various coalitions in a parliament divided into more than ten parties gave him the nickname Teflon-Mark.

Mark Rutte (centre) with Geert Wilders (right) and Maxime Verhagen (left) in 2010 [Photo by Minister-president Rutte / CC BY 2.0

In 2010, Ruttes first minority government relied on the parliamentary support of Geert Wilders neo-fascist Party For Freedom (PVV), which until then had been considered taboo. In 2012 he formed a coalition government with the Labor Party (PvdA). In 2016 he brought together a shaky four-party coalition with the Christian Democrats (CDA), the liberals (D66) and the Calvinists of the Christian Union (CU).

Ruttes third government collapsed shortly before the 2021 election, because it had falsely accused thousands of families of social fraud and forced them to make repayments. As a result, 26,000 families were facing bankruptcy. After ten months of negotiations behind the scenes, the same coalition was reestablished. It only lasted eighteen months.

While Ruttes coalition partners changed, his political agenda was moving steadily further to the right. His thirteen years in office were marked by pro-business policies, severe austerity, militarism and abetting the far-right.

Faced with a looming vote of no confidence in his deeply unpopular government, Rutte provoked its demise in a way that will put refugee policy at the center of the campaign and again benefit the far-right in the upcoming election. He insisted on a two-year waiting period before children of recognised refugees living in the Netherlands could join their parents, knowing full well that his Christian coalition partners would not accept this.

At a press conference on Friday night, Rutte said, Its no secret that the coalition parties think very differently about asylum policy and today we unfortunately need to draw the conclusion that the differences are unbridgeable. The fall of a government is never good. But it is sometimes impossible in a coalition country like the Netherlands to come to one agreement.

The far-right has systematically scapegoated migrant workers and asylum seekers, accusing them of responsibility for all social evils, especially the acute housing crisis. While the Netherlands received only 46,000 asylum applications last year, the longstanding and accumulated housing shortage is the result of decades of relentless cuts to social housing. Currently, the nationwide shortage of homes is at least 390,000 with predictions for a shortage of nearly a million by the year 2030.

Rutte was only able to stay in office for 13 years and to weather various scandals because all parties, from the so-called left to the far right, support his reactionary agenda. Faced with a deep social and political crisis the entire Dutch political establishment is maneuvering to divert social discontent from questions such as the rising cost of living, deteriorating working conditions and the war in Ukraine, into anti-immigrant hatred and support for a draconian asylum policy.

When Rutte announced his resignation in parliament all parties in the official opposition, including the nominal left, showered him with praise.

Wilders said, We have excellently worked together politically, including in the first two years of the Rutte I administration Your choices were not ours, but you brought them with conviction and that deserves an awful lot of respect.

He went on to briefly outline to the media how closely the two party leaders have been, commenting, We have known each other for a very long time. We were once colleagues in the VVD. I was even his mentor. In a further tweet, Wilders said that Ruttes resignation would make the Netherlands a beautiful country again, with fewer asylum seekers and crime, more money and housing for our own people.

The leader of the Green Left Party (GroenLinks), Jesse Klaver responded, What I would like to say to you, Mark, is: what I have appreciated in all those times that we have crossed swords is that we never made it personal, that we have always kept it substantive.

Lilian Marijnissen from the former Maoist Socialist Party (SP) characterized Ruttes departure as a sensible decision and as good for the Netherlands.

While the official left praised Rutte, his government was deeply hated among broad sections of the working class. Following his resignation an opinion poll conducted by the popular TV program EenVandaag found that almost three in four respondents said it would be unacceptable for Rutte to return as prime minister after Novembers election.

His resignation came against a backdrop of fierce class struggles across all sectors. Particularly since the beginning of 2023, the Netherlands has been shaken by a wave of strikes in the public and private sector, as thousands of Dutch workers entered into struggles for better wages, working and living conditions. These struggles coincided with mass protests and strikes in France against President Macrons pension reform.

Ruttes four successive governments were responsible for policies of severe austerity both in the Netherlands and the European Union. After the 2009 Euro crisis he was, together with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, the main advocate of imposing severe austerity measures on Greece, Portugal, Spain and other countries. He increased the budget for the state apparatus  from police, surveillance and secret service to prisons and judiciary  entrenched institutional racism and stepped-up systematic oppression of the socially marginalised and vulnerable.

With 60 percent of Dutch households having struggled to pay their utility bills last year, nearly 5 percent of the population lives below the official poverty line, with an additional 220,000 considered as working poor, 320,000 officially unemployed, 32,000 homeless and 120,000 depending on food banks that grew by a third during the last quarter of 2022.

Given this grim record of deliberate social devastation, the number of households living below the poverty line is expected to shoot up to one million out of a population of just 17.8 million by 2024, according to the Dutch Centraal Planbureau (CPB), which will mean an increase of childhood poverty to 7 percent.

Rutte was also responsible for the criminal handling of the pandemic, carrying out herd immunity policies from the outset which have cost over 22,000 deaths officially and at least 375,000 Long Covid patients.

One of the most critical aspects of the current socio-political crisis in the Netherlands is the rapid escalation of NATOs proxy war against Russia. A few hours after Ruttes resignation, Ukrainian President Zelensky tweeted thanking Rutte for the steadfast principled stand of the Netherlands regarding the Russian invasion and for recognizing the Holodomor as genocide by the House of Representatives.

Since the 2014 far-right coup in Kiev, orchestrated by the US and its NATO allies, brought to power a pro-NATO government in Ukraine, the Dutch government has played a significant role in inciting anti-Russian sentiment. Rutte played a leading role in blaming Russia for the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17 in July 2014. The crash killed 298 passengers and crew.

Ever since, Ruttes government has stoked anti-Russian hysteria. The total value of the military support that the Netherlands has supplied to Ukraine stands at a staggering 1.9 billion, at the cost of further inroads to already meagre social spending. The Dutch support package to Ukraine includes weapons, ammunition, vehicles, maritime vessels, de-mining equipment, bridges, fuel, medical supplies and rations.

As Politico noted, Rutte, notwithstanding his right-wing trajectory, was described by colleagues and friends as a manager, rather than a visionary leader, who succeeded in getting rival parties to talk and find compromises. He was the incarnation of Dutch consensus culture: pragmatic, flexible  and visionless.

In view of the escalation of the NATO war with Russia and class war at home, the Dutch ruling elite has concluded that a manager is no longer enough. In the absence of an independent political movement of the working class, the former colonial power seeks to install an even more right-wing government.

The emergence of the right-wing populist party BBB (Farmer-Citizen Movement) that gained senate power at the recent provincial elections, is a warning. Despite its presentation as a pro-peasant movement by the media, the BBB, founded in 2019, has exploited protest votes directed against the Rutte government for far-right political ends.

According to polls at the end of June, Ruttes VVD and the BBB were neck and neck, with 18 percent of the vote, followed by Wilders PVV with 10 percent, the GreenLeft, D66 and the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA) trailed with 8 percent each and the Socialist Party with 6 percent.

The responsibility for this shift to the right lies squarely with the parties of the nominal left. The PvdA, GreenLeft and the Socialist Party have supported Ruttes herd immunity policies and are complicit in the stoking of xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments against immigrant workers. In the absence of an independent revolutionary leadership of the working class, the far-right has been able to exploit the anger and frustration of desperate middle-class and impoverished layers for its reactionary ends.

The PvdA, once a major party of government in the Netherlands, and GreenLeft are so discredited that they plan to field a combined manifesto and candidates list for the upcoming general election. The SP will run its own slate.

What is happening in the Netherlands is part of an international development. In Spain, the ruling class is returning to its fascistic roots linked to the Franco regime, on the backs of the social democrats and the pseudo-left. The bourgeoisie in Germany too is reviving its fascist traditions and is engaged in an unprecedented military rearmament.

In the Netherlands, as in Spain, Germany and around the world, there is broad opposition towards the rising danger of fascism, war and militarism, but those political sentiments find no conscious political expression outside the International Committee of the Fourth International.

The urgent task facing the Dutch working class is the establishment of a section of the ICFI and, based on a socialist perspective, building a movement in the working class across Europe to fight against the growing danger of war, austerity and fascism and its source, the capitalist system.
A fire in a garbage compactor early this month at the base of the Q1 apartment tower, Australias tallest building, created an emergency that risked major loss of life as smoke filled corridors and an exit stair. The building is in the heart of the Surfers Paradise tourist precinct in Queensland.

Q1 in Surfers Paradise, Queensland [Photo: Discover Queensland]

While Q1 developers and builders were alerted to fire-safety design flaws soon after the building was completed in 2005, their failure to act on these warnings jeopardised hundreds of lives two weeks ago.

Around 7a.m. on 3 July, as residents of 527 apartments in the Q1 complex were just waking, a fire started in a large bin sitting at the base of the garbage chute that extends the full height of the 80-storey building. The fire triggered alarms and firefighters were called. A carelessly disposed cigarette butt or lithium battery can ignite accumulated garbage.

Seventeen residents aged between five months and their late 80s had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Nine people were taken to hospital. Some residents were injured when they fell down the exit stairs, including a young boy with a reported fractured wrist and an elderly man with a suspected broken leg.

Q1 was fuller than usual because schools in the eastern Australian states were on holiday, with at least 1,000 people staying in the building. Rather than containing the smoke from the bin fire in the garbage room, it spread up the chute and through garbage hatches then into corridors and the adjoining escape stairwell. This is not meant to happen. Fire escape stairs in high rise buildings are the only way out for residents during fires as lifts are disabled. They are also the only way up the building for fire fighters as their equipment cannot reach the upper levels of such skyscrapers.

Initial reports have stated that a fire safety feature failed to operate. By regulation, a smoke and fireproof damper should automatically close at the base of the garbage chute to prevent smoke rising up the chute. This mechanism failed. Regular maintenance and checking of such devices are necessary.

Emergency workers send one of the smoke impacted Q1resident to hospital [Photo: Screen shot from Seven News Facebook]

The Q1 apartment tower stands at 322 metres. Built in 2005, until 2011 it was the tallest residential building in the world.

In 2012, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio National Background Briefing program publicised fire safety problems with Q1. The World Socialist Web Site reported on these revelations and interviewed mechanical engineer Laddie Assey, an expert in fire safety systems who happened to own an apartment in the Q1 complex. Assey explained the problems in detail and how he had spent seven years trying to get the fire safety issues fixed.

The Q1 bin fire last week has entirely vindicated Asseys safety concerns. The problems have not been rectified, even despite the experience of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London where 72 residents lost their lives.

The failure to provide safe buildings for people to live in, despite full technical knowhow, is a product of the highly-profitable property development industry. Successive governments at every level have deregulated and privatised regulation to maximise profitability in an industry that makes up 30 percent of the Australian economy.

Building industry union bureaucrats are likewise beholden to the property development industry through CBUS Property, the investment and development business they control. Experienced building workers, who once acted to enforce safety standards through the unions, have been muzzled.

On July 3, the ABC quoted Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) acting inspector Glenn McKissack who said, Some floors were a little bit worse than others but mainly it was light smoke It was enough for our crews to wear breathing apparatuses, however it wasnt black or thick or anything like that. Some of those people [elderly residents] found themselves stuck in the stairwell and not able to go further and our firefighters assisted them to go down We did try to use the PA system to ask people to stay in their units with closed doors, however some of those people had already started to evacuate.

Understandably, residents evacuated when confronted with smoke in corridors that seeped under their apartment doors. The stay in place advice given to residents at Grenfell Tower in London was a contributing factor in their deaths.

One resident explained that the fire alarm had not sounded on her level despite smoke filling corridors. The ABC interviewed two young women who were holidaying on level 74 and were only woken up with a knock at their door. Matisse Liu and Olivia Chapman explained, It was kind of hard to breathe at the top but, as we got down, it was fine. As we were just going down there were more people, a bit chaotic on the stairs, and there were some kids crying ... people carrying dogs and pets out.

An evacuating resident stated that one of the fire escapes was fully blocked with smoke and they had to use the second stairwell. At Q1, the fire escape stairs are configured in a scissor style with two stairwells intertwined. Another resident reported that on level 48 the smoke was thick enough to prevent visibility, apparently contradicting what the QFES official claimed.

A resident told Nine News, We woke up and there was terrible smoke in the corridor We passed a couple of people on the stairs and they were in a really bad way, as far as they weren't able to move. So, when we got down to the bottom we went over to the firies and let them know there's a couple of people stuck upstairs.

The fundamental design flaw pointed to by Assey is the location of the garbage chute in a lobby between the corridor and the stairwell. Residents need to pass through the garbage chute lobby to access the stairwell on the north side. This planning avoids a separate room and doorway for the garbage chute which would have cost more and cut the floor area available for apartments thus reducing developer profit.

Fire safety in apartment buildings relies on fire proof doors, walls and floors encapsulating each compartment to contain the fire and smoke within the apartment where it breaks out. Sprinklers are installed in Q1 to extinguish a fire contained in any apartment before it spreads. Unlike Grenfell Tower, Q1 is not clad in combustible material that would allow flames to spread up the outside of the building. However, like Grenfell, the infiltration of smoke into the stairwell meant that a safe egress route was compromised.

The corridor outside the apartment door is meant to provide a smoke buffer to contain any smoke that escapes a burning apartment. Another door separates the corridor from the stairwell. Additionally, the stairwell is meant to be air pressurised so that when the access door is opened from a smoke affected corridor, the air pressure pushes the smoke out of the stairwell allowing residents to evacuate without being overcome by smoke inhalation. These mechanisms clearly failed.

This was the fault that Laddie Assey identified and publicised in 2012. After years of attempting to get the problem addressed by the builder and the owners corporation, Assey eventually made an official complaint to the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA). He explained in an email smoke will enter into the stair at the rate of 1.7 metres per second, killing anyone on the way down from any floor by asphyxiation in the time taken to walk down the 76 levels to the ground floor.

Subsequent reports commissioned by the QBSA and the building developer essentially admitted there was a problem but asserted that it was not serious enough to necessitate rectification.

On 3 July, however, the problems that Assey identified resulted in smoke rising through the garbage chute and infiltrating out the garbage chute doors located at each level, filling the lobby immediately next to the stairwell with smoke. The faulty stair pressurisation system obviously did not cope with the smoke. While the failure of the damper at the base of the chute may be the primary cause, the event has proven that the stair pressurisation system failed.

As Laddie Assey told the WSWS in 2013, The Q1 situation was a real eye opener for me. To put it simply, I discovered that pressurisation in the north fire stairs did not comply. Anyone attempting to use those stairs in the event of a serious fire would be asphyxiated.

After spotting this problem, I thought that it would be rapidly rectified. The fact that it took years to get the QBSA to even recognise the problem is not very impressive. Australia is not supposed to be a third world country. I was absolutely shocked by this.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported on 10 July that a Queensland Building and Construction Commission spokesperson said they were not aware of any issues regarding Q1. A QFES spokesperson said the building was found to be compliant with owner-occupier requirements when it was inspected last year.

The newspaper stated that in 2008 Builder Sunland was ... issued with a request to rectify the defect within 28 days. It was still unresolved in 2011. The Gold Coast Bulletins questions to Sunland on July 11 about whether the defect had ever been fixed went unanswered despite multiple calls and emails made to the group. Q1 management have refused to comment.

The unanswered inquiries raise serious questions about the assertions of the various government agencies that all is well.
The UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee is holding a meeting this Sunday at 6pm eastern to support the fight by 22,000 Yellow freight workers. Register for the event by clicking here.

Do you work at Yellow, ABF or another freight carrier? Tell us about your working conditions and compensation by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A Yellow Freight/Roadway Express truck travels east on I-70, near Lecompton, Kansas. [AP Photo/Orlin Wagner]

The Yellow Corporation, the largest freight trucking company in the US, is currently conducting negotiations with the Teamsters union to extract massive concessions from the workers. The company has over $1.6 billion in debt. Over $1 billion of their debt is due this year and Wall Street is demanding massive concessions in exchange for refinancing. It is widely expected that Yellow may declare bankruptcy in the next month or two, threatening the jobs of the companys more than 20,000 workers.

The Teamsters bureaucracy is prepared to grant concessions but is facing fierce opposition from the workers. The Teamsters have already granted the company billions in concessions, including massive cuts to pensions.

The Teamsters are posturing as opponents to further concessions, General President Sean OBrien has declared that they have given the company enough. In reality, as the company moves closer to bankruptcy and the workers face losing their jobs, it will be easier to push through another concessions contract.

The crisis at Yellow has erupted during the final weeks before the expiration of the contract at UPS covering 340,000 workers. UPS workers are determined to win historic gains on wages and working conditions. The Teamsters bureaucracy has been compelled to pledge it would strike by August 1 if a deal is not in place by then. However, they have kept workers completely in the dark since talks started and will no doubt use the final two weeks to try to work out a deal at the 11th hour. In response, workers last week founded the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee to unify workers against the betrayals of the apparatus.

David, a young worker who works at a Yellow warehouse in Ohio contacted the World Socialist Web Site to talk about the conditions they are forced to work under. We have changed the name of the worker to protect his identity.

The conditions at the Yellow freight warehouse should be exposed, it absolutely should be exposed. I quit my old job to work here, it was the worst choice I ever made.

David says the mistreatment of employees begins even before you step in the door. When they interview you, they leave out a lot of things. You dont get PTO [Paid Time Off] until youve worked here an entire year. If you call off, are a few minutes late or you leave a few minutes early they call you into the dock office and write you up.

They expect you not to take any time off. Nothing if you get sick. Nothing if you have to care for somebody. Nothing.

They have it set so if you call off, you will not get paid. You get called into the dock office. You get a letter. It is horrible how they treat you. They dont ever call you to the office to say something good.

The supervisors have no respect for you. It is a union job, but we have no rights.

My mother called in tears to tell me theyre taking my son to the hospital, they found him in his room unresponsive. I was so upset that I couldnt think of anything else and clocked out five minutes early.

The next day they called me into the dock office and gave me a letter. They never asked why I left or asked me how he was. They dont ask you for the reason. They never asked why I left early, because they just dont care.

The work is grueling, and the pay is low. Like warehouse jobs everywhere, the company provides no climate control. In the winter the dock is freezing and in the summer the heat is unbearable.

It is like one big sweatshop, David said. The morale there is horrible, no one is happy with the job.

The warehouse is a 24/7 operation, with shifts starting at 8 a.m., 4p.m. and midnight.

You have to work 10 hours every day. I worked the 4:00 p.m. shift. I am supposed to get off at 12, but they force you to work till 2:00 a.m. and you can stay till 4:00 a.m. That means youre working 10 hours every day, sometimes 12. They dont care what that means for your life.

The heat during the summer is unbearable. You are working on the dock and there are 178 doors open. I am in and out of the hot trailers all night long.

David repeatedly came back to the point that management didnt care about the conditions the workers were working under.

They know that but they dont care, David said. When its hot you are inside the trailer, sweating. The dock is very humid and hot.

These conditions are compounded by the fact that they work mostly by themselves. Everyone pretty much works alone. The items can be any weight. They will vary in weight or size. If you need some help, someone will usually help you, but for the most part you are alone.

Ive had trailers filled with transmissions that still had the oil inside. It was leaking out all over the place. It was a mess and dangerous. Another trailer, the equipment inside was over 2,000 pounds. We use forklifts, but that is another thing because you are constantly getting up and down out of the forklift to adjust it.

Asked about injuries on the job, David said that he hasnt himself been hurt, but that he saw another worker get injured. Yesterday something fell on him. They didnt take him to the hospital. They took him to the dock office and made him fill out some forms, then they called a nurse they have working for them. She comes and asks him a whole bunch of more questions to determine if he should go to the hospital.

That doesnt make any sense to me. This is wasting a lot of time when they should take people to the hospital right away.

David and the other dock workers make just $19.47 an hour. The company is trying to pressure people to give up more money. We gave up our pensions and they are still coming back for more. It is crazy.

I pay union dues and it has not benefited me. I dont feel it is working. This is the lowest paid freight company. Everybody is paying more. We get paid $19.47. Everybody else starts at $23. It is very frustrating.

They pay every week. The only way I see a half decent paycheck is if I work 12 hours a day and come in on a Sunday and a Saturday. I worked seven days to see what my paycheck would look like. It is sad that you have to work like that.

Penn Ohio is non-union and they are starting their warehouse workers at $23 an hour. Yellow is the biggest freight company but paying the lowest wages.

The break room has two refrigerators for all the employees, it is not fit for animal food let alone for employees. In the bathrooms the soap is watered down. We tell them about it but no one is doing anything about it. It seems they dont care.

David said that a female co-worker told him that the sink in their bathroom was clogged. She needed to wash tar off of her hands and arms.

I asked her if she reported it to management and she said Why? Theyre not going to do anything.

I am finding myself dreading going into work, I know a lot of people are not happy. Youre supposed to get health benefits after 12 weeks. I am still not receiving them. I ask about it and they dont tell me anything. I looked into it. They have some kind of reprieve where they dont have to pay for medical or pensions for a couple of months. They are running out of money in August.

So, there are thousands and thousands of people who are losing their benefits. These are people who have worked for 20 and 30 years and they are losing their health benefits and pensions.

When COVID came, we were called essential workers. The government bailed the company out. They got like $700 million. Now they are broke again. They mismanaged it and they want us to give again. It is affecting the employees.

This is what this whole fight is about. The company wants the workers to bail them out again. People are so confident, so conditioned it is just a lot of faith in these people. Anything can happen at this point.

When asked what he thought about forming a rank-and-file committee at Yellow to organize workers independently of the union apparatus, David responded. I think its a good idea. Im definitely for fighting against bad conditions. This has to stop.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE) (FSE: K2I) ("E-Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Todd Burlingame as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company.

Todd Burlingame brings a wealth of experience and expertise to E-Tech Resources Inc. with a successful career spanning several resource development companies and major projects. Todd played a pivotal role in advancing rare earth element projects in Labrador, Canada. During his tenure, the project achieved significant milestones, including the publication of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, completion of advance ore processing test work, and completion of ore body delineation drill program for the purpose of establishing a measured resource for the project.

Todd Burlingame's extensive resume also includes notable roles such as Executive Vice President of the Alderon Iron Ore Project, Manager and Team Lead for the Lower Churchill Project at Nalcor Energy, Project Manager for Voisey's Bay Nickel Commercial Processing Plant, and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of both the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Boards.

"We are delighted to welcome Todd Burlingame as our new CEO," said Jim Megann, outgoing interim CEO. "His remarkable background in resource development and his proven ability to navigate complex challenges make him an excellent fit for leading E-Tech Resources Inc. into its next phase of growth and exploration."

The Company wishes to express their gratitude to Jim Megann for his service as interim CEO during the transition period. Mr. Megann will remain a member of the E-Tech Board and will continue to serve as Chair.

About E-Tech Resources Inc.

E-Tech is a rare earth exploration and development company focused on developing its Eureka Rare Earths Project in Namibia. The Eureka project is located approximately 250 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and 140 km east of Namibia's main industrial port Walvis Bay. The project is situated next to the national B1 highway in the Erongo Region of Namibia.

The Eureka deposit lies in the Southern Central Zone of the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt within Exclusive Prospecting License ("EPL") number EPL 6762, which covers farms Eureka 99 and Sukses 90.

Namibia is recognized as one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with an extremely well-established national infrastructure and a clear and transparent mining law.

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the Financing. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. E-Tech does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by securities laws applicable to E-Tech. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by E-Tech with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact Jim Megann, Interim CEO of E-Tech Resources Inc., at (902) 442-7192.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173750
UAE and South Korea have reached an agreement to enhance and broaden economic cooperation, encouraging mutual investments across 11 strategic sectors and working towards boosting the two economies.

The key sectors identified the eighth session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee (JEC) are Green Economy and Clean Energy, SMEs, Nuclear Energy, Economy and Investment, Healthcare and medical services, Water Resources and Smart farming, New Industries and Smart Infrastructure, Technology and Communications, Space, Tourism and Intellectual Property.

The primary objective of this agreement is to accomplish the development agenda of both the countries and facilitate their transition towards a more adaptable and competitive economic model, focusing on the sectors of the new economy.

The JEC, which was chaired by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, and Kyungho CHOO, South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, was held recently in Seoul.

Robust ties

Al Marri emphasised the robust ties between the UAE and the Republic of Korea, underscoring their progress towards broader levels of constructive cooperation across all levels, with the backing and guidance of the leaderships of both friendly nations. This collaboration aims to fulfil their objectives of sustainable development.

We are proud of our strategic relationship with South Korea, spanning about 42 years. This relationship has been built upon friendship, mutual respect, and concerted efforts at both governmental and private sector levels. Undoubtedly, economic cooperation is the cornerstone of this strategic partnership, which has manifested through numerous collaborative endeavours in crucial sectors such as renewable energy, intellectual property, healthcare, technology, and agricultural technology. These projects have strengthened economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and moved it to higher levels, he said.

He also hoped that the current session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee would foster increased cooperation and pave the way for new avenues of investment in the sectors of the new economy. Al Marri expressed his optimism that this session would facilitate greater access for companies, particularly SMEs, to the emerging market opportunities, ultimately leading to mutual benefits for both nations.

Investment environment

He highlighted the UAE economy's regional and global standing, emphasising the country's dynamic investment environment and the benefits and incentives it provides to investors. Furthermore, Al Marri urged the South Korean business community to leverage these advantages to foster the expansion and prosperity of their commercial ventures across various sectors in both the UAE and the wider region.

Choo pointed to the depth and strength of relations between South Korea and the UAE. He asserted the importance of strengthening economic and trade relations in new economic sectors during the next phase, which will support the future sustainable economic development of the two friendly nations.

Furthermore, the two parties reviewed the advancements made in the implementation of the resolutions reached during the seventh session of the Committee, which took place in September 2020. They focused on the agreements derived from the session, particularly in sectors such as energy, investment, trade, climate change, agriculture, water resources, emerging industries, smart infrastructure, healthcare, and intellectual property.

Recognising the significance of the summit held in January 2023 in Abu Dhabi, which brought together His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of South Korea, the two countries highlighted the importance of leveraging the achievements of the summit by reinforcing collaboration through the Joint Economic Committee.

Green Economy and Clean Energy

The leaders reiterated their commitment to enhancing cooperation across the green economy and clean energy sectors, through the implementation of the agreements previously signed, during the Presidents summit held in January 2023. These include storage and management of oil, electing relevant strategic action groups to drive decarbonisation, creating clean hydrogen supply chain, and developing relevant mutual technologies.

SMEs

In an effort to support startups, the two countries asserted the need to provide all financial support mechanisms and enablers required for the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This objective is to be achieved through recent agreements signed between the two parties, which aim to foster the growth of domestic entrepreneurship and facilitate startups' access to market opportunities.

Nuclear Energy

The leaders expressed their commitment to advancing cooperation efforts in this vital sector and building on existing achievements, by successfully completing the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (BNEP). This plant plays a vital role in generating electricity and providing clean energy to support the UAEs development.

Economy and Investment

The leaders praised the UAEs commitment to invest $30 billion in South Korea over the coming years. They also reached an agreement to establish efficient mechanisms aligned with mutual government projects and harness the potential of the ambitious investment plan.

Healthcare and Medical Services

In this regard, the two countries emphasised the importance of enhancing mutual cooperation in this vital sector and exchanging expertise and experience.

Water Resources and Smart farming

The leaders recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in water resources management and smart farming to promote sustainable agriculture, in response to implications of climate change. They both agreed to collaborate in the smart farming industry by exchanging techniques and increasing investments across this sector.

New Industries and Smart Infrastructure

Both countries highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation and expanding investment across emerging industries, in support of the transition towards an innovative new economy to further economic development. To this end, the leaders agreed to expand investment cooperation in promising new sectors, notably digital transformation, smart mobility, smart infrastructure, and other relevant industries.

Technology and Communications

The leaders expressed their desire to promote mutual cooperation to increase trade in the ICT sector. They emphasised the significance of organising reciprocal tradeshows, exchanging information and expertise, and facilitating market access for technology companies. Their aim is to foster joint synergy and promote growth in the ICT industry.

Space

The two sides agreed to further promote space cooperation through knowledge and expertise sharing, and to develop more mutual cooperation opportunities across this vital sector.

Tourism

The leaders underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector and agreed to work towards driving tourism exchange by supporting industry-related startups in both countries. The two sides also decided to implement various mutual projects to extend the results of K-Travel Week in the UAE held in May 2023. Furthermore, they discussed mechanisms to augment the number of flights between the two countries in the upcoming phase.

Intellectual Property

The leaders expressed their desire to expand bilateral cooperation in intellectual property (IP) and agreed to pursue mutual cooperation activities through knowledge and expertise sharing across all IP sectors.

Second-largest trade partner

The UAE is South Koreas second-largest trade partner in the GCC and the Arab regions as of 2022. The UAE-Korean non-oil foreign trade recorded $5.3 billion by the end of 2022, a growth of over 14% compared to 2021. During the first two months of 2023, trade exchanges more than $917 million. In addition, UAE exports to Korean markets witnessed a growth of 35% (January  February 2023) compared to the same period last year.

In terms of investment, as of early 2021, Korea's investment balance in the UAE reached about $2.2 billion across the sectors of finance, insurance, mining, energy, technology, and real estate.

UAE investments in South Korea are mainly found in real estate, telecommunications, energy, logistics, and others. UAE investments in Korea are expected to see a qualitative shift after the country announced its plan to invest $30 billion over the next phase in sectors related to renewable energy, advanced technology, and other sectors of the new economy.-- TradeArabia News Service
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. To wit, the EMX Royalty share price has climbed 79% in five years, easily topping the market return of 24% (ignoring dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 6.1% in the last year.

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

See our latest analysis for EMX Royalty

Given that EMX Royalty didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

For the last half decade, EMX Royalty can boast revenue growth at a rate of 43% per year. Even measured against other revenue-focussed companies, that's a good result. While the compound gain of 12% per year is good, it's not unreasonable given the strong revenue growth. If you think there could be more growth to come, now might be the time to take a close look at EMX Royalty. Opportunity lies where the market hasn't fully priced growth in the underlying business.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

EMX Royalty shareholders gained a total return of 6.1% during the year. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 12% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with EMX Royalty , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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As part of the Government of Equatorial Guineas endeavour to encourage tourism and business-related travel to the country, VFS Global has been onboarded as the technical partner to offer a new E-Visa service that will enable a faster and more convenient application, processing, and issuance of visa for leisure and business travellers. Visitors from all nationalities who are eligible to apply for one of the E-Visa categories will receive their travel authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to their departure from their country of origin.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, July 17, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A popular location for business-related travel, inbound tourism is expected to see an improvement with the launch of the new E-Visa service. This is due to increased interest amongst global travellers looking for newer and offbeat locations for their upcoming trips and sustainable travel becoming a popular trend now. Another reason is the growing preference amongst travellers keen on technology-led Do It Yourself solutions, like E-Visa services by themselves at their convenience.

The new E-Visa service is available for travellers across the world from 1 July 2023. Travellers can of avail this online service by visiting equatorialguinea-E-Visa.com from a location of their choice, instead of having to visit the Embassy or Consulate in person. With online payment options available, travellers also can use the save and retrieve option for completing the form at a later stage.

Commenting on the launch of the new E-Visa service, Hon. Ms. Manuela Roka Botey, Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea, said "With our new E-visa Service, Tourists and Business people from all over the world can easily, securely and faster get a visa to travel to EG and are most welcomed."

Apply for an E-Visa in 3 simple steps:

STEP 1: Visit equatorialguinea-E-Visa.com and complete the registration process.

STEP 2: Complete the easy-to-use application form, seamlessly upload the documents needed and proceed with online payment.

STEP 3: On the successful completion of the payment and once the visa decision is made, travellers will be informed about the outcome via email. The E-Visa, if approved, will be provided electronically after application.

Since 2002, VFS Global offers innovative and highly secure online visa solutions that enable applicants to apply for their visa on the move from any time or place.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230714517086/en/

Contacts

Sukanya Chakraborty - communications@vfsglobal.com
In PEOPLE's exclusive clip of Mondays episode of '90 Day Fiance: The Other Way,' Brandan admits he is "really frustrated" by Marys lack of trust after he "sacrificed a lot" to go to the Philippines

TLC Mary and Brandan on '90 Day Fiance'

Brandan is having major doubts about his future with Mary on 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way.

In PEOPLE's exclusive sneak peek at Mondays episode, Brandan tries to please Mary by switching his airplane seat because he was sitting next to another woman on his way to see her in the Philippines.

Just got my seat changed. Now no one is sitting next to me. Happy now? he texts her from the plane and Mary replies with accusations that he was lying.

After the exchange, Brandan says in a confessional, I feel like I can't win. I don't know what to do to appease Mary's demands.

TLC Brandan on '90 Day Fiance'

Related: 90 Day: Mary Has Never Met U.S. Boyfriend Brandan  but She's Tattooed His Name on Her Body '2 or 3' Times

After landing in Los Angeles, Brandan gives Mary an update via text message, sharing, Two more flights to go after this.

Mary then continues to accuse him of being interested in other women, saying, F--- you. F--- your girl. He stands his ground and responds, No mary Im not. F---ing not f---ing anyone or talking to anyone. F---ing cant even be genuinely happy about this travel because your [sic] overthinking.

Brandan admits in a confessional that he feels like Marys not appreciating his efforts to see her.

It really, really, really frustrates me on such a high level that she would still have these things to say, he says before taking a long pause. I've sacrificed a lot to get to that point, and I don't think I deserve that.

TLC Mary and Brandan on '90 Day Fiance'

Related: 90 Day's Brandan Is on the Phone 24/7 with 'Insecure' Girlfriend Mary  Even at a Teeth Cleaning (Exclusive)

When he boards the night flight, Mary texts that she is concerned Brandan is sitting next to another girl. But, he pans the camera towards his empty rows of seats.

Story continues

Mary texts, You make me hurt. You make me crazy. So f--- you and your girls there, and he responds,  I didnt di [sic] anything.

Marys jealousy makes Brandan question if he should be making her a priority in his life.

We're just so used to overthinking and fighting over the phone, that it's just become normal for us but I can only tolerate it up to a certain point. I don't know what to say, what to do, he shared. It makes me very worried about whether or not I'm making the right choice, going to the Philippines and committing my whole life there.

TLC Mary and Brandan

On last weeks episode, Brandan faced similar accusations when he went for a routine teeth cleaning and Mary kept a watchful eye (via FaceTime) over his interactions with a female dental assistant.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.



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Ariana Grande and her husband of two years, Dalton Gomez, have split, according to People.

The two have been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship since separating earlier this year, the outlet reported.

Grande married Gomez, a real estate agent, in May 2021 in a ceremony attended by fewer than 20 people at Grandes home in Montecito, California.

Rumors began to swirl after Grande was spotted without her wedding ring  first in a TikTok last year and most recently over the weekend at Wimbledon.

Im just not wearing my wedding ring, its getting cleaned. Im not getting a divorce before you start, dont, Grande said in an August 2022 TikTok.

Grande and Gomez were first linked in January 2020. They became closer while quarantining together in New York City. Grandes Instagram posts occasionally featured Gomez, but some seem to have since been deleted.

Before Gomez, Grande was engaged to SNL alum Pete Davidson. The two called it off after five months together.

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez.

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez.

Related...
Carlee Russell, a 25-year-old missing Alabama woman, has been found alive after she returned home. Russell arrived at her familys home Saturday night (July 15), seemingly finding her way back on foot, the Hoover Police told WBCR.

She walked up, banged on the door, and that was her, Chief Nicholas Derzis said. We work with facts. With social media, you got so many people that think they know whats taking place. Right now, were just very pleased that shes home.

Upon her arrival, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital and evaluated. According to NPR, Hoover law enforcement received an initial statement from Carlee Russell but did not disclose her current condition or what she detailed happened in the 48 hours she was missing.

Talitha Russell, Carlees mother, released a statement on Facebook shortly after the woman returned home. The mom thanked God for protecting their daughter and ensuring she found her way home. She also insisted that she would speak with the media once the investigation concludes but stated she wouldnt entertain negative thoughts.

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, she said. Our baby is safe!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Father God We do want to ask for privacy at this time 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 three nights, and we are mentally and physically exhausted.

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Meanwhile, Carlees boyfriend speculated that she was abducted on Thursday night (July 13). Thomar Latrell Simmons posted a statement on Facebook following her discovery, debunked allegations that he was behind her disappearance, and stated that she was fighting for her life for 48 hours.

I have been going nonstop since I received the call that she was missing on Thursday night, he began. I know she wouldve done the same for me, so I wasnt going to give up until I saw her face again! I was straight tunnel vision, even when I would get on social media [during] my downtime & see some of the false allegations & assumptions about me having something to do with her abduction would have me discouraged at times I didnt give up & kept my faith!

He continued, All I asked from everyone right now is to be respectful of Carlees situation. She was fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until shes physically & mentally stable again, she cannot give any updates or whereabouts [of] her kidnapper at this very moment.

UPDATE: Carlee Russells mother releases a statement on social media, after her daughter returned home last night. She said: to our media friends, I promise we will speak with you & give a general statement in the near future as this is an ongoing investigation.@wsfa12news pic.twitter.com/HUKhVXWWcs  Jasmine Williams (@JasmineWSFA) July 16, 2023

Carlee Russell went missing on Thursday (July 13) after the woman exited her vehicle to help an alleged missing child. According to AL.com, Russell phoned 911 claiming to see a young boy lost on the I-459 in Hoover, Ala. She then called her brothers girlfriend to alert her, but as she approached the kid, Carlee could be heard screaming until the family lost contact with her.

As law enforcement arrived, they discovered her belongings scattered near her car. Since the incident, the Hoover Police revealed they hadnt received any additional calls regarding a missing child.

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Click here to read the full article.
Days after a 21-year-old dad fell overboard while boating on Lake Erie, his body has been found, according to local news reports.

Crews with U.S. Coast Guard Station Marblehead in Ohio began searching for the man at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, according to a Twitter post. They said he fell from a 27-foot boat, then he was separated by strong winds and current.

After looking for him for nearly 24 hours, the search was suspended Wednesday evening.

Then, on Sunday, July 16, authorities said his body was found.

The U.S. Coast Guard identified the man as Samuel Ickes Jr., of Fremont, Ohio, according to cleveland.com.

He was a father to two children, WTVG reported.

Unfortunately its not the outcome that we was all hoping for, the mans dad, Sam Ickes, shared on Facebook.  ... I want to thank everyone that has reached out and took the time to pass the word and took the time out of their busy lives to go and lookplease pass on our appreciation

i cant believe this, his girlfriend, Mckenzie Bryant, wrote on Facebook. this cant be real!! i dont want to live without you.

Man dies swimming to lake shore from sinking boat, Colorado officials say

Boys, 10 and 11, drown trying to retrieve lost shoe in lake, Oklahoma officials say

Missing 15-year-old thrown from boat while crabbing presumed dead, Oregon cops say
Claymont filmmaker Bilal Motley was writing a script about an explosion at a fictional oil refinery, the same year he quit his management job at a Philly oil plant in 2017.

The next year, Motley went back to work at Philadelphia Energy Solutions in South Philly, since the starving artist's life wasn't working out for him. But in 2019, PES suffered an explosion, just like the refinery in his film script.

The PES explosion inspired Motley to create a 30-minute documentary, "Midnight Oil," which streams for free on Black Public Medias YouTube channel on Monday, July 17, as part of AfroPoP Digital Shorts.

What happened at Philadelphia Energy Solutions?

On June 21, 2019, a fire at the 150-year-old Philadelphia plant erupted after a vat of butane ignited, triggering a massive explosion.

This ultimately caused the plant to shut down, despite some employees petitioning to keep it open to save their jobs. An estimated 1,000 people worked at the plant.

Mark Smith, CEO of the company that emerged from bankruptcy only a year ago, said in a 2019 statement that the "recent fire at the refinery complex has made it impossible for us to continue operations."

Why did Motley make 'Midnight Oil?'

Flames and smoke emerge from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex in Philadelphia, Friday, June 21, 2019.

Motley shot the documentary on his cellphone, which includes interviews with co-workers after the explosion happened.

The film captures his co-workers discussing their next steps, while Motley wrestled with his own path forward.

Pokemon: Car talks, sings, cruises down Delaware streets. 'Pikabug' has cult following

"Midnight Oil" offers a nuanced look at the ongoing debate about the need to address the growing climate crisis, coupled with retaining jobs in energy sectors that often contribute to environmental injustice.

Motley said some Black and brown people who live near PES claimed that the facility was poisoning people in the community.

Before working on the documentary, the filmmaker said he never really considered the potential impacts that a heavily regulated oil plant could have on the well-being of a community or on the climate.

Story continues

But after diving into news articles about pollution and climate change, he said his views changed.

At the same time, Motley said he avoided creating controversy at work.

'I didn't speak up'

There were moments when he heard coded racist language from co-workers, he said, but he didn't say anything because he was one of the few Black managers at the plant, and his salary was $150,000.

Motley, who grew up in a Muslim household, said his father is someone who speaks his mind. But the filmmaker said that also affected his fathers employment opportunities.

"I'm in one of those spaces in a corporate environment. When I became a manager, I didn't speak up," he said. "I was just holding things in. But in the film, you'll see it all comes out."

Although PES eventually shut down, Motley continued to work at the facility three months after the explosion occurred because he was part of a small team of caretakers responsible for making sure the facility didn't have any leaks or any hazards as the plant was getting prepped to close.

Delawarean's engagement implodes: It happened after Netflix dating show. Here's the aftermath

Motley said he didn't think the plant was fit to stay open and he caught backlash for that when his statements went public.

It resulted in him getting kicked out of a Facebook group that included his co-workers. He also changed his phone number, to avoid getting nasty calls.

Motely said he doesnt think many of his co-workers were happy about the documentary, which debuted at the Black Star Film Festival in Philly in 2020.

But hes thankful he made it because he got to tell a side of the story the public didnt know about PES, the employees, or himself, he said.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware man's 'Midnight Oil' sheds light on Philly plant explosion
Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin have wed one month after confirming their engagement.

Photos shared online reveal that the couple tied the knot in Hungary  where Palvin, 29, is from  over the weekend. On Monday, July 17, Pop Crave's Twitter page shared several pictures of Sprouse, 30, and Palvin walking down the aisle. In the snaps, Palvin donned a simple and chic wedding gown while Sprouse wore a classic black tux at what appeared to be a church.

A priest and Dylans brother, Cole Sprouse, can be seen walking behind the newlyweds in one image, while another pic shows the pair joyfully celebrating by themselves as they made their way outside the venue.

Days later, they spoke to Vogue about the wedding. "This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Palvin shared.

Before walking down the aisle, Dylan and Palvin confirmed they were planning to exchange vows in Hungary.

"I'm excited to show that side of me and introduce my culture, the places I grew up and the places I went to," Palvin gushed to V Magazine in June. "I feel like a lot of people will learn even more about me this way. I know there was no way we would have not had a wedding in Hungary because my parents would have killed me."

One month before Dylan and Palvins ceremony, the model confirmed the duo had been engaged for months.

With the power invested in V I am a Sprouse to be , she captioned a snap from her and Dylans joint V Magazine cover shoot via Instagram in June.

The twosome  who began dating in June 2018  donned traditional wedding day attire and posed in front of a cake. Dylan explained in the interview  which was conducted by his brother  that he had asked the model to marry him back in September 2022. However, he wanted to wait to share the news with the world.

We didnt necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement, he said at the time. What we wanted to do with Stephen and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. Were playing with the idea of perception.

Story continues

Palvin, for her part, agreed with her partner's sentiment and was happy that they could share the exciting news on their own terms.

I mean, a man has time to prepare for the proposal  Dylan kept the ring for seven months before he asked the question  but for me, it was right then and there, she recalled. I knew since we started dating that I want to marry him, but its a big decision.

Prior to the photo shoot, rumors swirled that the duo were already taking the next step in their relationship. Us Weekly confirmed at the time that Palvin had been referring to Dylan as her fiance. They keep details of their personal life private, an insider exclusively revealed, noting, Theyve talked about getting married and having kids soon.

Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!

Keep scrolling to see photos from Dylan and Palvins wedding day:
Usted-Senalemelo.jpg Usted-Senalemelo - Credit: Courtesy of KEXP

Over the past decade, the Pacific Northwest has steadily blossomed into a stateside haven for fresh, alternative sounds from Latin America. In Portland, parties such as Gran Ritmos and Tropidahl transformed nightlife by celebrating diasporic hybrids of cumbia, dembow, and bhangra. Meanwhile, in Seattle, the psych and punk bedlam of Freakout Fest rejuvenated its avant curation with continent-spanning talent ranging from rising acts like Margaritas Podridas and Los Esplifs to bonafide legends including Os Mutantes and Los Dugs Dugs.

One of the driving forces behind the scenes curatorial terraforming is radio institution KEXP, and particularly their Monday-night staple El Sonido, which in 2011 began carving a new space for Latin American sounds outside the tent poles of reggaeton and musica Mexicana. El Sonido was started by William Myers a.k.a. DJ Chilly, who built the shows cult status in tandem with blockbuster live sessions from alternative stars like Cafe Tacvba and Bomba Estereo.

More from Rolling Stone

In 2020, the team added Argentine radio personality Albina Cabrera as a co-host of El Sonido, a position that quickly evolved into the stations Latin American Content Producer. In a few short years, Cabrera has spearheaded major initiatives to engage and expand KEXPs Spanish-speaking audience with sprawling on-site sessions in Mexico City and Buenos Aires, launching the original podcast El Sonido: Cancioneros back in May, and now heading into their own festival El Sonido Live at the Seattle Centers Music Heals Stage on July 21st.

For more than a decade, El Sonido and the Live On KEXP sessions have showcased the many expressions Latin music can embody, at the same time giving an international platform to alternative and independent artists bringing sounds outside the mainstream, Cabrera tells Rolling Stone. El Sonido Live is a celebration of three things: the first season of our podcast El Sonido: Cancioneros, the crucial alliances built with international partners such as BIME, LAMC, Chilemusica, and the Mexican Consulate in Seattle, and of course an opportunity to bring Latinx and non-Latinx fans together under this excellent time in Spanish-language music.

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Pahua and Rubio

The festivals line-up includes Chilean indie pop priestess Rubio, known for percussive cult hits like IR and Hasta El Fondo, as well as moody Argentine rockers Usted Senalemelo, who are slated to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago in August. The bill is rounded out by propulsive Spanish indie rock band Carolina Durante, and ethereal Mexican chanteuse Pahua  formerly of Mexico City cumbia duo Sotomayor  whose new album Habita melds Pan-American roots rhythms, avant pop, and electronic dance music. Several of the artists, along with Spanish band Carino and Chilean dreamer Chini, will also be part of live sessions.

I think whats been happening in Seattle these past five or six years is historic in terms of events and visibility for the local Latinx community, adds Cabrera. Latin music is number one in the world and we owe that in large part to the Caribbean, first because of historical and musical justice, but at the same time because [artists of the region] have opened the floodgates for other genres performed in Spanish to be appreciated, consumed, and demanded on a greater level.

For the artists, the festival and the live sessions represents a chance to show off their music to new audiences. This reflects the constant work Ive delivered with my soul and energy, Pahua tells Rolling Stone. Were all extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to showcase the music and rhythms that honor our Latin heritage.

This is a dream come true, to tell you the truth. Weve been listening to KEXP sessions for a long time and were always discovering new artists, and its always a surprise to see what happens there. We hope itll be the same for us, says Lucca Beguerie Petrich of Usted Senalemelo. He adds the festival will be the first time that the band will play in Seattle, following a live showcase at LAMC this month.

Expectations are riding high for El Sonido Live, and the Cancioneros podcast boasting a tremendous cast of guest talent including Mon Laferte, Villano Antillano, Buscabulla, Trueno, and Lido Pimienta: KEXP has just started down this road with many more cities to visit, Cabrera says, highlighting the responsibility to uplift stories that connect with the KEXPs vast community of listeners and donors in Latin America and Spain.

Cabrera shares that this is just the beginning: The team is working on the second season of the El Sonido podcast, and also planning to extend its network across the globe. Theyre also planning new places to take KEXP Live sessions. We cant announce that yet, Cabrera teases. But folks in attendance at El Sonido Live might be the first to find out.

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The actor and the human rights lawyer had a fancy night out near their famous villa in northern Italy

Pedro / SplashNews.com, Dave Benett/Getty Amal and George Clooney

George and Amal Clooney had a swoon-worthy Italian date night.

The couple were spotted enjoying a romantic dinner at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.

Amal sported a romantic floor-length white maxi dress with a slit, while George went classic, wearing a gray suit paired with a black button-down.

While Como is a popular summer vacation destination for A-listers, it's a second home for George and Amal, who own a villa on the lakefront. He purchased the idyllic property about 22 years after discovering it on a motorcycle ride across Italy with friend and business partner Rande Gerber.



Pedro / SplashNews.com Amal and George Clooney

He's also become part of the community there. Back in 2021, George was on the ground helping out after some devastating floods hit the region.

"[George] came straight to the town hall to see what had happened and we took a tour of the damage," local mayor Roberto Pozzi told the U.K. Times. He was really perturbed and said he wanted to help out.

He's also hosted many famous friends at his home there over the years. In 2018, Jennifer Aniston stayed at the property while shooting her 2019 comedy Murder Mystery. The actress was seen enjoying dinner and a nights stay at the Clooneys pad.

Other famous faces who have homes of their own in the region include Donatella Versace and George Lucas. And the hotspot has recently hosted Beyonce and JAY-Z, and Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who honeymooned on the lake after their Georgia wedding.

Related: George Clooney and Amal Clooney's Relationship Timeline

The Clooneys first met in 2013 through a mutual friends introduction and would go on to tie the knot just a year later in Sicily. While the pair first kept their ceremony private, they soon opened up about the nuptials, even sharing a wedding photobook in PEOPLE.

All I know is that it sort of changed everything in terms of what I thought my future  my personal future  was going to be, George told PEOPLE, reflecting on his marriage. I've always been an optimist about the world. I wasn't always completely optimistic about how it was going to work out personally for me. But now I am.

Story continues

Related: George and Amal Clooney's Kids: Everything They've Said About Parenting

The pair has since welcomed twins Alexander and Ella, 6. "In marriage, and now with the kids, you give away the selfishness of only looking out for yourself," George told PEOPLE. "It's a wonderful thing. Amal and I talk about it every day. We feel so lucky."

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Read the original article on People.
Jackie Kennedy allegedly once intercepted a phone call from Marilyn Monroe that was intended for her husband, John F. Kennedy. According to a new biography  Jackie: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli available on July 18  the then-First Lady was at the Kennedys vacation compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, when a breathy voice appeared on the other end of the house phone.

JFKs much-talked-about affairs have been the subject of scrutiny for decades. Taraborrelli quotes Senator George Smathers who, in 1999, said Presidents Truman and Nixon were the only two of the 11 presidents he knew who were totally one hundred percent faithful to their wives. He continued: Jackie knew that too. She dealt with it. However, Taraborrelli claims the Marilyn rumors impacted Jackie in a way her husbands other dalliances had not.

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Marilyn Monroe

Taraborrelli writes that, in spite of the many rumors, JFK never had a full-blown affair with the Some Like It Hot actress. He claims they were only together sexually for one weekend on March 24, 1962 at Bing Crosbys Palm Springs home. Taraborrelli quotes Smathers who claimed JFK thought [Marilyn] was beautiful, but maybe not the smartest girl in the world. He liked her sense of humor and her playfulness.

According to the book, it was a telegram from Jackie  who demanded JFK arrange a New York veterinarian examine a horse presented to her by the president of Pakistan on a recent trip  that brought his weekend with Marilyn to a sudden close. However, a month later, the actress allegedly tried to reach out to the President once again. The book recounts the phone call: Is Jack home?' Jackie said he wasnt home and asked who was calling. Marilyn Monroe, came back the answer. Is this Jackie? she asked. According to the book, Jackie confirmed and Marilyn asked her to tell JFK she had called. When Jackie asked about the purpose of the call, Marilyn allegedly said she just wanted to say hello. Taraborrelli says that, according to family members, this was the only time Jackie and Marilyn ever spoke.

Story continues

Click here to read the full article.

Taraborrelli says Jackie found the call off-putting and noted that the voice was haunting and sad and had an ethereal, little-girl-lost quality. Prior to the phone call, Jackie had only heard whisperings of her husbands fling with Marilyn but wasnt sure if she believed it, according to the book. Jackies sister, Lee, allegedly reported that she had heard the actress was actually having a romance with Bobby Kennedy, JFKs brother. Either way, Jackie reportedly told her husband to cease contact with Marilyn after hearing a rumor that she was addicted to certain medications and was seeking mental health help. Jacks response was that he and the actress were just friends but, still, he agreed, Taraborrelli writes.

After the call, Jackie was allegedly unsure if it was a prank or the real deal. It had been made directly to the bedroom she shared with JFK, the only phone that wasnt monitored by Secret Service agents. Jackies parents and a few members of the Kennedy family were the only people with the number but Jackie felt it seemed unlikely Jack would give it to Marilyn. According to the book, she even asked her mother to quiz her teenage brother, Jamie, about the call in case it was one of his pranks. Jamie Auchincloss is quoted in the book as saying: I can assure you, never did I imitate Marilyn Monroe to play a joke on my sister, though that does sound like something my fourteen-year-old self mightve done.

Still, Jackie relayed the message to Jack who insisted it had been a crank call, according to the book, but she remained skeptical and wondered if she had indeed talked to the woman whose supposed link to her husband would go on to be debated for decades.

Jackie: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Price: $31.50

Buy Now

This latest biography of the iconic First Lady contradicts claims made in a previous one, These Few Precious Days: The Final Year of Jack with Jackie by Christopher Andersen. Andersen seconds Taraborrellis claim that JFKs fling with Marilyn impacted Jackie more than the others but he has a different account of the supposed phone call. According to Andersen, Marilyn called Jackie to confess her affair and relayed JFKs alleged plan to leave Jackie for her. Jackie allegedly quipped back: Marilyn, youll marry Jack, thats great And youll move into the White House and youll assume the responsibilities of First Lady, and Ill move out and youll have all the problems.

Before you go, click here to see photos of JFK and Jackie O.s grown-up grandkids.

John Schlossberg, Caroline Kennedy, Tatiana Schlossberg

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Bechtle is 33.34 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of 38.22 suggests Bechtle is potentially trading close to its fair value

Our fair value estimate is 30% lower than Bechtle's analyst price target of 47.88

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Bechtle AG (ETR:BC8) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Bechtle

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 262.6m 270.3m 275.6m 279.5m 282.5m 284.9m 286.7m 288.2m 289.5m 290.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x8 Analyst x8 Est @ 1.94% Est @ 1.43% Est @ 1.07% Est @ 0.82% Est @ 0.65% Est @ 0.53% Est @ 0.44% Est @ 0.38% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% 246 236 225 214 202 191 179 169 158 149

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 2.0b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 291m (1 + 0.2%)  (6.9% 0.2%) = 4.4b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 4.4b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= 2.2b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 4.2b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 38.2, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Bechtle as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.125. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Bechtle

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the IT industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the IT market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the German market.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the German market.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Bechtle, we've put together three important factors you should look at:

Financial Health: Does BC8 have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does BC8's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Did someone say, its getting hot in here?

The National Weather Service on Monday extended a heat advisory for Miami-Dade and Broward counties as the heat index, or how the temperature feels, is forecast to range from 105 to 110 degrees across South Florida.

The heat advisory will remain in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Heat advisories are issued in the region when a heat index of 105 degrees or higher is registered for at least two hours.

Temperatures will continue to peak in the low 90s on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, the weather agency said.

While heat indices in excess of 110 degrees could materialize in isolated areas for short periods of time across Miami-Dade county, the duration of such an event will not be long enough to warrant the issuance of an Excessive Heat Warning, the National Weather Service said.

READ MORE: Labor contractor couldve prevented workers heat-related death in Broward, OSHA says

A heat advisory for Miami-Dade and Broward counties was extended through 7 p.m. July 18, 2023.

On Sunday, the weather agency issued an Excessive Heat Warning in Miami-Dade for the first time as heat indices were expected to surpass 110 degrees.

Heat advisories have marred South Florida since the beginning of July.

One culprit of the recent excessive heat has been the anomalously warm water temperatures residing just offshore.

This has resulted in our daily sea breezes actually making the heat more oppressive, as evidenced FLLs observations this afternoon, the weather agency said Sunday.

READ MORE: Waters off Florida hit record high temps. Brace for fish kills, algae blooms, coral damage

Waters off the states southeastern coast were running about three and a half degrees higher than normal in Fahrenheit, with waters in the Florida Keys up a stunning seven degrees above average as of last week.

This can have dire consequences for state waterways battling algae blooms, coral bleaching and fish kills. It also may add powerful fuel to tropical systems that pass through the area during hurricane season.

One culprit of the recent excessive heat we have observed SFL has been the anomalously warm water temperatures residing just offshore.



This has resulted in our daily sea breezes actually making the heat more oppressive, as evidenced FLL's observations this afternoon. #flwx pic.twitter.com/tMIbrXwnJX  NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) July 16, 2023

Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris and intern Alan Halaly contributed to this report.
Editors note: This interview with talent was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike that officially began on July 14, 2023

If Maxs new series Full Circle doesnt do anything else it will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.

From director Steven Soderbergh and writer Ed Solomon, the latest limited series is one that requires your full undivided attention after a botched kidnapping uncovers what seems like centuries-long secrets that connect each character and finds itself bridging the gap between Guyana and New York.

The very first episode immediately brings viewers into the chaos that ensues when the wrong family member is left in charge. In this case, that person is Aked (Jharrel Jerome), the nephew of Savitri Mahabir (CCH Pounder), the creator of a kidnap plot cloaked in revenge.

However, theres one problem. Aked is the last person who should have been left to orchestrate the plan and could very well be the reason things go awry leaving those watching to begin quite the ride to putting together the pieces.

With a lost view of the world, Jerome describes his character as just a crazy, toxic nutcase.

I think, [hes] a kid who has strong values that we all believe in, Jerome told Shadow and Act. Which is, you know, family values and love for blood, but that can be misconstrued in a lot of ways and there could be a toxicity that lies behind that. I think theres more of a desperate love that lies behind them and this desperation of feeling seen and being heard. And, you know, all of the characters I think have at least one person they can talk to, and Aked really just sits in the middlesitting alone, with either somebody telling him what to do or telling him that hes a little off the deep end so hes a very loud character.

Similarly, Mel Harmony (Zazie Beetz) is another eclectic person playing a role in the bigger picture of Full Circle, but she is on the opposite end as one of two U.S. postal inspectors assigned to the kidnapping debacle.

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She is a detectivie who is sensitive, intelligent and combative, said Beetz of her character.

She is a detectivie who is sensitive, intelligent and combative, said Beetz of her character. I think that she gets more involved emotionally and literally into things that she shouldnt be involved in, but then also can put herself into danger because shes enmeshing herself in something that maybe she shouldnt be in. But, I also think its a mix of ambition and genuinely wanting to figure out whats going on, which is her curiosity, that its also sort of self-serving her own desire to be validated in her workspace.

Whats more, a true ensemble piece, Full Circle features the stories of various characters of all dynamics near and far that ultimately intertwine and fold into the larger picture of how one major (and sometimes wrong) decision can affect people for years upon years.

The first two episodes of Full Circle are now available for streaming via Max, with new double episodes dropping weekly leading up to the finale on Thursday, July 27.
The moderate Democrat, who has previously said he wouldn't rule out changing parties in the future, is sparking rumors of joining a potentially disruptive third-party presidential ticket

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Sen. Joe Manchin

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin's Monday town hall appearance in New Hampshire is raising eyebrows  largely due to the fact it's hosted by a group currently exploring a third-party presidential ticket.

The moderate Democrat, who has previously said he wouldn't rule out changing parties in the future, is appearing at the event hosted by No Labels, a group co-chaired by former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000.

The Atlantic reports that No Labels hasn't yet decided whether it will nominate a third-party candidate and plans to make the determination in the spring, after they examine polling data to determine the effect such a candidate might have on the race.

A potential Manchin ticket could split the Democratic vote in a race where President Joe Biden appears in a dead heat with presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump, potentially taking down Biden's campaign.

If Manchin were to vacate his Senate seat to run, the move could also help Republicans take control of the upper chamber, as West Virginia is a deeply conservative state where a newcomer Democrat would have a hard time securing a victory.

Related: Democrat Joe Manchin Says He Has 'No Intention' of Switching Parties, But Doesn't Rule Out a Future Change

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin speaks to reporters

Manchin came to the Senate in 2010 and faces reelection in 2024, though he has not yet announced whether he plans to run again.

Speaking to CNNs Manu Raju last week, 75-year-old Manchin said the town hall event "is nothing about a third party, this is nothing about bringing up any office at all," adding, "its about a dialogue for common sense, which is very hard to have here, finding commonality.



But Manchin didn't exactly shut down speculation that he could be mulling a bid for the presidency under a third-party ticket, telling Raju, "Ive never ruled out anything or ruled in anything."



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Related: Sen. Joe Manchin Says He Can Handle Attacks from Both Sides That Paint Him as 'the Hero and the Villain'

Manchin has fielded questions about switching parties in the past. Speaking to reporters in the wake of his colleague Kyrsten Sinema's decision to become an independent earlier this year, Manchin said he had "no intention" of following suit  but that he wasn't ruling out a party switch in the future.

"Whether I do something later, I can't tell you what the future's going to bring. I can only tell you where I am and my mindset," he said, per The Hill.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

A self-described "moderate Democrat," Manchin told both The Hill and Fox News in 2021 that he had offered to leave the Democratic Party and become an independent (while still voting with the Democrats) during talks about President Joe Biden's sweeping spending package, the Build Back Better Act.

Related: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Leaves Democratic Party to Become Independent: 'Right for the Country'

"If it is 'embarrassing' to them to have a moderate, centrist Democrat in the mix and if it would help them publicly, I could become an independent," he told The Hill he said, adding that the proposition never went anywhere and that it wasn't meant as a threat.

"I'm not threatening to leave. Why would I? I'm very secure in my positions and honestly, I'm not the one stressed out," Manchin told The Hill.



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(Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Theres trouble in Atlanta.

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore has unfollowed her co-star Sanya-Richards Ross on Instagram after the latest episode.

Undoubtedly, there have been some fractured relationships among this group of ladies  especially regarding Sanya and her co-stars. Not only did she make interesting comments about Kenya recently, but she also threw heavy shade in the latest episodes. Plus, shes ruffled Kandi Burruss feathers after saying shed fire her from the series that revitalized her career.

Now, after coming for Kenya and her partner, Roi Shlomo, in her confessionals, the former Miss USA made it crystal clear where she stands with her former friend.

Kenya says Sanya is not her friend

Because @SanyaRichiRoss is not my friend or neutral PAY ATTENTION #RHOA https://t.co/BJ33RjSYEr  KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) July 17, 2023

In the land of Housewives, these girls unfollow and follow each other so often that its par for the course at this point. Typically, Kenya keeps it pretty tame on social media, but she wasnt holding back recently. Super sleuth Bravo fans caught that on July 17, Kenya no longer followed the former Olympian on Instagram after calling her out on Twitter.

One user questioned why Sanya was trying so hard to make Kenya react to the news about Marlo going on a date with her boyfriend.

Because @SanyaRichiRoss is not my friend or neutral PAY ATTENTION #RHOA, Kenya wrote.

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Among other tweets, she hinted that the sophomore Housewife couldnt be trusted after seeing the episode.

Yep! Not neutral and goes behind my back, and Kikis about me #RHOA, she said.

Yep! Not neutral and goes behind my back and Kikis about me #RHOA https://t.co/7tjBbkBu5W  KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) July 17, 2023

The ladies are now in Portugal, and its supposed to be a healing journey. However, well see how much healing really goes down since their first night ended with one of the ladies storming off from the dinner table with a face full of tears.

The Real Housewives Of Atlanta continues Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.

TELL US  ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT KENYA UNFOLLOWED SANYA? DO YOU THINK SANYA IS FAKE?

Real Housewives of Atlanta recap

Its time for a cast trip, and Sheree is leading the ladies on a healing journey. Recaps Justin Smith 20 hours ago

Marc Daly Kenya Moore

Getting worse day by day! Reality News Varsha Narayanan 21 hours ago

Kyle Richards

Some Real Housewives arent above fibbing. Features Jennifer OBrien 5 days ago

The post Kenya Moore Unfollows Sanya Richards-Ross After Latest Real Housewives of Atlanta Episode appeared first on Reality Tea.
Following its premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Killers of the Flower Moon was hailed as "magnificent" and "the best performance of Leonardo DiCaprio's entire career." DiCaprio stars in this three-and-a-half-hour epic from director and co-writer Martin Scorsese as Ernest Burkhart, the husband of a Native American woman named Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), whose family played a key role in the Osage murders that shocked Oklahoma in the 1920s. Robert De Niro costars as William Hale, a wealthy and influential rancher in Osage County and Burkhart's uncle, along with Jesse Plemons as FBI agent Tom White

Scorsese's film is based on the nonfiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, written by journalist David Grann. In a 2017 review, EW's critic gave the book an A, calling it "a rich page-turner with a tangible frontier twang." Grann's work digs deep into the true crime cases at the center of the story, while also offering historical context for the Osage Nation and the lawmen from a brand-new federal agency who descended on their land. Here's what Grann uncovered, and how Scorsese interpreted it.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Killers of the Flower Moon.

The Osage Nation

Originally located in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Osage Nation (or, as they call themselves, the Wahzhazhe) were part of the forcible displacement of Native Americans by the United States government in the 19th century. Eventually, the Osage settled in "Indian territory," in modern-day Oklahoma. Their people legally purchased the reservation land, which made it more difficult for the U.S. government to impose a system of "allotment," under which Native land was carved up and given away to white settlers.

JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in "Killers of the Flower Moon," coming soon to Apple TV+

Apple TV+ Lily Gladstone in 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

In 1906, Osage Principal Chief James Bigheart, along with a half-Native lawyer named John Palmer, negotiated a deal with the U.S. government giving each Osage member a headright, or share, in the tribe's mineral trust. Headrights could not be bought or sold, only inherited. This became extremely important just a few years later, when oil fields were discovered under the Osage land.

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With much of the profits from the subsequent drilling legally belonging to the tribe, by the early 1920s, the members were the richest people per capita in the world. This attracted scores of swindlers, con artists, and corrupt businessmen, all of whom hoped to get a piece of the Osage's wealth either legally, through the "guardianship" system that put white people in charge of Osage fortunes, or illegally, through murder and theft.

The Reign of Terror

In 1921, two Osage members, Anna Brown and Charles Whitehorn, were murdered within days of each other under suspiciously similar circumstances. Both had been shot, and their bodies had been dumped in isolated rural areas. Shortly thereafter, another Osage man, Henry Roan (Anna's cousin), was discovered dead behind the wheel of his car. He had been shot in the back of the head.

Twenty-four people were eventually murdered in what the tribe began to call the "Reign of Terror." Some victims, like Osage rodeo star William Stepson, were poisoned. Others simply vanished or were killed execution-style. All of the victims were wealthy Native Americans, save for two: a white oil man named Barney McBride, who was an Osage ally, and an attorney named W. W. Vaughan. Shortly before his death, Vaughan called the Osage County Sheriff's office, saying that he had important information that could help solve the killings and that he would be coming from Oklahoma City on the next train. He never arrived. Even the dogs Osage people had bought to protect their homes were mysteriously dying.

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon"

Apple TV+ Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

The book Killers of the Flower Moon revolves around Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose three sisters and mother all perished under mysterious circumstances. Her sister, Minnie, and mother, Lizzie, both weakened and eventually died of what doctors called "peculiar wasting illnesses," while her sister, Anna Brown, was the victim of the murder that kicked off the Reign of Terror. But it was the death of Mollie's third sister, Rita Smith, Rita's husband, Bill, and their servant, Nettie Brookshire, in an explosion at their home in Fairfax, Okla., that led the Osage Tribal Council to appeal to the Department of Justice for help.

Mollie's husband (a white man named Ernest Burkhart), Ernest's brother, Bryan, and their uncle, William Hale, would all be implicated when the conspiracy to kill Mollie's family was eventually uncovered.

The FBI investigation

In the aftermath of Brown's death, Mollie Burkhart hired private investigators to find her murderers. Four years later, little progress had been made. Then, in the summer of 1925, J. Edgar Hoover  head of a brand new government agency then referred to as the Bureau of Investigation (which would later become the FBI)  called one of his agents to Washington, D.C.

Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons in "Killers of the Flower Moon," coming soon to Apple TV+

Apple TV+ Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons in 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

The agent was Tom White, the son of a Texas sheriff who began his career in law enforcement hunting horse thieves and outlaw gangs as a member of the Texas Rangers. Hoover sent White to head the bureau's Oklahoma City field office, a lawless region that was considered the last outpost of the Wild West. There, he gathered a team that included John Burger, an experienced investigator who was well-known in Osage County, as well as several undercover operatives. One posed as an insurance salesman, another as a cattleman. A third was an American-Indian agent who also went undercover.

Over the next few months, White and his team uncovered evidence that William Hale had not only approached several local career criminals offering to pay them for the murder of Anna Brown, but also hired multiple people to build and detonate the bomb that had killed Rita and Bill Smith. Shockingly, Ernest Burkhart had helped set up the explosion against his sister-in-law and her husband, while his brother Bryan had assisted in Anna's murder. Mollie was also supposed to be in the home of Rita and Bill the night they died, but had changed her mind at the last minute  meaning that her husband had intended to kill her, too.

The trial

On Jan. 4, 1926, William Hale and Ernest Burkhart were arrested for the murders of Bill and Rita Smith and Nettie Brookshire. Urged on by the testimony of an incarcerated outlaw named Blackie Thompson, Burkhart confessed to his role in the plot and identified a man named John Ramsey as the "triggerman" who shot Henry Roan.

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Apple TV+ Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

On March 12, 1926, a preliminary hearing was held in Pawhuska, Okla. Fearing for his life, Ernest recanted his testimony but eventually turned around and testified against his uncle  a powerful man with considerable influence in Osage County  in both state and federal court. Hale and Ramsey's first trial for the murder of Henry Roan ended in a hung jury, but both men were found guilty of first-degree murder in a retrial. Kelsie Morrison, another "triggerman" who confessed to the murder of Anna Brown, was convicted as well.

Hale would end up serving 18 years in Leavenworth, a federal prison in Kansas. The warden? None other than Tom White, who came to greet Hale upon his arrival at the penitentiary. He was paroled in 1947, as was John Ramsey. Burkhart was released in 1937, but went back to prison after robbing a bank and spent his final years living in a trailer with his brother, Bryan. Mollie divorced Ernest during the trial, remarried in 1928, and died in 1937 at the age of 50.

Unanswered questions

While writing Killers of the Flower Moon, journalist David Grann traveled to Oklahoma to meet with members of the Osage Nation, including Ernest and Mollie's granddaughter, Margie Burkhart. While he was there, interviews and archives turned up evidence of more mysterious deaths in Osage County that were never investigated.

Grann-book

Matthew Richman; Doubleday Publishing

Grann's research led him to conclude that the systematic killings of Osage people for their oil headrights was "a vast criminal operation that was reaping millions and millions of dollars" through insurance fraud, embezzlement, and non-Osage people murdering their Osage spouses for money. William Hale and Ernest Burkhart had taken the fall, but "virtually every element of society was complicit in this murderous system." And most of them had escaped with zero accountability and millions in Osage wealth.

Restoring trust

Martin Scorsese and his cast and crew spent significant amounts of time with Osage historians and tribal leaders while developing the film adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon. Scorsese and his co-writer Eric Roth reportedly rewrote their script after these meetings, changing the focus of the story from the development of the FBI to the culture and experiences of the Osage people.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 21: (L-R) Didier Allouch, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Director Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Chief Standing Bear attend the "Killers of the Flower Moon" press conference at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Stephane Cardinale/getty

In a press conference following the film's world premiere, the current leader of the Osage Nation, Chief Standing Bear, described Killers of the Flower Moon as a story about trust  between Mollie and her husband, as well as the Osage and the outside world  and the "deep betrayal" of that trust. "My people suffered greatly, and to this very day, those effects are with us," he said. "But I can say, on behalf of the Osage, Marty Scorsese and his team have restored trust, and we know that trust will not be betrayed."

Related content:
A South Carolina mom is dead and two of her children are missing after flooding swept away their family in Pennsylvania, officials said.

The kids  both younger than 3 years old  vanished as their mother and grandmother tried to save them from the raging floodwaters, according to the Upper Makefield Township Police Department in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The childrens mother was among five people dead after the area saw up to 7 inches of rain in 45 minutes on Saturday, July 15, WHYY reported. A video police shared on Facebook shows a deluge of water rushing over a guardrail.

While police in their Facebook posts didnt share details about the other people who died, they said the mother was part of a family heading to a barbecue during a visit from Charleston, South Carolina. The relatives were on a road about 35 miles northeast of Philadelphia when a torrential rainstorm hit the area, leaving their vehicles caught in the flash flood, officers wrote.

Dad, miraculously, was able to get himself and their 4 year-old son to safety, but the mother and grandmother who were trying to get their 2 other children, ages 9 months and 2 years to safety, were all swept away by the raging (floodwaters), police wrote. Unbelievably, the grandmother survived and was treated at a local hospital.

But the childrens mom disappeared, then first responders reported finding her body. Police did not identify her in their posts.

As of early July 17, the search continues for the womans missing 2-year-old daughter and baby son. Officers said boats, drones and sonar technology are among the tools being used to look for them along the Delaware River.

We are all in grieving over the loss of life we have seen, officers wrote in a July 16 post on Facebook. However, our commitment to finding the two children who are still missing is unwavering as we will do all that we can to bring them home to their loved ones.

Crash kills 74-year-old and great-grandchildren on road trip from SC, Arizona cops say

6-year-old drowns when dads vehicle is swept into flooded water, Oklahoma officials say
Country singer Morgan Wallen just gave a grieving mother a "bittersweet full-circle moment."

This past weekend, the controversial musician offered free concert tickets to the family of Ethan Chapin, the 20-year-old student who was one of four victims murdered at the University of Idaho in November 2022. His mother Stacy Chapin previously shared that she and her son had a special connection to one of Wallen's songs, "I Thought You Should Know." Word of her story must've made it back to the musician, who Chapin says reached out to meet the family to invite them to his San Diego concert.

Morgan Wallen

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Morgan Wallen

"On Mother's Day 2022, Ethan sent me the best text about how @morganwallen had written a song for his mom @lesliwallen and how that could be our song," Chapin explained in an Instagram post. "It was a very touching moment between us. I listen to 'I Thought You Should Know' all the time. I've told this story a lot, and to our surprise, a very kind person made an introduction."

Alongside photos of Wallen posing with the Chapin family, she continued, "Last night, we met Morgan Wallen! He kindly gifted our family and friends tickets to his show in San Diego. Morgan's mom, Lesli, even flew in! It was an incredibly bittersweet full-circle moment."

Chapin added that the kindness didn't end there. Though she said the concert alone "would have been enough," Wallen later handed her a donation check for the Ethan's Smile Foundation, a fund started by the Chapin family to honor Ethan who they note was "always laughing, always smiling." The foundation prioritizes scholarship funding for students in Skagit County pursuing higher education after high school.

While Wallen has yet to comment on the meeting, his mother replied directly to Stacy Chapin's Instagram post, writing, "Y'all are so precious. It was an honor to get to meet you."

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Ethan was one of four University of Idaho students brutally murdered at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. The other victims included Chapin's girlfriend, Xana Kernodle, and her roommates, Kaylee Gonclaves and Madison Mogen. Bryan Kohberger, 28, has been arrested and charged in the murders. His trial is scheduled to begin in October.

"Thought You Should Know" is one of the biggest hits off of Wallen's 2023 album, One Thing At A Time. The former The Voice contestant co-penned the emotional track with Miranda Lambert and Nicolle Gaylon as a tribute to his mother.

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A red wedding dress and a headlamp illuminated with a live flame are, no doubt, odd artifacts for a museum dedicated to teaching children about science.

But a lot has changed in the 152 years since the Kentucky Science Center first opened its doors as part of the Public Library System of Kentucky in 1871. As the organization has doubled down on interactive, playful education and its "Do Science" motto, it has had little need for the tools, fossils, clothes and other oddities that were once on display when it was a natural history museum.

Now hundreds of artifacts that have been in storage for decades are getting a second chance at the spotlight as they head for new homes at the Frazier History Museum, the Filson Historical Society, and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, among other institutions.

Earlier this month, the Frazier was kind enough to give me an early glimpse at its haul.

By the time I caught up with the curatorial team at the Frazier, nearly three months had passed since the Science Center had essentially invited them to "help yourself." In that time, Tish Boyer, Amanda Briede and Casey Harden had made a handful of trips and only unlocked a fraction of the potential in the Science Centers collection.

Tish Boyer, Registrar and Manager of Collections at the Frazier History Museum, talked with Courier Journal columnist Maggie Menderski about the recent items the museum has added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

On the day we met, they brought out about two dozen pieces to show me, but theyd already claimed about 850 artifacts. The curatorial team expects that number would balloon to 2,000 in the coming months.

"It's overwhelming, because you get excited about the possibility, and this potential of what we can do with our collection," Harden said.

Uncovering pieces of Kentucky's history in a hidden archive

A Man o' War pendant is one of over 800 items the Frazier History Museum has added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

Each item from the Science Center comes with a handwritten, two-inch tag that vaguely identifies the artifact and its origin. Eventually, the team will retrieve whatever paperwork the Science Center may have kept on objects, but in these initial stages, the details on each item are slim. As they determine which pieces to take, the three curators are following their instincts and also considering how objects may fit into upcoming exhibits.

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The partnership between the two museums, in a way, is like rooting through a friends basement. Some of the items the team has seen before and are eager to own, like the dresses the Frazier once borrowed from the collection for its prohibition and suffragists exhibits.

Occasionally, the discoveries are so surprising, meaningful, and wonderful, it almost brings the group to tears.

Thats what happened when Briede opened one of the storage units and found dozens of wooden models that were made during President Franklin D. Roosevelts Works Progress Administration program. Artists were commissioned under that initiative to create these woodworks of art as a way to document historical architecture and homes throughout Kentucky.

Hand-carved wooden models of historic homes in Kentucky are some of over 800 items the Frazier History Museum has added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

It's just so cool to have these, and they're beautiful little works of art, Briede said, gushing at three of the models on the table in front of us. I opened it up, and then I saw the little tags, and then there's a stamp that said WPA, it's just like, Oh, my God!

Those pieces could fit into the Fraziers upcoming Cool Kentucky exhibit that will showcase the commonwealths 120 counties, but at the same time, they could also be useful for teaching about Kentucky architecture or the WPA era. Each object they're bringing into their collection has more than one story it can tell.

This gives us the opportunity to tell several different lines of history through one object, Harden said.

Just to the side of the WPA models was a cane with Henry Clays head at the top, an old hat box complete with a receipt from the long-gone Stewarts Dry Goods Co., and a headlamp that was used by the earliest coal miners in Kentucky. Before lightbulbs and batteries existed, the miners would hook this contraption onto their helmets and set a small compartment filled with lime on fire to light their way.



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A heavy black cane with an ivory bust of Kentucky statesman Henry Clay is one of over 800 items the Frazier History Museum recently added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

From there, Boyer turned our attention to a rack of clothing, and she used a gloved hand to uncover a silk red dress from the 1880s. She loved this piece because the tag identified it as a wedding dress. So often we think of bridal gowns as white, Boyer explained, but at several points throughout history, it was fashionable to wear colors or even whatever your best dress might have been.

Boyer shuffled through the rack again and this time, she pulled a brown and green striped dress from the collection she believed was a maternity dress from the 1860s. Even though its tag was vague, she could tell this dress was unusual from its wide bodice. Corsets were popular in this period, and the ideal waist was about 23-24 inches, she said. This garment was much larger and more forgiving.

You could tell this woman was wealthy, too, Boyer said, because the dress appeared to be in its original form and its lace was intact. Poor Kentuckians would have repurposed a maternity dress once the woman was done having children.

A wool coat dating back to the 1820's was worn by Nathan Smith of Adair County, Ky. The coat was woven by Mr. Smith's sisters with blue wool from sheep raised on the Smith farm. A curatorial team from the Frazier History Museum is working its way through more than 800 items from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

Just a few feet from that rack of dresses stood a mannequin with a boys coat. This was a rare find, Boyer explained, because children and men often wore out their clothes. The tag said it had come from Adair County, and that the young mans sisters had woven the fabric using the wool from sheep on the family farm.

For Briede, these "salt of the earth" discoveries are the most exciting parts of the collection. Objects, like that handmade coat, show a part of Kentucky thats not always preserved.

Then she gestured to an Appalachian doll positioned on a small chair. Its face was hand-carved and the cloth around its body was hand-woven and stuffed with straw. Briede didn't need a file to know this piece was important, she could tell it in the craftsmanship.

I just love it, because it shows how much somebody cared to spend all this time making this piece for their child to have, Briede said.

Growing the Frazier collection from 4,000 to 6,000 pieces

A Courier-Journal newspaper from August 29, 1885 is one of over 800 items the Frazier History Museum has added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

Not every artifact in the Science Centers collection has such clear Kentucky ties.

Many of the objects may have traveled to the state with immigrants or pioneers. Others are just too weird not to take.

One piece the curatorial team took from the Science Center was originally a Norwegian bride's headpiece from the 1850s, and then 70 years later, a Norwegian opera star bought it and converted it into a purse. One of the tables had a paddle bat with the year 1766 carved on it, which was well before Louisville was founded and Kentucky even became a state. A small slate likely used in a one-room schoolhouse sat next to a hornbook, which pioneer children commonly used to practice their letters.

One of the most obscure things in the collection was a teeny, tiny book no bigger than a thimble that had the Olympic Creed written in microscopic print in multiple languages. The tag said it had been owned by former Louisville Mayor Harvey Sloane, but until they got to the paperwork attached to it, there was really no way to know which Olympics it was from and how this little oddity ended up at the Kentucky Science Center.

A minature book with the Olympic Creed written in seven languages, originally gifted to Louisville Mayor Harvey Sloane, is one of over 800 items the Frazier History Museum has added to its collection from the Kentucky Science Center. July 6, 2023

Even though adding to the collection, in some ways, creates more questions than answers for the Frazier, this partnership is invaluable. The Frazier is a relatively young museum, and it will celebrate its 20th birthday in 2024. When the team first began sorting through the Science Center's archives, the Frazier only had about 4,000 pieces in its own collection. By the time theyre through at the Science Center, they expect that will balloon to almost 6,000.

Theyre not just building a collection, though, theyre tapping into stories.

In the hour we spent together, the curatorial team gave me a glimpse into the world of a coal miner, an expectant mother, a bride, and a young boy from Adair County. I saw how pioneer children learned their letters, and I wondered who had used that cane with Henry Clay's head.

You dig in, and all you keep on thinking is, what's the next discovery? Harden said. Whose story am I going to be able to tell that has been hidden for close to 100 years? That's what drives you to keep on looking and digging.

You may like: Driving history: How Bardstown and Shelbyville roads have defined Louisville for centuries

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Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. If you've got something in your family, your town or even your closet that fits that description  she wants to hear from you. Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4053. Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @MaggieMenderski.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Frazier History Museum raids Kentucky Science Center's collection
Amid Hollywoods historic double strike, Netflix is on deck after the market close on July 19 with its second-quarter report that will kick off media earnings season and shed light on its subscriber momentum, the progress of its cheaper advertising tier and the impact of its password-sharing crackdown.

Popular second-quarter originals from the streamer have included the likes of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Heading into the financial and operating update, Wall Street has been bullish on Netflix shares, which gained over the first half of 2023 and are up more than 50 percent year-to-date.

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A slew of analysts has in recent days and weeks raised their price targets on the companys stock. After all, one key theme across the Street is an expectation of positive updates on the progress of the firms password-sharing crackdown and advertising tier rollout.

Investors (are) focused on sub trends and ramping monetization efforts when Netflix reports, TD Cowen analyst John Blackledge wrote in a July 11 report. Investors will look for updates on Netflixs monetization efforts  paid sharing and advertising tier. He has designated the streamers stock as one of his best ideas for 2023. Netflixs paid sharing coupled with the ad tier rollout should drive long-term revenue upside, and the launch of paid sharing in the second quarter of 2023 along with the ramping ad tier should help drive membership and revenue growth in the second half of 2023. Specifically, the TD Cowen analyst forecasts net subscriber growth of 2.37 million in the second quarter, versus consensus of around 1.7 million, and a net gain of 12.1 million and revenue re-acceleration in the second half of 2023. All in all, Blackledge reiterated his outperform rating and $500 stock price target.

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That same day, UBS analyst John Hodulik boosted his Netflix stock price target from $390 to $525, while maintaining his buy rating. We see Netflix as the main beneficiary as peers prioritize profits in streaming, he wrote and highlighted positive data points. Netflix introduced paid sharing more broadly in the second quarter. As a proxy for potential churn, we monitored Google search interest in cancel Netflix, which saw less inflection in key markets launched in the second quarter than what was observed in Canada/Spain in the first quarter, Hodulik wrote. We continue to believe paid sharing will drive 5 percent-plus uplift to revenue and see the roll-out as key to driving scale in advertising with the growth in the ad-tier mix and better targeting. Netflix eliminated its basic ad-free tier in Canada (and de-emphasized in the U.S.), which we estimate could provide a 10 percent uplift to average revenue per user over time and should help scale the ad base faster than prior expectations.

All in all, the UBS expert raised his estimates and predicted second-quarter financials would beat managements guidance, adding that he and his team still expect accelerating second-half growth. Hodulik now forecasts 3.6 million net subscriber gains in the second and 6.5 million in the third quarter, bringing our 23 estimate to 18 million (12 million prior; 9 million in 22). And he noted: We expect third-quarter guidance to imply faster revenue and operating income growth, boosted by accretion from paid sharing.

Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney has also generally been a Netflix bull, having an outperform rating and $400 price target on the stock. But in the headline of a Monday report, he warned investors: Tread Lightly Into Great (Subs) Expectations.

Buyside expectations in terms of net sub adds are almost certainly higher than (on the) Street, with the market likely looking for more like 4 million-5 million subs in the second quarter and a similar to higher level in the third quarter (5-7 million), Mahaney wrote. If the positive intra-quarter sub trends reported by third-party tracking services are accurate, these expectations appear reasonable. But we would view them as likely limiting the opportunity for upside surprise and increasing the odds of a negative surprise.

Explained Mahaney: Thus, we would prefer to buy Netflix shares after the (results) rather than before and have issued a tactical underperform call on Netflix for the (results).

The Evercore ISI analyst also pointed out that Netflixs stock has exceeded his $400 price target, and we removed it from our top picks list last month, but we are sticking with (an) outperform rating on Netflix as we believe this stock still has legs. He noted his bull case for Netflix, which includes its stock price possibly hitting $500 by 2024, driven by an incremental 20-30 million subs growth from 23 to 25 from SAVOD (subscription ad-supported VOD) and paid sharing benefits.

Many recent Netflix reports have focused on such bullish commentary. At the end of June, for example, Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein also boosted his stock price target for Netflix by $50 to $500, while maintaining his outperform rating, in anticipation of higher subscribers on bullish indicators for paid sharing and higher revenue/sub with potential discontinuation of lowest-priced ad-free plan. He argued that the company could phase out its advertising-free Basic streaming plan, as it is currently testing in Canada, estimating such a phase-out of the Basic plan could generate an incremental $4.4 billion for Netflix over a 12-month period.

Helfstein also sees further potential upside for the company. (An) extended writers strike would disrupt back-to-school TV calendar, likely pushing more users/viewing to Netflix, given its programming lead-time, he wrote. Netflix benefits from a deep backlog as well as international content that is unaffected by strike. Additionally, Netflix is likely benefiting from media job cuts, as competitors struggle amid ad market weakness and subscription services cash drain.

For the second quarter, Helfstein raised his subscriber forecast from 234.2 million to 235.1 million, a gain of 2.6 million instead of 1.7 million.

Just on Thursday, July 13, Macquarie analyst Tim Nollen added his take on the latest financial and operating update: Netflixs earnings report on July 19 could be even more impactful than usual. Based on the stocks second-quarter outperformance and several recent sell-side estimate and target price increases, the bar is already set pretty high.

This fact may well be justified, he argued, pointing out that Netflix launched its $7.99 paid sharing plan in the U.S. in May, with early positive third-party readings on consumers response. We expect the most important aspect of Netflixs crackdown on password sharing will be the catalyst it creates to attract more users to its $6.99 ad tier base, in turn generating higher revenue from advertising, while both new plans bring higher average revenue per user, Nollen concluded. This may be partially offset by price cuts in over 100 countries, and on the earnings side, by costs associated with this rapid ad tier buildout.

The Macquarie expert increased his 2023 and 2024 earnings estimates as we layer in upside from our ad tier and paid sharing calculations, leading him to boost his stock price target from $350 to $410 and speaking of a potentially momentous quarterly update. But Nollen maintained his neutral rating on Netflix shares, highlighting that he and his team will await second-quarter results before assessing if further changes to numbers are warranted.

Pivotal Research Group analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak is the biggest Netflix bull on Wall Street, in June raising his stock price target from $425 to a Street high of $535 with a buy rating. It remains well positioned to generate solid subscriber and revenue/free cash flow growth even in a potential global recessionary environment via their better monetization of the approximate 100 million-plus households that currently utilize Netflix outside of paying households via password sharing, he explained. This should be enhanced by the subscriber and subscriber monetization benefits from their ad-supported tier. And the expert highlighted: Importantly, Netflix, unlike its streaming peers, has demonstrated massive scale economies which is evidenced by the major ramp in free cash flow in 22/23, a trend we expect to continue 24 and beyond.

Another Netflix stock price boost, by $100 to $450, came on July 10 from Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne. We are bullish on the Netflix business as continued execution, competitor withdrawal and disciplined expense trends increase our outlook, he explained.

That said, he maintained his equal-weight rating on the stock, highlighting: On a 12-month view, however, there may be more risk of multiple compression from here than multiple expansion and we wait for a better entry point. Explained Swinburne: A year ago, nothing was priced in for either paid sharing or the ad-tier as shares traded at about 13 times estimated 2024 consensus earnings per share. Today, at about 30 times, much is expected.

But the expert also emphasized the bull case. Netflix is poised to demonstrate how good a business streaming can be at scale, he wrote. The combination of accelerating revenue against limited expense

growth is set to improve returns.

Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan, in a July 4 report, upgraded Netflix from sell to neutral and boosted his stock price target from $230 to $400. Strategic Initiatives Drive Operating Outperformance, the former Netflix bear highlighted in the headline of his report, in which he also summarized: Netflix continues to execute against its global password and ad tier initiatives.

Sheridan noted that his sell recommendation had been based on the view that the global streaming giant would face a series of headwinds from post-pandemic subscriber growth normalization, heightened industry competitive pressure, potential pressure on subscriber gross additions from the consumer spending environment and volatile subscriber performance as it rolled out its password sharing crackdown initiatives.

But the Goldman expert likes what he has seen so far, writing: In short, Netflix management has executed its password sharing initiative in excess of our prior assumptions, has regained content creation momentum in a manner that has muted any post-pandemic growth headwinds and overall industry competition has become more muted (especially from traditional media companies) in the past six months.

Sheridan concluded that his upgrade was needed to reflect the overall positive current operating performance for Netflix and continued forward positive operating momentum into 2024/2025.

The Goldman analyst forecast the streamer ending the second quarter with 236.0 million subscribers, up from the 232.5 million recorded as of the end of its first quarter. Overall, Netflixs global subscribers total was 232.5 million at the end of its first quarter of 2023.

The most recent bullish Netflix analyst report came out on Friday. In it, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, who has an outperform rating and $485 stock price target on Netflix, cited positive takeaways from a survey that his team commissioned that he said should support his bullish thesis. Netflix remains on Wedbushs Best Ideas list, given our view that the company can generate significantly more free cash flow than its guidance suggests, he explained. We think Netflix has reached the right formula with its global content to balance costs and generate increasing profitability. At the same time, its ad-supported tier and password sharing crackdown should further boost cash generation.

Speaking of those initiatives, Wedbush commissioned a streaming-focused survey by Momentive in July to track trends in the second and going into the third quarter. Among the takeaways were improved awareness and uptake of Netflixs advertising subscription tier and a positive overall reception to Netflixs password-sharing crackdown, Pachter highlighted. His conclusion: As such, we think Netflixs second-quarter earnings results will meet or exceed Street expectations, and we expect shares to rise.

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Over 1,500 flights in US canceled, as thunderstorms slam Northeast

Over 2,600 flights have been canceled and close to 7,900 have been delayed across the United States Sunday, according to data from FlightAware.

Airports across the Northeast are seeing the majority of the disruptions, as thunderstorms hit the region throughout the day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

MORE: 4 dead amid flooding in Pennsylvania, with others reported missing, police say

New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport is experiencing the most significant cancellations, with 362 flights being canceled and 337 flights experiencing delays, according to FlightAware.

John F. Kennedy International Airport has seen 318 canceled flights and 426 delayed flights. Additionally, 270 flights have been canceled at LaGuardia Airport with 292 delayed, and 259 flights canceled and 459 delayed at Boston Logan International Airport, FlightAware data shows.

PHOTO: A woman checks the arrivals and departures board at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, April 18, 2023. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters, FILE)

JetBlue is seeing a significant impact, with 27% (283) of flights canceled and 43% (445) delayed. The regional airline Republic Airways is also seeing an impact with 32% (320) of flights canceled and 20% (201) delayed, according to FlightAware.

Regional airline Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary, is seeing 26% (174) of flights canceled and 18% (122) flights delayed.

"Slow-moving thunderstorms will cause delays this AM into early PM in the Northeast, Midwest & Southeast," the FAA said on Twitter on Sunday.

MORE: Heat waves, poor air quality and severe storms: US experiencing acute weather conditions from coast to coast

In the Northeast, over 56 million people were under a flood watch, as heavy rain moved through on Sunday morning, causing flash flooding in parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

ABC News' Julia Jacobo contributed to this report.

Over 1,500 flights in US canceled, as thunderstorms slam Northeast originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
First Mover Asia: Bitcoin Hovers Near $30.3K After Expected Correction. Retail Investor Enthusiasm 'Likely to Increase': Analyst

Good morning. Heres whats happening:

Prices: Positive events spurred a crypto market boost and altcoin rally, although the subsequent corrections were to be expected, a crypto fund manager said. BTC is holding comfortably above $30K.

Insights: The robust influx into Toronto's Purpose Bitcoin ETF indicates a high retail demand for such products, signaling promise for U.S. companies with pending BTC applications with the SEC.

Prices

CoinDesk Market Index (CMI)

1,268

4.5  0.4%

Bitcoin (BTC)

$30,298

+11.7  0.0%

Ethereum (ETH)

$1,927

5.2  0.3%

S&P 500

4,505.42

4.6  0.1%

Gold

$1,958

2.5  0.1%

Nikkei 225

32,391.26

28.1  0.1%

BTC/ETH prices per CoinDesk Indices, as of 7 a.m. ET (11 a.m. UTC)

Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $30K

As Asia begins its business week, bitcoin is maintaining its position above $30,000, though ether has dipped below the $2,000 mark.

The worlds largest digital asset is currently at $30,298, flat over the last 24 hours, according to CoinDesk data, while ether is also changing hands sideways at $1,927.

Last weeks unexpected rally in crypto prices came from a favorable ruling a court handed down in the Ripple-SEC case, but Joe DiPasquale, CEO of crypto fund manager BitBull Capital, said in a note that after the market overheated and corrections are to be expected.

DiPasquale wrote that if there is a correction, we are unlikely to see Bitcoin trading below $27K for long and the market is likely to consolidate around the current zone for now.

The question is, where does the market go from here? Last week was already a busy week with the scheduled economic data releases, and became even more so with market movement from the XRP-led altcoin rally.

Looking ahead, with no major scheduled events or economic data releases this week, we anticipate that price action in the market will be influenced by open interest levels, reflecting trader sentiment, and trending topics such as memes and artificial intelligence, Johnny Teng, Senior Researcher at LBank Labs, said in a note. As retail traders may have missed out on last week's price movement, their enthusiasm to participate in the market is likely to increase.

Currently, despite fewer short positions, Bitcoin's price is expected to dip and then rise due to nearby short-term liquidity and resistance, Teng explained, while ether and other altcoins' trading volumes are set to increase.

Data from Coinglass shows that the number of short positions are climbing steadily in the early hours of Asias Monday business day, with $21 million in long positions liquidated in the last 12 hours versus $8.21 million in short positions.

This could be part of a consolidation move to maintain bitcoin at the $30,000 mark, instead of allowing it to breakaway and move upwards.

Biggest Gainers

Biggest Losers

Insights

What Do Rising Flows Into Purposes Spot Bitcoin ETF Mean?

An approval of a spot bitcoin ETF by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking likely, and an optimistic market means bitcoin is rallying.

If  or when  the SEC finally approves a spot bitcoin ETF it won't be the worlds first, however. That honor goes to Ontario, Canada, where Purpose Investments holds the title of having the worlds first bitcoin ETF, being approved by the Ontario Securities Commission in 2021.

Glassnode flow data shows that investors continue to pile into Purposes bitcoin ETF, BTCC, with a next 5638 BTC moving in the ETF in June and July. This growth has not only given Purpose a head-start on potential competition, but more importantly, strongly suggests a voracious appetite among average investors for a spot ETF bitcoin product.

(Glassnode)

Data from Factset shows that BTCC, the largest of Ontarios bitcoin ETFs, is almost entirely held by retail traders, with only 0.03% institutional ownership  one single firm called Yorkville Asset Management.

With these two data points, its safe to say that retail enthusiasm for bitcoin as an ETF-grade asset is vibrant. Being a first mover has a significant advantage.

Almost all Canadian brokerages have access to U.S. listed stocks, while U.S. availability of Canadian stocks is limited. Or, one can put it like this: Canadians could easily ditch Toronto-listed BTCC and buy U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs, but American retail traders arent really buying up north.

Which is why this continued fund flow is interesting. It demonstrates that theres a huge advantage for being first in this market, as the customer base isnt likely going to be moving to the competition. Rather, they are buying more.

During a recent interview on ETF.coms Exchange Traded Fridays, 21Shares Ophelia Snyder spoke about this first-mover advantage.

Within the market for bitcoin futures ETFs, the difference between the first market and the second market was a couple of days, and the first-place product has about a billion dollars in assets, while the second place has less than 100 million, she said.

Nobody expects a Toronto-listed ETF to have larger assets under management than a U.S. counterpart. But with $852.5 million USD ($1.1 billion CAD) in AUM, Purposes BTCC is no slouch, and it's still growing.

Yet Purposes first-mover advantage is hardly likely to be winner-take-all.

Important events.

Ethereum Community Conference

10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China Gross Domestic Project (June/MoM/YoY)

10 a.m. HKT/SGT(2 a.m. UTC): China Industrial Production (June/YoY)

CoinDesk TV

In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of "First Mover" on CoinDesk TV:

XRP Surges After Court Ruling; Ex-Celsius CEO Mashinsky's Bail Set at $40M

XRPs price has skyrocketed, after a U.S. judge ruled the sale of XRP tokens on exchanges did not constitute investment contracts. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Counsel Michael Selig and attorney Alex Damsker shared their respective legal opinions on Ripple's partial victory in its fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). CoinRoutes CEO and co-founder Dave Weisberger discussed his crypto markets analysis. And, Arkham founder and CEO Miguel Morel addresses concerns from privacy-focused crypto advocates after announcing a new crypto data marketplace.

Headlines

Crypto Distress Prompts Fir Tree, a Hedge Fund, to Seek Profit From Turmoil: Fir Tree is at its best when we identify opportunities that are mispriced, dislocated or complex. Rarely do we encounter situations that are all three, but that is precisely what we are seeing in digital assets right now, Fir Tree said.

XRP Moves Into the Weekly Spotlight, Dwarfing Other Crypto Assets: Along with XRPs strong week, 172 of 186 CoinDesk Indices assets finished in positive territory.

Ripple's Legal Win Means It's Time for Crypto to Stand Up to the SEC: The company's partial victory in court is a watershed moment for the crypto regulatory fight, ConsenSys Director of Global Regulatory Matters Bill Hughes argues.

Hollywoods Angry Creators Show Why Web3 Is Needed: Web2 economics dont work for artists and writers, says CoinDesk's Michael Casey.

Transparency for the Whales, Privacy for the Plebs: Identifying the owners of crypto wallets may level the playing field for retail traders. But if taken too far it could be weaponized against the weak.

This article was written and edited by CoinDesk journalists with the sole purpose of informing the reader with accurate information. If you click on a link from Glassnode, CoinDesk may earn a commission. For more, see our Ethics Policy.












"I feel like I'm in a dream," the 'Real Housewives of Dallas' alumna tells PEOPLE of her engagement to lawyer Mark A. Anderson

Kary Brittingham/Instagram Kary Brittingham and Mark A. Anderson

Kary Brittingham is engaged!

The former Real Housewives of Dallas star got "the surprise of a lifetime" on July 11, when her boyfriend Mark A. Anderson proposed to her during a trip to Tuscany.

"I still can't believe it, I am over the moon," Brittingham, 53, tells PEOPLE, calling from Switzerland, where she and Anderson are still celebrating their engagement. "Even now, all these days later, I'm sitting here, like, shocked that it happened. I feel like I'm in a dream!"

Anderson  a 57-year-old, noted injury lawyer  popped the question to Brittingham at a covered bridge at their Italian hotel.

"It was the most romantic setting," she says. "He got down on one knee and started talking, and before he even had a chance to really ask me, I just said, 'Yes, yes a million times yes!' I was so happy."

Related: Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Jennifer Spinner Are Engaged! Inside the 'RHOC' Star's Romantic Proposal (Exclusive)

With his proposal came a stunning sparkler: a 12-carat ring featuring a 10-carat cushion-cut stone flanked by two, 1-carat trapezoid baguettes.

"This ring is really insane," Brittingham says with a laugh. "And he picked it out himself, I really had no clue. It's perfect."



Kary Brittingham/Instagram Kary Brittingham's engagement ring

The happy pair met a year ago on Match.com. "I'm the one who actually saw him first," Brittingham recalls. "I was in Aspen on a trip for my birthday  cause my birthday's July 14  and I was laying on my friend's bed, trying to rest up, when I started scrolling Facebook and this ad for Match.com popped up. Next thing I knew, I had downloaded and joined Match and while scrolling, I liked his photo. These rest is history."

"He was in Los Angeles at the time, where he has a second home," Brittingham adds. "But we talked on the phone the next day, and then, for like a week straight  every day, non-stop, for four hours on the phone. It was crazy. We had this connection before even meeting in person."

Story continues

That connection only got stronger when they did link up in person. By March, Anderson, a Ft. Worth native, sold his home there to move to Dallas to be closer to his now bride-to-be.

"I can't even describe to you how similar we are," Brittingham says. "He's literally my twin. I had always thought to myself, 'I need to day someone. younger, because I'm so young at heart.' But he's almost 5 years older than me and he's so young. He has this amazing spirit. He's just like, 'Let's go, go, go!' And I'm like, 'That's me!' I feel like I'm 22, and he's like the same way. We're both fiery! We even have the exact same personality type, out of those 16 personality types. It's been a lot of fun."

The two even have kids close in age from their previous relationships. Anderson is dad to daughter, Turner, 23, while Brittingham is mom to Sofia, 25. Olivia, 23, Alex, 21 and Isabella, 16.

"Olivia and Turner are exactly 1 month apart," Brittingham tells PEOPLE. "They have mutual friends and everything. It's wild!"

She and Anderson have both been married before. He was married for 20 years and divorced 8 years ago, Brittingham says, while she announced her divorce from second husband Eduardo after 12 years of marriage in May 2021. The divorce was finalized last month.

Related: 'Days of Our Lives' Star Jessica Serfaty Is Engaged to Ray-Ban Heir Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio (Exclusive)

As for the wedding, Brittingham tells PEOPLE she and Anderson are thinking about next summer, possibly in Italy.

"We got engaged in Tuscany and then he brought me to Lake Como for an engagement honeymoon, which I didn't even know was a thing. And it was just magical. So Italy has been, for sure, the No. 1 contender."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Until then, Brittingham will continue "floating on cloud 9."

"I'm the happiest girl in the world," she says. "You know, dating at this age is not easy. When I first separated from my ex-husband, I thought I wanted to be single and was excited to be but after dating for two years, I was like, 'I really don't like to be single!' I missed having that person, someone to snuggle with and tell 'I love you' 100 times a day. And right after I realized that, I met Mark."

"It really feels like I found a needle in a haystack. If I could have put on paper all the things I was looking for in somebody, it's him," gushes Brittingham. "I'm madly in love and just feel so grateful. He says to me all the time, 'Oh my god, how did I get so lucky?' And I'm like, 'How did I get so lucky?' We're both very lucky. It's very sweet."



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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. John Lamparski/Getty Images

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gotten a big funding boost from Republican donors, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by Popular Information, raising questions about wealthy conservatives' funding for a Democratic presidential candidate that Trump ally Steve Bannon once touted as "both a useful chaos agent in the 2024 race and a big name who could help stoke anti-vaccine sentiment around the country."

Kennedy's campaign since June 30 has collected maximum $6,600 donations from 96 individuals  37 of whom have only donated to Republican federal candidates, according to the analysis. Only 19 have a history of supporting Democrats, while 30 others have no giving history, eight others gave to members of both parties, and two others supported Libertarian or alternative candidates.

One of the maximum donors was California aluminum tycoon Mark Dickson, who since 2015 has donated more than $400,000 to the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee, which split the cash between Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee, state GOP parties, and other Trump backers. Another is retired car dealership executive Keith Sheldon, who in 2016 and 2020 donated the individual maximum to Trump's campaign, also shelling out cash to other Trump PACs and GOP congressional candidates. Kennedy has also received monetary donations from a PAC headed by David Sacks, a public supporter of GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Lizzy Savetsky stopped filming season 14 of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' amid what she called "a torrent of antisemitic attacks"

Michael Loccisano/GettySean Zanni/Getty Erin Lichy and Lizzy Savetsky

Erin Lichy made her Bravo debut on Sunday as one of the newest cast members of The Real Housewives on New York City. But one friend wasn't by her side: Lizzy Savetsky.

Though initially announced at BravoCon 2022 as one of the stars of the rebooted franchise, Savetsky  a digital influencer, mother of three and wife to plastic surgeon Dr. Ira Savetsky  dropped out of filming early on amid what she called "a torrent of antisemitic attacks" that began when her casting was made public.

"It's horrible," Lichy told PEOPLE last week, when asked at the Bravo premiere event for the new season about the attacks Savetsky experienced. "I'm Israeli and I'm very proud of being Jewish and it's despicable. And it still is happening. It shouldn't happen to any group of people at all."

Lichy did not say whether she had spoken to Savetsky since her exit. On Instagram, Savetsky has not spoken out about the premiere of the series, either.

Related: Lizzy Savetsky Exits 'RHONY' Reboot, New Housewife Says She Was Being Subjected to Antisemitic Attacks

Lizzy Savetsky/instagram Lizzy Savetsky

Related: The New Cast of 'Real Housewives of New York' Reveal Whose Wardrobe Theyd Want to Steal (Exclusive)

A Forth Worth, Texas, native, Savetsky first moved to the Big Apple for college and returned to New York City after a brief stint in her home state. She runs her own matchmaking service called Bashert, while helping Jewish singles find love.



When she revealed she was leaving Real Housewives of New York City, Savetsky spoke out about being "a proud orthodox Jewish woman" and that she hoped being part of the series would be an opportunity to represent people of her faith. "As [the attacks] continued, I realized that this path was no longer right for me and my family," she said, in a statement issued in November 2022.

Story continues

Bravo supported the decision. "After thoughtful consideration and discussion with Lizzy, we have reached the mutual conclusion that Lizzy will not be a cast member on RHONY," they said in a statement at the time.

Related: 'Real Housewives of New York City' Reboot Debuts with New Stars Arguing Over Restaurant Choices and Cheese

Gavin Bond/Bravo The cast of 'The Real Housewives of New York City': Brynn Whitfield, Erin Lichy, Sai De Silva, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Ubah Hassan

Related: All About the 'Real Housewives of New York' Cast and Their Partners

Season 14, which aired its first episode on Sunday, featured an entirely new cast of Housewives after Bravo fired its former stars in an effort to showcase a more modern New York City.

The network described its cast  brand marketing consultant Brynn Whitfield, interior designer and consultant Jenna Lyons, fashion publicist Jessel Taank (Bravo's first South Asian Housewife), creator/influencer and Brooklyn native Sai De Silva, model and hot sauce entrepreneur Ubah Hussan, and realtor/interior designer Lichy  as a group of "dynamic women who run in the same social circles, thriving in one of the most diverse and electric cities in the world."

"From fashion and real estate, to philanthropy and social influence, these women have made their mark in NYC and will now share their lives as they juggle careers, family life and jam-packed social calendars in the city that never sleeps," the network said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.



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Crimea TV24/AFP/Getty - Getty Images

On Monday, two thunderous blasts shattered the morning calm on the Black Sea. For the second time, a segment of the 12-mile-long Crimean bridge spanning the narrow passage between Russias Taman peninsula and Russian-occupied Crimea had been destroyed.

The two explosions reportedly occurred at 3:04 and 3:20 local time. Video shows that part of the 145th support for the road bridge has collapsed, twisting a span off of the Crimea-bound lane. Russian media reported that the attack killed a married couple seeking to vacation in Crimea and injured their child. A video shows that the blast injured a woman who was flung partially through the windshield of her car.

Kerch bridge thread 

/1. Tonight the Kerch bridge was reportedly attacked by sea drones. Reportedly explosions were heard near the bridge at about 3 am. pic.twitter.com/1P6PF2RfOg  Special Kherson Cat  (@bayraktar_1love) July 17, 2023

After an earlier attack on October 8, 2022, Russia wasnt able to fully restore road and rail traffic from Russia to Crimea until February and May of 2023, respectively. Russian sources claim that the damage from this attack to the road bridge may take a month to repair, but rail and ferry services had been temporarily suspended.

Video shot from the railway span on Russias Crimea bridge shows trains still running but a roadway span damaged. No through vehicle traffic at the moment. pic.twitter.com/BSfEYffmsA  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 17, 2023

The knockout of road traffic should negatively affect the supply situation of Russian forces in southern Ukraine seeking to stem Ukraines counter offensive. Already, Russia has ordered truck traffic re-routed via occupied Ukrainian territory. However, the more militarily valuable rail bridge escaped major interruption this time.

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Maxar - Getty Images

Ukrainian officials only officially admitted to carrying out the first Crimean Bridge attack on July 9though, the event was widely celebrated including on commemorative postage stamps.

But while top Ukrainian spokespersons demurred again when asked about the damage to the unnecessary bridge on July 17, others werent shy about taking credit in leaks to domestic press.

Sources in the Ukraines SBU intelligence service told Ukrainian-state media agency Ukrinform that they executed the attack in coordination with the Ukrainian Navy using drone kamikaze boats. Ukraines digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov also claimed maritime drones were behind the attack. Fedorov said in a May interview that naval drones were amongst the top three most important unmanned systems in Ukraine. Russian government sources concur the attack originated from drone boats.

The same day, Russia announced that it would not renew a complicated three-way agreement with Turkey and Ukraine to allow safe passage for both sides ships exporting grain out of the Black Sea.

Russias Bridge to Crimea

After Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, Ukraines government was understandably disinclined to facilitate resupply of the occupied territory by land. So, Putin had the Crimean Bridge across the Kerch Strait built between 2015 and 2018 at a cost of $3.7 billion.

Mikhail Svetlov - Getty Images

The bridge passes over the Tuzla island at its center, which was subject of a Russo-Ukrainian dispute two decades ago, and has a 35 meters arch to allow shipping to pass underneath. This passage also effectively enabled Russia to blockade Ukrainian shipping that passed between the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, containing the important ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk.

Maxar - Getty Images

The Crimean port of Sevastopol is the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet, and the peninsula now hosts several important airbases used by Russian fighters and bombers for strikes on Ukraine.

The bridge serves as a vital supply line to Russias military bases in Crimea and, since 2022, for Russian forces invading southern Ukraines Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and (formerly) Mykolaive provinces. Of course, the bridge also facilitates civilian trafficespecially during summer as Crimea is a popular vacation destination.

Russia has also created a so-called land bridge to Crimea by occupying all of Ukraines coastline along the Sea of Azov, allowing trucks in Rostov-on-Don, Russia to drive down Ukraines M14 highway to Melitopol, Ukraine. From there, the trucks can take the E105 road to Crimea. But a 400+ mile route is lengthier (9-11 hours) and more dangerous, as its in peril of falling within range of standard artillery as Ukraines forces push towards Melitopol.

Of course, Russia can also supply Crimea via air and sea links, but ultimately, the road bridge offers one of the more convenient, high-volume means to supply and reinforce Russias military in south-central Ukraine.

The October 8, 2022 bridge blast was also first thought theorized to be the work of drone boats, or perhaps a foreign-supplied precision missile.

AFP/Getty - Getty Images

But, in time, it was revealed to be the result of a truck loaded with 25 tons of explosives that Ukrainian intelligence snuck into Russia via an elaborate chain of third parties. An unsuspecting civilian contractor then accepted an online job post to drive the truck to Crimea, whereupon the explosive cargo was remotely detonated. The blast killed five, completely collapsed two bridge spans used for road traffic, and caused a train on the adjacent rail bridge to combust.

Anadolu Agency - Getty Images

Strategically vital bridges have long been understood to be legitimate military targets, even when they are also used by civilians. However, Ukraines reported method of duping a civilian into becoming a kamikaze bomber was likely illegal despite the militarily valuable outcome. The latest apparent drone boat attack, by contrast, doesnt use such problematic meansthough it did still cause civilian casualties. Russia used a drone kamikaze boat to target the Zatoka bridge in Odesa oblast earlier this year, in February

Ukraines Growing Fleet of Drone Kamikaze Boats

Last fall, the Ukrainian Navy began employing a fleet of small drone boats (USVs) apparently converted from Canadian Seadoo jet skis for reconnaissance and continual kamikaze attacks on Russian ships and port facilities in Crimea. At least 25 were converted on the basis of crowdfunding by Lithuanian citizens for the Ukrainian United24 fundraising platform, with a total force of 100 cited as the target.

United24 photo - Wikimedia Commons

Each of the low-riding boats mounted an electrooptical/infrared periscope and a Starlink satellite communications antenna allowing for the transmission of multiple videofeeds. This meant that the boats could be remotely piloted over long distances.

The kamikaze boats debut assault on Sevastopol in October damaged three Russian ships, though subsequent harbor attacks have had less success against prepared Russian defenses.

In May, Ukraine demonstrated an ability for the boats to locate and attack Russian ships far away at sea during an apparently unsuccessful attack on Russian intelligence ship Ivan Khurs near the Turkish-controlled Bosporus Strait. By March, a new Ukrainian drone-boat designapparently funded by the Ukrainian bank Monobankwas spotted exhibiting a much smaller and sleeker design.

It seems likely that any USVs used for the latest bridge attacks were of another unique configuration, due both to the substantial explosive payload needed to knock out a bridge span and the degree of stealth needed to creep up to the bridge in the first place. By the shortest route, a drone boat would have to circumnavigate extensive Russian coastal defenses around the Crimean peninsula, including many small patrol boats and helicopters.

Notably, a submersible or semi-submersible configuration could substantially reduce odds of visual and radar detection. Russian media reports that the Russian Navy is scrambling to deploy additional dispersed means to defeat Ukrainian USV attacks, including more heavy 14.5-millimeter close defense machine guns, sensors, and electronic warfare assets.

The reality is that Ukraine is constantly imposing high costs on the Russian Navy by launching small, cheap USVs against ships and port facilities, Samuel Bendett, an expert on Russian drones and AI at the CNA and CNAS think tank wrote on social media. Defending against such attacks means constant state of awareness and high-levels of stress.

At this juncture, the key question remains whether or not Ukraine can repeat and sustain effective USV attacks on the Crimean bridge, or whether Russian countermeasures will render the July 17 blast a one-off episode.

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Sofia Vergara welcomed her only child, son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, when she was 18

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Sofia Vergara is the proud mom of one son.

The Modern Family star gave birth to her son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, 31, in Colombia in 1991. At the time, Vergara was 18 years old and married to her high school sweetheart Joe Gonzalez, though they split two years later.

"I was really young when I divorced his father, so I raised him trying to set the best example and give him the best that I could," the actress told PEOPLE in 2016, adding that she finds it "very rewarding" to hear compliments about her son. "When people compliment me on him, on how well mannered, how charming, funny and well-behaved he is, it makes all the sacrifices worthwhile."

Now 31 years old, Manolo has a life of his own and is very active on social media. He is an animal lover who likes to cook and travel  and he has an extremely close relationship with his mom.



For Vergara's 51st birthday in 2023, Manolo celebrated the actress by sharing a throwback photo of the mother-son duo on his Instagram Story. Happy Birthday ma!!!!! Te quiero mucho," he wrote over a photo of Vergara holding him as a child dressed as a rodeo clown.

Vergara's birthday came just a few weeks before sources confirmed to PEOPLE that she and actor Joe Manganiello are divorcing after seven years of marriage. The couple wed in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2015, and Manolo escorted his mother down the aisle during the ceremony.

From the inspiration behind his name to his red carpet dates with his mom, here's everything to know about Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, Sofia Vergara's son.

He was named after a character in Scarface

Charley Gallay/Getty

Vergara welcomed her only child on Sept. 16, 1991. In an interview with Regis & Kelly in 2010, Vergara revealed that she named Manolo after a character in the film Scarface.

"I looooved that movie, and I was in looove with Steven Bauer," she later told Vogue in 2013. "And then my son, when he grew up, he was like, 'Oh yeah, Mom, how amazing you named me after a drug-dealer junkie!' And I was like, 'Shut up, Manolo.' "

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He graduated from Emerson College

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Manolo studied film production at Emerson College in Boston. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the school in 2015, and his mom was in attendance to celebrate.

She and her then-fiance, Joe Manganiello, attended the ceremony, with Vergara sharing several photos from the big day on Instagram. The proud mom also celebrated the milestone with a custom Emerson cake.

He founded a dog brand called Canini by Baguette

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara Instagram

Manolo is an animal lover and has been inspired by his dog Baguette to create a line of dog beds, clothes and other accessories called Canini by Baguette. The company launched on Instagram in 2019 and has grown over the past couple of years.

In November 2021, Manolo announced that the line would be available for purchase at Walmart.

"We started this line because we firmly believe that our best friends deserve the best, and since we couldn't find the best, we made it ourselves! Everything we make we make with convenience, comfort, and quality in mind!" he captioned the post.

He posts cooking videos on Instagram

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara Instagram

As a bit of a foodie, Manolo is not afraid to experiment in the kitchen. He has posted quite a few videos of himself cooking on his Instagram account, including one of him making pomegranate braised short ribs and another cooking up some roasted artichoke.



"This looks harder than it is, you just need time, patience, and solid rotator cuffs," he captioned one video of him making Colombian-style coconut rice.



He's been in a few movies

John Parra/Getty

Following in his mom's footsteps, Manolo has taken on some movie roles. In 2015, he appeared in Hot Pursuit, a film that starred Vergara and Reese Witherspoon.

In 2021, he was also the voice of a bird in the film Koati. "I'm so excited to introduce to you my character in @koatiofficial, Calli. Calli is just doing his best and trying to stay in his lane," Manolo captioned an Instagram post in October of that year.

Additionally, Manolo joined his mom on-screen in a few ads for Head and Shoulders.

He walked his mom down the aisle when she wed Joe Manganiello

Sofia Vergara Instagram

In November 2015, Manolo played a big part in his mom's wedding by walking her down the aisle and giving her away to Manganiello. The wedding was held at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, and was filled with celebrity guests, including Witherspoon, Channing Tatum and Vergara's Modern Family costars. Vergara wore a custom strapless gown designed by Zuhair Murad Couture.

Over the years, Manolo has seemingly maintained a close relationship with Manganiello. In 2022, he joined Vergara and Manganiello at the premiere of the actor's series Moonhaven.

"Congrats, Joe! The show is awesome," Manolo captioned a selfie of the three on the red carpet.



In July 2023, however, Vergara and Manganiello split after seven years of marriage.

We have made the difficult decision to divorce, the couple shared in a statement to Page Six. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect for our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.



He was his mom's date to the Emmy Awards in 2017

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

In 2017, Vergara and Manolo walked the red carpet at the 69th Emmy Awards together. Manolo dressed in a black tuxedo, while his mom wore a curve-hugging mermaid-style gown.

The Emmys weren't the first time the mother-son duo hit the carpet together. In 2014, Manolo joined his mom at InStyle's Golden Globes afterparty. He also supported Vergara when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.



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That's so Rachel: Vanderpump Rules ' Raquel Leviss goes back to her birth name

It's been a rough few months for noted other woman Raquel Leviss since her affair with Vanderpump Rules costar Tom Sandoval spilled out onto the national consciousness.

The fallout was swift and severe, particularly for Leviss, who, aside from an appearance on the show's reunion special, all but retreated from public life. After a two-month stint in a mental health facility, Leviss has decided to revert to her birth name of Rachel, TMZ reports.

'Vanderpump Rules' star Raquel Leviss

Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty Images 'Vanderpump Rules' star Raquel Leviss

A rep for Leviss did not respond to EW's request for comment.

The 28-year-old reality star checked into the Meadows in Wickenberg, Arizona back in April, a decision predated by the cheating revelations.

"Raquel and her family decided before the relationship was discovered that she would enter a voluntary facility for mental health counseling," her rep told PEOPLE at the time. "She was scheduled to go in pre-reunion but decided she wanted to finish her filming commitment. Bravo and production were aware and in support of her journey towards better mental health."

According to the rep, Leviss was not in rehab for substance abuse issues but was seeking treatment for "mental health and trauma therapy." The visit reportedly cost $200,000 and a source tells TMZ Leviss is "like a totally different person."

Meanwhile, Vanderpump Rules began filming season 11, though it's unclear if Leviss will be a part of it. A source told PEOPLE, "Raquel's family doesn't want her to film, but the cast is betting she appears at some point."

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Want to taste the story of Louisville, one bite at a time?

Luckily for you, you can go on one of the city's popular walking tours from Louisville Food Tours. And trust us, these aren't just for tourists. Travel & Leisure recently named Bourbon City one of the Best Food Cities in the U.S. and these tours work to showcase the best of the best. In each, you can sample some of the citys famous local and regional dishes by taking a walking food tour through Louisvilles most beautiful and historic neighborhoods, as well as the citys infamous Whiskey Row.

Here are four food walking tours you must try in Louisville:

Highlands Food & History Walking Tour

WHAT: This tour from Louisville Food Tours explores "Restaurant Row," amid one of Louisvilles oldest and quirkiest neighborhoods, offering tastes and sips of local specialties like biscuits and gravy, beer cheese and bourbon balls. Guests will get a glimpse of Cave Hill Cemetery to visit the final resting place of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders; taste a dish inspired by the Hot Brown at Muhammad Ali's former boxing gym; learn about a devastating flood and the glory days of Louisvilles 24-hour streetcar and admire plenty of beautiful Victorian homes. This tour features local Highlands favorites including GraleHaus, O'Sheas, DiOrio's, and Kizito Cookies.

WHEN: Tours are available Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.

COST: Tours are $99 for ages 21 and older; $79 for non-drinkers

MORE INFORMATION: LouisvilleFoodTours.com or @louisvillefoodtours on Facebook and Instagram

NuLu Food & History Walking Tour

Bourbon balls from Muth's Candies.

WHAT: Learn about the transformation NuLu has undergone, with a foodie focus on this tour from Louisville Food Tours. There are six stops in urban NuLu and historic Butchertown and guests will taste Kentucky and Appalachian classics like bourbon balls and fried chicken, visit a historic home once occupied by Thomas Edison, taste a curious confection inspired by a Victorian-era actress, trace the history of German immigrants in Louisville and more. This tour visits NuLu favorites including Royals Hot Chicken, Feast BBQ, Muth's Candies, and Please & Thank You.

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WHEN: Tours run on Fridays and Saturdays from 1-4 and 1:30-4:30 p.m.

COST: Tours are $99 for ages 21 and older; $79 for non-drinkers.

MORE INFORMATION: LouisvilleFoodTours.com or @louisvillefoodtours on Facebook and Instagram

Phantoms Of Prohibition: Ghosts, Cocktails, & Bites Tour

WHAT: This Louisville Food Tours experience dives into the hidden stories of Louisvilles haunted past. Guests will eat and drink their way down Whiskey Row and meet the resident ghosts of Louisvilles historic downtown, trace the footsteps of bourbon magnates and mobsters, discover hidden speakeasies in the belly of Whiskey Row, and learn the shocking truth about Prohibition. The tour includes five stops for cocktails, bourbon and beer, as well as an assortment of small bites. This tour visits some of the best bars and speakeasies in downtown Louisville including Hell or High Water, Pin & Proof, and 8UP.

WHEN: Tours are available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5-8 p.m.

COST: Tours are $139 for ages 21 and older; $119 for non-drinkers

MORE INFORMATION: LouisvilleFoodTours.com or @louisvillefoodtours on Facebook and Instagram

Whiskey Row Walking Tours

Drew Shryock talked about the history of bourbon while leading tour group down Main St. in Downtown, Louisville, Ky. Shryock is the creator and guide for the Whiskey Row Walking Tour. June 9, 2023

WHAT: This tour offers everything you need to experience and learn about Bourbon and Louisvilles famous Whiskey Row with multiple stops at various bourbon distilleries to sample some of their well-known bourbons. Participants will visit historic Main Street and learn about the history of bourbon whiskey and famous distillers like Evan Williams, Julian Pappy Van Winkle, and others who made Louisville a major whiskey producer and supplier in the U.S.

Drew Shryock, a.k.a. "The Bourbon Baron," knows it all, and a little bit more, and leads this popular tour, the Courier Journal previously reported.

"I have always loved bourbon and I have always loved history," Shryock previously said. "After I retired from Louisville city government, I spent many years driving for bourbon tour businesses and getting to know legends in the industry like Bill Samuels Jr., Jimmy Russell and Freddie Noe. But I realized that when people were coming to Louisville, they were having a hard time booking tours at distilleries if they hadn't reserved a spot week in advance so I created Whiskey Row Walking Tours."

WHEN: Tours are available Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-3 p.m.

WHERE: Departs from Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St.

COST: Tours are $49

MORE INFORMATION: For more information, whiskeyrowwalkingtour.com

You may like: Louisville's 'Bourbon Baron,' gives a taste of bourbon history with these walking tours

Reporter Kirby Adams contributed to this report. Reach news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Explore Louisville's food history with walking Louisville Food Tours
While viewers impatiently wait for new weekly episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jenny Han has another show and a set of movies available to stream. XO, Kitty and the To All the Boys Ive Loved Before films contain similar themes of teenage love and coming of age. All three heroines in Hans different works come from her books  The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy or the To All the Boys Ive Loved Before trilogy.

If you want to go chronologically, it depends on whether you go by the books publish dates or the order in which they were adapted. For adaptation order, start with To All the Boys Ive Loved Before. From there, you can either watch the spinoff show XO, Kitty or break for Season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Plus, Han makes cameo appearances in each installment of her film series and shows.

Read on for the details of where and how to watch Jenny Hans shows and movies:

Also Read:

Here Are All the Songs in The Summer I Turned Pretty

Where to Watch Jenny Hans TV Shows:

The buzziest of Hans three projects, The Summer I Turned Pretty, has returned with a second season this summer. Three episodes premiered last Friday, July 14 on Prime Video, where Season 1 of the show can also be streamed. Based on Hans trilogy  The Summer I Turned Pretty (209) Its Not Summer Without You (2010) and Well Always Have Summer (2011)  the series stars Lola Tung as Isabel Belly Conklin who finds herself caught in a love triangle with her two childhood best friends  Conrad (Chris Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Caselgno) Fisher  who also happen to be brothers. Beyond this dramatic young adult plotline, the spotlight falls on Bellys mother Laurel (Jackie Chung) and her college best friend Susannah Fisher (Rachel Blanchard), her brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) and her best friend Taylor Jewel (Rain Spencer).

XO, Kitty starring Anna Cathcart as Katherine Kitty Song-Covey, can be found on Netflix. The show spins off of the To All the Boys Ive Loved Before films, which are also on Netflix. Kitty gets her own adventure  after setting her older sister Lara Jeans (Lana Condor) love life in motion  when she applies for a scholarship to the Korean Independent School of Seoul. Her twofold reason for doing this includes getting to know her late mother more because her mom did the same thing in high school, and to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend Dae (Choi Minyeong). Kitty catalyzes some other stories of love and family while she studies abroad in Seoul during the first season of XO, Kitty. Her adventures will continue because the show has been renewed for a second season.

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Jenny Han makes cameo appearances in To All the Boys Ive Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You and the finale of Season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Netflix/Prime Video

Where to Watch Jenny Hans Movies:

The movies started it all. Lana Condor leads the trilogy of films adapted from Hans novels  To All the Boys Ive Loved Before (2014), P.S. I Still Love You (2015) and Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017). The first film landed in 2021, watching Lara Jean face the consequences of someone (cough cough, Kitty) sending out her secret love letters that she wrote to each of her crushes to get her feelings out. She ultimately starts a fake relationship with one of her old crushes Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), but letters find themselves to her sisters boyfriend Josh (Israel Broussard) and John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher), which of course, make for separate love triangles in the first and second films, respectively. Fishers John Ambrose McClaren fights valiantly for Lara Jeans heart in To All the Boys Ive Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You, but she ends up with Kavinsky. They face their challenges as they figure out where they want to go to college in To All the Boys Ive Loved Before: Always and Forever. All three films can be watched on Netflix.

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The Summer I Turned Pretty Star Lola Tung Breaks Down That Hot Cocoa Scene: They Do What Is Right for Them in the Moment
With the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in higher education last month, New York colleges have come under pressure to reconsider giving priority to the children of alumni in admissions decisions.

Advocates have described the practice, known as legacy admissions, as affirmative action for the white and wealthy  giving a boost to students who on average come from higher income families with experience navigating the college application process.

More than seven in 10 private colleges in New York consider whether applicants are related to alumni, as do more than a third of public schools, according to data compiled by Education Reform Now.

The United States has long claimed to have an ideology of meritocracy, said Jacquelyn Martell, executive director of the advocacy groups New York chapter, that you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps. That is not true.

In New York State, in particular, weve seen gross amounts of economic disparities, housing disparities, and disparities in access to quality education.

Proponents of legacy admissions defend it as a tool to build multigenerational bonds between families and their schools, including to solicit donations and even fund scholarships that can help diversify campuses.

But its future was put to the test last year when state lawmakers proposed legislation to end the practice statewide. The bill was met with backlash from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, who at the time called it an unreasonable intrusion that will fail to achieve its own aims.

The statewide association has since changed its tune on the policy.

While legacy admission has been an important recruitment tool for some New York colleges, we recognize the publics perception that the practice also has the effect of expanding privilege instead of opportunity, said Lola Brabham, president of the CICU.

In light of the Supreme Court decision banning the use of race in the college admissions process, the Independent Sector will not continue its opposition to banning legacy preference in admissions. New Yorks independent colleges and universities remain deeply committed to fostering diverse, welcoming campus communities and ensuring higher education is accessible to all.

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Legacy admissions is also facing a federal challenge after a Boston firm charged this month that Harvard University is violating education civil rights law by prioritizing applicants related to alumni. The filing came just days after the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that race cannot be considered in admissions in the 41 states that had yet to outlaw affirmative action, including New York.

A Daily News survey of a dozen New York colleges and universities with the lowest acceptance rates yielded few results. Most did not return requests for comment or directed The News to statements on affirmative action released after the decision. Columbia University and Hamilton College both declined to answer questions about their policies after the Harvard complaint.

At Cornell University, the issue became a flashpoint in 2018 when students, alongside advocates at other universities, organized a petition to demand an end to legacy admissions. A few years later, the Student Assembly renewed their call and close to unanimously passed a resolution against the practice. Neither effort was successful.

Nearly 17% of the Class of 2021 were related to alumni, according to the student newspaper. A spokesperson for the university declined to provide updated figures or comment on their practices, referring The News to a statement released after the Supreme Court ruling.

When universities are free to admit broadly diverse classes through an individualized and holistic application review process, said Cornell President Martha Pollack, they are intentionally creating a student body with the potential to create a spark of insight, to advance knowledge, and to challenge one another and thereby strengthen an argument or call an assumption into question.

As always, Cornell will follow the law, but within its scope we will remain a welcoming community.

Roughly 7% of college freshmen at Colgate University were the children or grandchildren of alumni, university data show. More than a third of legacy students who applied were admitted, compared to a 12% acceptance rate overall. University officials did not return a request for comment.

Prospective students at New York University can likewise identify themselves as legacies on their applications, but it will not tip the scale. Less than 2% of the freshman class in fall 2021 were the children of alumni..

While the University is always happy to have the children of alums apply and attend, unlike many peer schools, being the child of an alum is not a factor in our admissions decision-making, spokesman John Beckman told The News.

At Sarah Lawrence College, students can share where their parents went to school on the common application, but spokeswoman Falguni Smith said they do not use legacy status when making admission decisions.

In light of the Supreme Court decision, the liberal arts college added a new essay prompt that asks applicants to describe how they believe their college goals might be impacted by the end of affirmative action. Its one of three options applicants can choose from for their response.

We use a holistic approach to our admissions review, which has always been inclusive and never exclusively race-based, Smith said.

No changes were made at SUNY colleges leading up to the Supreme Courts decision, though the school system said it will incorporate federal guidance when released.

Now that the ruling has been made, SUNY is analyzing all admissions practices, said Holly Liapis, a spokeswoman for the public university system, though she added that parent alumni status is a standard common app question.

Whether the end of affirmative action pushes the state bill to ban legacy preferences over the finish line remains to be seen, but State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), one of its co-sponsors, is optimistic.

Legacy preferences are simply affirmative act for privileged kids, said Gounardes. Thats wholly indefensible. Its always been indefensible, but especially now.

Colleges that do not comply with the legislation would be forced to pay a penalty equivalent to the cost of tuition and fees for 10% of the schools full-time student body. That money would go into the coffers of the states Tuition Assistance Program, which subsidizes college costs for low-income students.

The Fair College Admissions Act was reintroduced last session by Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn) to focus solely on legacy admissions. A previous version of the bill would have outlawed binding early decision processes, criticized for disadvantaging students who need to compare financial aid offers from multiple schools.

This is exactly the right thing to be doing at this moment in time, Gounardes said.
It's hotter than a jalapeno's armpit outside, and tourists are flocking to an even hotter place: Death Valley. And border crossings are down. Is it because of a new app?

 Hey! Laura Davis here. Its time for Mondays news!

But first: A filter I personally wont be using.  The latest TikTok trend? A new filter that predicts Gen Z's future wrinkles (and insecurities).

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Death Valley's scalding temperature draws visitors

It's 900 degrees outside. What are your plans? As a Certified Indoor Kid, I crank the A/C up till it's blowing snowballs and hunker down. But some people want to fully experience it. I mean fully. While people in the Southwest were advised to take cover from the heat, dozens of visitors  some of them jokingly wearing fur coats  have been traveling to Death Valley National Park, the hottest place on Earth, to experience some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded. On Sunday, temperatures in Furnace Creek in Death Valley reached 128 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.  So, what does 128-degree heat feel like?

Unrelenting smoke drifting down from almost 1,000 Canadian wildfires triggered air quality alerts over vast sections of the U.S., and the bad air was expected to last through Tuesday, forecasters warned. And more than 80 million Americans faced heat-related alerts as triple-digit temperatures baked residents from Texas to California.  Here's the latest.

Today's air quality: Chicago, Detroit among cities shrouded by wildfire smoke.

Oh, hail! Hail has been reported 4,800 times so far in 2023, more than all of last year.

It's tough to take a picture that shows exactly how hot it is outside. Fortunately, there's a huge thermometer at Death Valley National Park!

RSV drug Beyfortus gets FDA approval for babies, toddlers

A new drug could help babies get ahead on RSV. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a monoclonal antibody medicine from Sanofi and AstraZeneca, called Beyfortus, aimed at protecting infants and toddlers from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The drug is the first of its kind likely to be widely available to all children up to 24 months old. RSV usually leads to mild, coldlike symptoms, but it is the leading cause of hospitalization of U.S. infants.  Here's what to know.

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What everyone's talking about

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Border-crossing numbers plunge

The U.S. governments two-pronged approach at the U.S.-Mexico border  migrants now use a smartphone-based app to start the asylum process and face deportation if they make an unauthorized border crossing  is leading to a steep drop in the number of migrants intercepted at the border, according to U.S. officials. Officials tout U.S. Custom and Border Protections new CBP One app for smartphones and other border policies as key reasons in the decline, though migrant and human rights advocates note that other factors  including coils of razor wire along the Texas banks of the Rio Grande  could be playing a role.  Here's a closer look.

Opponents decry 'dangerous stunt' after Texas Gov. Abbott deploys buoy barrier along Rio Grande.

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper looks over the Rio Grande at the US-Mexico Border on July 15 in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Moscow blames Ukraine, vows to retaliate after new attack on Crimean bridge

Authorities in Moscow blamed Ukraine for an apparent attack Monday on a key bridge that connects the occupied Crimean Peninsula with southern Russia and has become a symbol of President Vladimir Putin's rule. It is the second time in less than a year that the 12-mile bridge across the Kerch Strait has been attacked. Putin denounced what he called "another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime, lamented the reported death of a couple and injuries to their teenage daughter, and vowed to retaliate. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility.  Follow our live coverage.

Traffic on the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russias mainland was halted on Monday, July 17, after reports of explosions that Crimean officials said were from a Ukrainian attack.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Death Valley heat, Crimea bridge, border crossings, RSV: Monday's news
After a series of big price hikes following its debut, Ford (F) announced on Monday morning that it would be dramatically cutting prices across the board for its F-150 Lightning electric vehicle.

Starting on Monday all trims of the Lightning will get a price cut, with the Pro commercial truck getting the steepest price cut of $9,979 to a new starting price of $49,995 to the top-of-the-line Platinum Extended range getting a cut of $6,079 to $91,995. In a statement to Yahoo Finance, Ford said new pricing will also apply to dealer stock, and any Lightning ordered but not delivered will also be re-invoiced. The new prices for all trims of the F-150 Lightning are listed below.

When Ford debuted the Lightning EV in 2021, the company said the entry-level Pro commercial truck would start below $40,000. But for a number of reasons  including rising material costs, component shortage, and production issues  Ford had to hike up prices considerably, with the Pro model hitting an MSRP of $59,974 just before todays price cuts, nearly $20K more than the company had promised.

Ford said the upgrades at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, combined with falling raw material costs and continued work on scaling production and cost, made it possible for Ford to cut prices across the F-150 Lightning line. Ford is pausing the production at Rouge temporarily to complete upgrades that will boost production to 150,000 Lightning trucks by this fall, which the company had originally planned to do.

Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center

The dramatic pricing cuts of the Lightning come as the company had a strong sales quarter for the pickup, with sales up 119% in Q2 versus a year ago and up 4.1% sequentially from the first quarter. However, rising inventories across the board for the automakers, including for once-hot EVs, have likely put pricing pressure on the automakers and their dealer partners to cut prices ahead of the fall, when the industry usually releases new vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley told Yahoo Finance in May that the industry was likely going to see price pressure for EVs.

This may have led Ford to also reveal that starting today, Ford will offer a $1,000 bonus for the Lightning XLT, Lariat, and Platinum trims as part of a summer sales event going from July 6 through July 3. Ford says qualified customers can get access to 1.9% APR financing through Ford credit.

The price cuts, incentives, and recent increase in production also come only a few months following a battery fire at the Rouge plant, where a few Lightnings were damaged due to a battery defect. Ford and its battery partner SK said they had resolved the issue and restarted production back in the spring.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.

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Angelina Wiley said a SKIMS bodysuit prevented her from bleeding out after she was shot. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Angelina Wiley said she was shot four times on New Year's Day in Kansas City, Missouri.

In May, she made a TikTok saying a SKIMS bodysuit saved her life during the shooting.

She said the tight fabric prevented her from bleeding out.

A Kansas City woman said a bodysuit from Kim Kardashian's shapewear company SKIMS saved her life.

On January 1, 2023, Angelina Wiley was shot in Kansas City, Missouri, while waiting for a Lyft in the early hours of New Year's Day, as CBS affiliate KCTV5 reported. Police report to the scene of the incident at 1:51 a.m., according to an incident reported provided to Insider by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.

In a TikTok that has been viewed over 700,000 times since it was uploaded on May 18, Wiley, 22, said she was shot four times in the Westport area of Kansas City. An unnamed man was shot during the incident as well and sustained life-threatening injuries, according to the report from the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.

A representative for the Kansas City Missouri Police Department told Insider the investigation is still ongoing, and no one had been charged in the case as of July 2023.

Wiley said in a TikTok posted in March that the shooter was wearing a ski mask, which has made it difficult to identify them.

Wiley's mother told KCTV5 in January that the incident left her daughter with a ruptured bladder and cracked pelvis. And according to a GoFundMe page Wiley linked to in the caption of her TikTok, and which she most recently updated on July 8, Wiley still has a bullet lodged in her abdomen as a result of the shooting.

Wiley said in the TikTok video that the injuries sustained in the shooting would have been much worse if she hadn't been wearing SKIMS that night.

"Kim Kardashian saved my life," Wiley said in her video. "This New Year's, I got shot four times. The night I got shot, under my dress, I was wearing a SKIMS shaping bodysuit."

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Wiley didn't specify which SKIMS bodysuit she was wearing. The brand sells nearly 19 different bodysuits as of July, ranging from catsuits to thong bodysuits that cost between $68 and $128.

"It was so tight on me that it literally kept me from bleeding out," Wiley went on to say of the bodysuit. "I recommend it. I'm definitely gonna buy some more. I mean, I should wear it every day. It's like body armor for women."

"Call it fate or Jesus, but Imma call it Kim," Wiley added. Wiley also thanked Kardashian in the caption of her video, writing, "no but fr, thanks kim." (Wiley did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.)

Although bodysuits are popular, it is not safe to wear them for extended periods of time, as the medical director of the Be Well Medical Group Dr. Lisa Ashe told SheFinds in 2016. Ashe told the outlet that their compression can cause acid reflux, stress incontenence because of the pressure they place on the bladder, and swelling from water retention because people sometimes avoid going to the bathroom when they wear them. Dr. Wakim-Fleming also told the Cleveland Clinic that if shapewear is too tight, it can cause nerve damage or irritate your skin.

Ashe recommends wearing a bodysuit for no longer than six hours a day and encourages taking ample bathroom breaks when wearing one, even if it's annoying to take on and off.

SKIMS launched with its new name in September 2019. Vanessa Beecroft

As of July 2023, Kardashian and SKIMS have not publicly commented on Wiley's experience. Representatives for both did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Kardashian founded SKIMS in 2019, and the successful shapewear company helped propel her to becoming a billionare in 2022.

Wiley left a comment on her GoFundMe page on July 8 to give an update on her recovery.

"I've gone through ups and downs as I hopped, scooted, and rolled around everywhere when I couldn't walk," she wrote. "I continue to have a lot of struggles with my hip ever since the fracture as well as many other pains. The bullet still in me causes random pains and honestly I struggle with severe ptsd ever since the shooting. It has made returning to work full time difficult."

Read the original article on Insider
Do you know your Malbec from your Merlot?

Pfendler

Maybe you've sat down at dinner and heard someone say they only drink red wine. Maybe you've asked a friend what they'd like for you to pick up on your way to their party, and they've given you "a red" as the sole descriptor. The world of red wines is vast and complicated, whether you're enjoying a tried-and-true glass of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a glass of Sangiovese that bursts with red cherry, tobacco, and leather notes, or a splash of spicy, tannin-forward Syrah, it's hard to think of a category less easily summarized by just one word. While there are several red wine grapes from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and beyond that we don't touch on in this guide, we've distilled the most important points about 12 key red wine grapes you're most likely to come across in your local bottle shop or restaurant menu.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Courtesy of Benziger Family Winery

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely planted and beloved grape varieties in the world, providing the backbone for wines from Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and beyond.



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Merlot

Courtesy of Wines of Israel

Merlot is a red wine that is produced from the grape variety of the same name. Stylistically, it runs the gamut from fruit-forward and sweet with oak to more structured and nuanced, capable of aging for decades. Merlot is one of the key components in the classic blends of Bordeaux. On the Right Bank, in Pomerol in particular, it is often crafted into wines (or incorporated into blends, typically with Cabernet Franc) that rank among the most profound in the world.



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Pinot Noir

Pfendler

Pinot Noir is a wine made from the grape variety of the same name. The majority of Pinot Noir wines are red, but can also be leveraged to produce fantastic rose (look for the Inman Family "Endless Crush" OGV Estate Rose for a joyous and complex example). Pinot Noir is also one of the three main grape varieties in Champagne, alongside Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.



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Syrah

Marc Fiorito / Gamma Nine Photography

Syrah is a wine that's produced from the grape of the same name. It's most frequently crafted as a red wine, which makes sense given the thicker skins, tannins, and phenolic compounds that can be extracted from them during maceration and fermentation. But Syrah is also an important player in the world of rose. Examples from the Rhone Valley, Provence, Languedoc, and beyond are wildly popular with consumers around the world.

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Zinfandel

Courtesy of Seghesio Family Vineyards

Zinfandel is a red wine produced from the grape variety of the same name. Because it reaches its peak of quality and expressiveness in the United States, it is almost always labeled with the name of that grape on the bottle. The overwhelming majority of Zinfandel wines are red, dry, and still, though rose and sweet late-harvest examples can certainly be found, along with the occasional sparkling.



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Grenache

Courtesy of Yangarra

Grenache wine is produced in many countries and in a range of styles. Its most well-known versions are red, but Grenache also plays an important role in roses. In most of the world it is referred to as Grenache (or, less frequently, Grenache Noir) but in Spain and other Spanish-speaking wine-producing countries, it's known as Garnacha.

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Malbec

Courtesy of Bodega Septima

Malbec is a wine produced from the grape of the same name. It is most often a red wine, but like all other red varieties, it can be made into white and rose. Historically, white Malbec was a rarity, and while it still is, there are a handful of examples notably being produced in Argentina. Malbec rose is far more commonly seen, but the grape really shines most brightly as a red wine, whether bottled on its own or as a component of a blend.



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Sangiovese

Dario Miale Courtesy of Agenzia Usopposto

Sangiovese is the most widely planted grape variety in Italy, though given the naming conventions of Italian wines, it's unlikely that you'll find a bottle labeled as such. Rather, you'll have to know beforehand that Sangiovese is the dominant grape variety in Chianti blends and the only one permitted in Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Outside of Italy, Sangiovese has some success in parts of Australia, particularly McLaren Vale, and in Oregon, Arizona, and pockets of California. Sangiovese is, however, primarily grown throughout Italy.



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Cabernet Franc

Alina Tyulyu

From Frances Loire Valley to Napa Valley, Canada, Argentina, and beyond, Cabernet Franc shines on its own and in blends. A cooler glass of Cabernet Franc will place the focus more squarely on the herbal and bell pepper notes, whereas a less-cool glass will allow the brambly berries, wild strawberries, and plums to emerge more assertively. In either case, the best examples will showcase bell peppers, spice, and herbal flavors and aromas, along with hints of minerality and tobacco. If the wine has been aged in new oak, sweet spices and suggestions of chocolate may arise.



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Nebbiolo

imageBROKER / Shutterstock

Nebbiolo is most famously grown in the Piedmont (or, in Italian, Piemonte) region of Italy, which is located in the northwest of the country. The two most famous wines from Piedmont are both crafted entirely from Nebbiolo: Barolo and Barbaresco.



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Tempranillo

Image: (c) Damian Corrigan The location of 'tempranillo' and 'crianza' on these labels implies that crianza, like Tempranillo, is a grape variety. It is not.

Tempranillo is a red wine produced from the grape of the same name. In the so-called New World, its likely to be labeled as such, while on labels from its classic growing regions of Spain, the name of the region is more likely to appear. Just know that the vast majority of red wines from Rioja are blends that are based on Tempranillo, and most of the great reds of Ribera del Duero are entirely Tempranillo.



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Montepulciano

Givaga / Shutterstock Red wine in a decanter

Montepulciano wine is a typically red wine crafted from the grape variety of the same name, though it also makes excellent rose. It is most frequently associated with Montepulciano dAbruzzo, which is grown in Abruzzo, in east-central Italy.



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Megan Crome has experienced topical-steroid withdrawal flare-ups for more than two years. Images courtesy of Megan Crome

Megan Crome was diagnosed in March with a condition called topical steroid withdrawal.

Topical steroid withdrawal can happen to people who use steroid creams for conditions like eczema.

It's a poorly understood condition, meaning people like Crome often turn to social media for help.

Megan Crome was lying in a makeshift bed on the couch at her mom's house in Essex, England. It was spring 2021, and her face was swollen and covered with itchy, rock-hard scabs that she would scratch off in her sleep, reopening the wounds and restarting the painful cycle.

The 25-year-old used to love going out and enjoying life but had spent the past six weeks on leave from work, moving robotically from her bedroom to the bed on the couch while her mom looked after her.

Crome had topical-steroid withdrawal, a serious, rare, and poorly understood condition that can occur in some people who regularly use or stop using topical steroids on their skin, Dr. Marvin Rapaport, a doctor who claims to have cured 7,000 people of the condition, said.

Topical steroids are creams, lotions, and gels that treat inflamed, irritated skin caused by conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. The National Eczema Association says there are no affordable alternatives to these cheap drugs that work as well.

Some doctors don't believe the condition exists

Awareness of the condition  also known as topical-steroid addiction or red-skin syndrome  has grown in recent years. This is partly thanks to people sharing their experiences on social media, particularly on TikTok, where the #topicalsteroidwithdrawal tag has at least 600 million views and videos about the condition pop up on users' feeds.

Rapaport said topical steroids could cause an itching, burning, and stinging rash as well as a red rash that develops in other parts of the body from the initial inflammation.

When patients stop using the steroids, symptoms can include enlarged lymph nodes, dry and irritated eyes, insomnia and fatigue, emotions that can feel unstable, previously undiagnosed depression or anxiety, nerve pain, and hypersensitivity to water.

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Despite the severity of the condition and its link to the overuse of steroid creams, a lack of research means that key information such as its cause, how many people have the condition, and why it affects only some steroid-cream users is unknown. Research suggests prescribers aren't clear about how often patients should apply these creams or don't make them aware of the risks.

One theory suggests that topical-steroid withdrawal could be caused by the body reacting to a sudden absence of topical steroids in the system and triggering changes to blood vessels that regulate skin temperature.

Celia Moss, a topical-steroid-withdrawal researcher who is an honorary consultant dermatologist in Birmingham, England, said the situation wasn't helped by the fact that dermatologists were often unaware of the condition or doubtful it exists.

Patients can be misdiagnosed as having severe eczema that has returned after stopping the use of topical steroids, she said.

This means people cannot get the support and medication they need and are forced to turn to less reliable information sources, such as social media, for help.

People can struggle with topical-steroid withdrawal for years

A doctor gave Crome a diagnosis of topical-steroid withdrawal in March  two years after she self-diagnosed online.

In February 2021, Crome took a break from the topical-steroid creams she had used to treat her eczema on and off for 18 years because she had shingles on her face. Her eczema symptoms got worse: Her skin was red, dry, and flaky.

This wasn't the first time she's had unexpected symptoms after pausing the creams. In the past, she'd had "red sleeves"  a common symptom of topical-steroid withdrawal where it looks as if the person is wearing a red shirt  and her face had swollen up like a "big red balloon."

Red rashes are a symptom of using topical steroids. Image courtesy of Megan Crome

But the doctors she spoke with referred her to a dermatologist who prescribed Protopic  an immunosuppressant for eczema  or a stronger steroid cream.

The National Eczema Association says there's no optimal treatment plan for the condition, but Crome needed to be told to stop using topical steroids to allow her skin to heal. Some people can also benefit from certain medications, though more research is needed. One analysis says recovery often takes more than three months, but some people can struggle for years, according to National Eczema Association.

Rapaport said topical-steroid withdrawal was like any other dependency and she had to give up the steroid creams to get better: "Addiction is addiction. You're an alcoholic, you stop the alcohol."

Desperate for answers, Crome posted her symptoms to an eczema support group on Facebook, where she was flooded with comments diagnosing Protopic withdrawal and topical-steroid withdrawal: Her body was addicted to the creams that were supposed to be helping her.

Finally, it seemed she had an answer.

She gave up the creams the same day but was unaware of how bad things would get.

'It was like I was on my deathbed'

The first six months after ditching the creams were "absolute hell," Crome said.

Initially, her skin was painfully dry, and her face was swollen. Her skin would weep at night and dry into scabs by the morning.

A few weeks in, Crome woke up unable to move because of the pain. Her boyfriend had to bandage her arms, legs, and face the night before so she wouldn't scratch the scabs in her sleep.

Her parents were visiting and started crying when they walked in and saw her lying in bed wrapped up "like a mummy."

"It was like I was on my deathbed, it was horrible," she said.

Crome took sick leave from work, left London, and lived with her family in months three and four, so her mom could look after her.

"You couldn't pay me a hundred million pounds to go through that again. It was like torture," Crome said.

Crome's face was covered in rock-hard scabs. Image courtesy of Megan Crome

Despite the pain, Crome felt motivated to power through the first year of topical-steroid withdrawal, with the Facebook groups there to support her.

"I was committed to the Facebook group," she said. "They were more helpful than the doctor most of the time."

The groups suggested remedies  such as Dead Sea salt baths  that helped ease some of the pain she initially felt.

Rapaport said some remedies could be helpful but he had also seen people suggest "outlandishly outrageous" treatments from "acupuncture to standing on your head." He said these people needed medical care.

Dr. Peter Lio, a professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University, told the National Eczema Association: "Start with a trusted dermatologist. But, because it is relatively rare, many practitioners have never even heard about it.

"If that venue is not helpful, reach out to ITSAN or the National Eczema Association for help finding a practitioner who may be able to help," referring to the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network.

TikTok is a hub for people with the condition

As flare-ups continued two years after she got shingles and stopped the creams, Crome was left with an open wound on her face and was constantly fatigued, which left her no social life  not helped by the fact that alcohol made her flare up.

She began to lose her positive mindset.

But documenting her journey with daily posts on TikTok, which she started updating regularly in January last year, kept her going. As she saw her follower count rise, she felt motivated to recover.

Megan Crome sitting on a chair while looking to the right to show an open wound on the right side of her face.

The wounds on Crome's face would reopen in her sleep.Image courtesy of Megan Crome

She started the account when the condition had become a trending topic, and the platform soon became a hub for a community of sleep-deprived people with the condition who were experiencing red sleeves, had bathroom cabinets packed with abandoned steroid creams, and asked many questions about what was wrong with them.

After avoiding doctors as much as she could for two years, Crome was thankful when a dermatologist specializing in topical-steroid withdrawal gave her a diagnosis in March.

"Two years in, I can't believe it's finally happened," Crome said in a TikTok, showing a letter from the doctor to the camera. "In black and white, diagnosis: topical steroid withdrawal."

Rapaport said topical-steroid withdrawal flare-ups could continue for three to five years, but, for now, Crome said she would keep going in the hope that the condition would one day be just a memory.

Correction: July 17, 2023  An earlier version of this story misstated Megan Crome's age. She is 27 years old, not 26. She was bedbound by TSW at the age of 25.

Read the original article on Insider
Adam Hills has spoken out about an incident of theft and the possible use of sleeping gas while on an overnight train in Italy.

The comedian and host of the Channel 4 panel show The Last Leg shared a note about his holiday in Venice on Tuesday (11 July).

After sharing some quick thoughts about his experience, including the prevalence of Australian holidaymakers and the beauty of the city, Hills, 53, wrote about being stolen from while in a rail sleeper car.

Lock your door with both locks on the Night Train to Venice. Our compartment was broken into while we slept and some of our stuff was stolen, he wrote.

He went on to recount the responses of the guards on the train, who he says told them: You have to lock both locks because they have keys.

Hills continued: They also said this happens every day (information that would have come in handy at the beginning of the trip).

The comedian then shared his speculation that the people who stole from him could have used a substance to ensure that he and his companion didnt wake up and catch them in the act.

Adam Hills (PA)

Our tour guide told us they sometimes use gas to make you sleep more solidly, Hills wrote. The weird thing is, someone knocked on our door around 4.30am. They may have even opened the door. We can't be sure.

We slept super solidly for the next two hours and awoke dazed, groggy and missing a backpack and a bumbag.

So to reiterate: Venice is beautiful but be sure to lock both your locks on the night train.

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The Independent has reached out to a representative of Adam Hills for further comment.

In response to his post, followers and fans have chimed in with words of support and stories of similar travel experiences.

The Twitter account of Osterreichische Bundesbahnen, the Austrian train company tagged by Hills in the post, also responded with information on making an official complaint.

We are very sorry that this has happened to you, the message begins. We want all our passengers to feel safe at all times. The situation you explain does not meet this standard at any means. Please fill in our contact form here, in order to investigate further.
Brands doing business in Europe will soon be subject to new sustainability reporting regulationsand experts recommend they start doing their homework today.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), introduced by the European Commission two years ago, will require companies selling products in European countries to adopt and adhere to EU-wide Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). When the legislation is finalized, enterprises will face more stringent non-financial reporting rules centering on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.

More from Sourcing Journal

Companies will be required to disclose information related to emissions and climate impact, based on standards aligned with the Paris climate agreement. They will also be tasked with reporting on water and chemical usage, worker wages and gender pay gaps. The European Commission will adopt the first set of 12 standards common to all companies in Juneand theyll apply to global organizations, not just EU-based brands.

Matthew Clark, shareholder and co-leader of the corporate national practice group at Dentons Cohen & Grigsby law firm, said that it stands to become really important for companies to get ahead of this today, rather than waiting until reporting becomes mandated in January 2024. When it comes to ESG reporting, This is not an area thats going to go away, he said, and it seems as though it will become more stringent over time, not less.

Size matters

Firstly, companies must do their due diligence to learn if they will be covered by the CSRD.

Non-EU companies will be required to provide sustainability data as a part of their annual management reporting if they have seen a European turnover of more than 150 million euros for the previous two consecutive years, have a Europe-based subsidiary or branch with turnover over 40 million euros per year, or have a large European subsidiary. Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) will be subject to reporting if they are listed on any EU-regulated market, or stock exchange.

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In June, the commission will finalize the information that companies will need to report, and how they will be required to present the information, Clark said.

Executives should be meeting with their finance teams to examine the unique requirements of both parent organizations and subsidiaries. Based on revenue, the directive might not apply to them today, but growth projections could help them determine a timeline for compliance. If they expect that theyll be hitting these numbers in the next two to three yearsthey could quickly find themselves subject to the CSRD and not be prepared, Clark added. Its incumbent upon enterprises doing business in the EU to run analysis as their businesses grow, and the law is going to change on an annual basis, he said. There will be additional requirementstheres no doubt about that.

There is no public register that lists the companies that are covered, and its up to organizations to determine their responsibilities or risk being dinged, according to Akshay Sinha, senior advisor for global policy development and Asia-Pacific affairs at Sorini, Samet & Associates. Analysis from financial data firm Refinitiv shows that about 10,400 global, non-EU companies with an EU stock listingalong with more than 100 firms with over 150 million euros in revenue that are not listed in the EUwill be subject to the CSRD. About one-third are American, the groups insights revealed, meaning that more than 3,000 U.S. firms will be immediately impacted by the rules.

Data points

The CSRD represents a critical component of the EUs ESG Web, which supports the Green Deals goal of transitioning Europe into the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, Dentons research showed. Enterprises will be compelled to report on several ESG indicators in a dedicated section of their management report or annual disclosure using a single electronic, machine-readable format, the law firm said.

The process will involve collecting the information, tabulating it putting it in the required formatand the regulation has quite specific requirements in terms of reporting digitized information, Sorinis Sinha said. While most public companies are accustomed to financial audits, auditing sustainability will present a learning curve. Its something that companies are going to have to figure outand getting the information is very tricky.

Reporting will require traceability across the entire textile and apparel value chain, beyond a companys owned operations. This is a very complicated industry, where there is a lot of opacity, he explained. Youve got multiple tiers, different relationships, and you dont have much information sharing. Historically, brands maintain relationships with their Tier 1 suppliers, and even a lot of the big brands may not necessarily have information where their cotton or raw materials come from.

A significant contingent of companies has been investing more in traceability in recent years because of shifting demands from consumers and shareholders, however, and they may be better positioned when the directive takes effect. They may not need to come up with something entirely new when it comes to compiling information on their supply chains, but they will probably have to increase the breadth and the depth of what theyre already gathering right now, Sinha believes.

I think its going to be an area for most companies where currently, they might be collecting some of the data, but theyre not collecting all of the data thats required, Clark added. Whats more, companies covered by the legislation will have to ensure that what theyve provided is accurate, verifiable, and organized for public disclosure under the standards of the CSRD.

Theyre also going to have to start to look at their partners, he added, noting that there may be a trickle-down impact across the different tiers of the value chain. Firms may begin to require their suppliers to provide more information to feed into their reporting and add new rules to their vendor guidelines when developing relationships with new suppliers. We expect the supply chain will continue to feel the impact of these regulations, even if they dont apply to them directly, Clark said.

When it comes to penalties for non-compliance, each EU member state will define its own course of action, he added. The European Union Commission has specified that the sanctions must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive if a company is found in violation of the CSRD. The member state in which it is doing business much make a public declaration describing the infraction and identifying the guilty party, issue a cease-and-desist order, and take pecuniary penalties against those responsiblethough those actions, as of yet, have not been elucidated.

Sinha said the EU regulations may present some overlap with proposed climate legislation in the U.S. Last March the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed a plan to require businesses to disclose information about their Scope 1 direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with Scope 2 emissions generated by purchased electricity and other forms of energy. Groups would also be compelled to provide information about certain GHG emissions resulting from upstream and downstream activities in its value chain (Scope 3).

The reporting standards, if passed, would be narrower than what the CSRD will require in Europe, Sinha said. That means that companies who might have believed that compliance with the SEC law would help them cover their bases for CSRD are likely out of luck. The SEC requirements, assuming they go through, will probably cover one or two of the environmental criteria outlined in the CSRD. There is no law that covers what the EU is demanding at this time, he said.

Firms should be aware of the timeline for CSRD ratification and implementation, Clark said. The first 12 standards will be ratified in June, and European companies subject to the non-financial reporting obligation will be required to begin making their disclosures at the end of fiscal year 2024. Sector-specific reporting standards are expected to be released in June 2024. In January 2028, European subsidiaries of non-European companies with a turnover of more than 150 million euros in Europe will have to comply with new reporting requirements. Theres a cost to not being sustainable to our environmentour clients generally recognize that, Clark said.

This story appears in Rivets summer issue. Click here to download the entire issue.

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As the grueling acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft nears the finish line, the tech giant and developers of Xbox shared that they have struck a deal with PlayStation to keep Call of Duty (COD) on its platform -- for at least the next ten years.

Brad Smith, the Vice Chair and President of Microsoft shared that "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."

While the acquisition isn't officially complete, the last hurdle, an attempt by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), was denied by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This has allowed for Microsoft and PlayStation to enter into a "binding agreement" to keep COD on the platform.

At the time of writing, details shared about the contract seem to exclusively express maintaining COD on the PlayStation platforms but do not appear to have any mention of other exclusive titles. However, a tweet from the Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, particularly the last line, lends some hope for additional games.

Spencer shared that "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."

In other gaming news, Ubisoft reveals immersive haptic feedback 'Assassin's Creed Mirage' shirt.
Tour de France: Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) on stage 15

Current third in the Tour de France overall standings, Spain's Carlos Rodriguez showed no sign of wilting under the pressure on Monday's rest day as the Ineos Grenadiers pro promised that he had no plans of sitting on his laurels.

"If I have good legs, I'll attack," the Spaniard commented on the Tour's second rest day.

Rodriguez is running well behind the two top favourites for yellow in Paris 5:21 behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates. With fourth-placed Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), just 19 seconds in fourth and fifth-placed Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) steadily shipping time because of injuries, a superficial glance at the results sheet suggests that Yates is his main rival for the podium.

The situation is not straightforward, however. Yates and UAE are still working hard for the overall victory with Tadej Pogacar, which likely limits Yates' options to fight for third in Paris, at least while Pogacar remains with a chance of winning.

Read more

Tour de France: Wout Poels blasts to blockbuster stage 15 solo victory



Well take what we get now - Ineos Grenadiers in Tour de France podium fight



Carlos Rodriguez moves to third on GC with breakthrough win in Tour de France

Rodriguez and Ineos Grenadiers, on the other hand, have his GC standing as their almost exclusive goal in the Tour's final week. Rather pay too much attention to the debate around Yates and the overall, the Spaniard seemed set on riding his own race for now.

"For now, I'm fine. I've noticed I'm a bit tired because of all the hard racing there's been over the last few days. But I hope to recover today and get my strength up for what's left to come," Rodriguez observed.

"I'm doing the best I can, and I hope to go on like that, stay focused and keep my head on the ground.

"From here in the race, I'm not really aware of the impact this is having on the media back home. I just noticed it from the media here.

Story continues

"In the race I'm suffering a lot, but you try to remain aware of where you're at. You see the public cheering you on and you try to enjoy every moment."

In the similarly hilly, albeit different in terms of the overall profile, 31-kilometre Criterium du Dauphine time trial, Rodriguez finished 25th, losing just over a minute to Adam Yates, who finished eighth at 57 seconds.

"That could be a reference point to know how to gauge my effort," Rodriguez said. "I did check out the time trial here after the Dauphine. It's very hard. I don't know if it'll be good or bad for me, hopefully the former."

With a category 2 uphill finish rather than the grinding false flat which concluded the Dauphine TT, Rodriguez said "it is not the same at all as the Dauphine. We know the kind of pace I can set, but it'll be my legs that really decide. In principle, I won't change my bike mid-course."

At the moment, Rodriguez is sitting in third place overall, which would be Spain's first Tour de France podium since Alejandro Valverde finished in the same position in 2015. However, while that had all the feel of a high-water mark for the Spanish veteran, at 22, Rodriguez result puts him in a very different place.

His main rivals to stop him from becoming Spain's first Tour podium finisher, he said, "are impossible to identify. You never know. It seemed like Hindley's third place was set in stone and now he's running fifth. By Tuesday evening I could be running tenth overall.

"I'll try to keep on producing the best version of myself and I'll fight with whoever's next to me on the GC.

"I'm learning things every day. When I finish this race and I'm looking back, I'll see what I've done well and what I could have done better and I'll learn from that. But I don't feel any pressure." Rodriguez said he was using his experiences in the 2022 Vuelta, both positive and negative, to gain perspective on how he viewed the Tour.

"After I fell badly in the Vuelta last year, I felt very different, like I wasn't myself. It took me a long while to recover from the injuries and I was 'out of it' in the third week. I've learned not to push myself."

As for what's coming up, Rodriguez argued that the mountain stage which suits him the best will be Courchevel on Wednesday. "The climb comes directly after the Col de la Loze, which is very long and hard, it could be a key moment. If I have good legs, I'll attack."

Rodriguez already had a brief dig on Sunday, but he described it as "a semi-attack. I got a bit of distance after a roundabout and opted to keep going. I always like to be offensive. But with two riders and teams that are so strong ahead of me on GC, it's hard to make an impact without shooting yourself in the foot."
Carole Middleton's selfless sacrifice revealed. Seen here she arrives at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Carole Middletons selfless sacrifice to ensure she was on-hand for Prince William and Kate Middleton at an intense time might have gone unnoticed by some fans.

Back in 2014 Prince William and Kate Middleton took nine-month-old Prince George with them on their tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Its been claimed that Carole Middleton went with them to help look after her grandson during their busy three weeks away.

This royal news comes as Prince Louis was very upset after missing Prince William and Kate's special outing with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Since Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding in 2011 the future Queen Consorts parents Michael and Carole Middleton have also been in the royal spotlight. The couple have been invited to major royal occasions including King Charles coronation and the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan. Reports have also claimed that Carole often visited Kate and Prince William at Kensington Palace to help with childcare before they moved to Berkshire.

Though this wasnt the only time in their lives where Carole in particular has been indispensable to the Prince and Princess of Wales. In April 2014, Carole Middletons selfless sacrifice to be on-hand for them might not have been noticed by everyone, but it came at an intense time.

Carole Middleton attends Day Three of Wimbledon 2022

Back then Prince George was just nine months old and he accompanied his parents on their Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand. This was the young royals first overseas royal trip and it was also the last time Prince William and Kate Middleton visited these countries.

However much the couple were no doubt excited about the engagements they would undertake and the people they would meet as they carried out their royal duties, it was also likely quite an intense trip. Not only did it last three weeks, but having Prince George with them when he was still so young might not have been easy to manage.

Thankfully, though, it apparently wasnt only the couples nanny Maria Borrallo who came with them to help look after their baby son but allegedly Carole Middleton too.

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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George leave Fairbairne Airbase

Writing recently in the Mail on Sundays You Magazine, Kate Mansey claimed that the public might not have noticed but Granny Carole even attended the royal tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2014 so she could help with Prince George.

If the Princess of Wales mom was there with them then Carole was surely invaluable to her daughter and son-in-law during this high-profile, long-distance trip. It could also be seen as Carole Middletons selfless sacrifice as she would have had to spend three weeks away from home keeping up with the royals schedule.

At the time Carole was said to have still been running her Party Pieces business day-to-day so she would likely have had to either arrange cover or try and work around the time difference to ensure things still ran smoothly. As a result her reported decision to come with Kate and Prince William to help look after Prince George was a hugely significant one.

Carole Middleton at Wimbledon 2021

To this day shes believed to have a close bond with Prince George and his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Since the Wales familys move to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Berkshire-based Carole and Michael Middleton are living closer to them than ever.

And its possible Carole and Michael also continue to be on hand for babysitting duties whenever Prince William and Kate have a Royal Tour to attend.
Jesse Short Bull grew up a mile from an Indian reservation in South Dakota not realizing the ground he was stepping on was once soaked with the blood of his ancestors.

Less than a century ago, the Indigenous people of the Lakota Dakota Nakota Nation were killed defending themselves from the United States government, which broke a treaty that vowed the sacred lands, including the Black Hills, would belong to the tribes forever.

I was like any other kid in America. The real history didnt exist to me. I had no clue, and the truth was never taught to us, Short Bull, whose Lakota name is Mni Wanca Wicapi (Ocean Star), told CNN. When I became older, I wanted to understand what happened and why, and I started to fill in all the missing pieces.

These missing pieces, which led to Short Bulls revelation of the violent injustices that led to the creation of South Dakota, is the topic of his documentary, Lakota Nation vs. United States, which was released Friday.

The documentary, co-produced by actor Mark Ruffalo, is an in-depth and seldom-heard account of American history  a history that begins with the theft of land and the sacrifice of the Indigenous people who refused to surrender it.

This film is very much a push for land back, for the return of land, theres no misunderstanding thats what theyre looking for, said film co-director Laura Tomaselli.

A still from the documentary "Lakota Nation vs the United States" shows protestors demanding land be returned to the Indigenous people. - IFC Films

Woven together by interviews with community leaders and activists, historical footage and racist Hollywood film depictions, the IFC Films documentary is split into three parts: extermination, assimilation and reparations.

Its not about being angry, its not about being bitter. Its about a lot of people appreciating this country and its constitution. Not realizing our treaty, which was bound to that constitution, is negated to being an old dusty antique that has no meaning, Short Bull said. Nothing exists to them from our country or our land or our people. But to us, it exists. Were real.

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Violence against the Lakota Dakota Nakota

The documentary, elegantly narrated by Oglala Lakota poet Layli Long Soldier, begins with a string of broken treaties by the federal government.

Within the land legally protected by these treaties are the Black Hills, a holy site described in the film by Milo Yellow Hair, an Oglala Lakota elder and activist, as our cradle of civilization, the heart of everything that is.

The Black Hills are a place of emergence, the birthplace of dozens of Indigenous tribes who consider it to be the most sacred place in the world.

It is one of the oldest places on the Earth, over 5 billion years old, Yellow Hair said. So we say from the Black Hills and the Wind Cave is that place, that opening on this mother Earth that breathes.

When gold was discovered on this land in 1851, war broke out for 17 years, forcing Indigenous leaders to fight gun-holstered soldiers with bows and arrows.

In 1868, in efforts to make peace after consistently losing battles against Indigenous tribes, the US government signed the Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty designated millions of acres west of the Missouri River for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Great Sioux Nation, which encompasses over a dozen tribes.

The treaty says the US government solemnly agrees that no person, except those herein designated and authorized so to doshall ever be permitted to pass over, settle upon, or reside in the territory described in this article.

But it became another broken promise.

In 1980, the US Supreme Court ordered over $100 million to be paid to the Great Sioux Nation because of the broken treaty. But the nation hasnt taken the money. Since 1980 that original $100 million has accrued interest and grown to more than $2 billion.

The Black Hills of South Dakota, a holy site for dozens of Indigenous tribes who are fighting to see the land returned to them. - Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto/Getty Images

But despite the poverty they face, the Great Sioux Nation still refuses the money. Because the land was never for sale.

We are nothing without the Black Hills, thats why the Black Hills are not for sale, because we are not for sale, Sicangu Lakota historian Nick Estes says in the documentary. How can you sell your very identity of what makes you an Indigenous person?

The documentary also offers in-depth analysis into forced assimilation tactics deployed by the US government to weaken Lakota Dakota Nakota tribes who were still fighting back. One method was killing off their buffalo and depleting their resources, so they began to starve and had no choice but to depend on the government, according to the film.

Another method was taking away their children and enrolling them in boarding schools, stripping them of their Indigenous names and clothing, banning them from speaking their languages and forcing them to cut their hair. If they resisted, they were punished, often violently.

With the intention of conquering their people by destroying their culture, says Oglala Lakota activist Nick Tilsen, they outlawed our language, they made our ceremonies illegal, they criminalized us for living our way of life.

Indigenous tribes celebrate the film

After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022, Lakota Nation vs. United States has played on the screens at Indigenous reservations where the tragic story takes place.

At Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, nearly 200 people, including elders who still carry stories of dark days, attended the screening, and many were in tears, says Hunkpapa Lakota elder Cedric Good House.

We were impressed with Jesse and everybody else because it took real bravery to do this, a lot of courage, Good House told CNN. Its coming at a time when people think they can know it all in a matter of a minute. Theyll read a little clip on Facebook and thats it.

But here is this lengthy documentary and people are getting captivated by the truth, and after they finish watching they can see this is still applicable to us today. We can point it out for them, he continued. Look whats happening today here and here and here, we are still fighting.

The Standing Rock Sioux have been recently entangled in another battle against the federal government, mainly the US Army Corps of Engineers, the agency responsible for approving the Dakota Access Pipeline.

A violation of the Treaty of Fort Laramie, the pipeline is a 1,172-mile underground conduit that would transport some 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day  stretching across North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.

The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation resides near where the pipeline runs, say it will not only endanger their main source of drinking water  the Missouri River  but also their sacred tribal grounds.

This movie is about our history, but here in the present we see nothing has changed, Good House said. This is our sacred land, and we try to get ourselves into the process, but the process still doesnt address us.

In a desperate fight to protect their land and Unci Maka, or Mother Earth, Native tribal members alongside non-Indigenous allies and environmentalists demonstrated for years against the construction of the oil pipeline until they were forcibly removed from the protest site in 2017.

Were not here to chase people off land. Were not here to take over their farms and ranches and start charging people for crossing our territory, Good House said. We are protecting this Earth, were not here to do what the government has done to us.

A wrong that has never been righted

In the land where ceremonies were once held and their ancestors bones now lay, Indigenous holy sites are still being exploited for profit, elders and activists say in the film.

After killing those who attempted to protect it, the US government has turned stolen land into tourist attractions, Short Bull says, making money off the ongoing pain and suffering of Lakota Dakota Nakota tribes.

Deep in the Black Hills stands a mountain known as the Six Grandfathers, or Thukasila Sakpe, whose peaks were blown up to carve the faces of four presidents  now known as the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Mt. Rushmore, in Keystone, South Dakota, is carved into the Black Hills, which had been occupied by Lakota Sioux Natives. - IFC Films

Mount Rushmore represents and is the ultimate shrine to White supremacy, activist Krystal Two Bulls of the Northern Cheyenne and Oglala Lakota says in the film. Our sacred mountain, the Six Grandfathers, of course they carved four racist White men into our sacred mountain, who believed in slavery, who actually removed us from our lands.

Today the children of the Indigenous leaders who died to preserve whatever land they could continue their ancestors purpose: demanding their land back.

And as the world suffers a climate crisis where Indigenous traditions, like controlled burning, are now being used to fight it, its a no brainer to return the land to those who can actually care for it, says Tomaselli, the films co-director.

If you are a non Indigenous person and youre concerned about the climate, it should be obvious to throw all of your energy behind people that were living here before any of our ancestors showed up, tribes who have been taking care of this environment better than anyone has before, Tomaselli said.

As calamities happen around them for the sake of money, Short Bull says  gold mining, coal mining, the pipeline development, deforestation  the Indigenous people living there still have no say.

But with their demand for land back comes a warning.

I want people to remember that there is bloodshed on Earth and our relatives blood is on this ground, Short Bull said. This planet was not created for you to just take, take, take. The Earth is an extension of you, and if youre not going to take care of it, disaster is coming.

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FOND DU LAC  Tattoos aren't just works of art; they're conversation starters.

We asked readers to send their tattoo photos and stories for National Tattoo Day July 17, and responses ranged from tattoos that honor loved ones to ink that commemorates time in the military or police department, all celebrating the ancient tattooing process.

Many of these tattoos came from local artists at studios like In Your Face Tattooz, 270 S. Main St.; Underground Ink, 193 S. Main St.; and Gallery 83 Tattoo Co., 83 N. Pioneer Road.

Local tattoo artist Glenn Vsk also opened his new studio "...this is permanent" at 25 N. Main St. in May, and books months in advance by phone or email at 920-979-5868 and glennvsk@gmail.com.

Here are seven local tattoo enthusiasts and the stories behind their ink.

Peyton Kemnitz has a tattoo honoring each of her grandparents.

Peyton Kemnitz's tattoo represents her grandparents: one grandfather is symbolized with a hummingbird, while the other and her grandmothers are depicted with hearts in their respective handwriting.

Peyton Kemnitz's arm tattoo represents each of her grandparents, with three hearts in their respective handwriting and a hummingbird for her grandfather, a symbol the family has always used for him.

Since her grandfather died while she was very young, she didn't have handwriting for him.

Fond du Lac's Indiana Jones connection: How Harrison Ford immortalized a late Ripon College professor in the Indiana Jones franchise

Kemnitz has another tattoo, which uses the math "greater than" symbol and arrows to depict the message "God is greater than the highs and lows," which is a matching tattoo with her aunt.

Peyton Kemnitz's tattoo represents the message "God is greater than the highs and lows" using the math "greater than" symbol and arrows.

Cheryl Cook has a tattoo memorializing her late husband.

Cheryl Cook used her tattoo to memorialize her late husband, combining a feather to represent his Native heritage, a heart to represent their love, a bird for his passing and the letter M for his name  Mick.

Tattoo artist Chris James, now of Chris James Tattoos in Oshkosh, did the ink for her.

Cheryl Cook's tattoo represents her late husband Mick using a feather, heart, bird and his initial.

Bret Pasiuk's tattoo is a reminder of his shipmates and service in the U.S. Navy.

Bret Pasiuk has the Submarine Warfare insignia tattooed on his ankle, which signifies being qualified in the U.S. Navy to operate nearly every system in a submarine emergency, and also fight fires, flooding and respond appropriately to other casualties.

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Pasiuk earned his insignia  unofficially called "dolphins" or "fish"  in 1991 after qualifying as Engineering Officer of the Watch, running the submarine's nuclear reactor, and Officer of the Deck, driving the submarine, aboard the USS Parche (SSN-683). He had the symbol tattooed before his retirement in 2013.

Bret Pasiuk has the Submarine Warfare insignia for qualifying in submarines in the US Navy tattooed on his ankle. He earned his insignia in 1991 and had it tattooed in 2013.

"Daily, it serves as a reminder of my shipmates, my service, and spurs me to always strive for excellence," he said.

Amanda Petermann's tattoo is in her mother's handwriting.

Amanda Petermann has a shoulder tattoo with the words "love you xoxo" in her mother's handwriting, as well as the "I love you" sign language symbol, with a heart as the hand.

Amanda Petermann's tattoo is the words "Love you xoxo" in her mother's handwriting, next to the sign language for "I love you"

She got her tattoo at Big Guns Tattoo from Danon Watson, who now operates as Pain & Patience inside Gallery 83 Tattoo Co.

Vicky Suprenand's tattoos recognize her time in the Navy and honor her parents.

Vicky Suprenand got her first two tattoos while she was in the Navy and is now up to 10, with most of them done by Gavin Bowe at In Your Face Tattooz, including permanent eyeliner.

Some of the tattoos that mean the most to her include the lilies on her back, drawn by a close friend, and a fish hook heart in memory of her dad, as fishing together was one of their favorite pastimes.

Vicky Suprenand's back tattoo is lilies, drawn by a close friend and inked by Gavin Bowe at In Your Face Tattooz in Fond du Lac.

A fish hook heart tattoo represents Vicky Suprenand's late father and their memories of fishing together.

A third tattoo is a tea cup and chickadee bird Suprenand got while in England. It represents her mom, who is British and loves birds, and the design includes her initial on the tea spoon.

Vicky Suprenand's chickadee and teacup tattoo represents her mother, who is British and loves birds. She had this tattoo done in England.

Mick Burroughs' tattoos remember lost loved ones.

Mick Burroughs also has several tattoos, with many of them representing lost loved ones, including an Arkansas Razorbacks tattoo to memorialize his daughter, who was born in Arkansas while he was in the Air Force and died at age 18 in 1998.

Mick Burroughs's Arkansas Razorbacks tattoo memorializes his daughter Ann, who died in 1998.

He also has a tattoo from his time at the Fond du Lac Police Department, when the police motor unit started in 2000, as well as a family of pandas to represent his wife and her three kids.

Bowe at In Your Face Tattooz also did all the ink.

Waterfront dining: Get your meal with a view at these 6 Fond du Lac-area restaurants with waterfront dining

Former police officer Mick Burroughs has a tattoo from when the Fond du Lac Police Department developed the police mobile unit in 2000.

The pandas tattooed on Mick Burroughs's arm represent his wife and her three kids.

Dawn Mumper's ink was done by her son and memorializes her late first son.

Dawn Mumper got her first tattoo from her son Adam, who owns Underground Ink and designed a memorial for Mumper's late first son.

He used the birth certificate to recreate the footprints of her pre-term baby around a colorful dandelion.

Dawn Mumper's son Adam designed and inked her tattoo at Underground Ink, memorializing her late first son by recreating his baby footprints.

She said Adam Mumper has grown in many ways since he started tattooing about eight years ago, and her tattoo is something she will cherish forever.

Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac shares tattoo stories honoring loved ones and life events
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed.

So should Galileo Mining (ASX:GAL) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

Check out our latest analysis for Galileo Mining

Does Galileo Mining Have A Long Cash Runway?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at December 2022, Galileo Mining had cash of AU$20m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$8.3m. That means it had a cash runway of about 2.4 years as of December 2022. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. We should note, however, that if we extrapolate recent trends in its cash burn, then its cash runway would get a lot longer. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

How Is Galileo Mining's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

While Galileo Mining did record statutory revenue of AU$3.2k over the last year, it didn't have any revenue from operations. That means we consider it a pre-revenue business, and we will focus our growth analysis on cash burn, for now. The skyrocketing cash burn up 110% year on year certainly tests our nerves. It's fair to say that sort of rate of increase cannot be maintained for very long, without putting pressure on the balance sheet. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Galileo Mining due to its lack of significant operating revenues. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth.

Can Galileo Mining Raise More Cash Easily?

Given its cash burn trajectory, Galileo Mining shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$117m, Galileo Mining's AU$8.3m in cash burn equates to about 7.2% of its market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan.

So, Should We Worry About Galileo Mining's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of Galileo Mining's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Based on the factors mentioned in this article, we think its cash burn situation warrants some attention from shareholders, but we don't think they should be worried. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 3 warning signs for Galileo Mining (of which 2 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

Of course Galileo Mining may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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SAINTE-CROIX du VERDON, France (AP)  At the pristine southern French lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, tourists in pedal boats and on white water rafts  and the businesses that welcome them  have been buoyed by generous rainfall and good water management this spring.

After a prolonged drought last summer, then another in the winter that followed, the once cracked lakebeds are now abundantly watered. Dams are releasing water into reservoirs on a consistent schedule for activities in the lake.

But tour operators are still wary.

Rafting and kayaking is great, but if tomorrow there is not enough water in the river, we will have to reinvent ourselves, said Antoine Coudray of Secret River Tours, that operates in the gorges of Verdon.

The artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, a bustling tourist attraction, is one of three reservoirs in the area built for 16 hydroelectric dams. The dams supply the southeastern region of Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur with 35% of its electricity needs.

Human-caused climate change is lengthening droughts in southern France, meaning the reservoirs are increasingly drained to lower levels to maintain the power generation and water supply needed for nearby towns and cities. Its concerning those in the tourism industry, who are working out how to keep their lakeside businesses afloat in the long term if water levels remain low or unpredictable.

The three reservoir lakes in the area  Serre Poncon, Castillon and Sainte-Croix  quickly became a draw for nature lovers after their construction in the middle of the 20th century. They're known for their crisp, clear waters in undisturbed valleys surrounded by tall mountains. The region attracts over 4.6 million visitors a year, the bulk of whom flock to the cool lakes during the summer months.

Water levels in the reservoirs are set and managed by national energy giant EDF, which operates the dams.

Last year, the low water levels from a lack of snow and rain in the spring meant the company was forced to draw on the reservoirs to keep hydroelectric power going and water pipes in southern France flowing for drinking and agriculture.

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Then it kept getting worse. By August, Frances government warned the country was in the midst of its fourth heat wave that year, further dwindling water supplies that evaporated in the blazing temperatures.

For many in the tourism industry, last years low water levels came as a shock.

In 35 years of working here, Ive never seen a year like last year. We were not at all prepared, said Jean-Claude Fraizy who runs a canoe and kayak rental base on the Castillon lake. His leisure centers sales figures were down by 60% last year.

If there is no water, there is no desire to come to the lake, he said.

More shocks could follow. A 32-day long dry spell over winter  the longest in recorded history  means reservoirs still havent fully recovered for this summer.

Paul Marquis, founder of meteorology service E-Meteo, said the winter saw 40% less snowfall, keeping water levels below average despite recent rain.

The Serre-Poncon lake reached just 755 meters (2,480 feet) over winter, prompting EDF to hold back its hydroelectric production so that the water level would have a chance of returning to the optimal level of 780 meters (2,560 feet) in time for the summer season, Marquis said.

Marquis added that groundwater in the region will also not replenish fast enough, "meaning that we could see water restrictions come in to place during the summer.

Touring companies are already preparing.

These days we have to be conscious that there will be less and less water in the river for us, so we have to know how to adapt, said Coudray. He's introduced drought-proof packrafting into the region over the past of couple of years, where the inflatable bottom allows it to float in much shallower waters in the Gorges du Verdon.

Guillaume Requena, a tour guide at the company Aquabond Rafting, said they have started to offer tubing, another activity that works on lower water levels as they can float along the surface.

Wary of the spring rains being a temporary blip in the longer-term trend toward drier conditions, Requena knows tour companies need to find a longer term solution and try to ensure that water levels in the reservoirs can be maintained.

All of the actors affected by how the water is managed in the region by EDF will have to keep negotiating at the table for their own interests as a changing climate adds more pressure, he said.

But with so many people reliant on the dams for power and water in the cities and towns below, Requena is all too aware that propping up the lakes tourism industry is further down on the priority list.

It is not necessarily the twenty or so rafting businesses who have the final say in the management of water resources, said Requena. In many ways we are the last wheel on this wagon.

___

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.
PARIS  Swedish retailer H&M is saying ola to Brazil.

The fast-fashion giant will enter the Brazilian market with both physical and online sales in 2025, the company said Monday.

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We are thrilled to announce that we are opening our first store and online in Brazil in 2025. Weve had good development in Latin America and see great potential in Brazil. This is a very exciting step, and we look forward to bringing H&Ms concept of fashion, quality and sustainability at the best price to many customers in the country, said H&M Group chief executive officer Helena Helmersson.

The group is expanding its partnership with retail distribution, operations and real estate specialist Dorben Group, which operates the existing H&M stores in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama, where it is headquartered.

Dorben Group has extensive experience with luxury brands in Brazil, where it is the exclusive distributor of Michael Kors and Tory Burch, is the exclusive franchisee for Jimmy Choo, and operates the Tods boutiques in the country.

It is an honor and a privilege for us to enter into this partnership with H&M in Brazil, thereby strengthening our existing relationship with a leader in the fashion industry. This collaboration will enable both companies to leverage their unique strengths, resources and expertise to unlock the incredible potential of the Brazilian market, said Dorben Group president Mehdi Beneddine.

H&M will make its first foray into the country by initially entering major cities in southeast Brazil, with a view to further increase its presence across the country over time, the company said in a statement. With a population of over 210 million in Brazil and a strong appreciation for fashion, there is considerable potential for expansion in the market. The major metropolises of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo both fall within that region.

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H&M has made inroads in Latin America since opening its first store in Mexico in 2012. It has expanded to Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador as well as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.

The company is looking to establish itself in new markets since it faltered in China. The company has closed more than 300 stores in the last year in mature markets, and Helmersson has said the company would concentrate on expanding in newer countries moving forward.

Outside of its core H&M brand, the group operates Arket, Cos, Monki, & Other Stories and Weekday.

H&M, Cos, Monki, & Other Stories and Weekday all closed stores in the first half of the year, with H&M shuttering 54 locations. Arket entered Estonia, while H&M launched online in Vietnam.

More new markets are expected in the second half of the year, with Cos expected to launch in Mexico, while Monki will open in Hong Kong. Switzerland will have two new H&M Group brands, with & Other Stories and Arket entering the country. Arket will also expand Eastern Europe to Latvia before the end of the year.

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Seoul-based global garment manufacturer Hansae Co., Ltd. and multinational company GK Global have recently entered a significant strategic partnership aimed at expanding fabric sourcing and production in Central America. The collaboration between these two industry leaders is set to enhance their competitiveness in the region and foster mutual growth in the medium to long term.

The partnership was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 13 between Hansae and Northern Textiles, a subsidiary of GK Global located in Honduras. The MOU signing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including Hansaes president Kim Kyung and Arshad Amdani, CEO of Northern Textiles, who expressed their commitment to this strategic alliance in the Central American market.

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Within the terms of the MOU, Hansae has outlined plans to expand its fabric sourcing and production activities in Central America starting from 2023. By capitalizing on the advantages of nearshoring, the company aims to provide apparel to major U.S. retailers such as Target, Gap Inc., Walmart and Kohls, boasting considerably shortened lead times. This strategic move aligns with Hansaes objective of responding promptly to the evolving needs of its customers and providing real speed to market.

Northern Textiles, a state-of-the-art textile facility established in February 2023, specializes in manufacturing innovative and sustainable premium knitwear, loungewear and activewear fabrics. As a fully vertically integrated company, it covers the entire supply chain from spinning and knitting to dyeing and finishing, catering to the circular knit fabrics market with a focus on traceability, sustainability, innovation and responsibility. With an impressive annual production capacity of around 52 million pounds, Northern Textiles operates 200 knitting machines.

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From left, Nick Choi, S.Y. Jung, Kyung Kim, Arshad Amdani and Jun KK Chung

The partnership with Northern Textiles follows Hansaes prior MOU signing in May with Willbes Dominica for a synthetic mill in the Dominican Republic, demonstrating the companys unwavering commitment to vertical production in the CAFTA-DR region. During the ongoing construction of its largest Central American undertaking, the Michatoya project, Hansae remains dedicated to strengthening its presence in the region through strategic collaborations and investments. While Hansaes largest production plant is currently located in Asia, the company acknowledges the importance of investing in Central America to establish a robust and diversified supply chain. The manufacturer has a global presence encompassing 22 corporations and 10 offices across nine countries.

As nearshoring picks up, Honduras is a popular choice for U.S. labels. In 2022, Honduras was the top Central American exporter to the United States, according to OTEXA data. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris launched a call-to-action for American businesses to create economic opportunity in the Northern Triangle of Central America that includes Honduras, which has encouraged more sourcing in the region.

GK Global, a private multinational enterprise with operations in the textiles, real estate, technology, agriculture and lifestyle sectors, has investments in nine countries worldwide. Driven by a pioneering spirit and a commitment to sustainability, GK Global aims to generate positive and lasting change, improving the quality of life at local, national and global levels.

The strategic partnership between Hansae and GK Global signifies a pivotal step towards strengthening fabric sourcing and production in Central America, ultimately benefiting the apparel industry and the customers that Hansae serves.

Click here to learn more about Hansae.

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HGTV

HGTV's Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge is the can't-miss crossover event of the year for fans of the Mattel doll and frequent watchers of the network. The premiere episode of the competition series is finally here, and it sets a strong tone for all of the hot pink, toy-like designs to come. Better yet, the rooms feature actual items seen in the upcoming Barbie movie.

During the hour-long debut, designers Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod face off with designer Jasmine Roth and chef Antonia Lofaso. Jackson and Sherrod are tasked with creating a 1990s-inspired entryway, living room, and dining room, while Roth and Lofaso take on the kitchen and family room with a 1960s eye. Not only does each team nail their given decade, but their spaces include props that appeared in the Barbie movie.

HGTV

Right as visitors enter the home, they're met with a headless mannequin sporting the neon outfit actress Margot Robbie skates around in as Barbie. In early images from the film's production in Venice Beach, California, she was spotted in the outfit with Ryan Gosling as Ken wearing a matching ensemble. The costumed mannequin fits right into a nook near the home's grand hot-pink staircase, which Jackson and Sherrod painted in a lacquer finish to create the illusion of shiny plastic.



In the kitchen, the fridge is stocked with milk props from the Barbie movie. The toy-like items include a hemp drink, flax drink, and cow's milk because you can never have too many milk optionsespecially in Barbie's kitchen, which always needs to be fully stocked.

HGTV

Since each team's project shows off a piece of the film, we have high hopes the subsequent rooms will boast movie-related objects too. It's easy to imagine Barbie's fuzzy pink pumps on display in a bedroom closet or one of the Kens's surfboards acting as decor near the outdoor pool. We'll be watching to see if our predictions come true!

Love knowing what your favorite HGTV stars are up to? Same. Let's keep up with them together.

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Kim Kardashian left stunned after woman claims Skims bodysuit saved her life after she was shot four times

A woman has credited Kim Kardashians shapewear line Skims for saving her life during a shooting.

The 42-year-old Skims founder took to her Instagram Story on Friday 14 July to share a TikTok from Angelina Wiley, a 22-year-old Kansas City resident who survived a mass shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this year.

The TikTok, which was posted on 18 May, went viral this week with more than 1.4m views as fellow TikTokers tagged Kardashian in the hopes that she would see the video.

Kim Kardashian saved my life, Wiley began the clip. She explained that she was shot four times during an incident that occurred on New Years Day, according to CBS affiliate KCTV5. The night that I got shot, under my dress I was wearing a Skims shaping bodysuit, she said. It was so tight on me that it literally kept me from bleeding out.

I recommend it, Wiley jokingly added. Im definitely going to buy some more, I mean I should wear it everyday. Its like body armour for women.

As she threw her hand up in the air, she said: Call it fate, or Jesus, but Imma call it Kim.

In the comments, many people applauded Wiley for telling her story and praised Kardashians shapewear line for allegedly saving her life.

If this doesnt land you a @Skims sponsorship I dont know what will, one user wrote.

Now THIS is good advertising, another said. Now Im gonna go buy some Skims.

In her Instagram Story, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star wrote underneath the re-posted video: Wowwww

Wiley revealed in a follow-up video that she was wearing the Skims Sculpt Thong Bodysuit ($68) when she was shot four times. In addition to the gunshot wounds, the incident also left her with a ruptured bladder, a cracked pelvis, and a bullet still lodged in her abdomen.

The 22-year-old revealed in a series of videos posted last March that she was waiting for a Lyft around 1.30am when she decided to grab a bite from a nearby food truck. As she crossed the street with her friend, Wiley heard people fighting before a man in a ski mask began shooting.

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(Instagram / Kim Kardashian)

She has since started a GoFundMe page to raise money towards her medical bills. In an update shared on 8 July, after her video went viral, Wiley said she is in physical therapy but she continues to struggle with her hip and severe PTSD ever since the shooting.

The Independent has contacted Angelina Wiley for comment.

Kim Kardashian founded the shapewear brand Skims in September 2019. Since then, it has become one of the fastest-growing companies and launched Kardashian into billionaire status. This month, Skims was reportedly valued at close to $4bn, according to Womens Wear Daily.
Generations of jittery brides know Kleinfeld as the store that solidified their wedding day style, and millions more recognize it as the setting for TLCs Say Yes to the Dress

After 22-plus seasons of the reality show and more than 70 years in business, the New York City retailer is launching its first jewelry line on Amazon. Through a partnership with Centric Brands, Kleinfeld Bridal is debuting a fashion jewelry and hair accessories collection that isnt just for the betrothed and their bridal parties. Retailing from $35 to $295, the 80-piece Kleinfeld jewelry line features seven collections including Say Yes, Flawless, Keepsakes, Social Butterfly, Wordplay, Crystals, and Love Notes.

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Despite the popular TLC brides-go-shopping reality show not having aired any new episodes in more than a year, fans interest in Say Yes to the Dress and Kleinfeld remains robust. Kleinfeld Bridal vice president and general merchandise manager Sheila Sciocchetti said, So many people have grown up with the show. There is a real sentimental attachment to it. I cant tell you how many times being here or saying where I worked that I have had someone say that they used to watch the show with their grandma or how they have always wanted to come to Kleinfeld for their wedding dress. We hear that every day.

With everything thats been going on and how hard it was to film during COVID[-19], we have about six new episodes in the can. But they are not set to air until probably in the fall, said Jennette Kruszka, Kleinfeld Bridals director of marketing, public relations and events. Its been over a year, since we have not been filming. So we are waiting until we get picked up again.

In the meantime, partnering with a powerhouse like Amazon for the exclusive launch, which Centric Brands made happen, was a not-to-be-missed opportunity, according to Sciocchetti. Aside from the e-tailers worldwide reach, Amazon is also the number-one bridal registry. Initial sales expectations are in the single-digit millions, and building into double digits, she said. There are plans to offer the collection to others down the road, as a few major retailers have also expressed interest, Sciocchetti said.

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Asked whether Amazons data collection practices was something discussed before the deal was finalized, she said, Obviously, Amazon is the king of data collection. But I dont know of any retailer, including my previous employers, where they are not collecting a ton of data. Its difficult to get around that issue as a whole. Look, it doesnt seem to be slowing down the customer demand for Amazon products. In terms of the reach, the functionality, and the user interface, we also were really impressed.

To play up its heritage, there is a Kleinfeld online shop on Amazon. And the Kleinfeld fashion jewelry packaging features imagery of the retailers New York City storefront to give online shoppers a sense of walking through its doors. A cluster of smartphone-wielding women are outside the store all day long taking photos, according to Sciocchetti. These are not necessarily just brides who have shopped with us. These are people who come here as a destination to say they visited Kleinfelds, she said.

Watching the show, you go back to that feeling that little girls have growing up dreaming of their wedding day and what theyre going to wear. The drama and emotion of the show, and the fact that a wedding is a one-time moment in your life, has really resonated with a huge following. Thats really the wedding industry as a whole  high emotion, high stakes.

The assortment has seven collections including a Say Yes one.

Last year, the average wedding cost $30,000, which was the most couples had spent since 2008, when the average wedding cost $33,931.

Needless to say, the deal is a win for Amazon, too, which will be wooing more brides-to-be, who may not only be in need of a bridal registry, but they might also be ready to make a series of major purchases for their homes, honeymoons and children.

The necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, barrettes and other adornments are also geared for women of all ages to wear for birthdays, proms, graduations and other milestone occasions or everyday outings. Kleinfeld is not working with Say Yes to the Dress star Randy Fenoli on this project, but senior executives are keen to connect all of its internal assets and different pursuits wherever that would be appropriate. This is really about Kleinfeld as a whole, as a brand, and is based on our Say Yes! mantra that can extend to so many different avenues, products and brand opportunities, Sciocchetti said.

The venture transpired after years of having shoppers asking for a piece of the Kleinfeld brand, and the company ultimately found the right partner for the endeavor in Centric Brands, according to Sciocchetti. Although the brand has an ongoing alliance with Zales for co-branded jewelry, this is the first collection Kleinfeld is rolling out as a brand with jewelry being the initial focus, and with plans for a lifestyle brand to follow. That could include apparel, like robes and other getting-ready pieces for bridesmaids, as well as sweatshirts, novelty apparel and T-shirts, Sciocchetti said.

Having kicked off Kleinfeld-branded merchandise last year as a new strategy, the companys brass was pleased with initial sales and confident that the brands global recognition will lead to further sales in other areas. Noting how the category options are probably pretty unlimited, Sciocchetti, a former Davids Bridal executive who joined the company a year ago, said, It is shocking and surprising to me how people still react to getting a piece of this brand.

With Amazon, the Kleinfeld jewelry will be accessible to not just shoppers in the tristate area or those who can afford to visit the New York store.

Now you can sit at home be browsing on your phone and have a piece of Kleinfelds, Kruszka said.

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Nine months after announcing its seed round, mattilda, a Mexico Citybased company providing collections management and payment processing for private schools, is back with a $19 million Series A investment.

In the follow-on round, GSV Ventures is leading the new capital infusion this time and is joined by FinTech Collective, which led the seed, and Dila Capital. The company has now raised a total of $39 million.

Founders Jose Agote, Jesus Lanza, Juan Pablo Bravo, Adrian Garza and Ileana Gomez started mattilda in 2022 after previously working together at Lottus Education. They designed the company to be an end-to-end collections management platform for schools and to provide a variety of payment options, from WhatsApp links to bank transfers to cash, for parents who often pay monthly.

In addition, mattilda helps schools better predict their monthly cash flow and has a loan program where schools can apply for credits equivalent to three to 12 months of revenue so that schools can grow faster.

Last October, CEO Agote told me that mattilda was approaching 14,000 students that it was collecting payments for. Today, that has grown to 35,000 students. During that same period of time, the company added 10 new employees to bring headcount to 60.

Also, the company formed an exclusive commercial alliance with Santillana, which Agote described as the regions largest academic content platform servicing over 2 million students in Spanish-speaking Latin America.

It serves two purposes: It is a huge pipeline that we get access to, in an exclusive way, Agote said. It's also a huge rubber stamp for the industry. We have been able to grow and prove that we have a robust service and platform.

Agote declined to go into specifics about revenue growth, but said revenue was growing proportionately, more than doubling the number of students mattilda is collecting for.

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Meanwhile, Agote says there are 5 million students, just in Mexico, so there's still a long way to go.

The new capital will help it do that, and his plans include expanding in that primary market as well as across Latin America. He has a list of countries where the company would fit best  teasing out Colombia as a possible first venue. Also, mattilda is working on some new services and products that will be announced later this year.

Were very bullish about the international expansion, Agote said. And, the capital allows us to slow down growth and be very selective with which schools we onboard.
Getty Images / Michael Dunning

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer





There have been 13 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships in 2023.

Experts note that the highly congested environment, as well as the fact that people have not been exposed to as many illnesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely the reason for the increased norovirus numbers.

Experts recommend maintaining proper hygiene habits and contacting the ships medical facility as soon as you dont feel well in order to avoid spreading illnesses while at sea.







Multiple cruise lines are experiencing norovirus outbreaks.

There have currently been 13 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships in 2023. The most recent outbreak occurred on a Viking Cruises ship, which traveled from Iceland and docked in New York City. About 13% of its passengers and several crew members became ill with the virus while on board.

With more than 31 million passengers worldwide expected to set sail this year, experts told Health that these highly-congested environmentsalong with the fact that people have not been exposed to a normal amount of illnesses due to the pandemiccould be the reasons for the increased numbers.

Loosening of restrictions after the COVID-19 pandemic makes us more susceptible to picking up viruses after several years in seclusion, Sanjiv Shah, MD, MPH, an infectious disease specialist and chief medical officer for MetroPlusHealth, New York Citys public health insurance program, told Health.

Children who have been able to avoid the virus during the pandemic are now being exposed to viruses that tend to peak during the school year, he said. While norovirus is higher this year, the numbers are not a big outlier compared to pre-pandemic levels.



Getty Images / Michael Dunning

What Is Norovirus?

Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and foodborne illness. Though people often call it the stomach flu, it has nothing to do with flu, Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, REHS, an expert in infectious diseases, told Health.

You have to swallow the virus to get sick, Labus, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the UNLV School of Public Health, said. That can be through consuming contaminated food or touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth or not washing your hands before you eat.

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Norovirus, which causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain Bernadette Boden-Albala, DrPH, MPH, director and founding dean of the Program in Public Health at the University of California Irvine told Health. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, and body aches.

Typically, norovirus lasts for one to three days, though you can spread the illness for a few days after.

Infected people spread the virus widely and make it difficult for public health officials to contain the virus, Boden-Albala said.



Why the Number of Norovirus Outbreaks Increased

The exact cause for the increase in the number of norovirus cases is not clear, but the increasing demand for cruises could be one explanation for the rise in reported cases, said Labus.

During COVID, the options for cruises were limited, but now that restrictions have been lifted, more people are deciding to take that cruise they had been putting off.

People also are more likely to get sick now since pandemic restrictions have been lifted. For the past few years, people have not been exposed to as many common viruses and illnesses and now that exposure is rising, illnesses are bound to rise as well.

It also is possible the numbers for norovirus on cruise ships appear more alarming than they truly are.

On cruise ships, health officials are legally required to track any illnesses that occur, while this same reporting is not required on land. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that outbreaks are reported more frequently on sea than on land.

The risk of getting norovirus each year is about 1 in 15 [but] a cruise passenger has about a 1 in 5,500 risk of getting norovirus, Sally Andrews, vice president of strategic communications and public affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association told Health.



Related: What Is Human Metapneumovirus? CDC Reports Unusual Spike of Respiratory Virus

Environments Where Norovirus Spreads Quickly

According to Shah, norovirus spreads rapidly anywhere there are large groups of people, like school classrooms, family gatherings, and weddings.

Cruise ships in particular have many of the conditions that make people susceptible to norovirusclose quarters, enclosed spaces, communal dining, and high turnover of passengers.

The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships, Shah said. The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. Rates are much higher in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.



Minji Kang, MD, an assistant professor and infectious disease specialist in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center added that norovirus can also be brought onboard by contaminated food or water, or passengers who were infected while ashore.

Related: Sick Restaurant Workers Linked to 40% of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, CDC Says

Yes, Cruise Ships Have Strategies to Prevent Outbreaks

Because norovirus outbreaks can flare up in the close quarters of a ship, the cruise industry has had norovirus prevention programs in place for nearly 20 years, Labus said. They have the right chemicals needed to control it and the plans and training for how to use them appropriately.

Cruise ships also have plans for how to deal with ill guests to ensure that they are not infecting other passengers, he said. Its important to let the ships medical staff know if you are sick so that they can protect the rest of the passengers.

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), every cruise ship must have a place to isolate any passengers who have a contagious disease. This step helps them minimize the risk of spreading the disease to others.

Whats more, the CDC has established a rigorous Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) to help prevent the overall spread of illnesses on cruise ships. Not only do they inspect a cruise ships medical center, but they also monitor their portable water systems, dining rooms, housekeeping procedures, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more.

If a cruise ship does not do well on its inspectionor gets an 85% or lowerit cannot set sail until it corrects the issues.

Staying Healthy While on a Cruise

While there have been 13 outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships this year, Labus explained that not every cruise passenger is going to be exposed to the virus. Still, taking certain steps to prevent the likelihood of getting sick is never a bad idea.

The most important measure to prevent the spread of norovirus is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, said Kang. This should be done before eating and drinking, brushing ones teeth, and after going to the bathroom, touching high-hand contact surfaces, and taking care of a sick person.

She noted that hand sanitizers do not work well against norovirus and that they are not a substitute for handwashing.

For extra peace of mind, you can also research your cruise line prior to booking.

To see how your specific cruise line performed on its VSP inspections, you can visit the CDC website and search their portal. This site also lists any corrective actions taken to remedy any issues. You can even look for cruise lines that have scored a perfect 100.

If you do happen to get sick while on a cruise, Boden-Albala recommends that you follow CDC guidelines and report your illness to the ships medical facility as soon as possible. [You also should] rest and drink plenty of water to rebuild your immunity system and prevent dehydration.

Even though you may be tempted to conceal your illness, you would be doing a great disservice to the other passengers and the crew on the cruise by keeping it a secret.

While staying in your cabin [for a day or two] may not make for the best vacation, Shah said, its important to take precautions to avoid infecting others.



Related: CDC Stops Reporting COVID-19 Cases on Cruise ShipsHere's How You Can Still Stay Safe

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The last thing any plane passenger wants is for their pilot to suffer a sudden medical emergency, but that's exactly what happened to a 68-year-old Connecticut woman on July 15. Faced with a quick decision, she took control of the aircraft and crash-landed the plane, possibly preventing worse injury or death.

The plane left Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY earlier that afternoon and was headed for Martha's Vineyard. According to a statement from the West Tisbury Police Department, the pilot experienced an unspecified medical condition as the plane approached the Martha's Vineyard Airport in the town of West Tisbury, leading the female passenger to spring into action. "[She] took over controls, eventually landing the plane on its belly with no landing gear," the report read.

The rough landing caused the small plane's left wing to break in half, the authorities reported. By landing in the grass near the runway rather than on the hard concrete, the sudden heroine could very well have cushioned their fall.

She suffered minor injuries while the 79-year-old pilot was taken by medical flight to Boston in "serious life-threatening condition," according to the Massachusetts State Police. In the meantime, the state police are investigating the incident, as are the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, per CNN.

The Martha's Vineyard Times shared video of the plane moments after the scary landing. Rescue vehicles surrounded the mangled metal heap in the grass as personnel were quick to rush the two passengers to the hospital.

Neither the passenger nor the pilot have spoken out following the traumatic flight. Though if the woman is looking for a new career in retirement, flying small planes around the Northeast may be her calling.
She's on a path of destruction and you're still rooting for her."

Lorenzo Agius

This interview took place before SAG-AFTRA strike activity.

While villains typically tend to be unanimously reviled characters  from Scar and Pennywise to Hannibal Lecter  the best actors find a way to make even the worst bad guys likable. In the seventh installment of Tom Cruises Mission: Impossible series (Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One, currently in theaters), Pom Klementieff plays the fiery Paris, whose sole directive is to sabotage everybody elses efforts (by all means necessary  and we mean all means) to retrieve a key that unlocks an all-powerful artificial intelligence nicknamed "The Entity."

And yet, the audience cant help but fall in love with the rambunctious French firecracker, whose grunge-inspired outfits, platinum bob haircut, and intricate fight sequences make her the films resident cool girl.

She's on a path of destruction and you're still rooting for her, like, I love this girl, Klementieff tells InStyle about her character, a Harley Quinn type who drops roundhouse kicks in plaid miniskirts and runs a military-grade tank through the tourist-filled streets of Venice, Italy, with a maniacal smile on her face. Her character is a woman of few words, relying on action and fashion to speak for her, which Klementieff calls freeing, because it was just all about behavior and all about just movement.

She also says she drew inspiration from iconic silent characters of the past, played by some of the greats like Clint Eastwood, Japanese comedian Takeshi Kitano, and French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.

But the beauty of it is that when she speaks, everyone listens, she adds.

Klementieff is no stranger to the genre, with a stacked resume that includes high-action projects like Thunder Force (starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer) and Guardians of the Galaxy. Although Paris is a far cry from her beloved Marvel character Mantis, likability is something Klementieff excels at bringing to her characters both good and bad. She also appeared as Haeng-Bok in Spike Lee's 2013 mystery Old Boy alongside Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Imperioli.

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Paramount Pictures

Related: It's Official: 'Barbie' "Lives Up to the Hype"

The latest installment of the wildly popular franchise  which also marks the seriess second-to-last volume (Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part 2 is slated to hit theaters next summer)  delivers all the makings of the espionage franchise that loyal fans have come to know and love: action-packed scenes, over-the-top fight sequences, and the thrill of taking on things that are, well, impossible.

It was such an honor to join this franchise, Klementieff gushes. I've been a fan since I was a child, so I saw all the other movies so many times. It was just incredible to get to work on this movie and to work with Tom and McQ [director Christopher McQuarrie].

But this film is also sure to draw in a whole new generation with its reinvented approach to the spy movie, which weaves together modern technological advancements (were talking an AI entity that has the worlds superpowers clamoring for control), moments of comedic relief, a whirlwind romance, and a set of new characters, like Paris and Grace (played by fellow Marvel alumnae Hayley Atwell). Even moviegoers who arent die-hard Mission: Impossible fans can prepare to be captivated for the films entire 2 hour and 43 minute run, which seems long, but is stacked with exciting content from start to finish. In other words, its quite literally a movie that feels like a real movie (thank you, Harry Styles, for these profound words) and deserves to be experienced in theaters.

There's some lightness to it and there's drama. Sometimes it's rom-com, sometimes it's film noir. It's so many things at the same time, Klementieff says, explaining the films diverse landscape. I think this movie is so rich, it feels like several movies at the same time in several genres at the same time. There's also some very charming and funny moments, right? With Ethan [Cruise] and Grace. as well, you see a comedy that you haven't seen in the previous movies.

Paramount Pictures

Related: Timothee Chalamet Isn't Playing Your Parents' Willy Wonka

Unlike the majority of action movies, M:I 7 taps into current style trends for costuming (something for the fashion girlies)  especially when it comes to Paris and her punk-rock aesthetic. Klementieff worked with the movies costume designer, Jill Taylor, to develop something fresh and different for the rebellious character while also keeping her grounded during her intense action sequences.

We're going to bring something different for this character, some vibe that was a little bit more punk, which is cool to do, because I think it was really different from the other female characters from the franchise, she says. What was very important to me is that she was not wearing heels because she knows she's going to fight, so wearing heels just doesn't make sense.

During one scene, Paris, along with everyone else searching for the coveted key, attends a party at a nightclub in Venice. Pariss makeup look, which included a drawn-on white mask with a black teardrop, was influenced by the 17th century pantomime staple Pierrot from the commedia dell'arte.

It's kind of cute but creepy at the same time, she said describing Pariss less-than-incognito ensemble. [Theres] something melancholic about the teardrop that really connected with the character, that made sense.

Paramount Pictures

Klementieff admits that her style IRL isnt that entirely different from her latest on-screen persona. My style is eclectic and it depends on the mood, but for everyday, of course it's going to be more relaxed and more chill. But, for events I like to have fun and just take risks.

The actress arrived at the movies Seoul, South Korea, premiere in a head-turning strapless leather gown made from motorcycle gear (found by her stylist Jonathan Huguet), which she paired with platform boots and a slicked-back hairdo that included nail embellishments, executed by her hairstylist Marcia Lee.

It's fun to do things that are unexpected, go from one vibe to another, and not take it too seriously, she says. Life is short and you want to have a good time too, so I do that with fashion, as well.

Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part 1 is in theaters now.

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HKEX proposal for mandatory climate disclosures gets nod from businesses, but not without concerns over timeline, scope

Representatives of Hong Kong's business sector agree with the stock exchange's plan to make climate-related disclosures mandatory and aligned with international standards - but not without concerns.

The business community agrees that the move will help the city maintain its competitiveness as a global financial centre, according to feedback from a three-month consultation period that ended on Friday. But concerns exist around the level of ambition, as well as the challenges companies will face achieving compliance.

During the consultation, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) sought market feedback on enhancing climate-related disclosures under its environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework, including making such disclosures mandatory, as opposed to the current "comply or explain" basis.

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New disclosure requirements would be introduced in alignment with climate standards from the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), a body that was set up during the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 to consolidate various reporting standards. The ISSB released its finalised standards on June 26.

People pass Exchange Square, which houses the Hong Kong stock exchange, in Central on June 30, 2023. Photo: Yik Yeung-man alt=People pass Exchange Square, which houses the Hong Kong stock exchange, in Central on June 30, 2023. Photo: Yik Yeung-man>

"These proposed enhancements will not only help our issuers achieve greater climate-related risk management, but also strengthen their resilience and enhance the long-term sustainability of Hong Kong's markets," Katherine Ng, head of listing at HKEX, said at an event organised by the bourse operator's ESG academy on Thursday.

"We expect the results of the consultation to be implemented as early as January 2024."

A two-year interim period would be provided for certain requirements, such as the financial effects of climate-related risks and opportunities for companies and the disclosure of their scope 3 carbon emissions, according to HKEX. Scope 3 emissions are those attributable to suppliers and customers.

The HKEX's proposed enhancements to climate disclosures are a step in the right direction, and the phase-in approach seems reasonable in view of the lack of readiness among Hong Kong-listed companies, said Ben McQuhae, founder of law firm Ben McQuhae & Co and co-founder of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association.

"On the other hand, HKEX's proposal appears to be a watered-down version of the ISSB standards, which arguably lacks ambition," he said.

In particular, HKEX's new disclosure requirements focus entirely on financial materiality, or how climate risks impact enterprise value, instead of also including how the business impacts the climate and the environment, he said.

A joint response to the HKEX's consultation, issued last week by think tank Civic Exchange, ecosystem provider Green Collective and Keith Chan, an assistant professor in the division of environment and sustainability at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, also supported making climate-related disclosures mandatory, but only after "the target companies have been given sufficient time to build relevant capacity".

The joint response also suggested that the HKEX follow the approach of the ISSB's climate standard to require firms to "disclose industry-based metrics that are associated" with their industry, instead of merely encouraging issuers to consider industry-based disclosure requirements.

The proposed timelines for interim and full compliance with some quantitative disclosures, especially scope 3 emissions, would be quite challenging for many listed companies, said Mike Wong Ming-wai, CEO of the Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies.

Even with the intention to collect scope 3 data, a lack of accurate and comprehensive data sets from a company's value chain adds to the challenge, according to the Chamber's response to the HKEX consultation obtained by the Post.

"The data collection work may not be straightforward, and we believe businesses along the upstream and downstream value chain, especially the SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises], are not ready to provide such data to the listed companies," the response said. "Rushing for adoption of scope 3 reporting for listed companies may result in inaccurate or misleading information."

The Chamber recommended extending the implementation of mandatory disclosures by another year, to the financial year beginning January 1, 2025, Wong said.

The enhanced climate-related disclosure requirements is "the next level of development of ESG reporting" in the city, said Pat Woo, head of ESG in Hong Kong at KPMG China.

"We are favourable of this direction of travel for the HKEX [consultation] and the adoption of a significant part of [ISSB's climate standards]," he said. "Hong Kong needs to align with international developments as an international financial centre."

Issuers should consider explaining plans to assess and continuously enhance climate competency across their board and its committees, instead of making vague statements about whether climate governance is in place, said Anthony Cheung, convenor of green finance and vice chairperson of environmental organisation Friends of the Earth (HK), in response to the HKEX's consultation.

The HKEX's proposal is a very significant first step towards aligning with a global baseline for sustainability disclosure, said Poman Lo, vice-chairman of Regal Hotels Group and founder of the Institute of Sustainability and Technology.

"For Hong Kong, it would be great if we, as a financial centre, can be a role model and a pioneer in driving the transparency, accountability and efficiency of global sustainability," Lo 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.
This Princess Cruises Sale Has Trips Around the World Starting at Less Than $400

The sale  for 2024 and 2025 sailings  is available to book until Sept. 5.

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises wants to help travelers plan ahead with a new sale that has big savings on 2024 and even 2025 cruises.

The Score for 24 Sale has week-long Caribbean cruises starting at less than $400 per person as well as discounts on cruises across the world from Alaska to Europe and beyond, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. The sale is available to book until Sept. 5.

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Surging consumer demand is driving customers to secure their 2024 summer vacations now, John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement provided to T+L. The Score for 24 is rewarding guests who are eager to lock in the most popular cruise itineraries with the very best rates we will offer all year.

Sail on a 7-day Caribbean cruise from Galveston or on a 7-day Alaskan glaciers cruise with each starting at just $398 per person, or head to France and Spain on a 7-day cruise starting at just $808 per person. Travelers can also sail to Japan on an 8-day cruise starting at just $898 per person, or head to Australia on a 7-Day tour around Queensland from Brisbane starting at just $528 per person.

Princess has even discounted its 2024 111-Day world cruise, which sails roundtrip from Los Angeles and now starts at just $15,999 per person.

In addition to the savings, Princess is welcoming third and fourth guests to sail free on select cruises in Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, South America, Antarctica, the South Pacific, and on Transatlantic sailings. The offer excludes a deposit, taxes, fees, and port expenses.

Princess Cruises was recently named one of T+L readers favorite mega-ship ocean cruise lines for 2023 thanks to its quality, cleanliness, value, and impressive itineraries.

Earlier this year, Princess raised gratuities on its ships as well as raised the price of its Wi-Fi packages.

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Ever lost something beneath the deep-blue sea? Turns out theres a scuba diver ready to help you find it.

Michael Pelley, a.k.a. Merman Mike, recently recovered a missing $9,500 wedding ring from a California lake, which he shared in a YouTube video posted on July 10, Insider reports. In the post, Jennie of Bakersfield, Calif., explained how she lost her prized piece of jewelry: She was swimming with her family at Bass Lakelocated near Yosemite National Parkwhen her wedding ring disappeared. A friend of hers recommended that she contact a scuba diver, which led her to Pelley.

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The videos caption explains further how he went about finding the ring in the body of water.

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. He had to use an underwater metal detector and a flashlight to help look through the material in the lake. He also had to remove his gloves to feel around the material within the depths.

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 when Pelley miraculously resurfaced with the ring. He explained to KMPH that he does his work on a volunteer basis, though he does sometimes get some compensation. However, he always receives a thrill from helping people.

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Its almost an indescribable kind of like adrenaline rush, Pelley said. I find people are beyond kind with their tips, and it all makes it worthwhile. He added, I have absolutely no problem not charging people for it. I feel like I have this huge book of just awesome stories.

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Talk about a thirst trap.

BG026/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Sofia Vergara knows it's important to stay hydrated on vacation. In her latest Instagram post, the superstar showed off in a super-sexy one-piece that definitely brought the heat, but she posed alongside some very refreshing looking bottled water, giving a cheeky (in more ways than one) nod to the summer heat and staying cool.

Instagram/SofiaVergara

Vergara, who has been in Italy like just about everyone else on your Instagram feed, seems to be winding down her time across the Atlantic, but she's making the most of her time, soaking up the rays in a one-piece in a bold blue leopard print and sculpted cups. Of course, she tagged Toty, her sun-care brand (she's been doing events in Italy to promote the products) in the snapshots, and also showed off her caramel hair, stunning flowers, and what looks like the most refreshing water on the face of the planet.

"Last days of vacay! Even when u r so hot I love u Ravello!!!" she wrote alongside the sizzling snaps.

Related: Sofia Vergara Shared Her Summer Beauty Secret While Wearing Nothing But Tiny Thong Bikini Bottoms

Just last week, Vergara celebrated her 51st birthday. Her husband, Joe Manganiello, posted a triubte on Instagram which read "Feliz Cumpleanos Sofia."

But fans took aim at what they called a "cold" message, commenting that the photo was grainy and that he didn't call her "my love" or "my beloved wife." Another commenter thought the criticism was silly, writing, I thought it was lovely that he wrote in Spanish. It is quite meaningful."

Manganiello and Vergara met seven years ago in 2014 at the White House Correspondents Association dinner and married a year later. Shortly after they tied the knot, Vergara joked that she was worried about being married to someone that was too handsome."

I told him when I met him that he was too handsome, she told Jimmy Kimmel in 2015. I didnt want to go into a relationship with somebody that  I thought he was going to be too much work, because girls were throwing themselves at him.



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FEELING SHEEPISH: Princess Dianas red, white and black sheep sweater is going under the Sothebys hammer in September, and if that was not enough to make royal watchers swoon, theres more memorabilia to come.

On Wednesday, Sothebys and others involved with the sale confirmed that two letters from Buckingham Palace will be auctioned together with the jacquard jumper, as they call the knit in Britain.

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One letter details the repairs Diana requested after she accidentally damaged the much loved knit, which was made by the company Warm & Wonderful. The other one is a thank you note.

According to the first letter, Diana requested either a repair or replacement, which the Warm & Wonderful founders, Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, failed to deliver.

Instead, they knitted the soon-to-be-princess a whole new sweater, prompting a thank you letter from Dianas then private secretary, Oliver Everett.

On Wednesday, Muir and Osborne revisited the episode, which took place in 1981.

When we heard from the palace, we were so mortified that the cuff had come off her jumper that we kept it secret, and stashed the letters away in a file, the designers said.

Almost nobody spotted that the second time she wore the sweater it was, in fact, a different jumper. That is, until eagle-eyed Jack Carlson, our partner in reviving the brand, asked us about it, and we had to come clean. He is a trained archaeologist, so forensic in detail, and had noticed it was slightly different, they added.

The original black sheep sweater that Princess Diana, then Lady Di, wore to watch her fiance Prince Charles play polo in June, 1981.

Carlson is the creative director of Rowing Blazers and Warm & Wonderful. His company began reviving the Warm & Wonderful designs in 2019 after the British label ceased to operate in the mid-90s. A cotton edition of the sheep sweater is available on Warm & Wonderful website.

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Carlson spotted the differences between Dianas sweaters not only because of his archeological training, but also because he was aware that in the early days of Warm & Wonderful, no two sweaters were the same.

They were made all over Britain on hand-operated machines that people had in their homes. It was a true cottage industry, in the original sense of the term, so each sweater was a little different, Carlson told WWD.

I realized very early on that Diana must have had at least two different Warm & Wonderful sweaters because, if you study the photographs, you can see several differences. I asked Joanna and Sally about this in one of our first meetings, and to my delight, they told me I was the first person to notice it, he added.

There is also a Warm & Wonderful sheep sweater with a similar sheep design in the permanent collection of Londons Victoria and Albert Museum.

Actor Emma Corrin wore another replica, also created by Warm & Wonderful, in season four of The Crown, adding to the sweaters mystique.

Carlson argues the sweaters popularity was already blowing up before the Netflix show aired. Diana and her style are part of the zeitgeist and the sweater has been on many peoples mood boards for years. But Joanna and Sally are the original designers, and people value that authenticity.

The newly engaged Lady Diana was first snapped wearing the sweater to watch her fiance Prince Charles play in a polo match in June 1981. That same sweater will be auctioned by Sothebys in New York as part of the houses inaugural Fashion Icons sale.

Muir and Osborne said they discovered the sweater earlier this year by accident.

This past March, as we were rummaging through the attic searching for an old pattern, we spotted a small box, they said last month when the sale was announced.

Inside, tucked away beside a cotton bedspread was Dianas original red sheep sweater from 1981. Now, almost four decades later, this one-of-a-kind sheep sweater is ready to make its way into the hands of a fortunate collector, the designers added.

Online bidding will be open from Aug. 31 through Sept. 13 and the sweater will be displayed in New York starting Sept. 7. It is being offered with an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000.

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A 34-year-old Carlinville woman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for her toddler stepsons death.

A Macoupin County Sheriffs Department investigation determined Ashley Bottoms threw 3-year-old Hunter Drew into a half-wall on Oct. 20 when she was trying to break up a fight between two children. Authorities believe Hunters head hit the ledge of the wall, which caused a brain bleed from the blunt force trauma, according to charging documents in Macoupin County.

Hunter was found dead in the car later that day after Bottoms had been running errands for over three hours, Macoupin County States Attorney Jordan Garrison said.

Bottoms pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter of a family member at an April hearing. Macoupin County Judge Joshua Meyer handed down the sentence Monday morning at the county courthouse in Carlinville.

Involuntary manslaughter is an accusation that a person unintentionally killed someone. It is classified as a Class 2 felony when it involves family or household members.

The charge carried a possible sentence of three to 14 years in prison.

Bottoms had also been charged with endangering the life of a child causing death for not taking Hunter to the hospital for his head injury. The endangerment charge was dismissed in April because of a state rule known as the one-act, one-crime doctrine, which states that a person can only be convicted of one crime for the same physical act, according to Garrison.

What investigators learned about incident

Lt. Ryan Dixon, of the Macoupin County Sheriffs Office, testified about the criminal investigation during Mondays sentencing hearing.

He said an autopsy indicated that Hunter likely died within minutes of the injury, which occurred sometime before lunch. Afterward, Bottoms took Hunter and her other children to a local hospital for an appointment she had. The children waited in the car, according to Dixon. He said Bottoms told investigators they were asleep.

They also drove to Walmart and Caseys General Store before going to Litchfield to drop the children off with Hunters dad so Bottoms could go to work.

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Bottoms mother Vicky Nichols and aunt Patty Moore also testified Monday as character witnesses. They said Bottoms took good care of the children and described problems with the siblings arguing and fighting as well as lax discipline in the home, which made them difficult to handle.

Bottoms didnt get much help in the household, they said.

Ashley Bottoms, seated next to her attorney, public defender Anne Clough, listens as her mother Vicky Nichols testifies as a character witness at her sentencing hearing Monday.

Hunters maternal uncle Kiel Quigley and paternal aunt Melissa Miller read victim impact statements on behalf of their families. They questioned why Bottoms didnt get help for Hunter after he hit his head. The defense didnt offer an explanation.

Every night when you go to bed, Ashley, and every morning when you wake up, I want you to see him and think about how you could have changed his fate that day, Miller said during the hearing, addressing Bottoms directly in the courtroom.

Child protective services involvement

Child protective services had been involved with the family prior to Hunters death. The state agency placed Hunter in his dads and stepmoms care in August.

When Hunter died on Oct. 20, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was investigating Bottoms for a report it received six days earlier, on Oct. 14, alleging Hunter had physical injuries, according to a timeline the agency provided of its involvement.

Bottoms told child protective services that Hunter hurt himself while roughhousing and playing, according to Jassen Strokosch, the chief of staff for the agency. Strokosch said a doctor examined Hunter and told the agency the injuries were potentially consistent with roughhousing.

The agency made an official determination known as an indicated report that it believed Bottoms neglected Hunter because she could have prevented those injuries, according to Strokosch. He added that the investigation was ongoing when Hunter died.

Strokosch said the child protective services investigator in the case decided that removing Hunter from the home was not appropriate based on the evidence of injuries and the doctors evaluation of them.

To take a child into protective custody, the Department of Children and Family Services has to prove to a judge that there is an urgent and immediate risk of harm.

We simply did not have that standard in this case, Strokosch said.

Foster parents want justice for child who died after IL DCFS removed him from their care

The agencys policy is to keep children at home whenever possible, with support to address any safety threats or risk factors, because removing children from their home can be a traumatic experience.

Before Hunter was placed in his dads and stepmoms care, child protective services completed a service plan and home safety checklist, according to an agency spokesperson. Then, Montgomery County Judge Marc Kelly issued an order granting custody to the father, which closed the case.

A service plan includes an assessment of possible risks and any services the family might need. Possible risks could include previous child protective services investigations finding evidence a child was abused or neglected in their care or a criminal history.

A home safety checklist evaluates the house for things like a working smoke detector and makes sure parents can recognize the signs of illness and know the ways children could hurt themselves in a home, like choking on buttons or coins and falling off changing tables if left alone.

After the judge granted custody, the Department of Children and Family Services remained involved with the family. A change in the law two years ago now requires the agency to keep in touch with families for six months after a child is placed in their care or returned to their care to make sure theyre getting any services they might need to keep the child safe.

The agency later made a determination that Bottoms abused Hunter in an investigation related to his death.

Strokosch said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has evaluated its involvement with the family and found no missteps.

Investigators have incredibly difficult jobs, he said. They have to make decisions about the evidence in front of them. This case is a good example of where they made good decisions based on the evidence they had, then an adult made a very poor decision and it resulted in the death of a child. There isnt evidence that we should have made a different decision in this case.

Sentencing arguments from prosecution, defense

The prosecution didnt mention the child protective services investigation during Bottoms sentencing hearing.

Garrison instead asked the judge to consider a misdemeanor child endangerment charge against Bottoms from 2011 in Macon County that was dismissed after she successfully completed court supervision. Garrison also wanted the judge to deliver a sentence necessary to deter others from committing the same crime.

He emphasized that Bottoms didnt try to get help for Hunter. Mrs. Bottoms didnt call for help, he said. Theres no 911 call. Theres no run to the neighbor. Nothing.

The prosecution asked for a sentence between 10 and 14 years. The defense sought a sentence between three and five years.

Public defender Anne Clough, who represented Bottoms, wanted the judge to understand the chaos in the home at the time of Hunters death. Clough said Bottoms cared for five young and rambunctious children on her own during the day and worked night shifts at Walmart. Moore testified that Bottoms would call her crying and that she noticed her niece was losing weight, which worried her.

She was under stress. She didnt want this to happen, Clough said during the hearing. She emphasized that investigators found no evidence that it was intentional.

Bottoms will receive credit for nearly a year, 270 days, she has served in jail since her arrest. She has a right to appeal the conviction or challenge the sentence within 30 days.
This article originally appeared on Trail Runner

On a steamy Sunday afternoon in June, four people disappeared into a space where no human has ever set foot--Mars.

Or more aptly, "Mars." A simulated version of the real thing.

For 378 days, the foursome--physician Nathan Jones, MD, structural engineer Ross Brockwell, microbiologist Ancca Selariu, Ph.D., and biomedical researcher and ultrarunner Kelly Haston, Ph.D.--will isolate themselves in a 3D-printed structure called Mars Dune Alpha, which sits inside a large white warehouse at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. Inside the 1,700-square-foot habitat (NASA's word for Mars Dune Alpha), the crew will live and work as if they really are in a spacecraft on Mars.

From the outside, Mars Dune Alpha looks like a large mobile home, but inside, it's much more sophisticated. Minimalist in design but fully equipped for life in "space," the habitat includes private IKEA-like bedrooms, a fitness center, a kitchen, two bathrooms, pods for growing food, and multiple work areas. Red sand coats the floor of an adjacent 1,200-foot area where the crew will conduct "Marswalks." There is no sound or natural light in either simulated environment.

The exercise room also doesn't have a treadmill. That means Haston, who typically spends most of her weekends on the trails around her Pacifica, California, home, won't be doing much running on "Mars." But all the mental endurance she's built from the 70-ish trail races she's run over the past 10 years--including the iconic Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and the Fat Dog 120 in British Columbia, Canada--will give her the inner strength she'll need to stay cooped up in one spot for weeks on end.

During the yearlong test, the crew will experience almost everything an astronaut would, minus the weightlessness and actual space travel. For the good of the mission, they'll separate from spouses, children, and careers. Haston will also leave behind the northern California trails where she spends much of her spare time. She'll miss the roots, rocks, and redwoods, but she'll miss her partner and loved ones more, she said. This sacrifice is worth the ultimate goal.

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RELATED: Video: Running Across California

"It is a career and personal highlight to be able to be both scientist and test subject and to produce data that may enable new methods and safer space travel and habitation one day," said Haston, minutes before launch. "It is truly special to be part of this group of dedicated individuals and scientists."

Throwing four people together to live on "Mars" with only each other for company sounds like the plot of a sci-fi reality show. In real-reality, the project is a four-year culmination of the NASA engineering and human health and performance departments. Called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), the mission will enable NASA to collect critical data to help the organization send humans to Mars and bring them home safely.

The CHAPEA crew will conduct experiments, grow tomatoes, sleep, and do laundry in "space." Crewmembers will eat what astronauts would eat, as well as exercise daily to preserve their pre-mission fitness. (Astronauts can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass during extended trips in space, according to NASA literature. Those working aboard the International Space Station are prescribed two hours of exercise daily to combat bone and muscle loss.)

The CHAPEA foursome will also have to live and work under potentially stressful conditions for 378 days. "We'll have to be really honest and work on our relationships constantly," said Haston, two days before boarding Mars Dune Alpha. "Our work won't always go well. As we start missing our friends and families more, it will be harder. We'll have to work together as well as look to each other for support."

To make the mission even more realistic, challenging, and isolating, the crew won't have instant access with anyone else. Communication with mission control will be delayed by about 20 minutes to mimic the time it takes for messages to travel 140 million miles. They'll have to solve problems on their own to keep the mission going--not unlike navigating a technical mountain climb in the middle of the night.

Fresh Air

It was around 85 degrees and 85 percent humidity in Houston, Texas, in late June, when Haston and I spoke, but she kept her windows open. She wanted to take in as much fresh air as possible before she disappeared into the habitat. She spent off-hours during training at the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico because "I want to feel the sun on my face as much as I can."

Haston first heard about NASA's call for volunteers in 2021, when her partner brought it up on a run. "I've long been aware of NASA and interested in lunar biology," she said. "This project spoke to a lot of my personal and professional skill sets. I'm used to working on cooperative teams. And I resonated with the goal--to better understand space travel so people can go further and potentially live on Mars."

RELATED: Never Turn Your Back To The Ocean

After a 13-month selection process, after which Haston learned she made the cut, she flew to Houston to train with her fellow crew members for a month. The environment and easy rapport with her colleagues felt natural, almost like the first time she stepped on a trail after years of road running. "It was like, this is where I belong," she said.

She'll bring pieces of some of those home trails with her to "Mars": videos and photos of the wandering routes around Auburn, California, a trail running hotspot. The rugged seaside cliffs and sandy paths around Pacifica, where she currently lives. Plenty of footage of Ontario, Canada, where she's from. "I traveled a fair bit this year to visit extended family," she said. "All these images I'll be able to call on to get through rough patches."

Thick Skin

Haston has experienced plenty of rough patches over the past 15 years on the trails. After a handful of shorter races, she ran her first 50K--the partly paved Jed Smith, in Sacramento--in 2013. She filled her race resume with classic northern California events, too, traversing the Marin Headlands, the Dipsea Trail, and the trails around the Sierra Nevada mountains. In all, she's completed between nearly 70 trail races over the past 10 years.

In most of these races, she runs as part of the Pamakid Runners, a San Francisco-based running club that has topped the Pacific Association USA Track & Field's Mountain and Ultra Running (MUT) series for the past seven years. Running for hours, alone or with company, has helped Haston hone her ability to overcome adversity--and throw a few friendly jabs along the way.

During the Quad Dipsea, runners complete two out-and-back trips along the Dipsea Trail for a total of 9,200 feet of climbing and about 2,700 stairs over 28 miles. Haston and runner Chris Jones saw each other several times that day. "Kelly rubbed it in every time she passed me--and at the finish," he laughed, adding, "I think I beat her the next year..."

RELATED: The Dipsea is a Race for All Ages

Jones said that, as much as Haston loves dishing it out, she's tough enough to take it, too. And she can take a lot. In 2015, she completed the iconic UTMB 100-mile event. The following year, she finished the Ruth Anderson 50-miler in 8:34, the first female finisher in a regionally competitive race. And in 2019, she finished the Fat Dog 120-miler in her home country.

All those ups and downs will only help her succeed in what could be called a yearlong ultra. "There are sections that aren't going to go well. You're going to have a bad patch, but you're going to recover," she said.

"On trails you're dealing with new environments and getting challenges thrown at you constantly. You learn not to beat yourself up for failures and celebrate little victories. You also know you're going to have help--that there will be people at aid stations who will help you get to the next one."

If all goes well, the CHAPEA team will emerge in 2024, stronger than before. "This is a peer-driven, hard-working group," she said. "Everyone is respectful, super-smart, and positive. I feel like I've landed in the perfect spot.

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While Europe dominates, U.S. travelers are opting for more meaningful itineraries.

Ryan Bolton/Courtesy of Intrepid Travel

American travelers are in search of a different kind of adventure this summer, heading outside of the country for more meaningful experiences. Intrepid Travel revealed the top trips Americans have booked for summer 2023, and Iceland and Morocco topped the list.

This is a historic summer for tourism, and American travelers are looking to do something different, get out of their comfort zone, and have genuine experiences, Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel's president and general manager, told Travel + Leisure. They are gravitating toward trips that are active and immersive in culture while giving back to local communities.

Stephen Parry/Courtesy of Intrepid Travel

The Australia-based travel company, known for its mindfully curated itineraries, said that its 8-day Iceland Discovery, which loops around the entire island nation, was the most booked this summer by U.S. travelers. While the trip hits the countrys most famed spots  like Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon  it also ventures out to the rugged East Fjords, the stunning Snfellsnes peninsula, and one of Europes most powerful waterfalls: Dettifoss in Vatnajokull National Park. Its 5-day Iceland Express trip, which covers the highlights from the capital to Jokulsarlon, was also a popular choice for Americans, coming in as the ninth most popular itinerary.

Berna said travelers are drawn to Iceland for its mysterious and ethereal with its glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal springs, and aurora borealis. On his own visit there, he was taken by the natural wonders, the wide-open spaces, and the clean, clear light." He added: "But I especially love the individuality of the people of Iceland. Everyone has their own unique style and flair. Icelanders are some of the most friendly, welcoming, and hard-working people I have met on my travels."

Courtesy of Intrepid Travel

The second most booked trip this summer is the 13-day Morocco Uncovered, an immersive and eclectic itinerary, starting in Casablanca and checking off all of the North African countrys highlights, including Meknes, Chefchaouen, Fez, Ait Ben-Haddou, and Marrakech. A 15-day Best of Morocco trip, with a slightly different route  including train travel between Casablanca and Meknes, plus a visit to the fishing town of Essaouira  was the 10th most popular trip. Both trips include traveling to a Sahara Desert camp by camel and spending the night.

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Popular European destinations also dominated the list with four 8-day itineraries: Athens to Santorini in Greece in third, Rome to Amalfi in Italy in fourth, Highlights of Scotland in fifth, and the more physically-grueling Hike the Tour du Mont Blanc in the sixth spot. Rounding out the list was Turkey Highlights, which includes a Cappadocia hot air balloon flight, in seventh place, and the walking and trekking trip Hiking in the Canadian Rockies in the eighth spot.

Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure

Courtesy of Intrepid Travel

While Europe dominates, Intrepid Travel said Americans are also venturing further than before. We have seen a real trend in tours booked to South America (Peru and the Galapagos) to Southeast Asia  particularly Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia  and North Africa, Jordan, and Egypt, Berna said.

Overall, Intrepid Travel's data shows that Americans are twice as likely this year to take an international flight than last year. And theyre opting for longer trips and premium offerings, as well as willing to spend more. Travelers are also tending to book trips for the same year, which might be an indicator, they are keen to go now and chase that thrill instead of waiting, he said.

Intrepid Travel offers more than 1,000 itineraries in more than 100 countries, ranging from the Galapagos Encounter in Ecuador and Hola Cuba in Cuba to Turkey Encompassed and Portland to San Francisco Discovery right here in the U.S. (I've been on all four of those and can vouch for the experiences being completely in-depth and unexpected!)



As Berna said of Americans' summer plans this year: While the classic countries are popular for a reason, its often the quirkier, eyebrow-raising adventures Americans are seeking."



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A truck crashed into an alligator on a Texas highway, leaving four hospitalized and one dead, police said.

The vehicle was traveling on State Highway 35 early on July 16 when the crash occurred, the Refugio County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

The truck, which was carrying two adults and three children, slammed into the alligator and rolled over, police said.

It came to a rest at an angle in a field near the highway, photos released by police show.

Refugio County deputies responded to the crash site along with fire and EMS personnel, and all five occupants were taken to nearby hospitals.

The driver, a pregnant woman from Louisiana, died in a hospital, according to the Beeville Bee-Picayune, citing police.

The other four occupants are expected to be OK, according to KHOU.

All five people in the truck were hospitalized, police said. Photo from the Refugio County Sheriff's Office

The alligator was also killed in the accident, according to KIIITV.

A representative for the Refugio County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a McClatchy News request for comment.

Refugio County is about 60 miles north of Corpus Christi.

Interactions with alligators have been increasing in Texas due to their expanding population and human encroachment on their habitat, according to the state parks and wildlife department.

If an alligator is spotted on a roadway, local authorities should be contacted for its safe removal, according to the agency.

Tire flies off truck and hits windshield, killing 18-year-old driver, Kentucky cops say

Wife, 60, shot dead as husband cleans gun, Illinois cops say. He then killed himself

10-year-old thrown from carnival ride and is hospitalized, Illinois cops say
Two Utah residents have been organizing a local treasure hunt for fours years running. And this year's hunt for a treasure chest containing $25,000 in cash was finally solved after 51 daysa record since the annual tradition started.

John Maxim and David Cline, friends who met through real estate, started the treasure hunt in Bountiful, Utah during the lockdown stage of the pandemic in 2020, when people were stuck inside their homes. Initially, they weren't sure if the hunt would take off, but after the first was solved in just four days, they knew they were onto something.

However, after last year's treasure hunt was solved after just eight days, they knew they had to step their game up. The pair began planning this year's hunt around Valentine's Day, composing a clue-laden, 12-line poem that took them roughly three months to complete. The hunt kicked off on May 26, and in addition to the poem Maxim and Cline released new clues every Friday.

Interestingly enough, this year's winner, Chelsea Gotta, wasn't even from Utah. She made the 16-hour drive from Pella, IA to participate. It was Gotta's third time attempting to find the treasure. She's the first out of state winner, after coming with her family for the first trip and flying in the second. She was just about to give up when she finally found the treasure chest obscured under heaps of pine cone dust at the base of a tree off the city's Mueller Park Trail.

View the original article to see embedded media.

Gotta put together most of the clues back home before making her latest journey. However, she had a feeling she was close after zooming out from Mueller Park Trail on Google Maps and noticing an upside down church steeple formation that she believed was a reference to the line in the poem, "What points toward heaven but is upside down."

She kept getting closer and closer until setting her sights on a clearing about 60 feet off the shoulder of the trail. Eventually, she found the X that marked the spot. "My time was running out. I was getting frustrated, I was crying," Gotta told Utah's KSL News. "I'm like 'I've wasted all this time. This is ridiculous. What am I doing?'"

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"Everybody at work thinks I'm crazy, everybody at home thinks I'm crazy," she added. "I just started texting people from work, 'I told you.'"

Gotta first caught wind of the treasure hunt on Facebook and decided to make the trip after she couldn't stop thinking about it. Now, she plans to use the bulk of her winnings to organize a similar hunt in her own hometown. Before making the drive back to Iowa in time for work on Tuesday, she was hoping to find a family with three boys who helped her search on a previous trip to share $200 with them.

"It's just in my heart to do it," Gotta said.

As for Cline and Maxim, they now have sponsors and a public relations specialist, and have even started organizing treasure trips all over the world due to the overwhelming demand. They already have upcoming hunts planned in Zion National Park in August and Costa Rica in January. When Cline originally came up with the idea in 2020, he enlisted the help of Maxim, who had grown up watching movies such as Goonies and Indiana Jones.

"'That's the greatest idea I've ever heard,' I think were my exact words," Maxim said. It seems safe to say that thousands of amateur treasure hunters agree.
Experts estimate the state lost 80 to 90% of its peach crop this year.

Dustin Chambers / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Two summers ago, Justin Bieber had a No. 1 hit with Peaches, where he sang that he got my peaches out in Georgia. But after Georgia endured some unseasonable weather earlier this year, even The Biebs may have trouble finding fresh peaches from the Peach State this summer.

In order for their fruit to fully develop, peach trees need around 1,100 chill hours during the winter, during which temperatures stay between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately for peach growers and peach lovers, this years crop only accumulated around 730 chill hours during the winter. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this past winter was one of the hottest in Georgia in the 129 years that temperature records have been kept, with February temperatures averaging around 58.2 degrees.

Those uncharacteristically warm days caused the peaches to start developing earlier (and faster) than usual, which meant that the fruits were significantly hurt by two below-freezing cold snaps in March.

Dr. Gregory Reighard, a visiting professor of horticulture at Clemson University told WJCL that both Georgia and South Carolina  another massive peach-producing state  both endured their most devastating winters this decade. It's the worst year since 2007 I think for South Carolina where we had an Easter freeze. Its definitely the worst for Georgia since 2017," he told Georgia news outlet WJCL.

Related: These Are the Best Produce Delivery Services for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Agriculture experts have slightly differed in their estimates, but most believe that Georgia lost between 80 and 90 percent of its peach crop this year, while South Carolina growers may have lost anywhere between 50 and 75 percent of their crops. Georgia and South Carolina are among the top three peach producers in the United States. (Last year, California claimed 475,000 tons of peaches, followed by South Carolinas 67,400 tons, and Georgias 24,800.)

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Weve had some off crops, some bad years, but we hadnt had anything like this since 1955 Lawton Pearson, a fifth-generation peach farmer at Georgias Pearson Farm, told the Washington Post. We just dont have a peach crop.

Sean Lennon, a farmer at Georgia peach grower Fitzgerald Farms echoed that sentiment. I was talking to [an older farmer] and he said 1955 was the last time he saw it this bad, he told CNN. It's a financial loss, but it's much more than that.

Because of the scarcity of that particular stone fruit, the prices of Georgia peaches have definitely increased this year. The prices on peaches sold at statewide farmers markets are almost double what they were last year, while organic peaches can be as much as $2 each, according to the New York Times. Meanwhile, wholesale peaches can be between $40-$60 per box, which is up from around $20 in better years.

The peaches that youll find in supermarket produce sections this summer will most likely come from California. We hate to say it, but maybe Justin Bieber needs to issue a "Peaches (California Edition)" remix.



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Cassanas / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Farmers Insurance recently indicated it will no longer offer coverage in Florida  the third major insurer to pull out of the state so far this year, with AAA being the fourth  in a move that will affect thousands of residents, according to CBS News. The pullback might also hinder the housing market, which has been one of the hottest in the country as of late.

See: More Americans Can Afford To Buy a Home in These 20 Cities

Find: 15 Cities Where Houses Are the Best Bargains Right Now

We have advised the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation of our decision to discontinue offering Farmers-branded auto, home and umbrella policies in the state, Farmers spokesman Trevor Chapman stated to CBS Miami.

This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure.

AAA followed suit, suggesting it would not renew home and car insurance for some of its policyholders in the state. AAA cited increased natural disaster risk, CBS reported.

Unfortunately, Floridas insurance market has become challenging in recent years, the company told CBS MoneyWatch. Last years catastrophic hurricane season contributed to an unprecedented rise in reinsurance rates, making it more costly for insurance companies to operate.

Also: 2023s Housing Correction Could Be The Largest Since Post-WWII

The Florida housing market has been one of the hottest in the country, but now, that trend might soon reverse.

Newsweek, citing a Moodys report, noted that during the real estate price surge last year, Florida ranked second on a list of 11 states that saw home prices increase by more than 20% in the first quarter. Florida trailed only Arizona and was one spot ahead of Georgia.

But now, because of insurance company pullback, would-be home buyers might take pause  something that would have an immediate effect on the housing market.

Skyrocketing insurance charges and the complexity of acquiring coverage may discourage aspiring homeowners, potentially triggering a drop in property values, Professor Itzhak Ben-David, finance professor at Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University, told Newsweek.

According to Redfin, in June, home prices in Florida were down 0.33% compared to last year. Homes sold for a median price of $408,500. Meanwhile, the number of homes sold fell 12.3%  and the number of homes for sale rose 5.1%.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Housing Market 2023: Florida Boom May Crumble As Insurance Cuts Signal Crash
Seattle-based RFID technology provider Impinj saw part of its legal battle finally come to an end after a California jury found NXP Semiconductors infringed upon two of the Zara technology partners patents, one of them intentionally. The jury empaneled by a federal court awarded Impinj $18.5 million in damages and lost profits on Friday.

We were disheartened to see a large company copy the patented inventions of a small, innovative company like ours, Impinj CEO Chris Diorio wrote in a letter to partners and customers in the RAIN RFID community, citing the more than 300 issued and allowed patents it holds in RAIN RFID. We take our responsibility to protect our inventions seriously, which is why we felt we had no option but to pursue litigation.

More from Sourcing Journal

Diorio, who help launched the company in 2000, also wrote that upholding intellectual property rights will encourage more RAIN RFID providers to innovate in the future.

The technology in question centers around RFID tagging technology which allows retailers to track the exact location of each item along the supply chain. Impinj said its Enduro technology provides a robust IC-to-antenna connection, and power-harvesting circuitry, which improves RAIN RFID tag sensitivity. These chips inserted within the RFID [Radio Frequency Identification] tags were among the intellectual property rights infringed upon by NXP, according to the lawsuit filed in June 2019.

In that initial filing, Impinj claimed NXP violated 26 of its patents, but patent numbers 302 and 597 were the only ones to be ruled on by the California jury. The 302 patent pertained to the shaped channel that is part of the Enduro technology, an Impinj spokesperson explained, while the 597 patent regards power-harvesting circuitry, which improves RAIN RFID tag sensitivity.

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NXP Semiconductors, a Netherlands-based company valued at more than $11 billion, countersued Impinj in September of 2020, alleging infringement on six of its patents. Impinj managed to get those counts reduced to one and a jury in Washington state last month ruled against NXP on the last of its patent infringement claims.

NXP Semiconductors did not immediately respond to Sourcing Journal requests for comment.

RAIN RFID refers to an alliance of RFID tech companies, spearheaded by Impinj, that came together in 2014 to form a single brand of ultra high frequency (UHF) radio identification as a response to what they saw as the use of the term RFID being used very broadly, that might confuse the market around sensor technology.

The RAIN RFID brand seeks to set itself apart from the broader RFID market by operating in the UHF band between 860 and 960 MHz.

Lawsuits have previously cropped up elsewhere in the RFID sector. Supreme Court justices in May declined to hear Avery Dennisons appeal of a lower courts ruling against it that ordered the Ohio packaging and labeling company to pay Oregon-based RFID innovator Adasa a $62.4 million award, which a judge raised from a jurys original $26.6 million in damages. Avery Dennison wanted Americas highest court to clarify standards that leave questions about which inventions can and cannot be protected under government-recognized patents.

In other Impinj news, the company earlier this year acquired Voyantic, a Finnish specialist in testing and measuring RFID hardware and label design and production. With leading end users relying on the Impinj platform to transform their business operations, this acquisition expands Impinjs solutions footprint to advance the quality, reliability, and readability of the partner inlays and labels used in enterprise deployments, Diorio wrote in a blog post dated April 26.

Click here to read the full article.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

ALAMOGORDO  Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson, 41, died Sunday, July 16 after being shot in an early morning incident Saturday.

On July 15, Ferguson along with several other officers attempted a traffic stop in which the driver, 26-year-old Dominic De La O, fled from officers. A New Mexico State Police news release indicated that the stop was related to non-functioning headlights or taillights.

Moments later officers found the same vehicle driven by De La O in a car crash on First Street and Delaware Avenue.

It was then De La O fled on foot, allegedly while armed with a shotgun.

De La O made the attempt to flee once more pulling a sawed-off shotgun out and shooting an officer in the face," according to New Mexico State Police.

An Alamogordo Police office then fired back and wounded De La O in the back of the leg.

Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson

Ferguson was transported to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center where he was then flown to University Medical Center (UMC) El Paso.

More: Alamogordo police chase leaves one officer injured

On Sunday at approximately 11 p.m., the Alamogordo Police Department announced Ferguson had died at UMC El Paso from the sustained gunshot wound.

Ferguson was an 11-year veteran with the Alamogordo Police Department (APD) where he served in the Patrol Division as a Field Training Officer. Ferguson is survived by his two children, parents and four brothers, according to a release from APD.

Currently, the Alamogordo Police Department is asking for privacy for Fergusons family.

De La O charged with attempted first-degree murder

New Mexico State Police said De La O was charged with various crimes following his arrest and booking into the Otero County Detention Center.

De La O was charged with attempt to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery on a police officer with a deadly weapon.

The Alamogordo Daily News was unable to confirm whether the charges were amended following the death of Ferguson.

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He was also charged with tampering with evidence, one count of aggravated fleeing of an office and resisting and evading a police officer.

He will also face criminal trespass and various traffic violations.

Alamogordo Police Department has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Monday, in which further information is expected to be released.

A history of confrontation with police

According to New Mexico State Police, De La O had a history of confrontation with law enforcement.

In January 2023 he was shot by an Alamogordo Police Office also following a foot pursuit.

More: NMSP: Alamogordo man shot after pursuit by police

In that incident, De La O was walking along Ridgecrest Drive armed with a gun. When officers identified him as having several outstanding warrants, they attempted to "make contact."

When he raised the weapon, officers fired at least one shot that wounded De La O.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Alamogordo Police Officer dead following weekend chase, shooting
A typo has reportedly routed millions of US military emails  some containing highly sensitive information  to Mali. The problem stems from entering .ML instead of .MIL for the receiving email address domain. As reported by the Financial Times, the one-letter mistake has exposed data like diplomatic documents, tax returns, passwords and the travel details of top officers  and much more. Although the misdirected emails have (so far) landed with a contractor tasked with managing Malis country domain, control of .ML will soon revert to Malis government, which has ties to Russia.

The typo leak was exposed by Johannes Zuurbier, a Dutch contractor managing Malis country domain. Zuurbier says he made numerous attempts to warn the United States about the issue  beginning in 2014  urging it to take it seriously; he says he hasnt had any luck. He claims he started collecting the email this year as his contracts expiration date (and handover of the domain, including the misfired emails, to the Malian government) approaches, as a last-ditch attempt to persuade the US to act with urgency. In a letter to the US in early July, Zuurbier wrote, This risk is real and could be exploited by adversaries of the US. He says he has collected around 117,00 emails, and nearly 1,000 more arrived last Wednesday alone.

Although Zuurbier says none of the messages were marked as classified, they still contain sensitive data about US military personnel, contractors and families. Reported contents include the travel plans for a May trip by US Army Chief of Staff, General James McConville, for a May trip to Indonesia. Other exposed information includes maps of installations, photos of bases, identity documents (including passport numbers), crew lists of ships, tax and financial records, medical data, ships crew lists, naval inspection reports, contracts, criminal complaints against personnel, internal bullying investigations and bookings. One email from an FBI agent included a Turkish diplomatic letter to the US, warning about possible operations by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

If you have this kind of sustained access, you can generate intelligence even just from unclassified information, former NSA head and retired four-star US Navy Admiral Mike Rogers told FT. Rogers says this isnt uncommon, noting that people making mistakes isnt out of the norm. However, he adds, The question is the scale, the duration and the sensitivity of the information.

Lt. Cmdr Tim Gorman, speaking for the Pentagon, told FT that the Department of Defense is aware of this issue and takes all unauthorised disclosures of controlled national security information or controlled unclassified information seriously. He said emails sent from .MIL to .ML address are blocked before they leave the .mil domain and the sender is notified that they must validate the email addresses of the intended recipients, which suggests the misdirected emails may have come from US military workers personal accounts.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. referred to Black people as "colored people" Thursday in floor debate over his proposed amendment to an annual defense policy bill, prompting a stern rebuke from the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or Black people or anybody can serve, said Crane, who is in his first term. It has nothing to do with any of that stuff.

Lawmakers were debating a series of GOP-backed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, which the House aims to pass by the end of the week.

Crane said his amendment would prohibit the Defense Department from considering race, gender, religion, political affiliations or "any other ideological concepts" as the sole basis for recruitment training, education, promotion or retention decisions.

"The military was never intended to be, you know, inclusive. Its strength is not its diversity. Its strength is its standards," said Crane, 43, a combat veteran.

"Im going to tell you guys this right now you can: You can keep playing around these games with diversity, equity and inclusion. But there are some real threats out there. And if we keep messing around and we keep lowering our standards, its not going to be good," he said.

Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., speaks on the floor of the House on July 13, 2023. (Courtesy C-Span)

Immediately after Crane finished his remarks, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, asked that the derogatory phrase he used be stricken from the record.

I find it offensive and very inappropriate, said Beatty, who was the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in the previous Congress. I am asking for unanimous consent to take down the words of referring to me or any of my colleagues as colored people.

Crane interjected with a request to amend his comments to "people of color." Beatty insisted, however, that the words be stricken from the record. They were removed by unanimous consent.

Asked for comment about his choice of words, Crane said he misspoke.

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In a heated floor debate on my amendment that would prohibit discrimination on the color of ones skin in the Armed Forces, I misspoke, Crane said in a statement. Every one of us is made in the image of God and created equal.

Asked about Crane's remarks Friday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it was not acceptable but added, Ill take him at his word. Ive never heard him use that before.

Beatty, 73, had criticized Crane's amendment as trying to "undermine the freedoms for us to learn about one another, for us to hire one another, for us to understand our cultures."

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, speaks on the floor of the House on July 13, 2023. (Courtesy C-Span)

The House adopted Crane's amendment Thursday night in a 214-210 vote.

In the Senate this week, Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., refused to acknowledge that white nationalism is fundamentally racist.

Asked to clarify comments he made in May that appeared to defend white nationalists serving in the military, Tuberville insisted in an interview Monday night on CNN that not all white nationalists are racists. He instead suggested that they are simply people that have a few, probably different beliefs.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Pope Francis has dispatched a high-level emissary to speak directly with President Joe Biden about the thousands of Ukrainian children Russia has forcibly displaced, a person familiar with the meeting said.

The Vatican announced Monday that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is spending three days in the American capital, following his recent visits to Kyiv and Moscow. He is expected to meet with Biden at the White House on Tuesday, said the person, who was granted anonymity to disclose a sensitive, private meeting.

The Holy See Press Office said the cardinals mission is to promote peace in Ukraine. More specifically, per the person, Zuppi wants to discuss the nearly 20,000 kids Ukraine claims were deported or forcibly displaced by Russia since the invasion began.

The U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Joe Donnelly, is also in D.C. and will be present at some of the cardinals meetings in Washington.

The White House and the Vatican embassy in the U.S. didnt respond to requests for comment. The Russian embassy in D.C. didnt respond to a question about if it was supportive of the Vaticans effort.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russias commissioner for childrens rights, for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

Russian officials claim they are holding on to Ukrainian kids for their own safety due to the war, in some cases handing them over to adoptive families.

Pope Francis has made alleviating the suffering of children his top issue of the 16-month war, namely the safe return of those who have been displaced by brutal fighting. He and his team are working with Ukraine, Russia and interested parties on a potential deal, though theres no public indication that one will be reached soon.

There is no peace plan [or] mediation, Zuppi told reporters earlier this month. There is a great aspiration that the violence ends, that human lives can be saved starting with the defense of the youngest.

In May, Pope Francis told reporters in Hungary that the Catholic Church would do all that is humanly possible to help bring Ukrainian children home.
Carlee Russell went missing after reporting a toddler walking on the side of the road in Hoover, Alabama. Hoover Police Department

Alabama police say Carlee Russell disappeared after calling 911 about a toddler on an interstate.

Experts reject speculation that the toddler was a "lure" sex traffickers used to abduct her.

Traffickers favor such lures as shelter, money, drugs, and a sense of family  and rarely abduct.

Carlee Russell, 25, called 911 on Thursday night from the shoulder of an Alabama interstate, telling police she'd seen a little boy  a toddler in a diaper  walking along the highway.

Moments later, while on the phone with a family friend, Russell was heard asking, "Are you alright?" She screamed into her cell phone, Russell's mother told local media. Then, she vanished.

It was a captivating national missing person story, culminating with Russell's yet-explained reappearance Saturday night on her own doorstep, just south of Birmingham.

Her boyfriend said on Instagram that she'd been kidnapped, and "literally fighting for her life," for two days.

Now  as Russell maintains her silence and her family asks for privacy the internet wants to know: Did ruthless sex traffickers use a helpless toddler to "lure" an unsuspecting woman?

Probably not, one anti-trafficking organization says. That's just not how traffickers work.

"As far as we are aware, this is not a tactic that traffickers use," said Sabrina Thulander, communications director for Polaris, the nonprofit that runs the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Russell's parents, too, told a local radio station the toddler may have been used as bait to lure her from the car. If that did happen, it would run contrary to how traffickers almost always operate in the US, Thulander said.

It's a common myth, Thulander said, that trafficking often involves kidnapping or physical force. The so-called "luring" of kind-hearted women is another fictitious trafficking trope, she added.

Two years ago, a TikTok video claimed that car seats were being left in public places in North Carolina, as a ploy to lure and abduct  and then traffic  women. The video was viewed more than 13 million times and shared on other social media platforms.

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"These kind of rumors spread on social media quite a lot," Thulander said.

But only about 6 percent of the human trafficking victims who've contacted the hotline since 2007 say they were victims of abduction, she said.

Traffickers don't like to abduct their victims for good reason: doing so attracts attention, she said, "which is exactly not the point."

And they don't abduct because often it doesn't work. An abducted victim will keep trying to escape, she said.

Sex traffickers play a longer game, preferring to win control over their victims through trickery and manipulation rather than through upfront force  though threats are often used to keep the victim under control, Thulander said.

"Far more common ways that traffickers use to recruit is that it's a family member," she said. "You have a lifelong tie to them, and they will exploit that."

"Another is through an intimate or romantic partner who's exploiting a vulnerability  a need that you have," she added. "For example, if you are homeless. If you need food and don't have money to buy it."

Runaway teens and members of the LGBTQ community can have these kind of exploitable vulnerabilities. Drugs, too, can play a role, either as a lure or a way to maintain control control.

A legitimate-seeming job posting  a promising a modeling career or a temporary visa for an agricultural or other low-paying job  is another time-tested lure used by traffickers, Thulander said.

"Especially in the COVID and post-COVID world, a rising concern is recruitment over social media," she said. "It's a very easy way for a trafficker to start a relationship with someone."

A predator can scan social media profiles for the vulnerabilities of prospective victims, she said, offering housing to someone who has moved around a lot, for example.

Trafficking victims are found in legal and illegal industries, the Department of Justice notes online, including in child care, elder care, the drug trade, massage parlors, nail salons, restaurants, hotels, factories, and farms.

"Abduction is not completely unheard of," Thulander said. "But it's very unlikely."

Meanwhile, police in Hoover, Alabama, where Russell lives, say they have received no reports of a missing toddler from that location besides Russell's own report Thursday night.

Russell's mother and boyfriend didn't immediately return Insider's messages seeking comment.

On Monday, AL.com reported that more than $60,000 raised in Crime Stoppers reward money for Russell's safe return was being returned to donors.

Read the original article on Insider
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.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is signaling a pivot in his campaign strategy amid growing concerns over his viability against former President Trump.

In one of the clearest indications yet that his campaign has hit choppy waters, DeSantiss team confirmed last week they were shedding employees. That news followed a string of disappointing polls and critical headlines for the Florida governor.

Now, after weeks of pressure to reboot his media strategy, DeSantis is set to do an interview on CNN Tuesday with Jake Tapper, his first formal interview with a major news organization other than Fox News.

When you look at some of the metrics of success, what matters is the trend line, said Kevin Madden, who worked on both of Sen. Mitt Romneys (R-Utah) 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, adding: And I think right now, some of the trend lines on both the polling and the fundraising [for DeSantis]  theres some warning signs there.

DeSantis is looking to regain momentum in the GOP presidential field after having been once touted as the best Republican to take on Trump.

Recent polling has indicated the governor has lost traction in key early-voting states like New Hampshire and South Carolina. Meanwhile, some donors have reportedly started to shop around for a possible alternative, like Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

The latest blow to his image came over the weekend when DeSantiss campaign confirmed that it had laid off some staffers. Recent federal campaign filings indicated that while the Florida Republican raised $20.1 million in the latest quarter of fundraising, his campaign was burning cash quickly  spending nearly $8 million that quarter.

Those filings also indicated that only 14 percent of his campaign contributions last quarter came from small-dollar donors, another cause for the campaign to worry. But in recent media appearances, DeSantis pushed back against the narrative of a struggling campaign and alleged news outlets have unfairly targeted him.

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I think, clearly, you see an effort to create these narratives. I think the good thing about it is Republican primary voters are very smart. They know where these corporate outlets stand on the political spectrum, DeSantis told MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz on Fox News Sunday.

And so the extent that they become convinced that the media does not want me to be the nominee above all else  that will in the long run absolutely help me, he added.

A spokesman for the DeSantis campaign pointed The Hill to a press release Sunday that touted the fact that the Florida governors principal campaign had raised more than either Trump or President Biden.

With its reported $20.1 million haul at the end of the second quarter, DeSantiss principal campaign raised more than Trumps, which reported raking in $17.7 million. Meanwhile, Bidens principal campaign raised $19.8 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, DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck said in a statement touting the numbers.

But DeSantiss decision to sit down with Tapper this Tuesday is nonetheless a sign that his campaign is shifting at least some of its strategy. The governor has long faced criticism for his tendency to only sit down with friendly, mostly right-wing media outlets.

I think its a signal that theyre getting serious about branching out and delivering their message to a much broader audience, Madden said.

But he cautioned that the interview alone wont be enough.

That has to be a sustained effort, he said. It cant be one interview on one cable TV network at 4 p.m.  In order to sort of create awareness and stimulate demand and really generate enthusiasm  youve got to do three, four interviews a day, and it cant be just on Sunday morning Fox interviews, its got to be everywhere.

Several news outlets have reported that DeSantis is looking to widen his media reach and start doing interviews with more outlets while touting major policy rollouts.

Republican strategist Justin Sayfie, who has donated to DeSantis, acknowledged that part of the reason that he isnt being treated very well by the national media is because he shunned them, noting that the Florida governor will need to improve relationships with major news outlets.

Sayfie argued the timing of the CNN interview is a canny choice for DeSantis, whom he said risked peaking too soon.

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I would not have advised him to have started doing this three or four or five months ago, Sayfie said. I think that there is a crescendo that will take place over the next six months and you want to peak at the right time, he added.

Other Republicans argue its too early to write off DeSantis as the primary ramps up ahead of the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. They also insist DeSantiss small-donor numbers will grow the more he campaigns in places like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Its wise to tap into the large donor base, and hes clearly been very successful [at] selling his message to large donors and [building] up a war chest, said GOP strategist Alice Stewart.

Now that the war chest is at an extremely impressive level and he is transitioning to the retail politics, thats when hes going to build the small-dollar donor base, she added.

Still, while Republicans agree that expanding his media reach will benefit DeSantis, some question his move to sit down with Tapper given the high stakes the interview poses.

Im not sure that walking into Jake Tapper right off the bat is the best way to go, said one Florida GOP operative, who dubbed it a feast or famine for the candidate.

If DeSantis does well, the operative argued, the Republican is gonna gain the attention of a lot of Republican voters. At the same time, if you dont do well, its going to be a lot like a Twitter Spaces moment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
There is no record of Kentuckys Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, using his key fob or any other kind of security card to get into the state Capitol building for the last three years, and his office is repeatedly refusing to say why.

What? HuffPost is on the case.

The facts: A series of open records requests for Camerons key fob and security card logs at the Capitol building came back blank. The blank pages span all the way back to January 2020, which was the last time Cameron was registered using his key fob to enter the building.

The Kentucky state office that processes open records requests, the Finance and Administration Cabinet, specifies in a letter accompanying the records that nothing has been withheld or redacted. As in, the blank pages are blank because there are no records.

Heres a screenshot of the letter saying nothing was left out of the records.

"No documents were withheld or redacted."

And heres a screenshot of one batch of Camerons key fob records, from May 2022 to May 2023. HuffPost obtained copies of all of these records.

Nope, nothing there.

Nope, nothing there.

Camerons office is in the Capitol building. In fact, all three branches of Kentuckys state government are in that one building in Frankfort. There is another satellite office in Frankfort for the attorney general that hes not necessarily expected to go into.

An open records request for key fob records for that office, from September 2022 through March 2023, resulted in a 4,195-page report showing lots of staff members going in. But no Cameron.

The attorney general has definitely been in the state Capitol at least a handful of times since he was sworn in in December 2019. HuffPost searched Associated Press and Reuters photo databases for images of Cameron inside the building. A few turned up.

Heres one of the attorney general in January 2020, delivering some paperwork to the secretary of states office in the Capitol building.

Yep, in the Capitol building.

Yep, in the Capitol building.

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Heres one from November 2022, when Cameron paid his respects to former Kentucky Gov. John Brown as he lay in state in the Capitol rotunda.

Here's Cameron in the Kentucky State Capitol rotunda.

Here's Cameron in the Kentucky State Capitol rotunda.

And heres one of Cameron sitting in his Capitol office in August 2021, taking part in an interview.

Cameron is even in his office in this shot.

Cameron is even in his office in this shot.

There are several possible explanations for why there is no record of Cameron, who is currently running for governor, passing through security to go into his office.

One is that someone else has been swiping him in with their key fob every single time, like a staffer or a security officer. Another possibility is that Cameron has been entering the Capitol somewhere less secure, where his fob card isnt needed. Still another possibility is that hes working out of one of the five other attorney general field offices scattered around the state.

And of course, its possible the attorney general isnt going in to work much at all.

HuffPost reached out to the Kentucky State Police, which provides security at the Capitol, to ask about security protocols for elected officials entering the building. HuffPost also reached out to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, which provides Capitol media credentials, with questions about security and access. Neither responded.

It only adds to the mystery of Camerons whereabouts that he has a reputation for trying to keep public information private. Amye Bensenhaver, a retired state assistant attorney general who wrote open records and open meetings decisions in the Kentucky attorney generals office for 25 years, wrote a recent op-ed laying out what she describes as Camerons disdain for the principles of open government.

The weirdest part of all of this, though  and the only reason were writing this story at all  is that Camerons office has repeatedly refused to explain what the deal is.

In a series of email exchanges over the last few weeks, Camerons aides insisted that the attorney general has been coming in to work and that theres nothing weird about there being no record of him entering the building for years.

This is not correct, Atley Smedley, Camerons deputy communications director, said of the idea that the attorney general is not going into his office. Attorney General Cameron has regularly come to his office since he assumed the position of Attorney General in December 2019.

Smedley did not respond to a follow-up email asking why the attorney generals key fob logs are all blank if hes been coming into his office. When HuffPost followed up again, asking the same question, Camerons communications director Shellie May responded.

She dodged the question and said the attorney general works hard.

Attorney General Cameron works tirelessly advocating for the men, women, and children of all 120 Kentucky counties, May said. The records do not accurately reflect the comings and goings of General Cameron or any elected official, nor can any conclusions be drawn from them.

HuffPost followed up again, last week, and shared still more public records showing that Cameron had been using his fob key to enter the Capitol between May 2019 and January 2020  eleven times in total.

Asked what changed with Camerons entry into the Capitol after January 2020, a Cameron aide requesting to be referred to only as a spokesperson for the office had this to say:

What makes it clear that Daniel Cameron has been on the job working for Kentuckians, among other things, is the fact that he has sued the Biden Administration dozens of times to stop its misguided policies. And he has stopped the Beshear Administration from violating the rights of Kentuckians on multiple occasions. The key fob records do not accurately reflect the comings and goings of General Cameron or any elected official, nor can any conclusions be drawn from them.

So, still no explanation.

HuffPost tried one last time on Tuesday to give Camerons office a chance to explain why theres no record of him using his fob key to enter the Capitol for three years when there used to be a record of him doing so. No response.

Here is Cameron at an election night watch party after winning the Republican primary for governor in May 2023 in Louisville. This is not in the state Capitol.

Here is Cameron at an election night watch party after winning the Republican primary for governor in May 2023 in Louisville. This is not in the state Capitol.

There are no specific rules for how often a state attorney general has to go into the office. Cameron is certainly the public face of the office, and can lean on dozens of employees to carry out office business while he may be out in the community or working remotely.

During the legislative session, though, it makes much more sense that Cameron would be in the Capitol.

Bensenhaver, who served under six previous Kentucky state attorneys general, told HuffPost on Monday that her guess is that Cameron is simply being swiped into the Capitol by his security detail or by a state trooper on the scene. She was puzzled by the self-incriminating responses from the attorney generals office.

Im surprised they would be so obtuse about this. All they have to do is explain to you that the attorney general, as a matter of practice, does not sign himself in. Thats a better explanation than there is no record, said Bensenhaver, who is also the co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. Theyre really shooting themselves in the foot by obfuscating if hes there. We have to assume he comes in and out of the Capitol.

Hed better be there, she added.

If you have photographic evidence of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron using a fob key or any other kind of security card to get into the state Capitol, please contact the local authorities us. Anonymity guaranteed.
Gilbert Deya was greeted by supporters outside court

A controversial Kenyan televangelist, who claimed he created miraculous pregnancies, has been acquitted of child-trafficking charges due to insufficient evidence.

The prosecution failed to prove that Gilbert Deya stole five children two decades ago, a Kenyan magistrate said.

He had been accused of handing them to women struggling to become pregnant.

The self-styled pastor was extradited from the UK in 2017, after his decade-long legal battle to remain failed.

Concerns were first raised about the conduct of Mr Deya, who ran a church in London, in a BBC investigation in 2004.

Women experiencing difficulties conceiving who attended the Gilbert Deya Ministries church in Peckham, south-east London, were told they could have "miracle" babies.

But the babies were always "delivered" in backstreet clinics in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. The prosecution said the babies were stolen from poor Kenyan families.

Mr Deya later moved to Scotland, and was arrested in Edinburgh in 2006 under an international arrest warrant issued by Kenya.

In his ruling on Monday, magistrate Robison Ondieki said the prosecution had "failed to establish circumstantial evidence".

Speaking outside court where his supporters cheered him on, Mr Deya said that he had forgiven those who wanted to see him in jail.

"Today I'm acquitted of this kind of burden, a yoke on my shoulder it has damaged my reputation," he told reporters, adding that it was "sad that I have been labelled as a child stealer".

"I'm grateful that I'm free. I'm now going to continue to proceed to the mission that Jesus gave to me on earth."

He hinted that he may seek to return to the UK.

In 2011, Mary Deya, Mr Deya's then wife, was jailed after being found guilty of stealing a baby from the main referral hospital in Kenya's capital Nairobi and falsely stating she had given birth to the baby.
(Bloomberg) -- The International Monetary Fund approved almost $1 billion for Kenya, saying the East African country had met conditions for continued financing under programs to help reform the economy and confront challenges posed by climate change.

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Kenya got a $415 million disbursement under the Extended Fund Facility and Expanded Credit Facility, programs designed to shore up its economy and boost its foreign exchange reserves, following a fifth review. It also got $551 million as part of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility to support Kenyas ambitious efforts to build resilience to climate change, the IMF said in a statement. The disbursements followed the fifth reviews of the programs.

Kenyas economy has been resilient despite the worst drought in many decades and a difficult external environment, Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Sayeh said in a statement. The arrangements continue to support the authorities efforts to address emerging challenges to sustain macroeconomic stability and market confidence, promote growth, and advance ongoing reforms.

The latest figures will bring total disbursements under the ECF/EFF to about $2 billion.

President William Rutos administration has vowed to improve Kenyas finances by raising more revenue and slowing borrowing. Kenyas public debt stood at 9.63 trillion shillings ($68.1 billion) in April, or two thirds of gross domestic product, according to the National Treasury. Debt servicing costs take up more than half of tax income.

Read more: IMF Poised to Expand Kenya Loan Program by 45% to $3.5 Billion

The government in February 2021 agreed to a 38-month IMF program to help reduce debt vulnerabilities. In May, the program was extended by 10 months to April 2025. The package was increased by 45% to $3.52 billion, including additional funds to help Kenya deal with climate change under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility.

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By Liliana Salgado

PHOENIX (Reuters) -Asia, Europe and the United States baked under extreme heat on Monday as global temperatures soared toward alarming highs and U.S. leaders sought to reignite climate diplomacy with China.

The United States was scorched by record-setting heat in the West and South, lashed with flood-triggering rain in the Northeast, and choked by wildfire smoke in the Midwest.

A heat dome parked over the western United States pushed the temperature in California's Death Valley desert to 128 Fahrenheit (53 Celsius) on Sunday, among the highest temperatures recorded on Earth in the past 90 years.

Phoenix hit 114F (45.5C) on Monday, matching a historic record of 18 straight days over 110F with the forecast showing the record likely to extend for at least another week.

The U.S. heatwave coincided with extreme temperatures elsewhere throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

A remote town in China's arid northwest, Sanbao, registered a national record of 52.2C (126F). Wildfires in Europe raged ahead of a second heat wave in two weeks that was set to send temperatures as high as 48C (118F), while authorities in Italy and France issued heat-related health warnings.

Even in Phoenix, accustomed to hot weather, the prolonged bout of extreme heat is testing people and worrying officials. The international charitable organization Salvation Army has opened 11 cooling centers and sent out a mobile unit to deliver relief to homeless people who have difficulty reaching the sites.

"Extreme heat is Arizona's natural disaster. So for the Salvation Army, this is a disaster response," said Scott Johnson, a spokesperson for the organization in the U.S. Southwest.

The heat killed 425 people in the Phoenix-area's Maricopa County last year, so the Salvation Army mobile unit distributes urgently needed cold water, hats, sunscreen and hygiene kits to those in need.

"It feels like you're inside of a dryer, the dryer at the laundromat. And it's suffocating," said Cristina Hill, an unhoused woman who benefited from the outreach on Monday and said she suffered a heat stroke last year. "I cry all the time. I yell at the heat."

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Another unhoused woman, Maritza Villegas, said she has gotten shaky and jittery from the heat, which provoked dry heaves.

"This means a whole lot - the world - because without water I'd be in the hospital right now," Villegas said of the assistance.

Scientists have long warned that climate change, caused by CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels, will make heatwaves more frequent, severe and deadly. They say governments need to take drastic actions to reduce omissions to prevent climate catastrophe.

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service says 2022 and 2021 were the continent's hottest summers on record.

U.S., CHINA IN CLIMATE TALKS

The extreme global temperatures underscored the urgency in talks that resumed between China and the United States on climate change, especially as scientists say the target of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels is moving beyond reach.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry met Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, urging joint action to cut methane emissions and coal-fired power.

"In the next three days, we hope we can begin taking some big steps that will send a signal to the world about the serious purpose of China and the United States to address a common risk, threat, challenge to all of humanity created by humans themselves," Kerry said.

"It is toxic for both Chinese and for Americans and for people in every country on the planet."

Prolonged high temperatures in China are threatening power grids and crops and raising concerns about a repeat of last year's drought, the most severe in 60 years.

Typhoon Talim was gaining strength and due to make land at night along China's southern coast, forcing the cancellation of flights and trains in the regions of Guangdong and Hainan.

In South Korea, torrential rains left 40 people dead as river levees collapsed causing flash floods. They followed the heaviest recorded rain in the capital Seoul last year.

EUROPEAN HEATWAVE UNRELENTING

An unrelenting heatwave continued in Europe as well.

Italy's health ministry on Monday issued red weather alerts - signaling a possible health threat for anyone exposed to the heat - for 20 of the country's 27 main cities on Tuesday, with the number expected to rise to 23 on Wednesday.

France's public health agency said the current stretch of hot weather would probably hospitalize or kill "many" people, as heat waves have done almost every summer since 2015. The World Meteorological Organization said the extreme heat and rainfall was expected to extend into August.

"In many parts of the world, today is predicted to be the hottest day on record," tweeted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation.

"The #ClimateCrisis is not a warning. It's happening. I urge world leaders to ACT now."

As many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe during heatwaves last summer, with a repetition feared this season.

"My worry is really health - the health of vulnerable people who live just below the rooftops of houses which are not prepared for such high temperatures," said Robert Vautard, a climate scientist and director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute. "That could create a lot of deaths."

(Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels, Valerie Volcovici in Beijing, Charlie Devereaux and Emma Pinedo in Madrid, Giselda Vagnoni and Crispian Balmer in Rome, Emma Farge in Geneva, Michele Kambas in Nicosia, Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Julia Harte in New York and Liliana Salgado in Phoenix; Writing by Charlie Devereux and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Nick Zieminski and Aurora Ellis)
As heavy storms hit the region this weekend, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Sunday night.

"I have declared a State of Emergency due to severe storms throughout the state causing hazardous weather conditions, including: intense rainfall, flash flooding and dangerous winds," Murphy tweeted around 6 p.m.

There were flash flood warnings and flood watches for much of the region on Sunday in effect until midnight.

"We urge everyone to remain vigilant around flooded roadways and downed trees and power lines," Murphy said.

Landslide in Warren County

Earlier Sunday in Knowlton Township in Warren County, parts of Route 46 near Ramseyberg Road were hit by a landslide, closing the highway in both directions, the state Transportation Department reported.

On a rainy Route 23 on Sunday afternoon, a car crashed into a utility pole, bringing down wires and shutting the highway for several hours.

Just over the Delaware River on Saturday evening, four people died and three more are missing, including two children, after they were swept away by fast-rising floodwaters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

On Sunday, there were hundreds of flight cancellations at New York City area airports, according to FlightAware.

Power outages

Early Sunday evening, the most power outages were in Warren County, with Jersey Central Power & Light reporting just over 1,500 customers in the dark, followed by Hunterdon County's 594 and Morris County's 204.

Meanwhile, PSE&G and Orange & Rockland were reporting minimal outages in the state.

Rainfall totals

Here are rainfall totals for North Jersey provided by the National Weather Service as of 1 p.m. (for the 12-hour prior period):

Oak Ridge Reservoir: 2.16 inches

Oakland: 1.93

Ringwood: 1.72

Hasbrouck Heights: 1.27

Hoboken: 1.25

West Milford: 1.16

Tenafly 1.02

Newark Airport: 0.96

Bloomfield: 0.68

What is a state of emergency?

It is a declaration by the governor that makes available a wide array of state resources  from safety personnel to debris removal equipment  to help local communities cope with extreme weather events or other disasters. It also allows the state to mobilize the New Jersey National Guard or to use certain federal assets belonging to them, such as high-wheeled vehicles, ready-to-eat meals and generators.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gov. Murphy declares state of emergency as intense storms batter state
Women talk as they walk around Tajrish commercial district without wearing their mandatory Islamic headscarf in northern Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 29, 2023. More women are choosing not to wear the mandatory headscarf, or the hijab, publicly in Iran. Such open defiance of the law follows months of protests over the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the countrys morality police, for wearing her hijab too loosely. | Vahid Salemi, Associated Press

Its been more than six months since state officials removed Irans Guidance Patrol (nicknamed morality police) from active duty on the streets of Iran. On Sunday, the force returned to patrolling to enforce the countrys modesty laws.

Shariah in the country states that women must wear hijabs and loose-fitting clothing to maintain modesty, in accordance with Islamic tradition.

Since 2006, the Gasht-e Ershad, or Guidance Patrol, has enforced the law by monitoring that women cover their hair with a hijab. Men have also been targeted but not nearly as frequently, as reported by The New York Times. Punishments in the past have ranged from verbal warnings and fines to arrests and beatings.

The alleged beating and death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody led to protests across the country in September and the forces uncertain status in December when officers were no longer patrolling the streets.

Earlier this year, protests receded as more than 500 protesters were killed and 20,000 detained, reported NPR. Instead, protesters turned toward silent defiance rather than rioting.

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On Sunday, police spokesperson Saeed Montazerolmahdi announced that the Guidance Patrol would once again be on the streets to deal with those who, unfortunately, ignore the consequences of not wearing the proper hijab and insist on disobeying the norms, per BBC.

If they disobey the orders of the police force, legal action will be taken, and they will be referred to the judicial system, he said.

Some speculation exists as to whether the patrol will be able to impose the countrys dress code like they did before, as BBC reported, because as one college student told Reuters, the number of people who do not obey is too high now.

Related
President Joe Biden, right, meets with President Isaac Herzog of Israel in the Oval Office on Oct. 26, 2022. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

JERUSALEM  President Joe Biden has invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to a meeting in the United States for the first time since Netanyahu reentered office in December, easing months of tensions between the two leaders.

Netanyahus office said that Biden made the invitation in a warm and long phone call on Monday evening, on the eve of a visit to Washington by Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, that had until Monday night been widely seen as a slight to Netanyahu.

The invitation reversed Bidens decision in March to avoid meeting Netanyahu in the near term.

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Biden had recently described Netanyahus coalition as one of the most extremist since the 1970s, and voiced particular opposition to Netanyahus decisions to undermine the power of Israels Supreme Court, build more Israeli homes in the occupied West Bank, and retroactively authorize Israeli settlements built in the territory without government approval.

President Biden reiterated in the context of the current debate in Israel about judicial reform the need for the broadest possible consensus, and that shared democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the US Israel relationship, said John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council.

The announcement came as a disappointment to Israels opposition who had called on the Biden administration to take an even stronger stance against Netanyahus judicial overhaul.

Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in Israels history, is now expected to move forward with a contentious plan to limit the influence of his countrys judiciary. That plan has set off political unrest in Israel and drawn strong criticism from Biden, who has said that the U.S.-Israel partnership must be rooted in a shared approach to democracy.

No date has yet been set for Netanyahus visit, and it was unclear whether his invitation was to the White House or another part of the country. But the invitation removes some of the tension that had overshadowed Tuesdays visit by Herzog, who will meet Biden before giving a joint address to Congress on Wednesday.

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The bipartisan welcome for Herzog, whose position is largely ceremonial, reflects how the U.S. government sees Israel as a key strategic and military ally in the Middle East. The United States provides Israel with nearly $3.8 billion in annual aid, large amounts of weapons and defense technology, extensive diplomatic cover at the United Nations Security Council and crucial assistance in building new alliances with Arab countries.

Herzogs invitation to Washington has angered some Democratic lawmakers, who say that Herzog is a proxy for Netanyahu and that they will boycott his address to protest Israels policies toward the Palestinians.

Despite the friction with Netanyahu, the Biden administration has continued to ward off measures against Israel at the United Nations over its treatment of the Palestinians. The White House is also investing considerable effort in mediating a normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, one of Netanyahus top foreign policy goals.

But Biden and his administration have nevertheless expressed growing frustration at increased Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The U.S. sees that as a major obstacle to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel  an outcome that remains the Biden administrations preferred solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as a growing number of analysts conclude that Palestinian statehood is no longer possible.

Washington has also balked at comments by some of Netanyahus more extreme Cabinet colleagues, in particular Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, who said the Israeli state should erase a Palestinian town at the center of recent violence. A spokesperson for the State Department, Ned Price, called those comments irresponsible, disgusting and repugnant.

To some Israeli critics of Netanyahu, the Biden administrations stance has not been strong enough, a perception strengthened by the invitation on Monday. Anti-government protesters have gathered outside U.S. Embassy branches in Tel Aviv at least twice in recent days, some of them carrying banners imploring Biden to Save us!

But to Netanyahus supporters, Bidens approach had already been too forceful. Amichai Chikli, Netanyahus minister for diaspora affairs, said Bidens objections were prearranged and orchestrated by the Israeli opposition. He also told Bidens ambassador, Thomas R. Nides, to mind your own business after the U.S. diplomat suggested that Netanyahu slow down his judicial overhaul.

On Monday, Yoav Kisch, the education minister, said in a radio interview before the announcement of the invitation: I tell you in the clearest way: Of course it would have been appropriate for Prime Minister Netanyahu to travel instead of Herzog.

Kisch added: I am happy the president is traveling, and I think this is important. But, he said, The bottom line is that this entire event with Biden is most likely being fueled and inflated by elements inside the state of Israel, a reference to Netanyahus opponents.

Relations between the United States and Israel have often gone through fraught periods. In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration clashed with David Ben-Gurion, Israels first prime minister, over its brief invasion of Egypt.

In the 1970s, the Ford administration cooled ties over Israels reluctance to withdraw from territory it captured from Egypt in 1967. In the 1990s, Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton clashed with successive Israeli prime ministers, including Netanyahu, over settlement construction.

Two decades later, Netanyahu fell out with President Barack Obama  particularly after Netanyahu gave his own joint address to Congress without Obamas blessing.

But while most of those earlier disagreements were limited to specific geopolitical differences  usually over Egypt, Iran or the Palestinians  the spat between Biden and Netanyahu is different because it partly involves a dispute over values, said Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington.

Biden has suggested that Netanyahus plans to limit the judiciary would change the character of Israels democracy and therefore undermine perceptions that the U.S.-Israel alliance is rooted in a shared outlook on governance.

Previous differences were over policy, said Rabinovich. This dispute is over the very essence of Israel.

(STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.)

Key critics of Netanyahu had already predicted that Herzogs visit would soften Bidens approach to the prime minister.

Herzog is a former political opponent of Netanyahu, competing against him for the premiership in 2015. But he is also considered a bridge-builder who has attempted to find common ground this year between the government and its opponents. Some feared that Herzog, in a bid to defuse tensions, could persuade Biden to thaw his stance on Netanyahu.

To illustrate that point, some demonstrators have held doctored images of Netanyahu using Herzogs face as a mask.

Ben Caspit, a biographer and critic of Netanyahu, issued a direct warning to Herzog in a newspaper column on Monday. I have just one request for you, President Herzog, Caspit wrote. When youre at the White House, you arent there as Benjamin Netanyahus lawyer. Youre there as the State of Israels lawyer. Your job isnt to sell Netanyahu to Biden.

For his part, Herzog has tried to depoliticize his trip. Over the weekend, his office released a statement that said he would use the trip to highlight the threat of Iran, and would be accompanied by Leah Goldin, the mother of a soldier who was killed during the Gaza war of 2014 and whose remains are held by militants in the Palestinian enclave.

I am very much looking forward to representing the entire nation of Israel as President of the State of Israel, Herzog said in the statement.

Patrick Kingsley reported from Jerusalem and Michael D. Shear from Washington, D.C. Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting from Rehovot, Israel, and Myra Noveck from Jerusalem.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas has more than a casual interest in the weather. When hes not in Washington, he is farming and ranching in western Oklahoma.

Ive plowed the same wheat field in Roger Mills County since 1977, Lucas said in an interview. I watch the rain patterns and I watch the air temperature patterns from a tractor seat every year. And things are becoming more complicated.

I personally believe thats global industrial warming. And I cant do anything about what China and India are pumping into the air. But I can make sure that (federal agencies) are providing my fellow citizens with more and more information to protect themselves and be able to deal with those situations.

Lucas, R-Cheyenne, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, crafted comprehensive legislation called the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act that became law in 2017. He is working on a follow-up and has been holding hearings to gather input.

A tornado estimated to be one-half mile wide tears May 3, 1999, through Moore, destroying neighborhoods in the south Oklahoma City area. In developing a new weather bill, U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas has been leaning heavily on home state experts, who have testified about the forecasting tools developed in Oklahoma, a state with the most FEMA-declared disasters in the nation since 2000.

More: Hundreds of dead and injured birds were found across OKC after Saturday's hail. The public has stepped up to help

He is also bracing for what may be a major turf war with the Biden administration as he tries to remove the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the National Weather Service, out of the Department of Commerce and establish it as an independent agency, like NASA.

I want NOAA to be about the science of weather and the implementation of their forecasting and their models and their predictions  I want it to be something we can trust, Lucas said. I dont care who the president is. I dont care who the secretaries of the Cabinet agencies are. They tend to be political people. I want the weather to be about the weather.

In developing his new weather bill, Lucas has been leaning heavily on home state experts, who have testified at recent hearings about the forecasting tools developed in Oklahoma that can help people prepare for severe storms and wildfires and even tell farmers when they should apply fertilizer.

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In June, Oklahomas climatologist testified about his work compiling and translating data in a state that, he said, has had the most FEMA-declared disasters in the nation since 2000.

The housing of the new Advanced Technology Demonstrator weather radar system is pictured on Oct. 18, 2018, during its unveiling in Norman. The ATD was the first full-scale, dual polarization phased array radar developed specifically for weather and weather research.

A major feature of Gary McManus presentation was an explanation of the states Mesonet system, which was developed by Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma and has been emulated in many other states. In Oklahoma the system produces a steady stream of data from 120 automated stations spread out over all 77 counties.

More: This has been the 5th-wettest July in Oklahoma City  so far

The Mesonets partnership gives us access to a synthesis of world class meteorological and agricultural expertise from the two universities, McManus said. In just the past two years, the Oklahoma Mesonets outreach programs have trained users and decision makers from 495 agencies across Oklahoma.

On Thursday, Oklahoma Mesonet said it recorded the highest heat index in its nearly 30-year history: 126 degrees at the Pauls Valley station.

A line of severe thunderstorms is seen on radar moving eastward across central and southwest Oklahoma on July 7. Imagery from the radar, made available by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman, is among numerous devices the agency uses and provides to monitor weather conditions and track patterns and developments for the state.

How should the nation coordinate for severe weather and wildfires?

At a hearing last week, lawmakers from almost every region in the country sought opinions from Oklahomas forester on how best to predict the location and severity of wildfires.

Mark Goeller told them that the coordination developed among the state forestry office, the National Weather Service, the Texas A&M forest service and Oklahomas emergency management office means a fires location can be pinpointed and first responders notified at times before any member of the public has even seen the fire and called 911.

A wildfire rages March 31 in Guthrie.

Before the establishment of the new team system, which relies on a mix of data, including readings from satellites, it took about 90 minutes to issue a fire warning, said Goeller.

Recently, fire warnings were issued in only six minutes about a wildfire in the Oklahoma City metro area, he said.

Oklahoma has been in the top 10 nationally in six of the last 10 years for the number of acres burned, Goeller said. In 2016, more acres burned in Oklahoma than in any other state.

Brix Young shovels through rubble April 1 looking for personal items for the homeowner, Richard Smith, after a wildfire in Logan County near Guthrie.

Lucas said in an interview that he already has pondered how recent drenching rains in Roger Mills County could actually have increased the potential for wildfires, since they created so much vegetation that will dry out in the winter and become fuel.

With that kind of vegetation growth, what happens this winter when those plants go dormant? he said. How much fuel will we have in the winter season potentially for the next round of fires?

Its tying all those pieces together  thats what this is about.

The legislation Lucas authored in 2017 had both broad and specific mandates. It required NOAA to improve weather data, modeling, computing, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. More narrowly, it called for the creation of a backup system for hurricane aircraft.

The law also called for the National Weather Service to work on making reliable long-range forecasts for temperatures and precipitation. In a recent hearing, Lucas said that also would be an emphasis in the new bill. In an interview, Lucas said there likely would be an increasing role for artificial intelligence in weather forecasting.

A radar dome used to measure weather patterns.

Changes in weather patterns have led to new questions, Lucas said, noting the recent interest from lawmakers in western states about the atmospheric rivers that dropped several feet of rain and snow early this year.

Lucas, who flies back and forth from Washington every week when Congress is in session, has a new interest himself he wants to see addressed  clear air turbulence.

You spend a lot more time getting bounced around on airplanes than you used to be, Lucas said. How can NOAA and the Weather Service use their technology and enhance their technology to study and be able to predict those kinds of things? Im not a white-knuckle flier. But in the last five years, I suck my seat belt up pretty tight.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas taps home state expertise for weather bill
No Labels, the third-party bipartisan group that is considering launching a "unity" campaign in the 2024 presidential race, on Monday will host a major event to discuss its platform -- and will be joined by two notable politicians from across the aisle.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican, will speak at the group's "Common Sense town hall" at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The event is being described as the first public opportunity to highlight the group's policies.

Manchin and Huntsman foreshadow what a potential No Labels ticket could look like next year (and Manchin has conspicuously not closed the door to running for president). However, Monday's event is not the debut of No Labels ticket, and the group hopes that any candidates chosen would conform to their new platform.

Over the weekend, No Labels released a policy manual called Common Sense which serves as the group's platform and draws direct contrasts with president Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who could be the Democratic and Republican nominees next year.

The booklet was released in hopes that the ideas will help popularize a centrist third-party White House run.

"We see our two major political parties dominated by angry and extremist voices driven by ideology and identity politics rather than what's best for our country," the introduction to the platform argues.

PHOTO: In this July 18, 2011, file photo, people with the group No Labels hold signs during a rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP, FILE)

The 30 policy ideas outlined in the manual are organized into 10 categories, offering brief solutions to issues regarding Social Security, the national debt, abortion access, guns, education and more.

The proposals include universal background checks for gun purchases, limits -- but not bans -- on abortion and securing the southern border while protecting so-called "Dreamers," or young immigrants who were illegally brought to the country as children.

The manual takes its name from Thomas Paine's famed Revolutionary War-era pamphlet, with No Labels describing their version as "optimistic" and a "triumphant voice of America's commonsense majority."

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"The goal is to kickstart a very long overdue national conversation about how we start to solve the problems most Americans actually care about," No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said.

MORE: Joe Lieberman, Doug Jones face-off over No Labels' chances with 2024 'unity' ticket

At Monday's town hall, Manchin and Huntsman are expected to discuss issues from the policy manual as well as their own histories.

No Labels intends to schedule a yearlong tour, with Monday as the first stop and more speakers to come.

While the group sees its pitch as designed to attract moderate Democrats and Republicans, it has also attracted criticism from figures in both parties who say it has no legitimate shot at third-party success and could instead serve as a "spoiler" in the race by peeling off voters from another candidate.

"There is no way on God's green earth that they can get to 270 electoral votes," former Sen. Doug Jones, an Alabama Democrat and staunch Biden ally who has joined a group to counter No Labels, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

PHOTO: Jon Huntsman listens to questions during a hearing about voting rights in the District of Columbia, Sept. 14, 2006, on Capitol Hill. Sen. Joe Manchin arrives for a Senate briefing on China at the Capitol, Feb. 15, 2023. (Getty Images)

Former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent and the founding chair of No Labels, appeared on "This Week" with Jones and took another view. "The problem is the American people are not buying what the two parties are selling anymore. And I think the parties would be wiser to think about that," he said.

"We've been very explicit ... 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," Lieberman said.

No Label's work on a potential ticket has included conducting polls and running models across the country while attempting to gain nationwide ballot access, where they have so far been successful in five states.

Greg Schneiders, who worked as President Jimmy Carter's deputy assistant for communications and founded the Prime Group, a research firm, has conducted polling for the anti-No Labels group that includes Jones.

Schneider maintains that their plan is "fantastical and not credible."

"No third-party candidate in recent history, or perhaps any history of third-party candidates, has improved their standing once they went from kind of being the generic option to being a particular individual," he said.

Manchin and Huntsman team up to talk platform for 'unity' ticket that could run in 2024 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Meta's practice of tracking Instagram and Facebook users violates their privacy, Norway's data protection regulator said in a press release today. If the company doesn't take remedial action, it will be fined one million crowns ($100,000) per day from August 4th until November 3rd. "It is so clear that this is illegal that we need to intervene now and immediately," said Tobias Judin, head of Norway's privacy commission, Datatilsynet.

The move follows a European court ruling banning Meta from harvesting user data like location, behavior and more for advertising. Datatilsynet has referred its actions to Europe's Data Protection Board, which could widen the fine across Europe. The aim is to put "additional pressure" on Meta, Judin said. (Norway is a member of the European single market, but not technically an EU member.)

Meta told Reuters that it's reviewing Datatilsynet's decision and that the decision wouldn't immediately impact its services. "We continue to constructively engage with the Irish DPC, our lead regulator in the EU, regarding our compliance with its decision," a spokesperson said. "The debate around legal bases has been ongoing for some time and businesses continue to face a lack of regulatory certainty in this area."

Meta is facing pressure across Europe over its data privacy actions. Earlier this month, Ireland's data regulator (DPC) ruled that Meta can't gather user data for behavioral advertising. And back in May, it was hit with a record-breaking 1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) fine for transferring EU user data to its servers in the US.

In addition, Meta's new Twitter rival Threads is not yet available in the European Union due to privacy concerns. When Threads debuted, Meta said that it was "not yet prepared the service for a European launch outside the UK, which is not fully governed by GDPR or EU privacy rules." Meta is even going so far as to block EU users from accessing the new social media site with a VPN.
This is an artist rendering of the new phase of The Mill apartment complex proposed for Ironworks Plaza in downtown Mishawaka next to Beutter Park.

MISHAWAKA  Plans for the second phase of the $63 million The Mill apartment complex at the Ironworks Plaza are close to what city leaders envisioned when the land was cleared with the demolition of the former Uniroyal Corp. facility in recent years

Ken Prince, director of planning and community development, said Thursday that the Ironworks Plaza  consisting of the new ice center/cafe/event center, The Mill apartments, the new Avalon apartment building under construction and the second proposed Mill development  "... from the administration's perspective, I can tell you we believe that the development as proposed represents what we believe to be the highest and the best use of the property."

On Thursday, city leaders briefed the Common Council on the upcoming ordinances it will consider at its Monday meeting that will establish the tax incremental financing district and the bonds process to pay for the Mill project. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.

More: Another big apartment building in Mishawaka. Rising costs delay other city projects.

The Mill-Phase II will bring a second apartment development with 227 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments to 2.7 acres of land directly west of the Ironworks Ice Rink, from the St. Joseph River to Front Street. There also will be 10,000 square-feet of retail space available as well as 420 parking spaces, with 130 available for three-hour public parking.

The Common Council is scheduled to vote Monday on the financial arrangements for the $63 million project from Indianapolis-based Flaherty & Collins. The plan calls for the developer to pay $43 million, with the city providing $13.6 million of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars. The city would invest those funds over the 25 years of the new TIF that the city will break off the existing downtown TIF.

Also part of the financial package, the Indiana Economic Development Commission has committed to providing redevelopment tax credits that would net about $5.67 million.

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Ken Prince, director of planning and community development with the city of Mishawaka, speaks Thursday to the Common Council about the plans for The Mill Phase II apartment complex proposed for the Ironworks Plaza in downtown Mishawaka.

Prince said the developer expects to begin construction as soon as this fall, once Monday's measures are approved, with a two-year construction timetable that would have the project done by the end of 2025.

With the new Mill building, the area of Beutter Park will sport projects that have introduced more than 550 apartments, four retail sites that have restaurant tenants and an office building. Pair the commercial ventures with the city's new ice rink/cafe/event center, the downtown area begins to fulfill the master development plan city leaders set forth after the Uniroyal demolition.

Prince said the Mill project fits in. "Very simply, it is architecturally significant, it's pedestrian friendly and it's mixed use. These were the three elements in our master plan that we created for the Uniroyal properties that we developed in 1999 that were most critical in moving any project forward."

The city demolished the buildings in June 2000 that once held Ball Band/Uniroyal along the St. Joseph River. Beutter Park opened in 2005, and development slowly took place in areas south and west of the site.

More: Throwback Thursday: Boom! The day they imploded the Uniroyal factory in Mishawaka

The Mill's first apartment complex opened in 2019 and has seen full occupancy, officials said. Statistics from Flaherty & Collins show that 80% of the Phase I tenants were from outside Mishawaka and 30% were from out of the state. Average income of renters there was more than $200,000, and Flaherty & Collins statistics show that half of the tenants who left The Mill stayed in the area and purchased a home.

Prince said Phase II will have some changes in its scope:

More smaller units: The Phase II development will have studio and one-bedroom units with dens. Developer statistics showed that there is a high demand for smaller studios and one-bedroom units, where people do not want a second bedroom.

Costs and co-working space: Rents will average $1,100-$2000, with co-working space and private offices for tenants. Along with the higher demand for smaller units, the working aspect is also being sought.

Other amenities: Tenants also will have access to a pool, outdoor courtyard, bike shop with tools, pet spa and bark park, fitnes club, club room and secure parking.

Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The Mill Phase II Mishawaka Ironworks Plaza set to begin construction
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley raised more money and has more cash on hand than his potential Democratic opponents headed into the 2024 campaign for U.S. Senate in Missouri.

Hawley, who is seeking his second term, raised $1.5 million in the second quarter of the year  from April to June. Around $338,200 of the money came from his joint fundraising committee, a mechanism for the campaign to raise larger amounts from big donors.

Hawleys joint fundraising committee brought in $641,925.92, most of which was transferred to Hawleys campaign account, Hawleys political action committee, called Fighting for Missouri, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The super PAC supporting Hawley, called Show Me Strong, raised $1.1 million. By law it is not allowed to be directly affiliated with the campaign.

Hawleys campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has $4.5 million in his campaign account and spent 71% of the money he raised between April and June.

Hawley, who has come to be seen as a political villain for many Democrats, has already two serious challengers  St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell and retired Marine Lucas Kunce.

Bell entered the race in June and raised just $162,472 in the first weeks of his campaign. He was easily outraised by Kunce, who brought in $1.2 million between April and June.

Bells campaign said it had seen momentum since its launch.

Since launching our campaign just a few weeks ago, weve announced key endorsements, and we continue to deepen relationships and take our message across the state, said Anjan Mukherjee, a spokesman for the campaign.

Kunce has effectively been running since 2021, when he launched his first campaign for U.S. Senate in Missouri. He lost the 2022 Democratic primary to Anheuser-Busch heiress Trudy Busch Valentine, who spent millions of her own money and lost to Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt by 13 percentage points.

Kunce has more than $1.1 million in his campaign account, after spending around 60% of the money he brought in between April and June.

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Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will face an uphill battle in a general election in a state that has increasingly voted for conservative candidates. While once considered a bellwether state, Republicans control every statewide elected office in Jefferson City, and only two of Missouris ten members of Congress are Democrats.

Kunce has focused heavily on the working class voters who have gravitated more toward the Republican Party in recent years, while tapping into the vast national Democratic fundraising network eager for a candidate to take out Hawley.

His campaign has pointed to his fundraising to show that hes in a better place financially than some other competitive Democrats were at this stage in the campaign.

Lucas Kunce continues to set fundraising records and has the most cash on hand for any Missouri Senate candidate challenging an incumbent in the last two decades, said Connor Lounsbury, a senior adviser to Kunce. And hes done it without taking a cent from corporate PACs.

Missouri state Sen. Karla May entered the race in July and wont have to report her fundraising until October. Activist December Harmon raised $4,322, most of which came from her own pocket.

Kansas 3rd

Republicans have once again targeted Kansas 3rd Congressional District, currently held by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, in their effort to hold control of the U.S. House.

After coasting to a 12 percentage point victory in 2022, Davids brought in $600,279 between April and June.

Karen Crnkovich, a Republican and former president of the Kansas City Junior League, raised $57,461 in the second quarter. Jonathan Westbrook, a former Trump administration official, has not raised or spent more than $5,000.

Former Lab Corp vice president Prasanth Reddy entered the campaign last week, after the June fundraising deadline and his totals are not yet available.
The claim: Joe Biden fell asleep mid-summit at NATO

A July 12 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows President Joe Biden speaking during a meeting with other world leaders.

Foreign leaders left stunned after Joe Biden falls ASLEEP mid-summit, cancels meetings, reads text on the screen.

The video was posted by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who shared it on his Twitter and Facebook pages. It was shared over 1,500 times on Facebook in two days and retweeted nearly 7,000 times on Twitter. Donald Trump, Jr. also reshared it to his Facebook page.

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Our rating: False

The video does not show Biden falling asleep at the NATO conference, and the only meeting Biden was reported to have missed was the NATO leadership dinner.

Biden was reading from a notecard, not napping

During a four-day NATO summit in Lithuania, Biden met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on July 11. Erdogan dropped his year-long opposition to Swedens bid to join NATO, a sudden change of heart after Turkeys long-standing claim that Sweden supported Kurdish militants that Turkey considered a threat to national security.

When Biden met with Erdogan, both men held what appeared to be notecards. When Biden began speaking, he set the notecards in his lap and sometimes looked down to reference them.

Were at this historic summit meeting. Were resolving a lot of things, I hope. And you made, you made (it) all the more historic by the agreement you reached yesterday in the admission of Sweden and how youre going to proceed. I want to thank you for your diplomacy and your courage to take that on. And I want to thank you for your leadership, Mr. President, Biden said. This summit is reaffirming our commitment to NATO defense with close allies in NATO, and I hope we can make it even stronger.

Erdogan responded by thanking Biden for congratulating him on his re-election to a third term as president. Their full remarks were recorded by the White House.

Story continues

Fact check: Joe Biden hasn't been impeached, impeachment articles have been filed

Biden missed NATO leadership dinner to prepare for busy schedule

A White House spokesperson who declined to be identified by name confirmed Biden missed the NATO leadership dinner, but explained it was because he was preparing for a busy schedule.

It was a social dinner amid four days of official business and the president had domestic business to attend to, including calling the governor of Vermont to discuss extreme flooding, the spokesperson said, referencing the catastrophic rain and flooding affecting the state. He also had prep for the second day of the summit and a major speech the following night.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the dinner in Bidens place.

USA TODAY reached out to Johnson and Trump for comment on the claim, but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Biden fell asleep during NATO meeting | Fact check
Over the past year, many Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Visa

Visa Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Vice Chair, Kelly Tullier, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$6.1m worth of shares at a price of US$233 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of US$243. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. It is worth noting that this sale was only 50% of Kelly Tullier's holding.

Visa insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Visa Insiders Are Selling The Stock

The last three months saw significant insider selling at Visa. Specifically, insiders ditched US$13m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all.

Does Visa Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It's great to see that Visa insiders own 0.05% of the company, worth about US$250m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

So What Do The Visa Insider Transactions Indicate?

Insiders sold Visa shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But it is good to see that Visa is growing earnings. It is good to see high insider ownership, but the insider selling leaves us cautious. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Visa. While conducting our analysis, we found that Visa has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Oddly colored lobsters another sign of climate change

July 6  To the Editor:

Ellen Goethel had a great story on colored lobsters in yesterdays Herald. Blue, orange and calico lobsters are noticeably showing up. Like any good scientist, which Goethel clearly is, her story presents possibilities as to why this is happening, changes in genetics, food in particular.

There is another possibility I think worthwhile considering, climate change. Climate models have long said that warming of our oceans will likely impact many species. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of all waters on the planet. This warming is driving lobsters north and likely impacting those that remain. These changes are only going to accelerate according to the models.

It is time to put a price on carbon and make polluters pay. The problem is so big that the only way to price carbon, is with the help of Congress. Every other developed country except one is pricing carbon.

You can make a difference by letting Senators Shaheen and Hassan as well as Representative Pappas know that you want polluters to pay. Senators Shaheen and Hassan have been pretty active in fighting climate change, Representative Pappas not so much. They can all use your support.

Thank you for considering my view.

Wes Tator, member Citizens Climate Lobby

Portsmouth

A calico lobster is known for its distinctive black and orange mottled color pattern.

Does Portsmouth need more green space or less?

July 9  To the Editor:

In a recent guest column, Portsmouth City Councilor John Tabor told us that if we build workforce housing at Pannaway Manor, this will solve our city's problem of having vacant positions for fire and police dispatchers. I don't understand his reasoning because generally applicants for this type of housing would have to prove that they already had jobs with a certain income in order to qualify. It is highly unlikely that these individuals seeking housing would suddenly quit their jobs to apply to become fire and police dispatchers.

Story continues

Councilor Tabor's thinking is confusingly inconsistent. At a recent City Council meeting, he proposed that Portsmouth should purchase the McIntyre property, "split the parcel, sell the federal building to recoup costs, and put a park on the rest" so that our city would have more open green space (Portsmouth Herald, April 20, 2023, "Portsmouth council debates purchase of McIntyre property"). Yet now he is supporting a plan which would take away a great deal of greenery and open areas in the Pannaway Manor neighborhood. Which is it? Does Portsmouth need more open green space, as his actions implied in the past, or does it need less, as he's telling us now?

Christina Lusky

Portsmouth

NH Attorney General's office is clearly stretched too thin

July 10  To the Editor:

The NH Attorney General's office is a State agency funded by taxpayer dollars. One part of the office exists to investigate and prosecute alleged violations of our criminal statutes. Another is assigned the task defending the State, its various Departments, employees, agents and elected officials against claims of misfeasance or wrongdoing, in addition to upholding laws adopted by the legislature. Society is successful only when the law, both criminal and civil, is enforced fairly and promptly, and we feel comfortable in knowing that the resources are available to carry out this obligation.

Recently, someone contacted the AG's office with an inquiry about the numerous claims that have been filed regarding alleged sexual and physical abuse of minors while in the custody of State agencies and related organizations. The answer that was received is as follows: "We appreciate your taking the time to submit a question or concern. Because of the volume of emails we receive, we are unable to respond to every one. However, your email will be reviewed and a response provided if appropriate."

This should raise some serious questions.

First, it indicates pretty clearly that the office does not have adequate staffing to properly review and respond to legitimate communications from members of the public. More than likely this is not the fault of the agency, but an issue relating to proper funding to meet the growing demands of NH's increasing population and the complexity of the problems that are within the jurisdiction of the AG's office. It may be that the budget recently signed into law will be sufficient to meet this need, with employees added to the staff, and the above message will no longer be needed. This is a big "maybe", however.

Second, assuming this is an ongoing situation, the question ariseswho decides which of the "questions or concerns" will be answered? Who decides what is "appropriate"? What are the criteria? And how many of the inquiries are actually answered and how many end up in the round file?

This is a serious issue for those who are tasked with the burden of deciding "who", "what", and "if ever"? The failure of the Governor and legislature, over many years, to fully fund our various State agencies not only does a disservice to the people of NH, but also to the employees in fulfilling the responsibilities of their positions. We and they deserve better.

Anthony McManus

Dover

Urging Sen. Collins to protect Maine kids against flavored smoking products

July 10  To the Editor:

As a concerned parent, I am writing to urge Senator Collins to support Maine kids and take action to protect their health by supporting the FDA proposed regulations banning flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes.

The use of flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes has been found to be particularly harmful to young people, who are at increased risk of developing nicotine addiction and related health problems. In Maine, we have seen an alarming increase in the use of these products among our youth, and it is imperative that action be taken to protect their health and well-being.

The FDA proposed regulations would ban the sale of flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes, which have been found to be especially addictive and harder to quit. By taking this important step, the FDA will help to reduce the availability of these harmful products to young people, and ultimately protect their health and well-being.

I hope Senator Collins publicly supports the FDA proposed regulations. By doing so, she will demonstrate her continued commitment to the health and well-being of our youth, and send a strong message that their health matters.

Kaitlyn Ross

Kennebunk, Maine

Calling all woodworkers: Enter inaugural New England Woodworking Competition

July 10 -- To the Editor:

Calling all woodworkers - professional to amateur - to enter the first First Annual New England Woodworking Competition Saturday October 21, 2023 from 5-10 pm at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center & Planetarium in Concord NH. Hosted by the nonprofit Guild of NH Woodworkers, the competition is the first of its kind in New England, which has a rich history of furniture and cabinet making since the 1600s. People should not feel hesitant to enter; we are seeking involvement from both professional and amateur woodworkers and emerging artists at all levels.

The judges will be evaluating the entries in 11 categories relative to ability and experience. Three members of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters will serve as judges: Owain Harris; David Lamb; and Garrett Hack. The emcee for the evening is Tom McLaughlin of Epic Woodworking and host of Shop Night Live, a weekly live stream program on YouTube. The keynote speaker is acclaimed furniture maker Dan Faia, the 2023 recipient of the top award from the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.

We have many prizes in cash and merchandise to offer and you dont have to make something just for this event. It could have been made years ago. This is an opportunity for woodworkers to display and discuss their craft and for the community to view the best in high quality woodworking design and construction from across the region. The pieces that will be on display are furniture, turned bowls and vases, lamps, boxes, carvings, all made by a craftsperson, from beginners to the advanced.

Participants can register on the Guilds website and purchase tickets at https://gnhw.org/register/

Elliot Savitzky

Event Chair

Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Odd lobsters, contradictions on Portsmouth open space & more: Letters
A map showing where the moon's shadow will cross Ohio and surrounding states during the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Ohio will be one of the best places in the nation to view next Aprils total solar eclipse  and state lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine approved additional money to deal with the expected crowds.

Lawmakers recently approved $1 million to be allocated toward eclipse security in the 2024-25 state budget. Millions live within driving distance of the 124-mile-wide path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible, and areas inside the path are expecting thousands of visitors.

More: Total solar eclipse will draw thousands to Ohio. What does that mean for the economy?

Cities in the path of totality include Cleveland, Dayton and Akron. In other parts of Ohio, viewers will be able to see a partial eclipse. Cincinnati and Columbus sit just outside the path of totality.

With large crowds potentially heading to parts of northern and western Ohio, the state could see a huge economic boost  and a greater potential for accidents. The $1 million will fund reimbursements for local authorities that may incur emergency costs related to the eclipse.

"This will be a reimbursement grant that will allow first responder and emergency management partners the potential to submit the items they feel are eligible for reimbursement," Ohio Emergency Management Authority Public Affairs Chief Sandy Mackey said in an email.

During the 2017 solar eclipse, parts of the country, including the nearby states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois, saw a huge influx of travelers looking to catch a glimpse of the eclipse. Huge tourism boosts and major traffic jams impacted areas along the path of totality.

The EMA is projecting "the likelihood of an increased demand for hotels and campsites, significant increase of traffic and local infrastructure, and an increase in requests for emergency services," Mackey noted.

NASA also advises viewers not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse, as it could cause eye damage. Authorities recommend wearing eclipse glasses to protect your eyes, as well as applying sunscreen to protect your skin from the bright sun.

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LCarey@Dispatch.com

@LilyLCarey

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Ohio is spending $1 million on 2024 solar eclipse security, safety
Michael Kappeler/Pool via REUTERS

Qin Gang, Chinas foreign minister, has been missing from the public eye for approximately three weeks, fueling speculation about his whereabouts.

Qin didnt show at an annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia last week. He also canceled a meeting with the European Unions foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, around the same time.

An EU spokesperson said they were informed the dates were no longer possible and provided no further explanation.

The last time he was seen in public was in a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko on June 25. Chinas Foreign Ministry said at the time that they had an exchange of views on China-Russia relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.

The apparent disappearance of Qin, who is thought to have close ties to Chinese President Xi Jinping and who landed this role just in December, comes at a particularly busy diplomatic period, fueling speculation that there may be trouble afoot or an early sign of political uncertainty in Beijing.

How Xi Jinping Became a God (At Least to Goatherders)

Some Chinese officials who were previously reported missing were later revealed to be detainedincluding Meng Hongwei, the chief of Interpol, and a senior Chinese security official who went missing for days in 2018.

Qins meeting with Borrell would have come just days after European countries approved a strategy that would involve obtaining critical materials from outside of China, following pressure on Beijing to take a firmer stance against Russias war in Ukraine. Beijing has so far failed to condemn the war and has outlined a so-called peace plan that fails to include a measure that would have Russia withdraw troops from Ukraine.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a news briefing last week that Qin didnt attend the ASEAN meeting because of health reasons, according to Reuters. Qin skipped out on the meeting due to his physical condition, according to Taipei Times. The spokesperson declined to detail the condition.

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But Chinese officials have since dropped that justification and speculation has swirled that his affair with a television personality is causing him trouble, according to The New York Times.

Qin met with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken last month in China amid soaring Washington-Beijing tensions over the Chinese spy balloon that floated across the United States and Chinas increasingly aggressive behavior towards Taiwan.

Before that meeting, Qin warned the United States to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, but once the two men began discussions, Blinken and Qin had a candid, substantive, and constructive meeting, according to a State Department readout.

Since then, top Biden administration officials have continued visits with Chinese officials at a steady clipbut with no sign of Qin.

Earlier this month, Janet Yellen met with Chinas new economic team, including the new chief, Vice Premier He Lifeng, to deepen bilateral communications.

John Kerry, Bidens envoy for climate change, kicked off a round of talks Monday in Beijing with Chinas top climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua. The meetings mark the first formal meetings on the topic since last August, when Beijing put a stop to its engagements with the United States after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan. Relations so far appear to be cordial, according to The New York Times.

Kerrys team did not immediately return a request for comment about whether Kerry has plans to meet with Qin.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return a request for comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Samsung's ViewFinity S9 5K monitor is coming to the United States  finally giving Mac and PC users alike a chance to pick it up for $1,599. The tech giant announced its first 5K monitor at CES in January and launched it this June in South Korea.

Samsung designed the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K monitor for creatives, with HDR 600 support, a matte display to reduce glares and Eye Saver Mode for long days tolling away. The company's first 5K monitor also has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, 99 percent DCI-P3 and 221 pixels per inch. Plus, you can calibrate the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor through the SmartThings app in either Basic mode, which adjusts gamma settings and white balance, or Professional mode, which controls luminance and color temperature or space. It includes a 4K camera and is compatible with either a PC or Mac.

Interestingly, the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor costs exactly the same as its competitor, the 27-inch Apple Studio Display  which first came out in early 2022. At the time, we gave the Studio Display an 80 rating due to features such as a so-so webcam, 60Hz refresh rate and single-zone backlighting. The ViewFinity S9 5K has the same refresh rate but offers a few better features than Apple's Studio Display (or at least includes them without any extra cost). Apple is charging another $400 to adjust your monitor's height and angle and a whopping $2,299 if you also want a nano-texture glass display. Plus, the S9 5K has a 4K webcam versus Apple's 12MP option. All in all, unless you're an Apple or nothing shopper, Samsung's ViewFinity S9 5K might be a better choice for the price. Check it out for yourself in stores this August.
UPPER MAKEFIELD - Three Newtown Township residents and one Titusville New Jersey woman are among the five people who died Saturday in Upper Makefield flash floodwaters as the search for two missing children will continue into Tuesday.

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck released the identities of the remaining victims who were swept away Saturday when the vehicles they were driving were overtaken by rapidly rising waters in Houghs Creek, a tributary of the nearby Delaware River, officials said.

They are identified as:

Enzo Depiero, 78, and his wife Linda, 74, of Newtown Township

Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey

Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown Township

Linda and Enzo De Piero seen here in a recent photo. The Newtown Township couple perished Saturday in flash floods.

Yuko Love, right, stands with friends, Paul Stabile, left, and Maria Egan, center, after a Zumba class taught by Egan at the Newtown Athletic Club.

Earlier Monday officials released the name of the fifth and youngest confirmed victim, Kathryn "Katie" Seley, 32, of Charleston, South Carolina. Her children, Conrad Sheils, 9 months, and Matilda Sheils, 2, are the only unaccounted for victims of Saturday's torrential rainstorm.

Autopsies performed Monday determined all five victims died of accidental drowning, and Love also had multiple injuries that contributed to her death, Buck said.

At the Monday afternoon update, Upper Makefield fire Chief Tim Brewer emphasized the drivers who were caught in the flash flood could not have avoided the sudden raging water.

"These people did not drive into high water," Brewer said. "Every one of these people were caught. The wall of water came to them. They did not drive into the water and we are confident when we say that."

Rescue crews bolstered by additional resources including sonar, marine divers, boat crews, cadaver and rescue search dogs as well as air assets and drones were brought in Monday to continue the search for the Sheils children.

More than 100 crews concentrated on an 40-acre area south of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) where the flooding was the worst, Brewer said.

Scott Ellis, center, a relative of two missing children swept away by floodwaters last Saturday, attends a during a press conference held at the Washington Crossing United Methodist Church in Washington Crossing, PA, on Monday, July 17, 2023.

More resources will be added to the search efforts on Tuesday.

Also speaking Monday afternoon was Scott Ellis, who identified himself as a brother-in-law of Jim Sheils, fiance of Seley and father of their three children.

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As you can imagine, we are utterly devastated by the incredible loss our family has suffered, he said.

More: Steep cliffs and debris await searchers looking for children swept away in fatal floods

On behalf of his family, Ellis expressed deep gratitude to the "enormous efforts" of so many emergency responders who have been working "tirelessly in dangerous and difficult conditions to rescue the victims of this horrific tragedy."

"Their compassion, kindness and bravery have given us strength in this unspeakably difficult time. And their commitment to bringing Conrad and Mattie home is unwavering," Ellis said. "We are thankful that they were able to save so many affected by these unprecedented floods, and we are grateful that they were able to recover many who have been lost."

The Sheils and Seley families. James Sheils holds son Conrad, Katie Seley holds daughter Mattie and in front is son Jack.

Ellis also thanked the community for its "incredible outpouring of support, love, prayers and kindness."

"It has bolstered us all," he said.

The Seley-Sheils family, who was visiting the area, was driving on Washington Crossing Road on their way to a family cookout Saturday evening when their car was overcome by raging waters that had spilled over Houghs Creek.

James Sheils grabbed their 4-year-old son, Jack, and managed to safely escape water. Seley, who was holding onto her infant son and her mother, Dahlia Galindez, who was holding Mattie, were swept away.

Galindez survived, but she lost her grip on her granddaughter, officials said.

Dahlia Galindez (left) and her daughter Kathryn "Kaite" Seley. The women were swept up in floodwaters Saturday July 15, 2023. Galindez survived, but Seley didn't. Seley's two children are missing.

Photos: Who are the Sheils-Seley family South Carolina family torn apart by Upper Makefield fatal floods identified

The clear and dry weather Monday allowed a "massive deployment" of search resources along treacherous Houghs Creek, while boat teams searched the nearby Delaware River for the missing children.

"We are better than we were yesterday. We have basically tripled the number of assets in the area," Brewer said earlier Monday. "We ask everyone to keep the families in their thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time."

Roads that experienced the worst flooding Washington Crossing Road between Meadowview Drive and Wrightstown Road will remain closed indefinitely as a result of damage. Taylorsville Road will also remain closed between Route 532 and Mt. Eyre Road.

Officials added that other intermittent road closures may occur as a result of ongoing search efforts.

Bucks County Commission Vice Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia confirmed Monday morning that commissioners had signed a disaster declaration in response to the flooding. The declaration will be ratified at Wednesday's commissioners meeting.

"This has been a catastrophic personal event for the families involved and for our first responders," Marseglia said. "I would ask that you keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a native of neighboring Montgomery County, on Sunday pledged his administration's full assistance with the flood recovery efforts.

"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," the governor said.

More: Fatal floods: Who does water rescues in Bucks County?

Family fractured by flood: South Carolina mother of 2 missing children among now five flood victims

Floods claim five lives: Five now dead, two children missing, in Delaware River flooding in Bucks County

Sunday evening, Brewer confirmed rescuers had recovered the bodies of Love and Linda Depiero, who were about 100 yards apart and found one mile south of Taylorsville Road in Houghs Creek runs along the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road between Stonebridge Crossing and Wrightstown roads.

Depiero's husband was recovered on Saturday night along with Seley and Barnhart whose vehicles were all found in Houghs Creek, officials said.

At least two of the confirmed dead were swept away after they got out of their vehicles, Brewer said. Another victim was found in the vehicle.

Clean up and damage assessment efforts are continuing with many roads surrounding the flooded areas remained closed Sunday with Bucks County Park Rangers and sheriff deputies standing guard.

A prolonged rain event over two hours Saturday evening dropped up to 6 inches of rain along the corridor between Newtown and New Hope and as far west as Jamison and continued into Mercer County, New Jersey.

A look at flooding in Lower Makefield In Lower Makefield, homes and properties damaged by flash flood

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Delaware River flash floods claimed several lives, ripped families apart
[Source]

A man apprehended for stealing money from a temple's donation box in central China made an audacious claim that Buddha himself gave him an OK to do it.

Key details: The man, identified only as Ye, admitted to helping himself to the donated money at the Shuangyan Temple located in Yiyang, Hunan province, after being questioned by police on July 8.

According to local media outlet Jimu News, officers from the Yiyang County Public Security Bureau arrived at the temple after they were notified of suspicious activity within the premises.

They were told that a man wearing a black-and-red T-shirt had been frequently spotted near the Earth deity's shrine, glancing at the donation box.

More from NextShark: Knife-wielding roosters kill 2 men in cockfighting events in India

Unlikely justification: Following an investigation, the officers identified the suspect as Ye and apprehended him at his residence. Upon questioning, Ye told authorities that the Buddha statue granted him permission to take the money as indicated by its hand gesture resembling the widely recognized "OK" sign.

In Buddhism, the gesture of pressing together the thumb and forefinger is called vitarka mudra, which symbolizes an uninterrupted flow of wisdom in the transmission of the teachings of the Buddha.

Financial hardship: Ye said he had encountered financial difficulties in recent weeks and maintained he only proceeded to take the cash due to Buddha's gesture.

More from NextShark: Conspiracy theory claiming COVID-19 came from US-linked labs in Ukraine trends on Weibo

He said he first noticed that the donation box was often left unattended in June while he was washing his clothes at the ponds near the temple. According to Ye, he took money from the temple several times but assured the Buddha statue that he would eventually return the funds when his financial situation improves.

Ye's confession provided enough evidence for the police to charge him with theft. He was sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention as punishment for his misdemeanors.

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More from NextShark: NYC man who attacked 7 Asian women in 3 hours charged with hate crimes

More from NextShark: California woman ordered to apologize, pay $9,000 for telling daughter to hit opponent at youth basketball game
The U.S. Marshals Service's Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is searching for a reputed gang member with ties to Miami and Boston suspected in the stabbing death of a young man in South El Paso earlier this year.

Aaron Durnell Williams, 43, is wanted on a murder warrant for allegedly stabbing 18-year-old Jadon Jeter Robinson during an argument Feb. 2 in the area of Noble Street and Magoffin Avenue, the U.S. Marshals Service and El Paso police said.

Robinson, who had lived in Northeast El Paso, was stabbed multiple times and died after being rushed into emergency surgery at Las Palmas Medical Center, 1801 N. Oregon St., police officials said.

Aaron Durnell Williams is wanted on a murder charge in connection with the stabbing death of Jadon Jeter Robinson, 18, on Feb. 2 in the Magoffin neighborhood in South El Paso.

El Paso police have been looking for Williams on a murder warrant since February. Both Williams and Robinson were homeless at the time of the killing, police said.

The deadly assault is part of an ongoing rash of shootings and stabbings near the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in the Magoffin neighborhood east of Downtown El Paso.

Williams is a reputed member of the Gangster Disciples street gang and has ties to El Paso; Houston; Miami; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Boston; and Lawrence, Massachusetts, according to a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive bulletin.

Williams speaks fluent Spanish and also is known as "Jesus Rivera." He is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs about 160 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on his left shoulder blade stating "704 Thug Life."

Courts: Reputed Barrio Azteca gangster gets decade in prison after migrants held hostage

A U.S. Marshals wanted bulletin states that Williams is considered "armed and dangerous" with "violent tendencies" and is an "escape risk."

Anyone with information on Williams may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS). Tips also may be submitted via the USMS Tips app.

U.S. Marshals Service. File art.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US Marshals hunt for murder suspect in South El Paso stabbing
LA PLATA, Argentina (AP)  Three decades ago, when he was a parish priest in Argentina, the man named by Pope Francis to be the Catholic Churchs new guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy wrote a short book about kissing and the sensations it evokes.

Some conservative sectors in the church are using the reflections in Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing to criticize the designation of Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez to lead the Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, a body once known as the Holy Office that for centuries was responsible for persecuting heretics, disciplining dissidents and enforcing sexual morality.

These are ultra-conservative sectors that deeply hate the Argentine pontiff (Francis), Fernandez, the archbishop of La Plata, a city 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Buenos Aires, told The Associated Press.

They take a phrase from the book and say: Look at the level of this theologian. How can a person who uses these expressions be the prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith? said Fernandez, who dreamed of being a poet when he was younger.

The 80-page book, published in 1995 but not longer in print, has emerged as a key point used to blast the appointment of the 60-year-old archbishop commonly known as Tucho to one of the Vaticans most powerful offices.

Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez was appointed by Pope Francis to head the Holy See's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican.

Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez was appointed by Pope Francis to head the Holy See's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican.

The book highlights the importance of kissing in human relationships, defining them as expressions of absolute love. In English, Kiss, in Italian, bacio, in French, baiser, in German, kuss, in Portuguese, beijo. Depending on how its done, it is also often called peck, sucking, drilling, etc., the book says.

An article published earlier this month on Catholic news agency Zenit said that everyone is talking about Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernandez ... and above all about his kisses.

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Criticism of the archbishop, whose appointment was seen by some as an attempt to break with the past, has come from conservative religious figures in the United States.

Pray that he returns to the Catholic faith, Joseph Strickland, bishop of Tyler, Texas, wrote on social media.

Fernandez, who has long had a close relationship with the pope, a fellow Argentine, said he rejected later offers to reprint the book.

I was already older, and I thought this is a book about the kiss ... so I said, No, no, no, please, dont reprint it, lets leave this in the past. But well, now its my karma, Fernandez said with a laugh.

One of the excerpts from the book reads: A couple with a lot of sex, a lot of sexual satisfaction, but few kisses that are genuine or with kisses that say nothing is digging the grave of love with each sexual encounter, creating routine, fatigue, and weariness until one of them finds something more human.

Fernandez argued he cant be accused of anything because the work in question contains no heresy or error. He stressed that the strategy of his critics is to quote phrases from the book repeatedly to question the pope for appointing someone with such superficial theology and street language to a key position.

The book includes a poem written by Fernandez: How was God so ruthless to give you that mouth... No one can resist, witch, hide it. The cardinal complained on social media that critics mistranslated bruja, or witch, as bitch.

Fernandez said he wrote the book along with a group of young people when he was a parish priest in the Argentine town of Santa Teresita, in the central province of Cordoba. He said it was written as a catechesis for teenagers, with the contributions of his young collaborators, and he improved them by providing a little editing.

In the books introduction, Fernandez wrote that the book was not written from his personal experience and that his goal was to summarize what mortals experience when they kiss.

Fernandez says he has written dozens of texts since then and his critics should cite ones he has published in top-level journals. He has been the rector of the Catholic University of Argentina and head of the Argentine Society of Theology. He was recently named a cardinal.

But they take this little youth catechism, from a poor parish priest from the countryside, and take phrases out of context, Fernandez said.

In Argentina, Fernandez has received some criticism on social media but has the support of the church in his homeland.

He has given an excellent and clear explanation of the issue, said Maximo Jurcinovic, director of communications for the Argentine Episcopal Conference.

Fernandez said the pope told him his task as head of the doctrinal office would be guarding the teaching that stems from faith in order to give a reason for our hope, but not as enemies who point fingers and condemn.

The book is not the only piece of controversial writing Fernandez has done in the past.

He has acknowledged that some of his writings were sent to the Vatican, anonymously, after then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio appointed him as rector of the Catholic University of Argentina in 2009. The controversy resulted in a two-year delay in his being cleared for the job.

Fernandez wrote about the ordeal soon after Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis, recounting that a newspaper article he had penned about gay marriage had been included in the anonymous dossier and that an unnamed Vatican congregation  believed to be the one responsible for Catholic education  repeatedly refused to receive him to explain himself.

He has also had to acknowledge mistakes in his handling of a 2019 case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing minors. The case has drawn allegations by critics that Fernandez tried to protect the priest, a charge that he has denied.

Today I would certainly act very differently and certainly my performance was insufficient, he told AP after celebrating Mass in La Plata.

By appointing Fernandez to head the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis seemed to indicate a desire for a break with the past.

The Dicastery over which you will preside in other times came to use immoral methods. Those were times when, rather than promoting theological knowledge, possible doctrinal errors were pursued. What I expect from you is certainly something very different, the pope wrote in a letter to Fernandez.

German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, who served as prefect of the office until Francis fired him in 2017, said the new directives are out of place considering the mission of that department was to protect and promote the revealed faith.

This is not a theological academy or a talk show where everyone can express their opinion, Muller said on conservative U.S. broadcaster EWTN.

Fernandez has characterized himself as a reformist who doesnt like to break with everything, but advocates for a church that is more inclusive, more respectful of different ways of living and thinking.

Associated Press journalist Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
Juan Manuel Rodarte appears via Zoom in Yakima County Superior Court Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Rodarte is charged with first-degree assault and other charges after prosecutors alleged he shot at a woman.
FILE  Charles Edward Hoffert holds up his bandaged hand during a preliminary appearance hearing in Yakima County Superior Court Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Hoffert, who was arrested following a June 16, 2022, standoff at his Summitview Avenue home, was in court for a preliminary appearance on an allegation that he attacked a police dog during the standoff. He recently pleaded guilty to lesser charges in Yakima County District Court.
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has signed an agreement with Hitachi Energy, a global leader in sustainable energy industry, for the upgradation of ultra-high voltage DC (HVDC) technologies in the kingdom.

As per the deal, Hitachi Energy will develop HVDC technologies as per international standards and specifications in new projects in the kingdom.

The agreement was signed by the duo under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Electricity Company.-TradeArabia News Service
As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (KLSE:TAKAFUL) shareholders, since the share price is down 25% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 7.2%.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

View our latest analysis for Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 3.7% per year, over the last three years. The share price decline of 9% is actually steeper than the EPS slippage. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 8.43.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

This free interactive report on Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad's TSR for the last 3 years was -18%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad provided a TSR of 5.5% over the last twelve months. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it's actually better than the average return of 0.2% over half a decade It is possible that returns will improve along with the business fundamentals. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad .

But note: Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Jasper Kenzo Sundeen'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.
Yuma School District One was one of 10 school districts in the nation to host STEMKAMP this summer. The five-day summer science camp is geared for incoming 3rd through 8th graders from active-duty military families but other students were welcome to join as space permitted.

From June 26-30, 125 students engaged in an array of activities, including creating meteorite launchers and mimicking the paths of meteors to building limited-material structures with relatives on Family Day and learning from squadrons and firefighters at Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) in Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma.

District One was able to offer the camp free of charge to students thanks to U.S. Department of Defense STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Through the DoDs National Defense Education Program, the DoD awarded Goshen Education Consulting, Inc a $2.8 million grant to implement 10 STEMKAMPs across the country from 2021 to 2023. Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) served as another partner.

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Women journalists from Belgium, Iran, Mexico, Palestine, Poland, Ukraine and U.S. honored for bravery

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced the winners of the 34th annual Courage in Journalism Awards, which recognize women journalists working under duress to bring truth to light. The 2023 honorees are Maria Teresa Montano Delgado, a veteran Mexican journalist covering widespread corruption in political power; the women journalists of The Washington Post reporting from the frontlines of Ukraine in 2022; and, posthumously, Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American career broadcast journalist who reported from the Middle East for decades and was killed in 2022.

International Women's Media Foundation (PRNewsfoto/The International Women's Media)

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was awarded the 2023 Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, which is given annually to a journalist who is unjustly jailed, detained or imprisoned. Moaiery is currently facing trial in Iran for covering anti-state protests in Tehran.

In its third decade, the IWMF's Courage in Journalism Awards remind the public of the cost, and benefit, of working as a woman journalist and the increasing threat facing press freedom worldwide. As challenges mount outside of conflict zones and into the online sphere, women in news media also work against additional, intentional campaigns of discreditation and intimidation simply because of their gender.

"For this year's Courage Award winners, any reporting  no matter the nature or the medium  presents a risk to their careers, their lives and even the well-being of their families," said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Munoz. "Their existence as truth tellers amid a sea of disinformation and public, state-sanctioned efforts to silence their voices is a true act of bravery. The IWMF is honored to recognize these women working tirelessly, and collaboratively, to reveal truths otherwise untold."

Reporting from the second most dangerous country in the world for journalists (in 2022), Maria Teresa Montano Delgado is regularly at risk, and was kidnapped in 2021 due to her ongoing investigative work into suspicious, multi-million-dollar contracts awarded by the State of Mexico. Assembled following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, The Washington Post's Ukrainian bureau and rotating reporting team of women illuminated transgressions otherwise shrouded by the chaos of war while covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The death of Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 speaks directly to the dangers journalists face on the frontline and the continued impunity surrounding their cases. This posthumous recognition also honors the years of threats she endured before her death as she covered conflict for Al Jazeera.

Yalda Moaiery  this year's Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists award recipient  has spent her career in photojournalism documenting conflict, war and natural disaster. In 2019, she gained attention for speaking out against former U.S. president Donald Trump after he used her photography to support an attack on Iran. Her arrest in 2022 occurred during protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini, and she awaits an upcoming trial date and sentencing while on bail.

The Courage in Journalism Awards are made possible by Bank of America, the awards' National Presenting Sponsor for 17 consecutive years. The IWMF would like to thank Bank of America for its commitment to journalism, diversity in news media and the pursuit of press freedom.

The 2023 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winners will be recognized during private ceremonies in Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles this fall. This year's IWMF Courage in Journalism Event Chair is former Vice Chair of Bank of America and former Chair of Bank of America Europe Anne Finucane. In addition to overseeing the strategic direction of the bank, Finucane is recognized for her innovative approach to corporate and social responsibility initiatives advancing racial equity.

About the 2023 Courage in Journalism Award Winners

Maria Teresa Montano Delgado (Mexico)  Investigative Journalist

Maria Teresa Montano Delgado is a freelance journalist and director of the investigative portal The Observer. Her reporting focuses on corruption within the State of Mexico (Edomex), a bastion of the PRI party, which held power in Mexico from 1929 to 2000. Her most recent investigation is a collaborative reporting initiative for Forbidden Stories, The Guardian and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which was also published in El Pais.

For more than 30 years Montano has chronicled corruption within her home country. She began her career as a correspondent for national media such as Notimex, El Universal, Milenio, Revista Proceso and El Financiero. During this time, Montano began to experience government harassment including public denigration of her reporting, smear campaigns, demands from powerful politicians, tax harassment and isolation by coercion; she was also sued for libel and the lives of her family were threatened. Despite the continuous abuse  including state-sanctioned espionage in 2019  Montano continued to report.

In February 2020, Montano was fired from Heraldo de Mexico due to her investigation of Edomex. At this time, she launched The Observer, which specializes in investigative journalism and fact-checking, and is open to all audiences.

In August 2021, assailants entered Montano's home, stole her car, laptops, recording equipment and cameras, and then kidnapped her, threatening death. After her release, Montano went into exile in Spain until late 2022.

Today, in addition to her journalistic pursuits, Montano spends time promoting the right to freedom of expression for journalists in Mexico and collaborates with Article 19 and CIMAC. She also recently assisted in the creation of the Law for the Protection of Journalists in Mexico.

Read more of Montano's story here.

Women of The Washington Post Reporting on Ukraine (Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, United States)  Journalism Team

Twitter: @washingtonpost, Instagram: @washingtonpost

The Washington Post was the first American news organization to establish a Ukraine bureau in May 2022. In 2022, the bureau was regularly joined by a rotation of The Post's women journalists on assignment.

The Ukraine reporting team included: Ukraine bureau chief Isabelle Khurshudyan and contributors Anastacia Galouchka and Kamila Hrabchuk. Rotating reporters on assignment in Ukraine in 2022 included: then-Cairo bureau chief Siobhan O'Grady, video journalists Whitney Shefte and Whitney Leaming, contributing photojournalist Heidi Levine, Baghdad bureau chief Louisa Loveluck, national security reporter Missy Ryan, Bogota bureau chief Samantha Schmidt, Berlin bureau chief Loveday Morris, contributing photographer Kasia Strek, political video reporter Joyce Koh and international reporter Miriam Berger.

When the full-scale invasion began, the Post team was in Kyiv as it came under Russian fire. In Kharkiv, Khurshudyan and Leaming were two of the last Western media reporters to leave the city as it came under heavy bombardment. O'Grady and Galouchka came under targeted artillery shelling twice while reporting on artillery combat in the Donetsk region. Shefte, who helped detail the story of women giving birth in underground bunkers, embedded with a military unit near Mariupol that had been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Levine  the recipient of the IWMF's inaugural Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award in 2015  joined the team as a photographer. She commented, "Women photojournalists are often in the minority and gender discrimination still exists: Now more than ever it's critical to recognize the achievements of women in journalism. We share this award with those at The Post who worked around the clock help ensure our team's safety and provided constant logistical support. We also share this award with the Ukrainian people, who allowed us to tell their story; their pain, sacrifice and resilience have deeply inspired us."

Due to the work of this collaborative, The Post's coverage included exclusive reporting and content from the frontlines of Ukraine, including information from sources that were cultivated for months. The Post team's reporting also included how Ukrainian forces were able to repel Russian occupiers using covert resistance fighters, drone-guided artillery fire and traditional trench warfare. Collectively, their reporting depicted  gravely and comprehensively  the human toll of war on a civilian population.

Read more about the teams behind The Post's Ukraine reporting here.

Shireen Abu Akleh (Palestine, United States)  Broadcast Journalist

Twitter: @shireennasri, Instagram: @shireenabuakleh

Shireen Abu Akleh  a renowned Palestinian American journalist who worked with Al Jazeera for more than 20 years  was a household name in Palestine and abroad. On May 11, 2022, Abu Akleh was killed by an Israeli soldier while on assignment covering a military raid on the Jenin refugee camp.

Abu Akleh studied journalism at Yarmouk University in Jordan. In her early career, she worked at the Voice of Palestine and Monte Carlo. In 1997, Abu Akleh began working with Al Jazeera as a correspondent and became one of the first Arab women field reporters for the network.

During the second Intifada, or uprising, Abu Akleh rose to prominence covering stories in the Arab world and abroad. She reported on the Israeli invasion of the Jenin refugee camp in 2002, the Gaza Wars of 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2021, the war on Lebanon in 2006, and the Arab Summit in Damascus and Egypt. Internationally, Abu Akleh covered multiple elections in the United Kingdom and United states as well as many other international events of importance.

Abu Akleh was always eager to learn new skills and keep up with new technologies in journalism. In addition to co-founding Sawt Falasteen Radio, in 2020 Abu Akleh earned a diploma in Digital Media from Birzeit University. In the years following, she became a trainer at the university's Media Development Center where she taught several courses to undergraduate students.

In her career and in her personal life, Abu Akleh was consistently honored for her work, professionalism and courage. In 2020, she commented: "In addition to political issues [of the day], my concern has been  and will always be  the human story, and the daily suffering of my people under occupation."

Reacting to this posthumous award from the IWMF, Abu Akleh's family commented, "We are honored that this year's IWMF Courage in Journalism Award recognizes Shireen's career, legacy and bravery. This award is a testament to Shireen's courageous voice that echoed through every home in Palestine. Her work has inspired generations of young women and girls to pursue careers in journalism, and we hope this award will remind the world of Shireen's legacy, reporting and contributions to journalism. Most importantly we hope the Courage Award will bring us closer to achieving accountability and justice. While our family continues to grieve this insurmountable loss, these honors bring us comfort and solace. Thank you, IWMF."

Read more of Abu Akleh's story here.

Yalda Moaiery (Iran)  Photojournalist

Twitter: @yaldamoayeri, Instagram: @yaldamoaiery

Currently on bail in Tehran, Yalda Moaiery ( ) is an Iranian photojournalist who has covered conflict, war and natural disasters for the past 20 years. Her assignments have taken her to Georgia, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Somalia. Moaiery's most recent work covered life in Afghanistan following the resurgence of the Taliban as well as mass protests in Iran surrounding rising fuel prices.

Moaiery is a member of the Iranian Photojournalists Association (IPJA), and her photojournalism has appeared in Time, Newsweek, the San Francisco Chronicle, Le Monde, The Mail on Sunday, Le Figaro and El Pais, among other international news outlets. One of Moaiery's most poignant pieces of work is her photo essay on women serving in the Iranian military and the legacy of Iran's Supreme Leader Khomeini.

On September 19, 2022, Moaiery was arrested by security agents of the morality police in downtown Tehran while covering protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. During the arrest, Moaiery sustained physical injuries and was taken with other women protestors to the Qarchak prison, a women-only detention facility south of Tehran.

Moaiery was released on bail on December 20, 2022, and continues to work while awaiting her court date and potential trial.

Moaiery's family commented, "Our family is thrilled to see Yalda receiving such a notable recognition. Since she was 18, Yalda's courageously put herself on the frontline in many dangerous situations due to her commitment to photojournalism. Yalda deeply deserves this award, and we thank the International Women's Media Foundation for recognizing Yalda."

Read more of Moaiery's story here.

About the International Women's Media Foundation

The IWMF is the only global organization built to serve the holistic needs of women and nonbinary journalists. We are a bold and inclusive organization that supports journalists where they are with awards, reporting opportunities, fellowships, grants, safety training and emergency aid. As one of the largest supporters of women-produced journalism, our transformative work strengthens equal opportunity and press freedom worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, on Instagram on @TheIWMF and on TikTok @theiwmf.

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Josephine Chaplin a murit la 74 de ani pe 13 iulie la Paris

Potrivit familiei, actrita, Josephine Chaplin, care a jucat in filme precum Povestile din Canterbury din 1971, de Pier Paolo Pasolini, a murit la Paris pe 13 iulie, conform jurnalul.ro. Josephine Chaplin a fost al saselea dintre cei 11 copii ai lui Chaplin si al treilea din cei opt [citeste mai departe]
(Bloomberg) -- Japan plans to propose a global stockpile for natural gas, similar to the emergency reserve in the oil sector, to help avoid future shortages and stabilize prices.

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The nations government will suggest that the International Energy Agency should create a gas stockpiling framework for member nations, according to people familiar with the details. The proposal will be set out during a conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, said one of the people, who asked not to be named as the details are private.

Japans trade ministry, which is co-organizing the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference with the IEA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday, a public holiday in Japan.

The government aims for its gas stockpile proposal to be included in the agenda for an IEA ministerial meeting in February. The IEA already requires member nations, such as the US and Japan, to have an emergency reserve of oil equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports for times of emergency, and Japans proposal is targeted toward creating a similar strategy for gas.

Russias invasion of Ukraine last year upended gas markets around the world, triggering record-high prices and stoking worries about security of fuel supplies. At the Group of Seven summit earlier this year, Japan and Germany pushed for the inclusion of language that left the door open for public investment in gas.

European Union member states already have natural gas storage targets, but a global framework doesnt yet exist. Storing the fuel for longer periods of time could be challenging for Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, which typically keep it in the form of liquefied natural gas that evaporates over time.

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We must stand together for every group that is a target of power, he said.







Mutual solidarity is indispensable, he said in the City Park after the parade. We live in a country that is not free enough, the mayor said, not only for the LGBTQ community, but also for other, too.



He accused the government of trying to hide real problems by stoking hatred.



Quoting Pope Francis, Karacsony spoke of Budapest as being a city of bridges connecting people. Lets keep Budapest free he said.







Marchers walked from Vajdahunyad Castle in the City Park through Heroes Square, Andrassy Street, Oktogon, Terez koruut, Kiraly Street, then back along Andrassy Street to return to Vajdahunyad Castle. US Ambassador David Pressman was among the marchers.



The parade was accompanied eight floats, including those of the opposition Socialist, Momentum, Parbeszed-Greens and Two-tailed Dog parties, and participants danced and waved rainbow flags.







At one point, the march was disrupted by counter-protesters who held up banners with the words: Crime cannot be an object of pride! and Lets stop the corruption of our children!
Daily commercial flights between Chennai and Sri Lanka's Jaffna city have commenced with India's Alliance Air increasing the frequency from the earlier four-times-a-week service, a move that is set to further boost travel and trade between the two countries. The move to increase the frequency of flights between Chennai and the Tamil-dominated Jaffna city was announced earlier this month by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia during the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) annual convention hosted in Colombo. The daily commercial flights between Chennai and the Jaffna International Airport (JIA) in the north began operations on Sunday, aviation officials said.

Chief Airport Manager, Aruna Rajapaksa, confirmed the inaugural flight's arrival in Jaffna at 11:30 am, marking the initiation of daily flights along this route, the NewsFirst news portal reported on Sunday.

"Alliance Air is set to commence daily scheduled operations between Jaffna and Chennai, starting from 16th July 2023. Initially operating with their ATR72 aircraft, which can comfortably carry 70 passengers", a press release by Sri Lanka's Airport and Aviation Services said.



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Alliance Air, which initially aimed for four flights per week starting from December 15, 2022, decided to upgrade the frequency of its operations to a daily flight service due to the growing demand for flights to the JIA.

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It added that that the flights are designed to ensure timely and convenient travel options for passengers, with arrivals at 11:30 am and departures to Chennai at 12:30 pm.

"Go South Go Chennai. An exciting trip awaits you in Chennai. Fly direct to Chennai from Jaffna, Mysore and Hyderabad," the Indian government-owned carrier tweeted on Sunday.

The JIA, developed with Indian assistance, now offers a growing number of scheduled flights catering to domestic and international travellers.

In December 2022, India and Sri Lanka resumed flight services between Chennai and Jaffna, three years after the island nation discontinued the services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airport in Palaly was named the Jaffna International Airport as Sri Lanka's third international airport in October 2019 and had its first flight from Chennai.

Tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings for cash-strapped Sri Lanka. However, the onset of the pandemic in 2020 severely crippled the tourism sector and was one of the significant reasons for Sri Lanka's economic travails.
Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party faction under Ajit Pawar and 15 of his MLAs on Monday met Sharad Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai and asked him to ensure the party stays united. However, an NCP spokesperson said such meetings would not make a difference since the action of the breakaway group was beyond rectification and had caused a trust deficit.

This is the second meeting of Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister on July 2, and his MLAs with the NCP supremo in two days.

Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, who was part of the meeting, said he and Ajit Pawar would attend the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting in Delhi on Tuesday.



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"In today's meeting with Sharad Pawar, we again asked him to ensure that the NCP stays united," Patel said.

Those MLAs (of the Ajit Pawar faction) who could not meet Sharad Pawar during the meeting held on Sunday were present on this occasion, Patel told reporters.

However, Clyde Crasto, NCP national spokesperson, called the meeting a "failed attempt" and said, "A lot of water has flown under the bridge of trust".

"Yet another failed attempt by the breakaway NCP group (referring to Ajit Pawar faction) to show the people of Maharashtra that they can pacify Sharad Pawar Saheb," Crasto said.

"It will not make any difference because a lot of water has flown under the bridge of trust. What this group has done cannot be rectified now," Crasto, part of the Sharad Pawar faction, said.

On July 2, Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil and Hasan Mushrif, had joined the Eknath Shinde government.

Ajit Pawar was made deputy chief minister, while the eight MLAs were sworn in as ministers.

On Sunday, the deputy CM and some ministers from his camp had met Sharad Pawar in YB Chavan Centre.

Talking to reporters after the meeting on Sunday, Praful Patel had said they made a request to Sharad Pawar to keep the party united.

The NCP founder listened to them quietly but didn't give any reaction, Patel had said.

He had added the group did not take Sharad Pawar's prior appointment but came to the Chavan centre directly after they came to know that he was present there.
New Delhi: More than 1.40 lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 2,378 crore were on Monday destroyed in different parts of India by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of all states in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Called it a 'historic milestone', Shah said that India has now attained an 'astounding record' of destroying 1 million kgs of drugs worth Rs 12,000 crore in just one year.

"The remarkable feat achieved at the Regional Conference on Drug Trafficking and National Security exemplifies the MHA's staunch and relentless pursuit of PM Narendra Modi Ji's vision of a drug-free India," he said.

Replying to Amit Shah's tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the historic milestone and said, "Great! Adds strength to our efforts to make India free from the drug menace."



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Great! Adds strength to our efforts to make India free from the drugs menace. https://t.co/JT77u8aOqT  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2023

While chairing the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Delhi, Amit Shah said that in a country like India, drug trafficking and their usage not only ruins future generations but also affects national security. He said that PM Modi has set a target that Indian youth should become drug-free by the time the centenary of the country's independence is celebrated.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader informed that a total of 1,40,288 kg of drugs have been destroyed and all the states on Monday, which is a record for the highest quantity of drugs destroyed in a single day.

Drugs worth Rs 18,100 crore destroyed between 2014 and 2023

The Union Home Minister stated that a total of 1,250 cases were registered between 2006 and 2013, while 3,700 cases have been registered in the nine years from 2014 to 2023, which shows an increase of 200 percent. A total of 1,360 arrests were made earlier period, which has now gone up to 5,650, which shows an increase of 300 per cent.

The quantity of drug seized was earlier 1.52 lakh kg, which has now increased by 160 per cent to 3.94 lakh kg, Shah said.

Drugs worth Rs 5,900 crore were destroyed between 2006 and 2013, while drugs worth Rs 18,100 crore have been seized and destroyed between 2014 and 2023, he added.

Harsher punishment will act as a stronger deterrent

Amit Shah said that states should establish specialized courts against drugs and conduct their prosecution in a fast-track mode.

"Harsher punishment will act as a stronger deterrent as it will send a stronger message," Shah said and added that the confiscation of assets of those involved in the illicit drug trade should be increased.

He emphasized that public shaming of these individuals will discourage others from joining this trade.

"We need to move ruthlessly towards the confiscation of assets," he added.

The BJP leader added that a compendium on drug-free India has also been released on Monday.

If we disseminate more information related to drug awareness, to District Administration, schools, and NGOs, the fight against drugs will be strengthened even more, he said.

"It is not just a fight to crack down on drugs or achieve complete victory, but the biggest victory in this fight is to create awareness," Shah said and added that we cannot win this fight until we create awareness against drugs in the minds of the youth and parents of the country.

Addressing the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security'. Today, about 1,44,000 kgs of seized drugs will be destroyed in various parts of the country.

https://t.co/A8Ju29Ll1p  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 17, 2023

Chief Ministers of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieutenant Governors of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Delhi attended the conference, besides the Director General of NCB, and senior officials from various security agencies and related ministries and departments.
BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday termed as "premature" talks of an electoral tie-up between his party and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections next year. Attacking the Congress over the meeting of Opposition leaders here, saying it is trying to project it as a great achievement while the party-ruled Government in Karnataka is not bothered about suicide of farmers.

On reports that the JD(S) may join hands with the BJP for the Parliamentary elections, he termed it as "premature". "(Lok Sabha) Elections are still 8-9 months away. Let's see," Kumaraswamy told reporters here. Without referring to the Congress, the former Chief Minister said banners have been put up along the roads here for the meeting of the Opposition and they are trying to project the event as if they have made some great achievement that no one else has done.

The Congress is under an illusion that the JD (S) is "finished," he said. In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda 19.



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Citing media reports, Kumaraswamy said 42 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka and the Congress government in the State is not worried over this. The government has not even appealed to the farmers not to take extreme steps, he alleged.
Latvijas Gaze

On July 17, 2023, under the agreement signed in April 2023, the final preconditions for the completion of the transaction of sale of the 100% subsidiary JSC Gaso were met, and the change of ownership has been registered with the Commercial Register of the Republic of Latvia, with AS Eesti Gaas becoming holder of 100% of shares in the JSC Gaso.

The JSC Gaso is the only natural gas distribution operator in Latvia. The JSC Gaso operates independently of the JSC Latvijas Gaze and the change of ownership will not affect the provision of the companies services to the customers of the JSC Latvijas Gaze.

In the balance sheet contained by the Q1 2023 financial statement of the JSC Latvijas Gaze, the contribution to the JSC Gaso was included under current assets in the amount of 122 million EUR, while the equity of the JSC Latvijas Gaze as at March 31, 2023 amounted to 319 million EUR. Upon completion of the transaction, the JSC Latvijas Gaze has received a payment that corresponds to the book value of the contribution.

The JSC Gaso financial results of last three years (thousand EUR):

2022 2021 2020 Turnover 51 180 57 914 49 090 Net profit/ (losses) (1 751) (11 545) 8 466 Dividends paid - 8 379 8 778

The JSC Latvijas Gaze confirms that there are no current material contracts between it and the JSC Gaso and there are no court or arbitration proceedings that might substantially affect the commercial activity of this capital company.

We are delighted that it was possible to complete the transaction within a few months from signing the agreement, and this further proves that AS Eesti Gaas is an appropriate partner for the JSC Gaso.

KPMG Baltics LLC un KPMG Law ZAB LLC provided support to the JSC Latvijas Gaze in the process of selling its subsidiary JSC Gaso to the Estonian company Eesti Gaas. KPMG Baltics LLC un KPMG Law ZAB LLC helped shape the deal structure, assisted the JSC Latvijas Gaze in the negotiation process, and conducted the legal procedures necessary for the deal.

The timely completion of the transaction enables the JSC Latvijas Gaze to responsibly prepare for the new 2023/2024 heating season and to decide on returning capital to shareholders at the Shareholders meeting scheduled for July 27, 2023.

JSC Latvijas Gaze

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About JSC Latvijas Gaze

Founded in 1991, the JSC Latvijas Gaze is one of the leaders of the Baltic energy sector and provides the wholesale and sale of natural gas to business customers in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Finland. In the household segment, the JSC Latvijas Gaze is the largest and most prominent natural gas trader in Latvia. The companys shares have been listed on the NASDAQ Riga stock exchange since February 15, 1999  a proof of high standards in terms of transparent governance, responsibility, and care for its customers, investors, and the society as a whole.




BENGALURU: Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has rallied support from a total of 25 parties for the second Opposition Unity meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru beginning on Monday. Leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting. Arrangements have been made for all the opposition leaders to stay at a five-star hotel in the city, party sources said.

As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am. And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced. According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting. Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various problems that may arise in the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed, they said.



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Sources said that a discussion may also be held on how to field a common opposition candidate on at least 80 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats against the BJP, how to have alliances in the states and how to distribute tickets at key constituencies. "In the meeting, deliberations will also be held on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)," they added.

All bigwigs in the opposition, including former Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, along with Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also confirmed its presence at the meeting on Sunday. This came after the Congress made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in the Parliament.

Earlier, during the Opposition meeting in Bihar's Patna on June 23, a rift was seen between the AAP and the Congress, after the latter delayed its stand on the Centre's ordinance. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to come for the opposition meeting as well despite her leg injury, following former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's call.

Earlier in the Patna meeting, 16 opposition parties were invited, and 15 of them attended the meeting. Apart from the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Janata Dal (United) (JDU), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation (CPIML), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal were among the list of invitees for the Patna meeting.

Rashtriya Lok Da l Party chief Jayant Chowdhary who had earlier distanced himself from the Patna meeting is scheduled to attend the second meeting in Bengaluru on Monday. In addition to these, the Congress has invited 10 new parties to the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru to increase its tally over the NDA. These include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).

"Congress, the main host of this two-day meet, is trying to make it look grander than that called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 13," sources pointed out.
Noida: The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday questioned Pakistani woman Seema Haider, who entered India illegally in May and is now living with her Grater Noida-based partner Sachin Meena after falling in love with him while playing PUBG online mobile game. The development comes a day after UP ATS arrested a suspected agent of Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Lucknow on charges of supplying "vital information about defence establishments" to his handlers in the neighbouring country.

The questioning of the Pakistani woman by the ATS also comes at a time when a little-known right-wing fringe group in Greater Noida has threatened a protest if Haider, who illegally entered India with her four children, is not evicted from the country "within 72 hours".





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A senior officer was quoted as saying by news PTI that Haider was being interrogated by the ATS on Monday and that local police were not involved in it. Local police are separately investigating the case and are yet to file a chargesheet, the officer said. The officer also stated that there are many elements involved in her illegal arrival in India so her interrogation becomes necessary from a security standpoint.

Love 'Only' Reason Why Seema Haider Came To India: Pak Intelligence Agencies

Meanwhile, Pakistan's intelligence agencies have informed the Indian government that love is the "only" factor that led a mother of four to sneak into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform.

Seema Ghulam Haider from Karachi in Sindh province and Sachin Meena in India got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019 and a dramatic love story unfolded between the two living more than 1,300 km 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.

Pakistani woman Seema Haider left the country only to marry an Indian man (Sachin Meena) out of love as no other factor/motive has come to forth so far, local Urdu daily, Jang, reported, quoting a report of the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

"According to the Pakistani intelligence agencies report, no other factors/motives except love' with Hindu Indian man appears to be the reason for leaving the country. The report has been submitted to the government," it said.

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. Both of them were later released from jail.

Threats To Seema Haider In Pakistan

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 Seema's village.

On Sunday there were reports of an attack on Radha Swami Darbar Temple in Sindh. Jacobabad General Hindu Panchayat president Lalchand Seetlani and other office-bearers have condemned the attack. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed concern over reports that 30 Hindus have been kidnapped in Kashmore and Ghotki.

The HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in Kashmore and Ghotki, where some 30 members of the Hindu community, including women and children, have been held hostage by organised criminal gangs, the commission said in a tweet on Sunday.

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 HRCP said.

Who Is Pakistani 'Bhabhi' Seema Haider?

Seema Haider, who is now being referred to as the Pakistani Bhabhi, has become the talk of the town ever since she was arrested for an illegal stay in India along with her lover Sachin Meena on July 4 and granted bail by a local court three days later. Interestingly, the woman claims to have come in contact with her lover Sachin in 2019 through the PUBG Mobile gaming app and fell in love with each other.

While some say that the Pakistani woman, who is reportedly fluent in English and knows how to operate a computer, is actually a Pakistani spy agency agent and has been planted in India as part of a big conspiracy by its notorious spy agency ISI, others call it a case of cross-border love.

I Am Not A Terrorist: Seema Haider

Seema Haider has meanwhile categorically denied allegations of being an ISI agent. Speaking exclusively to Zee Media, Seema Haider denied speculations about being a Pakistani spy agent who has been planted by the ISI in India. She told Zee Media that she is deeply in love with Sachin, who has taken great care of her children ever since they first met and got married in Nepal.

Seema Haider also claimed that she was getting death and rape threats from Pakistan and that she fears for her life. Making an emotional appeal to the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Noida Police, Seema said that she is a simple woman who wants to live in India. I am not a terrorist. I am an ordinary woman. I appeal to the government of India not to send me back to Pakistan otherwise I will be killed. I have changed my lifestyle. I have embraced Hinduism. I love Indian culture and want to live here forever. Seema also accused her Gulam Haider, who stays in Saudi Arabia, of spreading misinformation to defame her.
NOIDA: In more trouble for Seema Ghulam Haider, the Pakistani woman who crossed borders along with her four children and entered India illegally to stay with her Noida-based lover Sachin Meena, a right-wing outfit has now issued a 72-hour ultimatum for her to leave the country or face consequences. According to media reports, the ultimatum has been issued by the right-wing outfit ''Gau Raksha Hindu Dal,'' which claimed that Seema Haider could be a Pakistani spy and poses a threat to the country.

In a video, Gau Raksha Hindu Dals national president Ved Nagar claimed, We wont tolerate a woman from a traitorous nation. If Seema Haider does not leave the country in 72 hours, we will begin an agitation.

It may be noted that the Mumbai Police last week informed that its Traffic Control Room had received a call from an unidentified Urdu-speaking caller who reportedly warned of a 26/11-like terror attack in India if Seema Haider did not return to Pakistan.



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Who Is Pakistani 'Bhabhi' Seema Haider?

Seema Haider, who is now being referred to as the Pakistani Bhabhi, has become the talk of the town ever since she was arrested for an illegal stay in India along with her lover Sachin Meena on July 4 and granted bail by a local court three days later. Interestingly, the woman claims to have come in contact with her lover Sachin in 2019 through the PUBG Mobile gaming app and fell in love with each other.

While some say that the Pakistani woman, who is reportedly fluent in English and knows how to operate a computer, is actually a Pakistani spy agency agent and has been planted in India as part of a big conspiracy by its notorious spy agency ISI, others call it a case of cross-border love.

More Investigation Needed: Ex-UP Top Cop

For Former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh told a private TV news channel that Seema Haiders case should be thoroughly investigated by the police and the intelligence agencies. Questioning how an ordinary Pakistani woman can cross borders along with her four children without a valid visa and come to live in Noida without being detected by Indian agencies.

I Am Not A Terrorist: Seema Haider

Seema Haider has meanwhile categorically denied allegations of being an ISI agent. Speaking exclusively to Zee Media, Seema Haider denied speculations about being a Pakistani spy agent who has been planted by the ISI in India. She told Zee Media that she is deeply in love with Sachin, who has taken great care of her children ever since they first met and got married in Nepal.

Seema Haider also claimed that she was getting death and rape threats from Pakistan and that she fears for her life. Making an emotional appeal to the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Noida Police, Seema said that she is a simple woman who wants to live in India. I am not a terrorist. I am an ordinary woman. I appeal to the government of India not to send me back to Pakistan otherwise I will be killed. I have changed my lifestyle. I have embraced Hinduism. I love Indian culture and want to live here forever. Seema also accused her Gulam Haider, who stays in Saudi Arabia, of spreading misinformation to defame her.

Seema Haider-Sachin Meena Love Story

For the unversed, Seema fell in love with Greater Noida's Sachin Meena over the online gaming platform PUBG and later crossed multiple international borders ''illegally'' to live with him. She has now become a vegetarian and is quickly learning to adapt herself to Hindu traditions and customs  all for love. Ever since she came from Pakistan, Seema Haider is in awe of the Indian culture and lifestyle. Not only has she converted to Hinduism, Seema has also given up her favourite food - chicken biryani, meat and fish. The Pakistani Bhabhi is trying hard to wholeheartedly embrace Indian culture and doing everything to assimilate herself into Indian society.

According to media reports, Seema Haider has converted to Hinduism and wears a Radhe-Radhe strap around her neck. She can be seen greeting guests with folded hands, seeking blessings by touching the feet of elders, and engaging in prayer. Seema, 30, said that she has adopted a vegetarian lifestyle like Sachins family and wants to live here in India for the rest of her life.

The Pakistani woman grabbed a lot of eyeballs after she and Sachin Meena, 25, were arrested by the authorities on July 4. While Seema was charged with illegally entering India, Sachin was booked for sheltering the illegal immigrant. Seema was accused of illegally entering India without a valid visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, to live with her lover Sachin. The two were granted bail by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida on Friday.

How Did Seema & Sachin Met?

The couple's love story is as intriguing as a typical Bollywood potboiler. The two fell in love with each other while playing the online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) during the Covid-19 pandemic. They met in Nepal earlier this year in March and got married.

Narrating her story to reporters after walking out of jail, Seema said, "It was such a long and gruelling journey. I was very scared too. I first went from Karachi to Dubai, where we waited for 11 hours and couldn't sleep. We then flew to Nepal, before finally taking the road to Pokhara, where I met Sachin."

While she then went back to Pakistan, Sachin returned to India from Nepal. Upon reaching Pakistan, Seema, who claimed discord with her husband, sold a plot for Pakistani Rupees 12 lakh and arranged flight tickets and a Nepal visa for herself and her four children.

In May, she reached Nepal via Dubai and spent some time in the tourist city of Pokhara in the Himalayan nation. Then she took a bus to Delhi from Kathmandu and reached Greater Noida on May 13 with her children where Sachin had made arrangements for her to stay in a rented accommodation without disclosing her Pakistani identity.

Why Were They Arrested?





Their cross-border love story hit a dead-end after they were arrested on July 4 and put in jail. After getting bail from the court, Seema said that she will now focus on the paperwork to make her move to India official. She also said that she does want to go back to Pakistan and cited the stringent rules for women back in her country and a possible threat to her life.

"No one has brought me to India by persuasion, I have come here of my own free will for the sake of love," Seema said. In an interview with the BBC, Seema Haider said that she would rather slit her throat or consume poison than return to her homeland. Seema also revealed that she was forced to marry her Pakistani husband Gulam, who works in Dubai, at a very young age.

In his turn, Sachin, who works at a grocery store, said that he wants to live with Seema and her children in Greater Noida only. The duo also said they would contact lawyers to find out a way to legalise her stay in India. Seema said she will accept Hinduism. Sachin told reporters that they would soon take a dip in the holy Ganga together for her to embark on their new journey.

Twist In Seema & Sachin's Love Story

Seema Haiders first husband Gulam Haider has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government to send his wife and children back to Pakistan. Gulam Haider, who is currently residing in Saudi Arabia, has released a video in which he alleged that his wife Seema was lured and manipulated into leaving him and coming to India through PUBG.

Gulam Haider appealed to the Modi government to ensure a safe return of his wife and children to Pakistan. He also thanked the Indian media for their unexpected support. I express my gratitude by joining hands with the Indian media, through whom I could find the whereabouts of my wife and children, Gulam said.
Bengaluru: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi shared moments together, enquiring about each other's health and strategising on opposition unity on the first day of the Bengaluru summit, sources said on Monday.

The two leaders met each other after a gap of two years. The last time Banerjee met Gandhi was at the latter's residence in July 2021. While the two leaders have always had a cordial relationship, certain comments made by Congress leaders both in Delhi and West Bengal were believed to have led to some bad blood between them.

Banerjee, the sources said was particularly upset about the remarks made by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress's Lok Sabha MP from Behrampore in West Bengal, labelling her as a dictator and the workers of her Trinamool Congress (TMC) as goons.



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The sources said both Banerjee and Gandhi arrived at the venue of the summit at around 6 pm and were seen chatting with each other for about half an hour before the meeting started.

They said both enquired about each other's health -- Banerjee is recovering from a knee surgery and Gandhi too has had health issues.

The sources said the two leaders sat next to each other during the meeting that lasted for around an hour and a half and discussed ways in which their parties can work together and stay united against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre.

Banerjee, who was supposed to skip a dinner after the meeting due to her surgery, stayed on for some time after the deliberations but did not eat anything, the sources said.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and national spokesperson Derek O'Brien attended the dinner after Banerjee left.

The Congress and the TMC will play a major role in the coming days to cement the opposition unity.

Gandhi had not attended the last opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23.
New Delhi: Law will take its own course, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda said on Monday amid the Opposition's criticism of his party for joining hands with a faction of NCP leaders some of whom were accused of corruption by the BJP. However, he defended the alliance asserting if someone wants to join a "movement" and stand with the BJP's ideological commitment, then "we will move together".

"We all have to come together for development (of the country)," he told a press conference here. "Everyone has the right to move forward within the ambit of the law."

The BJP is the only political party that has been consistent in its ideology and pursuing the issues at the very core of the party's formation be it Article 370 or Ram temple, he said.



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"About the corruption... Law will take its own course," Nadda said replying to a question on NCP leaders, some of whom faced allegations of corruption in the past, recently joining the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra.

"We respect the law of the land, the Constitution. We are committed to protecting the Constitution. Everyone has the right to progress within the ambit of law," he added.

Nadda also rejected the charge that investigating agencies like the Enforcement Directorate are being misused to target opposition leaders.

"Which case the court has held was filed wrong? In which case the court gave them relief? In which case I did not say go, knock on doors of court and get justice? Have we filed the National Herald case? Aren't the son and mother out on bail?" he asked.

"This is a democratic country and everybody has got a right," he added.

Nadda said central probe agencies including ED are "independent".

"When your argument is not justified, you start playing the victim card and twisting facts," he said, hitting out at opposition parties.

He also alleged the opposition parties question the Electronic Voting Machine when they lose but keep mum when they win.
New Delhi: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme 14th Installment update:-- The Central government is all set to roll out the 14th instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan Yojana) next week.

As per a government website, PM Modi will release the 14th Installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to around 8.5 crore PM KISAN Beneficiaries on July 28. PM Modi will transfer the direct benefit to eligible beneficiaries and interact with farmers at 11 am on July 28, the website said.





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Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN), the central government provides benefits of Rs 6,000 every financial year to farming families by directly transferring the money to the their bank accounts.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojna 14th Installment to be released On July 15?

However, these are just initial media reports, as there is no official confirmation yet on the disbursal of the 14th Installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 14th installment Status Check

-Visit official PM KISAN website https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Portal

- You will see the map of India under Payment Success tab.

- On the right hand side, there will be a yellow coloured tab called "Dashboard"

- Click on Dashboard

- After clicking, you will be taken to a new page

- On the Village Dashboard tab, you will have to fill your complete details

- Select the state, district, Sub-District and Panchayat

- Then click on show button

- After this you can choose your details

We had earlier reported that farmers awaiting payment under PM Kisan might not receive it at all because of a minor mistake on their end.

Farmers who want to benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana can link their bank account with their Aadhaar card and submit their completed e-KYC on PM Kisan's official website, http://pmkisan.gov.in, according to a tweet from the program's official advertising and marketing agency.

If you are looking to complete the PM-KISAN e-KYC process, you can check out the step by step process below.

- Visit the official PM Kisan website https://pmkisan.gov.in/

- In the right hand side, below the home page, you will see Farmers Corner

- There is a box just below Farmers Corner that mentions e-kyc

- Click the e-kyc

- A page will open that facilitates Aadhar Ekyc

- Now, you will have to enter your Aadhar number and then the Captcha code shown and click on the search button

- After that, you will have to enter your mobile number linked to your Aadhar card and click on Get OTP button

- The OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number

- Punch in the OTP and click on the Submit For Authentication button

- As soon as you click Submit For Auth button, your PM KISAN e-KYC will be successful

Here Is How To Link Aadhaar With Bank Account In 3 Easy Steps Using Mobile App

- Sign in to your bank's mobile app

- Navigate to the "Services" page of the "My Account" section and select "View/Update Aadhaar card details."

- Enter your Aadhaar number twice and then press the submit button.

- You will receive notification that your bank account has been successfully linked to your Aadhaar card.

PM KISAN Scheme Details

PM KISAN Scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. While lakhs of eager farmers are waiting for the disbursal of Rs 2,000 in their account, there are several farmers who are not eligible for the PM KISAN Scheme.

Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undetakings and Government Autonomous bodies. Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits.
Dassault Aviation, the French aircraft maker, in a press release, said that the Indian government has selected the naval variant of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Navy. While there was no mention of the procurement of Rafale jets in a document released following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Dassault said that the Indian Government has announced the selection of the naval variant of Rafale jets. The defence ministry had on Thursday approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France.

"The Indian Government announced the selection of the Navy Rafale to equip the Indian Navy with a latest-generation fighter," Dassault Aviation said in a statement. It said the decision came after a "successful trial campaign held in India, during which the Navy Rafale demonstrated that it fully met the Indian Navy's operational requirements and was perfectly suited to the specificities of its aircraft carrier".

"The Indian Navy's 26 Rafale will eventually join the 36 Rafale already in service, which are giving full satisfaction to the Indian Air Force, making India the first country to make the same military choice as France by operating both versions of the aircraft to help consolidate its superiority in the air and on the seas and guarantee its sovereignty," it said. India is procuring the Rafale jets for deployment on the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.



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The French defence major said Rafale's selection confirms the excellence of the jet and its "exceptional quality of the link between Dassault Aviation and the Indian forces and the importance of the strategic relationship between India and France".

"As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our partnership with the Indian Forces, I would like to thank the Indian authorities for this new mark of confidence and pledge, on behalf of Dassault Aviation, that we will fully meet the Indian Navy's expectations with the Rafale," said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

Indian Navy's Jet Requirement

After the Indian Air Force buying modern fighter jets like Tejas, Rafale, the Indian Navy is now looking for an overhaul and requires a new batch of modern fighter aircraft to operate from its aircraft carriers. The Indian Navy had initiated the process to acquire 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier around four years ago. However, they will induct about 30 advance fighter jets in the fleet and replace the ageing Mig-29k, the naval version of the jet.

The Indian Navy is also working on the TEDBF program which is the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter program for made-in-India fighter jets based on the HAL Tejas LCA. Since these jets will take time to develop and will eventually replace foreign fighter jets in the fleet, Navy needs some modern machines in the interim to replace the Russian MIGs.

Recently, the navy carried out trials with the Dassault Rafale M, which is a French-made 4.5 gen fighter jet already in service with the IAF and also US-made Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, to check the operational capabilities of these jets on aircraft carriers. Both the jets get Air Force as well as Naval versions. Now, the Navy has selected 26 Rafale M to operate from INS Vikrant.

Dassault Rafale Marine

Rafale is a French word meaning "gust of wind" and is a twin-engine multirole 4.5 gen fighter aircraft manufactured and designed by Dassault Aviation. The Indian Air Force has placed a massive order to induct 36 Rafale jets to form two Squadrons, one in North India and another in South India. The Rafale Marine is the Naval version of the Rafale fighter jets with similar configuration.

The Dassault Rafale has a delta wing design and is capable of higher G-forces as much as 11G and is available in both single and dual seating cabin configurations. The Rafale is 15.27 metre long and a wingspan of 10.80 metre. The Rafale has GIAT 30M/719B cannon mounted on it with the capability of controlled 0.5 or 1 second bursts at 2,500 RPM.

Rafale is equipped with a primary missile as the multi-target, fire-and-forget, air to air MBDA MICA missile. In BVR(Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missile, Rafale has MBDA Meteor. Indian Navy has selected the Dassault Rafale M over Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
New Delhi: In a shocking incident, Delhi Police on Monday arrested two persons, including a woman, for allegedly killing a 20-year-old man in northeast Delhi's Shastri Park area. According to the police, the woman alleged that the deceased had raped her on several occasions and in order to take revenge, she killed him.

A woman and a man namely Irfan have been arrested for the murder of a 20-year-old man Abujar. During the interrogation, they revealed that they killed Abujar as he had raped the accused woman multiple times and she wanted to get rid of him. 2nd accused Irfan is the husband of the woman's close friend. A knife used for the crime has been recovered, the Delhi Police said.

Sharing more details, Joy Tirkey, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North-East, said, A woman allegedly executed the murder of a relative, who repeatedly sexually assaulted her. The Delhi Police have arrested two accused in this case and further investigation is underway."



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How Was The Murder Executed?

She took the victim to a spot near Bela Farm to watch the overflowing Yamuna river and with the help of a male friend overpowered him and stabbed him to death there, they said.

On Sunday around 8:34 AM, a shirtless body with injury marks on the neck and abdomen was found in Bela Farm in the Shastri Park area, police said.

After analysing footage of CCTV cameras, two suspects were identified as a 20-year-old woman, a resident of Badayun in Uttar Pradesh, and Irfan (36), a resident of Shastri Park. Subsequently, they were nabbed, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said.

Interrogation revealed that the woman's husband, who was a relative of the deceased, had died in January, he said.

The woman told the police that the deceased had raped her many times and the sexual assault increased after her husband's death. She wanted revenge and freedom from the deceased, the DCP said.

The woman is a close friend of the wife of Irfan who agreed to help her to eliminate her alleged tormentor, the police officer said.

She took the victim to a spot near Bela Farm to watch the overflowing Yamuna. There, she and Irfan overpowered him and stabbed him to death. They then dumped the body behind a wall in in the farm, Tirkey said.

The knife used in the commission of crime was recovered from near the spot, police said.
New Delhi: Leaders of 38 parties have confirmed their participation in a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to be held in the national capital on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda said on Monday. Addressing a press conference, Nadda said that the NDA constituents are upbeat due to the 'positive impact' of the Narendra Modi government's schemes and policies.

"NDA's reach and scope have increased over the years," the BJP national president said.

The NDA meeting will see the presence of a host of existing and new BJP allies as the ruling party has worked overtime in recent weeks and months to seal fresh alliances and win back those who had quit the ruling combine.



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Parties such as AIADMK of Tamil Nadu and Pawan Kalyan's Jan Sena of Andhra Pradesh are among the other parties that will be present in the meeting, besides a number of them from northeast states and other parts of the country.

First such NDA meet of this scale during Modi govt's second term

It will be the first such NDA meeting of this scale during the second term of the Narendra Modi government, underscoring the imperative within the ruling party to project its credentials as a lead coalition partner in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May.

Regional parties, including those with a small but solid share of votes in a particular region or caste, can be crucial in swinging the balance in the polls in several seats in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

With the BJP making all-out efforts to retain its majority in Lok Sabha for a third straight term, its leadership has made pragmatic adjustments to accommodate new allies while also working to weaken the opposition bloc in crucial states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

After losing a number of its traditional allies such as the Janata Dal (United), Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, and Akali Dal, the BJP has succeeded in making alliances with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, now recognized as the real party, the Ajit Pawar-led faction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) in Uttar Pradesh and Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Upendra Kushwala-led Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP).

NDA vs Opposition on Tuesday

The meeting of the NDA is scheduled to be held on a day several opposition parties are set to hold deliberations in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"United We Stand" is the slogan on posters that have dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, NCP's Sharad Pawar, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, DMK chief MK Stalin and leaders of Left and some regional outfits.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in the Karnataka capital on a special plane and were received at the airport by state chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav also reached later in the afternoon.

A warm welcome was also accorded in Bengaluru to other leaders like former chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (People's Democratic Party), besides Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI) and Jayant Chaudhary (RLD).

Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday asserted that the Opposition unity would be 'a game changer' for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a "ghost".

Addressing a press conference on the two-day crucial deliberations of Opposition parties starting this evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA.

"Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly, since the past few days, we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it," Ramesh said.
NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday decided to be a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Confirming the development, the BJP on Monday said that Chirag Paswan has decided to join the NDA alliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. BJP chief J P Nadda, who met Chirag Paswan in Delhi, welcomed him into the "NDA family". The development comes a day ahead of the ruling National Democratic Alliance meeting.

Paswan also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and described his discussion on the issues related to the alliance with BJP as "positive". Nadda had earlier invited Chirag Paswan to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting that is scheduled to be held on July 18.

The meeting in the national capital will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The LJP (Ram Vilas), significantly, is in alliance with the BJP at the Centre. It even holds a seat in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament.



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Leaders of 38 parties have confirmed their participation in a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to be held in the national capital on Tuesday, Nadda said. Addressing a press conference, Nadda said that the NDA constituents are upbeat due to the 'positive impact' of the Narendra Modi government's schemes and policies. "NDA's reach and scope have increased over the years," the BJP national president said.

The NDA meeting will see the presence of a host of existing and new BJP allies as the ruling party has worked overtime in recent weeks and months to seal fresh alliances and win back those who had quit the ruling combine.

Parties such as AIADMK of Tamil Nadu and Pawan Kalyan's Jan Sena of Andhra Pradesh are among the other parties that will be present in the meeting, besides a number of them from northeast states and other parts of the country.

Reacting to the BJP's invite to the NDA meeting, the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief earlier told reporters that 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.

We will take a final decision (on joining the NDA) after consulting all the party leaders and workers. We have supported BJP on various issues from time to time, but the final decision on whether to go to the NDA meeting or join the alliance (ahead of the Lok Sabha polls) will be taken after holding discussions with all party leaders, Chirag Paswan told ANI on Saturday.

To mark the completion of 9 years of the NDA rule under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP launched a month-long Jan Sampark Abhiyan (mega outreach campaign) on June 1.

Over the course of its mega campaign, which culminated on June 30, the BJP organised a raft of events featuring a raft of top leaders and Union ministers. The purpose of these meetings was to highlight the key takeaways of the NDA government under PM Modi and the many welfarist and developmental schemes that are being implemented across the country.

After a split in 2021, the LJP (Ram Vilas) was allocated a new symbol by the Election Commission (EC). The rival LJP faction, under the leadership of Pashupati Kumar Paras, a sitting Union minister, came to be known as Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party.
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Jose Kling joins Griffin as Senior Vice President, Marketing. Jose has over 30 years of experience in the commercial aircraft and engine industries. Prior to joining Griffin, Jose held various leadership positions at GE Aerospace including General Manager of Lessor Operations, Head of Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Managing Director of Customer Financing. Prior to GE Aerospace, Jose held senior positions at GE Capital including Senior Vice President of Corporate Lending at GE Commercial Finance and Vice President of Marketing at GECAS. Prior to joining GE, Jose held commercial positions at Airbus in North America and British Aerospace in Latin America.

Peter joins Griffin as Tax Director. Peter previously served as Head of Tax for the Aviation Finance group within Castlelake, where he was responsible for all tax structuring and compliance obligations of the Aviation Finance business. Prior to that, Peter worked in PwC Ireland for 11 years, predominantly within the Aviation Finance Tax group. Peter is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Consultant. He obtained his Bachelors and Masters degree in Physiotherapy from University College Dublin.

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jmoriarty@griffingam.ie






Lucknow: OBC leader and former Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan on Monday joined the BJP at the party office here, giving a boost to the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the general elections early next year. Chauhan joined the saffron party in the presence of UP Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, ministers Girish Yadav and Baldev Singh Aulakh and state BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary.

Speaking on the occasion, Chauhan termed his rejoining the BJP as "ghar wapsi" (returning home) and expressed his thanks to the party's central and state leadership.

"In 2024 (Lok Sabha polls), Narendra Modi will become the prime minister again. No power on earth can stop him," he said.



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Chauhan, who hails from eastern Uttar Pradesh, said the opposition is not in the contest on even a single seat in 'Purvanchal' (eastern UP) and that the BJP will win all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

"The buzz seen in Purvanchal, and also in the entire UP, makes it amply clear that in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is going to register a huge win under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is not a single seat in Purvanchal where the opposition can register a victory," he said.

"Today, I have returned to the BJP as its soldier. Every party worker will work as a soldier to help the BJP win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added.

Chauhan praised the development work being done by the Centre and the state government.

Chauhan belongs to OBC 'Noniya' caste, which has significant presence in over half-a-dozen parliamentary seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ghosi, Pratapgah, Azamgarh and Mau.

The BJP has already gained support of another OBC leader Om Prakash Rajbhar, who has six MLAs in the UP assembly.

Earlier in the day, Chauhan met Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana at the latter's office and submitted his resignation letter.

On Saturday, Chauhan, who was the Samajwadi Party MLA from Ghosi in Mau district, had tendered his resignation from the UP Legislative Assembly.

An Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader, Chauhan was the minister for forests and environment in the previous BJP government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He resigned from the Council of Ministers on January 12, 2022 to join the Samajwadi Party.

Chauhan represented the Madhuban assembly constituency in the Mau district from 2017 to 2022. He also represented the Ghosi seat in the 15th Lok Sabha for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he was defeated by BJP candidate Harinarayan Rajbhar by more than 1.4 lakh votes.

Chauhan had earlier joined the BJP in 2015 and was appointed as the party's OBC Morcha president and fielded from the Madhuban assembly constituency.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both the NDA and the UPA, have intensified their attempts to align like-minded parties. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will be holding a key meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday where nearly 30 parties are likely to participate, 24-26 Opposition parties are meeting in Bengaluru today. Reacting to the NDA meeting, Congress today claimed that the BJP is baffled after the Jun 23 opposition meeting in Patna and thus, trying to breathe in new life into the NDA.

"PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting (of Opposition), the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Till now, NDA doesn't use to get a mention. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna. It was started in Patna on Jun 23 and it will be taken forward on July 18 in Bengaluru," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asked why does the BJP need NDA if PM Narendra Modi is alone enough? "...If he (PM Modi) is stronger than the entire Opposition and he alone is enough for them, why is he calling together the 30 parties? Disclose the names of these parties. Are they even registered with the Election Commission? People with us have always been with us...They are baffled by what we are doing, so they are gathering factions of parties to show their strength," said Kharge.



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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that during the opposition meeting, there will be discussion on many things including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, and the name of the united front.

Speaking about the joint Opposition meeting, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "We are all united by a common purpose - to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions. These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP government. They wanted to silence the Opposition's voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example..."
New Delhi: The BJP on Monday slammed the scheduled meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru calling it a "meeting of opportunists and power-hungry" leaders and said that such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future. Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad ridiculed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said he has gone to attend the opposition parties' meeting in Bengaluru instead of being in the national capital to provide relief to the people affected by the flood.

Prasad also hit out at the Congress alleging that it has not said a word on the Kejriwal government's "mismanagement" during the flood situation in Delhi or on the violence during panchayat polls in West Bengal, where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is in power. "Opposition parties' meet in Bengaluru is a meeting of opportunists and power-hungry leaders," Prasad told reporters."Such an alliance is neither good for India's present nor for its future, he charged.

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP and TMC, are arriving in Bengaluru to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday and they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.



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Among top opposition leaders, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav have already left for Bengaluru on Monday to attend the second meeting of the opposition parties.

Kumar is accompanied by his party JD(U)'s national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh and state Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha.

Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Kumar in Patna on June 23. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

Other top leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, besides former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to sources, the leaders are likely to hold discussions on issuing a joint declaration and move forward on their proposal of putting up common opposition candidates in a majority of the Lok Sabha seats. The agenda for the talks would be finalised during discussions before a dinner meeting on Monday evening, they said.

There is a proposal to set up a subcommittee for drafting a common minimum programme and communication points for the Opposition alliance for the 2024 general elections, the sources said, adding there is also a plan to set up a subcommittee for chalking out the joint programme of parties that includes rallies, conventions and agitations.

A plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis is also on the table. The opposition leaders may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission, the sources said.

The opposition leaders also plan to suggest a name for the alliance.
New Delhi: Amid differences over the appointment of the new DERC chairperson, the Supreme Court Monday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to discuss the names of former judges who could head the national capital's power regulator, saying the two constitutional functionaries have to rise above "political bickering". A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra said it will take up the issue for consideration again on Thursday, and asked the counsel for the city government and the LG to apprise Kejriwal and Saxena of today's development in the court.

"The two constitutional functionaries have to rise above political bickering and they should give a name for the DERC chairperson," the bench said.

The apex court had said on July 4 that it will examine the constitutional validity of a provision of the Centre's recent ordinance governing appointments such as that of the DERC chairperson even as the Delhi government informed the court of the oath-taking of Justice (retd) Umesh Kumar as chief of the national capital's electricity regulatory authority stands deferred.



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The appointment of Justice Kumar as the DERC chairperson has become yet another flashpoint in the turf war between the city's AAP government and the Centre.

The AAP government had recommended the name of former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Justice Srivastava for the position. However, Justice Srivastava expressed his inability to take charge due to "family commitments and requirements".

Later, the government sent the name of Justice (retd) Sangeet Raj Lodha of the Rajasthan High Court on June 21. The central government, however, notified the name of Justice Kumar for the post the same evening, prompting the AAP government to move the top court challenging the notification.
NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar will not participate on the first day of the two-day joint opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru from Monday, the party saidf. However, senior Pawar will attend the meeting on Tuesday, second day of the meet, said Maharashtra Spokesperson of NCP's Sharad Pawar faction, Mahesh Bharet Tapase. "National President @NCPspeaks @PawarSpeaks Saheb and Executive President @supriya_sule will attend the meeting of opposition parties to be held in Bengaluru on Tuesday 18th July," shared Tapase in a tweet.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also said "Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning." "After the Patna meeting, the Bengaluru meeting that will emerge today will be decisive. Shiv Sena Party Chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend the meeting. There was confusion about whether Sharad Pawar would attend the meeting or not. Pawar will attend the meeting in Bengaluru tomorrow morning. I am saying this with certainty. Hum Sab Ek Hai!," Raut said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, big posters and banners have been seen on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in the Karnataka capital. Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre.

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As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am. All the opposition leaders will arrive for the afternoon meeting. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced. The first mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna on June 23 by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. At the meeting, opposition heavyweights, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, brainstormed on a roadmap for an anti-BJP front in time for the next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Bengaluru: With a call for unity, top leaders of 26 opposition parties began crucial deliberations on Monday to chalk out their joint programme aimed at defeating the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, who were seated next to each other, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers M K Stalin, Nitish Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren and RJD chief Lalu Prasad were among those who attended the dinner meeting where discussions were held to finalise the agenda for the formal talks starting Tuesday morning. Sources said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was the only leader among the invitees not present at the meeting at Taj West End Hotel and he would arrive on Tuesday along with his daughter Supriya Sule.

"It was a good meeting," Mamata Banerjee later said.

The leaders sat in front of a huge banner with the "United We Stand" slogan, which was also put on posters that dotted the streets of Bengaluru with pictures of opposition leaders.



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Among others at the meeting hosted by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah were Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Akhilesh Yadav (SP), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), besides Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI) and Jayant Chaudhary (RLD). A warm welcome was earlier accorded here to all the leaders on their arrival here for the two-day brain-storming session.

The Congress asserted that Opposition unity would be "a game changer" for the Indian political scenario.

It took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a "ghost".

Claiming that the BJP was rattled, Congress president Kharge said all opposition alliance partners will unitedly fight against the BJP and thwart attempts to divide them.

The Opposition meeting coincides with the NDA meeting convened on July 18 in Delhi, where some new allies are likely to join the ruling BJP-led coalition.

Talks of unity notwithstanding, differences among opposition parties, especially those who have been traditional rivals remain, and reconciling political interests will be a challenging task.

Arriving for the Opposition meeting, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury ruled out any alliance with the TMC in West Bengal and said that secular parties along with the Left and the Congress will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in the state.

Yechury, however, added that the endeavour is to reduce the split in opposition votes and they will chalk out a plan to fight together.

The BJP, which has been targeting these parties over their differences, on Monday called it a "meeting of opportunists and power-hungry" leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future.

But Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said the 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people's problems and to address the concerns over this "dictatorial government's actions".

Fifteen parties including the Congress, TMC, AAP, CPI, CPI-M, RJD, JMM, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), SP and JDU, attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23.

Among the parties which will be added this time are MDMK, KDMK, VCK, RSP, CPI-ML, Forward Bloc, IUML, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and Kerala Congress (Mani), besides the Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) of Krishna Patel and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) led by M H Jawahirullah.

The total strength of the opposition parties attending this meeting is around 150 in Lok Sabha.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien said political parties at the Bengaluru meeting "were clearly setting the narrative" while the "BJP is reacting".

He claimed that out of the NDA allies, eight do not have a single MP, nine have one MP each and three have two MPs each.

Kharge took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition, then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA "which had become a ghost".

Venugopal said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights and the independence of institutions in this country.

The Parliament session is starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

"We are very sure that this (meeting) is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario," Venugopal said.

Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, "We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don't worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country."

Referring to his party's differences with the TMC, CPI(M) leader Yechury said the situation is different in every state.

"The effort is to ensure that in these situations the division of votes which gives BJP the advantage should be minimal. This is not a new thing. Like in 2004, the Left had 61 seats, out of which we won 57 defeating the Congress candidates...Then the Manmohan Singh government was formed and it ran for 10 years.

"Mamata and CPI(M) will not happen. There will be secular parties along with the Left and the Congress in West Bengal which will fight against the BJP and TMC," the CPI(M) general secretary said, adding that at the Centre what form this will take will be
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the release of legendary film director Christopher Nolans much-awaited movie Oppenheimer starring Cillian Murphy in the lead role, there is a lot of buzz about J Robert Oppenheimer on social media. Nolan, who is known for his brilliant story-telling skills and for exploring themes like space and time in his movies, is releasing his latest directorial venture at a time when nuclear tensions loom worldwide.

So, Who Was Oppenheimer?





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Known as the father of the atomic bomb, Robert Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist who led a team of scientists during World War II who were tasked with creating a weapon that would alter the course of the war. As wartime head of the Los Alamos Laboratory, the birthplace of the Manhattan Project, the team led by Oppenheimer developed the atomic bomb - a scientific invention that changed the world forever and continues to shape the geopolitical landscape in the 21st century.

Early Life

Born to German Jewish immigrants on 22nd April 1904 in New York, Oppenheimer was a natural scientist. When he was just 12 years old, he was invited by the New York Mineralogical Club to deliver a lecture at the time. The club was impressed with his deep knowledge of minerals at a young age.

Oppenheimer went to Harvard University to study chemistry in 1922. However, three years later, he was much drawn towards physics and thus his career took a different scientific path. Oppenheimer later travelled to Cambridge to do his graduation in physics where he began training under Nobel Prize winner J J Thomson - the man who detected the electron  at the Cavendish Laboratory.

A year later, Oppenheimer, in the midst of his atomic research, was invited by Max Born, the director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Gottingen, Germany where he got an opportunity to exchange views and opinions with future world-renowned scientists.

While in Germany, Oppenheimer published many papers on quantum theory. His work on Born-Oppenheimer approximation for molecular wave functions, which was regarded as a significant contribution to the quantum molecular theory, was widely appreciated by the scientific community.

Oppenheimer received his doctorate in 1927 and undertook professorships at both the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology. Oppenheimer spent his 13 years conducting important research in a multitude of scientific fields including nuclear physics, quantum field theory, and astrophysics.

He and one of his students, Hartland Snyder, produced a paper in 1939 that predicted the existence of black holes. This, along with the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, remains two of his most cited papers. He was nominated for a Nobel Prize three times, however, he never actually managed to win it.

With the rise of Hitler's Nazi Germany, Oppenheimer like many others was of the view that Germany would soon develop the world's first nuclear weapon. As war broke out across Europe in September 1939, Oppenheimer collaborated with like-minded Americans who were equally eager to develop a nuclear weapon.

Manhattan Project

In 1942, Oppenheimer was invited by General Leslie Groves to lead the 'Manhattan Project,' the top-secret US project to develop the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer selected a secret location in Los Alamos, New Mexico where the US Army began constructing a series of laboratories there. The Manhattan Project, which was funded by American taxpayers money, saw Oppenheimer and his team developing their first atomic bomb within just three years.

Trinity Test

The world's first nuclear explosion occurred on July 16, 1945, when a plutonium implosion device was tested at a site located 210 miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico, on the plains of the Alamogordo Bombing Range, known as the Jornada del Muerto. The code name for the test was "Trinity."

After the bright flash of light, Oppenheimer breathed a huge sigh of relief and said: I guess it worked. He later famously recalled that the history-defining moment had brought to mind words from a sacred Hindu text:

The Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Less than a month later, the American military dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which effectively brought an end to the Second World War. Back then, Oppenheimer is said to have been distraught with the loss of lives and the huge scale of destruction in the two Japanese cities after the atomic bomb was dropped.

A few days later, he expressed his displeasure with President Truman during which he told the latter that he felt there was blood on hands. President Truman was not very pleased with Oppenheimers moralistic stance and told the White House officials that he never wanted to meet him again.

After the end of World War II, Oppenheimer became a household name and graced the covers of both Life and Time magazines. In 1947, he was appointed chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). However, during his lifetime, Oppenheimer strongly opposed the development of the more powerful hydrogen bomb  a stance that angered those who wanted to America to effectively counter the growing Soviet threat.

Oppenheimer was criticised for having Communist sympathies and was removed as the head of the AEC in 1954 and stripped of all security clearances. Later, in 1963, Oppenheimer was awarded the Enrico Fermi Award  a move that was seen as an apologetic gesture by the US political leadership to recognise the famed nuclear scientist. Oppenheimer died on 18th February 1967 due to throat cancer in Princeton, New Jersey.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday condemned the raid at multiple premises of Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani Pon by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and alleged that the Centre is trying to 'break parties and scare everyone'. His reaction came after the ED on Monday conducted raids at multiple premises of Ponmudy and his son in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining.

"We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone with ED," Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet.

"But for ED, NDA would be left with no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left. You cannot scare or control a great nation like India through ED," he added.



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We strongly condemn ED raids on TN Education minister now. They are trying to break parties and scare everyone wid ED



But for ED, NDA would be left wid no partners and many leaders in BJP would have also left



U cannot scare or control a great nation like India thro ED  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 17, 2023

Ponmudy, notably, is the second Minister in the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's cabinet to face ED raids following Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last month in a cash-for-jobs case following searches.

The 72-year-old Ponmudy is an MLA from the Tirukkoyilur Assembly constituency in the Villupuram district while his 49-year-old son Sigamani is a Member of Parliament representing the Kallakurichi seat.

ED raids K Ponmudy in illegal mining case

The money laundering case is linked to alleged irregularities when Ponmudy was the state mining minister (between 2007 and 2011) and there were allegations of violation of quarry licence conditions leading to loss of about Rs 28 crore to the exchequer.

The TN police had filed a complaint to probe these charges of alleged corruption against the minister and those linked to him and the Madras High Court in June refused to stay the trial in this case after Sigamani approached it with a petition for relief. The minister is accused of obtaining mining/ quarry licences for his son and other family members and the licencees are alleged to have quarried red sand beyond the permissible limit.

The High Court said that there were grounds to presume that the petitioner has committed the offence and hence the trial cannot be stopped.

MK Stalin mocks ED

CM MK Stalin mocked the central agency as having joined the 'election campaign.'

"As regards Tamil Nadu, Governor RN Ravi is already conducting a poll campaign for us and now, the ED has joined (the poll scene) and I feel the election work for us will be easy," the DMK president said.

"The DMK is not worried a wee bit," he said on the ED searches.

"Opposition parties joining forces has irritated the BJP and the ED searches reflected it. That agency's raids were a 'tactic to divert attention' from the 'objective' of the Opposition meetings, held first in Patna last month, to be held now in Bengaluru and later in other states," Stalin alleged.

People, who were witnessing it all would give a fitting reply in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he added.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemns ED raids

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the ED raids and said, "This has become Modi Govt's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition."

Taking to his official Twitter account, he further said surprisingly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 'suddenly' woken up to the need of putting together an alliance of ideologically opposed parties.

"All like-minded parties are united against the vendetta politics of the Modi Govt and shall not be bogged down by these cowardly tactics to trample upon democracy," Kharge said.
New Delhi: The United Nations Security Council will hold its first formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) this week in New York, with Britain to call for an international dialogue about its impact on global peace and security. Governments around the world are considering how to mitigate the dangers of emerging AI technology, which could reshape the global economy and change the international security landscape.

Britain holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month and has been seeking a global leadership role in AI regulation. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will chair the discussion on Tuesday.

In June, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).



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Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper speaking at RUSI

Training AI to incite violence or radicalise the vulnerable would become an offence under a Labour government.

Labour's Yvette Cooper said current laws were not fit for purpose in the face of emerging cyber threats.

The shadow home secretary pointed to the recent case of a man who was encouraged to attempt to assassinate the Queen by his AI chatbot girlfriend.

The government is expected to update its counter-terrorism strategy this week.

In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), Ms Cooper urged the government to include action to tackle the deliberate misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in particular.

She said: "Hateful extremist online forums and chatbots and algorithms that prey on vulnerable people have been a concern for some time - but generative AI takes that to a new level.

"Labour will take action to criminalise those who purposefully train chatbots to spout terrorist material.

"We will work with the intelligence community and law enforcement on ways to stop radicalising chatbots that are inciting violence or amplifying extremist views."

Taskforce

The shadow home secretary also called for a new law to ban hostile state-sponsored organisations like Wagner and lslamic State, "instead of trying and failing to use counter-terror legislation".

She said the threat from hostile states including China and Russia was so great that a parallel strategy targeting state actors was needed to run alongside counter-terrorism plans.

The increasingly blurred space between terrorism and conventional state threats meant the Foreign Office and Home Office must work together more closely to speed up decision-making, she said, and "remove traditional barriers and turf wars between departments".

Ms Cooper outlined a series of proposed new cross-government partnerships to address what she called a lack of leadership and collaborative working at the Home Office, which she said was leaving the UK vulnerable.

Highlighting how London is still "home to some of the worst money laundering scandals of the modern age", Ms Cooper said Labour would introduce a new taskforce to tackle economic threats, and strengthen enforcement around economic crime.

Blame game

Earlier this year, the government decided against introducing a new AI regulator, citing the need to "turbo charge" innovation.

But the decision means investigators are broadly reliant on existing counter-terror legislation, where there is a grey area around who is to blame if AI is involved in encouraging violence.

The government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall, highlighted potential legal issues last month.

He said: "It is unclear how legal culpability would be established in a scenario where an individual was radicalised (in part) by an AI system. The greater the role of machine decision-making, the less easy it is to establish the necessary mental element for criminal liability."

Laws should be kept under "close review", he added, especially if it becomes the case that "the internet is responsible for pulling ever-greater numbers of children and young people towards terrorist violence".

The Home Office has been approached for comment.
New Delhi: Google has celebrated the 204th birth anniversary of American scientists and womens rights activist Eunice Newton Foote. She was the first person to discover the greenhouse effect and its role in the warming of Earths climate.

Footes Early Life and Education

Foote was born on July 17 in 1819 in Connecticut, USA. She attended the the Troy Female Seminary, a school that encouraged students to attend science lectures and participate in chemistry labs. She fought against the society that was deeply entrenched and dominated by Patriarchy, where female scientists were subdued.

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Footes Breakthrough Discovery

Foote conducted experiments on her own when she was ostracized by the scientific community. After placing mercury thermometers in glass cylinders, she discovered that the cylinder containing carbon dioxide experienced the most significant heating effect in the sun, Google Doodle mentioned. Foote was ultimately the first scientist to make the connection between rising carbon dioxide levels and the warming of the atmosphere.

First Two Physics Studies By Women In US

After Foote published her findings, she produced her second study on atmospheric static electricity in the journal Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. These were the first two physics studies published by a woman in the US.

Her studies were presented by a male scientists in 1856 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Those discussions led to further experiments which uncovered what is known as the Greenhouse effectwhen gasses like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun, the temperature of Earths atmosphere gradually rises.

Her Role In Womens Rights

Along with a lifelong passion for science, She also dedicated timet to campaigning for womens rights. In 1848, Foote attended the first Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls. She was the fifth signatory of the Declaration of Sentiments  a document that demanded equality for women in social and legal status.
The areas next brewery is nearly on tap.

Field Day Brewing will bring 13 original craft beers, and handcrafted food selections including a giant pretzel and duckpin bowling to a vibrant new indoor and outdoor space in North Liberty.

The co-founders told the Press-Citizen they expect to open the location at 925 Liberty Way on Aug. 1.

The brewery is part of the Craft Concepts family, which operates several breweries and restaurants in the area. Field Day sits just off Penn Street near Tin Roost and has parking lot access from Liberty Way and Washington Street in North Liberty.

Field Day will seat about 450 people, co-founder Joe Selix told the Press-Citizen, with options divided evenly between the indoor and outdoor space. Selix said theyve also installed fire pits and an overhead gas heating system to accommodate the outdoor patio.

Field Day Brewing Co. co-founders Joe Selix, 37, left, and Alec Travis, 32, pose for a photo, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 925 Liberty Way in North Liberty, Iowa.

Co-founders wanted a place for everyone to go

Selix and fellow co-founder Alec Travis tried to assemble a welcoming atmosphere, a go-to place for celebrations, work gatherings, or even dinner with the family.

We wanted to make sure that it was an environment that everybody felt welcomed into, Selix said. We dont want people to worry about coming in. A lot of times when you go into breweries, theres almost a stuffiness to it.

The colors inside Field Day immediately inspire a relaxing sensation. They include a mix of bright yellow and orange mixed with navy and cream, lining the entire establishment, from the floor to the walls. A mural on an east side wall of the building, painted by Des Moines-based artist Van Holmgren, also incorporates welcoming colors.

Field Day Brewing Co. co-founder Joe Selix talks about a mural painted by artist Van Holmgren, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 925 Liberty Way in North Liberty, Iowa.

The space features duckpin bowling, a miniature version of regular ten-pin bowling with smaller balls and pins. The building also boasts 15 TVs, while the grassy area allows room for various yard games.

The menu is curated by Field Day's executive chef and Cedar Rapids native Jake Wegmann and boasts many traditional brewery foods, including what Selix called a massive pretzel.

The outdoor space backs up to the Liberty Central Pond and a bike path, with plenty of bicycle parking. There is also a small playground for children, including big tires and a small set of monkey bars.

Alec Travis, Field Day Brewing Co. co-founder and head of brewery operations, speaks about their custom built setup, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 925 Liberty Way in North Liberty, Iowa.

13 original craft beers brewed in a uniquely-built system

Alec Travis doesnt have a background in chemistry, but it's hard to tell just from talking beer with him. The Iowa native is Field Days head of brewery operations, overseeing the brewing process. He hopes to open with 13 of the brewery's craft beers, continuing to add more in the future.

Field Day already offers an English mild malt dubbed Puddle Jumper, its own light beer and a Midwest pale ale accompanying a couple of lagers brewed and ready to be served.

Travis' laboratory, as he and Selix jokingly dubbed it, has the same look as many other breweries but features a unique system specially built by Premier Stainless, a popular brewery equipment provider. The cereal cooker allows Field Day to avoid using big manufacturers for cereal mashes and instead purchases unwanted grains, rice, oats, unmalted wheat and rye directly from farmers in Iowa.

Field Day Brewing Co. is seen past a fence and parking areas for bicycles, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 925 Liberty Way in North Liberty, Iowa. Hodge Construction served as the general contractor for the building that was designed by Slingshot Architecture.

The cereal mash is an important component of many brews created exclusively by Travis and lead brewer Aaron Peeters.

The other function of the cereal cooker is to help decoct the beers, a technique used in German and Czech brewing that facilitates the creation of chemical reactions that help increase the beers flavor, making it taste richer and fuller than a non-decocted beer.

If you have a classic Pilsner and then a decocted Pilsner, that beer is going to taste a little more rounded, fuller, more flavor, Travis said. Most people won't know why those are better, but we're going to try to brew those beers and then tell people why we're doing it and how we're doing it because it's a pretty unique thing here in Iowa.

The remaining process is the same as many others before the freshly brewed beer is uniquely placed into near 500-gallon tanks, the equivalent of more than 30 kegs. The tanks are routed directly to Field Day's taps in the main building, helping bartenders avoid changing out kegs frequently, providing them with a never-ending faucet of beer, Travis joked.

Alec Travis, Field Day Brewing Co. co-founder and head of brewery operations, pours a glass of their golden ale from a LUKR branded faucet, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 925 Liberty Way in North Liberty, Iowa.

Brewers have incorporated European techniques in every beer

Travis has experimented heavily with the water profile used to brew the beer, altering the beer to mimic the German or Czech Republic profiles to create more authentic brews.

I have a whole entire book that is just called Water, Travis said. Its about a 500-page book, and in there is a nice guide that shows you 10-15 different countries and regions of water. And then we have our methods for calculating certain parts per million that we want to hit for calcium, sodium, chloride, sulfates, bicarbonate, and then we build all that together with our minerals.

The malt Field Day sourced for its beer also plays a big part, coming from all over including nearby Wisconsin and Minnesota, over the border in Canada, or across the ocean in Germany.

Though it still has a few weeks before it opens, Field Day has already become part of a family of breweries that support and root for one another, Selix said.

In the Iowa beer scene, everybody wants every brewery to win, Selix said. Weve already done collaborations with other breweries in the state and thats what you want  you want every brewery to be successful and thats why its fun.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on Twitter @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Field Day Brewing bringing 13 craft beers to North Liberty location
(Bloomberg) -- Oil declined as disappointing Chinese economic data and a resumption of Libyan production undercut signs of a tightening market.

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West Texas Intermediate slipped to near $74 a barrel and closed at the lowest price in a week on Monday after protesters left Sharara, one of Libyas biggest oil fields, allowing production to restart. Meanwhile, Chinas economy expanded more slowly than expected in the second quarter, though apparent oil demand grew 14% last month from a year earlier.

Crude remains lower this year as Chinas lackluster recovery and the Federal Reserves rate hikes weigh on demand. US central bank officials are expected to raise borrowing costs again this month, and have signaled theyre still open to further increases later in the year.

Yet oil has rallied the last three weeks on signs the market is finally tightening, with OPEC+ heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia both reducing crude exports. Those curbs, along with the outages in Libya and an ongoing supply disruption in Nigeria, had helped Brent to briefly surpass $80 a barrel last week.

Oils recent rise has meant the price of Urals crude exported from Russia has exceeded the $60 price cap set by the Group of Seven to curtail Moscows revenue. Thats likely to add banking and shipping woes to buyers including India and China, with one protection and indemnity provider already flagging that shippers of Russian oil can expect delays.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter direct into your inbox, click here.

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(Bloomberg) -- Ola Electric Mobility Pvt. is in line for an initial public offering sooner than its founder previously imagined, reflecting the Indian startups whirlwind pace of growth since it started selling electric scooters in late 2021.

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I thought it would take me four to six years of revenue to go public, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bhavish Aggarwal said in an interview while sipping iced Vietnamese coffee in New Delhis bustling Connaught Place. Now I can feel that it will be much earlier. Ola Electric has grown and matured faster than I had initially planned because the market response has been very strong.

The company, whose backers include SoftBank Group Corp. and Tiger Global Management, has become leader in Indias electric-scooter market with a 38% share. It has sold more than 239,000 electric scooters since December 2021, according to data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles.

While demand initially came from first-time scooter buyers, most of Ola Electrics customers now are already fully-fledged converts, said 37-year-old Aggarwal, dressed in a black Nehru jacket, popularized by Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later, The Beatles.

Branching Out

Aggarwal has ambitions to expand, with plans to unveil a motorbike by the end of this year and a battery-powered car in 2024, though the timelines may change. He also continues to consider exporting scooters to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe, a proposition that got waylaid because demand at home was so strong, according to Aggarwal, whose first startup, ANI Technologies Pvt., runs Ola ride-hailing operations.

Ola Cabs got as far as selecting banks for a $1 billion IPO in Mumbai, Bloomberg News reported in August 2021, but that never materialized. The company, which competes against Uber Technologies Inc., is a profitable business for us now, Aggarwal said in last weeks interview in Delhi. He didnt comment on any renewed attempts to list, nor did he mention a date for a possible Ola Electric IPO.

Aggarwal is building a 115-acre battery factory in southern India, pitting him against billionaire Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd., with the aim of making lithium-ion cells primarily for Ola Electric vehicles, as well as potentially offering energy storage and home energy solutions.

Manufacturing EV components in-house will help Ola Electric sell cars on a bigger scale and increase margins, said Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai. Designing vehicles from scratch will give the company more control of quality and costs in a market where most EVs are converted from gasoline models, he said.

Achieving success in electric cars wont be easy. Combustion-engine vehicles remain the favored mode of personal transport in India and dominate the countrys roads. EVs have been held back by the countrys lack of charging facilities and their high price tags. Nationwide sales reached 49,800 last year, just 1.3% of the 3.8 million passenger vehicles sold, according to BloombergNEF.

Bengaluru-based Ola Electric is up against more experienced manufacturers such as market leader Tata Motors Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and even Elon Musks Tesla Inc., which is considering investing in India.

Bumps in Road

Ola Electrics scooter business has also been affected by delivery delays due to chip shortages, and issues with quality and fire. Sales slid 39% in June from previous month to 17,590 units, a trend that affected other automakers too after the government trimmed subsidies that were offered under its Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles program.

Still, better technology has shortened timelines for getting a product to market, according to Aggarwal. Ola Electric uses digital simulation and artificial intelligence in manufacturing to save time. Im building a technology-focused group of companies, he said. Another big technology theme of our generation will be computing and AI. So well do something.

Being a so-called flat organization also speeds up the production process, said Aggarwal, who is involved in daily decision-making at his business, which employs about 7,000 people.

What would take a month in a company, we get it done in a day, he said. Our philosophy on execution is that we want to do things as best as possible without any compromises on quality or safety. And do it at the lowest cost possible and the fastest speed possible.

Aggarwal believes his strategy to take control of various stages of the EV supply chain will reduce costs and improve product performance and design.

Tesla is for the West, Ola is for the rest, he said.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2023) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai" or the "Company") announces additional drill results from the Company's Omai gold project in Guyana. Assays have been received for five additional holes, including four exploration holes and one hole at Wenot exploring the down dip extension of the central part of the known deposit as well as additional shallower, northern flanking gold zones. To date in 2023, eleven holes have been completed totalling 3,570 metres ("m") and drilling continues. Hole 23ODD-064 confirms the continuity of the Wenot gold bearing structures to at least 100m below the current resource model in this central part of the deposit with an impressive intersection of 5.18 g/t Au over 20.2 m, including 12.7 g/t Au over 7.9 m. This intercept reinforces growing evidence that the gold grades at Wenot increase with depth.

Highlights for hole 23ODD-064 include:

5.18 g/t Au over 20.2 m (including 12.7 g/t Au over 7.9 m)

5.86 g/t Au over 13.0 m

2.03 g/t over 9.5m

1.77 g/t over 9.1 m

Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented, "Similar to our excellent drill results from a couple of weeks ago, these new results again confirm the significant expansion potential for the Wenot deposit, to depth as well as along the flanks. Hole 23ODD-063 results previously released show a very wide 42-75 m zone of gold mineralization at the west end of the deposit, from a 110m to 290 metre depth, with evidence it extends to surface. Hole 23ODD-064 is located 1.25 kilometres east of hole 063, again demonstrating the continuity of the multiple shear-hosted gold zones that extend along a minimum 2.5 km strike."

"In the first half of the year, we pursued some of the nearby exploration targets and we remain confident that there are additional gold deposits on this well endowed Omai gold property. However, given the large NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate1 established late last year, we believe our drill budget is best focused on: 1) testing some of the undrilled gaps within the Wenot deposit model, 2) expanding the western "starter pit" area, and 3) providing evidence of the blue-sky potential for the Wenot deposit at depth. Results to date are already expected to positively impact the resources as we move forward to an updated mineral resource estimate to be followed by a decision on a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") later this year."

Wenot hole 23ODD-064 intersected multiple zones with gold mineralization (table 1, figure 1), with visible gold identified in 19 locations along the core. The gold mineralization is typical of the Wenot deposit, being hosted within both the quartz veining and the adjacent alteration halos. The veins and vein stockworks typically occur within or at the margins of near-vertical dikes that range in composition from quartz feldspar porphyry to rhyolite to diorite (Photo 1 showing visible gold).

Hole 064 is located in the mid-region of the Wenot deposit where there was a 200-metre gap between drill holes 21ODD-001 and 21ODD-024 (figure 2, table 2). Drilling indicates that the Wenot shear corridor in this area is at least 400 metres in width. Hole 23ODD-064 was 713 m in length and most of the gold mineralization was within the volcanic rocks on the northern side of the central contact shear. The hole ended within intensely sheared sedimentary rocks, still within the Wenot shear sequence. Unfortunately, given the significant width of the shear, it is difficult to drill across the full width with a single drill hole at the targeted depths, so there are quite possibly additional zones within the southern sedimentary rocks that remain to be tested.

The nearest holes to 23ODD-064 are 21ODD-001 and 21ODD-013 located 100 m to the west and 21ODD-024 drilled 100 m to the east. The gold zones correlate well and the zone in hole -064 of 5.18 g/t Au over 20.2 m at the central contact shear within the quartz feldspar porphyry dike and adjacent protomylonite correlates with the same zone within hole -001 of 4.77 g/t Au over 22m and in hole -013 of 6.92 g/t Au over 19m.

Table 1. Drill Results for Holes 23ODD-59 to 23ODD-62 and 23ODD-64

From To Gold g/t metres 23ODD-059 no significant results 23ODD-060 55.5 57.0 5.63 1.5 23ODD-061 110.0 110.3 7.16 0.3 155.9 156.9 0.35 1.0 255.4 258.8 0.35 3.4 23ODD-062 no significant results 23ODD-064 239.0 240.3 3.92 1.3 255.0 262.5 0.67 7.5 288.3 289.5 0.70 1.2 294.9 298.2 1.44 3.3 365.7 369.0 1.97 3.3 404.0 409.0 0.49 5.0 466.0 475.5 2.03 9.5 489.0 502.0 5.86 13.0 506.0 508.0 2.68 2.0 512.5 515.0 3.72 2.5 557.6 566.7 1.77 9.1 655.0 675.2 5.18 20.2 includes 667.3 675.2 12.70 7.9

**True widths vary as mineralization at Wenot is generally hosted within stockwork vein systems with alteration halos, with an estimated true width range of 70-90%. Cut off grade 0.30 g/t Au with maximum 4m internal dilution.

Figure 1. Cross-Section for Hole 23ODD-064

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/173737_297bd499e49758f4_001full.jpg

Photo 1. Two halves of Core from Hole 23ODD-064

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The favourable higher grade and wider gold zones identified in holes 23ODD-063 and 12ODD-064 can be expected to positively contribute to the next updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Wenot, planned after the completion of this current drill program. The most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Omai property, dated December 2, 20221 includes a Wenot resource of 756,600 indicated ounces of gold grading 1.34 g/t Au and 1,112,600 inferred ounces of gold grading 1.72 g/t Au. For the adjacent Gilt Creek deposit, the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold grading 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold grading 3.35 g/t Au.

Assay results from an additional four exploration holes have been received. Hole 23ODD-059 tested the very west end of the Boneyard magnetic low anomaly and also a possible splay from the eastern end of the Wenot deposit (figure 2). Although brecciated volcanics with silicification and alteration were encountered, no anomalous gold was returned. Further drilling of the main target at Boneyard is impeded by a covering of liquified sand behaving as quicksand and further field work will be required to identify safe drill sites that will properly test the target.

Two holes on Broccoli Hill, in addition to 23ODD-054 drilled earlier this year, tested a 580 metre north-south fence along the central portion of a targeted magnetic anomaly that appears similar to the magnetic signature of the adjacent Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted gold deposit (figure 3). Holes 23ODD-060 and 061 intersected mostly basaltic volcanics with strong propylitic alteration and a 12m interval of lithic tuffaceous rock, similar to the sequence encountered in 23ODD-054. A number of narrow gold-bearing quartz veinlets were intersected that assayed 5.63 g/t Au over 1.5m, 7.16 g/t Au over 0.3 m and 0.35 g/t Au over 1.0 m. No clear explanation for the magnetic low was observed and given the very large size of Broccoli Hill, and the extent of geochemical indicators and historical artisanal mining, these three holes do not adequately test the potential of the area.

A single hole 23ODD-062 tested the Brother gold target located NE of the Gilt Creek deposit and on the northwestern side of Broccoli Hill (figure 3). Trenching in 2021 exposed a package of narrow high grade gold veins and veinlets assaying 29.3 g/t Au, 7.8 g/t Au, 5.0 g/t Au and 2.2 g/t Au along a 40-metre strike. Two short drill holes were completed in late 2021, with one hole intersecting 1.3 g/t Au over 1.5m and a second hole intersecting 0.91 g/t Au over 6.8 m and 2.4 g/t Au over 1.5m, all providing further encouragement for additional exploration in this area. Hole 23ODD-062 tested the northeastern extension of this with no signficant gold encountered.

An additional hole (23ODD-065) was recently completed in the western area of Wenot with sampling underway and hole 23ODD-066 has commenced, designed to test the underexplored sediment-hosted zones on the south side of the Wenot shear contact. At the western end of the Wenot deposit, the sediment-hosted zones extend to surface are proving to be quite wide with good grades, and these zones were not previously exploited.

An unusually high volume of trading in the Company's stock late last week resulted in downward pressure in the stock price. The Company is not aware of any negative news or developments that would account for this. The Company has a cash position of over $2 million, sufficient to complete the planned drilling and the updated mineral resource planned for later this year. Our plan is to consider proceeding with a PEA immediately thereafter.

Quality Control

Omai maintains an internal QA/QC program to ensure sampling and analysis of all exploration work is conducted in accordance with best practices. Certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates are entered at regular intervals. Samples are sealed in plastic bags.

Samples from the Wenot drilling were shipped to ActLabs, a certified laboratory in Georgetown Guyana, respecting the best chain of custody practices. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g), and pulverized to 95% passing 105 m, including cleaner sand. Fifty grams of pulverized material is then fire assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA). Initial assays with results above 3.0 ppm gold are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish. For samples with visible gold where initial assays do not run above 3 g/t, a second pulp is made from the coarse reject and an additional fire assay completed. Certified reference materials and blanks meet with QA/QC specifications. Certain samples with potential or evidence of coarse gold were selectively analysed at ActLabs by Metallic Screening whereby a representative 500-gram sample split is sieved at 149m, with assays performed on the entire +149 m fraction and two splits of the -149 m fraction. When assays have been completed on the coarse and fine portions of the large sample, a final assay is calculated based on the weight of each fraction.

Qualified Person

Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

1 The Company filed an NI43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Omai Gold Property, Potaro Mining District No. 2, Guyana", prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc dated December 2, 2022 on the SEDAR website www.sedar.com.

ABOUT OMAI GOLD

Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past producing Omai gold mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") October 20, 2022 that includes a 14% expansion to the Wenot shear-hosted gold deposit and an initial NI 43-101 MRE for the adjacent Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted deposit. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 2005. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good access and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology, nature of the gold mineralization on the property, as well as metallurgy and historical recoveries. The Company's priorities for 2023 are to drill the key exploration targets that hold potential for significant new discoveries while continuing to expand the Wenot deposit in anticipation of an updated resource later this year.

For further information, please see our website www.omaigoldmines.com or contact:

Elaine Ellingham P.Geo.

President & CEO

elaine@omaigoldmines.com

Phone: +1 416-473-5351

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of exploration, trenching and drill programs, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in the Omai Gold news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Figure 2 . Location Map for Drill holes 23ODD-064 and 23ODD-059

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/173737_297bd499e49758f4_003full.jpg

Table 2. Drill hole coordinates for holes 23ODD-059 to 23ODD-062 and 23ODD-064

Hole ID Azimuth (degrees) Inclination (degrees) Final Depth (m) Easting Northing 23ODD-059 180 -50 212 306540 601572 23ODD-060 180 -50 290 305544 602358 23ODD-061 180 -50 302 305765 602640 23ODD-062 140 -55 134 305446 602769 23ODD-064 174 -52 713 305629 601922

Figure 3. Location Map for Exploration Holes 23ODD-060, -061 and -062

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/173737_297bd499e49758f4_004full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173737
Al Masaood Group, one of Abu Dhabis leading business conglomerates, has underscored its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and the UAE's ambitious climate objectives.

In its inaugural Sustainability Report titled Charting a Path to Sustainability Leadership, the firm provides a detailed account of its sustainability journey, outlining the strategic initiatives undertaken across its various divisions to drive sustainable development and contribute to a greener future.

The report also highlights the group's future aspirations in line with the UAEs climate change mitigation commitments, such as the UAE's Net Zero 2050 strategy and Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030, as well as UNSDGs.

Driving green change

"Al Masaood Group has always been at the forefront of sustainable practices, and the launch of our first Sustainability Report is a testament to our commitment to driving green change, said Masaood Ahmed Al Masaood, Chairman of Al Masaood Group.

"We are proud to align our strategies with the ambitions of the UAE and its wise leadership and with the UNSDGs, and as one of the most diversified conglomerates in the capital, we are in the unique position to drive positive change across multiple business and industry verticals to supporting the UAEs transition to a low-carbon economy."

The report showcases Al Masaood Group's efforts in various areas of sustainability, including energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and community engagement. It also highlights the group's commitment to fostering an ecosystem of innovation and knowledge sharing, which is crucial for achieving sustainability goals. In addition, Al Masaood Group has integrated UNSDGs into its business strategy and operations, focusing on areas where it can make the most significant impact. The focus is on seven UNSDGs that are relevant across all the groups business verticals with primary focus on mental well-being, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability.

Tangible and measurable

"We have implemented tangible and measurable sustainability initiatives throughout our operations," said Meiraj Hussain, Group Head of Corporate Support at Al Masaood Group. "Our commitment to sustainability is evident in our reduced energy consumption, improved waste management practices, and groundbreaking projects such as the development of the country's first solar-powered EV charging stations. Each step we take represents a concrete effort to address climate change and make a positive impact on the environment."

Al Masaood Group's Sustainability Report is a significant milestone in its sustainability journey. It not only reflects the Group's achievements to date but also sets the direction for its future sustainability efforts.

"We invite the business community and the general public to delve deeper and explore our Sustainability Report, added Hussain. "As we acknowledge the imperative of collective action in addressing climate change, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration to drive a more sustainable future.

Our Sustainability Report serves as a comprehensive overview of our commitments, while also serving as a compelling call to immediate action. With the unfortunate reality of the world as of recent experiencing record-breaking heat, time is of the essence, and we must act swiftly."-- TradeArabia News Service
Ponto Footwear has tapped Barry McGeough, an industry veteran, to serve as its brand president.

McGeough joins the California-based eco footwear label after serving in leadership roles at several footwear brands, including The North Face, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Most recently McGeough served as the global VP of product and digital innovation at Wolverine Worldwide, where he worked on sustainable and circular business solutions and helped accelerate the shift to digital.

More from Footwear News

I am thrilled and honored to be part of a brand that not only prioritizes innovation in sustainable product development but also recognizes the importance of aligning with consumers expectations to make a positive impact, said McGeough. Building a brand that walks the walk and embraces sustainability as a core value that contributes to revenue generation, we can deliver benefits to shareholders, consumers, investors, and the planet.

Founded in 2018 by two Silicon Valley veterans, Ponto Footwear creates work shoes from recycled and bio-based materials. The shoes feature sustainable bottoms made from a sugarcane based foam and uppers from recycled leather. The brands debut style, the Pacific, is a minimalist, unisex lace-up shoe that retails for $148 and is offered in several colorways.

Ponto also donates a portion of proceeds from each sale to causes that protect the oceans. The company also promotes circularity by offering consumers a $40 purchase credit for sending in their used pairs to a regional Soles4Souls distribution center.

Under McGeough, Ponto says it will expand its reach in direct-to-consumer as well as in its existing wholesale business, all while maintaining its sustainability-first mindset.

Best of Footwear News
'Inevitable' jobs will be more automated, says new AI adviser

Tech entrepreneur Ian Hogarth is five weeks into his role as chair of the government's new AI taskforce

Protecting British jobs will be a challenge as artificial intelligence systems become more advanced, the new head of the government's AI taskforce has told the BBC.

Ian Hogarth said it was "inevitable" that more jobs would become increasingly automated.

The whole world will have to rethink the way in which people work, he added.

"There will be winners or losers on a global basis in terms of where the jobs are as a result of AI," he said.

This week BBC News is focusing on AI, how the technology affects our lives and what impacts it may have in the near future.

There have already been reports of multiple job losses as a result of companies choosing to use AI tools instead of humans, with BT recently saying it will shed around 10,000 staff by the end of the decade as a result of the tech.

But others believe these developments will also usher in a lot of new human jobs that do not currently exist, just like the rise of the internet did.

A report released earlier this year by Goldman Sachs pointed out that 60% of current jobs did not exist in 1940.

Capturing the benefits

Mr Hogarth, a tech entrepreneur and AI investor, said the aim of the new taskforce was to help the government "to better understand the risks associated with these frontier AI systems" and to hold the companies accountable.

He said he was concerned about the potential for AI to cause harm - for example with a wrongful arrest if used in law enforcement, or generating malicious computer code that results in increased cybercrime.

He also said that expert warnings of AI's potential to become an existential threat should not be dismissed, even though this divides opinion in the community itself.

But he was also cautious of not missing the benefits of these technologies.

Notably in healthcare, AI tools are identifying new antibiotics, helping people with brain damage regain movement and being trained to spot early symptoms of diseases.

Mr Hogarth said he once built a tool that could identify breast cancer signs in scans.

The group he will lead has been given an initial 100m to oversee AI safety research.

He would not say how he intends to spend the money but that he thinks he will know if he has succeeded in the job if "the average person in the UK starts to feel a benefit from AI".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made AI a key priority, and wants the UK to become a global hub for the sector. Someone who knows him put it to me more bluntly: "He is obsessed with it."

OpenAI, the firm behind the viral chatbot ChatGPT, has announced that its first international office will be located in London, and data firm Palantir has also said it will open headquarters in the city.

But the UK faces several challenges in positioning itself as a key player in this lucrative and fast-moving area of tech.

Banner around links to stories about AI

Banner around links to stories about AI

Emma McClenaghan and her partner Matt run an AI start-up in Northern Ireland. They have built an AI tool called Wally which generates websites, and have ambitions to turn it into a more general digital assistant.

The company has won awards but they still struggle to access the specialised chips - called GPUs (graphics processing units) - they need to develop their product further.

"I think there is a lack of hardware access for start-ups, and a lack of expertise and lack of funding," she said.

She said they waited five months for a grant to buy a single GPU - at a time when in the US Elon Musk was reported to have purchased 10,000.

"That's the difference between us and them because it's going to take us, you know, four to seven days to train a model and if he's [able to] do it in minutes, then you know, we're never going to catch up".

In an email chat, Ms McClenaghan told me she thinks the best outcome for her firm, Gensys Engine, would be for it to get bought up by a US tech giant - something I hear a lot from UK start-ups.

Re-nosing those ambitions to keep successful firms here in the UK and helping them to grow is another challenge.

'A fundamental building block'

Trying to access GPUs might be less of an issue if they were available as part of a national infrastructure, like for example road networks or electricity cables, rather than being hoovered up by those companies which can afford them.

Ian Hogarth thinks this could be the way forward.

"I think we're going to enter a phase in which nation states start to see their role in directing critical AI infrastructure in a new way," he said.

"It is going to be a fundamental building block for the next generation of innovation."

Despite the trials ahead, he is optimistic the UK can still take a seat at the centre of the AI revolution.

"I don't think we're too late," he says.

"I wouldn't have taken the job if I thought we couldn't do a lot."

Follow Zoe Kleinman on Twitter @zsk
'Ready to keep talking': What's next for UPS and Teamsters ahead of a potential strike

UPS union members hold a practice strike outside Worldport, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America Wednesday morning in Louisville, Ky. The Teamsters Local 89 represents around 10,000 members in Louisville. Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien called for practice pickets nationwide after claiming UPS presented an "appalling economic counterproposal" to the Teamsters during national negotiations for a new labor contract. June 28, 2023

UPS and Teamsters, the union covering roughly 340,000 UPS workers, are inching closer to the expiration of their labor contract and what could be the largest single employer strike in U.S. history.

On July 5, both parties left the bargaining table with no set dates for further negotiations. Since then, International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman have been on a nationwide rally tour.

On Friday, Reuters reported that O'Brien "said he's ready to keep talking with the company, even though his bargaining committee rejected its latest contract offer." The Courier Journal has not independently verified this report.

Kara Deniz with the Teamsters said the Reuters article is "accurately reported."

UPS spokesperson Jim Mayer said, "We have been inviting them to return to the table.

The labor contract between UPS and Teamsters expires at midnight on July 31. Teamsters have continued to declare a strike will happen if a contract is not reached prior to expiration. As both sides prepare for a strike, Mayer said UPS is beginning "continuity training" for management employees who would not be covered under a possible Teamsters strike.

A UPS plane on approach for landing at Louisville International Airport as UPS union members hold a practice strike outside Worldport, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America Wednesday morning in Louisville, Ky. The Teamsters Local 89 represents around 10,000 members in Louisville. June 28, 2023

In order to prepare for a strike, Teamsters union barns have been holding practice pickets nationwide, including at UPS Worldport in Louisville, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America.

At the Louisville rally on June 28, Avral Thompson, president of Teamsters Local 89 representing roughly 10,000 UPS workers in the metro area, said, "If we were forced to go on strike because UPS didn't want to give these members what they deserve, it would cripple the company. This hub is crucial to UPS and the flow of their business."

Contact reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on Twitter at @oliviamevans_.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UPS Teamsters strike looms. Could labor talks resume before a strike?
Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:LOMA) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = AR$24b  (AR$259b - AR$37b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

Therefore, Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima has an ROCE of 11%. By itself that's a normal return on capital and it's in line with the industry's average returns of 11%.

View our latest analysis for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima

roce

In the above chart we have measured Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Tell Us?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 57%, but since then they've fallen to 11%. However it looks like Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima might be reinvesting for long term growth because while capital employed has increased, the company's sales haven't changed much in the last 12 months. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

On a side note, Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 14% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.

The Key Takeaway

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. Unsurprisingly then, the total return to shareholders over the last five years has been flat. Therefore based on the analysis done in this article, we don't think Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima has the makings of a multi-bagger.

Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima does have some risks though, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima that you might be interested in.

While Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think SWS Capital Berhad (KLSE:SWSCAP) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for SWS Capital Berhad, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.037 = RM5.7m  (RM209m - RM55m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

Thus, SWS Capital Berhad has an ROCE of 3.7%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Consumer Durables industry average of 8.6%.

View our latest analysis for SWS Capital Berhad

roce

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you're interested in investigating SWS Capital Berhad's past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

The Trend Of ROCE

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at SWS Capital Berhad doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 9.7% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

What We Can Learn From SWS Capital Berhad's ROCE

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by SWS Capital Berhad's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And investors may be expecting the fundamentals to get a lot worse because the stock has crashed 70% over the last five years. Therefore based on the analysis done in this article, we don't think SWS Capital Berhad has the makings of a multi-bagger.

One more thing to note, we've identified 3 warning signs with SWS Capital Berhad and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

While SWS Capital Berhad may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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DUBLIN, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Research Report on Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry 2023-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering

Research and Markets Logo

This market research report focuses on the dynamic and rapidly expanding Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Market. Designed to equip industry professionals with valuable insights, this comprehensive study delves into the current landscape, future trends, and potential growth opportunities within this flourishing sector.

Motorcycles have emerged as the primary mode of transportation across Southeast Asia, commanding a significant presence in the region's vibrant roadways and racing circuits. Astonishingly, despite accounting for less than 10% of the global population, Southeast Asia contributes a staggering one-quarter to the global motorcycle market.

Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand collectively boast a staggering fleet of nearly 200 million motorcycles. This extraordinary demand has propelled the development of the motorcycle helmet industry throughout Southeast Asia. For instance, Vietnam implemented mandatory motorcycle helmet regulations in 2007, leading to a remarkable increase in helmet usage from a mere 30% to over 95%.

However, the motorcycle helmet industry exhibits varying degrees of development across different Southeast Asian nations. Vietnam, in particular, stands out with its vast and rapidly growing market. In 2022 alone, motorcycle sales in Vietnam surpassed 3.38 million units, representing an impressive 18.1% year-on-year growth. With each motorcycle purchase often accompanied by at least one helmet acquisition, Vietnam's motorcycle helmet sales for 2022 are projected to exceed 3.38 million units.

Our report encompasses a comprehensive analysis of ten Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia. Together, these nations boast a combined population of nearly 700 million as of the end of 2022. Furthermore, Southeast Asia's overall economic growth surpasses the global average, positioning it as a key driver of future global economic prosperity.

Moreover, the report sheds light on the diverse economic landscapes within the ten Southeast Asian countries. Notably, Singapore stands as the sole developed nation, boasting an impressive per capita GDP of approximately US$79,000 in 2022. Conversely, Myanmar and Cambodia anticipate a GDP per capita of less than US$2,000 in the same year. Population size and minimum wage levels further contribute to this economic variation, with Brunei's population expected to be below 500,000 in 2022, while Indonesia's population is projected to reach approximately 280 million.

We are optimistic about the continuous growth of the Southeast Asian motorcycle helmet industry from 2023 to 2032, which serves as a core focus of the report. By investigating the industry's status, major sources, and the impact of COVID-19 during 2018-2022, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics. Additionally, we explore the major players within the Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Market, examining their competitive benchmarks, strategies for market share expansion, and inherent competitive advantages.

Key topics covered in the report include:

Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Status and Major Sources in 2018-2022 Impact of COVID-19 on Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Major Players in Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Market and their Competitive Benchmarks Key Drivers and Market Opportunities in Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Key Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities for Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry during 2023-2032 Expected Revenue of Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry during 2023-2032 Strategies Adopted by Key Players to Increase their Market Share in the Industry Competitive Advantages of Major Players in Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Market Segment of Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Expected to Dominate the Market in 2032 Major Adverse Factors Facing Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry

Key Topics Covered:

1 Singapore Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

2 Thailand Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

3 Philippines Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

4 Malaysia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

5 Indonesia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

6 Vietnam Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

7 Myanmar Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

8 Brunei Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

9 Laos Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

10 Cambodia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Analysis

11 Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Outlook 2023-2032

11.1 Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Development Influencing Factors Analysis

11.1.1 Favorable Factors

11.1.2 Unfavorable Factors

11.2 Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Supply Analysis 2023-2032

11.3 Southeast Asia Motorcycle Helmet Industry Demand Analysis 2023-2032

11.4 Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic on Motorcycle Helmet Industry

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s4e56n

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SOURCE Research and Markets
RHB Bank Berhad's (KLSE:RHBBANK) investors will be pleased with their decent 32% return over the last three years

By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. Just take a look at RHB Bank Berhad (KLSE:RHBBANK), which is up 11%, over three years, soundly beating the market decline of 4.7% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 5.1% , including dividends .

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

View our latest analysis for RHB Bank Berhad

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

RHB Bank Berhad was able to grow its EPS at 2.9% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. We note that the 4% yearly (average) share price gain isn't too far from the EPS growth rate. Coincidence? Probably not. That suggests that the market sentiment around the company hasn't changed much over that time. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. In the case of RHB Bank Berhad, it has a TSR of 32% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

RHB Bank Berhad shareholders gained a total return of 5.1% during the year. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 6% over five years. Maybe the share price is just taking a breather while the business executes on its growth strategy. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand RHB Bank Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with RHB Bank Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- The heat wave engulfing the Mediterranean is set to intensify as another Saharan anticyclone threatens record temperatures from Italy to Greece.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The new weather system  named Charon after the mythological ferryman who delivered souls to the underworld  could lift temperatures to almost 50C (122F) on the Italian island of Sardinia by Wednesday, according to forecaster Il Meteo. Europes all-time high is 48.8C, reached in Sicily two years ago.

High winds are bringing added dangers, with a fire destroying homes outside Athens. On Wednesday, 23 of Italys biggest cities are subject to emergency heat wave warnings from the countrys health ministry.

Warnings of record heat come as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather across the Northern Hemisphere. Thats triggering forest fires, disrupting transport and energy infrastructure and forcing tourists and workers to seek sanctuary from the soaring temperatures.

The World Meteorological Organization has said the extreme weather looks likely to become the new normal, underlining the increasing urgency of cutting fossil fuel emissions. The call for action on global warming comes as some European Union nations push back against the pace of the energy transition, while oil majors double down on investments in fossil fuels.

Record global temperatures in June were followed by the hottest ever days this month. This years unparalleled heat trajectory is also being intensified by the first El Nino weather phenomenon in nearly four years.

Read More: 2023 On Track To Be Hottest Year Yet, Scientists Warn

That will take a rising toll on the economy, ecosystems and health. A recent study showed that more than 60,000 people died in Europe because of last summers heat waves. The Italian health ministry is recommending local governments keep clinics open seven days a week to treat heat-related conditions, while promoting home care for vulnerable people.

In the US, tornado watches and flashflood warnings are up from Long Island through much of New England, while the heat in Death Valley edges toward a record. There are 881 fires burning across Canada, with 573 raging out of control, lowering the air quality across swathes of the region. China provisionally recorded its highest ever temperature on Sunday, according to the Met Office.

About 150 firemen, supported by jets and helicopters, are battling to contain a blaze outside Athens, with homes and cars destroyed. Residents of Kouvaras and neighboring areas have been ordered to evacuate, while a second fire has broken out close to Loutraki, west of the capital.

That follows a wildfire on La Palma in Spains Canary Islands, where more than 4,000 people were forced to flee their homes before the blaze was brought under control.

Madrid is set to exceed 40C for the first time this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and Global Forecasting System. Andorra, which sits up at 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in the Pyrenees between Spain and France experienced its first night when the temperature didnt fall below 20C.

Further north, the UK and Nordic regions continue to dodge the heat, with cooler-than-normal temperatures forecast over the next 10 days. In Oslo, temperatures are set to drop as low as 8C, while highs in London will hover just above 20C, according to Maxar Technologies Inc.

--With assistance from Sotiris Nikas and Flavia Rotondi.

(Updates with homes destroyed outside Athens and Italian emergency warnings in third paragraph)

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(Bloomberg) -- Wall Streets top regulator says the proliferation of artificial intelligence means governments will probably have to overhaul regulations to maintain global financial stability.

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Regulators must grapple with challenges posed by the burgeoning technology, according to US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler. He also reiterated that the agencys staff was weighing whether new rules were needed.

AI may heighten financial fragility as it could promote herding with individual actors making similar decisions because they are getting the same signal from a base model or data aggregator, he said in remarks prepared for a speech on Monday before the National Press Club in Washington. While current model risk management guidance  generally written prior to this new wave of data analytics  will need to be updated, it will not be sufficient.

Gensler, who previously taught classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has frequently discussed the impact of AI on finance since taking the helm of the SEC in 2021. However, he said Monday that the issues have taken on a new importance with recent advances in the tools, which he called the most transformative technology of our time.

On a more micro level, companies need to be aware of how their use of AI may implicate securities rules, he said. Whether it is used for financial fraud, juicing corporate returns or steering investors toward specific products, the SEC will be on the lookout, Gensler said.

SEC Analysis

In particular, publicly traded companies should be wary of misleading investors through their corporate statements and disclosures about the risks and opportunities AI might bring, he said. He added that the SECs investigators could benefit from using more AI in their surveillance, analysis and enforcement.

For the SEC, the challenge here is to promote competitive, efficient markets in the face of what could be dominant base layers at the center of the capital markets, Gensler said. I believe we closely have to assess this so that we can continue to promote competition, transparency, and fair access to markets.

Financial advisers and brokerages are also facing the prospect of a crackdown on conflicts of interest in using AI to steer clients toward products, he said. The SEC is planning to begin considering new rules on the issues as soon as this fall.

When communications, product offerings, and pricing can be narrowly targeted efficiently to each of us, producers are more able to find each individuals maximum willingness to pay a price or purchase a product, he said.

More broadly, AIs use in business and society is under intense scrutiny across the federal government.

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into OpenAI Inc.s ChatGPT bots impact on consumer data privacy. The startup is backed by Microsoft Corp. The Biden administration has also released proposals for an AI Bill of Rights and guidelines for the ethical use of AI by government agencies.

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Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler said Monday that his agency is both pleased and disappointed with a court ruling that Ripple Labs's XRP token was not necessarily a security but implied that crypto exchanges arent off the hook for complying with SEC regulations.

"Theres ongoing litigation with a number of these crypto platforms and these platforms are commingling a number of services that youve seen on these crypto platforms where they could well be trading against their customers, bundling up a bunch of services that we would not allow in any other parts of our capital markets," Gensler told Yahoo Finance in an exclusive interview.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

The interview was his first since a judge ruled last Thursday that the XRP token issued by Ripple was a security when sold to institutional investors but not to the general public. The SEC sued Ripple in 2020, alleging that the sale of XRP was an unregistered securities offering.

The judge's reasoning was that the institutional investors "would have purchased XRP with the expectation that they would derive profits from Ripples efforts."

Gensler says the agency is "pleased" with the part of the decision ruling that the token was a security when sold to institutional investors but "disappointed in other aspects about retail investors."

"In terms of the decision," he added, "were still taking a look at it."

The risks of AI

Gensler also warned Monday about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, noting that a limited number of companies control much of that technology. If one of them were to run into trouble, that could threaten the stability of the financial system.

"AI may heighten financial fragility as it could promote herding with individual actors making similar decisions because they are getting the same signal from a base model or data aggregator," he said. "It also could exacerbate the inherent network interconnectedness of the global financial system."

Gensler said many of the challenges to financial stability that AI may pose in the future will require new thinking on regulatory interventions. He said risk management guidance will need updating and wont be enough in its current form.

"Its quite possible that a financial crisis of the late 2020s or the 2030s, the after-action report will say, we didnt know everyone was relying on the same base or foundation model for their mortgage information or their stock market information," he said.

Gensler says the AI models are hard to explain and complex and that there needs to be a serious conversation among financial regulators around the globe due to the growing reliance on the models and their integration with global capital markets.

Crypto crackdown

Gensler is leading a wide-ranging legal campaign to crack down on the cryptocurrency industry. Since the beginning of 2023, the SEC has charged 15 different crypto actors with violating securities laws.

That includes lawsuits against Coinbase (COIN), the largest crypto exchange in the US, and Binance, the world's largest digital currency exchange.

In both cases, the SEC alleged the exchanges violated securities law by allowing certain digital currencies to be traded on their platforms.

Key to the SEC's case is its argument that certain cryptocurrencies are securities and therefore should be regulated by Washington.

The Ripple ruling last week was hailed within the crypto world as a victory over the SEC.

A number of digital currencies surged on the news, including bitcoin (BTC-USD), which reached its highest levels since May 2022.

The stock of Coinbase also jumped late last week; the exchange was quick to say that it would restart the trading of XRP on its platform.

"We've carefully reviewed our analysis," Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal wrote on Twitter. "It's time to relist."

Some observers said the decision was not a clear victory for Ripple.

"I view it as a split decision," said Berenberg Capital Markets analyst Mark Palmer, who predicts the SEC will appeal the ruling and that the case will ultimately land before the Supreme Court.

"This is round one, and it's inconclusive."

In fact, Judge Analisa Torres wrote in a footnote of her Ripple ruling that she could not make a ruling on secondary sales of XRP that take place on exchanges "because that question is not properly before the Court."

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General Assembly, a tech bootcamp provider supported by Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen), has reported an impressive 70.1% success rate for its graduates within five months of graduating. This includes job opportunities, freelance work, promotions and starting a business.

The high positive outcome rate can be attributed to strategic partnerships with well-known organisations such as Zain Telecom, Bahrain Islamic Bank and HP Spring Studios. Notably, many of General Assembly's students were offered jobs on the spot at a career fair organised in December 2022.

General Assembly students also participated in pro-bono work with Bahrain-based companies such as The Benefit Company, Beyon Connect, Loyale App, Ordable eCommerce, engaging in diverse user experience (UX) projects. General Assemblys efforts have helped graduates who do not have technical backgrounds or only have a high school education to secure employment within the tech industry, despite facing various challenges.

High-quality tech courses

General Assembly, the education institution specialising in offering high quality tech courses, has graduated over 277 students in Bahrain so far, in fields such as Software Engineering, User Experience Design, Data Analytics, Data Science & Digital Product Management.

General Assembly creates an environment of continuous learning by inviting guest speakers from reputable tech organisations. These interactions not only enhance the curriculum but also give students an understanding of how to apply their learning in various professional fields.

Speakers in the past have included Shaima Al-Meer , A Senior Space Data Analyst from National Space Science Agency to speak about how space data is being used to find solutions on earth, Asma Al Najdi, the founder of the Bahrain Intellectual Property Society to speak on the rules and protections laws we have in Bahrain for the tech industry and Dr Mariam Al-Ammadi the founder of Child and Family Mental Health Foundation speaking to students on how to build a support system while going through the job searching journey and many more.

Enabling talent

Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, said: This success aligns with our strategic direction and priorities, especially in growing domains. At Tamkeen we have always been committed to enabling Bahraini talent and supporting their growth to help them become the first choice of employment for the private sector. By empowering the upcoming generation of Bahraini talent with essential skills for the digital era, we are preparing them for future success.

Roger Lee, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of General Assembly, added: Strong graduation rates and employment results highlight the importance of partnerships that raise job market skills to global standards. The technical skill-gap poses a hurdle that impacts almost every sector in Bahrain. With the rapid advancements in technology, bridging this gap and equipping Bahrainis for the upcoming employment era is of paramount importance.

Zainab Khamis, Head of HP Spring Studios, one of General Assembly's Corporate Hiring Partners, stated: "Our commitment at HP Spring Studios is to co-found startups with exceptional entrepreneurs and shape the future of the fintech industry in Mena. We are thrilled to have hired two graduates from General Assembly, who have demonstrated impressive qualities and knowledge. Their technical expertise and remarkable soft skills have made them valuable members of our team. We look forward to our continued partnership with them and the growth of the fintech industry in the region."-- TradeArabia News Service
Sensitive U.S. military information has been sent to Mali for years thanks to a simple typo. Now the Russia-friendly government will get access to it

A simple typo means millions of emails meant for the U.S. military are about to fall into the hands of Mali, a pro-Russia state in West Africa, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

The so-called typo leak is the result of people misspelling the suffix used at the end of all U.S. military email addresses: while the military uses .MIL, the country identifier for Mali is .ML.

In the 10 years ending on Monday, .ML was managed by Dutch entrepreneur Johannes Zuurbier, who was contracted to look after the domain after taking on similar contracts in Tokelau, the Central African Republic, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

However, now that his 10-year domain management contract has expired, the Malian government will be able to gather all of the emails that were accidentally misdirected over the past decade, according to the FT.

Malis government did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

Many of the misdirected emails came from internal sources, according to the FT, with travel agents working for the military, private contractors and staff regularly misspelling .MIL in official communications.

None of the messages Zuurbier received during his oversight of .ML were marked as classified, and many of them were spam, the FT notedbut some included personal information about military contractors, serving personnel and employees families.

This included medical data, passport details, crew lists, photos of bases, details of internal investigations, and travel plans, according to the news outlet.

According to the report, one FBI agent who was trying to send six messages to their own military email address accidentally sent them to Mali. These emails included a letter from a Turkish diplomat about possible militant activity, as well as several briefings on domestic terrorism.

Some of the messages came with disclaimers ranging from For Official Use Only to Not Releasable to the Public or Foreign Governments, the FT reported.

Other employees accidentally sent password recovery requests to Mali, according to the report, while others sent passwords needed to access Department of Defense documents to the wrong address.

Aware of the issue

Lt. Cmdr Tim Gorman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, told Fortune on Monday that the Department of Defense (DoD) is aware of the issue and took all unauthorized disclosures of Controlled National Security Information or Controlled Unclassified Information seriously.

DoD has implemented policy, training, and technical controls to ensure that emails from the ".mil" domain are not delivered to incorrect domains, he said. Such emails are blocked before they leave the .mil domain and the sender is notified that they must validate the email addresses of the intended recipients.

Gorman added: While it is not possible to implement technical controls preventing the use of personal email accounts for government business, the Department continues to provide direction and training to DoD personnel.

This risk is real

Zuurbier told the FT that since the beginning of the year, he had been gathering emails mistakenly sent to Mali in a bid to convince American authorities to address the problem. He has collected more than 110,000 messages, the FT reported.

This risk is real and could be exploited by adversaries of the U.S., he reportedly wrote in a letter to officials earlier this monthjust one of several attempts he has reportedly made to engage authorities on the matter.

After realizing what was happening when he took over the .ML domain in 2013, Zuurbier sought legal advice, joined a 2014 trade mission from the Netherlands to ask for help from Dutch diplomats, and sought to alert U.S. authorities on a separate occasion in 2015, it was reported.

Russian intervention worsening security in Africa

Mali, a landlocked West African nation, has a long history of armed rebellion, extremist activity and military dictatorship. The military council that seized control of the country in 2020 is led by Colonel Assimi Goita, who is currently serving as Malis interim president.

While relations with the Westincluding the U.S.have worsened as the country has been engulfed by violence, Mali has continued to strengthen its ties to Russia. The Kremlin stepped in to provide assistance in the mineral-rich countrys ongoing fight against Islamist extremist insurgencies, leading to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrova member of Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circlereceiving a top honor in Mali earlier this year.

Washington has voiced concern about Moscows growing influence in Mali and the surrounding region, while the U.N. has said the alliancewhich involves the use of mercenariesmay have led to possible war crimes.

Where Wagners been present, bad things inevitably follow, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned at a March briefing in Nigers capital Niamey. Weve seen countries find themselves weaker, poorer, more insecure, less independent as a result of their association with Wagner. Weve also seen Wagner engage in the exploitation of natural resources, bringing corruption with it, bringing violence with itoverall worsening security, not improving it.

However, Malis government has defended its ties to Russia.

Following the failed rebellion by the mercenary Wagner Group in Russia earlier this month, however, it remains unclear whether Russias military assistance will continue in MaliMoscow had enlisted Wagner troops to stave off jihadist fighters in the country.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Singapore Airlines Limited (SGX:C6L) Is Going Strong But Fundamentals Appear To Be Mixed : Is There A Clear Direction For The Stock?

Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) has had a great run on the share market with its stock up by a significant 29% over the last three months. However, we wonder if the company's inconsistent financials would have any adverse impact on the current share price momentum. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Singapore Airlines' ROE today.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

View our latest analysis for Singapore Airlines

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Singapore Airlines is:

11% = S$2.2b  S$20b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. One way to conceptualize this is that for each SGD1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made SGD0.11 in profit.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a companys earnings growth potential. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features.

A Side By Side comparison of Singapore Airlines' Earnings Growth And 11% ROE

To start with, Singapore Airlines' ROE looks acceptable. And on comparing with the industry, we found that the the average industry ROE is similar at 13%. As you might expect, the 15% net income decline reported by Singapore Airlines is a bit of a surprise. So, there might be some other aspects that could explain this. These include low earnings retention or poor allocation of capital.

So, as a next step, we compared Singapore Airlines' performance against the industry and were disappointed to discover that while the company has been shrinking its earnings, the industry has been growing its earnings at a rate of 12% over the last few years.

Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. If you're wondering about Singapore Airlines''s valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.

Is Singapore Airlines Making Efficient Use Of Its Profits?

Singapore Airlines' high LTM (or last twelve month) payout ratio of 107% suggests that the company is depleting its resources to keep up its dividend payments, and this shows in its shrinking earnings. Paying a dividend higher than reported profits is not a sustainable move. Our risks dashboard should have the 2 risks we have identified for Singapore Airlines.

Moreover, Singapore Airlines has been paying dividends for at least ten years or more suggesting that management must have perceived that the shareholders prefer dividends over earnings growth. Upon studying the latest analysts' consensus data, we found that the company's future payout ratio is expected to drop to 45% over the next three years. However, Singapore Airlines' future ROE is expected to decline to 7.1% despite the expected decline in its payout ratio. We infer that there could be other factors that could be steering the foreseen decline in the company's ROE.

Conclusion

In total, we're a bit ambivalent about Singapore Airlines' performance. While the company does have a high rate of return, its low earnings retention is probably what's hampering its earnings growth. Moreover, after studying current analyst estimates, we discovered that the company's earnings are expected to continue to shrink in the future. Are these analysts expectations based on the broad expectations for the industry, or on the company's fundamentals? Click here to be taken to our analyst's forecasts page for the company.

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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More than 71 million Americans rely on Social Security benefits, nearly 54 million of whom are 65 or older. As of June, the average retired worker receives a monthly payment of $1,837  and, for many, benefits are more of a lifeline than a check.

Social Security: 20% Cuts to Your Payments May Come Sooner Than Expected

Learn: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Among older Americans, 37% of men and 42% of women count on Social Security for at least 50% of their income. About 12% of men and 15% of women rely on their benefits for at least nine dollars out of every 10 that come in.

But, in the future, they might have to make do with less.

The program is on pace to deplete the trusts that fund it by 2034, leaving the SSA able to pay just 77% of scheduled benefits in roughly 10 years. To prevent that outcome, Congress will have to alter the program by increasing the retirement age, raising taxes, slashing delayed retirement credits or even by cutting benefits.

Although Social Security is a federal program and your location doesnt determine your benefits, where you live might have a lot to do with how you fare. Here are the states in the best position to survive a benefit reduction with the least amount of pain.

Utah, Alaska and Texas Have a Winning Formula

James Allen  certified financial education instructor, CPA and founder of Billpin.com  thinks residents of Utah, Alaska and Texas are best suited to endure potential cuts to Social Security.

These states have a younger demographic profile, with fewer folks age 67 and up, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Allen said.

In fact, the Population Resource Bureau says Texas, Alaska and Utah are the three youngest states in America  with 13.2%, 13.1% and 11.7% of the population age 65 and older. By comparison, the oldest, Maine and Florida, are both over 21%.

They also have a lower percentage of their population receiving Social Security benefits, as per the Social Security Administration, Allen said. But heres the kicker: These states also have robust state-based aid programs for seniors. So, even if Uncle Sam tightens the purse strings, these states have a safety net in place. Its like theyve built their own financial bunkers against the potential Social Security storm.

Experts Propose Tax Cap as Social Security Solution: Which Americans Would Be Most Affected?

Four States Dont Tax Retirement Income

A handful of other states offer a different kind of hedge by exempting retirement income from taxation, which lets you keep more of your nest egg if your Social Security benefits take a hit.

Illinois

Illinois residents pay a flat state income tax of 4.95%  but all retirement income is exempt. Retirees in Illinois pay no state tax on distributions from 401(k)s and other qualified employer-based plans or self-directed plans like IRAs and IRAs that were converted to Roth IRAs. The state also keeps its hands off state and local government deferred compensation plans, U.S. retirement bonds and the federally taxed portion of Social Security benefits.

Iowa

Starting in 2023, Iowa residents 55 and up are not taxed on retirement income from 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. The law, which the governor signed in 2022, also exempts qualified annuity distributions, SEP, SIMPLE and Keogh plans, IRAs and Roth conversions.

Mississippi

According to the Mississippi Department of Revenue, Generally, retirement income, pensions and annuities are not subject to Mississippi Income tax if the recipient has met the retirement plan requirements. Early distributions are not considered retirement income and may be subject to tax.

Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Commonly recognized retirement benefits are not taxable for Pennsylvania purposes if you retired and met the requirements for retirement under your employers plan. However, the Keystone States policy is less generous than the others because it does not exclude income from retirement annuities.

9 States Exempt All Income From Taxation

Most states  38 plus Washington, D.C.  dont levy state taxes on Social Security. But nine double up by excluding not just Social Security and retirement funds, but all income from state taxation:

Alaska

Florida

Nevada

New Hampshire

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Washington

Wyoming

Three States Offer Excellent Senior Benefits

Both SeniorStrong and SeniorAdvice agree that a few states are great places for retirees on a budget  which many more will be if benefits are cut  because of the wide variety of benefits they offer to older Americans.

Virginia: The state is known for excellent healthcare options with an extensive network of hospitals and a high proportion of Medicare-registered doctors. It also stands out for its wealth of senior living and home care facilities, as well as for its low taxes and strong economy.

Hawaii: Despite the states high cost of living, residents 65 and up enjoy an average household income thats 33.8% higher than the national average. Also, healthcare costs are 11.4% lower. It also offers low property taxes and tax exemptions for Social Security income.

Georgia: Georgia makes the list because of its exceptionally low healthcare costs, low taxes and senior-friendly policies.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Cuts: These States Would Be Impacted the Least
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Coming up with a strategy to address the looming Social Security funding shortfall requires agreement on both sides of the political aisle. Thats a challenge even in a normal political environment, and its even more so in todays increasingly partisan climate. But there is one Social Security fix that nearly everyone agrees on: hiking taxes on the wealthy to bring in more revenue.

Social Security 2023: Recent Study Shows Quarter of Americans Underestimate Their Benefits By $5,000

Discover: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

A survey of more than 2,500 register voters conducted last year by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation (PCC) found overwhelming bipartisan support for raising the income threshold on wages subject to Social Security payroll taxes. Currently, any wages above $160,200 are not taxed. Some lawmakers recommend raising that figure to $250,000 or higher to bring in more revenue.

Im a Social Security Expert: Heres What Your Benefit Should Be in 5 Years

The PCC survey found that making all wages over $400,000 subject to the payroll tax was favored by 81% of voters, including 79% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats. The PCC estimates that doing this would eliminate 61% of the Social Security shortfall due to hit in a decade or so, when the programs Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund runs out of money. After that, the program will be solely reliant on payroll taxes, which cover only about 77% of current benefits, for funding .

President Joe Bidens 4-point plan to fix Social Security includes a provision to tax any earned income above $400,000, leaving wages between $160,200 and $400,000 untaxed.

Steven Kull, director at the Program for Public Consultation at the University of Maryland, said raising the payroll tax has gotten overwhelming bipartisan support, CNBC reported.

Another proposal with wide bipartisan support is reducing Social Security benefits for high earners. About eight in 10 (81%) voters  including 78% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats  favor reducing benefits for the top 20% of earners. Doing so would eliminate 11% of the shortfall.

Among the lawmakers trying to push through legislation that would raise Social Security taxes on the wealthy is U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). As CNBC reported, Whitehouse has sponsored a bill, the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, that would require wages above $400,000 to be taxed for Social Security.

Right now, the cap on Social Security contributions means a tech exec making $1 million effectively stops paying into the program at the end of February, while a schoolteacher making far less contributes their share through every single paycheck all year, Whitehouse said.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Doyle (D-Pa.) has introduced a companion version of the bill in the House of Representatives.

But not everyone is convinced taxing the wealthy alone will provide a long-term fix to Social Securitys funding problems. As previously reported by GOBankingRates, many high earners might attempt to get around the taxes by putting money into assets not subject to the payroll tax, such as dividend income, capital gains, rental income for non-rental professionals and bond income.

A separate analysis by the Urban Institute  conducted in 2020, when Biden presented his Social Security proposals as a presidential candidate  also found holes in the plan.

As that analysis pointed out, projected revenue increases would outstrip scheduled cost increases under Bidens plan, improving Social Securitys finances. However, the Urban Institute also projected that the plan would not raise enough revenue to cover all scheduled benefits. Social Security would still run a deficit every year under his plan, but not as much as it would under current law.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security: Despite Overwhelming Bipartisan Support, Taxing Rich More To Solve Funding Issues Remains Tense Debate
Sprouts Farmers Market is planning to open a store in Middletown accompanying Target in a new shopping center.

A company spokesperson said Sprouts plans to open the store in the second quarter of 2025. It will be in the new Northside Shopping Center along Middletown Warwick Road just south of Ash Boulevard.

The natural foods grocer opened its first Delaware store in March 2020 next to the Concord Mall on Concord Pike. The company shies from selling nationally known food and drink brands and is instead focused on organic options and products from its own label. A Sprouts spokesperson previously described the store as a "starter" for those looking to adopt healthy eating habits. There are almost 400 Sprouts locations nationwide.

Target will anchor the Northside Shopping Center on Middletown-Warwick Road in Middletown.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: A look inside Delaware's first Sprouts Farmers Market on Concord Pike

The Middletown store along with Target will anchor one of the town's premier retail centers. The site is north of Main Street and the Westown development, which has been at the heart of Middletown's commercial growth. Northside currently has a Popeye's, Burger King and a small retail strip. A Dash-In gas station and convenience store is nearly complete.

Target is planning to open next summer. Middletown granted approval to the Minnesota company last fall. The rest of the property has been split into separate parcels that will each go through the town's approval process on their own. Sprouts has yet to enter the process. Two land development projects related to Northside Shopping Center are on the agenda for the Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission's July 20 meeting.

Workers finish stocking shelves at Sprouts Farmers Market that opens Wednesday, March 11th on Concord Pike in the space previously occupied by Barnes and Noble next to the Concord Mall.

Sprouts will join an already crowded grocery market. Its competitors along and near Route 299 will include Giant, Acme, Walmart, Lidl, Aldi and Food Lion.

Weis Markets announced plans in May to open a large store in the Bayberry Town Center between Boyds Corner and Jamison Corner roads. It is the first grocer to target the area just north of Middletown.

The following restaurants also have plans to come to Middletown.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a growing fast-casual restaurant chain, is planning to build its first Delaware location at 601 S. Ridge Ave. near the Westown Kohl's. The project has been before Town Council and the planning commission, but still needs final record plan approval.

A Pat's Select restaurant is planned for 399 E. Main St.

Taco Reho is taking over the former Steak 'n Shake off Middletown Warwick Road. It is projected to open in September, according to a Facebook post.

Chili's and Outback Steakhouse are part of a new development off Middletown Warwick Road next to Hedgelawn Plaza.

Like knowing what stores, restaurants and developments are coming and going in Delaware? Join our Facebook group What's Going There in Delaware and subscribe to our What's Going There in Delaware newsletter.

Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Sprouts Farmers Market to open second Delaware store in Middletown
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The disposable segment held the largest surgical gloves market share in 2019 and same segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 10.7%. The leading companies operating in the surgical gloves industry includes Ansell Limited, McKESSON CORPORATIOn, Cardinal Health Inc., HENRY SCHEIN, INC., Molnlycke Health Care AB., Dynarex Corporation, Unigloves (UK) Limited, ABENA UK LTD, Globus Group (Globus (Shetland) Ltd), Barber Healthcare Limited.

Pune, India, July 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Insight Partners published the latest research study on " Surgical Gloves Market Size Report, Growth, Trends, and Forecast to 2027  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Raw Material, Form, Distribution Channel, End User, and Geography," the surgical gloves market size is projected to grow from $2.29 billion in 2019 to $5.02 billion by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2020 to 2027.





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North America surgical gloves market accounted for a largest share in 2019 and is expected to continue a similar trend during the forecast period. North America has been segmented into the United States of America (USA), Canada, and Mexico. The United States captured the largest share in 2022 and is expected to continue a similar trend during the forecast period. The surgical gloves market growth in this region is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been reported that 10 states among 48 states and territories with sufficient in the United States had an obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher among non-Hispanic White adults as of 2022. As a result, sever obesity cases are mostly recommended for surgical treatment. Thus, such cases result in the higher demand for surgical gloves.





Global Surgical Gloves Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

The surgical gloves market majorly consists of the players such as Ansell Limited, McKESSON CORPORATION, Cardinal Health Inc, HENRY SCHEIN, INC, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Dynarex Corporation, Unigloves (UK) Limited, ABENA UK LTD, Globus Group (Globus (Shetland) Ltd) and Barber Healthcare Limited among others. The companies have been implementing various strategies that have helped the growth of the company and in turn have brought about various changes in the surgical gloves market.

In May 2023 , Ansell, one of the providers of surgical gloves, has received the highest recyclability certification by Institut Cyclos-HTP (CHI), a globally recognised organisation that assess and certifies the recyclability of packaging and goods, confirming a AAA rating for the SMART Pack packaging for surgical gloves. This AAA rating further affirms Ansells commitment to lead sustainable packaging design through its SMART Pack initiative which begun in 2016. Such factors are expected to aid the global surgical gloves market over the forecast period.





Browse key market insights spread across 205 pages with 137 list of tables & 80 list of figures from the report, "Surgical Gloves Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Raw Material (Latex Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Vinyl Gloves, Neoprene Gloves, Polyisoprene Gloves), Form (Powdered, Powdered Free,), Usage (Disposable, Reusable) Distribution Channel (Retail, Medical Store, Online), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Others) and Geography)" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/surgical-gloves-market/







Supply Constraints Amid COVID-19:

The utilization of surgical gloves increased significantly with the declaration of the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020, as demand from traditional users in the medical profession grew and new industries began using medical gloves for daily activities, such as front-line workers, transportation workers, and even the general public. Additionally, the institution of vaccination campaigns across the globe had put more of a strain on the balance of supply and demand. As every COVID-19 vaccine administered requires a new pair of gloves, in the United States alone, vaccinating the entire population creates a need for approximately 660 million gloves. Global production increases are only able to sustain only a portion of the increase in demand. As a result, the global glove shortage persists and continued till 2022. The Top Glove Corporation produces more than one-quarter of the global supply of gloves. The company is one of the recognized organizations in Malaysia that is engaged in producing gloves and has its distribution networks across the world. Prior to July 2020, two subsidiaries of the company produced nearly one-half of Top Gloves total exports to the United States. On July 15, 2020, however, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold and Release Order for forced labor discoveries against these two subsidiaries, resulting in seizure of all listed products, including nitrile gloves, at CBP inspections. As a result of the immediate decrease in supply, the cost of nitrile gloves imported into United States from Malaysia rose 18 percent from July to August 2020 (to $0.03 per glove). With decrease in production and surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States, the cost of nitrile glove imports from Malaysia increased an additional 20 percent from November to December 2020 (to $0.05 per glove). By early 2021, Top Gloves facilities had reopened as the government from the region issued some relaxations in the pandemic situation. Thus, it can be concluded that initially there has been supply constraints from manufacturers perspective but later owing to relaxations issued by the government, the supply constraints could be met with the rise in demand from hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, amongst others.





Global Surgical Gloves Market: Segmentation Overview

Based on end user , the surgical gloves market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. The hospitals and clinics held the largest share of the market in 2019 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 10.6 % in the market during the forecast period. Hospitals and clinics are the primary healthcare centers of the people seeking diagnosis and treatment for their health conditions. Wearing gloves helps protect both patients and health care professionals from healthcare associated infections (HAI).





Purchase Premium Copy of Surgical Gloves Market Growth Report (2020-2027) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPMD00002245







Based on raw material , the surgical gloves market is segmented into latex gloves, nitrile gloves, vinyl gloves, neoprene gloves, polyisoprene gloves, and biogel gloves. Latex gloves captured the largest share in 2019 owing to its high elasticity characteristics. However, the biogel gloves is expected witness significant growth during the forecast period. In October 2020, Molnlycke launched the innovative Biogel PI UltraTouch S surgical glove, that addresses the problem of allergic contact dermatitis among surgical teams. Biogel PI UltraTouch S surgical gloves have been designed with a new skin-friendly formula that is clinically proven to minimize the risk of allergic contact dermatitis in the operation theaters. It is the first surgical glove to be cleared by the FDA to reduce the potential for sensitizing users to chemical additives.









Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: (Purchase with 10% Instant Discount):

Disposable Gloves Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis

Latex Medical Gloves Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis

Single Use Medical Gloves Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis

Powder-Free Disposable Medical Gloves Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis

Latex Medical Disposables Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis









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Tesla has manufactured its first Cybertruck nearly four years after founder and CEO Elon Musk touted the automaker's first electric pickup.

Tesla workers at the company's so-called Gigafactory near Austin, Texas, tweeted a photo of the completed vehicle on Saturday with the caption "First Cybertruck built in Giga Texas." The feat comes four years after CEO Elon Musk introduced the silver, futuristic-looking vehicle. Musk originally unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019 with the goal of starting production in late 2021.

First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!  pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t

 Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023

The Cybertruck's stainless steel alloy body is strong enough to withstand certain types of small arms fire, Musk has said. He has also estimated the truck will be capable of towing 14,000 pounds.

It's unclear when Cybertrucks will be available for purchase from a dealership lot or at what price. Musk said in April that the company expects to deliver the first truck sometime between July and September.

Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

When it does hit dealer floors, the Cybertruck will be entering an increasingly competitive electric vehicle market, including for pickups. Rival company Rivian sells its R1T, with a starting price of $73,000, according to Kelley Blue Book; General Motors offers the Hummer EV pickup; and Ford makes the F-150 Lightning.

Ford on Monday dropped the price on seven models of the Lightning by between $6,000 and $10,000, citing easier access to the truck's battery material. The cuts partially reverse repeated price hikes in 2022 and early 2023, which the car maker blamed on higher material costs.

Another factor motivating Ford to cut prices could be that company officials "hear the footsteps of the Cybertruck and others such as Rivian coming," Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said in a research note.

Tesla originally said it would make three versions of the Cybertruck, with prices ranging from about $40,000 to $70,000. Later the company removed prices from the webpage where customers could pre-order the vehicle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tesla Inc. is considering an investment proposal with the Indian government that would see the company open a factory with the capacity to manufacture roughly 500,000 electric vehicles each year, according to a recent report citing government sources.

Should this plan come to light, it would also provide Tesla with a home base for exporting vehicles to other countries in the region.

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Other Proposed Details

While details are still murky, it's been reported that the starting price for the vehicles in India will be $24,401. While that's substantially more than India's cheapest electric vehicle, it's competitively priced when compared to Tesla EVs in countries such as the United States.

Tesla has come to us with an ambitious plan, and we are confident that the movement will be positive this time around, especially as it involves both local manufacturing and exports," said a source discussing the plan with the Times of India.

Last year, the anticipated entrance of Tesla into the Indian market faced hurdles when the national government declined to reduce import tariffs levied on the automaker's vehicles. Notably, India imposes an import tax of up to 100% on electric automobiles.

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India expressed its interest in Tesla establishing a local manufacturing base, while the automaker responded with a preference to initially export its vehicles into the country to gauge market demand.

With a modified strategy to penetrate the Indian market, Tesla engaged in negotiations with government representatives in May concerning potential incentives for vehicle and battery production.

The negotiations this time around are spearheaded by India's commerce and industry ministry, aiming to orchestrate a mutually beneficial agreement, ensuring a balanced competitive environment. The talks encompass both domestic manufacturing and exports.

During a recent interaction with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged the automotive manufacturer to make a substantial investment in the country.

If everything goes as planned, this will be a big win both for Tesla and the Indian auto market.

Green Energy Movement

This comes at a time when India is rapidly moving towards green energy solutions. As one of the largest energy producers in the world, the country is quickly becoming one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world as well. As the country, and most of the worlds super powers, look to embrace electric vehicle solutions like Tesla, theres a race to develop more innovative solutions. For example, startups like Airthium are developing solutions to beat out Teslas lithium-ion solutions.

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 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of car manufacturer Tesla is seen in Bern

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - Tesla sued Australian company Cap-XX in Texas federal court on Friday, claiming its supercapacitors used for storing energy in electric-vehicle batteries infringe two U.S. patents owned by a Tesla subsidiary.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk pledged in 2014 not to "initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology." The company says the legal action comes in response to a lawsuit that Cap-XX originally filed against Tesla subsidiary Maxwell Technologies in 2019 for patent infringement.

"Maxwell has a history of innovation that has resulted in its own patents, now assigned to Tesla, and thus Tesla brings this suit against Cap-XX to protect its intellectual property rights," the lawsuit said.

Representatives for Tesla and Cap-XX did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Tesla acquired Maxwell in 2019. Like Cap-XX, Maxwell makes capacitors for electric vehicles that increase their energy-storage capabilities. The patents that Cap-XX allegedly infringed relate to electrodes used in supercapacitors, which Tesla called the "primary source of the device's power capabilities."

Tesla said the electrodes used in Cap-XX's supercapacitors work in the same way as Maxwell's patented technology. It asked the court for an unspecified amount of money damages.

Cap-XX's ongoing lawsuit in Delaware federal court accuses Maxwell of infringing its own supercapacitor patents.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
It hasn't been the best quarter for USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe Aktiengesellschaft (FRA:HVB) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 16% in that time. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been pleasing. It has returned a market beating 60% in that time.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe

USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

Over the last half decade USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe's revenue has actually been trending down at about 0.2% per year. Even though revenue hasn't increased, the stock actually gained 10%, per year, during the same period. To us that suggests that there probably isn't a lot of correlation between the past revenue performance and the share price, but a closer look at analyst forecasts and the bottom line may well explain a lot.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe the TSR over the last 5 years was 66%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 45% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 11% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe .

We will like USTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German 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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Dar Al Muheet Publishing House in Fujairah is hosting a series of workshops focusing on the types and stages of documentation and its importance in preserving the identity of societies and their cultural treasures.

The series titled "Documenting Heritage: Its Significance and Enjoyment" will be from July 24 to 29, will feature renowned researchers and academics, including Abeer Bashraheel, a distinguished expert in the history and heritage of the Emirates and director of the Memory of Fujairah Project; Dr Aisha Al Darmaki, an esteemed Omani academic specialising in language semiotics; and Abdul Wahed Alwani, a respected Syrian writer, educator, and researcher.

The workshops will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the various types and stages of documentation, emphasising its paramount importance in preserving the identity of societies and their invaluable cultural heritage for future generations.

Traditional and modern methods

During the sessions, participants will be introduced to both traditional and modern methods employed by researchers to document and archive the customs, traditions and heritage of diverse communities.

Moreover, the workshops will underscore the significance of accurate and responsible documentation in safeguarding the cultural legacy of societies. Attendees will also gain insights into strategies, mechanisms, and tools essential for conducting meticulous and professional studies as well as documentary research.

Researchers and academics leading the workshops will share invaluable guidelines and advice for individuals interested in documenting folklore. These insights will prove invaluable throughout the archiving processes, facilitating the preservation of the historical and cultural wealth of societies.

Pivotal role

"The accurate and professional documentation of popular and historical heritage plays a pivotal role in understanding the historical and social contexts surrounding it. Furthermore, it ensures the preservation of societies' identities, cultural heritage, and their transmission to future generations and beyond borders.

Recognising the immense importance of this field, we are organising this workshop series to emphasise the significance of documenting heritage and the experiences researchers encounter during the process of collecting, classifying, preparing, and preserving information. We are delighted to host a group of esteemed researchers and academics who will take us on this remarkable journey into the science of history," commented Abdul Wahed Alwani, Editor-in-Chief at Dar Al Muheet.

Dar Al Muheet's vision revolves around spreading knowledge in its deep and broad dimensions, raising awareness of the depth of Emirati culture, and contributing to the development of local and international creative cultural content. The House is interested in archiving Emirati folklore, as preserving the Emirati identity and values is one of its major interests.-- TradeArabia News Service
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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(Bloomberg) -- The panel which oversees the credit-default swap market has ruled that UBS Group AG will become the reference entity for Credit Suisse Group AGs contracts.

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The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees said that UBS Group is the sole successor to Credit Suisse Group, according to a notice on its website on Monday. Credit-default swaps tied to the debt of the two banks have been converging in recent months as investors bet on this outcome.

Credit Suisses five-year senior swaps contracts were indicated at 90.8 basis points as of 10:55 a.m. in London, while UBS equivalent swaps were indicated at 92.7 basis points, according to ICE Services data. Credit Suisses swaps surged to over 900 basis points as crisis hit the Swiss lender in March, before falling back after the Swiss government brokered a deal for UBS to take over its rival.

Todays decision marks another step forward in the complex process of merging the two banks, and puts to rest any speculation that the Credit Suisse contracts could have triggered a payout. In May, the panel ruled twice against calling a credit event over Credit Suisse following the wipeout of $17 billion of additional tier 1 bonds and the UBS takeover.

Shortly after the sale was agreed, funds including FourSixThree Capital and Diameter Capital Partners had bought credit default swaps linked to junior Credit Suisse bonds, in a bet that the derivatives would have paid out.

The committee today pointed to UBS Groups statement on June 12, which confirmed that the acquisition of Credit Suisse was completed, as the basis for its decision. UBS assumed Credit Suisse Groups outstanding obligations under its outstanding debt securities at that point.

Whats the CDDC, Whose Rulings Can Unlock Billions? QuickTake

The process to select new standard reference obligations, or which UBS Group securities will replace the debt previously underlying Credit Suisse Groups swaps, has commenced, according to the statement.

Until this is decided it is possible that some disruption could occur, the committee said, particularly when it comes to clearing and entering into off-setting transactions regarding contracts that originally referenced Credit Suisse Group.

The committee also urged market participants to act quickly in deciding how best to approach transactions related to swaps tied to Credit Suisse Groups subordinated debt. A number of options were outlined.

Market participants had asked the committee the question on the successor back in June, shortly after the deal was completed, with a further question made to clarify which obligations could be deliverable at subordinated level.

Click here for a QuickTake explainer on the CDDC.

The net notional volume of Credit Suisses swaps outstanding amounted to $1.74 billion as of May 12, according to data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation.

Eleven participants on the panel agreed that UBS becomes the reference entity for Credit Suisses CDS, while there were no votes against. Credit Suisse abstained under the panels rules from taking part in the committee.

(Updates throughout.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
ASHLAND  People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than their urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality - a gap that has grown over the past two decades. University Hospitals (UH) Samaritan Medical Center is committed to changing that.

University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center

For its efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural health care outcome disparities, UH Samaritan received the American Heart Associations Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Rural Recognition award, according to a news release.

The American Heart Association recognizes the importance of health care services provided to people living in rural areas by rural hospitals that play a vital role in the initiation of timely evidence-based care. For that reason, all rural hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke are eligible to receive award recognition based on a unique methodology focused on early acute stroke performance metrics.

We are proud that our team at UH Samaritan is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in Ashland and surrounding communities who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival, said Jo Smalley, RN, Stroke Center coordinator, in the release. As a hospital in a rural community, we deal with characteristics, such as interfacility transportation times, and limited on-site specialty resources. We've made it a goal to make sure those hurdles do not affect the standard of care our stroke patients receive.

The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward acute stroke care excellence demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.

Patients and health care professionals in Ashland County and surrounding communities face unique health care challenges and opportunities, said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, volunteer expert for the American Heart Association, co-author on Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association and co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. UH Samaritan Medical Center has furthered this important work to improve care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.

University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center also received the American Heart Associations Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patients arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster alteplase.

In addition, UH Samaritan received the American Heart Associations Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: American Heart Association recognizes Ashland hospital
(Bloomberg) -- Russia ended the Ukraine grain-export deal nearly a year into the agreement, heightening uncertainty over global food supplies and escalating tensions in the region.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The pact, previously extended in May, will cease to be effective as of Tuesday, the foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement. Russia had repeatedly threatened to leave the deal, which had marked a rare example of cooperation during its war in Ukraine. The corridors shutdown will hit key buyers like China, Spain and Egypt.

Unfortunately, the part concerning Russia in this Black Sea agreement has not been fulfilled so far, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agency Tass. Therefore, it is terminated.

The move jeopardizes a key trade route from Ukraine, one of the worlds top grain and vegetable oil shippers, just as its next harvest kicks off. It also comes after Russia on Monday said Ukrainian drones damaged a key bridge to Crimea.

The pact  brokered by the United Nations and Turkey  has ensured the safe passage of almost 33 million tons of crop exports via the Black Sea since it was signed in July 2022, helping world food-commodity prices ease from the record levels reached after Russia invaded. However, it has been bogged down by issues including slow vessel inspections in recent months.

Benchmark Chicago wheat and corn futures initially spiked, before moving lower. The two commodities are the top crops shipped under the deal.

Following repeated disruptions, the shipping corridor was nearly empty before the deal ended, tempering the immediate interruption to world crop flows. The bigger risk lies longer-term, as fractured and costly export logistics could spur Ukrainian farmers to further cut harvests already shrinking under the weight of the war.

Russia cited obstacles to its own shipments and a bias toward Western interests as reasons for discontinuing the pact, though the nation is the worlds top wheat shipper. It said it would be willing to reconsider the deal when its terms are met.

Moscows withdrawal from the deal will have multiple implications, according to its foreign ministry. Those include the end of guarantees for navigation safety, the collapse of the maritime humanitarian corridor, and the disbandment of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he deeply regretted Russias decision to end the initiative and the assurances over Black Sea shipping security. He also noted that Russian grain and fertilizer exports have normalized, citing industry groups from the country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would discuss the export deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their planned meeting in August, or perhaps sooner by phone.

The European Union will continue to help facilitate food exports from Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter. She condemned the cynical move by Russia.

When the deal was inked, the UN agreed in parallel to improve access to Russian food and fertilizer exports. Russia has demanded several obstacles be removed to bolster trade  including reconnecting an agricultural bank to the SWIFT international payments system.

No new vessels have been approved to join the Ukraine grain deal since late last month and Russia had blocked one of the three open ports. Ship inspection times have progressively grown longer, with fewer than one cleared per day in the first half of this month.

A lone vessel remained in the corridor Monday  the TQ Samsun  which departed over the weekend from the port of Odesa. The UN said its outbound inspection is underway.

Its closure will heighten reliance on alternate trade routes via the Danube River and Ukraines European Union neighbors, although those paths remain expensive and some countries have pushed back against the inflow.

The routes come at a much higher cost of transport, said Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities market research at Rabobank. That poses questions about the future production out of Ukraine. Most of the exports will flow, but some stock build-up domestically is unavoidable.

Some traders have previously signaled interest in continuing Black Sea shipments without the deal, although that would require military and government approval  plus, international support.

Even without the Russian Federation one needs to do everything to allow us to use this Black Sea corridor. We are not afraid, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said during an interview on Monday, according to his spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov.

--With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska, Firat Kozok and Volodymyr Verbyany.

(Updates with UN comments from 10th paragraph. A previous version of this story corrected the spelling of Turkeys president.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SERI ISKANDAR, Malaysia, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) has soared to new heights in the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, solidifying its position as Malaysia's top university and the premier private university in ASEAN. UTP's outstanding performance on the global stage is a testament to its commitment to excellence in education and research.

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS solar rooftop - the largest single solar rooftop installation in Malaysia.

Notably, UTP has achieved a historic milestone by securing the position as Malaysia's number one university and emerging as the top private university in ASEAN in THE Asia University Rankings 2023. With a remarkable leap of 32 spots, the university has advanced from 95th place last year to an impressive 63rd position in this year's rankings. This exceptional progress underscores UTP's dedication to delivering world-class education.

The university has once again made its mark on the global stage with an impressive ranking in the QS World University Rankings 2024. UTP has recorded a phenomenal jump, now placed at 307th, climbing an impressive 54 spots from its previous position of 361. This significant achievement solidifies UTP's position as a leading institution in the global higher education landscape, placing it within the top 21% globally.

UTP's excellent performance in the rankings is attributed to its top-performing domains: Citation, Academic Reputation, and Employer Reputation. These domains exemplify the university's dedication to impactful research, recognition within the academic community, and in producing highly sought-after graduates for diverse industries worldwide.

Furthermore, UTP, a 26-year-old institution, achieved a remarkable feat in THE Young University Rankings 2023. For the third consecutive year since 2021, UTP has solidified its position as Malaysia's number one university, demonstrating remarkable progress in global recognition by climbing an impressive 40 places to secure the 79th position. UTP excels in the Research and International Outlook domains, receiving the highest scores in the nation.

The rankings evaluated universities worldwide that are aged 50 years or younger. UTP's exceptional rise from its previous rank of 119th showcases the university's unwavering commitment to excellence in education, research, and fostering a dynamic learning environment and experience for its students.

According to UTP Vice Chancellor Professor Ts. Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib, "We are immensely proud of UTP's significant rise in the rankings. We are deeply grateful to PETRONAS and our partners for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable milestones. We also extend our gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students whose hard work and dedication have contributed to UTP's success."

"UTP remains steadfast in its commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and innovation. The university is devoted to creating an exceptional student experience that equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving world."

"Moreover, UTP is fully aligned with PETRONAS' energy transition initiatives as part of the university's aspiration towards sustainable global prominence. With a shared vision of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission (NZCE) by 2050, UTP actively contributes to this goal through its research and academic programmes. The university aims to develop sustainable solutions and cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders," he added.

UTP's consistent top rankings in both the QS and THE rankings have solidified its position as the best university in Malaysia and ASEAN. These remarkable achievements serve as a testament to UTP's dedication to academic excellence, impactful research, and its commitment to shaping the future of higher education.

About Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)

Established in 1997, UTP is a leading private university in Malaysia, offering industry-relevant engineering, science, and technology programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It aims to produce well-rounded graduates with strong leadership and communication skills.

With over 22,000 graduates from more than 60 countries, UTP is a major talent provider in the region. The university has over 800 foundation students, 4,000 undergraduates and 1,000 postgraduates from more than 50 countries.

UTP engages in extensive research collaborations with PETRONAS and other institutions, focusing on areas like self-sustainable building, transport infrastructure, health analytics, hydrocarbon recovery, contaminant management, and autonomous systems. Visit www.utp.edu.my for more information.

Cision

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SOURCE Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)
US working with India to make investment easier for energy transition - Yellen U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen addresses media on sidelines of a G20 meeting at Gandhinagar

By Aftab Ahmed

GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) -The United States is working with India to develop ways to lower the cost of capital and increase private investment to fast-track India's energy transition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday.

After a bi-lateral meeting with India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of a G20 meeting, Yellen said the two nations have been collaborating across a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration and strengthening supply chains.

"In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed India's energy transition," she said in a statement while attending the G20 in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, one of India's most industrialised states.

Yellen did not refer to this platform as a 'Just Energy Transition Partnership' (JET-P), though other countries including South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam have already agreed with public and private sector lenders to help accelerate their shift away from fossil fuels via JET-Ps established with wealthier nations.

Energy analysts say India - a major emitter in absolute terms but relatively lower on a per-capita basis - wants a JET-P on its own terms: no phase out of coal and funds for clean energy expansion in the form of grants, not loans.

Richer, heavy-emitting nations are under pressure to help poorer countries speed up their transition to cleaner energy ahead of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai in November, with the world currently not on course to meet its climate goals.

At the same time as Yellen visited India - her third trip this year and an indication of the growing closeness between the two countries - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was in Beijing to discuss the climate challenge with his Chinese counterpart.

"As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement," Sitharaman said in a statement, also noting the potential for development cooperation and alternate investment platforms for renewable energy.

The improvement in bilateral relations was highlighted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington last month which saw a slew of defence and high technology deals being signed.

Yellen also said the two countries are close to reaching an agreement on the global minimum tax system.

In a historical deal in 2021 pushed by the US nearly 140 countries agreed to a minimum 15% tax on large global firms along with additional 25% tax on "excess profits."

Australia and Japan are hoping to make progress during the G20 meeting on the global minimum tax.

Some analysts doubt whether an agreement can be reached for such a sweeping change in cross-border taxation, as some governments will want to give priority to national tax regimes.

Yellen will visit Vietnam after the G20 finance meetings end on July 18.

(Writing by Swati Bhat; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Lincoln Feast and Simon Cameron-Moore)
COO Appointment, Changes to the Board and Replacement of Auditor

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2023 / Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE) ("Valeura" or the "Company"), the upstream oil and gas company with assets in the Gulf of Thailand and the Thrace Basin of Turkey, announces appointment of a chief operating officer, changes to its board of directors ("Board") and replacement of its auditor.

Chief Operating Officer Appointment

Greg Kulawski is joining Valeura as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 17, 2023. Mr. Kulawski is a seasoned executive leader, with 25 years of upstream oil and gas experience. His international career has been with Shell and his most recent roles were the Deputy CEO and Production Director of Sakhalin Energy, Vice President of Safety for the Shell group globally, and General Manager and Director of Shell's onshore and shallow water assets in Nigeria. He has substantial experience in brownfield production operations and greenfield developments including key health, safety and environment-related responsibilities. Mr. Kulawski has a proven track record in leading international and multi-cultural teams through complex projects including major facility turnarounds and integrating new businesses. Mr. Kulawski holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Electrical Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Birmingham. He and his family will relocate to Singapore to join the rest of the Valeura executive team.

Board Changes

Ron Royal will retire from the Board effective August 1, 2023 after having provided dedicated service and significant contributions over a 13-year period from Valeura's inception in 2010.

Lina Lee will be appointed as an independent director of Valeura effective August 1, 2023. Ms. Lee is a specialist in finance and energy, with over 25 years of experience in multiple industries and cultures, culminating in senior leadership positions at BP. She has held roles focused on rigorous portfolio management, financial management, business development, treasury and deal structuring, most recently serving as CFO & VP Strategy of BP's Global Petrochemicals business. With considerable experience in developing and executing strategies focused on Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia, Ms. Lee brings a wealth of international acumen and a strategic growth mindset, with a particular emphasis on executing inorganic growth transactions and business improvement initiatives. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst, with a business education from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and the Harvard Business School. Ms. Lee is based in Hong Kong.

Auditor Replacement

In line with the executive move to Asia, Deloitte & Touche LLP (Singapore) have been appointed as auditors of the Company, replacing KPMG Canada.

Tim Marchant, Chairman of the Board commented:

"With our Company's significant and growing operations in Southeast Asia, we are continuing to bolster the executive team with senior operating talent, and I am pleased to welcome Greg Kulawski, as COO. Greg is a seasoned executive with 25 years of experience in international operating units and corporate roles. His professionalism and deep experience is an excellent fit and I am confident his operations and safety leadership will help ensure that our world class performance continues.

"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Ron Royal for his long and committed service to the Board and to Valeura as a founding director and early investor in the Company. We have come to rely upon his candour and broad technical and international operational experience in contributing to key Board decisions over the years, and his presence will be missed.

"In addition, I am very pleased to welcome Lina Lee to our board. With her extensive experience in international energy, including the Southeast Asia region, I have no doubt she will be an excellent source of sound independent advice for our Board and a great asset in guiding the firm through the next exciting phase of developing our Thailand assets and building out our Southeast Asian business."

For further information, please contact:

Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries) +1 403 237 7102

Sean Guest, President and CEO

Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO

Contact@valeuraenergy.com

Valeura Energy Inc. (Investor Enquiries) +1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495

Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations

IR@valeuraenergy.com

Auctus Advisors LLP (Corporate Broker to Valeura) +44 (0) 7711 627 449

Jonathan Wright

Valeura@auctusadvisors.co.uk

CAMARCO (Public Relations, Media Adviser to Valeura) +44 (0) 20 3757 4980

Owen Roberts, Billy Clegg

Valeura@camarco.co.uk

About the Company

Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canada-based public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Turkey. The Company is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This news release is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Valeura Energy Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/768282/Valeura-Energy-Inc-Announces-COO-Appointment-and-Board-Changes




Want to be only inhabitant of a SW Florida island? Here's your chance. 13 things to know

Want to be the only inhabitant of a Southwest Florida island? Here's your chance.

But you'll need about $21 million  the asking price. Here's 13 things to know.

In the Know: Buck Key parcel area, as shown in Lee County Appraiser Office data.

1. Where can you be only resident of a SW Florida island for $21 million?

Wedged between Hurricane Lagoon and Roosevelt Channel, the parcel is on unoccupied 350-acre Buck Key Island. You don't get all of that for the sale price. Most of the island is protected.

It's across the channel from Captiva Island's Tween Waters resort near the South Seas compound, which began to accept a few guests this past week ahead of schedule in a first phase of a Hurricane Ian rebuild costing up to $1 billion.

In the Know: The large green land mass east of Captiva on the center right of the photo is Buck Key, an undeveloped island.

2. What do you receive as part of your multi-million dollar investment?

"The only privately owned site on Buck Key, (about) 14.1 acres, primarily uplands, surrounded by expansive preserved land and tropical hammock," according to LSI Companies, which listed the land in time for Independence Day. "This uninhabited tropical island affords the ultimate privacy and seclusion."

The offering includes an existing private landing dock.

In the Know: Outlined parcel for sale on Buck Key by LSI Companies.

3. What are options on your independent waterfront oasis near Captiva?

If the purchaser decides not to go it alone in a unique coastal paradise, the investor could consider a limited number of private luxury estate homes, based on Lee County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and LSI says rezoning wouldn't be needed for large residential lots. An LSI master concept plan showed up to eight upscale abodes. At the moment, there is no power or road system. County officials say a typical septic system would not work with the 2 to 4 feet elevation of the site, and they would anticipate mitigation costs of about $200,000 per unit.

Over the decades, the property has been on and off the market and also has been considered for conservation, which is another option for a buyer. As recently as last autumn, county leaders discussed the possibility at the committee level of acquiring it for preservation but have balked at the pricing.

In the Know: Buck Key locator map

4. Who are current long-time owners of the Southwest Florida parcel?

Captiva Key LLC, operated by the Watrous family, who first purchased in the 1970s, partly through inheritance money, and trace their roots to the late Thomas Theodore Watrous, the owner of a sugar and banana plantation in Honduras, according to data from the Captiva Island Historical Society, which did a Buck Key documentary.

Watrous also developed the bayfront Colonial Hotel, which was Sarasota's oldest inn when it was demolished in 1962, news archives show. The company of his late son, Winston S. Watrous of Sarasota, who was the first mass manufacturer of the Whirlwind rotary lawn mower and held patents, was sold to Toro Company, which ran with the concept and called it "one of the best business decisions" it ever made.

In the Know: Buck Key is the area in green.

5. Nature is the key feature of Buck Key

Except for the LLC's sliver, the rest is protected by government as a preserved wildlife sanctuary with Jamaican dogwood and mastic trees, which grow in the two-mile long island's tropical hardwood hammocks. Some cultures use mastic sap for glue, and its ripe fruits are prized for their avor, according to a University of Florida study.

"You go over to Buck Key, and you disappear into nature," said long-time kayak tour guide John Houston, who was part of the historical society's documentary. "You disappear into true Florida, into Southwest Florida."

In the Know: Location of Buck Key per Google Maps.

6. What can you find among Buck Key's tropical hardwood hammocks?

The University of Florida report found "rare, endangered and threatened species of plants and animals growing far more lushly than they would in other environments, including the tropical habitats of the Florida Keys. (The) archaeobotanical nds at Buck Key revealed a great deal of variety for such a small island, with at least ve plant communities represented. Remains of edible fruits of sea grapes indicate a coastal strand habitat.

"Its topography consists of beach ridges, at, open sunny areas in the center of the island and lowland mangrove forests at its edges. (According) to geologists, the Buck Key land formation accumulated mainly between the years 440 and 1010."

In the Know: Location of Buck Key per Google Maps.

7. If you buy the land, would you become first inhabitant of Buck Key?

Well, no, according to UF's report: "Three archaeological sites exceed 10 feet in elevation. (Habitation) sites show evidence of discrete, functional areas that could have been a Calusa village, including a living area, a possible ceremonial area and an activity area for tool making. The native people left evidence of post hole locations, recognized from dierences in color, texture and constituents of the soil compared with the surrounding soil. They also left evidence of cooking activities with burned shell, ash and animal bone.

"One activity area showed evidence of shell tool production in various stages. A radiocarbon date for that area yielded a range between the years 610 and 845. (The) burial ground at Buck Key was looted for many years by local residents in the Fort Myers area. Dozens if not hundreds of human remains were removed during the 20th century. A small, undisturbed portion was investigated by archaeologists, revealing that intact burials had been mindfully placed in small, diuse groups on a sand ridge, then covered with sand between the years 1000 and 1160."

Development: What are expansion plans for GCTC and Pink Shell? Median home prices sink in SW Florida

In the Know: Land on uninhabited Buck Key for sale

8. Since the formation of the United States, has anyone else lived there?

The Seminole Wars and the Civil War of the 1800s may have turned Buck Key into a hideout, or at least a hunting ground, as military vessels sailed, patrolled and traded along Pine Island Sound routes and Peace, Myakka and Caloosahatchee river ports, according to the UF report by Randell Research Center historian Denege Patterson:

"The George Ormsby family homesteaded the southern end of Buck Key in 1897, planting citrus and other tropical fruits. Georges brother William homesteaded 67 adjoining acres. The Ormsbys were largely responsible for organizing the rst Buck Key school. It opened in 1897 (and) attracted 12 students from Buck Key, Captiva Island and Wulfert (settlement) on Sanibel Island. It was the only public school available in the area until 1901. The family left the island after 1914."

In the Know: Publix slated for Naples spot Lucky's dropped 3 years ago. A new Collier highway's role

9. Has Buck Key always been a standalone island in its SWFL history?

Whether Buck Key was once connected to the northern portion of Captiva Island is a mystery although it has been researched, and there are some clues. Captiva and North Captiva were united until a hurricane opened Redsh Pass in 1921, Patterson said.

"Evidence of specific beach ridges before the year 850 on Captiva Islands middle part and on Buck Keys northern end suggest a pattern going in a northeast-to-southwest direction as if the ridges were being deposited along an old inlet," she said. "This would have placed Captiva Island on the north side, and todays Buck Key on the south side. The inlet could have been located at the narrowest portion of Captiva Island where Roosevelt Channel is now widest."

In the Know: Teddy Roosevelt said he "thoroughly" enjoyed fishing in Southwest Florida.

10. What president enjoyed fishing in the channel adjacent to Buck Key?

Teddy Roosevelt, for whom the channel is named, came to fish in the region between 1916 and 1920 including being part of a group with scientist Russell Coles that landed a 12-foot manta ray or "devil fish" weighing 1,550 pounds, the late Robert C. Halgrim, the Edison Home's curator, told The News-Press in the 1970s. In a News-Press story, Marie Dickey Kalman described the sight of Roosevelt and six-man crew's encounter with a ray that towed his boat for two miles in a struggle off Captiva that likely wouldn't be allowed today with the now threatened species.

"He'd come especially to tackle giant rays," she said of the president, drawn to the thrill after reading about a previous capture of a significantly larger one by Coles for study by the American Museum of Natural History. "As soon as a ray was sighted, out went the small guide boat early the next morning. It isn't much of a trick to harpoon a ray, but the difficult part is to wear down his unbelievable endurance enough to beach him. That was the sport. (It) wasn't until noon that they got him on the beach."

In the Know: Teddy Roosevelt and scientist Russell Coles with their captured ray in Southwest Florida, courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University.

11. What did Teddy Roosevelt think about that area in his adventures?

"The sunsets were wonderful," the News-Press reported Roosevelt said in 1917. "There was a growing moon and the nights were very lovely. The soft, warm water lapped across the side of the boat while the air was radiant with moonlight."

In Scribner's Magazine, he wrote of a "thoroughly enjoyable" trip: "Graceful coconut palms, with fronds, which waved ceaselessly, broke the thick growth of the mangroves, which came down into the water. The number and tameness of the big birds showed what protection has done for the bird life of Florida of recent years. The plumed lesser blue herons, and more rarely, the great blue heron and the lovely plumed white egret, perched in the trees or flapped across. (The) Pompano, the most delicious of all food fishes, skipped like silver flashes through the air."

In the Know: Teddy Roosevelt, left, fishing off Captiva in 1913 with Dr. Russell Coles in this photo taken by 10-year-old Margaret Mickle, who would eventually become the first female writer for the News-Press.

12. How did the first female reporter from The News-Press play into all this?

During a Roosevelt visit, 10-year-old Captiva resident Margaret Mickle was determined to get a picture of the president on a houseboat, as recounted in The News-Press over the decades: "I talked a boy into paddling me out to the boat, and on the way, our boat sank. He swam back to shore, but I just stuck my hand with the camera up in the air and kept going. I got near the boat and started yelling, 'Teddy!'

"Well, if you ever heard Teddy Roosevelt laugh, you sure would have heard it then. He said, 'Anybody who calls me Teddy can come aboard.'" Successful in her mission on a photo that's been reprinted many times far and wide in books, educational and historical studies and other publications, the late reporter also got dinner out of it that evening, would exchange future letters with him, eventually joined the newspaper and wrote "Local Low Downs," an In the Know predecessor. "Bully" to Maggie!

13. What protections are in place for Buck Key?

The Buck Key burial spot is now under the protection of Florida Statute 872.02, which prohibits disturbance of unmarked graves. All Buck Key sites, whether disturbed or undisturbed, are under federal and state protection, according to UF:

"Today, residents and visitors can canoe the mangrove creeks and wade the nearby grassats of Buck Key, knowing that most of the island has been protected."

Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who grew up in Southwest Florida, writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: This uninhabited Florida island has land for sale. Want to buy it?
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community.

If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com.

Here are this week's professional standouts:

Schwartz Sladkus welcomes new associate attorney

Family law attorney Monica Offredi has joined the South Florida office of Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP as an associate attorney. Before joining New York City-based SSRGA, she served as an associate attorney with a statewide litigation firm based in Fort Lauderdale. Offredi has been practicing law in South Florida for more than a decade and concentrates her practice in all areas of marital and family law including divorce, distribution of marital assets and liabilities, alimony, time-sharing, parenting, child support, modifications and enforcement, pre/postnuptial agreements, paternity actions, step-parent adoptions, parental relocation, domestic violence actions and dependency actions.

Monica Offredi

More legal news: Florida Pulse: New state laws going into effect July 1

Gulfstream Goodwill names executive chef

Gulfstream Goodwill Industries has welcomed its first-ever executive chef, Kevin Bell. In his new role, Bell oversees GGIs newest social enterprise, Good Grub, and its catering and mobile kitchen operations. He will provide structure and a curriculum for those with intellectual disabilities by providing real work exercises within the hospitality industry. GGI's mission is to change lives through housing, training, education and employment, while assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to become self-sufficient, working members of the South Florida community.

Kevin Bell

Lord's Place names culinary operations chief

The Lords Place recently announced the appointment of Jim Collins as director of culinary operations. Collins has worked in food services for more than 40 years, including nearly 15 years as a culinary arts instructor. Collins joins as the leader of the culinary team as the agencys social enterprise focus has shifted solely to Joshua Catering. The Lords Place returned to 2808 N. Australian Ave. in June after nearly two years of construction and operating catering out of a temporary facility in Lake Park. At the center of the new 25,000-square-foot client service center is Cafe Joshua  a restaurant-type program where those experiencing homelessness receive a hot meal, attention from staff and volunteers, and can start a conversation about a brighter future.

Jim Collins

More food news: Best food news: NY restaurants arrive  again. Prix-fixe perks. Saturday brunching.

Professional society honors West Palm Beach ophthalmologist

David B. Cano, M.D., received the Florida Society of Ophthalmologys Shaler Richardson Service to Medicine Award, established in honor of Dr. Shaler Richardson. It recognizes an ophthalmologist who has made the greatest personal contribution to quality patient care by coordinating, participating, collaborating, and integrating ophthalmology into the great body of the medical profession on a local, state, or national level. Cano was honored during the FSO Annual Business Meeting on June 10. He is the co-founder of the For Eye Care Foundation (FECF), which is the charitable arm of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, an organization of ophthalmologists devoted to delivering the highest standard of eye care throughout the state of Florida. He is the current chairman of the FECF and current Vice Chair & Board Member of the Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches.

David B. Cano

Jupiter Med Foundation names chief philanthropy officer

Jupiter Medical Center recently promoted Traci Simonsen to chief philanthropy officer of Jupiter Medical Center Foundation. Simonsen joined the Foundation in June 2022 as the associate vice president of philanthropy. Since joining Jupiter Medical Center Foundation in June 2022, Simonsen has worked to expand philanthropic avenues to increase financial support for Jupiter Medical Center. Her passion for people and demonstrated success across multiple philanthropic industries, including health care, the arts and higher education, make her an asset to our team, said Amit Rastogi, CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. Simonsen has a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii and a masters degree in social work from the University of Louisville.

Traci Simonsen

South Florida real estate firm adds three execs

PEBB Enterprises, the South Florida-based full-service private real estate investment company, has added chief accounting officer Thomas Chan, director of operations Amanda Warner and director of asset management Bret Fischer to its team. Chan becomes the companys first chief accounting officer. In this new role at PEBB, he reports directly to CFO Daniel Haines. Warner has more than 15 years of real estate experience. At PEBB, she oversees all aspects of the companys operations and property management processes. Fischer most recently served as vice president of asset management at Rialto Capital Management.

Real estate news: Fox News star selling Palm Beach estate, and why people paid $1 million for ramshackle homes

Thomas Chan

Amanda Warner

Bret Fischer

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County
A Worcester woman is one of three artists suing the popular fashion website Shein, alleging it committed racketeering and copyright infringement by copying graphic designers art.

Krista Perry is an illustrator and designer, the lawsuit said, whose past clients have included Nickelodeon and Jameson Whiskey. She found that her piece of Make It Fun graphic art was being sold on Shein and a sister site, Romwe.com, without her permission.

The lawsuit alleges that the website Shein produced and sold a mechanical copy of her "Make it Fun" artwork.

I noticed that Shein has been selling my work as both wall art and phone cases without my permission or approval, Perry complained to the website, according to the lawsuit. It is incredibly disheartening, insulting, and downright evil to profit off of artists without their knowledge or permission.

Perry declined to comment for the story.

She reached out to the website through its contact forms and received a response offering to pay her $500. Perry accepted the offer, which was from both Romwe and Shein, the lawsuit said.

Perry and the other plaintiff artists  Larissa Martinez and Jay Baron, who both live in Los Angeles County  allege that they were part of a pattern of copyright infringement by Shein.

The lawsuit charges that Sheins corporate structure and intellectual theft violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.

Shein has grown rich by committing individual infringements over and over again, as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering, which shows no sign of abating, the lawsuit says. There is no indication that Shein intends to slow down any time soon  and indeed their corporate literature speaks only of projected exponential growth.

In response to an email inquiry from the T&G, Shein sent the following statement: "SHEIN takes all claims of infringement seriously, and we take swift action when complaints are raised by valid IP [intellectual property] rights holders. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit and any claims that are without merit."

Shein's 'secretive' corporate structure

Not much is known about the company's billionaire owner, Xu Yangtian, also known as Chris Xu, the lawsuit says. But Shein has been under investigation by Congress and accused of wrongdoing before including allegations of forced labor using China's predominantly Muslim Uyghur population, the Associated Press reported.

Its corporate structure is described in the lawsuit as "a loose and ever-changing (though still continuous even as some individual elements might change to be replaced by others) association-in-fact of entities and individuals."

There is allegedly a secretive algorithm that determines growing fashion trends before they catch on. The company then allegedly recreates the trends while also using smaller artists' work without permission or credit, selling small quantities of the item.

By doing so, the suit alleges, Shein can wait and see if anyone complains of copyright infringement, which is unlikely to be noticed by smaller, independent artists.

Under those circumstances, Shein reaps all the benefits of stealing and featuring the design that its technology had identified as valuable enough to take: it makes sales and keeps it customers eyes glued to the Shein site and app for that much longer, it said. And if customer demand justifies it, the item is reordered, and more are sold.

If it is caught, it will allegedly handle the situation similarly to how it was handled in Perrys case. The company will apologize, blame an unnamed third party for the misconduct, the suit says, and often report that the sales were shockingly low.

Shein will then allegedly offer a very small settlement. Artists are likely to accept, the suit says, because they will not want to communicate with an agent and any compensation could be seen as a win.

Krista Perry's second allegation of copyright infringement

Almost a year after the "Make it Fun" incident, Shein reached out to Perry again, this time looking for her permission to use one of her designs for products on both the main website and sister site.

Perry refused the offer and told the representative to never contact me again  but who knows maybe well be in touch because Im sure it isnt the last time my hard work will be used without my knowledge or consent.

Krista Perry alleges that Shein appropriated her "Floral Bloom" design for a throw blanket.

She later discovered a knock off version of another one of her designs, known as Floral Bloom, was being sold on the Shein website. The design, which was sewn onto blankets and sold, appeared shortly after on the companys website without her permission.

This time, the suit says, Perry was steered to a lawyer who was capable of handling this case.

Perry suffered and will continue to suffer substantial damage to her business in the form of diversion of trade, loss of profits, and a diminishment in the value of her designs and art, her rights, and her reputation, the suit said. Perrys reputation as a designer and her career has been irreparably tarnished, diminishing the value of her works, and decreasing revenue derived from her work.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Krista Perry of Worcester among 3 artists in RICO suit against Shein
DES MOINES, Iowa, July 17, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than $4.6 million has been awarded to hundreds of nonprofit and government agencies across Wyoming to support affordable housing and community development needs. Individuals and communities will benefit from these grants via job training, down payment assistance, financial literacy, food banks, youth programs and so much more.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717642967/en/

This state-wide outreach is available through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), who has partnered with 26 member financial institutions. The Member Impact Fund is a matching grant program designed to offer financial support for affordable housing and community development initiatives in targeted areas of the FHLB Des Moines district. The fund, which totals $15 million, is a nearly $3-to-$1 match of member donations. The program was available to member financial institutions to support eligible organizations located in Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Jonah Bank of Wyoming, located in Cheyenne and Casper, received more than $600,000 from the Member Impact Fund and added more than $200,000 of their own money to assist more than 50 nonprofits in Cheyenne and Casper communities. Kim DeVore, president and chief executive officer of Jonah Bank of Wyoming, is thrilled with the positive impact they are able to make through the Member Impact Fund. "Our communities are the reason we have grown into the Jonah Bank you see today. Each time we sit down to decide how much we can give to an individual organization; we always wish we could give more. Thanks to the shared community commitment and generosity of FHLB Des Moines, this time we can!"

One of the organizations to receive a Member Impact Fund grant from Jonah Bank of Wyoming is Food Bank of Wyoming. Because the participating financial institutions selected the nonprofit organizations to receive the grants, some nonprofits, such as Food Bank of Wyoming, received grants from multiple members.

According to Executive Director Rachel Bailey, Food Bank of Wyoming received grants from eight local financial institutions across Wyoming totaling nearly $214,000. Those participants include Campco FCU, WyHy FCU, Jonah Bank of Wyoming, Hilltop National Bank, First State Bank, Bank of Jackson Hole, First Interstate Bank and Wyoming Community Bank. The grants will be used to source, store and distribute food to communities in Wyoming to help those experiencing food insecurity.

"The support of our local banks and credit unions is incredibly meaningful to Food Bank of Wyoming," says Bailey. "The generosity highlights that these financial institutions care about the people of Wyoming. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the opportunity to partake in the 2023 Member Impact Fund from FHLB of Des Moines. It has been a powerful experience to engage with financial institutions across the state that believe in the power of community."

The Member Impact Fund is part of FHLB Des Moines ongoing mission to offer a variety of funding through its members to support affordable housing and community development needs. Kris Williams, President and CEO of FHLB Des Moines, shares, "We are thrilled to see grants from our Member Impact Fund having a direct, positive impact on the communities in which our members help advance affordable housing and community development needs in a meaningful way."

Jonah Bank of Wyoming received the largest number of awards in Wyoming. Overall, 264 grants were distributed throughout the state. "The Wyoming members of FHLB Des Moines are grateful to the generosity of FHLB Des Moines," says DeVore. "Their significant donation makes an amazing impact on our state and the people and communities we serve."

Learn more about the Member Impact Fund at www.fhlbdm.com/products-services/affordable-housing/member-impact-fund.

About FHLB Des Moines

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions and liquidity to more than 1,200 financial institutions across its district to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities served by its member financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. The Des Moines Bank is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding.

About Jonah Bank of Wyoming

Jonah Bank of Wyoming was established in 2006 by a group of folks that live and work in Wyoming and care about Wyoming. Our mission, Building a Better Wyoming, is accomplished through our support of Wyoming small businesses and their employees. We still believe in old fashioned quality banking where your banker is your neighbor, friend and most importantly, your partner in growing your business. We are dedicated to the communities we serve, Casper and Cheyenne, and deliver employment opportunities to local people, keep local capital in our communities, and provide a source of revenue for important community projects determined by the local communities.

About Food Bank of Wyoming

Food Bank of Wyoming is the largest hunger-relief organization in Wyoming and provides food and essentials to people facing hunger through more than 150 Hunger Relief Partners, 19 Mobile Pantries, and programs for children and older adults in all 23 Wyoming counties. In the current fiscal year (July 1, 2022  June 30, 2023), over 8.9 million pounds of food have been distributed across Wyoming, the equivalent of 7.2 million meals serving 63,000 people. Food Bank of Wyoming, located in Casper, WY, serves as the Wyoming Distribution Center of Food Bank of the Rockies, which is a proud member of the Feeding America network.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230717642967/en/

Contacts

Julie DeVader

515.412.2712

jdevader@fhlbdm.com
(Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said restrictions the Biden administration is crafting on outbound investments to China wouldnt significantly damage the nations ability to attract US investment.

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The restrictions would be narrowly targeted and would focus on a few sectors, in particular semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, Yellen said Monday in an interview with Bloomberg Television. These would not be broad controls that would affect US investment broadly in China, or in my opinion, have a fundamental impact on affecting the investment climate for China.

Yellen spoke from Gandhinagar, India where shes meeting with finance chiefs from the worlds largest economies. A senior Treasury official said separately that other countries at the meetings have also been eager to ask Yellen about the coming restrictions.

The Treasury chief emphasized once again that the steps being planned, as well as existing export controls, werent meant as retaliation for any specific actions from Beijing, or to curtail Chinas overall growth.

What were doing is not tit for tat, she said. What were doing is putting in place controls that are designed to protect US national security and in some cases to address fundamental human-rights abuses.

Asked why its taken the Biden administration so long to propose the restrictions, she said officials want to make sure if we do this, that we get it right, and weve been working on the details.

She added there is a good chance they will deliver the proposed restrictions, but wouldnt give a timeline.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Youngest-Ever Harvard Law Graduate Earned Over $100 Million From An Unknown Tech Company  More Than Apple CEO Tim Cook

Kiwi Camara, CEO of Austin-based legal technology firm CS Disco Inc., is one of the few executives who can claim a compensation package surpassing that of Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook.

While Cook is expected to face a pay cut this year of around 40%, following shareholder guidance and his own recommendation, his compensation for fiscal 2022 reached $99.4 million, as disclosed in Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Dont Miss:

CS Disco, with a book value slightly exceeding $500 million, stands in stark contrast to Apple's massive $2.98 trillion net worth.

According to data from analytics company C-Suite Comp, nine CEOs crossed the $100 million mark in total compensation last year. Among these executives are Blackstone Inc. CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who received $253 million, and Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai, who earned $216 million. Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr also joined the exclusive club with a compensation package totaling $182 million.

Camara, a 39-year-old entrepreneur, secured almost $110 million in earnings last year, a substantial increase from his previous year's earnings of $1 million. This achievement was the result of a combination of $500,000 salary and $109 million in stock options. The value of the stock options is tied to specific targets, which must be met by 2032, or in the event of an acquisition or Camara's departure from his position.

While the compensation is amongst the highest in the world, many companies are often happy to pay millions for some of the top talent in the world. While this can often be a contentious point for investors and stakeholders alike, top executives have experience growing companies into the billions ultimately adding unparalleled valued.

Startups are often nothing more than a founder and an idea. Even Microsoft Corp. was once a startup, and while Bill Gates made hundreds of billions on its rise to the top, so did many of its shareholders. The potentially lucrative nature of startup investing has helped propel the recent spike in startup investing on platforms like StartEngine and Wefunder.

To stay updated with top startup news and investments, sign up for Benzinga's Startup Investing & Equity Crowdfunding Newsletter

About Camara

Born in the Philippines, Camara migrated to the United States as an infant, but his path was not without its share of controversy.

In 2002, while a 16-year-old Harvard University law student, he uploaded class notes online, inadvertently revealing his use of a racial slur in reference to legal covenants restricting Black people from purchasing land. This incident sparked a considerable outcry among his peers. Camara issued an apology for his use of the offensive term and later revealed that it hindered his prospects of securing a prestigious position at a law school.

He graduated from Harvard at age 19, making him the youngest graduate in the school's history so far. But in 2007, he made headlines again for being the 22-year-old whiz kid who couldn't land a job, which he said was a result of the racial slur.

In 2013, Camara ventured into the world of legal technology by establishing CS Disco. The company focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, aiming to streamline workflows for lawyers and law firms.

CS Disco made $135.2 million in revenue during its 2022 fiscal year. However, the company also reported a net loss of $70.8 million, marking an increase from the previous year's net loss of $24.3 million.

The number of CEOs surpassing the $100 million threshold in 2022 compared to the previous year has declined. Last year, Bloomberg reported that more than 30 public company executives exceeded $100 million at the end of 2021.

This trend is indicative of the growing skepticism among shareholders and investors regarding executive pay.

As an example, Netflix Inc. shareholders recently voted against a pay package for Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, which included a $3 million salary, $20 million in stock and a potential bonus of up to $17 million. Although the vote was nonbinding, it was initiated by striking writers who voiced their concerns over the executive's compensation. Such developments reflect a broader shift in attitudes toward CEO pay and the increasing scrutiny being placed on these remuneration practices.

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This article The Youngest-Ever Harvard Law Graduate Earned Over $100 Million From An Unknown Tech Company  More Than Apple CEO Tim Cook originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
For families that rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school year, the two months of summer can be a time of high anxiety.

Every year, it gets harder and harder, said Kim Castillo.

Castillo pulled into the parking lot of Third Mount Zion Baptist Church in Woodford shortly after 10 a.m. on a recent Wednesday to pick up eight meals  breakfast and lunch for her kids for the rest of the week.

The children receive reduced-price meals during the school year, so the free meals provided by the Summer Food Service Program, which is administered locally through the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, are hugely beneficial to her, she said.

Volunteers from the Caroline County Sheriffs Office loaded boxes of the meals  cereal, oatmeal and waffle bars, chicken salad, chili, sun butter sandwiches, milk and a whole cantaloupe  into the back of Castillos van.

Well see you next week, said Curtis Dickerson, childrens programs coordinator for the Regional Food Bank.

The Woodford site is one of six operating in Caroline County this summer, Dickerson said. There are seven more sites in Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and Fredericksburg.

This year, we have more sites than ever before, which is more to manage, but we are able to feed more kids, Dickerson said.

Volunteers from the Sheriffs Office run four of the sites and volunteers from the nonprofit Carolines Promise run the other two.

There is no way we could run this without the volunteers, Dickerson said. Without them, we couldnt do this in Caroline.

The summer meal service started the first week of June and served 51,111 meals the first month. The program will continue through the second week of August at most sites and through Sept. 30 at the Spotsylvania Farmers Market.

The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered in Virginia by the state Department of Education.

Local sponsors, which can include school districts, local government agencies, camps, or nonprofit organizations  like the food bank  participate in the program by providing meals, for which they are reimbursed by the USDA.

Meal sites must be located in an area where more than 50% of children are from households that would be eligible for free and reduced-price meals based on school or census data.

Meals are available to all children and youth aged 18 and under.

The program served an estimated 142 million meals in 2019, the most recent year for which the USDA has provided data, at a cost of $476.4 million.

So far this summer, the local food bank has invested just shy of $300,000 to administer the program, said Carey Sealy, director of programs for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools is also operating a summer food service program, with mobile cafes visiting 15 sites throughout the city every day. Stafford County Public Schools is operating a program at seven sites in the county.

Prior to the the COVID-19 pandemic, all Summer Food Service sites were operated as congregate sites, meaning children had to sit and eat the meals under supervision and on location and could not to take them home.

During the pandemic, Congress approved a series of waivers that permitted parents to pick up summer meals in bulk for their children to eat at home and eliminated the requirement that sites be located in low-income areas.

These summer meal program waivers expired last year and were not renewed by Congress, meaning local programs now must abide by pre-COVID restrictions.

A January 2023 report by the Food Research and Action Center found that summer meal program participation increased by 123% in July 2020 and by 101% in July 2021, when the waivers were in effect, compared to July of 2019.

The report attributes this increase to the fact that the area eligibility requirement was waived during those summers, meaning all households with a need could participate, no matter where they were located.

The regional Food Bank is only operating one site in Stafford, where only a handful of schools meet the area eligibility provision, Dickerson said.

But just because a school is not considered to be in a low-income area doesnt mean there are no families with needs, he said.

You dont know everyones situation, Dickerson said.

Another reality that the pandemic waivers made clear is that the grab-and-go model works better for some situations and in rural areas.

We discovered that in rural areas, its harder to get to a central location for congregate meals, Dickerson said.

Congress authorized a permanent, non-congregate summer meal service option for rural areas as part of the federal appropriations act signed into law in December.

Locally, Dickerson said Caroline, King George and Orange counties qualify as rural and can offer grab-and-go meals. In Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Culpeper County and Fauquier County, meals must be served in a congregate setting.

Dickerson said there are benefits to the congregate model. Program administrators can get feedback from the kids and parents about the food thats served and kids can participate in enrichment activities and socialize with their peers.

Pre-pandemic, summer meal sites frequently served meals alongside educational and enrichment programming, which combined, help keep children healthy, engaged, active, and learning, according to the FRAC study.

But the congregate meal requirement is burdensome for some families, like Castillos. She drives 15 minutes from her home in Spotsylvania to pick up grab-and-go meals from the Woodford site because she has a child with special needs who does better eating at home.

Also under the grab-and-go model, parents can pick up meals for children who are not physically present.

While some might worry about parents taking advantage of this option, volunteer David Smith, who helps out at the Woodford site, said he prefers to rely on peoples honesty.

Most people are honest and if they say they have a need, they have a need, he said.
John Suthers has a lot of interesting stories to tell.

So he did, all in one place  his sixth book, a memoir titled, "All This I Saw and Part of It I Was."

"In many ways, I'm a pretty boring guy," the former Colorado Springs mayor, who left office June 6 after serving for eight years in the role, said from a downtown coffee shop Friday morning. "I've been married to the same woman for 47 years. I've never climbed any high mountains, gone to space or anything like that. I've been very lucky to have very interesting jobs. ... Through the help of a lot of people, I've been able to live the life I intended to live. Not very many people can say that."

Suthers started writing his 20-chapter account about 12 years ago, when he was still serving as Colorado's attorney general. He's lived his entire life in Colorado Springs, but when he worked in Denver, he'd stay at a condominium during the week.

"I'd come back from an event, it might be 8:30 p.m. or something like that, and I would write for a couple of hours ... about my life, the things that I found through my life that people thought were most interesting," he said.

The memoir follows the cases, stories and history Suthers lived during his tenure as district attorney for Colorado's 4th Judicial District, covering El Paso and Teller counties; U.S. attorney for Colorado; the state attorney general; and Colorado Springs mayor.

"I'm a big history buff. I've had the opportunity to live through and observe a great deal of history in Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado. I think it may be valuable to people, at some point in time, to (say), 'Well, here's the mayor's explanation of how this came about,' or 'Here's the attorney general's explanation as to how this came about,'" he said.

The book also details a moving personal story, how he was adopted as an infant but lost both of his adoptive parents at a young age.

When his adoptive father died of a heart attack when Suthers was just 15 years old, it changed his life.

"I think kids that suffer trauma at that point in time can kind of go two directions. I became a complete nerd. I just buckled down on studying and it was an early confrontation with mortality that caused me to think about what I want to do with my life. I became very focused on living a life with purpose and consequence," he said Friday.

The former mayor also recounts the circumstances leading to his eventual identification of both of his birth parents well into his adulthood, eventually allowing him to be in contact with four of his 11 half-siblings.

The book has so far sold about 1,000 copies and reception has been good, Suthers said.

Readers will have a chance to purchase a copy of the memoir and chat with Suthers at upcoming book signing events in Colorado Springs:

 Noon-4 p.m., July 22, Hooked on Books, 12 E. Bijou St.; 719-419-7660.

 Noon-3 p.m. July 23, Poor Richard's Bookstore, 320 N. Tejon St.; poorrichardsbookstore.com.

 Noon-3 p.m. July 30, Barnes & Noble, 1565 Briargate Blvd.; stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2863.
Stretching across the prairie 15 miles east of downtown Pueblo, enormous concrete igloos once home to 2,613 tons of mustard gas are now empty  marking the end of an Army mission to eliminate chemical weapons and a need for new jobs.

President Joe Biden marked the elimination of the nation's last chemical weapons stored in Pueblo and Kentucky in early July, saying in a statement it is a milestone "bringing us one step closer to a world free from the horrors of chemical weapons." When inhaled, mustard gas blisters the throat and lungs.

While the elimination of the weapons has been decades and billions of dollars in the making, for about 1,500 well-paid workers employed by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, the end of the work raises a key question: What's next?

Bechtel expects to keep about two-thirds of the 1,500 employees into late 2025 to help take down and decontaminate portions of the plant, said Sandy Romero, a spokeswoman for the company. In late June, she expected about 50 workers would be laid off in the next few weeks.

Attracting employers and opportunity to the sprawling 23,000-acre Pueblo Chemical Depot campus falls largely to PuebloPlex, and its president and CEO Russell DeSalvo. His economic development group is charged with working with Congress and the Army to ensure property and buildings can be safely repurposed and attracting economic development via a vast array of real estate, such as the igloos, warehouses from the 1940s and remote parcels that could offer testing ground for aerospace companies.

DeSalvo said most of the people working at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are from the local area, and many would like to stay in southern Colorado.

"Some will retire, some will relocate with their companies. But others that have an affinity for southern Colorado would like to stay here. And so that's why I feel pressure and an obligation to try to find opportunities for them," he said.

A few employers have moved in, including the expected anchor tenant for the PuebloPlex, MxV Rail. A subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads, MxV focuses on research and testing mostly for freight rail companies and employs 260 people, CEO Kari Gonzales said.

MxV previously operated the Federal Railroad Administration's Transportation Technology Center, just north of the chemical depot, but when it lost the contract in 2021 it had to reevaluate whether it wanted to stay near Pueblo, because it is not a major hub for any of the large railroad companies, and so it looked at alternatives at Florida and Texas, but ultimately decided just to shift operations south, she said.

"We saw a lot of potential in the property, not only in the size of the property, but a lot of the existing infrastructure," she said. The Pueblo Economic Development Corp. also offered free rent in airport industrial park buildings for its headquarters and lab help to support high-paying jobs that average $85,000.

Since 2021, MxV has invested $45 million into new facilities at the depot and industrial park buildings, including transforming a 1940s warehouse into classrooms, offices and other work space and putting in new rail for testing.

On Thursday, contractors worked on a new loop, a portion of the 20 additional miles of track MxV plans to add. Some of the track will help determine how materials are wearing down over time and if premature defects are developing, she said.

Gonzales said she expects to work with Swisspod, a start-up, that is planning to build a hyperloop, a large low-pressure tube on the depot property, that will move freight. MxV expects to help the company evaluate the systems. She also expect to work with Parallel Systems to test new battery propelled autonomous freight cars at the site.

Keeping MxV near Pueblo also preserved their free classes offered to first responders to help them understand how to handle hazardous materials incident that could happen with any mode of transportation. Much of the training is hands-on with a derailed train cars stacked up to provide realistic scenarios.

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The training draws in 30 to 150 students per week for about nine months out of year who spend money on hotels and restaurants, she said.

"It's actually hugely impactful for the Pueblo community," she said.

In addition to railwork, PuebloPlex recruited Cooper & Turner, a company that makes components for wind turbines, that has expanded since moving to the depot site. Some of the larger warehouses are leased to solar, space and marijuana businesses. The hundreds of igloos that stored munitions rather than chemical weapons have been repurposed into commercial storage, and PuebloPlex has a waiting list of over 200, DeSalvo said.

On an average working day, about 2,000 people are employed across the Pueblo Chemical Depot site, with about 300 of those people working in fields not related to the Army's decommissioning of weapons. To help draw in new companies, PuebloPlex is working on taking ownership of the property, DeSalvo said, so it can offer more economic development incentives, such as tax credits and money for job training.

On Friday, legislation to transfer 7,000 acres to PuebloPlex took a step forward in the House of Representatives version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the law that passes each year to fund the military.

Under the proposal, backed by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Rifle, PuebloPlex could receive grants to help with planning, purchase the property for less than fair market value to encourage economic development and would not be held liable for environmental contamination, a news release said.

The property is home to Bechtel's facility where the main processing buildings and associated piping must be torn down, but $35 million in utilities and buildings could stay in place, Romero said.

The plant where chemical weapons were disassembled using robots and washed out using a neutralizing agent required a specialized biotreatment area to treat the water used in the decommissioning process. PuebloPlex is evaluating whether that system could be reused as well, DeSalvo said.

Some weapons were destroyed in a static detonation chambers where they were electrically heated to 1,100 degrees F, and the gas was destroyed by thermal decomposition, according to a news release. Those chambers are going to be used at other Army facilities, Romero said.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will oversee Bechtel's decontamination and demolition, Romero said, and ensure the property is safe.

PuebloPlex is also in negotiations with the Army to take ownership of almost 16,000 acres it manages through a master lease. It expects to take ownership of the first 5,000 acres potentially this year and additional parcels as they are environmentally cleaned up.

Separate from mustard gas issues, some portions of the property have problems with unexploded ordnance in addition to black powder and solvent plumes in the groundwater, and the Army is responsible for that work, DeSalvo said.

Decades ago the Army would bury ordnance, cover it with lime and diesel fuel and set it on fire, causing some of the mess. The black powder reached the groundwater, because the Army was washing shells out with water and allowing it to drain into ditches. The solvents soaked into the ground after cleaning up parts and grease.

While cleaning up the groundwater could take a long time, he said, PuebloPlex could develop the property with groundwater problems because the surface is not contaminated.

Long timelines have been normal for the depot, but a challenge for economic development, as deadlines destroying the weapons extended from 2007 to 2012 to 2019.

But now that the last chemical weapons are gone, DeSalvo said, there is lots of motivation to see commercial buildout of the property that could take 100 years or more.

"We are trying to be very thoughtful and methodical about how we are developing this property," he said.
We have an important warning to share from Colorado Springs Utilities.

It told 11 News that customers reported scammers were going door to door demanding payment, and claiming they would shut off utilities right away. Thats not how the utility works.

They requested money in the form of an 855 number or gift cards to Walmart and scammers are doing this in person, impersonating Colorado Springs Utilities employees, said Jane Zook with Colorado Springs Utilities. So far, scammers have gotten $6,000 from unwitting customers.

Like Ive warned you before, its a big red flag if scammers ask you for payment from a gift card. Legitimate agencies will not ask for payment in that form.

We want to remind folks that we would never go door to door to seek cash or payment that way. We would never issue an 855 number to seek payment or gift cards, said Zook. Our personnel will always be marked with proper identification and always wear logo Colorado Springs Utilities apparel.

If you think you're getting scammed, or you're suspicious of it  even if you witness it, please let us know. You can call us at our service line, 719-448-4800. We want to let you know that this is not something Springs Utilities would do, Zook added.

The Colorado Springs Police Department is investigating the case. If you lose money and are the victim of a scam, you should report it to local law enforcement right away.

This week, I also want to let you know about a new privacy law that went into place here in Colorado. The purpose is to help protect your personal information and allow you to opt out of certain advertising.

The Colorado Attorney General's Office recently sent out letters to businesses announcing it is going to start enforcing the recently enacted Colorado Privacy Act. The new law went into effect July 1.

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The Attorney Generals Office said the letters will help educate companies about their obligations under the new law.

Below is a list of some of the new requirements:

 Providing consumers with clear, understandable and transparent information about how and why they collect, store, use, share and sell personal data.

 Responding to consumer requests to access, delete, correct and get a portable copy of their personal data.

 Allowing consumers to opt out of the sale of personal data as well as targeted advertising and certain kinds of profiling.

 Obtaining consent before collecting or using sensitive data; and only collecting the minimum amount of personal data necessary from consumers.

As Ive said publicly throughout the process, this Departments enforcement of the Colorado Privacy Act is a critical tool to protect consumers data and privacy," said Attorney General Phil Weiser in a news release. "Our enforcement of this important law will not seek to make life challenging for organizations that are complying with the law, but rather will seek to support such efforts.

These letters will help make businesses aware of the law and direct them to educational resources to help them comply. And, if we become aware of organizations that are flouting the law or refusing to comply with it, we are prepared to act.

The Attorney General's Office said the law applies to consumers in instances like browsing the internet or signing up for a retail rewards program. It said it does not apply to data collected in an employment context. You can find more information about the Colorado Privacy Act at COAG.gov/CPA.
NiAsia Ali, a recent graduate of Sierra High School, didnt really expect her educational path to take her 1,500 miles away from home, but she said she's up for the challenge.

Im a little nervous about (leaving home), but Im definitely excited about it, said Ali, the salutatorian of Sierras Class of 2023. It will be a whole new experience for me.

Ali is part of the latest cohort of exceptional Colorado students to receive a grant or scholarship from the Sachs Foundation, a Colorado Springs-based organization that has helped thousands of Black Coloradans afford college since its 1931 inception. Over the past year, the foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to 46 recipients, who will attend colleges and universities across the U.S., including Stanford, Yale, Cornell, Johns Hopkins  and, in Alis case, North Carolina A&T University.

An academic scholarship from North Carolina A&T covers most of Alis tuition and expenses, she said.

But the Sachs Foundation scholarship does cover a large chunk of it, Ali said.

The financial obstacles facing Black students today are not as stark as they were when Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs established the nonprofit more than 90 years ago, but young people of color still face a tougher road to a college degree than their white counterparts, according to foundation President Ben Ralston.

Black students are more likely than their White classmates to drop out of college for financial reasons, Ralston said, and those who graduate tend to have greater debt.

"On average, Black college graduates leave campus with $25k more in student debt and earn on average 15 percent less than their White peers," Ralston said. "We've seen this gap persist across generations, with the problem not just limited to Colorado students. We need more organizations and resources across the country who are committed to educational equity."

Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and financial need, and the ideal candidate is a student who, like Ali, has thrived in areas outside the classroom.

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In addition to playing volleyball and cheerleading at Sierra, Ali served as student body vice president historian for the schools Black Student Union. As a student board representative for Harrison School District 2, she sat in on several Board of Education meetings. Additionally, she took advantage of a dual enrollment program to obtain an associate's degree from Pikes Peak State College.

At 18, Ali is already an accomplished documentary filmmaker. As part of a fellowship with the Youth Documentary Academy, which trains young people to channel stories from their own experiences into documentary films, Ali, directed a film called Beyond the Masc. The documentary addresses the topic of toxic masculinity, particularly in the Black community.

Not all masculinity is toxic, said Ali, who grew up with an incarcerated father. It becomes toxic when someone feels like they cant show a certain side of themselves, just so others will consider them more masculine.

The film has been shown at Colorado College as well as the New York Times Film Festival.

The feedback has been really positive, Ali said. I received a lot of uplifting support.

Although she plans to major in journalism with a concentration in public affairs, Ali said she may pursue other film projects in the future. But for now, shes busy preparing for the long trip to North Carolina and bidding farewell to Sierra High School, where she says she will always feel a connection.

I love Sierra, and I always will, she said. Once a Stallion, always a Stallion.
KYIV (Reuters) -Russia halted participation on Monday in the year-old U.N.-brokered deal that lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea, causing concern in poorer countries that price rises will put food out of reach.

Hours earlier, a blast knocked out Russia's bridge to Crimea in what Moscow called a strike by Ukrainian sea drones, killing two people. Moscow said it was a terrorist attack on the road bridge, a major artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said there was no link between the attack and its decision to suspend the grain deal, over what it called a failure to meet its demands to implement a parallel agreement easing rules for its own food and fertilizer exports.

"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signalled that Russia's withdrawal meant that the related pact to assist Russia's grain and fertilizer exports was also terminated.

"Today's decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere," he told reporters.

Moscow said it would consider rejoining the grain deal if it saw "concrete results" on its demands but that its guarantees for the safety of navigation would meanwhile be revoked.

In Washington, the White House said Russia's suspension of the pact "will worsen food security and harm millions" and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called it unconscionable.

IMPACT COULD BE PROFOUND IN AFRICA

Ukraine and Russia are some of the world's biggest exporters of grain and other foodstuffs and any interruption could drive up food prices across the globe.

Shashwat Saraf, the emergency director in East Africa for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said the impact would be profound in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, which have been facing the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades.

"I don't know how we will survive," said Halima Hussein, a mother of five living in a crowded camp in Somalia's capital Mogadishu for people displaced by years of failed rains and violence.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised the prospect of resuming grain exports without Russia's participation, suggesting Kyiv would seek Turkey's support to effectively negate the Russian de facto blockade imposed last year.

"Ukraine, the U.N. and Turkey together can ensure the operation of a food corridor and vessel inspections, Zelenskiy said in his nightly video message, saying said the world "has the opportunity to show that blackmail is not allowed ... We must all ensure security, protection from Russian madness."

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Ukrainian forces have been striking Russian supply lines as it pursues a counteroffensive to drive Russian forces out of its south and east. On Monday it reported two more civilians killed by Russian forces, which it said had begun a major push in the northeast.

"For two days running, the enemy has been actively on the offensive in the Kupiansk sector in Kharkiv region. We are defending. Heavy fighting is going on and the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day," Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, wrote on Telegram.

The armed forces said Russia had amassed a huge array of forces.

"In the Lyman-Kupiansk sector the enemy has concentrated a very powerful grouping. More than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, and 370 multiple launch rocket systems," Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Armed Forces East group, said on national TV.

Reuters was not able to verify the accounts and there was no immediate comment from Russia.

The blast on the road bridge to Crimea could limit Moscow's ability to supply its troops in southern Ukraine, although Russian President Vladimir Putin said the bridge had not been used for military transports for a long time. Partial road traffic had been restored, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on Telegram.

Earlier, images showed part of the road bridge had come down and traffic halted in both directions, although a parallel railway bridge was still operational. Blasts were reported before dawn on the 19-km (12-mile) bridge, which Putin ordered built after seizing and annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Putin told officials Russia would respond to the "senseless" attack.

Ukrainian media quoted unidentified officials as saying Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) had deployed maritime drones against the bridge. SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtyarenko alluded to the idea that the agency would reveal details after Ukraine won the war, without directly claiming responsibility.

Ukraine says the bridge is illegal. It was hit by a massive explosion and fire in October.

The grain deal was hailed as preventing a global food emergency when brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last year.

Global commodity food prices rose on Monday, though the increase was limited, suggesting traders did not yet anticipate a severe supply crisis.

Western countries say Russia is trying to use its leverage over the grain deal to weaken financial sanctions, which do not apply to Russia's agricultural exports.

Russia has extended the Black Sea deal three times, despite repeated threats to quit. It suspended participation after an attack on its fleet by seaborne Ukrainian drones in October, leading to a few days when Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations kept exports going without Moscow.

Any resumption of shipments without Russia's blessing would probably depend on insurers. Industry sources told Reuters they were studying whether to freeze their coverage.

"The (key) question is whether Russia mines the area which would effectively cease any form of cover being offered," one insurance industry source said.

(Reporting by Max Hunder in Kyiv, Michelle Nichols in New York, Abdi Sheikh in Mogadishu, Ron Popeski, Lidia Kelly and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Alex Richardson and Grant McCool)
By Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China reacted with anger on Monday to a planned visit next month to the United States by "separatist" Taiwan presidential frontrunner Vice President William Lai, as the government in Taipei said it saw no reason to overreact to mere transit stops.

Taiwanese presidents and vice presidents traditionally make transits of the United States on trips to the few remaining countries still to maintain formal diplomatic ties with the Chinese-claimed island, and this time Lai will be attending the swearing in of Paraguay's new president, Santiago Pena.

This U.S. trip, though, has extra significance as Lai is running to succeed President Tsai Ing-wen at Taiwan's next election in January, and presidential candidates generally visit the United States ahead of the vote to discuss their run with officials there. Lai is currently leading in most opinion polls.

Such transits infuriate China, which views them as covert support by the United States for Taiwan's separateness from China and challenge to Beijing's territorial claims.

In April, China staged war games around Taiwan after Tsai met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the government had already lodged a diplomatic complaint with the United States about Lai's stopovers.

"China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, resolutely opposes sneaky visits by Taiwan independence separatists in any name or for any reason, and resolutely opposes any form of connivance by the United States to support Taiwan independence separatists," she said.

"China will pay close attention to the development of the situation and take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Lai's transit was "routine" and consistent with past practice, given that 10 Taiwanese vice presidents, including Lai himself, have traveled via the United States.

There is no reason for the PRC to use this transit as a pretext for provocative actions," Blinken said on Monday, referring to the People's Republic of China.

Blinken added that he had repeatedly told Chinese counterparts, including top diplomat Wang Yi during a meeting in Jakarta last week, that "we have no desire to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Our policy hasn't changed".

'USUAL PRACTICE'

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the United States also expected the presidential candidate of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, Hou Yu-ih, to visit sometime in the early fall.

Taiwan's presidential office said Lai would arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14, the day before Pena is sworn in as the country's next president.

Speaking to reporters, Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui declined to give details on Lai's U.S. transits, saying they would come later.

Asked whether the government was worried about the Chinese reaction to Lai's U.S. visit or whether it would prompt more Chinese war games, Yui said that it was the "usual practice" to make such stopovers for reasons of safety and comfort.

"There is no reason or cause for it to create commotion," Yui said.

China has repeatedly rebuffed offers of talks from Tsai and her government, believing she is a separatist.

Lai angered China in 2018 while he was premier, telling parliament he was a "Taiwan independence worker" and that his position was that Taiwan was a sovereign, independent country - a red line for Beijing.

Both Tsai and Lai say that the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is already an independent state, despite only 13 countries formally recognising it, including Paraguay.

Pena visited Taiwan last week and met both Lai and Tsai, who cannot run for office again after serving two terms.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by Kim Coghill, Lincoln Feast, Michael Perry and Deepa Babington)
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces have taken back nearly 18 square km (7 square miles) of territory in the east and the south in the past week in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, a senior defence official said on Monday.

The advances brought the territory recaptured so far during the counteroffensive to more than 210 sq km, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app.

Kyiv began its counteroffensive in early June but Moscow large areas of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine following its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Maliar said Ukrainian troops had retaken 7 sq km in the past week in the direction of the small eastern city of Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces in May after months of combat.

That brought the total territory recaptured in the area to 31 sq km since the counteroffensive began, she said.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, the spokesperson for the eastern military command, said Russia was continuing to bring reserves to the Bakhmut sector and was trying to counterattack.

"The enemy wants to hold on to their positions near Bakhmut and in Bakhmut itself above all," Cherevatyi told Ukrainian TV, adding that the Russian counterattacks had failed.

Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield developments. Russia has not confirmed the Ukrainian reports of territorial gains.

Maliar said that in southern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces are trying to advance towards the cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, Kyiv's troops had recaptured nearly 11 sq km in the past week. The took the total territory recaptured in the south to nearly 180 sq km, she said.

Maliar added that Russian forces have been advancing since the end of last week towards the city of Kupiansk in the eastern Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian officials said a 60-year-old man had been hurt in Russian shelling of the eastern region of Kharkiv and two people were wounded in Kramatorsk, also in the east.

(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka and Olena Harmash; Editing by Peter Graff and Timothy Heritage)
The National Republican Congressional Committee is slamming Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) for her "radical voting record" in the House of Representatives, despite billing herself as a moderate.

The NRCC uses the D.C. crime bill, among other pieces of legislation, as examples it says Spanberger is more radical than she claims, in a memo obtained exclusively by the Washington Examiner.

TRUMP'S IOWA MISTAKES COULD PROVE COSTLY, GOP STRATEGISTS WARN

"Abigail Spanberger talks like a so-called 'moderate' but her voting record tells a different story," the memo said. "Over the course of her tenure in Congress, Spanberger has been captured by the extreme left of her party, mirroring the hard-left lurch of Virginia Democrats."

"Spanberger's leftward drift has pushed her far to the left of voters in her swing district. The NRCC targeted Spanberger's seat for the 2024 cycle and we are confident her recent votes have undercut her own carefully-constructed brand."

The memo outlines Spanbergers's voting record in the previous Congress, where she voted with President Joe Biden 100% of the time, per FiveThirtyEight. It also highlights her votes against blocking a gas stove ban, reducing regulation for energy production, ensuring medical care for babies born after a failed abortion, and parental rights protection for their child's education. The memo also highlights her vote for a pathway to amnesty for illegal immigrants.

As a case study, the memo features her vote against blocking a crime bill in Washington, D.C., which would have softened the punishment for homicide, robberies, and carjackings. The House bill blocking the D.C. council's legislation passed a 250-173 vote, with 31 Democrats joining Republicans. Spanberger was one of the 173 Democrats who voted against blocking the D.C. law. The Senate overwhelmingly voted to block the D.C. council's legislation, on a bipartisan basis, and Biden would sign it into law.

"Notably, this stance was too extreme even for President Biden, who changed stance and signed this bill into law," the memo said. "For the Democrats who voted no' like Spanberger this was a clear demonstration of their radicalism to voters  showing even within the Democratic Party their views are extreme."

"Of all these members, this vote was most consequential for Spanberger, given Washington, D.C., is in her own backyard. Spanberger's support for this bill will have real-life consequences for her own district. Compounding matters, Spanberger's vote to reduce penalties for violent criminals was so extreme that when the legislation made it to the Senate, neither Virginia Senators Warner nor Kaine could match her vote and they both voted against this legislation."

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The NRCC said Spanberger has "carefully concocted a brand for herself," but she "traded it all away" with her voting record in Congress.

"Republicans will continue to press Abigail Spanberger for her radical voting record undercutting her claim as a so-called 'moderate.' She has gotten comfortable in her district and revealed her true colors as an extreme Democrat," the NRCC wrote. "Now Spanberger is not the bipartisan member she portrays herself as. The NRCC will make sure every Virginia voter knows the real Abigail Spanberger."

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Spanberger has been a top target for Republicans since she flipped the formerly GOP House seat in 2018. In March, the NRCC listed Spanberger as one of 37 House Democrats it is aiming to defeat in 2024.

In 2020 and 2022, Spanberger survived challenges by Republicans Nick Freitas and Yesli Vega. The Virginia Democrat defeated Freitas by a narrow 50.8%-49% margin in 2020, and beat Vega by a 52.2%-47.6% margin in 2022.

Original Location: EXCLUSIVE: NRCC blasts 'moderate' Spanberger for 'radical voting record'

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As the Supreme Court prepares to embark on its next Second Amendment case, legal experts are torn on how the justices may rule on a novel challenge to a long-standing federal law barring domestic abusers from possessing firearms.

The case, known as Rahimi v. U.S., which has not been slated for oral arguments yet, involves Texas resident Zackey Rahimi, whose legal problems began in 2019 when he pulled a gun and fired at a passerby who witnessed him dragging his at the time girlfriend through a parking lot.

NEW INFLATION READINGS A WIN FOR BIDEN AMID 'BIDENOMICS' PUSH: 'ECONOMIC MIRACLE'

Rahimi was involved in another shooting months later after getting into a vehicular accident, where he repeatedly shot at the other driver, according to court records. One year later, he threatened a woman with a gun and was charged with aggravated assault. In 2021, he fired several shots into the air after his friend's credit card was declined at a fast food restaurant near Fort Worth.

While Rahimi is facing separate charges for his violent misuse of a firearm, his public defenders are challenging one of his convictions under a 1994 federal statute that bars people who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a gun. Those charges were leveled after police obtained a search warrant for his address after the string of shootings, discovering a court-issued restraining order against him by his ex-girlfriend.

Zackey Rahimi was sentenced to over six years in prison before an appeals court vacated his conviction. Tarrant County Sheriff's Office

Citing the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Bruen v. New York Rifle & Pistol Assn., Rahimi's counsel argues that because there was no regulation that banned guns from people subject to restraining orders at the time of the nation's founding, the federal statute known as 922(g)(8) should not stand.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit sided with Rahimi in March, noting while he's "hardly a model citizen," the statute barring him from owning a gun is an "outlier that our ancestors would never have accepted."

The Biden administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed last month to hear the case.

Legal experts provided mixed responses over how the case might ultimately resolve in part because of its sweeping decision in Bruen that has led to more than 30 successful claims over other Second Amendment challenges in lower courts. But as early as 2021, the Supreme Court allowed a series of lower court rulings to stand that prevented people from owning firearms when convicted of driving under the influence, making false statements on tax returns, and selling counterfeit cassette tapes.

Matthew Lacombe, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University who focuses on Second Amendment law, said he could envision a scenario where the justices uphold the statute in a way "that doesn't have much of an effect on how the Bruen ruling is interpreted and applied moving forward."

But Lacombe clarified that he could also envision a scenario where the court uses its decision in Rahimi to "provide greater clarity about how that standard should be applied moving forward."

Other experts, like Daniel Cohen, a partner at Consumer Attorneys PLLC, appeared more confident that the justices might affirm the 5th Circuit's decision.

Cohen said the federal statute "restricts access to guns to people who have yet to be convicted of a crime," noting that the Bruen test requires historical analogs to the nation's history of firearms laws and that there "aren't any close enough for this court."

Meanwhile, organizations that have raised awareness about the interconnections between domestic violence offenders and gun violence have suggested that the Supreme Court may also be able to come up with an outcome that rules against Rahimi while upholding its recent Second Amendment test from Bruen.

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"An outcome favoring the statute could undoubtedly be consistent with what the court decided in Bruen," Bailey Hoffeditz, legal director of the Sexual Violence Prevention Association, told the Washington Examiner. Hoffeditz added that the primary question for the justices would be, "How nuanced does this historical analysis and comparison need to be to pass constitutional muster?"

Despite the broad interest in the Rahimi case, gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, have been atypically quiet about the case before the justices, as neither the NRA nor the Firearms Policy Coalition filed amicus briefs when the case was on appeal.

However, some firearms rights proponents, including the Second Amendment Foundation and Gun Owners of America, have signaled plans to file briefs.

Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, told USA Today his group would soon file a brief "in support of overturning the law in question."

Still, inconsistencies in lower courts that have been toiling in Second Amendment cases post-Bruen suggest there may be room for clarification about the sweeping decision last summer.

Some legal experts have pointed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett's concurrence in the ruling last summer as a clue that tells where the justices' disagreements could begin to percolate.

Amy Coney Barrett sits during a hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Screenshot)

Barrett wrote that the majority did not clearly answer whether the court should rely on the prevailing understanding of an individual right when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868 or when the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.

Josh Blackman, a South Texas College of Law professor, told the Reload that the high court could ultimately wind up limiting Bruen but could do so by "creating a carveout for people with certain types of criminal offenses."

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That's because under the Bruen framework, there is no "clear 'analog'" between domestic violence restraining orders and past laws, Blackman said.

No matter the outcome in Rahimi, the case is likely to generate significant tensions in the lead-up to oral arguments and a final decision, as major interests, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and pro-gun control groups such as Giffords, have made calls for upholding the 1994 statute.

Original Location: Experts torn over Supreme Court direction in next Second Amendment case

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Local authorities arrested the alleged Long Island serial killer earlier than expected after discovering the prime suspect of the Gilgo Beach murders was keeping tabs on the investigation online, according to the district attorney involved in the case.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told Fox News on Monday that Rex Heuermann did not anticipate being taken into police custody last week, despite allegedly following the case's progress.

NEW YORK CITY PUSHES THE LIMITS OF GREEN POLICIES

"I think he was extremely surprised," Tierney said. "I think we utilized the grand jury because we wanted to maintain investigative secrecy. We were concerned about that all along."

Tierney added law enforcement and prosecutors were "pleased" they were able to "maintain that secrecy."

To follow the investigation, Heuermann used Google to search related terms, according to Tierney.

"He was asking questions such as  What is the phone evidence in the Gilgo case? How  come they can't trace the phones in the Google case?' So he's asking specific questions with regard to our investigative means," the New York district attorney said.

"He was also making searches of the victims, looking at pictures of the victims online, and he was running searches of the victims' siblings and, in one instance, admitted that he was the killer," added Tierney. "He had some disparaging things to say about the sister and said he was going to come find her."

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Suffolk County police caught Heuermann last Thursday night at his home after more than a decade of investigation, and news of the arrest was made public Friday morning. The alleged serial killer was charged with three of the 11 deaths related to the case, charges to which he pleaded not guilty later Friday.

The criminal investigation into Heuermann is still ongoing as law enforcement reportedly seeks to connect him to the murders of eight more victims.

Original Location: Gilgo Beach murders: Authorities accelerated case as suspect monitored the investigation

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The House Select Subcommittee on the Chinese Communist Party is demanding the University of California, Berkeley provide a trove of documents and information related to the school's ties to a university in China.

In a letter dated July 13, subcommittee chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and House Education and Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) demanded that UC Berkeley disclose details pertaining to its partnerships with Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The two lawmakers cited "grave concern" that the CCP is using the university to its military, technological, and economic advantage.

OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE ENTERS GOP SENATE PRIMARY

"The CCP abuses seemingly innocuous research collaborations like the one between Berkeley and Tsinghua to advance PRC science and technology goals at the expense of the United States," the letter says. "The PRC has sent thousands of military scientists abroad to gather scientific-military know-how, obtain sensitive details regarding research projects and emerging technologies, and to gain access to American academics, their research, and their networks."

UC Berkeley's partnership with Tsinghua University centers on the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, a joint research institute that involves the Shenzhen government. The institute marks one of the closest collaborations between a U.S.-based university and China.

In the letter, the lawmakers noted the institute engages in technological research that will likely be used for military purposes and collaborates with companies that are prohibited by the U.S. government from receiving "sensitive U.S. technology." The letter also chastised the school for failing to report funding from the Chinese government for UC Berkeley research, a violation of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which requires U.S. universities to disclose funding from foreign governments.

"Despite this extensive collaboration, publicly available information suggests that Berkeley has failed to disclose properly its contracts with its PRC partners as required by law," the letter says. "Berkeley appears to have never declared any gift or contract from the PRC government, notwithstanding a reported agreement by the Shenzhen government to provide $220 million to build a campus in Shenzhen."

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The lawmakers have given the California university until July 27 to comply with their request.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to UC Berkeley for comment.

Original Location: House committee has 'grave concerns' over UC Berkeley's China ties

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House Republicans are planning to send a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray with the intent to "point out the contradictions" the director made while under oath.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on Monday that he and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) will prepare the letter asking the director to "correct his testimony" after Wray testified to Congress last week. The letter will be sent on either Monday or Tuesday.

THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM DAY ONE OF TURNING POINT ACTION CONFERENCE

"We are going to point out the contradictions and what he said under oath, and we'll start with that," Johnson said during an appearance on Fox News. "Secondly, you're right  the appropriations process is a very important part of this. We have to get their attention. They want a $4 billion new headquarters for the FBI. I've been on record many times saying I don't believe they deserve that if they cannot uphold the most fundamental constitutional rights of the people that they're supposed to be protecting and serving."

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before a House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for the first time since Republicans took control in January. Patrick Semansky/AP

Johnson added that Congress cannot impeach "every agency head in the Biden administration," even though many of them "probably deserve it." However, he indicated that House Republicans need to start with "the power that we have," saying, "The power of the purse is a big one."

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Wray attended a congressional hearing on Wednesday on the alleged weaponization of FBI, in which he defended the agency's actions over the last couple of years. Some of the actions Wray defended include the FBI's investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and search of his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, along with the bureau's alleged targeting of parents protesting at school board meetings.

Trump, who is also running for president in 2024, has blamed former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for encouraging him to hire Wray as the director of the FBI. In an excerpt from an interview with Trump from Sunday, the former president admitted that it was a mistake hiring the FBI director, but clarified that he only did so on the strong urging of Christie.

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"Yeah, sadly, it probably was," Trump answered when asked if hiring Wray was a mistake. "It was recommended very strongly by Chris Christie, who was, you know, a sad case. I mean, I watch him. He's a sad case."

In stark contrast to many in the Republican Party, Christie claimed that Wray was a "good guy" who could fix a lot of the problems in the FBI and who has "already fixed" a lot of problems. The former governor, who is also running for president in 2024, would not commit to firing Wray should he become president.

Original Location: House GOP plans to ask FBI Director Christopher Wray to correct his testimony

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Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison compared Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with the infamous house slave and "Uncle Tom" character Stephen from the 2012 film Django Unchained.

"Anybody who's watched the movie Django, just watch Stephen and you see Clarence Thomas," Ellis said in an interview with the Michigan Chronicle addressing Thomas's part in the court's June affirmative action ruling.

NEW YORK CITY PUSHES THE LIMITS OF GREEN POLICIES

"Clarence Thomas has decided that his best personal interest is siding with the powerful and the special interests, regardless as to who they're gonna hurt."

The justice is only looking out for himself, is "illegitimate," and needs to be impeached, according to Ellis.

In Quentin Tarantino's 2012 work, the character of Stephen is a sadist house slave, entirely loyal to his master Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and despises the film's protagonist Django, played by Jamie Foxx.

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"Clarence Thomas is illegitimate and has no basis in the job that he's in," Ellis said. "It's a lesson to us as African Americans. What is the lesson? We all thought, well, he's a black man raised in the Deep South. He knows what racism and segregation is, he knows what affirmative action is. He's going to come around one day."

"Understand that it's not a matter of pigment," he added. "It's not what's on your skin, it's what's in your mind."

Original Location: Minnesota attorney general compares Clarence Thomas with infamous 'Uncle Tom' character

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich believes people will be "amazed" at what former President Donald Trump can do in his first year as president should he win the 2024 election.

Gingrich said in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures that Trump is the "most likely person to be the next president of the United States."

CONSERVATIVE NDAA AMENDMENTS UNLIKELY TO MAKE IT INTO THE SENATE'S VERSION

"I think his first year will be astonishing, and think people will be amazed how much he can get done, how big a team he can assemble," Gingrich said.

"And, frankly, barring some enormous change, he is the most likely person to be the next president of the United States, something only Grover Cleveland ever achieved  being president, losing, and coming back," Gingrich continued.

Gingrich added that Republicans should rally behind Trump to secure the White House.

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"Right now, the numbers are so overwhelming, Republicans ought to start focusing on how to beat [President Joe] Biden because I think at a practical level, they have a nominee, and his name is Donald Trump," the former speaker said.

A RealClearPolitics analysis of recent polls shows Trump leading in all of them, with an RCP average of 53%. Gov. Ron DeSantis polls at 20.6%, and all other candidates come in at single digits.

Original Location: Newt Gingrich says Trump's first year as next president will be 'astonishing'

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Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Monday released a list of potential conservative Supreme Court nominees, borrowing a page out of former President Donald Trump's playbook.

Ramaswamy, 37, released a list of contenders including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) as possible nominees for the nation's highest court, as well as naming federal judges who struck down President Joe Biden's airplane mask mandate and the Food and Drug Administration's 20-year-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

WHAT UPCOMING MAJOR MOVIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND WRITERS STRIKE?

FILE - From left, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, arrive as senators go to the chamber for votes ahead of the approaching Memorial Day recess, at the Capitol in Washington, May 27, 2021. Hawley and Cruz led the Senate challenge to Joe Biden's victory. But the senators have largely escaped the House panel's investigation over the Capitol attack. In all, a dozen GOP senators initially planned to challenge Donald Trump's defeat. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The decision to release a list of potential nominees mirrors Trump's 2016 move where he released his own list of possible appointments to galvanize his base. Notably, Trump's 2016 list included Lee before he expanded it in 2020 to name Sens. Cruz, Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), though Cotton and Hawley were not included on Ramaswamy's list.

"Our courts remain the last line of defense against the overreach and weaponization of government. As President, I will appoint judges who will protect the integrity of our constitutional Republic," Ramaswamy said in a statement.

The venture capitalist and political outsider candidate has been polling fourth among potential Republican primary voters, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Ramaswamy's move comes after the high court and its 6-3 Republican-appointed majority in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, which was a top priority for the anti-abortion conservatives.

In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is running second to Trump in the 2024 primary, raised the idea of installing a "7-2 conservative majority" on the high court should he be voted president, also suggesting that the three justices Trump placed on the high court weren't quite as conservative as he and other Republicans had hoped.

Ramaswamy also named seven federal judges, including U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit Judge James Ho, 9th Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke, 11th Circuit Judge Lisa Branch, and U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, with the latter recently ruling against the FDA's decades-old approval of mifepristone earlier this year.

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Ho and Branch have said they wouldn't hire clerks from Yale and Stanford as retaliation for what they view as "cancel culture" at those colleges. Ramaswamy holds a law degree from Yale.

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy laughs during a Michael Smerconish radio show and town hall meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in Morristown, Pa. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Jose F. Moreno/AP

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Ramaswamy also named former Solicitor General Paul Clement, a veteran attorney who has argued over 100 cases before the high court and will soon represent fishing companies in a case that seeks to deflate the power of executive agencies.

Other people in his pool include U.S. District Judges Martha Pacold, Sarah Pitlyk, Kathryn Mizelle, and Brantley Starr, as well as Stephen Alexander Vaden of the U.S. Court of International Trade, and Ryan Holte of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Original Location: Ramaswamy floats naming Ted Cruz and Mike Lee as next conservative Supreme Court justice

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The manhunt for a suspected gunman that authorities say was responsible for the murders of four people in Georgia has come to an end, following a shootout with authorities.

Hampton officials confirmed that at least three members of law enforcement were also injured in the incident.

FARMERS INSURANCE CUTS POLICIES IN TURBULENT FLORIDA INSURANCE MARKET

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said the the suspected gunman, Andre Longmore, 40, was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with deputies and police officers Sunday afternoon.

Scandrett further announced added that a Clayton County deputy was shot in the backrequiring a Life Flight to Grady Memorial Hospital.

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Police initiated a manhunt for Longmore on Saturday, which is when officials said he opened fire on residents in a subdivision located about 30 miles outside of Atlanta, killing three men and a woman.

The victims have since been identifieid as Scott Leavitt, 67; Shirley Leavitt, 66; Steve Blizzard, 65; and Ronald Jeffers, 66.

Original Location: Suspect in Georgia mass shooting killed in shootout with authorities

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Colorado Republican leadership continues to drive the party toward political impotence and irrelevance with its obsession to ban unaffiliated voters from voting in so-called open primary elections.

Stolen election conspiracist Dave Williams, the new state chairman, has announced the Colorado Republican State Central Committee (CRC) will vote on August 5 on whether to cancel the 2024 Republican primary election. And to accomplish this act of political suicide, they want to make a change in the committees voting rules that would make the old Soviet Politburo proud.

Voters passed Proposition 108 in 2016 which allows unaffiliated voters to vote in the primary election of their choice.

Unaffiliated voters receive both parties primary ballots in the mail and they can choose one. Voting in both primaries nullifies both ballots.

The law also allows a state political party to cancel its primary election with a vote of 75% of the membership of its state central committee. Approximately 400 to 500 county party leaders and state and federal elected officials make up the CRC.

Canceling the primary would confer the sole power to nominate Republican candidates to the caucus-assembly process. There are 931,000 registered Republicans in Colorado who are eligible to vote in a Republican primary election. Only about 10,000 Republican activists attend precinct caucuses with a final 3,000 ending up being delegates to the Colorado Republican State Assembly.

Canceling the primary would essentially disenfranchise more than 900,000 Republicans who do not go to precinct caucuses. Of particular note, military personnel stationed around the world who are Colorado voters, not to mention law enforcement and other first responders who are on duty on caucus night, would have their primary vote taken away.

It would also ban more than 1.8 million unaffiliated voters, 47% of the electorate, from choosing to vote in the Republican primary. Unaffiliated voters would receive only the Democratic primary ballot in the mail but not the Republican ballot.

The CRC attempted to cancel the Republican primary in 2018, 2020 and 2022 and it failed all three times, falling well short of the required 75%.

But allies of Williams are proposing a change in the rules which would be unprecedented in its raw abuse of a voting process. These are the same people who contend the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

It is very difficult to get 75% of the CRCs membership to ban the primary because only around 50 to 60 % of the members even show up for a CRC meeting.

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Apparently finding inspiration from sham elections in the failed Soviet Union which only listed candidates endorsed by the Communist Party, allies of Williams are proposing that any CRC member who does not show up for the meeting will be presumed as a vote to kill the 2024 Republican primary election. You read this correctly. If you are a voting CRC member who does not show up for the meeting on Aug. 5, your vote will be automatically cast for you to kill the 2024 Republican primary election.

Equally nonsensical is the claim by Williams and his conspiracy pals that allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in Republican primaries is why Republicans have suffered devastating defeats in the past three elections. Under the Williams logic, these unaffiliated voters helped nominate weak candidates over much stronger Trump loyalists who would have won.

Seriously, Williams thinks that stolen election conspiracist Ron Hanks, who made videos of himself shooting a defunct copier with Dominion emblazoned on it to dramatize his commitment to expose the Chinese conspiracy that stole Colorados electoral votes from Trump, could have been elected to the Senate. Dominion Voting Systems is the company that Williams, Hanks and the rest of the conspiracy crowd blame for Trumps defeat in 2020. Dominion recently won a $757 million lawsuit against Fox News for airing false accusations against the company.

More lawsuits against other entities are still to come.

Williams thinks the former Mesa County clerk, the criminally indicted Tina Peters, could have been elected Secretary of State along with Greg Lopez who ran for governor promising he would pardon Peters if she is convicted at her trial in October.

Williams and his allies refuse to believe that Trump defined every Republican candidate in every competitive race at every level in Colorado in 2018, 2020, and 2022 resulting in sweeping Democratic victories not seen since the 1930s during the Great Depression.

Trumps approval rating in 2018 was in the mid-30s while his disapproval was in the mid-50s. He lost Colorado to Joe Biden by 14 points in 2020 which also took down U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner who unseated a Democratic incumbent in 2014.

The stench of Trump conspiracies enveloped every statewide Republican candidate in 2022 along with strong Republican candidates in the newly created 8th Congressional District and in seven competitive state senate races. Democrats now control the Colorado House by 49 to 16 and the Colorado Senate by 23-12.

Saying that allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in the Republican primary caused these defeats is as ridiculous as saying the open primary causes acne.

But maybe Williams will make that case at the CRC meeting in August.

Dick Wadhams is a former Colorado Republican state chairman who worked for U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong for nine years before managing campaigns for U.S. Sens. Hank Brown and Wayne Allard, and Gov. Bill Owens.
An Arapahoe County judge declined to give a key instruction to jurors in a man's assault trial, prompting the state's second-highest court to reverse the conviction and order a new trial.

Luis Salinas-Martinez received a 10-year sentence after a jury convicted him in 2019 of assaulting his roommate. Although the offense was a class 4 felony, it was possible for Salinas-Martinez to only be convicted of a class 6 felony if jurors believed he was provoked in a "sudden heat of passion."

A conviction for the less serious offense would have resulted in a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Case: People v. Salinas-Martinez Decided: July 13, 2023 Jurisdiction: Arapahoe County Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Anthony J. Navarro (author) Jaclyn Casey Brown David H. Yun

Salinas-Martinez came home drunk one night and assaulted his roommate, leaving the victim with a collapsed lung and multiple broken bones. Salinas-Martinez himself had minor injuries. Relations between the two men had deteriorated in the lead-up to the fight, and the victim, who was also under the influence of drugs, acknowledged he likely had bitten Salinas-Martinez first.

Salinas-Martinez's jurors evaluated whether he acted in self-defense, but rejected that claim. They did not consider whether Salinas-Martinez should be convicted of the less serious felony, as District Court Judge Shay Whitaker declined to give the provocation instruction. Her reasons for doing so were not documented.

Under Colorado law, there must be some evidence that a defendant was provoked in order to justify a jury instruction. The evidence must suggest:

 The assault occurred in a "sudden heat of passion"

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 The victim performed a "serious and highly provoking act"

 The victim's actions would have caused an "irresistible passion in a reasonable person"

 There was insufficient time for "the voice of reason and humanity to be heard"

A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded that, even if it was unlikely jurors would have believed Salinas-Martinez, there was evidence supporting the notion that the victim physically provoked him.

"Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to Salinas-Martinez and taking into account the low bar for a provocation instruction," wrote Judge Anthony J. Navarro in the July 13 opinion, "we must conclude that the evidence of (the victim's) biting and wounding him was sufficient to justify the provocation instruction."

At the same time, the panel rejected Salinas-Martinez's other reason to claim he was provoked: that he feared "imminent unwanted sexual contact" from his roommate. While there was evidence the two men had interacted sexually in the past, Navarro noted there was no indication the victim had made an unwanted advance on the night of the assault.

The panel ordered a new trial.

The case is People v. Salinas-Martinez.
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government.

Leaders of Colorado's House of Representatives will need to defend against a lawsuit filed by their own members that alleges a pattern of open meetings violations, and federal judges continue to dispense with lawsuits challenging COVID-19 protocols from the height of the pandemic.

Court system to adjudicate legislative branch lawsuit

 Two first-term Democratic representatives have sued the General Assembly's leadership over an alleged pattern of secret meetings that violate the state's open meetings law. The defendants have since hired attorneys through the vote of a legislative committee.

 I just didn't see the institution being able to change without outside intervention, said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. This is entrenched. This stuff's been going on for decades, there's no doubt. It's just custom and practice.

 However, former Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose, told Colorado Politics the lawsuit is "putting you on very thin ice because, when you get legislators that are afraid to talk to each other, you're asking for trouble.

COVID-19 lawsuits dismissed

 Although the bulk of COVID-19 precautionary measures are now gone, the courts are still combing through lawsuits about public health restrictions during the height of the pandemic. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from the owners of the Bandimere Speedway over local health orders that were in place in the early months of the pandemic.

 A judge also declined to reconsider her dismissal of a lawsuit involving a man's termination from his defense contractor job because he refused to abide by COVID-19 protocols. The man subsequently accused the judges assigned to his case of bias and asked, unsuccessfully, for a new set of judges.

Heard on appeal

 Two friends bet $27,500 on whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump would win the 2020 election. The man who chose Trump claimed he didn't owe money because the election was illegitimate, among other things. The state's Court of Appeals didn't buy it.

 The Court of Appeals overturned a high-profile murder conviction because an Arapahoe County trial judge didn't give jurors the proper instruction about an affirmative defense to felony murder.

 Colorado law doesn't require that a vehicle owner transfer the title in order for the vehicle to be a valid gift, the Court of Appeals ruled for the first time.

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 Doctors may rely on paperwork only, without an in-person examination, to determine someone has no permanent disability in workers' compensation cases, the Court of Appeals decided.

In federal news

 A Greeley police officer intended to ask for qualified immunity in an illegal detention lawsuit, but changed course after a federal judge said she was skeptical about the timing of the request, which came less than two months after she denied a motion to dismiss the case.

 An unlawful arrest lawsuit will proceed to trial, in which Colorado Springs officers handcuffed a woman moments after she helped resuscitate an unconscious man in a motel parking lot.

 For the second time in under a year, a judge declined to advance a nationwide settlement between restaurants and Grubhub due to defects in the agreement's language.

 A Colorado Springs man lacked standing to challenge the constitutionality of three state gun laws, a judge found.

 A judge has advanced a proposed class action lawsuit against kidney dialysis company DaVita, Inc., in which nurses and technicians are accusing it of violating federal wage law.

Vacancies and appointments

 The governor has selected prosecutor Victoria E. Klingensmith, who is also an adjunct law professor at the University of Denver, to succeed retiring District Court Judge Cynthia Mares in the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties).

Miscellaneous proceedings

 Although employees of the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender knew they would be getting pay raises this fiscal year, which began July 1, they didn't know what their wages would be until two weeks after it started.

 Denver has reached a settlement with four plaintiffs who sued the city over the excessive use of police force in response to the racial justice protests of 2020.

 A public comment period runs through Aug. 7 for people to weigh in on a pilot program at the state's federal trial court. As proposed, certain prisoners at the Fremont Correctional Facility, who are representing themselves in lawsuits, would get to speak with volunteer lawyers in 20-minute phone calls.
A Denver judge jailed a man for 12 days over his failure to make child support payments, but she disregarded the procedural requirements and safeguards for holding someone in contempt, the state's Court of Appeals determined.

District Court Judge Nikea T. Bland ordered Rory Fitzgerald Carpenter to jail in January 2022 after a hearing in which Carpenter acknowledged he had not made all the required payments stemming from his divorce case.

There are two types of consequences a judge can impose for contempt: remedial sanctions, which require someone to come into compliance by performing an action, and punitive sanctions, which punish behavior that is "offensive to the authority and dignity of the court."

A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals found Bland never explicitly described which type of sanction she was imposing on Carpenter. If it was remedial, there was no indication the incarceration would end if Carpenter corrected his behavior. If it was punitive, there were multiple errors in handing down the punishment.

"First, father was denied his right to counsel," wrote Judge Ted C. Tow III in the panel's July 13 opinion. "Second, the court did not find that the continued nonpayment was offensive to the authority and dignity of the court."

Case: In re the Marriage of Weinraub Decided: July 13, 2023 Jurisdiction: Denver Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Ted C. Tow III (author) David Furman Sueanna P. Johnson

Previously, Bland held Carpenter in both punitive and remedial contempt in March 2021 for his nonpayment of child support and other obligations. She imposed six days in jail and also ordered him to pay monthly installments. Bland set a review for January 2022 to "monitor compliance" with Carpenter's payments.

Shortly before the hearing, Bland found that, while Carpenter had not paid his entire debt to his ex-wife, he appeared to comply with the contempt order. But at the hearing itself, Carpenter acknowledged he had fallen behind on his payments again. Bland then jailed him for 12 days.

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Carpenter, representing himself, argued to the Court of Appeals that Bland did not follow the proper contempt procedure.

"Appellants contention is that due process is still required," he wrote, "and should be afforded to him especially since the sanctions, if found guilty, include the possibility of jail time."

Carpenter's ex-wife countered that the hearing was "merely a continuation" of the prior proceedings and no extra precautions were required.

The Court of Appeals disagreed. If Bland intended the sanction to be remedial  to bring Carpenter in line with his child support obligations  she never determined whether Carpenter had the ability to pay as of January 2022. Further, it was not clear the incarceration would end if Carpenter made payments after all.

On the other hand, if the sanction was meant to be punitive, Bland did not explain how Carpenter's lack of payment at the time was offensive to the authority and dignity of the court. Similarly, Carpenter did not have an attorney, as the rules require, nor did Bland advise him of his right to have another judge conduct the hearing.

"A person charged with punitive contempt is entitled to certain procedural due process protections before the court can impose such sanctions," wrote Tow. "The district court did not provide father with those protections here."

The panel overturned the contempt order.
Last week, the Colorado Republican who lost one of last years closest congressional races announced that she was passing on another run for the seat.

State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer declared that she plans to seek another term in the General Assembly  her Weld County-based seat is up in 2022. Shell run for that seat rather than seek a rematch with U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, the Thornton Democrat who barely edged past Kirkmeyer to win Colorados newest congressional district, the evenly divided 8th CD in Adams, Weld and Larimer counties.

After falling less than a percentage point short  Kirkmeyer trailed Caraveo by just over 1,600 votes, for a 0.69% margin  Kirkmeyer has been facing calls to give it one more try.

Repeat candidates for major office, especially those who kept it close, can come with built-in advantages over fresh faces. Those usually include higher name ID, a seasoned campaign team, a proven list of donors and experience navigating the rocky shoals of a modern campaign.

Kirkmeyer says she gave it careful consideration and deliberation but ultimately decided to run for reelection to the Legislature, where shes become one of the most effective voices of the opposition at the statehouse.

Theres no shortage of potential candidates for the GOP nomination in the battleground district, though only one has made it official so far. Almost immediately after Kirkmeyer made her intentions known, Weld County Commissioner Scott James threw his hat in the ring. Another half dozen or so Republicans  including current and former county and legislative officials  are mullling bids.

After coming down to the wire last time, the district is expected to be home to one of the hardest-fought congressional races in the country next year, drawing millions in outside spending for whoever wins the chance to challenge Caraveo, who will likewise have plenty of resources.

On the other side of the state, the Democratic candidate who lost an even closer congressional race last cycle took the opposite tack from Kirkmeyer, declaring just weeks after conceding defeat that he wanted a rematch.

Adam Frisch, a former Aspen city councilman, failed to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorados 3rd Congressional District by just 546 votes, for a margin of 0.16%, close enough to compel a recount and inspire the also-ran to run again.

It helps that Boebert is one of the most prominent members of the MAGA wing of House Republicans, hardly going a day lately without landing in the news, energizing fans and foes alike.

At this point, Frisch faces only nominal opposition for the nomination, and while a couple of other Democrats are rumored to be considering getting in the race, the repeat candidates eye-popping fundraising totals could scare off most serious competitors. Bolstered by the ability to pitch himself as the one who came this close to unseating Boebert, against all odds, Frisch plans to report raising $2.6 million for the most recent quarter, bringing his total haul since declaring his second campaign to $4.4 million  a record-setting sum in an off-year.

Frisch has plenty of company nationwide this cycle, as the analysts at Sabatos Crystal Ball point out.

Retreads abound in House races, reads the headline in the July 13 edition of the nonpartisan election experts Notes on the State of Politics.

A theme of recent House reporting has been a flood of unsuccessful 2022 candidates coming back for more in 2024, report J. Miles Coleman and Kyle Kondik, who note that just this week eight House candidates who lost last cycle have declared that theyre back in the saddle and want another chance at the office that eluded them last time around.

It isnt an uncommon phenomenon, Coleman and Kondik note, adding that repeat candidates arguably provided the edge that won Republicans the majority in the House in the last election.

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Since both the GOPs current House majority and the one enjoyed by Democrats in the last Congress have been razor-thin, they observe, all of these candidate choices are magnified, because its not impossible that a single blown race could decide the majority. That could encourage both parties to court candidates they know over ones they dont  at least when the known is not known to be weak.

The same climate, they add, could also motivate candidates to run again if theyre confident they can correct errors and seize opportunities they missed last time  with the added possibility that they might wind up in the majority.

If he pulls it off, Frisch will join one of the most sparsely populated categories of Colorado politicians: those who successfully turned the tables and won in a rematch.

Rematches have been rare in Colorados modern political era. Across every election for top federal and statewide office since the 1970s, only one candidate who lost the first time around has managed to come out on top in a do-over.

That candidate was Scott Tipton, the Cortez Republican who cut his political teeth in the General Assembly before losing and then winning races in the same 3rd CD Boebert represents.

Tipton tried to depose U.S. Rep. John Salazar in the San Luis Valley Democrats first run for reelection in 2006 but went down hard, losing by 25 percentage points in a year that favored Democrats. Four years later, however, buffeted by the 2010 Republican wave  fueled largely by a slow economy and a backlash to the Affordable Care Act  Tipton unseated Salazar by just under 5 percentage points.

After easily winning reelection four times, in 2020 Tipton was surprised in the GOP primary by a long-shot, first-time candidate named Lauren Boebert, who is seeking her third term next year.

Plenty of candidates for top-tier Colorado offices tried to accomplish what Tipton achieved, but fell short in their subsequent attempts. Among them are Republican Ed Scott, who ran against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Wirth twice, in 1976 and 1978, but lost both times; Democrat Tom Strickland, who went up against Republican Wayne Allard twice for the U.S. Senate, in 1996 and 2002, winning neither time; Republican Casper Stockham, who challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in 2016 and 2018, losing by wide margins; and Democrat Ike McCorkle, who failed to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck twice, in 2018 and 2020.

A couple of politicians have been the major party nominee for the same top office more than once but lost, though they faced different opponents each time. Those include Republican Bob Beauprez, a former congressman, who ran for governor twice, in 2006 and 2014, losing the first time to Bill Ritter and the second time to John Hickenlooper. Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush ran unsuccessfully against Tipton in 2018 and Boebert in 2020.

In addition to his singular distinction of coming back from a loss to win a rematch, Tipton is also one of only a handful of Coloradans in the modern era who both deposed a congressional incumbent and later lost their own bids for reelection.

Since the 1970s, his compatriots in that category include Democrat Floyd Haskell, who beat an incumbent GOP U.S. senator in 1972 only to lose to another Republican six years later; Democrat Betsy Markey, who removed a Republican from the 4th Congressional District seat in 2008 but lost her bid for reelection two years later to Republican Cory Gardner; and Gardner, who beat Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall in 2014 but lost his campaign for a second term to Democrat John Hickenlooper in 2020.

Colorado candidates for major statewide and congressional offices have been more successful at pulling off the rematchs cousin, the rebound.

Buck, the Republican who is serving his fifth term in Congress, bounced back from a narrow loss to Democrat Michael Bennet in the 2010 U.S. Senate race to win the 4th Congressional District seat left open by Gardner in 2014. Hes won reelection by wide margins since.

Democrat Roy Romer, however, might have set the bar for Colorado comebacks.

The former state lawmaker from Holly lost a run for the U.S. Senate by a wide margin in 1966 to Republican incumbent Gordon Allott, but just over a decade later Romer was appointed state treasurer after Democrat Sam Brown resigned midterm. Romer won reelection twice as treasurer and then went on to be elected to three terms as governor, becoming the last Coloradan to serve more than two terms in that office, before term limits were established.
Despite two Arapahoe County child-protective workers allegedly engaging in fraudulent practice so severe they were referred for prosecution, a state evaluation released on Friday concluded there are no ongoing, systemic problems with the countys child-protective agency.

The evaluation, conducted by consultants hired by the Colorado Department of Human Services, also detected no evidence of systemic concerns of falsification of contacts.

A previous state audit concluded in September that a former Arapahoe County child-protective worker, Robin Niceta  who faces felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with an alleged retaliation plot  failed to follow state regulations and had deficient investigative practices when she worked for the county.

That audit recommended an additional level of review of Arapahoe Countys entire child-protective system, and the county released the results of that evaluation to the public on Friday.

The evaluation released Friday reviewed four years of activity between the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Arapahoe County agency as well as a sampling of case work of county staffers. Staffers and supervisors were also interviewed, and performance data surveyed.

The evaluators removed from their analysis a second child-protective worker accused of fraudulently reporting contacts in the states child-protective case-work tracking system for investigations. The report said that staffer had already been terminated from the county and the confirmed falsification was turned over to the District Attorneys Office for prosecution.

The Denver Gazette confirmed the staffer identified in the evaluation report was not Niceta. County officials did not immediately respond to questions about the former staffers work. Court documents show that authorities charged Ranubia Scott, a county caseworker, with a felony forgery charge for allegedly falsifying documents and a misdemenaor case of official misconduct related to her conduct in office. The charges are pending.

The report states four other caseworkers were fired for personal or performance issues. They were not identified in the report.

The review said the evaluators examined a sample of 95 contacts staffers reported making in 667 open child abuse and child neglect assessment cases from October 1, 2022 through January 10, 2023 -- months after Niceta was criminally charged in May 2022.

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Of the 95 contacts reviewed, all 95 were verified as having occurred, the evaluation report states.

Nicetas trial on charges of felony attempt to influence a public servant and misdemeanor false report of child abuse is pending. Prosecutors also allege she falsified that she was suffering from brain cancer to avoid prosecution and have asked the judge to allow them to use evidence of false medical records during the trial.

Niceta was charged in connection with an alleged retaliation plot against Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky. Jurinsky was an outspoken critic of the Aurora police chief at the time, Vanessa Wilson, who then was Nicetas romantic partner. Niceta and Wilson, who was fired in April 2022, have since broken up.

Prosecutors allege Niceta falsely reported an anonymous tip to the child abuse hotline where Niceta worked accusing Jurinsky of sexually abusing Jurinskys 2-year-old son. Niceta made the call after Jurinsky had, during a talk radio show, called for the firing of Wilson.

The false allegation launched an initial review of Jurinskys parenting, which ultimately cleared Jurinsky of any wrongdoing. Jurinsky on Friday criticized the new evaluation report as a "total whitewash."

"I'm in shock right now," Jurinsky said. "We have two liars that affected potentially hundreds of families. And yet you give an A plus rating. The hypocrisy in this report is huge."

Dozens of parents have come forward seeking class-action designation for a federal lawsuit filed by Jurinsky against the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services. They contend they were harmed through false testimony and fraudulent practices.

The evaluation released on Friday was conducted by Marc Winokur, Judy Rodriguez and Corey Johnson. The state department of human services reported hiring them to conduct an independent, third-party evaluation because they had extensive knowledge of Colorados child welfare system, its regulations and accepted best practices.

We never take lightly the critical role our human services employees play in protecting children and vulnerable adults, said Carrie Warren-Gully, chair of the Arapahoe Board of Commissioners. Were grateful to the Colorado Department of Human Services for the professional, thorough and sensitive review of our intake systems and we are gratified in the knowledge that the system works and continues to improve every day.
MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y.  Detectives on Long Island are hunting for fresh clues about an architect arrested in connection with a string of murders known as the Gilgo Beach killings. Theyre combing through storage units linked to Rex Heuermann and using DNA evidence to see if hes connected to other cold cases.

The ongoing work Monday marks an important new phase in a multi-agency investigation that  after years of dead ends and frustrations  led prosecutors to charge Heuermann with murder Friday in the deaths of three of the 11 women whose remains were found buried along a remote beach highway in 2010 and 2011.

Heuermann, who has lived for decades across a bay from where the remains were found, is also considered the prime suspect in the killing of a fourth victim. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer said Heuermann denied committing the crimes.

Investigators have said its unlikely just one person killed all of the victims, and they insist the probe is far from over after the watershed moment of Heuermann's arrest.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, who spearheaded the creation of an interagency task force last year to solve the Gilgo Beach killings, has vowed that authorities will work tirelessly until we bring justice to all the families involved.

Were just in the infancy of the work that needs to be done going forward, Deputy Commissioner Anthony Carter said Monday.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Omega Self Storage in Amityville on Sunday and searched another nearby storage facility on Monday. Both are less than a 10-minute drive from Heuermanns home.

This followed a multiday search at Heuermann's house in Massapequa Park, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch known as Gilgo Beach where the womens remains were found. That search yielded more than 200 guns, Harrison told Fox News on Monday.

Investigators were also checking to see if Heuermann's DNA  obtained from pizza crust he disposed and linked to genetic material found on a Gilgo Beach victim's remains  connected him to other unsolved cases.

Heuermann, 59, is charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. Authorities are continuing to work toward charging him in the death of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Most of the victims were young women who had been sex workers. Their deaths long stumped investigators, and the mystery fueled immense public attention and led to a 2020 Netflix film, Lost Girls.

Harrison, a longtime high-ranking New York City police official, made solving the Gilgo Beach killings one of his top priority when Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone appointed him as police commissioner in January 2022.

Harrison, the NYPD's former chief of detectives and chief of department, soon formed the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, convincing the FBI, state police and local departments to commit their top investigators full time to the effort. Harrison assigned longtime Gilgo Beach investigator Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer to lead the probe.

His goal was not to move the case forward, his goal was to solve the case, said Carter, who moved to the Suffolk County department with Harrison from the NYPD.

Task force investigators started working out of a dedicated space at a Suffolk County police facility, an open space with no offices so they could share ideas and information.

Within six weeks of their first meeting, task force investigators identified Heuermann as a suspect  using a vehicle registration database to connect him to a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared.

Some of the victims were believed to have disappeared from Massapequa Park, and their cellphones were found to have pinged towers in the area.

The truck discovery unlocked other investigative tools.

A grand jury authorized more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, allowing the task force to dig into Heuermanns life. They collected billing records for burner phones he allegedly used to arrange meetings with the victims, retested DNA found with the bodies, and combed Heuermann's internet search history, which showed intense interest in the Gilgo Beach killings and the renewed investigation.

In January, a task force surveillance team tailing Heuermann in Manhattan watched as he threw the remnants of his lunch  a box of partially eaten pizza crusts  into a sidewalk garbage can. Investigators rushed in, grabbed the box, and sent it to the crime lab, which matched the DNA from Heuermanns afternoon nosh to a male hair found on burlap used to restrain one of the victims.

The results of that testing came back on Tuesday, two days before Heuermanns arrest.

There were some questions about the task force  that the mission of the task force is now complete because weve affected an arrest, Carter said. Everything is in its infancy still. This is just part of it. Theres so much more work that needs to be done in terms of additional investigation, additional interviews, analyzing evidence, and on and on.

There are still a lot of victims, and we need to continue to try to bring justice for all of them, he added. Thats super important to all of us, and super important to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Photos: Scenes from Gilgo Beach serial killings investigation
An Iowa company should not get permit for a hazardous liquid pipeline because the carbon dioxide it wants to transport isnt a liquid, opponents of the project say.

The carbon dioxide that would be transported by proposed pipelines from ethanol plants in Iowa would exist as a supercritical fluid  a phase that is somewhere between a gas and a liquid. Thus, it does not qualify for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit, opponents of the projects argue.

Summit Carbon Solutions wants to lay more than 700 miles of pipe in Iowa to move the greenhouse gas to North Dakota for underground sequestration. The company says state lawmakers meant to include the supercritical status when they sought to regulate the transportation of liquefied carbon dioxide.

State law does not explicitly define what that phrase means.

The dispute is part of a last-minute gambit by pipeline opponents to halt or delay a permit for Summits project, which is set for a final evidentiary hearing with the Iowa Utilities Board next month. The companys permit process started nearly two years ago.

There are pending motions to delay the hearing and to dismiss the companys permit petition that were filed by Floyd County landowner George Cummins and the Sierra Club of Iowa. Several counties have joined the motions.

And now, virtually on the eve of the hearings on Summits petition, George Cummins asks the IUB to dismiss the petition because, in his view (really, his counsels view), the IUB lacks jurisdiction over pipelines transporting supercritical carbon dioxide, Summits attorneys wrote in a response this week to the dismissal motion. They added: That is wrong.

Cummins attorney, Brian Jorde, who is representing dozens of landowners in several states who oppose the proposed pipeline, made a similar argument about supercritical versus liquid in a Hardin County court case. In that litigation, Summit sought a court order allowing it to survey private property.

A district court judge, who this week granted that request, dismissed the supercritical argument as frivolous and nonsensical.

It is clear from both Iowa law and federal law and regulations that Summits proposed pipeline falls squarely within the definitions of hazardous liquid pipelines, District Judge Amy Moore wrote.

Its in between

Carbon dioxide can reach a supercritical fluid state when it is pressurized to more than 1,070 pounds per square inch (psi) at a temperature of at least 88 degrees, according to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which regulates the construction and operation of the pipelines.

In that phase, it has a density that is similar to a liquid but moves like a gas.

Its not gas, its not liquid, its in between, Linda Daugherty, a PHMSA administrator, told state lawmakers in March. I kind of think of it like steam.

The supercritical phase is the predominant mode of operation for existing carbon dioxide pipelines in other parts of the country, Daugherty said.

Summits pipeline network is expected to operate at pressures that range from about 1,200 to 2,150 psi.

At the temperatures and pressures at which Summit proposes to transport CO2, the CO2 will behave much more like a liquid such that in a transparent pipe, the CO2 would look like flowing water or alcohol, said John Godfrey, a pipeline consultant in Oklahoma who provided Summit a written statement in support of the company.

He noted that PHMSAs oversight of carbon dioxide pipelines stems from the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979.

Still, Cummins argues that there is a clear distinction between supercritical carbon dioxide and the liquefied carbon dioxide noted in state law, and as such the IUB doesnt have jurisdiction over Summits project.

If the Iowa Legislature intended supercritical carbon dioxide be included  then it would have added the word supercritical to the definition of hazardous liquid,  Cummins motion for dismissal says. The legislature did not do so.

The judge in the Hardin County case said a purpose of the law was to protect landowners from environmental and economic damage that might arise from construction and operation of a hazardous liquid pipeline.

Given the purpose of (the law), it would be nonsensical to hold that companies transporting carbon dioxide through pipelines at higher temperatures and higher pressures than carbon dioxide in its liquid phase are exempt from its requirements, Judge Moore wrote. It is therefore clear that Summits proposed pipeline is the exact type of hazardous liquid pipeline that the Iowa Legislature intended to be governed by (the law), regardless of the fact that the carbon dioxide being transported may not always meet a scientifically precise definition of liquefied at every moment in the transportation process.

Permit process proceeds

The IUB has yet to issue an order in response to the motions to delay Summits evidentiary hearing or to dismiss the petition entirely.

The hearing is set to start Aug. 22 in Fort Dodge and has the potential to go for months. Pipeline opponents have said the schedule doesnt allow landowners who are subject to eminent domain requests enough time to prepare.

The IUB has indicated that those eminent domain requests will be considered at the start of the hearing, whereas they have been traditionally considered at the end. There are more than 1,000 parcels subject to the requests.

A growing number of state legislators  along with former Congressman Steve King  have criticized the process for being too swift.

However, IUB chairperson Erik Helland said this week that there is no need to hold another scheduling conference, which the board uses to gain input about when deadlines and hearings should be set. His comments cast doubt on the possibility of a delay.

Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa #50. Guthrie County #49. Benton County #48. Boone County #47. Fayette County #46. Osceola County #45. Iowa County #44. Clinton County #43. Tama County #42. Grundy County #41. Clayton County #40. O'Brien County #39. Hancock County #38. Chickasaw County #37. Wayne County #36. Howard County #35. Des Moines County #34. Humboldt County #33. Keokuk County #32. Shelby County #31. Harrison County #30. Delaware County #29. Floyd County #28. Worth County #27. Hardin County #26. Kossuth County #25. Jackson County #24. Clay County #23. Sac County #22. Lee County #21. Ida County #20. Monroe County #19. Audubon County #18. Butler County #17. Fremont County #16. Emmet County #15. Page County #14. Calhoun County #13. Adams County #12. Franklin County #11. Montgomery County #10. Cerro Gordo County #9. Monona County #8. Appanoose County #7. Greene County #6. Ringgold County #5. Pocahontas County #4. Dickinson County #3. Cass County #2. Cherokee County #1. Palo Alto County
RALEIGH  Honda Aircraft Company, maker of the renowned HondaJet light aircraft, will develop and produce a longer-range version of the plane at its Greensboro facilities, creating 280 jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced July 11. The company will invest $55.7 million in Guilford County for production of its new HondaJet 2600 model, bringing its total investment in the state to over $335 million.

HondaJets creation of nearly 300 good-paying jobs is yet another example of why CNBC named North Carolina as the number one state in the country to do business for the second year in a row, said Governor Cooper. This decision shows our states commitment to developing a skilled workforce, not only in the key industry of aerospace with a flagship brand like HondaJet, but in the entire advanced manufacturing arena.

Honda Aircraft Company is headquartered in Greensboro and produces the HondaJet, an innovative light jet aircraft. HondaJet features a unique, over-the-wing-engine mount and the plane has been well received since its first flight in 2003. Recently, the company has developed a concept for a longer-range model, the HondaJet 2600, designed to be the worlds first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States, with a quiet and spacious cabin suited for long-range travel and the ability to accommodate up to 11 occupants. The aircraft is also designed for single-pilot operation.

The companys project in Greensboro will establish production lines to manufacture the new HondaJet 2600, focusing initially on the critical design phase and production readiness of the plane, requiring significant R&D resources.

We are thrilled that North Carolina will be home to the new Honda light jet that represents the next chapter of our skyward mobility, said Hideto Yamasaki, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. The state of North Carolina provides a rich talent pool and tremendous support from our local community and having our facilities located right next to the Piedmont Triad International Airport is an ideal location to develop and produce our new light jet.

Talent comes first when companies consider a business location, said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. Locations that can offer a talented and well-trained workforce, tailored to the needs of a particular industry, succeed in todays business environment. North Carolinas First in Talent strategic plan helps our state deliver the world-class workforce that makes us the best place to do business in the world.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the states support for the company during its site evaluation and decision-making process.

Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $88,761. The current average wage in Guilford County is $57,190.

Honda Aircrafts project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the states Economic Investment Committee earlier today, and is contingent upon local participation from the City of Greensboro and Guilford County. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the states economy by $2.37 billion. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $3,434,400, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grants reimbursement payments to a given company.

Because Honda Aircraft is in Guilford County, classified by the states economic tier system as Tier 2, the companys JDIG agreement also calls for moving $381,600 into the states Industrial Development Fund  Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 2 county such as Guilford, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state.

HondaJet is one of our areas signature employers and were so pleased theyve decided to expand in Greensboro, said N.C. Senator Michael Garrett. The Triad is the beating heart of North Carolinas growing aviation industry, and we welcome this new investment in our region.

Many people and organizations in our area worked hard to support this company and make todays decision possible, said N.C. Representative John Faircloth. Our entire community applauds Honda Aircrafts expansion and will work together every day to help this company continue to grow in North Carolina.

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Piedmont Triad International Airport, Guilford Technical Community College, the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, GuilfordWorks, and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Dr. James F. Linzey

July 17, 2023

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Dr. James F. Linzey:

I unreservedly, without hesitation, and with sincerity and anticipation of great things to come, enthusiastically endorse Donald J. Trump, Jr., for President of the United States of America in 2024. Please join me as we "Make American Great Again!"

According to the Republican National Committee (RNC), I was the first minister to publicly endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016. Subsequently, the RNC invited me to be a Donald Trump surrogate and to attend the RNC National Convention in 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. I accepted the invitations and engaged in interviews on behalf of Donald Trump. He won!

Before and after the 2020 election was stolen, I have increasingly witnessed a two-tiered justice system, one for the Communists and their radical mob-rule cronies, which I believe are the leftist Democrats and RINO Republicans, and another for the Constitutional Christian, law-abiding, police-loving, Rightcitizens who have dignity and self-respect, who think and speak for themselves, who love God and America, and who support the rule of law.

It seems to me that the CIA, FBI, and the Department of Justice, which is, in my opinion, "Justice in Name Only" (JINO), have been weaponized against law-abiding American citizens because they either voted for Donald Trump or they refuse to shut up and be intimidated when their votes are discounted, elections are stolen, and justice is subverted.

I am sure that we will be blessed if there is a strong enough power to free the election system to make sure it will be fair in 2024. I have heard that the electronic ballot machines are controlled by computers and satellite and that the tallied numbers are rigged in foreign countries and counted in Spain and elsewhere. Shutting the mouths of Americans and imprisoning them for speaking up is a sure sign to me that there has been a coup d'etat in America in 2020.

Those who opposed election interference were and are accused of attempting to overthrow the election. But Communists, "gas-lighters," revolutionaries, liars, sinners, and many Democrats and all RINO Republicans, and narcissists always accuse you of doing what they themselves do.

Meanwhile, they have taken over our government, kept the southern border open to allow their Communist Chinese comrades to pour into our beloved country with other revolutionaries from all over the world to foment revolution in America. You can bet there will be insurrections across America, backed by the un-elected ruling elite, if Donald Trump is reelected in 2024.

I have been informed that revolutionaries have been armed to the teeth by treasonous traitors in the United States, and other sinners in China, and other nations. All the weapons were paid for by you, the American taxpayer, many of which have been sent to Ukraine, but smuggled back from Ukraine to Mexico, and then brought back into the United States and placed in the hands of revolutionaries in the outskirts of America. China has brought in weapons of mass destruction, one of which is the Chinese virus from the Wuhan Lab. It is really a bio-weapon, "Virus in Name Only" (VINO).

These sinners might be Hell's worst nightmare! Perhaps they were evicted from Hell because they scared its tenants so badly, and were sent to plague the earth.

I believe that these infiltrators with our weapons have already been and continue to be positioned in our cities, fields, national parks and forests, hotels, rural America, and on our active and abandoned military bases.

The Communist left, in attempting to forcibly subject Americans to Senate Bill 686, would imprison anyone for 20 years who dissents from the Globalist Agenda. Those who publish an "Anti-Hillary" meme are facing 10 years in prison.

When I was in the Texas Army National Guard, I was informed by my Chaplain Assistant, who is a native Texan, that on the back of freeway signs throughout Texas, and perhaps throughout America, are computerized tags in Spanish, Chinese, Russian and other languages with directions to all elements of vital infrastructure in the nearby towns and cities so they can take over America town by town, city by city, and region by region. These include local National Guard armories to confiscate weapons, police stations, city halls, communication centers such as phone operations and television and radio stations, water plants, electrical grids, means of travel such as airports, highways, roads, streets, and railways.

Military chaplains are the primary eyes and ears of their commanders. I believe that military chaplains who do not stay informed, who do not speak up and speak out, and who do not inform their commanders of these plans are derelict of their pastoral calling and their military duties and should be relieved of duty by their commanders and have their endorsements revoked by their church officials.

Many elected officials and military officers will welcome these revolutionaries as comrades, because they are part of the plan, already in office, pre-positioned with power to aid and abet revolution. Some elected officials did this in plain sight on television during the insurrections across America prior to the coup d'etat in 2020. City officials unlocked city halls and welcomed in the revolutionaries as they took over city halls and mayors' offices.

Revolutionaries took over and burned down police stations and blocked off sections of large cities. They looted stores and entire malls, and set cities on fire. They merciless beat Caucasians, ordering them on their knees to ask for forgiveness for being White. Many Black revolutionaries also murdered many Blacks. Many of the stores that they looted and burned down were owned by Blacks.

On national television, police officers in uniform lay prostrate on the ground, face down, in front of Blacks, begging for forgiveness for being White and for things they never did. These Communists murdered Americans without being imprisoned by Marxist mayors and judges. Police officers were assaulted under threat of being fired by Marxist mayors and chiefs of police departments if they arrested these revolutionaries. Elected officials released police officers' personal addresses to revolutionaries, threatening these police officers' wives and children.

They fully intend to put Americans on lockdown if they start the next phase of their revolution. Millions of Americans would be tortured and murdered in their nice sub-urban homes, even in gated communities. They plan to section off neighborhoods and town squares with barbed wire and chain link fences, guarded by armed foreign and domestic revolutionaries.

They plan to go door to door confiscating weapons, rounding up citizens, and shooting them en masse, and house fellow revolutionaries and illegal aliens in victims houses. They will do unthinkably worse that I have spelled out in radio interviews nearly 20 years ago. I believe that many Democrats and RINO Republicans have already paved the way. I have been sounding the alarm for a long time. I have been patiently waiting for Donald Trump to become president to drain the swamp.

In my opinion, these are some of the reasons why Donald Trump will organize the largest deportation operation this country has ever seen, slam the border shut, and root these foreign and domestic enemies out of the fabric of America. Also, these are some of the reasons why I believe that the Communistic leftist Democrats and RINO Republicans are doing everything they can to imprison Donald Trump and keep him from running for president again.

In closing, I would like to quote Tucker Carlson, who said at the Turning Point Action Conference on July 16, 2023, "The more you tell the truth, the stronger you become."

So again, I unreservedly, without hesitation, and with sincerity and anticipation of great things to come, enthusiastically endorse Donald J. Trump, Jr., for President of the United States of America in 2024. Please join me as we "Make American Great Again!"
Piedmont Triad International Airport had a sizable increase in firearms being confiscated in carry-on luggage at security checkpoints during the first half of 2023, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration reported last week.

The Greensboro airport was reported with 12 firearms discoveries, compared with seven in the first half of 2022 and 15 for all of 2022.

The firearms were all found by TSA officers during the routine screening of carry-on property at airport security checkpoints.

TSA and PTI did not provide comment on the report.

Although there were similar year-over-year increases in firearms discoveries at Charlotte-Douglas and Raleigh-Durham international airports, North Carolina had a slight rise overall.

For the 10 commercial airline airports in the state, there were 130 firearms discovered in carry-on luggage through June 30, compared with 128 a year ago.

For the full year, there were 250 in 2022, 254 in 2021, 105 in 2020, 194 in 2019 and 180 in 2018.

TSA said there were 66 firearms discoveries at Charlotte-Douglas, up from 52 in the first half of 2022. There were a record 117 firearms confiscated at Charlotte-Douglas in all of 2022.

Meanwhile, there were 39 firearms confiscated at Raleigh-Durham in the first half, compared with 34 in the same period for 2022.

When a TSA officers sees the image of a firearm on the X-ray screen, they immediately notify the local airport law enforcement agency, which responds to the security checkpoint.

A law enforcement officer removes the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and makes contact with the traveler.

In addition to potential criminal citations, travelers face civil penalties for bringing firearms to the security checkpoint.

TSA said it evaluates each firearm incident on a case-by-case basis. Among the factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount includes whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition.

The civil penalty can go up to a maximum of near $15,000 per violation.

Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage.

Even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not permitted in carry-on luggage.

Individuals who violate rules regarding traveling with firearms will also have Trusted Traveler status and TSA PreCheck expedited-screening benefits revoked for a period of time.

The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and if there is a repeated history of violations.
RALEIGH  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 coronavirus 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 nonmedical 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-19 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-19 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-19 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-19 was close to the national average. Unexciting but true.
RALEIGH  As the North Carolina legislative session winds down and budget negotiations plod along, House Republicans are pitching an eleventh-hour overhaul of public education laws that would take power away from superintendents and the State Board of Education while giving parents and lawmakers more control.

Republican committee chairs pulled the proposal  introduced earlier Wednesday  from the House Education Committee after they decided their members needed more time to review it and assess its potential impacts, said co-chair Rep. John Torbett of Gaston County.

The bill is not dead, just on pause, he said, adding that hes optimistic it will pass the House this year. It remains to be seen whether the Senate, which did not convene Wednesday, will have an appetite for the assortment of House priorities contained in the proposal.

House Democrats raised alarms about several provisions, including one that would allow local school boards to fire superintendents or automatically dock their pay if parents present five affidavits demonstrating that a superintendent violated their right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. The bill establishes a parents right to appeal those cases to a superior court and collect damages.

This basically just says, if you allow that kind of bad actor to promulgate throughout your system and you do it five times, theres a pattern there, so chances are, you need to find other work somewhere else, Torbett said.

The General Assembly would also give itself greater authority over the State Board of Education under the proposal, which calls for a new commission to recommend academic standards to the board. The GOP-controlled House and Senate could each appoint six commission members, and the Democratic governor could appoint six of his own.

Children would also need parental consent under the bill to access libraries, school extracurriculars and mental health services. Parents would have more opportunities to review and challenge books or other instructional materials and would have full access to their childs library records.

New rules for teachers would require them to publish a detailed syllabus at the beginning of every semester and to inform parents if a student self-identifies as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth. A similar provision appears in an education bill vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper, which the legislatures Republican supermajority could enact over his opposition as early as next Wednesday.

House Democratic Leader Robert Reives called the bill a continued assault on public education and warned it would make school a hostile place for students and teachers alike.

Other Democrats, including Reps. Julie von Haefen of Wake County and Amos Quick of Guilford County, criticized Republicans for introducing a bill that they said could worsen the states teacher shortage by imposing more restrictions on educators. Finalizing a budget that adequately funds schools and improves teacher pay should be the priority, they said.

This is the type of legislation that people ought to be running up here and protesting because youre already doing your best to run teachers out of public education, Reives said of Republican legislators. And then doing things like these to make it an untenable environment is reprehensible.
In June, Russia launched its missiles at Ukraine in two separate pre-dawn attacks leaving 23 dead and many more injured. While the war in Ukraine may be fading in the minds of Americans, these recent attacks serve as a painful reminder that countless Ukrainians still live in fear for their lives every day.

Since the war began in 2022, more than 118,000 Ukrainians have found safe refuge in the United States under Uniting for Ukraine. This program, established by the U.S. government last year, grants Ukrainians seeking refuge temporary parole status in the U.S. for two years. However, it leaves vulnerable people in need of refuge in limbo while they wait to learn their fate regarding permanent residency.

The plight of Ukrainian refugees is near to my heart because I was once one of them. And so I respectfully plead on behalf of my brothers and sisters for Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for the more than 100,000 Ukrainian who fled danger and persecution in their country of origin to seek refuge in the U.S.

I was born in Ukraine during the Soviet era and spent my entire childhood there. But, after college, the Soviet Union fell, which caused chaos and uncertainty to rise, both in my country and in my personal life. This uncertainty was the catalyst that eventually propelled me into full-time Christian ministry.

In 2014, right around the time of the annexation of Crimea, I became one of the first people to minister in a Protestant church in a small Ukrainian village. However, due to heightened civil unrest and growing hostility toward Protestants, my family and I began receiving death threats, and we ultimately made the difficult decision to flee our home.

Thankfully, we were resettled as refugees to the U.S. under the Lautenberg Program for certain religious minority groups that have experienced religious persecution. After receiving assistance from the World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization, we were able to settle into our new home in North Carolina, and we have lived here ever since. But the Ukrainians granted temporary parole under the Uniting for Ukraine program have not been as fortunate  their time is running out.

Today, as the head pastor of Source of Life in Asheville, I have the privilege of ministering to numerous refugees, including Ukrainians, who often share with me the fear they feel living in limbo under temporary parole status. The protections of this Uniting for Ukraine program have a time limit, but the war raging in their home country does not.

If Congress fails to act soon, thousands of Ukrainians will be sent back to a country that no longer looks like home  that no longer can offer them safety from violence and persecution. More than 8,500 civilians have already lost their lives in Ukraine. Forcing those who have sought refuge in the U.S. to return only puts them at risk of becoming another devastating casualty.

Ukrainians are not entirely unique in this regard, either. Roughly 70,000 Afghans were brought to the U.S. by the government after fleeing the Taliban, but they, too, are stuck in a perpetual temporary status. So are roughly 600,000 young immigrants from various countries of origin who currently have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), who have been allowed to renew their legal protections every couple of years for a decade, but without the confidence they will be allowed to stay permanently.

The American people welcomed me nearly a decade ago, and they have welcomed many others since, from Ukraine and beyond. I pray that Congress will also step up and provide for my Ukrainian brothers and sisters and other immigrants in need of a permanent solution.
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 already was 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 near Richmond, Va., 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, Va., 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 nametags. 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 meantime, 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.
Currently, Cuban's new company offers discounted prices on only generic drugs. In America, drug companies are awarded patents for new medications plus something called exclusivity rights. That means that the drug company has the exclusive right to sell the medication for 12 to 16 years at whatever price they want (a legal monopoly, basically).

When the exclusivity period is over, other drug manufacturers can start making and selling generic versions of the same medication. If a lot of companies make generic versions, the price of the medication will come down quickly. If fewer companies jump in, perhaps because the medication treats a rare condition, then even the generic version might still be expensive.

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The good news is that four out of five medications prescribed in America are generic. And while Americans pay 84 percent more for generic drugs than other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries like Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom, generics are not what's breaking people's budgets. The culprit is patent-protected, name-brand medications.

David Mitchell has an incurable type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. He's currently taking four non-generic cancer medications that retail for $935,000 a year.

"One of the drugs I'm taking retails for roughly $1,000 a capsule, but costs less than a dollar for the drug company to make," Mitchell says. "Those are the kind of profit margins the drug companies run."

Mitchell is the founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, an advocacy group calling on lawmakers to limit the exclusivity rights enjoyed by name-brand drugmakers, among other major reforms that would lower drug prices.

Even though name-brand drugs only make up 16 percent of all medications prescribed in America, they are responsible for 88 percent of total prescription drug spending, according to RAND. And while Americans only pay slightly more than other countries for generic drugs, they pay 344 percent more for the exact same name-brand drugs.

Name-brand drugs are what's driving the prescription drug price crisis, Mitchell says, and unfortunately that core problem is not addressed by Cuban's new company, which only sells generics.

" " This autoinjector is filled with Cosentyx, which is the brand name of Secukinumab. It treats moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Cosentyx, which is manufactured by Novartis, is one of the most expensive medications in the U.S., averaging nearly $9,000 a month retail. Raimond Spekking/Wikimedia/(CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nearly 13,400 pounds of food was collected at Saturdays Symphony Under the Stars, to be used to help feed the needy in the Helena area, Helena Food Share officials said Monday.

This years food drive did not beat last years record of 24,000 pounds, but it is still Helena Food Shares largest food drive of the year and will go a long way in providing food support for our neighbors here in Helena, the nonprofit said in an email.

Officials could not say why the number was lower, but added the collection would be put to good use.

Helena Food Share said the food collected will provide over 11,160 meals to people facing food insecurity in the Helena area.

We are so grateful to everyone who brought food to the Symphony Under the Stars and to the Helena Symphony, Intrepid Credit Union, and Carroll College, who invite us to be part of this event every year, they said in an email.

Symphony Under the Stars officials estimated nearly 16,000 people attended the nighttime event at Carroll College that included a performance by the Helena Symphony and was capped off with fireworks.

This year's show, the 19th annual Intrepid Credit Union Symphony Under the Stars, was a salute to the "Great Ladies of Jazz."

The attendance was typically what the event attracts, they said.

Helena Food Share will have a groundbreaking ceremony for its new $10.3 million Community Food Resource Center at 1280 Boulder Ave. at 8:30 a.m. July 27. The nonprofit was founded in 1987 to help provide emergency food to help people who face hunger. It provides emergency food for 1,500 local families each month and over 1,200 elementary school students every week with the Kid Pack program.

For more on Helena Food Share or to make a donation, go to https://helenafoodshare.org/
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has pleaded guilty to a rear-end collision near Helena in June.

Arntzen entered the guilty plea July 12 in Helena Municipal Court. The judge fined her $65, and an accompanying series of surcharges brought her total owed to the court to $100.

The state's top education official was cited June 12 after her 2022 Jeep struck the back of another vehicle she had been following too closely, the citation states. The incident happened near the intersection of Centennial Drive and Highway 12, according to the citation.

Arntzen did not return a call Monday morning seeking comment for this story. Her attorney was not available.

In an audio recording of last week's hearing, Arntzen's attorney, Mark Parker, described the other driver as "inexperienced." The driver's mother, Parker said, explained immediately after the incident that the young driver had never seen a blinking yellow arrow before and stopped suddenly.

Arntzen, during the hearing, described the collision as "a bump with the bumper."

A year prior to the rear-ending incident, Arntzen was fined $135 after pleading no contest to illegally passing a school bus that was picking up children.
DECATUR  After more than three-and-a-half years, city firefighters finally have a new union contract.

Decatur Firefighters Local 505, the union representing city firefighters, and the city came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, with the union rank-and-file ratifying the agreement in a 72-16 vote late last week. The council subsequently voted 7-0 to approve the agreement at its meeting Monday night.

The contract is retroactive, covering from the beginning of 2020 through the end of 2024.

"We're glad to have it wrapped up," said City Manager Scot Wrighton.

It brings to an end a long impasse that largely centered around the status of three fire inspector positions that city administration had chosen not to fill after the last three to hold the title retired in quick succession in 2020.

Those assigned the role have responsibilities including determining the cause and origin of fires, interviewing arson suspects and witnesses, appearing in court in such cases and performing various public education functions.

Wrighton had cited a desire to restructure how those duties are performed as part of a "modest" pension reform package. The issue led to a long impasse that almost ended with binding arbitration.

Though the two sides had agreed on an arbitrator, they came to an agreement this spring following a final round of mediation. The two sides spent the past couple months reviewing contract language.

Under the terms of the new agreement, the number of full-time fire inspectors will be reduced from three to two. But the performance of those duties will be augmented when necessary by other firefighters on a part-time basis.

Firefighters performing inspections part-time will be paid an additional $24 per hour if within their normal duty schedule or an overtime rate of $36 per hour if outside of it.

"We're pleased that we were able to retain the two fire inspector positions," said Jeremy Ruderman, a Decatur firefighter and spokesman for the union. "We're not going to have to rely on outside agencies to perform those duties like they've been doing since our three fire inspectors resigned three years ago. So that is definitely a positive outcome to this contract."

Per the agreement, all firefighters will receive a 10% increase in their base salaries (2.25% for 2020, 2021 and 2022 and 3.25% for 2023) with an additional 3% increase to take effect next year.

Wrighton said those covered under the contract would receive back pay for the previous three-and-a-half years in essentially a lump sum payment. He said the cost has been accounted for in the city's budget, though estimates were not immediately available.

In addition, all fire union members who were on staff for at least 12 months between March 20, 2020 to December 31, 2021 will receive a one-time $1,000 hazard payment for working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The union was also able to maintain its current health care package, which includes an 8.5% cap on annual increases to monthly premiums paid by employees. Though there only remains two tiers of coverage: single and family.

The city had sought to move the unit to the plan adopted by the city's police union and the union representing civilian employees, which caps annual increases at 10% but offers more tiers of coverage.

Though the city came up short on its two major priorities of eliminating the fire inspector position and making health insurance benefits to all city employees uniform, Wrighton said there were some savings in the new deal. For instance, the reduction of one full-time fire inspector alone could reduce the city's long-term pension obligation by as much as $1.8 million.

"We didn't make as much progress as I'd like to have made, but that's just the nature of collective bargaining," Wrighton said. "Sometimes you have to achieve your objectives more gradually and through compromise, and that's the system that's been set up by the state."

Beyond economic issues, the contract includes a relaxation of the residency requirement in alignment with a recent broader change in city policy on the issue.

Instead of new hires being required to live within city limits for the first five years on the job as they were under the terms of the last contract, they will be able to live anywhere in Macon County or in any municipality that extends into the county.

In 2016, the city council passed an ordinance requiring all new non-union hires to live within city limits. Soon after, the bargaining units representing the city's firefighters and civilian employees agreed to the five-year provision.

However, the union representing Decatur police officers fought the provision. It was a sticking point in contract negotiations until the city dropped the issue in 2021 amid significant challenges in attracting new recruits.

Soon after, the city council voted to formally repeal the policy recommendation that all city workers live within city limits. In the contract inked with AFSCME Local 268 last year and the new fire contract reflect the change.

The contract runs through the end of next year.

Ruderman said it was "frustrating that the process has taken this long" and that the union hoped to have a new contract in place next time before the current contract expires in order to avoid being "in a position where we're negotiating for the past."

And though he said they appreciated the investments the city has made in equipment and new firehouses in recent years, recruitment is a growing challenge and that despite the pay increases, the city is still behind other comparable cities in compensation.

"From a personnel standpoint, we can't feed our families with 'thanks' and 'attaboys.' We can't put shoes on our kids' feet with new fire houses and new fire trucks," Ruderman said. "So while all of that effort is appreciated, it's all for naught if you're going to treat the firefighters the way that they've treated us for the last several years."

When presenting the contract to the council Monday evening, Wrighton acerbically described why, from his view, the contract took so long to settle.

Wrighton said there was seeming reluctance to negotiate as "it was always the city pulling the union back to the table." He also said a change midway through the process in union leadership slowed things as the new bargaining team wanted to start from scratch. And he alleged that some union leaders were going around the collective bargaining process by lobbying individual city council members.

The city filed unfair labor practices charges over some of these issues, which were later withdrawn.

"90% of the delays that resulted in this three and a half year timeline were caused by these three things or some combination of them," Wrighton said. "The good men and women of the fire department are entitled to know an answer about why that took so long and I genuinely and sincerely hope that they can obtain answers from their leadership as to why that happened."

Wrighton then said that the agreement "does not illustrate all of this drama," before snidely remarking that "in order to hang on to their 17-year-old health plan, the union settled for one with fewer benefits and fewer options" and that they "ended up settling for a lesser salary adjustment than had previously been on the table" in order to resist even "modest pension reform."

Ruderman, responding on behalf of the union, told Herald & Review after the meeting that "the city manager's comments were so inflammatory and transparently biased, the union hardly seeks to justify them with a comment."

Wrighton's remarks, a signal of the long and at-times bitter negotiation, did not sit well with every council member.

"We're only hearing one side of this. And speaking of drama, we just played into it by doing that," ," said Councilman Ed Culp, addressing Wrighton's comments. "You don't speak for all of us."

Why did the contract take so long?

The prolonged dispute centered around status of three vacant fire inspector positions. The city declined to fill the positions while negotiating, shifting responsibilities for routine business inspections to the community development department and has had the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal conduct most post-fire investigations.

At the heart of the city's argument for restructuring are ballooning public safety pension costs. Under state law, the city must bring its police and fire pension systems to 90% funded by 2040.

As of last year, the city's unfunded fire pension liability was about $80 million, or 56% funded.

This led to a clash with the union however, which subsequently filed two unfair labor practices complaints with the Illinois Labor Relations Board alleging that the city was violating the terms of their contract by not filling the positions and shifting work out of the bargaining unit.

Around the same time last year, the ILRB issued a declaratory ruling deeming the union's proposal to maintain the fire inspector position a subject of bargaining for a new labor agreement.

In early January, just days before a hearing was scheduled on the the unfair labor practices complaints, the city and union settled, agreeing to withdraw their complaints against one another and settling on attorney Thomas Sonneborn as an arbitrator to resolve their remaining issues.

Before going to arbitration, the two sides agreed to give mediation one last shot. From those sessions came a tentative agreement. After language was passed back-and-forth for a few months, the union agreed to terms.

The city also authorized the fire department to begin testing for the fire inspector position in February.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A look back at Decatur firefighters through the years 
Ameren Illinois recommends keeping a kit of supplies needed in case of a power outage. Other recommended items include non-perishable foods that don't require heating, paper plates and plastic utensils, a hand-operated can opener, ice cooler for temporary food or medication storage, blankets, bedding or sleeping bags, and special items for infants, the elderly or family members with special needs.

Listen to a radio for updates. An alarm clock could be helpful, too. Don't forget the batteries.

Small bills and change. Just make sure it's the real kind.

Candles can be used for light in addition to flashlights.

Cell phones will need to be charged to remain a valuable source of information.

What's needed to survive a power outage

Ameren Illinois recommends preparing a storm supply kit to be ready in case of a power outage. It works to restore power as quickly and safely as possible, but sometimes it can be out for an extended period of time. In addition to preparing family members, food and water for family pets can be useful, too.

For more information, go to AmerenIllinois.com and click "Outage Center"
DECATUR  Child sex predator Skylar J. Campbell sat in court staring straight ahead as the girl he had victimized when she was under 13 told him he had ruined her life.

I know I am not allowed to hate anybody, but every bone in my body hates you, she said in a victim impact statement.

You were supposed to be like a dad to me and you took advantage of that; you not only physically ruined me but mentally. I have to go to therapy for depression, anxiety and panic attacks you took my childhood from me

Macon County Circuit Court Judge James Coryell then sentenced Campbell, 30, to 10 years in prison to be served at 85%.

Campbell had admitted a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault as part of a plea deal negotiated by Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders. Four other predatory criminal sexual assault charges were dismissed along with a further count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Prosecutors also agreed to drop, and the judge dismissed, unrelated charges of aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation and two counts of domestic battery.

Giving evidence at the sentencing hearing July 13, Macon County States Attorney Scott Rueter said the girl had been assaulted between November of 2014 and December of 2017.

Rueter said Campbell had access to the child because he was dating a relative of the victim.

In addition to the prison penalty, Campbell was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and pay $250 to have his DNA added to a criminal database maintained by the State Police.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park
Members of Texas State University's Young Democratic Socialists of America organization picket in solidarity with Starbucks employees Thursday, July 13, 2023 in New Braunfels. Strike participants voiced issues with labor cuts, understaffing and an increased workload.
Tears filled the eyes of Alma Peralta Nunez as she told the story of leaving her job as a school bus driver for a position with more hours. Within days of the new semester, Nunez said she returned to Hickory Public Schools to drive her bus and her students.

Nunez, a 39-year-old mother of four, said the COVID-19 pandemic caused financial struggles for her and her family. Because her hours driving the school bus were limited and left a large gap in the middle of the day, she said she had to search for a new job.

I was in a place where I was like, Its either my family, or this (school) family, Nunez said. So I had to give it up, and I gave it up for two or three days when school started. When I saw this bus sitting out here  I was just heartbroken and I cried and told my husband, I need to go back to driving the bus.

Nunez had taken a job as a bus driver for Greenway Public Transportation. The day she decided to return to Hickory Public Schools, Greenway worked with her on a new schedule that would allow her to work during the midday gap. Nunez now drives the school bus in the mornings and afternoons, and drives for Greenway in between.

At Hickory Public Schools, Nunez drives a bus for students with learning and developmental disabilities.

They have so much to say, Nunez said. An average kid will tell you their story, and theyll tell you things that happen in their daily life. These kids, most of them cant talk  and its really hard for them to express what theyre feeling. And, just the fact that they come up to the bus and hug me  thats the highlight of my day.

The rest of the interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Where do you think your love for children came from?

As I was growing up, my parents had a big family. And so, I guess I grew into it. Everybody takes care of everybody. I was the oldest of my siblings and most of the time I was the oldest of my cousins, so I was always taking care of them either at special events or because my aunt went to the grocery store and was like, Just watch your baby cousin.

Can you share more about your family?

I have a sister that is 35 and a brother that is 21. Its weird, because my mom and dad wanted to have their little baby boy. They always wanted a big family because all my other cousins and aunts and uncles, they all have at least four kids. But my parents had only two. So, when I was 17, my dad goes, Your mom is pregnant. I was like, Oh my God, Im going to have to change diapers, and feed him, which I did. Growing up, he always thought that I was his mom. Now hes in the U.S. Marine Corps. My daughter is 15 and hes 21. Its crazy. They treat each other like siblings. And its hard, because I tell her that in our culture, the Mexican culture, were very big on respect. Were told to respect our elders like, Yes maam, or Yes sir, and in that case, hes Uncle Arthur. I always tell her, You cant call him bruh. Thats not your bruh, thats your uncle.

What is the best advice you ever received, and who gave it?

My dad always told me, Youve got to help others along. He worked for the Mexican consulate in New York. Thats how I got here. See, my story is not like any other people that immigrated here. He came here with a job, not even for this country, but for his own country. So, growing up he saw that there was so much need, like people needing to have an ID. In the U.S., when youre an illegal immigrant, you dont have papers and you dont have an ID but you have to file taxes. So, to do that, they have to have an ID. A lot of the time, its hard to go to any consulate and get the paperwork filled out. Its an all-day thing, where people make lines, and if you dont have one document, thats it. You have to go back in the line. You have to come back another day and lose another day of work just because you didnt have one document. So, my dad, he would tell people, Its only one document. Let me process it, and you bring it tomorrow. Skip the line, let them know. No problem. So, growing up, I always saw that. I always saw that he would help others and never get anything in return. Because he said, Its not that big of a deal. Im not doing any extra work. Its already going to be processed. And I think thats where I get it from. Helping others doesnt take much, its just wanting to do it. Because, at the end of the day, we all need each other in some way. I think it would be a different world if we all cared and helped each other.

What does that look like in your day-to-day life?

I accommodate to parents, not all of the time, but most of the time, because some of them are single parents. There are two or three that have to rush to work, and I have to make sure that I get to their home at a certain time. A lot of people wonder, Why is the bus coming here all the time? And there have been people asking, Why are you going in circles? Well, because I have to accommodate. I dont want to go in circles, and sometimes its hard to accommodate, but I have to do what I have to do to help these kids and their parents. Because, I can assure you, I would not do it if I didnt care as much as I do.

As a bus driver, what do you want other drivers to know?

Drivers get annoyed sometimes that were going through the neighborhood, but just have a little patience. Sometimes we stop because there is something going on, and Ill put on my hazard lights but I wont put on my amber lights. Theres a difference. When we put on the ambers, on top of the bus, its because were going to stop. And a stop sign comes out. But when we put on our hazards, on the side of the bus, were not stopping to make a stop. Were stopping because theres an emergency on the bus, and were going to have to take our time. Were trying to make sure that the kid is safe. We dont need help. We have a phone. In the event that I need to call someone, rest assured that I will.
Technically, the queen retained certain political powers, known as her "personal prerogatives" or the "queen's reserve powers." Among those reserve powers were the power to appoint the prime minister, which she just did Sept. 6, to open and close sessions of Parliament, and to approve legislation.

But those powers, said Philip Murphy, have been heavily restricted by constitutional conventions. Murphy is director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at University College London and author of "The Empire's New Clothes: The Myth of the Commonwealth." We spoke to him in 2020.

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"The Queen has powers, but the question is how much discretion does she have within those powers," Murphy said.

According to Robert Hazell, co-author of a report on the changing role of the monarchy, the queen was effectively stripped of all personal discretion when it came to the use of reserve powers. She had no real choice about who became prime minister, for example, or which bills became law. The voters and elected officials make those decisions, and her only real job was to give a royal stamp of approval.

But that lack of true political power didn't mean that the Queen Elizabeth wasn't powerful. The 19th-century British constitutional scholar Walter Bagehot wrote that the monarch has three essential rights: to be consulted, to encourage and to warn.

"What you're talking about there is not so much power as influence," Murphy said. And no one would argue that Queen Elizabeth wasn't influential.

" " Queen Elizabeth greeted Liz Truss, the new leader of the Conservative Party, Sept. 6 at Balmoral, just two days before her death at age 96. WPA Pool/Getty Images
Panasonic, a Japanese conglomerate, intends to open a battery manufacturing plant in India under the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC battery storage. A high-level delegation from the Japanese company held discussions with senior functionaries of the government in the first week of this month, said top officials of the firm. Niti Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and Heavy Industries secretary Kamran Rizvi met Kazuo Tadanobu, global president and CEO of Panasonic Energy with other Japanese team members of Panasonic. Manish Sharma, Panasonic Life Solutions Chairman, India, was also present at the meeting.The firm has informed the Indian government of its plans to consider the country for a battery manufacturing operation. Panasonic India has declined to comment on the matter. However, after recent developments, it is expected that the Japanese company is now coming close to making substantial investments in India with the setting up of the battery manufacturing plant. Under the governments Rs 18,100 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC battery storage, Hyundai Global Motors, one of the four companies selected, recently pulled out of the scheme.It is hoped that this offer given up by Hyundai Global Motors will now be taken up by Panasonic. However, there is no confirmation on the same and this needs to be ratified at the highest levels within the government, quoting its sources. Panasonic battery plant is hoping to supply batteries to major companies such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and the Volkswagen group. This comes as these companies are expanding in the electric fleet and could emerge as major consumers of Panasonics batteries.Panasonic is one of the biggest suppliers of batteries to Tesla. The government had also briefed the Panasonic team about the bullish business potential in India for automotive batteries and said that it should be ready to invest in India with or without Teslas investments. Request for Proposal (RFP) released by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in October 2021 showed that 10 companies had originally submitted their bids under the ACC battery program for which but only four of them were selected in March 2022. The companies selected for PLI, excluding Hyundai Global Motors, are Reliance New Energy Solar, Ola Electric Mobility, and Rajesh Exports.
There are plenty of business opportunities available to meet potential customer, explore new market opportunities, learn about next seasons trends, and add value to your business. It is currently one of the biggest and most comprehensive apparel fabric and accessories exhibitions in the world.

With both the spring and autumn edition in Shanghai, this exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for overseas suppliers to build stronger relationships in the region and enhance their presence in the market.
Jake Williams: "...it's unacceptable for any cloud provider to charge a logging tax. This behaviour has to stop."

Well-known American security expert Jake Williams has weighed in on the recent breach of Microsoft's cloud at a number of government agencies, saying that it was not acceptable that any security provider should charge a logging tax.

Williams was referring to a report about Volexity security expert Steven Adair saying he could not find out details about a client's breached email account because of a lack of logs.

Microsoft provides basic logging with its products, but customers have to pay more to obtain comprehensive logs.

The breach has led to increasing pressure on Microsoft from both the security community and the US Government. The breach was allegedly effected by attackers from China.

Williams was responding to tweets from Justin Elze of security outfit TrustedSec, who said: "This comes down to people basically being told, give up you can't run exchange securely on-prem move to the cloud. All this centralised risk people are expecting security investment from MS way above and beyond.

And he added: "The industry accepts MS can't protect your OS which is why people buy EDR/etc. However MS doesn't license your OS logs and telemetry for more money.

"The cloud shouldn't be any different; additional logging isn't a paid feature its a core product function."

Williams responded: "You should want E5 logging for lots of reasons. But this intrusion wasn't detected directly with them

"Logs revealed an anomaly due to tradecraft. State asked for clarification and pulling on that thread led MSFT to discover the intrusion. It's a nuanced, but important difference.

"All that said, it's unacceptable for any cloud provider to charge a logging tax. This behaviour has to stop."

He said most cloud providers failed to act on the fact that when their customers with weak security lost data through their products, it impacted on the vendor's brand.

"'All the data to see the intrusion was in their logs' and 'they should have paid extra for security' read very differently..." said Williams, a former elite NSA hacker.
Telecommunications provider Optus has partnered with the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX) and major banks to introduce the Call Stop initiative to deter financial scams.

Call Stop targets call back scams. This happens when consumers receive an email or SMS claiming issues with their bank account (often unauthorised payments made with their account or someone else had accessed their account) and asks consumers to call back the bank on the number provided.

The scammer, masquerading a bank personnel, can trick the victim into providing access to their account, or to transfer their money into an account controlled by the scammer.

Call Stop prevents customers from reaching the scammer and instead forwards the call to an automated message to warn the caller of the scam.

CaII Stop will divert the caII to a voice message saying: The number you have called has been reported as being used for scam activities. For more information, please visit optus.com.au/CallStop.

The call will then be blocked, preventing the customer from being scammed but providing a clear indication that the warning or threat received was indeed a fake scam message and no action is needed.

The Call Stop initiative aims to reduce financial scams. In partnership with the financial sector, scam phone numbers that have been identified by banks and their customers are added to the list of scams identified through the Call Stop programme.

We are aIways updating our technology and looking for new ways to fight off scams across the country, said Optus vice president, regulatory, and public affairs Andrew Sheridan.

CaII Stop is our latest weapon in this battle and protects customers when they have been tricked into ringing a scam number. The automated message very clearly exposes the scam, and the number is then blocked.

Since December 2020, Optus claimed it has blocked 320 million scams and almost 80 million SMS scam messages over the last year.

Currently, Optus is blocking close to five million calls and 10 million SMS per month.

Call and text scams are the cause of significant financial loss and emotional distress to many Australians. These types of scams are on the rise in 2023, and criminals are using more and more sophisticated methods to catch people out, said AFCX managing director David Pegley.

Our collaboration with Optus, with the support of our banking members, uses innovative technology to better protect consumers being targeted by scammers. Its hoped that initiatives like Call Stop will curb the acceleration of this scamming technique.
An agreement between Microsoft and Sony to keep the popular game Call of Duty on PlayStation after the US firm acquires Activision Blizzard, has moved the deal a step closer.

Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's Xbox division, said in a tweet: "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 favourite games."

On Saturday, iTWire reported that the US Federal Trade Commission was asking an appeals court to temporarily put the Activision Blizzard deal on hold, after a federal judge refused to do so. The FTC request was denied.

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

On Tuesday, the British regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority,on the proposed deal.

In April, the CMA announced it was blocking the deal as it would change the cloud gaming market and lessen choice for gamers in the country.

At that time, the regulator said Microsoft's solution had "significant shortcomings" and would need oversight.

The European Union cleared the deal on 15 May, provided Microsoft is fully compliant with the commitments it has offered.

The CMA is now scheduled to meet representatives from Microsoft and Activision on Monday before the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
COMPANY NEWS: iTWire met with Andrew Slavkovic, the Solutions Engineering Director for Australia and New Zealand at CyberArk.

We discussed the company, how cybercriminals are using AI to improve their cyberattacks and how organisations can defend themselves against them... including by using AI themselves!

How did CyberArk first come about?

CyberArk started 24 years ago with the explicit aim of protecting privileged identities which even back then we identified as being a critical element of any attack.

Why is CyberArk associated with identity security?

It's just a natural evolution from privileged identities into today's modern world. All identities, under certain conditions, need to be protected whilst also being able to achieve varying degrees of actions, which are then classified as privileged in todays world.

How can generative AI like ChatGPT impact cybersecurity?

Generative AI models (such as ChatGPT) will impact the way cybersecurity is conducted in the future. Organisations who dont leverage this technology run the risk of losing the competitive advantage that will be afforded by it, to the extent we are now seeing them create policies around its usage.

The first step though must be to evaluate both the risks and benefits, and impact those have on individual organisations. We are seeing indicators for its potential impact right now. For example, the technology in its current maturity level is being used to better streamline social engineering campaigns - making them more realistic and believable. The technology is great at generating text or voice messages to impersonate individuals when compared to traditional approaches.

As we have also demonstrated as part of our CyberArk Labs research, it has the ability to create better malware - by allowing generative AI to take existing samples and mutate them into different variations. As a result, changes to the malware signature may result in higher levels of evasion.

The good news is the same technology can also be used to uplift cybersecurity capabilities in the future.

In what ways can enterprises leverage the capabilities of AI to improve cybersecurity processes?

We are already starting to see enterprises reimagine how technologies like generative AI can be used to achieve operational efficiencies, defend against cyber-attacks and gain a competitive advantage.

The perfect storm is going on right now with the maturing of AI models amidst accelerated digital transformation and advancements in quantum computing. The combination of these will completely change the way cybersecurity will be conducted in the future.

Enterprises will be able to leverage generative AI to better defend against cyberattacks and outsource some of the heavy lifting in which security professionals were previously responsible for. Specifically, there are three areas I would see where the technology could be used to help security professionals:

1) To write policy and training documents which better align with industry best practices.

2) Analyse large data sets and find anomalous patterns which would be useful in then strengthening security control framework or in conducting post incident analysis more efficiently.

3) To simplify authentication processes by using AI to determine when to apply additional security controls based on the behaviour of the identity.

What ethical considerations should businesses keep in mind?

As generative AI technologies evolve, businesses must consider the ethical considerations that the technology poses. There are areas which would require careful consideration:

Bias and Discrimination: AI models can perpetuate and amplify existing biases in the data used to train them. This can result in discriminatory outcomes, such as bias in hiring or learning practices. For example, if the data set is the whole of the internet, it may inherit the bias of the material.

Privacy: AI models have the potential to generate content that includes sensitive information, such as personal names, addresses, or financial details. This has been demonstrated recently by individuals managing to circumnavigate controls within the technology. Businesses must ensure that this information is adequately secured and that the AI models are not used to violate privacy rights for that country.

Transparency: AI models can generate complex decisions that are difficult to understand or explain. Businesses must ensure that the models are transparent and that the outcomes generated by the models are clearly communicated to stakeholders.

What are the ways in which threat actors can use ChatGPT or AI to enhance or deploy attacks?

There has been a lot written about how AI can be used to enhance cyberattacks. We would need to look at this through two lenses. Firstly, theres the maturity of generative AI now and where it is potentially heading in the future. Today, we see it being used more in a supplementary manner rather than a mature technology in which we can just outsource the entire attack to. Specifically, we are seeing benefit of this technology being the ability to shorten activities and tasks in each phase of the attack life cycle regardless of the attackers skill set.

For example, during the reconnaissance phase, it can be used to gather intelligence more efficiently for the planning of the subsequent stages of the attack. It could be used to create a report on all open-source intelligence regarding specific technical aspects of a target website and work out key contracts that would be ideal for social engineering attempts.

Within that attack life cycle itself it could also be used to carry out very specific tasks, more efficiently and effectively, redirecting the attackers energy to tasks that require more expertise. For example, during the weaponization and delivery phase, we could use ChatGPT to generate polymorphic malware based on a sample thats already well known. This would aid the attack in creating malware that will have higher changes of evading detecting and achieve its objectives. We have demonstrated at CyberArk labs how this technology can you use to create this type of malware and how it can successfully evade traditional security controls.

How does Cyber Ark protect against deep fakes and voice cloning?

Deep fakes and AI voice cloning have not been around long. I think the first reported case was in 2019, when thieves recorded the voice of an executive, at a parent company of an undisclosed UK-based energy firm. The CEO actually recognised their colleagues accent, speech, cadence, etc and quickly transferred all funds from an account as requested. Obviously, it turned out to be to be a fake.

There's been a lot of work done where the FBI has actually mandated that each image has to have an embedded watermark to distinguish it from being a deep fake, locally. In Australia, we're only starting to catch up now, with similar attacks. Although they originate as a new source, what they do is still the same. So, having those consistent security controls, a layered defence in-depth approach, will still prevent or detect these attacks.

Financial gain, which is generally the purpose of these types of attacks, needs to be kept out of email inboxes and phone conversations. Instead, establish processes and procedures which are supplemented by security controls layer onto the application itself using Identity as the cornerstone for verifying every action.

How can potential partners work with you?

We have an extensive partner community. We have an MSP programme as well. So, all partnership models are welcome.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I think it's almost the perfect storm, with the emergence and maturing of generative AI, deep fakes, digital transformation initiatives and advancements in quantum computing. This is really going to be the launch pad for a new era in cybersecurity.

I think organisations now need to start looking at the governance around how they're going to use the technology. I think banning it is the wrong approach and will leave organisations behind, so we must allow its use. We should look at how the same technology can be used to solve the problems that it has also created.

Andrew Slavkovic, thank you very much. You can find out more by visiting CyberArks website.
GUEST OPINION: Today, the buzzword thats nothing short of a technological revolution is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although its hard to deny that AI has brought many positive advancements across a large variety of industries, there is also some cause for caution. According to reports, there has been a 135% increase in sophisticated and novel social engineering attacks in the first months of 2023, which corresponded with the widespread adoption of AI-run application, ChatGPT.

AI Appreciation Day, which took place last Sunday 16 July, is a prompt reminder for Australian organisations to stay ahead of the benefits as well as the potential risks that come with this fast-evolving technology. Failure to keep up can leave organisations vulnerable to threats and risk getting left behind.

Below are two separate commentaries shedding light on the role of AI in helping to solve business pain points as the world commemorates AI Appreciation Day, each from a different standpoint: hybrid cloud and cybersecurity (Vectra AI).

Cloudera ANZ regional vice president Keir Garrett

The uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) across Australian enterprises is growing exponentially, due to its increasing influence in business decision-making and data process improvement. IDC predicts that spending on AI systems in Australia is expected to reach as high as $5.7 billion by 2026.

Indeed, AI Appreciation Day serves as a reminder of how fast AI has burst into the mainstream consciousness in the last few years alone.

However, questions have been raised on how much trust one can place in these tools, and if there are enough safeguards in place. For example, large language models (LLM) such as ChatGPT struggle with understanding context and common-sense reasoning while relying on statistical patterns in the data. As such, an organisation using generic LLM will not yield answers specific to their context and the answers may even be irrelevant. This results in hallucinations, one of which led to the worlds first AI defamation lawsuit over misleading information. This further exemplifies the pressing need for organisations to train models with their own data.

Furthermore, in the absence of traceability, data tends to get distorted down the line, which speaks to the importance of implementing a robust data governance strategy across the entire data lifecycle. This allows users to trust their data and AI, while ensuring that AI applications are used ethically and effectively.

AI applications will continue to develop, eventually leading to organisations looking to utilise both data residing on-premises and in the cloud. In turn, this extends the growing importance and the need for a hybrid data management platform.

As the use of Generative AI becomes more commonplace, Australian businesses do not only need to develop a deeper understanding of the limitations and challenges that come with using such AI models within the enterprise, but also start experimenting with their technology solutions and data infrastructure so they can prepare to productionise in the very near future in order to stay relevant.

Vectra AI head of security engineering APJ Chris Fisher

As AI Appreciation Day approaches, the widespread buzz around this transformative technology serves as a reminder of the depth of its influence today. Specifically in the realms of understanding attacker behaviour and solving cyber security challenges on hybrid cloud.

With 45% of breaches being cloud-based according to a recent IBM Security Research report, this statistic will only increase in 2023 due to the exponential shift to hybrid, multi-cloud infrastructure and an attackers ability to take advantage of it. However, erasing the unknown hybrid and multi-cloud threats is easier said than done and security practitioners know it; with 7 out of 10 (72%) thinking an attacker has already infiltrated their environment, but do not know where, according to our Vectra AI research.

There are two irrefutable truths as to why: the attack surface is only getting bigger, and the attacker is getting more evasive in their infiltration methods.

This is where understanding the attackers behaviour and utilising the power of AI come in. AI helps chief information security officers find the needle in the haystack by delivering greater signal clarity overall in identifying the most critical threats. To stop a breach before it begins, we must hone in on behavioural elements from attackers, to help security teams identify true alerts from all the noise.

Its also important to remember that humans continue to play an important role in cyber security, providing an invaluable layer of expertise, intuition and adaptability to protect the digital ecosystem.

Cybersecurity is not a one-off fire drill. Rather it is something that you must be ready for at any moment. Defending your organisations against data breaches is a collective business responsibility.
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A federal judge last week held that the federal government tried to skirt the First Amendment when it pressured social media companies to suppress misinformation during the pandemic. The judge's conclusions will be litigated further, but they highlight the dangers inherent when private parties are used as government proxies to limit public debate.

But free speech isn't the only vital liberty at risk under such a scheme. Government agents have also eroded the Fourth Amendment by using the private sector to avoid constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Last month, Rep. Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican, and Rep. Sara Jacobs, a Democrat from California, added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the government to obtain a warrant before purchasing data on Americans from private information brokers.

The amendment comes after revelations that federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have repeatedly purchased private information on cellphone users without a warrant, from third-party commercial data brokers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court strengthened the Bill of Rights by ruling in Carpenter v. United States that government agents need a warrant to compel communications companies to turn over detailed location information about customers. Since then, however, government officials "have made an end run around this warrant requirement by purchasing detailed and intimate information about Americans from commercial data brokers," writes Noah Chauvin of the Brennan Center.

One might ask why Americans willingly provide so much of their intimate personal information to third parties in the name of convenience. But that's a discussion for another day.

The New York Times reported in 2021 that lawyers with the Defense Intelligence Agency don't construe the Carpenter decision as mandating a warrant for the purchase of data. But if the government may simply bypass restrictions in the Bill of Rights by using third party entities to do its dirty work, those freedoms are meaningless.

The amendment bans federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies from purchasing Americans' location information, web browsing history, internet search history or any other information protected by the Fourth Amendment, Mr. Chauvin writes, and requires these agencies to get a court order before obtaining this data.

This is a reasonable approach that protects the privacy of Americans to some degree while allowing the authorities to access data under judicial supervision. Surely both Democrats and Republicans can agree that the Bill of Rights is worth protecting.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
It isn't, she believes, doing a good enough job protecting Joe Biden from the effects of being 80 years old and increasingly frail.

She insists that it needs "to clear a pathway" whenever he is walking somewhere, and make sure it is "there and telling him what's next" when he's at an event and going from Point A to Point B.

It's not clear what presidency Brzezinski has been watching, because it not as though the White House staff is working Biden like a dog, or as though there isn't plenty of pointing and directing whenever Biden is out in public.

Axios reported a couple of months ago that "some White House officials say it's difficult to schedule public or private events with the president in the morning, in the evening or on weekends."

That does leave weekdays between about noon and 4 p.m., when most of his public events are scheduled.

Obviously, the problem isn't staff inattention or unawareness of the limitations of their boss, but the difficult balance involved in maintaining the image of Biden as a robust, fully in-control president of the United States, on the one hand, and in giving him the help he needs as someone who is visibly shaky on his feet and unsure of what to do with himself at public events, on the other.

To her credit, Brzezinski isn't denying Biden's infirmities  as many Democrats do, at least in public  so much as shifting the blame for them.

The latest discussion of Biden's age was occasioned by his use of King Charles as a bit of a crutch during a visit the other day, while the king had some difficulty negotiating Biden where he needed to go during an inspection of the Welsh Guards.

In the scheme of things, this wasn't a big event, but it's part of a pattern and one that suggests more trouble ahead  the minor stumbles and wobbles will inevitably get worse, since aging is a progressive condition.

Even if the White House staff were to dispatch the advance team to remove every pebble in Biden's path, as Brzezinski hopes, there is simply no way to protect an 80-year-old man from every potential misstep.

In the end, there is a reliable way to keep him upright, which is a walker.

Let's say he doesn't need one now.

Can we be sure he wouldn't need one in a year's time?

And would the White House ever want to have him use one, given that he's in the most demanding office in the world and a walker is a symbol of decrepitude associated with assisted-living facilities?

Every incentive is to keep trotting Biden out like nothing is wrong  80 is the new 70  and hope for the best.

Maybe he shuffles through the raindrops and nothing bad happens between now and November 2024.

But there is some significant chance that it does, that there is a fateful sandbag, wire or step out there that is going to bring home the fragility of the leader of the Free World in a disturbing and undeniable way.

Democrats who look past this possibility are running the risk of repeating the Ruth Bader Ginsburg experience of talking themselves into believing everything is fine, until it's not, and they are left dealing with an avoidable catastrophe.

Ginsburg's defenders dismissed concerns about her age and calls for her to resign while President Barack Obam a was president and Democrats controlled the Senate as sexist.

Then, Republicans took the Senate, Donald Trump won the presidency and it was too late.

Again, maybe Biden gets lucky, and certainly everyone of good will should hope that he does.

If he has an ill-timed mishap, though, Democrats will have no one  not even the White House staff  to blame but themselves.

(COMMENT, BELOW)


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The Left has panicked since America's top tribunal decided last month, 6-3, that racial preferences in college admissions are unconstitutional.

"The Supreme Court ruling has put a giant roadblock in our country's march toward racial justice," complained Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York.

Michelle Obama moaned: "Today, my heart breaks for any young person out there who's wondering what their [sic] future holds  and what kinds of chances will be open to them."

Such condescension is, itself, racist. Assuming that minority children need racial preferences declares being black or Hispanic a handicap. Many minority applicants can enter universities, elite and otherwise, on their merits. To dispute this is to say that their skin color alone reflects insufficient brains to gain race-neutral acceptance to college. Thinking so little of black and brown kids is racist.

That said, the Left's "systemic racism" scarecrow does not target millions of minority children. Rather, these kids endure systemic ignorance, namely government schools that leave their minds empty while incinerating tax dollars.

Given their massive disservice to black and brown boys and girls, these "schools" might as well be run by David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. In reality, these kids are oppressed in disproportionally black, Democrat-run cities. Bull Connor only could fantasize about the devastation that these Leftists heap on their own people:

 According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Albuquerque's government-school eighth graders last year were 21% proficient in reading and 17% in mathematics. In Baltimore: 15% reading and 8% math. Cleveland: 10% reading; 7% math. Detroit: 5% reading; 4% math. Democrats cannot blame mega-MAGA Republicans. In those locales, they are rarer than black rhinos.

 At least 18 of Chicago's government schools have zero ninth-through 12th graders proficient in reading or math  not even one.

 Cash poverty does not explain this chalkboard bungle. As the Illinois-based Wirepoints think tank reported, in 2017, the Chicago Public Schools spent $15,822 per student. By 2023, that figure was $29,206  up 84.6%. Simultaneously, black students' reading proficiency jumped off the Willis Tower, from 18% to 10%  down 44.4%.

In Chicago, you spend more. But remember: You get less!

If black and brown kids  who previously would have reached college via their melanin  now must rely on their merits, then America damn well better ready them.

SCOTUS' decision boosts the urgency for school choice, educational excellence, high expectations and a rejection of mediocrity and its advocates: teachers-union parasites.

Parents, students and voters must demand that per-pupil taxpayer dollars follow students to the best schools available  public, private, secular, parochial and at home. K-12 schools should compete for those dollars, just as universities wrestle for parental savings and students' Pell Grants and college loans.

Radical teachers must abandon their evil obsession with stoking racial division and stirring students' sexual feelings. Instead, the entire focus must be reading, writing and computing in service to post-secondary readiness. And students uninterested in college should prime themselves for vocational school, in which there is much promise and no dishonor.

Tutors, mentors and after-school programs should help. Consider the Harlem Educational Activities Fund. This model non-profit spurns excuses. Its motto: "Every child can learn." Among the low-income, minority students who join this college-preparatory and cultural-enrichment initiative, 100% graduate high school and 83% earn baccalaureates within six years versus an average 42% for Hispanics and 37% for blacks nationwide.

Also, some black kids are denounced as race traitors by other blacks who do their homework, participate in class and speak proper English. This Acting White Syndrome must be excised from black culture like a brain tumor. These children don't act white. They act right.

SCOTUS did black and Hispanic students a massive favor by forcing them to rely on how they think, not how they look. Democrats need to understand this, stop whining and join this noble task.

If not, Republicans must pulverize them at the polls and then lead this vital mission.
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California governor Gavin Newsom wants strong gun-control laws in every state of the union. To that end, he proposes to change the US Constitution.

Last month, Newsom outlined a 28th Amendment that would restrict the Second Amendment's guaranteed right to keep and bear arms. It would do so in four ways: by raising from 18 to 21 the minimum age to purchase a firearm, by mandating universal background checks for gun transactions, by instituting a waiting period before any gun purchase is finalized, and by banning civilians from acquiring assault rifles, which Newsom calls "weapons of war our Founding Fathers never foresaw."

Amending the Constitution, as the governor acknowledges, is a daunting task. "This fight won't be easy and it certainly won't be fast," he said in a video posted on social media. It has been more than 30 years since the Constitution was last amended, and no amendment has ever been initiated by the method Newsom is attempting: a so-called Article V Convention summoned by at least two-thirds of the states. If he genuinely intends to lead a national campaign for a 28th Amendment, then he has indeed set himself a tough challenge. And I admire and applaud him for taking it on.

To be clear, I don't support Newsom's goal of impeding private gun ownership. His amendment's restrictions would do little or nothing to reduce mass shootings or gun deaths and would make many vulnerable Americans less safe. But assuming Newsom is serious, I give him credit for seeking to constitutionalize gun control the right way: by amending the Constitution, not by filing a lawsuit.

There was a time when liberal and progressive reformers presumed that to effect a permanent change in the law of the land required working through the democratic process. Those who were intent on establishing a new individual right, or investing the government with a new power, wrote new language for the Constitution. In the early 1910s, for example, a priority of the Progressive movement was granting Congress the authority to enact a graduated income tax  authority the Supreme Court had ruled it didn't have under the Constitution. The result was a successful campaign for the 16th Amendment, which was ratified in 1913. Also ratified that year was the 17th Amendment, which provided for the direct election of US senators by each state's voters  another innovation of Progressive Era activists.

The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia often pointed to the 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920 and guaranteed women the right to vote, to illustrate how Americans traditionally approached constitutional reform: as a democratic process, not a judicial one.

"It is hard for the modern American to understand why that amendment was needed," Scalia said in one speech. After all, by 1920 the Constitution already contained the 14th Amendment, which explicitly prohibited denying to any person the equal protection of the laws. "As an abstract matter," Scalia asked, "what could possibly be a greater denial of equal protection than deprivation of the franchise?" Instead of undertaking a decades-long campaign for women's suffrage, why didn't activists simply invoke the Equal Protection Clause and embark on litigation aimed at getting the Supreme Court to declare that denying the vote to women was unconstitutional? Why should a new amendment have been required?

The answer, Scalia explained, is that for most of American history, words in the Constitution were taken to mean what they meant when they were ratified. If new protections were desired, they had to be won democratically, via the amendment process.

Again, this was the liberal/progressive/populist approach for the first century and a half under the Constitution. It characterized the years that followed the Civil War, when the Constitution was amended to ban slavery, establish the citizenship of Black people, require states to uphold due process of law, and prohibit racial discrimination in voting. Even as late as the 1960s, inspired by the civil rights movement, there were successful campaigns to let residents of Washington, D.C., vote in presidential elections, to abolish the poll tax, and to lower the voting age to 18  all of which were enshrined in new amendments.

But "liberalism began to move away from this populist spirit in the middle of the New Deal," as the legal scholar Jeffrey Rosen has written, "and, in the process, largely abandoned its interest in amending the constitution." Gradually the Constitution came to be regarded as a "living" document, one from which judges could conjure new legal rights or deduce new restrictions, obviating the need for the public consensus needed to ratify a new amendment. On topics as varied as same-sex marriage, legislative redistricting, and public-school prayer, far-reaching alterations in the nation's legal landscape were brought about by appealing to the courts, not to legislators.



Many people might say those changes made the nation more just, more free, or more equal. But as the decades of turmoil that followed Roe v. Wade demonstrated, there is a price to be paid when courts, bypassing the democratic process, dictate drastic changes in the meaning of the Constitution. Amendments adopted the traditional way may not always be wise  the 18th Amendment prohibiting alcohol was pretty dumb  but they have one great virtue: In order to be ratified, they must reflect broad agreement across society.

So there is no snark when I cheer Newsom's proposal for a gun-control amendment. To many on the left, it goes without saying that America has too many guns, that it's too easy to buy them, and that "common sense" restrictions on firearms will save lives. But millions of Americans take a very different view of the subject. Newsom will need to win over a considerable number of them if he is going to lead a successful drive to amend the Constitution. If he succeeds, gun controls will be enforced from sea to shining sea. And the legitimacy of those controls will be unassailable.

"This fight won't be easy and it certainly won't be fast," the California governor rightly says. Neither was the 19th Amendment. It took years of effort to win national support for women's suffrage, but when the fight was won, it was won forever. I don't think much of Newsom's objective, but I salute the way he is going after it.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission."
BLOOMINGTON  On what would have been his 31st birthday, Kristian "KP" Philpotts' love for animals brought joy to hundreds in the community where he spent his undergraduate years.

Friends and family gathered at Miller Park Zoo on Monday to celebrate Philpotts' life, which was cut short last year when he was killed in while working as a Lyft driver in Urbana. An aspiring veterinarian, he was pursuing a doctorate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He had earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in 2016 and a master's degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2018.

"He was passionate about his fraternity, animals and his family," said Marla Rice, Philpotts' mother. "He was a loving person and he enjoyed helping people."

Philpotts was killed in January 2022. Police said three 17-year-old boys attempted to rob him and then shot him in the back. Two have since pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the case; murder charges are pending against the third.

Five Central Illinois cities that were a part of his educational journey  Bloomington, Normal, Charleston, Champaign and Urbana  jointly recognized Monday as Kristian "KP" Philpotts Day. Philpotts had made a point to volunteer in all the communities where he had attended school.

As part of the celebration at Miller Park Zoo, Philpotts' family paid admission for the first 300 people. An all-day discount was offered for ISU students, staff and alumni as well as members of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, of which Philpotts was a member.

Free carousel rides and free snow cones were also offered throughout the day.

"It was a nice crowd," Rice said. "Seeing people enjoying themselves, coming over to see what was going on and even coming up to say something about him ... It turned out to be good."

Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe and Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin were in attendance along with Normal Town Trustee Kathleen Lorenz to issue the official proclamation designating the day.

"He was a tremendous young man and he had a goal where he would give back to every community that he lived in," Marlin said. "I think having a celebration here is absolutely where it should be because this is what his dream was, to become a veterinarian, and it is a perfect way to honor his memory."

Mwilambwe, who was recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to celebrate his late father's life, acknowledged the reality of grief while urging those touched by it to look ahead.

"We also have to look to the future and know that the person who has gone on to better pastures is still here with us in some way, shape or form," Mwilambwe said. "Representatives of each of our communities are incredibly proud to be associated with an individual who has made such a difference in his life."

Reggie Osborne Jr. and Steven Austin, members of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, said Philpotts was one of their most dedicated brothers, someone who embodied the organization's core values and carried them to other communities.

Osborne, who graduated from ISU with a bachelor's degree in education in 2018, recalled how Philpotts would still make time to practice for their stepping shows even after spending almost all night studying in the library.

"The dedication that he had to be a part and perfect his craft was something that stands out to me because not only was he trying to perfect his craft within a fraternity, he was trying to perfect his craft within the education realm which I credit to his parents," Osborne said. "He wanted to make a change; he wanted to have a positive impact with the kids, and for someone to do that and stick with it, I can do nothing but honor and respect him."

While at EIU, Philpotts brought back the university's chapter of Iota Phi Theta Inc. Fraternity in 2021 after a 27-year hiatus. He had been a member of the fraternity at ISU while studying for his bachelor's degree in pre-veterinary medicine.

Austin said Philpotts was always there to motivate and support those around and would always take time out of his day to help anyone who needed it.

Austin, who graduated from ISU with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2019, said he did not know about the fraternity until Philpotts recruited him  but also made sure he was keeping up with his schoolwork.

"He would stay and make me go to the library," Austin said. "It was never fully about becoming a brother and joining the organization; he was more or less making sure I was staying on top of my work.

"That was one of the thing that stuck out to me, and I ended up joining the organization," Austin added.

In another measure to memorialize her son, Rice said she is prepared to award the Dr. Kristian "KP" Philpotts Memorial Scholarship at ISU to a student pursuing a pre-veterinary degree.

Rice raised more than $25,000 on GoFundMe to start the endowed scholarship. She said she hopes that it will help someone focus on school and not worry about finding a second job to cover the cost.

"Anybody that knows me, I'm just a determined person," Rice said. "I'm not going to stop until we got here, until we got the scholarship. There is so many things that he wanted to do in his life and he just loved to help people.

"This scholarship would help the future veterinarians," she added. "When we're long gone, this scholarship is still going to be going on every year."

Watch now: Photos from Brews at the Zoo Paula Pratt, Miller Park Zoological Society Director of Development; Tracy Patkunas, Peggy Hundley, Dee Frautschi Jeff Holtke, Ben Jeffreys, Tom Carroll, Erica Epperson Lisa Hicks, Katie Fudge Matthews Amanda and Dan Jones Enjoying the evening Tori Fowler Brad and Ronda Glenn Jeff and Donna Aldrich, Katie and Austin Myers Jacki Orton, Jenny MacPherson Jeremy Studebaker, Kelley Staub Lynden McGriff, Mike Endris Volunteers Liz Sullivan and Michelle Forbes Hanna Bacayo, Debra Ludvigsen, Pat Bacayo Helena Lefkow, David Page, Debi Turner Anne Himmel, Santino Lamancusa, Aianna Zachary Strolling through the zoo Carrie Adkins Todd and Natalie Schmidt Sara Kemp, Stephanie Meints, Nallely Cavazos Karlie Tucker, Kari Wade Thomas Garverick, Shelbi Frye, Vicky and John Lauth Chaparro Jaso, Ema Garcia Julie and Steve Kubsch Guests enjoying samples from Industry Brewing Mike Anderson and Jayne Jarigese Kait and Doug Whiston Red Panda Taylor Pena, Keegan Fitchorn and Cathy Wentworth serve Chris Godsey Mo Baybordi, Megan Howe, Shaun Rascoe Jared, Jennifer, Travis, and Rachel Gibson Mandy and Cari Evers, Jeni Reed Sarah Lessen, Rick Potocki Cassie and Emma Smith, Aly Frantzen, Tanner Crawford Emily Themer, Derek Mitzel Flamingoes Cheryl Magnuson, Erin Rogers Ben Jeffreys, Cathy Wentworth
Changing conditions caused by climate change pose a potential risk to eastern wild turkeys in North Carolina and other Southern states, new research shows.

Reluctance by the species to vary when it begins nesting could put that cycle out of sync with evolving weather patterns, threatening the availability of food and protective vegetation, according to a newly published study in the journal Climate Change Ecology.

There are implications here for turkey populations if individuals are inflexible in their ability to shift their reproductive activities, as resources are certainly going to change in the future, said Chris Moorman, a professor in N.C. States Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program. This could result in a (cyclical) mismatch, where the timing of an animals natural history doesnt match up with the food and cover resources that are critical for successful reproduction and survival.

When early European settlers arrived, turkeys were plentiful in North Carolina and were probably found throughout the entire state, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

By the turn of the century, however, few turkeys remained.

The decline, which continued into the 1960s, was primarily due to unregulated and heavy hunting, rapid deforestation and habitat destruction throughout the state, NCWRC said.

A restoration program led by the commission revived North Carolinas turkey population. Other states implemented similar efforts.

In 2022, North Carolina hunters bagged 20,576 wild turkeys, down from the record two prior years during the COVID-19 pandemic, but comparable to pre-2019 totals.

Despite strong numbers, questions remain about how the effects of shifting weather, emerging diseases and other factors will impact future populations, researchers say.

Turkeys are a highly adaptable species (and) this adaptability facilitated their ability to be restored, said the studys lead author, Wesley Boone, a postdoctoral research scholar at N.C. State. We want to know if theyre going to be able to persist in a future with a changing climate, and changing landscapes, too.

Earlier green-up

To determine the impact of climate change on turkey nesting, researchers tracked when eastern wild turkeys began nesting in five states in the Southeast over an eight-year period.

Working under safety protocols, researchers used nets to capture female turkeys; attached GPS transmitters to monitor the birds movement, including when they sat on their eggs to keep them warm; and visited the nests to confirm their location and determine if any eggs had hatched.

The researchers then used weather data between 2014 and 2021 to see if temperature, rainfall and the timing of spring green-up coincided with the period when turkeys started nesting with their eggs. They also projected whether turkey nest timing would shift by 2041-2060 under two climate-change scenarios.

When they analyzed the timing for 717 total nests and 186 successful nests that hatched at least one egg, researchers found that temperature and rainfall variations had minimal impact on when turkeys began nesting.

Factoring the turkeys observed weather-related variations into projected future changes in average temperature and rainfall, the study predicted the timing of successful nests would vary by a matter of a few hours, not days or weeks.

We did find relationships between nest timing, rainfall and temperature, but when we projected that into the future, there is no biological relevance in the shift in timing, Boone explained. However, the lack of change in response to a changing climate could be a problem because the critical food and cover resources linked with spring green-up are likely to shift earlier in the future.

Many animals are flexible enough in their breeding times to adapt to the environment around them, said Moorman, the biology professor.

We did not project drastic changes in the timing of when wild turkeys nest under climate change, he explained. Turkeys seem relatively inflexible as to when they reproduce. Nesting is initiated around the same time each year with only slight shifts in the timing, regardless of weather conditions.

Future studies will explore other measures of turkey reproductive success, including whether temperature and rain affect the survival of nests and hatchlings.

There could be a lot of factors interacting to cause declines, including timing of the hunting season, land-use change that impacts habitat, changes in predator populations, as well as weather, climate and diseases, Boone said. We need to begin chipping away at the questions to build a comprehensive understanding of the current and future threats to wild turkey population sustainability.
For an Advance volunteer firefighter who was born deaf, a lifelong dream can finally come true.

A landmark settlement between Austin Freidt, a volunteer with the Cornatzer-Dulin VFD, and the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services will allow Freidt to receive disability-related accommodations to take the NC Emergency Medical Technician exam and become a full-time firefighter.

Hes wanted to become a firefighter since he was 5 years old.

I was happy, Friedt said about the decision. Im very, very excited because I cant wait to get a full-time job.

Now at 24 years old, Freidt will be able to take the exam on paper and with a live voice reading it to him. This is the first time the OEMS will provide someone to read the EMT exam to an individual and the first time it will provide a paper copy since moving to a computer-based system in 2018.

Freidt has a reading disability and processes information more quickly and accurately when he hears something read aloud and has a paper to read from. He got his first cochlear implant for his left ear in second grade and the second implant for his right ear in eighth grade.

Freidts journey as a firefighter began at age 14 when he joined the Advance Fire Departments junior firefighter program. He then volunteered at the Mocksville Fire Station for five years, and during that time, he took fire academy courses.

Completing those classes came with roadblocks, though.

Freidt first applied to the Guilford Technical Community College Fire Academy, but the school rejected him, he said.

I was like, Thats not right, Freidt said. People had health issues like a leg injury or something, and they can go through fire one and two, but people with hearing implants cant do it.

Still determined to go through fire academy, Freidt applied to the Mitchell Community College Fire Academy with the recommendation of Mocksville Fire Chief Frank Carter. He was accepted, graduated with honors, and in 2019, Freidt was honored as the Mocksville Fire Departments Firefighter of the Year.

The next step was to become EMT certified, a requirement most firehouses require to work full-time.

Although Freidt has had people read exams, paper copies and more time for tests from first grade to college, the OEMS, who administered the EMT exam, repeatedly declined to provide the paper copy and a reader. The OEMS only provided extra time and a distraction-reduced testing area based on its longstanding policy on exam accommodations, according to court documents.

According to documents, Freidt failed the EMT exam multiple times under those conditions.

Despite Freidts prior academic success and the recommendation for the requested accommodations by a psychological evaluator, the OEMS referred to federal guidelines for the functional job analysis of an EMT, which required a level four language development and stated that the use of oral assistance in testing was not consistent with the skills required for the job.

According to court documents, Freidt stated that his ability to read does not impact his ability to work.

After going through a Mocksville friend to get in contact with attorney Chad Archer at Blanco Tackabery, a Winston-Salem law firm, Freidt filed a lawsuit in the Davie County Superior Court against the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The lawsuit, filed in September 2021, sought to exercise Freidts rights to accommodations under the NC Persons with Disabilities Protection Act.

In a memorandum of law filed by the OEMS in support of a motion to have Freidts claims dismissed, the OEMS claimed that Freidts requested accommodations were unreasonable. The OEMS claimed that having a reader alters the exam and having a paper copy compromises the security of the exam.

I was mystified by the states refusal to grant Mr. Freidt the common sense accommodations to which he is clearly entitled under the law, Archer said. Those laws were the North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act in which Archer cited in a letter sent to the OEMS.

Title III of the ADA states that any person, or state government agency in this matter, that offers exams for certifications shall offer the exams in a manner accessible to persons with disabilities and offer accommodations for those individuals. This ensures that the examination results accurately reflect the individuals aptitude or achievement level.

Blanco Tackabery reached out to Disability Rights NC, a federally mandated protection and advocacy group, for help in the case when it went to trial. Holly Stiles, an attorney at the DRNC, provided legal support.

(Freidt) has been asking for these accommodations since 2019, Stiles said. He was very determined, and he was just committed to becoming an EMT. He just kept with the process and didnt let them discourage him.

After a four-year fight, Freidt was finally granted his accommodations in a settlement. The agreement with the OEMS ensures Freidt will have the opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge of emergency medical treatment, and he will receive payment for attorneys fees and costs, totaling $53,892.

"Emergency Medical Technicians provide critical, life-saving services across our state," the OEMS said in statement. "In this matter, the Department agreed to provide Mr. Freidt with accommodations in his attempt to take and pass the Emergency Medical Technician examination."

Freidt said: Im grateful that we reached this settlement and I am hopeful that my experience shows others like me not to assume they cannot have a career as a first responder just because they need accommodations."

Stiles said it was special to see how many first responders and people in the community wanted to see Freidt succeed.

Im glad they are behind my back and helped me get this through, Freidt said.

Freidt currently works at Cornatzer and the Spencer Fire Department in Rowan County. He doesnt know when hell take his EMT exam, but he plans on becoming a full-time engineer at Spencer FD and working part-time at Cornatzer and elsewhere.
When NATO leaders met recently in the capital of Lithuania, Russias war in Ukraine loomed large. With Swedens membership all but settled, Ukraines future with the alliance was the biggest question.

Ukraine wants an invitation to join. NATO leaders had been split on whether to offer one. They ultimately agreed they would extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance but without specifying when or how.

The debate over Ukraines potential NATO membership centers on whether it would deter Russia from invading Ukraine again or would instead provoke Russia and drag the entire alliance into war. The bigger question for NATO members should be whether the risk of the latter is worth the benefit to NATO.

That question can only be answered once the war is done. An offer of membership wont hasten that conclusion, so the question of Ukraines membership is premature, serving neither the interests of NATO nor peace.

Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy understands that NATO cannot admit Ukraine while the war is raging. That would automatically put NATO in direct conflict with Russia. Despite a strong commitment to Ukraines security, backed by billions of dollars in military assistance, the United States and other allies have no interest in starting World War III by taking the fight directly to a nuclear-armed Russia.

NATO allies who strongly favor Ukraines ultimate accession, particularly those that border Russia, such as Poland, want NATO to provide a specific and accelerated timetable for Ukraine to join once the war is concluded. They believe a clear path for bringing Ukraine into the alliance is the best way to prevent future Russian aggression.

Others disagree. The U.S. is the most vocal but not the only NATO country that views such assurances as unnecessary provocations to Russia. Germany also has been reluctant to make that commitment. These allies advocate a strong show of support to Ukraine, including more material commitments, but ensuring that NATO is not dragged into the war remains the top priority. For them, committing to a specific timeline for Ukraines future membership would provide little real benefit to outweigh the risk of further goading Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Such a commitment would be largely symbolic. It would not change Ukraines status today, nor would it change NATOs already robust assistance.

The biggest benefit to Ukraines cause, and NATOs corresponding interest, would be a boost of confidence to the Ukrainian government, military and people, who could likely use some good news as the long-awaited counteroffensive grinds on in fits and starts.

Morale has played a strong role in helping Ukraines far smaller military outplay the Kremlins. War fatigue could multiply Kyivs challenges. The cost of that morale boost, though, would be a strong disincentive for Putin to accept an end to the war. The failed mutiny in June revealed that Putins grip on Russia could be slipping. But the impending threat of Ukraine joining NATO could be the rallying cry Putin needs to solidify support for this war in the Russian public and political class.

Seven in 10 Russians said that NATO membership for Ukraine would threaten Russia, and preventing it is a top benefit of Russias military action in Ukraine, according to a new survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Levada Center in Moscow, one of Russias last remaining independent polling firms. If ending the war means Ukraine joins NATO, a lot of Russians might feel differently about their commitment to the fight.

The debate within NATO is reminiscent of a similar one at NATOs summit 15 years ago, when the United States wanted to offer both Ukraine and Georgia action plans for membership, while Germany thought it would be unnecessarily confrontational. With no uniform position, Ukraine and Georgia got the worst of both worlds: enough to provoke Russia but no added protection. Russia invaded Georgia within months and Ukraine a few years later.

Proponents of Ukraines membership say a path to NATO membership would have prevented Russian aggression. Opponents argue it was the promise of future membership that pushed Russia over the edge.

But unlike in 2008. Russia is already at war with Ukraine today, dug in across significant portions of Ukrainian territory. Ending war, not preventing it, is the immediate focus.

While I do not buy the NATO made Putin do it argument, I do believe a promise to admit Ukraine after the war ends would be an obstacle to Russia accepting peace.

It might be unsatisfying to Ukraine today to leave the summit in Lithuania with no clear path, but its the best decision for the possibility of peace and the interests of NATOs existing members in the future.
A recent report on income and gross domestic product growth shows Nebraska performed better at the start of the year than almost any other state.

According to the latest data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state ranked No. 2 in the country in both personal income growth and growth in gross domestic product in the first quarter.

On the personal income side, the bureaus analysis found that Nebraska residents saw an average 11.1% boost in the first quarter, which trailed only Maines 11.4%.

The states real GDP grew 12.3% in the first quarter on an annualized basis, just behind 12.4% growth turned in by North Dakota.

Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota all had double-digit growth, while the next fastest-growing states, Kansas and Montana, had only 6% growth.

All five of those states saw strong growth thanks to agriculture, the bureau said in a news release.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln in March estimated that the states farm income fell to $7.2 billion last year, down slightly from $7.3 billion in 2021, but still a strong number.

Creighton University Economics professor Ernie Goss said both of the universitys monthly economic surveys showed that Nebraska had a strong first quarter, but he disagreed that the agricultural sector is whats driving economic growth.

According to U.S. International Trade Association data, Nebraska contracted exports by 5.3% for the first four months of 2023 compared to the same time period in 2022, Goss said in an email.

He noted that exports of processed food fell 11.3% year-over-year during the period, while export of agricultural goods declined from $483 million in the first four months of 2022 to $311 million in the same period this year, a drop of more than 36%.

Thus, I disagree with the hypothesis that agriculture exports accounted for Nebraskas rapid Q1 growth, Goss said.

Instead, he noted several other industries he believes contributed to the strong first-quarter growth, including construction, transportation and warehousing; leisure and hospitality; and manufacturing.

Manufacturing is one sector where Goss said Nebraska clearly outperformed the country as a whole.

In our manufacturing supply manager survey, Nebraskas overall index rose above growth neutral between February and June, indicating that the states manufacturing sector expanded at a healthy pace, he said. During this same period of time, the U.S. manufacturing survey produced overall indices below growth neutral, indicating contraction.

An economic index published by UNLs Bureau of Business Research also has shown strong economic growth for the state so far this year.

The bureaus leading economic indicator has risen each of the first five months of the year, and its May report also showed strength in the manufacturing sector, which the bureaus director, Eric Thompson, attributed in part to the ag sector.

Nebraska manufacturing has benefited from higher food prices, given that food processing and agricultural equipment production are both a focus of the Nebraska manufacturing industry, he said in a news release last month.

Thompson also said that because the indicator is meant to forecast economic conditions six months into the future, its performance in the first half of the year likely means growth will continue in the second half of the year.

The increase in the leading indicator suggests the economy will grow through the end of 2023, he said.

How states increased jobs over the last 20 years How states increased jobs over the last 20 years #51. West Virginia #48. Vermont #47. Connecticut #46. Ohio #45. Rhode Island #44. Illinois #43. Mississippi #42. Maine #41. Wisconsin #40. Kansas #39. Pennsylvania #38. Maryland #35. Hawaii #33. Indiana #32. New Mexico #31. Iowa #30. Kentucky #29. New Hampshire #28. Minnesota #27. Alabama #26. Arkansas #25. Wyoming #24. Nebraska #23. Delaware #22. New York #19. Washington DC #18. Oklahoma #17. California #16. Tennessee #15. South Dakota #14. South Carolina #13. Georgia #12. Oregon #11. Montana #10. North Carolina #8. North Dakota #6. Colorado #5. Arizona #4. Nevada #3. Idaho #2. Texas #1. Utah
The former mayor of David City announced his plan to seek a seat in the Legislature.

Alan Zavodny will run for the District 23 seat currently held by Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, who will be term-limited after next year. District 23 includes Saunders and Colfax counties, as well as a portion of Butler County.

A registered Republican who has the endorsement of Sen. Deb Fischer, Zavodny is a lifelong farmer and CEO of a service provider for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As mayor for 12 years, Zavodny oversaw a renovation of David Citys downtown and completion of a drainage system, as well as improvements to local infrastructure, and said he built a track record of making hard decisions.

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Zavodny instituted a mask mandate in November 2020 he said was to protect the most vulnerable in the community of 2,900.

Ive learned a lot of lessons from a lifetime of working on a farm and as mayor of David City, not the least of which is that  with some of the most burdensome property taxes in the nation  our tax policies are killing our family farms, ranches and small businesses, he said in a statement.

Zavodny said if elected, he would fight to protect agriculture from burdensome and unnecessary environmental regulations, lower taxes on families and small businesses and help rural areas compete for workers.

Fischer, who served in the Legislature before she was elected to the U.S. Senate, said Zavodny will stand for our shared conservative Nebraska values.

His experience delivering results as David Citys mayor combined with his track record of service to his community will give his district a proven conservative fighter, Fischer said in a statement.

Zavodny becomes the latest candidate to jump into a crowded race to replace Bostelman.

Earlier this month, Dennis Fujan, a farmer from Prague, and Jared Storm, a small-business owner in David City, announced their candidacies for the seat. An Omaha man, navy veteran Jacob Wolff, also said he intends to move into the district and seek elected office as a state senator.

Top Journal Star photos for July 2023
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.

In Lancaster County, the case rate increased from approximately three cases per 100,000 people in 2017 to 13 cases per 100,000 people in 2022. The majority of cases were among those age 20 to 39 years old

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.

Top Journal Star photos for July 2023
A ceremony in June recognizing some of the brightest young minds in Nebraska has once again reignited the debate about the state's so-called brain drain -- the exodus of young, educated Nebraskans to states and colleges near and far.

One stat from that ceremony underscores this: Out of the 20 students honored by Gov. Jim Pillen for notching perfect ACT scores last month who've made their post-secondary plans public, only five are attending college in state.

It's a microcosm of a larger brain drain issue plaguing the state, one that critics were quick to point out when Pillen congratulated the crop of perfect scorers on Twitter, urging them "to be sure to bring your talents back to Nebraska after college."

The Journal Star's Andrew Wegley reported that the trend in migration has come in the form of a disproportionate flight of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher level of education, who have fled in much higher numbers since 2010 than have moved here.

While students cited multiple reasons for leaving the Cornhusker State -- from legislation targeting issues like LGBTQ rights, to better collegiate offerings elsewhere -- one thing is clear: Lawmakers and leaders in higher education would do well to turn their ears to the voices of young people and what they desire in a future Nebraska, a state whose tourism motto declares "is not for everyone."

Leaders at the university and community college level -- who are already tasked with making tough budgetary decisions -- must especially find a way to compete with the enticement of out-of-state options. One Nebraskan student with a perfect ACT score told the Journal Star a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Regents scholarship couldn't compete with an offer from the University of Alabama.

The strain on funding, especially at the University of Nebraska, makes staying competitive increasingly difficult, however. When NU officials announced in May they needed to close a $49.4 million gap, they pointed to decreasing enrollment and stagnant state appropriation growth. Naturally, tuition increases followed.

Part of the onus falls on legislators, who need to ensure the state's public colleges and universities have the necessary funding to attract students from a wide range of backgrounds -- not just those pursuing four-year degrees but also students looking to get into the trades.

Lawmakers should focus less on culture-war issues that may further alienate the state's young base, and focus more on addressing areas of practical concern to future Nebraskans, like affordable housing, a stronger job market and financial access to a post-secondary education.

In doing so, the state's leaders can show that they indeed are listening to the state's youth, who may in turn decide that Nebraska is indeed for them.
Society honors

MADISON  Two hundred University of Wisconsin-Madison Letters & Science undergraduates were inducted to the Phi Beta Kappa academic society April 15 in a ceremony at Varsity Hall in Union South.

The chapter, founded in 1899, seeks to honor students who rigorously explore the sciences, arts and humanities.

Inductees include Jesse Garwood of Burlington, and Sarah Frickensmith and Rick Moe of Mount Pleasant.

Inductees excel in all areas of study, ranging from physics to anthropology, and they must have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above and meet math, language and breadth requirements.

Dressler presents

DECORAH, Iowa  Ten Luther College students presented papers at the annual conference of the Sigma Tau Delta national honors society in Denver from March 29 to April 1.

The students, all English majors or minors, included Christina Dressler of Racine.

Their papers examined Shakespeares Merchant of Venice, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, 20th-century poetry and fiction and contemporary film. Students also read from their own short stories.

Honor society new members

BATON ROUGE, La.  The following students from Racine County were initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nations oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Kenna Beth, Kansasville, UW-Madison; Madeleine Boman , Racine, UW-Milwaukee; Randolph Cole, Racine, UW-Milwaukee; and Brittany Mueller, Caledonia, UW-Milwaukee.

They are among about 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership.

Area students recognized

RIPON  Zacharias Olstinske of Burlington and Emma Spalding of Waterford were among students recognized at the Ripon College awards convocation April 19. The event recognizes outstanding merit and achievement among students and faculty members.

Waterford student wins fellowship

MADISON  Sophia Schoenfeld of Waterford, a biology student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was awarded a Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship

Both fellowships give junior and senior students the opportunity to undertake their own research project in collaboration with UW-Madison faculty or staff. Undergraduates receive $3,000 and their faculty/staff advisor receives $1,000.

Fellowships are funded by the Hilldale Foundation and the Wisconsin State Legislature.

New members inaugurated

RIPON  Ripon College has formed a new chapter of Iota Iota Iota, the national womens and gender studies honor society with more than 50 chapters nationwide.

Students inaugurated April 25 include Ethan Brannen of Waterford, Ethan Hansen of Franksville and Rachel Travis of Burlington.

To qualify for membership, students must be of at least a sophomore, have completed at least eight credits of WGS coursework and have GPA of at least 3.0 in general scholarship, as well as in womens and gender studies coursework.
Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues last week. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress.

House

$886 Billion for Military in Fiscal 2024: Voting 219-210, the House on July 14 authorized an $886.3 billion military budget (HR 2670) for fiscal 2024 that funds a 5.2% pay raise for uniformed personnel while approving more than $60 billion for active-duty and retiree health care and $300 million in military aid to Ukraine. The bill establishes the office of inspector general to monitor U.S. expenditures in Ukraine and eliminates the Pentagons position of chief diversity officer. The bill drew nearly unanimous Democratic opposition after the Republican caucus added hard-right social-policy measures (see amendments below) to traditional military operations in areas such as supervising the nuclear stockpile, maintaining military bases, boosting recruitment efforts and funding air, land and sea weaponry.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was likely to fail.

Voting yes: Bryan Steil, R-1, Derrick Van Orden, R-3, Scott Fitzgerald, R-5, Glenn Grothman, R-6, Thomas Tiffany, R-7, Mike Gallagher, R-8

Voting no: Mark Pocan, D-2, Gwen Moore, D-4

Ending Military Support of Ukraine: Voting 89-341, the House on July 13 defeated an amendment that sought to strip HR 2670 (above) of its $300 million in military aid to Ukraine. The sum would be in addition to about $75 billion America has provided in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Fitzgerald, Tiffany

Voting no: Steil, Pocan, Van Orden, Moore, Grothman, Gallagher

Limiting Abortion Access for Military Women: The House on July 13 voted, 221-213, to defund a Department of Defense policy bolstering the reproductive rights of servicewomen based in states that prohibit or sharply curtail access to abortion. Under the policy, servicewomen receive up to three weeks administrative leave and travel reimbursement when they find it necessary to travel to another state for an abortion. The amendment was offered to HR 2670 (above).

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany, Gallagher

Voting no: Pocan, Moore

Defunding Gender Care for Military Personnel: Voting 222-211, the House on July 13 adopted an amendment to HR 2670 (above) that would prohibit the Department of Defenses Tricare health plan from funding medical care including surgeries and therapies for transgender servicemembers and their families.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany, Gallagher

Voting no: Pocan, Moore

Teaching History of Race in Military Schools: Voting 227-201, the House on July 13 adopted an amendment to HR 2670 (above) that would prohibit schools operated for U.S. military children from teaching U.S. racial history. Such instruction, which typically covers the Constitutions denigration of Blacks, Americas embrace of slavery and the Jim Crow era, is labeled critical race theory by its critics.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany, Gallagher

Voting no: Pocan, Moore

Military Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Voting 214-213, the House on July 13 adopted an amendment to HR 2670 (above) that would eliminate funding for Department of Defense personnel, offices and programs charged with advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the armed forces.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany, Gallagher

Voting no: Pocan, Moore

Cluster Munitions for Ukraine: Voting 147-276, the House on July 13 defeated an amendment to HR 2670 (above) to negate President Bidens recent decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, which rain large quantities of small bombs onto battlefields. More than 120 nationsbut not the United States, Russia or Ukrainehave signed an international convention that prohibits the production, use or transfer of cluster munitions because their remnants often kill and maim civilians long after the fighting stops.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Pocan, Grothman, Tiffany

Voting no: Steil, Moore, Fitzgerald, Gallagher

Not voting: Van Orden

Blocking Policies to Curb Climate Change: Voting 217-216, the House on July 14 adopted an amendment to HR 2670 (above) that would prohibit the Department of Defense budget from funding Biden administration policies to curb climate change. Debate centered on whether global warming poses a threat to national security.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Steil, Van Orden, Fitzgerald, Grothman, Tiffany, Gallagher

Voting no: Pocan, Moore

Senate

Rosemarie Hidalgo, Director of Office on Violence Against Women: Voting 51-42, the Senate on July 11 confirmed Rosemarie Hidalgo as director of the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice. She was second in charge of that office during the Obama administration. An attorney, Hidalgo served most recently as a senior adviser to the White House Gender Policy Council, and before that she was a leader of Casa de Esperanza, an organization that combats violence against Latina women.

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Tammy Baldwin, D, voted yes and Ron Johnson, R, voted no.

Key votes ahead:

The Senate will take up the fiscal 2024 military budget in the week of July 17, while the House schedule was to be announced.

VoteFacts.com News Reports is a nonpartisan, fact-based news service whose mission is to help civically engaged individuals and organizations track major actions in the U.S. House and Senate. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress.
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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KEARNEY  Four nonprofits were recently awarded a total of $20,000 in grants from the Arthur Klinkacek Community Enrichment Fund.

The fund is part of a $2 million gift from Klinkacek to the Kearney Area Community Foundation for community preservation and enrichment, along with an endowed scholarship for local students entering college.

Receiving funds were:

 Buffalo County Community Partners: $8,000 for mental health first aid training for Spanish-speaking individuals.

 Trails & Rails Museum: $5,000 to help fund Kearneys sesquicentennial celebration events.

 Kearney Rescue Cats: $2,000 to assist mobile home communities deal with feral cats. The cats are trapped, neutered or spayed and vaccinated, then returned to the neighborhood.

 Two Rivers Public Health Department: $5,000 for its LifeSmiles Dental Program, which provides preventative dental screenings and education for families with children in preschool.
The Wisconsin branch of a national group that advocates for adults over 50 will hold multiple listening sessions on Social Security and how it can be improved beginning this month during a tour that will include Kenosha.

The Kenosha session, organized by AARP Wisconsin, will be held from 5-7:30 p.m., July 19 at PUBLIC Craft Brewing Co., 628 58th St.

Other sessions will also be held in Milwaukee on July 18 and Ashland, on Aug. 1. Future dates are being planned for La Crosse, Wausau, Green Bay, Eau Claire, and other communities, according to organization officials.

The statewide tour will also include booths set up at various community fairs, health expos and special events to inform Wisconsinites about the status of Social Security and empower them to share their opinions about how the program can be strengthened going forward to make it solvent for current and future generations.

AARP is the nations largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocating for Americans 50 and older on issues including Social Security, Medicare and retirement, among others.

These series of events across the state are designed to gain insight from Wisconsin residents on their primary concerns, questions, and ideas regarding the future of Social Security, said AARP Wisconsin State Director Martha Cranley in a news release. We invite all those interested in this topic and who have a desire to be involved in protecting Social Security to join us as we lay the groundwork for our future efforts.

Cranley encouraged residents to attend the nearest listening session to connect with others concerned about the future of Social Security benefits.

AARP WI will be there with information on how Social Security works, how people can maximize their benefit, and how they can fight to protect Social Security, she said. We will also be looking to attendees to provide their insight as we lay the groundwork for our efforts to ensure that our elected officials here in Wisconsin fight for a robust and healthy Social Security program that is sustainable for many years to come.

In Wisconsin, more than one in five residents receives Social Security benefits. These payments inject more than $22.2 billion into the states economy every year.

The largest group of beneficiaries in Wisconsin are its 950,000 retired workers, who account for 74.5 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries in the state. More than 264,000 residents over the age of 65 would be in poverty without Social Security benefits, according to AARP.

Visit www.aarp.org/wi throughout the year for an updated schedule of tour stops and links to register for the free listening sessions and booth events

Social Security and Medicare: Here's where things stand for the 2 popular programs Intro The challenge What are the solutions? The politics are toxic Reform is possible This is a global problem Interactive: Social Security boost Utterly Moderate Pod: Future of Social Security (with Kathleen Romig)
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and locally elected officials celebrated the successful reconstruction of Highway 50 in Kenosha County during a ceremony Monday afternoon.

Evers, who was joined by Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian and County Executive Samantha Kerkman outside Journey Church on Highway 50, praised engineers and construction workers for the improvements which took more than two years at a cost of $88 million.

Highway 50 serves as a critical east-west connector route in the southeast corner of our state, and these improvements are giving folks a safer, more reliable route to their destination, Evers said. This highway project was one of the largest urban roadway reconstruction projects WisDOT has undertaken in the last 23 years, and its an investment that will pay dividends long into the future, strengthening our states economy and modernizing the corridor to spur further growth in Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, and surrounding communities.

Work began in early 2021 to build four miles of the bustling highway between 117th Avenue in the Village of Pleasant Prairie and 43rd Avenue in the City of Kenosha. Work on the project was completed earlier this month.

The project improves access to adjacent hospitals, eases traffic flow in a dense commercial shopping area and enhances regional mobility in an active freight corridor, Evers said.

Were grateful for Governor Evers leadership and commitment to transportation by making strategic investments in communities throughout the state, said Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson.

The Highway 50 project enhances safety and access to the homes and businesses along this heavily relied upon highway. The partnerships and collaboration across communities, businesses, and all levels of government helped deliver a successful project. We can all be proud of these improvements and the positive impact for Kenosha County and the state for years to come.

Tens of thousands of area residents and commuters, and thousands of truck drivers use the highway each day.

Kerkman thanked area residents for their patience during the project and highlighted the importance of the highway to Wisconsin and the region.

Kenosha County is the gateway to Wisconsin and this road is the corridor that drives economic development here in the county, Kerkman said. Seeing it grow and evolve over the years is truly remarkable. The type of development that is going to come because of the improvements that have been made are endless. I am so proud to be here to support the DOT and our county partners and our local partners as we move forward.

Kerkman, who said she lives near Highway 50, acknowledged the project was a little difficult for area residents and businesses.

When you see the outcome that we have it will really impact our county and our state, Kerkman said.

Antaramian said the economics of Kenosha County are driven by the infrastructure that is going on. He praised both the Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Were one of the fastest growing communities in the State of Wisconsin, Antaramian said. It is so very, very important for people to understand how working together can make these things happen.

Evers cut a blue ribbon near the interstate surrounded by elected officials and staff at the end of the event with a pair of giant scissors.
World Bank chief Ajay Banga, left, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen interact with students at a school on the sidelines of a G20 finance ministers' summit in Gandhinagar, July 16. AFP-Yonhap



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.



Yellen's frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of tension with China.



India's longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine continues despite U.S. 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.



Yellen said ending the war in Ukraine "is first and foremost a moral imperative. But it's also the single best thing we can do for the global economy."



She added the U.S. would continue to cut off Russia's 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 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," 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 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."





United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, left, and President of the World Bank Ajay Banga watch a presentation during their visit to a School of Excellence facility in Gandhinagar, India, July 16. AP-Yonhap


By Elizabeth Shackelford



When NATO leaders met this week in the capital of Lithuania, Russia's war in Ukraine loomed large. With Sweden's membership all but settled, Ukraine's future with the alliance was the biggest question on everyone's mind.



Ukraine wants an invitation to join. NATO leaders had been split on whether to offer one. They ultimately agreed that they would "extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance" but without specifying when or how, per a summit communique.



The debate over Ukraine's potential NATO membership centers on whether it would deter Russia from invading Ukraine again or would instead provoke Russia and drag the entire alliance into war. The bigger question for NATO members should be whether the risk of the latter is worth the benefit to NATO.



I believe that question can only be answered with any certainty once the war is done. An offer of membership won't hasten that conclusion, so the question of Ukraine's membership is premature, serving neither the interests of NATO nor peace.



Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy understands that NATO cannot admit Ukraine while the war is raging. That would automatically put NATO in direct conflict with Russia. Despite a strong commitment to Ukraine's security, backed by billions of dollars in military assistance, the United States and other allies have made clear they have no interest in starting World War III by taking the fight directly to a nuclear-armed Russia.



NATO allies who strongly favor Ukraine's ultimate accession, particularly those that border Russia, such as Poland, want NATO to provide a specific and accelerated timetable for Ukraine to join once the war is concluded. They believe that a clear path for bringing Ukraine into the alliance is the best way to prevent future Russian aggression, against Ukraine or NATO countries directly.



Others disagree. The U.S. is the most vocal but not the only NATO country that views such assurances as unnecessary provocations to Russia. Germany has also been reluctant to make that commitment. These allies advocate a strong show of support to Ukraine, including more material commitments, but ensuring that NATO is not dragged into the war remains the top priority. For them, committing to a specific timeline for Ukraine's future membership would provide little real benefit to outweigh the risk of further goading Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Such a commitment would be largely symbolic. It would not change Ukraine's status today, nor would it change NATO's already robust provision of assistance.



The biggest benefit to Ukraine's cause, and NATO's corresponding interest, would be a boost of confidence to the Ukrainian government, military and people, who could likely use some good news as the long-awaited counteroffensive grinds on in fits and starts.



This is not an inconsequential factor. Morale has played a strong role in helping Ukraine's far smaller military outplay the Kremlin's at various points in this war. War fatigue could multiply Kyiv's challenges. The cost of that morale boost, though, would be a strong disincentive for Putin to accept an end to the war. The failed mutiny in June revealed that Putin's grip on Russia, which once looked firm, could be slipping. But the impending threat of Ukraine joining NATO could be the rallying cry Putin needs to solidify support for this war in the Russian public and political class.



Seven in 10 Russians said that NATO membership for Ukraine would threaten Russia, and preventing it is a top benefit of Russia's military action in Ukraine, according to a new survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Levada Center in Moscow, one of Russia's last remaining independent polling firms. If ending the war means Ukraine joins NATO, a lot of Russians might feel differently about their commitment to the fight.



The debate within NATO is reminiscent of a similar one at NATO's summit 15 years ago, when the United States wanted to offer both Ukraine and Georgia action plans for membership, while Germany thought it would be unnecessarily confrontational. With no uniform position, Ukraine and Georgia got the worst of both worlds: enough to provoke Russia but no added protection. Russia invaded Georgia within months and Ukraine a few years later.



Reasonable people can draw opposite conclusions from this outcome. Proponents of Ukraine's membership say that a path to NATO membership then would have prevented any Russian aggression. Opponents argue that it was the promise of future membership that pushed Russia over the edge.



Unlike in 2008, however, Russia is already at war with Ukraine today, dug in across significant portions of Ukrainian territory. Ending war, not preventing it, is the immediate focus.



While I do not buy the "NATO made Putin do it" argument, I do believe a promise to admit Ukraine after the war ends would be an obstacle to Russia accepting peace and that NATO allies today can't know if Ukraine's membership will be a benefit or burden when that peace finally comes.



It might be unsatisfying to Ukraine today to leave Vilnius with no clear path, but it's the best decision for the possibility of peace and the interests of NATO's existing members in the future.





This article was published in the Chicago Tribune and distributed by Tribune Content Agency.








A 69-year-old La Crosse man has been charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court for failing to maintain his registration as a convicted sex offender.

Richard E. Thompson faces a single felony count of sex offender registry violation.

According to the criminal complaint, Thompson was convicted in 2003 of attempted third-degree sexual assault. Authorities sent a verification letter Nov. 22, 2022, to Thompsons last reported address at 5212 Mormon Coulee Road in La Crosse, but the complaint says he failed to respond. Authorities later went to the residence, which appeared to be vacant.

Thompson also allegedly failed to report for his sex offender registry photo update Jan. 31. The complaint makes no reference to him being located as of June 28. He is not listed as an inmate in the La Crosse County Jail.

Judge Gloria Doyle issued a summons scheduled an initial court appearance for July 19.
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy will offer a guided Prairie Pollinators Walk to help identify and appreciate the role of native habitats and pollinators Saturday, Aug. 19.

Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the La Crosse blufflands while learning about ongoing restoration efforts to support diverse natural communities. This activity is part of Wisconsin Land Trust Days, a statewide celebration of conservation and the role of land trusts in protecting the natural health and scenic beauty of our state and beyond.

If you go What: Prairie Pollinators Walk Where: La Crosse Blufflands North, County Road FA Trailhead (Mathy Quarry Trails) When: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 Cost: Free Register: Register by Aug. 16 at www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events.

The expert guides leading the wildflower walk, Mike OBrien from Friends of the Blufflands, and Chris Kirkpatrick from the conservancy, will share their knowledge of prairie pollinators and the beneficial roles they play in the areas bluffland ecology.

This sites 477 acres offer scenic vistas and almost 5 miles of hiking trails. From the County Road FA trailhead, one can enjoy an easy hike out onto one of the northernmost sections of the La Crosse Blufflands. Along this trail, participants will see rock outcroppings, blufftop prairies, and the remains of a rock quarry. Pollinators that might be observed utilizing the prairie plantings include native bumblebees and butterflies such as monarchs. The presenters also will discuss the relationship between the prairie plants and the pollinators as well as management considerations and the benefits of native pollinators.

The land was protected through the La Crosse Blufflands Protection Program to provide scenic preservation and ensure that the beauty of the citys landscape is not destroyed by poorly planned development. The program was created to protect rare natural communities such as bluff prairies and provide an outdoor recreational resource for the public.

About the MVC Founded in 1997, Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a nationally accredited nonprofit regional land trust that has permanently protected more than 25,000 acres of scenic lands in southwestern Wisconsin by working with landowners, businesses and local communities on voluntary conservation projects. The focus of the conservancy is to preserve the bluffs, forests, prairies, wetlands, streams and farms that enrich our communities, for the health and well-being of current and future generations. Learn more about it, future hikes, and volunteer opportunities at www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org.
LONDON  Russia on Monday halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. An attack Monday on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was not a factor in the decision, he said.

"When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal," Peskov said.

Russian representatives at the operation center for the initiative were more definitive, calling the decision "a termination," according to a note obtained by The Associated Press. Russia has complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance have hampered its agricultural exports, but it has shipped record amounts of wheat since last year.

The suspension marks the end of an accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last summer to allow shipments of food from the Black Sea region after Russia's invasion of its neighbor worsened a global food crisis. The initiative is credited with helping reduce soaring prices of wheat, vegetable oil and other global food commodities.

Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food that developing nations rely on.

Some analysts don't expect more than a temporary bump in food staples traded on global markets because countries such as Russia and Brazil have ratcheted up wheat and corn exports. But food insecurity worldwide and prices at local stores and markets have risen as developing countries also struggle with climate change, conflict and economic crises. Finding suppliers outside Ukraine that are farther away also could raise costs, analysts say.

The now-suspended grain deal provided guarantees that ships would not be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. Western sanctions do not apply to Moscow's agricultural shipments, but some companies may be wary of doing business with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wanted to keep the initiative going even without Russia's safety assurances for ships.

"We are not afraid," he said, adding that shipping companies told him "everyone is ready to continue supplying grain" if Ukraine and Turkey were on board.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has allowed three Ukrainian ports to export 32.9 million metric tons of grain and other food to the world, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal will result in more human suffering but that the U.N. would keep working to ensure the flow of supplies from Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine can still export by land or river through Europe, but those routes have a lower capacity and have stirred divisions among its neighbors.

"We will stay fixed on finding pathways for solutions," Guterres told reporters. "There is simply too much at stake in a hungry and hurting world."

White House national security spokesman John Kirby blasted Moscow for pulling out of the deal and said the decision would "harm millions of vulnerable people around the world."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said officials were talking with Russia and that he hoped the deal would be extended.

The agreement was renewed for 60 days in May, but the amount of grain and number of vessels departing Ukraine have plunged, with Russia accused of preventing new ships from participating since June 27. The last ship left Ukraine on Sunday and was inspected Monday.

The war in Ukraine sent food commodity prices to record highs last year and contributed to a global food crisis, which was also tied to other conflicts, the fallout from the pandemic and climate factors.

Meanwhile, an attack before dawn Monday damaged a bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea that is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine, forcing the spans temporary closure for a second time in less than a year. Two people were killed and their daughter was injured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered increased security at the 12-mile Kerch Bridge, repeating a call he made in October 2022 when the span was severely damaged by an explosion that Moscow also blamed on Kyiv.

He also promised there will be a response from Russia, of course.

What happened is another terrorist act of the Kyiv regime, Putin said at a televised meeting with officials.

The strike was carried out by two Ukrainian maritime drones, Russias National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

Ukrainian officials were coy about taking responsibility, as they have been in past strikes. But in what appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment, Ukrainian Security Service spokesman Artem Degtyarenko said in a statement that his agency would reveal details of how the bang was organized after Kyiv has won the war.
DYSART, Iowa (AP)  When Al Schafbuch cut back on plowing his Iowa fields decades ago and later began growing cover crops, he was out to save money on fertilizer and reduce erosion. He got those benefits and saw his soil change for the better, too: dark, chunky, richly organic matter that he said feels like chocolate cake."

There's one more big payoff that benefits everyone: tilling the soil less, and growing more cover crops, can help farmers store more planet-warming carbon in fields. More plants take in more carbon dioxide, and soil microbes breathe out less carbon when undisturbed. That can mean money for participating farmers in the form of carbon offsets  payments that companies can make that support carbon storage in farms and, in theory, balance out their emissions elsewhere.

The more carbon you store from the atmosphere with your crops, and the more crops grown throughout the year, you offset some of your waste, your wasted energy, said Shalamar Armstrong, an associate professor of agronomy at Purdue University. Because youve stored carbon that would have been emitted (into) the atmosphere.

It's an area getting more attention from lawmakers, researchers and industry professionals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week announced a $300 million investment to monitor agricultural emissions, including by creating a research network to monitor carbon in soil. And U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Todd Young, R-Ind., introduced a bill that Smith said would support the research needed to properly credit soil carbon storage.

The USDA announcement and the legislation are both aimed at the difficult question of how to quantify carbon stored in soil. Its an obstacle to overcome if the young and booming soil carbon market is to avoid the scrutiny, and skepticism, directed at carbon credit markets.

The science piece (of carbon credits) has really lagged behind, particularly when it comes to things like monitoring, reporting and verification, said Cristel Zoebisch, deputy director of policy at climate organization Carbon180. These are huge obstacles for not just soil carbon sequestration, but really any land-based carbon removal solution.

Armstrong has been trying to help fix that problem. He runs a lab where researchers are investigating how farming management affects the amount of carbon in soil across different landscapes. He and others at Purdue have been studying soil samples that date back more than 40 years, comparing different types of tilling and cover crops to determine their long-term effects on carbon storage. It can take years of fieldwork, careful chemistry in the lab and lots of expensive equipment to puzzle that out.

He hopes his precise calculations will help farmers make decisions that allow them to receive worthwhile incentives for sequestering carbon while maintaining their existing profits.

But other academics worry that even if farmers do get paid for storing soil carbon, it won't solve a bigger problem: that carbon markets often don't work.

For offsets to be legitimate, they have to meet four criteria. They have to store carbon that would otherwise be emitted; they have to be verifiable in data; they have to be immediate (planting a tree that might grow up in 20 years doesn't cut it); and they have to be long-lasting, said John Sterman, a professor of management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Better quantifying soil carbon storage through research might make the offsets more verifiable, but it doesn't address other factors. For example, many farmers rent the land they work, and can't guarantee that carbon stored on their land will stay put in several decades if someone else is working the land.

Barbara Haya, director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project at University of California, Berkeley, has worked on research that she said shows the effects of carbon offset projects are commonly overestimated, sometimes vastly so.

Carbon trading is a mechanism that has failed miserably over the last 20 years that we really need to be moving away from," Haya said.

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., last month introduced a bipartisan bill to support farmers in improving soil health, with incentives that don't necessarily involve the carbon market. He said farmers in his district have also described the benefits of regenerative practices, and that many would be interested in participating in carbon markets with robust accounting systems. But he added that those hoping for serious climate action shouldn't rely only on offsets.

In my opinion, its really not the silver bullet, Huffman said. I think offsets are inherently sketchy."

Some farmers are moving cautiously.

Brad Wetli, an Indiana farmer who collaborates with Armstrong, has been trying techniques that use less tilling and has been planting cover crops like rye for a few years now. He's happy with the way his current fields look  It feels like you're doing something to contribute to sustainability, he said  but he's still weighing his options with possible carbon credit contracts, doing the math and waiting to see whether the price will be right, since many offset agreements can last for several years.

Im going to do maybe a field or two at a time, and as I learn more, Ill hopefully incorporate the carbon or carbon credits more into the operation, he said.

Schafbuch, for his part, is skeptical of carbon credits but would have been enthusiastic about regenerative farming no matter the upfront costs. He said he was an early adopter in the face of neighbors who laughed and suggested he would end up being broke  but hes proved them wrong.

Im convinced that if you do it right, anybody can do it," he said.

This story has corrected Cristel Zoebischs organization to Carbon180, not Climate 180.

Associated Press journalist Joshua Bickel contributed to this report from Fowler, Indiana.

Follow Melina Walling on Twitter @MelinaWalling.

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.
Officials from Sage Meadow of Lake Geneva Assisted Living and Memory Care Center, 6722 Highway 50 in Lake Geneva, hosted a 100-year birthday celebration for one of their residents, July 10.

Grace Droskiewicz turned 100 years old July 8, and officials from Sage Meadow conducted a celebration party to honor her milestone birthday.

The party included food, photo wall and music from the Garbage Pickers.

Droskiewicz was surrounded by family, friends and other Sage Meadow residents during the celebration.
New York Times Magazine Documents U.S. Economic Act of War on China

July 16, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Under the title:  An Act of War: Inside Americas Silicon Blockade Against China in the New York Times Magazine, details the content of the Oct. 7, 2022 export controls, that the United States government announced its intent to cripple Chinas ability to produce, or even purchase, the highest-end chips. This Chip War, they admit, taking aim at a target far broader than the Chinese security state.

They quote Gregory Allen from CSIS: The key here is to understand that the U.S. wanted to impact Chinas AI industry. The semiconductor stuff is the means to that end. The Times adds: Though delivered in the unassuming form of updated export rules, the Oct. 7 controls essentially seek to eradicate, root and branch, Chinas entire ecosystem of advanced technology. Again quoting Allen: The new policy embodied in Oct. 7 is: Not only are we not going to allow China to progress any further technologically, we are going to actively reverse their current state of the art.

The Times goes on:

If the controls are successful, they could handicap China for a generation; if they fail, they may backfire spectacularly, hastening the very future the United States is trying desperately to avoid. The outcome will likely shape U.S.-China competition, and the future of the global order, for decades to come.  We said there are key tech areas that China should not advance in, says Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a former U.S. trade official. And those happen to be the areas that will power future economic growth and development. 

Three firms, all located in the U.S., dominate the market for chip-design software, which is used to arrange the billions of transistors that fit on a new chip. The market for advanced chip-manufacturing tools is similarly concentrated, with a handful of companies able to claim effective monopolies over essential machines or processesand nearly all of these companies are American or dependent on American components. At every step, the supply chain runs through the U.S., U.S. treaty allies or Taiwan, all of them operating in a U.S.-dominated ecosystem.

They point to the May 2020 Trump attack on Huawei as the beginning of this war,

making Huawei subject to a formerly obscure provision of export-control law called the foreign direct product rule. Under the FDPR, foreign-made items are subject to American controls if they were produced using American technology or software. It is a sweeping assertion of extraterritorial power: Even if an item is made and shipped outside the United States, never once crossing the countrys borders, and contains no U.S.-origin components or technology in the final product, it can still be considered an American good.... After Oct. 7, U.S. persons are no longer allowed to engage in any activity that supports the production of advanced semiconductors in China, whether by maintaining or repairing equipment in a Chinese fab, offering advice or even authorizing deliveries to a Chinese semiconductor manufacturer.

In late January, the Biden administration reached an agreement with Japan and the Netherlands, under which they would implement similar controls on semiconductors or semiconductor-manufacturing equipment, an agreement that Taiwan, the other major chip producer with Japan and the Netherlands, had already accepted.

The Times admits that China is now forced to massively advance their domestic capacities, which is what they are, in fact, doing.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY JULY 17, 2023

Preparations for Global War Are in High GearWill the American People Prevent It?

July 16, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)In the week following the NATO Summit in Vilnius, in which not one participant even mentioned an idea about a negotiated peaceful solution to the current war in Ukraine, while multiple plans for full-scale war with Russia and China were discussed in detail, it is not surprising that the leading press sewers in the U.S. contributed new extensive proposals for all-out military and economic warfare against Russia and China.

First, Foreign Affairs, the journal of the Council on Foreign Relations, the leading British intelligence outpost in the United States, published a piece called The Myth of Neutrality: Countries Will Have To Choose between America and China. One may imagine that this was written by the long-deceased statesman John Foster Dulles, who played such a leading role in bringing the U.S. into line as an extension of the British Empire, taking on the British Imperial role in crushing republican movements in Indonesia and Vietnam. It was Dulles who justified such evil, argued that neutrality has increasingly become an obsolete conception, and except under very exceptional circumstances, it is an immoral and shortsighted conception. This was his response to the historic Bandung Conference led by Indonesian President Sukarno, together with Indias Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Chinas Zhou Enlai, and other former colonies, who launched what became the Non-Aligned Movement. Sukarno and his followers were soon overthrown, with hundreds of thousands slaughtered by the combined conspiracy of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia.

But the ghost of Dulles was not required, as the war party was able to call upon a living British asset, Richard Fontaine, CEO of the neo-con outpost the Center for a New American Security and a former advisor to Sen. John McCain, the man Lyndon LaRouche noted had never seen a war he didnt love. Fontaine explains why countries must reject neutrality, and instead align themselves with the U.S. war policies or face destruction themselves. His conclusion: Countries cannot have their cake and eat it, too. The time for choosing has arrived. Countries will have to decide whether to side, or appear to side, with Washington or Beijing. The United States, rather than reassuring capitals that no such choice is in the offing, should accept this reality and help foreign capitals make the right decisions.

The second contribution to this fascist way of thought came from the New York Times Magazine, with a title admitting that the U.S. is now engaging in An Act of War: Inside Americas Silicon Blockade Against China, proudly describing the U.S. sanctions policy, together with economic warfare, against China as the necessary means for assuring U.S. unipolar hegemony worldwide. While the New York Times Magazine complains that the U.S. is doing little to assure success in competition with China by developing better technologies in the U.S. itself, they proudly detail the U.S. success in destroying Chinas leadership in crucial areas of science and technology, especially in the tech sector, by the illegal attack on Huawei and other Chinese tech companies, and now the full-scale Chip Wars against the entire Chinese economy. One wonders how the Times would have covered the Boston Tea Party.

The truth of the matter is that the nations of the so-called Global South have already expressed their preference for their future, and it is not to continue serving their former colonial masters. The New Paradigm is already available in the cooperation of the BRICS nations and the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which now has 149 member countries.

In the past week, the Schiller Institute held the sixth weekly meeting of the International Peace Coalition, bringing individuals and institutions committed to global peace together to end the madness of war, while also sponsoring two-day conference in Strasbourg, France on July 8-9 under the theme, On the Verge of a New World WarEuropean Nations Must Cooperate with the Global South! where leading political, military, and scientific leaders presented ideas and held in-depth discussions on the urgency of success in stopping the war drive and creating a new architecture of peace and development for all nations.

Schiller Institute founder and chairwoman Helga Zepp-LaRouche also spoke at the Diane Sares Weekly Symposium on Friday, July 14, where she closed her remarks to Sare:
Another experimental Alzheimers drug has been shown to slow patients worsening conditions, researchers reported Monday.

The American drug company Eli Lilly said it is seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the drug donanemab. If approved, it would be the second Alzheimers treatment for delaying the disease. Alzheimers affects the brain and causes memory loss and dementia.

The FDA approved Leqembi, from Japanese drugmaker Eisai , earlier this month.

Finally theres some hope, right, that we can talk about, Lillys Dr. John Sims told reporters Monday at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The drug does not cure the disease. Instead, it slows its progression by about four to seven months. But Sims noted that it doesnt mean you cant have very meaningful treatments for patients.

Eli Lilly published the full results of its study of 1,700 patients in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It also presented its results at the Alzheimers conference.

Both donanemab and Leqembi are laboratory-made antibodies. The treatments are injected into the patients. The drugs target a protein buildup, called beta amyloid, in the brain of Alzheimers patients.

Both drugs come with serious safety concerns. Patients can experience brain swelling or bleeding. In the Lilly study, such side effects were linked to three deaths.

Dr. Liana Apostolova was the study investigator. She is also a professor in Alzheimer's Disease research at Indiana University School of Medicine. She said, "These side effects should not be taken lightly." But she added that, in most cases, the effects were well controlled by monitoring with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or by stopping using the drug.

The Eli Lilly study

Lillys study included people ages 60 to 85 who were in the early stages of Alzheimers. Half of the study subjects received a monthly injection of donanemab for up to 18 months. The other half received an inactive substance, called a placebo.

Patients were also switched to inactive substances if enough amyloid cleared out. The study found that it happened to half of the patients within a year.

Amyloid alone does not cause Alzheimers. So researchers also studied the levels of tau, another protein that causes the disease in the brain. Patients with higher levels of tau are considered to be in the more advanced stages of Alzheimers.

The results: both groups declined during the 18-month study but the drug appears to work better for patients in earlier stages of the disease. Those with low to medium tau levels saw a 35- percent slower decline. For high tau patients, donanemab slowed the disease progression by about 17 percent.

Anne White is the president of neuroscience at Lilly. She said, "At the end of the trial, the average patient had been without drugs for seven months and yet they continued to benefit.

Scientists say that, while these drugs may mark a new era in Alzheimers treatment, huge questions remain about which patients should try them. Questions also remain about how much benefit patients will really experience.

The main safety concern is brain swelling or bleeding. These conditions often cause no symptoms but sometimes can be serious, even deadly.

Another concern is that more than 90 percent of the studys patients were white. That means there is little data on how effective the treatment could be for other populations, said Alzheimers specialist Jennifer Manly of Columbia University.

Lilly expects the FDA to decide by the end of this year whether to approve donanemab. The company is also seeking approval from other health agencies worldwide.

I'm Jill Robbins.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters.

Quiz - Another Alzheimer's Drug Showing Promise Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

dementia - n. a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly

stage - n. a particular point or period in the development of something

decline - v. to become worse in condition

benefit - v. to be helped
New research suggests humans lived in South America at the same time as giant sloths, big animals that disappeared thousands of years ago. The findings support evidence that people arrived in the Americas thousands of years earlier than once thought.

Scientists looked at small pendants made of bony material from the sloths. The pendants have round holes in them and look polished. The team of researchers said the pendants show signs that humans made them.

The scientists published their findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. They reported that the material in which the pendants were found dates from 25,000 to 27,000 years ago.

We now have good evidence  together with other sites from South and North America  that we have to rethink our ideas about the migration of humans to the Americas, said Mirian Pacheco. She is a co-writer of the study and an archaeologist at the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Brazil.

Some earlier theories had suggested the first people arrived in the Americas around 15,000 years ago.

The pendants were found 30 years ago in the Santa Elina rock shelter in central Brazil. The new study is the first to carefully study them. The scientists ruled out the possibility that humans had found and made them thousands of years after the animals died. Instead, they say the pendants were made within days or a few years after the animal died.

We think they were personal objects, possibly for personal adornment, said Thais Rabito Pansani, a co-writer and paleontologist at the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Brazil.

Once among the largest animals in South America, giant ground sloths were three to four meters long and usually walked on all four legs. They weighed more than 450 kilograms.

Other evidence from Mexico suggests humans may have been present in the Americas around 26,000 years ago. Discoveries from Uruguay suggest humans were living there 30,000 years ago.

The evidence from more than one place means scientists have begun to rethink their ideas about human migration. This includes the idea that the first people in the Americas came over what is known as the Bering Land Bridge around 15,000 years ago.

Briana Pobiner is another co-writer of the study. She is a paleoanthropologist at the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

While some early populations may have died out in the Americas, its very likely that multiple waves of people came to [the] Americas, she said.

Im Andrew Smith.

Christina Larson reported this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

pendant n. an object worn around the neck meant to be attractive; a piece of jewelry

polished adj. a surface that is rubbed or treated in a way that makes it shiny and smooth

adornment n. something that is worn to improve a persons appearance

paleoanthropologist n. a person who studies prehistoric people

rule out v. (phrasal) to remove from consideration

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The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. The National Park Service said on July 10, 1913, the hottest temperature recorded at Death Valley was 56.6 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures at or above 54.44 degrees Celsius have only been recorded on Earth a small number of times, mostly in Death Valley.

This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33 degrees Celsius.

Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.

But Daniel Jusehus from Germany chose to run in the heat earlier last week. He told the Associated Press, I was really noticing, you know, I didnt feel so hot, but my body was working really hard to cool myself.

The active runner also took a photo of the thermometer outside Furnace Creek Visitor Center at the park. It showed the thermometer reading 48.8 degrees Celsius.

Early information from the park service shows that across the nations 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead in his vehicle at Death Valley earlier this month.

Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers drive on park roads and can assist motorists in need of help, there is no guarantee that lost visitors will get help in time.

More than 1.1 million people visit the desert park each year. At 13,848 square kilometers, Death Valley National Park is one of the largest national parks. About one-fifth of the visitors come in June, July and August.

Many visitors want to explore, even after the suggested cutoff times. Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted.

Park Ranger Nichole Andler said, It does feel like the sun has gone through your skin and is getting into your bones.

Others mentioned feeling their eyes drying out from the hot wind sweeping through the valley.

Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, Its very hot... especially when theres a breeze, you would think that maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face."

Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high, steep mountains, the park services website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the desert surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.

The parks brownish hills have signs saying, heat kills and other warnings.

Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.

Eugen Chen from Taiwan called the park beautiful and a very special place.

Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling.

Its hot, but the scenery is awesome, he said.

Im John Russell.

Ty ONeil reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

notice  v. to become aware of (something or someone) by seeing, hearing, etc.

ranger  n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a public forest

breeze  n. a gentle wind

relief  n. the removal or reduction of something that is painful or unpleasant

steep  adj. going up or down very quickly
LEXINGTON  The Dawson County Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for a personal storage building northwest of Johnson Lake during their meeting on Friday, July 14.

The application had been submitted by Darren and Alisa Eberspacher to allow for a storage building to be built in Lot E of the Huber Addition, along Road 426, northwest of Lakeview Acres.

Zoning Administrator Pam Holbrook said after a first review, a hiccup was found in the zoning regulations which would have prevented the building going up.

Upon the commissions recommendation, the commissioners amended the zoning regulations to reflect a percentage change in the Ag zoning districts.

With the zoning regulations fixed, the commissioners granted approval of the conditional use permit.

Crystal Werger, Executive Director of the Dawson County Historical Museum, Peter Osborne, Executive Director Henri Museum and Anne Anderson with the Gothenburg Historical Museum appeared with agency updates and a budget request.

Werger said their museum has opened up the main gallery for more public events, including meetings, family gatherings, etc.

Cards with information about all the county museums have been prepared and distributed across the area to show travels what the county has to offer, Werger said.

Anderson said the Gothenburg Museum is fully staffed by volunteers and noted that visitors this year, compared to last, increased.

More signage has been put up on the building to let people know where the museum is, sitting strategically near the Pony Express outpost.

After the Gothenburg Times announced its closure, the museum came into possession of a number of newspapers that date back to the late 1800s that are available for people conducting research.

Anderson has been writing columns for the Gothenburg Leader newspaper that includes interesting bits of Gothenburgs history. She cited one from the early 1900s where people were demanding the city council put a stop to nude swimmers at Lake Helen.

Osborne noted that the Robert Henri Museum is one of the stops on the 2023 Nebraska Passport program and that thanks to being part of that, they will likely double their number of visitors they see in a year.

Osborne said that he had applied for the museum to be one of the stops several times in the past but it had not been selected. Osborne had made up his mind to not apply this year, but was hounded by board members to do so one more time.

The Henri Museum was selected at last.

He said it was amazing to see where people come from to visit the museum, some are from across the country and a few are international travelers.

Each thanked the commissioners for the funds which had helped to make projects possible and asked for a budget request of $100,000, which was taken under advisement.

The commissioners selected JH Stuckey Distributors bid for washing machines for the Dawson County Jail, in the amount of $33,392.93.

After discussion about the Catastrophic Leave Policy, the commissioners approved a correction of use of 24 hours PTO and the contribution of catastrophic to end July 14, 2023.

The commissioners also designated MIPS/NACO/Nebraska Print shop as the print service and Pitney Bowes for the mailing service for the LB644 postcard.

Chairman Rod Reynolds was also authorized to sign the audit engagement letter that had been submitted.

The June monthly crime report was submitted by Sheriff Mark Montgomery.
Former Guinness director Thomas Ward has been ordered to repay 5.2m to the brewing giants.

The High Court heard Mr Ward had acted illegally by failing to disclose a transfer of funds to Guinnesss directors during the 2.5bn takeover of drinks company Distillers Group last year.

In his judgement Vice Chancellor Sir Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson said: Mr Ward has been and is wrongfully in possession of Guinnesss money.

He received the cash in what the judge called a secret agreement with former Guinness chairman Ernest Saunders.

Thomas Ward, an American lawyer, was a key member of the so-called Guinness War Cabinet that masterminded the lucrative deal.

Mr Wards lawyers  based in London  said he would appeal against the ruling arguing he received the money legitimately for his valuable services.

In a 25-page document Sir Nicholas explained Wards counter claim for payment did not impinge on Guinnesss right to recover the 5.2m.

The judge also called for an inquiry into where the money had gone after it was paid through a Jersey company, Marketing and Acquisition Consultants, to Mr Ward.

Records show Mr Ward has paid $4.7m (2.9m) in US federal and state taxes.

He claims only 1.2m remains unspent in a London bank account. This is to be repaid by Wednesday next week, along with a $300,000 investment.

He owes a further 500,000 in interest and has also been ordered to pay Guinnesss legal fees.

The ruling puts the drinks giants one step closer to recovering 25m of missing funds uncovered by auditors last November.

After the hearing Mr Wards solicitors revealed their client is already involved in legal battles with Guinness in the US.

The company is suing Mr Ward over a 750,000 flat in the Watergate complex in Washington, whilst he is claiming unpaid fees from Guinness for his legal practice Ward Lazarus.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

On 23 July the judge rejected an application by Thomas Ward to keep the 5.2m until the appeal had been heard.

The appeal was set for 10 August 1987.

In August 1990 Ernest Saunders and three others were jailed for insider dealing over the Distillers Group takeover.

Thomas Wards case was not settled until February 1993 when the High Court cleared Mr Ward of stealing the money.

At the time the Guinness trials was the most expensive ever legal battle in the British courts, costing over 20m in total.

On 23 July the judge rejected an application by Thomas Ward to keep the 5.2m until the appeal had been heard.

The appeal was set for 10 August 1987.

In August 1990 Ernest Saunders and three others were jailed for insider dealing over the Distillers Group takeover.

Thomas Wards case was not settled until February 1993 when the High Court cleared Mr Ward of stealing the money.

At the time the Guinness trials was the most expensive ever legal battle in the British courts, costing over 20m in total.
A mid a freeze in military-to-military contacts, China is accusing the United States of militarizing outer space, a day after it protested the passage of a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft through the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said on Friday that U.S. actions, including the establishment of the Space Force in 2019 as the newest branch of the military, have had a great negative impact on space security and global strategic stability.

In recent years, the United States has accelerated the militarization of space, Tan said. I would like to reiterate here that China adheres to the peaceful use of space, firmly opposes the weaponization and the making of space into a battlefield, and opposes any form of arms race in space.

The ministry said that Tan was responding to recent concerns expressed by Space Force leaders over Chinas rising capabilities, calling that classic cognitive dissonance. Chinas advances in space include its own orbiting space station and plans for a crewed lunar mission. In 2007, it faced international condemnation after using a missile to blow up one of its defunct weather satellites, leaving a field of debris that continues to threaten other objects in orbit.

While the U.S. has sent officials to Beijing including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, ties remain at a historic low.

China has pointedly refused to reestablish contact between the two militaries.

Although it is recognized as international waters and airspace and functions as a crucial route for international trade, China continues to claim a proprietary role over the Taiwan Strait that separates the mainland from the self-governing island democracy.

China regards close U.S. ally Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary, and regularly sends planes and warships to harass the islands military and seeks to intimidate its 23 million citizens.

On Thursday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army  whose area of operations faces Taiwan  said it had scrambled fighters to follow and monitor the U.S. plane throughout the process and dealt with it in accordance with laws and regulations.

Theater spokesperson Col. Shi Yi was quoted as saying on social media, theater troops maintain a high level of alert at all times and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security along with regional peace and stability.

The U.S. 7th Fleet said a Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Thursday.

By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, the fleet said on its website.

The aircrafts transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows. MDT/AP
Thousands of participants of the Budapest Pride march wound through the streets of the Hungarian capital on Saturday with marchers voicing their anxiety over the increasing pressure on the LGBTQ+ community from the countrys right-wing government.

The 28th annual event comes as the countrys laws, which ban the depiction of homosexuality or gender transition, to minors under 18 have begun to be applied with increasing regularity, resulting in fines and other penalties for those who disseminate LGBTQ+ content.

Before the march, which began in Budapests city park, Pride organizer Jojo Majercsik said that while the laws, passed in 2021, didnt have immediate practical effects, they are now increasingly being used to crack down on LGBTQ+ visibility.

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, referring to the 2021 law. 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.
Macau has recorded the arrival of almost 12 million visitors during the first half of this year (1H), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has disclosed based on provisional statistics.

According to those records, some 11.65 million have entered Macau between January and June, a number that represents a daily average of over 64,000 visitors.

Although the numbers are still far from those recorded pre-pandemic (2019), the MGTO noted that the current numbers account for a rebound to 59.6% of 2019 numbers.

Struggling more to recover is the number of international visitor arrivals, which only reached approximately 475,000 in the first half of the year, accounting for a rebound of 31.2% of 2019 levels.

Citing the same provisional figures, the MGTO also remarked that the hotel occupancy rate averaged 80.1%. This is the segment of the tourism sector that has displayed a faster rebound, amounting to just a 10.7% difference from the 2019 rate (90.8%).

The MGTO attributed the good results to their dedicated unreserved efforts in destination marketing with a reliance on both online and offline promotional measures that have been rolled out since borders reopened.

Also contributing to the positive results were the public-private partnerships in events held every month, according to the MGTO.

For the upcoming months, the MGTO says that it will continue its efforts on increasing international visitation after the promotions held in Lisbon, Portugal and Bangkok, Thailand, in April and June and most recently, last weekend, in Seoul, Korea.

Additionally, the MGTO is participating in major regional and international travel fairs and trade networking events to promote Macau through different channels.

The MGTO is hopeful that Macaus tourism industry will continue to recover to levels closer to those seen in 2019 through to the end of this year. A series of large-scale events are planned for the second half of the year, including the 31st Macao International Fireworks Display Contest (in September), the 70th Macau Grand Prix (in November) and the Light up Macao event (in December), among others.

Airport records movement of close to 2 million

The Macau International Airport (MIA) has registered movement of almost 2 million passengers in the first six months of this year, the MIA company noted in a statistics release.

According to the same release, 1,953,065 passengers passed through the local airport between January and June, a figure that is still some 59% shorter than the 4,721,549 registered in the same period of 2019.

Still, the number of passengers handled by the airport this year has shown a significant increase since January  when some 209,000 people were carried  to June which recorded some 431,000.

When it hit its record in 2019, the MIA carried some 9.6 million passengers in a year, an average of 800,000 per month.

The best single month on record occurred in August 2019, when 931,486 passengers were handled by the airport.

Promotion of local gastronomy by influencers in Douyin in August

A new series of promotions by digital influencers from the mainland is set to roll out in August, aiming to attract more visitors to Macau during the summer holidays, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) has said in a press statement.

The DSEDT said that the initiative is the second series of such promotions, with the first one having been launched in June. The promotional activities use mainland influencers on the platform Douyin (the mainland equivalent to TikTok) to promote local restaurants and gastronomy in general.

Titled Promotion plan by digital influencers in Douyin, the initiative aims to bring these influencers to Macau to explore different restaurants. The influencers will share their experiences online as recommendations (planting seeds).

Several local stores considered to have unique characteristics have been listed as participating in this promotional series.

The first group of influencers that visited the stores already released their video promotions last month. The second group will do the same in August, the DSEDT said.

The Bureau did not disclose any further details about the system nor the costs involved in the promotional activities, or whether and how it will be possible to verify that the promotions achieve the desired effect.

The use of digital influencers to promote places and activities in Macau has been used for some time by the Macao Government Tourism Office, who have made use of mainland Douyin users as well as other influencers from Hong Kong to reach a broader audience through different social media platforms.
Jeju Air is planning on resuming two flights per week between Jeju and Macau in August and one flight per day between Seoul and Macau in September. According to a statement issued by the Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM), Jin Air currently maintain a daily flight between Seoul and Macau, and plans to increase to two flights per day in the first quarter of next year. Other international markets in Southeast Asia include Thailands Nok Air and Thai Lion Air are planning to launch flights from Thailand to Macau at the end of July or early August. In the meantime, Aero K Airlines from South Korea will launch the route from Jeju to Macau in the next quarter.

Related
The Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) inaugurated its One country, two systems Study Base on July 15. The Study Base is a new initiative that the university has said is intended to support the implementation of government education policies on loving the motherland and loving Macau, the MPU said in a press statement.

The Study Base aims to cultivate patriotism in youth on multiple fronts, develop national education and tourism in synergy with each other, and link cross-disciplinary fields via an interlocking mechanism.

The inauguration ceremony featured the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong, and the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the MSAR, Yan Zhichan, among others.

At the ceremony, the Rector of MPU, Professor Im Sio Kei, said that the two-way exchange of Macau students to the mainland and mainland students to Macau will become a new means of transmitting the spirit of loving the motherland and loving Macau, adding that MPU will strive to build a series of activities into a national academic brand.

The One Country, Two Systems Study Base will launch study programs for young students and disseminate experiences on implementing the One country, two systems in Macau through activities such as seminars, workshops, field visits and inspections. The Study Base aims to provide young students from all over the nation with a deeper understanding of the close relationship between Macau and the motherland, and the rich connotation of One country, two systems.

The intention is to deepen their sense of national pride, patriotism and sense of responsibility in building a strong country, and integrate them into building the nation and community, thus contributing to the long-term prosperity and stability of the country.
Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday launched the construction of a 1,200-megawatt Chinese-designed nuclear energy project, which will be built at a cost of $3.5 billion as part of the government efforts to generate more clean energy in the Islamic nation.

The ceremony marking the start of the project comes less than a month after Pakistan signed an agreement with Chinas National Nuclear Corporation Overseas in the capital, Islamabad, to construct a Hualong One reactor  a third-

generation nuclear reactor and is considered safer because of the latest security features.

Pakistan and China are longtime allies. Pakistans relations with Beijing are so close that its leadership calls China their Iron Brother. China is also building roads, bridges, power plants, and railways to link its far west with the Chinese-built port of Gwadar on the Indian Ocean.

The nuclear power plant known as Chashma-5 will be constructed at a site along the left embankment of the fast-flowing Indus River in Mianwali, a district in the eastern Punjab province. The site is already home to four Chinese-supplied nuclear power plants that were built in recent decades.

Sharif, in his televised remarks at a gathering of Pakistani and Chinese officials in Mianwali, said the Chashma-5 nuclear energy project by itself was a huge milestone, a huge success story, and a wonderful symbol of the cooperation between two great friends. MUNIR AHMED, ISLAMABAD, MDT/AP
Pope Francis gave in Saturday to Chinas unilateral appointment of a new bishop in Shanghai, formally recognizing Beijings installation of Bishop Shen Bin three months after the fact.

In its daily noon bulletin, the Vatican said Francis had appointed Shen as bishop of Shanghai, transferring him from Haimen. The announcement came after the Holy See conceded in April that it had learned of Shens appointment to lead the Catholic Church in Shanghai from media accounts.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Francis decided to accept Chinas unilateral appointment for the greater good of the faithful in Shanghai. But Parolin made clear Chinas move had violated the spirit of collaboration outlined in a 2018 accord between the Holy See and Beijing on bishop appointments.

In comments to Vatican media explaining the popes decision, Parolin said Francis approved Shens appointment to allow the bishop to lead his flock and to heal the canonical irregularity created by Beijings unilateral transfer in April, which he said occurred without the Holy Sees involvement.

He said he hoped future appointments would be made according to the letter and spirit of consensus called for in the accord.

We need to together prevent disharmonious situations that create disagreements and misunderstandings even within Catholic communities, Parolin said. The good implementation of the agreement is one of the means to do so, together with sincere dialogue.

China and the Vatican havent had diplomatic relations since 1951, following the Communists rise to power and the expulsion of foreign priests. The Vatican has sought in recent years to open contacts and reduce frictions, particularly over the appointment of bishops.

The Vatican previously acknowledged that the 2018 accord was far from ideal. It regularized the status of several bishops and paved the way for future nominations, but China has repeatedly violated it amid a broader overall crackdown on religious freedoms.

Full details of the agreement were never made public, but Francis has claimed he has final say in the bishop appointment process.

Beijing has long insisted that it must approve such appointments as a matter of its national sovereignty. The Vatican has insisted on the popes divine authority to choose the successors of Christs apostles.

Since the break in China-Holy See ties, Catholics in China have been divided between members of an official, state-sanctioned church, the Patriotic Catholic Association, and those who belong to an underground church loyal to the pontiff. Estimates of the total number of Chinese Catholics run between 6 million and 12 million.

NICOLE WINFIELD, ROME, MDT/AP
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Saturday, offering support for the invaded country in its war with Russia while demonstrating his own nations cooperation with NATO.

Yoons office said he traveled to Ukraine with his wife, Kim Keon Hee, following trips to Lithuania for a NATO summit and to Poland. Its his first visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Yoon toured Bucha and Irpin, two small cities near Kyiv where bodies of civilians were found in the streets and mass graves after Russian troops retreated from the capital region last year. He laid flowers at a monument to the countrys war dead, before he sat down for a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

South Korea, a key U.S. ally in Asia, joined international sanctions against Russia and has provided Ukraine with humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine. But the Asian nation, a growing arms exporter, hasnt provided weapons to Ukraine in line with its long-standing policy of not supplying arms to countries actively engaged in conflict.

During a joint news conference with Zelenskyy later Saturday, Yoon announced plans to expand support shipments to Ukraine but didnt touch upon weapons supplies.

Yoon began his statement with a mention of the U.N. forces support of South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War that helped repel a North Korean invasion.

The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea, Yoon said.

Zelenskyy thanked Seoul for its firm support of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and the significant political, security, economic and humanitarian aid it has supplied since the start of Russias invasion.

Yoon said that South Korea will increase the shipments of nonlethal military items such as body armor and helmets this year. He said that South Korea will also provide humanitarian aid worth $150 million this year, up from $100 million last year. He said that South Korea has also sent the de-mining equipment and other aid items that had been requested by Ukraine.

Yoon said that he and Zelenskyy agreed on cooperating on post-war reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. Yoon said South Korea will also launch a scholarship fund named after him and Zelenskyy to expand support for Ukrainian students in South Korea.

South Korea isnt a NATO member, but like Japan, Pakistan and a handful of other countries, its considered a global partner of the military alliance. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ukraine in March.

In his recent written responses to questions from The Associated Press, Yoon said that the security of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is closely intertwined, saying: In particular, the war in Ukraine has reminded us all that a security crisis in one particular region can have a global impact.

Yoon took office last year amid a mix of tough foreign policy challenges such as North Koreas advancing nuclear program and the intensifying rivalry between the U.S., South Koreas main security ally, and China, its biggest trading partner.

During a January visit to South Korea, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for the country to provide direct military support to Ukraine, saying Kyiv was in urgent need of weapons to fight off the prolonged Russian invasion.

In May, when Yoon met Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska in Seoul, the president said he would expand South Koreas nonlethal aid to Ukraine. Yoons office said at the time that Zelenska made no request for South Korean weapons supplies.

Later in May, Yoon and Zelenskyy met for the first time on the sidelines of a Group of Seven industrialized nations summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Zelensky thanked South Korea for its humanitarian shipments of medicines, computers and generators and requested additional provisions of non-lethal items, Yoons office said.

Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has reached billions of dollars worth of deals to provide tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons systems to NATO member Poland.

An American official said in November that the United States had agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks.

Yoons visit to Ukraine reflects his globally-minded foreign policy and shows South Korean solidarity with NATO partners in defending the rules-based international order, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. Seouls support of Ukraine includes not only humanitarian assistance, but also arms sales to backfill NATO countries providing military aid to Kyiv, and plans for post-conflict reconstruction of infrastructure.

Yoon and his wifes visit came two days after Russia launched another barrage of Iranian-made drones at the Kyiv region. Ukrainian officials said their air defenses intercepted the drones but that wreckage fell on four districts of the capital, wounding two people and destroying several homes.

Although Kyiv didnt come under attack in the hours before the South Korean presidents arrival, Ukrainian forces on Friday and overnight downed 10 Russian drones across the country, the Ukrainian air force reported Saturday.

In a Telegram post, the air force added that Moscow fired six Iranian-made Shahed drones at Ukraines south and east during the night, four of which were shot down. It did not immediately give details of any casualties or damage. FELIPE DANA & HYUNG-JIN KIM, KYIV, MDT/AP
Macau saw its temperature nearing 39 degrees Celsius Saturday as Tropical Storm Talim continued to edge towards the Southern Chinese coast.

Talim entered the 800-kilometer radius of Macau Friday evening, bringing scorching hot weather to the city during most of Saturday. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) issued the Orange High Temperature warning.

The mercury at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal recorded 38.6 degrees Celsius Saturday afternoon, while most of the citys other official measurement stations displayed temperatures at or over 36 degrees Celsius.

However, the hot weather did not discourage tourists.

Shops around the Central district were packed  in part because of the air-conditioning  while streets were filled with people, some of whom were holding umbrellas to provide shelter from direct sunlight.

The weather only cooled slightly after midnight yesterday, when the city saw heavy rainfall that triggered a yellow rainstorm warning.

The soaring air temperatures also caused a slight increase in the number of cases of heat stroke, Dr Ho Chi Nap from the private Kiang Wu Hospital told local media outlet Macao Daily News.

He revealed that recently, there had been more patients with heat stroke, but stressed that the rise was only in the single-digits. Most of those affected experienced minor heat stroke after being exposed to the outdoor environment. For the time being, there was no severe cases reported.

Ho suggested that dizziness, accelerated heartbeat and difficulty breathing can be preliminary symptoms of heat stroke. People experiencing such symptoms should immediately stop whatever they are doing and relocate to shaded areas with good ventilation. Wet clothes may be used for comfort.

Two residents told the same media outlet that under the excruciating heat in the past few days, they have reduced outdoor activities and tried their best to remain indoors with air-conditioning. Children were also kept indoors to avoid the heat.
Using chainsaws, heavy machinery and controlled burns, the Biden administration is trying to turn the tide on worsening wildfires in the U.S. West through a multibillion-dollar cleanup of forests choked with dead trees and undergrowth.

Yet one year into what's envisioned as a decade-long effort, federal land managers are scrambling to catch up after falling behind on several of their priority forests for thinning even as they exceeded goals elsewhere. And they've skipped over some highly at-risk communities to work in less threatened areas, according to data obtained by The Associated Press, public records and congressional testimony.

With climate change making the situation increasingly dire, mixed early results from the administration's initiative underscore the challenge of reversing decades of lax forest management and aggressive fire suppression that allowed many woodlands to become tinderboxes. The ambitious effort comes amid pushback from lawmakers dissatisfied with progress to date and criticism from some environmentalists for cutting too many trees.

Administration officials maintain that the thinning work is making a difference, lessening wildfire dangers faced by more than 500 communities in 10 states. But they also acknowledged finishing the task will require far more resources than what's already dedicated.

"As much money as we're receiving, it's not enough to take care of the problems that we are seeing, particularly across the West," Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said.

Big money for big problem

Congress in the past two years approved more than $4 billion in additional funding to prevent repeats of destructive infernos that have torched communities including in California, Colorado and Montana.

By logging and burning trees and low-lying vegetation, officials hope to lessen forest fuels and keep fires that originate on federal lands from exploding through nearby cities and towns.

The enormity of the task is evident in an aerial view of California's Tahoe National Forest, where mountainsides are colored brown and gray with the vast number of trees killed by insects and drought. After work on the Tahoe was delayed last year, Forest Service crews and contractors recently started taking down trees across thousands of acres.

"The forests as we know them in California and across the West, they're dying. They're being destroyed through fire. They're dying from drought, disease and insects," forest Supervisor Eli Ilano said. "They're dying at a pace that we're having trouble keeping up with."

The scale of spending is unprecedented, said Courtney Schultz with Colorado State University. The forest policy expert said millions of acres have been through environmental review and are ready for work.

"If we really want to go big across the landscape  to reduce fuels enough to affect fire behavior and have some impact on communities  we need to be planning large projects," she said.

Key to that strategy is addressing forest patches where computer simulations show wildfire could easily spread to inhabited areas. Some areas have yet to get the extra funding for thinning despite facing high risk, including portions of California's Sierra Nevada range, Montana's Bitterroot Valley and around Mescalero Apache lands in southern New Mexico.

The infrastructure bill passed two years ago with bipartisan support included a requirement for the administration to treat forests across 10 million acres  15,625 square miles  by 2027. Less than 10% of that was addressed in the first year.

Mixed first-year results

An AP analysis of federal data reveals the scale of the challenge: Hundreds of communities are threatened by the potential for fires to ignite on federal forests and spread to populated areas.

In California, thinning zones announced to date address the risk to only about one in five houses and other buildings potentially exposed to fires on federal lands, the analysis shows. In Nevada and Oregon, it's about half of exposed structures, and in Montana it's one-in 25.

Most areas identified as hot spots where forest fires have high potential to burn into populated areas won't be addressed for at least the next several years, according to government planning documents. And computer models project up to 20% of areas that need thinning will be hit by fires before that work occurs.

Architects of the Forest Service's strategy based it on tens millions of computer wildfire simulations being used to predict areas that pose the greatest risk. Those scenarios showed fires on only 10% to 20% of the land would account for 80% of exposure to communities.

Falling short in a risky area

In 2022, the Forest Service missed its treatment goals in four of 10 areas targeted as priorities. One was the Tahoe National Forest's North Yuba region, where the agency addressed only 6% of the acreage planned.

Small towns tucked into the forest's canyons escaped disaster two years ago when the Dixie Fire raged just to the north, destroying several communities and burning about 1,500 square miles in the Sierra Nevada range. Those communities also escaped another fire to the south that burned more than 1,000 homes and structures. The previous year, yet another fire killed 15 people and torched more than 2,000 homes and structures in the region.

The same conditions that whipped those fires into infernos exist on the Tahoe forest  densely-packed trees and underbrush primed to burn following years of drought. And government computer modeling suggests it's among the U.S.communities most exposed to wildfires on federal lands.

Five million trees died on the Tahoe last year alone, said Ilano, the forest supervisor.

"What we're realizing is we're not moving fast enough, that the fires are burning bigger and more intense, more quickly than we anticipated," Ilano said.

Obstacles to thinning strategy

Hindering the Forest Service nationwide is a shortage of workers to cut and remove trees on the scale demanded, government officials and forestry experts say. Litigation ties up many projects, with environmental reviews taking three years on average before work begins, according to the Property and Environment Research Center, a Bozeman, Montana think tank.

Another problem: Thinning operations aren't allowed in federally designated wilderness areas. That puts off limits about a third of National Forest areas that expose communities to high wildfire risk and means some thinning work must be carried out in a patchwork fashion.

Keeping track of progress presents its own challenges. Acres that get worked on are often counted twice or more  first when the trees are cut down, again when leftover piles of woody material on the same site are removed, and yet again when that landscape is later subjected to prescribed fire.

Even where thinning is allowed, officials face other potential constraints, such as protecting older groves important for wildlife habitat. A Biden inventory of public lands in April identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government land.
Retired, living alone and unable to drive, with her children and grandchildren grown up, Arlene Hensley said she sometimes feels isolated.

When volunteers like Dave Mahoney drive her to medical appointments or the grocery store and chat along the way, her mood picks up.

The loneliness does get to me, said Hensley, 83, of Madison. It helps when I meet someone I can talk with. It makes my day.

For Mahoney, 75, of Sun Prairie, giving rides staves off idleness. It fulfills a need and a purpose, he said. If I sit in a chair, Im going to rot and die.

With the COVID-19 pandemic underscoring and exacerbating loneliness nationwide, health officials are increasingly viewing loneliness and isolation not just as inevitable feelings for some people but as public health problems to address and prevent.

The health risks of loneliness are as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, according to a report in May by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Poor or insufficient connection with others increases the risk of heart disease by 29%, of stroke by 32% and of dementia by 50%, the report said.

Its like hunger or thirst, Murthy told The Associated Press. Its a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing.

The Wisconsin Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, which includes the state Department of Health Services, nonprofits involved with aging and disabilities, academic researchers and others, was formed in October 2020. The coalition is raising awareness about loneliness and trying to better detect it and respond to it, in part by connecting people with community services, said Tim Wellens, who works on the effort for the state health department.

Lonely vs. isolated

Isolation is considered to be the objective experience of having little social connection, while loneliness is the subjective, distressing feeling of inadequate social connection, said Kris Krasnowski, executive director of the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, one of the nonprofits that started the coalition.

How individuals encounter loneliness and isolation can vary, Krasnowski said.

You can be lonely and surrounded by people, she said. There are people who are isolated who dont feel lonely ... People sometimes arent lonely all the time. Sometimes theyre just lonely periodically.

Janet Zander, advocacy and public policy coordinator for the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, or GWAAR, which also helped start the coalition, said the effort is focused on older adults and people with disabilities.

Not all older people are lonely, but youre more likely to feel lonely if you also have a disability, Zander said.

The coalition last fall tested a loneliness screening tool at six aging or disability agencies around the state. The tool, developed by UCLA, features three questions: How often do you feel that you lack companionship? How often do you feel left out? How often do you feel isolated from others?

Responses of hardly ever score one point, while some of the time is two points and often is three points. Total scores of 6 to 9 are considered lonely.

Among nearly 100 people screened, the average score was 5.4 and 41% of participants scored as lonely, said Angie Sullivan, a GWAAR health promotion consultant who oversaw the project. Some 78% of people who conducted the screenings said they were easy to do, and Sullivan said the coalition hopes to expand the screenings statewide.

How to get help If you are feeling lonely or isolated or want more information, contact: 988 Lifeline: Call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org. Wisconsin Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, at go.madison.com/isolation. Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (national), at endsocialisolation.org. National Resource Center for Engaging Adults, at engagingolderadults.org. AARP Foundation's Connect 2 Affect program, at connect2affect.org.

Five of the dozen people screened in Jackson County, which includes Black River Falls, were found to be lonely, mostly because they were still worried about interacting with others because of the pandemic, said Megan McCormick, a community health worker for the county who conducted the screenings.

McCormick said she helped those people try walking, exercise and Bingo programs, which led some to also get involved in coffee klatches, card-playing sessions and movie nights.

It opened us up to community members we hadnt touched on before, McCormick said. We let them know it was OK to go back out, and they could do it in moderation.

Screeners and people who feel lonely are given information such as a Stay Connected toolkit, which suggests activities such as classes and social hobbies, and resource guides, which include listings for exercise opportunities, online games, call lines and more. In a 2020 study, UW-Madison researchers found that a wide range of community outreach programs can help people socialize and give them something to look forward to, which can boost a sense of connection.

Local opportunities

Mahoney provides rides and delivers meals to people through RSVP of Dane County. The agency, which started in 1972 and stands for Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, also has a foster grandparent program in which low-income seniors receive a small stipend to tutor children.

Addressing loneliness and isolation has always been a strong part of our program, but its talked about more today, especially because of the pandemic, said Margie Zutter, executive director at RSVP of Dane County.

She said the organizations services can help both volunteers and recipients stay connected to others.

Lucy Gammeter said that when her husband died in 2021, after she spent years caring for him when he was ill, she had a hard time picking up the pieces.

I had an empty part in my life, said Gammeter, 68, of Verona. I felt lonely, and I didnt know what to do.

Through RSVP, she started delivering meals and making blankets and dish cloths for people who need them. She also participates in the agencys computer buddies program, communicating with elementary school students online.

We got to meet them in person at the end of the school year, she said. That was fun.

Milton Graham, 79, of Madison, said he appreciates the rides RSVP volunteers give him to the Madison Veterans Hospital for medical appointments. Living alone and using a wheelchair, with joint pain and lung disease, the Air Force veteran said he rarely gets out, though he does talk to friends and relatives by phone.

You get tired of being alone all the time, Graham said. When one of those guys picks me up, thats just like going out. Its like socializing with a friend.
This State Journal editorial ran on July 9, 2013:

A prominent group of attorneys is understandably concerned about Wisconsin's "brutal" high court election campaigns.

"The sitting justice is attacked and demeaned, and the challenger is attacked and demeaned," said Joe Troy, a former circuit judge who led a state Bar of Wisconsin study of the problem. "The public sees that and thinks we must not have very good justices."

To help reduce the negative impacts of ugly Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, Troy's task force just proposed having fewer court contests. Instead of running for reelection every 10 years, justices would only be able to run for a single 16-year term.

This offers one big benefit:

"No justice, once elected, would ever be elected again," Troy explained. "The perception that they are there serving the people (with money) who put them there, or they are worried about the next election, that's just not going to happen."

Special interest groups now dominate high court campaigns by spending millions of dollars on television ads touting favored candidates and assailing their opponents. The special interest groups bank on favored candidates winning and delivering favorable court decisions.

But if justices no longer had to seek reelection, they would be less susceptible to political pressure when ruling on cases.

Voters would lose influence, too. They would no longer be able to vote out justices for making unpopular decisions. But that's OK. Unlike lawmakers and governors, Supreme Court justices are not supposed to represent constituencies or bow to the whims of the majority. They're supposed to rule on the law as written and respect the rights of individuals.

The ultimate solution is to appoint justices based on merit, rather than having any high court elections at all. Nonetheless, a single and longer term would be a step in the right direction.
With Russia's war on Ukraine in its 17th month, and Western countries sending increasingly High-tech and long-range weapons and ammunition to help President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defend his country, it's easy to lose track of where NATO stands.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg  the top civilian official at the world's biggest security alliance  routinely praises allies for helping Ukraine's troops to fight back. But when he does, Stoltenberg is talking about individual member countries, not NATO as an organization.

Here's a look at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and what it's doing to help Ukraine.

NATO's support non-lethal only

The 31-nation military alliance provides only non-lethal support to Ukraine: Fuel, combat rations, medical supplies, body armor, winter uniforms and equipment to counter mines, chemical and biological threats and drones.

NATO makes its decisions by consensus, and not all member countries agree on sending weapons. The alliance does not impose sanctions, though some of its members do through other organizations such as the European Union.

Future Ukraine membership

NATO is helping Ukraine's armed forces to modernize and shift from Soviet-era equipment and military doctrine to modern NATO gear to allow its military to work seamlessly with allied forces. NATO is also helping to strengthen Ukraine's defense and security institutions.

That assistance is designed to ensure that Ukraine can join NATO at some point in the future, well after the war is over. U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts  who are meeting for a summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius  have promised that the country will eventually gain membership.

NATO's readiness in the region

NATO's primary goal since Russia began building up its troops around Ukraine in 2021 has been to reinforce its own territory, particularly the countries on its eastern flank  near Russia, Ukraine and Belarus  from Estonia in the north down to Romania on the Black Sea.

With the war now in its 17th month, NATO wants to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from broadening the conflict to allied territory farther west.

Around 40,000 troops are on standby along the eastern flank. About 100 aircraft take to the skies in that territory on any given day, and a total of 27 warships are operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas this month. Those numbers are set to rise.

Under new plans to be endorsed in Vilnius, NATO aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans divide its territory into three zones: the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps and another in southern Europe.

Member countries

The forces and material that NATO drums up for its own defense come from member countries. NATO has no weapons of its own. The battleships, warplanes, missiles and potential pool of over 3 million personnel are supplied by member states, mostly at their own cost.

The only equipment NATO has is a fleet of early warning radar planes and some surveillance drones.

The NATO alliance, with its main headquarters in Brussels and military base in Mons, Belgium, is open to any European nation that wants to join and can meet the requirements and obligations. Finland entered in April, and its Nordic neighbor Sweden is on the cusp of joining its ranks.

The Soviet Union, during the Cold War, and Russia have been major preoccupations since the organization was founded in 1949, and in many ways remain NATO's reason for being.

US' dominant presence

The United States is without doubt the biggest and most influential NATO member. The U.S. spends more on its own military budget than all the other members combined. It also pays almost a quarter of NATO's common funding for infrastructure and collectively owned equipment.

So, Washington has a big say in how things are run, and smaller allies long to train and work with U.S. forces because it gives them access to equipment and expertise that they cannot afford alone.

Stoltenberg's role

The North Atlantic Council meets at ambassadorial level most weeks in Brussels, and less often at the ministerial and heads of state levels, and meetings are chaired by Stoltenberg.

In essence, the former Norwegian prime minister runs the headquarters located near the Brussels airport, a sprawling, cavernous edifice that cost over 1 billion euros to build.

Stoltenberg does not order the allies around. His job is to encourage consensus and speak on their behalf publicly as a single voice representing all 31 members.

Common defense clause

On the ground, NATO has helped to keep peace in the Balkans and fought the Taliban-led insurgency in war-torn Afghanistan before the group took control of the country  the alliance's biggest-ever operation. It was launched after the United States triggered its "all for one and one for all" common defense clause in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

It is the only time the clause, known as Article 5, has been used. That security guarantee is the reason Finland and Sweden sought to join NATO and why Ukraine and other countries in Europe also want in.
She's not my favorite politician, but former Rep. Liz Cheney, the conservative Republican who is a bona fide Darth Vader to the Trump cult, hit the nail on the head last month while speaking at a New York city event exploring the future of our two-party system.

"What we've done in our politics is create a situation where we're electing idiots," she told the forum, whose moderator was wondering if she might run for president as a third-party candidate.

Cheney said she didn't know, but her number-one goal is to make sure that Donald Trump never becomes U.S. president again.

"You know, because of the situation that we're in," Cheney continued, "where we have a major-party candidate who's trying to unravel our democracy  and I don't say that lightly  we have to think about, all right, what kinds of alliances are necessary to defeat him, and those are the alliances we've got to build across party lines."

She was emphatic that if running as a third-party candidate would help Trump, then forget about it.

I was struck by her bluntness, which was on display during the Jan. 6 hearings that she co-chaired, and for which she wound up sacrificing her Wyoming congressional seat after the MAGA crowd primaried her with a Trump zealot last fall.

But she's right, of course, we do tend to elect idiots. None more so than our own U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, and we've sent him back to Washington in three separate elections. I was reminded of Johnson's claim a few weeks ago that the climate crisis could actually benefit his constituents in Wisconsin.

Johnson is one of a few remaining Republican members of Congress who aren't convinced that there's a climate crisis in the first place. If it weren't for global warming, he contended, Wisconsin would still be covered by a glacier. If temperatures keep rising, Wisconsin and other northern states would see fewer people dying from the cold, he said.

This probably doesn't provide much solace to the people in the Southwest who are setting new heat records virtually every day. Some 72 people have perished in Texas, Arizona and other states during the past couple of weeks. Last year, deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona, where Phoenix is located, totaled 475 alone.

Perhaps these roasting souls could just move to Wisconsin to save themselves. Only 50 Wisconsinites perish to the cold over an average winter.

Johnson isn't alone among the idiots who somehow find a way to get themselves elected. We've got an abundance of state legislators who in the 21st century believe contraception should be outlawed, and others who still insist that trickle-down economics works by giving the rich big tax breaks that will somehow wind up in poor people's paychecks. No amount of proof that the idea is a failure will change their minds.

But I'm far from being alone in my assessment of Ron Johnson.

It was late-night television host Stephen Colbert, after all, who declared our Wisconsin senator "the dumbest person to ever sit in the United States Senate."

He awarded that distinction after Johnson claimed to have no idea who delivered an envelope to his office to give to Vice President Mike Pence for the counting of the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6. It contained the names of the fake Trump electors from Wisconsin.

"You know those announcements in the airport when they say, 'Do not carry onto the flight a package for someone you don't know'? I've always wondered who those announcements are for," Colbert said. "Turns out it's Ron Johnson."

Zweifel is editor emeritus of the capital times.
Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau has guided consumers in finding honest and ethical businesses, and how to keep bad businesses at bay. Lets flip the script here and ask, how about businesses needing protection against unethical consumers?

Some customers may set impossible expectations when it comes to getting in touch; some customers dont want to hear that your business doesnt offer the product they need. And some customers, well, they may not exist at all.

In recent months, BBB Great West + Pacific has received multiple complaints from businesses regarding fake customers that have initiated a quote request, provided deposits (often paying more than required), and then requested a partial refund of the deposit due to a personal emergency.

Heres what happens next: The honest and ethical company grants these refunds as a money order or via payment platforms like Zelle or PayPal. Unfortunately for businesses, the original deposit, often provided via cashier check, is found to be fraudulent, resulting in lost funds by the business after returning money to the fake customer.

These bad actors use many different names in their tactics. However, the name Donna Bass has been used in multiple instances across the United States, including at least twice in the Great West + Pacific service area.

In fact, a roofing company accredited with the BBB reported losing $4,500 to a customer named Donna Bass. But this was no normal Donna Bass. She claimed to be unable to meet the roofers at her home due to undergoing cancer treatment.

So, the honest roofing company went to the home address, visually inspected the roof, and provided a quote to Donna Bass. Donna paid the full $12,000 via cashiers check, much more than the required one-third deposit. The following day she requested a partial refund due to a family emergency, and the day after that, needed more funds returned. Donna Bass was still well above the required one-third deposit amount, so the business fulfilled both requests.

A few days later the businesss bank notified them that the original $12,000 cashiers check was fraudulent. The company suddenly realized theyd been taken advantage of. The home they visited had no connection to this supposed Donna Bass.

Trust goes both ways in a business transaction. Customers might not be what they seem in some instances. Look to protect your business and vet your potential customers. The roofing company that was taken advantage of is doing so by now verifying with city public records that the customer who reaches out to them is listed as an owner of the home.

At Better Business Bureau, we encourage all companies to verify who they are interacting with before exchanging any funds, whether the prospective customer came directly to their website or from a third-party service. If youre targeted once, dont think you wont be targeted again. Since the Accredited roofing company was targeted, they have since been targeted two more times by individuals using other names.

Businesses may want to be cautious of customers that are not able to meet in person or give an unusual sense of urgency. Pay close attention to individuals that request the business accommodate them for family emergencies or other extenuating circumstances. Keep in mind that some of your real customers may have legitimate family emergencies, but if they are bringing this up on multiple occasions and leveraging it against your business, thats a warning sign. Also, ensure that any payments from a customer clear your bank before returning any funds to the customer.

Other scenarios in which a business can be taken advantage may include fake invoices and email phishing. Build out a vetting procedure for all staff to follow and review it regularly as tactics and technology change. Ensure employees know what to look for in protecting the business.
Idaho will spend $2.3 billion on K-12 public education in 2024. There are powerful out-of-state forces who want to get their hands on that money. Some are driven by profit, others by political ideology, religious beliefs, or a combination of interests.

They all share one common goal: Shift your public schools dollars to the private sector. Here are some of the dots to connect in the privatizing public education playbook:

Make public schools look worse than other school choices. The legislature does this by continually underfunding public education. Schools cant meet parental expectations, accommodate growth, or hire/retain experienced teachers when salaries are not competitive and buildings are falling apart. Idaho has a backlog of over $1 billion in K-12 school building maintenance and were still at or near the bottom in per-student investment, even after having a $2.1 billion surplus and a recent budget increase. This makes other school choices look more attractive by comparison.

Undermine confidence in public schools. Propaganda campaigns incite fear and anger against local schools. Parents are bombarded with false claims about porn in libraries, groomers in classrooms, and student indoctrination. Non-stop postings on social media perpetuate these inflammatory accusations. Self-proclaimed think tanks funded by third-parties produce official looking reports that create a false perception of legitimacy to these manufactured fears.

Hide the facts. Legislative leaders tried to kill the Office of Performance Evaluations  which provides factual, in-depth, unbiased research and analysis to the legislature. The public wouldnt know about the billion dollar backlog in school building maintenance if OPE didnt exist. The OPE report that revealed this new information angered political leaders trying to tell a different story. Without facts, false narratives go unchallenged.

Legislative intimidation. New laws are making classrooms a hostile workplace. This includes bills that threaten to sue educators, imprison librarians, fine school districts, muzzle teachers, and empower the Attorney General to aggressively prosecute the targets of these punitive laws. No wonder teachers are leaving Idaho.

Promote school choice and education freedom. This is clever rhetoric, but it is meaningless since Idahoans already have a myriad of education choices  none of which are going away. Its not about having choice, but rather having you pay for someone elses choice.

revealed a vast network of powerful forces funneling money into Idaho to promote and sell their alternative education choices to the public.

Kill public education with vouchers (deceptively called Education Savings Accounts, or ESAs). An attempt was made earlier this year to convert most of the $2.3 billion public education budget into checks sent to parents to spend however they want  without accountability. This would starve Idaho public schools into oblivion.

Quote Expect to see legislation next year that allows public tax dollars to pay for private and religious school tuition in limited amounts and isolated situations. This is fools gold  there is no room for compromise.

The 2023 bill tried to hit a home run and failed. However, the lobbyists behind privatizing public education will be back, fronted by their legislative allies. Expect to see legislation next year that allows public tax dollars to pay for private and religious school tuition in limited amounts and isolated situations.

This is fools gold  there is no room for compromise. If the Legislature allows just a small amount of public tax dollars to be spent on tuition for any private school, your tax dollars must be made available to all types of private schools and religious schools. Once one bill passes, the floodgates open up to flow your public education dollars to the bottom-line profits of private sector businesses.

Your public education tax dollars belong in your public schools, not in their pockets.
GANDHINAGAR, IndiaG20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs opened talks Monday on debt restructuring deals, multilateral bank reform and finance to tackle climate change, as they aim to bolster a sagging global economy.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, chair and host of the summit in Gandhinagar, began by telling finance leaders of the responsibility we have to steer the global economy towards strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.

Key on the two-day agenda will be facilitating consensus to intractable issues associated with rising indebtedness, Sitharaman said earlier on Monday, speaking to reporters alongside US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Indias Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (right) speaks next to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a joint statement with US as part of the G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and Finance and Central Bank Deputies meetings, at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on July 17, 2023.

Talks will also focus on critical global issues such as strengthening the multilateral development banks and taking coordinated climate action, Sitharaman added.

Yellen said: The world is looking to the G20 to make progress on key challenges like climate change and pandemics as part of our work to strengthen the global economy.

She also cited work to tackle debt distress among the worlds poorest countries, noting debt restructuring progress in Zambia, which she had discussed when visiting Beijing this month.

Go faster

China, the worlds second-largest economy and a major lender to several stressed, low-income countries in Asia and Africa, has so far resisted a common multilateral understanding on the issue, officials said.

Yellen on Sunday said the Zambia deal had taken too long to negotiate, and added she hoped debt treatments for Ghana and Sri Lanka could be finalized quickly.

We should apply the common principles we agreed to in Zambias case in other cases, rather than starting at zero every time, Yellen said. And we must go faster.

More than half of all low-income countries are near or in debt distress, double the case in 2015, Yellen added.

A top official from G20 chair India said there had been a not so encouraging response from Beijing on shared debt understanding.

Several economies have struggled following the double blow of the coronavirus pandemic and fallout from Russias war in Ukraine  which hit global fuel and commodity prices.

China is a major creditor in some of these cases and has faced criticism for its stand on nations debt restructuring.

Climate finance

The Group of 20 major economies will also discuss multilateral development banks reform, cryptocurrency regulations, and making access to financing to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change easier.

In the Global North, climate change means emissions reductions, World Bank chief Ajay Banga said in an op-ed ahead of the meeting.

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BEIJING, ChinaUS climate envoy John Kerry was in Beijing on Monday to revive stalled talks and pressure China to step up its efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions.

Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, enraged Beijing by visiting self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers to be part of 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.

He is likely to have his work cut out for him, however, with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan telling CNN on Sunday that Kerry would press China not to hide behind any kind of claim that they are a developing nation in order to slow-roll efforts to cut emissions.

Every country, including China, has a responsibility to reduce emissions, Sullivan said.

And the world, I do believe, should step up and encourage  indeed, pressure  China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions.

China has long used its official status as a developing nation to justify its high emissions, with Sullivan saying there is more work for them to do on that front.

Secretary Kerry will make that point when hes in Beijing, he added.

Kerrys trip comes on the heels of two other high-profile visits by US officials  Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen  that were aimed at stabilising US-China ties.

It also comes in the midst of record-setting summer heatwaves spanning the northern hemisphere, which scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change.

During the visit, he is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua.

Washington has identified climate as an area for potential cooperation with Beijing, despite the tensions elsewhere.

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 Beijing in April approved a major surge in coal power  a move Greenpeace said prioritized energy supply over the emissions reduction pledge  fueling concerns that China will fail to meet its targets.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed his deepest condolences to the South Korean government following flooding that claimed the lives of at least 39 persons.

We extend our deepest condolences to the people of South Korea for the devastating loss of 39 lives resulting from the recent floods and landslides, Mr. Marcos said in a tweet.

The Filipino people are with you, offering our steadfast support during this challenging time, he added.

The death toll from flooding after days of torrential downpours in South Korea had risen to 40 on Monday. Among those who died were a dozen people found inside a bus on a submerged underpass in Cheongju, 110km south of the capital Seoul.

South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Monday to completely overhaul the countrys approach to extreme weather from climate change.

Rescue workers waded through thick mud as they drained a flooded underpass in central Cheongju, searching for more victims after vehicles were trapped in the tunnel by flash floods, the interior ministry said, with nine people still missing nationwide.

South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, and days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides, with rivers bursting their banks, and reservoirs and dams overflowing. More rain is forecast in the coming days.

Minister Lee Sang-Min of the Ministry of Interior and Safety said at least 7,540 individuals were evacuated amid the bad weather.

Yoon ordered Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo to mobilize all available resources to minimize the casualties, as more heavy rain was expected on the Korean peninsula.

This kind of extreme weather event will become commonplace  we must accept climate change is happening, and deal with it, the South Korean President said during an emergency response meeting Monday.

The idea that extreme weather linked to climate change is an anomaly and cant be helped needs to be completely overhauled, he said, calling for extraordinary determination to improve the countrys preparedness and response.

South Korea will mobilize all available resources including the military and police to help with rescue efforts, he said.

The rainy season is not over yet, and the forecast is now that there will be torrential rain again tomorrow, he added.

Following the meeting, Yoon, who returned from an overseas trip early Monday, traveled to Yecheon in North Gyeongsang province  one of the hardest hit villages, where more than a third of houses were damaged in landslides and two people remain missing.

Dressed in a green jacket, often donned by top officials during public emergencies, Yoon was briefed by officials as he walked past piles of fallen trees and relief workers shoveling mud.

Ive never seen something like this in my life, hundreds of tonnes of rocks rolling down from the mountain, Yoon told the villagers.

Ill do everything I can to restore the village, he added.

The majority of the casualties  including 19 of the dead and eight of the missing  were from North Gyeongsang province and were largely due to massive landslides in the mountainous area that engulfed houses with people inside.

On Monday, the South Korean government and police launched separate inquiries into the fatal flooding of the underpass in Cheongju, some 112 kilometers (70 miles) south of Seoul.

It flooded early Saturday when a nearby river overflowed and an embankment collapsed, leaving more than 10 vehicles, including a bus, trapped inside.

At least 13 people were killed and rescue workers have warned the toll could rise as they search the area.

The Prime Ministers Secretariat said there had been reports of calls to police requesting an emergency evacuation order for nearby residents as well as emergency closure of the tunnel an hour before the disaster struck.

This investigation is to find out the cause of the failure to protect the precious life of the people, it said in a statement.

Yoon said Monday that the mismanagement of danger zones had led to the accident. Preemptive evacuations and road closures were the basic principles of preventing the loss of lives in disaster response, he added.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more heavy rain through Wednesday and urged the public to refrain from going outside.

South Korea is regularly hit by flooding during the summer monsoon period, but the country is typically well-prepared and the death toll is usually relatively low.

Scientists say climate change has made weather events around the world more extreme and more frequent.

South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding last year, which left more than 11 people dead.

They included three people who died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment of the kind that became internationally known because of the Oscar-winning Korean film Parasite.

The government said at the time that the 2022 flooding was the heaviest rainfall since Seoul weather records began 115 years ago, blaming climate change for the extreme weather. With AFP

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Wad Madani, Sudan  Air strikes pummelled Khartoum on Sunday and fighting raged in Sudans western Darfur region, witnesses said, as a three-month war between the army and rival paramilitaries showed no signs of abating.

In the capitals 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.

A local neighbourhood group said at least five people were killed and 17 others injured in a blast in Ombada, in Khartoums northwest, but the toll was likely to increase as more casualties are pulled from the rubble.

RSF drones targeted Khartoums 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 killed around 3,000 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, but the actual death toll is believed to be much higher.

A further three million people have been displaced internally or fled across borders, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Diplomatic efforts to end the violence continue but have failed to bear fruit, and numerous ceasefires have been broken.

As the war entered its fourth month on Saturday, a government source told AFP an army delegation had returned to the Saudi city of Jeddah to resume truce talks.

The Saudi- and US-brokered talks were adjourned last month after a several truces were systematically violated.

There was no comment from either the RSF or the mediators on the reported resumption of the negotiations in Jeddah.

 RSF victory in Darfur 

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 major victory in the town.

They also said on Sunday they welcome the decision of a police force in East Darfur to integrate with the RSF, after heads of local tribes in South Darfur also pledged allegiance to the paramilitaries.

A statement by the interior ministry said the police remains the armed forces strongest supporter in Khartoum, and also praised its efforts in the rest of the country.

Darfur, home to around a quarter of Sudans 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 offences including genocide.

The courts 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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BBM must really be scratching the bottom of the barrel with the appointment of a disbarred lawyer as presidential adviser on poverty alleviation

For the rest of the year and even next year, Metro Manila will have a water crisis, like it or not.

Starting with Maynilad ( I live in an area serviced by Maynilad) scheduled water interruptions as the new normal.

Other cities serviced by Maynilad have water interruptions almost the whole night long with the water level of Angat Dam continuously receding from its minimum level of 180 meters.

We have had water crises before when people had to line up for water and the usual water dump trucks for the rationing of water.

Metro Manilans are no longer strangers to the water crisis.

We had it before, and people had to bear with it.

My gulay, I am wondering why the government hasnt done anything about this problem.

This brings to fore questions like, why Metro Manila has to rely on Angat Dam.

Maynilad and Manila Water have not done anything but to rely only on what water regulators  the Metropolitan Water and Sewage System and the Water Resources Board have provided for Metro Manila.

Yes, we in Metro Manila had survived the water crisis before, but should we accept a water crisis as a new normal?

Our water concessionaire, Maynilad, continues to explain to us what is happening and theres not anything we can do but to accept everything.

But, Santa Banana, what has been done to at least mitigate the crisis?

Should we just accept everything that has been given to us, the consumers?

And for goodness sake, what has the government done, as I said, to mitigate our suffering as consumers?

They say when the rains come, the water crisis will at least be mitigated.

Again, I know I am asking for nothing much from the government to lessen the water crisis that has adverse effects on the people.

But, it seems we have to live with it, and theres nothing we can do about it, and, like it or not, admit it or not, my gulay, theres nothing we can do but to accept it.

What Im worried about are the poor who must line up for a can of water.

At least for me and my family, we have a water tank that we can refill everyday.

Should this be the case, the new normal?

Good thing there are deep water wells that serve as an alternative to lining up. But, will we accept it just as it is?

When the rains came

Because of the dry spell that brought about the water crisis in Metro Manila, came floods in most parts of Metro Manila that caused a traffic standstill which took commuters hours to go home.

Santa Banana, Metro Manila must be cursed!

But, personally I prefer the rains because, my gulay, at least Angat Dam could be refilled, and Maynilad and Manila Water would have a chance to mitigate the hours of long rationing of water to millions of their customers, all caused by the El Nino dry spell.

As for the floods that usually result when rains pour on Metro Manila, theres no end to it because of clogged waterways and esteros.

That can be blamed on the inability of Metro Manila Development Authority to prepare for the onset of typhoon season. It is now clear that life in the Metro with the water crisis and floods is becoming the new normal.

Crisis on nurses

Another crisis that has come up is the shortage of nurses with the continuous outflow of nurses seeking greener pastures, a shortage that affects us all.

This shortage has come to a point that hospitals, both state-run and private, are so hard-pressed to find nurses that it has compelled the new Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to propose hiring not only board exam passers, but graduates who flunked if only to augment health forces.

This is of course stupid, but it is a reflection of the crisis now facing our health system.

Nursing continues to be in demand as a course, but many graduates are jobless by choice, waiting mainly for an opportunity to leave for abroad and work overseas.

And we all know the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the problem about catching the virus.

Records show as of December 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, no less than 200,000 nurses reportedly were out of work not because of choice but because they couldnt be employed.

The reason for this is the meager pay they get and working conditions.

Santa Banana, the problem got worse because high income countries also short of nurses started to dangle incentives such as resettlement of nurses families.

Santa Banana, this constitutes a double whammy to the Philippines because of the lack of remittances from those working abroad.

Perhaps in an attempt to cushion the impact of the problem which has become a crisis, President Marcos Jr. said, we are victims of our successes.

Are we?

The problem now is how to have nurses stay in the country to increase the workforce.

The DOH now has the problem of how to contend with the shortage of nurses.

The DOH itself has a shortage of staff with only 194,000 personnel, including 106,000 nurses and 67,000 physicians.

Also lacking are pharmacists. Id rather say that we are not victims of our success, but our failure to stop the exodus of nurses and even physicians by not giving them good pay and better working conditions.

Its no success at all, but our abject failure to provide decent jobs to our own people.

NAIA concessionaire planned

With the unsolicited offer of the six conglomerates of P210 billion to repair and modernize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following the continuing criticism that NAIA is perhaps the worst international airport in the world, there are also plans to privatize management and make the six conglomerates the management as a concessionaire for 20 years and renewable for another 15 years.

Thats a good idea and logical.

More than a modernized international gateway, there is an urgent and imperative need for NAIA to be handled and managed well and only in private hands can it be done.

With the management of NAIA in private hands, President Marcos Jr. can give the people a modernized international airport and, with modernization, an international gateway we can be proud of.

Customs and Immigration, of course, can still be in government hands.

What is more important than a modernized NAIA is that, with privatized management, we hope for less brownouts and breakdowns of air-conditioners.

The Civil Aviation Authority will remain as the agency to ensure navigational air space, communications and security.

Thats a government function since it involves national security.

Whats happening?

BBM must really be scratching the bottom of the barrel with the appointment of a disbarred lawyer as presidential adviser on poverty alleviation.

When a lawyer gets disbarred by the Supreme Court, its a reflection on the character of that member of the bar.

Then, theres the controversy of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) having a new logo costing P3 million.

Santa Banana, P3 million just for a new logo ? What a waste of the peoples money.

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The much-awaited annual Acer Day celebration has returned with a superior and more exciting lineup of activities. Alongside bigger promotions on Acer products, the brand has set bolder goals to provide innovative products that enhance productivity and elevate the digital experience. This years theme, #AceYourWorld, is all about empowering and motivating individuals to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. Whether youre a student, a gamer, a professional, or an entrepreneur, Acer Day 2023 encourages you to take charge of your destiny and make your mark in the world.

This years Acer Day holds a special significance as Acer Philippines celebrates its 20th anniversary in the country. Acer Philippines has been hosting this regional campaign for the past three years, aiming to provide individuals with resources and tools to develop new skills, build confidence, and break through barriers that may hold them back. Acers goal is to create a movement of people committed to living their best lives and making a positive impact on the world.

Andrew Hou, Acer Pan Asia Pacific President, stated, As a brand, we are committed to providing individuals with the resources and tools they need to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

As part of the campaign, Acer is launching the #AceYourWorld Challenge, an exciting online video competition designed to inspire individuals to share their personal stories, accomplishments, and aspirations while demonstrating their determination to overcome obstacles.



We believe that everyone can excel in their chosen fields, and this challenge encourages participants to showcase their talents and inspire others, said Manuel Wong, Acer Philippines Managing Director.

With the #AceYourWorld theme, Acer Day 2023 promises to be a remarkable event that celebrates Acer Philippines milestone and encourages individuals to pursue their passions and achieve excellence in their lives.

Acer is taking the #AceYourWorld Challenge to the next level by featuring the top three videos on its official website and social media channels. The three creators of the top videos will receive an Acer Swift Go laptop specially designed to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

To join the challenge, participants are required to create a short video that showcases their personal growth journey and how they overcame obstacles to ace their world. The video should begin with a brief introduction of themselves and a significant challenge they faced. Participants are encouraged to include snippets of how they overcame the challenge and what actions they took to achieve success. The video should conclude by inspiring others to believe in themselves and take action to ace their day.

The #AceYourWorld Challenge is an excellent opportunity for individuals to share their inspiring stories of perseverance and determination while motivating others to reach their full potential. With the chance to win an Acer Swift Go laptop, avail of huge discounts, and be featured on Acers official channels, participants can take their first step towards achieving their dreams and making a positive impact on the world. Stay tuned to Acers social media channels for further updates on the challenge.

As part of the Acer Day 2023 celebrations, Acer Philippines is offering consumers attractive deals on a range of products including the Aspire Vero, Swift Go Evo, Predator Helios Neo, Acer Nitro 5, Acerpure Air + Clean, TravelMate Vero, and many more.

Just like the highly successful Acer Day concert in 2022, Acer Philippines is also organizing an Acer Day concert on August 6, 2023 at the SM MOA Arena, featuring powerhouse Acer ambassadors such as Sarah Geronimo, Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, and other artists. Fans will also be treated to a special song collaboration between Sarah G and SB19, which will be available on all digital music platforms and Acers social media accounts.

For more information about Acer and Acer Day, follow Acer Philippines on its social media platforms: @AcerPH on Facebook, @acerph on Instagram, and @acerphils on Twitter, or go to www.acer.com

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In some ways, harassment cases are easier to substantiate these days, thanks to social media, texting and other forms of electronic communications.

That isnt necessarily a good thing  there continues to be inappropriate communications in the workplace  but text communications and other forms of written evidence make the job of the investigator much easier.

For example, the Ohio Lottery announced earlier this year that its director, Pat McDonald, would be leaving after an investigation into alleged inappropriate misconduct. According to reports, the investigation found that McDonald resigned after he allegedly engaged in appropriate touching and communications with other employees. He allegedly expressed inappropriate fondness and innuendo in those communications.

For example, he allegedly texted a female employee to tell her she was hot and a gift from God while also using the heart, winking face and eggplant emoji (which carries male anatomy connotations).

He reportedly sent a text message around 2 a.m. to an employee telling her she drove him crazy, but she will never have a boss nor dude that cares and loves you so much.

In todays world, there can be confusion on the message being sent with different images, emoji and acronyms.

In one case, an employee was confused when a colleague sent him the acronym LOL after his mom died. He believed it meant laugh out loud; the colleague understood it to mean lots of love.

During the pandemic, when an employee asked her manager what masks to wear, the manager sent her an image of a masochistic mask, adding, How about this?

Another manager on Easter Sunday sent his leadership team an inappropriate gif of an Easter bunny engaging in sexually inappropriate movements.

This is the reality of 2023.

I had one participant in a training say that her employee was offended when she sent the thumbs up emoji.

In 2021, an article in in The Wall Street Journal, Sending Smiley Emojis? They Now Mean Different Things to Different People, detailed how the Gen Z generation adopted new meanings, while older people stuck with traditions, causing a lot of confusing interactions.

The workplace has become a 24/7 operation, where off-duty conduct can impact an employees 9 to 5 job. The after-hours interactions with co-workers are sometimes referred to as the extended workplace. Whether on social media or in electronic communications, these communications with colleagues after hours can bleed into the workplace.

Employers should update their harassment policies and code of conduct to make clear about electronic communications and after-hours communications and how those behaviors could affect the workplace and a persons career.

Although this feels like a 2023 issue, way back in 2015, AT&T reportedly fired executive Aaron Slator after it was hit with a $100 million race discrimination lawsuit after a revelation that he sent a friend a meme from his work phone that had a Black child dancing with a statement featuring a racist slur.

Post-pandemic, where people have fewer boundaries and are more familiar in communications, these issues are only getting worse.

Employers should also explain to employees and managers in training that certain behaviors are not acceptable, even if the colleagues are friends. The workplace relationship has a host of rules and laws that govern the legality and appropriateness of communications.

My advice is, before sending a text at 11 p.m. or a meme, or posting on social media, ask first, Am I sober? If the answer is no, stop all communication.

Furthermore, consider how this communication would be viewed outside the context in which you are sending it. Intent to harass is not the test. The question of if you get to keep your job will depend on whether the communication was welcome, whether a reasonable person would find it offensive and whether the person found it offensive. For legal recourse, there will be other considerations, such as whether the conduct was severe or pervasive and whether the company had notice for co-worker harassment.

Things are funny until they arent, and then theyre not. Things are consensual until they arent, and then theyre not. A person never has to tell a person to stop or that the conduct is unwelcome before it can be considered harassment.

Act accordingly. None of this is worth the end of your career.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his countrys recognition of Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire Sahara territory.

In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, Mr.Netanyahu informed the Moroccan Sovereign about the decision of the State Israel of recognizing the Moroccanness of the Sahara, said a statement released Monday by the Royal Office.

In his letter, the Israeli PM said his countrys position will be reflected in all relevant acts and documents of the Israeli Government, added the statement, noting that the Israeli decision will be transmitted to the United Nations, to regional and international organizations in which Israel is a member, and to all countries with which Israel has diplomatic relations.

Mr.Netanyahu also said Israel will open a consulate in the Saharan city of Dakhla as part of his countrys sovereign decision.
According to the Russian presidency, Putin told Ramaphosa that the pacts obligations to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers have not yet been fulfilled.

In addition, the main objective of the agreement, the supply of grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent, has not been realized, the Russian leader added, according to the statement released by the Russian presidency.

The agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea expires this Monday (17 July), but Russia has not yet commented on whether it will be extended. The two leaders also discussed preparations for the upcoming BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] summit in Johannesburg in August.

The South African President briefed on preparations for the BRICS summit, scheduled to take place from 22 to 24 August in Johannesburg, says the official note, which indicates that the conversation between Putin and Ramaphosa took place at the initiative of the South African side.

Earlier, Ramaphosa had said that the summit would be held in person, without mentioning the situation surrounding Putins arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said this week that Vladimir Putin had not yet decided on the format in which he will attend the meeting. According to the Russian presidential statement, Putin and Ramaphosa will meet bilaterally in St Petersburg at the end of July, as part of the second Russia-Africa Summit that the Russian city will host.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced that the demonstrations planned this week by the opposition have been banned, the last of which ended in clashes and at least nine deaths.

Demonstrations will not take place in our country, declared the Kenyan Head of State, who was visiting Nakuru county, 150 kilometres from the capital Nairobi. We will not accept anarchy in the Republic of Kenya, he insisted.

We will not allow opposition leader Raila Odinga and former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who supports him, to hold our country hostage by provoking violence, chaos and anarchy, threatened Mr Ruto. However, the head of state said he was ready to meet the veteran opposition leader.

On last Wednesday, banned rallies organized by Raila Odinga in several towns were marred by looting and clashes between demonstrators and the police, with the former throwing stones and the latter firing tear gas and live ammunition in response. Raila Odingas Azimio alliance is protesting against new taxes and the results of the 2022 presidential election, which Mr Odinga continues to regard as stolen.

Azimio has called for three new days of mobilization this week, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the end of Wednesdays rallies, more than 300 people were arrested, according to the authorities, and nine people killed, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), basing itself on a police count.
Representatives of the Sudanese army have returned to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to resume negotiations with the paramilitaries, a government source said on Saturday, as the war between two rival generals enters its fourth month.

Since 15 April, fighting between the army, led by General Abdelfattah al-Burhane, and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, has claimed at least 3,000 lives, according to the NGO Acled, which specializes in gathering information in conflict zones.

Several ceasefires have been agreed in recent months under the aegis of the United States and Saudi Arabia, but the Saudi and American mediators adjourned the negotiations in June after the ceasefires were systematically violated.

A delegation from the armed forces has returned to Jeddah to resume negotiations with the Rapid Support Forces rebels, said a government source on condition of anonymity, who was not authorized to speak to the media.

The RSF made no immediate comment on the resumption of negotiations. This delegation to Saudi Arabia marks the armys return to the diplomatic front, after boycotting peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, organized by the East African regional bloc (Igad). The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had accused Kenya, which chairs Igad, of supporting the RSF.

Before the suspension of the Jeddah talks, the American mediators had shown themselves to be increasingly frustrated by the reluctance of the two parties to work towards a lasting truce.
Taking stock of regional integration on the African continent: that was the aim of a summit that came to a close on Sunday 16 July in Nairobi, Kenya. Several Heads of State, ministers and delegates gathered for the 5th coordination meeting between the African Union, the regional economic communities and regional mechanisms. The Presidents of the Comoros, Kenya, Egypt, Senegal, the DRC, Djibouti, Gabon and Nigeria were in attendance. While sub-regional economic integration was at the heart of the programme, security issues also featured in the discussions.

Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros and current Chairman of the African Union, deplored in his opening speech an Africa plagued by division and bloody conflicts. In particular, he cited the crisis in the east of the DRC, a conflict which he said was destabilizing the region, if not the whole of Africa.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi discussed this very situation with Kenyan Head of State William Ruto on the fringes of the meeting in Nairobi. They remain optimistic, according to the Congolese presidency.

The war in Sudan was also discussed Sunday. Speaking to the press, the African Unions Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, stressed the urgent need for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire. Recalling that previous attempts had failed, he called for a coordinated diplomatic response. Notably between the African Union and Igad, the East African Development Authority. The Kenyan President also indicated on Twitter that he had discussed the Sudan crisis with the Egyptian head of state on Sunday. The two, along with other countries, will work to put an end to the conflict in Sudan, said William Ruto.

In a statement, President William Ruto also called for an urgent ceasefire in Sudan. He explained that he had spoken on the phone to General al-Burhan on Saturday evening, as well as to the President of the transition in Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
Israel officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region. Thats according to a letter, which King Mohammed VI, the kingdoms ruler, said on Monday that he received from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The decision comes as many countries continue to cement their support for Moroccos territorial integrity through recognition or the opening of representations in Moroccan southern provinces.

Israel also pledged to share its decision with the United Nations, to regional and international organizations of which Israel is a member and to all countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations, per the monarch.

Netanyahu informed Morocco that his government is mulling opening of a consulate in the coastal city of Dakhla as part of the move, according to Morocco.
PM orders forces on standby as typhoon TALIM moves closer to northern coast

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant ministries, agencies and localities to take immediate measures to cope with powerful typhoon TALIM that is heading towards the northern coast.





Typhoon TALIM is on track to hit the northern coast and mainland of Vietnam in 24 hours' time.



In a telegram released on July 16, the PM requested a number of ministries, agencies and localities to closely monitor the track of TALIM and keep people up to date about the typhoon; ensure safety for operations at sea; and devise evacuation plans in flood and landslide -prone areas.



He asked for measures to be immediately adopted to reinforce the dyke system, construction works, warehouses, public works, and factories as well as industrial parks before TALIM makes landfall.



Communications should be enhanced to inform people and encourage them to stay indoors during the height of the typhoon for safety reasons, the PM said in the telegram.



He also asked the designated agencies and localities to put personnel and resources on standby to timely deploy rescue work and overcome the consequences of the typhoon.



The telegram was dispatched to 27 northern and central provinces from Quang Ninh to Nghe An; and a number of ministries in charge of national defense, public security, environment, agriculture - rural development, transport, trade - industry, construction, information - communications, culture-sport-tourism, education-training, and foreign affairs.



The document was also sent to the National Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, and the National Committee for Disaster Incident Response and Search and Rescue.



At 4:00 July 17 TALIM was swirling across the waters about 340km east and south-east of Chinas Leizhou Peninsula, with winds gusting up to 150kph near its centre.



In the next 24 hours, TALIM is forecast to move between west and north-west at a speed of up 20kph, and is likely to gain further strength.



At 16:00 July 18, the typhoon is anticipated to lose its strength a bit and strike the northern coast of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, with maximum sustained winds of 120kph.



In the next 12 to 24 hours, TALIM will move further inland, weaken into a tropical depression and dissipate in the northern mountainous region.



This is a powerful storm that has not been seen in the northern region of Vietnam for several years, said Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecast Division of the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).



TALIM will bring rough seas to the northern coast of Vietnam as well as strong winds and heavy rain to the northern region, especially mountainous localities, said Huong.



He also warned of high rainfall reaching its peak on July 18 and possible flashfloods and landslides in mountainous localities.
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Maximum-likelihood phylogeny of 320 whole-genome sequences of Streptococcus pyogenes. Credit: Doherty Institute

Breakthrough research has found that Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections are more likely transmitted from asymptomatic throat carriage than skin-to-skin contact in communities with high rates of infection.

This major discovery has far-reaching implications for public health approaches, vaccine development and future research as it challenges previous understanding of how the bacterium is spread.

GAS (Streptococcus pyogenes), commonly found on the skin and in the throat, can cause infections ranging from sore throats and impetigo (skin infections) to deadly bloodstream infections. In places like remote First Nations communities where the pathogen is widespread, constant exposure to GAS can lead to severe and life-threatening conditions such as rheumatic heart disease.

In this study, published in the journal The Lancet Microbe, the team of scientists shed new light on GAS transmission dynamics in high-risk settings where the bacteria are prevalent, to inform the development of more effective strategies for prevention and control.

Researchers, led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), in collaboration with Menzies School of Health Research and Telethon Kids Institute, analyzed the genetic makeup of hundreds of GAS bacterial samples collected 20 years ago from throats and impetigo lesions in remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Lead author Dr. Jake Lacey, a University of Melbourne researcher at the Doherty Institute, explained that genome sequencing played a pivotal role in determining the contribution of impetigo and asymptomatic throat carriage to GAS transmission.

"Our analysis revealed direct connections between isolates recovered from the skin and throat, challenging common thinking that skin-to-skin contact is the primary mode of transmission. In fact, we found that bacteria found in the throat of people who are not showing any symptoms of infections were the likely source of infection in 63% of cases," Dr. Lacey explained.

Professor Bart Currie, from the Global and Tropical Health Division at Menzies School of Health Research, said that these insights provide valuable clues for better controlling skin infections in remote communities, where limited knowledge of bacterial transmission had posed challenges until now.

"With this new genome knowledge we have been able to map out the spread of the bacteria within and between households. This transmission mapping exercise is particularly important for addressing the disproportionate burden of GAS infections on First Nations Australians in remote communities," Professor Currie said.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Professor Steven Tong, Infectious Diseases Physician at the Doherty Institute and senior author of the research paper, underscored the implications of the findings.

"Our research suggests that public health approaches should not solely focus on skin infections but also consider the role of throat carriage in GAS transmission. For instance, vaccines targeting bacteria in the throat may offer greater efficacy in preventing the spread of infection compared to those that only target disease," Professor Tong said.

"The burden of GAS infection documented in this study also reiterates the fundamental role of primordial prevention in First Nations health initiatives. Importantly, this work also prompts researchers to now consider the importance of throat carriage when assessing the transmission dynamics of GAS," Tong concluded.

More information: Jake A Lacey et al, Evaluating the role of asymptomatic throat carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes in impetigo transmission in remote Aboriginal communities in Northern Territory, Australia: a retrospective genomic analysis, The Lancet Microbe (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00068-X Journal information: The Lancet Microbe

Provided by The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In a lab at The Ohio State University masquerading as a playroom, pairs of kids ages 8 to 12 participating in a study found a variety of toys and games to play withas well as a mysterious file cabinet.

Inside one of the drawers of the unlocked cabinet were two disabled 9-mm handguns.

As they played in the room, nearly all the children eventually found the guns. But some kids in the study were much more likely to tell an adult they found a gun, less likely to touch the gun, and were less reckless if they did touch itand they were the kids who had watched a one-minute gun safety video a week earlier.

The study may be the first to randomly assign some children to watch a gun safety video to determine if it had a protective effect, said Brad Bushman, co-author of the study and professor of communication at Ohio State.

"It was pretty remarkable to see that this one-minute video had such a powerful impact a week after the kids saw it," Bushman said.

Bushman conducted the study with Sophie Kjrvik, a doctoral candidate in communication at Ohio State. Their results were published (July 17, 2023) in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

"Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children. These results point to a way that may help reduce the toll," Kjrvik said.

The study involved 226 children whose parents or guardians gave permission for their participation. They were tested in pairs of kids who knew each other, including siblings, cousins and friends.

A week before the lab portion of the study, the children watched one of two one-minute videos created especially for the study. Both videos were of The Ohio State University police chief delivering a message in full uniform.

Half of the participant pairs saw the chief in a car safety video, while the other half saw her in a gun safety video. All of the kids watched the videos in their own homes.

A week later the children came to the lab and were told they could play with any of the toys and games in the roomincluding Legos, Jenga, nerf guns, foam swords and othersfor 20 minutes.

The researchers and the children's parents watched the children play from another room via a hidden camera.

Out of the 226 children, 216 (96%) opened the drawers of the filing cabinet and found the guns, which were disabled but rigged with a device that counted how often the kids pulled the trigger.

"Kids are naturally curious, so we were not surprised that they opened the drawers and found the guns," Bushman said.

The researchers asked parents informally if they thought their kids would report the gun to adults and not touch the firearm. "That's what most parents in our study thought their child would do," Kjrvik said. "But that is not what happened."

Over half of the children (53%) touched the gun and fewer than a quarter (23%) told an adult. But the key finding was the difference between those who watched the gun safety versus the car safety video.

Those who watched the gun safety video were more than three times more likely to tell an adult (34% vs. 11%) and less likely to touch a gun (39% vs. 67%).

Even those who did touch the gun were somewhat less reckless if they had watched the gun safety video. They held the gun for fewer seconds (42 versus 100 seconds), were less likely to pull the trigger (9% versus 30%) and pulled the trigger fewer times (four versus seven times).

"These are strong results, especially given that the video was so short and the children watched it a full week earlier," Bushman said.

The video may have been effective because it featured an authority figurea police chiefin full uniform. Previous research has shown that younger children find authority figures in uniforms to be especially persuasive.

In contrast, a firearm safety video by the National Rifle Association has been found to be ineffective, perhaps because it features a cartoon bird called Eddie Eagle rather than an authority figure, Bushman said.

Which video the children saw wasn't the only risk factor linked to playing with the gun and not reporting it to adults. Being a boy was a risk factor, as was watching more age-inappropriate movies (which may include violence) and having an interest in guns.

Kids who had previously received firearms training were less at risk, as were those who had negative attitudes about guns.

Another protective factor was having a gun in the home, the study found.

"Research shows that gun owners talk to their children more often about gun safety than non-gun owners," Kjrvik said.

The researchers also had children in the study watch a short clip of a violent PG-rated movie either with guns, or with the guns digitally removed, before they went into the playroom. The researchers had theorized that kids who watched the movie clips with guns would be more likely to play with the gun in the lab, but there was no effect.

"But the fact that kids who watched more age-inappropriate movieswhich often include violent use of gunswere more at risk of playing with the gun makes us believe that media use does have an effect," Bushman said.

Overall, the study provides a realistic and relatively easy way to help stem gun injuries and deaths among children, Kjrvik and Bushman said.

"We recommend that adults teach children about gun safety and reduce their exposure to age-inappropriate media," the authors wrote.

More information: A Gun Safety Video Can Reduce Children's Unsafe Behavior Around Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Pediatrics (2023). Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics
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Model of the spike protein of the Omicron subvariant BA.5, in which the H69/V70 mutation that is partly responsible for the increased lung cell entry is highlighted in red. Credit: Markus Hoffmann

Omicron-derived virus variants are currently responsible for most SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide. Compared to earlier virus variants, omicron rarely causes severe disease. According to current knowledge, a major reason for this is that omicron infects lung cells less efficiently and therefore causes pneumonia less frequently.

However, an international team including scientists from the German Primate CenterLeibniz Institute for Primate Research, has now identified a mutation in the spike protein of the omicron subvariant BA.5 that enables the virus to efficiently infect lung cells again. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study demonstrates that, over the course of evolution of omicron subvariants, viruses may arise that regain the ability to effectively spread in the lung and cause severe illness in risk patients and people with insufficient immunity.

Omicron subvariants

The BA.1 and BA.2 omicron subvariants dominated the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2022. Compared to previously circulating variants such as the delta variant, these omicron subvariants have in common that they cannot efficiently infect lung cells. Until now, it was unclear whether the omicron subvariant BA.5, which displaced other omicron subvariants in autumn 2022, has a similarly poor ability to infect lung cells.

A team of scientists led by Markus Hoffmann and Stefan Pohlmann from the German Primate Center has now shown that, due to a mutation of the spike protein, BA.5 actually infects lung cells much more efficiently than previous omicron subvariants.

Mutation in the spike protein

The researchers found that the spike protein of the omicron subvariant BA.5 is cleaved more efficiently than in earlier subvariants. Furthermore, the spike protein of BA.5 mediates entry of the virus into lung cells and fuses lung cells with higher efficiency. To investigate how the virus enters lung cells, the researchers used so-called "pseudo-viruses," a safe model system of the real pathogen.

Markus Hoffmann, first author of the study, explains: "We found that BA.5 has acquired a mutation that allows the virus to penetrate lung cells more efficiently than the previously dominant omicron subvariants. Thus, the ongoing evolution of omicron subvariants may produce viruses in the future that efficiently spread into the lower respiratory tract and may cause severe disease, at least in patients without effective immune protection." The altered properties of omicron BA.5 are due to a key mutation known as "H69/V70".

Confirmation with the real virus

To confirm the results with real viruses, Christian Drosten's team at the Virology Department of the ChariteBerlin University Hospital carried out further experiments. The researchers showed that real viruses of the BA.5 strain also infect lung cells efficiently, corroborating the results from Gottingen.

To determine whether omicron BA.5 also infects lung cells in living organisms, researchers at the University of Iowa in the U.S. compared the lungs of mice that were infected with BA.5 with those that received other subvariants. They found that BA.5 replicated up to 1,000 times more efficiently in the lungs of mice compared to earlier omicron subvariants.

In addition, experiments with ferrets at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in GreifswaldInsel Riems, Germany, revealed that the BA.5 subvariant spreads more efficiently in the upper respiratory tract than earlier virus variants.

"All together, this suggests that similarly to other omicron subvariants, BA.5 is highly contagious and has additionally evolved the ability to efficiently infect lung cells," says Stefan Pohlmann, head of the Infection Biology Unit at the German Primate Center. "The further evolution of omicron subvariants should therefore be monitored closely in order to be able to quickly identify variants with increased risk potential."

More information: Markus Hoffmann et al, Omicron subvariant BA.5 efficiently infects lung cells, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39147-4 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A survey of more than 1,000 refugees has shown only permanent protection visas are linked to mental health and social benefits.

UNSW psychologists have compared the long-term psychological and social consequences of changing visa status, showing that any form of temporary visa is associated with worse mental health in refugees compared to permanent secure visas.

The findings, published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, have important policy implications, including the value of providing permanent protection to as many refugees as possible.

Along with study partners at Australian Red Cross and SSI, and Phoenix Australia, University of Melbourne, the UNSW team investigated how refugees' mental health developed after a change from low security visas (e.g. bridging visa) to medium security visas (e.g. temporary protection visa) or high security visas (permanent residency).

The UNSW researchers previously showed that permanent visas are better for refugees' mental healthbut up until this study, they didn't know whether the medium security afforded by temporary protection visas had any benefits over low security visas.

"The findings of our world-first study have confirmed that permanent visas for refugees are associated with improved depression symptoms and social adaptation, like feeling less isolation and lonelinessbut crucially, this was not the case for temporary protection visas," says lead author, UNSW Professor Angela Nickerson.

"Our results suggest that remaining in a state of prolonged insecurity may be associated with poorer long-term mental health outcomes. This highlights the critical importance of safety and security in the resettlement environment to facilitate good adaptation among refugees."

Refugees around the world live in various states of insecurity, ranging from low levels to high levels of security.

"Because the number of permanent settlement places globally are so limited, many refugees around the world live in a state of low security without permanent settlement, with reduced rights and restricted access to employment, financial support, education or health care," says UNSW co-author, Associate Professor Belinda Liddell.

"At the time this study was conducted, temporary protection visas offered a medium level of security in Australia: visa holders were recognized as refugees and could typically access basic health, financial, education and social services, but were required to periodically re-apply for protection and could not access family reunification pathways."

"But we didn't know whether the medium level of security afforded by temporary protection visas translated into better mental health outcomes for refugees compared to low security visas."

Survey shows effect of level of security

The researchers surveyed 1,021 Arabic, Farsi, Tamil or English-speaking refugees or asylum seekers living in Australia who had taken part in a longitudinal study investigating refugee mental health over eight time points from 2015 to 2020.

They analyzed if a change in visa status was associated with changes in depression, social adaptationmeasured through feelings of isolation, loneliness and boredomand immigration-related fears, such as the fear of being deported.

"If temporary visas are indeed giving refugees a sense of security, as is often claimed, we would expect that moving from low to medium visa security would be associated with significant improvements in these measures," Liddell says.

"However, we found there was no change in depression symptoms between those who transitioned to medium visa security and those who maintained low visa security."

The researchers also found that there was no significant difference in social difficulties between those who changed to a medium visa security and those who remained in the low security group.

Liddell says the researchers were somewhat surprised by these findings.

"But they also make sense, because ultimately, a medium security visa is still only a temporary statusup until recently, in Australia, people had confirm their refugee status regularly through visa reapplication," she says.

"And crucially, temporary visa holders still face the possibility of deportation, a possibility of having to return to a country of origin where there are fears for safety, and prolonged family separation. It's very difficult and distressing for people, and not a durable solution for anyone."

Liddell says living without basic security affects the core understanding of who you are as a person and how you see yourself.

"Temporary status and depression are remarkably similarwith both, you don't see a future for yourself. You have this sense of hopelessness and feeling stuck. It's kind of a limbo, you can't go forward and can't go back. Our research shows that even medium levels of security visas carry those implications."

Call for more permanent protection visas

With unprecedented levels of forced displacement globally, many countries are exploring options for best supporting the need to provide safety to refugees.

"This study demonstrates that the positive effects afforded by permanent protection following displacement may not extend to temporary protection," Nickerson says.

"Conversely, there are comparatively negative effects associated with temporary protection."

"In light of our findings, governments could consider restricting temporary protection to brief crisis periods, as provision of permanent protection is likely to lead to better psychological and social outcomes for refugees."

In February 2023, the Australian government announced that refugees in Australia on Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) are eligible to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status visa.

"This action moves towards providing refugees with greater certainty and control over their future. Since these policy changes occurred after the data was collected for this study, it will be important that future research seek to understand the impact of these new policies on refugee mental health and well-being," Liddell says.

Yamamah Agha, General Manager, Newcomers Settlement and Integration, SSI, says SSI's experience of providing programs that support people on permanent and temporary protection visas corroborates these study findings.

"Permanency and security create the foundations for refugees' integration and improved health and well-being," she says.

"Through SSI's work with people on permanent and temporary protection visas we see flow-on effects where improvements in refugees' mental health leads to other positive benefits in areas including employment, further education and improved family relationships."

Vicki Mau, Director of Australian Programs at Australian Red Cross, says the study also shows the importance of family.

"This study also shows that family provide strong protective factors for people," Ms Mau says.

"We know that family separation has a significant direct impact on psychological well-being. Secure visas are often associated with the ability to sponsor family members to come to Australia, an important factor which can also contribute to well-being and support the resettlement process."

More information: Angela Nickerson et al, The mental health effects of changing from insecure to secure visas for refugees, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1177/00048674231177950
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Flies with Complex I deficiency cannot activate the cascade of reactions required to make ATP. When fed 5-ALA+SFC, other protein complexes such as Complex II and IV are more active and help bypass the lack of CI. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have shown that 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) helps bypass deficiencies in Complex I (CI), the first in a series of protein complexes that transport electrons and help power the mitochondria. They revealed that fruit flies missing the analogous protein showed improved health when given a cocktail of drugs including 5-ALA. CI deficiency is responsible for the majority of mitochondrial disorders, and the team's findings might lead to new therapies.

Mitochondrial diseases arise from problems in the mitochondria, a small organelle in cells which produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a chemical fuel that powers a vast array of biochemical processes in our bodies. Issues are particularly acute in more energy intensive parts of the body such as the brain and muscles, causing severe issues such as mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, a debilitating condition. Sadly, there is currently no cure. Scientists around the world continue to be on the lookout for effective treatments.

Complex I (CI) deficiency is a common cause of mitochondrial disorders. Complex I is the first of a series of protein complexes that help transport electrons to power reactions in the mitochondria which ultimately lead to the production of ATP. However, this is not the only way in which ATP is made; it is known that Complex II, III, IV and cytochrome c can also provide electrons to the same process, but whether this could be leveraged to counteract CI deficiency was not known.

Now, a team led by Associate Professor Kanae Ando of Tokyo Metropolitan University have shown that certain chemical supplements might help selectively boost CII and CIV to bypass the lack of CI. They studied fruit flies with their equivalent of CI artificially reduced by genetic engineering; flies with this genetic "knockdown" showed problems with their movement and shorter lifespans. However, they found that feeding them a mixture of 5-aminovulenic acid and sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) helped improve their locomotor functions and neuromuscular junction development. Levels of ATP were also significantly improved, but this was not due to any elevation in the amount of CI. The findings are published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

On closer inspection, the team ascertained that activities of Complex II and IV were elevated and helped bypass the issues associated with CI deficiency. 5-ALA is known to be a precursor to heme, a critical part of the function of Complex II, III, IV and cytochrome c. On being fed 5-ALA, the fruit flies showed a metabolic shift that used the ability of CII and CIV to transport electrons and power the production of ATP. They also noticed that flies with CI deficiency had elevated levels of pyruvate and lactate in their cells, much like human patients with CI deficiency suffering from lactic acidosis. 5-ALA also helped bring down the levels of both.

Despite the severity of mitochondrial disorders, there is as of yet no treatment that addresses the root cause of the vast array of health issues they may cause. The team's findings promise not only new insight but potentially new therapeutic options for a whole class of deadly diseases.

More information: Naoko Nozawa et al, 5-Aminolevulinic acid bypasses mitochondrial complex I deficiency and corrects physiological dysfunctions in Drosophila, Human Molecular Genetics (2023). DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad092 Journal information: Human Molecular Genetics
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In October 2022, two menstrual cups launched toward space. Contained in a small metal box designed by aerospace engineers, they hurtled to an altitude of 3 kilometers on the Portuguese rocket Baltasar, experienced a few minutes of microgravity, then came back down, returning to Earth unharmed.

"They performed very well," said astrobiology researcher Ligia Fonseca Coelho, who co-designed the AstroCup payload project, one of two experimental payloads (cargo not essential to the mission) on the rocket launched by Tecnico University, in Lisbon, Portugal.

"Now we know that cups made by Lunette, and probably other brands, are very resilient in the turbulence and microgravity of a rocket launch," she said.

The experiment was one small step for two menstrual cups but a huge leap toward giving options to menstruating astronauts, especially on longer missions to Mars or the moon.

Aerospace engineers on the six-person AstroCup team designed and built the 100-by-100-by-50 millimeter container with instruments to measure accelerations, pressure, temperature and humidity. The astrobiologists of the team, including Coelho, compared the cups contained in the box before and after launch and recently completed follow-up tests on the two menstrual cups.

"Women's health in space is an understudied area of research," said Coelho, a Fulbright postdoctoral researcher in astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). "Certain topics, such as menstruation, are taboo, so we don't talk about it, and if we don't talk about it, people are not going to invest in it."

Problems related to life in space are never far from Coelho's mind. As part of the team of Lisa Kaltenegger, associate professor of astronomy and director of the Carl Sagan Institute (A&S), she measures the reflective spectra of colorful microbes, building a catalog of biosignatures so telescopes can be designed to look for color-based signs of life.

Before doing her work in astrobiology, she was a cancer researcher and invented a urinary tract infection diagnosis kit that could be useful for long space missions with limited crew. Her childhood dream of working as mission control has evolved into designing payload experiments, such as the AstroCup project, that imagine and plan for human life beyond Earth.

"In space, we are mainly dependent on what we bring from Earth," she said. "It's in these little things where we see gaps still existing in the technology of medical devices."

Most astronauts who menstruate stop their periods hormonally before traveling to space. For monthslong International Space Station missions, they can choose not to, but the only other option currently available, Coelho said, is to pack in disposable pads or tampons and pack out the used products at a considerable cost. (NASA estimates the current rate at $10,000 per pound launched into space.)

Efforts are underway on Earth to educate women about sustainable options, such as reusable menstrual cups. When Coelho learned in 2019 that reusable options weren't even part of space agency planning, she started working to extend the same options to future space travelers, who may be out in space for years.

"If you say to a woman, 'you have to put your reproductive system on hold for five years and this is the only way you can go to Mars,' we are going to have problems," Coelho said. "With AstroCup, what we really wanted was not only to launch the cup but to launch this conversation."

Coelho planned the 2022 AstroCup experiment as a side project with a group of colleagues: Catarina Miranda, a fellow astrobiologist who is currently working in science communication; and aerospace engineersCatarina Pereira, Miguel Morgado, Joao Canas and Diogo Nunes. It wasn't Coelho's first payload competition; in 2019, she and collaborators from the MIT/Portugal Programa collaboration including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Portuguese universities and research institutions and the Portuguese government and industrywon a payload spot on Blue Origin's New Shepard Rocket, testing the effect of microgravity on photosynthetic microorganisms that could eventually be used in astronauts' food.

Several companies wanted to take part; the AstroCup team selected Finland-based Lunette for its sustainable mission and its positive approach to giving women options.

After the flight, scientific tests using water and glycerol (an analog for blood) proved that Lunette cups remain functional through the turbulence and microgravity experienced during a suborbital rocket launch.

The team's next objective is to put the cups in the International Space Station to test for long exposure to radiation. They are meeting with academic research teams and companies to find the best opportunity.

The ultimate goal of the AstroCup project is to ensure that the people who go on extended space missionsincluding to Marscan have choices in as many life processes as possible.

"It's already going to be uncomfortable to not have air to breathe, to not have water from a natural source to drink. They won't have the same amount of gravity. Sleeping is going to be weird," Coelho said. "Let's make them as comfortable as possible so they can have their normal human processes happen in a positive way, so they can focus on finding life on Mars, on building the colony, on putting us in the next frontier."
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers have cracked how a particular type of immune cell develops in the body and protects against infection and disease. And the discovery could help in the development of more preventive treatments, according to a new study.

The research, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Federation University Australia, has uncovered how these specialized white blood cells operate and can produce an immune response.

Associate Professor Dan Pellicci said by understanding the function of these cells, they could be harnessed to help prevent cancer and highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Strep A and tuberculosis.

Published in Science Immunology, the study involved samples donated to the Melbourne Children's Heart Tissue Bank from heart surgery patients up to 16 years old. From these samples, the researchers looked at the role of "gamma delta T cells" within the thymus gland, a small organ located within the chest, close to the heart.

Associate Professor Pellicci said the study showed for the first time how this organ produced these infection-fighting immune cells.

"We have large numbers of these specialized cells in our blood and tissues, which accumulate as we become adults. Until our study, it was unclear how these cells develop in the body," he said.

"We have shown how these cells are trained over three stages, similar to receiving a primary, secondary and tertiary education, and fully formulate within the thymus. Following this education, the cells are ready to enter the rest of the body and are completely capable of fighting infections."

Associate Professor Pellicci said previous studies suggested that these immune cells were mainly derived in the liver during a baby's development in the womb, but this research debunked that theory.

"Many experts assumed that after birth, the thymus played little role in the development of these cells as we age, but we now know this little unsung organ helps the body prepare for a lifetime of good health," he said.

"The more we know about these cells the greater the likelihood of unlocking new ways to treat infectious diseases and cancer."

Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Federation University, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne Center for Cardiovascular Genomics and Regenerative Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research also contributed to the findings.

More information: Louis Perriman et al, A three-stage developmental pathway for human V9V2 T cells within the postnatal thymus, Science Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abo4365 Journal information: Science Immunology
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A research team led by Joshua Pearce has developed a new 3-D printed, completely open-source autoinjector for a tenth of the cost of a commercially purchased product. Credit: Anjutha Selvaraj

Sir Frederick Banting was clearly ahead of his time. He is also an inspiration for a new open source self-administering drug delivery device. Long before open source was an option or even a concept, the now-celebrated former Western lecturer refused to patent insulin because he wanted it to be inexpensive and widely available for the betterment of all.

Now, 100 years after Banting won the Nobel Prize for his discovery, Western researchers are at it again. A team led by engineering and Ivey Business School professor Joshua Pearce has developed a new 3D printed, completely open-source autoinjectora device designed to deliver a single dose of medicinefor a tenth of the cost of a commercially purchased product.

A new study, published July 14 in the journal PLOS One, describes the manufacturing design of the spring-driven device, which could cost less than $7 to make while a store-bought version is closer to $70.

"I think of this device, like so much of what we're doing here at Western, very much as following the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you," said Pearce, the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at Western. "It makes the world slightly better to have an open-source version of an autoinjector, especially for people who don't have access or the financial means to purchase a proprietary one."

Autoinjectors are used all over the world by health care practitioners, patients and parents (for children under 12) to inject insulin into people with diabetes. Other chronic conditions such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis can also be treated using an autoinjector. The device is also essential during emergency conditions for migraine, anaphylaxis and status epilepticus patients, as well. Credit: University of Western Ontario

Pearce, along with research assistant Anjutha Selvaraj and post-doctoral associate Apoorv Kulkarni from Western's Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) research group, have created the new open-source autoinjector to make the deviceconsidered more reliable and easier to operate than a simple syringe for self-administering medications into the bodyan equitable alternative to the more expensive options.

Studies show self-administration of medications by patients improves compliance and comfort and empowers patients as they are actively involved in their personal care. It also allows patients to avoid time-consuming and costly visits to the hospital, which is a bonus for overburdened health care systems.

And, as with all open-source hardware, there is money to be made as the digitally replicable device enables low-cost distributed manufacturing. All materials, designs and assembly instructions are also detailed in the new study, and the effectiveness of the autoinjector is tested against the current standard (ISO 11608-1:2022) for needle-based injection systems. It is released with an open source hardware license. Companies wishing to commercialize the device will still need to meet their own local regulatory requirements.

"Does this design make it possible for other people to commercialize it anywhere in the world? Yes, it does," said Pearce. "But more importantly, it means we can really target isolated communities, whether they're in northern Canada, Africa or anywhere in else in the world, and improve health care access for everyone."

More information: Anjutha Selvaraj et al, Open-source 3-D printable autoinjector: Design, testing, and regulatory limitations, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288696 Journal information: PLoS ONE
John Stephenson didnt need a telescoping lens, or a notepad, to count how many sage grouse were flirting near a dirt-covered, melting pile of snow at the north end of Jackson Hole Airports runway.

There were hardly any, and they were right in front of him.

Two males, he said. Four females.

At 6 a.m. on a morning in early May the Jackson Hole Airport lek, ornithologist lingo for a breeding site, was relatively quiet.

Other than the sound of airport machinery in the background, all that could be heard was the two male birds mating calls, which resemble the echo of a fast, tonal drip of water in an empty room.

Thirty years ago the sights and sounds would have been different.

For one, sage grouse would have been promenading in a flat, grassy area north of the runway, a site the birds have since abandoned in favor of the snow pile near a de-icing pad. There also would have been many, many more of the sagebrush ecosystems iconic feathered denizen strutting, puffing their chests and emitting the popping calls.

The number of male birds found on the airport lek in the spring has fallen precipitously: from 63 birds in 1991 to two this year.

They persist, said Stephenson, a Grand Teton National Park wildlife biologist who studies the grouse. But theyre not thriving.

Nationwide, populations of the Canadian and American Wests sagebrush signature bird have plummeted about 80% since 1965. Now, nearly 40% of all sage grouse across the birds range in the United States and Canada live in Wyoming. A small fraction of those grouse  this spring, about 90 males  live in Jackson Hole and mate in Teton park or the National Elk Refuge. Jackson Hole Airport sits on land leased from Grand Teton National Park.

Sage grouse population numbers, like elsewhere in the state, have fluctuated over the past three decades and are near historic lows because of a loss of range and a recent series of harsh winters. But the Jackson Hole Airport lek, one of about 10 in and around Teton park, has declined steadily.

Though its not clear why, exactly, birds no longer are frequenting the lek, wildlife biologists assume that planes are partly to blame.

The airport is a very bad place for those birds to be strutting, to be frank, said Joe Bohne, a retired Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologist who spent 30 years working with sage grouse in the area.

Along with Stephenson and other biologists, Bohne is a member of the Upper Snake River Basin sage grouse working group, which makes recommendations about sage grouse management in the Jackson Hole area and has endorsed plans to encourage grouse to leave the airport.

Theres a lot of noise, theres a lot of disturbance associated with that lek. Its always been a marvel that it had birds coming and continuing to strut in spite of the fact that there was so much human activity, Bohne said. Weve wanted to get them away from there.

The end of a runway, biologists and airport staff have determined, is not a safe place for the birds. Over the past few decades, at least 40 grouse have been hit by jets, primarily in the summer months when hens are more airborne, rearing their brood. Airport and park staff want to prevent future strikes and set up suitable habitat for the birds about a half-mile south of the runway. The hope is to get the birds to move to a roughly 100-acre swath named the McBride site, after the family that homesteaded there.

The airport has sunk nearly a half-million dollars into park restoration work, the result of a 2014 wildlife management plan created after some 30 sage grouse were killed by planes.

There are signs that the plan is starting to work. Biologists found hundreds of grouse droppings on the site this spring.

We call them white Cheetos, Molly Murphy said.

Murphy is the Grand Teton park biologist coordinating the removal of invasive grass called smooth brome that once covered the 100 acres. The process has taken three or so years and has been visible from the road as crews with protective equipment and motorized vehicles have been spraying glyphosate-based herbicide on the grass.

In its place, the park has started seeding a roughly 5-acre lek site with a mixture of low-lying grasses and forbs  plants intended to give sage grouse enough space to strut and clearance to see one another.

Elsewhere on the parcel, they plan to plant a mixture of grasses, forbs and shrubs to create habitat for sage grouse to raise their young. When the birds are brood rearing, hens choose to live in areas with more cover to protect their chicks from predators and help find food.

Park officials have found some scat on the lek, which is farther west. Theyve found much more in the future brood-rearing area to the east. Still, theres no evidence that sage grouse have begun to lek on either site, and theres been no formal survey attempting to understand how much they are using the site. Instead, Laura Jones, the parks branch chief of vegetation management, says the poop is an indication that the restoration work the park is doing has merit.

We know theyre here. Theres a possibility that this habitat can be useful to the population because they are in the vicinity, Jones said. What we dont know is what they were doing here.

Biologists are encouraged because only one change has been made on the turf: the removal of invasive grasses. Native plants havent started to grow and only have been seeded on the 5-acre lek site.

The rest of the area is set to be seeded over the next few years.

The smooth brome, meanwhile, is mostly gone, save for a few pockets of grass that the park plans to eradicate over the same time horizon.

Weve successfully controlled the smooth brome on the site, and the birds found that, Murphy said. Who knows if they liked it or if they didnt. But they came here, and theyve seen it.

Lets see if theyll come around more often, Murphy said.

Stephenson hopes birds will. McBride is situated between the airport, where some birds mate in the spring, and the National Elk Refuge, where they congregate in the winter to eat dirt. As snow melts, those birds start to fly back to historic lek sites.

That McBride site is on the way, Stephenson said.

As vegetation becomes more established, Stephenson said the park hopes to set up decoys on the restored McBride lek and broadcast male mating calls to attract real birds to breed. Older males that are set in their ways likely will return to the airport. But the hope is that younger males establishing their own mating patterns will begin to set up shop at McBride. Birds will not be physically relocated.

For now, however, its not clear whether sage grouse from the airport lek are abandoning the runway or just dying off. Sage grouse populations all around Jackson Hole have fluctuated for decades and have been hovering at near-record lows for the past five years or so.

But since 1991, the airport lek has continuously declined.

That has some onlookers concerned. Kathryn Turner, whose family operates the Triangle X Ranch in Teton park, isnt pleased.

Itd be hard to convince me this was a natural decline, Turner said.

As a kid, Turner used to watch the sage grouse lek on the airport runway in the spring, when the airport prevented flights from landing before noon to protect the birds, she recalled. Airport officials said they have no record of morning closures for wildlife, but pointed to tours that Teton park used to lead, spotlighting the runway lek. Turner said watching the lek is part of what inspired her to become a painter.

Its a National Geographic-level spectacle of nature that is rare and special, Turner said. It breaks my heart that were losing this species in the valley and were losing this stuff in Wyoming.

While grouse have declined, the number of flights coming and going in the national park has skyrocketed, with more than 160 in one day in August last year, many of them private jets.

While sage grouse havent been lost in Jackson Hole, they have declined in a major way since the spring of 2015. That year, wildlife biologists counted just more than 180 males on leks in the Jackson Hole subpopulation, which includes birds in Teton Park and the elk refuge but not in the Gros Ventre mountains. Biologists used counts of males on leks as an approximation of sage grouse population because they return to the same breeding grounds year after year. Females move around more, though they nest near leks.

A series of harsh winters  deeper snow makes sage grouse a target for raptors, and makes it harder for them to find food  and a loss of habitat likely sent the Jackson Hole population into freefall after 2016.

Counts bottomed out at about 40 males in 2019, though theyve since increased. This spring, biologists counted about 90 males on leks.

Sage grouse populations are cyclical. They peak and trough as a result of weather patterns, so some degree of fluctuation is expected, wildlife biologists said. But sage grouse watchers are still worried about the local sage grouse populations ability to rebound from such staggering lows. Theyve been so worried that the Jackson-area working group recommended translocating sage grouse from other parts of Wyoming to the Jackson Hole valley to bolster the population. State officials didnt sign off on that plan.

These last three years are some of the lowest numbers weve had, Stephenson said. If you get too low, youre that much more vulnerable to not being able to rebound.

One other lek near the valley, the Breakneck Lek in the Gros Ventres, had only three males this year, said Aly Courtemanch, a wildlife biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish. But counts at that lek, unlike the airports, have fluctuated with the population.

By contrast, counts at the airport have declined steadily over time, leaving another lek near the Moulton Barns as the valleys largest, a title the lek used to share with the airports inland rookery.

Given the low numbers of sage grouse valleywide, the population-level impacts of the decline at the airport are uncertain.

To lose a major lek in a population thats this small is an impact. Absolutely, Courtemanch said. But is it going to cause the whole population to go extinct? I dont think so.

The airport, meanwhile, is staying the course. Airport spokeswoman Meg Jenkins said staff dont bother the grouse that still hang out near the airport unless theyre on the runway or another aircraft movement area. When they are, airport staff will try to haze them back into the sage. The airport also has allowed grass to grow higher, which makes it harder for grouse to see predators and makes flowers and other common food sources less accessible for the birds.

Jenkins said the airport doesnt bother the animals that arent on the runway, and it closes the north de-icing pad near the lek overnight from March 15 to May 15 to give the grouse space.

If the birds are not active in a movement area, which means the runway area, we let them chill and do their thing, Jenkins said.

Still, Turner made the case that the whole situation shows that having an airport in a national park is less than ideal. Short of causing a delay on the runway or asking a plane to circle temporarily overhead, Federal Aviation Administration rules prevent the airport from dictating when planes can or cant land because of wildlife concerns.

Pouring more and more airplanes into this national park is having an impact, Turner said of the FAA. This is our park. This is their park. I think it should be considered differently when plans are made.

But Bohne said the airport is something the park  and its feathered, beleaguered denizens  is going to have to live with.

Its a really lousy place for an airport from a wildlife perspective and a park perspective, but its there, Bohne said. The question is, Can the Park Service maintain wildlife habitat outside and away from the airport to mitigate or offset whats going on with the airport?

The McBride project, Bohne said, is a reasonable try.
Opioid addiction is something that has touched many peoples lives in Burke County, be it a sibling, child, mother, father, other relative or friend.

It not only has touched those lives, but many have been devastated when a loved one has succumbed to the addiction and died.

But there are people working in Burke and surrounding counties to help remove the stigma of addiction and help those addicted recover.

On Wednesday, Author Beth Macy helped kick off the inaugural community forum on substance use disorder at CoMMA in Morganton. She is the author of the book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America, which was turned into a limited series on Hulu. Her latest book is Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of Americas Overdose Crisis, and some of it takes place in Burke and Catawba counties.

Kathy Colville, PhD, president and CEO of the N.C. Institute of Medicine, led a discussion with Macy that touched on how she, a newspaper reporter, came to delve into the world of opioids, big pharma, addiction and recovery.

Dr. Anthony Frank, chief medical officer for UNC Health Blue Ridge and vice chairman of the Burke County Health Department Board of Directors, kicked off the inaugural community forum on substance use disorder.

Frank told those gathered that Burke County was second in the state for drug overdose deaths between 2019 and 2021. In fact, substance use disorder is one of three top health priorities identified in the 2022 Burke Community Health Assessment, he said.

He said substance use disorder isnt a respecter of race, gender, religion, zip codes or socioeconomic status. He told the crowd they would be surprised at the people they know who have devastating stories about substance use disorder.

Several people during the forum told about the loved one they had lost to addiction.

Their stories came during the question-and-answer session of the forum with Macy.

One mother told of losing her son at nearly 42 years old to an overdose.

My thoughts after I hear all this is adult parents or significant others need to be educated on how to deal with this problem. Because its a family affair, the mother, who didnt give her name, said. Through Jeremys addiction and that roller coaster ride, as we all call it, we are collateral damage. And because of that, we, too, almost became as sick as he was.

She said she and other family members hoped that if they intervened and got him to rehab, he would be great and it would be over.

And that was a lie, the mother said.

Her hope and prayer, she said, is that Burke County will get rid of the stigma that we have cultivated over time that all the homeless are addicted, or the homeless are criminals, or that those addicted are criminals or that they can help it.

My son was taught, Oh, if you have the willpower you can do it, the mother said. What a lie.

Donnie Potter, a county commissioner for Caldwell County, said for years he was guilty of that stigma about addiction and those addicted. He was one of those who thought if those who are addicted want to fix themselves they can, if they want to stop they can.

Potter said he grew up with a mother who was an alcoholic. And he lost his stepson to addiction.

He thanked Macy for writing Dopesick because he said it changed his perspective completely on addiction, calling it a remarkable change.

The shame and embarrassment of having a son whos an addict is difficult, Potter said. Theres probably people in this room right here who have family who maybe are addicted. Theres no shame because I promise you, theres more people that are being affected by it than you think there are. But again, I just want to thank you for all youre doing and thank you for, you know, bringing the awareness out here to everybody because it is important and important conversation.

Potter then went on to say they need to hold the government accountable and shut down the southern border of the U.S.

Macy said while she thinks its important to stop it coming over, she said there are 7 minion people in the U.S. who wake up every day dopesick. She said those people will find a new way to get it.

What, she said, needs to be worked on is the demand for the drugs.

Michelle Mathis, executive director of Olive Branch Ministry, is on the ground every day working on the demand for it in the area.

She said they have had a low-barrier Mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment Unit, or suboxone, and hepatitis C treatment program for three years. They also soon will be adding a licensed clinical social worker through High Country Community Health that will be going out with their nurse practitioner, Tim Nolan, to meet those addicted where they are.

So, well be able to cover the highways and the byways of Burke County, unlike weve been able to do in the past, Mathis said.

Four weeks ago, the unit pulled up in an abandoned parking lot near South Mountains where 10 people had been staying. She said five of the 10 tested positive for hepatitis C, all of which have now received medication for it.

Without the syringe services and hepatitis C testing and treatment, there would be a risk of seeing an epidemic of it, which Burke has been close to at times, Mathis said. She said they have a success cure rate of 75% because theyre taking the medication to those who need it and continuing to test as the course of medication is given.

Mathis said its similar to the old-fashioned medical model where doctors and nurses made house calls. And its one of the few models like it in the country, she said, to the point where they get asked by providers to talk about the model throughout the country. Mathis said she was in Salt Lake City six weeks ago discussing the model.

To see what Olive Branch Ministry is doing, visit https://olivebranchministry.org.

To watch the forum with Macy, visit youtube.com/watch?v=2RhiZYo24LQ.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina recently welcomed Katherine Ehrlichman as the land trusts new Marketing and Communications Manager.

In this role, Ehrlichman will manage Foothills Conservancys online and print marketing, social media, email communication, media relationships and overall marketing needs.

Foothills Conservancys staff and board are excited to have Katherine joining the team, said Executive Director Andrew Kota. She has valuable experience working with brands in the outdoor industry and will continue to grow awareness of Foothills Conservancy and the work were doing in Western North Carolina.

As an Asheville native and graduate of UNC Asheville, Ehrlichman brings over 15 years of experience working in the outdoor industry and is passionate about land and water conservation. Prior to accepting the position with FCNC, she was part of the Marketing and Merchandising team at Kitsbow Apparel.

Im happy to be working with an organization whose values align with my own, specifically around preserving our precious resources for generations to come, said Ehrlichman. I feel honored to contribute to the success of this organization and proud to support the efforts to protect the beautiful land that we are fortunate enough to call home.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 68,000 acres in its eight county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.
The Iowa Board of Nursing has suspended the license of a nursing home caregiver accused of accepting $8,000 from a patient, being under the influence while on duty, theft and drug offenses.

In July 2022, the board of nursing charged Tiffany Banghart of Cedar Rapids with initiating an emotional or business relationship with a patient for personal gain, and with soliciting, borrowing or misappropriating money from a patient.

According to the board, Banghart admitted that while working as a home health nurse, she told a patient of financial hardships she was facing and accepted $8,000 from the patient.

As a result of those charges, the board placed Bangharts license on probation for one year.

A few weeks later, in September 2022, Banghart was arrested and charged with theft, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Those charges are still pending. At the time of her arrest, Banghart was working in an Iowa nursing home and allegedly admitted to a board investigator she smoked marijuana on occasion. According to the board, a mental health evaluator then reported that Banghart was not in a good head space to function effectively as a nurse.

In November 2022, Heritage Specialty Care, the nursing home where Banghart worked, notified the board of an incident. According to the board, the administrator of the facility reported that Banghart was on duty when she notified other staff members that she was falling asleep, unable to see her computer screen and was incapable of passing medications to patients. She was allegedly described by the staff as glassy eyed, with slurred speech and erratic behavior.

When asked to submit to a drug screen, she allegedly refused and left the facility with keys to the narcotics-storage unit. A Cedar Rapids police officer went to her home to retrieve the keys and reported Banghart must have taken more of what she already had when she left Heritage Specialty Care, as her eyes were wild and glassy. Banghart was fired.

On Dec. 1, 2022, Banghart was arrested on a charge of theft related to a shoplifting incident at a Walmart store. A trial on that charge was scheduled for July 5, and a bench warrant was issued for Bangharts arrest when she failed to appear in court.

A few days after the December arrest, Banghart was arrested again and charged with possession of marijuana, which resulted in a guilty plea to a lesser charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

In January, the board filed charges against Banghart, alleging unauthorized possession or use of a controlled substance and being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety. At a recent board hearing, Banghart testified that the controlled substances police found on her on two separate occasions belonged to others and she denied being under the influence at work in November 2022. She allegedly said she had not sought substance abuse treatment as recommended because she believed it to be unwarranted.

The board ultimately concluded Banghart was not capable of safely practicing nursing and suspended her license indefinitely. The boards order indicates her license cannot be reinstated unless she completes treatment and establishes that the reasons for suspension no longer exist and it is in the public interest for her license to be reinstated.

More nurses sanctioned

Other Iowa nurses recently sanctioned by the board include:

Laura Krugle of Cedar Rapids, who worked for the Iowa Department of Corrections as a registered nurse at the Anamosa State Penitentiary in 2021. The board charged Krugle with making sexual comments to a patient and attempting to initiate a personal relationship with a patient. The board alleged that while passing pills at the correctional facility, Krugle initiated a lengthy, personal conversation with an inmate, then contacted the inmate by email using a false name to conceal her identity, and then engaged the inmate in written conversations of a sexual nature. The board placed Krugles license on probation for one year.

Elizabeth Anderson of Nebraska City, Nebraska, who was charged by the board with behavior contradictory to professional decorum and failing to notify the board of a criminal conviction. On more than one occasion, the board alleged, Anderson purchased alcohol while on her lunch break and in uniform. Court records indicate that in November 2022, she was arrested and charged with stealing a bottle of vodka from a Caseys General Store in Page County. After pleading guilty to a charge of theft, Anderson was fined $105. Anderson recently agreed to surrender her license to practice nursing in Iowa.

Tina Sohm of Ida Grove, who was charged with falsifying records and committing an act that may adversely affect a patient. The board alleged that while Sohm was working at an unspecified care center, she improperly prepared multiple medications for residents rather than doing them one at a time to guard against errors; intentionally completed patient medical charts under another individuals name; was unable to account for the disposition of two controlled substances; and improperly charted that the drugs had been discarded. The board recently ordered Sohm to complete 60 hours of education on professional ethics.

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The Court of Appeal has denied a former University of Nairobi (UoN) student a compensation of Sh500,000 which had been awarded by the High Court.

Inganga Alfred Arunga, a UoN Kisumu campus student, had sued the institution for confiscating his degree certificate on allegations of hacking the universitys computer system to print fake transcripts.

The student file the suit after he went to collect transcripts on January 23, 2017, after graduating with a Bachelors of Laws (LLB) degree in December 2016, only to find what he termed an unpleasant surprise awaiting him.

While there, my degree certificate was confiscated by an official of the University who informed me that he had a tip from an anonymous source that I graduated through deceit and fraud, he said.

Dr Henry Mutoro the Universitys Academic Vice Chancellor (VC) countered his argument saying that an anonymous whistleblower exposed him through an email to the Universitys VC dated December 5, 2016.

He said the student hacked the Universitys transcript software, faked its rubber stamp and signature of the Universitys Dean-School of Law which he used to generate his transcripts fraudulently, argued Mutoro.

The High Court awarded Mr Arunga a sum of Sh500,000 as general damages for the delay which frustrated his academic journey to join Kenya School of Law (KSL).

But UoN moved to the Appellate Court arguing that the award was excessive and generic.

They also said it would set a dangerous precedent, opening a door for inept students to claim violations of rights for their failure to fulfill the requirements of attaining a degree legitimately.

The Court of Appeal judges in Kisumu upheld the Universitys argument, stating that the confiscation of the degree certificate was not deemed injurious enough to warrant the High Courts awarded amount.

I do not think the circumstances in this case warranted the award of Sh500,000 as general damages for Arungas violation of the right to fair administrative action, said Justice Joel Ngugi in a judgment endorsed by his peers Francis Tuiyott and Jamila Mohammed.

Not every constitutional violation warrants monetary compensation. Given the expedition with which the whole matter was handled, and given that Arunga did not demonstrate the universitys internal grievance (solving) mechanisms were inadequate.

The Judges further mentioned that Arunga, who did not enroll in the law school as originally intended, failed to adequately demonstrate that he experienced emotional distress or other significant consequences to justify the awarded amount.
Kenyas economy is vibrant. Its a dynamic space where emerging technologies are actively playing a key role in shaping economic development.

Kenya has proven to be a pioneering force in leveraging these technologies, particularly in areas like digital finance and agriculture.

Digital Revolution and Financial Inclusion

Kenyas digital revolution truly took flight with the advent of M-PESA, the ubiquitous mobile money platform. It proved to be a game-changer, democratizing access to financial services for millions of previously unbanked citizens.

By enabling people to conveniently send, receive and save money on their mobile phones, M-PESA has catalyzed economic participation and empowerment across the country.

But the story doesnt end with M-PESA. The fintech landscape in Kenya has continued to evolve and diversify. Digital banks, online microfinance solutions, and innovative lending platforms have also entered the fray.

These fintech innovations are not only catering to underserved populations but also spurring entrepreneurial activity and economic growth.

None of this would be possible without a supportive regulatory environment. Kenyas regulatory policies have played a key role in shaping this flourishing digital finance ecosystem, striking a delicate yet effective balance.

Technological Advancements in Agriculture

Agriculture accounts for approximately a third of Kenyas GDP, and its here that we see the transformative power of technology. The uptake of smart agriculture technologies  including Internet of Things (IoT) devices and drone technology  has proven to be very promising.

These tools are helping Kenyan farmers optimize resource use, improve crop yields, and even predict market trends.

Twiga Foods  a tech-driven agricultural startup from Kenya  is a perfect example of this.

The companys operations revolve around the purchase of fresh produce from farmers, which they then distribute to vendors. Their technology addresses inefficiencies in the supply chain and tackles issues like the high cost of food and also food wastage.

Farmers are seeing a lot of benefits from other forms of technology, too. Innovative tools like the economic calendar are allowing them to track and forecast global agricultural trends.

This helps them plan their planting and harvesting cycles more strategically, enhancing their operations productivity.

The Influence of ICT

Both the education and workforce sectors in Kenya have seen great benefits from Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

E-learning platforms have brought quality education to remote corners of the country, breaking geographical and socio-economic barriers. This has led to students engaging in interactive learning experiences from the comfort of their homes or local community centers.

ICT is also changing how Kenyans work and is shaping the future of the job market. As digital literacy improves, more people are acquiring the skills needed for the digital economy. Government policies have also been instrumental in fostering this shift.

By integrating ICT into the education system and promoting digital skills training programs, the government is laying the groundwork for the workforce of the future.

Kenya is carving a unique path. The country is using emerging technologies to boost economic development and inclusivity.

From the digital financial revolution to tech-empowered agriculture and ICT-driven education, Kenya is definitely on the right trajectory.
Janny Kathomi, a social worker, was deeply distressed during her routine job when she had a firsthand encounter with girls resorting to using rags during menstruation or even skipping school entirely to avoid the embarrassment associated with their monthly periods.

In an interview with Silas Nyamweya for the Nairobian, Ms Kathomi spoke about her motivation for starting a support program aimed at providing free sanitary pads to vulnerable girls. She embarked on this initiative using her own resources.

What inspired your commitment to supporting vulnerable girls with sanitary pads?

When I started working at a school in Korogocho slum in 2014, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of period poverty. Girls would frequently miss school during their menstrual cycles, which compelled me to take action. Initially, I used my small salary to purchase sanitary pads for the girls, but in 2016, a friend recognised my passion and advised me to seek support from others. Thus, the Slum Girls Initiative (formerly known as I AM A Girl Foundation) was born, now a registered CBO.

Can you share any personal experiences that have influenced your humanitarian projects?

Growing up, I witnessed my parents helping those in need, and that significantly shaped my character. My love for children developed during my formative years, and I always aspired to work with them. Although my family faced its own struggles, we were perceived as rich, which did not sit well with me.

How many girls have you been able to support thus far?

We have supported over 10,000 girls to date.

Could you share a particularly moving case or cases that you have encountered while working with these girls?

One case that will forever remain etched in my memory involves a girl who was defiled by her guardian, to whom she was entrusted after her mother passed away. With the help of our partner, Tumaini Trust, we provided her with medical assistance and therapy. Since the defilement had occurred months prior, and the girl remained silent, the perpetrator could not be apprehended. Due to using unsanitary materials during her periods, the girl developed a severe infection, which she disclosed during one of our safe space sessions. I immediately took her to the hospital for treatment.

Have you received any recognition for your efforts?

As of now, I have not received any formal recognition. However, the community members have bestowed upon me a great honour by naming two children born in Korogocho after me. This act holds significant meaning in African culture, and it means a lot to me.

How have these efforts impacted your personal life?

Through these initiatives, I have gained valuable experience, skills, and knowledge, enabling me to address complex cases beyond my initial expertise. Previously, carrying out this work was challenging and inflexible due to financial constraints. Now, with organized funds, I can cover some of the expenses associated with our mission, such as setting up systems, purchasing sanitary pads, and transporting them to various locations.

How do you acquire the resources to undertake these projects?

A significant portion of the resources comes from my personal funds earned through various jobs. Generous Kenyans and our partner, Tumaini Trust Kenya, have also played a vital role in funding our Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and Machine on Wheels programmes.
Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, on Saturday, kicked off the preventive program against drug and substance abuse in schools at the Dagoretti High School in Nairobi.

In a function attended by the Area MP, John Kiarie (KJ), the 2131 boy students were taken through the danger of alcohol, drug and substance abuse by officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).

The team of Nacada officials was led by the National Compliant Officer NACADA, James Macharia, and spoke to students about the dangers of alcohol, drug and substance abuse during interactive break-out sessions that included how drugs are added in cakes, cookies and juices.

Pastor Dorcas expressed her delight in seeing the boys, emphasizing her desire for Kenya to have strong, bright and drug free boys and men, securing the future of the nation.

In every epoch of history, the satanic agenda is to destroy the boy child. The deliverance of this nation is planted in the boy child. The future hope of this nation is in you (boy students). You cannot afford to engage yourself in this drug menace, or the marriage of a man and another man. We must reject what is not in divine order, she said.

Pastor Dorcas also shared her life story to encourage the boys, especially those from humble backgrounds not to look down on themselves.

In the 1970s, I was living in Kiandutu slums, Thika Sub-County and my legs were infested with jiggers. I have come to tell those from obscure backgrounds, it is possible, and nothing is impossible. A ghetto cannot stop you from going where you want to go. The lack of school fees does not stop you. Your dream and vision is valid. There is a God who can lift you from nothing to something, she said.

The Chair of the School Board, Simon Kinuthia, said This is a day when a seed has been planted and will be seen in very many ways in the future.

MP Kiarie appreciated the OSDP for including the school in their programs. We believe the seed you shall plant here shall do us good in future. We believe today, you shall help us in molding these young men into whom they will become. These boys will be men of value, service and integrity.

Acting DCC, Dagoretti Sub-County, John Kanyira, said Dagoretti High had contributed greatly in shaping the lives of leaders in the nation, including the current area MP, John Kiarie. He, however, acknowledged the problem of drug abuse in the area.

We have a problem with drugs in this region. I call upon the students who live around Dagoretti, and also the teachers to help us fight the drug menace in this area. Your visit, Your Excellency, Pastor Dorcas, and the call by the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, for us to fight the abuse of drugs is something we are engaged in, and are committed until it comes to an end. We will not sit around and watch as our children and parents are destroyed by drugs, said DCC Kanyira.

The event was hosted by Chief Principal, Lawrence Nyakweba. The Schools Patron of the Christian Union, Moses Mutinda, and CU officials led the gathering in a time of devotion.

The OSDP is running the boy child program that includes both preventive and curative pillars against the abuse of drugs and other substances. In May this year, Pastor Dorcas visited drug dens in the streets of Mombasa and also the Miritini Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa.
Ardshinbank became a partner of Sevan Startup Summit 2023

ICRC transports 13 patients from Artsakh to Armenia

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
Ardshinbank became a partner of Sevan Startup Summit 2023

ICRC transports 13 patients from Artsakh to Armenia

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
International players, each in their own way and cleverness, are trying to exonerate themselves in advance from the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) tragedy. Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the opposition "With Honor" Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia and a security expert, wrote about this on Facebook. He added as follows:

"The collective West is showing that it is making great efforts to resolve the Artsakh issue, but in fact it is ensuring a peaceful Azerization for Artsakh. The Russians were saying that we were offering an Armenian Artsakh, but Armenias authorities are handing [it] over at any cost.

"[The fact] that the majority of the [Armenian] public has no doubt that Armenias authorities serve Turkish agendas, but international players must realize that this policy of theirs will lead to the regional end of some of them.

"If they want to convince the RF [(Russian Federation)] that it is not working for them simply because Armenias authorities do not want [it], then it is obvious that the RF is not guided only by the wishes of specific countries in the regions of its influence.

"Finally, Russian soldiers are in Artsakh, and not only is the Russian mediation mission being buried before their eyes, but the way is being paved for the process of pushing the RF out of the region.

"I am still not talking about the behavior of Azerbaijanis to devalue, discredit and ridicule Russia.

"And no matter how much the Ukrainian front is a priority for the Russians, it needs to be realized that there are things that will be too late later because the train is already moving."
I consider wrong the approach that if Armenias authorities have recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, what should the international community do? Once Pol Pot, being an elected leader in Cambodia, had massacred his people. At that time, the international community did not say Pol Pot is elected. That's not our bag! On the contrary, it was called democide, and it was stopped by international forces. Larisa Alaverdyan, the first Human Rights Defender (ombudsperson) of Armenia, told this to reporters during Mondays protest in front of the UN office in Yerevan.

"We demand the international community to nod their heads less and say: Well, if Armenia has already recognized, what should we do? Where did all the international duties go? We have come [here] to express that. [Armenias PM]," she added, in particular.

Commenting on Azerbaijan's proposal to transport humanitarian aid to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) via the Aghdam-Stepanakert motorway, a Alaverdyan said that this simply asserts that Artsakh is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan.

Regarding the notion that Armenia recognizes Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, Alaverdyan emphasized: "You can recognize. But what do you have to do with the territories on which Armenia's sovereignty does not extend? [Armenias PM] Nikol Pashinyan's signature under the November 9[, 2020] [trilateral] statement is not legal because Armenia's sovereignty does not extend to the territories under which he signed."

According to Alaverdyan, Europe is indifferent to the fate of the Armenians of Artsakh.

"They are interested in two things: one is for Russia to leave the region, the second is for Iran to weaken as much as possible and not be able to compete with Turkey," Armenia's first ombudsperson noted.

"Artsakh, as an unrecognized state, has a partial international legal entity; and as such, it can petition to any [court of] instance. For example, it is written in the UN Charter that regardless of whether a state is a member of the UN or not, it can petition [to the UN] when it is threatened. On the other hand, there is the UN UNICEF office [in Armenia]. Well, where are you? Well, aren't those 30 thousand [in Artsakh] children? We demand that UNICEF immediately start working with the children who are under the so-called blockade in Artsakh. It is not a blockade, it is a genocidal method. It is an attempt at genocide, and the attempt is just as punishable as the genocide," stressed Larisa Alaverdyan.
By and large, this is the greatest danger for us in humanitarian, political, and security aspects. It is in no way acceptable that Azerbaijan, by closing the Lachin corridor, is trying to put us in an unbearable situation in order to extract concessions from us, including by the transfer of humanitarian goods from the territory of Azerbaijan to Artsakh. Artak Beglaryan, advisor to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President, told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, referring to the fact that Azerbaijan has proposed the delivery of humanitarian goods to Artsakh via the Aghdam-Stepanakert motorway.

"This form of pressure itself is an international crime. However, in this regard, there was [European Council President] Charles Michel's statement, which is very painful, very unacceptable to us that he is giving in to similar Azerbaijani criminal traps. In any case, the official Stepanakert will make an additional statement in this regard," he said.

Beglaryan noted that the Lachin corridor is the only internationally approved road that connects Artsakh to Armenia and the whole world.

"It is also a humanitarian corridor; no other road can replace that corridor," the Artsakh presidential advisor added.
Kimi Cottmeyer thought she had the flu. But after going to urgent care and getting a complete blood count, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Shortly after, her body went into blast crisis, meaning abnormal white blood cells had spread into her tissues and organs beyond the bone marrow. Thats when her doctor told her she needed to go to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

I was terrified, of course, but I cant describe how walking into Emory made me feel. From the minute I got there, I had an overwhelming feeling of confidence. I believed in them from day one, Cottmeyer said.

Cottmeyers doctors discussed treatment with her. I know they see so many patients, but they treated me like, We are here for you, she recalled. While preparing for a bone marrow transplant called for some of the strongest chemotherapy drugs, Cottmeyer found strength and confidence in knowing she was receiving the best care available.

The transplant was successful, and Cottmeyers cancer is now in remission, with no evidence of disease. She now volunteers at Winship, comforting cancer patients as they receive treatment. Volunteering, for me, is part of healing. Theres physical healing, but theres a lot of mental and emotional healing that has to come, too, she said. I tell them, I know exactly what youre going through. I was sitting in a chair just like that.

Finding hope in the Winship community

Cottmeyer watched the Winship 5K from Emory University Hospital in 2019 while receiving treatment. Inspired by the thousands of walkers, runners, and supporters, she began walking around the hospital with her IV pole in tow. She decided that after treatment, her first goal would be to participate in the event. And two years later, she did just that. Cottmeyer said of her experience, There was a time when I couldnt walk five steps, and now, I can walk a 5K.

The Winship 5K is more than a road race. Its an opportunity for the Winship community of survivors, family members, friends, patients, and staff members to come together and support the incredible work being done every day at Winship. This year, Cottmeyer plans to lead her team, Guten Tag, Yall, across the finish line again.

Beyond participating in the 5K, her team raises money for cancer research. Winship is bustling with everything you can think of as far as cancer prevention, treatment, and research. I am proud to support Winship through volunteering and raising money, Cottmeyer said. Since 2011, the Winship 5K has raised more than $8.4 million.

The Winship community is filled with people like Kimi Cottmeyer. Every day, they inspire us to look beyond the disease and focus on the patient, their families, and the people who love them. I believe the work we are doing has the real possibility of ending cancer in our lifetime. And the funds raised through Winship 5K help get us there, said Amelia A. Langston, MD, director, Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Winship Cancer Institute.

This year, participants can join the Winship community in person or virtually. The 13th annual Winship 5K will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, on Emorys main campus. The Peachtree Road Race-qualifier starts on McDonough Field and takes runners and walkers through the heart of Emory, with the close community of survivors, caregivers, family members, and friends cheering along the way. Those participating virtually can upload results and share them with friends and family.
23:58

One person was killed and at least seven others were injured on Monday in a clash between alleged encroachers and forest guards at the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district of Assam, officials said.





Nagaon Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer Jayanta Deka claimed that alleged encroachers, who were earlier evicted from the forest, have been 'trying to occupy land again' inside the sanctuary in the past few days.





"Today, around 800-900 people armed with machetes, sticks and other sharp objects came to Chitalmari camp to encroach land. Our people tried to speak with them, but they instead attacked the forest guards," he told PTI over the phone.





At least three forest guards were injured in the attack by the villagers, who came from various areas of the neighbouring Nagaon district on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river, Deka said.





"There were around 12 forest guards in the camp. In self-defence, they fired in the air to disperse the mob. In the melee, probably some bullets hit the crowd also. The local police have arrived at the spot and they told us that one woman has died," he said.





A police officer said that at least four people from the crowd sustained bullet injuries in the clash. The deceased woman has been identified as Rahima Khatun, who succumbed to her injuries when she was taken to a hospital, he said.





All the other injured people have been sent to Nagaon for treatment, the police officer said.





The villagers, on the other hand, claimed that they were taking shelter in the highland of the forest because their houses in nearby villages have been inundated due to flood.





"Our cattle and poultry sheds are under water due to incessant rain in the last few days. That is why we constructed temporary sheds with tarpaulins, but the forest guards came to evict us, alleging that we have set up houses by encroaching forest land," said Rahmat Khan, one of the villagers.





In one of the largest eviction drives in Assam, the administration cleared 2,099 hectare of land in the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby revenue villages in February, which affected around 12,800 people.





During the day, the Assam government also carried out an eviction drive in Goalpara district to clear the Nalbari Reserve Forest from encroachers.





Lakhipur Ranger Dhruba Dutta said around 100 hectare of the Nalbari Reserved Forest area has been encroached over the years, and the administration has now decided to clear those.





"We carried out an eviction drive today and cleared around three hectare of land. In the process,15 families were evicted from the encroached land," he said.





The exercise was carried out in the presence of civil and police officials, Dutta said.





"We have not faced any resistance during the eviction drive. In the rest of the encroached land, such an exercise will be carried out in the coming days," he said without specifying any timeframe for the drive. -- PTI





IMAGE: A view of the Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur, before the eviction drive in May 2023. Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo


NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 17: Ascendion, a leading provider of digital engineering services, is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest office in Monterrey, Mexico. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for Ascendion as it expands its footprint into one of Mexico's most vibrant technology and business hubs. - Will add more than 200 jobs in Mexico in the next six months, and estimates more than 1,500 jobs over the next three years. - The estimated total economic impact for Mexico over three years will be at least $100 million. - Mexico will become a global hub for Generative AI skills. 100% of software engineers in Mexico will become certified in AI deployment - Secretary of Economy of Nuevo Leon Ivan Rivas Rodriguez, welcomes Ascendion to Mexico. We extend a warm welcome to Ascendion as they make their mark in Mexico. Together with Ascendion, Nuevo Len is carving its path as a technology and innovation hub, not just in Mexico but also in the world. Over the next three years, Ascendion plans to create over 1,500 new jobs in Mexico, contributing at least $100 million to the country's flourishing economy. The company plans on making Mexico a major delivery hub for Generative AI engineering solutions, and 100% of software engineers in Mexico will become certified in AI deployment. Ascendion's commitment to Mexico is evident in its choice to establish their LATAM headquarters in Monterrey, a city known for its forward-thinking environment and as a magnet for global companies such as Tesla, Unilever, Siemens, Amazon, and many more. As part of the opening ceremony, Ascendion was honored to have the enthusiastic support of prominent leaders in Nuevo Leon, including the Honorable Ivan Rivas Rodriguez, Secretary of Economy of the Government of the State of Nuevo Leon, and the Honorable Emmanuel Loo, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Nuevo Leon. "We extend a warm welcome to Ascendion as they expand in Mexico," said Secretary Ivan Rivas. "Nuevo Leon, with its thriving economy, educational institutions, remarkable startups, and the presence of renowned companies, is well on its way to becoming a global economic powerhouse. Together with Ascendion, Nuevo Len is carving its path as a technology and innovation hub, not just in Mexico but also in the world." Ravi Arcot, Vice President and Country Manager of Mexico, shared his excitement about Ascendion's new venture. "Monterrey truly embodies the concept of a 'city for the future'. The strong education system, extraordinary talent quality, exceptional transportation network, vibrant economy, cultural alignment, and rich history make it the perfect location for our new headquarters in Mexico," stated Arcot. "Many of our clients are seeking engineering services from Mexico, and we are already delivering outstanding results from Monterrey." With a workforce of over 6,000 dedicated professionals, Ascendion is a pioneer in software innovation solutions. The company has consistently achieved above-market growth rates and recently announced plans to double its workforce in India to over 2,000 employees. Ascendion's expansion in Mexico signifies an investment in delivering cutting-edge software engineering solutions to current and future clients. The company's commitment to driving global innovation in Mexico is further cemented by its newest hub in Monterrey, a city poised to shape the technological landscape of tomorrow. Karthik Krishnamurthy, CEO at Ascendion, emphasized the company's dedication to its clients and the future of software engineering. "We stand on the threshold of the next phase of the digital revolution where software, data, and Generative AI solutions have never been more crucial," stated Krishnamurthy. "We have been operating in Mexico for some time now. Our newest office in Monterrey will quickly become our largest software engineering hub outside of India with a strong focus on applied AI. We are thrilled about our newest office in Mexico and eagerly anticipate continuing our growth and partnership in the years to come." Ascendion is a leading provider of digital engineering services, committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our engineering, cloud, data, experience design, and talent transformation capabilities accelerate innovation for Global 2000 clients. Ascendion is headquartered in New Jersey. In addition to our remote/hybrid workforce, we have 20 offices across the US, India, and Mexico. We are committed to building technology that elevates life with an inclusive workforce, service to our communities, and a vibrant culture. For more information, please go toai.ascendion.comandascendion.com. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Following the Congress decision to oppose the Centres ordinance related to the control of administrative services in Delhi, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said that Opposition work is to oppose. "Their (opposition) work is to oppose but our (BJP-led central government) work is to save it," Narendra Singh Tomar said. Coming out in support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital, the Congress said they will oppose the Centre's Ordinance overturning the Supreme Court ruling vesting control of services in the ruling party. The development assumes significance as the Congress cleared its stand on the issue, which has put the Centre and the AAP at loggerheads, just ahead of the second meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru, which will be held over two days July 17-18. "The Congress will oppose the Centre's Ordinance against the Delhi government," Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera told ANI on Sunday. Khera said the decision to oppose the Ordinance was taken at the party's Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting on July 15. "We have always been opposing any attempt to weaken the federal structure of the country, of our polity and our governance," the Congress leader added. Khera alleged that since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he has been attacking the federal structure of the country, "whether it be Tamil Nadu, West Bengal or Delhi". "We have been very steadfast in opposing any such attempt to weaken the federal structure of the country," the Congress leader added. "Likewise, in the case of Delhi Ordinance, which the Centre has brought, yesterday, we had our Party's Parliament Strategy Group meeting and there also it was decided that the Congress will oppose this Ordinance," Khera said, clearing the Congress' stand. 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." Earlier, the ruling AAP and Congress leaders had locked horns over the issue, with the latter not clearing its stand on the Ordinance overturning the Supreme Court ruling in the matter. Earlier in May, the Union government brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'. The ordinance has been brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the SC judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. (ANI)
Preparations are in full swing for the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas at Kargil War Memorial at Dras in Ladakh. Some jawans were seen painting the inscribed on an information plate on 75/24 Pack Howitzer. One of the tourists, Vishal said that he feels proud to be a part of a country where soldiers sacrifice their lives for their countrymen. "I feel the bravery our soldiers showed by sacrificing their lives 24 years back. They fought for our future. We feel proud that we are part of a country where soldiers sacrifice their lives for their countrymen," he said. Another tourist, Mamata Tyagi said, "I had the good fortune to be here on Kargil Diwas. I am feeling proud that our soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country. My son is also in this field. I feel proud." One of the Riflemen posted at the Kargil War Memorial informed of the significance of the place and elaborated on the jawans who sacrificed for their country. Another tourist, Rupali Paraskar said that she is proud to be at the place. "I have learnt about the Indian military. I feel proud that we are able to seek the blessings of those for whom we are alive today. I would request all Indians to come here at least once." Earlier on Saturday and Sunday, the Indian army organised a 'Vijay Diwas Shastra Pradarshan' in Kargil ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas. Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated on July 26 every year to observe Indias victory over Pakistan. The event, 'Vijay Diwas Shastra Pradarshan', showcased a varied display of weapons and equipment being operated by the Indian Army with special emphasis on Made in India (indigenous) weapons and equipment which have been inducted as part of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, stated the official statement. The event was inaugurated by Major General Sacin Malik, Yudh Seva Medal General Officer Commanding, Forever in Operations Division. Schoolchildren, residents of the city along with government officials were present at the ceremony. (ANI)
As the opposition preps up for its second joint meeting scheduled to be held in Karnatakas Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai came down heavily upon the meet, saying no one wants to know about it. An alliance against an individual person (PM Modi) will not last more than three months. No one wants to know about the opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru. When there is a Cauvery Management Board, the CM of the state (Karnataka) has no authority to say that he will not give water to Tamil Nadu, Annamalai told the reporters. He also slammed the Tamil Nadu government for not condemning Karnataka's Mekedatu Dam project, But the fact that the Tamil Nadu government has not condemned in this regard makes us sad. Therefore, Chief Minister Stalin, who is attending the opposition meeting, should give his voice to condemnation there. Perhaps if Stalin returns without condemning, we will hold a black flag protest on behalf of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai added. Further, he announced that BJP will protest against the increase in power tariff and vegetable prices among other issues across Tamil Nadu on July 23. On the coming 23rd, we are going to protest against the increase in vegetable prices, electricity prices and bond registration prices in 12,600 village panchayats across Tamil Nadu on behalf of the BJP, he said. Gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting. Arrangements have been made for all the opposition leaders to stay at a five-star hotel in the city, sources said. As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference at 11 am. And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced. According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting. Last month, the mega Opposition meet was convened in Patna by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. At the meeting, Opposition heavyweights, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, brainstormed on a roadmap for an anti-BJP front in time for the next year's Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)
In an apparent reference to Lok Sabha polls next year, Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Ram Gopal Yadav here on Monday said that the Opposition meet will change the "direction of 2024." While speaking to ANI on the Opposition meeting, Yadav said, "2024 ki disha badlegi. Hundred percent and not ninety-nine percent".He was on his way to attend the meeting. https://twitter.com/i/status/1680782983282970626 Leaders of at least 25 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has been deputed as in-charge to monitor all the preparations for the meeting. Arrangements have been made for all the opposition leaders to stay at a five-star hotel in the city, party sources said. As per a tentative schedule, on Monday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal will hold a joint press conference.And all the opposition leaders will start arriving for the meeting in the afternoon. An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. On July 18, the meeting will kick off at 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Following this, there will be a press conference in which the campaign strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be announced. According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum program will be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting. Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various problems that may arise in the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed, they said. Sources said that a discussion may also be held on how to field a common opposition candidate on at least 80 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats against the BJP, how to have alliances in the states and how to distribute tickets at key constituencies. "In the meeting, deliberations will also be held on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)," they added. All bigwigs in the opposition, including former Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, along with Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also confirmed its presence at the meeting on Sunday. This came after the Congress made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in the Parliament. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to come for the opposition meeting as well despite her leg injury, following former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's call. Rashtriya Lok Dal Party chief Jayant Chowdhary who had earlier distanced himself from the Patna meeting is scheduled to attend the second meeting in Bengaluru on Monday. In addition to these, the Congress has invited 10 new parties to the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru to increase its tally over the NDA. These include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), Kerala Congress (Mani), Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and Tamil Nadu's Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK). "Congress, the main host of this two-day meet, is trying to make it look grander than that called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 13," sources pointed out. The first meeting for Opposition unity, convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was held on June 23 in Patna.(ANI)
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has terminated the services of three state employees for allegedly working with Pakistan-backed terror outfits. Sources have told ANI that these officers have been found to be allegedly helping these outfits by providing logistics to terrorists and raising terror finances and furthering the secessionist agenda. The government has invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to sack the three government employees. Sources say that an investigation clearly established that they were allegedly acting on behalf of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terror outfits. One of the accused who was working at the University of Kashmir as a Public Relations Officer was said to have been an aide of terrorist Shabir Shah before venturing into legitimate business with seed money allegedly received from Pakistan ISI. The accused had also been writing in prominent newspapers and on social media. Sources say the content of the writings left little doubt about the intent- to legitimize the terrorism in the union territory of J-K and support the secession of J-K from the Indian Union. Sources say the second accused was recruited as a constable in Jammu and Kashmir Police in Armed Police in 2006. He came in contact with Over Ground Workers of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) after which the accused became a conduit and alleged logistic supporter for the terror outfit. The third accused had been working in the revenue department. Sources in the investigation team say he was a hardcore proponent of secessionist myths, and an alleged point-man for several proscribed terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). The dismissal of the three government officers follows J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas policy of Zero Tolerance Against Terrorism. With the latest order, 52 government officers have so far been sacked for alleged links with terror outfits. (ANI)
Meanwhile, they were received by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other senior leaders of the party.

Earlier, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Singh and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko also arrived at Bengaluru airport.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "...2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat...I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out..."

Congress has rallied support from 26 parties for the second opposition unity meeting to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The first opposition unity meeting was held in Patna last month.

The formal opposition meeting will take place on Tuesday. The meeting will start at about 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm.

According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum programme may also be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

Several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Delhis Chief Minister to sit together and decide on the name of Chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and they have to rise above bickering. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said they both are constitutional functionaries and they have to rise above political bickering. It asked, Does everything run through modalities of the Supreme Court? They both are constitutional functionaries. Cant the LG and Chief Minister sit and come with a name on which both agree. So much of the work of government happens away from public eye. We are not so much concerned about DERC Chairperson appointment which will be done. We are on the larger issue. You both can sit together and sort out some issues, it said while posting the matter of DERC Chairperson appointment for hearing on Thursday. During the hearing, CJI said that there are many ways, one way is that one functionary gives a list of three names and the other functionary accepts one name. We don't want to step into this. We want you both to sit down and do this, the bench added. The top court was hearing a petition filed by Delhi government relating to the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) Chairperson. The apex court on July 4 had ordered to defer the oath taking ceremony of the appointment of Justice (retired) Umesh Kumar as the chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) till July 11. The Delhi government moved the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Umesh Kumar as DERC chairperson on the ground that it was unilaterally made by the Lieutenant Governor without its concurrence. The bench had noted that the petition raises a point of law regarding the validity of Section 45D of the GNCTD Act, as amended by the latest Ordinance issued by the Centre, which gives overriding powers to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government in the matter of appointments. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, had sought stay of the notification appointing Justice Kumar. Unilateral action by the LG is against the Supreme Court's five-judge Constitution bench judgment and also the spirit of Article 239AA of the Constitution, he had said. Delhi power minsiter Atishi alleged that the recruitment was done by overlooking the aid and advice of the elected government, therefore, violating the constitution by appointing someone else for that position. She had said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on June 21 had recommended Justice (retd.) Sangeet Lodha for the post, however, the same was wilfully ignored by the President. Earlier, Kejriwal approved Justice (retd.) Rajeev Shrivastava for the DERC chairman, and the file was put up by former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also held the power portfolio. However, the file was returned by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena with a recommendation to also consult with Delhi High Court Chief Justice for the appointment. Later, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court on April 12, blaming the LG for delaying the appointment. On May 19, the top court observed that the LG is not supposed to act on his own discretion on such appointments, and directed the government to appoint the DERC chairperson within two weeks. However, Justice Shrivastava later expressed his inability to accept the appointment due to family commitments and requirements. The bench had said while appointing a sitting or a retired judge to the post of a state electricity regulatory commission, the Chief Justice of the High Court, to which the judge concerned belonged, has to be consulted. Chief Justice of the High Court, under whose jurisdiction the electricity regulatory panel falls, need not be consulted for the appointment if the judge concerned has not served in that High Court, it had added. The apex court while referring to a 2018 Constitution bench judgement and its judgement on the services row between the Centre and the Delhi government, the bench said it has been made clear that the "LG has to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers." Delhi government had filed a plea in the top court alleging inaction by Lieutenant Governor in appointing the Chairperson of DERC. The DERC has been functioning without a Chairperson for the last four months after previous Chairperson Justice (Retd) Shabihul Hasnain demitted office on January 9, 2023 upon attaining the age of 65 years. (ANI)
Adityanath, who also heads Gorakshpeeth, had earlier performed Rudrabhishek and prayed for the happiness and prosperity in everyone's lives on the first day of the 'Sawan' month.

On the second Monday of Sawan, which also happened to be Somvati Amavasya, he paid a visit to the Gorakhnath temple, where he performed special worship of Lord Shiva for the well-being of the entire world.

At the Gorakshpeeth Shaktipeeth located on the first floor at Gorakhnath temple, CM Yogi offered Vilva Patra, lotus flowers, and other offerings to Lord Shiva. He then performed 'Rudrabhishek' with milk and fruit juice.

The chief priest of the 'Math', Acharya Ramanuja Tripathi, and other Acharyas and Purohits completed the ritual of Rudrabhishek.

In the midst of the recitation of Vedic mantras, the CM performed Havan and Aarti after Rudrabhishek.

After the ritual was completed , the Chief Minister wished the people of the state a healthy, happy, prosperous, and peaceful life. (ANI)
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Monday said he hopes that the Modi government will lose the next elections as he arrived in Bengaluru to attend the two-day joint opposition meeting. "This is a very important meeting, it will bring a change in Indian politics...I hope that Modi govt will lose", Vaiko said. Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin said that the Opposition parties have united to "defeat" the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while terming the Enforcement Directorate raids at the residence of State Minister K Ponmudi as "diversionary tactics" coming ahead of the second unity Opposition meeting. Speaking to reporters, CM Stalin said," "All Opposition parties have united to defeat the BJP-led Central government. We took the decision in Bihar to convene the second meeting in Karnataka today and tomorrow". Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the meeting of opposition parties will be attended by leaders from 26 parties. The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. An informal meeting of opposition parties is scheduled at 6 pm on Monday after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. All bigwigs in the opposition, including former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will be attending the crucial opposition meeting in Bengaluru. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also confirmed its presence at the meeting on Sunday. This came after the Congress made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in the Parliament. The formal meeting will be held on Tuesday. The first opposition unity meeting was held in Patna last month. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the concerned lawyers to find out if the FIRslodged into the incidents of violence that occurred in West Bengal during Ram Navami processions overlap with one another. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud sought to know about the FIRs overlapping when it came to know that there were six FIRs and asked whether they are related to the same incident or not. The court, which was hearing West Bengal government plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incidents of violence that took place in the state during Ram Navami celebration, adjourned the matter for further hearing on Friday. The top court said that this exercise has to be completed and asked the lawyer to sit with the solicitor general, prepare a note and give it to the bench. During the hearing the court sought to know from the respondent lawyer whether prima facie a scheduled offence was committed during the incidents as NIA deal with scheduled offence. Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for respondent Suvendu Adhikari, has apprised the court that there were incidents of hurling of bombs and explosives during religious ceremonies and due to this HC has handed over the probe to NIA. Senior Advocate AM Singhvi apprised the bench that FIRs were registered immediately in connection with violence on the religious ceremonies and after a day of lodging of th the FIR and he raised question on Public Interest Litigation filed by a BJP leader a day after the incident. The court was hearing West Bengal government plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incidents of violence that took place in the state during Ram Navami celebration. Violence had broken out in Howrah and Dalkhola districts and other parts of West Bengal during Ram Navami celebrations. Calcutta HC in April transferred the probe into the matter to NIA. Calcutta High Court has passed this order while hearing a petition filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the order of the Manipur High Court which ordered limited restoration of the internet in the State. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra however, granted liberty to the State of Manipur to approach the High Court to apprise it of the the difficulties faced by it in implementing the Courts order. The state government has approached the apex court against the High Court order. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, told the bench that any rumour may ignite the issue in Manipur. "Any rumour is likely to ignite the issue. The question of the internet, it's sometimes open, sometimes not. Can it be left to the discretion of those on the ground," Solicitor General said. The bench said that High Court is seized with the matter, but if anything happens, the apex court is there to look into the issue. CJI asked Mehta to approach the High Court and tell it what issues the State government is facing with regard to implementing the order in providing internet services. The High Court has recently asked the State's home department to allow internet access through Internet Leased Lines (ILL) for businesses and offices as well as consider providing broadband connectivity through Fibre to the Home (FTTH) for household use on a case-by-case basis. The Manipur High Court has ordered physical trials for granting internet access to mobile numbers that are verified and cleared by the home department. However, this should only be done after ensuring that all stakeholders have complied with the safeguards recommended by a 12-member expert committee appointed by the State government. The committee proposed that internet services can be provided by all service providers in the state to a limited number of "whitelisted" mobile numbers, which would be specifically identified and furnished by the home department. The service providers assured that internet access would be limited exclusively to these whitelisted numbers, with no possibility of leakage or utilisation by anyone other than the authorised user. Based on these recommendations, the High Court ordered the State government to conduct physical trials to assess the feasibility of providing internet services to the whitelisted mobile phones while ensuring the security of the State and the safety of its citizens and their properties. The order of the division bench of the High Court came while hearing multiple PILs seeking restoration of the Internet in the State. The Internet services in Manipur have been suspended since May 3 when ethnic violence broke out in the State. (ANI)
Terming the Central government's campaign against drug abuse a "sacred mission" to save future generations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday urged the states to establish specialized courts against drugs and conduct their prosecution in a fast-track mode. Speaking at the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here in the national capital, the Minister also said that harsher punishment will act as a stronger deterrent as it will send a stronger message. Shah added that the confiscation of assets of those involved in the illicit drug trade should be increased, and emphasized that public shaming and boycott of these individuals will discourage others from joining this trade. The Minister stressed the need to move "ruthlessly" towards the confiscation of assets. For this, Shah said, "Until we strengthen the Forensic Science Labs (FSL), the prosecution will not progress." He emphasized that this is a question of initiative, not resources. "Similarly, for the eradication of illegal cultivation, especially in the northern regions, the Chief Ministers of those states need to pay special attention." The Union Home Minister said that our campaign against drug abuse is a "sacred mission to save the future generations of the country, to keep the nation safe, and it should be our top priority." The Minister made the appeal as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinay Kumar Saxena, the Governors of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieutenant Governors of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Chief Ministers of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh attended the conference. The Minister of State for Home, Odisha also participated in the conference. The Union Home Ministry, the Director General of NCB, and senior officials from various security agencies and related ministries and departments of the Government of India also attended the conference. In the presence of the Union Home Minister, more than 1.40 Lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 2,378 crore were destroyed in different parts of the country by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of all states, which is a record for a single day. Union Home Minister said that a total of 1,250 cases were registered between 2006 and 2013, while 3,700 cases have been registered in the nine years from 2014 to 2023, which shows an increase of 200 per cent. "A total of 1,360 arrests were made earlier, which has now gone up to 5,650, which shows an increase of 300 per cent. The quantity of drug seized was earlier 1.52 lakh kg, which has now increased by 160 per cent to 3.94 lakh kg," said the Minister. He said that drugs worth Rs 5,900 crore were destroyed between 2006 and 2013, while drugs worth Rs 18,100 crore were seized and destroyed between 2014 and 2023, this shows the success of our campaign. Shah further said, "Now, not only in India but also at the international level, we have replaced the term 'Golden Triangle' and 'Golden Crescent' with 'Death Triangle' and 'Death Crescent'''. He said that the name "Golden Triangle" may be applicable to drug traffickers, but for those who are in favour of controlling drug usage, the appropriate terms are "Death Triangle" and "Death Crescent." Shah added that this approach is not just symbolic, it represents the intensity and direction of our fight against drugs. He said that there is a need for constant vigilance for the elimination of drugs. He appealed to all to lay emphasis on the continuity of NCORD meetings to be held in the State and Union Territories for better coordination. The Minister also said that today a total of more than 1,40,288 kg of drugs have been destroyed and all the states, especially the Narcotics Contro Bureau, deserve accolades for this. He said that under this campaign drugs worth Rs 2,378 crore have been destroyed today, which is a record for the highest quantity of drugs destroyed in a single day. The drugs destroyed on Monday include 6,590 kilograms by NCBs Hyderabad unit, 822 kilograms by Indore and 356 kilograms by Jammu. Along with this, various law enforcement agencies of different states also destroyed a total of 1,44,122 kilograms of drugs, including 1,486-kilogram drugs in Assam, 229 kilograms in Chandigarh, 25 kilograms in Goa, 4,277 kilograms in Gujarat, 2,458 kilograms in Haryana, 4,069 kilograms in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,03,884 kilogram in Madhya Pradesh, 159 kilograms in Maharashtra, 1,803 kilograms in Tripura and 4,049 kilograms in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)
As in a single day records more than 1.40 lakh kg of narcotics were destroyed in different parts of the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday appealed to the law enforcement agencies of different states and Union Territories (UTs) for "constant vigilance" for the elimination of drugs. Shah made the appeal while addressing the Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' organized here in the national capital. In the presence of the Union Home Minister, more than 1.40 lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 2,378 crore were destroyed in different parts of the country by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of all states, which is a record for a single day. Shah said that in a country like India, drug trafficking and their usage not only ruin future generations but also affect national security. "The Ministry of Home Affairs is continuously running a campaign against drugs through the meetings of Regional Conferences and these meetings are being held to review them and make timely changes in our policies based on the feedback," said the Minister. Shah mentioned that the government under the leadership of PM Modi established the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) in 2019, which holds meetings at four different levels. Pointing that district-level NCORD meetings have proven to be the most effective, Shah emphasized that states should "collaborate" with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on financial investigations and refer the cases to ED. "Until we conduct financial investigations of drug traffickers and break their interest chain, our campaign will not be successful," said the Minister. "There is a need for constant vigilance for the elimination of drugs. I appeal to all to lay emphasis on the continuity of NCORD meetings to be held in the state and Union Territories for better coordination," added the Minister. He asserted that our approach should be such that those who consume drugs should be considered victims, while those who engage in the trade should be marked as culprits. Shah also said that those who use drugs are victims, and our systems should make efforts to bring them back to the right path rather than leaving them to become permanent addicts. Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav that India and its youth should become drug-free by the time the centenary of the country's independence is celebrated, Shah said "It is necessary for the states and the Centre both to work together to achieve the goal". "It is the aim of the Modi Government to create such an India where not even a single youth is addicted to drugs," said Shah, adding "If we disseminate more information related to drug awareness, to District Administration, schools and NGOs, the fight against drugs will be strengthened even more." The Minister said that "it is not just a fight to crack down on drugs or achieve complete victory, but the biggest victory in this fight is to create awareness." Shah said that we cannot win this fight until we create awareness against drugs in the minds of the youth and parents of the country. The Minister said that today a total of more than 1,40,288 kg of drugs have been destroyed and all the states, especially the NCB, deserve accolades for this. He said that under this campaign drugs worth Rs 2,378 crore have been destroyed today, which is a record for the highest quantity of drugs destroyed in a single day. Shah said that under the leadership of PM, 10 lakh kilograms of narcotics worth more than Rs 12,000 crore have been destroyed in the last year of Amrit Mahotsav and this is also a record in itself. According to the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, we have to move ahead with equal attention on "Drug Detection, Destruction of the network, Detention of Culprits and Rehabilitation of addicts" for the complete prevention of drug abuse. "We have done a great job in the areas of Detection, Destruction and Detention, but our fight will not be successful unless we focus on Rehabilitation," said Shah, adding "With 'Whole of Government' approach, Health, Social Welfare Department, Chemical and Drug Department, Education Department, Panchayati Raj Department and State Home Departments will have to come together and work on a single platform, only then the dream of a drug-free India can be realized and we will be able to realise this." He said that for this, "along with Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration, all the departments will have to move forward with 'Whole of Government' approach." The drugs destroyed include 6,590 kilograms by NCBs Hyderabad unit, 822 kilograms by Indore and 356 kilograms by Jammu. Along with this, various law enforcement agencies of different states also destroyed a total of 1,44,122 kilograms of drugs, including 1,486-kilogram drugs in Assam, 229 kilograms in Chandigarh, 25 kilograms in Goa, 4,277 kilograms in Gujarat, 2,458 kilograms in Haryana, 4,069 kilograms in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,03,884 kilogram in Madhya Pradesh, 159 kilograms in Maharashtra, 1,803 kilograms in Tripura and 4,049 kilograms in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday said that something more substantive will be done in the opposition meeting being held in Karnatakas Bengaluru. Abdullah reached Bengaluru to attend the two-day meeting of Opposition parties. This is only the second meeting. Obviously, I hope that something more substantive will be done in this meeting because the last meeting was just the beginning. We wanted to see how many parties are attending, and what their individual points of view are. This is the second in the series of meetings, we need to have something more substantive, he said while talking to the reporters. Many leaders from various parties arrived in Bengaluru to attend the meeting. Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin said that the Opposition parties have united to "defeat" the rulingBJPin the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while terming the Enforcement Directorate raids at the residence of State Minister K Ponmudi as "diversionary tactics" coming ahead of the second unityOpposition meeting. Speaking to reporters, CM Stalin said," "All Opposition parties have united to defeat theBJP-led Central government. We took the decision in Bihar to convene the second meeting inKarnatakatoday and tomorrow". The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. An informal meeting of opposition parties is scheduled at 6 pm on Monday after which there will be dinner at 8 pm. The formal opposition meeting will take place on Tuesday. The meeting will start at about 11 am and will continue till 4 pm. Party leader Sonia Gandhi will also be present. Meanwhile, big posters and banners were seen put up on Race Course Road in Bengaluru welcoming leaders of various opposition parties for the joint opposition meeting at the Taj West End Hotel in theKarnatakacapital. Congresshas rallied support from 26 parties for the second opposition unity meeting to take on theBJPin the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The first opposition unity meeting was held in Patna last month. Several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed. (ANI)
Assam Rifles said that an operation was launched after it received specific inputs regarding the war-like stores in general area of Chamdur P village.

"On receipt of specific input from own sources regarding cache of war-like stores in general area Chamdur P village, an operation was launched. The party searched the jungles in and around Chamdur P village and recovered war-like stores hidden in a pit," an official statement said.

Assam Rifles said that the recovered war-like stores included gelatin sticks, detonators and few rounds of ammunition.

"Recovered items have been handed over to Mizoram Police," an official statement said.

Further investigation is underway into the incident. (ANI)
The accused have been identified as Mujibur Rahman, Nazrul Hoque and Nazrul Hoque.

According to the police, acting upon a reliable source intelligence developed by Partha Sarathi Mahanta, DIG of STF, an operation to nab dacoits cum dealers in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) was carried out on Sunday.

The STF team launched the operation and apprehended a four-member gang from near village Owona under Rupahihat police station in Nagaon district.

One pistol along with live ammunition, one four wheelers and four numbers of mobile handset were recovered and seized from their possession, the official further said.

"The apprehended four dacoits cum dealers of FICN are later identified as Ajiful Islam (22 years old), Mujibur Rahman (21 years old), Nazrul Hoque (25 years old) and Nazrul Hoque(21 years old), all from Rupahi police station areas of Nagaon district," Partha Sarathi Mahanta, DIG (STF) told ANI.

A case in this regard has been registered with the STF police station under sections 392/394/420/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act, 1959 and investigation is on. (ANI)
According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Salman, a Brahmpuri, Jafrabad, New Delhi resident.

The police said that ataround 05:15 pm, information was received that a young man had been stabbed to death in Near Kalyan Cinema, Chauhan Banger, Jafrabad.

"The deceased had stab wounds on his neck and chest and died on the spot," added the police.

The police informed that the preliminary enquiry has revealed that the deceasedwas friendly with a girl for the past 2 years and the girls family was opposed to their relationship.

"Today, the girls father identified as Manzoor and her brothers Mohsin and a minor attacked the deceased while riding a motorcycle," said the police.

The police noted a case of murder has been registered and Manzoor and his sons are absconding.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
With Aam Aadmi Party which emerged with anti-Congress agenda and marked its footprints in some states, has suddenly landed in the Opposition's platform following the Congress support to the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal against Centre's ordinance regarding control of administrative services in the national capital. As Opposition parties are sinking their differences to unite just to counter the BJP juggernaut. The regional parties which have been rivals sta the state level and have been splintered at the national level are now looking seeking refuge in BJP or the Opposition. BJP National President JP Nadda announced that that 38 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have confirmed their attendance to the meeting to be held in the national capital tomorrow. The NDA meeting in the national capital will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the eve of NDA meet in New Delhi Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan joined the alliance after meeting with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah. "Met Chirag Paswan in Delhi. They have decided to join the NDA alliance led by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family," Nadda tweeted. BJP chief JP Nadda at a media interaction said that the National Democratic Alliance now has 38 parties. "Our 38 partners have confirmed attending the NDA meeting to be held tomorrow," JP Nadda. On a day when NDA will hold a meeting in national capital, the very same day opposition parties will hold their main conclave in Bengaluru. Apart from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the parties likely to attend NDA meeting include AIADMK, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde Group), NPP (National People's Party, Meghalaya), NDP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party), SKM (Sikkim Krantikari Morcha), JJP (Jannayak Janta Party), AJSU (All Jharkhand Students Union), RPI (Republican Party of India), MNF (Mizo National Front), TMC (Tamil Manila Congress), IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura), BPP (Bodo People's Party), PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi). MGP (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), Apna Dal, AGP (Asom Gana Parishad), Rashtriya Lok Jan Shakti Party, Nishad Party, UPPPL (United People's Party Liberal, Assam), AIRNC (All India NR Congress, Puducherry), Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt, Dhadial), Janasena (Pawan Kalyan), NCP (Nationalist Congress Party, Ajit Pawar), Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan), HAM (Hindustani Awam Morcha), RLSP (Rashtriya Lok Samata Party), VIP (Vikassheel Insaan Party, Mukesh Sahni) and SBSAP (Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar) are also likely to attend the meet. The opposition parties are seeking to come together against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Opposition parties held a meeting in Patna last month and have come together in Bengaluru for a two-day meeting to take forward their agenda for unity. The meetings of NDA and of opposition parties are being held two days before the start of the monsoon session of Parliament. Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that NDA meeting will be a National Disaster Alliance. "That would be National Disaster Alliance," he said. Reacting to the opposition meeting, the BJP National President JP Nadda launched a scathing attack on the Opposition parties, who are trying to unite with the objective to defeat BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying they are a congregation of corrupt parties which lacks determination. While addressing the media, JP Nadda said," This is just a photo op. This is the foundation of unity based on the politics of selfishness. This is a bunch of corruption and scams of the 10-year UPA government. Till now opposition have not shown any leader, no determination, no power to take decisions, no program, when it is done then we will talk." "We never contest elections on other's weaknesses. Our ideology is based on the fact that if we find any trouble, we find our weakness and we try to win on our strength," he added. Responding on the Congress allegations overBJPmisuing central agencies, he said," They twist the matter from here to there. They play victim card when things go against them. Who has done National Herald? Whether mother and son are on bail or not, it is all their drama." Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Monday said that BJP is a party who worls on the idelology of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas" implying that our party neither belives in leaving anyone nor calling anyone as we keep faith in everyone. When asked about RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha and others leaving NDA and coming back to NDA again, JP Nadda said that "Na humne kisi ko chhoda hai na kisi ko bulaya hai (Neither we have left anyone nor we have called). Our ideology will always remain the same. The set principle of NDA is that we don't leave anyone, we keep faith and love towards those who leave and come whenever they want." Amid the two-day joint meeting of the Opposition parties inBengaluru, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Union MinisterMukhtar Abbas Naqvion Monday took a jibe at theCongressparty and said that earlierCongressused to be against alliance but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been in favour of them. Talking to ANI, Naqvi said, "Earlier Congress used to be against alliances but Modi ji has always been in favour of them...That is why NDA continues to grow...Everybody knows that PM Modi has worked for the welfare of all sections of society". With a common objective to defeat BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, as many as 26 Opposition parties congregated in Bengaluru as a show of strength to deliberate on the issues including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, drafting of a Common Minimum programme as well as the to decide on the name of the united front. Ahead of the mega session scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said "Well begun is half done," after the opposition parties' dinner meeting. "Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare. We want to free the people of India from the autocratic and anti-people politics of hate, division, economic inequality and loot. We want an India which is governed by Constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. We want an India which provides hope and faith to the weakest person. United We Stand, for this INDIA," Kharge said. The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, announced that 38 parties of the ruling coalition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be holding a meeting in the national Capital on July 18. Meanwhile, the first day of the Opposition party's meeting started with the dinner meeting hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. After the dinner Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that the meeting started with a good signal and it would be the end of BJP in 2024. On being asked about the NDA meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow in Delhi, he said, "That would be National Disaster Alliance". Meanwhile, the draft agenda of the joint opposition meeting is set up a subcommittee for drafting the common minimum programme and communications points for the alliance for the 2024 general elections for chalking out the joint programme of parties, which includes rallies, conventions and agitation. They have a plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis and the name for the alliance is also on the table. The opposition parties may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission. The opposition leaders also set up a common secretariat for the proposed alliance. Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed. (ANI)
An encounter broke out between Ramgarh Police and criminals of the Aman Sahu gang in the Patratu police station area of Ramgarh district in which Anti Terror Squad (ATS) DSP Neeraj Kumar and Sub-Inspector Sonu Saw have been injured. Speaking to media on Monday, Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Piyush Pandey said that teams of the Ranchi Anti-Terrorism Squad and Ramgarh Police had launched a raid to arrest Chandan Sao, one of the shooters in the Aman Sahu Gang. However, after spotting the police, the criminals opened fire on the police personnel in which ATS DSP Neeraj Kumar and SI Sonu Saw who is posted at Patratu police station got shot. The injured policemen are receiving treatment at a hospital in Ranchi. "Teams of ATS Ranchi and Ramgarh Police had come here for a raid to arrest the criminals of Aman Sahu Gang. After spotting the police, the criminals opened fire on them in Patratu area of Ramgarh district. In this encounter, ATS DSP Neeraj Kumar and SI Sonu Saw got shot by the criminals. Both the injured policemen have been referred to a hospital in Ranchi and are under treatment," Ramgarh SP Piyush Pandey said. While IG (Operations) Jharkhand Police spokesperson AV Homkar, said, "A team of ATS Ranchi was conducting raids in the Patratu area of Ramgarh district. Some criminals opened fire on the special team led by ATS DSP Neeraj Kumar while they were conducting raids. In the incident, ATS DSP Neeraj Kumar and SI Sonu Saw were shot by the criminals. Both the injured policemen are currently stable and undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ranchi". (ANI)
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change, John Kerry, arrived in Beijing on Sunday to kick off his four-day visit in China, during which he is expected to have a discussion on climate issues with the Chinese side, The Globl Times reported. This trip came at the time when China recorded the hottest summers, breaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in July. "Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Beijing, Peoples Republic of China (PRC), from July 16 to July 19. During meetings with PRC 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," State Department said in a release. Beijing has since 1951 seen temperatures rising above 40C (104F) on 11 days, and five of them occurred over the past two weeks. The city of 22 million has already seen a new record for its hottest day in June, with a high of 41.1C (106F) registered on June 22. China has been gripped by scorching heat waves for weeks, which authorities said had arrived earlier and been more widespread and extreme than in previous years, according to CNN. Northern China, a heavily populated region with hundreds of millions of residents, has been particularly hard hit. But this is not the case only of China but the whole planet is right now suffering from the clmate crisis. The planets hottest day ever was recorded for four straight days earlier this month. In the United States, an extreme heat wave is also swelling, with temperatures in the Southwest soaring as high as 120F (49C). 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. (ANI)
The dangerous rise of Chinese organised crime in Europe highlights its ties to the Chinese state as part of Beijings campaign to repress diaspora communities and amass influence, ProPublica reported. In 2010, a mob of six Chinese mobsters killed two gang rivals on Via Strozzi. The slaughter on Via Strozzi in 2010 was part of a startling escalation of mob violence in Prato, which has one of Europes biggest Chinese immigrant communities. As the investigation culminated in 2017, detectives made another ominous discovery: The kingpins in Italy had high-placed friends in Beijing. A guy like Zhang does what the consulate doesnt do, or does it better, ProPublica quoted a senior Italian national security official saying. If you want in-depth street information, intelligence, you go to a guy like Zhang. He has a network, power, and resources. He knows the diaspora. He is feared and respected, he added. According to ProPublica, as the regime of President Xi Jinping expands its international power, it has intensified its alliance with Chinese organized crime overseas. The Italian investigation and other cases in Europe show the underworlds front-line role in a campaign to infiltrate the West, amass wealth and influence, and control diaspora communities as if they were colonies of Beijings police state. But the rise of Chinese organized crime in Europe has caught authorities largely off-guard. An examination of it offers an unusually vivid look at a covert alliance in action. The partnership appears to mix geopolitics and corruption for mutual benefit. Gangsters help monitor and intimidate immigrant communities for the regime in Beijing, sometimes as leaders of cultural associations that are key players in Chinas political influence operations and long-distance repression, Western security officials say. The Chinese Communist Party takes the most powerful, richest, most successful figures overseas and recognizes them as the nobility of the diaspora, ProPublica quoted Emmanuel Jourda, a French scholar on Chinese organized crime. And it doesnt matter how they made their money. The deal, spoken or not, is: You gather intelligence on the community, we let you do business. Whether legal or illegal, he added. In exchange for their services as overseas enforcers and agents of influence, the Chinese state protects the mobsters, ProPublica cited Western national security officials. And in Europe as in the United States national security chiefs say the Chinese government refuses to cooperate with their investigations of Chinese organized crime. Money is another driving force in the alliance. Diplomatically delicate prosecutions in Italy, Spain and France have resulted in convictions and fines against Chinese state banks that worked with Chinese criminals to launder the proceeds of widespread tax evasion, customs fraud and contraband. Chinese mafias have also become the preferred money launderers for the Continents drug traffickers, whose onslaught poses an unprecedented threat to several governments. Stretching across Europe, the underground Chinese money networks pump billions of illicit dollars into Chinas economy. During one recent year, police at Romes Fiumicino Airport arrested 16 couriers carrying a total of more than 41 million USD bound for China, ProPublica reported. It is hard to imagine that this activity is not welcomed by the Chinese authorities, ProPublica quoted the chief prosecutor in Prato, Giuseppe Nicolosi. Large amounts of money are returning to China, he said. According to the authorities, the implications for the United States are urgent because the same tactics and networks plague Chinese American communities. US law enforcement has tracked interactions between Chinese government operatives and Chinese American mobsters who harass dissidents, engage in political interference and move offshore funds for the Communist Party elite, ProPublica reported citing US national security officials say. Organized crime is doing services for the Chinese government on both sides of the Atlantic, a veteran US national security official. There are deals between organized crime and the Chinese government. The government tasks them to expand their influence and become eyes and ears overseas. Once they get themselves established, there are locals they can corrupt. Its a classic modus-operandi, ProPublica quoted the officer. US national security officials are also concerned because Europe is a vulnerable front in Chinas offensive to divide and weaken the West. There was a lack of awareness of the danger, ProPublica quoted the chief anti-mafia prosecutor in Florence, Luca Tescaroli, whose jurisdiction includes Prato. He has created a unit to fight Chinese mafias. But, he said: We cannot criminalize the Chinese community. We know they are also victims of intimidation, extortion and violence. Pratos Chinatown starts just outside the stone ramparts, narrow lanes and Romanesque cathedral of the citys historic centre. Its immigrant energy extends to the Macrolotto industrial park on the edge of town, where signs on warehouses and workshops mix Chinese words with names like Flora, Kitty and Style. More than 6,000 Chinese-owned businesses give Prato an outsized role in the diaspora. In 1990, there were 520 residents of Chinese origin, according to an Italian government study. Today, officials say Prato has one of the largest Chinese communities in proportion to the citys size in Europe: close to 40,000 out of a total population of about 200,000. That includes as many as 10,000 undocumented immigrants. Italy has Europes third-largest Chinese population after the United Kingdom and France, ProPublica reported. Still, life for many Chinese residents feels like a crossfire. Some Italians accuse Chinese merchants of evading taxes, paying low wages and other shady practices. Non-Chinese robbers and thieves prey on them suspecting them of carrying large amounts of cash. And Chinese immigrants are believed to be the prime victims of the rise of Chinese organized crime in the 2000s, ProPublica reported. In 2011, witnesses of the double murder on Via Strozzi, told police about Lin Guochun, aka Laolin, the reputed boss of Prato, court documents say. Surveillance led to another breakthrough even higher in the criminal hierarchy. Police identified the alleged boss of bosses in Rome: Zhang Naizhong. Zhang teamed with Lin to conquer the market for the distribution of goods among Chinese business enclaves in Europe, court documents say. Working with police in other countries, Italian detectives charted the kingpins alleged war on competing transport companies, court documents say: murders in Italy; shootings and stabbings in Spain, France, Germany and Portugal; a litany of arson attacks, assaults and threats, ProPublica reported. China uses a range of proxies and cutouts, and organized crime is one of those proxies, a US intelligence official said. We see a growing brazenness in [Chinese] malign influence operations. Sometimes, expatriate gangsters even set themselves up in foreign countries with the blessing and support of corrupt allies in the Communist Party elite back home, ProPublica quoted a veteran US national security official saying. The gangsters are told to go establish themselves in a certain country, given different business opportunities, the veteran US national security official said. Transportation help, get consumer goods out of China, and the government helps organized crime there. Chinese corrupt officials can make it easy to move goods out of China, ProPublica quoted the official. The Chinese politicians who meet with Chinese gangsters overseas represent their government as well as their own self-interest, he said. Soon, even more evidence would emerge of a brazen alliance between accused expatriate gangsters and the Chinese security forces. According to ProPublica, the headquarters of the Fujian Overseas Chinese Association in Italy occupies a corner building on Via Orti del Pero in the heart of Pratos Chinatown. In March of last year, the place made headlines. Chinese media announced good news from Prato: the inauguration of the Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station in the Fujian associations headquarters. Among six community leaders pictured beneath the stations blue banner was the associations executive vice president at the time: Zheng Wenhua. Zheng, also known as Franco, seemed a puzzling choice to open a police station. Four years earlier, Italian authorities had accused him of being a top figure in the Prato underworld. However, despite all criminal records, Zheng continues to remain a civic leader. He has met with visiting Chinese dignitaries including the mayor of Fuzhou, spoken at community events and attended a gala in February featuring the mayor of Florence and the Chinese consul, according to media reports and photos. In March, he was elected president of the Fujian Association, ProPublica reported. Meanwhile, Zheng wasnt the only one with alleged ties to both the underworld and the new Fuzhou police station in Prato. China Truck prosecutors charged another vice president of the association with helping Lin obtain fraudulent immigration papers. Photos at the Fuzhou police station show three more community leaders whose personal and business links to gangsters surfaced during the investigation, according to court documents and senior law enforcement officials. None of them were charged, though authorities seized five bank accounts belonging to one man. Despite the celebratory Chinese media reports, the station was part of a global campaign of repression, ProPublica reported citing Western officials and human rights advocates. Safeguard Defenders, a human rights group, has revealed a network of more than 100 covert stations overseen by Chinese provincial police forces in more than 50 countries. Based in cultural associations, businesses and homes, the outposts help persecute dissidents and support Operation Fox Hunt, which deploys undercover police and prosecutors illegally across borders to track down people accused of crimes justifiably and not and take them back to China, according to Western officials and human rights advocates. After Safeguard Defenders issued its report last year, at least 12 countries began investigations. The US reaction was the strongest. Targeting an illegal station in New York, federal prosecutors charged two Chinese American leaders with stalking and harassing dissidents for Chinese authorities including the Fuzhou police the same force involved in the Prato station. (United Front officials also helped set up the New York station, U.S. authorities say), ProPublica reported. It is simply outrageous that Chinas Ministry of Public Security thinks it can get away with establishing a secret, illegal police station on U.S. soil to aid its efforts to export repression and subvert our rule of law, ProPublica quoted the acting head of FBI counterintelligence, Kurt Ronnow. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused US authorities of making groundless accusations. There are simply no so-called overseas police stations, Wang said. China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs, strictly observes international laws and respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries. The suspicion is that the goal of these stations is to enable Chinese authorities to control and monitor the Chinese diaspora community, ProPublica quoted Tescaroli, the Florence prosecutor. There are 11 Chinese police outposts in Italy, more than any other country, and three in Prato. They multiplied during past Italian governments, which had notably close relationships with Beijing. In 2016, Italy began a program that allowed visiting Chinese police officers to conduct joint uniformed patrols with Italian police. The stated goal was to improve the protection of Chinese tourists and immigrants, but the patrol program fomented the spread of the unofficial stations, said Laura Harth, the campaign director of Safeguard Defenders. Photos show Chinese officers at the stations, sometimes joined by Italian police. They used the joint patrols to launch pilot stations, Harth said. China described it as one of its biggest achievements. Across the Mediterranean, Spain is another place where the secret Chinese stations allegedly converge with the criminal underworld. At least five of those community leaders have records in Spain for crimes including human smuggling, falsification of documents, receiving stolen property, labour law violations and fraud, ProPublica reported citing Catalan police officials. Across Europe, investigators have discovered that the Chinese underworld makes itself useful to the Chinese state in another, crucially important arena: money. This illegal machinery has also pumped billions of dollars into the Chinese economy, authorities say. Although China has the most formidable police state in the world, law enforcement chiefs in Europe complain about its steadfast resistance to helping their investigations into organized criminal activity by Chinese migrants. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China,a state-owned institution, the biggest bank in the world based on total assets. In 2011, ICBC opened a branch in Madrid on a thriving downtown boulevard filled with museums, luxury hotels and cafe terraces. It was later found that the bank executives set up an audacious system in which criminals delivered suitcases and boxes full of euros to the bank day and night, court documents say. The bank sent hundreds of millions to China through illegal mechanisms such as fake identities and fraudulent invoices. Managers advised crime bosses about how to transfer funds to China covertly. The Madrid branch did not issue a single alert about suspicious financial operations to Spanish authorities between 2011 and 2016, court documents say, ProPublica reported. Italian investigators identified another bank in Hungary, Chinas closest ally in Europe, that received more than 1.2 billion USD in clandestine cash deliveries from across the Continent and wired the money to China between 2017 and 2018. Chinese financial crime networks pose an elevated threat in Europe, according to a recent French law enforcement report. They have become the preferred money launderers of the drug trade and act as brokers for international deals, delivering cash on demand so that cartels dont have to transport funds across borders, ProPublica reported citing European security officials say. Five years after Italian police rounded up the accused gangsters in 2018, the continuing saga of the China Truck case illustrates progress and setbacks in the response to a threat that caught Europe largely unawares. A total of 79 defendants are still awaiting trial in Prato. The proceedings have been slow because of the sheer scope of the case, the labyrinthine justice system and the laborious demands of translation. It is also Italys first prosecution of a Chinese organization for mafia-level conspiracy, which is a complex offence to prove. Appellate panels have questioned the evidence for the mafia-related charges, releasing defendants from pre-trial custody. Last September, a court convicted some defendants for individual offences and acquitted others such as Zhang, the alleged boss in Rome. In the case of Zheng, the community leader involved in the Prato station, the statute of limitations ran out on some charges against him. Lin is no longer facing trial because his whereabouts are unknown. But Zhang, Zheng and the others still face trial on the mafia conspiracy charges, ProPublica reported. Although it has been an uphill battle, authorities say they have disrupted the underworld. As per ProPublica, the new Italian government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a tough line on the issue. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies have created units focused on Chinese organized crime and malign influence. A parliamentary anti-mafia commission will examine alleged wrongdoing in Pratos Chinese manufacturing sector and illicit money flows to China. Public attention has led to the shuttering of the Fuzhou station in Prato. As for the double homicide on Via Strozzi, the case opened a door into a secret world. Prosecutors charged 20 people in the murder and related crimes, winning convictions in the latter cases. But the accused killers remain out of reach, authorities say, in China, ProPublica reported. (ANI)
The recent surge in Khalistani activities in Australia to the extent of the Kill India rally and open threats to Indian diplomats is a grave concern that needs to be addressed on Canberras part by taking a firm stand against the extremist elements, Zafar Bashir wrote in a piece at The Epoch Times. On July 8, the Kill India rally was held in Australias Melbourne by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Earlier, a poster was also circulated on social media which had pictures of both diplomats and the text reads "Faces of Shaheed Nijjar's killers in Australia." Nijjar was the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada. He was also the chief of the separatist organisation Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Punjab, after being sliced into two parts, saw some of the worst violence. With Sikhs struggling for political and cultural autonomy, the Khalistan movement gained prominence. The 1980s witnessed the worst insurgencies, during which some Sikh separatists in Punjab committed a series of human rights abuses, including the massacre of civilians, indiscriminate bombings, and attacks on minority Hindus, The Epoch Times reported citing Human Rights Watch. SFJ, in its London Declaration in August 2018, announced it would hold the first-ever non-binding referendum among the global Sikh community on the question of secession from India and re-establishing Punjab as an independent country. Australia too has witnessed the expansion of the movement in the name of the Khalistan Referendum, with Melbournes Federation Square seeing a hefty affray between Khalistani supporters and people of the Indian community in which the two groups resorted to violence, The Epoch Times reported. Later, three men were arrested by the Melbourne East Neighbourhood Policing Team in connection with the brawl. Prior to the Khalistan referendum voting on January 29, three Hindu temples were also vandalised in Australia, making the Indian government worried about its diplomatic ties with the country. The second and third phases of voting took place in Brisbane and Sydney, respectively, amid stiff resistance from the Indian government to stop Sikhs from holding the referendum in Australia, The Epoch Times reported. In January this year, Australian Member of Parliament Cate Faehrmann (Greens Party) moved multiple resolutions supporting the Khalistan Referendum and Sikhs For Justice in Australian Parliament. She stated that Sikhs have full rights and support from the Australian government to hold and conduct referendums to liberate their sovereign state. Greens MP David Shoebridge has also expressed his interest in the referendum by attending the Sydney voting. However, while Australia is a free country, the recent Kill India rally held in Melbourne by SFJ on July 8, 2023, called into question the safety of Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner of India to Australia, after the rallys promotional posters labelled them as alleged killers of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. According to Zafar Bashir the author of the piece at The Epoch Times the Australian government needs to take a stand against the budding Khalistan Movement in Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last visited India in March. Though he said, he was keen to further deepen Canberras multifaceted relationship with New Delhi at a time of extraordinary growth and dynamism, especially in areas of trade, security, and people-to-people links. However, his words did not meet his actions, The Epoch Times stated. Today, when the threat lingers upon a countrys diplomats, the silence of Australian authorities is deafening. Meanwhile, UK government officials have already put forth their stance against any attack on the Indian High Commission. Notably, all the previous rallies and protests of SFJ have always followed a record number of violent activities. Thus, it becomes all the more important to take significant steps to protect and provide security to the Australian citizens and diplomats if only Australia is keen to maintain a healthy diplomatic relationship with India, The Epoch Times stated. (ANI)
Severe drought has given rise to massive dust storms in Afghanistan and analysts believed that it is the de-facto authorities of the country that are to be blamed as they are unable to take serious actions to prevent any of it, TOLOnews reported. 1.5 per cent of the country is forest, we cannot reduce the air pollution. Also, the government has also been unable to take serious actions to prevent air pollution, said Sayed Mohammad Sulaimankhail, an environmental issue analyst. There were 32 projects in Afghanistan with practical implementation but they were suspended by the Global Environment Facility due to political issues, the analyst added. According to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), recent dust storms in the nation are a result of global warming and droughts in Afghanistan. NEPA claimed that in order to combat the effects of such natural events in Afghanistan, it needs assistance from international organisations, as the country is under a severe humanitarian. The dust and foggy weather is due to external issues such as back-to-back droughts, said Rohullah Ameen, head of the climate change section of the NEPA, according to TOLOnews. Since theTalibantook control ofAfghanistanin August 2021, the situation of people, especially women inAfghanistanhas only deteriorated as the country is under a massive humanitarian crisis. In a recent report titled 'Afghanistan's Dire Humanitarian Situation', the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) recommended the continuation of humanitarian aid toAfghanistan, Khaama Press reported. The recently released report underlined that since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country's economy has only crumbled. "Since theTalibantook control of the country, the Afghan economy and financial system have largely collapsed, and the international community has decided unanimously not to recognize theTaliban. Donors also have difficulty providing for the populations needs in these dire circumstances," Khaama Press cited theUSIP report as stating. With time, the situation of people in Afghanistan has become miserable. People continue to face food shortages, and the basic amenities to live have become a far cry for all. Moreover, the situation of women in the country has only got worse. (ANI)
US Representative Pramila Jayapal has apologised for calling Israel a "racist" state. Jayapal is the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is known for her anti-Israel positions in an official statement on Sunday clarified that she does not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist Words do matter, said Jayapal in the statement adding and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist. Jayapal's posted her statement on Twitter and said that she was attempting to "defuse a tense situation" and offered her "apologies to those who I have hurt with my words." "At a conference, I attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested. Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist. I do, however, believe that Netanyahu's extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," Jayapal said. Jayapal was responding to criticism about comments she made during a panel discussion at a conference in Chicago on Saturday. In her official apology, the Washington Democrat said, "I believe it is incumbent on all of us who are striving to make our world a more just and equitable place to call out and condemn these policies and this current Netanyahu government's role in furthering them." She reaffirmed her commitment to promoting a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in freedom, safety, and self-determination. "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. 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 neighbours to believe such a solution is possible." "On a very human level, I was also responding to the deep pain and hopelessness that exists for Palestinians and their diaspora communities when it comes to this debate, but I in no way intended to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community that still reels from the trauma of pogroms and persecution," she continued. Meanwhile, in a statement released on Sunday, the House Democratic leadership attempted to distance themselves from Jayapal by stating that "Israel is not a racist state." As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israels right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) and Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said, according to The Hill. Jayapal's remarks came at a time when Israeli President Isaac Herzog prepares to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday during a trip to Washington, D.C., in order to commemorate Israel's 75th anniversary of its founding. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday met in Gandhinagar on the sidelines of the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting under the Indian G20 Presidency. The leaders discussed issues such as strengthening the multilateral development banks and harnessing opportunities presented by crypto assets. Sitharaman pointed out that the recent state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States last month and his meeting with the US President enhanced the strength and dynamism of theUS-India partnership. Addressing a press conference, Sitharaman said, "Our discussions highlight the commitment of India and the United States to actively further the G20 agenda. And these include addressing critical global issues such as strengthening the multilateral development banks and taking coordinated climate action facilitating consensus to intractable issues associated with rising indebtedness of low and middle-income countries and harnessing opportunities presented by crypto assets and digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion." "I also look forward to furthering our bilateral interests through development cooperation and new investment opportunities through alternate investment platforms for renewable energy," she added. She further said that with shared democratic values, pluralism, and a strong commitment to rules-based, global order and multilateralism, India and the United States of America are actively engaged in constructive dialogues. "These exchanges serve as a testament to the mutual commitment to nurture a robust partnership and harness the potential for progress and prosperity," the finance minister said. Speaking about the PM Modis meeting with US President, the Finance Minister said that it enhanced the strength and dynamism of theUS-India partnership. "The historic visit paved the way for new avenues of collaboration, propelling our partnership to a greater height," Sitharaman said. "As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to achieve substantial outcomes through close engagement. By leveraging each other's expertise and resources, we actively promote economic growth, foster innovation and drive sustainable development. Our partnership will create a prosperous and equitable future, making it a catalyst for positive change worldwide," the FM said. The third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting under the Indian G20 Presidency is being held in Gandhinagar today and tomorrow. Sitharaman and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das are jointly chair the meeting. (ANI)
In order to fast-track its energy transition, the United States (US) is working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen said on Monday. Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today, Yellen said that the collaboration between the two nations spans a wide range of issues, including catalyzing the clean energy transition. Yellen said, "Our collaboration spans a range of economic issues, including commercial and technological collaboration, strengthening supply chains, and catalyzing the clean energy transition." "In particular, we look forward to working with India on an investment platform to deliver a lower cost of capital and increased private investment to speed up Indias energy transition." The US Treasury Secretary further added that she also values India's emphasis on completing the landmark Two-Pillar global tax agreement in the inclusive framework. "I also appreciate Indias focus on finalizing the historic Two-Pillar global tax deal in the Inclusive Framework, and I believe that we are close to reaching an agreement.We had a productive meeting in New Delhi last fall as part of the US-India Economic and Financial Partnership, or EFP, and I look forward to convening the 10th EFP meeting," the US Treasury Secretary added. Yellen and Sitharaman met in Gandhinagar on the sidelines of the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting under the Indian G20 Presidency. The leaders discussed issues such as strengthening the multilateral developmentbanks and harnessing opportunities presented bycryptoassets. Sitharaman pointed out that the recent state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States last month and his meeting with the US President enhanced the strength and dynamism of the US-India partnership. (ANI)
The accident occured on Monday after the bus fell into a ravine on the Karakoram Highway in the Thalichi area in Gilgit Baltistan's Diamer.

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 Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Ayaz SSP. He added that there were a total of 18 passengers on the bus.

He went on to say that the bus was on its way to Gilgit from Lahore, as per Dawn.

Five tourists were killed and 13 were injured earlier this month as well in two accidents in Gilgit BaltistansHunzawhen 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 aravine.

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 toPoKs 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. (ANI)
The Chinese aircraft and naval vessels were tracked between 6 a.m. on Sunday (July 16) and 6 a.m. on Monday (July 17).

According to the MND, Taiwan responded by sending aircraft, naval ships, and land-based missile systems to monitor People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity.

However, during that time, no PLA aircraft entered Taiwans air defence identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time, Taiwan News reported.

In the latest instance, Taiwan detected the highest number of navy vessels around the country in a single day in recent times, yesterday (July 16) reported Taiwan News.

According to the Ministry of National Defence (MND), sixteen navy vessels and fifteen Chinese military aircraft were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan.

Taiwan News quoted Duan Dang, a freelance writer working in Vietnam, as saying that 16 Peoples Liberation Army Navy shifts were spotted around Taiwan in a single day in recent times. There were 14 vessels when US Houses Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to Taiwan in 2022.

Since September 2020, China has amplified its use of grey zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

Grey zone tactics are defined as an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve ones security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force, Taiwan News reported. (ANI)
Argentina Defence Minister Jorge Enrique Taiana arrived in New Delhi on Monday for his four-day visit. He will hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to further consolidate defence cooperation between the two countries. In a statement, the Defence Ministry said, "Defence Minister of the Argentine Republic Mr Jorge Enrique Taiana arrived in New Delhi on July 17, 2023, on a four-day visit to India. During his stay, Mr Jorge Taiana will hold bilateral talks with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on July 18, 2023, to further consolidate defence cooperation between the two countries." The ministry further stated that Taiana will also lay a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi and pay homage to the fallen heroes. The Argentine Defence Minister is also scheduled to visit Bengaluru during the visit. India-Argentina relations were elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership during the State Visit to India of the President of Argentina in February 2019. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Argentina President Fernandez had their first bilateral meeting on 24 June 2022 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Munich, Germany. Earlier this June, Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, Chief of Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac discussed cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). "Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia," the Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also acknowledged Argentine interest in the Tejas fighter aircraft and highlighted the importance of the proposal in enhancing the strategic quotient of bilateral relationships. Both sides agreed to promote the exchange of visits between the Armed Forces, defence training and collaboration for joint production of defence-related equipment. The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. Notably, India shares cordial and friendly relations with Argentina. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi's legal team has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) to dismiss his detention order by declaring it "unlawful, void, against the law and of no legal effect," Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Elahi's action comes after the Lahore Deputy Commissioner issued a 30-day detention order for Elahi under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), according to Dawn. According to the order issued on Sunday night, Elahi will be held at Lahore's Camp Jail where he has been kept since last month. The order was issued after Lahore police requested Elahis detention for allegedly disturbing the peace in connection with three cases. In the plea filed in the Lahore High Court, Elahi has named 11 parties as respondents, which include the Punjab government, Lahore Inspector General Usman Anwar, the Federal Investigating Agency, the National Accountability Bureau, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment, the Lahore IG (Prisons) and the Lahore DC, as per the Dawn report. The plea filed by the PTI president's legal team has called for Elahi's release and provided him with "reasonable time to approach the relevant court of law for his anticipatory/pre-arrest or protective bail" if the respondents produced any new FIRs against him. Furthermore, Elahi in the plea requested the court to direct authorities to not arrest him in any criminal case until the decision on the petition was announced, as per the Dawn report. According to the plea, Elahi was in judicial custody in Camp Jail in a case filed by FIA's anti-money laundering circle on February 13 in which the petitioner has been given post-arrest bail on July 11. In the plea, Elahi's lawyers said that the PTI president had been "deprived of his liberty since June 1 for the purpose of political victimisation. The petitioner alleged that the respondents with "malafide intention and by joining hands" with the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) were politically victimizing Elahi by "keeping him behind the bars for one reason or the other." During the hearing, lawyer Amir Saeed Raan appeared on behalf of Elahi and said that the Lahore DCs order was illegal, adding that his client had been granted bail in all cases. During the hearing, Justice Ali Baqar told the Punjab government lawyer that "what you are doing is not right." The judge further said, "Apart from allegations, you also need evidence to detain [Elahi]," Dawn reported. Elahi filed the petition after Lahore DC Rafia Haider in the detention order stated that Lahore police had reported that Elahi was an active member and firebrand speaker of the PTI. It further said that the Model Town division superintendent (SP) and the district intelligence branch had reported that an "activist" like Elahi will "create a situation of unrest and disturbance," Dawn reported. The detention order said that Elahi had the potential to disrupt the public peace and tranquillity and to provoke people illegally for taking [the] law into [their] hands. It further said that police had received credible information indicating that if the individual in question is left free, [he] can potentially worsen the law and order along with his accomplices, which can end up in replicating the May 9 mayhem," according to Dawn report. In the order, DC Haider said that she is convinced that Elahi's presence at any public space will pose a grave threat to the public safety and it is likely to cause a breach of public peace and public order." Subsequently, the Lahore DC ordered the arrest of Elahi and his detention for 30 days at the citys Camp Jail. Elahi is among several PTI leaders and workers who have been arrested amid the states crackdown on the PTI leadership after the May 9 protests over the arrest of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, the report said. He was first arrested on June 1 by the ACE for allegedly taking kickbacks in development projects. (ANI)
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has rebuked Afghanistan for disregarding vital obligations made in the Doha agreement, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. ARY News is a Pakistani news channel. This comes after the armed forces of Pakistan voiced their serious concerns regarding the safe havens and freedom of movement enjoyed by the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Afghanistan. The Defence Minister in a tweet on Saturday, lashed out at Afghanistan, saying that it was neither fulfilling its obligation as a neighbour nor safeguarding the Doha peace agreement. The Doha Agreement was a peace agreement signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29, 2020, in Doha, Qatar. The agreement aimed to bring an end to the 20012021 war in Afghanistan. According to Khawaja Asif, Pakistan has provided refuge to five to six million Afghan refugees for 40 to 50 years with all their rights intact. Conversely, the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis find refuge on Afghan soil, he added, as per ARY News. The minister said the ongoing situation could no longer persist. He asserted that Pakistan would employ all possible resources and measures, with the guidance of Allah, to safeguard its territory and citizens. The ongoing situation can no longer continue. Pakistan would employ all possible resources and measures with the guidance of Allah to safeguard its territory and citizens, he said. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir recently visited Quetta Garrison and inquired about the health of wounded soldiers in the Zhob terrorist attack The officials briefed that TTP hideouts are present in Afghanistan and expressed hopes that the Taliban will not allow its land to be used against other countries, according to ARY News. (ANI)
Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public for three weeks, sparking intense speculation in a country known for its political opaqueness, CNN reported. Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was promoted to foreign minister in December, after a brief stint as ambassador to the United States. Qin as foreign minister, delivered searing rebukes of Washington after relations plunged to a new low in the aftermath of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US. He has also played a key role in subsequent efforts by both sides to stabilize rocky ties and restore communication, including meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Beijing in mid-June. The Chinese foreign minister has, however, not been seen in public since June 25, after he met with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Russia in Beijing. Qin was in his last public appearance seen walking side by side with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko who flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese officials after a short-lived insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia. A former editor of a Communist Party newspaper who now lives in the US, Deng Yuwen, said: Given Chinas status and influence in the world, its indeed very strange that its foreign minister has not appeared in public for more than 20 days. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman when asked about Qins prolonged absence at a press briefing on Monday, said she had no information to provide, adding that Chinas diplomatic activities are being carried out as usual. Qins absence was made all the more conspicuous by the flurry of diplomatic activity in the Chinese capital in recent weeks, including high-profile visits by senior US officials Janet Yellen and John Kerry, according to CNN. Qin also failed to show up at an annual foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia last week. Instead, Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi attended the gathering in his place. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry told a regular news briefing last Tuesday that Qin could not attend the ASEAN meeting because of health reasons. But that response was missing from the briefings official transcript posted later on the ministrys website. The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings. As per CNN, the brief health reason cited by authorities has failed to quell a groundswell of largely unsubstantiated speculation as to why Qin has not been seen. (ANI)
ARY News is a Pakistani news channel.

According to details, the incident took place near Lahore High Court (LHC) building at GT Road, where a speeding dumper ran over five vehicles.

As a result of the incident, a man lost his life on the spot, while three others sustained wounds.

Those injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. The rescue sources said the driver of the dumper lost control due to the failure of the brake.

Separately on Monday, six people were killed and at least 17 injured in a bus accident that took place in the Diamer district of Gilgit Baltistan.

The accident occurred on Monday after the bus fell into a ravine on the Karakoram Highway in the Thalichi area in Gilgit Baltistan's Diamer.

Local residents assisted with rescue operations, and the injured were sent to a nearby hospital, according to the Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Ayaz SSP. He added that there were a total of 18 passengers on the bus.

In a separate road crash in 2021, a speeding tanker overran a motorcycle in Karachi, claiming the lives of three members of a family.

According to police, the incident occurred at a traffic signal in the Akhtar Colony area of the city when a moving tanker hit a motorcycle. (ANI)
Pakistans Manghopir police has registered 14 first information reports (FIRs) as part of a crackdown against water theft in Karachi, according to a statement from Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Sunday, Dawn reported. Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper. The mayor said: The noose is being tightened around water thieves. He added that 26 illegal hydrants have been demolished during an operation in Manghopir and its surrounding areas. Wahab said: Fourteen cases were filed against various water thieves, and arrests are also being made. He said that over 60 illegal hydrants were demolished in the last three days, adding that the action would lead to improvement in the citys water distribution. The FIRs were registered against different suspects under Sections 14 (servant of the state), 34 (common intention) and 430 (mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water) of the Pakistan Penal Code for stealing water from pipelines, turning them into hydrants and selling to residents through water tankers in localities within Manghopir police stations limits, according to Dawn. The complaints were lodged by various officials, mainly sub-engineers of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board. Meanwhile, a high-level meeting, presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput was held last month. During the meeting, it was decided to take stringent measures against water theft, encroachments and illegal occupation of land in Karachi. The chief secretary while addressing the meeting said that a strong operation would be carried out against encroachments and water theft in the city. An operation will be conducted against illegal hydrants in the East and West districts of the city, he had said, warning that strict action would be taken against the station house officers concerned if illegal hydrants were reactivated, as per Dawn. (ANI)
After Russia announced it was pulling out from the United Nations-brokered Black Sea grain deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that everything must be done to ensure his country can use the Black Sea to export grain, CNN reported. According to the Ukrainian President spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov, Zelenskyy said, "Even without Russia, we must do everything possible so that we can use this Black Sea corridor." Zelenskyy further said that Ukraine could continue exporting grain without the support of Russia. Zelenskyy said, "We are not afraid. We have been approached by companies which own vessels." He further said, "They said they are ready to continue grain deliveries if Ukraine ships out and Turkey lets them through," according to CNN. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "I have instructed our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the official signal from the Russian Federation, to prepare our official signals to the United Nations and to Turkey so that they can answer back to me as to the President of Ukraine that they are ready to continue our initiative." Russia on Monday announced it was suspending its participation in a UN-brokered deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain. The agreement, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022, was scheduled to expire at 5 pm ET on Monday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday announced Moscow will not renew the agreement, saying it "has been terminated."The deal had allowed Ukraine to export grain by sea, as per the CNN report. In withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that its government was removing guarantees for safe navigation in the Black Sea, according to CNN. Russian Foreign Ministry in the statement said, "This means the withdrawal of guarantees for the safety of navigation, the curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, the restoration of the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea and the disbandment of the JCC [Joint Coordination Center] in Istanbul. Without Russia's participation, the Black Sea initiative ceases to function from July 18." It further said that the Russian government objects to the further extension of the agreement and informed the Turkish and Ukrainian sides on Monday. Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow had also informed the UN secretariat. The ministry said that the Russia-UN Memorandum did not work as planned. "We are forced to state that none of the five systemic tasks envisaged by the Russia-UN Memorandum have been fulfilled," the statement reads as per CNN.After Russia's announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain initiative. Taking to its official Twitter handle, Ursula von der Leyen stated, "I strongly condemn Russias cynical move to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative, despite UN & Trkiyes efforts. EU is working to ensure food security for the worlds vulnerable. #EUSolidarityLanes will continue bringing agrifood products out of Ukraine & to global markets." (ANI)
The Indian consulate in New York on Monday held a repatriation ceremony for 105 trafficked antiquities handed over by the US. The antiquities will soon be transported to India, according to a release issued by the Consulate General of India in New York. The development comes follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US in June 2023. Indian Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu while speaking on the occasion, thanked the US side, in particular Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg and his Anti-Trafficking Unit and the Homeland Security Investigation team for their stellar cooperation and support. He further noted that for the people of India, these were not just pieces of art but part of their living heritage and culture. Sandhu on Monday tweeted: "105 Indian antiquities to return home! Delighted to attend a ceremony in #NewYork this morning, marking the restitution of artefacts following PM @narendramodis State Visit. Appreciate the cooperation extended in protection & exchange of cultural property." The repatriation ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and the Homeland Security Investigation team, as per the official release. During PM Modi's state visit, India, the US, agreed to work on a Cultural Property Agreement that would help prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts. Such an understanding will add further value to the dynamic bilateral collaboration between Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies of the two countries. The 105 artefacts represent a wide geographical spread in terms of their origin in India, with 47 from Eastern India, 27 from Southern India, 22 from Central India, six from Northern India and three from Western India. The artefacts which span from 2nd-3rd century CE to 18th-19th century CE, are made of terracotta, stone, metal and wood. Around 50 artefacts relate to religious subjects [Hinduism, Jainism and Islam] and the rest are of cultural significance. The Indian government has been making serious efforts to bring back stolen Indian antiquities, the living symbols of rich Indian heritage and culture, from abroad. In recent years, there has been close cooperation between India, the US on the restitution of antiquities. During PMs 2016 visit to the US, 16 antiques were handed over by the US side. Similarly, in 2021, the US government handed over 157 artefacts which returned to India following the visit of the PM to the US in September 2021. With these 105 antiquities, the US side has handed over a total of 278 cultural artefacts to India since 2016, as per the release. Meanwhile, it was reported that PM Modi's first state visit to the United States has been an instant hit. The India-US joint statement sums up the sentiments and intent of both nations by stating that "Our cooperation will serve the global good as we work through a range of multilateral and regional groupings - particularly the Quad- to contribute toward a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo- Pacific. No corner of human enterprise is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars". (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], July 17 (ANI/WAM): The annual Global Media Congress (GMC) in Abu Dhabi serves as a crucial platform for fostering international media collaboration and knowledge exchange, showing the importance that the UAE attaches to creating platforms of expression in a wide area of fields, a top Greek diplomat told the Emirates News Agency, WAM. Antonis Alexandridis, the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic of Greece, made these comments as preparations are underway for the second edition of the Global Media Congress that will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court. Organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with WAM, the prominent international conference-cum-exhibition in the media sector will take place from 14th to 16th November 2023, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre ADNEC, Abu Dhabi. GMC to help enhance bilateral ties.The Greek ambassador said the GMC would also play an important role in enhancing the bilateral ties between Greece and the UAE. "The Global Media Congress presents an excellent opportunity to further enhance the existing strategic bilateral cooperation between the two countries and greatly enhance the media sector cooperation between Greece and the UAE. He added, For Greek media outlets, the congress can facilitate meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and pave the way for future partnerships in an area unexplored so far with great potential for both countries." The relations between Greece and the UAE in the media sector will help create a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures, the envoy emphasised. "Cooperation between media sectors in Greece and the UAE can greatly enhance bilateral relations by promoting cultural understanding, facilitating information exchange, and fostering mutual respect, Alexandridis noted. By sharing best practices, exchanging content, and facilitating joint projects, media institutions can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures, thereby strengthening the bonds between our nations," the envoy emphasised. The first edition of the GMC was held in Abu Dhabi in November 2022, under the theme Shaping the Future of the Media Industry. The global event with an exhibition, and more than 30 debates and workshops featuring over 162 globally renowned speakers, attracted over 13,656 visitors. The event had the participation of more than 192 media establishments from 42 countries and over 1,200 media experts and specialists, and influencers from six continents across the globe. (ANI/WAM)
BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern. During the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by Thailand on Monday, there was broad agreement on the importance of creating crisis response mechanisms to coordinate different contingencies. The BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers considered establishing digital payment systems, trade settlements and strengthening cooperation in cyber security and prevention of transnational crimes, Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement. The leaders welcomed the progress on the setting up of an Eminent Persons Group to prepare the road map for the organization to ensure the benefits to member countries and their people. "There was a broad agreement on the importance of creating crisis response mechanisms to coordinate for different contingencies. Food, public health, energy, financial security, as well as trade and economic cooperation, were at the core of the discussions as well," Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It further said, "Furthermore, the meeting also considered establishing digital payment systems and trade settlements, as well as strengthening cooperation in cyber security and prevention of transnational crimes." The seven BIMSTEC members expressed their renewed resolve to build a stronger, more resilient, and more relevant grouping, according to the statement. The Retreat was chaired by Thailand's Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai andBIattended by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat. During the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat, the leaders lauded the usefulness of the Retreat, which facilitated an exchange of ideas in an informal setting and agreed on the need to strengthen BIMSTECs organizational framework and collaborative mechanisms to make BIMSTEC a more effective body for growth and prosperity of the region. The BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers stressed that it is essential to hold discussions and coordinate on global and UN-related issues, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change, according to Thailand's Foreign Ministry's statement. The other topics which were raised included the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat included BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection, agriculture technology, cultural cooperation, youth exchange, and diplomatic training. The Ministers agreed to hold a Retreat on a regular basis, preferably in the first quarter of each year.India also offered to host the next BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly in September 2023. Currently, Thailand is the Chair of BIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, "Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward-looking discussion among colleagues. Focused on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today." He further said, "Explored new facets and activities to enter new areas of cooperation. Food, health and energy security are common concerns. Technology solutions can be subject to both collaboration and the exchange of best practices. Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity. Agreed to meet more frequently to take these ideas further." (ANI)
India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee, which was established under MOU on Passenger Transportation by Sea, held a virtual meeting on July 14 and discussed the strengthening of connectivity and resumption of ferry services between the two countries, the High Commission of India, Colombo said in a press release. The two sides were led respectively by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of India and KDS Ruwanchandra, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of the Government of Sri Lanka. The productive discussions focused on the resumption of ferry services between the two countries connecting mutually agreed points. Both sides agreed that the resumption of ferry services will boost regional trade and tourism and promote stronger people-to-people ties, the release stated. The Joint Committee also identified a number of areas for mutual cooperation for the operationalization of ferry services in the near future and desired to take further steps based on mutual understanding. The Joint Committee was recently reconstituted by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka as per the provisions of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Passenger Transportation by Sea, signed in 2011, the release further stated. (ANI)
Officials are asking for the publics help in finding a violent fugitive convicted of raping a coworker at knifepoint nearly two decades ago.

Tuen K. Lee is wanted by the United States Marshals Service. His many aliases include Duen Jie Li and Dickie Lee, according to officials.

In 2007, Lee was convicted of violently raping and seriously injuring a younger Chinese American woman, who was also his coworker.

Lee failed to appear during his trial in Norfolk Superior Court, where he was convicted in absentia and faces life in prison.

He is 54-years-old, 59 with black hair and brown eyes. Police say his last known whereabouts is Quincy, Massachusetts in 2007. State Police are offering a $10,000 cash reward for any tipsters that provide information leading to Lees arrest.

Anyone with information about him is asked to call the U.S. Marshals or the Massachusetts State Police at 1-833-677-3171.

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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10-year-old thrown from carnival ride and is hospitalized, Illinois cops say

A 10-year-old was thrown from a ride at an Illinois carnival, prompting the towns mayor to close all of the rides at the fair, police say.

The Antioch Police Department said the child was thrown from the ride Sunday, July 16, at the Taste of Antioch carnival.

It happened on the Moby Dick ride, WGN reported. A child who helped the injured kid told WGN the bar for his seat was unsecure.

All of a sudden I turned and I hear a woman screaming, Erin Maloney, who was waiting in line for the ride, told WLS. And my son said, Mom look. I turned around and this little boy was just on the pavement, not moving, not responsive.

Police said the child was airlifted to a hospital. His condition is unknown.

Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner ordered the closure of all rides at the carnival, according to a news release. The closure, police said, will allow for officials to review the safety of each ride.

We are always trying to make sure these are safe, fun family events and our thoughts and prayers go out to the child that fell and his family, Gartner told WGN. I have two young daughters myself. It hit close to home and we have to make sure something like this never happens again and the child is OK.

Local authorities are investigating along with the Illinois Department of Labor, police said.

Antioch is about 60 miles northwest of Chicago.

Dramatic video shows fair ride plunging into ground, tossing riders into air in India

Stuck carnival ride leaves 12 people dangling over county fair, California rescuers say
This 12-mile-bridge in Crimea is a lifeline for Russia's occupation, but attacks and damages are making it a headache for Moscow

This 12-mile-bridge in Crimea is a lifeline for Russia's occupation, but attacks and damages are making it a headache for Moscow

While Ukraine didn't take responsibility for the attack, Kyiv has repeatedly threatened to target the bridge. Crimea24TV/AFP via Getty Images

The Kerch Bridge connecting Russia and Crimea was damaged by explosions on Monday morning.

The bridge was previously hit in October by an bomb-laden truck and didn't reopen until February.

The attacks harm Russia's economic, symbolic, and military ties to Crimea, experts told Insider.

The 12-mile-bridge connecting Russia and Crimea is a lifeline for Moscow's economic and cultural interests in the occupied peninsula  but recent attacks have damaged it severely, causing lasting problems for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Crimean occupation officials.

On Monday, an explosion rocked the roadbed of the Kerch Strait Bridge, killing two adults and suspending traffic. The Kremlin called the event "a terror attack" completed by Ukraine's unmanned drones, while Putin and other Russian officials urged tougher security and threatened "targeted and quite inhumane" consequences.

"The impact on transportation and logistical supply to Crimea are immediately becoming evident," said Karolina Hird, a Russian analyst and Evans Hanson fellow at the Institute for the Study of War think tank. "But the biggest thing we're tracking right now is the suspension of movement to and from occupied Crimea via the bridge, and that will obviously have implications on the Russian military presence in occupied Ukraine."

An attack on the Kerch Bridge is far from "an extraordinary event," as Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, said, according to The Kyiv Post.

The bridge is the physical link between Russia and the Crimea peninsula, and attacks on it bring the war home to Russians and undermine Putin's successful seizure of this territory from Ukraine.

The Kerch Strait Bridge damaged after October's attack. AP Photo

Last October, an bomb-laden truck exploded on the westbound span of the bridge and eastbound span of a rail bridge, killing three. The damage was so severe, Kerch Bridge was closed for normal vehicle traffic until February 2023 and railway traffic until May 2023.

While Ukraine didn't take responsibility for October's attack, a Ukrainian Security Service source did tell CNN the group and Kyiv's naval forces were behind July's attack.

Kyiv has previously threatened the bridge, which served as a route for Russia to transport equipment before its February 2022 invasion, and has contributed to supply lines through Crimea and operational support along the southern front.

While much of Russia's military traffic has "shifted to other land bridges father to the north" after October's attack, according to Samuel Bendett, a research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses' International Affairs Group, the bridge still "demonstrates uninterrupted access" between Russia and Crimea.

The most recent attack also hinders summer tourism to Crimea, which ISW's Hird said has a been a priority for Russia.

"There's been a huge push on the part of Russian authorities to really sustain and even increase tourism in occupied Crimea for economic reasons, and for an integration of occupied Crimea into the larger Russian system."

Beach goers in an active war zone? One of the many examples of Putin and the Kremlin avoiding bringing the war home to their own citizens. "They don't want to fully mobilize society for war," Hird said.

Putin himself has signaled the Russian Navy's involvement in bringing more tourists in, she added, calling it a "cognitive dissonance" as Crimea continues to be a legitimate target area for Ukraine, who's targeted the area and the Black Sea Fleet in the past few months. The result has been constant stress on Crimean citizens.

The bridge  and what it represents  are a crowned jewel for Putin. Satellite image (c) 2023 Maxar Technologies

Finished in 2018, the Kerch Bridge was seen as a landmark achievement by Russia, a relatively short and permanent way to access Crimea. And while it primarily serves to connect the two, it's also symbolizes Russia's influence and control over the peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014, and Ukraine has identified as the most important territory to reclaim.

But defending the Kerch Bridge is a logistical nightmare for Russia, prompting a hoard of questions. "How do you defend a long bridge like that? Where do you place your defenses? Do you fly patrols around it? Do you install sensors on it all the time? Do you have maritime patrols all the time?" Bendett said. "It's difficult to properly and completely defend an asset as large as a bridge like that."

And the attack has severe military repercussions, especially as Ukraine's counteroffensive pushes against deeply rooted Russian trenches, mine fields, and defensive lines.

"Right now, we've seen really high rates of insubordination and problems of morale and discipline in elements of Russian forces that are deployed" in the south, Hird said, adding that the bridge made evacuation "a lot easier" and "now that this capability is inhibited, that is bound to be have some sort of psychological morale impact on Russian forces."

"We might start to see some panic induced in a struggling force that's already on the low end of morale," she added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Yonhap via Reuters

Last month was the hottest June ever recorded. The records continued to be broken early this month as the average global temperature surged to its highest ever level. Brutal heat waves are now blazing in North America, Europe, and some regions of Asia, and with El Nino warming once again in the Pacific, experts say 2023 could become the hottest year the world has ever seen.

Whether or not the dire milestone is reached remains to be seen but the catastrophic consequences of a rapidly warming planet are already painfully evident.

These Countries Are Most Vulnerable to Dangerous Heat Waves This Century

As of Monday, record monsoon rains in South Korea over the weekend led to at least 40 deaths as the downpours triggered landslides and flooding around the country. In one particularly chilling case, at least 13 people died in the central city of Cheongju as over a dozen vehicles became trapped as floodwater poured into an underpass.

Drivers must have realized their fate as thousands of gallons of water from a burst riverbank gushed into the tunnel. The death toll is expected to rise with emergency crews still working on Monday to drain the 2,200-foot underpass as divers were sent into the water to retrieve the bodies of victims. At least nine survivors have been pulled from the water as worried relatives gathered at a local hospital for updates on their missing loved ones.

I have no hope but I cant leave, the parent of one of the people missing in the tunnel told the Yonhap news agency. My heart wrenches thinking how painful it must have been for my son in the cold water.

The downpours have also brought devastation to other parts of the country. At least 19 people died and eight were missing in the central North Gyeongsang region as landslides engulfed houses. Thousands of others were evacuated on Saturday in areas near the Goesan Dam as it started to overflow for the first time in 43 years in North Chungcheong.

Both North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang recorded more rainfall in the last three days than the average of the entire monsoon month, which typically starts in June and ends in August.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was unambiguous about the causes of the crisis. This kind of extreme weather event will become commonplacewe must accept climate change is happening, and deal with it, he said at an emergency meeting Monday.

On the other side of the earth, in the American South and Southwest, millions of people are currently sweltering in extreme heat. Record-breaking heat is expected each day through mid-week in the Four Corners states, from Texas to the Lower Mississippi Valley, and South Florida, the National Weather Service said on Monday.

In Europe, Italian health officials have warned people to stay inside this week as the third heat wave in a month stifles the country, with triple-digit temperatures expected in several cities. The European Space Agency said other European countries including France, Germany, and Poland may also see extreme temperatures.

Health officials in Japan issued heatstroke warnings in 32 of its 47 prefectures on Monday as it too saw temperatures over 100F, while the China Meteorological Administration confirmed that China recorded its highest-ever temperature on Sundaya mind-boggling 126F in the western Xinjiang region.

The fickle nature of weather patterns determines where and when extreme weather events take place, but the giant waves propagating around the hemispheres can often connect areas of extreme heat, drought, and deluge, said Richard Allan, professor of Climate Science at the University of Reading in the U.K. The heat waves affecting parts of North America, southern Europe, and areas of Asia are linked through these giant planetary waves that have become lodged in place, causing extreme heat in these regions but also intense rainfall and flooding in others.

Alarmingly, experts say the situation could get worse both in the immediate future and in the coming years. Scientists have shown that such heat waves are occurring more often with climate change, and with El Nino conditions this year, we are likely to see many more temperature records broken in the coming months, said Vikki Thompson, a climate scientist at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Heat waves will continue to increase in intensity, frequency, and duration unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically.

In March, the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report calling climate change a threat to human well-being and planetary health. There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all, the report added.

This is just the beginning, Professor Simon Lewis, University College Londons Chair of Global Change Science, said of the current heat crisis. This is what the climate system can do at just 1.2 degrees C warming. Current policies globally have us hitting 2.7 degrees C warming by 2100. Thats truly terrifying.

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After premiering for the first time in 1969, the beloved childrens show Sesame Street soon found itself at the center of a controversial decision in Mississippi. The racially diverse cast became a point of contention for a board of educational consultants in the state, resulting in a ban on the shows airing.

Sesame Street was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett with the goal of educating their young audience with life lessons. The show became an instant hit among children with its colorful array of characters, such as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

The show starred Matt Robinson and Loretta Long, who were Black, alongside Jada Rowland and Bob Mcgrath, who were white. The child actors on the show were also racially and ethnically diverse.

In January 1970, only a few months into Sesame Streets time on air, a board of educational consultants from the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television held one of its regular meetings to discuss the show. The board was created by the state Legislature and the members were handpicked by then Gov. John Bell Williams.

Their job was to evaluate all programs that were to air on the states Educational Television, or ETV station. While it was based only in the Jackson area, the station was set to eventually provide coverage to residents across the entire state.

The all-white board consisted of private citizens, including a principal, a teacher, and James McKay. McKay was the son-in-law of Allen Thompson, former mayor of Jackson, who spent decades fighting to retain segregation in the schools and the city.

The nation, and especially Mississippi, had just overcome major issues stemming from the civil rights movement. However, racial tension over desegregation and systemic racism continued to plague the state.

With this in mind, the panel felt that the portrayal of a racially diverse cast was too controversial to show to children in Mississippi. They also worried that the state Legislature would take fault with the show, which could threaten their budget of over $5 million.

After postponing the decision for three months, the board voted 3-2 to ban Sesame Street from airing on the ETV station in April 1970. The two members against banning the show reached out to The New York Times.

One of the two members against the decision told the The New York Times that some of the members of the commission were very much opposed to showing the series because it uses a highly integrated cast of children. The member, who chose to remain anonymous, went on to say mainly the commission members felt that Mississippi was not yet ready for it.

The ban sparked a wave of outrage, not just among Mississippi residents, but also among concerned citizens and organizations across the country. Civil rights activists, educators, and parents vehemently criticized the decision, arguing that Sesame Street provided valuable educational content regardless of the diversity of its cast.

Joan Ganz Cooney and Several Children Watching Sesame Street.

Cooney would eventually describe the decision as a a tragedy for both the white and black children of Mississippi.

In response, the board claimed that it was not a total ban on Sesame Street, but a temporary postponing. They said there were concerns that the Legislature would react negatively to the progressive show and would shut down their project before it had a chance to reach the entire state.

To an extent, there was reason to believe the statement as several government officials had recently argued against educational programming that highlighted racial integration. State Rep. Tullius Brady of Brookhaven claimed that ETV exerted a subtle influence on children that could be used for evil purposes.

With mounting pressure from the media, civil rights members and concerned residents of the state, the board reversed its decision only 22 days later. While Sesame Street would be allowed to air on ETV for residents in the Jackson area, many children closer to Memphis and New Orleans were already enjoying the show on other networks.

Later that year, the cast of Sesame Street visited Jackson and met with members of the board who helped sponsor the visit. However, no public apology was made for the decision to ban Sesame Street in Mississippi.
The two officers who run recruit training for the U.S. Marine Corps on the East Coast have been fired.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, where the officers are based, issued a statement saying the commanding officer and sergeant major of the Recruit Training Regiment were relieved on Wednesday, July 5, for loss of trust and confidence.

They did not release the names.

No additional information was provided.

The Marine Corps Times reported the men who were relieved were Col. Bradley Ward and Sgt. Maj. Fabian Casillas.

Ward had been commander of the regiment since July 2021, and Casillas had been his senior enlisted adviser since sometime in 2022, the Marine Corps Times said.

The regiments new commander is Col. Christopher McArthur, and the new sergeant major is Sgt. Maj. Michael Brown, said Maj. Philip Kulczewski, a Marine Corps spokesman at Parris Island.

Recruit Training Regiment provides for reception, processing and training of enlisted personnel when they enter the Marine Corps. It also develops drill instructors and officers responsible for recruit training.

About 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually.

The news was released the same day as a negligent homicide trial of Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley began at Parris Island. Smiley is charged with negligent homicide in the June 4, 2021, death of Marine recruit Dalton Beals during the Crucible, the final physical and mental test all recruits must pass before becoming Marines.

On Monday, Smiley pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and chose to have a jury, not a judge, decide the case.
A South Carolina man was killed early Monday morning in a shooting, the Aiken County Coroners Office said.

Jatavious K. Harris, a 20-year-old Batesburg resident, was the shooting victim, Coroner Darryl Ables said.

The shooting happened at about 1 a.m. at a home in the 800 block of Old 96 Indian Trail, according to the Aiken County Sheriffs Office. Thats in Batesburg, in the area between Interstate 20 an U.S. 1.

When deputies arrived at the home, Harris was found lying on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound and was unresponsive, the sheriffs office said.

Attempts to resuscitate Harris were unsuccessful and he died at the scene, according to the sheriffs office.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday in Newberry, Ables said.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word on a shooter, or shooters, or any motive for the gunfire. Deputies said they believe the shots were fired from outside the home and came from the road.

No arrests have been reported by the sheriffs office, which is continuing to investigate the shooting with the coroners office.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-648-6811, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.

Community assistance is vital in any investigation, the sheriffs office said.
20-year-old vanished leaving party, New York cops say. Remains just found months later

Skeletal remains discovered off of a parkway in Long Island, New York, were identified as a 20-year-old man who vanished after leaving a house party in April, police said.

Family members reported Isaiah Henriquez, of West Babylon, a community on Long Island, missing on April 9, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. The report came the day after he was last seen leaving a party at around 7:30 p.m. April 8 in Brentwood, a community in the town of Islip on Long Island, the department said.

His remains were found in a wooded area off of the Southern State Parkway, which runs through Long Island, in Islip the morning of July 13, New York State Police said in a news release that day.

A person traveling eastbound on the parkway came across the remains after pulling over near exit 40 and called 911, Patch.com reported.

Suffolk County police announced the identification of Henriquezs body in a July 15 news release.

The circumstances surrounding the cause of his death are under investigation, police said in the release.

State police are handling the investigation, a Suffolk County police spokesperson told McClatchy News on July 17.

The discovery of Henriquezs body comes two weeks after his mother spoke with News 12 Long Island about how shed been searching for her son ever since his disappearance.

I promise you I will not stop searching for you and were going to bring you back home, she said at the time, according to the outlet.

After leaving the house party in Islip on April 8, Henriquezs mother told the outlet her son got in a Lyft rideshare vehicle and headed to the Poospatuck Reservation in the community of Mastic on Long Island.

In a statement to McClatchy News on July 17, Lyft confirmed Henriquez was driven and dropped off at his intended location.

Our hearts go out to Mr. Henriquezs loved ones, a Lyft spokesperson said. We have been in contact with the riders family to offer our support and are assisting law enforcement with their investigation.

Henriquezs mother said she spoke with Henriquez hours before he headed to the party that evening in an interview with WPIX.

She remembers him saying Alright ma, Ill see ya later, before he went missing, according to the TV station.

Remains found in crawl space identified as Virginia man missing since May, cops say

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If you look at the top lines, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outpaced former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential nomination fundraising fight the past three months.

DeSantis hauled in $20.1 million during the first six weeks of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, which stretched from late May when the conservative governor and culture wars crusader announced his candidacy for the White House through the end of June, which brought to a close the second quarter of 2023 fundraising.

That tops the $17.7 million raked in by Trumps principal presidential campaign committee during the entire three-month fundraising period.

While DeSantis top line number outpaced Trumps, the former presidents political team touts that Trump hauled in roughly $35 million the past three months when you combine his presidential campaigns haul with the money raised by Save America, which is his political action committee.

FIRST ON FOX: DESANTIS BRINGS IN $20 MILLION IN FIRST SIX WEEKS OF HIS WHITE HOUSE BID

Former President Donald Trump speaks to crowd during a campaign event on July 1, 2023, in Pickens, South Carolina.

Trumps second quarter overall figure across all of his fundraising committees jumps the $9.5 million he raised from his mid-November launch through the end of last year and the nearly $19 million during the January-March first quarter of fundraising.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump is the current commanding front-runner in the latest GOP presidential nomination polls as he makes his third straight White House run. And his fundraising prowess appears to be an indicator that the former president's mounting legal troubles have helped fuel his 2024 White House campaign. During the second quarter of fundraising this year, Trump became the first sitting or former president in U.S. history to be charged with a crime, as he was indicted and arraigned in New York City by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office in April and again in June in federal court in Miami.

TAKE A LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP'S FUNDRAISING HAUL THE PAST THREE MONTHS

DeSantis is second in the polls, trailing Trump by double digits but ahead of the rest of the large field of GOP presidential contenders, who are polling in the single digits.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis walks alongside his wife, Casey DeSantis, and son, Mason, in the Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade in New Hampshire on July 4, 2023.

As noted, the Florida governors $20.1 million haul came during a six-week period, but nearly half  $8.2 million  came in the first 24 hours after DeSantis declared his candidacy.

And peeking past the top lines, only a small percentage of the cash DeSantis raised came from donors contributing less than $200, with much of his fundraising coming from top-dollar donors, some of whom have now maxed out and are prevented by Federal Election Commission rules from giving further contributions to the governor. Trump, by comparison, saw the lion's share of his fundraising come from small-dollar, grassroots donations.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

DeSantis has also been burning through his campaign coffers at a quicker rate than Trump. The governors campaign spent $7.9 million in half the time that Trumps team shelled out $9.1 million.

Republicans presidential candidates Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump

Of course, both DeSantis and Trump are getting plenty of outside help from the top super PACs supporting their White House runs.

As first reported by Fox News earlier this month, the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down is expected to report raising $130 million since forming in March, when it files its report with the FEC. A significant portion of Never Back Down's fundraising  roughly $82 million  was money transferred to the super PAC in June from a Florida based political committee affiliated with the governor. The funds were originally raised to support DeSantis' 2022 gubernatorial re-election.

Never Back Down has been building what appears in many ways to be a shadow campaign to assist DeSantis in campaigning, voter outreach and messaging. Like all super PACs, its prevented by federal rules from coordinating with the campaign.

MAGA Inc., the principal super PAC support Trumps presidential campaign, has yet to reveal their second quarter fundraising figures ahead of their FEC filing.

Asked about the onslaught of negative campaign stories hes faced in recent weeks, DeSantis reiterated in an interview on Fox News "Media Buzz" with host Howard Kurtz on Sunday, "I think clearly you see an effort to create these narratives. I think the good thing about it is Republican primary voters are very smart. They know where these corporate outlets stand on the political spectrum."

And with six months to go until the start of the GOP nominating calendar, DeSantis saw a silver lining, arguing that if Republican voters "become convinced that the media does not want me to be the nominee above all else, that will, in the long run, absolutely help me."

DeSantis also touted that he not only topped Trump in second quarter fundraising but "we raised more money than Joe Biden did in the second quarter."

President Bidens 2024 campaign brought in $19.9 million in the second quarter, trailing where Trump and then-President Barack Obama were at this point in their re-election cycles.

The Democratic National Committee voted earlier this month to overwhelmingly approve a new top of the calendar pushed by President Biden that upends the traditional schedule.

But combined with the Democratic National Committee, Biden hauled in $72 million. And the Biden re-election campaign and the DNC had $77 million cash on hand as of the end of the second quarter.

Bidens team spotlighted that their total came from nearly 400,000 donors, and that 97% contributions were under $200 and more than 30% of donors were first time contributors to the president.

The president appears to be running a very lean re-election campaign, spending only $1.1 million in the second quarter.

Bidens top primary challenger, environmental activist and high-profile vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., brought in nearly $6.4 million for the quarter, with $4.5 million in his campaign coffers as of the end of June.
3 things you should avoid doing if you're 'skiplagging' and don't want to get your ticket canceled, according to a former flight attendant who flew with 2 US airlines

The former flight attendant Bobby Laurie shares mistakes passengers make when skiplagging. Craig Hastings/Nathan Congleton/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Passengers are turning to skiplagging to save money when traveling because of surging flight prices.

But a former flight attendant says anyone caught skiplagging risks getting their ticket canceled.

Bobby Laurie told Insider that travelers should check in online to avoid getting caught skiplagging.

Airline tickets have been increasing in price, and passengers are looking for ways to save money. Many travelers have turned to skiplagging  but this comes with the risk of getting their tickets canceled.

As a result, airlines have been cracking down on skiplagging to avoid losing revenue. Earlier this month, American Airlines canceled a teenager's ticket after they realized he was planning to skip the second leg of his journey.

Bobby Laurie, a travel expert who worked as a flight attendant for US Airways and Virgin America, told Insider that passengers should approach skiplagging with caution because it goes against many airlines' terms and conditions.

"Skiplagging can save you a lot of money. Airlines compete on certain routes, and those routes are the ones where you will find discounted rates. We are talking a difference of a couple hundred dollars," Laurie, the cohost of "The Jet Set," a travel talk show that airs weekly on national television, said.

Skiplagging  also known as "hidden city" or "throwaway" ticketing  is a cost-saving strategy that involves booking a ticket with a layover and bailing on the flight to the final destination. Laurie said there were three things passengers should avoid if they want to try skiplagging:

1. Limit interaction with the airline's employees

He said passengers planning to use hidden city tickets should avoid in-person check-in and use online or mobile check-in instead. To avoid arousing suspicion when skiplagging, fly under the radar and avoid speaking to airline staff unless necessary.

2. Do not use your frequent-flyer information

Forget the free upgrades and earning miles when skiplagging, Laurie said. He said passengers should never use their membership with an airline's frequent-flyer program when booking skiplagging tickets because it could lead to the cancellation of their account.

3. Do not check in your bags

Laurie said passengers should avoid checking in bags when skiplagging because their suitcases could end up at the final destination. Pack light and use a carry-on instead.

While skiplagging can be great for people traveling on a tight budget, Laurie said passengers should also avoid doing it often because airlines wouldn't hesitate to punish passengers who use hidden city tickets.

"If you're looking to save money, and don't want to travel with a checked-in bag, and really need to get from point A to point B, skiplagging can save you the cash," he said.

"But if you do get caught, your ticket can be canceled, and your trip will be interrupted," he added.

Read the original article on Insider
Danielle Geralds and Nile Hunt III beat out 15,000 applications in the giveaway hosted by the Greenhouse of Walled Lake

A pot-loving couple from Waterford, Michigan, won a marijuana-themed wedding giveaway complete with pot-infused food, Detroit Free Press reports.

Danielle Geralds and Nile Hunt III beat out 15,000 applicants in the giveaway hosted by the Greenhouse of Walled Lake. According to a news release, the dispensary partnered with Choice Labs of Jackson to give one lucky couple a weed-lovers dream wedding valued at $40,000.

Contest winners Danielle Geralds (left) and Nile Hunt III sit at the fountain on Detroits Belle Isle, where they were engaged. They are due to be married in October. (Photo by Collin Williams).

Geralds and Hunt, a decorated Navy veteran, will tie the knot on the Greenhouse grounds. The space will be transformed into a wedding wonderland for 50 of the couples friends and loved ones, according to the news release. The celebration will feature a DJ, premium cannabis options, and a custom Mojo-infused chocolate wedding cake, the Detroit Free Press reported. Instead of an open bar, guests will be treated to a top-shelf bud bar.

According to the news release, contestants for the weed-wedding giveaway had to fill out a form with a short message on why they wanted to win. Geralds and Hunt won thanks in part to his heroic military story.

They had a great story. They werent just looking to get a free wedding. They were like, We want to normalize this. And I have a soft spot for veterans, said Greenhouse owner Jerry Millen. Theyre out there risking their lives  not for a lot of money, for our freedom. That was a factor. This guy was out there worrying about saving other peoples lives rather than his own.

The couple, who use marijuana recreationally, also impressed Millen with their mutual passion for normalizing cannabis.

Jerry Millen (left), owner of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, stands with weed wedding winners Danielle Geralds and Nile Hunt III. (Photo credit: Greenhouse of Walled Lake)

Nile and I have always talked about having an infused wedding, Geralds said, according to the Free Press. She also noted that a vast majority of her wedding guests also use marijuana. Additionally, Geralds and her family members have used the plant for medicinal purposes.

Theres going to be a good buzz, she said of her wedding. Everything will be heavily labeled. There will be plenty of signage.

Geralds and Hunt met through mutual friends in 2009 as he prepared for deployment to Afghanistan. After he was injured in a bomb blast in the Middle East in 2010, Hunt returned to the United States, where in Virginia he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in addition to his physical injuries. He went back to Michigan, where Geralds and other friends were a constant source of support, the Free Press reported. Hunt also turned to marijuana to heal physically and emotionally.

Years would pass before he and Geralds friendship turned romantic, and that moment came after they attended a mutual friends wedding in 2018.

It definitely feels like a fairy tale, Geralds said.

At their wedding, scheduled for Oct. 5, guests will throw marijuana leaves instead of rice at the end of the ceremony. The brides bouquet will incorporate cannabis leaves, as will the floral centerpieces, according to the Free Press.

Geralds said she wants obtaining weed to become as common as going to the liquor store to get a six-pack.

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The post $40,000 all-expense-paid weed wedding prize goes to Michigan couple appeared first on TheGrio.
It's going to be more than two years before Minnesota's paid family and medical leave program is up and running, providing new parents paid time off to bond with their newborn child.

But Minnesota's DFL-led Legislature passed a slew of other changes last session for new or expecting parents, from job protections and unpaid leave requirements to lactating accommodations at work.

A handful of those changes took effect in July. Here's what you need to know:

Expanded nursing breaks

Last year, Minnesota became the third state to require businesses to provide paid breaks for workers to pump breast milk. DFL legislators expanded on the law this year, eliminating a requirement that the employer must have at least 15 employees. They also got rid of a 12-month timeframe in the original law, meaning employees can take paid breaks to express breast milk for a longer period of time. The updated law also prohibits employers from denying breaks to employees.

'Reasonable' accommodations

The new laws also require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with health conditions related to birth or pregnancy. That could mean a leave of absence from a strenuous position or moving someone to different position temporarily. Employers must also consider other factors such as break times and seating accommodations.

Unpaid pregnancy leave

While workers wait for the new paid family and medical leave benefits to kick in, legislators expanded existing state law around pregnancy leave. The amended law requires employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for parents around the adoption or birth of a new child. The law change also eliminated a minimum employee requirement and extended the change to all employees, regardless of how long someone has worked at their job.

Job protections

Legislators created new protections for employees returning from time off after their child is born. Employers must allow workers to return to their old job  or a comparable one  after a pregnancy-related leave, and they must maintain their schedule, rate of pay and any accrued benefits from the time they left. Under the new law, employees on a pregnancy-related leave can be laid off by their employer, but only if their position would have been eliminated regardless.

Disability parking

A pregnant Minnesotan who meets qualifications laid out under state law  and with the certification of a medical professional  can now apply for disability parking tags. Those permits are allowed for those who struggle to walk more than 200 feet without risk of falling or needing to rest.
Nurse practitioner Anika Barber with a patient at the Legacy Community Health Center in Houston on Aug. 2, 2013. Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

Half a million Texans have lost their Medicaid coverage since April, mostly for procedural reasons like not responding to messages from the state.

Preliminary data, released Friday by the states Health and Human Services Commission, paints a grim picture of Texas early efforts to redetermine Medicaid eligibility for the first time since COVID-19 hit three years ago.

Nowhere was this unwinding going to be easy. But Texas  with its high uninsured rates, strict rules to qualify for Medicaid and persistent delays in verifying eligibility  was on particularly poor footing to handle the sudden influx of renewals.

Now, hundreds of thousands of Texans are scrambling after suddenly losing health insurance  and the consistent care from trusted health care providers that it enabled them to access. Meanwhile, advocates say many of the people who lost coverage may actually still be eligible, and theyre calling for the state to pause redeterminations until they can ensure low-income children dont fall through the newly apparent cracks in the renewal system.

If the high percentage of procedural denials continues, then Texas is on the verge of knocking a lot of eligible kids off of their health insurance, said Diana Forester, director of health policy at Texans Care for Children. If state leaders cant quickly pivot to a more effective process, then they should consider pausing the Medicaid removals until they can get this right.

Unwinding after three years

Texas is one of just 11 states that has not expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, and the state has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the country. Before the pandemic, Medicaid in Texas mostly served children, disabled adults and pregnant women up to two months postpartum.

Once the pandemic hit in March 2020, federal regulations prohibited moving anyone off of the program. The extended coverage allowed about 3 million Texans to continue receiving Medicaid after they normally would have been removed from the program.

Federal funding legislation lifted those protections in April, kicking off a yearlong process for states to determine who should remain on Medicaid and move those who do not onto other state programs or into the public health insurance marketplace.

Texas normal rules are the most restrictive in the United States, said Anne Dunkelberg, senior fellow at Every Texan, a health care advocacy group. We were carrying all of these desperately poor parents for the entire pandemic period, and we knew the lions share of them would not requalify.

In the first month of this process, Texas reviewed the eligibility of almost 800,000 people. The state has not released demographic data, but said they are starting with people who likely no longer qualify for the program, like people who have aged out or those who no longer have an eligible child in their home.

Of those initial cases, about 111,000 people were determined to still qualify for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program. About 95,000 people were found to no longer qualify.

But an additional 400,000 people were moved off of Medicaid for procedural reasons, meaning the state terminated their coverage without reviewing their eligibility. This includes people who didnt submit the renewal packet the state sent through the mail or via YourTexasBenefits.com within 30 days.

The review process is confusing and frustrating for families, says Graciela Camarena, child health outreach program director at Childrens Defense Fund Texas, who helps families in the Rio Grande Valley navigate public benefit programs.

Camerana said in a statement that clients have received notices at old addresses, in a language not listed as their primary language or after the deadline had already passed. The state worked with advocates, health care providers and insurers to try to get the word out about the upcoming renewal process, but procedural errors and delays hamstrung the process even when people were aware of the steps they needed to take.

We have even seen families receive multiple letters at the same time  one saying they qualify, another saying they do not, Camarena said. The issue is the process, not the people. These are mostly parents just trying to give their children a chance to stay healthy.

In a statement, HHSC spokesperson Tiffany Young said the agency used a multi-pronged strategy to reach people, including mailing notices, sending text messages, hosting events and collaborating with community partners. The state is also urging everyone who currently receives Medicaid or CHIP benefits to ensure their information is up to date at YourTexasBenefits.com.

Nationally, 75% of removals were for procedural reasons, compared to 81% in Texas. But researchers worry that Texas particularly strict Medicaid regulations mean theres a greater risk for greater harm.

Kids eligibility doesnt change as much, said Gaby Aboulafia, a health policy Ph.D. student at Harvard University who is studying the unwinding. Because the state hasnt expanded, we can say with a lot of confidence that many of these people who were inappropriately kicked off were kids who are actually probably still eligible.

Research shows that any gap in coverage, even just a few months, can have devastating financial and health consequences for families, Aboulafia said.

Texas new data also shows the state is not taking advantage of other tools to determine eligibility. Less than 1% of people had their eligibility reviewed through the ex parte system, which allows the state to verify eligibility using third-party data like federal benefits information.

More people end up achieving coverage through this automatic renewal, because they dont have to provide any updated information, Aboulafia said. Its the biggest thing Texas can do to ensure that people retain their coverage.

Some states are relying heavily on this administrative review, with a quarter of states using ex parte data for a majority of their renewals. In the data released Friday, HHSC noted that the rate of approvals with third-party data is expected to increase as the agency begins reviewing cases that are more likely to continue to qualify for Medicaid. But Texas has long lagged the national average in ex parte reviews, due in part to onerous regulations like refusing to accept income data more than two months old, Dunkelberg said.

While the Texas House passed a bill that would have expanded HHSCs ability to use the ex parte system to verify childrens eligibility for health insurance, the Senate did not pass the measure.

The Legislature also granted only $111 million of the $143 million HHSC requested to support the anticipated surge in Medicaid renewals.

Young said the state is on schedule to complete the redetermination process as planned. With another 3.6 million cases expected to be up for review in the next three months, including many new mothers, the gap between what advocates hoped for and what Texas is delivering is only expected to widen.

The Governor can mitigate these harms by pausing to examine why this is happeningand fix it, said Adrienne Lloyd, health policy manager at Childrens Defense Fund-Texas. We urge him and Texas leaders to  take advantage of the full timeline and flexibilities offered by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services to complete this process  so that Texas does not continue to wrongfully remove children, seniors, and people with disabilities from their health care.

Disclosure: Every Texan and Texans Care for Children have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.
Chelsea Gotta of Pella, Iowa, poses with the trunk of money she found off Mueller Park Trail in the mountains east of Bountiful on Sunday, July 16, 2023. Gotta has been in Utah multiple times over the past weeks to search for the hidden treasure. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Fifty-one days. Thats how long it took for Chelsea Gotta of Pella, Iowa, to find the treasure chest containing $25,000 that two Utahns hid in the states great outdoors for the fourth year in a row.

The chest was masked under heaps of pine cone dust at the base of a tree off Mueller Park Trail in Bountiful. Gotta almost gave up before she found it. In the midst of her third trip to Utah for the hunt, she knew she needed to start her 16-hour drive back home soon to make work on Tuesday.

My time was running out. I was getting frustrated, I was crying, she said. Im like Ive wasted all this time. This is ridiculous. What am I doing?

Moments away from heading home, Gotta decided to look one last time. She stood up, brushed around the tree she was sitting at and felt the top of the chest. Gotta, covered head to toe in dirt, immediately fell over and cried. She is the first out-of-state winner.

Everybody at work thinks Im crazy, everybody at home thinks Im crazy, Gotta said. I just started texting people from work, I told you.

The contents of a small trunk that Chelsea Gotta of Pella, Iowa, found off Mueller Park Trail in the mountains east of Bountiful on Sunday, July 16, 2023. Gotta has been in Utah multiple times over the past weeks to search for the hidden treasure. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The journey to $25,000 began one morning when Gotta was laying in bed and saw something about the treasure hunt on Facebook.

It crossed my mind to come out here, but I was like, Eh, its too far away.

Fortunately for her, that soon changed. Gotta began following the hunts masterminds John Maxim and David Cline on social media and saw other people post their own attempts at finding the treasure. She thought to herself, It cant be that hard, and began researching.

Gotta figured out most of Maxim and Clines clues back home, but knew she was especially close after zooming out on Google Maps and seeing that Mueller Park Trail forms a church steeple upside down from afar, a reference to a line in the treasure hunt poem that read What points toward Heaven but is upside down. Gotta kept getting closer and closer until she settled on a clearing about 60 feet off the shoulder of the trail. It took a little while, but she found the X that marked the spot.

Now, she plans to throw her own treasure hunt with the money.

After the first time I was out here, I did a small treasure hunt in the town I live in and people went crazy over it, so Ill probably throw most of the money (toward that) and get kids outside again the rest of the summer, she said.

But before she leaves Utah, Gotta is trying to find the family of three little boys who scoured Ensign Peak with her during an earlier search. The kids wanted just $200 from the chest. Gotta is making sure they get it.

Its just in my heart to do it.

A record-breaking hunt

The Fourth Annual Treasure Hunt was the longest in the events history, leading to several long nights for fortune seekers.

I got about two and a half hours of sleep the other night, one treasure hunter told the Deseret News.

After last years search ended in just eight days, Maxim and Cline knew they needed to step up their game. They began work on the 12-line poem around Valentines Day, and it took them nearly three months to complete, according to Cline.

Every word in there was debated and thought out, he said. We did our homework up front, and its paying off.

Clues were released every Friday and adventurers were urged to watch Back to the Future and brush up on their Utah history. Maxim and Cline said they will release a breakdown of how the poem was meant to be solved shortly.

But even though the hunt is now over, the two organizers have no plans to stop anytime soon. A day before the treasure was found, the search temporarily subsided for a few hours as dozens of treasure hunters came together in downtown Salt Lake City to flip a house. People worked on the roof, knocked down walls and did everything in between to raise money for future treasure hunts, because Maxim and Cline dont want to ever make participants pay to play.

Its not a real treasure hunt if you have to pay for it, Maxim said. You should be able to wake up one day and go find it.

The scene was a testament to how much the Utah treasure hunts have grown and, more importantly, brought people together in the three years since the first treasure hunt was staged during the 2020 pandemic. That chest contained just $5,000 and was found in four days.

Oh, how things have changed.

Maxim and Cline have become local  and maybe even national  celebrities. Cline was recently stopped by a few people at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, and media outlets all over the country ranging from The New York Post to the Miami Herald have covered the story.

Cline and Maxim now have sponsors and a public relations specialist. The first hunt, where participants relied on a poem to find the chest, has morphed into various other forms. Cline and Maxim introduced a QR code-based hunt in 2021 and junior treasure hunts for kids. Due to popular demand, theyve even started organizing treasure trips all over the world. Next up, Zion National Park in August and Costa Rica in January.

Chelsea Gotta of Pella, Iowa, walks back to her car after posing with the trunk of money she found off Mueller Park Trail in the mountains east of Bountiful on Sunday, July 16, 2023. Gotta has been in Utah multiple times over the past weeks to search for the hidden treasure. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

How it all began

Cline had the initial idea for a treasure hunt while in Vietnam and began brainstorming potential partners he thought might be crazy enough to get on board. He settled on his real estate buddy, John Maxim, to whom Cline sold a house the first time they met. Maxims childhood love for Indiana Jones and The Goonies had never faded, and he said yes without hesitation.

Thats the greatest idea Ive ever heard, I think were my exact words, he said.

And so there they were hiding a chest at Rocky Mouth Trail, where Cline used to take his Friday night dates, for the First Annual Treasure Hunt.

We joked that in a few months wed have to come back and get it ourselves because no one would care, Cline said.

They were wrong. Cameron Brunt, the inaugural winner, told Maxim and Cline that the entire area was flooded with treasure hunters. No parking spots were in sight. And for Brunt, who was laid off during the pandemic, the $5,000 allowed him to obtain his real estate license, according to ABC4.

However, the impact of Maxim and Clines treasure hunts goes beyond the money. Its as much about the journey as the final result. Countless participants have messaged Maxim on Instagram to express their gratitude, and he often posts them on his stories.

That included someone who overcame depression through leaving the house and making friends on the hunt, and another who quit his job and started a business after his self-esteem rose by solving Maxim and Clines clues. Stories like these are what Maxim calls the real treasure.

Lisa Stanworth and her five kids have done every junior treasure hunt and come close to winning several times. But for her, family bonding time is more important.

I would absolutely love to get the treasure, but weve made so many memories.

Eric Jensen, nicknamed Dr. Know because of his encyclopedic knowledge of past treasure hunts, is another staple of the treasure hunting community.

He remembers more than I do about (the hunts), Cline said. Anytime I have any questions about any detail, I go back, Im like Hey what was the safe combination in 2020 with this one thing, and hes got it.

With his sister, Jensen gets his Indiana Jones fix by searching for treasure. Why does he do it? Because its fun, simple as that.

Friends Abby Sondreal and Chrissy Dixon brought the hunt to the workplace, where they originally met, and their co-workers often ask them about their current theories. And the hunt welcomes newcomers too. This was Amy Abels first year involved in the event. She likes how realistic it is.

I appreciate the vague clues, she said. The reason why is if you look back at the old treasure hunter days, like Oak Island, they didnt have someone say, Oh, go to Second and Main and the treasure is going to be there. Its almost like you have to figure out what it means. You have to look at a map, and you have to solve that problem in order to get that treasure.

Abels quest has also helped her learn the history of her home state and discover new places she never knew existed.

Its made me appreciate the state that I live in.

When Maxim and Cline put $5,000 of their own money in that treasure chest three years ago, they never knew how many lives theyd touch. And to them, that is priceless.
$5K reward offered for information in shooting death of Ernestine Stallings in Akron

Summit County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed Ernestine Stalling earlier this month outside a Northwest Akron Dollar Tree.

The West Market street shooting July 3 not only devastated Stalling's girlfriend and family, it rattled Northwest Akron, where gunfire is less common, particularly on such a busy street during an afternoon.

What led to the shooting remains unclear.

Stallings, 34, was loading balloons into a car outside Dollar Tree when a young man walked up from behind and shot her five times with a rifle, a witness told police.

"I thought it was balloons popping and I looked over  10 feet away from me he's shooting the hell out of her," one witness told police.

Police have not publicly speculated on a possible motive for the shooting.

Stallings graduated from Akron's East high school and studied two years at Wright State, her obituary said.

She worked as a driver for the delivery company FedEx, but her passion was a clothing line she created called ADUVII.

Annette Stallings pauses as she talks about her daughter, Ernestine Stallings as Ernestines girlfriend Tasha Love listens. Stallings, 34, who was shot and killed July 3 as she was leaving the Dollar Tree in Akron.

Stallings planned to marry her girlfriend, Tasha Love, who was with her at the store when the shooting happened. They had gone to the store to buy balloons to celebrate the birthday of one of Love's children.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact Akron detectives at 330-375-2490 or Crime Stoppers at 330-434-COPS. You can also text TIPSCO with a tip at 274637(CRIMES).

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Crime Stoppers offers $5K reward to solve Ernestine Stallings homicide
Spanish authorities arrested six German tourists accused of raping an 18-year-old woman on an island renowned as a vacation destination.

Police in Playa de Palma on Spains Mallorca island arrested the six German tourists on Thursday after an alleged gang rape in a hotel room earlier that morning. The detained men are all between the ages of 20 and 21.

Mallorca is known for its Mediterranean beaches, wineries and nightlife, making it a top European tourist destination.

PILOT ASKS 20 PASSENGERS LEAVING SPANISH VACATION HOTSPOT TO DEPLANE OVER FLIGHT BEING 'TOO HEAVY'

The female victim, who was also on vacation, and a group of her friends visited Playa de Palma Boulevard on Wednesday evening, which is known for its bar and nightclub scene. She met one of the German suspects and drank with him before going back to his hotel room, The Associated Press reported.

TOURIST KIDNAPPINGS, RAMPANT CRIME SPARK TRAVEL WARNINGS IN CARIBBEAN, SOUTH AMERICA

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

She told police that she attempted to leave the hotel room, but the suspects prevented her from fleeing. Several of the suspects then allegedly raped the teenager. The incident occurred at about 3:40 am Thursday, according to the womans statement to police.

She was eventually able to flee and alerted a receptionist at the hotel, who called the authorities.

Five of the men were arrested when police arrived. The sixth suspect fled the scene but was arrested later Thursday.

SOUTHERN EUROPE PREPARES FOR HEAT WAVE CERBERUS, EXPECTS TEMPERATURES TO REACH 113 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

Gang rape can carry sentences of up to 15 years in prison under Spanish law.

A British tourist was arrested in May at the Palma Airport in Mallorca on suspicion of raping his sons female friend and allegedly trying to flee the country, according to the Daily Mail. While another British tourist was arrested at the same airport last week on suspicion of raping his girlfriend in their hotel room on the island, The Scottish Sun reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was nicknamed Peter after the dysfunctional, bumbling father in the sitcom "Family Guy," Fox News Digital has learned.

An architect who worked with Heuermann, 59, for nearly two decades described him as "really friendly and really nice" and was stunned by the allegations his unassuming co-worker had slaughtered four sex workers for sport.

"We called him Peter the family guy mostly because of the way he looked. He was goofy," the New York City architect said of Heuermanns toupee-like hairstyle and plodding gait.

The Massapequa married father of two is a hulking 6-feet-4 and 240 pounds.

READ: CASE AGAINST REX HEUERMANN

Heuermanns surprise arrest Thursday for a string of Long Island murders which had baffled investigators for more than 10 years exploded on social media and in news reports all over the country.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Im, like, in shock," the architect said. "I cant believe this s---."

SUSPECTED GILGO BEACH KILLER PUT LOVE NOTES IN MY LOCKER: HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE

The former colleague, who asked Fox News Digital to withhold his name, said he heard the news when an architect pal in Atlanta sent him a text with a link to the story and asked jokingly if he knew him.

"And Im like, what the f---? I do know him," he responded. "When I saw this whole thing unfold I was in shock. How was this even possible? Its crazy. His contact is literally in my phone."

The colleague first met Heuermann at another Manhattan architecture firm around 2003, when he was a junior architect and Heuermann was a consultant.

"He was always pretty patient with me," he recalled. "He taught me how to navigate through the citys building code."

REX HEUERMANN'S ARREST TIP OF ICEBERG IN GILGO BEACH COLD CASE

Heuermann, who had his own firm RH Consultants & Associates, was "meticulous" and known as an expert at navigating New York Citys complex zoning and building code rules, the colleague added.

He was also a very hard worker who kept late hours. When the junior architect left Manhattan firm, he hired Heuermann as a consultant and expeditor on some of his residential projects.

New York State Police remove evidence from the home of Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, New York, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Heuermann is charged with six counts of murder related to three bodies found on Gilgo Beach in 2010.

They would spend hours in Heuermanns Midtown office, which was extremely neat and organized.

"There was nothing weird," he added. Heuermann tried to recruit the young architect to his firm around 2009. While waiting for Heuermann at his office, the potential employee chatted with his staffers to see if the firm was a good fit.

A woman told him that Heuermann was "incredibly generous and took care of his people and really cared about them," he recalled.

The New Yorker decided not to take the job but stayed in touch with Heuermann over the years and continued hiring him for projects from to time. They also occasionally grabbed dinner together.

A general view of 385 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Friday, July 14, 2023. Rex Heuermanns architecture firm, RH Consultants, is located within the office building.

After the arrest, the colleague saw images online of Heuermanns dilapidated house with what appear to be two-by-fours holding up the roof.

"I did a double take. Its kind of funny because hes an architect but also disturbing," the former co-worker said.

WATCH 'GRIM TIDE' ON FOX NATION

Jim Clemente, former FBI profiler-turned-producer for the CBS hit show "Criminal Minds," pointed out that Peter Griffins character is "quite strange, and he does a lot of what I would consider nasty things."

Clemente, who offered a profile of the Gilgo Beach killer back in 2011, appears to have been spot on in his assessment of him as an educated, intelligent and mild-mannered "sexual sadist" who enjoys watching people suffer.

Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in a selfie included in a court filing.

"He shows this mask, this cover of kindness, so he can continue to commit his crimes," Clemente told Fox News Digital. "Hes incredibly good at compartmentalizing, separating his murders from his family life."

He added that the respected architect was likely "very cruel to certain people" when he felt he could get away with it.

Investigators wrote in court papers that Heuermann had Googled "Gilgo Beach Killer Criminal Minds," likely in reference to an episode of Clemente's show.

Heuermanns ramshackle house did not surprise Clemente, who said it showed that his priorities were not his family but planning and indulging his "violent sexual fantasies."

As for Heuermanns colleague, he is still reeling from the news a man he has known for so many years is allegedly capable of abducting and torturing Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, who were found in 2010 on a stretch of Gilgo Beach.

He is the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but has not been charged, according to prosecutors.

"A year ago my wife was watching a documentary about this, telling me how this guy was out there killing all these girls on Long Island. I could have never imagined this." Heuermanns former colleague recalled. "Its like the twilight zone."

Heuermanns lawyer, Michael Brown, previously told reporters that his client denies the charges.

Brown did not return a request for comment for this article.
US actor Mark Ruffalo stars alongside Jennifer Garner in the 2004 fantasy rom-com 13 going on 30

Mark Ruffalo is encouraging fellow actors and writers to work together to cut out Hollywood's "fat cats" by making independent films and shows.

His comments follow the start of the actors' strike that last week brought the entire industry to a halt.

George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Jason Sudeikis and thousands of other actors joined screenwriters for Hollywood's biggest walkout in over six decades.

"How about we all jump into indies now?" tweeted Ruffalo over the weekend.

Tens of thousands of Hollywood actors have joined writers in taking industrial action, because they want streaming giants to agree to a fairer split of profits and better working conditions.

The Screen Actors Guild also wants to protect actors from being usurped by digital replicas.

On Sunday, the world premiere of Disney's star-studded film Haunted Mansion became the first major Hollywood event to go ahead without its actors, which include Danny DeVito and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Avengers and Spotlight star Ruffalo went on to say that while actors and screenwriters have "made great content", the business brains behind them had "created an empire of billionaires", who are "laughing like fat cats" and "believe we are no longer of value".

In a statement shared with the PA news agency, Clooney said: "This is an inflection point in our industry. Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living.

"For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors that journey starts now."

Orange is the New Black star Kimiko Glenn posted on Instagram that she earned just $27.30 in in a royalties statement for residual payments, for streaming of the hugely popular show.

Other big names like Halle Berry, Alec Baldwin, Nicolas Cage and Olivia Wilde have also expressed their support for the strike which will see actors picket US studios again on Monday.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, however, has called the action "very disruptive" and having arrived at the "worst time", while also describing the expectations of the writers and actors as "just not realistic".

The striking actors are joining writers who walked out in May, concerned about pay, working conditions and the industry's use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Brian Cox, the lead actor on HBO's Succession, told the BBC the strike could last "until the end of the year".

What happened last week?

Talks for a new contract with studios and streaming giants broke down last Thursday, with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) accusing the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) of being "unwilling to offer a fair deal".

The AMPTP said in a statement that it was "disappointed" by the collapse of negotiations, noting: "This is the union's choice, not ours."

Soon after, the stars of Oppenheimer walked the red carpet before skipping their own film premiere, in order to "go and write their picket signs", director Christopher Nolan noted.

By noon on Friday, union members and their supporters had gathered outside the offices of major studios and streaming services, including Warner Bros, Netflix and Disney, in Los Angeles, New York and other cities.

"If you don't have the foresight to put something in place for the future, then you're screwed," Oscar-winner Sarandon told the BBC from a picket line in New York.

"It's clear that nothing is going to change from the top down, it's going to be up to us at the bottom."

Productions likely to be affected by the strike include sequels to the Avatar, Deadpool and Gladiator franchises, as well as upcoming seasons of shows such as Stranger Things, Family Guy and The Simpsons.

Red-carpet premieres, promotional interviews and events including the Emmys and Comic-Con, have already been halted, rescheduled or scaled back, as actors will not appear in films or even promote movies during the stoppage.

The actors' strike began a week before the UK cinema release of two of the biggest films of the year, Oppenheimer and Barbie, and shortly after the first instalment of Mission Impossible 8 landed, meaning cinemas are still likely to be busy over the the coming months.

Phil Clapp, chief executive of industry body Cinema UK told the BBC they were "concerned by anything which might potentially threaten the supply of films to the big screen" adding they were "hoping for a quick resolution to the current dispute."

He added: "That said, there is already a strong slate of films locked in for the weeks and months to come... with other major titles stretching into 2024 - promising to entertain millions of cinema-goers.

"Unless the current strike is a protracted one, we are confident that cinemas we will see little if any disruption in the foreseeable future."
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!

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
Xi stresses advancing high-quality development of cybersecurity, informatization work

Xinhua) 08:13, July 17, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Photo: Vancouver Coastal Health

Arti and Anton are the newest floppy-eared members of a team of dog detectives trained to sniff out adangerous bacterium in British Columbia hospitals, where it can easily spread among vulnerable patients.

The two-year-old springer spaniels recently graduated from training and have joined Fancy, Traveller and Angus at the Canines for Care scent detection program aimed at reducing the rates of C. difficile in Vancouver and beyond.

Teresa Zurberg, who runs the program for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the hunting breed of pooches can smell the slightest presence of C. difficile on surfaces and equipment, long before it comes across as "overboiled broccoli" to human nosesin the presence of infected patients soiled with diarrhea.

Health Canada says C. difficile is the most frequent cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and long-term care homes in many industrialized countries, including Canada.

The potentially deadly bacterium is found in feces. People can become infected when they touch contaminated surfaces and then their mouth. C. difficile can spread if a sick person has not washed their hands or when health-care workers don't regularly change their gloves.

Those at highest risk include the elderly and people with severe underlying conditions who aretaking certain antibiotics, which over a long period can destroy the gut's normal bacteria and cause C. difficile to take over and produce toxins. That damages the bowel and leads to diarrhea. In some cases, C. difficile can cause life-threatening bowel perforation or sepsis.

Zurberg said one canine with a handler regularly screens units for C. difficile at Vancouver General Hospital and covers the whole facility in a month while screenings at four other hospitals in the region are done every six to eight weeks.

She said about 10 per cent of dogs from a large pool of candidates typically end up on the short list to be considered for up to eight months of training but only a couple of pooches may make the final cut for a job that requires the right temperament.

Two weeks ago, 12-week-old cocker spaniels Disco and Kip became the latest to try out for a chance to become certified C. difficile detectors.

Their goal, if they graduate from the program, will be to hunt for the C. difficile odour by sweeping a unit in about 15 minutes, Zurberg said. A reward  either a toy or a treat such as a cookie or dehydratedmeat -- is the big motivator.

She said there's no quicker way to find C. difficile on equipment or elsewhere in a hospital environment than letting the four-legged detectives do their work, and it would otherwise take days to swab for the bacterium and grow it in a lab.

"C. diff is a bit of a diva bacteria. It's hard to grow and it's hard to kill."

The former medic in the Canadian Armed Forces had C. difficile herself in 2013 following a leg infection for which she took antibiotics. She got sepsis and still has health issues from theso-called superbug.

"I lost 20 pounds in a week. It was horrible."

That experience fuelled Zurberg's passion to help reduce C. difficile in hospitals.

So far, the Vancouver General-based dog teams she started leading seven years ago, with now nine-year-old pooch Angus as the first recruit, have worked at 29 of British Columbia's hospitals. The canines ventured to three Ottawa hospitals in 2019, but the pandemic halted any potential expansion of the program.

Authors of an observational paper published that year in the Canadian Journal of Infection Control assessed the program as successful based on 18 months of data from Vancouver General. They include Zurberg, a microbiologist and epidemiologists from Vancouver Coastal Health as well as a researcher from the University of British Columbia's faculty of medicine.

Their findings showed 56 per cent of C. difficile cases were detected in the hospital's hallways, suggesting such areas should be decluttered so they can be better cleaned.

The paper also said 18 per cent of the detections were on hallway carts and items on them. The carts typically carry medication, dressings for wounds and personal protective equipment including gowns for staff.

The dogs also sniffed out C. difficile in staff lounges and lockers, on items near patients' beds and in public washrooms.

Dr. Marthe Charles, who heads the division of medical microbiology and infection prevention and control at Vancouver Coastal, said just seeing the dogs on wards helps staff and patients remember to wash their hands.

The push to reduce infections also includes use of the right antibiotics for the right amount of time as well as better cleaning to specifically target C. difficile, she said.

"We clean the areas and then we go with the dog and see if there's any reservoir that we might have missed or areas that are still harbouring some C. difficile. So, once the dog identifies that area, we clean it up.

"C. difficile has the ability of surviving on surfaces because it protects itself in little spores," said Charles, adding that multiple studies have shown the spores can live for days or even months.

"The dogs really help us visualize what are the areas of concern that we have to pay attention to that might be part of a chain of transmission."

Charles said one of Canada's most notable outbreaks of C. difficile occurred across 30 hospitals in Quebec nearly 20 years ago, when infection rates jumped five times.
Photo: SP-Photo (Shutterstock)

Police in New York recently managed to identify and apprehend a drug trafficker seemingly by magic. The perp in question, David Zayas, was traveling through the small upstate town of Scarsdale when he was pulled over by Westchester County police. When cops searched Zayas vehicle they found a large amount of crack cocaine, a gun, and over $34,000 in cash in his vehicle. The arrestee later pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge.



How exactly did cops know Zayas fit the bill for drug trafficking?

Read more

Forbes reports that authorities used the services of a company called Rekor to analyze traffic patterns regionally and, in the course of that analysis, the program identified Zayas as suspicious.

For years, cops have used license plate reading systems to look out for drivers who might have an expired license or are wanted for prior violations. Now, however, AI integrations seem to be making the tech frighteningly good at identifying other kinds of criminality just by observing driver behavior.

Rekor describes itself as an AI-driven roadway intelligence platform and it contracts with police departments and other public agencies all across the country. It also works with private businesses. Using Rekors software, New York cops were able to sift through a gigantic database of information culled from regional roadways by its county-wide ALPR [automatic license plate recognition] system. That systemwhich Forbes says is made up of 480 cameras distributed throughout the regionroutinely scans 16 million vehicles a week, capturing identifying data points like a vehicles license plate number, make, and model. By recording and reverse-engineering vehicle trajectories as they travel across the state, cops can apparently use software to assess whether particular routes are suspicious or not.

In this case, Rekor helped police to assess the route that Zayas car was taking on a multi-year basis. The algorithmwhich found that the driver was routinely making trips back and forth between Massachusetts and certain areas of upstate New Yorkdetermined that Zayas routes were known to be used by narcotics pushers and [involved]...conspicuously short stays, Forbes writes. As a result, the program deemed Zayass activity consistent with that of a drug trafficker.

Artificial intelligence has been getting a lot of attention in recent months due to the disruptions its made to the media and software industries but less attention has been paid to how this new technology will inevitably supercharge existing surveillance systems. If cops can already ID a drug trafficker with the click of a button, just think how good this tech will be in ten years time. As regulations evolve, one would hope governments will figure out how to reasonably deploy this technology without leading us right off the cliff into Minority Report territory. I mean, they probably wont, but a guy can dream, cant he?

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Air quality alerts issued across the US as Canadian wildfire smoke returns

Air quality alerts issued across the US as Canadian wildfire smoke returns

Canadian wildfire smoke has returned to parts of the United States this week.

Air quality alerts were issued for the northern High Plains, the Midwest, Great Lakes, central Tennessee, North Carolina and the Northeast through Tuesday as northwesterly winds pushed smoke down from fires raging across Canada.

Smoke concentrations will recede over central parts of the US on Tuesday but may still cause poor air quality along the East Coast, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

The higher concentrations of smoke will result in unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups cause by high levels of particulate matter PM2.5.

States including Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin advised residents to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before taking part in outdoor activities, particulary those in vulnerable groups like young children, elderly people or those with underlying health conditions.

Public health officials have recommended steps including wearing a mask, staying indoors and keeping indoor air free of additonal air pollution from candles, fireplaces and vacuums.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced air quality health advisories for the entire state on Monday. The AQI is forecast to be 100 to 150, instead of the normal range from 0-50.

Masks were being distributed at transport hubs in the state including Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan.

The governor discussed air quality at a press conference on Sunday to address the catastrophic flooding that has impacted New York along with other parts of the Northeast in the past two weeks.

Air quality dropped across Americas heartland and northeast again this week due to Canadian wildfire smoke (AirNow.gov)

As if the rain coming out of the sky isnt enough, if you start looking up tomorrow youre going to see a similar situation to what we had a couple of weeks ago because of the air quality degradation resulting from the wildfires in Canada, she said.

Were likely to be issuing a air quality alert for portions of our state. It seems to be projected to be mostly around western New York and the North Country at this time. But as we saw, it can shift very quickly and start developing in more populated areas.

Canada has been battling record-breaking numbers of wildfires for months with many raging out of control.

Wildfire smoke: it's coming back 



The wildfire smoke that has plagued the Northeast U.S. off-and-on this summer is unfortunately expected to return on Monday 



At this point, it looks like there will be enough at low levels to have some impact on air quality. pic.twitter.com/snA1NzzOrZ  Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) July 15, 2023

As of Monday, there were 887 wildfires across territories and provinces including 23 which erupted on Sunday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The climate crisis, caused by burning fossil fuels, is driving larger, more frequent and erratic wildfires around the world.

Two firefighters died while fighting blazes in Canada in recent days.

One male firefighter from Fort Liard in Canadas Northwest Territories died from an injury sustained while tackling a blaze near his community, authorities said on Sunday.

Devyn Gale, a 19-year-old female firefighter, was killed by a falling tree near Revelstoke, British Columbia while battling blazes.
Airlines have tried to fight the computer whiz who popularized 'skiplagging' in court. Their lawsuits have been either thrown out or settled.

An American Airlines plane on the runway. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The travel hack of "skiplagging" has been causing headaches for airlines for years.

United and Southwest Airlines have both previously filed lawsuits against Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman.

Those suits, filed in 2014 and 2021, have either been dismissed or settled.

The controversial, money-saving air travel hack of "skiplagging" has been a thorn in the side of airlines for years. The scheme involves booking a plane ticket with a layover, then bailing on the flight to the final destination to save money  and it drives airlines nuts.

Airlines like United and Southwest have tried to fight the computer whiz whose website Skiplagged helped popularize the idea.

However, the airlines' lawsuits against Skiplagged CEO Aktarer Zaman have been either thrown out or settled.

United and Orbitz filed suit against the Skiplagged CEO

In 2014, United and the travel website Orbitz sued Zaman, then 22 years old, over his flight-search engine showing cheaper "hidden-city" ticketing trips.

The lawsuit alleged that Zaman promoted "strictly prohibited" travel and accused him of "unfair competition" and "deceptive behavior." Zaman's website, the companies argued, cost them $75,000 in lost revenue.

Zaman and Orbitz ultimately settled their section of the suit, according to CNN Money, but United kept up the court battle until a judge dismissed the case.

A Chicago, Illinois, judge tossed the case because the court where the suit was filed did not have jurisdiction; Zaman worked and lived in New York City.

At the time, Zaman called the dismissal of the case a "victory" in an interview with CNN Money.

"It is pretty amazing  the court just shut them off," Zaman said, according to the report.

Southwest went after Skiplagged with a lawsuit in 2021

In 2021, Southwest Airlines took at turn going after Skiplagged.

The airline filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged in Texas, alleging the flight-search engine violated its terms by displaying ticket prices and worked with Kiwi.com to use the airline's flight data.

"Neither Skiplagged nor Kiwi is authorized to display Southwest fares or sell Southwest flights," the airline's lawyers wrote in the suit.

Last month, both Southwest and Skiplagged agreed to dismiss the case and it was settled out of court, according to Atlanta News First.

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A month after she was exposed as an adult, Shelby Hewitt made her first court appearance at West Roxbury District Court. She pleaded not guilty to seven fraud charges  related to her alleged enrollment as a student this past academic year at three Boston high schools  Jeremiah Burke, Brighton High and English High.

It all unraveled in June when a man posing as Hewitts foster parent, tried to withdraw her from English High after only a week of attendance. That piqued the interest of school administrators and they began an investigation.

Hewitt, who is 32 years old, is a former social worker for the Department of Child and Family Services (DCF). Her attorney, Timothy Flaherty, said the question many have about her second tour of high school  the why  is somewhat self-explanatory. His client, Flaherty said, is mentally ill.

This is a young lady who has severe mental health challenges and shes been dealing with it on a lifelong basis, Flaherty said outside the West Roxbury courthouse. Its well documented.

In fact, Hewitt has been undergoing in-patient treatment for the last month, Flaherty said.

What Hewitt is not, he continued, is a danger to children.

I think that everybody should rest easy, said Flaherty. This is not something thats going to reveal itself as some nefarious conduct. This is a young lady who has had some challenges and made some distorted decisions through unclear thinking.

Classmates suffered: Boston City Council to investigate 32-year-old high school imposter

Flaherty said the question of why Hewitt allegedly posed as a high schooler pales in comparison to how she was able to do it.

What does that say about the safeguards in place, he said.

That question will likely be among the many addressed when the Boston City Council conducts its own investigation into the Hewitt case. Councilors voted to conduct a probe at their June 28 meeting. Councilor Erin Murphys office said the investigation has yet to be set up.

How is Shelby Hewitt doing  given her mental instability?

Obviously, I would say, a little bit unsettled, Flaherty said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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When will Amazon Fresh markets open? We asked about 3 vacant Sacramento-area locations

When Amazon broke ground on supermarkets in the capital region, residents expected the tech companys promise of effortless grocery shopping with step-by-step guidance from artificial intelligence.

That hasnt happened.

The first of three Northern California brick-and-mortar Amazon Fresh location was slated to open early this year at The Ridge shopping center in Elk Grove, followed by stores in the Country Club Centre in Arden Arcade and on Stanford Ranch Road in Roseville. As of July, the storefronts remain dark, locked and shut off from residents with no update on if or when doors will open for the first time.

In an email to The Bee, Amazon spokeswoman Jessica Martin declined to answer specifics on if the company plans to open the storefronts. Instead, she forwarded an April statement to company shareholders that briefly touched on the companys grocery line.

Amazon Fresh is the brand weve been experimenting with for a few years, and were working hard to identify and build the right mass grocery format for Amazon scale, said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in the statement.

The tech giant had been quickly taking up space in the physical retail world  ownership of Whole Foods, bookstores and rapid expansion of Amazon Fresh and Go convenience stores  then it came to a halt.

In March 2022, news publications CNN, Reuters, CNBC and the Washington Post reported Amazon was closing all of its bookstores, 4-star and Pop-Up stores to focus on Amazon Fresh, Go and Style stores.

Less than a year later, the company stopped the expansion of Fresh supermarkets.

Now, Realtors with stock in vacant Fresh grocery stores like in Elk Grove, Arden Arcade and Roseville, grow increasingly anxious as their storefronts sit idle.

Garrick Brown, vice president of real estate intelligence for Gallelli Real Estate, which oversees leasing for the Country Club Centre in Arden Arcade, said Amazon told the firm it would open that location by late next year. He said the company still has infrastructure to put in place.

Brown declined to comment on how much Gallelli Real Estate is charging Amazon to keep the space at 3460 El Camino Ave. due to confidentiality agreements.

The entire retail real estate community has been extremely excited, Brown said I do think that most of us out there wish that it was moving more quickly.

I think that just speaks to a lot of the challenges of rolling out a new national chain, especially in the grocery world.

The signage is up and the fixtures are in

From the start, Amazon has kept a tight lip about the status of Amazon Fresh stores in the Sacramento area.

In January 2022, The Bee confirmed the Roseville location at 6780 Stanford Ranch Road with the citys planning officials. According to previous Bee reporting, the building permit for the site of a former Toys R US store never included Amazons name on it, only an architectural firm.

Several weeks later, sources not authorized to comment on the project confirmed a second location in Elk Grove at 7540 Elk Grove Blvd.

Kelly Rule, senior vice president of leasing for Pappas Investments, developer of The Ridge Shopping Center in Elk Grove, told The Bee in an October 2022 interview that Amazon planned to open the first part of 2023.

In a recent email to The Bee, Rule said the signage is up and the fixtures are in but Amazon hasnt given them an opening date  or a timeframe.

As far as we are aware, theyre planning to open, she said.

At the planned Amazon Fresh location in Elk Grove, the signage is up and the fixtures are in. Shelves still sit empty as of July 14.

The status of the Roseville location is also uncertain.

Spokesman Brian Jacobson with the city of Roseville said officials havent had any conversations with Amazon and cant confirm if or when the location will open.

The outer walls and roof of the building are constructed, but a tenant improvement permit was never submitted, he said in an emailed statement.

This means Amazon has not submitted plans or secured permits to complete any of the needed changes to the interior of the building like interior walls, electrical, plumbing and lighting.

We only know of what weve read/heard in the media that Amazon has been re-evaluating their business model, he wrote.

The anticipated Amazon Fresh location at 6780 Stanford Ranch Road in Roseville had windows taped and shelving inside on July 14, 2023.

The Bee reached out to representatives from Sacramento County and the city of Elk Grove for specifics on the other vacant Amazon Fresh storefronts. Sacramento County forwarded a reporter to Gallelli Real Estate and the city of Elk Grove did not respond.

Amazon earnings call offers clues

During a fourth-quarter earnings call in February, Amazon announced it would shut down Amazon Fresh and Go convenience stores with low growth potential and temporarily pause the expansion of its Fresh grocery line.

During the February call, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company wouldnt open new supermarket locations until it solidified a system that resonates with customers and separated them from its competitors. He said the company also needs to like the economics.

Were optimistic that were going to find that in 2023, Jassy said during the February call.

Until then, people wait for Amazon to make the next move.

I think the real estate community is still anxious to see those stores open and working and profitable, Brown said. its just that the timetables turned out to be longer than any of us expected.

Amazon Fresh opened its first location in Woodland Hills in September 2020 and has since been joined by more than 40 locations in California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington state and New Jersey, as well as the Washington, D.C., area.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Amazon staff at Rugeley vote for strike action over pay

Hundreds of workers have joined the picket line in Coventry on several days this year in a dispute over pay and working conditions

Workers at a second Amazon site have voted to take strike action over pay.

More than 100 GMB union members at the firm's centre in Rugeley, Staffordshire, are set to walk out after 86% of those who voted backed the strike, the union said.

It comes as warehouse staff in Coventry, already taking strike action, voted for six more months action.

Amazon said it reviewed pay regularly and minimum pay had risen 10% in less than a year.

Strike dates in Rugeley, where about 1,000 people are employed by Amazon, are now being discussed, the union said.

Stuart Richards, GMB Senior Organiser, said workers at Amazon Rugeley had delivered a clear message that they demand fair pay and union rights.

Last month, Amazon confirmed the site is to close with staff being offered jobs at its new 500m site in Sutton Coldfield.

The dispute in Coventry has seen union members call for an hourly pay rise from 10.50 to 15 following a 50p per hour pay offer from Amazon.

Workers first walked out in January - the first strike by Amazon employees in the UK.

They have since staged 19 days of industrial action, announcing on the 19th day to hold six more months of strikes and claim they have surpassed the number of members needed to secure union recognition.

In a statement, Amazon told BBC News: "We regularly review our pay to ensure we offer competitive wages and benefits.

"In less than a year, our minimum pay has risen by 10% and by more than 37% since 2018. "

Amazon's minimum starting pay for employees would be between 11 and 12 per hour, depending on location, it said, adding that that was above the National Living Wage and Real Living Wage limits.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
American Airlines barred a 17-year-old from flying with the airline for 3 years because he tried to use a 'skiplagging' ticket, the teen's father says

American Airlines canceled a teenager's ticket after he was caught planning to skip the flight to New York City (not pictured). EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS/Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A father says American Airlines barred his son who tried skiplagging on a flight to New York City.

Hunter Parsons told Insider that the 17-year-old boy couldn't fly with the airline for three years.

"He never violated any policy or broke any contract. He simply went to a counter to get his boarding pass," Parsons said.

American Airlines has barred a teenager who planned to disembark during his layover in Charlotte, North Carolina, instead of New York City, his final destination.

The teenager's father, Hunter Parsons, told Insider that the airline barred his son from flying with them for three years because he was planning to use a $150 skiplagging ticket  a practice prohibited by many airlines, including American.

"His ticket was canceled and he was banned from AA for three years but never actually did anything wrong. He never even got his boarding pass," Parsons said in a Facebook message.

Skiplagging  also known as "hidden city" or "throwaway" ticketing  is a controversial cost-saving strategy where passengers book tickets with a layover with the idea of skipping the second leg of the flight. While skiplagging helps passengers save money, it often results in lost revenue for airlines.

Parson said his 17-year-old son was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City, with a layover in Charlotte. Gate agents in Florida took his son to a security room to be questioned after seeing his North Carolina driver's license and suspected he wouldn't continue flying to New York City, Parsons first told the local television station Queen City News.

Parsons told Insider that his family had to purchase a new direct ticket, which cost more than $400, so his teenage son could fly to Charlotte. He said his son "didn't know he was doing anything wrong."

"He was left to fend for himself 500 miles from home. He never violated any policy or broke any contract. He simply went to a counter to get his boarding pass," Parsons said.

In January 2021, American Airlines said it would start cracking down on skiplagging. A representative for American Airlines previously told Insider in a statement that Parsons' son "was questioned only at the ticket counter about their travel while attempting to check-in for their flight."

Parsons said his family had never abused the hidden city tickets they bought on booking platforms like Skiplagged to save money. He added that his son disembarking in Charlotte and not continuing on to New York City would have been the first time that someone in his family would have skipped the final leg of their flight.

"With that said, we have always seen every flight through to its final destination. Never once (even now) have we missed a connecting flight nor did we know we were breaking a contract if we 'were' to have done it," Parsons said.

American isn't the only airline that has punished passengers for skiplagging. In 2018, United reportedly charged a passenger who skiplagged 38 times several thousand dollars. And in the same year, the German airline Lufthansa sued a passenger accused of skiplagging on his flight from Oslo to Seattle when he disembarked at his layover in Frankfurt, Germany.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
American Woman Detained And Charged In Dubai For Screaming In Public, Faces Jail Time | Getty Images

Screaming in public may be common in the U.S., but its a much different story in Dubai. Unfortunately, Tierra Young Allen learned that the hard way. After attempting to retrieve personal items left in a rental car, the San Diego native was detained and charged with screaming in public. Shes been stuck in the United Arab Emirates for two months, and her family is terrified about her future.

According to Fox 26, Allen was in a friends rental car when they got into an accident in Dubai. Allens mother, Tina Baxter, said her daughter went to the rental car company to get her ID, credit card and other items left in the rental after the accident. Thats when things escalated.

She found out she could only receive those items if she paid an undisclosed amount of money. She dealt with a very aggressive individual a young man there who was screaming at her, she told Fox 26, adding that led her 29-year-old daughter to raise her voice.

Authorities in Dubai have taken Allens passport and placed her under a travel ban while investigating the incident.

Baxter said the situation is frightening, and as time goes on, Allen is beginning to realize the severity of her situation.

The longer shes been there the more reality has started to kick in, she told Fox 26.

She also told Fox26 the ordeal has been very emotional.

There are some days I stay up all night crying, Baxter shared while holding back tears.

Community activist Quanell X explained to Fox26 that Dubai has a strict law system that is really based on theocracy, and Laws and customs are very different.

She is in jail for one reason and one reason alone, she raised her voice. In that country, a female is not even allowed to raise her voice. If she raises her voice its punishable by jail time, he said.

Quanell believes Allen doesnt deserve to be persecuted for yelling at the car companys employee.

In our opinion, she did not commit a crime. Dont punish women for doing the same thing a man can do in Dubai. Its not fair and its not right. Ive reached out to Dubai Consulate. Ive reached out to the American Consulate there in Dubai, he told Fox26.

Allen has an attorney in Dubai, who has notified her she may be sentenced to jail time thanks to a video of the incident.
An American woman was kidnapped in Mexico while walking her dog. 8 months later, her captors have released her and she'll soon be reunited with her canine companion.

Monica De Leon Barba was kidnapped last November by several men, who forced her into a car as she walked home with her dog, the FBI said.. FBI

An American woman kidnapped in Mexico eight months ago was just released by her captors.

Monica De Leon Barba was walking her dog last November when several men forced her into a vehicle.

Her dog was later found and returned to relatives, and De Leon Barba will be reunited with it, the FBI said.

An American woman was released by her captors eight months after they kidnapped her off of a street in Mexico while she walked her dog, the FBI said in a statement Saturday.

Monica De Leon Barba was walking home from work with her dog in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, on November 29 last year when three vehicles approached her, and several men forced her into a gray Volkswagen Jetta, according to footage released by the FBI.

De Leon Barba's dog was left walking loose in the street after the kidnapping. The FBI said in a statement in April that the dog "was later safely located and recovered by a family member."

At the time, the FBI had offered a $40,000 reward for information that could lead to De Leon Barba's rescue.

It's unclear why De Leon Barba's captors released her, and the FBI said they continue working on the case. At least five suspects were involved, they said.

The FBI says that Monica de Leon Barba was kidnapped in Mexico in November 2022. Screenshot/FBI

The FBI said they have not made any arrests in De Leon Barba's kidnapping, and an investigation into her captors' identities "remains ongoing."

The FBI said De Leon Barba is "en route to the United States, where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity." They made no mention of the cat in the photograph.

Several kidnappings involving Americans in Mexico have made headlines this year. In March, a group was kidnapped while traveling to Matamoros so that one of them could undergo cosmetic surgery. Two group members were killed, and the other two were rescued.

In another case, the FBI offered $20,000 for information leading to the return of a 63-year-old American woman kidnapped from her home in Mexico.

Read the original article on Insider
Photo: Glacier Media Rob MacMillan, owner of Q-Electronic Services in Victoria.

Police have yet to decide whether a recent string of suspicious fires in Victoria are connected.

Businesses are concerned that an arsonist is at large and might target them next.

The thought is always present, said Theo Nickel, store manager of Rock Bay Cannabis.

As a shop, were pretty much doing everything we can do. We already have expensive cameras and an alarm system, he said. We are probably more prepared than the average place.

Nickel checked the stores security camera footage recently and said that the area at night has constant activity. Its interesting to see how much activity is going on around, he said.

Rob MacMillian, co-owner of Q-Electronics, a boutique home audio and repair store that shares the same building as Rock Bay Cannabis, said that theres not much more businesses in the area can do.

I just hope that I dont get a phone call at three in the morning, he said. Obviously, were insured. But theres things you just cant replace, especially in a niche business like mine  its just a lot of unobtainium.

Victoria Police spokesperson Bowen Osoko said police are getting a lot of questions about the string of fires in the northern end of downtown.

Detectives are working on the cases as one really large investigation but are still considering them as separate, he said.

We cant say that theyre the result of the same person or persons right now, said Osoko, adding that police are not ruling out the possibility that they are connected.

Theres some investigative details that we cant share right now because therell be a court process, but well be sharing as much information about this as we can, as often as we can, he said.

On Friday, police confirmed in a statement that the Tuesday fire at the Three Points Motors dealership  where a new Mercedes convertible was burned during the night  is being treated as suspicious.

It marked a total of four recent late-night fires in the area that have either been deemed as suspicious or as arson.

Osoko said that police have stepped up patrols in the area and are asking people in the neighbourhood to keep an eye on their security videos and to watch for suspicious individuals between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

The Victoria Police Department is no stranger to arson investigations, he said. A string of arsons in Quadra Village earlier this year, as well as serial fires in James Bay last year eventually led to arrests for both cases.

But figuring out the cause and culprit of a fire takes time and expertise.

Oftentimes, security camera video can be instrumental in making a breakthrough.

A lot of folks doing delivery driving often have dash cams and that has been instrumental as evidence, Osoko said of other investigations.
Angelina Jolie Discusses Daughters Racial Medical Bias, Advocates For Racial Equality For Domestic Violence Survivors | Gotham

Angelina Jolie is using her platform to shed light on racial bias in health care, especially concerning domestic violence cases. The actor and activist spotlighted technology, allowing bruises to be visible on darker skin tones in an op-ed published July 5.

As the mother of children of multiple races, I have seen my children of color be misdiagnosed, at times in ways that endangered their health, Jolie, a mother to six children, including three of color, wrote.

The actor draws on the experience of her daughter Zahara, who is of Ethiopian descent, to highlight the inequalities that remain in the medical field.

Reflecting personally, when my daughter Zahara, who is from Ethiopia, was hospitalized for a medical procedure, the nurse told me to call her if she turns pink near her incisions, Jolie said. I stood looking blankly at her, not sure she understood what was wrong with what she had said. When she left the room, I had a talk with my daughter, both of us knowing that we would have to look for signs of infection based on our own knowledge, not what the nurse had said, despite her undoubted good intentions.

In her op-ed, she calls for new solutions regarding diversity and representation in health care. Jolie mentions that her family has access to high-quality medical care but that simple diagnoses are missed because of race and continued prioritization of white skin in medicine.

The actor emphasizes the importance of technology to detect bruising on domestic violence survivors of color, who she says are at a significant disadvantage in having their injuries properly identified and documented, and at greater risk for further abuse.

Jolie has said Brad Pitt, her ex-husband, has been physically abusive toward her and their children in 2016. She filed for divorce that same year, according to Vanity Fair. Pitts attorney answered the claims and said the actor has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation. The divorce has not yet been finalized.

Jolie has been an outspoken activist regarding human rights and inequalities experienced by women and people of color. In February 2022, she helped introduce the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act to the U.S. Senate with her daughter Zahara. It was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2022.
Southern California bakes under another day of scorching heat, fires and smog

A fire crew takes a break from the 105-degree heat Sunday while putting out hot spots in the Rabbit fire in Beaumont, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

At the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, a digital thermometer read 123 degrees and counting  within striking distance of the hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth.

By midday Monday, as Southern Californians wilted under another day of a long, scorching heat wave that had brought triple-digit temperatures and increased fire danger, the canyons and gorges of the vast Death Valley National Park near the California-Nevada border shimmered beneath the white-hot sun. Still, the relentless, eyeball-stinging heat wasnt enough to stop visitors from braving the danger.

It feels like a blow-dryer in my face, said Ross Nikides, 31, who had stopped in Death Valley as part of a three-week road trip to see several national parks. Its the hottest Ive ever felt.

Read more: As heat wave scorches California, firefighters make headway against wildfires

The temperature at the park Sunday soared to 128 degrees, breaking its daily record of 127 degrees set in 2005 and 1972, according to the National Weather Service. It was expected to reach at least 125 on Monday.

Death Valley  a long, narrow basin that plunges far below sea level  is tailor-made to bake. Hot air is trapped by surrounding mountains and circulated like a convection oven.

Its amazing  I cant find the words to describe it, said Olivier Delecluse, 45, who was visiting the park from France with his wife and two kids.

Read more: As heat wave scorches California, firefighters make headway against wildfires

The parks extreme temperatures draw heat-seekers from around the world who come to know how it feels, say they survived, said public information officer Giovanna Ponce. Dozens of people came to take pictures alongside the thermometer at the visitors' center Sunday and Monday.

Ponce noted that when air temperatures climb to 120 or higher, surface temperatures can sizzle even more, with the asphalt capable of climbing above 200 degrees.

Read more: Heat wave bakes Southern Europe, sparking warnings to stay hydrated and indoors

And the hots will keep getting hotter as the burning of fossil fuels continues to heat the planet. Seven of Death Valleys hottest summers on record have occurred in the last 10 years, Ponce said.

Meanwhile, in Palmdale, the library's biggest draw Monday was something its patrons couldn't check out and take home, as much as they may have wanted to: its cool air conditioning.

With temperatures in the Antelope Valley in the triple digits after a weekend of record-breaking heat, Danny Dollines, 69, said staying at home was just not comfortable.

The Palmdale City Library, serving as a cooling center, provided a bit of respite for Dollines, who was happy to sit in the air conditioning. A couple of times a week he also tries to beat the heat by swimming at the pool at the local park, he said.

It keeps you cool for an afternoon, he said.

Another library visitor, Jimmy Araiza, 32, said he'd become acclimated to the dry heat while growing up in the Antelope Valley.

Theres not much you can do about it, he said.

Read more: Heat wave bakes Southern Europe, sparking warnings to stay hydrated and indoors

Toyin Lawal, an Antelope Valley resident for 20 years, said she still hadn't gotten used to it.

But its nature, what can you do? she said.

Lawal said she was concerned about what the heat could lead to: fires, heatstroke and emergencies.

The heat has made it a busy time to sell ice cream, said Diana Meneses, a manager at Manantial Frozen Treats in Palmdale, with more people coming in around 2 to 3 p.m. and also at night, when temperatures have cooled off a bit. But even the ice cream machines can feel the heat, she said, sometimes shutting off or taking too long to turn on when the store gets too hot.

Read more: Heavy rains swamp Northeast again as flash floods kill at least 5 in Pennsylvania

On Sunday, daily temperature records were broken in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster Airport reached 110 degrees, surpassing the record of 109 set in 1960. Sandberg saw a high of 99 degrees, breaking the 1998 record of 98.

Interior areas of Southern California reached well into the triple digits Monday, with overnight lows expected in the 70s and 80s for the lower mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

On Monday, Lancaster and Palmdale reached 103 degrees while the high temperature in Chatsworth, Northridge and Woodland Hills was 101, according to the weather service. Burbank had a high of 95.

The Ventura County and San Fernando valleys remained a bit cooler Monday, reaching the low 90s and high 80s, respectively.

The weather service advised residents to check on children, elderly people and pets and to reduce their exposure to the heat. People should be careful with possible fire ignition sources, also, including fireworks and lawn-care equipment. Any wildfires should be reported to authorities.

An excessive heat warning was in effect until 11 p.m. Monday for the Cuyama, s outhern Salinas and San Luis Obispo County interior valleys. Temperatures were expected to reach up to 100 degrees during the day, with overnight lows projected in the 70s to lower 80s.

The high-pressure "heat dome" is expected to retreat to the east on Tuesday, cooling most areas 2 to 5 degrees. Maximum temperatures are expected to range in the lower to mid-70s near the coast, while mountainous regions could see high 80s to 90s, and the Antelope Valley could reach triple-digit highs.

It could warm up again slightly Thursday and Friday through the weekend for lower-elevation mountains and interior regions, but temperatures will most likely fall short of dangerous heat levels.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a heat-related ozone advisory for much of the inland Southern California region until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Several wildfires have broken out across California during the ongoing heat wave.

The Rabbit fire, which ignited Friday in Lakeview south of Moreno Valley , had burned 8,283 acres and was 45% contained as of Monday evening, according to authorities. Fire crews had worked overnight and into Monday morning to build containment lines but were still battling extreme heat, low humidity and steep terrain. The blaze was expected to be fully contained by Friday.

One woman was severely burned and taken to a burn center by helicopter, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesperson Rich Cordova.

Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for areas south of Seneca Springs, east of Highway 79, west of Manzanita Park Road and north of Forest Boundary Road.

Read more: Heavy rains swamp Northeast again as flash floods kill at least 5 in Pennsylvania

Firefighters are also battling other fires near Moreno Valley, including the Reche fire, which scorched 437 acres and had reached 90% containment by Monday evening, according to officials.

The Gavilan fire in Perris, in unincorporated Riverside County, scorched 338 acres and was 60% contained Monday evening, authorities said. The Highland fire, south of Beaumont, had burned 105 acres and was fully contained Monday night.

In Northern California, the Pika fire, which started June 29 near North Dome in Yosemite National Park, continues to burn. The lightning-sparked blaze had burned 818 acres as of Monday evening and was 0% contained.

The wildfires and sizzling temperatures come amid a heat wave that has lingered over much of the Southwest for weeks. Excessive heat warnings were in effect over the weekend for large swaths of Arizona and Nevada, where Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport reached 116 on Sunday, tying the daily record set in 1998. It was just shy of Vegas' all-time heat record, 117 degrees.

Back in Death Valley, Richard Hancock, 28, had traveled from Birmingham, England, and was en route to Las Vegas with a friends bachelor party. The group had sojourned to Badwater Basin, the parks lowest point and the lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level.

Its like standing in front of an open oven, he said of the heat. I was a bit nervous  is it safe? Is it dangerous? Im a bit scared of getting a flat tire.

Sundays 128-degree reading was not far from the 134-degree world record set in 1913, park officials said. But some meteorologists have taken fault with that measurement and point instead to a more reliable modern record set in 2021, again in Death Valley, that was even closer to being broken this weekend: 130 degrees.

Smith reported from Death Valley, and Lin and Gupta from Los Angeles County.

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.
Sioux Falls-area residents who have just changed their license plates and have no idea what to do with their old ones are in luck.

Augustana Universitys International Programs Office welcomes donations of old license plates for international students to take home with them as a reminder of their time in Sioux Falls and The Mount Rushmore State.

The tradition is timely once again, given the state announced last fall that it would issue a new license plate design for drivers along with registration renewals starting Jan. 1 this year.

Coordinators in the universitys international office started the tradition together years ago and have continued the tradition for years now. Donn Grinager, who retired from AU in 2018 after serving as director of international programs for 26 years prior, said the tradition started sometime during his tenure.

All the best ideas and traditions like this one came about as our team brainstormed ways in which to welcome students to campus and meaningful ways to say goodbye to departing international students, whether they graduated with a bachelors degree or had fallen in love with Augie after a semester or year exchange program, Grinager said.

Augustana University students receive South Dakota license plates at the end of a semester celebration on campus in Dec. 2021 as a memento of their time at AU in Sioux Falls.

Some international students at AU purchase a car for use while in the U.S., and when they sell their car at the end of their stay in South Dakota, they would take their old license plate home as a memento and souvenir of their AU experience, Grinager said.

Many of those students had at one time visited Mount Rushmore, so the plates design with the monument served as a memory of that travel experience, easy transportation and their first American car, Grinager said.

A license plate is a good memento to these alumni because its flat, lightweight and unbreakable, the perfect gift to sneak into that last flat spot in their suitcase to take home, Grinager explained.

More: Augustana University to offer state's first bioinformatics major, minor starting fall 2023

Personally, I had the opportunity to travel quite a bit for the university and would visit international alumni and see their license plates hanging on a wall, Grinager said. "It was clear then the impact that South Dakota and Sioux Falls and Augustana had on these alumni.

The plates seem to give universal pleasure to the students who get to pick one and take it home at the end of their time at AU, he added.

Heather Reed, associate director of the International Programs Office, estimates the international office has received as many as 400 to 500 license plates through the years of the tradition.

She said those who want to donate their old plates can take them to the office during regular business hours in the lower level of the Administration Building, or can mail them to her at 2001 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, SD, 57197.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Augustana University takes donated old South Dakota license plates
Austin mayor blocks state police help for understaffed PD in move that caves to 'defund' activists: critics

Austin mayor blocks state police help for understaffed PD in move that caves to 'defund' activists: critics

Austin, Texas, leaders are cutting ties with state police who were supplementing the understaffed local department despite crime reduction  in a move critics said cowered to liberal activists.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, announced on Wednesday that the city is suspending a partnership with the Texas Department of Safety, when officers responded to emergency calls to assist the defunded and understaffed Austin Police Department.

Watson had praised the partnership two days earlier and explained that crime and response times had gone down as a result  but in announcing the split, he said the partnership does not adhere to "Austins values."

The press release alluded to several interactions between DPS and citizens that left wing activists and city council members seized upon as evidence that DPS was acting improperly in the city and unfairly targeting minority communities.

One of those incidents involved a trooper reportedly pointing a gun at the head of a 10-year-old boy and his dad, according to their initial claim, during a traffic stop as the boy tried to exit the car. Bodycam footage released later by DPS contradicted the fathers story and showed the trooper had his gun pointed at the ground while following standard protocol.

AUSTIN POLICE PAST AND PRESENT SOUND ALARM ON RIPPLE EFFECTS OF DEFUNDING POLICE: 'IT'S CRUSHING MORALE'

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A member of the Austin Police Department stands watch during the Gold Cup semifinal match between the United States and Qatar on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Q2 stadium in Austin, Texas.

The department was down 500 officers while facing mass retirements amid the defund movement in the wake of protests and riots in reaction to the death of George Floyd.

Former Austin law enforcement members told Fox News Digital that the citys move to end the partnership with the state has put politics in front of public safety and serves as an example of city leaders once again caving to left wing pressure rather than supporting police officers.

"This has gone off the rails," Austin Police Retired Officers Association President Dennis Farris told Fox News Digital. "I think he flipped out without knowing the facts and got some bad advice from his advisers."

"He made this decision and now that hes made it literally 24 hours after he praised the partnership and said he foresaw it lasting until staffing was back up until we dont need them, 24 hours later he says Oh we were looking at disbanding the partnership anyway. Thats the worst flip-flop since John Kerry in the 2004 election saying I was for the war before I was against it."

SOROS DA'S HANDLING OF DEADLY AUSTIN MASS SHOOTING STILL 'CAUSING DISTRESS' TWO YEARS LATER: VICTIM'S BROTHER

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson waives to the crowd after the PGA World Golf Championships Dell Technologies Match Play on March 26, 2023, at Austin County Club in Austin, Texas.

"He blew this entire thing up over the word of a third-grader" Farris said.

Violent crime was reportedly down 28% in Austin since the start of the partnership between APD and DPS, and 911 response times dropped by 1 minute and 15 seconds.

"Hes trying to pander to the left wing of his base because he knows hes going to get challenged here in the next mayoral debate," Austin Police Officer Justin Berry told Fox News Digital about Watsons actions. "Hes playing politics with everyones safety."

Berry added that he believes Watson likely wants to tell police critics in Austin to go "sit at the kids table" but is "in over his head" and doesnt realize how far Democrats have moved to the left.

"The Austin Democrat Party, they're not Democrats, they're Marxists," Berry said. "Its not the same party as when he was mayor back in the 90s."

Watsons move to pull DPS troopers means that DPS officers will no longer respond to 911 calls in the city and will not work in close partnership with APD, but DPS jurisdiction still allows them to patrol the streets. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doubled down on that on this week, announcing he is sending 30 additional DPS officers to the city.

SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED, DEFUNDED AUSTIN PD ON VERGE OF RETIREMENT WAVE AFTER CITY COUNCIL 'PULLS RUG OUT' AGAIN

Police enforcement block the streets in order to prevent abortion rights demonstrators from nearing the police station in Austin, Texas.

"The City of Austin may not want police, but the residents deserve it & I will provide it," Abbott tweeted. "Crime has gone down in areas patrolled by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. We will continue deploying state police to keep communities safe."

Watson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The mysterious object washed up off western Australia, about 250km north of Perth

Police have been baffled by a mysterious "unidentified" dome that washed up on a West Australian beach.

The giant metal object was found by locals at Green Head beach, about 250km (155 miles) north of Perth.

State and federal authorities are investigating the item, which is not currently believed to be from a commercial aircraft.

It is being treated as hazardous, and police have requested people keep a safe distance.

"We want to reassure the community that we are actively engaged in a collaborative effort with various State and Federal agencies to determine the object's origin and nature," police said in a statement.

These include the military and Australia's space agency.

Green Head beach residents said the cylinder was about 2.5m wide and between 2.5m and 3m long, Australia's public broadcaster reported.

Residents visited the site on Saturday night to see the cylinder, the ABC reported, with one local describing it as a "great social evening".

"It was a lovely, still night, the kids were digging sand castles around it," he told the ABC.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said the item was possibly a fuel tank from a rocket that had fallen into the Indian Ocean at some stage in the past 12 months.

The Australian Space Agency said it was possible the giant cylinder could have fallen from a "foreign space launch vehicle" and it would liaise with other international agencies.

If it is a fuel cylinder, experts believe it might be from an Indian rocket and could contain toxic materials.

It is hoped a serial or catalogue number will confirm whether or not this is the case.

There was some speculation the cylinder may have been a part of MH370 - a plane that went missing off the west Australian coast in 2014 with 239 passengers on board - but Mr Thomas said there was "no chance".

"It's not any part of a Boeing 777 and the fact is MH370 was lost nine-and-a-half years ago so it would show a great deal more wear and tear on the debris," he said.
Australian sailor and his dog survive two months at sea

An Australian sailor who survived two months in the Pacific Ocean by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater is "stable and very well", a doctor says.

Sydney resident Tim Shaddock, 51, and his dog Bella left Mexico for French Polynesia in April, but their boat was damaged by a storm several weeks later.

They were rescued by a trawler this week after a helicopter spotted them.

The doctor aboard the tuna trawler told Australia's 9News that the man had "normal vital signs".

Mr Shaddock embarked on his more than 6,000km-long (3,728-mile) voyage from Mexico's city of La Paz - but soon became stranded after his vessel's electronics were cut off by bad weather.

It left the sailor and his dog drifting in the vast and hostile North Pacific ocean, surviving on what he could catch.

Map

When they were finally found off Mexico's coast two months later, he was far leaner and sporting an overgrown beard.

"I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," he said in a video obtained by 9News.

"I'm just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time. Otherwise I'm in very good health."

Mr Shaddock said fishing gear had helped him and Bella to survive.

He also managed to avoid sunburn by sheltering under his boat's canopy.

Soon after their rescue he was seen smiling and wearing a blood pressure monitor on his arm.

He is also able to eat small meals.

The tuna trawler is now heading back to Mexico where Mr Shaddock will undergo medical tests and receive more treatment if needed.

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When a barking dog and a man's claim of camping ultimately led to the apprehension in Warren County of prison escapee and possible homicide suspect Michael C. Burham late Saturday afternoon, there was a likely collective sigh of relief among residents of the rural county where authorities had searched for the suspect for nine days.

For those in law enforcement who were searching for Burham, who was considered to be possibly armed and dangerous, it was the end of a massive operation that wrapped up in the best way possible.

"The main goal for everyone in law enforcement is that no other civilian gets hurt or is victimized in general," Capt. Kirk Reese, commander of Pennsylvania State Police Troop E in Lawrence Park Township, said Monday.

"In the end, no one else was a victim. Not even the escapee getting hurt. It was the perfect ending," Reese said.

Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison on July 6, 2023. He is pictured here in police custody on July 15.

An escape and search

Burham, 34, had been on the run since the late evening of July 6, when authorities accused him of escaping from the Warren County Prison by climbing on a pullup exercise machine in the prison's exercise yard, climbing onto the roof and using bedsheets tied together to climb down from the roof.

Burham was in prison on $1 million bond at the time. He was charged by state police in Warren on May 21 with offenses including felony counts of kidnapping, burglary and aggravated assault on allegations he kidnapped an older couple in Sheffield, Warren County, on May 20, stole their sport-utility vehicle and forced the couple to travel with him to South Carolina. The couple was found unharmed in a cemetery in South Carolina, and authorities there apprehended Burham May 24.

More: State police: Escapee Michael C. Burham taken into custody in Warren County

Burham was also wanted at the time on a charge that he raped a woman in Jamestown, New York, and he was a prime suspect in the fatal shooting of the woman, 34-year-old Kala Hodgkin, on May 11, according to authorities and court records.

Burham was arraigned in Warren County on charges in the kidnapping June 19 and was placed in the Warren County Prison.

Reese said the Warren Police Department initially handled the command post in the search for Burham after his escape. But when it became apparent the search could turn into a long-term operation that would exceed the city police department's resources and capabilities, state police offered to take over and assume command of the operation, Reese said.

The first command post was set up at the state police barracks in Warren. Days later, the post moved to the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department when it outgrew the Warren station because of the number of agencies and resources that joined the search, Reese said.

"There was great interagency and internal cooperation," he said.

State police launched a massive search for Burham that covered areas of Warren County and into the neighboring Allegheny National Forest, a 514,000-acre wilderness managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Federal and local agencies assisted in the search.

Warren County Sheriff Brian Zeybel said his agency assisted state police in any way it could during the search, including using some of his department's all-terrain vehicles to help cover a lot of ground.

The biggest challenge in searching for Burham to Zeybel was "we really had no direction" in terms of where Burham headed after escaping from prison.

"Truly the world was his oyster when he left here," Zeybel said. "You can go in every compass direction. You had to come up with resources to literally search in every direction."

Zeybel, a retired state police trooper, credited the state police for the way the agency coordinated and ran the search operation.

"State police is very capable and very well-developed when it comes to mass call-outs or large-scale searches," he said. "It really has a handle on that, the incident command system, the resources to bring it. Working with them on (the search for fugitive Ralph "Bucky" Phillips in 2006) and here, it's impressive how they keep 200 people organized, fed, right down to providing them water. Through both events, state police did a wonderful job managing resources, managing the totality for the people present, and managing them well."

More: Search for escapee Michael Burham continues as police investigate possible sightings

Burham search similar to hunt for 'Bucky' Phillips

The search for Burham ended when, according to authorities, residents on Jackson Run Road in Conewango Township, Warren County, reported a suspicious individual shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday. A resident who checked to see why his dog was barking encountered a person later determined to be Burham. The resident said he had a brief conversation with Burham, who said something about camping, Lt. Col. George Bivens, state police deputy commissioner of operations, said during a news conference Saturday.

Law enforcement set up a large perimeter around the area, and Burham was tracked through the woods and eventually approached from behind by state police and members of the U.S. Marshals Service and Border Patrol, according to Bivens.

The search and apprehension were similar to the hunt during the spring and summer of 2006 for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips, who escaped from the Erie County Correctional Facility near Buffalo and shot three New York State Police troopers, killing one, before he was eventually apprehended in Pine Grove Township, Warren County, five months after his escape.

More: Search for escapee Michael Burham echoes 2006 'Bucky' Phillips manhunt: GoErie archive

The New York State Police coordinated the search for Phillips, but it involved numerous other law enforcement agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police.

Richard Neiswonger, a retired Pennsylvania State Police trooper, was among those who took Phillips into custody on Sept. 8, 2006.

Neiswonger, who was stationed in the Corry barracks at the time, said the search for Burham seemed similar to the hunt for Phillips in that authorities were sent to investigate a number of possible sightings, but most didn't pan out.

"We were just following up on everything, and we sent as many as we could to follow up on everything," Neiswonger said of the search for Phillips.

On the day Phillips was apprehended, Neiswonger said he was paired up with Trooper Scott Callahan. There was a reported sighting of Phillips near Russell in Warren County, and authorities cordoned off a large area, he said.

Neiswonger and Callahan were assigned to be the rapid response car, to drive around the perimeter and to check out any reported sightings, he said. Someone had seen something pop up in a field near a fence line, and although authorities didn't know if it was a person or an animal, they went to check it out, Neiswonger said.

A helicopter also flew over the area, and as it circled lower Phillips stood up with his hands up "to all of our shock," Neiswonger said. Authorities approached Phillips and took him into custody without incident.

"It was one of those sighting that you thought was not going to pan out like the rest of them, but it actually did pan out," Neiswonger said.

Phillips, like Burham, was not armed when he was apprehended. He would later plead guilty killing the New York State Police trooper and was sentenced to life in prison.

In addition to the charges related to the kidnapping, Burham faces in Warren County a felony count of escape for breaking out of the Warren County Prison. He had not been arraigned on the charge as of Monday morning.

State police said following Burham's arrest that they are continuing to investigate whether anyone helped Burham in his escape or during his time on the run. Anyone found to have aided Burham will be charged accordingly, the agency reported.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Authorities credit resources, tip in ending manhunt in Warren County
The Rev. Sarah Smith stands in the sanctuary of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, where she is associate priest.

Evangelist Rick Warren's decision to face-off against the Southern Baptist Convention brought attention to the debate over female pastors, but arguments over the spiritual compatibility of women clergy have been going on for decades.

Few people know this better than several Oklahoma women who have taken to the pulpit, including the Rev. Sarah Smith, the Rev. Twila Gibbens, of Tulsa.

Gibbens, 69, grew up as a PK  preacher's kid  in the 1950s and 1960s and never saw a female pastor preach at the United Methodist churches of her youth.

"There were no role models, and I didnt imagine being one," she said.

By contrast, Smith, 37, grew up seeing and hearing United Methodist female pastors preach and teach. The female pastors she saw in her youth served as inspiration, along with a female Episcopal priest who served as her mentor at Vanderbilt University.

Currently an associate priest at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City, Smith said she knows she is doing exactly what the Lord wants her to do.

"Women are the backbone of the Church and our society," she said. "We are the creators and the doers."

Several Oklahoma women recently discussed their journeys to pulpit ministry in the wake of Warren's challenge to the Southern Baptist Convention. In June, Southern Baptist Convention delegates, called messengers, determined that the denomination's credentials and executive committees made the right decision in determining that Warren's Saddleback Church was no longer in "friendly cooperation" with the denomination because the Lake Forest, California, house of worship had ordained women and allowed them to serve as pastors.

The Rev. Lori Walke, senior pastor of Mayflower Congregational Church-United Church of Christ, in Oklahoma City, grew up attending a Southern Baptist church, and she has definite opinions about faith groups who prohibit women from being pastors.

These groups are missing the mark, she said.

"Just as the stained glass ceiling exists for women in the church, the glass ceiling exists for women in leadership in our broader culture," she said. "Sexism and misogyny are rampant, which hold back all of us, not just women. We know that when women and girls thrive, everyone else does, too."

Debate over Scripture is ongoing

The continuing debate about the spiritual compatibility of female pastors typically includes the Bible verse 1 Timothy 2:9-14, in which the Apostle Paul wrote: "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."

The Bible verses found in 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 also are brought up by people who don't believe women should be clergy: "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace  as in all the congregations of the Lords people. Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

Interpretation of Scripture is key, said several female members of clergy who recently talked about their paths to the pulpit. The Rev. Jane Williams, an Assemblies of God minister who attends Revive Church, in Edmond, Oklahoma, said the 1 Corinthians scripture about women being silent in the church should be placed in context to the culture of the times that it was written.

Williams said she's always thinks of another scripture, Galatians 3:28, when she learns that someone is questioning whether women are going against Bible teaching by becoming pastors: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

And this Bible passage, Williams noted, was also written by Paul.

The Rev. Jane Williams, an Assemblies of God minister, sits in the sanctuary of Revive Church in Edmond, where she is a member.

Pastor's daughter becomes a pastor

Gibbens remembers her preacher father quoting Scripture to her when she told him she would be fulfilling her call to the ministry.

She said the ordained ministry board of the Oklahoma United Methodist Church encouraged her to pursueministry, but her father was initially unsupportive. Gibbens said he quoted the Book of Ruth while arguing thatwomen should follow their husbands: "Whither thou goest, I shall go."

She said she was not cowed.

"I said, 'Dad, if you want sharp young men in the ministry, they are going to marry sharp young women," Gibbens said.

Gibbens was ordained in 1981 and went on to pastor several churches in North Texas and Oklahoma. She retired after 35 years in pastoral ministry, and she said she's glad she didn't allow naysayers to keep her from her pastoral call.

"My second-year Latin teacher told our (high school) class in 1969 that none of us needed to pursue Latin in high school unless we were going to be doctors, lawyers or priests, so none of us girls needed to take more  and I didnt think twice about this limitation," she said.

Later, when she was one of several women who began their first appointments as pastors of small churches orassistants at larger churches, she was met with mixed reactions.

"Some of the messages I heard from men were 'I enjoyed your "message,"' not 'sermon.' 'It wasnt too emotional' and 'Just wear dark hose and lipstick and youll do fine,' Gibbens said.

And it wasn't just men who had difficulty accepting the female pastors in their midst.

"The third time I was pregnant, some of the women of that same church told me I couldnt be their preacher and have children. (But) I was already doing that, with my husband fully involved in raising the children with me," she said.

The church members who didn't want to accept her ended up sparking a wave of acceptance among those who were more open minded.

"Their lack of support brought out a reaction of other church members surrounding me with encouragement and support," Gibbens said.

Leaving one denomination for another

Both Walke and the Rev. Valerie Jones-Steele, pastor of Quail Springs United Methodist Church, in Oklahoma City, said they had to leave the denominations they grew up in to fulfill their call to ministry. Jones-Steele, who is African American, said she grew up in the predominantly African American Black National Baptist Inc. denomination, which did not ordain women as pastors or preachers.

"I received my calling to preach early but denied it because I was taught in church that women werent to preach or pastor and that that decision was preordained by God," she said. "Needless to say, God never ceased from calling me to ordained ministry, and at age 28, I finally accepted the call and left the National Baptist Inc. denomination."

The Rev. Valerie Steele sits in the sanctuary at Quail Springs United Methodist Church, where she is senior pastor.

Jones-Steele, 53, found a way forward through the United Methodist Church. By the time the United Methodist denomination ordained her as a minister, she was 39 and ready to fulfill the leadership role to which she felt the Lord called her.

Meanwhile, Walke said she's grateful to have been raised by the people of Blue Lakes Southern Baptist Church, who she described as loving. She said they raised her to be a pastor in spite of the Southern Baptist Convention's theology.

For subscribers: More young adults are not religious, but Christianity still dominant religion in US

"They taught me to love Scripture, serve God and build the beloved community," she said. "Faith formation at home, and combined with the guidance of my Sunday school teachers, training union teachers, vacation Bible school volunteers and pastors, are a significant part of why I decided to become a minister even though the denomination of my youth doesn't believe women should be pastors."

Walke earned her juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University's School of Law in 2009 and passed the Oklahoma Bar exam that same year. After earning her master's of divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary, she was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2012.

"God called me, and they (childhood church congregation) cultivated the gifts and graces I needed for preaching, teaching and pastoring."

Debate has cultural relevance

Jones-Steele and Walke said the male/female pastor debate strikes at the heart of cultural shifts in American society.

"There is a desire to roll back the rights of many groups, particularly those parts of protected classes, to a time pre-Civil Rights era," Jones-Steele said. "As an African American woman, it is not lost on me that these rollbacks appear to hearken to a time as 'All in the Family's' (1970s TV sitcom) bigoted patriarch crooned in the opening theme song, 'Those were the days.' There is so much irony wrapped inside those lyrics."

She said humans miss the point and don't deal with real problems like homelessness, hunger, injustices, human exploitation, ecological devastation and sexual abuse.

For subscribers: Why Black churches in the SBC are questioning the future with new women pastor standards

"Women are not that far away from having their credit cards listed under their husbands name prefixed with 'Mrs. Women are not that far away in history from being one of very few doctors, lawyers, corporate heads and faculty in once male-dominated careers," she said.

"History bears witness many times of when those treated as subordinate begin to rise, those considered dominant seek ever greater restraints to hold the subordinate down by any means necessary. This mindset is in the culture. This is wherever humanity finds itself with perceived power. Unfortunately, it is even in the Church."

Walke shared similar comments.

She said she's hopeful that bans against female clergy will eventually become a thing of the past.

"As we move towards gender equity in the church and in the broader culture, we will see abundant life for all," Walke said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Baptist female clergy speak out about their roles in ministry
The highly publicized lawsuit brought by Mallory Beachs family in her 2019 boat crash death against a Lowcountry convenience store operator and former lawyer Alex Murdaugh was settled Sunday for $15 million, lawyers connected with the case said.

Lawsuits brought by four other passengers on the boat, allegedly piloted by an intoxicated Paul Murdaugh, were also settled Sunday after an hours-long session at a law office on Daniel Island, lawyers said.

The settlement of the Beach family wrongful death lawsuit means that a much-anticipated civil trial in her case scheduled to begin Aug. 14 against store operator Greg Parker and Alex Murdaugh will not be held.

The trial was expected to attract national news coverage, including daily broadcasts by Court TV.

Under the settlement, Parker and his insurance carriers will pay $15 million to the Beach family, said Beach family attorney Mark Tinsley of Allendale.

As part of the settlement, Parker will admit no fault, said Tinsley.

They dont admit it, but there is $15 million worth of admissions in it, Tinsley said.

The settlement has been reduced to writing, but it still must approved by a state circuit court judge, Tinsley said. That should happen this week, he said.

Columbia attorney Joe McCulloch, who represents Connor Cook, a passenger in the boat who was severely injured in the crash, has settled with Parker and his insurance carriers for $1 million, McCulloch said Sunday.

Cooks jaw was broken in multiple places and his face was badly cut, McCulloch said.

Sundays agreement came two days after Tinsley persuaded a judge to nix two crucial motions by Parkers lawyers that were



aimed at avoiding a big money verdict in the wrongful death trial.

In a Friday hearing at the Hampton County courthouse, Judge Daniel Hall ruled against Parkers efforts to move the case out of Hampton County and to try Parker alone rather than with Alex Murdaugh, the convicted murderer of his wife and son, as co-defendant.

Parkers lawyer, P.K. Shere, had unsuccessfully tried to convince the judge that for Parker to be tried with one of South Carolinas most notorious criminals would prejudice a jury against Parker.

The death of Beach, 19, in February 2019, after a crash in Archers Creek near Beaufort, led to revelations about Alex Murdaughs numerous financial crimes. In Murdaughs murder trial, prosecutors also argued the financial revelations led Murdaugh to murder his wife, Maggie, and son Paul.

After Beachs death, Tinsley filed suit on behalf of her estate seeking damages from Parker and others alleged to have unlawfully provided alcohol to Paul Murdaugh, who was 19 when Beach died.

On the night of the crash, Paul Murdaugh had used a drivers license belonging to his older brother, Buster, who is more than 40 pounds heavier and six inches taller than Paul, Tinsleys lawsuit said. The lawsuit contended that Parkers clerk should have detected the discrepancy and refused to sell alcohol to Paul. Parker alleged the clerk exercised due diligence and did nothing wrong.

For years, Tinsley pressed Alex Murdaugh to reveal details of his financial situation. When those details were finally released, they revealed that not only had Murdaugh stolen millions from his law firm and clients over the years, but Murdaugh was millions of dollars in debt.

Other defendants involved in the lawsuit have previously settled. Alex Murdaugh was a defendant because, Tinsley alleged, he encouraged and abetted drinking by his underage son.

Settlements involving three other passengers in the boat  Miley Altman, Anthony Cook and Morgan Doughty  were not revealed Sunday. All three had brought separate lawsuits against Parker.

Claims against Alex Murdaugh will be settled as well, with a court dividing up what is left of Murdaughs assets, Tinsley said.

The settlement means that the families of the people involved in the crash will not have to endure grueling trials, McCulloch said. Thats the best part of settling  people can resolve the thing and find an end.

A separate civil lawsuit alleging a conspiracy by Greg Parker and associates to damage the Beach family is still proceeding, Tinsley said.
Beaufort County property reassessment is coming up. Will you be paying higher property taxes?

For the first time in five years, property taxes will be based on an updated assessment to be mailed out in the first two weeks of September. Additionally, the millage rate will be lowered by 4% to offset a possible tax increases resulting from higher property valuations.

The last time Beaufort County assessed real estate property values for tax purposes was in 2018, before the pandemic and before home prices and property values skyrocketed across the county, especially in the Hilton Head area.

In the first two weeks of September, Beaufort County will assign new fair market value to properties, potentially changing how much property owners pay in property taxes.

Look at what has distinctively happened with market values over the last five years, Realtor Chip Collins said. Everybody generally and pretty much immediately concludes that their assessed value is going to go up. Thats pretty much a given.

Property tax payments can be made to the County Treasurer starting September 30. Taxes for the current year must be paid by January 15 of the following year.

To help Beaufort County residents better understand the state-mandated county-wide assessment, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette spoke with Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders, county councilpersons and real estate agents.

Here is what property owners need to know:

What is a property reassessment?

The state requires that once every five years, all real property  including both land and buildings  be re-evaluated to reflect current fair market value. It includes mobile homes but doesnt include non-real property such as cars, boats or things that arent attached to real estate.

Why does it matter?

It impacts how much homeowners pay in property tax. Property taxes are calculated by multiplying:

Appraised Property Value x Assessment Ratio x Millage Rate

Homeowners whose primary residence is in the county have a four percent assessment ratio; for those with secondary residences, its six percent.

The millage is the amount per $1,000 used to calculate taxes on property. One mill equals 1/1000 of a dollar or 1/10 of a cent.

For example, if the tax rate is 51.7 mills, multiply .0517 by the assessed value (Property Value x Assessment Ratio) to determine the amount of property tax due. The County also has a tax calculator to determine what property taxes are: https://apps.beaufortcountysc.gov/tax-calculator/

Its not updated with next years millage rates.

Will property owners be paying more in taxes?

It really depends on several factors, District 5 County Councilperson Joseph Passiment said.

Sanders estimates that most of property owners will see a 15% increase in their taxable property value, but that doesnt always translate into paying higher taxes because of millage rollback and a taxable capped value.

Millage rollback

The county rolls back how much millage each property owner owes to prevent over taxing. This can occur when the overall assessed values increase to be a sum larger than what is needed to meet the countys budget. The calculation works for the county as a whole and individuals can see increases or decreases in their property taxes depending on whether their assessed value increases or decreases more than the county or district average.

An example of how millage rollback works.

The rollback was already factored into this years budget, and the millage rate went down from 53.9 for the 2023 budget to 51.7 for the 2024 budget.

Are there caps on how much taxable property value can go up?

Yes. To help prevent residents from being priced out of Beaufort County, an owners taxable value increase more than 15% more than the previous market value. For example, if a property was assessed at $100,000 in 2018, but $200,000 in this reassessment, the most the property owner could be taxed on is $115,000.

How is property assessed?

The Assessors Office uses a mass appraisal process to determine what the value of each persons home is. This means that no one is door-knocking or home-visiting to determine a value. Instead, the office runs computer models to determine what each property is worth based on its physical characteristics. The data includes information such as heated square footage, garages, decks, pools, type, quality of construction, land area, water features and several other attributes. From there, its grouped by location and market characteristics to determine a value.

What if a property owner doesnt agree with the assessment?

There will be information on the appeal process provided with assessment notices. Property owners who want to file an appeal must file a written notice to the Assessors Office within 90 days of receiving their assessment. In their appeal, they must state why the new value is incorrect and provide supporting documents or facts to back up their claim. The County will either approve or deny the appeal. If denied the property owner can appeal again to the County-Council-appointed Board of Assessment Appeals all the way up to the the South Carolina Supreme Court, according to Sanders.

Supporting documents could include a recent appraisal or evidence of comparable sales. Owners can use the countys free Property Max tool, which details property sales. They could also reach out to a real estate agent, who will have access to data on comparable property sales for their type of home and neighborhood. Its important to remember that the evidence must be as of December 31, 2022, not after.

Other examples of supporting documents include:

Closing statement or sales contract reflecting an arms-length transaction on the open market.

Recent comparable sales of similar properties in the same neighborhood or a comparable neighborhood.

Estimates for repairs showing structural issues or conditions that affect the houses market value.

Photos of the structure showing existing structural issues or conditions that a buyer may require a seller to repair before closing.

Statement of construction costs or recent bills demonstrating the value of new construction or additions.

Who can submit an appeal?

Only the following people can make an appeal on behalf of a taxpayer:

Taxpayer

A member of the taxpayers immediate family (if they arent compensated)

Taxpayers full-time employee

Partner of partnership

Attorney

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

An Internal Revenue Service enrolled agent (refer to the Internal Revenue Service)

A real estate appraiser who is registered, licensed or certified by the South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers

Do property owners still have to pay their tax bill if they dont agree?

If an appeal is pending, a property owner may request to pay a lower amount based on 80% to 99% of the taxable value. The request must be in writing to the Assessors Office on or before December 31. If the appeal is unsuccessful, property owners may be charged interest on the amount of the underpayment.

Where can property owners get more information?

Taxpayers can access the Assessors Offices guide at: https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/assessor/2023-reassessment-guide.pdf

Sanders said the office will announce community events at Beaufort County libraries closer to September.
Photo: The Canadian Press A digital publication is asking the Federal Court to review a decision made by the Canada Revenue Agency that prevents them from accessing incentives for journalism. The Canada Revenue Agency sign outside the National Headquarters at the Connaught Building in Ottawa is seen on Monday, March 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

A digital publication is asking the Federal Court to review a decision by the Canada Revenue Agency that prevents it from accessing incentives for journalism.

The Academic Journalism Society, which runs The Conversation Canada, is seeking a judicial review of the agency's decision.

In a court filing submitted last week, the society says an advisory board found it did not engage in the production of original news content.

The application says it rejects the agency's conclusion that it's not a qualified Canadian journalism organization  a designation that allows them to claim a journalism tax credit.

The Academic Journalism Society says its authors conduct firsthand reporting through independent research and it wants the Canada Revenue Agency to quash the decision.

The claim says The Conversation's authors are academics who collaborate with editors to provide evidence-based explanatory journalism on news and current affairs.
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Happy Sunday, this is Robin Epley with The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board, bringing you the best of the states opinion journalism for the Week of July 10.

Lets start with a story that makes me happy: Sacramento now has the chance to send the states first transgender legislator to the Capitol.

Evan Minton announced last week that he will run for State Assembly District 6, which encompasses most of the city of Sacramento as well as some of the surrounding unincorporated county.

Opinion

He joins a field of several candidates who have already announced their candidacy to succeed Kevin McCarty, who has decided to run instead for Sacramento mayor. Mintons platform will focus on environmental justice, affordable housing and economic security.

But also notable is that, if Minton wins, he will be the first openly transgender legislator in the state  just as he was the first openly transgender person to work in the state capitol.

The aspiring assemblymember wants to show the Sacramento regions transgender and queer youth, and their families, that not only do they belong, they deserve to have a voice in their government.

Our kids are being ... targeted, Minton said. Its important for me to let them know that they have a future and just as much right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as anyone else.

Minton is no stranger to fighting for his rights: In 2017, he was denied health care by Mercy San Juan, a part of Dignity Health, and sued the medical providers in a high-profile ACLU lawsuit that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Minton also served as an expert witness to the U.S. House Oversight Committee on President Donald Trumps attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans.

Sacramento City Unified School Board President Chinua Rhodes, left, and transgender advocate Evan Minton, right, celebrate the raising of the transgender flag at the districts headquarters in south Sacramento on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Since then, theyve continued their advocacy for the California transgender community as co-chair of the Democratic National Committees Transgender Advisory Committee and co-chair of the lieutenant governors Transgender Advisory Council.

Ultimately, the fight for transgender rights are, at their heart, a fight for all Americans, I wrote in my profile of Minton. Acceptance and inclusion for transgender, non-binary and queer people is another step forward, ensuring we can all live as our authentic selves and without fear of persecution or restriction.

Approximately 10% of the California Legislature identifies as LGBTQ+, I wrote, but Mintons candidacy could be the first to bring transgender acceptance to the state capitol. It would also further demonstrate that transgender legislators absolutely belong in Americas representative democracy.

Leslie Van Outin

Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would not continue to fight the states parole board against the release of Leslie Van Houten, a member of the Manson crime family and an inmate for 53 years since the age of 19 for her part in the murders of seven people in Los Angeles over two nights in August, 1969.

Since 2016, five different parole boards have recommended her release from custody, but each time, the governor  twice Jerry Brown and three times Newsom  has overruled that decision.

Van Houten has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, favorable institutional reports and, at the time of the governors decision, had received four successive grants of parole, the Court of Appeal declared.

There is  a difficult question of whether there are some crimes that are so awful that the perpetrator should never be paroled, no matter how young they were when the crime was committed or how long they have served in prison, wrote Edwin Chemerinsky in his own guest essay for The Bee last week. Our legal system has made the judgment that such sentences can be imposed. The punishment is termed life without the possibility of parole.

FILE - Leslie Van Houten, 19, a member of Charles Mansons family who is charged with the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, is escorted by two deputy sheriffs as she leaves the courtroom in Los Angeles, Dec. 19, 1969, after a brief hearing. Van Houten has been released from a California prison after serving 53 years for two infamous murders. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Tuesday, July 11, 2023, that Van Houten was released to parole supervision. (AP Photo/George Brich, File)

And, if that had been Van Houtens sentence, parole would have been precluded. But her sentence was explicit in allowing parole, he wrote. The Court of Appeal was right, under the facts of this case, to say that parole should have been granted. And Newsom was right in letting it go and allowing Van Houten to be paroled.

But there are two sides to every story  often more  and very tangible vestiges remain of the life Leno and Rosemary LaBianca might have lived to see, if they had not been murdered that Aug. 10 evening by Van Houten and her friends.

Love and logic do not always mesh together in neat, harmonious ways, wrote Louise LaBianca, the daughter of Leno, writing her own op-ed for The Bee last week. This idea has occurred to me more than once as I try to reach a logical conclusion and accept that the woman who participated in the brutal murders of my father and step-mother has been released from jail.

When my cousin, Aleta, called Gov. Gavin Newsoms office to find out why Van Houten was released, she said she was met with impatience and a brief explanation, followed by the click of the receiver. Perhaps the person on the other end of the line did not realize just how much she loved her Uncle Leno.

I challenge you to read both columns, and truly question what side you come down on?

Hot Potato Proposal

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinbergs proposal to delegate the identification of Safe Ground managed homeless encampments to City Manager Howard Chan is a pivotal moment for the City Council on its most vexing issue, wrote Opinion Writer Tom Philp last week.

It represents the best and only opportunity to make visible progress in a matter of months. But it also means a more geographically dispersed homeless population  albeit staffed and managed  that will increase anxieties in some neighborhoods and likely among some homeless people as well.

The mayors proposal was recently announced in a city blog and is a tacit admission that the city council itself is not up to the job of finding new locations, Philp wrote.

Identifying new shelter locations is the only way to relocate an existing encampment that is on public property. It is the only way to begin to reclaim Sacramentos downtown and Midtown, among other neighborhoods. The idea comes with risks, but on balance, the potential benefits make this gamble worth the risk.

The other alternative is to wait: A new partnership between the city and the county of Sacramento calls for 200 more shelter beds within the city, with the check paid for by the county. But identifying these sites and actually constructing the shelters will take time.

Meanwhile, Philp says, Sacramentans are increasingly fed up, especially the judges at downtowns Sacramento Superior Court, where staff and jurors say they regularly deal with disruptive members of the homeless population.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg sits with signs that read Love Not Hate during a City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Council members held up the signs when Ryan Messano, who had made antisemitic remarks during public comment at a previous meeting, spoke remotely.

Safe Ground makes all the sense in the world when it comes to providing social services, Philp wrote. With the homeless populations in known locations, outreach is less of a logistical nightmare. Homeless people would get better access to the help that does exist, and Safe Ground sites would be safe for them and safer for neighborhoods overall.

Op-Ed Roundup

In the face of unjust bans, California can expand lifesaving, gender-affirming care by Dr. Jen Hastings, genderqueer and an assistant clinical professor at the UCSF Department of Family and Community Medicine.

How a rural California county is working to avoid catastrophic flooding this summer by Gary Bradford, a Yuba County supervisor and board delegate of the Rural County Representatives of California.

Opinion of the Week

On Tuesday, I made a bad decision. Voting against legislation targeting really bad people who traffic children was wrong.  Assemblywoman Liz Ortega, D-Hayward, in a tweet after not a single Assembly Democrat voted for a bill that sought to elevate the crime of sex trafficking of minors to a serious felony on multiple convictions. The whole things honestly become a public relations nightmare for the California Democratic Party which now looks like it supports child traffickers.

Got thoughts? What would you like to see in this newsletter every week? Got a story tip or an opinion to tell the world? Let us know what you think about this email and our work in general by emailing us at any time via opinion@sacbee.com.

Stay cool this hot summer night,

Robin
Benedict Cumberbatch tears up over moving connection to late grandfather on Bear Grylls show

Benedict Cumberbatch grew emotional as he reconnected with his grandfathers Navy history during an appearance on Bear Grylls latest series.

The Sherlock star was a guest on an episode of Gryllss National Geographic show Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge.

During the most recent instalment, which aired in the US on Sunday (16 July) night, Grylls, 49, surprised the British actor, 46, as they were met by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine off the coast of the Isle of Skye.

Grylls had called in a favour with the Navy to surface the submarine due to the actors family connection to the Navy.

Cumberbatchs grandfather Henry Carlton Cumberbatch was a submarine officer during both World Wars, and a prominent figure of London high society. One of his missions in the Second World War took place aboard a Royal Navy nuclear submarine that surfaced off Scotlands Isle of Skye, just like the one that greeted the actor and adventurer in the episode.

During the episode, Cumberbatch and Grylls descended sea cliffs and faced waterfalls on the Scottish island, before Grylls told his friend he had one final little surprise that felt fitting for a Cumberbatch.

Im feeling incredibly moved by stuff, to be honest, Cumberbatch said.

Are you ready for this? Grylls asked, with the emotional actor replying: No, as ever, but lead the way.

The pair then saw the submarine surface and met the Navy submarine off the coast. Upon seeing the submarine, the actor grew emotional at the moving moment.

Wiping his eyes, Cumberbatch said: Its amazing. Im so moved. Im so moved by it. The last couple of days have been extraordinary, what an experience.

A powerful moment of raw emotion for Benedict Cumberbatch as we ended our @RunningWildwBG journey Benedicts grandfather had commanded a submarine in WW2 and I felt proud to be able to involve the @RoyalNavy & @RoyalMarines to help us end the adventure thank you so much! pic.twitter.com/eQKEQiRqc6  Bear Grylls OBE (@BearGrylls) July 17, 2023

Speaking to camera after the event, the Marvel star explained: My grandfather had been playing in my mind over the last couple of days and it felt a very immediate connection to him. To see it was very much an Oh my God shock moment.

I couldnt believe it. Im sort of tearing up now just thinking about it. It was... wow.

Grylls added: It was a very special moment, the best extraction weve done on any journey on any show of any season.

Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, the actors paternal grandfather, died in 1966.
President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy preparing to drive into Dallas from the airport on Nov. 22, 1963. He was assassinated later that day.

WASHINGTON  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 CIA 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 CIA 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?

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The mystery of 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 Joe 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.

Bidens certification, issued at 6:36 p.m. on the Friday before the long Fourth of July holiday weekend, when it would not draw much attention, has frustrated researchers and historians still focused on the most sensational American murder of the 20th century. But they suffered a setback Friday when a federal judge refused to block Bidens order.

Jefferson Morley, editor of the blog JFK Facts and author of several books on the CIA, said the belated identification of Efron indicated that intelligence agencies still had something to keep from the American public.

If they hid this guys name for 61 years and theyre still hiding other stuff, I would say theyre still hiding sources and methods around Oswald, Morley said. Why else did the name remain secret for 61 years? The CIA is trying to slam the door now, and Bidens gone along with this.

From the other side of the spectrum, Gerald Posner, author of Case Closed, a 1993 book concluding that Oswald killed Kennedy on his own, said he doubted there was a smoking gun in the remaining files.

Everyone is focused on the CIA documents still withheld, he said. What we have learned from the CIA files released this year is that they either have nothing to do with the assassination, or are only tangentially related.

Although he and Morley diverge on the historical evidence, Posner agreed that Bidens decision was an abrogation of responsibility under the 1992 law mandating release of the documents. Trust in the government being what it is, he said, the public will never accept official reassurances that there is no stunning revelation in the papers.

I dont think thats there, he said, but youll only know when you have all the files available.

The intense interest in Kennedy conspiracy theories prompted Congress to pass the 1992 law mandating that documents related to the assassination be released within 25 years except those that could do identifiable harm to national security that outweighs the value of disclosure. When the deadline arrived in 2017, President Donald Trump, who has dabbled in conspiracy theories about the assassination himself, bowed to pressure from intelligence agencies to grant more time. After taking office, Biden signed two memos doing the same.

Of roughly 320,000 documents reviewed since the law passed, 99% have been disclosed, according to the National Archives and Records Administration. But 2,140 documents remain fully or partially withheld as a result of Bidens action, officials said, while another 2,502 remain withheld for reasons outside the presidents purview  such as court-ordered seals, grand jury secrecy rules, tax privacy limits or restrictions imposed by people who donated papers  and 42 for a mix of both.

A vast majority of excluded documents have actually been released but with certain parts redacted, officials said, including names of people still living, addresses, telephone or Social Security numbers, or locations of intelligence facilities. Officials said they were confident that none of the withheld information would change the essential understanding of the assassination.

Although Bidens June 30 order means he is done, the archives and agencies have set up transparency plans so that remaining redactions can be lifted in the future, such as upon the death of someone whose identity was protected.

The Mary Ferrell Foundation, an organization already suing the government over the files, sought an injunction against Biden after his latest order. But Judge Richard Seeborg of the U.S. District Court in Northern California rejected it Friday night and dismissed other parts of the original lawsuit, although he allowed some claims to proceed.

Lawrence Schnapf, a lawyer for the foundation, denounced Bidens action. It is simply unfathomable to me that a man who has a bust of RFK in his office and who voted for the law would cave in to the incredulous claims of the national security bureaucracy that 60-year-old records pose such a risk to national security that they cannot be released, he said.

The Justice Department declined to comment but maintained in its filings that the government had complied with the law. The CIA did not respond to requests for comment. This completes the review of records required by Congress and fulfills the presidents commitment to maximizing transparency related to President Kennedys assassination, said Adam Hodge, a spokesperson for the White House.

The assassination still has enormous power to arouse suspicion. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has embraced conspiracy theories on vaccines and other matters and is now challenging Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, said recently that the government had orchestrated a 60-year cover-up in his uncles killing.

Theres overwhelming evidence that the CIA was involved in his murder, he told radio host John Catsimatidis in May. I think its beyond a reasonable doubt at this point.

Trump, for his part, vowed to do in a second term what he did not in his first. I released a lot, as you know. And I will release everything else, he said in an interview in May with The Messenger, a new online news site.

The final 1,103 documents released days before Bidens order and those made public in preceding months offered new information that hardly seemed worth keeping cloaked so long. In April, for instance, a file was released with names of employees in the CIAs Mexico City station, mostly secretaries and translators. Another document listed 27 previously unreleased CIA staff members names; for whatever it is worth, CIA Director John McCones secretaries were named Marguerite Beard, Betty Davis and June Irish.

Whether any of the withheld documents would shed more light on Efron is unknown. His name on the mail intercept memo intrigued Morley. The memo was sent to Betty Egerter at a CIA unit known as the office that spied on spies. On the day of the assassination, Egerters boss told the FBI that the CIA had no information on Oswald, who, in fact, had been monitored when he moved to the Soviet Union. A document released long ago showed that the agency opened Oswalds correspondence from Nov. 11, 1959, to May 1, 1960, and again from July 1, 1961, to May 25, 1962.

Curiously, Efron was previously listed as being in the room when the Warren Commission interviewed Marina Oswald, his Russian-born widow, in February 1964  the only one present whose title and role were not explained. Morley suspects Efron was monitoring the commissions investigation for James Angleton, a legendary CIA official, essentially his eyes and ears inside the room.

Efron was born in Lithuania in 1911 as Ruvelis Effronas and arrived in the United States via Cuba in 1939, according to immigration papers that described him as a 5-foot-3, 135-pound merchant-salesman. In addition to English, he spoke Russian, Lithuanian, Hebrew, Yiddish and German, and served in the Air Force during World War II as an interpreter. His obituary said that after the war, he was a specialist on the Soviet Union and consultant on foreign affairs without saying for whom.

In a harmonic convergence of conspiracy, Efron reported seeing a UFO in 1955. He was traveling with Sen. Richard Russell, D-Ga., and an Army colonel on a train trip through the Soviet Union when all three spotted what a CIA report called two flying saucers. Skeptics later suggested they were Soviet aircraft. Russell was among the Warren Commission members in the room for the Marina Oswald interview that Efron attended in 1964.

As it happened, Efron died Nov. 22, 1993  the 30th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. His wife has died, too, and he had no known children. Efforts to reach other family members were unsuccessful.

People say theres nothing significant in these files?, Morley said. Bingo! Heres the guy who was reading Oswalds mail, a detail they failed to share until now. You dont have to be a conspiracy theorist to think its suspicious.

Posner finds it less suspicious but understands why others might. Many of us have made up our minds, he said. Some of us have made up our minds that there was a conspiracy, and some of us have made up our minds that it was Oswald.

But in the end, we all want to see these files.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
US Vice President Joe Biden shakes hand with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AP)

President Joe Biden has extended an invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet in the United States at some point in the future on the eve of a visit to the White House by his countrys head of state, President Isaac Herzog.

The invitation was first announced by Mr Netanyahus office, which said it came during what it described as a long and warm conversation between the two leaders, who have known each other for decades dating back to Mr Netanyahus first stint as Israels head of government in the 1990s.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that Mr Biden had asked Mr Netanyahu to meet at Mondays daily press briefing.

Mr Kirby told reporters that the two leaders had talked about a broad range of global and regional issues of mutual concern during their conversation, and said Mr Biden had underscored his ironclad unwavering commitment to Israels security and condemned recent acts of terror against Israeli citizens.

The two consulted on our close coordination to counter Iran, including through regular and ongoing joint military exercises. They noted that us that the US Israel partnership remains a cornerstone in preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, he said.

The White House spokesperson also said Mr Biden had stressed the need to take measures to maintain the viability of a two state solution and to improve the security situation in the West Bank and told reporters that the president also welcomed Israels willingness to consider new steps to support Palestinian livelihoods and recognised promising steps by the Palestinian Authority ... to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank.

Mr Kirby also said that Mr Biden had used the call to address concerns about the judicial reform plan being considered by Mr Netanyahus government, and stressed that the president had reiterated comments about the need for the broadest possible consensus because shared democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the US Israel relationship.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Bidens invitation to the Israeli head of government included the possibility of a visit to the White House. While one of Mr Netanyahus predecessor, Naftali Bennett, visited the White House for bilateral talks with Mr Biden in August 2021, Republicans have complained that Mr Bidens failure to extend the same courtesy to Mr Netanyahu meant the president was disrespecting the Israeli leader and showing disdain for Israel.
Biden raised nearly as much money as all the Republican candidates combined, showing the power of the somebody-other-than-Trump vote

US President Joe Biden. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Biden continued his impressive fundraising with $72 million in the second quarter.

That is nearly as much as all the Republican candidates combined despite his low approval numbers.

This could be a sign that many voters are willing to support Biden just to keep Trump from winning.

President Joe Biden's approval numbers are still in the tank, but that hasn't hurt his campaign fundraising for the 2024 election.

In the second quarter of 2023, Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised $72 million for his reelection campaign. That was more than twice the amount of top Republican candidate Donald Trump and nearly as much as the entire GOP field combined ($75 million).

Second quarter fundraising totals for the candidates in the 2024 presidential election. CNN

This haul comes in the same quarter Biden made his reelection campaign official, which likely helped to boost the total. However, it also comes when Biden's approval numbers are still hovering near 40%, the lowest level in a year.

While the numbers are a big win for Biden and the Democrats, the sizeable haul could say more about the strength of the somebody-other-than-Trump vote than anything. Trump not only fell way behind Biden in fundraising this quarter but was also being outpaced by the rest of the Republican field ($40 million to $35 million in the second quarter).

As Republican candidates start to fall out, the real question will become how many of these donors are some-other-Republican-besides-Trump voters and how many are truly anybody-but-Trump voters? In an opinion column for The Washington Post, conservative commenter George Will said he believes that eventually, a non-Trump, non-Ron DeSantis candidate will emerge out of the GOP field. He called both Trump and DeSantis "brittle" and described Trump as "stale as a month-old crust of sourdough."

Ouch.

But what happens if most of Trump's Republican candidates stay in for the long haul? According to NPR national political correspondent Don Gonyea, it will help Trump.

"Thirty, maybe 35% of the party is with [Trump]," Gonyea said on NPR's "All Things Considered." "And in a crowded field, that's enough to win. The field is starting to grow. And even with a few candidates, if they start to divide the anybody-but-Trump vote, that makes it hard for an alternative to Trump to gain any kind of traction."

How long the candidates stay in will likely come down to money, and Republican candidate Chris Christie defended the fundraising numbers. On CNN's "State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bush," Christie noted that some candidates, including him, have only been in the race a few weeks.

"If we continue to raise money at the pace we've been raising it, we're going to do just fine," Christie told CNN. "We were essentially raising money for three weeks. So we feel good about what we've done."

Everybody is optimistic early on, but the clock is already ticking to consolidate the anybody-but-Trump vote and keep it in the red column. Otherwise, that voting bloc could go to Biden if we get Biden-Trump II.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Biden Departs The White House For Illinois

President Joe Biden talks to reporters about Russia and other issues as he departs the White House on June 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images

The federal watchdog who has issued warnings to two senior White House officials over inappropriate uses of their offices for political purposes was formally nominated for a new post on July 12. If approved by the Senate, the nomination would move Henry Kerner, the current head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, to a more senior role, and allow President Joe Biden to name a new person to the position.

The federal government is full of seemingly obscure bureaucratic posts that the public only hears about in times of controversy. The vaguely named U.S. Office of Special Counsel is one, housing career investigators who protect whistleblowers and call out White House officials, cabinet secretaries and federal officials when they use the power of their offices for political purposes in violation of the Hatch Act.

Kerner is a lawyer who worked as a prosecutor in California and as a Republican congressional investigator before being named to his post by Donald Trump in 2017. Kerners office wrote up a dozen Trump aides for Hatch Act warnings during Trumps four years in office. He also recommended Trumps senior counselor and 2016 campaign manager Kellyanne Conway be disciplined for promoting the Republican Senate Candidate Roy Moore in the 2017 special election in Alabama. At the time, Conway mocked how little teeth were in the special counsels directives, saying, Let me know when the jail sentence starts.

When Biden came to office in early 2021, Kerner stayed in place. Biden gave his staff strict instructions to follow the Hatch Act and avoid the repeated and flagrant violations from the Trump years.

But, despite the sanctimony Biden officials have brought to the West Wing, in recent months Kerner has irked Biden White House aides by rebuking Bidens former Chief of Staff Ron Klain for posting on his official Twitter account a message to buy political merchandise for a Democratic group, and warning that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had violated the Hatch Act for using the Trump-era slogan MAGA in the press briefing room to describe Republican policies in the run up to the midterm elections.

Kerner also called out Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for saying during an official speech in September that he intended to vote for incumbent Senator Alex Padilla of California, a fellow Democrat. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge crossed the line in 2021 when she commented on Ohio politics while speaking to reporters in White House press briefing room.

Now Biden has nominated Kerner to move out of his job.

Kerner has been named to fill an empty seat on the bipartisan body that oversees his current office, the obliquely named U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. Republican congressional leadership put Kerners name forward for the job. His nomination was formally received by the Senate on July 12.

The Merit Systems Protection Board was created in 1978 as part of a massive overhaul of the civil service led by President Jimmy Carter that was designed to protect the federal workforce from political retaliation and interference. The three-person, bipartisan board hears appeals from federal employees who believe theyve been targeted by arbitrary or politically-motivated actions.

I really appreciate the White House putting my name forward, Kerner told TIME in a phone interview. They do their own vetting, obviously, and appointing people in the other party is never easy, so my gratitude to the White House and my gratitude to the Senate leadership, to the Republican leadership for having faith in me. I hope the Senate will consider my nomination and I look forward to the confirmation process.

Kerner said that while hes been in the role running the Office of Special Counsel, hes wanted to show that the office can do independent, objective, nonpartisan and fair investigations, and we can treat everyone that way. By a quirk of the federal pay scales, hed end up taking a pay cut in the new post. His current role pays $168,000 and as a member of the Merit Service Protection Board hed earn $158,000, he said.

If Kerner leaves the Office of Special Counsel, the current principal deputy special counsel, Nicole Brightbill, would become the acting head of the office, Kerner says. Biden could then decide whether to leave Brightbill in place, or nominate someone else for the role.

The potential turnover at the administrations Hatch Act watchdog comes at a moment when Donald Trumps pitch to voters includes gutting the federal service to clear away the roadblocks to his political aims. Trump has said in speeches that hed want to impose changes that would make executive branch employees fireable by the President, the exact types of actions the Office of Special Counsel and Merit Service Protection Board were set up to prevent.
3d Printed Gun  Mari1408 | Dreamstime.com

A couple of years ago, an "80 percent" receiver I purchased refused to accept parts, let alone chamber and fire cartridges, until my son and I drilled and milled it to completion; that's because unfinished firearms are not firearms. For a long time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agreed. But, pressured by the Biden administration, the ATF tried to extend firearms regulations to a lot of things that aren't guns but could, with work, become one. Now a federal judge is injecting some sense, ruling in a lawsuit that bureaucrats can't just decide that inert objects are guns.

Feds Change the Rules on Gun Hobbyists

For years, through a page still on its website, federal gun regulators assured the public that "ATF has long held that items such as receiver blanks, 'castings' or 'machined bodies' in which the fire-control cavity area is completely solid and un-machined have not reached the 'stage of manufacture' which would result in the classification of a firearm." That's good sense unless you look forward to background checks and government scrutiny every time you visit the hardware store where all sorts of items that could be turned into guns are sold. It also gave guidance to companies that serve firearms hobbyists by selling unfinished receivers (the regulated part of firearms) and other components to people who build their own firearms using traditional workshop tools or high-tech computer numerical control (CNC) machines and 3D printers.

But everything that can be used can be misused. Anti-gun activists built those misuses into a moral panic over "ghost guns" based on a lot of florid language. Their efforts are self-defeating since DIY gunmaking gained popularity specifically as a means of rendering gun control unenforceable. But that didn't stop authoritarian policymakers, and the Biden administration went all-in on efforts to inconvenience DIY hobbyists in the name of stopping "ghost guns." The result was a hot mess of a rule change that would expand firearms regulation on the ATF's say-so without any legislation. That left legal analysts agreeing on little except that the agency gave its own people wide discretion and that lawsuits were inevitable.

The ATF Can't Just Make Things Up, Now or In the Past

One of those lawsuits, VanDerStok v. Garland, brought by Jennifer VanDerStok, Blackhawk Manufacturing Group, and other plaintiffs, has now resulted in a loss for the federal government. On July 5, building on a preliminary injunction issued last year, Judge Reed O'Connor of the U.S. District Court for Northern Texas wrote that the "Final Rule was issued in excess of ATF's statutory jurisdiction" and the "Definition of 'Frame or Receiver' and Identification of Firearmsis hereby VACATED."

Reed gave his reasoning days earlier, on June 30, in his memorandum opinion.

"A part that has yet to be completed or converted to function as frame or receiver is not a frame or receiver," O'Connor wrote. "ATF's declaration that a component is a 'frame or receiver' does not make it so if, at the time of evaluation, the component does not yet accord with the ordinary public meaning of those terms."

Elsewhere in the opinion, Judge O'Connor rejected the ATF's astonishment that any court could take issue with the agency's arbitrary reclassification of inert items as firearms.

"Defendants offer several classification letters in which ATF previously determined that a particular component was (or was not) a 'firearm' for purposes of the [Gun Control Act of 1968] based on the item's stage of manufacture," O'Connor chided the feds. "But historical practice does not dictate the interpretation of unambiguous statutory terms. The ordinary public meaning of those terms does. If these administrative records show, as Defendants contend, that ATF has previously regulated components that are not yet frames or receivers but could readily be converted into such items, then the historical practice does nothing more than confirm that the agency has, perhaps in multiple specific instances over several decades, exceeded the lawful bounds of its statutory jurisdiction."

In other words: Thank you for this evidence that you have repeatedly exceeded your authority!

"We're thrilled to see the Court agree that ATF's Frame or Receiver Rule exceeds the agency's congressionally limited authority," commented Cody J. Wisniewski, who represented the plaintiffs in this case as counsel for the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC). "With this decision, the Court has properly struck down ATF's Rule and ensured that it cannot enforce that which it never had the authority to publish in the first place."

"With this effort to rewrite federal regulations, Biden tried to make countless individuals criminals," agreed plaintiff's co-counsel Mountain States Legal Foundation. "But Mountain States and FPC sued, and argued that the rule was illegal, on behalf of Jennifer VanDerStok, Mike Andren, and Tactical Machining. Our winning argument was that the ATF exceeded its authority, as outlined by Congress."

It's Not Over Yet (But the Control Freaks Are Doomed)

As strong a decision as this is, it's at the district level and can be expected to run the gauntlet up the judicial food chain before being ultimately decided one way or the other. The U.S. Department of Justice has already filed a notice of appeal in the case as well as an emergency motion for stay to try to keep the rule in effect while litigation continues. Clearly, the feds fear losing control of the situation.

But, as mentioned above, governments lost control long ago. DIY gunmaking became popular as a deliberate effort to evade draconian laws. Then 3D printing and CNC machines helped make DIY gunmaking that much simpler. After the ATF released its restrictive new rules regarding unfinished receivers, the industry, led by Ghost Gunner, moved to "zero-percent" blocks of material to be finished by hobbyists (In June, Reason TV interviewed Cody Wilson, who brought us Ghost Gunner as well as 3D-printed firearms).

There are also the rapidly growing ranks of gun owners to consider. Driven by the social tensions of recent years, gun sales rose to record levels and came to encompass Americans who didn't adhere to traditional stereotypes of white, rural conservatives. "Liberal, female and minority: America's new gun owners aren't who you'd think," CNN headlined a story last September.

Researchers say that these new gun owners are even more protective of their privacy than those who came before them. That leaves anti-gun politicians to wonder if they can still assume their constituents are as unlikely to be directly harmed by gun restrictions as in the past; elected officials love using legislation to lash out at perceived enemies, but pushing punitive laws that hurt your own base is no way to win reelection.

For now, Judge O'Connor's decision in VanDerStok v. Garland is a small but significant win in an ongoing dispute between pro-liberty activists and control freaks who want to disarm the public. But no matter how the legal battles shake out, advocates of control effectively lost the war long ago. Many people are working to ensure that, no matter what government officials want, guns will remain in private hands.

The post Big Loss for Biden's Crusade Against 'Ghost Guns' appeared first on Reason.com.
The Gathering Spot members were confused when they received an email informing them that TKeel TK Petersen would be stepping down, replaced by Mike McCloskey.

A members-only organization for Black professionals has come under fire after its Black co-founder and chief financial officer appeared to be pushed out and replaced by a white man.

Members of The Gathering Spot were confused last week when they received an unauthorized email informing them that TKeel TK Petersens last day would be July 31, and Mike McCloskey would be stepping in as CFO, according to journalist Phil Lewis and his What Im Reading news.

The email  which claimed to be from The Gathering Spots membership services and was titled Announcing New Leadership  revealed that McCloskey, the former CFO of Trella Health, a healthcare provider based in Atlanta, will answer to Ryan Glover. Glover is the co-founder and CEO of Greenwood, the parent company of The Gathering Spot.

Ryan Wilson (left) and TKeel TK Petersen (right) are co-founders of The Gathering Spot. Members of the private club for Black professionals were notified that as of July 31, Petersen is out as CFO. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM)

Greenwood acquired The Gathering Spot in 2022, two years after Glover, former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, tech godfather Paul Judge and rapper-activist Michael Killer Mike Render co-founded the digital banking services platform.

McCloskey comes to Greenwood and TGS after a wealth of experience from other organizations, the unsigned email read. All local club general managers will report directly to him and work together to continue to drive value for members of the community.

The Atlanta Community Board, which bridges the clubs administration and its members, scheduled an emergency meeting to review the leadership changes.

Board member Nikki Porcher, founder of the Atlanta-based group Buy From A Black Woman, said The Gathering Spot is no longer about community. She stated that the eight board members plan to resign and that her group would look for new collaborators for its activities.

Anthony Wilson, founder and board member of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Equity in Education, also announced that his group would no longer be affiliated with The Gathering Spot.

The Gathering Spot hosts panels and community service activities and serves as a coworking space. Former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Drake and LeBron James have visited the private club. The club also receives credit for helping to turn Georgia blue by organizing events to boost voter turnout and encourage citizens in 2020 to back Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, who both won Senate seats.

In addition to its offices in Atlanta, Washington and Los Angeles, The Gathering Spot operates smaller hubs known as Connected Cities in Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New York City and Charlotte that host events for its membership.

Some club members have indicated they had canceled their TGS associateship or were thinking about doing so following the news. Among them is Jennifer Matthews, a charter member of the Atlanta branch.

What trips me out is that this new white guy is about to be over all of the club managers that push the culture, Matthews said, What Im Reading reported. They have to report to this person, and that is going to have an impact on programming and events. We have an election cycle coming up.

The Gathering Spot apologized to its members late Friday night for the initial unauthorized email that provided incorrect information.

As you may have noticed, the email did not follow our standard brand style for official communication with the TGS community, the email read, expressing regret for the unsatisfactory messages erroneous information.

The email stated that while Petersen would be stepping down at the end of the month, he would still be listed as a co-founder of The Gathering Spot and would remain a Greenwood shareholder.

It also read that Greenwood has been searching for a chief financial officer since 2021 and that McCloskey is not a replacement for Petersen, as they have two different roles, within two different companies in our family, with two different sets of responsibilities.

In the emails closing paragraph, The Gathering Spot mentioned that more than 75 percent of its leadership staff is Black.

Some members dont believe Petersen would have departed from The Gathering Spot on his own accord. None of its adding up, said a founding member of the Atlanta branch, who reportedly knows Petersen. So I tend to believe that silence speaks volumes.

Matthews urged The Gathering Spot management to provide more information on what transpired, as she feels that members need more transparency on what this Greenwood partnership is and how it impacts TGS members moving forward.

Its bigger than any one person getting ousted, Matthews contended, according to What Im Reading. Its more about what happens to the culture of The Gathering Spot.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Black professionals club rocked after founder and CFO reportedly replaced by white exec appeared first on TheGrio.
Photo: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center The Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes clear skies that are ideal for viewing northern lights locally.

Northern lights may dance visibly across B.C. skies this week thanks to some stormy space weather.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a minor geomagnetic storm watch for Monday, July 17, and Tuesday.

The U.S. space centre says coronal mass ejections that erupted from the sun over the weekend should arrive on Earth sometime between late Monday and early Tuesday.

Photo via The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center

B.C. weather forecast offers ideal conditions for viewing northern lights, if smoke stays away

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) says stormy space conditions could make viewing the aurora's green glow visible on Monday night "overhead from Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and Halifax."

The university's online aurora monitor map shows what regions the aurora's green glow will likely reach, as well as other areas where there is less of a possibility. Additionally, there is a brief description below the map of the aurora activity on that particular day. You can switch to other days to see the forecast, too.

Photo via University of Alaska Fairbanks

On Tuesday, the UAF expects the northern lights may be visible in the same aforementioned region, calling for "high auroral activity" in its forecast.

Skies are also expected to be clear in B.C. overnight Tuesday.

Photo via University of Alaska Fairbanks

There may also be a third opportunity to view the aurora on Wednesday, with another clear night expected in the region.

While the aurora's hypnotic display won't extend as far south of the border, the UAE says viewing opportunities are possible "overhead from Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Vancouver, Great Falls, Pierre, Madison, Lansing, Ottawa, Portland and St. Johns."

Photo via University of Alaska Fairbanks

While it is possible to view the northern lights in Southern B.C., your best bet for seeing the green glow is up north or outside of the city where there is less light pollution.

If you spot the aurora, it might not appear green or any other colour. Instead, you'll see an arcing, milky manifestation moving in the sky. In order to capture that green glow, you'll need to use a camera with a longer exposure.

Find out more northern lights information and viewing tips with our comprehensive guide.
Russia announced on July 17 that it is pulling out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, critical for ensuring global food security, effectively collapsing the deal.

The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, has been essential in mitigating a global surge in food prices partially caused by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine by allowing Ukraine to export its agricultural products via the Black Sea despite the ongoing invasion.

"Unfortunately, the part of the Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed. "Therefore, its deal has been terminated. As soon as the Russian part is completed, the Russian side will return to the implementation of this deal immediately."

According to Russian foreign affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the Kremlin has officially informed Ukraine, the UN, and Turkey of its decision.

The move came the same day as the Crimean Bridge, which connects the occupied Ukrainian peninsula to Russia's Krasnodar Oblast, sustained damage due to reported explosions. However, the Kremlin denied the decision was related to the incident in Crimea.

Explosions reported at Crimean Bridge, Russia blames Ukraine Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack against the Crimean Bridge, which connects the occupied peninsula with Russias Krasnodar Oblast, on July 17. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

A UN official confirmed to CNN that the organization's office in Turkey has received official confirmation on Russia's decision not to renew the grain deal.

The Secretary-General will not stop his efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to preserve global food security, the UN official said, as quoted by CNN.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned Russia's decision, saying the "EU is working to ensure food security for the world's vulnerable."

Bloomberg reported on July 17 that the price of wheat rose 3% to %6.80 per bushel after Moscow's announcement that it is terminating the grain deal with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to continue the grain deal, despite having withdrawn. He said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will discuss the agreement over the phone with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, saying he hopes the deal will resume "without interruption."

The agreement has been prolonged several times since its conception - the last time on May 17 for another 60 days. Russia has repeatedly threatened to pull back from the deal, which Kyiv denounced as attempts at "blackmail."

Days before the deal was set to expire, on July 13, Putin claimed that Russia's requirements have not been met, thus jeopardizing the grain deal.

Putin said that Moscow's demands focus on logistics, insurance, and the movement of money when paying for Russian products. In particular, the Kremlin wanted its Russian Agricultural Bank to be reconnected to the international SWIFT payment system.

The European Union cut the bank from the payment system on June 14 under its sanctions regime over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

To meet Putin's request, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented a proposal to Moscow that a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Agricultural Bank will be reconnected to SWIFT. The UN has also offered to assist Russia with its food and fertilizer exports.

On July 14, Peskov said Russia did not agree to extend the grain initiative, despite Erdogan saying he had reached an agreement with Putin on the matter.

The U.K. Defense Ministry wrote on June 9 that the Kremlin is likely continuing to sabotage Ukrainian grain shipments to force concessions on the reopening of its Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline.

Russian forces fired at a part of the pipeline located in Kharkiv Oblast on June 6. It was the second attack on the pipeline in two days, according to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
By Michelle Nichols and Guy Faulconbridge

UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW (Reuters) -A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine's grain for the past year expired on Monday after Russia quit and warned it could not guarantee the safety of ships in a move the United Nations said would "strike a blow to people in need everywhere."

Moscow suggested that if demands to improve exports of its own grain and fertilizer were met it would consider resurrecting the Black Sea agreement. However, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that a U.N. pact that aimed to help facilitate Russia's shipments over the past year was also terminated.

"Only upon receipt of concrete results, and not promises and assurances, will Russia be ready to consider restoring the deal," said Russia's foreign ministry.

Russia told the U.N. shipping agency - the International Maritime Organization (IMO) - that its "guarantees for the safety of navigation" had been revoked and that "proactive necessary actions and response measures to neutralize threats posed by the Kiev regime in the area will be taken."

Insurers on Monday were reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine.

U.S. wheat and corn futures slumped after earlier hitting two-week highs on Russia's announcement. Analysts said there are still expectations the grain deal may be renewed and the markets were well aware of the risk for it to expire.

The Black Sea deal was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July last year to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.

Russia has complained that under the deal not enough grain has reached poor countries. But the U.N. argued the arrangement has benefited those states by helping lower food prices more than 20% globally.

"Hundreds of millions of people face hunger and consumers are confronting a global cost-of-living crisis. They will pay the price," Guterres said of Russia's decision, adding that the U.N. would continue trying to get unimpeded access to global markets for food and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he spoke with Guterres on Monday about trying to renew Black Sea shipments.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed Putin wants the deal to continue and would discuss with him it when they meet in person in August.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of a "continued weaponization of food" that harms millions of vulnerable people around the world.

'BLACKMAIL'

At a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday, most countries urged Russia to resume the deal.

Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council there had been no progress on improving Russia's exports and accused Ukraine of using "the cover of the open maritime corridor to wage provocations and attacks against Russian civilians and military objects." He did not provide evidence.

"Russia is blackmailing the world," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the council. "This blackmail affects the lives of millions of Ukrainians and tens of millions more around the world, primarily in Africa and Asia, who face the threat of rising food prices and hunger."

Nearly 33 million metric tons of corn, wheat and other grains have been exported by Ukraine under the arrangement. The last ship left Ukraine under the deal on Sunday.

To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea deal, a three-year memorandum of understanding was struck in July 2022 under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia get its food and fertilizer exports to foreign markets.

While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion, Moscow has said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments.

Russia's main demands were the resumption of its ammonia exports through a pipeline to the Ukrainian port of Odesa and the reconnection of its state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payments system. It was cut off by the European Union in June last year after the invasion.

Guterres said on Monday that the U.N. had managed to create a "bespoke payments mechanism" for the Russian Agricultural Bank through U.S. bank JPMorgan Chase & Co and "recently brokered a concrete proposal" with the European Commission to enable a Rosselkhozbank subsidiary to regain access to SWIFT.

But he signalled that all those efforts would end because Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea deal also terminated its pact with the U.N. on its own exports, under which Moscow had committed to "facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil, and fertilizers from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea Ports."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Guy Faulconbridge; additional reporting by Rachel More in Berlin, Micheal Hogan in Hamburg, Emma Farge in Geneva, Bansari Mayur Kamdar in Bangalore, Huseyin Hayatsever and Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul, Max Hunder in Kyiv and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; writing by Nigel Hunt, Nina Chestney and Michelle Nichols; Editing by David Evans and Grant McCool)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote to senators on Monday urging them to confirm dozens of diplomatic nominees awaiting a vote, warning leaving various ambassadorships vacant could undermine U.S. national security.

Blinken in his letter noted that of the 38 State Department nominees awaiting a vote on the Senate floor, 35 of them are career officers. The note comes as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has blocked votes on diplomatic nominees over a request for more information about the origins of COVID-19.

Vacant posts have a long-term negative impact on U.S. national security, including our ability to reassure Allies and partners, and counter diplomatic efforts by our adversaries, Blinken wrote.

Not having a confirmed U.S. ambassador makes us less effective at advancing every single one of our policy priorities  priorities that are critical to our national security, he added, citing efforts to get other countries to act as Special Immigrant Visa processing hubs and outreach to building coalitions to fight drug trafficking as examples.

Without Senate action, Blinken wrote, posts in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon will have no confirmed ambassadors this summer as outgoing officials retire or cycle out.

Blinken also warned of the potential long-term ripple effects of holding up nominees for reasons unrelated to their qualifications.

If the new standard is that career State nominees are subject to holds unrelated to the merits of their nominations, and must be individually confirmed by floor vote, then our leadership and standing in the world will suffer, with dozens of continuous vacancies that will take years to resolve, if ever, Blinken wrote. Our diplomatic strength will be weakened and competitors will gain at our expense.

Paul announced earlier this year that he would block State Department nominees up for a vote in the Senate until the administration released additional documents outlining the source of the coronavirus.

A State Department spokesperson said Monday that the administration cannot provide the documents Paul is requesting because they are not in our possession.

The hold on State Department nominees comes amid frustration among Democrats and within the Biden administration over GOP Sen. Tommy Tubervilles (Ala.) separate hold on Pentagon nominees in protest of the Defense Department abortion policy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BOA closing its only Brockton branches  but building brand new bank at mall. What we know

BROCKTON  While Bank of America is building a brand new building on Westgate Drive near the mall, the bank announced on its website that it will be closing two branches in the city later this year.

The West Brockton branch at 826 Belmont St. is scheduled to close on Oct. 13, 2023, and the East Brockton branch at 695 Crescent St. will close on Oct. 24, 2023, according to a notice on the bank's website.

According to the plans Bank of America submitted to the city, the branch on Westgate Drive calls for a 4,600-square-foot, free-standing building to be used as a bank with a drive-thru and ATM.

Bank of America did not respond to repeated requests for comment about its plans for the building.

Bank of America constructs a new building at Westgate Drive in Brockton on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

The bank has ATM only locations at 683 Belmont St. and 200 Westgate Drive.

Bank of America also has branches and ATMS locally in Abington, Bridgewater, Easton, Hanover, Holbrook, Randolph, Raynham, Rockland and Stoughton.

Customers can make arrangements to close their safe deposit boxes during regular business hours, according to the bank's website.

Bidding wars on Brockton Campanellis? Why homes once worth $12K are selling for $500K

Bank of America being built at Westgate Drive in Brockton on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

HarborOne also closed its Brockton branch

Bank of America is not the only bank closing a branch in the city.

HarborOne Bank closed its Montello branch on North Main Street on July 7. HarborOne  which at the time was called Brockton Credit Union  opened that branch at 820 North Main St. more than 30 years ago, in 1992.

Harbor One Executive Vice President of Retail Banking Brenda Diepold told The Enterprise in April the move to close the Montello branch was made "purely because customers have been taking advantage of digital transactions."

'Catalyst for development' Empresa - Brockton's newest apartment complex - is now open

HarborOne Bank has petitioned the Massachusetts Division of Banks for permission to close the Montello branch at 820 North Main St., Brockton, seen here on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

South Shore Bank opened a new branch in Brockton

While some banks are closing, another bank is opening in the city.

South Shore Bank celebrated the opening of its new location in Brockton with a ribbon-cutting and reception in June. The event was organized in partnership with the Metro South Chamber of Commerce and held at the new South Shore Bank Brockton Banking Center at 1280 Belmont St.

South Shore Bank celebrated the opening of its new location in Brockton with a ribbon-cutting and reception attended by a host of city and community leaders. The event was organized in partnership with the Metro South Chamber of Commerce and held at the new South Shore Bank Brockton Banking Center at 1280 Belmont St.

We are very excited to be here in Brockton, said South Shore Bank Chief Executive Officer Jim Dunphy. "We see a lot of upside in the Brockton community and we see tremendous potential here," he said.

This new banking center is a modernized full-service location managed by a local team, providing clients with the "best possible" in-person experience and access to the "most updated banking technologies," including virtual tellers, according to Dunphy.

"We are very excited for the future in this great city, he said.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton: Bank of America closing Belmont and Crescent street branches
Boat staff had to hose down a Walmart heiress' $300 million yacht after climate activists blasted red and black paint onto it with fire extinguishers

Boat staff had to hose down a Walmart heiress' $300 million yacht after climate activists blasted red and black paint onto it with fire extinguishers

A view of one of the decks on the Kaos, the $300 million superyacht owned by Nancy Walton Laurie. Oceanco.

A $300 million superyacht owned by a billionaire heiress was doused in paint by activists on Sunday.

The two activists arrived as the yacht was leaving Ibiza and sprayed its stern in red and black.

Staff could be seen trying to hose away the paint while the activists held up a protest sign.

Two climate activists vandalized an American heiress' $300 million superyacht in Ibiza on Sunday, bathing the vessel's stern with red and black paint.

The pair used fire extinguishers to spray paint on the Kaos, a megayacht owned by the billionaire Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie, then held up a sign that read: "You consume, others suffer."

The yacht appeared to be leaving port when the activists doused its rear, and boat staff could be seen immediately attempting to wash away the paint with hoses, according to footage tweeted by Futuro Vegetal, a Spanish organization lobbying for climate action.

"We can't go on like this, it's a matter of life and death," Futuro Vegetal tweeted.

Futuro Vegetal tweeted on Sunday that the activists targeted the Kaos because Walton Laurie was "one of the richest women in the world."

The two activists were detained and are expected to be released on Monday at noon, the organization said, without specifying what they were charged with.

Port authorities activated an interior maritime plan to assess whether the paint spilled into the water could be cause for concern, the local outlet Periodico de Ibiza reported.

Futuro Vegetal and the Walton Family Foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

The Kaos is a 361-foot luxury yacht owned by Walton Laurie, the youngest daughter of Walmart cofounder James "Bud Walton." She is worth more than $7.7 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Her vessel, which flies under the Jamaican flag, has four decks and can accommodate 31 guests and 45 crew, per the yacht-enthusiast website Yacht Bible.

It hosts 16 guest cabins and at least 24 staff cabins as well as an elevator, a steam room, a gym, a cinema, and an indoor beach club.

It costs from $20 million to $30 million every year to keep the Kaos running, according to Yacht Bible.

On Friday, three activists from Futuro Vegetal also ran onto a runway of an airport in Ibiza to spray yellow paint on a private jet and disrupt airport operations.

July 18, 2023: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated one of the colors sprayed onto the Kaos. The vessel was sprayed with red and black paint, not red and white paint.

Read the original article on Insider
You might be reading this article on your computer  without a second thought to your high-speed internet access.

Not all your Treasure Coast neighbors are so fortunate, but the connectivity playing field soon will become more level for select communities throughout Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

So far this year, the Florida Office of Broadband has awarded nearly $8.7 million to swaths of the region with slow or no internet, from Fellsmere to Fort Pierce to Indiantown.

We know that there are broadband needs in Fort Pierce and we know that many people cannot afford internet service, said Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson. Some that can afford it, they dont have the digital literacy skills required to make the best use of it.

A crew from internet service provider Florida Broadband works to remove an access tower from the roof of the Theater Plaza building on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in preparation for the possible arrival of Hurricane Dorian.

Government initiatives to bring underserved areas online constitute a first step in bridging this digital divide, Hudson said.

The broadband office, launched in 2020 under the purview of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, has doled out more than $473 million across four funding rounds since February. The money supports some 150 projects statewide, according to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, providing high-speed internet for roughly 310,000 homes, farms and businesses. Other community locations, such as libraries and hospitals, also are included.

Broadband internet infrastructure will change the landscape and quality of life for Florida families and businesses, connecting them to workforce training, jobs, educational resources and telehealth services, DEO Secretary J. Alex Kelly said in a July 7 statement.

Where does the Treasure Coast need broadband?

Parts of each Treasure Coast county received grants in both the first and fourth rounds of funding. In February, Fort Pierce, Indiantown and unincorporated Indian River County were awarded a combined $2 million through the state Broadband Opportunity Program, which includes federal COVID-19 relief dollars funneled through the American Rescue Plan Act.

In July, Fellsmere, Fort Pierce, Palm City, Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie were granted nearly $6.7 million through the state Broadband Infrastructure Program, also supported by federal pandemic-relief funding.

Comcast is overseeing all seven Treasure Coast broadband projects, which include the installation of fiber optic cable in nearly 3,100 residences and facilities. The fourth round of grants designated more than 188 miles of cable to the region; cable length was unlisted in the first round.

The state expects additional broadband dollars to become available later this year.

More than 21,000 Treasure Coast households have no internet subscription, according to a TCPalm analysis of 2021 American Community Survey data. Among the 92% of households that do, broadband access  such as cable, DSL or fiber optic  correlates to higher annual household income. For example, about 79% of households with an income below $20,000 have broadband, compared to 96% of households with an income above $75,000.

Comcast did not respond to TCPalms request for comment on whether the expanded service areas would be offered broadband subscriptions at a reduced cost.

Indian River County

In the eyes of Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno, a better-connected community is a better-informed community. Recent grants awarded to the region raise awareness that internet access isnt as ubiquitous as it might seem, he said.

Who would think that on the Treasure Coast  in Indian River County  someone would not have access to broadband? he asked. It would seem unthinkable  but its a reality.

Unincorporated Indian River

Grant: $532,147

Where: 674 unserved households in one parcel surrounding Fellsmere, as far north as 117th Street and as far south as 77th Street

Cable length: Unspecified

Download/upload speeds: Up to 1 gigabit per second (gbps)

Fellsmere and Vero Beach; Vero Beach South

Grant: $1.9M

Where: 661 unserved locations in six parcels, as far north as the Brevard County line and as far south as the St. Lucie County line

Cable length: 94.9 miles

Download/upload speeds: 1 gbps

St. Lucie County

St. Lucie is the only Treasure Coast county to have had some broadband applications rejected. State records show AT&T submitted an unsuccessful proposal covering several areas of Fort Pierce, most west of Interstate 95. The state also rejected a Comcast proposal covering western St. Lucie, namely Aero Acres south of Okeechobee Road.

To be considered unserved, a parcels internet must be slower than 25/3 mbps. Translation: download speeds below 25 megabits per second and upload speeds below 3 mbps. An underserved parcel has speeds slower than 100/20 mbps.

Click here to view the Faster Florida Broadband Map and explore internet speeds in your area.

Fort Pierce

Grant: $1,429,400

Where: 636 unserved and underserved locations in two parcels, west of I-95 and north of Okeechobee Road

Cable length: Unspecified

Download speed: Minimum 50 mbps

Upload speed: Minimum 10 mbps

Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie

Grant: $2,028,750

Where: 396 unserved locations in three parcels, east of I-95 and as far south as Savannas Preserve State Park

Cable length: 41.59 miles

Download/upload speeds: 1 gbps

Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie; Treasure Coast Airpark

Grant: $1,386,614.25

Where: 183 unserved locations in three parcels, surrounding Glades Cut Off Road and Range Line Road

Cable length: 21.09 miles

Download/upload speeds: 1 gbps

Martin County

Martin received the least funding of any Treasure Coast county, about $1.4 million. However, all of it will go toward unserved inland locations.

County Commissioner Ed Ciampi, whose District 5 includes Palm City and part of Indiantown, did not respond to TCPalms requests for comment.

Indiantown

Grant: $56,500

Where: 50 unserved households west of Indiantown Memorial Park

Cable length: Unspecified

Download/upload speeds: Up to 1 gbps

Palm City

Grant: $1.36M

Where: 484 unserved locations in three parcels, west of Floridas Turnpike, as far north as Martin Highway and as far south as Citrus Boulevard

Cable length: 30.74 miles

Download/upload speeds: 1 gbps

Lindsey Leake is TCPalms projects reporter. She has an M.A. in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University, an M.A. in Journalism and Digital Storytelling from American University and a B.A. from Princeton University. Follow her on Twitter @NewsyLindsey, Facebook @LindseyMLeake and Instagram @newsylindsey. Call her at 772-529-5378 or email her at lindsey.leake@tcpalm.com.

Read more of Lindseys stories and support her work with a TCPalm subscription.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Broadband Opportunity Program: Fort Pierce, Vero Beach grants
A 10-year-old boy was airlifted to a hospital Sunday after he was thrown from an Illinois carnival ride, police said.

Though none of the boy's injuries were considered life-threatening, he was listed in critical condition on Monday, officials said. The boy needed surgery after falling from the Moby Dick ride at the Taste of Summer carnival in Antioch. He suffered multiple facial and jaw fractures and a significant injury to the bones in one leg.

The child "was flung from a carnival ride approximately 10-20 feet in the air," the boy's uncle wrote in a GoFundMe post.

"He's a strong kid," the uncle wrote. "He once broke his arm and pushed the bone back in, on his own because 'it didn't hurt.' Truly remarkable kid."

After the boy fell around 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner issued an executive order to halt all rides at the carnival to ensure the safety of the community, police said.

The Illinois Department of Labor's Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division is investigating the incident. The ride involved in the accident, which was operated by All Around Amusement of Lockport, Illinois, was inspected this year and issued a permit to operate, according to police.

An inspector has already taken an initial look at the ride. A more thorough "bolt by bolt" inspection will be conducted before the ride is allowed to resume operations. Over the course of the next few months, investigators will determine if the incident happened because of mechanical failure, operator error or a combination of the two.

A separate investigation by the Antioch Police Department will determine if any criminally reckless or negligent acts may have been contributing factors in the incident, authorities said.

The incident marked the latest in a series of recent mishaps at amusement parks, festivals and carnivals worldwide. Earlier this month, eight roller coaster riders were stuck hanging upside down for about three hours at a Wisconsin festival and a theme park in North Carolina closed one of its roller coasters after a crack was found on a support beam.

Last month, a roller coaster train derailed in Sweden, killing one person and injuring nine others.

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(Reuters) - Britain rejected accusations by Russia on Monday that British intelligence services might have been involved in an attack on Russia's bridge to Crimea.

"This is baseless speculation from Russia and we will not dignify it by commenting further," a spokesperson for Britain's foreign ministry said in emailed comments.

Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said on Monday, without providing any evidence, that British intelligence services might have been involved in the attack that killed two, injured a girl, and damaged the bridge.

"I have not heard any condemnation of this act of terrorism from any of the Western sponsors of the Kiev regime," Polyanskiy told the United Nations Security Council.

"And we have yet to figure out to what extent Western, in particular British intelligence agencies, were involved in the preparation and implementation of this terrorist attack. Too many things point to that."

Early on Monday, a blast knocked out the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, in what Moscow called a strike by Ukrainian sea drones.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Bud Light lost its crown as America's 'King of Beers'  but it was going to happen even without the conservative boycott

A bartender pours a Modelo beer. Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF

Mexican beer Modelo was the top-selling beer in the US for the second month in a row.

Modelo passed Bud Light, which has been the subject of a boycott by conservatives.

The switch was not because of conservative backlash, but it sure sped up the move.

Modelo is now the king of beers in the US, or perhaps El Rey de Cervezas is more fitting.

For the second-straight month, Modelo was America's best-selling beer in June, according to data released last week by consulting firm Bump Williams, accounting for nearly 9% of all sales. It recently took the crown from Bud Light, which saw its market share drop to 7%.

Bud Light, which took the title as America's best-selling beer in 2001, has seen its sales dip over the past few months following backlash from some conservatives to marketing promotion featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and subsequent anger from LGBTQ advocates over Anheuser-Busch's response to the boycott calls. However, several signs show that the switch was inevitable, even before the protests.

As Jennifer Maloney of The Wall Street Journal noted last month, a closer look at the market data for each beer shows that Modelo has been coming for Bud Light's crown for a while.

"Modelo and Michelob Ultra (another Anheuser-Busch brand) both were on track to eventually overtake Bud Light," Maloney wrote, citing long-term market share data. "But before the boycott began this spring, a reshuffling of US beer rankings appeared to be at least a year away. "

Certainly, the recent attention sped up the shift, but the longer-term erosion of Bud Light's dominance is more indicative of changing demographics than anything. According to industry data, liquor and spirits overtook beer in 2022 as the dominant alcohol in the US by market share. And within the beer category, the growth of Modelo has been boosted by a growing Hispanic population and a shift to more premium options, as Barron's Markets associate editor Jack Hough pointed out on the Fox Business show "Barron's Roundtable."

"Everybody kinda figured Bud Light was getting hit by that boycott, so it fell out of No. 1," Hough said, later adding: "The Hispanic drinking-age population in the US has been growing much faster than the non-Hispanic one, and there has been a trend toward premiumization of beer. Modelo is the corporate, premium cousin to Corona."

So the question now is: what happens next?

Recent research from Northwestern University suggests that the impacts of product boycotts and "buycotts" (where consumers are encouraged to purchase a product being boycotted by others) can be short-lived, often lasting just weeks. But Neil Reid, a professor at the University of Toledo who studies the beer industry, told Reuters that the Bud Light boycott is lingering longer than expected. "This boycott has now become something much more permanent than anyone anticipated," he said.

Even if Bud Light eventually recovers some of its market share, the long-term trends already eating into its dominance mean it will be hard for the brand to reclaim the crown from Modelo. Even without the boycott, there was always going to be a new king of beers in the US; the coronation may just have come a few months earlier.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Young Chinese are increasingly overworked or struggling to find jobs

Overworked and exhausted, Julie gave up her job as a game developer in Beijing this April to be a "full-time daughter".

The 29-year-old now spends her day washing dishes, preparing meals for her parents, and doing other household chores. Julie's parents pay for most of her daily expenses but she has refused their offer of a monthly wage of 2,000 yuan ($280; 215).

Her current priority, after all, is to get a breather from the 16-hour days in her previous job. "I lived like a walking corpse," she said.

Gruelling work hours and a dismal job market are forcing young Chinese to make unusual choices.

Julie is part of a growing cohort that call themselves "full-time children" who are driven back to the comfort of home either because they are craving a break from their exhausting work lives, or they simply cannot find a job.

Young Chinese, who had always been told that the hard work they put in studying and chasing degrees would pay off, are now feeling defeated and trapped.

More than one in five of those between the ages of 16 and 24 are jobless in China, and the youth unemployment rate has been reaching new highs. According to official figures released on Monday, that figure now stands at 21.3% - the highest since authorities began publishing data in 2018. The figure does not account for the rural labour market.

Many of the so-called "full-time children" say they intend to stay at home only temporarily - they see it is a period to relax, reflect and find better jobs. But that's easier said than done.

Julie has sent more than 40 job applications to recruiters in the past two weeks - but she has only got two interview calls. "It was hard to find a job before I quit. After I quit, it got even harder," she says.

Burnt out, jobless or stuck?

The burnout driving working adults to become "full-time children" is not entirely surprising given China's notoriously poor work-life balance - work culture in the country is often referred to as the so-called "996" - where people consider it a norm to work 9am to 9pm, six days a week.

Chen Dudu, also a "full-time daughter", left her job in real estate earlier this year as she felt increasingly burnt out and under-valued. The 27-year-old said she "barely had anything left" after paying for rent.

When she was back at her parent's home in southern China, Ms Chen said she "lived the life of a retiree" but anxiety has been creeping up on her. She says she kept hearing two distinct voices in her head: "One is saying, it's rare to have this leisure, so just enjoy the moment. The other is urging me to think about what to do next."

Ms Chen, who has since started her own business, said: "If that went on for a long time, I would indeed have become a parasite."

Chen Dudu left her job in real estate to be a "full-time daughter"

Jack Zheng, who recently left Chinese tech giant Tencent, said he had to respond to nearly 7,000 work-related text messages outside work hours each day - the 32-year-old calls this "invisible overtime work" because while it was expected it was not compensated. He finally quit after the stress from work left him with a bad case of folliculitis, a skin disorder caused by inflamed hair follicles.

Mr Zheng has since found a better job, but he said people around him are not as fortunate. Many also face the so-called "curse of 35", a widely prevalent belief in China that employers are less willing to hire workers older than 35 - instead they prefer young people who are "less expensive".

This double-edged sword of age discrimination and bleak job opportunities is a challenge for those in their mid-30s who have a mortgage over their heads, or are thinking of starting a family.

The despair is no less among university students, so much so that some have resorted to failing their examinations just to delay graduation.

In recent weeks, Chinese social media has been flooded with atypical graduation photographs that speak to fresh graduates' disillusionment. Some show young people "lying flat" in graduation gowns, faces covered with mortarboards; others show them holding their graduation certificates above dustbins, ready to bin them.

University was once an elite pursuit in China. But between 2012 and 2022 enrolment rates rose from 30% to 59.6% as more and more young people came to see college degrees as a ticket to better opportunities in a competitive job market. But aspirations have given away to disappointment as the job market tanks. Experts say youth unemployment is likely to worsen as a record 11.6 million fresh gradates enter the market.

"The situation is quite bad. People are tired and many are trying to opt out. There is a lot of despair," said Miriam Wickertsheim, general manager at Shanghai-based recruitment firm Direct HR.

China's slower-than-expected economic recovery post Covid is a key reason for the high unemployment, says Bruce Pang, chief economist for Greater China at Jones Lang LaSalle.

Some employers are also less willing to hire "blank paper" graduates who have less work experience than their predecessors because of sustained Covid lockdowns, Mr Pang said.

China's recent crackdowns on industries popular among young Chinese professionals have also choked the job market. Regulations against major tech companies, restrictions on the tutoring industry and and a ban on foreign investment in private education have all led to job cuts.

'Slow employment'

While China's government is well aware of these problems, it has tried to downplay them.

In May, Chinese leader Xi Jinping was quoted on the front page of the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper, urging young people to "eat bitterness", a Mandarin expression that means to endure hardship.

State-run media, meanwhile, has taken it upon itself to redefine unemployment. An editorial last week in the state-run Economic Daily used the term "slow employment" - while some young Chinese are indeed unemployed, the paper said, others have "actively opted for slow employment".

The origin of the phrase is unclear but a 2018 article by China Youth Daily said that a growing number of university graduates were taking their time to find jobs, many choosing instead to travel or take up short teaching stints - this, the Chinese were told, was "slow employment".

This time the definition includes those who haven't found a job, or choose to continue education, learn new skills or take a gap year. No matter how hard the job market is, the paper advised people, they must "take action and work hard" - and as long as they do that, they don't need to worry about being jobless.

More than one in five of young Chinese between the ages of 16 and 24 are jobless

Given the current state of the job market, however, the phrase and the advice has been far from well-received - some marvelled at their government's "refusal to acknowledge the unemployment situation", while others reacted with sarcasm.

"Chinese writing is so profound," wrote one user on China's Twitter-like service Weibo. "We are obviously unemployed, yet [officials have] invented the term 'slow employment'. How slow would it be? A few months or a few years?"

Another user on Xiaohongshu, China's equivalent of Instagram, said the term "pushes the responsibility on the young people all of a sudden".

"Based on this explanation, the employment rate during The Great Depression in the US in the late 1920s should be 100%, as most people were in slow employment. What a way to resolve a global problem!"

"Unemployment is unemployment. We should call it what it is," said Nie Riming, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Finance and Law.

"There may indeed be young people who would like a sabbatical before starting their next job, but I think the vast majority of those unemployed today are desperate for a job but cannot find one."

Additional reporting by Fan Wang in Singapore
A banner on July 17, 2023, announces New England seafood chain Legal Sea Foods is planning to open at the base of Marina City, replacing Dicks Last Resort. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

New England seafood chain Legal Sea Foods will open a Chicago location on the river, the company said in a news release Monday.

The restaurant will replace Dicks Last Resort at 315 N. Dearborn St. in the Marina City Towers. Construction on the location is just starting, said Kim Lapine, chief marketing officer for Legal Sea Foods parent company, PPX Hospitality Brands. The restaurant will likely open this winter, she said.

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It will serve seafood staples including clam chowder, oysters, shellfish, lobster and sushi.

The two-story restaurant will have private dining rooms, a full bar and outdoor seating along the Riverwalk. Legal Sea Foods is toying with the idea of an oyster bar on the upper floor, Lapine said.

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Legal Sea Foods has 25 locations along the Eastern Seaboard, spread throughout Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. PPX Hospitality owns Chicago steakhouse Smith & Wollensky, also located in Marina City.

During the pandemic, the seafood company tested out a virtual kitchen in Chicago out of the Smith & Wollensky kitchen. The pickup-and-delivery location was open for close to a year and did tremendously well, Lapine said, convincing the company the brand had sea legs in the Midwest.

The company is open to the possibility of future expansion into the Chicago suburbs or other Midwestern markets, Lapine said.

Delivering fresh seafood is a logistical challenge, she acknowledged. But we ship fresh seafood to Smith & Wollensky all the time, and our partners here on the East Coast are very adept at making sure that the quality and the freshness standards that folks come to expect are ensured.

Dicks, which Legal Sea Foods is set to replace, received a permit to open in Marina City in 2008 over the objections of some Marina City condominium owners. The chain is known for its boisterous atmosphere and irreverent service.
California Republicans fighting again to raise the Shasta Dam. Will state law prevent it?

The Shasta Dam started to leak at the end of May after the snowpack from the wet winter started melting. To Californians who have suffered decades of drought, that was good news.

The Shasta reservoir, Californias largest, sends water to farmers and families in the Central Valley, where a third of the nations produce is grown. It almost reached capacity after years of not filling up. At its peak, Shasta Lake can hold more than 4.5 million acre-feet of water. (An acre-foot is the annual consumption for two average households.)

Raising the dam, located on the upper Sacramento River northwest of Redding, to increase Shasta reservoirs capacity has long been on the list of some federal lawmakers. The 18.5-foot rise would provide 634,000 more acre-feet of water per year, legislators say, and help ensure Central Valley farmers have a steadier and fuller supply.

But that assumes there will always be enough precipitation to fill Lake Shasta, which historically has not been the case. At that, environmentalists say it would be a drop in the bucket for the cost  at least $1.4 billion, per outdated estimates. And raising the 80-year-old dam risks flooding sacred Native American lands and harming local habitats.

With the House of Representatives in Republican control, and Bakersfield Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker, there could be more federal funding for a taller Shasta Dam if a spending package passes.

Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, who is sponsoring legislation to fund the project, said it was regarded as the most affordable, cost efficient expansion of water infrastructure for the state of California on the table right now.

California itself has opposed the plan, and in a letter to congressional leaders, dozens of environmental groups wrote that a taller dam would harm Native American Tribes, salmon fishermen, and the environment, as well as violate state law.

California law

The potential for new funding is the latest chapter in the projects long, heavily-litigated history.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Interior Department which oversees federal water issues, first proposed raising the dam in the late 1970s, even though it appeared to be at odds with the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, a law that protects the free flow of certain rivers.

Support picked up under President Donald Trump  whose administration claimed the project would not break the law  only to fizzle under lawsuits from environmentalists and the states attorney general.

The project stalled after legal challenges forced water distributor Westlands Water District to withdraw in 2019.

Local groups are required to pay half of the cost under federal rules. Westlands, which serves farmers and rural communities in Fresno and Kings counties, agreed to do an environmental review for the project which would seemingly benefit agricultural producers there.

Then-Interior Secretary David Bernhardt had been the districts lawyer and lobbyist.

Westlands agreed to pull out in a 2019 settlement with then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and environmentalists, who sued contending that the district violated state laws that ascertain the free flow of rivers with extraordinary scenic, recreational, fishery, or wildlife values.

Allison Febbo, Westlands new general manager who was not there at this time, said the district supports bolstered water infrastructure in California, but not by breaking any state laws. A Shasta Dam raise would need to address the concerns of various groups and stakeholders.

The California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects the McCloud River and its wild trout fishery, which could be affected by raising the Shasta Dam. The act prevented the state group from helping the Bureau.

Several years later, the Bureau is still without local aid.

There have been no recent actions to accelerate or progress the project given the lack of funding to support the project and therefore no updated information has been developed, Tara Jane Campbell Miranda, a spokeswoman for the agency, wrote in response to questions about the project.

The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, meant to stimulate public works projects, blocked federal funds from going to the Shasta Dam raise.

This sticks in Mr. McCarthys craw and no doubt Secretary Bernhardts craw who was telling the adoring crowds in Fresno that they were about to pull this one off, said Ron Stork, the senior policy advocate at Friends of the River, a California conservation group that opposes the dam raise.

Winnemem Wintu

When the Shasta Dam was built in the 1930s and 40s, the government took over Winnemem Wintu lands to make way for the reservoir. Chinook salmon, sacred to the tribe, were blocked from swimming upstream to the cool spawning grounds closer to Mount Shasta, endangering the species.

Chief Caleen Sisks grandmother and father were forced off their land on the McCloud River to make way for the reservoir. Restitution promised in a 1941 law never came.

They came in with bulldozers and bulldozed over their homes to make them leave, Sisk said. And got nothing in return.

Now Winnemem Wintu leaders fear that their last remaining cultural sites on the McCloud River would flood for longer periods of time if the dam were raised.

The Bureau agreed more lands would flood but asserted through a 2020 environmental review that it would happen only during peak water levels  the spring of wet years. Already the tribe, which the federal government does not recognize, has had to adapt its timing of cultural ceremonies at sacred spots that are only available in the dry seasons.

The Winnemem Wintu have been working for decades to bring salmon back to their breeding grounds and would like a passageway for the fish to swim upstream. Humans right now have to carry eggs to the McCloud River.

Survival of the salmon is the same as the survival of the tribe, Sisk said. Instead of raising the dam, Sisk said, the government should try to deepen the reservoir by removing sediment build up at the bottom.

The Trump administration contended that raising the dam would actually help salmon spawn in the Redding area. The Bureau said it would create a greater pool of cold water, which comes from the lower depths of the lake, that the salmon need to survive.

Environmentalists said the opposite  that restrictions on flushing water down the Sacramento River would harm salmon populations. The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2015 said the project wouldnt help the fish, something Becerra pointed to in response to the Trump Bureaus claims.

Central Valley drought

The Central Valley has suffered decades of drought. Farmers have had to fallow fields, deplete groundwater reserves and pay high prices for water deliveries that dont even meet their needs.

Then severe floods this year damaged crop yields. The fear for many farmers in wet years like this one is that much-needed water has nowhere to go.

Lake Shasta feeds the Central Valley Project, also governed by the Bureau. The Central Valley Project is agricultural growers lifeblood. But in recent years, deliveries have fallen short  if they come at all. As recently as 2022, the Bureau was not able to send most Central Valley Project servicers any water. Reclamation had to cut supplies for some senior water rights holders during dry years too.

Legislators have compiled methods aimed at bolstering water storage and cutting through red tape, including raising the Shasta Dam.

In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, California Republicans begged the state to allow local partners to help with the dam raise despite the river law. The governors office has supported bolstering water infrastructure, but does not want to break state law in doing so.

Raising Shasta Dam would improve water supply reliability for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental uses, improve Sacramento River temperatures and water quality below the dam for salmon survival, increase the generation of hydroelectric power, and reduce the risk of flood damage, the letter read.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, backs various water measures added to the 2024 spending bill designed for energy and water. The Shasta Dam raise and other California water measures were folded in via the Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms for California Act, which was backed by all California Republicans.

As far as priorities go, said Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Oroville, who represents Shasta County, its a good thing when the speakers on your side.
A California woman who was kidnapped while walking her dog in Mexico last year has been released and is reuniting with her family in the U.S., the FBI says.

Monica de Leon Barbas safe return comes as an investigation into the identity of her captors remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made, according to the FBIs San Francisco Division. The bureau previously offered a reward of up to $40,000 for information leading to the San Mateo womans whereabouts.

"The FBI is pleased to announce that Monica De Leon Barba is safe and en route to the United States, where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity," the division said in a statement.

The FBI said Monica was "kidnapped in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, while walking home from work with her dog on November 29, 2022."

CALIFORNIA WOMAN KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO SEEN IN VIDEO FOOTAGE MOMENTS BEFORE DISAPPEARANCE, FBI SAYS

Monica De Leon Barba, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen, was kidnapped in Mexico in November 2022.

"For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and with partners here and in Mexico," added Special Agent In Charge Robert Tripp of the FBI San Francisco Field Office. "Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound. The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In April this year, the FBI released two videos from her kidnapping.

BOYFRIEND OF MISSING ALABAMA WOMAN WHO RETURNED HOME SAYS SHE WAS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE FOR 48 HOURS

Monica de Leon Barba is now safe, but no arrests have been made in connection to the case, the FBI says.

One of the videos, the FBI said, "depicts the kidnappers and their vehicles during the kidnapping."

"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," according to the FBI. "Monicas dog is shown in the video loose in the street. Her dog was later safely located and recovered by a family member."

Monica De Leon Barba, a U.S. citizen, was kidnapped last year while walking her dog, according to the FBI.

The suspects were described at the time as four males and a presumed driver of a white Chevrolet Suburban, another one of the vehicles authorities believe was used in the kidnapping.

"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater responsibility than the protection of U.S. citizens overseas," a State Department spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital in connection with De Leon's disappearance. "The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State."

Fox News Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
The California Public Employee and Retirement System launched its three-day offsite meeting in Monterey with a long-awaited update on a June data breach that exposed Social Security numbers, birth dates and other personal information on nearly 1.2 million retirees and other beneficiaries.

The update follows a call from California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who sits on both the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards, for the nations two largest public pension funds to hold special meetings and provide members with an update on the organizations response to the breach.

We know what an unsettling experience this has been for our retirees, said CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost less than five minutes after the board convened at 9 a.m. So, I want to address what were doing to make the recovery process as smooth as possible for them.

The third-party vendor that was hacked, PBI Research/Berwyn Group, works with CalPERS and the California State Teachers Retirement System to identify any members who have died, which helps the agencies prevent overpayments or other errors.

CalPERS said that PBI was using a data transfer application called MoveIt Transfer, made by Progress Software, that organizations around the nation use to share data securely. The application boasts encryption, tracking and access controls for secure collaboration and automated transfers.

In the Monday update, Frost said CalPERS has received nearly 4,000 calls about the breach at its own customer contact center. The average wait time is one minute, she said. Retirees can also send in questions to the email address pbiquestions@calpers.ca.gov, which Frost said is monitored by CalPERS managerial staff. The average wait time for an email response is less than 24 hours, she said.

The pension fund also established a special call center with Experian, which has fielded nearly 34,000 calls. Callers were experiencing alarming wait times, Frost said, so last weekend the call center added 50 more representatives to help bring wait times back down to one to two minutes.

So far, about 122,000 CalPERS retirees have signed up for two years of free credit monitoring and identity restoration services through Experian. Frost said this represents a higher-than-expected response, according to Experian, when compared to other companies that its worked with following data breaches. (Frost noted that these companies were largely private employers, rather than public pension funds.)

Frost suggested members could find answers to their questions at calpers.ca.gov/page/home/pbi. She encouraged people who need more help to send an email to pbiquestions@calpers.ca.gov or contact the CalPERS call center at (833)-919-4735. The hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

We realize how sensitive this situation is, Frost said, and again, we want to reassure our retirees that well do everything possible to help them through the situation.

Retirees say CalPERS isnt doing enough

Devara Dev Berger, a retiree who used to work for CalPERS overseeing health legislation, didnt know that the board would provide an update at its offsite meeting. When she looked at the agenda, she saw no indication that the board would discuss the breach or take public comments from members.

CalPERS is foisting the majority of action about the breach onto us, Berger said. That is what infuriates us. That shows a complete lack of integrity and leadership.

Berger is upset that the pension funds board hasnt heeded the state treasurers request to host a public hearing or town hall where members can directly engage with board members.

Im not buying into it, Berger said. Im not buying into CalPERS telling me cest la vie.

The board planned to take questions at its June meeting, but then it ended the question period for the boards convenience, according to former board member J.J. Jelincic, who attended the meeting.

This came after stakeholders had been forced to wait as the board repeatedly extended a closed session meeting, Jelincic said, making attendees wait two hours after initially saying it would be 20-30 minutes.

CalPERS spokesman Brad Pacheco told The Bee at the time that staff ended the stakeholder briefing because many attendees had come to hear about the proposed 2024 health care rates. The boards Pension & Health Benefits Committee was starting a meeting where those rates would be discussed, and staff didnt want to overlap meetings.

At Mondays meeting, two members spoke in-person during the public comment section after Frosts update about the data breach. Former board member Margaret Brown wanted to know whether PBI or CalPERS received a ransomware demand from the hackers, and whether the pension funds ransomware insurance covered that demand.

The board didnt provide an answer.

Two years is not enough time to protect us. Brown said, referring to Experians two-year credit monitoring and identity restoration program. Now, 769,000 members have all their data out there in the public  forever. Not for two years. Forever.

Why does CalPERS contract with PBI?

In her update, Frost also addressed the question of why CalPERS contracts with PBI in the first place. She said PBI provides the most timely and accurate information about retiree deaths, which prevents overpayment of benefits. An internal CalPERS audit from 2021 found that the pension fund had failed to recover nearly $42 million in payments to about 22,000 dead people.

Death records are maintained by each individual state, and CalPERS previously used the Social Security Administrations Death Master File to obtain verification of retiree deaths, according to a letter from Keith Riddle, the then-chief of the Disability and Survivor Benefits Division in response to the audit. But in 2011, the federal administration prohibited public pension plans from accessing state death records.

Social Security now only provides access to the full file of death information, which includes state death records, to certain federal and state agencies. CalPERS submitted an application in 2020, according to Riddles letter, but was denied because its benefits are not fully funded by the state.

The federal administration also sells a Limited Access DMF, which still excludes death records provided through contracts with states, to agencies and businesses that engage in fraud prevention. One such subscriber is The Berwyn Group, which the pension fund has contracted with since 2011 after the Social Security Administration made the change.

In February 2022, CalPERS entered a contract with PBI Research in order to access even more data and compile a complete picture of retiree death information. (Berwyn Group and PBI Research are currently in the process of merging.) Frost said the data that CalPERS shared with PBI was fully encrypted from our end.

Theres a very small community of vendors that actually do this type of work, Frost said. The moment we made the decision that this data would leave, she continued, we placed this data in the hands of a vendor who we had a trusted and very strong contract with.

Frost would not elaborate further, citing a pending class-action lawsuit from two pensioners in San Francisco federal court.

The Bees Cathie Anderson contributed to this story.
Coastal erosion around waterfront homes on the Magdalen islands of Quebec, Canada, highlight the extent of climate change impacts on the small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (Sebastien ST-JEAN)

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the small Magdalen islands, foot paths are caving in, cliffs are receding and the sand dunes are disappearing, leaving homes vulnerable to the lashing waves.

The archipelago, part of Quebec province in eastern Canada, is in a race against time -- and the elements -- to survive global warming. Residents are feeling the effects of climate change on a daily basis.

"The Magdalen islands are in the front row when it comes to the changes taking place. We are miniscule faced with the immensity of it all," says Mayka Thibodeau from CERMIM, a research center focused on sustainable development.

The changes seem to be coming fast and furious, leaving the roughly 13,000 residents reeling, as they realize their island home will need to adapt quickly and radically in the decades to come if it is to survive.

The islands' picturesque shores have already been eroded, receding by an average of half a meter (1.6 feet) a year, according to a study by the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR).

It's a figure that concerns Diane Saint-Jean and her partner -- they live on the coast and worry the next big storm could sweep their home into the water.

"We were rather naive, we were sure there would be a solution. But nature proved us wrong," says Saint-Jean, her voice shaky as she stares at the nearby cliffs, which are slowly disappearing.

The two women live in La Martinique, a slim band of territory that links the archipelago's two main islands.

They have spent thousands of dollars to reinforce the cliff at the foot of their yard, but in September 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck with brute force, quickly washing away the giant rocks meant to protect their property.

"We woke up one morning and realized we'd thrown away our money. But what can we do?" rues Saint-Jean, a retired nurse.

- Costly emergency work -

Erosion is a bit of a sensitive topic for most residents on the Magdalen islands, which were first populated in the 18th century and are located more than five hours by boat from continental Canada.

Everyone here remembers spots that are now gone -- especially houses that had to be moved because of the risk of flooding.

The situation is a headache for local authorities, who must invest millions of dollars for emergency work.

In Cap-aux-Meules, in the center of town, part of the pedestrian walkway collapsed in 2018, leaving the hospital, a retirement home and a cemetery in the direct path of dangerous waves.

Last year, local authorities built a huge gravel beach, using 143,000 tonnes of stones along an 800-meter (half-mile) stretch to raise the shoreline. It was not the first time the tactic had been used.

"Solutions exist but they are extremely expensive and these projects have to be maintained. So each time we intervene, it's a tax burden for the future," explains Jasmine Solomon, who monitors erosion for the local government.

"We likely won't be able to protect everything. There are spots that are going to need to change, that's for sure."

- Vanishing ice -

In recent years, extreme weather events have become more frequent and more devastating as a result of climate change.

The Magdalen islands are notably losing one of their most important defenses in winter: ice. It has always served as a sort of shield, but without it the coasts are completely exposed when rough storms hit.

With each cycle of freezing and thawing, the red sandstone cliffs crumble more easily.

"One storm can erase a dune, a cliff, or even open up a breach" in the coastline, says Marie-Eve Giroux, the director of local environmental organization Attention Fragiles.

In addition to raising awareness about ecological issues in local schools, her group works on dune restoration, especially by replanting them with beachgrass, which helps keep the sand in place as its roots create a natural net.

Many times, the dunes are the shoreline's only defense against the waves.

The islands are in danger of being lost to rising waters, a fate shared by other low-lying areas around the world. They are also gradually sinking.

"We must look at all realistic scenarios and not bury our heads in the sand," says Thibodeau. "We don't just want to endure what is to come. We want to be part of the solution."

She explains the many projects undertaken by CERMIM to restore the beaches including the use of mollusk shells to make concrete. The idea is to turn the islands into a sort of living laboratory in the global battle against climate change.

For Marianne Papillon, a doctor and public health advisor, the time to act is now.

Papillon has taken up a relatively new job -- tackling climate change-related issues.

"We must do something collectively. Individual action won't make sense if everyone is not on board, " she explains.

"Faced with the storms we are seeing, people must make the mental link with climate change. They must feel more involved, and personally invested, without becoming too stressed about it all."

tib/sst/mlm
Health Canada recommends Covid-19 vaccines to prevent severe illness and death, but an Ontario doctor claims the shots are deadly because they attack the immune system. This is false; public health agencies say the jabs are safe and effective, and that the spike proteins they generate are not dangerous.

"Dr Shoemaker Witness Testimony at the National Citizens Inquiry Canada Ottawa Day 3 Exposes Dangers," says text over a video shared June 11, 2023 on Instagram.

The TikTok page where the video originated is no longer available. But similar clips spread on Facebook and Twitter -- including from Christopher Shoemaker, a family doctor whose medical license was suspended in January 2023.

Screenshot of an Instagram post taken July 11, 2023

The National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) is an independent organization that says its objective is to listen "to the testimonies of experts, including those whose narratives differ from the governmental narrative."

Since March, the group has held multiple events featuring presentations from people AFP has fact-checked for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines, including Peter McCullough, Robert Malone, Steve Kirsch and Charles Hoffe. Shoemaker has also previously amplified false claims about 80 Canadian doctors dying after vaccination.

The full video of Shoemaker's appearance has accumulated more than 10,900 views on NCI's Rumble account. In it, he claims messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) Covid-19 vaccines "hijack your immune system," causing death.

"It's not the spike itself that's harming you -- it's your immune system going after the spike," he said.

The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna differ from traditional vaccines in that they contain instructions for cells on how to make coronavirus spike proteins, thereby triggering an immune response. But public health authorities say the technology is not dangerous.

"Some people are concerned that the spike proteins generated by Covid-19 vaccines can cause harm to the body's organs or tissues," ImmunizeBC says on its website (archived here). "However, there is no evidence that the vaccine-generated spike proteins cause harm."

Nebraska Medicine in the United States has also dismissed such fears.

"The spike protein is unique to SARS-CoV-2 -- it doesn't look like other proteins your body makes," the regional health network says on its website (archived here). "So antibodies created against the spike protein won't harm your body, they will only target coronavirus."

Shoemaker goes on to claim: "Spike protein once it's physically in a cell is as alive as the cell."

But Health Canada says on its website (archived here) that the "mRNA, lipid nanoparticle and spike protein are degraded or excreted within days to weeks from time of immunization."

Shoemaker also falsely claims the Covid-19 vaccine is "one-third DNA, two-thirds RNA," citing a debunked Substack post.

"Covid-19 mRNA vaccines do not include DNA as part of the ingredients," Health Canada told AFP in a statement emailed July 14. A full list of ingredients in the Covid-19 shots authorized by Health Canada is available here.

The statement also said: "The mRNA never enters the central part (nucleus) of the cell, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is found, and the cells' DNA cannot be altered by mRNA vaccines."

Melodie Yunju Song, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, said the claim that mRNA vaccines "take over our genetic makeup" is "completely false."

She faulted the NCI for giving a platform to doctors actively spreading misinformation.

"I think the testimonies are very damaging," she said, noting NCI's account had been removed from TikTok. As new mRNA vaccines currently in clinical trials become available she warned of a "recirculation of these false narratives" targeted toward parents.

Concerns about Covid-19 spike proteins have circulated online since the debut of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. Experts have repeatedly told AFP claims of harm are unproven.
We can't bank on having fire departments respond to emergency calls in Wisconsin

Fire protection is one of the most expensive, labor-intensive, and important services provided by Wisconsin local governments. According to the National Fire Department Registry, Wisconsin currently has 761 fire departments serving communities of all types across the state. There is no typical department, rather, Wisconsins many departments include a diverse array of career, volunteer, and hybrid agencies with clear identities and deep ties to their communities.

The importance of well-functioning fire departments to public safety is self-evident. However, Wisconsin fire departments are facing mounting challenges, including Increasing call volumes, difficulty recruiting and retaining paid and volunteer staff, and funding shortfalls and fiscal uncertainty. These collective challenges threaten public safety.

In a recent survey of fire department leaders across Wisconsin, the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research identified three major areas of concern. First, departments are struggling to keep up with service needs in an era of increasing call volumes. Second, departments face fiscal challenges posed by stagnant state funding to local governments, increased training costs, and increased equipment costs. Less than half (47.5%) of fire chiefs report they have the financial resources to cover next years projected budgets. Third, departments are struggling to attract and retain both career and volunteer firefighters.

Our survey found that over 10 percent of Wisconsin fire agencies had at least one instance over the past year where a service call in their jurisdiction yielded no response. Michael Ford and Michael Stanley

The collective challenges present a perfect storm where departments are being asked to do more without the corresponding fiscal and human resources to do so. For instance, our survey found that over 10 percent of Wisconsin fire agencies had at least one instance over the past year where a service call in their jurisdiction yielded no response. In other words, there are times when there are simply no responders available to attend to an emergency call. Though examples of non-response are still relatively rare, they speak to the negative impact a struggling fire service can have on Wisconsins quality-of-life and economic prosperity.

Michael R. Ford, left, and Michael Stanley.

There is no simple solution for the complex challenges facing Wisconsins fire departments. However, statutory changes allowing the formation of special purpose fire districts can give Wisconsin communities a new tool for meeting public safety challenges. While there are currently some combined departments in Wisconsin organized via intermunicipal agreements, Wisconsin statute does not allow for the formation of stand-alone special purpose fire districts. If it did, special purpose fire districts could go beyond collaboration by building a common legal structure with unified governance, operations, and a dedicated funding source.

Special purpose fire districts are a structural innovation that could improve performance in several ways. Foremost, fire districts can create economies of scale by consolidating the administrative functions, training and professional development, and other activities of multiple small departments into larger entities. Districts would also have a dedicated funding source creating predictability and enhanced planning capability by ensuring public safety costs are not competing with all other local government budget priorities. Finally, the district model would provide enhanced coverage for communities struggling to maintain a volunteer fire corp.

Notably the special purpose district model is neither new, nor rare. Wisconsin currently has over 1,100 special districts, including school districts, metropolitan sewerage districts, solid waste management system districts, and more. Other states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado, use the special district fire model specifically. The experience in Wisconsin, and other states, provides a roadmap on how to structure special purpose fire directs. To be viable, they must:

Be voluntary, i.e., opted into by existing fire departments;

Have legal authority to accomplish their core function, including bonding authority;

Have a mechanism for democratic accountability via some type of governing board;

Have a dedicated funding source;

Consider the cultural impact on legacy departments; and

Consider the fiscal impact of removing the cost of fire protection from existing municipal budgets so as to protect taxpayers from new costs.

Wisconsins recent shared revenue compromise promises to bring some immediate-term financial relief to struggling departments. Even more important is the $300 million dollar innovation fund designed to encourage consolidation of municipal services. Special purpose fire districts are exactly the type of reform for which is the innovation fund is designed. A statute enabling their voluntary formation would provide fire leaders with a new tool to address the very real staffing, finance, and service challenges reported by Wisconsins fire chiefs. It is imperative that Wisconsin follows the lead of other states and explores structural innovation as a means to address public safety challenges before they become insurmountable.

Michael R. Ford is director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Michael Stanley is president of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association and chief of the Oshkosh Fire Department.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Survey says agencies crunched by higher call volumes, shrinking funds
Capsized boat leaves three adults stranded for hours off Texas coast, officials say

Coast Guard officials are crediting three boaters life jackets for their survival after their vessel capsized off the Texas shore.

The captain of a fishing boat discovered the capsized boat at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16, about 10 miles off the coast of Freeport, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Three boaters who were on the capsized boat had been in the water for two hours before they were seen, officials say.

The crew of the fishing boat rescued the stranded boaters, who were all wearing life jackets. A Coast Guard crew brought the three men to shore, according to a news release.

None of the men were injured.

If they werent wearing life jackets, they may not have gone home to their families, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jayven Amanonce said in a statement.

Freeport is about 60 miles south of Houston.

Family of six scrambles to find safety after boat bursts into flames, SC officials say

Two rescued by helicopter after 18-year-old stranded on island, Oregon officials say

Sinking boat found empty 2 miles off Florida beach before swimmer is spotted, cops say
File pic - a criminal trying to steal a car using technology

Car hacking technology bought online by organised crime gangs is fuelling an almost 20 per cent rise in vehicle thefts, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed.

Criminals are increasingly turning to devices which enable them to hack into and drive off with high-end cars - without having to steal the keys, the NCAs annual national threat assessment report said.

The so-called electronic compromise thefts also bypass keyless fobs, which have been the subject of increased security by car manufacturers after being targeted by thieves in recent years.

The devices hack into the controller area networks of cars, allowing them to be unlocked. They can be bought for as little as 2,500 online or on the encrypted message service Telegram.

Methods of theft have continued to evolve, with offenders turning to new technology to facilitate thefts such as electronic compromise thefts often committed by organised crime groups.

Traditional methods

Offenders continue to employ traditional methods of theft such as car key burglaries, said the NCA.

The devices are thought to have contributed to a 19 per cent rise in vehicle thefts in 2022, when 110,739 cases were reported - up from 93,006 in 2021.

However, the NCA warned it was getting harder to recover stolen vehicles as criminals use so-called chop shops to butcher them for parts for other cars - or ship them abroad.

The high levels of organisation make it difficult for law enforcement to recover vehicles with criminals using further methods such as tampering with vehicle information to avoid detection, said the NCA.

Graeme Biggar, head of the NCA, warned that the rising cost of everyday life threatened to cause a surge in high harm car thefts, robberies and burglaries, as gangs react by trying to make more money through offending.

He said criminals had already exploited the cost of living crisis to put more people at risk of crime, while adding that it was highly likely that all areas of organised acquisitive crime will increase further in the coming years.

Drugs spike

Mr Biggar also disclosed that cocaine use had increased by a quarter in large urban areas in just a year amid low costs and high supply.

The trend was revealed by tests of sewage water in big urban areas including London, which Mr Biggar said was a much better way of assessing the quantity of drugs being consumed than anything weve had before.

He said officials had previously relied on the quantity of drug seizures and other police data.

It emulates the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, which produces an annual report on drug consumption based on analysis of the metabolised products from drugs, including cocaine.

The surge in use came as cocaine prices fell by about 30 per cent last year in the UK, while global production rose by 13 per cent to an estimated 2,132 tonnes in 2021, according to the NCA.

It estimated Britons consumed some 120 tonnes of cocaine and 40 tonnes of heroin last year.

Criminals used as proxies

Mr Biggar also disclosed that hostile states were using organised crime gangs to target individuals and dissidents in the UK - and that their actions included threats to life.

The Russian state has long tolerated and occasionally tasked the cybercrime groups on its territory, and had links with its oligarchs and their enablers, he said.

And over the last year we have seen hostile states beginning to use organised crime groups - not always of the same nationality - as proxies.

It is a development we and our colleagues in MI5 and CT (counter-terrorism) policing are watching closely.

He said the countries involved included Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. The NCA head said it had become more difficult for states to use their own agents in the UK in the wake of the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018.

Mr Biggar said the biggest group of offenders in the UK are those who pose a sexual threat to children. There are estimated to be between 680,000 and 830,000 people who fit the category - around ten times the prison population.

He warned that the availability of abuse images online had a radicalising effect by normalising paedophiles behaviour, and that viewing images, whether real or AI-generated, increased the risk of someone going on to abuse a child themselves.

There are around 59,000 people involved in serious organised crime in the UK, with around 12 billion generated by criminal activities each year, and around 100 billion of dirty cash from across the globe laundered through the UK.

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An aviation company plans to run commercial flights using an electric engine that creates no carbon emissions by 2025.

ZeroAvia has flown nine test flights with its hydrogen-electric engine at Cotswold Airport, near Cirencester.

The only emission created by the engine is water.

Sergey Kiselev, Vice-President of ZeroAvia, said the engine would help achieve "the decarbonisation of aviation".

The plane has already flown a number of test flights

Many other aerospace firms are developing engines that run on hydrogen, but most are not expecting to fly commercially until 2035. So how have they done it, and could it be possible to fly without causing climate change much sooner than people had thought?

How does it work?

The Gloucestershire-based company are moving much faster because they are not designing an entirely new aircraft.

ZeroAvia is working on the Dornier 228, a conventional 19-seater plane that has two propellers, usually powered by kerosene.

One of these has been replaced by an electric engine, and the electricity is generated on-board using a hydrogen fuel cell. For the testing period, the other engine remains fuelled by kerosene, in case of failure.

But once the technology is proved, both engines will run on electricity from the hydrogen fuel cell.

Only the new engine needs to pass safety tests, and the company is working with the Civil Aviation Authority to achieve certification.

"It all worked smoothly on the first flight" said test pilot Jon Killerby

Test pilot Jon Killerby flew the aircraft and told me that once airborne, they have managed without the kerosene engine.

"We can throttle right back on the conventional engine," he said, "and fly purely on the hydrogen electric system, it generates enough thrust to fly the aircraft level.

"It really is amazing how well it works."

Is it really 'green'?

Hydrogen fuel cells are not new, and have been widely used in cars and trucks.

They use a chemical process called "reverse hydrolysis" which combines hydrogen with oxygen and creates heat, water vapour and, crucially, electricity.

So the on-board engine creates no greenhouse gases.

But what matters is where you get your hydrogen.

Prof Tim Mays has been studying hydrogen for thirty years

At Bath University, Prof Tim Mays has been studying hydrogen for thirty years. He runs the UK Hydrogen Research Hub which has just been awarded 11m to explore how hydrogen can help combat climate change.

He explained: "At the moment people make it by treating natural gas with steam, which is about as unsustainable as it gets."

But it is also possible to use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, using renewable electricity.

"That makes green hydrogen, which is what the aviation industry needs," said Prof Mays.

"It's a really serious option, because we do need to replace kerosene."

How big, how far?

It is not a big plane.

The Dornier 228 will carry about 12 passengers with the hydrogen engine on board.

It can fly about 250-310 miles (400-500km), according to Chief Commercial Officer Sergey Kiselev.

That would get you from Bristol Airport to Newcastle, or London to Paris.

By 2027, the company plans a larger hydrogen-electric engine which would power bigger aircraft. This could carry around 50 passengers and go nearer to 620 miles (1,000 km).

What are the problems?

"Like all technologies, there are challenges," smiles Prof Mays.

"Making it, transporting it, and storing it."

The aviation industry needs to build an entirely new infrastructure. Hydrogen production centres, a network to get the fuel to airports, storage at airports, the lot. And hydrogen is very different from conventional kerosene.

Hydrogen takes up a lot of space. To carry it all manageably, the gas is compressed to 350 or 700 times atmospheric pressure.

Even then, it takes up more space than kerosene. If you want to transport it as a liquid, you must first chill it to 253 degrees below zero.

So exactly where to make it, how to move it around and store it are all being examined now by airports and aerospace firms.

Prof Mays put it like this: "You can fly using hydrogen as a fuel, but it is not optimised, not super efficient yet, and the infrastructure is not there yet."

Will airlines use hydrogen?

The hangar in the Cotswold Airport is small, and far from the big research labs of Airbus, Rolls Royce and Boeing.

But ZeroAvia already has orders for more than 1,500 of its first engine.

Air Cahana is one, a new Californian airline with "a mission to decarbonise aviation".

The company has orders for 1,500 of its hydrogen-electric engines

Another early customer is closer to home, the environmental entrepreneur Dale Vince, who founded renewable energy firm Ecotricity.

Mr Vince is launching an airline called "Ecojet", which will use the ZeroAvia engines on passenger flights, at first from Edinburgh to Southampton.

He said: "The question of how to create sustainable air travel has plagued the green movement for decades.

"The desire to travel is deeply etched into the human spirit, and flights free of C02 emissions, powered by renewable energy will allow us to explore our incredible world without harming it for the first time."

Bigger aerospace firms are watching the small start-up with interest. Airbus has a huge research programme called ZeroE, which also uses hydrogen. The company is exploring both hydrogen fuel cells to create electricity to power propellers, and using liquid hydrogen directly for combustion.

But Airbus is aiming to have hydrogen-powered planes in the sky by 2035, a full decade later than the small ZeroAvia engines.

Sergey Kiselev told me that's why they decided not to create a completely new aircraft, but instead just change the engine on an existing plane.

He said: "It helps us eliminate all the complexity with the certification of the aircraft, we can focus only on the engine. So we can get the aircraft up into the air in commercial operations, much faster."

The company has made its pledge. It now has at least two big challenges.

One is to make its engine safe, certified, and ready to use by 2025.

They are well on their way to that one.

The other, harder, challenge, will be making sure there is some fresh new hydrogen waiting for the aircraft when it lands at the other end.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk
Who is Carlee Russell? Alabama woman who disappeared after reporting a child on the highway is found safe

Police car with flashing lights. An Alabama woman disappeared Thursday night after calling the police to report seeing a toddler walking alone on the highway. | Adobe Stock

A 25-year-old woman disappeared in Alabama under strange circumstances Thursday night after calling 911 to report seeing a toddler walking alone on the side of the interstate.

Carlee Russells disappearance sparked a statewide search  and plenty of speculation online about what could have happened to her  until she knocked on her familys front door Saturday night.

Family members were stunned to see her after she appeared to have returned home on foot. Russell was then taken to the hospital for evaluation and released Sunday morning, Al.com reported.

What happened to Carlee Russell? What we know so far

Russell called the police at 9:34 p.m. Thursday night, saying she was on I-459 South in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham, when she pulled over to check on the toddler, according to a statement from the Hoover Police Department.

She then called a family member to report the same details.

Russells mother, Talitha Russell, said Russell called her brothers girlfriend, who stayed on the phone as she got out of the car and called out to the child. Over the phone, she heard what sounded like Russell screaming and dropping her phone, Talitha Russell said, per The New York Times.

Police say they did not receive a call of anyone missing a child nor did anyone else report seeing a toddler along the highway that night.

When officers arrived, they found her car and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area, the statement from the Hoover police reads.

Russell was missing for roughly 48 hours before she was seen again by her family.

Where was Carlee Russell while she was missing for 48 hours?

As of Monday, no information has been released about what happened to Russell or where she was during the 48 hours she was missing.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, her mother asked for privacy, saying that her family had not slept for three days.

To our media friends, I promise we will speak with you and give a general statement in the near future as this is an ongoing investigation, Talitha Russell said in a Facebook post.
Thousands of people knew Harriet Rosenfeld Choice by the words she wrote for this newspaper, decades worth of her enthusiastic and influential coverage of the jazz scene, which compelled her to be one of the founders in 1969 of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing and preserving jazz in all its forms.

Choice, who had been dealing with heart troubles, died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after she was taken there from her Gold Coast home. She was 82 years old and with her was Merle Gross, a lifelong friend who had met her when both were freshmen in high school.

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I was holding her hand when she died, said Gross. It was a peaceful end to a very full and rich life.

When the Jazz Journalists Association awarded Choice the Jazz Hero Award in 2020, her friend, esteemed jazz critic and writer Neil Tesser observed, Harriet Choices love affair with jazz started in her teen years, thrived as she brought it into her professional journalism, and blossomed further through the kind of activism that supports and enriches the art form.

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Harriet Choice, with educator and musician Muhal Richard Abrams, at a Jazz Institute of Chicago event in 2004. (Heather Ahrens/HANDOUT)

Choice was born in Chicago and raised in the Lakeview neighborhood, the youngest of the two daughters of LeRoy and Idylle Rosenfeld. The father died in 1965 and the mother, who would become a pioneering, award-winning and legendary real estate executive, died in 1983. Her elder sister Mary Ann would become a journalist and founder of a biomedical publishing company in New York.

Harriet attended the University of Oklahoma for a time and was married for a short while to a man named Donald Choice. She began her career in journalism in the mid-1960s at the Chicago Sun-Times with another young journalist named John Blades, who told me over the weekend, I feel as if I spent the better part of my newspaper career conjoined to Harriet. When we met she was writing the movie comments for the Sun-Times TV guide and was then hired by the Tribune to do the same thing there.

In 1968 the Tribune, which had not previously employed a jazz critic, gave Choice that job and title and she began writing a weekly column titled Jazz by Choice, one of but a handful of women writing with any regularity in publications about jazz.

Her column became an immediate and popular hit, an erudite mix of reviews, interviews and well-informed listings of upcoming local jazz performances. She knew and wrote about all the greats and up-and-comers in this distinctly American musical art form. She spread her passion in print and in personal relationships

Blades, who had a long Tribune career as a book editor, writer and Choice colleague, remembers, saying, I knew little about jazz, wanted to know more, and Harriet was my eager tutor, leading me onto the stairway to the stars, beginning with Billie Holiday. From her immense collection, she made me many tapes. Ive thrown away most of my cassettes, but those early classics I couldnt part with, the priceless music and memories of Harriet too.

Lauren Deutsch, who was the executive director of the Jazz Institute for many years, told me via email, Harriet was close with so many legends in the jazz canon but to her, they were not icons or legends, they were her friends and close associates for whom she would and often did go many extra miles to assist in whatever way she could. I think thats what motivated her to become a jazz journalist; she knew that role would give her the ability to promote the music and build a broader audience for the music and people for which she had so much respect and love.

In addition to her coverage of jazz, Choice was also editor of the Tribunes Sunday arts section for five years and later its executive travel editor.

After leaving the newspaper, she wrote freelance stories, served in various capacities with the Jazz Institute, started her own communications company and was associate vice president at Universal Press Syndicate. She also enjoyed watching Jeopardy and taking long walks with her dogs.

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But her legacy is firmly based on jazz.

Bradley Parker-Sparrow has long been a fixture on the local jazz scene along with his wife Joanie Pallatto. They perform and operate Southport Records. He says, Harriet was not only a gifted jazz writer but such a strong supporter of local jazz artists. She loved both George and the late Von Freeman, along with trumpet ace Bobby Lewis (all Southport artists). It was she who arranged for me to have my first performance at Chicago Jazz Fest.

Howard Reich, the Tribunes arts critic from 1983 until his retirement in 2021, told me, Harriet Choices love for jazz was superseded only by her devotion to her friends. She wrote about jazz at a time when women were sidelined in the music even more than they are today. Every time a woman breaks through in jazz journalism or jazz performance, a share of the credit belongs to Harriet.

Tesser wrote on Facebook, Harriet had stories galore about the greatest names of jazzs first 50 years, from Louis Armstrong to Gene Ammons to Duke Ellington to dozens more  (each) of whom counted her as a friend  and she never failed to offer support and encouragement to writers with whom she crossed paths.

Choices friend, pianist Stu Katz, told me that he had spoken with her the day before her death. She told him she had recently visited a bird sanctuary in Lincoln Park and went on to tell him how privileged she felt to have known so many world-class musicians.

She is survived by her sister and a nephew, Lewis Charles Liebert. Services are private. A memorial service is being planned. There will, no doubt, be music.

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rkogan@chicagotribune.com
Cedric Richmond, a former Democratic congressman from Louisiana who served as a senior adviser at the White House under President Biden, has been selected as campaign co-chair for Bidens reelection bid.

Richmond left his role as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in May to be a senior adviser for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and was expected to join the campaign. His appointment adds new talent to the campaigns leadership team.

The hire comes days after the Biden campaign announced it raised $72 million in the second quarter of fundraising, which is more than double what former President Trump raised. Trump currently holds a large lead in national polls for the GOP nomination.

The Biden campaign also announced that Rufus Gifford will serve as its finance chair and Chris Korge will serve as finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee for Bidens campaign, the DNC and state Democratic parties.

Gifford, a former ambassador to Denmark, most recently was chief of protocol for the U.S. with the rank of ambassador at the State Department. Korge is the current national finance chairman for the DNC and also served as national finance chairman for Hillary Clintons presidential run in 2016.

Richmond served in Congress from 2011 to 2021, chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2017 to 2019, and was considered a close adviser to the president at the White House.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Previous Biden campaign team hires included former DNC national press secretary Michael Tyler as communications director as well as Rob Flaherty, Bidens former digital director, and T.J. Ducklo, a former White House aide.

Biden officially announced his reelection bid in April. Early hires included campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and spokesman Kevin Munoz, the former assistant press secretary at the White House.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Child found lying on ground injured after car crashes into utility pole in Dayton

A child was injured and subsequently hospitalized after a single vehicle crashed into a utility pole in Dayton Sunday evening.

>> TRENDING: Missing Ohio State student found dead in South Columbus

Dayton Police and Fire were dispatched to the 3900 block of Lori Sue Avenue on reports of a crash, Montgomery County Regional Dispatch said.

When officers arrived on scene, they found that a car crashed into a utility pole near the address, causing the pole to snap in half and for the power lines to fall down.

They also found a juvenile on the ground with injuries, prompting a medical response to the crash. The child was transported to Dayton Childrens Hospital for further care. The severity of their injury was unknown at the time of reporting.

Initial reports over emergency scanners added that there was another person injured in the crash; however, dispatchers were only able to confirm the transport to Dayton Childrens Hospital.

The Dayton Police Department led the investigation into the crash.

We will update this story as it develops.
In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Paraguay's president-elect Santiago Pena, left, shakes hands with Taiwan's Vice President in William Lai in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  China is criticizing an upcoming stopover in the United States by Taiwans vice president and presidential front-runner William Lai as a challenge to its territorial integrity, while Taiwan says it's merely a transit stop.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary and prohibits its diplomatic partners  including the U.S.  from having formal ties with Taipei. While not recognizing Taiwan as a country, Washington maintains robust unofficial ties and has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself in case of an invasion.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said at a briefing in Beijing that China had lodged formal protests with the U.S. over Lais visit next month.

China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, spokeswoman Mao Ning said. We firmly reject Taiwan independence separatists visiting the U.S. under any name and for any reason, as well as any form of the U.S. connivance and support of the Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities.

China will closely monitor developments and take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, she added.

A senior U.S. administration official said such trips are hardly unusual  there have been 10 previous vice presidential visits in the last two decades, including one by Lai previously  and that the White House encouraged Beijing to avoid using it as a pretext for interference or escalation across the Taiwan Strait. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Lai's upcoming travel.

The criticism comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Beijing to restore lines of communication broken after a Chinese spy balloon was discovered flying over the U.S. earlier this year, and as U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks. The official said the U.S. sees no reason why Lais trip should impact the restoration of lines of communication between Washington and Beijing and described Lais travel as private and unofficial.

Lai is expected to stop in the U.S. as part of a trip to attend the inauguration of Paraguays new president, Santiago Pena, on Aug. 15. Taiwans presidential palace announced Monday that Lais delegation would arrive in Paraguay on Aug. 14.

Taiwans leaders have traditionally stopped in the U.S. en route to visiting some of Taiwans remaining 13 diplomatic allies, a handful of which are countries in Latin America.

The Taiwanese delegations usually hold meetings with U.S. officials during these visits, angering Beijing.

China launched war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while on her way back from Central America.

Lais upcoming U.S. trip is especially symbolic because he has topped most polls as a favorite to win the January presidential election.

China sees both Tsai and Lai as separatists and has refused to talk with them.

Taiwans presidential palace did not give details about Lais visit to the U.S., but Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Tah-ray Yui told reporters the trip would be planned according to precedent set by previous trips to South and Central America, for which transit stops in the U.S. were arranged.

He added the transit stops were meant to ensure comfort, convenience, safety and dignity.

__

AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.
China's quarterly report card is in, and it's bad  but Beijing is unlikely to step in and prop up the economy just yet

China's economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic has fizzled. Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images

China posted GDP growth of 6.3% in the second quarter of 2023, badly missing expectations.

The GDP print was off a low base in 2022 and up just 0.8% on-quarter.

Even so, China is unlikely to unleash major stimulus measures to boost the economy because it's already in so much debt.

The world's second-largest economy is in trouble, but analysts say Beijing is unlikely to step in with a massive stimulus just yet.

China has been reporting disappointing data in the last few months after a post-COVID growth spurt slowed. On Monday, China said its GDP grew by 6.3% in the second quarter from a year ago  a big miss from the 7.3% economists polled by Reuters had forecast.

And while the GDP did grow year-on-year, it bears noting that the comparison is with a low base from last year when China's economy was battered by on-off COVID-19 restrictions.

All these troubles have forced a discussion on a potential stimulus package from the government. "There are growing hopes for 'big bang' stimulus to fire up China's growth," Vishnu Varathan, the head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank, wrote in a Monday note before China's second-quarter GDP release.

But any shot in the arm is likely to be limited and targeted, other analysts say.

For starters, China has already signaled that while it would roll out more policy support for the economy, it wouldn't be overly aggressive with the measures.

In March, the Chinese central bank already cut the reserve requirement ratio  the amount of cash banks need to hold as reserves  and shaved its benchmark lending rates by 0.1 percentage point in June.

"The policy measures launched in the early stage are taking effect, and we must be patient and confident in the sustained and stable economic growth," Liu Guoqiang, the deputy governor of the Chinese central bank told reporters on Friday, according to Insider's translation of the official transcript.

In the past, China has tried to stimulate domestic demand on a large scale  usually with infrastructure and housing project developments.

But this has contributed to the already massive debt levels in the country's economy  China's total debt to GDP ratio already hit a record high of nearly 300% in the first quarter of the year, according to a May 8 Bloomberg analysis based on official data.

The inherent risk with such high debt levels is that a default threatens a domino impact on the Chinese economy  and even the world.

"There are a lot of expectations on the Chinese government to have more stimulus policies. I don't think this is real," Zhu Min, a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund said at the World Economic Forum's "Summer Davos" in Tianjin, China, on June 29, per Bloomberg.

Robert Carnell, ING's head of research for Asia Pacific wrote in a July 6 note that China is already a "debt-fueled sector in an economy which is already sitting on large amounts of debt."

"Allowing this sector's weakness to run its course may hurt growth now, but this is probably viewed as a price worth paying for more sustainable crisis-free growth ahead," Carnell added.

All this just means investors will have to sit tight for the ride ahead and not hold out for a quick rebound.

That's because Beijing may not even hit the 5% GDP growth target it has set for itself this year even as they roll out support measures to stimulate the economy, Nomura economists wrote in a Monday note seen by Insider.

"We believe markets should curb their expectations for a fast, cure-all package and instead embrace expectations of a growth slowdown to below 4.0% in 2024," the economists added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
China's youth unemployment rate just hit a new high and its GDP growth missed analysts' expectations

Tourists use umbrellas and protective clothing to shade from the sun at Tiananmen Square on June 24, 2023. Wang Xin/VCG/Getty Images

China's youth unemployment rate hit a new high, and its GDP grew by 6.3% in the second quarter.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected China's economy to have grown by 7.3%.

After an initial spurt, China's economy is struggling to recover from three years of COVID-19 restrictions.

China on Monday said its economy grew 6.3% in the second quarter of 2023 from a year ago, badly missing analysts' expectations.

The country's youth unemployment hit a new record high of 21.3% in the second quarter. This means more than one in five of those between 16 to 24 years old are unemployed.

Economists polled by Reuters expected China's GDP to grow by 7.3% during the second quarter of the year. In the first quarter, the country's economy had grown 4.5% compared to the previous year.

Despite the miss, China's statistics bureau said in its press release that its economy "showed good momentum of recovery in the first half year."

Meanwhile, China's retail sales grew 3.1% in June from a year ago  a sharp decline from the 12.7% growth in May. Industrial production grew 4.4% in June from a year ago, up from the 3.5% growth in May, the data shows.

The country's second-quarter GDP data could be masking troubles in its economy because the of the low base last year when the country was still mired in on-off COVID-19 lockdowns, Vishnu Varathan, the head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank, wrote in a Monday note before the data release.

Varathan added in the note that growth momentum in China has slowed. "Once base effect distortions are backed out, China's economy remains dismal," he added.

"It is clear that growth momentum has been fading rapidly," economists from Nomura wrote in a Monday note after the data release.

Recent economic data printout of China has also been poor  on Thursday, China's economy flashed a red flag.

The country's exports tanked 12.4% in June from a year ago, while imports fell 6.8% in the same period  missing expectations majorly, official data showed.

After an initial spurt, China's economy has struggled to recover from three years of on-off COVID-19 lockdowns, pointing to a disappointing showing for the world's second-largest economy this year.

China's economy grew 3% in 2022 and Beijing has set a 5% GDP growth target this year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CNNs Chris Wallace asked Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel if she would be cool with her party nominating a convicted felon, amid escalating legal troubles for 2024 GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

Let me ask you a question. Do you have any problem with the Republican Party nominating somebody whos under federal indictment? Wallace asked the GOP official on this weeks installment of Whos Talking To Chris Wallace.

McDaniel said it was up to voters to decide.

I think the presumption of innocence stands, she said. And I think theres a lot of Republicans who are very troubled. At the end of the day, Chris, though, its not up to me. Its up to the voters.

Wallace followed up: Do you have any problem with the Republican Party nominating a convicted felon?

McDaniel shot down the question as hypothetical before pivoting to whataboutism.

Were not even close to that. So I dont think were even there, she said.

I think a lot of people are very concerned, she added. Republicans especially, I hear this every day. Why is there one side of justice for Hillary Clinton, a different for Donald Trump, different for Hunter Biden?

Trump was indicted last month on 37 felony counts related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office. Prosecutors allege that the former president mishandled sensitive national security information, knowingly broke the law and obstructed the investigation.

He is also under indictment in a separate case. The Manhattan District Attorneys office charged him with 34 felony counts in April over an alleged scheme to hide an affair via hush money payments in the days before the 2016 presidential election.

Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival in that race, was investigated by the FBI over her handling of classified information on a private email server during her time as secretary of state.

She was not charged. The Justice Department determined her office had been extremely careless, but said she did not act with criminal intent.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump said Clinton had no right to be running and claimed it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis that would cripple the operations of our government if she won the election while under investigation.

President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden, who is not an elected official, agreed to plead guilty to tax evasion charges last month following a long-running probe into his business affairs.

You can watch the excerpt from Whos Talking To Chris Wallace via Mediaite.

Related...
1/2 of the City Girls duo, Jatavia Johnson, also known as JT released a new single Friday called No Bars. Although the single was highly anticipated what fans didnt know was that the song came with a new initiative. At the same time the new single dropped, she also launched No Bars Reform, which is a website dedicated to helping provide services to formerly incarcerated women.

No Bars Reform By JT

Thank you & theres more to come! https://t.co/cCSzQASIY8  J (@ThegirlJT) July 15, 2023

JT had her own struggles when it comes to incarceration. When the City Girls first started to become mainstream after Drake featured the duo on his single Nice For What, she was on her way to serve a sentence. She was arrested and charged with aggravated identity theft in 2018 then sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Yung Miami kept the steam going for the rap group while JT was behind bars. She was released in March of 2020. She is now taking the experience of her struggles and helping out those who may be less fortunate.

According to the website, No Bars Reform assists women in finding employment, housing, therapy, substance abuse help, and additional opportunities by providing resources to them.

After spending almost two years in a Florida prison before being released in 2020, JT has vowed to use her voice and platform to help other incarcerated women rehabilitate into society, a statement on the site said.

This is one of the most recent moves celebrity Black women have been doing to assist formerly incarcerated women have an easier transition back into societyt. Angela Yee recently revealed that she purchased a 30-unit building in Midtown Detroit to help formerly incarcerated women reach success.

Its really hard to get housing when you get out of prison, Yee explained during her speech at the 2023 Elite 100 Wealth and Legacy Summit, where she made the announcement. If you look at the numbers, of how difficult it is, they used to ask you if youve ever been convicted of a felony, and people would not get housing.

The post City Girls JT Launches Prison Reform Website For Women appeared first on 21Ninety.
Clemson is the latest college to block TikTok on its campus. What about USC?

Clemson University students will no longer be able to access TikTok from the schools campus Wi-Fi networks.

The university is part of a growing number of institutions that have decided to ban the popular social media app in hopes of protecting the integrity of information and resources connected to the Clemson network.

This step allows the University to protect institutional resources and information while safeguarding the privacy of a wide variety of devices connected to the Clemson network, the university said in a statement. We will continue to monitor updates related to this app and provide subsequent information as needed.

While the app is no longer available using Clemsons provided internet, faculty, staff, students and visitors can still access TikTok via their personal devices on private data networks.

Clemson says it is continuing to monitor TikTok-related updates.

The fate of Clemsons official TikTok account, which has accrued nearly 120,000 followers and more than 2.1 million likes, remains unclear. Clemson spokesman Joe Galbraith did not comment on whether it would remain active.

The University of South Carolina has not made any changes regarding the app, which can still be accessed on the universitys network, spokesman Jeff Stensland said Monday.

We dont utilize any state devices to manage the universitys TikTok account, Stensland told The State in December. Staff members use personal devices to maintain it.

Several other South Carolina schools have moved to rid their networks of the app. In March, Horry-Georgetown Technical College was the first college in the state to boot TikTok from its internet network, the Myrtle Beach Sun News reported. Since then, Coastal Carolina University has also taken steps to rid its campus network of the app.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced in December that he was taking steps to block TikTok from state electronic devices to protect the states cyber infrastructure from foreign and domestic threats.

Federal law enforcement and national security officials have warned that TikTok poses a clear and present danger to its users, McMaster said in a statement. A growing bi-partisan coalition in Congress is pushing to ban access to TikTok in the United States.

Marcia Adams, executive director of South Carolinas Department of Administration, then blocked TikTok from thousands of state-owned devices.

TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. Earlier this year, the companys CEO, Shou Zi Chew, was grilled by members of Congress, who questioned what kind of data the app collects, if it was shared with the Chinese Communist party and whether it is a national security risk.

Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country, Chew told the committee.

Other colleges, such as Texas A&M University, Auburn University, and schools in Georgia and Florida, along with other government agencies, have also limited TikTok use.
Clemson Starbucks workers at the 1082 Tiger Blvd. location have officially filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize alongside Starbucks Workers United.

The paperwork was filed on Monday morning, and an adjacent letter was sent to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan to announce their organizing, detailing complaints of discrimination of race and illness, drastic hour cuts, favoritism shown in the workplace, and more.

"I know first-hand that it is possible to love this job," said Kale Hilley, barista at the Clemson location. "But as long as we are in these conditions, it will never be possible. I'm speaking up and voting to unionize because my partners and I deserve better."

The letter also detailed: "We risk losing eligibility for health insurance because our hours are being continually cut. We repeatedly see the destruction of our partner experience occurring due to unrealistic customer demand."

The Tiger Blvd and College Ave store in Clemson, SC is ROARING for a union! pic.twitter.com/w4JctIGEYi  Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) July 17, 2023

The nationwide union includes more than 8,500 workers looking for better working conditions, fair wages and consistent schedules. Since December 2021, more than 335 stores across the country have successfully unionized, according to workersunited.org.

In response, Starbucks Press issued the following statement:

"We recognize that a subset of partners feel differently and we respect their right to organize and to engage in lawful union activities without fear of reprisal or retaliation," a Starbucks media correspondent said. "As a next step, we welcome the opportunity for our partners at our Tiger Blvd. and College Ave. store to vote in a neutral, secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board."

The vote would allow the employees and partners to make their own informed decision regarding union representation.

According to Starbucks officials, their company offers employees an average of $17.50 hour, medical/dental and vision benefits and 100% tuition reimbursement.

If successfully unionized, the Clemson Boulevard and Tiger Avenue Starbucks location would join three other sites in South Carolina, including Interstate 85 and Pelham Parkway in Greenville, Millwood Avenue and Butler Street in Columbia, and I-85 and Clemson Boulevard in Anderson.

 A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson Starbucks workers petition to unionize, seek hours, insurance
(Reuters) - Ancient Buddhist murals in northwestern China are under "direct threat" as a result of unprecedented levels of rainfall brought about by climate change, researchers said on Monday.

Extreme rainfall in Dunhuang and Zhangye in China's Gansu province has put UNESCO-listed world heritage sites at risk, with cave monasteries dating back to the 4th century already damaged, environmental group Greenpeace said.

Rainwater leaks and rising humidity have damaged ancient cave paintings, including those in the famous Mogao grottoes, it said, and some caves have even collapsed.

"Spikes in humidity, flash floods, and cave-ins are already happening," said Li Zhao, a senior researcher in Greenpeace East Asia's Beijing office.

Greenpeace said that while total precipitation has increased in Gansu since 2000, the number of rainy days has actually fallen, meaning that individual bouts of rainfall have become more intense. Temperatures in the province have also risen faster than the global average.

China is conducting a nationwide cultural heritage survey, but Li warned that some of the country's treasures could already be gone by the time it is completed.

"The sites we looked at include some of the most well-funded, best-staffed cultural heritage sites in China," Li said. "There are hundreds of less-funded, less-studied sites all around China that are facing these same risks."

Gansu is not the only region at risk.

Higher levels of rainfall in the normally arid northern province of Shanxi have also taken their toll on ancient buildings, some of which are more than 1,000 years old, said Friends of Nature, a Beijing environmental group, last month.

The Jinci Temple and Tianlongshan grottoes, both national heritage sites in Shanxi, have collapsed, and old towers and walls in the province have suffered damage due to unusually heavy rain, it said.

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Russia has suspended a wartime deal designed to move grain from Ukraine to parts of the world where millions are going hungry.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, has allowed 32.9 million metric tons (36.2 million tons) of food to be exported from Ukraine since August, more than half to developing countries, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

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U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization chief economist Maximo Torero said last week that the end of the deal would mean a new spike for sure in food prices  though its unclear how long it will last.

Some analysts dont foresee a lasting rise in the cost of commodities like wheat because theres enough grain in the world to go around. But many countries are already struggling with high local food prices, which are helping fuel hunger.

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Heres a look at the crucial accord and what it means for the world:

What is the grain deal?

Ukraine and Russia signed separate agreements in July 2022, one that reopened three of Ukraines Black Sea ports that were blocked for months following Moscows invasion. The other facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer amid Western sanctions.

Both countries are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and Russia of fertilizer  other critical parts of the food chain.

Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the breadbasket of the world, exacerbated a global food crisis and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide.

The deal provided assurances that ships wont be attacked entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels were checked by Russian, Ukrainian, U.N. and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food.

Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope and was renewed three times  the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up. Thats despite Moscow shipping record amounts of wheat.

No new ships have joined the initiative since June 27, and Ukraine blames Moscow. The last vessel left Ukraine on Sunday.

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What has it accomplished?

The deal helped bring down global prices of food commodities like wheat that hit record highs after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Once the grain deal was struck, the World Food Program got back a top supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tons of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the precipice of famine, including Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Yemen.

It is a pretty unique phenomenon to have two warring parties and two intermediaries agree to establish this sort of corridor to get humanitarian products  which is ostensibly what this is  out to markets that need it most, said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the worlds commercial fleet.

After Russia exited the deal, wheat prices in Chicago trading rose about 3% on Monday, to $6.81 a bushel.

Why did Russia end the deal?

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Russia has said it wants an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and to restrictions on shipping and insurance that Moscow insists have hampered its agricultural exports.

Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of sanctions, but Western allies have made assurances that food and fertilizer are exempt.

Its not uncommon in situations like this for countries to use whatever levers they have to try and get sanctions regimes changed, said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Russia also has complained that a commitment to pipe its ammonia, a key component of fertilizer, to a Ukrainian port to be exported has never started under the deal. Thats true, but the U.N. says the pipeline has been damaged in the fighting.

Regrettably, the part of the Black Sea agreements related to Russia hasnt been fulfilled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposing to ease transactions through the agricultural bank, a spokesperson said.

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Russian claims that its agriculture sector is suffering are countered by the reality that production and exports are up since before the war, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Russia exported a record 45.5 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another all-time high of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.

Who is affected?

The International Rescue Committee calls the grain deal a lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the frontlines of food insecurity.

It is critical that the deal is extended for a longer term to create some predictability and stability, said Shashwat Saraf, the groups regional emergency director for East Africa, which has seen both severe drought and flooding destroy crops.

While global prices for grain may stabilize, countries that depend on imported food, from Lebanon to Egypt, may see their costs rise for a while if they need to find suppliers that are farther away, analysts say.

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That will compound costs for countries that also have seen their currencies weaken and debt levels grow because they pay for food shipments in dollars.

For low-income countries and people, food will be less affordable, World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters last week.

What about Ukraine?

Ukraines economy depends on agriculture, and before the war, 75% of its grain exports went through the Black Sea.

It can send its food by land or river through Europe, but those routes can handle lower amounts compared to sea shipments and their use has stirred anger in neighboring countries.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to send more grain through the Danube River to neighboring Romanias Black Sea ports, saying its possible to double monthly exports along that route to 4 million metric tons.

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Ukraines wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40% from its pre-war average, with the USDA expecting 10.5 million metric tons exported in the coming year.

Ukraine accused Russia of slowing down inspections of ships. Combined with no new ships joining the effort, that has led to a drop in exports from a high under the deal of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 2 million in June.

What else affects food supply?

Fallout from the pandemic, conflict, economic crises, drought and other climate factors affect the ability of people to get enough to eat.

There are 45 countries that need food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a July report. High domestic food prices are driving hunger in most of those countries, including Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela and several in Africa and Asia.

While drought can also be a problem for major grain suppliers, analysts see other countries producing enough grain to counterbalance losses from Ukraine.

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Besides Russias huge exports, Europe and Argentina are increasing wheat shipments, while Brazil saw a banner year for corn.

These markets adapt and producers adapt  and boy, the wheat and corn markets have adapted very, very quickly, said Peter Meyer, head of grain analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Climate envoy John Kerry is in China for talks the U.S. hopes will raise relations from historic low

FILE - John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, speaks after a news conference given by China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 10, 2021. Kerry was holding talks Monday, July 17, 2023, with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing as the U.S. seeks to restore contacts amid disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and territorial claims. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BEIJING (AP)  U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was holding talks Monday with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, as the U.S. seeks to restore contacts that were disrupted by disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and China's territorial claims.

Chinas official Xinhua News Agency said Kerry was meeting with Xie Zhenhua for the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between representatives of the worlds two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus.

China is the worlds largest producer and consumer of coal and has proceeded with building new plants, while at the same time forging ahead with renewables such as solar and wind power.

Yet, congressional Republicans questioning of Kerry ahead of his trip at times broke down into challenging the existence of the scientifically established fact of climate change.

But with Republicans as well as Democrats overall accepting the science underlying the warming climate, much of the criticism from GOP committee members zeroed in on the appropriateness of the U.S. engaging in climate negotiations with China.

China has pledged to level-off carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. The U.S. and the European Union have urged China to adopt more ambitious reduction targets.

Kerry is expected to push for a reduction in China's reliance on coal and setting targets on methane that, along with carbon dioxide, is a main contributor to the earth's warming climate. As with the U.S. and Europe, China has seen record stretches of high temperatures that have threatened crops and prompted cities to open Cold War-era bomb shelters to help residents escape the heat.

U.S. lawmakers faulted China for refusing to make bigger cuts in climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions and the country's insistence that it was still a developing economy and should not be held to the same climate standards as developed Western economies.

Kerry responded that the clear disparity between Chinas claims and the size of its economy as the worlds second largest could not be allowed to deadlock global progress on cutting emissions. He also ruled out the likelihood of persuading China to hold itself to the same emissions-cutting requirements facing other big economies, at least on this visit.

Kerry is the third senior Biden administration official in recent weeks to travel to China for meetings with their counterparts there, after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

China broke off some mid- and high-level contacts with the Biden administration, including over climate issues, to show its anger with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis August trip to self-ruled Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as its territory and held menacing military exercises around the island to advertise its threats of blockade and invasion that could draw the U.S. into a major conflict in a region crucial to the global economy.

Other problems have rocked relations since then, including the transit across the U.S. of what Americans say was a Chinese spy balloon.

A stroke suffered by Xie, Chinas top climate diplomat, also contributed to a stall in U.S.-China climate discussions.

The Biden administrations aim with Beijing now is to achieve stability, if we can, without conceding anything, Kerry told lawmakers prior to his visit.

"What were trying to do is find ways we can cooperate to actually address the crisis of climate, Kerry said. China, he said, is critical to our being able to solve this problem.

In a commentary published Sunday, Xinhua said recent U.S.-China official interactions are a good sign for preventing further miscalculations, and steering bilateral relations back on track.

However, it added that Beijing was seeking more concessions on the political side  something the U.S. has said it will not provide.

It is especially true for the White House to bear in mind that seeking to compartmentalize cooperation with  or competition and suppression against  China in bilateral ties is simply unrealistic in practice and unacceptable for Beijing, Xinhua said.

For China-U.S. cooperation to be healthy and sustainable, bilateral ties must be treated as a whole, it said.
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty

In a speech the first week of June, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asserted the need to close Guantanamo Bay prison, citing the extraordinary costs of keeping the prison open and the lack of justice for 9/11 families as a result of the long drawn out military commissions.

Senator Durbin has expressed similar sentiments before, for example, in a September 2022 interview with The Wall Street Journal when he stated that holding people without charge or trial for years on end cannot be reconciled with the values we espouse as a nation, and has deprived the victims of 9/11 and their families of any semblance of justice or closure.

Conspicuously absent from these statements, however, were any clear calls for justice for the men who remain detained. This has been a consistent theme in official and/or mainstream narratives around Guantanamoneglecting to call for justice for the men detained, as if this is an unreasonable demand that would diminish the legitimacy of the overall call to close the facility.

Guantanamo Bay, With Legacy of Injustice and Abuse, Turns 20

Guantanamo was not created as a place for justiceespecially not for the Muslim men detained behind its bars.

Just as soon as these men were captured, they were labeled as suspected terroriststhus precluding any ability for them to be seen as innocent until proven guilty. From the long years spent behind bars awaiting charges and convictions that never came, to torture, and even murder, the U.S. government has, at every conceivable step of the way, sought to entrench the perception of their inherent guilt. This perception has been shaped by the deployment of strategic narratives that have been carefully constructed and maintained to paint the men as irredeemable terrorists.

Even for the men who are currently in plea deal negotiations, or the few who have been charged and convicted, the establishment of a faux legal system was designed to masquerade the process as justice.

Since the opening of the prison at Guantanamo, numerous Supreme Court cases have been won granting the detainees the narrow right to challenge their detention through habeas corpus.

In 2009, Lakhdar Boumediene, the lead plaintiff in the famous case of Boumediene v. Bush, was ordered released by a federal court and was subsequently transferred to France. In the Department of Justices press release announcing Boumedienes departure from Guantanamo, there were no details about his case, much less anything that would cast doubt on his guilt or vindicate him.

Guantanamo, after all, is fundamentally a place that consigns even the men lucky enough to get out with a degree of guilt hanging over their heads. Additionally, the law, as this case demonstrates, could only go so far to guarantee justiceparticularly for those it was never meant to protect.

Golf Deal Leaves 9/11 Son Embarrassed to Fly American Flag

Abdul Latif Nasser was a Moroccan man who spent nearly 20 years at Guantanamo Bay prison before being the first prisoner to be released by President Joe Biden. Though Nasser had been cleared for release in 2016, administrative delays by the Obama administration and the fact that Trump vowed to keep the prison open (releasing just one prisoner during his term) meant that he ended up spending an additional five years detained. When Nasser was finally released, in July 2021without being charged or convictedthe Department of Defense issued a press release stating merely that his detention no longer remained necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the national security of the United States. After almost 20 years, in other words, Nasser left Guantanamo stainedwith eternal unquestionable guilt stamped on his back, and no acknowledgement of his victimization.

In February 2016, with his presidency winding down, President Barack Obama delivered a speech on his plan to close Guantanamo. Under Obama, close to 150 Guantanamo prisoners were transferred out, giving the administration ample evidence, data, and knowledge as to who the men detained really were. But rather than take actual responsibility for the harm inflicted on Guantanamos Muslim prisoners, the need to close the prison was shifted back onto Muslims being inherently terroristic and vengeful. Nowhere in Obamas speech was there a recognition of the violence wrought on Muslimsfor whom justice needed to be secured, if the U.S. were to uphold the values upon which it claims to stand.

Though President Biden has been relatively silent on the plan to close Guantanamo, he has nevertheless received urging in publications including The New York Times, whose editorial board opinion piece, titled Biden Can Close the Extrajudicial Prison at Guantanamo, was published in April 2023. The opinion piece imbues the subject with a sense of urgency, given what could be his only term as President. However, justice for the Muslim men detained remained absent from the call.

The War on Terror Turned Out to Be a War on Ourselves

As Guantanamo Bay prison moves towards its 22nd year in operation, we should continue to call for the prisons closure. However, we should also robustly challenge how the Islamophobic discourse surrounding Guantanamo has perpetuated a narrative of unequivocal guilt, even after the men have been transferred. The U.S. cannot absolve itself from responsibility just because it's managed to so thoroughly criminalize the men that their existence has been rendered inconvenient and disposable.

If justice is an actual concern of the U.S. government, then there must be accountability for those who the U.S. has disregarded as justified collateral damage to protect the American homeland. Guantanamo's men cannot be made visible when it comes to punishment, yet invisible when it comes to justice.

Moreover, injustice has never been and will never be a means towards obtaining justicebecause justice cannot be granted towards one injured party at the expense of another. Calls to close the prison must clearly articulate this to manifest justice that is long past due for Guantanamos indefinitely detained men.

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A Cohasset native was seriously injured in a shooting that left the gunman and one police officer dead and two more officers wounded in Fargo, North Dakota, on Friday.

Karlee Koswick, 25, moved to Fargo three weeks ago to start a new job, relatives told Patriot Ledger media partner WCVB.

Fargo police said Mohamad Barakat, 37, fired multiple rounds at police officers investigating a minor car crash on a busy street July 14.

Its unclear whether Koswick was involved in the crash, police said.

"I believe she was just in the area, but I can't say for certain at this juncture," said Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski.

Police crime tape remains near the site of a shooting Friday, July 14, 2023, in Fargo, North Dakota. One police officer was fatally shot and two others were critically wounded. Authorities have said the suspect was also killed in the shooting, and a Cohasset, Massachusetts, woman who had recently moved to the area was injured.

Koswick was hit by gunfire in the hip and legs, her family said. She had surgery, and a hospital spokesperson told The Associated Press that she was in fair condition Sunday.

Two officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, were in critical but stable condition as of Saturday. The third officer, Jake Wallin, died from gunshot wounds.

There was nothing that could be done" for the 23-year-old military veteran, the chief said. "It's just a really sad tragedy that he's no longer with us.

Barakat was fatally shot by a fourth officer, Zach Robinson, police said.

The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Cohasset native Karlee Koswick shot in North Dakota
An Ohio State University graduate student missing for a month was found dead in a quarry where she was last seen, her family says.

Amina Alhaj-Omar, 25, was reported missing Saturday, June 10, according to the Columbus Police Department. She was a social work graduate student at the university and interned with Community Refugee and Immigration Services.

An investigation revealed Alhaj-Omar was seen exiting a BP gas station in Columbus on June 10 carrying two kitchen knives, police said in a news briefing streamed by WCMH. That same day, a woman that matched her description was spotted trespassing at a nearby quarry, police said.

Police searched the very large quarry for Alhaj-Omar, but officers were unable to find her. Despite reports from police stating she may have been having a mental health crisis, family members told The Columbus Dispatch she would never hurt herself intentionally.

The search for the missing graduate student was suspended June 29 when Columbus police had exhausted all of their leads, according to WSYX.

She was found dead in the quarry July 12, according to an obituary. Its unclear how or when she died.

Family members said in the obituary they were devastated by her death.

On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from the Franklin County detectives when they later came to our home and informed the family that they had found Aminas body in the quarry behind the BP gas station on S. High Street where she was last seen, family members said in a statement to WCMH. We are unaware of the details at this time as we have not yet received the autopsy report.

Alhaj-Omar would have turned 26 on June 29. She was described by a sister as a soft, kind soul.

Shes a really good person, Miriam Alhaj-Omar told The Columbus Dispatch before her sister was found. She will stretch herself in order to make someones life easier.

She was buried Sunday, July 16, a sister said in a Facebook post.

An obituary states Alhaj-Omar earned her bachelors degree in criminology from Ohio State University. She was known as being family-oriented, with loved ones remembering her for 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.

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The News

Forget Barbenheimer.

The biggest double feature this week is the release of and the celebration of Colombian Independence Day.

At least, thats according to a TikTok posted over the weekend by the Colombian presidency, which hyped up an upcoming Independence Day celebration and release, with both falling on July 20.

But the post generated some controversy within Colombian political circles on social media, and was quickly taken down.

Know More

The video, posted to the official TikTok account of the Colombian presidents office, contrasts Barbies shoes with a pair of muddy boots, and shows clips from the movie interspersed with photos of President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez.

Dua Lipas which is featured on the Barbie soundtrack, plays over the video. Text written in the movies signature font invites the public to join the government at a July 20 sovereignty celebration on the island of San Andres. (Last week, Colombia won a maritime border dispute against Nicaragua in international court over who has economic rights to San Andres.)

The Colombian government clearly decided to ride the global hype train surrounding , which has been engaged in an exhaustive world press tour ahead of its release.

But the TikTok has become a point of controversy, according to Colombian media. Some, including opposing political parties, criticized the video for making light of the independence celebration, which doesnt have similar themes to El Tiempo reported.

Several tweets referred to the president as Petro Barbie, accusing him of ignoring more serious issues. His approval ratings fell to 33% last month.

The video was quickly taken down. Some reports questioned whether the government was at risk of copyright violations by using music and clips from the movie without permission.

The View From Vietnam

While the Colombian government (briefly) leaned into the buzz, the movie has been a touchy subject for other world leaders.

Vietnam banned the film from being shown because a scene showed a scribbled cartoon map that Hanoi said includes the so-called nine-dash line, a U-shaped section of the South China Sea that China unilaterally claims as part of its territory, but that Vietnam rejects. The country accused the film of showing offensive political imagery.

(Warner Bros. Pictures said the movie wasnt trying to make any kind of statement.)

The View From The Philippines

The Philippines cleared the movie for release after a meticulous review of the map, that included consulting a legal expert on the West Philippines Sea.

President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. told reporters that he didnt see any issue with it, saying the movie is a work of fiction, per Philstar.

They said its a good [movie], he said.
XZavier Hergins-Turns, 19, center, 19, of Columbus' Northeast Side, pleaded guilty on Monday, July 17, 2023 to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in connection with the death of 21-year-old Jerry Thomas Campbell III on Oct. 30, 2022. Judge Andria Noble immediately sentenced Hergins-Terns to an indefinite prison sentence of 18 to 22 years, as jointly requested by his defense attorney, Jeremy Wright, right, and county prosecutors.

A Columbus man, whom authorities say fatally shot a man in his car in October over a drug deal gone bad, was immediately sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery.

XZavier Hergins-Turns, 19, of the Northeast Side, admitted on Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court that he fatally shot 21-year-old Jerry Thomas Campbell III on Oct. 30, 2022.

Under a plea agreement, Franklin County prosecutors dropped charges of murder and aggravated murder.

Judge Andria Noble immediately sentenced Hergins-Turns to an indefinite prison sentence of 18 to 22 years.

Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Brian Daniels said in court that Campbell was found shot in his car at the intersection of East 19th and Gladstone avenues in South Linden.

A man riding in Campbells car had messaged with Hergins-Turns about selling Hergins-Tern some marijuana, Daniels said. Hergins-Turns got into the vehicle and there was a discussion about the transaction, but a dispute broke out over the weight of the marijuana, Daniels said.

Hergins-Turns got out of the car, pointed his gun into the vehicle, took the marijuana and fired one shot, striking Campbell in the abdomen, Daniels said.

Samantha Barr, Campbells mother, said during the hearing that her son was sweet, humble and giving. He leaves behind two young daughters.

While Barr spoke, a woman sitting behind Hergins-Turns in the front row of the gallery giggled and the judge interrupted the hearing to order her to leave the courtroom.

Hergins-Turns defense attorney, Jeremy Wright, apologized later for the disruption and said that does not reflect his clients attitude about this serious matter.

I send my condolences to this family, Hergins-Turns said Monday in court. I never meant to hurt anyone.

More court news: Columbus parents whose 5-year-old daughter killed herself with unsecured gun are sentenced

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man sentenced for fatally shooting man during drug deal
Meritus medical school gets $6 million from foundation; academic building to bear Bowman name

As Meritus Health makes progress on its proposed school of osteopathic medicine, it recently received a big gift to help cover the cost of construction.

The Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation has committed $6 million toward the capital costs of the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine now being built on the hospital's Robinwood campus, according to a news release from Meritus.

Meritus President and CEO Dr. Malik Joshi said the gift would be recognized on the building itself.

The Jone L. Bowman Family Foundation recently announced it would contribute $6 million to support the capital costs of the building of the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. Pictured, from left: Greg Snook, Cindy Joiner, Tracey Bowman, Todd Bowman, Dr. Maulik Joshi, Don Bowman, Mary Bowman, Samantha Bodnar, Linda Ebersole and Justin Anderson.

"We are so proud to share that our flagship academic building will be named the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall in honor of this tremendous support, a location that is so much more than a building, Joshi said in the news release, "it will inspire and educate future generations of socially responsible physicians."

The purpose of the school, Joshi said, is to help fill the gap in physicians being experienced locally and nationwide.

Dave Lehr, Meritus Health chief strategy officer and chief operating officer of the medical school, said in a separate news release that the school has met all licensure and accreditation milestones so far, including passing stage one of the Maryland Higher Education Council licensure process.

Construction on the 200,000-square-foot academic building started in the winter and is on track to be completed in late 2024, Lehr said in the release.

In preparation, the inaugural dean, Dr. Paula Gregory, has been working with three associate deans to develop the school's needed preceptor partnerships and curriculum. The plan is to have the four-year medical school accepting students who would begin their medical education in August 2025, Lehr said.

Joshi said that as of July, the community has pledged more than $11 million toward the school. The Meritus Healthcare Foundation is promoting a capital campaign, and community members interested in supporting the school can learn more at MSOM.org.

'Trying to close that gap': Goodwill works to expand downtown healthcare options

Meritus Health hires surgeon as new chief surgical officer

Meritus Health recently announced in a news release that Dr. Adrian Park, a world-renowned surgeon, will join the organization as the chief surgical officer. Additionally, he will serve the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine as an associate dean of research and innovation.

Park has made major advancements in the improvement of laparoscopic techniques and technology, complex hernia repair, foregut and spleen surgery, according to the release. He holds more than 20 patents and has been instrumental in the development and application of new technologies in endoscopic surgery.

Park joins Meritus from Luminis Health, where he served as the James and Sylvia Earl chair of surgery and surgeon in chief, and professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In addition to serving as a senior leader, Park will care for patients and perform advanced, minimally-invasive surgeries at Meritus Medical Center, according to the release. He will see patients in Hagerstown and in Frederick, where Meritus is establishing a new clinic.

Global Data Consultants promotes two

Global Data Consultants LLC, a managed IT solutions and staffing technology provider headquartered in Chambersburg, Pa., recently announced two promotions.

Dan Logan to CEO and Mike Coons was named chief financial officer and executive vice president of mergers and acquisitions, according to news releases from the company.

Dan Logan

Logan will have oversight of the sales and service delivery leadership reporting. He is tasked with guiding GDCs efforts to promote and deliver product and service, in addition to expanding the customer base, according to the release. He has worked at GDC for nearly 20 years, beginning in application services. He most recently was chief information officer.

Mike Coons

Coons will have oversight of shared services and infrastructure leadership reporting. He will take the lead of selecting and assessing companies that best fit within the GDC services model with all the resources necessary to incorporate them into our organization, according to the release. During his 15 years at GDC, he has helped in GDCs sales organization, increasing market share, and expanding GDCs corporate footprint.

SEK promotes two in Chambersburg, one in Hagerstown

SEK CPAs & Advisors, a regional accounting and consulting firm with offices in Maryland and Pennsylvania, recently announced the following manager and senior staff promotions effective July 1.

Kristin Delauter

Kristin Delauter was promoted to manager. With eight years of experience, Delauter specializes in audit services to municipalities, school districts, and other governmental entities, as well as financial institutions and nonprofit organizations. She joined SEK in 2015 and is based in the firms Chambersburg office.

Morgan Landman

Morgan Landman was promoted to senior associate. Landman provides tax services to closely-held businesses, specifically partnerships and s-corporations. She specializes in the preparation of business tax returns and collaborating on projects related to the Employee Retention Credit. Based in the Chambersburg office, she joined SEK full-time in 2022 after three tax-season internships with the firm.

Sarah Shank

Sarah Shank was promoted to senior associate. She provides tax and accounting services to individuals, private foundations, trusts and estates. She joined SEK in 2021 and is based in the firms Hagerstown office.

Opening? Moving? Got a new hire or promotion? Let us know

If you have details on a business coming or going in Washington County, Md., or Franklin County, Pa., email us at news@herald-mail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Jone L. Bowman Foundation donates $6 million to medical school
Common typo causes millions of emails intended for members of the US military to be sent to accounts in Mali

Millions of emails intended for Pentagon employees were inadvertently sent to email accounts in Mali over the last decade because of typos caused by the similarity of the US militarys email address and the domain for the West African country, according to a Dutch technologist who discovered the problem.

In some cases, sensitive information like hotel reservations for senior US military officials were revealed.

The emails were intended for owners of .MIL email accounts  the internet domain owned by the US military  but because of typos they were instead sent to the .ML domain, which handles email accounts in the West African country of Mali.

The email mishap reveals the security risks to US national security officials that can arise from an innocent typo. The personal information in the emails could be used to conduct targeted cyberattacks or to track the movements of Pentagon personnel  although theres no evidence that happened in this case.

The Financial Times first reported on the issue.

Johannes Joost Zuurbier, a Dutch internet entrepreneur, received the emails because his company was contracted to manage the .ML domain. Since 2013, Zuurbier said, he has raised the issue with various US officials, including the US Embassy in Mali earlier this year.

Yes, I was concerned, still am! Zuurbier said in an email to CNN when asked about possible security risks and the misdirected emails.

Zuurbiers contract to manage the .ML domain expired last week, he said, prompting him to raise awareness of the issue in the media.

None of the leaked emails were sent from official Department of Defense email addresses, but the department has blocked its email accounts from emailing .ml email addresses as a precaution, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday.

She added that the only thing that went through were emails from personal accounts, like a Gmail or Yahoo account. The department strongly discourages using personal email accounts for official business, Singh said.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is aware of this issue and takes all unauthorized disclosures of Controlled National Security Information or Controlled Unclassified Information seriously, Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman said in a statement to CNN earlier on Monday.

The misdirected emails have grown less frequent in recent years, but still come by the hundreds per day, Zuurbier said. Many of the emails are spam, but some are sensitive.

One of the misdirected emails contained hotel room numbers for the Army chief of staff, Gen. James McConville, and his entourage on a trip they took in May to Indonesia.

In this photo taken on May 9, 2023, US Army Chief of Staff General James McConville speaks during a press conference at Camp Bonifas in Paju, at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea. - Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

And while the US government cant prevent outside users from mistyping emails intended for the government, some of those making the typos were US government employees.

One email in Zuurbiers stash is from an FBI agent and intended for a US Navy official, asking for personal information to process a Navy visitor to an FBI facility. The FBI agent uses the .ml domain.

CNN has requested comment from the Army and the FBI. The Navy declined to comment.

The Defense Department has implemented policy, training, and technical controls to ensure that emails from the .mil domain are not delivered to incorrect domains, Gorman said in his statement.

While it is not possible to implement technical controls preventing the use of personal email accounts for government business, the Department continues to provide direction and training to DoD personnel, the statement continued.

The Pentagon has no control over whether third parties incorrectly type defense personnels email addresses, Gorman told CNN when asked about the matter.

This isnt the first time this year that the US military has had to deal with an inadvertent email leak.

A trove of internal US Special Operations Command emails were publicly available online for about two weeks in February because of an IT misconfiguration. The Pentagon fixed the issue after a private security researcher discovered the leak.

CNNs Haley Britzky contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
House Lawmakers Debate NDAA Amendments On Capitol Hill

U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) participates in a photo line with tourists in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives are voting on multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that pertain to issues related to Ukraine funding, abortion access and gender-affirming care for members of the military and climate change. Credit - Anna Moneymaker-Getty Images

Last week, Members of Congress took two votes on U.S. involvement in the war in Ukraine, and the outcomes were radically different. These votes illustrated something peculiar about the politics of war: while there is considerable room to challenge how humanely war is conducted, it remains politically fraught to work towards ending war itself.

The first vote was a quite tepid proposal led by Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) that would have required the Biden administration to submit a strategy to Congress that included potential diplomatic pathways to facilitate a negotiated settlement to the war. As a mild enforcement mechanism, this proposal conditioned a relatively small percentage of Ukraine aid in the NDAA (amounting to about $300 million) on the administrations production of such a report. This proposal was soundly rejected, with only 129 Members  all of them Republicans  voting in support.

By contrast, a separate proposal to restrict the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine secured a surprisingly solid bipartisan vote count. This outcome was particularly notable given last-minute maneuvering from House leadership late Wednesday night that appeared as a blatant attempt to sabotage the proposals success. A broad bipartisan proposal to ban cluster munitions anywhere was replaced by a Republican-only measure that banned only transfers to Ukraine and was led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Despite the eleventh hour switcheroo, which almost certainly diminished some support, 49 Democrats and 98 Republicans still joined to support, although the measure fell short of passage.

More from TIME

Opposition to transferring cluster munitions is not a radical position. Those weapons, which are banned in a treaty ratified by over a hundred nations, are notoriously inhumane, not just in the immediate damage they inflict by spewing grenades in a large blast radius. They also leave some percentage of unexploded ordnance for years, for civilians to trip over unawares. The Defense Department initially offered assurances that Americas are new and improved, before its own statements proved how frequently the very grenades we are sending fail to explode immediately.

To be sure, constraining how war is fought is important work and not a diversion. But our political leaders must scrutinize and challenge not just the means and methods of killing, but also the killing itself. When states banned explosive bullets in the nineteenth century, pacifist Russian Leo Tolstoy asked: Why are a wound and death from an explosive bullet any worse than a wound caused by the simplest kind?

Many Americans and their elected representatives seem to think reducing brutality in war excuses them from asking more fundamental questions about it. This politics came into its own during Americas war on terror, when the biggest controversies tended to concern not why, where, and for how long our wars were fought, but how detainees were treated or whether drones and missiles killed too many civilians.

This legacy continues in the current era even for those members of Congress who, to their credit, did mobilize during Trumps presidency to withdraw American support from Saudi Arabias bloody war in Yemen. Back then, legislators were not just opposed to this or that weapon, but American connivance with an immoral war itself. They spearheaded a resolution to declare that involvement in violation of our War Powers Resolution of 1973  one of the last remnants of the Vietnam concern with war itself that has been reduced to tatters. Yet this week, many of those same legislators only went as far as calling for a bit more humanity in the Ukraine war.

Perhaps they are right to do so, of course: unequivocally, Ukraine is not Yemen and the U.S. is neither aiding the aggressor in this case nor capable of unilaterally ending the conflict. As Matt Duss argued at the beginning of the conflict, there is a moral case for assisting Ukraine in its struggle. But it is also clearer than ever that the war increasingly resembles a proxy war. A year later, there is also a moral case for recognizing that the war is as stalemated now as it has been nearly from its earliest days. It is increasingly obvious that a negotiated peace is the only answer, something the humanization of the war does nothing to bring nearer. Indeed, it may function to postpone that peace. President Biden commented the other day that the Ukraine war is likely to be long, assuming current policy continues.

In this perspective, while cluster munitions are vile, the debate around them is highly misleading. The side in favor of using them insists they will radically transform a quagmire into a Ukrainian victory. Those against insist that no calculus should permit certain tactics, even if they might advance a military cause. Neither side is prioritizing a negotiated settlement, and another endless war  however humane  is likely to be the result.
The News

Two competing proposals to end the double-tax faced by companies that do business in the U.S. and Taiwan are gaining steam in Congress, bringing Washington closer to strengthening economic ties with the island despite protests from China.

The first, a bipartisan bill that would authorize the Biden administration to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan, advanced out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday. Its sponsored by the panels two leaders, Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. and James Risch, R-Idaho.

Another bipartisan bill would reduce taxes on Taiwanese businesses and workers in the U.S. outright as long as Taipei reciprocates. That legislation is being written by heads of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, who released a discussion draft last week.

Theres an interest in moving fairly quickly, an aide to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore. told Semafor.

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Unlike its other top trade partners, the U.S. has never negotiated a tax treaty with Taiwan that shields businesses from having their profits taxed by both governments  a product of the fact that Washington and Taipei dont have official diplomatic ties. Lawmakers are now looking to address this longstanding issue in part because its threatening to become a major impediment to attracting more investment by Taiwanese semiconductor companies in the U.S. under the CHIPS and Science Act.

Last year, the Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, which is building a major plant in Arizona, wrote a letter to the Commerce Department warning that taxes were a stumbling block that could prevent its domestic suppliers from coming to the U.S. Taiwanese officials have also been pushing publicly for relief. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged earlier this year that the lack of a tax agreement with Taiwan was a significant problem for businesses and promised to work on the issue.

The two bills now working their ways through Congress offer different upsides, in the eyes of advocates. The draft bill from Wyden and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo. would provide immediate tax relief assuming that Taiwan moves to change its own laws. The proposal from Menendez and Risch would empower the Biden administration to negotiate a broader tax treaty to be approved by Congress, but as a result would take more time.

The Finance one definitely hits on a lot of our major concerns, but also having Treasury negotiate in line with other tax treaties is something were supportive of as well, Anne Gordon, vice president for international tax at the National Foreign Trade Council, told Semafor.

A spokesperson for Taiwans office in Washington welcomed Congress efforts to address double taxation, without weighing in on either specific legislative proposal. We look forward to working with Congress and the Biden administration to find feasible solutions, the spokesperson said in a statement to Semafor.

Already, theres talk of combining both bills. Menendez told reporters last Thursday he was looking forward to working together to see if we can have an amalgam of them. A second Wyden aide argued that their bill had certain advantages, including crucial bipartisan support in the House, the end result here is were going to end up working together.

The Biden administration has yet to endorse either piece of legislation, but has provided input behind the scenes. According to Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the administration has offered some suggestions for the Foreign Relations Committees bill, though he was unsure if they had been incorporated. The second Wyden aide said the Finance committees bill was written with help from both the Taiwanese government and Treasury. Both the State Department and Treasury declined to comment.

The View From Beijing

One possible reason for the administrations quiet: Its trying to repair relations with China, which is already expressing its displeasure at any deal that could create closer formal economic ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

The U.S. must not negotiate agreements with sovereign implication or official nature with Chinas Taiwan region, which would send wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces in the name of trade and economic interactions, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement to Semafor.

Cardin brushed the possibility of Chinese backlash aside.

If you mention Taiwan, they get bothered, he said. Were not going to be judged by how China responds to what we do.
Two children ride their bikes past workers breaking down tents at the Taste of Summer festival on July 17, 2023, in Antioch. A 10-year-old boy was thrown from a carnival ride and had to be airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General the previous day. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

The carnival at Antiochs Taste of Summer festival was closed Sunday after a child was thrown from a ride and injured, police said.

A 10-year-old boy was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge after Antioch Police and Fire departments responded to calls about the injury around 2:40 p.m., the police wrote in a news release.

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The boy suffered multiple facial and jaw fractures and a significant injury to the bones in one leg, police said. Because of his injuries, he was airlifted Sunday night to Comer Childrens Hospital in Chicago in critical condition. As of Monday morning, police said he was in stable condition and undergoing surgery.

After the injury, Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner ordered the remainder of the festivals rides shut down, according to the release.

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The closure of the rides will ensure safety for our community and allow officials to review safety of each ride, police wrote.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce-hosted festival has brought people to the far north suburb for three decades with food, live music and carnival rides. Chicago-based rock band 7th Heaven was scheduled to perform Sunday evening, according to the festival website.

Police said the chamber plans and organizes the event, including choosing the ride operator.

The Illinois Department of Labor, responsible for ensuring the safety of carnival rides, is investigating the incident, the Police Department wrote. The department will conduct a bolt by bolt inspection of the ride, called Moby Dick, before allowing it to resume operation elsewhere.

The Police Department is also conducting its own investigation to determine if any criminally reckless or negligent acts may have contributed to the fall.

A GoFundMe page for the boy was started by his uncle, Robert Pohlman, who said hes a strong and remarkable kid. According to the fundraiser page, the 10-year-old was flung approximately 10 to 20 feet in the air.

He once broke his arm and pushed the bone back in, on his own because it didnt hurt, the page states. Truly remarkable kid.
"I remember coming out of surgery and yelling 'Help me!," Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee, of Michigan, said of the excruciating pain that was coursing through his body.

His colleague Rep. Joaquin Castro's voice quivered slightly when he recounted the evening call home to his wife. He'd shared his unexpected diagnosis. "She took it very hard," the Texas Democrat said.

Their fellow Democratic U.S. House member, Rep. Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, closed his eyes for a brief moment as he described the final days of his chemotherapy.

"It's just debilitating over time," Raskin explained, leaning into and slowly emphasizing the word "debilitating"  simultaneously gesturing by clenching a fist.

If the U.S. House of Representatives is intended to be a comprehensive and accurate representation of the American people, the 118th Congress parallels America in one particularly distinctive and significant way: Like so many people throughout the nation, there are members of Congress who are working full-time, exhausting jobs, while recovering from  and seeking treatment for  cancer.

In the span of approximately 12 weeks, three House members have undergone treatment for cancer this year. Each has withstood and worked through aggressive and painful treatment. Each has navigated reconciling the anguishing news, braving through the conversations with family, battling the physical limitations of treatment and juggling a uniquely grueling and densely-scheduled job.

They did so at a time when even one absence on the House floor can make or break important legislation.

The three men are in different stages of recovery. Experts and survivors warn: Each of the millions of cases of cancer detected each year can be different in its own way. For Raskin, Kildee and Castro, each case is, in fact, quite different. But each has embarked on a journey that is strikingly common among Americans.

They detailed their prognoses and challenges through a series of sit-down interviews with CBS News.

An abrupt end to a career year

The final days of 2022 were an abrupt and staggering end to a monumental year for Rep. Jamie Raskin, who had risen to national prominence with his role on the high-profile House Jan. 6 committee. He was a fixture of national cable television segments, enjoyed Democratic acclaim for his prior work as a lead impeachment manager during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump and was in the process of successfully securing the top Democratic seat on the powerful House Oversight Committee.

But on Dec. 28, Raskin announced to the nation, "After several days of tests, I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a serious but curable form of cancer. I am about to embark on a course of chemo-immunotherapy."

Raskin told CBS News his cancer is now in remission.

As the 118th Congress began with a historic, 15-round vote for U.S. House Speaker and launched into a series of contentious fights over policy, Raskin was juggling the responsibility of being a leader of the minority opposition while undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy cost Raskin his hair and some of his strength.

As he underwent treatment, Raskin appeared on the House floor and at committee hearings wearing a bandana, inspired by guitarist Steven Van Zandt. When the longtime E Street Band member heard about it, he sent the congressman a head covering as a gift.

That gift is from all of us who want to thank you every day for giving us hope that there is a politician that cares about justice! Heres to a rapid complete recovery. https://t.co/11WfFWAmrG  Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) February 11, 2023

At first, Raskin and his staff maneuvered his schedule to avoid absences from the job.

"(Treatment) was organized around weekends and recesses," Raskin told CBS News. "The real pain and difficulty of the chemo hit one week after the sessions ended. So, oftentimes, we were in session when I really felt the brunt of it."

Four weeks after his diagnosis, Raskin faced a seminal moment on the job. For the first time, he would serve as the ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight. The new Republican majority had pledged to use the panel for a series of high-stakes, high-profile investigations and legislative efforts focused on the Biden administration, the president's son, Hunter Biden, federal agencies for whom thousands of Raskin's constituents work, and aggressive oversight of the District of Columbia, which is adjacent to Raskin's congressional district.

In February, the panel staged its first major hearing, looking into allegations of waste and fraud in the federal government's programs to combat COVID-19.

Wearing a navy-colored ballcap, Raskin spoke emphatically from the dais that February morning. At a hearing in which Republicans sought to blister the Biden administration's management of federal agencies, Raskin counterargued and spoke of the "Trump administration's mismanagement."

The physical toll on Raskin's body would grow as the year and the new Congress continued.

"When my chemo started, I could go for a week or 10 days feeling pretty good. But as we moved into the later sessions, the difficulty of it becomes cumulative," he said.

At the most painful and exhausting period of his chemotherapy, he would need brief naps and car transportation for treks he would otherwise make on foot, Raskin said.



He noticed subtle changes in his vocal performance during speeches.

"Sometimes my voice began to slip away because it creates what they call 'general exhaustion,'" he explained.

Rep. Jamie Raskin acknowledges spectators along the July 4 parade route in Takoma Park, Maryland, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. / Credit: Tom Williams

Speculation surrounded Raskin's future through most of the year, especially after Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin announced his retirement, opening a rare opportunity for Maryland Democrats to vie for a Senate seat.

In Raskin's July 7 announcement that he would forgo a run for the seat, he did not reference his health or his treatments. He instead spoke of his prowess as a fundraiser and his emerging prominence in the House, both of which he fortified while underdoing his cancer treatment.

"I believe the best way for me to make the greatest difference in American politics in 2024 and beyond is this: to run for reelection to the House of Representatives in Maryland's extraordinary 8th District; and to mobilize thousands of Democracy Summer Fellows and raise millions of dollars and everyone's spirit to fortify and build up Democratic majorities in the House and Senate," Raskin said in the statement.

Raskin told CBS News he preferred to work, and work exhaustively, during his chemo treatments.

"I found work was a way to take my mind off of the symptoms," he said. "I mean, work forces you to concentrate your mind elsewhere. If you're at home, just if you're at home alone, dealing with the effects of chemo, it can become a demoralizing experience, psychologically."

"I had trouble speaking and eating. My two superpowers!"

In a March 31 open letter to his constituents in the Flint, Michigan, region, Rep. Dan Kildee said he had been diagnosed with a "serious, but curable" form of cancer in his tonsil. Kildee told CBS News his cancer was detected after he underwent a CAT scan for shoulder pain.

When he was given two options  radiation treatment or surgery to remove his tonsil, lymph nodes and a part of his tongue  he said the choice was simple: Be aggressive, take out the cancer.

No matter the horrific pain he would experience.

"It really was not much of a decision," Kildee recounted. "It was so obvious what I needed to do."

Kildee underwent surgery in April. The cancer was successfully removed, but he was subjected to an excruciating amount of pain. Wincing occasionally as he described it, Kildee told CBS News, "The surgery is done robotically. It's done in the throat. They take out the tonsil and take out a big portion of my tongue. You know, thin slices. But a big part of my tongue."

"I've never experienced pain like this," he said.

He recalled screaming "Help me!" as he was wheeled outside of the operating area. He remembered the response from his doctor: "Just give him some morphine like right away."

Kildee said his regimen of painkillers, to be taken every four hours, was also rough on his body. He leaned in as he described to CBS News the granularity of the pain. When he reached the four-hour mark, he said he'd walk briskly through the House, hoping it would help his body more quickly metabolize and process the painkilling effects of the drugs.

Rep. Dan Kildee attends a House Budget Committee meeting. / Credit: Tom Williams

Serving in a narrowly divided House of Representatives, where the margin of victory for some legislation can be as little as a single vote, Kildee said he opted to undergo much of his treatment at George Washington University Hospital system in Washington, D.C.

"Mainly because I didn't want to lose any time in transit," Kildee said.

Largely unable to speak louder than a whisper for days after his surgery, Kildee said he also received extra assistance from Democratic House leadership so he could quickly enter his votes on the House floor.

"There was ten days or so," Kildee said, "They set me up in a little room. I walked down to the floor and voted, walked up, then went back home."

Three months after his surgery, during which 22 lymph nodes were removed, his voice has largely returned. Having skipped some public speaking opportunities during the initial days and weeks of recovery, Kildee said he has returned to a robust schedule in Michigan and in Washington.

At a June 13 meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, on which Kildee holds a seat, the congressman was in full voice as he asked questions about tax policies and the impact on the auto industry. A physical comeback for a man who said he was suffocated by pain two months earlier.

Kildee remarked amid his fiercest pain in April, "I had trouble speaking and eating. My two superpowers!"

"Your mind rushes. How long are you going to be around for your kids? And how long they're going to have you around?"

It was evening in Texas. But in Spain, it was early morning on the July 2022 day when Rep. Joaquin Castro was the passenger in a car that suffered a high-speed crash. The car was going nearly 70 mph when the driver struck a large animal. Castro remembers being disoriented. He remembers a throbbing pain and a throbbing, red look to one of his hands. When the Spanish medics arrived, Castro said they had to convince him to get checked out at the hospital.

The worst was yet to come.

Castro underwent an MRI. The neurologist spotted a set of neuroendocrine tumors. They were in his gastrointestinal tract. He was far from home. And he was far from his wife and three children.

He reached his wife by phone.

"She took it very hard," Castro said.



Castro underwent surgery in Texas to remove some of the cancer in February. He told CBS News the medical team removed 44 lymph nodes, nearly half of which were cancerous. They also took out part of his colon and small intestine.

But they opted not to remove the tumors that are on both sides of his liver.

"Because it's on both sides, they don't want to burden one side of the liver," Castro explained.

Rep. Joaquin Castro at a press conference on immigration on Capitol Hill on November 18, 2021 in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Getty Images

Castro is not cancer-free. He receives monthly injections to slow the growth of the tumors and help relieve the symptoms that dog him.

"These tumors that I have, these neuroendocrine tumors, they can release hormones," said Castro. "They can affect your blood pressure or your blood sugar levels. Cause you diarrhea."

Castro said he feels his symptoms flare up around 23 or 24 days after each injection. But he can't speed up the cycle of his regimen, because health insurance only covers the shots taken at least 28 days part.

"The list price on that shot was like $24,000," he said.

Castro's voice dipped when he described the challenges of explaining his cancer to his three children, all of whom are under 10 years old. His daughter, the oldest, is 9 years old.

He told CBS News, "When you get diagnosed, your mind rushes to what the future is. How long you're going to be around for your kids. And how long they're going to have you around."

Castro said he'd "love to be cancer-free," but told CBS News, "as long as the other tumors are held at bay and I'm getting my monthly treatments... You know, I can live with that."

Castro said these personal experiences shared by him, Raskin, Kildee and an untold number of other members of Congress help inform the debates over spending. Castro ardently supports funding the Biden administration's cancer moonshot program. And as the House spends July debating how much to spend on federal programs, Castro said his experience underscores the importance of helping provide expanded health care.

"I applaud the openness of our representatives in sharing their cancer journey. This is often a difficult time emotionally as well as physically," said Dr. Craig Stevens, Radiation Oncology System Chair for Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan. Stevens also said, "Emotionally, one of the most challenging issues cancer patients face, is fear of death and how others treat them. While cancer is a serious disease, we have very good long-term outcomes for patients, with long-term survivals often measured in decades. Cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence anymore."

The three congressmen each acknowledged their work weeks often exceed 80 to 90 hours. They are double-booked at some moments of some days. Congress has a stubborn habit of last-minute, evening votes and dramatic pivots in schedule and plans.

All 435 members of the House have staffs of more than a dozen aides to help with a ceaseless workload. Raskin, Kildee and Castro said their staffs have helped them keep up with the relentlessness.

Kildee told CBS News, "I take the position, and I tell them, that my staff and I all serve in Congress. I serve in Congress, they serve in Congress. I wear the pin. I have a voting card. But we all serve the people."

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Construction to redevelop one of the last remaining industrial buildings in the Fort Worth Stockyards is expected to begin soon.

The abandoned red-brick Armour & Co. Packing Plant on the east end of Exchange Avenue will be converted into office space for what could become an adjacent apartment complex.

Construction on the Armour building will begin in August and take nearly a year, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Renovations will include new elevators and stairs, exterior brick and roofing repairs and other site work for the more than 70-year-old building at 601 E. Exchange Ave. At more than 50,000 square feet, the project is expected to cost $8 million.

The historic Armour Building in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Friday, July 14, 2023.

The Armour meatpacking plant opened with eight buildings in 1903 alongside the Swift & Co. plant. More buildings were added throughout the 1950s, including the 601 E. Exchange Ave. property.

1945: Veteran meat inspector C.W. Woolsey beside beef carcass at Armour & Co. meat packing plant. He was retiring after 45 years.

After the Armour plant closed in 1962, Bunge Edible Oil refined soybean and corn oil there for more than 30 years. In 2012, all of the buildings were demolished, except 601 E. Exchange Ave. Most of the land is empty between the east end of the Stockyards and railroad tracks.

Last year, developers proposed an 825-unit apartment complex for the roughly 19 acres of available land adjacent to the building between Packers Street and the tracks. But as apartment development booms across Fort Worth, the project has faced some controversy from nearby business owners and city officials.

Fort Worth City Council member Carlos Flores told the Star-Telegram in October a large number of apartments packed into the east end of the Stockyards could cause traffic jams.

Robert Boling, a spokesperson for food and clothing store Texas Hot Stuff, previously said he fears a residential project of its scale would stick out given the districts long-preserved historical value.

In response, the Fort Worth City Council decided in December that apartments will no longer be allowed east of Packers Street and Niles City Boulevard without a zoning change.

It is unclear how the citys decision will affect plans for the apartment complex. The project developer, San Antonio-based Kairoi Residential, did not make available a representative for an interview for this story.

Kairoi Residential proposed five-story apartment buildings within walking distance from the Stockyards, according to December architects renderings.

Kairoi Residential has a portfolio of developments across the country and with more than $6.3 billion in transactions since 2003.

Proposals for the Stockyards project from last year featured five-story apartment buildings with an outdoor courtyard, a fourth-floor sky lounge and fitness center.

This is not the first time developers have looked at transforming the historic Armour property. In 2017, the Fort Worth City Council approved $1 million in incentives to turn the former plant into a $21 million, four-star Armour Hotel with 120 rooms.

Rendering of planned 120-room Armour Hotel in the Stockyards.

That project never came to fruition, but in 2021 the Hotel Drover opened along the redeveloped Mule Alley with new shops and restaurants off Exchange Avenue.
Cop followed teen home after noise complaint, then raped her in police car, feds say

An on-duty Virginia police officer kidnapped and raped a 17-year-old high school student in his patrol car after responding to a noise complaint involving her and her friend, federal prosecutors said.

A fellow officer who also responded to the noise complaint  and who told the teenager to drive home  was unaware Cleshaun Cox followed her in his marked Portsmouth Police Department car the evening of May 27, 2019, and assaulted her, according to federal prosecutors.

Now Cox, 31, is facing at least 15 years and up to 20 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced in a July 14 news release. Hes no longer a police officer.

He pleaded guilty on July 14 to violating the teens civil rights by forcibly sexually assaulting her, according to prosecutors and court documents.

Federal public defender Suzanne Katchmar, who represents Cox, declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on July 17.

In August 2021, Cox pleaded guilty to state charges of carnal knowledge and abduction in Portsmouth Circuit Court, the release said. He was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison before the court suspended 10 years of his sentence, according to officials.

Hes currently detained in Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, state Department of Corrections records show.

How the case unfolded

On May 27, 2019, Cox and a senior officer were called to a parking lot in Portsmouth for a noise complaint and found the 17-year-old inside her car with a friend, whos described as a witness, a statement of facts filed in court says.

Cox knew the teen was a minor from a review of her drivers license, according to the statement of facts, which says Cox later lied to detectives and said she was 18.

Afterward, the other officer told the teen to head home, as she hadnt broken any laws except the citys curfew for minors that was in place at the time, according to prosecutors.

When she did so, with her friend in the passenger seat, they noticed a Portsmouth Police Department car following them, the statement of facts says.

The teen stopped at a gas station and Cox pulled up behind them, activating his vehicles blue police lights, according to the statement of facts.

Then, Cox started threatening to ticket the 17-year-old for numerous minor offenses, including issues with her headlights because he wanted to coerce her into sexual acts with him, the statement of facts says.

He told the teen to drive her friend home before returning home herself, according to the statement of facts.

However, when the teen dropped her friend off, Cox told her to drive to a parking lot instead of her house, prosecutors said.

She complied with Coxs demands and drove to the parking lot, where he threatened to ticket her unless she agreed to a deal involving performing sex acts with him, the statement of facts says.

The teen told Cox she didnt want to engage in any sexual acts with him before he coerced her to get inside his police car, according to the statement of facts.

She did so because she feared (Cox) and believed that she had no choice but to comply, the statement of facts says.

Afterward, Cox drove her to an isolated location and raped her, according to prosecutors.

Following the assault, he lied about following the teen home and raping her during his voluntary interview with detectives on May 27, the statement of facts says.

Cox was arrested on state charges that day  shocking his family members, according to a May 28, 2019, report by WTKR.

His mother told the TV station Cox had served with the police department for more than a year before his arrest and was a preacher at Word Cathedral Worship Center in Virginia Beach.

Coxs sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 28, according to prosecutors.

Our sworn police officers have a duty to uphold the constitution and are entrusted with protecting the safety and quality of life of the communities they serve, Brian Dugan, FBI special agent in charge of the agencys Norfolk Field Office, said in a statement Cleshaun Cox broke that trust when he, while acting under color of law, physically assaulted a teenage girl and violated her rights to bodily integrity.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

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Rev. Love Holt, a mother of five, was rushed to the hospital for severe blood loss on January 20.

Just before, her mother had found her sitting in her car, halfway unconscious with blood dripping down her legs.

As she sat in a wheelchair in the Missouri hospital, all Holt could think of was avoiding jail time.

Holt knew she was having an abortion; her blood and tissue loss was the result of a medication abortion. But sharing that information with doctors could implicate her in criminal activity because Missouri had banned abortions except in life saving situations.

I almost lost my life that day, Holt said. I would have left my children  my Black children  alone in this world to navigate it alone. Nobody to protect them.

Holt, the community engagement director at Pro-Choice Missouri, shared her story at a roundtable discussion with House Oversight Democrats on Monday, highlighting why access to abortion can be life-saving.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) led the discussion with Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

The roundtable highlighted the consequences of attempts to restrict abortion access as part of Republican-led efforts to impose a national abortion ban.

Mifepristone was approved by the Food and Drug administration in 2000, but since the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned the federal right to an abortion, anti-abortion legislation has targeted the use of the pills with the same veracity as medical abortions.

The Dobbs decision is a death sentence for thousands of Black women and birthing women, said Holt.

More than half of all U.S. abortions in 2020 were medication abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Mifepristone, in combination with misoprostol, was the most commonly used pill in these abortions, accounting for 98 percent of medication abortions.

During her opening remarks, Bush held up a pack of abortion pills and said, This is what an abortion looks like.

Medication abortion is a lifeline, Bush added. Its a lifeline for the person working multiple jobs who cant afford to take the day off work because wages are too low or they dont have paid sick leave. Its a lifeline for the mom of two who cant afford childcare or who cant find that affordable childcare. Its a lifeline for the person who lives hundreds of miles away from the nearest clinic and does not have reliable transportation. Its a lifeline for the trans folks who face transphobia and bigotry because of anti-LGBT+ laws and outrageous bans on gender affirming care.

Nationwide, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than white women. These disparities persist regardless of education or income.

In restrictive states like mine, Bush said, medication abortion quite literally saves lives. Forced birth can be deadly. Every person should be able to decide for themselves whether to carry a pregnancy to term or to seek abortion care.

While abortion rates have been on the decline for some time, according to the Guttmacher Institute, Black women seek abortions at almost five times the rate as white women. But with abortion no longer federally protected, advocates have expressed concern that Black mortality rates will increase, as well as incarceration rates for Black women.

Though some prosecutors have pledged to avoid enforcing abortion bans, lawmakers are looking to find ways to skirt these challenges with legislation that could circumvent the local prosecutor.

In Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Texas, lawmakers this year have introduced bills allowing state officials to bypass the local prosecutors or even dismiss them if abortion-related enforcement is determined to be too lenient.

Meanwhile, challenges to the abortion pill continue, with one lawsuit looking to outlaw the medication. The lawsuit, brought by five doctors, argues against the drugs safety and FDA approval.

In April, the Supreme Court blocked decisions that would have banned the abortion pill, but it left the substance of the case with the Fifth Circuit of Appeals.

Dr. Jamilla Perritt, president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said restrictions to abortion access can open people up to criminalization and surveillance. She warned against googling or even texting others about seeking abortion care.

All of those things have been used to criminalize people for taking care of themselves, said Perritt. The prosecution of people for self managing their own care is discriminatory, it is discretionary and it is circumstantial. If people are suspected of doing something  they are most likely to look like me. And so we see that these prosecutions universally are people living on low incomes, almost always they are people of color, almost always they are young people.

Bush in February reintroduced the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act with Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)

The act defends access to medication abortion by protecting womens access to mifepristone through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order services. The law would only apply in states where abortion remains legal.

Twenty-one states currently allow for medication abortion, while the mifepristone-misoprostol combination is currently legal in 36 states and Washington, D.C. 

In January, the FDA finalized a rule to allow pharmacies to fill prescriptions for medication abortions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A $15 million settlement in a lawsuit over the the 2019 boat crash death of Mallory Beach could have implications for South Carolinas personal injury and wrongful death law that at least one lawmaker has sought to change in recent years.

Gregory Parker, owner of Parkers Kitchen convenience stores and one of several defendants accused of causing the death of Mallory Beach  a 19-year-old who died in a 2019 Lowcountry boat crash  agreed to pay the Beach family $15 million to settle its role in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Parker was named as a defendant alongside Alex Murdaugh, father of 19-year-old Paul Murdaugh, who was accused of drunkenly piloting and crashing the boat in the accident that killed Beach. Beachs family, along with other passengers on the boat, filed civil lawsuits against Parker and Murdaugh, who is now behind bars for the 2021 murders of his son Paul and his own wife, Maggie. Parker had asked to be tried separately from Murdaugh as defendants, because Parker feared Murdaugh would drag Parker down and force Parker to bear the full financial weight of any verdict. A judge, however, rejected Parkers motion to sever himself from Murdaugh.

In agreeing to settle the lawsuit, which was to be tried Aug. 14, Parker did not legally admit fault.

While the settlement, which came on Sunday, marks the close of a years-long battle over who was to blame in Beachs death, debate surrounding the matter may continue in the S.C. State House.

Thats because South Carolina Senate Majority Leader and insurance defense lawyer Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, wants to change the way defendants are penalized for their involvement in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Masseys push to amend South Carolinas joint and several liability law  a rule that generally governs cases involving personal injury or wrongful death  began in 2019 following the death of Beach, who in February of that year was thrown from a boat and drowned.

The law essentially says that while multiple defendants can be sued in cases where the plaintiff was wrongfully injured or died, such as in the Beach case, monetary damages could ultimately fall entirely on just one defendant based on percentages of fault determined by a judge or jury. Percentages of fault can only apply to named defendants in a case.

In cases where a person wrongfully dies involving the use of alcohol, a defendant who is found to be only 1% responsible could be forced to pay the entire verdict  a consequence some lawmakers, such as Massey, say is grossly unfair.

Nobody should be responsible for more than the damage that person causes, Massey told investigative news site The Nerve last year. If I cause injury to somebody else, I should be responsible, but I should be responsible only for what I caused, not for what someone else caused.

But longtime South Carolina personal injury attorney Robert Goings says the law is exactly how it should be.

With all due respect to Sen. Massey, he is an insurance defense lawyer, and hes paid by the insurance industry, and that (proposal) would benefit his clients, Goings said. That bill would severely hinder citizens from receiving any type of justice due to the acts of drunk drivers, or other malicious or intentional conduct.

Indeed, the potential financial consequences of a jury verdict Parker could have faced under the current law prompted the settlement, according to Parkers lawyers.

Murdaugh, who is serving two consecutive life sentences in prison, is believed to have few, if any, assets with which to pay damages that could have been awarded in a jury trial.

That law would have required Parker to pay the entire amount of any damages awarded the Beach family, even if (Parker) was found ... one percent at fault, said P.K. Shere, Parkers lead attorney, in a statement to The State. The unfairness of that caused Parkers insurance carriers to resolve these suits to avoid paying the likely award intended to punish Alex Murdaugh, Shere wrote.

Also under current law, a defendant accused of causing the injury or death of someone that doesnt involve the use of alcohol or drugs must be found at least 51% at fault before being stuck with paying the entire verdict, and only named defendants can be held liable for the verdict.

Not only would Masseys proposal, which he has reintroduced twice since 2019, modify how a defendants liability is determined in tort cases, but it would also allow liability to attach to persons or entities potentially responsible though not a party to the lawsuit.

So far, Massey has been unsuccessful in getting his measure to the Senate floor even with support from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, which has named tort reform as a key legislative priority in its competitiveness agenda for the past two years.

Whether the Beach settlement will do anything to shift tort law in South Carolina remains unseen.

Efforts by The State to reach Massey for comment Monday were unsuccessful.

Regardless, the Beach case is closed after four years of negotiations, and no future change in the law could affect Parkers agreement to fork over $15 million.

Lawyers for the Beach family alleged that Paul Murdaugh was intoxicated while driving the boat Beach was thrown from, and that Alex and Maggie Murdaugh knew or should have known that Paul had a propensity to drink and act irresponsibly. Pauls older brother, Buster, was blamed for allegedly allowing his underage brother to use his ID to buy alcohol.

Parker was named as a defendant in the Beach suit because one of his clerks at Parkers Kitchen sold beer to the underage Paul before the boat crash.

Besides Paul and Alex Murdaugh, other original defendants in the Beach suit included Buster Murdaugh, the estate of Maggie Murdaugh and Parker. Buster and Maggies estate, however, were later dropped from the case earlier this year following a settlement, which left Alex Murdaugh and Parker to stand trial in August, until the news of Sundays settlement.

Lawsuits brought by four other passengers on the boat were also settled Sunday after an hours-long session at a law office on Daniel Island, lawyers said.
Court-martial convictions and sentences would require unanimous jury verdicts under an amendment added to the House's version of the annual defense policy bill last week.

The amendment, which was approved by voice vote as part of a package of proposals considered noncontroversial, would change one of the last ways the military justice system differs from civilian courts after a series of reforms Congress mandated in recent years. The court-martial legislation and the package received little attention amid heated partisan battles over the larger bill.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, still has several steps before becoming law, including reconciling with the Senate's version, which does not have a similar provision. But it marks the first time Congress has advanced legislation to make unanimity the threshold for guilty verdicts in courts-martial.

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Right now, the Uniform Code of Military Justice requires at least three-fourths of a jury, officially called a panel, to agree to a conviction. The same is true for sentencing -- except in death penalty cases, which require a unanimous verdict. Service members can also choose to have their case and sentence decided only by a judge rather than a jury.

That makes military courts the last in the nation that don't require unanimous verdicts after the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the Sixth Amendment requires guilty verdicts in civilian criminal trials to be unanimous.

"The Supreme Court has recognized that unanimous verdicts are the gold standard of justice for all Americans, other than those in the military," said Don Christensen, a retired Air Force colonel who served as the service's chief prosecutor.

Christensen, who stressed that he believes court-martial verdicts should be unanimous for both convictions and acquittals, said the military has resisted changing the standard by arguing that requiring unanimous verdicts could slow down court-martial proceedings or lead to unlawful command influence.

"We expect junior enlisted members to be able to push back against unlawful orders even if it comes from high-ranking officers, and that would be an unlawful order," Christensen said of an officer attempting to pressure a lower-ranking service member to rule a certain way. "So, I don't think unlawful command influence should be a basis to deny those who are in the military unanimous verdicts."

Eric Carpenter, a former military lawyer who is now a law professor at Florida International University, also said inertia has kept the U.S. military justice system from requiring unanimous verdicts since majority jury verdicts have been the standard in other militaries since colonial days.

The NDAA amendment, which was offered by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., would change the Uniform Code of Military Justice so that court-martial juries need to come to "unanimous concurrence" for convictions and sentences.

Gaetz's office did not respond to a request for comment on his thinking behind the amendment, which was offered in previous years by former Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, but not granted a vote until this year.

But it is an issue that has recently been debated by top military courts.

Last year, a military judge in Germany ruled that the jury verdict needed to be unanimous in the court-martial of an Army officer who has since been found guilty on two counts of attempting to sexually abuse a child.

Prosecutors appealed the judge's order for a unanimous verdict; last month, the military's highest appeals court ruled that troops do not have a right to unanimous verdict.

In its 5-0 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces noted that Congress specifically did not require unanimous verdicts in past reform efforts.

"We acknowledge that Congress has -- over time -- amended the UCMJ to make the military justice system more like civilian courts," the court wrote.

"But Congress's efforts to close the gap between the two systems does nothing to make us question our decision in Akbar that an accused servicemember is not similarly situated to a civilian defendant," the ruling added, referring to a 2015 ruling.

In an effort to combat military sexual assault, in the last couple years, Congress has reformed the military justice system to more closely operate like civilian justice systems. Most prominently, lawmakers took the decision to prosecute sexual assault and some other serious crimes away from commanders and gave the power to independent prosecutors.

Because Congress' focus has been on securing more convictions for sexual assault and because requiring unanimous verdicts could mean fewer convictions, Carpenter expressed skepticism that Gaetz's amendment will become law.

"Many reformers will look at this as being an anti-reform because of the effect it would have on sexual assault prosecutions," Carpenter said.

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Military Justice Reforms at Finish Line After Decade-Long Fight
Russia halts grain deal in what UN calls blow to needy people everywhere

Russia halts grain deal in what UN calls blow to needy people everywhere

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia halted participation on Monday in the year-old U.N.-brokered deal that lets Ukraine export grain through the Black Sea, causing concern in poorer countries that price rises will put food out of reach.

Hours earlier, a blast knocked out Russia's bridge to Crimea in what Moscow called a strike by Ukrainian sea drones, killing two people. Moscow said it was a terrorist attack on the road bridge, a major artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said there was no link between the attack and its decision to suspend the grain deal, over what it called a failure to meet its demands to implement a parallel agreement easing rules for its own food and fertilizer exports.

"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signalled that Russia's withdrawal meant that the related pact to assist Russia's grain and fertilizer exports was also terminated.

"Today's decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere," he told reporters.

Moscow said it would consider rejoining the grain deal if it saw "concrete results" on its demands but that its guarantees for the safety of navigation would meanwhile be revoked.

In Washington, the White House said Russia's suspension of the pact "will worsen food security and harm millions" and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called it unconscionable.

IMPACT COULD BE PROFOUND IN AFRICA

Ukraine and Russia are some of the world's biggest exporters of grain and other foodstuffs and any interruption could drive up food prices across the globe.

Shashwat Saraf, the emergency director in East Africa for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said the impact would be profound in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, which have been facing the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades.

"I don't know how we will survive," said Halima Hussein, a mother of five living in a crowded camp in Somalia's capital Mogadishu for people displaced by years of failed rains and violence.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised the prospect of resuming grain exports without Russia's participation, suggesting Kyiv would seek Turkey's support to effectively negate the Russian de facto blockade imposed last year.

"Ukraine, the U.N. and Turkey together can ensure the operation of a food corridor and vessel inspections, Zelenskiy said in his nightly video message, saying said the world "has the opportunity to show that blackmail is not allowed ... We must all ensure security, protection from Russian madness."

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Ukrainian forces have been striking Russian supply lines as it pursues a counteroffensive to drive Russian forces out of its south and east. On Monday it reported two more civilians killed by Russian forces, which it said had begun a major push in the northeast.

"For two days running, the enemy has been actively on the offensive in the Kupiansk sector in Kharkiv region. We are defending. Heavy fighting is going on and the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day," Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, wrote on Telegram.

The armed forces said Russia had amassed a huge array of forces.

"In the Lyman-Kupiansk sector the enemy has concentrated a very powerful grouping. More than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, and 370 multiple launch rocket systems," Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Armed Forces East group, said on national TV.

Reuters was not able to verify the accounts and there was no immediate comment from Russia.

The blast on the road bridge to Crimea could limit Moscow's ability to supply its troops in southern Ukraine, although Russian President Vladimir Putin said the bridge had not been used for military transports for a long time. Partial road traffic had been restored, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on Telegram.

Earlier, images showed part of the road bridge had come down and traffic halted in both directions, although a parallel railway bridge was still operational. Blasts were reported before dawn on the 19-km (12-mile) bridge, which Putin ordered built after seizing and annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Putin told officials Russia would respond to the "senseless" attack.

Ukrainian media quoted unidentified officials as saying Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) had deployed maritime drones against the bridge. SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtyarenko alluded to the idea that the agency would reveal details after Ukraine won the war, without directly claiming responsibility.

Ukraine says the bridge is illegal. It was hit by a massive explosion and fire in October.

The grain deal was hailed as preventing a global food emergency when brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last year.

Global commodity food prices rose on Monday, though the increase was limited, suggesting traders did not yet anticipate a severe supply crisis.

Western countries say Russia is trying to use its leverage over the grain deal to weaken financial sanctions, which do not apply to Russia's agricultural exports.

Russia has extended the Black Sea deal three times, despite repeated threats to quit. It suspended participation after an attack on its fleet by seaborne Ukrainian drones in October, leading to a few days when Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations kept exports going without Moscow.

Any resumption of shipments without Russia's blessing would probably depend on insurers. Industry sources told Reuters they were studying whether to freeze their coverage.

"The (key) question is whether Russia mines the area which would effectively cease any form of cover being offered," one insurance industry source said.

(Reporting by Max Hunder in Kyiv, Michelle Nichols in New York, Abdi Sheikh in Mogadishu, Ron Popeski, Lidia Kelly and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Alex Richardson and Grant McCool)
According to a military expert Ukraine was responsible for the second Crimea Bridge explosion

The Crimean Bridge was damaged by Ukrainian surface drones overnight on July 17, Russia-Ukraine war veteran Major Oleksiy Hetman (ret.) told Radio NV this morning.

Weve already seen a lot of information, videos that we have surface drones, he said.

This is not a big secret. Its quite possible that they worked.

However, there would have to be enough explosives to cause destruction of the scale now apparent, Hetman stressed.

It must be explosives, I think, no less than several hundred kilograms, Hetman said.

Depending on what kind of explosive it is. If its not an attack from the outside, but mined from the inside, then its possible (to blow up the bridge) with a smaller number of explosives. There are special devices that are used by sabotage groups to destroy bridge pillars. Its unknown what happened there.

Hetman emphasized that it is worth waiting for Ukraines official announcements.

As our Main Intelligence Directorate says, referring to (its head Kyrylo) Budanov, this is a needless construction and it shouldnt exist, he said.

Speaking more broadly, Hetman emphasized his belief that the de-occupation of Crimea should start soon.

The issue of the Crimean Bridge has already been raised many times, Hetman said.

Read also: SBU, Ukrainian Navy involved in nighttime explosion of Crimean Bridge, source tells NV

It was raised from our side, by our people; why dont we destroy it? The answer was that it would be destroyed partially or completely (its difficult to destroy it completely as its very long), so that it would be impossible to move by rail and road transport, when its necessary.

It didnt make sense to do it earlier, before we planned any offensive actions on the Crimean peninsula, so that they would have time to repair it. Most likely, this is a sign that some actions to de-occupy Crimea should begin soon.

The expert also answered whether the incidents on the Crimean Bridge would have a cumulative effect since it was already targeted on Oct. 8, 2022.

The Russians were preparing in advance for the fact that the Crimean Bridge will be destroyed, Hetman said.

The railway wasnt operating well. Now neither the railway nor the road service is operating on the bridge. When will it be renewed? How quickly can they patch up this, if it fell, the bridge section? I think its not days or even weeks. I think it's months... Judging by what happened in October, they cant do it quickly.

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Damaged span of the Crimean bridge

Moscow has acknowledged that at least one span of the Crimean Bridge is beyond repair and that full traffic across it cannot be restored until November, according to a statement Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin made on July 17.

Read also: Ukraines deputy PM promises more drone attacks after Crimean Bridge attack

Russian propagandists are sharing statements from Khusnullin during a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. He claimed the plan is to open one side of the Crimean Bridge for two-way traffic by Sept. 15 and the other side  in November.

According to Khusnullin, none of the bridge supports were damaged and remain in normal condition. He also announced that there is supposedly "minor damage" to one of the railway tracks.

Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency also quotes Khusnullin as saying that one section of the bridge towards Kerch will have to be dismantled.

Read also: Kremlin cancels grain deal agreement

On the morning of July 17, Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Russia-occupied Crimea, declared an extraordinary event near the 145th pylon of the Crimean Bridge.

Read also: Medvedev calls for attacks on Ukraine housing as revenge for Crimean Bridge

Russian media outlets have reported explosions and potential damage to the bridges pillars and one of its sections. The Russian Ministry of Transport later claimed that the roadway had been affected.

Automobile and railway traffic has been suspended, resulting in significant congestion. Occupying forces are encouraging Russians to travel through temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Read also: Russians appalled at suggested routes out of Crimea

The SBU and the Ukrainian Navy reportedly played a role in the nighttime explosion of the Crimean Bridge, according to an anonymous law enforcement source.

The source revealed that the attack on the bridge utilized naval drones.

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Destroyed Russian equipment near the liberated village of Storozhove in the Donetsk Oblast

The Russian military command finds itself embroiled in a crisis of insubordination that could have far-reaching implications for the occupying army. Speculations regarding dismissals, suspensions, and potential arrests of commanders from highly trained units within the Russian Federation are circulating within the pro-war community in Russia.

These revelations stem from a recent assessment by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on July 16.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries no longer participating in war in Ukraine, says Pentagon

According to experts at ISW, the Russian Ministry of Defense has initiated the removal of commanders from some of the most combat-ready units and formations of the Russian Armed Forces, with indications of an expedited process. The following reports from Russian sources have been highlighted:

General Colonel Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, recently confirmed his own dismissal.

Major General Vladimir Seliverstov, commander of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, has reportedly been dismissed, but no official confirmation has been made.

On July 15, personnel from the 7th Guards Mountain Airborne Division (VDV) released an audio message, alleging that Major General Alexander Kornev, commander of the 7th VDV Division, was dismissed by the Russian military command in early July.

Major General Ramil Ibatullin, commander of the 90th Tank Division (Eastern Military District), and his two unnamed deputies, are potentially facing arrest, although no confirmation has been provided, and dates of events remain unspecified.

Pro-Kremlin war correspondents speculate that Colonel Sergei Karasov, commander of the 31st VDV Brigade, may also face dismissal.

Reports from Russian sources indicate that the Russian Ministry of Defense might be preparing to arrest Lieutenant General Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of the Russian Airborne Troops (VDV).

ISW has not yet confirmed the dismissals of Seliverstov, Kornev, or the arrest of Ibatullin, although these claims follow a pattern similar to that of previous claims of command changes that have proven true, the analysts note. They also report that the aforementioned accounts pertain to Russian units involved in defensive and offensive operations on strategic fronts in Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhya Oblast and the flanks of the Bakhmut direction, as well as areas further west in the Kremlin-controlled Luhansk Oblast (specifically where the 90th Tank Division is attempting offensive actions).

Read also: Russian MoD seizes Wagner Group military equipment

According to ISW analysts, it is speculated that in most instances, commanders are being dismissed or suspended due to signs of insubordination, which appear to be spreading among certain soldiers. Particularly, in an alleged audio recording purportedly distributed by fighters from the 7th VDV Division, Russian military personnel threaten to withdraw from their positions in the occupied Kherson Oblast if the Russian Ministry of Defense arrests VDV commander Mikhail Teplinsky or poses a threat to his life.

If the authenticity of this audio is verified, it effectively signifies a threat of widespread desertion by Russian military personnel defending Teplinsky.

Teplinsky himself has previously set a precedent for acts of insubordination, which are now being observed within the Russian army. This pertains to the winter of 2023, when the Russian Ministry of Defense attempted significant personnel changes within the Armed Forces to replace commanders who were unwilling to subordinate themselves to Shoygu and Gerasimov during the invasion of Ukraine. Teplinsky was one of those commanders, and he was suspended in January following a likely altercation with Valery Gerasimov regarding the involvement of elite VDV forces in aggressive meat-grinder attacks in Donbas.

Later on, Teplinsky publicly voiced his dissatisfaction and implied the responsibility of the higher command, following which he was reintegrated into operations in Ukraine.

The consistent disregard for the chain of command within the Russian command structure by the Kremlin has likely hindered Sergei Shoygu and Valery Gerasimov in their efforts to suppress defiance and establish complete control over the Russian army in Ukraine.

ISW highlights that Putin consistently bypassed or disregarded the established command structure, often directly contacting lower-ranking commanders in the hopes of achieving swift success on the battlefield.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries to share experience with Belarusian military, says defense ministry

Throughout the war, the dictator effectively undermined the authority of Shoygu and Gerasimov, especially as military failures on the front line tarnished their reputations.

Putin fostered an environment where military personnel, officials, and even Russian war correspondents circumvented Shoygu and Gerasimov to present their own interpretations of the current state of the war and recommendations on how to proceed to Putin, recalls ISW.

Overall, the supreme commanders attempts to solicit the opinions of subordinates who oppose the senior military leadership are seen as problematic but not an uncommon phenomenon in armies. However, the allowance of a quasi-commander like Prigozhin to conduct his own military campaign without subordination to the formal chain of command is deemed extremely rare and severely undermines the authority of the official military leadership, according to the analysts.

In general, Putin has effectively made the Russian Ministry of Defense a scapegoat for all Russian military failures, burdening Shoygu and Gerasimov with a reputation of incompetence and repeated failures that they are unlikely to overcome, the analysts emphasize.

ISW also presents several conclusions and assumptions regarding the hypothetical rebellion of several high-ranking commanders in the Russian army:

Russian commanders are likely spreading relevant narratives among Russian military personnel on the front lines in order to protect themselves from punishment for insubordination by the Russian Ministry of Defense. This includes drawing attention to the risk of dismissal or arrests of commanders, which further increases the potential for widespread demoralization.

Russian veteran and ultranationalist communities are actively defending the defiant commanders, intensifying defeatist discussions that can directly impact the morale of Russian military personnel.

The current crisis within the Russian command structure and its consequences for the morale of the Russian Armed Forces are likely to worsen Russian capabilities to conduct crucial tactical offensive operations in southern Ukraine. The flexible defense strategy, where the first echelon slows down the movement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the second echelon counterattacks from prepared defensive positions, may be affected. However, problems with command and control in the Russian army could potentially lead to a lack of cohesion among defensive units, especially as the Ukrainian forces attempt to advance along the seams of the Russian defense.

The ongoing crisis within the Russian command structure poses a broader threat of demoralization for Russias military campaign in Ukraine. The disputes over insubordination and command changes are likely to gain attention from a widening internal audience, as the Russian ultranationalist war correspondent community closely monitors and disseminates these events.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least three sections of the front in the past day and reportedly achieved limited success.

Read also: Russian MP confirms death of General Tsokov in Berdyansk

Geolocated footage published on July 15 indicates that Ukrainian forces made limited progress northwest of Staromykhailivka (9 km south of Velyka Novosilka) on the border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya oblasts.

According to Major Valerii Shershen, spokesman for the Ukrainian Tavria Task Force, Ukrainian forces advanced 1 km in an unspecified area in the Berdyansk direction.

The General Staff of Ukraine also reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued counteroffensive actions in the Melitopol direction, located west of Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated that Ukrainian troops continued to advance in the area of Bakhmut and defended new positions on the flanks of Bakhmut from Russian attacks. Some Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces liberated Zaliznyanske (13 km north of Bakhmut), parts of heights near Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut), and a fortified area west of Andriyivka (10 km south of Bakhmut).

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Many of the packages mentioned in the search and seizure warrant of drug proceeds were allegedly sent by Vivianna Lopez's aunt Laura Lopez from a post office in Chicago, shown here in 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Its been nearly 15 years since Vivianna Lopez and her family packed up their cars in Mexico and made the harrowing trip across the border, back to her hometown of Chicago.

Carrying her 11-day-old daughter, Lopez was headed into a dangerous unknown. Her husband, Pedro Flores, and his twin brother, Margarito, two of the biggest drug traffickers Chicago had ever produced, were about to be outed as cooperators against notorious Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

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In addition to becoming certain targets of the cartel, the family had left behind most of the riches drug trafficking had brought them  the villa in Mexico with a private zoo, the Bentleys, the Jet Skis and jewelry. But more than the loss of material things, during the trip, Lopez realized for the first time she was going to have to do things on her own.

When you have 1,400 miles ahead of you and what feels like a lifetime in your rearview mirror, you have a lot of time to think, Lopez said in the 2017 tell-all book Cartel Wives, which she co-wrote with her sister-in-law, Valerie Gaytan. Id never had to step up to the plate and take care of myself. Now I had to do that and protect my daughter.

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But the decisions Lopez made after returning to the U.S. didnt lend her a new life. Instead, they landed her in federal court, charged with conspiring to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in her husbands narcotics proceeds and spending it on private tuition, lavish trips and luxury cars.

On Monday, Lopez, 43, was sentenced to 3  years in prison, less than half of what federal prosecutors had sought but still a harsh reality for the daughter of a Chicago police officer with no prior criminal record.

Dressed in a black suit, Lopez sobbed into a microphone as she begged U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly for leniency, saying that while her husband was tucked away in witness protection, she was out there with the full responsibility of taking care of their family.

Please dont take me away from my children. We had just begun to rebuild our lives and put back the broken pieces, she said through tears. Not only do they need me, I need them. They have kept me alive.

Lopez also said she accepts they will always have to look over their shoulder.

We accept that, because of my husbands cooperation, and who he cooperated against, she said.

In handing down the sentence, Kennelly said it was clear that Lopez was intelligent and business savvy, and that she likely had rationalized her actions in her own mind as a sort of misguided effort to protect herself, protect her family, and protect her lifestyle.

They could have made a clean break and said, OK, heres all the money. Were done, Kennelly said. That is not what happened.

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The judge said that Lopez has now put her family in harms way in a different way, both by forcing her kids to be without their mother and by roping other relatives in on the money-laundering scheme.

Thats something that ought to eat at you. And I suspect it does, Kennelly said as Lopez sat quietly at the defense table.

Kennelly ordered Lopez to surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons by Oct. 19.

After the hourlong hearing, Lopez hugged her attorney, MiAngel Cody, before leaving the courtroom with her father, a retired Chicago police officer, who was lugging a purple suitcase.

Lopez and her sister-in-law, Gaytan, who is married to Margarito Flores Jr., each pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Gaytan is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

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According to prosecutors, after the Flores brothers began cooperating, millions in the twins drug proceeds, much of it still in small denominations, was hauled across the border in rental trucks. It had been secretly recouped from the twins associates in the U.S., hidden in trap compartments in vehicles and stash houses, and buried under their older brothers home near Austin, Texas.

With the twins cooperation heating up in late 2010, Gaytan and Lopez were told they had to come clean. So one day they flew to Chicago and removed more than $4 million from under the floorboards of a basement theater room in Gaytans suburban home, packed the bundles into large plastic storage bins and drove to see Margaritos lawyer at his office in Lincoln Park, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports.

The money sat in escrow until the twins sentencing nearly five years later, when most of it was turned over to the government in forfeiture, court records show.

But that wasnt the end of the story. In 2021, Lopez and Gaytan were indicted on charges alleging they had stashed away millions more, and employed a network of relatives to launder the money through currency exchanges, credit cards, money orders, gift cards and the U.S. mail.

They allegedly used the money to fund at least a sliver of the lifestyle theyd grown accustomed to when their husbands were on the top of the cartel heap, spending more than $165,000 on private school tuition for their children, $100,000 on international and domestic travel, $80,000 for Lopezs rent and $11,000 in child support, according to court records.

Lopez also allegedly sent $5,000 of the laundered money to her husband in prison and spent another $31,000 on a laundry business she opened in Arizona after the family went into hiding, court records show.

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Their scheme began to unravel just as Pedro Flores was preparing to testify against El Chapo at trial in federal court in New York, which ended with Guzman being convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

On July 18, 2018, Gaytan and Lopez were returning from a trip to the exotic Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos when customs agents stopped them at JFK International Airport in New York, according to federal court records

Gaytan was carrying five cellphones, including two with Chicago area codes even though she was supposedly living in hiding out of state. But what really caught the attention of investigators was a sheet of notebook paper found in Lopezs belongings that had scrawled notes about packages.

Federal prosecutors alleged it was a straightforward drug-money ledger laying out a schedule for the disbursement of funds.

After their indictment, the wives contended that they had been assured by prosecutors that their husbands unprecedented cooperation against Guzman meant they would not face charges themselves for their own actions.

An evidentiary hearing held by Kennelly last year provided an unusual behind-the-scenes look at the trafficking operations of the Flores twins, who were eventually sentenced to 14 years in prison and have since been released.

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In a highly unusual move, Pedro Flores testified via video link that he and his brother were promised early on by investigators that his wife and other family members would not be prosecuted for any drug-related activities.

I thought my family was good, Flores told the judge.

Prosecutors, though, repeatedly asserted at the hearings that there was never any immunity deal for the wives, which could only be finalized in a written document approved by the highest levels at the U.S. attorneys office. And even if such protection was offered, it would not have excused the wives from future crimes, prosecutors argued.

Kennelly ruled there was no convincing evidence there was ever an immunity agreement in writing for Lopez or Gaytan and certainly not for future conduct involving the alleged laundering of the funds at issue in the indictment.

The judge said that while the women argued that certain promises were made, there was no indication that there was any meeting of the minds about a formal agreement, and certainly nothing was obtained in writing.

Also charged as part of the conspiracy was Lopezs aunt, Laura Lopez, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday to a year in prison, and sister, Bianca Finnigan, who pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

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The twins older brother Armando Flores, who helped them break into the drug business three decades ago, has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 26.

Vivianna Lopez was born in Chicagos Little Village neighborhood and her family later moved to nearby West Lawn. She was raised in a tightknit, extended-family household, a high school cheerleader whod largely steered clear of gangs despite her gritty surroundings.

Writing under the pseudonym Mia, Lopez wrote in Cartel Wives that she had dated a young man she referred to in the book as Mark Jones, who became a Chicago cop himself and was later convicted of corruption.

The Tribune confirmed that Jones was actually Keith Herrera, a former officer with the elite Special Operations Section who pleaded guilty to robbing drug dealers at the direction of his friend and mentor, Officer Jerome Finnigan.

Finnigan was sentenced in 2011 to 12 years in federal prison. His brother is married to Vivianna Lopezs sister and co-defendant, Bianca.

Lopez also described in the book meeting the Flores twins through her childhood friend, recalling them as handsome and well-dressed. When the Flores family moved into Viviannas neighborhood, her friend wanted to introduce them.

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Finally I was going to meet the legendary Flores twins, she wrote in the book. Peters handshake greeting and respectful demeanor struck her immediately, a big departure from the boys who would openly comment on her looks, she wrote.

They saw each other socially and she even invited him to a party at her home, where she describes her police officer father cornering him and warning him to stay away from his daughter.

Ultimately, it was Peters near-death experience that brought them together for good. In the summer of 2003, Peter was kidnapped by a violent drug crew and held for ransom, which was paid by Flores brother.

Upon release, Peter made a brief trip to Mexico to clear his head. When he returned, he sought out Lopez and told her how much he cared for her, she wrote.

Lopez said she knew then that she had to either cut off contact or accept her feelings.

Life without him felt hollow, she wrote. I wanted to be with the drug dealer with the heart of gold. I loved Peter for all the goodness and kindness I saw inside him  and Id choose to let the rest slide.

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In asking for a sentence of probation, Lopezs attorney said Monday that a fog of fear has pervaded Lopezs life since her husband started cooperating  a fear that hasnt lifted to this day. Cody said federal investigators have communicated to her several death threats against her client in the past two years.

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Shes moved her family 11 times to four different states, Cody said. No one does that kind of move that many times if they dont legitimately believe that they have reason to fear for their lives.

Cody also said that Lopez used much of the money at the center of the indictment on legitimate things, including starting her own successful laundry business.

But prosecutors said that can cut both ways. Lopez had many opportunities in her life that other defendants dont have, and could have come clean about the money at any point, Assistant U.S. Attorney Erika Csicsila said.

And while Csicsila agreed that Lopez had reason to be fearful for her safety, she has repeatedly chosen to take her story public, including writing the book, granting interviews and pursuing a movie deal.

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She has repeatedly put herself out there and kept her and her family in the dialogue, Csicsila said.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
The 2024 live-action Snow White film appears to have taken the advice of Peter Dinklage, making significant changes to the characterization of the cohort previously known as the Seven Dwarfs.

In recent on-set photos which leaked last week, the racially and gender-diverse cast can be seen consisting of mostly able-bodied, fully grown individuals, with the exception of one person with dwarfism.

The photos were snapped on the Bedfordshire, England, film set, and sparked plenty of online hate from those who continue to decry wokeness.

Unbelievable. #GoWokeGoBroke, wrote one Twitter user.

Looks like the Woke dont care much for dwarves. And they have a girl dwarf now, another person tweeted.

Also caught in the photos were alleged stand-ins for actors Rachel Zegler and Andrew Burnap, who were cast in the lead roles, as well as Zegler herself, who is of Colombian descent.

A Disney spokesperson reportedly told The Independent that the images are not official film photos, but they did not deny that they were from the actual production.

With the newly leaked photos, it appears that Disney took the words of actor Peter Dinklage to heart.

In January of last year, Dinklage went on Marc Marons WTF podcast and had some strong feelings about the movie being made.

No offense to anyone, but I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, the Game of Thrones star said.

It makes no sense to me. Youre progressive in one way and youre still making that fing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess Im not loud enough, he added.

Disney later responded to his comments, releasing a statement that said, To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.

Despite some of the backlash online, others appear to be applauding the studios decision.

If you are calling to boycott Disney and Hollywood, or hoping for them to lose money because they decided to tell a make-believe story using characters that look different than the original make-believe story from 1812 (211 years ago), then you are trying to generate outrage and divide people, liberal author Brian Krassenstein wrote on Twitter Saturday morning.

Disney is doing the opposite, he added. They are making a movie that should appeal to everyone and that represents society, not some 211-year-old German fairy tale. Focus on more important issues!
Jason Rawls, a music producer and educator, speaks alongside others involved in hip-hop at a roundtable discussion Thursday during the 11th annual Modern Band Summit at Colorado State University's Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom in Fort Collins.

Determined to modernize music education and make it more accessible to a wider range of students, 400 music educators from across the country gathered at Colorado State University last week for the Modern Band Summit.

They heard Bootsy Collins, one of the all-time great funk and R&B bass players; Jason Rawls, a top hip-hop producer; hip-hop artist Queen Herawin; community activist Martha Diaz; and two-time Emmy Award-winning musician Toki Wright speak about the culture and community surrounding different forms of music.

And they shared ideas, strategies and curriculum to bring modern music into their classrooms to get students who might not otherwise connect with school excited about learning.

Theres great value in being able to communicate with your students in a language they understand  whether thats playing a similar song that they hear on the radio in the room or just acknowledging how they receive information and utilizing that same medium to communicate other things," said Wright, a hip-hop artist, producer and educator.

So, if its through song, if its through creative writing, if its through playing, if its through dance. We miss so much connection with our young people, because we teach them in a way thats unnatural to their nature.

Modern Band Summit is put on by Music Will, previously known as Little Kids Rock, a national educational organization supported by the Fort Collins-based Bohemian Foundation and others.

Music Will believes that when kids participate in music programs and receive teaching that reflects who they are, they are better equipped to bring positive change to the world, the organization said on the introductory page of its Modern Band Summit program.

Wright, now chair of professional music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, shared that message during a hip-hop roundtable discussion that was one of the highlights of the three-day conference for music educators that ended Friday.

Joined on stage in the main ballroom at the Lory Student Center on Thursday afternoon by Rawls, Herawin, creative artist Y?  all music educators themselves  and Diaz, the hip-hop panel described the role the uplifting form of street music played in each of their lives.

Then they brought up a drummer and two guitar players to demonstrate not just their musical talent with a sing- and dance-along performance, but also the simplicity of expressing themselves through hip-hop music. Y? went into the audience and asked random people to share what they were thinking in a single word, then sang that word musically to a hip-hop beat as the room full of music educators sang, danced and clapped along.

Music, the panel reminded their audience, is an art form that can be used to communicate, teach and learn.

And modern music, be it rap or hip-hop, pop, Latin or R&B, often speaks to those who would otherwise be left behind in our education system.

Toki Wright sings while gathered on stage with other music educators from the hip-hop genre during a roundtable discussion Thursday at 11th annual Modern Band Summit at Colorado State University's Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom in Fort Collins.

That struck a chord with Lacey Kinsey and Jessica Wagoner, two graduate students in music education at the University of Akron. They both grew up in predominantly white, middle-class communities, learning music the traditional way through participation in one of the three disciplines schools focused on  choir, band or orchestra.

Three separate worlds, at many schools, several of the music educators said.

The Music Will curriculum, which one of their college professors embraces, is designed to break down those silos and bring the kind of music people are listening to  on their radios, smartphones, from street musicians in their neighborhoods  into their schools.

It is designed to help reach students who might otherwise fall through the cracks, Kinsey said. And it seamlessly brings an important element of cultural inclusivity into the classroom, Wagoner said.

There were breakout sessions at the Modern Band Summit on Arabic and mariachi music; folk music from the Dominican Republic; digital music production, including an iPad ensemble; songwriting; guitar playing; drumming; prioritizing student voices in the classroom; creating and teaching a course on modern band; and dozens of other instructional opportunities.

There were 400 music educators attending in person and 115 more participating virtually, Music Will interim CEO Janice Polizzotto said.

There were all kinds of fun ideas to incorporate into my classroom to help all students be engaged and have fun in music for life, said Shelly Peterson, who teaches in Fort Collins at McGraw Elementary School. I havent even had time to process them all. Ive had some really outstanding sessions.

Others came from all over the country to participate in the annual event, now in its 11th year overall and eighth at CSU.

More: Disability won't define her: Kylee Lynn is first deaf graduate of Poudre High IB program

Many have attended previous Modern Band Summits, which count toward the professional development hours many states require for teachers to retain and renew their licenses. They reconnected with colleagues they met at previous events, shared ideas and gathered each night for jam sessions in the dormitories at Laurel Village where they were staying.

Willie Minor was attending the summit for the fourth time. The highlight for him this year was meeting Collins, the keynote speaker who got his start leading James Browns backup band in the 1970s.

I grew up listening to him and to actually meet him and get to shake his hand and even take a picture with him was great, Minor said. This is my fourth year coming here. This whole experience has been great.

Others were first-timers, excited to learn how they could energize their students and schools with a new approach to teaching music.

David Miller, a high school music teacher from Burlington, Connecticut, was seeking input to help expand the modern music curriculum in his state from the organization that pioneered that curriculum nationally, he said.

Aamon Richardson, an elementary school teacher from Brooklyn, New York, was furiously scribbling down notes during the hip-hop roundtable, exploring ways to expand on the lessons he created from attending previous professional development sessions closer to home through Music Will.

I teach in east Harlem, and the kids are so talented, said Nicole Levin, a longtime teacher from New York City who is launching a new music program at her elementary school in New York City. They cant read or write, but they would probably be able to if they had enough people who understand who would let them show their talent. In my room, I let them do that. Its pretty cool.

 I like what music allows, what music facilitates, the way you can see kids just blossom. But they all have their own take on it. They wouldnt get a chance from their families, they have no theater etiquette, they have no experience. But they do know hip-hop; they get it."

The inclusivity of the Modern Band model was a big hit with Chris Lee-Rodriguez, a music teacher at a school serving mostly immigrant families in East Boston. About half of his students are English-language learners, mostly from Central and South America, who really struggle to find connections at school.

What music is, at its bare minimum, at its essence, is culture and community, he said. In my community, the kids dont want to be there. Our schools look old  our building is over 100, maybe 120 years old with huge infrastructure problems  and the teachers dont look like them.

What music does is provide a way to develop a culture and bring community together, and it really contributes to the school community.

Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, twitter.com/KellyLyell or facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Modern Band Summit: Educators gather at CSU with Bootsy Collins, more
ALBANY, N.Y.  Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to spend big on lawyers as he remains at the center of multiple high-profile legal cases two years after his resignation.

A campaign finance disclosure report filed by Cuomo on Monday morning shows he has spent $1.6 million since mid-January on legal fees. He has now spent a total of $6.6 million on attorneys since the state Assembly launched an impeachment probe into him in the spring of 2021.

Cuomo currently has $7.6 million in his campaign account, down from $16.8 million at the start of 2021.

A good chunk of this will eventually be reimbursed by taxpayers. Since at least some of the allegations made against the ex-governor led to courtroom appearances that did not end with convictions, state money will pay his campaign account for the share of the legal spending that went toward these cases.

A little more than half of Cuomos current payments went to Rita Glavin, who has represented him on matters including the sexual harassment allegations made against him. Glavin has now been paid $3.4 million from his campaign account in the past two years.

Manhattan firm Sher Tremonte was also paid $711,000 in April.

Cuomo, who did not have a permanent residence when he moved out of the Executive Mansion, is also spending $1,573 a month of campaign money on storage lockers.

While Cuomo left the executive branch nearly two years ago, he still has plenty of business before the judicial branch.

Hes currently under investigation by the Committee on Ethics and Lobbying in Government over allegations that the $5 million book deal he signed in 2020 relied on the use of state resources. He has brought a suit against COELIG that challenges the legality of the ethics enforcement entity that was created last year.

Cuomo is also involved in ongoing legal fights over the numerous sexual harassment allegations made against him. Earlier this month, he asked a judge to force state investigators to share records of their interviews with his accusers.

Cuomo has denied all the allegations against him and long argued that his downfall was engineered by the political aspirations of individuals like Attorney General Tish James, who briefly ran for governor after his resignation.

The former governor's spokesman Rich Azzopardi pointed to two years of legal wins, dismissals and cases that were never sound enough to be brought forward in the first place as evidence that a report from James on the sexual misconduct allegations was a sham.

James has repeatedly said that her probe was an independent investigation and that Cuomos attempts to downplay the allegations against him are an attempt to undermine and to politicize the report. An impeachment investigation from the state Assembly that followed her probe concluded there was overwhelming evidence of [Cuomos] misconduct such as what she detailed.

The ex-governor is still raising a little bit of money from his remaining supporters. A total of 39 contributors combined to contribute $11,000 to his campaign account over the past six months.

His top donor was North Carolina resident Anne Overstreet, whose Twitter bio says that her interests include Music, Dogs, Fun, Cars, and Handsome Gentlemen who look like Andrew Cuomo. She gave four checks totaling $4,000.
A Pittsburgh D.J. and radio personality spent Sunday calling for a day of peace in the city.

Sly Jock said he held the event to keep the violence at bay, even if it was only for 24 hours.

Sly and his daughter KiKi Brown broadcast live from Salem Market and Grill in the Strip District for the afternoon. The two asked the local community to have a ceasefire.

Brown believes the population can build momentum off the day of peace and continue to do better.

If we can do it for one day, we can do it for a week, we can do it for a month. If we can do it for a year, Pittsburgh will be amazing. Lets get these numbers down. No more gun violence, said Brown.

The goal was to keep the peace until a minimum of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

By the end of the night, there were no shootings reported.

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Dad, stop, youre killing her: Newton man charged with murder in deadly attack on his wife

A Newton man is being charged with murder in the deadly attack on his wife in their Newton home. Prosecutors say the attack happened while their children were home, one of whom called the police pleading for help.

Richard Hanson, 64 is being charged with murder, assault, and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of his wife, 54-year-old Nancy Hanson. He was held without bail at his arraignment.

At approximately 8:21 p.m. Saturday, Newton police received a 911 call from two people simultaneously, one being the couples son and the second being a friend of the victim who was on the phone at the time of the assault, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said that during the 911 call the juvenile son said that during the physical altercation, Richard Hanson struck his wife with a baseball bat.

According to prosecutors, the friend heard the phone drop followed by loud bangs, and the children were screaming, Dad, stop, youre killing her!

Nancy Hanson

Police arrived at the home on Brookline Street and found Nancy Hanson suffering from apparent blunt-force injuries. She was found lying on the floor of one of her childrens bedrooms with injuries to her head, officials said.

Prosecutors say Hanson attacked his wife with a baseball bat and a metal barbell with weights still on it. Boston 25 learned the victim had just requested a restraining order last week. Court records also indicate both Hanson and his wife had requested prior restraining orders on each other and both were arrested for ongoing domestic issues. The family next door told us they never saw an issue. Makes us feel guilty at this point that we couldnt have known that we could have offered some support at some point, said a neighbor.

According to a police report, officers asked Hanson during the booking process how he felt and Hanson replied depressed, and that he felt awful for his boys. Two women in court for the case would not talk about what led up to the incident.

Officers found Richard Hanson outside the home with blood splatted on his body and clothes and indicated that his wife has been cheating on him, prosecutors say.

The Chief Medical Examiner has determined her cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

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.

In a statement Sunday, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called Saturdays incident another horrific tragedy in Newton.

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.

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.

Hanson is being held without bail and is due back in court on August 16.

NEW: Richard Hanson is in court. Prosecutors say he murdered Nancy Hanson. Prosecutor say the couples son and the victims friend called 911 during the attack. Son told dispatcher Hanson was hitting his mother with baseball bat. The friend was on phone with victim during attack.  Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) July 17, 2023

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

Man accused of beating wife to death in Newton faces a judge

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Who gets the credit for a lawsuit, the man who files it and starts building the evidence or the man who settles it and collects the cash?

In 2021 and 2022, national settlements worth billions of dollars were reached in a collection of addiction-related suits between the states and a number of opioid manufacturers and distributors, including Amerisource Bergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson, Johnson & Johnson, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Teva/Allergan.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican elected in 2019, announced that Kentucky stood to collect $842 million from its share of the national opioid litigation. That sum since has risen to about $900 million.

Kentuckys money is being divided between the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, to help the state plan its future addiction treatment and recovery efforts, and grants to help local governments with their own similar efforts.

Cameron, now the GOP nominee for Kentucky governor, claims sole credit for the money.

And hes using those claims to attack his opponent, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who served as attorney general before him.

Were in the process of bringing nearly $900 million into the state. Andy Beshear, when he was attorney general, didnt bring any money into the state, Cameron told reporters in April. So this has been about not just talking, again, but taking action so that we can hopefully start to have meaningful change in Kentucky.

Andy Beshear filed a lot of lawsuits during his time office, but in this race, there is only one person who has actually delivered dollars to fight the opioid epidemic, and it's not him.



Compare our records:



Beshear: $ 0

Cameron: $ 900 million https://t.co/GL2d6B45qS  Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronAG) June 17, 2023

In a tweet in June, Cameron wrote: Andy Beshear filed a lot of lawsuits during his time in office, but in this race, there is only one person who has actually delivered dollars to fight the opioid epidemic, and its not him.

Compare our records, Cameron continued. Beshear: $0. Cameron: $900 million.

However, it was Beshear who brought the opioid litigation during his four-year term as attorney general. Beshears office filed at least nine addiction-related lawsuits against companies by 2018, and it fought to keep them moving in the state courts despite the companies efforts to have them dismissed.

Im a little shocked that the attorney general would say I havent brought any dollars in opioid settlements, Beshear said at a news conference in April, when asked about Camerons claims.

Every single lawsuit hes settling right now, I not only filed but I argued personally in court, showing up when companies were trying to blame us for the millions of pills that they sent, hundreds of thousands, and into really small communities, Beshear said.

Listen, as an attorney, youre always supposed to share credit with other lawyers on the suit on a lawsuit, especially the ones who filed it, he said.

In a written statement to the Herald-Leader on Friday, the Cameron campaign said his claim to credit about the money is factually correct.

He is the only candidate in the race who has delivered millions of dollars as a result of opioid settlements, campaign spokeswoman Courtney Norris said.

He is also the only candidate in the race who worked with the General Assembly to create a structure to actually distribute the funds, Norris said. AG Camerons office worked with the General Assembly on House Bill 427, which created the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. Andy Beshear didnt.
Death threats and pedophilia accusations. How child trafficking took over Californias Capitol

California Democrats spent the final few days before summer recess in an unusual spot: embroiled in a legislative fight with Republicans, who typically operate in the shadow of the states blue supermajority.

The cause? A bill to strengthen penalties for child sex traffickers that lawmakers killed ahead of a looming legislative deadline.

By the time they left Sacramento last week, Democrats had doubled back and advanced Senate Bill 14 in an emergency hearing of the Assembly Public Safety committee, likely at the behest of both Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister.

And Republicans were celebrating a win for law and order in California with bill author Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield.

How did a party with almost no power in California manage to achieve a political win?

In part by employing simplistic, fear-based messaging that exploited the divide between progressive and moderate Democrats on criminal justice reform. Social media posts amplifying the bills failure suggested Democrats are soft on crime, especially related to children.

Their arguments in favor of the bill also carried a whiff of the far-right GOP conspiracy theory related to Democrats and pedophilia.

Heres what to know as Democrats continue to deal with the fallout.

Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, center, talks with a member of her staff, Lindsey Dietz, right, while waiting for the Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing vote Thursday to advance her child sex trafficking bill.

California human trafficking

Human trafficking occurs when people are forced or coerced to perform work. Most reported human trafficking cases deal with sex trafficking, or forced sex work, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

During her testimony before the Assembly Public Safety Committee on July 11, Grove called the state a hub for human trafficking.

Trafficking is under-reported, but data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline shows Californias share of national cases declined from 2015 to 2021, the PPIC reported. The state accounted for about 18% of cases nationwide in 2015, a number that dipped to about 13% by 2021.

The Trafficking Hotline in 2021 identified 1,334 cases in California involving 2,122 victims. Its demographic data collection is not complete, but 978 identified victims were adults and 246 were children.

The California Capitol building basks in the afternoon sun on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. State lawmakers have repeatedly tried to reclassify human trafficking crimes as serious felonies.

Trafficking sentencing reform

Child sex trafficking is already a felony in California, but it is not on the list of crimes considered serious felonies.

People convicted of child sex trafficking currently face five to 12 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The penalty jumps to 15 years to life if the crime involves violence, coercion, fear or threats.

Crimes considered serious felonies are eligible for sentencing under Californias controversial three strikes law, which significantly increases prison time for repeat offenders.

Grove last year authored a broader bill that attempted to add human trafficking to the lists of violent and serious felonies. The measure died in the Senate Public Safety Committee. This year, she amended SB 14 to more narrowly apply to those trafficking minors.

California lawmakers have tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully since 2007 to create more stringent penalties for human traffickers, according to reporting by CalMatters.

The tricky nature of reclassifying trafficking crimes was on display at the July 11 hearing.

Sharmin Bock, a former Alameda County district attorney, testified that Groves bill is necessary because child sex traffickers rarely serve their entire prison sentences, emboldening them to re-offend.

But survivor April Grayson of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition tearfully opposed the bill, saying it can unintentionally sweep in victims forced into acting on behalf of their traffickers.

Legislators, including, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City, second from left in center, and Senate Bill 17 author Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, center, listen to speakers during an Assembly session at the Capitol on Thursday, July 13, 2023, prior to a vote to revive the child sex trafficking bill that was killed by California Democrats but caught the attention of Gov. Gavin Newsom who intervened.

Republicans back Democrats into a corner

California has spent the past 15 years moving away from the tough-on-crime sentencing laws that created overcrowded prisons filled with Black and brown people. A panel of federal judges in 2009 ordered the state to begin reducing the incarcerated population.

That resulted in a series of changes that reclassified some lower-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, shifted some prison inmates to county jails and increased opportunities for people to earn credits and reduce their sentences.

Progressive Democrats have been hesitant to support bills that would increase penalties, wanting to avoid a return to policies promoting mass incarceration.

This has created an opening for Republicans, who have spent much of the year attacking Democrats and Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, for opposing measures that would add prison time for fentanyl dealers.

Jones-Sawyer had to back down this spring and hear the series of fentanyl bills he previously declined to bring before the panel. Members still killed the measures that would have strengthened penalties for dealers.

But when it came to SB 14, four Democrats reversed course and joined two Republicans to vote in favor of SB 14 at the emergency meeting on July 13.

Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, taps the gavel after California lawmakers revived a bill Thursday to enact harsher punishments for child sex traffickers after Democrats blocked it earlier in the week, prompting involvement from Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leadership.

That may be due in part to a messaging war the GOP undertook after the bill failed.

Republicans pushed social media messages saying Democrats rejected efforts to make trafficking of minors a serious felony. The posts did not include any context around existing penalties or what a serious felony means in California.

The posts and news stories spread far enough to attract the attention of Twitter owner Elon Musk, who replied to a tweet about the situation, saying, A. How is it not already a serious felony? B. Wtf!?

Human trafficking has long been a strong issue for Republicans. This is especially true in far right corners of the party, where conspiracy theorists have perpetuated myths that Democratic leaders are trafficking children.

Assemblyman Heath Flora, R-Modesto, alluded to this during the July 13 Assembly floor session, when he asked his colleagues to choose a team: Pick pedophiles or children.

Jones-Sawyer told reporters after the bill passed out of his committee that some members had received death threats after the July 11 meeting.

Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, was one of two committee members who declined to vote on the bill during the second hearing.

The number of times in the last day people have suggested my (fiancee and) family be sex trafficked is a reminder that this was not a policy conversation, Bryan said in a Twitter post.

SB 14 now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee after the Legislature returns from its summer recess on Aug. 14.
Death Valley hit 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3C) on Sunday  a searing high even for a country buckling under a wave of prolonged, triple-digit temperatures from coast to coast.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134F (56.7C) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek inside the park, Randy Ceverny of the World Meteorological Organization told AP, the body recognized as keeper of world records.

Temperatures at or above 130F (54.4C) have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley National Park which runs along the California-Nevada border. The digital display at Furnace Creek Visitor Center gave an unofficial reading of 130F (54.4C) on Sunday.

Across the US, other regions were hitting lesser, but still dangerous, extremes. Temperatures were in the 110Fs in Phoenix, Arizona, where they have remained for the past three weeks. Las Vegas, Nevada and Californias Central Valley were facing similar extremes.

More than 100 million people were under heat alerts in the US on Monday as forecasters warned that the severe heatwave will continue throughout the Southwest until at least the weekend after toppling record after record this month.

All time heat records could be approached, or reached, in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert and Great Basin regions. Phoenix is likely to register its hottest week on record, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

From Monday, dangerous heat was also building in the southeast and along the Gulf Coast with heat index readings of 110F through Friday.

Public officials warned people in these areas to limit their time outdoors due to the potentially fatal consequences of such high temperatures. Extreme heat is the deadliest climate consequence, killing more Americans than all other disasters combined.

Residents were advised to turn on air conditioning, hydrate and not leave children or pets locked in cars. Public health officials also told residents to be alert to signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke as risks of heat-related illnesses and death rise when temperatures surpass 90F.

Extreme temperatures soaring into the triple digits are digging in across the US Southwest and building along the Gulf and in the Southeast on Monday (NOAA/NWS)

The intensifying heatwave across the southern US was mirrored around the world as millions of people in Europe, Asia and Africa contended with extreme, record-breaking temperatures caused by a fossil-fuel driven climate crisis.

The month of July has been uncharted territory on a global scale, climate scientists said.

This is just the beginning. This is what the climate system can do at just 1.2C warming. Current policies globally have us hitting 2.7C warming by 2100. Thats truly terrifying, Prof Simon Lewis, Chair of Global Change Science, University College London, said in an email.

As scientists agreed last year: There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. Deep, rapid and sustained cuts in carbon emissions to net zero can halt the warming, but humanity will have to adapt to even more severe heatwaves in the future.

China recorded its highest-ever temperature on Sunday with the remote township of Sanbao in Xinjiang hitting 52.2C -nearly two degrees above the previous record.

Italy issued red alerts for 16 cities due to hot conditions with Spain, Italy and Greece reporting similar extremes. Meteorologists warned the deadly heatwave spanning Europe was likely to stretch into August.

The extreme heat and aridity has led to huge wildfires which forced the evacuation of holiday villages in Greece on Monday and saw more than 4,000 people evacuated from La Palma in the Canary Islands.

It wasnt only the extreme heat  sudden and extreme flash flooding struck again this weekend in the US and beyond.

Five people were killed, and a baby and a toddler remain missing, after cars were swept away by torrents of water on a Pennsylvania road.

Rescuers conduct a search operation along a road submerged by floodwaters leading to an underground tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea on Sunday, July 16, 2023 (Yonhap via AP)

In Vermont, authorities were fearful of landslides as rain continued after days of extreme flooding. In Mississippi, a flash flood warning was issued in Clarke County on Monday after a dam failed on Archusa Creek.

In South Korea, nine bodies were pulled from a flooded tunnel where around 15 vehicles were trapped in muddy water on Saturday as days of heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides and destroyed homes across the country, officials said.

A total of 37 people have died and thousands have been evacuated since 9th July, when heavy rain started pounding the country.

Conditions this summer are being amplified by the still-emerging El Nino climatic pattern, with more severe impacts expected throughout this year and into 2024. The first week in July was the planets hottest on record - an alarming milestone which climate scientists warned would likely be toppled soon.
Editors note: This is the third article in a series of six exploring South Dakotas last decade of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, A decade of hate. Stay with the Argus Leader in the coming days for the fourth, fifth and sixth articles in this series.

Joey, 12, and his mother, Hannah, are considering leaving the town in eastern South Dakota theyve called home for more than a decade.

Theyre preparing to leave South Dakota because House Bill 1080, which bans gender-affirming health care for minors, took effect July 1, and affects Joeys ability to get care since he is a trans boy.

Moving out-of-state means uprooting their lives for any one of the few states that have a history and record of protecting LGBTQ+ rights and expanding them. The states they see as options are Minnesota or California, or states in the upper northeast or Pacific Northwest.

More: More than 200 South Dakota bills become law Saturday. Here are the major ones to know.

Joey and Hannah are one of a group of trans individuals and families who have struggled to find medical care, considered leaving the state permanently or seeking medical care across state borders because of HB 1080 and laws like it. Joey and his mother Hannah have requested anonymity for this story because Joey is not publicly out as trans. Hannah also requested anonymity to protect her job and her familys safety.

Lawmakers think about this legislation in an abstract way and dont realize it has such a profound impact on the daily life of these kids, Hannah said.

Joey (left) works on math homework with his mother's help in this file photo from Makenzie Huber of South Dakota Searchlight.

What trans medical care looked like for youth in South Dakota

Gender-affirming care is supported by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, the Endocrine Society and more, and multiple studies have shown its associated with better mental health outcomes for the people who seek it.

While HB 1080 bans any form of gender-affirming surgery for minors, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health rarely, if ever, recommends such procedures for minors. Gender-affirming surgery, and even prescriptions to gender-affirming hormone therapy or puberty blockers, require multiple steps be taken and a process be followed before they are advised.

More: A decade of hate: How South Dakota's anti-LGBTQ+ bills have grown in the last 10 years

In South Dakota, providers who were willing to work with patients on gender-affirming care were also few and far between before HB 1080 took effect, according to interviews with healthcare providers and trans people.

Avera Health spokesperson Michelle Pellman said the hospital system didnt have a history in initiating any type of gender-affirming care to minors.

Sanford Health has held three different summits on gender identity, and some of the trans youth interviewed by the Argus Leader said theyd received gender-affirming care or counseling there. While Sanford Health didnt make any doctors available to speak on the topic for this article, media relations manager Paul Heinert sent the following statement from the healthcare system:

Sanford Health is committed to providing exceptional health care for all we serve, including those with gender-related care needs, the statement said. Our physicians provide evidence-based medical care in accordance with the applicable state laws where we operate. We encourage patients to talk with their doctor about how we can best support their health care needs.

More: Gender Identity Summit closed to media, public

Dr. Amy Kelley, who specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Sanford Health, recently spoke at a trans rights rally in Sioux Falls and shared how anti-trans bills across the country terrify her both as a doctor and as a mother to a trans daughter.

I think its hard for a lot of people in the medical community who feel really strongly about making sure our patients get what they need, Kelley said. Its very hard for us to stay here and want to stay here, but doubly so when you have a child who you really desperately want to protect. I dont plan on leaving. I plan on staying and fighting. Someone needs to fight for our neighbors, and for all of our LGBTQ+ community.

More: 'We need to stand up:' Crowd rallies in Sioux Falls to support transgender rights

Dr. Amanda Diehl, with the Community Health Center of the Black Hills, opened the states only designated LGBTQ+ clinic, the Iris Clinic, in May 2020 in Rapid City. She usually works with patients ages 9-22 and said she was inspired to open the clinic after she saw a patient and realized doctors dont always get training on how to best help trans patients. The majority of the work she does involves LGBTQ+ sexual health.

Her clinic has created a space with standards and expected treatment that are gender-affirming from the time someone comes in the door to the time they go to the billing department, she said, noting all the providers are careful to get peoples names and pronouns right.

I come into the room to see my patients and theyre just crying, Diehl said. They havent been to a place thats treated them with respect. Giving people a space to be themselves is just the best part of it.

Prior to the ban on gender-affirming care for minors, Diehl would connect patients to an endocrinologist and counselor if they needed gender-affirming care.

People think you can just walk in and get hormones, Diehl said, dispelling misconceptions about her job. Its a specific timeline.

Before patients can get puberty blockers or hormones, they see a counselor for six months before they receive a letter of recommendation that shows they have an insistent, persistent and consistent gender identity different from what was assigned to them at birth, Diehl explained.

More: Senate committee passes bill limiting gender affirming care, despite opposition from doctors

Consideration is also given to ensure trans patients can afford their care, arent at risk of homelessness, are safe and are informed of any risks or permanent changes to come with their treatment, Diehl explained.

But as this law takes effect, Diehl said the impacts to youth who will now have to start detransitioning and going through the wrong puberty will be enormous.

Despite this being a standard of care, we cant do this anymore, she said. The part I find disheartening is I went to medical school, did residency and seven years of higher education, and they tell me that if I follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for gender care, I lose my license. Its the most disheartening thing Ive heard for doctors.

More: Effort to limit gender-affirming care for trans youth in South Dakota moves forward

Other doctors and medical professionals like Diehl testified against HB 1080, including Dr. Nicholas Torbert, a neonatologist at Avera; Dr. Henry Travers, an emeritus pathologist at Avera McKennan Hospital and a clinical professor at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine; and Anne Dilenschneider, a WPATH-certified gender specialist and mentor at New Idea Counseling in Sioux Falls.

Representatives from the South Dakota State Medical Association, the South Dakota Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians also spoke out against HB 1080.

Theres a clock on these things

Joey has known he was a boy since he was 4 years old. He began puberty blockers when he was 9.

At that time, it was rare any healthcare provider or pediatric endocrinologist was available, were affirming of trans patients or knew much about gender-affirming care, Hannah said. No one could provide puberty blockers or other forms of care, in her experience.

More: A decade of hate: How trans activists pressured Gov. Dennis Daugaard to veto HB 1008 in 2016

By traveling outside of South Dakota and paying completely out-of-pocket, Hannah was able to get the care her son needed in Kansas City, Missouri, where a team of providers  a social worker, psychologist, pediatric endocrinologist and pediatrician, to name a few  worked together to think about Joeys needs on a holistic scale.

Joey plays basketball in his driveway in this file photo from Makenzie Huber of South Dakota Searchlight. He is one South Dakota child impacted by the states gender-affirming care ban, which has been implemented in several surrounding states.

There, Joey was able to get a puberty blocker implant similar to birth control, but about 90% of Joeys care has been for his mental health, with regular visits to a therapist and counselor, his mom said. Access to the puberty blocker is important for Joeys physical wellbeing so he doesnt experience a puberty thats in opposition to his gender.

Each visit out-of-state requires time off of work, gas and meals, appointments in the middle of the day or nights in a Kansas City hotel, which can become costly. Spending 10 hours in a car for a doctors visit is painful and exhausting, Hannah said, and it means her son misses more school.

Hannah said the family is fortunate to be able to travel for care, and fortunate her workplace is flexible to give time when needed, but she said she realizes thats not a possibility for other families in South Dakota.

More: 'Children are political targets': A family's struggle with SD's trans health care ban

Families like Joeys are competing for care in trans refuge states like Minnesota and Colorado, with patients from other states banning gender-affirming care, like North Dakota and Iowa. Waitlists in Minnesota and Colorado are long, and getting an appointment can take anywhere from a year to 18 months, Hannah said.

When you have a child who is starting to experience puberty, theres a clock on these things and a timeline in which you need to get care, Hannah said. Its made it much more difficult.

One of the most challenging things for Joey and Hannah is hearing stereotypes about trans kids and their parents. Hannah said every winter is exhausting because of the arguments they hear about trans people during the legislative session.

If people knew who we were, the idea that we would indoctrinate our kids into this or force them into something theyre not to score political points or be politically correct is ridiculous, Hannah said. Everyones doing their best to support their kid as who they are. To listen to who they say they are when they tell us I cant imagine fighting them on that.

Its frustrating to hear legislators argue about kids like Joey, he said. He wishes his family could stay in South Dakota, and that they wouldnt just target us.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Why House Bill 1080 has one South Dakota family considering relocation
A satellite image of the United States on Monday morning. Wildfire smoke could be seen from the northern Plains to the Appalachian Mountains. (NOAA/GOES-EAST)

Millions of people across the central and eastern United States may experience deja vu when heading outside early this week, as the blue summer sky has once again been transformed by Canadian wildfire smoke.

Air quality alerts were in effect from central Pennsylvania through Maine, as well as portions of North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana, on Tuesday morning. Smoke was more expansive than the warnings, with a hazy sky extending to the Florida coast and up the East Coast.

Cleveland was one of the major cities across the Midwest where smoke shrouded the skyline Monday morning. The air quality in the city reached an "unhealthy" level with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 133 and visibility was reduced to under 4 miles. The AQI improved slightly by Tuesday morning from "unhealthy" to "poor" with an AQI of 83.

Images of the smoky Cleveland skyline on July 17, compared to a smoke-free day on June 26. (EarthCam)

Air quality is gradually improving across the Midwest, including in Chicago and Indianapolis, but remains "unhealthy" in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, according to Plume Labs data Monday morning. The air quality in New York City was "poor" with an AQI of 92 Tuesday morning.

When the AQI is over 100, sensitive groups may experience health effects immediately, and even healthy individuals could experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation after prolonged exposure.

As has been the case over the past two months, the polluted air can be traced back to wildfires raging across Canada.

The latest episode of smoke originated from blazes burning across British Columbia and Alberta. Thick smoke billowing from the fires built up over the provinces last week before a shift in the wind blew the massive cloud of smoke southeastward, spreading across the northern Plains Friday and Saturday before expanding over the eastern U.S. Sunday and Monday.

Typically, smoke traveling this far is higher in the atmosphere, but enough was reaching the ground Monday to create health concerns.

A map showing the air quality across the United States on Monday. Orange, red and purple indicate areas where air quality is unhealthy due to wildfire smoke. (AccuWeather/Plume Labs)

The ongoing event is not as extreme as the air quality events from early June in the Northeast or late June in the Midwest, but the expansive reach of the smoke means that more people may be exposed to poor air quality.

AccuWeather forecasters say that the air quality will improve in the coming days as wind flushes out the smoke from the Midwest and mid-Atlantic.

Over 27.4 million acres (42,813 square miles) have been scorched across Canada this year due to wildfires, an area larger than Virginia. This figure is significantly higher than the 17.5 million acres (27,344 square miles) that burned across Canada in 1995, the previous record for the worst wildfire season in the county's history in terms of land burned.

AccuWeather meteorologists say it is possible that 40 million acres (62,500 square miles), burns by the end of 2023, an area larger than Florida.

On Sunday, authorities announced that a firefighter died while battling a blaze in Canada's Northwest Territories, according to The Associated Press. The unidentified man was the second person to die this year while fighting fires in Canada, with the first fatality occurring in British Columbia late last week.

Wildfire season has been off to a slow start across the U.S., with 770,291 acres (1,204 square miles) burning through July 15. Over the past 10 years, the U.S. has averaged 2.85 million acres burned by this point in the year.

However, AccuWeather forecasters warn that widespread heat paired with dry conditions will make the West ripe for wildfire activity this week.

The Rabbit Fire is the largest blaze burning in California and has already burned nearly 8,300 acres in Riverside County, located east of Los Angeles. It was only 45% confined as of Tuesday morning and has forced evacuations near Highway 79, according to CalFire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Any large fires that break out across the western U.S. could spew more clouds of smoke into the atmosphere, resulting in more air quality concerns across the country.

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.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) on Monday warned about the stakes of the 2024 election, arguing Republicans will push to approve a national abortion ban if they win Congress next year.

If you didnt know already, if Republicans win control of the House and Senate in 2024, they are going to pass a national abortion ban, Murphy tweeted. Its 100% certain. Just so were clear about the stakes.

Murphy was commenting on a GOP-sponsored amendment to the annual defense policy bill that would reverse the Pentagons policy to reimburse travel expenses for service members who get abortions. This Defense Department policy prompted Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) to block hundreds of military promotions in the Senate in protest.

The only House Republicans to oppose the amendment were Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and John Duarte (Calif.). Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) was the only Democrat to vote yes.

The House ultimately passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Friday largely along party lines in a 219-210 vote, with four Republicans opposing the measure and four Democrats supporting it. The bill typically passes with strong bipartisan support.

The abortion provision and other controversial measures included by House Republicans are poised to be rejected by the Democratic-led Senate when it takes up the bill this week.

Republicans push for a national abortion ban has slowed since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last year. GOP presidential candidates have tiptoed around the issue, with only a handful of them committing to sign a full abortion ban if they are elected president.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

House Republicans passed a 20-week abortion ban when they controlled the House in 2013, 2015 and 2017, but now, many GOP leaders are distancing themselves from the issue.

According to recent polls, most Americans do not support full abortion bans. According to an AP-NORC poll published earlier this month, 64 percent of Americans polled said they believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democrats confident U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will keep his South Texas seat in 2024 election

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, campaigns at a polling location in Mercedes on Nov. 8, 2022. Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune

National Republicans scored a big recruitment win last week when former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, announced her long-awaited comeback bid.

But Democrats are exuding confidence out of the gate, calling Republicans delusional for thinking Flores stands a chance of defeating U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, this time around.

If Flores, running from the position of an incumbent, couldnt hold onto this seat in what was supposed to be a Red Wave election for Republicans, theres no way shell be successful in a presidential election year against Gonzalez, says a new memo from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, touting him as a popular incumbent.

The memo marks the latest salvo in a yearlong political battle that saw both parties rise and fall in the 34th Congressional District. Flores initially captured the seat in a June 2022 special election, handing the GOP a breakthrough victory as they were aggressively targeting South Texas. But redistricting made the seat more favorable for Democrats, and Gonzalez defeated Flores by a comfortable margin in November.

It was a cathartic win for Democrats, who weathered months of headlines that suggested a confident GOP was on the march in predominantly Hispanic South Texas. The NRCC targeted three seats in South Texas but flipped only one, the neighboring 15th Congressional District.

Now, Democrats are not shying away from saying what they really think. The DCCC memo, titled the NRCCs Electoral Delusion in TX-34, cited two main factors: the district fundamentally favoring Democrats and Flores vulnerabilities being on full display.

Gonzalez beat Flores by 9 percentage points in a midterm election that even Flores acknowledged fell short of a red wave. The district hypothetically would have gone to President Joe Biden by 16 percentage points if the current district lines had been in place in 2020.

As for Flores vulnerabilities, the memo offered five bullet points that centered on her short congressional tenure. For example, she voted against the bipartisan gun law that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, helped negotiate; she argued it did not include enough school safety funding. The memo also cites her vote against a bill to codify birth-control access after the overturning of Roe v. Wade; she said the bill would have created a back door to abortion.

Republicans have a lot riding on Flores this time. They went public with their recruitment efforts days before she announced, releasing internal polling that showed her tied with Gonzalez. And within hours of her announcement, she landed endorsements from all of House GOP leadership: Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.

The National Republican Congressional Committee responded to Democrats confidence by reviving a slew of attacks Gonzalez faced in the 2022 election.

Vicente Gonzalez is a sexist, racist, anti-law enforcement and anti-border lawyer who defended drug smugglers, NRCC spokesperson Delanie Bomar said in a statement, calling Flores a proven fighter for the American Dream by contrast.

As the district continues to trend toward Republicans, Flores message continues to resonate with Texans, Bomar said.

The 2022 experience looms large for both sides.

Matt Barreto, a Democratic pollster who surveyed South Texas in 2022 for the DCCC, said he never saw any evidence of a conservative policy shift among Latinos in the region. He said they may have looked like they were up for grabs as some are newer voters whose partisan preferences are still crystallizing. But they ultimately came home to Democrats by and large, he said.

I never had any moment where I went to the DCCC and said, Were losing Latinos, Barreto said. We just have to keep making our case.

Barreto predicted Democrats would do at least a couple percentage points better across South Texas next year. But it requires that outreach, he added.

Even Republicans in Texas are not united on Flores chances. Carlos Cascos, the former Texas secretary of state and Cameron County judge, is still considering entering the primary. In a tweet Thursday, he questioned Flores ability to win the general election.

I have yet to speak to anyone that believes sowishfull thinking, he said. But wishful thinking doesnt win elections.

Mauro Garza, a self-funding businessman, has been running in the GOP primary since February. After word got out the NRCC was recruiting Flores, he said in a statement he has only just started to fight in his campaign.

Gonzalez disclosed Friday that he raised a quarter-million dollars in the second quarter and ended the period with $721,000 cash on hand. Flores announced her comeback bid after the second quarter, so she will not have to file her first fundraising report until mid-October.

Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.
House Democrats plan to introduce a resolution Monday to censure Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) for repeatedly lying to voters and donors about a number of things, including his faith, his education and employment history and more.

I am introducing a resolution to publicly censure George Santos for defrauding the people of the United States, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who wrote the resolution, tweeted Monday. I have a message to House Republicans who, for too long, have been protecting Mr. Santos, who has disgraced the United States Congress. Stop treating Mr. Santos as untouchable. The time has come for Congress to hold him accountable.

I am introducing a resolution to publicly censure George Santos for defrauding the people of the United States.



I have a message to House Republicans who, for too long, have been protecting Mr. Santos, who has disgraced the United States Congress.



Stop treating Mr. Santos as pic.twitter.com/ZOjQhv6hrr  Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) July 17, 2023

Santos tweeted Monday that Democrats have lost focus on what they should be doing.

My record proves that my office is hard at work, serving constituents and crafting keen legislation, he wrote.

The Republican majority is also working hard to get the country back on track and clean up the mess left behind by destructive one-party Democrat rule. It is time to stop the political ping-pong and get real work done.

The Republican majority is also working hard to get the country back on track and clean up the mess left behind by destructive one-party Democrat rule. It is time to stop the political ping-pong and get real work done.



-Congressman Santos  Rep. George Santos (@RepSantosNY03) July 17, 2023

In May, Santos was indicted on 13 charges, two of which were making false statements to the House of Representatives. He pleaded not guilty to all of them. Santos was elected to the House in November 2022, but soon afterward, reports came out that showed he didnt tell the truth about his background. In December, Santos said he embellished his resume, including where he went to school and that he never worked directly for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

If you are a member of Congress who has informally condemned Mr. Santos, then you should have no trouble formally censuring him, Torres said Monday, according to The New York Times. He has disgraced the institution, and the institution should speak with one voice against his misconduct.

In January, Torres called on Santos to resign for not only the national nightmare for Santos but also his constituents, who were denied representation they deserve. Others, including Democrats and Republicans, have called on Santos to resign. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he would call on Santos to resign if the House Ethics Committee found that Santos broke the law. In June, the committee said it was working in an expeditious timeframe to conclude the investigation.

In June, the House voted to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for holding positions of power during Donald Trumps presidency and for abusing this trust by saying there was evidence of collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia, according to The Associated Press.

Santos is running for reelection in 2024. He has raised more than $130,000 and he withdrew $85,000 to repay the thousands of dollars he loaned himself to win in 2022, according to AP.

Related...
DeSantis hypocritical when it comes to immigration

Gov. Ron DeSantis says: We will take action to end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States.

But his great-great-grandmother, Luigia Colucci, was 8 months pregnant when she arrived in Ellis Island on Feb. 21, 1917, to join her husband, who had come here 12 years earlier, according to Megan Smolenyak, a professional genealogist.

Luigia was allowed in, and the baby born soon after automatically became an American citizen; a now scorned anchor baby.

Whole villages in Italy would just come to America and stay here together. You just showed up, and we took 98% of them  even if you were sick, we had a hospital you could go to," Smolenyak explained to Frank Cerabino for his August 25, 2018, column.

Now DeSantis wants finish Trumps wall, and amazingly brags that in Florida, we know how to get infrastructure built quickly and cut through red tape."

So, he hasnt seen the 90-plus-year-old rusting lift bridge in Stuart? How many other obsolete, traffic-blocking, pollution-causing, lift bridges are there in Florida? The governor did move fast after Surfsides collapse, but guess who is now on all the scaffolds, in the heat, doing all the actual work of repairing beachside condos?

Helen Frigo, Jensen Beach

Demonstrators opposing Senate Bill 1718, a new immigration law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, gather at Riverside Park in Vero Beach to rally on Thursday, June 1, 2023. The demonstration, organized by leaders of the Ministerio Cristiano Oasis de Bendicion, a church in Indian River County, voiced their concerns with the bill, which takes effect July 1. The group marched on Merrill P. Barber Bridges southern sidewalk waving to vehicles, with some honking in support.

DeSantis focus: Has a book killed a child lately?

I may not be the first to say this, but it bears repeating.

Until a drag queen blasts into an elementary school classroom and beats eight kids to death with a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Ron DeSantis is focusing on the wrong issues.

Bill Wink, South Hutchinson Island

Time to send message to NRA, representatives

Ten years ago, I never would have thought I would become so anti-Republican Party (anti-Trump Party).

I had been Republican, then independent. Then Donald Trump changed me into a Democrat, and I want to be able to return to being an independent.

There are so many problems with todays GOP, one being it is so beholden to the NRA it refuses to even consider effective gun-control laws. Its public answer to the mass shootings is the mantra: Second Amendment; mental health problem.

And the rebuttal to that is why dont other countries have the number of shootings per capita as the United States? They dont have mental health problems?

Its become so easy for someone in a spurt of anger to grab a gun and shoot, killing loved ones, friends, strangers or even themselves. So what do the Republicans who use the excuses of Second Amendment and mental health really believe? Do they not see a correlation between the ending of the ban on assault rifles in 1994 and the increase in mass shootings since then?

And what is the purpose of the DeSantis removal of gun permits? "Have at it, people?"

All local, state and federal candidates (including incumbents) should be asked if they will support gun control laws, and we should not accept their spins. The only solution, at least for one term, is to have at least 60 U.S. Democratic senators, more than 218 Democratic U.S. representatives, and for Floridians, a majority of Democrats in both Florida state Houses.

Politicians already know the public is not happy with Congress, but it seems they have to be voted out for the message to become clear: They represent the people, not the outside interests.

Anne Brakman, Vero Beach

Affirmative action: Court too conservative, but ruling makes sense

Ive always hated labeling anyone. It impacts ones whole life.

I am not in favor of this conservative Supreme Court. Many of its current decisions are anathematic to my beliefs. But the recent decision on affirmative action really caught my attention. This is something I absolutely agree with.

We forget that we all are people and should be judged and rewarded by this nondescript ideology. Not race, religion, sexual orientation, politics, financial position or any other group we may consider ourselves a part of.

It must be so discouraging for someone with equal qualifications to lose out to someone because that person is protected by affirmative action.

Affirmative action tells you nothing about the total person and how he or she will perform. What talents do they actually have; what are their actual qualifications?

Im so glad affirmative action was defeated. Lets see where it takes us.

Mary Oliver, Jensen Beach

Students from Washington Adventist University look at their phones as news of the Supreme Court's decision pertaining to affirmative action is released outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on June 29, 2023 in Washington, DC.

FISA, Patriot acts used against citizens by government

The purpose of the separation of powers by the framers is to limit the opportunity of a government usurping the rights of we the people outlined in the Constitution.

This abuse is well-documented throughout history with John Adams' signing of the Sedition Act, which sent those who criticized him to prison. The judicial branch dominated by Federalists refused to rule it unconstitutional.

Under the Patriot Act, the FBI can secretly spy on American citizens to obtain evidence of crime without proving probable cause, as the Fourth Amendment explicitly requires.

Intended to be used as a tool against terrorism, I think it is now being used by government political parties to maintain control.

An example of this abuse of power resulted in a confidential congratulatory call from Donald Trump to Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a staffer, Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, eavesdropping and running to Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, after learning Trump asked Zelenskyy about the roles Hunter and Joe Biden may have played in the firing of the prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden's deal with Burisma. The same deal Joe Biden bragged about at a public council on foreign relations symposium. This private call resulted in Schiff starting the impeachment against Trump.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is another example of no limits being placed on obtaining private information on citizens without warrants that can be used and abused by political opponents and enforcement agencies.

The manner in which these acts and laws are used is against the Constitution designed to protect us from government abusing power.

Benjamin Paul Zelno, Vero Beach

When will nation begin to elect 'normal' people?

I'm afraid to put a Joe Biden sticker on my car for fear of it being vandalized. But if a car has a Donald Trump sticker on it, Biden supporters won't damage it.

I fear for the future of our once great country. The FBI, justice officials and other law and order people are threatened. Even Congress people and their families are threatened.

What kind of hold does Trump have on some people? Many of the Jan. 6, 2021, violent people are in jail.

Our Supreme Court is much too far right. Six of the justices vote against the wishes of the majority of our population. Not only that, but some of them act in unethical ways like no other judge would ever dare to do.

Will we ever get a more "normal" country, where competent people are elected?

Rita Wolper, Stuart

If you can't trust Schiff, who else can't you trust?

After several years of our time and treasure, telling us he definitely had proof of the Russian scandal, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, still continues on, as usual, ignoring us.

Why, before he gets to do anything else, isnt he first made to show us what we paid for, the Russian information proof he told us he definitely had. Weve been waiting to see what took up several years of our lives.

Things like this, and there are many of them, are why some believe the election was stolen from President Donald Trump, and the election thieves, like Schiff, are allowed to get away with it  all while continuing to collect taxpayer paychecks.

Joan Hall, Vero Beach

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: DeSantis anchor ancestor; books vs. guns, NRA; Schiff shifty? | Letters
DeSantis is behind Trump in national polls and, more important, polls focused on the crucial early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

There was a dream scenario, and it went like this: both big-ticket donors and grassroots activists would unite behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, fresh off last years landslide reelection campaign.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, would find his own White House bid hobbled by his legal troubles in New York, Georgia or Washington. And so the Republican Party would not have to suffer through the kind of crowded and messy primary that allowed Trump to claim the nomination in 2016.

Then the dream ended, and the GOP woke up to the very reality that the party had hoped to avoid, with Trump as the undisputed presidential frontrunner.

Donald Trump at the Turning Point Action conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

As for DeSantis, he appears thus far to have fallen victim to sky-high expectations. Since his disastrous Twitter Space presidential announcement, the blustery young governor has seen his campaign stall badly. He is behind Trump in national polls and, more important, in polls focused on the crucial early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

In politics, as in flight, a stall that isnt corrected tends to end in a free fall. Over the weekend, DeSantis fired a dozen staffers and announced a campaign reboot. Whether those are signs of competence or desperation remains to be seen.

But some Republicans are already looking for a new savior.

Read more from Yahoo News: Why is the DeSantis campaign struggling?

DeFUTURE no longer looks quite so bright

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking in Arlington, Va., on Monday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

DeFUTURE, declared the New York Post in a headline after DeSantis triumphed over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist in last falls reelection bid. If the midterm elections were generally bleak for Republicans, they were splendid for DeSantis, who seemingly saw his response to the coronavirus and hot-button social issues validated by Florida voters, including many independents and some Democrats.

In retrospect, that victory may have been a high point he will never reclaim. On the campaign trail, DeSantis can be awkward  or downright unpleasant. His intense focus on the culture war appears to be alienating moderate voters he promised he could attract.

The release of a bizarre campaign video widely perceived as homophobic managed to confuse and upset many mainstream conservatives. Republicans and other commonsense conservatives know Ron Desantis has alienated swing-state and younger voters, the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay conservative group, argued in a tweet.

The video reportedly upset Rupert Murdoch, whose New York Post had all but crowned DeSantis months before. Murdoch, of course, also owns Fox News, a network that had been exceptionally friendly to the Florida governor. But now the Murdochs  Rupert and his son Lachlan, a possible successor  appear to be backing away.

They are transactional and can smell a loser a mile away, a person familiar with the Murdochs thinking told Rolling Stone. Several major Republican donors who had eagerly contributed to DeSantis are also reportedly rethinking their support.

DeSantis has plenty of time to turn his campaign around, but questions about temperament and personality  the most vexing questions he faces  do not lend themselves to easy fixes.

Read more from our partners: I Was Team DeSantis Before His Disgusting Anti-Gay Ad

A new candidate to take down Trump

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina campaigning in Iowa on Friday. (Scott Morgan/Reuters)

Trumps commanding lead in the polls has become a matter of pressing anxiety for Republicans who do not believe he can defeat Joe Biden in 2024. They had hoped that DeSantis would be a viable alternative to Trump, but as uncertainty about his prospects mounts, so does a desire to find another candidate to take on that role.

Increasingly, that candidate is Tim Scott, the senator from South Carolina whose inspiring personal story, deeply held Christian faith and upbeat personality make him a compelling figure. He already has the support of key GOP colleagues in the Senate; donors, too, are starting to see him as an alternative to DeSantis.

Hes the one guy running whos got some personality and charisma, one GOP donor told Politico last week. His delivery is terrific.

Scotts main problem is that he isnt polling well enough to convincingly make the case that he is the man to take on Trump. For all his troubles, DeSantis is firmly in second place. And while the race may not be the two-man contest DeSantis once envisioned, his standing remains enviable compared with Scotts.

Others are holding out hope for Glenn Youngkin, the first-term Virginia governor who combines some of DeSantiss cultural warrior with a sunnier demeanor. It was that demeanor that allowed him to win northern Virginias liberal suburbs. The path to the presidency will run through similar parts of the Southeast and Midwest.

Why Glenn Youngkin Would Be Crazy Not to Run for President, went the headline of a Politico column published in March  that is, before DeSantiss fortunes had started to seriously sink.

Youngkin has said he would not seek the presidency this year. That leaves open the possibility of his joining the field in 2024. But by then, it could be too late.

Read more from our partners: Tim Scott fires back at Obama over race remarks

Settling for Trump

Trump at a recent campaign event in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)

Trump was never supposed to be the presidential nominee in 2016. But he plowed through the primary field, and most Republicans got in line. There would be voices of dissent both before and after his victory over Hillary Clinton, but these were generally drowned by support for the partys new standard bearer.

Seven years later, he remains the heart and soul of the Republican Party. According to one poll, nearly 30% of GOP voters say they are more loyal to Trump than to the party itself. It may simply be time for Republican leaders to accept that the dream of a candidate who could defeat Trump is just that: a fantasy.

Read more from our partners: Why GOP voters are so loyal to Trump
A pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC uses an Artificial Intelligence version of Donald Trumps voice in a new television ad attacking the former president.

The ad, from Never Back Down, charges Trump with attacking Iowa governor Kim Reynolds as part of a larger pattern of disrespect he has shown to the first caucus state.

But the audio that the spot uses is not actually from Trump. A person familiar with the ad confirmed Trumps voice was AI generated. Its content appears to be based off of a post that Trump made on his social media site Truth Social last week. The person said it will run statewide in Iowa tomorrow and that the ad buy was at least $1 million  a massive sum though one doable for the well-heeled super PAC. It will also be running via text message and on digital platforms.



Political ads have used impersonation before, and the Trump-generated voice in the Never Back Down ad does not sound entirely natural. Still, the spot highlights what could be the next frontier of campaign advertising: The use of AI-generated content to produce increasingly difficult to identify, so-called deepfakes.

The blatant use of AI to fabricate President Trumps voice is a desperate attempt by Always Back Down and Jeff Roe to deceive the American public because they know DeSanctimonious campaign is on life support, said Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita, referring to a top official with the pro-DeSantis super PAC. After losing big donors and slashing their staff, they have now outsourced their work to AI just like they would like to outsource American jobs to China.
(Bloomberg) -- Ron DeSantiss team sought to reassure donors about the rocky start to his presidential campaign bid by summoning them to Tallahassee for a briefing with senior staff and holding a reception at the Florida governors mansion on Sunday afternoon.

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Just seven weeks into DeSantiss official launch for the White House, his campaign is already hitting the reset button. He recently fired a handful of staffers due to a cash crunch; pivoted on an insular media strategy to start doing national television interviews; and pared down the travel schedule to prioritize trips to must-win early voting states Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire.

This reset isnt over yet, either.

No campaign staffer should assume their job is safe as the governor struggles to overcome former President Donald Trumps wide polling lead and DeSantis tries to recover from several self-inflicted errors, according to people familiar with the matter.

His team plans a retreat this coming weekend for major donors in Park City, Utah, according to two people who were invited, where they will also discuss the state-of-play.

The campaign shakeup takes place with just six months until Iowas first-in-the-nation Republican caucus. DeSantis had long been viewed as the most viable challenger to Trump, branded as more cerebral with less baggage. But the excitement for his bid was also haunted by the specter of past popular GOP governors who fizzled early in their presidential bids, namely Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

It is smart to reset. I saw firsthand that Scott Walker had too many people during the same period, said Dan Eberhart, chief executive officer of Canary Drilling Services, LLC, an energy company based in Colorado and a DeSantis supporter. In Governor DeSantiss case: Lean even more on the super-PAC.

The DeSantis team has been starting to pivot for the past few weeks  unveiling policy proposals each month and putting Casey DeSantis, the governors wife, on the campaign trail for solo events earlier than it had planned to, according to sources briefed on the plans. The governor also started to take questions at events from voters recently after previously shunning that tradition in early visits to Iowa and New Hampshire.

The fired staffers primarily came from the campaigns political events, media and marketing teams. Many of them aim to find jobs with the super-PAC, called Never Back Down or aligned DeSantis groups, but there arent guarantees. They boxed up their belongings on Friday in what was described as a depressing day in the campaign office.

The campaign had more than 90 people on payroll and wasnt raising money as fast as anticipated to support such a large team, said one source familiar with the operation.

His team also spent the weekend reaching out to donors, who couldnt make the Tallahassee meeting. One said they kept emphasizing presidential campaigns go through growing pains.

You are building a campaign business from scratch. It is a start up business. You think you know the people you need and how many you need, but then you figure out after a quarter who is capable, who is in it for the long run, who are your stars and then you right-size it, said Roy Bailey, a Dallas-based businessman and key fund raiser for DeSantis. You want to make sure you are being as efficient as possible. To me, it makes total business sense.

DeSantis always faced a challenge in taking on Trump, who holds an ironclad grip on roughly 30% of Republican primary voters. But they drew confidence from the governors landslide November reelection, billing Floridas metamorphosis from a swing state to a Republican bastion as a blueprint.

What his campaign didnt anticipate, however, was the way Trumps two indictments mobilized and energized the Republican base to rally around the former president.

A DeSantis spokesman said voters were rallying behind the governor. His momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in person, especially in Iowa, said 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.

Apart from the question of likability, the DeSantis team made several unforced errors.

Recently, some donors recoiled from a video the DeSantis rapid response team shared online that compared the governors record on LGBQT issues to Trumps. The videos odd splicing of music, visuals and clips from movies like American Psycho made some donors think his campaign was unprofessional and homophobic. One donor said he would like to see changes to the rapid response and communications teams as a result.

Other donors didnt like the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed in the spring, or his waffling stance on Russias invasion on Ukraine.

Hes also failed to put to rest questions about his comfort in interacting with voters in small one-on-one settings, while Trump, previously known to loathe those interactions, ramps up visits to pizza parlors and ice cream shops on the trail.

DeSantis allies have been calling national reporters to try and influence the tone of his coverage. On Tuesday, he will sit for his first major TV interview with a non-conservative outlet, appearing on CNN with Jake Tapper.

The super-PACs staffers are also working hard to turn out the vote in Iowa, in particular, with the idea that even if DeSantis does not poll as well as Trump, they can beat him with a superior ground game.

--With assistance from Mario Parker.

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DeSantis to unveil plan to 'rip' wokeness 'out of the military'

FIRST ON FOX: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will formally unveil his military policy in South Carolina on Tuesday, promising to "rip" wokeness out of the armed forces and put "mission first" if elected president, his campaign said.

The campaign for DeSantis, a former Navy officer who served in the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) in Iraq, released a video Monday previewing the GOP presidential candidate's policy, in which he pledges to remove any "social agenda" from the U.S. military.

"As somebody that really appreciated wearing the uniform, really appreciated serving alongside patriots, being a part of a mission greater than yourself," DeSantis says in the video.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, right, listen to the national anthem at Nunns "Operation Top Nunn: Salute to Our Troops" fundraiser on July 15, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa.

DESANTIS SAYS TRUMP NOT ONLY DIDN'T FULFILL MAJOR PROMISE, IT GOT WORSE

"You look at todays military, its going woke," he says. "You are pursuing a social agenda in the military rather than having your eye on the ball."

DeSantis says in the video that on his first day in the White House, hell "rip it all out of the military, all the Obama-Biden nonsense is gone, and were restoring it to its glory."

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Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit on June 30, 2023, in Philadelphia.

Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at a campaign event on June 26, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas.

The governor will return to South Carolina on Tuesday to formally unveil his military policy, his campaign told Fox News Digital.

DeSantis previously visited the state in April, when he spoke about his military experience with fellow veterans and local law enforcement.

Last June, DeSantis signed a handful of bills to support Florida's military community, including Senate Bill 430, which assists in the educational transition of children of active-duty military families, and Senate Bill 514, which allows state agencies to substitute work and military experience for postsecondary education requirements.
Crimea24TV via Reuters

The only bridge linking Russia to the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea was damaged by explosions on Monday in an act that Russian officials quickly blamed on Kyiv.

Traffic was halted across the 12-mile bridge over the Kerch Strait in the wake of the blasts in the early hours. Russias National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) released a statement on Monday calling the incident a terrorist attack conducted by Ukraines fleet of marine drones and said a criminal case has been launched. They said two people were killed.

Truck Bomb Rips Apart Crimea Bridge Leaving 3 Dead

At 03:05, two Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles attacked the Crimean Bridge, the NAC said. As a result of the committed terrorist act, the road component of the Crimean bridge was damaged. Two adults were killed and one child was injured.

The Baza telegram account shared videos appearing to show the damage to the bridge, with part of the closed roadway precariously tilting toward the water below.

It added that emergency services were at the scene and that the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a case under national terror legislation.

Ukraine has yet to officially comment on the explosions, which could severely hamper Russias logistical links to Crimea, which has served as a major military hub for the invasion.

Todays attack on the Crimean bridge is a special operation of the SBU and the navy, a Ukrainian security service source told the French news agency AFP. They said it was carried out by marine drones. It was difficult to reach the bridge, but in the end it was possible to do it.

The bridge has gone to sleep again, the SBU Telegram account posted.

As well as holding crucial strategic significance as a supply for Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion, the bridge is similarly important as a symbol of his hold over the region. Following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin ordered the construction of the bridgethe longest in Europeto permanently cement the link between the seized peninsula and Russias mainland. He personally drove a truck over the bridge at its completion in 2018 and echoed the propaganda stunt by driving a Mercedes across it in December as repairs from the October blast were still underway.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraines southern military command, told the broadcaster Rada that the attack on the bridge may be an act of provocation created by Moscow.

The creation of such provocations, which the occupying authorities of Crimea report immediately very loudly, is a typical way of solving problems by authorities of Crimea and the aggressor country, Humeniuk said, according to Reuters.

The attack on Monday comes after the bridge was severely damaged by an explosion in October. At the time, Russia similarly blamed Ukraine for the attack which came the day after Putins 70th birthday and a week after he announced the annexation of four regions of Ukraine to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Kyiv having ordered the blast, though his deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar made comments earlier this month suggesting that Kyiv had actually been responsible for the first strike on the bridge in order to break the logistics of the Russians.

The role that the bridge plays in supporting Putins war in Ukraine was also acknowledged by a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence department after Mondays attack. Andriy Yusov declined to comment on the attack itself, but told The Associated Press: The peninsula is used by the Russians as a large logistical hub for moving forces and assets deep into the territory of Ukraine. Of course, any logistical problems are additional complications for the occupiers.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast, said on Telegram that two parents were killed in the incident and that their daughter was also hurt. The girl was injured, Gladkov said. The hardest thing is that her parents died, dad and mom. He added that no words can can calm the pain of loss here and that the girl was being treated in intensive care.

Hours after the strike, Russia announced it would not renew a vital grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export its grain through the Black Sea. Despite warnings that such a move would increase already elevated global food priceswhich has tipped people around the world into povertya Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that Russia had suspended the deal until demands about sending Russias grain and fertilizer to the world have been met.

Wheat prices immediately surged after Moscow halted the deal.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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We are learning more about the heroic efforts that police took to help stop a mass shooter from killing more people.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne spoke one-on-one with two of the Clayton County officers shot in a gunfight with the suspect.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said he told these two officers that hes so proud of them and they are indicative of what every Clayton County police officer should be

Roberts said they understand preserving life is the primary mission, but his officers acted to preserve the safety of the community. The men describe the tense moments from that day.

I gave a nod to open the door and viewed around the corner, I seen him. Seen him get up, run in the house, fire a shot. Fired back. I felt something so I took cover, Officer Walter Pounds said.

When I was standing with the suspect, in shooter-fighter stance, I was squared up with him and when he came across and pressed out with his pistol and fired. The bullet came directly and just hit the bottom left side, Officer Michael Ruppert said.

Of your vest? Winne asked Ruppert.

Of my vest, yes sir, Ruppert said.

Saved your life in all likelihood? Winne asked.

Absolutely. Absolutely, Ruppert said.

I had a mark right up under the vest, right where the vest stopped. Thats where I had the mark at from the bullet, Pounds said.

But it didnt enter your body? Winne asked Pounds.

Didnt enter. (By the) grace of God, Pounds said.

How often have you thought about that? Winne asked Pounds.

All night. Today. As we speak, Pounds said.

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Ruppert and Pounds sat side-by-side when Winne spoke with them in the Clayton County police headquarters.

They told us the day before they were together in a stack with a Clayton County sheriffs deputy moving into a house on Wagon Wheel Court in Jonesboro. They were told Andre Longmore was inside or in the backyard, and they knew he was armed.

We didnt hesitate going in because we knew what the situation was our training kicked in. So it was instinctive, Pounds said.

Both say when they entered the house, they already knew a Henry County sheriffs deputy had been shot and wounded earlier Sunday afternoon.

It came down to my training. It was so instantaneous, Ruppert said.

Ruppert told Winne that his vest stopped a bullet.

You felt the impact, you felt the pain and then it went away. There wasnt any fear because I knew I had people there with me. And I just engaged, Ruppert said. Returned fire.

Pounds said he felt an impact during the action but only later realized hed been grazed by a bullet just below his vest.

I didnt even know I was hit because of all the adrenalin flowing until I got outside to help him, Pounds said. Once outside, Wait a minute. I feel a little pain in my rib. Then I felt a little burning. Thats when they told me I had been hit.

Both men said they are called to help others as police officers.

I dont take great pleasure in what I had to do, Ruppert said. Thats not something we true officers do this job for. Its not to take life, its to protect.

I want to say thank you to this guy next to me. Because without him I wouldnt be at home. Got to learn how to trust your partner, Pounds said. He makes sure I get home to my family. I make sure he gets home to his family.

Both said theyll follow the protocol and the professionals recommendations but are eager to get back to work.

Ruppert said hes 27 and has been with Clayton County PD about three years.

Pounds said hes 46 and has been on the force about a year and a half -- a second career after building stadiums and parking decks for a living.

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